The gameplay thread for [GM School]House of Harmonious Wisdom: Prophesy.
After all of your adventures you travel back to Ashima and, once in the city, make your way to Mai Chin's home. Her door is wide open, as if flung free by the cyclone of a woman pacing furiously around her house, referencing and cross-referencing books, scrolls, and maps. Seeing you, she suddenly stops her pacing, balancing two heavy books in one hand.
"Ah! Delights abound! What have you learned?"
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"Well, " Zadim begins, "As from the map that we delivered earlier, we've collected a description around the palace, and a link to the Tian Xia zodiacal symbol of the Dog." He pauses before continuing. "To be fair, I was hoping that you could piece together the three, since you are the one that know this continent better then us."
She hums, without realizing it, as she looks over the latest information that the group brought back from meeting with Jiang Fei.
"You have exceeded my expectations.," she positively beams at everyone. She pauses for a second. "Where is that tall elf? Ah. Nevermind." She moves to the table in the middle of the room. She shuffles through stacks of notes and drawings, obviously pulling the information together. Her excitement level seems to be raising by the second then suddenly she pauses. In a voice, barely audible she begins to recite an ancient poem.
"Spring melts into a
Summer's dark night sky where
Cynosure abides."
She turns to face the adventurers. The gleam in her eyes looks suspiciously like tears. "This is it."
She goes on to show the location of the Summer Palace and to explain how Golarion's polestar, Cynosure, can be used to find the path into it.
Mai Chin shakes her head. "No, I know of no extraordinary dangers. It will take a few days to get there, however."
Mai Chun pulls a heavily annotated book from one of her shelves.
“This is a chronicle of the Empire’s final days. I’ll be putting out a second edition when we’re through! Anyway, see here.”
She points to a page featuring a gold-and-gemstone statue of a sovereign dragon coiled around a jade scroll case.
“This scroll case is believed to contain the 29 final prophecies of the last emperor of Lung Wa. Only a true heir of Lung Wa can interpret them; if this interpretation can be made here in Shokuro, it ensures our nation a high political position among the Successor States. It was last owned by a princess of Lung Wa named Song Rui, but it has never been found. I believe it may be in the princess’s quarters at the Summer Palace. When you find the lost palace, seek out the princess’s chambers and find this scroll case. Even if we can’t interpret the prophecies, it still provides an excellent symbol of the lost empire. Having worked in politics, let me tell you: symbolism is everything.”
A quick look of concern crosses Mai's face. "That, I don't know. It is a thin hope that we can find an heir but even so, just having the scroll case here, in Shokuro, will mean much."
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What is this festival I have vague memories of from long ago? Why is shrubbery moved inside while lights are moved outside? It is a confusing time focused on giving, all the while with an underlying sense of greed? And whoever heard of an overly obese elf with a beard of any sort, much less a long and full white one, flying about with a herd of reindeer? Strange memory, indeed.
His mind returning to the here and now, Treble listens in. [b]"Is there any way for us to know which room in this palace would have belonged to the princess?"[b/]
Mai shakes her head. "I don't know the layout of the palace. However, I expect you will need to explore once you get there. It has been a long time since the palace's location was known. It may be that there is nothing but rubble left now."
Mai shuffles a few more papers and stacks on the table then straightens. She pushes a wisp of grey hair back from her face and tucks it behind her ear.
"I know a few more days won't change something that's been sitting for countless years, but I am very anxious. I think it's time for you to be off." She gently, but firmly, helps the Pathfinders gather their belongings and then sees them off.
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Following the maps and directions, it is not hard to find the valley of the summer palace. Although the trip takes several days through the Gossamer Mountains, it is a relatively uneventful journey.
The Summer Palace itself silently presides over the 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.
Many of the palace's former rooms are buried in landslides and rubble but a few seem to be intact.
The rooms within the palace are eerily peaceful and quiet. Odd piles of stylish clothes or bits of armor lay about the hallways and passageways. Some of the piles are filled with a small amount of ash.
A sturdy set of dark wooden doors leads from the main passageway into the study.
The study is filled with shelves of books and rows of gilded scroll racks, a veritable treasure of knowledge that would put many libraries to shame. However, a section of the roof collapsed long ago allowing rainwater and hanging vines to wreak havoc on the fragile manuscripts. More piles of clothing lay on the floor in front of some shelves that seem to have avoided most of the ill effects of the environment.
Despite searching the study thoroughly, Treble doesn't find the scroll case anywhere. However, a few of the surviving books are in good enough shape to be read. The books expound on magical lore about transporting large numbers of people magically, but at great risk.
The group continues to meander through the palace and eventually they find themselves entering an enormous throne room. The room is empty and even the slightest sound reverberates with a haunting echo. Magnificent marble pillars line the room, just inside the exterior walls. Large, lattice covered windows look out over various scenes of the valley. An elaborate starburst is inlaid in the floor. One arm of the starburst is longer the other an extends to a dais on which sits a majestic throne.
Kneeling in front of the throne, in a meditative stance, is the ethereal form of a woman with an ornate headdress and elegant robes. As the Pathfinders enter the room the figure stands and turns to face them, her every motion infused with regality. She bows with studied grace.
"Welcome, travelers," she speaks with ethereal calm. "I am the late princess Song Rui."
Song Rui smiles a polite smile at Eyden. "Welcome Eyden." A sadness enters her eyes. "I am not sure why I am still here. My mother was a practitioner of magics. I have spent the centuries wandering this palace, watching it crumble, wondering what happened. It seems that my mother was preparing a powerful spell and it failed. I can only surmise that I am here because of that tragedy." Song Rui moves towards one of the windows. Her legs make graceful movements, as if she is walking, but her shape simply floats over the polished floor. She looks out across the valley with a wistful look.
Song Rui turns back to face the Pathfinders. "Oh, I may have given the wrong impression." She speaks gently. "I am not trapped or bound to this location. I am free to wander the world but I just haven't. I suppose that Lingshen has taken and reunited all of Tian Xi. It was such a shame how they treated the people of Shokuro." Her voice trails off and she glides back towards the throne. She doesn't seem to notice when Eyden casts a spell.
The princess seems lost in her own thoughts. She watches the Pathfinders, slightly curious about why they are here.
Zadim studies the room, with extra scrutiny towards the princess. It is all as he would expect from a long abandoned throne room in this region. The princess herself seems quite exquisite. She seems to be patiently waiting on the Pathfinders.
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Once he has finished his spell, Eyden shakes his head. "No, Princess. Tian Xia remains divided." He recounts what they learned at the briefing about the Successor States.
"So you see, Princess, Shokuro is independent, at least for now. We're working with Mai Chun, one of the heroes of its recent wars, to recover certain artifacts of the collapsed empire. She believes that collecting these relics in Shokuro will support the region's claim to continued independence and status. We are here as part of that mission, and have been asked to look specifically for a jade scroll case containing a scroll of ancient prophecies."
The constant breeze around him stills for a moment as he thinks furiously, then his hair and robes resume their usual flutter.
"If we find the case and the scroll of prophecies, Mai Chun may need a 'true heir' of Lung Wa to interpret them. You would not happen to know where we might find the scroll, or such a person?"
"Shokuro is independent? That is beautiful." Song Rui looks genuinely pleased with that news. At the mention of the scrollcase she raises an eyebrow. "A scrollcase." Without a word she glides slowly around to the backside of the throne and out of sight.
A moment later she comes around the other side of the throne holding a bejeweled case with a dragon statue wrapped around it. The jade case is clearly what Mai Chun has been looking for.
"Is this what you have been seeking? If I give it to you, it will help the people of Tian Xia?" She holds the case in front of her on faint spectral hands.
Song Rui continues to hold out the scrollcase in front of her. She considers Zadim's invitation. All these centuries she hasn't left the palace but Mai Chun sounds curious. It would be an interesting experience to meet a scholarly revolutionary.
"Yes, I would very much like to return with you."
Song Rui's lips turn in a frown. "You wish to loot my palace?" She looks confused and begins to think that maybe she misunderstood the intentions of the Pathfinders. She pulls her hands that are holding the scrollcase back towards herself a little.
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Sensing the spirit's apprehension, Treble speaks up. "No, no. Please do not misunderstand our intent, Princess. The Pathfinder Society is an organization of explorers. In fact, our motto is 'Explore, Report, Cooperate'. As you have mentioned yourself, it has been a long time since you have learned of any news from the outside. Likewise, it has been centuries since any even knew the location of your palace. Such an opportunity for us to further document it is incredible. If we did find any interesting artifacts, we could take them for study and research. We would also preserve these items, thus keeping them from falling into the hands of actual looters. Of course, this would all be with your permission, your Highness." He bows deferentially.
Song Rui considers Treble's words for a few moments then nods. "What you say makes sense." She looks wistfully at the palace. "It is clear that this age has passed. It seems proper that its memory should be handled with care rather that at the hands of vulgar looters." She hands the case to Treble. "Here, take this. And please, lead on. Let us go meet this Mai Chun."
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As the adventurers ascend out of the valley they encounter several familiar faces waiting for them on the narrow trail. Jianghong, and his body guard Zheng stand to the side. Yue Xin watches the group approach with narrow eyes. Jiang Fei stands in a relaxed but alert pose. No one says anything as the Pathfinders approach but it is apparent that each of the agents is there for a reason.
Song Rui seems to understand that there is something unusual going on. She gladly stays towards the back and lets the others step forward.
Jianghong smiles at Eyden. "Truly, it is good to see you again. I trust that your venture was successful." He asks without asking.
Yue Xin scowls at Jianghong but nods in the Pathfinders' direction. "Snow falls with silent thunder on the waiting mountain but does the leopard see it?"
Jiang Fei sniffs at Yue Xin's nonsense.