The Harvest Moon Consortium

[Winterhawk99]

Mingzhu follows T’kharr though Port Ginji to find the border way to Tsaboru. The signs point the way and there is a sort-of road leading in the general direction, but the road itself isn’t much more than a village path that isn’t well maintained. The golden monster behind her gets close and tries to sandwich her between him and T’kharr. Mingzhu doesn’t say anything, trying to be polite.

The tall hengeyokai ducks and weaves around limbs she has no problems there are many village paths around her own village. She has used these kinds of paths all her life. She takes it all in stride. The tall monster seems to be biting off limbs of trees that get in its way. She can hear the occasional crunch as he does…… She’s not sure if it’s a he or she… maybe its and it.

Still, after what seems like a moderately timed walk, they eventually find themselves on the outskirts of Tsaboru. There's extensive rice fields, along with pens for animals, farmers going about their duties. A few of them look up at the group, but most of them quickly shy away and get back to their duties. Odds are there's going to be gossip about them soon enough in the village though. She keeps pace behind T’kharr.

It takes some walking past the rice fields, it looks like further in, there's buildings where the villagers' homes congregate into a more concise unit. Fortunately, it seems that the man described is in the village square, speaking with an older looking man, who has greyed hairs and a goatee.

T’kharr begins to talk to an official looking man talking to an elder. The elder says, “over "And there's more demand here, we're going to need to maintain a larger surplus for the village..."

Mingzhu waits patiently for a moment then she sees a spirit of a man perhaps a villager that passed. He tries to touch her. She cannot yet speak to the spirit but the look on his face tells her all she needs to know. She grabs onto T’Kharr’s arm, “Wait!”

T’kharr backs off a bit from the official looking at her for a moment. The official speaks to the hengeyokai as if not seeing what just happened. T’kharr presents him with a letter. He takes it. The older man meanwhile looks over at the three of them. Mingzhu tries to warn them again. “I sense danger. I feel a spirit.”

The official completely ignores her. The monster watches quietly, arms folded.

The older man looks over, a frown "We will likely need to withhold the Daimyo's tax to maintain our extant obligations if our food shipments keep being intercepted."

T’kharr raises an eyebrow and looks at her again. Mingzhu thinks she is starting to get the clue that something might be wrong by the urgency of her own pleas.

The official starts talking to T’kharr again when a farmer comes running to the square. T’kharr starts to look around. Mingzhu suddenly shouts, “Snout! Hide!”

The farmer speaks to the official, “Uh, pardon me elder, trade master, but..."

The elder looks over to the farmer "What is it?"

T’kharr gets a concerned look on her face. Mingzhu keeps scanning for anything troubling. Snout stays with her. She sighs and pops her eyes at him trying to get him to hide. The farmer continues, “We were tending to our rice along the north, some of us noticed a pair of four horse-riders approaching the village."

Mingzhu speaks up, “What did they look like?”

The Elder looks over "More strange guests..."

The trade master suddenly looks very alarmed. "Elder... none of the villages here keep or stable horses..." Ming speaks.

T’kharr speaks to the monster. Mingzhu casts guidance to beef up her resistance. The Elder suddenly cries out as he realizes something. "Raiders! Sound the alarm!"

"Get the militia to the northern farms! Go!" The elder and Trade master and the farmer run off to raise an alarm. It does seem there are raiders coming at the north fields of the village.

T’kharr takes off north. Mingzhu runs hot on her heels with Snout following. Mingzhu waves her hand behind her to tell Snout to go hide again but the stubborn rodent either doesn’t get the message or refuses to.

The village forces are not organized at all. Mingzhu is not happy as she looks around. The monster pulls his sword and shield and runs ahead of her to keep up with T’kharr. It's broad daylight, in the morning, in the distance, coming in fast, and closing in on the rice crops, there are four horseback riders. They appear lightly armored, each having a spear strapped on their backs, and they hold lit torches.

At first Mingzhu tries to meet with them to try to negotiate with them over what dispute they have. She quickly realized that particular avenue was a mistake with them bearing lit torches in broad daylight. T’kharr shouts something to the monster.

She studies them. Their clothing is nondescript, a mix of black and brown. Each of them wears a black cloth mask. However, as soon as they spot the party, they split off, their torches lit, two go to the party's left, two to the right. It seems that they're not in the mood to talk.

T’kharr quickly pulls a sling out and throws a stone at one. It hits him, pelting him good but he still seems to stay on his horse. Being the group is close enough together She casts bless on all of them.

The rider that got hit turns suddenly to his right and moves southwest to the rice crops there. Two other riders spit off left and move to the southeastern fields.

The monster lets out a bellowing roar that splits her ears. He holds her head for a moment and looks at Snout. He puts his ear to the ground and rolls around trying to get the sound out of his ears. It does do something. One of the riders stops and seems apprehensive for a few seconds.

T’kharr breaks to her left further. She runs while her sling winds in her hand. She releases a stone but misses her target. Mingzhu finds the closest rider and tries to get him to stop from throwing any torches. She casts calm emotions on him. Unfortunately, he seems to shrug off her spell, continuing to go for his target.

Two of the riders throw their torches but luckily the fields do not light. The wet rice seems hard to ignite. Mingzhu breaths a sigh of relief but only a moment because she knows that there are the other two and the two that just tried to burn the fields are trying to light another torch.

The rider that was shaken by the monster shakes off his anxiety. The monster goes left tracking another rider leaving her and Snout alone. Another rider throws their torch, and the fields again put out its fire. She looks at the last rider with a lit torch trying to figure out where he is likely to throw it and tears off in that direction to try to stop the fire.

She knows she and Snout don’t stand a chance in a fight wearing nothing but a worn robe. Her spells that can defend the fields are exhausted. The only thing she can do is try to stop the fire before it starts if the torch manages to ignite the rice. Snout follows behind her thinking it’s all a game.

She sees a flicker to her side as the rice fields in the southwest start to ignite. The riders ahead of her light the fields. They start to smolder with smoke. She makes a b-line to them looking for any tool along the way. She finds none. With no tools she uses her hands and feet to put dirt, water and mud over the flames trying to put the fire out.

She sees she isn’t stopping anything, but she is slowing the fire down. They must have let loose some oil on the crops along with their torches. She forces herself to move as fast as she can. She looks back just a moment and sees the fields on the west side are even worse. The fire blazes along the crops. She turns again, getting back to work on her side. Something must be saved for the villagers.

In desperation, as she sees the villagers moving toward her. She decides on a different tactic. She unsheathes her oyster knife and begins chopping a cut line between the good rice and the fire. Meanwhile she also talks to Snout, trying to get her to find a tool she can use to work faster.

The riders on her side roam around. By the time the militia start to chase them it’s too late. The eastern side is now aflame. She is still trying to fight the fire when the farmers come to her, and she is waiting for Snout to bring her something to throw more dirt on it. The villagers made a bucket line; however, the riders were able to do extensive damage.

Finally, she exhausts herself. She hugs Snout. “What a good boy, Papa would be proud of you today. though it seems we did so little.”

T’kharr comes back to her and holds out her hand. Mingzhu takes it. The hengeyokai helps her up. They go back to town together. Mingzhu is frustrated that she could not do more for the poor people here.

The Trade Master Official and the Elder are in the town square. They look worried. She feels a sense of unease and panic from them. She tries to calm them down.

The Elder mutters darkly, “Blasted raiders! ... Wouldn't be surprised if that Foreigner witch had something to do with this!"

Mingzhu comes up to him. “We did our best. I am sorry for the crop loss and that we could not do more.”

T’kharr says something she doesn’t understand. The official tells her something and then turns to me. His expression softening. “"You.... did what you could, I'm sure... I .... by the Eight million, what a terrible loss. This is going to set us back... I ..." He sighs, “Your companions got one of the ones who attacked us. You have my thanks, at the very least."

I try to comfort him, “I know you have troubles. hard times come but they will pass too.”

The Elder tries to help me calm the official down. “I understand, but we need to focus. There are going to need to be cutbacks made. We'll skip the Daimyo's tax entirely until he actually sends some men to do something about this. We do not have the rice to pay him now anyways."

The trade master responds "How do you think the Daimyo's going to take that?! He might just put us all to the sword!?!"

T’kharr speaks to them. She’s holding a strange pendant. They both switch to that other language. I wait patiently. They seem to be talking about the pendant. The monster shows up again and talks to them. I finally speak up. “May I see it?”

After a long time T’kharr shows me the pendant. I look at it but have no idea what it is though there is something cold and ugly about it. I cannot put my finger on what it is, but I want to avert my eyes. I shake my head and look at her. She nods and continues talking to the Official and Elder.

When there is a pause in the conversation I look up at the official and pull a pale golden pearl from my pouch. “Sir, we could not stop the fire, and I feel bad for the village. I, too, come from a small village in Shou lung. take this with my regards please. I do not have much, but I hope this will help."

He looks over at me taking the pearl reluctantly. “My thanks for your kindness and understanding. If anything, it is we who owe you for the aid you have given us. It is because of you and your companions that the damage to the western fields are not as bad as they could have been."

“I will come back when I am stronger and try to have the spirits protect you better. One touched me just before the raiders came.”

The official says, “Their warning was most welcome, then." The elder and Trade master dipped their heads in thanks to me.

T’kharr looks at me and starts making signs. I think she is trying to say if I want to stay here or go back to the other town.

T’kharr and the monster start to leave. I follow. T’kharr is a kind enough hengeyokai and I want to hang with the big girl not only for protection but to support her if I can. It seems that she wants to help these villages. I feel the spirits want me to follow her. We go back the way we came.

[Winterhawk99]

We come back to the port and to the inn in the afternoon. The inn is very busy this time of day. There are many fishermen and others in there. the Innkeeper doesn’t notice us at first. T’kharr and the monster finally get his attention. T’kharr lays the pendant on the bar and the three discuss it I assume. Whatever they are talking about, some of the patrons start to become Agitated and the innkeeper looks off in the distance suddenly. I have no spells left to calm them.

Once again, I get a sinking feeling that I am not doing well as a shamaness. I pet Snout who stays right beside me. He seems to sense when I am down. I pet him while keeping my eyes open for trouble. A customer yells at us in that other language. I start to feel self-conscience of our failure. The innkeeper, monster and T’kharr continue their conversation. I have things I must do if I am to help these people better. I leave the inn and head to the merchant’s area.

Mingzhu goes to the three major trade houses to get offers for her pearls. The colors she knows are rare, but they are only of average quality. The Zakharan offers her a total of 1500 It is what she expects.

The Diamond industries and Solutions trader clearly wants to rip her off. She leaves quickly.

The best deal clearly comes from the trade house called the Golden Sails. The strange merchant with round eyes offers her 2500 for her 10 pearls. She quickly accepts for he changes his mind and pockets the cash.

Next, she looks for a temple of the Path of enlightenment. There is no temple, but she does find a shrine with a monk attending it. He seems to be alone there meditating but notices her approach.

I bow to him, "Greetings master. I am Shou-Lung a shamaness of the path. I look for proper robes and"........she pauses........"fighting gloves."

He rises, dipping his head "Greetings, I am Qualai Minh, keeper of this humble shrine. And I see." He looks over, considering "I can tell trouble has ailed you. Your eyes show weariness from disharmony. Would you like to speak about it first?"

"I live in a fishing village in northern Shou lung. I was taken as a fish whisperer to the tuna harvest. but orcas attacked me. I was spirited away by dolphins, and we lost the fleet. I found myself here. with a kind hengeyokai that has helped me and a strange tall creature that looks like........I am not sure. Now I must help them until I can go back home again. I could go home now but the village just inland was attacked, and I feel the call to put things right if I can."

He listens, considering "I see." He takes a breath "You are not forced to aid them, but the path takes many twists and turns, and it sounds as though doing so is the honorable thing to do, and therefore, the path would demand it. Ultimately we all must do to ensure rightness under heaven." He considers "I can sense from your tone; it was a terrible attack that occurred. It has inflicted disharmony. I am sure you did what you could. But you feel you could have done more, I take it?"

I nod, “I am but an apprentice, but the spirits call me to action.”

Qualai nods in understanding "I see..." He considers "If it weighs on you that much, I will not ask you to speak of it until you are ready. But your wording tells me that they may have guided you here for some purpose. Even if we do not always understand it, the paths we walk are often instrumental for what comes after." He motions me into a room in the shrine. It’s a small place. Snout follows me. I put my hand back to tell him to behave.

"The rightness under heaven of this island, and those surroundings, has been disrupted. In such a state, it is easy for people to lose their way, to in despair, forsake that which keeps us, and to take paths that take one further from enlightenment and towards suffering." He preaches.

“These people here. I hear their sorrows. I will do what I can for them.”

He looks back at me. “I can feel that you intend to be true to that." He goes to a small storeroom, and offers what look like warrior monk robes, and some hand wraps. "I expect there will be many tests on such a path. But I offer these to you freely. Many have come to doubt of late. If you would, ask my purpose in offering such freely, it is so that they around us who are ailing might see one who walks the path of enlightenment aiding them with purpose and see that there is still worth in walking such a path, despite its hardships."

I bow almost not believing, “I will find a way to repay your kindness so that karma is in balance.” I go to the side and put the leather reinforced robes on and hand wraps on. I can feel there is some magic in both. The first thing I do is make sure everything is open in the right places to swim in. I find that everything is perfect as if they were made just for me.

As I head out of the shrine, I run into T’kharr. She drops to one knee and gives me a hug and a gentle smile. She rubs my back for reassurance. I feel somewhat comforted. I smile. She stands and leaves, going on her way to whatever business she has.

I head back to the inn still surprised about the robes and that I can wear them. I thank my guardian spirits. I go down to the beach and look for the most advantageous point where spirits may be near.

She sits down where she feels it the strongest. She cannot commune with spirits yet, but she can use the spell trance to let them know she is here and get an idea about what these Wa spirits are like. She casts the spell trance to see what she finds and making the spirits aware of her presence. Getting what information, she can about them.

She gets a vague sense of fear, anger, pain, it's clear that the spirits of this land are greatly troubled. She gets the sense that there is something very, very wrong here, though they're clearly stating exactly what, right now. But she might get the impression of something darker at work here. She isn't able to get a full idea, it almost seems like the spirits are... panicking? It seems hard to pin down exactly where they are. But she can get a sense that the panicking is centered around several places. Hard to say exactly where though, out deeper in the sea...

She goes to the Inn to ask the owner where the others are. He tells her they are at the docks. She rushes out to find them. Asking around she finds them easily enough. They are unique so easily led too. T’karr stops and hugs her.

I say, “I have news.”

The hengeyokai says something and points to the inn. I sigh and shrug then follow the two giants back to the inn. We get back to the Dizzy Panda. It seems round evening time now. There’s a lot of regulars and noise there. The bartender is busy enough tending to customers that they don't immediately notice us. I feed Snout some sardines.

The owner starts to clean glasses, and we go up to him. T’kharr talks to him. She then motions me to speak to him, so I do.

"I cannot speak with spirits yet, but I listen and see. The spirits they are........ they are angry, pensive, something haunts their peace. The sea spirits are in anguish over something more than others I feel. They cry out as if not knowing what to do."

The innkeeper grows worried He then talks to T’kharr and the monster.

He points to T’kharr and looks at me. “She says. I can only but imagine, it sounds like what the corsairs inflict is worse than we even know."

I nod to her. She then points to herself and the monster. The bartender says, “As to what we were up to We found a lead on the amulet I recovered. I was thinking we'd follow up on it come the next dawn" she then receives her tea and sips from it, offering a few local coins in return.

I say, “I must meditate at dawn."

The innkeeper looks at what T’kharr says next then tells me. “We can accommodate that.” T’kharr turns to the monster, and they start to converse. I listen quietly so that if they want to talk to me I will be able too through the innkeeper.

T’kharr looks at the owner and then to me. “I go where they go. I believe the spirits would want this or maybe the sea king."

The next I get is, “Alright then, is there anything else you wished to bring up while we have services available?"

I answer, “I do not know only that the spirits are scared and angry. I will talk to a smart fish tomorrow maybe they will know something."

"That would be quite helpful, yes. If that is all, let us not waste time, no?" T’kharr takes a long swig of her tea, picks her staff up and starts out the inn. I follow with Snout bounding behind.

[Winterhawk99]

Mingzhu follows T’kharr and the monster out of the inn. She turns to snout. “You wish to come or go find a kelp bed?” She motions with her hands to show him what she is asking. The otter seems to want to stay close to her, whatever she felt on the beach, it seems to have frightened Snout a bit too. He wants to stay next to her. She puts her finger up, “No stealing. We are not home. And no getting into things either.” She’s not really sure if he understands but she tries all the time.

Snout totally doesn’t listen to her carefully. They head to the docks. T’kharr finds whatever ship she wants and goes to the guards. She takes a slip out of her pocket and presents it to them. The monster stays behind her. She looks back at how close it is to her. It’s like the monster is trying to herd her like a fish. She is still not sure about this golden winged, lizard-like creature. Still, she doesn’t say anything. Being unsure if it is just overprotective or wants something else.

The guards say something to them. Since she doesn’t understand she looks around for spirits whether they are dead, of nature or other. Her eyes constantly scanning the ethereal plane that she knows as the spirit world. She doesn’t see any activity there are no active spirits around. Mostly just traders and other folks doing business by the docks.

Seeing nothing she looks up at the guards and two giants. The guard places the note in his pocket and moves to the ship. He leads them onto the boat. The people here are a strange olive-skinned people with roundish eyes. The guard stops suddenly on deck and talks to T’kharr then the monster. His voice changes to one of resolve and sternness as he speaks to the Scaly creature.

He looks down at Mingzhu and says something she doesn’t understand. She looks up at T’kharr and the giant monster. T’kharr makes some motions like he is swearing an oath on tenants. She turns to the guard. “Shou?”

The guard raises an eyebrow then makes motions for another to come to him. The other guard speaks to her, “Before we let you on, we wish you to state word of honor that the one you come to meet will not be spoken of outside.”

She says, “I swear by my spirit guardians, I will not.”

He nods to her and speaks to the other guard. The guards split up and the original one continues. He leads them downstairs to the deck below. The interior of the boat looks quite extravagant. There are rich looking tapestries, carpets and adornments everywhere.

Mingzhu puts her finger up to her nose and looks at Snout sternly narrowing her eyes, as they walk past oil lamps made of pure gold.

The guard motions for them to wait, but after a short time, a man wearing extravagant robes, a turban, and holds a golden lamp. Even wearing expensive looking bracelets and other jewelry. He goes to meet the party before going to sit down cross-legged on a rug, then he looks over "I have been told that my services might be necessary. To what do I owe this meeting?"

T’kharr draws out the amulet and presents it to the man. She studies the stranger. His skin is more bluish than any she has ever seen. He is a pale bluish color, and his hair is a silvery white. She becomes somewhat overwhelmed by both the opulence and the strange man even though she doesn’t realize she herself looks somewhat strange to a non shou.

T’kharr speaks to him. After some point, she says her name then the monster puts a hand on his chest and says Balan. The blue man looks at her. She stares at the others a moment then says, “Mingzhu and Snout.” The man says something then T’kharr looks at her and gives her and pinches her fingers. She looks at the hengeyokai trying to figure out what she is trying to say. Mingzhu doesn’t seem to get it then T’kharr tries another motion.

She looks at the blue man. “What are they trying to say?”

He tells her. “I will need a Pearl, or sufficient coin, to perform the spell to identify this amulet."

“I sold all my pearls. How much coin do you need?”

He says, “One hundred and fifty for this casting.”

She hunts in her purse, counts out 150 coin and gives it to him.” He thanks her.

The blue man turns back to T’kharr and starts talking in the other language. He pulls a pearl from a pouch within his robes. She lays the amulet out in front of the man. He nods, placing the pearl upon his golden lamp, touching the amulet with one hand. He begins casting a spell, or perhaps some kind of ritual. It seems relatively simple as far as magic goes, but he goes about casting...
The casting takes about an hour. Mingzhu watches him cast the spell while still trying to keep one eye on Snout.

After the ritual is complete, the blue man looks over the amulet giving it a curious and revulsive look. He talks to T’kharr and the monster. She watches everyone talking. They talk for some time. Mingzhu sort of phases everything out going into a semi-trance. That is until the blue man mentions Snouts name.

Mingzhu looks around not finding him. He seems to have vanished. “Snout! ……… Where are you?” Mingzhu walks away looking for the mischievous otter. The guards look at her then look around and back to her. She is more concerned about the rodent’s welfare. She calls again, “Snout!”

She tries to fish for some sardines from her pocket then realizes she fed him all of the already. She sighs. T’kharr and the Balan are still talking to the blue man. She steps out of the room altogether. "Snout where are you? Come back to mama."

She looks in the nooks, and crannies, in the shadows and hidden places for him. The blue man calls out to her. "Is everything alright? Wait... um... your companion is missing?" He looks around

She answers back, “I just don't understand how he can hide so well. Snout?"

All of a sudden Mingzhu, along with the others, hear a bunch of banging from something colliding and furniture falling as snout on some kind of rug flies past her. She tries to catch him but mistimes her move as she is so surprised. She slams her head into the other side of the hall while snout on a flying carpet zooms into the room with the blue man and her giant friends. She runs into the room while Snout zips around colliding with walls and tapestries.

She tries to jump over it and catch him but again the carpet is too fast. It and Snout fly out of the room again. She falls again but this time her head falls into the blue man’s lap. Her face goes bright red. “I am so sorry about this.” She almost screams. She gets up and the chase is on again.

She sees T’kharr shake her head, as the otter and carpet disappear down the hallway banging on the walls as they go. She screams out to the rodent, “Snout! Get off of that!” He seemed to be too scared to jump off of it, which definitely isn’t helping him pilot. He crashes into another tapestry then flies about going into another room.

T’kharr says something with a sigh as she starts to help Mingzhu. Now both are chasing after him. The guards now on alert come charging down into this deck of the hall so quickly that Mingzhu and T’kharr both crash into them. There is some confusion for a moment then Snout and the carpet fly out of that room and go into another, Snout barking out in confusion and fear.

The Balan blocks the hallway to get in front of the carpet and it was a good attempt, but Snout and the carpet hit his body and go spinning into yet another room. The otter throws up a mess of half-digested sardines onto the carpet and partially on Balan from all the twirling.

The blue man looks over, He can’t help but snicker at the antics and whole of the affair, He tries to focus on T’kharr and the Balan and shouts out something. Snout comes out of that room on the carpet and flies all around the place. Thus far no one can catch him.

Mingzhu keeps trying to follow him worried about his safety, and what everyone will think afterward. The guards start to shout. They spread around searching the decks. It’s compete chaos down in the belowdecks as the otter flies around.

The blue man catches up with Balan and T’kharr. He starts speaking to them until Snout on his flying carpet nearly takes off his head. He ducks just in time. So do Balan and T’kharr. Balan starts to laugh. The blue man casts a spell and runs twice as fast, as one can normally do trying to catch the flying otter.

Mingzhu stops when she knows he has to go past her and gets ready to tackle him if necessary. T’kharr moves in behind her to stop the otter if Mingzhu misses.

The carpet comes at the two of them but just before it gets there it knocks down one of the golden oil lamps. Mingzhu instead of jumping at Snout ends up having to jump at the lamp so it doesn’t shatter and start a fire. T’kharr does the same. It slips through Mingzhu’s hands but luckily, she slowed it down enough that T’kharr was able to scoop it up without breaking it. Snout and the carpet fly past and the carpet takes a turn.

The blue man jumps over the pair and says something. Mingzhu cries out, “OOOOH! Come on boy! Come to Mama!” She gets up and joins the chase again.

A particularly large door opens on the deck, there's a man who looks like he was sleeping, but still wearing rather expensive looking and exotic night-garments as he opens the door, before the Otter, still not really in control of the flying carpet, collides right into him and sends him, Snout, and the carpet tumbling to the ground in the captain's quarters. Snout rolls over on the ground and is dazed, as it the man he collided into. Mingzhu tries to jump over the man but trips on his arm, but she still manages to tackle the otter and hold him before anyone else can harm the poor thing. "Oh, you are so bad! I told you.” She looks him over to make sure he’s not hurt and kisses his ear.

Moalem rushes in after, looking around, seems the collision also caused some chaos in the captain's room too. He goes over to help the man up, speaking in another strange language, the man speaks some exclamations back. It sounds to her like profanity.

T’kharr offers the man her hand and she helps him up. They begin to talk to one another. Another man joins them. Snout starts to sulk, but Mingzhu won’t let him go. She hugs him, “Next time listen to me. Now we may have to work for these people.”

Khalid and Moalem seem to look over to Mingzhu. Khalid rubs his nose and approaches Mingzhu, he's also fluent in Shou, it seems "I take it you are the custodian of the one who was causing such mischief?"

She looks up at him "I raised him from a pup. He was abandoned or his parents died. I'm not sure which."

"I see. Regardless, it does seem like you take responsibility for his actions, as well as your companions." She nods and looks down.

Moalem looks to T'kharr and says some words. T’kharr answers him as Balan walks up.

Khalid nods to her. “I can respect that you take responsibility for your charges, that speaks of honor on your part. I do not know how much damage your companion has done, if it is minor. But you do not seem to have much wealth to your name, so if I do need a debt repaid, an appropriate task may be needed." He considers "I am Khalid Al Jalas, Zaeim of the Azure Winds trading company. What is your name and that of your companion, and where might I reach you?"

She meekly says, “I can dive for you… We can dive for you.”

"I will keep that in mind. For now, though, I will need to make some assessments, I can see about contacting you later, when I have something in mind." She nods.

"I do apologize, but…" He rubs his eyes "Whatever happens next will likely have to wait until the morning. Where do you reside, so I might contact you later?"

“I stay with the hengeyokai.” She looks over to see T’kharr and Balan speaking to the other man.

The blue man, Khalid, looks over to T'kharr, then back to Mingzhu, a nod "I see. Well, when I have something in mind for you to recompense this debt your companion has incurred, I will let you know." He looks aside, then back to Mingzhu "Worry not though, I am reasonable, I will not send you pointlessly on a dangerous task if I do not think you can handle it. Such would not be the act of an honorable trader." Mingzhu sighs and nods.

The other man is chuckling over the whole things, but the blue man seems rather annoyed. Everyone starts talking in another language. Mingzhu is still hugging Snout. She looks down and says, “Of all the things you find a carpet that flies?” She sighs again.

The guards escort them off the boat. Snout can’t wait to leave. Once they are on the dock T’kharr leads them back to the Dizzy Panda. It’s night and supper time as well.

[Winterhawk99]

T’kharr treats them to a meal of rice and fish along with some fried octopus when they get back to the inn. It seems to be the meal of the day. Seems things have quieted down for the most part at the Dizzy Panda. There are some late-night grousers, but overall, it’s less busy than it was in the evening. Most of the drunks probably wandered off or went to sleep.

Snout sulks under the table occasionally rubbing against Mingzhu. T’kharr eats heartily and washes it down with several mugs of tea. After she eats Mingzhu goes up to the innkeeper and asks if he has a water stone. Then whispers, “We will make up early tomorrow. We need to find an 8 arm.”

The man looks at her funny. “Uh… sorry, water stone? 8 arms?”

She looks at him like he’s slightly stupid. “A water stone for sharpening. And I was talking to Snout. We need to find an octopus and speak with it…. Umm, I did say I was a fish whisperer.”

The bartender finishes cleaning a glass "Ah, I see. Uh... I don't have one with me, but you might be able to find a water stone out in the docks market. So uh, how'd your trip go?"

"It was a disaster. I don’t know what was said and Snout went exploring around the ship."

"Oh, I see." The innkeeper gives a sympathetic nod

"It’s too late to go to market." She checks her oyster knife…

"Well, I won't press you on it. Anyways, yeah, it is pretty late. You still got a room reserved, don't worry."

"Thank you, sir."

"Course, lem’me know if you need anything else."

"We were able to figure out what we needed at least. It's...not great news, but we'll have to save it for discussion with the local authorities" T'kharr chimes in. Mingzhu looks over at T’kharr. ‘She must have used a spell on herself to understand and talk to us.’ She thinks to herself.

He looks over to T'kharr "Huh, I see. Uh, speaking of authorities, who do you plan on going to?"

"I was thinking town authorities would be the best starting point, since the tax collector seems to be.... not the helpful sort"

"Well, the Tax Collector is one option. Suppose you could also go to the mayor as well."
He sighs "Word travels fast around these parts, what happened at Tsaboru has become more known now." The Innkeeper sighs.

"The mayor might be a better choice; I suspect they'll have more stake in the matter than the tax collector given that they live on this island I presume?" T’kharr nods.

"Up to you who you go to. Either would work. I mean yeah, the mayor lives on the isle. The Tax collector works for the guy who is supposed to be tending to this isle's security and has access to a lot more fighting men at arms and resources. Nominally anyways. But, up to your discretion. If you need me to write a letter for you, I can."

"That may help, especially if the mayor isn't too keen on those from afar."

Mingzhu goes back to the table and eats sullenly while keeping one hand on snout under the table.

"More keen than the tax collector, at any rate. I'll let him know about the favor you did for me, at least."
Snout this time doesn't seem inclined to go chasing after more trouble. At the moment.
"Anyways, he's probably asleep by now, so, probably best handle it in the morning."

She eats while watching all the locals slurping their soup. She wonders why they do it and if it is some form of religious tradition. She thinks it’s a bit barbaric and gross.

Balan joins in and they all switch to that other language. Mingzhu sighs and finishes her meal. Meanwhile the locals are simply keeping to themselves and grumbling. It seems a lot of them are talking about what happened in Tsaboru and are quite worried if they'll have enough food stockpiled to get through the upcoming year. Mingzhu gets up after eating and goes from table to table trying to calm and reassure them that her friends are trying to help as best she can.

Some of the drinkers at one table look over, one of them speaking up. "Look, you seem like a nice girl. Don't go missing out at sea trying to score big catches on the rest of our accounts, alright? Had enough people going missing because of those damned corsairs. Or storms. Or whatever the Fuck is going on out there..."

Another one chimes in "The hell are we going to do about the rice though? If all of Tsaboru's fields got torched..."

"Damn, I don't know. Might be high time to just high tail it to another island. This place ain't worth it anymore."

"That's if you can get out of the harbor. Or don't get caught at sea."

"I know... I know..." They have some more drinks.

Mingzhu closes her eyes for a moment to find her inner peace. When she opens them, she says, "Good people. We are doing our best to help you. give us time. We will find these evil men and put a stop to them."

One of the nay sayers shouts, “Which evil men? Pfah... I wonder if it's really some rival of the Daimyo's. Eight million knows he's enough of a prick to have gotten enemies."

She calmly states, “The ones who burnt the fields.”

"Sounds like a great way to go get yourself hurt, look, rushing out to do something dumb ain't gonna help anyone." Another chimes in. "Well, who are they anyways?"

Another says, “Foreigners, who else?"

Mingzhu replies, “I do not know but I think my friends do.”

Another replies "Is likely what that jackass Tax Collector is going to say. He's just looking for anyone to blame for his Daimyo not doing his damned job for us. Wonder if we should just string that bastard up and dunk him out at sea. And the rest of the Daimyo's goons."

Mingzhu answers him, “I do not speak for the leaders of your people I am Shou lung not Wa.”

Another looks at the last to speak. "Sssssh! Don't say that! He'll have us all put to the sword!"

The first says, “Fuck him, if he can't be bothered to send anyone to help us, he probably can't be arsed to do that either."

Another looks over, before taking a drink "Well, you're a long way from home, ain'tcha? Came by the golden way? Well, whatever, you picked a miserable place to wind up."

Mingzhu replies, “I got lost from my tuna fleet and washed ashore here. Please give us time. We are doing our best to help.”

They all speak almost at the same time. "Anyways, hope your friends do. But odds are I don't know if there's anything that can help us anymore..." He sighs heavily, taking a good long drink.

"Ain' no shame in admitting you can't do nothing." A heavy sigh, they seem to be grousing even more.

"Not like finding the bandits who did this and stringing them up will bring the rice crop back either."

"Look, you're a nice girl, just, don't do anything stupid and reckless trying to help us, okay? Don't want to lose any more good folk out there." The others nod to that.

She stands her ground. “I was trained to take care of my community. I am lost so you are now my job. The spirits want me here for some reason or I wouldn't be here.”

"Huh, well, for what it's worth, hope you can do it." Though their tone suggests they're doubtful. Still, they remain cordial, if drowning themselves in their cups right now

She goes back to her table in a bit of a dower mood. She looks under it. “We work tomorrow for our debt and for these people. We must find out what is wrong with the spirits.” After some time, she goes upstairs feeling down. She feels she failed in her duty trying to give the people downstairs hope for the future.

T'kharr finishes her tea and heads up as well, giving Mingzhu a reassuring hug before they settle in for the night

[Winterhawk99]

Just before daybreak Mingzhu wakes up and goes down to the common room. It’s mostly empty but T’kharr is there talking to the innkeeper. They are speaking so she passes by telling the innkeeper she must meditate. She walks down to the beach for her daily prayers and meditations. She asks for speak with animals, call animal ally, and obscuring mist. For spells.

After that she dives into the ocean to look for an octopus big enough to speak with and knows things reasonably well but small enough that it would have trouble overpowering her. Half her life she has spent in the ocean looking for pearls and spear fishing for her own villages. She is well aware of the dangers of the sea. T’kharr and Balan catch her diving in without coming up. What they think she does not know.

It takes a while, but she finds one and casts speak with animals on herself. The first thing she hears is “That Big, Stupid, Jellyfish!!” It turns to her, awaiting her inquiries.

She asks, “The spirits of the sea, they are frightened. What is wrong with the sea here? Do you know?”

It gives a frightened wiggle of its tentacles somewhere in an easterly direction. Something about poison, or disease, or plague. It encourages her to avoid that section of water. The octopus also mentions something about the storm god being angry, something about an agent, but the 8 arm panics and doesn’t want to talk anymore. It swims off.

She looks off to the east then turns around. While coming back to the shore she whistles for Snout to look for oysters that may be around. She does find one with a large blue pearl inside. She estimates its worth to be around 250 gold, perhaps more to that merchant who spent so much on her pearls before. She places it in her pouch and comes to shore. As she stands her gills close up. Snout happily bounds after her chewing on oyster meat.

She looks for T’kharr and finds her out practicing some forms with her quarterstaff, having finished her mediations and breakfast. She nods to Mingzhu in greetings. Mingzhu waves. “I know something.” T’kharr points to the inn as if saying she is finished and is heading back.

Mingzhu and Snout return with her back to the Dizzy Panda. It’s not terribly busy. They go straight to the bartender. T’kharr speaks to him. Balan comes over speaking to T’kharr as he does. The barkeep looks to Mingzhu. “Go ahead now.”

"I found someone that knows why the spirits are angry. To the east in the sea there is poison.......disease or plague of some kind. The storm king is angry which means that there is someone behind this pestilence."

The barkeep translates back to her.

Balan says, “It seems that may be cause of the horseman coming this way.” The barkeep translates but adds, “Due east from here along the beach-side would be the village of Rhakku."

T'kharr nods along with a soft frown on her muzzle "We were able to find out what the amulet was to...a vile entity known as the Rider of Famine. Seems that the raiders belong to some sort of cult, likely small"

Mingzhu says, “You must tell the fishermen not to go into these waters between the two villages. there is great danger there.”

He looks to T'kharr, considering "Huh, never heard of them. But I'll keep that in mind." Still offers translation for Mingzhu, then looks to her. "I'll tell who I can, but telling the fishermen not to fish doesn't always deter them."

T’kharr nods, “Our next step is to alert the mayor of this town of our discoveries… figured he'd be a better contact than the tax collector, in terms of being receptive to the report that is"

"Fair enough. I told your buddy how to get there, but if you need directions..." The bartender reiterates how to find the mayor's office.

Mingzhu follows the two giants as they leave the inn looking for it.

[Winterhawk99]

The group heads off to the mayor’s office. As they arrive and are shown inside, it appears that another meeting he had had just concluded. A man steps out. He wears a rather expensive looking surcoat. Clearly a westerner human by appearance. The coat is black, lined with gold, with a white brim around the neck. It looks extremely expensive. The mayor is sitting in his office, rubbing his face with a huff.

Balan looks at the man curious on his clothing but forces on the task at hand. T'kharr actually glances to the Westerner with a nod as well, trying to get the best look at him that she can. Mingzhu obverts her eyes from the expensive looking man. He is wearing clearly expensive clothing. Ostentatious even. Fine brown hair, parted, combed, and cut to perfection. No facial hair, clean shaven.

T’kharr nods to the mayor and says something. The mayor looks up, sitting up straighter. The mayor says something back and mentions the village with the raiders. That much Mingzhu picks up. T’kharr produces the amulet from her pocket. The mayor looks it over and makes a sour face. Mingzhu takes note of the reaction. She thinks to herself, ‘I feel the mayor may be a good person from the face he makes.’ After that she waits patiently while keeping a hand on Snout.

The comes a long pause in T’kharr’s and the mayor’s conversation. Mingzhu bows. “I have news, yes, Mayor.”

“Well, what is it?” he replies. His focus turning to her.

“The waters between here and a city to the east they have been poisoned, or some form of plague has befallen them. The storm god is angry. The fishing ships tell them to go north or south...... not east.”

He grimaces, a nod... "Ah, so you have been appraised of a problem I've also recently found out about."
"Though I hadn't heard of a Storm god being angry."

She takes in her breath, “You know of this? I humbly ask what you know or can add?”

He nods, leaning back. “Recently, the village of Rhakku has fallen victim to some kind of plague. I do not know many details. But it seems that Tsaboru was not the only village afflicted with some kind of trouble." She looks at him pained as he continues. “Golamaru is being hit hard by goblin raiders, led by an Oni, if my information is correct."

"That would be consistent with the other things I have heard that the Rider of Famine leagues with the riders of Pestilence, War, and Death" T’kharr says.

Mingzhu turns again that T’kharr is suddenly speaking Shou again. She did not see the Hengeyokai cast comprehend languages but then again, she may have while she herself was focused on the mayor.

The mayor adds, “And apparently there was some kind of undead sighting in Saduzki."

T’kharr looks back at the door. “I take it Samael was the ostentatious fellow you were speaking with prior to us or? And aye, it sounds like we have our work cut out for us."

Mingzhu looks up at the two of them. “It seems the troubles are ......... so many."

The mayor taps his fingers on his desk in thought for a moment. “But I really don't know what's going on in Saduzki either, I don't get much information out of there." He sighs, "Samael? Yes, that was him, he's the leader of diamond industries and solutions. Loves his damned theatrics, smooth talker, and expensive tastes."

T’kharr nods, “I reckon that if it's not too difficult of a travel, that we could get more information?" nodding to the tidbit that answered her question and not asking any more on the topic

"Well, let me ask you something first. Who are you and your group? Just fellows in the right or wrong place at the right or wrong time? Agents of someone?" And you're right." The mayor looks back to Mingzhu. "Definitely a lot of trouble everywhere, it seems."

Balan laughs at something and the conversation switches to western. Luckily the mayor sees she does not understand and translates. For her. “He said it seems it came by chance that you all met.”

T’kharr speaks next while Mingzhu listens to translations from the mayor. "I reckon that we were brought together by gods, spirits, something, so you could say it is by providence that we are here."

The mayor states, “Well, I do hope you're right about this. Eight Million knows we need help around here."

Balan nods and says, “I would agree, perhaps that is why the platinum had sent me to this place as well.” That didn’t make any sense to Mingzhu, but she says nothing.

The mayor rubs his face. “If you really are a group that's looking to help, well, those are the three leads I've got for you. To head to either Rhakku, Golamaru, or Saduzki. I don't know the full range of what's going on at each place, but I know all of them are having trouble."

T’kharr says something. The mayor turns to her translating again. “It sounds like Saduzuki is the best bet" letting the mayor translate as needed "Oh, and would you be willing to take custody of the amulet we found?"

The mayor answers her, “If you want, I can hold onto it. I should probably give you a few warnings regarding going to Saduzki though." He sighs, looking around "Look, it's basically an open secret around the isle that there's a Yakuza presence there. They usually keep their deeds to a tolerable level. They might know something. Or might be taking advantage further during the troubles we're having. They're not exactly good friends to have."

"I suspect they too are being threatened by what's going on, but that's merely a hunch on my part." T’kharr responds to him.

The mayor theorizes, “Maybe. Or maybe they're a part of it. I never trusted them. We all know what they're really like, but they don't make too much trouble in exchange for us not rooting them out. "If you're set to go to Saduzki, it's over to the north. Rhakku is to the east. Golamaru is to the Northeast."

Mingzhu shrugs once the idea is translated. T’kharr nods to the mayor. She then looks at him. “Tell these two I will try to speak to the Yakuza if I have too.”

The mayor looks at them all and says in both languages, “At least the problem in Golamaru is pretty straightforward, but we don't have nearly enough men-at-arms or samurai to deal with them."

T’kharr nods, “The undead seem like trouble, yes, but part of me wonders if it might be best to address the plague first, limit its spread."

The mayor tells them all, “I'll leave which village you visit first to your discretion." He then looks to Mingzhu, “Didn’t you just tell them.”

She replies, “They do not speak Shou.”

"Oh... right." The mayor sighs "Your friend there offered to speak with the Yakuza if you have to."

T’kharr smiles and almost laughs, “Oh, we're still working out the language barrier" nodding "I have a blessing that can help now, but it only goes one way and is of limited duration" nodding to the mayor’s translation.

"Right." He nods "Well..." He looks over what looks like a map of Sakurajima Island "Which village do you plan on heading to first then? If you need to discuss it among yourselves, feel free, unfortunately my own resources are quite limited as to sending aid for things like this."

T’kharr considers, “I reckon we should address the plague in Rhakku first lest it spread to the whole isle behind our backs. Followed by the undead, and then we can save the goblin-fighting for when we're more ready for it"

After listening to the translation, Mingzhu nods.

Balan is the next to speak. “I believe that line of travel may be the best for us. smiles I do enjoy a good fight against the dead though.”

T’kharr adds, “Aye, the undead smashing should be a good chance to stretch my legs on that front, so to speak, as well."

The mayor smiles, “Well, Eight Million be with you, I don't even know where to start in dealing with something like a plague. If you're committed, then best of fortunes be with you."

T’kharr asks the Balan and herself if there is anything we need to do to prepare ourselves. She thinks today will be a travel day and get the lay of the situation, at least. Mingzhu looks at her unsure. Balan puffs out his chest, “Shall we travel and destroy the evils of this land then!”

The mayor leans back, “Rhakku is to the east, it's a fishing village. You can find it easily by just following the beach."

As they leave Mingzhu follows the hengeyokai. They head off to the village of Rhakku.

[Winterhawk99]

Traveling towards Rhakku is easy enough, they just follow the beach ways eastwards. It takes some time to reach there, but it looks like a small village from the outskirts, a dotting of fishing huts, with some other huts more inland. There aren't a lot of people outside.... Snout picks snacks along the beach as they make their way there.

Mingzhu surveys the situation and smiles. It’s a small fishing village. They will understand her and she them. They are her people in a way.

As they near the village though, the three of them spot an interesting scene. There’s two people standing outside. A sick looking man, and a strange looking person. He or she? has golden hair, bronze-colored skin, pointed ears, a well-made but worn traveler's attire, definitely not a local. Strung across their back is a longbow, and they seem to have some odd pouches along their belt. As soon as the party comes close, they look over. Spotting T'kharr, they quickly make a motion to the ill villager to run back inside, then they draw their bow, nocking and aiming arrow, aiming right at T'kharr.

Mingzhu hears T’kharr say, “Hm.” She turns to the hengeyokai and sees she’s casting a spell. She goes into action and runs in front with her arms out to shield her friend and casts Call Animal alley. She also sees the strange point eared person say something to the sick one and he dashes into the home next to them.

The person with the bow casts as she sees Mingzhu cast. As an owl comes down and perches on Mingzhu’s shoulder a great eagle comes down and perches on a rock beside the other.

Mingzhu screams out, "DO NOT SHOOT. WE ARE HERE TO HELP!" T’kharr and Balan talks softly to each other while she takes on this strange creature. Neither act, letting her do the talking.

The being looks aside to Mingzhu, speaking in turn, keeping their arrow trained on T'kharr "You are here to help, and travelling with a gnoll who are known to raid and eat people."

"I AM SHAMANESS MINGZHU FROM THE DIENGSI VILLAGE IN SHOU LUNG. PUT AWAY YOUR BOW. WE WILL NOT HURT YOU! I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THAT WORDS MEAN? DO Y OU MEAN THE HENGYOKAI?"

"Your efforts to hurt me would likely result in being eradicated. On the other hand, I find the threat to the civilians here after what they have already suffered unacceptable." They look at the gnoll, then to Mingzhu "You are being deceived. That is not a Hengeyokai. That is a gnoll."

Mingzhu keeps shielding T’kharr with her body. She looks back and sees T’kharr and Balan have taken cover. Balan breaks his after a moment and moves up with her. He shouts out something. The conversation switches to western as Balan and the woman (now that she’s close enough) fence with words. It slowly lowers its aim. Mingzhu sighs a breath of relief. She checks to make sure Snout is ok. He is. Afterward she keeps her eye on the strange woman still and keeps between her and T'kharr in case she picks up her bow again.

T'kharr comes out of her hidey hole. Balan laughs and talks. The woman walks up and starts to converse with T’kharr and Balan. Not understanding any of it. Mingzhu heads to the center of the village, Owl perched on her shoulder and Snout bounding along after her.

The village seems... desolate, there's a gloom over it that seems oppressive. It seems most of the villagers are keeping to themselves and staying in their homes, though some bustle can be heard from a local gathering spot. It is a small beer hall of sorts. Mingzhu boldly walks in. Some people there are clearly ill. It looks like a small tavern. There are uncleaned vomit stains around.

She walks in and looks around. “Where are the elders of this village? I am Mingzhu a shamaness come to help you.” Most recognize her as sea spirit folk immediately.

The tavern goers grouse some, one of them takes a drink then vomits, then spits, one of them just miserably looks over to her "Probably in their hut..." He mutters directions.

She looks at them all. "Those of you well enough, clean this mess up. Those not well go back to your tents. I will talk to the elders."

One of them snaps, “Shut it, bitch.” Then they go back to their drinking. Seems the innkeeper is not at the bar tending either. She leaves and looks for the elder’s hut. She finds it in short order and knocks on the door.

There’s a groaning voice, “Come in…” She comes in and looks around. There's a tired looking man sitting at a desk, rubbing a hand on their head. They look up. "I have not seen you around before, who are you?" They look to Mingzhu.

"I am Mingzhu a shamaness of the path." I have come to your village to help. Elder please tell me of your troubles that I may do as much as I can to heal your community.” She bows.

The elder straightens up, a sigh, maybe of relief. "Then perhaps our prayers have been answered. Welcome, Shamaness. It started a few weeks ago, we had some strange guests, but no more than usual. Then, our people started falling ill."

She nods, “What plagues you. I know the storm god is angry. I do not think it is with the village I believe someone else that may have caused this?"

"We do not know why, when we check our catch, it seems healthy, but then we hear that it is that which is tainted, but we cannot detect it, or don't even know why. I have heard of a storm god's agent being around. A very dangerous Kami, with divine sanction to act as judge and executioner. But they have not been here."

She thinks about what he said a long time noting a Kami in the area. Then she asks, “Do you have other food? Fresh water?”

"We do have water; we checked that for being tainted and it wasn't to what we could find. We've been boiling our water regardless, just to be safe. And there was rice that we imported from Tsaboru. That at least is not plagued, either. But people have still fallen ill regardless. And I do not know why. I suspect some foreigners might be involved, but I have nothing to go on. The only thing I could do was pray for deliverance."

She nods, “I will go to sea and try to find any sign of taint. Meanwhile you must convince the villagers that are well enough to help those sick to stay clean.”

"But before you, nothing came. Even that killer Kami I have not heard of slaying any potential perpetrators, if there are any. I simply don't know..." Then the elder nods "I'll redouble my efforts. maybe with a shaman's word adding to my own, some of the more rapacious villagers will listen."

She smiles to give him hope, “We have just arrived honored Elder we will need time to find the cause and correct it. Have patience, please, I beg you. We will do our best to get to the bottom of this to make the village whole again. One of my own spirits is a community spirit. I will do everything I possibly can to make your village whole again and so will my companions."

"Thank you, Shamaness. I will put my faith in you and the spirits that guide you. May these troubles that plague our people soon be over."

"Go to your people one by one tell them of our arrival and what we mean to do. That will give them courage to do what they must to help control the blight that spreads. I will pray with those that wish. and calm their spirits."

"I shall do so." He gets up. "Thank you for answering our prayers." She bows and goes to find the others.

T'kharr nods a greeting to Mingzhu, weaving a blessing of Comprehend Languages upon herself to be able to understand the Low Shou. The pointed eared woman watches the hengeyokai closely. Mingzhu turns to the her because she knows the woman knows low shou. “I have talked to the village elder. We have a short plan.” Balan starts to eat an apple. And talks with his mouth full. Mingzhu turns away.

“Alright, what is your plan then? The woman says.

“I will gather those that want to pray, and I will calm their spirits. The mayor is gathering those that are healthy to clean up the vomit and messes of the sick. Then I will go to the sea and find if the fish are blighted.” T’kharr listens closely. Mingzhu continues. “When I leave to seek this blight, it is a time you can gather information.

The woman slaps her palm to her face. “Are you... you do realize that a large gathering of persons who are infected with a plague is a drastic increase in large scale infection vectors?"

Mingzhu adds, “There is also a kami of the sea king around making trouble.”

The woman sighs, “If you can go under the sea and trace where the fish are being blighted, and locate the source, that would speed up attempts to find the infection source and cut it off."

Mingzhu then counters the woman’s protest. “We will keep them enough apart. These people need some hope. Tomorrow I will ask the spirits for healing spells… I plan this yes.”

"What they need is to not succumb to a dangerous infection. Hope and appeasement are not going to undo what ails their physical health." The woman just shakes her head.

Balan looks between the two women eating an apple and shrugs. T’kharr with having comprehend languages translates everything to him. Mingzhu meanwhile says, “Then we must act quickly to find the source and heal these people.”

"That is what I would recommend. How soon will you be able to perform your diving for answers?" the bronze skinned woman asks.

Mingzhu affirms, “I need a weighted net. That is all and I can dive.”

"You should be able to borrow one from the locals, I do not have one on my person." T’kharr talks to Balan while the elf continues, “The elder is not fond of me. I have given them advice before, but they rarely listen. Also, I have noted a potential language barrier. Do either of you speak the local language? I noticed that you used different dialects when we had our standoff."

The woman then starts to speak the other language to T’kharr and Balan. As the conversation starts to draw on Mingzhu gets their attention. “I will go back to the village calm those I can and find a hand net and spear.” She starts back to the village.

The Elder does seem to try gathering people up. He’s not exactly having an easy time of it though. Mingzhu nods to him then casts her spell like ability calm emotions. She does a short sermon of the path of enlightenment about hope and salvation and about each in the community do what they can to help the others. It seems to calm those that chose to come. While she is doing so the others come to the service and stand at the edge.

At the end of the service, she tells them. “Hear me people of Rhakku. I have come to help. Be calm and listen to my friends. I will dive to see what is wrong in the sea while they help you here. Listen to them. They have your best interest in their hearts. I will need a hand net and spear. Please? They will have many questions to help kill the blight help them with what you know."

Some of them seem very apprehensive about the pointed-eared woman’s presence, but they do listen to her. One of the fishermen does indeed get her a net and spear. She folds the net expertly as any spear fisher to reassure them then runs into the surf and dives

[Winterhawk99]

Mingzhu looks for anything odd past the wave breaks and searches for any troubling signs along the seabed doing her best to guide and watch Snout. His nose is better than her eyes here. Snout for some reason seems extremely fidgety here, like he knows something is very wrong and looks ready to bolt but stays close to Mingzhu. He seems reluctant to even get in the water.

She stops a moment and surfaces calling Snout over to her. Snout follows her, even though he looks terrified. She hugs him. “Snout, I know you are scared. These people they are in trouble. We must be brave and find the cause. show me the path. We must do good to save others. We both need courage now, ok?" She picks up where she left off hoping the spirits find her as she knows she may be facing something terrible

Mingzhu stops again and gathers Snout to her. "Snout you find the fish then come back here. I'll try to swim along the coral and see if I can see something. or bring back some news about what is going on. a spirit, a taint, anything. I'll stay hidden as best I can.” She goes to the bottom swimming slowly looking for cover along the coral to see if she can find out what is going on. She casts obscuring mist on herself to help hide herself.

Snout seems naturally nervous, like he can sense something wrong but can't quite place it... So far, all seems normal as she dives down. Of course, the waters are quite expansive, there's a lot of ground she covers to try and find a location. There seems to be fewer fish around than what might be normal for coastal waters.

She presses on going from cover to cover but only for a mile she doesn't find anything she starts her secondary mission looking for fish. She looks for any sea spirits with her search. She does not find any. The seabed and coral reefs seem sparse of fish and dead of spirits. She shakes her head in frustration. Those fish she sees avoid her misty cover suspecting of a predator within.

She stops after a mile and slowly swims back waiting for the mist to dissipate. She looks for some average sized fish to catch flounder, striper, or other tropical game fish. As she does, she catches movement. It’s a huge red fish. Maybe 10 lbs. It’s exactly what she wants. She slowly swims tangent to it and as she gets with in arms reach, she swings her arm unfolding the net. It tries to swim but can’t get out from under it before the net sinks down upon it. She reaches under the fish grabbing the ends of the weights on the other side and scoops the net up. She has it. It struggles all the way to shore.

She starts to swim back but now throws her last spell, speak with animals. She surfaces a moment and talks to Snout. “What makes you so nervous, Snout?”

“Something wrong. Feels wrong here. Smells wrong. Fish no good. We go away. This bad place.”

She looks around the sea. “Can tell direction? Is point or all round?” It takes a bit of coaxing and calming, but Snout seems to have two vectors of infection, one is the village of Rhakku itself, easily explainable by the villagers suffering from the plague. Though it also seems they sense something wrong out at sea too.

“Out to sea. Is big place? Small place?” The otter seems confused. She smiles, "Its ok. We go to shore now. I want you to stay away from the villagers and do not eat fish or shells. here. only things on land ok." Snout barks out a call. She leads him to shore. She keeps the net away from her a bit so the fish’s sharp spins do not scratch her.

[Winterhawk99]

In the late afternoon Mingzhu surfaces on the beach and starts to walk to the village. She has in her net one of the biggest red fish anyone has ever seen. She stops when she is waist deep and throws up about a pint or pint and a half of water. The gills on her neck close up. She immediately looks for the closest fishing station.

She easily finds one close by. She sets the net down on the station and looks for the group and the elder. It seems that most of the village has turned in early, as it approaches dusk. She first goes to the elders dwelling. She knocks bowing politely when he opens it. He suppresses a cough but slowly walks up to greet her. “Welcome back… did you find anything shamaness?”

"I did Elder. I would like you and my group to meet me at the fish station I put my catch on. I believe the fish in the bad area are a problem so hope to have brought back proof."

"Well, alright, I'll..." A cough "Go get your group then. I'll be by the fish stand."

"I will change my spells to focus on the village, elder. I’ll try to break this cycle. are you well?"

"I'll manage..." He shakes his head. He doesn't look very well but is at least holding. She nods and goes to find T’kharr, and the monster named Balan.

The villagers guide her to a hut on the outskirts. She goes to it and knocks. T’kharr opens it and greets her with a nod and a smile. She sees the point ear studying a book. It seems they’re getting some rest now or just slacking off.

The point eared woman says, “Welcome back. I hope your evening has been more fruitful than ours in regard to intelligence."

Mingzhu nods, “I have learned some. come I have what at least one thing that I looked for."

“Very well.” The woman switches to the other language. And talks to the others. Then she switches to Low Shou, “Right, you can explain on the way then. What did you find?”

Mingzhu waits for them to follow. As she leads them to the station, she says, “I went out a mile. Snout became very skittish. First, I tried to go to the bad seas but when Snout became frantic, I surfaced and talked to him. He said the fish were very bad here and he doesn’t want to eat them." The woman translates as Mingzhu continues. "I went back down and caught a red fish of unusual size. I hope to find the wrongness in it."

The woman looks somewhat strangely at her and says, “Speaking with animals, you have druidic abilities then. Or something similar. If your animal companion can sense that, it would be useful for finding the source of whatever is causing this plague." She nods mostly to herself and continues. Alright then. So, we're going to do a dissection and study, then. We could have done it in our hut though, unless you have a station prepared for it elsewhere."

"I have a station and the elder will be there. He will be a master fisherman and can cut the fish to find the wrongness better than I or you can." Mingzhu replies.

"I do hope you are not relying on his abilities in that. He is not well. And I sincerely hope you follow proper sanitation better than these villagers do. Regardless, as long as he does not remain an obstinate obstacle, which is a distinct possibility, he may know something of use that he has not shared with me already, despite it being in his best interests to."

"These villagers are like my own village. Their ways are most like my ways. Though my teacher taught me some. You need to learn to speak their ways. If not, you harm more than help. Learn patience and weave your tongue with kindness."

"I am fully aware they are stuck in backwards and often counterproductive ways. Regardless I should not assume they know better, especially when it has been clearly disproved through empirical evidence multiple times." The woman shakes her head, however eventually they do reach the fish stand. The Elder is waiting there.

Mingzhu bows to him with proper respect, "Elder please cut the fish so that all the innards can be seen. We wish to find any wrongness within. If you feel you cannot, I can but I am only a journeyman fisher. and feel you would be better at this."

The elder coughs, then smiles as he sees Mingzhu, then nods "The stand is... mostly empty. It should suffice for this."

The woman interjects. “The first thing you should do is ensure that the stand in question we are using for this dissection is properly cleaned off. I realize that sterile environments are a foreign concept, but they will help."

The elder's expression sours as he sees the elf with Mingzhu "Why is this foreign witch with you, Shamaness?"

She again interjects "Because I am actually trying to save you and your people from this plague, and I might have actually made some progress in doing so if you would actually listen to reason for once. Also, the term is 'wizard', not 'witch', that is a backwards term with little basis in the specifics of what magic is capable of."

The Elder glares at the woman, then looks to Mingzhu. She closes her eyes a second. When she opens them, she says, “Please excuse the woman, elder she does not know our ways and only wishes to help. I feel that in her though her ways are.......aggressive she wishes the best for us all. She may have some knowledge after we do this that may help."

Mingzhu watches as T'kharr looks between the Elder and the woman, then just shakes her head as if it's not the time for sniping at each other even though she isn't picking up on the precise content of the words. The elder sighs, then coughs "As you wish... I hope that this foreigner can be of some use then."

When the elder turns to dissect the fish Mingzhu turns to the woman. and silently words "not now."

The woman rolls her eyes at 'aggressive, then shakes her head, a huff, before looking on "Right. And my name is Silgara not woman.” The fish is laid out. The elder's hand seems a little shaky from their illness.

He states, “If it is something they have breathed in from the water, it would be in the gills..." The elder speaks. "I'll check those first."

Silgara speaks. "That's a decent first avenue to check. The stomach would be the next logical place to check if the infection vector comes from ingestion."

Mingzhu casts resistance and guidance on him in succession. He straightens up a little, maybe his illness won't affect him as much now... he starts doing the dissection... He inspects the gills, gutting the head off, seeming to inspect that part... "I do not see anything wrong there, do you, Shamaness?"

Mingzhu rubs her neck, almost haphazardly. Silgara speaks up "I could cast a detect magic cantrip. It would reveal if there is magic in any part of the infected fish."

The elder snaps "Keep your witchcraft to yourself!"

Mingzhu speaks. "It may be wise to let her, Elder even witches can help a little?"

"I... oh alright..." He lets out a tired sigh.

"Thank you." Silgara says, somewhat haughtily, possibly gratefully, then casts a detect magic. Mingzhu smiles and squeezes the elder’s shoulder lightly. After some time, she shakes her head "No enchantments detected. If there was magic involved, any relevant auras have since faded."

The elder grumbles something about 'useless witch', then continues the dissection.
"I'll check the head, next..." Silgara seems to wait patiently...

The Elder makes a mess of the fish’s head and doesn’t seem to find anything. Mingzhu is next to inspect it. "The stomach would be the next reasonable place to check." Says Silgara. T’kharr takes a closer look at the butchered head as well.

She is pretty sure that whatever is wrong with the fish, it's not in the gills or brain. It looks normal to Mingzhu too. T’kharr motions for the dissection to continue. The elder grunts, then continues, this time looking at the stomach closely. T'kharr and Mingzhu don't see anything off. T'kharr is drooling a bit involuntarily. Seems nothing is there, the elder keeps up the dissection, moving along the digestive tract...

T'kharr pauses for a moment to recompose herself before continuing to watch the dissection. Neither the elder nor Silgara seem to pick up on anything, the elder makes a few more dissection sweeps... T'kharr looks back at what's already been dissected...

Silgara seems to focus on something sharply, then speaks. "Hold on, take a closer look at the liver, I think there's something there. Faded aura, necromancy or transmutation, maybe both..."

T'kharr picks up something in the liver too, seems like what looks like a fungal infection. Mingzhu focuses on the liver too. T’kharr says, “Aye, that liver looks...off" pointing at it and nodding. Now that it's pointed out to Mingzhu, she can definitely tell, looks like some kind of nasty, unnatural fungal infection in the liver, possibly from something tainted the fish ate.

T’kharr asks, “Do people here consume fish whole, or fish livers more specifically?" T'kharr looks to Silgara for help translating her question. Silgara looks to T'kharr, then translates

The elder replies "We don't usually waste any part of the sea's bounty."

Mingzhu adds, “Livers are high in nutrients and oil" Some consider it one of the best parts.

"Going to sleep outside tonight, for sure..." T'kharr mutters under her breath as well.

"Right you are, Shamaness..." The elder coughs "So, we have a tainted fish.... what kind of infection is that, though...?"

"It would seem that the infection vector is based on something the fish is eating. I expect that this fish is carnivorous and ate something that was also infected. Of course, that doesn't narrow down the infection vector much." Silgara speaks.

"Well, I suspect that the illness is being carried by eating the liver then, if there was a party responsible for this, which seems likely given the magic traces Silgara here found, then they must have had some knowledge of how fish are typically consumed." T’kharr hypothesizes.

“Do you know, hengeyokai?” The elder asks. T'kharr gives a small chuckle at the translated misnomer, examining more closely.

Mingzhu studies the fish again. “Go back to the stomach what kind of bait fish is it eating?”

"Hrm..." The elder examines the fish, trying to see what it ate last. Balan seems a bit lost in it all but is paying attention to the words spoken more curiously. The elder breaks down in a coughing fit.

Silgara looks to Mingzhu "Can you examine the stomach to hypothesize what it is this fish ate last?"

Mingzhu says, “I know it is some kind of bait fish, but I cannot tell what kind. It is too digested now.”

Balan looks at the shaky old man’s hands then to the others and says something. As Mingzhu again says. “I cannot tell what it ate last though it was a bait fish.... We know where the trouble is now as far as the sickness...........I need to find the base of the trouble next. the small feeders of the dead or some coral. or small crustation.

"It is a sensible hypothesis. Tainting coral, kelp, or something else that plant-eating fish would then confer the infection to others up in the food chain." The elf agrees.

The Elder coughs, then nods "Well, how do you plan on doing that?"

Though translation Mingzhu hears what T’kharr says next. “I reckon this did give us a few clues at least...don't eat fish livers until this has been resolved, we know it's being passed up the food chain from below...likely magical in nature too, which would point towards a hostile party. I reckon we all sleep separately for the next few nights, no? Although within shouting distance of one another, lest the hostile party change tactics."

Mingzhu frowns, “I will sleep with the elder and do what I can to help him.” Silgara just shakes her head.

"Perhaps, just outside his hut then, unless he wishes to sleep outside as well?" T’kharr suggests.

The elder considers. "The Hengeyokai's points are sensible. However,... how do you plan on finding the source of this infection, if it is indeed malicious?"

Silgara considers, then looks to Mingzhu "Your companion could sense the direction of the taint. We should be able to acquire a fishing boat and head in that direction, if you can coax him into yielding that information."

Mingzhu nods to the elder. “I am spirit folk of the sea. It cannot drown me. I will try, yes.”

"A good path for the next day." After some more translation back and forth. "I can prepare to speak with the elder on my own while that happens." T’kharr intones.

Balan was mulling over T’kharr’s questions about hostile parties. He nods, “Of course! It will take a bit of time to determine where and what it is though.”

The elder wheezes, then nods "Another day won't matter, take what time to prepare you need..."

Silgara however, after translating. "The longer the delay is, the worse the infection will spread. I would suggest we make haste and chase down what lead your animal companion can provide." To Mingzhu

“If this is the path we follow then I will not change spells. I will be able to call a dolphin or octopus to help when in the water.” Mingzhu nods. "Elder I would wish to keep the net and spear for tomorrow?"

The elder nods "Keep them for as long as they'll help you deal with this..." She bobs her head.

“I think the plan so far is for Mingzhu to head out to sea again to seek the source further come the next dawn, while I speak with the elder on my own to see if I can glean more about events surrounding the origin of this." T'kharr then looks to Balan before looking back to Silgara after all the translations have done "Either of you consider yourself...qualified to be a... cock-swain, I think the word is, if Mingzhu needs support from the surface?"

Silgara looks to T'kharr, considering "Your companion mentioned that her animal companion could track the feel of the taint. I think that if we have a lead on that, we should press it while we can, rather than waiting."

"A fair point, miss. It depends on how comfortable Mingzhu is with being in the water at night, though." T’kharr answers.

The elder looks to her "Is there ought else you need? I... well, I can return to my hut now..."

Silgara looks to Mingzhu, then speaks in low shou to her and the elder. "If Snout can sense the taint now, at night, I suggest we don't delay and look into that."

"I will not feel comfortable until morning when the spirits touch me, I can call aid. I cannot now. And though I can see well at night better than most the sea is quite dark… The predators also multiply."

The elder shakes his head "At night? ... Let the Shamaness have her time to prepare."

Silgara sighs but doesn't press the matter. "As you wish." She translates again. "I guess the plan is to rest for the night, then. Make what preparations are needed and hope that whatever trail we find doesn't go cold."

"I do not think the trail will go cold. Whatever is doing this, it means to stay. I think until the village... " Mingzhu sighs looking around at the huts.

T'kharr nods to the rest "Maimed God's blessings upon us all" before retiring for the eve and indeed sleeping outside Silgara's hut, a short distance from it, changing her blessings up to 2x Comp Languages for the day so she can interview the elder without anything getting lost in translation

Silgara also goes to rest and prepare spells for the morning...

Mingzhu goes back to the elder’s home and tends to him before sleeping. She does her best with whatever is available. Unfortunately, despite trying without almost any supplies, it doesn't seem like she's able to do much to help… at least with that. When the elder finally sleeps she goes to the other side of the hut and lies down. Sleep takes her eventually and her worries.

[Winterhawk99]

Mingzhu does her meditation at dawn while practicing Qigong. She waits for the spirits to touch her while praying for her spells. She changes her domain spell from Obscuring Mist to Bless for the villagers. Before she rejoins the group. She looks out over the ocean for any spirits. There are none. They are avoiding the village. She goes back to the group. As she does, she looks at Snout. “You are going to be a hero today.” Smiling as she does.

She goes to the elder’s hut. She sees that T’kharr is already there, opening the door for her when she knocks. T’kharr gives Mingzhu room to tend to the elder first before she steps in. She assesses the situation and again, enspells the elder with guidance and resistance. “I am sorry Elder. It is the best I can do for now. It is temporary but will help.”

He slowly but surely goes to get himself up. He nods, “My thanks, shamaness, it’s… more than most. What can I help you with… ?”

"We wish to borrow a small boat."

"Ah, yes... that I can, do..." A cough, before he sits a bit straighter "I've got a boat by the dock. Feel free to take it. I'm not making any trips out to sea as I am now."

She nods, "Rest and comfort your people. Tell them of the fish and that we are working hard on undoing this."

T’kharr casts a spell on herself as the conversation seems to start in earnest. Mingzhu leaves. She checks her fish speak and net then folds the net and fastens it to her leather armor. She waits for everyone at the docks. Silgara is there. She lets out a frustrated huff, then looks over to her. “Are you ready to begin tracking then?”

Mingzhu nods and gets on the boat, making sure Snout is ok. The pointed eared woman joins her, “Right then, this boat should be able to hold the five of us.” Balan arrives Silgara looks at him then to Mingzhu. “Right, how will this work?”

Balan checks the sails, ropes and riggings. He seems to be comfortable sailing. Mingzhu watches him then tells Silgara, “I will try to get Snout to point.” The elf nods and takes a back seat in the boat. Mingzhu looks down at Snout. He seems nervous. She comforts him by going down to one knee and hugging and petting him. Then she looks up. “It’s at least a mile out.”

Balan says something. Silgara answers him then nods to her. Balan finishes his preparations. It doesn’t take long. T’kharr finds her way to the beach and moves her hands for them to go without her. They set sail.

She whispers to Snout as they head out, “Snout you have to point to the bad water. I want you to point and guide us. Just like with the tuna. Find the bad water.” She stands and walks to the bow. She then looks at him. “Snout! Bad Water!” The otter dances around her several times then points with paw up and tail straight out. Balan steers the boat where Snout points.

Mingzhu looks at the witch after snout holds point, I may have to go deep. If I do I have to come up slowly. If I do not, I will get very sick. Do you understand?”

The woman looks around. “There’s numerous islets around, without a comprehensive method of tracking, searching all of them will take too long. I hope Snout is up to it… And, noted.”

“I might be down a long time. Hold unless threatened.”

“Understood.” Mingzhu turns and watches where snout is pointing until he stops. It takes quite some time, hours even, and a lot of moving underwater... but eventually, Snout is able to backtrace those ill feelings to a particular patch of Kelp, it looks like this kelp patch is large, and infected with the same kind of infection that you saw in the tainted fish. There's a small islet nearby as well.

Mingzhu dives to take samples of the kelp and especially looks for the fungal infection. She takes one precaution. Since the kept can be gotten to by regular diving she doesn’t open her gills or let her lungs fill with water. She comes back up to the boat with her samples. She looks at the island. “We should check that small island out.”

Balan looks between them. Silgara looks over at her "Please tell me you did not touch those with your bare hands and that you have properly sealed containers for potentially infectious samples." She groans and gets some sealed containers out for the tainted kelp.

"I didn’t open my gills and didn’t eat the kelp. I will be fine." She does lean over the boat and wash her hands.

"Good" She makes sure to handle it carefully with gloves and secure the tainted samples, Mingzhu lets her "You mentioned an island? Can you lead us there? Incidentally, it may be beneficial to bring that gnoll with us."

Mingzhu nods, “Then we go back and pick the hengeyokai up. or wait until tomorrow."

"That's a gnoll, not a Hengeyokai." Silgara shakes her head.

Balan is holding the anchor rope looking between the two women hand on the sail. Mingzhu tells the point eared girl. “Tell the Balan that we are going back to find T'kharr and bring her with us." Silgara looks at the monster and says something. Mingzhu adds, “Tomorrow morning I will ask the spirits for blessing food and drink to help the village.

Balan yanks the anchor out of the water pulling the sail rope at the same time attempting to spin them around quickly. He shouts something. As the boat wobbles and almost tips them over Mingzhu looks at Balan like he's completely insane. The monster steps to the higher side leveling it while its spins then throws the anchor out and raises the sail letting them coast to an easy stop. He says something else and laughs.

When they get back Mingzhu finds a place to take a bath and wash her armor as quickly as she can. She goes to the Elder and tells him they found the source of the infection and are going back to try to either make things right or gather more information on the cause.

T'kharr nods to Mingzhu as they return, heading over to the boat "Any results?" The Elder seems appreciative and hopeful of the news. Mingzhu tells them all that they found.

Silgara comes in and looks over to T’kharr, “We have a place to investigate."

Mingzhu rushes back to the boat as quickly as she can, when she is finished reporting.