Pagma was being quiet. She had never been up to the willow before. In fact many members of the town had insisted she NEVER do so. While she felt the sting of mistrust from her elders, she understood. Fires happened around her more than the average person, learning required tests, so... but still.
"You are lovely" she blurts out at the tree, which is truly magnificent. So big, but soft without a swaying canopy leaning down around them. She does look to the gray fungus, and while she knows nothing much about trees she asks "Are you okay?" hope she is wrong etched in those words.
To Sakura, she leans in and whispers "just fire" to answer what she has to hurt mushrooms, which she thinks might be enough. She says it low since she assumes fire would not be something the tree wants to talk about.
Great Willow bristles a bit, then calms and says, “An infection I brought back from my visit to check on my friend to the south. I am fighting it back."
***
You head south from Willowshore for about 5 miles or so. The creek-side road diminishes to a trail here as it approaches the once-idyllic grove of willow trees, but today, the foliage has become overgrown with sheets of gray and pale yellow fungi. More colorful spotted mushrooms or warty toadstools grow where underbrush once did.
It isn't long before you spot a creature moving towards you. They look like a humanoid mushroom with beady eyes and a thin line for a mouth. "Ah, company!" they call, putting a hand to their head. "Woe is me, a lonely myceloid driven out of my underground colony! The kodama who dwelled here welcomed me into their home, but then they all vanished, and now I am alone again. It is getting late. Won't one of you stay overnight and share a meal so that I won’t feel lonely?:
The tale seems rather farfetched...
This story and invitation are tempting but suspicious.
Sakura gently responds, "Friend, your offer holds warmth, but our task cannot wait. The kodama that welcomed you are under the care of the Great Willow, a friend to them as they are to us. We seek to ensure their safety and restore balance to these woods. Can you tell us where the kodama might have gone or how this place became so overwhelmed with fungi?"
While Sakura engages the myceloid in conversation, she signals to the others find out what they can and prepare themselves for what may come.
The myceloid sneers. “Bah, I was hoping to get one of you alone. Well, I suppose I’ll have to settle for a banquet instead of a snack!"
Before you can react, the creature is in front of Sakura, pummeling her with their fists!
The creature reacts so quickly Sakura is unprepared for the assault, and it clobbers her badly. She swings her katana desperately, seeking a hit, forgetting about her form. She raises her katana in a defensive gesture, ready to parry the next set of attacks.
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Jing-De weaves magic and medicine to mend and fortify Sakura's spirit.
Two vials are pulled from her sachel, both fire, both flung with varying results. Sakura's slash into the fungus set her up for a nice hit, a shattering of the volatile liquid right in its face.
She draws her dagger knowing she only has one of these left so she will be joining the others in the brawl in meer moments.
Kamo looks for the best place to attack.
Kamo sees the perfect place to strike!
and
He swings his staff around to a defensive position.
Pagma burns the myceloid with her bomb. Sakura struggles to score a strike, but Kamo' stratagem pays off as he lands a critical hit! The creature whirls on Kamo, punching him once. Luckily the investigator parries the follow up fists!
Pagma sends her last bomb at the mushroom guy. As the vial flies over the spongy head, she grumbles "Why is it so hard to hit this thing??? It's head alone screams I am a target!"
She might be having trouble with tossing things, but she manages to stab her long knife well enough into its trunk. Forced sparing lessons with her friend has paid off a little at least.
Breathing a sigh of relief from Jing-De's actions, she says "Thank you!" before focusing again on this enemy. Despite her struggles to land a hit, Sakura is not discouraged. She continues to take two strikes at a time before attempting to parry the next blow.
"I'm quite ready for you to blow it up now!" she says, trying to encourage her ranged companions to succeed where she fails.
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Just when he gets done fixing up Sakura, the myceloid goes to town on Kamo. A combination of Jing-De not being the most experienced healer and the combat being particularly volatile causes Jing to fail at tending to Kamo's wounds.
Takes another chance to swat at the mushroom man.
for and
Pagma misses with her bomb, but she moves in to flank the myceloid and stabs them with her knife. The flanking maneuver allows Sakura to land a hit, her slashing weapon proving quite effective against the fungal foe! As the myceloid howls in pain, Kamo delivers a final blow with his staff, and the creature falls!
With its death, the fungus infestation in the grove immediately begins to recede, with mushrooms and mold shrinking, melting, and evaporating.
Jing-De tends to Kamo's wounds while humming an ancient folksong that, were he to sing the lyrics, praises the good spirits and their wisdom. Once he's done undoing the worst the myceloid inflicted on Kamo, he (blessedly) stops humming.
"So, back to the Great Willow we go?"
Sakura agrees. "The Great Willow's friend is not here and is still missing, but I think after we tell them we've dispatched the problematic fungus, we will get more information."
You return to Willowshore and ascend the hill, where you find the Great Willow in a much more pleasant mood. The fungus on their tree has cleared up. The news that no kodama were present in the grove disappoints Great Willow, but they take the fact that there were no bodies or evidence that the kodama were harmed as a reason for hope.
In return for the aid you provided, Great Willow confirms that the region surrounding Willowshore appears to be cursed. They can sense no other kodama in the vicinity, and they have already started to meditate upon the curse’s boundaries.
They can give you a rough estimate of the size of the region you're trapped in, describing it as a region about 10 to 16 miles or so in every direction from Willowshore. More importantly, Great Willow mentions that something even more potent seems to lie to the west. One thing Great Willow can confirm, though—there seems to be no way to go beyond the mists, so for the time being, goals to become more self-sufficient as a settlement should be prioritized.
"I will be here. As always. Should you need anything, I will do my best to lend you my aid," the little spirit says with a bow.
Pagma bows low to the little spirit "Thank you, Great Willow" she feels like something else should be said, something wise sounding like "May we always be welcome in your shade" which she says, since she can't think of anything else.
Sakura leans into Pagma and whispers "Please do not light the Great Willow on fire, I like them."
"I'd never-" she starts. pauses and amends what she was going to say "-- mean to!" she whispered back, "i think it too. We should visit more often, especially since its friend has moved away."
"Agreed. Let's try to make it back here at least once a week for the next few weeks and make sure things continue to improve and no more mushrooms try to move in."
As the Great Willow imparts them with wisdom and knowledge, Jing-De bows and whispers a pledge to reconnect Willowshore with the outside world once more. Like the great cosmic lovers above, separated by a cold vast space that defies mortal comprehension, this is another injustice that ought to be undone.
"We shall share your wisdom with the village, Great Willow. There is much to ponder, but it is clear that action must be taken."
"Before we head back," Sakura begins, her voice carrying a serene undertone, "I'd like to ask for a bit of time here. This place... it has a calming effect, a peace I rarely find elsewhere." She glances up at the majestic Great Willow, its branches swaying gently in the breeze, embodying a silent strength.
"I would appreciate it if we could stay just a little longer. I find that practicing my forms in the presence of such ancient spirits helps me center myself. It's a kind of meditation, and right now, it feels particularly important."
She pauses, then adds, "An hour here could give us all a moment to collect our thoughts and find some balance after the chaos we've encountered. If you'd like to head back, I can catchup with you later."
"There's something about this place," she continues, "a connection to something greater, something enduring. It reminds me of what we're fighting for – the harmony and spirit of Willowshore." She then steps a bit away, finding a clear space to commune.
Accustomed to keeping himself busy while Sakura does endless forms, Kamo wanders around the Great Willow's clearing, looking for any further signs of fungus.
Pagma smiles and says "Okay. It is lovely." which is her standard response to every time Sakura finds a place of harmony. A tranquil pool with nothing but the croak of a lonley frog. A small hill with just the right amount of wind to sway the tall grasses. Even when the creak of the east bridge couples with a cool rumble of the river.
Her friend is never wrong, Pagma admits, as she looks up into the overhanging leaves. "I could practice my-" she stops, noting the sudden look of panic, and not disagreeing. "I mean read. Fallen behind on that a bit." Pagma is a ravanous reader.
So she finds a nook in the tree, leans against it on the ground, and cracks The Misunderstood Fires.
Who is Jing-De to deny Sakura such an indulgence? "Fair enough. It's easy to get caught up in the moment, and let it push you on and on and on, to the point you are never quite in the moment itself anymore. Always there, where you want to be, yet here. I guess what I'm trying to say is, yes, that's a good idea."
Sakura stands, feeling rejuvenated and centered after her time around the Great Willow. She takes a moment to appreciate the quiet strength of the ancient tree and the serenity of the surroundings before turning back to her companions.
"Thank you for this time," she says with a genuine sense of gratitude. "I'm ready to continue our journey now."
"If you're all prepared, I think it's time we head to the old expansion, as Old Matsuki asked us. We need to find out if it's still reachable and can support emergency crops for Willowshore. We must ascertain this, given our current situation."
Sakura leads the way steadily toward the abandoned village's location. The journey requires careful navigation through less-traveled paths and overgrown trails, but Sakura moves confidently. Her earlier meditation sharpened her focus.
Pagma pulls up from her reading post, eyes dancing in new ideas "Did you know the lightning could be bottled??? !!! ???" she face is alight with Not really, but similarly, where you could create a gas that would be ready to burst in the same kind of static burst???[/b]" she holds her book to her chest, hugging it like the treasured item that it is.
As they move toward the village, she pulls out some of her new bombs, throwing them up and catching them as they move around watching.
The next day, you make your way north through the forest, following a few trails. You reach the old village expansion before nightfall. The overgrown ruins of several buildings lie slumped in this large grassland, surrounded by weed-choked fields
Pagma starts to look over the fields, chatting as she normally does "As you all know, Papa was a farmer, before his knees grew too swollen to do much." - other than complain - the part of her mind without manners interjects. "So I've been helping in the fields since I was little." - since being useful was a requirement of staying and not being shipped out -
Besides snarky brain, she gets to it. Digging small holes, shifting the soil in her fingers, even tasting it. She does discover working in the fields and planning for them are two very different things. So it takes her a long time to start mapping locations of viable fields.
Kamo spends all day poking around the old village, but he gets distracted by imagining the lives of the people that once lived here and makes little progress.
Sakura takes a deep breath as she surveys the overgrown ruins and fields of the old village expansion. She feels a sense of determination welling up within her. The future of Willowshore could hinge on what they discover here, and she's keenly aware of the weight of this responsibility.
Drawing upon her intrinsic connection with nature, instilled in her from her childhood days roaming the forests and gardens of Willowshore, Sakura sets to work. She carefully navigates through the dense underbrush, her keen eyes assessing the soil quality, sunlight exposure, and drainage patterns of the fields. She notes areas where wild plants thrive, indicating fertile ground, and areas where water naturally accumulates, ideal for certain types of crops.
She meticulously examines the fields, identifying sections that would be most suitable for quick cultivation and those that might require more work but could yield a bountiful harvest in time. She finds soil that is rich and loamy, indicating excellent fertility. She also notices signs of previous terracing, suggesting that with some clearing and restructuring, these fields could be brought back to their former glory.
Moreover, she identifies a natural irrigation source, a small stream that can be harnessed to provide consistent water to the crops. This critical finding could make a significant difference in sustaining the fields, especially during dry spells.
After several hours of careful examination, Sakura gathers her companions to share her findings.
Pagma blinks as Sakura tells her everything Pagma had found out and significantly more. "You avoided farming like it was lice on a pillow." she says with some wonder. "Where did all this..." the bright young woman is at a loss for a second then stops, corrects herself mentally and smiles honestly "That is amazing Sakura, hopefully these fields will be enough to see us through the winter." she squeezes her friend's forearm and lets a bit of her own built up tension ease.
Sakura smiles at Pagma's comment, "I guess spending all that time avoiding farming taught me something about it," she replies with a light chuckle. "It's strange, but once I looked at these fields, it was like the land was speaking to me, showing me its potential. Come along, I want to check a little further out."
Sakura extended her investigation beyond the immediate area she had initially appraised. Venturing into a slightly more wooded section, she uncovers remnants of old fruit trees, overgrown but still alive. With some pruning and care, these trees could be revitalized to bear fruit again, offering a valuable food source and possibly trade goods for Willowshore.
Jing-De applies what he knows about gardening and growing specialized herbs to the weed-choked fields in front of them. It's a difficult task, but he thinks he managed just fine once it's all said and done.
By the end of the first day at the old expansion, you have made good progress towards making it a viable place to grow crops. You just need a little bit more work to finish up here.
Working hard the next day, you successfully prepare the site! You head back to Willowshore to report your success. Old Matsuki is quite pleased.
Pagma moves from person to person as they tend the fields, amazed at all the different techniques. She even barely grumbles at having to return the next day, bright and interested as they start again. "Maybe we found our calling, and all this exploring, fighting, experimenting, and spellcasting is best put up for farming?" she is jesting, it is plain as day. Still she is kind of happy, so it easy to see an older Pagma settled down to tend her fields.
The next day, you head to Willowshore Stables to help Kum Soon-chong with the damage to the ranch.
Sakura casts a playful glance at Pagma, her expression a mix of amusement and mock disbelief. "Farming? Me?"[b/] she chuckles lightly, shaking her head. [b]"I think I'll leave the joys of farming to those with a greener thumb. I'm more at home with my katana in hand than a hoe or a plow."
She picks up a clump of soil, letting it crumble through her fingers. "Though I must admit, there's something satisfying about working with the land. I can definitely see the appeal, Pagma-chan. Maybe once all this is over, we could consider a little side venture in farming. Just for the peace it brings, if nothing else."
After spending a full day at Willowshore Stables, Sakura returns, her clothes covered in the dust and grime of a hard day's work. Her efforts in rounding up the scattered livestock have been successful, but it's clear from her tired demeanor that the task was no small feat.
Exhausted but fulfilled, Sakura wipes the sweat from her brow, ready to discuss with her companions what their next step should be in helping Willowshore recover from the recent events.
Over dinner, Sakura shares her experiences of the day with a mix of exhaustion and satisfaction evident in her voice.
"I spent the whole day at the stables," she begins, massaging her shoulders. "Chasing down livestock isn't exactly what I trained for, but it was necessary. You should've seen the state of the stables when I got there—animals were everywhere, and Kum Soon-chong looked like he was at his wit's end."
She chuckles lightly, remembering some of the day's challenges. "I never knew goats could be so stubborn. And the cows, they were scattered deep into the woods. It took a lot of patience to coax them back. I had to tap into every bit of my knowledge about working with Kamo, I mean, stubborn animal behavior."
Kamo shields his eyes with one hand as he watches Sakura run after an errant animal in the distance.
"Now, where does she think she is going to put that creature, Pagma? We'd better hurry up with this enclosure."
The attack on the town had left the pens quite a mess, and boards needed to be replaced before it would be secure enough to hold anything!
"Ah, did I hear my name?" Kamo flops down at the table. "Sakura, you smell even more like a horse than usual," he adds, with a sly grin.
Pagma watches Sakura take off after an animal in a bit of a happy awe, then turns to Kamo "Yay, okay, but I've never built a fence before, so let me watch." she hovers for a little while, asking SO many questions, before she starts doing work herself "Oh, maybe a bit her, then there, and then they will both fit together like AHHA!"
She seems to get rather into it and almost has to be dragged away to dinner.
"Kamo, is amazing with tools, did you know that?" she blurts out to Sakura as she lands excitingly in her chair. That discovers she is Very spent "Owwww, gods why does everything hurt?"
You all put in some incredible efforts at the ranch. Pagma and Jing De truly shine as they are able to put up the fence lickety-split! Kamo assist them as Sakura manages to wrangle the remaining livestock. Kum Soon-chong is overjoyed, and the Willowshore Stables open for business once more!
"Kamo, is amazing with tools, did you know that?" she blurts out to Sakura as she lands excitingly in her chair.
"If by "Amazing with tools" you mean to say that he didn't cut all of his fingers off, it must be the grace of the spirits watching over him only!"
Sakura takes back what she about farming, decidedly wanting to do that over chasing livestock all day.
"Why don't we go help Choe Chung-hu with the Milling house tomorrow?" she recommends.
The next day, you head to the abandoned lumber lords' estates, near the equally abandoned Cerulean Teahouse. After being thoroughly picked clean, these buildings were left to serve as the occasional rage room or dare challenge. An abandoned shrine to Desna sits in one of the houses, and many have questioned if someone should accept the goddess into their home instead of leaving her bereft in the estate ruins.
As you approach the shrine, a tiny, crudely carved statue of a robed man steps out from within the altar! "I am Kohoshi. This shrine is my ward," the little kami says. "If you have come to despoil it, then you will incur my wrath."
Pagma scrunches her nose at spending time with shrines, but after throwing a guilty look at Jing, mumbles something through a mouthful of food that sounds like Okay.
On the morning of, her mouth opens wide in surprise "No, um, we were sent to move you to a better place... honorable kami... Do you have any ideas where you'd like to go?"
"Nowhere with an uncouth mortal like you," the kami says irritably, brandishing their starknife.
"Not to worry, little guardian. We're here to help." Kamo looks around the shrine. "We are hoping to move your shrine so that many more worshipers will pay their respects to the Song of the Spheres."
Pagma quickly bows in apology and keeps her mouth shut.