"Sure but Mal...you've eaten horse. And if we got an old one the kappa might not like it and then we wouldn't be able to save the geisha from the merchant."
"Right, because somehow a horse is different than a cow or a goat or some other hoofed beast" If Parity had eyes, he would roll them.
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"Right! You do see my point."
Malnival frowns at Harlan and uncomfortably shifts his armor. "Uh, what exactly is in that stew you make?"
Harlan sighs and pats Mal's knee.
"You never wondered why we just called it meat stew but my chili is black bean goat chili?"
Malnival swollows hard and looks away from the halfing. "Never mind. Do not tell me. Ever."
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Date: 14 Gozran 4712
Combining the directions from O-Kohaku and Kiyomi's familiarity with the surrounding lands, you are happy to learn that Yugureda Shosaito's island lies in the middle of the Namidakame Lagoon, about seventy miles north of Sakakabe. The kappa's stream feeds the lagoon from inland, only a couple miles from the coastal road. You ready your mounts and leave the city mid-morning.
The ride to the lagoon takes two days time, most of it uneventful. The weather takes a turn for the colder as an icy snap blankets the land in frost. You don extra layers to cope, but it never reaches anything like the frigid Crown of the World. The road north passes through a variety of farming and fishing villages, nestled along a broken coastline of fens and dales. In many ways, it reminds you strongly of the Varisian countryside near Sandpoint.
You reach Namikadame Lagoon in the late afternoon of the 14th of Gozran. The air around the lagoon is strangely heavy, and a stifling cloak of silence seems to hang oppressively over the land and water. Half-shrouded by mist, a dark island rises from the water amid coral reefs, just visible from your vantage on the surrounding shores. The colors of the landscape seem washed out around the island, their hues drained by an unnatural gloominess.
Circling the shore to the north, you find the delta of the Jikko River to the north-east. Where it feeds into the lagoon, a large magnolia tree overhangs the quietly babbling stream.
Further along the coast, you can see an abandoned pier. No one is present at the ferry dock, but a large, pole-propelled raft is moored there.
"Magnolia tree, you say. That must be what we are here for. Ready your cucumbers and watch your mounts."
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Harlan slips off Skygni and grabs a few cucumbers, then approaches the magnolia tree.
"Hello? Hello? We're here with cucumbers to talk to the kappa who lives her about a missing girl. Hello?"
He looks sheepishly at the others as his voice echoes in the mist.
Parity will follow Harlan, arm resting gently on Suishen, seemingly unconcerned, a slight smile on his lips as he listens to his halfling friend's call out.
After Harlan calls out, several minutes pass without response. Then, while starting to ponder a wider search or a louder call, you hear the sound of slow footsteps coming through the trees upstream. Emerging from the late-afternoon shadows, you see a humanoid turtle with a wrinkled, apelike face, and an ashen ring of hair surrounding his bowl-shaped head, which is filled with water. The kappa's shell is decorated with Irori’s symbol, a blue hand in a circle, and although he leans on gnarled wooden staff, his pace is steady and energetic.
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Heng lays off worrying over the tree entrusted to him and cared for by others to raise an eyebrow. He bows low to the approaching creature. "A fellow supplicant of Iro-shu. Certainly, you are an unusual kappa, Uncle."
"I am Heng. We come on behalf of those concerned for your honorary niece, O-Sayami."
"An honor, Heng. I am Numataro-sama." The kappa returns the bow, carefully angling his head so that none of the water there spills. "Ah, O-Sayumi, my beautiful momo-chan. I regret that I have not seen her for some time. What about her concerns you so much as to visit me?" He eyes the vase, brow arched, "And... did you bring gifts?"
"Oh yes, here are many cucumbers that we bring for you. I am Harlan. We are worried about Sayumi, that's why we've come."
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"And this vase, of course. O-Sayumi had it made by the master craftsman, Saburo. Unfortunately, she left before it was finished. She also left us an inro that is something of a mystery. Perhaps you have some insight, Wise Uncle."
Heng bows and presents the vase, and inro should the kappa wish to study it as well.
Thank you, thank you," Numataro says graciously after you hand him the vase. He opens the top and takes a longing whiff of the cucumber salts within. "Momo-chan always knew how to life the spirits of an old kappa."
After he re-seals the vase, he nods and waves you to follow him. "Please, come to my home and we can speak in comfort." (Assuming you follow...) The old kappa follows the river upstream about a quarter-mile before turning into a tree-shrouded cave along a rocky cleft beside the waterway. The interior is half-submerged with a pool of still water, but they rocky shore is wide enough to move comfortably. Though there are no desks or chairs, the kappa's home has some trappings of civilization: a table and tea set, and an double-sized shogi board carved into the floor.
Numataro settles down by the water's edge. "Now, you say 'she left' and you're worried about her. What has happened?"
"We think she has been abducted by Yugureda Shosaito. She was last seen traveling to his private island. He claims she never arrived but she has not been found elsewhere. We seek assistance in getting to the island and rescuing her safely, so she can be returned to her home."
Numataro frowns and fiddles with his cane. "Strange she should visit him, and yet sad she did not come to visit me while so close by." He sighs and shakes his head. The old kappa picks up the gift vase and spreads some of the salts into the pool, filling the cave with a fresh, clear scent. "I found O-Sayumi as a swaddling baby, in a basket under a honeysuckle bush on the river bank, now just over twenty years ago. I found her mother some time later, further in the woods -- slain by a monstrous tiger sent by an evil wizard."
"Fortunately, I found the baby before the tiger did, and took her to safety. The girl lived with me for several years, and I taught my 'niece' all I knew: tales of ancient Minkai, natural healing and lore. But, as she was growing into adolescence, I knew her place was among her own people. So, I took her to a monastery of Irori, not far from Sakakabe, where the monks adopted her. I've not seen her since, but we have corresponded through letters and the occasional gift. She grew into an exceptional talent on the samisen, eventually took the name O-Sayumi and became the respected geisha she is today."
"I apologize, for I cannot say why she chose to visit Yugureda Shosaito. I can tell you that he is not just a pearl merchant, but also a powerful wizard and shogi master. Under his rule, the lagoon and surrounding lands have slowly turned from vigorous and healthy into this one you see today, shrouded in shadow. All but a handful of the people have long since fled. And, I have long suspected he is the same wizard responsible for the murder of momo-chan's mother."
"It was said that she has the powers of a seer. She had left items for those who may attempt to locate her, the vase and salts being but one. Maybe you could shed some light on the other items?
The kappa smiles, Ah, yes... that is partially my doing, I suppose. A few years ago, I gifted her with a rare magic samisen of oracular vision, imbued with some spells of divination keyed to the performer's skill. With her talents, she must have unlocked some precognant visions."
He looks over the tanka and inro for a minute, but ultimately shakes his head. "I see myself depicted here, but can't really say what the significance of the objects or poem are. They seem quite random, but I'm sure she selected them for a purpose." With a shrug, he adds, "And she may not have known, completely, when she had this made. Divinations can often be clouded by allegory and double-meaning."
"Honored kappa, do you believe that O-Sayumi knew that the wizard was the same who slew her mother? Could she have gone seeking vengeance against him?"
"Now this is a bit of a mess. Evil wizard from her past. Any knowledge on the motive behind said wizards hunt/slaughter of her mother?"
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Harlan shakes his head sadly.
"I bet Kiyomi is right. Oooh, a geisha trained for years by a kappa seeks revenge on the wizard that killed her mother. Now that's a story!"
To Kiyomi's queries, Numataro shakes his head again, "No, she was but a babe when that happened. Unless she learned of it from another source... her oracular visions, perhaps?"
"And I cannot speak for Yugureda Shosaito's motivations, on any matter," he replies to Parity, disdain evident in his voice.
"And you don't think that would be relevant? Maybe if you'd looked into that 20 years ago, we wouldn't be in this predicament now."
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Malnival groans and begins to adjust his equipment in preparation of the road. "We go to rescue you nice, possibly from an evil wizard the murdered her mother. Do you know anything that may assist us?
"And you don't think that would be relevant? Maybe if you'd looked into that 20 years ago, we wouldn't be in this predicament now."
"At the time? No... The girl was safe, and she was my only concern. I knew of Yugureda Shosaito as a merchant, and he never bothered me, or us after I found her, and so I kept to my own. Only over the years have I learned that he is a wizard, and seen the despair wrought by his rule. By then, O-Sayumi was years gone."
*
Malnival groans and begins to adjust his equipment in preparation of the road. "We go to rescue you nice, possibly from an evil wizard the murdered her mother. Do you know anything that may assist us?
Numataro nods, "If you plan to go to Shinju-no-Ie, beware of the lagoon. Yugureda has made pact with two dragon turtles that lair in the depths. Voracious and cruel, they protect the oyster beds and attack any intruders. Only Yugureda's divers and those on his barge are allowed safe passage. Thus, I avoid swimming those waters."
"Maybe we could steal a boat? If they ignore the boats and we take a boat, that would be great! Thank you for your help Numataro! Enjoy the cucumbers."
Kiyomi bows deeply to the old kappa. "Thank you honored elder. I hope we may bring your niece home safely and avenge her mother if possible."
"Maybe we could steal a boat? If they ignore the boats and we take a boat, that would be great! Thank you for your help Numataro! Enjoy the cucumbers."
Numataro smiles, raising a finger. "Ah! There's the key to my warning... only the merchant's barge is allowed. Other boats will be a target!"
Numataro smiles, nodding. "I would enjoy that, were issues not pressing otherwise. It has been some time since I had a shogi partner." He gestures to the oversized board. "As you can see, sadly, a few pieces are missing from this old set." He picks up one piece, the 'angle mover' brushes off some dust and hands it to Heng. "Break it for luck when you need it."
Numataro bows in return. "I look forward to that time. And please let me know of O-Sayumi, should you find her."
Harlan will watch the proceedings then prepare any spells necessary when they group is ready.
I say invisible
1 min per level, cast it halfway across?
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