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"Ha! That's how Tanbaru felt when I first met him at the other half of the temple in the Hao Jin! Ironwhip and the Duergar had done a nasty job - but ya know what? We chopped all the invaders out of there and tidied the place up - we can tidy this one too, we got scholars and smart people can come up and fix the place, make it holy again... leave out rice on the Pilgrims path! Tanbaru and you can watch over the place like old times - we can all change!"
Diplo
Pitbulls gruff demeanour makes it hard to communicate, but she's trying.
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"Shouldn't the knowledge of this place be preserved for others to experience? If you destroy this place now, all those years you've spent protecting it will be for nothing. We have come here to learn from this place. Others should be allowed to do the same. Who knows? Your name might even be mentioned in the Chronicles as the guardian of this place."
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All right, perhaps it was a poor point to remind him of the volcano.
Hands held up in appeasement, Salouris looks around the temple as he tries to calm the outsider.
"This place is not 'befouled' utterly. Not yet. PIeces are missing, yes, and those serpent-men made their own alterations I'm sure. But there are still Yamatsumans and priests who can cleanse and bless this place again. I am sure they would be eager and honored to: even in this state the records and carvings here are a signs of how much value and investiture this place has had and means to the people of your faith."
"If you bring down fire to encase this place in ash, you will do nothing but preserve this temple for all time in its improper form."
Harmonius arches his neck and throws up both arms, as his parting legs ease him slowly to the hard stone floor. While the dancer’s heaving chest signals the end his performance, Jiraku’s reptilian skin moults from her body and vaporizes into a rank, sulphurous cloud, which is quickly dissipated by the howling wind curtain that surrounds her.
Her statue form, the same color and texture of the igneous rock around you, lies beneath. The kami raises and lowers both hands. The pooling lava cools, the shaking stops and the winds die down, allowing you to hear her gravelly voice clearly.
“Despite some stumbles, I sense your honest remorse. So few visitors brave the Path these days. And fewer still are those who have shown as much respect for local traditions as you. I have forsaken my family and duty to cower in this place, but perhaps there is hope for me yet.”
“Study the temple, rest and prepare for your return journey, Pilgrims. My brother and I must converse in private, but we will rejoin you before you leave.”
Several days pass swiftly as you study and chronicle the temple remains for Amara Li. There is no sign of the Mountain Spirit siblings as you spend the hours working and relaxing.
On the morning you break camp to return to Ramparassad, Jiraku and Tanbaru return.
“Thank-you for convincing me to attempt redemption, Pilgrims. Tanbaru cannot decide whether his duty now lies here with me or with Old Pak and your Pathfinder Society.”
“We would both hear your counsel on the matter.”
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"What I reckon? I reckon you pair need to stick together. Asbo and I keep each other alive, and we best friends. Half this temple is stuck in the Hao Jin tapestry and not coming back, but what is a temple anyway? It's what you make it - with you pair here you make it whole. Tanbaru is a warden of the temple - and so he belongs with the temple... and then all that remains is to fix the path up here and all be good again. Old Goat Pak can just stuff his boots if he doesn't like it, and I can spare him some rice for the trip if he wants to come up and argue. The Pathfinders get more out of walking up here and seeing for themselves what this place is about, and I'll be sure to remind them to bring a broom and a shovel."
"I vote you stay, stick together, like Asbo and I"
“Your advice is sound. Perhaps the Pathfinder Society’s actual methods do not reflect its reputation.”
Jiraku places Tanbaru in Mask form on her face, smiles, and says, “I’m sad about what happened to you, Tanbaru, but I need you to remind me why I must never abandon my duty.”
“Tell the Old Pak thanks for everything, Pathfinders.” The spirit Mask mouths. “Perhaps we shall meet again?”
☯☯☯☯
Back in Ramparassad, Old Pak listens with interest to the account of your adventure. “Ms Amara will be most pleased with your Chronicle. Yes.”
He wistfully notes the departure of a friend before cheerfully declaring, “That might be reason enough for me to visit the temple sometime.”
“Once word of the ward reunited gets out, the site might once again attract Yamatsumi’s faithful to repair the trail and temple, earning the Society goodwill throughout Dtang Ma.”
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"I find it impossible to agree with the statement that it's good to have companions that are more solid then new fallen snow. It was good working with you all."
Dusk looks at Hailey in a bit of confusion.
"Among my people, this is meant as a compliment. It means that I appreciate that you are all reliable and trustworthy. Unfortunately this has not always been my experience with others in the Society."