House of Chen

 The ropes held. The first of the Hammers went over, sinking to their necks. Water swirled around them as the undertow got hold of their legs and tried to pull them under. The prisoners watched in horror as the soldiers fought to stay upright, clutching the ropes, holding each other up.  They watched as one of the men slipped, disappearing under the water, was swallowed by the currents. His comrades grabbed after him but couldn't keep themselves safe and reach him as he was tossed and pulled further downstream. "I can swim!' he yelled back, "I'll do my best to find the bank. Keep going! If I make it, I'll find you." That was the last thing he said before he was pulled further and further downstream. He was last seen turning onto his front, starting to swim with all his might towards the banks. "Keep going men we have to secure the lines and these are flimsy at best!" The men, adrenalin pumping through their whole beings, pulled themselves to the...

Madam Min sat on a packing case down at the water's edge. On her lap, she had the lid balancing carefully on her knees. A broken inkstone was on the right hand side of this makeshift desk, whilst a pile of assorted papers sat infront of her. She was making lists of all of the items that were washing up around them.  It was clear they had come from Chenxi itself,  and had probably been taken from the merchants stores. She catalogued according to the presumed source; milliners, tailors, jewellery, hardware. Eventually, this would return to Chenxi and kick start the town once more, at least she hoped it would. Min feverently hoped the owners had abandoned their properties before they had been looted. If not they, were most likely dead.  She shuddered at the thought.  She had already catalogued bottles and flagons taken from her own cellars. Glasses, although broken, we're boxed up and kept. The glass could go back and be reblown, hopefully. Ornaments and associated para...