Master Wong sits around a table with the rest of the party inside the Wise Piper, having returned from their adventure in the Blood Vow caves.
"Mal, this land of Galt, I have heard it is a place of much unrest. What was your life like there, and how did you come to leave? Chad, what of your life in the woods? You seem to love them. Why have you left them? What about the rest of you? How did you come to be here?"
Wong goes on to tell you some about his own background.
“I was born in the Empire of Dawn, Minkai, in Tien Xia.I was raised in the capital, Kasai. My mother was a favored geisha in the Kiniro Kyomai Teahouse. My childhood was . . . colorful. I was able to escape my lessons as often as not, and regularly ran the streets with children of less fortunate birth. Running the rooftops of Kasai and bluffing my way out of trouble when caught came naturally to me. Quite frankly, I found them more interesting than the noble whelps alongside whom my formal education put me. Given my mother’s elevated social status, she was able to make certain arrangements regarding my education. In hindsight I was a trying student. Geography, noble lines, worldly religions, these things were of little interest to me. Arcane arts and devices . . . magic . . . that was something else altogether. As were the stories surrounding magical creatures.”
Wong frowns. “The son of Lord Phuk found it entertaining to dub me the “Son of a Thousand Lords”, given my mother’s profession. Arrangements were made, and Phuk Yu found that provoking me was more trouble than it was worth. At that point, my presence alongside the nobility was deemed more trouble than it was worth.” Wong shrugs. “My education was taken over by Master Chou, a scholar and arcane master in the household of Amara Li. While Master Chou is a bit limited in his vision, he is a brilliant technical practitioner of the Arts. Under his tutelage, my discipline saw some increase, as did my knowledge of a number of languages and magical theory.”
Wong looks thoughtfully across the table. "We travelled to your lands with the Ho Jin Tapestry, which was won by the Pathfinder Society in a grand tournament. We stayed for about a year. Just as I found that my education was becoming interesting, my people prepared to return home. Master Chou made arrangements for me to remain in Absalom, and study under a Master Dreng. Dreng, in turn, tasked me with getting information about the book we have all discussed previously. And now I find myself here." Wong grins. "Life is interesting. I could not ask for more, at this point. What about yourselves? What do all of you seek?"
Tala stares at the others, waiting for an answer. Hearing none, she starts.
ReplyDelete"I was born Talabniss'tyrr, the 'unexpected poison dagger' and to this day remain. My loyalty belongs to my clan. But more than that, to the Weaver herself. The details of my apprenticeship are for me and my people alone to know, despite your wishes to pry. Suffice it to say that I have sworn myself to the protection of those who supplicate the Mother on my behalf and that duty will always rank before any other.
"That said, I am here on the priesthood's behalf. I was instructed to complete an unrelated task to that of what has brought us together and found myself entangled in this intrigue. I have been tasked to see this through, for now, and have traveled far to represent the interests of my people, the Elves. As long as my instructions continue to be to accompany you and our goals remain closely aligned, you can count on me to help accomplish those goals. However, none of you are essential and should you cross me or my people, or, for that matter, go against the will of the Weaver, be forewarned that retribution will be swift.
"I know little about the ultimate purpose for which I was sent. I do not know of this book nor or this Druid. I trust all will become clear when the Great Mother decides to make it such.
"As to what you may have heard about the True Elves, "Drow" as you might call us, it is probably all correct - so be careful. Though I am sure there is a purpose for you other races, we do not always see eye to eye. Our hatred for the Daywalkers remains and is branded into my heart. Luckily, none of you are among them, otherwise you would be counting yourself among the dead. We are fast, we are wise - no plan for our demise escapes our watchful eye. It is said that our use of various poisons is 'cowardly' but I challenge anyone making that claim to best me in a fight." She pulls one of her black longknives and quickly stands. "I challenge any of you here now who have doubts to the same. If you think my poison is but a coward's method to fight, come have a taste and give me your opinion from wherever it is you go when you have passed from this plane."
After a moment she sheathes the knife and sits back down.
Picking up her goblet of wine, she says "What passes here for strong drink is a joke." She pours the contents on the floor and addresses Wong. "Cook, are you able to come up with something stronger? Perhaps some Bloodwine if I can get my hands on a young morlock?"
She sits back, arms folded, and awaits the next member of the group to speak.
Wong rolls his eyes. "Service yourself, oh mighty elf."
ReplyDelete"I hear 'wizard' blood also makes for good wine stock. Perhaps one day we shall drink it."
ReplyDeleteMal listens to others speak of their backgrounds, and when eyes fall expectantly on him, he says:
ReplyDelete“I was born in Isarn, the capital of Galt. I worked with my father my whole life- he is a blacksmith. I wanted to get out and see the world. My friend Mikel had joined the guard a year ago, and when I saw him during Archerfest, he told me that he was traveling and doing all sorts of things.
I joined too, though it angered my father.”
Mal pauses wistfully, then continues.
“It wasn’t what I thought it would be- maybe Mikel was exaggerating. The guard was boring; they mostly just bullied people.
We finally left town on a “mission”, we came to a forest looking for something. Notty was my commanding officer, and when we happened on that caravan in the forest, he seemed to think that something would be in the caravan, and it wasn’t there. There were some survivors there, and he ordered me to kill them. I refused, and that’s when he and the others attacked me… I fought back… but I would have died if Heshen hadn’t saved me…“
Mal stops for a moment, then points at Tala.
“And that’s when I saw you! You were there! I saw your reflection in a pool of blood as I fell! You were at that fight!”
Mal gestures at Broadtoe as well. “And from what you’ve said, perhaps you were there, too!”
“Was Notty looking for this book, I wonder? He didn’t say who we were working for…”
"Hmm... I really doubt he'll ever 'say' anything again. You see, as I was heading from Kerse toward Yanmass on a tip of a potential new trading arrangement, I stopped at a watering whole. There was a dead man there. He was wearing a uniform much like yours, Mal. Upon the breast of his uniform was the name, "Notty". If the events you have described have only recently taken place, then I assume this is the same man. Did you track your former captain and kill him? Or was it Heshen that killed him, and thus you owe him a favor for such an act?"
DeleteMal starts at this revelation, obviously affected. He pauses in thought, and nods.
Delete"I don't believe Heshen killed Notty, but he said he was dead. When I first left him, I intended to head home to see to my family's safety, because Notty had attempted to blackmail me into doing as he wished by saying he would accuse them of counterrevolution. Heshen assured me that my family was in no danger."
He spreads his hands and shrugs.
"I certainly didn't do it, and I don't believe Heshen did. Although he certainly would be capable. It seems just that Notty came to such an end."
"Well, I hope this is at least some proof that this Heshen is a man of his word and also that your family is safe..."
DeleteSamanthi reaches back into his bag and pulls forth a bloodstained uniform... "Its not everyday that you come across a dead body in a uniform (at least not in the Drumish marketplace). I wasn't sure if this had intrinsic value or at least informational value. As it turns out, it has the latter..." With that, he holds out the Galtish uniform w/ the name "Notty" stitched into the breast...
Tala shakes her head. "Well, a fitting end to one who would order the execution of helpless people. How cowardly and cruel of him to make such a request!!!"
DeleteTala shakes her head, slowly. "Perhaps the blow to your head caused you to misperceive things. I was not there." As a smrik crosses her face, she adds, "But we all look alike to you, right? It would not surprise me to be mistaken for another by one of you people."
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