Zhi Hui bows shortly to Kazuki "You would have made a wonderful disciple"
"I know you already know what to do about Xin Yue - I regret to share with you that she was once one of my brightest students, and that I failed to see how my own death would affect my followers. No one was ready to take my place. She soon became corrupted by Kugaptee, and even now toils below in his grave to see the fiend’s soul reborn. They are the ones who have been desecrating the statues scattered throughout the monastery to amplify Kugaptee’s influence. I expect that you have diminished her power along with his with your work resanctifying”
She waves her hand, as like swatting a pest, to change the subject “But after that is done, I bid that you seek out your governor, Heh Shan-Bao. I know not where he is, but, I do know that he is now trapped somewhere within this mindscape he too had a hand in creating"the party remembers that she spoke of this earlier"I fear the fate of all of Willowshore lies within your capable hands"
With that, she casts Heroism (Rank 3) upon Kazuki and Vekka. And the two of them feel their minds filled with the teachings of Sangpotshi!
If either / both of Kazuki and Vekka immediatley and permanently convert to this Faith / Philosophy, they will see the Rank of their Heroism spells raised to 6!
"Whether we live or die, Willowshore's safety is paramount." Sigurd puts a hand on his chest where Zoudou's dagger bore into him, reaching at his heart. Perhaps that's how he failed during a previous cycle. A vision of a grim reminder of what's at stake.
Zhi Hui nods in agreement. And pauses in thought before speaking.
Sigurd Kolphan, Season of Ghost wrote:
"If we drive Kugatpee's minion from this monastery, would you be able to restore it to its full strength? I assume we will be too occupied to tend to the monastery. And reaching here would be difficult for anyone else." He closes his eyes and silently prays to Yeri. "How long can we maintain peace in this grove without it falling into ruin?"
"Yes, unless...""...I suppose it's hard to say. I've been here long enough to remember first coming, drawn by the peace of the sugis. This grove filled me with such a sense of awe - all the spiritual energy concentrated here - that it was bittersweet to discover the sinister secret: that below, a fiend of such potent, ancient evil, was part of the energetic dynamism the spurned that very beauty in the first plave. You see, I had dedicated my life to just that: protecting the villagers of my village from the demigod nindoru entombed beneath my monastery"
Indeed, Zhi Hui founded both Willowshore and the Tan Sugi Monastery!
"And so, as this is the furthest a Cycle has even come to vanquishing the Curse, I urge you forward with hope. Because if you fail, I fear that instead of repeating, we all may just... move on. And if Kugaptee has his way, you won't want to arrive to where he intends"
She let's the gravity of that statement take grip. Then almost speaks angrily:
"The nindoru are the sworn enemy of Sangpotshi - for they intend to bring an end to reincarnation, to the natural order" she turns to Auntie Wu "We look upon them as you look upon the walking dead" referencing the latter's worship of Pharasma.
Nindoru (Additional Context):
When an evil mortal soul that has been reincarnated multiple times is wrenched from the cycle of souls and corrupted, it can undergo a horrific transformation into a fiend known as a nindoru. A force for entropy and the breaking of cycles, nindorus are hideous creatures whose bodies often appear distorted, who wield weapons that have been shattered yet still function, and whose true face is often hidden from view. They display traits one might expect to see in an undead creature, such as decaying flesh or exposed bones, yet a nindoru is very much still alive.
Each nindoru epitomizes the fracture of a specific cycle, be it one from the natural world or from societal traditions. To the nindoru, nothing is more delicious than the consumption of a creature who has reincarnated multiple times, with those who are theoretically about to ascend to true enlightenment presenting the tastiest meal. Those slain by a nindoru are themselves torn from the cycle—the lucky ones move on to the Boneyard for judgment, but many are instead corrupted to form more of these horrific fiends.
Followers of Sangpotshi find nindoru to be particularly abhorrent and count them among the greatest threats imaginable. Most commonly found in regions of the world where the reincarnation cycle is strongest, nindorus are, like rakshasas and oni, associated most strongly with the Material Plane.
Zhi Hui considers Auntie Wu's questions "I do not know for sure. But I suspect that we are trapped between life and death"
A beat.
"While I cannot say how many years we’ve repeated this cycle, I do know that something has changed this time — whether due to Kugaptee’s growing strength or other outside forces. What is important is that you have been given the chance to change our fates, and you must not waste this opportunity if you wish to free us all. To stop the cycle, you must uncover the truth of what happened, and that begins with ending Kugaptee’s influence over this mindscape.”
Another.
"Not since I have been overseeing the protection of the grove have a seen a 'run' of the cycle play out so differently. This is the first time we have met. I do not possess perfect memory, but I do know that: I feel it."
"I have been trapped for a long time, despite this momentary respite" she moves her arms around, as if feeling them with greater strength "But I do feel a strong presence here, even if I haven't met her" she examines the area "Whoever she is, she seems bound to this place, yes. Perhaps another lost soul"
Are there no more questions?
"I can send you with a blessing, but you must move quick: already, I feel my spirit slipping back..."
She offers to cast Heroism (Rank 6) on one person in the party (after QnA concludes)!
..."I am glad Yen Rui was able to help you. I feel... stronger now. I believe I can remain a little longer. Tell me, with the statues out of the way, what is your plan?"
Can ask and Answer any number of Questions at this time!
"I do not know what happens if the Curse is Broken"
A ripple of energy reaches out for the monk, but she dodges with a sideways somersault.
“If anyone does, it would be Heh Shan-Bao, your Governor. He caused of all this, but he is now trapped within his own mindscape. Once Kugaptee’s influence has been diminished, there will be trails to follow and clues to seek that will surely lead you to where your governor has gone. Find Heh Shan-Bao and you will get closer to understanding what is happening now and how to escape from this cycle of malice.”
A second ripple snags Zhi Hui, and just as she is pulled back, faintly she reminds:
Lead by Auntie Wu, who is nearly overcome, the party carry the purufication through, and Zui Hui emerges again!
..."It's working..." she ghost flickers back into alignment "I can answer another question, I think..." she assumes a meditative pose, as if to gird the temporary lapse in wards "Seek the hidden library... my friend, Yen Rui, can help...”
"The Tree and Willowshore are Bound to the same Terrible Fate - only through healing Willowshore's Curse can you truly heal the Tree"
She places one of her ghostly hands upon the tree - it's wound still bleeding a purpley-black sap.
“This monastery was built in this sacred grove of trees, but unknown to me at the time, the Great Tan Sugi seals away a powerful and evil fiend named Kugaptee. It is this fiend’s influence that has caused the tragedy unfolding now. It is no mere 'curse' that traps you and Willowshore: Time itself has been stolen from you."
She let's that statement, which should come as a surprise, wash over your perceptions. Then elaborates further, her form gently beginning to flicker "in" and "out" of phase.
"We are all trapped in a cycling mindscape that repeats every year, beginning on the first day of summer and ending on the last day of spring. Each time the cycle repeats, your memories have been reset. I retain my memories, but I know not how often the cycle has repeated, and until now have not been able to see further than Kugaptee’s darkness. But I know who started it, your go..."
Auntie Wu's words, with Sigurd's and Lan's (and the others') help sends a pulse across the room, reducing the spiritual interference to a mere silence.
But only for a moment!
Expunging forth now, a Ghost!
She emerges from the statue, a forlorn and despondent figure whose expression softens to relief and gratitude as she gazes upon the party. She addresses the PCs in a soft, ephemeral voice. “Thank you for this kindness. It has been so long since I’ve been able to see beyond the engulfing darkness, but it still pulls at me. I will not be able to remain for long, but I can remain long enough to answer a question you may have for me. Know that there are other statues. Cleanse them and I can aid you further.”
