Heavenfall

Dawei nods.

"I do it often enough. I'd not mind company.

"But for the moment," he looks about, "let's see if there's some appropriate wood here (Hunting 20)."

There's a lot of appropriate wood all around.

"Ah," Dawei says, snagging such a piece, "then a lesson, perhaps."

He hands it to Ayumu.

"Consider this piece, Slim, and tell me what Fortune seems to you to dwell within it."

He pulls another, regarding it similarly.

"None yet. But if you're asking me which Fortune fit the best the present moment... I would say Hotei, the Fortune of Contentment. It's a beautiful day, we've survived the previous night and have yet to face the next one, so we should enjoy the moment while we can."

Dawei nods. "Sounds like a good place to start," he says, and he takes out his knife to make the initial rough cuts.

They are more than "rough cuts"; the wood almost falling away to reveal the outlines of a portly figure, head upraised (Woodcarving 50).

Dawei looks at the wood, slightly agog. "Guess you had the right of that, Slim."

"The right skill for the right moment as I said.

The inspiration for the others might not be as easy to find though.

Except for the romantic Benten of course. We'll have a perfect setting for her grace in little time, during the sign language lesson."

Dawei nods.

"The wood holds what it holds. But what do you mean about the signing lesson?"

"You're far too observant to have missed teacher Miuna and Hanzou going full Romantic Love under our collective eyes. Let's say if you were to finish the Benten part of the shrine, I wouldn't be surprised if those two were to meet before it at a quiet time.

This is really a nice statue. Maybe we shall put it on display as soon as possible, and add the other 6 as the expedition progresses and inspiration strikes? We can just carry it wrapped in straw with the fragile vegetables. I would be worried about treating some of the other Fortunes that way, but Hotei should appreciate the comfort and the simplicity of it."

"I was a bit preoccupied, but what you say makes sense. And we can keep working on the Fortunes for a while, as well. Some I can perhaps do while we are on the march."