Cheers and laughter filled your heads as the red blindfold fell over your eyes, blotting out the smiling faces surrounding you in the warm haze of lamplight. Familiar hands rolled you into straw mats and hoisted you into the air as theatrical wailing began to ring out from all sides.
The sounds faded as you were carried out of Willowshore, the sounds of festivity and merriment fading as the damp earth of the forest teased your nostrils. When you were finally lowered to the ground and released from your straw 'prison' the burly figure of Choe Chung-hu was smiling down at you all.
"I will return in the morning with your ransom." He said with a smile. "Sleep well my friends."
A stone digs into your back and something lands on your face with an unpleasant splash. You jerk upwards, surprised. Your straw mat was thick and well made, the clearing north of town free from stones and the weather had been warm for the end of Spring. But no, your mat is thin, worn even and this clearing - the one with the Hanging Tree. That's to the east of Willowshore, not the north...
At least you're all together though and as you strain your mind, pushing through strangely cloudy memories you know there's a game trail nearby that should lead you back to town in an hour or so.
But the sun is already high if overcast. It's mid-morning at least. So where is Choe?
Usagi gave her two friends one last glare before the blindfold it lowered. Being one of this years abductee was not why she came to the festival. Not at all, just a quick in, hear the stories, drink some tea and eat mochi, then slip back out. But they convinced her to stay.
So the townspeople had to carry her, which was irritating since she was taller than most, heavier than a lot, and had refused to take off her red armor or weapons, so it took several men to carry her.
Waking up in the oddities, the pale woman with gray hair despite her young age, shot up and pulled out her katana faster than she stood, her wakizashi came out a second later. "What is wrong?" she nudges her closest abductee with her boot.
Looking around the clearing, Kiko feels a familiar disorientation descend upon her. Four years ago she suffered something very similar - waking up in a place that was unknown. Shadows threaten the edge of her vision before she shakes it off.
This is different, she reassures herself. Waking up in the village's graveyard carried with it the clouded mind of forgetfulness. She had had no idea how she got there or where she came from and only a vague sense of who she was. This time she knew who she was. She knew where she was previously. The only discontinuity was how did she get here.
She looks around and is comforted by the sight of her fellow 'hostages'. Whatever was going on, she wasn't facing it alone.
'You're a part of the village now, Kiko,' Elizeth had told her with a smile. 'It'll be fun and a good bonding exercise. This'll be good for you.'
Deciding that this would certainly spawn a conversation over tea when she returned, Kiko checked her belongings before slipping free from the mat and noted again that this wasn't the mat she was originally wrapped in. Shaking her head in confusion as to how she didn't awaken upon being moved from one to the other, she climbs to her feet.
"So," she says to the others. "Do we wait any longer for Choe or do we head back ourselves?"
Akira Mori had never been one for camping, especially not the kind that involved blindfolds and being carried off into the woods like a sack of rice. She had protested tried to get out of it and tried to spin a tale of how she had some awful ingowing toenail and, anyway the town needed her to chronicle the event. Unfortunately nobody listened.
So here she was, the smell of damp earth and old wood taking over everything. Something was wrong. She sat up slowly, fingers brushing against the worn straw mat beneath her - this wasn’t the more comfortable mat she had been wrapped in.
Her sharp eyes flicked to the others and notices Usagi is already armed clearly sensing the same unease. Akira exhaled, running a hand through her dark hair before pushing herself to her feet. She dusted off her jacket, checking that her stuffed satchel and blade were still at her side - the familiar weight reassured her.
“Well,” she said, forcing a smirk to reassure the others, “Choe must have a terrible sense of direction." Her tough exterior cracks momentarilly, and she can't help but ask; "We're at the Hanging Tree? Was there a change of plan?"
She turned to Kiko, nudging the mat with her boot. “I vote we head back now. If Choe wanted us to wait, he should’ve left a note.”
She swings her satchel over her shoulders and brushes her fingers against the necklace at her throat—a habit.
Usagi scans the woods "We would have noticed being brought somewhere else, I think, and being put in different mats..." the outsider frowns deeply. "Unless they drugged us, three young women..." she does not seem to like that train of thought.
"I agree with not waiting" she says quickly, her hands curling around her hilts, but she tries to sigh deeply to expel some of her dread and anger. She manages a smile at the other two, not the nicest of smiles though "We'll get answers, we will."
Sliding her swords back in, she gathers her stuff, setting the wooden red mask on the top of her head. "Let's go"
You follow the game path back towards town, away from the Hanging Tree whose branches rustle eerily as you depart. The woods near Willowshore are usually relatively safe, but it is never wise to make assumptions and that caution is rewarded as (perhaps half an hour after leaving the Hanging Tree) words come whispering from the trees.
"Eat... flesh... bones... eyes"
Two bright orange creatures scuttle out of the undergrowth and, worse still, the hissing words come with them!
"Giant talking bugs?" there is a flat questioning tone of disbelief in her tone that does not stop her from drawing her swords "Maybe Choe did drug us..." as she talks her eyes do not leave the nearest orange bug, marking its movements, trying to work out where to strike. All while her shifted her armored body between the creatures and her companions.
The centipedes scuttle forwards, keen to take advantage of the meal presenting itself to them. One latches onto Usagi's calf and tears, causing a spray of crimson blood across the forest floor and its own orange chitin.
"I swear I'll get armor on my legs someday!" the young woman hisses in pain. She concentrates on that pain, pushing it into her swords, that somehow get heavier in her hands, before she unleashes her blades on the creature she marked to die first.
"You'd have to turn into one of those insects for that!" Akira retorts as she swiftly sidles in to get a stronger position.
Kiko pulls an oversized crossbow from under her cloak and sets her sights on one of the chitinous attackers.
Usagi cuts both centipedes into pieces with a swift series of blows. A moment later Kiko lands a crossbow bolt in one of the detached heads with a nasty squelch.
As you continue down the path back towards Willowshore, things start becoming strange. Mist flows through the trees, making them loom threateningly and by the time you all emerge from the trees it's built up into an outright fog. Thankfully the looming sight of the Duyue River bridge provides you with a landmark to follow.
As Akira crosses the bridge she finds herself humming an old tune.
Lazy Aden took a break,
and did not light the lamp that day.
This proved to be a big mistake,
for then the ghosts come out to play.
Hazy mist and moon of blood,
all because he just gave up.
Usagi meanwhile notices strange shapes moving on the edge of her vision, shapes wavering in the mist. As the three young women approach the eastern gate something is definitely wrong. Kiko is the first to realise the issue - Ugly Cute, the spider statue that has stood in a small shrine at the eastern gate for as long as anyone can remember is missing. There are a number of large furrows in the ground around the plinth but the plinth itself seems undamaged and the shrine is undisturbed, although the (mundane) lantern that hangs over the shrine has gone out.
"Who would have taken Ugly Cute?" Kiko questions as they examine the vandalized shrine.
She looks around them at the thickening mists.
"This lamp is out. Is it possible the eternal lamp is also out?" she questions. "Would that explain everything going on?"
Usagi kneels, running her hand through the furrows "I know this does not make any sense, not a wit or a willow, but the tracks make it look like the statue... Walked away." she looks up at the others, eyes both wide with disbelief of her own words and wonder at the possibility.
She stands and listens to Kiko's question, but can only shrug "I have no idea, none, not even a sliver. We should try to find someone. Anyone."
Akira stands, frozen still, and stares for a moment, taking everything in around her, making mental note of everything they see.
"The eternal lantern is out." She announces as everyone is done with their own investigating, a shiver running down her spine. "I have a bad feeling we will not find anyone out here."
The story of what may have happened starts twisting in circles around her mind and eventually she can hold the thoughts in no longer.
"Ghosts were not convinced of our kidnapping.... They took the people as punishment for our foolery...There was a prophecy...." She trails off, deep in thought and totally distracted from meaningful action.
"A prophecy?" Kiko questions, turning to Akira. "What is the prophecy?"
"They took Everyone? But left us?" there is plenty of worry in Usagi's voice. She stands, brushes the dirt off her knees, and slides her sword out again. Holding it in her hand just makes her feel better at the moment.
Unwilling to wait any longer at the shrine without ideas of what is going on you press onwards. The eastern watchtower isn't much further along the path - a mile or so and you cover the distance in what must be record time.
It is still too late however. As you reach the watchtower the metallic tang of blood fills the air. Two of the town guard have fallen at their posts, as well as tiny blue-grey long eared humanoid bodies whose sharp teeth seem to have felled the guards and been felled by sword blows in turn.
If you search nearby
A few moments later and voice comes down from the tower.
"D-d-don't come any closer! I - I - I'll shoot!"
Your protestations of innocence don't help much and the woman's voice above rises in clear panic.
"If you're f-friends then tell me the Eight Practices! No monster can do that!"
Usagi was kneeling again, this time with her sword out, examining the bodies quickly. It isn't the first time she's seen a body, but it is still rather startling. "These... wounds don't match those teeth." she points at the punctures on their legs. "Probably snakes." she had no idea what the blue-gray people were though. "We should loo-" the woman's voice interrupts startling the ranger even more, though she does her best to not show it.
On order of proof, she admits "Never whistle at night and never lean against walls during the day are the only two I remember." two she got snapped at plenty about every summer. When she was in town at least.
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Kiko nods in agreement with Usagi's assessment of the bites. She's just about to begin a search for the threatening snakes when they're challenged from the tower.
"Uh ... Do not call a ghost a ghost," she begins shakily. Elizeth had drilled into her the practices early on to help her fit in to the village. She'd memorized them and put them into practice, but no one besides the priestess had ever asked her to recite them.
"Don't pat people on the head or shoulders," she continues. "Which shouldn't need to be said. That's like telling people not to pee in the well - it's stupid and self-evident. Stay out of the water when ghosts are around. Don't eat food with two sticks in it. Make sure the laundry is inside before nightfall." She ponders and then counts on her fingers. "Oh, and don't turn around if someone calls out your name at night."
"The two sticks one never made any sense to me." she comments after Kiko expressed the other one was stupid. "If a piece of meat was too heavy for a single spit when cooking, you could use three, but not two?" the outsider shook her head, clearing distracting herself from the strange horror of two dead bodies by commenting on the stupidity of one of the eight.
Akira turns to Usagi, completely distracted by the new thread of conversation. "But if meat has three sticks, doesn't it also have two sticks? That is what I have always wondered."
Realising that they have been momentarily distracted, she turns back towards the woman's voice. "Its Akira, Usagi and Kiko, released unceremoniously from our kidnapping. Where is everybody?" She asks.
"Akira?" The voice sounds a little less uncertain and there is the distinct sound of a crossbow string being released from tension. "I'll be down in a moment."
The woman, who you vaguely recognise as a guard named Hai-er Ha, clambers down the ladder a minute later, clattering somewhat in her lamellar coat. "Yes, yes, Uncle Choe and the crew carried you through here last night." She says. "They came back a little while later just as expected. I was on for the late shift with Ling and Bo. They were downstairs when the horrible blue monsters came out of the woods. They... they killed them but the sn-snakes bit them and I, I couldn't do anything to help them."
Her lip trembles and it's easy to see that Hai-er is genuinely upset and guilty about her fellow guards. Just not guilty enough to come down from the tower.
"There have been strange noises coming from town ever since." She admits, throwing a pensive glance over her shoulder. "Screams, roars... I want to go home and check on my daughter but with this strange fog... I asked Granny Hu to babysit but this is... my husband was supposed to be at the Matsuki estate last night. Hopefully he's safe there, it's the strongest building in town! If you have any loved ones you should check on them at once!"
The Matsuki estate is Shou's home, although he's generally known as Old Matsuki and is the 'leader' of Southbridge, much like Granny Hu on the other side of the river.
"Take these." Hai-er adds, fishing some items from her belt. "They might help you on your way."
"We need to go to the temple," Kiko insists. "Elizeth fūrén will know what to do."
"You're coming with us, no?" Usagi says with surprised doubt, given the woman seems reluctant. "Your daughter needs you." her parents are less than stellar, which made Usagi want other parents to be better.
Hai-er pauses, looking over her shoulder at the tower and then glancing longingly toward town.
"Yes... yes I should." She says slowly, nodding. "She does. My little Minika needs me! Let's go."
As they head off towards the temple, Akira loses her battle against her curiosity, and a few questions eventually burst out of her.
"Blue monsters? Do you mean....ghosts? What do you mean the snakes bit them? Why would these monsters attack them coming back into town after we were kidnapped? Wasn't it enough for them?"
Usagi is in the lead, both swords out, trying to look at every shadow in front of them as they walk, but looks back at the barrage of questions from Akira and adds one more "Did the snakes talk? We ran into giant talking centipedes coming back into town, so it isn't as insane as the question seems."
"It feels like something's angry," Kiko offers as, like Usagi, her eyes move from shadow to shadow as her hands clutch at her large crossbow. She considers reminding Akira of the first practice; 'Don't call a ghost a ghost', but she refrains. Akira probably knows the practices better than she does and that would be rude.
"The question is; Is it angry at something specific or just blindly lashing out?"
Hai-er starts down the road, before glancing over her shoulder at Akira.
"No, they were little fey things. I think. Definitely not a friend-from-beyond. And no, something is wrong. Something changed." She takes a few more paces and then stares at Usagi for a moment. "No. They didn't talk."
--------------------
As you approach Willowshore proper the fog thickens until its almost impossible to tell what time of day it is. It must be afternoon, maybe pushing towards evening. As you enter the town there's a distinct chill in the air and whispers seem to pervade the air from all directions. They're mostly indistinct but every now and again you catch words... whispers in the dark.
Hai-er turns a few times. "The estate is this way." She says. "I think."
You make it to the Matsuki estate without any issues, although strange howls and other noises echo from adjacent streets. The estate itself, hidden behind high walls, blazes with lit lanterns and activity. You are allowed inside without issue but the only place with even a remote level of calm is inside the banqueting hall where Old Matsuki is listening patiently to reports coming in from all sides. Hai-er slips away to throw herself into the arms of a man lingering near the door and the small commotion is enough to draw Old Matsuki's attention to you all.
"Greetings." He says with a gentle smile. "It seems the friends-from-beyond were not easily persuaded this year, but I am glad to see you all safe. Could you tell us what happened in the woods? Was anything unusual or strange?"
"Are you telling me you didn't know?" Akira starts, completely confounded by his unexpectedly calm reaction.
"Where exactly do you think you left us last night?"
"I am a little too old to be involved in that part of the festival." Old Matsuki replies, his trademark calm still intact. "I'm sure Choe arranged it all with you? But things have been very unsettled since them. Something has changed and very few people have been able to leave their homes. The reports I am getting are confused and we seem to have lost contact with Northridge. Apparently there are monsters on the Dawnstep Bridge. We need to make contact with Granny Hu and her people. She isn't my favourite person in this town but we all need to work together."
He pauses and then spreads his hands. "So, please, was anything unusual or strange out in the woods? Something has happened and everything we can learn would help."
A glint appears in Akira's eye for a moment and she launches into a description of their time in the woods.
"Well, it all started as we awoke dazed in a momentarilly unfamilar, and unexpected clearing where we all knew something was off. That feeling you get deep in your bones, it was as if someone looking out for us was tugging at our minds, giving us a clear warning of what was to come. We knew we had to head back immediately as if the fate of the town rested upon us, so we did everything we could to make haste back here. One our very challenging return journey, we were come upon by talking centipedes. Yes, you heard right...talking centipedes!. " Akira pauses for dramatic effect before continuing.
"We managed to defeat them whilst working together in perfect harmony and carried on rushing back to Willowshore where we found the lantern had been extinguished and the townspeople were in peril. And that landed us here."
Akira was a little disappointed she couldn't embellish the story as much as she would like, as she hadn't had enough time to think it through but it would have to do for now.
Usagi stayed near the door. As an outside she never particularly felt welcome by thelikes of Old Matsuki. So she stood guard in case things tried to come through, watching out from the banqueting hall. "Our spider statue is missing as well. The tracks made it seem like it walked off." she looks back in "I know how that sounds, but talking centipedes sounds just as bad, and they existed."
Old Matsuki frowns. "I had heard that Ugly Cute was gone. But walked away... this is beyond strange. Our guardian wouldn't leave us in a time like this without reason." He ponders for a few moments longer and then shakes his snowy head. "Still, there's nothing else we can do about that now. If the lantern is definitely out then our situation is worse than I feared. I need you three to cross the river and make contact with Granny Hu. I am sorry to send you back out again but the fact that you made it back shows me that you are some of the most capable people we have here right now."
"That isn't the only priority but I do think it is the most important one. If we can make contact with the Silvermist Lodge I'll have them track down Ugly Cute, but we need to actually find them first. Please keep your eyes open just in case you meet any. Now unfortunately Dawnstep Bridge is blocked - there's a lot of small blue fey and a more powerful creature called a 'buso'. It seems to be in charge but all it does is drink a lot, according to the reports I've heard. If only we could relight the Eternal Lantern things would be so much easier."
Old Matsuki's compliments certainly work on Akira, and she puffs up her chest ever so slightly as he points out their successes.
"Sounds like we need the Eternal Lantern lit and fast. We could always try that on the way to Granny Hu if that works. Or perhaps Granny Hu might give us some wisdom on this."
She nods, as if agreeing with herself. "Right, we have got this ladies! Let's head out."
Usagi looks around at the other people, frowning slightly that they (three young adults who have barely left the village in their lives) are the best options.
But Usagi also WANTS to know what is happening, cannot fathom staying huddled in this house waiting to be told, "Light the lantern, find Granny, find the statue" she shakes her head but there is a smile trying to hide on her lips.
This is scary as hell, but also exciting as can be.
Kiki's seems occupied as her eyes look over the assembled villagers. With no sign of Elizeth, she shakes her head in frustration.
"Yes, let's head out," she says in agreement.
As they're leaving, she considers the situation for a moment or two before speaking up.
"Would it be okay if we checked the cathedral?" she questions. "I'm really worried about Mother Candora."
"You'll need blessed coins to relight the lantern." Old Matsuki says gently. "There is a shrine to Kofusachi in the Trade Office on Northridge. You'll almost certainly find Granny Hu there as well. I suggest that's your best starting point. You'll need a boat to cross the river first."
That's easier said than done. Northridge is where most of Willowshore's fishing is based so boats on the south side are few and far between so the search takes some time. Even worse it is clear that some sort of monsters have been vandalising anything they can get their hands on - smashed signs and unpleasant graffiti are everywhere.
The ranger moved slowly, are trying to at least. She is anxious and worried, that is obvious. Her eyes track the shadows, rotating her stance as they pass every bits obscured, before attempting to continue on.
"This is exhausting" she whispered "I never worry this much in the forest alone, even when I was a little."
Clucking at herself, she carries on then looks at the boat she noticed "Oars of different length and missing boards. This will sink, I think."
"Then ... then how are we supposed to get across?" Kiko asks, frowning. "Do we try to make the other bridge?" She gestures vaguely in the direction she remembers the other bridge being. "I don't know anything about boats or fixing boats."
"Over there!" Akira calls with enthusiasm as she points at an apparent pile of rubble.
Heading over quickly, she starts moving planks of wood and splinters as she reveals a good sized boat beneath.
"They missed this one, must be fate." She says. "Come help me pull it out."
Akira takes to heaving the boat and suggests they take an extra oar for good measure as she points out; "You never know what lurks beneath the depths."
"Good eyes" Usagi gives a low whistle of appreciation for finding the hidden boat. "I admit I was trying to decide if we could scoop out the water faster than it would pour in on the other one." the ranger pulls the boat out with relative ease, then prepares row.
The words of the third practise "never enter a body of water while a ghost is nearby" ring in your ears but with the fate of Willowshore riding on your shoulders you drag the boat to the water and set off across the Ceiba River none-the-less.
It takes several minutes hard work and a near miss from the current but you make it to the northern side of the river without major incident. (The corpses that bump into the boat as you row are unpleasant but not unnatural.)
On the far side you arrive in the tangle of warehouses and small docks which mark Northridge's major industry. From the lights in the windows and the occasional sight of a head ducking out of the way suggests that people are holed up in the warehouses but knocking only receives yelled responses to "Go to the trade office!" Since that's where you were headed anyway, following the commands is no great imposition.
Once there, and having submitted to a rigorous examination to prove that you are in fact not ghosts or other specters, you are allowed into the exchange and find a grim faced woman bent over a map of Willowshore and moving Eight Paces pieces across it - presumably to represent something. With her is a tall woman with black hair and priestly vestments - Kim Gu-won, the local cleric of Kofusachi.
Granny Hu clucks her tongue when the three of you introduce yourselves. "Foolish children." She chides, but does so with a craggy smile, seemingly at least a little impressed. "Sit with me and explain what you've been up to."
By the time you're done, Granny's face has risen and fallen several times and she clicks her tongue slowly. "I don't like agreeing with Matsuki but, this time, he is right. I must add an additional task for you - Doctor Dami has refused to come to the trade office for shelter. I need you to go to the Hand of Spring and ensure that he is safe. On a more personal note..." She pauses and seems almost embarrassed. "Some of my grandchildren were out last night after the festival. A 'private party' as they called it. If you could check on them I would be grateful - it was at the Mushroom House."
She sags a little and Gu-won stpes forwards, "Come, I will take you to Kofusachi's shrine for a blessing."
For Kofusachi the skills are: religion, mercantile lore, performance.
Crit success: gain blessing, heal d8+8 HP and can cast guidance once in the next 24 hours. All further crit successes in next 24 hours are regular successes.
Success: the copper coin is blessed.
Fail: No blessing, can't use this shrine again for 24 hours.
Crit fail: stupified for 1 hour, can't use this shrine for 1 week.
Akira puffs up her chest as the small group enters the shrine room. With all these people depending on them it is time for her to shine!
Her prayer is colourful, full of dramatic pronouncements and exaggerated hand gestures. None-the-less, as she concludes, the copper coin on the shrine glows softly with what Akira proclaims as a blessing.
"One down, two more to go!" She exclaims. "Where next?"
"The Hand of Spring is on the way to the Mushroom House." Usagi suggests. She had been fidgety as Akira worked on relighting the lantern. "Two ravens with one arrow. Maybe a third if we find something to help with the monsters on the bridge."
Akira nods, emboldened by their success. "Lead the way Usagi!"
And off they go, three young adults out in the perilous death trap their town has become, while the actual adults/responsible parties huddle in their homes.
And off they go, three young adults out in the perilous death trap their town has become, while the actual adults/responsible parties huddle in their homes.
It seems like the beginning of a mighty tale (and no doubt it will become one one day) but the reality is far more mundane. With night looming and the sky darkening to a dangerous red hue the mist that has shrouded the town all day begins to thin although it is still difficult to recognise landmarks, even ones familiar from childhood.
Eventually you make it to the Hand of Spring and even through the mist it is clear that many of the windows have been boarded up, converting the place into a temporary and very make-shift fortress. The precautions may have been in vain though since, when you circle the building and start climbing the steps on the eastern side that lead into the building proper, the sounds of battle reach your ears.
In the main courtyard is a ghostly lizard creature which is being assailed by three huge centipedes moaning broken words "Hungry... kill... blood..."
Usagi hesitates "We know the centipedes are horrible, but do we attack the lizard as well?" she seems generally worried as she clutches her swords.