Thanks guys. I'll try to get the chronicles done soon. My classes have started up again (I teach night classes in addition to my day job) so I'm a little more pressed for time. It might not be till this weekend.
Search Posts
Minasako's head and organs drop to the floor with a sickening plop. A moment later, the shell of her body collapses and falls over. It is clear that there is no more danger here. You take a few moments to search through her papers. The ledgers on the desk contain a roster of many members of the Way of the Kirin from the previous century, not just from Minkai, but all across Tian Xia. Also, you find her journal in which she chronicles her quest for immortality, her betrayal of the tenets that she held so dear as a member of the Way of the Kirin, and how her atrocities tainted Hinojai with the stain of undeath. When you are done examing her quarters, you proceed to the one remaining corner of Hinojai that has not yet been explored. Off of the kitchen, in the larder, you discover a ill-concealed trap door in the floor. A ladder descends to a dark basement. It is a simple passage with rough earthen walls and wooden supports. A heavy wooden door at the southern end is the only hinged door in Hinojai. The door is locked but is is a simple matter to break it open to reveal a large room. The manacles and fetters set in the western wall leave little doubt as to the room's purpose. Ancient rusty-brown stains coat the walls and floor where prisoners once hung in chains. In the northeast corner, a small table is covered with torture instruments and a small stack of books. In the opposite corner of the room sits a very large barrel next to a stool with a hammer resting on it. The lid has been removed and the barrel is empty. As you search the room, a couple of you notice the empty barrel silently filling with ectoplasmic wine. Then, without warning, an aqueous orb, made of wine, encompasses Aylanna. Everyone watches in horror as Aylanna floats in the orb, as in a daze. In Aylanna's mind she see's herself walking to the barrel where two ghostly soldiers grab her by the arms and shove her, face first in the barrel. The soldiers push on her and stuff her, upside down, into the barrel. Then they grab the lid and nail it shut over her. To-to quickly responds to the unholy scene and disappates the haunt. As the aqueaous orb disolves into a muddy mess on the ground, Aylanna comes to. Then, against the far wall, a spectral woman appears for an instant. She raises a large chalice to her face in both hands and chokes down wine until it runs down her chin and robe, before the phantoms vanish altogether. All is quiet again. After a short look around in the torture chamber, you have decided that there is nothing else to see here in Hinojai. You return to town. It takes a week or so for transporation to be arranged for you to head back to Absalom. In that time, the news of the dehaunting of Hinojai spreads through-out town. Numerous strangers approach you with gratitude. -- end --
Kiyoko shudders as the entrails encircling her squeeze into her skin.
But then, Kiyoko responds with a devastating attack. Minasako utters one last scream then collapses in a bloody mess. The lower part of her body also collapses. Kiyago, yelps and quickly ducks through the door and races away. The room falls silent.
GM screen:
Minasako (1/70) [29 dmg from Kyikoko, +17 temp hp from vampiric touch, 12 from Ki Chin, 5 from channel from To-to, 14 dmg from Burst of Radiance, 5 from channel from To-to, 14 from Burst of Radiance, 7 from Ki Chin] -- protection from good Kiyaga (25/35) [5 from channel from To-to, 5 from channel from To-to] DC 20 fort save from Kiyoko. On fail it is 1d4 CHR and 1d4 DEX dmg. Minasako howls in frustration as she sees her easy prey turning out to be too much for her to handle. "I hate all of you mortals. What right do you have to live?" She hisses and snarls. Clearly in pain, she looks frantically at the enemies within reach. She lashes out at Kiyoko and slams her entrails around her. The entrails then twist and squirm around Kiyoko's neck and shoulders, grabbing and entangling her. Kiyoko feels a small amount of her life force leave her body.
GM screen:
Minasako (22/70) [29 dmg from Kyikoko, +17 temp hp from vampiric touch, 12 from Ki Chin, 5 from channel from To-to, 14 dmg from Burst of Radiance, 5 from channel from To-to] -- protection from good
Minasako screams as a wave of holy energy washes over her. It's not clear if it is from frustration or pain. She glares at To-to. "You filthy little bird. I think you've earned my attention. Is that what you were trying to do? Well, you've succeeded."
Minasako laughs as Kiyoko's slashes fail to hit her. "So pathetic," she sneers.
GM Screen:
Minasako (27/70) [29 dmg from Kyikoko, +17 temp hp from vampiric touch, 12 from Ki Chin, 5 from channel from To-to, 14 dmg from Burst of Radiance] -- protection from good
Minasako easily avoids Ki Chin's slashes. She then floats a step backwards and away from the others. She reads from the scroll that she had grabbed earlier then moves even further away. Kiyaga remains floating above the door.
GM screen:
Minasako (27/70) [29 dmg from Kyikoko, +17 temp hp from vampiric touch, 12 from Ki Chin, 5 from channel from To-to, 14 dmg from Burst of Radiance]
Minasako's next action will be to read the scroll of protection from good. Need to figure out how to deliver touch spells with a familiar. Minasako cringes when the blinding light bursts all around her. Once the intense light fades, she doesn't seem to remain affected by it. She is bleeding from many wounds and the once flawless skin on her face is covered with blisters from the burns she's received.
GM screen:
Minasako (41/70) [29 dmg from Kyikoko, +17 temp hp from vampiric touch, 12 from Ki Chin, 5 from channel from To-to]
Minasako winces as the wave of holy energy washes over her. She is able to resist some of the damage but not all of it. Kiyaga shudders in response to the energy.
Minasako's grin fades for a moment when she sees that her magic had little effect on Kiyoko. GM screen:
Minasako (46/70) [29 dmg from Kyikoko, +17 temp hp from vampiric touch, 12 from Ki Chin]
Kiyoko's lightening quick strike catches Minasako off guard and slashes her deeply. But, at the instant that Kiyoko's blad sinks into the monster's flesh, a cold and stinging sensation shoots up through the blade an into her arm. A second later Kiyoko feels a sickening tug as the chill recedes, pulling a part of her life force with it.
Minasako hisses and floats back a step and fixes her gaze on Kiyoko. "I see that you're the one I'm going to have to focus on first." A strand of her intestines floats through the air and takes a scroll from the belt on her body. At the same time, Minasako encants a few magic words directed at Kiyoko.
GM screen:
Minasako (58/70) [29 dmg from Kyikoko, +17 temp hp from vampiric touch]
Having completed the act of separating her head from her body, it is clear that Minasako is tired of conversation. Everyone senses that she is about to attack.
Minasako sighs and rolls her eyes. "Well aren't you a clever little bird." She places both her hands under her chin on either side of her face then she starts pushing upwards. With a disgusting squelching sound her head starts to slide up. A gap opens up where her neck was attached to her body and she continues pressing up. As her head rises, a dangling mass of her internal organs hangs from the neck stem. A moment later she drops her arms and her disembodied head and organs float away from the empty shell of her body that still stands in the middle of the room. She gazes mockingly at the group. "Don't presume to judge me. Countless others have done worse to secure their immortality. How many murders buy a single vial of sun orchid elixir? Or do you seek the Way of the Kirin?" She chuckles throatily as she looks pointedly at the ledgers on the desk. "You’ll never find it! It’s deader than I am!"
The lady smiles enigmatically and takes a few steps away. "Oh. I've been watching you for a while. Curious, more than anything else. I'm Minasako Himiju. My other guest? You must mean Dagagal. He's a wretch, isn't he. Why do I put up with him, I don't know." She leans so that she can see through the doorway. "And your shy comrade? Why hasn't she come in to say 'hello'." GM screen:
To-to: Some small movement behind you catches your eye. You take a quick and surreptitious glance over your should to discover a head floating above the door that you just came in. It seems to be watching Minisako and probably didn't notice your glance.
To Ki Chin's senses, the incense seems like nothing out of the ordinary. Maybe it is a little heavier than normal. After a few more sniffs he detects an underlying smell of vinegar and corruption. And suddenly recognizes that he has been smelling the offensive odors since entering the house. It is even stronger here though. No doubt, the occupant of this room was using the incense to mask the scent. Kiyoko opens the northern door. This spacious bedroom is finely appointed, with luxurious futon in the southeastern corner. Alongside it sits a writing desk with several ledgers and record books on top of it. To the northwest sits an enormous bathtub, almost the size of a vat. The furnishings in the room are intact and of good quality, but the scent of vinegar is almost overpowering Standing in the middle of the room, facing the door, is a lithe Minkaian woman with an ageless face. She tilts her slightly and smiles. It is not a pleasant look. "I see you have finally arrived. I do enjoy when guests come to stay." She gestures towards the empty room. "Please. Enter."
Kiyoko opens the door to reveal a spacious room that appears to be almost too large for the one who lives here. A small and rumpled futon sits in the corner, next to a low table covered dirty cups and plates. Books are casually strewn about the floor, and the entire room reeks of incense. The room is empty.
Bookshelves line the walls of this room, packed with any number of volumes, scrolls, and folios. In the center of the room and resting on a large colorful rug is a table covered with maps, papers, and writing implements. This area immediately gives the impression of being in regular use. The maps depict the division of territories and nations prior to the fall of the Lung Wa empire. The papers are examples of recent attempts to practice calligraphy, as indicated by the relative freshness of the parchment and inks. Finally, the books cover a range of different topics from art and philosophy, to economics and military strategy. In addition to the door to the west, there are doors leading north and east.
The second skeleton clatters to the ground as Kiyoko's sword slashes into it. The group is quiet for a moment, waiting to see if any other enemies suddenly appear. After a few seconds it's apparent that the battle is over. Mixed in with the skeleton bones is some magical armor, a couple light steel shields, and a couple well made katanas.
GM screen:
Red hp: 2/41
Blue hp: 0/41
The skeleton starts to raise its katana for another strike when a burst of impossibly bright light erupts behind it. The light buffets it, nearly turning into a scattered pile of bones, but the skeleton hangs on. The light blinds it but it still tries to strike out at Ki Chin with two swings. It flails wildly in the air with the first stroke but connects on the second. The skeleton is barely staying together.
GM screen:
Red hp: 15/41 -7 Aylanna's channel -7 To-to's channel -12 Ki Chin's attack Blue hp: 0/41
The skeleton barely noticed Kiyoko's attack but reels with the barrage of magical energy from Ki Chin's blade.
GM Screen:
Red hp: 27/41 -7 Aylanna's channel -7 To-to's channel Blue hp: 0/41
As Ki Chin's sword swishes through the air, the skeleton, unhindered by tendon and muscle, twists it's body to an unnatural angle and avoids the strike. The skeleton hisses at Ki Chin and immediately attacks back.
GM Screen:
Red hp: 27/41
Blue hp: 0/41
Under another onslaught of positive energy, the skeleton near Kiyoko crumples into a pile of bones, armor, and weapons. The skeleton on the north side of the room shudders as the wave of energy washes over it but it continues standing.
Ki Chin is up.
Kiyoko's blade bites into the skeleton (blue). It seems to ignore some of the damage due to the katana's sharp blade. The skeleton looks much worse for wear but it is still standing. GM screen:
Red hp: 34/41 -7 Aylanna's channel Blue hp: 8/41
GM screen:
Red hp: 34/41
Blue hp: 34/41
Both skeleton's reel from wave of positive energy. However, they seem to have resisted some of the energy's damaging force.
Kiyoko, Ki Chin, and To-to are up.
The skeletons look from side to side, scanning the small room for enemies. The one from the southern door slashes at Kiyoko and the one from the north attacks Ki Chin.
Ki Chin enters the room to the accompaniment of more twittering and chirping. A moment later both the north and south doors into the room burst open. From each doorway comes a skeleton wielding a shiny katana in one bony hand and a light shield in the other.
Kiyoko takes gentle steps into the room, the floors begin to emit strange, bird-like twittering sounds.
Kiyoko slides the east door open to reveal a stark room. Closed sliding doors are set in all four walls. The wood paneled floor is bare, but on the walls hang paintings depicting life and romance in the court of some great empire.
At the last moment, To-to comes to his senses and he sees through the haunting illusion. As he steps off the balcony, realizing what he's doing, he thrusts himself backwards. He hits his back against the edge of the balcony floor and that's enough to slow his fall. He twists and reaches out with his hands on the floor to keep from sliding off the edge. Everyone hears the echoing giggle of a woman's voice and heavy footsteps. They last for only a few seconds then fade away.
GM roll:
Kiyoko, Ki Chin, and To-to make their way up the stairs onto a balcony that overlooks the atrium and stone garden below. Aylanna and Eltran bring up the rear but are still on the stairs when To-to goes stiff. His eyes take on a distant look. He moves slowly towards the center of the balcony, gently pushing Ki Chin and Kiyoko to the side.
The group leaves the secret alcove and makes their way back to the open atrium. Steps on the north and south sides of the atrium lead up to a balcony that overhangs the atrium on the east side. As the party ascends the steps they start to feel an oppressive air. Something doesn't feel right.
After spending a few minutes looking through the book, Aylanna decides that maybe it isn't all that interesting afterall.
Aylana is drawn to some of the a book of military history. She thumbs through it and a few pages seem to be particularly interesting.
Kiyoko opens the first chest and is immediately inundated with a moldy, must smell. The chest contains several neatly folded sets of clothing -- some with a military bearing and some rather plain and mundane. At the bottom of the chest are several pairs of well used sandals. The second chest is much like the first while the third chest contains personal affects such as rusted razors, hair brushes, handheld mirrors, and dried out containers of hair wax. It's clear that this room was used as a hideout. But the occupants have been long gone. On the desk and bookshelf there are quite a few documents related to the Way of Kirin.
The door swings open and reveals piles of bedding and storage chests filling the room, as well as a low table and several cushions, and a writing desk with a shelf of books above it. The room hasn’t seen use in many years but otherwise appears to be in good repair.
In a moment, Kiyoko finds a hidden latch that she is sure will open the secret door. It doesn't appear to be locked.
Almost as soon as he enters the room, To-to notices something strange about the west wall. His eyes focus on the chipped and curling lacquer. A moment later he perceives a barely visible vertical line. Following the line upwards, with his eyes, he sees that it makes a ninety degree turn and becomes horizontal. It's a hidden door!
Kiyoko quickly makes her way around the house and back to the large open garden. She skips up the short flight of stairs to the lower raised walkway on the north side. She pauses for a second then pushes open the door. At the same time, Ki Chin opens the door to the west of where he and the rest of the group are. Both doors open to the same room. The room is a moderately sized square room with a window offering an expansive view to the north. A few piles of rotted bedding and a empty storage chests, but no objects of significant interest value. Ancient bloodstains mar the floor and the smell in this room is rank and foul, but has faded over time.
Kiyoko opens the door. Paper, brushes, and dried ink stains cover a monk’s writing desk; all are covered in a thin layer of dust. A chest containing
A quick glance of the room shows that the only exits are through the doors to the west, neither of which are open, or the door from the bathing room. The north side is entirely open and provides an expansive view of the countryside. Ki Chin steps up to the telescope and peers through it. He sees nothing extraordinary.
Kiyoko doesn't sense the creature either.
The area is quiet and eventually the ice and snow melt. Water runs across the floor and over the edge.
Neither of Aylanna, Ki Chin, nor To-to are able to locate the creature.
Kiyoko's blade slashes through empty air and Aylanna's blast doesn't seem to hit anything. Nothing else happens.
Round 6
To-to is unable to locate the invisible foe.
|