~ ~ Background ~ ~
Outside of a remote village in the tengu nation of Kwanlai, a generations-old group of shrinekeepers has dutifully watched over a holy site that commemorates celestial forces that fell in battle against a qlippoth invasion in the distant past.
By tradition, the guardians report to celestial forces every 10 years, but these guardians have fallen silent.
A messenger from Heaven has called upon the Pathfinder Society to investigate the historic site and uncover the truth behind the shrinekeepers' fate.
~ ~ Initial Information ~
You are invited to Kwanlai, a tengu nation in eastern Tian Xia. The briefing begins in Kwanlai’s capital, Hisuikarasu, but the majority of the mission takes place near the border between Kwanlai and Tianjing. The two nations have a peaceful relationship, though both are relatively weak in the aftermath of the fall of the Lung Wa Empire.
~ ~ Briefing ~ ~
A light breeze wafts in through the windows of a private room in the Golden Lotus Teahouse, bringing with it the sound of chirping birds. Heat radiates from the small stove sunken into the floor in the center of the room.
A bird-headed man with black feathers enters, carrying a large, heavy-looking kettle on the edge of a gnarled wooden staff. In fluid, graceful motion, he sweeps the end of his staff in an arc and sets the kettle upon the stove.
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Dawn took a long break from the Pathfinder Society to tell jokes and pull off more pranks in the Commune. Foremother grilled her for all sorts of stories and new experiences on her journeys.
Foremother's new grey hairs wasn't a big deal for Dawn. Her head is gray, white or a dull green. But sometimes Foremother would sleep for weeks on end, or retreat into her home without warning, or stumble as she walked. The Commune is taking care of her, but Dawn knows: she needs more stories, more experiences.
So when Dawn got the summons from the Society, she grabbed her armor, took her favorite falchion and told Foremother she'd return with a new tale to keep her renewed.
Tian Xia was full of new things to try out. Everyone spoke a language she didn't know, the clothing was different, and every time she tried to bow she seemed to offend someone in some way. And some of the people have bird heads, but not the bird heads she expected.
"Hey. Um. Bird... uh... you." Dawn hesitates and waves the tengu over. "I'm Dawn. The Pathfinder Society sent me. Any other Pathfinders in here?"
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A man with a blindfold and a walking stick enters the room, tapping his stick in front of him as he walks. He pauses when he hits the tea room and cocks his head to one side, then bows to the Tengu. In Tien he thanks him for the invite before finding a place to sit down.
”I assume not everyone is here,” he says. ”would it trouble anyone if I got some practice in? I do not often get the chance to play.”. With that he pulls out a Shamisen and begins playing it softly.
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A series of uneven heavy footsteps announces a bearded Taldan even before he limps into the room. He is older than many of the Pathfinders you've met, wrinkles beginning to form on a weathered, but muscular face. He bears the symbol of Sarenrae on a bowstave he carries as well as on a linen shirt he wears. Finally the Dawnflower is also seen in a stylized wayang-style earring the man sports with a fine chain connecting several piercings on his left ear.
"Ugh, is this it? I can never find my away around with those chicken scratch signs..." He spots the tengu tending to the tea and suddenly stammers an apology. "Oh, my. I'm sorry. I meant no offense. Uh..." He gives a short, uneasy bow to the tengu before unburdening himself of his pack and placing it in the corner.
"At least we get the cool breeze off the sea here. Last time I was this far east, I was in Ramparassad and it was devilishly hot! Went through all my shirts one day!" The man looks around for a chair before remembering that they favored simple cushions for the teahouse. He takes an awkward seat, gingerly folding his wounded leg. "I'd prefer rice wine, but I guess if this is a teahouse, tea will work. I'm Sir Hayden Greyrun of Taldor."
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This was the closest he had been back to home in more than a year. Closest he had been to a place where he didn't stick out like a sore thumb, but he was still half a continent away from home. He was six and a half feet tall and a snake man. In Avistan, that tended to draw the eye.
Here in Tian Xia, it wasn't so unusual. It let him breath a little easier.
He had a nice bongo drum strapped to his hip, along with a shield and a trident on his back. When the old man started playing his instrument, the Nagaji started padding his drum in tempo.
"You're a Pathfinder, too, yeah?" he said in Tien.
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The old man nods towards the way of the Nagaji.
”Ah, yes. Apologies. I did not introduce myself. My name is Katsu Shintaro. Follower of Veildaies, and occasional pathfinder when circumstances allow. Sadly, my faith is not strong enough to cast spells, but I make do with the lessons she has taught me about swordplay and perceiving the wider world around me.”
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A bearded man dressed in purple robes, bedecked with arcane sigils and markings, enters the tea house. Clenching a map within his wiry fist, the man brings the document to his face where his aged eyes, peering out from beneath a sharply-pointed hat, can see the document more clearly.
"Golden. Lotus. Teahouse," he reads slowly, aloud. "This map would seem to suggest that this is the proper place to which I have been summoned..." The wizard scans the room, then huffs. "Clearly, there has been some egregious error for this establishment looks ill-equipped to cater to the arcane amenities and extraordinary exigencies of Golthwur Strath, Arcanist of Adventure and Diviner of Discovery."
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A small halfling in a full-necked red suit jacket and matching pencil skirt stops just outside the door the teashouse, and takes a quick moment to check her perfectly coiffed hair hadn't shifted out of place before she strides into the room on her suit-matching red pumps. She performs the bows and observances traditional to being welcomed into a person's home in these parts, but is so brusque with them it borders on the edge of being rude.
She comes closer to where the Pathfinders are gathered, setting her pack and attached longspear down, and giving the assembled people a look over. Despite standing less than 3 feet tall, she gives the impression of looking down her nose at everyone. In one hand she carries a small thin board of wood with some metal contraption on the top that hold papers in place and in the other an ink pen that she occasionally causes to make an eerie clicking noise.
After a moment of scrutiny, her face softens some and she gives the room a small smile. In a voice that sounds like this has been practiced and polished, but yet still carries some warmth, she states, "I am Angela Isafira, secretary third class of the Grand Lodge and here to audit chronicle reports. This is just a random audit; rest assured no one is under direct suspicion of misrepresenting information. I am, however, also bound by the Pathfinder code so I will be assisting where ever I can."
She moves over to the only elf in the room, checking off something on her clipboard. "Dawn Verda? It'll be a pleasure to work with a magi, I haven'T had many opportunities yet." She then turns to the man playing the shamisen, intentionally making noise as she comes over, adding another check to her papers. "Given the blindofld I presume you are Katsu Shintaro, right? It's truly rare that someone with your obstacles can acheive so much. It'll be an honor to work with you."
She turns next to the only Taldan in the room, checking off a thrid check and adding, "Then you would be Sir Hayden Greyrun. Your reports talk about your exploits with the bow, I look forward to seeing you in action." A fourth check is added to the sheet as she faces Sothkoro. "The nagaji could only be Sothkoro of Valashmai. It must be nice to be on the same continent as home, is it not?"
She pauses and sighs lightly as she takes in the last name on the list, before slowly adding in a check mark. "And finally, Golthwur Strath... I'm sorry Archmage Golthwur Strath. I had hoped someone of your, uh, magical caliber had found a permanent position somewhere already."
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Hayden quirks an eyebrow at Dawn, but then just shrugs, glancing at Sothkoro and Katsu. "No clue, my dear. The Tian language is like bells to me, pretty, but ultimately I'm tone deaf."
The knight bows his head to the well-organized and posh halfling. "And your reputation precedes you as well, Angela. Grax speaks highly of you. Well...when he speaks at all. Which is usually after a few round of drinks that he makes me buy." He frowns a bit, but then shakes his head. "But you know, the nobility has its obligations. If you can't provide for your people, then how can you lead them when times really get tough?"
"What was I saying? Oh yes, Grax. Decent man. How he can stand Javon ordering him around, I'm not sure though."
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"No clue, my dear. The Tian language is like bells to me, pretty, but ultimately I'm tone deaf."
Dawn pauses and then giggles again. "Oh, that's a good joke. I'm saving that one for later."
She moves over to the only elf in the room, checking off something on her clipboard. "Dawn Verda? It'll be a pleasure to work with a magi, I haven'T had many opportunities yet."
Dawn's eyes open wide as the halfling approaches her. Not too many opportunities like this come across. Remaining crouched, she immediately extends her left hand to Angela's shoulder. "High five!" No low fives this time, halfling!
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She pauses and sighs lightly as she takes in the last name on the list, before slowly adding in a check mark. "And finally, Golthwur Strath... I'm sorry Archmage Golthwur Strath. I had hoped someone of your, uh, magical caliber had found a permanent position somewhere already."
"Oh, it is you." Golthwur mutters to himself. "That could explain things, I suppose."
"So, we meet again, My Dear." Golthwur says more loudly. "If I may be perfectly honest with you, I, too, would have expected the likes of Golthwur Strath, Arcanist of Ascension and Mage of Mobility, to have received some other position of prominence or rank of reknown beyond my current designation of distinction by now."
The elderly man gazes around the tea post and huffs. "Alas, it would seem that something has, no doubt, upheld what one would expect to be an imminent and inevitable promotion."
"Now, just what is the matter of mystery that requires the elite expertise of this worthy wizard?" inquires Golthwur.
The archon Zepha looks at you in silence as if you had not spoken at all. Requests are currently ignored.
His eyes glow from within with golden light, and they twinkle as he softly speaks.
"I would be Zepha. Please join me in making our tea."
As he set off making the tea, he looks at all of you with his glowing golden eyes, "You are highly welcome here. But let me ask. Why have you all joined the society and live the life of adventure?"
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In Common, Katsu speaks up. ”As much as I would love to aid you, perhaps I best not. I would not wish to make the place. . . untidy.
“I joined the society as a means of furthering Valdeis’s work. The society give me a chance to find great evil and combat it. I do this not only because it needs to be done, but also in gratitude for all that Valdeis has given me throughout the years. It is. . . to honor her.”
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"Oh, here, allow me to help you..." Hayden tries his best, but evidently his knightly training did not extend to tea ceremonies. At first he tries stack the cups, then burns himself on the hot kettle.
Sighing, he resigns himself to just answering the question. "I had left Lord Reyes' service after 10 years and recently pledged myself to Sarenrae. I heard rumors of a Noble Lady who had been kidnapped and was investigating on my own when a group of Pathfinders started a bar brawl where I was trying to find someone. While they had a penchant for unwarranted violence, it turned out that they were tasked with finding the Lady too. So we joined forces. I decided to join up myself afterward seeing as they seemed to have a good cause."
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Dawn shoots up and tries to mimic Zehpa's movements, acting like a complete klutz who gets lucky.
Too bad she actually is klutzy.
"Foremother needs more stories. It keeps her going. And my home will live as long as she does. Besides, it's... kinda boring in the Commune. By the way, I love this place. Sorry about the kettle."
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The knight bows his head to the well-organized and posh halfling. "And your reputation precedes you as well, Angela. Grax speaks highly of you. Well...when he speaks at all. Which is usually after a few round of drinks that he makes me buy." He frowns a bit, but then shakes his head. "But you know, the nobility has its obligations. If you can't provide for your people, then how can you lead them when times really get tough?"
"What was I saying? Oh yes, Grax. Decent man. How he can stand Javon ordering him around, I'm not sure though."
Angela gives a small wave of her hand as if to brush off the compliments. "Oh, you're a friend of Grax's? So, is getting him drunk the best way to get him to speak up? I could barely get more than 3 words in one minute out of him." She pauses for a moment and makes a note of this tidbit for the next time she's with the silent half-orc. "As for Javon, he does have quite the magnetic charm for a bird. He certainly can lead."
Dawn's eyes open wide as the halfling approaches her. Not too many opportunities like this come across. Remaining crouched, she immediately extends her left hand to Angela's shoulder. "High five!" No low fives this time, halfling!
For a silent second, Angela's only reaction is an eyebrow ratcheting up a few centimeters in puzzlement. She puzzles over the idea in her head but ultimately raises a hand and gives the woman a high five. I wonder what precipitated that?
"So, we meet again, My Dear." Golthwur says more loudly. "If I may be perfectly honest with you, I, too, would have expected the likes of Golthwur Strath, Arcanist of Ascension and Mage of Mobility, to have received some other position of prominence or rank of reknown beyond my current designation of distinction by now."
The elderly man gazes around the tea post and huffs. "Alas, it would seem that something has, no doubt, upheld what one would expect to be an imminent and inevitable promotion."
"Now, just what is the matter of mystery that requires the elite expertise of this worthy wizard?" inquires Golthwur.
With a smile that definitely seems forced, Angela tries to nod sympathetically at Golthwur's words. "Abadar knows I tried to recommend a different course of action from the Decemvirate, but they seem set on having you on this mission."
"I would be Zepha. Please join me in making our tea."
As he set off making the tea, he looks at all of you with his glowing golden eyes, "You are highly welcome here. But let me ask. Why have you all joined the society and live the life of adventure?"
Angela takes a folded leg seat on the cushions provided, setting her board and pen behind her and taking a moment to breath. She'd read about these delicate ritualized ceremonies on the way here...
She slowly moves through the expected gestures and movements, adding the powdered tea to the bowl-like 'cup' and then the water in the proscribed amounts, before vigorously whisking it all together. She then serves it to everyone in order turning the cup a few times everytime she does. As she works she comments, "Well it was less about adventuring for me and more about finding a place that I could put my organizational skills to proper use. Sadly, high-level full time secretary positions in the Society are hard to come by, so I took on qualifications as a chronicle auditor to expand my chances of getting a raise. Also being out of the office every now and then is nice. Even if Henry makes a complete bloody mess of my filing systems every time."
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"Brewing is a simple matter, really." notes Golthwur, who is happy to offer tips on how best to prepare the tea. With a flourish of gestures and arcane syllables, he casts prestidigitation to get the pot to proper temperature and mage hand to arrange the cup, but makes no physical effort to render aid.
"As for my reasons for joining the Society, I, Golthwur Strath, Artist of Adventure and Expert of Expeditions, clearly have much to offer the Society both in intellect and pure magical might--they practically begged for me to join as I recall." The blustering old man continues to expound upon his own mystical prowess, notably making no mention of who "they" were or in what manner "they" did any "begging". After some time he concludes, "And for my part, in addition to sharing my gifts with those mundanes and struggling mages so in need of my skills, I suppose I gain access to the occasional arcane artifact or tantalizing trinket that I can add to my studies."
The archon Zepha gracefully nods after you all share your tales.
"Thank you. Giving often means to be able to provide others with a part of oneself. You honor me with your honesty."
He raises an eyebrow of approval when Angela is the only person that can really support him during the tea ceremony!
Kwanlai is a nation on the eastern coast of Tian Xia whose citizens are primarily tengu.
For centuries, the tengus of Kwanlai suffered under
the empire of Lung Wa, facing cripplingly high taxes, discrimination, and poverty. As a result of this legacy, Kwanlai’s people can be somewhat slow to trust outsiders. After the fall of Lung Wa just over a century ago, Kwanlai became a nation in its own right. Today, Kwanlai is a loose alliance of tengu clans that grants significant autonomy to local leaders. The popular leader of the capital Hisuikarasu, Lady Sutarai-Gongen, is gradually becoming a ruler for the whole nation.
Yiangma is a remote mountain town outside of the purview of any of the five major clans. Its people primarily venerate Hei Feng, the patron deity of the tengu race.
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Sothkoro spent some times in ex-pat Hwan teahouses in Absalom, and takes part of the ceremony.
"Sothkoro and brother Asuran live in Valashmai," he starts in broken Taldane for the benefit of his companions, and then starts chuffing, "We were small, barely out of egg. Missionaries from Avistan come. Kurgess worshippers, they brought balls and games. We like games, became Kurgess-men. Followed the missionaries home. Live in Absalom very different from Kalashmai. Asuran and Sothkoro become warriors. Pathfinder Society needed warriors. Good life, very rarely hungry."
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"Don't look at m-..." Hayden glances at Katsu guiltily. "I mean, ah, I can barely pronounce the words here. Luckily the summons came with a Tian notice about where I was to go." He frowns. "At least, I hope that's what it was. I could have been showing people a recipe for honeycakes for all I know. But I got here, I guess."
He studies Katsu for a few moments, then waves a hand slowly in front of the man's face. "If you pardon the question, sir, were you born blind or did this come to you later in life? The Dawnflower can heal many things, but there are also some that we must learn to live with." He adjusts his own leg, knowing it stiffens when left folded too long.
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For a silent second, Angela's only reaction is an eyebrow ratcheting up a few centimeters in puzzlement. She puzzles over the idea in her head but ultimately raises a hand and gives the woman a high five. I wonder what precipitated that?
Dawn cheers a half-quiet "Yes!" before she leaps up to "help" with the tea.
Everyone is very kind to lecture Dawn on the finer points of Kwanlai. "Thank you. I'll let most of you do the talking. Unless anyone up there knows Sylvan."
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He studies Katsu for a few moments, then waves a hand slowly in front of the man's face. "If you pardon the question, sir, were you born blind or did this come to you later in life? The Dawnflower can heal many things, but there are also some that we must learn to live with." He adjusts his own leg, knowing it stiffens when left folded too long.
He answers Greyrun ”I am told I was sighted as a young child, a toddler, but contracted a high fever. I survived it at the cost of my sight. I thank you for your concern, but I have come to accept my blindness as a gift from Veildais. They say the eyes are the window to one’s soul. If so, than I like to think my soul more secure from invaders.”
He then waves his hand in front of Greyrun’s face. ”Besides, just because I am blind doesn’t mean I can’t hear the wind off your hand, or feel it’s presence on my face.”
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”Thank you for expertly repeating what I said. I hope that the singular trait I possess of being blind does not overly hinder your greatness.”
"It poses no hinderance at all, sir. None at all." Golthwur replies in earnest, oblivious to having brought on offense.
"Thank you. I'll let most of you do the talking. Unless anyone up there knows Sylvan."
"Of course, I know Sylvan!" The bearded blowhard responds with clear indignation. "I am Golthwur Strath, Lord of Linguistics and Emperor of Eloquence!"
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"How can you not know how you got into Society? Sothkoro had to sign name on paper.
”I suspect you will find the answer in the tales of Kien’emon, the clever.”
Katsu is referencing a famous tale from Tien Xia where a man continually insults a noble and baffoon by use of satire and irony. He’s basically saying he deserves to be in the society, and the wizard is a baffoon by not realizing it. Focusing on his blindness instead of his other skills.
”However, if you are asking how a blind man signed his name. . . “ he pulls out a small stamp. ”I used my personal seal.”
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As soon as the group starts to try putting their heads together about Kwanli, Angela reaches into her pack and pulls out six packets of information. "Seeing as we had word that we needed to get to Kwanli and that I was going to have quite a bit of free time on the trip over here, I took the liberty of making up a primer for everyone on Kwanli." She passes the papers out to everyone.
"Of particular note would be the three pages of history. I recommend reading over them completely later, but to summarize, the tengu were horribly treated when the Lung Wa empire ruled the area. Since its collapse about a hundred years ago, the tengu have started to recover and have become an autonomous nation in its own right, but the locals are rightfully slow to trust outsiders." She then turns to page 10, pointing at the small map that she's included. "Given what we've heard about where this temple is located, I'm going with the assumption it is in Yiangma, a small town outside the control of any of the five major clans, see the current politics section for more. The temple there is dedicated to Hei Feng, the patron deity of tengu. It's also locally famous for its venison. Any questions?"
Despite all her preparatory work, Angela sadly didn't dig into folklore that deeply, and Kien’emon is not a figure she recognizes.
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He then waves his hand in front of Greyrun’s face. ”Besides, just because I am blind doesn’t mean I can’t hear the wind off your hand, or feel it’s presence on my face.”
Hayden snatches his hand away, turning a slight shade of red as he's embarrassed at his rudeness. He opens his mouth to apologize, but then registers the name of The Cardinal Martyr. "Vildeis? Ah...now I understand. Yes, some things that others see as limits are in fact gifts, are they not?"
He looks up when Angela hands him a packet of papers. He pages through it in a bit of bewilderment, trying to find his place as she is discussing various bits of information. "Hei Feng? Wait, I think I know that one."
Now that you observe Zepha some more you realise that he is really an archon, a race of celestials, or good outsiders, native to lawful good-aligned Outer Planes.
Zapha looks at the Nagaji with kind eyes and nods after his help during the tea ceremony!
Once the tea ritual is complete Zepha finally takes a seat.
“I suppose we should discuss why I made a request of young Venture-Captain Li. There is a certain shrine near the southern border of Kwanlai that I would like you to visit. Its keepers are tasked with leading pure lives and standing vigil over a place where evil gathers, and I regret that it has been some time since they last sent their usual report to Heaven. I’d like you to ascertain the status of the shrine and investigate why we haven’t heard from them. You had best start by visiting the village of Yiangma. It’s a charming town in the mountains near the shrine that the keepers rely upon for supplies and new disciples. Its people aren’t used to seeing visitors who aren’t tengu, so they may be a bit cautious with you at first. Let the town’s mayor know of your intentions and see if he has any information to share with you before venturing to the shrine itself. With luck, this is merely a bureaucratic issue and nothing more. May Andoletta grant you a pleasant journey and a safe return.”
Andoletta (pronounced an-do-LET-ah), also known as Grandmother Crow, is one of the powerful archons known as an empyreal lord. She treats her flock as any grandmother would, protecting the innocent, reprimanding the wayward, and punishing the sinful. She is the current steward of Requius, the fourth tier of Heaven, gaining her the title of Shepherd.
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"Of course, I know Sylvan!" The bearded blowhard responds with clear indignation. "I am Golthwur Strath, Lord of Linguistics and Emperor of Eloquence!"
"First World buddies, woo!" Dawn proceeds to hug Golthwur, glad someone can understand her Sylvan puns.
But ooo! Angela prepared packets! She's so helpful!
As Dawn reads, she smiles, then frowns, then scratches her head. "Hmm... They shouldn't have treated the tengu like that. No one should be treated like that. But who is Hei Feng?"
Before she can get an answer, Zapha continues his description. "Uh-huh. Uh-huh. If I start a skit based on plumage, would they take offense to that? I'm just trying to cheer the mood. Once they see how nice we are they'll help us out."
She cocks her head to the side. "Uh... what kind of evil were they guarding against? Anyone knows if they're weak to silver or stuff?"
She cocks her head to the side. "Uh... what kind of evil were they guarding against? Anyone knows if they're weak to silver or stuff?"
Zephaniah nods with sparkling eyes.
”Deep within Tianjing’s Kaimuko Wood, just to the south of Kwanlai, foul beings that despise all life once tore a hole from their blighted realm through to your world. The forces of Heaven joined efforts with warriors from the other good planes, even the flighty azatas, to bring an end to their invasion. Yet the scars upon your world proved too difficult to heal, and so eternal vigil must be kept to ensure that such a catastrophe never again comes to pass!“
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"Do, I, Golthwur Strath appear to be a mere messenger? A plebian postman?" bellows the wizard. "Would not a simple message spell suffice? If the guardians are missing, would not a casting of locate creature provide you knowledge of their whereabouts? Surely, neither is too much an expenditure of power for a celestial being such as yourself. Must an archon make use of such mundane means?"
The archon looks at the wizard with understanding.
“Yes, we must make use of such mundane means. And please Golthwur, do not forget. Balance is a fine thing, for without shadows we would be unable to appreciate the light. However, take care, for when the righteous choose to observe cruelty without taking action, the sin becomes their own!“
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Katsu rises from his seat and grabs his walking stick, and also slings a bow over his shoulder. "Mighty wizard, it might just me by blindness talking, but this seems like the most sensible option. Send us there to check it out, and if something has gone amiss, do something about it. Besides, if the villagers or temple monks have been corrupted, I doubt a simple missive, magical or otherwise, would be able to detect that. I fact, if the villagers or monks are compromised they could lie and give us the false sense of security. Sending living, thinking beings to assess all possibilities seems the most . . . practical. I have no further questions."
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"Magic makes things boring sometimes." Dawn shrugs
"Boring!?! Well--" Gulthwur begins interrupting, but seems unable to dominate the conversation as he would like.
"Besides, we wouldn't be able to walk there if we shot off a message."
"But, avoiding a long walk there was precisely my point," he sulks.
"Mighty wizard, it might just me by blindness talking, but this seems like the most sensible option. Send us there to check it out, and if something has gone amiss, do something about it. Besides, if the villagers have been corrupted, I doubt a simple missive, magical or otherwise, would be able to detect that. Sending living, thinking beings to assess all possibilities seems the most . . . practical. I have no further questions."
"Blindness is a condition applicable to a deficiency of the eyes." Golthwur wiz-plains to the man who is actually blind. "It has nothing to do with 'talking' or speech. Mutism, on the other hand, is the applicable condition pertaining to a deficiency of speech."
The old man crosses his boney, bent arms with satisfaction as if he had been crowned the winner of some wizard's duel.
Zepha nods again.
"You are correct. These guardians were once celestials but now their descendants make up the majority of the guardians."
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Angela just sits and watches Golthwur from her spot, very glad she's not having to deal with the brunt of his verbal 'sparring' this time. She does finally chirp in with, "I'm willing to bet that Zepha here has some reason they cannot go themselves. Might be some stipulation preventing them from going themselves, as this would likely be an easy task for them." She pauses for a second and then places a clearly faked smile on for the wizard, "Besides, think of all of the new people you can show off your wizardly abilities to. It's a whole new country for you to teach the wonders of your magics to."
Zepha nods at Angela with a smile.
“Your steadfastness is commendable, but heed your surroundings, for those who walk with eyes shut are sure to stumble!“
Zepha bows again and allows you to prepare for the journey.
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After a relatively uneventful journey across Kwanlai’s hilly countryside, you arrive at the base of the Kimu Mountains. Here, open terrain gives way to narrow and winding paths interspersed with flatter areas where forests flourish.
When you reach the town of Yiangma, it becomes immediately clear that this isn’t quite the quaint town that Zepha described. Doors and windows on every street are shut tight, and though people bustle about, there are no children in sight, nor farmers marketing goods in the square.
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From all directions, the faces of the tengu locals regard you with cold suspicion.
Though the people of Yiangma are relatively tight-lipped, they are willing to guide you to the mayor’s residence.
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The mayor’s home stands on the eastern edge of the village. The house is surrounded by a wall inset with cutouts in the shape of cherry blossoms, and a small, well-kept garden and koi pond decorate the path leading from the open gate to the front of the house.
A servant quickly comes out to greet anyone who passes through the gate.
“My master has been expecting that the travelers the people are talking about would be visiting him. Please, follow me.”