Session 42

Previously on Session 41
A battle at White Shore Harbor against the head of the Roc Sect of Kolat. Master Roc is dead. Aayadin reads what was in the package.

And now on Session 42
The roc falls into the ocean. Bastion falls into the ocean as well. Villagers jump in after them.

Festival of Chrysanthemums held yearly in White Shore Lake

Divers of White Shore Lake dive for pearls in the lake. 1 out of 3 must be returned to the lake as tribute.

Milosh misty steps closer to the Roc at the bottom of the ocean (100 feet down) then casts Levitate on it to float the Roc to the surface so it can be pulled to shore.

The villagers and Aayadin start to harvest the meat and bones. Bastion wants to do bone crafting with the magic bones.

Takashi Kota, son of a leader fisherman. Leads us from the harbor to the lake bringing the roc meat and provisions from the imperial ships.

White Shore Lake
Night time at the lake. Two settlements on the lake. A fishing village and an upscale area with nicer houses for artocracy.

Inn: The House of Beauty and Grace.

About 20 houses in a resort setting.

Long rest at The House of Beauty and Grace.

Mayor Ide Matsuyo

Fishing & Pearl Diving
Bastion wants to go fishing at 4am. Folks reluctantly agree.

Milosh twin casts Polymorph on himself and Aayadin into giant otters.

We don't find any pearls near the shore.Bastion goes to the bottom to look for pearls. He doesn't make it to the center, but instead finds a shelf 400 feet down. Mike follows. On this shelf is an underwater castle grown out of coral.

Milosh with the aid of his spirit and mage armor find them. A huge green water serpent is at the bottom guarding an underwater castle. The castle is filled with mermen trapped by the serpent. They try to warn off Bastion and Mike. The serpent glows and charges a beam from his mouth. Milosh as an otter swims up to the castle and meets the mermen.

The serpent blasts Mike and Bastion. Mike goes unconscious and Bastion wakes him up with a greater goodberry. They retreat to the surface.

Quickjump, Asuna both find a pearl.

Discussion
Kota and the villagers have hushed talk growing silent as we approach.

They do not talk about the castle or it's inhabitants. They don't know about the serpent Moshi (Orochi).

The settlement is of Ningyo people, one of the original races of Kozakura. A type of merfolk. The Tatashi legend says that they have always been there. Their ancestors started leaving pearl offerings which resulted in a huge increase in fishing yield. Also pearl divers who drowned started being returned to the shore for burial.

Talk with Moshi (Orochi)
King Rijun of the Orochi protects the Ningyo. Hired the sea serpent. Serpent is to not let anyone contact them and not let the Ningyo contact anyone.

Rijun is in the ocean, east of Kazakura. East of Crane. East of Cold Wind City. "Not to far"

The Orochi get to live on the mortal plane. They are from the spirit plane.

This contract was made 5 years ago and he doesn't know why.

Talk with Salasha (Ningyo)
Moshi allowed us to talk with the Ningyo. Salasha comes to the surface in the center of the lake.

Salasha does not know why the protection was asked for. They learned about the protection from the Orochi. They have not heard from the Ningyo king in 10 years. Their settlement is 200 strong having grown in size due to their long life. None of the Ningyo who have traveled to the king's location have returned. They have great concern for their family and friends who have not returned.

She is young, just 300 years old.

We suggest we travel together, all 200 of them and all of us to the castle with the kings. She agrees, but needs to wait a while. Mike propositions her and she agrees but only after she has resolved the issues with her people.

Mike and Ash Duel
The apprentice challenges the master. Ash strikes Mike first in a duel, completing his gempukku training. Ash gains proficiency with a Wakizashi and a stat increase in constitution.

Talk with Gotei Hitoshi
Wanted to learn about the city in northern Mantis island. Turned out he was in White Shore Lake resort. Wanted him to give us a tour of the resort.

Talk with Akemi
Akemi is the blind painter that painted Milosh's new tarot cards. She is in White Shore Lake resort to sell her wares during the weeks preceding Winter Court.

In a challenge for patronage, Mike and Akemi have a sketch/paint off. If Mike won, we would pay her 1 koku a year. If she won, we would pay her 4 koku a year.

Mike concedes that Akemi won the dual. Mike ups the deal to 15 koku a year. In reverse of his first offer of 4 koku a year.

Challenges
There are two challenges:


 * Sand Castle Building
 * Swimming

Mike wins at Swimming. Winky wins at Sand Castle Building.

Asuna complete her courage gempukku training. Winky gives her another challenge of conviction.

Travel from White Shore Lake to Morikage Toshi and our Orca Castle via Tea House
Inside the Tea House, we run into a a woman who demands additional payment.