As for the treasure allocation from our liberation of Brightstone Keep, Tsuruchi Zenako indicates that after some consideration she believes the following would reflect an honorable distribution. Zenako is also gratified that both Zazu and Noku have chosen to continue their earthly journey's, and they are most welcome to continue on with this enterprise, their ancestors willing.
Some of the items of treasure, can only be used by some members of our company, and in other cases only a few members expressed a desire to use said items. With restricted choice on those items, the following allocations are presented. Sums of gold are included in each allocation. If one wishes, some of the gold may be taken in other forms (gems stones, bills, combat equipment (for which we received a generous 50% of new prices, based upon my care of the equipment and our skilled appraisers who can turn the art of a deal in their favor. (For example, Zenako is taking the other Katana as part of her gold share.)
If you plan on using you gold to quickly turn it into potions or scrolls or the like, then the form of the money is probably not important.
Allocations:
Zenako - Great Axe +1 and 400 Au value
Hatori - Mighty Daikyu (+3 Str Max), Wand of Magic Missiles (15 ch) and 500
Au value
Isaku - Potion of CLW and 1000 Au value
Zazu - Dust of Dryness, Feather, Acid and 500 Au value
Ashiko - Potion of Elemental Resist Fire and 700 Au Value
Noku - Book of Wu Jen Spells and 500 Au Value
Mulan - Lamellar Armor +2 and 250 Au Value
Gorvak - 500 Au Value
Although she does not need to, Zenako offers the following explanations, and if she is truely mistaken, then please offer insights to illuminate her musings. The Mighty Daikyu is only useable by herself and Hatori and she already has one better than that (as part of her ancestral heritage), so the only logical recipient is thus Hatori.
The nice Lamellar armor (which is medium in size and class) can only be efectively worn by Mulan and myself. The base AC is the same as the Great Armor, although the secondary properties (armor check, weight, etc) are superior to the great armor. However, it is not fitting for other warriors to wear the great armor and should I recieve such, it would not help the overall effectiveness of the company. After discussion with Mulan, she agrees that the benefits of the added armor Class, which will raise her to AC 19, are worth the slower movement, since she envisions herself as an archer first and melee warrior secondly. Wisdom thus dictates that Mulan recieve the armor.
The Great Axe also falls into a limited choice of wielders. Gorvak is toooo small, the 20 lbs of weight might bother some, it is a Martial Weapon which also eliminates some of us. It is a melee weapon, and many of this company are better served by their own weapons of choice. If we encounter a foe which requires an enchanted weapon to hurt, it would be best to have such a weapon in the hands of the warrior most likely to be able to hit and hurt such a foe, and at this time, that is myself. I will thus bear with me the Great Axe of Dead Mans Cave until such time as I have awoken the ancestors within my Katana. (Player note: once I reach 4th character level, I would be able to with the expediture of a small amount of time and some valuables, entice my ancestors to awaken the powers of the Katana to make it a +1 weapons, at that time I would intend to find another wielder for the Great Axe (perhaps Mulan?).
The Book of Wu Jen spells has only one really beneficial recipient, and that is Noku, and so it shall be.
The Wand of Magic Missiles has only two ready users, Noku and Hatori and in this case we choose Hatori to wield this consumable item.
The potions, dust, feather, etc were all distributed based upon whom Zenako feels would most likely use those items during the normal course of actions.
Ernie:
You may want to figure out if any limits are in place for potions, such as CLW potions. I could see a sizeable demand for such things in the very near future. Also would all of the normal "book" potions, etc be available for purchase? Many of the characters now have enough cash to buy some of the lesser potions at least, if they want to.
As a side note, Zenako/Peter did not bother with the final loose change in the division of loot shares and figures that those sums were spent on a collective meal or something like that (29.5 gold IIRC). (Since cash has no value for experience, unlike previous campaigns, this will make no differnce.)
Ernie the totals cash value (if you care, was 4379.5 Gold, plus the listed items of treasure above. About 800 of that was from the sale/value of combat equipment at the 50% valuations we talked about. The rest was in coin, bills and gems.)
Jon, The WU-Jen Spell Book has the following Spells in it:
All 0th level spells, 1st level: Endure Elements, Iron Scarf, Magic Weapon, Charm Person, Sleep, Hold Portal, Hypnotism, Scales of the Lizard 2nd level: Entangling Scarf, Protection from arrows, Rain of Needles, Hold Person, Bull's Strength, Cat's Grace
Ernie has established a calendar for the game world. Our characters began the first adventure on the 6th month, 22nd day of the year 1561 since the founding of the empire. That trip lasted 5 days, or until the end of the 26th (6/26/1561). We then spent 3 full days recovering in town and set back out for Brightstone Keep on 6/30/1561. (Each month has 30 days in it.) And this happens to be the year of the Rat. The second adventure (which took two play sessions) lasted for 7 days. We returned to town late on 7/6/1561. We were asked to return to learn the fate of our two comrades on 7/10/1561, by which time we had identified and cleaned up all the saleable booty. It was disposed of shortly thereafter, once we learned the fates of Zazu and Noku.
Ernie indicated that all characters who had partaken in all three play sessions (two character adventures) would be going up a level. It is possible that Mulan might (she missed the first session, although she gets 1/2 credit for that one) and it was not likely that Gorvak would be going up, but he did not completely rule it out. Both of the spirit travelers will have regained 2nd level per the conversations at the table.
Zenako can be seen practicing a lot with her great bow, working at getting the fluid motion of fire shot after shot in rapid succession without fumbling the arrow or missing the bowstring.