Porcelain Child/SessionSix

The isolated village…
<onine> When last we met, Anona had recently discussed all manner of things with Jase the master of the farms, and was directed to the village's alchemist, a person named Emmera who lives on the cliffside.
<onine> The intrepid band had also discovered that the foe in the tax mystery was a bold group of bandits led by none other than a pair of exalted Dragonbloods.
<onine> The village is small, built on the rolling hills at the base of the mountain cliffs. To the south you can see pastures with goats and small fields of hardy grain, as much as the local terrain allows. On the steps of the mountain are rice paddies which even now are being tended.
<onine> Ahead you can see two smallish buildings nestled against the cliffside, one is larger and looks to be a council hall, the other is smaller with odd windows and has wisps of smoke trailing from its many chimneys. It is a fair chance that Emmera lives there.
<onine> Villagers seem to be viewing you with even more awe than usual as rumor and talk spreads down the grapevine of wives like wildfire.
<onine> It is about lunch time now, and you can smell all manner of things from simple metalworking to cooking food down to well, animal excrement.
<Magpie> Eyeing the smaller building uneasily, Magpie shifts from foot to foot. "Are we going to talk to her? The alchemist, I mean."
<Anona> "I'd assume so, Magpie. If she knows anything about what's going on, that is."
<onine> As you walk you are waylaid by a small knot of boys
<onine> "Hey! Uh... sirs, ma'ams.." the lead one spouts
* Yengo looks from the strange building down at the children. "Yes?"
<onine> His compatriots encourage him to talk with a great deal of pushing elbowing and hushed threats
<onine> "Uh, we wanna know, did you really go through the haunted woods?"
* Yengo shrugs. "They didn't seem that haunted to me. But yes, we did."
<Magpie> " But we didn't see any ghosts or gods but they did kidnap crow and do you know anything about that, huh?"
<onine> The other boys all punch him in the same shoulder, shouting various jibes and gloats. See, told you, etc.
* Magpie plants herself in front of the boy who had spoken. "But what do you know about the woods?"
<onine> "Aw they didn’t see any ghosts..." they whine amongst themselves. "Sure you didn’t see any?" they ask hopeful
<Magpie> "There were petals," Magpie offers graciously.
<onine> They seem disappointed. "Maybe the ghost was all *HISSSS
* and they were like 'Oh no!'" and ran away?"
<onine> "Petals... that’s boring..." The small group begins to trail away, the leader still rubbing his arm as per the terms of their bet...
* Yengo rubs his chin thoughtfully. Kids.
* Magpie eyes them speculatively. She glances at the alchemist's house, and then at Yengo, and makes a decision. "I'm going to find out some stuff," she tells him. "Hey, wait up!" she calls to the boys.
<Anona> "I guess it's just as well...", Anona murmurs.
* Yengo nods. Of course, it feels a little absurd to be sending her off on a fact-finding mission, but it couldn't hurt. She'll be out from underfoot, maybe even have a little fun.
<Yengo> "Yes... no telling what sort of mischief she'd get into at the alchemist's."

The home of the medicine-woman
<onine> The alchemist's 'lab' is built against the cliff face, and has a small steep stairway which is more like a ladder than stairs. It would be easy enough for Vana or Magpie to climb, but it would be more of a challenge for the females of the group in their robes and dresses.
* Yengo moves to the foot of the stairs, looking up them hesitantly. "Guess I'll lead the way." (And pray I don't fall, he adds silently)
<Anona> "You go right on ahead."
* Vana just kinda fidgets nervously at the back of the group.
<onine> Epheri murmurs "This should be interesting with him in all that armor..."
* Yengo begins picking his way rather nervously and clumsily up the stairs, trying to preserve some of his dignity, and mostly failing.
<onine> The 'stairs' lead up not to a door, but a trapdoor, ornately decorated.
* Yengo frowns at it, uncertain. "Think I should knock?"
<onine> Vana becomes aware of a presence beside her.
* Vana looks beside her, obviously. Duh.
<onine> There is a middle aged woman in simple garb watching Yengo's display of athletic prowess with an expression of encouraging amusement. She has a face that is weathered and lined, but they are lines from smiling rather than frowning. In her hands is a small bowl of various plants.
* Vana looks at her for a moment. "Er... hello."
* Yengo stops his ascent near the top of the stairs to look back down at the scene behind him. "Eh?"
<onine> "Hello there young lady." She greets you with a smile and twinkly blue eyes. "It has been some time since we have had newcomers to our humble village, and some time more since some have stopped by my little laboratory."
<onine> She has a kindly-older-lady voice.
<Vana> "Ah..."
<Anona> "So you'd be Emmera?"
<onine> She looks over at Epheri and Anona. "And even more time since I have been visited by princes of the earth. Welcome."
<onine> "Indeed, I am Emmera, the medicinewoman here. And who might you all be so far from the lowlands?"
* Yengo calls down from his precarious perch. "I'm Yengo, first Archon under Magistrate Diamandus."
<onine> "Ohhhh, the servants of the Magistracy, wonderful - which of you is the Magistrate in charge?"
<Anona> "I am Tepet Anona. She *points
* is Tepet Epheri. We are also, for the moment, Archons."
<onine> She looks at Tara and Vana. "You two young ladies do not strike me as Magistrates."
* Vana smiles half-heartedly. "I don't really think I could be a Magistrate either."
* Yengo considers descending to make the conversation more comfortable, but decides he's not making that climb again. "The Magistrate is currently busy elsewhere. We're here to investigate in his stead."
<onine> "Oh I see, I see. Could I ask why you have come to see me then honored Archons? I am not knowledgeable on bandits I am afraid. You'd be best to speak to Jase or one of the woodsmen."
<Anona> "Not just the bandits... what is the story behind these 'haunted' woods? I'm curious."
<onine> "Oh, I see. Well, I'll see what I can find for you. Ah, First Archon? Twist that lever to the left then pull it towards you."
<onine> There is a little brass lever next to the trapdoor.
* Yengo reaches out to take the lever and does as she asks, wondering just what he's getting himself into.
<onine> You hear a click when you twist and when you pull, the trapdoor opens automatically.
<onine> "Very good!" she calls.
<Yengo> "Uh... thanks." He peers cautiously into the hole.
<onine> "Go right in" she calls. "I'll be in after you - just don't sit on anything just yet."
* Yengo begins hesitantly making his way inside.
<onine> Inside is a veritable nightmare of shelves, tubes bottles, tables and plants. Colored light streams in from the glass windows adding to the chaos inside. Shelves cover the walls, some with books, some with plants and obvious potions and tonics, and some pickled bottles with unidentifiable things in them.
<onine> It smells between musty, herby, burnt wood and some smell you've never experienced before even in your years of medicine
<onine> As far as you can see there isn't anywhere to sit anyway. You have to duck to get under the roof support beams. You can imagine the fun Diamandus would have in here. The ladies on the other hand will function just fiiiiiiine
* Yengo just concentrates on not knocking anything over.
<onine> She does indeed motion you up. "Go on, it wont bite. Just don’t open any bottles!" she laughs
* Anona heads on in.
<onine> You all make it inside the clearly crowded space followed by Emmera, who sets her bowl down on the cluttered table in the center. She pushes the trapdoor shut and locks it. The door itself was weighted with pulleys and sandbags to swing it open automatically.
<onine> She sets about pulling a small bench out of the clutter and dusting it off, able to seat three of the five visitors.
* Yengo remains standing, still seeming a bit skittish in all the clutter.
* Vana stands as well; her armor sometimes makes it difficult to sit.
<onine> Tara and Epheri don’t hesitate to be seated. Epheri is almost tall enough to bump her head on the roof beams, so she welcomes the bench.
* Anona takes the opportunity to seat herself. Because she's SPECIAL.
<onine> "Well now..." Emmera says as she bundles the herbs and spirits them away into drawers here and there.
<onine> "How can I help you, honored princes of the earth?"
* Yengo winces inwardly a bit at that comment, but decides to open things himself. "As Anona said, we're curious about this 'haunted forest' the locals seem to dread so much."
<Yuki_> "The haunted forest... I assume you are talking about the area to the north of the river then. Not many ask about that place."
<onine> "Let me see... where to start... where to start...."
<Anona> "How about... what was that stupid name again? Hmm... let me think..."
<Anona> "Ah, I remember. Windswept Boughs. Sound familiar at all?"
<onine> "No... it doesn't. There has always been a 'presence' in those woods. There has been since this village has been here, probably before even. No one has been able to point a finger or explain exactly what it is, but we know that something is there."
<Anona> "Just a 'presence'? Has this 'presence' actually DONE anything noteworthy?"
<Yengo> "We found a tax collector on the way here, dead. He'd been stripped of possessions, but there wasn't a mark on him, so I'm skeptical bandits are responsible... could your 'presence' do anything like that?"
<onine> "It has. And that is possible." she says, fetching a book from one of the many shelves. "Most of the villagers here have stayed away from the woods, but occasionally people unknowingly trail into it. Nine out of ten times, nothing would happen. But every so often..."
<onine> "We would have people wander into the village with amnesia, scared out of their minds, or sometimes our woodsmen would find them"
<onine> "Usually the victims that got off lightly would be lethargic for days, but some would be catatonic for weeks. No one has ever died. Until now..."
* Vana frowns very slightly.
<onine> She fingers through the pages. "They would bring back stories of the sky 'falling' and strange echoes, odd sounds and bizarre animals. All encounters have been frightening."
<Anona> "Interesting... but that is all?"
<onine> "Not entirely. There have been on occasion, from the worst of the cases, gibbering tales of a grove or a grotto that didn’t seem to belong, filled with lights and other such oddities. These witnesses were usually the ones found almost comatose."
<Yengo> "Strange..."
<onine> "According to this, written some time ago by a previous relative that the people used to carry charms when passing those woods which would shield and protect them from the presence there, but as far as I know those have long since disappeared."
<onine> "If you like I can try to do an account of all the victims and their tales, but it may take some time... things are rather a clutter."
<Anona> "That sounds like one of the Wyld lands... but this is the *Blessed Isle*. The stability of the Imperial Mountain ought to prevent any such thing."
<Yengo> "Yes, I've always heard that the Isle is the most stable place in Creation, and I've never seen a Wyld zone here... the Threshold is studded with them. Still... I suppose anything is possible... these days."
<onine> "Oh I doubt that it is the Wyld, we are far too close for anything like *that*"
<Anona> "These days, perhaps, but how could it escape notice for so long?"
<Yengo> "You have a point... if this area has been like this for this long..."
<onine> "Well as I said, the area has never been an actual danger, it has been fighting. I estimate around ten cases in the last two hundred years."
<Vana> "I've... seen small Wyld zones before. And sometimes the Fae have been there for decades. As long as they don't hurt too many people, they don't usually get found." Vana is noticeably nervous about speaking up.
<Anona> "Yes... but here? Wyld or not, we're not that far from Noble; a monk or SOMEBODY would be bound to come this way at some point..."
<Yengo> "Yes, I'm surprised none of the Immaculates have acted if this has gone on this long."
<onine> "That's true, but the road skirts the woods in question widely."
<Yengo> "I guess if our god or Fair Folk or whatever it may be kept a low enough profile, it could get by."
<onine> "And yes, I am surprised that none of the Immaculates that have come this way have found anything of use..."
<Anona> "Hmmm... true, if not for Magpie and that stupid bird of hers, we might have missed it ourselves."
<onine> "I hear that some fair folk are benevolent... though I don’t believe anything I hear... But you said that it is called Windswept Boughs? I have never heard that name before... but if whatever the presence is, that it has taken on a name means it intends to take more of an active interest in mortal affairs."
<Yengo> "Yes... yet aside from the body, we haven't really seen anything out of the ordinary... even past a sign the plants themselves told us not to go near."
<onine> "Which might explain the body you found... speaking of which, might I examine it?"
* Yengo wonders how that must sound to Emmera, but disregards it.
<onine> She double takes. "The plants?"
* Anona motions to Vana. "She talks to plants." As if this was a natural, commonplace thing for a sophisticated Dragon-Blood to know.
* Vana goes a bit red.
<Yengo> "As for the body... well... we didn't think it fitting to leave it out in the open like that..."
<onine> "Oh, yes. My apologies, I did not realize you were a prince of the earth also." she bows her head in respectful apology
* Vana nods back a bit.
<onine> "Oh I see, well, I'm no doctor in any case. You did the respectful thing, as exalts do."
* Yengo grinds his teeth. "If we had known, we would have brought the body to you... still, I am a doctor, and I couldn't find much wrong with him. It's as if he simply fell over dead."
<onine> "Very strange." Emmera admits.
<Yengo> "It's something worth looking into... I guess either this presence or the bandits could be responsible for the disappearances..."
<onine> "Well, it is a good chance that the presence and the bandits are both to blame. With the bridge on the road destroyed by the bandits, travelers have no choice but to travel via the woods. There is a little known bridge that crosses the stream that I am sure you found."
* Yengo nods. "That could explain a lot of things... especially why the presence seems to be acting up more lately."
<Anona> "More people disturbing it."
<onine> "Maybe, yes. Or something is changing. We cannot be sure." Emmera adds
<Anona> "Well, whatever it is... it enjoys giving itself fancy titles far too much."
<Yengo> "Yes, I doubt it would have dared to raise its head when the Immaculate Monks were more thorough..." he sighs.
<Yengo> "In any case, it looks like we have two problems to deal with here. Whatever this thing is and the bandits. The evil we know and the one we don't."
<onine> "I believe I speak for everyone in these mountains when I say thank you for coming. It has been some time since the realm has aided us..."
<Anona> "The bandits at least should be an easy enough task."
<onine> "Perhaps yes, but there are two exalted such as yourselves leading them."
<Yengo> "We can hope... I'm hoping we can get a few of the villagers to join us, just to make things more certain..."
<Anona> "Eh, but we have THREE Dragon-Blooded. And I'm one of them."
<Anona> "So that really counts as two-to-one odds, if you ask me."
<onine> "I do not so much share your optimism honored Archon, they are mere farmers, not soldiers. They would gladly do anything to help you, but the risk to their lives is great"
* Yengo sighs. "I wouldn't want to expose them to too much risk... I just hope we're up to the task. It's been a long time since I fought alongside Exalted." Though it was never really alongside, was it?
<Yengo> "If you three think you can handle it... then so be it."
<Anona> "So... basically, all you can tell us about the forest is 'something' is there. *sigh*... Maybe we should go hunt down that other fellow she talked about, the woodsman or whoever."
<onine> "I'm afraid that's all I know. Study of the area is dangerous."
<Anona> "At least we can learn something about the *bandits*..."
<Yengo> "Maybe we can solve the other problem while we're still working on this one. Thank you for your time and information, Emmera." He nods at her considerately.
<onine> "My pleasure first Archon. Would you still wish me to research the past events for you?"
<Yengo> "That would be helpful. We may be back."
<onine> Emmera opens the trapdoor for you, and you are exposed to the delight of the awkward climb in reverse.
* Vana bows formally to the alchemist before she climbs out.

In the village…
<onine> Magpie is making her way to the alchemist's lab and spots the first of the brave climbers making their way down.
* Magpie waves enthusiastically but does not venture closer.
<onine> Epheri nearly falls when she catches her gown on a loose nail, but regains her hold.
* Yengo 's descent is even clumsier than his ascent, a feat even he had thought impossible.
* Anona clambers down as quickly as she can; it's not graceful but it works.
* Vana makes them all look rather foolish.
* Yengo is very glad to get back on solid ground, for the moment. Maybe he'll just send someone else to get the information next time.
<Anona> "So, where to next, Yengo?"
<Yengo> "Let's see if Magpie found anything out from those kids." He wonders if all First Archons give orders that sound so absurd.
* Magpie jogs up when she hears her name. "Guess what I found out!"
<onine> Epheri has a grand old time getting the dust off her backside from where she was sitting on the bench
* Yengo looks down at the girl, smiling a little. "I dunno, what?"
<Magpie> "Well, first of all, the kids in this place are just _stupid._ But there's an old hermit monk guy who lives near the lake, and I bet _he_ knows about anything weird here."
<Yengo> "Hmmm..."
<Yengo> "Might bear checking out... what do the rest of you think?"
<Anona> "I have no better idea, short of continuing up into the mountains right now."
<Vana> "It sounds like a good idea."
<Yengo> "Works for me. Did they tell you how to find him, Magpie?"
<Magpie> "Yup! I memorized the route. I think we should go tomorrow, though," Magpie hints.
<Magpie> "Everyone's kind of tired..."
<Anona> "which everyone?"
* Magpie glares at her. "_Lots_ of people are tired. And we need to talk to more people, right? About the bandits?"
<Yengo> "Couldn't hurt. We definitely need to talk about our own strategy for dealing with them."
* Anona waves off the glare. "Alright, alright. Tomorrow, then."
* Magpie smiles.
<onine> "I agree," Epheri says stretching. "I could use some rest."
<Yengo> "I guess the hermit will keep for today. Let's see if we can find someplace to rest and talk things over here."
* Magpie looks around. "I guess they don't have an inn..."
<onine> "No, the place is too small." Epheri adds.
<Yengo> "Probably not. There should be some house that can put us up for the night, though... or maybe we can stay in that large building there."
<Anona> "I suppose we could ask."
* Yengo looks around to see if there's anyone appropriate to ask.
<onine> There are plenty of people milling about, but all give you wide berth with the whole Prince of the Earth deal going
<onine> Chances are, if you ask for something, you WILL get it however, perks of both the nature and the job. Isn't the Immaculate Philosophy grand?
<onine> There is a man tanning some leather a short distance away.
* Yengo moves over towards him, judging him to be the closest victim. "Excuse me..."
<onine> The man's eyes look up at you and he freezes with a 'okay, you're looking at me, I’m just mindin my own business here kind exalts, what did I do, oh lord don’t punish me' expression on his face
<onine> "Y-yes?"
* Yengo puts out a hand, trying to calm the man. "Yes, we were just wondering where we might find lodging in the village for the night."
<onine> "Er, I'm not sure I can help with that.. you may want to talk to Jase, he should be over near the paddocks."
<Yengo> "Thank you."
<Anona> "Jase... Jase... I think that was one of the people the alchemist suggested we speak to."
<Yengo> "Yes... he may know more about the bandits than he's told us already, we didn't question him at great length."
* Yengo dutifully begins searching for the man as he speaks.
<onine> As promised Jase is out near the pastures instructing some young teen lads on how to catch goats barehanded. He stands leaning against the fence calling out encouragement here and there as the young men chase the animals around the paddocks.
* Yengo moves over, raising a hand in greeting as the group draws near.
<onine> Jase waves back and turns to you.
<onine> "Did you find what you needed to know travelers?"
* Yengo nods. "Some of it. We were wondering where we could find lodging here, we'll be staying over night."
<onine> "Well... you could stay in the old council hall? We don't use it anymore, it's been there since well... ever. But with the Order in place it is rarely used."
<Anona> "I think that would be fine, don't you Yengo?"
<Yengo> "It sounds fine to me. Thank you."
<onine> "A pleasure, I'll have one of my people set it up for you."
<Yengo> "We may want to question you further on the bandits later, as well. I assume you'll be around?"
<onine> "Of course, everyone knows where I am."
<Yengo> "Well, looks like we're set, then."
<Anona> "If that's so... I suppose maybe would should discuss our plans."
<Yengo> "Yes... why don't we head back to the hall and talk them over? Is that all right with everyone?"
* Magpie nods emphatically. "I have ideas!"
<onine> "Of course" Epheri says
<onine> Tara as usual is impassive
* Vana nods her assent.
* Yengo leads the way back to the council hall.
* Vana wanders up near Yengo on the way. "Um... Yengo?"
* Yengo turns to Vana, curious. "Yes?"
<Vana> "Um... would it be okay if I had a separate room tonight?"
* Yengo is a little startled by the request, but nods. "Of course. There may be one where we're headed. If not, stay wherever you want."
<Vana> "Thanks. I just thought I'd let everyone have a good night's sleep for once." She attempts a smile.
* Yengo smiles back. "It's your decision. I'll check into that medicine soon, it may require some ingredients I don't have access to at the moment."
* Vana nods. "It's okay. It probably won't work, anyway... I've tried some before, and my metabolism just burns through it within a couple of hours." She brushes her hair back somewhat self-consciously.
* Yengo nods. "Still, if you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."
<Vana> "I know. Thanks."

Quarters at the council hall…
<onine> The council hall, is similar to Emmera's lab, built into the cliff-face, but fortunately has a comfortable set of stone and wood stairs up to the main door. Inside, it is a simple largish single room, decorated with simple heraldry, and with a large set of sliding doors to a balcony giving you an impressive view of the village and the isle to the East.
<Anona> After arriving at the council hall, Anona asks: "So... what exactly did you want us to discuss? Work out a plan or some such?"
<Yengo> "Yes. I have a few ideas that I want to run past the rest of you... and I'm sure you have ideas as well."
<Magpie> "Yes! I do!" Magpie is sitting on the floor, bolt upright and very excited about her idea.
* Anona braces herself.
<Magpie> "We sneak into their fortress...poison their food...and then all the mortals die and Anona and Vana can kill the Dragonblooded!"
<Magpie> "It's a good idea."
<Yengo> "Whatever we do, I think it needs to be hard and decisive. We don't want any of them slipping away, it might be months or years before this place sees another magistrate or Immaculate Monk."
<Magpie> "My idea's hard and decisive!"
* Yengo nods. "Well... yes... it certainly is..."
* Vana hides a grin.
<Anona> "I do see a few problems with it, Magpie. If you don't mind me pointing them out."
* Magpie makes a gracious gesture.
<Anona> "We aren't sure exactly where their fortress is, we'd have to get a lot of poison, and then hope it actually worked on all of them, and that they have food stores TO poison."
<Magpie> "We have an _idea_ of where their fortress is, I bet the alchemist has lots of poison, I know my Gran always did, and I bet it would and otherwise they'd starve in winter."
<Anona> "I guess we can keep it in mind."
<Magpie> "What's your plan?"
<onine> "Unless they plan to leave in winter when the buffet is dried up?"
<onine> Epheri adds.
* Magpie frowns at Epheri.
<Anona> "We're short on time, so I was basically just looking at burning the place to the ground and slaying all who stood in my way."
<Yengo> "Well, that's certainly direct too. Anona has a point about time... even assuming we could get the poison in, there's no guarantee they'd take it."
* Magpie sighs.
<Yengo> "My only idea was to draw them out by masquerading as travelers on the road, but there's no guarantee that would bring all of them."
<Anona> "Hey, at least I'm proposing a plan I have experience with."
<Magpie> "I think maybe we should find their fortress first. If it's wood, Anona's plan seems pretty good. If it's stone, it's a stupid plan and we have to draw them out. And if they're cooking their food in open pots, it's _my_ plan!"
* Anona sniffs. Stone burns too. You just have to get it hot enough.
<Magpie> "Why are there two Dragonblooded bandits?"
<Yengo> "I'd like to ask Jase the same thing. I'm wondering just how good these guys are supposed to be."
<Magpie> "It seems very weird. Why would Exalted- even evil, stupid Exalted- spend their time robbing these villages? I mean, there are probably richer places, right?"
<Yengo> "Yeah, but the further away from civilization they are, the less likely they are to face, well... people like us."
<Anona> "... and those other places don't have a 'haunted forest' nearby, either..."
* Yengo sighs. "These things are never simple. Magpie does have a good point, though. Maybe we should see this fortress for ourselves first."
* Magpie grins happily. "So.." she holds up one finger. "First, we see the hermit." She holds up another finger. "And then we find the fortress. And then we kill them all?"
<Yengo> "Or talk them into surrendering... which isn't too likely."
<onine> "Yes, we are more than likely to get a cheerful 'go away' from them."
* Magpie 's stomach rumbles. She looks hopefully at Tara.
<onine> Tara looks slightly amused and lets Magpie stew for the time being
* Magpie sighs deepfully, and looks utterly cast down.
* Yengo takes pity. "I guess we could unpack and eat something. I don't have any more ideas at the moment." He doesn't mention that his idea basically boiled down to "smash them real good".
<onine> The sky to the east is beginning to show its deep red hue as it did the previous evening.
* Magpie heads directly for the packs, and starts rooting around.