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Post by Admin on Oct 19, 2022 2:27:51 GMT
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Post by Admin on Oct 19, 2022 2:35:48 GMT
Signs of the other people become evident as they ride the path: grasses trampled by the passing of a large army; scraps of food wrappings; broken or dropped weapons and equipment; dead bodies, some human, others demonic. The hunters determine that the army passed this way a few days ago.
As they ride, the undulating prairie reveals a fissure in the ground many miles distant.
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Post by XuLiang on Oct 19, 2022 9:00:50 GMT
(OOC – Sounds good to me.)
“Kai, do you remember the tales of the Mongols who fled south in the great war? Did they not speak of a great fissure from which the terrible enemies poured forth?”
“Yes, and these demonic bodies have the smell of chaos on them. Notice how the bodies are already crumbling into dust.”
“Yes, it is surprising they have maintained their form this long. The rift must be quite large and Chaos must already hold considerable sway here. We must step carefully.”
“Captain, lets call a short rest.”
When the troop has stopped with a few keeping watch in rotation Xu Liang pulls out a round tube from his bag. The Captain follows Xu Liang to a clear spot where they sit down on the ground.
Xu Liang takes the top of the tube off revealing a loose bundle of bamboo slats. The Captain asks, “Are those I Ching sticks?”
“Yes, while not as precise as Amber’s Trump Tarot they should be sufficient for this.”
Xu Liang imagines in his mind the great Pattern of Amber and holds the tube horizontally towards the fissure and starts shaking the tube while chanting, “Should we continue in this direction?” He shakes it for an unusually long time as if the slats are reluctant to move. Kai, sensing something is amiss silently pads over to where they are sitting.
Xu Liang tilts the container farther to encourage a slat to work its way out. When none do he tilts it more, and more until in a rush all the slats fall out at the same time.
"Well that was interesting. What are you going to do now?"
"That was ... unexpected. Unless the Captain has a better idea, perhaps we continue with greater caution." Xu Liang picks up the slats, wipes them down and replaces them in the tube and the tube back into the saddle bag.
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Post by Admin on Oct 20, 2022 17:55:13 GMT
The slats give them no answer, and it seems that they have no power in this place.
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Post by Admin on Oct 20, 2022 18:03:06 GMT
Xu Liang sees a flash of light reflecting off metal from a rise a few miles away from the camp. Before the group can be readied, a man comes riding down from the height. He's not wearing armour and rides a fine horse.
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Post by XuLiang on Oct 21, 2022 4:08:01 GMT
“It looks like someone has come to meet us. Let’s see what they have to say.”
Kai stalks off into the high grass (OOC – Does he discover any scouts or ambushers?) and disappears, but Xu Liang can sense he is still close.
Xu Liang stands and takes his small personal fan out of his robe. (OOC 0 If there isn't time to replace the I Ching tube, he tuckes it away into his robes.) He walks out to meet the oncoming rider a short distance from the group. Lu Meng follows, leaving his bow behind but carrying his rod of command.
They stand with Xu Liang slowly fanning himself in the afternoon heat until the rider approaches.
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Post by Admin on Oct 23, 2022 6:14:42 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/KbDL8VM/art-obit-lou-albano~jpg He rides closer with one hand on the stirrups the other is held out palm toward Xu as a sign of peace. He wears clothing of a strange style, all cotton with some parts light cotton, other heavy weave, his outer shirt is cotton in riotous colours. He is either a poor rider or the horse is lively because he seems to have difficulty keeping it moving toward Xu Liang. "I'm surprised to see anyone else out here. All the action is heading that w- Woah Starbalze! Woah!" he says as the horse starts to try and buck him.
"Damn creature! Haven't had time to break him in yet.
"Did you all come to fight for or against Mytorrean?"
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Post by XuLiang on Oct 23, 2022 7:42:41 GMT
Xu Liang holds his hand out in imitation of the man’s gesture. “We have not come looking for a fight. Joining my teacher, Lady Eivor, is the goal of my quest. My companions are traveling with me for a time until their way home can be found. We are unsure of local politics.”
“Is Lord Mytorrean defending this land? Or attempting to acquire it? And are you fighting for or against Lord Mytorrean? My apologies for asking so many questions, but we wish to understand the situation we are in.”
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Post by Hammett on Oct 23, 2022 7:55:43 GMT
[[OOC: What the what?!]]
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Post by XuLiang on Oct 23, 2022 8:13:54 GMT
OOC - Shush. We don't always tell the truth in the bald manner of you westerners.
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Post by Admin on Oct 23, 2022 19:24:53 GMT
#s://i~ibb~co/KbDL8VM/art-obit-lou-albano~jpg "You believe the Lady Eivor is in Eshanta?"Once held out in peace, the man's hand now goes to his chin and scratches his beard in thought. "Mytorren is a city not a person," he says while still scratching. "And it is now the focal point for the war which ravages this land.
"Tell me, would you stand with or fight against demons?"
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Post by XuLiang on Oct 24, 2022 7:41:18 GMT
Xu Liang strokes his long goatee in thought, "Ah. That explains some things. Lady Eivor was traveling with Lady Katarina who was looking for help to free her land, Eshanta, from an invasion of demons. It is likely that Lady Eivor is at Mytorren then.”
“Have they joined the fray? Are they defending or are they besieging the city? While we usually do not consort demons”
From the grasses Kai offers, “I like to eat them.”
“Shush Kai. As I was saying, we usually do not consort with demons, but I am to report to my Teacher and it would look bad to commit oneself to the opposite side of a conflict as one’s Teacher. Surely you understand not wanting to end up on the opposite side of your … um superior officer?” (OOC – Is he dressed like a soldier? Officer? Lord? Xu Liang would address that last comment appropriately.)
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Post by Admin on Oct 24, 2022 10:22:52 GMT
[OOC: He looks like a slob. But does have a large sword hanging from his saddle.]
"I suppose I'm the superior officer here. Just me and my son; he's back up on the rise.
"Can't say that I know where Eivor is - I didn't even know she was here. Hell, I wouldn't even recognize her if I saw her; she's just a name to me. We did come to check on Katerina, who is supposed to live hereabouts. If it is Lady Katerina, then I guess she'll be in the city too."
He looks over the soldiers riding with Xu Liang.
"Which one is your teacher? If he says you can fight demons, you're welcome to ride with us."
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Post by XuLiang on Oct 24, 2022 12:50:02 GMT
“Lady Eivor is to be my Teacher so until we find her all we can do is defend ourselves. Though demons usually attack first and ask questions later so chances are that encounters with them will not go as pleasantly as this one.” He nods his head slightly.
“You say you are checking on Katerina? Is this Katerina a dark-skinned teenager with dark curly brown hair and eyes? After all Katerina is not that uncommon a name.” He smiles at the last comment.
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Post by Admin on Oct 24, 2022 13:18:16 GMT
"I suppose so. She is the big cheese of this place so we will know when we see her."
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