Arcane Tower

Sorry for accidentally deleting old posts. Not used to the blog interface on my phone, and its blocked at work.

Hopefully everyone can join us tomorrow.
 

Good idea. I'll be there late (post-car-pool time), but I should still be there. Not sure who's running - I assume Curtis.

 

I'll be there.

Because we started somewhat haphazardly as some people were still making characters and before all the npc's were fleshed out, I never really made it clear where people were going and why so many people are on the same road with you.

The short form is that you're going to the newly imperial city of Toshi Ranbo which is inside (what I'm calling) the Imperial Zone. It's an area surrounded by mountains on three sides and ocean cliffs on the other. The mountains only have 2 passes that are suitable for travel of large groups. Because you're all coming from the north, you all have to travel through the northern pass ("beiden pass").

Toshi Ranbo is the same city that the Crane and Lion were fighting over. Last winter the emperor declared that Toshi Ranbo would be administrated by the Seppun family (an imperial family) because the Lion and Crane couldn't stop fighting over it. (although there is obviously more to it.)

As the scorpion territories lie directly west of the city, it's a little odd that no scorpions have chosen to take the northern pass. (As the Ishiken Initiate has been spending time in the Unicorn camp, he's noticed them talking about this. It seems many of them have Scorpion friends)

You absolutely can't miss winter court, but you're also not really in a hurry. The exact amount of time depends on weather and the other vagaries of travel, but you could probably safely waste about 25 days. This is assuming you actually have to be there and presentable in 30 days.

At least 3 PC's have been made aware that there's some evidence that (the missing emerald champion) Akodo Toturi was here for quite a while. During a storm Toturi left with one of the Geisha (who only started working here about a week before Toturi arrived.) No one actually saw them leave. The next day another new Geisha (who started 2 days after Toturi's arrival) left as well. The storm was very serious.. in fact when you all arrived, the bridge was still out (roughly a month later). In fact, when anyone with a decent feel for nature gets far enough away from the clattering and clacking of people.. and the smell of the horses or perfumes of the Geisha.. they might notice an odd energetic, but soothing quality to the air, as if your in the eye of a storm, but still the birds sing and the leaves are soaking in the sun.
 

We really need to start snooping around the area and investigating. Paul is playing a Dragon investigator type, and I know I made him aware of the issue to give him a place to start investigating. I'll work with him on it. If we need magical talent, I'd prefer to bring in somebody from the Lion Clan before getting even more clans involved in this, of course.

 

If these Geisha have been killed, and I strongly say "If", then we might need someone who can talk with the local spirits as well. Not necessarily the ones from the girls, since we might not find their bodies, but the local ones that generally inhabit the area, especially in the area or near the area that is being the "eye of the storm".