Chinese Take-out
Chapter 2: "The Prodigal Son Returns", September 11, 1018
[DM's Note: The reference source for this chapter is the Internet web site
www.taleofmurasaki.com , which gives great historical detail of 11th century Japan, as well as an interesting cast of characters. While this is based on historical Japan, if a DM would prefer to keep this a pure Forgotten Realms setting this location could be considered part of the Kozakura Island chain.]
The party arrives at the Mitsubishi estate in Miyako, the capital city of the Heian Empire. As they are on the opposite side of the world it is now 10:00 A.M. the following morning. They are in a garden pagoda, which he says is the Fishing Pavilion, as it is beside a small pond. Toshiro says that he will need to go find somebody, and for the party to wait there. He returns in a few minutes, saying that he has spoken to a servant, who is informing his parents of his return. Toshiro says that he will go speak to his parents, and bring them to meet the party.
The estate is rather large, situated in the nicer past of the city, east of the Emperor’s palace. The estate is comprised of a large walled in square occupying nine acres of land. There are multiple buildings, all pagoda-style. From where the party is Toshiro points out in the distance the Main Pavilion, where his family reside, a Guest Pavilion to the west of it, and Pavilion to the east of it where extended family live. Housing for servants are situated behind the three main buildings.
He returns in a few minutes with his parents, and introduces everyone. Toshiro’s father thanks them for safely returning his son, and invites them to stay as guests for as long as they would like. He asks a servant bring them to their new quarters at the guest pavilion. During the conversation Toshiro gives an annoying look to Serita, who has remained in bird form. Toshiro leaves with his parents, and the three take a walk in the estate’s garden.
The party enters the building, and is shown to their individual quarters. The building actually has just a single room, with paper patricians separating it into different sections. Narg asks where the furniture is, and is informed that the pillows on the floor are the chairs, and that the mats on the floor, which he thought were rugs, are the beds. “No wonder Toshiro took his time coming back here” Narg mutters.
Meanwhile, Toshiro briefly talks to his parents about his travel and adventures. He also asks about what has happened since he left home and how his beloved is doing. They appear some-what evasive, but say that she is well. After that he explains his relationship with the group and why they are here. He tells them that he is glad to be home and can't wait to see Katako, but first he must "help the Silver Moon defeat the evil wizard Morgarth and stop the plague of evil his is growing in their homeland. This evil is great and he might not live to see his wedding to Katako become reality, but it is his honor that is at stake if he backs out on the Silver Moon now, and who would want to marry a man with no honor."
Although it is approaching noon where they now are, to the party it is now almost midnight, so they decide that it would be best to just get a good long rest in order to reacclimatize to the new time zone. The party sleeps throughout the day, some staying awake during part of the night, but most just taking advantage of being to get a nice long rest.
September 12, 1018: 5:30 A.M.
Toshiro arrives at the guest pavilion. Narg asks “When’s breakfast?” Toshiro explains that the traditional Heian household has two meals a day, at approximately 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM. Hearing that, several party members break out rations to snack on. Toshiro explains that the entire extended family will be gathered for the meals, and that there is to be minimal of conversation at meals, as one should maintain eye contact to whoever is talking but it is considered rude to stare at somebody while they are eating. He said that a formal family meeting would follow the meal that the party has been asked to attend. He also tells them that the party's animals - Fiona's cat familiar, Cassie's owl familiar, and Serita while in eagle form – will not be allowed to enter the main pavilion during the meal, and should wait in the guest pavilion. He then informs Serita that she will have to remain in eagle form and act like a bird during the party's entire visit, as she had not changed back by the time he had brought his parents to meet the party. If his family were to now find out that she had met them in disguise it would be considered dishonorable, and could jeopardize any help from Toshiro’s family. She is very upset about this, feeling that he should have informed her of this in advance.
He suggests that the party clean up before the meal. The servants show them to a “communal bath”, which most of the party is reluctant to use as a group, but the two dwarves think nothing of stripping down and diving in. Narg mutters about maybe taking one later, but only if the servants can change the water and remove the dirt ring that the dwarves will leave around the tub. The group are all provided with kimonos to wear. Narg complains about having to wear a dress, but reluctantly attires himself accordingly, although he decides to keep on his sneakers (obtained on Alton's world) rather than the sandals that had been provided.
Shortly before the meal the party is led by a servant into the main pavilion, which has been set up with a series of small tables about a foot above the floor, with pillows around it. Toshiro’s parents are seated at the head table, along with two middle-aged Japanese men, a middle-aged Japanese woman, and an elderly Japanese woman. Toshiro is seated at another table, with young men and men. There are two other tables with Japanese people of various ages, and a guest table that has been set out for the party. The group immediately notices that the table is short two pillows, and all but Lannon and Duegar are directed to sit down. Toshiro notices the party’s confusion, and comes over to them, telling both Lannon and Duegar that there appears to have been a misunderstanding, as his parents must have assumed the two dwarves were the party’s servants. To correct this now would cause embarrassment, so he says for them to just play along, and he will discuss this privately with his parents later.
The meal consists of a variety of dishes, including soups, rice, noodles, fish, meats, and assorted vegetables all served in bowls. The household servants assist Lannon and Duegar with bringing food to the party, and then clearing the dishes afterwards. The two dwarves take it in stride, taking their cues from the servants.
Following the meal most of those in the room leave, including all females except for Cassie, Fiona and the elderly woman. Four large wooden chairs are brought into the room, and the three men and elderly woman take seats. Toshiro moves over to sit with the Silver Moon. Toshiro's father begins speaking, introducing the other two men as his brothers Hiroshi and Takeshi, and the woman as his mother, the leader of the family.
Lannon and Duegar accompany the servants to the servants’ quarters, where an elaborate meal comprised of the “leftovers” awaits them. Rather than eating in silence, the servants converse freely during the meal, those who know it speaking in the common language. They break out several bottles of an alcoholic drink that they call Sake. The two dwarves conclude that they lucked out by being mistaken as servants, and question whether they want to correct this misunderstanding.
In the main room the grandmother gives great thanks to the party for returning Toshiro to them, and asks for more detail about this great evil that they are seeking, which may be threatening the Empire. Aradyn and Cassie do most of the talking, telling of being attacked at their home, and now seeking their enemy. They explain how they have found clues indicating that their enemy now resides in a castle that was owned centuries before by a man named Lee Takayama. They came here to Miyako, because Toshiro spoke of a prominent family here with the same family name.
The grandmother confirms that the Takayama’s are indeed a well-respected and powerful family within the city, who are creators and sellers of great magic. She mentions that it was through them that she had gotten the message to Toshiro several months earlier saying that it was now safe to come home. She says that she will contact the Takayama Family Elder to arrange an audience for the party.
She then speaks to Toshiro, saying that now that he has returned, there is another obligation that he has to perform. She asks if he remembers the man named Hijari Toyota, who served as the chief advisor to the current Emperor, as well as his two predecessors. Toshiro says that he does remember the man. The grandmother says that Toyota died three months ago, and that Toshiro needs to visit the Emperor’s palace to pay respects to the man's widow, and that an audience for this has been arranged for him on the following day. “Certainly”, is Toshiro’s answer. She then says “You do not fully understand my grandson. His widow is not the woman Shutashi that you remember, for she died many years ago, shortly after you left on your journeys.” Toshiro’s face turns pale, and he softly mutters to Aradyn “I think I know where this is going.”
The grandmother explains that around six years ago the elderly Toyota’s health began to deteriorate, and that as a lonely widower he had nobody to care for him. The Emperor was indebted to him for his many decades of service, and decided to reward the man by providing for him both companionship and the honor of officially becoming a member of the royal family. The Emperor decided to offer him the hand of his daughter Katako, who had been living in seclusion at a monastery for five years at that point. This would also solved the problem of the Hyundai family. Yensu Hyundai, the cousin of Kinto, had formerly asked for Katako’s hand in marriage a month earlier, and the Emperor had been procrastinating giving a reply.
When the word of this engagement reached the Hyundai family Yensu became enraged, and demanded an audience with Toyota. The elderly adviser met with the young man, thinking that he only wished to offer his families best wishes for the marriage. Instead, Yensu drew and shortsword and attacked the old advisor, yelling that this was a “duel of honor for her hand”. Hijari Toyota quickly realized that, as an elderly septuagenarian in frail health, he would be no match against a healthy twenty-year old. He had, however, once been trained as a monk, and quickly recalled four different open-hand movements designed to immediately incapacitate a foe. The first two of these were unsuccessful, and he took a sword slash across his chest, that thankfully did not penetrate deep enough to cause fatal damage. On his third attack Hijari hit the appropriate pressure points to stun Yensu, followed by his forth and final move, a successful strike in the larynx, which proved to be fatal to young Hyundai. By this time, the commotion in the Emperor’s palace had drawn a crowd, including the Empress. Yensu’s dishonorable actions were sufficient to have the Hyundai family banished from the Empire.
Toshiro's grandmother explains how, at that point in time, they could have contacted Toshiro to return, but felt that it would be heartbreaking for him to find his beloved married to another. For that reason they chose to wait. When Hijari Toyota died in the spring she then sent word to her grandson to return. The grandmother then looks to the Silver Moon Adventurers, asking that some of them accompany Toshiro during his visit to the royal palace, as me might need their support and friendship to get through the emotional reunion with Katako. She reminds Toshiro to “Act honorably and appropriately. Remember, she is a widow, and another ten weeks remain of the traditional half-year period of mourning.” Lono mutters to Mojo “I guess that means he won’t be getting any.”
The grandmother tells the party that they are free to travel the city, but also informs them that only those of pure races populate the Empire, and so those of hybrid races should cover their heads and faces when traveling about. “What, you guy’s don’t like half-elves?” Narg exclaims, “And you want me to hide who I am?”. The grandmother answers “I personally do not share in those prejudices, and you are welcome to go anywhere you wish on our estate. Many in this city, however, do not share my feelings on that subject. The Takayama family is probably the most vocal in their opposition to hybrid races, so if it is information that you seek from them, it is probably best that you do not antagonize them unnecessarily.” The party returns to the guest pavilion. The half-elves of the party (Cassie, Fiona, Lono, Mark, & Narg) complain bitterly about the restriction. “At least you aren’t stuck as a bird” Serita's player comments.