LOG START
[18:20:46] Master of Games
All Creation, Beneath the Sword
Session 27
Though time passes in deliberations and chat Your feast in the Maon twins’ sanctum nears a close with an agreement for Datei and Maon to take joint custody of the footstep shrine. Which, incidentally, still doesn’t have a name. Whatever it used to be, it was presumably named after Kamo and Moka’s mother, and so they have forgotten it.
Speaking of: as yet, there’s been no hint of the twins’ conspicuously missing father. Perhaps there isn’t one, perhaps they haven’t seen fit to speak of him, perhaps they don’t wish to. Someone thought it might be instructive for you to ask what’s become of him, though only River Snake remembers who. Will you breach the topic, or return to enjoy the rest of the festival?
[18:28:08] Datei ma Kagemori
”Ah, I have another question, divine twins. We’ve spoken of your mother’s fate. Was there a father?”
[18:36:46] Master of Games
The question seems to catch the twins slightly off guard, and they tense and look at each other for a moment, then back at your group, and think some more before Kamo answers, “Yes. He was called Cometborn Zhang.” “He helped us when we brought down Dendan here.” Moka gestures at the leviathan behind them.
[18:37:09] Master of Games
”If you’re wondering why he isn’t in any pictures with us in that old temple, it’s because he was a human.”
[18:37:59] Datei ma Kagemori
”A man born of a comet? Sounds like quite the story.” Kagemori bows. “Thank you for your knowledge.”
[18:41:19] Master of Games
”Oh, not literally. They called him that because he was born under one, and moved like one.” “I don’t think we ever met our grandparents, but they weren’t comets.” “He was centuries old when we were born already.”
[18:42:12] River Snake
Snake raises an eyebrow “Centuries?”
[18:44:34] Datei ma Kagemori
”Was he a chosen, or born of spirits?”
[18:48:12] Master of Games
”He was among those humans Chosen by the Sun to rule Creation.” “In those times, no-one called them Anathema yet.” “He and our mother probably were lovers, and so you get us.”
[18:51:05] Datei ma Kagemori
Kagemori is unsure what reaction the twins expect of him, and so he tries to have a neutral one. “I can see why that might not be something to advertise, even so long ago, and so far from the thrones of the Immaculate Philosophy. For a great hero, the waves of time are of little threat. “
[18:58:13] Master of Games
They shrug as one and seemingly relax somewhat. “We do go up and down the rivers a lot. But it’s not like they’d kill us, probably. We’re gods, not Anathema.” “Mama got us promoted, we have an official rank and everything. It was a whole affair.” “Because of the nepotism.” “Because of the nepotism, and also because everyone thought one of the Princes of the Earth was trying to exert influence on Heaven too.” “Which he was.” “Probably.”
[19:17:03] Datei ma Kagemori
”That…sounds like quite a story. Perhaps this is my unfamiliarity with the ways of Heaven, but it sounds like it was quite a different time.” Kagemori pauses. “I have heard that the power of the chosen of the heavens do not truly ever depart the world, but invest in another sooner or later, even if it may take an age. Have you ever considered seeing if Zhang ever had a successor?”
[19:24:13] Master of Games
Moka looks away, at the ever-fresh carcass of Dendan. “The Zhang who hunted fish with us was long gone by the time he died.” “And anyway, we’re confident he hasn’t.”
[19:27:23] Datei ma Kagemori
”…I see.” Kagemori pauses to think about those words. They could mean many things. “I appreciate your honesty, and your wisdom. I would love to continue to question you on all sorts of other matters, but I worry I will spend the entire festival interrogating you two if given the chance. If you ever have need of me, for a matter delicate or grand, do not hesitate to call. I promise my price will be eminently fair.” He bows and indicates he intends to head back to the festival, if the rest of the circle is ready at least.
[19:41:55] Master of Games
Though time must have passed in chat and feast, the sky in Kamo and Moka’s river realm is unchanged, forever a clear early summer noon cooled by the breeze and river water in the shadow of the slain great fish. In light of what you’ve just learned, perhaps it’s a childhood memory.
The twins thank you for your time as well and guide you back out—wade down the river, same as when you came in. Just before the crossing, Moka seems to have a thought. “Come to think of it, I heard Clan Datei has dealings in Dead Laris? Sano says Kuromi has all kinds of curios from there in her garden.” Sano would be the current head of Clan Maon.
[19:42:31] Master of Games
Kamo looks at her. “What about Laris? There’s nothing there.” “Isn’t that where they buried Zhang?” “…It might be.”
[19:43:34] Datei ma Kagemori
”In our time in exile, we made close dealings with some of the nomads that inhabit the lands. I profess no knowledge to tombs, though.”
[19:56:04] Master of Games
”Well, considering what happened, it might not be there anymore even if it used to be.” The warm noon sky fades away and is replaced by a crisp autumn sunset. It seems the poetry contest is winding down—and involved copious amounts of alcohol, judging from the laughter. The contest took place along the banks of the stream cutting through the Maon estate, meaning you find yourselves in the middle of it and draw curious looks. What could have been discussed in the twins’ sanctum, the onlookers surely wonder?
[19:57:52] River Snake
Snake thinks for a moment, wondering if he’s heard of any tombs that fit the bill. One that old would probably stand out , likely either picked clean or known as a deathtrap, for that matter.
[20:02:37] River Snake
He pauses mid step. “I think I know which one it is”
[20:03:26] River Snake
”There aren’t a lot of old enough ruins in that area to begin with, and from what I’ve heard there’s only one good match. Probably not even plundered yet”
[20:04:27] River Snake
”It has the remains of a giant observatory on top, all first age stuff. Nobody’s gotten up there though”
[20:11:08] Master of Games
Laris only became Dead after the fall of the Shogunate, ravaged in an event known as Hesiesh’s Breath, and accordingly the ruined cities there largely date back to that era. The Dead Observatory, situated on what would once have been an island in Hundred Tongues Lake, is a known exception, but that area bore the worst of the devastation, and is so dangerous even the scavenger lords who brave Laris think twice about attempting to explore. No one’s ever been able to prove to have entered it.
[20:13:47] Datei ma Kagemori
”It must be very dangerous, to remain seemingly untouched to this day.”
[20:23:51] River Snake
”The whole area is dangerous, but I think there was something else.” He thinks again, what was it he heard about the old observatory
[20:34:49] River Snake
”Yeah, there’s a trick to getting in that keeps most people out…I think it might let us in”
[20:35:42] River Snake
”Inscriptions about chosen of the stars on a door that doesnt let anybody through no matter what they try”
[20:36:34] Datei ma Kagemori
”If the door has never opened, there are likely untouched traps within. …But good to know.”
[20:37:15] River Snake
”Thinking about it makes me want to go visit” Snake smiles.
[20:42:25] Raizo
Raizo blurbles on over from his temporary diversion, grasping a three-legged mug in his hand. “Sorry about disappearing, chaps. I saw a dice table and I was close to bored out of my mind.”
[20:43:14] Raizo
”No insult intended toward the host of our affair, I’m just…” he pauses, thinking of the right words, “the galas I’m used to are louder. And deadlier.”
[21:00:57] Master of Games
Among the onlookers taking note of your return is a familiar face—to Raizo, chiefly, though Kagemori has at least met her. Smoking Dragon, in charge of Clan Datei’s criminal operations in the outer city and surroundings, is at the party, seemingly independent of you as she’s no less surprised to see you. Tall and slender, her kimono is fine enough that it could be seen as a faux pas next to Kagemori’s more subdued robes, given he’s her superior. Tobacco smoke from her ever present pipe hangs around her, as does a young woman Raizo would recognize as her bookie from his first meeting with the gambling queenpin.
”I have to say I hadn’t expected to meet my lord here, and talking to the twins at that. Good evening.” She gives each of you an appraising look. It’s no secret that she was among the voices that were against Kagemori’s accession to clan head, and though her response to his letters was positive as the others, between the letters she made clear that she intends to serve the clan’s interests in her way.
[21:03:01] Datei ma Kagemori
”Good evening. How has the festivities been?” He smiles politely. “I had a small offer for the river gods, and my warrior here beat their record at stone skipping.”
[21:04:33] Raizo
Raizo lifts his mug to Smoking Dragon and then finishes it before exchanging it with another one from a passing servant.
[21:05:27] Master of Games
”He’s about to beat a record at drinking, too.”
[21:06:03] Datei ma Kagemori
Kagemori watches his vassal closely. She seems surprised, curious even, but is that all there is to it? She knows enough to know how to present an expected reaction.
[21:07:07] Raizo
”Not just that. Listen to this: Wine is fine and spirits lift my spirits, but what I find most dear is a nice cool beer. The poets over there didn’t like that one.”
[21:23:03] Master of Games
Smoking Dragon cackles at that. “I bet they didn’t. You should tell that one to their sailors, or at one of my places.”
For all that she is guarded as a matter of principle, Kagemori does not know Smoking Dragon to be a particularly political woman. She wants freedom to do as she pleases, and she doubts his abilities compared to his sister. It seems to him that she really is curious why he’s here, a little frustrated that the boss has found her in her free time, and perhaps intending to get a little dig in just because.
”Good so far. The wine is first rate, but the poems only got really good after a couple of cups. Really I’m here because my bookie’s never seen the festival, and she says she’s from a port town so the river folk’s party might suit her best.” The younger woman, in a simpler green kimono, bows silently.
[21:24:29] Master of Games
”There’s some other foreigner here, from up north, terrible bore of a man but he thinks he’s the gods’ own gift to us. Several other clan folk; I think I saw some Anori. Maybe here to complain about the landscaping.”
[21:27:58] Raizo
”A few more of these and I’ll be giving them an encore with a good drinking song,” he sips his drink, and adds, “I might do it anyway.”
[21:35:36] Datei ma Kagemori
”I might find the Anori. I would like to thank them for a recent gift. Though perhaps another day. That does sound like more court work, which I just wrapped up with our hosts.” This is intended to give an answer to why he is here, and it is even a true one. “I wouldn’t want to take too much time of your bookie’s time to enjoy the festival, in any case. Unless there is anything is you need of me, Smoking Dragon, of course. You do know I am always available to assist in anything, right? We’re in this together.”
[21:45:08] Master of Games
”Of course. I always work for the family in my own way. Try a shanty if you know any. They might join in.” Smoking Dragon bows less deeply than one would expect and excuses herself. As they pass, Kagemori barely notices the bookie slip a piece of paper into his sash, in a contact so brief he could swear it was a coincidence.
[21:47:13] Datei ma Kagemori
Kagemori gives the slightest bow, showing politeness but that he is of a higher status. He then looks around for the Anori. He will examine the piece of paper once he is on the move and seemingly unobserved.
[21:49:46] Raizo
Raizo tips his hand to his companions and goes off to find the drinking poets to wait for a turn to show them a good time.
[21:53:21] Master of Games
The Anori visitors turn out to be in the same general direction, not judging the estate’s geomancy but engaging in aesthetic tastemaking through poetry. Although the point of the event is to drink and have fun more than to produce art, and they are also at least tipsy. It’s about time for the last round of poems.
The note is brief, in handwriting that is neat though unpracticed with the local script. <The foreigner with the broken sword has the eyes of Heaven on him. Beware.>
[21:56:52] Datei ma Kagemori
Kagemori hides the note after reading it. He is appreciative of the warning and decides he will have to learn more of this foreigner. He wonders why the bookie gave it to him though. Is this note actually from the bookie, or from Dragon using her as an unnoticed courier?
[22:05:00] Raizo
Raizo steps into the midst of poets as one of them finishes their recitation. With all the grace of a bucking horse, he finishes his drink and grabs another and starts out a tune, “In the brewery aT NOON It’s merry as A TAP ROOM Merrily the boys all gather, singing in the backroom! Merrily the boys all gather, singing in the backroom!
And now the sun is lowERING and is asleep until the morning,” he slurs his words here a bit, “Jolly laughs from all around to all that come wandering, jolly laughs from all around to all that come wandering!
And when we are all joined here with foaming mugs of fine beer! Hops and barley in the brew fill our hearts with good cheer, hops and barely in the brew fill our hearts with good cheer!
They will song all night long, good old songs of Vaneha! We’ll turn our thoughts to better days, and drown away these sad ones! We’ll turn our thoughts to better days, and drown away these sad oooooones!”
[22:11:51] Master of Games
The stuffier and less drunk poets, including those Anori Kagemori intends to talk to, are offended by Raizo’s drunken ballad, but it’s an instant hit with the children, several adults about as soused as he is and the twin gods, who clap along, a few even joining in.