Leaving the tea house, you head to the inn where the others were staying. As you enter, you find Ameiko entertaining the early evening patrons, playing a soothing atmosphere on her samisen. When she sees you, she flashes a wide smile but continues to play with no interruption.
Sandru and Koya hold a table by the fireplace, enjoying a drink.
Parity beelines for the bar, "She's busy. I'm getting a drink and a bath ... need to wash the dead woman's guts off me."
You arrange rooms for the night, and hot baths if desired.
After you finish getting cleaned up, Ameiko ends her performance and comes over to your table. She hugs Parity and sits down, sipping a mug of Minkaian ale. "Welcome back! Did you find the geisha?"
Parity smiles slightly and settles back, clean and comfortable. "We did and she's alive and back with her people, although ..." ,he glances at Harlan. "I'm not certain she was alive per se when we found her?"
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Ameiko raises an eyebrow and grins. "Sounds like there's a story there!"
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Heng looks thoughtful as he ponders Parity's point. "Alive, I would say, but her soul was trapped. The necromancer sought to place his own wife's soul within the geisha's body. I do not know what would have become of O-Sayumi. She might have been trapped forever. We were fortunate to save her in time."
"How are you enjoying the city, Ameiko?"
"Her soul would probably have stayed in that pearl, but who knows what plans he might have had. Nothing good I'm sure."
Harlan shudders.
"I accidently undid his preservation spell I think. So his wife's body will return to nature. We probably should have burned the place but we didn't really have time. Anyway, the kappa was happy and the geisha were happy, so now we just need to meet with the lord and continue our mission."
Ameiko smiles, fascinated as you tell the story. "We accomplished nothing quite so exciting. Sandru managed to negotiate a few trade agreements. Hirabashi Jiro will start seeing some merchants come through the camp. Many didn't even want to hear us out, but there are some with sympathetic ears..."
"And noses for profit!" Sandru adds, chuckling.
After a pregnant pause. "Well, what now? Jiro mentioned three factions. With the geishas' help, it looks like the merchants and Sakakabe nobles will help. And you have a potential lead with the daimyo's brother. What about the criminal element?"
"I say we see if we can set up an appointment with this nobleman, but since that will take some time, we should look into the seedier side of the city, " Parity smiles comfortably. "My kind of people .." suddenly his smile disappears and then he pales a bit.
"... unless they're ninjas. I hate ninjas."
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"You can figure out the terms of agreement later, or we can eradicate them, but either way we shouldn't ignore them. They won't go away."
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"We need all the help we can get," Ameiko adds. "As Jiro suggested, we may not need their allegiance, but perhaps we can at least secure their neutrality. I'm sure the Jade Regent has no limitations of honor -- to be fair, neither am I. At least, I want to do what is right... if that means sidestepping the 'honorable' choice, then so be it."
"We're a loooong way from Varisia, my friend," Sandru says. "I would guess that O-Kohaku or her geisha might know where to start, though."
"We should at least make sure the criminals agree not to help the Jade Regent against us. That's a win."
Kiyomi watches the exchange with wide eyes and a slight smile on her face. "Ameiko, it may be that this one has information which may aid us in contacting the less legal elements of the city. Murmurs speak of the Three Monkeys, the nokizarusan, who meet in the market in Enganoka near the new moon. They are the leaders of such men. But friend Parity, you may be less than thrilled to know that they are indeed leaders of the ninja."
Malnival laughs and shakes his head. "Even half way around the world, Sandru cant help finding low lifes to befriend! That is a skill my friend. Like a diviner."
"Hmmm... If I studied my maps well enough, Enganoka is two hundred miles to the south, along the coast. We could charter a boat to take us there in a handful of days. Or take the longer, overland route. Or, we could wait it out for meeting with Sikutsu Itsuru -- enjoy a couple weeks in the city -- and go to Enganoka after." Ameiko adds the last with a wink. "Suggestions?"
Parity grimaces and shotguns his drink, standing up quickly and pushing his chair away so fast it falls over. He ignores it, gripping his spire pendant tightly as he stumbles back to the bar, muttering to himself "Three f***ing ninjas ... really? What did I do to make you hate me so, you Grey Whore!"
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Heng frowns at Parity's blasphemous display, but turns to Ameiko looking earnest as his hand rubs his tattooed scalp. "I think it would be best to keep moving forward. It has been a while since we have been on a ship. It was burning if I recall correctly and there were ninjas then as well. Hopefully, this journey will be less interesting..." the monk adds with a slight uncharacteristic smile.
"Okay then, I can arrange for a ship in the morning," Ameiko says with a grin.
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you see a large building full of people, but it is a calm, safe place. Three stylized monkeys play at the middle of the building, but turn and bow to you as you near. One is completely black and of dour demeanor, the second is gray but smiles at you, and the third brown with emerald eyes, but it betrays nothing. They treat with you fairly, though give nothing for free. You sense that the emerald-eyed monkey is sympathetic to your cause, but the black monkey is perhaps the most trustworthy. As you parley, a shadow encroaches from behind -- it coalesces into a shadowy demon-monkey that leaps in and kills each of you in a whirlwind of death.
Date: 21 Gozran 4712
After a solid night's rest in a thankfully comfortable bed, you meet in the morning ready to travel again. Ameiko leads you to the docks, where you find a small junk readying to depart. The ship's master stands by the dock and bows curtly as you arrive. He waves you on with the minimum of courtesy -- the captain's impatience seems comfortably familiar, even halfway across the world.
The trip to Enganoka takes five days. The weather is fair, growing warmer with each day as Spring fully brushes out all remnants of Winter. Rain showers pass intermittently but quickly. Enganoka is Minkai's third-largest city, though younger than Sakakabe. It is nestled on a favorable landing spot along the western coast, its harbor surrounded by a ring of protective, coastal hills. Its primary trade is silk, pottery, gemstones and rock alum from the hills. Kiyomi explains that the city has a reputation for catering to decadent tastes -- both legal and illegal -- that only the wealthiest can afford, giving rise to an oft-unmerited perception of its citizens' "Enganoka arrogance".
You disembark at the docks. Notably, there are several quays empty, and only about half of those filled seem to be busy loading or unloading cargo. Although relatively busy, it is clear the city's trade is suffering.
"We've only got room for.one silent, brooding warrior in this group," Parity jests as he punches Heng in the arm.
"What eats at you?"
Parity gathers his things and sets up on the dock.waiting for the others, shivering as he feels phantom ninjas all around him.
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Heng is silent for a long moment uncertain if he should share his vision with the notoriously scornful warrior, but relents given their numerous adventures together and shared mission. "My father told me long ago, when I first began my practice of meditation, that those that have truly mastered their mind and self can see distant places and distant times though in ways not easily understood."
"I had a dream before we left, a premonition perhaps. There were three monkeys holding court: one black, one gray and one brown. We treated with them for an alliance. The black seemed most honest, the brown sympathetic, I could not read the gray one. Then before we could seal our treaty, a shadow ape appeared and murdered us all."
"It was very strange. I am certain it will become clear eventually. I just hope that I am not too slow to catch the significance in time."
"Huh, neat gift. Are the monkeys representative of the three ninja clans we are pursuing? Is your dream telling us there is a fourth group as well, one that support the oni or maybe just dont like us?"
Parity trembles slightly as he discusses the ninja out loud.
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Malnival grins as he walks by overhearing the conversation. "Maybe it is telling you that we need to have a supply of bananas at the ready."
"Well, let's think about it. We're working with three groups already right? The nobles the merchants and now the ninjas. So one of them is honest, one sympathetic, and one we can't read. If a shadow ape is showing up, that has to be our enemies finding out about us. I wonder if it means when we all meet together, or just that our enemy knows about us and is preparing to strike at everybody?"
Koya smiles at Heng and holds his arm reassuringly. "Divinations are often difficult to understand, even by those of us blessed by Desna's grace. Forewarnings of danger, though vague, are good reminders to be cautious. On the other hand, it seems as though we have a potential ally, or two."
"Ooooh, that's a good point. Hmmm, do you think the actual ninjas will be color coded? What color were the ninjas we already killed? They were all black right? Mal or Parity, did you keep any trophies from that? I think they were black."
"I couldn't see past the blood gushing from my mouth last time I saw one." Parity replies to his halfling friend.
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"Well, let's go find these monkeys and see what we're really dealing with." Ameiko steps over and asks a worker for directions. He points to a massive, two-storied hall with a black roof. "That was easy," she chuckles, pointing at your destination a few blocks away. "Behold, the Kuroi Yane Market."
The main hall is a huge structure, and it is surrounded by a maze of outdoor huts, tents and market stalls. It is easily one of the largest market bazaars you have ever encountered, and you see a vast array of goods available throughout the market. The mixture of scents, sounds and people give the market air a lively buzz.
As you near the great hall, you can see the wide, arched entrance is guarded by a group of police officers armed with jutte. A wealthy-looking merchant walks up and hands the guards a few silver coins -- with hardly a glance, they let him past. You notice no commoners are going inside, probably due to the pricey door toll.
"Seems like that's our way in. Drop a few coins and let's get in and see what we see. Ninjas probably already know we are here."
Parity will stride toward the entrance.
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The guards look you over, taking note of your bags and weapons, but hardly raise an eyebrow to your western composition -- it's clear they are used to seeing foreigners come through. Once they take your coin, three silver each, they let you pass through without further delay.
Inside the Kuroi Yane Market hall the array of goods sold is just as varied as outside, but the quality is significantly higher. The walkways are nearly as cramped, even though the clientele are of a higher class.
As you move through the hall, you notice a well-to-do man haggling with a shopkeeper over some glazed pottery. A half-dozen police officers elbow through the crowd and surround him. The shopkeeper retreats to the back of the booth, and the crowd similarly backs away. The man looks visibly frightened.
One of the police ask him, "Are you a trader from the village of Kokomugi?" The man bows deeply and answers affirmatively, breaking into a servile grin.
"You are a liar!" the officer barks, and unsheathes her sword. "That village doesn't exist." The man's eyes grow wide with horror. Immediately, the other police officers grab him and force him to his knees.
Kiyomi rushes forward toward the man. She bows deeply to the police and smiles with an air of a frightened, yet apologetic young girl. "Father! Father-san! I apologize to you, worthy officers! My father suffers from a loosening of his mind as he ages. The priests say it is not usually harmful to others, but it spreads through the spilling of his blood when it becomes unusually virulent and deadly. Please, allow me to bring him home and we shall trouble you no more." Kiyomi bows deeply.
"Not sure Heeey what's she...oh boy."
Harlan watches and moves to a position where he can help Kiyomi.
Malnival frowns and moves to the side of the police.
Parity moves to the opposite side of the police from Mal.
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The policewoman holds her strike and turns to Kiyomi, scowling. "Then he is not from Kokomugi... or do you both claim to be from there?"
"Oh no my lady, he simply becomes confused, misremembers things he's heard over his life. We are not from any such place, ma'am."