Li Bong and Naozumi visit Xianyin

===> COH <===> 4/29/2020, 9:54:41 PM <===

	Out in the middle of nowhere in the mojave desert, was a parcel of land owned by the Gam Saan Historical Preservation Society. On the land? An oasis. A defunct precious metals mine. And an abandoned airfield. It was the mine that was of most interest to shen and kuei jin, for deep within the bowels of the earth in the mine? Was Xianyon - the legendary lost necropolis of Qin. It was here that the dhampyr MoGui made his headquarters!

	To get down to the necropolis? Required Jade Shintai to walk down the sheer walls of the mineshaft, or some other supernatural means. Barring that? One had to slowly and carefully lower themselves using a rope and pulley system that hat been developed and set up.

As a centipede, the ways of the Earth are no mystery to the Kuei-Jin. Naozumi casually walks down the shaft. When he enters the massive space, he is in awe. He looks around, impressed with hat is here. He calls out into the necropolis, "MoGui! It's Naozumi! Are you here?"

	Mo had a small base camp set up, just outside the wall to the outer city. A small fire signaled his presence. There were two voices - Mo's and another. The second voice? Was loud, and deep, and rolled like thunder across the expanse of the underground city: >>Thomas - we have a visitor.<<

Naozumi spots the fire and trots over, "Ah, there you are! This is incredible! When I was following the directions, I was a bit skeptical."

Li Bong has followed Naozumi, based on an omen. Or a fortune cookie. Or maybe he was like...why-the-hell-is-the-new-guy-out-here in the desert? Because MoGui sent the monk a message, and like a child... he followed without even asking what-for.
	"Skeptical is the polite word to use. Hello, Naozumi."

	The source of the second thundering voice would soon become apparent, as a dragon came into view. ENTER ... Fan Feng Fu!

	Despite being diminutive in stature, the azure dragon's presence was large and imposing! >>WHO DARES ENTER THE LAIR OF FAN FENG FU!<<

	Mo hops up off a crate and raises his hands, "No, no, its ok, Mr. Fu! He's a friend!" Then he looks to Naozumi. "This is Fan Feng Fu - one of the last great dragons of the middle kingdom, the Azure Dragon of the East."

Naozumi turns when he hears Li Bong, "Oh, hello. I needed to get out of the city for a bit. This was well worth the journey."

Naozumi's eyes widen when he is introduced to the dragon, he offers a bow, "Greetings, oh ancient one. Thank you for granting me the honor of being in your magnificent domain."

Li Bong has snuck in -behind- Naozumi, then come out of the shadows. He has his bamboo pole and the canvas bag over one shoulder, like usual.
	"Mr. Fu. Mister MoGui." He gives a little bow. "I dared, again. Apologies. But, I bring gifts" He pats the side of his canvas bag.
	"Did you want apples or oranges this evening?"

<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Naozumi rolls Charisma + Etiquette  vs 7 for 1 successes.
2 4 5 +8
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->

	Mr. Fu settles down when Li Bong announces the gifts! >>Oranges would be a delectable treat!<< The little dragon then makes his way over to sniff at the monk.

	Mo relaxes a little now that Mr. Fu is otherwise engaged, and he takes the time to wave Naozumi over, offering the kuei jin a crate to sit on. "Glad you could make it. We haven't yet reached the center of the maze, but. Soon. Then we can restore this place to its former glory."

Li Bong plucks two fat lucious looking oranges from his bag, tossing one immediately to Fu... then starting to peel the other.

Naozumi takes a seat on the offered crate, "This place is great. What will be at the center?"

	Mr. Fu leaps into the air with the grace only a dragon can muster, and snatches up the orange! He'll then take his prize off to his spot where he can enjoy it.

	Mo looks to Li Bong with a smile as he feeds the dragon, then returns his attention to Naozumi, "The tomb of the lost emperor."

	"Which Lost Emperor, Master MoGui?" Asks Li Bong as he leaves Mr. Fu to his orange, and walking to join the other two. "We have -so- many."

Naozumi says, “What I meant was, how will finding it restore the rest. Do you have to do a ritual or something?”

	Mo looks to Li Bong with a wry grin, "Well, it wouldn't be so much of a mystery if we had that answer handy, would it?"

	Mr. Fu will chuckle at Mo's retort, in between eating bites of juicy orange!

Li Bong makes a slow 'spin' into a seating Lotus position, cradling his bamboo pole in his lap. He smiles up at both.
	"Ok. What can we do?"

	Mo then looks back to Naozumi, "I don't think so. We just need to get Mr. Fu to the center of the maze, and he can do the rest from there." A sigh, "There have been challenges, of course. We've cleared the outer city of magic guardians - terracotta soldiers, and a rolling boulder, and the like." A pause. "Then we cleared the inner city of its perils. Sorta. There's a horde of skeletal soldiers in there, after crossing a half broken bridge over a bottomless chasm. And there were beetles, but they didn't seem too terrible. Of course, we were distracted by the skeletal warriors, but..."

Naozumi says, “Sounds harrowing... but great fun at the same time. Did this emperor come here, to the United States, centuries before others?”

Li Bong holds up a finger.
	"Again, -which- Emperor!?!"

	Mo nods to Naozumi, "Through space and time. The /first/ great leap westward, before any and all others!" Then he looks to Li Bong, and lowers his voice, "The secret brother of Qin Shi Huangdi. Spirited away to the west, a long time ago."

	Li Bong gives MoGui a funny look, leaning forward and squinting in the darkness.
	"The founder of the Qin Dynasty?" He smiles. "The Emperor who commissioned the Terracotta Army?"

	Mo looks to Li Bong, and continues. "In 211 BC, a large meteor is said to have fallen in Dongjun in the lower reaches of the Yellow River. On it, an unknown person inscribed the words "The First Emperor will die and his land will be divided" When the emperor heard of this, he sent an imperial secretary to investigate this prophecy. No one would confess to the deed, so all the people living nearby were put to death. The stone was then pulverized..."

Naozumi listens with great interest, "Fascinating".

	"That powder? From the meteor? Became the elixir of life, that was given to the secret brother. He was then spirited away to HERE shortly thereafter," concludes Mo.

Li Bong nods to Naozumi. Smiles. Then turns back to Mo Gui.
	"All Shen of the Middle Kingdom have heard stores like this. The Wu Lung have their own tales of Qin Shin Huangdi, and of his stone warriors. They are said to be Golems, fighting for the path of Order." He pauses, an eyebrow arched.
	"Order with the capital O. This Elixer... you have a lead on where some of it was hidden or thought lost?"

	Mo looks over to check in on Mr. Fu, who is just now finishing up the orange from earlier. The little dragon makes his way back over to join the group. >>It is rumored that some of the elixir from the heavenly jade that fell from the sky is at the center of the maze, in the lost emperor's tomb.<< A pause as Mr. Fu regards Li Bong and Naozumi. >>We need to confirm its location. Before the tournament of heavenly cities convenes.<<

Li Bong nods. Pauses. Nods again.
	"And the Yin Spirits of this ... cave?" He isnt sure what to call the place, "Have you asked them to look? To explore the tunnels and the shadows before our fleshy vessels take the journey ourselves?"

Naozumi nods, "A good idea. Does Mr. Fu drink the elixir?"

	Mr. Fu eyes Li Bong, >>There are /no/ yin spirits here.<< The dragon pauses. >>Curious, yes?<<

Li Bong frowns. Nods. Tilts his head, as if waiting for more. Maybe an explanation.

	Mo clears his throat, then clarifies. "It seems as if much of the magic that was once here, has left or expired." A pause. "Or been dismissed. But we won't really know 'til we get to the center of the maze."

Li Bong nods and spirals up to a standing position, moving his bamboo pole onto his back. He seems... ready.

===> Log ended by user <===> 4/29/2020, 11:11:42 PM <===