Maeda Atsuko's page

I'll assume Shikyo translates for you.

Maeda Atsuko nods sagely, and replies, "Karuto shinja no kakurega wa kegareta rei ni yotte yogosa remasu. Sore wa anata ga karera no saishū-tekina nokori ni sorera o michibiku yoku arimasu."

The sword is taken reverently and placed in the arms of a statue of Irori posed in the stance of a warrior thrusting a weapon. To your surprise the sword fits the statue's hand perfectly. A number of monks arrive and begin a slow rhythmic chant. There are no words to their ululations but somehow the ensemble feels right and there are deep patterns to the intertwining chant. You stay there meditating as afternoon turns into evening and evening into night.

You start as a gong is softly sounded to mark the middle of the night. Maeda abruptly gets up and fetches the sword from the statue. The torch light must be playing tricks on you, for you could have sworn you saw the statue flex it's fingers slightly. Of course that would be impossible, it's just a statue. Anyway Maeda bows and hands the sword back to you Mohktar.

You notice nothing different about the sword at first however the hamon seems to have changed subtly and you notice the waves seem to alter slightly every time you look at it. Curiously you never actually see the hamon change, even if you stare at the blade for hours.

The weapon now has the ghost touch property, please adjust your sheet. What are your intentions now? Don't forget tomorrow is the parade of souls.

Mohktar & Shikyomaru

After some hours in contemplation, Maeda Atsuko suddenly addresses Mohktar and his companion. So many words at once feels shocking after the calm of the temple has soothed your spirits, "Sudeni toshi wa kurīnā, 1 nebukai kaiyō o setsujo sa rete iru kanji. Soredemo watashi wa mata, sakujo suru hitsuyō ga arimasu haruka ni ōkīga, enpō no kata ga aru to osorete imasu. Watashi wa anata ga nozonde ite dekiru sensu, mada teki ga waribiki sa rete wa narimasen. Sore wa watashi no chikara ni natte iru baai, watashi wa sukēru o katamukeru to baransu o kaifuku suru tame ni, anata no onkei o fuyo shinakereba narimasen."

Mistress Tari acknowledges Mohktar as he and Shikyo take their leave, and the acolytes open the heavy oaken doors for them.

They walk across the road to the serene grounds of contemplation. Outside in the evening light, great torches have been lit and there is a class in the quad. In a perfect square twenty ranks by twenty, white clothed initiates are practicing the second kata. Their moves are more or less in perfect synchrony with the orange robed monk leading the class.

Mohktar and Shikyo walk past the class and enter the temple. The vaulted ceiling is very high and is decorated in places by carvings illustrating sections from Irori's scriptures. In the echoing central room, which you notice has perfect rotational symmetry, you spot several monks meditating before a statue of Irori. One of them is Maeda Atsuko, the monk you spoke to before.

They shift slightly so that you two may join them, but otherwise make no comment.

At the temple of Irori

The monk looks at you strangely for a moment, and then suddenly he nods as understanding blossoms "As it is with the snake, it is with the land. For when you fight a snake, you must remove it's head lest it's tail grow back."

At the Temple of Irori

The monk Atsuko directs Mohktar and Shikyomaru to sit, saying slowly but implacably, "Ah the excesses of youth, you have been burning the candle at both ends." There is a pause before he adds, "You are wounded in body and spirit. Rest will help, as will the ministrations of Irori, relax you will be safe here and in the morning we shall see to your stony friend."

@Mohktar and Shikyomaru, you have Atsuko's attention if you want to ask him anything. If not the monks will simply tend to your wounds.