Qi Lung: Posion Lotus log

===> COH <===> 2/23/2019, 8:05:31 PM <===

	THE STORY SO FAR: There had been an new narcotic circulating in chinatown. A narcotic with unwholesome spiritual effects, distributed by new player on the field of the streets. After investigation, it was determined that the narcotic was coming from Offrealm, pushed by the monks of the poison lotus. After various street battles over turf and such, the monks sued for peace and agreed to host at their stronghold in the Yomi Wan realm of Qi Lung. Danny Dragon and Jin Soon took it upon themselves to recruit a group for the mission. Everyone was to gather at Danny's Oasis of Yin, deep beneath chinatown, in its very bowels. Or something. Sonya and Aidan? Had been contracted by Danny from outside chinatown, because. Well, frankly, time and personnel were /short/. The rest were counted amongst the formal Shen population and volunteered or were conscripted for this or that reason. ... AND NOW, OUR STORY BEGINS!

	Danny Dragon, mao shan master of chinatown, and ranking most perfect Xian Lung of the local Wu T'ian, stands at the edge of the inky pool that dominates the center of the cavern, in his ceremonial garb of office. Swim bags litter the floor, empty an dready to be used. In his hand is a ceremonial dagger. The Yin in the room runs /strong/ tonight. This is NIGHT work.

Jin is dressed in a house robe and fuzzy slippers as she waits beside Danny. Her long hair secured in a ponytail and her own swim bag attached to one ankle. She has a bag of oreo's open and is slowly working her way through it while chasing with a swallow of milk from her glass.
Ying Yue is well aware of where they are going, and does the same as she did the last time, takes her clothes and backpack off and leaves them in an out of the way pile. After which she moves over to where the others wait and sits down for the moment.
Aidan didn't understand a god damn thing about most of what's being said, mostly because the poor bastard's basically only Asian on the outside. Not his fault, but it is what it is. All he'd gotten out of this was 'bad drugs' and 'unnatural', which said enough for him to decide stopping it was a good thing. He arrives with nothing more than his clothes, it would seem, a fitted gray t-shirt and black jeans and boots. Simple, functional.
Standing with her twin brother is the other young Korean that is Sonya. Being that she at least took advanced Asian studies in college, she knows about three words of all of that. Either way, the 'Mother' convinced her and her brother that this is a moment worthy in time. Dressed in a pair of simple jeans and a dark black shirt under a windbreaker, she waits patiently as they approach the pool, her eyes settling on Danny curiously as her thin brows lift upwards.
Hideaki dressed down for the evening, avoiding his normal suit and trading it in for something a little easier to move in, which has the side effect of revealing a large number of scars on his arms. He is armed, sort of, as the larger sword is one of those wooden practice ones.
Jin offers Ying and Hideaki a cookie from her bag as they wait. The other new arrivals are looked over carefully then she looks back at Danny and holds out a clean hand for the dagger. There is a gleeful expression on her face as she makes gimmie motions with her fingers. She wraps the hilt of the blade in her hand and really seems to be looking forward to something with an almost unseemly kind of anticipation.

Kurumi hangs near Ying Yue, she's not dressed any differently than usual, more sober perhaps. What is different though is the roughly five foot long cylindrical shaped cloth wrapped object she carries resting against her shoulder.

"You are all about to get very, very wet." Ying Yue says, sitting without clothes says. She looks at the cookie and shakes her head. "If we are going to that side of the river, it would likely just come back up on me."

	Danny looks over a shoulder, a shoulder which soon grows naked as his robe drops down to pool at his feet. He hands the ceremonial dagger in his left hand to Jin, then motions for everyone to come to the edge of the pool. "We will be traveling through the Yin in the Dragon's Nest. Everyone join hands. Once the ritual begins, it is difficult to stop. Don't let go until we're through to the other side." A beat. "Clear and udnerstood?"

Hideaki offers a had to Jin, and one to one of the unfamiliar Koreans (Aidan and Sonya).
Aidan drops a glance to his sister, his own expressions stony and distant. He takes in a slow breath before turning his eyes towards the passing of the blade and then to the pool they gather around. At the question of understanding, one corner of his mouth begins to pull back as if he was going to frown, before he gives a thin dip of his chin in acknowledgement. A stranger's hand is grudgingly taken, the other taking that of his sister.
Drawing her windbreaker off, Sonya peels out of it, then steps out of her shoes and socks as she nudges them to the side. She reaches out for Hideaki's hand, her other sliding into Aidan's for a firm squeeze, nodding.

	As soon as everyone daisy-chains and holds hands, Danny looks to Jin. "For our Middle Kingdom!" Danny pronounces loudly, his voice booming in the cavern. "And away we go," he then murmurs in a quieter sepulchral tone. The Yin in the pool swirls and corruscates, palapable even if unseen. Strange, powerful, Chinese black magic is at play here. Building like a storm, and waiting for release. A release which Jin is apparently going to provide...
Ying Yue stands and takes Kurumi's hand and then holds her other out to Aidan. Once she is in position around the water, she closes her eyes. She knows what comes next.

	Slippers and robe are dropped and a moment taken to secure the sixfoot long staff to her back then Jin looks at Danny waiting for him to settle. She clasps Hideaki's hand with her empty one and looks at the others only when all are holding tight and seem prepared she draws back the dagger and plunges it in to the chest of their host. Once danny is down she places the blade on his chest after licking it clean then extends the now empty hand to the corpse.

	Danny slumps to the ground wordlessly without making a sound, the sacrifice or travel through the Yin complete. His soul separates from teh body, takes Jin's hand and then its INTO THE POOL OF ENDLESS BLACK!!!

Kurumi's clothing, which was not spiritually dedicated, is going to be rather wet later as she realizes the details of how they will travel only too late, the outfit and wrappings of her large metal kanabou club staying behind in the pool as they travel through the endless black.

	The inky water in the pool is THICK and COLD. Everyone gets dragged down into a whirlpool of seeming bottomless water...but no one passes out from the spiriual shock.

	After a turbulent descent into the seemingly bottomless darkness of the pool in Danny's Oasis of Yin, everyone will be coughed up and out the other side into ... a river! The Qi Lung river! This is the mighty river which gives this nascent and developing Yomi realm its name. The current is swift and foaming one minute and still as a painting the next. Strange reflections in the water reveal fat catfish and round stones scaling the river bottom, then fallen soil darkens the water like some dead demon's blood.

An empty rickety looking sampan (a relatively flat bottomed Chinese wooden boat - https://tinyurl.com/yat8phsa) manifests out of the thick low fog that hugs the top of the river in places. It slowly drifts over near the group. The sampan includes a small shelter on board that would offer shelter from the incessant light rain that falls from the sky.

	Jin lets go of the hand she holds only once the other has surfaced. A few strokes and the lithe woman has made it up in to the boat and taken control of its steering. Guiding it so the others scramble aboard for the journey to the shore. She seems quite used to being spit up in the river and just drips quietly.
Hideaki quickly makes his way on board the boat, then helps the others out of the water on to the more or less stable syrface as well.
Seeing someone stabbed does not seem to make the best impressions on Aidan, but before he can get to the outraged part he's being hauled through a soggy wormhole and chucked out the other side. His face ends up stuck somewhere between angry, surprised, and offended. He can swim, though, and after an initial look to ensure Sonya is present he makes his way for the boat to haul himself in.
Ying Yue climbs up on to the sampan after surfacing and taking a deep breath, then starts to help people up that she can. "Are we going to the intact village first, or somewhere else?" She asks, finding herself an out of the way place to sit.
Ying Yue has partially disconnected.

	Danny breaks the surface last, taking in a gulp of air before making his way over towards the rickety boat so that he can climb aboard. The rain falls over the just and unjust, even in a baby Hell. " We need to make our way to Mandul Xiem along the river. No village this time." Way off in the distance? A glittering gold structure glints where there's break in the incessant rain.

	"There," Danny points, the river's current leading them in the proper direction. Thank the gods for small favors.

Kurumi makes her way up to the boat, first her 5' metal death stick is swung up over the side with a thunk and the sound of wood creaking in protest, then she attempts to pull her own large frame up and into the boat. River water streams off her as she sits naked next to her weapon, but she doesn't seem to much mind it or the rain.

As they rush through the water, Sonya comes up on the other side hacking and coughing as she whips her head back to send her black hair arching behind her. Once she makes sure Aidan is okay, she swims for the boat with strong kicks and over arms, climbing up on to it as she drips. Peeling her clinging shirt off to reveal a sports bra beneath, she lobs the shirt to the ground, then goes about wringing out her pants.

	Jin does a head count before working the rudder of the boat guiding it towards their destination. The river is turbulent and waves wash over the side but soon the destination is drawing closer. "How far away do you wish me to place us?"

	"Qi Lung is being polluted. Its chi, I mean, by an artifact of the war between two yama kings. I'm going to place a blessing on us that should help. I ask everyone's leave to do so," says Danny. He remains outside the sampan's shelter, alowing others to use it to dry off from the rain if they want.
Ying Yue glances over to Kurumi, giving a light smile, then downstream. "I really hope that we do not have to go far enough this way that we find the giant mouth full of fangs." She says in a serious manner. She then glances to Danny and nods.

	The Qi Lung valley on either side of the river is a subtropical realm. This means it has two seasons - rainy and warm, and sticky and hot. Monsoon rains and flash floods are common regardless of season, varying only in intensity. The ongoing magical war between the two Yomi Kings that is giving birth to this realm has tied up the normal winds and rains like knotted snakes. Not to mention contributed to the sudden onset of fevers, plagues and typhus that strike the villages that dot the lands around the river. All from the tainted Chi that leeches into the realm's waters and soil from the Cylinder that lies hidden somewhere unknown. But that's a story for aother day! This evening's objective is beginning to broker an understanding with the monks of the Poison Lotus!
Hideaki also remains outside the shelter as well, not seeing a point in geting dry at this time. When the request for permission to bless is made he gives Danny a small nod.

Kurumi looks up at Danny, her tea colored hair matted around her shoulders, still sitting out in the rain, "If that's what you want to do, then do it." Very relaxed for being in hell, she just shrugs lightly, before something Ying Yue says grabs her attention, "Giant mouth full of fangs?" Her expression is curious now.

Under the shelter, Aidan takes time only to shuck off his shirt and wring out the worst of the wet before putting it back on. In the brief period, he shows scars on abdomen, a twin on his back, and on his shoulder. A clean cut, with lightning radiating out from it. The man sighs quietly as he pulls his shirt back on. "Do whatcha gotta do, but if anyone can give me the fast rundown again in plain English, that'd be awesome. Just wanna make sure I know what to expect."
Hideaki gives Aidan a small smile, "From what I gather we're to open diplomatic relations with the Monks."
"Are we seriously in hell?" Sonya asks as she mirrors her brother's confusion. She swivels her arms about to loosen up the joints, giving a glance about, then lets out a slow breath.

	Danny stands up carefully on the boat, raising his arms upwards towards Heaven. THE Heaven of the August personage in Jade, not the sky. Where the Jade Throne resides, judiciously governing the Celestial Bureaucracy, or what's left of it in the current day and age. An incantation is made in Mandarin, his voice carrying across the river, resonant with the Jade Emperor's power in his attempt to channel the August Personage's Grace and Benficence to protect his companions on the boat from the taint of this place.
You lose one Willpower

"Whever they have done here it has woken a devil queen of some sort. The people that live here are being drowned and fed to her, or are being turned into aquatic goblin-like creatures. As to the monks, I do not know much about them. I have dealt more with Siin at the village." Ying Yue looks over to Sonya, "We are."

	The sampan is turned at last towards shore and drifts on the current towards the sand. "Some people call it the umbra or adjacent to it.." The reply comes from Jin who moves to the front of the boat and steps in to the water to finish pulling it to the shore. "I need a moment to prepare Danny so you get them ready?" she ties the boat off to a tree and pulls up her swim bag.

	Danny nods to Aidan and Sonya, echoing Hideaki and Ying Yue. "We are in Hell. Or a soon-to-be Hell. This soon-to-be-Hell is Qi Lung. Not everyone here is tainted yet, however. I am trying to redeem it, stop it, slow it. But. One step at a time. Our goal today is to broker a truce or detente with the monks of the poison lotus that were pushing spirtual narcotics into chinatown. Then we are that much closer to saving the realm from becoming another of the Thousand Hells. And keeping chinatown and Prospect safer."
Aidan points a quick finger to Hideaki. "Alright, that I understand." He says, sounding grateful for that and calmer to boot. Or maybe it's the sorcery. And as more details are supplied, he seems to be on the same page. "Perfect. Just want to make sure I understood. If we're playing negotiators, I didn't want to do something stupid because I was ignorant."

	Danny nods to Jin. "We'll need a smaller boat. There," he points out in the direction of ... canals?

	Canals cut through the valley, serving as an irrigation and transportation network. Eventually, the group's sampan comes upon a stretch of fetid, oily standing water that is separated from the muddy plain by a slime-covered retaining wall. Its regular shape reveal it as one of the many canals in the realm.

	THOSE WITH AWARENESS NOTICE: The canals also serve to focus the dragon lines energies of the realm. Any disruption to the canals will also likely disrupt the flow of chi along the dragon lines.

	THOSE WITHOUT, OR WHO FAILED! NOTICE THE RAIN IS LETTING UP!

	Danny looks around and orients. He points towards a lotus field. "That way." beyond the field, two stupas (shrines) can be seen. "Don't fall into the water. Lotus plants are aquatic. Walk along the catwalk lattices."
As she curls her arms about one of Aidan's, Sonya leans in against him as she watches the rain start to let up. She gives a brief lick of her lips. Settling a hand against her stomach, she lets out a breath, then starts along the walkway when instructed, moving with graceful, quick steps.

Kurumi rises to her feet as the boat beaches on the sand and reaches down to pick up that large five foot steel club of hers leaning it against her shoulder. Her lack of clothing doesn't seem to bother her much, though perhaps realizing monks will likely be scandalized she keeps an eye out for something that might be used as a makeshift covering. "The rain looks like it's letting up." she observes with a skyward glance and then nods to Danny following after him.

Aidan watches the landscape move past, though his eyes keep going back to the water and signs of others in the terrain around. "These canals has power." He murmurs, "Like a... map or... power lines." It seems enough to set his hair slightly on end. He scowls at the poisoned water below and follows closely in the wake of his sister.

	Jin wanders off in to the trees with her swimbag and her staff if she is worried about seperating from the group she doesn't show it. The swimbag is opened and the baggy clothing pulled on then the hood adjusted the sound of a deep breath being taken and the small women begins to fill out her robes. Once baggy the robes now fit much better. The clothing is secured by bindings at wrist and ankle then a black hand grabs the staff and gives it a spin. Satisfied the creature moves off through the trees leaping and dashing among the foliage back to the group.

Ying Yue hops down off the boat, sticking near Kurumi for now, waiting for her to get off the boat as well, "Yes it is. Now instead of warm and wet, it will be hot and sticky." She on the other hand doesn't seem to care much about who is scandalized by her appearance.

	Riotous golden petals seem to blanket the waters of the lotus fields, rolling like frozen waves of amber. The smell is intoxicating - it promises spices and silken rest and beautiful dreams of sated lust. A wooden framework like that of a ship's ribs is barely visible beneath the largest tussock in this vermilion carpet of flowers. These are the legendary lotus flowers of Qi Lung, cultivated by the monks for their aid in meditation, and medicinal properties (when used judiciusly). Over near a raised structure on the lattice catwalk, there is a monk, meditating, perhaps under the influence of lotus.

Hideaki has no issues with the walkway, his balance as sure as his grip. He quietly follows in Danny's wake.

Kurumi giggles looking down at Ying Yue and flashes her a devilish grin, "Hot and sticky has its own charm." she says with a wink. Then she pauses for a moment squinting, she points "I think there is something over there," in the direction of the meditating monk.


	The meditating monk slowly opens his eyes at ... sounds? Strangers? Are they real, or his he high and dreaming?! His brow furrows as he awaits their arrival.

	The monk is dressed in a robe colored like lotus petals - a rich saffron-gold. His head is shaved, and he has faintly glowing deep golden eyes.
As she breathes in the scents, Sonya lets out a shiver as she licks at her bottom lip for a moment. She pauses with the rest of the group, eyes casually glancing about, trying not to stare at those that are unearthly beautiful and nude. Straightish as she may be, they /are/ incredibly beautiful. "...geez, I miss Brandon." She mutters to her brother with a soft laugh under her breath.

	There is a rustle of bushes and then Danny is no longer alone. The robe wearing figure falls in easy step with the sorcerer. There is the occasional attempt to trip him made as they move which makes the hooded figure chortle in amuselemt.
Aidan nudges his shoulder into his sister and murmurs to her, "Best to leave their names unsaid here, just in case. I don't know how this place works." He stays within a finger's length from her, his posture protective and his eyes wary. The monk is regarded, but he remains quiet and lets those more knowledgable address him.
Ying Yue is rather good on her feet, light enough that she doesn't need to worry too much. She looks over towards the monk after Kurumi points him out, but says nothing for the moment. At least not to him, "Behave..." She mutters to Kurumi.

	Danny looks over a shoulder for Jin. "Darling monkey! Are you back there?" Oh wait! There she is! He relaxes when she re-appears and rejoins. He then continues with the group towards the lone monk. "We come in peace!" WE COME IN PEACE? DO PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF TREKKIES SAY THAT? Apparenty, Danny Dragon does.
Hideaki chuckles softly at Danny's statement then makes his own minimalistic greeting by bowing deeply to the monk.

	The monk in golden robes rubs sleepily at his eyes with balled fists. Is he tripping balls? No, these are Outlanders that /come in peace/. And he IS tripping balls. "Peace is good, but we need more monks." Eyeing the group, he gestures over a shoulder. "We have robes in those two stupas back there. For guests. If you're on your way to visit the wat (monastery)?" Then he takes another hit of lotus.

	Off where the monk gestured? There is a stupa. And one more seen past it. From this disance, it almost looks as if nothing has happened to the first one. Its rounded dome and tapered point stand out against the violet sky, seeming to tame it by calm example. Do prayer bells echo on the wind, or is it the clatter of arms? Smaller pillars and structures are visible on the edges of the first shrine - a smell of incense and fire touches your nostrils, a faint memory or even a promise of ... peace. The second one is in rougher shape.

Kurumi sticks out her tongue at Ying Yue, before turning her attention back to Danny and the monk. She isn't really here to talk, more just in case things go south and perhaps for her own amusement, so for now she quietly watches and listens. When the monk mentions robes Kurumi wanders over in that direction to investigate, though the chances that they'll have one in her size are not terribly high.

As she listens, Sonya continues to breathe in the scent of lotus into her lungs, rocking on her feet back and forth as her hand slips down into her brother's for a bit of a squeeze. She feels at ease, peace, despite the world around them which is quite confusing.

Hideaki says, "Shall we go gather the guest garments?"

	Danny nods to Hideaki, and heads towards the first stupa. "Best to blend in."

	STUPA 1
This stupa contains a lovely gilded carving of a sun goddess's marriage on the inside wall. Its light and warm inside! There is another monk in a golden robe, meditating silently, almost alseep. Guest garments and such are neatly arranged in here! Everyone can take one.
Avatar of Sun Wukong sticks their fingers into the corner of their lips and makes a very lous wolf whistle at the naked folks before chuckling again. "Blending in is no fun! I say let them run naked through the fields of lotus!" A deep sniff is taken of the air and an approving sound made.

	The figure you see is swaddled in monk attire made of golden silk. The robe portion of the garment includes a hood more often than not pulled up to obscure the face from casual sight. When seen the head of the creature appears to be a hybrid between human and Orangutan. The skin is composed of delicate black scales with tufts of bright red hair on the face and worn in a long ponytail down it's back. The clothing hides details of the mass of the creature exposing only the hands and feet. Both are scaled and clawed, from beneath the robe, a long black prehensile tail emerges capped at the end with a bright red stinger.

Hideaki gives the drowsy monk a small bow before passing out robes as needed, before putting on one of his own.


	The drowsy monk awakens. "Heed the scroll," he says. Then goes back to sleep.
As she steps into the Stupa, Sonya looks over at the whistling, amused as she strips out of her clothing without a care. She hate sbeing wet after all. Once she takes the new robes, she pulls it over her body and tightens the straps about her waist.

Stepping inside of the Stupa where the clothing was indicated to be, Kurumi looks around for a few moments until she finds the guest robes in question and takes one. Putting it on, there is some stretching and resizing as the garment's innate magic goes to work eventually allowing it to fit even her larger form. She cinches it loosely, allowing it to still hang open a bit more like a bathrobe than monk's attire. Once that is done she takes up her kanabou again and falls back into step with the rest of the group.

	Danny waits until everyone is dressed (or not). He looks to Hideaki. "Heed the scroll?" Stepping out, he begins leading towards the second stupa.

Hideaki nods, "It is what he said." With that he looks around to see if one is visible. Inscribed on parchment, or in stone. if one is he points it out.

	STUPA 2
This stupa seems burned from the outside, but intact on the inside. It contains nothing within but a scroll, which reads itself aloud in echoing and sonorous tones, unrolling slowly across a lectern with no hand turning it. The language is unfamiliar and ancient sounding. The smell of incense and the sound of bells is also thick within, making it difficult to focus.

Aidan does a wardrobe change as he goes, the act quick and efficient on his part. Wet clothes, begone. He follows with the group, not straying far from them but even less from his sister. The scroll is given a critical look, but there's no appearance of understanding on his face. "...guessing we may have to be high to get it..." He mumbles quietly.
Ying Yue moves on over, looking for whatever scroll that the sleepy monk was talking about. She is not a monk, so likely unless she is told to by someone, she won't put on a robe, but she will take one to carry with her just in case from the first Stupa.
Upon hearing the scroll, Ying Yue looks a little confused, "Well I am not the Gaja Simha. Are any of you Gaja Simha?"
Avatar of Sun Wukong seems to keep a circut around the group like a sheep dog herding. Though the figure laughs and capers having an unseemly amount of fun it is noted they are never to far from Danny. That image of a hound occasionally reenforced when the sorcerer finds himself pulled back as the robed one deems him to far from the group.

Hideaki says, "Sounds to me like a warning of a beast who's appearance happens not long before a disaster. Perhaps it has something to do with the one corrupting this realm."

	Danny looks up at the sun in the sky. "We should make haste." Stepping outside, there is nothing left but a path that leads to a maze. Beyond the maze? Their destination! Danny makes for the entrance to the maze, but then the air shimmers and the sky darkens. SOMETHING MANIFESTS IN FRONT OF THE MAZE, BLOCKING THE PATH!

	PHYSICAL CHALLENGE - COMBAT!
GAJA SIMHA
Behold! This is the Gaja Simha! A terrifying creature whose appearance has historically presaged disaster and calamity, appearing before cataclysmic events befall entie realms! The beast resembles a very large lion with enormous fangs and the trunk of an elephant. Its body glitters with black, green, gold, and purple scales. It does NOT look friendly, and it bars the way any further. The Great Beast stands at the mouth of the Great Maze of canals beyond which can be seen the Lotus Monk holding of Mandul Xiem, where the gold gilded domes and cupola of the stupas (shrines) surrounding the imposing and ornately designed wat (monastery) can be seen glittering in the distance. The group is so close, yet so far away!

	The Gaja Simha is the size of a mature mokole in dragon/dinosaur form. It is NOT F'NG AROUND. The air around it crackles with chi!
At the appearance of the beast, another takes the field. Aidan's body shifts, the enchanted robe following, until there stands a great tiger on two legs, his striped orange coat tinged fiery gold as fabric melds with fur. A moment later, his body shines with a brighter silvery aura as he calls upon a protective gift.

Ying Yue looks at the others, the beast, and then to Kurumi, "I am guessing that you are just dying to go and hit that thing." She says in a tone that sounds like it may have a built in sigh.
Hideaki steps to the back of the party as his is the role of diplomat, not bodyguard this time around.

Blurring upwards into the crinos form, Sonya, now Fire-Runner, steps forward to her brother's side as orange and black striped fur ripples about her, tall, muscular. Just like her brother, her body begins to shine brightly in a silver fortification. ~Mother, protect me.~ She whispers to the woman of the moon as she wheels her paws about defensively.

Avatar of Sun Wukong makes no move to approach the beast instead position at Danny's side is maintained and the creature just watches. A scaled hand on the man's arm just incase he decides to do something the guardian deems stupid.

	Danny summons the power of the Jade Throne and assumes the power of the Godbody of the Celestial Emperor. But he hangs back. THIS is why he contracted with the Tigers.

Kurumi squints at the scroll as she walks past, following the others out of the Stupa again and towards the maze when the very monster she saw in the scroll appears and starts looking like it wants to fight. "Oh aren't you adorable." Kurumi giggles, the Kanabo coming off of her shoulder, she stretches her neck to one side and then the other and then starts to grow and grow assuming her true form. Thank goodness for the magical monk robes, Kurumi's growth spurt tops out between sixteen and seventeen feet, though she doesn't look too different, a 'small' pair of horns extend from her forehead and her skin bears a slight reddish tinge as she becomes an Oni straight out of Japanese legend and a huge one at that. If that wasn't enough, the five foot steel club grows with her, increasing in size proportionally.

With a roar of challenge, the large beast of war that is Fire Runner blurs forward, black claws gleaming as she launches forward in an attempt to dig them into one of the powerful tusks of the beast, then yank it's head downwards to the ground with her weight. ~BIG GIRL! HULK SMASH!~ She knows her brother is at her side as the pair move together, as if they were dancers on a battle field.

The tigers don't even seem to need to speak or even look at one another to coordinate their efforts. Since when do cats fight like wolves? As Sonya Firerunner goes for one tusk, Aidan Strike-of-Heaven goes for the other. It looks like their intent is to wrangle the beast down like a raging bull and hold it in place for Kurumi.

	The Gaja Simha seems to be charging up for some sort of attack. He's slower than Fire-Runner though.

Kurumi watches the tigers go, her role in all of this is clear as she steps forward towards the creature crackling with electricity as she raises the solid metal spiked club that is looking more like a telephone pole now above her head and prepares to SMASH the Gaja Simha into next week.

Avatar of Sun Wukong balances on one foot the other bent and pressed to the knee of it's mate. A hand remains on the shoulder of Danny keeping him back away from anything combat related. "You stay here, I am responsible for your life not theirs." Always the party pooper it seems.

	The Gaja is grappled! Will the tigress hold on? Who knows! The Gaja? Unleashes an AoE attack!

	Danny gets knocked on his ass by the POWER-SNEEZE!

Hideaki braces against the sneeze then moves to the back of the party. He unslings his Bokken and drops in to a defensive stance

Avatar of Sun Wukong doesn't seem moved by the breeze and with a solid grip on the sorcerer as well. As Danny's feet go out from under him he flaps in the breeze like laundry on the line but is held fast by Monkey's grip upon his person.

Kurumi manages to keep her footing in spite of the wind, the massive metal club comes down upon the creature but there is far less crunch and splat than she expected as the creature shrugs off most of the blow. Delight shows in Kurumi's eyes, a kind of mad joy, "Oh you are going to be more fun than I expected! Let's play some more!" Perhaps she underestimated it before, but now it seems the Oni is getting serious.

	The gaja makes a horrible noise as its BASHED! The lightning? It only tickles.

Being in this small and fragile form is not safe for Ying Yue. Luckily she did not put on that robe, as while it might be useful for a humanoid, not so much for a dragon. She launches heself in the air as she shifts, spreading her wings to an impressive span and hovers while she takes stock of the scene.

With the twins working in tandem again, Fire-Runner looks to yank the beast's head clear upwards during her rage action, exposing the meat to Strike-Of-Heaven as he blurs his way into the Chatro form, then launches himself with long, sabretoothed fangs to attempt to tear out it's throat. The female tiger has her paws dug into the ground, using her weight as an anchor.

	The Gaja is getting beat on! But its built Ford Tough! The beast is looking down, but not out.

Strike-of-Heaven knows his teeth are in there, but clearly not the right spot. Bugger. His jaws open just enough to try and get a more ideal hold on something vital.

Avatar of Sun Wukong pivots using the staff extending it's long body then equally long and flexible tail bringing the stinger out at the giant beast. CRITICAL HIT!

	The Gaja lets our a horrible sounding death-throes roar! And then collapses in a heap. Sun Wukong's Avatar is triumphant!

	Danny eyes Hideaki as the carnage unfolds around them.

	"Now, quickly. Into the maze. before anything else materialzies," says Danny.

Avatar of Sun Wukong will help free any trapped then move in to the maze. "I want cookies Danny, my weight in cookies. The good kind to the expensive chocolate ones."
Hideaki raises an eyebrow at Danny, "I'm the squishiest one here. That thing hits me, best case you drag my crippled self around. I did not bring any of my combat gear."
Drawing her bloodied claws away, Fire Runner gives a low snuff, then pulls her brother up to his feet. She gives him a quick hug before heading into the maze with the others.

Feathered Dragon is still keeping herself aloft with those great feathered wings of hers, but as soon as Danny calls out, the dragon darts in to the maze, moving rather quickly, though she does pull the wings in close once in the maze so that she, and others can move along.
Strike-of-Heaven dislodges his scimitar fangs and shakes his head, huffing out an annoyed note. ~Tough one.~ He grunts to his twin before heading into the maze. Seems like he'll keep to the primordial cat for now and he makes no bones about moving and muscling his way up to the front to lead and stand in the way of anything else foul.
Hideaki eyes the maze, "I think I see the pattern, shall we be off?"

	Danny nods, moving in and keeping VERY close to the Avatar. "The world's best for you, darling monkey," he murmurs as he tries to keep his wits about him.
As her ears swivel, Fire Runner gives a low chuff to the group, making a motion of her large paw for them to follow her. Taking the lead, she guides through the twists and turns, giving a glance to her brother at times.

Kurumi takes one last swing at the beast's corpse before shrinking back to her regular size. Following the others into the maze, she grabs a peace of the legendary beast as she walks past and takes a bite out of it, bringing the snack with her.


	Danny nods to Hideaki. "We're running late. Hopefully not TOO late."

	SOCIAL CHALLENGE - NEGOTIATIONS!
	MANDUL XIEM
Once through the maze of canals, the group arrives at the legendary Mandul Xiem. this sprawling holding of the Lotus Monks is composed of intricate statuary, towers, Aeolian wind-flutes, bell chapels, lotus gardens and reflecting pools. In the center is a giant stupa, eight lobed land gilded to look like a great golden lotus flower. It shimmers perfectly in the light, unscathed and untouched by any sorcery or ravages of war. A group of 4 monks will greet the party and escort them to the wat behind the central stupa, and into a large room where Master Prem, the Center of the Lotus, and his counselors await the group to commence negotiations. The monks are dressed in robes colored like lotus petals - a rich saffron-gold. Their heads are shaved, and they all have faintly glowing deep golden eyes.


	Danny summons his chi, speaking an invocation to the Jade Throne and summoning the August Personage's Grace and Majesty. or as much as he can, anyway. His body glows silver, and his mien beautifulcand terrible all at once. Then he makes to take a seat opposite the monks at the long table, and invites the group to do the same.

Hideaki bows to the monks and takes a seat next to Danny.

The little dragon keeps this form for now, after all having a dragn in the party could very well swing things in their favor, after all, they are rather revered creatures in most asian cultures. Her body curls up in to a comfortable position as she watches.

	"Thank you for agreeing to parley with us. I am Daniel Wu Lung, ranking Xian Lung of Prospect's middle kingdom. We appreciate your hospitality and hope to come to a speedy and mutual agreement." Danny then passes to his left to allow his companions to introduce themselves.
After taking her human skin, Sonya slides into a seat at the table, straightening up as she does. She gives a formal nod to the monks, giving a smile as she folds her hands patiently in front of her.
Strike-of-Heaven at least does a quick cleanup of his whiskers before he steps inside, but he keeps to the saber-toothed form. At least his borderline terrifying appearance, combined with a cat's natural dignified swagger, makes him look like a most intimidating member of the party. But lo, tame as a housecat it would seem, as he lays himself down sphinx-like next to his sibling with his forepaws neatly tucking in against his chest.
From afar, Strike-of-Heaven has Intimidation 4, so he's just gonna hang there looking like a very dangerous and impressive pet. Don't like the terms? Maybe he'll eat someone.
Hideaki takes his turn at the introduction, "Hotsuin Hideaki. Shinto Priest, and ranking Chi'N Ta of Prospects Middle Kingdom."

	Monkey stands behind Danny once the former is seated and turns to watch the monks. The hood is lowered revealing the creatures face. The voice isn't male or female but somewhere inbetween. "I am the Avatar of Sun Wukong, Guardian of sorcerer."

Kurumi walks up behind Danny and leans forward showing cleavage from her half open robe as she smiles sweetly at the head monk, "Hi, my name is Kurumi." she says acting more like a Forbidden City courtesan than a diplomatic envoy.

	The monk seated at the center rises, then bows to all. "Master Prem, Center of the Lotus." A pause as he straightens up, then takes a seat. "Our lotus makes for much medicine. Your populace makes for much consumption. We need resources for ... " A pause. "Purposes of great import."

	Master Prem sighs, "We also need monks to execute the purpose. Your fellow subjects - some of them - have proven resistant to our acts of commerce, and as a result, we have suffered casualties." A pause. "So, how do we solve our connundrum?" His golden eyes go to Kurumi for a moment. Or her generous cleavage at least.

Hideaki steeples his fingers and leans forward, "You say you have need of resources. We have found that your medicines cause more harm than good in the Middle Kingdom. If it is permissible to share with outsiders, what is the purpose that you seek to do?"

Hideaki says, "If we find this task to be agreeable we may be able to arrange resources without harm to the Middle Kingdom."

	"The naga queen awakens. her coils warp the land. our civilization bleeds from a thousand wounds. we are deperate. our only hope is the lotus. to use the most ancient of ways to re-consecrate the valley. these geomantic sorceries require monks. and resources," says prem matter of factly. His eyes suggest a fanatic and true believe, as does the set of his jaw.

	Danny's brow furrows. "An end to the corruption of the chi. But the queen is another symptom, not a cause." A breath is taken, then exhaled. "She is the cause of /your/ problem, but not of the root corruption," he clarifies.
Hideaki blinks, "So if she is not the root, what is? And will she need to be dealt with before the root can be managed? Dealing with her seems to be a worthy cause, regardless."

	Master Prem shrugs. "I am responsible for the wat and the stupas and my holy brothers. We are responsible for the ensuring the proper geo-mantic polarity of the land and water beneath us. We will use what we have, and what we know, to solve /our/ problem." His brow furrows and his jaw tightens. "I cannot lose any more of my brothers to the stronger guardians of your part of the middle kingdom. Your kung fu is strong. But neither can I stop the efforts we are making. Our committment is equally strong." A pause. "We will last but a season. You have until the end of the season to try and address the root, as you say, or we will proceed our way." He rises. "For now, trade of our lotus into your kingdom will ... slow, if not outright cease. It will take us some time to cut off all supply. Our brothers are like islands unto themselves on your side of the wall."
Hideaki scratches his beard thoughtfully, "Are the resources you seek financial, or something else?"

	"We offer you access to our library, should you wish. Good luck in finding this root you speak of." Master Prem looks to Hideaki. "When your denizens consume the lotus, some of their chi comes back to us, in our central battery. The more they consume, the more chi we are able to siphon."

"How does selling drugs give you power to do whatever geo-thing with the land that you are talking about?" Kurumi is still playing the vapid courtesan and bats her eyes at the head monk, but she seems genuinely curious.


	"the more chi we have, the stronger our re-consecration will be. We will cleanse this land if it takes the lives of all of us in it to do so. The wheel of ages turns. We do what we must." Master Prem pauses. "I cannot allow Qi Lung to fall to the Yomi Wan. Not like this."

Hideaki says, "And the more you are able to use in reinforcing the Geomancy. It looks like we have a project cut out for us.". He looks to Danny, "Does this sound acceptable to you?""

	"One season," Master Prem repeats, nodding in agreement. "The library is yours. Anything more will reqquire another parley." A gong is rung, and a wave of energy surges through the room. Everyone's mystic essence is replenished! But the monks? They have all vanished!

===> Log ended by user <===> 2/24/2019, 12:06:06 AM <===