The Harvest Moon Consortium

[Winterhawk99]

As they sail along, Fwangzhu and Minamoto handle the rowing paddles to keep the boat moving. Mingzhu comments, "If you like I'll jump just before the island to make sure everyone has and escape route.

Silgara looks up. The stars in the sky are gone. So is the moon. It’s pitch black out. "The stars have vanished!? … Wh... how? That...." She composes herself. It's obvious after she points it out. "That bodes ill for us all..."

"That is very, very weird" T'kharr looks up, to see if she can see anything resembling a cloud deck or if it's somehow both clear and moonless/starless. She doesn’t find what she is looking for just pitch blackness.

Mingzhu looks up and says, “I can ask if you like?” Silgara looks over at Mingzhu and gives her an emphatic nod.

Mingzhu casts trance to seek out the nearest spirits. When she finds one, she casts commune with spirit for her questions. She can tell something is wrong with this spirit. Instead of a community spirit, it's a condemned spirit. She also gets the impression that whatever answers this spirit is going to give, it will try to distort to give answers that will lead her to harm. Or just be unhelpful. But she can still try to demand answers to two questions.

T'kharr not paying attention to the mist that forms near Mingzhu says, “This is definitely magical, and strong, like someone is clearly trying to hide the island's presence by making it impossible to navigate to it"

Mingzhu calls it to her speaking out loud, “Spirit, I command you come to me. I have two questions you must answer. " She’s taking an obviously defensive stance. “DO NOT MAKE ME COMPEL YOU!”

The spirit just regards her, saying nothing...

“I see what you are spirit! Do not twist your words! where are we in our world or another?”

"Here."

Zsikhou narrows his eyes at the spirit, like he'd offer snuggles execute it for insubordination if it were possible.

“I said do not twist your words! Answer the question correctly! As was intoned!”

It doesn’t reply.

Balan holds out his holy symbol watching the encounter clearly upset. Mingzhu goes on. “Damned spirit! Is this the world mortals live their lives in? Yes, or No?”

"Maybe." The spirit fades.

T’kharr rubs her forehead. “Clearly strong magic at work indeed."

Mingzhu huffs and shakes her head. Silgara looks over "I take it your spell did not work as intended?"

"I could not call a friendly spirit. Be warned I do not think we are in the world of the living."

Fwangzhu looks over "What the fuck does that mean, Shamaness?"

Silgara looks over "I think if we were dead, we'd have... well, not be under our current state of consciousness."

“I mean we may have crossed over to a world in which the damned and the dead live. I am uncertain but I would not dive into that water.” Mingzhu answers. Snout for whatever reason seems extremely terrified of wherever they are. Mingzhu holds on to him.

Fwangzhu sniffs … "Somehow smells cleaner than normal water..." He huffs "Too clean..."

Minamoto looks over "Then you can finally take a bath, savage."

Fwangzhu snarls "Fuck off! What it fucking means is that there's nothing living in there. No fish, nothing. Even normal water has fish gunk or shit or other things in it. This water here doesn't."

Mingzhu tries to look into the ethereal plane with her spirit sight. She can only see pitch darkness, just an endless, black void. She turns to everyone. “The spirit plane itself is gone. I cannot see the mist at all. the spirits seem to be more tangible here but not on the other side. It is just gone the whole of it.

Zsikhou looks over "If that was the case, you wouldn't have been able to commune with that spirits then, isn't that so?"

“Unless we are on the spirit plane itself. I am unsure the spirit plane is a misty expanse.” Mingzhu retorts.

"More like some...corrupted dark mirror of the spirit plane from what we can tell?" T’kharr theorizes.

Zsikhou looks around, seeming uncharacteristically nervous "Doesn't seem right... this is just a ... black void..."

Minamoto looks over "There's no light at all, I can barely see anything at all. Even you."

“Could it be a trick of illusion?” Mingzhu asks. She tries to disbelieve. It doesn’t work.

"That's plausible, an illusory darkness? But that wouldn't explain the spirit corruption." T’kharr considers.

"Let me try something..." Silgara casts a detect magic, looking around. She shakes her head "I'm not picking up on any magic auras besides our own. If we were in an illusion I would pick up an ambient illusory aura, but I am not sensing any." She looks around, utterly perplexed.

Balan tries a Detect Evil. The only evil aura he can detect nearby is Zsikhou’s. He laughs, “Well there is only one evil being nearby I can sense. This place does not bode well...”

“Does that signify that we may have crossed some threshold into another world?” Mingzhu asks.

Silgara looks ahead "Worse the darkness is so thick I won't be able to spot any land from a distance..." She frowns "I honestly don't know what it could mean..."

Wherever they are it feels cold, dark, and somehow sinister in their very guts. The shamaness then asks, “Zsikhou, do you still maintain your dragon's gifts?”

Zsikhou snaps his claws together, sparks of electricity show, but he focuses, closing his eyes, then he looks over to Mingzhu, seemingly uncharacteristically worried. "This one's granted blessings are intact but... somehow this one feels... disconnected, separated from my master's presence." He looks around, focused, his expression hardened. "Difficult to see out here. Darker than lightless warrens."

Mingzhu nods. "Do not eat or drink anything while we are hear from this place."

Zsikhou looks over "Where do you suspect we are, Shamaness?"

"Honestly Zsikhou I do not know but suspect some placed where the damned go when they die."

Fwangzhu huffs "No idea what the fuck we would even eat here besides the rations we brought with us."

“We will have to find land.” Mingzhu pleads.

Silgara shakes her head "That would assume we somehow had all died." She huffs "I hope this map is still accurate. Somehow the corsairs had to make use of this place."

Minamoto keeps rowing "Someone will need to spot for me, I can't see in this pitch darkness."

Balan gives a nod. “I can see well enough.”

“We may not have. There maybe be a doorway so to speak that we may have unwittingly gone through.” Mingzhu explains to Silgara.

Silgara looks over "Could the Corsairs really use a place like this as a base, though?"

Mingzhu then asks, “Could this have something to do with the 4 talisman we carry?”

T’kharr considers then says, “I reckon so. The talisman must be… what triggers the gate to let them in here. And this wouldn't be a …routine base for the corsairs, but likely something used by...whatever Gobu and the prisoner were consorting with."

Mingzhu nods, “That makes more sense.”

"Which could mean...this is quite literally a circle of hell we're in." T’kharr adds.

Silgara looks over. "So, current hypothesis is an extraplanar pocket utilized by one of the lower planar forces we are currently facing off against?"

T’kharr nods, “Aye, some flavor of extraplanar space."

"The big question is are we ready for what lies ahead?" Mingzhu looks at them all.

Minamoto looks over "Can we even turn around and get back to where we were?"

Silgara considers "Odds are this place is scrying proof as well; it would explain why the Daimyo's court magi couldn't pick anything up."

T’kharr looks up at the blackness. “Aye, that'd explain all the scrying interference."

"If we are indeed, on another plane conventional scrying would not function." Silgara says.

“Aye it would explain why it was on no map either.” Balan notes.

Mingzhu hugs and comforts Snout. Minamoto keeps rowing, so does Fwangzhu. Snout shivers in fear. Silgara looks around "I guess this begs the obvious question of what to do next. We may be in far over our heads for what we anticipated here." She nervously looks around "Something capable of magical prowess like this is going to be far more powerful than anything we have faced so far."

Zsikhou looks over "Don't think we have many other options. Not sure we even can get back. We have to proceed and investigate."

Mingzhu nods and looks ahead in the distance sometimes with normal sight sometimes with spirit sight but only sees blackness ahead.

Silgara sighs "Well, if we keep on our current heading, I calculate we should make landfall to that spot the pirates mentioned...."

Minamoto keeps rowing "What will it be, keep on our current heading or turn back? Or around?"

“We do not know if heading back will take us back to the real world if we are in a different one. I think our best course is forward: to see what fate brings.” Mingzhu hesitantly says.

Silgara looks to T'kharr and Balan. "We should at least make sure we can sight land on this, and validate that it's what we're looking for, before we consider turning back." T’kharr steadily agrees with Mingzhu.

Minamoto looks over "I can't see anything... can you?"

Silgara shakes her head "I can't either... there's no light here at all."

Zsikhou huffs "This one can to an extent."

“As well as myself but only so far.” Balan adds. Zsikhou nods to him.

Silgara looks over "I am capable of casting a light cantrip, but I expect a light might draw unwanted attention here too."

Mingzhu nods, “If it is a different place we do not want to be noticed especially if this is a realm of souls.”

"Aye, I reckon light would be a poor choice, if it wouldn't simply get swallowed to begin with even" T'kharr says as she peers into the inky void to look for land "Glad we're in a dingy, not a ship"

Minamoto looks over "Honored Kami, I'll need your help spotting then. Zsikhou nods. They keep sailing for some time. It feels like an hour. Eventually, a landmass shows up. Almost sneaks up on them. Zsikhou can only see it from so far away, but makes an alert that land is nearby. VERY close by. 12 seconds later, the rowboat comes up to the land...

It looks like a barren rock. Whatever grasses or plant life there was, they look withered and wilted, like they haven't had any sunlight to help them grow and have simply withered away, what patches of rock and dirt might remain. A desolate, lifeless looking place.

"Quite desolate, like the dirt itself was rendered barren. Or simply blasted away to leave behind naught but bare rock." T’kharr comments.

Zsikhou looks over "The island looks dead. Like it withered away. Not like a storm wiped it clean, just gone and rotted..." He grimaces. And clearly wants a hug

Silgara looks over "We will need to be careful... if only the kobold can see..."

Mingzhu looks around. “There is no day, or night, here. It seems. more confirmation that we are not where the living should be.”

T’kharr looks around, “I can see a few things at least.”

Zsikhou nods "That's two of us at least..."

Mingzhu looks at Snout firmly. "Do not go into the water, pup." Snout doesn't look like he wants to be here but stays very close to Mingzhu. Snout clearly can't see anything in this pitch darkness. She nods and looks out into the unknown shuttering they start to move on.

[Winterhawk99]

After arriving at the mysterious island by boat the group looks out over the land. Unfortunately, they can only see out to 60 ft. T’kharr says, “This is ripe for an ambush, we'll need to keep our heads down and be very slow and cautious as we explore." T'kharr crouches, peering into the inky black as best she can, left, right, and head, trying to make out any feature whatsoever "we head left along the shore if we can't make out anything inland. Also, it should go without saying, we'll need to stick real close together, especially as we head in towards the center of the isle, and keep our ears pricked for even the slightest noise, it'll likely be our only warning of trouble"

Silgara looks over "Odds are those of us that can't see will need to join hands with one of you who can and can keep us together. We should not separate here."

“Aye, hand on shoulder or the likes.” T’kharr responds.

Minamoto scowls "I don't want that savage touching me."

Fwangzhu snarls "As if I'd want to touch you, Asslicker, unless I'm beating you into paste!"

Silgara rolls her eyes "Now is not the time for you to behave like tantruming children."

T’kharr nods slowly, “Aye, stumbling around in the dark having a temper tantrum is not good for your continued survival."

Fwangzhu huffs, growling. Minamoto shakes his head. Silgara sighs "I'll get in between you two if it really means so damned much. Just keep yourselves under control. Minamoto in front, you have the heaviest armor."

Zsikhou looks over "I'll be in front to direct them then." And because he clearly wants to be in the group hug. He looks around "The landscape looks barren in every direction, so, just pick one, ssk..."

T’kharr rubs the back of her head. “Let’s go left, hug the coastline, given that this is an island, it seems to be our only reference point." The group follows along. The party heads along the shoreline. So far nothing here... water to the left since you turned around, but land still going forward, right, and back. T’kharr continues to direct the party according to the basic plan, keeping her ears pricked for any sign of other activity.

As they progress again, they seem to come to a sort of curvature, going forward now would head into the water. As would going left. They can go back or to the right next, turning along with the curve.
As far as they can tell, the terrain is still pitch black, barren, no signs of life around besides themselves. T’kharr continues to follow the shoreline. “Seems there’s some sort of bay or port here.” She observes speaking softly.

They walk a very long time. It’s difficult to make anything out on the barren rock here. T'kharr is pretty sure that /something/ else has been roaming around here, but given you're reading bare rock, and likely old tracks, it's hard to say what or where... "I don't think we're alone on this island at least" T'kharr speaks softly, "I can't get a good read on what they could be or where they're going though, so following sign isn't really going to be an option for us, not now at least -- bare rock is bad for tracking."

Silgara looks around but can't see anything. "Have to wonder how anyone here can feed themselves if nothing at all grows here..."

"Fish, I reckon, unless the waters below are as barren as the land above...there is magic one could use, as well" T’kharr surmises. She continues to lead the party along the shore after checking the water for any sort of boat the other party might have had with them. Balan keeps his eyes out agreeing with what has been said. They keep moving with the shore on the left. There’s another curve and bend here. There's nothing but barren rock here that anyone can see.

After awhile T’kharr sees tracks, it's hard to say, but... she could swear there's some that go inland to the right? But it's really hard to say what it is. Quadruped? Bipeds? All kinds? The tracks are old and it's difficult on rock... T’kharr says, “Hm. more tracks but still indiscernible as to who made them or how many." She continues to lead the party along the shore. “I can’t follow them. There are too many and they are too old.”

Balan checks for evil and only sees Zsikhou’s aura. He looks at the kobold and shakes his head.

Zsikhou looks to Balan "What is it?"

“Your aura is the only thing I can feel and its burning.” The dragonborn responds.

Zsikhou looks to Balan. "What do you mean?"

“I feel your nature but perhaps it is good it is the only thing that is showing.”

Mingzhu says, “Stop a moment I think I know this place.”

. T’kharr sighs, "If we don't get anything more than this second set, we'll come back to it and follow it in, I reckon...and oh?" the latter addressing Mingzhu

Silgara looks to Mingzhu "What is this place then?" Or in her general direction, the pitch-black darkness means neither Mingzhu nor Silgara can see.

"It’s in an ancient Shou Lung legend.” Mingzhu states.

"Continue with it while we circle, just make sure to keep your voice down" T'kharr continues to lead the party in their clockwise sweep of the island's shore.

Mingzhu raises her hands to head level and spreads them wide. She proceeds to lumber slowly around the group, stretching out her fingers like claws. “Long, long ago, when the Celestial was young and the great old dragons were just eggs buried in the ground, there lived a vicious god, vengeance that chilled the blood of all beings’ mortal and God alike.

He took the form of a giant 15-foot badger with a yellow stripe. He had Sabre teeth on both his upper and lower jaws as long as two-handed swords. His claws were as long and sharp as God-forged katanas. His slobbering stare could paralyze the bravest of warriors. He battled through lines of samurai and godly minion to maul and kill the great daimyos of the land. When he got to them you could hear the awful crunch and snapping of their bones and armor as he ate them.

All would run from this Demon of a creature--if they were not paralyzed with the sheer terror of his menacing eyes. Those that did were crunched up and spat out or eaten. Was this creature a god? A demon? Something else? No one really knows.

His reign of terror lasted eons. Many families, both noble and peasant, would be chewed up, disemboweled and made a feast. Do you hear the bones snapping? Do you hear the wails of the mothers and orphans as he passed?

Then, one day, the gods that would eventually make up the Celestial Court decided to take action. They made war on the great badger. Many of them were crunched up as they found it was too strong to be killed. It just kept coming and coming. The gods had to make a new plan.

Thus, one of them created a sea of darkness with a great void. Another created a great island within the void. There, in this void of clear and perfect water where darkness embraced its own reality, they led the creature. The creature would charge, and the gods would retreat until they came to that very Island in the void of perpetual darkness.

Once the Great badger god stepped on to the island, a new battle began. Slowly, they were able to confine him with great magic chains, each link as thick as an elephant’s trunk. And so, they left the great badger god there to waste away forever in his own insanity.

You ask me the name of this legendary monster; I will tell you, though I fear that one day speaking his name may let him break his magic forged bonds again to ravage the world. His name is Lambert the Cantankerous. They say he is the vengeful god of the middle 58th... whatever that means.

And so now I think we may be on that very same island in the darkest of voids. Be very careful my companions. No one can stand up to... The Lambert.”

Minamoto keeps his position. "Does that mean the Savage here might be the spawn of this hellish realm?"

Fwangzhu snarls "Oh fuck off Asslicker, this shitty place suits you best of all of us."

"Don't start again, before we leave both of you to argue for the rest of your waking days." T'kharr continues to lead the party around the isle. Mingzhu follows along with an odd smile of contentment on her face. T’kharr keeps circling around the shoreline.

As they walk, they finally come upon a faint spot of flickering light in the distance ahead. "Uh oh. we're definitely not alone." T’kharr speaks softly, "Light in the far distance, we'll need to keep our eye on it"

Minamoto nods "I can see it, faint, but stands out..." Mingzhu nods and makes sure that Snout is keeping up. He refuses to let go of Mingzhu. He's absolutely terrified. T’kharr keeps the party along the coast, keeping an eye on the torchlight to see how its bearing changes."

As the party gets closer, it becomes more and more noticeable, but from this distance, they still can barely see anything at all. The light seems to be still not moving at all. It looks like whatever the light source is it is on or near the coast, given that us following the coast is keeping it on a constant bearing"

Mingzhu looks around. "Listen for giant chains rattling."

Fwangzhu looks over, snorting "I don't hear anything."

Minamoto sneers "Of course you wouldn't, savage."

Fwangzhu snarls "You'll be hearing your own bruises if you don't shut your trap, Asslicker."

Silgara sighs "I can't believe I put myself between these two..."

"They say its favorite food is badger. It's a cannibal so if we spot it throw Fwangzhu at it and run the other way."

"Your arguing is the kind of thing that is going to get us ambushed in this sort of environment." Silgara whispers quite loudly.

Fwangzhu snarls at Mingzhu "I saved you from being skewered by the elder. and you'd throw me to a demon's maw? Wow. There's fucking gratitude."

Minamoto glares in Fwangzhu's direction. "You deserve it, Savage."

Zsikhou sneers, then snaps "Enough you two! Am of half a mind to cut your tongues out. Do not give this one further cause to do so."

Silgara "If you children are done with your tantrums, what's the plan?" Balan snickers a bit. The party keeps moving along the shore cautiously.

T’kharr and Mingzhu hear some indistinct voices ahead. They are not sure if they’ve heard the group yet. Someone is talking ahead of them. Mingzhu stops and whispers, “I hear someone talking."

T'kharr halts the party, speaking quietly to Mingzhu "Can you make out what they're saying?" Mingzhu shakes her head.

Silgara whispers, looking aside "Plan then? If we get closer, they will likely hear us."

[Winterhawk99]

"How quietly do you think we can advance...? Sadly, I don't have a blessing of silencing handy, although that may not be the most productive thing in the world either." T’Kharr both asks and states.

Zsikhou looks over "This one can scout quietly if needed."

T’kharr nodes to Zsikhou, “That would be helpful, yes.” She has the party hold position while Zsikhou scouts ahead. He slips off.

Mingzhu whispers, “Everyone have their potions?”

Everyone nods or whispers, “Aye.”

After a time, he comes back. "Okay, here's what this one saw. Found a dock of sorts. Looked like there were several humans there. Some looked like corsairs. Some looked like horse-riding raiders. Supplies for 'The Khan' was mentioned. Along with some infighting and what sounded like varying degrees of aggressive bargaining."

"As to a headcount?" frowning softly, T’kharr asks.

Zsikhou continues "They did not appear alert to this one's presence. Counted around ten in total."
"The context of their speech led this one to believe that they have a more fortified camp further inland here somewhere."

Balan looking around says, “That would be expected.”

"Noted. Any sign of boats at the dock? Also, do you think you could get further information by going to listen in on them again?" T’kharr asks.

"Torchlight came from a sort of jury-rigged lighthouse. But did spot smaller held torches by them. And will make the attempt." Zsikhou nods and slinks off again. Mingzhu looks at the water and bites her lip.

Zsikhou eventually returns. "Okay, few new things..." He clicks his tongue "This one listened until the corsairs left. They had a skiff and left by a skiff. As for what the Corsairs and horse riders spoke of, there was mockery by the Corsairs for the horse rider’s conquest not going well. Almost resulted in them attacking each other, but they stopped before they started killing each other. Also, can confirm that the riders do indeed have some horses stabled here."

T'kharr looks at him. "Horses on an island, how curious."

"But it sounded like the Corsairs were giving the Horse Riders a supply run. Mentioned this Khan should be glad that the high captain is still paying him despite the Khan's failures." Zsikhou continues

"It also makes me wonder how the Horse Riders get on and off this isle." T’kharr thinks out loud.

Silgara nods "I do as well..."

Zsikhou shakes his head "That part was not mentioned. Other thing that was mentioned that this one overheard was the Horse Rider arranging a transport to the Khan's fort."

T’kharr shakes her head in thought. “Hm. I suppose we wait to see if the riders depart? Have you keep a watch?"

Balan considers, “Aye and perhaps carefully keep track of where they are going.”

Silgara looks over "You want to ambush their supply caravan? Or tail it? Given the darkness here it will not be easy to navigate. But at least it seems they do not have some method of circumventing it at this juncture."

"In this darkness it will have to be someone that can see." Mingzhu observes.

"They were all human that this one could tell. They had torches." Zsikhou mentions.

“That would mean they need the light to see.” Balan asserts.

"Interesting. Any sign that it's magical torches they're using, or would mundane fire pierce this darkness?" T’kharr asks.

"Couldn't tell." Zsikhou replies.

T’kharr shrugs, "I suppose you can go back out and keep watch to see if the riders, too, depart." Zsikhou nods and slinks off.

When he comes back, he says, “They sent a caravan out. Headed inland."

Balan asks, “How many with it?”

"At least four." He replies

"How many did they leave at the port-camp?" T’kharr asks.

"Still plenty." He replies, "Counted at least six or eight left at camp."

“If we trail them, we may be able to take them out after they are out of ear shot of the others.” Balan speaks out.

Silgara looks over "If that caravan is moving then we'll need to decide quickly. And we'd also have the risk of where the caravan is heading to...” Silgara looks over "Probably that Khan's base, whatever it is."

"Hm. Was the caravan entirely on foot, or did they have horse or wagon with them?" T’kharr asks.

“I would not think they would be moving with haste, they do not know we are here.” Balan says.

"Horse and wagon." Zsikhou replies

T'kharr nods "That's going to mean they'll need to follow something of a path. Perhaps you could tail them, Zsikhou, and see if you can find where it leads?"

"Might be a long tracking if this one does that but can do it if you like." Zsikhou replies.

Silgara looks over "We may need to decide quickly, lest that Caravan gain too much distance."

T’kharr says, "I think the intelligence we'd gain from tailing is much more important than ambushing one caravan." Zsikhou nods, preparing to stalk them.

Silgara looks over "Do we follow the kobold, strike at the dock while he's gone, or hold position?"

"Hold position for now." T’kharr commands. Zsikhou slinks off.

"If I call my ally, I have no idea what I will get if I get anything."

They wait a long time for Zsikhou to return. Meanwhile, Balan asks, “Would it be beneficial for us to trail behind at a few minute pace so he does not need to travel as far?”

T'kharr shakes her head "Too much risk of us giving ourselves away with a group this large. Patience is our best weapon right now."

"What’s going to happen if we can find his path?" Mingzhu asks rather rhetorically.

T’kharr answers, “Part of it isn’t just the path, but what lies at the other end.”

After quite a long while, Mingzhu asks, “Do you think somethings happened? He’s been gone a long time.”

"I'm kind of expecting this to take a while." T’kharr answers.

Zsikhou eventually returns. It looks like he’s had a long walk for sure. T’kharr asks, “Okay, got any information on what was at the other end of the caravan route, or about the route itself?"

Zsikhou speaks "The route itself, mostly just across barren rock and wasteland. No landmarks that this one saw. Did get a glimpse at the camp. Looked like there was a wooden palisade of sorts. Light fortifications but there were some sentry towers around a gate. Am afraid this one couldn't get inside, but cased the perimeter did not get spotted, there's a single gate, the fortifications are made in a circle. Besides the towers, there does not seem to be any watch posts. Each tower has a torch at the top."

"Straight trail, or...? Also, any sign of how heavily occupied the fortress is?" T’kharr asks.

"The Horse and cart went inside the palisade gate, then it closed. And it's further inland. Off the coast, it's a fairly long walk though. As for how heavily occupied, isn't certain. Given the size the garrison could be substantial, or it could be a lot of empty space. Did not see a lot of sentries. Only one on each of the towers. Was not able to see inside." Zsikhou shakes his head and continues "Not the most impressive of fortifications, but it's not like we have storms or siege equipment with us."

T'kharr gives it a thoughtful moment then says, “Hm. Given that this seems to be a trade post and not the ritual isle I was originally thinking...do you think there'd be value in ambushing the port and trying to cut them off from the outside? Or would it be better if we took our own leave here and reported back our observations, so that a greater force could be brought to bear?"

Silgara looks over "The complicating factor to that plan is that we are not certain if we /can/ leave, or how entry to this place even works..."

Minamoto looks over "Could simply try sailing away. Assuming no one took our boat..."

"Aye, that was my idea, sailing out of this place should be possible given that the corsairs are doing it." T’kharr surmises.

Zsikhou huffs "If we could flee, this one could tell his master of this isle and that it should be sunk completely."

T’kharr asks, "Did you see any small boats kept at the dock by the way?" to the kobold

Silgara shakes her head "Not a safe assumption to make. We're clearly in a trans planar space. Planar travel does not follow normal rules of travel. Sailing away might simply leave us stuck here."

Zsikhou nods "This one did see some skiffs last time"

"Are you saying that it might require something different to sail away from here than it does to sail to here?" T’kharr asks quietly to Silgara

Silgara looks over "If we do that though and leave, they'll know they were attacked. They'll be on alert for future attacks. And if we can't escape from this isle, that will make further operations here more difficult if we spend much time trying to sail away." She nods "It's entirely possible. We don't know how we even got here in the first place. But planar portals often have keys, and sometimes the keys going one way and back are quite different."

"Hm. I do wonder...how does the fort get its water?" T’kharr asks mostly to herself.

Fwangzhu snorts "Easy enough to find water around here."

"Ever tried drinking ocean water?" T’kharr says to Fwangzhu, curiously.

Silgara shakes her head "Drinking the water we were sailing on is highly inadvisable."

"Aye, that's part of why I'm asking..." T’kharr snorts.

Fwangzhu snorts "And if they really need it those jackass pirates can ship it in. Seems like they depend on outside raids to keep themselves going."

T’kharr’s ears perk up like a Shepard, “That's a possibility, yes. Leaves them vulnerable to something depleting their water supply, though."

Silgara looks over "Additional possibility, clerical magic can create water. If they have enough clerics, they could sustain a small fort on that alone."

"Aye, that's one of the other possibilities I was thinking of. Would mean you'd need a fair few clergy though...and that degree of clerical support would make sieging them rather inadvisable." T’kharr nods.

"From what I understand, creating water is a divine magic cantrip. Even those only capable of simple magic can do it." Silgara says.

"Yes, it indeed is, but it's a matter of quantity as well, given the limits on the cantrip itself" T’kharr states.

Zsikhou looks over "Regardless, have we decided upon a course of action?"

"Not yet. If we want to get off, we may have to wait for the Corsairs to arrive again and ambush them for the key to leave. I'm also considering our options for attacks, but we only have limited leverage on the fortress, as it stands so far." T’kharr asserts.

Mingzhu listening to it all says, “We could take the lighthouse."

Minamoto looks over "Might be waiting a while for that, we could simply get back to our own boat and sail away. Assuming the witch is wrong."

"Taking out the light would draw attention, I'm sure"

"I mean take out everyone around it." Mingzhu corrects.

Fwangzhu snorts "Sounds like the only way out of this mess is if we take out at least some of those enemies. Fort, Lighthouse... though weren't we told it was the Khan who lead the Horsemen? Could attack the fort. Maul those bastards. And take them down. Win. Bet he's probably got the way out of this hellscape too." Fwangzhu huffs

“We could use it for a base of operations.” Mingzhu says.

"Once again, I don't want to unwittingly lead us into getting stomped. And yes, there's a good chance that somewhere within the fortress is an exit means." T’kharr tries hard to assess.

Fwangzhu looks aside "Especially since I'm sure the Daimyo's loser isn't actually going to get any more support for this."

Minamoto glares "Silence, savage."

Fwangzhu shrugs "Better die fighting than die getting chased around or starving. I say we chance it and take the fuckers head on."

"If we seize the lighthouse then if anyone comes, they most likely won’t come in force we can dwindle them down." Mingzhu insists.

Fwangzhu huffs "Given how hard it is to reach this place; do you really think this place is actually getting regular reinforcements?"

T’kharr looks over at the shamaness, "That is a good point, draw their numbers down, and I doubt it's getting regular refreshes of people, but once again, we don't know what's in there to begin with"

Mingzhu says, “We don’t know how many are in the fort.”

"So, kick their asses and then there won't be any left. Simple." Fwangzhu snorts.

"Don't expect the savage to know anything regarding tactics or strategy. Or decorum." Minamoto interjects.

"I know mauling a jackasses' face into the ground. Wanna see, Asslicker?" Fwangzhu snarls at him.

Silgara sighs "Right, we're going to need some plan of action then."

Balan looks at the two rivals, “It is not the time to bicker back and forth.”

T’kharr huffs, "That's part of what I'm trying to figure out. So far, it seems that the most promising plan would be to ambush the port-camp, likely when they've turned the most folks in for sleep, heaven only knows how they're managing that with no sun, moon, or stars to keep them on cycle. Then use it as a base of operations to try to draw folks out from the fortress whilst scouting it the best we can."

Mingzhu hypothesizes, “They should have supplies we can use.”

“I would think they must report in at times for security and if they did not more would come to check on them.” Balan surmises.

Mingzhu suddenly shushes everyone. “shhhh, something is coming our way from that direction." She points.

T'kharr definitely hears it. Sounds like the padding of a quadruped, but... not a horse... something else... definitely... "Sounds like they may be trying to force our hand. We take whatever they send down, if at all possible...." her quiet voice trails off "This is a problem, whatever it is, it's not people, it's a quadruped, and not a horse either. We may have to take our leave and quickly."

Zsikhou looks over "Guess we need to move. Whatever move we make, better decide it soon. Even if to hold position and hide."

"I say we head back for the boat. Sailing off's our best bet for refuge unless anyone here has a better idea? Or, unless it's better at swimming than we are at boating, but in that case...we're screwed, if it's what I think it is at least." T’kharr states. Mingzhu looks at her mystified.

"If we want to head along the coastline, we can head around the dock and back to the shoreline after that." Zsikhou says.

"Aye, that's one other possibility, dock at the dock and pretend we're lost visitors." T’kharr calculates.

Silgara looks over "The likelihood of that bluff working is low. Even if they believed it, they would still likely rob us of our valuables then kill us."

"Erm........by now we might be well known to the enemy." Mingzhu says.

T’kharr nods. “Fair. Let’s get going though" starts leading the party back towards their boat, counterclockwise along the shore, before whatever this quadruped is can get good sight of them

"Could still just be regular patrols." Minamoto says...

T’kharr leads them slightly inland to avoid the patrol. "Once we get to the shore, if that thing's following us, we could send Zsikhou out to try to loop back and get better eyes on it?" Just as she says that she hears a different patrol off to their right. She breaks left shallowly, still going forward trying to get back to the shoreline. "It seems that there's more than one of the mystery quadrupeds roaming around. You think you can get eyes on them without being spotted, Zsikhou?" as they break left and back towards the coast.

Zsikhou looks over, shaking their head "Highly risky proposition that. Don't hear them currently."

"Fair. Let’s keep going and see if we can skirt around things well enough at least." T’kharr responds.

They find the shoreline again. They turn right to skirt the shore in a counterclockwise direction once more. After a short bit of time, they find the boat. Mingzhu still looks mystified about what everyone is doing.

"Alright, lets at least try sailing away, unless you think we should try to make our way back to the camp, or ambush one of the mystery quadrupeds ourselves?" Then T’kharr turns to Mingzhu "We had to elude a couple of...somethings. I was initially concerned it was that legendary badger you mentioned, even, but I guess it's not that?"

"Oh well you would hear the chains rattling." Mingzhu asks.

"Fair, that also weighs against my initial hypothesis. I do wonder what they could be though..." T’kharr says. Mingzhu again smiles at something only she can understand.

Zsikhou leads the party members on the boat "Right, are we taking off, then?"

"Let us cast off before something actually does discover us" T’kharr says after making sure everyone's on the boat.

Balan pushes the boat off the shore while jumping on. The party sets off on the boat, heading back where they came from…. or at least, trying to.

[Winterhawk99]

Mingzhu hugs and plays with Snout to keep him calm. They sail for a while. There was a lot of walking today. Time seems to pass as Minamoto and Fwangzhu row. Zsikhou tries to keep on spotting duty. T’kharr directs them to keep sailing straight out, but however far they sail the stars do not come back and the pitch-black darkness remains.

Silgara tries to make some distance mental calculations, but without stars or any navigational aids, she only has very rough estimates. They find only endless stretches of waves in the pitch-black inky darkness.

After a time T’kharr says, “I'm thinking that we should turn back. I reckon that Silgara's right and getting out is going to require a different key. Siege of the lighthouse camp it is then." She starts steering the boat to the right, trying to get more than 90 degrees of a right turn so that they'd cut back along the side of the dim light the lighthouse shines.

Silgara looks over "Best be careful with those turns, we don't want to miss the island completely..." She looks around, though can't see anything, ...

“Aye we do not want to take a dip in whatever this water is.” Balan says as he looks down at it.

Mingzhu tries to use her low-light vision to see where the island should be, but she has a hard time telling as the boat was turned several times. She keeps playing with Snout to keep him occupied.

It takes a long time worth of sailing, T'kharr's sense of direction and intuition helps a lot, but they eventually find their way back to their initial docking site. T’kharr looks at them all, “So. It seems that Silgara's theory is correct. How far were you thinking we sailed out?”

Silgara sighs "I honestly have no idea..."

"Not even a guess?" T’kharr asks incredulously.

Mingzhu nods, "hard to tell time with no sun or stars."

"It feels like several hours by now, from walking and sailing, I'm admittedly feeling some fatigue pangs, we might have been moving around between six and nine hours, but it's hard to specify how long for sure." Silgara says.

“I guess we should have taken out that caravan then moved on the camp then.” Balan shrugs.

"Alright. So... raiding. I reckon we send Zsikhou ahead to see if he can get eyes on the port at least briefly before we strike?" T’kharr leads them heading clockwise again.

"Camping on the isle itself is not likely to be a safe prospect if we need to rest." Silgara mentions...

"Aye, our best bet might be to cast off a bit and rest on our boat." T’kharr says.

Fwangzhu huffs "Not a lot of room here for resting, chief."

T’kharr looks up and thinks then says, “I'm thinking they sail until they can just make out the light, then beach the boat and dispatch Zsikhou as a scout?”

“Less we take the lighthouse and fortify it so there are no intrusions though that could be a confined box with no way out if they send relief.” Balan suggests. Mingzhu just shrugs and looks out to the sea. They set off again around the island. Eventually they come across the torchlight of the dock area.

As Mingzhu sees it she says, “I have an idea if there are guards.”

T’kharr looks over, “Oh?”

Zsikhou looks at her, “Yes? Are likely several there.”

“I could strip down to my pearl diving rope and walk up where they can see me. I could wave and smile at them while everyone waits for an ambush.” Mingzhu suggests. “As they start to come, I could retreat, and they will fall right into your hands.”

Fwangzhu huffs "Ya know, I'm jus' thinking, maybe it's better to hit the palisade than the lighthouse. That's where our big objectives are likely to be."

Silgara looks in Mingzhu’s direction shaking her head. "Might normally be a good idea to take advantage of bandits base proclivities, but I am uncertain if diving into this water is safe."

"The idea is to draw them out from the fort in a trickle, and I don't think she means actually dive into the water"

“I would just prance behind the group. Their eyes will be so focused on me they probably would not see you.” Mingzhu explains.

Zsikhou looks over, considering "Sssk, this one could attempt to simply silently assassinate each of them there one at a time, if we want to take them out silently. There's little light in there. And this one can see in the darkness; they need their torchlights."

"Aye, if you think that's the best way to take them out...." T’kharr says, “Would mean that they don't know the true strength of our force even if someone does escape to raise the alarm."

Zsikhou shrugs "Might as well take advantage of this oppressive darkness."

T’kharr agrees, “Aye, might as well use it for all it's worth."

Minamoto shakes their head but doesn't question it. Fwangzhu does though. "Feh, why not just charge in and take the fuckers out? Simpler that way."

"Do I strip down to my harness or not?" Mingzhu asks.

Silgara looks to T'kharr "What's the plan?"

"I reckon we have Zsikhou try to butcher them and keep Mingzhu's idea in mind for the fortress." T’kharr says.

Zsikhou nods "Right, am on it..." He goes in and slinks into shadow...

Silgara looks over "Should we really bank everything on the kobold being able to kill all of them himself? I expect they will likely have some soldiers in barracks at rest, he can deal with those easily, but.... what of the active guards...?"

Mingzhu responds to her, “I don’t know Silgara. It seems dangerous going it alone.”

Minamoto shakes his head "I am... not sure I approve of these shinobi tactics he employs... it does not seem honorable."

Fwangzhu huffs and looks to Minamoto "And that one's got a god's blessing to do that. Do you really want to go there?"

Minamoto looks back. "For once, savage, you actually made a point worth mentioning."

Fwangzhu snarls "I can still throw you overboard, Asslicker."

Mingzhu sighs, “I think you two need a couple of women to keep you too tired to fight each other."

Fwangzhu snorts "What, you volunteering? Because no thanks."

“No! I’m not into furry.” Mingzhu chides.

Minamoto glares at Fwangzhu "Do /not/ disrespect the Shamaness." Balan cracks his knuckles looking towards the both of them.

Fwangzhu snarls "Don't think I'm afraid of a challenge just because I can't see shit."

Minamoto glares "Yes, you give off enough of an odor, so we all have to know where you are."

Fwangzhu snarls at him "Fuck off, when's the last time you cleaned your armor, Asslicker?"

"Shhhhh quite down, before we are heard." Mingzhu says in their direction.

Balan angerly mutters, “Don’t make me burn this boat down.” Silgara sighs heavily, trying to keep watch.

Minamoto looks to Balan "Endanger us by burning the boat and I will throw you overboard."

“Well, it seems turning the boat around is not an option so.” Balan quietly observes.

Silgara sighs "Zsikhou's been out there a while, are we sure staying here waiting is a good idea?"

While everyone is talking quietly and arguing T’kharr sees some of the smaller torchlights are up around the fort and moving around… then one of them falls. She tells the others. “Let’s keep our eye on the situation, see how well our plan is working. It seems that things are starting to happen out there.” Her words draws Balan’s attention to the lighthouse.

Minamoto sighs "I do have faith that the Kami knows what they are doing..."

Fwangzhu snorts "He gets to have all the fun."

Silgara, however, seems concerned. "Should we really leave him with no support though?" As she says this, shouting starts erupting around the fort.

"Don't worry, we'll get you your chance later." T’kharr tells Fwangzhu, then to Silgara "If we see or hear signs of serious trouble, we move in"

"Well seems they've gone on alert now." Silgara mentions.

Mingzhu tries to gauge the distance. She sees the boat is about 150 ft away from the lighthouse location. She mentions, “It’s going to take us quite a bit of time to get there.”

"Should we go in then?" Silgara looks aside

"We can move in somewhat closer if you think we can manage that without being spotted ourselves." T’kharr suggests.

Mingzhu makes a decision. She gets out of the boat and goes right next to the shore. Then she casts animate water to create a small elemental. She tells it. “Go to the light and support the Kami. Attack the men attacking him.” It runs off to the light.

However, after some time, Balan can see Zsikhou sprinting back to their position. Hot on his tail are two kinds of headless canine monsters with a long, vile tongue coming out of their front maw. He yells out. “What in all the Hells is that!... We have incoming!”

[Winterhawk99]

"Kobold's in trouble. I, Minamoto, Fwangzhu, and Mingzhu can't see. Permission to cast a light cantrip?" Silgara spits out.

"Shit, those are the quadrupeds, go ahead!" T’kharr yells. She looks at Zsikhou. “How many of the humans were you able to get before the quadrupeds came after you?"

"Help this one kill these first!!" Zsikhou's running to the party.

Balan places his holy symbol in his clutch and summons his holy mount. “Let’s hope I can reach him before they do.” Silgara casts light on her bow so those around her can see. Zsikhou sprints to the party's position, he's now just a bit ahead of the party's position. T'kharr casts bless on the party. Fwangzhu gets out front and holds position.

One of the doglike creatures is almost on top of Zsikhou. It lashes out with its alien tongue, but the kobold is able to dodge it while he is running. Minamoto charges out to him with his katana. He swings but misgauges the speed that they are going and misses.

The other creature attacks Minamoto with its tongue while Silgara yells out, “I know what they are. They are Canoloth Daemons!” Minamoto gets caught in the face with the creature’s tongue and immediately becomes paralyzed. He falls to the ground.

Mingzhu casts Prayer on the group. It helps the group but does not affect the monsters. Balan runs in to attack the closest one which paralyzed Minamoto. He connects with a smite evil. It squeals and turns its attention toward him. Silgara shoots at the same one, but her arrows bounce right off it. Zsikhou tumbles around to flank it and stabs out twice with his Siangham but misses both times. T’kharr casts Shield of Faith on herself. The warhorse goes into the fray kicking out at the Canoloth striking it twice and wounding it. The horse also bites the creature but cannot get through its tough hide. Fwangzhu charges in with an axe but misjudges distance and overswings the creature.

The other Canoloth strikes out at Zsikhou. It finds a gap in his armor hurting the kobold but somehow the small Kami manages to shrug off the poison on its tongue. The first daemon also attacks the kobold and also finds a gap. It’s spiked tongue slashes into his flesh but again he manages to resist the poison.

Mingzhu not knowing what to do and not sure if she can bring forth an ally goes into the fray with her kung fu. She attacks one of the beasts. She’s not even sure that she can use Stunning Fist so ties to connect with a solid fist but misses.

Three humans are coming into rage to join the fight. One has a glaive, the other two have a sword and torch. Balan eyes up the creature. “We must take these down first.” He smites it again. His sword punches through its hide and he sorely wounds it. It starts rocking back and forth barely holding on. One of the enemy warriors almost gets within range while Silgara tries to penetrate one of the creature’s tough hide with her bow. The first arrow only grazes it but the second sinks in. It falls down and begins to dissolve into a rancid puddle of inky goop.

Zsikhou flanks the other Canoloth and strikes twice with his Siangham. He makes some flesh wounds in its hide. Balan cackles, “Yes, remove the evil!” T’kharr goes after the remaining Canoloth as well trying to conk it with her staff. She strikes it hard, but it only pisses it off more. The two other upcoming men are almost close enough to strike but not yet. The celestial horse attacks the beast but only hooks one hoof into it.

Fwangzhu now in the middle of the fight hits the Canoloth with his axe but the beast’s hide protects it from most of the damage. The Canoloth isn’t too interested in him. It attacks the raging horse near it. It snaps out at the horse with its tongue and catches a leg. The horse falls to the ground, paralyzed.

Mingzhu takes a chance seeing the men coming up to them yelling their war cries. She casts Call Nature’s Ally III. It works. A lion appears right next to one of the men charging at them. The animal for a moment looks SERIOUSLY freaked out but follows her directions. She commands it to go after the men that are arriving to attack them.

Balan attacks the Canoloth again crying out, “Your kind is not permitted to exist here!” He slashes out. Striking the beast but the sword does not penetrate much. The lion pounces upon one of men clawing him with a forepaw and biting him. The Man screams out in pain and tries to defend himself. Silgara focuses fire on the lieutenant with the glaive. She hits him in the side of his torso, but he keeps coming. Zsikhou keeps on the Canoloth. He strikes at it and slices it twice this time a bit more deeply. T'kharr takes whack at the beast too. Hitting it on the side leaving a bruise.

The big man with the glaive goes after Mingzhu as he sees she’s controlling the lion. He puts a deep wound in her shoulder but misses her collar bone. The other soldier with him attacks Fwangzhu. He manages to score a hit on the badger hengeyokai, but Fwangzhu shrugs it off. Fwangzhu is still putting all his effort into the Canoloth and hits it in its belly. Again, the hide protects most of the damage, but the creature seems to be tiring quickly now and there seems to be blood seeping from it all over.

With the horse paralyzed, the great beast turns its attention to Zsikhou. Its tongue strikes him again and again he seems to resist the paralyzing affect. Mingzhu turns to the man that hit her and tries a stunning kick between the legs. She finds a cod piece and hurts her foot. Balan attacks the Canoloth, but his sword literally bounces off the hide.

The man and lion are now wrestling on the ground the lion swipes him with its front paws and tries to bite him, but the man seems to be quite nimble and avoids all but one claw attack which rakes his face and tears all the way through his cheek. The warrior attacks back and manages to wound the lion which sets the cat into a new rage.

Silgara casts Glitterdust on the Lieutenant and blinds him. Zsikhou strikes out again at the daemon trying to deepen the wounds he has already made, and he does. The beast loses its footing and goes down. T’kharr swings around and turns her attention to the lieutenant. She gets a solid lick on him with her quarterstaff driving him back off of Mingzhu. The lieutenant keeps going after Mingzhu but is blind she easily sidesteps his swing. His friend with him again tries to swing at Fwangzhu but misses. Fwangzhu, now that the Canoloth is down, turns on the Lieutenant and almost takes his foot off with his axe. The lieutenant screams out in pain.

Mingzhu having an opportunity now that the man in front of her is blind kicks out. It connects but all she finds is thigh armor that completely protects him from her blow. Balan attacks the lieutenant from behind and connects putting a wound in his back. The lion and man are still rolling on the ground. The lion again gets one claw swipe on his leg but can’t seem to get a hold on him for long as the man squirms underneath trying to stab with his sword. He manages to put another light wound on the lion.

Silgara changes her aim to the other warrior that is free and manages to graze him with one of her arrows. Zsikhou wades into the battle going on surrounding the man with the glaive and strikes him in the side and the side. As he does electricity crackles and the lieutenant dies instantly.

T’kharr doesn’t hesitate and rushes trying to strike the other man near her. Instead of using her staff she attempts to bite his arm. Her teeth sink into his forearm with enough force to crush the bones inside. Fwangzhu strikes back but misses. Mingzhu doesn’t miss a beat either and comes on the other man. This time her punch connects and several of his teeth go flying hitting Balan’s helm ticking off it with the sound of hard corn bouncing off a pail. Balan comes next and is on the man. His sword strikes the man in a rap around shot and severs the bone in the back of his neck. The man falls.

The only ones fighting now is the lion and last warrior. The lion manages to get another swipe on the man’s torso. Blood spurts everywhere on lion and man. Silgara puts the man out of his misery with a keen shot to the head.

T’kharr sighs with relief, “Anything left in the port?”

"Should be all of them." Zsikhou replies "This one was..." Pant "Able to handle the humans easily enough, but then those things showed up and things got complicated..." He looks to the Canoloth. The Lion soon disappears when the summoning breaks. Zsikhou looks pretty messed up, panting.

"Anyway, we'll have to fall back to the boat. I'll need to pray in order to cure Minamoto, and the horse if desired as well" nods "I...should have been expecting the quadrupeds to get involved, that's partially on me. We emerged victorious though, and that's what counts at the end of the day." T’kharr observes.

Mingzhu converts Rebuke, Lesser Restoration and Hold Person to Cure Moderate Wounds and heals Minamoto, Zsikhou, and herself. Balan walks over to the Canoloth that’s barely alive gesturing to Zsikhou, “ I want a couple of their fangs if you could assist with it.”

Zsikhou looks to Balan "Why do you want those...?"

Balan answers, “It will be a surprise.”

Zsikhou shakes his head. "Harvest your own trophies then. This one does not recommend taking the cursed parts of the Youkai though." Balan shakes his head and attempts to carefully remove as many teeth as possible. It’s a grizzly, grotesque task.

Zsikhou looks over, a sigh "Camp should be clear, though. For now, at least."

Silgara sighs "Well, I recognize those things at least. They're Canoloths."

When Balan is done he hands a couple teeth off to Silgara. “There should still be some of their venom left in these ones.”

T'kharr nods slightly "Glad they're out of our hair at least. Hopefully there's no more of that around, but it does give me a measure of concern about what might be lurking in the fort"

"Erm..." *She shakes her head but takes the teeth" "I don't think it's their teeth that are poisonous, it's their tongue. And not venom as you might think of it."

Balan shrugs, “If you do not want them for study, I will have some use for them.” The tongue is long, gross and vile.

"Might as well keep some samples. They might be useful for something..." She considers

“If you would prefer that part of the animal, I would need some help removing it.” Balan suggests.

Fwangzhu looks over at Minamoto, snickering at him "Hah, Asslicker's frozen in place!"

Silgara looks over "They're not animals, they're daemons."

"Yugoloths no?" T’kharr asks.

Balan chuffs at Fwangzhu. “It could just as easily have been you keep your senses alive.”

Silgara considers, “They're a form of Yulgoloth, yes. They're typically scouts and skirmishers."

Balan goes over and starts hacking one of their heads open down to the area where the tongue is. “Silgara, would you mind cutting it off I’m a bit out of my element.”

"I also expect they can navigate in this gloom without any issues." Silgara considers. "Actually there... hrm...." She looks it over "There is one particular test I might want to run here..."

Zsikhou looks over "Don't suppose anyone can carry that... horse you conjured?" Looks to Balan "Figure we can carry Minamoto if needed."

Balan snaps his fingers looking over and the horse vanishes. “Until tomorrow friend.”

Zsikhou nods "Guess that leaves Minamoto, then."

The dragonborn nods, “Aye, I may be able to carry the vulgar human.”

Fwangzhu snorts "Sure, you do that then."

Silgara looks over "A search of the lighthouse port may be warranted, though."

Balan heads over to Minamoto and picks him up over a shoulder. “Right then.”

The rest of the group looks at the men. They find a +1 glaive, +1 ring of protection, 2 masterwork scimitars, 3 scale mail suites and 2 torches.

T’kharr looks around, “I think we stick here for a bit until they recover.”

"The port is clear, can move them there. There is some shelter there." Zsikhou mentions.

"I'm just saying that it shouldn't be that long before they come back to their senses." T’kharr insists.

Balan tosses Minamoto on the ground. “Then we wait.”

"That Asslicker’s never had any sense to begin with." Fwangzhu snorts. "In fact, it's great having him shut the fuck up for once!" He grins wide

[Winterhawk99]

T’kharr keeps the party together until Minamoto’s paralysis wears off. Eventually it does and Minamoto stirs. Mingzhu gets to work to heal his wounds with her healing supplies. She gets him back up and going. She uses the rest of her spells healing Minamoto, Herself, and Zsikhou. Fwangzhu huffs at him, “good job being useless against those Youkai, Asslicker!”

Minamoto scowls, “Do not press me, Savage!”

Fwangzhu huffs, "Well given your showing back against those Youkai, I'm not afraid of you."

Zsikhou snaps at them "Silence you two! There could be more of those around.” He then looks at Mingzhu and T'kharr. "We should either step away or proceed to the dock fort. It should be clear now."

T’kharr answers, “Let’s head to the dock fort then.”

Silgara looks around, her bow is illuminated and radiating light, she sighs at seeing Minamoto and Fwangzhu arguing again. They all head to the dock. There’s a few torch brackets, but it’s pretty ramshackle: consisting of a few wooden buildings, nothing too terribly well-constructed, but there is one larger building. As they walk Mingzhu bluffs, “Perhaps I could put a love spell on those two, so they fall madly in love with each other.” Fwangzhu and Minamoto both look to Mingzhu, not seeming amused. Silgara stifles a snicker.

Zsikhou looks over "One of the buildings is a barracks. Another is a storeroom. Another is the leader's quarters. The humans in the barracks are dead." There's also a few corpses of guards with crossbow bolts sticking out of them. Looks like Zsikhou got quite a lot of them before he came running.

"Let’s make sure we search this thoroughly, take note of where supplies and such are kept." T’kharr responds as she looks around the buildings.

“Which building first?” Zsikhou asks. T’kharr points to the storage building. They go there and begin to search for what is inside.

It looks like a regular storeroom. It has grain, food, rations, water, torches, and some other trade goods. It has all the things they would see in a ramshackle garrison’s storeroom.

Mingzhu looks around, “You know I think we could use this for any village that hasn’t paid its rice tax yet? Perhaps.”

Fwangzhu scowls at Mingzhu, "Seriously? That's what you're fucking thinking of right now?!"

Minamoto nods, "It could... this could go to the Daimyo."

Fwangzhu snarls, "Hands off Asslicker! The people of the villages are far more deserving of this."

"Getting it back to where it could be useful to anyone will be the challenge, don't want to overload the boat after all." T’kharr insists.

Mingzhu shakes her head. “But that should alleviate some of what the common folk are going through. We could pay the tax, and the villagers would be free of it for some time. We could take over a corsair.”

Silgara nods to T'kharr. "Agreed. We currently cannot bring this anywhere. We must solve higher priority problems first."

"At least we don't have to worry about starving to death on this isle." T’kharr comments with a smile. She then checks the water in particular to make sure it’s still drinkable. “Don't want to have to take the party's water supply on my back, even though I could if we absolutely had to."

Minamoto speaks, "It should be delivered to Hattori when we can."

Fwangzhu snarls back, "Oh and let the villagers starve even more? Go back to being useless, at least then no one has to listen to you speaking garbage."

“How is the supply?” Mingzhu asks.

The supply in the room seems decent. There is enough stored there for a small army. Silgara interjects, "I doubt the water on the shores is drinkable, so it would be something to utilize, at least, if we can."

Not getting an answer Mingzhu shrugs and goes back to checking things. T’kharr calls out, "Seems like we should be set for a while, and yes. The water on the shores is definitely not drinkable -- it wouldn't even be drinkable were we still on the Prime, after all."

Zsikhou just shakes his head looking at Fwangzhu and Minamoto. perhaps wondering if snuggles would help removing tongues would help.

"That said, I don't think we can distill it to drinkability on this plane either." T’kharr adds.

Zsikhou looks over "Even if these supplies can last us a while, we may come under further attack once our foes realize we have taken this outpost."

Mingzhu thinks a bit than says, “We don’t know where we are or what’s in the water. If fish cant breath it, I would not trust it."

T’kharr nods to her. “Right on both points. We'll need to post watches and keep our wits about us."

Silgara looks over "Or move..."

“I spent many of my spells healing everyone.” Mingzhu says.

"Minamoto, do you wish to take first watch, with Silgara taking second?" T’kharr asks. She then says, “The rest of us will need a full night's rest I reckon."

Zsikhou looks over "There is a barracks if we want to make use of it. If you clear out the dead bodies the bunks should be usable."

"Aye, let’s head to the leader's chamber next though." T’kharr agrees.

Zsikhou nods "Right." Mingzhu follows along, behind the group. They head to the lieutenant’s chamber. This part of the building has an office and a private room.

They all start searching the rooms. "Let’s make sure we search this thoroughly as well, could be some parchments here." T’kharr tells them. Zsikhou searches around, there's a hidden pocket where the Lieutenant was stashing some emergency private funds. 1000 gold coins.

“I’ll take that, please.” Mingzhu says while opening her ledger. Beyond that, in the main room of the Lieutenant's dwelling, there appears to be a sort of crude bookkeeping. Seems like it's not really fully complete, definitely not something you'd see in a more professional bookkeeping environment, but it does look like they were keeping track of deliveries from the various corsairs. They also find a private journal in his bedchamber.

T'kharr looks at everyone. “Silgara, Zsikhou, Mingzhu, perhaps between the three of you can make sense of the lieutenants' writings? Both the journal and the trade book."

Mingzhu takes the trade book and tracks the deliveries and how much time before the next one. The delivery dates, if the records are accurate, aren't on a consistent schedule. Sometimes 2 weeks in between, sometimes longer. It mentions mostly staples, rations, weapons, water, excess trade goods,... and sometime of goods... and sometimes captured slaves sold. She looks at Silgara. “It seems we have about 2 weeks between deliveries. It mentions slaves.”

Silgara looks up "Being transferred to whom?"

Mingzhu continues reading while answering, “To the pirates.”

"Hrm..." She nods "Who then may have sold them to the Yakuza..." Mingzhu nods.

"Means we might get a visit from a caravan by land, not just a ship by sea." T’kharr speculates.

Mingzhu nods but says, “ Well, if that is so they no longer need slaves.”

Silgara looks over "Didn't we circle around the whole island? It's not a large landmass, unless there's something hidden beneath our noses here."

“Wait….” Mingzhu thinks a moment. “If we have all the supplies here, we can starve them over in their layer until they send patrols. We take out a few patrols there will be less when we attack the lair.”

Silgara looks over the supply ledger again "Hrm..."

“There's also mentions of supply transfers to the main fort... not just kept here. Silgara adds as she looks over Mingzhu’s shoulder.

Zsikhou nods "Possible, assuming they don't have sufficient supply in that fort of theirs."

Mingzhu frowns, “Why would they if it’s kept here and they transport by wagon.”

Zsikhou shrugs "I didn't see their setup on the inside of their fort. Unknown if they have a supply silo there or not." Mingzhu gets light head and flops down on a couch.

Silgara considers "If they send a wagon away... that means... it's likely it will return once its delivery is made. They'll find out what happened to the fort and report back. So, we might have company sooner than expected, and we definitely won't have time to rest and recover here."

"I take it you're referring to the wagons Zsikhou followed to the main fort?" T’kharr asks.

Silgara nods, “They probably needed some time to unload but..." She considers.

Zsikhou looks over "This place does not have suitable housing for the horses, though. It's possible that the wagon is kept there."

"That is a fair point. Without a stable, keeping the wagon here would be...difficult and awkward at best. You'd need some sort of shop as well for its maintenance, too, no?" T’kharr considers.

Zsikhou nods, "Am guessing most things are kept in the main fort."

T’kharr thinks and says, “That would make the most sense.”

Silgara also considers "Also true... they might need to have some woodworker on staff, though this all looks rather sparse, like an understaffed bandit camp than a proper military dockyard base."

“Aye.” T’kharr smirks.

Silgara mentions, “There is still the private journal to read...”

"Aye, let’s take the journal with us, unless someone wishes to skim it briefly to see if it has some of the answers we seek. And is there anything else we're missing as far as papers? Maps, notes, that sort of thing?" T’kharr comments as she thinks and notices that Mingzhu has fallen soundly asleep on a bunk she threw a blanket off of. T’kharr decides to let her rest while reading the journal to the others.

Lieutenant’s Journal.

Entry I

This dreary place, it confounds all of the senses. I have been stationed here for some time now. The sun never rises. There is not even starlight. The water is unlike anything I have ever seen or felt before. This garrison is dreary, depressing. But I will endure. It is not time yet for the great conquest. I have faith in the Khan. Wars are not won overnight. I will stick to the plan.

Entry II

The Khan is surely magnificent. A warrior without peer. A steed that has fire for hooves and mane, can ride faster than any other horse, and can even fly. Truly a magnificent beast, and one that is solely loyal to the Khan. I wonder how he found and tamed such a creature. Perhaps when I have aided him in his great conquest, I will have one of my own.

Entry III

Managing supplies and logistics is important to any campaign of war. Managing those pirates we are loosely aligned with is a tiring chore. They have their uses. We need allies in our great conquest. But they are a disrespectful and belligerent lot. I’ve learned to apply just enough pressure to them. You cannot appear weak to them. Nor can you jump to blades at the slightest provocation, and they provide many. Still, I have gotten to know some familiar faces in this place. Only they and a few others know how to reach this place. The Daimyo’s forces remain completely ignorant of our operations. They will only know when it is too late.

Others, they are strange allies. They look like traders. They look like sheep that are easily sheared. They sneer with a pompous arrogance I see in those lords I despise. But beneath their many layers of deception is something dangerous. I do not like them, but they have uses. One should be willing to show their strength, not layer it in duplicity. For now, they know who their betters are, though. But a snake will always slither.

Entry IV

I am in awe of some of the Khan’s allies. Others I am terrified of. Those pirates are brutes and degenerates, but they have uses. And I can understand them. There’s another though that I strain to comprehend and am most wary of.

There is a Wu Jen. A Jackal Hengeyokai of some kind? Their power is immense. Many surprises I have seen for our side have come from this Wu Jen. Such as this hidden, dark land. And apparently some of his magic is needed to find it and to leave. I know he gifted the Khan a magic boat of sorts. It can resize to the palm of one’s hand and expand to a full, glorious ship and back, and this ship can sail to leave the island for our moves, and return.

But this Wu Jen, I do not know their motives, and they are most strange. And often distant, demanding, and arrogant. And somehow, I get the feeling his motives do not fully align with ours, and I do not know what they are. But this Wu Jen works with us and provides boons. The Khan is truly brave, wise, and strong, to be able to manage them. I would likely not dare myself.

Entry V

I do not know how much longer I will be in this role. I trust in the Khan’s plan, though I don’t know if it is all going smoothly. I know enough of tactics and his great strategic mind to understand the plan, though. If we were to invade these isles full force, the foolish Daimyo would be overrun. He is fat and stagnant and weak, growing off of other’s strength and not his own merits. His people hate him, for he abuses them and doesn’t allow them to grow to their full strength. The hatred they have for him is palpable and well earned. The Khan would crush him and rule over his realm much more easily. When we overthrow the Daimyo, his people will cheer our conquest on.

Yet were we to bring our full might to bear, the Daimyo would send word to the emperor, and the Emperor’s forces, while weaker than ours, would overwhelm us. So, we must plan our battles and conquest accordingly.
But when the Daimyo’s people rebel, overthrow the unfit and weak ruler, then we will strike. Striding in as heroes of the rebellion, and the Daimyo will fall easily. Until that glorious day when I finally ride in to do battle, I will continue to prepare.

It’s the last of the journal entries.

T’kharr recognizes the description of a Nightmare almost immediately as she reads it, recoiling slightly. "Uh oh!"

[Winterhawk99]

T’kharr perks up. “This is...important stuff, we should make sure it gets to Hattori." She calls Silgara and Zsikhou over. Silgara and Zsikhou look it over. Minamoto looks over as well.

Fwangzhu huffs, "That piss ant is useless. Fuck him"

Minamoto glares, "Enough with your insults against your betters, savage!"

Fwangzhu snarls, "Oh, look at you being all pompous when you did jack shit against a Youkai and got your ass handed to you easily." The two rivals glare at each other, tempers flaring.

Mingzhu can hear the arguing while trying to sleep. It wakes her up. She gets up and walks over. “You two come with me for a moment. We need to step outside… The three of us.”

Fwangzhu looks over to Mingzhu. "Oh what the fuck do you want?"

“Let’s go outside with Minamoto. This should be between the three of us.” Mingzhu insists.

T’kharr ignores them. “Anyway, if there's nothing else here, we should head for the barracks, search them and then set our watches."

After reading it over, Zsikhou and Silgara look at T'kharr, Silgara asks "Some important takeaways from this. What stood out to you?"

T’kharr shudders, “The Khan being mounted on a Nightmare had me recoiling a bit."

Fwangzhu snarls, "And after how you said you could leave me as Youkai bait, you can go fuck yourself."

Minamoto glares at Fwangzhu. "It would at least be a low-cost sacrifice that would give you a worthier death than you are likely to have."

“Boys lets step outside I want to talk to the two of you.” Mingzhu says in an almost monotone voice.

Zsikhou pauses then steps over, narrowing his eyes. "Does this one need to intervene here?" His claws crackle with some electricity.

Minamoto looks to Mingzhu. "I think you can tell by now that trying to talk sense into this savage is a wasted endeavor."

“We are all to blame Minamoto. I, you and Fwangzhu. We need to settle this. We can’t work as a team with this infighting.” Mingzhu explains. “Can’t you see that? Both of you.

Fwangzhu snarls at Minamoto, then looks to Mingzhu. "I can do shit just fine, thanks."

Zsikhou growls, giving an apologetic sigh to T'kharr and Silgara "Apologies, one moment." Then looks to Mingzhu, Minamoto, and Fwangzhu "All of you three, with this one. Now!" He's back to his very cuddly and snuggly nasty and demanding demeanor. Urging them along outside.

Silgara nods "I caught that as well. They also mentioned a Wu Jen. We knew they had magical support for this place, but I'm starting to think there's something about that Wizard or Sorcerer that's not quite normal. Beyond cult affairs."

"Aye, it mentioned the wu-jen was a jackal hengeyokai, but did you have something else in mind?" T’kharr affirms.

Silgara thinks... "If our Hengeyokai companion is anything to go by they do not seem inclined towards scholarly pursuits."

Exasperated once more Mingzhu answers Fwangzhu. “ If you can do shit then treat Minamoto with a bit of respect. and the same you Minamoto. treat Fwangzhu with a bit of respect. All gears need oil. A team’s oil is honorifics. Look I get it you hate each other; but your fight is disrupting the team so much that it may get us killed in the end.”

Fwangzhu snarls, "I don't need to treat this Asslicker with an ounce of respect."

“How can we work together with so many insults back and forth.” Mingzhu answers him.

Minamoto also glares. "This savage deserves no respect at all."

Mingzhu answers again. “You both need to treat each other with some respect you are partners now in a greater team like it or not. if we are going to get out of here, we need to work together.”

T’kharr shrugs, “I think it depends on the animal they’re based on.”

Fwangzhu huffs, "And I already heard that suggestion you made towards me Shamaness. So quite frankly? Fuck off."

"A jackal? conniving, scheming, but intelligent. The badger? More about ferocity than anything else." T’kharr says thinking about how Fwangzhu reacts.

“Minamoto has done good work and so have you Fwangzhu. You each have things you can do that the other cannot. bury the hatchet.” Mingzhu insists then she turns to Fwangzhu. “Fine, Fwangzhu. I will start by stopping the bad jokes.”

Fwangzhu huffs, "I can bury one in his thick skull."

Minamoto glares, "I would turn you into a pelt before you could try it, Savage."

“Fwangzhu...…. He’s your teammate like it or not.” Mingzhu says.

Zsikhou snaps, hissing angrily "Enough you two! Enough!"

Mingzhu also completely exasperated says, “Minamoto please have more discipline not the discipline of at 14-year-old. You’re a man. Be one.”

Minamoto looks to Mingzhu. "My forbearance with this savage's antics has already been severely tested. I would have normally been honor bound to have slain him for his repeated insults to my lord long ago."

Zsikhou snaps at him "ENOUGH!"...

“Fwangzhu has helped us immensely with the gathering of supplies and speaking with the people. He isn’t all bad. Independent and rude, yes. but not all that bad.” Mingzhu insists, trying to get Minamoto to see it. The kobold looks very snuggly irate now, he growls at them, but lets Mingzhu speak, though it's clear he wants to just rip out their tongues now. She goes on, “And neither are you Minamoto. You two are going to have to come to terms. Each one must compromise a little.”

Fwangzhu huffs "Fuck that."

Mingzhu tries a different tactic. “Listen if we were a squad of soldiers how do the two of you look. How would your leaders deal with this? Hm? Think about it.”

Silgara, meanwhile, looks to T'kharr, nodding. "Perhaps, I suppose it's possible we're dealing with a mage of considerable skill among them. I do not know how long their kind lives, nor their full abilities. But magi are monitored heavily in this land, so they must be very secretive to not be detected."

Minamoto looks over "If this savage were ever a soldier, I expect his commander would have beheaded him already."

"Aye, mages have all sorts of hiding-tricks though." T’kharr replies.

Silgara nods aside "True. Hm, anything else? So far, the plan as written is... at least expected?"

Mingzhu turns to Minamoto. “And what about you Minamoto giving over to your baser instincts against him. in everyone else’s eyes the two of you are the same completely uncompromising with the other.”

Minamoto looks over. "I am a man at arms in service of the Daimyo, and this here is a savage who stirs rebellion and discord wherever he goes."

Fwangzhu snarls, "A useless fucking tyrant, no one with any sense should be proud of serving that."

Mingzhu replies, “He’s very independent, yes; but the locals trust him for a reason.”

Minamoto looks over to Mingzhu "And what reason is that Shamaness?"

“He has his own honor it is different than yours and measured differently but he does have it. And I would say the same to you Fwangzhu. The enemy is out there. It’s not here. We need the both of you to be a part of the team not constantly working against it.”

Silgara looks over. "I did catch one thing. The part about the Hengeyokai mage mentions a magic boat that the Khan has, that can get off of this island."

T’kharr nods, "Ah yes, I did notice that as well -- that sounds like... a challenge to steal."

"Either that or somehow replicate the magic ourselves." Silgara considers. "I wonder what enchantments or portal keys might be on it for it to be able to do that. But for that we would need... more resources than we have available to us here." She considers.

"Right. We'd probably need to capture the fort if nothing else." T’kharr asserts.

Zsikhou decides to step in. "Will also make this clear. Our mission to stop the breaches of the Mandate of Heaven are significantly more important than your problems with each other. Continue in this direction and this one may have to take action. If your continued behavior risks the mission in some manner. Duel each other to the death once this is over or shut up and follow instructions. But this one will not tolerate this either. Already your antics are disrupting our operation and putting all of us in danger. Continue in that direction and this one will be obligated to remove the disruption. Has this one made themselves clear?"

Fwangzhu and Minamoto look in Zsikhou's general direction, that seems to shut them up, but their tension with each other is still palpable.

Silgara sighs, nodding "I don't know how easy that will be. Or if there's anything else on this island. Or... something we might have missed. Given the difficulties in navigation... there could be more hidden around." She considers

"Fair. We'll definitely need our full resources should we march on the fort." T’kharr nods.

Minamoto sighs, considering. "Is that all, Shamaness?" Fwangzhu huffs, looking to both her and Zsikhou.

T’kharr looks over to the other group. "Let us head for the barracks though, once we get the party reassembled of course?"

Mingzhu sighs wearily, "I guess that is all. Take my advice; do not take it. if you don’t, we will all eventually suffer the consequences of this inner fighting."

Fwangzhu and Minamoto huff and head off, Zsikhou looks to Mingzhu, a sigh "Those two..."

She goes back inside and flops back down on the bed, obviously tired and upset. Zsikhou follows after Mingzhu, eventually the party rejoins with T'kharr and Silgara. Snout gets up on the bed and curls up against her chest.

Zsikhou follows after Mingzhu, eventually the party rejoins with T'kharr and Silgara. Silgara looks over. "Are you lot done there?" Zsikhou goes to follow Mingzhu into the Lieutenant's bedroom, a sigh. Maybe considering going to lie down and snuggle up with her.

T’kharr wakes her right back up. “We're headed for the barracks, Mingzhu, you'll be able to get a full night's rest there."

“Ok.” Mingzhu follows the group. The party heads for the barracks. The Barracks. Looks like there's a few humans here. More of the Khan's men. Though it looks like Zsikhou stabbed most of them in the throat while they were sleeping. All of them are dead.

Silgara looks over while they walk. "Do you think we might have missed anything?"

T’kharr starts to give orders, “Let’s get the dead bodies out of here before they stink up the inside" starts dragging the dead men out of the barracks, searching their bodies and also the footlockers in there between body disposals "Make sure to search them while you're at it"

They find a small bit of pocket change and valuables, basic armor and weapons in the barracks. Nothing magical here. There are about 75 worth of gold coins in valuables though. The group rests after removing the bodies and Zsikhou puts his trap on the door.

As Silgara gets up from her reverie to replace Minamoto on watch she talks with him.

Minamoto looks over. "Whatever did bring you to this land, witch? Most of your ilk hide fell motives and intentions."

Silgara sighs, looking over. "The term is wizard. Witch is a term utilized by backwards, uneducated peoples who don't have a proper appreciation of how magic actually functions."

Minamoto narrows his eyes. "I hope you didn't intend insult with your words, witch."

Silgara seems annoyed but replies. "If you find the implications of what I am saying troubling, perhaps you should either ask with politesse or attempt to discern why such causes you trouble. I would perhaps recommend further education on such matters."

Minamoto looks over. "You speak with obfuscating language, but you haven't answered why you came to this land."

Silgara bluntly looks over. "I am speaking clearly enough but perhaps you should take a moment to properly process and comprehend. Now if you will excuse me, I need rest."

Minamoto shakes his head. "Is this a foreigner thing to talk clearly in obfuscating, dishonest manners? No matter, I will get an answer eventually." He goes to rest leaving Silgara slightly angry at the conversation. The companions rest without incident. No one disturbs them.

[Winterhawk99]

Mingzhu wakes up and puts herself through the paces with katas while communing with the spirits. She sees Zsikhou get up disarm and collect up the trap he set at the door. T’kharr wakes up next and does her own morning routine and drills after awakening with a beastly yawn. Silgara, who never seems to actually sleep, suddenly opens a book and starts to read. After a bit Zsikhou goes out the door.

After finishing with that the young shamaness goes to find some breakfast. She watches over the others while doing it. She tries to find some salted fish or fresh shellfish for Snout first and finds nothing. She does find grains, rice, hardtack and various preserves. There are some fruits and vegetables, but they are a day or less of going bad.

With no stove and little to go on she makes what she can with what she has for herself and several more people. She lets Snout sniff at various things and gives him pieces of what he likes. She takes a torch making a makeshift stove and cooks rice and vegetables with some hardtack and jerky. There is very little jerky in it, but everyone will have to deal with it. As she is cooking Zsikhou comes in. “Shamaness, a moment?” He speaks.

She looks up while making breakfast, “Yes, Zsikhou?”

Zsikhou huffs "Those two idiots. Can understand why Golamaru's defense was failing. Am honestly reaching the moment where this one is considering ripping out their tongues if they can't get their acts together. Their little spat of infighting disrupted an investigation and could have alerted hostiles to our position." He looks over "But you're the part of the court that handles communities. So do you have a strategy for keeping those two from disrupting the mission?"

"I have tried everything I possibly could to stop them....... I don’t know what to do but it’s hurting me badly...... I'm the one that is guided by community spirits.......I'm supposed to know what to do in these circumstances and I have failed every time with everything I learned. Killing them isn’t the answer though. I don’t know what is.” She sighs, “I think it will take some tragedy to get them to work together finally. One to which each of them finally feels what they are doing to the group.”

Zsikhou considers, maybe offering a hug , then looks up to her. "I don't think so. These aren't civilians we're dealing with. But Minamoto is a military man. He respects orders and chain of command. At least in his case, I have noticed he responds better to being ordered about like a military commander would."

“I tend to align with his ideas more because he is someone receptive. Fwangzhu is not. He will never see another side of an argument but his own. It will get him killed one day in the end.” She says.

Zsikhou considers "I'm not sure if I agree with that, but he does consider the Daimyo and his men enemies. I do not think that will change, barring something drastic. As far as he is considering things, he is working with one of his sworn enemies here."

Mingzhu shakes her head. “I cannot even connect with him on a base level. It’s like he is a world unto himself, his own god. An arrogance unparalleled that I have never seen.

Zsikhou considers "Did you get a chance to read the Khan's journal?"

She shakes her head again. “I have been weary a long time now from the infighting. my mind is not working like it should with the constant disruption that I seem powerless to handle.”

Zsikhou nods "There was one important section that this one read. That there is fermenting rebellion in the Daimyo's lands. It's at least clear to me where both Fwangzhu and Minamoto stand on this issue. As it is, they consider each other enemies they are not fighting right now to fight someone else."

“If we accomplish our task there will be no need for a rebellion. Things can be worked out between the peasants and the courts without such. Again, all need to compromise at some point. If the villagers are trounced upon too much by their own leaders, they will rebel and rightly so. if the villagers don’t give in a little too with their taxes the daimyo’s forces will get beyond what they are now and there end will be the same. The Daimyo needs the villagers to be happy, and the villagers need to give their tax to the leadership. That’s why I was hoping that we could give the supplies we find here to the daimyo in the name of the villagers for their taxes it may be enough for no taxes for a year or two. give the villagers breathing space to live their lives free of worry and to negotiate with the Daimyo for better once it is ended with all the tragedy they have suffered.”

Zsikhou nods, "That's a sound plan. For the moment I won't make further assumptions on the Daimyo's diligence in following their duties to their people, or lack thereof."

She sighs, “if it turns out like Minamoto and Fwangzhu there will be a rebellion and everyone will lose.”

Zsikhou nods "Am not obligated to participate in such a war between men, but it may be that removing the aggravating elements to this situation will not satisfy it completely..." He looks aside "Hold on..."

“It doesn’t matter if we die on this island because two people cannot work together and kills the team on the inside. It’s already affected me greatly, soon it will the others too.” Mingzhu stops talking to concentrate on breakfast and listen to the others.”

Zsikhou looks over. "In that case, if it gets too much, let this one know and this one will tell them to either silence themselves, duel each other to the death, or I will rip out their tongues." He looks over, finding a hidden panel in the supply room.”

Silgara looks to T'kharr and Balan "What's the plan for today, once we're ready to move?"

T’kharr looks over to her. “We either wait here, or we march on the fort.”

Silgara looks over. "I don't think waiting here indefinitely will help. It's likely the Khan might be able to bring considerable force on us."

"That is a very good point. We have initiative on our side and it's most likely best we do not squander it. Besides, I doubt they'd be expecting us to raid their fort given that those in the fort probably do not know we're even here?" T’kharr assumes.

Silgara nods, "That we are so far undetected might be our sole advantage here. If we can get a clever surprise attack on that fort..." She sighs "We know the Khan has a Nightmare at least."

T’kharr frowns, "The other question is if they have more of those Youkai, either roaming around or inside the fort."

Silgara nods, "Also a distinct possibility. We don't know how many more Yulgoloth that mage they have can summon, or if they can summon stronger ones. Getting planar beings to do longer term patrols rather than immediate aids takes considerable magic. Though from what the journal said." She considers "That mage is not around all the time, I would expect..."

T’kharr considers, “Perhaps sending Zsikhou out to scout again would be wise, or do you think we cannot afford the time to do so?"

Silgara answers her. "The only worry, unless we consider the kobold expendable, is that if he is caught by those Canoloths while alone, they might kill him."

"I suspect that we can handle that by simply having him retreat if he spots one?" T’kharr nods.

Silgara shakes her head. "The kobold was in close proximity to us last time. Over long distances, the Canoloth are much faster than he is and would chase him down and kill him."

Zsikhou after some time, rejoins the party. "Found something that's likely important in the storeroom. Well hidden. Think we want to have a look at this."

"Oh? Do show." T’kharr insists.

Zsikhou pulls out what looks like a paper with instructions... "Cannot read the script though..." He looks over "Witch? Can you read this?"

Silgara sighs "It's wizard, not witch!" She huffs, then takes a look, frowning... Then she shakes his head. "I don't know what this is at a glance, maybe... hm..." She shakes her head. "I can't read it directly, but I think it's a map to something hidden on this island, but the script is written in infernal. I can't read it completely."

Zsikhou shrugs, "Smelled pretty old in that hidden storeroom there, sssk..."

"I have a Comprehend Languages scroll or three still." T’kharr says while pulling out scrolls.

Silgara nods and hands the paper over. "Well, if you want to, go ahead."

T’kharr casts Comprehend Languages on herself, then reads the paper out loud to the party. Mingzhu listens to them while she parcels out food on plates. As T’kharr reads it they realize it looks like it's something about a supply requisition. It looks old, something discrete. It makes notes of a "Conservatorium Sigma", as well as a vague direction of where it is on the island. Looks like it's somewhere along the northwest end, though a fair distance from the shore.

"This...this is likely the evil that's behind this isle, this...conservatorium. Or whatever lairs within." T’kharr asserts.

Zsikhou considers. "This was well hidden. It was in a secret compartment in the storeroom and buried underground. I had to dig for it. Someone went to considerable measures to hide this."

T’kharr nods, "Aye, the parchment itself should go with the journal. It does make me wonder if that, or the fort, should be our first priority though"

Fwangzhu huffs, "Fort, for sure. This Khan is the one sending raiders after everyone. Axe them and be done with it. Plus, they've got the only way we know of that can get us off this damn rock."

Silgara shakes her head. "I figure this Conservatorium is more important. There's still a lot we don't know about this situation. Besides, I still don't know if we're equipped to handle the Khan's fort."

Zsikhou considers. "Both will likely need to be dealt with. So, it's mostly a question of where we go first, would think."

"Aye, the kobold has it, it's a matter of which to prioritize." T’kharr contemplates.

Silgara looks to T'kharr. "Well, someone will need to make a decision. What will it be?"

“I say the fort. It will be easier and a good test for the khan’s hideout.” Mingzhu steps in.

T’kharr agrees, "I think that if we're not ready for the fort, we're definitely not ready for whatever the hell is lurking in that lair."

“It will also cut off the other perhaps of supplies and security if the pirates find out that there is trouble, they may cut and take their profits leave and we may not have to fight them too. We already sank one of their ships.” Mingzhu adds.

"That is a very good point Mingzhu -- this seems to be the main supply base of the pirates." T’kharr says.

Silgara looks up. "The Journal suggested that the Khan's men and Corsairs were only loosely affiliated."

"That is a point, though, it could be that this is one of many." T’kharr explains. Silgara nods.

Minamoto looks over. "Well, if that is decided, shall we make our way there, then?"

T’kharr stares up to the ceiling. "Well, I'm not sure how we best approach this, either, since we haven't siege equipment. And I'm pretty sure our badger isn't up to burrowing through bedrock."

Silgara looks over to Zsikhou. "It's a wooden palisade, correct?" Zsikhou nods. She continues, “In that case, it might be a few well-placed fireballs can deal with their gates."

"A good point. Do you have any of your own to bring to the party, or is it up to me to provide them?" T’kharr nods.

“It would seem either objective is considered a challenge regardless. Though the fort may contain valuable information in the combat that would follow.” Balan considers.

Silgara nods. "I did prepare some."

T’kharr smiles, “Excellent. Let us set off. That said, do we follow the main road, or try to steer clear of it? Also, how many do you have handy?" to Silgara, then Zsikhou "And how are their guard-towers set up?" Mingzhu listens while eating.

"I've got two at the ready." Silgara says

Zsikhou looks over. "Two guard towers, one gate, from what this one saw. If we have fireballs, we could potentially blast through another side of the palisade."

"I wonder if one fireball could sweep both guard towers. Or are they too far apart for that?" T’kharr speculates.

"Not sure how large your fireballs are but would need a separate one for each tower most likely." Zsikhou comments.

T’kharr nods, "Right. Noted. I reckon that the easiest thing to destroy will be the gate though, can get the fireball to engulf it if you spot it right, no?"

Zsikhou shakes his head "Uncertain."

T’kharr gives Silgara a glance. "As to getting the fireball to engulf the gate, and anything else you have handy that might help us bust in?"

Mingzhu says, “I have obscuring mist that would be the only thing effective to getting us in unseen.”

"That might be better saved for cover in case of an emergency extraction." T’kharr says to Mingzhu.

Silgara considers her spell book and scrolls. "It's perpetually pitch-black outside. Unfortunately, I'd need a light spell to be able to see the gate. There's no daylight here. Night never ends." She shakes her head.

“Yes, but the obscuring mist may confused that senses of those that can see through this darkness giving us cover to flee or get in whichever you choose. I am not sure of course but it might. something they are not prepared for.” Mingzhu observes.

“Hm, Nothing else?” T’kharr says, seeming disappointed. Mingzhu looks at her sighs and finishes her plate.

"If I knew the spell, Spider Climb could help, but I'm afraid I don't." Silgara shakes her head.

"Aye, that'd be risky anyway, scaling is one of the thing folks in forts expect. Also makes you very vulnerable." T’kharr observes. Silgara nods looking back to her books.

Zsikhou looks over. "Are we ready to move out, then?"

"As ready as I can be.” T’kharr nods. Mingzhu also nods.

Zsikhou looks over. "Should this one lead them to the front, or to one of the wall sides?"

T’kharr answers, "Plan is to try to simultaneously fireball both towers, then hit the gate with both of our fireballs at the same time." to Silgara mostly, then to Zsikhou, "I think that an assault from the side would be much harder to pull off"

Silgara sighs, "If we're moving in stealth, that means I'll have to hold hands with Minamoto and Fwangzhu again. For the love of the Seldarine keep your acts together and let’s follow the kobold since none of us can see." She mutters something about not liking standing between them.

"Fireball isn't nearly as effective on an intact palisade as it would be on a gate.” T’kharr nods to Silgara.

"Right, follow this one you lot. Maybe get Balan to lead that lot that can't see. Will alert you when we're close to the palisade." Zsikhou huffs

"They won't see us coming, most likely, if we don't have a light." Silgara says, "But I won't be able to see them either."

Zsikhou looks over, "The towers had torch brackets last time."

Silgara nods aside "Ah..."

T’kharr laughs, "That will help our mission greatly. Give us a target to home on."

The party sets forth, Zsikhou leads the way, since he knows the route...

[Winterhawk99]

As they leave the fort. T’kharr helps Mingzhu. Balan leads Silgara and the others. Mingzhu follows along trying to figure out if there is anything she can really do to help everyone. They walk for over 2 hours to the Khan’s palisade. They stop when they see the two towers with their torches dimly illuminating a gate. The guards seem to not have spotted the group yet.

Silgara casts Mage Armor on herself, and one on T’kharr. T’kharr sets her own wards with Shield of Faith for herself and casts a Bless on the party. Mingzhu casts endure elements on herself. Then she casts Prayer on everyone. Balan readies his sword and shield in a more defensive stance.

Silgara looks at T’kharr. “Let me know when I should launch the fireball.” She then casts Cat’s Grace upon herself. When T’kharr nods to her she launches a Fireball at the gate. Watching the elf begin to cast, T’kharr launches a fireball at the other tower.

The gate is blown off its hinges and the two fireballs consume the two towers. Both guards get blasted out of their towers and fall to the ground on fire. The burning bodies splat on the ground and do not move.

Silgara looks to everyone else. “Even if the sentries don't cry out an alarm, they will surely have heard the fireballs. Gate is open, but the torchlights are out of place now, difficult to see." T'kharr leads the party to move in quickly and take advantage of the opening before they can block the gate. Mingzhu follows along. As they get to the blown-out gate it seems the whole of the war camp has heard the fireballs. They are rushing to the gate to meet them. The first to meet them seems to be a small squad of soldiers.

T'kharr breaks off and tries to slip around the torchbearers and get in the face of the backline archers. She slips past a man wielding a scimitar and another using a glaive. She tries to attack one of the archers but misses him; not gauging his moves correctly. Mingzhu keeps behind Minamoto and Fwangzhu trying to get her licks in as their support secondary.

Another glaive wielding mad man attacks Minamoto and gets a solid strike on the man-at-arms. The glaive cleaves through his armor and give him a nasty cut in the stomach. Theres a lot of blood but the glaive missed the organs. Minamoto slashes the man back and hits his mark also giving the man with the pole arm a nasty cut in kind. Balan runs up to support Minamoto, but his distance is slightly off. Balan connects but only give the man a minor flesh wound. Zsikhou throws two shurikens at the same man. One of them lands straight in the man’s forehead. He goes down. The second shuriken hit the man wielding a simitar in the leg. It slices right through is armor and buries itself deep in his thigh.

Another enemy warrior gets jammed in the middle of the melee. He sheaths his sword and draws a dagger. Another ruffian comes in from the side and attacks Balan. But his weapon is deflected by the dragonborn’s armor.

Another warrior in the gaggle of men that rushed the gate at our intrepid heroes, attacks Minamoto but misses completely. Mingzhu kicks out at his leg and connects. The man staggers back a moment. Fwangzhu rushes in going for a strike with his axe. He also connects putting a deep wound in the man. Silgara begins using her bow, but in the fog of the battle her arrows miss as both the rest of the party, and the enemy are moving around the front line quickly with their ducks and dodges.

Another man attacks Minamoto. He connects making the tax collector stagger back a moment. An archer in the back tries to shoot into the mess up front but T’kharr is ready for this. She strikes out, hitting him in the face with her staff. His arrow flies off above the fighting. She strikes at him a second time and connects with his leg. He steps back badly bruised.

Minamoto goes after one of the two in front of him. He connects with the one using a halberd but doesn’t put him down. Balan attacks the one closest to him. His sword rips through armor and ribcage alike and the man falls dead instantly. Zsikhou again throws a couple of shurikens. He misses his man with the first but strikes with the second. The enemy warrior goes down the torch he was holding, flies to the side and goes out. One of the archers drops his bow and attacks T’kharr with a dagger but he misses. Mingzhu strikes out at another close to her with a punch. She collapses his elbow as she hits him between the back of the bicep and triceps. Fwangzhu is right there and buries his axe into the man’s shoulder. He dies in a pool of his own blood.

Silgara takes aim at the archers. She nails the one on T’kharr with both of her arrows. The man falls driving the arrows even deeper as he dies. There is only one archer left but the thunder of hooves can be heard behind him as 4 riders join the fight. The archer Breaths in a sigh of relief. The cavalry is coming.

T’kharr takes a swing at the remaining archer and smacks him in the hip. Minamoto drinks a potion of Cure Light Wounds quickly and readies himself for the cavalry charge. Balan steps up and holds his holy symbol aloft. He casts Blaze of Light at the riders. One of the riders becomes dazed. He slows down the other three continue their charge. Zsikhou throws two shurikens at the charging men but misses.

One of the riders charges Fwangzhu. The badger hengeyokai dodges the blow and the rider Gallups past. T’kharr goes after the dazed rider and clobbers him nearly off his horse. He barely manages to keep mounted. Another rider charges Minamoto. He is nearly knocked off his feet by the riders blow and stumbling back into Mingzhu. The last rider not dazed takes advantage of the tangle and attacks Mingzhu. She cannot dodge the blow and takes a deep wound across the back.

Thinking fast Mingzhu casts Speak with Animals and screams out to the horses, “Those that ride you will eat you after the battle! Throw them and join us!” The only problem is the horses don’t seem to be listening to her, and the spell has no effect. Fwangzhu tries to attack one of the riders, but his axe is turned by the man’s armor. Silgara takes 5 steps back and shoots at one of the riders twice. One of her arrows grazes him slightly. The other is a clear miss, sailing wide from her target.

The dazed rider comes to his senses and attacks Balan, but he is still shaking it off and misses completely. Minamoto manages to slash one of the rider’s legs with his sword while Balan manages to put a shallow wound on another rider, but he falls off the horse from blood loss. He bleeds out on the ground. T’kharr brutally smacks the one archer left with her staff and he wobbles under the weight of the blow. Zsikhou switches to his Siangham but fumbles with it. by the time he gets it up to attack another rider he manages to only miss the man and horse twice. The rider on Minamoto takes a swing but the Wa warriors armor protects him from any damage. The other mounted rider goes by Mingzhu and attacks Fwangzhu instead. The badger hengeyokai dodges but the halberd connects. Fwangzhu still manages to deflect most of the blow though, so the cut is not deep. The other archer drops his bow and raises a dagger against T’kharr but misses due to her concealment

Frustrated and sorely wounded Mingzhu casts Call Animal Ally. A lion appears on the battlefield, “She screams out in animal to him, “Go after the Horses! Eat all you want!” Fwangzhu goes after the rider that struck him and hits him with his axe but just as Fwangzhu deflected most of the cut the rider does the same and the axe bites shallowly giving the man a flesh wound. Silgara lines up on one of the riders and shoots two more arrows. One hitting him in the side and other in his arm. The rider on Balan strikes at him again but misses as his wounds are starting to add up.

T'kharr scores another hit on the archer. He wobbles again, barely able to stand. Minamoto takes another slashing attack at the rider on him but misses. Balan takes another quick swing then brings his shield back up with a guttural roar. His sword penetrates the rider’s bowels, and the man falls off his horse. Zsikhou attacks another rider and slashes his leg giving him a flesh wound.

Mingzhu’s lion makes a running attack and leaps onto one of the remaining riders. It rakes a claw across the rider’s back ripping his armor nearly completely off then bites the back of the man’s neck severing his backbone. Rider, horse and lion all go down. The rider is dead. The lion shakes the body separating the head from the rest of the body and attacks the horse.

The archer, seeing the devastation, tries to flee. T’kharr takes advantage and tags him with her staff across his ear. It breaks his neck, and he falls. Mingzhu punches out at the last rider and breaks his ankle through his boot with her fist. Fwangzhu manages to strike him with his axe. Again, the blow is only partially effective, and the man takes a flesh wound to the leg. Silgara puts two more arrows in him, and the rider decides to try to flee. Minamoto takes advantage of the man trying to flee and slashes his leg completely off. The man falls off his horse and dies trying to crawl away.

[Winterhawk99]

The companions immediately start to hear more clamoring and war cries ahead of them just out of seeing distance. They have little time to breath before another wave comes. Mingzhu quickly casts Cure Moderate wounds on herself. T’kharr moves to join back up with the party. She looks to Mingzhu when she gets there to see if she wants a quick hit of healing but sees the young shamaness already casting a spell.

Balan calls out, “Quickly! I can give someone healing if they need.” Minamoto raises his hand. Balan Lays on Hands. Minamoto is almost fully healed too. Mingzhu looks for anything burnable around, but her sight line is so poor she cannot see anything to set ablaze. She calls out to the kobold, “If you see anything burnable light it up with a torch!”

T’kharr reports, "I do see buildings to the right and left, not sure if that's all of what's inside here though."

Zsikhou looks around, then ahead, "Too late, hostiles incoming."

The force comes into view. In front is the Khan himself riding a flying nightmare. It’s flaming hooves and main are just visible highlighting the others in his force which include two Canoloths and several armed men. They’re definitely not in a talking mood now seeing the bloody path the team tread. Mingzhu directs the lion to attack the force.

"Oh boy, we seem to have the big fellow to deal with now." T’kharr reports. She quickly casts Resist elements on herself.

The nightmare flies up ahead of the rest of the troops, neighing a battle cry. T’kharr smiles a big toothy smile, “Wow their force is all clumped together!” She takes a bead off her necklace and flings it at them. A fireball explodes in the middle of the formation. Five of the enemy are immediately incinerated. The others manage to either cover or dodge the center taking only some of the fireball’s flame and heat.

One of the Canoloth daemons rushes ahead. It goes after Balan. It slaps his scaly tongue across Balan’s face and draws across it making a bloody trail, but Balan resists the poison. A khan warrior is right behind it attacks Balan too, but the Canoloth is in the way. He missteps and misses the dragonborn. Another Khan warrior rushes Minamoto. The Tax collector sets his feet and raises his blade. The warrior runs right into it, cutting his own head off. The head flies to the side, spraying blood. The body takes a few more steps then falls in a seizure.

Balan calls out, “Focus on the fiends, and then the remaining priest!” He strikes the Canoloth, but his blade bounces right off its armored hide.

T’kharr calls out to him, “Summon your horse again if you can!”

Balan answers her, “Aye!”

Zsikhou throws two shurikens at the last priest remaining but misses both times. The Khan flying above takes two shots at Minamoto with his flaming bow. He hits Minamoto with 2 out of three shots staggering the tax collector back. The lion jumps on the priest raking him with a deep chest wound the cleric goes down with the lion on top of him. T’kharr laughs, “Aye! Get the lion on that last priest! Silgara! Do whatever you can to knock that blasted nightmare and rider out of the sky, if you can do anything in that regard for that matter Zsikhou, please do...in fact, if you can blind the Nightmare, that'd be wonderful!"

Three warriors all go after the lion on top of the priest. It takes two glaive wounds. Mingzhu casts Hold person on the Khan, but he resists her spell. Fwangzhu enters a rage and attacks the Canoloth. He manages to penetrate its hide but only amounts to giving it a flesh wound. The other Canoloth now rushes in after being severely burnt. It bites him on the shoulder and tries to hang on. Again, Balan resists its poison.

Silgara casts Glitterdust on the Khan and Nightmare. The nightmare’s eyes go wild as it is blinded though the Khan is not. Both are not sparkling from the Glitterdust. Another warrior strikes the lion giving it yet another wound. The nightmare flies but stays aloft flying in circles.

Taking Mingzhu’s cue, T’kharr throws a Hold Person against the Khan. Again, he resists the spell. One of the Canoloths attacks Minamoto. Its tongue gives him a deep wound, but he also resists its poison this time. He attacks it back. He penetrates its hide with his new katana giving it another flesh wound. Balan grabs his holy symbol and calls forth his warhorse. Zsikhou tries to throw two shurikens at the blinded Nightmare but can’t quite track the circling horse. He misses.

The Khan shoots at Silgara. One arrow goes through her belly and another through her thigh. She drops like a brick. He then shoots his last arrow at Minamoto, and he goes down. The lion spits the clerics head out of its mouth and attacks one of the three warriors on him. He’s so wounded now he doesn’t have the strength anymore to penetrate the armor. The other two warriors attack it, and the lion is dispelled.

T’kharr shouts to Mingzhu, “Get Silgara back up!” However, Mingzhu is already casting a spell. She casts Rebuke at one of the warriors. The warrior wobbles then starts to walk around in a daze. Balan’s celestial mount kicks and bites at one of the Canoloths taking a large chunk out of its flesh. Fwangzhu also attacks it. Again, his axe finds little behind the tough hide and gives it little more than a paper cut.

The Canoloth makes another attack on Balan biting him and ripping a large chunk of flesh out of him. Balan seems to take it in stride though. T’kharr takes another bead of her necklace throwing it at nightmare and Khan. It causes the Khan to fall off the nightmare. He falls to the ground, but his armor saves him. He struggles to get back up and into the fight.

The other Canoloth attacks Fwangzhu hitting him with its tongue. A line of blood streaks across his arm. He resists the paralysis. Minamoto lays there bleeding out. Balan rushes to defend Minamoto from the Canoloths, striking the one on him as he does. He smites it but again the thing’s hide absorbs most of the damage from the smite and it only takes a flesh wound. He then moves his shield forward defending the tax collector.

Zsikhou decides to take advantage of the struggling Khan and rushes him with his Siangham. He gives the Khan two devastating wounds to the gut, but the Khan manages to stay conscience for the moment. The khan struggles up dropping his bow and swings out his magic glaive. He counter swings against the small kobold. Zsikhou’s body goes flying and lands 10 feet away. The khan holds his gut and struggles to join the melee. His warriors now done with the lion, move in from the other side.

Mingzhu swings under Balan’s shield. She converts Lesser Restoration into a Cure Moderate Wounds and heals Minamoto. Balan’s horse again attacks the daemon it’s fighting. After trouncing the foul beast with its hooves, the daemon stumbles barely able to stand. Fwangzhu finishes it off with an axe to the head. It explodes throwing black goo everywhere. The other Canoloth, seeing Minamoto get up tries to attack him, but Balan’s shield defeats the creature each time.

The nightmare continues to fly in circles as if drunk. The Khan joins the fray. T’kharr runs over to Zsikhou and converts her Lesser Restoration into a Cure Moderate wounds. As she does, she calls out, “May the Maimed God bring you back to fight!” the kobold hisses and gets back up.

Minamoto goes after one of the Khan warriors still standing but misses. T’kharr shouts out to Balan, “ "See if you can tangle up the Khan!" Let your horse deal with the other fiend!" Balan does so smiting the Khan leaving another nasty wound on the man. Still through sheer will the Khan stays up. Zsikhou throws two more shurikens at the Khan. Both sink into his back one severing his spine. He falls motionless on the ground.

One of the Khan warriors go after Balan. He hits, giving the dragonborn another flesh wound. Another goes after Minamoto. The man gives Minamoto another wound. The tax collector is barely hanging on. Another goes after Fwangzhu but misses the crafty barbarian.

Mingzhu seeing the situation deteriorate casts Bless. Balan’s horse kicks the last Canoloth in the head, but the creature shrugs it off. Fwangzhu goes after the Khan warrior on him but misses. The Canoloth’s tongue lashes out and strikes Balan’s horse along the ribs leaving a blood trail. The horse though resists the poison. The warrior on Minamoto strikes at him again and slashing him in the collarbone. The tax collector goes down again.

The nightmare no longer blind charges after Zsikhou. It kicks him with a hoof. The kobold goes sailing again but this time gets back up abet slowly. T’kharr charges the devilish horse trying to flank it. She clocks it on the back of the neck, and her staff catches flame. Balan goes after the Canoloth, but his sword bounces off of its hide. Zsikhou tries to stab the nightmare. He gets it in the front leg. It is badly wounded.

One of the Khan’s men go after Balan but misses. Another goes after Mingzhu. She is unable to dodge and slashes to her torso. Another goes after Fwangzhu and connects giving him another wound. Mingzhu converts Trance to Cure Light Wounds and heals Minamoto again. Again, he gets back up bleeding profusely but conscience. Balan’s mount strikes the Canoloth twice more with its hooves. Fwangzhu buries his axe into this one’s head too, killing it.

A Khan warrior attacks Minamoto giving him yet another light wound. The nightmare flees the field, flying off to the west. T’kharr and Zsikhou both take a swing at it as it does but they both miss. Minamoto turns his blade to the warrior facing him. He cleaves the man’s shield arm off. The warrior goes down and begins his death throws. Zsikhou shoots his crossbow at the nightmare hoping to get a lucky shot, but it doesn’t even make the distance in reaching the fleeing creature.

Balan wades back into the Melee taking the offensive with a roar and gives another of the Khan’s men a light wound. The warrior counterstrikes but his sword bounces off Balan’s shield. Another warrior again attacks Mingzhu and again she cannot dodge out of the way without tripping over all the bodies. She takes another light wound. She counterstrikes with a stunning fist but misses the pressure point. She still nearly breaks his jaw though. Balan’s horse attacks the one on Mingzhu and kicks his head in. The man falls down and doesn’t move.

Fwangzhu strikes the warrior on him and the warrior counters back. Both hit one another. Both are sorely wounded but still standing. T’kharr charges one of the two left standing. She misses overstepping her staff. Minamoto hits the one on him solidly again. Amazingly the man is still standing but will die anyway once the battle is over. Balan cleaves the other warrior. He drops dead from his overwhelming wounds. Zsikhou shoots the last of the Khan’s men in the head with his crossbow.

Mingzhu wobbles then passes out for a moment from throwing so many spells in so short a time.