I see the spirits sandy flesh harden into glass and sigh. Putting out fires was always harder than starting them, and I had no time to do so now. Just means I'd have to hit harder I guess.
I slash at it, tracing a line of glass through it's body. It dodges back from my follow-up, but I was just using that for positioning and my third slice, Hidari Joho Giri, is nearly perfect. I grin in pleasure at the feeling.
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Hotcha reels back from the punch. “Ya get in my face when your face has a glass jaw?”
Her little wings flutter her up just high enough for her one-inch arm to deliver a mighty uppercut!
With grit in his eyes, Xin can't see well enough to direct the battle, but he shouts encouragement to Esh while defending himself.
Xin exhorts Esh to strike the sandy monks again, and the elf complies, though the glass armor ablates some of the damage he deals. Yog'Moi strikes the sandman in front of him twice, scoring a critical hit! Hotcha delivers a brutal uppercut as well, shattering some of the creature's glassy body, though it still is standing.
Esh slices once, misses the second time, then connects with his third strike, destroying the glassy monk he has been focusing on!
The remaining sandmen attack Esh, Hotcha, and Xin. Yog'Moi's ward protects Esh from harm, but Hotcha takes two hits and Xin takes one!
My final slash causes the monk to dissolve into loose sand and shards of opaque glass, crumbling to the ground. I briefly consider letting my companions deal with their foes while I press on with the one remaining in front of me, but then Hotcha takes some painful looking hits, and Xin has sand in his eyes, so I dart over to support them.
Hotcha shouts, “Ya want more? ‘Cause I got three more limbs!”
She follows her uppercut with a spinning backfist, and a flying scissors kick, striking with both legs!
"Yog'Moi," says Xin, breathing hard. "Ow."
"Esh," he continues. "Spring Perch and Winter Shrew."
Yog'Moi calls upon the Heavens to protect Esh from further harm and calls upon his blade to cut down their foes. Only one of the two answers his call.
Xin destroys the nearby sand monk with a precise stab of his blade. He calls Hotcha to battle, and the sprite answers, stepping up to next foe in line. She unleashes her fury upon it, then Esh moves in to dispatch it with two slices of his sword.
The final foe moves up to Esh, landing a critical hit and getting sand in his eyes!
▶️ Hotcha steps up the remaining monk and kicks his shin!
“Fighting dirty with actual dirt, you meanie? Take THIS! Uhh!”
“—and a whole lotta THESE!!”
The glittery nail polish on her toes twinkles with ki! The fairy flutters her wings and her left leg rapidly, rising and kicking with attitude—positive attitude!
The hobgoblin joins the fray and frantically swings his blade at their coarse foe. "This ends here! Back to wherever you came from, back back back!!!"
Though Xin’s attacks miss, Hotcha, Yog’Moi and Esh all deliver solid blows. The last sand monk falls, allowing you to claim your second silver feather!
"That's five," Xin says. "We could probably gain our ten by challenging two other teams. But I now believe the Tournament staff have likely hidden more feathers about the island. We should explore and look for more when we have cleared the monastery."
"If possible, I'd like to avoid fighting Tino's group. They were too kind to us for me to want to knock them out of the running."
"Before we search this chamber, I want us to heal up. We can't let ourselves get caught unready."
▶️▶️
As soon as the enemy falls, Hotcha suddenly appears unscathed!
“Healed! …but I’m very thirsty. Might I borrow one of your goblets, gentlemen?”
Xin digs out his goblet and sets it on the ground before the fairy.
Hotcha leaps into the goblet. Her touch fills it with sakura sake.
“Ahhhhh………”
She takes a handful of sake… just a taste. And another. And another!
“I wouldn’t object to a friendly match with Tino’s Toughest, but I’m with ya on not dropping the gauntlet. If they wanna fight, I’m thinking they can pick the wager. One feather, all feathers, don’t fight? All good!
“Ya know what else? I was thinking we can check on them at the library after we finish claiming the temple! Y’know… make sure they’re okay, thank ’em for their helpful gift?”
"Alternatively, we could go out and try to find another feather or two. That way, we won't be caught with our pants down if we happen to lose a match. Yeah, boring, I agree, the Storm Crow too thinks that going out and fight whoever we happen to come across is the way to go, but now it cannot be said that your sage priest did not offer you words of wisdom." With that said, he uncorks one of the many flasks hanging from his girdle and takes a sip.
Whatever is inside the flask must be strong enough to wake the dead, because it causes the hobgoblin to scrape his throat and cough under his breath.
Hotcha lays back in her not-so-strong drink. “This Ruby Phoenix wants a show… I don’t think we’ll get more than three feathers without the arena, the fanfare, the cheering crowbl-bl-b…!”
The fairy dips her head under the booze.
She eventually comes up for air and murmurs, “Erm lishening… jusht gertta shay m’prayerzh…”
During her half-hour soak, Hotcha is silent. But she has not forgotten the men. Those still in need of healing after her bath-slash-prayer will feel a sakura-scented fairy making booze footprints all over their backs. Her massages can’t compare to a healer’s touch, but every little bit helps!
The hobgoblin spends some odd twenty minutes to patch both fighters up. He can't help but wonder while going about applying bandages, ointments, and the occasional cup of liquor, why the two don't bother wearing heavy armor. After all, they aren't made of sturdy hobgoblin flesh like Yog'Moi!
After healing up, you continue your exploration of the temple, heading east. Stray leaves and twigs dot the sand pit in the center of an oval, open-air area to the east. Halls lead north and south, while to the east is a large shrine.
You do find some treasure here! Buried in the northwestern corner of the sand pit is a greater striking rune!
Hotcha studies the rune. “Oooohh… pretty!” She compares the greater striking rune to the etchings on her own handwraps.
“Oh, oh! I know what this does! It puts more crunch in my punch! That’s how the salesman put it when I got my handwraps! But I had to get the cheaper rune ’cause one o’ these costs more coin than I can carry!
“Well… so does a sandwich. Why are metal frisbees currency? Good thing I got big friends like you guys to carry my money. Oh, but… is it a big ask for me to ask for this?”
Hotcha was not the least bit interested in any of the treasure found so far. This rune, on the other hand, is causing the fairy to literally salivate with excitement. She secretly hopes her face is so small no one notices the line of drool oozing down from her eager teeth.
The hobgoblin spends some odd twenty minutes to patch both fighters up. He can't help but wonder while going about applying bandages, ointments, and the occasional cup of liquor, why the two don't bother wearing heavy armor. After all, they aren't made of sturdy hobgoblin flesh like Yog'Moi!
"Unnnh... Thank you my friend," says Xin, wincing as the hobgoblin rubs a fiery lineament into his bruised shoulder.
Hotcha studies the rune. “Oooohh… pretty!” She compares the greater striking rune to the etchings on her own handwraps.
“Oh, oh! I know what this does! It puts more crunch in my punch! That’s how the salesman put it when I got my handwraps! But I had to get the cheaper rune ’cause one o’ these costs more coin than I can carry!
“Well… so does a sandwich. Why are metal frisbees currency? Good thing I got big friends like you guys to carry my money. Oh, but… is it a big ask for me to ask for this?”
Hotcha was not the least bit interested in any of the treasure found so far. This rune, on the other hand, is causing the fairy to literally salivate with excitement. She secretly hopes her face is so small no one notices the line of drool oozing down from her eager teeth.
Xin nods assent. "You're the logical one to take it. Esh already has one and you attack more often than either Yog'Moi or I. Use it in good health. But keep the lesser rune. You can sell that later."
If the wily general notices the fairy drool, he is too well-bred to say so.
Hotcha replies, “Yay!”
After swapping runes, she sinks into a jellyfish stance and tries out a combo vs. a dirt mound!
She squints to protect her eyes, and after the dust settles she giggles with delight!
The giddy creature then looks north, then south, then east.
“I’m guessing the Broken Rebus monks’ll pop outta nowhere and challenge us, soon as we approach that shrine. Shall we do that now, or check the rooms north and south first?”
"Stay consistent and forget nothing. If we head east first we may leave enemies in our rear. North, south, then east."
When everyone is ready, Xin leads the team north, carefully checking the area for signs of any traps or another haunting.
I sigh and try to force my muscles to relax as Yog and Hotcha alternate tending to my injuries. I look forward to my smoke tonight.
After we're all patched up, we head back to the room with the filthy pond, then east into what I presume to be the main arena. Hotcha discovers a rune, and briefly turns into a dust devil as she tries it out. I start to wander over to the shrine to avoid the dust, but Xin corrals us and we head to the room in the north instead.
"Stay consistent and forget nothing..."
Hotcha hasn’t forgotten that table squashing her like a bug! She lets Xin enter first, but watches from the threshold to the northern room in case back-up is what he needs most!
A large garden plot takes up most of the roofless enclosure to the north. The soil appears dry and what little plant life remains is dead and wilted. Finding little of interest here,you head south.
A large and colorful eucalyptus tree stands at the center of this chamber, reaching toward the sky through a square window in the ceiling. An old skeleton lies slumped against the base of the tree, bones spotted with fallen peels of multicolored bark. Amid the bark scraps lies a single silver feather.
A ghostly woman emerges from the skeleton as you approach. ”I am sorry! Please, forgive me! I beg you for forgiveness!” she wails.
“Ohhhh, please don’t be sad. I’m sure if you feel that badly about whatever you’ve done, you deserve forgiveness.”
Not sure she has the right to, but feeling it’s right for the woman, the fairy blurts, “I forgive you.” She makes eye contact with the ghost woman. She is sincere, and ready to listen to her tale if she wishes to tell it. If not, providing her peace will do.
"Thank you," the ghost says softly, wiping away spectral tears. "I hope I truly am worthy of your forgiveness.
"I am Kannitri. I was the leader of a groupknown as the Broken Rebus. We believed that enlightenment came not through knowledge or meditation but through outright might, which we argued represented the pinnacle of the physical self and allowed one to transcend into the spiritual realm. But this extreme belief soon became twisted into a hunger for power. The Broken Rebus’s last resort—a violent takeover of the temple—failed, though all of the monks on both sides of the conflict were mortally wounded.
"As I was dying, I made my way to the meditation tree. I sat down and pondered the attack and myactions before eventually passing away. My mixed feelings—remorse, indignation, sorrow, anger—created enormous turmoil within my soul, but before I could resolve my clouded mind, my body expired. Now, my restless spirit lingers here.
"I wish to be with my fellow disciples once more. Mst of my friends perished in the courtyard before their names (or mine) could be inscribed on the pagoda sculpture there. If I tell you their names, will you pay them the honor they are due? Perhaps then, I can join them in the Serene Circle on Axis."
Hotcha starts to tear up herself. The Broken Rebus looked like crazy villains before. Now Hotcha sees it more like a disagreement gone too far. Well… way too far. But even if Kannitri was in the wrong, she wants to atone, and she needs help to do that.
“Yes, Kannitri… I am a nun too. From one Sister to another, it would be an honor to help ya! Are ya gonna name people on both sides of the conflict? I don’t need to know who was from what faction… I’d like to think that, in the afterlife, you’ll all move past your differences and be reunited as one sister-and-brotherhood.”
"Yes. I will tell you all of the names of the monks who lived here." Kannitri proceeds to do just that, providing several dozen names to you.
Hotcha is a smart fairy. But still, she uses a piece of bark to etch the names in the dirt to ensure she won’t miss or misspell any.
“That’s a lotta people, but I think I got everyone.” Her writing in the dirt may be a bit small for big people to read, but Hotcha is happy to shout names to the men so they can inscribe them on the pagoda. However, she would like to personally inscribe Kannitri’s name (at the standard big-person size).
As Hotcha is handling this, nun to nun, Wu Xin remains silent and respectful.
When the two are finished, he asks Yog'Moi and Esh to help him gather the bones onto his cloak. When they are gathered, he pockets the silver feather and leads the team back to the courtyard. Along the way, he tells Hotcha "Find Ahmitar and make sure he gets that list of names. Neither you nor we are stonemasons, so he'll do the best job of carving those names. Tell him it needs to be done right away. Also, see if he has a shovel."
In the absence of a shovel, Xin uses an old piece of slate from the courtyard to dig, trying to make an appropriate burial place for Kannitri.
"May the gods forbid that I become so engrossed in any one thing that my spirit refuses to depart this world for the next when the time comes," he says.
When at last he and his companions have buried the nun's remains, he wipes dirt from his hands and bows to the gravesite. "Be at peace, honored Kannitri. Know that your fellow monks will be remembered."
He looks at Yog'Moi. "Would you like to say a few words before we go?"
Hotcha gives Xin a thumbs up, and she darts over to Ahmitar with the message. If he has ink, quill and parchment, Hotcha will gladly write the names for him. (And she certainly agrees a professional is best suited for this task!)
She does think to ask Kannitri, “What would ya like to do with… your remains?”
"Bury me in the courtyard, and my soul shall be content," Kannitri says.
Hotcha nods.
(And if she can get Ahmitar, plus a quill, ink and parchment, she does this before saying too much. Several dozen names etched in sand might outlast a fairy’s attention span, weather permitting… but paper is a safer means of record keeping.)
Once she’s confident Ahmitar has all he needs to get started on the names, Hotcha will speak to Kannitri one last* time.
*Last, unless she thinks of something else to say.
“For what it’s worth, your philosophy wasn’t totally off. I don’t have brute strength, so for me meditation does more for me than muscle. But what really works for me are natural fairy talents. I throw fire, I sing and dance, I have wings… I guess what I’m saying is there ain’t a single way to be your best. And ain’t that the path Irori wants? For ya to be your best, not the best.
“My point is that, while I’m really sorry there was a power struggle that escalated the way it did… I wanna remember you as someone who challenged the notion there’s only one way. It gives me hope because I can’t outfight big people the big-person way, and so—here, in this temple—I had to find the fairy way to fight for my friends and for my life. I learned a lot in a few scuffles!
“So… when ya see the other monks, tell ’em I hope they’re all at peace, and none of us are mad at them—not even the guy who threw a table at me!”
Catching herself rambling a lot, the fairy bows to the spirit.
Kannitri bows to each of you, a wistful smile on her face, the she slowly fades away, finding peace at last. You can feel a pall lift from the temple grounds as the other ghosts and haunts that inhabited the place fade away as well.
Hotcha contributes to the work in what way a fairy can.
Esh is the muscle of the group. As a reward for his hard work, he will get another fairy massage when he’s done digging the grave. Hotcha will ask him to rinse off with the endless decanter, and then…
…he should feel good as new after the massage.
The list of names is long, and my mind is not as supple as it once was. I eventually resort to sitting beside Hotcha as she scribes the names in the sand, alternately praying to Shizuru for protection, Tsukiyo for peace, and Irori for guidance.
It's... sad. To see lives like that, snuffed out over pride and miscommunication. To see regret and confusion so deep it chains your very soul. I wish that everybody could be at peace. But I know that is a fool's dream. I am definitely looking forward to that smoke tonight. When I entered this tournament, I did not expect to feel such intense emotions.
I turn my sigh into a deep breath and focus. I take my turn to help dig the grave when Xin gets tired, praying all the while, and return Kannitri's bow as she finally departs for the River of Souls.
I lightly rinse myself off with water before Hotcha patters across my back and shoulders, relaxing my tenseness and pushing blood back into the flagging muscles. Between that and the lifting of the spiritual oppression, my mood improves somewhat.
"Thank you," I nod and smile at the sprite, before wandering over to the shrine of Irori in contemplation.
"Wow, good job." Yog'Moi is utterly sincere and the look on his face screams that he's impressed by how his companions handled the situation. "To be fair, they deserved it. Imagine dedicating your life to a God, having your brothers and sisters betray you, and then being stuck in the here and now while you truly belong in the there and then ... it must've been worse than torture. Hopefully Phasma judges their souls swiftly and kindly."