I appreciate the understanding. My mind's a little mushy right now... I'm halfway through a paper on British Structural Functionalism that has an impending due date.
To paraphrase Ferris Bueller:
I'm not British. I'm never going to Britain. Why do I care what a couple of Anthropologists did or didn't have to do with each other? It doesn't change the fact that I don't have a computer.
Of course venting here isn't getting my paper any closer to being done.. but it kind of feels good :)
I'm not quite ready yet to get back into the game.. but the semester is over next week, whether I'm ready or not. One way or another I'll again have the time to put back into the game! At the very least I'll have the opportunity to go shopping for a replacement PC :(
I'll give you a teaser about the upcoming scene to tide you over and begin thinking about strategy:
When you bust in to Ryo's house, you won't find him there but you will find an apprentice shugenja who really doesn't want to fight all by his lonesome vs the lot of you.
You can start thinking about what kinds of questions you'll like to have prepared for Ryo's little mook covering for him when we get this going again next week :)
I'm profoundly sorry about dropping the ball here. Between losing my computer and having end-of-semester projects coming due, I've been more swamped than I thought.
If y'all can wait out one more week of hiatus I'll be able to devote the time you deserve to the game after finals week is over.
I had a mostly nice weekend, hope y'all had a great one.
Unfortunately my pc crapped out, so I'll have to do posts from school until I replace it. I plan to still do daily updates except on weekends... hopefully I'll have something new by next weekend!
Shinjo Dokiu bids you good fortune on your quest, and reminds you he'll be here on duty tonight at the prison all night.
You commence your trek downtown, for the third time? Fourth? Doji Oruku's bandages over his Oni bite wounds are starting to show seepage through.. the red blood looks black in the moonlight but he grits his teeth and proudly soldiers on without complaint.
At this hour (just after 2 am) the celebration downtown is building up to a boisterous boil. It has all the energy you saw on the Floating Isle, but these partiers are not Ryoko Owari's upper crust. They are frenzied in drink, song, and dance. Many of the costumed partiers are chasing one another in their assumed monstrous roles, and occasionally fistfights break out here and there, keeping the few Thunder Guard that can be found very busy.
Turning off of Silver Avenue onto Kuni Ryo's side street almost leaves your ears ringing. You come to the designated address and see a small one story structure of the kind normally inhabited by a peasant family. It lacks a walled perimeter or any kind of garden and the doorway is directly accessible from the street. You are welcomed by a sign advertising fortune telling and cures for baldness. The house looks dark though; there are no glowing lights behind the paper windows.
Perception (audible)/Investigation(notice) TN 15:
You heard a beam creak within when you approached the door.
"Kuni Ryo? Yes, he was one of the Crab samurai who have been in trouble with the law before. He's the shugenja I mentioned to you who sells fraudulent hedge cures to gullible peasants."
He reminds you of the address where Kuni Ryo lives.
You know you've heard the name Ryo before. That may or may not have also been misinformation deliberately fed to the goons. You'd have to know more of the context of the questioning to be able to tell.
I'm going to press on, presuming you chose to wait and sip tea and sake until you heard word from the torturers.
Shinjo Dokiu returns as the Hour of the Ox begins (2am), banishing the silence by sliding the door to your chamber open.
"I bear information gleaned from the other two prisoners. They are locals, common criminals that were rejected by all the fireman gangs. They are not members of the cult but were helping Gyogi, the prisoner you executed, simply out of a promise of payment afterwards. They seem to be quite gullible and not very clever."
"Still, they caught enough of what Gyogi happened to mention in passing to learn the name of the cultists' leader: Ryo. Gyogi also told them that the cult's secret headquarters is located in an abandoned house near the Fisherman's Gate (L25). We are fortunate in that he even told them the address."
Kuni Eiriasu raises an eyebrow.
"That is exceptionally fortuitous information. Is it possible they may be lying?"
Shinjo Dokiu shakes his head.
"Pitiful-san is on duty tonight. It has been my experience that no man can lie to him. He is very skilled in his art. If he believed they were telling untruths, he would have told me so."
Doji Oruku nods in agreement with Shinjo Dokiu's assessment of the city's finest torturer's skills.
Intelligence/Investigation TN10:
Come on, who tells their hired minions details like that. It's pretty suspicious that Gyogi would tell hired patsies where his cult's secret HQ is. It may be a deadly trap planned ahead of time in the event his patsies would end up being captured and tortured.
Oh and yeah. I caught myself thinking about XP, so I'll give out some.
You guys have had a handful of roleplaying scenes since the last time I gave out some awards after killing the oni. So I think 1 to everyone across the board is due.
Plus, I think Akodo Hideyoshi deserves a bonus point. Killing your prisoner did deny you some intel, but it IS what a proud Lion would do in that circumstance. If you do something that is sub-optimal* because it's what your character would do.. then that's what roleplaying is all about!
*=of course, it's debatable whether that was really sub-optimal anyway. The nature of the scenario was that you'd have to accept not killing him, and thus eating the honor loss, to be able to get him to talk. Since Xiaoxing wasn't responding to the honor digs the way the prisoner wanted, you know who was going to be next ;) But the larger point stands... you do something for reasons more in line with your character's motivations rather than the expected rewards, I think that deserves XP!
If you're stuck on what to do, we can say you guys discuss options until you hear from the torturers.
It was midnight when you dropped off Shirya, then you went back to his place for a bit to look around, then you got word about the Cultist prisoner and came back for that.
It's about 1 am now (midway through the Hour of the Rat). The guards can tell you to expect to hear word from the torturers by 2am (the onset of the Hour of the Ox).
if you want we can fast forward to that point and see what your new intel is. If that's your wish you can say so in this thread. If you want to propose or support an idea about some plan to do instead in the intervening time, put that roleplay in the IC thread. Discussions about plans won't advance the timeline, but depending on what the plan is the plan itself might advance the clock. (of course sitting and waiting for torturers' intel advances the clock to 2 am anyway)
Astronomical bodies are generally viewed by the Rokugani as living, divine beings. As such, their interactions and conjunctions tend to be viewed as the activities of sentient things. However, gaijin cultures ignorant of Rokugani religion developed Astronomy to explain the celestial phenomenae in their own way, and that gaijin knowledge has gotten into the Empire and could be studied occasionally by individual samurai. While such knowledge wouldn't be technically heretical, it'd probably be viewed as essentially such by the more traditional Clans/families.
Intelligence/Lore: Astronomy TN15:
You're not aware of any major celestial events due to occur tonight. If you had access to solar and lunar tables or star charts, you might be able to plot an impending conjunction or eclipse you didn't know about off the top of your head. If such gaijin technology could be found anywhere in Ryoko Owari, it's probably in the hands of the Unicorn Clan.
Intelligence/Sailing TN10:
Same information as the Lore: Astronomy spoiler, but you also know that the experienced navigators would also be likely sources of information about lunar predictions, given their reliance on the tides.
Intelligence/Lore: Theology TN10:
The movement of the Sun and Moon across the sky is in actuality Lord Moon's everlasting lust for Lady Sun. As they are fated to be together forever, she occasionally lets him catch her for brief periods of eclipses. The birth of the original Kami were the result of the first such union. Lord Moon is revered as a co-creator of the Universe and as the father of all the Kami, but he is also feared and despised as a sinister figure that brings madness, chaos, and darkness. Where most of Rokugan reveres the life-giving goodness of Lady Sun, the Moon Cultists worship the dark Lord Moon.
Intelligence/Lore: Theology, 1 raise:
If the Cult believes that the sun will be knocked from the sky, that might mean that Lord Moon might have sinister plans for Lady Sun the next time he catches her. He did eat their offspring out of jealousy when she favored her children over him, after all. (the glorious tale of Hantei's rescue of his brothers and sisters from Onnotangu's belly is well known to every samurai) How he might possibly cause harm to befall Lady Sun is beyond your comprehension. However, Shinsei's enigmatic teaching proves that mortals have abilities beyond the divine. It seems implausible, but perhaps it is possible for mortal cultists to somehow help Lord Moon achieve such diabolical ends. You'd have to find an expert to consult to know for sure.
Shinjo Dokiu tells you the two cohorts that were captured along with the ringleader will be put to interrogation in the dungeon immediately. Before he bows and leaves, he suggests you leave word with one of the Thunder Guard if you depart the premises so that any discoveries learned by the torturers could be relayed to you.
Once you are left in relative seculsion (the eta still in the room cleaning up the bloodstains know better than to be obtrusive) Doji Oruku clears his throat and announces his intention to speak, answering Shinjo Xiaoxing's question first:
"Well, most of the prominent Crab samurai in the city are, I'm sad to say, of questionable use to us. The Crab Clan hasn't kept a garrison of bushi in Ryoko Owari since their famously ill-fated occupation some three or four hundred years ago. Most of the Crab living here today are Yasuki or their vassals; more capable at commerce than warfare. In fact, some of the most prominent among their number have had recurring problems with the law in the past. You've already met a few of them; present company excluded of course."
Crab History in the City of Lies:
Early in the seventh century, Crab forces seized Ryoko Owari during the Crab Invasion of Scorpion lands, but only held it for a little more than a year. The soldiers of the Crab army couldn't handle the temptations offered by geisha and other vices, and ended up unfit for duty en-masse and had to withdraw in disgrace. The Liberation Day Festival is a contemporary local holiday held every year to honor the return of Shosuro Sanekata, the governor of Ryoko Owari at the time, who had predicted that the Crab could never hold his city.
Kitsuki Katsurou wrote:
Maybe we'll have more luck pursuing the Moon Cult itself rather than the mask. I wasn't there with you two, so what do we know about them?
Kuni Eiriasu takes this one, having taken no offense from Doji Oruku's disparaging assessment of his Clan-mates.
"To recap, I have been tracking this cult operating in the Spine of the World Mountains north of here. I thought I destroyed them but a handful escaped my justice and are hiding in the city. The masks they created can be used in vile maho rituals to create undead minions. What exactly they have in mind is unknown to me, but there can be no wholesome outcome to their intentions."
He looks at the bloodstains on the floor and wall before continuing.
"I know there are, or perhaps were, at least three cultists in the city."
And here I realize I screwed a minor thing up. I forgot this prisoner was supposed to be fat, and obviously I picked an inappropriate picture to represent that.
The Emerald Magistrate sips from his sake bowl as Doji Oruku observes:
"So, does that mean Hida Muchi must not have been a cultist, since our "overweight" suspect you sought seems to have been identified?"
Kuni Eiriasu replies,
"Perhaps. But then again, perhaps there could have been more than one fat cultist."
Akodo Hideyoshi wrote:
"Perhaps," he begins cautiously, "we should seek out the two Scorpions that captured us."
Doji Oruku hmms with some interest.
"Well, I'd certainly like to get my hands on those two, but to bring them to justice for their banditry. Perhaps in the short term they might be allies of convenience, however. Do you think you could find them again?"
Question: Are we still on a time clock for this adventure?
Maaaaaaaaaaaaybeeeee.
Do you really wanna know?:
Yes. Yes you are.
Quote:
Or did we stop the countdown by killing the Oni? I am under the assumption the Oni's growing power was the crux of the timer, in that we had until dawn to stop it. At least we were told Ryoko Owari would burn tomorrow.
Stopping the Oni was definitely a good thing. However, whatever the Moon Cultists are up to is probably still on, since the Oni wasn't (directly) part of their Evil Plan. It was summoned by the frightened Scorpion Cartel guys to get the masks back for the Cultists. Thus far you've tracked the masks through Whisper, but as of yet you don't know where they went to from there.
Although you ended up killing the cultist prisoner, he did give you a clue about what they're up to. Somewhere in those mad ravings of his :)
Quote:
Another thing, should we go back and enlist the help of the man and his brother? The ones who had us captured then released us? Maybe he would owe for saving his brother?
Just a thought.
Mum's the word from me on whether that's a good idea or a bad idea. But if you find yourselves twiddling thumbs while you're waiting for the torturers to come back with word about what the other prisoners know, that's an avenue you can certainly discuss or explore.
So. I didn't roll for several reasons: 1)Cinematics. If we gave the word, the Thunder Guard would have done it anyway. 2) I do have quite the combat skill, combined with the Iajitsu skill. 3)I figured he wasn't going to talk. Sorry.
1 &2) Yep. If you wanted to kill him, all you had to do was make the decision to do so. 3) I guess we'll never know, now! *coy gm giggle*
Whether or not you lost any information, you did for sure avert the loss of honor caused by his insults. So no long term damage done to Xiaoxing's honor or reputation.
Doji Oruku nods somberly in approval with Akodo Hideyoshi's bringing an end to the nonsense. Of course Kuni Eiriasu concurs. If he laments the loss of opportunity to question the prisoner further, he keeps it to himself.
The Thunder Guard step back from the growing pool of blood, and clap their hands to summon eta. They've doubtlessly seen interrogations end in exactly this way before, and they get to work immediately... hauling off the corpse and mopping up the mess.
As they lift the corpse, one of them gives a squeal of alarm as he notices smoke rising from inside the prisoner's kimono sleeve. When the cloth is pulled up, some kind of brand becomes visible on the man's inner forearm. Before your eyes, a blackness consumes the brand, leaving nothing behind but charred flesh.
Intelligence/Lore:Maho TN15:
Some black magic is clearly at work here. The prisoner's tattoo or brand originally was probably some kind of a skull symbol and it seems to have self-destructed with his death. It surely had some purpose while he was alive. It could easily have been influencing his actions.
Doji Oruku opines:
"Perhaps we should skip politely interrogating this prisoner's comrades and just skip ahead directly to sending them down for questioning under torture. Have you other ideas?"
You will apologies for your words or else face my steel... after the magistrate has questioned you to his satisfaction...
The prisoner continues to mock his captors.
"Apologize? For what? For telling the TRUTH? Never!"
Kitsuki Katsurou wrote:
"You are not as mad as you pretend to be, but it is clear there is something deranged within you. Perhaps we can help you escape your inevitable suffering if you're willing to cooperate."
He ceases his taunting of Shinjo Xiaoxing only to turn on Kitsuki Katsurou.
"Help me? Are you as deaf as you are blind? My soul belongs to Lord Moon and it is beyond your power. When Lord Moon's thousand year reign begins, it is you who will be in need of help once the Sun is knocked from the sky and you are severed from her protection!"
The prisoner throws his head back and commences with another bout of mad cackling.
Can I use my previous roll for that? I have the Manipulation specialization as well.
Sure!
EDIT: I didn't notice right away that you declared 4 raises. Blarg. Let me figure out what 4 raises should give you on top of the basic TN10 info.....
Kitsuki Katsurou:
While the prisoner is not deranged, he does seem to be somehow a bit "off"... something is definitely not right about him even though his self-destructive actions are being done for rational reasons.
You're reminded of the sort of spiritual sickness that the Lost suffer from... this prisoner might be Shadowlands tainted. Or perhaps he's lost his soul in some other sinister way. Certainly sounds plausible for cults of a dark power like Lord Moon to maybe "catch" conditions somewhat analogous to the Shadowlands Taint.
The prisoner looks Shinjo Xiaoxing in the eye after she speaks to him. He leans forward, spitting down onto the table before commencing a vile insult:
"Unimportant? That's precious, coming from the likes you one such as YOU. I don't have to speak to someone as dishonorable as you.. your mother clearly laid with her horse to produce a daughter like you!"
The vile accusation hangs in the air for a moment while the guards are taken back for a moment, hardly believing what was just said. One of them kicks the prisoner in the back of the head in response to his insult towards the yoriki. But the prisoner continues on, undeterred:
"Even if I hadn't given Lord Moon my soul, I wouldn't talk to filth like you! Your worthless Clan should have stayed where you belong.. with the unwashed barbarians!"
The other Thunder Guard tightens his grip on his katana and draws it a few inches, looking pointedly to Shinjo Xiaoxing for permission to absolve her of the insults from their charge with a quick beheading.
Enduring an insult to one's family and clan is fairly serious.. at Honor Rank 7 you stand to lose 4 boxes of honor if you do not address the situation. Furthermore, his loud voice is doubtlessly carrying through numerous nearby rooms and there's no telling how many Scorpions and Thunder Guard have overheard the slurs. Of course they're pretending to not have heard, but you know they're itching to hear what you do or don't do. This is just the sort of thing that spawns reputation-undermining gossip... (and boxes of glory!)
Awareness/Courtier(Manipulation) TN10:
Actually, this prisoner is far from deranged. He's only acting that way... you can tell he's deliberately trying to get himself killed. He must know something he'd rather not divulge, and he's willing to die to protect his cause.
Shinjo Dokiu sees you to one of the formal, wood-paneled parlors that serve as questioning chambers. He replies to Kitsuki Katsurou:
"Oh, no. The pack of ruffians were assaulting participants in the festival, trying to steal their masks. A minor detail pertaining to their crimes caught my attention.. they seemed only interested in the plainest, whitest masks rather than the gaudiest. Naturally I brought this to your attention.
Dozo, make yourselves comfortable. I'll have the guards bring in the ringleader for questioning in a minute or two."
The room is appointed with a table and some spartan cushions.. assuredly intended for Magistrates' use rather than prisoners'. Shinjo Dokiu has thoughtfully provided some writing materials as well as the warm sake to tide you over through your wait.
Before long, Thunder Guard slide the door open and shove a scraggly-looking man into the chambers. After he catches his balance and stands, looking defiantly at you, the guards force him down roughly to his knees. This man is samurai, but has probably already proven quarrelsome since he's been stripped of his swords.
The man looks from each of you to the next without saying a word. He wears a reddish-brown kimono of no discernable origin and of no great quality.
A pair of Scorpion Clan ji-samurai who are members of the Thunder Guard remain behind him, hands resting on the hilts of their own swords, ready for any trouble from the prisoner.
The prisoner suddenly speaks.
"I don't care who you are, Magistrates, but you should know that there is nothing you can do to me. Lord Moon possesses my soul, and I serve him in eternity. You hold no power over me for I am his servant!"
He throws his head back and cackles maniacally to the heavens.
Perception/Investigation TN20 (sorry, totally a visually based check :( Katsurou can roll 2k2 for Whisper's chance to notice something visually and bring it up.:
You notice some sort of black mark or tattoo barely showing on the man's wrist beyond the sleeve of his garment.
When pressed, the Thunder Guard confess that they don't know the nature of what Shinjo Dokiu has discovered.
As you prepare yourselves to return to the prison, Doji Oruku shares with you:
"It may be an issue of sensitivity if he did not wish to risk city watch knowing the truth of the issue. I concur with Akodo Hideyoshi-san... we must get to him with all haste."
Sakyo doesn't bother wishing you a farewell before you hurry off. The Thunder Guard talking with Shinjo Xiaoxing nods to her that he understands her instructions.
After rushing through the same streets for what must be the sixth or seventh time this evening, you return to Civil Hall and seek out Shinjo Dokiu-san in the prison below.
The shugenja is in an office taking care of records when you arrive. He stands hastily and bows to the Magistrates of higher station than he.
"Thank you for coming. I have made a discovery that might be a wonderful coincidence with your investigation. I believe you'll be interested in a group of prisoners the Guard have brought in less than an hour ago. They've mentioned something about stolen masks. From what I gathered from your visit to Sanefusa-sama's warehouse, I believe they may have knowledge of what you seek. If you have questions to ask of them, I'd be happy to prepare a room where an interview can be arranged. Would you like warm sake while you wait?"
Heavy work load tonight... I think I'll save the next big development for tomorrow.
Feel free to roleplay travel to the prison and/or speculating with one another. Unfortunately the Thunder Guard don't know what's up... they just doing messenger boy duty!
Akodo Hideyoshi finds the forge to be more interesting than the humble domestic affairs within the domicile. Even the proud Lions acknowledge the superior skills of the Crab when it comes to weapon making, and the opportunity to see the inside of a Kaiu forge is something that may never come again in this lifetime.
Shirya-san had already removed most of the portable valuables rather than trust the thieves of Ryoko Owari would not break into his forge during his planned absence. But any trained bushi, especially one classically trained like the Akodo, are familiar in general with the processes of forging katanas and you can discern an approximation of what the forge must look like when ready for use. There's certainly no sign that the forge was used as a kiln to work porcelain. Unfortunately, due to its gutted state you fail to discern any trade secrets that would explain the excellence of Kaiu blades.
There is a knock at the front door.. Thunder Guard are there looking for Doji Oruku and the Emerald Magistrate. The kaisatsukan explains:
"Doji-sama, Kuni-sama: Shinjo Dokiu-sama sends word to you. There has been a development in your investigation; he bids you return to the Prison with all haste."
Following Kitsuki Katsurou's empathic assurances Sakyo hesitantly opens the door all the way, nodding softly.
She doesn't complain as you flow into Shirya-san's house with the family's crated possessions. You see his house is a humble affair for a samurai. One story and only a handful of rooms... adjoining the structure is the storefront for selling Shirya's weapons and in the back where most samurai maintain a garden or koi there is instead a small forge. It doesn't look original to the plot.. the Kaiu assuredly installed it after buying the house.
As Sakyo watches the lot of you traipse in and out, stacking her and her husband's belongings, she remains wordless and passive but it seems Katsurou-san got through to her a little bit. She seems to be on the verge of being willing to talk to you, or perhaps at least answer questions. She just needs to be prodded a little.
There is no sign that the masks are or were recently here, at least not in open view. Of course there's no way to be completely sure without a thorough search. But pulling up the tatami mats to peek underneath might turn Sakyo back to firmly clamming up. Let me know what your plans are!
Kaiu Sakyo answers the door, looking somewhat surprised to see you still here. She voicelessly responds to almost anything you ask by shaking her head and making accompanying hand waves.
She doesn't even slide the door completely open; she seems to be almost as afraid of you as she was of her husband. When not gesturing with her hands, she clutches the edge of the door protectively and hides almost completely behind it, just peeking out at you.
I'll want to see someone make a successful awareness/courtier check TN 10 before she'll willingly allow anyone in. If noone gets that TN, she just meekly refuses everything you ask of her.
If you would rather post roleplaying some Bad Cop tactics, I'll allow intimidation instead, same TN.
These men will clearly wiggle around delicate issues with the proper circumstance. Noted.
That's definitely an impression I've been trying to give you about Kuni Eiriasu. Not so much Doji Oruku, though. He's Honor Boy Number 1!
I'm using the two of them to kind of show you the pros and cons in law enforcement in being honorable and.. well.. not as much.
Going full-on Dirty Harry should always be a viable option in response to Rokugan's stifling rules of etiquette getting in the way of doing your duty.
Maintaining high honor isn't hard because it's hard to be honorable... it's hard because NOT taking honor hits sometimes means the bad guy gets to get away...
So anyway. Don't read more into that than I'm saying.. I'm not saying you HAVE to bust in Shirya's door ;) I just thought this situation served as a nice moment for some table talk :)
I suppose the easiest thing to do is magically say the timelines of searching the cart and dropping off Shirya-san at the prison and coming back took exactly the same amount of time. Viola, the party is reunited!
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.
Kitsuki Katsurou wrote:
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."
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.
At Civil Hall:
Shinjo Xiaoxing wrote:
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?
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 (It's just past midnight).
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.
We'll say the Inn of Orange Blossom. Swords Polished is a bit out of the way, and at the other end of a boat ride anyway. The Inn is very conveniently located between where you are now and the Prison, plus you have the invitation from Hametsu to pop in anytime, to boot.
Unfortunately I'll have to postpone an actual update until tomorrow (too much homework this weekend) but there WILL be one. Feel free to post what precautions or strategies you'd like to take to make sure Shirya-san doesn't get lost his way to the Prison. For those staying behind, go ahead and post whatever you'd like to do here at his house/storefront. Some Thunder Guard will maintain a perimeter for you if you need one.
"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?"
So, obviously an armed bushi being led somewhere he doesn't want to go requires a healthy escort. If that armed bushi is also a cultist with sinister plans for tonight, he may have help lurking in the shadows to help him lose his escort, making a solid escort even more necessary. Which of you want to help in that (and go to the Prison for the next RP scene) and which of you want to remain here at Shirya's house? Thunder Guard NPCs can be summoned to assist you with however you want to split up or not split up.
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."
Quote:
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?
Well, only a select group of people should know about the Oni. The Crimson Sunset Cartel and Whisper, obviously. The Oni was summoned, as you learned, to retrieve the masks so that they can be returned to the cultists. Said cultists may or may not know the Oni was ever part of the picture... you don't have a way of knowing that yet.
Oh, and as of this point, I'm presuming that unless Shirya does something like draw his sword and attack you, you're going to want to ask Eiriasu-san to throw him in the dungeon. It's pretty clear Shirya has been lying to you and he's doubling down rather than fessing up. Unless you propose an alternate plan, my next post will assume you're cool with the magistrate ordering his detention.
It strikes you as odd that he'd be taking his wife "to her mother" at Yogo Castle when Sakyo was formerly of the Suzume family. The Yogo family isn't even the right Clan!
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."
Shinjo Xiaoxing:
You get the idea this guy is pretty much willing to say anything to get you to go away so he can get out of town.
Kitsuki Katsurou:
You get the idea this guy is pretty much willing to say anything to get you to go away so he can get out of town. Furthermore, his story just doesn't add up. Who prefers to travel at night? Who doesn't celebrate one of the biggest festivals in Rokugan? Lastly, if this trip truly is due to his wife's precarious health, why has it waited a month?
Going to hold off on giving feedback on investigation rolls until after this line of inquiry plays out.
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."
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.
The Murdered Emerald Magistrate:
His murder in Ryoko Owari Toshi is quite the topic of discussion. Noone knows who killed him, but there are plenty of suspects. The Emerald Champion in the far-off Imperial Capital has yet to name an investigator into the murder. He was also cousin to the Hatamoto you met earlier in the night.
Akodo Hideyoshi wrote:
"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!"
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.
You may continue to press Sakyo for information, but now after Shirya-san's insistence you do not, doing so would be a breach of etiquette.
After Watchful points out that the woman is pregnant he asks for her to sit down.
Blarg! Posted as I was composing the reply!
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.
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.
Arrgh time keeps slipping away from me.. apologies for that update taking almost a frikkin' week. Schoolwork is starting to overwhelm, heh. "I'll catch up tomorrow" needs to be stricken from my mental discussions with myself...
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."
Since noone else had an alternate idea to Hideyoshi's suggestion you catch Kaui Shinya before he ditches town, we'll press on there.
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.
Awareness/Heraldry TN15:
You've heard rumors about Kaiu Shirya's scandalously short courtship of his wife, formerly of the Suzume family of the Sparrow Clan. How the overly demure and plain-looking maiden caught the attention of a hero of a Great Clan is a topic of enthusiastic gossip among the samurai of Ryoko Owari. That she's already pregnant tends to support the salacious theories.
You're pretty sure he's hiding something. Maybe not related to the masks per se, but you feel he's covering up something he doesn't want you to know.
with 1 raise:
He's not just trying to misdirect you by bringing up Kaiu Shinya. You think he honest-go-goodness thinks you should pay him a visit and ask some questions.
with 2 raises:
He's totally lying about the whole "I would never have bought maho!" He seems the sort to be willing to use any tool to suit his purposes. You suspect he probably didn't buy the masks, but only because he didn't have the opportunity given the sincerity in his surprise about their existence in town.
You're invited to check out this post. I'm going to carry on with the assumption that you're threatening to ruin his evening by spending the rest of the Festival in the Shosuro dungeons courtesy of Kuni Eiriasu-san's authority. As such, I think this calls for an Intimidation check to get him to talk... Interrogation would be for evaluating how truthful he's being once he does start talking. Katsurou is doing most of the talking, but since Xiaoxing and Hideyoshi added roleplay I'll call it a cooperative effort. Unfortunately noone has any ranks in Intimidation, but I want to reward the cooperative effort anyway. I'll do so by giving a free raise, represented by +5 to the total roll. Lastly, as Intimidation is a Low Skill its use normally involves an honor loss.. but I feel this is a circumstance where an honor hit isn't necessary.
The party's intimidating threats (Based off Katsurou's Awareness, 3k3:3d10 ⇒ (7, 4, 5) = 16+5 for free raise = 21
Hida Muchi's Willpower/Etiquette 3k3:3d10 ⇒ (2, 9, 7) = 18
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?"
Since I have a feeling there'll be requests to make Awareness/Interrogation tests to see if you detect any BS, here's your TN:
A few thoughts on Rokugani police procedure: (I also recommend reviewing page 48 of the RPG if you haven't seen it already)
There is no taking a suspect downtown to sweat out a confession. For one, there is no Police HQ analogue in Rokugan. The nearest analogue in Ryoko Owari is the Emerald Magistrate's personal estate, which is currently vacant as no Emerald Magistrate has yet been posted to the city since the murder of the last one.
What your characters DO have available as a threat is a trip to the Prison. What we'd recognize in the real world as Due Process just doesn't exist in Rokugan... guilt or innocence is basically determined by a Magistrate's pronouncement. (the 2000AD/Judge Dredd legal system is pretty close to the Rokugani system actually). This means Magistrates, if willing to deviate from the tight and narrow path of honorable behavior, are pretty powerful individuals! The major check on a Magistrate's power is in protections of the Samurai social class. Where a Magistrate can summarily pronounce a peasant guilty of whatever crime he sees fit, a samurai can only be pronounced guilty by a Magistrate of sufficient rank. For Ryoko Owari, generally that means the Governor must pass judgement over an accused Samurai herself.. although she has delegated that power to her chief and most trusted magistrate, Yogo Osako.
Since Hida Muchi is a samurai, you can't just summarily pronounce him guilty of trafficking stolen goods as if he were a peasant merchant. (I know that's not the threat, but bear with me here) You CAN however throw him in the dungeon to await an audience with Yogo Osako or the Governor, where you'd present your testimony against his*. Now, if he's innocent, he has to wonder what sort of corrupt evidence you'll bring to frame him. If he's guilty, he has to worry whether you have legit evidence and his goose is as good as cooked. Either way, from his point of view the threat of spending the rest of the Festival in a dungeon is unappealing, and is likely to want to avoid you coming to that decision... as his options then would be submit or resist violently.. neither are attractive since you outnumber him 4 to 1 (including the Emerald Magistrate inside his home)
*=This is assuming you're magistrates (after this adventure, you will be!) Right now as Yoriki you are only deputies without the full powers of a Magistrate and your implied threat is that Kuni Eiriasu would be the one ordering incarceration.
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."
Kitsuki Katsurou: With your raise you know that Hida Muchi is being obstinate because he wants to know more about the scandal he thinks must be behind your investigation. What's the big deal if some party favors were stolen? It'd be like a federal case being made out of $10 missing from a cash register. Sure, there's a crime involved but why is the theft of petty merchandise so important that an Emerald Magistrate and a squad of Yoriki dealing with it NOW, during the festival? Unless he feels that he's being shared some juicy gossip or the inside scoop of a scandal, all he's going to give you is "I know nothing". It might even be true.. but if you get him talking more in depth, it'd be easier to tell if he's lying.
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?"
Awareness/Courtier TN10:
The Crab aren't sticklers for traditional educations for their samurai, and Hida Muchi apparently made it past his gempukku with the barest of training in social conduct even by Crab standards.
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".
Kuni Eiriasu politely accepts Hida Muchi's invitation and heads inside to mingle with the Crab merchant's guests and neighbors. After Muchi-san closes the door again he looks back to you expectantly, and listens to Kitsuki Katsurou.
After which he scrunches his puffy face in obvious puzzlement.
"Wait.. waitwaitwait. You're telling me that you're looking for porcelain masks? That's all this is about?"
Hida Muchi offers a sincere belly laugh this time, doubling over and wiping his eye before continuing.
"Well, the Festival is already underway but Uncle Muchi-san can get you what you need.. of course I have masks! I'll make you the talk of your party! What color do you like?"
Hida Muchi looks from one of you to the next, hoping someone will say what this call to his home is all about. When he notices Kuni Eiriasu's Crab heraldry, his demeanor changes visibly.
"Another honest Crab, in this cesspit of a city... Ho!"
Muchi-san holds his belly and forces an exaggerated laugh that's not very convincingly covering up his sycophantic behavior towards the Crab magistrate.
"Of course you came by to partake in my fine sake, didn't you? You're welcome to come on in and discuss whatever important business you have.. or if you prefer we can discuss sensitive topics out here on my porch. What is so important that you've come to this nest of Scorpions? I can't imagine what it could be."
Kuni Eiriasu turns to you and mentions quietly:
"Perhaps I should take him up on his offer. From what I've seen of your service to Doji Oruku-san, I trust you can handle a simple interrogation without supervision. I'll head inside and look around to see if any of his guests are suspicous. You can question him about the masks out here on his porch, away from his guests while he's in a good mood?"
I'm presuming someone fills Shinjo Xiaoxing in on what occurred and what the current plan is.
Hida Muchi's home is in the heart of the Merchant Quarter. You've become practiced at navigating the avenues of the City and you're now passing the Inn of the Orange Blossom for the third or fourth time this evening. Doji Oruku takes his leave here, heading towards the Nobles' Quarter and the Crane Estate within.
"I'll catch up with you downtown as soon as I can. All four of those Crab wares-mongers live in the vicinity of Garnet and Malachite Streets.. we shouldn't have trouble finding one another after I safely secure this cursed sword..."
Soon you arrive at Hida Muchi's gate on Silver Avenue, between Garnet and Malachite Streets just as Doji Oruku described. The Crab samurai's house is smaller and less splendorous than those in the Nobles' Quarter. But as a samurai, propriety still demands his house be finer than the merchant houses nearby.
You push through a swing gate decorated with Muchi-san's personal mon: it depicts a Hida crab dismembering a scorpion in its claws. When you reach his porch, you can hear that the samurai is entertaining some of his lesser-station neighbors tonight.
He eventually answers the door and greets you. Muchi-san is indeed an imposing figure, but not muscular in the way that many Crab bushi are. His physique may have once been powerful but the aging samurai is both balding and overweight. His appearance isn't helped by his obviously poor regimen of personal hygiene. An expression of joviality fades to a dour scowl when he sees a magistrate and yoriki on his doorstep. He pulls his smoking pipe from his lips and sneers:
Once you've gotten away from the throngs packed on the southern end of the island, it's quick travel back to Gate's "Swords Polished" establishment.
If he's even aware of the current social buzz about the rad new show being put on at the House of Water Lilies, he doesn't mention it as he returns your property... all carefully polished (or not) as he promised during his custody.
Shinjo Xiaoxing:
When you reach the reeds, you're somewhat puzzled by the absence of birds there. They certainly didn't fly away...
But before long you hear someone happily humming a tune. As you part the tall reeds to find this person, you find none other than the senile elder you met earlier in the evening, Doji Ukidanu! When he sees you, he stops his humming and smiles.
"You're a long way from home, Shinjo-san. Yet you're not. Imagine that! Tee-hee-hee!"
There's an awkward silence drawing out and as you feel that he's waiting for you to say something, he suddenly speaks up again.
"It's not your time to come Home yet, child of the wind. You have a duty to return to. Are you ready? You must be ready or you won't make it back."
He gestures around at the idyllic landscape.
"What you see, isn't real. It's as real as the Carpenter Wall. Which is, not very real at all! It is time for you to abandon your wall. You do not belong here any longer."
You know that somehow Ukidanu-san can send you back, but you don't know how. You are beginning to be apprehensive however, and memories are beginning to return about Ryoko Owari.. and the Festival.. and the terrible Oni.. and the dread secrets you were shown by the blade...
Once the ferry lands on the east bank of the river, Doji Oruku bids you luck in your meeting with Hida Muchi and he promises to catch up with you as quickly as he can. As a handful of Thunder Guard pick up the litter that Shinjo Xiaoxing is strapped to, her eyes slam open and she utters a gutteral scream that shatters the tense calm. If she weren't tied down, her violent writhing might have caused her to tip over into the river. The startled guardsmen drop the litter and step back in shock, but the Battle Maiden's violent throes continue unabated.
A few, long moments later, she suddenly Stops. Her hair is ragged and her skin clammy, and her voice sounds raw. Shinjo Xiaoxing says:
"What... happened?"
Shinjo Xiaoxing:
You're awake again, but I do reserve the right to "hijack" you and post on your behalf from time to time ;) Also: You've gained the Cursed by Yume-do flaw to represent your horrible experience and visions granted by the sword. And of course I'm going to have to dock you a single box of glory for your unwilling yet decidedly unsamurai-like wailing. Even though you were only semi-conscious.
