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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Vanifae" data-source="post: 5263986" data-attributes="member: 58765">Session 2: Painful Regrets – Part 119th of the Dragon, 1172 IC, Pale Oak Castle“I’m bored,” Sukime whines as she sits in the large open chamber with her sisters.Bayushi-san shrugs, “Quiet down, we can’t do anything till you mother is done, now be quiet.”Sukime sighs waving her wooden sword about, “I’m tired of just sitting around, I want to do something!”“Settle down, Sukime-chan, once mother is done we will be heading home, and not before.  Now have patience,” Mayako adds, but the boredom was getting to her too.  Two days had passed since the Tournament and all they had done was wait around and spend all day lounging about.  The time was not very exciting and not all that entertaining either, she was beginning to day dream when she notices a low born servant enter the chamber.“Lady Agasha-sama, your mother requests you and Bayushi-sama’s presence,” the servant bows.The two samurai-ko leave immediately to see just what Ayame-sama needed of them.  Hopefully this was a sign that they would be leaving soon.  Ayame-sama focuses her attention on the papers arrayed before her, “I will need to stay a few days longer, you will go on ahead and take your sisters home.  I will also need you to deliver a gift to Lady Shion; I planned to see her after our visit here. You may stay with her a few days, you can visit with Tetsuo, and you went to school with him I believe.”“Of course mother,” Mayako bows.  “You leave in the morning.  Dismissed,” her mother finishes and both samurai-ko leave.Finally they were leaving; the journey home would be a welcome change to the boredom of lounging around the castle. There was little time to think of the time ahead a commotion in the main yard drew their attention.  A guest had just arrived that caused quite the stir in the yard.  His mon bore the heraldry of the Seppun family; he dismounts easily ignoring the servants and approaches the gathered sisters and the Scorpion bushi.  The young samurai is handsome and bears an honorable manner, his daisho glimmer in the Spring evening sun.  “Cousin!” the Seppun samurai smiles, “It is so nice to see you, when does the Tournament begin?”Mayako smiles, “It’s been over for a few days now, Nobutada.  You missed the whole thing.”“Really, I tried to get here as quickly as I was able.  Is auntie here?” Nobutada replies.Mayako smirks, “Yes she is, but she is a little busy at the moment.”“Well I will try and speak with her as soon as I am able why don’t we go catch up,” the young Seppun bushi shrugs.[I have another character to add who is also a shugenja so I decided to bolster their strength with another bushi.  Seppun Nobutada is Mayako’s cousin on her mother’s side.  He is a very honorable and idealistic individual with a deadly sword arm, though not as deadly Bayushi Shiatari.  GM’s note]20th of the Dragon, 1172 IC, Pale Oak CastleThe morning comes quickly; Nobutada accompanies the young samurai-ko astride his mighty steed.  Bayushi-san receives a cold glance from the young Seppun heir, his trust in the Scorpion bushi low.  Both Keiko and Sukime rest inside a wagon driven by a low born servant.  Mayako leads the group out of Pale Oak Castle and along the road south to Sweet Plum Province.  By mid afternoon gray clouds fill the sky and a slight drizzle fills the air.  Nobutada shifts uncomfortably on his horse as the drizzle turns to outright rain; a Spring storm unleashes its fury on the traveling samurai.By nightfall the group is soggy, wet, and miserable.  They set up camp for the evening and try to keep warm as best they can a futile effort against the ravages of the storm.  Nobutada glances at Shiatari with contempt, “So, Bayushi-san, you carry the blade like a warrior, have you been in many battles?”“A few,” she replies dismissively.“Tell me of one of your great battles, Bayushi-san,” the Seppun bushi inquires eyeing her carefully.“I would rather let my blades speak for me,” the samurai-ko replies, “Perhaps you can entertain us with your war stories, Seppun-san.”“I have seen battle, but my proudest moment was competing in the Topaz Championship, I did not win but I competed with honor and brought glory to the family name.  Just as I am sure you did in the contest, Mayako-kun?” Nobutada smiles from under his rain hat.Mayako blushes, “I didn’t actually win cousin, Shiatari did.”“Oh… I am sure she won with honor,” Nobutada says dismissively.Shiatari shrugs, “I did what was expected of me, nothing less.”Nobutada lets the conversation go, his suspicions of the Bayushi bushi not yet abated but needing rest for another rainy and muddy day of travel.  Rest was fitful for the samurai but sufficient if not overly enjoyable.  Morning comes quickly and the storm has not abated, nerves are growing short and misery is high in the air.21st of the Dragon, 1172 IC, South Road in Sweet Plum ProvinceThe second day of rain and misery pours down on the beleaguered samurai.  By nightfall the lights of North Border Village are visible flickering through the rain and trees that lined the South Road.  Lightning flashes in the sky, briefly framing an over turned merchant’s cart, illuminating five figures in the darkness briefly.  A flash of steel and a mortal cry breaks the constant drone of the storm.The three young samurai dismount and advance forward suspecting the worse as the merchant’s guard falls in the rain.  Blood, mud, and rain scattering all around the cart.  The bandits, for what else could they be but bandits turned their focus on the fallen guard, perhaps oblivious of the approaching samurai.Nobutada breaks the silence as he approaches, “Throw down your weapons in the name of the Empress!”  His command turns the focus on the bandits on the samurai.  A flash of lightning gives the samurai their first good look of the bandits and the sight chills both Mayako and Shiatari to the bone.The flesh of these ruthless men was pale and discolored.  Their heads lolled at odd angles, decay setting into the skin and tissue.  They wore crude armor and wielded crude weapons, but the most disturbing element of all was their eyes… they glimmered with a foul light.Nobutada steeled himself against the fear that shook his allies and raised his blade as the zombies lunged forward![This was our first combat of the game and it was pretty intense, more on that next time!  Plus some suspicious characters and a mystery to be solved! – GM’s note]</blockquote>

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