You gingerly set
your hand against the portal, the weak words of the ancient vampire
still echoing in your heart. The surface of the portal tenses and
parts at your touch. You push inside as your sense dull to darkness…
First you hear the
waves and the creaking of wood. Opening your eyes, you appear to be
in the hold of ship dressed in gaudy performer's clothes holding a
flute. Liu Sanshi and Muramasa Saito sit
nearby in a similar outfits holding a golden studded lariat and a
pair of ornamental swords, respectively. Muramasa comforts
a very sick looking Sanshi while rubbing
her back. Beside her is Ha Shin, who is tuning a
guzheng and quietly chatting with a red-haired man wearing an army
uniform.
Whistles echo over
the hold and the red-haired man smirks at you, “You ready for the
party, Xunqi? We're about to be rich”
“As long as we
hurt the man who caused us so much pain, we are always ready,”
Saito declares
before helping Sanshi up to her feet.
She gives you and
Muramasa a
grateful look “I'll be fine guys, really… I can
handle my role” She perks up to her normal smile and gingerly
follows Ha Shin up the stairs leading out of the room.
Bringing up the
rear on to the deck, you spot Wang Ying disguised as a
sailor. Passing close he gives you the slightest of nods and
continues carrying a barrel that smells distinctly of sulphur.
Your quintet makes
its way to the back of the boat allowing for a great view of the now
fog covered river. You are able to spot a convoy of the other two
ships also making their way along the river. Flying from each boat is
a streamer stating “THE HEAVENLY CONVOY TO DELIVER THE BIRTHDAY
GIFTS”. You spot Tesuk on
the top deck of one of the ships spinning fire over his head.
You are led to this
ship's top deck where an official looking man sits lazily holding a
feathered fan, he is surrounded by a retinue of other lesser looking
officials. The red haired man announces “The flowing Zheng twins
will now perform their dance to accompaniment by Li and Zhao the
Marvelous Musicians!”
Ha Shin
and you sit on the opposing railings of the top deck, as Muramasa
and Sanshi take
places in the center of the deck. You
signal Ha Shin
silently and the both of you launch in to a duet as your companions
start a spinning dance with blade and rope. You weave all your magic
into every note trying to distract the many members of the entourage.
The officials seem utterly entranced and slowly a distant glazed look
falls over their eyes.
In the middle the dancing couple appears to be reaching a climax in
their routine. The two of them seem to share a significant amount of
chemistry for knowing each other for such a short time.
This
thought is interrupted by a series of explosions rocking the deck.
You
turn to rear of the boat as the red-haired man tosses you a bow, in a
swift motion you start peppering the minor official with arrows from
a quiver concealed in your outfit. Sanshi manages
to
catch
the main
official
in her lariat tripping him as
Muramasa lunges
in with his blades.
Both hit right in his chest and
he puts all his weight.
A
barely audible growl is heard
as
the
illusion drops and
Muramasa is
thrown into you by a
human shaped tiger.
Your
companions surround and help the
both of you
to your feet. On all sides a whole fleet of small craft swarm the
three larger
boats.
The tiger creature rises to his feet menacingly “You rebels have
done too much to undo our work for this land, I will stop you here”
Lightning envelops his hands as points it directly at you , the
sound of thunder hits you at the same time as the bolt and your
vision is overwhelmed.
Darkness
comes again and you hear an ethereal woman's voice quietly say:
The
details can be blurry
