Ring of Fire - Honor's Veil

[Trogdor]

"Please," Eisai says with a nod, and he leads the shugenja forward, perhaps the only time in his life that the ronin will be ushered by an Emerald Magistrate. "You may begin the prayers for the departed," he says to the shugenja with a bow of his head as they reach their proper positions.

[Hayabusa]

"Of course you would not do that. I apologize if you took that as an insult, Shosuro-kun," Ryuichi says though there is no hint of a real apology in the Kitsuki's voice. However, he notices how the Scorpion only excused himself by word and not with a bow like when he first spoke to the magistrate. The Dragon doesn't even take that as an offense because he knows he's dealing with a Scorpion here and reading too much into it may only make a fool out of him. Ryuichi takes his place among the mourners and watches the priest who leads the funeral procedures.

[Vardaen]

Eisai gives the shugenja word to begin.

The delegations collect themselves and the funeral for the Hare Governor Usagi Hiroto begins. Prayers and gifts are spoken over the urn of the samurai (he was cremated last night by the eta and this is just a formal ceremony). The funeral, the formal reception, the prayer services, and other activities of the funeral last the entire day. At one point you find yourselves offering Haiku to the gathered about your experience with the Governor. Of course a bit more politicking and court takes place as the Unicorn jockey for some of your time, the results about the same as with the Hare and Scorpion. The Unicorn aren't known as the masters of court, and that works to their advantage here, they are taken for granted and are able to secure just as much as the Scorpion have.

By nightfall the services are over and the time to return to the city, and your barracks are at hand You have a few loose ends to deal with, but all in all the matters here in Zakyo Toshi appear closed for the time being.

OOC

I would like to end the chapter this week. If you any loose ends you want to wrap up that's cool. I figure a few more days of narrative before the next chapter starts is in order.

[Hayabusa]

OOC

Great! Though I have no idea where we're going to start a new chapter... (We're after that spider-man/woman/samurai, right?)

Anyway, there was the issue with the smuggling and the theater.

[Trogdor]

Eisai is properly somber at the funeral. For all that he was a fool, Usagi Hiroto was also the local governor and deserved respect. He dances around issues with the Scorpion, Hare, and Unicorn as best he can afterward, content that while he may not have handled it perfectly, he likely hasn't upset the balance of power in this region either.

By evening he's ready to return to the city. There were a few more edicts to write - condemning the opium smugglers, shutting down the puppet theater, and the like. There was also the matter of a commendation to be made for the Imperial 10th Legion. They had been as helpful and cooperative as could have been hoped for. Such dedication to the Empire in such a difficult situation deserved recognition.

[Hayabusa]

Ryuichi follows the funeral procedures but since there's nothing for the magistrate to take care of he just goes along with it. He tries to avoid the Shosuro though he doesn't go out of the Scorpion's way either, despite his obvious dislike for the man. Back at the barracks he takes care of other things as Eisai is occupied with the edicts and there's no reason for them to do the same work twice. Instead he strides through the base of the legion, speaking with Usagi Otori for a last time before they leave and remembering to bring the Hare's name to the monk's attention for special mention and then with Hiruma Umeko to discuss her plans as well.

[ManWithDoor]

The Kuni shugenja follows all of the niceties and observances for the funeral, as any good priest of the kami should. He gives what blessings he can, and generally keeps an eye out for trouble. Back at the Barracks he writes letters of his own. First is a collective letter to the Emerald Champion of their investigation into Zakyo Toshi and its environs. He stresses the opium smuggling ring broken up, the destruction of the corrupt dojo, and the possibility of a peasant uprising in the area. He also gives special mention to various members of the Imperial Legion for valour. He gives the bare bones facts of the death of the Hare Governor, recommending that the backing of the Empire remain with the Hare, rather than letting the other Great Clans make grabs for power in the area.

Along with the report are descriptions, as detailed as possible, of the escaped criminals they did not apprehend. The complicit peasant merchant, as well as the presumably Tainted Shinoku, master of the ronin Ryudo, to name a few. As the premier investigators of the realm, the other Emerald Magistrates need to know about these villains at large.

When he has time, he does make an effort to organize scouting parties to see if the Imperial Legion can find the two delegations that the Shosuro claimed did not arrive at the funeral. If they were ambushed, the Magistrates need to know if it was by rivals Clan factions, unruly peasants, or darker forces.

[Vardaen]

The rest of the funeral goes off as planned and by nightfall the Magsistrate are back in the Imperial Legion Barracks working on letters and writs. Umeko works with you and expresses some desire to handle the messages herself, or to remain in the city and work on breaking up what's left of the smugglers. Attaching herself to the Imperial Legion here, she can make sure the loose ends are finished up which frees the others to continue to seek these enigmatic "Spider". Regardless, you have a few days of work ahead of you, none of the glorious, but all of them necessary.

Present Day, 8th Day of the Month of the Dog, Late Summer, Owako Province, Goten Ryuuchou Kime, the Palace of Flowing Grain, Outside Zakyo Toshi "Pleasure City"

OOC

So ends the Chapter! I will start up the next chapter a "few days later" right here in Zakyo Toshi. Please watch the OOC thread for XP awards and the like and keep an eye out for the next chapter start. Unlike in the past, this chapter will remain in Rokugan and not flip to the Burning Sands.