The Miller's Son
[X] You should not interfere with this vigil, but you can stand guard. Wait at the door to the pagoda, and should anything come, you will drive it off.
You do not know enough of this ritual to offer any aid in performing it.
But that does not mean there is no aid you can offer.
Retreating as quietly as you came, you return to the entrance of the pagoda. You place your bow by your side, and your hand comes to rest on your knife. You focus your senses, attuning them to the world around you.
And you stand guard.
Roll: 66
No Encounter!
Hours pass, with the only things of interest being the notes of the song and the wind blowing through the grass and the clouds in the sky. The melody crawls along your skin, the artist's grunts of pain still carrying through though you don't turn your gaze back.
You maintain your vigil, alert for any danger.
But no danger comes.
You have never had difficulty with boredom. Patience is an integral part of the hunting arts, and traveling the wilds combines hours of boredom with a need to be ready at a moment's notice when danger strikes.
Still, you have had more exciting days, and when the sun begins to sink beyond the horizon, and Bai's music fades, you feel a spark of gratitude.
You slide down to the ground outside the entrance and wait, posture cross-legged and unthreatening. You offer a nod to Bai Ping as he emerges from the structure, robed once more, ritual objects once more packed away on his back. He seems tired, but at the same time, somehow healthier than you recall his pale face less gaunt than you remember it being a few days prior.
He stops and freezes as he sees you, expression unreadable for a moment. His eyes close, and his lips tighten, then he opens them and meets your gaze. "Brother Lind. I did not ask you to follow me."
"And yet I did." You reply, as evenly as you can.
He nods. "I should have expected that. Well, hunter. Tell me, what did you find?"
You can feel tension in the air.
"I do not know that I understand what I saw. I saw a wound in you, and some taint. And I believe you were using the music to cure yourself?"
Bai Ping runs a hand through his hair as he barks a laugh, coarse and bitter. "Cure? If only. The best I can do is keep it at bay, keep it from growing stronger."
"What is 'it'?"
Bai's gaze is steady as he meets your gaze. "Come inside. This is not a discussion that should be had while standing outside."
The pale musician leads you back into the pagoda, taking you into a decrepit chamber that connects to the courtyard. The floor is dirty, but you sit down anyways, taking care to avoid any splinters from the wood.
Bai Ping clears his throat as he adjusts his posture on the ground. You notice that his hands are reddened and marked from playing as he adopts the position of a storyteller speaking to an audience.
"There was once a village." He began. "The village had suffered. Its young men and women had been sent off to fight a war that it elders barely understood, and even after they returned, the village found that it bore new taxes that drained the wealth they had."
"Still, as spring follows from winter, happiness can come from pain." Bai's cadence is that of a storyteller, but you get the feeling he has not told this story before, at least not often. Still, you can feel him settling into the rhythm of the story. "The young miller and the daughter of a weaver danced during the Festival of Falling Stars, and soon they married. And they bore a son."
You suspect you know who the son is in this story, but you have no desire to interrupt, only listen. Bai Ping continues. "That son bore many gifts - he was fleet of foot, he was brave, he had an ear for songs and stories, and was curious. He could be found at any time roaming the village, pestering travellers, and roaming the hills in search of interesting things."
"The young miller was blessed with a healthy son and a loving wife, but he was not blessed with fortune. One day, the great millstone cracked and broke. No rice or wheat could be ground for flour, and the miller could not support his family without it. The son overheard the miller talking to his wife. He said a new millstone could be purchased, but the debt would be a cruel thing."
Bai's eyes were misting over now - he was lost in the memory. "The son thought he knew a solution. He had been in the mill many times, and he knew what a millstone should be - round, and just the right size. And he had seen such a stone, in the hills, in a place no one ventured. It was a place the boy knew he should not go, for he had been warned against it, but though the boy had many gifts, wisdom was not among them."
"The boy ventured into the hills and found a round stone on the side of a hill. It was old, older than anything the boy had ever seen, but it seemed strong. There were markings on the side, and though the boy had been taught some characters, he did not know how to read them. There was no hole for the spindle, but to the boy's mind, that was something that could be fixed."
You could see, perhaps, the shape of where the story was going. You wished you could not. Yet Bai Pings poke on. "The boy pulled and tugged at the stone. He was strong enough, for a boy, but it would not tip, nor shift, nor move. It was as though there was some force holding it in place, more than merely natural. And when he had given up hope, the stone spoke to him. This was not a great surprise to him, for he had spoken to small spirits before and heard tales of greater wonders."
'Why come you here, child of man?' The stone asked. And the boy said, 'I seek a millstone for my father, to replace one that was broken.' And the stone answered. 'Ah, I have long yearned to be a millstone. But I am stuck. If only someone could free me?'
"The boy asked what he could do, and the stone told him the words to a spell, and to will his spirit into the markings of the stone when he said them."
"It was difficult." Bai Ping spoke. "But the warding stone was ancient, and I had a trace of the talent. It took hours for me to follow the demon's instruction, but I did it." His voice is no longer that of a storyteller, but just… tired.
"The creature was like a bat, and like a scorpion, and twice the size of a man. It laughed at my stupidity, but said it would spare me in thanks for freeing it. Instead, it stabbed me in the back, and I knew no more. When I awoke, I was back home, deathly ill. But not dead. Instead, I could hear - and feel - it's venom in me. A taint. It was spreading."
"It was a time of terror for my village. The demon stalked the night, killing and tormenting as it wished. I started to be able to stare through its eyes, feel what it felt. I was… changing."
He trails off into silence, eyes glistening as he stares through you.
"And?" You prompt.
"Someone sent for help. An exorcist arrived. He sealed the demon into a vessel, and promised that it would be destroyed. And he was able to heal me, draw out the worst of the venom."
"But not all."
"No. It had worked its way in too deep, he said. If I was ever to remove it, it would have to be through my own power. I had no hope of gaining that power by myself, but…" He shrugged, "The exorcist said he was in the market for an apprentice."
You sit, expecting him to continue, but the story seems to be over, at least for the moment. It was more of the story than you had expected. Perhaps it was more than Bai Ping had intended to share.
Relationship Up!
Bai Ping+1
You had more questions - what might Bai Ping need to do to cure himself, whether the sect would support him in it, what help you might offer. Instead, you offer simply "Thank you for telling me."
Bai Ping's face was shrouded, as nightfall began to cut off the light in the room. "The hour grows late. I would prefer not to venture back to the sect during nightfall."
You nod. "I will stay with you then."
The night passes quietly.
A/N: You are at the beginning of week three. You have twelve actions left to prove yourself to the sect.
Pick Three Actions for the first half of Week 3
Sect/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. Now that you have chosen another style in place of the sect you are still welcome to come and cycle the ambient Qi, but you will receive no instruction.
-[] List what you will cycle into (Stage, Technique etc)
[] Jin Jiayi told you to come back whenever you wished for more lessons in the art of combat, go test yourself in the ring against 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. Sewing requires diligence, patience and a steady hand, qualities you have in abundance.
-[] The butcher is looking for someone with a strong hand to cut spirit meat.
-[] The local crafter needs some small tasks done. Who knows what you might pick up?
-[] The innkeeper of the Dragon's Wing was happy with your impromptu efforts. Zhen is 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.
-[] Write in where and what you are cycling towards.
[] The Immortal Kitchens often have requests which they look for aspiring hunters and sect members to complete. You will go and examine their job board.
Social Actions
[] Vijaya Paranthapa is departing for an expedition to one of the sect's peaks. You could accompany her, if you wish.
[] Lord Li Jiang, is always accompanied, although lately you can see that Qing Liao, the woman who suggested you introduce yourself too him has been shunned to the outskirts of his circle.
-[] Introduce yourself to Li Jiang,
-[] Qing Liao has recently taken to working for the local crafter, catch her after a shift.
[] Wu Chanying has set up a stall in the marketplace. Stop by and find out what she is selling.
[] Liu Zhiquiang has returned back to the sect in triumph. He is celebrating at the inn, join him and offer congratulations.
[] Mehdi has come into possession of some seeds for spiritual plants and wishes to try his hand at gardening. Aid him in this endeavor.
[] A stranger has come to the sect and challenged Senior Jin to an exchange of pointers. The match will be public and aspirants are invited to attend.
[] The Ghost has been seen around the sect and village, though most tend to keep a wide berth to him. Perhaps once you finish what you started, he might lend you his ear?
[] Surely there are others in the sect that you could make the acquaintance of, take a walk and see who you find. Or, who finds you. (???)
Personal Actions
[] A few nights ago 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.
[] 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 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.
[] The Immortal Kitchens are home to meals of all manner. If you can afford them of course. (Immortal meals are worth 5 Silvers. This cost can be offset by bringing your own game.)
