[L5R4E-IC] The Long Way Home [Chapter One]

[truemane]

The rain was sudden, and fierce. Within moments, it seemed, the evening sky was black with cloud and the warm air was filled with a curtain of cold, hard, driving rain that stung and froze the skin and blinded the eyes.

The bridge was washed out. The river a swollen torrent.

A detour down a local road proved disastrous as the visibility dropped to zero and the ground turned to a grasping, gripping, ocean of mud.

In the dark, torches. An old decrepit ruin of a castle. A small village clustered around equally decrepit walls.

A knock on the gates. A suspisicous glare. A guard bidding entry and escorting you inside.

And then, mercifully a room out of the rain. Warm. Dry. Torch-lit.

Only after you're all inside and getting settled does it become obvious that the room is a prison cell. The walls are made of stone. The windows are barred. The doors are heavy barred steel.

The guard that escorted you down leaves the room to join several others outside in the hallway.

A well-dressed man with a wakizashi in his obi enters after a moment or two and stands in the doorway. Several heimin enter, carrying towels and fresh kimonos, plain but well made.

He bows. "My deepest apologies for our lack of courtest, Honoured Travellers. We were not prepared for guests and we are making rooms ready as fast as we are able. My name is Kakita Isao and I have the honour to be Chamberlain Jinsei's assistant."

Welcome to the Long Road Home! You're all here in the room together, so feel free to mingle a bit. Whether or not you know each other, how well you do, etc, is all up to you. Maybe you were with the larger group on the road, or maybe not. Feel free to narrate how you wound up lost in the rain in your opening post if you wish. And if you have questions, feel free to ask!

[Kaworu]

- Kakita Sakura, a bushi of Cranes. It is an honor to meet you - answered the lady, simply but gracefully, according to the etiquette. Her long, white hair was soaking wet, but shining beautifully even now in the lights of torches. So were her deep blue eyes - We greet you and your hospitality... and the dry kimonos - she said. She was silent on the fact that they were in a prison cell - maybe they really had no other free rooms, and they wanted to host everybody who was wet? Had she any right to complain, when she did not known the full context and was an uninvited quest? It would be unkind on her part.

[Greymane]

The rain had come quickly, and it had come with great fury. While a little water was not going to impede Daigotsu Tensin's journey, the mud sucking at his and the Sparrow's small entourage sandals just might. They had been traveling near to a group of Crab; close enough to see one another, but far enough away that neither group made an effort to speed or slow enough to offer introductions. The arrangement seemed to suit both groups. Before long, however, their obis had been drenched, and the shuddering chills of the cold were beginning to set in; not even the fires of Jigoku could keep him warm, it seemed.

The visibility had also deteriorated as well, and before long, they weren't even sure if they had taken the correct roads. Fortunately, they had stumbled onto a small settlement. It looked positively in poor shape, however. At first he thought they'd entered into a poor village in the Suzume lands, and not the Crane. The state of the place came as a bit of a shock to him. Fortunately, despite the shape of the town and estate, and despite some seeming reluctance in the face of the guards.

Finally inside, Tensin, a young man with a dour expression, garbed in the brown colors and mon of the Sparrow, turns a sharp gaze to Kakita Sakura as she offers her thanks. He recalls all the duelists from the Tournament, and it's all he can do to hide his contempt for each one. There were others here as well that he recognized as contestants from the tournament. He scanned them all, not unlike a bird of prey on the hunt. It was quite the collection of clans, and all of them his enemy, whether they knew it or not.

The young man bows respectfully to Kakita Isao; his ponytail brushing his left cheek as he does and casting his face even more in a shadow in the torch-lit room. "It is us, who have reason to apologize to you and your lord for our untimely and unannounced appearance in your home. I am Suzume Tensin, If there is any way that I, and the Sparrow, can be of service to Chamberlain Jinsei-Sama during our stay, please do not hesitate to ask." He is quick to politely offer means of making his hosts new responsibilities to his guests just a little easier if he can. Even though his initial urge was to demand to know why an entourage of multiple clans wasn't worth the courtesy of being greeted by the lord of the castle.

Given the nature of the weather, many may not have been able to observe the courtesy of introducing themselves to one another, he also properly introduces himself to the Crane. "It is also a pleasure to meet you in more proper environs, Kakita-San. I am Suzume Tensin." He says with a slight bow towards Sakura, and repeating his name for the sake of etiquette. He politely takes a towel and a kimono.

[NontheistCleric]

Sifting through her pack to check that her belongings are not irreparably drenched, Kamekichi is long past crying and well into fuming. First getting separated from Sawako in the chaos of departure, then having to hitch a ride with the Crane? After the strain of having to keep up appearances the whole Championship, she had been counting on being able to relax on the way home. Instead the whole journey has been spent sharing a carriage with this perfectly-poised Sakura girl, and letting Grandmother down by displaying even a fraction less reserve would be unthinkable.

Then the rain came, and Kamekichi couldn't help a few quiet, angry sobs as they fought through the mud towards this disgrace of a castle. Amaterasu really is dead! Still, at least the tears streaming down her cheeks were invisible in the downpour, and by the time they reached the gates she had herself back under control. Hopefully Sakura-san hasn't noticed.

She takes a towel and kimono from a heimin with a murmur of thanks, then bows to Isao a fraction lower than the man himself.

"As Tensin-san says, it is we who must apologize for this imposition," she says, voice betraying no ire. "Please convey our gratitude to your master, whose compassion is surely without parallel in these lands."

Then she straightens up, still hugging the bundled kimono and towel. Dark eyes pierce a curtain of bedraggled hair to make contact with Isao's. "But if you will excuse my questioning; where exactly are we? I am afraid the weather has stolen our bearings entirely."

[Randal_Aldent]

Tsuyumi quietly eyes the fortifications of the room as she stows her traveling cloak and hat in her pack and withdraws her spare kimono in Crab colors from its place underneath her armor. She had been enjoying the cool spring rain after a long day of walking even if the mud had made travel difficult, but the darkness of night had forced her to seek shelter by what she thought was another traveler's campfire. Now though, being in the dry room so similar to a Crab guest house gave her a comfortable feeling of home. If only...

The tall woman gently refuses the heimin's offer of a spare kimono, but does take a towel for later use. Glancing at the others sharing her fate out of the corner of her eye, she makes a mental note on everyone present. A distant cousin, a fellow member of the Crab, and several soft members of the other cla- can't think like that, be respectful, and several other members of upstanding Great and Minor clans from around the Empire. Though the Sparrow might have been better suited to the Toritaka family the way he was eyeing his fellow travelers.

She straightens as Isao enters, and offers an appropriate bow for an uninvited guest seeking shelter, foxtail ponytail bobbing as she does so. "Kakita-sama, I, Hida Tsuyumi, humbly thank you and Chamberlain Jinsei-dono for the hospitality, and apologize for this imposition," she says with a humble tone. "Please do not seek more work on my account however, this room would be more than enough to spend the night in."

[truemane]

"It is us, who have reason to apologize to you and your lord for our untimely and unannounced appearance in your home. I am Suzume Tensin, If there is any way that I, and the Sparrow, can be of service to Chamberlain Jinsei-Sama during our stay, please do not hesitate to ask."
A thin, pained smile. "I shall pass your offer to the Master Jinsei-sama. He is always happy to accept offers of aid. For all guests are welcome." A heavy pause. "No matter their Clan."


"As Tensin-san says, it is we who must apologize for this imposition," she says, "But if you will excuse my questioning; where exactly are we? I am afraid the weather has stolen our bearings entirely."
His head turns to the Mantis in a slow deliberate motion, his mouth in a tight line. "It is, indeed, an imposition. But the Master takes his responsibilities very seriously. This house is his charge and he would not see its reputation sullied, no matter its appearance. As to the where, you stand in the storied Seventh Lotus Castle. Once a powerful bulwark against the hated Scorpion," a glance at Koniko, "In other, different times."


"Please do not seek more work on my account however, this room would be more than enough to spend the night in."
His head snaps to the Crab. "No!" he says, and then catches his breath. "No. No. Of course that will not do. Moments. Moments only and we will have accommodations more suitable to such august company."

Just then a short, painfully thin boy clad in a ragged, drab grey kimono appears in the doorway and falls to his knees, forehead planted on the floor.

Isao looks down. Without looking up, the boy holds up a folded piece of paper. Isao takes it and reads it. He looks back to the company. "Please forgive my rudeness, my attentions are required elsewhere. I shall return in but a moment. Please make yourselves as comfortable as possible."

And with that he leaves. The boy follows after.

A lightly armoured man holding a long spear steps into the doorway.


Anyone who makes an Average Check (TN15) on a suitable "perception" skill (Investigation, Courtier, Awareness, straight-up Perception I'd accept a couple of others if you make it make sense), will notice Isao's eyes flicker to the window in the left/East wall when he says "No!"

Another suitable TN15 perception check will notice that the heimin boy's neck and upper chest are a mass of twisted scar tissue.

A third applicable TN15 check will notice that the guard is clearly of peasant lineage.

A hard (TN20) lore/memory/knowledge check (Crane and Scorpion -and anyone else who can come up with a good reason- can add 1k1) will recall that Seventh Lotus Castle was instrumental in a number of border skirmishes around the Dancing Crane River (the one with the washed out bridge) about 20 years ago. And it was given as the fief of General Daidoji Jiro, an Iron Crane war hero. As the area became more stable, the castle retreated from the public eye. Anyone rolling 25 or more on the check can make up a cool battle story about the castle or General Jiro and I'll declare it canon.

[Randal_Aldent]

Tsuyumi blinks at the sudden exclamation, her eyes following Isao's to the Eastern window and then back. "Of course, Kakita Isao-sama. I merely meant that I am quite comfortable in this room." As Isao and the heimin leave, the scar tissue on the boy's chest catches her eye. And a heimin standing guard in a samurai's castle this far away from Crab lands is enough to give her pause. Something is not quite right here, and it's enough to make her wish she still had her tetsubo.

Once Isao has left, Tsuyumi sits slightly away from the guard at the door and begins toweling off her hair.


Noticing the window: Investigation (Perception) 3k2 [roll0] 20

Noticing the scar tissue: Investigation (Perception) 3k2 [roll1] 20 (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24723501&postcount=85)

Noticing the lineage: Investigation (Perception) 3k2 [roll2] 15

[Kaworu]

Sakura raised her eyebrow, noticing some details that others might overlook. The Isao-san’s shouting, apparently at the window, not at them. Scars the little boy had. The peasant as their guardian. She was wondering if this all means something, and what, if it not just a set of weird happenstances.

She still did not fell secure, especially with their host gone and a guardian at the doors. It could be just for their safety… or perhaps it was all a lie, and they have been prisoners?

She shook her head, silver, long, shining hair following the movement in a waving perfection. Before putting the kimono she had been given, she took her hair in her hands and squeezed out water from it – it turned out there’s been quite a lot of it.

- How are you all? – she asked, innocent tone in her voice. She did not want to be the first one to admit that their situation could be grave – because if she would be wrong, and she could, it would be a big faux pas - but at the same time, she wanted to check how others are perceiving their current predicament.

[NontheistCleric]

"And I thought Cranes liked Sparrows," remarks Kamekichi once Isao is gone, giving Tensin an amused but sympathetic glance. "But I suppose he would only risk insulting a Minor Clan directly. Don't take it to heart, Tensin-san." She pats him once on the shoulder by way of comfort.

Toweling down her hair, she strips off her wet haori. It, and the kimono underneath, are the brown, black and orange of the Centipede instead of the more common Mantis gold-and-green. Of course, it would be improper to shed even a wet kimono in such company.

"Considering that we were trudging through mud and rain a few minutes ago, quite well," she replies to the other samurai-ko's question. "You must be relieved, to be back in Crane lands."

In truth, she does not see much immediately wrong with the situation. Kakita Isao is obviously nervous about something, but few samurai are without secrets—some admittedly bigger than others. Perhaps he is simply worried that his pathetic excuse for a castle will collapse in the storm. Certainly, it makes sense that such a derelict holding would need budoka to supplement the real samurai, so the only clearly egregious matter is the obvious abuse of the heimin boy.

That might be worth some prying, and Kamekichi knows just how to go about it—or at least she thinks she does.

Suddenly, her eyes widen, and she inhales sharply. Looking at the budoka as if shocked, she beckons him to her. "Budoka-san, come here."

Passed the TN 15 checks, failed the TN 20 check. (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24723408&postcount=84)

Kamekichi's surprise in the last line is an act, but it's not over yet, so I'll refrain from rolling for now.

[truemane]

Suddenly, her eyes widen, and she inhales sharply. Looking at the budoka as if shocked, she beckons him to her. "Budoka-san, come here."
The spearman's mouth tightens and his face flushes red. Anger fills his eyes. He stands as tall as he can, straight-backed.

"Honoured samurai, this one is no boduka. This one is Daidoji-kouhai Niwashi. He... I... was Raised to the Sword by the hand of the Great Lord Jiro himself. And I will not approach. I am bid guard this doorway by my liegelord. Surely you understand duty, samurai-san?"

His accent is thick and rural. His grammar is bereft of delicacy and nuance. But his voice is tight, controlled, and filled with the intensity and dignity of deep conviction.

This man has neither katana nor wakizashi at his waist.

[Kaworu]

Sakura just sat, still wearing a wet kimono, although her hair was much more dry now that she squeezed the water out of it. It was not the kind of confirmation she wanted, but none-the-less, it was a confirmation. She closed her eyes and took a few calming breaths. She was never good at meditation, and even her tea ceremony could be vaistly improved. She supposed that she was unable to do anything of consequence with her calming techniques, yet still, it was a perfect time to do so, even if insufficiently.

"We are prisoners. We are prisoners. We are prisoners." The nagging thoughts could not leave her, even now, that she focused her mind on staying calm and quiet.

[Greymane]

Tensin controls his voice and his words, but his eyes narrow ever-so-slightly at Isao. He returns the thin smile and nods at the gracious host. He needed to be polite; even if he might prefer to strike the man for his thinly-veiled disregard for his supposed clan. Then again, this sort of pomp was something he was told to expect when dealing with the Crane. There was nothing out of the ordinary in that regard. Aside from the run-down state of the castle and the Budoka of all things keeping an eye on them.

At Sakura's question, he forces a smile and nods. "Well, Kakita-san. Despite the weather."

He offers a plain smile to Kamekichi. "It is to be expected, I suppose, of such an illustrious clan and name. It simply encourages us to prove ourselves even more." When she pats his shoulder, he goes completely rigid, not expecting that someone would touch him in such a familiar way. Mantis women must be odd.

He begins to use the towel to dry himself off as well, modestly while in the company of others, though his steely gaze continues to find itself laying on the Budoka. That didn't seem natural, to leave not even a Samurai here to guard the door.

The exchange between Kamekichi and the guard catches Tensin's keen interest. On the man's insistence he is Samurai, Tensin looks very curious. "Then where is your honor, Samurai?" He asks in an inquisitive tone.

[truemane]

Niwashi looks at Tensin with narrowed eyes. Samurai he may be, but his face shows his anger all too clearly.

"In my heart, samurai-san. Where do you keep yours?"

[Greymane]

Niwashi looks at Tensin with narrowed eyes. Samurai he may be, but his face shows his anger all too clearly.

"In my heart, samurai-san. Where do you keep yours?"

Tensin's fingertips grace the hilt of his Wakizashi. "Here, Daidoji-san, so that others may not confuse my warrior's heart and my station with that of a humble heimin." He carefully emphasizes the term.

He nods his head at him. "Please forgive our presumptions."

[truemane]

Niwashi's lips pull back and his knuckles whiten on the haft of his spear. He takes a breath and bows.

"Please forgive my correction Samurai-san," he says quietly, "But my family name is Daidoji-kouhai. We are permitted to wear the wakizashi only for formal occasions. Jiro-dono has said if we truly hold Bushido in our hearts our station will be as clear as any sword would be. I have clearly failed. Please forgive me. I meant no confusion."

His accent and grammar are both still atrocious, but his contrition seems genuine enough.

[Kaworu]

Sakura opened her eyes slowly, hearing the argument between her companion and their guardian. She could understand sentiment of Tensin – in fact, she did well enough – but she was not sure if raising an alarm so quickly was best for them. Maybe they should play the game? At least as long as they did not spoke with the master of the castle and understood what troubles they were in?

- Please, forgive my companion – she forced a kind voice and even kinder smile upon herself – In many parts of Rokugan samurai lead a life in their own way, unaware of the regional and cultural differences. Tensin-san seems just not well travelled enough to be aware of this simple fact. Our apologies, we meant no offense – she said, shooting a glance at Tensin. Did he not understood how grave their position was?

[Randal_Aldent]

Tsuyumi finishes patting the damp spots of her kimono dry as Niwashi goes through his explanation and Tensin begins to question him. As the questioning gets more intense and Sakura steps forward her eyes narrow, and in the end she echoes Sakura's concerns, albeit much more bluntly.

"Suzume-san, don't antagonize our hosts. It's not our place to determine who is or isn't a samurai."

[NontheistCleric]

If Kamekichi's face displayed her true emotions, it would be set into a grim battle-grin. An interesting counterattack indeed from this delusional budoka, but no doubt he has just spent his strongest strike, and now his weakness is revealed.

Of course he is not a samurai, Hida girl. A daimyo may offer fealty, but only the Emperor can create a new family name. Some pretend half-name with kouhai nailed to its back shows nothing except that this Jiro is a traitor to his heimin and his family, who lies to one and disgraces the other.

None of this is said out loud, of course. Instead, she assumes an expression of seemingly innocent wonder, staring straight at Niwashi as if the growing tension between the other samurai is nothing before the mere sight of him.

"Then you are extraordinary," she says, in the breathless tone of one who has had some profound truth confirmed to her. "Please, do not move. I would never separate a samurai from his duty, but—"

Turning and bending to where her pack and scroll satchel sit on the floor, she retrieves an ofuda from the leather bag. As she straightens up, she gives a sideways wink to the others, letting them in on the fact that her actions are not entirely genuine before facing Niwashi once more.

"—will you allow me to approach you? I promise I mean no harm."

Hands clasped in front of herself, holding up the ofuda, Kamekichi takes a tentative step forward, speaking in her most earnest voice. "From the moment I stepped into this room, I could hear the kami clamoring. They surround you, Niwashi-san. They are saying that you are special, and raised by a great lord's own hand, there can be no doubt. It is a sign from Heaven."

She closes her eyes and bows her head just a fraction, as if the kami are saying something to her then and there.

[Greymane]

Tensin nods curtly and rigidly to Niwashi's correction. This mockery of the Celestial Order knows a little bit it seems. The idea of a peasant being raised to Samurai status was something he had never contemplated it before, but even he knew that our souls, and birth, made up who we are. "It is fine, of course, Daidoji-kouhai-san."

At Sakura's explanation and berating, Tensin held in his anger. His gaze narrowed, and his upper almost raised into an angry snarl for the briefest of moments. Everything he'd been told and warned about Crane was true; pompous, sharp-tongued, and eager to make themselves look better than anyone else. It wouldn't be difficult for his clever-tongued superiors to infiltrate them at all in time. He, however, was out of his element.

The young man in Sparrow colors takes in a slow, deliberate, but controlled breath, and bows his head. At Tsuyumi's comment, with a Crab and a Crane in agreement, causes Tensin some inward pause. Maybe there were more going on here then he realized. It might not be up to us who is Samurai, but it would be up to the Emperor, would it not? "Please, forgive my ignorance. I had no idea that these customs were in place around the empire. I certainly hope my ignorance does not cause further insult to you, Niwashi-san."

Kamekichi's interest in the man also catches Tensin's.

[Randal_Aldent]

Taking advantage of Kamekichi's display, Tsuyumi wanders over to the Eastern window to look it over and try to find what could cause such a reaction in Isao.

[truemane]

"From the moment I stepped into this room, I could hear the kami clamoring. They surround you, Niwashi-san. They are saying that you are special, and raised by a great lord's own hand, there can be no doubt. It is a sign from Heaven."
Niwashi's face clouds with anger and his cheeks redden. "You mock me." he says with as much pride as he can muster. It is not much. All the same, reference to the kami clearly unnerve him and he looks briefly from left to right, down the hall, perhaps to seek some guidance. He finds no help there. So he stands still


Taking advantage of Kamekichi's display, Tsuyumi wanders over to the Eastern window to look it over and try to find what could cause such a reaction in Isao.
The window looks over a second prison cell, smaller and darker and less comfortable than this one. It has no other window or source of illumination. The air that drifts in is old and stale and stagnant very, very cold. The touch of it leeches the warmth from Tsuyumi's face and hands.

Inside is an unconscious man with long ragged hair and a long ragged beard and long ragged nails. His age is hard to determine. He is very thin. He lies on the bare floor with no more than a small dirty loincloth to cover himself. He shivers violently. His lips and fingers are blue. His breath is shallow and slow, with a small frosty cloud escaping his lips every few seconds.


Tsuyumi: a hard (TN 20) Lore roll (or, I think in your case, straight up Intelligence), and you will recognize this person as a famous samurai of the Mantis Clan, a famous Shujenga and duelist and sailor and poet and philosopher and all around swashbuckler-y raconteur.

[NontheistCleric]

"You have never felt the kami's touch before, Niwashi-san," Kamekichi intones, in the mystic tones that an uneducated heimin or fanciful courtier might associate with magic but that any trained shugenja knows has little to do with actually speaking to the elemental spirits.

"Kami!" she calls, not loudly but dramatically. "Let this samurai feel the truth you have revealed to me!"

Swirl around this fool, my flighty friends of air. Warm him. Even give him a little light show, if you feel up to it. Make him feel special.

Passed the Spellcasting roll. As for the Importune roll, only the kami know... (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24729488&postcount=105)

Though maybe the GM knows too.

[Kaworu]

Sakura did everything that was in her power not to roll her eyes. This was really, really silly out of them, to "play" with the "samurai" when they were in such a delicate and fragile position. She was truly hoping that the ignorance of her companions will not mark their end.

- Ekhem - she said, trying to ignore the Shugenja - When you will have a moment, Niwashi-san, I would like to ask you about some shoji screen for me. - she explained - I would like to change into the kimono, and a lady need her privacy. And... - she hesitated a little - maybe some paint, brush and some empty scrools? I would like to write some poetry, just to nicely pass the time...

[Greymane]

Tensin arches his brow at Kamekichi's display, but nonetheless takes a step away from her, just in case the Kami want to talk about him. He doesn't know what she plans on doing, but better safe than sorry.

The Crane continues to primp and complain about her environment, while the Crab seems more interested in the window. He settles to watch Kamekichi's spellwork- from a safer distance- for the time being. Something certainly felt off, almost like there was something he wasn't understanding about their situation. Perhaps the Crane as well. Though, he does take a second to eye Tsuyumi's position at the window for a moment now and again.

[Randal_Aldent]

Tsuyumi clicks her tongue under her breath. Whether that man is bugei, heimin, or eta, starving to death in the cold is no way to die. But, that cold... She turns around, and catches the Sparrow staring at her. She tilts her head towards the window in a sort of a "Come look at this" sort of way, then tries to do the same with the Crane.

[Kaworu]

Sakura raised an eyebrow, but stood up and walked - slowly and gracefully - towards the fellow samurai, interested in what catched their attention.

[Greymane]

Tensin arches a curious brow at the young Crab, and walked over, leaving Niwashi to the Moshi's and Kami's tender mercies for the moment. On approaching he's careful to keep some distance between himself and Sakura, hoping his stone-faced and tight-lipped expression is kept mild if they manage to get closer.

Upon seeing the caged man, clearly suffering in the cold, Tensin's first thought is curiosity. "... Strange." Is his verbal response to the ragged, freezing man. His expression screws up in thought. "Perhaps a heimin being punished?"

[Kaworu]

Sakura took a few calming breaths. What she saw just confirmed the worst-case-scenario she's been expecting. She turned her head to her companions, and shook it a little, just to send a silent message "do not do anything risky, or it will be the fate of ours".

[Randal_Aldent]

Tsuyumi shakes her head at Tensin. "This seems unnecessarily cruel to punish a heimin. Execution is more likely, but even then it seems harsh.
," she says in hushed tones.

She gives Sakura a quizzical look. "Do you have anything to add, Kakita Sakura-san?"

[NontheistCleric]

What are you three doing back there? Kamekichi wonders mid-spell, hearing the others' conversation. Hopefully nothing too conspicuous—I'm not striking him blind and deaf, you know!

Although at least it shut that silly Crane up about her shoji screens.

[truemane]

The kami in this place are very strange. The air kami feel strong, vital, powerful and present, but also tired and stagnant, like a large cat fed a great deal of fish and left to nap in the hot sun.

The seem all too eager to take up Kamekichi's request and they swirl around the samurai-kouhai and touch the edges of his kimono and blow back his hair and scent the air with the distant, sweet-smell of sea salt. And then, just in front of him a hazy image forms and grows more distinct. It is Nuwashi, but dressed in the finest silk kimono, a high-quality daisho in his obi, his face subtly altered to appear more noble, more regal. This Nuwash was master of a thousand soldiers. This Nuwashi was respected across the length and breadth of the Empire. This Nuwhasi had fought wars and won battles and would never have his honour or his station questioned by anyone ever again.

The spearman looks at the image with such powerful longing. One hand drops from his spear and reaches out toward it before catching himself. Seeing that image seems to stiffen his back and he stands more erect now with more purpose.

"Honoured samurai," he calls out to those clustered around the window, "I am sorry, but I must insist you step away. it is... unseemly... to gawk at prisoners. Andy our rooms will be ready soon I am certain."

Even his grammar seems better now.

[Kaworu]

- Of course - said Sakura. She was resigned, but did not show this in her voice. She sat where she sat before, dry kimono still in her hands. She supposed that the day could not get much more worse, so she did not care much about being still wet. She had more urgent matters to keep her mind busy.

[NontheistCleric]

Kamekichi gives Nuwashi a small smile.

"You see," she says softly to him, "that it is at any rate possible. Perhaps when we have more time and the permission of your lord, I might help you find out more."

Her bow is almost imperceptible, such that no one looking from the back could reliably discern it, but Nuwashi can. Then she turns and walks back to her scroll satchel, replacing the ofuda.

[truemane]

Isao (the Chamberlain's assistant, who 'welcomed' them at first) returns a few moments later and pauses, regarding both Nuwisha and the samurai in the room, frowning slightly, for a full moment as one might if one sensed a slight, unpleasant smell, one couldn't identify.

And then he smiled and bowed and ushered them all out into the hall. "Come, come, my most august and honoured guests. Your rooms have been made ready. Please allow me to humbly apologize for the poor accommodations. They were prepared in much haste."

So say, he leads them out into the dank stone hallway and then out of the prison area and into the castle proper. Nuwisha walks at the head of the line, just behind Isao. Another two spearmen join and follow behind at a discrete distance.

The structure is old and was constructed with great skill and care. The woodwork in particular, is very fine. Those with any knowledge of such things might notice that, once, the castle was very well cared for and maintained, but now the signs of neglect are everywhere, from dirt caked into the seams between floorboards to cracks in the mortar between the great stones in the walls.

This part of the castle, the part containing their rooms, seems to be the most well-maintained and suffers none of the structural damage and general ruination seen from the road.

Each samurai is lead to their own room. One by one, the line stops, Isao motions to a doorway, one samurai enters, the shogi closed, and the line continues, until each of the travelers is housed.

The rooms are small and sparse, but secure and comfortable enough. There are tapers, sleeping mats, a brass tureen of hot water, cleaning and grooming supplies, and fresh kimonos, in each.

The castle is dark and deathly quiet. All that can be heard is the endless hammering of the rain.


In the deeps of the night, Tensin is awoken from dark, confused dreams of running and running through thick, foot-sucking muck while unknown horrors nipped at his heels by the sounds of the shoji screen sliding open.

In steps the little heimin boy from the prison cell, carrying a candle, the scars on his neck shining and glinting in the flickering light. And behind him steps an old woman. She is tiny, less than five feet tall and so painfully, painfully thin and bent with age that she seems the size of a small child. She walks slowly, leaning heavily on a cane. The heimin boy walks beside her, slow and careful step by slow and careful step. His face betrays no impatience.

The heimin places a mat on the floor just inside the room and she settles down into it with slow and wavering, shivering process that is precarious and strangely graceful. At every moment it seems inevitable she would fall and shatter on the cold floor like porcelain.

But she makes her seat. The boy sinks to his knees and places his forehead on the floor just behind her.

She waits until Tensin has come to wakefulness. Her eyes crackle with interest and insight.

"Please forgive me for waking you," she says, and her voice is as thin as birch bark shavings drifting in an autumn breeze, "The Chamberlain says you are Sparrow Clan. How go matters for your people? There have been shadows across all of the news from Kyuden Suzume these last several years. Dark, dark shadows."

Her eyes lock on his, unwavering.



Just before dawn, Sakura is awoken by the sound of someone knocking at her Shogi door. The screen slides open and an old, old woman enters, accompanied by a young samurai who looks like a farmer, but who carries the daisho in her obi.

The old woman holds the young woman's hand as she walks. Her steps are unsteady. She seems exhausted as well as ancient. she is so small and slight and bent with age that she seems almost childlike except for the pain and wisdom in her eyes.

The young woman lays a mat on the floor and, holding the old woman's hand helps her sit. The young samurai's simple, commoner face beams with love and adoration as she steps back and stands just behind the old woman, eyeing Sakura warily, one hand on the hilt of her katana.

"I humbly apologize for my rudeness," the old woman says, her voice barely a whisper in the silent dark, "It has been some years since a cousin-Crane has been a guest here, and our hospitality is not what it was. Please, Kakita-san, can you tell me, in the wild world, does the Crane still serve as the Emperor's right hand?"

Shortyl after falling asleep, Kamekichi is awoken by the sensation of something slight and insubstantial touching her face. Like a spiderweb or thread of silk. She awakes to find the shogi screen to her room being pulled open with silent care and a dark figure stepping into the room. It is clad in dark clothing, with no visible weapons.

A while after being left alone, just as Tsuyumi is readying for bed, there is a small, polite knock at the shogi screen. After a few moments it opens and in steps a tall, powerfully built samurai, his hair is long and straight and full, freshly whitened, and tied in a single rope with intricate, complicated knotted cord. He carries a katana in one hand. He is dressed in a blazing white kimono of very fine make.

As he steps into the room, she can see another samurai standing just outside the door.

He kneels on a mat near the door.

"Honoured Hida-san, forgive my intrusion. I am Chamblerlain Jinsei. It is a great honour to have one of the might Crab Clan visit our poor, poor village. I am afraid you have come to us in uncertain times."

[NontheistCleric]

Kamekichi smiles and bows in return to Isao. As they are led to their rooms, she notes approvingly that the guest quarters seem better-kept than the rest of the castle. After washing and drying herself, she retrieves her mirror and checks that she still looks like Kamekichi before turning in for the night, scroll satchel strategically left open beside her.

When the figure enters, she remains limp and apparently asleep, opening her eyes just enough for them to glimpse her surroundings while still seeming closed in the darkness.

Total of 47 (41 if no Benten's Blessing) (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24762506&postcount=117)on the Acting check to feign sleep. (https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24762507&postcount=118)

[Kaworu]

Sakura raised her eyebrow, seeing Isao again. She was sure he would appear again, but was also convicted that he would “regretfully” inform them that they are no room and they will be “honored” to “welcome them” in the “room” they were currently. For Isao to appear out of the blue and lead them out of the prison cell… well, this was surprising. Not unwelcome, of course, but yet, the surprise was still there.

She walked out of the cell, her dry kimono still in her hands. She forced herself to breath, through her nose and then out of her mouth, not too obviously, expecting traps and treachery at every corner, when they walked through the castle.

Could she really be wrong about this whole situation?

When she reached her room, she sat down, blinking, still unable to believe that everything she thought about their situation was… well, apparently wrong. She was kicking herself over it – to jump to conclusions so eagerly. Still, at the time, everything was pointing at the exact outcome. She did not make a logical error – she just hadn’t had all the information.

Relaxed, but also feeling like a total idiot, she took off her wet kimono and put on the dry one. She took a few more calming breaths, and suddenly started to giggle quietly. She did not realize how stressed she was until the very moment.

Very content, she went to sleep.


~*~

Sakura got woken up. When she opened her eyes, she saw that a young lady and an elderly lady entered her rooms. Raising her fist to her eyes to lose the last remnants of dreams from her mind, she sat down in front of the old lady and listened to her.

- You are not rude and I am not angry, obasan – Sakura smiled kindly at the woman – And yes, we are still very close to the Emperor. This is a position that we did not lose over the years. Are there any more news you would like to hear from me? I will try to satisfy your curiosity – she nodded gently at her, as if to encourage the elder lady.

[truemane]

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