Katsuyoshi continues his silent streak, allowing the others to speak for the group. He moves to focus his mind, though the ropes bind him in such a painful way. They were completely at their captors mercy and this just would not do.
This man does not look well, forgive my impertinence but have you thought to seek out some medicine for him? He appears to be quite unwell...
Shosuro Hodei harrumphs at Shinjo Xiaoxing's observation, and explains to her as if to a child:
"Medicine will not help him."
As if in response, the man in the circle of candles works an intelligible statement into his chanting:
"Cruelty has a human heart,
And every man does play his part.
We terrorize the men we kill,
And the human heart is hungry still."
The armored Scorpion bushi's pacing goes back to resembling that of a cornered animal.
"We go where Duty demands, and where we are directed to go. We know of the Oni only because we have faced it...twice. As to what it means on the great canvas...we are not in a position to say. Such things are not our place to know."
Your captor chooses to ignore Shinjo Xiaoxing and Mirumoto Katsuyoshi and converses directly with Akodo Hideyoshi.
"It is good to know that even in times such as these, the nobility of the Lion is without question. Yet coy word games are not your forte, even under the best of circumstances. Come morning, the entire city will be in flames and all the people of Ryoko Owari will be nothing but food for the Shadowlands. I urge you not to waste time; what is it the magistrates already know? What led you here?"
'...the pride may hide, little Lion, waiting in ambush, while one Lion makes a show to distract the prey from the real danger.' 'but why Grandfather?' 'a lie within a lie, little Lion...'
"So and so, Scorpion." Hideyoshi bows his head to acknowledge the compliment. "You have reached the truth of the matter. I do not have the skill of a Crane, and my Honor will not allow me to lie to you so directly." The bound Lion looks the Scorpion in the eye, his gaze burning with anger.
"The magistrates know nothing of what you plan. We discovered the plot to end the city after our first encounter with the Oni. We took it upon ourselves to achieve the glory for ending such a diabolical plot. We have followed the Oni's activities, we fought it and its spawn, we entered the warehouse in pursuit." He looks from side to side at his companions. 'Our Clans sent us here to learn the path of the yoriki. What better way to bring Honor and Glory to our houses than defeat such a thing?"
Hideyoshi straightens his back and once again looks the Scorpion in the eye. "Why would you do such a thing, Scorpion? To end one of your Clan's greatest cities? Kill so many innocent people? Whay Honor is there to be gained using such methods?"
Xiaoxing looks confused
I don't understand why you keep asking what the magistrates know. They know something is going on, they will act as best they can to protect the city from whatever happens.
she shakes her head
Why keep asking? If the city is going to burn anyway... why ask!?
"Because they want to know if the knowledge of their honourless actions will make it to the Emperor. If the careful nest they have made for themselves has caught the eyes of the Kami so as to be stamped out like previous snakes."
Shosuro Hodei glances at Shinjo Xiaoxing but does not reply to her. Instead he continues conversing with Akodo Hideyoshi.
"I see that you misunderstand the situation. Gravely. I wonder what is it you would do if I were to release you. Strike me down? Strike my twin brother down?"
The Scorpion samurai gestured at the old man chanting within the maho circle. He lets the realization sink in has he turns and takes a yumi and an armor piercing arrow from the arsenal. He turns and fires the arrow.. at his "twin brother" within the circle. The arrow shatters on an invisible wall encircling the candles.
"There is nothing you can do here, yoriki. My brother Chizaro-san began aging at dusk.. when he called that Thing. When the candles burn down, he will not be protected anymore. He gave his name to the beast.. do you have any idea what that means?"
Shosuro Hodei sounds defeated and tired.
"If you were free, you would be wise to flee because if you do not, noone will live to tell your tale to your Lords."
Hideyoshi's eyes narrow at Katsuyoshi's statement, and he throws a sidelong glare at the Dragon.
'and they say we Lions are thick?'
"But why, Hodei-sama? Clearly you and your brother have a great desire for...something, vengeance perhaps? I do not profess to know fully what it means to give an Oni your name, but I am wise enough to know your brother is finished. And I suspect that it is his sacrifice that will fuel the end of the city. But again...why?
Realising they are finally in the presence of the cause of the Oni's rampage, Xiaoxing's desire to be free almost overwhelms her, she quells her desire and tries to focus on the immediate obstacle... Hodei.
Hideyoshi seems to be building a rapport with him, so she plays dumb and listens instead, all the while flexing and tightening her hands behind her in an effort to writhe out of her rope ties without the Scorpion noticing.
The Scorpion bushi continues pacing, holding the bow in one hand and flexing his other fist powerlessly as he replies:
"Don't be a fool; we have no interest in watching the city burn. Things have gotten... out of hand."
Shosuro Hodei calms himself as he unstrings the bow and puts it back in its place among the arsenal suitable for a small army.
"A few days ago.. three, maybe four, some of my men "found some lost cargo". What they brought back was a windfall: Money, silks, and some crates of merchandise for the Festival. Costumes, mostly. And masks. Really nice, high quality porcelain. My brother handles the commercial side of our operation and he sold the merchandise to three of his best buyers."
Hodei continues monologueing:
"Then, earlier today, three men came to visit Chizaro-san. They said they owned the lost cargoes, but all they were interested in getting back were the masks. Just one crate of them. One specific crate of of the entire haul. I don't know why they didn't care about the rest of their losses, but they were deadly serious about getting their crate of masks back. When we convinced them we already sold them, they cloistered themselves in here alone with Chizaro, and they were in here a long time. I never learned their names, but one of them was really big. Not muscular, but heavy-set."
The Scorpion goes to the bother of lifting his mempo to spit on the floor.
"But I noticed their wrists. They had big, black crescent moons branded on their inner wrists. Moon Cultists.. worshipers of Lord Moon.
You Do Not mess with their kind. Things always get ugly when you're dealing with the sorts of people who want to put out Lady Sun."
Shosuro Hodei sighs deeply.
"Chizaro-san said they were going to kill him. He had to get the masks back, tonight. He could think of no other way to do so in the time they gave him..."
Hideyoshi seems to be building a rapport with him, so she plays dumb and listens instead, all the while flexing and tightening her hands behind her in an effort to writhe out of her rope ties without the Scorpion noticing.
13
12
"The measure of a man is not what he says but what he does when he has nothing left to say. We need to stop this Oni and these cultists, to shy away would be to trade a few lives for thousands. Release us so that we may attempt to tip the balance back around, show us that I am wrong about you and your brother and maybe we will be able to save what is left of his name before it is stolen forever."
Now it is Hideyoshi's turn to be silent. Katsuyoshi-san had spoken what the Lion was thinking.
Shosuro Hodei looks over to Mirumoto Katsuyoshi with a bit of surprise.
"Allow you to leave? I suppose there is little reason not to do so. My fate is intertwined with my brother's and I must remain here with him. I fear his life will expire before the candles burn down, and if it does so the Oni will be free. Even the Crab can manage a single Oni on a rampage. But an Oni with a name? An Oni Lord, loose in Ryoko Owari?"
Shosuro Chizaro mutters something approaching intelligible from inside his protective ward.
"I have a name. It is.... I cannot remember. My name is... so simple... Nothing more than a series of syllables... I do have a name.. don't I?"
The Scorpion bushi shudders, and the exposed portion of his face is pale.
"Then you will hear a thousand screams. And some of them....will be your own. Kill it if you can, yoriki. If you cannot, flee while you still have the chance."
Xiaoxing's heart soars at the Shosuro's mention of freedom, the adrenaline coursing through her eclipses any knowledgeable thought and mention of spells and Onis passes by her without comment.
Free us then, let us do what we can to try and save the city!
The samurai-ko is eager to be away from this wretched place.
"Shosuro Hodei. You are your brother's link to who he is. While he fights to remember, it is your Duty to maintain that link." Hideyoshi says with grim determination. Never has he been more fervent in a statement!
"Family is the tie that binds, Hodei-san. If you give up hope, then your brother is lost. Talk to him, share with him who he is, who you both are. We will do what we can before the Oni becomes too powerful. If we die, we die with Honor, fighting this evil. You must save your brother."
Not even rolling the explosions.
"If you would be so kind as to remove our restraints so that we may attempt to end this oni's reign of terror and stop these cultists before they begin theirs, it would be much appreciated."
Shosuro Hodei looks down on the three of you as he mentally weighs his options, then nods to himself and strides over to the stout door and gives a coded knock. Within a few moments the female lieutenant you saw earlier returns, and listens to Hodei-san's orders to release you with obvious surprise in her eyes. She protests:
"But they are yoriki... what's to stop them from going back on their word and leading the magistrates straight back to us?"
The armored Scorpion dismisses her concern with a wave of his hand.
"What would it matter if they did? If they don't stop the Oni, we're all doomed regardless."
He recognizes her impending complaint and patiently heads it off proactively.
"Fine, I trust you to take the precautions necessary to prevent them from being able to find the tunnel entrance. I just don't want them harmed any further."
The warrior bows her head in obedience, and slips back out of view for a minute. She returns with sacks.. you recognize them as your hoods from earlier. She grins to you through her mempo:
"It won't do for you to lead the magistrates back here another day, assuming the Oni doesn't get you first."
She moves around behind you and places the eyeless cloth sacks over your heads again, but after a moment you realize they're slightly damp with some substance and then you're assailed by noxious fumes, but still being bound you cannot get the hoods back off before things go hazy. The last thing you remember clearly is that Shosuro samurai-ko's voice taunting you sweetly:
"Give my regards to the Oni."
You're awoken by someone shaking you, asking if you're alright. As you gather your wits, you realize the three of you are lying in a sampan that is tied to a wharf.. a wharf you soon recognize as the one adjacent to the Cartel warehouse. Doji Oruku is the one shaking you awake, and several other samurai are nearby, looking at you with concern. Among them stand Kitsuki Katsurou, and the Unicorn Magistrate Shinjo Dokiu.
You see that a score or so Thunder Guard are swarming the Warehouse, and some eta are dragging out the dead Scorpion ji-samurai who ambushed you. There seems to be no sign of the other warehouse guards, however.
Doji Oruku looks visibly relieved once your senses return. He explains:
"My friends! Thank the Fortunes you're alright.. You can imagine my worry when I received the message from your magical bird. It seems you have managed to handle the corrupt guards without me! I apologize for not getting here earlier.. you cannot imagine the red tape involved in getting these Thunder Guards reassigned.. Yogo Osako and I couldn't agree on how to administer pulling a detail of troops off of the Festival's security and had to talk to Shosuro Jocho himself before I gained any satisfaction.
What happened here?"
Katsurou bows slightly in the direction of the newly-rescued samurai.
It pleases me as well to see you unharmed. Please forgive my inability to help earlier... I was deterred elsewhere.
Hideyoshi bows low to Oruku. "Oruku-sama, it is a tale not to be believed, had we not heard it ourselves. We are glad to see you, indeed. There is a great danger facing the city..." He proceeds to fill in the magistrate (and Katsurou) on all that has transpired.
Swiftly standing and adjusting her kimono back to its proper position, Xiaoxing takes a moment to center herself before speaking.
She bows deeply to Shinjo Dokiu as he prays to the kami and they heal her wounds.
Thank you my lord
Turning to the Crane magistrate as he asks after the group, she replies
Oruku-sama, Katsurou-san, it is good to see you both again
she indicates the warehouse
We were invited within by the Scorpion bushi guarding the building, and then set upon by various bandits in black clothing. I fear the Crimson Sunset cartel are indeed at the heart of this mystery, but further threads will need to wait before being unraveled, for the Oni still scours the city looking for a box of porcelain masks.
She quickly continues past the puzzled expressions
The 'paper trail' as it were joins the different locations the Oni has struck, and I strongly believe that it will shortly be headed after a merchant named 'Whisper' next.
She bows in apology
I apologise for my terseness, but I believe time is of the essence now...
"We only have to mere hours before the Oni is free of its bonds and has a new name to call its own. The added danger of a cult to Onnotangu who seem to be the reason for the current target of the Oni's search only adds to the urgency. We will have to deal with both problems as we can, to focus on one over the other may lead to us simply trading the rice pot's heat for the warmth of the fire below it."
Katsuyoshi strains to think of any useful tidbit's that could aid in their search.
"The next useful place to search would be with this merchant named whisper, apparently he has the sword taken from the crane and may be in possession of the masks for which the oni searches."
Katsurou nods in agreement.
While I disagree with us splitting up and attempting to deal with both problems at once, since trying to shoot two arrows from two bows just makes it difficult to aim, it does seem that this Whisper is the next step in both of these cases.
He bows slightly.
Do we know where Whisper is? Or even who Whisper is?
Doji Oruku reintroduces you to the Unicorn Magistrate, Shinjo Dokiu and the Dragon samurai Kitsuki Katsurou. A third samurai is dressed in a grey and red kimono, bearing the mon of the Emerald Magistrates. Around his neck is an exquisite jade pendant carved in the shape of the Kuni family of the Crab Clan. He bows politely to you as Oruku-san introduces him:
"Allow me to present Kuni Eiriasu-sama. It is our good fortune that he was here in the city as his training in rooting out the corruption of the Shadowlands will prove invaluable."
The Crab magistrate explains to you:
"It is no coincidence I was here. I've been following rumors of a cult travelling this country, and it appears our paths may have joined. Even if our prey are seperate, I cannot allow this Oni summoning to go unanswered."
The Crane listens to the tale you tell while the Thunder Guard under his temporary command search the warehouse. He nods sagely to Unicorn, Dragon, and Crab at several of your key points, agreeing with your observations. He eventually replies:
"Dokiu-san and I have shared suspicions that the Crimson Sunset Cartel has been trafficking in stolen property.. but I find that they actively steal property to be a surprising discovery. A deeper investigation into their crimes is warranted, but we have larger concerns tonight."
"This ronin, Whisper, is a lickspittle I know unfortunately well. He is in the employ of.. which Crab was it, Dokiu-san?"
The Unicorn magistrate puts his holy scrolls away after healing the last of your injuries and joins the conversation:
"He is in the service of Yasuki Nobuko, if memory serves."
Doji Oruku agrees as his memory is apparently jogged:
"Hai! I do believe you are correct! I have trouble discerning which is more venal... the Yasuki woman or her ronin merchant. Either way, Whisper is an apple that did not fall far from the tree, neh?"
Shinjo Dokiu shrugs and smiles demurely, waving the question away by stroking his long fu-manchu style facial hair and displaying an unwillingness to speak ill of either person.
Doji Oruku asks the lot of you:
"Do you still have the receipt? It will have Whisper's store's address. If not, I'm sure we can find it with little difficulty. I know which neighborhood it is in."
Before you can come to formalize a strategic decision about what your next step should be, a shout comes from inside the warehouse. After rushing inside with Doji Oruku and Shinjo Dokiu, you learn that the Thunder Guard have discovered some crates that are suspiciously not closed for shipping, and appear to have been searched through. The crates and barrels all bear the Lion Clan mon that has been obscured to varying degrees by scorch marks, and a strange kabuki mask mon in the place a family crest should go. The contents of these crates appear to correspond with the unsold loot as described as "found" by Shosuro Hodei's story.
Xiaoxing bows her head in acknowledgement
Hai Oruku-sama, I have the address of the merchant from one of the papers we recovered earlier this evening
she pauses, for a moment unsure whether to continue, but adds
...however we have reason to believe that Whisper may currently be located in the floating City, perhaps he seeks to hide among the revelers or drink his cares away, for whatever reason perhaps we should try there first?
As the group is shown the oddly-marked crate, a crease mars the samurai-ko's features
How strange...
Katsurou turns to the side as if in thought. It doesn't disengage him from looking at anything distracting, of course, but it is an old habit from when he could still see.
If I may be somewhat forward, I think we ought to check his home first. If he is in the floating quarter to hide or to participate, it would make finding him quite difficult. There are too many people in the streets now to easily spot a single individual, especially one many of us have never seen before. Unless Eiriasu-sama, Dokiu-sama or Oruku-sama know of this ronin's particular vice it seems an impractically broad place to search when he may still be at his home, and if he is not we would only need to enter and leave, losing little time.
"Whichever choice we make we should make it quickly, time is of the essence at this moment. Wait too long and our enemies will take the choices out of our hands."
"Whichever choice we make we should make it quickly, time is of the essence at this moment. Wait too long and our enemies will take the choices out of our hands."
After hearing your accounts, the three Magistrates confer and plan with one another. Shinjo Dokiu volunteers to investigate Whisper's store, and proposes to bring the Thunder Guard with him should there be a repeat incident of "unhelpful" guards.
Kuni Eiriasu, on the other hand, wants to go directly after Whisper. If you have intelligence putting him in the Licensed Quarter, then that's where he wants the investigation to go.
Doji Oruku points out that the only legitimate manner of entry into the Licensed Quarter is through an establishment called "Swords Polished" (Location 20) where a ronin named Gate performs security, collecting all weapons from samurai visiting the Quarter.. ostensibly for safekeeping and polishing. His establishment enjoys the support of not only the Magistrates but also the Governor herself, and Gate will thus will likely not accept any excuses from yoriki, or even magistrates. He has the law of Ryoko Owari on his side; only the Thunder Guard may be armed anywhere inside the Floating City.
You do realize however, that any island can be entered by more than one point. Those of you who are yoriki know that there is a local cottage industry of boatmen who cater to samurai more concerned with their reputation than personal honor who prefer to be smuggled into the island without making their presence known via "Swords Polished". Doji Oruku didn't bring these boatmen up, but those scoundrels' services could certainly be useful if you're willing to be a little "bendy" with the law.
The time now the beginning of the Hour of the Boar (10 PM). That makes it about 4 and a half hours* after the attack at the Inn of Orange Blosoms, 3 hours* after the attack on the Crane Embassy, and to the best of your knowledge about 4 hours after the attack on the Four Winds Trading House.
Doji Oruku has a question for you as he tries to decide a course of action:
"You say Whisper is in the Licensed Quarter tonight? It's a big place, designed to allow an individual to disappear from responsibilities and worries.. even on nights that are not the Bon Festival. There will not only be crowds of costumed partiers, if he's in a Geisha House any Oka-sans will likely value discretion and protecting their clientele over compliance with Magistrates' demands to produce a customer. Do you think you'd be able to find him?"
Xiaoxing thinks for a moment
The Oni seems to have been sent to each location to search, rather than going directly for the masks, even if Whisper is in the Floating City, does the person responsible for sending the Oni know that I wonder? I would therefore think to try Whisper's warehouse or place of business first, of course I am willing to go wherever I am required!
she goes very quiet, waiting for the others to speak.
Katsurou perks up at Xiaoxing's words.
You raise an interesting point,besides even if they do know that, then we will need to be prepared to fight the Oni should it show up, in which case we would need to bring the Thunder Guard with us, since we will be unarmed. Given that, it seems like the best choice would be to bring them with us now. Since Dokiu-sama seems to wish to bring them with him to investigate Whisper's store, that would be a logical place to start, especially since it will most likely be quite quick to search it and realize he isn't there. If there are no objections, I suggest we start there.
Doji Oruku decides that a quick search of Whisper's property is in order. He leaves about a dozen Thunder Guard here at the Crimson Sunset Cartel warehouse to continue to look for clues (and to bring the slain Shosuro ji-samurais' swords to their next of kin).
The group of you are accompanied by the three magistrates and the dozen more remaining Thunder Guard escorts. You head to the major commercial district centered on the busy intersection of Mountain Goblin's Rest Road and Monk's Edge Avenue. As you travel the streets you overhear some of the Thunder Guard joking about Whisper being in trouble again. They gossip about how they heard some Guardsmen busted his teeth not long ago. Kuni Eiriasu indulges in light chit chat with Doji Oruku and Shinjo Dokiu as the magistrates get to know one another. You find it interesting to hear Eiriasu-sama's tales from every end of the Empire.. clearly he's been well travelled as an Emerald Magistrate.
You're not far from the armorer's district when you locate the correct side street: it is a dingy, claustrophobic, and badly lit alleyway between two large and prosperous enterprises.
The Thunder Guard establish a perimeter and cordon off the alleyway as you approach the storefront, coming close enough to read the post-sign:
Whisper's Antiques, Artifacts, and Oddities.
You see that the door is ajar and one of the rice-paper windows is torn. There is no hint of illumination coming from within. Any sounds within are being drowned out by spirit-chasing fireworks and the boisterous crowds celebrating the Bon Festival out in the major intersection just at the end of the alleyway.
Xiaoxing listens attentively to the magistrate's banter, enjoying their easy camaraderie, though giving the impression that she is simply intent on putting one foot in front of the other as eavesdropping would of course be rude.
As the group approaches the shop she instinctively steps in front of the others, interposing herself between the unknown of the shop and those of higher status.
If I may, honorable magistrate-samas...
Xiaoxing draws her katana and gently pushes the door open with one foot, slowly stepping in to the dark building...
Hideyoshi nods at Xiaoxing as she enters the the dark doorway. Behind her, he draws his katana in one hand and the Jade Sun in the other.
When you enter the premises, you see that the store is a mess. Someone has ransacked the place with no more courtesy than was shown the Four Winds Trading House or the Crane Embassy.
Display tables are on their sides and merchandise has spilled across the floor. You occasionally catch a glint of reflected light from numerous metal objects on the floor; a cursory inspection reveals them to be many coins... there must be at several koku worth of zeni and bu coins spilled from a broken cash box.
Amid the mess of broken things, you do start to find little scratches in the wood. And sure enough, up on one of the higher shelves there is a black, stinking glop of sludge atop some false "Oni ear" costume accessories. There's no immediate sign of anyone or anything still here, however.
Katsuyoshi walks carefully in to the building, ignoring the coins on the ground.
"It would seem we are too late, I only hope the little beast did not find what it was looking for."
Heading over to the little glob, katsuyoshi inspects the foul remains without touching it.
Looking around at the mess, Xiaoxing cocks her head for a moment.
Forgive me samurai-sans, I may be able to help us find him, one moment...
she proceeds to start leafing through various papers, intent on searching for something.
Katsurou leans in and listens to Watchful's account of the scene.
I doubt he was here. There doesn't seem to be any blood. I doubt an oni would simply be able to kidnap him without bloodshed, if previous experience holds.
Wary, Hideyoshi moves towards the back of the store, looking to see if anything else can be seen there.
Mirumoto Katsuyoshi gets a better look at the sludge. If you hadn't seen what you've seen tonight, you'd have guessed it to be a stinking, tarry glop of river muck. But it has the same odor and consistency of the slime you've seen the Oni's podlings dissolve into when slain. You can't imagine what killed the podling, however. This train of thought leads you to notice that the creature must have had some nesting instinct, as it made a bed of sorts out of the costume accessories. Very curious indeed that it chose to nest in crude paper mache Oni ears rather than the much more comfortable silk kimonos strewn around the store.
Shinjo Xiaoxing is able to find some scrolls with financial records and begins looking through them. Unfortunately, if there are any references to Geisha Houses they must be hidden under aliases. After poring over the records you initially realize that they are only haphazardly maintained, and that makes penetrating them for concrete details difficult. After long moments, you come to the frustrating realization that they are fraudulent records... they probably exist solely to distract tax collectors or magistrates from the actual, day-to-day financial records that he doubtlessly must keep somewhere.
9+7+5=21
Kitsuki Katsurou thinks he hears something scratching and moving around on the roof, atop Whisper's store. It sounds small, perhaps something the size of a cat. But with claws badly in need of trimming, apparently.
Akodo Hideyoshi heads into the back room of the store, and sees that this area has been ransacked as well as the main floor. Whisper's writing desk has been tossed aside, and a floorboard is missing from where it once lay. Beneath that missing plank a hollow space.. and within you can see several scrolls and a torn, scarlet silk cloth of fine quality is halfway lifted up out of that recess. You can't help but notice a kabuki-mask mon embroidered into the material.. you recall last seeing that mon marked on the crates at the Crimson Sunset Cartel. One of the scrolls appears to be a personal journal, and the other is more of those incomprehensible commercial records of the nature Shinjo Xiaoxing is struggling with out front.
Kuni Eiriasu joins Mirumoto Katsuyoshi in investigating the foul goop, all traces of prior good humor gone. He decrees the slime Tainted.
Shinjo Dokiu and Doji Oruku pick their way through the toppled merchandise, commenting now and again on the esoteric and bizzare goods, decreeing it all worthless junk.
Katsurou makes his way to his superiors.
I agree this esoteric merchandise serves little purpose. I apologize for interrupting, but the last time I fought an oni it spawned little creatures to defend it. I hear what may be such a creature on the roof of this very shop. I, to no small embarrassment, would likely hinder any attempt to pursue it or destroy it as long as it is up there.
"Xiaoxing-san! Here! This is what you may be looking for, and then some!"
Xiaoxing drops the fake documents she is holding, they are of no use to their investigations beyond showing that Whisper was up to no good. At Hideyoshi's shout she moves in to the back area and looks over the scroll he shows her.
Nice find Hideyoshi-san! she smiles
She brings the scroll in to the light and looks it over.
The three Magistrates allow Akodo Hideyoshi and Shinjo Xiaoxing to manage the scrolls formerly hidden under Whisper's floorboards, and heed Kitsuki Katsurou's warning about something being up on the roof. They head back outdoors and look around; you hear them asking each other if they see anything. Thus far none of them do.
Shinjo Xiaoxing: The scroll in your hands proves to be Whisper's actual ledgers. He acquires his goods in many cases for questionably low prices.. they're either quite shoddy or perhaps stolen. His books show regular outlays of cash for unspecified "overhead" or losses of merchandise to "breakage" that in your opinion appear to be "hand gifts". One such deduction earlier today shows a huge outlay in raw coinage.. a veritable Daimyo's ransom of 20 koku!
Corrupt Official: Expresses desire for bribe.
Corrupt Merchant: Gives offer.
Corrupt Official: Suggests what favors are offered.
Corrupt Merchant: Counteroffer
Corrupt Official: Response to Counteroffer
Corrupt Merchant: Agree to give bribe or not
The exchange goes something like thus:
Corrupt Official: "Ah, what a wonderful kimono. I would be the envy of my peers if I had it!"
Corrupt Merchant: "Yes, it is a fine garment, isn't it? I treasure it greatly."
Corrupt Official: "If I wore a kimono such as this, I would surely bear warm feelings towards its maker, praising him to everyone I met. Equally great would be my anger towards anyone who made trouble for someone who gave me such a precious gift."
Corrupt Merchant: "I could only dream that you would value my wares so highly. Far more likely you would realize how meager my skills are, even telling the tax assessors that my kimonos are worth far less than the asking price and should be taxed as so many rags."
Corrupt Official: "Ah, surely the tax collectors will recognize the value of your kimonos, even if I were to insult them by lying to them.. which I of course would be unwilling to do."
The Corrupt Merchant at this point decides to either give the kimono as a bribe for protection, or decline to give it and face whatever consequences.
Akodo Hideyoshi:
The scroll you have in your hands is Whisper's personal journal, and he apparently is obsessive about getting an entry written every day. This particular scroll only goes back 10 months or so. The last entry dated today is scribbled in a hasty manner uncharacteristic of the rest of his journal, and reads:
"There is no time to waste, so I must hurry. Time is running short and I fear the Oni will be here any minute to kill me. I've heard of the rampages across the City, and I'm the only one left. Thank the Fortunes, Ikyoto managed to bring me the Blade of Secrets - my only, slim hope! - and now I go to meet my dark fate. Suruko, Suruko, I have to see you, just one more time... before I die."
Going back through earlier entries turns up the name "Suruko" rather often, especially in the past few months. She's a geisha who works at the House of Water Lilies, and Whisper is clearly fond of her, if not in love.
"It would seem we are off to this house of Water Lilies. It seems every person in this city has some secret to hide from the watchful eyes."
Katsuyoshi waits the others as he does not carry a light himself and is low on the magic of the kami.
Xiaoxing exclaims excitedly
This was a good find Hideyoshi-san, well done! Come!
she moves immediately to find Doji Oruku
Magistrate-samas! I believe I have Whisper's current location, and it appears he is indeed in possession of the sword stolen from the Crane embassy earlier tonight!
she leans in and whispers
The Floating City, he was fond of a geisha called 'Suruko' at the House of Water Lillies. From his writing there is a strong suggestion he would have gone to her
Hideyoshi nods, allowing a brief grin at Xiaoxing's praise. But something bothers him...the remains of a dead podling, claws scraping on the roof above...there is more to see here. He concentrates for a moment, activating the light of the Jade Sun.
Holding it aloft, he peers down into the opening, katana in hand...
Upon noting that his superiors have gone outside, Katsurou makes his way over to Xiaoxing.
This is clearly where we should next search for Whisper. Even if he is not there, a favored geisha likely knows where he or his friends would be.
Out in the alleyway:
The three Magistrates lean in to hear Shinjo Xiaoxing's whispers. Kuni Eiriasu scowls as he strains to hear you over the rapid crackling of spirit-chaser fireworks going off in the street:
"Speak up, I can barely hear you!"
Doji Oruku catches on to the Battle Maiden's intent and shakes his head to the Emerald Magistrate, discreetly pointing at Whisper's roof. While all four of you stare intently up there trying to find the movement that Kitsuki Katsurou heard... the calm is suddenly shattered by a shriek accompanied by an eruption of movement. Something dark colored and roughly the size and shape of two coconuts stuck together launches itself skywards in defiance of gravity, arcing up and over the neighboring building's roof. It lands on spindly spider-like legs and looks down into the alley at you with three blazing orange eyes that burn like the fires of Jigoku. It hisses angrily down at you and leaps away again, disappearing from view.
Inside Whisper's Store:
Akodo Hideyoshi calls forth Amaterasu's holy light, and brightens the inside of the store as if it were out in the midday sun. Armed with shadow-banishing illumination, you see that there still is one more item in the hidden space: a lacquered box about the size of a a forearm. Within is a padded compartment that is sized to perfectly hold a string of 25 golden koku coins, but there are only 5 coins still within. They all lack signs of any wear or tear that naturally comes from circulation, and bear clear markings of Crab Clan mintage.
Now that you have excellent light, you have a better look at the scarlet cloth. It is not any kind of article of clothing; it must have been wrapping material to protect something that would be both valuable and delicate. There is no sign of what may have been wrapped within, however.
Are you coming with us?: Doji Oruku certainly is. Kuni Eiriasu would definitely like to ask Whisper some questions about his possible links to the Cultists. Shinjo Dokiu however demurs:
"Ah, I'm terribly sorry, but I fear I've been overly remiss in my duties at the Prison tonight as it is. I'm not sure how much longer I trust the place to run itself without supervision. On a night as busy as the Festival, there is always much to be done at the Prison. Besides, you heroes have demonstrated impressive capability. I fear my services are unnecessary as it is!"
Which do you think we should do.. Sneak onto the island, or go through official channels and surrender our weapons?: They'll hem and haw and discuss the merits and drawbacks of each idea, ultimately not coming to a final decision. Kuni Eiriasu argues that personal honor is subservient to the greater good. Doji Oruku thinks the only honorable course of action is to try to reason with Gate.
Carefully, very carefully, Hideyoshi brings out the box and its contents to those in the street. "It would that Whisper had other treasures. I fear it is beyond my knowledge what these may be." He bows and as he holds the box out for Oruku's inspection.
--------------------------
Hideyoshi frowns at Eiriasu's suggestion. Honor is not subservient to anything. When turns to reply to the hunter of Shadows, a sharp pain shoots up his side. A harsh reminder of the ambush at the warehouse and the cost of ideology. "Speed is of the essence," is all that he says.
'...your ideals do you justice, little Lion, but do not confuse Honor with false Pride. there are times when the needs of the many will weigh more than your personal achievements. Remember that always...'