Hideyoshi provides a brief description of the Oni. Legs, claws, teeth and its bulbous body. "If that were not enough, it also could fling bits of itself that transformed into small creatures that bounced about, all legs and teeth. We destroyed several of them this evening. These bits of tar here..." he points, "...are the remains of these creatures."
He takes a moment to allow the young guard to absorb what he has said. "The most difficult trials form the fires that forge our souls. You have come through such a fire tonight. Use your fire well." Hideyoshi gives the young man a reassuring nod, then goes to join Xiaoxing.
He takes her in his confidence, ensuring that only his comrades may hear him. "It had occurred to me that it may be a ruse, making it LOOK like the Oni showed up here. Maybe to throw us off of the trail of the actual perpetrators." He looks back towards the guard. "That young man's fear tells otherwise. He is genuinely disturbed by what he saw. There can be no other explanation but the horror of the Oni." Hideyoshi looks back to his companions. "He is lucky to be alive. One thing is clear. This Oni has very specific instructions, if such a thing can be believed. It is not on a rampage or killing spree, for what that is worth. It doesn't even stop to kill those nearby. It finds - or does not find - what it is sent for, then leaves."
Xiaoxing nods to Hideyoshi
It's the clearest connection I can fathom, in fact there are some crates the Oni appears to have missed over there
she points, then glancing over to see the magistrates still enduring Shinjo-sama's wrath, she moves over to investigate.
Pulling the lid off of one of the crates she takes a look inside.
"It also looks like the other boxes of favors were destroyed only so as to get at the ones from the list. The bandits and the oni seem to have been searching for the same things, though that does not mean they were working together. Maybe if we compare the invoice to those boxes that are here we might find some missing."
Xiaoxing puzzles over the nailed shut crates, pondering her options, before deciding that the less invasive way was probably best, and despite what her fellows might think of the practice of business, some samurai had to do it for the good of their clans.
Having reassured herself, she begins to scour the receipts and loadout records, her mind filling with figures and inventories as she tries to whittle down what might be inside the unopened crates.
It will be impossible to know for sure what exactly is inside the shipping containers without opening them, but the merchants do put markings on them so that they can keep track of what's where.
At first there seems to be little rhyme or reason to what's in the crates.. many are foodstuffs from around the empire and even a few exotic samples imported from beyond Rokugan itself. There are some iron ingots imported from the Kaiu provinces of the Crab. There are some bolts of fine silk from the Kakita provinces of the Crane. Of course there are boxes of medicinal opium originating locally here in the City of Lies. If the Four Winds Trading House is dealing in armaments (or any contraband for that matter), it is hidden from the sort of examination you've been conducting to this point.
The survey of the eclectic collection of trade goods begins to make sense as you begin to piece together the entire picture.. the merchants of the Four Winds Trading House have arranged their stock like with like. Eels from Earthquake bay are stored in the same area of the warehouse as gaijin spices from the Burning Sands... Teak from Scorpion groves are stored with raw stone from Hida quarries.
The damage in the warehouse is centered upon crates that all contain merchandise for the Bon Festival... be they fireworks, costumes, masks, or treats. Looking at the receipt, the only festival favors the Four Winds merchants bought from the Crimson Sunset Cartel are plain unpainted porcelain masks. You do indeed see quite a bit debris from such shattered masks in the heart of the mayhem.
Hideyoshi is torn by the choices in front him regarding the cases. On the one hand, opening them would aid in solving the mystery, but that would be trespassing on someone else's property. Indeed, the very thought if searching through crates like a...well, like a merchant, was distasteful to the idealistic samurai. Luckily, Xiaoxing took another route.
Hideyoshi begins to try and make sense of the masks and their significance.
=25.
21
Xiaoxing moves to talk with her fellow yoriki
I believe the Oni is after porcelain masks judging from the crates it appears to have targeted. How very odd! Does anyone know of their significance? There must be hundreds of white masks in the city tonight...
her gaze flicks from Hideyoshi to Katsuyoshi, and almost beseeches Himeko to add her insight.
The porcelain shatter is centered upon the area identified as the festival wares, but it spreads across the warehouse. Closer looks at where you find the porcelain reveals they are in clusters. You're pretty sure that these remote clusters are where masks were thrown with great force, shattering upon impact with the walls or support pillars.
As for the significance of the masks: no roll is necessary to know that they're worn for the Bon Festival because they're considered creepy. First of all, the blank soulless expression of an unpainted mask is understandably creepy. But also when unpainted, the porcelain is white... the Rokugani color of death. It's little wonder they've become associated with the Bon Festival, given its relevance to the spirits of the dead.
6+4=10
Mirumoto Katsuyoshi successfully identifies a vat of soy sauce that is home to a receptive water kami.
Xiaoxing suddenly freezes, glancing this way and that and stepping slightly back from the crate the group is looking over. She opens and shuts her mouth a couple of times before speaking
When I had the fortune to spend some time with the crab on the wall, they would tell tales about the Oni and the other... 'things' that live in the lands beyond the great carpenter wall. I think it's partly to entertain each other but also to educate and remind themselves and others of the everpresent dangers.
she looks at each samurai present
One tale I overheard concerned masks a little like these, the foulest of magics infused in them, said to make the dead rise again as an abomination under the control of an evil sorcerer!
Her eyes are bright as she continues
I would not have believed it, or even thought to suggest it, were it not for the Oni seemingly searching for something so similar. Could it be?
she looks for reassurance from her fellow yoriki.
"But why get rid of these if they can be used? Does it take a special mask? I must confess I do not know where this is leading us."
Katsuyoshi ignores much of what his companions are doing at the moment. Let them frantically wrack their brains trying to comprehend the physical plane, it was up to him to contact the spiritual. One must intercede carefully with the Kami.
17 Katsuyoshi remembers a little about Iuchiban and the reasons the empire burned their dead, but the shinjo has probably mentioned all that he could really add.
"Little water kami, would you be so kind as to show me what happened here when the oni broke in and destroyed all these crates."
Mirumoto Katsuyoshi: Gazing into the vat of soy sauce, your reflection is almost perfect in the black liquid. The receptive water kami causes the surface to ripple and you watch your reflection transform into something unrecognizable. You try to hold the attention of the kami as your new reflection is just a jumbled mess, but the lingering pain from your wounds causes a break in your concentration at just the most inopportune time. You've lost the connection to the spirit, and the soy sauce begins to settle back down.
Akodo Hideyoshi: Hearing the evil magic behind the popular notion of creepy plain white porcelain masks, you're reminded of the terrible Battle of Stolen Graves about 500 years ago. That was when the most terrible sorcerer ever to blight Rokugan attacked the Emperor and the capital directly by raising the interred bodies of Rokugan's greatest samurai as zombies! The plot was uncovered by a Lion and Scorpion in time to rally the Emerald Legions to save the Empire, but the mental trauma for samurai having to strike at their own ancestors caused the social change that lasts even today where everyone with the means to do so cremates their dead rather than simply interring whole corpses into the ground.
The group of you overhear Shinjo Dokiu and Doji Oruku be dismissed by Shinjo Sanefusa. The Unicorn Lord leaves his father's warehouse and is trailed by the Thunder Guard tasked for his protection. Dokiu-san converses with Oruku, and you hear them agree that Oruku will continue leading this investigation but the Unicorn magistrate stresses that he will be available through the night at his post in the prison.
After Dokiu and Oruku amicably part ways, the Crane magistrate comes and finds you.
Doji Oruku agrees that your hypothesis that the Oni is searching for porcelain masks.
"The Oni certainly appears to be acting at the direction of someone, so in turn that someone must be the one truly interested in the porcelain masks. It is certainly possible that there may be a foul magical plot afoot to which the Oni's presence is only peripheral."
He compliments you on your keen insight, and asks what you propose the next step in the investigation should be!
"Oruku-sama, as the esteemed member of the Crane present: what might the sword have to do with such a plot? What would the connection between such masks and a sword of your clan have in common? I cannot see how such an honorable blade could be used for such a purpose, and I for one would see that any who would desecrate a blade in that way be punished. Severely."
Akodo talks maybe a bit too much. But as he does, he places his hand on the hilt of his own family sword. The thought of someone corrupting his grandfather's sword nearly pushes him into rashness.
Akodo Hideyoshi: As part of the historical context involving The Battle Of Stolen Graves, one of the dread sorcerer's minions created four cursed blades and they were given to Champions of the Crane, Lion, Scorpion, and Crab Clans. Those swords' curses brought the downfall of those great Lords, and left the empire in turmoil as of the time of the Battle of Stolen Graves.
If the sword Daidoji Anitano found in the Shadowlands has anything to do with those cursed swords, there is something very Big going on, indeed.
Doji Oruku scowls as he replies:
"That troubles me. I cannot imagine what role Daidoji Anitano-san's sword has in this plot. We clearly need to acquire additional information."
He gives you all the chance to voice your suggestions before giving commands.
"Oruku-sama, forgive my impudence, but I must ask: do you know the history of Anitano-sama's sword? Where it came from? Its lineage?' Hideyoshi retells the tale of the Battle of Stolen Graves, including the legend of the cursed swords. "Normally I would not even think such a thing of your esteemed family, but the coincidence is too compelling." He bows before the magistrate, hoping he has not overstepped himself.
Doji Oruku contemplates the reminder of the terrible legacy of the cursed blades.
"Those so-called 'Bloodswords' were evil artifacts, to be sure. From what I recall, the one that doomed the Crane champion, Doji Tanaka-sama, was a blade of perfect craftsmanship. I don't recall its sister blades meeting the description of a katana with a strange, duck-headed handle mated to a serrated blade.
However, as Anitano-san found the sword in the Shadowlands during his tenure with the Crab army, I agree we must find out more information about his sword. The risk is too great that a relic found there may have evil enchantments. Unfortunately, Anitano-san was ever tight-lipped about the particulars of his sword and the circumstances revolving around his discovery of the blade."
Well Oruku-sama, thank you for the history lesson. I believe this sowrd must indeed be one of those mentioned, but if our recollections are correct, it was last seen with the Dragon. Perhaps we should focus on this last warehouse?
Xiaoxing looks nervously between her comrades and the magistrate.
Doji Oruku asks to see the receipt again. He taps his finger on the chop of the seller.
"I know something about this Crimson Sunset Cartel. It is an enterprise owned by the powerful Shosuro family. It has a shady reputation and I've long suspected it traffics in stolen merchandise.
Now, if it's true that the Oni is searching for a particular porcelain mask among the property of buyers from the Cartel, it is a distinct possibility that the Cartel sold such a mask. Perhaps they still know where they got it from.
I cannot ignore the ominous portents regarding the apparent involvement of Anitano-san's mysterious sword, but I am no sage in the matters of the Shadowlands or sorcery."
He taps his chin with his forefinger thoughtfully before continuing.
"It so happens I recall hearing that a travelling magistrate trained by the Kuni Witch Hunters would be coming through Ryoko Owari Toshi during the occasion of the Bon Festival. He may be the most knowledgable resource in the City on discerning additional information about the mysterious sword."
I propose we move with haste to the Shosuro warehouse and interrogate those we find there about the evil plot, and if they know nothing about the sword we find the Kuni magistrate. Do any of you have an alternate suggestion for our course forward?"
"Your plan has much merit, Oruku-sama. Let us be quick!"
You don't have to travel far to reach the Crimson Sunset Cartel warehouse. Terra Cotta loop is only a few blocks to the west, and the end of Serpentine street that terminates at the docks is dark and poorly lit. This part of the Merchant Quarter is far from the homes of the wealthy and the throngs of festival celebrants. During the day it would be busy with low-born dockworkers and sailors, but during these hours of darkness any encounter would probably be with ruffians or the criminal element.
It is a third past the Hour of the Dog (8:40 PM) when you reach the warehouse. From the outside, it doesn't look remarkably different than the Unicorn warehouse. It is two stories tall and sturdily built of solid wood. There is a large sliding cargo door facing the nearby wharf and a nearby personnel door. In the dim lamplight of Serpentine street stand two bushi clad in red and black clothing of common quality, wearing simple masks obscuring their faces from their cheekbones down. They bear the heraldry of the Scorpion Clan and the Shosuro family, although their personal livery pegs them as lowly ji-samurai.
The two men appear somewhat jittery, and they are clearly serving as sentries guarding the door. It's fairly unusual that a warehouse would have night guards (even in a bad neighborhood like this one), and exceptionally notable that samurai, even low ranking ones, are guarding such a mundane holding.
There are no windows near street level, although there must be an arrangement similar to the Unicorn warehouse with a catwalk and an office on the second story, as there are oiled paper portals high up on that level that bear the occasional shadows flickering inside on the catwalk as if on patrol.
One of the bushi informs you:
"The Cartel is closed for business tonight."
The other adds unnecessarily:
"And no visitors are being admitted."
They do allow you to withdraw back at least out of their earshot if you still wish to discuss options with each other without doing it right in front of the guards.
Doji Oruku opines to you:
"I have the authority as a Magistrate to order them to open the doors, although if there is indeed mischeif afoot going on in the warehouse there's little to stop the guards from shouting a warning to their partners in crime. And we have no idea how many more of them there may be inside."
The walk to the Sunset Cartel's warehouse is fraught, with Xiaoxing's imagination almost getting away from her as she sees just how many white masks are being worn by the local celebrants. A shudder runs down her spine as she thinks about the consequences, shaking her head to clear it of the unwanted feeling, she sets herself to focus on the next step rather than the implications of it all.
Approaching the ji samurai and hearing their warning, she waits until the party has politely bowed and moved back to discuss things before speaking.
We could indeed demand entry but that would certainly warn whoever is inside that we are coming. Unfortunately I cannot think of another path to proceed, if we have no way to remove the guards without alerting those inside, perhaps a simple approach really is the best...unless your skill with the kami can aid us in any way Katsuyoshi?
she trails off, hoping the shugenja can think of another way.
Doji Oruku makes the suggestion that comes naturally to a highly honorable samurai like himself.
"Well, the circumstances of the evening gives me all the reason I need to force entry here. However, we must assume these samurai are willing to die to protect their master's secrets. If you have any war gear, perhaps you might wish to retrieve it while I gather a troop of Thunder Guard. We can meet back here in, say, 30 minutes and ask to enter and inspect the premises from a position of strength. If they still wish to refuse, let them be unable to challenge our righteous might."
He gets a faraway look in his eyes as he imagines the chaos and bloodshed should the Scorpion bushi be involved in covering up the evening's evil plot. He comes back to the present.
"Unless, of course, any of you have suggestions for a more discreet course of action."
Xiaoxing nods her agreement to Oruku-sama's suggestion, and quickly returns home to collect her armor. Buckling on the black and purple plates in swift and practiced movements, she is soon outfitted for war. Riding back on her steed, revellers quickly move out of the way.
She stands before the Crane magistrate and waits for her companions to return.
'the arrow flies the direct path to its target...'
Hideyoshi puts on the armor he brought with him, his thoughts drifting back through the events of the night. This has gone beyond anything his grandfather has had prepared him for, yet...sometimes the simplest methods were best. With reverence he places the lion-maned kabuto on his head, and affixes the snarling menpo over his face. He returns before the appointed time.
"I am ready."
Shinjo Xiaoxing and Akodo Hideyoshi return to Terra Cotta Loop kitted for war. You return before Doji Oruku does and find yourselves awaiting his arrival.
You don't envy his task. Whether or not the law is on his side, he is asking the city guard loyal to a Shosuro Governor to help him raid a warehouse owned by the Shosuro family. As a matter of fact, as the minutes slip by and Oruku-san becomes more and more overdue, you wonder if someone might be holding up his task deliberately. Perhaps even a corrupt member of the Thunder Guard might send warning to the denizens of the warehouse before the raid commences!
As these dire thoughts keep popping into your minds, you catch notice of a figure lurking on the threshhold of darkness and light, at the periphery of the illumination cast by one of the lonely lanterns in this neighborhood. The figure is bald, lithe, and half-naked wearing only baggy trousers and nothing from the waist up, although his thorough tattooing made it appear at first like he wears a shirt. He sees you looking at him and he fades slowly backwards out of the illumination and onto a wharf. Given the glance you caught, he did indeed resemble the figure you saw at the Crane estate. But this time you didn't see him in possession of any swords.
"Xiaoxing, there is that man who had the Crane sword! Quickly, before he slips away!"
Hideyoshi moves at a trot towards where the man was, keeping a wary eye out for an ambush.
The tattooed figure walks calmly and slowly backwards down the wharf, grinning slyly while keeping his gaze upon those of you that follow after him. As he goes down the wharf, you come to see that it is a dead end; there aren't even any boats for the figure to escape into. You have him cornered!
Once you get close enough to share words without shouting, he abruptly stops, and holds his hand up for you to stop as well without coming any closer. He turns his hand to point a finger at his chest, and his whisper is carried surprisingly loudly across the water.
"Togashi Ikyoto."
He turns to the side, leaning over the edge of the pier and carefully assumes an exaggerated diving stance. He looks back to you with that same coy smile, wordlessly threatening to escape into the Bay of Drowned Honor should you continue your course of action.
Holding out her hands in a friendly gesture, Xiaoxing turns to Hideyoshi
Forgive me Akodo-san, but this monk, I believe he is trying to help. I know not how, but I think we, and the city in turn, are best served by hearing what he has to contribute.
she turns to the Dragon
Greetings Togashi-san
she bows
I hope you have eaten rice today... can we be of assistance to each other at this time?
Hideyoshi raises an eyebrow at Xiaoxing, but says nothing, waiting for the monk's next move...
Ikyoto smiles and swings up onto the top of one of the thick poles anchoring the wharf, balancing on one foot, idly practicing juijitsu katas. His apparent strength and dexterity makes keeping his balance look easy. With this closer, longer look at him you now see that the twisting tattoos on his torso and arms encircle elaborate depictions of a bat and a monkey.
He speaks to you again:
"I know what you seek. A soothsayer cannot tell his own Fortune. But I know your part in this. You want the sword... Whisper's new sword. The Blade of Secrets."
3 off :(
At the arrival of his fellow dragon, Katsuyoshi sighs. Hoping that this brother from the house of light was not driven mad by enlightenment or the kami. One never knew with the tatooed men.
OK, I give up.
Ikyoto waits patiently, content to continuing practicing martial arts katas. He does eventually mention:
"While you wait, your enemy practices."
Smiling at the reference to the Tao, Xiaoxing nods her head to acknowledge the monk's observation. She wracks her memories and dredges up another in turn
“In order to choose the correct path, you must know the pitfalls that await you.”
she flashes him a mischievous grin.
So Togashi-san, Whisper now has the Crane's sword, which you delivered. Can you tell us why? Why is the sword so important that both a merchant and an Oni are searching for it!?
Ikyoto claps his hands together gaily, returning a smile to Shinjo Xiaoxing. He replies to each of your questions in maddening riddles, as is so stereotypical for the enigmatic ise zumi.
"When a man is in need, he is ready to be your ally."
And to your second question, his expression turns from jovial to serious:
"The sword? Ah, the Blade of Secrets... if one can bear its burden, one can find light in the darkness. With courage, buy victory. With blood, buy peace. With death, buy life."
BTW: The name "Whisper" coming up tugs at your memory. A check of the receipt from the Crimson Sunset Cartel reveals that's the name used by the third merchant who bought some of the same festival merchandise as the Cranes and Unicorns.
"Where can we find this...Whisper?"
Sigh, and this is why people think we are all insane...
"There is no such thing as coincidence, only auspicious occasions. But the words of the Tao are simple. Following the Tao is complex. So does the simple show the outward things, The complex reveals the soul. we must decide now to follow you to Whisper or assault these men who skulk in the dead of night, I choice made whether it be a good or bad step upon the path. Only history will know if we chose wisely, though it may not know we chose at all."
Whilst she does love riddles, the quick wit and agile mind of the Tagashi proves too much and Xiaoxing is unable to understand what he is getting at. She covers her lack of comprehension with a thought
This 'Whisper' also bought some of the goods the Oni has been searching for, perhaps this merchant is the one that actually has some... masks...
she glances around
Should we continue to this warehouse or move on to Whisper's place if we can locate it?
Hideyoshi quickly tires of these word games. ...Dragons...
"We are here for a purpose, at this warehouse. We should finish what we started, then find Whisper. Oruku-sama expects us here, not on some wild chase. If he is not here, then we will act under last direction." With that Hideyoshi turns and works his way back towards the appointed meeting place in front of the warehouse.
There is an address downtown in the merchant quarter associated with Whisper on the receipt you found earlier in the night. However, Ikyoto has something else to say on the subject of how you might find Whisper:
"A Crab can paint himself in new colors, but he cannot remove his shell. And a man without duty is free to follow his heart's Floating desire."
As Akodo Hideyoshi turns around on the wharf to head back towards the cartel warehouse, he sees that there is now a trio of figures standing in the illumination near the door. A single Thunder Guardsman has joined with the two bushi and they are sharing a conversation. One of the Shosuro bushi disappears inside the warehouse after a short exchange.
Xiaoxing can;t help but smile at the Togashi's subtlety.
I think perhaps it would be advantageous for us to visit the Licensed Quarter this evening and enquire after the merchant's presence
she nods at Katsuyoshi, then bows in respect to Ikyoto, then noting Hideyoshi's departure and the movement by the warehouse gate.
I fear however that events may have overtaken us and our duties are calling here. A pleasure to finally talk to you after seeing you around so much this evening Ikyoto-san
she whirls in a flash of purple and black lacquered armor plate and jogs back towards the warehouse, standing ready beside Oruku-sama and Hideyoshi.
As Shinjo Xiaoxing and Akodo Hideyoshi turn to leave Ikyoto on the warf, he watches you leave while still balancing on the post with a somber expression.
Then he lights with a smile of amazement, and looks up to the dark cloudy sky above:
"In this way and that I tried to save the old pail. Since the bamboo strip was weakening and about to break... Until at last the bottom fell out. No more water in the pail! No more moon in the water!"
As you watch the warehouse, the 2nd door guard reemerges after having been inside for less than a minute or so. The two bushi seem to have an amicable farewell with the Thunder Guardsman. That guardsman then walks away, headed back towards the direction of the busy Temple district.
Hideyoshi strides forward, frustrated by the nights events. Now it is time for action.
"In the name of the magistrate of the city, Doji Oruku, stand aside! We are going inside this warehouse to investigate crimes against the city!"
Hearing the Togashi's words as she walks back down the pier, Xiaoxing can't help but think she's making the wrong decision. As the minutes drag on with Oruku-sama still missing, she turns to Hideyoshi and Katsuyoshi
I think perhaps we cannot wait any longer, perhaps we should take this opportunity to follow up another lead and go to the Licensed Quarter?
"In the name of the magistrate of the city, Doji Oruku, stand aside! We are going inside this warehouse to investigate crimes against the city!"
As you approach the warehouse, you see that the illumination behind the oiled rice paper windows has been dampened. You no longer hear whispered conversations through the exterior walls, either.
The two black-masked Scorpions look to the Lion boldly coming into the illumination with surprise, but not alarm. One says to Hideyoshi as he opens the door:
"But of course. Come right on in. You'll find we are but simple, law abiding merchants."
The other gestures inside graciously.
"Dozo. After you, yoriki."
=11
'even the spider invites her mate to her nest before she kills him...'
Hideyoshi maintains a level of polite wariness, alert for danger, and steps inside.
Like the cold waters of a waterfall sluicing against her neck, Xiaoxing becomes instantly aware that the Scorpion bushi have become a danger.
A moment Hideyoshi-san! she calls out quickly
We are not in court or on the battlefield now, nor do we have a hundred men, or even ten men worth a hundred to search the warehouse. Apologies for delaying you, I just seek to ensure that you will never be disappointed
She looks straight in to his eyes, a breach of etiquette certainly, praying to the Fortunes he picked up on her references to Leadership.
The full quotes are:
"Whether in court or on the battlefield, the Scorpion rarely attack in an expected manner."
"Surprise makes ten men worth a hundred."
"Suspect everyone of being your enemy and you will never be disappointed."