Matsu Niko meditates before they set off.
Matsu Niko meditates before they set off.
Dai meditates before setting out.
Niko, did you add your Void to your roll?
Noted, Mirumoto Dai!
Noted. You may want to include points in meditation later on.
Okay, you two have your breakfast before setting out. If you like, you can describe your breakfast.
Dai has a simple breakfast of a bowl of rice with a hard boiled egg and tea.
Matsu Niko eats her miso soup and a strong tea.
Nice and simple, I love it.
The people at the inn serve simple breakfasts. Fortunately the breakfasts were tasty. Your horses are refreshed, and fed.
Make perception checks.
Perception 3k3 exploding again =30
The miso soup hits the spot and Matsu Niko is fully alert.
Perception 3k3 3d10 exploding 1d10 again 1d10 =30
The miso soup hits the spot and Matsu Niko is fully alert.
Niko, some one is watching you. He appears to be in black clothing.
Matsu walks over to the man watching her and says, "I have noticed you have been eyeing me. State your business."
"I'm just a servant," he says. "Cleaning up the walk way."
She says, "What is your take on the recent dispute?"
She says, "What is your take on the recent dispute?"
You don't notice any weapons, so you have to be extra careful.
"I think the land should belong to the Yugo family," he says. "Of course, it could lead to conflict between the Scorpion and the Crab."
Matsu Niko follows up and asks, "What has led up to this new dispute? Is there any insight you can give me? I am just travelling through this territory."
"I believe it's over fishing rights," says the strange man. "It's a dispute over who has control over a stream that produces much fish."
Dai looks at the man and asks, "Has there been any violence over this stream?"
"There has been some violence," he said. "Call me Sasuki."
She then inquires, "Was it predominantly a fishermen's quarrel or has it escalated to the Bushi?"
She then inquires, "Was it predominantly a fishermen's quarrel or has it escalated to the Bushi?"
"It was predominately a fishermen's quarrel, but it could escalate to the Bushi any time soon," says Sasuki.
"Has something recently changed about this dispute that has caused the anger and violence to escalate?" Dai asks Sasuki.
"The Yasuki of the Crab tried to cheat the Yugo," said Sasuki. "The result was that the Yugo didn't think it was a fair price."
Matsu Niko says, "That is very pertinent information, we thank you for your candor."
After taking her leave she would talk to her partner on the road to their final destination.
Matsu Niko says, "That is very pertinent information, we thank you for your candor."
After taking her leave she would talk to her partner on the road to their final destination.
"You're welcome," says Sasuki.
"It is good the bushi have not confronted each other, but the peasants taking up arms against each other would also be a very big problem for the local lords." Dai says as they ride on.
Niko says, "Yes, that is good. It is important to suss out whether the confrontation was orchestrated by one of the lords or initiated by a local quarrel between two fisherwomen. It might stem from one woman saying something inappropriate about another's husband and it then blew up from there."
"It sounds like fish merchants and greed over the rivers abundant wealth. The shine of Koku can blind people from their true path." Dai laments as they ride.
As you ride towards Shiro no Yugo, there seems to be a monk in black on the side of the road. He looks haggard, and old -- but looks can be deceiving.
Dai remembers his dream and slows his horse as the come up to the monk. "Good day." He tells the man as he looks down at him from his horse.
"Good day," he says. "Been traveling long?"
Matsu Niko says, "Good day to you, sir! Just a few days. How are you doing this fine day?"
"I've been good, young Lion," said the monk. He's not wearing a mask, so he couldn't be of the Scorpion clan. But then again, looks can be deceiving.
Matsu Niko says, "I was wondering if you might have some insight on the disagreement regarding fishing in this area. Is this something that has been a long time coming or is it a disagreement between two locals?"
"You know it's fishing?" he asks. "Yes, it's fishing. Most of the time, the fish is extracted by cormorants. But both the Yugo and the Yasuki claim the stream. Two local lords. One named Yugo Tokume and the other named Yasuki Goroji. Both claim the small river. Although Goroji tried to sell the land, Tokume didn't think it was a fair price."
"He was trying to sell his claim to the lands to the Yugo lord or to a third party?" Dai asks.
"Is the price really unreasonable?"
"He was trying to sell his claim to the lands to the Yugo lord or to a third party?" Dai asks.
"Yes, he was trying to sell his claim to the Yugo," said the Monk.
"Is the price really unreasonable?"
The black monk responds, "Tokume thought it was. He thought it would be a steal."
"How long ago was this offer extended to sell the river?" Dai asks.
"How long ago was this offer extended to sell the river?" Dai asks.
"Three weeks ago," says the monk.
Matsu says, "Thank you for your service, mayhaps a deal may be struck."
"You are welcome," says the monk. His black kimono shifts, and he's gone!
Aside from that, the time spent with the monk was barely ten minutes. The morning went from early to mid morning, and the clouds are all illuminated. Shiro no Yugo was ahead. Yet you have a feeling that you might meet him again.
Dai nods to the monk in thanks and then continues riding towards the castle.
Shiro no Yugo (Yugo Castle) seems to dominate the skyline. It's a beautiful castle that was built of white granite. It looks young, done in the last one hundred years or so. The Yugo is a Shugenja family, but they practice with the Soshi family school. Some think that the Yugo might form their own Shugenja school some time in the future. But that's a ways away.
Two guards in red and black guard the entrance. The doorway is impressive, a good twenty feet tall. These guards are part of the Yugo family, and may be Bayushi trained samurai. They aren't wearing the traditional masks of warfare.
One of them sees you approach and says gruffly, "State your business."
It is the afternoon, and you have been riding all morning.
Matsu Niko 5k2+3 exploding 16+4+3 = 23 says, "My name is Matsu Niko, the Topaz Champion, and this is Mirumoto Dai and we both represent the Emerald Champion and would like to speak with your most excellent lord."
"This is about the dispute with the river," said the samurai guard who asked. It was the one on your left. "Our family Daimyo is expecting you."
He goes to open the door for you. It opened with the sound of a well oiled creak. Up lays the stairs to go up to the castle. "You can leave your horses here in the stables," said the other samurai guard. "They will be tended with honor."
Dai gets off his horse and leaves his armor and saddle bags with the horse as he straightens his kimono and does a quick check to make sure he is presentable for meeting the local Daimyo.
Matsu Niko thanks them and follows suit, she adds some rouge to make herself look as presentable as possible.
The way up was simple as ever. The doors opened on each gate easily enough for you. The Yugo were very respectful of the Emperor and his representatives. No gate was barred against you and no one bade you ill. The Scorpion clan may play the villains in the Empire, but they are very respectful to you.
At last you reach the last gate, and Yugo Junzo is waiting for you. "Ah, the Imperial Magistrates at last," he says.