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L'Mont does a quick scan of the room and then, seeing that Luwei and Glastor have the scrolls, books, and art under control, make a beeline for the poleaxe.
That statue pointed its sword before shooting fire at me. Better check this thing in case it starts chopping heads.
If there is anything noteworthy about the poleaxe, L'Mont tells the group. If not, he moves over to the fireplace and takes 20 examining it, inside and out, looking for hidden compartments, loose bricks, etc.
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Having a clear space with Mongo's exit, Ushi moves into the room, eyeing the displays appreciatively. A fine display. I should have one when the manor is complete. Brushing the idle thought away, he moves alongside Glastor to examine the paperwork. "There are certainly some things to be found among these artifacts. The Society will appreciate their value well."
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The giant map of the region is highly detailed. Someone with a steady hand carefully marked several remote locations in various mountain ranges. The border of the map is an intricate depiction of the Dragon Empires zodiac.
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Take 10 on Knowledge Nobility for 16.
If you prefer rolling to avoid metagaming:
Ugh, I bring the perfect character by accident and this is how the dice reward me? XP
Ushi's eyes bore into the desk on reading the letters before them. "Friend Glastor, have care with these documents. They are truly valuable. Such that transcription may be a wise precaution before moving them."
One gloved hand grips the desk corner tightly. "These letters speak of the fabled Summer Palace, and that a general of Lung Wa visited there. Observations of the landmarks along the route could lead us there if only we had..." He trails off and raises his gaze from the table to the wall. "...a map."
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L'Mont peruses the central drawer on the console table and, determining that it holds no surprises, opens it.
"Observations of the landmarks along the route could lead us there if only we had...a map."
With great care, it appears that the map could be removed from the wall with minimal tearing. With a less deft hand, the delicate paper will likely tear.
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L'Mont takes the ring and coins - showing them to the group - and hands them to Luwei. "For Mai Chun. Better for me not to carry them. Might forget to give her everything. Mongo, you had better carry the poleaxe."
"L'Mort, why don't you carefully take the map down. I am sure Desna would love to help, with butterflies and the like!"
Glastor will cast guidance on L'Mort, followed by a bit of luck.
L'Mont paces in front of the map, peering at the places where it is affixed to the wall.
"Might be able to get it off there."
Glastor's touch on the arm seems to give the wayang a boost of confidence. Without another word, he pulls out a knife and starts carefully peeling the map away from the wall.
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The map comes away from the wall with barely a tear, though the edges are frayed a bit where moisture affixed it to the surface.
Mongo, your familiarity with weapons doesn't seem to let you bring the name of this six foot staff capped with a curved blade to your tongue, but you're fairly sure that you could make it work in combat. What's more, it would likely help extend your reach in a fight.
The remainder of the search of the ruined estate unveils nothing of interest apart from another pile of bear spoor. The map room seemed to be the only area of the estate that the bear did not touch. It gets to be very dark in the forest as night sets in. The rain continues.
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Yes, let's spend the night in an abandoned mansion haunted by the spirit of an angry warlord who shoots fire and possesses dire pandas. I think I have had enough of the house, thank you.
L'Mont shrugs. "We could bunk in the old stable, keep an eye on the house from there, maybe not provoke the spook?"
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It looks unusual, but it's just a knife on a stick, not too much different than those halberds I practiced with. This could come in handy.
Mongo stows the fancy Naginata on his back, sticking with his trusty sword-and-board while inside.
"Stable sounds better than the house to me, though I would not object to getting the heck outta here altogether tonight. I don't trust this place."
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L'Mont paces around the stables, looking for weaknesses in the limited protection it provides, and trying to avoid getting dripped on.
Not sure if I'm more worried about the spook or another dang bear.
"Middle shift is good for me, but don't much care which I take. Best to let the 'casters rest, though."
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Glastor sneaks out to the entrance to the ruined estate ground, seeing the steadily slumbering form of the injured bear lying where the party left it.
Calling out to the Goddess of Luck, the gnome heals the panda to a point where its eyes open. Groggily, the young bear rolls to a seated position and yawns, it then fixes its gaze on the gnome.
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Glastor, standing just under 30' away, tries to calm the bear, and make friends with it. He cannot talk to it, yet, today, since it is not quite a new day. With his whispered plea to Desna, he hopes to make friends with the bear.
"Please, Master Bear, don't hurt me, as I have saved you to live a long and prosperous life."
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Glastor's first attempt at communicating with the panda results in a low growl, but the second attempt results in a non-committal rough sigh from the beast as it lumbers into the gnome for a nuzzle, as per an animal marking a known rock or tree. The panda then lumbers off into the forest slowly, almost lazily.
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Glastor's first attempt at communicating with the panda results in a low growl, but the second attempt results in a non-committal rough sigh from the beast as it lumbers into the gnome for a nuzzle, as per an animal marking a known rock or tree. The panda then lumbers off into the forest slowly, almost lazily.
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Your trip back to the village is largely uneventful. When you return to Ashima with the books, map, and letters, Mai Chun is overjoyed. She bids the party to stay while she goes over the adjutant’s letters, and her eyes go wide with realisation.
"As I suspected...the estate belonged to General Chiang Zhen! He was known to be a stern warrior with important connections to the Lung Wa household. Stories were told about his inability to find a suitable bride to further his family, and true to these tales, he died a bachelor. These letters, perhaps, unveil the truth behind his permanent bachelor status."
She unrolls the large map across her table and traces the identified sites.
"The location of the Summer Palace has been lost since the fall of Imperial Lung Wa; the treasures it contains are unknown but likely significant. Although this map is not sufficient to pinpoint the Summer Palace’s location, I believe that these sites are a good start."
Tapping her fingernail on the map, she muses:
“The moon, with joy enough to tear the heavens,
Sinks to the horizon, and suddenly,
The Spring has grown old.”
She grins widely at the gathered group. “Who wants to make history?”
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"I am not thrilled with that one, L'Mont. Maybe we can just talk to them, and make them understand?" Glastor looks over the messages, and then asks, "So, can we lay out the paths to each of these places on a map? Maybe there is a logical way to go to them." The rest of the party then notices that he is literally bouncing in his seat.
When questioned why, he says, with a grin, "Just think of all the interesting places we're gonna get to go!"
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In the morning, looking over Mai Chun's notes, L'Mont focuses on document #2.
The mission to Xisou looks like it would fit my secondary talents. And how hard could it be to rob a calligraphy school?
"Second one should be a piece of cake."
"I was afraid you were going to say that, L'Mont."
"This task requires subtlety, discretion, and likely light fingers."
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"I was afraid you were going to say that, L'Mont."
L'Mont grins and smacks Mongo on the arm. "It'll be fine. Just stand there, look tough. Don't touch anything. Probably won't even get your shiny new watchamacallit bloody."
"I am not thrilled with that one, L'Mont. Maybe we can just talk to them, and make them understand?"
L'Mont frowns. "Not really my strong suit. Also, tips them off we're interested in the dingus."
Glastor looks over the messages, and then asks, [b]"So, can we lay out the paths to each of these places on a map? Maybe there is a logical way to go to them."
L'Mont shrugs. He can read a map, sure, but he has no knowledge about the geography of this part of Tian Xia.
The rest of the party then notices that he is literally bouncing in his seat.
When questioned why, he says, with a grin, [b]"Just think of all the interesting places we're gonna get to go!"
Gnomes!
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You have been delivered these three documents at the communal rest-house by a village girl named Si-ah who announces proudly that she's one of Mai Chun's students on the morning after your triumphant return to Ashima.
"Teacher told me to tell you that she was up all night with her head in the books and she will not be able to meet with honoured Path-Finders as she sleeps, but bids you to call upon my father, Chu Song, who will drive you to your destinations. It is a good thing, as my father will pay for my further language lessons with Teacher in this way." The girl finishes with a satisfied smile her not-small speech in Taldane.
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Bolty nods to Feng "Agreed, order isn't a big deal. Even if they are somewhat nearby on the map, wouldn't it be most responsible to return with our findings each time rather than dragging one treasure into another's danger?"
After perusing the documents "The Caligraphy school seems as good a place to start as any."