The Murderer of Suzhou

[Belial]

Spike:
Underneath the uncertain and tired gaze of Li Zhao and his apparent family, Yue Shang and Lady Ning slipped away from the poorly lit depths of the humble household. Yet, instead of pausing just outside the door, Lady Ning continued to lead Yue Shang away until the duo had finally reached the road. With her soft features bathed underneath the sun, her true beauty became apparent. A woman of high birth who seemed almost stained by those clean yet poor quality clothes. A woman of truly noble birth and fair beauty. "Sir, I do not even know your name.. But," she began as she gazed upon the well armed warrior, "I believe I can trust you." she admitted.

"I.. ran away from home. Li Zhao was merely my assistant, I paid him to get me away from my family's estate. I hate my brother and my reason for hating that bastard is my secret and my secret alone. He is dead, however.. and I only left due to him. Yet, he is dead. Even if that simple boy did not kill that bastard," she hissed, "he is dead." she repeated, almost as if to confirm the fact. "Yet, I must ask you something.. what do they say in town? We know they say Li Zhao is a murderer and that my father has sent men after us, but, what else has occurred?"

Zhou Yu and Meia:
It was decided without a word. Both parties knew the other crept and swathed themselves in secrecy, there could of been only a single reason for either to creep about. To avoid the detection of that camp. With Zhou Mingli and his companion falling in behind Ding Yi and her own, the three men and the woman was left to gaze upon that distant camp. Less than thirty foot away, and in plain sight from where they now hid, the camp was easily spied upon.

A third man had seemingly joined the two at rest. The crossbowman and spearmen remained, talking in low voices while a third stood occupied with his dao, sharpening the curving blade with a spare stone. The men within the camp was seemingly tense, still expecting trouble.

[Spike]

Spike:
Underneath the uncertain and tired gaze of Li Zhao and his apparent family, Yue Shang and Lady Ning slipped away from the poorly lit depths of the humble household. Yet, instead of pausing just outside the door, Lady Ning continued to lead Yue Shang away until the duo had finally reached the road. With her soft features bathed underneath the sun, her true beauty became apparent. A woman of high birth who seemed almost stained by those clean yet poor quality clothes. A woman of truly noble birth and fair beauty. "Sir, I do not even know your name.. But," she began as she gazed upon the well armed warrior, "I believe I can trust you." she admitted.

"I.. ran away from home. Li Zhao was merely my assistant, I paid him to get me away from my family's estate. I hate my brother and my reason for hating that bastard is my secret and my secret alone. He is dead, however.. and I only left due to him. Yet, he is dead. Even if that simple boy did not kill that bastard," she hissed, "he is dead." she repeated, almost as if to confirm the fact. "Yet, I must ask you something.. what do they say in town? We know they say Li Zhao is a murderer and that my father has sent men after us, but, what else has occurred?"

"My name is Yue Shang, and there isn't much to tell you that you don't already know," he informed her. "The story goes that Li Zhao was planning to escape with a small fortune when he encountered you and your brother. It is said that he killed your brother and kidnapped you. And now this area is littered with men who wish to kill Li Zhao--men who won't listen to reason, as I have." He breathed a deep sigh as he glanced back toward the house. "From what I understand, there is no more reason for you to run. Your brother is dead, and your father only wants you home safe. Return with me to him and explain Li Zhao's innocence so that he will not meet an inevitable death for aiding you. Tell your father that Li Zhao was only protecting you from your brother's treachery, if that is what it takes. Let this all come to an end. I will be with you, to help you however I can."

Name: Yue Shang
Stats: 69-108-25-73-56
Skills: Gongshu II, Jianshu II, Qiangshu II, Charge, Delay, Challenge*
Items: Spear of Fuchai (+3 Might, Challenge*) Armor (+7 Might), Helmet (+7 Might), Text of the Two Worlds (+1 Intelligence, +1 Charisma), Sapphire Pendant (+3 Charisma), Throwing Knives, Horse (+1 Speed)

[Belial]

Spike:
"No!" she excitedly exclaimed as she turned upon Yue Shang and gave a nervous laugh. "No, no, no. I have a far better idea. Master Yue," she softly began as she moved closer to the man and attempted to brush against him, "please listen to my thoughts. My father.. loves me. He truly does love me but he loved his bastard son all the more. He knew about everything and allowed it to happen anyway if only to save that pig's honor. If he knew I willingly went with a man who killed his beloved son.. he would lie and say I aided in the murder. He would have Li Zhao and myself hung or possibly even tortured." she softly continued before pausing.

"Master Yue, you seem to be of noble birth. You know the nobility must cling to its honor and power. Within times such as this, we are weakened all the more. Please, help your fellow noble. If not that, then please.. help me avoid a death." she whispered. "Li Zhao lost almost all of our money. He got our carriage stuck in the mud and the weakling could not even carry the chest to here. By the time we returned, it was empty! But, he has kept some of it. Oh, all that money was meant to be mine! Of course he would get.. some of it. But, it belongs to my family. It is mine. But, he says the rest of it is his for everything that he has done. The little ingrate will drink it away or waste it on some stupid poor peasant girl. I can't start a new life poor! I'd be ruined. And.. I can't return home. Not like this." she frantically began before pausing, biting her low lip. "Listen to me, Master Yue. Listen to me." she continued in a soft whisper.

"If.. we return home and explain the truth, I'll surely die. But, if you help me, I can help you. Listen to me, Master Yue. That man in there could be a killer. He could be as dark hearted as any villain. We could say the rumors are true. That he kidnapped me and slew my brother. You would just have to kill him and everyone inside of that filthy little hut. You could take everything he has kept for myself and you could claim the bounty as your own. I know there must be some reward for him. My father would want the head of that perverted bastard's murderer.. But.. if you kill him! Think about it. You'd be rich! You'd be rich beyond your wildest dreams and I could return home. I could be happy and live the life I should of had! All you have to do is kill those filthy rats inside." she excitedly whispered.

[Spike]

Spike:
"No!" she excitedly exclaimed as she turned upon Yue Shang and gave a nervous laugh. "No, no, no. I have a far better idea. Master Yue," she softly began as she moved closer to the man and attempted to brush against him, "please listen to my thoughts. My father.. loves me. He truly does love me but he loved his bastard son all the more. He knew about everything and allowed it to happen anyway if only to save that pig's honor. If he knew I willingly went with a man who killed his beloved son.. he would lie and say I aided in the murder. He would have Li Zhao and myself hung or possibly even tortured." she softly continued before pausing.

"Master Yue, you seem to be of noble birth. You know the nobility must cling to its honor and power. Within times such as this, we are weakened all the more. Please, help your fellow noble. If not that, then please.. help me avoid a death." she whispered. "Li Zhao lost almost all of our money. He got our carriage stuck in the mud and the weakling could not even carry the chest to here. By the time we returned, it was empty! But, he has kept some of it. Oh, all that money was meant to be mine! Of course he would get.. some of it. But, it belongs to my family. It is mine. But, he says the rest of it is his for everything that he has done. The little ingrate will drink it away or waste it on some stupid poor peasant girl. I can't start a new life poor! I'd be ruined. And.. I can't return home. Not like this." she frantically began before pausing, biting her low lip. "Listen to me, Master Yue. Listen to me." she continued in a soft whisper.

"If.. we return home and explain the truth, I'll surely die. But, if you help me, I can help you. Listen to me, Master Yue. That man in there could be a killer. He could be as dark hearted as any villain. We could say the rumors are true. That he kidnapped me and slew my brother. You would just have to kill him and everyone inside of that filthy little hut. You could take everything he has kept for myself and you could claim the bounty as your own. I know there must be some reward for him. My father would want the head of that perverted bastard's murderer.. But.. if you kill him! Think about it. You'd be rich! You'd be rich beyond your wildest dreams and I could return home. I could be happy and live the life I should of had! All you have to do is kill those filthy rats inside." she excitedly whispered.

What was this strange feeling Yue Shang felt in his heart as he listened to this girl speak of such evil? There once was a time where he might have been tempted to slay her for her wickedness. But now, his heart that had once been good and pure, only echoed with vengeance--an echo that had resonated within him since the death of Zhao Ning. But what Yue Shang found even stranger than the fact that he did not fill revulsion toward her plan was that it aroused him. This girl, in all her cunning and beauty, had shown him something within himself that he had only been vaguely aware existed. Perhaps he wasn't meant to be a hero. Not in the way he'd once hoped, at least. All that Yue Shang knew was that bounty would pay for what he would need to exact his vengeance...and that he wanted this woman. He was so tired of walking this world alone. And here was someone who, in a surprising way, seemed to mirror the darkness he'd kept hidden inside him. Yue couldn't help thinking that perhaps this was his opportunity to seize both of the things he wanted.

"You are wrong about me," Yue Shang said to Lady Ning. "I was not born of nobility. I was an orphan, forced to fend for myself from a young age. But I did not steal; everything I received, I won through my own merit. I lived a good and noble life...But...life has a way of turning around on you. I have been alone...for too long. I will agree to your plan," he whispered, "but with one more condition: that when I return with you to collect my bounty, you will give me your hand in marriage."

[Meia]

Zhou Yu and Meia:
It was decided without a word. Both parties knew the other crept and swathed themselves in secrecy, there could of been only a single reason for either to creep about. To avoid the detection of that camp. With Zhou Mingli and his companion falling in behind Ding Yi and her own, the three men and the woman was left to gaze upon that distant camp. Less than thirty foot away, and in plain sight from where they now hid, the camp was easily spied upon.

A third man had seemingly joined the two at rest. The crossbowman and spearmen remained, talking in low voices while a third stood occupied with his dao, sharpening the curving blade with a spare stone. The men within the camp was seemingly tense, still expecting trouble.

A dangerous plan began to form in Cong Ma's mind, but first he averted his gaze from the dao being sharpened, and instead looked around the campsite for rope, or any equipment one could use to bound and gag. It would be 3 versus 4, he thought, but it meant Ding Yi and the two diplomats would have to help put up a fight.

Ding Yi meanwhile, also laid her eyes on the camp, but was searching for chest, and whatever else the men might be guarding.

---
Name: Ding Yi
Stats: 76-72-47-74-54
Skills: Civil Administrator II, Discipline II, Gongshu I, Military Administrator I, Propagandist I, Public Planner I, Sortie II, Wall I, Yueshu I
Items: None
Followers: Cong Ma; 73-72-50-57-59; Challenge II, Discipline II, Faze I, Politician I
Soldiers: None

[Zhou Yu]

It was decided without a word. Both parties knew the other crept and swathed themselves in secrecy, there could of been only a single reason for either to creep about. To avoid the detection of that camp. With Zhou Mingli and his companion falling in behind Ding Yi and her own, the three men and the woman was left to gaze upon that distant camp. Less than thirty foot away, and in plain sight from where they now hid, the camp was easily spied upon.

A third man had seemingly joined the two at rest. The crossbowman and spearmen remained, talking in low voices while a third stood occupied with his dao, sharpening the curving blade with a spare stone. The men within the camp was seemingly tense, still expecting trouble.

Mingli would cooperate with his newfound 'friends' and hope he didn't get eaten alive in process. He watched the nervous looking guards and wondered if calling out and scaring them may do anything but decided to wait it out for now.

@Belial(I will be unable to post until the 2nd at the soonest. I am not bailing on quest but hope this isn't a terrible delay; hard to post on a plane)

Name: Zhou Mingli
Stats: 49 - 56 -60 - 74 - 90
Skills: Artisan I, Diplomat II, Engineer I, Politician II, Poison II, Haste II
Items: Book of Shi(Jud +2), Exotic Robe(Cha +3), Jewelry(Cha +3)
Follower: Tie Shuo;76-55-69-72-36/Escort 1, Propagandist 2, Scribe 2

[Belial]

OOC Note: Sorry fellows, been having a bit of a vacation during and after New Years. I'm back.

Spike:
Shock rang across the young woman's features. it was obvious that she was taken aback by his proposal yet within a moment her features was measured again. Her youthful face set within a soft, if not uncertain, expression. "Master Yue," she softly began as she reached up a hand and pressed it against his chest, "if you would do this for me, I would give you my hand. You would be the hero I truly need." she whispered before a hint of a grin played across her face. Oh, she could have many uses for such a man. Such as the removal of a single figure and all that stood between her and her family's riches. Yet, for now, she knew a more urgent situation laid before them. "Master Yue, slay them and you shall have my hand. I promise you." she whispered.

Meia and Zhou Yu:
It would be a long shot, but, Cong Ma had found his rope. Each of the tents used a system of small stakes and ropes to keep the tent's fabric taut and unmoving within the wind. Yet, if he was unwilling to use that, one of the men even had a bit of rope about him. The man with the crossbow had a simple length of rope to serve as his belt. A bit short, but, it would be usable.

Yet, while locating rope was a tad easy, it took Ding Yi awhile to gain a proper judgment on where the the treasure lay. Finally she got a gut feeling about it and settled upon it. Ding Yi realized that all of the tents lay open within one manner or another but one of the tent's flaps laid pinned together, denying a proper view. It was a tent within the inner edge of the camp.

[Meia]

In a hushed tone, Cong Ma proposed that the three men will hide themselves in the nearby bushes. Ding Yi will shout for help to lure the mercenaries in, where Cong, Zhou and Tie will be prepared to ambush them.

Ding Yi will attack the one closest to her. Zhou and Tie will team up against another.

Cong Ma turned to Zhou and Tie. Would they agree to it?

---
Name: Ding Yi
Stats: 76-72-47-74-54
Skills: Civil Administrator II, Discipline II, Gongshu I, Military Administrator I, Propagandist I, Public Planner I, Sortie II, Wall I, Yueshu I
Items: None
Followers: Cong Ma; 73-72-50-57-59; Challenge II, Discipline II, Faze I, Politician I
Soldiers: None

[Belial]

OOC Note: I have waited over two weeks for replies from both Yue Shang and Zhou Yu. If neither party replies by Sunday the 30th of January, the quest will be closed and Meia be the only one given a reward.

[Belial]

The Murderer of Suzhou has drawn to a close due to inactivity!

While the fabled murderer of Suzhou would escape into the night and the sweet Lady Ning's fate never be discovered, peace eventually returned to the town of Suzhou. In time, the bounty hunters would trickle away and their dreams of wealth and violence forgotten as they returned to their normal lives. In time, the town of Suzhou was left all but unchanged and the rumors forgotten even upon the flippant minds of children.

In the end, only a single person walked away with dreams of wealth realized. While a murderer may of been left upon the lamb, a portion of his stolen treasure had become hers. With a grin, Ding Yi and her companion Cong Ma rode away upon a small cart loaded with a chest of gold...

Ding Yi (Meia) has received 300 gold for her efforts in the quest.