The Mortal Paper Fist said:
Stone temples? Can she tell us more about them? Who built them? Do Imps or Kobolds use them as places of worship? Are there any hidden treasures inside them?
Once all our questions have been answered, hit the road again. Make sure to take regular breaks so that Moonflower doesn’t exhausts herself too much while flying.
Huise Shanmai Random Encounter: 4
You ask Tsu-Ko about the stone temples she mentioned.
Tsu-Ko: “The temples are built by the kobolds. Depending on the size of the tribe and the power of whatever it is that they worship at the time, the structures can range from primitive shrines to large ziggurats, all made of stone.”
You can’t help but wonder what treasures such temples might hold.
Tsu-Ko: “Kobolds scavenge and steal anything shiny they can find to use as offerings, but unless they took something invaluable from you, going anywhere close to them isn’t worth the risk.”
You tell the sprite that you’ll keep that in mind, and without any further questions, you resume your journey toward Final Rest…
As you glide through endless valleys of bamboo, the deep blue sky slowly fills with clouds from the east. Soon, the glaring sun is overcast, allowing you to put your bamboo hats away and enjoy the warm wind in your manes — except for Moonflower, who puts her favourite cap back on.
After every hour spent flying, you land to drink some water and rest your wings for half that time, much to the bat pony’s benefit. Luckily, you don’t encounter anything in the wild other than a few ordinary grassland critters.
Shortly after midday, a colossal mountain comes into view, dwarfing the rolling highlands around it. You perch atop a scenic viewpoint roughly an hour’s canter away from the mountain, and watch as golden rays of sunlight pierce through the grey clouds beyond.
Honourshine: “That must be the one.”
Moonflower: “Yuh uh! I think I can see the bell tower on top.”
Tsu-Ko: “So it is. But like I said earlier, finding the mountain is a simple matter. Now, getting inside, that’s another story — and one I’ve never heard.”
Honourshine: “I don’t suppose the bell tower is the entrance?”
Tsu-Ko: “Likely not; and even if it were, no creature with a pair of ears should get anywhere close to that thing.”
Then you’ll have to figure it out. But for now, you sit together and share another ration for lunch: thick slices of veggie pizza with a side of crispy coleslaw, and boxes of sweet grape juice. You feel stuffed. Phew!
Moonflower finishes her meal with an extra cup of westwind relief tea, staving off the island’s never-ending summer for another day.