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The Brinewall Legacy Part II

Page history last edited by cazares911@... 9 years, 4 months ago

 

The Alchemy Wagon Empress

 

Ameiko leads you into the crowded, dark wagon. Koya enters behind you, she closes and latches the door.  Sandru is heard outside, claiming the caravan crew as many question "the curse" and wonder out loud while you were "covered in so much blood".

 

Satsu, "When did you wake?"

 

Ameiko is lost in thought and doesn't answer. 

 

Sulk and Koya exchange a look.  "We tried a variety of remedies and cures but ..." Sulk begins, "She just woke up, on her own, about an hour ago."

 

Satsu glances towards Amul and Kyres.  Amul nods and says, "About the same time you opened the box.  Or maybe when you picked up the seal?"

 

Satsu, "No. It was the warding box.  I released something, didn't I?"

 

Sulk shrugs.  "I don't know.  Maybe."  

 

Koya, "No.  Something was already rattling around inside her soul.  But ... aside from the fever there were no ill effects. She did not appear to suffer from thirst or hunger.  I think the harm was unintentional.  I think the entity was ... protecting her."

 

"It was," Ameiko says.  "A kami.  Of the forest.  From our homelands.  Partially released three decades ago when the warding box was first opened ... by our father. He did not know what he did," Ameiko pauses for a time, "The kami has been trapped here in relation to the seal.  It was ... making contact with me.  It recognized me but it wasn't complete and it unintentionally did me harm."

 

Koya, "A spiritual family protector.  No wonder it was protecting you.  Is it still here?"

 

Ameiko, "I'm ... unclear."

 

Sulk to the group but, mainly, asking Nisko, "What happened inside Brinewall Castle?" 

 

Nisko, "It was as we thought.  The city was long fallen.  The castle taken over from creatures from below.  Black feathered corbie men, some sort of orge kin, troglodytes, a ... birdman demon and his harpy wife, though, we never encountered her."

 

Kyres, "There was a thing below.  It lived behind the crypt.  It seemed to be worshiped by the trogs and the feathered men.  We found Pazuzu shrines."

 

Koya, "Do not say that name here!  Even mentioning the Winged Demon's name invites influence!"   

 

Kyres, "Sorry."

 

Koya, "Do not apologize.  Just make wiser decisions in the future.  If the Winged Demon was involved somehow, it explains some of the dark things Ameiko whispered while unconscious."

 

Amul to Ameiko, "When we first arrived back, you mentioned ... visions.  We had a similar experience."

 

Ameiko, "I experienced them as well as you.  Three of them."

 

Sulk, "Before we get to that, finish your tale of the assault."

 

Nisko, "It was more like an escape.  Satsu climbed the wall and found a place for us to enter unnoticed.  We found evidence of dozens of inhabitants.  Maybe more.  We felt stealth the better part of valor. Encountered a few of the creatures here and there but managed to go mainly undetected until a ... I don't know, some sort of sonic spell from one of our foes alerted the castle.  We fled to the below sections.  The ... inhabitants above didn't really follow us.  There seemed to be an uneasy truce between the creatures above and the creatures below. We were trapped between them."

 

Amul, "Kikkonnu followed us.He was some kind of half winged man, half ... I'm uncertain.  Outsider?  Spirit?  Demon? Did anyone actually know?"

 

Nisko, "It doesn't matter. We fought him, killed him. He had strange powers and ... the weapon ... there."

 

Satsu shows the Dancing Wasp - a chain with single sickle at one end and a weighed ball at the opposite end.  

 

Nisko, "We killed Kikkonnu, followed the path of the prisoner.  Oh, we had uncovered the presence of a small invading party of barbarians from the north.  One survivor.  She was captured.  We rescued her from the ogre, in thanks, she agreed to join us, her name is Keldra Oxgutter."

 

Sulk, "A barbarian." He sounded unsure.

 

Nisko. "She seems to have a code.  We all agreed she would be helpful to the caravan."

 

Kyres, "Also, there was Spivey. A diminutive cleric of Desna.  He was a fairy of some sort.  Kept us alive a few times".

 

Satsu, "Yes, but he went his own way so it hardly matters now.  Continue Nisko."

 

NIsko, "Not much left.  We fought the thing behind the crypt, broke into the trog lairs below and eventually found the hidden vault.  Where ... well, Satsu, why don't you tell the rest."

 

Satsu was silent for a moment. "The spirit of grandfather was guarding the vault.  He was a ... shade.  A dark shade.  He would have killed us all had I not mentioned father's name. We spoke for a while and he vanished.  I think he found rest.  We found the three chests, the warding box and the seal."

 

Amul, "He said something to you."

 

Satsu, "He said many things to me.  We spoke in Tien."

 

Amul, "Yes, but at the very end he said something like, "Kimi no haddika gai matai ... then a few more words I don't remember.  It seemed important to you."

 

Satsu, "It was a promise.  To the protect the family line.  We all shared the same visions."   Amul seems unsure and is about to ask another question but is interrupted.

 

Sulk, "Yes, the visions.  I had something ... last night I was able to read the stars and they told a disturbing tale.  But I don't think it was the visions you are referring to."

 

Koya, "Your visions, tell us what they were."

 

Ameiko, "They had the same as I.  Three.  The first: An army of fiends falling upon a nation of Tien people in the land of Minkai.  This vision, I believe, has not yet come to pass.

 

The second: A young Tien nobleman who suddenly grows to a jade-clad giant and strikes down his friend. This, I believe, has come to pass.  A long time ago.  The death ... of the Emperor. Assassinated by a trusted friend. 

 

Finally: A young Tien noble handing a blade to an Ulfen merchant for a bag of coins as I rise from a couch dressed in the finery of an Empress. The first part, our grandfather, selling our family sword to pay for our assimilation into western culture and fleeing to Varisia.   And, the last vision, me rising ... as Empress of Minkai."

 

Silence for while. 

 

Ameiko, "I know it is true. Our family name is not Kaijitsu. Our family name is Amatatsu.  One of the five royal families of Minkai ... and the only surviving one. 

The jade statue you found below Brinewall is the Amatatsu Seal, and represents our noble family’s right to rule the nation of Minkai. Should no Amatatsu heir appear, it can transfer that right to a scion ... a righteous person ... who has been bathed in the spirit of the seal.   You four."  Ameiko gestures to Satsu,  Amul, Nisko and Kyres.  "Should I fall ... the seal will bless you with ... the right to rule Minkai.  Which ... is important ... because ... there are things still not clear but ... the other royal families have fallen to the same treachery that slew the Emperor.  I am the last."

 

Sulk, "I'm ... not a scion?"

 

Ameiko, "No. Only those there when the seal was removed.  But there is a role you must play.  I can feel it.  Your destiny lies with us."

 

Nisko, "Your ... highness?  Worship?"

 

Ameiko, "No. No don't do that to me.  I'm ... not even sure I want this to be happening to me but ... it is.   I'm certainly not ready to be called ... that.  Please, just call me Ameiko."

 

Satsu, "You will refer to her as Empress Amatatsu or Your Majesty". 

 

Ameiko, "Not now Satsu.  We can further discuss family matters when were alone."

 

Satsu, "There is nothing to discuss.  You are the rightful heir to the Jade throne of Minkai."

 

Sulk, "It does all seem connected.  We have heard the name Five Storms, multiple times.  The letter. The star dream of the hunter.  It sounds as if this Five Storms has plotted the death of all the royal family, somehow lost the Amatatsu's when they fled to Varisia and changed their names. So that's why the ship had to be sabotaged.  Your grandfather was trying to protect your legacy.  And so you remained hidden, until the box was opened thirty years ago by your father.  I bet this Five Storms came and destroyed Brinewall."

 

Satsu to Sulk, "The star dream of the hunter?"

 

Sulk, "Oh. Right.  Um .. last night I was able to read the stars.  Quite clearly."

 

Satsu, "And what do stars have to say to you?"

 

Sulk,   "I wrote it all out.  Here: "The Brinewall Legacy Part I"

 

Sulk reads out loud the account of the star dream. 

 

Satsu, "This Eye seems too dangerous to keep.  I can't have it spying on us."

 

Sulk, "No, see, that's the thing.  The star dream was right. I've already figured out how to ... block it.  Block the hunter's dream ... thoughts.  The Eye seems to ... well, it has power.  I think it can be used to help your sister ... find her destiny."

 

Satsu seems unconvinced, "We shall see." 

 

Koya, "There is another complication.  The goblins."

 

Kyres, with disgust and anger, "What about them?"

 

Koya, "Shalelu believes there are several goblins, several very skilled goblins, tracking us."

 

Kyres, "We head out tomorrow to hunt them into extinction."

 

Koya, "Coordinate with Shalelu. We did not have the power to take them on while you were investigating Brinewall."

 

Kyres, immediately leaves the wagon.  

 

Amul, "Do you think this "Dream Hunter" is one of the goblins?"

 

Koya, "Unlikely.  The Dream Hunter, if it's words are to be believed, seems to be an outsider of some sort.  Perhaps a half fiend?  A spiritual body?  I'm not sure, yet."

 

Nisko, "Why would the goblins be following us?  Most of their village was wiped out."

 

Sulk, "It could be goblins from another village. It might not be related." 

 

Amul, "Does that feel right to any of you?"

 

Silence. 

 

Koya, "Let us assume the goblins hunt us for a reason.  And that they come from the Licktoads.  Perhaps it is simple revenge that guides their hands. Perhaps it is something more ... sinister".

 

Amul, "I am more concerned with this dream hunter. It sounds as if it is ... can posses someone.  Or change shape? Or walk ethereally, or invisibly? It could be in camp at any or all time."

 

Sulk, "No, see, I think I would know if it was here."

 

Satsu, "Unless it's possessing you right now". Nisko moves to Sulk's side.   Satsu continues, "And you're lying to us."

 

Nisko, "He's not lying."

 

Ameiko, "This is not going to happen!  We will not turn on each other.  Ever!  I trust Sulk.  If he says he can be aware of this Dream Hunter then we will accept his council".

 

Satsu, "As you wish."

 

Amul, "Sorry, I wasn't actually trying to start anything. It's just that, I think this Hunter is our worst nightmare." 

 

Ameiko, "Koya, you are our fortune teller.  Please, end this conversation with a fortune.  I have no wish to hear about a nightmare shape changer that may or may not plague us.  I will not allow us to turn on each other.  I want the truth.  Tell us our future."

 

Koya glances around the wagon, spies a cold cup of tea.  She finishes the liquid in one gulp  and picks through the wet leaves at the bottom.  She moves to a cabinet, rummages through it and pulls out a packet of something.  She dumps the power into the tea cup.  She uses a wooden spoon to stir.  She pulls the spoon out, it is covered in wet tea leaves and white powder.   

 

Koya looks it over for a while, turning it to and fro. 

 

"I see ... this must be the winged Kikkonnu you spoke of.  He's ... part of the wind.  A terrible wind.  He's one of ... several winds.  Struck down, and yet, I see his body can only be eternally consumed by fire ,,, or acid."  Koya looks away from the wooden spoon and meets your eyes.  "You did burn the body, did you not?"

 

Silence.  

 

Amul, "Ummm.  They chopped it up."

 

Koya glances back at the spoon.   "I see.  That explains it then."   She puts the spoon back into the tea cup. 

 

Ameiko, "What did you see? What is in our future?"

 

Koya meets Ameiko's gaze, "A flaming katana. And five horrible storms". 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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