"Qing was invaluable to us as a guide and guardian along the path.  Setsuko showed great bravery and skill during our trials.  The great dragon who claimed the flower battled ferociously, but a kami of Fate intervened.  We were able to obtain the flower, and the kami told us we were fated to be at the forests of the south for a great purpose.  When the kami had departed, we hastened back to bring the flower and tell of our experiences," Zokiro says with a bow at the monks and the master.

Koko bowed to the master, not minding that his eyes were closed.  "Master monk, I am Koko, a swordwoman from the Lion lands.  Thank you for your hospitality for letting me seek shelter here.  I have pledged my sword to aid Setsuko and Zokiro."

One of the guards takes the flower and leaves the room. He then returns after a few moments, with two more and the young girl lying between them on a cot. They put her down, and put some of the flower into her mouth and breaks off some of it putting it on her legs and arms. The head monk doesn't look up as Fate was mention "You are needed here. Not to the South. Perhaps it was something you dreamed of? Least for now. We can discuss it tommorow." A healer of some sort enters, with a small pitcher as the monk raises one hand, revealing his arm. She grabs a small knife and draws some blood, dripping it into a glass and she wipes the blood from his arm, then bandages it. With a quick stir, she slowly opens the young womans mouth and starts to pour it. Once done she backs away and leaves the room as well as all the guards. Nothing happens.

"I would be pleased to discuss it at length when you desire, master.  But now, may I offer what healing magics I possess to aid your daughter's care?" Zokiro says, bowing in respect to the master and the healer.

Setsuko carefully moves closer to the Master, looking him over for reassuring signs of life and awareness.

OOC:

 Setsuko Osagai rolled 17 using 1d20+10.  Spot Check.
 Setsuko Osagai rolled 28 using 1d20+9.  Listen check.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:44, Wed 24 June 2020.

The master sighs and stands up. He gently kisses his daughters forhead and moves from her. Not a word is spoken. He raises his hand up and lets it fall and seems defeated then leaves the room.

The ranger stands there, arms crossed. No emotion seems to appear. He goes to follow the man but stops, perhaps giving him some time alone. He glances at the two woman, the last in the room.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:35, Thu 25 June 2020.

Setsuko stands and looks to her clan sister, "Zokiro, perhaps we can still do something. Let us at least try to see if we can save her."

Gently taking Zokiro's hand, she quickly moves the both over to the young girl's side.

OOC:

Setsuko Osagai rolled 19 using 1d20+5.  Healing check.

Koko stood by confused at the situation.  There was something important going on here, but she just wasn't sure what it is.

Zokiro's own magics were not as well suited to healing, but what she could do was bolster the young woman's strength.  "I will do all I can to aid her," she says, crossing to the girl's bedside with Setsuko.  She whispers entreaties to the spirits of the earth, hoping that the strength of the earth might aid this desperate plea.

OOC: Casting resistance and virtue (which may not do much, but by gum she's willing to try anything at this point).
This message was last edited by the player at 06:53, Tue 07 July 2020.

The body is cold, so no matter what the two do it it remains as it is. No life. Nothing happens. The ranger crosses his arms, and turns to leave but motions for the two of them to follow.

Setsuko bows and offers prayers of blessings and peace for the deceased young woman. Then she quickly goes to follow the exiting ranger. "Zokiro, I think we have both done all we can for now for the Master's daughter. Perhaps Qing Shan has further knowledge to share with us." she says to her clan sister.

Zokiro nods and rises, leaving with Setsuko to seek Qing.  Her heart is saddened by the girl's condition, that what had been done had not been enough.

The ranger watches for a moment. He shakes his head as the two acts like he wasn't even in the room and he tries not to let it get the better of him. Turning from them, he pulls up his hood and starts to leave. He doesn't state anything-the job is done. He glances at the samurai but keeps moving but he turns "My name is Qing. Not Qing Shan. I saw what just happened and I cannot tell either one of you what happened. You seek answers but I have none. The mission is done. I know as much as you do." He looks at Set "And you frustrated me. You act like again I am not there. Just go." He turns back from them "May we meet again."
This message was last edited by the player at 09:38, Tue 07 July 2020.

Depending on if they follow him or not, the area becomes quiet. Several monks move on the walls outside the temple. The sensai sits in his room indian style and theres no one else inside. Most within the temple are asleep. Its getting late. There are some conversations but hard to make out. Most are just idle chit-chat. One of the monks lets them know all is quiet and bows his head. The ranger watches the area, keeping away from anyone.

OOC
Let me know where in the temple you are. Qing is watching the outside area.

Areas:
Kitchen, bedroom area, sensai's room, ect.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:45, Tue 07 July 2020.

Zokiro nods good-bye to Qing, as it seems there was little else to say to the prickly ranger after the day's long journey, and says to Setsuko, "I will go to tender my condolences and apologies to the master if he will see us, then go to the shrine and pray.  The young woman deserves peace, and whatever wisdom the spirits would grant me, I would gladly seek."

Zokiro will wait to see what Setsuko has to say, and then head for the master's room, kneeling just inside the doorway and wait to be acknowledged.  If he acknowledges her, she will say, "Master, it is to my shame that I was unable to help your daughter. I apologize for being unable to fulfill my duty.  I will go to the shrine to pray for your daughter's spirit to have peace and for wisdom."

If the master does not acknowledge her, Zokiro will bow to him and withdraw.

Either way, afterwards she will go to the shrine (or a place of meditation, preferably outdoors), and pray for peace for the young woman, and for wisdom for herself.

Setsuko bows to Qing as he prepares to leave saying apologetically, "Please forgive my rudeness, despite my best training I am nearly overwhelmed by the loss of life we have all just experienced. Farewell, may the spirits bless your path and you ancestors find worthiness in your heart an soul."

She turns to Koko, "Our apologies for not being proper hosts at this time. Please go to your chambers and rest. Zokiro and I will seek audience with the Master tonight and then seek peace in meditation and prayer. If you need food or drink before you retire, there are many brothers and sister who will assist you. Thank you for your patience and if you are still awake later, we will visit with you before going to rest ourselves."

She replies to Zokiro, "I will join you, with your permission. We have much to discuss with the Master before sunrise."

The master is silent as Zok and Set enter. He lowers his head, listening to them. But he remains as quiet as a mouse. Seems like losing his daughter did a number to him. He sighs deeply, lowering his head as he remains sitting indian style. No monks or guards are in his quarters.

In reply to Rokugan (msg # 292):

Koko didn't know the ranger, and decided to let him sulk alone.  She also felt the conversation between her sisters and monk is private.  Leaving them alone, she decided to take advantage of sleeping in peace for once this night under the relative safety of the temple.

Zokiro ventures a question to the master, as his silence troubles her greatly.  "Master, how did your daughter die?  Were we simply too late with the flower?  Was it not strong enough to overcome the illness?  Was there another reason?  My spirit is troubled greatly by her passing, and I feel at fault that we were unable to heal her."

The man doesn't look up. He does seem to be blind but he can see. Well to a degree perhaps by magic, perhaps his other senses heightend. But he does speak "A few days back, she grew ill. There was no reason behind it but she was near the Shadowlands. The flower is said to be a cure for things my family knows little about. I am the last." He stands up, crossing his arms over his back "There was a man seen around her but no one caught a glance of him or her. Stayed a good distance off, never said a word. A reason why she was brought here. Perhaps protection, and to be blessed. That alone could not save her. The man was not seen soon after while inside these walls."

"A man?  Someone who delivered poison or sickness?  Or a spirit in the form of a man?"  Zokiro was new to her studies, but she knew that spirits could be capricious, or seek out revenge for seemingly innocuous things done or not done at any time before (for time did not always matter to spirits).  Or perhaps the spirit was the kami of Fate, only foreshadowing what was to come.

The young monk listened quietly, knowing little in the ways of the Shadowlands, spirits, or poisons. Setsuko quietly folded herself into the resting lotus position while still listening to the discussion. Part of her mind was still somewhat concerned with the words of the being calling itself Fate.

"I do not know. But she has left us." The man looks rather defeated.

The door opens and in walks a odd form. It limps forwards and hisses. The sensei stops and stands up "My daughter! She returned to us!" It moves towards him with a limp and her apperance is rather odd. She has the clothing of the departed, familiar to the two and the sensai. But her skin is pale, her eyes narrowed and her nails are long like claws.

The sensai steps back looking shocked! "What happened? My de..." She lunges at him and they both fall to the ground with a thud as a chair is thrown backwards into a wall! He tries to get her off of him!


This message was last edited by the GM at 22:57, Wed 15 July 2020.

With her heart pounding at this sudden revelation of what seemed to be a demon inhabiting the girl's body, Zokiro calls out loudly, hoping to attract the other monks or even Setsuko and Lady Tachibana.  "To the master's room!"

With care, she casts her eye upon the floor and gestures in a deep, drawing motion, softening the stone floor and hoping to trap the demon-ridden child!

OOC: Casting soften earth and stone under her with an eye to hopefully impeding her and letting the master get away.

At first the young monk was stunned with horror and shock at the dark creature attacking the Master in the form of his daughter. Zokiro's call to action roused her from her hesitation and she quickly ran over and pulled the Master away from the fanged monster.