One: Which scenario would be more likely: --En Zheming sends a spy into Bando (pre-Code of Dishonor), who upon getting there decides that he likes Bando better, and proceeds to be a double agent for the Bando people (or a specific group). Reporting to both sides, but falsifying/hiding just enough to give Bando the edge and similar. --An Akuryu from a formerly upper class family (ie can mimic linguistic/cultural practices of the upper crust well enough) slipping back and forth over the border in order to report on the going ons in the Empire (and perhaps twist thing in Bando's favor)
Two: does a situation similar to modern China exist in regards to language(s)? (ie a lot of local varieties, with a prestige variety of the court. Then the written language is primarily for the prestige variety, although others will use the same orthography with different pronunciations, etc etc) Or, would there be a situation in which someone might, say, use the Mandarin-equivalent of their name in some contexts and the Cantonese in others (and which of those would be the prestige language/variety).
Three: Saya's back, and eager to learn all the healing from all the places. She'd be very proficient in healing arts practiced in Bando (wouldn't be proclaimed the next Master in the Sun Temple, but definitely on a high tier of skill and knowledge), tried to learn everything about the Travelers' treatments/vaccine from Haunted Isle, and has taken to traveling other places to learn what's practiced there. She's probably tried to get passage to the Stepping Stones (since that was part of the Travelers' cover last time), and has been aboard the Pulao since... whenever the last stop in Bando was until now, picking up as much as she can as she goes.
So! What should she know? (and what exciting new things can she pick up in Paramo?)
Three B: Regarding the Travelers' medicine, how reproducible would it be, and could a very bright girl with drive and willingness to experiment a little be able to expand on it at all? (or: would she be able to make antibiotics and/or vaccines at all, and could she have expanded it beyond the Stricken sickness in the past two years)
Four: is there any healing magic besides the one Siren Song? (and could she theoretically learn it if she's stumbled across it)
Re: QUESTIONS
One: Which scenario would be more likely:
--En Zheming sends a spy into Bando (pre-Code of Dishonor), who upon getting there decides that he likes Bando better, and proceeds to be a double agent for the Bando people (or a specific group). Reporting to both sides, but falsifying/hiding just enough to give Bando the edge and similar.
--An Akuryu from a formerly upper class family (ie can mimic linguistic/cultural practices of the upper crust well enough) slipping back and forth over the border in order to report on the going ons in the Empire (and perhaps twist thing in Bando's favor)
Two: does a situation similar to modern China exist in regards to language(s)? (ie a lot of local varieties, with a prestige variety of the court. Then the written language is primarily for the prestige variety, although others will use the same orthography with different pronunciations, etc etc) Or, would there be a situation in which someone might, say, use the Mandarin-equivalent of their name in some contexts and the Cantonese in others (and which of those would be the prestige language/variety).
Three: Saya's back, and eager to learn all the healing from all the places. She'd be very proficient in healing arts practiced in Bando (wouldn't be proclaimed the next Master in the Sun Temple, but definitely on a high tier of skill and knowledge), tried to learn everything about the Travelers' treatments/vaccine from Haunted Isle, and has taken to traveling other places to learn what's practiced there. She's probably tried to get passage to the Stepping Stones (since that was part of the Travelers' cover last time), and has been aboard the Pulao since... whenever the last stop in Bando was until now, picking up as much as she can as she goes.
So! What should she know? (and what exciting new things can she pick up in Paramo?)
Three B: Regarding the Travelers' medicine, how reproducible would it be, and could a very bright girl with drive and willingness to experiment a little be able to expand on it at all? (or: would she be able to make antibiotics and/or vaccines at all, and could she have expanded it beyond the Stricken sickness in the past two years)
Four: is there any healing magic besides the one Siren Song? (and could she theoretically learn it if she's stumbled across it)
I'm sure I'll have more, but that's all for now.