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Rumble beams with pride as his stomach capacity makes the highlight reel of their trip, but otherwise lets his companions explain their findings Not like I really understand the significance of most of them anyway.
"Soun's easy!" he says as he does his best to take as many mental pictures of the case as he can. "How long'll ih take tah make tha trip?"
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Maria mumbles, "oh come now, knowledge is pure and full of joy. No one ever fights wars over... oh wait no that's not right, everyone fights wars over information. Sometimes misinformation, accidental or intentional. Sometimes new knowledge is found that upsets the balance of power." She speaks up, "okay yeah, how likely is this to cause mass chaos and is it maybe a necessary mass chaos like overturning an evil rule or something?"
She then gets distracted watching Rumble looking at each page and blinking once and moving to the next page to blink again, is he... trying to blink those into his memory? Whaaaat?!?
Mai Chun's eager expression falters in the face of the group's concern and she sighs softly. "I have to admit, I was hoping that you wouldn't think of that. Truth be told, I don't rightly know. The Successor States have been jockeying for position ever since their creation, it's true, but so far there hasn't been an all-out war over any of the claims to legitimacy any of them have made."
"One thing I am hoping for is that our work here has largely gone unnoticed and unheard of," she continues. "But admittedly that may or may not actually be the case. In order to dig up the leads I had you follow I did have to share at least small bits of what I was looking for with others. Particularly sharp individuals could possibly have put two and two together. So I would be cautious as you make your way out to the Summer Palace and begin your explorations. Just in case."
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Maria nods, brought back to the conversation. "Well then we must make haste, one wouldn't want the palace plundered by thieves before we get a chance to plunder it ourselves. Er... find the thing we need to find that probably won't start a war?"
She packs up her gear, ready to go as soon as the group is ready.
"That's the spirit," Mai Chun smiles. "I look forward to seeing what you find. But please, take care and stay safe!"
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Once all of your questions have been asked and answered and your supplies replenished you set out again, just the four of you now as Sylvak found himself called away to assist a different team with a different mission. The trip to the Summer Palace takes several days through the Gossamer Mountains, but the journey is blessedly uneventful.
The Summer Palace silently presides over a secluded valley, majestic despite its obvious abandonment. Its terraces and sloping roofs form a multi-tiered affair that seems to grow from the surrounding mountains. Unfortunately, much of the palace appears to have been buried in landslides and overgrown with thick vegetation, leaving much of it inaccessible.
Once you reach the palace proper you begin to do your best to explore the rooms and areas that you can reach, exercising caution and due diligence in watching for traps, monsters, and other hazards. The rooms that remain are eerily peaceful and quiet, seemingly devoid of danger. Rather disturbingly, however, many of the rooms and halls contain mysterious puddles of stylish clothing and armor, sometimes filled with small mounds of ash.
After some initial poking about you determine that there are five or six rooms that might be worth further inspection: the ballroom, the emperor's bedroom, the solarium, the study, and the throne room.
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This must of been quite the place to live! "Aye say we go straight tah tha big room!" Rumble suggests, indicating the Throne Room. Despite the quiet tranquility, he has Sledge out. I bet there is a critter or too lounging around here. With our luck, we'll open a door and have woken it from its slumber!
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Maria, as usual, keeps watching Rumble to try to figure him out. Ah! I've got it. I better break it to him easy-like.
She moves up next to the dwarf and whispers, "hey uh, sorry to let you down but sitting on the throne won't make you the emperor. There's gotta at least be a vote or divine mandate for that."
Turning to the group, "Sounds like a good enough place to start, let's check the throne room first."
The group makes for the palace's throne room, reasoning that it's a good a place as any to start and there's totally not any delusions of Emperorhood or anything else involved. Arranged like the rays of a midday sun, the primary corridors of the Summer Palace lead into the enormous, once-magnificent throne room, now slowly crumbling and falling into disrepair.
At first glance the room seems empty and your echoing footsteps are the only sounds to be heard. But then, before your eyes, you begin to see the ghostly form of a Tian-Shu woman with an ornate headdress and elegant robes materialize before the throne, sitting as though in meditation. Her eyes flutter open at the sound of your approach and she rises, bowing before you with studied grace. She smiles and then addresses you, her voice carrying an ethereal calmness.
"Greetings, visitors to the Summer Palace. I am the late Song Rui, princess of Lung Wa, and I bid you welcome. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"
Hepsubia stares at the ghostly woman with...curiosity? Apprehension? Or maybe it's both, or neither. No matter which it is, her mind races as it always does, trying to determine just what she and her friends are dealing with. Except...as Hepsubia studies the woman's form she begins to see the ectoplasm that faintly outlines her shape. And then she realizes that Song Rui isn't technically a ghost at all but something a little bit different.
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As the Princess identifies herself, Rumble places Sledge business end down, bows his head, and takes a knee. "Excuse us Princess Song Rui! We'uh here tah look fur some sorta scroll tah link some sorta house with this one!" he explains. Something like that. All the words that come with talking sometimes get overwhelming. How am I suppose to remember all of them?
Both Hepsubia and Zithembe recognize that Song Rui is not a ghost in the proper sense of the term but a creature known as an 'unfettered' phantom. These phantoms are souls of dead who became stuck in the Ethereal Plane, unable to move on to the Boneyard. While they are not undead they do have the potential to eventually become such unless they encounter a psychically-attuned person to merge with; such a merger creates gifted individuals known as 'spiritualists' and grants them an intimate bond with the soul - now simply known as a 'phantom'.
"Archaeologists? My...I haven't received any visitors since my mother cast her spell," Song Rui replies, appearing surprised. "Has it really been so long ago that this place has faded into antiquity?"
"Well, I bid you welcome to my home, Pathfinders, such as it is," the princess continues, her smile melancholy. "Please feel free to peruse what you can of it; I have no desire to stand in your way and even if I did I suspect I would not be able to stop you."
Song Rui studies each of you, a hint of curiosity creeping across her ethereal features. "Forgive me for being so bold but it appears that you have traveled from far-off lands to reach this place. The jade scroll case that you seek...may I ask why?" She turns to Rumble. "You mentioned the linking of houses and so I suspect your reason is political, correct?"
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Still kneeling, Rumble raises his head to respond to the Princess. "Political, buh aye think some o' mah friends 'ere can explain ih betta than aye can!" he admits, gesturing to the others. I just swing the hammer and spread Torag's word, I try to follow the schemes and such, but without anything physical it gets challenging. Ma, bless her soul, was right that I should have studied more as a lad!
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Maria, intensely intrigued with the concept of an unfettered phantom moves up and sits, beginning a series of questions for the nice lady after briefly explaining their purpose. "Ah yes, something or other about proving historical truths and maybe starting or stopping a war. The dwarf was very distracting during the briefing, I think the others took better notes."
"Speaking of distractions, you are quite fascinating! I'm guessing you can't really tell how long you've been here, but what are your last memories? Is it really of your mother casting the spell? Do you know what you are? Do you go somewhere else when you aren't here? What's that place like?"
"I am afraid that my memory of events is hazy and unclear," Song Rui replies apologetically as Maria moves to sit closer to her. "My mother was experimenting with teleportation magic, seeking a means to transport a great number of people at once. She cast her spell, but...I am afraid I remember nothing after that."
She looks around the empty throne room. "I woke up in my room and my form was as you see it now. And I have been here ever since. As for what I am..." Song Rui looks down at her own ethereal form and then back at Maria, a small but wry smile on her face, "...it stands to reason that I am some manner of ghost. Not the fate I envisioned for myself but at least I still retain my wits. It could have been much worse."
Song Rui shudders.
"But you seek to prevent a war? Somehow, that does not surprise me," the princess continues with a heavy sigh. "Even before my death I had grown so very tired of politics and politicians, with their selfish and scheming ways. But since this place was left to ruin I suspect that the empire of Lung Wa has fallen on difficult times since my death. Is that the case?"
As you listen to her speak it's rapidly becoming apparent that Song Rui is quite interested in hearing more of the events that have taken place in her homeland over the last century.
Song Rui listens to Hepsubia's rousing tale with an engaged, entertained smile and then with a more serious, thoughtful expression as Maria relates the task Mai Chun has set before the group and why.
"Well, it sounds like much has changed in the last century! I am pleased to hear of Shokuro's liberation from Lingshen," she nods approvingly. "As I said before I am no lover of political scheming, not when it means trampling on others. The people are the heart and soul of a land; if they suffer then the entire land suffers with them."
The princess rises to her feet and moves toward a small alcove that sits behind the throne. "While my former bedchamber was obliterated in a landslide several years ago, it happens that I had previously taken the opportunity to move a number of things to this room," she explains. Song Rui reaches into the alcove and removes a beautiful scroll case of jade matching the description of the one you were told to seek out. She turns and offers it to the group.
"And I am very thankful that I did so. I have never opened it myself so I cannot say for certain what it contains. Prophecies concerning the empire do not interest me but if it can be of some aid to you and your Mai Chun then I would like for you to take it, with my blessing."
"You are very welcome," Song Rui replies with a bow. "That being said...you mention fulfillment. While I admit that leaving this place has never occurred to me, I would like to see if it is possible. And if so, I would like to accompany you to meet this Mai Chun of yours, if I may. She sounds...intriguing."
"Hmm...I suppose the easiest thing to test would be to simply attempt to walk out of here when the rest of you do," Song Rui laughs, looking a little sheepish. "Now that I think on it I have no idea why I did not try to do so sooner. I suppose by the time the initial shock of my death wore off that must have simply assumed that this is where I would - and should - remain."
To Rumble's question she nods. "Oh, by all means, feel free to explore around a bit more if you like. I have been here for a century or more, so lingering a few extra minutes or hours will not matter to me."
With permission granted and having retrieved what you came to recover, you all spend the next little bit searching through and examining the remaining rooms of interest:
This cavernous ballroom contains a long table and place settings for dozens of people. Cobwebs and dust attest to how long it it has been abandoned.
This bedroom is elegant but austere. A vast canopied bed dominates one wall, but much of the room is sparse and free from any other kind of furniture. A personal shrine against the opposite wall is surprisingly well-maintained for its age, and a few candles in the shrine are mysteriously lit.
This stunning chamber was an astronomer’s paradise. A perilously long telescope of faded brass peers through one of the windows, its lenses cracked. Rusted orreries and faded star charts cover the walls.
Although this room is filled with shelves of books and rows of gilded scroll racks, a section of the roof collapsed long ago, admitting rainwater and hanging vines. The contents of this room — once sufficient to put many civic libraries to shame — have deteriorated to nearly total illegibility. Some of the remaining volumes are books on magical lore that speak about transporting large numbers of people magically, but at great risk. The empty clothing around the palace — and particularly in front of the books explaining the complicated teleportation ritual — attest to the fact that the ritual went awry, leaving the Summer Palace eerily abandoned in a single moment.
And while your discoveries in the study certainly corroborate what Song Rui remembers of the moments just before her death, your explorations turn up little else of interest.
After a bit of inspection of the shrine Maria recognizes the symbol, depicting a katana in front of a glowing golden sun, as that of Shizuru, Empress of Heaven.
"Funny how each of us see ourselves in a much different light than how those around us do, is it not?" Song Rui remarks as she notices Maria examining the shrine. "To those that they ruled over, much of my family and the nobility were seen as tyrants. But if you had asked them how they viewed themselves and their own actions...well, I daresay one would have heard a very different answer."
To Maria's question the ethereal princess shakes her head. "No, you are the first living visitors I can recall having. Though I have not seen anything unusual myself, perhaps I am not the only spirit that has lingered here," she suggests. "But if there were, surely they would have made their presence known by this juncture?"
There is no answer to Song Rui's question, only silence.
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After a thorough investigation that fails to yield any additional notes, artifacts of interest, or more ghosts there's little else to do but begin the return trip to Ashima with your prize.
You make your way out of the Summer Palace, Song Rui floating along next to you, her ethereal form almost invisible in the light of the midday sun. The journey is quiet and uneventful until you exit the valley in which the Summer Palace lies and begin the descent down the narrow mountain trail. As you round a corner, you see several familiar faces waiting for you - Jianghong and his bodyguard Zheng, the strange and mysterious Yue Xin, and the martial artist Jiang Fei. Each of them look rather tense and glance anxiously at each other. Jiang Fei is the first to spot you and her expression brightens as she calls out, "Ah, my students! It's so wonderful to see all of you well on this day."
At this, Yue Xin and Jianghong also turn to look at you. Jianghong gives you a friendly grin and waves, while Yue Xin simply gives a curt nod.
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Is it just me or is it weird to find all these people we met right here, in a place that no one could ever found? (Except us, of course.) Why are they all here? Thieves, probably! I recognise a thief when I spot one, I have a lifetime of experience "bout it, seein" myself everyday in a mirror!
Quickly, Hepsubia hides on her body the documents they found
Nice welcoming commitee. Glad to see some happy faces. Too bad we found nothing, the place was already visited...
Worth trying
Alarm bells immediately start ringing in both Maria and Rumble's minds as they stare at their three acquaintances, all of them just-so-happening to be waiting out on an old, deserted mountain path in the middle of nowhere. Even Hepsubia senses that something is up; there's waaaaay too many coincidences for it to be anything else and so she swiftly tucks the scroll case out of sight.
"Oh, well, you see I just happened to be traveling out this way, spreading the word about my new school and, well...surprise! Who would've thought we'd meet out here like this? It's such a small world," Jiang Fei laughs, trying to act casual. "Don't know who these other three are though, they just showed up about the same time I did. Do you all know each other?"
Zheng simply grunts and sighs, casting a glance back over his shoulder at Jianghong. "What you said we would say, right? New plan?" he asks his young charge, voice dripping with sarcasm as Jianghong's face flushes pink.
"Hey! It was a good story," he replies, defensive. "It isn't my fault that some crazy Jade Puppy woman showed up and stole it!"
"To roam the story is to become one with it," Yue Xin remarks cryptically, earning an eye-roll from Jiang Fei, Jianghong and Zheng all at once. "You did find what you seek. But imagine an unfolding of what could be, the heavens themselves granting favor." As he speaks, Yue Xin pulls out a rolled of piece of paper from his pack and offers it to you. "A fair trade is no crime, a star for a prophecy!"
At this both Jiang Fei and Jianghong begin talking excitedly. "Don't listen to him, he's crazy," Jianghong grins with a dismissive wave of his hand before pulling out a small set of what appears to be...watercolor paints. "Give the scrollcase to me and come back to Lingshen with us," he offers. "You and Zheng seemed to get along great," the boy gestures to Rumble, "and I'm sure I could get you all cushy jobs working at the school. Oh and these paints, they're marvelously pigmented - and all yours!"
"Don't listen to either of them, my students; one is a fool and the other is a troublemaking child," Jiang Fei urges. "If you give me the scrollcase and return to Quain I will provide you with further teaching - including the means to unlock greater wisdom!"
Song Rui considers all of this for a moment and whispers, "It seems that your quest has attracted others who seek the same rewards for their own lands. What will you do?"
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Maria sighs, "UGH! SO STUPID!!!"
He fingers twitch to pull out her bow, but she resists for now, "do you really think we would just completely give up our assigned mission for trinkets or words or martial training? You must be joking. We are Pathfinders and our word is our bond."
Hoping to avoid combat though she adds, "we will make sure that any information found is released to all in full, but it will be released uncensored. Good Day."
The angry elf allows her allies a moment to comment and then attempts to move on down the road.
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Really, you should be ashamed of yourself! We are here to prevent a war, or at least to try to prevent a war, and you are here, bickering, trying to fool us. Why Don't you fight between yourself, just like your country would do if you try to stop us??
Hepsubia turns to Maria
Stay there, we're on upper ground.
Remember that even if you try to beat us, you will still have to beat each other too. Do you trust your companions? Who will betray and stab the others first, just to keep the damned scroll for himself, while we want to give access to the stuff Inside to everyone, without any bloodshed? Do you want to get all the Glory for yourself? Will you be able to keep these things secret, or will you brag about it, and get yourself killed, in a few weeks, months or years? Will you try to hide it somewhere it could never be found? I can propose that: no one fight anyone, and you ALL get a share of the Glory, being named by the Pathfinder Society as kind helpers in that quest.
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Initially, Rumble starts working himself up, spoiling for the fight that is obviously forming before him. However, when both Maria and Hepsubia start turning towards peace, he deflates a little. "Yer makin' a lotta sense, buh a fight woulda been fun too..." he admits, mostly to himself. Though Torag would probably support a fight that was to defend my honor! "Aye also buhlieve tha' we mus' remain loyal ta our leader. Would be dishonorable tah do anythin' else."
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"To say that I am surprised would be an overstatement," Zithembe says, "Well, I am surprised at Jiang Fei's interest as I believed her content in her efforts with both dumplings and training your new students."
He shakes his head, "As Maria says, material wealth is not going to sway us from our assigned task. However, unlike Rumble, I am not certain of Shokuro's right to the inheritance of Lung Wa. In absence of compelling argument to the contrary, I do not see a reason to betray the original patron, though. Tell us why your nation should be given the scroll. What supports your nation's claim to the inheritance?"
Jiang Fei sighs, her shoulders slumping slightly. "Look, I'm sorry. Can't speak for these other two fools but when I asked for your help with my school I was serious. But after you left, I got to thinking about my correspondence with Mai Chun and what she had you ask of me. It wasn't very hard to put two and two together after that to figure out what you were searching for."
"Yeah, pretty much what she said," Jianghong nods. "I'm smarter than I seem, you know. The Summer Palace was the only thing big enough to draw the attention of someone like Mai Chun."
"Cranes fly on the north wind, but the swallow knows autumn approaches," Yue Xin chimes in, eliciting a groan from Jianghong. "Self-actualization is the nature of presence, and of us. What would support Shokuro's claim any more so than that of Po Li, Lingshen, or Quain?"
"Likely nothing," Jiang Fei replies. "Nothing but national pride. Still, is it so terrible to want better for your homeland? Isn't that why some of you travel the world as you do for your Pathfinder Society?"
But your reluctance to hand over the scroll case to any of them is clear. Jiang Fei sighs again and adopts a combat stance. "I'm sorry but Quain is my home and I'll do what I can for it. If you won't hand over that scroll case willingly then I've got no choice but to take it by force!"
"Yep. Can't let her or Bad Fortune Cookie over there have it but I can't let you guys keep it either," Jianghong nods as he ducks for cover. "Zheng? Be careful okay, they look pretty strong!"
Yue Xin shrugs and limbers up his hands and fingers. "Power is the driver of wellbeing. If we fight, so be it!"
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With combat now imminent, Jiang Fei quickly produces and gulps down a potion before gesturing for the group to 'come at her'. "Time to see how well all that training took, I suppose," she remarks grimly.
"Ego is the antithesis of health," Yue Xin intones as he conjures up a small ball of fire into his hand. He brings his arm back and flings it at the space between Rumble and Zithembe, where it explodes in a burst of flame!
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Round 1
Jiang Fei
Yue Xin
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Rumble
Zithembe
Maria
Hepsubia
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Zheng
Active Conditions: None
Everyone is UP!
Eager for Sledge to taste battle again Rumble calls upon Torag's divine favor and marches forward, ready to meet the weapons and fists and spells of his enemies! The slight singeing from Yue Xin's magic doesn't seem to bother him in the slightest.
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Round 1
Jiang Fei
Yue Xin
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Rumble
Zithembe
Maria
Hepsubia
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Zheng
Active Conditions: None
Zithembe, Maria and Hepsubia are UP!
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Zithembe frowns as the fire washes over him, burning his jade skin. However, as the flames fade away, his eyes turn to rubies, and those near him feel the rush of air through their feathers as they dive from above to snatch a rabbit and the taste of the rabbit's blood. He draws the naginata from the ruined estate of General Zheng from over his shoulder as he approaches Zheng (no relation).
He swings hard, trying to put the guardsman down quickly.