Kiyomi continues to sing and fire her bow, hitting the northern ogre mage with three more sonic-imbued arrows. Heng then drops that oni with a single, crushing punch.
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Parity steps in and hits the ice yai with a devastating strike. The oni's scream echoes off the walls as its life force is drained by Parity's magic. He hits again with a follow through, but the oni's resistance fends off the channeled spell.
Amazingly, the oni still stands after the assault, if wavering. Then, Malnival wades in and finishes it, cutting it at the knees and then lopping its head clear off with a spinning cleave!
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As the ice yai commander falls, only one ogre mage guard remains. Roaring in defiance of its certain death, it closes in and attacks Parity, who skillfully dodges one blow and parries the other.
;
;
With Heng, Malnival and Kiyomi joining Parity, you easily take down the last oni in a deadly barrage.
All three geisha bow low in respect. "Yes, my lord. The oni was threatening and crude, but had not harmed us as yet," the lead geisha replies, head still low. "They would have tired of us eventually." She swallows, unable to voice what would have happened then.
Harlan gives everybody a quick once over, unless one of his friends is dying in which case he gives them a quick heal.
"See guys, when we prepare we're ok. Wish I had this cold spell when we crossed the ice, that might have helped."
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Heng absorbs Harlan's healing energy and then looking troubled as he stares closely at the geisha a moment to discern if there is any threat before him. Should no evil be detected, he smiles sadly and apologizes. "Pardon my mistrust, we have been warned that some other manner of fiend may be hidden among the captives. Go hide now while we seek to remove the taint of evil from the imperial palace."
Kiyomi smiles at Heng and bobs a curtsy. She lets her song end, while she retrieves arrows.
Heng detects no evil from the geisha. "No need to apologize, my lord. This one understands the threat among us." She looks over towards the eastern archway to the Hall of Meditation, where now women are peering around the corner to check on the commotion in the theater.
As he walks closer, Heng detects a moderate evil aura around one of the women in the doorway.
Nothing happens, but you feel something prodding at your thoughts, and notice one of the (evil) women from the east doorway is watching you intently.
Harlan moves out of the line of any potential spell targeted at Heng, ready to dispel any such magics should they manifest.
"We really are the good guys. And Kiyomi. And Ameiko. Ok, the good people. The side of good. You know."
He smiles hopefully at the woman.
None of the captive women move to greet you. You can tell they are clearly terrified of the creatures in their midst. Their furtive and frightened glances indicate there are more that the one Heng detected among them.
The (evil) woman does nothing until Heng nears the entrance. Then, with a threatening hiss and ripping cloth, she extends a spindly spider leg from her back and holds its dagger-like tip to the throat of one of the women.
"Another step closer and she dies," the monster threatens. Seven more legs sprout from the back of her dress.
The jorogumo smiles humorlessly. "You seem reasonable. And powerful, " she adds with a glance at the defeated oni. "I have no desire to die at your hands, and I'm no fanatic for the Jade Regent." She tilts her head to the side. "How about a trade then? You step aside and let me leave this palace unharmed, and I will not eviscerate this helpless woman."
"Cant trust her, Heng. Should just let me take care of it."
"Please, Sir Heng, Sir Parity, we must not let innocents suffer if we can prevent it. Swear your honesty, then, upon your True Name." Kiyomi says to the jorogumo.
"Then make your promises and let the demon go ..." Parity leaves the sentence hanging.
The jorogumo flashes you a mocking sneer. "I will not swear any such oath. It would be a waste of breath, and you know it. But I have no desire to harm these women, and will not as long as you keep your distance."
Ameiko steps forward, placing a calming hand on Parity's shoulder. "Go then, creature. Go in peace... and immediately leave Minkai. Know that when I come into my rule, you will find no safe haven in this land. We will let you go today, but if we hear that you are preying upon my people, or within my land, then no bargaining or oaths will stay your destruction."
Harlan nods in silent agreement.
"I don't like it but we've bigger threats right now."
Kiyomi nods. "Heed the Empress; her words bind us well."
The jorogumo snarls at Ameiko, but then lowers her eyes and moves towards the stairs down. Two other women break off from the group of captives and follow, giving you evil looks before they turn the corner. The leader releases her collateral and then retreats down the steps.
Ameiko sighs in relief, moving to help the terrified captive. "I probably laid it on a little thick, but it seems to have worked."
The woman smiles and bows low to Ameiko and you. "Thank you for... saving me, us." she says in broken Taldan. "Me... I am Ashachi Harumi. These, they," she gestures to the other captive women, "are children of... nobles. And wealthy."
Parity snorts his disapproval and then moves along next to Ameiko, blade out.
Harlan shrugs.
"We could've killed her and I would've brought the woman back to life, I learned how after Mal died to the dragon in the cold cave."
Heng detects no evil from the remaining women. Harumi gives Harlan a strange look but then looks down, embarrassed. "Upstairs, is the throne room. And the Jade Throne." She pauses for a few moments, bringing the words to her mind. "You go now... to confront the regent?"
Kiyomi seems to start, suddenly feeling how very close they are to their final destination.
Ameiko nods, clenching her jaw and trying not to look as nervous as she feels. She flexes the grip of her rapier and points up the stairs. "Alright, let's do this."
You climb the elaborate staircase together, emerging into a gallery corridor encircling a great central chamber: the throne room. Small windows, little larger than archery ports, look out over the palace grounds and Kasai cityscape. A number of Typhoon Guard archers stand at attention down the hall. They do not engage, but instead quietly withdraw around the corner.
"How many months has it been since you started this journey?" a loud voice calls out from the wide entryway to the throne room. "How many miles to cross the world? Come forward... let us meet face-to-face at last." You step forward into the very place you set out for so long ago...
Six stone columns of solid jade flank the approach to an ornate jade throne atop a short dais in this massive chamber. Banners hang along the walls above detailed frescoes of mountains; forests; and samurai engaged in the arts of archery, swordplay, calligraphy, and flower arranging.
Seated in the throne is the Jade Regent, Soto Takahiro, resplendent in his elborate green-tinted armor. His helmet is off, resting on his knee, and he holds upright a grand no-dachi in his left hand. The man's hair is jet black, chin length and slicked back. He regards you heavily, foot tapping with nervous impatience.
An elder man in an expensive azure robe stands on the carpet leading up to the throne. He hunches over a gnarled walking staff, watching you silently. Sitting at the base of the Jade Throne is a stunning beauty dressed in a delicate sky blue kimono. She looks up at you, but you can see her eyes are pale orbs of milky white, and she is as blind as Parity. "So many paths, like threads in a weave," she says to no one in particular. "I see them drawing together here, now, in a great knot." These two must be Anamurumon and Renshii Meida -- the Jade Regent's grandfather and mistress.
Two other figures stand on the edges of the throne room. One you recognize as U'izado, the porcelain-faced tiefling magic-user you last faced at Seinaru Heikiko. She leans against one column, looking bored. The last can only be the Raven Prince. He hangs from a crown perch atop one column, watching the room from the shadows above. You can see a long tengu's beak protruding from the depths of his hood.
Parity steps reflexively towards Ameiko.
Harlan limps off to the side, crossbow held casually.
"We can still end this peacefully. Renounce your claim to the throne, take your oni and your followers and leave Minkai forever."
"This throne had many, deeply set stains long before I was born, much less took control of Minkai. And "true empress"? Is bloodline all that qualifies for a good and true emperor?" Takahiro scoffs. "Shigure was a trueblooded scion of one of the royal families... and his incompetance would have doomed himself and all of Minkai. Killing him was a mercy."
He holds up his free hand, gesturing for more. "Is that all you've got? You'll have to come up with something better to make be abdicate."