Beyond the boarders of the Emerald Empire lies a vast and diverse world centered around the Burning Sands -- a place cursed by Shilah the Sun and Kaleel the Moon. For too long the Samurai in Rokugan have remained ignorant of the greater world around them.
A danger is rising, but is it too late for the children of the Kami? Only you know that answer.Run by the Game Master Moto Vardaen
Zenko backs up letting go of the peasant, he is glade he didn't have to follow through with his threat. As he backs up Ryuichi finishes what the group started, and the man's head is taken in one clean stroke -- a mercy he earned at the very end.
Umeko then moves and help's Eisai out of the building while Ryuichi and Zenko remain behind collecting a few lamp and tossing the oil about. The resulting fire quickly consumes the dojo. The Imperial Legion, and the summoned fire gangs of the city keep the fire contained and Zakyo Toshi doesn't burn to the ground.
You retire to the Imperial Barracks, and there you spend the rest of the day and all of the next resting and convalescing from your wounds.
The rest of the day passes, and all of tomorrow. Everyone is healed back up and resting comfortably in the Imperial Barracks. This chapter is nearing its end, the only thing to resolve, if you care too is the Funeral for the Governor. What would you guys like to do next?
"He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom." - Gandalf
J.R.R. Tolkien, Council of Elrond, The Fellowship of the Ring
Eisai spends part of his afternoon's convalescence writing orders and his report. The orders pertain mostly to the puppet theater and the drug smuggling that was going on in it. He shows these orders to the other magistrates to see if they agree with his actions.
The report sets forth what has happened and what they have learned so far. This will be sent back to the Imperial city for the Celestial Bureaucracy to digest and reply to. His recommendations are to increase attention to this area of the Empire, lest a peasant uprising occur. But those in power know better than he.
Despite his writings, the monk takes at least an hour for meditation. Absent his normal physical meditation routine, he finds a quiet spot in the barracks and kneels in an upright position, trying to think of nothing but his breathing for the duration.
When morning dawns, he prepares to attend the funeral. "Given his position, and the fact that we invited many of the samurai attending, it would not be proper for us to miss the event," he notes to the others.
He'd suggest whatever punishment was normal for opium smuggling, whatever that is.
In the morning the Dragon is awake as early as every other day and meets with the Eisai and Zenko. "Yes, it would be very inappropriate if we were to miss the funeral as we also witnessed the Usagi's death. And as you say, Eisai-san, we invited samurai so we are more or less the host and oversee the succession of the governor's position."
"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."
The Kuroda Puppet Theater is shut down, the Imperial Legion sees to that, and all those found guilty of smuggling opium are punished. In Rokugan the punishments for dealing with opium are quite sever, ever since the Hantei of centuries past outlawed it. Those found directly responsible or in the know are executed at the end of a rope. Those found ignorant of he situation are given a slap on the wrist anyhow and sent on their way. The puppet theater troupe has its charter revoked, and the building and all its property is confiscated by the Imperial Legion to be sold at auction to recoup lost taxes and expenses for the ordeal.
The funeral of Usagi Hirota is now the main issue at hand. You hear from Otori that things are moving along and that guests were invited as suggested, as many powerful samurai in the area as the Hare could muster, and that this evening the bonfire for Hirota is to take place. It becomes time to set out if you wish to arrive at the Hare estate with time to spare and time to plan.
"He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom." - Gandalf
J.R.R. Tolkien, Council of Elrond, The Fellowship of the Ring
"Of course Eisai. After all we invited the samurai. It would be a poor show if we were too late though I am not used to host meetings for large numbers of samurai," Ryuichi says, dressed in a clean kimono and free from any signs of yesterday's battle. For a moment he considers to don his set of armor if only for the ride. And since he heard that the ronin were planning to rise up against the Celestial Order it would be foolish to ride through this city and on its roads without it. "Excuse me for a moment. I have to prepare something before we leave," the Dragon adds, heading to his room to put on his fine armor.
"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."
"Of course, Dragon-san. We can spare the time to go properly attired." The Kuni does not have much in the way of material possessions, but he does have clean clothing and freshly applied facepaint on. "Let us make sure that the Legion is on full alert during the ceremony, and afterwards until all the delegates are safely away. The last thing we want is for some enterprising rebel to take a shot at anyone important today." He dislikes not knowing what is going on. They were too slow to see the important clues right in front of them until it was almost too late, and many criminals fled the city. He vows to hunt them down and destroy them for their crimes against the Empire.
Rule Number 12: "A soft answer turneth away wrath. Once wrath is looking the other way, shoot it in the head."
Eisai waits patiently for his fellow magistrates. He has washed up and put on his finest outfit. It is far finer than would be usual for a monk. But he is, after all, also an Imperial Magistrate. And appearances must be maintained. However, he has no armor to don or paint to apply. For an Ise-zumi, the tattoos they wear are adornment enough.
"This should not take too long," Ryuichi replies with a raised eyebrow at magistrate Kuni's address. The Kitsuki just puts the slide on the same anxiety he's feeling as he'd rather go and bring each of Ryudo's associates to justice instead of overseeing the selection of a new governor. "Perhaps it may be best if you take care of the Legion and then we can leave as soon as I am back. It doesn't need three magistrates to remind the legionnaires of their duty, Kuni-san."
The bushi dons the armor with its polished golden edges and the large mons of his position and smaller ones of his family and his clan on the shoulders. He doesn't rush as he buckles on his armor as a badly tied knot is not only uncomfortable but may open at a very disadvantages time or get loose when the force of another weapon hits it. Perhaps when they return he may get a full set of armor and accept the additional bulk for combat, especially if he has to fight the likes of Ryudo and a half-dozen peasents again, the Dragon considers and doesn't decide it yet as it is far to early and inappropriate to cloud ones mind with protection during a funeral.
Clad in his fine, light armor Ryuichi returns to the other Emerald Magistrates, ready to leave right then.
What about Umeko? Will she still be tag along now that there's no player for her?
"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."
Umeko will be leaving the group. I think she makes an excellent person to carry your messages back to Toshi Ranbo or she could remain behind here to oversee the situation, but I have no desire to NPC her for long, and I haven't seen anyone asking around to join the game.
Dressed and polished for a state funeral the quarter of Emerald Magistrates mount up and ride out. The hour long trip out of town is a slow ride, you are in no rush and for the first time you aren't racing to put down some criminal action. As you cross into the Hare province you see trees hung with spirit ribbons, and spirit lanterns placed out at various location -- all in mourning for the loss of the Governor by the peasantry. As you near the main estate and palace you notice a more of these. Along the road you spot Hare Samurai keeping watch, they notice you and you them, and you ride past with a polite set of bows and nods due your status. The palace itself is alive with somber activity. It would seem that some samurai have arrived to pay honor to the dead Hare. You see parked in the courtyard a half dozen palanquins, and around them the litter bearers and personal samurai guards. The mons of the Scorpion, Unicorn, Fox and Hare are present among the various delegations.
As you dismount your horses are taken by servants and you head for the main adiance chamber inside. You are greeted by Hare samurai along the way who grant you access. On arrival in the chamber you find yourselves quickly and suddenly thrust into a court situation. Milling about the chamber, deep in conversation are a half dozen courtiers and their attendants. Scorpion and Unicorn from Zakyo Toshi are present as are Hare from both here and Kudo. Kudo is the the nearby Hare clan city to the south. The Fox Minor Clan that are present are likely from Kudo as well since that is the base of the Minor Clan Alliance.
Eyes shift toward you, people instantly take note of four Emerald Magistrates and the mood in the room instantly becomes even more tense than it was.
"He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom." - Gandalf
J.R.R. Tolkien, Council of Elrond, The Fellowship of the Ring
