ThreePagodas

(After Ting Ting's Gambit, Book 3 Run 10)

Takanata will take the opportunity to climb the mountain and call on the three pagodas. He is asking less for advice, and more for an opportunity to examine the art and the libraries that the pagodas may have acquired over the years, and to view their gardens. Assuming he is allowed to look around, he attempts to gather a feel for what each Pagoda finds important, based on what it prioritizes in it's art and literature collections.

Green Pagoda

Visiting the Green Pagoda is the smoothest and the first you choose- there are green-robed monks who offer you tea and gentle assistance.

They will show you around the outer areas of the temple to show the art - it's nothing like an extensive collection, it's more that the larger rooms will tend to have one or two things, either an object or a simple painting, which harmoniously contemplates the room. Nothing is so great that it steals focus, but most things are perfect lesser examples of a somewhat minimalist form - the perfectly shaped vase, celadon-glazed with no embellishments, with a single flower, a brush painting of a single mountain. There is a garden, as well, which is more stones and sand than flowers, but quite contemplative.

As to the library, the green-robed monks ask what it is you seek.

"My interests are eclectic, I fear, and simply looking at collections often results in noticing something. Books on art or divination are always of interest, for example. But the thing I dared hope you would have is a history of the Bear Emperors."

The monk thinks for a bit, and says that there is nothing which would be described as a complete history of the dynasty, but there are some works which touch upon the nature or path of some of them.

"If it is permitted to look at those, I would be delighted to do so. But I do not mean to trespass if the works are private to the Pagoda."

You are shown into a small quiet room with a desk; there is a scent you can't quite place, not incense or tea, but a little more sharp and greeny-herbal. It's pleasant, and soon fades into the background.

After a little while, one of the monks brings in several volumes.

"If these will suit your needs, you are welcome to read them here for as long as you wish."

I am happy to sit and read for an afternoon.  :-) If the books are interesting, I just read them. If they are less so, I look for the particulars about the Bear Emperors in each.

They're kind of like commentary on particular aspects of rulership; of cycles of history rather than history itself; of choices versus trends. One of them probably interests you the most, as it seems to be a scholarly treatise on how the arc of the Bear Emperors is constrained by a Great Cycle of the Bear, and how the Hand of Fate is an ascending force early on, and a destructive force late. (Except it doesn't use the term Hand of Fate).

Huh? I don't think that fits the timeline as I understand it at all. I thought they reigned from the Cycle of the Bear in the Great Cycle of the Phoenix(Whale) until the Cycle of the Bear in the Great Cycle of the Serpent, or something...

The last Great Cycle of the Bear was... about 1800 years ago, or something.

You're correct - (the mail actually got sent by accident before the phrasing got fixed).

There's actually a footnote about that - the Bear dynasty started in the start of a Cycle of the Bear, and lasted for about a Cycle of Cycles - but it wasn't a true Great Cycle, it was... Great Cycle-ish, in a meaningful way, suggesting that there was a greater constraint that the Bear was acting within.

Ok. Takanata reads that part with great interest, then. He's particularly curious if the 12 emperors mostly matched up with a cycle each, or anything.

No, not particularly. When the author describes the dynasty as following the path of a Great Cycle-ish, there is a strong implication that it *doesn't* follow the path of all the smaller cycles. The Cycle is fractal, like a coastline, and the path of importance is at a particular level of zoom. If you're following the grand slow-moving path of epoch, then what *day* it is is just a little bit of wiggle noise, not equally important.

Any speculations the author has about what the Bear was trying to do,

More or less, to recreate what was lost, but with imperfect tools. You cannot build as tall a tower with wood as you can with stone.

or what it meant that the line of Dragon Emperors had ended, or stuff like that, is worth noting, too.

The treatise is a bit more constrained than to go into a lot of detail about the Dragon line ending, except to observe that that probably had to do with the real Great Cycle.

Well, at the end of the afternoon, when he is done reading, Takanata will return the books to the monks with his thanks. They were most interesting. He will add "I understand that some of my companions were so blessed as to be granted an audience with the Perfect Master. I fear I should return to the base of the mountain this evening, but I would be free to call again tomorrow, if it were possible that such a privilege could be extended again."

The monk bows. "Master Zhou came in need of guidance, and the Master aided him. Is there other guidance - on the Bear Emperors, or some other subject - you seek that we have been unable to assist with?"

"There are an unfortunately large number of subjects on which I seek guidance, or at least information, I fear. I would, for instance, be delighted to know which of the elemental spirits the Southern Barbarians plan to try and bind at Midsummer. The particular question I hoped that the Perfect Master might be able to assist with, however, is the question of how Spider touched the world on the Day of the Spinning Spider."

The monks offer you some advice - experts in the World Above, or possibly an astrologer (actually, there's an astrologer here right now! Yanyu is also running the talk-to-Quan-Lo mechanic!) - but also fairly smoothly and swiftly escalate you up the chain of monks until it is in fact suggested that you speak with the Master about what you seek, and you are shown into a corridor with a rice-paper floor, and a door at the other end...

Well, I hear that painting on rice paper makes it solid enough to walk on, so I try that. I put a nice river along the bottom, and then start filling in hills and trees along the side panels. I probably get a bit distracted at this (I'm not doing Serious Art, I'm just having fun), and don't get to the end of the hall as quickly as I might have otherwise, but it's a pretty thoroughly decorated hallway by the time I get there (assuming that works).

(Int with Art/Watercolor) Target: 7. Successes: 3.

It's not a very good painting, as it turns out, and also, near the end, the paper tears a little. When you get to the end of the hall, and open the door, there's another hall with new blank rice paper.

Hmm. Alright, clearly I did not take this seriously enough, and one should approach the Perfect Master with more respect.

I begin again, writing the names of the 64 symbols of the I Ching, in order, and using them as stepping stones down the paper.

Target: 7. Successes: 4.

You nearly mis-step at the end, but the paper does not tear, and you step into the Green Senshi Chamber (it seems to be made all of green jade, though that can't be right); there is a raised platform that Quan Lo sits upon, and a single slightly less raised platform closer to you.

He gestures for you to seat yourself.

"Be welcome, herald of the Butterfly."

Takanata bows, and sits. (And thinks to himself briefly "Not 'lover of water' or some variant?" but refrains from saying it aloud. :-) )

"Your followers have made me most welcome, Master Quan. I fear I have imposed on the hospitality of the Pagoda, but I am honored you have the time to speak with me."

He nods serenely. "A well of clear water is of no purpose if no one may come to drink from it. So it is with this place. It has been a long journey which has finally brought you here, and it would be grievously inhospitable to not make you comfortable. I trust you have been met with that which you need, save answers?"

"I have been treated impeccably. Even answers have been given to me, although to lesser questions. Unfortunately, I find myself perpetually seeking more.

"I know you were so generous as to share some of your wisdom with my compatriots. I dared hope that I might also find guidance from speaking with you."

"Wisdom is a path which leads ever up the mountain; while guidance may provide landmarks, everyone must climb the mountain themselves."

Takanata nods. "Indeed. I have been fortunate enough to be set on my way up the mountain recently, and hope that in time, I may see further by myself.

"Until I can make that climb, however, I hoped that you might have seen what I have not. Spider touched the world on New Year's Day, seeking Master Zhou, and scattered my companions and I. Spider touched the world on the Day of the Grasping Spider, and Li Kao went missing. To our shame, we have not resolved that matter, and I fear it may be too late. But the question I seek an answer to, is how Spider touched the world on the Day of the Late Spider."

Quan Lo thinks for a moment, and answers: "He added half of a secret to archives in the Hidden City, and the Exalted Library."

Takanata frowns. "That... will be difficult to unearth. But thank you, it is a place to start looking.

"You have been of great assistance to my friends and I. Is there anything we can do to assist you?"

"Thank you for your offer. All that I need will come to me when it is time."

(He pauses and then inclines his head.)

"I am pleased to see that you temper the hastiness my brother is prone to."

Takanata smiles fondly. "He tells me I am too Yin."

Takanata is happy to continue chatting about Master Zhou, but is rather expecting Quan Lo to fade out any time now.  :-)

Quan Lo agrees that Master Zhou finds "too Yin" to be a grievous flaw, but only because he has not yet understood that stillness is itself an action.

(But since it's Friday evening, when the conversation comes to a pause, he does nod and wish you fortune in your endeavors, and then there's a brightness and he is gone when it fades.)

White Pagoda

Next is the White Pagoda which has but a single monk, who bows deeply, but apologizes that this is principally a place of training and learning, rather than a place of beauty. She does show you around however. It is pretty clear that the decorating style of the White Pagoda is also quite minimal - things have spare, clean lines, nothing is *ugly* in any way, but it's the aesthetic of someone who has higher priorities than art, more so than the Green. The gardens are a little larger and more extensive than the Green, and are more like gardens for doing things in (perhaps sparring, perhaps running...)

As to the library, the white-robed monk suggests that you might speak to Master Zhou about his books

"Of course, I will do so. Thank you for your kindness today. If I might ask, were you a student here before Master Zhou's departure?"

"Yes, sir. I am glad that he has returned; it has been a very strange thing to have two pagodas standing empty."

"I am sure that has been most disquieting, and applaud your resolve in staying though such a turbulent time.

"But now, I believe I should seek out Master Zhou, and see if I can acquire that permission. I will bring him back with me, if I can."

Red Pagoda

Finally, the Red Pagoda is definitely the most fancy - it's not all the way to opulent, but it is designed to impress once you are inside. The red-robed monks are more hospitable, indeed, a bit chatty compared to the other two Pagodas, but after a while, it comes to you that they are a bit more guarded about the pagoda itself. The green-robed monks seemed happy to let you alone to drink your tea, but a red-robe is with you at all times. As to the conversations, you notice the skilled use of Gather Information rolls, which you *mostly* deflect with your grace. They seem most interested in the doings of Master Zhou, and how long he is likely to have returned for. You notice they seem a bit relieved by your responses.

The garden is probably the least coherent of the gardens; it looks like there might have been a plan once, but for many decades it's been being kept trimmed and swept with no aesthetic vision, so it's just a bunch of plants over the bones of what was you think was once a place of inspiration.

I will look around at the art enthusiastically, and think to my self about how old it seems to be - is this newly installed stuff, or is it original to the Pagoda?

Well, "original" isn't very clear - you're not sure when the Pagoda was first built, and if it was a very long time ago, there have no doubt been changes in both the art and the structure. You think that it is for the most part quite good art, and more or less well suited to the environment, but it may not have all been chosen by the same person. None of it looks to you to be created within the past decade or so, but this isn't the sort of place where putting up "modern" art would be appropriate. :)

As to the library, he red-robed monks sheepishly admit, with false humility, that they are honestly still going through the library themselves and do not have it in order yet.

"Oh, well, of course. I understand. But surely some of you were here before Master Chang assumed the responsibilities of the Pagoda? Who was maintaining the library then?"

No, there were no monks of the Red Pagoda before Master Chang came. The building and grounds were looked after, but they do not think that anyone was doing anything for the library but keeping the rain out.

"Then you are all newly arrived? Were you with the same order before? Surely your temples must miss so many moving away at once..."

They are in fact newly arrived, but it could hardly be elsewise - Kar Fai was lost nearly two decades ago, and his followers did not remain.

They agree, somewhat cautiously, that it might have been a hardship, but it is a great honor to serve in the Red Pagoda and certainly no one in the Order of Bold Daring would begrudge seeing it re-opened as the fruit of their efforts.

"Of course, no one could quibble with following such a noble calling.

"I fear I am not familiar with the Order of Bold Daring - what Path is it? What are your teachings?"

They are of the Ascending Path - the principle tenet of the Order is to *choose*, and then *act*. Not to act without thoughtful choosing, for that is mad recklessness. But neither to think without acting, for only through action can success be attained.

"An interesting teaching, certainly. And is Master Chang the head of your Order, or does he answer to another, elsewhere?"

"He is the head of the Order, yes."

Takanata thanks them for their gracious assistance, and departs.