"Farmer Yao." Rixin says, bowing ever so slightly, 'I bring you tidings. I am about to take one of your laborers." He puts an arm lightly on Aki's shoulder. "I hope you do not take it personally, but she is wishing to get her pay slightly early. Will that be possible without problem?" Rixin plays it safe, not knowing the man.
"Oh... I see," Yao says, caught by surprise. "That's alright..."
He gives Aki a questioning look.
"I'm going to find my father, in Avistan," Aki tells Yao.
Yao slowly nods. "I see... Okay, uh... follow me, please."
Yao leads you to the farm and heads inside, leaving the door open for you to follow. Inside the farm's cramped hallway Yao asks you to wait. He comes back a little later, a woman following him.
"Oh, Aki! I heard you are leaving!" the woman says and moves to her for a hug. "Please take care, dear!"
The woman lets go of Aki and grabs your hands. "Please take care of her, young man! Bless both of you, and good journey!"
The woman, who clearly has the wrong idea, then backs off to let Yao squeeze past her.
"Here's your pay for the past half week," Yao says as he hands Aki one silver. He then presses a copper in her hand. "And some more, because you've always been such a great help to us!"
"T-thanks," Aki stammers while accepting the money, her face red, "but it's not like that. Rixin's going to train me, so I can visit my father."
Rixin is amused when they are taken for a couple. His face doesn't show it, but he enjoys watching Aki getting flustered.
The monk bows to the farmer, "Yes. I was already traveling this way when Aki expressed interest. I think she has great potential and I am honored she has chosen to travel with me." He pauses then adds, "We thank you for your generosity. I am in your debt." the words are formal rote but Rixin decides to add a bit more, "I mean this. We are in the city for a few more days. Is there anything I can do for you, in repayment of your kind words?"
Yao first looks to the woman next to him, who shrugs and nods. He then says, "Well we're, uh... a bit short on workers, really. Even more so now Aki's leaving... If you happen to come across anyone looking for work, please send them to us. We need three or four more workers to help out with the harvest."
"Oh, if it's not too much trouble, could you do me another favor?" the woman asks you. "I borrowed a book from misses Yang. Could you perhaps return it for me on your way back?"
"Mister and misses Yang own the apothecary," Aki explains to you. "It's in the street where most other shops also are."
"That suits us fine. We need to buy some equipment for the road. If we may beg your leave? We will do our best to fulfill your requests." The monk bows and then lets Aki lead him to the apothecary. "They seem like good people, and fair masters, Aki." He says, conversationally. "You were lucky to have them."
Aki accepts the book from the woman and you're off again, following the same road back to town.
"I was," Aki admits. "They are always very kind and generous to me. I hope we'll find some workers for them. I feel a bit bad for leaving them while they're already short staffed."
You arrive back in Muliwan a little later and Aki guides you to the shopping street, which is located about halfway between the inn where you're staying and the richer district where Dung lives.
"The inn's in the most crowded part of town," Aki tells you. "It's the street where everyone most people enter and leave Muliwan and it has most public buildings."
The shopping street indeed seems less crowded than the inn's street, though not nearly as calm and peaceful as the richer part of Muliwan. There are a few people with carts, delivering supplies to the various shops.
Aki point at a building with an apothecary sign hanging next to the door. "There's the apothecary. Want to go there first?"
"That will do nicely. We will need to buy supplies." the monk then ventures a smile, "Ready to make an apothecary very happy? If she has a decent stock, we'll be buying plenty of items for both of us."
Aki returns the smile and together you head into the apothecary. It's a small building, and the interior's decorated in a way that makes it look even smaller. There are a couple of tables to the sides, filled with various potions, herbs, empty vials, and bowls. at the back is a small counter with an old woman behind it.
"Hi, misses Yang!" Aki greets the woman.
She holds up the book. "Shea asked us to return this."
"Oh, thank you, dear!" misses Yang replies and accepts the book.
The old woman looks at you now and bows briefly. "Good day. I don't think we've met before? I'm Chi Yang. I run this apothecary with my husband, Chao."
Rixin bows, "My name is Zeng Rixin, from distant Goka. I am a friend of Aki here. In fact, in a way, it is our new partnership that brings us here. We are planning to travel north, and join the caravan masters."
He raises a hand, 'I am an experienced traveler, Aki will be in safe hands. But as an experienced traveler I will need some supplies. may I sample your wares? I can pay in coin." he knows in small towns like this credit is far too common.
"Nice to meet you, Rixin dear. It's good to hear Aki's going on a journey, the experience will do her good."
Misses Yang motions at her wares. "Feel free to browse. Is there anything specific you're looking for?"
As you look around you see there are some alchemical items, but the supply is somewhat limited. Though there's a multitude of the cheaper alchemical creations, there's not a single one worth more than fifty gold pieces.
'I will browse a bit." he says, and looks through the shelves, talking idly with Aki. If she knows more then he, he is respectful and learns. Whens he knows less he instructs. When neither know he admits it.
Such is the way the straight-forward monks taught him in the monastery. And so is the way he teaches.
He grabs a number of items, hoping Yang can offer him a bag or basket to hold them.
[ooc]10 Sunrods= 20 GP
1 Water Pure Sponge= 25 GP
1 Alchemical grease= 5 GP
3 Tanglefoot bags=150 GP
1 Antitoxin= 50 Gold
All told....250 gold. I bet Mistress yang is pleased...Although I probably cleaned her out of tanglefoot bags.[/ooc]
While browsing the items with Aki you discover she knows little to nothing about alchemical items, but is able to identify various herbs that benefit ones health.
"I've learned some basic things while helping mister and misses Yang a few summers ago, when there was a very bad case of flu in Muliwan."
Rixin nods to Aki, "Such plagues are all too common. Goka is no exception, with so many people packed so close. I am glad you took such a negative event and learned something from it. Do you know the plants in their wild state? That will be very useful for us." Rixin says encouragingly.
"If only we had customers like you more often!" misses Yang jokes as you pay for the items.
"I can give you a basket for your items, but if you're going to travel I suggest you go to the shop across the street. They sell all kinds of useful items for travelers, including very well made backpacks."
"Uhm, not all too well," Aki says, shaking her head. "I can recognize the most common herbs, but currently that's about it."
Rixin thanks Misses Yang and takes her advice. After the correct bowing and such, he leaves the apothecary.
He heads across the street to the next shop, saying as they walk, "Well, no better time to learn. I am sure your background will help, in any case. Perhaps we should find a book...do you know how to read?" the monk asks lightly, trying not to insult.
"Uhm, actually, no..."
Aki suddenly looks very worried. "I... I don't even speak Taldan... I think my father will know Tien? He was with my mother, so... Do you now Taldan? Can you teach me to speak it? Maybe even read it, together with Tien?"
You cross the street and enter the shop there. This shop quite a bit larger and inside you find all kinds of handy items for the road, even very good quality items. You see racks with all manner of clothes to your right, and the various other wares displayed on your left. The most expensive items seem to be displayed behind the counter, at the back of the shop.
A boy of about fifteen years of age stands behind the counter. "Dad! Customers!"
The door in the northeastern corner of the shop opens and a cleanly shaven middle aged man enters the shop. He takes place behind the counter and bows to you. "Welcome to my shop! What can I do for you?"
Rixin ponders Aki's worried face and soothes her, "Yes, I speak Taldan, or Common as they term it in Avistan. My family in Goka was heavily involved with the Western trade." he pauses, wondering how much he should tell her about his mission, the reason he was doing all this. Soon, he decided. "I learned it when I was in training for the business. I am out of practice, but I think it'll come back tome. Let's focus on reading and writing Tein first?" he says encouragingly.
The monk bows to the shopkeep. Apparently not one of Aki's many friends..."We seek supplies going north. I think I know what I want, master merchant."
Rixin decides against the usual of many ropes and packs. The caravan masters will hopefully have all that supplies. He stares hard at a tent, wondering if the weight is worth it.
While he ponders it, he looks to Aki and points to the collection of kits and tools. "Anything strike your fancy, Aki?"
Aki nods in response to your suggestion. "Yes, I imagine learning a second language is easier when I understand reading and writing first."
In theory:
I assume Tien uses something like Chinese characters. Rixin could first teach Aki what some basic characters look like and what their meaning is. From there on he could start teaching Aki how to read and write simple sentences. He can then gradually teach her more characters and more complicated sentence structures, adding grammar, etc. Letting her read books, starting with easy texts and slowly moving on to more complicated texts, would help in teaching her. Whenever she doesn't know what something means, Aki can ask Rixin.
In the game:
i tried to come up with a mechanic for this, which I'll describe below. I hope you find it fair. Let me know if you think it isn't.
You can tell me how much hours a day you want to spend on teaching Aki how to read and write, and I'll describe her progress. I'll have both her and you make an Int check every day she spends practicing. When she's got the first basics down, you can give Aki something to read in order to give her a bonus on her check for the day. The amount of hours a day can also give her a bonus, or a penalty if you make her study while her concentration's way gone.
Let's start with a DC of 10 for Aki. Every day she makes the DC, Aki will get more proficient and the DC will increase by 1 (maximum 15). When she's beaten the maximum DC of 15 for a total of 5 times, Aki knows how to read and write. (Meaning it'll take at least 10 days, which is quite fast for someone who tries to learn to read and write, or forever in case the RNG gods decide they hate you and/or her.)
You'll also have to make an Int check every day. Your DC will always be 10. Make it and Aki gets a +2 bonus. Fail it by 5 or more, and Aki gets a -2 penalty.
A somewhat puzzled look shows on Aki's face as she watches the kits and tools. "No, not really. I wouldn't know what all of those are for."
Aki browses the wares and stops to point at paper and writings supplies. "Won't I need this?"
She later points at some bedrolls, and the tent you were staring at. "These would probably be a good idea. It gets colder and colder further up north. We don't want to sleep on the ground, and we won't be able to get a fire going when everything's wet."
You get a feeling Aki knows what she's talking about. She may even know more about sleeping outdoors.
Rixin nods, "Yes, you will. If they have any beginner books, we can get those too. It will be good for you to read real sentences, not just my pretend letters."
When she points out the camping supplies, he nods again
"Yes, I suppose you are right. Half of me wanted to avoid it to keep our weight down, but that is foolish. Thank you for speaking up." he favors her with a smile.
"Anything else? Remember, everything we take we have to carry north, to at least the capital and maybe over the Crown itself."
"Well maybe keep it to just one book then?" Aki suggests as she walks up to a stack of books. "I can then buy something else at the capital."
Aki picks up several of the books, flips through them, and puts them back on the shelf. She finally picks on up that proves to be more than just a bunch of characters.
"This book has drawings!" Aki tells you excitedly while flipping through it. She shows it to you and indeed it has many colored pictures of various plants, and the human body. It appears to be a book on the subject of healing and herbs. Considering the other books on the shelf appear to be of lesser quality, you have a hunch the book Aki's holding is worth more and somehow ended up on the wrong shelf.
The shop owner and his son are both busy calculating the total cost of the items you placed on the counter.
"It looks quite valuable." Rixin looks at the colorful, well-made book. He knew little of value and trade, despite his father's attempts, but he knew books were expensive, doubly so this far on the outskirts of civilization.
But he took his honor seriously and says, in a low voice only for Aki, "That book is probably worth a hundred gold pieces, Aki." and then the monk bows. "I think the gods have intervened again, but we must tell the shopkeep. It would be dishonest to take it without at least telling him the value. That said," and the monk smiles, "I doubt there is much market for that here. We can make a fair offer for him now." Then the monk pauses, "But what do you think, Aki?"
This could be a good test for her.
"Is it really that valuable?" Aki asks you, having no clue about the book's value.
"Well I'd really like to have it, but I'd feel bad for the shopkeeper if it's worth much. It'd be like stealing if we'd just pay less, won't it?"
"Indeed. If we had no idea, it would be honest enough." Rixin says ruefully, "Sadly for my pocketbook, I have an inkling. But the monks would berate me for even thinking of the money involved." He smiles at the old memories.
He coughs add says, "I think you are right, Aki. We have been brought together by the gods. Let us not insult them by starting with dishonest means."
The monk turns to the shopkeep and says, "I think this book was on the wrong shelf, master merchant. Do you agree?" He hands the leather book over. He could be wrong of course, but he doubted it. But he DID intend to haggle a bit, if only to honor the city he grew up in.
The shopkeeper takes the book and flips some of the pages. He suddenly lets out a bemused laugh. "Yes, indeed! This book is worth far more. I have no idea how it ended up with those others. Thank you for letting me know!"
The man turns to look at Aki, then at you, then at all the items you've already placed on the counter. "You know what? I reckon this book is worth about a hundred gold pieces, but I don't think I'd be able to sell it any time soon. Considering you're buying so many other items, I'm willing to give you a discount. What about fifty?"
Aki's face pales a bit when she hears the value of the book, and she stays rather pale when the shopkeeper cuts the price in half. Her hand moves to her own gold pouch, which contains a whopping total of seven silver and one copper.
Rixin bows and says, 'How about 40 gold, right here, right now." He shakes out the coins onto the counter. He may have been a terrible merchant, but one picks up a trick or two.
He is willing to pay fifty though, without being pushed too hard. As well as buying all the other equipment.
After they leave the store, Rixin turns to Aki. "This book is precious. 100 coins is a high sum, no matter anything else. I want you to study it well. Make me proud, do it honor. Even if you can't read the letters yet, study the pictures."
With that he makes way to a place to buy Aki some cheap armor.
The shopkeeper slowly moves his head from side to side while pondering, but then nods. "I wouldn't have known without you telling me. Deal."
Aki looks incredibly excitedly when the shopkeeper agrees and you purchase the book for here. She takes the book, then hugs you. "Thank you, Rixin!"
As she lets go of you she bows to the shopkeeper. "Thank you!"
When you leave the shop Aki's hugging the book. She nods her head fervently as you speak. "I will!"
You then enter the shop where both weapons and armor are sold. Aki looks around and points out the bows. "There are the bows. You think they'll let me try one?"
Rixin takes the hug, and bows back. Physical affection isn't his strong suit but Aki is infectious.
As they look at the bows, he shrugs, 'I do not know. Some shops want you to touch their wares, some do not. I shall ask the owner. For the bows and...for the polearms as well." he says, noting Aki's interest. Why the small-ish woman would want a big weapon was beside him, but he killed things with his bare hands. He would not judge.
Upon finding the owner/shopkeep Rixin bows formally saying, "Master merchant. My friend and I are purchasing supplies for a journey north and eventually over the Crown. Would you allow us to handle the merchandise? My friend is untrained and this is a..trial of sorts. I would, of course, pay for any damages."
if the owner seems friendly, he'll add, 'And if you could demonstrate anything to my young friend, I would be in your debt." he drops his voice, "And pay for your generous donation of time."
At this rate his purse would soon be gone, but there were few shops in the Crown.
There's limited amount of space inside the shop, and there's some hesitation before the shopkeeper replies. "I'd rather you not try them inside..."
The man ponders for a bit before deciding, "Alright, you can try some of the weapons. I was about to close shop anyway, so maybe we can go just outside of town?"
A quick look outside reminds you it's already getting pretty late. You estimate it's almost 8 pm.
The shopkeeper looks Aki over. "Do you have any experience with weapons? Maybe you should try some different things. We can grab some and you can try them."
Aki gives you a quick smile, then quietly listens to the conversation between you and the merchant.
"Uhm, none, sir," she tells the shopkeeper when he addresses her. "If I could try some, yes please."
With the permission of the shopkeeper Aki takes a longbow, then walks over to the pole weapons. She takes a long look at the various types before taking hold of a naginata. "This one seems interesting."
Aki then turns to look at you. "What else do you think I should try?"
Rixin ponders for a bit. 'Both are powerful weapons in the right hands, of course. I say we try both of those, plenty to start with. I don't think you are the type for an axe or mace. A bow can let you strike from a distance, and so can a polearm. Even if your foe is vry strong and dangerous."
Internally he notes both would suit fighting beside him well, the reach weapon or the bow. But Rixin won't push her for tactical reasons. Fighting and combat is very personal to him. But he does think Aki should pick something that gives her some space from her foes.
The shopkeeper closes shop and guides you to the edge of town, where there's plenty of space for Aki to try the weapons.
"I brought some arrows. I expect you'll pay for any lost or damaged, as you said you would," he tells you.
The merchant instructs Aki on how to hold the longbow, draw the string back, and aim. Though Aki's not very good at aiming the longbow, she's not terrible at it. After a while you notice Aki's arrows are landing closer to their targets, and how Aki's quite fast at nocking new arrows. Suddenly, Aki switches the bow to her other hand. She nocks a new arrow and shoots it, actually hitting her target this time. She gives you a cheeky grin afterward.
Next is the naginata. Aki receives a brief instruction on how to hold the weapon and how to thrust it, but due to your own martial training you notice a gap in the man's instruction. He's not telling Aki how to position her feet, and how to take stances. Yet after a couple of swings, you notice Aki's already making adjustments to her stance, as she slowly figures out what works and what doesn't. You also get the impression Aki's actually a fair bit stronger than you estimated her to be.
Aki definitely shows promise with both weapons, and even handles both of them with a certain grace.
Rixin bows, and means it, to the shopkeeper. He knew merchants as a tight-fisted bunch who bought cheap and sold dear. Perhaps the world was wider then he knew?
'You showed skill, Aki. You can use both right and left hands equally?" He says, with respect. He could do it now, of course, but it had taken many, many months of patient instruction by his masters to do it. Even now, he favored his right hand for most tasks. 'That is good, very good. We shall remember that for your writing..."
Rixin makes notes for the stances. It would do not good to shame the merchant but tomorrow the monk would show Aki what he could.
"We shall buy both bow and naginata, master merchant. A supply of arrows as well." Rixin says.
"I'm left handed by nature, but my grandparents scolded me for it," Aki explains. "They said left is impure, and that I should use my right hand for single hand tasks like eating."
Aki looks at both her hands. "Some things I now do with my left hand, and some I do with my right. It's a bit of a mixed bag."
It turns out the arrow that hit Aki's target wasn't damaged, so there's no damage to compensate. the merchant puts the arrows Aki shot back in their quiver and hands it to her, together with the weapons. "There you go, young lady."
He walks over to you for the money. "It's been pleasant doing business with you. Drop by if you need anything else!"
The merchant then heads to his home.
Rixin adds to Aki, "It is a useful skill. They may not have done it for that reason, but it is an advantage." He looks around at the darkening landscape, 'Shall we call it a night? Tomorrow morning, meet me at the Inn at dawn. We can begin your training in earnest."
"Alright," Aki says and nods. Together you head back to the inn, where you head to your rooms.
The next morning you find Aki at one of the inn's tables, eating a breakfast of eggs and rice.
"Morning, Rixin!" she greets you enthusiastically, looking up from the book you gave her. Her backpack and weapons rest against the table.
Rixin yawns as he enters the room. He got up at dawn because that is what the monks taught him and the trail encouraged. But in his pampered youth Rixin had grown to love sleeping in and he still had a taste for it. But alas, life was not about giving in to temptation.
He nodded to Aki saying, "You are already studying. This is good. Have you learned anything?"
"Let us do physical exercise first, stretch our bodies, then our minds." He leads Aki outside (hopefully somewhere not int he street but in grass?).
Setting her up, without weapons he leads her through a series of exercises meant to calm the mind and flex the body. Entry level poses, taught to him by the monks at the monastery. He knew them well, and he would guide Aki as best he could, showing her how to plant her feet, how to breath, when to release. Rixin found it very relaxing but he doubted Aki would, not her first day. They do this for nearly an hour.
"I recognize some plants, but I find it a bit hard to learn from just the pictures..."
Aki nods at the mention of physical exercise and puts her book in her backpack, after which she follows you outside with her backpack and weapons. You head down the street, till you're just outside of Muliwan. There the massive plains east of Muliwan provide plenty of space for you to practice.
During the exercises you see what Aki meant when she mentioned her natural flexibility the day before. She's nowhere near as flexible as you are, but far more flexible than most people who start monk training. Aki adopts the stances that don't require extreme amounts of flexibility with relative ease, and her breathing's reasonably controlled for someone not used to this kind of exercise.
Rixin smiles, "Very good! Here take a break." he pats a grassy spot for her to relax on. "You did very well for your first day. Much better then mine." His mind flashes back to himself falling off wooden platforms and tripping over rocks as nimble monks did the exercises around him.
"Your body is flexible, like you said. This is very useful for a fighter. You must bow with the wind, flow with the fight. Only samurai are armored and strong enough to direct the storm. The rest of us must flow with it, use it." he says. That is what the more warrior type monks always said and Rixin had found it was generally true. He hoped the poetic language might appeal to Aki, with her limited fighting experience.
He hefts the nagatina as she sits, holding it. "This is a long weapon. Your balance will be key in using it, as well as your strength. You should get used to using it." He tosses the weapon to her, knowing it will be awkward while she is sitting. The monk has he rise and sit a few times, balancing the clumsy long-handled weapon.
"Now, let us practice with this weapon." He has her stand and attempt to block his blows, charges and rushes. Mostly defense as this stage, how to grip the weapon, how to stand, when to fall back herself.
Aki sits down where you pat the grass and takes a moment to rest. She's completely caught off guard when you toss the naginata at her and barely catches it. "Whoa!"
The surprise quickly disappears on Aki's face when you give her the balance exercise. Aki nods when you want to start the real training, letting you know she's ready.
Like yesterday, Aki shows a lot more strength than one would expect from such a small woman. She blocks all the slow attacks you throw at her, and instinctively backs away when you charge and get past her reach. With your guidance Aki's stances also improve a lot.
After about an hour of training with the naginata Aki's sweating a lot. It looks like she needs another moment to rest.