Stricia nods. It would not be hard for hobgoblins to hire criminal human bandits to harass others. The oni seemed certain it was humans who attacked it. In any case things are not normal or usual here by any means
Thanks for the concern Qian, but I'm fine now. Not everyday you get hit with a tree. Well I'm glad its not everyday Kai laughs out loud.
You two could be right though about it being hired or tricked into attack for the hobgoblins. Oh and Qian you stop disease by burning the body. You guys do what you want but this thing gets no prayers from me.
Qian bows, "I am glad as well Slayer of Oni. And I am glad I am not hit by a tree every day as well. I'll hit a tree while working out but when they hit back in some way, it hurts more." Qian chuckles.
Qian shrugs, "Either way will stop disease. I just see burning as being more honorable than burying it to be worm food. In addition, it may not be very tactical at this point to burn it. I too will not have any prayers for the beast."
I never said i was going to pray for its soul etc. I am merrily offering the last rite to a sentient being. And burying is will allow its remains to feed the worms and soil and therefore contribute to the cycle of life. It also has the added bonus of not leaving a great carcass tor others to find and ask questions. Others like lets say the Hobgoblin bandits for example he says smiling in the end
To each there own. I'm more spiritual than religeous myself. Well and Oni tent to taint the spirit. So I find it best to kill them and be done. Enough on that though. We should get on to the villiage if you lot are ready now.
After the oni is buried, Qian states, "Yes, let's be on our quest and see what destiny has in store for us?"
indeed
The man still leads you across a stream and over two hills before you reach his village.
"There it is, my village." he proudly says. It's a collection of at least 60 houses, a fortification, and a couple of farms. No walls, and no standing army.
Well should we start visiting the area once we have settled?
[b]Sounds good, Please show us to where we will be staying. We can the visit and asses what needs to be done.[b]
"Yes, of course, to both questions.".
Great lets then unpack and then we would like to meet your villager elders and leaders.
Stricia does not have much to unpack and so puts down her sack where the villagers direct her to and then takes a walk around to see what the fortification is like .
Who are these ten tigers you spoke of? she asks.
They are the ones with any fighting skill and are charged with defending the village Stricia
Stricia nods. I wish to meet them and know more about then Bob
We also do. But first unpack, meet the elders talk to them and the leader of the tigers, walk around the village then we make plans
Mr. Chen is right. We should get settled first. Its likely the Tigers will be unfriendly. Us being here is a reflection of them being unable to defend their village. We should tred carefully.
Stricia shrugs. I am already settled in
He leads you to his house and stable. "It's not a lot, but you can stay in the courtyard and the stable," he says. "As for the ten tigers, you can try yonder monastery."
He points to an unassuming religious structure guarded by two dragon statues.
Great that is a start then. he says looking for the best comfortable place in the stable to sleep so that he can claim it
Now that this is done off the the village elders
Qian was thinking it probably would have been more honorable and respectful to meet with the village elders first. "Perhaps, they will overlook any disrespect after they know we are here to help them? Oh well, we at least will be cleaned up"
Qian bows to Duan Chaing, "Thank you Mr Chaing for your hospitality." Then Qian finds a nice place to sleep in the courtyard without being exposed to the weather. He places his bag down on his chosen spot and then turns to the group with a smile, "Ok I am ready to meet with the Elders now. If you are all not ready, where shall we meet?"
"You all smell like you have been fighting ogres" says a matronly woman who steps in. "I'm Ling's mother, and you all smell like you need a bath before you meet the elders."
Easily done. he says as he starts stripping off his armor
And where would said bath be ? ready to go ahead
The girls in the household giggle at Bob Chen's stripping. She leads you down the hall where there is a porcelain bath.
Thank you Ling's Mother. I have been fighting ogre's and it does work up a sweat. You honor us with your hospitality.
Kai too waits his turn to bath.
The bath is not filled with hot water. So, the girls start filling it up. One girl giggles at Bob Chen again, she just can't stop her fit of giggling.
Chen will enjoy and relax in the hot water and will thanks the girls that have made it such a pleasant experience
Thankful for some time apart Stricia relaxes in the bath and thanks their host for the hospitality later.
Yes, they are separate.
----
And I mean Chaing. sorry. :)
once all clean up and properly attired Chen will wait for everyone before heading out to meet the elders
Ah nice to have a bath after traveling. Especially if those travels involve fighting Oni. He nudges Bob and laughs. Am I right Mr. Chen? Alright lets go see the elder then.
Kai prepares to head out as well.
Qian bows to Mrs. Chiang and waits his turn for a CLEAN bath. He offers some coin for the bath. He takes a bath, gets dress, bows one more time to Mrs. Chiang, and joins the others.
Qian bows to Mrs. Chiang and waits his turn for a CLEAN bath. He offers some coin for the bath. He takes a bath, gets dress, bows one more time to Mrs. Chiang, and joins the others.
Wow, we are a good slice of the population, aren't we?
-----------
-- The way to the elders is not obstructed at all. They lead you to a large building that is built like a small domed palace, but is really a gazebo. Here, the village elders meet briefly to discuss things happening with the village.
Greetings to you all revered elders i am Chen and these fellows are the others that have chosen to answer the plea for help you have placed
"Well, at last we have the help we need to get rid of the hobgoblin menace," the elder said (who is like the han chinese).
What can you tell us of this menace. Has there been multiple attacks here?
From what we were told there is around a hundred of them and not even ten of us and if you included your 10 tigers that isn't 20 fighting men
Qian bows to the elders as they approach ...
"In addition to what has already been asked, when do they attack and do you know where their encampments are? As well as, any other detail information you can provide."
(sorry guys, I forgot to tell everyone here I had real work to do.)
They look at each other. "We believe their encampments are to the southwest," said one elder. "They usually attack at night, and they come in sorties of ten so far. When they showed their full strength two weeks ago."
And what is their full strength? Stricia inquires.
Qian adds inquisitively, "50 to 75?"
how often has those groups of ten come to the village lately?
"We've seen one hundred," the elder said. "And they come every two days."
When will they come next? Today or Tomorrow? Stricia wants to know. After our scouts see for themselves the extent of the attacks we shall send them back to the city to report for themselves what they witnessed.
Qian smiles, "After we do our initial scout and the guards return home to report the menace, I say we find a way to distract the hobgoblins from this town by hitting their small encampments or their main force from an opposite direction of the town. I am not obviously suggesting toe-to-toe, I am suggesting small rapid ambush raids, then disappear or disengage."