Greetings, noble (and not so noble) guardians of Marike and environs!
After the funeral rites for Zazu, performed by the Abbess of Waterstone Temple and attended by some of your number, the Abbess spoke privately with various of Zazu's former companions, discussing minor matters, inquiring as to the events which have occurred since you were here last, not so long ago. She is pleased at your ever-increasing skills and your efforts to make the Empire ever safer from the depredations of foes both without and within. After speaking with some of you individually, she asks you who are there to arrange to return with the rest of your adventuring companions, or as many as you can muster who would be willing to venture into the Wilderness on a mission for the Temple, on the 10th day of the 11th month.
(...days pass, permissions are granted as desired for any with constraints on their actions to participate in a mission for the Abbess, who is in essence an ally of Lord Isaka and friend to the people of Marike...)
Assuming that your group of adventurers, or a significant part thereof, including Noku, does arrive at Waterstone Temple on 11/10/1561, you are shown into a private room, where the Abbess sits at the head of a long table, attended only by a single hooded and cloaked figure standing beside her, whose features are in shadow from the only lighting in the room, a paper lantern on a hook set in the wall behind them. She nods to you as you enter, and motions for you all to be seated at the table.
"As you know," she begins, "the spirits have granted me the power to bring the dead back to life, provided that the spirit of the dead person is willing to return to its current life rather than pass on to its next incarnation. Noku, here, was one such beneficiary of that power, as was young Zazu. Zazu's spirit, however, has moved on, for it saw the workings of Fate in its second death, and after making arrangements to relieve its karmic burden, has accepted its destiny, whatever that may be.
"Being raising from the dead does indeed burden one's spirit with a karmic debt, and Noku wishes to repay that debt to me and the spirits I serve. He has indicated his willingness to do so whenever I should request his service -- and now seems to be a good time to do so, before the deep snows of winter arrive and make things, shall we say, a bit more difficult. And the fact that Noku has recently mastered certain magics, which may make his ability to cope with what he might find significantly greater, is a factor as well.
"However, he alone cannot hope to succeed in the task which I intend to put before him -- therefore I am requesting the aid as well of you, his most honorable companions in adventure, for despite his apparently lowly origins, it seems there are bonds of friendship and honor among you which cross the boundaries of birth rank, Family, and Clan. As you are here today, I anticipate that you will indeed choose to accompany him in this task, for it will offer, I believe, sufficient opportunity for honor to be gained and prowess to be displayed, in the service of both this Temple and the Empire as a whole.
"The task, simply put, is to retrieve certain items of a spiritual nature from the ruins of the temple from which came that fine set of flutes you gave to me after your cleansing of the Old Tree Spirit several months ago. After some amount of research into the archives of the Temple here, and some minor divinations, I have assembled a small amount of information on the layout of the original temple grounds, and have confirmed that certain holy relics are still hidden upon them, though how they may be guarded or where exactly within the grounds they may be found, I could not determine. However, I have determined that a fortuitous day to set forth upon such a task would be the 11th day of the 11th month, which is tomorrow.
"To represent the Temple in this endeavor, and to guide you to the ruins -- indeed, to guide you to a village of barbarians with which we trade upon occasion, who will I am sure be willing to provide you a place where you may safely keep your mounts and supplies, and take shelter between forays into the ruins -- I am assigning one of our Temple's more accomplished scouts. Allow me to introduce to you this worthy individual, known to us as Til'k, who has served the Temple loyally and well for several years, and whom I trust implicitly."
She nods to the hooded, cloaked figure at her shoulder, who steps forward...
As Til'k steps forward and the light hits his face the visage appears to be that of a giant rat! After a brief moment of surprise, you realize that this is not a goblin rat or a rat Hengeyokai but probably a Nezumi.
He smiles, showing a set of formidable teeth, and says, in barely accented Drakaran, "My full name is Til'k'chek but most humans call me Til'k." Then he bows his head slightly and looks at each of you in turn as if sizing you up. It almost seems that he is sniffing the air as he does so. He appears to have a scimitar at his side and might be wearing some type of armor under his robes.
As the temple scout returns to his place by the Abbess, moving gracefully and fairly quietly, she continues.
"I have provided Til'k with the information I have gathered, and with instructions as to what to look for as regards the holy relics I hope to see returned here. Other items of value which you may salvage from the ruins are yours to do with as you will, and I will be honored to determine the properties of any items you may have questions about. In addition, as this mission is in the service of this Temple, I will be prepared to bring back from the dead any spirits who wish to return to their bodies, should they meet with such misfortune as to spend their lives in this endeavor, with no karmic debt attached. The spirits willing, there will be no need for such drastic measures, but if they are, rest assured that they will be taken.
"Please enjoy the hospitality of the Temple this night, and if you wish, you may discuss this mission amongst yourselves, and with Til'k here. I will have refreshment sent in for you, and when you are ready to retire, Til'k will show you to your sleeping chambers. All who choose to accept this mission should be ready to set out after breakfast -- breakfast will be served after dawn prayers, as usual, and you are welcome to partake of our humble fare."
She arises, and as you also rise and bow, returns your bows with a nod and leaves, and shortly thereafter some novices arrive with tea, rice cakes and other fare upon which you can dine...
GM's note -- actual information will be provided later, in session, as the GM first needs to generate it...but feel free to exchange words with Til'k, who is (as some of you have no doubt already guessed) Dave's new character. However, Dave will be leaving for Florida Tuesday and won't be back until the 12th, and may not have email, so don't be too surprised if replies are slow in coming...
-- Ernie III / DrakaraGM