Help Text: There are many powers in the world of Cramedge, some massive, others minuscule. Though, sometimes the massive ones make the most subtle of moves, while the minuscule ones create great waves that change the world forever.
After Setsuo and I started traveling to the Holy Citadel, many things were still happening in the world. At the Ancient Heroes' Tree, something at the bottom of the pit had awakened, and began releasing a cloud of miasma into the tree. At first this miasma only filled the interior of the tree,but after several months, it began spilling out into the Blue Forest. After several months it caused the barrier, which had caused so much confusion for the Guards and Setsuo, to fall. Over a year after we had left, it had nearly reached the Blue Tree Village when the guards spotted it.
Meanwhile the monks that had been captured at the village were made to repair the south gate, where the damage had been caused. When the miasma started approaching the village they were tasked with evacuating the residents, and rushing to the Holy Citadel to request assistance dealing with it. Their leader, the blue robed monk, escaped while being taken to Capital City, and fled west to a country called the Republic of Kan.
At the same time, the king of the Middle Kingdom was marching east with his troops, and a large amount of supplies. Several months later, he began setting up encampments along the border, and sending small parties of troops to harass the border guards of the Two Tomes Empire. Eventually the Emperor sent more troops to reinforce the area, but eventually the miasma made it too dangerous to stay there as well.
The warrior stone village continued to be a hub of martial arts and tourism, though the residents of Blue Tree Village were accepted there until the miasma could be cleared. Chiefs Toro and Sho got along surprisingly well, and the two worked together to ensure that the residents of Blue Tree Village were welcome, but also not a drain on Warrior Stone Village. Lady Ray even helped them set up temporary buildings inside and on the outskirts of town.
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On the more inconsequential side of things, I would eventually find out that the person sent to trade in my money may have had a tougher time than anyone. The head priest asked him to come to his office, and once he arrived he was handed a sack full of old money. Apparently the sack weighed over 100 pounds, since all of the currency was in coins. When he went to acquire an animal to help haul it all, the only one they had left was a stubborn mule-like animal that would frequently injure the rider.
Despite this he made his way south to the capital, using a less used trail as a shortcut, but as it turned out this was a bad idea. Several bandits attempted to hold him up and steal my money, but upon inspection realized that it was worthless to them. This was only after they held him captive for several days.
When he finally arrived at Capital City, and boarded his pack animal at a stable, he made his way to the treasury. At first they thought that it was all counterfeit coins, and tried to have him imprisoned for fraud. After several days of pleading to contact the head priest, his story was verified and he was released again, this time with a letter from the Emperor assuring his identity and intentions.
Once he returned to the treasury, with all of these things in hand, he once again requested the money be converted. This time however he was informed that the treasury didn't have enough funds to exchange for the amount he had brought in. Eventually, after hours of pleading, the Emperor was called in to settle the matter.
When the Emperor found out that this was being done for me, he quietly chuckled, and told the man that it would be handled shortly. At the end of it all, it was decided that I would receive a monthly stipend directly from the Empire, and that I would receive it for life. Finally the poor guy returned to the Holy Citadel, carrying a bag full of money, and a note from the Emperor explaining the situation to me. Needless to say, I gave him a big part of the money he brought back as a thank you and apology...