[OA/FR] Rokugan - Updated 12/13/03

[Black Omega]

The bowman fired again, wounding Mindra, even as the monkey cast Bull’s Strength on Toshiro. The heavily armored female Shugenja stepped forward, her chanting whipping up a whirlwind that tore along a column, engulfing Mindra, Volar and Toshiro, battering them with the sheer force of the winds and blinding Toshiro.

Yukiyo fired back; scoring a hit on the Scorpion bowman before a now hasted Volar zoomed back into the room, a package in one hand. To the surprise of all, the elf hurled the package at the shugenja, scoring a hit. The contents of the tangle foot bag splattered over her armor, slowing her down. Just what Volar wanted. What lightning speed he whipped out a flask of Alchemist’s Fire from his handy haversack and threw it at the glued shugenja. However, the flask missed its target, splashing fire along the back wall of the room.

With Toshiro blinded for the moment, the Shinjo Toru led the other two Thunderguards into the room, one charging at the Shugenja while the other followed him against the Monk. Yukiyo continued to steadily plink away at the Monk, though over half the near hits were deflected. Mindra summoned up a Dire Ape to help in front, while Volar matched with a Celestial Lion.

Even with the room getting crowded and the action hotter, the Scorpion monk remained cool. Focusing, she drew upon her connection to the Void to aid her defense, then she struck, balancing on one leg as hammer like kicks pounded the body, then the face, sending the Thunderguard flying back against the wall, then slumping down in a bloody mess. She took a bloody rake from the Celestial Lion’s claws before a stunning fist rocked the creature. Stunned for a moment, the lion was helpless as the monk grabbed onto it’s mane and drove three fast knees into it’s face, celestial teeth flying as the lion was finished off.

But Toshiro was ready now, charging in with katana at ready to engage her. Meanwhile, the Dire Ape had blocked off the doorway the bowman was firing through, though he only had time for a couple of swipes before falling, filled with poisoned arrows. But he had bought enough time. The Thunderguard had kept the shugenja busy while Volar prepared, unleashing his Elven wizardry on the shugenja and turning her…into a cute little puppy.

Already slimed by the tangle foot, the puppy raced out of the house as fast as it could manage. Not that it got far. Yukiyo started firing arrows into the dog while the Thunderguard chased her out into the street, hacking away with his katana. In what must have been quite a sight for those watching from the other houses, the poor puppy was hammered relentlessly, until Volar finally put it out of it’s misery with a magic missile.

By this time Verick had arrived, jumping off his horse and racing into the house, quickly drawing his two swords as he leapt in to take over where the Dire Ape had left off, face to face with the bowman, who by now had taken out a kusari-gama.

While Toshiro was fighting it out with the monk and holding his own, Verick scored a bloody hit on the masked man with the kusari-gama. The man retreated and Verick chased, only to come face to face with not only his opponent, but a imposing figure in gold and red armor. The Golden Scorpion.

Volar had decided to take a more active role in the battle by this point, casting a polymorph that changed him into a frightening monster, an Annis Hag. Seeing the reaction around him to this monsterous form, he quickly turned himself invisible as well.

[GM Note: Volar learned a valuable lesson in this battle. Invisibility first, then look like a monster.]

By this time Toshiro had gotten the better of the monk, shrugging off her blows thanks to Mindra’s healing, then slashing back with powerful, two handed cuts. She dodged back toward the door but Volar stepped in, a burst of glowing missiles shooting from a spot in thin air to strike her down. Meanwhile, the shady Itoshi had shut the door behind Verick while the Golden Scorpion looked the young man over. “We’re only here to recover something stolen from our clan. We’re leaving now. Stand down and the fight can end now.”

Verick was probably the wrong one to do the talking for the group, however. With a loud cry he attacked, but after cutting down the Thunderguard who had followed him, the Kusari-gama man moved to flank Verick with the Golden Scorpion and Lion Cub blood was soon spattering over the walls.

Toshiro came up, getting a running start before crashing through the door, just as Verick was cut down. Mindra had been turned invisible by Volar and scampered forward to heal the fallen Lion as Toshiro cut down the fake Itoshi and continued on after the retreating Golden Scorpion and ninja.

Left behind in the fight, Yukiyo took this chance with the fire quickly spreading, to grab Mir’s body and stuff it into her Furoshiki bag then glanced around to see if Itoshi’s living room had anything worth lifting. Monsterous and invisible, Volar ran around the side of the house, cutting off the Golden Scorpion while a partial healed Verick staggered up and after him as well. The kusari-gama man took the easy way out with Toshiro, tossing some type of flash pullet in his face, blinding Toshiro again, then attacking with lethal precision that staggered the powerful Crab.

A single stroke by the Golden Scorpion’s katana sent Verick down in a bloody heap again but Mindra was right on the spot with healing again while Volar tried to grapple the Golden Scorpion, then brought up an illusion of a stone wall to block their escape.

Shinjo Toru, the last surviving Thunderguard, jumped in front of Toshiro, taking the pressure off him while exchanging strikes with the kusari-gama wielding ninja and coming out the worse for it. But that gave Toshiro the time needed to recover. A measured cut splashed blood over the ninja’s light armor, then a perfectly timed slash took the man’s head off with one stroke.

Seeing his partner’s death and trapped between Verick and the stone wall, knowing there were others around that were invisible, the Golden Scorpion paused, muttering what might have been a soft prayer. Then attacked again, sparks flashing as his sword intercepted Verick’s. A fast second strike almost put Verick down again, but the Lion twisted away from the cut just enough. Before the Golden Scorpion could recover, Verick slashed him across the belly. Then a sudden rain of Volar’s magical bolts slammed into the Scorpion’s golden mask, finishing him off.

The group was left bloody and battered, but they were the last one’s standing. Well, most of them were….

[GM Note: This battle also started a little debate with my group. Mir’s player thought I might be going a little easy by not simply killing Verick while he was down. I can see the point there, a little. Verick had been down twice and popped back up again. I’ve never made a habit of ‘making sure’, though. And neither has the group. So at least for now I’m not changing this. Though if it comes up again…]

 

[Black Omega]

In the aftermath of the battle, Mindra remained invisible while healing everyone. Volar remained invisible as well, checking the area out before the cautious elf was ready to admit the battle was finished. Toshiro went into the burning house to look for Itoshi. Verick checked the body of the Golden Scorpion, recovering a pouch of gems, some of which were obviously pried from golden fittings. Once that was done he stood guard over the body of the Golden Scorpion, making sure it was properly treated and nothing was taken. Even though Volar did try to tempt him by commenting that the Golden Scorpion’s mask, armor and weapons were all magical.

Not everyone was so careful, though. Yukiyo retreated from the burning house after deciding there was nothing of Itoshi’s worth looting. Then she remembered the Scorpion shugenja. The body had returned to normal once the puppy was killed and the vividly red and black armor was obviously of fine quality. Dragging the dead lady off to the shadows, Yukiyo quickly stripped the body, tucking the gold and armor away into her magical bag.

Mindra also made good use of his invisibility, a quiet detect magic revealing the Kusari-gama of the ninja was magical, as was a box tucked inside his armor. Gold was also ‘recovered’ from the body. The monk had been left inside the burning house.

Making his way into the burning building, Toshiro found Itoshi bound to a table in a room off to the side. The thin man was very weak, but alive and Toshiro wasted no time cutting him free of the bonds and helping him outside.

Toshiro and the others also thanked Shinjo Toru for his help in the fight. As much as they had trouble with the Thunderguard previously, they had to admit Toru had laid it all on the line for them. Firemen soon arrived to help fight the fire before it spread. Additional Thunderguards were summoned to secure the situation, and Verick made very sure the body of the Golden Scorpion was treated with all the respect due an honorable samurai.
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Volar confirmed the jewels Verick had recovered were magical, though he could only guess at the spell. Even so, the Scorpions had obviously thought the information could be hidden on them. So Toshiro took the jewels and kept them well hidden so he could take them back to Lord Jyaku.

Mir was ‘in seclusion’ during this period, suffering the aftereffects of some terribly debilitating Scorpion poison. In fact, Volar, Yukiyo, and Mindra were conferring over what could be done. Mindra felt he could restore Mir to life, though he would need time communing with the spirits before he would know the spell needed. Until he had the free time to train, he had another spell that could partially revive Mir. It would trap her for a week in a place between true life and death. Yukiyo volunteered to look after Mir during this period. Mir would be aware, after a sort. But sluggish and easily confused. This would allow them to get her back to Bugaisha so Mindra could do his training with the spirits and revive her fully.
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In the meantime there were a few last minute things to do before the group could leave Bugaisha. Toshiro, Kaz, Verick and his Sensei all got to have dinner again with the Lord of the city. They also found out Shinjo Toru was being promoted to full officer, thanks to a recent opening in the ranks. Toshiro took this as confirmation that heads had indeed rolled behind the scenes. And with Toru getting a good report, his uncle could promote him without it looking like nepotism.

Volar, Verick and Mindra also followed up with Agnar Glitterune about a project they wished kept secret. A special golden clock for Toshiro’s wedding. They wanted to get this underway well in advance so they could surprise Toshiro later. Agnar took down notes on what they wanted. A golden clock with little figures that would come out every hour. One was to be Toshiro carrying a katana. The other was to be O-Hisa, Volar made this easy by producing a illusion of the Unicorn girl so Agnar could get her appearance down. O-Hisa’s figure would appear with a large war hammer. Every hour the figures would come out, have a little mock battle that ended with a kiss.

Yukiyo snuck out to do some work of her own. Working with Mindra, she’d opened the magical box and found it contained a set of enchanted brushes and inks for calligraphy, that could also work well with her forgery skills. Mindra had given the kusari-gama to Verick as a present without revealing where the weapon had come from. Finally, with some work Yukiyo found a shady merchant willing to buy the heavy Scorpion armor, and for a good price.

Verick had a secret project of his own. He got in touch with Agnar on his own for a special project. A clock for a certain Phoenix Lady he had competed against at the Topaz Championships. He’d be in touch to work on the details later, for now he was getting the ball rolling with a downpayment and working up some ideas on how it should look.

Volar had one little hidden project as well. Using the knowledge gained from Buka during the Speak with Dead spell Mindra had cast as well as his own magical investigations, he found a way around the magical safeguards at the Golden Carp bank in the merchant sector. A way to look like Buka without using illusionary magic. He had previously popped around to visit the shady merchant, Whisper, to keep the word out that Buka was alive and hiding. Then he visited the bank Polymorphed to look like the pudgy fellow. Magical auras were no unusual thing in Ryoko Owari for one who was looking. As long as it wasn’t an illusion, the bank security didn’t seem to concerned. Volar knew from past experience, Shugenja didn’t have much experience with spells like Polymorph. Appearing as Buka, he withdrew 10,000 koku from the man’s account. Then on his way out of the bank, he used a smoke pellet to create a cloud of smoke, while he changed to look like a ninja, then disappeared suddenly and ran like hell before anyone could react.
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Later that day, the group left for Bugaisha, just as word of the daring, mysterious robbery was spreading. It was a two-week ride back to Bugaisha. During that period the gaijin in the group, with Yukiyo’s help, maintained the illusion that Mir was simply badly ill. Unlike the patrols they had encountered previously, the group now saw large groups of samurai on the move, heading to the east.

The group passed by Mir’s Grove on the way in, Cracked Nut offering a cheerful wave as they passed. They didn’t want to pause, Volar would have to have a chat with him later about Mir’s condition and make sure there would be no trouble.

Bugaisha was undergoing some repairs to the wall when the group arrived, and they soon learned why. During their two month absence, there had been an attack by Hordeland nomads that was driven off only after a full month of fighting. While Lord Jyaku had led a mobile force attacking the rear, Shinjo O-Hisa and Shinjo Yuji had been left in charge of the defense of Bugaisha and it’s surrounding villages. They had distinguished themselves, with O-Hisa killing a Hordeland chieftain in battle.

Reporting in to Lord Jyaku, he accepted the jewels, confirming that they were indeed what he had been waiting for. He would examine them later to find out what had been so important it cost Kurocha his life.

 

[Black Omega]

Mir spent a rough week in seclusion with her companions, especially Yukiyo, looking after her, until Mindra had finished his communing with the spirits. When he was ready he began the ritual, a mix of monkey chanting and sweeping gestures that summoned the spirit of Mir back into her body. Mir had only the slightest idea of what had happened since her ‘poisoning’. If there was anyone with the suspicion that Mir’s seclusion had been a lie to cover something less acceptable, they did not care to speak out against the people who had saved the life of Lord Jyaku’s daughter.

Lord Jyaku invited the group to dinner that evening for more official thanks for their loyal and dedicated service. During the pleasant conversation during dinner, Lord Jyaku also assured Toshiro that the negotiations to formally arrange his wedding were coming along well. “In truth, we’d probably already have finished, but I’m enjoying a chance to match up against your father again, even if it’s with words instead of steel.” Toshiro agreed his father was probably enjoying the challenge as well.

After the dinner was complete, Lord Jyaku had gifts to present to the group. “Service is properly rendered because of duty or honor, rather than expectation of rewards. But it’s a very pleasant part of being a Lord that you are allowed to reward those who have served well.”

Toshiro was presented with a black mempo, a armored mark that would fit into his helmet, that would make him proof against the fear effects of many Shadowlands creatures. Kaz received a kimono sash, an obi that would make the tough Crab even stronger. Akodo Verick also got an obi, golden in color, a gift received by Lord Jyaku some time ago from a friend in the Lion clan. The obi would allow Verick to see with catlike clarity at night. Yukiyo received magically enhanced arrows. Volar was given an amulet in leaf green that would make the elf’s keen intelligence even sharper. Mindra similarly got an amulet that would add to the Vanara’s insight and wisdom. And finally, Mir received hairpins in gold and purple that enhanced her charisma even more.

[DM Note: I’m sure there is a better term than hairpins, since they are more hair spears, but for the life of me I can’t think of the proper term. And I’m sure the choice of gifts has nothing to do with Verick making sure Buka’s highly suggestive painting of Mir was sent to Lord Jyaku.]

Lord Jyaku did have one bit of bad news for the group as well. The shape shifting girl they had captured during the battle to save O-Hisa had escaped from her captivity in the temple. The exact means were unknown, but she was a master of disguise and illusions and it was suspected Nagatori had given her a very good idea of even the secret ways of the temple.
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Several weeks passed as the group settled into their normal routine and news trickled in from the rest of the empire. With the death of the Splendid Emperor and the disappearance of his wife, there is confusion over who will take the throne. In the meantime, clans have taken this as their chance to redress old grievances. Forced from their mountains by volcanoes and earthquakes, the Dragon Clan has invaded the lands of the Phoenix, defeating them and capturing the Ki-Rin Shrine. Despite the Phoenix mastery of all things magical, the Dragon Clan’s mix of martial mastery and mystic enlightenment had proved too much for them. In response, the Phoenix has called upon their new alliance with the Lion Clan.

The Crab Clan had also decided to march. The death of the Emperor has put an end to any chance for a peaceful settlement in the dispute over the Yasuki lands, and Hida O-Ushi, sister of the Sun and Champion of the Crab Clan has led them and their Mantis allies in an invasion of Crane lands, to settle the dispute once and for all. And Toshiro’s good friend Lord Yasuki Hachi emerged victorious in the tournament to determine the next Emerald Champion, leader of the Imperial Magistrates. Though his victory was flawed and suspicious. Many believed he had been installed in the position as a pawn of Hantei Naseru, one of the three children of the deceased emperor. Toshiro couldn’t help but hope Hachi could find some way of resolving the Yasuki issue without violence.

Volar returned to his school, picking up the instruction of his students while adding Shinjo Toryu, a young, fresh samurai straight off his gempukku, to his varied roster of aspiring wizards. Volar’s ‘wizard tower’ was under construction, but only the first level had been completed. Volar was already making plans for the areas he’d use Stone and Iron Wall spells to make his tower even more secure. Volar had also instructed his students to start being helpful throughout Bugaisha, using their growing magical abilities for free now and then as a way of making a good impression for a school many were still deeply suspicious of.

Mindra returned to his carpentry, enjoying the chance to relax and not worry about anything more stressful than making sure the spirits of a wooden roof would get along. He also spent time studying his Naga pearl, trying to find a way to guide it’s visions to what he wished to see rather than what it wished to show him. His success in this area was still very limited, as he found his awareness swept up and away, zooming over the landscape to the far east of the Empire, a place he had never visited in person. The scene was the aftermath of a bloody battlefield, Crab and Crane samurai laying in crimson pools, figures moving here and there to tend to the wounded. Then the scene shifted to a Crab leader, a powerful man with a massive war hammer, reviewing the decapitated heads of the fallen Crane samurai. The grisly trophies were the signs of Crab samurai’s victories, and Mindra could not suppress a shudder. –He- was the barbarian here?

Mir returned to find her Grove in fine shape. Cracked Nut had been active helping the local peasants and had even taken care of some straggling Hordeland nomads who had troubled the area. Slowly but surely the Grove of the Oak Kami was being accepted. Mir knew soon enough she was going to be busy. During her time ‘away’, she had been granted a vision by the Oak Father, showing an ancient temple deep in a forest she recognized. Shinomen forest, the home of the Naga and the place where Sho had died fighting the ogre. Soon the temple would be reawakened. Not yet, but soon…

Yukiyo’s news wasn’t quite so cheerful. The hard faced man she had initially contracted to see to the assassination of Cracked Nut did not bring news of his death, but rather returned her 500 koku. As he explained “He’s a monk in the service of a gaijin in high favor with Lord Jyaku and a powerful wielder of some foreign magic. As are her friends Volar and Mindra. She is also a good friend of Toshiro, well known by now to be the future son-in-law of Lord Jyaku. An attack on Cracked Nut is an attack on her. Her friends would certainly help her. And that may bring in Lord Jyaku, even if his help is not requested. That sort of trouble is simply not worth 500 koku. I suggest you find someone elsewhere.” Grimly Yukiyo simply nodded and started her plans.

Verick had his own duties to return to. He was given a new home, suited to a junior diplomat from the Akodo to the Shinjo. At the suggestion of Toshiro’s little old lady, several of the girls serving in Toshiro’s house were transferred over to Verick’s new place, including the girl previously in charge of the smuggler, Yasuki Kome’s house. His sensei began Verick on a new course of lessons, this time in etiquette and courtly games like Go, as well as working on Iaijutsu. Verick also took time out from his schedule to compose a letter to the family of the Golden Scorpion, praising him as a brave and honorable opponent, and making it clear there was no grudge against the Scorpion Clan on his part. And he received a most welcome letter from a certain Phoenix lady.

Akodo Verick,

Greetings! I trust the last several weeks have found you well. I’ve been very well indeed. My chances of passing my gempukku at the Topaz Championships were considered less than certain, so my victory has made a number of people take notice. I’ve been assigned to Otosan-uchi, the capital of the Empire, serving as a junior diplomat for the clan. It’s very exciting. I was pleased to hear you were made an ambassador, it seems we’ll be working in much the same area. Perhaps we’ll be meeting again soon. I’m sure you’ve heard of the move by the Dragon at the Ki-Rin shrine and the battle there. There should be some fierce battles, the grudge between the Dragon and Phoenix has lingered for several years now. Perhaps this will finally put an end to it. I look forward to hearing how your trip went and what adventures you’ve gotten yourself into.

Warm Wishes,

Isawa Oroko
Phoenix Clan Junior Diplomat, Otosan-Uchi.

Kaz returned to his normal duties, leading patrols and carousing. Toshiro returned to his normal duties as well. But with frequent visits from O-Hisa, happily chatting about the war Toshiro had missed and bugging him for details about his own battles and glories. The fight against the ‘oni’, though Toshiro honestly admitted it was simply a mujina. The fight against the Shadowlands creature, and the various battles in Ryoko Owari. Toshiro also received two messages that would cause him trouble later with the group. First from his friend, Lord Yasuki Hachi.

Hiruma Toshiro,

I’ve done so investigating as you and your friends wished. I’ve tried to be as discrete as possible, but I’m more warrior than courtier, I’m sure someone is wondering why I’m asking these questions. I’ve spoen with several of the weapon smiths who make such blades and shown the rubbings taken from the blade. 357 years ago it was given to Kakita Haruka. Asking around with my sensei in the Kakita, I found the blade had been passed down to a certain Kakita Yukiko, who was lost in the great battle with the Lying Darkness at Oblivion’s Gate. I hope this is the information you needed. I now leave to try and difuse the tensions between the Crane and Crab. My position as Emerald Champion allows me to try and transcend the bounds of clan and age old grudge. You may have heard about the tournament and how it went. Do not believe all you hear. You know me, I have confidence you will see through the smoke to the truth.

Yasuki Hachi,
Emerald Champion and Daimyo of the Yasuki

Then more ominously, a he awoke a few mornings later to find left beside his bed a single red rose and a note.

I find myself filled with terrible purpose by the Shadow Dragon. I cannot remain, my will is not enough to overcome the Darkness. I regret not keeping my word to you, but I hope we will meet again soon. I need to know which of you has my sword. It is my anchor to what I once was, what I can dream I might be again. Please leave a note under your bed with the person’s name, I swear I will do them no harm.

Tears in the darkness
Honor lost then found again?
I’ll return for you

Toshiro considered this for an hour before he finally settled down to write.

Your name is Kakita Yukiko. We’re trying to find a way to help you. Your sword is in the keeping of Verick right now. Do not hurt him, please.

By the time Toshiro returned home that day, the message was already gone.
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The group’s period of rest and routine didn’t last too long. Long enough for their training to finish and them to get settled in their duties again. Then they received a summons to meet with Lord Jyaku on a matter most urgent and secret.

They arrived to find him already waiting, practicing his poetry. But his mood was somber.

“The Red Wizards have been quite. Too quiet. They have had people out gathering information. Making deals with people they should not be meeting. However, they are also in favor with the Champion of my clan. Or at least his grandson and heir, Moto Chagatai. Thus I am put in a difficult position. I am sworn to protect the Empire and the Unicorn Clan. I cannot prove what the Red Wizards are doing in a fashion the Moto will accept. So I must do something more direct. I have solid information that a Red Wizard will be traveling from Bugaisha a day from now, accompanied by a Thayan Yojimbo and ronin of the Broken Mirror. You must see to it the Red Wizard never gets to that meeting. Toshiro…Kaz…you have my permission to use disguise. In fact, I suggest you make it seem like a bandit attack from the rabble of Kuzo, so you also have my permission to remove items from the bodies that bandits might find useful. Though you are not to keep anything of theirs. The Red Wizards must NOT find out who is behind this attack.”

 

[Brown Jenkin]

Notes from Mir

So this is what death is I thought. I headed off for the light and thought that at least the Oak Father is close and that I would soon be joining him and my own kind.

Time must run somewhat differently at death it seams since my companions told me it was a day until they first tried to bring me back while it seamed much shorter to me, or maybe it just didn't matter.

As I was making peace with my situation however is when Mindra first pulled me back. I had talked with him and Volar previously and we had all agreed unlike the Rokuganis we had no problems with being brought back to life. What was now happening however was not what I had expected. Instead of being brought back I was now trapped between life and death. I could see what was going on around my body but everything was somewhat hazy and incomprehensible. I could tell I was not dead but I was certain I wasn't alive either. Every so often I would revert back to death I think but was immediately pulled back into the limbo I seemed trapped in.

After what seemed like ages however after falling back into one of those deaths I felt a stronger pull back to life. I felt Mindra's lifeforce pulling on mine. This time I was certain it was to bring me back to real life, not the limbo I had been trapped in for so long. It was now time to make a choice. Where do I belong, I had originally asked for this but now that I was so close to my god I was having second thoughts. Time was short I must decide. That is when the Oak Father gifted me with yet another vision. I was needed in the Shinomen forest to find a lost temple. With this new vision my choice was made for me, the Oak Father wanted me alive for this purpose whatever it may be. I relented to Mindra's pull and awaked back in Bugaisha.

Mindra explained what had happened and what he and Volar and Yukiyo had done. I agreed that the cover story was a good idea and have used it since. No point in freaking out the locals, I will just add this to things to keep quite about like some of the spells I can cast but choose not to in order to keep the bloodspeaker label off me. Cracked Nut was concerned for me but seamed willing to believe the story now that I confirmed it and was healthy again.

As for Yukiyo I felt indebted to her for saving my body making my return possible. I have forgiven her for all old grievances and will give her a few gifts in the future as payment. I paid Mindra back as well for the spell components he used and commissioned a Raise Dead scroll for future use so that such cover stories would no longer be needed. Our little band of death raisers has agreed to continue, and with this scroll either Mindra or myself can now cast it in combat and claim it is just a healing scroll in order to keep the questions to a minimum.

One other thing of note to clarify our narrator is Lord Jayku's gifts. I do have some magical hairpins, but not as gift from our lord. As is the case with the spirits around here awhile back some of them must have liked me because my hairpins spontaneously began giving me a greater insight into peoples motives. This had happened once before with my obi suddenly conferring on me a greater sense of self worth that many interpreted as an increase in beauty as well. As with my explorations into storing both Arcane and Divine magics how this happens is something I will have to look into in more detail.

But back to Lord Jayku's gifts, as a gift from him I received a new kimono in my colors of green and white. This kimono had a permanent magic much like my obi only stronger. As it worked the same whether my obi was worn or not I decided to give the obi away. So knowing that he had been a good friend and had never let me down, and knowing that he sometimes seemed somewhat awkward around others, and that from past experience with spontaneous spirit items that his alignment was not to far from mine, I gave Toshiro my obi to help him out.

Mir

 

[Black Omega]

Lord Jyaku gave the group some time to plan out their ambush. He could provide a little information. What gate the Red Wizard and escort would likely be leaving by. What road they would be taking. But he wasn’t sure how far the Red Wizard was traveling or exactly where he was going. Attempts to spy on or scry past trips had all met with failure.

Verick went to check with his sensei about such an expedition, but Setei-sensei firmly believed Verick would improve his battle skills most by doing and this seemed like a good chance to work on his tactics.

A brief discussion leads to a plan to ride out of town that same day, head down to the south. The group has left town many times before on missions for Lord Jyaku so this would not seem unusual. And it was decided it was far more workable than trying to create the impression they were still in town. Once outside the town, they would change into disguises and swing around to find a spot to intercept the Red Wizard’s group and spring the ambush. To help that plan along, Verick made other arrangements for fake travel papers, calling on his old friend Gyo for help in procuring the illegal documents.

Mir also went shopping, finding some scrolls she could use as fake Okuda, the spirit focuses used by the Shugenja for their own spell casting. Mir carefully chose spells she could cast without using her Staff of the Oak Father and made her thrush look more like a crow. Mindra planned to use his amulet to disguise himself as a Rokugani and trust his spirit magic was close enough to a Shugenja. Volar would be invisible for the battle and cloaked, just in case. Toshiro and Kaz would disguise their armor, and Verick would bring out his old scale armor from the west and use it with his new kusari-gama. With such a mixed group, they hoped to give the impression of bandits from Kuzo, a place known to have wizards.

Riding fast, the group managed to circle around and get to their spot in only a day. The plan was to have Yukiyo, Verick, Toshiro and Kaz burst from cover while under an Improved Invisibility and attack while the spell casters maintained some distance, spaced out to avoid spells like fireballs. Verick took some time to help set up the blinds the group would be hiding in. Then they settled in to wait, while Mir sent her thrush up to look around, to give advance warning.

Very wise it turned out, since the first group that passed by was a large group of Unicorn cavalry headed at a gallop toward the east. They waited until noon in the hot spring sun, watching merchant caravans moving slowly past now and then. But finally Mir’s thrush spotted a group of riders that fit the description of the Red Wizard’s group. The thrush replied this information back but was ordered not to go in for a closer look.

With no time to spare, Volar quickly cast his invisibilities and everyone ran to their hiding spots. The thrush had been right, the tall, bald man in red robes was very obviously a Red Wizard, but not one of the three that had traveled with Volar, Mir and Verick on the caravan. When the Red Wizard and his bodyguards reached the pre-agreed point, Yukiyo began firing as fast as she could at the Thayan Knight while Kaz and Verick charged in to try and cut down the Red Wizard before he could react.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“How did the ambush begin, Aloth Kakano? And please be precise. Even small details can give us clues about who was behind this attack.” Chathin Zurn, Khazark of the Bugaisha Enclave, said softly.

“Suddenly, I’d say. At first a flurry of arrows, which made me think they might be clueless bandits. But that impression didn’t last long. Only until the first of the three who were under the effects of an Improved Invisibility hit me. I was badly wounded by two in the initial attack while the others tried to take out my bodyguard. Despite it all, though, the attack failed to kill me and I simply turned invisible myself and got out of the way. They were not seemingly prepared for such a tactic.” Aloth Kakano replied.

“I was able to get out of the way and spotted a second group of the bandits on the north side of the path. I dropped a fireball on them and wounded all. There was a Roko fighter there, hasted, a wizard and a female Roko, probably a shugenja. Then I spotted another Roko to the south and I summoned a Celestial Dire Bear to rip him apart.”

Chathin Zurn frowned as she listened “Obviously, this was not nearly enough.”

“No.” Aloth Kakano replied “The Roko mercenaries we’d hired were fighting as well as they could. My bodyguard had been driven back and then a Plant Growth made it difficult for her to get close to the battle again. I also had trouble, the wizard’s familiar had Invisibility Purge and Silence cast on it, and it was trying to follow me around. “

Chathin Zurn shook her head “The Roko’s don’t know Invisibility Purge, that’s a cleric spell from the West. A –personal- cleric spell, so the crow was a familiar of someone who could cast such a spell Very interesting. Proceed.”

Aloth Kakano shrugged “It was an ugly battle. The female shugenja brought up an Obscuring Mist. Between that, the Plant Growth, and all the invisibility, much of the battle was simply looking for a target. The Roko my bear was after ran away and climbed up a tree. From what I saw, the Roko had to be –very- tough. He not only survived my Celestial Dire Bear but was also shot many times by my bodyguard. He summoned a Dire Lion and sent it after me.”

“So, a Roko summoned a Dire Lion? I wonder if any of the attackers were truly Roko’s, or were they all simply using that as a ruse. Shugenja can’t summon lions.” Chathin Zurn observed.

“I can’t say. Fighters fight much the same everyplace and besides which, they could mostly not be seen. From when they popped into view, up close, they looked Roko enough. And they spoke it well. Our mercenary guards were all cut down. My bodyguard inflicted quite a bit of damage with her bow before closing into melee. She fought well, there were simply too many of them. I did a lot of damage with magic missiles, fireballs, and acid arrows. But between the lion and the bird, I could not escape. The plant growth covered everyplace and the road was watched. They were hurt enough that when the two ronin fighters, the wizard and the female Shugenja closed in on me I could probably have killed a couple with a final fireball, before they killed me. Of course, I deemed it more important to let you know what was going on and I did a sending instead. They seemed surprised by my choice.” Aloth Kakano said.

“So, in short. You were ambushed. You turned invisible and were chased around while your group was scattered in all directions. They were all killed before you were caught at the end and slain as well. And the mission was left uncompleted. We’re deeply disappointed you didn’t do better, Aloth. At the very least you could have gotten a better idea of who was attacking you. Now we have much to consider. You may return to your duties.” Chathin Zurn concluded somberly.

After Aloth Kakano had left, Torisk Hawt glanced over to Chathin Zurn. “Maybe divinations will help as well. My scrying showed what they looked like. The key is the familiar. Outside our enclave, clerics and wizards are rare in this part of the world. A cleric with some wizard training is unheard of. It has to be either Volar’s group in Bugaisha or those bandits in Kuzo. The bodies were looted, so all we have to do is find a certain few items Kakano knows well enough to track. Don’t worry, we’ll figure out who did it.”

[GM Note: I decided to write up this battle a little differently. To a large degree the fight was circling and searching, except for Mindra, who was running up trees to try and escape the Celestial Dire Bear. With it’s DR of something like 20/+3 there was little the group could do to it except avoid it, something made easier by the Plant Growth and Obscuring Mist.]

 

[Brown Jenkin]

Notes from Mir

Yes we did leave some tells as to who we were. I know the Invisibility Purge could give us away. I decided at the time however that it was more important to kill the wizard and since we botched the initial attack and he was skulking around invisiblely this was the only option. We had orders to both kill the wizard and keep our identities secret. If I chose wrong I will take full responsibility.

As will be seen we did take some precautions on getting rid of the evidence.

Congratulations to the narrator, a job well done. A change in perspective is always welcome.

Mir

 

[Black Omega]

“The man whose profession is weapons should calm his mind and look into the depths of others. Doing so is likely the best of the martial arts.” Yamamoto Tsunetomo in the Hagakure

The group took a moment to look over the battlefield, the road surrounded by the heavy plant growth. But they didn’t have much time for healing. The Red Wizard’s choice to do Sending instead of a Fireball had taken them off guard and now they had to hurry for more help started showing up. Yukiyo wanted to retrieve all her old arrows but there wasn’t time to find them all and she settles for looting the body of the Thayan Knight. Volar was first and fastest to the body of the Red Wizard, then his equally dead horse, not only grabbing magical items but the spell book.”

The others helped round up the horses as the day turned hotter and hotter, the sun blazing down from the sky as the heat turned positively withering. As soon as Volar felt the first scrying of the area, the group mounted up and raced away with as much plunder as they could gather. The gallop slowed to a more reasonable pace after an hour as the group kept heading up to the north and east, debating their next move as they went.

“We have to sell the horses someplace. It’ll let us drop even more clues of Kuzo and bandits wouldn’t keep the horses long. But the other stuff we’d keep, identify and sell for the best price possible. It’s a shame so much of the Thayan stuff is obviously theirs. If they didn’t mark it we’d have an easier time selling it, but I’m getting an idea…” Volar said thoughtfully, sounding suspiciously knowledgeable of bandit tactics.

“We’re NOT keeping any of the items we took.” Toshiro said firmly “It’s easy enough to bury it someplace where they won’t find it. We’re not taking any chances with this.”

Volar certainly agreed they weren’t keeping anything. If the Red Wizards found them, it would get ugly fast. Riding on into the late afternoon the sun simply keep getting hot, the temperate rising up well above 100 degrees, even as the sun sank lower on the sky.

“Is this normal for spring here?” Mir asked in some confusion.

Kaz and Toshiro both shook their heads “Well, not for where I’m from in the south. I’d think the Snow Plain would be cooler rather than hotter.” Toshiro said.

It took a couple more hours but the group finally found a village, situated on the shore of a large lake. The group carefully checked their disguises, just to be sure, and Volar brought up an illusion to make Verick look like one of the Half-Orcs of Kuzo, complete with demonic black mask. They rode into town slowly as the peasants there stopped and stared. Finally an ugly, balding man stepped forward, taking a moment to smooth back his almost non-existent hair before bowing “Greetings! I’ve been waiting on you. We have three fine horses ready for you, and some assorted armor and weapons.”

That took the group off guard a little bit. But Verick played along well, checking out the horses, then the armor. It was obvious both had belonged to samurai that were ambushed. The quality was too good for stuff peasants might have around. And the horses were clearly battle trained. As they looked over the horses the headman of the village chattered on nervously “It took a little doing, you understand. And you are...well...a little earlier than we expected you. But we did the best we could. Everything on the list, weapons, armor and horses. How does it look?”

Verick withdrew to confer with the others “This won’t work. We can’t sell the horses if they are expecting to be selling them to us. They stole the weapons recently. They are all still in good shape, and there’s a little blood on the armor.”

The group decided to ‘buy’ the horses and equipment. After a fashion. At first they simply took the animals and items while the nervous headman waited on his gold. Finally when it looked like the group was simply going to ride off, he mustered the courage to clear his throat “Excuse me, sirs. But we were told we be paid for everything we collected for you?”

Verick turned his baleful, Half-Orc gaze on the headman, staring for a moment before finally Yukiyo tossed a small pouch of gold to the man. Far less than he might have expected to get. But the group figured he’d not be so quick to help bandits anymore after getting cheated by them.

Riding on with ten horses in tow now, the group debated as they rode. They could try to find another village to sell in. But the longer they were away the more trouble it was to try and keep the ruse up. And the greater the chance of running into real bandits from Kuzo, which would completely blow their cover.

The day’s heat slowly faded as the sun dipped below the horizon and the group made camp, still rather puzzled over the day’s extreme temperatures.

[GM Note: A little nod to the Metaplot of Rokugan. The Crab Clan just lost their battle with the Crane, where Crab Champion and sister of Lord Sun Hida O-Ushi was killed. So for that day the Sun was bright and angry.]

Settling in around the fire, the group started to work on Plan B. Volar asked if he could be left in charge of disposing of the stuff stolen from the Red Wizard and bodyguard. He assured the samurai that nothing could be traced back to them or Lord Jyaku. The stuff would be ‘hidden’ in a place far far away. Finally Toshiro agreed. He just didn’t want to know what was done with the equipment, just to be safe.

Gathering all the items, Volar worked out with Verick what should be buried in the forest and what could be taken back to the Western Kingdoms to be sold.

“The ronin’s katana and armor would be pretty exotic back west. You could probably sell it for a pretty decent price someplace like Waterdeep.” Verick observed.

Volar’s eyes got wide for a moment and he shook his head quickly “Oh, no. Not a chance. I’m not returning there for a good, long time. Trust me, it’s not a good idea. I have an old friend in Evereska who can help us, though.”

In the blink of an eye, Volar disappeared with the bundle of weapons, armor and items while Verick waited. It took a few hours before Volar reappeared, all smiles. “We’re fine. My friend’s still in business. I dropped it off for him to check out. I’ll visit in a week or so to see what he’s come up with, and what he’s been able to sell for me.”

The horses were a tougher problem. They didn’t want to release war trained horses in the area, there was too good a chance they would be found and questions might be asked. It was doubtful the Red Wizards would notice, but Volar in particular was not comfortable with even that slight chance. Verick and Mir were both against just killing the horses. Volar had an idea, though they’d have to camp there for a couple of days for him to really do it. The others were agreeable though.

Two days later Volar was done. He’d spent each morning memorizing as many Polymorph Other’s as he could, then turning the war horses into squirrels. When he was finished, the herd of war squirrels was released to run free.

[GM Note: This has become something of a running joke for the game. Somewhere out there are squirrels with 22 hit points and warhorse training roaming around. Since horses are herd animals, the squirrels would likely stick together. And could easily handle any peasants that bothered them.]

With items and horses all disposed of, the group once again circled around Bugaisha to the south and returned home, careful to remain on the watch for anyone following. Just to be on the safe side. They were shown in right away to see Lord Jyaku, who was very pleased with the results. If all worked according to plan, the Red Wizards would now complain, he could swear the bandits of Kuzo would pay for such an attack, and at the same time it would leave the impression the Red Wizards were vulnerable to the attqacks of simple bandits.

It wasn’t quite that easy, of course. The Red Wizards never made any public or private complaint about the attack. In fact, they continued business as if nothing unusual had ever happened. In days the Red Wizard and his bodyguard were both seen around town. But at least all indicationed were that the meeting had been successfully interrupted.

The group was busy for the next couple of weeks. Mindra went back to work as a carpenter specializing in roofing. Volar’s tower was nearly finished, and the Moon Elf went to work adding stone walls to the inner workings to reinforce the structure. He also used iron walls to create a room with no doors that he could teleport into, and keep secret. Toshiro and Kaz were both moved up to assisting Shinjo Fujinami in training younger samurai in weapon skills when they were not out on patrols. Toshiro and O-Hisa were also beginning to be featured together more and more in public appearances.

Verick was kept busy as the sole Akodo ambassador to Shinjo Jyaku while checking in now and then on his sake works, now nearing completion. Mir was also busy. Her grove was growing. Cracked Nut was pleased to report there were four new people interested in joining the temple and learning how to worship the Oak Father. Two were simple, young peasants, who Mir decided to teach as Adepts. Another, named Haki, was the son of a well to do ashigaru, a peasant warrior for the Unicorn. Big and strong, he was trained as sohei, to guard the grove. Tuli, a peasant girl of hordelander blood, was trained by Mir personally to be a cleric. At the same time, Mir was also doing some training for herself. She had asked previously about swearing herself to Shinjo Jyaku. After some discussion over exactly what that would mean, it was worked out that she could be a vassel for Lord Jyaku, sworn directly to him and answering to him. Lord Jyaku made it clear he understood that Mir was still loyal to the Oak Father, and that if there was ever a conflict, he wanted to know of it right away to there would be no misunderstandings or problems.

Meeting with Hiruma Toshiro to discuss additional matters concerning Toshiro’s impending marriage, Lord Jyaku had an additional suggest.

“Toshiro, why don’t you finally form a group with Kaz, Verick, Mir and the others? In Rokugan it’s important to be a part of a group. It would help your other friends like Mindra and Volar since they would not simply be foreign strangers, but a part of a known group. The seven of you have been working together for months now. Why not make your association formal?” Shinjo Jyaku suggested.

Toshiro liked this idea and the group started to debate over what to call their group. The discussion ranged all over, from names to do with the west, sunset, wind. Finally they narrowed it down to Sunset Riders or Setting Sun Riders. Since Bansho was the word for both Sunset and Setting Sun, Bansho Kishu was agreeable to all.

Late that night, after all the discussion was done, Toshiro was resting in his bedroom, thinking over a design for the Bansho Kishu mon when there was a light knocking at his window. Warily, Toshiro drew his katana and silently snuck over to the window, sliding it open sudden, sword at ready. Waiting there was someone he’d not seen for some time. Nezu, a thin, rat faced man looking more than a little beat up and weathered.

“Toshiro, my dear good friend. I’m so glad I’ve found you at last. Something terrible is happening in the north…”

 

[Black Omega]

“It is a fact that fish do not live where the water is too clear. But if there is duckweed or something the fish will hide under it’s shadow and thrive. Similarly, the lower classes will live in tranquility if certain matters are a bit overlooked or left unheard.” Yamamoto Tsunetomo

Toshiro kept his katana ready but allowed Nezu to crawl in through the window. Anxious and twitchy, Nezu jumped at every little noise as he started to explain.

“I can’t tell you what the last few months have been like, my good dear friend. After you and the others left me in charge of the village again I barely had time to settle in before she came, in the night. She promised to do something memorable and unpleasant to my family if I didn’t cooperate with her. I had no choice!” the rat faced man whined sadly.

Seeing that Toshiro was waiting patiently for him to go on, Nezu sighed “She had heard I knew the northern lands pretty well. And I had contact previously with the Yabanjin tribes up there. She forced me to guide her from village to village. She was trying to get the northern barbarians to join in an alliance. I only escaped because at that last village they were pretty hostile and attacked her. And while she was killing them twenty at a time I had a chance to run away.”

Toshiro frowned a little “Who is this ‘she’ you were guiding around?”

Nezu looked side to side nervously before leaning over to whisper softly “Shahai.”

A name that spoke volumes. Killer of a hundred witch hunters. Leader of the Bloodspeakers, a savage, chaotic cult that has killed thousands over the years.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
First thing that morning, Toshiro got in touch with his friends and let them know about Nezu’s suddenly appearance. They decided to hide the thin, twitchy man at Toshiro’s place until they had a chance to speak to Lord Jyaku. When the situation was explain to his, Jyaku-sama sighed a little.

“This comes at a very bad time. The Bloodspeakers have worked with the bandits of Kuzo in the past. If they are getting an army together, then they have something big in mind. Something much bigger than simply harassing caravans and raiding villages. Bring Nezu in, I have questions to ask of him. Details I need to know. In the mean time, you have some preparations to do as well. Tonight we have a dinner to attend. Several diplomats of my clan are here to make an announcement. You should all be there for this.” Lord Jyaku smiled.

The timing was perfect. The group quickly had badges made up, using the Bansho Kishu emblem Verick had come up with. In addition to that, Verick had even more to add. Back in Ryoko Owari after he had pulled a disappearing act thanks to Volar’s spells, he had been called the Red Lion. It was a name he had liked. To keep up this, he had a formal kimono made using the colors of the Lion Clan, browns and golds. But then adding red trim as well. As much as Verick loathed the Scorpion Clan, he did like the name and reputation he was building.

That evening the group debuted themselves as Bansho Kishu to the assembled samurai of the Unicorn Clan. The announcement was timely, since part of the evenings ritual was officially honoring Hiruma Toshiro, Toritaka Kazuyuki, Akodo Verick, Volar, Mir, Mindra, and Yukiyo for their services to the Empire and the Clan, while fighting Oni and Bloodspeakers. The group’s exploits were praised, in detail. And through it all, Lord Shinjo Jyaku looked on, spreading his purple and golden fan in approval of the honor layed on Toshiro and Bansho Kishu. Though his polite smile hid an inner irritation. Bansho Kishu had been his secret weapon in the Empire, an use that was at an end now that Bansho Kishu was being officially recognized by the Unicorn Clan.

The crowning announcement of the night was the official announcement that Shinjo Jyaku would be appointed to be governor of Ryoko Owari, beginning in two months, after he had settled everything in Bugaisha.

Once the official business was finished, the entertainment began. Traditional Rokugani music as well as more barbaric music more suited to the Hordelands. Mir even had a chance to perform, drawing much notice and praise for her story of Toshiro’s victory over an Oni.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The very next morning the group was summoned to another meeting with Lord Jyaku. A meeting that was delayed when Verick surprisingly didn’t show up at the appointed time.

Verick awoke sluggishly, his head splitting, the light far to bright and the sounds around him almost deafening. As his vision slowly started to focus, his saw Akiko, his ‘little old lady’ who ran his house. She was kneeling over him, a cool cloth pressed to his forehead as she looked on in concern. Soon a healer appeared to look him over, but as Verick’s thoughts cleared he knew perfectly well what the problem was. He had been poisoned with this type of sleep gas before. Moving slowly to minimize the pain from the headaches every move triggered, Verick searched around the room, until he found what he was looking for. A small tube sticking into the room, where the sleep gas came from.

The healer mixed a healing tea that would help his headache while Verick considered the attack. He was perfectly fine. There was no sign Akiko had interrupted anyone while they were doing something to him. Then quickly he set to searching his room, trying to find if there was anything missing. Only one thing had disappeared from his room. The Kakita Blade that belonged to the Ninja Shapeshifter. But that didn’t make sense to him…how could she have known where it was?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Verick showed up, apologizing quietly for being tardy before he explained why he was late. Toshiro sank a little lower where he knelt as he listened. Until finally he confessed to having left a note for the Ninja Shapeshifter. To having told her where to find the sword, and to trusting her not to harm Verick. It also came out that he had received a reply from Lord Yasuki Hachi giving him the name associated with the Kakita blade that was stole. The Ninja Shapeshifter’s name was Yukiko, meaning Daughter of Snow. Perhaps some shadow of memory had been why she called her gang Fubuki-tai, the Blizzard Group.

Toshiro slunk lower and lower as the others stared at him, wondering why he hadn’t told anyone else about this, and most especially about the Shapeshifter contacting him. Verick in particular glared, his hand sliding to the hilt of his katana as he fought a battle with his temper to not simply challenge Toshiro on the spot.

Finally Lord Jyaku intervened calmly “Verick, I know you are upset. But I ask you pause for a moment. Breath. Something very bad is about to happen to this town unless we take action. It is the duty of a samurai to protect those unable to protect themselves. A task I know the Akodo accept as a point of honor.”

Verick did take a deep breath, and though his eyes said this would not be forgotten, he at least released his sword and sat back to listen.

“Rodrigo has been a bogey man out at the edge of the empire for decades now. Sixty years ago he started out as a simple bandit and since then he’s just gotten bigger and more powerful over time. He also carries a grudge against the Unicorn Clan, and against anyone who has defeated him. My first military victory came at his expense. A well planned but wild ambush of the previous Lord of Bugaisha’s forces had defeated him. I had asked to be put in charge of the rear guard, a dangerous post he was happy to give me. While the others retreated, we charged back to Kuzo and attacked while they were getting drunk, burning down much of the town before withdrawing before they got organized. I’ve burned Kuzo twice since then but it always springs up again.” Shinjo Jyaku said with a slight smile.

“They are like cockroaches that way. Rodrigo has also had a long-standing cooperation with Shahai and the Bloodspeakers. Your report indicates they are gathering horses, weapons and armor. It seems they are also recruiting barbarians for some major expedition. In a couple of months I’ll have to leave Bugaisha behind. When I do, I want to make sure Rodrigo is no longer any threat at all. I have an idea for forcing a final confrontation. But there are certain things I need. I don’t want to wait until they are ready to attack. So I need to find where Kuzo is currently. Preferably in a way that won’t tell that immediately they have been found. I would also like an idea of their present strength and plans. Getting this is going to be tricky. They’ve had a lot of contact with the west. Rodrigo himself is a Half-Orc. I want Bansho Kishu to go out, find exactly where Kuzo is at the moment, and infiltrate to gather information and spread chaos. You have my permission to not be bound by honor for the duration of this mission. I know this will be dangerous. But you are the best people for this job. Your group bridges the gap between barbarian and Rokugani, West and East. I feel very sure you can find a way in there. You’ll need disguises and cover stories. I leave that up to you. If there is anything you need for your disguises, simply let Yuji know and he’ll find what you need.” Shinjo Jyaku said, still smiling a little.

Volar was the first to speak up. “We can do this, but there is something I’ll need to get set up before we go. I can teleport. If there is a safe place in the castle here I could teleport to, that would be for the best.”

“I’ll arrange for a room to be left unprotected against teleport. Of course, a guard will be there at all times. We’ll use passwords to make sure no one else tries to take advantage of this. You should also know Kuzo is protected against divination. I’ve had the local temple try looking, without success. So they are protected by magic. Be careful, my friends. Very very careful.” Jyaku-sama concluded grimly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The planning went quickly, in fact. Mindra would use his amulet to become Ming, a Rokugani healer. Mir would reprise her role as a Rokugani Shugenja names Kyruko. Verick reverted to his Barbarian side to become Vlad. Volar was the one going furthest away from the norm, working up an illusion and mundane disguise as Wizbang Fireblossom, a female Elven wizard. But then, it is so hard to tell with elves. Toshiro was still thinking on a name but would be slow thinking, very strong and tough. Kaz became Taz and didn’t change much at all.

[GM Note: I wasn’t worrying to much about names. I preferred they had something they could remember easily, so Kaz becoming Taz worked just fine. Toshiro was having trouble coming up with something, so his name just kinda popped into play once he had spent enough time in the role. You’ll see.]

Nezu was not the least bit happy to be called upon to guide the group to Kuzo. “But you know the way.” Toshiro explained patiently. “You used to be a bandit there, you told us yourself. If anyone can find it for us, it’s you.”

That the Bloodspeaker Nezu had betrayed might also be there had the rat faced man worried. But after Toshiro promised his protection, Nezu finally agreed to act as their guide. ‘But they’ll know me there.” Nezu sighed “I’ll need to prepare. Toshiro, my friend, may I borrow a little gold from you? I’ll pay you back later. It’s just if I’m returning to…that place. I’d better be ready.”

Nezu went out shopping and returned later looking like a new man. Armed with a used scimitar and kukri, an exotic style of dagger. He had in tow a heavy Crossbow as well, and even new clothing, including a long, dark leather cloak and a broad brimmed hat. At his request, Toshiro even sparred a little with the wiry ex-bandit as Nezu tried to get ready for the trip.

Verick had some items he needed for the group’s cover as well. Going to find Shinjo Yuji, Verick asked if there had been anything golden or valuable recovered from the Hordeland camp when their invasion was defeated a few months ago. Verick picked out several items, enough to be worth a 1,000 koku or so. “We’re going to be coming from outside the empire. We’ll need something to trade, that way we have a reason to be going to Kuzo.”

Finally they were ready. This time they left town under the cover of darkness and road to the south, then west, circling around toward the area Nezu promised Kuzo would be in so it would seem like they were coming from the Hordelands rather than Rokugan. They were two days out before something caught their attention. A thin trail of smoke to the north. Far too much smoke to be a simple campfire. Kicking their horses into a canter, then road in closer to take a look. It was a peasant village at the edge of Unicorn lands. As they watched, a gang of bandits was running wild over the town, tossing burning torches into some of the wooden huts, while another bandit armed with a lance was riding down fleeing peasants and skewering them from behind while some of his comrades made bets on it he could kill each in one shot.

“Looks like we’re on the right track.” Verick commented grimly.

 

[Draken Korin]

Notes from Verick

The timeframe was abrupt, and there was little chance to plan the entirety of our action, so we decided to play most of it off the cuff, which has been our forte for the near year we've been travelling. This time, I had a chance to use some of my western skills to plan. In addition to the loot we were to have taken from the barbarians as we rode east through the Hordelands, we secured western coin, and even fake papers with our new identities on them to carry us through the mission.

The first part of the journey was uneventful, as we rose south, then west, then hard north, before turning east again to reenter the Unicorn borders. The circuituitous route was intended to throw off anyone trying to track us back to Bugaisha. We met almost no one on the rode, though we did have to hide once or twice to avoid the Unicorn patrols riding south. Then we came to the village, and our way to Kuzo unfolded before us in a way we could have never forseen.

Verick

 

[Ancalagon]

Quite interesting developements!

I love this story hour, the weave of intrigue is delicious.

Ancalagon