He hasn't attacked us yet, and if it does drive one of us mad, it's best that it be the weakest among us, that he may be subdued.
The next question must obviously be to whom did you sell them and more importantly! did they seem to know what they were buying?The Oni can be dealt with when it arrives, but we must find these masks.
Katsurou takes the mask.
Xiaoxing maintains her on, choosing to distance herself from the conversation and focus on the surrounding again, she did not want the group to be taken unawares by the oni when it arrived.
"Where is the sword now?"
"Where is the sword now?"
Doji Oruku agrees with Akodo Hideyoshi:
"Indeed! Whisper when you say you are nothing more than a merchant, that is untrue... you are also a thief! What have you done with my kinsman's property!?!"
While Kituski Katsurou runs his fingers over the porcelain mask, Whisper lifts one of the sitting cushions to reveal the missing golden-handled sword. He holds the sheathed blade in his hands as he looks down at it.
"I spent most of the profits on those accursed masks to acquire this blade: it was forged by a legendary Kaiu swordsmith to fight against the Shadowlands. Such was the skill of Kaiu Haru that he could create a blade with powdered jade worked between the folds of steel. The spirits themselves awakened in the artistry of his work and the blade glows with magical light in the presence of the shadowlands taint."
"Unfortunately Kaiu Haru's prowess at arms was not the equal to his skill in the forge; while he was able to stop an Oni from destroying his village he died in the heroic process. His swords were lost in the shadowlands.. lost until Daidoji-san found one there. My friend Ikyoto retrieved the sword for me, but he warned me that the time it lay fallow in the shadowlands changed its nature.. it has acquired a curse. He warned me to use the sword's magic is to accept a burden that I may not be able to handle."
He looks down in resignation at the the sword in his hands then offers it out to you. "I know this is not mine to keep; I took it because I thought it might save my life."
9+5=14
Katsurou bows as Oruku talks, and waits for all the other speaking to die down before interjecting himself.
You have not answered my question. To whom did you sell the masks?
Hideyoshi eyes the sword, noting its fine workmanship. He looks from the blade to Doji Oruku, expecting the man to claim his kinsman's weapon.
Xiaoxing continues to monitor the room, her mind once more at rest and calm, she simply accepts what it happening and stands ready to deal with whatever happens.
Doji Oruku takes the sword from Whisper, drawing it slightly out of its saya to marvel at its other-worldly serrated edge.
As he does so, bright bluish light is released from the sword as if it as been pent up inside its sheath.
Whisper was about to reply to Kituski Katsurou when the blade's glow became apparent. His mouth gapes open, with the Dragon's question momentarily forgotten.
He only gets out "By the Fortunes...." before he is cut off by the House of Water Lilies shuddering as if absorbing some terrible blow to its foundation. Over the sounds of human screams you hear a now-familiar bestial roar gleefully reveling in destruction downstairs. The Oni Is Coming.
As the house shudders, Xiaoxing glances at her companions.
I fear our time has run out...
she gestures at the sword Oruku-sama is holding
This may be our only chance to return the Oni from whence it came, truly the best swordsman should use the blade, and if they fall, we will keep picking it up until we succeed in destroying the vile thing...
I'm inclined to agree, Xiaoxing-san. Whisper, I'd imagine the Thunder Guard are on their way already. Could you please direct them to this building and alert Gate of the disturbance? We will soon have need of many spears and swords.
= 12
Oruku-sama, the most skilled swordsman is most likely yourself. Should the duty to kill the Oni fall to me, we will have likely already lost. I will shield you to the best of my ability.
'...no armor, no weapons. surely this is laughable. given a chance, I will kill Gate myself...'
Hideyoshi nods at Katsorou's suggestion. "As will I Oruku-sama. Vengeance for your kin belongs to you. We will make an end worthy of legend, should any be left alive to hear it."
=20
35
18
8
Doji Oruku draws the enchanted Blade of Secrets fully from its saya and guards the door, nodding in agreement with your assessments. You hear a *crunch* from behind Kuni Eiriasu's back, where his hands are currently hidden.
As you look over to him, he smiles rakishly and brings his hands out in front of him, palms open. He's holding the broken, jagged remains of the jade statuette he discreetly swiped a few moments ago.
"If you wish to arm yourselves with these, feel free. Against this opponent, they'll likely serve you better than your grandfathers' swords would have, anyway. There are plenty of shards to go around; I'll only need one."
As the Oni rampages throughout the ground floor of the House of Water Lilies, you hear the telltale *whooshes* of flames leaping from toppled lanters to rice-paper partitions.
Round 1 of combat:
The Oni rampages up the stairs and heads directly to Suruko's entertainment chamber where you and Whisper are located. It tears the sliding door right out of its rail and surveys the room and its occupants with its three eyes that glow with terrible orange hellfire. It is dripping with river muck but you can still see some of its wounds you dealt earlier in the evening through the slime. Additionally, most of the length of its spine either lack pulsating tumors entirely, or only have very small ones that have apparently recently begun to re-grow.
The monster looks from Doji Oruku to Kitsuki Katsurou and then to Whisper with a bizarre combination of rage, interest, and glee.
Suruko simply feints with fear, and Whisper falls to his knees and begs the Oni to spare him.
Everyone make a fear check at the beginning of your post ;) TN10 this time, since you're starting to get used to this Oni. Roll & Keep willpower, but then add your honor rank to the total.
Insisting that Akodo-san takes the offered katana of fire, Xiaoxing bows to Kuni Eiriasu as she accepts the offered broken jade statuette.
Thank you Eiriasu-sama, I am pleased to accept your thoughtful gift. I hope you do not think ill of me for accepting it as soon as it is offered!
She smiles at the crab, hoping her humor has hit the mark, Crab and Unicorn being rather less reverential of normal etiquette given their more practical natures.
As the Oni roars again and makes its entrance, Xiaoxing grips the statuette in her hand, feeling its weight, adjusting it so the sharper edges are better aligned in her grip. Her gaze falls almost dismissively on the beast.
Its malicious stare elicits no reaction from the samurai-ko, and she decides to charge and distract the beast to give her better armed companions a better opportunity to strike.
Xiaoxing's arm flashes out in a good approximation of a practiced knife slash, the jagged edge of the stone dragging across the Oni's spindly limbs as it raises one to ward her off.
= 22.
Katsurou hands the mask to Watchful who gently slides it into the corner of the room furthest from the Oni. He grabs a piece of Jade and feels it, looking for an edge.
Katsurou then assumes a defensive stance and guards Doji Oruku.
This is quite the festival tonight.
As the first sounds of the expected Oni attack, Hideyoshi draws the Jade Sun forth and hands to the Crab. "I suspect my hands will be rather more occupied, Eiriasu-san. This may aid us." Then he moves to accept the fire-sword from Katsuyoshi. He tests the blade, finding the right point of balance.
+8 =17
He points the Katana of Fire at the Oni as it crashes through the wall and pauses. "Now you die." Then the Lion bursts into action.
=35
+8 =25
40=Hit!
awesomeclobber.. shoulda raised. Hit!
7 damage
7 damage
The Oni gives Shinjo Xiaoxing a look that she hasn't seen since sparring as a little girl before mastering her fine control of weapons... the beast gives an expression that seems to convey a shocked annoyance as if to say: "Hey.. that HURT!".
During that moment of the Oni's umbrage Akodo Hideyoshi assaults it, opening one then two slices in its hide that spread open and ooze foul-smelling tar. The Oni holds its arms to its wounded side and roars with outrage.
Undistracted by the room-shuddering roar is Doji Oruku, still gazing contemplatively into the blade, as if entranced by it. You imagine you can perceive Doji Oruku drawing swirling mystical energies or perhaps the kami themselves into him as he centers himself for a perfect strike. His eyes roll back into his head and his hair begins to blow up from an unseen gust and the reflection of unseen shapes dance on the blade.
Kuni Eiriasu looks from the Jade sun in one hand, to the jagged shards of broken jade in the other. You don't have to hear his thoughts to watch him come to the decision about which he thinks will be the most formidible. He sets the Jade sun down on a side table and holds a jagged shard of jade in each hand like a pair of vicious ice picks. With a fierce kiai, he leaps at the Oni... stabbing with power and without grace.
Although he is stabbing the ferocious beasts with the 2nd and 3rd best shards remaining from the statuette, you can't help but appreciate the skill and training the Crab have mastered in combatting the shadowlands. The Witch Hunter dodges between the Oni's raging swings, even managing to jab directly into one of the beasts orange eyes!
When the Oni gathers its wits under the sudden attack by the valiant samurai it didn't expect to find guarding Whisper, it defiantly moves between you, roaring with fury as if to promise dire retribution, but when it moves into the room you realize its swings were only meant to cause you to step back... its true goal was to get to Whisper. It reaches out and hoists the ronin up from his kneeling position by the neck. You think you hear something crack in Whisper's neck, but it's hard to tell over the Oni's furious bellowing. The unfortunate ronin's face is already turning red and he claws helplessly at the Oni's firm grip.
As the Oni begins to squeeze the life out of Whisper, with another arm it plucks one of its smaller tumors from its back and tosses it over on the unattended porcelain mask. By now you're not surprised when the lump of flesh opens little fierce eyes and grows spidery legs.. it snatches up the mask that is almost as big as it is, clutching it protectively in some of its clawed limbs.
Katsurou continues as he was, guarding Oruku, the best offensive weapon the group has at the moment.
If the oni wants the masks, then it won't let this one too far away from it, and one of the spawn is easily dispatched once the big one dies.
Seeing Katsurou-san guarding Oruku-sama, Xiaoxing continues her assault on the oni, hoping to distract it away from Whisper.
Moving in close, Xiaoxing stabs again and again with the broken statue, knowing her blows are doing harm this time gives her the mental strangth she needs to stand this close to the evil that could end her life in a heartbeat.
Hideyoshi continues his assault from the other side of the Oni, trying give himself and Xiaoxing as much tactical advantage as he can.
Unfortunately, his desire to avoid hitting Whisper causes his stroke to go astray...
38.. still hits!
36 damage!
The Oni whirls around as the group of you assail it, holding Whisper like a shield. Doji Oruku's eyes slam open, and he steps forward. A perfect, beautiful stroke arcs between him and the Oni, and the arm holding Whisper is severed at the elbow.
Rather exalting in the mighty blow, Doji Oruku slumps over as if struck in the stomach. He looks at the enchanted katana he holds limply in his hands, and seems to come to a horrified realization. He weakly mutters,
"Someone, take this from me... I cannot keep using this blade..."
Kuni Eiriasu declines to take him up on his offer.. he may well not have even heard it as he appears to be caught up in a legendary Crab bloodlust. The Witch Hunter keeps stabbing the Oni viciously, but the minor wounds don't seem to bother the beast near as much as losing an arm did.
The Oni's severed hand is still wrapped around Whisper's neck, and it *squeezes*. The ronin collapses to the ground and black slime drips all over his back from the severed, strangling stump.
The Beast seems to sense a weakness in Doji Oruku, and it lunges at him with its gaping, grotesquely extended maw.
The beast sinks its giant fangs into both sides of Doji Oruku's rib cage. The proud samurai grits his teeth rather than wail dishonorably, bu the intense pain is evident as the Oni draws back, ripping flesh and kimono with equal ease. The magistrate sinks to his knees and drops the magical blade from his weak fingers.. its blade still shining brilliantly in the presence of Shadowlands foulness.
Xiaoxing does not hesitate, with Oruku-sama disabled and Hideyoshi-san already wielding a magical blade, she snatches up the blade and adopts an attack stance, shouting a kiai! that resonates around the room with its vibrancy.
The samurai-ko's attack echoes that of the Crane who preceeded it, perhaps less focused, but with all the skill, training and honor guiding it as she can bring to bear in the single strike.
Hideyoshi grits his teeth, building the fury of the Matsu attack forms.
=31
=56!!!!
With a loud 'KIAI!' Hideyoshi cuts a deep gash in the Oni's side with the fire blade. The stench of burnt flesh pervades the room. A slight smile turns the corners of his mouth as as sets himself to strike again.
After a whispered warning from Watchful Katsurou shuffles his feet, changing his guarding stance to guard Xiaoxing.
Unfortunately, its time in the shadowlands has allowed the evil kansen of Jigoku to not only magnify but warp this power in insidious ways... ways that are not apparent until you actually use the sword. The upside is this: raises no longer increase TNs! So yes, you can declare infinite raises all without raising TNs! But the downside is this: for every raise you make, you lose a void point. And Xiaoxing had no void points to give, so the sword is collecting its toll in another way...
Shinjo Xiaoxing and Akodo Hideyoshi ferociously carve heinous wounds into the Oni. The Battle Maiden's strokes are particularly ingenious: it is though she could anticipate the beast's thoughts before it even created them.
The beast shrieks in a new way under the dual attack... one that sounds like fear! The spirits inside the two magical blades allow the heroic samurai to slice the beast to ribbons despite its attempt to fend those bushi away with its remaining clawed limbs. As pieces of the beast fall away, they turn to sludge even before they plop wetly on the tatami floor. The beast's final inhuman shriek ends when Akodo Hideyoshi separates its head from its sluglike body. In that sudden silence the hellfire blaze in its three eyes all go dark, and then Shinjo Xiaoxing crumples to the floor as if her life force was also suddenly snuffed out.. after she collapses the Blade of Secrets tumbles out from her limp hand.. the reflections of unseen figures in the blade have come and gone once again.
"Oh no, not AGAIN!"
The little podling in the corner looks pathetic, cowering behind the porcelain mask. Kuni Eiriasu sneers and dispatches it without much effort, discarding the tarnished jade shards now coated in sizzling black sludge. With the death of the podling, the brilliant blue glow from the Blade of Secrets dims, then sputters out.
Kuni Eiriasu spits on the pool of sludge that is bubbling more and more infrequently. He offers to hold the mask if noone else wants to burden themselves by carrying it. Regardless, he will issue a pronouncement after giving it a good look:
"It is maho! This is what I feared I might find while searching for these cultists. We have much to discuss, and little time to act."
Doji Oruku struggles back to his feet, and looks at Shinjo Xiaoxing with open concern on his face.
"That is fine, Eiriasu-san, but we must do SOMETHING for her first..."
This is most serious news. Regrettably, I know little of medicine, perhaps Hideyoshi-San...?
Hideyoshi looks down at Xiaoxing, concern carving deep lines of worry on his face. "I do not have such knowledge. Surely someone in the city does?" He pauses for a moment to look at Doji Oruku. "We must help them both, but the Thunderguard can assist with Whisper. Xiaoxing is our responsibility."
Hideyoshi bends down and very carefully uses his cloak to wrap his hand. Then he grasps the Blade of Secrets and re-sheathes it. Securing the blade, he bends down and picks up Xiaoxing in his arms. "We must find that person. Now."
'...do not leave us, Battle Maiden, there is much yet to do....'
Kuni Eiriasu shakes the remaining podling ooze off of the porcelain mask, and makes a dire proclamation:
"These masks are dangerous. They can be used to create zombies and other undead abominations to serve the Nameless God. Those creatures will obey whatever orders they are given by their creators, and will also spread Plague and the Shadowlands Taint!"
Doji Oruku gathers himself up off the floor, wincing in pain as Bashiko and a few of her attendants come wandering upstairs with expressions of amazement. The Crane directs the Okasan and her girls to take care of Whisper and Suruko. He only gives the barest of refusals courtesy demands before gratefully accepting the services of one pretty girl bandaging his own bloody body.
"Iie, Eiriasu-san. Our first order of business must be to bring this dangerous sword to a safe place. It rightfully belongs to Daidoji Anitano-san's next of kin, but more must be learned of its nature before so that they may properly care for it. I will take the blade to the Crane Embassy before it finds a way to slip itself into unwary hands."
The two magistrates disagree about what the next proper course of action should be, but they quickly agree splitting up is the answer. Doji Oruku will take the Blade of Secrets to safety, and while he's at it he'll get help for Shinjo Xiaoxing. Kuni Eiriasu, on the other hand, will take the rest of you to press on with the investigation to track down the missing masks before they can be put to evil use.
You're quite glad that nightmare is over, but you're not sure how you got in the sunny meadow you now find yourself in. Your clothing and possessions have all been taken from you, but someone has dressed you in new attire that is both attractive and comfortable. You stand up and survey the landscape: it is a vision of pristine beauty bisected by a calmly flowing river with mountains that you recognize the peaks in the range as the Spine of the World on the horizon. It is almost the same landscape that Ryoko Owari Toshi is built upon, but there is no sign of the city itself nor the poppy fields that surrounds it. Now that you're looking around, you notice that you see nothing at all that has been altered by the hands of men.
She walks towards the river, the mountains clear on the horizon as Lady Amaterasu guides her path as she passes through the tall, green grass of the meadow.
Reaching the riverside she steps out of her sandals, sitting on the bank and dangling her feet in the water.
=20.
Kitsuki Katsurou reminds everyone that Whisper mentioned he not only sold all but one of the masks in his possession (the one Kuni Eiriasu now has inside his kimono), he also mentioned he spent those profits that he originally meant to use to buy out Suruko's contract.
Also, when you searched Whisper's back room, you found the box containing a few Koku coins.. coins that were all minted by the Crab clan. When one considers that the container they were found within is the sort used to transfer coinage, it should be reasonable to presume that the missing coins would have also likely been Crab-minted. Furthermore, the Crab-minted coins found in the bandit-leader's possession earlier in the evening at the Crematorium are likely going to account for the coinage Whisper said he spent.
Watchful listens to his master's exposition, and his expression suddenly reveals that he's come to a realization.
"Forgive me samurai-samas for speaking up, but I cannot help but notice the similarity in that fine silk purse the bandit leader had in his possession and the kimono worn by Whisper-sama. The colors and patters match exactly!"
With all this realized, the question becomes where did the money come from? That should be the natural answer to who bought the masks.
Kitsuki Katsurou mentions that 25 koku is an awful lot of money to have lying around for an impulse purchase. It's especially noteworthy to have 25 koku all minted in the same place at the same time and still in their shipping container. Someone very wealthy must have bought the masks, and almost assuredly someone with ties to the Crab Clan.
As Bashiko sends for some Thunder Guard to come and carry Shinjo Xiaoxing, Doji Oruku thanks her and her girls for tending his wounds. He then says to you after listening to Kitsuki Katsurou's insight:
"I can think of four Crab samurai here in Ryoko Owari Toshi who might have that kind of wealth. I'm not sure if it's a good omen or bad that all four have had allegations of being involved in dealing with stolen merchandise in the past."
He provides a list of names. Those of you who are local would have heard of all of them. (Those who are not hear the same information from Doji Oruku)
Kuni Eiriasu purses his lips, contemplating which suspect seems most likely to be the buyer of the tainted masks.
"Which one do you think we should talk to first?"
"Are there any other distinguishing marks or notes on what we found that would point to one family of the Crab more than another?"
Katsurou rubs his temples, "looking" at his feet.
None that come to mind, but there are facts about these people that bear notice. Hayato has the best magical knowledge, but I doubt he would buy such dangerous property, and if he did he would never tell Whisper about it. Kaiu sounds like he would not be interested in masks, being a weaponsmith and engineer. That leaves Muchi and Yasuki. Yasuki has had dealings with Whisper before, and since Whisper likely sought familiarity with what he thought to be mundane heirlooms, she makes sense, but their known association also makes it not make sense for him to go to her with something that would doubtlessly be a very high-profile set of merchandise, so I suggest we start with Hida.
"Are there any other distinguishing marks or notes on what we found that would point to one family of the Crab more than another?"
Whisper didn't record buying the masks in his ledger, nor selling them. It's not surprising, as trafficking in stolen goods is easier to do "off the books". Still, he did bother to account for spending the ill-gotten profits for the masks, so if you were to comb his ledgers you might find a clue.. but that's a process that could potentially take a while. And may require another visit to Whisper's store.
Kuni Eiriasu concurs with Kitsuki Katsurou's thinking.
"I think it's likely we'll suss out the guilty party fastest by running through Oruku-san's likely suspects in a systematic manner."
After getting the home addresses of the four Crabs from Doji Oruku, he leads the two of you back out into the Floating City so that you can reclaim your weapons from Gate and then question Hida Muchi. As you head downstairs, the Emerald Magistrate fills you in with what he knows about the Cultists.
"I've been tracking a cult of Moon worshippers masquerading as an acting troupe. I caught up with them north of the city, in the foothills of the mountains. I thought I had killed all the cultists, but then I found out about a caravan they sent out before I arrived. I could not reach it before your friends in the Crimson Sunset Cartel found them. By the time I caught up with the caravan, it had been raided and its valuables stolen.
It seems these cultists were more of a threat than I realized. You see, they've been creating maho items - porcelain masks in particular - and they were meant for someone here in the City of Lies.
I've been able to learn some very vague information about the moon cultists hiding here in the City before our paths crossed tonight. I know there are at least three individuals, one of which is overweight, also looking to gather the masks. We must not let them succeed... with any luck that fool Whisper didn't sell his masks right to the cultists."
Outside, there are throngs of festival partygoers challenging the red-suited Thunder Guard's perimeter. Rumors of an Oni attack have spread throughout the island.. but its reaction is not what would probably have been any other night of the year. Everyone tends to assume the attack was some sort of gimmick perpetrated by the the okasan of the House of Water Lilies. Frustrated guardsmen hold back the crowd, many of which are eager to throw money at Bashiko for their turn to be "attacked by an Oni".
After you emerge from the establishment, there are thrilled cheers and shrieks from the spectators that watched the fire get put out. Costumed goblins and ghouls all want to know how scary Bashiko's amazing "Oni attack" was, or if you think she'll throw another such event next year, and so on.
Motion in your peripheral vision catches your attention, and you look over to see a sege of cranes swooping down onto the riverbank amid the reeds, about a half a mile away from you.
Well, no sense in staying here, wherever here is.
Pleasant as it is, the samurai-ko stands up and dons her sandals again, glancing over the area the cranes alighted around. Cranes brought luck, whether good or ill, so if there was anything to find in this place, it would likely be there.
Striding off with a sense of purpose, Xioaxing heads for the section of riverbank the cranes are at.
One can only hope so. Katsurou says to the one who asks about it happening again next year. Once clear of the crowd he whispers to Oruku and the others.
It seems unlikely that we will be able to find someone specific on such a vague description alone. It also seems unlikely that two utterly independent forces operating in such vile practices would pick one night as the time to act. If we pursue the leads of Hida and Yasuki I believe we will find our way to those cultists eventually.
Making sure to retrieve the Jade Sun, Hideyoshi follows Eriasu.
Hideyoshi looks on at the crowds, pressing the Thunder Guard and calling out about the supposed gimmick.
'...often the sheep that require your Valor do not know they needed it, Little Lion. it is one of the hardest things, being a hero of the Clan; to perform your Duty without acclaim, without fanfare. true Glory finds the hero without him needing to seek it out. remember that, Hideyoshi...' Yet another example of something Grandfather has said that the young Lion did not understand...until now.
Face a mask of calm, inside the Lion seethes as he retrieves his weapons from Gate. His thoughts are on Xiaoxing, and where they had taken her, how she was doing, what could be done to save her.
'...say something Gate. say something foolish, and this night will claim another life...'
Once you've gotten away from the throngs packed on the southern end of the island, it's quick travel back to Gate's "Swords Polished" establishment.
If he's even aware of the current social buzz about the rad new show being put on at the House of Water Lilies, he doesn't mention it as he returns your property... all carefully polished (or not) as he promised during his custody.
But before long you hear someone happily humming a tune. As you part the tall reeds to find this person, you find none other than the senile elder you met earlier in the evening, Doji Ukidanu! When he sees you, he stops his humming and smiles.
"You're a long way from home, Shinjo-san. Yet you're not. Imagine that! Tee-hee-hee!"
There's an awkward silence drawing out and as you feel that he's waiting for you to say something, he suddenly speaks up again.
"It's not your time to come Home yet, child of the wind. You have a duty to return to. Are you ready? You must be ready or you won't make it back."
He gestures around at the idyllic landscape.
"What you see, isn't real. It's as real as the Carpenter Wall. Which is, not very real at all! It is time for you to abandon your wall. You do not belong here any longer."
You know that somehow Ukidanu-san can send you back, but you don't know how. You are beginning to be apprehensive however, and memories are beginning to return about Ryoko Owari.. and the Festival.. and the terrible Oni.. and the dread secrets you were shown by the blade...
Once the ferry lands on the east bank of the river, Doji Oruku bids you luck in your meeting with Hida Muchi and he promises to catch up with you as quickly as he can. As a handful of Thunder Guard pick up the litter that Shinjo Xiaoxing is strapped to, her eyes slam open and she utters a gutteral scream that shatters the tense calm. If she weren't tied down, her violent writhing might have caused her to tip over into the river. The startled guardsmen drop the litter and step back in shock, but the Battle Maiden's violent throes continue unabated.
A few, long moments later, she suddenly Stops. Her hair is ragged and her skin clammy, and her voice sounds raw. Shinjo Xiaoxing says:
"What... happened?"
Hida Muchi's home is in the heart of the Merchant Quarter. You've become practiced at navigating the avenues of the City and you're now passing the Inn of the Orange Blossom for the third or fourth time this evening. Doji Oruku takes his leave here, heading towards the Nobles' Quarter and the Crane Estate within.
"I'll catch up with you downtown as soon as I can. All four of those Crab wares-mongers live in the vicinity of Garnet and Malachite Streets.. we shouldn't have trouble finding one another after I safely secure this cursed sword..."
Soon you arrive at Hida Muchi's gate on Silver Avenue, between Garnet and Malachite Streets just as Doji Oruku described. The Crab samurai's house is smaller and less splendorous than those in the Nobles' Quarter. But as a samurai, propriety still demands his house be finer than the merchant houses nearby.
You push through a swing gate decorated with Muchi-san's personal mon: it depicts a Hida crab dismembering a scorpion in its claws. When you reach his porch, you can hear that the samurai is entertaining some of his lesser-station neighbors tonight.
He eventually answers the door and greets you. Muchi-san is indeed an imposing figure, but not muscular in the way that many Crab bushi are. His physique may have once been powerful but the aging samurai is both balding and overweight. His appearance isn't helped by his obviously poor regimen of personal hygiene. An expression of joviality fades to a dour scowl when he sees a magistrate and yoriki on his doorstep. He pulls his smoking pipe from his lips and sneers:
"What do you want? I'm busy tonight."
Despite her bonds, Hideyoshi kneels to keep Xiaoxing's arms while she thrashes in the throes of whatever afflicts her. He does not care that she cries out in an undignified manner, all his focus is helping her - in her helplessness - to save some face.
When she wakens, he cannot help but smile. "You have returned to us Battle Maiden. After wielding the Sword and destroying the Oni. I...we...feared you were lost." Gently he releases the bonds keeping her on the litter, and politely avoids noticing her disheveled state. Then he softly begins filling her in on the details.
--------------------------------------------
Hideyoshi stands behind Eriasu, looking both imposing and very Lion-like. He does not have time for rude samurai this night. But Muchi is Crab, and Eriasu will know how to deal with his kinsman.
It pleases me to know you will make it. You did splendidly to cut down that oni. Now we must work to find our mask's companions.
After arriving at Hida's place Katsurou mulls over how to approach the issue with Muchi.
I don't think you'll want your friends to hear what we have to say, Hida-San. We'll explain it to you, but it's up to you who's here to hear us.
Hida Muchi frowns to Kitsuki Katsurou, and steps out onto the porch with you to close the door to offer the recommended privacy.
"So what's all this about, then? I take it you're not here to crash my party and mooch my sake?"
Still shaking from her abrupt awakening, Xiaoxing's eyes remain out of focus
...the reeds, the River of Gold, Oni's teeth... she half murmurs, closing her eyes and shaking her head savagely to rid it of the last remnants of the fog clouding her thinking.
Calm descends on her with a sudden shift, like rain sloughing away the heat of summer. Her eyes open and she looks around, assessing where she is and nodding to each of her companions. She stands and turns away, adjusting her clothing to a semblance of proper arrangement, before bowing to each of you in turn.
My thanks to you for attending to me whilst I was indisposed
Something is different about the samurai-ko, her gaze has a depth to it that wasn't there before. Her demeanor no longer displays any aspect of naivete, the last vestiges of innocence now gone forever.
As Hideyoshi expresses his relief at her recovery, Xiaoxing politely ignores his display of emotion but he sees the thoughtful hints of a smile playing on the corners of her mouth as she nods in acknowledgement. As he proceeds to explain what has happened she simply nods in acceptance.
As Katsurou also compliments her, she simply inclines her head as she adjusts her daisho.
I am ready, we should go now
*
Busy Hida-san? Ah yes every samurai in the empire is busy this night, doing their duty to celebrate the festival and appease our ancestors. I would hope that you are not too busy to make time for a magistrate and yoriki that are here on important business. We can always have our conversation back at the magistrate's office if that would be preferable to you?
Xiaoxing smiles politely, but there is no warmth to be found there.
Hida Muchi looks from one of you to the next, hoping someone will say what this call to his home is all about. When he notices Kuni Eiriasu's Crab heraldry, his demeanor changes visibly.
"Another honest Crab, in this cesspit of a city... Ho!"
Muchi-san holds his belly and forces an exaggerated laugh that's not very convincingly covering up his sycophantic behavior towards the Crab magistrate.
"Of course you came by to partake in my fine sake, didn't you? You're welcome to come on in and discuss whatever important business you have.. or if you prefer we can discuss sensitive topics out here on my porch. What is so important that you've come to this nest of Scorpions? I can't imagine what it could be."
Kuni Eiriasu turns to you and mentions quietly:
"Perhaps I should take him up on his offer. From what I've seen of your service to Doji Oruku-san, I trust you can handle a simple interrogation without supervision. I'll head inside and look around to see if any of his guests are suspicous. You can question him about the masks out here on his porch, away from his guests while he's in a good mood?"
Honestly, Eriasu-sama, I was about to suggest that myself. If you need to request our assistance subtlety, loudly ask if someone wants to play shogi.[b]
Katsurou waits for Eriasu to enter, and then turns to Muchi.
[b]My associates have been having a stressful evening, I hope you will excuse their taciturn appearances tonight, Muchi-San.
He gestures to Xiaoxing and Hideyoshi.
If I may be blunt, we have a few reasons to believe that you may be in the possession of something dangerous. Not for any malicious reasons, of course, but simply by being misled by less noble persons, this is Ryoko Owari Toshi after all, you may have been set up to have received stolen property. This property is a series of masks made of porcelain, and if we were to find such a piece and return it to its rightful owner, we would be able to ascertain that you were not involved in any wrongdoing, as well as know for certain whether or not someone is framing you. Unfortunately, if you were to, say, deny that you have such a piece and then we found that you misled us, the only obvious conclusion is that you knew it was stolen and you were involved in the traffic of stolen goods. I argued that you were misled and there was no way you did that, but if you do have any such masks, it would best to let us know now.
Xiaoxing nods at Katsurou's words. Whilst she finds it difficult to follow the logic in the man's words, she can see it must make some sense as a 'helpful suggestion' to entice Muchi to co-operate.
For her part, she simply stands there and looks stern, a haunted look playing about her eyes and face.
Kuni Eiriasu politely accepts Hida Muchi's invitation and heads inside to mingle with the Crab merchant's guests and neighbors. After Muchi-san closes the door again he looks back to you expectantly, and listens to Kitsuki Katsurou.
After which he scrunches his puffy face in obvious puzzlement.
"Wait.. waitwaitwait. You're telling me that you're looking for porcelain masks? That's all this is about?"
Hida Muchi offers a sincere belly laugh this time, doubling over and wiping his eye before continuing.
"Well, the Festival is already underway but Uncle Muchi-san can get you what you need.. of course I have masks! I'll make you the talk of your party! What color do you like?"
Hidyoshi's knuckles whiten where they grip his katana, but his voice remains calm. "Not any mask. A very particular mask." He looks to Katsorou to explain.
It's not the color that matters Hida-san, but where the masks came from that is important. You received crates marked with a red sun... Those are the ones we are interested in...
Her tone is calm and unemotional.
I'm sure the masks you offer us are lovely, but as my friends have said, there are particular masks we are looking for, last seen in crates bearing that mark. As I said, I believe they were stolen and then made their way to you in an attempt to deceive the authorities into arresting you for the original theft. I don't believe you are the sort to do that, I don't know of many Crab Clan thieves, but we do need to find these masks from the red sun crates and return them, so we can find the original thieves who are trying to besmirch your good name, Hida-San.