The Way of the Road

A letter from a traveller in Yiwu:

We received hospitality at that place, where they properly follow the rites of Kusinne, and felt much relief at finding the shelter.

There were many pilgrims there when we arrived. As we sat around the fire, a storyteller told the story of An-Kuan and the Snow Leopard, and their escape from the pits of the mountain warlord. The crowd was most pleased at the rendition of the familiar story.

They tell me that travellers from the nearby villages and towns are  becoming more common, now that the plague has ended. They say that the physician whose skill defeated the petillance has taken up residence in a fine house in Kucina. Perhaps we shall tarry there on our return journey and see this wisdom for ourselves.

Tomorrow, we plan to press on, hoping to ford the river near Chayi, a town we have been told is at the place where the Gushi and Jushi rivers meet.

Administrative Note

The email addon I was using to send the contact lists out at a scheduled time at the start of the game got some wires crossed and resent the contact lists. You may have gotten a resent message or two from me.

I have disabled it now, so my apologies for the superfluous email. If you like, you can treat it was a reminder of some of the people you can talk to.

News from Dayuan

An excerpt from a letter from Suojo:

The receipt of grain and rice from home is much appreciated; the shortages here have been causing no end of distress.

I must tell you of the school that has been much discussed here of late; many families of note who happen to have children other than their heir have been contracting with a scholar (known locally for his wisdom) to educate them in things other than their family’s traditional profession. There is talk that they are planning to build an academy of some sort.

The Way of the Book

An excerpt from The Anglo-American Cyclopaedia, volume XLV:

For example, at the Grand Abbey of Kucina, the practice of the Way of the Book is speculated to have primarily through the work of the copyists of sacred scrolls and the maintenance of devotional literature. Lost texts were sought out for study, as well as attention devoted to copying other manuscripts, transcribing oral accounts. There is some evidence that there was extensive study of the craft of binding and assembling codexes, with sometimes astonishing (to our modern eyes) attempts to preserve them.

This, no doubt, explains the scriptorium and library at the site, the extent of which was documented by the expedition in 1836.

Aksu

From the Annals of the Oasis Kingdoms:

Despite some tensions between followers of Kusinne and those of Symness on the border between Kucha and Dayuan, the mourning in Aksu for the funeral of Queen Fadya of Kucha was characterized by calm grieving and a quiet celebration of the many benefits derived from belonging to the realm of Kucha and the rule of Queen Shayn.

From the Expedition of 1836

13th Thermidor, 1836: Excavations of the Grand Abbey of Kucha continue. Our surveying artists have nearly finished mapping out the crypts and postern gate that we discovered in our earlier digs. We have unearthed several weapons bearing sparrow-markings, though their brittle construction has left few intact. Among the cache there was one sword that bore a different marking, a lantern sigil, nearly intact. It will make for a grand display in the museum.

New Players Welcome

Just a reminder to any lurkers who might be interested in participating: this scenario is designed so that new players can still join the game in progress (and several have).

If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, check out the rules for instructions on how to join.

State of the Players

From the Annals of the Oasis Kingdoms:

Lop Nur, beset by conflicts, was at that time nearly leaderless: the royal family was secluded and unable to be reached, the governance of the country being overseen by a council of ministers, who squabbled amongst themselves.

The player of Queen Konuma of Lop Nur unfortunately had to withdraw for now. Thanks for your participation!

Inheritance in Kucha

From a commentary on a lost poem by Zuo Fen:

As reflected in these verses, the local customs and laws of Kucha prohibit men from inheriting, though they are entitled to what they themselves have earned. This was a longstanding tradition in that land.