Chapter 3: A Strange Visitor
After their meeting with Raptis, Akash took everyone out for a celebratory lunch before the party went their separate ways. Kasumi was the first to arrive at the Purple Lantern, where a strange woman bought him a drink. Suspicious of this newcomer, Kasumi confronted her, learning her name was Nanako. Though she appeared Minzokan, her accent was strange and she gave no family name. She informed Kasumi that she was searching for the sage Mahfuz and had heard that he had disappeared with the party’s property. Since his own investigations had turned up nothing so far, Kasumi was willing to add an extra set of eyes to the search for Mahfuz. Being a bounty hunter of sorts, Nanako offered her services to the party. Still unsure of this strange woman, Kasumi waited with her for the rest of the party.
Next to return was Mesi, which led to Nanako questioning why she was in the city. Sitara’s arrival drew Nanako’s attention even before their introduction, as she could have sworn she had seen the Captain’s hat somewhere before. Once Akash joined them, the party shared with Nanako what they knew of Mahfuz and their dealings with him. Nanako recognized their description of the Mon, admitting she had learned of the symbol on it from her mother, though she seemed reticent when questioned further. Though some of the party discerned that this bounty hunter knew more than she was willing to divulge, they decided to explore possibilities to track down Mahfuz. Akash would look into his connections in the northeast side of the city, as that was the direction Nanako believed Mahfuz was taken, and she would follow up on any leads they found.
...*...
Deciding to investigate her new companions more thoroughly, Nanako visited Akash’s shop the next day. Seeing the insignia on her gloves she wore, he noticed it matched that of the Mon. When he inquired about them, she explained they were from her mother, an heirloom of sorts.
They decided to revisit Mahfuz’s shop in case Nanako could find something they had overlooked. Afterwards, Akash recommended they start their inquiries about the sage at the Exalted Wind, a tavern that served as a meeting place for the well-to-do in the northeastern side of town. Kasumi arrived, joining the conversation briefly before Nanako departed. Upon Kasumi learning that Nanako’s mother’s gloves bore the symbol of the Mon, he was more than a little perturbed, but Akash put his mind at ease with the knowledge that Nanako did not seem to recognize her heritage.
Convening at the Purple Lantern, the party inquired about the connection between the Mon and Nanako’s family, leading to some tension when Nanako revealed she had recognized the symbol of her mother’s clan. While Kasumi wondered if Nanako were here to exact their revenge, Nanako assured them that if her mother was connected with the Ryuu, she herself had never heard of them. Her mother, who had raised her on the Isle of Ash, did not speak of her family and Nanako knew of nothing other than the symbol on her gloves.
Deciding to trust Nanako for the time being, Kasumi suggested a test of her abilities, and those of the gloves. They relocated to a safer location to conduct these tests, which consisted of Nanako punching Kasumi repeatedly. Though Akash detected nothing mystical about the gloves, Kasumi did discover firsthand that Nanako knew how to throw a punch. After demonstrating her prowess, she invited the party to watch her fight in a competition that evening.
...*...
Deciding it would be best for Nanako to take a look at where he was last seen, the party headed over to Mahfuz’s abode and spoke with Khorsheed. He let the party back into Mahfuz’s rooms, though they discovered little else about Mahfuz or what might have happened to him. While sifting through his religious scrolls and texts, they learned Nanako did not hold much stock in magic and believed the Mon was simply a family icon, much to Kasumi and Akash’s amusement.
As Nanako searched the study, she discovered the wall behind one of the bookshelves was hollow. Khorsheed explained to her that there had originally been a staircase between the basement and the main floor of Khorsheed’s shop, which he had closed off at Mahfuz’s request in respect of his tenant’s privacy. Unconvinced, Nanako insisted on knowing what was in the stairwell. Khorsheed nervously agreed to show them while Nanako delivered barely veiled threats should he refuse.
Adjourning upstairs, Khorsheed left the party in the shop to go in the back to open up the stairwell. It was not long before the party’s suspicion that trouble was afoot overcame their patience. They rushed into the back of Khorsheed’s shop to find the stairwell’s trap door open and Khorsheed hastily moving some boards laying across the stairs at the bottom.
Nanako confronted Khorsheed, demanding he come clean, as the landlord became increasingly distressed. After the party chastised Nanako for abusing their contact, she stepped down into the enclosed stairwell to offer her hand to Khorsheed. As he took her hand, she swiftly kicked aside the loose boards, revealed several small kegs marked with a twisted vine emblem.
Khorsheed was aghast. Nanako, nonplussed at the sight of the kegs and satisfied that he was not hiding Mahfuz’s body, simply left. Though the party did not recognize his stash of Free Isles contraband, as Nanako had, they could clearly see his apprehension. Mortified by Nanako’s behavior, they attempted to placate Khorsheed, purchasing several items from his shop with their sincerest apologies.
Outside the shop, Kasumi confronted Nanako about her brutish behavior. Nanako replied candidly that this was how she got results, and she didn’t care what others thought of her. Fed up with their troublesome new companion, Kasumi scolded her, saying if this was how she operated normally, she must not be very successful at anything other than antagonizing people.
Nanako responded with her fists, striking Kasumi repeatedly, but something seemed to have come over him as Kasumi stood motionless, neither dodging nor retaliating. Realizing his accountant was allowing this wild woman to strike him, Akash caught Nanako’s breath, forcing her to relent. She stormed off and the rest of the party went to Alim’s shipyard for a crew meeting. When asked what he had been trying to accomplish, Kasumi was completely silent but everyone could see a deep anger written across his face.
...*...
The party informed the Captain of what had transpired at Khorsheed’s place. While concerned about Nanako’s confrontational manner, what Sitara found both more worrisome and intriguing was how it appeared to have dented Kasumi’s typically impassive demeanor. He did not seem much inclined to divulge, however, so she did not press the issue, turning instead to the matters at hand.
Sitara informed the crew of their upcoming trip to the south to face a test at the Entrance to the Sea Lords' Hall, to prove before Captain Ataullah and all others the worthiness of their cause. As their mission was undeniably just, she felt certain the Jinn would see them through their trial. Bassim heartily supported Sitara’s impassioned speech, with the rest of the crew likewise looking forward to the adventure.
During the discussion Kasumi slipped out, but before Sitara could follow, Thara intercepted her, confronting the Captain about her plans. Sitara reassured her that she would not hold it against Thara, or anyone else, if they chose to remain behind, as this would certainly be a daunting first voyage. Thara, however, insisted that learning the meaning of being a member of this crew was exactly what she had signed on for, and would not be left behind.
Meanwhile, Kasumi went to the warehouse where Nanako’s fight was to take place, only to discover she had not shown up. He surmised she had likely gone to the Exalted Wind instead, to continue her search for Mahfuz. Sitara caught up with Kasumi at the warehouse, and they decided to head to the tavern. On the way, the pair discussed Raptis’ plan for Burning Brand, and Sitara revealed that she felt distressed about having suggested piracy, though Kasumi agreed that it was the best option for everyone involved and had likely saved the crew’s lives. When Sitara inquired about his conflict with Nanako, Kasumi explained he did not look kindly on those who displayed such thuggish aggression towards innocent bystanders, acting just as low as a common criminal.
Arriving at the Exalted Wind, Nanako walked in on a rapidly escalating argument between two patrons. Before the situation turned physical, however, an intimidating man stepped in, whose mere presence forced the two parties to reconsider and go their separate ways. Once the tension in the room dissipated, Nanako approached the man who seemed to be acting as the establishment’s bouncer.
Introducing herself, she explained she was in search of information on the whereabouts of the sage named Mahfuz. Shahin, as he was called, recognizing the name, indicated the sage was known among the circles who frequented the establishment. He was saying he had not heard anything about the sage being missing, when his attention was drawn by a pair of newcomers at the bar. Nanako turned and immediately realized what had distracted him. The hat was unmistakable.
Captain Sitara seemed to be making herself comfortable at the bar, surrounded by a few curious listeners as she embarked on the Tales of Viz Leany. Though not nearly as conspicuous as his captain, Nanako did catch sight of Kasumi as he slipped away from the bar, heading towards her.
Kasumi asked Nanako over to a table, where the two discussed their altercations and made peace with their differences. Both of them shared their individual backgrounds and how it shaped their worldviews. With that resolved, Kasumi returned to Sitara’s storytelling while Nanako resumed her talks with Shahin. He agreed he would keep an ear out for any information concerning the sage if Nanako would share likewise.
Joining the growing crowd at the bar, Nanako listened as Sitara continued recounting the ship’s many adventures, from the suspenseful, to the humorous, to the wondrous. Her dramatic storytelling culminated in the heroic battle with the Ta Atouan slaver barge in which three of the crew valiantly gave their lives. The room had fallen silent at the bittersweet conclusion of the epic tale. Misreading the audience, Nanako threw up her hands and cheered for Viz Leany, leaving the moved but somber crowd quite confused and Kasumi facepalming. The bartender, Nur, toasted the sacrifice of his countrymen, bringing a trying day to a mournful close.
...*...
A couple of days later, Sitara went in search of Thara to give her a tour of Viz Leany, and found her already working in Alim’s shipyard. While Thara did not seem terribly familiar with a ship’s workings, it was clear her stubbornness would not allow something so trivial as inexperience to stand in the way of her proving herself. Returning to the docks, Sitara and Thara discovered Jian looking on as Nanako and Mesi each sparred with Kasumi, and joined the Master of Arms in observing the match.
Thara, seeming to recognize Nanako, began heckling her, calling her out as the opponent who had failed to show up to their scheduled match. The two squared off, with Nanako showing a significant size advantage over her scrappier opponent. Thara seemed to take the contest more seriously, though, and it appeared the two were evenly matched until Thara caught Nanako attempting a feint and punished her for it. Nanako yielded, though it appeared she had earned Thara’s respect over the course of the bout.
After the impromptu match, Nanako decided to send a letter home to the Free Isles, prompting the party seek out one of Raptis’ men. They found Rudo, who was watching Burning Brand. While he seemed annoyed, though perhaps no more than usual, he agreed to deliver Nanako’s letter.
Upon Kasumi's continued requests, the party then proceeded to another round of testing Nanako’s gloves. Deciding that an even test of strength would be a shoving contest, Nanako was able to move Mesi far more than it seemed she should, though Akash detected only a glimmer of a reaction from the gloves. Nanako was unwilling to let Mesi use the gloves, though Kasumi was able to talk her into letting him try them. Despite Nanako’s threats, Kasumi took great care with the gloves, though when he tried to activate them, he felt no signs of the Mon’s power.
The four went to Alim who used the monocle the party had recovered in their previous adventures to look at the gloves. Alim, inquiring as to the glove’s history, revealed that they carried the weight of family with them. Agreeing to meet the party later that evening at his home to investigate further, the party took their leave.
...*...
As the party once again became absorbed in their experiments, Sitara slipped away for a long pensive stroll along the docks. Despite all of their investigations, they seemed no closer to discovering what had happened to Mahfuz, to recovering the Mon. The ominous feeling that had first crept into her mind when he failed to answer the door weighed heavily on her as she walked. She continued until she was outside the city, finding some solace along the beach. Coming to a small isolated spot, Sitara drew her swords and began to dance.
She spun her blades and turned about, working herself into a desperate frenzy as she meditated on her thoughts of the Mon. Whirling faster and faster, Sitara saw a flash of the sea woman’s face from when she first called on the Mon. Halting mid-spin, she found herself facing almost directly north. Taking that as a sign that the Mon was to the north, Sitara hurried back to town. She spent a few hours looking into the comings and goings out of the Northern coastal road and the Northeastern farm road entrances into Rhakosis, hoping to discover if anything had been out of the ordinary lately, but to no avail.
...*...
Meanwhile, the rest of the party began putting out word of their wealth and Nanako’s presence in an attempt to draw out whoever had taken the Mon. If they were fortunate, perhaps their thief might use the artifact during the upcoming Festival of the Long Sun, and make themselves known.
Nanako, after hearing more and more about the Mon and its powers, decided to see if she could awaken similar power in her mother's gloves. Catching a rabbit, she killed and prepared it for dinner, then cut her hand in a blood offering. Her efforts appeared futile, as she neither saw nor felt any reaction from the gloves. Her attempts were soon interrupted by Akash, Kasumi and Mesi, and though Nanako spun a story about cutting herself while hunting the rabbit, the trio did not seem entirely convinced.
Sitara returned to the party that evening at dinner. Bringing up the fact that none of Mahfuz’s ledgers had come up in any of their searches, she proposed that whoever kidnapped him had taken them as well, to cover their tracks. She shared her vision with the rest of the party and her theory that Mahfuz was likely kidnapped by someone who he had done business with in the past, and taken north, possibly out of the city. They pondered how to go about investigating anyone who might have had a connection with Mahfuz, a truly daunting task, while Kasumi informed Sitara of the plan to lure out the kidnapper and thief by using Nanako as bait.
Next to return was Mesi, which led to Nanako questioning why she was in the city. Sitara’s arrival drew Nanako’s attention even before their introduction, as she could have sworn she had seen the Captain’s hat somewhere before. Once Akash joined them, the party shared with Nanako what they knew of Mahfuz and their dealings with him. Nanako recognized their description of the Mon, admitting she had learned of the symbol on it from her mother, though she seemed reticent when questioned further. Though some of the party discerned that this bounty hunter knew more than she was willing to divulge, they decided to explore possibilities to track down Mahfuz. Akash would look into his connections in the northeast side of the city, as that was the direction Nanako believed Mahfuz was taken, and she would follow up on any leads they found.
...*...
Deciding to investigate her new companions more thoroughly, Nanako visited Akash’s shop the next day. Seeing the insignia on her gloves she wore, he noticed it matched that of the Mon. When he inquired about them, she explained they were from her mother, an heirloom of sorts.
They decided to revisit Mahfuz’s shop in case Nanako could find something they had overlooked. Afterwards, Akash recommended they start their inquiries about the sage at the Exalted Wind, a tavern that served as a meeting place for the well-to-do in the northeastern side of town. Kasumi arrived, joining the conversation briefly before Nanako departed. Upon Kasumi learning that Nanako’s mother’s gloves bore the symbol of the Mon, he was more than a little perturbed, but Akash put his mind at ease with the knowledge that Nanako did not seem to recognize her heritage.
Convening at the Purple Lantern, the party inquired about the connection between the Mon and Nanako’s family, leading to some tension when Nanako revealed she had recognized the symbol of her mother’s clan. While Kasumi wondered if Nanako were here to exact their revenge, Nanako assured them that if her mother was connected with the Ryuu, she herself had never heard of them. Her mother, who had raised her on the Isle of Ash, did not speak of her family and Nanako knew of nothing other than the symbol on her gloves.
Deciding to trust Nanako for the time being, Kasumi suggested a test of her abilities, and those of the gloves. They relocated to a safer location to conduct these tests, which consisted of Nanako punching Kasumi repeatedly. Though Akash detected nothing mystical about the gloves, Kasumi did discover firsthand that Nanako knew how to throw a punch. After demonstrating her prowess, she invited the party to watch her fight in a competition that evening.
...*...
Deciding it would be best for Nanako to take a look at where he was last seen, the party headed over to Mahfuz’s abode and spoke with Khorsheed. He let the party back into Mahfuz’s rooms, though they discovered little else about Mahfuz or what might have happened to him. While sifting through his religious scrolls and texts, they learned Nanako did not hold much stock in magic and believed the Mon was simply a family icon, much to Kasumi and Akash’s amusement.
As Nanako searched the study, she discovered the wall behind one of the bookshelves was hollow. Khorsheed explained to her that there had originally been a staircase between the basement and the main floor of Khorsheed’s shop, which he had closed off at Mahfuz’s request in respect of his tenant’s privacy. Unconvinced, Nanako insisted on knowing what was in the stairwell. Khorsheed nervously agreed to show them while Nanako delivered barely veiled threats should he refuse.
Adjourning upstairs, Khorsheed left the party in the shop to go in the back to open up the stairwell. It was not long before the party’s suspicion that trouble was afoot overcame their patience. They rushed into the back of Khorsheed’s shop to find the stairwell’s trap door open and Khorsheed hastily moving some boards laying across the stairs at the bottom.
Nanako confronted Khorsheed, demanding he come clean, as the landlord became increasingly distressed. After the party chastised Nanako for abusing their contact, she stepped down into the enclosed stairwell to offer her hand to Khorsheed. As he took her hand, she swiftly kicked aside the loose boards, revealed several small kegs marked with a twisted vine emblem.
Khorsheed was aghast. Nanako, nonplussed at the sight of the kegs and satisfied that he was not hiding Mahfuz’s body, simply left. Though the party did not recognize his stash of Free Isles contraband, as Nanako had, they could clearly see his apprehension. Mortified by Nanako’s behavior, they attempted to placate Khorsheed, purchasing several items from his shop with their sincerest apologies.
Outside the shop, Kasumi confronted Nanako about her brutish behavior. Nanako replied candidly that this was how she got results, and she didn’t care what others thought of her. Fed up with their troublesome new companion, Kasumi scolded her, saying if this was how she operated normally, she must not be very successful at anything other than antagonizing people.
Nanako responded with her fists, striking Kasumi repeatedly, but something seemed to have come over him as Kasumi stood motionless, neither dodging nor retaliating. Realizing his accountant was allowing this wild woman to strike him, Akash caught Nanako’s breath, forcing her to relent. She stormed off and the rest of the party went to Alim’s shipyard for a crew meeting. When asked what he had been trying to accomplish, Kasumi was completely silent but everyone could see a deep anger written across his face.
...*...
The party informed the Captain of what had transpired at Khorsheed’s place. While concerned about Nanako’s confrontational manner, what Sitara found both more worrisome and intriguing was how it appeared to have dented Kasumi’s typically impassive demeanor. He did not seem much inclined to divulge, however, so she did not press the issue, turning instead to the matters at hand.
Sitara informed the crew of their upcoming trip to the south to face a test at the Entrance to the Sea Lords' Hall, to prove before Captain Ataullah and all others the worthiness of their cause. As their mission was undeniably just, she felt certain the Jinn would see them through their trial. Bassim heartily supported Sitara’s impassioned speech, with the rest of the crew likewise looking forward to the adventure.
During the discussion Kasumi slipped out, but before Sitara could follow, Thara intercepted her, confronting the Captain about her plans. Sitara reassured her that she would not hold it against Thara, or anyone else, if they chose to remain behind, as this would certainly be a daunting first voyage. Thara, however, insisted that learning the meaning of being a member of this crew was exactly what she had signed on for, and would not be left behind.
Meanwhile, Kasumi went to the warehouse where Nanako’s fight was to take place, only to discover she had not shown up. He surmised she had likely gone to the Exalted Wind instead, to continue her search for Mahfuz. Sitara caught up with Kasumi at the warehouse, and they decided to head to the tavern. On the way, the pair discussed Raptis’ plan for Burning Brand, and Sitara revealed that she felt distressed about having suggested piracy, though Kasumi agreed that it was the best option for everyone involved and had likely saved the crew’s lives. When Sitara inquired about his conflict with Nanako, Kasumi explained he did not look kindly on those who displayed such thuggish aggression towards innocent bystanders, acting just as low as a common criminal.
Arriving at the Exalted Wind, Nanako walked in on a rapidly escalating argument between two patrons. Before the situation turned physical, however, an intimidating man stepped in, whose mere presence forced the two parties to reconsider and go their separate ways. Once the tension in the room dissipated, Nanako approached the man who seemed to be acting as the establishment’s bouncer.
Introducing herself, she explained she was in search of information on the whereabouts of the sage named Mahfuz. Shahin, as he was called, recognizing the name, indicated the sage was known among the circles who frequented the establishment. He was saying he had not heard anything about the sage being missing, when his attention was drawn by a pair of newcomers at the bar. Nanako turned and immediately realized what had distracted him. The hat was unmistakable.
Captain Sitara seemed to be making herself comfortable at the bar, surrounded by a few curious listeners as she embarked on the Tales of Viz Leany. Though not nearly as conspicuous as his captain, Nanako did catch sight of Kasumi as he slipped away from the bar, heading towards her.
Kasumi asked Nanako over to a table, where the two discussed their altercations and made peace with their differences. Both of them shared their individual backgrounds and how it shaped their worldviews. With that resolved, Kasumi returned to Sitara’s storytelling while Nanako resumed her talks with Shahin. He agreed he would keep an ear out for any information concerning the sage if Nanako would share likewise.
Joining the growing crowd at the bar, Nanako listened as Sitara continued recounting the ship’s many adventures, from the suspenseful, to the humorous, to the wondrous. Her dramatic storytelling culminated in the heroic battle with the Ta Atouan slaver barge in which three of the crew valiantly gave their lives. The room had fallen silent at the bittersweet conclusion of the epic tale. Misreading the audience, Nanako threw up her hands and cheered for Viz Leany, leaving the moved but somber crowd quite confused and Kasumi facepalming. The bartender, Nur, toasted the sacrifice of his countrymen, bringing a trying day to a mournful close.
...*...
A couple of days later, Sitara went in search of Thara to give her a tour of Viz Leany, and found her already working in Alim’s shipyard. While Thara did not seem terribly familiar with a ship’s workings, it was clear her stubbornness would not allow something so trivial as inexperience to stand in the way of her proving herself. Returning to the docks, Sitara and Thara discovered Jian looking on as Nanako and Mesi each sparred with Kasumi, and joined the Master of Arms in observing the match.
Thara, seeming to recognize Nanako, began heckling her, calling her out as the opponent who had failed to show up to their scheduled match. The two squared off, with Nanako showing a significant size advantage over her scrappier opponent. Thara seemed to take the contest more seriously, though, and it appeared the two were evenly matched until Thara caught Nanako attempting a feint and punished her for it. Nanako yielded, though it appeared she had earned Thara’s respect over the course of the bout.
After the impromptu match, Nanako decided to send a letter home to the Free Isles, prompting the party seek out one of Raptis’ men. They found Rudo, who was watching Burning Brand. While he seemed annoyed, though perhaps no more than usual, he agreed to deliver Nanako’s letter.
Upon Kasumi's continued requests, the party then proceeded to another round of testing Nanako’s gloves. Deciding that an even test of strength would be a shoving contest, Nanako was able to move Mesi far more than it seemed she should, though Akash detected only a glimmer of a reaction from the gloves. Nanako was unwilling to let Mesi use the gloves, though Kasumi was able to talk her into letting him try them. Despite Nanako’s threats, Kasumi took great care with the gloves, though when he tried to activate them, he felt no signs of the Mon’s power.
The four went to Alim who used the monocle the party had recovered in their previous adventures to look at the gloves. Alim, inquiring as to the glove’s history, revealed that they carried the weight of family with them. Agreeing to meet the party later that evening at his home to investigate further, the party took their leave.
...*...
As the party once again became absorbed in their experiments, Sitara slipped away for a long pensive stroll along the docks. Despite all of their investigations, they seemed no closer to discovering what had happened to Mahfuz, to recovering the Mon. The ominous feeling that had first crept into her mind when he failed to answer the door weighed heavily on her as she walked. She continued until she was outside the city, finding some solace along the beach. Coming to a small isolated spot, Sitara drew her swords and began to dance.
She spun her blades and turned about, working herself into a desperate frenzy as she meditated on her thoughts of the Mon. Whirling faster and faster, Sitara saw a flash of the sea woman’s face from when she first called on the Mon. Halting mid-spin, she found herself facing almost directly north. Taking that as a sign that the Mon was to the north, Sitara hurried back to town. She spent a few hours looking into the comings and goings out of the Northern coastal road and the Northeastern farm road entrances into Rhakosis, hoping to discover if anything had been out of the ordinary lately, but to no avail.
...*...
Meanwhile, the rest of the party began putting out word of their wealth and Nanako’s presence in an attempt to draw out whoever had taken the Mon. If they were fortunate, perhaps their thief might use the artifact during the upcoming Festival of the Long Sun, and make themselves known.
Nanako, after hearing more and more about the Mon and its powers, decided to see if she could awaken similar power in her mother's gloves. Catching a rabbit, she killed and prepared it for dinner, then cut her hand in a blood offering. Her efforts appeared futile, as she neither saw nor felt any reaction from the gloves. Her attempts were soon interrupted by Akash, Kasumi and Mesi, and though Nanako spun a story about cutting herself while hunting the rabbit, the trio did not seem entirely convinced.
Sitara returned to the party that evening at dinner. Bringing up the fact that none of Mahfuz’s ledgers had come up in any of their searches, she proposed that whoever kidnapped him had taken them as well, to cover their tracks. She shared her vision with the rest of the party and her theory that Mahfuz was likely kidnapped by someone who he had done business with in the past, and taken north, possibly out of the city. They pondered how to go about investigating anyone who might have had a connection with Mahfuz, a truly daunting task, while Kasumi informed Sitara of the plan to lure out the kidnapper and thief by using Nanako as bait.