Dramatis Personae

• He Bohai aka Eleven (NPC): TBA. Tagline: TBA.
• He Donghai aka Twelve (NPC): TBA. Tagline: TBA.
• He Qing aka Four (NPC): TBA. Tagline: TBA.
• Laoshu aka Mouse aka Three (NPC): TBA. Tagline: TBA.
• Meiyou Ren aka Six (NPC): TBA. Tagline: TBA.
• Rang Baozhai aka Ten (NPC): TBA. Tagline: TBA.

Previously . . .

Things open with the majority of the group (excepting Ting who already ate that morning) enjoying some venison stew that the Oracle prepared in her kitchen, there’s more than enough room for them to sit down at a sizeable rectangular kitchen table. Though some are still reticent about enjoying it, sniffing at it in case of it being rather soylent. They get to enjoy it with a huge plate of never-ending dumplings. She also pulls out a large amount of tanghulu which most of the children (excepting Ting who already ate that morning) being excited about it and Jing Min and Zhiyu taking some for later while Mouse has already enjoyed the candy and is contemplating turning the bamboo skewers into shivs to Zhiyu’s displeasure.

The Tree Speaks

Jian Wu, Jiao Ting, Liang Jing Min, Nongmin Chushi, Sheng Yi, and Zhiyu Zhige
The Green Seer’s Home
Eight Month 7th day, 998 Zao Dynasty, 15th hour
Shidao Province

Nongmin, with a full stomach, decides that he wishes to open himself to the supernatural and the house. He goes limp and then sits up and looks at everyone. He seems to be making sounds that aren’t quite human. It sounds like rustling leaves and roots digging deep in the earth. Sheng Yi looks to Rang who doesn’t know what’s going on and then looks to the Oracle who slaps Nongmin gently back to consciousness and the trope explain slightly what happened to him, and that they don’t speak that dialect of tree.

As they learn that they can have more food, most get more bowls of stew while Zhiyu secrets some away up her sleeve while another member of the group asks to take some stew back to the others of their group to which the Oracle agrees giving them the proper amount of bowls without asking their number. They ask what the Oracle does, she explains that she does various things and occasionally takes on apprentices. When asked what she teaches, she mentions natural worship and herbalism which interests Zhiyu a bit, though also puts her on edge, close to grabbing Ren and Mouse and running. Nongmin is interested in speaking with spirits instead, and the Oracle does mention that sometimes she talks to them and occasionally they talk back.

When inquired about the blood speaker, she tells them that occasionally they make the trip over the mountains to get to the qi in the valley the order is in. Since they are eight year olds with limited knowledge, she explains the concepts of qi and then the presence of qi in the valley and the importance of it. Jing Min asks a question and to which the Oracle laughs and then explains that the forest was there before she was. They explain to her that they have to leave and thank her for her hospitality. She tells them to come back later when they’re more seasoned and she’d throw some bones for them, she also offers Zhiyu and Nongmin the opportunity to learn magical abilities and herbalism later, she’d speak with their trainer about it.

Earlie Mornin’

Jian Wu, Jiao Ting, Liang Jing Min, Nongmin Chushi, Sheng Yi, and Zhiyu Zhige
Forest Cutter’s Camp
Eight Month 8th day, 998 Zao Dynasty, 8th hour
Shidao Province

They head back towards the camp, with Nongmin trying to remember the pathway through the woods and Jing Min trying to remember the Oracle’s name. Once there, Zhiyu hands the lynchpin for the yoke to wagon to the rest. When they arrive, they find one of the twins there with a black eye claiming that he tripped and fell, though no one believes him. They pass out the food and check on He Bohai and then check on the rest, treating any injuries that cropped up during their absences. Jing Min speaks with Jian Wu and asks what Qing might have messed up, though Jian Wu is more worried about who is going to wake up with bruises in the morning.

Waking up in the middle of the night, they want to beat He Qing, though Zhiyu reveals she has also slipped itching powder into Qing’s belongings. They hold down Qing and with a blanket and beat upon him, with Jing Min and Mouse doing the worst damage, Jian Wu going for the sensitive portions and Zhiyu keeping watch. Nongmin merely acknowledges what they’re doing before going back to bed. Sheng Yi flubs up a speech about it being a team building exercise.

Back Home and to Work

Jian Wu, Jiao Ting, Liang Jing Min, Nongmin Chushi, Sheng Yi, and Zhiyu Zhige
The Citadel of the August Order of the Black Jade Guard
Eight Month 9th day, 998 Zao Dynasty, 5th hour
Shidao Province

That morning, they wake up and enjoy a meal of cold meat before getting the wagon set back up and giving the horses a once over and then feeding them some food. With Nongmin driving the cart back slowly, taking eight hours instead of four due to none of them wanting to push themselves. Now none of them are quite sure who to give the goods to. When the man that comes out to greet them tells them that they’re late, they immediately go into bragging mode about the horses being slow, they had to fight a bear, overload the cart, fight spirits, and many other things. They’re told to take the meat to the kitchens, the cart and horses to the yard, and wood to the woodpile. They immediately split off and unload the wood until late into the night.

They get woken up at ten minutes until first light, at least half of the group already awake. They’re made to run up and down the stairs. He Bohai ends up falling down the stairs while Mouse and Rang fail to make it up and down until Ting extends a helping hand to Rang. Mouse keeps staring daggers at Qing and claims to Zhiyu that Qing tripped Bohai. Zhiyu plans with Ren to trip Qing next time he comes around. Qing manages to avoid the ambush and continues to run up and down the stairs.

They run up and down the stairs for six hours with hourly breaks for water and then midday meal. The majority of the group want to deal with Qing who managed to finish the steps faster than the rest, they assume it’s because he was pushing his way through everything. Jing Min says they need to figure out something to do him and suggests breaking his arm without healing him to teach him a lesson. Ting walked away from them the moment that the Qing lynching group formed up again.

They go again and try to move again as a group to avoid Qing’s antics, with Rang going slowly and Ting sticking with her rather than everyone else to avoid the lynching group. Sadly, they all form up around Rang and shout encouragement. They manage to complete their stair climbing exercise and are given a grunt of acknowledgement from the Trainer, Yuehan. They’re given liberties now for the rest of the day and exercises begin again the next day. Nongmin asks if they can add the bear claw to their soul chains is told that’s fine if they do it on their own time. Yuehan also saw something happen to He Bohai with nothing concrete.

Back in the creche barracks, Sheng Yi takes his other, green, tincture before falling asleep. Ting sits and rests while watching everyone else. Jing Min sits in a corner and enjoys some of his leftover tanghulu before doing stretches. Zhiyu starts treating the members of the creche that didn’t do well with the stairs, Rang, Bohai, and Mouse.

The lynching group meets up again and discusses what to do with Qing. Jing Min’s suggestion of breaking an arm isn’t entirely accepted. The suggestion of removing the stabbing restriction from Mouse, but that’s refused. Sheng Yi suggests that they just shelve the discussion for the night and then takes the green tincture. Two of them keep watch on Qing who grins with pleasure at being considered dangerous.

Sparring Time

Jian Wu, Jiao Ting, Liang Jing Min, Nongmin Chushi, Sheng Yi, and Zhiyu Zhige
The Citadel of the August Order of the Black Jade Guard
Eight Month 10th day, 998 Zao Dynasty, 6th hour
Shidao Province

The next day, they get to run laps around the courtyard until noon. Rang and Mouse are having troubles again with some barely hanging on. Those that succeed get water and Ting keeps helping Rang, sharing his water ration with her. When it comes to midday break, Zhiyu passes out the dumplings she took from the Oracle to everyone but Qing.

After finishing the run, they get taken to a sparring circle where they get to see a flag that has a Tiger on their side. It’s time to see if they know anything about combat. The other team, Monkey, looks raring to go. It’s nominally a 1 vs. 1, though a team can come in up to three, but only one of the three can continue to the next round as only the winner can fight more than once. The winner is the first to three touches with Sheng Yi coming into the ring first.

The first strike is a step and a kick from Sheng that misses and is then returned with a whiff. Stepping in closer, they exchange blows, each one a whiff on the other though Monkey tries a knee to the groin. Repeated whiffs, against each other. Sheng Yi gets his first and last attack in, throwing his opponent with a judo move.

Next up is Jing Min, whose opponent is faster than Jing Min. The Monkey evaluates Jing Min, sizing him up. Jing Min moves in defensively before getting overly excited and going at his opponent twice. Sadly, Jing Min over reached and left himself defenseless to Monkey’s counter attack, now leading two to none. Jing Min swings back to full defense while Monkey goes back to evaluate. Jing Min goes to grapple Monkey, and Monkey breaks free easily from the grapple when Jing Min loses his grasp. In return, Jing Min throws a punch that whiffs and narrowly avoids a judo throw. Now cautious, Jing Min evaluates his opponent and tries a grapple again, but whiffs so badly his mistake is obvious to everyone. Monkey takes advantage of Jing’s weakness and strikes with Jing failing to parry and getting knocked out leading to Tiger’s first loss.

The next Tiger member in is Nongmin versus the same Monkey. They evaluate each other until the Monkey moves in and kicks Nongmin who fails to dodge. In return, Nongmin strikes back, evening the score to 1:1. Monkey evaluates again and Nongmin’s second punch whiffs by Monkey. Nongmin goes into defensive mode while Monkey evaluates. When Nongmin’s next punch whiffs, Monkey attacks twice and easily knocks Nongmin out of the ring.r

Next up is Jian Wu. Monkey starts off with an evaluate while Jian Wu starts off with a telegraphic attack that manages to hit. Monkey steps back and evaluates again. Monkey dodges Jian Wu’s next blow and continues to retreat with Jian Wu trying to grapple his opponent but it whiffs. Monkey, now properly evaluated his opponent, and throws out two strikes. Jian Wu retreats back, dodging one of his blows but the second manages to connect evening the score. More whiffs and failed judo throws again. Several exchanges later and Jian Wu gets three blows done with.

He Qing goes up next and gets beaten easily.

Mouse, however, goes in and manages to beat Monkey.

Aftermath

After Action Report (GM)

The PCs did well despite a lot of “scene switching” (something I like to keep to minimum when I can). The players were excited to be there and they enjoyed sparring with the other team despite them barely losing. We talked a bit about the next time skip and upgrade and then after some notes Calvin and I went ahead and updated his character (which was it’s own complication). Overall, folks had fun and next week we’re skipping a session since not everyone can attend. This gives me plenty of time to make sure all the PCs are updated and to add more NPCs to my notebook for the players to interact with.

Other Notes

Bonus report here.

Soundtrack

None.