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Boolar showed patience, but the others rushed to attack. I sincerely hope this is not a guardian spirit, although it does not seem to be all the vicious of a bear.
Guiding Okane with his knees (Ride check is automatic), Kita will shoot an arrow, then sheathe the bow while Okane advances. Okane will not attack this round.
(Bear was not in Melee at the time of Kita's shot)
Myth's arrow soars through the air, plunging into the shoulder of the terrible beast. As Boolar readies his wand, a globule of acid singes the fur of of the beast, as it lets out a high pitched yelp. The arrow from Kita's bow sinks deep into the beasts ribs, as it turns to focus on the approaching samurai. Yidric's rapier is parried by an (unfortunately placed) arrow in the beast's gut.
With a roar, the beast attempts to claw Kita, as three bolts of force shoot through the air. With a whimper, the beast falls to the ground with a thud. The eerie green glow from it's eyes fades, and an ephemeral image of a Tien Man in O-Yoroi armor rises like steam from the bleeding body. He issues a menacing grimace, and draws his sword from his belt, swinging it toward the gate. An instant later, it dissipates.
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"How horrible! The poor beast was possessed by an evil spirit.
Does anyone have any skill with healing. Perhaps we can still save it."
Grabbing his Wand of Infernal Healing, Kita holds it out to Boolar.
"Wizard, here, use this on the beast quickly. Everyone, make some room to it can run away and lick it's wounds."
Kita will dismount and back off 10 ft with Okane. If needed, he will prepare to attempt a Handle Animal check to shoo the beast into the forest when it wakes.
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Yidric looks at the image of the ghostly figure possessing the bear. He defends himself against the attack, but is surprised when it dissipates. "Wonder who he is..."
At Kita's immediate aid to the bear, he backs off as instructed, but doesn't do anything to help. "It's just a bear, but as you wish."
He takes a quick look around for any more dangers.
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Kita feels the strange looks and responds while the bear's wounds slowly knit back together.
"You Westerners may do things differently. However, I know that my ancestors are watching and that they will judge me based on how I treat those under my protection.
All life is to be respected, and this beast did not choose to attack us or the others who have come this way.
Killing without cause would be wrong, so I am giving the beast a chance. I do recognize the danger, but if we do not threaten the bear and give it an opening to run off into the forest it should do so.
If I am wrong, then I stand ready to deal with the consequences."
After the healing magic is complete, a loud snore echoes off of the walls in the courtyard.
Looking into the pit makes the source of the stench fairly obvious. Bones and rotting remains of the Bear's prior meals linger and rot among decades of residual twigs, mud and leaves.
The stables appear to be sturdy enough to stand, with scratch marks on the stalls, and piled up straw. Some of the stalls have a stronger smell than others, but it isn't incredibly pleasant.
The front doors of the estate appear to have been smashed down some time ago.
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Kita gives the stable a disdainful look.
"Okane has better standards than that.
Regardless, there is little reason for a stable for a well trained steed."
Kita leads Okane over to the grassy area north of the house (where we came from), removes hit bit so that he can graze, and instructs him to Stay.
Drawing his Katana, Kita heads for the door to the manor house.
"Whenever you are ready, Mythryndyr."
Through the door, is a mess. Old tables and chairs lay splintered in the center of the room. The cabinets and plaster walls are covered in deep gauges, either the Bear was marking her territory, or sharpening claws. In the corner is an enormous pile of every scrap of cloth or cushion, with a large divot in the middle. The remnants of shredded banners hang along the south wall.
A threadbare rug fills a short hallway to the north. A Broken weapon rack lays at the foot of a statue of a Tian-Shu man in O-Yoroi Armor with a long blade held above his head in a victorious pose. Cracked doors in aging door frames lead to the east and west.
As you all look around the interior, anything of particular value looks to have been destroyed by the unplanned guest.
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"This honorable man is General Chiang Zhen. He was apparently a Military Commander of Lung Wa, which is the empire the current Successor States split from after Starfall.
This must have been his family's house. It is unfortunate that it has fallen to such a state.
Let us try to be respectful while exploring the house. Our ancestors will not look kindly upon disturbing his memory.
However, we must find the source of whatever spirit was possessing that bear. If evil spirits, or some nefarious individual, are dishonoring the General, we should help to rid the house of that influence."
Kita will join Abolt in examining the doors in the hallway.
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A Military Commander of the past? Seems like pretty important stuff.
A sudden change from his attitude towards the bear, Yidric seems surprisingly respectful of the Military Commander's home.
"Yes, we should tread carefully. It's a piece of history that should be preserved and respected." Yidric searches more carefully and is mindful to watch his step to not rip any rugs or furniture as he searches around.
He then joins the rest examining the doors in the hallway.
As you grip the Doorknob, the statue begins to animate with a green glow, swinging his sword low, just above Kita's head. With an indignant glare, it holds two fingers to his lips, as if blowing out a smoking gun. Instead of smoke, a gout of flame erupts from his fingertips, and fans over the entire hallway.
Looking again at the statue, it appears as it never moved, but the Scorched hallway is a testament to it's action.
The door appears to be locked, but is fairly brittle due to the recent damage.
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Mythryndyr reacts quickly and tumbles away from the full force of the fiery blast...rising, he quickly shoots the gnome a venomous glance, and then gathers his repose.
Maybe this is why the bear avoided this part of the room...
"The rest of you might want to get out of the hallway, while I attempt to get this door open safely, in case it goes off again..."
Myth bows towards the statue...keeping one eye on it, ready to bolt if it starts glowing again, he then attempts to pick the lock/disable the trap...
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"He doesn't seem to want us to go through this door.
Mythryndyr, would you like to try to disable the trap or should I simply break the door down."
If a disable attempt is going to be made, I will move out into the main room to give him space.
If we are going to bash it in:
... and bounce off the door falling on my butt.
As Mythryndyr tinkers with the lock, it stubbornly resists his picks. The lock seems to be decently well made, and in remarkably good shape for the amount of time that it has been sitting here. The tumblers seem to move just fine, and the only thing that has started to rust is the outer facade.
After another few minutes of tinkering with the lock, Myth finally convinces it to pop open.
In a very stark contrast to the rest of this manor, This combination Bedroom and Office is pristine, other than a thick layer of dust. On one wall is a tall bookshelf filled with neatly organized books and scrolls, and an oversized map of central Tian Xia is carefully tacked to the far wall. On the desk lay sheaves of paper, whose text in unreadable under thick thick dust.
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"Abolt, you took that fire full in the face. Here, take my wand and heal yourself."
Kita hands the wand of Infernal Healing to Abolt, then turns back to the room.
He waits for Mythryndyr to give an all-clear, then walks in to examine the map.
"If this map contains any tactical information, it might be the kind of artifact that we are looking for."
As Myth peeks around, there appear to be no threats. Leaned against the wall behind the bookshelf is a well made polearm, with a foot long blade. For as old as it is, the edge looks just as sharp as the day it was made.
On the desk is a fine calligraphy set, with a deep green ink stone. The sheets appear to be made of fine silk, and the bed itself it fairly good shape. It looks like Myth is the first person to step in this room for decades.
Kita looks very carefully at the map, and it appears to be a map of the Shokuro region. The Zodiac of the Dragon Empires are carefully drawn along the border. Looking a little closer, this map is incredibly detailed and well made.