At the request of Venture-Captain Amara Li, the PCs travel to Hisuikarasu, capital of Kwanlai, to meet with the archon Zepha.
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Erashava strides into the room with grace a poise. She's an exotic looking Qadiran woman with brown skin, thick brown hair braided close to her scalp and then let loose, and grey eyes. Upon her forehead is a complicated symbol marked in white. She wears loose, black flowing pants, gathered at the ankles, leather sandals, and a light midriff bearing black linen top, decorated with a complicated intertwining pattern of swirls and jagged lines in shades of blue, white, green and red. Bracelets and armbands decorate her bare arms, while four gold rings, each bearing strange symbols engraved on the band, sit upon her fingers. A light veil slightly obscures her mouth, which curls in a satisfied smile.
She meets the eyes of each of the pathfinders in the room, then says in a smooth, confident voice, "Many blessings upon you. You may call me Erashava."
She finds an open space on the floor around the table and sits down on the ground, legs crossed, back straight, and hands on each knee, palms up. Each palm bears a different complex symbol, similar to the one on her forehead, also marked in white.
"And you are..?"
When a server comes to take her order, Erashava orders the spiciest tea they have in house.
A light breeze wafts in through the windows of a private room in the Golden Lotus Teahouse, bringing with it the sound of chirping birds. Heat radiates from the small stove sunken into the floor in the center of the room. A bird-headed man with black feathers enters, carrying a large, heavy-looking kettle on the edge of a gnarled wooden staff. In fluid, graceful motion, he sweeps the end of his staff in an arc and
sets the kettle upon the stove. His eyes glow from within with golden light, and they twinkle as he softly speaks. "I would be Zepha. Please join me in making our tea."
As he set off making the tea, he looks at Erashava with his glowing golden eyes, "You are highly in tuned with the elements. Why have you joined the society and live the life of adventure."
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Erashava stands in a fluid movement and gives Zepha a bow. She approaches to assist with making tea. "Your ways are not my own," she tells him as she looks at the stove. "You will have to show me."
While she attempts to help she answers his question honestly. "Duty. I am a member of the Concordance of Elements. An organization seeking balance through the many planes of existence. My order came into conflict with the Pathfinder Society which, in time, blossomed into an alliance. An exchange of knowledge, wisdom, and agents occurred. I am an agent of this auspicious confluence."
Erashava maintains her poise despite hindering the ceremony. "Apologies."
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A small strange looking humanoid seems to follow Erashava and Zepha. Finally, when they speak to introduce themselves, he says something.
My greetings as well. I'm Duskin Veilsong. It's a pleasure to be here to offer my help.
The voice of the pathfinder is equally strange; the wayang is exotic and seems to be pulling his clothes the entire time to enhance the shades on his dark skin. He is a frail, shadowy figure, and yet there's something oddly friendly about him.
The bard approaches and offers his aid on making the tea. He seems to show some level of knowledge on the costumes of the nobles.
Zepha cocks his head at the entrance of the Wayang, "Ah, a native of the land of tian xia. I welcome your attempt."
Zepha returns to Erashava, "Just ponder my words, Balance is a fine thing, for with out shadows we would be unable to appreciate the light. However, take care, for when the righteous choose to observe cruelty without taking action, the sin becomes their own."
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With his plumage of darkest black, a bandanna wrapped head and lightly armored with cuts in his clothing and armor to facilitate movement comes a Tengu who doesn't look entirely comfortable in such a place of comfort.
"They call me Galford Dao Ravenwing. Greetings to all of you." he begins as he slides into the seat, his claws moving through motions as if attempting to mirror his host.
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A man of Taldan descent enters, a little flustered. He has a pair of golden hoops with trinkets on them, and a hint of a brightly coloured tattoo on his chest peeking out of his shirt. His equipment is adorned with the markings of Sarenrae. He bows resfectfully as he gains his breath.
A thousand apologies for my tardiness...my transport here met with some difficult weather. I am Goran Baldaros, at your service. Oh, please tell me I am not late for tea...I love tea.
Once the tea ritual is complete Zepha finally takes a seat. “I suppose we should discuss why I made a request of young Venture-Captain Li. There is a certain shrine near the southern border of Kwanlai that I would like you to visit. Its keepers are tasked with leading pure lives and standing vigil over a place where evil gathers, and I regret that it has been some time since they last sent their usual report to Heaven. I’d like you to ascertain the status of the shrine and investigate why we haven’t heard from them. You had best start by visiting the village of Yiangma. It’s a charming town in the mountains near the shrine that the keepers rely upon for supplies and new disciples. Its people aren’t used to seeing visitors who aren’t tengu, so they may be a bit cautious with you at first. Let the town’s mayor know of your intentions and see if he has any information to share with you before venturing to the shrine itself. With luck, this is merely a bureaucratic issue and nothing more. May Andoletta grant you a pleasant journey and a safe return.”
Knowledge Geography, History or Local to see if you character knows more about Kwanlai.
the empire of Lung Wa, facing cripplingly high taxes, discrimination, and poverty. As a result of this legacy, Kwanlai’s people can be somewhat slow to trust outsiders. After the fall of Lung Wa just over a century ago, Kwanlai became a nation in its own right. Today, Kwanlai is a loose alliance of tengu clans that grants significant autonomy to local leaders. The popular leader of the capital Hisuikarasu, Lady Sutarai-Gongen, is gradually becoming a ruler for the whole nation.
Has there been any indications of trouble around the shrine? Religious or otherwise? Maybe someone is trying to carve out a kingdom or some such....
"No, not that we have been made aware of. It would best to ask that question to someone closer than I"
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"So they aren't friendly to those not of the same race as them?" a surprised Galford Dao responds. The outgoing Tengu had being travelling for a few years and wasn't sure if his people were like that or he was an exception.
"My apologies for the questions but who is Andoletta? Who are the Shrines dedicated too? Also It sounds like the keepers there are guarding some evil being or something. Could you tell us more?"
"My apologies for the questions but who is Andoletta? Who are the Shrines dedicated too? Also It sounds like the keepers there are guarding some evil being or something. Could you tell us more?"
"I am surprised you do not know who Andoletta was" He saw with slightly take aback, "She was once an archon, like myself, but she ascended to the ranks of the empyreal lords long before I came to be. She is Grandmother Crow, a wise and patient teacher. She sows the seeds of redemption in corrupted hearts, she protects the vulnerable, and she brings peace and solace to the suffering. She teaches respect for all beings, that we may heed the wisdom of our elders and guide those who look to us for advice with compassion.”
He looks to the rest of the group, "I believe the temple is to honor Heing Feng, the patron deity of Tengu. As to the rest of the information you seek, I care not to speculate for what I do no know for certain"?
After a relatively uneventful journey across Kwanlai’s hilly countryside, the PCs arrive at the base of the Kimu Mountains. Here, open terrain gives way to narrow and winding paths interspersed with flatter areas where forests flourish.
When the PCs reach the town of Yiangma, it becomes immediately clear that this isn’t quite the quaint town that Zepha described. Doors and windows on every street are shut tight, and though people bustle about, there are no children in sight, nor farmers marketing goods in the square. From all directions, the faces of the tengu locals regard the PCs with cold suspicion.
Though the people of Yiangma are relatively tight-lipped, they are willing to guide the PCs to the mayor’s residence.
The mayor’s home stands on the eastern edge of the village. The house is surrounded by a wall inset with cutouts in the shape of cherry blossoms, and a small, well-kept garden and koi pond decorate the path leading from the open gate to the front of the house. A servant quickly comes out to greet anyone who passes through the gate. “My master has been expecting that the travelers the people are talking about would be visiting him. Please, follow me.”
A short time later, two other servants enter the room. One speaks in loud and clear voice, "Good Evening visitors. It is my pleasure to introduce Mayor Tenmya Kanbayo."
A rotund tengu wearing white robes enters the room, his feathers immaculately groomed and shining. The servants prepare a small seat for the mayor, placing his gaze above that of the PCs. They move to serve the party tea and a soft sweet made from rice flour. After a few moments of tense silence, the mayor speaks. “I’m sure you’ve noticed the mood in our village, and I apologize if you have been treated rudely, but after I’ve explained the situation, I’m sure you’ll see why we are distrustful of strangers.” One of the servants place a cup of tea on a saucer to the mayor. "So lets change that and let me get to know you. What are your names and where do you come from."
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Erashava inclines her head respectfully to the mayor. "Many blessings upon you. You may call me Erashava." she says in a smooth, confident voice. "We come from Absalom, and have journeyed far to speak with you. We are here on behalf of the Pathfinder Society, to fulfill a mission of great importance."
She reaches for the tea and takes a sip as she waits for the others to introduce themselves.
"No bother brother Tengu, you are doing well" He takes a sip of his own tea. "So why have you came to my village. We do not get many outsider here who are not tengu"
"ah, so rumor has spread" He takes a sigh as he retells of what has occurred. "A messenger of the gods recently visited our village. We known him only as the Storm Prophet, he descended from the mountains. He worked great miracles, calling the fury of the storm and guiding it by his will." He pauses for a second, "Then he gave us a warning that a bandit clan, who had made a pact with dark forces has been raiding villages to the south, most recently Tianjing. And now they are preparing to launch an assault on Kwanlai. The prophet brought his warning first to the keepers of the celestial shrine, but upon hearing his words, their bravery failed, and they fled." He looks down at his tea and swirls it in his hands. "Without the guardians, the Storm Prophet bid the villagers strengthen themselves, promising that they would become Hei Feng’s chosen soldiers in the coming conflict. The prophet then left to bring his words to other villages. That is why I was expecting visitors, just not from the Society"
The tengu becomes stern at the mention of investigating the shrine and responds in a direct tone, "That is a sacred place only the Chosen may enter. If you wish to see it, you must give yourself wholly to Hei Feng and prove yourselves worthy of becoming one of his Chosen Host.”
Tenmya waves to one of his attendants, who brings him a scroll adorned with a red tassel along with a stamp block and ink. He applies his stamp onto the scroll, then rolls it up and hands it to the attendant, who presents it to the PCs. “Show this to the townsfolk, and they should agree to speak with you. I hope you will come to the west side of town tonight to witness the next Choosing. It is the first ritual since the Storm Prophet departed, and the first time that the Chosen are allowing the public to view the ceremony. It may not get you access to the shrine, but will give you insight into the process.
As the PC's get up to leave, the Mayor stops them, "You should try to seek out some of these specific people. A preacher named Megari, a hunter named Yakuri, and the Laiping. They all have had interesting experiences since this has all began."
You may ask around town and get some general rumors.
You locate the hunter, at her stand, prepping her wares for the day. You notice that she is not a Tengu, rather a human female. As you approach, she offers you a slight smile. "It has been a while since I have seen my own kind around here. What can I do for you?
"Yes, I am Yakuri." She shakes her head, "Not very much, I know only the woods and the animals inside of it, which have taken on a more dark appearance. Like twisted foul by dark magic." She shudders for a moment as if reliving something. "The Storm Prophet has shown me vision of the blight, of the forest and the animals that would show. He began to do his protective rituals to hold it off." She pauses for a moment, "Even though I am use to the woods, I did not notice these foul beast until after the Prophet had started his rituals"
Even with the Mayor's letter of approval, non of the citizen willingly speak or approaches the group of foreigners.
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Erashava raises an eyebrow at word that this woman of the woods didn't notice the tainted wildlife until after the man started a ritual intended to hold it at bay. Was the woman incompetent or the priest? Or was this Storm Prophet something more sinister?
"The Storm Prophet sounds powerful, indeed. What can you tell me about him?"
"Other than that he seemed to show up with the blight. Not too much." She says returning to her skins and rabbit meat on the stand.
On the west edge of town, near stairs leading farther up the mountains, a tengu dressed in solid blue robes stands on a scaffold and preaches to a small throng.
As the party approaches, the tengu turns to them and waves its arm towards them, she then changes tongues to speak in common language "Ah, another possible sign of the blight. Outsiders from other villages to scout out the spoils?" She then points directly at Galford. "You are by far the worst offense. You should all dedicate yourselves to Hei Feng and repent."
You catch a glimpse of her holy symbol necklace, which depicts a ring of lighting bolts surrounding a four-petaled flower made of lightning.
"So you have came to help, what proof do you have of this?"[b] She crosses her arms, [b]"Many have came to help, only to get closer to those the intend to harm"
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A large Taldan man comes hustling up the path behind you, bearing a white shield emblazoned with the sword of Iomedae.
"Surely that is not how the kind people of Yiangma greet travelers? We are guests here, and seek only understanding. Shall we not begin again as friends?"
In an aside to the Pathfinders, he says sotto voce, "Didn't you get some sort of writ from the mayor?"
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Erashava smiles beneath her veil and draws the mayor's letter out of her bag. She unfurls it with a flourish. "Of course. I make no claims I cannot prove." As she rerolls she scroll she asks, "They say you are a Prophet. What proof do you have of this?" she asks, echoing his question back at him. "Many a charlatan masquerades as a priest."
Though her words sound accusatory, she speaks with a pleasant tone and an air of good-natured caution.
The priestess' demeanor instantly changes at the sight of the scroll bearing the mayors mark. "very well." she clears her throat. The prophet that came, revealed to use the impending ruin that comes to us from all sides. He got rid of the false believers that once guarded temples and are replacing them with those that are better suited and more devout. He has chose me to lead the future choosing ritual and pick from those to guard our temple. Hei Feing speaks through me as he does the prophet now."
"I invite you personally to witness the choosing ceremony. You of course are not worthy to be chosen. But then again, who knows, you may learn something after all" With that she clasps her hands behind her back and walks away.
Outside of the circle of people who had gathered to here the preacher speak, is another tengu, speaking really fast in his racial tongue in a pinched high pitched voice.
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"Your prophet 'got rid' of the guardians of the shrine?!" Erashava looks at her companions and gives them a look that shows she is not impressed with this so-called 'prophet.' She shakes her head and asks the preacher what he's saying.
She turns and whispers to her companions, "I care not what the locals say. After the ceremony we must go to the Shrine."