Hida Muchi tries to follow your inquiry, but is visibly having trouble keeping up for some reason. He winces as if thinking hurts him in some way.
"Soo... you're after stolen party favors? During the Festival? What.. were they stolen from someone important? Like from the Governor herself or something?"
You can watch his thought processes as if you had a clear window into his mind: He believed you were asking for a bribe. Then when faced with the insistence of your searching for stolen goods, he's now curious WHY you're looking. What's so important about lousy masks? He's confused why a "federal case" is being made about this.
He suspects, but isn't voicing that suspicion, that you must have been given a snipe hunt of a mission as a form of "hazing the new yoriki".
Something like that. I'm not at liberty to say, but sometimes there are people who push and you can't always push back effectively.
=27
The overweight Crab pops his smoking pipe back between his sausage-like lips and scowls at the lot of you. He mumbles:
"Is that so? Well I wish you luck with your investigation then. Unfortunately you're pushing in the wrong place. I think you'll find me unmovable as I know nothing about this merchandise you seek."
Xiaoxing turns to Katsurou, ignoring the scoffing Hida
Perhaps we should continue this conversation at the magistrate's office Katsurou-san, if we cannot ascertain whether the honorable Hida-san here has been in receipt of these goods or not, then perhaps it is safest if we conduct further conversation at a more defensible position.
she makes a show of checking all around the area, paying special attention to the rooftops.
Katsurou fumbles with his hands, as if wrestling with an impossible decision.
If he is our dealer, we need to not tip him off that we know about the Maho. Otherwise he may fight. On the other hand, he may think they're just artifacts and be willing to trade them for not being implicated with the Maho...
These masks were made to personally spite the Crane Clan. More than that, I probably shouldn't say outside.
"These masks are involved in something that the Crab have dedicated their existence to fighting against. They are not 'normal' in the sense that they are merely masks for the Festival. If you're name is tied to them...well, let's say that this will not bode well for the Crab."
+5 for free raise = 21
Hida Muchi's mouth works in silent and ineffective protest as all three of you inform him that the situation is indeed serious. After Akodo Hideyoshi adds in a reference to the Shadowlands, he finally collects himself sufficiently to reply at last.
"What? Tainted masks? You mean porcelain mask porcelain masks? Here, in the black underbelly of the empire!?! Of course I have nothing to do with anything of the sort! I never would! I'm a proper Crab, don't you know? If someone offered to sell such vile property to me I would have smote the villain and destroyed the masks myself!"
The Crab mops his suddenly sweaty brow before continuing.
"You want to know who probably WOULD buy maho? You should talk to Shinya-san. That guy always knows more than he tells, and he acts really weird to boot. Plus I heard he's leaving town tonight. Who travels on the night of the Festival unless they have something nefarious in mind?"
7+4= TN11
=34.
Katsurou simply listens and scratches his chin.
Xiaoxing continues to stare unnervingly at the Hida as she waits for a cue from Katsurou.
Katsurou keeps quiet for a moment, analyzing.
I believe you, I hope we haven't ruined your evening with such unpleasant talk, Hida San. Enjoy the celebration. I mean you no disrespect, but would it be possible for us to enter and inform the clansmate of yours we came with that we need to leave? This is a serious matter we are investigating, after all.
=15
Hideyoshi looks on, the scowling Lion. He is content with Hida's story, but does not show it.
"We need to catch Shinya before he leaves..."
Kuni Eiriasu returns while you are finalizing your discussions with Hida Muchi. The Crab magistrate subtly nods to you that he didn't find anything untoward in Muchi-san's house, and joins you in private discussion after the Crab merchant takes his leave to re-join his Festival party.
After asking you how your interrogation went, Eiriasu-san informs you:
"I was hoping he might be the one we were seeking. I did notice that he was a... girthy fellow. I know one of the wrong-doers I seek is one as well.
Still, I don't suspect any of his guests tonight are cultists, nor did I see any sign of the tainted maho masks that we must recover."
The Crab weaponsmith's modest home is in the same neighborhood, and it only takes you a few minutes to reach it. It's almost the onset of the Hour of the Rat (midnight) when you arrive, catching the Crab samurai in the act of packing an oxcart with a copious amount of household goods.
Kaiu Shirya is joined by his obviously pregnant wife as they carry crates from their home and his store into the cart. The Crab walks around without handicap thanks to a marvelously articulated mechanical peg-leg, famous throughout the city as his own ingenious design.
When he sees you approach and your intention to talk to him, he tries to wave you off after setting his latest load into the cart. He seems rather eager to get back to his as-yet unfinished task of emptying out his house and store of most of its contents.
"I can't really talk right now.. my wife and I were just leaving. I hope you have an enjoyable Bon Festival, though!"
Shirya-san's wife avoids eye contact with you and says nothing, following her husband's lead.
"Such a hurry, Shiryu-san. And during the Bon Festival no less. What is your need for haste? It is very...unseemly...to miss such a grand event as the Bon Festival."
Hideyoshi's words are pleasant, but his tone - and his eyes - are not.
After Watchful points out that the woman is pregnant he asks for her to sit down.
Kaiu Shirya carefully unloads his armful of supplies into the oxcart as he replies to Akodo Hideyoshi.
"Oh! Yes, yes! So much to do, so little time."
He moves to walk away from the cart and return inside to gather up more boxes, but doesn't feel rude enough to push past the Lion. He turns to go to the side, but is stopped Kuni Eiriasu stepping up wordlessly, cutting off the polite path for Shirya-san to physically remove himself from the conversation. He waits for the Magistrate to step away, and when he realizes that's not going to happen he looks between the bushi and decides now's not the time to get all pushy and physical.
"So, ah, you're curious about my travels then, hai? Oh, it's nothing you need concern yourselves over. All perfectly legal and on the up and up... I just prefer to travel when the roads are clear.. I make better time! And the roads will never be as clear as they are tonight.. everyone's here in the City for the festival, neh! A capable bushi like myself needn't fear whatever troubles I may find at night."
Shirya smiles nervously, showing his teeth while he pumps his arms slowly but enthusiastically, pantomiming walking. His body language is clearly asking if you're done with your questions and if he can go back to minding his affairs now.
After Watchful points out that the woman is pregnant he asks for her to sit down.
After Kitsuki Katsurou speaks to the demure woman, she looks mutely over to Kaiu Shiyra with a stricken expression. He smoothly tells her,
"Pay no attention to them my dearest, continue loading the cart while I settle business with these important lawmen."
Shiyra-san's wife dutifully obeys him, hurrying in her steps despite her condition. It doesn't take an awareness check to realize she's afraid of her husband.
Xioaxing's eyes narrow and she clenches her teeth as she watches the pregnant wife carry the heavy crates.
A quick glance around reveals no nearby peasants to commandeer to help load the cart in the wife's stead.
Xiaoxing approaches the soon-to-be'mama-san' Suzume
Excuse me please, I must prevail upon your time, I apologise for the inconvenience
she gently plucks the crate from the woman's arms and sets it down, indicating the top of it for the woman to sit down and rest on.
Quickly summoning something to ask the woman to allow everyone to maintain their on, Xiaoxing remembers what Katsurou said of the mask he picked up, and she settles on an enquiry about the store's inventory.
Now, would you be able to tell me if you have seen any porcelain masks tonight that were warm to the touch when you picked them up?
The pregnant woman looks to the Battle Maiden with an expression of muted horror after being addressed, then replies by looking down for her toes somewhere below her swollen belly.
Kaiu Shirya glances over to her:
"Sakyo-chan, do as I say. You have nothing to fear from these people."
He looks back to the rest of you with a more dour expression.
"I must insist that you respect my rights as a husband. I do not give you permission to speak with my lovely wife. Neither of us have anything to do with porcelain masks.. as you can surely deduce I don't have any use for them as a weaponsmith nor do I observe the Bon Festival. As a matter of fact, I must ask that you excuse us both. We must get her to her mother at Yogo Castle as soon as possible... I fear it's going to be a difficult birth."
The Kaiu offers his traveling papers to Kuni Eiriasu for inspection.
"It would be a shame for you both should you have to spend the evening answering questions with the magistrates, Shinya-san. I am sure there are suitable doctors here in the city to care for her while you do so." Now the menace in Hideyoshi's voice is very clear. He looks from Shinya to Sakyo and back again.
"Tell me, is it typical for Crab samurai to make their women with child work so? Where are the peasants who should be doing this labor for you?"
Kuni Eiriasu hands back the traveling papers. He expresses that he notices that the Emerald Magistrate who issued them was none other than Asahina Naritoki, who was murdered short weeks ago.
He asks:
"You've been planning this trip for some time, then?"
To which Kaiu Shirya simply nods in the affirmative, while accepting back his papers.
"Tell me, is it typical for Crab samurai to make their women with child work so? Where are the peasants who should be doing this labor for you?"
Kaiu Shirya looks from Shinjo Xiaoxing back to Akodo Hideyoshi.
"If you'd leave me to my business I'd be loading the cart myself, thank you very much."
He flinches as a firework fired from nearby explodes prematurely low, showering the avenue in red glowing sparks that luckily don't start any fires.
"Look, I'm really in a hurry here. You're looking for porcelain masks, yes? Clearly not for your own use in the Festival, neh? I'm not only no fool, I'm also a veteran Crab soldier who fought in the Shadowlands. I suspect I know the nature of the items that you seek. If you want to know about maho, I'd suggest talking to that Kuni. No, not the Emerald Magistrate here, the one down the street. That shugenja, Ryo! I heard that he deals in the darkness of the Shadowlands. If you want to find your masks, why don't you leave an honest weaponsmith alone and talk to the maho-tsukai!"
Xiaoxing pushes away her frustration, leaving naught but an icy mask in its wake. As the red firework explodes nearby, she doesn't flinch, her face lit in an unholy red hue.
Ryo is a maho-tsukai? That is quite an accusation to make Kaiu-san
she ponders the status difference between the two samurai, before deciding she didn't know either of them before this night so likely they are around the same position.
Thank you for your testimony samurai-san, I must enquire though, why you have not brought this to the attention of the magistrates before now?
she cocks her head to the side as if to better listen to his answer, but in truth as well as assessing him, she is also watching his wife like a hawk to see if she can pick up anything beyond the simple fear she is exhibiting towards her spouse. Things just don't seem right...
Katsurou nods in agreement.
Not only is that strange, but if he is indeed a maho tsukai, we will need you to stay and testify at his trial. If the accuser, the primary and most respectable witness, is not present there is little we could do to a Samurai, as you know.
Katsurou issues a probable denial of Kaiu's departure in the forseeable future to listen to his reaction to being contained within Ryoko Owari Toshi.
=38.
Hideyoshi leans in towards Kuni Eriasu. "Eriasu-sama, what was the date of the signature on those papers. After the Emerald Magistrates death, perhaps? If so, how did he sign them?"
Kuni Eiriasu shakes his head.
"Oh, no. His papers are in order, the seal is correct and nothing looks falsified."
Kaui Shirya nods helpfully, showing the papers again for Akodo Hideyoshi's benefit. The papers authorize Kaui Shirya's travel from Ryoko Owari Toshi to Yogo Shiro by route of the Road Once Hidden (a little over 20 miles away), as well as return via the same route. There is no expiration date on the papers, but they're explicitly only good for one round trip voyage. They were issued almost a month ago, well before the local Emerald Magistrate's untimely death. The papers don't mention his wife, but custom would normally extend permission to his immediate family in these affairs.
He insists:
"It is as I said... my papers are completely in order."
Xiaoxing tries to steer the conversation back to the 'sticking point' as she sees it
Kaui-san, your papers for travel are in order, let us leave that for now. We are more interested in why you have chosen now to testify against another samurai regarding the abhorrent practice of maho, a crime against the empire so vile that it's practitioners are scoured from the land with the greatest of prejudice. It is no trivial thing to accuse another samurai, we need to hear more, 'the whole story' as it were...
Xiaoxing waits patiently for her question to be addressed.
Lol
Lol
Success!
Kuni Shirya answers Kitsuki Katsurou and Shinjo Xiaoxing:
"Who's testifying? I merely passed a tip along to you. I heard what I heard. You know, from people. In passing. Obviously if I had actual knowledge of any such blasphemous activities on his part I would have brought them to the Emperor's good justice before now."
Having pressed the merchant as strongly as she can within the bounds of proper etiquette, Xiaoxing waits for the Kuni magistrate to take the lead and either let the man go or take things further.
"Shirya-san, since when did the Suzume reside at Yogo castle? Nothing about this story makes sense, and I am out of patience. You will come with us to spend your night with the Thunder Guard. We will check your story in the morning."
Katsurou steps in between Hideyoshi and Shirya, ever the diplomat.
My colleague is perhaps forward in some ways, but he is not wrong. Beyond the geographical issues with your story, there are other issues as well. You say you prefer to travel at night because of the lack of traffic, but surely there would be just as little traffic in the morning when it's less dangerous, and despite what you say, nobody who is capable of fighting off all the bandits on the road and as proud a warrior as you behave would let his pregnant and unhealthy wife load his cart - before you blame us, you could easily have allowed her to sit down while we spoke and that doesn't explain why you had her loading before we even spoke to you. Secondly, as a weapon smith and thus at least in some unavoidable ways a businessman, surely the biggest festival in Rokugan allows you to build some new connections or maintain old ones. Refusing to celebrate with one's partners and associates at the biggest event of the year because you 'prefer to travel' makes no sense. Lastly, if your wife is as ailing as you claim, surely you would have sought help for her long before now. Whether you care for her or not, and I have my doubts, then surely any potential heirs of yours would be important enough to warrant a trip to the finest physician and care you can find. I'd rather you didn't have to spend the night in the dungeons, that stress would not be good for your wife, but if you keep obviously trying to mislead us, we aren't going to have much choice in the matter. Be honest with us or I can't help you.
Kaiu Shirya crosses his arms defiantly over his chest and harrumphs.
"I've done nothing wrong and I don't owe you any explanation of the conduct of my own business. If you have a job to do, you're wasting your time here. If you think Ryo-san is above suspicion, then you ought to look into Hida Muchi-san. His daughter got killed because of the Scorpions. If anyone has the motive for evil plots for the city, it's that guy."
I'm trying to force his hand here. Maybe he will panic knowing what's coming...or is that over now that the Oni is dead?
"You us an explanation for whatever the magistrate asks of you, it would be best to remember that."
Kaiu Shirya's explanations to your observations:
"Of course I'm taking my precious wife to her mother at Yogo Castle. That's where I found the very best midwives! I waited for her mother to arrive from Suzume province before heading out, that's why it took a month to leave after getting my papers! And she was helping load when you arrived because that's how big her heart is!"
Unfortunately you just can't help but hear desperation in his voice. It sounds to you very much like he just wants to get out of town and is inventing explanations for the lies you caught him in. Furthermore, Sakyo-san's refusal to even look at you, much less mention a word, is beginning to be creepy.
Kuni Eiriasu has finally had enough. He growls to his fellow Crab:
"You're not leaving the City until we are satisfied. Since there are important things to be done tonight and I cannot afford the courtesy of waiting until you come around, I'm detaining you until morning. Now, the choice is yours if you come with us easy or you can come with us hard."
The Emerald Magistrate menacingly lays his hand on the tsuba of his katana.
"With the night I've had thus far, I almost hope you choose "hard."
The Kaiu weaponsmith sputters a "well I never!" in indignation. You see him look from each of you in turn, clearly calculating his odds of taking you all at once. But despite his eagerness to escape the City tonight, he chooses to not draw his katana and resist.
Eiriasu smiles insincerely. "That's a good lad. Come along, now."
He explains to the lot of you:
"Shirya-san may be acquiescing only because of our numerical advantage. If we split up to escort him to the Prison and also search his cart for the masks, he may change his mind. Or may have comrades laying in wait to assist his escape from custody. I think we should summon some city watch to do one of those two tasks. As I am not local, which task do you think the so-called Thunder Guard are less likely to foul up?"
It is important that one serves the empire in whatever way they best can. I am clearly not a combatant, so Watchful and I ought to remain here to search for clues and masks. It is important that we not lose our only lead as well, so perhaps all of you should accompany the Thunder Guard. I will meet you at Swords Polished in two hours.
Xiaoxing nods to Katsurou
I will take a contingent of Thunder Guard with me and escort Kaiu-san to the prison, and will meet you in an hour's time at the Inn
Xiaoxing turns to Shirya
The Thunder Guard will look after your swords, I am a skilled duellist and will walk behind you to protect your life as we escort you to the prison
She is polite with her words, but the meaning is clear.
Xiaoxing will be on full alert the entire walk to the prison.
Hideyoshi steps up beside Xiaoxing. He does not speak, but looks at Shirya eye-to-eye as she explains what will happen. There is no mistaking the look - should there be any trouble, Shirya dies first.
Kaiu Shirya puffs himself up like a peacock and passively-aggressively accompanies you to the so-called "Civil Hall" in the Nobles' Quarter that is more commonly called "The Prison". He invokes his privileges as samurai to decline handing over his swords.
Kuni Eiriasu doesn't mind, and addresses you in effort to smooth things over: "If he wants to hang onto his swords, let him. We wouldn't want to deprive him of the opportunity to decline to explain his behavior."
Eiriasu-san is making a none-too-subtle reference to seppuku. It is bad form for a samurai to kill oneself without prior approval from one's lord (because you're depriving him of one of his valuables.. e.g. your life), but still samurai often find suicide preferable to the possible shame of a trial. Prisoners of the samurai rank are customarily allowed to keep their swords in their cells precisely to facilitate this option. (It does pose security challenges for the prison guards, sure, but that's not your problem tonight.)
The Crab weaponsmith makes no pleas or threats during the march to the Nobles' Quarter. His posture is stiff and poised.. a picture of affronted dignity that is only broken by his nervous flinching provoked by the fireworks above.
By the time you arrive at the imposing structure that serves as Governor Hyobu's seat of governance the Hour of the Rat has begun .
The imposing and graceless building (L7) is the political heart of the City of Lies: it is where Governor Hyobu holds her court. The Scorpion Clan and Shosuro family mon fly from its parapets, reminding all who behold them who's law reigns supreme in Ryoko Owari Toshi. In the upper stories of the squat fortress she holds court, listens to complaints, adjucates, legislates, proclaims her decrees, and generally tinkers with the body politic. Lower stories contain some quartering for visiting dignitaries of insufficient rank or clout to be invited to stay in her personal palace across the street (L3). Kaiu Shirya's fate tonight is to "be invited" to stay in one of these suites.
Of course the grounds also holds the holding pits for the accused of peasant (or lower) status. In stark contrast to the "guest rooms" for noble prisoners, those lightless pits have probably never been cleaned.
And of course, the grounds also house the city's well-equipped torture chambers. Great care has been taken to engineer the structure so that the moans and howls of the condemned cannot be heard in the civilized spaces of the Hall, whilst simultaneously being audible to those being held. Scorpion ingenuity!
When you arrive at the dungeon, Eiriasu-san explains the situation to some Thunder Guard and they lead Kaiu Shirya to a room on the ground floor that is airy, stoic, and plain. There is no bed but there is a clean straw mat covering the floor and a kneeling cushion for rest. The weaponsmith manages to fluidly kneel despite his pegleg and contemplates his upcoming meeting with the Governor (or her representative) in silence. The guards shut the door and assure you he will be well taken care of.
=29 I'll roll for Watchful tonight, if you want. I don't have his statblock on me so I have to look up Eta Attendant
Eiriasu-san, do you require my attendance here to testify? If not I will return to the city to seek the Moon Cult and further investigate the other Crab merchants
After the party escorts Shirya-san off to prison, his wife wordlessly retreats into their residence and meekly shuts the door behind her.
Watchful helps you go through the contents of the cart. It does appear that Shirya-san intends to be out of the city for some time, given the amount of clothing and other sundries packed into the cart. Objects of note include tools of the metalworking trade, it appears he did not intend to leave his valuables behind. Unfortunately, no sign of the masks or signs of connection to the Crimson Sunset Cartel turn up.
By the time the cart has been thoroughly searched, Doji Oruku arrives and inquires about where the rest of the party has gotten to.
He suggests having Watchful and perhaps some Thunder Guard put Shirya-san's possessions inside his residence rather than re-loading them onto the cart... he's clearly not going anywhere now.
Eiriasu-san, do you require my attendance here to testify? If not I will return to the city to seek the Moon Cult and further investigate the other Crab merchants.
Kuni Eiriasu hears the unsurprising word from the guards that neither Governor Hyobu nor Yogo Osako are available for an audience right now. It'll have to wait until morning, at the earliest. He asks if you prefer to head to the Inn of the Orange Blossom for the arranged rendesvous, or rejoin your comrade directly at Shirya-san's house, or pay another suspicious character a visit?
Xiaoxing ponders for a moment, then ventures
We agreed with Katsurou-san to meet at the Inn, but it would be a waste of time to do nothing until then. Let us see if we can catch him back at the Kaiu's store, and if not we'll proceed to the next merchant on the list, if that is favorable to you Eiriasu-sama?
Do you think we would be subject to... controversy if we entered Shirya-san's house to seek the goods in question?
Hideyoshi fumes. All of this inaction was beginning to wear on his nerves.
Then he laughs aloud. ...how like we are to the generalities of our families! The Lion does not like inaction, they say. Solves all problems at the sharp end of a katana, they say! I think I am different, yet here I stand impatient we are not 'doing something'...haha! A true Lion I am indeed!...
The young Lion finds his center, and waits - patiently - to follow Xiaoxing.
Doji Oruku welcomes back the three of you from the jaunt to Civil Hall. He informs you all that he and Kitsuki Katsurou have discovered nothing strange in the weaponsmith's possessions loaded onto the cart.
Do you think we would be subject to... controversy if we entered Shirya-san's house to seek the goods in question?
Doji Oruku scratches his chin in thought. He looks to the Emerald Magistrate as he replies:
"Well, it would be an unfounded insult to Kaiu Shirya-san to enter his home uninvited, especially alone with his wife."
Kuni Eiriasu nods in agreement, but he adds:
"Of course if we could get Sakyo-san to invite us in, there would be no insult." He gestures around at the piles of unloaded boxes surrounding the now-empty cart. "Perhaps offering to bring these inside for her might provide the leverage to secure such an invitation."
These men will clearly wiggle around delicate issues with the proper circumstance. Noted.
Katsurou agrees with Eriasu and Oruku-sama's suggestion, and if nobody protests, he begins walking up to the main entrance with Watchful.