It's a little past 3:00 PM when the party crosses the prefectural border into Ghon-Ki. Surprisingly enough, there were no border guards or anything along the border regulating access between the two prefectures. The party makes a mental note of that as they continue forward.
Danika, riding shotgun opposite TRITHAL who is driving, pulls out a map of the area and attempts to find their location.
Danika: "I think if we keep going straight for a while, then go north on this side road, we'll find ourselves in the port town of Irumac."
TRITHAL: "Irumac, you say? Then, I suppose we're in the area where my grandparents lived when my dad was born. My granddad used to tell me stories about his childhood, and he often talked about going to the shore near Irumac with friends of his. Kinda makes me wish we had time to go sight-seeing."
Danika: "Not sure what sights there are to see... this area appears to have fallen quite desolate."
The occupants of the vehicle look around at the land along the road, to find a bunch of overgrown fields and abandoned houses and barns.
AXEM: "Damn! No wonder your grandparents moved to Sabretooth! This place looks like a shit hole!"
Anri: "I wonder what happened here?"
TRITHAL: "If I remember correctly, I think there was some civil war years ago or something. My grandparents didn't talk much about it. My guess was they fled like refugees or something."
After some time driving, TRITHAL finds the side road Danika mentioned and turned north. At around 4:30 PM they find the port town of Irumac sitting on the shore of the sea, which likewise looks deserted.
THRAX: "Maybe this wasn't a good idea after all"
Danika (to TRITHAL): "Tsutaru, look over there. That house seems to have someone living in it"
Danika points to a house sitting next to the shore, which appears to be in the most repair. On the front of this house is some kind of marking that, as they got closer, TRITHAL seemed to recognize.
TRITHAL: "Let's go check this place out."
TRITHAL parks the SUV and everyone gets out of it. As they case the surroundings, they find a pretty good-sized, yet oddly-shaped vessel dry-docked on a floating pier on the shore behind the house. The boat appeared to be in good repair. TRITHAL knocked on the front door, and a younger male voice from the other side responded, "Who's there?"
TRITHAL: "Hey, my name is Trithal the Divine Wind. My party and I are interested in buying your boat out there."
Person: "That vessel is property of High Priest Rihac Thalimed, and it is not for sale! Go away!"
TRITHAL: "Are you sure? I'll pay you 20,000 GP for it... cash!"
THRAX (whispers to Danika): "Does he actually have that much money?"
Danika shrugs in response.
The top half of the door opened to reveal what appeared to be a 16-year old boy with a shaved head, wearing robes like a monk or something. The person responded, "I told you it's not for sale! Now begone with you!"
The person tried to slam the door in TRITHAL's face, but TRITHAL grabbed it and said to the person, "Ok then. Do me a favor and tell the High Priest... (says something in the Macha language)"
Person: "Fine. Whatever. Just beat it!"
Before the person could close the door, the weak, broken voice of an old man said "Wait a minute, Nguang..."
Person (to old man): "Master Rihac---"
From the back room of the house, a very old-looking man staggered out, and with the aide of some strange-looking wood staff, walked towards the door. The man's old eyes examined TRITHAL's face, then the man said something to TRITHAL in the Macha language. TRITHAL responded, likewise in the Macha language.
The old man grinned real big and told his underling, "Nguang! Let these people in!
Nguang: "Yes, master!"
The younger person opened the bottom half of the door and allowed the party into the house.
Rihac: (to TRITHAL) "Mugen, my old friend! Welcome to my home!"
TRITHAL: "Thanks, Kuta, but the last one who was called Mugen died almost 80 years ago. My name is Trithal."
Rihac: "Ah, I see. (to Nguang), Nguang, make some tea for our guests!"
Nguang: "Yes, master!"
Rihac: (to party) "Please, everyone have a seat! Make yourselves comfortable!"
The party accepts the old man's hospitality, and sits down around a square coffee table in the middle of the front room. Nguang returned with a pot of tea and 7 cups, and commenced to serving. After everyone has a cup of tea, Nguang excuses himself and leaves the room.
TRITHAL: "So, Kuta, what have you been up to all these years? I haven't seen you in forever!
Rihac: "Mostly just screwing around... nothing too special. More importantly, why are all of you out here in butt-fuck nowhere? What could possibly draw such an eclectic bunch as yourselves to our humble shit hole?"
AXEM: "Well, I don't care about these fuckers, but I'm trying to keep my ass outta jail...."
THRAX: "Yeah, well, if you'd keep lil' Axem in your pants, you'd stay out of trouble!"
TRITHAL: "Actually, we're traveling in response to this..."
TRITHAL withdraws a copy of Vankar's letter to the Draconians and the Macha, and shows it to Rihac. Rihac takes the letter from TRITHAL, puts on his reading glasses, and examines it.
Rihac: "Oh yeah! I got a copy of this about a week ago. So, are you actually going to answer his call?"
TRITHAL: "Not exactly.... Actually 壮大マハ approached us to investigate what Macha-Xianu is up to. We're doing this cuz we're kinda obligated to."
Rihac: "Can I come?"
THRAX and AXEM (a'la Chris from Family Guy): "eauWHAAAA?????"
THRAX: "You want to go with us to the Badlands Valley?"
AXEM: "No offense, but you're already 1 1/2 feet in the grave! Why the hell do you wanna go there?"
Rihac: "For the same reason as you. I wanna see what Vankar is up to. Besides, I haven't gone anywhere in more than 30 years except Irumac Bay looking for fish. (shouts to Nguang in next room) Hey Nguang! Pack up some supplies! We're going on a trip!"
Nguang (emerges from next room): "Where are we going?"
Rihac: "On a magical mystery tour! Make sure you pack plenty of food... and red crystals!"
Nguang: "Why red crystals?"
Rihac: "Because I said! Now shake a leg!!"
Nguang: "Yes, master!"
TRITHAL: "Hey Wang! Bring plenty of medical supplies, too!"
Nguang (under breath): "My name is 'Nguang', dick!"
Grand Sage Rihac Thalimed JOINS THE PARTY
Apprentice Monk Nguang Metada JOINS THE PARTY
TRITHAL (LV 27 DIVINE WIND; 114/114 HP; 108/108 SP; 6764 EXP)
AXEM (LV 22 STONE PILLAR; 96/96 HP; 95/95 SP; 5354 EXP)
THRAX (LV 30 HELL-FIRE; 99/99 HP; 152/152 SP; 7178 EXP)
Danika (LV 27 FOREST NINJA, CLASS III; 98/98 HP; 91/91 SP; 6054 EXP)
Anri (LV 29 ICE FLAME; 100/100 HP; 100/100 SP; 7148 EXP)
Adeth (LV 10 ADVENTURER; 41/41 HP; 12/12 SP; 876 EXP)
Rihac (LV 86 GRAND SAGE; 29/29 HP; 412/412 SP; 126432 EXP)
Nguang (LV 11 APPRENTICE MONK; 42/42 HP; 86/86 SP; 1390 EXP)
Rihac (to party): "Well, you all might as well stay the night tonight! It's already late, and you'd be better off well-rested on this journey!"
The party agrees that this is a good idea, and goes out to the SUV parked outside to retrieve their backpacks and such. Rihac has TRITHAL park the vehicle in a storage building adjacent to the house, and locks the door to it, confident that it will remain safe there while they're out questing. As the night wore on, Rihac had Wang--
Nguang: "MY NAME IS 'NGUANG' ASSHOLE!!"
Smilin' Bob: "What the fuck ever, WANG ASSHOLE!!"
-- prepare dinner for the party. Afterward, each member found a comfortable spot in the house and turned in for the night.
(END CHAPTER TWO)
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