"I know very little about it and what you ask I cannot tell you. It seems like you don't like me to be honest. All I know is it can harness evil. To be honest, there is a chance it isn't blood magic but using it, the way it was used..." The healer furrows his brow "This is a lot to contend with."

"Using someone's blood to raise whatever demonic creature was riding the master's daughter is a vile, evil act, and if this maho magic was the source of it, those who use it must have a deeply corrupt spirit.  Inviting more evil can only corrupt it further.  This magic may be a thing of hints and legends, but the fact of it is that some foul power has struck down innocents.  I want to examine the daughter's room and the healers' rooms and see if there are any clues within that may tell us more about what passed and give us more insight.  Then I will examine the graveyard to see if any clues remain in the grave.  I welcome anyone who wishes to join me in seeking answers to this mystery," Zokiro says, hoping to head off bad feelings by redirecting folks to more productive tasks.  She has had her fill with misunderstandings; now was a time for knowledge and understanding.

"I will go with you if I may? I do not wish to be a burden." The healer bows his head.

"Of course.  I welcome anyone's fresh eyes to unravel this tragedy."  She gives a bow of thanks to Calen, and waits to see if Setsuko and Lady Tachibana wish to come.  Then she will go to the rooms and graveyard, using sight enhanced by her powers to detect magical residue, trying to find something that might have looked innocuous but have more power than the obvious...

"Of course, clan sister, I'm always willing to join you in whatever good we might achieve. I will say that I have examined their rooms once before but as I lack the knowledge to know what to look for, perhaps we will be more successful this time." encouraged Setsuko.

She followed along lending her sword as always. “Thanks for your honesty. I wanted to know the extent of this threat you speak of because it was alarming, and I am satisfied with your answer.”  Trying to change the subject, “I think our best lead is to find the master’s daughter. She will no doubt have a trail. There might be some rumors in town about things amiss.  I also fear she might start attacking villagers and we need to warn others of her..”

Time passes.

The group goes to the master and daughters room. Zok uses her spell but finds nothing magical in all the rooms checked. All they find are the typical clothing and basic gear of both of them. The healers room are bare-just the typical bed and closet. Most of their clothes are gone. They find nothing in the cemetary besides the open tomb of the daughter.

As they discuss what they did find, Set sends words via pigeons to all towns nearbye to warn them (3 total). The one in charge walks up to them, holding four boxes. The man nods his heads "These were owned by the temple. I feel they could aid you." He puts them down and opens them "They were kept secret, and I feel these would fit you well. If you wish to leave and go after the daughter or venture out, horses will be given to you with the gear needed. Find the daughter." The sohei watches folds his arms over his chest "I will see to it no one will enter temple and none will leave for now. You have my word." He bows.

Cloak of the Resistance: +1 to all saving throws
Amulet of Alertness: +2 to Spot and Listen Checks
Kimono of Stealth: +2 to Hide and Move Silently
Sandles of Speed: +2 to Initative and Jump checks

A monk enters, and provides four potions:
Cure Light Wounds x2
Magic Fang
Shield of Faith +2

"If you arrive back, you will be allowed access to rest and regroup. A place to stay." The sohei holds his hand out to each of you.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:11, Fri 09 Oct 2020.

Zokiro is disappointed at her lack of finding any other clues, though the lack of knowledge is, in its way, a knowledge.  No lingering magic is here, which means the monastery has no hidden spells ready to harm them, and no magical residue was left, which meant any magic used was not so terribly strong that she would fear to go after the maho culprits.  The "healers" had left nothing incriminating behind, so they had been careful and cautious.  The daughter's grave had not been tampered with, to the best of Zokiro's knowledge, so what had caused her to change was either entirely the fault of the blood magic, or a combination of the blood magic and some other factor.

When the monk had come with the objects of the temple to aid them, Zokiro had bowed deeply for their trust in letting them use these things.

"I thank you for your trust.  We will find her," she says.  Zokiro places her hand upon the cloak at first, looking at her companions to see if they had a preference for which item would be most useful for their quest.

To the sohei, Zokiro also bows.  "I thank you as well.  It may be needed in this difficult quest."

As the others are deciding how they want to divide up their supplies to best serve their hunt, Zokiro asks of Calen, "There is but one other thing I wish I knew.  The 'healers' left little of themselves behind, but I wonder where they learned of this foul magic.  Do you think it likely there was some text in the library they interpreted with an evil heart?  Or was this something learned from another practitioner?"

"Thank you, Brother," Setsuko said with a respectful bow to both the sohei and the other monk in turn. She nodded to Zokiro to approve of the shugenja's selection, before deciding upon an item to select for her own use. Like her clan sister did before her, Setsuko set her hand upon the amulet to see if there were others who preferred to use it.

She nodded at the monks for the items.  "It is indeed an honor for you to share these valuable items.  It heartens me that you find our mission so valuable."  When they were alone, she spoke to the others.  "So, which would you have?  Although these items are powerful, I cannot imagine a serious samurai be seen wearing this....dress...although it does not look too different from a monk and Shugenja dress.  You seem to have a connection with the amulet, Set.  You should take it, as I feel it will make your eyes and ears even sharper." She moved on and tried on the cloak.

She listened attentively to Calen's response on the history of the blood magic that he spoke of.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:53, Thu 15 Oct 2020.

What the healer mentioned before is what he knows-he knows little about it just that it is evil. He watches the samurai, as if she expect anything else but he doesn't repeat anything. He doesn't move to take anything but nothing not being used he does slowly take. He pauses hearing Zok "Perhaps. Shall we go there first and then depart? Its unknown to us. Perhaps it was taught, perhaps not."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:01, Sat 10 Oct 2020.

"It is worth the time to look, if only to arm ourselves with knowledge against this evil before we seek it out," Zokiro says.  To the others, she says, "I hope this will not take too long, and then I will be ready to depart and seek out the daughter."  She will go with Calen to library, along with anyone else who wishes to come.

OOC: 01:49, Today: Zokiro Mirumoto rolled 22 using 1d20+12.  Knowledge (arcana).

The healer checks the area, and then returns with Zok. WHat was promised was resolved with the horses manned up with seperate tents and a hammock ready. Cal gets up onto his horse. He just find basic religions about the Dragon temple and finds out nothing about Maho or blood magic.
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:51, Wed 14 Oct 2020.

After a search of the shelves, nothing is found about maho. However the "healers" learned of it, they did not learn of it within the pages of the library.  "They could have been taught by another in secret.  Or some evil spirit may have saw something within them that it thought it could seduce them with.  Powerful spirits are very tricky, and the gifts they give even more so."

Now with all the resources within the walls of the monastery exhausted, she was ready to go, and gets her gear ready, loading it onto her horse Nori.  "Lady Tachibana, if you wish the cloak, and Setsuko, if you wish the amulet, then I will wear the sandals, and Calen, the kimono is yours.  For certain if we encounter some dire threat, being unseen would be a good defense, and for certain I need to react more swiftly with my spells," Zokiro says.  She will keep the healing potions with her for the nonce, and is ready to depart, swinging up on her horse.

Setsuko nods, "That sounds like the best plan. Let us go." The monk finishes securing her supplies on her horse and mounts quickly. "I...apologize if my meditations and ruminations have rendered my silent on many things. That such evil could be committed here had continued to disturb my peace of mind. I think I've regained my balance and I am truly ready."

Koko moved from the cloak and to the sandals.  It was not ill-form one she put it on.  She tested her blade drawing skills.  The others have witnessed it before as she drew them with incredible speed.  Yet, it seems the sandals made her drawing even faster.  "I am fine with either of these items...the cloak or the sandals.  I leave it up to you, Zokiro.  We should get going."  She also brought her pack onto her horse and was ready to ride.

Soon the group takes off on their horses. Koko probably takes the lead, showing the group the possible way the daughter had taken off to. The day goes by quietly, the group stopping every few hours to let the horses rest and to have some food. The area is mainly mountanous, but they seem to be making some decent time. Night slowly comes.

OOC
Make a Survival check.

"I think we should find a good place to rest for the night." Setsuko said as she looked for a place to camp. "We should also have nightly watches to guard against unexpected surprises."


OOC:
Setsuko Osagai rolled 24 using 1d20+9.  Survival check.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:26, Thu 22 Oct 2020.

"I can take the first watch, so that I will be able to muster my magic in good form by daybreak" Zokiro says.

"Thank you."  Koko nodded at Zokiro.  I can take second.  She was soon fast asleep.

23:19, Today: Koko Tachibana rolled 16 using 1d20+1.  survival.

The group finds a outcropping  that Set finds thats covered partially by a mountain pass. Getting off his horse to join the others, he starts a fire for warmth and huddles within the confines of his cloak "It seems I will take a watch as well. Wake me up when needed." The man lies down staring into the flames. He then lies on his back staring at the rooftop above.

OOC
So want to take 4 watches? The healer is fine. No one is injured. So thinking spell wise you should be at full.

Zokiro nods at the others.  "Rest well.  I will wake Lady Tachibana when it is time," she says.  She will have a pot of tea going over the coals, both for needful wakefulness and for the other watchers when they take over.

Setsuko looks to the others nodding, "I will take the last watch so that if there are no surprising visitors, I will be able to greet the rising sun."

Koko nodded.  "Very well, I will wake up Calen then when I am done."  She did not sleep in her armor but wore it during her watch.  She had her bow and sword on her side at ready.

OCC:  I Also rolled listen check for Koko's horse

08:37, Today: Koko Tachibana rolled 20 using 1d20+5.  Listen Check Koko's horse.

08:37, Today: Koko Tachibana rolled 5 using 1d20+1.  Listen check Koko.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:48, Tue 27 Oct 2020.

Nothing happens during Zok's watch. She goes to sleep. Cal and Koko remain out like a light leaving Set to do her watch. The fire is still going as well, providing some light.

OOC
Need a Spot and Listen check from Set.
Everyone else that's asleep, can make a Listen check.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:05, Tue 27 Oct 2020.