(July 21, 2002) Chronicler: Isaku
Month 6, Day 18, Year 1561 (of the Drakaran Empire) --
My shaman mentor asked me to do one last errand for him as I ended my training, and of course I could not refuse. I'm to deliver a letter to his friend who has an herbalist shop in the town of Marike, near the border of the Phoenix and Dragon lands.
Month 6, Day 20 --
Arrived in Marike, a town of about 3000 people, including the korobokuru who generally live in their own area of town. I've heard that there are a few spirit folk and hengeyokai, as well.
Found Master Li Po Shan's herbalist shop, and delivered the letter. He kindly allows me to stay with him, along with some other guests. He said the Marike garrison was decimated in a battle between the Phoenix and Dragon clans, so there is no army to patrol the surrounding area and keep the bakemono and ogres at bay. Lord Moshi Isaka, the ruler of the town, is looking for volunteers to hunt bakemono and patrol the wilderness areas north of town.
Month 6, Day 22 --
Got word of bakemono incursions, and met other volunteers at the jail. We received our instructions and rations from Chief of Constables Shiba Regaro. Our adventuring party includes:
Tsuruchi Zenako -- Unicorn Samurai (Female)
Soshi Ashiko "Ashi" -- Scorpion Shugenja (Air) (Female)
Miya Hatori -- Imperial Sorcerer (Male)
Noku -- Common Wu Jen (Male)
Isaku -- Common Monk/Shaman (Flame/Fury) (Male)
Zazu -- Common Monk (Male)
Kitsune Michiko "Kit" -- Scorpion Rogue (Female)
Unfortunately, none of the volunteers were rangers. Raji (my pet wolf), did his best to follow the bakemono's trail, but soon lost the scent. Zazu went to scout ahead and heard something, but wasn't sure what.
Took a break for lunch, and then Miya Hatori and Soshi Ashi heard something big moving nearby. Ashi was the first to spot the ogre in the distance. The party moved forward to do battle with 3 ogres with naginatas. Tsuruchi Zenako (our leader and fierce warrior) bravely charged up to the ogres, but it didn't take long for them to slice her down with those naginatas. Not an encouraging start to our adventures!
At one point, Kit disappeared behind some bushes and moments later a fox burst from them and tried to bite the ogre. Perhaps she is NOT be of the blood of the Kitsune family, but a Fox Hengeyokai who has been adopted into that family?
Ashi and Noku managed to cast Sleep on two of the ogres for a short time, but the remaining one was smart enough to wake the others. I didn't have any luck hitting the ogres, so I backed off to heal Zenako. The battle ensued until the ogre leader finally called a truce, and both parties backed off. Ashi and I did our best heal the wounded, but ran out of spells before we could heal poor Raji, who was knocked out in the battle. Miya Hatori (who has a companion monkey named Saru) took pity on Raji and very kindly donated a healing potion to save him.
The ogres dropped a sack during the battle, so we got something for our troubles, anyway. It contained 100 gold pieces, a jade statue (with an estimated value of 800 gp), and a map drawn on a skin. The map seemed to indicate a fort to the east, so we headed east for the rest of the day.
Found a ring of boulders to make camp in for the night, and the night passed quietly, thankfully.
Month 6, Day 23 --
The next morning, Raji picked up a scent heading northeast. We followed the trail, and were attacked by several bakemono. Ashi and Noku managed to cast Sleep on 6 of them, and the party killed the remaining 3 in battle. They were a bit easier to hit than the ogres, thankfully. I managed to smite one and kill it, and Ashi finished off two of them, if I remember correctly. Then we killed the sleeping bakemono before they woke up. Kit and Noku were knocked out in the battle, but we were able to heal them enough to get moving again.
Continued northeast, and found a cave to make camp in for the night. Again, the night passed quietly.
Month 6, Day 24 --
Traveled east (as best as we could tell) in the rain. Eventually, we saw smoke coming from the towers of a fort, and found a partially crumbled wall on one side. Zazu climbed up to have a look, and saw the entrance gate. Noku thinks the fort might be Brightstone Keep, known from earlier clan wars.
Watched the activity in the towers for a while, and planned to ambush the bakemono raiding party when it left the keep. We waited and watched all night, but no one left the fort.
Month 6, Day 25 --
Found a place to sleep by day, but were awoken when Saru (Hatori's monkey) spotted 2 ogres. Hatori got everyone up, and we readied weapons. Ashi and Noku tried to cast Sleep, but the ogres shook it off. I cast Bless to boost our party's morale. Hatori exploded a tree near the ogres, wounding but not killing them. Battle ensued and we eventually killed them, but Zenako and Zazu went down in the battle. It took several healing spells to bring them around.
More treasure this time. Found a suit of great armor valued at 1000 gp, a great sword valued at 30 gp, and a masterwork great sword valued at 350 gp. I'm sure Zenako can put the armor to good use, especially if she continues to charge at ogres!
Month 6, Day 26 --
Returned to Marike safely. Lord Moshi Isaka awards us for the ogres and bakemono killed in battle. The bounty is 5 gp per bakemono, and 50 gp per ogre. He also offers a bounty of 600 gp to clear out the rest of the fort, which he confirms is Brightstone Keep.
We returned to our various hosts in Marike, to rest for a few days before heading off to clear out Brightstone Keep.