LOG: Qi Lung: The Cylinder

===> COH <===> 5/31/2019, 6:01:49 PM <===

Qi Lung: The Cylinder

THE STORY SO FAR:

Two barely conceivable beings, ancient Yama Kings, Levh and Tilia, have fought an incomprehensible war for a generation over Sajavedra, a barely legendary Hell far to the southeast in the Yomi Wan. They wish to claim its rich harvests of souls and fields, its intricate networks of dragon lines and temples, for their own. They have devastated it utterly. Their war covers the Hell in immensity and madness: sky and water and land whirling and blending, geography warping, reality itself plastic, shelled and torn. One minor artifact from this war misfired in the burning sky above and fell to land in the Qi Lung River valley, on the western edge of Sajavedra, causing the river valley to break off from the Hell entirely and begin its own independent evolution -  a nascent Hell of its own in the making.

Think of the artifact that caused this rift as a jammed shell from a gunfight, ejected and forgotten as the battle rages on. It is the Cylinder. And the Cylinder’s sorcery has, in its minor way, begun to deform the Qi Lung valley. The Cylinder leaks balefire, a magical power contaminant. It poisons the beasts and the plants, the water and the grayish loess soil. Food grows short, famine comes even where war had left pockets of health and fertility. The denizens of the valley have changed, the balefire turning them selfish, inhuman, and cruel. Actually, the war and famine have done that – the balefire gives them power to act on this change.

Faced with the growing corruption of the realm's dragon lines, the Monks of the Poison Lotus Cult began working on a great ritual to cleanse the realm of this blight. Unfortunately, it required pushing poison into Prospect's chinatown. A treaty was negotiated between Prospect's Shen and the Cult, which turned the monks towards a different solution that avoided corrupting Chinatown. Unfortunately? It would destroy the realm of Qi Lung utterly in its execution, throwing the baby out with the bath water, such as it were. A second compromise was then further negotiated, buying time for an alternative solution to deal with the artifact corrupting the realm.

But now? Now it appears that Master Prem may have decided to forego the compromise to take matters into his own hands. Or worse? Another party may have decided to intervene, taking the Master to pillage plans and secrets for some unknown purpose. Either way, it's not good, and the only thing to be done is follow the clues and tracks from the Master's disappearance - and they lead straight to the one place our protagonists have yet to explore. The flooded muck of the valley where the Cylinder is said to have fallen.

AND NOW THE STORY PICKS UP WITH OUR PROTAGONISTS HOT ON THE TRAIL! ...

	Having gathered interested parties in his dragon nest, Danny enacts the ritual that transports the group through the yin portal and into the yomi wan! Everyone falls into the inky pool in the center of the cavern and traverses through the Wall, emerging in the reflecting pool of Mandul Xiem! (STA checks vs 6 for non Yin aspected types, 4 for Yin aspected! - 1+ success no ill effects, fail indicates queasiness, botches indicate full on retching and yakking up)

	Emerging from the reflecting pool in the monastery, no one seems /too much/ the worse for wear. This part of the journey is usually easy enough.

Once more Sonya and her brother finds themselves on another crazy adventure at the beckon of Danny. The tigress is now four months pregnant and most likely will be her last 'mission' in which she can comfortably shift without harm to herself or the child. On her back is a sword in an ebony sheathe with the hilt in the form of a leaping tiger of pure gold and silver. She's wearing black cargo pants and a snug matching shirt as she heads for the pool.

Since last he trekked these lands, things had changed for Aidan. New rank, new powers, and new toys. A jewel-hilted ingeom sword is at his side, twin to the one Sonya carries. No ordinary sword, that, its power sleeping but humming like the distant ozone of an approaching storm. He makes the crossing easily, familiar by now with the lurching effects. He's got a wet bag, and pulls out dry clothes once he's over to don them. Lightweight apparel, easy to travel and to dry.

Why he is here and how he got here is a mystery, even to Eiji. His curiosity getting the better of him as usual. Though his desire to get back to his own heritage drives the curious young man as he follows the story. Tagging along with one being or another, hitchhiking on a pant leg here and there, he finds himself amongst the others following the tale and jumping into the pool with the others, to who knows where. As he emerges, one hand on his head to still the spinning. Eyes seeming out of focus possibly. Hunched a lil over with the other arm across his stomach. It passes, but not what he expected.

	Danny checks to make sure that no one got lost in the jump. A quick head count, and then he leads the group on out of the reflecting pool. SPLASH SPLASH SPLASH. The group is greeted by a trio of /very/ worried looking monks.

"Thank you for helping us. Without Master Prem, the monastery will be lost. Please find and recover him." They then meditate and cast a blessing over the group.(PPL CAN MYSTIC POOL/WP REFRESH IF NEEDED!). The blessing concluded, they hand over a map, marked up. "That's our best guess as to the safest route. Good luck. No one's ever been that close to the artifact and returned."

It is a usual thing for Ying Yue to be in her current state as she is pulled through the water in to the Yomi realm. Though this time, she manages to not be sick as she climbs out of the water and on to dry land. The White-haired young woman is not that way for long, quickly taking on her much larger form of the feathered dragon. That one is likely to carry a little more respect in this realm.

Giving a firm nod of her head to the monks, Sonya peels out of her clothing to take the fresh, dry ones out of her own wet bag. After sliding them on, she covers her baby bump with her shirt, then tugs a protective vest on. "We'll get him back." She says firmly with a nod of her head as she shifts the sword to her hip so that it's easily within reach. There is a rumble of power from within, like a volcano waiting to explode.

	When Ying Yue takes on the form of a dragon? /Another/ one will materialize from the darkness around Danny. Two! Two Dragons! The monks startle slightly, eye widening as they show the group to the monastery gates that lead to the wilderness beyond.

Eiji is drenched in his work overalls, very uncomfortable for travel, so he removes them while the Monks give their blessing. Draping them his shoulder to dry, he seems quite fine with his nudity. Ready to follow the others who seem to know more of what is going on.

Naked. That is the first obvious trait noticed about this Oriental man. Enough of a distraction from any other descriptive features, well at least at first. I mean, he has the stereotypical features of a man from the Orient. Black hair, cut short and neat. Youthful. Perhaps older than he looks. Well muscled and athletic in build, but short. Definately not a tall man. There is curiosity in his expressions as if seeing things for the first time.

Aidan looks over to Eiji as he seems to struggle with the passing, his expressions not entirely unsympathetic. "The journey doesn't have much in the way of pity." To the monks he gives a nod of his head and he regards the offered map, though he defers the handling of it to Danny. The form of Ying Yue doesn't surprise him, he's seen it before, though the appearance of the second dragon gives him pause and he studies the things curiously. "New friend?"

	Mr. Lao is /not/ winged, instead he slithers about at ground level with ease on those oily black scales of his. Danny smiles and gives Aidan a nod. "Mr. Lao has been assigned to me to assist in matters concerning the well being of our part of the middle kingdom. And beyond." Taking the map, Danny frowns as he ties to orient. A shrug, and then the group are ushered out the gates, the heavy doors slamming shut loudly and ominously behind them. Danny eyes Eiji and smiles, motioning for the youth to keep close. He was as yet unassessed, after all.

Feathered Dragon is able to maintain flight effortlessly, even hovering above the others. And it is true, the dragons are a stark contrast to eash other. She looks at those that have gathered today, noticing that many of those that regularily come are not here.

Eiji is quite happy to keep close to Danny and the others, though he spins around as he walks, facinated with the Dragons. It's quite obvious he has never seen one. He is simply amazed by the feathered one. There is a natural grace in his step, as it never falters despite his always turning around to get another gaze upon each of the mythical creatures.

Glancing over towards the new face who is now naked, Sonya gives him a bit of a brow lift, as if appraising him for a moment before she bumps her shoulder into her twin brother's. "Must be nice to have a buddy dragon to hang out with."

Aidan tips his head in a gesture of respect to the coiling dragon, but otherwise leaves him be. To his sister he grins and slants her look, remarking, "But we have a Goddess." He regards the closing doors and then back to the map. "I have some practice with tracking, though it's been awhile. How clear is the trail there?"

	"The care and feeding required is no small thing," offers Danny. "But Mr. Lao is incredibly helpful in maintaining the peace when needed." Danny looks up ahead. The trail is fairly clear, first through woods, then through swamp, and finally what looks like a shallow lake or rice paddy before the map shows some wet soggy field where the monks suspect the Cylinder is placed.

	The trail is picked up easily enough by those that make an effort, and soon enough the group is making their way through the dense, steamy jungle!

Eiji wrings out his overalls now and then as they walk to try and get the excess water out of em so they dry faster, but they are quite the heavy material, and its gonna be a while before they are dry still. He takes a glance at the map to see where they are going when he gets the chance. Such a new place for him, he's happy he can just get a gist of the path. The facination of the dragons takes a lull while in the forest, he is smart enough that there are things in the forest that could eat him if given the chance. However, that also means there is plenty for him to eat as well. So attentive he becomes, will he find food, or will something find him.

	The air in the jungle is thick and heavy, cloying almost, as the group picks up the trail. (PERCEPTION + AWARENESS vs 6, PERCEPTION + ALERTNESS vs 6)

"I can track him if you can give me some information about him." Sonya says as she shifts upwards into her crinos form. Now a large war form of a striped beast, she taps the sword at her side, then takes in a deep breath of the air about her, focusing on the name of this stolen priest.

	Danny nods to Sonya. "Prem, Master of the Poison Lotus Cult." He keeps pace with the group, making sure everyone is close enough to benefit from a shield should he need to drop one.

	And that's when those that succeeded on Alertness would notice scat/dung, what have you. On the trail. Big cat. Predatory cat. Those that succeeded on Awareness? Would pick up on a whiff of Taint. Foul magic, that sorta thing. From the dung/scat.

Strike-of-Heaven takes to his larger Crinos form as they travel, easier to push through forest and swamp and anything that may get in their way. The sword's sheathe and belt shift to fit the Khan's larger size. As he goes, he taps into one of his gifts, the power lending a silvery sheen to his orange striped coat. The scent in the air makes his lips curl, a low growl escaping him. It's English, but barely. "Tainted."

Feathered Dragon tends to not eat when she comes here, the travel back and forth having not been good for her in the past. Plus, in this place the food is likely to have residual taint just from being from here. She's not the best at tracking through the woods, but her senses are relatively good today for other things.

"I smell shit in the air." Fire Runner says with a wrinkle of her snout as she trudges through the terrain, hacking away at it with her claws as her ears slick back. She calls upon her armor, but not finding it as strong as she is used to as it shimmers about her body.

	The scent of ... rotting flesh will suddenly assault people's senses, up ahead in the eternal twilight of this godforsaken realm. (Everyone can declare one action if they wish!)

	Mr. Lao's eyes glow a dark red as he draws close to Danny, close enough to lunge in front of the maoshan and act as a shield if necessary.

Eiji wrinkles his nose as the unpleasant smell of excrement is noticed. As the others change into forms more suited for hunting and combat, he does the same.
Eiji transforms into a half arachnid, half humanoid nightmare. DELIRIUM IN EFFECT!

Feathered Dragon is not exactly the best at combat, but she will do what she has proven good at, and that is protecting the others in the group, much like the other dragon.

Strike-of-Heaven closes his clawed hand around the hilt of his blade and pulls it free, the shining steel blade seeming to shimmer with a faint purple-blue hue. However, there is one thing that can distract him from a possible threat. And that is the changing of the newcomer into something that makes every hair on the tiger's body stand on end and his lips peel back from his teeth. There's a low creak of the blade's hilt as his fist closes tighter, but for now he doesn't take any overtly aggressive action.

	Joining the trail of Big Cat scat on the path, is human excrement. And blood. And bits of rotting flesh. Soon enough the group rounds the bend and comes upon two carcasses - half eaten and rotting by the side of the path. Villagers. Hardly enough for a single meal between the two emaciated bodies. But they have been killed and half eaten.

Drawing her blade in unison, Fire Runner lets the steel whip free with a metallic ring. There's a glow of red and gold from about the blade as she twirls it about in her large paws. Giving a glance over towards the Ananasi, the fur along the back of her neck rises upwards quickly, but it's the new scents that drag her attention away. Focus on the mission. ~Fuck.~ She rowls out to her brother. ~This is not good.~

	Up ahead are two more corpses, and the bodies are being gnawed upon and scavenged. By cannibals! Five of them, ripping chunks of decayed flesh from the corpses and stuffing it into their mouths to gorge.

	As the cannibals gather their bearings up ahead from gorging on corpses, the party has a moment to execute one free action.

Stepping forward, Fire Runner puffs up her chest fur, then lets out a bellowing /roar/ from deep within, her eyes glowing yellow as her fangs are bared. She looks terrifying as she strikes an intimidating pose meant to terrify.

Eiji is gone....The arachnid horror leaps from his place and is into the canopy of the jungle somewhere above the cannibals. The movement of the leaves and branches, still noting his presence.

With the cannibals in proper sight, Strike-of-Heaven drags his eyes from the Ananasi and onto the prey at hand. Brandishing the jeweled sword, he advances towards the five with violence in his eyes and a reverberating snarl echoing in the wake of his sister's roar.

Jin has of course been here somewhere the entire time, no really you just didn't see her, hear her or note her great fashion sense. Danny has hands suddenly clench both his shoulders as she peers around him, "Hey Kemosabe, what's a nice Asain kid like you doing hanging out with Furries."

	Danny eeps as he's grasped by Jin. But she surely must be a friendly, since Mr. Lao doesn't react, and in fact seems relieved that she appeared. "Oh you know, the usual. Trying to rescue some misbegotten soul."

	The roar comes from - well, not from the typical Lion-king of the jungle, but. It does the trick. The cannibals drop flesh from their mouths as they're braced by the intimidating roar. And then? One of them catches fire! UGGGHHHHH! THE SMELL!!!! Is it better or worse when flame is added to the mix?

Having already been on the move, Strike of Heaven is within range in short order to the cannibals. With one on fire, he aims for the cluster not next to their flaming cohort. The silver blade raises and swings, but the scrawny little buggers are fast and the steel whizzes by without impact.

Twirling the blade about, Fire-Runner lunges forward and strikes, the metal burning hot before it erupts into a hot blaze as she slices through the cannibal. She hisses loudly as her ears slick backwards through the attack, spraying blood along her pelt.

Avatar of Sun Wukong doesn't bother to attack there are others to do the heavy lifting today. Instead she peers into one of Danny's ears and in tru simian fashion begins to groom the sorcerer.

Spider terror, Eiji, drops down on one lagging behind the others in its foul smelling group, attempting to sink his fangs into the cannibal, but is unable to penetrate. Lucky for the cannibal.

	The cannibals are in rough shape. Terrorized. Set aflame. its a bad day to try and get your grub on a couple corpses! The one on fire drops down to roll in the muck. The one that was cleaved bu fiery steel turns to try and run. The other three that are as yet unharmed, also turn tail and dive into the thick dark of the jungle!

Feathered Dragon tries to dive in, flailing out with a claw as she does so, but not being bred and tailored to fight, she swings wide.

	What do cannibals say to death? NOT TODAY! They survive the dragons! HUZZAH! The flying one misses! The slithering one misses! And the surviving cannibals disappear into the darkness of the jungle! WELL, THAT WAS A FUN TIME!

	Danny leans into the avatar of the monkey king for a moment. "Now we can get back to the task at hand. Master Prem - who knows what condition he'll be in by time we get there."

Sliding her blade along her arm to clear the blood, Fire-Runner sheathes it as she lets out a hiss. << Fuckers. Good riddance. >> She mrowls out as she continues stalking forward as her ears slant back.

Eiji stumbles as he tries to leap back up into the canopy. Instead, scurrying to the nearest tree and climbing up to travel above. Disappearing into the thick foliage, though its movements here and there signify the spider's presence.

Strike-of-Heaven looks like he's itching to pursue, but he turns one ear back to hear Danny's words. With a low and displeased grunt, he lowers his weapon but keeps it ready. His eyes swing back to the map-wielder, though he keeps glancing towards the canopy and the spider lurking above. His hackles remain up, tail jerking lightly side to side.

	Danny sighs and looks around, doing his best to orient with the map. "That way," he says. "A frown. Where the corruption feels strongest."

Feathered Dragon comes to land near the others, folding her long wings along her body, and unlike most crinos shifters, she looks ove and is able to speak as easily as she could in her homid form, "Yes, we should keep on moving, it is harder for me to move in the forest."

Fire-Runner gives a firm nod of her head in agreement as she moves forward as she stalks with her lumbering weight. She lets out a heavy breath as her ears give a flicker like tiny radars.

	Eventually the jungle gives way to a mucky field. The taint and corruption here is palpable. Certainly, the water nearby glistens with the unnatural sheen of balefire, and the algae and lichens grow on the water and rocks around the site in spiraling patterns bent as if by magnetic force

	Up ahead? The Cylinder! Perhaps the first impression is one of dismal mundanity. It resembles nothing so much as a large (15â long) pistol shell, lying canted on one side and slowly sinking into the muck of the Valley.

	No insect noises are audible; in fact, the group must shout to be heard at all. The light around seems flatter and slightly reddish, making the Cylinder itself seem to bulge a bit, and shine with a bluish tint. It is impossible to describe just how the Cylinder seems marred or deformed, but everyone would agree that it is not quite whole or wholesome.

	Strapped to a stake in front of the Cylinder? Master Prem!

As the jungle clears, Eiji drops from the canopy to walk on its four spindly legs keeping the tiger with the big word on the other side of other bodies, dragons preferably. Having many eyes is a blessing to notice the irritation he has caused to the giant cat man. When the Prem is spotted on a stake, his attention goes to the surrounding landscape to give a cautious gaze seeking noticable danger.

Avatar of Sun Wukong tilts her head and looks at Master Prem but makes no attempt at a rescue as the setup seems all to perfect for an ambush.

Strike-of-Heaven doesn't so much walk as he does stalk, with that fluid predatory grace that would be beautiful save the boiling pulse of Rage under that striped pelt. He seems to follow Jin's same line of thought as his approach slows them stops, his head raised and his jaws gaping. It's a bizarre looking face he pulls, part snarl and part grimace, like he wasn't sure if he should be angry or disgusted. Those familiar with feline would recognize it as a sensory attempt though, not an outward expression.

Once they are in the open once again, the white dragon takes to the air, though she doesn't go rushing in quite yet to grab Prem, as she does take a few extra moments to assess the situation. "Should I just go in and pull him out of there, or baring that, take the whole stake?"

<< Mostly likely it's a trap. >> Fire Runner rumbles through her pack link to her brother, ears slanting backwards. She attunes her body so that won't make a sound as she walks, creeping towards the large bullet with the man tried to it. She holds a claw to her muzzle for a 'shh' sound as she pulls her sword with the other paw out. She has the means to cut him free at least.

	At a certain point, getting near the artifact Makes Things Unwell. Its leaking balefire radiation like no one's business. (Stamina checks vs 8 to approach and then again to remain in the tainted zone. Fails cause temporary loss of 1 Stamina. hecks made each round of exposure!)

Strike-of-Heaven attempts to approach, but a few steps in and his posture begins to droop. He utters a low and unsettled sort of groan, but he keeps pushing forward to keep at his sister's side even as his steps flag slightly. << I... hate radiation. >> He says through the pridal link to his twin.

Eiji tries to approach with the others, but cylinder's unholy bale sickens him. He will not approach any further. Then he realizes, Oh shit! Mean Kitty didn't approach either, but he did take a few steps closer thant the spider would. He was for sure the big bad tiger would have gone to the stake. If he could do the awkward casual nan-chalant whistled tune, he probably would right now. But at least he is behind the tiger now.

Avatar of Sun Wukong looks at Danny, "Got a spell to seal that thing up cause we aren't carrying it through the jungle like that." She watches the cats push forward followed by the freaky spider thing, "Tell me you have a spell."

<< I'm not a fan of it either. Natalie would kill me if she knew I was out here. >> Fire Runner says as she grits her teeth as she slugs forward against the radiation, ears wilting back against her skull uncomfortably.

	Danny executes a kata from a safe distance. The stake holding Prem holds firm, but the bindings? They snap and Prem falls to the ground. One less task to worry about!

Feathered Dragon flies in, her own stamina holding for now. She isn't exposing anyone other than herself to the poisoning if need be. She moves as swiftly as she can to get ahold of the now freed Prem.

	Danny reaches out for the monkey king avatar to steady himself. The radiation from the Cylinder seems to be increasing when the surrounding environment is disturbed.

Strike-of-Heaven looks up to the pale dragon making the best progress and reaches out a hand to put it on his sister's shoulder and give her a gentle push back. << Stay back. Let the rest of us try, but don't put yourself and your son in danger. Watch our backs. >> Him? He's going forward.

The dragon might not fight well, she might not even be the strongest, but she is able to lift Prem, and she is also able to continue warding off the radiation. She beats her wings with more power, trying to carry them out of the tainted area.

Hesitating, Fire-Runner gives pause as her brother looks to nudge her back and then advance forward. Her ears perk forward with concern. << Just be careful. I'll go in there and drag you out if need be. >>

Eiji stays back. His desire to approach is not there. Others have done what he can't though, the benefit of diversity. Just the thought of a Dragon was fantastic to him. Now that he has seen them, considering the situation, they are truely mezmerizing. This sputter in his attention, only due to the advancement of the fierce tiger.

	Prem's body is frail, and suffering from balefire poisoning on top of the physical stresses of having been staked up for who knows how long. But at least he's out. Thanks to the winged dragon. And her companions. Now? The /hard/ part begins. Will Prem survive the journey back? Will the monastery fall in his absence? Will the Cylinder doom the realm, or the monks accelerate their Doomsday plan due to the loss of Prem? Only the fates know for sure!
<OOC> Danny says, "Aaaaaaaaaand scene. Nice job Jiang! And the tigers for getting us thru the cannibals. :>"

===> Log ended by user <===> 5/31/2019, 9:10:56 PM <===