---Volunteer and let Sora stay with Yukiko.
You glance at Sora for a moment before turning back to Sahal.
"Unless Bayushi-sama has objections, I'll go talk to the Abbot."
Sora nods and walks over to you to whisper, "Thank you…remember our duty."
"Hai Bayushi-sama," you whisper back.
Sahal nods and leads you away from your comrades.
You know that Sora didn't like you before….but she cares enough about Yukiko to give you a chance now, if one tinged with an unneeded reminder to do your duty. You weren't some Mantis to go haring off on a lark. Still it's a start to building trust between you two, best not to mess it up.
As Sahal leads you through the monastery, you glance at the walls to see long flowing script in a language you don't know. Why can't everyone write in Rokugani? It's so pretty!
That it would let you read everything is only side benefit...you aren't nearly that petty to want the entire world to change just to make your life easier. Nope, nu uh...what were you thinking about again?
"Please be polite - for all the Abbot is heretic, he is good man," Sahal says.
Wait, heretic?
Heretic to what?
While you try to figure out why the Abbot is a heretic, you find yourself escorted into a small room that seems to serve as private meditation chamber. Before you is an old man, who looks like he might well have been alive when Iweko III married that Sparrow. For all his age, you sense that he's still spry and his features say he's probably from Medinat Al-Salaam.
Sahal sits down into a lotus position while you bow before going into a seiza position.
The Abbot looks to you and then to Sahal before talking quickly.
Sahal nods then begins speaking.
"Abbot Rafiq Saleem welcome you to Monastery of Shinsei's Face."
"I thank him for his hospitality and generosity," you reply.
Another exchange.
"Abbot Saleem says that it is no trouble, and that you may stay as long as you need."
"Will his people be able to help Iuchi-sama?" you ask.
It's different talking through a translator but you think you can trust Sahal on this. At least you hope you can, you really don't have any other choice.
"Abbot Saleem say that while they must wait for medicine, they know chakra arts to keep her healthy and whole until they come."
"Chakra arts?" you ask.
What the fuck is Chakra?
"I think you call Chi? No...Chino…something like that." Sahal answers.
Well that was helpful.
"Alright...I can only extend my thanks again, but how much time will this take?"
They again talk, for much longer this time. You hear not a word, but almost the absence of a word, as if they're going out of their way not to mention it. Finally the barely heard, almost terrified whisper of the word 'Rakasha' reaches your ears, followed quickly by the Abbot angrily telling Sahal something.
"Two weeks, they have to make proper movements to travel," he says.
That was a long time to be sick. But if they say they can keep her alive, well, it's worth a shot.
"Two weeks, and then how long for Iuchi-sama to get better?"
Sahal shrugs. "Depends on her, maybe week?"
"Is Abbot Saleem really okay with us staying that long?" you ask.
Sahal and Saleem talk for a moment.
"They can not send anyone out into wilderness without priest. Iuchi-sama is only one who qualifies," is the serious answer.
A Priest? Why is that so important.
"I...see…can we send a messenger to Akodo-chui, at least?" you ask.
Another burst of words too quick for you to follow. You really wish you knew Ivindi.
"Did you feel...presence hunting you?" He asks.
You find yourself nodding slowly.
"Me and Bayushi-sama both felt it, but we weren't sure why."
It's almost song like, this language...if only you could figure out the beat.
Sahal's voice is very quiet almost inaudible.
"Then no - hunter kill anyone swift enough to move."
"Who is this hunter?"
"We do not call them by name, if we can. Even in sunlight they listen," Sahal says.
You can feel the suppressed grief rolling off of him. While you wish you could leave him to his grief, you know that Sora will want to know what these beings, these Rakasha are.
"What are they?" you ask softly.
Sahal doesn't say anything at first. Presumably he is distracted by thoughts of Taj and the thing that they don't want to name. When he does translate your question for the Abbot, the Abbot gets a solemn look, and takes a deep breath.
Surprisingly, Abbot Saleem doesn't say a word but instead reaches up and pokes you in the forehead. Your mind reels as images flash through your head. The most prominent are ones of Nine Great Demons who served their King and ruled over mankind as gods. Of Vishnu stepping on to the world and driving them back, killing their soldiers and king in a bloody war. Of the Nine Great Demons being hunted down until one by one they were killed, until only three remained. These are called Rakasha and they are triplets, malevolent and prideful demons who change shape as easily as you change clothes. Yet in their base form, one is a tiger with the body of a man, the other a leopard with the body of a woman, and the last a great lion with the body of both. They feast on human flesh and drink the pain of the world like it is the sweetest wine. They are evil, you know that to your core.
You fall to your side, your hand going to your head.
The abbot says something as he sits down.
"Abbot Saleem offer his apologies. Yet these beasts worked a magic long ago to hear their name. Was easier to use your third eye to show you, safer too."
You sit up shaking your head.
"...Please never do that again," you murmur.
You feel unclean, like the knowledge of these things has indelibly changed you in a way you don't like.
"He agree, but it is because of that that we must wait. To bring that to your city without you know how to stop it would be grave sin. Leaving aside that I the only speaker of your language."
You consider letting that thing among your people, of Sister Chou, Aya or even Brother Jubei having to deal with that. You agree with this statement.
"I see."
"Once your friend is awake, I too will depart. I ask you consider request with your comrades"
"Oh?"
"I go down to Pavartindi, city on the other end of trade route between our lands. There is embassy there. If you can escort me, I would have much gratitude," he says.
[] Go with Guru Sahal to Pavartindi.
[] Refuse, you will go right back to Shiro Enishi as soon as you can.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(And that ends Arc II.)
You have 3 weeks of training to spend. Due to being a guest in a foreign monastery you gain the full number of actions for use.
Megumi has 4 actions to spend training.
However, you might notice that despite being rank 2, Megumi hasn't gained a second technique.
There is a reason for this.
In order to combat the drive for just traits, traits traits and insight boost. Gaining techniques requires skills.
Each Insight Rank requires the following number of skills:
Level I: 2 rank 3 skills or one rank 5 skills
Level II: 4 rank 3 skills or two rank 5 skills
Level III: 6 rank 3 skills or three rank 5 skills
Level IV: 8 rank 3 skills, or four rank 5 skills or 1 rank 7 skill
Level V: 6 rank 5 skills, 2 rank 7 skills or 1 rank 10 skill
Currently Megumi has 2 rank 3 skills. Thus to unlock her Rank 2 tech she needs to get 2 more rank 3 skills, or 2 rank five skills.
If you manage to get to insight rank 3 without learning a technique, that chance is lost forever.
New Techniques require a number of actions equal to their rank to learn.
(So rank 2 would need two actions while rank 5 would need five actions)
All that said, when you learn a new technique, I'll give you a choice based off of what you ranked up in order to unlock said technique.
Megumi can train with
[]Sora: Learn Kenjutsu 3, and Investigation 3 (costs 2 actions) or train reflex 4 (takes 2 actions)
[]Sahal: Learn Meditation 3 (takes 3 actions) or Jiujutsu 3 (takes 3 actions) or stamina 3 (takes 2 actions)
[] Ask Abbot Saleem to do that head poke thing (Random gain of skills or stats. May learn a great deal but may also end poorly. Takes 2 actions)
[] Self train (Write in) (Takes 2-4 actions depending on skill or trait boost)
[] Allow Grandmother to possess you - this will give her more power in your life but you may learn the skills she had ( gain Iaijutsu 5 or Etiquette 5, but Haunted can now be activated three times an arc instead of just once. Takes 2 actions. If you pick this twice, Haunted can activate 5 times.)
WHEN VOTING ONLY PICK ONE TRAINING ACTION PER OPTION.
THIS:
() Sora: Learn Kenjutsu 3 and Investigation 3
() Ask Abbot Saleem to do the Head poke thing (Random gain of skills or stats. May Learn a Great Deal but may also end poorly. Takes 2 Actions)
NOT THIS:
() Sora: Learn Kenjutsu 3 and Investigation 3 (costs 2 actions) or Reflexes 4 (Costs 2 actions)
() Allow Grandmother to possess you -this will give her more power in your life but you may learn the skills she had (gain Iaijutsu 5 or Etiquette 5, but Haunted can now be activated three times an arc instead of just once. Takes 2 actions)
IF YOU DO NOT SPECIFY YOUR VOTE WILL NOT COUNT AS YOU ARE TECHNICALLY VOTING FOR 6-12 ACTIONS WHEN YOU ONLY HAVE 4!.
Megumi has gained
Lore: Rakasha 1