I will send out later tonight what Zenako will propose for the treasure distribution from the Ming Yo Temple.
I found a blue dice bag and dice at the Mike/Jon end of the table while cleaning up last night, just so you know where it is...
Continued talking with DMsan for a little bit (and Ginny too for a while).
Near term plans for the characters appear to be heading in this direction.
We got to Waterstone on the evening of the 27th, and either met with the Abbess right away, or did so the following day.
In any case, the next day (either the 28th or 29th) Zenako intends to ride back to Marike (takes 1 day mounted, but two long days walking, it is about 40 miles). She intends to then pay a visit to our Smithing Friend in the mountains, pick up her 4 mirror armor, and then return to Marike. She then intends to spend six days in supplication to her ancestors to further awaken her Katana to the +2 level. After completeing that ritual, she intends to ride back to Waterstone and be ready to return to the Temple Ruins.
Assuming she departs Waterstone on the 29th initially, she would expect to return (unless Lord Isaka has other directions for me to follow) to Waterstone on the 8th day of the 12th month, and then return to the ruins (2 days to Barbarian Village then one to the Camp) on the 12th of the 12th month. (Which may in itself have some neat benefit much like we left on the 11 day of the 11th month the first time :-)...)
As to whom is going where, anyone not on horseback, will be on their own if they want to travel back to Marike.
I think Mulan might plan on staying at the Temple, and perhaps working on the many new Knowledge skills she has begun learning. She might also be able to help with finding some interesting plants for the Du'oc cu'o'c guardian.
I know that some of the PC's have indicated a desire to return to Marike. You may be able to restore some supplies from the Temple or the locals, and not have to return to the Marike.
From a player perspective, the next play session will undoubtably involve further activity back at the ruins so it really won't matter too much where you go or stay outside of what you might be able to do in the interim time. Those who just stay at Waterstone could have 10 or 11 days of activity before we set out again.
The extra time spent away from the ruins does not significantly alter the opportunity we have to recover further relics for the Temple. Everything has already been there for significant time already. We do know that we have one other party engaged in active searching, but she appears to lack some of the resources for finding things that our group can call on. She will have had at least 6 or 7 days to continue searching while we brought the bell back to Waterstone even if we immediately returned. Adding in another bunch of days should not be much of a factor, and might give our Oracle a chance to learn more.
Tentative plan on return, assuming we have some "shrubberies" for the Guardian of the Garden known in some circles as Neee!, we will head there first, cleaning out any more of the lesser Gaki we find in the thorny bush region. After doing that, I propose that we head back down to the southern portion of the ruins and head east through another region alleged to have more Gaki and then head up along the Eastern Side. (Some of this is to let the DM know which parts he needs to have ready / detailed for next session.)