Dueling Fate

[X] You cannot rest when there is work to be done. Others will surely be helping wounded and repairing damage throughout the night. Put your strong back to use. (Earn silver, possible +Relationships)

By the time that you and Bai Ping are done with the old woman's garden your fellow initiate is barely more than a mass of limbs. You lift an arm over your shoulder and help him stagger back to the Inn.

"Ping my boy!" The Bartender says, rushing forward to take him off you and guide him upstairs.

"Man the counter for me." He tells you, as he takes the case out of the boys hands and guides him up the stairs.

The inn is a crowd of people, some sitting on cots which have been laid out for the night. Cramped, small beds lined up alongside two sides of the room. It's sombre, but no less busy as usual with a line of men and women leaning up against the bar.

Agility Check – 2d10 – 5, 8 –Success

The only way to deal with their requests for food, drink, and help settling in for the evening is to move quick. Muttered grumbles, citizens hitting the bench of the bar or standing there wringing their hands are dealt with as quick as possible. A line of people come in wrapped in bandages and you move them to the quietest corner, telling them to wait for the innkeeper to come down and help them find a better location. One man grumbles about waiting in line for hours for a meal and you push through the wooden boards into the kitchen out back.

You don't quite know what is up with the food in this place. It looks and smells the same as what Shao Suying has been giving you every morning. Is it a local delicacy? That same porridge-like consistency filled with whatever meat they can get their hands on blended into something that tastes like the worst aspects of both. If you didn't have to eat it, you'd almost be impressed. A quick bowl of the same slop you've been feasting off the last few days is shoved into his hands with enough force that has him muttering complaints he makes sure you can't hear as he retreats to a table.

You make steady headway with the crowd before the Innkeeper rushes downstairs only to find you having dealt with most of the pressing matters. He gives you a pat on the back that sounds like clapping thunder, almost driving you into the bench before he heads over to the makeshift nursery and begins helping them unpack supplies and tending to the wounded. As the bar begins to clear you notice the stains of spilled beer, food that fell from the plate and search for a rag you then soak down before you start trying to-

"Aah, a fellow initiate!"

You glance up from the bench, still proceeding to wipe it down as you take in the girl. Blonde hair running to her shoulders in messy waves. Singed robes, soot and ash smeared on her cheeks from the effort of tonight's work. You fill her a glass of water from the nearby drum without question, and she gulps it down quickly with a "Thanks!" That's almost lost in the speed the drink disappears.

"Haven't seen you much!" She chirps, "I've been busy attending to Lord Jiang the last few days. It's terribly hard to earn oneself into his small circle you see."

You don't ask but you nod along as she launches herself into a tale of a journey by carriage, arriving in a port city that was far bigger than anything she'd ever seen compared to her small village. "And then!" She tells you, "Imagine my luck that the first person I run into is the Lord himself! Arriving on his own! Once I told him where I was from, he seemed less interested in conversation, but I'm nothing if not tenacious, so I've been slowly gaining his attention the last few days."

"Oi, Liao! Are the rooms ready? Lord Jiang is getting impatient!" A bellow from the back of the tavern jars her out of your conversation.

She turns around. "I'm on it!" She calls back, her hand clenching on the bench, nails digging into the wood. "They're a rowdy bunch." She says with a laugh that you watch peter out before she ends it with a cough. "Did you know anything about our rooms for the evening?"

It's at this point the Innkeeper makes his way over, "Qing!" He bellows, "I've got your rooms here." He tells her, reaching over the bench and pulling five small keys from a drawer.

The girl eagerly takes them from him. "Thank you, Zhen." She says, offering a small bow.

She then nods in your direction. "I'm sure that Lord Jiang will be delighted to make your acquaintance if you introduce yourself. If you do, please tell him that I suggested it." And with that she walks over to a group of five, all hovering around a man who's engrossed in the food in front of him and barely paying any of them a thought.

"She's a lovely girl that one." The innkeeper tells you. "She'll be a credit to the Sect."

Your hand stills from cleaning down the bench. "Will?"

He nods. "She's got the right stuff, so does that noble she's always hanging around as well. It would be a shame if either of them failed."

"Now!" He says. "Bit slower than my usual standards but you did a decent enough job. If you want to come around here and lend a hand from time to time, I'd have no problems. If you dedicated enough time to it, I'd make sure it's absolutely worth your while."

And with that he reaches into a bag and pulls out two silver coins which he dumps into your hand.

"Plenty more where that came from, especially when there are initiates around!"

He introduces himself as Zhen and gives you a small series of tasks to help the inn prepare for more visitors. Gradually you're moved away from the bar, doing a series of jobs out back that start getting you accustomed to the place. By the time he sends you home with a reminder that there's work waiting for you whenever you want it, you're so exhausted that you collapse back onto your mattress.

2 Silvers Gained

Opportunity Unlocked – The Dragon's Wing - Master Zhen is a strong man, and he is particular as to who works his inn, luckily you proved yourself competent enough in last night's chaos.

You wince as the light of the sun sneaks through a crack in the curtains. Sitting up with a groan you open the window and realise it's midday. the door to Liu Zhiquaing's room stands half open, a peek around sees a mattress, blankets still upturned from both of your hasty exits last night. His spear and other belongings gone in the wind. He must not have come back.

Downstairs the fire that warms the broth you've been eating has gone out, you dip a finger and find the gruel cool to the touch. You face pinches into a twisted grimace when you taste it, breakfast gone. On the table you see a quick note, written down by the woman who houses you, telling you that she has gone on business for the sect and to expect her back over the next couple of days. She thanks you for your efforts last night in helping protect the town and promises to bring you along with her in the future.

Relationship Gained – Shao Suying – 1 – Respectful and unafraid to help those you don't know, Suying respects both of those qualities.

You know you were meant to be out hunting with Shao Suying but given that neither of your housemates have returned from last night plans will have to be rescheduled. For now, you should occupy yourself until they get back.

Note: Votes in Plan Format Choose Three Actions

Training Actions

[] The seniors are still offering introductory lessons, the cultivator is always happy to take on new recruits. Go with him and explore the art of cycling Qi, and growing your spiritual capabilities. (???)

[] Jin Jiayi told you to come back whenever you wished for more lessons in the art of combat, go test yourself in the ring vs your fellows. (Random Encounters, Train in the Valiant Champion Style)

[] There are always jobs in the town seek out employment and grow your skills… And your wallet. (Potentially Develop skills, monetary reward, ???)

-[] Meet with the Seamstress

-[] The Butcher is always looking for Employees

-[] The Local Crafter needs some small jobs done

-[] The Innkeeper of The Dragon's Wing was happy with your impromptu efforts last night, Zhen's willing to let you work under him again.

[] The Guards have a shooting range for Archery, work to develop your skills in preparation for future hunts.

[] You already have some skill in the art of cultivation, and you're recently found a Qi spot, go forth and cycle.

Social Actions

[] Bai Ping is quickly earning himself a name in the local taverns as a skilled player, you have yet to see him join any of the Seniors class though. What is he doing in his time here?

[] Vijaya Paranthapa has welcomed you if you ever wish to spar, maybe this time you could provide a better showing than before? She has begun to gather a small group of initiates who use the fighting pits once Jiang Jiayi is done for the day.

[] Last night at the Inn you were approached by a fellow initiate and told that you simply must meet with Lord Li Jiang, a young noble who is always on the lookout for worthy allies. From what little you've seen he has a small army of hangers on vying for his attention. How could you gain his?

[] You remember a girl walking up to the sect, always looking to do a deal. She's recently taken up work assisting one of the vendors in the main streets, selling wares and looking for people to do tasks for the stall. Maybe she would like a hunter to give her a greater range of wares?

[] Shao Suying offered to bring you on a hunt with her, while those plans fell through, you should find her when you are both free and go into the sect.

Personal Actions

[] Last night you chased after something and were it not for Bai Ping it could well have ended your life. The sect has deemed it a matter below the concerns of the sect, but it could come back to wreak havoc on the town. Find it.

-[] Bai Ping did seem to have experience in this field, and no love of demons either. Maybe he'll be willing to lend a hand.

[] At the Mudpots there was a beast that you tried to fell which escaped you, nothing ever escapes you if you can help it. Return and hunt it down.

[] The markets are home to a great range of things from weapons, charms and from what you've heard even Qi techniques. Go and peruse the market to see what you can find.

[] Go and see what the sect has for you, explore to your hearts content (D100)

[] You are a hunter, above all else. Go and search for some quarry.
-[] Search the Sect (D100)
-[] Search the surrounding forests (D8) - Low chance of spirit aspected beasts
-[] Search the Mudpots

[] Back in the port city there is always work for skilled labourers and you often see some of your fellow initiates, leaving for the day to complete tasks, you could find work at the docks