"I can understand your position. Having to stretch supplies and trying to keep everyone fed is a situation all three of us have found ourselves in as well. But perhaps they could work off their sentence? Where we come from prisoners are sometimes put to work under strict supervision. There they can still contribute to society and perhaps learn the error of their ways. You could teach them to craft or work the land. Perhaps something difficult that keeps them occupied that few people know how to do. You could have more to trade with other clans if you have more hands to help." You offer. Your host seems unconvinced. "These men attempted to rob and kill us. You suggest that we feed and teach them our ways." Ming translates as the man stokes the fire between you. "Truly, your land is a strange one.""I am told I am strange myself." You admit. "However, circumstances in my life have taught me to try and give people a second chance. Many times, all it takes is someone to have faith in you for you to make the change to better yourself. I've seen and lived it myself. That's why I am hesitant to simply kill someone when they could be turned into an ally. Sometimes, more often than not I would like to imagine, people turn to the path of evil because they see no other way out." You ponder for a moment. "There is another punishment my homeland does offer. It's quite rare and extreme but...you could simply remove two fingers from their dominant hand. However, I do stress that this is seen as a bit barbaric and from what you have told us would probably mean death for them." The room is quiet as everyone takes in what you said, and Ming uncomfortably translates what you say. "It is not our way to follow the whims of strangers. Our traditions go back to the beginning and have kept us alive all these generations. We have no need to listen to those who have not lived like us and pretend to know better." You host says. "However, we cannot deny that you have saved lives with your intervention, and we will not go without repaying that kindness. Technically, it was you who subdued these criminals and because of that they are technically your prisoners. We are simply assisting in keeping them under watch. I will leave their fate up to you. But be warned, should you let them live and they continue their ways then their crimes will also be reflected on you. Both in the eyes of the Gods and in that of the clans. If I were to suggest an option, it would be to strip them of all of their possessions and leave them with a day's worth of food. It will be up to them to return to their roots and survive as their ancestors once did. Perhaps in this time they will contemplate their actions as you so wish."
"Honestly big guy, I think this might be the best deal we can get them. I say we go for it. Not like we can take them with us." Xin Lan whispers. "Unless you wanna cut their hands off.""Xin Lan's right. These people are nomadic. They don't have things like jails or work camps like we have back home. If we leave them here with the clan they might just kill them to ease their burden. We don't really have a reputation to lean on here either." Ming agrees. "What do you want to do?">What do you say?>Agree to your host's terms. You'll set the bandits free with only a days' worth of supplies. It's better than nothing.>Offer to travel with the Clan. They know the lands better and you can help with gathering and security. That way the bandits might get a chance to change their ways. Though you're not sure where the clan will go from here.>Take the bandits with you. Have them lead you to their hideout and you can deal with the rest of the gang. After that you can decide what to do with them all.>Decline and leave the bandits to the wandering clan. If this is their custom then you shouldn't be meddling with it. Especially if it will cause stories of you to be spread over time.>Write in.
>>6127531>Agree to your host's terms. You'll set the bandits free with only a days' worth of supplies. It's better than nothing.
>>6127531>Take the deal.Very reasonable people.I respect them for it, even as I see the issues of what we present. And welcome back Luo!
>>6127939>>6127556Taking the deal. Tai Lung has hit his greatest weakness. Language barriers. Writing. >>6127939Always good to be back. Got real sick and couldn't post.
You give Ming a nod. There really wasn't much else you could do and they were right. This was probably the best deal you were going to get for the bandits that didn't involve death or dismemberment. "Alright. Tell him we agree with his solution." You say. Ming quickly relays your words to your host. You think for a moment and add, "It's a bit off topic but I'd rather not end this on such a sour note. Can you ask him what's a popular food here?" Your friends give you a look that's a mixture of confusion and realization that it's just you being you. "I think Renshu would like trying it out..." You mumble sheepishly. The man before you seems to be thrown off by the sudden change in topic when Ming translates for you. "Well..." He begins as ponders for a moment. "We have a dish named Korhog. It's fairly simple to make. I would think it's fairly unique. You start by heating smooth stones until they are impossible to hold. Then you carefully place them inside a metal container and layer meat atop of it. After that, you put more rocks atop the mean and add vegetables such as onions, potatoes, carrots. Then you alternate between rock, meat, and vegetables laying the rocks between the ingredients. Then you add a bit of water to create steam before finally placing the container atop the flames once more. The rocks and water help cook the food evenly while giving it a unique flavor. There are some in other clans that claim the flavor changes depending on the type of stone used but perhaps they are being facetious. Nonetheless, it's quite a simple dish to make and a favorite among the elderly and children." "Cooking with rocks? Stripes would have a field day with that. Don't tell him about the different flavors either. Otherwise, he's going to have me running around looking for the best ones." Xin Lan says with a smirk before they go quiet and distant for a moment. You gently ruffle their ears. "Thank you for taking the time to educate us. Although we met under less than happy circumstances, I'm glad to know that there are welcoming people in this country." You say gratefully. "Even if we don't meet again, we'll carry what you've taught us for the rest of our days.""Your group is a strange one I cannot deny but I too will remember this day. Whatever reasons led you to our lands, I hope that your travels are safe and your roads lead you back home in one piece." Your host says and you all rise to exit the building.
As you exit, you see that night has fallen. Small fires can be seen within every hut as they glow from within. The bandits still remained under watch and though tied up with strong ropes, were relatively unharmed with the needles removed and their bandages secure. The clan head approaches the two young men who were keeping watch and gives out an order of some kind. Though confusion crosses their faces, they do as they are told and begin to remove the bandit's armor and gear. "He's telling them about our deal." Ming says. "They will be relieved of their armor, weapons, and anything else that might be used as a weapon. Then they'll get their one day of rations." You nod and place a hand on Ming's shoulder. "Then we still have a part to play as well." You say. "You need to tell the bandits what happened. Let them know that they're free to go thanks to us. They have a second chance at life and it's best they make the most of it to change. Otherwise, the next time we have to stop them from committing crimes, and we will be there to stop them, they won't get the luxury of a second chance and whoever they are in custody of won't let them live." You give Ming's shoulder a squeeze. "We're counting on you."Ming nods and steps forward to speaks to the prisoners. As always, it's rather difficult to tell what Ming is saying from tone alone but you hope that she conveys your words well. The captured men don't seem to have any change of opinion one way or another but perhaps they are simply unsure if this is a lie or there's some ulterior motive. Wouldn't surprise you if death was a common punishment for extreme crimes. Being told that they were set free would seem like something outlandish. Once everyone was stripped of their gear, another villager comes back with a bag full of food and throws it at their feet. The bandits only have a moment to grab it and their injured members before they were run out of the oasis. It seemed a bit cruel to chase them off with weapons and sticks but given the fact that you've left men unable to walk after your fights, perhaps it was for the best. You express your thanks to the clan leader once more and the three of you return to your own little camp where you find Tigress avoiding your gaze.
"She didn't know what to do and the soup got a bit mushy." Bao says helpfully. You think you see Tigress's face grow redder in the fire light as she crosses her arms defensively. "Fortunately, we managed to get it off the fire for a bit. I think it's ok." The three of you glace at one another a sigh. "You all need to learn how to cook." Xin Lan says with exasperation. ----As Bao mentioned, most of the vegetables in the soup had overcooked enough that they became a bit of a mush. Thankfully the Great Dragons had decreed that things in water were impossible to burn and thus the food was still good to eat, albeit with a strange texture. You all had your fill of the meal as you and Ming relayed what you had learned from your chat with the clan leader."So he's amassing an army then." Tigress says as she sets her bowl aside. "He's claiming land and conquering the other clans before he attempts to strike as China en masse. It's the only thing that makes tactical sense.""Fake Stripes is right...for once. The other attacks on the villages and the Great Library were probably meant to cripple the country from within. Slowly erode whatever China has to come back and weaken it before coming in for the deathblow. At this point I guess it doesn't really matter how they got the information. Only that they do have it and are biding their time." Xin Lan explains as they reach for a slice of dried meat. "If he manages to conquer all the clans then he might have a strong enough force to actually challenge China's army.""But why call himself a Khan?" Ming asks. "If he's been working in secret why take the title? It'd just draw attention to himself.""China is too arrogant to care." Xin Lan points out. "They haven't cared about what goes on here in generations. If they hear that some random tribe is fighting others they'd rather just plug their ears and ignore it. No, the title is for the Mongolian people. Didn't the old guy say that it was supposed to be the title of the person who unites all of the clans together under one? If he does it then everyone under him would believe it and they'd probably think he was the son of a God. It'd only make them more loyal and fervent. He just needs to finish the job. Speaking of which," Xin Lan turns to look at Bao. "What's all this stuff about other Gods? I thought the Dragons made everything. You and the Shenlong didn't have kids did you? Can you even have kids?"Bao adjusts her blindfold slightly and gives Xin Lan one of her knowing smiles. "I already told you. There are secrets I can never tell mortal kind as much as I owe my existence to Tai Lung. Whether you think that the people here worship a different set of Gods or you believe that they worship the same ones we do under a different light is up to you." Xin Lan grumbles at that and nibbles at their food.
"Regardless if the myths of this place are true, not true, or merely a different take on our own tales, the fact of the matter is that an army who believes they are under the command of divine providence will be a ferocious force indeed. This Khan has already proved to know strategy and subterfuge meaning they know tactics beyond brute strength. Even if China survives a war against them, not doubt the toll will be high. Even more reason to put a stop to this madness." Tigress interjects. "We have been given a rare opportunity. Our enemy is not yet at full strength and there are those who do not agree with him or at the very least wish to fight against him. That buys us some time. Should find a target to strike and do so quickly.""No. We're going to get my brother first. We're not doing anything without him." Xin Lan counters. "Once we have everyone we can figure out what to do." Tigress glares at them."That's enough!" You say. "We can do both at the same time. We're fast enough to head north and find Renshu without too much delay. And we're still going to have to look for more information before we can plan a course which we can do en route. Our best bet will be to talk to the other Clans. For now, everyone get some rest. We're probably going to be traveling fast."The rest of the meal is quiet as tension is in the air. Eventually, you all gather your things and get ready for bed. By now, the heavy weight on your chest is routine as Xin Lan lays across your chest and buries their face into your fur. But tonight felt different. They toss and turn for a moment, making it hard for you to get any sleep. Eventually, your rabbit ear induced blindness vanishes and Xin Lan's head pops out of your sleeping bag. "Do you think Renshu misses me?" They whisper, their blood red eyes looking deep into yours.>What do you say?>Write in.
>>6128229You know, that God explaination about secrets is a sly trick that I haven't seen used before.Good job on originality boss.>Of course he does, Family matters more to him than the world itself. Why, has something got you worried? You're normally out cold by the time your head hits my chest.Give bun headpats and cuddles
>>6128246>Good job on originality boss.Thanks! Basically thought that if I explained it in universe it'd open up a whole can of worms I probably wasn't ready for. Plus I like to think it adds to how foreign Mongolia is to the crew. >>6128246Gotta console the bunwife. Writing.
You ruffle Xin Lan's ears and give them a smile. "Of course he does. Family matters more to him than the world itself. As harsh as it sounds, you even killed him and all he could do was wander the world in misery because he couldn't find you." You pull back the sleeping bag a bit more. "What's on your mind? Normally you're out cold by the time your face hits my chest." Xin Lan seems to mull over the question for a bit and they roll on their side. "I dunno...how come he hasn't come back?" They ask as they quietly trace your scar with a finger. "It's been over a year since we've seen him. He could have come back any time or maybe sent a message. Do you think he's ok?""I guess this is the first time you've ever been separated from him and being able to feel it, isn't it?" You ask. Xin Lan nods. "It's ok to be worried about him. Last we spoke, he swore he'd protect the village of the white bear. I'm sure he's still there making sure no trouble happens. Once we meet him, all of us will be able to take a more proactive approach. For now we just need to put our trust in him.""Of course I trust him." Xin Lan says. "But what if he's different? What if he's not the same person we remember him as?""You're not the same person you used to be. That didn't stop him from loving you nor will cause him to stop now. If he's different then we will love him all the same. If he's different because he went back to his old bad habits then we'll have to drag him back to being good. The best thing we can do is be supportive of him." You say. "You said you love him." Xin Lan says with a smirk as they lay on their belly once more to grin at you. "I'm gonna tell him you said that.""Well at least you got your sense of humor back." You say, amused. "We'll get him back. Don't worry. Then you can tell him all about how you stole me away and how you're marrying Ming. And maybe you'll find someone else to sleep on.""Don't count on it." Xin Lan says with a yawn. They stretch out for a moment and soon after you go blind once more as they fall asleep.
---By the time you and the others awoke, the clan members were already deconstructing their homes and packing their things up. "They say it's not safe to stay around here anymore. Even if the other bandits die in the wild, the rest of their group will come looking for them. They plan on back tracking to the desert to lay low for a bit. They don't seem sure about it however. They hadn't planned on moving for a few more weeks. They're going to wait for a day or for others who went gathering to return though." Ming explains after she returns from making sure the clan leader's injuries were stable. "We might want to do the same.""I'm not going back into that desert." Xin Lan says. "I just got most of the sand out of my fur.""I'm talking about moving on." Ming clarifies irritably. "The faster we move the faster we can get to dealing with this Khan." Tigress adds. "Well we could just wait." Xin Lan argues. "Let them come to us. Saves us the energy to go looking for them and we can set the field to our advantage. More people to fight means more people to interrogate.">What do you do?>Head on out today. You want to leave knowing that your tracks will be swallowed up by the Clan's movements. >Wait a few days and then leave. Make sure that nothing happens while the clan is waiting for their people.>Remain here and set a trap. At the very least you can stop the trouble happening here.>Remain here and ask the Clan to help you. If you can wipe out the bandits, then they'll be able to remain here in peace. Plus you can use the extra hands.>Write in.
>>6128806>Wait a few days until the clan is ready to leave.We don't want to get bogged down, but we have a moral obligation to ensure they are okay.Wiping out the bandit presence without prisons or a means of reformation is gonna be nearly impossible so the only benefit is to hit them hard and fast to A]pass on a message and B] cripple a small portion of the enemies army.Since bones will be broken for their unwise actions.
>>6129075waiting just in case. Writing.
"Xin has a point. We should wait at least until the others have left. We don't know if the bandits will return or come looking for their missing members." You say. "It'd be irresponsible to simply leave them unguarded until we know they're at least safe. Especially since we never secured the ones behind the attack. Ming could you let them know we'll be around for their safety. We'll keep out of their way if that is what they want but they're free to speak to us if they have any concerns. We may be strangers here but that doesn't mean we won't do our jobs properly.""Alright. Maybe I can get them to tell me about their medicines, we can't rely on our herbs and supplies for this whole time." Ming says as she dusts herself off. "I'll be back for breakfast.""Xin, you and Tigress should scout ahead and a few miles around. Make sure we won't have a few unwanted guests." You say as you turn to the two. "Split up and don't engage with anyone else you find. We may have an idea of our enemy's motives but we still don't know how to engage with them or who may be an enemy.""What if we find the other guys? They can't have gone far." Xin Lan asks."Leave them be. If they come back here, Ming and I can handle it. Otherwise we have to let them make their own choices. We can't force them to make the choice if we truly want them to change for good."The two quickly depart leaving you and Bao alone. "What do you want me to do?" She asks politely. >What do you say?>She can talk to you. It has been a while since you spoke. (What do you talk about?)>Tell Bao to accompany Ming. She used to gather herbs with her father back when she was mortal. Having a someone who can assist Ming with first aid would be a good idea.>Ask to walk with her around the oasis. Try and enjoy this new country. Maybe you can find some hidden beauty to it.>Say that she's free to do as she pleases. Just as long as she doesn't wander too far away for her safety.>Write in.
>>6131733>Ask to walk with her around the oasis. Try and enjoy this new country. Maybe you can find some hidden beauty to it.
>>6131807>support.A joy of life is discovery of new things.
>>6132110>>6131807It's halloween and we have to spookiest gal around to walk with. Writing.
"Why don't we take a walk? See what this new land has to offer. This might be the first and only time you get to travel freely. Let's make the most of it." You say with a smile. Bao pause for a moment, a look you can't quite describe flashing on her face before she smiles back and nods. "I'd like that." She says happily and the two of you begin to wander around the lake. The lake itself was of a decent size but beyond the oasis itself, you weren't really sure what you could show Bao. "How well can you see?" You ask awkwardly, unsure how to broach the subject. "Before you joined us, I figured you used some kind magical sight. Now that you've lost most of your power. I'm kind of curious." You admit."Better than you can imagine." Bao says mysteriously. "My sight one of the few things I'm thankful for keeping, however I'm not sure if I could ever lose it. It would be like teaching you to not see an opening in a fight. Once you know where to look, you can never stop doing so.""I should have figured you'd be able to see more than you let on. You know Ming can see spirits now. I'm guessing you can too?" You ask. "Can you?" Bao asks. "I wonder if you've grown complacent." You open your mouth to speak before Bao removes her blindfold and looks into your eyes with her bottomless blue eyes. "You've reached the pinnacle of strength. You've come to terms with yourself and where you stand in the world. Both mentally and physically you have pushed yourself to the limit but you've stopped spiritually. When was the last you you've peered beyond the mortal realm? Truly and out of curiosity? What happened to that?""I couldn't." You say. "I tried to reach you and Shenlong but I couldn't-"Bao shakes her head. "You didn't need us to see beyond the veil. To step through to the land of the spirits perhaps, but to speak with them and look between you didn't.""I...don't know." You admit. "When I tried before...everything was empty. The library was a void. Then I tried in the lands around it and everything was murky. Like the wandering through a fog and mud at the same time. It was aimless. In the forests I could do a bit better and I found Little Fan but after that...I guess. I guess I was busy and maybe afraid. You were right back then. If things don't change then people would think that the emptiness would be how things are supposed to be. That all the life and beauty I know the astral side to be never existed. I don't know if I wanted to face that and come to terms with it. In all that tragedy and loss I think I lost the curiosity I used to have." Bao takes your large hands into hers and squeezes your fingers.
"But does it really need to be lost? Are you willing to let it die?" She asks gently. Again before you can speak, she says, "Just because you know, doesn't mean you understand. Just like the laws that govern your people can never truly understand. The boy who steals to feed his hungry sister. The man who lies to protect someone who made a terrible mistake. Close your eyes. Try again..."https://youtu.be/-kWkfN0HPUo?si=WVpHKonGF5zpzoPFYou nod and close your eyes. "Now reach out. This time there are no stakes. No need to rush and no reason to use this as a tool. Just feel. Let it come to you." Bao says calmly. You reach with your mind and feel the world around. It's spiritual presence feels strange, unknown, to you but not distressingly so. Like a new song or dish, the details take time for you to process but you can comprehend them. "Can you feel it? The wind on your face? The land beneath your feet?" Bao asks. You can feel the wind blow through you, unlike in China where it carried a warm and comforting presence, here it was cold and harsh. Yet you could feel something stir deep inside it. It sought not to kill you but to test you. To push you and make you stronger. It reminds you of your father who tested you every day because he knew you could be strong not because he wanted to hurt you. The land beneath your feet was gritty and uneven. Yet there was a firmness to it. It wanted you to move, to mold you to be as unyielding as it was and flow as freely as it's sands. What little grass it had, it offered you to nourish you but not to indulge you."What about the water behind us? The fires on the other side?" Bao asks again. The water was no like that at home. Unlike the fierce oceans and roaring rivers, here the waters were gentle. They wanted to cleanse you of the hardships of life, to comfort you and offer succor. The flames rather than destroy simply wanted to warm you and keep the cold at bay. These two knew your time with them would be short but they wanted to make that time worth it. There might not be a next time but they knew goodbye was not forever. It was the kind mother to the strict father. "You feel it don't you but you're still holding back. You can still push farther. Open your eyes, listen with your ears, smell what the winds carry." Bao urges. You do are your told and for a brief moment it was as if all of creation bared it's soul to you.
You hear the reeds in the water stir as the winds move them, see their ripples in the water flow outwards but you see the people beyond. You hear the children playing among the working men, their laughter full of innocence unaware of the looming war between both lands. Would they ever grow up to know peace? Would the flames consume them utterly. The singing of the women, mothers and wives struggling to keep their families healthy and fed along with their husbands. The lands were harsh but what was harsher than seeing those you loved die before you? You see the teenagers, struggling to find themselves, struggling to prove their own worth to the people around them. Perhaps some knew of the danger looming and perhaps some knew enough to know that they were powerless to stop it. Still they wanted to do their part and see what the world had to offer them. You smell the smoke coming from the flames. It carried the scent of food. Of family meals held a thousand times over and over hundreds of generations and briefly you can feel the weight of it's tradition and it's comfort. In that one blissful moment your eyes see beyond and your mind truly comprehends what it was like to see them as any other person and not strangers who's land you were exploring. You were all here in this single life. Each one you could call a friend or family. Each one with their own tale and worries. What truly what was stopping you from calling them that? A creed? A language? You gasp as that infinitesimal moment ends and your mind closes once more as it seems to revert back to it's old self. No, that moment in time was seared into your mind and though it felt like a lifetime ago it was an experience you'd never forget. "What...what was that?" You ask looking at Bao, tears streaming down your eyes. "It was...beautiful.""You already know it. You've done it once before." Bao says gently. "Why don't you tell me?""I...saw it all. The land, the people. Not like everything at once but...I understood. More than I had before. More than I could have ever known. Is this how you see the world?" You ask, almost desperate to experience it once again. Bao smiles at you sadly.
"Like that and so much more." She whispers. "If you truly, truly want to save everyone. Then you'll need to stop being Tai Lung, the Chinese Martial artist. You'll need to become more. Otherwise, how will you ever hope to mend two nations' anger? It'll be more than simply stopping a criminal." She says. "But you are the man who's done the impossible once before. Perhaps you can do it again.""How do I do it again?" You ask. "How do I see like that?""That is a question men have been asking for generations. Now that you know it exists, you cannot force it. But you know the path exists. Perhaps in your lifetime you can reach that peak and remain there." Bao says. She turns to look at the Mongolian camp. "I'd like to go there, if you don't mind." She says as she puts her blindfold back on. >What do you do?>Go to the camp and find Ming. Maybe you can talk to some of the locals.>Wander the camp with Bao. You don't really need to see anything in particular.>Let Bao go on her own. You think you want to be alone with your own thoughts right now.>Write in.
Congratulations. For a brief moment, TL might have reached what some would consider enlightenment and has made another step towards his new figh
Damn autopost. Well, TL has taken another step towards his merciful style. Congrats, anons.
>>6133045>Wander the camp with Bao.Complacency indeed.
>>6133207Let's wander around. Clear our thoughts.
Foolish of me to trust that my post was actually posted. Let's try this gain. Sorry about that.
"Sure." You say and gently take Bao's hand. There was no need to do so of course, she was perfectly capable of seeing clearly, but you felt that it would sell the disguise better if it seemed she had a guide. Bao didn't seem to mind either but recently she seemed like one of the hardest people to read. The two of you make your way around the lake which was now glistening with the morning's rays bouncing off it's surface. As the two of you wander through the nomad's camp, there was a sort of dissonance between what you see and felt compared to that brief moment of enlightenment you had went through moments ago. The memory felt faded and distance as if you had felt it years ago and yet your memory reminds you that it was just moments. Any other man would probably have been content with that brief moment but for you it only seemed to awaken a sense of excitement different than that of learning a new move yet similar all the same. It was something difficult, something far out of your reach, and the fact that you had done it once only pushed you to want to do it again. You were so lost in your thoughts that you almost failed to notice a group of kids turn the corner and nearly bump into the two of you. They stop and freeze so you decide to go another way. Immediately they sprint away giggling and chatting eagerly among themselves probably about the giant stranger they had nearly crashed into. "It's quite amazing." Bao says. "Despite everything working against them, they continue on. They've been doing this for generations and still they remain undeterred.""Perhaps they don't know otherwise." You say, now brought back to the present. "Or maybe they don't have the option to. They did say that only subsist on what they can forage and the land doesn't seem that good for farming. At least not without a lot of work. But I agree, their will is unyielding." "The land is so different as well. Never in my previous life would I have ever thought I'd travel this far let alone ever leave my home village. I wonder if this what Ming felt when she left the city with you for the first time." Bao says. "I can never apologize enough to what I made you do that day. If I had known that- " You begin but Bao shakes her head."Whether or not you intended it or if it was even meant to happen is in the past. I became so much more that day. Perhaps in some ways I may not be as free as mortals are but in others...in other ways my limited movement is a price I would gladly pay a thousand times over." She says and you feel her small hand squeeze your fingers. "Even so...I'm glad your desperate attempt to change things gave me this opportunity to travel once more. Especially with you. I will miss this land once this is all over."
"It won't happen. I won't let it. I'll do everything I can to make Shenlong see that this world is worth saving. I don't know how but I will find a way." You vow. "Perhaps enough that he will take you to walk these lands once more." You offer Bao a smile. "Perhaps enough that our next new years festival might be graced by the two of you and your brothers and sister-in-law as well." Bao gives you a sad smile and she rests her head on your arm."Perhaps its the mortal in me but I can only hope for that miracle to happen." She says quietly. The two of you continue to wander a bit longer and you see a few of the nomads preparing a large fire pit. You make walk a bit around it and come across Ming who was speaking to one of them and taking notes. The nomad seemed slightly confused but once Ming lifts a heavy crate with one arm and carries it to it's drop off he seemed more eager to speak. You smirk, a flash of pride coming over you for a moment, and approach. Ming gives a quick goodbye and stuffs her notebook away in her coat pocket. "Hey guys. Taking a stroll?" She asks. "Yeah. Decided to just enjoy the new environment. We've been traveling for so long in the desert, figured we could use a change of pace. What's going on here?" You ask and motion to the large fire pit. "Oh! They just told me about that." Ming says, perking up. "Apparently it's a small local feast they hold every time they leave a main camping area. From what I've gathered, it's to give thanks to land and Gods for their bounty but also doubles as a way for them to eat older food and help lighten the load for the upcoming travel. It's actually pretty clever. Makes it even more of a shame they're forced to do it early. I'm not sure if they were able to gather enough for the coming journey. They might need to stretch their food out but I can't get a good feel for their supplies. Still, this is one of their traditions and they'd rather do it than risk bad luck for neglecting them.""Can't you show them a few recipes? You always seem to manage to make a meal out of next to nothing." You ask. Ming shakes her head sadly."I don't know if I could. I'm not too familiar with their stock and I don't know if they'd be willing to trust my word. I am a total stranger to them." She says as she idly tugs at her hair while thinking. "I did manage to get a few recipes out of them and a few medicines. They seem to primarily use roots. So we'll need to keep a good eye out for those." Ming pulls out her notebook and begins to flip through the pages. Before either of you can continue the conversation, you see a flash of white pass overhead and Xin Lan lands between you all. "We got trouble." They say. "Tigress and I spotted a small army on it's way here.""What?!"
"We counted maybe 15-20 men armed like the other bandits. We're not sure if that's the rest of their gang and if the group we fought was just a scouting party. Problem is that they're about a day and a half away from here." Xin Lan explains."Do they seem hostile?" You ask."They certainly don't seem to be looking to trade. All they're carrying is their weapons and supplies. They don't have anything like these guys for camping. Problem is that it doesn't make sense. If the first group was the shakedown crew why send a bigger group a few days after? Did they expect these guys to clear out by then? Or did they just change their mind and decide to kill them all? The head guy here said that the Khan was trying to conquer everyone so I don't think they'd get paid to just kill off potential draftees. And these guys don't seem like the kind of group to try and stir up trouble for this new army.""Where's Tigress?" You ask. "She hung back to see if there were even more of them. Maybe theres a third group and they're trying to stagger their numbers." Xin Lan replies. "How do you wanna play this? The land is too flat to make an ambush or set up traps.""We're going to stop them right?" Ming asks. "We can't let them hurt these people.">What do you say?>Tell Ming to spread the word. Have all the nomads pack up and leave now. You and your party will remain behind to fight.>Ask Ming to ask for assistance. Anyone who can't fight can flee but if you and the nomads make a stand and fight then it'd be the best chance.>Tell the nomads to remain here and try to build some kind of fortification. There's not enough time for them to flee and be well supplied. All you can do is try and keep them safe while you and your team fight. >Write in.
>>6136879>Ming, Inform their elder of the development and encourage them to risk bad luck to move. He might also have some insight into why they are moving like this.15 to 30 men isn't that bad. TL and Tigress are worth 15 by themselves. Xin lan anywhere from 8 to 15 depending on their hyperlethality.So if the suspicion was just that this was the reprisal force, there isn't much to worry about and honestly bothering the nomads is barely worth it.But their strange ways make me anxious.To clarify Luo, is it 1 and a half days for normal people, or 1 and a half days for us.>Because my second proposal is simply a counter raid.If the elder has some insight or methodology that says this ISNT just a probing/distraction for a main force, we can move out at sunset and hit them I'm the evening.Steal or break their weapons, leave them a day of food and return.If it is a day and a half for us, then we can stay behind while the villagers flee.
>>6136895It's one and a half days for normal people. So you have time to get the word around and speak with the elder but not a lot to dally around if you don't want to get the others involved.
>>6136879>Warn the village elder, then go out and intercept the raiders. Leave it up to the village whether they try to leave early or not.
>>6136895>>6137646Warning the leader and intercepting seems the winning choice. Writing.
"Ming, you and Bao go tell the leader about this. See if he knows anything about this. Maybe it's some kind of strategy for bandits here. If not try to convince them to leave. Xin and I will head out after you come back. With Tigress we should be able to handle this but it seems like this oasis is no longer safe." You say. "They got some time but it's gonna be a bit tight if they want to take everything." Xin Lan says as they look around while Ming goes off to talk to the leader. "Do you think it's just another front? Maybe they're going to try and organize some kind of flank?" You ask as you peer out into the horizon. "I don't think so. Like I said, it doesn't make sense. If the first guys were a scouting party then why would they follow without waiting for them to report? All I can think is that they just changed their minds after the first group left and decided to take everything instead." They say. "Given how it seems to be normal here for resources to dictate the size of a group, it wouldn't make sense for them to be any larger than what we saw. Not unless they are raiding tons of clans. Otherwise they run into the problem of not having enough to eat." "They ones we caught mentioned they were working for someone else as mercenaries. Maybe they get supplies from them? It could allow them to live more than their means." You point out. Xin Lan pulls out their knives and inspects them. They seemed oddly normal for what you were used to seeing them wield years ago. "If that's the case there'd need to be some kind of drop off point. Their hideout maybe? More importantly, where would their 'employers' get the food from?" Xin Lan stows away their weapons and looks at you. "None of this makes sense." You frown. They had point. All of this raised too many questions. "The leader did mention that there were Clans who traded in wood for goods. Do you think there are more fertile areas up north?" You ask. "I dunno. Gotta be, right? So then it's what? Someone just up and decides to make farms and start conquering the country? Then sets their sights on China?" "I think that's where our exiles might come in. Maybe they started to use what they knew from China to push Mongolia to rival it? All for revenge?""Would've been easier to just hire assassins to kill Hien and his family." Xin Lan mutters. "This almost rivals that of Luo's stories. Giant armies vying for an entire nation? We've really stepped into it now huh?""Has anyone from here ever contacted you before you...left?" You asked akwardly."Not that I know of. We didn't really deal with the northerners. They had no money or anything to offer really. If the Kexin family knew of us I think they would have at least tried but that was before I was born so maybe they did." They say. By now people were beginning to move once more and the air was tense with Ming and Bao approaching you.
"I've talked to the elder and he wasn't happy about it. Even if we drive them away, he admits that this land is no longer safe and he can't remember ever having to change their route like this. For now his people will follow the path they always have but when they have to make the trip back...well I don't know." Ming explains. "As for the bandit's motives. He didn't have much knowledge. He thinks it might be a ploy. Send a group forward to extort them and measure up their wealth then meet up and decide if they're worth attacking for their goods. It's happened before and it's why they're very wary of strangers. Not unlike bandits acting like merchants who's cart broke down only to have their friends hide in the woods. But here they use distance to hide their numbers."His people will survive. They are strong and have endured for many generations. I'm sure they will find a new path." Bao says. "But now it is time for us to choose ours.">What do you do?>Leave Ming and Bao behind just in case there's a second group coming from another direction. >Take Ming with you but leave Bao behind. You might need someone who can translate.>Bring Ming and Bao with you. Once you deal with these bandits, you think it's time to move on. You can't spend all your time guarding the oasis.>Write in.
>>6140385>Bring Ming with you, but leave Bao and Xin Lan behind. You don't think Bao alone would fare well against a second possible group of bandits.So anyways, that's how Xin Lan started grilling Bao for the juicy details about her marriage with Shenlong.
>>6140397I also think these two have the greatest ability synergy. Bao can see the world in ways nobody else can, so she can pick up hidden threats the easiest. Xin Lan is the fastest and has the keenest ears, so they're easy to direct towards those threats. Not to mention taking the threats out without the threats actually being aware of it happening. They compliment each other well, almost like Yin and Yang. One of Void and one of Existence.
>>6140397I'll support.The line up makes sense.
>>6140780>>6140397It's weeks like last week that make me wonder if I have the time to do quests anymore. But I gotta finish this. Kicking and screaming if I have to. Back to the levity. We're leaving the most gossipy bunny with the woman who hasn't had any human/mortal contact in who knows how many spirit centuries. This can only end well for our fluffy Kung Fu master. Writing.>>6140398This is a combo I did not consider. Nice thinking.
"Xin, you and Bao hang back just in case someone else uninvited arrives and tries anything." Xin Lan glances at Bao. "How about I go with you and Ming stays back. After all, she's the only one who can talk to these guys. They might need to tell us if they see anything." They say off handedly. "That's exactly why she's coming along. Otherwise we don't know what the others' intentions are." You point out. "You're the only one here who can handle themselves alone if a large group arrives.""Yeah but..." Xin Lan begins before just making a vague shrug. You ruffle Xin Lan's ears."She's not going to eat you if that's what you're worried about, fluff butt." You assure them. "Now, no more goofing off. We need to get to the bottom of this. Come on Ming. Let's head out." Ming shoulders her bag and nods. "We'll be back soon." She says, "And bunnies go best with potatoes, not carrots." She laughs before running off, leaving Xin Lan to stamp their foot and causing some of the nomads to look up in confusion. You shake your head and head off to catch up with her. "...I think you're cute. Too much " Bao says quietly.---At a conservative pace, you and Ming only need a few hours to catch up and see the approaching group off in the distance. They themselves were not traveling at a quick pace and though they were in what you could vaguely call a formation none of their weapons were drawn. You get the impression that they were not expecting trouble or at the very least were confident enough in themselves to handle any that would approach them. Were they accustomed to being able to intimidate others into doing their bidding? Or perhaps simply expected to catch the nomads off guard with a second attack? You and Ming quickly duck behind a small out cropping of rocks. It was barely enough to conceal your size, so much so that you had to nearly go prone to have enough room for the two of you. The two of you were far enough away that there might have been a chance you two weren't seen. After all, their intended targets were still a whole day away. Even so, it would be difficult to throw some kind of surprise attack like this. "I don't see Tigress." Ming whispers. "Where do you think she is? There's not much place to hide."
"More than likely she's behind them or scouting around. We might need to wait until nightfall to see her if she wants to remain hidden. That or if she heads back to the camp and needs to be told what the plan is." You reply normally."What do we do? Should we attack them now? You said they seemed off guard." She asks."We can but they'll see us long before we arrive. I wouldn't be surprised that they're trained in quickly drawing their weapons once they see us approaching. They could probably pick us off with arrows and we have no cover to hide behind." You explain. Ming thinks for a moment and then begins to eagerly rummage through her bag before drawing out two bottles. You could barely make out some kind of inky black liquid swirling around inside it. Every so often a wisp of something foggy would be visible within the stained glass before being subsumed by the liquid once more. 'How about this? Instant darkness...liquid. I tried copying those smoke bombs Xin's always throwing about but they'd never tell me what's it made out of. I think I got something just as good...and just as breathable. Problem is that I starts reacting the moment it hits air so I can't really carry around too many of them. The smoke should be big enough to hide us both." She says with a grin as her tail twitches excitedly. "The wind's pretty calm right now so it shouldn't be blown away.""What's the catch?" You ask eyeing the flasks curiously. "Well...I haven't really had a chance to use them in a fight. But the math's all there. It should work. That and we only have two bottles. I never got a chance to make more." She admits.>What do you say?>Take the bottles and tell Ming to stay here. You can handle the approaching group alone. The bottles will make it even easier.>Tell Ming to keep the bottles ready. You'll approach the group under the guise of thinking they're just another trading group. Then you drop the smoke cloud. In all the chaos it'd be easy to clean up. >Wait for Tigress to find you. It'd be better to save those bottles for an emergency. With the three of you, you can use the cover of night to attack.>Write in.
>>6143852>Tell Ming to keep the bottles ready. You'll approach the group under the guise of thinking they're just another trading group. Then you drop the smoke cloud. In all the chaos it'd be easy to clean up. Arrows? Against Tai Lung? Fat chance of that. If ballistae didn't do the job, arrows don't stand a ghost of a chance.
>>6144109>Support.
