Setsuko looks apologetically to Koko, replying after the words of the ranger, "Please forgive the rudeness of our other guest Lady Tachibana, he is unaccustomed to polite behavior. He is also quick to take offense when none is intended and to speak for others even when he is not being addressed. However he is correct in this case, a being of power calling itself a Kami of Fate, made such a prediction."

Setsuko face briefly wrinkles in disgust, "Of course, I believe that this prophecy is false as Qing Shan's voice causes my few desires towards children to run and hide in the land of nightmares."

She looks to Zokiro then looks to Qing Shan and bows respectfully before speaking to him in a calm, measured, and polite voice, "Please believe that your knowledge and skills are respected and desired, Qing Shan. I am too undisciplined and immature to be worthy of taking your hand so I must leave such things to my most honorable, wise and patient clan sister. Her words and actions will speak for me. Thank you for your understanding."

"You are on your own. Polite behavior? Are you mad? I am done being insulted and ridiculed. When I speak to someone I do not ask someone to speak with me. I confront them. You have much to learn and need time to grow up. All you have done was offend me. Respected and desired? Yet you insulted me again. You will never learn anything until you focused on yourself and learn to face problems instead of having other people do it." The ranger seems calm despite all of this "And the name is Qing. Shan is my last name. You do not respect me. None of you besides the samurai might." That said the ranger turns on them, pulling his head up and leaves.

With the ranger gone, the group can make it to the small temple. The doors open revealing a small room with a lot of books upon the walls. The area is about 30' with a ladder to reach higher books. Theres no one in the libary at the moment and it looks relatively clean.

OOC
+2 to all knowledge checks while in this room. Probably because its a libary :)
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:10, Sat 19 Sept 2020.

Zokiro was examining the texts on the shelves of the library, trying to see if anything would lend insight to the demon-creature that had taken control of the daughter's body.  Whatever it was, it was nothing she had heard of in her lessons or legends, and she hoped another wise scholar of the temple had heard of it and written it down.

There was a little information that looked promising, but she wanted to see what the others thought of it.

As Setsuko (and possibly Koko entered) she said, "You look troubled, sister, about more than our most immediate matters.  What has passed?"
This message was last edited by the player at 00:37, Sat 19 Sept 2020.

Knock knock knock.

It comes from the closed door leading into the temple where the group came from.

"In my mind I regret that Qing will not be going with us, in my heart I am both joyous and sad that we couldn't find a way to cooperate with him. Also the predictions of the Fate being still disturbs my spirit." She pauses and sighs, "Please forgive me, I am distracted by much and perhaps I should leave the more scholarly studying to you while I attempt to look at maps and find the best path for us to take. I will seek out allies and places we can call upon to aid us with food and shelter on our journey."

Setsuko looks towards first to Zokiro (and Koko if she's there) before approaching the closed door and replying to the three knocks.

After giving the others a moment to prepare, Setsuko replies, "Who goes there?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:28, Mon 21 Sept 2020.

Slowly opening the door is a temple monk, holding a plate of food "I live here, helping the temple?" Her eyes stop as she sees Set "I bring food. Its late. May I enter?" She's a small human it seems, with the monks garb and a hood that is flatten against her body revealing a young face. Her voice is quiet and sincere.

"Yes, thank you, that is most welcome.  What may I call you?" Zokiro asks.  She puts the precious texts clear of any possible accidents before turning to accept the food.  Once the young woman has answered, Zokiro asks some questions that have been percolating in her mind.  "I have some questions, if you would not mind answering them.  Who is the healer who was attending the master and his daughter?  I am not certain what medicine she used on the master's daughter...  The healer took the flower we had labored to obtain, placed some in the daughter's mouth, some of her arms and legs, and then bled the master, added it to a pitcher she carried, and then fed that to the daughter.  Blood in a medicine is most peculiar, though I did not have time to wonder at it then, due to the demon-spirit that had taken ahold of the master's daughter soon after.  I would like to see the master again, and anything left in the daughter's room.  Perhaps clues are there as to what has occurred."

"I wasn't there so not sure, I just provide food and drink. Feel free to check out her room if you wish. As for the healing that sounds odd. Not normally how we go about it. You can check out where her body was placed as well in the temple cemetery." The girl looks like everyone is staring at her "I'm Celli. May I go?"

"Thank you Celli, I will examine their rooms.  Of course, please attend to your own duties.  I will attend to mine."  Once Celli is gone, Zokiro will gather herself and go to the cemetery first. With things rising from what should be death, she now realizes she dares not assume that anything rests quietly.

"You can check on the other healers as well. Maybe they can help you out." The small girl bows her head and depearts, closing the door behind her.

Nodding to the others.  "Setsuko...to be honest, I'm glad he's gone.  He seems to not provide you with good energy.  It's good to be associated with people who will lift you up.  And also...prophesies are usually rubbish.  Don't think about it too much." She says the last more to make her feel better.

"I've had a long day of travel and could use some rest.  Wake me up if you are set to go out and about.  I can help with my sword."  With that, she left the room to go back to the place of her previous slumber.

The samurai departs and it is indeed late leaving the monk and shugenja in the room to talk. Both are feeling drained as they have not slept, their eyes looking sleepy but they are awake nonethless.

OOC
Couple of things you could do:
1. Check on the other areas (mentor's room, daughter's room)
*Zokiro
2. Check on the grave
*Zokiro
3. Find out who the healer(s) were.
4. Stay in the libray, see what the blood ritual thing was (Search Checks or Gather Info from books)
5. Go to sleep.

Think that's it? Most of the temple people are asleep but there are monk/sohei guards around and patrolling.
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:31, Thu 24 Sept 2020.

Zokiro goes briefly to the graveyard and looks around for anything obviously disturbed.  However, fatigue from the very long and stressful day has taken its toll, and she doesn't spy anything but the most obvious.  Her eyes blurring, she retires for the night, though takes a moment to write down a list of things to do tomorrow.



OOC: 18:30, Today: Zokiro Mirumoto rolled 8 using 1d20+2.  Search check.

The shugenja didn't even get to the cemetary, her eyes drooping as she gets to the outer area. Its a small area and the dim light from above doesn't provide much light. Theres some torches here and there as well but the light is still dim.

Soon, the shugenja retires to her room with probably the monk at her side.

“Thank you for your wise words of advice Koko. My clan sister and I will do some late errands before we get some sleep ourselves. Goodnight and sleep well.” Setsuko gratefully replied to the samurai.

Agreeing to meet with her clan sister before that nights rest, the young monk makes what preparations she can for the journey, before saying “Good night” to Zokiro and going to bed.

Morning has come.

The night goes by unevenfully despite what has happened to the mentor and his daughter. She did not reappears to cause more damage. Zokiro, Koko and Set come out of their rooms and have some breakfast. Several people enter the dining area, eat and leave. Most of them are mainly guards probably monks and sohei.

Two of the monks reveal nothing was found in the mentors roon, and nothing was found out of place in the daughters room. They let them know the grave was opened and nothing was within it. Some of them are checking still the small graveyard, letting them know if something is found they will be informed. Also the healer that did the ritual was unable to be found but they are told one of the healers to the mentor may have information needed. They are told where he can be found within the temple.

Several people seem on edge. With the mentor harmed and the daughter missing, a leader needs the be found and a older monk takes the mantle for now.

1. Check on the other areas (mentor's room, daughter's room)
2. Check on the grave (Daytime).
3. Find out who the healer was.-Unable to be found. A healer may have info.
4. See what the blood ritual thing was for/about.

OOC Just a quick thing. You can go check the mentor and daughters room if you want. Several things could be done but its up to the PCs!

Zokiro rouses herself just before dawn, much of the fatigue of the intense last night gone.  She does her morning meditation and exercises before going to the dining hall for tea and breakfast.  Once ready and with tea in hand, she has much to speak with Setsuko and Lady Tachibana about.

"The grave was empty, though I had no eyes to study anything further about it last night.  I certainly would like to examine it again, but perhaps your eyes are keener than mine.  I wish to speak to the healers to determine who the strange healer was who tended to the master and his daughter, and learn more about the strange ritual that was done."
This message was last edited by the player at 10:00, Tue 29 Sept 2020.

In reply to Zokiro Mirumoto (msg # 342):

"Let's speak to the healers then.  That does sound like a good lead.  I find it strange that monks would trust an outsider to heal those close to them.  It may be a desperate situation."

Approaching them, is a hooded form wearing beige with small bits of white. He lowers his hood, and his apperance is rather striking "The monks do not. They were trusted." He bows his head, hands across his chest "I am Calen, a healer. Pleasue to met you. And have heard you are in need no? The ones who aided the daughter are gone though I do not know where. Three of them. They were sought out but they seemed to have escaped somehow. They seemed to be wise. Willing to learn. Patient. In the past, we talked of healing herbs. I thought little of it as others have come to me for simple cures. Nothing seemed odd and they were always polite." His eyes dart to each of them, very blue but his skin is more golden and tan "What happened to the daughter? For if I am to help, I need information. I was going to ask the mentor about it but he is in no shape and I wish not to burden him further until he is up for it." His voice is quiet. He takes a deep breath and sits down, studying them. He gently moves his hands from the robe, which are clothed to match it save for his fingertips "I know this is sudden but please do not speak of this. I do apologies but its a grave issues. If the ones involved know about it, we are in dire turmoil." He rests his hands upon his lap "Our mentor will heal, and I wish to find his daughter for she perhaps is the clue we need. Or the three others." He seems calm and worried about what happened and stands up once more "If you need my aid, I am willing to provide it. If not I will remain here and keep a close eye on the temple. I feel all within are trusted and will see no others will be allowed in our out until this is dealt with." He bows his head.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:57, Tue 29 Sept 2020.

Just after the morning sunrise Setsuko would have carefully examined the Master and his daughter's rooms. When she had completed her examination she would have reported her finding to the acting Master and her allies.

After listening to Calen, Setsuko momentarily looks confused, then replies, "I don't know what happened to his daughter that cause the need for a certain flower, but we and an associate did retrieve the requested flower from a green dragon and brought it back. These healers mixed the flower with blood and gave it to the Master's daughter. They then said that she was too far gone to be saved." Overcome with sorrow, the woman monk fell to her knees and shuddered with body shaking sobs.

The healer's brow furrows for a moment. He kneels down, resting a hand upon the monks shoulder "Rise up. Go on. Please." Cal goes to gently help her up if allowed. He glances at the others "It as if I had feared. Maho. Blood magic. Yet I know little of it, I know it is not something to be trifled with. Few in this temple know of it. A long lost secret, lost to most. Powerful yet hard to use. It slowly reaps and sows pain and anguish." His voice is serious and quiet, his eyes look weary "I do not know how they obtained this source of raw power. For someone who is not trained, it eats away at ones soul until they are nothing. A face without a name. It is rumored and I have not seen it used." He crosses his arms "That is all I know of it yet by searching for it we need to find out more." The man lowers his hands. "Perhaps by using it they did not know what may happen and fled out of fear. I don't know."

Zokiro is sorely troubled by both Calen's revelation of the blood magic and Setsuko's reaction, though it is understandable.  She also goes to help Setsuko up, touching her shoulder very briefly in to acknowledge her strength.  To Calen, Zokiro says, "I am not too sanguine that the practitioners of the foul practice were new to their craft, considering they struck at the weakest link of the monastery.  It seems that going after the master's daughter is not something left to amateurs."

The tale just gets stranger and stranger.  She waited patiently not speaking.  She marveled at the revelation that Set was involved in the retrieval of the flower.  Finally, when it was time for her to speak, she addressed to the healer, "You speak in mystery.  I need you to clarify for something.  What do you mean that we are in dire danger if the ones involved know about it?  Who are the ones involved you speak of?  None of this makes sense at this moment."

08:35, Today: Koko Tachibana rolled 24 using 1d20+10.  sense motive.
08:36, Today: Koko Tachibana rolled 13 using 1d20+5.  diplomacy.

The healer watches the samurai. He crosses his arms "The ones who did this and brought back the daughter. Have you not listened? If it is indeed blood magic, we are all in danger. All I know is blood magic is evil. Very evil. And if they were taught how to use it or found a way to posses it. I can tell you do not believe anything I said. It goes against all you know but it is the truth. None of this makes any sense, I agree. We need answers but keep getting questions I am afraid." He lowers his head "I apologise about believing you did not listened." The man bows.

She was quite direct and to the point. "Be straight about it.  What is the danger that blood magic poses other than to the practitioners and those that are foolish enough to let them use it on them?  What is the danger that it poses to us who are now aware of them?"  So far, the only danger she can see pose against them are mere legends.  If it does pose an immediate danger, it's best to know the possible problem and attack it ahead of time.  Perhaps he speaks of a cult that plans to take over the world.