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lostcompass2022-04-28 04:00 pm
groundrules) wrote in lostcompass2022-04-28 04:00 pm
the drought | ke-waicai
Hi everyone! Below are the two main quest options for the 29 April – 15 May.
- ■ There will be no mod-led log for this, but feel free to make your own logs, posts, send a carrier pigeon...
■ You can offer support and participate in either quest, even if you didn’t sign up for one.
■ Please ICly share any notable information your character gets with the group — there's been a bit of a decline on this, sharing is caring, etc.
And thanks to Wrathion’s player for summarising a lot of the Arc findings in an IC info post!
THE DROUGHT
Several Ke-Waihu wells dry out, while local crop fade from unseasonal swelter and the warmth of stirring volcano Ke-Sanwon. Farmers in the village outskirts fare better, although thick black rivulets stream at the roots of their luxuriant corn. The lush forests of Ke-Waihu shed their magical glamour, revealing husked trees, desiccated shrubs and dying river beds.
Fearing crackdown from the ruling clan Hok-Shinn, villagers discreetly murmur of the merits of returning to the old ways of appeasing Brother Sanwon to avoid the 'years of thirst.'
THE VILLAGERS
- ■ Villagers beg help with collecting the last of their compromised crops. Some fields are entirely wilted and induce lethargy that briefly depletes the stamina of passers-by, the longer they linger. Pair up for a helping hand if you swoon from gluten, and get the last of the crops before they turn to ash at sundown!
■ Other fields are exceedingly lavish, disproportionately thick and tall, and... animated. Beware vines that knot around your legs, seeking to pull you to (or into...) the ground. Some plants seem to hum or speak, and imitate the laughter of children. They are not conscious, but will parrot what they hear religiously.
■ Villagers further ask help with their infested granaries that now house large thumb-sized vermin and feral rodents, all fitfully hungry. Water and fire exorcise these creatures wonderfully — but beware collapsing these creaking, termite-laden constructions!
■ The corruption of grains seems to spread quickly, with contaminated crops boasting a golden-coppery hue and quickly dissolving away. Chase down any hapless villager who has accidentally seeks to add contaminated wheat to the healthy reserves — or worse, to take it home for eating.
THE WITCHES
Distraught with the state of Ke-Waihu and the recent ‘disappearance’ of his tributes, the Beastmaster leads a swarm of xenomorphic creatures and large wolves on a trip to the Fortune Fetters. He takes along those he deems willy or able — have your character volunteer or get conscripted into the journey.
- ■ The witches of the Fetters, including the Beastmaster’s cousin Hyang-Tai, receive his party warmly. They are exhausted after days of calming down the frantic naga-like creatures, which typically protect them but have now been maddened by the recent volcanic activity. Like the prophetic ability of the witches, the snake creatures only appeared after Ke-Sanwon last eruption.
■ Those who approach nagas find they have limited human awareness, but are fleetingly able to communicate through hand gestures and seem to understand spoken tongues. Many of them were once human.
■ Throughout travel, characters can observe the Beastmaster periodically summon his creatures and give them a torn piece of red cloth to scent, before they scatter. They are joined by the woman previously seen haunting Ke-Waihu — who is only a large head, and a serpentine body that is built from her long hair and bound to rattling bones.
■ A heated and easily overheard conversation occurs between the Beastmaster and Hyang-Tai in the ruins of the Fetters — the Beastmaster dreads what the villages will do to prevent a volcanic eruption. Hyang-Tai soothes him, pledging a cure to the village ills.
■ Beseeching help from the Beastmaster’s retinue, Hyang-Tai explains that the dark waters witnessed in the forests and crop fields appeared after villagers implemented a fertilising cure, shared by a visiting wanderer in white.
■ Hyang-Tai and the witches believe the agricultural cure has now been depowered and regressed into its primal state — the gelid, surging dark waters — because of the spillage of Ke-Sanwon.
■ You can restore the cure by finding a way to (ideally permanently) chill vast quantities of dark water into a solid gel-like form that will immediately start to heal plants and animals around it.
■ You can also transform the black water into the cure again by adding it into running fresh water or an active well — such resources are rare in the current drought, but witches advise the fox spirits of the forest know where the last waters of the woods still pour. Persuade the foxes to help by rebuilding their shrines, dining them, performing petty tricks — or threatening their tails off.
■ You can also start a cure from scratch, provided it solves the main affliction of the villages by promoting moisture in plants. It should also revive or amplifies water founts.
■ The villages will need substantial amounts of cure, so everyone can contribute. Pitch in here.
KE-WAICAI
Ke-Waihu's increasingly superstitious villagers receive envoy Sang-Hoon of Ke-Waicai — the elusive third village, known as the 'first point of godhood.' This is a site reserved for the sainted, the faithful, the sinless and for devoted pilgrims. Sang-Hoon champions a return to the old ways of human sacrifice to 'appease' the Ke-Sanwon volcano. Despite opposition from Ke-Waihu's ruling
”Good people... you who have suffered... who suffer now. Do not fear pain. When blood is spilled from you, do you not scab after? Are your skins not fresh and pure? We must be absolute and cleansed before the heavens accept us. Before they forgive us, for we are burdened, we are the sons and the daughters of our fathers, and they have sinned! Sinned. Do we not repent so? Do we not atone? And are we so arrogant and so foolhardy to think our repentance and our atonement are enough for the gods, while the men who lead us continue their savagery? While we cheat on our vows to our wives and neglect our elders and envy our neighbours? No... no, our souls must ever continue on the path of reparation.
For we have been deceived, brothers, sisters. Into accepting the modern thought that man can forgive man, that beasts can speak for us before the heavens. We gave tribute to an animal, for he promised our waters would bloom, and our crops would grow. And they did. They did. For a few years, whilst Brother Sanwon gave us allowance to remember our good ways, he did spare us. The Brother is kind, and he has patience, but it thins. Now, he has no more mercy for his little siblings.
We must give him what he wants, for he breathes hot, and soon... many of you remember what he can do. He only asks, as he has ever asked... that we listen. That we shed our conceit and give unto him a fraction of our finest: one young man or woman or child, the least touched by corruption, the finest, the sweetest, the most gifted, from each village. Send ten, as you have ever done to the House, the noble house, death's own abode, the House of Ravens. We shall take them in Waicai, and choose the best of each, as we have ever done, and we shall give them to the House. Righteously, not as happened last, that your tribute of Waihu strayed on a wicked path and did not surrender himself to the Brother completely, though his mother braved the sorrows of her flesh to give him.
Brothers, sisters. I ask, only the ten, and we return nine. As ever. Brother Sanwon is not of greed. And this is your duty, it is your privilege. It is your atonement.“
For we have been deceived, brothers, sisters. Into accepting the modern thought that man can forgive man, that beasts can speak for us before the heavens. We gave tribute to an animal, for he promised our waters would bloom, and our crops would grow. And they did. They did. For a few years, whilst Brother Sanwon gave us allowance to remember our good ways, he did spare us. The Brother is kind, and he has patience, but it thins. Now, he has no more mercy for his little siblings.
We must give him what he wants, for he breathes hot, and soon... many of you remember what he can do. He only asks, as he has ever asked... that we listen. That we shed our conceit and give unto him a fraction of our finest: one young man or woman or child, the least touched by corruption, the finest, the sweetest, the most gifted, from each village. Send ten, as you have ever done to the House, the noble house, death's own abode, the House of Ravens. We shall take them in Waicai, and choose the best of each, as we have ever done, and we shall give them to the House. Righteously, not as happened last, that your tribute of Waihu strayed on a wicked path and did not surrender himself to the Brother completely, though his mother braved the sorrows of her flesh to give him.
Brothers, sisters. I ask, only the ten, and we return nine. As ever. Brother Sanwon is not of greed. And this is your duty, it is your privilege. It is your atonement.“
Sang-Hoon entreats offers of sacrifices, guards and pilgrims to escort the chosen. He also asks generous donations for rites and repairs at the House of Ravens, which only the people of Ke-Waicai may access.
- ■ Sang-Hoon's virtue does not extend to abstinence. Tavern aficionados may overhear him drunkenly proclaim Ke-Waicai possesses three 'sacred keys of the heavens' to reach the House of Ravens — prodding can earn you a few hints: one key is in the well-locked and heated forge of Beom-Soo, another in Moon-sik's labyrinthine libraries of obscure or cursed books, and a third key in the haunted temple site of worship led by chief priestess Su-Gyeong. All three locations are decently guarded, so aim for stealth.
■ Join Sang-Hoon on the trek back to Ke-Waicai, by volunteering as a prospective tribute or pilgrim, or by creating a strong cover as merchants, travelling service providers, brides marrying in, exorcists... etc. Once in Ke-Waicai, you have three days to steal a key and flee immediately. Pose as earnest believers during the journey.
■ Alternatively, rally 30,000 coins (offer services within Ke-Waihu? loot the Hok-Shinn? put on a show?) and trade them for a high-level introductory meeting with priestess Su-Gyeong. Plan 'fundraising' here.
■ Everyone can work towards key theft. Eda and Five will receive two of them by the end of it. A third key remains up for grabs. Plot theft here.
■ Still sheltered by the party, the Huntress hears of Sang-Hoon's recruitment efforts. She insists on entering the reopening House of Ravens and offers to lead a second group to Ke-Waicai, bypassing Sang-Hoon.
■ Sang-Hoon takes his disciples and followers down a sheltered mountain road that avoids woodland creatures. The Huntress directs her troupe through a winding forest path that is far more efficient, but incurs chase from local animals, unusually driven to violence by the recent volcanic activity. Stay in one piece!
■ Both Sang-Hoon and the Huntress's parties inevitably lead to a sharp, extended and heavily wind-battered abyss, on the other end of which waits Ke-Waicai. A troop of 10 exceptionally large and beautiful phoenix birds stands ready to cross travellers on their backs, each way, if they whisper the code of Ke-Waicai — a gurgling, raven-like croak. Sang-Hoon and the Huntress share it. Good luck in your 30-minute stormy travel on the back of a giant bird! ...no more than three riders/phoenix, please.
■ The Huntress' team take cover in the forests of near Ke-Waicai, where she urges them to beware espionage from any black bird. Ravens remain absent. The Huntress' party should dress as locals, hide their faces and sneak into Ke-Waicai.
■ Sang-Hoon's people receive a sterile but generous welcome and accommodations in the village — but are locked in and guarded at night for their own protection.
■ Ke-Waicai is a richer, more sophisticated village, but eerily disciplined, stoic and silent. Residents only speak pleasantly and avoid falling prey to passions, diligently urging repentance and distance from the emotions that can lead to temptation and sin. While peaceful in all other respects, they grow viciously protective if you question or insult the will of the heavens, Brother Sanwon or the House of Ravens.
■ Go about heisting, but leave as soon as you are done. Ke-Waicai's believers turn highly aggressive, once word spreads that keys have been stolen. They insist on jailing and interrogating every newcomer at that time. But, sure, drop a line if you want your character captured.
Plot & plan your character’s quest involvement under the appropriate mission header, and comment around to pair up, achieve mayhem, etc.
THE DROUGHT | KE-WAICAI
QUESTIONS
THE TEMPLE
Priestess Su-Gyeong's large temple site is orderly, vast and well protected — some say, by spooky but not necessarily murderous ghosts.
eta; the third key is here, up for grabs!
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