Joined: Sep 11, 2014 Posts: 979 Location: Right behind you!
Sai looks at Swift Snake's map and says, "Wait... I got turned around. They're not in front of us. They're behind us. That's less encouraging, but I think we will still be best off heading to Soenglau and heading north from there."
At Sai Yun's remark Swift Snake tilts his head. "Why should they be turning back? Were they looking for a place to pass the night or were they returning to report to whoever sent them? Sure they could be turning back to the temple but that seems highly improbable seeing how they run away the first time." He places three small pebbles on the map on the road to Ceonling to represent the three wizards. Rubbing his chin under his tengai he continues "Too many things evade my comprehenion." He raises his head and turns to the others. "I am ok with whatever you decide, but if you ask me I would prefer to get the drop on them rather than have them surprise us. Magic is an unpredictable foe, one I would prefer to confront on my own terms." He stands up and takes the small cloth wrapped figurine in his hands. He thumbs its surface looking for clues that might remain unseen to the eyes. "Then there is this. It is clear that this object is more than an art object. I know Hozi spoke of tradition and spiritual meaning but this doesn't explain why our persuers didn't know what they were looking for. I think this, my friends, is a message, probably having to do with the future of the empire if we are to believe Hozi's words." He clears his throat his voice taking a more melancholic hew. "It will only have meaning for the receiver or others in the know. This is a common trick to feed information to allies or under cover agents without arousing suspicion." He remembers long evenings and even longer lessons. No...that was another man, a child that no longer exists, he thinks to himself just before other more hurtfull memories can reach the surface, memories of her.
Actions
a)Perception
drvonwolfen rolled 1d20+5 and got a total of 24:
b)History
drvonwolfen rolled 1d20-1 and got a total of 17:
c)Nature
drvonwolfen rolled 1d20-1 and got a total of 12:
d)Religion
drvonwolfen rolled 1d20-1 and got a total of 5:
The perception is for finding hidden clues on the bird figurine, the other rolls are to gain insight on the hidden meaning it might hold. Historical clues or its role in nature or its religious meaning.
Joined: Oct 30, 2013 Posts: 7305 Location: England
Hon Yin stands looking over the makeshift map, steadily passing his spear from hand to hand. Eventually he sighs and steps away from the scratchings, staring up into the sky. "We're going to have to sleep another night away at this rate. Our course is simple; we head down the main roads to Soenglau - from there we can explore our options. All I know is standing here gives us nothing. If we meet the enemy on the road we will deal with them then. No point jumping at every shadow thinking it might be a hidden wizard."
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Welcome! I'm Garren and I'll be your designated villain for the evening.
Joined: Sep 11, 2014 Posts: 979 Location: Right behind you!
Sai nods."I am for picking your battleground, but the two things we have going are anonymity and a sparse lead. I am against giving up either. We should get on the move as soon as possible."
The monk pulls the sculpture from its cloth and examines it closely. He feels every feather's edge and the sharp point of its beak, the immaculately smooth surface of the eye and the rough skin of its feet. The sculpture is very detailed, almost lifelike. It is otherwise unremarkable, simple granite. Swift Snake can find no writing, symbols, or patterns. If there is a message hidden in the sculpture, it is lost to him.
Swift Snake History
When the Yishen Emperor, the first emperor of the Yi Dynasty, was building support for his ascension to the imperial throne, he had met with the governess of the Hu Province, important for its silk production. As he had overseen the investigations, trials, and purges of the corrupt Faa government, he was responsible for the disgracing and/or executions of some of her friends and/or allies. Though she was personally exonerated of any intentional wrongdoing, she was still reluctant to support this man. In the middle of their courtyard discussion, Yi began to spontaneously perform a poem in admiration of a songbird that had alighted onto a branch nearby. Seeing the man's appreciation for her home province's forest beauty, the Hu governess was won over.
The songbird is not a common symbol of the Yi Dynasty at all, but it is easy to see why a statue of a bird, in memory of this historical moment, may be used to honor the descendants of the Yishen Emperor.
Swift Snake Nature
The songbird is a type of nightingale, common songbirds that are popular as pets. The males, in particular, for its yellow patch below the neck. They are mainly herbivores, eating fruits or other vegetation. This one looks a little young.
Swift Snake Religion
Swift Snake does not recognize any spiritual significant of the bird.
Gold River is one of the two major rivers of Jin. It connects the Western Capital with the Southern Capital and feeds into the Southern Sea through the delta city of Gamkong, a popular port city.
Before he can stop it, an avallanche of memories overwhelms him. At first it is only her face, her teasing eyes, her mischievous smille, her intensity, much like a fire. It has been a costant in their relationship. This was the face that greet him when she visited as a guest, this was the face that he tried to conquer with gift and song, this was the face that told him tales and made him travel away from the jungle, this was the face he had yearned to kiss and then, most fittingly this was the last face Queng had ever seen. It was remarkable how the face always remained the same whether it hid her sweet caress or the colder one of Death. He found himself trying to woo her again and when he failed once more she told him the story of an old Yi emperor and a provincial governess just to keep his hopes up. What a vicious woman...what a marvel she was. The story went like this; the Yinshen Emperor, if he remembered well, had to gain the collaboration and support of the negatively inclined Hu provincial governess. It was one of his poems about a songbird that had managed to sway her and gain her support and according to the mischievous look on Irene's face much...much more. Who knows, would he ever see her again? And then, would he find his songbird, would Swift Snake succeed where Queng had so rovinoushly failed.
Swift Snake continues as if he didn't notice what either Sai Yun or Hon Yin said. "This figurine might have something to do with the Hu province or with a request of support; actually there is a story about it" He moves on to relate the story avoiding to say how he came to know of it and then he wraps the figurine up and tosses it to Hon Yin. "So we move south. Do we follow the main road or the riveror do we navigate it rather than go on foot."
Rolls
Survival roll to gauge time travelling on the river, or following the road, or following the river on foot. Both for us all as a group and for myself travelling on my own (Movement = 45)
I am putting this outside of a box because travel speed is all in the PHB, though I am extrapolating from the math to determine Swift Snake's individual speed. I am also amending distances I gave in the OOC thread.
By himself, Swift Snake can cover thirty-six miles per day, traveling eight hours a day, moving steadily. As a group, they will cover twenty-four miles under the same parameters.
At a fast pace, the group can cover thirty miles per day. By himself, Swift Snake covers forty-eight miles per day.
From Chen Wu's knowledge of the road, it seems to be about 950 miles, so it takes forty days of steady travel (twenty-four miles per day, eight hours a day), plus the time it takes to cover the 200 miles or so from Two Hills to the start of the road.
From all of your knowledge of Jin, the river covers about 1200 miles. A boat would probably move at about 4 miles per hour on the river.
Chen Wu stares at the makeshift map and keeps questioning himself why they aren't using actual maps. He finally speaks, while scratching his chin. "Traveling through the river might cover a bigger distance, but it's probably faster and safer. I saw some people loading cargo on boats in the Town. Maybe we can use their newfound trust in Sai to at least buy ourselves inside one of those boats."
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Yes, I'm from Brazil and no, I'm not an annoying ****.
Joined: Oct 30, 2013 Posts: 7305 Location: England
Hon Yin nods as though to reassure himself before gesturing towards the nearby village. "Then it is settled. We travel by land until we can travel by water."
_________________
Welcome! I'm Garren and I'll be your designated villain for the evening.
Once again, the adventurers make the mile's walk from the tree line to the town. The bustle of the morning seems to have settled for some midday peace. Those working the river, fishers and boatmen, sit down for breaks and packed meals. A child runs and hops across several boats to get from one side to the other.
Joined: Sep 11, 2014 Posts: 979 Location: Right behind you!
As he looks over the boatmen there, Sai studies their faces as well as their craft. He pulls back his hood and puts on his best smile, keeping his hair down over his pointed ears, waiting to see if they are a welcome curiosity or a vitriol generating attribute.
He whispers a small prayer to his gods that the right combination of equipment and trustworthiness can be found.
Sai Yun finds the boats confusing and isn't sure which one would be useful.
Sai Yun Insight
The men and women sitting or working along the river generally seem pleasant and happy. One woman stands before a small group, and they are laughing loudly. She seems dangerous. Though she is acting nonchalant, Sai Yun can tell she had already eyed his group to gauge them.
Further down the river is a man gruffly ordering people to load up crates onto a boat. Though his voice is hard, his workers don't seem unhappy and Sai Yun gets a good feeling from him.
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