The city of Actuality is buzzing with activity, more so than usual, as the streets are packed with bodies like sardines. In the central plaza, the queen mother, Empress Xi Wangmu, stands with a battalion of her finest soldiers. In her delicate hands is a white scroll written in gold ink. With her severe voice, she reads to the people,
"Those who harbor the exiles of Qing Niao will be summarily brought before the royal courts of the Holy Spire under suspicion of criminal espionage! Know that our ever-seeing eyes are watching more than just Shenlong."
The crowd begins to murmur among itself.
The queen mother, adorned in red silks and black sashes, has always had the face of an angel yet the presence of a demon. Behind her back, many have taken to calling her The Pale Devil. And yet, those who are loyal to her, scattered as they may be, swear that her rule is both just and divine.
"Listen to the names of those who have wronged us! Tsailong, Guan Wen, Xiao Di...!"
The discontent in the crowd grows as the queen mother condemns men and women alike and even those who have transcended the belief that there are such roles. To label a seer an exile with no place to call home? It is unthinkable.
"To those who step forth and name the location of these traitors, the royal guard of Qing Niao will escort you to the shrines of our homeland. You may plunder to your heart's content and we will remember this benevolent act for days to come."
Despite the discontent that has been sowed into the crowd, the sound of clapping carries over their voices. An astute individual might think that the empress' own nationals are clamoring for applause. Whatever the truth is, her decree is given ample recognition and favor.
Her job done, the queen mother turns upon her heel and enters the large temple behind her. The sacred bronze mirror, a portal back to her jianghu and to her empire.
When she is gone, people talk: "Escort us to the shrines, and then what? Dig our graves for us?" "They aren't so dangerous. Some don't even have fiends." "No, just traps to catch the dim-witted fools who think they can outsmart the gods." "Greed is like love in that sense."
It seems that these shrines are some sort of dungeon and that at the end of each one's trials, you will be rewarded. There is a catch, though: One may not enter unless a pact is formed. To do so, one must utter the words "this promise I make to see us through, it is worth more than a thousand gold pieces".
From what you are able to gather from the local legends, the pact will inscribe a glyph upon your palm as well as that of your partners.
Now then... to decide if it is worth the risk hunting one down on your own, or to seek out the exiles of Qing Niao.
First off, we would like to welcome you to yī nuò. Without you, our group wouldn't exist!
Now, to start things off, your character may feel inclined to do one of several things:
Explore Actuality and find a job.
Seek out their assigned living quarters in the jianghu.
Explore shrines in the jianghu and find wondrous artifacts.
Anything else you can come up with!
Please don't hesitate to ask us questions for further clarifications.
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