1.6. The Trappings Of Your Slavery Will Return

Shang Simla, the travel agent had said it was sunny and peaceful.  Nestled in the mountains of China - rumoured to be the home of Sim Fu and holding many ancient mysteries and secrets, it was the perfect get away.  As far as Scheherazade could possibly get from her worries and from Lash.

Standing under the shade of a tree, Scheherazade breathed in the fresh air... Oh no!
"What is it Sim-ess?"
The curse, Scheherazade...
"I am a world away from from Lash, in the middle or a serene and mystical land.  She'll never reach me here.  I'm free."
What did the curse say, Sche - the trappings would come back...
"... when I think that I am most free," Schherazade looks at her hands and gasps at their blue hue.  She reaches back and pulls a red strand of hair into her face.  Her hands trace over the oh-so-familiar contours and yet oh-so-not-her face that she wore as a slave.  "H...how?"
I don't know Sche, I am sorry.
Taking a deep breathe to fight back the faintness caused by her panic, Scheherazade reasons with herself, "No point sitting back, I should try to figure out if this mystical and magical land has a cure for me."

Cliched as it may sound, Scheherazade decided to start with a simple fortune cookie.  "Sometimes, the simplest devices hold the biggest answers.  I should know - I am a genie and spent eons in a simple lamp.  Now how do I break this curse?"  Scheherazade concentrated as she chose her cookie.

The cookie crunched between her teeth, soft, light flakiness slowly being ground to dust as she read the fortune.  "The trappings of your will return with the illusion of freedom.  To rail against fate is to lose alone.  To flow is to find true freedom, ' Scheherazade read to herself.  "It looks like I've found my answer," she murmured  "but I don't understand it."  

Scheherazade wondered around town, until she passed a building with a number of people exercising and training in it.  A Sim Fu Training Centre.  She spoke to the current trainer, asking if they could teach her how to flow.

"Why, or course.  Sim Fu teaches the body and mind to flow together as one.  To work in harmony.  Harmony within and harmony without."  It sounded like it was worth a try.

Scheherazade started out confident.  She could practically feel the Chi flowing through her, uniting her with the universe, restoring her flow...

But as time wore on, her confidence started faltering.  She didn't actually feel any different and she had seen no changes to her appearance.  Perhaps she should speak to the instructor again.

"Sensei, I have been concentrating on establishing my flow of Chi, bringing myself into union with the flow of the universe and yet my curse remains," Scheherazade explained.

Her teacher smiled, "You are but a young child in the ways of Sim Fu, true mastery takes years, the oak does not grow in but a day..."

"But I don't have years!" exclaimed Scheherazade.

"Perhaps there are other ways.  Your curse may not refer to the flow of your body and your mind - perhaps it refers to the flowing of your heart, or it could be more literal - there is much in life which flows, " explained her teacher.

"Like romance?  You mean like in the old stories?  Where if I find my true love, they will set me free?" Scheherazade was familiar with the concept.

"Perhaps.  But I am no expert on tales.  You should consult with the local book seller, Zhan Su.  He would have a much better grasp of stories," suggested her teacher.

"Thank you!" exclaimed Scheherazade before making her way to the market, hope restored that she would find a cure.

Zhan Su had closed his store for a short while to speak privately with Scheherazade.  He had spent quite some time talking to her about the exact wording of the curse she had heard and getting as many details from her as he could.  His voice was meek as he asked. "Miss Djinn, you would not by any chance know which star constellations were prominent on the night of the curse being uttered?"

"The Starry Plough!  I can remember reading in the newspapaer that morning about all of the different names it has!  Big Dipper, the Butcher's Cleaver... and how it is actually part of Ursa Major and you can find the North Star..." Scheherazade eagerly recalled the information.

"It is also called the Seven Great Sages and is an auspicious symbol, " Zhan Su interrupted.  "We say that there are in fact nine sages, but only the truly blessed can see the other 2 in attendance of the seven sages that most can see.  The sign is also associated with water, but it could lead to a great quest or even this search for your true partner.  I would suggest using one of the holy baths in the hills to see if that helps you, but if it doesn't - Sun Young in the general store knows many old tales and rumours she has gleaned from adventurers.  It would benefit you to speak with her to see if she knows any ancient wisdome which may assist you."

"Though, " he gulped and looked at the ground, "if a beautiful young woman such as yourself wanted to examine to flow of your heart rather, I would be more than happy to assist..."

The words hardly registered with Scheherazade who was already planning her route to the baths in the monastery.  "Thank you so much!  I don't know how to thank you! " she quickly embraced him before running off. leaving him standing - stunned.

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Generation One: Revealed
Family Structure: ?
Number of children: ?
Primary Income: Mixologist
Secondary Income(s): ?
Generation Goal: ?
Miscellaneous Fun: ?

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Random Bonus Shot:

Scheherazade may have taken conversation in some unfortunately directions, metaphorically.  ><

Note: My game did something WEIRD as soon a Scheherazade arrived in Shang Simla and reset her to default genie!  Needless to say I was HORRIFIED by this, but it makes for an interesting curse.