LOG Qi Lung: Mines of the Elephant

===> COH <===> 4/12/2019, 8:02:57 PM <===
Underneath Chinatown - Ebon Dragon's Nest(#3634RM)

	QI LUNG: MINES OF THE ELEPHANT!

The Story So Far:

Our protagonists were able to successfully travel from the Great Wat of the Posion Lotus in Mandul Xiem to Accipiter Castrum despite an ambush by naga-kin, and a bonestorm created by a trio of rakshasa. A successful parley with the leader of the Varangian mercenaries thereat resulted in two things:
* permission to borrow and use the last remaining aeolian wind-flute to purge tainted Chi fron Hana
* an agreement to retrieve Zheng Zu, a sage to the Varangian mercenaries who was kidnapped by a witch exiled from the Society of the Crippled Lotus and who is being held in the Mines of the Elephant.

The Mines of the Elephant are legendary in Qi Lung, so named, the story goes, because their discoverer needed an elephant to remove all the jade found within them. The Yama Kings currently warring in the nearby Yomi Wan, however, smashed all the mine works and killed everyone within miles tryng to get at the puissant jade stored within. The land all around the mine shrieks with the ghosts of miners, blasphemously buried alive in the ensuing cave-ins. It is deep down in the dark forboding mine tunnels that The Witch has decided to make her home, and where it is suspected she holds the sage Zheng Zu captive! Will our intrepid protagonists be able to navigate the haunted mine and its surroundings, locate and parley with the witch, and reclaim and return the sage to the Varangian mercs?

AND NOW OUR STORY BEGINS! - BOY, Danny is getting REALLY GOOD at navigating the dragon lines via his weird ritual death-magicks. Once again, the second Jin plunges the ceremonial dagger into his heart, and after everyone has joined hands and fallen into the inky waters of the Yin pool, does the entire party get transported along the dragon lines and into Qi Lung, manifesting in the reflecting pool of the the Great Wat of Mandul Xiem. Greeted by Master Prem and his attendants, everyone is shown to a ready room so that they can make preparations and review their plan for the evening. (STAMINA CHECKS - 4 if Yin aspected, 6 if not)

	Danny rises from the reflectng pool and takes a look around. This time of "year" in Qi Lung is known as The Long Night, for the sun hides away and casts the entire realm into perpetual night for an indeterminate period of time. Usually a fortnight's worth, or so. The moonlight, however, makes everything seem just a little more beautiful than the harsh light of day. He takes a quick headcount - "Everyone make it through?"

After stepping through, Sonya finds herself not sick for a change. She pulls her wet hair back, giving a few tugs of her clothing as they stick to her body. "I'm good." She says as she rubs her stomach gently a few times.

Jin stretches and twists bending herself into what should be impossible configurations of flesh before going to put on her clothing. "I'm hungry."

Ying Yue manages to crawl out of the pool, then the woman loses whatever was in her stomach a few yards away. The small woman is on her hands and knees, her stomach convulsing as she makes a mess all over the ground in front of her. Obviously she doesn't answer yet.

Aidan looks less steady on his feet than usual, complexion pale as he gets up out of the water. "...ride was rough." He gingerly picks his way out of the water, looking every ounce the drowned and unhappy cat that he is then.

Hideaki quickly gears up and meditates over his Bokken for the evenings adventures.

	Kurumi rises from the reflecting pool in soaking wet clothes with that giant steel club of hers resting against her shoulder looking like a wet t-shirt contest particiant...from hell. She's also looking a little queasy, the color is drained out of her face and she staggers a bit. Even the Oni Girl's inhuman stamina seems to leave her vulnerable to the ravages of the journey more often than she would like.

Sonya reaches over to prop her twin brother up this time, nudging herself in against him. "I know the feeling. Last time it was me."

	Master Prem regards everyone cooly. The lotus monks have grown accustomed to the outlanders, but they know that regardless of such, they must continue to prepare to purge the tainted Chi along the dragon lines and blow the entire sub-realm to kingdom come if need be. It makes for conflicted emotions, to say the least.

	"The mines of the elephant are a few hours march north and east of here," offers Prem. "The path there is largely abandoned." A pause. "Because the surrounding land is haunted. The land and mine itself is full of Yin, the jade to be mined there was once scarlet and rich with Yang but it is now white and full of Yin. The ancestors of the miners buried alive have grown mad with righteous fury at the Yama Kings who killed them so callously, and are now prone to lash out indiscriminately." A sigh. Mo' money, mo' problems!

	"The Witch, an exile of the Crippled Lotus Society, must be strange or powerful, or both, if she's gone to ground there. Good night and good luck," he says by way of departure and blessing as he turns to leave. GOOD NIGHT AND GOOD LUCK?

Ying Yue takes a lot longer to recover than most of them, staying on her hands and knees until she regains her breath after all teh retching. She spits the bile out of her mouth a few times to clear the horrid taste the best she can before pushing herself to her feet, shaky for a few moments until she can walk it off.

Hideaki grunts then stands up, slinging his Bokken over a shoulder, his preparations apparently done.

	Kurumi ever the model of impeccable manners finds a large urn or vase, possibly of some holy significance that is perhaps lost on her, to vomit into. That did not look healthy, but such are the perils of Yin portals. At least she didn't heave on to the floor right? With that out of her system she begins to look a lot better, though still dripping wet.

Jin stands listening her white staff over one shoulder and held by a single hand wrapped around the shaft. Her other is busy shoving somekind of dried meat into her mouth. She chews happily at the jerky and seems just to be waiting for the march to start.

Aidan isn't entirely proud enough to refuse his sister's aid, though he doesn't let her do much. "I'll... be okay." He says with a brief, lurching pause in the midst of the statement. He is proud enough, however, to suck in a very deep breath and man up enough not to vomit. The gameplan? He lets others deal with that right now.

"If you are sure, brother." Sonya says to her twin as she lets him go once he is steady. Reaching behind her, she pulls free the blade upon her black, that of the four tiger sword. Giving it a few spins about in her wrists, she starts after the group, though keeping close to her sibling.

	Danny arches an eyebrow as Master Prem leaves them to their own devices, then turns to look at everyone assembled in the drafty ready room. "Well, then. There we have it. Everyone ready to go and try not to join the legion of hungry ghosts?" He jerks his head towards a mao on the table. "Who's in charge of the map?"

Hideaki says, "I'll take it for now." He leans over and studies the map carefully before collecting it to take with."

Jin hip bumps Danny, then offers him some trailmix for the journey. "You missed dinner." is all she says to him as she sets off almost eager to be away from the monks.

Kurumi tilts her head to one side curiously looking at Danny, "The Hungry Ghosts have a legion? Perhaps we can overthrow their leader and conscript them to our cause, too." Sometimes it is really hard to tell if she is joking or not. "Go to the mine, smash a witch, take her stuff. Let's go." Map? Oh no, Kurumi is probably the last person you want in charge of that.

The naked little white-haired woman does not remain that way for long as now that they are in a realm that can accept such things, she shifts in to her Archid form and becomes a feathered dragon.

	Danny 'oomphs' as he's hip checked. But Jin is right. Trekking on an empty stomach is no good. He knocks back a fistful or two of trail mix and then makes his way towards the exit and onto the path that leads out into the harsh world of Qi Lung. Shit out here is just that much more creepy under perpetual night. "We need the sage alive. I've no desire to end up digested over the course of a thousand years by an undead garuda."

	The path is towards the mine is rough terrain. It makes speedy travel somewhat challenging. But the one good thing about things being known as haunted? No one is out here to impede their ill-fated journey. At least no one thus far!

Hideaki says, "like with the legion of mercenaries it'll probably be easier to negotiate with the witch, instead of fight."

If only more of her companions were capable of flight, this would make the journey much easier, but alas, the Feathered Dragon walks along with them, bringing up the rear of the group.

	Those who are alert (and it seems a good many are!) will notice that the environs around the rocky path are quiet. Way too quiet for how deep into the woods they go.
As they walk, the twins are silent as usual as they listen to those with the map lead. Sonya's acute senses train upon their surroundings as she keeps her head on a swivel, scanning, watching, waiting. "Does joining this legion require us dying and we're stuck here?"

Hideaki slips his wooden sword off his shouldder and in to a hand, prepared to fight if needed. If not, it's not like it weighs much.

	NEW AREA! THE MINES OF THE ELEPHANT:
As the party approaches the mines, they'll be greeted by a notable drop in temperature. Those that breathe will see their warm breath mist out into the cold air in front of them, and a supernatural chill will wrack its way down /everyone's/ spine, as if someone was walking over their grave. This? This is NOT a Happy Place. Smashed buildings, marred with scorch and blast marks of eldritch enegies. Abandoned mining equipment covered n a long dried patina of blood. Rusting tools in a state of decay. All of these things testify to the ruination of the mines by the Yama Kings.

A thick wall of mist lingers in the direction of what must be the mouth of the mines. Opaque and heavy, it obscures any view any further than two feet around. (WILLPOWER CHECKS VS 6)

	Danny and Jin will suddenly ... stop. Just stop in place. Like flies stuck in amber. Everyone else can continue as normal. They may or may not notice that Jin and Danny have lagged. Let's see what happens next!!!

Hideaki being near the front and directing things does not initially notice, however he does stop at the entrance of the mines to count heads to make sure every one is together before the party heads in to the mines proper.

Aidan has recovered from his poor entry to the world as the band of ragtag heroes made their journey, for all it was an inauspicious start. He's got a matching sword to his sibling, save a subtle design difference in the ornate hilts. He keeps to the edge of the group and slightly back, protecting their flank, so it is that he notices when two just stop. "Hey, what's up?"

	Danny and Jin seem as if stuck in a trance! They lightly sway in place. Suddenly, a cool breeze blows through the mist. But it smells ... off. Like death.
Since the Feathered Dragon was bringing up the rear, she would most definitely notice. And for the first time in this form she speaks, her voice sounding slightly etherial, and comes out in mandarin, <Wake up you two. It is time to move." She says as she pokes at them with a digit.

	THE MISTS SEEM TO BE GROWING THICKER. AND CLOSING IN.

Glancing over to the pair that have stopped moving, Sonya marches over to them, reaching out to push against their shoulders. "Wake up." She commands, keeping her sword at the ready with the free hand. "Do you guys smell that? It's like decay."

Hung reveals himself from the shadows. He's late, yet again, but at least he's made it to the 'otherside'. Sticking to the shadows, he's been stalking the entourage from behind, waiting for the right time to finally come into view of the group. "Yo, what the fuck is that smell, bro? That shit putrid as fuck, I can't even." Yeah, the rotten smell eventually breaks the stalking.

Aidan looks to the encroaching mist and reflexively says with a low growl as he goes to stand near the frozen members of their group, "Get ready, group up. Anyone else feel that? The barrier is dissolving." And anticipating violence, he moves to activate one of his protective gifts.

Blurring into her crinos form, Fire-Runner gives a firm nod of her head to her brother.

Hideaki moves over by Danny and Jin before turning his attention outward, as he drops in to a defensive stance.

Feathered Dragon unfurls her wings and grabs both Jin and Danny so that she can pull them close and protect them from incoming attack. She has some offensive capabilities, but she has shown, more often than not, that she is more willing to put her body on the line to protect others.

"Right, this ain't good at all." Hung moves and shifts in place, drawing power from the nearest source of shadow to embed himself in it fully, making him harder to visualize from a distance- though, in close combat, one can make out his figure just fine. But for now, he's shifting through the shadows, and possibly isolating himself from the main group as he does so.

	ENCOUNTER: BEISAQS!
As the party becomes surrounded by the thickening mist, they will suddenly find themselves in the center of a growing storm of angry, agitated debris - shards of rocks, pieces of mining implements, if its sharp or pointy, you name it, it becomes part of the violent shitstorm that sweeps out of the dark mouth of the mines and surrounds the party in its eye.

The source of the debris storm? Beisaqs! aka Hungry Ghosts - spirits of men killed by violence and left unburied, known to haunt desolate areas and cast decay at the supplies of those unfortunate enough to cross their paths.

Those with ghost-sight will see them in all their terrible glory, while those without such sight will only glimpse horrible flashes out of the corner of their eyes!

Wilting her ears backwards, the large bi-pedal tiger hisses angrily as she gives a flex of her claws. She positions herself at her brother's side, eyes glancing about the storm. << Not good. >> She rumbles through their pack link.

	Kurumi doesn't seem to need any particular preperations to be ready for a fight, off her shoulder comes the huge spiked metal club that is her Kanabo, that predatory look shining in her eyes. She may be horribly underestimating the coming threat but she seems quite confident in herself.

As their foes show themselves, Aidan takes to the fearsome Chatro form. It's a massive, primordial cat that replaces the man - claws of knives, saber teeth like swords, and growling like the idling sound of a semi. As he stands and prepares for their foes, his coat takes on both a thin sheen of green as well as a silvery cast.

	The beisaqs slowly drift closer (to those that can see them!), but on the outside of the debris storm that encircles the party.

Feathered Dragon can see the things that have come for them, being able to see ghosts and the like, and looks for the one that might seem to be in the lead. "The hungry ghosts are around us." She says, this time in english so that all might understand.

Hideaki adds to what the dragon says, "If we make an offering of food or other organics to them, they will be appeased and leave us alone. The only organics I have with me, unfortunately are my Weapon."

	Danny and Jin suddenly come back to life! Or watever passes as such for them!

	A sigh as Danny tosses the sack of trail mix out for the beisaqs. "Food. Everyone who has any, give it up. Quickly."

	Danny strips down out of everythig but his pants as well, tossing the other garments into the mix.

	Kurumi alas has no food with her, Asuka stayed behind today.

Jin gives Danny a hostile look as she is forced to part with her rations. She digs in her pack and jerky, cookies, and little cheese and peanut butter crackers all get thrown to the spirits. Which no doubt means Danny will be paying a hefty, hefty take out bill later.

<< Do we have to get naked too? >> Fire Runner asks through her pridal link to her brother as she watches the group chuck clothing and food towards the ghosts.

Feathered Dragon literally didn't bring anything with her, even in her other form. She tends to leave the human trappings behind when she enters this realm.

	The beisaqs descend upon the offerings, and the food and clothing that's piled up quickly begins to become devoured by the forces of decay. As it does so? The debris storm slows, small openings appearing in the whirlwind.

Strike-of-Heaven tips an ear towards what Hideaki says. Each of the others is looked at in turn as offerings are given. With no food of his own, the big cat just gives a great rolling huff of a sigh. Then he turns himself about and, without warning or pause, takes those great teeth of his and nips the end of his own stubby tail right off. His face clearly shows that hurts like a mofo, but he tosses it out to the circling ring of ghosts with a groaning grunt. There. Shoo. It's bound to taste better than Danny's shirt. << We already are. It'll grow back. >>

	"Blood will work as good as anything else. People can pay now, or pay when they pass. But they will have their payment." And with that, the mao shan steps forward through the debris storm to the other side, disappaearing into the mist.

Jin follows Danny through the breaks in the storm and sighs, "If I had known I would have brought them a monk."

Cringing at the sight of her brother tearing his tailtip off with his teeth, Fire Runner lets out a noisy cat like complaint to him. The others can't understand what she's saying as she flails her paws at him, but it appears she does not approve. Ears slicked back, she huffs and gives a glance down at her own beautiful tail, then squints her eyes shut as she hesitates, then does the same. There is an obvious look of discomfort as she lobs the tip over, practically dancing on her paws i n pain. << Ow! Ow! Why would you do this!? >> The rest is going to be shouted at him in Korean.

	As people pay the toll, they can pass through the debris storm. Those that don't will lose 1 blood point as the debris slides across any of their exposed skin when they pass leaving them surface skin bloodied but otherwise unharmed.

Hideaki sighs and pulls a glove off of his right hand and takes his helmet off in order to get at an amulet of a cat, which he uses to draw a line across his the heel of his palm, drawing blood for his own sacrifice. This is apparently a well practiced gesture on his part as the amulet seems designed for the purpose, and he doesn't even wince as it bites in to his flesh. He then tucks the abulet back in to his armor and puts the helmet back on before replacing the glove and moving on.

<< Who has the Ferocity of a Bon Bhat, sister? >> Strike of Heaven gloats as he passes through the barrier, his voice immensely smug - and just a bit wincing in pain. For the rest who can't hear the mental chatter of the cats? Why, he just looks to be striding off with a grave dignity as his tail drips blood in his wake.

	Kurumi just shrugs and walks through, seemingly unintimidated by the spirits and their so-called toll of blood. The debris lashes at her skin, cutting, gounging, leaving trails of blood, but all of the lacerations seem to close again within a few moments as if nothing had ever happened leaving her skin looking as beautiful as ever. "It's not so bad, they just want a nibble." she calls back with a laugh.

It's a painful-looking spectacle of self-sacrifice, but something has to be offered to the ghostmen as it seems. Hung's left hand fades into existence, out of its shadowy form as he bites into it, dripping blood onto the ground as his own form of sacrifice. He's still blending with the shadows, however, and looks to the rest for further actions.

	As the last of the group pay the toll, the shitstorm vanishes as quickly as it came, the appetite of the hungry ghosts sated for now. Its a clear path to the mouth of the mine now.
Once again, red streaks cover the white feathers of the dragon as she passes through the debris field. Her head turns towards Kurumi, "Less of a toll than you would charge. They only want a bit of blood." She comments in her etherial tone, at least coming from this form.
Hung has partially disconnected.

	ENCOUNTER: CLOCKWORK ELEPHANT HEAD!
Once past the beisaqs and into the darkness of the mine's mouth proper, things go from spiritual wackiness to clockwork madness! A soft glowing light reveals that a gigantic mechanical clockwork elephant's head has been erected inside the entrance of the mine. A deterrent to trespassers? Probably.

The elehant head is made of metal, and seems resistant to the corrosive decay of the area.'s spirits Its eyes gleam like fiery rubies. The head is mounted on a solid stone axle and does not look like it can be dislodged or knocked over. Inside the mine? There is no cover from its baleful ruby-crystal gaze and its trunk, easily 60 feet long, looks like it can telescope out and sweep from one side of the cavern to the other in short, brutal order.

<< Got the brains of a kitten. >> Winces Fire Runner as she follows after her brother, swatting at his tail with her paw to give it some extra sting. At the sight of the elephant, she gives a pause. << Well now... that's .. really cool.>> She breathes out as she stares at the rubied eyes.

	The rubies-for-eyes spark to life when movement is detected in the cavern. The sound of gears slowly turning can be heard. grinding. Metal on metal. Metal on stone. Stone on metal. Some elaborate working.

	Kurumi can only laugh at Yue's comment, it's true after all. She would never settle for only a bit of blood were she the one charging the toll. But then those Ruby eyes have her attention, so pretty, so shiny, now she's thinking, probably about how to get them into her purse.

Strike-of-Heaven looks to the elaborate clockwork guardian with a mix of respect and awe. << I want one. >> He remarks back to his sister, his tail starting to twitch until it reminds him of its grievances. He stops with a faint grunt. << But how do we get past it? >>

	The trunk rears up and then a blast of sound trumpets forth, rocking the very foundation of the cavern and jostling the party as they're buffeted by the soundwave. (Athletics checks vs 6!)

	The soundwave causes the floor to buckle and vertigo to wash over the party, but most seem to mnage just fine. Those that don't will unceremonously tumble to the floor, injuring nothing more than perhaps their pride. But it doesn't look like the elephant head is done!

	Danny looks to the hill giant of an Oni and points at the head of the elephant. "We need to move it out of the way." Then he looks to the muscular cats that serve as the muscle for hire. "It will likely take some effort. But quickly - before it does whatever its going to do next."

	Danny hangs back while the Brute Squad (tm) gets to work. Hopefully the elephant head doesn't do anthing else in the meantime!

	The sound of gears grinding and turning can again be heard. SLowly. Ponderously. ominously.

Jin is not doing to much tonight instead she seems very content to just watch the others do the heavy lifting.

Feathered Dragon removes herself from the current room as being there might interrupt what she is wanting to do to help. Once clear, she starts to draw a ritual circle on the ground.

	The gears inside the impossibly large elephant head continue to grind and turn, the ruby eyes beginning to shine brightly.

	Kurumi stands firm against the clockwork elephant head's brutal sonic blast, her tea colored tresses batted about in the wind streaming out behind her. There is a wicked grin on her face like she's actually enjoying herself, this should be fun. In a blur of Rage induced speed she rushes forward to collide with the Elephant head, growing as she goes and assuming her true Oni form. Crashing into the head she lets out a grunt as even this seems to fall short of moving the huge head. What she does next might seem a bit strange, she seems to shrink back in on herself as she judges the height of the cavern before concentrating and growing without shifting. This is new, she grows and grows reaching twenty feet tall but somehow still looking completely human. Kurumi writ large, as she redoubles her efforts to dislodge the elephant head.

	The elephant's ruby red eyes shine brightly for a moment and then they bathe the entire cavern in a burst of crimson light! WELCOME TO THE ELEPHANT-ZONE! WHERE EVERYTHING NOW MOVES AS SLOW AND PONDEROUSLY AS AN ELEPHANT TAKING A VERY LEISURELY WALK!

Feathered Dragon does her thing out of the sight of the others, though there can be heard some chanting in the language of the spirits. It takes some time, but she is rather good at this sort of thing. probably one of the things that she is really good at. And after a small while, there is a totem avatar of a Gremlin spirit that appears in the circle. She continues to speak in the language of the spirits, <Great spirit, I know as well as you do the need to break the machines to bring balance back to things. In the next cavern there is a great machine. Wonderous even that just calls out to be rendered useless.>

	While everyone inside the cavern that was bathed in the crimson light is making like the little red-suited person in Twin Peaks? Ying Yue is skinning the cat in a different way! Whatever she summoned seems amicable to the terms offered. Those with spirit sight will see the Gremlin totem rush into the cavern and square off with the elephant head! Chaos will ensue in a test of spirit vs machine! But ultimately, the spirit that Ying Yue brought to bear wins out, and the giant elephant head goes haywire and explodes, gears gnashing and the head then crumbling around Kurumi and falling to the ground in a mess of debris, revealing a gaping hole and the true entrance to the mine!

Strike-of-Heaven is a big cat, but even a smilodon is at a bit of a disadvantage when faced with an angry Statue of Pacherty. Especially when time seems to slow to a crawl. But fortunately, there's a spirit on their side, and he can only watch with a conflicting sense of relief and sorrow as the masterwork is rendered into ruin.

Rumbling in her throat, Fire Runner finds her frustration rising in her throat from not being able to contribute to the cause. Her tail, now healed, gives a few more flicks back and forth behind her in irritation.

Feathered Dragon is much too polite to say something along the lines of 'fuck the weaver', but her attitude towards it can plainly be seen. She in fact takes a bit of joy in breaking the machine, or at least calling something that would love to break the machine as much as she does, but has so much more skill at it. The dragon moves back in to the room after the sounds of the elephant breaking die down.

	Kurumi is momentarily surprised when the elephant head suddenly explodes into useless junk. Her expression of enjoyment fading to disgust as that was completely unsatisfying, it just gave in and broke. She kicks one of the leftover pieces in frustration sending them flying so hard they embed into the wall and stomps several others flat.

Hung is knocked over by the booming sound of the machine, though he struggled there for a moment, to no avail. He rises back up onto his feet just as the crimson light fills the entire cavern, and time is just slowed down all around him. Hung is basically like a statue, observing as the elephant-head is eventually destroyed after a brief fight with a spirit totem. "What the crap was that?" He advances with the rest deeper into the cavern.

	Well, that's certainly one way to catch someone's attention and make a Grand Entrance (tm)!

	FINAL ENCOUNTER: THE WITCH! EXILE FROM THE SOCIETY OF THE CRIPPLED LOTUS!
A small, slight, and feminine figure appears in the darkness behind where the clockwork elephant head used to be. Shrouded in a loose fitting, cowled black robe, wisps of inky shadow trail along her edges when she moves, rendering her exact position and location somewhat circumspect. Glimpses of her face or hands reveal pale skin, white as ivory, a red lipped mouth ful of razor sharp teeth that gleam in what little light there is, and fingers tipped with nails painted a red so dark that it might as well be black. "Do you come on behalf of the demon lord Ku of the Thousand Tears?" Her voice is a hoarse, ragged whisper, and sounds impossibly distant. She appears to blinks in and out of existence. It almost looks as if she's stepping in and out of nihils, for those with Lore Wraith.

Jin sighs softly "Somewhere there is a Hindi god weeping." She pats Danny lightly on the back and urges him along to join the others so this latest thing can be confronted.

Feathered Dragon looks to the Gremlin before it leaves to go back to its camp to plan its own mayhem, <I will smash a clock in your honor.> The dragon says in it's own language before moving to the group. "Help was needed. And they do so love breaking things." She comments once again switching back to english. Then she pauses, looking at the witch. Noting the transition between existances. The joys of seeing multiple layers of reality.

	Danny finishes marveling at all the spectacle of giant pachyderm heads and Gremlin totems and hill giantess Onis and sabertoothed tigers. Welcome to the bread and circus of the Middle Kingdom! A nod to Jin as he steps forward to try and get a better read on the witch in question. "Fascinating," he murmurs thoughtfully. Way to understatement, Danny-boy!

Hideaki speaks directly to the Witch, pitching his voicee to carry, "No, we do not. We seek to deny that one some of what he wishes."

Strike-of-Heaven approaches along with his sister, though he leaves the speaking to those who know what they're doing. He watches the Witch with a certain degree of wary fascination, with the position of his ears shifting to reflect his various thoughts on the matter.

	The witch shadowsteps in and out of those wispy nihils, transporting her way over towards Hideaki. "Good," she says. "He held me captive and claimed all my powe for himself. But my true love found me. Rescued me. Bargained for me. And now I am finally free," she says in that voice that sounds as if its coming from underwater.

As the witch appears, Fire Runner readies herself, clutching the long sword in her paws as she narrows her eyes, staring. Her tail gives another hard flick. << Let's hope the others can talk their way past this next challenge. So far, so good... >>

	The twenty foot tall non-Oni-form Kurumi continues stomping on the clockwork bits awhile longer before turning and just leaning against the wall to watch, her massive Kanabo sitting next to her.

	"What do you want," asks the witch. Those with spirit sight and such will notice beisaqs peering through the nihils that she steps in and out of. A few follow her through and flit aboutthe ruined mine cavern.

The inky black figure that is Hung stays in the back, himself studying the witch as he observes her from a distance. Dim red eyes, which stand out in that shadow form of his, are just staring at her as she speaks. Hung mutters underneath his breath as he comes to realize just what this creature might be.

Hideaki nods to the Witch, "The sage who was working with the Mercenaries. We seek his release in order to fulfill an oath of our own. It is believed that you hold the individual in question captive."

	The witch frowns. And then opens up a nihil and vanishes. Another nihil opens up and spits out ... Zheng Zhu! The sage sighs and shakes his head, "I rescued her from the Yama King. I gave her new life, even if it's fettered to the yellow springs. She rescued me from the Varangians. Why should I go back?"

Hideaki chuckles softly, "what strange and twisted paths we wander, this gordian knot. We seek to prevent the rise of a new Yama King, and free this realm from is slide in to a new Hell. For those ends we had need of the flute you left with the Varangians. They set us the task of freeing you from your boon companion."

	Zheng Zhu frowns, then reaches into a satchel and pulls forth a scroll, sealed in wax and reeking of magicks. "Deliver this to my childe in the Outerlands. Tell no one of my love and her new life among the yellow springs. Swear this to me, and I will do as you ask. Betray me, and the worst the yellow springs has to offer will make things very inteesting for the outerlands."

Hideaki says, "I give you my word on the condition that you give me some clue as to how to find your Childe.". A small chuckle, "May you live in interesting times certainly applies. I find it to be a distinctly uncomfortable necessity for now. However from what I understand of what we were told before coming here, when we succede, they will no longer have need of your services...""

	Zheng Zhu frowns, brow furrowed. He leans in and whispers something to Hideaki. Then takes a step back. "I will return to Accipiter Castrum but will spend one last night with my beloved. You have my word." He'll reserve judgment on the rest of the bigger picture Hideaki intimates. "The Varangians have lore I still need. I'd hoped to be able to leave it behind. To live out the end of my nights with my transformed beloved, but. There are no happy endings for those like us." And with that he turns to walk back into a nihil where the Nagaraja waits for him.

Continuing to watch, the tigress shifts down into her Sokto form, still taking the visage of half cat, half human. As Sonya watches, she continues to glance about with her sword held strong, waiting.

Hideaki bows deeply to the sage.

Feathered Dragon had come to rest on the ground as Hideaki negotiates. It is a skill that she needs to get better at, but that being said, she is good with watching and learning for now. The young spirit-speaker hasdone more than be a meat-shield this time around.

The sage whispers to Hideaki, "The scarlet phoenix nest in Barrio Chino. Look for the scorpion bowl for two. By the third eye you shall know him."

<OOC> AAAAAAAAND SCENE.
===> Log ended by user <===> 4/13/2019, 12:15:36 AM <===