(February 16, 2003) Chronicler: Isaku
Month 9, Day 20, Year 1561 --
Zenako is approached by Suzume Meliko, who asks if she could travel with our party to visit the Spirit Tree. The Suzume family are members of the Sparrow clan, a minor clan that descended from a branch of the Crane clan, and believes in the philosophy of honorable poverty.
Meliko is slender, elegant, beautiful and frail-looking. She wears a silk kimono with a mithril chain shirt, and carries a wakazashi, tessen and crossbow. She also wears an odd-looking necklace (possibly of fireballs?) and rides a horse.
Meliko heard that the spirit of the tree was looking for a wife. Now that he has been freed of all the bakemono filth, Meliko is interested in meeting the spirit, and possibly becoming his wife.
Zenako agrees to take Meliko to the Spirit Tree. Zenako also wants to make a stop along the way to visit smith Matoko, and maybe put in an order for mithril armor. Zenako and Hatori have also purchased war horses, so we now have a menagerie of animals in our group: the 2 war horses, Noku's pony, Hatori's monkey (Saru), Ashi's dog (Gonji), and my wolf (Raji). Quite the zoo!
9/22/1561 --
Ashi was not available for this adventure, but the rest of the party set out from Marike. We didn't see much traffic other than some peasants along the road, and arrived at a village near the smith.
The jito of the village kindly offers hospitality, and gives us directions to smith Matoko's cave (there was a hint of amusement on his face, for some reason which he didn't explain). Zenako offers him 5 masterwork arrows in appreciation. The commoners sleep outside due to the limited space, but we all enjoy Meliko's story about the Lion lands of long ago, full of heroism and daring. The night passes uneventfully.
9/23/1561 --
We set out for Matoko's cave, passing through the wooded hills. As we approach the cave, we notice wind chimes, a gong, and a rather terse sign saying "Bang for service and wait". Zenako hits the gong and we waited. Presently a 9 foot tall ogre wearing a chain shirt comes up. (Now we know why the jito seemed amused when we asked about Matoko.)
Hatori speaks with Matoko, and explains that several of the party members are interested in purchasing some armor. We all entered the nicely-worked tunnel to his workshop, a large chamber with a forge and chimney, furniture, some good tools, and an assortment of finished and unfinished pieces of armor. Gorvak is reluctant at first, but goes along since Matoko does not appear to be a threat.
Matoko shows us his own armor and weapons, made of adamantine. He is very well spoken and polite for an ogre, and we're impressed with his work. Matoko even has an official license to craft and sell armor and weapons in Drakara. (We suspect that the Drakaran official didn't realize he was granting the license to an ogre. No matter, as long he does quality work and carries out honest dealings.)
Zenako puts in an order for mithril Chahar-Aina (4 mirror armor), and trades her Great Armor and potion of Expeditious Retreat for a mithril shirt and masterwork dastana that are currently available.
Hatori puts in an order for mithril shirts for himself and Saru. (I'm not sure the monkey really wants armor, but no doubt he'll get used to it.)
Gorvak gets over his initial reluctance, and orders an adamantine dagger.
Order Status: Chain shirt for Hatori should be ready on 10/24/1561, 4 Mirror armor for Zenako should be ready on 11/24/1561, Chain shirt for Saru should be ready on 12/24/1561, and Adamantine dagger for Gorvak should be ready on 2/1/1562.
While the deals are being made, Zenako asks me to bring up a cask of rice wine from our supplies to offer to Matoko. The smith is pleased, and we spend the rest of the day talking and drinking the rice wine, except for Noku who has juice. (Apparently Noku had a bad experience with wine, and avoids the stuff. Probably best for a wu jen to keep alert, anyway.)
Matoko tells us about himself and how he fled from the overlord of the Skyreach Mountains years ago. He wound up fighting as a mercenary for the Phoenix clan, who helped him get his license and set up shop.
Meliko then tells a story about Crab warriors fighting giants from the Skyreach Mountains.
We spend the night in Matoko's cave, sleeping off the rice wine.
9/24/1561 --
We head towards Brightstone Keep, and find a good place to camp for the night. Mulan spots an owl's net and prepares to cast Animal Friendship on the owl in the morning.
Noku tells a fictional story of Crane clan courtiers and intrigue. It is very interesting, but still respectful of the Crane clan. The night passes uneventfully.
9/25/1561 --
Mulan casts Animal Friendship and gets a new owl companion, which now rides on her shoulder. We continue towards Brightstone Keep, finding no tracks or encounters. The night passes uneventfully.
9/26/1561 --
We reach Brightstone Keep, introduce Meliko to the current residents, and look around. They are still repairing the walls, are actively working the mines (with an all volunteer crew), and have dispatched a few small groups of bakemono. There are now 2 monks and a few sohei among the ranks in the keep. We spend the night in the keep.
9/27/1561 --
Meliko predicts bad weather, so we stay at the keep and help out with various duties and tasks. Gorvak and Mulan work out with the sohei. Noku and I help the miners, while Hatori inspects the mines. The tunnels have been reinforced, things are much more orderly, and there has been no sign of the witch lady (wu jen).
As Meliko predicts, a big rainstorm hits that afternoon. We again spend the night in the keep.
9/28/1561 --
We head WNW down the mountains from Brightstone Keep, in the direction of the Spirit Tree. We find a place to set up camp, and the night passes uneventfully.
9/29/1561 --
We set off again for the Spirit Tree. We are almost down from the hills when we encounter a Tsuno (a large spirit creature resembling a minotaur). The battle ensues and we eventually defeat it.
Noku tries to distract the monster with a Ghostlight shining figure, while the archers bounce arrows off it. Hatori hits the creature with a Magic Missile, and yells that we needed magic weapons against a spirit creature. I cast Bless on the party. The Tsuno casts Rebuke on Hatori (2 rounds).
Gorvak rages and charges at the creature, but gets hit (12 points). I hit the thing with an obsidian crossbow bolt, but see no blood. The monster casts Fear Cone on Gorvak and Mulan, who run away (2 rounds).
Noku casts Invisibility on Zazu, who runs up for a sneak attack with his butterfly sword (+1). Zenako tumbles up to the monster and hits it. (Her new mithril armor is so much lighter than great armor!) Noku warns me that obsidian won't work, so I switch to my mace of smiting and smite the creature (13 points). The Tsuno hits, bites and gores Zenako, but she is still standing.
Noku finishes off the monster with a Magic Missile, and casts Detect Magic to look around. We find a magic cloak (Resistance?), a magic falchon (+1 or more?), plus some non-magic items: polished skulls on a belt/string, a large shield, a gem (worth about 1400 gold), plus 363 gold, 86 silver, and 13 copper.
I do my best to heal Zenako (2 CLW spells, and 1 CMW from wand). We bury the polished skulls while I say a few prayers.
Late in the day we get down into the forest. Gorvak spots the tracks of 12 bakemono going north. Late that night on 3rd watch (Hatori, Noku, Isaku), 12 bakemono return to attack us.
Noku casts Sleep on 3 bakemono, and Hatori hits another 3 with an Elemental Burst. I get hit by one of the creatures (12 points), but kill it with a flurry of blows. Noku casts Shield of Faith on himself and yells to wake the others.
Eventually everyone wakes up, either from the noise or from getting hit by bakemono. We finish off the bakemono, with almost everyone getting at least 1 kill: Hatori and his war horse kills 2, Mulan kills 1, Gorvak kills 1, Zenako kills 1, Isaku kills 2, and Noku kills 2 (1 with Magic Missile and 1 with his mace - Noku's first kill with a weapon!), and Zazu finishes off the 3 sleepers. We don't find any loot.
9/30/1561 --
We decide to take a slight detour, and head WNW to the stone ruins and graveyard where we met the ghosts on our last adventure. We have no encounters this time (the Lu Nat decided not to show himself).
I say some prayers over the Ubume's grave, and say that we had found a home for her baby in the Crab clan. We set up camp nearby, and I cast some healing spells on those wounded by the bakemono. I preparation for first watch, Noku casts Bull's strength on Zenako and Zazu.
On 1st watch (Zenako, Zazu, Saru), a giant Wasp attacks and is slain by Zenako and Zazu. The wasp stings Zenako (-1 DEX plus poison) in the battle. Noku casts Resistance on Zenako, and Mulan and I do our best to suck out the poison. Zazu and Gorvak remove the poison glands from the wasp (to make some poison darts?).
On 2nd watch (Mulan, Gorvak, Raji), Mulan stares down some black bears using Animal Empathy, and convinces them to leave.
10/1/1561 --
We arrive at the Spirit Tree site, but there is no wood spirit in sight. Meliko tells an awesome story, and when it is over, we notice someone new sitting with us - apparently the wood spirit is as fascinated by the story as we are!
Introductions are made, and Meliko wants to stay a few days to get to know the handsome wood spirit. We agree to wait until Meliko determines her path, and the wood spirit allows us to camp nearby.
Noku asks the spirit about meeting a Fire Elemental Lord (fire spirit). The wood spirit offers to bring Noku to the spirit world to find such as spirit, and says there are some powerful fire spirits to the south (Scorpion lands). Noku mentions that he has a friend (Ashi) who is interested in meeting an air spirit. Perhaps they can both come back and take the spirit up on his generous offer (assuming they can get back from the spirit world, of course).
Noku also tells the wood spirit about the stone spirit baby we found during the goblin rat adventure.
10/4/1561 --
We wait for three days, resting and healing our wounds. Meliko decides to stay, and gives us her necklace of fireballs as a gift, which Noku holds for the time being. Hatori gives the biwa (from the ghost adventure) to Meliko as an engagement gift.
10/5/1561 --
We head WSW, generally towards Waterstone Temple. We set up camp and the night passes uneventfully.
10/6/1561 --
We head WSW again, and Gorvak spots the tracks of 6 bakemono heading west towards the river. We decide follow the tracks, and hopefully find the camp where they sleep. In preparation, Hatori casts Bull's Strength on Zenako and Gorvak, Noku casts Bull's Strength on Mulan and Endurance on Isaku.
We set off following the tracks. Soon, Gorvak and Zazu see 6 bakemono, but they don't think the bakemono see us. Gorvak runs up and kills 1 sleeping bakemono in the brush, while Zazu moves up to take a look around.
At least 3 bakemono are awake - Zazu shoots and kills 1 with an arrow, I kill 1 with a flying kick, and Hatori and Mulan together kill 1 with 2 arrows. Gorvak kills another sleeper, and 11 more bakemono wake up, for 17 total. Battle ensues and we eventually kill them all (Gorvak kills 4, Zenako kills 4, Zazu kills 3, Isaku kills 3, Mulan kills 2, and Hatori kills 1).
I notice that many of the dead bakemono have red and scaly patches on their skin. Mulan takes a closer look and says they were infected with Red Mange. We get to the river and wash off the spores, to avoid catching the disease ourselves. Hatori cleans our clothes, as well.
10/7/1561 --
We head south towards Waterstone Temple. That night on 3rd watch (Hatori, Noku, Isaku), a passing corps of bakemono attacks us (18 normal bakemono, 2 war leaders).
We get into a big messy fight and eventually defeat them. (Noku Sleeps 5 and kills 1, Zenako kills 4, Thunder (war horse) kills 2, Mulan kills 1, Gorvak kills 3, Hatori kills 1 Zazu kills 1.)
Mulan, Zazu, Raji and I all went down in the battle, so some healing potions and spells were used to bring everyone around, and we finish off the sleeping bakemono.
Noku casts Detect Magic and looks around. We find a magic scimitar (+1) and 3 potions of the transmutation school of magic, plus some non-magic items: a mighty yumi, 8 plain arrows, 1 wax-covered arrow, some darts, leather armor, masterwork lamellar armor, a masterwork longsword, 225 gold, and 175 silver.
10/8/1561 --
The party is still in tough shape from the battle, so we hustle off to reach Waterstone Temple before getting into any more encounters. We spend 3 days resting and healing at the temple.
10/11/1561 --
We head back towards Marike, and get halfway there. We set up camp and the night passes uneventfully.
10/12/1561 --
We arrive at Marike, and identify the magic items: 1 Potion of Charisma (d4+1 CHA), worth 300 gold 1 Potion of Wisdom (d4+1 WIS), worth 300 gold 1 Potion of Enlarge, worth 250 gold 1 Scimitar, +1 1 Falchon, +2 1 Cloak of Resistance, +2
We also receive a bounty of 245 gold for 49 bakemono (5 gold per bakemono).
(Zenako, Isaku and Mulan went up to 6th level. Zenako is going up as a Sohei, Mulan is going up as a Ranger, and Isaku is going up as a Shaman.)