IsleOfJade/SessionNine

“We Can’t Let This Stand”

(1) Ryoga: "...and that's what went down," says Ryoga, finishing his story. "12 villagers were killed and 32 were wounded to varying degrees. Twenty-nine Demon Toads lost their lives and another 15 were wounded. Some of that happened as they fled the village proper. The students at the school didn't let up and chased 'em all out. In all, the village sustained fairly manageable damage to its buildings and docks. They pushed the barge out to the middle of the river and let it burn there. The students took Grunau and the Lotus Monk called Sparrow captive. No sign of Thundering Cloud, though. He may be dead."

Prax: Seventeen pairs of eyes watch Ryoga with various degrees of apparent interest as he finishes speaking. He stands towards the center of a small dark room, most of those watching him are shrouded in shadow, barely illuminated by dark orange glow of the small banked fire at the center of the room. Kenta the Silent Cat is the most visible, standing just in front of him and fiddling idly with his knife, flipping it around in his hands, though his eyes never leave the boy.

(1) Ryoga: "Mistress Owl thought you'd be interested in the goings on in the school. Can't say I understand why. But she put a watch on them 24-7."

Prax: A tall, lanky figure unfolds from the shadows to Ryoga's right where it had apparently been perched upon a table pushed off to one side. "You're not here to question my orders, simply to relay information. Is that all?"

(1) Ryoga: "Question your orders, sir?" Ryoga almost jumps out of his skin when the figure appears beside him. He is clearly nervous.

Prax: The figure is still mostly concealed within the shadows, but the firelight glimmers off strands ofdark hair and seems to be absorbed by the dark leather of the speaker as he leans forward and whispers near Ryoga's ear "I asked, if there was anything else you had to impart?"

(1) Ryoga: "Yes, um, YES! There's one more thing. One of the students has a tie to the Demon Toads. Well, the Guild actually."

Dusk Hawk straightens, brushing a lock of hair from his face as he regards Ryoga "Who?"

(1) Ryoga: "His name is Gao. Gao the Lesser. His father is Gao the Greater, the head of the Guild in Tien's Landing. But you already knew who Gao the Greater is. As I'm sure you already know that Gao the Greater often employs the Demon Toads for thug work."

Dusk Hawk glances into the darkness, a muttered 'Of course...' on his lips. He looks back towards Ryoga, "Well, we can't let this affront to our territory stand now, can we boys?" he asks looking towards the rest of the men in the room, who grin, weapons and teeth glinting in the firelight as the Dusk Hawk looks back towards Ryoga. "Well, can we?" he asks, making it clear he's now including Ryoga in his statement.

Ryoga stares nervously back at Dusk Hawk. He forces a grin, and you can see that two of his lower teeth--his canines--are just a little longer than the others and appear just a bit tusk-like.

(1) Ryoga: "No?"

One Rotten Apple…

Gao the Lesser and Yukio speed along the Xi River, heading north along its bank. Their movement is so rapid that a literal fire footprint is left behind with every step.

(1) Gao the Lesser: "What are we supposed to do again? Find some stupid barge and rescue children? It’s not my idea of a good time, Yukio."

Yukio: "Oh, and you think I am happy about this? Mortal children... psh, a waste of our time..."

(1) Gao the Lesser: "My sentiment exactly. Master Li should give the likes of us more worthwhile tasks. But he's always worrying about his precious pet protege."

Yukio: "Don't even get me started, on that... There are no words to express how much of his time he wastes on her..."

(1) Gao the Lesser: "I've a good mind to leave the school. I'd say my training is complete. Master Li doesn't seem to have time for those of us with the blood of dragons running in our veins, anyway. I'm pretty tired of playing second fiddle to a mortal and a peasant orphan."

Yukio: "Indeed, I know how you feel... At times I wonder if the old man has any new tricks..."

(1) Gao the Lesser: "It doesn't matter if he does or doesn't. He's not bothering to show him to us. Of course, I've managed to learn a few things on my own. Have you explored that bastard's library? I mean really explored it? There's some nasty shit in there."

Yukio: "No, I have yet to explore it. What have you found?"

(1) Gao the Lesser: "Anything and everything. I've dabbled in a little here, a little there. Picked some things up."

Yukio: "Hmm. interesting."

(1) Gao the Lesser: "It’s taken me a number of years to learn it, but I think I've got the gist of things."

Yukio: "Such as?"

(1) Gao the Lesser: "Have you ever summoned a demon?"

Yukio: "To be honest, summoning has never really appealed to me... It's so much more fun to see the life escape them in first person."

(1) Gao the Lesser: "I like that too. But power...real power. It’s in those books! You can't imagine. Wait. I think we must be getting close. I hear crying up ahead."

(1) Gao the Lesser: If Yukio strains to hear he too can make out the sounds of sobbing. It’s coming from the other side of a hill up ahead. The river curves to the left around it, but the sound is coming from its other side.

Yukio: "Hmmm. How do you want to do this?"

Gao the Lesser shrugs. "Kill 'em all. Although....let's just take a peek over the hill." He crouches low and climbs very quietly towards the crest of the hill.

(1) Gao the Lesser: [7d10.vs(7)] -> [5,9,6,4,3,4,1] = (1)

Yukio follows.

(1) Gao the Lesser: "Did you happen to see any identifying marks on the bandits, Yukio?" asks Gao in a whisper before he gets to the top.

Yukio: "Not really, looked like general scum to me..."

(1) Gao the Lesser: "Hrm."

Yukio wates for Gao's first move...

Gao the Lesser and Yukio peek over the crest. There are about two dozen children ranging in age from about 2 to 12 years arranged in a group around a single, tall, white stone plinth. There are only six bandits watching them, their weapons in their hands and brandished threateningly at the children who cry and sob at their fate and the fate of their parents. All present, save perhaps some of the children, seem oblivious to the dark cloud that hangs over the land to the north of them, and the way the waters of the swamp seem just a little more oily and the grasses more yellowed and half decayed.

(1) Gao the Lesser: The sounds of the swamp, too, are noticeably absent here, and it doesn't seem as if it’s only a reaction to the presence of a large number intruders gathered here. Even the insects and flies are absent.

(1) Gao the Lesser: "Idiots!" Gao actually says this loud enough for the bandits and children to hear.

Yukio smiles at the now watching bandits, as he swings his blades into the air. With a small inferno escaping off of his feet, he quickly approaches one of the bandits. As he is about to run into him, his entire body flashes a bright fiery orange, just for a split second, and then almost instantly appears behind the bandit. He places both blades on top of one another and begins to spin, using the force of one completed spin to drive both blades into the back of a bandit’s neck.

Yukio: ((Billows Pumping Stide+ Falling Star Maneuver)) (1) Gao the Lesser: ((a +1 stunt)) Yukio: Yukio: [11d10.vs(7)] => [6,4,2,8,4,4,7,7,6,9,6] = (4)

(1) Gao the Lesser: "No, wait, Yukio!"

(1) Gao the Lesser: Both blades cut in and through the bandit's neck, appearing on the other side along with an outpouring of blood. The head falls limply to the side and hangs on the man's shoulders literally by skin alone. Its otherwise been completely separated from the man's body. Children all around shriek at the gory sight.

Yukio looks up at Gao with a blood thirsty look... an expression of 'what is it?' appears on his face.

(1) Gao the Lesser: The bandits all turn toward Yukio in shock, while the children literally scatter in every direction. When the bandits see this, a couple of them attempt to round them up but their efforts are mostly futile. The other three keep their weapons pointed at Yukio, although they do not attack. They are clearly too frightened to make such a daring a move.

Gao the Lesser shakes his head. "That wasn't necessary. These are Demon Toads!"

(1) Gao the Lesser: The bandits glance sideways at Gao, but keep their attention on Yukio.

Yukio: "Ah, then perhaps you would like to show me how you would deal with them?"

(1) Gao the Lesser: "Sure," he says, and he makes his voice louder and directs his comments to the bandits more so than to Yukio. "I would have merely told them that they should release these children and go. My father, Gao the Greater, would not be pleased to know they are here."

(1) Gao the Lesser: At that comment the bandits do turn to look at Gao.

(1) Bandit: "Your father? What are you talking about. You can't be little Gao."

Gao the Lesser 's mouth turns down when he hears the bandit utter the words 'little Gao.' He pulls out a long, straight sword and strides forward. The bandit turns to face him, throwing up his weapon in an effort to back Gao up. But Gao ignores it and slashes right through the man's pathetic defense.

(1) Gao the Lesser: [15d10.vs(7)] -> [5,8,6,8,2,8,3,4,4,4,5,5,5,3,9] = (4)

(1) Gao the Lesser: The man is cut across the chest and falls. Gao, however, does not relent. He slashes at the man again and again, and continues to do so long after the man is dead. The other bandits are so dumbfounded they stand watching.

(1) Gao the Lesser: "No body calls me 'Little Gao,'" he says, daring the others with his eyes to do so.

(1) Bandit: "It is him," whispers one bandit to another.

(1) Gao the Lesser: "Yes, it’s me! Surprised to see me, I guess. Now turn around and go home. I've got a job to do and I'm going to do it. You're in my way."

(1) Bandit: "But...we are contracted by your father to take..."

(1) Gao the Lesser: [11d10.vs(7)] -> [1,9,8,5,6,1,7,8,5,10,6] = (5)

Gao the Lesser slashes the speaker with his sword before he can finish his sentence. He cuts the man right across the mouth, cutting both cheeks severely and taking the man's tongue as well.

Yukio smiles gleefully at Gao

(1) Gao the Lesser: "Its going to be hell rounding up those children, Yukio!" he spits.

Yukio: "Indeed, bitch work if you ask me. Make the bandits do it, they did a good job in the first place did they not?"

(1) Gao the Lesser: "Especially since these idiots set up their little prison right on the edge of Marshlands of Undying Twi...now that's a good idea," he says as Yukio suggests the bandits do their work for them. "You heard 'em, boys. Go fetch those kids.

Yukio chuckles at the irony of the situation....

(1) Gao the Lesser: The bandits stare at the two of them for a moment, but realize they don't have a choice but to do what they were told.

(1) Gao the Lesser: "How many of you are there, anyway?" asks Gao as they start moving in random directions.

(1) Bandit: "Three?"

Gao the Lesser raises his sword, and the bandit recounts. "There were over 70 of us when we left," he says, hoping it’s enough to save his life.

(1) Gao the Lesser: "Interesting. I may have need of your services. When you've done collecting children, we'll talk."

(1) Gao the Lesser: "So, Yukio! Now what?

Yukio looks around at each bandit, swinging his blades around his arm quite fashionably.... "And if anyone even thinks of dodging out.... I collect your leg." he says, while swiping his blade in a horizontal motion.

End of Chapter Notes

• Most of the villagers are busy putting the village back together. They've set up the town hall (it’s really just a larger building) as a hospital for wounded villagers and farmers.
• Dawn Star and Kaimi have been given Smiling Mountain's room in which to recover from their injuries.
• Sook will spend all his available time going back and forth between the two locations, as is his duty and oath as a healer
• It will take the full week for Kaimi to heal

---

• the farmers who were not attacked will continue with the harvest as best they can...much rice will go unharvested
• the children who survive their parents, and there are quite a few, are being cared for by relatives or by caring neighbors. Master Li has not seemed fit to take any in at the school.
• some of the farmers have reported that they have seen ghosts about...they are afraid of them and most are putting up wards of salt and the like
• most farmers assume the ghosts are angry remains of the murdered farmers, looking for their murderers. but angry ghosts quickly become hungry ones, and they hunt indiscriminately. by the third night after the bandit attack, more and more sightings of hungry ghosts are being reported.
• Mou will initially try to resume his mission of finding the intruder on that first night. His next plan was to investigate the merchant vessels at the docks. As he no doubt will find nothing left in the aftermath of the battle, he will take some time helping with the repairs and relocations around the village and farms.
• He will ask Sook to show him some of the basics of first aid (he was kind of helpless out there without a healer). As reports of ghosts come in, he will investigate that, and help the farmers with their ghost issues.

--

• Yeled: Sparrow and Grunau are under house arrest and are being kept locked in a room in the training hall. Each of the apprentices is being asked to watch them so someone is watching 100% of the time. Sparrow has not woken up, yet, though. Grunau has, and he's grumpy.

• Mou will also try to talk to Grunau, and find out what the guild is up to. He occasionally checks on Sparrow, to see if she has awoken.))
• Ayame will add Sagacious Zu to Master Li’s prisoners. Possibly the day after the battle.
• Sagacious Zu attempts to warn you that the bandits are coming, when you return to him. he's not very open about stuff...he just says that a group of bandits are on their way to the area. he won't give specifics.
• the three of them are now captive...they are being held on the upper level of the training hall in a practice room. Master Li has done something to them that has paralyzed them.
• the monk on the boat burned with it, thanks to your friendly neighborhood water elemental. However, he was later discovered by a farmer and his badly burned body was brought to the school. Somehow he was still alive, although barely. He was treated as best as possible and is being held with the other prisoners.

--

• Mou: That's another thing... I think our characters all have different pieces of info about all of this, and I don't know how much will get shared in the next week
• Sook: sooks not much of a chatter,and he is going to be busy full time
• Kaimi: Kaimi will ask alot of questions. She likes to know what is going on
• Mu will share information if asked, but probably won't bring it up himself.

--

• the bandits did manage to return 13 of the children to Yukio and Gao, who marched into town triumphantly. That's more than half that didn't get left on the edge of the Marshland of Undying Twilight
• did any straggle back later?
• a couple more were found, sure. but most...not so much
• what is Mou doing to help about the hungry ghosts?))
• First, he is investigating the legitimacy of the claims. Next, he will make their wards better and hunt down as many bodies as he can to destroy them.

--

• Ayame is probably off "training" and not near the school while those monks are there)
• All Kaimi can do is heal, and ask a ton of question cuz she's curious. It would just be a recap of events. course she's curious about what Master Li started to tell her too but she wouldn't bother him about it when all this othr stuff is happening.
• Well as I said, Mou will ask Sook to teach him a bit about healing. However, even if Sook agrees, Mou probably won't ending spending more than 30 minutes on it this week. He has a pretty full plate. I kind of feel like there are little, short loose ends that would be tied up in the daily interactions between eveyone, but no real single scene to play out.))