"Does anyone mind if I acquire one of those haramakis? I have no other armor and it might help a little."
Lingfeng awkwardly makes her way over to the rest of the group, not quite sure what, if any, conclusion to draw from the strange equipment found on the "peasants." Instead, she listens to the others, who are far more socially savvy. She does make time to give Kasani a poke and say quietly: "Welcome back to the land of the living, Kasani. Glad you're not dead." A thought occurs to her: healing magic sure would be nice. Then again, the capacity to heal does not seem to run in Di Yu's blood...
Although she has little understanding of the situation, Lingfeng figures that she is probably charming enough to fake it somewhat effectively, and offers this to the wounded soldiers: "We nearly lost one of our own in our efforts to protect your lot, and that was on top of your earlier rudeness while searching us. Keep this in mind as you kindly explain the situation to us." She isn't sure if she's trying to intimidate him or not, but either way, she hopes the force of her personality comes through.
The man slowly stands up, groaning some from the pain. He opens his mouth to speak as Lingfeng chews him out, and he closes his mouth, giving her a fierce look. "Watch your tone, Ronin. I may owe you a life, but I don't owe you my honor."
He looks back to Zamu and Kasani. He dips his head, without breaking eye contact with either. "At least some of your company understand how to behave with some honor. I officially give you my thanks. The... peasants... stole an object from my Lord's Lady. That object is.. of sentimental importance to her. We have been tasked with finding." He grimaces at the bodies. "Did any escape? Did you find anything on them?"
He's telling the truth about something being stolen, but you're not sure about it being of sentimental value, or at least not of only sentimental value.
"One did get away. He fled south, but not sure where he went from there. He disappeared into the forest. I might be able to figure out where he went from there, but I fear that he used magic to move, which would make that very difficult."
Dunja scoffs at the unpleasant soldier. Honor this and honor that, but only a few moments ago he was knocking on deaths door. Apparently it had done little to dull his tongue.
She does add her own thoughts to the conversation. "We hardly have time to go chasing through the woods. Besides, we're just Ronin right? I doubt we are worthy to work on behalf of such a Lady. I mean, for some minor trinket? I'm sure she would rather have her own men seeing to such a personal matter."
"Of course, if this 'object' were something of great significance then, well, that would be another matter entirely."
Kasani nods at Zamu's mention of their current task then turns back to the guard, "While pursuing the fleeing 'peasant' seems beyond us, there is also the matter of the bandit-plagued village we were riding to aid. To answer your question though, guardsman, in addition to their fine weapons and armor, it looks like each of your attackers had several vials of some sort of potion. The first of your assailants to fall also bore that around his neck." Kasani points to the small puzzlebox suspended on a fine chain that Zamu discovered.
The man sees the puzzle box, and grabs it. He fumbles with it for a moment, then takes the pomel of his sword and smashes the puzzle box, using a rock for a base. Once it cracks open, he digs in the pieces and pulls something out of it. "Spirits Damnation." He mutters, although it's hard to tell if he's happy, angry, or both.
He took what looks like a medallion or amulet from the remains of the puzzle box.
He took what looks like a medallion or amulet from the remains of the puzzle box. However, it looked... incomplete, as if part of it was missing.
He took what looks like a medallion or amulet from the remains of the puzzle box. However, it looked... incomplete, as if part of it was missing. It appears to have a unique design, although half of that design is missing. There are bits of lead in the puzzle box debris.
Kasani frowns at the guard's brutish and forceful demeanor and shakes her head ruefully. She turns her gaze back to his as he curses and she asks, "I take it you didn't find what you wanted within the box?"
"Is that what you were looking for then?" she asks, assuming he found what he was seeking.
While the conversation is happening Yanyeeku takes up the liquid vials and the kukris and continues to study the bodies and offer a simple gesture of passing, All done know. Hopefully who ever you served offer fine refreshments in the next world...
"Is that what you were looking for then?" she asks, assuming he found what he was seeking.
"If it is, it looks like it's already broken. Shame."
Dunja speaks nonchalantly, distracted by trying to attend to the wounds of the other survivors.
The man eyes Dunja and the others, then slips whatever it is in his pocket. "In the name of my Lord, I invoke Imperial Law. I require your services to escort me back to my Lord's Estate. You will be paid appropriately for your time, and a letter sent to your Master, alerting him that you were detained. You said you are working for a village, the Lord takes precedence over a village. I thank you for your assistance. Please load up the bodies of my unconscious comrades onto your horse. As well as one of the peasant's bodies, and all their gear. Two shall remain here with the rest of the bodies, to guard them. We will send a patrol back to gather the bodies when we encounter one. I suspect you will lose a day in your travels, but I am sure my Lord will see to your needs tonight." He begins readying himself, making himself look as presentable as possible when he's covered in blood and dirt.
Ronin, Mercenaries, and peasants can be pressed into service by anyone who's under orders from a Noble. Precedence rules apply, if a Ronin or Mercenary is serving someone of higher rank already, they can refuse. Ronin can refuse regardless, but it is a stain on their already heavily tarnished honor. Ronin who lose too much honor may become Outlaws, treated as criminals or Yoki.
Yanyeeku moans slightly as he moves from stuffing his pockets with the goods of the fallen and then starts loading them into the wagon, as he does so he thinks on the orders of the animated soldier.
Pursing his lips the skald speaks up for a moment, Uh...sir...if we could just...that is I need to...um. Give us a minute to collect our thoughts?
Lingfeng is famously unlearned in the ways of nobles and their pageantry, but even she is aware of this facet of Imperial Law. True, they could refuse... but the consequences of making that decision were not Lingfeng's to make alone. She is thankful for the chance to huddle up with the rest of her fellow ronin.
"Um..." Lingfeng starts, her face visibly paled, "...so, basically, guys, he's not just blowing smoke. If he wants to press us, he pretty much can. But, um... we can say no, but that wouldn't exactly be great for our reputation, if you know what I mean- it'd make pariahs out of us. We'd be no better than outlaws. But we're already in service to Lord Migari... but then again, he pretty much gave up his rank, so..." She waves her hands around confusedly. "Isn't there a loophole or something we can use to slip out of this? Even if we're only delayed a day, there's no telling what kind of trouble those bandits could rouse up while we're sitting on our thumbs with this guy." The frustration is plainly visible on her features. "Ideas? Anybody?"
Dunja gives a sour look to the soldier and then starts to say something but is conveniently interrupted by Lingfeng's explanation.
"Eh!?" she says "Can they really just do that? Man, this Ronin thing sure is complex, huh?"
"Uh...well, I'm sure Migari already has enough problems. Maybe...no, splitting up for such a long period of time would be too dangerous. Perhaps if the Lord were to provide us with horses, we could make up the lost time?"
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"I do not think we would be doing Lord Migari any favors if we turned ourselves into outlaws. We must act honourably, and so we must do as this man commands; he will be answerable for his actions. Asking for the horses would be a good idea, especially if we provide good service. That way, we may be able to fulfil all our obligations."
Kasani shakes her head gently, "I don't know. This guardsman is unworthy of his tone. Besides, I left my home and my duties behind to pursue what I think to be a higher one: helping those in need. The village we ride toward is suffering; people there are dying at the hands of bandits. Meanwhile, this guardsman lost a trinket and wants to make a report." The nagaji looks to each of her comrades in turn, still holding her side gingerly. "I would rather render aid to our endangered neighbors than play political lapdog to the guardsman of a haughty lord whose authority means little to me. Besides, perhaps I've misread him, but I think Migari would favor lives over baubles, even if that rendered him an outlaw."
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"Lord Migari has authority we do not. It is really a simple matter of Law. We can only hope the Baron really does have need of our services, and that we truly are doing the world some good, but getting ourselves outlawed will definitely not be doing the world some good. The villagers have suffered for many days, they can bear another day."
Unless we want to go back and ask Lord Migari perhaps it would be best to accept the delay in the hopes it causes the least amount of trouble overall. Who knows? Perhaps some of this has something to do with the banditry in the area?
"If it's unavoidable I suppose, let's do it..."
"Who will be staying here with corpses, then? I have no problem with doing so, which leaves one other."
"Well, who will be staying here?" The guard asks, making it obvious he would prefer Lingfeng to be one of the two staying behind by pointedly looking at her as he asks.
"Dunja and I will remain." Kasani shakes her head ruefully even as she speaks. Looking at the guardsman, then to Dunja, then back, she adds, "As soon as those you send to tend to the bodies arrive, we make straight for the village." As her gaze returns to the guard, a steely light settles into her lidless eyes.
The man shrugs. "That is up to you. If my Lord takes affront to it, then he will deal with your master, not I. I have made the request my Lord would want. Your refusal to comply with Imperial Law is between you and your Master." The man seems unsurprised, as if he expected the law to be flouted by Ronin. "Come, let us hurry on, before anyone else decides to ignore the law."
He begins carrying the bundled equipment from the 'Peasants' toward the horse.
"How are we refusing anything? We've agreed to everything you said!"
The man looks at Kasani, and then nods. "That will be acceptable, I suppose. I had expected you to come with the patrol, however, I will not insist on it, as long as I have the majority there to give witness." He begins gathering up the equipment the 'peasant's had on them and carrying it toward the horse.
After a moment's confusion, Lingfeng tries to suppress her disappointment at having to accompany the soldier back to his master, and shrugs as soon as the man's eyes are off her. She looks at Kasani and Dunja and puffs her cheeks out petulantly, but after realizing she's now stuck with it, she decides that she may as well be on her best behavior. She gives the pair a weak smile of reassurance and turns back to the soldier.
"Very well, then," she says, the formality like a foreign language coming from her. "The rest of us will accompany you to meet with your master. Perhaps some sense can be made of this... unfortunate incident."
Yanyeeku frowns but follows after Lingfeng and the others, not even feeling the desire to raise his voice in song...I hope so too. Some sense... Yanyeeku shakes his head but otherwise stays quiet as he follows along.
The man finishes loading up the horse, and then sets off at a brisk pace, making sure everyone but the standing guards follows him.
The trek is about 2 hours long before the group enters a village. Upon entering, the man orders village guards to proceed to the crossroads and retrieve the bodies and then have them sent to the Lord's Manor.
A dozen men begin readying to leave.
Another 2 hours after that, the party arrives in a fuedal town, about 3000 people total. It's nearing sunset, and the man is escorted in to see the Lord of the area immediately. However, about 30 minutes later, a functionary returns to the group. She bows. "My apologies, but My Lady is feeling unwell, at the deaths of her guards. She needs time to recover before hearing your version of the tale. My Lord has instructed me to show you to rooms for the night, and you will be questioned about what happened in the morning. Food is being prepared, and the bath will be made available if you wish to partake of it." She says politely, but firmly, making it clear that the Lord's invitation is not negotiable.
Back on the road, the local town guards show up at dusk, check the bodies over, and begin setting up camp at the crossroads. The leader is an older Mokibito with dark brown hair. He nods at the two left behind. "We'll be camping for the night, no reason to tempt the spirits by moving dead bodies by night. You are welcome to share our camp and fire, if you choose."
Yanyeeku bob his head after Zamu, Yes indeed! A bath and a meal would be most welcome! Yanyeeku eagerly approaches the functionary almost staring overly long at her face as he grins and bows at her, his fox like ears twitching slightly.
Lingfeng bows quietly and thanks the attendant. "Thank you for your hospitality. I never say no to a bath." She starts to snicker, but bites her lip. As she allows herself to be led along with the rest of the group, she keeps an eye out for any suspicious movements or shady-looking individuals. While she doubts the local lord has any sinister intentions, it never hurts to be cautious...
Kimiko nods and smiles with a sigh of anticipation... "A bath soundsl lovely."
Kasani looks to Dunja, and seeing her noncommital shrug, the nagaji turns back to the guard. "There is wisdom in what you say and we would do the village we aim to aid no good if the two of us are set upon in the dark. As eager as I am to be on our way, we will accept your hospitality. Thank you."
Begrudgingly, Kasani then begins to settle in. Turning to the soldiers, she asks, "I don't suppose any of you have any insight as to what caused this tragedy, perhaps? Those men posing as commonfolk were canny combatants; fast and deadly. I've never seen the like before."
One of the soldiers, a younger man, pipes up. "I bet they're shinobi!" Several other soldiers, also younger, begin chattering excitedly and stories begin to get traded, each sounding more and more exaggerated. It becomes readily apparent that the 'soldiers' are small town guards at best, and not trained military men.
The old mokobito, on the other hand, just shakes his head and sighs. "SET UP THE DAMN CAMP FIRST AND GOSSIP LIKE FISHWIVES AFTERWARD!" He bellows, his voice rolling over the clearing. In the bushes, there are two or three 'eep!'s as spirits and puka dive for cover in surprise at the sudden noise.
Turning back, the elder one sighs. "And I thought retiring to a small town would be less work than remaining near the barracks." He glares at the younger guards until they are all industriously bustling about. Not necessarily getting a lot done, but being very energetic about it.
Turning back to Kasani and Dunja, he shrugs. "Hate to say it, but they could be shinobi, given what the survivor told us. Especially with poisoned blades and magic. Don't know what they stole, or want to know, just know it's got the Lord very angry. That's all I need to know about it."
The functionary bows, and shows the group to their rooms. It's basically one big room with a central sitting area. A large square table with cushions on the floor around it. Tea has been set up on the table for the group. There are four partitioned off areas, one in each corner, with a bed cushion rolled out behind the ricepaper dividers. It gives each person some privacy for sleep, while still making the room one big room that can be reconfigured for different needs.
From that room, the functionary leads them down the hall to a small hot spring. The entry divides into two dressing rooms, one for men, the other for women.
On the other side of the dressing room, the hot spring steams. A wooden wall splits it in half. The wall is 6 inches thick, but is built as three sets of slats that overlap but don't touch, leaving the ability for water and air to flow between halves. It makes it impossible to see each side, but easy to talk through the divider.
There are towels and soap in the dressing area.
"Dinner will be waiting in your room in one hour, take as much time as you like." The functionary says, bows, and leaves the area.
"I think that's all we need to know about it too. All these politics...they make me itch."
She settles down and pokes at the fire, pouting slightly.
"Of course, we need not speak of it. In fact, I'm sure these big, strong Imperial soldiers are just about to provide us two ladies with a lovely meal."
All suspicion melts away the instant Lingfeng lays eyes on the spring. "Brilliant," she sighs happily. "You know what? Coming here might not have been too bad an idea."
Sinking into the hot springs a minute later, she feels the tensions of body and spirit accumulated over the day vanish. "Yes, that's nice. I think I'll just die now... maybe my spirit can haunt this spring forever. That way I never have to leave..."
She decides to soak for as long as possible before any soap enters the equation.
After bath and a long hot soak, Kimiko goes in search of the ancient Mikobito, hoping to have words with him, if he'll see her.
The design allows conversation between sides, that's why the wall is slats with space between, blocks view, but not sound.