as told by the cavalier Olmas Lurecia, himself.
Fireday, 29 Pharast
We turned our attention to the double doors at the north. Radella performed her usual inspection for locks and traps and found none. We had surprisingly little planning beforehand – surprising because we usually have a carefully orchestrated series of spells and buffs and a equally carefully choreographed entrance. We either getting better at this, or we are getting overconfident at this.
In this case, we were just better. There were, still, six Sisters of the Broken Path in the room to protect her royal Leastness and they should have had some inkling we were coming. Kali opened with some glitterdust that disoriented a third of them. But Radella, Ivan (via air), Zos, and I all rapidly opened some wounds on them. Dasi started singing and Qatana did that thing where she drives people batty. Some of the ninjas immediately obliged.
Someone called out to keep one alive and I tried, but Suishen isn’t used to simply injuring enemies of the Crown. In less than half a minute, five of the six were dead. Dasi tried to interview the remaining one – tried to gain her confidence even – but on the heels of a significant whupping by the party, she wasn’t having anything of it. Then to my surprise, Dasi gave her a sword and squared up opposite her. I thought he was going to embarrass her by taking the sword back in midstroke and singing at her or something, but apparently he has some sword skill himself. She was already near death, of course, but after trading a couple of blows he got through clean and honest and laid her down.
Reminds me we still don’t know everything about Dasi.
There were doors leading out of this room, but we still had possible danger to the south, so we turned there first. But it turned out the only danger there was that some of our magic users would drool too much and dehydrate themselves. It was a library with not just reference books but contributions from the Oni who’d lived there – and also the one who remained. A journal of sorts started out nice and neat, and it noted when the Oni left, but having left Munasukaru behind, there was only one possible scribe after that. The handwriting seemed to deteriorate with the state of her mind, and the last entries were barely legible scrawls.
There was also a jade plaque [613] commemorating the day when 99% of the Oni left.
After a half hour of library time, we returned to the north. We anticipated meeting Munasukaru this time, so we did buff a little. I asked Suishen for protection from cold, and we entered.
Munasukaru was poised over a bound figure – an arachnid similar to those we’d defeated several times before. But it seemed to be alive yet, and Munasukaru was flaying it and eating the flesh even while it was alive and moaning. For her part, Munasukaru cackled regularly.
Her first reaction was to drop the human form and fly into the air. My air walk was still functioning so I nodded at Kali and she teleported me right next to her and I nailed her with a swing from Suishen (much to her discomfort.) I swung twice more and hit, and saw that she was bleeding. Zos tried to dispel magic on her weapon and seemed to have succeeded; she gestured with it and then briefly looked at it, a bit confused, before continuing. Soon there was both izata and shadows fighting together – who could have seen THAT coming? – as Kali’s and Qatana’s summonings completed.
As with the six Sisters … the battle was over in under 30 seconds. Injuries were mild on our side. She had called out something about Anamoron as she died; it sounded like she felt one of the Oni who’d left was pretty stupid. Somebody told me later that there’d been more m’s in her scream (Anamuramoron I think) and she apparently had high thoughts of him. I’ll bet he told her he was leaving the next day and he might not see her again and then left her hanging. Or something; who knows how Oni work.
Suishen did tell me, after we’d killed her, that in the future I’d kill Oni easier. Apparently another secret of Suishen had been that he was Oni-bane. Can’t blame him given the history and all, but sure would have been nice to know earlier. He apparently finds me highly acceptable now (my words, not his).
From Munasukaru and the sisters, we retrieved
[614] a naginata – Dasi recognized this as the Thundering Blade of the House of Sujamoto
It is a +1 thundering naginata that once per day can produce the effect of
a Shout spell by striking it on the ground. It also imposes a -1 level loss if
you do not bear it with honor. This is another royal house weapon.
[615] 9 screaming bolts
[616] MW repeating crossbow
[617] do-maru of broken flesh +2 – heals 4d8 + 9 and various afflictions once per
day, but also creates scars that cost you CON
[618] crystal ball
[619] clear spindle ioun stone (sustenance)
[620] ring of protection +2
[621] MW nunchuks (6)
[622] amulets of natural armor +1 (6)
[623] bracers +2 (6)
This was clearly the room the Oni had left from – our clerics said it radiated magic. Around us, 20 golden figures in various expressions of agony indicated that the portal had likely been powered by torture and death. It appeared to be sealed now.
With her quest completed, the spirit inhabiting Kali left – but not before bestowing upon her the knowledge of how to wield and expertly use a naginata.
Ivan sent a brief note to Ameiko, letting her know we had cleared the house of oni. She replied the kami would leave immediately and be there as quickly as possible.
We had a quick discussion. Given where we were we probably weren’t 100% safe, but the most present dangers seem to have been removed. We discussed the various prisoners we’d discovered and freed that needed to be somewhere other than the middle of the forest. We returned to the library, looking for value this time and retrieved
[624] antique gold lions ~3500gp
[625] hinged silver bracelet w/emeralds & turquoise – probably 1000’s of gp
Some of the documents seemed to indicate that Anamoron was obsessed with creating 1/2 human progeny so he could insert them into human society. How worrisome – and I can’t imagine any part of that being consensual.
Zos used the flesh of our slain enemies – eeeyew – and some alchemical formula to create a treasure maps, to see if we’d missed anything. These maps took hours to produce but ultimately didn’t lead us to anything more valuable than what we’d already found.
We returned to the surface, collecting refugees along the way. The kami came quicker than I’d thought but then, this forest is their element I imagine.
We will set guards of course, but for the first time in a while, tonight our sleep may be both uninterrupted and quite restful.
Starday, 30 Pharast
The day seems brighter than I remember.
We returned to the magic clearing, and assessed all we’d found. We were running out of ways to carry all that we’d found. I wish Kali hadn’t made us sell the extra bag of holding. But the nearest town (Muliwan) is still pretty far away. Kali will likely be the teleport master, and given the refugees we want to resettle there, she will be the teleport master for several days. I’m looking forward to the rest here in the clearing so it doesn’t matter to – oh wait.
[…]
I just checked with Ameiko and she wants to go to town. Which means there goes my rest. I can only hope that one day will be sufficient for her; maybe I can relax on the other days. I made the mistake of mumbling out loud and that gave Suishen leave to provide his sage advice about my duties and responsibilities. So I said to him, “What you’re taking so long to say is, it’s my duty as bearer of the royal sword to accompany her and prevent harm from coming to her.”
“Absolutely!” he proclaimed imperiously.
“Her safety – and really, at this point – her anonymity, is paramount,” I added.
“Paramount!” he agreed.
“You think there would be unnecessary danger if we were recognized?” I asked.
“It would be foolish if you did not change your appearance in some way.”
“Who do you think is more likely to be recognized in Muliwan – you or me?”
Suishen faltered and paused.
“I believe we will need to disguise YOU even more extensively than I.”
If it were possible to convey suspicion without a face, Suishen managed it. “What exactly did you have in mind?”
Koya had some very original ideas about how to modify and disguise Suishen’s scabbard, as well as, of course, his visible hilt, all of which involved some brightly colored fabrics and decorations. At one point he suggested that an effort to hide him should involve a less flamboyant appearance, but I pointed out that attempts to hide him at the markets might draw attention to us as thieves or other kinds of troublemakers. Only if he appeared to be a brightly colored prop – hiding in plain sight, as it were – would Ameiko be safe. If I ever had to draw him, all of it would be for naught I imagine, but if I had to draw him I probably wouldn’t care.
For her part, thank gods, Ameiko smiled and fully agreed. Suishen was as sullen (and silent) as a child caught stealing pastries the entire time we were there. It made my disguise seemed all the easier to bear. Koya couldn’t resist purchasing a brightly colored tunic and scarf for me. I’d half expected this to happen, but I hadn’t expected the fabric to be so itchy. I spent a fair amount of time scowling and ditched the scarf – er, folded it and put it away – when it was prudent to do so; the tunic touched less sensitive skin and I was able to wear it a little longer before doing the same. I hate “dressing up”.
Sunday, 7 Gozran
We have finished both our market and refugee duties and are leaving the clearing finally. Oh, I forgot to mention we reunited the kami with his tree and he was quite grateful. He told us if we continued to take care of it, we could take it with us on our trip and he would accompany us. We could heal more quickly by sleeping near it. Interesting.
Fireday, 26 Gozran
We’ve reached the river. Ordinarily this would be an issue, but our magic users talked among themselves briefly and decided they’d simply create a bridge. They’d done this in the city of the dead, but this seemed a larger bridge to make. No problem for them.
It gave cause to chat with Miyaro about what we might find. I was pretty sure we could not simply deposit the heir at the throne and expect the court to adjust. She agreed – we would need to develop some grass roots support. She had to be the people’s choice. That may not be as hard as it sounds given the current state of much of the population but it couldn’t be skipped. The people needed to know there was a viable alternative to the Jade Regent.
She has heard there was a ronin – an independent samurai – in the area who might be sympathetic to our cause. Whether we could get his attention and support will be up to us.
Fireday, 17 Desnus
Today we emerged from the Forest of Spirits, and found ourselves entering what Miyaro called the Asogen Grasslands. The area is sparsely settled and is part of northern Minkai, ruled mostly by northern barbarians. Miyaro pointed out on our map where we’d be most likely to run into the ronin she mentioned,
Oathday, 23 Desnus
Near a river, we have come across a cluster of wooden huts. The area seemed fairly inhospitable – this was not prime farmland nor did there seem to be an abundance of game. Sharp hunting was probably important here, and as if to drive the point home, there were some youngsters training on bow and arrow nearby. An older figure seemed to be their instructor – at least he was more imposing than any of his students. Could this be the ronin?
But he was a she, and she noticed us observing his class, and came over to talk and check us out. It was largely small talk with Dasi and I until Qatana blurted out, “we’re looking for the ronin.” Sigh.
Hbesuta Hatsue, as she was called, recognized the royal weapon that Kali was carrying. Still uncertain, she invited us in and sent off a messenger. While we were hosted by her, a visitor arrived.
It was indeed the ronin, named Hiraboshi Jiro. He slowly warmed to us and suggested that ridding a nearby fortress of its bandit inhabitants might both enhance our image and restore some hope to the people living here.
That, then, is what we will do.