J (and Grishan) watch Colson disappear and once he's well out of eyesight and earshot, they relax and Grishan reemerges from J's mind. "Thank you," Grishan says. "I always wanted to be an Eagle Knight like Colson. He got his wings so young, and I wanted to follow him anywhere, and fight for freedom, no matter what. But I just wasn't ready to face him, not then," he sighs. "I'm glad you gave him the notes, though. Even if I'm not alive anymore I was still able to help him. It's a...good feeling."
"I don't know about any of the rest of you but I'm ready to get out of here," J breaks in. "Let's head back home, okay? And on the way you can tell me more about the Pathfinder Society. I wasn't joking when I said that I wanted to help more spirits and I think that joining the Society might be the best way for me to do that. I know I can't follow in my mother's footsteps, not after everything that's happened to me."
She turns and looks at you all, hopeful. "Would...would one of you be willing to act as my sponsor?"
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The jade construct-made-living smiles gently at Junia. "I am fairly certain than any of us would be more than happy to sponsor you. I suspect, though, that you would find yourself most comfortable with the Silver Crusade. You may find the Dark Archive requires too much... nuance and find your mothers reflection in too many of the members. The truth is, I joined the Dark Archive to ensure that the stated mission of the Archive is upheld."
"The Silver Crusade? I like the sound of that," J smiles. Then she shoots a look at Ylva and Hepsubia. "But don't worry, I won't make my mind up right now! You'll have to tell us both more about each faction so we know which one would be the best fit for us..."
And so the conversation continues, much in this same vein, all the way back to Dacilane Manor. Lady Dacilane greets you with relief, satisfied when you report that J won't be taking any further trips to the Precipice Quarter from now on, her business there being finished. But the news that her daughter wishes to join the Pathfinder Society is a...difficult...pill to swallow.
"Don't worry about me, I'll be fine," J whispers to you all when it comes time for you to depart the manor and return back to the Grand Lodge. "Whether she likes it or not I'm an adult now and I'll live my life as I see fit. You'll see us again, I promise," she winks.
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Your task complete, you make your way back to the Grand Lodge and report your success to Venture-Captain Drandle Dreng who is quite pleased with your performance. "Very good, very good indeed! Though I fear the Lady Dacilane may be some time in forgiving you for the influence you've had on her daughter and me for sending you in the first place," he chuckles wryly. "But no matter. I'm sure she will eventually come around to the idea - I do have my ways, after all!"
"Anyway, it's take for you to take a rest - you've more than earned it," Dreng continues. "It'll likely be a week or so before we'll have another assignment for you but we've gotten several leads from various sources that seem promising. Why, I believe there was even one all the way from our allies in Tian Xia..."
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In the corner of a nearby inn sits a stocky dwarf, sound asleep while seated at the table with a half drained mug still in his hand. Despite the ruckus around him, he is snoring quite loudly. Open on his table is a letter, clearly from the Pathfinder Society, summoning him for task in Tian Xia. A chain dangles from his right arm and curves up to the shaft of a warhammer, a solid slab of granite in place of the usual head.
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A doughty looking elf wanders into the inn's bar, looking around. Lithe frame, slightly taller than most human females, she is wearing a very simple outfit. The clothing is obviously tailored to cover most of her skin, but not restrain movement. Visible under the shirt is a form fitting chain link shirt. Her dirty blonde hair is bound tightly into a bun with a few strands falling down and framing her long pointed ears. A single bow, full quiver and simple backpack are slung over her shoulders.
She speaks briefly to the bartender and orders a glass of wine while being pointed towards the dwarf snoring in the corner. Approaching him she glances down at the letter on the table, nods that she has found the right table and sits.
Setting her pack beside her she pulls out a thick book, quill and ink. Starting to read through it she makes notes in the margins as she goes. Her wine sits on the table ignored as she is engrossed in her work.
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*ssssnnnOOOOOOORRrreeee*
*ssssnnnOOOO-* "I'LL BASH YA BRAINS IN LIKE-" Rumble begins to scream, spit flying from his mouth as he wakes up with a start, warhammer in the air. "Oh, jus' an Elf, an a wee one at tha'..." he mutters to himself before draining the rest of his tankard and letting his hefty armament thud to the ground.
The bartender shoots him a death glare as it connects with the wooden floor.
"Are ya here fur the Pathfindin' Society too?" he asks, poking at the letter on the table. "Muh names Rumble. An' who tha hell are you supposed tah be?"
Without really waiting for a response, his attention snaps to the wine. "Are ya gonna drink tha'? Aye can liberate tha' for ya if you prefer..." Noticing all her writing and reading equipment his face reflexively twists together before turning his attention back to the wine.
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Maria raises her eyes to the dwarf when his spittle flies across the table, narrowly missing her ignored wine glass. Setting her quill down she closes the book and replies with a hand offered to shake, "hello there um... Rumble, I am Maria Kuerlara of Kyonin."
She waves to the letter, "I saw that you had been summoned to the same mission as I, so I took a seat nearby. If you mind, I'll relocate. As for the wine, yes I am planning on drinking it but got a bit distracted. How about I order you a refill?" She waves to the bartender and hollers in a commanding tone that cuts through the din,
She lowers her voice, "I'm sure you know, but these humans can barely hear anything with their tiny ears. You have to speak loudly when there is any background noise."
Her thoughts continue rambling along, "I often wonder how they even came to be and then managed to survive to the point of thriving. It was probably some sympathetic old god, or maybe just their innate ability to adapt."
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Rumble meets Maria's hand with his meaty paw. "Kyonin? Tha's tha' elfy place, eh? An' ya got some sorta big ol' tree eatin' demon or wha'ever too? Weird place ta call home, bu' I ain't gonna fault ya for tha', ha ha!"
As the elf calls for more drink, he cheers with both hands overhead before slapping them down. "Tha's my kinda elf!" he coos into the fresh mug of stout the bartender brings over.
"Oy, aye reckon they made it this long cause o' all the breedin' they do! Almos' as bad as an orc!" he whispers back conspiratorially before sitting back up straight. "So are ya any good with tha' bow? Ne'er been much of a shot, meself, bu' aye got an arm!" he says as he removes his warhammer from the now dented floor and drops it onto the table with a thunderous clang, which earns him another scowl from the bartender.
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Sipping her wine, she pulls her bow and puts it on the table, "I'm decent with Wasp here. She strikes true, especially against demons." It appears to be expertly crafted, and upon looking closer you can see why it has that name. The top and the bottom are carved into the likeness of two wasps facing each other at the middle.
Maria continues, "so my master has taught me a number of things about archery and concentration. Basic stuff really though, don't shoot your allies, target the weak points here, here and here...." as she says this she points to the gaps in Rumble's armor at the neck, armpit and inner thigh "...slow your breathing, don't anticipate recoil and of course to concentrate on two possible outcomes and then choose the best one as you release the arrow."
She takes another sip of wine, obviously enjoying having a brilliant conversationalist to speak with, "but my master is a bit of a stodgy one. I ask a question about a rule or ancient wisdom and he gets all pissed off. I mean, I'm not saying something is wrong but if a simple question collapse the rational of an ancient wisdom then maybe it needs tweaked a bit. That's sorta what I like to do, go around and figure out how to make things better. So it takes a lot of research, observation and obviously asking questions."
She smiles, "I uh... think though that is the reason I keep getting sent to help the pathfinder society. My master is probably tired of the questions. Speaking of which, I see you follow Torag. I honestly haven't met a dwarf that did not follow him, is it that common of a practice or only among the dwarfs out in the world?"
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Rumble listens with as much intent as he can muster once conversation turns to research, with only the occasional eye glazing, but begins to choke on his drink at Maria's ignorance.
"IS-" *cough* "COMMON?" *COUGH* *COUGH* *COUGH* Inspired, the Dwarf jumps atop the table and raises his thick arms above him before continuing. Clearly pleased with his preaching, he jumps back to the floor and takes a seat.
"Aye work the forge when aye can," he says and takes another gulp of stout. "Aye ain't much fur tha research, but swingin' a hammer is mah job an' mah passion!"
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Another elf enters the inn. Slender, she seems to dance between the tables, and sits nearby Rumble and Maria.
She asks the waitress for some kind of honeyed wine, and seems genuinely surprised when the girl inform her there isn't that kind of wine here.
You distinctly hear her mumble
I was so sure I drank this wine, only sixty years ago...maybe it wasn't at this place?
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"An' who tha hell are yah?" Rumble asks the brazen elf. "Is ah Gnome gonna pop outta the ou'house next?" He begrudgingly scoots over to make more room for the newcomer.
"Whatcha gonna do with 'oneyed wine? Do ya catch bees with it?" he asks, holding back what is sure to be a particularly raucous laugh.
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bees in my wine? No.. You need to use a bonnet to catch bees. Everyone knows that.
A gnome? I don't know. Might be. Wanna bet? Two coppers the next person who enters the place is another dwarf. That would even the olds....
swiftly, the elf hands darts in a side pouch, and she plays with two coppers coins on her long fingers
but the demonstration isn't up to your hopes, as the coin nearly falls on the floor at least twice
See what happens when you don't drink enough honeyed wine? I used to do that perfectly most of the time last month!
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A golden haired human swaggers into the tavern in a vibrant crimson cloak. A pair of swords, a warhammer, and a longbow are all visible as he stops and grabs a bottle of something from the barkeep. From the bar he heads directly to the table where the Pathfinders are gathered. Throwing back his cloak to reveal a chainshirt and a pair of bandoliers with various flasks and a few darts, he seats himself between the elves.
"Hep," he says with a nod before turning to the two strangers and adding, "fellow Pathfinders, greetings. Name's Sylvak." At just over six feet tall with a wiry build, the man looks like a more robust version of the Sylvak that Hepsubia had traveled with before. The elven sharpness was gone from his features, but they seemed familiar. His hair was the same, though the beard was new, and his pale green eyes looked very much the same except for a certain resolve behind them that hadn't been there before. Turning to the rogue, his face bunches up in thought for a moment and then he shrugs and offers, "I was disguised during our last assignment... helping someone else with... a different mission."
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Rumble's anticipated laughter crumples as his face distorts into confusion at the elf's response. "Wha'? No is like ah trap an' ya- forget it!" he mumbles before turning to Maria. "This one don' seem righ' in tha 'ead!"
"I ain't a gamblin' Dwarf, but if'n aye was, you'da lost those coppah pieces missy!" he says as he stands to shake the hand of the newcomer. "AN' 'e 'as tha decency to share a name, somethin' tha' we still don' know 'bout yah!" he jabs at the mysterious elf. "Mah name's Rumble."
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Please do take them. I'll find some more elsewhere.
Hepsubia puts the two copper pieces in the smallest dwarf's hand.
Rumble? Like the sound? It is a name with something majestic.. the name of a king! "Royal Rumble"... Sounds great, no? My own name is simpler: I am called Hepsubia. Or "Hep". But sometimes, people says "Hep you" in the streets and I think they are calling me. But no. So please use my entire name as to avoid confusion. Or maybe "lady H". not sure about that one, seems I've been trained by priest of the Lusty goddess, never recalls her name... Calistrae. She is linked to wasps, not bees, but that wasn't too far from our starting point. I think I work in that temple, some years ago. Twenty years, maybe, more or less. But I spend to much time on my knees, and I've never been that good at praying anyway.
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Rumble accepts the coins and calls out to the bartender."Anotha stout, haha! Do ya elves even buhlieve in money?" he asks with a laugh, as another elf buys him a drink.
"Wha' are ya yammerin' on abou'? I ain't a king jus' a blacksmith! Tis tha only way tah praise tha great Torag!" the dwarf chimes in part way through Hep's deluge of information, doing his best to not glaze over as he struggles to follow along. "Aye think Hep is jus' fine. Wha' is it yah do now then, Hep? Suppose tha same fur Sylvak!"
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Although some of you had been eagerly awaiting word of your next assignment the timing isn't quite what you expected, as several days after your mission into the city's Precipice Quarter you're all awakened in the middle of the night and summoned to Venture-Captain Drandle Dreng's office. As each of you arrive, you're heartened to see some familiar faces - but there are also one or two new faces and one or two faces that are conspicuously absent.
For it being the middle of the night Dreng seems quite wide-eyed and bushy-tailed, smiling widely at the group assembled before him. "Well now, that looks like everyone! Good, good, I'm glad you all could make it on such short notice. Some of you made quite the favorable impression with how you handled the Dacilane matter and we've got another little case that I think would be right up your alley."
"Now, I know that this group isn't quite the same team as before but sadly, not all of your fellow agents were available this time around," Dreng continues, nodding specifically at Zithembe, Theodric, Hepsubia, and at Sylvak - even though he looks much different than when Dreng saw him last. "But your new teammates come just as highly recommended; I made quite sure of that."
"At any rate, some of you will remember that I mentioned receiving a missive from our branch in Tian Xia? Seems that an ally of theirs could use some assistance with exploring a ruined estate out in the Successor State of Shokuro," Dreng continues. "Her name is Mai Chun and you'll find her in the town of Ashima, but that's all I know about the matter. You'll need to travel there and meet with her to learn the specifics. Any questions?"
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Zithembe nods as Drendle Dreng greets them and acknowledges the absences. He glances over at Rumble when the Venture-Captain mentions the new teammates and softly says, "Greetings, son of the stone."
He turns his attention back to the Venture-Captain. "I understand that Taldane is little spoken in Tian Xia nor the ancient languages of Garund. Do we have anyone fluent in Tian among our members or one of its many dialects or some other means to assist in communication?"
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OOOoooohhhh my head... I've been here for a week, ready to go, and they wake me up in the middle of the night after a day drinking? Torag forgive me, should have seen this one coming... With a groan, Rumble lifts his head off of the table.
"Greetin's to yah too, stranger. Tha name's Rumble, an' yerself? Wha's wit' tha gettup?" he asks Zithembe. "Mah Dwarven script be neah perfect, buh I cannae say tha' aye can say nuthin' in Tian," he continues, doing his best to enunciate every consonant in Tian.
"Any otha details there, Drenge?"
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Maria smiles at Hep, "oooh, a follower of Calistria, tis a noble pursuit for sure. While I'm not a strict follower of her uh... tenants I'm certainly a supporter of the temple. My bow was even crafted by one of the temple artists!"
She nods a greeting to Sylvak, "I go by Maria, though my full name is Maria Kuerlara of Kyonin. It is good to meet such an adept master of disguise!"
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Maria takes dutiful notes about their mission, when her teammate asks about languages she replies with a long-winded ramble, "well I don't know for sure what other languages are spoken there but I have a solid grasp on common and elven of course. I have learned enough to communicate with celestial beings, though have yet to have that opportunity. The same goes for the language of dragons, though I'm less in a hurry to put that into effect. And of course I speak gnome, I mean who doesn't? Oh yes, the fey language. I picked up enough of that so I know if I'm getting myself into something really really dangerous."
She turns to the VC, "how are the uh... item recovery rules in Tian Xia? Like, do they search all your stuff when you leave the country or say if we found certain dangerous relics that needed to be studied and protected, could we walk out of their nation without much of an issue?"
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When Maria mentions his skill at disguise he clarifies, "oh, no- I didn't disguise myself. My...associate disguised me, used some magic to make it seem like I had abilities I didn't. I was just helping him. Serving as a decoy, or maybe bait. We're all done with that now, though."
Sylvak frowns as one Pathfinder after another confesses to not knowing the language. "Is this Ashima in the northern part of the country? We Ulfens do some trade in the north, some of the people there might speak a little Skald..."
"Hmm yes, normally that would be the case but there are plenty of locales in Tian Xia that are much more cosmopolitan than they used to be," Dreng remarks with a wave of his hand. "I wouldn't worry too much about it, though I'll admit that it usually doesn't hurt to have a backup plan or some sort, just in case. Even if it doesn't come up for your current mission it just might make a difference somewhere else down the line!"
To Maria, he gives a raised eyebrow. "I would say that it depends on the nature of said 'items'. To my knowledge they're no stricter than most nations here in the Inner Sea but don't forget that the Society does have a branch in Tian Xia. If there's something that should be studied or kept locked away, they should be able to handle it just as well as we could here in Absalom."
"As for where you'll be going, I've actually got a couple of maps of the region and of the nation itself," Dreng adds, slapping said maps down on the desk for your perusal. "Shokuro is more centrally-located, see?"
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Maria makes a quick note, "ah yes, that will do fine then." She does not seemed entirely convinced but is at least satisfied she has another option for dangerous artifacts.
Thinking for a second she asks another question, "any specific customs to learn or clothes to wear to fit in?"
Once the last questions are complete, she will head out. On the way out of town, she will purchase a couple alkali flasks and a specialized scroll.
Once they are on their way she asks the group, "any of you practice the magical art of healing? I have a wand that I was urged to purchase by the pathfinder recruiter that I can't use, but does contain healing magics. I figured someone versed in its use could hold onto it for now. I also picked up a scroll that can let anyone understand any language as was urged by uh... Venture Captain? Dreng, but have yet to figure out how to use it. Same kind of deal as the wand if someone can use it."
She adds if any look concerned, "magic isn't my forte of course, but I figure eventually I'll figure out at least some of it."
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"That does help to orient me," Zithembe says as he scans the maps. "The man after whom I was patterned knew very little of Tian Xia, and that knowledge is thousands of years out of date."
When the briefing comes to the close, he comments, "I will stop by the quartermaster before it is time to board the ship."
After making what preparations you need - and perhaps grabbing a bit of breakfast or a quick nap - you reconvene at the docks for your long journey by boat to Tian Xia. After several weeks cooped up in the boat you finally arrive on dry land and then are whisked away quickly to the smaller town of Ashima. You are then directed to your destination, a rather unassuming house tucked away from the main thoroughfare through town. Before you can even knock or announce yourselves the screen door opens. Filling the doorway is an elderly woman of regal bearing who wears a lopsided smile. Long white hair meets her waist over colorful robes that would not be out of place in the salons of Tian Xia’s largest cities.
The grandmotherly woman speaks with a deep, rich voice, "What fates and fickle winds bring blooming lilies to our forest island. With such winds does history ebb and flow."
Having introduced herself with this couplet, she bows and adds, "Yes, yes you’ll do perfectly. I hope you’re fond of bears." She grins and steps aside, raising a welcoming arm. "Quickly, come in. And off with your shoes!"
You recognize the woman's poetic couplets as a form of communication that highly educated people use in many parts of Tian Xia, particularly in regions like Shokuro that have experienced Minkaian influence. Such couplets are often meant to be complemented with an equally poetic reply - if one of you invents one, she'll likely be impressed.
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Zithembe bows to the white-haired elder. "Whatever the task, this lily has long since bloomed. The hunting of bears is now to be assumed."
He touches the bracers at his wrist and his traveling clothes transform into a modest Tian style. When he removes his sandals, then transform into a more utilitarian style of sandal.
"Please, tell us more of what aid you require," the shabti prompts.
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Rumble looks around at his companions, unsure about what is transpiring. Why are they speaking funny? This sounds like one of those times it's probably best I keep my mouth shut. A bear sounds like a fun time though. I wonder where they're keeping it?
The dwarf does his best to keep his dirty boots off of anything nice before stomping off after the others.
The woman pauses and smiles widely at Maria and Zithembe. "Well now! The winds bring lilies of all hues, I see. Good, good! The best bouquets are composed of a variety, you know!"
Mai Chun, for this must be she, leads you into her home which is delightfully cluttered. Papers and parchments are stacked perilously high, piles of books lean against disorderly shelves, and swords and shields are displayed on every wall. The only thing out of place amid the chaos is an orderly circle of concentrically arranged cushions around a chalkboard.
"Please, have a seat in my classroom," Mai Chun smiles, gesturing towards the cushions. "Securing Shokuro’s future includes passing knowledge and talents on to the next generation, you see."
Once all of you are comfortably seated, Mai Chun clears her throat. "Since some of you seem quite eager to begin, I will get straight to the point. Nearby, in the Li Sho Forest, lies a ruined estate that I believe was once an estate for military officers during the days of Imperial Lung Wa," she explains. "Simply put, I would like for you to explore this estate. As to why, I have hopes that it contains relics or information about Lung Wa that Shokuro can use to enhance its reputation among the Successor States."
Noticing more than a few blank looks, Mai Chun chuckles wryly. "Of course, I understand that the history of these lands isn't as widely known as your own. Let me give you the short version..."
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Standing by the chalkboard, Mai Chun quickly draws out a crude but understandable map of what you understand to be the continent of Tian Xia.
"For nearly 500 years, Imperial Lung Wa united and ruled an immense portion of these lands," she begins. "With the death of Aroden, the empire fractured into the competing Successor States, with Lingshen, Po Li, and Quain at the shattered empire’s heart. So far, none of the three have managed to recapture the fallen empire’s glory and influence, resulting in a tense stalemate. Agents from each nation keep an eye out for anything they might use as a symbol of legitimacy as the empire’s worthiest successor."
"Now, Lingshen has the strongest military of all the Successor States. Shortly after Lung Wa’s fall, it annexed the fertile land to the east - what is now known as Shokuro - and compelled the peasants to labor on Lingshen’s behalf. Over several decades, Lingshen turned its attention elsewhere, convinced that the subjected territory would serve without complaint."
Mai Chun pauses here and grins. "What a foolish notion that was! When a Minkaian samurai named Toriaka witnessed the cruel serfdom, however, he rallied the peasants and helped the territory secede as an independent nation. With a well-trained militia and an equitable trading policy with Lingshen that placates the larger nation’s need for food imports, Shokuro now enjoys some stability in this post-imperial age. Even so, the Sun Shogun Shokuro Toriaka recognizes that to the three stronger Successor States, Shokuro remains a prospective chess piece in their future ambitions. For our nation to gain the standing to fend off expansionist neighbors, it must acquire some of the same political currency — namely, symbols of old imperial authority."
"And as I've just explained, this is where you, my bloomimg lilies, enter the story," the old woman concludes. "I hope that my request now makes a little more sense to you! It's always much easier to complete a task if you understand the reason for doing it, I find."
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Sylvak does his best to be attentive throughout the history lesson. At Mai Chun's closing remarks his brow furrows. "I don't know," he replies, "I may be more of a thistle than a lily, but the 'why' doesn't seem to make that much difference to me... now, if you have the 'what' that'd help! What kind of relics should we be looking for: weapons, armor, stuff with specific names on it? And, what kind of trouble should we expect, beyond bears: other animals, bandits, restless undead guardsmen still standing vigil after centuries? That'd seem more helpful to me..."
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Rumble does his best to keep his attention on the lesson at hand, but, despite his best efforts, the poor dwarf manages to doze off. Fortunately, Sylvak breaks his stupor with his request.
"Aye agree, knowin' tha dangers o' a place is good tah know! 'ow do we know when we are lookin' at one o' tha relics? Are they glitterin' or sumthin'?" he asks, hoping he didn't ask for an answer already provided.
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Maria enters with glee, sitting adeptly in the classroom setting. She seems to be just as comfortable without shoes as with. Pulling out her paper, quill and ink, she begins taking detailed notes.
Aghast at her comrade's lack of attention or care about the history she jumps in to smooth things over, "well of course the history and background is important! It provides a framework for our search in case we need it for specific tasks, like figuring out what relics are necessary!"
She turns to Mai Chun, "you'll have to forgive my allies, they are very to the point and don't understand subtleties, but I assure you their skills in this matter are top notch. We will most certainly thoroughly investigate the ruins and bring the truth to light! Do we report back here before we make our findings public?"
Mai Chun waves her hand in a dismissive gesture. "No, no, it's fine. And besides, the thistles have good questions of their own," she chuckles. "Sadly I can’t give specifics about relics, as I don’t know exactly what’s there. Shizuru curse any looters that may have already gotten to it! But, if anything remains, I’m looking specifically for documents. Maps, letters, scrolls, things of that sort. Other than that, any treasure could be significant. If it’s shiny and not bolted down, pick it up. If it is bolted down, well..I have pliers."
"As far as dangers go, the villagers I initially sent to scout the estate report seeing a dire bear prowling the courtyard," she continues. "They fled, which is exactly what I would’ve wanted them to do. Who would make the harvest festival stew if Wu got his head bitten off? No one, that’s who. You lot, though? You look like you can handle a big bear if you had to."
"And yes, please return here with anything that you might find out there. I'll need to examine everything myself so as to know how to best proceed, after all," Mai Chun finishes. "Oh! And if any of you are in need of supplies, you shouldn't have any trouble finding the necessities here in town. We aren't the largest of towns but we should still be large enough that you can find most anything else you might need before setting out."
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Mumbling to herself, "...letters, scrolls and anything similar," she finishes writing with a flourish and looks up with a smile, "then we shall be off, thank you for the information!"
She packs up her gear, double checks it while waiting for the group and right as they are heading out she adds, "oh yes, what um direction is this estate from here?"