Yuranosuke ushers the others in, warily looking out into the street for signs of danger.
Ushered inside the Thrice-Blessed Inn, you see there are a number of villagers that have gathered here, Ayane you even run into your family hiding here.
Your mother and father were hiding as chairs but they pop into their Tanuki forms when they see you enter and rush to smother you in hugs.
Mother Otis groans in disbelief before asking, "How fares it out there? Those monsters at the bridge were preventing anyone from leaving but we didn't dare risk attacking them, someone said they saw fighting through the mist a while back but none dared to go investigate that claim,"
"That was us, yes," Yuranosuke replies. "The bridge is clear...for now. We're seeking the blessings of the gods to relight the Lantern."
The sigh of relief is audible as she rushes to her family and looks them over to make sure they are alright. ”oh I was so worried about you all! But I’m glad you are here and safe with Mother Otis.” pausing her reunion as Yuranoske talks about the bridge.
”Yuranoske is right, something very strange and eerie is going on. All the lanterns are out and when we made our way back from the forest from the ceremony we also saw that Ugly Cute is MISSING” she tries to calm the crown waving her hands. ”but rest assured we will find her and get the Lantern relight and discover what is happening to our beloved town!”
Kwan pulls Mother Otis aside, his face grim. "How bad is it in town? We've seen very few people. Where could they all be?"
Frowning at Ayane's and Yuranosuke's assessment of the area so far, Mother Otis answers Phang Kwan's question, "It started after the ceremony was winding down, the fog rolled in and with it those little gremlins but also phantom wolves and other creatures. Hissing and whispering, many townsfolks were dragged into the mist. Those in the area holed up here at the Inn. Whatever monsters there were didn't seem to be overly intrusive into people's homes but they picked anyone apart they could get their hands on outside,"
Shuddering, holding themselves upright, one hand bracing against teh wall the half elf continues, "Barely anyone could sleep, the screams continued through the night, when we heard fighting in the mist in the direction of the bridge we weren't sure if it was guards from Northridge trying to fight through but when the fighting died down and no one came, we assumed they had failed,"
Composing themselves, "You say you are trying to bless the coins," she motions you all close into a huddle and whispers, "There is a shrine here to Calistria, it is normally a secret but relighting the lantern is too important. Please don't reveal to the Elder's it is here though,"
Yuranosuke's brow furrows pensively.
"A shrine to the Unquenchable Fire...no doubt a remnant of the Inn's past."
He nods.
"The secret is safe with me."
While he fellows gather information, Xu Jiang passes through the crowd, healing anyone he can (with Treat Wounds, not spells), and quietly offering comfort to the frightened townsfolk. Pharasma is a goddess of transitions as well as of judgment and Jiang has studied the philosophies of her psychopomps in helping people deal with trauma and transition.
As he goes, he wonders whether the nature of the blessing deities will affect the nature of the protection afforded to his town. If so, the group's next steps will require a much more thorough discussion.
Xu Jiang thinks deeply, reflecting on what he knows of the Eternal Lantern artifact and comes to the realization that depending on the blessings received may offer tangible boons to certain skills.
The townsfolk are happy to see Xu jiang and Lady Elizeth, and many have more simple wounds that are easily patched up. More so the mental damages from this night will be the harder ones to recover from.
Mother Otis leads your group to a backroom, revealing a false paneled wall and inside a small shrine to Calistria. "It is here, though it gets less and less use, I can't bring myself to turn away from her faith entirely, no matter what the town elders say about this establishment,"
"Not to mention she is NOT a goddess you want to snub," Yuranosuke comments with a shrug.
Ayane looks at the Shrine Mother Otis reveals. “since we are here let’s get one of the clubs blessed by Calistra. letting Jean and Xu Jiang, bring the coins forward.
In the mean time Ayane goes to the kitchen And asks for a snack and some extra heard bread for the road.
Kwan ponders the question that Jiang raised. "Since a coin receives a deity's blessing, it makes sense that the protection granted by that coin is tied to the deity's personality and focus."
Kwan pulls Jiang aside and speaks softly. "I don't have anything against the lady of lust, but I do think that other deity's offer Willowshore more important blessings - warfare, diplomacy, and others. What do you think?"
"I don't know any of this. All I know is the weather chose me to do things for it. How or what is still unknown to me. So Uhm, I'm stumped. I'm as useful as a hook with no bait or lure" she scratches her head in embarrassment
Unless someone objects to skipping a blessing at Calistria's shrine, Kwan sets course for the Matsuki Manor.
He pulls Mother Otis aside. "You all should be safe here. Just keep the door closed and barred. We'll send word when it's safe to move about town. Safer to stay here than walk around town, sadly."
Thanking Mother Otis for her hospitality but kindly refusing Calistria's blessing, hoping that Spurning the God of Vengeance of her blessing doesn't come back to bite the party, you all head out the couple of hundred feet down the road to the Matsuki Estate.
The house is surrounded by a large outer wall that has been bleached white and washed with Lyme, which you all know is superstition designed to keep ghosts and evil spirits out.
There are guards posted at the outer gates, when they see you approach they stop you to check if you are evil spirits. With Lady Elizeth though suffers no time and pushes you all through the checkpoint, eager to check with Old Matsuki the patriarch and defacto Southbank leader.
The Matsuki estate hums with relentless activity. Once-quiet halls now echo with the sounds of industry and care: the clatter of tools in makeshift workshops, the hushed voices of healers tending to the wounded, and the weary footfalls of townsfolk turned refugees. Rooms once meant for leisure have become barracks, apothecaries, and war rooms.
Only the banquet hall remains untouched by the storm of motion. Its lanterns burn low, casting long shadows across tapestries and quiet figures gathered at the central table. There, seated in quiet authority, is Old Matsuki—his presence still and composed like the eye of a storm.
He listens as various leaders of southern Willowshore relay their updates: food supplies, missing persons, strange sightings along the riverbanks. When he sees your group enter, his expression shifts. With a subtle gesture, he raises a hand, halting the conversation mid-sentence.
“Forgive me,” he says to the others, rising slowly. “Our 'sacrifices' have returned.”
He beckons you forward, the weariness in his eyes tempered by genuine relief. With a sharp snap of his fingers, servants emerge from the side chamber, efficient and silent. Before long, you're each handed warm bowls of broth, steamed rice, and fragrant tea, the familiar scents grounding you like an anchor after a long drift at sea.
Only once the servants withdraw and the steam curls lazily from your cups does Old Matsuki lean in, folding his hands before him.
“Well then,” he says in a low, deliberate tone, voice like old timber, his gaze sharpens. “Tell me everything. From the moment you woke in that forest—what happened?”
Ayane, slowly pulls out her makeshift drum, er kitchen pot and spoon, and starts to sing a ballad of what happened that morning.
"Let me tell you the whole story, we awoke in a clearing...Giant bugssss!....the bridge and the Jinkins....BIIIIIRRRRDSSS....[smaller] I almost died..." Her song finishes with arriving here at The Matsuki estate.
Shandari claps enthusiastically
"Bravo bravo!"
Ayane bows with an overly dramatic flourish. ”So yeah, uh that about sums it up. Any questions?”
Yuranosuke bows to Old Matsuki when they arrive. He listens to Ayane's retelling with a raised eyebrow as he drinks his tea.
"I was going to say, Ayane would be able to tell it best," he says, amused. "With all that's happened...including...that...we could use some levity to keep our spirits up, no?"
Old Matsuki chuckles softly, the sound low and dry, like leaves rustling on an autumn wind. “Well told. I see your group has both strength and soul. The village is lucky to have you all returned to us. It sounds like you've opened up the bridge to Northridge, however I'd avoid crossing it and entering the downtown area proper. Downtown has the highest concentration of monsters we've seen so far, until you relight the lantern I'd avoid it if possible” He leans forward, fingers steepled.
He lifts his gaze to meet yours, and the flickering lamplight casts deep shadows beneath his eyes. His eyes settle on Yuranosuke.
"But that raises another question I have. Where are the rest of the Silvermist rangers? I haven’t heard a word from them—no reports, no messengers. Nothing. Until you showed up, Yuranosuke, I feared the worst.”
He leans forward slightly, voice lowering.
“Some townsfolk say they’ve seen a massive spider made of stone moving through the mist. And now, with your report that Ugly Cute is missing... I think the old stories were true. The guardian may have awakened.”
He pauses, then looks back to the whole group.
“If that’s the case, we need to find it. And if anyone can, it’s the rangers. You’ll need to check the lodge. It’s just beyond the cedar grove, not far. If something’s happened to them... we need to know.”
"Matsuki, I am glad that you are safe and unharmed despite the attacks on the town. What Ayane said is true. We found Hai-er Ha at the eastern guard tower. Is her family here? We also found Mother Otis and some others at the Thrice-Blessed Inn. And, those birds were what we rescued Elizeth from."
Kwan pauses for a deep breath, unsure if he wants to ask the question. "What news do you have of the damage to town? And the villagers?
Jiang speaks respectfully to Matsuki, as a son to father or uncle. "We will investigate the lodge for the rangers. But first a question. A curse lays on Willowshire, and curses do not come from nowhere. Do you know of anyone with a reason to lay this curse on our village?"
Old Matsuki listens to Kwan and Jiang with the patient stillness of a man who has seen too much in too short a time. When Kwan speaks of survivors, his eyes flicker with something between relief and sorrow. “Hai-er Ha’s husband is here. He arrived early, dazed but unharmed. He’s been asking after her since daybreak. Their daughter…” He pauses. “Granny Hu’s side of the river. We’ve heard nothing yet, with the bridge being formerly blocked,"
He breathes out slowly, and his shoulders sag just slightly.
“As for the Thrice-Blessed Inn—I’m glad to hear anyone still lives there. Mother Otis is tough as river stone. And Elizeth… I feared she was lost. Thank you for reaching her.” Matsuki’s gaze hardens at Kwan’s next question, though not from anger—just the weight of it.
“The damage is… worse than I can say. Whole streets gone quiet. Houses burned from the inside. Spirits have taken people in their sleep—or turned them on their neighbors. It’s chaos. Some folk fled into the fog. Others were lost before they ever reached safety. And still… some just vanished.”
He meets Jiang’s eyes next, a deep respect in his tone, though his words grow heavier.
“You’re right to ask. Curses don’t spring from nowhere.”
He glances down at the table, running a callused thumb along the grain, gathering his thoughts.
“This land has always had its spirits—its shadows. The Season of Ghosts… that’s not just a name for us. Each summer, Spectrewood grows hungry. We’ve lived with it. Learned how to appease it. That’s what the Reenactment Festival is for. Fool the spirits. Trick them into passing us by.”
He lifts his eyes again, the weight of years behind them.
“But this year, something was different. Something went wrong during the festival. Maybe someone broke the old rites. Maybe something awoke. Whatever it was… this isn’t just hauntings anymore. This is war. And someone—or something—meant for it to begin.”
He looks to Jiang, then to the rest of the group.
“I don’t know who would curse us like this. But I know this: the spirits were stirred. And something terrible seized the moment.”
As Matsuki speaks, Kwan realizes he nearly forgot to ask about his close friend. "Has you seen Yong Wu-Xiu? Has anyone been to the ironworks? If not, I need to check on her soon."
Kwan pauses to see if anyone else has a question for Matsuki.
"Oh. I guess I need to check in on mom and dad too. Dad shouldn't go fishing today. Too misty. " she ponders out loud
Seeing that the group has no further questions for Matsuki, Kwan urges the group to continue their sweep of Southbank, starting by heading to the ironworks. "We should rule out further incursions of Southbank. Yong Wu-Xiu is a friend so I'd like to check on her first. Then, head to the lodges. Shandari, is your family's house nearby?"
Kwan pauses momentarily for objections or other ideas before leaving the estate with a nod to Matsuki and the other villagers that have gathered nearby.
Old Matsuki chuckles softly, the sound low and dry, like leaves rustling on an autumn wind. “Well told. I see your group has both strength and soul. The village is lucky to have you all returned to us. It sounds like you've opened up the bridge to Northridge, however I'd avoid crossing it and entering the downtown area proper. Downtown has the highest concentration of monsters we've seen so far, until you relight the lantern I'd avoid it if possible” He leans forward, fingers steepled.
He lifts his gaze to meet yours, and the flickering lamplight casts deep shadows beneath his eyes. His eyes settle on Yuranosuke.
"But that raises another question I have. Where are the rest of the Silvermist rangers? I haven’t heard a word from them—no reports, no messengers. Nothing. Until you showed up, Yuranosuke, I feared the worst.”
He leans forward slightly, voice lowering.
“Some townsfolk say they’ve seen a massive spider made of stone moving through the mist. And now, with your report that Ugly Cute is missing... I think the old stories were true. The guardian may have awakened.”
He pauses, then looks back to the whole group.
“If that’s the case, we need to find it. And if anyone can, it’s the rangers. You’ll need to check the lodge. It’s just beyond the cedar grove, not far. If something’s happened to them... we need to know.”
"I have not been home since I went with the other 'sacrifices' last night. We figured we would make our way there after we connected with you here, since your home is on the way," Yuranosuke replies, bowing his head.
"Now, however, my fears have been stirred. I suppose we should heart that maybe Ugly Cute's absence is because it has risen to protect us. But I agree. We need to check the Lodge as soon as we are able. They're fairly isolated from the rest of the town and while my family is more than ready to defend themselves, they aren't warriors who could defend against a siege by spirits or worse."
He stands and joins Kwan at the door.
"I am ready when you are."
While Kwan and Yuranosuke were talking with Old Matsuki, Ayane was looking around for a bite to eat. Once she sees them at the door ready to leave she brushes her hands on her tunic. "Thank you for listening to us and giving us time to catch our breath." she joins the rest of the party at the door. "Im ready! lets go" She says in sing song.
For now your group gathers their belongings, Lady Elizeth stays behind to render first aid where she can and recuperate, hopeful to regain her spells with some rest.
By now, the day is progressing into late afternoon, call it 4pm. So far it has been an eventful day and somehow only 8-10 hours have passed.
You all are starting to feel the stress and adrenaline of combat taking its toll on your muscles, yet there still remains much to be done.
You guys head out the front entrance, back on the main road heading west you pass by the Shrine to Abadar, This darkwood-trimmed shrine houses a 3-foot-tall limestone statue of Abadar that holds a shovel in one hand and a trowel in the other.
You guys see the shrine remained sturdy through the night and it doesn't look like any Jinkins's vandalized it. Tabling the shrine, you guys continue west another hundred or so feet to the Ironworks. You all know that the Eternal Blaze Ironworks was responsible for creating metal items from cookware, woodworking tools, and small metal parts, such as hinges, locks, and keys for chests. As you approach you see the door appears to be shattered and only scraps of wood hang on the remains of the frame.
"Uh oh, this cant be good, lets be cautious incase we come across more Jinkins..." she holds her hand up to the side or her mouth to whisper. "or something worse!"
Yuranosuke nods to Ayane.
"Good eyes," he says quietly.
He takes point, creeping up and peering in.
Peering inside the Ironworks, Ayane sees an unsettling familiar green mist that pervades throughout the smithy.
It looks like there was a fight or a rampage through the interior though its hard to see must else from outside.
Yuranosuke takes the initiative and tries to creep up to the front doors, though struggles with remaining stealthy in the daylight. He sees that unsettling green mist as well, though looking inside he doesn't see any bodies or creatures.
Yuranosuke trips on the doorstep as he goes up to try and listen in, and clatters to the ground.
"S***!" he curses, perhaps FAR too loud.
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Yuranosuke trips on the doorstep as he goes up to try and listen in, and clatters to the ground.
"S***!" he curses, perhaps FAR too loud.
She gasps "Yura said a naughty word" she holds her hands infront of her mouth
Ayane offers to help Yuranoske up and then makes her way carefully into the Ironworks building.
Leading the way for her group she calls out to Kwan, ”do you know where in the forge your friend works? We should check that area first. Although..this green mist IS very weird”
Ayane isn't too sure where this green mist is coming from, only that it seems to be connected somehow. Its immediately recognizable as the same type of green mist that escaped from the crows and remembering back, she even thinks that the same green mist escaped from those bugs that attacked you first thing this morning.
Still, there isn't much more to take in before from deeper in the house, you hear someone call out, "Hello? Is someone out there? Careful we are trapped inside, don't trust the mist!"
"So the mist is a lier. Rude. Telling lies is not nice. It makes people get angry at you" she makes a tsk tsk sound as she follows Ayane
Kwan creeps up to entrance near Yuranosuke and calls out. "It's Kwan. And, Ayane, Shandari, Xu, and Yuranosuke. We are here to help. Stay put for now."
"We need to figure out how to deal with this mist so the people inside can safely leave. The mist seems unnatural somehow. Anyone have any ideas?" Kwan attempts to ask Shizuru for answers.
Phang attempts to ask for any guidance from Shizuru about the nature of this mist but it so far eludes even his goddess, or she just doesn't share the info with him.
Another, different, voice calls back to you Phang, "I don't know, The mist is fine, it seems harmless, come inside, help us!"
"uhh, mist is bad, mist is good? Its only been around bad things so far! lets be careful as we make our way in. Lets go!" Before continuing in Ayane pauses and focuses her magical energies towards the green mist and tries to see if she can pickup any other magical signatures in the area.
"I'm inclined to think the one saying not to trust the obviously supernatural phenomenon is the one we should listen to," Yuranosuke replies dryly as he gets to his feet and wipes off his clothes.
oh Yuranoske, that’s a good point. I have read one or 2 supernatural books. Hmm, let me think a moment”
Despite his desire to rush into the building and make sure that Yong is safe, Kwan pauses while the others try to determine the group's options.
"I'm worried about Yong and other villagers inside. Does anyone have an idea how to push away the mist?"
Yuranosuke thinks on what legends of mist they might remember, knowing the foggy forests of Shenmen held dangers both mystical and mundane.
Ayane knows, at least based on what you've seen so far, that the mist needs a host body to manifest itself inside. As long as the mist remains out of any suitable hosts they believe it should be safe to wade through.
"Phang, is that you? Please don't leave me in here, I'm scared to brave the mist, is it safe? The mist won't stop whispering terrible terrible things to me!" This is now a third voice, different from the first two, though Phang you recognize this as sounding like Yong's.
"Nobody is leaving," says Xu Jiang to no one in particular. "We're getting her or them or whomever out. But there's clearly someone or something in that mist we don't want to encounter alone. So everyone stick together."
"Shandari," he says to the sylph, "I don't suppose you have a way to disperse the mist?"