Part 29: WORDS

Episode 27: WORDS

Last time, we took on the Ravager and Kai Lan the Serpent and became the Imperial Arena grand champion (yes I'll put that video together any day now). We also helped the Black Whirlwind get some closure regarding his brother Raging Ox, as it turned out the Ravager was actually the reanimated corpse of Raging Ox that had been forced to serve Kai Lan. You'd think someone at the arena might have noticed their champion being the walking corpse of the previous champ, but maybe that mask confused them. They weren't really that bright in general. Anyway, now that we are finally done with the arena, it's time to go back to our party's camp and meet up with the Lotus Assassin Inquisitor.



Before we head back, there's still something we should take a look at.



This scroll listing the most recent arena champions has changed to reflect a couple of things. First of all, we've been added to the top of the list, although I'm not sure how they found out our real name because we sure as hell never told it to anyone around here. In addition, the entries for the Ravager and Kai Lan are no longer quite as positive as they used to be.



We still need to rob Kai Lan's office of its valuables, but that'll have to wait a bit longer because we're now back at camp and the Inquisitor has arrived. Obviously, he'll want to hear how our business with Judge Fang went, even though he probably already knows we succeeded.



My spies tell me that Judge Fang has resigned. Is this true?

I have his resignation right here.

You've done well. With Fang out of the picture, we can assign his post to somebody less difficult. Somebody pliable and easy to control. Somebody like Sheng. Sheng has no backbone; no will of his own. Things will go much more smoothly for the Lotus Assassins with a puppet like him running the Ministry of Harmony. You have successfully completed the mission I gave you. As your reward, we will allow you to begin your training as an Inquisitor of the Lotus Assassins.



Looks like Minister Sheng is getting a promotion. Perhaps not in the best of circumstances, but I doubt he'll mind.



Report to the fortress at the far end of the Necropolis. The entrance is there, now that you are worthy of finding it. Make certain your affairs are in order before you go. I will tell them you are coming. Show them this seal when you arrive. Be mindful of your manners. Our trainers are not gentle, and they demand respect.

Once we enter the Fortress, we'll no longer be able to complete sidequests in the Imperial City. As such, we're taking care of all that business before we go anywhere.



A new beginning. Your life becomes the Lotus Assassins. Death's Hand becomes your guiding spirit. The Emperor is your father above him. I wish you luck. Perhaps I will see you again. If you survive.



That'll be that, then. Now that the Inquisitor has shuffled off, we should hold a quick meeting with the rest of the party.



And you've made doubly certain of it by aiding both the Executioner and Inquisitor. Very impressive. The way to the Lotus Assassin fortress is open.



While Dawn Star is speaking here, Sagacious Zu sneaks off. Certainly not in the stealthiest manner ever, but we can't stop him even though we can plainly see what he is doing.



You have permission, so there won't be any trouble entering. It's only after we have the evidence against Death's Hand that they might notice something is wrong.





Yeah, uh, about that...



Where... where is he?

Well, you should be more careful of who you trust.



We have no clue where Zu has gone, but him deciding to sneak off like that doesn't bode particularly well. We should find him as soon as possible.



Zu would not turn on us.

The Lotus Assassin fortress is in the far end of the Necropolis. They shouldn't give you any trouble. Just appear confident as you enter.

Zu did not seem like he wanted anything to do with the Assassins ever again and Inquisitor Lim said Zu is to be killed on sight, so it's doubtful he's gone to warn them. Still, why would he skulk off like that?



By "now" we mean "in about two or three hours", of course.



I don't want you to think I have forgotten your needs.



All right then. Having finished the Inquisitors' quest, we get the Inquisitor Seal and lose all the other crap related to the quest, since we no longer need any of it. Finishing a main quest also means our party members will have new things to say, so let's chat with all of them before we head back out.



I was sorry to hear about your town. You're a woman with a knack for finding trouble.



I mean, he's not exactly the cautious type himself, is he?



There's something I've been meaning to ask you. Why? Seriously. Why are you doing this? Details aside, you're fighting the Empire as a whole when you oppose the Lotus Assassins, Death's Hand, or the Emperor's will. I know all about your village and your Master, and that explains some of it. What it doesn't explain is your drive, your strength. What gives you that?



I'm not really a fan of any of these choices they gave us here. Where's the "I'm a Spirit Monk, and this is what we do" option?



I know you're going to follow Silk Fox's plans to find a way into the Assassins' den. It won‘t be easy, but I'm confident we'll succeed. It's what happens after you find a way in that has me worried.



I can imagine that might just be the case. I knew men and women who were drawn to the Lotus Assassins. They went into that place to prove themselves, as you intend to. And the few who made it back out were... different.

Different how?

They acted like they didn't know us or just didn‘t care if we lived or died. It's hard to say if there's even a difference to the Lotus Assassins. I know you‘ll be fine. The Assassins will be lucky if you don't bring the place down around their ears. Just be sure not to tip your hand before you're ready. That's all in the future, though. We should keep at what we're doing. There's a lot left to tackle before we're done.

I'm noticing Sky is no longer trying to hit on us, so I guess we managed to avoid triggering his romance flags. Speaking of romance, let's ask Henpecked Hou some more about his lovely wife! Specifically, why did he marry his wife if she is so difficult?



I was the tournament champion in Phoenix Gate when things spun out of control. My need for wine took its toll on my body. There are long periods I don't even remember. After one such period, I came to, having lost most of my clothes and all my money. I was destitute, and without the ability to buy more wine... I couldn't even fight!



That takes some dedication.



Just like that l was back in the ring. After climbing my way back to the top of the tournament, my sponsor told me it was time to fulfill my end of the bargain.

I guess you really owed him after that.

Apparently the agreement stipulated that I must marry his niece. If only I had read the agreement more closely, I could still be shoveling... dirt in the creature cages. Alas, fate had a crueler path in mind for me. Let that be a lesson for you: always read the fine print, or you may end up with more than you bargained for!

Err, okay then. Next question.





As I mentioned earlier, after becoming tournament champion for the second time, I was forced to marry my sponsor's nubile niece. *She* is the reason I no longer fight. My disapproving dove did not care for my drinking, or for my friends, or my fighting, or my friends fighting. She believed I should settle down, be more respectable.

Hou! You need to learn to stand up for yourself.

At first I ignored her rebukes and continued fighting, but I soon learned that she was not a woman to be crossed. Prior to one fight, my duplicitous daisy drugged my wine. I don't remember much of what happened next, which is fortunate. From what I hear it wasn't very pretty.

Well then, that took a turn.



I spent the next several months under the tender ministrations of my doting wife. Needless to say, when l was well enough to walk again I was more than happy to... settle down. As to why I became a bun master... well, it's a hard, thankless job that keeps me very, very busy. Very busy.

Right. Yes. Now that is a healthy marriage if I ever saw one. Let's move swiftly on and see what's going on with Wild Flower and the demons inhabiting her. Wonder if she's all right with those two.





I... I don't know. The Guardian... he's always been with me. The other one, too. But they never really tell me why.... They say we have to be with you now.



Why did you choose her?

The amulet you carry had been hidden in the village by the last of the Spirit Monks, and the whole area flooded. Those remaining behind died and it was lost forever. But the dam had opened again and the water receded. I am bound to protect this amulet, but to exist in this world, balance is needed. With good, evil. With life, death. Of those who died there, I chose this one as my host. She was reborn through my power, and I within her. But balance required that my heavenly presence have an opposite.



Remember how Dawn Star sensed something weird when we first met Wild Flower? You might've thought she was just sensing Chai Ka and Ya Zhen inside her, but Dawn Star's power specifically helps her sense the spirits of the dead (although I suppose she was sort of able to sense the Water Dragon's spirit as well). You might also remember Wild Flower getting very uncomfortable when she saw the water rise again and flood Old Tien's Landing, and now we know why.





Gah!



Don't talk to the little girl about the demons within her, got it.





Oh dear. Maybe we should've actually listened to that bit of advice.



What are you talking about?

The girl is already dead. She's a walking corpse. She's nothing to anyone. What I want is the body. I need an anchor, and this little walking meat puppet can provide that. But Chai Ka gives me trouble. He's in my way. He's weak, but the girl sides with him. To take control, I need your help. And I‘m willing to offer servitude for it.



Let's at least try to keep him where he is, shall we? We really don't need an evil toad demon running around, especially if he's going to take control of Wild Flower.



Sure. If we were doing a super evil playthrough, we might take him up on his offer, but that really only makes sense if you're playing a total fuckhead. As such, we're not going to let him out. Bye, Ya Zhen!



For the sake of the child, have no further dealings with him. He is stronger now; he might be able to force his way out, or be called. Resist him. Do not listen to him.

Got it, for real this time. We can now use Ya Zhen as a party member if we wish, but we don't (I thought that happened after the last conversation, but it was actually this one). I believe talking to both Chai Ka and Ya Zhen at this point is required for completing Wild Flower's personal quest, so there is an actual reason why we're bothering the little girl.

Now that we've got that out of the way, let's go ask the Black Whirlwind if he's got any more interesting stories for us, maybe something about his brother.



Nothing about Raging Ox, but this might be good.



The night of the wedding feast, I got more than a little drunk, and in the morning I woke up in the prefect's bed, next to the prefect's wife.



Well, so far that's not too bad. Nobody's been killed yet, for one.



Apparently, I had just killed her sister's husband and was about to kill her sister. I tried to tell her it was an honest mistake, but she wouldn't hear it.



It was always going to go there, wasn't it?



I killed them all swiftly. None of them suffered. Still, Meishan wouldn't leave with me; she kept crying and complaining about her family. Family life just isn't for me.



Yes, I think there is a useful lesson for us all there... somewhere. Maybe. In any event, I love how you can always respond to Whirlwind's horror stories with this line.



Will you be heading to the Lotus Assassin fortress soon? When you are through there, the princess will take us to the palace. You've appeased both of the Lotus Assassin recruiters. What else could we possibly need to do?

What do you think about what has been happening?

As much as I think it is foolishly dangerous, you need to go to the Lotus Assassin fortress and find the information the Princess needs. After that she will take us to the palace. We are so close to Master Li. Just a little longer... I hope.

Well, Dawn Star didn't have much of interest to say. At this point she usually doesn't, unless you're on the romance path. Speaking of which, we should take some time to hit on Silk Fox because we've got a couple of romance flags to hit before we head to the fortress.



Is there anything you wanted to discuss before I get moving?

I don't understand. You have gained the favor of the Lotus Assassins with a fair amount of ease. What else is there to speak of? Is there something *you* are wondering?



About me? I am Princess Sun Lian the Heavenly Lily. What more are you worthy of knowing?

Tell me about your childhood.

I do not remember ever being allowed to just be a child. My mother died when l was born, shortly before the end of the Long Drought and the fall of my uncles. I was in the care of tutors too afraid to punish me, and too ingratiating to teach me anything useful. I quickly found ways to sneak away from the palace. They dared not report my excursions for fear they would be punished. They would scurry around all day trying in vain to find me.





They never realized who I was. I'm sure they would have been terrified of the army storming in to rescue me. Most just wanted to be left alone. That life was exciting, but also useful. Even Lotus Assassins overlook the beggar on the street, but she still has eyes and ears.

Tell me about Silk Fox.

Ah, the shadow behind my public self. How else can a curious princess learn what really happens in her domain? I don't have time to interpret the veiled statements of advisors, so I became a thief, an assassin, whatever I needed to be. People will not speak to the princess; bad news kills the messenger first. Silk Fox knows how to persuade. That is how I learned about the activities of Death's Hand.

I'm sure you find being Silk Fox exciting as well.

There is a freedom in it. I have the resources to go anywhere and the secrecy to do anything. If I wished it, I could be quite carefree. But that is not what I have found in practice. Instead, I see how my father's reign has twisted, and I know I must do something.



I really should've picked the bottom option here, because it disappears after the next bit of dialog. At least they did have some sort of an explanation as to why nobody seems to notice the princess being gone for extended periods of time.



It is filled with sycophants pandering to the fancies of my father, with little or no concern to their own dignity. It is... distasteful.

I think you would do well at court.

I can handle myself better than any of the fancy courtiers who attempt to match me. I know that someday the court will be mine to rule. When I succeed my father, there will be quite a cleaning-out. But with Death's Hand manipulating him, that day seems less and less likely.



Welp, time for some BioWare romance dialog, everyone.



I have already shared something of myself. Can you tell me something about you? Is there anyone that you care for?



We get a couple of opportunities to break things off here before we're locked in to Silk Fox's romance path, but obviously we're not doing that.



Wanting someone you can never have. Love you can never show in public. Such loneliness should not exist. I have contributed to that. The princess behaves as she should, reinforcing the very rules I despise, all to protect Silk Fox. Which one am I?



I should not be ungrateful. Everything in my life is dedicated solely to making me happy, but I am at odds with so much. I am always behind a mask, not just when I am Silk Fox. I am not allowed to show an interest in politics, defending the Empire... or even spontaneous affection. Can you see the dilemma you represent? Not only is our deepening friendship prohibited by station, but by... so much more.





But you are another matter. When I look at you, I see someone I could know better than anyone. Someone who could understand... what I need. It frightens me how much you intrigue me.



One last chance to get cold feet. If you pass this Charm check (which can be avoided if you picked certain options earlier), you're officially on the Silk Fox romance path. Since we didn't flirt with Sky, we shouldn't be getting any awkward moments down the line either. Well, more awkward than BioWare's romances already are in general. At this point you can also turn Silk Fox to the Way of the Closed Fist, if that's your thing (if you're playing a Closed Fist character, you probably want to do that to avoid certain problems later) and you choose the appropriate dialog options as well as pass another skill check.



You asked me about my first love. It was the Empire and its people. There might be room for another... given time and effort. How would the court react? You have the skill to be charmingly discrete, but a few people could use a shock, now and then. You and I will have much to discuss after we have restored my father. I am looking forward to it.

There we are. We're now finished with our party member conversations for the time being, so now we can finally head back out to town and get started on those sidequests we need to complete before we enter the fortress.



First off, we've got Captain Sen and his bounties.







Admittedly, you don't resemble the ones described to me. but they're several days late. No doubt they'll blame it on the foolish ghost stories.

It sounds like these mercenaries have just forfeited their job to me.

I need help tracking down a pair of criminals. Are you interested in a little well-paying work?

I'm interested. Tell me what you need done.

These two scoundrels have eluded my best efforts, so I'm turning to bounty hunters. It's harder to run when your pursuers are not in a uniform.



Thanks, Silk Fox. Let's hear about those criminals, then.



You've got a deal.

A wise decision. The two criminals are Fading Moon and Creative Yukong. Fading Moon is an arsonist who was last spotted heading for the Necropolis. Creative Yukong has virtually disappeared, though we may be able to learn something from Lady Rento, the wife of the man Yukong bilked. She's in the Imperial Arena.

I want to hear more about Fading Moon.

Fading Moon is an arsonist. Her first fires were in the poor quarters, but her last one spread to the Market District gate. Last we heard, she had escaped to the Necropolis.

Why was nothing done to catch her earlier?

As I said, she confined them to the poor districts. She would have been impossible to catch in that rat's nest. More frankly, there isn't enough money to make it worth my effort.

The Empire's finest, ladies and gentlemen.



The gates between here and the poorer districts will be closed for some time while repairs are underway. There's nothing particular about the scene of the crime, just ash.

Let's hear the details surrounding Creative Yukong.

Yukong fleeced some silver from Lord Rento, a powerful man in the Ministry of Harmony. Yukong is a master of disguise, and he has hidden himself somewhere in the city. Lord Rento is away on court business, but his wife informed me that she'd be in the Heart of the Empire in the Imperial Arena if we needed her. You could start there.

What could she tell me?

She knows the details of the theft better than I. Lord Rento was... reluctant to discuss them. Yukong could be anywhere or anyone, and Lady Rento is the only lead we have.



We'll take Sky along for these quests, as he hasn't had much opportunity to show what he can do thus far.



Our first stop is the Heart of the Empire tavern, and that's Lady Rento right there. Let's find out what she knows about Creative Yukong.



Eh, it's not all it's cracked up to be.



I'm here to talk to you about Creative Yukong.

Oh, poor Yukong. Captain Sen's still willing to do my husband‘s bidding and hunt him down, is he? I swear, my husband is insufferable. Yukong's a harmless aspiring actor who asked me if I would act as his patron. Since my husband was away from the city... again... I accepted and gave Yukong a moderate stipend. I thought he was charming.

Uh huh. I think I see what's going on here...





My husband's a fool, but when he lowers his head, all I can do is let him charge and hope he rams something solid enough to slow him.

How much did you give this actor?

Probably less than my husband is putting forth as a bounty for poor Yukong. That young man doesn't deserve this.

Do you have any idea where I could find Creative Yukong?

I would wager that you'll find him in the Scholars' Garden. Yukong was going to try out for that new play. It‘s going to be put on soon in the Golden Way, I'm told. Should be exciting to watch.

I'll bet. That must be the play that was mentioned by Bai the Outcrier when we arrived in the city, maybe we should check it out.



If you happen to find Creative Yukong, do go easy on him, would you? The poor boy did nothing wrong, and my husband is being unusually cruel to him. Good luck with your search! I have to get back to the estate. So much to do.



Time to head back to the Scholars' Garden. It's just as well, we had some business to take care of in there anyway since we never officially completed the Outlander quest. We need to talk to the Minister of Culture and get a reward from him to actually mark that quest as completed, even though we already got the real reward from Sir Roderick when we beat him.



Never mind that, what's going on here?





Now go! Or perhaps you'd prefer for you and your mother be sent to work at the Wall?

Wow, this guy is a dick.





We're definitely gonna have to do something about that.



Sky agrees as well. Let's go talk to Jinlin and find out what the hell that was all about.





I'm... sorry. I'm just a little upset. I... I'm Jinlin. Is there something you want?

I saw what happened earlier. I'd like to help you.

Thanks, but I need to find a way to kill spirits. Purveyor Shouji wants me to fetch an artifact from an emperor's tomb in the Necropolis, but it's filled with ghosts. The purveyor is... he threatened to sell my mom to slave traders if I don't get this artifact. I don't know what to do... I can't fight ghosts.

Well, luckily we can. That being said, what the shit? Purveyor Shouji wants his money, so he sends this little girl to the goddamn Necropolis to find an artifact from a ghost-infested tomb? And when she inevitably doesn't get the artifact because she can't fight ghosts, the purveyor will sell her mom to slave traders? He's either a complete idiot, a raging dick, or both. Probably both.





I can't allow you to do this on your own.

Thank you... you are very kind. My father would have liked you, I think. He was brave like you are. The tomb is over in the Necropolis. The door is locked, but I can sneak inside and open it. I just have to be careful not to alert the ghosts. If you really think you can get rid of the ghosts, I'll head over to the tomb and wait for you there.



"Shortly" is of course a relative term...



I wish we could tell Jinlin that there's really no rush, but unfortunately that isn't an option and she's going to have to wait a while.





We missed this bookstand earlier, so let's take a quick look at it. Nothing particularly interesting or relevant, but EXP is EXP.



Near the entrance to the Golden Way, we run into this gentleman.



You're clearly not from around the Imperial City, and I need someone's help most desperately, someone unaffected by the politics of this place.

What can I do to help?

I am Incisive Chorus the Playwright. I'm sure you've heard of me, and if not, you have... er, now, I suppose. One of my productions has been touring the countryside and catching people's attention. We were asked to bring it into the city and perform here in the Golden Way.



Wu the Lotus Blossom is a woman of many talents, but she's no playwright.



Oh no! Anything but that!





They've changed it from a commentary of man‘s inhumanity to man to a satire of the Empire. I tell you truthfully that they've lost the whole point of the piece!

Yes, that is awful. Listen, we really need to get going, there are criminals we have to catch and a little girl who needs our help, so if you don't mind we'll just...



Well, I suppose there is that.



Of course I would pay you. In fact, I'd match... er... Well, this is odd.

Something the matter?

It‘s just that there's no "going" rate for female actors or whatever you'd be called. It's unheard of.





They deserve that much respect. I hear the bosom binding, pant stuffing, and whatnot is a far cry from comfortable.





I, myself, have pushed long and hard for realism; "verisimilitude" is the word they're throwing out these days. And what better way to avoiding all that unnecessary shirt stuffing? Alas, tradition often becomes a barrier blackened by short-sightedness that is not easily overcome.



This can only go well.



I will gladly offer you the going rate for a leading man, just for a walk-on part! I need you to take a role in the play and read the role the... er, original way. You have a most regal bearing, so I expect you'd have no... well, no *major* problems, at any rate, acting the role of Lady Fourteen Flowers.



Sky just wants to see us on stage, doesn't he?



You want me to play Lady Fourteen Flowers?

That will be a bit tricky I'll admit. Certainly breaking with tradition, but if you tell them you‘re already in makeup, they'll... er, gloss things over. It'll be fine, I'm sure.

I'm no actor. They wouldn't believe me!

Oh, they will. It's a role practically suited to one of your... stature. It'll come to you as easily as pleasant scents on a spring wind.

Sounds interesting. I'll do it.



Hurry over to the large pagoda overlooking the Golden Way, and tell Phong that you're the replacement. They won't wait forever, so step quickly to it. Remember, you'll have to memorize your lines, no scripts on stage, of course. Also, make sure you read from this script. Now, good... no, you're about to perform so I shan't jinx it. Get to it!





Seems simple enough, and we're getting some nice Jade Empire lore here as well. I don't see much of man's inhumanity to man in this scene, but maybe that's more prominent in other parts of the play.



Now, before we get up on stage, we should go visit the Ministry hostel on the way. This is where Minister Sheng is staying and where we would've brought the turtle eggs if we decided to go that route in the Inquisitors' quest.



Sky, we already did that.



Or should I say Judge Sheng! At last, my triumphant return to the Imperial City! So many things to prepare. so many things to do.



We could tell him the Lotus Assassins are just planning to use him, but by the time we're done with the Assassins' fortress I don't think Sheng will have much to worry about. That is, if things go the way they usually do for us.



Please excuse me. Judge Sheng really doesn't have the time to chat. I must make preparations for my transfer back to the Imperial City.



I'm going to have to cut things here for now. Nothing much happened in this update aside from a hell of a lot of talking, but that's how Jade Empire is sometimes. At least we got all those out of the way and can focus on other things for the next while.

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