Mandalay, Burma.
The most interesting and eye-catching feature of Mandalay was the largest building, an 8-block large rectangular temple with an elaborate conical gold-plated roof.
Mr. Penrington recruited Mr. Forester and Mr. Steele to accompany him to a local bar favoured by the Anglish military, to obtain gossip about bandits and other Taunggyi-related potential problems. Such a bar was found by the simple expedient of looking for a tavern with English translations of the sign. Penrington learned that most soldiers there were from the local garrison which was considered an "easy post." There are, however, mountain forts anywhere there used to be a local kingdom. Regular convoys travel from Mandalay to the forts and will escort civilians traveling in that direction in caravans once a week. Taunggyi [pronounced something like "Tong-gyee"] itself is a ruined shell; there's no fort and no stopover site there.
However, the entire Mandalay vicinity is "crawling" with temples. For instance, to the southwest, Bagan has 50 temples. One must climb the tallest one to see anything but temples. Last month was the time of the regular pilgrimage to those temples, so - at that time - Mandalay was "crawling with yellow robes." The area is considered holy because someone important to their religion once passed through here.
The temples are not, however, of the "local religion." Penrington's informant said that all the local Old Ones are animals or birds. "Annoying. It's difficult to shoot dinner without some of the locals getting angry, and impossible to tell if some animal is an Old One until after you shoot it and someone gets angry."
The conversation shifted to other problems.
Informant: "Bandits don't come down here.
Steele: "Do any of the convoys get harassed?"
Informant, smugly: "I don't do convoy duty."
Further conversation determined that the regular convoy meets at the East gate once per week.
Penrington: "Do you get people coming in the other way from China?"
Informant: "Yes, there are lots of chinks 'round here. But I don't really see much difference between them and the Burmese; they're all short dark guys."
Meanwhile, Voronika went "shopping for gossip", taking along Sister Sunshine, Mr. Ramsey, and Po. They visited marketplace after marketplace after marketplace in Mandalay, viewing endless displays of cloth, goats, and chickens. Finally Voronika found a dealer in Chinese goods: clothing, hats, exotic fans, carefully displayed bits of gold jewelry, and Chinese puzzle boxes. Nothing of note was learned.
The gossip, however, while revealing nothing of Joseph Daggeral, indicated that the "Anglish have hospitals and forts" but "The Temples are the real tourist area." Various stall-tenders make the offer of discount tours of the Temples, "My cousin can...." The group learns that every February, the Temples are the site of The Festival for which monks come from all over Burma. The main temple is in Mandalay, the ones in Bagan were built to handle the Festival.
The group toured The Temple. It looked like an elaborate wedding cake (rectangular) topped with an elongated Russian onion dome and decorated with stalagmites. The first four floors of the massive eight city blocks of Temple were solid stone. The roof glittered, completely plated with real gold. It was called Maha Muni. Statues of warriors lined the path from the outer wall to the Temple proper. Larger than life, the statues were not Chinese, Burmese or Mongol although they had features from all three Oriental types. The Anglish followed the crowd past the statues into the Temple, past two Chinese lions. Flanking the entrance were two great bronze statues of Chinese warriors. Sister Sunshine noticed that supplicants would make a donation and then rub some part of those bronze statues, the belly, or a leg, or some other part of its anatomy.
In the inner chamber, all became quiet and serene as the visitors faced a 3.8-meter tall statue covered in gold. It looked rather as Po does when he goes into his floating trance. Voronika asked Po about the resemblance; the boy answered, "This may be one of the places I came to before I was born." Sister Sunshine noticed that even the small monkey who seemed to have taken up permanent residence in her sleeve felt that this place deserved respect; it ceased munching fruit for the interim.
Po worried: "The gongs aren't sounding when I come into these temples."
Ramsey, with irony: "Gongs don't go off when I enter a temple."
Sunshine, gently: "Yes, Po. Please explain what you mean."
Po: "It's relatively common that when I enter a Buddhist temple, a gong sounds. It hasn't happened in this country, but it happened all the time in Anglia and in Africa."
A guide explained that The Temple in Mandalay was "the most special temple in all of Burma," built on one of the 5 places the Buddha (He Who Walks) was known to have sat. There were 2 such places in India, one in Paradise, and one under the bodhi tree where he first attained enlightenment. Someone asked of whom the statue was; the guide said "So-and-so Buddha". We then asked if that was "THE Buddha" or if there was more than one or some such question, and the guide said, "There is only one Buddha: the so-and-so Buddha, the some-other-name Buddha, the yet-another-name Buddha, ..." [Note: We've "met" two of them so far this trip, the Guatama and Manjushiri Buddhas.] The Buddha himself sat for the statue the group was viewing, and, afterwards, he had blessed it for 5000 years
After making a joke about the Buddha's girth, Mr. Ramsey was asked to wait outside. Po continued seeking information. "We are searching for pieces of a prayer wheel." When Miss Costorari exhibited one of the Party's prayer wheel pieces, the monk said, "This in unusual. The sign of the time is not usually engraved upon a prayer wheel. Weremember that the kalachakra is the Wheel of Time." Thus the Party learned that "kalachakra" meant "Wheel of Time" and the presence of the Zodiac was inferred. The monk continued, "The wheel is the year and always spins in one direction. I have never seen the signs put on a prayer wheel. It must have been made far from here."
Po: "Perhaps instead it was made long ago, before we knew what we now know."
Monk, nodding: "Perhaps before we had the book."
Voronika: "What book?"
Monk: "The book Guatama Buddha brought to teach the Way of Dying. "Bardo Thokal', in its language."
Sunshine asked a question about the Temple's relationship to the local Old Ones.
Monk: "This is the way past all other ways to Enlightenment."
Sunshine eventually theorized that Buddha was some sort of uber-druid who could talk to his local gods very quickly.
As the group was leaving, they noticed yet another stone statue: of a 3-headed elephant dressed as Chinese. [The elephant statue had the narrower head of the Indian elephant rather than the African, for those who would notice the difference.] Sunshine mentioned to Voronika the latter's mention of the elephant Ganesha in the Indian's druid Sanjay's tale: an elephant who was the only being who could recite the entire Mahabharata from memory. The monk said, "It was brought here along with the lions and the warriors. They came in the company of Gautama Buddha." Voronika asked if she could touch the elephant statue.
Monk: "If you hurt, you should touch the warrior."
Someone asked and the group learned that touching the Chinese warriors at the site where the petitioner felt pain was supposed to bring healing to the affliction.
Voronika touched the elephant and felt incredibly peaceful. There was no sense of time with the statue.
Po, anxiously: "Anything?"
Voronika, dreamily: "Timelessness."
Our Adventurers reconvened at their hotel and exchanged what each group had learned. Steele asked, "When did Buddha come through?" Miss Costorari, "Long ago."
Then Steele asked, "Which way does one spin a prayer wheel." Sister Sunshine answered from her previous experience using one, "Clockwise." The points that hadn't been clear before were that (a) the wheel is mounted vertically, against a wall, and that (b) the zodiac symbols on our wheel are on the "pie slices" between the half-spokes on each wedge, making it clear which way is "away from the wall" when the wheel is set up for spinning. [Some Players had gotten the impression the symbols were on the outer rim, which wouldn't have helped orient the wheel.]
In the exchange of information, Penrington reminded people that the Sister Sunshine's poem contained the line "Temujin in Bardo." "Temujin" was a term for Genghis Khan, and now "Bardo" is revealed to be part of the "way of dying." Or perhaps "book". We should ask at the temple when we come back through
The Party joined the convoy eastward. It included donkeys, an ox cart, and people toting bags. Clearly it would be several days of walking to reach Taunggyi at ox-cart pace. Steele's presence startled the locals, but he aptly played the part of a mechanical luggage handler. This attracted the native ox cart driver into a conversation in which Our Heroes learn that the Ox Cart Driver had a secret ambition to be an Anglish spy, based on a penny-dreadful novel that someone had once given him. Miss Costorari found it amusing to encourage this ambition, suggesting that he tell all the secret information he discovers to Anglish people like ourselves.
OCD: "What kind of information?"
Costorari: "Any interesting information. Bandit doings. Hidden temples. That sort of thing."
Thus the Party learned that the ox cart driver had grown up in Taunggyi. He was insistent that secrets should be hush-hush, that he could be a spy, and that "mum's the word." When asked about Joseph Daggeral, he said, "I've never heard of him," although - some might notice - he was shaking his head 'yes' as he denied knowledge. He knew of a "Temple that no one knows of because it is most difficult to reach. The most secret one." He could lead the Party to it, but "It would take some time." As well, the ox would neither be able to reach the temple nor be able to catch up to the convoy after such a side trip, even assuming someone could be found to keep the ox safe while its driver played guide. Still, the ox cart driver was anxious, "If it's important to the Queen, you should find the temple. Is that where the Secret Weapon is?" Gradually the Party worked a description of the route out of the ox cart driver and it became clear that no one unfamiliar with the area could find the temple. Finally the driver mentioned that there was a spring inside the temple which ran down to Taunggyi. Steele realized that the Party could simply follow the stream up to the temple. The ox cart driver seemed uncertain, but the Party agreed that it was their best chance.
At Taunggyi, amid the craters, fractions of blasted walls, and muddy rubble, the ox cart driver pointed out the soggy remains of the fish pond that the temple stream once fed. Penrington's experienced eye told him that 4-pounders had thoroughly destroyed the village. The convoy guard did his best to warn Our Heroes that they should not abandon the protection of the convoy. "The locals are little more than savages." But the Party persisted. The guard turned to Penrington, "Were you ever in Africa?" Cautiously, the hunter replied, "I've traveled many places." Guard: "You remind me of someone...." Penrington encouraged the Party to start its trek.
The stream had cut its path into the mountain. The Party climbed up a narrow, gradually deepening ravine, overhung with jungle. Near the place where the Party made its first camp, the druidess noticed a stone similar to that where she'd found the little monkey. With the monkey's help she performed a ritual, fetching water from the stream and pouring it over the stone while bowing three times. As she finished, she saw that a vine with bright green leaves had grown around the stone and seemed to beckon her. She gathered the 6 leaves and the monkey stacked them neatly in her sleeve.
That night during second watch, Steele and Ramsey heard occasional areas of silence in the insect sounds of the area. Although Steele, using his IR vision, could find nothing of a size to concern him (just small hot objects throughout the jungle), he did hear an occasional metallic sound. Neither man could localize the metallic sound and, after about an hour, it was heard no more. Bird song at dawn replaced the night insects. Both Costorari and Forester checked the area for tracks without luck. Sunshine advised, "We should be cautious. If one of the Fat Man's people passed us in the night, there may be trouble up ahead in the temple." Ramsey responded with some bitterness, "We know there's trouble. Something drove my friend crazy." Sunshine, softly, "Monkeys."
In the light of day, the druidess decided to experiment with the leaves to discover to what extent her monkey's connection with local Old Ones might have affected her ability to cast druidic spells. Her first attempt to cast a Bless to enhance her companions' OCV and DCV seemed ineffectual although the effort left her face dripping with sweat. Anxiously, the little monkey repeatedly ran to the river and brought back tiny handfuls of water with which to bathe Sunshine's brow. Taking pity on the creature's efforts, the druidess washed her own face in the river, then sat back in surprise. For a moment, the face she saw reflected in the stream looked younger than her own. The monkey hopped up to cling to her robe and offer her two feathers, frayed like arrow fletchings. Sunshine gradually realized that the monkey had indicated that her spell had worked, in a limited fashion. At least accuracy of arrow fire would be enhanced. Unfortunately, the Party had rifles, not bows.
In the spirit of experimentation, Po, too, cast a spell, allowing those unfamiliar with his Force Field the opportunity to "accept" its protection.
The second day of climbing required the group to travel single-file with the lead person hacking through the nearly impossible vegetation to create a narrow path. Steele was point man, but Penrington, Ramsey, and Forester also wielded machetes. It took a day to travel seven tough miles. The group camped on a slope.
During Costorari, Po, and the druidess' First Watch, there was great fluttering and flapping noise. Sunshine immediately fetched the mechanical man. Clouds of bats filled the air and all those awake ducked to avoid them. Steele's vision allowed him to see that some of the bats did not automatically avoid the humans but flew straight at them and seemed to examine the Party before rejoining the winged exodus. Second Watch was, of course, nervous after such an encounter but the rest of the night passed without incident.
It dawned overcast; moisture had condensed on the trees during the night and dripped down on the group hacking its way up the ravine. The Party order was Steele, Penrington, Ramsey, Forester, Sunshine, Po, and Costorari, when Ramsey looked up and saw the skeleton of a monkey jump through the trees. Forester, looking ahead, saw that there were vines growing at a prodigious rate around Penrington's ankles and knees.
Suddenly Penrington noticed that vines had reached his waist and shouted, "Tangle vines!!" But everyone else was in the same situation. Steele and Costorari managed to cut themselves free without doing significant damage to themselves. Po cast his Force Field on the group but, by that time, the vines had reached most peoples' chests. Ramsey shouted "Monkey skeletons in the trees" and fired his rifle, knocking the skeleton somewhere out of sight. Forester aimed his camera and attempted a spell but it went awry, stunning him. As he slumped, the druidess reached backwards and touched Po, trying to cast her Strength-enhancing spell. Suddenly Po found that the druidess' little monkey companion had leaped onto his head and had firmly wrapped its fists in his hair. His adrenaline surged. Wincing, the boy cried, "Nice monkey! Let go of Mr. Po's hair! Owwww!" [Po took stun each phase the Strength spell was in effect.]
At that moment, leaping over the stream, skeletal monkeys with stone knives attacked the entangled adventurers. Several monkeys attempted to redirect the aim of Penrington's and Ramsey's rifles. Mr. Steele suffered a continual barrage of attacks. The others became further entangled in vines. As the druidess found herself totally encased, those around her could see a skeletal monkey had leaped to the top of her prison and was defecating noisily. [EGO drain.] She concentrated on continuing to provide END to the STR spell.
Pushing their strength, Po and Penrington managed to free themselves from the vines. Ramsey and Forester both squandered their strength as the vines enveloped them and undead monkeys shatted poo to drain their will. The monkey knives proved damaging to those still fighting and Voronika was stunned. Po leaped to attack the monkey on the gypsy, ignoring the one hacking at his arm. Suddenly Steele fell.
The metallic thud was followed by Penrington dropping his machete and shouting, "Look! A pregnant ectoplasmic Dr. Davis!" Sure that the image had waved an amulet and felled Steele, the hunter fired his rifle and saw the phantasm ripple at the passage of the bullet. Po had turned to deal with the skeleton on Sister Sunshine, and the others were still encased in unyielding vines. No one else saw the hunter's ghostly vision.
Finally, the radiologist and Egyptologist overcame the debilitating effects of monkey poo and sliced themselves free. The tide of battle began to turn against the skeletal monkeys. Voronika used her magic sword to slice the vines off Sister Sunshine, but the druidess had been 'under the influence' long enough that she leaned into the blade and was saved only by the Force Field Po had cast. Finally the last monkey skeleton was vanquished. Penrington continued watching for some time, but his ectoplasmic opponent did not re-materialize.
Once the monkey poo was washed off in the stream, its victims found that their will power returned, albeit slowly. Sister Sunshine sought her little monkey's assistance in using the stored leaves to perform her Healing spells. She found that by making a paste to spread over the affected area, even Mr. Forester's radiation burns could be effectively treated. She resolved to watch for and collect more of the precious leaves. Sunshine turned to the others and said, "We have only a few leaves and dangers ahead. Please let me see your wounds so that I can determine how best to apportion such a limited resource." She shook her head regretfully, "My powers are so very restricted here and now. Forgive me." The little monkey had climbed wearily into her sleeve and curled up into a tightly sleeping ball.
[Sheryl does not know who else took serious wounds. Sister Sunshine could, of course, see such. I'd appreciate the other Players letting the druidess know when they need healing.]
Penrington, after recounting his vision, reassessed what he'd seen. "There hasn't been time - it's only been a couple of months since Dr. Davis' wedding! The woman I saw had to be her twin."
Voronika growled, "Dark Moon. We're up against a mesmerist!"
Steele added, "If Dark Moon is in fact here, we might also be facing the necromancer FitzCardiff in some new form." Steele rubbed his hands in apparent anticipation of such a rematch.
Sister Sunshine gasped, "I saw my reflection earlier - yesterday - when I first tried a spell. It looked younger. Perhaps - perhaps the defensive nature of the spell did work and was trying to show me that we are up against Dark Moon?" She sounded a little helpless. "I - simply do not know how my spells are going to work here." Then she looked at Steele. "Maddy's letters told of this necromatic FitzCardiff. This," she gestures at the scene of the recently conducted battle, "is indicative of Someone animating the dead. Dead monkeys. But - the vines might be druidic. Nothing Maddy wrote of either Dark Moon or FitzCardiff said that they had Entangle spells."
Steele found himself wondering: if the younger face the druidess had seen in the stream was really that of her evil younger sister, was Dark Moon spying on Sunshine? If so, why did Sunshine get that vision. Was the monkey helping her cast a Detect Magic on an otherwise invisible-effects Clairvoyance, or what?
Steele: "This wouldn't be the first time Dark Moon and FitzCardiff have joined forces with a local druid. They had a shaman with them in Timbuktu."
Next Run: Temple of the Ravine
(a) Cumulative (b) Cumulative since Volume II (c) Cumulative since Volume III
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