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"You all speak as if you feel Mai Chun has any right to distribute the contents of the scroll.
The owner of the scroll and its contents stands before you. That changes everything.
Her Highness has agreed to accompany us back to Mai Chung's residence. From there, she will be the one to decide who and who not will have access to the knowledge.
Regardless, this attempted theft will not stand. I could expect this type of behavior from a pompous ego driven bureaucrat, though I am amazed he was willing to get his own hands dirty in the act.
However, Jiang Fei, you surprise me. We fought for you, bringing honor and students to your school. This is how you repay our service? I am ashamed to have ever learned your forms.
Jianghong, stop being a spoiled child for one moment of your life. Consider what you are doing to Zheng. You have put him in a situation where he has no choice but to sacrifice his honor. He can either leave his charge or commit an act that he knows is theft. You are destroying his life, and you care not at all.
Zheng, if your ward refuses to take the honorable choice, I implore you to follow what is in your heart. Stand down and we will chastise him no more than is needed. Or, chastise him yourself. I can offer to put in a good word with my Daimyo. For someone who shows moral character, he will offer you a chance to redeem your honor and possibly a position if you acquit yourself well. Think on it."
Everyone responds differently to Kita's Challenge.
Jiang Fei looks down before bringing her fists into the Jade Ogre stance that you know so well. "I do not wish to hurt you, but I cannot go back to Quain without this scroll. The sanctity of my Dojo depends on it! Do not think I will go easy on you, but I promise to do no Permanent damage."
Jainghong shrugs, and adds, "Suit Yourself! Zheng! Remember, they are Very Strong! Don't let your guard down like I did!" Zheng looks sorrowfully at Kita, and adds "I'm sorry that I have to do this. Perhaps afterwords, we can talk about your Diamyo."
Yue Xin scowls, and mutters softly "Honor guides the just, but the cunning predict them easily." before the tien man's eyes begin to glow, and his speech becomes unintelligible.
Boolar Rejic
Abolt Greenseed
Skaf
Yidric Belove
Mythrynder
Yue Xin
Kita Kyuichi
Jiang Fei
Zhang
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"Celestial? Why is he speaking Celestial?"
Boolar is confident that in a regular fight we will prevail. But we don't know the abilities of anyone except Jiang Fei. So to keep things even he will discourage any enemy spellcasting.
"We will of course defend ourselves. With deadly Force if necessary."
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"You know, I don't think Kita could have been more fair. Why interfere?"
Abolt moves forward and cast Expeditious Excavation under Yue Xin hoping to knock him prone in a hole.
You can excavate and move earth, dust, and sand up to the size of a 5-foot cube. If you are buried, you may open a 5-foot cube around yourself, but the spell cannot be used for tunneling. Besides its mundane applications, you can open a 5-foot-deep pit at a creature’s feet. A Medium or smaller creature falls prone in the pit unless it succeeds on a Reflex save. With a successful save, it can choose to land harmlessly on its feet in the pit or hop to an adjacent square; this movement does not provoke attacks of opportunity. A creature can escape a 5-foot-deep pit with a DC 5 Climb check. Larger creatures may ignore pits smaller than their size.
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Myth's been thinking that this would end in a fight when the three factions showed up...being a thief, he can easily recognize one and, in this case, four, no matter their talk of honor...he sighs silently, Gonna be a fight regardless, might as well get in the first shot...
Ever so weary of the fortune cookie man, and thinking him likely a spellcaster, he targets Yue Xin...and then curses silently as Abolt casts a spell at the same target and he no longer has line of sight. He redirects and fires at the one he thinks the next most dangerous, Zhang...
As Boolar readies himself for an enemy spellcaster, Abolt opens a hole beneath Yue Xin, who lets out a high pitched yelp as he falls to the bottom.
Myth's well placed arrow pierces between two of the plates in Zheng's armor, a red blossom of color growing underneath it. Steeling his resolve, he looks over at Mythrynder with disdain. "I was hoping to not draw blood, but you leave me no choice."
Boolar Rejic
Abolt Greenseed
Skaf
Yidric Belove
Mythrynder
Yue Xin - Prone, in a Hole (blocking Line of Effect)
Kita Kyuichi
Jiang Fei
Zhang (-10)
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"Perhaps you can continue to teach us your Jade Ogre style. This time, I'll use my own, more refined style." Yidric hopes to get under her skin.
Yidric gets up to Jiang Fei to protect the party from her. He pulls out his rapier as he does so.
With the jolt of Lightning stretching out from Skaf's hand, Zheng grimaces, and yells in agony. "Jianghong! Please reconsider this fight!"
With some celestial muttering from the pit, You get the feeling that Yue Xin might be up to something.
Boolar Rejic
Abolt Greenseed
Skaf
Yidric Belove
Mythrynder
Yue Xin - In a Hole (blocking Line of Effect)
Kita Kyuichi
Jiang Fei
Zhang (-15)
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"Princess, please take cover behind Okane.
Okane, Guard the Princess!
Jiang Fei, a teacher with no honor will raise students with no honor. This can not be allowed. Come, try your Ogre moves against an honorable warrior and prove me wrong!"
Challenge vs. Jiang Fei (+1 dam, DR 1/- vs Jiang Fei, -2 AC vs others)
Move 3 NE, 1 E toward Jiang Fei. Ready an attack if anyone comes in range.
+1 if Jiang Fei
-Posted with Wayfinder
Jiang Fei, gives Kit a steely glare. "You can insult me, by insulting my School is too much!" Striking the Jade Ogre style and moving swiftly to Kita. Unprepared for his powerful strike, she yells "OGRE SCARES THE FOE!" before kneeing Kita just above his knee. Bouncing of the skirt of his mountain plate, Jiang Fei's eyes go wide with sudden realization.
Zhang approaches Myth while drawing his polearm. Hooking the edge around Myth's ankle, yanking him to the ground.
Boolar Rejic
Abolt Greenseed
Skaf
Yidric Belove
Mythrynder
Yue Xin
Kita Kyuichi
Jiang Fei (-8)
Zhang (-15)
Climbing out of the pit, Yup Xin stretches out his hands, speaking in celestial and forming a colorful ball in front of him made from pure magic. Boolar's readied bolts pierce through to strike him in the chest. The colors evaporate into thin air, as he falls to the ground.
Between the viscous slash from Kita's Katana, and the vicious upward stabs into her kidney from Yidric, Jiang Fei has barely enough time to utter "Ogre.. takes... a... nap... before falling to the ground, bleeding profusely.
Zhang, after taking the additional lightning arc from Skaf drops his Guisarme, and raises his hands above his head. [b]"Jianghong, Your honor is not worth my life. Kita, let us talk more about your DIamyo."[b] Jianghong scowls, before hopping out of the tree and sprinting away beyond the ridge.
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"Yes, Boolar, feel free to use my wand, if you are worried about their wounds. Although, death in battle is possibly the only honor left to these scoundrels."
Kita will secure Zheng's guisarme, while retrieving his rope. "Zheng, please assist in tying up the captives while they heal. Make sure to gag the spell caster. Use something with a level of cleanliness matching his character, I think."
With the combatants taken care of, Kita will turn to the Princess once more.
"Highness, allow us to introduce Chie Fujioka, our superior. Chie, before you stands Her Royal Highness, Princess Song Rui. We are escorting the princess to lay her household's remains to rest.
Afterwards, she has agreed to return with us to Mai Chun's residence. I am not sure if you are able to transport the princess as easily as you have transported us in the past. If not, I will gladly escort the princess on a slower path."
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Before parting ways, Kita will sit down and write a letter of introduction to pass on to Zheng, along with directions to Daimyo Po's residence.
In the letter, Kita explains Zheng's paradox and how, when forced to take part in banditry, he took no lethal actions before finally surrendering.
He will make sure that Zheng has a dagger and rations to see him on his way.
"Zheng, I can make you no guarantees, but Daimyo Po is a devoutly religious follower of Abadar and he will respect that you made a moral choice as a resolution to your paradox.
Go now. With this introduction, he should agree to see you. If he likes what he sees in your heart, he should offer you a quest sufficient to cleanse your honor. That is the best I can offer.
I will return your guisarme to his residence as soon as I am able to secure transportation for it. The Daimyo will decide when you have earned the right to carry it again."
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With a quick glance, Chie will stabilize Jiang Fei and Yue Xin. Bowing low to Song Rui, Chie adds, "I have other means of Transportation, but the clouds are normally the fastest. If you don't mind Boats and Wagons, the Clever Fox Caravan should be able to get us back to Mai Chun. How do you feel about a bit of adventure Princess? I can't guarantee the most comfortable accommodations during the actual commute," and smiles mischievously at Kita, "but I'm certain that the company for the trip will be to your liking."
After listening to Kita's speech, she adds "If you wish Zheng, you can ride along too! As long as you don't mind earning a bit of your keep. There is a great deal of merchandise that needs to be unloaded in ports along the way!"
The trip back to Ashima is long but relatively easygoing. At every port or large town, Chie sets up shop for an afternoon, or sells Clever Fox Wrist Sheathes to local establishments. Zheng, while doing a good bit of the heavy lifting, is in high spirits and free only a few days after leaving the employ of Jianghong. Song Rui never seems to venture too far away from Kita, and is happily 'Escorted' back to Ashima. Mai chin, upon seeing the Bejeweled scroll case is Ecstatic! A festival is thrown in your honor, complete with drinking, dancing, games and fireworks.
After all is said and done, a representative from the Sun Shogun of Shokuro provides a stash of magical talismans as a token of gratitude. Between your adventures, and conversations with Song Rui, Mai Chun has plenty of information to write a new chapter on the wonders of Old Lung Wa. And to think, this all started with a bear...