=== Yongwu 20, 09/27 === After weeks in the prison ship, I finally escaped with the Avatar and three of my cellmates, Suzin, Sang and Amirluq. I am not sure what became of our other cellmates, Chikoh, Sergei and Saza. They went out of the ship before us, and when we escaped, they were nowhere to be seen. Fortunately, we were able to reunite with my loyal Shu, who appears unharmed. Current plan is to seek out Suzin's local contacts for help escaping Beigang, which remains under Fire Nation Blockade. Also overheard some soldiers discussing a plan to attack Ba Sing Se with a giant metal automaton in the form of the Fire Lord, Azulon. This seems very unlikely... The acrobat Saza has remarkably good aim. I saw her strike one of our guards with a very precise strike with a thrown bolt. Amirluq has also been revealed as a talented waterbender, and able to work well in concert with me. Hopefully, we will at least find some free time and safety for her to teach Avatar Toma the rudiments of waterbending. Since we do know if Fire is truly the Avatar's native element, it is difficult to implement the traditional order in his training. What can we do but try? --- We encountered some associates of Suzin, members of the Baitang, who aided us in escaping and finding our other cellmates who escaped - Saza, Sergei, and Chikoh. Our combined party reached a safehouse operated by the Baitang, and we were asked to participate in a supply raid on the ship of collaborationists from the State of Chenbao. I had not realized that their merchants were now openly supporting the logistics of the Fire Nation invasion. Perhaps they justified it since these supplies may have nominally been for the relief of the (Fire Nation friendly, no doubt) population. In any case, the raid went smoothly and there was no apparent resistance. Saza did not participate, apparently on account of cowardice, though she waited for us with the intent of continuing to travel together for safety in numbers. Having secured supplies for traveling, our goal is the town of Seshi, further West on the Third Sister Bay, where the Astringent River empties into the bay. I'm not sure how far the river is navigable. Perhaps we can find a local gazetteer, though I should not be surprised if it is badly out of date. There continues to be some skepticism by my erstwhile cellmates about Toma's identity as the Avatar. I have offered to repeat the geomantic divinations and seek spiritual guidance with the group. Hopefully, an appropriate location can be found. There was, at least at some time, a Yonggan holy site on the Chief Peak, not too far from the Ba Sing Se highway. Certainly it would be suitable, if it still exists and nowhere else is more convenient. --- We took a (very wet) Baitang smuggling tunnel out of the Dockyards district, and proceeded out of the city through a poorly-secured waterway. We traveled a ways, making our way toward Seshi, before making camp for the night. I built us an ukdun (poorly) but it was better than sleeping outside, at least. The Avatar hunted squirrel-toads and we shared some preserved badgermole cheese I found in my pack. I am very much looking forward to making it to Seshi, for a bath, a proper meal, a soft bed... In the morning we were woken by rabaroos. === Yongwu 20, 09/28 === The Avatar went hunting a moose lion. Unfortunately, it was not a success, as after being wounded the animal fled and, the matter of the moose lion hunt having arisen rather suddenly, we did not pursue. Arriving in Seshi, we headed to a bathhouse. There were some officers of the Fire Nation there, "inspectors" of some sort, and a local Shuizu girl attacked the bathhouse with red dye, staining the Fire Nation inspectors but also some of us. Suzin and I gave pursuit, but I lost track of her, and, with a clear objective, returned to the bath; Suzin ran off into the city but also did not find her, obtaining only a name "Arbay." Some of the party members seem to have sympathizes for this ineffectual rebel (apparently she has colleagues who are engaged in various pranks against the Fire Nation). We ought to find her and make the group aware that they need to either quit while they are ahead, or get serious; I overheard the Fire Nation inspectors talking about making a "permanent" end of the pranks, and given their penchant for disproportionate retribution and collective punishment, I do not think we should ignore this matter. === Yongwu 20, 09/29 === After resting at an inn, we busied ourselves with various economic and practical activities and tried to find more information about the youths who attacked us. I obtained a gazetteer for the region (a little out of date, but with the state of the realm, it can't be helped...) and, at Sang's suggestion, have added earth handcuffs to my list of new techniques to practice, along with earth armor. Chikoh, while visiting the yamen, overheard some mention of rebels being suppressed in the city, which might or might not be related to the dye attack. The Avatar sold some handmade crafts at the market; he is very industrious. Unfortunately, it seems that the Fire Nation is aware of our absence and is going to start posting illustrated wanted posters tomorrow morning. I had hoped to leave tomorrow anyway, but the circumstances are not ideal; hopefully we will keep ahead of them. It shouldn't be too hard in the interior, but given the cowardice of Hao-Ting officialdom, I cannot rule out that a lone Fire Nation scout might successfully coerce the help of the local authorities in apprehending us. We may have better luck with the villages under indigenous tributary rule, as I doubt the aboriginals will be as easily cowed. Suzin, investigating the group that attacked the bathhouse, located their hideout. Prudently, she returned to get help. We set off to confront them, although Saza did not come because she was busy with her work. (In fairness, we could not explain to her in public the details of what we were doing, though I don't know if it would have mattered.) We gathered Amirluq at the docks and went to the hideout, which was poorly constructed underground. The wannabe rebels were in the process of collecting loud insects for another one of their pranks, which unfortunately were making a rather noticeable amount of noise outside. As we discussed the unfortunate position the rebels were in, two Fire Nation officers and some local guards appeared, conducting their own investigation. We feigned an accident and the collapse of the hideout, and escaped by another exit. The help of the rebels was enlisted in a plan to steal a steam launch from the Fire Nation and take it up the Astringent River. Only, the rebels, true to form, want us to make it ''funny'' somehow, as well... I hope an idea comes to us. We returned to the inn and informed Saza, who was of course having none of this, we talked past each other for a while but she eventually convinced herself that we were going to do it anyway and that she would be considered guilty by association anyway. Changchang, one of the members of this rebel group, ("ROCK," they call it) came to talk to us. She was the one responsible for some of the pranks the group performed involving fake paperwork and so forth, and she came up with an idea for the mandatory "funny" aspect of it, which seemed passably humorous. We set out for the docks to steal one or more steam launches. The two Fire Nation guards were defeated easily, but not before one could signal for help. Some earthbending guards arrived, and with effort, we repelled their attacks as well. The Fire Nation inspector, Hata, attacked us, propelling herself to us with the ingenious use of her firebending, but she was also repelled and made good our escape. We had something of a heated discussion about the merits of restoring the Avatar and resisting the Fire Nation. Mainly with Saza. Amirluq seems the most irritated by the exchange. I tried to be diplomatic but I guess I'm not very good at it and Saza seems upset still. Around midnight, we decided to split the time until day into watches to allow us to all get some sleep. === Yongwu 20, 09/30 === Working together, Amirluq and I were able to clean the shoals obstructing the boat near Lushi. The river seems to be running low, which is probably usual for Autumn. Sergei steered the boat while we were occupied with bending. I was asleep at the time as I was off watch, but reportedly we also recovered a lost canoe for some Beituzhu, before coming to the river chain of Baicun, mentioned in the gazetteer I purchased in Seishi. Unfortunately, the men operating the toll chain, or at least one of them, were very difficult and we got into a confrontation with them. We managed to get past the chain regardless, less two taels, but did not feel safe stopping at Baicun and so proceeded on to Shuicun. Shuicun, we found much more agreeable. However, it does seem to be afflicted by some sort of curse involving clouds, cold and darkness. We acquired fuel and supplies, and decided to have a bath before retiring for the night. We discussed the matter of this curse in the bath (Suzin seems to have an insufferable streak that comes out at these times, and it was a little too cold, but otherwise it was a nice bath.) Chikoh is to do a ritual overnight in the town's Agni shrine to see if he can ascertain what is responsible. We slept on the boat. Maybe we should have stayed in an inn, but this seems a little safer, in case the Fire Nation is closer than we imagine and we need to leave suddenly. === Yongwu 20, 10/01 === Got up early (to sunshine in my eyes, which compares favorably to being licked in the face by a badgermole, for example). I went in to the Shuicun market to buy a stove, and was fortunate to find a Dragon Stove from Beigang on sale, along with utensils; it was somewhat dear but should serve us well. I also bought an assgoat to help carry our stuff when we get to the mountains. I think I shall name her 聽. Also got Amirluq's boots and met up with Chikoh on the way back. He had success with his ritual, though it involved spilling his own blood (reminds me of some Abka rituals I have heard spoken of...) and I wonder if this is orthodox to the devotees of his religion. We returned to the boat to discuss with the Avatar and the others. The Avatar, Chikoh and I went to speak with a smith (supposing a smith to naturally be inclined toward Tuwa), while Suzin and Sang went to speak with the village headman, Tao, a rather stubborn old woman. Amirluq, and Saza, remained in the boat with the new assgoat. The headman was not receptive to constructive criticism of her plan to keep building shrines to various spirits and furnishing them, in part, with items looted from the Sun shrine. We (mostly Chikoh) eventually won over the other elders and were able to persuade them to return to the veneration of the said spirit. This resulted in the curse being lifted. I made a small donation to the making of new sacred utensils for the new shrines, to replace what was looted. Hopefully, not too much time was expended on this adventure and we will soon be back on our way for Manbao. We departed the village and headed upriver. No sign of the Fire Nation pursuing so far. The Avatar caught a jellytrout but both he, Amirluq and Sergei were struck by its sting before Saza administered the coup de grace. Amirluq's waterbending healing and some herbs helped with their injuries. We camped for the night in a minor tributary, with Amirluq taking the first watch. === Yongwu 20, 10/02 === Unfortunately, in the wee hours, our watch sighted a Fire Nation boat - a very fast one, but smaller than our own - heading up the Astringent river. Discussing the situation, we decided to disguise our vessel and take advantage of the fog. We managed to overtake them and decided to head straight to Manbao rather than taking the alternative route via the Tepid Lake and proceeding overland. === Yongwu 20, 10/04 === It has been an eventful few days. We were informed by a helpful guard that Fire Nation bounty hunters were already looking for us in Manbao, so we prudently decided to sell our boat at a mining camp instead. Suzin and Sang bravely, or perhaps foolishly, decided to go to Manbao anyway in order to claim the money for the boat. We then went on foot to the shrine at the Chief Peak to consult the spirit of the Holy Antu Shrine about the matter of the identity of the Avatar. The shrine and the access to it from Manbao were in poor repair; I was able to effect minor repairs to the path at least. The most extraordinary thing happened at the shrine. It turns out that the Eastern Yonggan were apparently correct about the location of Holy Antu's mountain, as the great spirit appeared to us bodily and confirmed Toma's identity as the Avatar of Balance. Extraordinary. The remaining doubts appear to be dispelled, though of course the reactions vary. We stayed the night at the shrine and set out in the morning for the Bear River. At the village of Shankoucun, Suzin beat up a pickpocket and caused some trouble with the locals, so we decided to press on to Wangshi rather than stay in Shankoucun. === Yongwu 20, 10/06 === Our stay in Wangshi has been mostly pleasant. The town seems to be dominated by three families. I managed to fix a problem with the hot spring owned by the Kong family, for which I was rewarded generously, but it also seems to have attracted the interest of the other two families, who are also having problems with their hot springs. Hopefully, we can make quick work of it. We also got some new winter clothes and some of us made some money with odd jobs. Before we go, I need to remember to send some supplies back up the mountain for those monks - and tell the porters to mention something about us heading to Fenshi, maybe, in case they and the monks are too talkative. === Yongwu 20, 10/08 === .... By my calculation, we have traveled 1157 ''li'' from Beigang to Nancun, and we have about 5500 ''li'' to go to Bin-Er in the North of Chenbao.