"I propose that we set out in the morning. Today should be a day of celebration and a day of reflection. Let us gaze at the stars tonight and enjoy each other's company." He thinks for a moment about how much to share of himself. Qinglong nods his assent. "It is great fortune and a sign of the King's great wisdom that we are in this together, cousin. Wood is associated with the azure dragon. As you can see, I have been blessed with the companionship of this great dragon, a visitor from the spirit world of yokai. You may know that today is the day that the Celestial Dragon is expected in Quain, twelve years to the day of the previous visit - but it will not arrive. The vile Burning Cloud Devil attacked the Dragon, splitting its spirit into five parts. This is the Aspect of the Sky Dragon, part of the great Celestial Dragon. I have been gifted with some inborn magic, as well as great fortune. This day, the date we will look back upon as the foundation of our quest, is the day of my birth."
"I agree," Dawei said. "Better to have a full day to travel."
Baolin excuses himself after the discussion concludes, respectfully requesting a messenger report to him. He retires to his room, accompanied by qinglong. He draws out the carefully-bundled calligraphy kit, placing it next to the paper. Calligraphy is a talent that requires constant effort, and Baolin has never considered himself more than merely competent. Carefully, he places a pad underneath his paper and paperweights on the corner to ensure that it remains still during the brushwork. Baolin rubs the soot inkstick against his inkstone, adding water for the proper consistency, until he is satisfied that it will suffice. Finally, he takes the bamboo brush and wets it with ink. He prepares to write his letter, just as his father taught him.
The letter will be carried to his old friend, Tang Fengzhi, a local merchant in Waigonshu with many connections. He and his father had done him a great favor a year before the border war between Hu and Ma, using their influence to free a caravan of his goods that had been seized as possibly supporting the Ma cause as tensions rose. Baolin hopes that the favor will be returned. He begins by wishing Fengzhi good health and good fortune, explaining that he had been sent on a mission to the trading post at the end of the Auspicious Path of Destiny before he could stop to visit his old friend. Baolin respectfully petitions for Fengzhi's help, explaining further that he has need of loyal guardsmen. The message is well-crafted, combining flattery with gentle reminders of the debt between them.
As he finishes, Baolin is pleased as to the words but displeased as to the manner in which they we written. His calligraphy is sloppy and barely gets his point across. It will make a bad impression. Just then, a strong breeze from the east courses through the room. The still-wet ink shifts unpredictably. When Baolin looks again, it seems to him that the calligraphy is much improved by the wind's contribution. He waits until it is dry, then closes the scroll. He takes the silk seal paste, bright red as is traditional, and uses his family seal to authenticate the request while maintaining its confidentiality. He brings it to the waiting messenger, hoping that it will get to Fengzhi quickly enough for additional assistance to arrive soon behind them.
Following their tea, Xiang removed himself to a garden, to meditate in a natural setting. He always felt calm when out in nature, more in touch with his element. With the group having decided to leave with the dawn, he had time to reflect on the course of events that had led him here. His time in the academy, his desire for a life beyond selling magical trinkets, and an opportunity that could only have come from an auspicious sign. He thought of their mission, to travel to a land ruled by banditry and monsters, and to pacify and civilize it. A chance to gain honor and to improve the lives of those who have been terrorized and oppressed. Truly I have been blessed by the stars.
Craft: Calligraphy (Inexplicable Luck) 1d20+6+8
Diplomacy 1d20+8
The messenger bows, respectfully ignoring Qinglong, and takes Hu Baolin's scroll in both hands. He bows again and walks backwards until he's left the room. Two hours later, he receives his reply. A different messenger rushes in and stops short as he beholds the starry splendor of Qinglong. He stares in wonder and then abruptly turns to Hu Baolin and falls to his knees
"Forgive me my disrespect, honorable Sir. I have never seen a wonder such as is in your company." He raises the scroll above his head and bows low. "Master Tang sends his greetings." He waits until Hu Baolin has taken the scroll and then hastily departs.
Dawei spent the afternoon and evening alone, readying his weapons and checking and rechecking his equipment. Shenmen may not give him time for such luxuries.
Hu Boalin:
Hu Xiang Lun:
Jian Xi:
Lady Jade Moon:
Narukami Hayashi:
Tsui Dawei:
Qinglong:
Ninja stealth roll:
Only Hu Baolin, Qinglong, and Jade Moon are surprised!
Sweet Ninjas go dead last!, not quite sure how that happened given their init mods, but OK.
After attending to their private affairs and preparations, the six great stalwarts and their sacred spirit-dragon companion, enjoy the simple and comforts of the ryokan. Dinner is provided promptly at the hour of the Dog*, and each eats according to their custom. The fair is traditional and delicious, a perfect blend of elegance through simplicity. The evening meal completed, each departs to rest the night as they wish. Jian Xi and Lady Jade Moon retire to their room, as do Narukami Hayashi, Tusi Dawei, Hu Baolin and Qinglong. Only Hu Xiang Lun stays outside to contemplate the elegance of the stars and mystery of his element in the courtyard.
It is a nice night, the air is fragrant with the scent of night-blooming jasmine, and the branches of a red-leafed maple sway in a night breeze. The river, so near to the inn, is a quiet rush of water in the background of the nightengale's soft song. Perhaps it is this song, or its abrupt silence that alerts him.
What he once mistook for simple shadows fluttering in the lantern light he realizes are actually assassins! Two dart into Hu Baolin's door, blades at the ready. Another two slip into the room shared by Jian Xi and Jade Moon! Others enter the rooms occupied by Narukami and Tsui Dawei. Perhaps the assassins realized they were not as cautious as they thought, because two more leap from the maple tree into the courtyard, blades drawn and murder clear in their eyes.
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Narukami's eyes flashed suddenly to the door, having thought he heard something. He reached for his Katana, waiting silently in the room confirm what he heard.
Then the shadowy figures appeared.
"Foes in the night! To arms!" the man shouted, drawing a heavy shuriken [dart] from his sleeve and throwing it at the nearest foe.
For round 1, he will draw his Katana as a free action (part of movement), and try to fight his way to rally the rest around Hu Baolin's room.
Jian Xi hears the sounds of the intruders and rolls out o the bed with reflexes home from years of his masters training. He lands in a crouch his stance loose and reactive read to move in any direction to protect his wife until she had fully awakened to their new threat.
"Assassins! Quick my love get out warn the others!" He yells never breaking his gaze on them.
As the two ninja dropped from the trees, Xiang shouted, "Assassins! Awaken, my comrades!"
Facing the one closest to him, Xiang breathes and speaks his words of magic, his gestures moving to cast a spell to ensnare the mind of his opponent. As he releases his spell, he says, "Sheath your blade, my friend, and meditate upon the beauty of the night and these gardens."
He then moved towards his room, hoping to take refuge there.
Dawei crouched on the floor, honing the tips of his arrows and thinking of the danger that awaited in Shenmen. Even the lands of the rightful Emperor, who the Heavens smiled upon, had their perils. But he had been outside the reach of the land's lawful ruler before and he would not remain so long, if destiny favored them. If it did not, then perhaps he was no more than a shadow on the honor of others. Such a man deserved an unmourned death.
As Dawei took up a new arrow, he heard the floor creek and looked up to see the assassin creeping before him.
"Assassins!" he roared, throwing himself toward his mace.
Jade Moon pops up from her bed after being startled awake by Jian Xi,s exclamation. While sleeping, her guard is down and her true form is upon her. Being startled, she did not have time to think of a guise and her true nature showed through. "Didn't your mother teach you to never chase a fox down in to her den?". She growled her words while bearing her teeth. She has abandoned the lady and embraced the animal within. Her ears were pinned back and her eyes dilated like a pair of new moons. Her stance was slightly crouched as if ready to attack at any moment. Although Jade Moon could be defeated by these intruders, there was nothing she wouldn't do to protect her husband. She speaks softly as she glares at them. She raises her palm to them and unleashes a spell her mother taught her to make an enemy slumber. "Heavy your eyes, shallow your breath, slip into slumber as if a short death." She breathes slowly and from her palms a gentle light that resembles beams from a full moon emanated towards them. She continued while staring them in the eyes, "now make merry with the maidens of dream and night."
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Standard action
Hayashi draws another shuriken before the ninja can react from the pain, and sends the blackened iron star flying with a deft throw.
Move action
If the ninja fell, he will move to O-9. If the ninja avoided the hit, he will tumble past her, trying to avoid her sword slash to move to O-9, and drawing his katana as a free action (part of movement).
If Hu Lun is still threatened by ninja, Hayashi move silently to stand by his side in combat (Q-6).
With the warning sounded, Baolin breaks his meditation. Fortune remains on his side, as he and his spirit companion were beginning the ritual to return the dragon to the spirit world for the night. Suddenly, he turns to find himself in mortal danger. Two assassins are in his room! He lacks arms and armor, but he still has weapons of his own. He summons the starry void and blasts one of the attackers with it, hoping to overcome his senses with the vast power of the cosmos. He steps into the corner of the room, snatching up a spear from his gear in case it comes down to violence. Qinglong is upon the other assassin, stepping between them and Baolin as it snaps at the man with terrible fury. "Rally in the garden below the tree!" Baolin shouts to the rest, his voice clearly carrying through the thin walls.
Narukami attacks with shuriken
Ninja’s AC: 14
hit damage: 7
dead
Hu Xiang Lun casts charm
made:(
but he gets into the building to keep from being flanked!
Tsui Dawei Yells
Jian Xi defensive fights
Ninja 3 runs up to Hu Xiang Lun
miss!
Ninja 4 attack Quinglong
AC: 14 (flatfooted)
hit
Ninja 6 attacks Tsui Dawei
miss
Ninja 7 attacks Hu Baolin
miss
Nijnja 5 moves to attack Jian Xi
AC 15
crit?
miss
hit
The ninja's initial assault is grave, indeed. Like liquid shadows, the vile assassins slipped through the washi-covered shoji blades at the ready. They were confident that surprise was on their side, and they moved with confident strides ready to strike what they thought were easy targets blissfully sleeping in their beds. They were not, however, prepared for a wizard contemplating the mysteries of nature, nor the ready calls for alarm that spread throughout the inn from his cry.
Narukami's shuriken flies through the air and catches the black-clad assassin in the throat. He gurgles and gasps for air as he chokes on the blood welling up, but he can find no breath as his heart continues to pump his life from his body. He collapses with a thud, staining the tatami a deep red. But, Narukami pays the corpse no heed and leaps over his fallen foe, ready to defend his mast, Hu Baolin with his own life, if need be.
As he runs, he spots Tsui Dawei rolling to the side to grab his heavy mace propped on a small stand beside his futon. "Assassins!" he cries out, as the ninja's blade slams to the ground, splitting the holy warrior's futon in twain, sending feather into the air with the force of the strike. Noble Tsui Dawei stands and turns, facing his foe head-on.
"Sheath your blade, my friend, and meditate upon the beauty of the night and these gardens. Hu Xiang Lun faces his foes, and bravely puts on a smiling face to calm his attackers. His honeyed words sing on the breeze, but fall on brutish ears that understand nothing of the tranquil peace of forest breeze. The assassins grip their blades all the more tightly, Hu Xiang Lun is forced to run towards his room, preventing the honorless dogs the opportunity to place a blade in his back! One of the assassins grunts in frustration and follows the wizard while the other moves backwards onto the veranda, blade forgotten sheathed and shuriken drawn and ready.
The lovers, Jian Xi and Jade Moon, suffer greatly under the treacherous invaders. While Jade Moon avoids injury, thanks to her husband's quick thinking, Jian Xi can not say the same. His noble efforts distract the murders from harming his wife, as he calls out to his fellows, but the assassins focus their attention on him, for he has made himself seem the more obvious threat. Jian Xi makes himself a target for their blades, willingly suffering the injury they intended for his beloved. He weathers their blows, though he bleeds freely from several deep cuts. He knows he cannot take another strike! He must act, and act fast!
Narukami finally arrives at his master's door, katana firmly in hand. But, he arrives only to see a horror unfold before him! Lord Hu Baolin is locked in mortal combat with his own assassin, just as the noble ninja had feared! But! Heaven favors Lord Hu, and the slayer's blade cuts only the leg of a cherry wood table, rather than its intended target. Lord Hu's spirit companion, that fragment of the great Will of Heaven itself, however, is not as lucky as his friend. The spirit dragon roars in agony as he feels a blade cut deep into his noble scales! Blood the color of a starry night drips to the floor and evaporates in soft blue wisps.
Qinglong attacks Ninja 7
AC 14
bite misses
but both claws hit and ninja 7 is dead
Hu Baolin moves and color sprays Ninja 4 then grabs a spear
DC 15 Will save
made, barely... seriously these dice suck
Jade Moon casts sleep
DC 18
FAILED! finally a spell got off!!
both Ninja 1 and 5 are asleep!
Tsui Dawei
attacks with mace, but misses
As Narukami readies himself to come to his lord's defense. He sees the great power of his lord unfurl from his hands! He summons the starry void and blasts one of the attackers with it, hoping to overcome his senses with the vast power of the cosmos. However, he stepped too soon to the corner to snatch up a spear and the assassin was able to cover his eyes at the last moment, defying the power of Lord Hu!
Qinglong, that trusted and renowned of dragons, circles one of the assassins like a ghostly predator. He seems unaffected by the wound in his flank. He bares his teeth and lunges at the ninja, snapping and clawing in a whirlwind of divine fury. With a roar that rocks the inn, the celestial dragon pulls with his front claws in opposite directions, and the ninja is ripped in twain in a great shower of blood! The body collapses to the ground as Baolins call to "Rally in the garden below the tree!" resounds out, a perfect counterpoint to Qinglong's victorious roar.
In the lovers' room, Jade Moon pops up from her bed after being startled awake by Jian Xi's exclamation. While sleeping, her guard is down and her true form is upon her. Being startled, she did not have time to think of a guise and her true nature showed through. "Didn't your mother teach you to never chase a fox down in to her den?". She growled her words while bearing her teeth. She has abandoned the lady and embraced the animal within. Her ears were pinned back and her eyes dilated like a pair of new moons. Her stance was slightly crouched as if ready to attack at any moment. Although Jade Moon could be defeated by these intruders, there was nothing she wouldn't do to protect her husband. She speaks softly as she glares at them. She raises her palm to them and unleashes a spell her mother taught her to make an enemy slumber. "Heavy your eyes, shallow your breath, slip into slumber as if a short death." She breathes slowly and from her palms a gentle light that resembles beams from a full moon emanated towards them. She continued while staring them in the eyes,"now make merry with the maidens of dream and night." Both of their assailants' eyes grow heavy. They stagger and blink away the soft power of the kitsune, but her magic is too great, and their wills too small. They collapse to the ground, in death-like sleep, their weapons forgotten and useless beside them. Jian Xi can rest easy, the couple are safe for the moment!
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Past the cover of the red maple leaves, Hayashi's shuriken flew truly and struck the shadowy warrior, seemingly (to any observer) as if it appeared out of nowhere in its silent flight. As the ninja fell, do did a stray maple leaf cut by the throwing star--its color ominously red.
The shinobi sighed, and then laid his hand on his Katana, turning swiftly to Lord Hu's room--it was there did he see the majesty of the battle within.
In the shelter of his room, Xiang backed further from the door, forcing the ninja to move to him. After doing so, he called forth his magic yet again, this time directing it towards himself, conjuring forth a magical armor to aid in protecting him from harm.
Jian Xi smiles back at his wife as she knocks both their assailants out but his relief is short lived as he remembers their friends are also under attack. Quickly scooping up his sword as he rushes out the door he spots one of the assassins going after Xian Lun. Focusing inward he unleashes his ki letting it increase his strength and energy.
He moves quickly gripping his sword in both hands, he moves up to the assassin closest to Xiang Lun and lashes out cutting into flesh.
Jiang Xi attacks ninja 3 (summarized from his post)
Attack: 20 hit
Damage 9 dead
Ninja 8 attacks Nurakami
Miss
ninja 6 attacks Tsui Dawei
Miss
Ninja 7 attacks Hu Baolin
Miss
Jian Xi flies from the veranda, sword in hand, and kimono flapping in the wind. His feet barely touch the ground ads he charges across the grass. Steel cuts through the tall reeds lining the veranda. Emeralds and rubies flash through the air and the assassin gals to the ground in two heaps.
Baolin, while trained as a soldier, spent most of his time on the front of war inside planning tents. The calligraphy brush is his greatest weapon - but now, with his life in mortal danger, the spear will have to do. He thrusts forward at the assassin with the short spear. He dodges out of the way - only to see that Baolin intended for the attack to be a mere diversion. Qinglong leaps into position behind the man. The dragon's vicious bite snaps closed on nothing, but its terrible claws rend through flesh and armor as if they were made of mere paper.
Putting a bit more distance between him and the ninja, Xiang called upon his discipline and training, shaping an eldritch bamboo spear. With a gesture, he sent it flying towards the ninja, piercing his flesh and then shattering into dozens of splinters and causing him to bleed. "I am certain you are fierce, but my choice to embrace the element of Wood has given me the flexibility to counter your fierceness."
->
"You raise your hand against a servant of the true Emperor. Stand and face the wrath of Heaven, traitor!" Dawei said as he swung his mace again and struck true.
"As do you." Jian Xi replies as Hayashi cuts down his own opponent. With his sword at the ready he heads out to check the rest of the rooms.
"My thanks to you, Jian Xi. I am not a strong warrior, and your aid is most welcome." Xiang bows in thanks, for he has no desire to experience steel piercing his flesh. He then strides out of his room, listening for any remaining sounds of battle.
Jade Moon lets out a sigh and carefully fixes her hair putting it back into place so as to look half way decent.
She bends down and begins to grab the two assassins as if they were sacks of rice dragging them to a nearby chair by the hands. Being asleep, awoken, having a surge of adrenaline then coming back down from it left Jade Moon a bit weak and clumsy. Deep annoyance pulsed through her body. Whilst struggling to get the unconscious intruders into the chair, she found herself tripping on her hanfu. Her feet kept losing traction, sliding on the silk nearly causing her to fall. If one didn't know better they would have thought they were witnessing a lady unable to hold her drink having a rough night. Jade Moon resented anyone who robs her of her second most coveting thing: sleep, Jian Xi and her family being first. Once they were situated in their chairs and tied up, Jade Moon wandered over to her bed retying her sash lazily. She nudges a small lump trying to rouse something under her blankets and speaks to it, "wake up! I have a little job for you Yuki." She says with a slightly menacing voice. From under the blankets a small fox in the finest copper coat came slinking out. She yawned and stretched while squinting her eyes. She was so exhausted from her journey that she missed all the commotion. "Yuki, when these two wretches begin to wake up, do your magic." By magic she means Yuki's special torture. Yuki is notorious for sticking a tongue in the nose or ear of an unsuspecting victim in order to get her way. The sensation is a terrible tickle that brings the victims almost to the brink of insanity, causing an overwhelming feeling that renders them to a slight state of shock. Yuki has used these methods more than once to weasel herself an extra piece of meat or fruit. So Jade Moon figured it best to utilize Yuki's talents for this situation. The fox perked up and tilted her head to the side observing her victims before perching herself on their shoulders.
Jade Moon pokes her head out of the room and looks about for Jian Xi. She takes a deep breath and bolts out looking for him, afraid that there would be more. She finally spots him at the other end of the veranda and upon seeing him feels deep relief. She calls to him and catches his attention. She motions with her hand to follow her and she runs back to the room, making sure Yuki was alright.
Narukami: attacks ninja 8 with shuriken.
Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
dead
Qinglong: moves to flank Ninja4
Bite vs. Ninja #7 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6 Miss
Claw vs. Ninja #7 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21 Hit
Damage 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Claw vs. Ninja #7 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16 hit
Damage 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Dead.
Hu Baolin: target is dead. He can re-act next round, and I’ll work it in at the top of round 4 (if there is a round 4) before his normal round 4 action.
Jade Moon; ties up the 2 ninjas
Hu Baolin ?
Tsui Dawei: attacks Ninja 6
Mace: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
dead
Jian Xi searches other rooms
Hu Xiang Lun listens for sounds of battle
perception check: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
End of Combat
The traitorous shinboi had hoped to use the trees' foliage as cover, attacking form a distance and stay safe from the wrath of the King's agents. Narukami Hayashi, however, is a trained shinobi, and he serves the future emperor in all things. He calls upon that duty, now as he throws a shuriken at the lurking assassin. Past the cover of the red maple leaves, Hayashi's shuriken fliese truly and strikes the shadowy warrior in the neck, seemingly (to any observer) as if it appeared out of nowhere in its silent flight. As the ninja falls, so does a stray maple leaf cut by the throwing star--its color ominously red.
Hu Boalin, the student of great works of combat and magic, understands the key tactics of hand to hand combat: never reveal your true movements. Just as calligraphy combines a series of simple strokes to form a perfect symbol of sublime elegance, so too does swordplay. He feints to the left, drawing the shinobi's attention for a brief moment. The man shifts his stance, easily avoiding the blow. He flows into another stance--Crane Among the Reed, if Hu Baolin's correct, and lifts his foot in time to evade Qinglong's jaws. However, that movement bared his side to Qinglong's fierce claws. Spiritual claws slipped into the assassin's body, tearing through flesh and armor as those rice paper, and the man screamed in agony as his body fell to the floor, dead before he hit the ground in a pool of his own blood.
Meanwhile, Jade Moon ties up the two sleeping ninja in her room. Her movements cleverly disguised as the ignoble stumbling of a drunken woman--no one looking from the outside need ever know what happened here this night. Not unless Jade Moon wishes it. Through some effort, she deftly bound the two culprits to chairs and set her fox companion to guard them. The little red fox yawns blearily, completely disinterested in the affairs of the two-legged folk tumbling around the room. But, the idea of a good prank is always enough to get the lazy familiar out of bed, and he bounds forward to perch on of the shinobi's black-clad knees. His own black paws blend perfect with the fabric of the assassin so it appears that a small ball of red flame floats above the assassins' legs.
Jian Xi and Hu Xiang Lun, seeing that all is well taken care of, search the rest of the inn for signs of further assassins. As they pass, they witness Tsui Dawei stand against a shadow-warrior. "You raise your hand against a servant of the true Emperor. Stand and face the wrath of Heaven, traitor!" Dawei says as he swings his mace again and strikes true. His face is a mask of outrage and righteous determination. He and his companions are on a holy mission to restore order and peace to the lands of Tian Xia. King Huan is[/is] the true heir to Empire and will one day sit upon the Five Dragon Throne. Tsui Dawei has foreseen this. He has dedicated his life to this vision. He will not allow the King's will, [i]Heaven's will to fail by the likes of these agents of chaos! His mace strikes the warrior clear in the face, shattering bone and breaking the man's skull in one awesome blow. His foe collapses to the ground. Such is the judgement of Heaven.
Jian Xi and Hu Xiang Lun continue their search through the inn, but find no one. All have have fallen to the blades and spells of King Huan's trusted agents.
Dawei took up his bow and arrows, listening for the sounds of battle. From the shouts, he knew that others had come but now all seemed silent. Best then to see to his companions.
Stepping out into the hallway, he saw Jian Xi, Narukami, and Hu Xiang Lun.
"One found me in my room," he said. "He did not live to tell who sent him. Are you well?"
"Thanks to both Fortune and Jian Xi, I am unharmed. I have seen no other evidence of any remaining foes."
Xiang remained alert, although the danger appeared to be passed.
"Apparently, someone does not wish us to succeed in our quest."
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The shinobi seemed deeply disturbed by something, as he went and examined each ninja. As Tsui appeared from his room, he looked up.
"One found me in my room. He did not live to tell who sent him. Are you well?"
"We are. Their assault clearly failed," Hayashi mused, nodding.
"Apparently, someone does not wish us to succeed in our quest."
"We are yet within Lingshen, and have been here for but few hours," the man observed softly, nodding to the wise-man. He then went to his knees, studying a ninja cut by his own katana. "Apparently, those hours were all they needed for an ambush. "
He reached into the clothes and pockets of the enemy's fallen forces, drawing out their tools, before tearing off parts of their cloaks to bind their wounds, swiftly pressing particular points in their body that apparently relieved the unconscious ninja from pain.
"I will go...perform reconnaissance duty. Please inform Lord Hu of my temporary leave: I will return shortly," he said, straightening up.
"It wasn't a problem." Jian Xi says to Wiang Lun with a quick bow. "Yours may not have lived but Jade Moon's ways are more subtle and ours still live." He says as his body begins to feel the aftereffects of his ki and the many wounds he had taken.
8 short swords, 24 darts, 8 sets of padded armor, drawings of each of you, 8 tiny silver pins of a stag with 8 antlers.
Narukami's training saves three of the shinboi, but those who faced Qinglong's claws and the wrath of Tsui Dawei, are beyond his skills and even now await the final judgement of the Mother of Souls. As he searches their bodies, though, he pulls out pins bearing 8-horned stags. And, beneath their masks are the faces of those whom each of the companions had dealt with in the path. Hu Baolin recognizes three of the men as courtiers he had met in Lord Chen's household while awaiting his meeting with Zhou Kui Xing. Jade Moon and Jian Xi recognize two other assassins as a pair of travelers they encountered on the road. Hu Xiang Lun sees the face of a man drinking tea at his favorite teahouse. Tsui Dawei and Narukami both remember seeing two of the men selling wares Waigongshu. The meaning is clear: they've been followed since they first received their orders. Perhaps, before.
As the Narukami runs through the dark, his body is little more than a shadow among even deeper shadows. He is virtually invisible as he searches the night for those who dared attack his master! Soundless, crosses the smalls stream that gives the ryokan it's esteem, and heads slightly north into a small thicket of juniper. There, he finds a well-hidden campsite, the embers of a fire long since gone cold. Eight midnight horses stand tethered to trees, and the tracks of a ninth plunged headlong to the north, towards the
Gossamer Mountains.
"It wasn't a problem." Jian Xi says to Wiang Lun with a quick bow. "Yours may not have lived but Jade Moon's ways are more subtle and ours still live." He says as his body begins to feel the aftereffects of his ki and the many wounds he had taken.
"You are wounded. Allow me to share the Eternal Emperor's blessing with you?" Dawei offered, extending a hand toward the wound.
Xiang's eyes narrow when he sees the face of the man, and says, "I have seen this man drinking in my favorite tea house. He has been following me for some time. That they have followed me for so long implies that either we face opposition from members of the court of King Huang, or that our opposition has spies within the court. Either way, we must be cautious."
Xiang picked up one of the pins and examined the insignia, trying to see if he could recognize it.
[ooc] Hu Xiang Lun remembers that he has heard rumors about a warlord preying about the border of Lingshen and Shenmen. Perhaps the insignia belongs to him?[ooc]
"The healing would be most appreciated". He sighs in relief as healing magic flows through his body. "Thank you." He says with a short bow after he stretches feeling the newly knit flesh.
"I believe some questions are i order from the two we left alive in our room." He says to the rest of the group before heading over to his wife.
"Are you alright my love?" He asks her as he lays his forehead against hers and closes his eyes.
Baolin regards the assassins with cool detachment once they have been dispatched. Gathering the group around the base of the tree, he begins to speak. He again wears his armor, holding his spear next to him with qinglong at his side. "Friends, we have been tested on our first night - and our endeavor is blessed by great fortune. Hayashi's warning likely saved my life, and for that, you have my eternal gratitude. It seems that we have enemies - enemies of the King, for it is with his blessing that we have started this journey - who wish to do us harm. We have not failed tonight, and we will not fail tomorrow. Let us discover what we can about the villain who sent these agents to murder us in the night. Barbarous! Awaken the two who are yet unharmed and separate them. Hayashi-san, Jade Moon, come with me to question one. Cousin, lead the questioning of the other."
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Baolin regards the assassins with cool detachment once they have been dispatched. Gathering the group around the base of the tree, he begins to speak. He again wears his armor, holding his spear next to him with qinglong at his side. "Friends, we have been tested on our first night - and our endeavor is blessed by great fortune. Hayashi's warning likely saved my life, and for that, you have my eternal gratitude. It seems that we have enemies - enemies of the King, for it is with his blessing that we have started this journey - who wish to do us harm. We have not failed tonight, and we will not fail tomorrow. Let us discover what we can about the villain who sent these agents to murder us in the night. Barbarous! Awaken the two who are yet unharmed and separate them. Hayashi-san, Jade Moon, come with me to question one. Cousin, lead the questioning of the other."
"You honor this lowly servant, lord," The shinobi bowed his head, pressing his closed fist against his open palm, beginning his report. "I have something to report before we begin our interrogations: I have followed the villains' trail, and they seemed to have their base in the north. Leaving most of their steeds behind, one managed to escape (no doubt to inform his superior of their failure). If you would allow me, I will hunt him down myself and bring him back alive as well."
"You needn't describe yourself as lowly, my brother in arms. Whoever sent them will know of their failure soon enough," Baolin responds. "How long will the trail remain so that you can track it? If we learn through interrogation where he is heading, we may be able to recover a great deal of time in this pursuit."