"We of Kiniro Kyomai are honored by your willingness to aid us in this matter," O-Kohaku says, somewhat formally but with a sincere smile. "Before you go, I will see to it that you are given directions to Shinju-no-Ie. Or, if you prefer, I can arrange a boat to take you there."
After answering any further questions, O-Kohaku completes the remaining steps of the tea ceremony with graceful ease.
Malnival groans and pats Kelda's leg. "Boats. I am beginning to seriously dislike boats."
As you are departing the teahouse, a low voice calls to you before you reach the street. Approaching from the side garden, O-Hakami shuffles up quickly and looks around carefully before speaking. "Please forgive this one's disrespect earlier, honored guests. O-Sayumi is indeed like a sister... my mentor and closest friend. She has an almost uncanny knowledge of the past, present and future, which is what made her so popular with the wealthy and powerful."
"The merchant, Yugureda Shosaito always frightened us, and she did not appear nervous or frightened when she left, but she must have expected trouble. She gave me this," she takes a small, folded paper packet from the folds of her kimono and holds it out for you to take. "O-Sayumi told me to give the packet to an honorable person who would look for her if she didn’t return from Yugureda’s island. I believe she meant you."
Harlan peers up at the package.
"Well, if she can see the future that explains why he wanted her."
The paper folds away, revealing an inro -- a small ivory box of four segments, held closed with a silk cord, a sliding fastener, and a netsuke (decorative toggle) to hang it from a sash. The segments of the inro are engraved with a depiction of a geisha playing the samisen. The netsuke is carved into the likeness of a strange turtle-headed humanoid holding a vase in its webbed hands, and a six-petaled magnolia flower is carved on the bottom of the netsuke.
You notice that the paper wrapping has calligraphy on the inside. It is a short poem, or tanka that reads:
I must discover
what lies inside myself
to enter your place
through dark and shadowed gates, but
the reflection is not me.
"It is a kappa, a capricious creature prone to trickery. They live near freshwater." Kiyomi points at the creature on the netsuke.
"Hmm, perhaps this poem is a portent of something she saw. We will need to keep this handy. I sense some chicanery coming soon. Don't be fooled by what your eyes tell you."
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Harlan contemplates.
"I think if we have any money left over we should invest in the ability to breath water. Kiyomi do you have any sort of water breathing spell? If not we can find some potions or scrolls."
Kiyomi bows and smiles. "I cannot, though I have songs that allow you to move freely below the water.
"Is there anything inside?" Ameiko asks, intrigued.
"Inside the box? Is it openable?"
The inro is not locked, and by manipulating the segments along the guide strands, Heng easily opens the three compartments. Each contains a single, odd item: an empty silk worm cocoon in the lower compartment; two interlocking stone rings, one of yellow calcite and one of blue lapis lazuli, in the middle compartment; and three camphorwood beads on a cord ring in the upper compartment.
Lastly, you see a maker's mark stamped inside the lid.
Malnival cast a spell and looks over the other's shoulders at the box and items.
Detect magic.
Malnival shrugs as he looks at the items. "The items are not magical in nature. I have no idea what they would be used for, but if she was truely a seer then they may be of use to us at some point."
Harlan also shakes his head.
"I don't get it either."
"Do the materials have any cultural significance", Parity asks, trying to understand the confusing message himself.
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Spell craft:
Knowledge Arcana:
Kiyomi hesitates. "The maker's mark is a local artist, named Saburo. Perhaps he will know more of significance?"
"Hey, that's great! Let's go talk to Saburo. How come he only has one name? Is that an artist thing? I met an artist once, she was amazing. Like to paint pictures of flowers and rocks. Called it a still life, but I didn't have the heart to tell her rocks aren't alive. Sweetest half-orc I ever met."
"We should stop and visit this man on the way out. Perhaps there is a second part of the message there ... or even some sort of solution to the riddle she wrote "
Parity frowns for a moment, "She did write it, correct?"
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"We should stop and visit this man on the way out. Perhaps there is a second part of the message there ... or even some sort of solution to the riddle she wrote "
Heng massages his scalp as he considers. "I do not know that he could have known what was to be placed in his box, but perhaps he could tell us more about O-Sayumi. I think it would be worthwhile to at least pay Saburo a visit."
Kiyomi suggests a local inn that she knows to be safe.
There are several inns in the vicinity of the tea house. Kiyomi picks one that she has stayed at several times in the past. Finding space for the entire party in one place could prove difficult, but Kiyomi's familiarity with the owner helps smooth out the wrinkles: you end up with the inn to yourself.
As you are settling in for the night, Ameiko makes some suggestions. "We'll stay here in the city while you're investigating the geisha's disappearance. We'll keep up appearances: Miyaro and I will help Sandru work out some trade agreements, and maybe get some supplies for Seinaru Heikiko while we're at it. Shalelu and Kelda will keep their eyes peeled, and Koya can keep us kids out of trouble."
"You'll be safe, of course?" she asks with a smirk.
"Oh for sure Ameiko. We're just asking a craftsman about a merchant to find a missing geisha in order sway a governor and depose an emperor."
Harlan winks.
"And after that, I'll cook a celebration feast!"
Malnival kisses Kelda and gives her a hug, keeping his arm around her waist. "I will attempt to keep them in check, but I promise nothing."
The night passes without event. In the morning, you gear up, pass farewells to your friends, and head out into the city. The streets are busy with morning bustle. Though you receive a few stares, no one bothers you on your way to Saburo's shop, which lies along a major boulevard a few blocks from the entertainment district. You find the artisan stocking the shelves of the streetside stall -- a collection of pots and vases of many sizes, shapes and color. Saburo is a middle-aged man, with a pot-belly and balding pate.
He bows politely when you approach, and upon asking about O-Sayumi's inro, he nods. "I carved it, yes... just a few months ago. I remember she had very specific instructions for it. I pray she returns to Sakakabe soon. She is loved by all here, and sorely missed."
"Nothing else you can recall about her visit ... did she say or leave anything behind?" Parity asks.
Saburo frowns and shakes his head, No, no... wait, yes!" He disappears into his shop, returning a few moments later holding a bulbous, long-necked vase. Its shape matches that of the one held by the kappa depicted on the inro's netsuke. The exterior is painted with a stylized smiling kappa. "O-Sayumi had me make this after her inro, but she never came back to pick it up. It is filled with bath salts... cucumber scented."
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Heng rubs his scalp and calls upon his mystic insight to identify the interestingly scented salts. "Cucumber is refreshing," he notes. "..and I am not sure how I know this, but is not cucumber a favored treat of the kappa? as well as, um, horse meat? A gift for someone she knew perhaps. Is the kappa depicted on the box modeled from a kappa that she might have known?"
Saburo gives a half shrug. "I do not know for sure, but she was very specific about the kappa in the design."
Waiting until you've left earshot of the craftsman, Kiyomi whispers "I recall a rumor that O-Sayumi has an "uncle", a kappa spirit who favors her. He is said to live beneath a magnolia tree at the mouth of the Jikko, near the Namidakame Lagoon. Perhaps he would be agreeable to aiding us?"
"The capricious spirit? Proceed with caution, but I agree we need to follow up on this lead. Let's take the cucumber vase and maybe go buy a horse."
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Harlan nods, limping along with the group and regretting leaving Skygni behind.
"So kappa eat horses and cucumbers? Do they cook them I wonder?"
Malnival frowns at Parity's statment. "I will not be part of feeding such a majestic animal to a creature. I suggest a wagon of cucumbers."