Confronting the Leechmaster

While walking through the temple grounds we notice a child following us. When confronted it turns out he is angry about us killing the former Roach master Topek. We try to point out that actually one of the other Temple masters actually killed him but the boy is very upset and is part of the school of thought that Topek could be saved. It may have been possible but all the people who say this seem to be quite short on ideas as to how you break down roach conditioning.

We find the Othip, the Deer master aka the Leech master meditating but we won’t be put off and put our accusations to her. She turns nasty and threatens to drink our blood while pointing out that the shrine she is meditating means she cannot be hurt. It seems she is wearing the monkey rabbit body like a suit or a second skin.

We realise that maybe this needs to be dealt with by the school’s themselves and decide to go to Atta who has already dealt with one rogue school master. When we talk to him he does seem to be angry again and gathers up the Spider master to go and confront the Leech.

We hang outside the shrine and eavesdrop on the conversation which seems to alternate between threats, dismissal and pleading.

Othip tries to make a break for it but we prevent them from leaving. They drop a can of clarified oil which triggers a set of visions for Ye Sing.

He sees that Othip is from the City of Peace and has used the oil to keep her stolen skin from rotting. It seems that the deception has taken place over decades and that the desire to live and learn from the temple is sincere although it is unclear as to why the deception is necessary.

As is the way with revelationary visions more is revealed than relates to the issue at hand and it turns out that Othip witnessed the progress of the Roach general Ma Kunhekaq who slew the Great Centipede and grafted their head onto their own which allowed her to control the remaining great centipedes (one of whom we encountered on the river).

Othip says that there is a source of corruption in the Stair, the Wizard who will help the roaches ascend to the school. Ye Sing remembers the roaches who wanted to warn the Wizard and immediately wants to hunt him down now his location has been revealed.

The masters agree that the schools will not be safe while the Wizard remains in the stair and agree to join us in confronting him. It is an epic team-up!