Katsu's Mighty Quest for Epic Loot (Yanmei, GM)

[Katsu]

Katsu is taking Yanmei along with him to start on Rein's list of materials for his sword!

First up, tracking down a large Qi beast for its femur.

[Arthur Woodson]

Katsu was to the North of the main settlement of Aurora. In what was once territory 64 before they were wiped out. Bitter enemies of 63 before his exile and the barely repopulated land was still rife with Qi Beasts. He knows that he can find what he needs in the mountains further north. Dangerous fair lived up there. Powerful and large Qi beasts. He would find what he needed for sure up there, but it was possible that he could find something that would work in the forests instead.

Which does he choose?

[Katsu]

The north is what Katsu knows, and the north is where he heads. He'd often played in the mountains growing up, though he hadn't gone particularly deep. This time, however, he knows exactly what he's going for.

He's heading there to fight.

The best femur and fangs will come from something dangerous, and that will give him the sword he's been dreaming of.

"Come on, Yanmei. It's dangerous up here, we have to stay alert."

[Qi Yanmei]

"My eyes are wiiiide open." she promises, looking around to prove it.

Maybe she'd be able to sense one before they happened upon them. If that's even a Qi Sprite thing.

[Arthur Woodson]

The trek North to the base of the mountains would take a few hours, along the way they would remain mostly unmolested. The plains were quiet, some small Qi beasts and wildlife would graze here and there. And the starting farm communities that had begun to flourish would be visible. But their presence scared off and kept the predators at bay for the time being. Katsu would not find what he needed here.

The base of the mountain presented several choices. A road that was used for trade, or side paths that would involve climbing and may be unstable.

[Katsu]

Off the beaten path was preferable, but it would take time before they find an area where the larger beasts would be.

At least if they followed the road a little, it would give them an easier time finding another path that wasn't quite as unstable.

"Can you go a bit higher, Mei-Mei? Just to see if there's anything around us?"

[Qi Yanmei]

"After making me travel aaaaall of that?" she fake gasps before starting to fly up.

"Alright. But you owe me a nice dinner."

She's not even remotely tired, she's just a drama queen.

[Arthur Woodson]

She can see that a bit west is a steep climb that leads to an area with a cave. A little further up on the snow, she can see footprints, even from her height they are clear in the snow, the prints almost as large as a man.

[Qi Yanmei]

"Weeeeell."

She points into the general direction of the cave.

"There's a cave over yooonder. Or if you keep doing that way there there's some preeeetty big footprints."

He's gonna take the big footprints, isn't he.

[Katsu]

"Let's keep going."

He's going after the big footprints.

[Qi Yanmei]

Yanmei flies back down and follows him!

"I knew it..."

[Arthur Woodson]

The climb is long and by the time they get to the level with the footprints, the sun was starting to set. Do they make camp or press onwards at night?

[Katsu]

Katsu is fine with setting up camp, and is in the process of making a small fire to sit next to for the night.

He knows Yanmei doesn't sleep, and he's fairly unconcerned with being attacked while they rest. He's slept outside for nine years, he's used to it.

[Qi Yanmei]

Yanmei floats slightly above the snow, even in her sitting position. While she usually rested back within Katsu, she felt that with beasts all around she would be better off keeping watch throughout the night.

[Arthur Woodson]

Does Katsu intend to sleep through the night or stay up with Yanmei?