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Post by cassusaevum on Dec 8, 2018 21:28:34 GMT -5
Session 1: The 3:10 to TsumaExperience Earned: 4Dramatis Personae- Kakita Meiko - A Crane duelist who struggles with her innate soft-hardheartedness and her quest for perfection. She is accompanied by her long-time servant, Daisechs.
- Kunis Daizu - A Crab purifier, intent on tracking down the Shadow wherever it may go.
- Togashi Jin - A Dragon bushi cursed with bad luck and destined to be a great soldier.
- Shosuro Ayame - A Scorpion courtier (so far as anyone knows) who secretly works as an infiltrator and, perhaps, shinobi for her clan.
The Curtain RisesIt is the 20th year of the reign of the Divine Emperor, Hantei the 38th. The Emerald Empire has stood for 1,000 years, thanks to the guidance of the kami and the wise benevolence of the Hantei emperors. Each of the seven Great Clans vies eternally to be first in the Emperor's favor while safeguarding Rokugan from its many enemies, within and without.
The Topaz Championship is a chance for each clan to test their best and brightest against one another. Though all contestants can pass the tests and become a samurai, the winner claims glory for themselves and their clan.
You have each been chosen, honored, to undertake the journey to the village of Tsuma, deep in the Crane territory, where, as your gempukku ceremony, you will compete for the Topaz Championship. You have met each other along the road, and as you are all traveling to the same place, for the same purpose, have chosen to cross the last miles together. A Matter of BakemonoThe young samurai-to-be (and one older and somewhat put-upon servant) traveled down the road towards Tsuma when Daizu-san was distracted by the appearance of a earth kami who bid him beware and make ready. Moments later, despite being deep in Crane territory and a long, long way from the Kaiu Wall, a half-dozen bakemono burst from the surrounding brush armed with broken spears and armored in the cast-off bits and pieces of ashigaru armor. In the ensuing fight, the Rokugani proved their mettle, easily slaying the foul creatures. A fire kami appeared to Daizu-san, leading him to the trail that the bakemono left in their wake. Never Split the Party
After some discussion, Ayame, Jin, and Meiko all decided to continue on to Tsuma, unwilling to get sidetracked from their duty and risk bringing dishonor on themselves by showing up late to their gempukku. Daizu, however, torn between his duty and the need to hunt down the tainted creatures, opted to follow the trail. The trio followed the road for a couple of hours more, until they neared the village proper. There, they found the road blocked by a bent old man by the name of Ryu who was scrabbling to gather the spilled contents of his upturned cart. Meiko immediately "helped" by sending her servant to assist and Jin also stepped forward. Having a noble deign to help a peasant so directly overwhelmed the man who was effusive in his gratitude. A chance wind brought a paper to Meiko's grasp, which immediately caught her eye as bearing the seal of the Emerald Champion, Doji Satsume and being addressed to no other than Kakita Toshimoko, the head of the Kakita Dueling Academy. Meiko read the letter, which was written in a bit of cipher. She managed to decipher it, however, learning that Kakita Toshimoko-sensei was the brother-in-law of Doji Satsume-sama. For all the world, it appeared that the Emerald Champion was urging Toshimoko-sensei to acknowledge a bastard child. The letter seemed to imply that the bastard was unknown to Toshimoko, and it did not identify anyone by name. Meanwhile, Kunis Daizu came upon a clearing in the forest that had drawn numerous kami. By communing with the spirits, Daizu-san managed to contact the ghosts of some villagers who informed Daizu that the bakemono were taking refuge deep within the earth. He learned that there were enough bakemono to destroy the peasants' village, which likely held somewhere between 30 and 50 souls. Realizing that even he might not be equipped to take on such numbers, Kunis Daizu marked the location in his mind and started the long run to Tsuma. Back outside Tsuma, through conversation with Ryu, the rest of the samurai-to-be learned of the death of the Emerald Champion. Ryu, unwilling to go against the official word, told them that Satsume-sama died of natural causes, though Ayame suspected that the loyal servant believed no such thing. Meiko also noticed that Ryu had a charm on that bore the mon of the Mantis clan. It seemed an odd thing for a servant of the Crane to be wearing... but the cart was righted, the possessions put back in place, and Ryu gratefully moved out of the samurai's way. Meiko-san asked to keep the document she had found... despite Ryu's obvious reluctance, she took his assent at its word. The First Night
The group (minus one marathon-running Crab) made their way into town and to the registrar's office, where they were given their lodging assignment. Meiko asked after any Mantis clan members and learned that there was, indeed, one participating in the Topaz Championship, a young man by the name of Hitoshi. As they were having this discussion, a tired and sweaty (and sure to be cramping later) Kunis-Daizu made it to town, rejoining the others. The group, reunited, made it's way to the House of the Laughing Carp, the Inn and Teahouse where they would be staying. Even from the outside, they heard the commotion and upon entering saw a young Mantis in a heated conversation with the innkeeper about the lack of available accommodations. Togashi-Jin headed off any confrontation by offering to share his room with Hitoshi. Of Sake and Animal CrueltyHitoshi and Jin went off to the Poisoned Water Sake House to drink the night away. Meiko engaged the other contestants in playful banter while Daizu set up shop to tell the fortunes of anyone who would listen (and several who wouldn't). Ayame engaged in somewhat darker pursuits, identifying the front runner for the horsemanship test the following day (one Moto Batbayar) and then sneaking off to find her horse. She lamed the mount in such a way that it would not be obvious until under stress and then rejoined the others. The Competition BeginsThe following day, Kakita Toshimoko-sensei addressed the contestants, reminding them that they eyes of the Empire were upon them. Then, the competition began! On day 1, the contestants were tested in: Sumai, Heraldry, Athletics, Horseback Riding, and Conduct. The most notable event of the day was when Moto Batbayar suffered a terrible accident, her horse laming when she attempted a flashy turn and actually throwing her. She lost her cool (unmasking) and weeping in a most unseemly manner. Kakita Meiko attempted to comfort her, but the Unicorn still seemed distraught. Though there were some ups and downs, all of the traveling companions had a solid showing on the first day. The session ended with Kakita Toshimoko addressing the gathering and with the promise of celebration and sake to come...
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Post by cassusaevum on Dec 29, 2018 13:02:00 GMT -5
Session 2: The Idol, the Duel, and the MurderExperience Earned: 5Dramatis Personae Kakita Meiko - A Crane duelist who struggles with her innate soft-hardheartedness and her quest for perfection. She is accompanied by her long-time servant, Daisechs. Kunis Daizu - A Crab purifier, intent on tracking down the Shadow wherever it may go. Togashi Jin - A Dragon bushi cursed with bad luck and destined to be a great soldier. Shosuro Ayame - A Scorpion courtier (so far as anyone knows) who secretly works as an infiltrator and, perhaps, shinobi for her clan.A Wild EveningOn the evening after a long day of competition, Togashi Jin and Kakita Meiko headed to the Poisoned Water Sake House along with most of the other competitors. The only exceptions were Kunis Daizu, who decided to take the time to investigate the sense of evil he perceived within the dojo proper, Shosuro Ayame who elected to retire to her room to rest and prepare for the next day's competition, and Bayushi Mei-Lin whose whereabouts were unknown. Along the way to the sake house, Togashi Jin, aware of his clan's orders to win the tournament at all costs, sought out Kitsuki Yuikimi, last year's champion, to pick her brain for anything that might be of use in the coming days. Meanwhile, Kakita Meiko attempted to console Moto Batbayar, by drawing her into conversation and, being softhearted, convince her that maybe her injured horse could still be useful. This backfired when she suggested that the noble Unicorn steed might be suitable to be a pack animal or some such. Narrowly avoiding a duel in the streets, Kakita Meiko made her way to the Poisoned Water Sake House as well. She sought out Hitoshi, the young Mantis clan samurai, who was drinking alone. She attempted to make him feel welcome among the samurai of the great clans.
Moto BatbayarMeanwhile, Kunis Daizu made his way into the storage chambers beneath the dojo where, among other things, he found what appeared to be the personal effects of several people. The darkness was calling him from somewhere within. He searched the belongings and found an obsidian idol carved into the likeness of a sad geisha. Unsure what to do with this obviously tainted item, he took it to one of the judges, Kakita Naomori, to get her thoughts. He learned that the belongings beneath the dojo came from former students who died and asked that their belongings be returned to the school. This triggered some odd flash in Daizu's mind, where he saw himself, standing in the Shadowlands, holding an obsidian Geisha statue, but not the one he had just uncovered. Was this one of his lost memories? Unfortunately, his painful honestly got the better of him, and he informed Kakita-san that the Crane shugenja had failed in their responsibilities. Angered, Naomori instructed the Kunis to leave the item with her. Back at the Poisoned Water Sake House a group of ronin arrived and immediately began hurling insults at the young samurai present. A brawl broke out, with Togashi Jin throwing the first punch. Kakita Meiko managed to stay out of it and only observe. She did note that Togashi Jin in a cunning and somewhat ruthless display, seemed to intentionally hurl a ronin into an unsuspecting Kakita Riku, injuring her and worsening her chances in the coming days of the tournament. With the excitement for the day at an end, all the contestants retired to their chambers to await the next day's competition. Competition and Murder Most Foul
The day's competition went smoothly, with the young heroes performing exceptionally well and most of the other samurai having a solid showing as well. There were a few performances that were a bit sub-par, most notably that of Kakita Riku, who seemed to be suffering from some broken ribs. With the evening came the feat and presentation of gifts, to somewhat mixed results. The Scorpion and the Dragon managed to provide gifts pleasing to Kakita Toshimoko, though the gifts from the Crab and the Crane fell a bit flat. When Hitoshi was passed over and not even given the opportunity to present his gift, he pushed himself to his feet in a rage and challenged Kakita Toshimoko to a duel. Hitoshi was red-faced and sweating, clearly out of sorts. Then he began to shudder and a gout of blood spurted from his mouth. He fell across the table, having some kind of seizure. Then he laid still, clearly dead. After a few moments of chaos, Toshimoko ordered everyone back to their chambers. Back at the House of the Laughing Carp, the traveling companions gathered in Hitoshi's quarters (those he shared with Togashi Jin) and went through his belongings, looking for anything that would explain his sudden death and likely murder. They found nothing out of the ordinary. The only item of real note was a small travel painting of a young Mantis woman. Servants of Toshimoko came to claim the belongings, presumably to look through them in the same way the companions had. Shosuro Ayame kept the small painting, intending to find out who the woman was. With no other recourse, the young samurai held a brief vigil for Hitoshi and then retired. A Day of Dueling...
When the contestants gathered at dawn of the final day of the Topaz Championship they found a disheveled and saddened Kakita Toshimoko awaiting them. He explained that it appeared Hitoshi had been murdered, and that the Mantis seemed to be the only target. His people were investigating, but in the meantime, the tournament must go on. With that, he revealed the bracket of matchups that pitted the remaining contestants against one another. Yasuki Jun immediately bowed out, acknowledging the rest of the opponents as superior to him. Kakita Meiko was paired with Moto Batbayar and (unintentionally) offered up a humiliating defeat. Togashi Jin defeated Bayushi Mei-Lin, striking her so hard that he shattered her face, broke her nose, and may very well have permanently scarred the girl. Shosuro Ayame, paired against a Kakita Riku that hardly seemed slowed by her injuries, elected to acknowledge a superior opponent and concede. Kunis Daizu had a hard-fought duel against Shiba Toya, but ultimately fell before him. Kakita Meiko bowled through Kitsu Tsubasa and found herself facing her companion, Togashi Jin. It was a hard-fought duel, but, ultimately, the specialized skills of the Kakita overcame the more warlike training of the Dragon, and Kakita Meiko advanced to the final round. There, she faced off against Kakita Riku, the star pupil of Toshimoko-sensei. Bayushi Mei-Lin
The duel was quick, but intense. Both contestants landed strikes, became compromised and went for simultaneous finishing blows. Again, they both landed, but Kakita Riku, slowed as she was by her injured ribs, clearly had the less-solid strike. After some deliberation, the victory, and the honor of being Topaz Champion. The formal presentation would be held that evening, 2 hours after sunsent, at a grand feast (and hopefully, one not interrupted with murder). ... An Evening of Horror
As the sun fell and the contestants prepared for the feast, screams rang throughout Tsuma. Rushing from their rooms, the samurai found the halls full of bakemono, these clad in garb that looked like a poor imitation of what shinobi might wear. The ensuing battle raged in the House of the Laughing Carp and then spilled out into the streets. There, the newly-minted samurai saw that the ninja-bakemono were everywhere. The judges from the competition were fighting against them, but were being overwhelmed. Worse, near the dojo itself, a might oni towered, casually tearing the life from the samurai who tried to stand against it. As the young samurai finished off the last of the bakemono near the House of the Laughing Carp and rallied the other contestants to them, Kakita Toshimoko strode out to confront the oni. In a display of mastery that showed why he was the main instructor of the most renown dueling academy, he moved like lightening and the oni fell before him. There was a moment of absolute, perfect stillness. And then the party heard the steady approach of war drums...
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Post by cassusaevum on Jan 12, 2019 12:23:38 GMT -5
Session 3: In Defense of TsumaExperience Earned: 4Dramatis Personae
- Kakita Meiko - A Crane duelist who struggles with her innate soft-hardheartedness and her quest for perfection. She is accompanied by her long-time servant, Daisechs.
- Kuni Daizu - A Crab purifier, intent on tracking down the Shadow wherever it may go.
- Togashi Jin - A Dragon bushi cursed with bad luck and destined to be a great soldier.
- Shosuro Ayame - A Scorpion courtier (so far as anyone knows) who secretly works as an infiltrator and, perhaps, shinobi for her clan.
Upon the Day of BattleWith the war drums of a bakemono hoard sounding on the horizon, the young samurai rushed to Kakita Toshimoko's side. With so many of the experienced samurai dead or grievously injured, Toshimoko-sensei singled out the heroes to act as the leaders of what few defenses Tsuma could pull together in the hour or so before the battle would be joined. Each was given the responsibility of leading a cohort: the "younglings" consisting of students from the Kakita dueling academy and the contestants of the Topaz Championship were given into Kakita Meiko's care; the lone contingent of trained soldiers - some ashigaru archers - became the responsibility of Shocuro Ayame; the remaining forces, two cohorts of green peasant levies, were led by Kuni Daizu and Togashi Jin respectively.The Battle was joined, and the Defense of Tsuma began in earnest. Kakita Toshimoko, with the aid of his leaders, devised a plan to first Draw the Enemy In and then try to Grind them Down. While the battle took some time, the planning and prowess proved potent. The bakemono hoards suffered extensive casualties, and the momentum gained from well-executed orders chewed away at their discipline. But the true panic came when two of the enemy leaders were taken out within the span of a single hour, falling victim to heroic Clashes with Togashi Jin and Kuni Daizu.The hoard driven off, but far from killed to the man (or monster), the survivors went about the task of caring for the fallen and shoring up the defenses against what might be coming. They also pooled their knowledge to know that the numbers sent against them could not have simple crawled over the Kaiu Wall. The only way for an force such as this to appear in the heart of Rokugan was through the use of dark blood sorcery.A Matter of HonorRelief came a couple of days later, when a garrison from Son of Crane Castle and a contingent of priests showed up. The Crane warriors took the watch, while the leader met with Kakita Toshimoko. Given their first chance to stand down, the defenders retired to the House of the Laughing Carp to rest. The rest was short lived, as the evening brought sad news.A herald arrived, to inform all present that Kakita Toshimoko had brought great shame upon the clan. In a happening unprecedented since the start of the Topaz Championship centuries before, a student had died. Worse, numerous visiting samurai serving as judges and given surety by the clan, had been killed in the attack. And, finally, the land itself was now tainted by the aftermath of the battle, rendering Tsuma and the finest dueling academy in the Empire a place unsuitable for human life. Given this, Kakita Toshimoko chose to the honorable thing. The following day, he would exercise the rites of expiation and take his own life.The herald then offered Kakita Meiko a scroll sealed with the personal seal of Kakita Toshimoko himself. Within was a simple request - for the new-minted Topaz Champion who had performed so admirably in the battle to act as his second and wield the blade that took his, did she deem him worthy of such a death.The Fall of ToshimokoThe following morning, the ceremony took place. Kakita Toshimoko-sensei with Kakita Meiko acting as his second performed seppuku clearing the stain of honor from his soul and that of his clan. Meiko-san struck with mercy and precision, her blade claiming Kakita-san's head at the perfect moment, so that he felt only enough pain from the ritual disembowelment to meet the demands of honor before being mercifully ended.In the somber time that followed, the companions, having assumed the true mantle and responsibility of adulthood, prepared to return to their respective lands.A not-so-Peaceful InteruldeA year passed with the companions separated. In this time, each companion was presented with a series of choices to make. I'm not going to detail all the nuance of those choices, but I'll attempt to summarize briefly the year that was spent by each player. During this year, the throne of the Emerald Champion sat empty, and the Clans began to test the limits of what they could get away with without the Emperor's right-hand at their station.Togashi Jin - The Dragon, under the command of the provincial daimyo Mirumoto Bokai began an incursion into Phoenix lands, looking to bite off a nice chunk of the mountains to expand his own holdings. Togashi Jin served well and honorably, threading the needle between following orders and becoming a heartless warlord in his own right. In the end, he held true to his ambitions of being a soldier, and after a successful campaign against the Phoenix, was awarded the title of Gunso. Kakita Meiko - As the new Topaz Champion, Kakita Meiko was offered a choice to pursue her interest in dueling by heading the City of the Rich Frog to support the Crane delegation there and answer any questions of violence with her blade, or to hone her understanding of the inner workings of the Crane by serving as Adviser to her provincial daimyo, Kakita Jomei. Feeling she could better support her clan at her daimyo's side, she opted to accept the title and spend a year in politics. Almost at once, she learned how dirty politics could be, as she was approached by Doji Fuchida to overthrow the old and weak Jomei-sama, "for the good of the clan." Despite some misgivings, Meiko-san held true, remaining a faithful servant of her lord. Things turned a bit more personal, as she received word from Hitoshi's mother, seeking closure for the death of her son. Not believing the Mantis' theory (that Hitoshi was ordered killed by his father, Toshimoko) Meiko vowed to find out the truth and let the Mantis know. Her year ended with another missive, this from a dear friend among the Phoenix, who informed her that her father's lands had been overrun by the Dragon. While she knew their was nothing Meiko-chan could do directly, Shiba Ayaka begged Meiko-chan to help her find vengeance, by challenging Mirmoto Bokai's son to a duel and killing him. Still torn by the death of Kakita Toshimoko, Meiko refused. Unfortunately, driven to the brink of madness by her helplessness and the usurpation of her home, Shiba Ayaka declared her own enmity towards her one-time friend.
Kuni Daizu - While the others played the game of politics, Kuni Daizu spent a year on the wall. The Shadowlands seemed to be stirring, and before long a minor breech occurred. Daizu-san went with Hiruma scouts to find the source... and discovered instead an entire village that had given in to the taint and simply allowed the creatures of the Shadowlands to pass. He ordered the entire village put to the sword. Not long after, he began having visions of obsidian Geisha statues. They plagued his sleep to the point that he had to do something. Still feeling guilt over the loss of the statue at the Kakita Dojo, he made his way to Tsuma (still thoroughly uninhabitable) and then outward, seeking the lands of Kakita Naomori. He found them, but also discovered that Naomori-san had died unexpectedly. While her family had no notion, Kuni-san could smell the taint of blood magic. Not long after, he was visited at the Wall by a Jade Magistrate, who seemed to suspect Daizu-san in Naomori's death. Being almost mechanically incapable of lying, Daizu-san told the Jade Magistrate everything. Sensing something in the young Kuni, the Magistrate accepted his tale and offered to make him her apprentice, earning Daizu-san the title of Yoriki. Later, Kuni-san was visited by what looked like the shade of Naomori-san. The spirit attempted to seduce him, but Daizu raised the alarm and the apparition simply looked at him sadly before vanishing. It left behind one of the obsidian geisha statues - and left Daizu with the Haunting adversity.
Shosuro Ayame - Welcomed back after her successful mission, Ayame-san was almost immediately dispatched to continue her work for the Scorpion. It began with intercepting a missive from the Phoenix, headed towards Lion lands. Ayame-san managed to complete that task without bloodshed. Next, she was sent to the Castle of Akodo Tanaka, nominally to serve an apprenticeship of sorts and learn about the different clans, but, in actuality, to attempt to undermine negotiations between the Phoenix and the Lion to secure the Lion's alliance against the Dragon. Ayame-san did this first by seducing a young samurai among the Phoenix (Shiba Shiro) and using him as a conduit of information. This worked well until she overplayed her hand, and assassins were set upon her. Ayame-san managed to defeat them, but one, a young Phoenix whose shinobi-style mask came off during the fighting, stirred deep feelings in the romantic side of Ayame's nature and she couldn't bring herself to strike him down when the opportunity arose, so he managed to escape. Knowing that she didn't have much time left in the wake of the assassination attempts, Ayame-san had to attempt a desperate ploy. She decided to assassinate the lead envoy of the Phoenix in such a way that hinted at Lion foul play, souring the burgeoning alliance between the two clans. When she returned home, her daimyo, Shosuro Kiyoshi, awarded her the formal title of Spy.
The Emperor's Peace
It has been a tumultuous time in the Empire of Rokugan with conflicts breaking out among the clans. But no more. Heralds have gone out across the length and breadth of the Empire, and with them they have carried the seal of Imperial Peace. In celebration of his upcoming birthday, the Emperor has declared that no clan shall lift blade or spear against another and that all conflicts must be put on hold. The peace will last for three months time, and woe be unto the Clan that dares break it.
With the throne of the Emerald Champion still vacant, the proclamation lacks some of its teeth, but the Emperor's will is still the will of Heaven, and few in Rokugan would go against it. As such, the Clan Daimyos have agreed, and word has spread that a general armistice is in effect. Though it is not the season for Court, invitations flow in the wake of the Emperor's edict, calling samurai of all rank and station to Courts across the land. The purpose of these Courts is clear - discuss what is to be done about the lack of an Emerald Champion and cement new alliances against the stirrings of war that are sweeping across the land.
While you may not be high enough in the ranks to receive your own invitation, you have each been tapped by your respective Daimyos to accompany them to a Court taking place at the City of the Peaceful Hills. Peaceful Hills is located in Lion lands, but sits close enough to the border of both Scorpion and Northern Crane lands to see many visitors from both. It is also relatively centrally located within the Empire, making it easier for delegations from all the clans to attend.
Given that the heart of any Court is politics and that every resource should be put to use, you have all been tasked with certain things by your daimyos.
Next Time: The Court of Peaceful Hills City...
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Post by cassusaevum on Jan 27, 2019 14:56:46 GMT -5
Session 4: Court is (not quite) in Session
Experience Earned: 3 Dramatis Personae Kakita Meiko - A Crane duelist who struggles with her innate soft-hardheartedness and her quest for perfection. She is accompanied by her long-time servant, Daisechs. Kuni Daizu - A Crab purifier, intent on tracking down the Shadow wherever it may go. Togashi Jin - A Dragon bushi cursed with bad luck and destined to be a great soldier. Shosuro Ayame - A Scorpion courtier (so far as anyone knows) who secretly works as an infiltrator and, perhaps, shinobi for her clan. The Curtain RisesIt has been a tumultuous time in the Empire of Rokugan with conflicts breaking out among the clans. But no more. Heralds have gone out across the length and breadth of the Empire, and with them they have carried the seal of Imperial Peace. In celebration of his upcoming birthday, the Emperor has declared that no clan shall lift blade or spear against another and that all conflicts must be put on hold. The peace will last for three months time, and woe be unto the Clan that dares break it.
With the throne of the Emerald Champion still vacant, the proclamation lacks some of its teeth, but the Emperor's will is still the will of Heaven, and few in Rokugan would go against it. As such, the Clan Daimyos have agreed, and word has spread that a general armistice is in effect. Though it is not the season for Court, invitations flow in the wake of the Emperor's edict, calling samurai of all rank and station to Courts across the land. The purpose of these Courts is clear - discuss what is to be done about the lack of an Emerald Champion and cement new alliances against the stirrings of war that are sweeping across the land.
While you may not be high enough in the ranks to receive your own invitation, you have each been tapped by your respective Daimyos to accompany them to a Court taking place at the City of the Peaceful Hills. Peaceful Hills is located in Lion lands, but sits close enough to the border of both Scorpion and Northern Crane lands to see many visitors from both. It is also relatively centrally located within the Empire, making it easier for delegations from all the clans to attend.
Given that the heart of any Court is politics and that every resource should be put to use, you have all been tasked with certain things by your daimyos. To achieve your goals, and those of your daimyos, you will have to navigate the dangerous currents of Court and gain enough influence to see your will done.Ambushed!You set out with your daimyos from various points across Rokugan, bound for the City of the Peaceful Hills, eager for your first true experiences at Rokugani court. Unfortunately, despite the Emperor's peach reaching out across the land, your journey was not to be uneventful. Each of your retinues (at various points along their journey - not simultaneously with one another) suffered an attack from a most unlikely source. Whether passing by a roadside shrine, traveling through the forest, leaving a village where you had sheltered for the night, or making your way through rice paddies and farmland, you found yourself set upon by peasants of all things. They poured out in great numbers, determined to tear down the samurai travelling across their path, using crude farm implements and improvised weaponry. Though the samurai (our heroes and various retainers alike) managed to deal with the peasants, there was some loss of life among the non-samurai who make up part of the various processions. Unfortunately, this included Meiko's attendant, Daisechs, who gave his life valiantly defending the less spry and capable servants. In the aftermath, it was found that one member of each ambushing group bore the tattoo of a lotus on their person. Shelving this information for later, the various parties continued to make their way to the City of the Peaceful Hills. Court is not (yet) in SessionUpon arrival, each clan was assigned quarters and informed that the formal start of Court would not happen until all of the invitees had arrived. This would take a few days only, and until then, they, of course, had the freedom of the City and the Palace grounds, though they were asked not to go into the Palace itself, as there were still preparations under way. Kuni Daizu and Togashi Jin both immediately headed for the city, Daizu-san to share some tales of his exploits and Jin-san to have a drink with an old friend, Akodo Matsuru. Meanwhile, Shosuro Ayame and Kakita Meiko sought one another out, to renew their friendship after a year apart. They decided it would be a wonderful thing to have the Crane and the Scorpion host a joint Dueling Tournament, which, they were confident, Kakita Meiko, the Topaz Champion, would win. They set about gathering the resources and influence that would be necessary to do so. Reunion and MourningAt the end of the first day, the four companions from Tsuma crossed paths with one another. There was a moment of tension as Shosuro Ayame and Akodo Matsuru (who was still accompanying Jin-san) renewed an old enmity, which was made even more awkward by Kakita Meiko's former relationship with the Lion and Jin-san's general obliviousness. The Lion excused himself, giving the companions some time to renew their rather unlikely friendship. They were interrupted, however, by the arrival of Shiba Ayaka, a young Phoenix woman who had her own past with most of the young samurai, but who immediately unmasked and called out Togashi Jin as a murderer before storming away, ignoring the calls from the others to either explain herself or to provider the Phoenix with some comforting words. A brief discussion revealed that Togashi Jin had valiantly fought and defeated the commander of a Phoenix castle during the prior year, likely saving many lives. It seemed, however, that said commander was none other than the brother to Shiba Ayaka. While Jin and the others felt bad for the young Phoenix, they all agreed that such was the way of Rokugan - the Phoenix commander had fought honorably and died well, and both he and Jin had been doing their duty for their Clans. What samurai could ask for more? Dark StirringsAgainst the backdrop of the preparations for Court, the young samurai pick up on a number of dark stirrings within the city and maybe within the empire itself. - Kuni Daizu had previously visited a village near the roadside shrine where the Crab were attacked by peasants. In that time, he had heard a few blasphemous mutterings about how the Celestial Order of Heaven was unjust and how the Samurai were not inherently better than the peasantry. Since such blasphemies were not directly related to the Shadow, he let it slide at the time, but in the wake of the recent attacks, perhaps that was not wise...
- Shosuro Ayame and Kakita Meiko both picked up on a dark and ugly mood in the City of the Peaceful Hills. While, on the surface, all was celebration and preparation for the upcoming Court, there was an undercurrent of... something. Perhaps fear. Perhaps anger. It was subtle and hard to identify, but both agreed that it was most assuredly there
A Matter of Fire
After spending some more time in the city, Togashi Jin and Kuni Daizu both caught wind of something burning. Daizu-san had a brief premonition of the entire City of the Peaceful Hills being consumed in a great conflagration and, as he headed towards the smoke, saw many fire kami who seemed to have a strange and hungry look about them. Togashi Jin could not see the kami, but he still ran towards trouble. When they arrived, they found a burning workshop and home, surrounded by bland-faced men in red sashes, backs to the flame, and seemingly indifferent to the crowd that had gathered. A family was off to one side, obviously distraught as their home burned. No one was fighting the fire, and in fact, it seemed that the bland-faced men were blocking anyone from doing so. For a brief moment, the Crab and Dragon stood still, shocked that nothing was being done. And then...
Next time: Fight Fire with... steel? And, Court Is In Session
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Post by cassusaevum on Feb 9, 2019 14:24:40 GMT -5
Session 5: The Game of a Thousand Gifts Experience Earned: 4 Dramatis Personae
- Kakita Meiko - A Crane duelist who struggles with her innate soft-hardheartedness and her quest for perfection.
- Kuni Daizu - A Crab purifier, intent on tracking down the Shadow wherever it may go.
- Togashi Jin - A Dragon bushi cursed with bad luck and destined to be a great soldier.
- Shosuro Ayame - A Scorpion courtier (so far as anyone knows) who secretly works as an infiltrator and, perhaps, shinobi for her clan.
The Salamanders
The curtain rose to reveal Togashi Jin and Kuni Daizu standing before the semi-circle of men between them and the burning house. The distraught family watched as their home burned, powerless to do anything. Kuni Daizu communed with the kami, finding himself faced with a difficult choice - the fire kami could grant him a boon and extinguish the flames or they could tell the Purifier who had set the blaze. Seeing that the city was not in danger from the fire and only the singular home would be destroyed, the Kuni chose to know the truth of the fire. He was shown a vision of the men before him - the men in the red sashes, the Salamanders - throwing torches through the windows and then preventing anyone from helping put out the blaze. Togashi Jin stepped forth, hand on blade, and commanded the men to depart. Between the presence of the Purifier and the samurai who seemed willing to draw steel to enforce his will, the ruffians thought discretion might be the better part of valor. There were a few smirks at the burning building, but the men departed without further incident. Togashi Jin organized the bystanders into a bucket brigade while Kuni Daizu called upon the fire kami to assist. Though it took hours, they eventually managed to put out the blaze. Unfortunately, the home was lost. In talking to the family who lived there, Togashi Jin learned that the proprietor had refused to pay the Salamanders for their services as fire-fighters and, in retribution, or perhaps to send a message to the rest of the neighborhood, they set the fire and have now ruined his livelihood. Deciding that they could not take the troubles of a bunch of Lion Clan peasants on themselves, Togashi Jin and Kuni Daizu headed back to the Palace of the Endless Sky. Of Friendships and Intrigues
In the meantime, Shosuro Ayame and Kakita Meiko continued to pursue their unlikely friendship, discussing their passions and pledging to try to support one another at least to the degree that they could within their clans. When "the boys" returned, the companions had their nightly tea (or sake, in Jin's case). During this time, Meiko made a plea to the others, asking for their assistance in determining the killer of Hitoshi. Kuni Daizu agreed, sharing his influence with Meiko. Ayame was not in a position to help (she did not have enough influence) and Togashi Jin tried to make a bargain. He sought a commitment from Meiko to support the Dragon in their efforts against the Phoenix in whatever way she could. Meiko declined, leading to some tension, and leading Jin to withhold his influence in the matter of Hitoshi. The companions traded some other commitments as well: Togashi Jin agreed openly to serve on the Wall with Kuni Daizu. Daizu and Ayame came to an agreement as well, though the details were not made public. The companions continued to pursue their various intrigues in motion as well, striving to earn what influence they could before the formal start of Court. Court Begins
With the arrival of the last invitees, the formal court began. Akodo Kusamoto, daimyo of the City of the Peaceful Hills welcomed everyone. He informed them of a moon viewing party after sunset, and explained that there would be a grand game played throughout court, the Game of a Thousand Gifts. Each court attendee received a small item. One of these items would be the prize. The rules of the game were simple - whoever holds the prize at the close of court, wins the game (and also a great deal of influence). The companions pursued more intrigues and returned to the gardens in the evening for the Moon Viewing party. In the midst of the party, a procession of kabuki actors entered. Through exaggerated pantomime, they depicted chopping down one of the cherry trees in the garden, which the Court took to mean that the steel cherry tree (currently in Ayame's possession) was not the prize in the Game of a Thousand Gifts. Ayame and Meiko both composed haiku's to Lord Moon and presented them during the viewing, earning some acclaim and influence. Daizu told a chilling ghost story that caught the Court's fancy. Ayame, determined to help Jin with his relationship problems, arranged for Kitsuki Yuikimi to ask him to dinner. Jin came close to ruining it, until Meiko stepped in to serve as his "wingman" and helped him at least get the date. RevelationsThe following morning, Kakita Meiko was summoned to serve as Kakita Jomei-sama's assistant and advisor at the first gathering of daimyos at the court. Her goal was to observe closely and identify the subtext of what was not being said. She learned that Mirumoto Bokai and Isawa Toju seemed to have a deep, personal hatred for one another and that Toju-sama also seemed to be quite angry at Akodo Tanaka (NOTE - I got this wrong in session and said Akodo Kusamoto). Kakita Meiko got distracted by the broader politics between the Crane and Scorpion and did not pick up any additional information on the individuals. She did, however, manage to discern that, in the broader sense, the following appeared to be going on at the global politics level: The Scorpion Clan currently has the Emperor's ear. They are trying to keep a new Emerald Champion from being named. Meanwhile, the Crane, who were the right hand of the Emperor, are working tirelessly to not only have a new Emerald Champion named, but to make sure that person is a Crane. An Unexpected ArrivalAyame-san caught sight of a most unexpected arrival - Kaito Takeo, the young man who, not so long ago, tried to kill her in an alleyway in the city of Akodo Tanaka. Though she had the chance to eliminate him, Ayame let him go. Now, the two share a dark secret, with each knowing something of the other's less-than-honorable activities. Rather than cause tension, this seemed to intrigue Ayame-san, who has begun pursuing a romance with the young Phoenix. An Unsettling MissiveMeanwhile, Kuni Daizu received a scroll from the Kuni Minori, the Jade Magistrate to whom he is serving as yoriki. The scroll informed him that priests from the Temple of Ebisu had reached out to the Jade Magistrates, concerned about ill omens and the behavior of the kami. Since no Jade Magistrate can be dispatched, Daizu-san has been asked to look into the matter. Next time: Gangs, Murders, and other Courtly Affairs...
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