"It is something to consider," Isilme responds when Hinagiku suggests that a song might be a faster and more effective way of trying to open the citizens of Drezen's minds and hearts to the Demetae. Mulling the idea over, Isilme comes to a realization. "Perhaps instead of simply composing a song, we could have a cultural festival to expose the Demetae, Mendevians and other Sarkorians to each other's cultures. Doing it once a year like Armasse could be a way to strengthen the community and forge new bonds across the different groups that reside."
"What do you all think?"
Upon returning to Drezen, Isilme first busies herself with catching up on the state of affairs in the city and its surrounds, receiving briefings from Duke on the latest information from the Scouts and Spies under her employ. She then sets about meeting with the council to discuss the possibility of holding a cultural festival once a year to try to ease some of the tensions within the city and strengthen the community.
Each evening she casts a single sending to Aravashnial to find out how he is doing and update him on what she had been up to. The spell didn't exactly allow for much in the way of conversation, but with Ai'sintar having been sent out on assignment by Ary, and Isilme still having quite a bit to do in the city, it was really the only option.
While Xanderghul begins research on the reincarnation spell, Isilme does her best to help out. While she had some innate sense of magic now due to her understanding of divine runes, mostly she contributed by leveraging her contacts to get access to manuscripts and tomes that Xanderghul wasn't able to gain access to through the Pathfinder Society.
Xander had already been planning on setting up a festival to celebrate the accomplishments of Drezen's residents for some time -- not exactly a cultural festival about Mendev and Sarkoris, but rather an excuse to create amazing pieces of art or amazing magical accomplishments. Some citizens might use it to tell a traditional story of their people or to show off some tapestry depicting an epic, or some other cultural tale. Xander believed that such a festival would need to be broader to truly bring everyone on board, considering that many of Drezen's citizens were elves, dwarves, tieflings, or other immigrants from all over the world.
To begin preparation, Xander spreads fliers all over his school announcing the imminent arrival of a festival testing the prowess of all. He takes a moment at the head of all classes to explain that soon, there will be an opportunity for everyone to show off what they were truly capable of, and to put a shine polish on whatever projects everyone was working on.
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”This seems like a good idea Mrs. Isilme… but wouldn’t Armasse be a strange day to try and celebrate the arrival of the Demetae… a crusader holiday for Kellid people? Hummm… people tend to be defensive of those too. I wonder what would be a good time that is meaningful to both the crusaders and the Kellids...what about the day Mother earthwood was planted? Everyone is thankful for it. ”
Few moments after stepping back into mother earthwood’s land and being greeted by the sickly sky, Hinagiku approaches her Ehren-kun, her peaceful expression betraying an air of seriousness.
”In not so long, it will be time for Sakuramatsuri, a festival celebrating the arrival of the Master of masters to Minkai… Hua Xing senpai suggested that I attend it since my… humm… the focus of my centre has been shifting. I was wondering, and I realize how selfish and short notice my demand is, whether it would be possible for us to go there using the ley.”
Once Hinagiku receives a positive answer, she turns to the others: ”You would all be welcome of course. I think you would all enjoy it. The festival is wonderful, with good food, and wonderful displays… not only that, but okaa-san… my mother, furnishes the main shrine with bouquets.... It really is beautiful… and so serene during the evening ceremony.” Hinagiku pauses for a moment and looks up at the sky, happy memories surfacing in her mind.
”... maybe we would need a way for all of you to understand our language though.”
Upon her arrival at the temple, she extends a similar invitation to Joran and Hua Xing, impressing on the former the improved connection to Irori one can gain during the festivities.
Hinagiku spends the days until the festival in Minkai resuming her deep meditation about the nature of her being. Just as before their trip to Iobaria, her trances are so deep that she cannot be forcefully drawn from them. Her dedication to this search for self is so great that she even forgoes attending the event organized by Ary.
"With everything that has been going on, I'd almost forgotten," Ehren admits apologetically. It is no exaggeration to say that they have had their hands full for the past month. Given how often trouble rears its ugly head in the Worldwound, planning a vacation so far in advance seemed like a losing prospect, in hindsight. "We'd agreed to visit in spring, in time to see the cherry blossoms bloom."
The druid goes quiet for a moment, wrestling with his answer. He does not want to disappoint Hinagiku, but with everything that has been going on since the Demetae's arrival, it would be remiss to travel so far away from Sarkoris for the sake of attending a festival. It seemed wiser to postpone their trip until the following year, once things have settled down.
And yet, while it may not have initially been the case, there is more to this trip than leisure. They have not had many opportunities to speak in private, but he could tell that something has been troubling Hinagiku, something he could not quite place. Whatever it is, anything capable of disturbing her peace is a cause for concern. If going to Minkai could put her at ease, then it is worth doing.
And perhaps we could have that other talk I have been postponing there, Ehren thinks, restraining a grimace.
“Let’s make sure that everything in the city is under control,” he says finally, smiling slightly, “If so, then I do not think it would be a problem for us to leave for a few days.”
Unafe continues to beg the ancestors for knowledge of how to reawaken her Ancestor Heart during her nightly visits to the dream realm.
She receives the following advice: "Peidiwch â rhedeg i ffwrdd."
Hinagiku's suggestion that they travel to Minkai so soon after their trip to Iobaria initially gives Xander terrible anxiety. There was a war on, and yet they had the time repeatedly to take breaks, it seemed. He consults his map of the Worldwound again, and waves it at his compatriots.
Xander for one was feeling an urgent need to do some demonslaying. It felt like so much time had gone by without any tragedies. The push into Drezen had felt like such a big step forward for the Crusades, and while the group had made tremendous strides in making life bearable for the citizens since resettlement, they had made no further territory strides since then. The Wound was big, and there were quite a few ancient monuments left to re-take. Xander imagines the celebration that would be had upon retaking Storasta and gives a small grin.
On the other hand, Hinagiku had never asked the group for anything before. A spring festival in a far land did sound really nice. He just has a few concerns first. His first and immediate response is just to ask, "So how are we going to get there?"
"I agree with Ehren. We should double-check that there are no imminent emergencies, and try to keep the visit short, but I would be happy to go."
Hinagiku gives a neutral nod of understanding as Ehren confesses his forgetfulness.
”You are right Ehren-kun, Mr. Xanderghul, this is too early to ask you. As for how… I have been thinking about Ehren-kun’s ability to move through the ley and I think I might have an idea of a place near Kurihara. A few days walk away from there is a sacred forest with large verdoyant trees and, it is said, inhabited by spirits. If it is a place connected to the land, with Ehren-kun we could make the whole trip in less than a week. I am glad to hear your are interested Mr. Xanderghul.” Hinagiku finishes, with a faint smile on her lips.
The plan to leave to Minkai taking shape, Hinagiku decides to organise a small tea ceremony with Joran and Hua-Xing. She was not really trained in such things, but the tea she could brew was not half bad. After serving her roomates and taking a few sips in silence, she finally broaches the subject of the triop: ”Mr. Ehren has found a way for us to travel to Kurihara. We could easily bring the two of you with us if you are interested. I am thinking that it might be especially interesting for you Mr. Vhane, the festival honors the coming of the Master of masters’ faith to our land. There would be many priests present, willing to discuss the faith and most likely interested in your exceptional way of worshipping him.”
While she speaks, Hinagiku keeps a close eye on Hua-Xing. Her fellow monk had renounced his vow to fight against the onis directly and she wondered whether he still harbored doubts about his choice, maybe even shame.
"Still, perhaps some new traditions are just the thing we need. I agree that Mother Heartwood's planting is an occasion that everyone can find cause to celebrate. In a way, it marks the moment that we truly reclaimed Drezen. If we went that route, I would just need to persuade the Heartwood cult. They might be uncomfortable with the attention she would receive from so many people."
Xander gives a little chuckle. "Any chance of saddling Ehren before we leave, then? I think I might be at my limit of 'number of times that I'm willing to travel desperately clinging onto the side of an animal for hours on end'."
Xander is unconcerned about the language problem abroad. "I believe I can prepare a spell that will allow me to speak Tian for the duration of the day. I'm not sure what to do for many of the others, but I can also have tongues prepared for important conversations."
He cocks his head with curiosity. "Are there any libraries in your hometown? Any famous wizards, universities, or ancient ruins?"
"Another thing that I want to discuss -- what we're going to do when we return. I feel that it's been far too long since we've made any advances in the war. I would like to make a plan for an attack before we leave."
Ary pauses in her return to Drezen for a moment to listen to the others speak. "I... had been intending to try to gather the communities for public services. Perhaps the pilot program could be working towards setting up the festival?" she suggests, then looks to Xanderghul, "And... I'll ask the scouts about what they know regarding the immediate environs. We've got good eyes north and northeast to help prevent folks from sneaking down towards Silvershore, but I'm not certain how effective our eyes have been in the other directions aside from quick endeavors. I'll let you know what I find out."
"If we need to be capable of chatting, as long as a few of us are able to understand, it shouldn't be too difficult to share the information among us. And if time is of the essence, we'll figure something out." Ary says with a nod.
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At some point, Xander makes sure to send Val.
"I would try to keep it separate from the religious aspects of our populace," she says when Ary suggests evolving it from her efforts to hold public services to raise awareness of the non-Iomedaean religions within the city. "The two are similar in goal, but I think trying to approach the cultural divide in a secular fashion might make it easier for the people to understand and accept their differences."
"Going to Minkai would be fantastic," Isilme says when Hinagiku suggests going for the festival. "I agree with Xander that we should likely try to keep the length of the visit down, but being able to travel via the Ley helps significantly with that."
"As far as going on the offensive, I agree it's time to consider trying to expand our control of the region. Perhaps we can pick several possible targets and I could arrange for intelligence gathering on them in our absence. By the time we returned we should have enough extra info to help determine what to strike. Waiting to make the choice of final target until we return also makes it less likely the target will be leaked should the cultists have spies still operating here in Drezen."
"Of course no matter what we choose to do in that regard, we will need to answer an important question: How do we hold any gains outside Mother Heartwood's influence? How can we get troops and supplies to those places, and how can we protect them against the effects of the worldwound?"
She thinks for a moment then adds absentmindedly, "It's a shame we don't have a couple dozen more Ehrens available to shepherd supplies through the ley lines. We might be able to choose targets that would be accessible via the ley then and ferry troops and supplies there as needed."
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"A saddle?" Ehren replies incredulously, eyebrow raised. He could only imagine what his people would think if they witnessed such a sight. "I carry us where we need to go out of necessity, but I am no beast of burden. Surely the expedience I offer outweighs your need for comfort."
"That goes for walking the lines, as well. I understand that my power is convenient, but as Isilme says, I cannot be everywhere at once. I can only be relied on for so much."
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Joran leans forwards to sip his tea. He and the others are kneeling on the floor around a chabudai directly on a large woolen rug. He had chosen to quit drinking awhile ago, and tea had become his favored beverage.
"Is tha so?" Joran responds gruffly. "I suppose I could make time for it. I'll have tae delay a few commissions but it will be worth the chance to see your hometown for m'self."
Hua Xing's face lights up with a grin. "Really? Do you think we could be there in time for Sakuramatsuri?" he asks. Hua Xing, a Tian-Shu, was not from Kurihara, as he was originally from Lingshen, but he had heard of the festival from his conversations with Hinagiku.
Valaria's voice initially responds in an irritated whisper, "Xander! I'm in the middle of... something. Oooooooh, okay, tell Ary I'm fine and that she needs to sleep more. Not dead. Yes, in Garund."
Kurihara is a small coastal village in Sakakabe province. Most of the people who live there are fishermen, and they answer to the daimyo Nagakage no Katsuyorio, appointed by the Jade Regent himself, who lives in a fortress on the island Shinju-no-Ie. The Daimyo is a cruel man who imparts harsh taxes on the region, and extracts further money from the populace by enforcing redundant permits and licenses to perform any sort of work. He enforces these laws with a large army of samurai.
Kurihara itself is well-known for its Iroran dojo in the centre of town, whose sensei, Kuso Jijii, teaches young Irorans the philosophy of his own particular style of martial arts, which is mostly focused on keeping an opponent off balance and off-center. His skill is famous throughout Tian Xia, so young martial artists from throughout the Dragon Empires travel far and wide to train under him. It is considered a great honor to be chosen to train in his dojo. Kuso Jijii's students, in turn, help protect the villagers of Kurihara from the worst of Nagakage's minions, and also help train others in defensive martial arts (which helps them get around a local law that prohibits anyone other than samurai from openly carrying any weapons in town).
Kurihara has also become famous for its beautiful fields of flowers and cherry blossoms. A large Iroran festival, Sakuramatsuri, draws in families from all of the fishing villages that dot the Sakakabe coast.
Outside of the festival, however, Kurihara is a village of approximately a hundred and twenty people, including the students who live and train at the dojo. The dojo has a small collection of Iroran texts and sutras. The only people who practice magic there are fully trained clerics at the dojo. There aren't any local ruins. The village sits with the Sankyodai Mountains to its north, which are inhabited by tribes of Nagaji.
Isilme's issues are real, but Xander shakes his head anyway. "I don't think we necessarily need to hold any gains -- at least in territory, with people -- for incursions into the Worldwound to be worthwhile. We could gather information. We could slay important demons. We could destroy fortifications, or rescue captives."
At Ehren's response to his suggestion of a saddle, he expresses lack of understanding, with his palms upturned and outstretched and his mouth in an exasperated frown, his shoulders shrugging. "It's just an extra step in preparation, Ehren. You don't have to be so High and Mighty Archdruid about it, especially if we're going to be making it policy to be riding you into battle regularly."
Xander's reading about their destination village more than satisfies his curiosity. His research also allows him to bring a good perspective to the meeting with his compatriots. While with the others, discussing the plan to travel to Minkai, he pulls out his notes on Kurihara, its inhabitants and environs.
He shares his notes freely with the others, commenting, "I think we should expect to face samurai while there. It's said that the local daimyo is quite evil, and that his army is quite large. I can easily imagine a situation in which we feel the need to intervene, so I want to caution everyone to be prepared."
He also shares news about Valaria, saying, "I was able to contact Val, by the way. She was... evasive, as usual. She's in Garund, but gave me no more information than that. What do you think -- should I continue contacting her?"
"Certainly, targets of opportunity such as those are an option as well. I will see if we can get reports compiled on possible targets in that vein for when we return." It was true that such things would present a net gain for the crussaders, though eventually they would have to tackle the issue of holding gains if they were going to drive back the demons. Of course all of this would be moot if there was no solution to the worldwound and its expansion.
"Perhaps instead of a saddle we could come up with something that Ehren could carry in his talons. I somehow doubt you'd be chomping at the bit to 'saddle up' if you were in Ehren's position Xander. A large basket or carriage of some form would also allow us to transport people who would not be fit to hang on for extended periods, such as the wounded. Perhaps we could have something crafted and enchanted so it can be collapsed into something we can carry around in our packs."
Isilme laughs when she hears Xander's report on Val. True to form, she seemed to be thoroughly enjoying her travels. "Well, it is good to hear from her even if she's not going into any detail on her travels or whereabouts. I think it's worth checking in with her semi-regularly. She earned a reputation up here among the demons and cultists, as have we all. It's not inconceivable that she might become a target for some of their machinations."
Hinagiku ever so slightly tilts her her quizzically at the mention of saddling Ehren. If it was true that traveling on his back was not so pleasant, she could not imagine demanding anything more than him, simply assuming he would be willing to do such a thing whenever needed was already insensitive. As Xanderghul dramatically complains regarding Ehren-kun’s pride, Hinagiku lifts a calming hand, not wanting for the situation to grow worst.
”There are many ways we can travel… Ehren-kun’s abilities are impressive, but so are yours Mr. Xanderghul. You’ve shown that you have spells to summon horses for use… and you can fly all day too. Maybe it would make our trips faster, and less dangerous.” Hinagiku answers, looking at Ehren to see what he would think of Isilme’s idea.
At the mention of the libraries, Hinagiku nods.
”Yes, there is one at the temple, like most of the temples dedicated to the Master of master, I have learned quite a bit there. I am sure you could find Minkaian texts on the nature of magic. As for threats, Kurihara is quite safe. I do not remember real wars happening, so I do not believe we should worry, but being at least a little wary would be wise I guess. ”
Hinagiku remains silent as the others mention continuing fighting against the demons. Putting aside the last month, she had diligently been at the front, on the line. There never had been a lull in war in her eyes. Being concerned with his university, perhaps Xanderghul could not see this. Although, with the growing powers possessed by her companions, it did seem as though joining forces at the front might make a difference.
Hinagiku smiles back to Hua Xing.
”That is what I hope. With any change, Ehren-kun’s power will be enough. And… I was thinking, should we contact the others to see if they would be interested in us carrying letters to their families back in Tian Xia?”
About Val: ”Cherish all friendships… so many masters say.”
Hua Xing nods. "If you think you know how to contact them, I think that would be a good idea. We could ask Sosiel to try to contact Shu Lien, at least."
”I believe Mrs. Isilme might be able to help too, she has met Graukur in the past. I also know that there is a cleric in Nerosyan who has met Wu Kong and could contact him… though I guess this might take too long. Unfortunately, I do not know how to contact Zhǎng Zhǎo. As for Shu-Lien, would you mind speaking with Sosiel for me, I do not believe any message from me would be well received. ”
Unafe marvels at the idea of traveling still further, and meeting Hinagiku's clan. "If we are not going for too long, I would be pleased to come. I'll just need some time to ensure my Clan are doing well enough."
At Xander's suggestion, Unafe nods, "Yes, take the fight to the demons! You all have many connections, and I am still only beginning to learn the horror of what has happened to my land, so I will defer to the group's judgement as to where to strike...but you mentioned earlier that Snjóbyl Soulhammer, the half-giant spawn of Kostchtchie who led the attack on the Demetae yet lives. Would we be able to move against him? It irks me that the one who froze me in ice for a century walks free."
"You crusaders have your standing directive from the Queen herself," Ehren remarks, not that he really has to remind anyone. "It would be prudent to focus our efforts on the region surrounding Drezen. There is much ground we have yet to cover, that is well within our ability to hold. And let's not forget that the Templars are still attempting to undermine as at every turn. Had we not found Unafe, the conflict Jerribeth sowed among the Demetae would have turned out very differently."
Though he tries hard not to look too offended, Xanderghul was not wrong - not that Ehren cares to admit it. As humble as he tried to come off, he still carries a great deal of pride, both as a Kellid and especially as the Archdruid. Carrying his friends on his back was one thing, but being saddled was another. "A basket or something of the sort sounds much more reasonable. The lighter the better. I could weave spellcraft into such a construction, but the magic it would take to make it collapsible is not in my purview."
Ehren looks somewhat surprised by Xanderghul's summation of the dangers that might be present in Minkai. Having spoken to Hinagiku about Kurihara before, he had no idea that the village was situated in such a troubled land. He has no desire to seek out conflict there, but Xanderghul was right (again) in that they should be prepared for it.
"I am glad that she is doing alright," Ehren remarks, relieved to hear that their friend appears to be doing well. For a time he had gone weeks or even months without seeing some of his companions, but the time he has gone without seeing Valaria has been the longest.
Unafe's desire to slay Soulhammer was predictable, but Xander noted with regret the difficulty of accomplishing such a thing. "Snjobyl is said to live in Iz, if I remember right, at the very center of the Wound. It would take a far stronger army than the one we have to breach that place. Not only that, but we would need to fight its ruler, the balor Khorramzadeh."
Xander shakes his head. "I for one am not ready to face a balor," he sighs, "Despite our previous encounter with the bound one."
"My Pathfinders have discovered all they could about the Petrified Forest and the Lake Lost to the Sun. I agree that we should not disturb the waters unless we have to, and the forest is filled with nabasu demons -- it seems too dangerous for now. Perhaps we could approach the Yathscar, or make a scouting run of Storasta."
He turns back to Ehren. "How much can you carry? All of us, clearly, but what weight of basket? Perhaps we could acquire some darkwood."
"If we had the power to strike at Iz, we would have done so long ago," Ehren says to Unafe, corroborating Xanderghul's take on things.
"It could simply be that your Pathfinders did not know what to look for," he replies to the wizard curtly, still less than pleased that Xanderghul had not thought to consult him before having the Library investigated. Or worse, that he had thought to, but decided against doing so. In either case, the archdruid has been much too busy to feud with the Pathfinder Society, or Xanderghul for that matter. "I will look into the matter myself when the opportunity presents itself. As for the Lake... I still need to find out what happened to Jestak. I should never have allowed her to take her clan anywhere near that place.
"As far as Storasta and Yathscar go, beyond them being so far away, I do not see us faring much better against the likes of Carrock than we would against the Storm King himself."
Moving back to the topic of being the group's transport, Ehren shrugs. "With my magic, a few thousand pounds. More if Ary lends me her muleback cords."
Unafe sighs and nods as Xander and Ehren explain that Snjóbyl is untouchable for now.
Multiple attempts to scry on Jestak fail.
When the heroes arrive back in Drezen, they mostly disperse to their various responsibilities while also preparing to accompany Hinagiku to Minkai.
On a Toilday, Ary brings Unafe deep into the catacombs beneath Drezen. There is a surprisingly large subterranean system hidden beneath the Citadel. Ary is able to help explain that Drezen was originally constructed at some point after Unafe was frozen, here, in Sarkoris. It was then lost to the demons, led by the demoness Aponavicius. It was the demons who had built these immense underground structures during their time occupying the castle. The demons had mostly let the rest of the city above fall into disrepair.
Since reclaiming Drezen, the Crusaders had spent the last few years reconstructing the city, and were now in the final stages of completing the top floors of the Citadel's many towers. They had to also cleanse the evil influence that was haunting the Citadel dungeons, and had converted part of the floor into prisons, part of it into a barracks for an Underfolk contingent, and the deepest part of it into the "Purification Forge".
The original forge was lit by flames from the Abyss itself, but thanks to the Archdruid's mastery over the ley, they had channeled power from Heaven to repurpose the malevolent forge into one capable of purifying evil weapons or artifacts. The forge is always busy, not necessarily with purifying weaponry, but with crafting new weapons and tools for the Crusades. The majority of the people at work in the sweltering hot room are dwarves. When they see Ary, they stop what they are doing to salute her, and wait for her to dismiss them back to work before resuming what they were doing.
They take the elevator down into the forge and go down a side-tunnel to its very end. Half-way through, the tunnel is obstructed with a door, at which two guards stand alert. They salute Ary when she approaches, and allow she and Unafe to pass without question. The hall continues down around a bend to a small jail cell, as evidenced by the cold iron bars. However what is inside of the jail is actually rather cozy - the cell is furnished with a nice bed, rug, bookshelves, desk, and other necessities of living. Sitting at the desk is a blonde halfling woman, furiously scribbling away at a very long piece of scroll with an ink pen. Her long blonde hair is tucked back out of her face in a braid, and she wears simple green clothing. She looks up at Ary with a genuine smile, though it falters somewhat and she sees she has another visitor. "Hello, Ary," she says. She gets off of her stool and walks to the iron bars. She looks Unafe up and down (mostly up). "Oh? And who have you brought me?"
It had been years since Nurah had spoken to anyone who was not Ary or Isilme.
After days spent meditating and sleeping, Hinagiku leaves the temple during an evening, heading to Isilme's living quarters. After a polite and just strong enough knock to be heard, she politely waits to be let in.
As she is let in, Hinagiku cannot help but let her eyes wander around the place. It was her first time there after all. The monk then makes small talk for a short while, asking, among other things, how Isilme was feeling, especially since she had not so long ago reverted back to Lian's form, but was now looking more like herself.
Finally, when the moment is opportune, Hinagiku brings the subject of Tian-Xia.
"I have been thinking that, since we are heading for my hometown, it would be nice to let the other monks whom I came with know. I was thinking that we could bring messages from them, or bring back some things for them. Do you think it would be possible for you to use the power of Desna to communicate with Graukur and ask him if there is anything he would like us to do there for him, or anything he would want from there?"
Unafe walks, wide-eyed, through the catacombs. At every corner, she thinks, surely this is the end!
Unafe bows her head slightly to the halfling. She had seen a few before, but never conversed with one.
"I am Unafe Dau-Galon, Clan Liege of the Demetae. Unafe Two-Hearted, in Taldane.
"Pleased to meet you. May your ancestors always be near."
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Nurah's eyes widen. "Oh? So you're the new Clan-Liege of the Demetae? Fascinating. I thought they had left Sarkoris near the beginning of the Crusade."
Once back in Drezen, Unafe returns to her people, where they give her a heroes' welcome. She didn't have to tell them the plague was cured, obviously, they had already figured that out for themselves. Nelket accompanies her and since she already knew the majority of the Demetae to begin with, she integrates without much issue, though the former shaman acolyte chooses to spend more time exploring the environs near Drezen than spending time in the city. She's not alone in this, as most of the Demetae seem to have an inherent distrust of the Mendevian city, choosing to occupy their own dwelling outside of the city walls rather than within.
Amongst the Demetae, Nelket seems apprehensive to take on any sort of leadership role among them, though it is obvious she is beloved by all. Many of the Demetae who still live owe her their lives, after all, and they had never forgotten that life-debt. Caitlyn returns her helm to Nelket of her own accord, though Nelket doesn't seem keen on wearing it. She refrains from wearing anything that is overtly Demetae styled, preferring to wear her own clothing that she has sewn by hand.
On the second day back, Unafe and Ehren head back to Iobaria to bring the statue back safely within Ehren's enormous talons. It takes a total of four days round trip for them to fly across Iobaria, back into the Norinor, and then fly all the way back to the ley node that Ehren had identified.
The next three days, Unafe spends a lot of time with her people, sharing songs and stories from her childhood. She learns that the Demetae already knew many of her stories and songs, though some of them had changed a little bit over the past centuries. There were also new stories for them to share with her, stories about the past century they had spent without her. They set up the statue of Dolok in the center of their small, ramshackle little village, and henceforth all major Demetae gatherings happen under the watchful gaze of their saurian protector.
However, the fact that the Demetae purposefully stay outside of Drezen means that Unafe does not get much time to spend within the city walls. She has to choose one or the other, she simply does not have time to do both.
Xanderghul spends his days working at his school, where he encourages his students to delve into their own projects of interest. His own research involves investigating the specialized reincarnation spell - magic that is far too powerful for Crocris, but within the realm of the Archdruid's power. Unfortunately, the majority of the week the Archdruid is away, having returned to Iobaria with only Unafe, so Xanderghul spends his time gathering notes and research as he is best able. Fortunately, though, Isilme was available to help assist.
Additionally, by the end of the week, Valais has Xanderghul's Iobarian notes ready for him to review in the formal of a travelogue.
Hinagiku spends the majority of her time dedicated to training her mind and body. What little time she has left, she spends meditating and assisting with daily goings-on at the Iroran temple where she and Ehren live (though Ehren himself was gone the majority of the week).
Ary spends her first day mostly in meetings, reviewing notes for the current goings on in Drezen. Nothing life-threatening or urgent was going on, but running a city involves an immense amount of banal work - work that Irabeth was happy to assist with shouldering the brunt of, but Ary continued to insist being involved even if it meant working without ceasing.
Before nightfall, she heads to the hospital. She doesn't find anyone there who is disease-stricken, and Markus assures her that the majority of the clerics working there were perfectly capable of healing disease on their own. There were no notable conflicts going on within the immediate surrounds of Drezen, so the hospital is mostly empty of the injured as well. Most of their work is just handling minor issues - upset stomachs, gynecological concerns, skin rashes, toothaches - just another average day in any other clinical setting.
The next day she organizes a community service program to help clean up some of the public Iomedaean temples that had been defaced by young tiefling vandals. She finds plenty of volunteers within the Crusader school who are willing to assist (though Marhevok, when asked, refuses). Afterwards, Ary finds an upsurge of charitable works being carried out by various young Crusaders. Only Ary knows the extent of her influence - her tendency to respond to prayers with an urge to give back to the community was largely to blame, and she recognizes several of the Living Saint followers as behind a new project to construct a safe-house for those have succumbed to demonic substance abuse.
Late one night, Ary hears the whispered plea of someone she never expected - Kari. She gets a glimpse of her state of being. Her upper arms and thighs are covered in deep, painful yellowed bruises, but she covers them up underneath her clothes where no one can see. She's taking a late-night walk, and is passing by the mural of the 'Living Saint'. Staring up into Ary's angelic face, which has been painted over with grey paint by detractors, she asks one question - "Was it my fault that he does this to me?"
Most of the remainder of the week is dedicated to Ehren's trip back to Iobaria, along with Unafe. Approaching from the air, without any stops in the Iobarian towns or cities, the trip only takes 4 days. Before leaving, however, he takes time to visit the various kellid groups that had come to Drezen.
The Mother Heartwood cult lived within the city walls, in the small park directly next to the Heartwood tree. They were a small cult, less than three dozen individuals, and mostly kept to themselves around the tree, nourishing themselves with her fruit and only interacting with Mendevians when they needed to trade for things they needed or to watch them closely when groups were sent to research the tree. They all held the Archdruid in great esteem, not forgetting that he had cleansed their goddess of the Worldwound taint and restoring her to her former glory. They were in a good mood, though they were unhappy with the number of researchers that were being sent by Xanderghul's school to study the Heartwood Tree, as they viewed them as disruptive.
Clan Unbroken similarly lived within the city walls. They occupied a small portion of Southshore, and there were a few Kellid-owned taverns and eateries there that made it a popular gathering place for the clanless Kellid Crusaders that lived and worked in Drezen. Thanks to their Clan-Lieges' good connections within Drezen leadership, their part of town was very well-maintained. Clan Unbroken mostly maintained positive opinions of the Crusades, as they easily acknowledged that they all owed them their lives and freedom. Ehren easily finds audience with Isbeyl, but she admits that she and her husband, Ailig, were experiencing marital problems as of late. He had taken to disappearing frequently without explanation.
He doesn't have much time to look for Ailig as he had more Kellid groups to speak to before leaving for Iobaria again. The Demetae, lead by Unafe, exist outside of Drezen's walls in a small simply constructed village. They are celebrating Unafe's return and the miraculous healing of their kin. Only Caitlyn is in poor spirits, as she dreads her husband-to-be's trial that was next week. His trial would be by Kellids, as that was the Lord-Commander's decision.
Finally, he makes the flight out to Sesker's Gully, the second largest Sarkorian settlement in the Worldwound (other than Gundrun). The inhabitants here paid tax and tithe to Drezen and had formed a sprawling agrarian community. Things were peaceful in Sesker's Gully, thanks to the on-going communication between Clan Sesker and the local appointed Mendevian mayor.
Ehren is away during Ary's community service project and for the bulk of Xanderghul's and Isilme's research. When he returns, he is pulled into an audience with the Lord-Commander, where they each discuss their recent findings and developments. It is then that Ary brings up the need for more ways to deal with swarms since they no longer had Valaria to take care of them for the group. Ehren then spends the next day in Nerosyan shopping for what he would need and trading off some accumulated magical items that they had accrued over the past few years of adventuring.
Isilme gets in touch with Duke, who updates her on the ongoing concerns - the demonic drug trade, a strange case of a series of barmaids that had gone missing, Yulin's aggressive outbursts that had landed in her in an extended detention, among others.
Aravashnial was doing well, at the moment spending time in Rahadoum. Rahadoum, the Kingdom of Man, was a popular destination for mortal scholars of all sorts, who wished to divorce their research and debates from religion and the influence of powerful Outsiders. Here he was hoping to find some intriguing texts on the use of ley magic.
Isilme spends the rest of the week assisting Xanderghul's research. It was important to her, because she had a particular interest in ensuring that her body was not destroyed. Based on Xanderghul's research, whatever remains of the body itself was always destroyed upon reincarnation, perhaps consumed by the magic itself to build the new body. However, Isilme uncovers an old bardic story regarding a famous Chelish druid who was able to reincarnate the soul of their brother when it had been trapped within a gem by a foul necromancer. Together they were able to stop the evil necromancer for good.
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20 Desnus 4717
A week later the heroes meet together at the menhir stone outside of Drezen, so that Ehren could help transport them to Minkai. Hinagiku had suggested the presence of a beautiful, sacred forest that seemed to be a likely place that he could transport them to. In truth, Ehren had already known - while in Heaven he could not resist spending a bit of time reviewing what streams of ley traveled through his girlfriend's home country.
Accompanying them are Hua Xing and Joran, two Iroran monks who lived in the Iroran temple along with Ehren and Hinagiku. Hua Xing was a tall, thin man with his glossy black hair tied up in a knot. Joran was a stocky dwarf with his beard in an intricate set of braids. Both wore the standard Iroran robes - blue and white, and nothing else but a simple satchel across the front. Joran crosses his arms.
"Righ, well, through Irori's good favor, I believe I can ensure at least three people are able to fully understand the local language for t'better part of a day. So if you're interested in receiving his blessing, then just let me know." He cracks his neck. "But knowin' the language and knowin' how tae speak tae folks is different. Anything we should know before we leave, Hinagiku?"
Minkai is one nation of the Dragon Empires, also known as Tian Xia, which despite its relative isolationism from the rest of Tian Xia, is one of the best-known Tien nations in Avistan due to the northern trade route known as the Path of Aganhei.
Minkai has always been independent from the various Empires that ruled over Tian Xia (mostly thanks to being an island difficult to approach from the mainland) and self-sufficient. Since its inception, Minkai has been ruled by an emperor born from one of the five families invested with the divine right to rule by the goddess Shizuru herself. Over the last several decades, however, four of the five Imperial families have vanishes. Some fled the country in self-imposed and mysterious exile, others were assassinated or hunted to extinction. The final surviving family in Minkai, the Higashiyama, held onto the Jade Throne of Kasai until just a decade ago, when emperor Higashiyama Shigure was whisked away for his own protection against an assassination attempt. In his absence, the rule of Minkai has transferred to man known as the Jade Regent. Unfortunately, in more recent years the Jade Regent has grown ever more despotic and demanding, appointing local daimyo that dole out unfair taxes, brutal policing by the local samurai, and oppressive martial law.
Foreign countries, such as those in Avistan, believe that Minkai is at the brink of civil war.
Sakakabe is a province that extends from a treacherous coast along the gulf of Xidao. Sakakabe is famous for trading in silver and pearls. Silver is extracted from the nearby Sankyodai Mountains, where several samurai fortresses protect the miners from bandits and evil spirits. Pearls are fished along the the entire coast, where an abundance of coral reefs and natural lagoons favor the growth of oysters and conches. The prosperity of Sakakabe is mirrored by its culture. The cities in Sakakabe have beautiful temples and shrines, as well as a refined entertainment district famous for their teahouses and theatres, which are second only to those in the capital, Kasai. Finally, Sakakabe is famous for its gambling dens, which many visitors travel from far and wide to play their games.
Tian-Min are generally very religious people and give fealty to two different religious philosophies: Tamashigo and worship of Irori. Tian-Min also generally give thanks to the various members of the Minkaian pantheon: chiefly the goddess Shizuru, the Empress of Heaven, goddess of the sun, honor, ancestors, and swordplay and her paramour, Tsukiyo, god of the moon, jade, and spirits.
Tamashigo is a form of spiritism devoted to the veneration of the kami, and to a lesser extent, to one's ancestors. Iroran philosophy is devoted to the search for personal enlightenment and perfection. Tian-Min use Tamashigo to interact with the world around them, but follow Irori's teachings to explain the workings of the human soul.
Tamashigo shrines are found throughout Minkai and Tian-Min use these shrines to venerate spirits associated with them. The shrines may be small, or they may be grand temples, but regardless of size each shrine is thought to contain the essence of a spirit and through prayers to these spirits, they seek to find divine guidance and blessings. Tamashigo emphasizes ritual cleansings and spiritual purity, but makes few moral demands upon adherents. The priesthood of Tamashigo is devoted to caring for shrines, cleansing individuals and buildings, and blessing congregants. Tamashigo priests are often practiced in magical arts, and are very mindful of the flow of positive and negative energy throughout the spiritual world. Tamashigo is also served by shrine maidens, who serve as oracles and healers.
Worship of Irori, as practiced in Minkai, teaches that life is an endless series of reincarnations and rebirths of the soul, and that only through self-perfection may one truly escape the wheel of life. Iroran faith is practiced through meditation upon scripture, contemplation of spiritual matters, and special attention to ones mind, diet, and body.
Irori is a relatively newly worshipped god in Minkai, having originally come from Vudra.
Irori, a philosopher prince, disillusioned by the suffering he saw in the world around him, turned his mind to study of the body and the soul. His spiritual quest led him on a pilgrimage out of Vudra and into many lands as he sought out the greatest of teachers. He studied under monks, learning how to train the body to perfection. He sat at the feet of aged priests and learned of the gods and of the power of prayer. Finally, viewing each of the paths he had studied as having some truth, but being fully satisfied with none of them, he undertook one last pilgrimage. It is said that he walked to the very gates of death and gazed into that dread realm, seeing within it a stark reflection of all of the suffering of the world, carried out ceaselessly and without end, suffering and death only begetting more suffering and death. There he stood for a day and a month until at last death had no more fear for him and thus no power over him. So cleansed, he returned to the world of men and began to teach students how they too might free themselves from the endless circle of death, and therefore from the suffering of the moral world.
The tri-fold legs of Irori are recognition of the universality of the distress of sentient beings, the recognition that distress in all of its forms is a condition caused by the desires, fears, and ignorance of other sentient beings, and the recognition that all suffering can be overcome through the teachings of Irori: the path to walk alongside the Master of Masters through self-perfection.
Just as Irori had, any sentient being could lift their mind and their soul above the suffering of the universe and free their inner spirit from the bonds of flesh and allow it to return to a state of perfect union with the universe.
The exact path to self-perfection, however, is different from Iroran sect to Iroran sect.
Irori's worship in Minkai spread wide after Empress Himiko became Iroran, and now Irori is one of the most dominant religions in Minkai, along with Tamashigo (the oldest philosophy of Minkai), and the worship of its patron goddess, Shizuru. While Irori was not immediately embraced by the populace at large, or indeed, by most of the court, it has been a viable faith in the region for the last 600 years. Interestingly, Tamashigo priests were among the first to accept Irori's teachings as just another way to better influence the web of destiny.
Iroran priests seek to aid others on their path to self-perfection, either by guiding followers with the priest's insights or through rigorous questioning and encouragement to provoke a student's revelations upon her own personal path. Most priests eschew armor (though there is no formal dogma) to avoid hampering the body. Irorans seek good health and a clear mind, so most go without intoxicants or anything else that could dull the senses, and abstain from excessive food or drink.
Iroran temples tend to be self-sufficient, growing their own food or raising their own livestock, though some depend on donations from pilgrims and laypeople. A common way of raising money for Iroran temples is by founding fighting academies, where ancient martial arts techniques are taught to others for a fee.
Irorans temples are sprawling complexes, featuring rooms for prayer, sleep and exercise in an endless quest to achieve perfection and purify their ki, or life-force. Iroran temples tend to not be open to the public so that outsiders do not disturb the energy of those training or meditating within. Sakuramatsuri, and other religious festivals, are exceptions to this rule where the public is often invited to visit the temples and participate in prayer or lectures.
A temple's leader, generally called the 'Master' in Taldane (or 'Sensei, in Minkaian), is whomever is considered closest to self-perfection (often determined via combat). Followers of Irori believe that those who can achieve true perfection will escape the cycle of reincarnation and join Irori's side when they die, while those who fall short of perfection are reincarnated to attempt the journey anew.
Animals, Food
Common pets in Minkai include dogs, song-birds, or birds of prey. Hunting dogs are common, especially among samurai. Horses are generally viewed as war-animals, and are not raised to perform labor, which is the domain of cattle. Consumption of red meat is considered taboo. Common livestock are chickens, geese, and ducks, though the majority of Tian-Min subsist on seafood, being a coastal society.
The staple of Minkaian diet is rice, followed closely by seafood. Chicken and other poultry is widely available, but there is a taboo against eating red meat, in part due to the influence of Irori. (Many Irorans choose to forgo all meat entirely. The idea that mortals can be reincarnated as animals causes widespread reluctance to eat something that was likely once a fellow human.)
Minkaian rice is a sticky short grain, molded easily into balls or with fingers. Chopsticks are the most common utensils. Soups tend to be thin and watery, intended to be drunk directly from the bowl.
Fried foods are rare except among nobility due to the cost of cooking oil. Wheat is expensive, not being native to Minkai, so bread is considered a rare delicacy. Noodles made of rice flower are common amongst the nobility (they are expensive due to the labor needed to make them). Most foods are roasted or boiled, and fresh fish is generally eaten raw.
Vegetables and fruits such as peaches serve to accompany fish and rice but are rarely served by themselves. Liquors and vinegars are made from fermented rice. The liquor made from rice, called sake, is traditionally served warm.
Art
There are four common forms of art in Minkai: sculpture, poetry, calligraphy and painting. Sculpture is typically used in conjunction with religion - religious iconography or ward statues to keep evil spirits away. Poetry is the most common form of art, and is a common past-time of the wealthy. Typical Minkaian poems are short, heavily structured, cryptic, and focused on natural beauty. Haikus are a typical example but there are many types of Minkaian poems. Calligraphy is also widely practiced by the wealthy. Gifted calligraphers are able to capture the actual emotions and depth of meaning of the written word, and the goal of calligraphy is to write words that are at once beautiful to look at and which are able to awaken deep philosophical insights. Finally, painting is the rarest form of art, simply because so few are considered to do it well. With Minkaian forms of magic, painting portraits enabled evil spells to be more easily cast upon a person, and so paintings of landscapes and animals became the cultural norm. Paintings are usually done on sheets of silk which are incorporated into furniture, such as folding panels or cabinet doors. Wall-hangings tend to be of calligraphy, not paintings.
Clothing
Tian-Min prefer loose, flowing styles of garments. Wealthy Tian-Min display their wealth using multiple layers of fabric, often voluminous sheets of silk and bright and colorful.
Kimonos are simultaneously the most formal and common of clothing styles. Kimonos are sleeved robes and there are many styles of kimono. The traditional sleeve of a kimono is broad, with a taper at the wrist. This sleeve serves as a place to store or conceal items. Most kimonos extend to the wrist, but traveling clothes tend to be short-sleeved or sleeveless. Peasant clothes are often blue, or blue and white, as indigo dye is cheap in Minkai. Brighter colors indicate nobility. Samurai tend to wear somber tones, with less decoration of fabric.
Footwear typically takes the form of sandals in straw or cloth. Wooden clogs, called geta, are common among the lower class. Boots tend to be reserved for travel in the winter or for warriors. It is considered impolite to wear shoes inside a private home in Minkai, so shoes that are easier to remove are considered most polite. Finally, it is considered polite to always carry a change of white socks. Ones socks become dirty while travelling with sweat and dirt (especially when wearing sandals) so it is polite to put on a clean pair before entering ones home.
A common accessory, especially among nobles, are fans. Fans are used to point at things and at other people, and are often also used as notepads upon which notes or messages can be written on the go. Fans are required accessories at formal Minkaian tea ceremonies.
Straw hats and cloth headbands are the most common forms of headgear. Samurai wear a variety of helmets and head coverings for battle and ceremonial occasions.
Etiquette
Etiquette is extremely important in Minkaian culture. The basis for all proper etiquette is understanding the relative rank or standing of any two parties engaged in a social interaction. Lower ranks are expected to act properly subservient to those of higher rank, and the higher the party being addressed, the more fawning subservience needs to be. Those of higher rank are expected to act properly haughty and superior, as befits their station. Only with peers of exactly equal standing, or amongst close friends or family, can one act informally. Even among peers, etiquette may demand, upon occasion that one act in a defacing way, either by way of apology or to acknowledge the current standing of the other. Rarely do peers act superior to one another unless trying to be deliberately insulting.
One of the most important ways to demonstrate good manners and the rank or standing of another is through the bow. Close friends and peers will acknowledge one another with a curt nod, but when addressing one of higher rank, a deeper bow is necessary, even to the point of prostration such as a peasant addressing a samurai, or a noble addressing a lord. Prostration is also used for apologizing, as it socially makes the apology seem more acceptable. Finally, an inferior should not stand taller than a superior when engaged in conversation. It is proper for inferiors to speak from a kneeling position, following a bow.
Etiquette also manifests itself in speech and grammar. Minkaian itself is structured so as to reflect the social position of a person being discussed in relation to the one speaking. Different verbs reflect relative rank, and when addressing another, it is proper to add modifiers to their name reflective of their social position.
In conduct and deportment, there are a myriad of small things which reflect proper manners. It is extremely rude to wear shoes within a domicile. Loud, boisterous behavior in public is generally considered a sign of bad upbringing.
Failure to show proper manners among peers marks that person as uncouth and unfit to socialize with, a stigma that can be hard to remove. Failure to show proper deference when addressing a superior, especially to samurai, can result in a person being beaten severely or even killed.
Honor
The concept of honor, or 'face', permeates Minkaian culture, though the exact permutations of honor differ regionally. While in Avistani cultures, guilt and conscience are the primary motivators in regards to morality, in Minkai shame and honor serve instead. Children are not taught to dwell on 'rightness or wrongness', but more on whether or not your choice reflects on the honor of the person making it.
In most of Minkai, honor is defined primarily by loyalty to one's group of compatriots. One acts honorably when they act in a way to display fidelity and allegiance to ones friends, family, or associates. One acts dishonorably when one places self-interest ahead of the interest of their group. Likewise, doing something that reflects poorly on the group can be cause for great shame.
Amongst the Samurai, honor is defined not as loyalty to a group, but to one's sworn lord. All things that advance the cause of one's lord or fulfill his commands are honorable, and those which defy him are dishonorable. Sloth and insolence are shameful. Samurai with no sworn lord to serve are generally viewed as second-class in the eyes of those Samurai who serve lords.
Closely related to honor in Minkaian society is the concept of debt. Debt takes three forms: a sense of duty or obligation, consideration for others, and a need to repay the actions of others. The level of indebtedness a person has, and the manner in which they fulfill it reflects strongly on their character. Some debt, such as the duty one owes their superiors or obligations one has for spiritual duties, are never fully eliminated; one can only hope to continually pay what is owed. Other debts can be fully discharged and in so discharging a debt a person proves their value. Again, as with honor in general, specific actions of 'right and wrong' and less important culturally than doing what is necessary to fulfill all debts.
There are four castes, or social classes, in Minkai: merchants, farmers, artisans, and samurai (often referred to as Shinōkōshō). Samurai are similar to the concept of 'knights' in Avistan - they are warriors, bound to a specific code of conduct, who typically swear allegiance to a lord. In times past, Samurai were often viewed as noble protectors of the realm, mostly in part due to their affiliation to the goddess, Shizuru, but in the ever-growing corruption and despair caused by the Jade Regent and his appointed daimyo, most samurai are a shadow of what they formerly were. While noble and good samurai still exist, they either function in service to a good lord who loves and serves his people (whom are becoming increasingly rare these days) or as ronin, lord-less wandering samurai.
Local law dictates that only samurai may carry weapons in towns and cities that claim loyalty to the Jade Throne. As a result, weapon-less martial techniques are popular in urban Minkai as a form of self-defense. Those who do not comply with the law are detained.
Minkaian writing is not built upon a phonetic alphabet. Rather, it is built upon stylized logograms (pictures which represent words) and symbols to form words, or the parts of words. There are tens of thousands of symbols used across the span of Minkaian language, though the majority of Tian-Min do not know more than a thousand symbols.
There are two forms of writing: kaigana and kaikana. Kaigana is used for official documents, scholarly and religious texts and business transactions. Kaikana is used in formal poetry and classical literature. Few individuals can read both perfectly.
All samurai and nobles in Minkai learn to read, but it is not common among the poor.
She pauses, and glances at Ary. You want me to tell her about our story? OK. I'll trust you...
Turning back to Nurah, Unafe explains what she can of their journey so far, and to answer her questions about the Demetae and the sacred saurians. She leaves out any mention of mithral.
Unafe--still dressed in a traditional war kilt and her mithral breastplate, with a few wispy spirits circling her--nods at the dwarf's question.
"A fair point! I'd have had no idea of local customs last week without Isilme's guidance. Hinagiku, I'm curious to learn about your clan and their lands."
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On the hill amidst the stone circle, the wind blowing through her hair, Hinagiku’s eyes travel over Drezen and the farmlands stretching all the way to the horizon. She was finally going home, to the temple, to her master, and to her mother. Despite the few years she had spent here and the life she had built with her Ehren-kun, Kurihara held a special place in her mind. It was not so much that she felt homesick, she had long meditated on shedding this attachment, it was instead that so many every day struggles would disappear there. In Avistan, speaking to anyone was a challenge, a bit like the meeting with the Skrovlov family. Years had made it easier, but it was still a demanding exercise. Being back in Minkai would feel like a little vacation without many of the daily struggles that she had to slowly sink and dissolve in her inner pool.
Drawing her attention back to the circle of stones, the path to Tian-Xia, Hinagiku could not help but wonder whether the letter she had sent to her mother had arrived yet, or whether her new form and Ehren-kun would be a complete surprise. At the very least, she would be bringing her botanical notes and a few flower seeds she had collected here in Mendev.
Hearing Unafe and Joran’s voice, Hinagiku leaves these thoughts behind to tend to the present, to her companions.
”You are quite right Mr. Vhane. There is… just so much to tell you all about. I think the first obvious part to mention is that only people belonging to the samurai class may carry weapons in town and cities. So, we will most likely need to put away your weapons before we enter Kurihara.” Hinagiku lets the words sink in, remembering how difficult it had been for the other to leave their weapons by Pan Skrovlov’s house. Luckily, this time, they might get by by using their magical bags to store these.
”Something else that’s really important and will come up is how to address people… you most likely all noticed that I use Mr. or Mrs. when speaking to most of you, at least those you did not ask me to stop. This is a habit from Minkai that I have not let go of yet. But, it is much more important there than here, and the honorifics used are more varied, depending not only on gender but on the differences between people… hummm, that’s a bit complicated to teach… and you cannot use the ones I use, especially when meeting my mother. Although, I guess that you could follow Hua Xin senpai’s example. Yes, that would probably be best, address people the way Hua Xin senpai does. If you don’t, people will be… angered or dismissive of you, and in the case of the samurai’s might try to beat you up.” Hinagiku takes a slight pause, not realising the others do not know what samurais are, before continuing. ”In fact, if we meet a samurai, you should refer to them as o samurai sama and bow. Like this. ” Hinagiku proceeds to demonstrate it ”And, I was thinking, to practice a bit, we should probably use these between ourselves. I use Ehren-kun, but kun is usually affectionate or something you use for a brother or a childhood friend. The feminine version is -chan. More neutral is -san and can be used between equals…. huhhh… when no one has power over the other. Since Ary is Lord-Commander and of the city, and so above us, we should refer to her as -sama. The same applies to Unafe for being a clan-liege. Considering the status of scholars, that would not apply to Mr. Xanderghul.” Hinagiku continues, giving an apologetic look to the wizard. ” There is also senpai, what I use for Hua Xin senpai, is reserved for people who are your seniors in a similar station. Kohai is the opposite, so Vhane-kohai for me.” Hinagiku looks at the others to make sure the information is slowly settling in. ”Also, the correct thing to do is to use surnames with the honorifics. So, Bishop-sama, Demetae-sama, Hua Xin-senpai, Xanderghul-san, Va’ardalia-san, Vhane-Kohai, and Ehren-kun.” looking toward each, and bowing to each, at first more deeply, but less and less as she goes down the hierarchy (while forgetting to explain the meaning of the bow depth)..
”Just like Xanderghul-san, I do not have a surname. Surnames were given to the hmm… average people only a few decades ago, and slowly. Before I left, okaa-san, my mother, applied for one. So maybe she now goes by a surname, and so would I then. But, right now, you may refer to me as Hinagiku-san.”
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If Quednys is in Drezen, she'll ask for his aid on the topic whenever he has the time to devote to it.
She'll double check on the status of the 'psychology' doctor she requested a bit ago, that she had hoped to help the group with the addiction problems, in a similar missive.
She'll leave standing orders for those most knowledgable about the surrounding threats to write up reports for the group to go over upon their return - to the best of their ability.
"Yeah, this is the Unafe I'd mentioned... the one that came out of a block of ice near a demonic volcano. She's also the one that can transform into a giant bird lizard thing... which I would ask her to show you, but... it got bigger, recently. I'm not sure she would fit anywhere very well in that form aside from Aponavicius's old quarters."
"Oh, don't forget, the Woundwyrm kind of transformed Ehren into a silver statue. We fixed that as soon as we could. As it turns out... you were right. I hadn't wanted to believe it, but the Demetae lands are frozen over. I'd... hoped that by some miracle there was a secret valley or something up there." she says, before shaking her head, sadly. "For now, the Demetae are living just outside of the city."
When Unafe mentions Dolok, she nods and adds, "He wouldn't fit in this room very well, either. They just went to get his statue, so... the Demetae can call him up, now. If they need him. The oozes were particularly strange. They were dangerous enough to melt adamantine..." she says without embellishment.
"Oh... and a lot has been happening with me as well. My... magic has shifted in focus. I still pray, but I don't think that's where the magic comes from. I can cast some protective spells, mostly. Oh... and this." she says, motioning to the pair of ethereal wings flowing up and leaving tiny motes of light like dust in a sunbeam. "And... I got my body back. Sort of." she says, shifting back into her human form, albeit with the wings still there and motes pouring out more quickly. She lets herself float upwards about an inch and gives Nurah a small smile.
"But... aside from all of that, I was hoping you could give Unafe and I a crash course on the local Sarkorian populations and where they once lived? We'll be heading back out again, soon, and I was hoping to have an idea of where to focus our efforts once we get back."
She heads towards the ramparts of the citadel, not bothering to change back into half-elven form and heads in the direction she thinks that Kari is. Regardless, she grants the young woman's request. Along the way, she has a bit of time to muse on the state of things... she supposed it made sense in the grand scheme that the reason Kari questioned her so much wasn't a lack of respect for the Crusader. Still, this entire ordeal was a surprise.
"Hey, Kari." she offers, with a small wave, looking up to the mural of herself. "I'm not so good at the responding, I can usually only do little nudges. This one... seems a bit more in need of direct conversation. I... won't meddle, but I need to explain something that is quite important for what I think you intend to do." she pauses, looking over to the woman for a moment.
"Reading souls isn't an exact science. There are a lot of things that can throw a wrench into them. People who have done little, no matter how good that little has been, or how evil, will not typically carry an aura. There are spells to disguise the auras of more strong or devout beings, as well. So, whoever you intend to look into might fit one of those criteria." she pauses for a moment, before continuing. "In addition to that... planar beings, like tieflings tend to have a stronger aura. It's just one more bit of unfairness in the world. Detecting evil or good is not a catch-all solution. We do our best to use it to screen for things, but it won't ever do all of the work for us."
She pauses for a moment, chewing her lip, before continuing. "At the end of the day, sometimes we have to trust ourselves about the measure of a person. Sometimes we have to realize it doesn't matter whether or not they're evil or good on a divine scale, but rather how they impact us, and we impact them. Just know, that I wouldn't support you if I didn't believe in you."
With the only real knowledge of Minkai that it was 'north', Ary arrives wearing her full cold weather gear. She had opted to only wear the breastplate of her armor - the rest stored inside of her pack... realizing it would be significantly easier to doff if it were warranted for her to do so.
She winces visibly when Hinagiku says she is above them and should be referred to as -sama. She makes an emphatic 'no' gesture to the kitsune, but otherwise doesn't interrupt. She looks visibly confused the more Hinagiku goes on about mannerisms... but ultimately settles on 'do as Hua Xin does'. After she's finished though, Ary tilts her head to the other monk. "I always assumed Hua Xin was your full name... like Hinagiku."
She then turns her attention back to the rest of the group.
"So... what do we do with all of my and Unafe's pointy bits? Would they consider her hand wraps a weapon? Faith?"
Xander assumes the same humanoid appearance he has for the past week and a half for their journey to Minkai. Pale skin, high forehead, long black hair, knobbly nose, serious brows, and a goatee. He appears to be a man in his 40s, but his skin tone and the serious look in his eye betray a greater wisdom.
He wears the outfit of a Pathfinder scout: cool, dark tones, black leather boots, a hooded cloak over his silken armor, his haversack resting above the cloak. His sword and crossbow are inside of the sack, as per Hinagiku's advice, but Xander carries his iron staff in one hand. He seems to enjoy rapping it on the ground as he walks -- not for support, but just to remind everyone that he is there. In his other hand he carries his journal, with pens stored in a front chest pocket for easy use. On his chest he wears the symbol of the Pathfinder Society, for he believes that the organization would be known across the world and might offer him some protection as an impartial witness.
When he arrives, he shares some of the results of his own research regarding Minkai -- the local Tamashigo faith, what to expect at a temple, the illiteracy of the populace, and the concepts of honor and debt. He places special emphasis on his understanding of honor, advising that everyone be mindful.
To Ary's question, he gives a small shrug. "Wrap it in a blanket, store it in your bag of holding, I'd guess. A shield is a clear weapon of war, but you could chance wearing it and see what happens. If some samurai decide to pick a fight over it, you can be sure we'll have your back."
Hinagiku is dressed in her usual white and blue tunic, a white fur cloak to protect her in the cooler nights. And so, she carries with her all of her possessions.
"Handwraps should be pretty safe, faith, maybe not as much. I would not recommand facing against a samurai, we would quickly find ourselves wanted... and it could affect my mother... if it is after I return home and people know how I now look."
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While it arrived far more quickly than Ehren anticipated, the planned trip to Minkai is something he has been anticipating for quite some time. Having already scouted out the circuitous route that would take them across the world, he knows for a fact that it will take them exactly where they needed to go. With the help of the book he borrowed from the Library of Harmonious Scripture - Dialects of the Dragon Empires, Volume V - he acquired enough of a grasp on the language to understand and speak it. While he had initially planned to surprise his girlfriend with his seemingly spontaneous mastery of Minkaian, the reality ended up being that he needed her help. Even with the exceedingly helpful text, the language was simply far too complex for him to teach himself. And given the language’s lack of prevalence in his homeland, he could not just absorb it from his Other Memory, either, as he had done with the Jotun and Sylvan tongues.
Ehren arrives dressed as he usually is, his more mundane garb concealed beneath the archdruid’s garments. Obviously, he is still shoeless. Hinagiku had never been able to give him a straight answer about whether entering someone’s house barefoot is too far an extreme from doing so while wearing shoes. He somewhat doubts that his title of archdruid would carry much weight in Tian Xia, but he wears the crown nonetheless. When she informs everyone of the illegality of carrying weapons in Minkai, he promptly removes his dagger and its sheath and stores them in his polymorphic pouch. He briefly eyes his rod, wondering if he could pass it off as a walking stick, before opting to place it in the pouch as well. Best not to take any chances. Besides, even if they did end up in a fight somehow, his greatest weapons are hardly his most obvious ones.
As Hinagiku gives a succinct breakdown of Minkaian etiquette, Ehren nods along, already familiar with most of what she is saying. The matter had come up in conversation between them years ago, when their relationship first blossomed. He had asked her then about her sudden switch to calling him “Ehren-kun,” which at the time sounded odd to him. While her explanation made sense, he never did attempt to address her by a different name. “Hinagiku-chan” sounded terribly inappropriate for some reason, and “Daisy” never felt quite right, especially since it was what most of their friends called her already. Kellid pet names on the other hand, tended to be embarrassingly dramatic.
“How should I address your mother… Hinagiku-san?” Ehren asks sheepishly, two questions rolled into one. The last thing he wanted to do was come off as a bumbling fool in front of his girlfriend’s mother. Her approval was something he very much wanted, for a variety of reasons that he did not care to talk about in front of others.
"Wait. What are these 'Samurai'? Some kind of monsters? Soldiers? I take it a Daimyo is... a leader or a priest or a general, then?" she says, looking between them. Faith shrinks down to little more than a holy symbol - though still clearly spiked, even as a buckler. "Will a peace knot suffice? Are there no special circumstances for soldiers from a different realm?" she continues.
After she gets her answers, she continues. "Why do your people live in a land with an evil leader, and why would your master send you across the world in such a situation?" she asks, looking to Hinagiku, then Hua Xing.
Xander has a basic understanding of Minkai, and he feels an urge to pipe up and show his knowledge anytime he possibly can, so he speaks up to answer Ary's question. "Samurai are... sort of like knights. They serve the local lord, at least, and fight his battles. It seems to me that with a people so concerned with honor and duty, half-measures aren't likely to satisfy."
"If you'd like I can keep Radiance in my sack and pull it out for you at a moment's notice when we get into trouble...?"
"So, making sure I understand... I'm going to disarm because a corrupt leader has knights that will attack us on sight for carrying weapons?" Ary asks, raising a single finger on her hand and looking skeptical. "You know that I'm not going to be terribly good at keeping my head down, arms or no, right?" she says, shifting her attention from Xanderghul to Ehren, then Isilme. "I'm not saying I'll not follow most of the rules, but I'm not just going to let a soldier be a bully to someone. Is that going to be a dealbreaker on me coming along?" she asks, turning her attention back to Hinagiku. This was her festival - and her mother's home - and she very much didn't want to ruin it.
Sakuramatsuri is a peaceful festival, so showing up dressed for warfare would receive unsavory attention. Armor, spiked shields, spiked armor, are all considered implements of war. Why would foreigners show up to a peaceful festival dressed for war, if not to start a fight?
Tian-Min believe that all actions reflect on one's group. So any actions performed by any individual member of your group, honorable or dishonorable, would reflect on how people perceive your group, and by extension, Hinagiku's mother and sensei (because if Hinagiku has chosen to affiliate herself with a dishonorable group, that reflects poorly on her upbringing and training). Likewise, honorable actions will increase their perceived standing.
The Samurai were once perceived as honorable and just, but 12 years ago, when the Jade Regent came into power, everything changed. The Samurai are now generally feared and viewed as bullies. In Kurihara, the monks at Kuso Jijii's temple are often the only line that protects the populace from the most vile members of the Samurai order. They accomplish this by intervening conflicts with kindness, wisdom and grace, as well as by training the populace in hand-to-hand self-defense techniques that focus on disarming and catching foes off-balance so that the common person can defend themselves against an armed and armored Samurai. However, it is a delicate situation - too much trouble caused against the Samurai could cause retaliation to come to Kurihara village or to those who are associated with Hinagiku.
Finally, Ehren's dirt-encrusted feet would be perceived as disgusting. It would be incredibly rude for someone to track dirt into someone's private dwelling in that way. It is considered polite to carry a change of socks whenever entering a private-dwelling, for wearing sweaty or dirty socks in someone's home is also disgusting. In Minkai, people mostly sit or sleep directly on the floor, so keeping the floor clean is of importance.
Xander puts his palm to his forehead with a groan. "Ary, are you saying that you would rather not come than disarm? We're literally going to a cherry blossom festival in a faraway town to meet the mother of our most incredible companion. That's an unmissable event, armor and weapons or no."
"Come on, just relax. It's going to be a party."
"No. That is not what I said, Xander." Ary replies. "I said that if I see someone doing something horrible to someone else, I will likely step in. Even without my armaments. I would rather not go than cause harm to Hinagiku or her family, but I won't allow horrible things to happen right in front of me. I am being pragmatic, because I care about Daisy, not because I don't."
Unafe listens as her companions speak, trying to make sense of many, many new terms.
She also waits to see if anyone else will take Joran up on his offer. After pausing to let those who've known Joran longer respond, Unafe says, "I would be grateful if you could bless me with the ability to understand Minkaian...Joran-san."
"That said, it sounds as though I should be cautious about addressing anyone! How do you keep track of it all?"
After a moment's thought, she adds, "Hinagiku, you were a gracious guest with the Demetae, respectful of our ways and sovereignty. If I can be a better guest by removing either my breastplate, or my handwraps, or both, I will of course do so."
Ehren shakes his head. "I feel the same way, Ary, but I believe you should come with us. Whether or not we have weapons should not keep us from doing the right thing, if the situation arises. Nonetheless, we should be mindful of the consequences of our actions." He looks to Hinagiku, hoping she agrees.
Though Isilme still spent much of her time in the school she'd started, especially since that was where her network operated out of, she had long since switched to quartering in the tower with Aravashnial. The two still maintained separate quarters within the tower, due to the obvious issue of her still occupying Li'an's body, but the arrangement allowed them to spend significantly more time together, something she especially valued in light of her current condition.
Her room there was fairly simple. At some point it had been a small lab, but since Aravashnial didn't practice alchemy or potion making, it made sense to repurpose it. The bed, though not immediately impressive, was actually covered in high quality bedding she'd managed to procure through Horgus, something she had developed a taste for back when she'd lived with Elan. The room was dimly lit for human eyes, but ideal for her elven vision. Two of the walls contained shelving that must've been used originally to store glassware, reagents and potions, but now contained stacks of books and scrolls, seemingly unorganized. The writings were a mixture of her own notes, reports from her network, and texts on various topics of interest to her work.
Along the wall nearest the door, sits her desk, which is similarly stacked in books and still-sealed scrolls. On the shelf above it lies a series of four tomes that have seemingly been bound in iron and lead with no means of opening them. The books represented her collected notes on her spy network, encrypted and then sealed so that she could open a small slot on the side, sufficient for her to read the contents within while shielding the books from scrying when it was closed.
One might have expected personal decorations within the room from her travels, but most of those were actually scattered about the tower at this point, partly because she had quite a few mementos from her travels, and partly because she considered her room temporary. Eventually she and Xander would complete the spell, she'd have her own body, and if all went well, Li'an would be returned to life.
Isilme is surprised to see Hinagiku at her door. She had been sitting on her bed daydreaming about the prospects of having her own body before the monk had arrived. "Welcome Hinagiku. This is your first time to the tower since I've moved in, no? I've turned this old lab into my room for now. The combination of privacy and being close to Ai'sintar is wonderful. Please, make yourself at home."
When Hinagiku finally brings up the possibility of using sending to contact Graukur, Isilme nods. "Sending to him will be fairly easy. I cannot do so immediately as I've used the spell today already, but I can send to him in the next day or so. Since it doesn't sound like he'll be coming with us, there should be no issue checking in with him even after we leave if necessary. I will make sure to let you know if he has any requests."
When Isilme arrives for the trip, she does so in the form of a raven-haired Minkaian woman, somewhat shorter than she had been as an elf. She figured it would be easier to just make the trip as a human, as she was unsure what their relationship with elves was there. Additionally, appearing as someone more local to begin with would allow her some freedom to wander about without attracting too much attention if she needed to. Her clothes, provided by her magical sleeves, similarly are designed to be less eye-catching than her own normal garb, though she wasn't familiar enough with their clothing styles and would need to adjust them to be more fitting once there. On her back is a bundle with her gear and her sword, which she'd taken the liberty of wrapping up in a blanket to hide from sight, as the weapon was rather distinctive.
"Hello, everyone," she says, greeting her friends. "are we ready to depart?"
Isilme listens as Hinagiku goes over the etiquette for the situation. Perhaps at one point she had been familiar with all this, her ability to speak minkaian suggested that she must have visited those lands some point long in the past. Still, dealing with these sorts of formalities is something she'd had plenty of experience with.
She chimes in when Ary expresses concern with disarming herself. "We are more than capable of arming ourselves quickly should there be a situation that cannot be handled otherwise, Ary. We should all keep our weapons out of sight until there is no other choice. We have plenty of other ways of diffusing delicate situations besides combat, after all, and starting off violating their rules will only serve to prevent us from taking advantage of those avenues."
She adds after a moment, "Anyway, Xander is right, lets not worry about confrontations until the problem arises. For now lets just plan on going and enjoying the festival. And you'll regret not coming with us, so put the concerns aside and lets go!"
Looking the commander up and down briefly, Isilme remarks offhandedly, "Perhaps we should see about providing you some way to glamer your gear in the future to avoid some of these issues. Though I wonder whether such a thing is possible with Faith and Radiance as they are. At the very least your armor could easily be enchanted to hide its nature."
Hinagiku hesitates for a moment when she sees a Tian-mink woman approach the hill. Even after she speaks, she takes a moment to recognize her, the meek looking woman being such a clash to the usual Isilme.
”It will depend on whether she was awarded a surname since I left. If not, Haruka-san would be the correct way.” Hinagiku answers to Ehren. Perhaps Ehren would be given a chance to call her -chan, but that seemed unlikely considering how proper her mother was.
After given a quizzical look at the shrinking shield, Hinagiku provides a few specifications to what Xanderghul and Isilme had said:
”Well, as long as we are on the road, you will be fine with your weapons Bishop-sama. In town will be different.” Hinagiku says, it was strange to call Ary so, but necessary to practice for the trip. ”But Xanderghul-san has the right idea, it is a party. One dedicated to peace. Having armors or arms out would be provocative. If something happens, we can do as Isilme-san suggested. With her way with words, I am sure she could sway the most aggressive of the samurais. If need be, I will help defend anyone who is in danger. But, as long as we seem peaceful, we most likely won’t be intercepted. And… I am sorry if I did not make this clear, but anything humm…. dishonorable would be the best word. So, anything dishonorable you do will affect me, and so my mother and my master, Kuso-sensei.”
Hinagiku tilts her head sideways as Isilme suggests using a glamer to hide Ary’s armor.
”I am sure it would be useful, but if it comes to be discovered, it would seem dishonorable.”
Ary nods her head to Hinagiku, beginning to remove the remainder of her breastplate. "Does anyone have an idea for how to store our spike-covered things?" she asks, allowing the subject to drop when Isilme joins Xanderghul in telling her not to plan for possible eventualities. She was more concerned that even without violence, something as 'minor' of a provocation as dishonoring someone could be done in a multitude of ways, but the others seemed not to be nearly as worried as she was. "If we don't have a solution that will protect our magical bags, then we may just have to leave them behind, entirely."
By the time she's finished removing her armor - significantly faster than donning or doffing the full set - she looks somewhat uncomfortable and disheveled. She removes the latter with a twist of her ring, her appearance becoming perfectly proper despite the recent change.
Unexpectedly, Isilme’s room was not so different from Hinagiku’s, except for the disorderly stacks of book and bed which was the polar opposite. Still, the monk was surprised not to notice more mementos from the different places the azata had visited in the past.
”Thank you. It is yes. It does seem private, but I thought that since you both lived in the tower, you would share a room with Mr. Aravashnial.” Hinagiku says, half wondering whether whatever had recently affected Isilme had also forced her to distance herself, or if she simply liked her freedom this much. Nevertheless, she would not ask such a question directly.
Later, after thanking Isilme for accepting to contact Graukur, Hinagiku suggests spending this time of the evening to help with her companion’s meditation, has they had done recently.
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Hinagiku, partly absentmindedly, shakes her head at Ary’s question regarding the pointy bits. The monk was still pondering how to answer Ary’s question regarding the ‘evil’ overlord of the region.
”Bishop-sama, everyone, I understand how this might be strange to all of you, but however brutal some of the samurai might be, they are legitimate representatives of the Daimyo who is himself the representative of the regent to the throne. As such, they are to be respected. Despite this, it is possible to appeal to their honor… and they are also expected to be honorable.”
Dear (mother),
The cold days are once more upon this land; I am sorry I haven't written for a long time, but have you been doing well?
Many things have changed since I last wrote. In the last three years, I have lived in a city that was once lost in the oni desert, but which my companions and friends have helped restore to its former glory, with plentiful fields, esteemed learning centers, and strong protective walls. It even has a temple to the Master of masters which has drawn new faithful. This haven has given me a place where to lead a normal life when I am not fighting against the onis. I have even found something that I had not looked for nor expected to find. My path has met that of a man with whom I now share my life with. His name is Ehren of clan Ferron, Archdruid of Sarkoris. As you know, I have vowed my life to the defeat of the oni’s, as such, I have not formed a formal union with him. Despite this, he has shown me great respect, not treating me as a concubine but as a wife. With his station, he could have formed a union with many great woman of this land, but sees me as his one. He has even learned our language, which seems to be quite difficult for the people here to learn.
Lastly, I would like to ask one favor from you. Could you please leave a bouquet in my name on the tomb of my early guardians. .
Please give my regards to everyone and take care of yourself.
With respect, you loving daughter Hinagiku