Witchery could not save her forever. The Eternal Emperor's will would not be thwarted. Dawei fired again.
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Dawei released two arrows in quick succession. All the Stag Lord's traitors would fall.
"The Eternal Emperor sends his infinite bounty, not one champion. We are all your death," Dawei said. He made a silent prayer and fired two arrows in quick succession.
Dawei felt a moment of envy for the righteous dead, gone to march in the Eternal Emperor's armies, but the rites due them must wait. Dawei surveyed his men for injuries that might slow them, then led them on down the river for the Waterfall Pass and the fort there. They would not take it with arrows alone, but once they slew the guards they could steal in close and scale the wall. He had trained his men for this. They would not fail.
Dawei arranged and inspected his men repeatedly in the days leading up to the assault, ensuring that each knew his duty and the path of tenfold miseries the befell all cowards in righteous battle. He instructed them that they must strike first at any leaders they saw among the enemy, for in laying low the higher traitors they would impress the Mandate of the Eternal Emperor, May He Reign Forever, upon the rest. They should submit, trembling and begging punishment, or die screaming. When the time came, Dawei led from the front. He arrayed his men not in an august panoply, as befitting a worthy foe, but as hunters for vermin. They skulked along the river toward their target, drawing to within an easy bowshot. With silent gestures, he bid his men draw aim upon the spearman. Seeing that tended, he took his own aim. With all in readiness, he prayed soundlessly to the Eternal Emperor, Death to His Enemies, and spoke his order, "Loose!"
I'm cool with it.
Dawei is just concerned about losing what they've already gained. He's not against the attack itself.
By dawn, Hayashi gathered a council of his allies "We cannot let this stand. The sooner we wait, the more often they can target our farms and starve us out. We must harry them, or (if we dare), assault their stronghold." "To leave what we have done would make it easy for our enemies to ruin, breaking faith with King Huang, may He live forever. We may sacrifice our lives in an attack and die nobly, but not at the cost of His glorious design."
Dawei mastered himself thoroughly. Only that kept him from leaping to slay those who would mislead the Eternal Emperor. He had not purified himself, avoiding all unclean things for seven days, and spent the last in absolute silence, in order to tolerate such blasphemies. It was not for him to decide how they must be answered. It was only his to make the correct three kneelings and nine kowtows. His betters would speak, lest he profane the Eternal Emperor's presence with his low breath.
Dawei made the correct kowtows and conducted himself in every way as he had been taught. He considered seeking out a temple, but memories of home kept him away. After due consideration, he raised his idea with the others. "We are but few in Shenmen. It would be meet for us to have others, trained in war and of sure faith, who might keep what we have gained while we serve the Eternal Emperor's design. As we wait on He For Whom the Dragons Bow's pleasure, may he live forever, we should seek those who would heed the call of duty with us."
Dawei considered the summons gravely, "It is not well for us to tarry. We must delay only so long as absolutely necessary to ensure our work in his name remains before attending the Eternal Emperor. Even that may take us from the righteous path, but only he may see clearly enough to know."
I claimed the +1 bowstring for Dawei. Also looks like I forgot to update his hp last time around. Whoops. Anyway, ought to be 4th level now. Still inquisiting, as no one expected.
Dawei is fine with whatever the group decides. He's happy to be a subordinate.
These miners have nineteenth century problems. Could we maybe do a change of base to here while we train the villagers up? It's at least a stopgap until we get reinforcements and the trading post is at least a little fortified. It can probably survive our inattention a bit better than these miners.
Dawei looked at Yaoren's corpse and quickly ensured she did not merely pretend her death. "The Eternal Emperor now sits in judgment over her," he said with satisfaction.
"The Eternal Emperor's eye is upon you. You face the Path of Ten Thousand Screams," Dawei said as he fired again.
"Yokai trickery," Dawei cursed, firing again on the Yaorens.
At last, the yokai could face the Eternal Emperor's justice! Dawei ignored the the spiders to fire on Yaoren.
Dawei silently fumed, barely controlling his urge to strike the blasphemous witch. Only the strength of his oaths kept him from violence.
Seeing the man's eyes, Dawei too suspected foul play and looked for ambush.
Dawei observed Gao's training at some length, pleased with all he saw. "It is good that they accept discipline. With time, they forget how they once thought and accept that the live only to serve the Eternal Emperor, May We All Bow to His Will."
Dawei would meditate upon what his he had committed later and set for himself a righteous penance. But he had no time for such things in the throes of battle. He persisted with his same target, the man in the tree.
Dawei continued firing on the man up the tree, not wishing to disrupt what must be going on with the bandit leader.
Seeing the woman in hand for the moment, Dawei turned to her servants.
Bolstered by Jade Moon's song, Dawei continued to fire on the traitors' leader.
Dawei prayed, almost silently, "Eternal Emperor, this man is a traitor to Heaven. Guide my hand."
Though Dawei's chain shirt nearly betrayed him, he stilled it in time to avoid discovery.
Dawei changes +4 hp
+Solo Tactics
Dawei turned in place and fired on the last spider.
Actually, these are supposed to be level appropriate. So I think you guys are gelling well. I might up the difficulty a bit because you ARE encountering these guys at full strength. I'll do a test run to see how things go. Be unhinged, like some desperate, howling demon. Frighten us. And do it again.
Dawei took no time to question the spiders' arrival. They were here and his skills were needed. He drew and loosed an arrow at the spider nearest Jade Moon.
"You are in Bai Cheng's outpost. We broke the spider seal upon you. Go now and rest, and we shall speak tomorrow.". "And while you rest, pray and give thanks to the Eternal Emperor for your deliverance," Dawei said.
"Speaking of protection I'd like to start training any who are willing to learn the sword. I'd even like to train the thieves we've captured as long as we put someone in command of them we can trust I feel they could be a great asset. They'd have nothing to lose and much to gain in honor and repaying of the debts they owe this land and its people. Maybe Hayashi and Dawei could assist." Jian Xi says rising from his confused thoughts finally. "I will train them as I was trained, with unflinching discipline," Dawei said. "Then their faith will not be in doubt."
In Lingshen, a fire breathing lion appeared and sat on King Huang's throne. The courier said that it was a fierce creature and snapped and swiped at the King's retainers and courtiers that approached the throne to remove the suanni. It spat fire at his seven children, and roared even louder. They say its claws dug deep furrows into the king's throne! Then, when King Huang appeared in his armor to slay the beast, the lion dragon roared and filled the room with smoke that smelled of imperial incense! King Huang sheathed his sword and the suanni leaped at him! It burst into smoke and flame and when the smoke cleared, the Imperial seal of Lung Wa was burned onto his breastplate in jade, gold, and red. "The Heavens have spoken with one voice," Dawei said. "The Eternal Emperor rules from Xiwu. All will bow to him or know that his wrath is Heaven's wrath and cannot be denied."
We have the stuff to try fixing the ninjas right now. Would be cruel to make them wait. Dawei is very interested in purifying the shrine, but don't we'd need to know how to break the curse (I think) so it's not something we could get to immediately. Even if he'd love to. He's also interested in fully exploring a hex or two radius around our post to be sure we don't have enemies almost on top of us.
"It would be good to bind them to our will, so that they know it and their own are one. So must all serve the Eternal Emperor. But so long as we lack that skill, they stand traitors to Heaven. Should their death screams guide us to mastery, then they may earn themselves less torment. To use them so would be only kindness," Dawei said.
"If I may have a moment, my companions, I would speak to you of something regarding our captives. I have spoken with Gao, who left Po Li because of the corruption and follows the Eternal Emperor. I believe him to honestly seek redemption, and so I believe that allowing those who honestly forswear banditry to serve the trading post for a year and a day as punishment for their past crimes. They are then free to do as they will, provided they do not return to banditry. What say you ?" "I would not turn aside one who walks my own path," Dawei said. "But I will watch his deeds to see the pureness of his heart.
"We have many enemies," Dawei said. "There may be more still. We should survey the land about this place to discover them and be sure they do not lurk close, like a serpent in the tall grass."
Tired, wet, and still in pain, Baolin grimaces tightly. "We should leave this place for now until we can examine it with the blessings of the gods." He is angry at himself for letting Jia Hua escape. They have lost nothing and gained much, but he still feels as if victory has evaded him. "We should return to the trading post immediately with our prisoners. Dawei, as we return, will you draw a map for us to return here later?" Dawei nodded and then turned back to the shrine. He fell to his knees and touched his forehead to the stone thrice, before rising and then doing the same again twice. When his head touched the stone for the ninth time he held it there for a long, prayerful moment. He then rose and turned away. "This place will be sacred again."
"The trail is gone," Dawei said, frowning.
"I don't believe that Jia Hua destroyed the shrines. The omens are clear. The Eternal Emperor is the one who destroyed the shrines. I cannot tell what was the offense that caused it, but I know that the offense must be rectified before the curse will be lifted. We must consult a man of the gods for advice here. This is a dark place," Baolin says with a grim countenance. "Dawei, can you track him? Surely the gods would not bring us so close to him only to let him slip from our grasp." Dawei nodded and gripped his bow firmly as he began to look for tracks.
Dawei looked grimly on the defiled shrine. Those who did such a thing deserved the attentions of ten thousand hells. Their screams should shake the earth and their tears fill rivers.
Dawei saw that the prisoners were in hand, nocked an arrow, and started up the steps.
Dawei nocked another arrow and loosed without speaking, focused upon his task and thinking prayerfully of the Eternal Emperor.
Dawei wheeled and loosed an arrow at the bandit nearest Hu Baolin.
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