"A white-haired ox? Not to me knowledge. We do get spirit beasts wandering around from time to time, but I don't think I've seen or heard of an ox. If the creature's decades old, there's not many who'd recall it."
"Where do these spirit beasts come from? Is there a spiritual gate nearby that you've heard of?"
She also looks to Katala, who seemed to have some knowledge of the place.
"You know, I never really thought about. Always figured they just popped up out of nowhere, but you're right, they must come from somewhere. Maybe the local priests can help? They have a small temple not too far from here."
The Soeji cousin points it out for you on a piece of parchment.
Katala considers Piella's question. While he wishes he could be more helpful he'd never really considered searching for a spiritual gate. He mentally calls Shal to his hands and pats the little snark while framing his thoughts. The little creature starts to glow showing pleasure. "Oddly enough now that I consider it, I've never even thought of seeking out such a gate. My Shal here is from the Spirit, but I didn't seek him. He came to me years ago, and at first I thought that he was just a really great pet. I would consider trying to ask him, but he's not really very smart. And, he's been with me for fifteen years so I'm not sure he'd remember even if he understood the question."
"The temple might be a good idea though! The priests get out all over the place helping out, and people like to gossip. Even if a story was years ago they probably heard something and recorded it."
"I'm not sure it is going to be in the spirit realm," she answers Katala, "as people have seen it in the past. In any case, the priests hopefully can help." She turns to the Soejis and nudges Bao to thank them. If he does, she will bow as well.
"Okay Bao, we are going to let you handle this one. You are part of this team, so you have to ask the priests in the most respectful, grown-up way how to find this ox, okay? No sense in completing this mission without you pulling your weight here..." she winks to show that she's kidding, but she most definitely wants him to think about his questions he's going to ask before going. In fact, she will want him to practice some questions with her beforehand.
"It's close enough to reach by foot," the cousin tells you.
Bao seems very excited to be given such an important task.
"I can't wait to ox them- ask them- about the ask- the ox," he stammers excitedly in-between mouthfuls of food. He chugs the last of it down with tea before dashing out the door, coming back moments later when he realizes not everyone's ready to leave.
"Let's go! There's no time to lose!"
"If you feel comfortable, you are welcome to go without me. I can stay here if you wish to go on foot. It doesn't seem far."
Her eyes drift to Lung, seemingly asking him if he wishes to watch over Bao and make sure the boy performs admirably. Her lameness in her walk would only be painful and slow them down, which Bao has already shown a desire to move speedily. If she went along, they'd have to bring the cart and everything else. If they elect to leave her, she will find infinite comfort in solitude. The peace and quiet, with some delicious tea would do her wonders.
"By foot, I do mean at least a good half-hour. Best not to let Bao, wander off that far by himself."
"We go together, Piella."
Lung nods.
If they wish to go together, she will help get the cart ready and all of them will travel together across town. It takes significantly less traveling time, but with them getting the cart ready, they perhaps would have arrived at the same time if the others had just walked. When they pull up to the temple, she reminds Bao:
"Okay, first introduce yourself and us, then ask your questions, okay? You can do this."
She will move with him. Generally, temple priests are kind souls. There should be no trouble.
Lung squints at the temple as they approach.
"I hope they have texts," he says, hope creeping into his voice.
Katala moves up by Bao and Piella as they approach the temple. He finds it interesting being with a group approaching a temple for information rather than being at the temple and greeting approaching groups. He stays behind the boy to watch the exchange.
You reach the temple without any trouble. Bao looks to you for confirmation that he can go and ask and if given, will politely approach the nearest priest and bow low, almost comically too low.
"My name is Bao and these are my friends. We're looking for an ox. A magical ox. A magical white ox. And a gate. A spirit world gate. We asked around but nobody knew. So they told us to come visit you. And then-"
You get the sense Bao could keep going for an hour if not stopped.
Katala watches and listens to the lad as he starts to ramble. Obviously Bao was nervous.... Staying behind him Katala motions with his hand to get the attention of the priest and lays the hand on the boy's shoulder. "Exactly right Bao. But let the man answer before you ask too many questions for anybody to remember. Perhaps you could relax and try again?"
"Tell him on whose behalf we come." She then whispers Old Soejis name to him so that he could express that they were there for the challenge.
Bao seems embarrassed that he forgot to mention Soejis name but quickly recovers.
"We are here on behalf of the Soeji clan."
The head priest nods and motions for you to follow her into a side room. Once settled, she takes some scrolls down from a shelf.
"Many spirit beasts wander the Heartlands. Some more often than not cross into here at locations such as spirit gates, but not all. The white ox you speak of hasn't been seen in quite some time. Our records show it was most often seen near Wanderer's Hill, a former farmstead a few hours from here. We don't tend to go near it these days, however."
Taicho, you know that Wanderer's Hill has been a hotbed of evil spirit activity for the past few decades. No one lives there now and its reputation as being cursed is far from unwarranted.
"I do not recommend going there, especially not with a child. The creatures that live there have no love for mortals."
Lung nods and bows.
"May we leave our ward here with you? We will return in one day's time."
Piella shivers at the thought of heading into evil paths and instead focuses on protecting Bao from fear. She places a gentle hand on his shoulder and then assures him of safety:
"We will take Bao back to the Soejis. That was the plan for us. But any further information you can offer us about the spirits or what we may see ahead of us might help us in preparation."
Katala considers what he knows of the spirits of the Wanderer's Hill.
Unfortunately he draws a complete blank. "Yes please. If I ever read about it I can't recall and details."
"Our archives unfortunately are rather sparse about the sort of spirit creatures that infest Wanderer's Hill. Beasts and worse, I would imagine."
"We won't bother you anymore. Thank you for your kindness. If you can, pray for our safe return."
She nudges Bao to return out the door.
You return to the Soeji farmstead to leave Bao, who rather surprisingly agrees with the decision. In fact, he doesn't seem keen about going to anyplace that's "haunted".
You catch a quick meal for lunch and are free to make your way to Wanderer's Hill, if you so choose. Or you could also wait for nightfall. Everyone know spirit activity's much greater once the sun has set.
Being that they are looking for an ox, Piella will press them to go immediately rather than at night. Perhaps there being less spiritual activity will make the voyage safer? Besides, oxen usually eat during the daytime hours and sleep at night. It'd made sense to her that if this being is a spiritual one, or lingering near them, it would not be up at night. If her party agrees, she will head toward the Wanderer's Hill with the others.
Katala agrees. "We're not looking for a haunt, unless the reason the ox is white is because it is a spirit? But then there wouldn't be any meat!"
Lung nods. "I have a fondness for pastures, anyhow. There's really no place better to lay down and think. Er...on top of a haystack, that is. Don't lay down in the pasture."
Lung inclines a nod to Katala. "Well, there is a difference between a ghost, and a spirit. The Spirit Realm has 'flesh' that is as real as you or I, or your little friend, although it, ah, 'tastes'...no, that's not the right term. It's flesh."
As the priest promised, the ride to Wanderer's Hill takes a few hours and you get there by mid afternoon.
The former farmstead stands out compared to the other places you've visited on your travels. Where most settlements in Yuanzi are either well-maintained or rustic, Wanderer's Hill has been clearly left to ruin. Wooden buildings lie rotten, hollow, and overgrown with wild vegetation. Discarded everyday items can be glimpsed amid the green; a farm implement there, a wheelbarrow barely recognizable there.
Of the few remaining buildings, you can recognize what once must have been a bathhouse besides a slow-moving river and a tall stone building which looks like it must have been the town hall.
Most disturbingly, the birdsong and clatter of the other farmsteads seems to have faded as you arrived even though you were able to hear them just minutes away. Even the river fails to make any noise.
"This region is not very comforting. I feel a chill in my bones like I've not felt before. It's like the dead hold this place and we are intruding..." She looks about for an area that would host an ox. Perhaps there are fields growing naturally? "Let's find this elusive ox...and it's too bad I don't see or hear any birds, as I could have asked them if they saw it."
Katala chuckles at Lung's words. "My little snark here would be rather upset with me if I tried to taste him." He rubs the little head causing Shal to glow. "I've never tried laying down on a haystack in a pasture to relax. I did hide in one when I was too young to be out.... But that wasn't very relaxing. I was picking bits of hay out of my fur for hours after that!"
Evil or bad reputation the Wanderer's Hill may have, but the trip there is a casual stroll. As they get within sight though he feels a slight trepidation. The place being old and abandoned might account for it being run down. But the quiet as they approach gave him an unnatural chill. "If the portal to the spirit is there I doubt the ox has escaped it. Nothing natural would stay near this. I'm sure we need to go in and search."
"...we could be in the Spirit Realm, already," says Lung to Piella.
"Katala, it's normally quite relaxing, but this feels less so."
Piella understands the suffering of Katala.
"I have curly hair. I also have had to pick hay out of my hair for a long time. You should try it though. It's somewhat comfy, even more so if you have a blanket!"
As things turn gloomy, she nods to Lung and considers the posibilitiy.
"Perhaps this is what happens when a spirit doorway is broken completely?"
To Katala, she considers, "Well, I think you are right, but maybe it's immune? There is some reason the Council chose it. Perhaps it's a powerful beast itself? Maybe it's not afraid of what is or isn't in here..."
Beyond the ruined village proper is the fields, but a quick glance shows nothing moving or growing there.
Lung sends his senses forth, searching for the presence of evil.
"Taicho, do you think you can track this ox? Where would they go?"
"Perhaps first we should try and find the entry to the spirit world? Any ox tracks coming out of it wouldn't be a normal ox."
"Piella, Can you scan the area for magic? I don't have the spell prepared."
Piella will detect magic from here on out, scanning this way and that for the presence of magic.
You scour the abandoned village for tracks, but none can be found, even out in the fields. However, Lung's detect evil detects the presence of a faint, but pervading aura of evil lingering around the entire village proper. Piella likewise discovers it's a moderate magical aura.
As you narrow in on the bathhouse, the faintest sounds of the river can finally be heard, but it's almost as if you're hearing its echo. The bathhouse's sliding doors stand slightly open.
With a flick of her wrist, Piella will cast a dancing light spell on the room ahead of them so they can see any hazards inside before they stumble upon them. She will move the lights around the room accordingly to ensure the area is lit. Then with her low-light vision, she pierces even further.