↩️ Hotcha gets her invisible little butt outta danger!
While the attacker continues to target the hobgoblin's gut, he returns the favor by cracking open a flask and spraying its content over the ninja. Hei Feng, displeased by the woman's efforts to harm one of His, strikes her down.
The ninja is single minded in her pursuit of Yog, managing to hit him while he's distracted with a spell. Yog turns, irritated, and easily smashes her to the ground with a spell. Perfect for me. Knowing that we were protected, I run her through.
Though in considerable pain, Yog maintains focus on his spell. He casts down Shino Hakusa, knocking her prone. Esh delivers a critical strike to the ninja, but she dodges his second attack and he fails to maintain his grip on her.
Hotcha kips up and delivers a critical strike to Ran-to's groin! He groans but resists the stun and slow. The sprite then vanishes, moving to safety at Xin's command. Turning invisible also causes her malicious shadow to disappear, ending the hex.
Xin stabs Shino in the back, a critical hit that leaves her badly wounded and bleeding!
Syu Tak-nwa invokes a spell of true seeing, pointing out Hotcha's location. "Ware the fairy!" she calls, quickly casting another cantrip to nudge Ran-to's fate.
Shino tries to climb to her feet, but Esh takes advantage of the opportunity to deliver another powerful blow, knocking the ninja unconscious!
"Bah! Let's finish the hobgoblin first!" Ran-to growls. He hustles over to Yog'Moi, swinging his fists. He lands one critical hit!
Meanwhile, Blue Viper maneuvers to get a clear line of attack on Yog'Moi. He draws and hurls an acid flask!
“How dare you!” Hotcha shouts to the witch (so the whole crowd can hear her). “What if I turned invisible because my hip scarf fell off?”
She then heals up…
…and says to Ran-to, “Taking down the goblin’s a good plan! I’m in!”
▶️She runs to him!
Xin agrees with Hotcha's assessment and moves up to threaten Ran-to and drives his rapier deep into the hobgoblin's side.
The hobgoblin gets lost in the beating he takes but manages to wrap himself up in protective divine magics before the violent undertow can drag him down under.
"This is not going to end well for you, all alone here with us" I yell to the poison spewing ysoki as I finish off his goblin ally.
As Yog heals himself, the rest of you focus on taking down the frost goblin Ran-to. The invisible Hotcha pummels him, then Esh and Xin both land critical hits! An opportune backstab from Xin takes Ran-to out of the fight! Blue Viper swallows audibly as Esh threatens him and moves up to challenge him.
"Bah! Useless!" Syu Tak-nwa remarks as Ran-to falls. She casts guidance on herself before using her magic to try to scramble Hotcha's mental faculties and sensory input!
Meanwhile, Blue Viper stabs at Esh with his shortsword, managing to land one hit with the poisoned blade. He quickly applies another dose of poison to the weapon.
The ratfolk gulps but still manages a shallow cut on my arm. Presumably poisoned, but I'm not terribly concerned, my fire should burn away any contaminant.
"You should probably invest in stronger poisons if you're going to be this dependent on them," I say idly as he ducks out of the way of my strike, only to be caught by my follow-up.
Hotcha heroically resists the urge to sing backwards and bite a random ankle. She kinda wonders how that urge even danced in her head at all. But kinda doesn’t wonder.
She points to the witch, which the witch can see, but Yog’Moi cannot. He of course can hear her invisible voice:
“Yog’Moi, can you zap that lady or block her view before she scrambles my brain? I like controlling my vowels.”
Hotcha then ▶️heals , ▶️strides, and becomes Esh’s flanking partner!
Xin charges forward, impaling the Blue Viper on his rapier with a well-timed blow to the joint between his breastplate and shoulder.
"Please," Wu Xin says to the Blue Viper. "Please don't surrender. I don't like poisoners and I'd like to continue this well-deserved beating for awhile."
Yog'Moi claps his hands together and then uses his belly like a drum to cast a spell of harm on the ratfolk alchemist. "Hei Feng disapproves of your brews and concoctions, ratman!"
Though Blue Viper resists the harm spell, the sheer force of the magic knocks him to the ground. The rest of you seize the advantage, surrounding him and stabbing, slicing, and punching him! Within moments, the ysoki is unconscious, leaving only the white haired witch on her feet!
”Come and get me, then!” Syu Tak-nwa spits. She raises a magical shield, then creates a repulsion field around her!
“If you say so.”
Hotcha ▶️ runs!
There’s no stopping her from getting in close!
Hotcha ▶️ keeps running THROUGH the blade barrier!
“I’m not locked in here with you—you’re locked in here with ME!”
Xin rushes forward, but can't get within 40 feet. For the first time in this competition, he pulls daggers from his bandolier and begins to hurl them at Syu Tak-nwa.
Yog'Moi rushes after his teammates and dismisses the blade barrier. "Last chance to surrender!"
”Come and get me, then!”
"As you wish," I say, focusing on my magic instead of my fire.
Esh suddenly appears next to Tak-nwa, delivering a brutal slice with his sword! The witch cries out in pain, discharging her shield spell to block some of the damage, but then recoils she as the invisible Hotcha clobbers her and leaves her stunned! Xin misses with his dagger, the repulsion field keeping him at bay, while Yog'Moi dimisses the blade barrier but fails to demoralize Tak-nwa.
Tak-nwa shakes off the stun, then she tries to cast a spell. Esh takes advantage of the opportunity to slice her again.
Despite the pain, she maintains her concentration and attempts to confuse the elf!
Hotcha says, “You really won’t give up no matter what.
“I respect that!”
She calls to Xin, “See an opening boss?”
Yog'Moi cracks open a bottle and he throws its contents over their remaining opponent. The accursed liquid is a foul brew and it attempts to knock the witch's soul right out of her.
Success: The target is sickened 1, but if it spends an action to end the condition, it succeeds automatically.
Failure: The target is sickened 1.
Critical Failure: The target is sickened 2.
Syu Tak-nwa groans and holds her stomach as Yog'Moi causes it to bloat outward with a copious amount of alochol. His follow-up spell blasts her spirit and leaves her shaking, then Hotcha takes her down with a pair of invisible punches!
"Three Men and a Fairy win!" Hao Jin declares. The other teams applaud heartily. The Ruby Phoenix waves her hand, healing some of the Lightkeepers' injuries and restoring them to consciousness. They scowl at you and slink away without saying anything.
"I'm sure they won't come back to be a problem later..." I muse as I wrestle my fire under control and sheathe my blade.
I look at my team, none of us seem significantly hurt. I'm somewhat surprised. Just from appearance, the Lightkeepers had seemed like they'd be more difficult opponents than that. But it was just an exhibition, and I suppose I shouldn't underestimate our own prowess either. We made for a very good team. I grinned at my teammates, pleased that we had put on such a good show for Hai Jin and Empress Yan Fei.
She calls to Xin, “See an opening boss?”
"I'm sure they won't come back to be a problem later..."
Xin indicates his teammates and cheers, as if to lead the crowd in cheering them.
"Remember this," he tells his team as they huddle close. "Remember this moment. No one can ever take this from you, as long as you live."
As the applause dies down, Hao Jin stands to address the room. "And with that, the Ruby Phoenix Tournament pre-qualifier has officially come to its end. Thank you to our contestants for providing such rousing entertainment. The empress and I bid you all good night! Tomorrow, you will begin the return journey back to Goka, where very soon, the real tournament will begin in earnest!"
You are free to remain at the palace for the night or, if you prefer, you can make your way back to the temple of Irori. Before you leave the courtyard, however, one of the Butterfly Blades approaches Hotcha and bows to her. "Empress Nai Yan Fei has requested your presence for a private audience before she departs." He gestures for the sprite to follow him.
Xin isn't surprised at this turn of events. Hotcha was magnificent in her dance. He's full of pride on her behalf.
He turns so the guard can't see and winks at her and whispers "Sparkle, Hotcha!"
He steps back and watches her go.
Hotcha is giddily taking in the moment, amazed by the men and proud of her own ability to keep up. “Wow! We were one of the top two, and we beat the other four-standing to four-fallen.
“How can this day get any better?”
She gets her answer before she can even unhook the Fire Nectar cup at her hip, which is just as well since she’d have definitely reacted with a classic spit-take.
She stares wide-eyed and turns to the Butterfly Blade.
“Heh… yes… thank you, sir. Please. Lead on.”
She turns to the men, eyes still wide, mouth contorted too awkwardly for words to come out.
"Sparkle, Hotcha!"
Xin’s words bolster confidence. Hotcha’s deer-in-torchlight stare melts into a relaxed smile that says ‘yeah, I got this!’
She follows the guard almost as if she’s the one leading him.
The guard escorts Hotcha to a room at the top of the palace. Inside, she finds the chamber decorated with exquisite tapestries and plush furniture. A balcony provides a commanding view of the moonlit isle of Bonmu, and a table full of juicy fruit, sweet pastries, and bottles of wine has been set up there. Empress Nai Yan Fei kneels on a cushion at one end of the table. She gestures gracefully at another cushion across from her, raised on a stool so that Hotcha will be eye-level with the empress if she sits on it.
”Thank you for accepting my invitation. Sit, please. Help yourself to some refreshments.”
The young empress studies Hotcha as she gets situated. Once the sprite is comfortable, she speaks again. ”I wanted to personally congratulate you on your performance tonight, both on and off the battlefield. You and your team commanded my attention from the start, and you yourself are nothing short of dazzling. When you arrive in Goka, you and the other teams will be competing for sponsorship for the upcoming tournament. I will be personally recommending your team to my proxy, so you will have an advantage in winning her over.
“But I did not just invite you here to talk business. You... intrigue me, Lady Fairy. You are strong and graceful. A mighty warrior and a beautiful dancer. But you also strike me as sad, for some reason. I wish to know more about you. And if there is something I can do to help take away your sadness, I would gladly do so. You need but ask.”
Hotcha is more than happy to take a seat on the soft cushion. The conversation starts with a pleasant surprise, followed by an unexpected turn.
Sad?
Hotcha thinks on Yan Fei’s reaction to her dance. The tear. The touch. She wants to tell her it was just a dance, and she needed to put her heart and soul into every memory, to flood her mind with emotions…
But that’s only a small part of the truth…
”Thank you for accepting my invitation.”
“I was kinda hoping to talk you again—and not because of your position. It’s because of the way you reacted to my dance.”
”I wanted to personally congratulate you on your performance tonight, both on and off the battlefield. You and your team commanded my attention from the start, and you yourself are nothing short of dazzling. When you arrive in Goka, you and the other teams will be competing for sponsorship for the upcoming tournament. I will be personally recommending your team to my proxy, so you will have an advantage in winning her over.”
“Awww, thanks! I’m glad you found our fights entertaining. And I’m really glad Hao Jin’s magic kept us from killing our opponents. I’ve never taken a life… I mean a person’s. I might’ve killed that dinosaur that ate me a couple days ago.”
”But I did not just invite you here to talk business. You... intrigue me, Lady Fairy. You are strong and graceful. A mighty warrior and a beautiful dancer. But you also strike me as sad, for some reason. I wish to know more about you.”
“Okay…” Hotcha swallows. She tells Yan Fei about the dance troupe she was in with Shelynite nuns about her age. Because Yan Fei is human, Hotcha doesn’t talk about outliving them. Though it saddens her, such a topic would be rude and hurtful to Yan Fei.
Instead she mentions “Sister Jillian Li—she was my best friend. Once she became the principal dancer, we started to drift apart. And I didn’t wanna hold her back. She told me I’d make a great soloist—and she’s right, right?
“But maybe I took it the wrong way. Like, I took ‘soloist’ to mean ‘loner.’
“Not that I’m lonely—I trained under a great master, and now I’m teamed up with three great guys. But I mean, I’m a fairy—the only fairy everywhere I go.”
Hotcha’s doing another dance, she realizes. She’s dancing around what she really wants to say.
”And if there is something I can do to help take away your sadness, I would gladly do so. You need but ask.”
Hotcha can’t bring herself to ask…
“I liked the way you touched me on the cheek after I danced. I wanted you to. I thought you looked so pretty and elegant, and your hand would be soft and smooth.”
Hotcha’s eyes fall to her knees. She’s afraid of embarrassing herself—and wondering if she has an out, like how Jillian was never more than a friend… because Hotcha was afraid of embarrassing herself then too.
Sparkle.
Hotcha uses her stage training to project confidence.
“I’ve never been on a date before. If this isn’t what this is, then this is the closest I’ve had to a date. It’s okay if you’re not interested in a girl… or would prefer a taller one.
“If you want to make me happy, just be Yan Fei for me. We have food and wine and no opponents to fight and no empires to rule, and… we have time. I want to know who you are—not the empress everyone clamors to impress—the person.
“I want to know Yan Fei, the beautiful person who shed a tear and caressed my cheek and looked at me the way a mirror does.”
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Yan Fei smiles reassuringly as Hotcha dissembles. Eventually, the sprite gets to her true feelings.
“I’ve never been on a date before. If this isn’t what this is, then this is the closest I’ve had to a date. It’s okay if you’re not interested in a girl… or would prefer a taller one."
"We can call this a date. If that is what you would like it to be," the empress says, neither confirming nor denying her interest.
“I want to know Yan Fei, the beautiful person who shed a tear and caressed my cheek and looked at me the way a mirror does.”
Yan Fei lowers her eyes and takes a long drink from her wine glass. "You wish to know me. Then I will share my story with you. It does not begin happily, alas. My parents died when I was only two years old. Assassinated while on diplomatic mission. I came into the care of my grandfather, Nai Hu Buo, then the emperor of Goka.
"For the next 10 years, Hu Buo focused his time and efforts on my care. He trained me on the ins and outs of courtly life, shaping me into a suitable heir to the Nai legacy. Fearing future attempts on my life, he also made sure I could hold my own, and he tasked the Butterfly Blades to train me in martial arts and self-defense. The Butterfly Blades’ storied history with the Nai family and Goka made them experts in espionage and intimidation, skills I also learned and mastered alongside my grandfather’s political expertise.
"By the age of 12, I was fully trained in the arts of both combat and public affairs. Satisfied with my skill, Hu Buo returned to the world of Gokan politics, receiving an exuberant welcome from the people of Goka and an unprecedented third term as emperor. Meanwhile, I continued my training with the Butterfly Blades.
"I had not forgotten my parents' fate. Shortly after turning 14, I vowed to find my family's killers. I spent several months in Goka proper, adopting multiple personas to dig up details from the city’s unscrupulous information brokers. My skills did ultimately lead me to my parents’ assassins, whom I struck down with little effort, but I remained unsatisfied. My continued efforts led me to the Yun-Ta clan, the Gokan noble family that contracted my parents’ assassination.
"I needn’t have bothered to seek out the Yun-Ta, for the family had made dozens of enemies since the assassination and long ago sealed their own fate; by the time I found the connection, the entire family had been dead for several years. My journey was over, and I had nothing to show for it. I returned home to continue my training as a noble, no longer enchanted by illusions of revenge."
Yan Fei pauses here to refill both her and Hotcha's wine glass. She takes another sip before continuing. "Two years into his third term, Hu Buo suddenly grew ill and died, leading Goka’s parliament to fracture over disagreements of a suitable replacement. I stepped in, offering to complete my grandfather’s term. The parliament attempted to block the suggestion, I called upon an obscure law I had studied as a child, which allowed for the inheritance of the position. Their hands tied, the parliament agreed. Thus, I became the acting empress. I was 15 years old.
"I have been acting empress for 11 years now. I have used my position to push for change and progress for Goka. My experience hiding among the people during my time with the Butterfly Blades opened my eyes to the many plights of the everyday citizen, and I am working to help them as best I can. I am beloved among the people, both rich and poor, high-born and commoner alike."
Yan Fei sighs and lowers her eyes to the table. "But the truth is, Lady Fairy, that I am sad, too. For half of my life, I was consumed by a quest for vengeance that ultimately proved hollow. For the other half, I have lead a city-state, influencing the fate of some 300,000 people. But I have never had much time to think about myself as more than just an empress, more than just the heir to the Nai family legacy.
"You want to know Yan Fei. Well, I do, too."
"You want to know Yan Fei. Well, I do, too."
“It’ll take a lotta dates to accomplish that.”
Hotcha isn’t sure that Yan Fei would want that, but she hasn’t been flatly rejected, and it seems that, like herself, Yan Fei isn’t looking for a one-night stand. As for comforting other young women, Hotcha knows how to do that. There were other girls in the convent who had their childhoods taken from them. None were avengers at 14, but a couple were pregnant. Hotcha never learned the details, but she knew how to comfort people even when it was hard to talk.
She dips her own goblet into her glass, then she walks across the table. She sits at the edge.
“I can’t imagine what you’ve gone through. You really saw right through my act… you saw past the glitter and the smile and the noise, and saw me. But my problems are so trivial compared to…” Hotcha can’t even bring herself to say it. “I’m sorry about your parents, Yan Fei.
“I’m sorry about your grandfather, your lost childhood, and that you carry such a burden.” If Yan Fei’s hand is in reach, Hotcha will gently lay her hand upon Yan Fei’s finger. (Hotcha hopes the physical contact is comforting. But if it seems she’s crossing any boundaries, she’ll back off.)
“After I danced for you, I had the feeling you’re even more beautiful inside than out. Now I think that’s an understatement. You genuinely empathize with the 300,000 people of Goka—the poor, the rich, that team with the weird fairy… but what about the twenty-six-year-old woman who lives in the palace? How can we remove some of her sadness?”
Hotcha is formulating some answers to what might come off as a rhetorical question, but the empress has ample time to interject.
Yan Fei does not shy away from Hotcha’s touch. ”These questions weigh heavily on me. What would you suggest, Lady Fairy?” she asks, her expression unreadable.
“For tonight, let’s just enjoy each other’s company. Wine and dine, and if you wanna hold me while we sit at the balcony and enjoy the moonlit view… I’d like that, but only if that’s something you’d like. I mean, we just met, so if this is really the start of a beautiful friendship, there’s no rush to define it.”
Hotcha’s tiny, calloused hand caresses Yan Fei’s elegantly bejeweled finger.
“And beyond this lovely evening, I think what you need is someone in your life who can lighten Her Majesty’s burden and make Yan Fei happier. That might be more challenging than punching out a brain-scrambling witch who can see invisible fairies, but do I look like a gal who backs down from a challenge?”
Yan Fei laughs lightly. ”No, you certainly do not look like that type of ‘gal!’”
The empress spends another hour or so with Hotcha, making small talk and enjoying her company. As suggested, at the end of the night, she gently holds the monk in her lap as they gaze out at the island.
”Thank you for your company, Lady Fairy,” Yan Fei says at last. ”I have not had this much fun in a long time. I must bid you good night. You have a long journey ahead of you tomorrow, back to Goka, and then I am sure you will be busy in the lead-up to the tournament, but I would very much like to see you again. If you can find some time to slip away, you will be welcome to visit me at the palace. Until next we meet.” She gently presses her lips to the back of Hotcha’s hand.
The doors to the empress’s room open, the Butterfly Blades ready to escort Hotcha back to her teammates.
Hotcha’s luminous skin glows rosy red when Yan Fei kisses her hand. She wants to return the kiss.
I know! I’ll kiss her on the second date!
“Oh, I definitely want to! Until then, Three Men and a Fairy got work to do! Thanks again for the personal recommendation, Yan Fei!”
When the door opens, Hotcha says, “Sweet dreams, Your Majesty. I had a wonderful evening.” She hopes Yan Fei notices that she’ll address her by title publicly. She understands the position requires it… but she also thinks the empress enjoyed being addressed by name when it was just the two of them.
Lady Fairy! Hotcha wonders if Yan Fei will only address her by title in private.
“She’s amazing!” Hotcha tells the Butterfly Blade. “And you guys taught her to fight! I shoulda known she was a martial artist!”
* * * * *
When Hotcha gets back to her teammates, she has a big grin.
“So… I think the first thing I should tell ya’s that Empress Yan Fei’s gonna personally recommend us for sponsorship.” She’s not sure what thing to tell ’em second.
Xin smiles. "It was -some- dance, Hotcha! What does 'recommmend', mean, I wonder? Isn't she the one who'll be doing the sponsoring?"
Hotcha smiles, “It wasn’t just my dance. Our team had her attention from the start. But certainly winning all three events tonight helped.
“And yeah… well, the dance is probably why just me. I think we have a few things in common, like she’s a martial artist too.”
As for the direct answer to Xin’s question, “Heh heh… I didn’t ask. She said she didn’t wanna talk business, but I’ll bet we can ask Ingdani.
“I just thought it would be a ladder tournament, win three fights, done. But the prequalifier wasn’t exactly straightforward either with all the sad ghosts, false frog gods, fairy-eating monsters, necklace-stealing birds and giant oni warrior-women!”
"Ha!" The hobgoblin's trademark laugh reverberates longer than it ought to be, possibly because of the man's enormous gut and alcohol-hardened throat. "She's right to go with us, because why would you gamble on known losers? And yes, unnecessary complicated is what I'd call it, but whatcha want in the lands of Tian Xia? I bet the Phoenix thinks it gives an air of mystery and mystique to the tournament. Wait, was that a tautology?"
He scratches his head and considers whether it was or not before quickly moving on. "Regardless, I'm glad the Empress is willing to back us because I think whereas we didn't hold back a thing, many other teams did keep their cards firmly pressed against their chests. Heh, I never was any good with card games ..."
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You rest and relax for the rest of the night. In the morning, a squad of enforcers meets with every team still on the island and takes them back to their respective bases to collect the last of their things. Afterward, the enforcers escort the teams to the docks, where everyone boards boats that takes them back to the large sailing ship that brought them to Bonmu.
"This is where we part ways," Ingdani says, offering you a deep bow. "It has been an honor serving as your escort these past few days. I will be rooting for you when the tournament begins!"
Once everybody is on board, the ship turns away from Danger Island, and you begin the weeks-long journey to Goka. Over the course of the journey, the ship will be stopping in several port cities, allowing the qualifying teams time to gather any supplies they need for the upcoming tournament. This is the perfect time to buy new equipment, craft new items, learn new spells, and possibly retrain to make use of the techniques you learned on Bonmu. Soon enough, you will reach Goka, where glory awaits!
Hotcha bows in return. “I’ll miss the sound of your voice saying ‘Three Men and a Fairy win.’” As self-centered as that sounds, Hotcha’s tone is quite sentimental. “Thanks for all your work, Ingdani. You were great as a guide. I hope tagging along and watching our fights was fun for you.”
"Indeed. Thank you, Ingdani, for all you assistance!"
Ingdani smiles. "It was quite fun, and you are welcome. Safe travels!"
The weeks at sea seem to fly by, and before you know it, you arrive in Goka! Famed for its architectural marvels, boundless entertainment, and unequaled riches, the metropolis of Goka offers a panoramic view into the diverse cultures of all of Tian Xia. Situated among the calm waters of Xu Hong Bay, the city’s strategic location makes it the eastern continent’s ideal international port and financial center. The steady flow of gold and goods in and out of the city attracts ambitious self-starters from around the globe who come to contribute to this cultural crucible.
While cultures endlessly fuse and evolve within neighborhoods, preservation likewise has a place in Goka. Mercifully spared from most of the region’s sporadic revolution or political upheaval, the city is a time capsule for empires both extant and fallen. The constant wax and wane of cultural fascinations in Goka meant that amalgams of architecture were inevitable. On one city block it’s possible to walk past a purple-tiled Hei Feng Temple, five-story Tian-Min apartments of red and white brick, and the many-spired azure dome of a Kelesh bathhouse.
About 350,000 citizens, including many first-generation immigrants, live in Goka. The concentration of so many disparate peoples leads to no shortage of unlikely friendships and conflicts, but Gokans cherish their chaotic, beautiful city and its breathless spirit. As many Gokans will tell you, a life full of risks is the sweetest life of all.
In a few days’ time, Hao Jin will call the qualifying teams together for the next stage of the lead-up to the Ruby Phoenix Tournament. Before the fighting begins, all competing teams must secure a patron from among Goka’s elite. These wealthy and powerful benefactors cover all fees associated with the tournament for their team plus food and lodging, provide their team a stipend for incidentals (including equipment), and manage other aspects outside the arena such as promoting the team and commissioning a team costume.
While you wait, however, you have some time to explore Goka and enjoy all that is has to offer!
The first Gokan settlers built their livelihoods along the Viridian River, where some of the city’s oldest buildings yet remain to this day in Oldtown and the Ivory Port. As the city grew, it expanded northward; now, arts and culture abound in the districts of Xiao, City Center, and Floating Lotus, although the city’s aristocratic elite typically seek entertainment on the city’s islands in the Dragonhead and Red Lantern districts. The richest and most powerful Gokans literally look down upon the rest of the city from the districts of Diamond Knoll and Blue Stone atop the twin hills to the north. Just west lies the metropolitan Cliffside Court, where the main events of this year’s Ruby Phoenix Tournament are to be held.
how fate dramatically unfolds.
Humans make up about 80% of Goka’s population of over 300,000 citizens, with Tian-Shu being the predominant ethnicity. The remaining population is split roughly evenly among the five next most common ancestries in Tian Xia: nagajis, tengus, kitsunes, samsarans, and wayangs.
An individual’s experience in Goka varies greatly based on their wealth, line of work, and beliefs. That said, a number of unifying features exemplify the quintessential Gokan lifestyle.
SCHOOLING
“Ignorance leads to exploitation” is a common Gokan axiom, and Goka’s parliament does all it can to ensure that every young Gokan receives a quality education. Free or subsidized public schools teach a standardized 6-year program that focuses on languages, mathematics, geography, finance, and civics. Cultural studies emphasize the importance of being informed rather than forming opinions.
Following their primary years, Gokan students transition to specialized trade schools or upper-class universities. Those with magical talent apply to the Five Pillars Academy, though most fall short and find themselves in one of the dozen less prestigious magic schools.
The Court of the Willow Branch—an intimidating private institution founded in the time of Lung Wa— admits no more than 99 students per year, all of whom must participate in a grueling month-long entrance exam which places testers into elaborate magical simulations to evaluate their skills. It is from this school that nearly all of Goka’s government officials, diplomats, and civil servants spring forth. While there is no fee to apply to the Willow Branch, many students rely on expensive cram schools to digest grueling course work that takes an average of 16 years to learn.
GAMBLING
Gambling in Goka is a way of life rather than a hobby or pastime. Witnessing complete strangers on the street betting on mundane matters can be quite shocking to visitors, but in spite of the seeming casualness of such wagers, gambling is the most thoroughly regulated activity in the entire city. Annually updated government- certified manuals describe the precise protocols and legal standing on bets of all values, along with the expected responsibilities of licensed gambling establishments. Gambling disputes are the most common civil cases brought to the city’s legions of lawyers, and such cases range from petty arguments over sums as small as 1 gp up to decades-long legal entanglements over entire dynastic fortunes. The city purportedly boasts over a thousand separate gambling houses, many of which employ in-house notaries, professional witnesses, and even court magistrates.
For all of gambling’s ubiquity, personal restraint is equally valued in Gokan society. Many residents have a personal set of limits by which they abide. Such personal restrictions can be as simple as walking away after losing a set amount or betting only once every 5 days. Some temples—such the Gentle and Resolute House of Irori—have programs where the addicted go to cut their connection from gambling altogether. Such decisions are respected in Goka, and many establishments run the city’s same popular games of chance with no betting involved.
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Most Gokans cite the “Three Friends of Winter” as the trendsetters of the city’s high culture. Rosin Entertainments, a company based out of Hwanggot, collectively writes the city’s most popular music pieces, and Rosin’s famous all-male bands of up-and-coming talents attract throngs of passionate fans.
The Bamboo Walkway, just one block over from the Vudrani Market, features countless textile suppliers and clothing houses who all compete to set the next big fashion trend. Every 3 months, the street is closed down and transformed into a massive catwalk for showcasing the work of apprentice designers. Lately, designs featuring animated embroidery have caught on along the Bamboo Walkway, but the fashion house responsible for the craze—a nondescript boutique called Frozen Meteor that requires appointments months in advance and is overseen by the imposing Soniri Munar—has kept the method for developing such magical garments under lock and key.
Lastly, there is the Plum Blossom Assembly, a publishing house and group of critics whose identities are unknown to the public. The group regularly writes reviews on architecture, books, cuisine, paintings, and a host of other works in their weekly paper, With Wine and Pleasure. An article from the Plum Blossoms can make or break one’s prospects, while lack of any mention at all can condemn a business to obscurity.
Hotcha says of gambling, “I prefer to make my own luck. The Arts and Entertainment part o’ town’s where I can work the crowd. Empress Yan Fei already recommended us to her proxy, so all we gotta do is find her.”
She immediately retracts her statement. “I realize it won’t be that simple. Nothing ever is.” Then with a mischievous grin, she adds, “So why bother with simple? If you wanna roll with the chaos, the best place to dance is in the eye of the hurricane!”
She doesn’t explain what that means—“I’m gonna ask for directions!”—unless that was her explanation?
Hotcha then steps into the view of several local yokels. If there’s a fountain or other elevated surface, she’ll use that. But even the street will work as a stage.
Her tapping and the bells of her scarf form a beat she can dance to.
And performing for the empress has given her the confidence to try something new. Instead of singing an existing song, Hotcha sing lyrics she wrote herself.
I’ll gladly go miles outta my way
To the place where the music’s play–ing
I wanna clap and tap and sway
To the lute, flute and horn
A thousand years, I might retire
Or be far more wild a spit–fire
If the latter, I’m gonna hire
A boy–band yet to be born
You’re wondering why I’m dancing the street
Without a contract or string section
Well I’m just chancing I’m gonna meet
A kind soul who might give me directions
Who will gladly point the way
To the place where the music’s play–ing
For an audience I’ll be slaying
When I dance up a storm
Unless my feet develop corns?
Hotcha curtsies to the crowd, and wonders if anyone will stop and chat. (Even though the song is literally about asking for directions, Hotcha doesn’t expect a bunch of total strangers to pay attention to her lyrics.)
Xin buys lunch for the team from a street vendor and is passing the hot dumplings and plum sauce to Yog'Moi and Esh as they wait for Hotcha's performance to begin. He then steps up to the side of Hotcha's impromptu stage and joins in, drumming on a horse block with his daggers as drumsticks and occasionally singing rhythm backup.