Black Omega
First Post
Tokiwong said:
Verick's probably the most unpredictable of the group. He and Volar. Possibly why they work together so well.
[OA/FR] Rokugan - Updated 12/13/03
- Thread starter Black Omega
- Start date
Verick's probably the most unpredictable of the group. He and Volar. Possibly why they work together so well.
Black Omega
First Post
I had not expected him to try that. Verick dislikes Scorpion and I had thought he might try something in the Hunt. But he stuck to his final goal. Akodo-Sensei would have been proud. And more on Verick's sneakiness to come soon.Ancalagon said:
Most of the contests were contested rolls. For all but the Verick matches I did the assignments and rolls before hand. I wish I had thought of a way to make more contests as interactive as the Haiku contest, but what -do- you do with something like Heraldry? So mostly I tried to keep things moving along and give other people a chance to do other things. Like Mindra and his Crane 'girlfriend'. Thinking back on it, I could have tried assigning one NPC to a player and let them roll. I'm not sure that would have been any better though, but it could have given a more personal connection.
Brown Jenkin
First Post
Notes from Mir
Bored? How could I be bored with all of these new people to meet and these courtly functions to go to. Mindra also found a new girlfriend although he was a little unconfortable wiith the whole interspecies thing. Volar spent his time betting on the outcomes, although Verick probably didn't appreciate this since whenever Volar bet on Verick to win a contest Verick would end up losing. Volar also snuck out a few times to meet with someone but he hasn't been very forthcomig about this. While the Championship was certainly the focal point of this time, there were still plenty of other things going on around Shiro Matsu. Overall though we had a good time because we were interested in how Verick would do and whether he would survive and continue on with our little group. We also understood ever since word of his participation was anounced that this was a time for him to shine and for us to support him. Normally Toshiro as the leader is front and center of our group with our adventures revolving around him while Verick has to follow (even if it is not always so quietly) so I'm sure it did him good to be the center of attention for a change.
Mir
Bored? How could I be bored with all of these new people to meet and these courtly functions to go to. Mindra also found a new girlfriend although he was a little unconfortable wiith the whole interspecies thing. Volar spent his time betting on the outcomes, although Verick probably didn't appreciate this since whenever Volar bet on Verick to win a contest Verick would end up losing. Volar also snuck out a few times to meet with someone but he hasn't been very forthcomig about this. While the Championship was certainly the focal point of this time, there were still plenty of other things going on around Shiro Matsu. Overall though we had a good time because we were interested in how Verick would do and whether he would survive and continue on with our little group. We also understood ever since word of his participation was anounced that this was a time for him to shine and for us to support him. Normally Toshiro as the leader is front and center of our group with our adventures revolving around him while Verick has to follow (even if it is not always so quietly) so I'm sure it did him good to be the center of attention for a change.
Mir
Black Omega
First Post
[DM Note: I forgot one section in the previous update. At the banquet Verick was approached by a Scorpion with an offer. The Scorpion had been impressed by Verick’s performance so far in the tournament, and wished to offer to bet with Verick on the outcome of any contest Verick had against the Scorpion representative. The Scorpion also wished to make it clear, he was betting on Verick. So in short, any contest the Scorpion won, Verick would be paid 500 koku. Any contest Verick won, he would be paying the Scorpion 500 koku. Verick’s reluctance could not be overcome by Scorpion taunting and after some confused consideration, Verick refused. And offer of a bribe and a plot for dishonor hidden in the same bet? Surely the Scorpion would do no such thing.
]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
‘Chen’ got a poem in return from Kakita Asami that evening. Once again, delivered by a Crane page in most public fashion. Mindra was starting to get uncomfortable with this by now. As a Vanara, he had no real interest in humans. And he was noticing certain Crane were giving him unfriendly stares. This time he decided not to reply to the poem.
The next poem Kakita Asami received from ‘Chen’ was even more romantic and stylish than the first. It should be, Mir and Shiima had worked carefully on it. Doji Shiima had revealed Asami was engaged to another Crane samurai but they had been apart for a long time. He suspected she was trying to get her duelist fiancé jealous.
[DM Note: Aside from Mir, Mindra has by far the highest Charisma in the group. He took it for the benefit Cha gives Shaman but now and then it comes back to haunt him in other ways.]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Final round was held early in the evening, flicking torches providing all the light needed. As previously, the bouts were assigned at random. Before the bouts were announced, Verick’s sensei came to see him. “You may withdraw from this round without dishonor. Suffering as you do from foreign birth, they will understand you have not trained for this.”
Stubborn as ever, Verick would not give an inch, even for this.
The first iaijutsu match pitted Hiruma Fujizaka against Daidoji Suwa. Not a good match up for the powerful but slower Crab samurai. And both clans took a clear interest in the result of this match. It was over in as flash of steel, and Fujizaka’s Crab Mon fluttered to the stone, sliced from his kimono before his own katana had even cleared the sheath. Across the area where the Crane sat, ornate fans opened in sign of approval. A Rokugani standing ovation.
Second came Akodo Verick, his opponent the Unicorn maiden he had ridden against earlier, Utaku Manami. Politely they each bowed to the other and then fell into their ready poses. Their eyes met. In that split second, Verick knew he was a better fighter than her. But faster? But was impossible to say. Then both moved, the Unicorn clearly faster but Verick cleverly dodged the strike. Verick’s own strike, a second late, was more precisely aimed, slicing the Unicorn Mon from her shoulder with ease. To the surprise of many, Verick advanced to the semi-finals.
Third was another growing rivalry. Monkey girl Toturi Sitha against the Scorpion lady Bayushi Sakura. Sitha’s form glowed brightly to Mindra’s gaze, and she seemed perhaps a touch nervous. Sakura’s bone white mask hid any indication of her own thoughts. They bowed then studied each other intently. Then as one they drew, the clash of steel heard throughout the arena. Their initial strikes blocked each other but the Scorpion’s perfect balance allowed her to recover first, a flick of her sword slicing away Sitha’s Monkey clan Mon. As stoic as the others had been, Sitha’s disappoint was plainly obvious.
The final match pitched Matsu Shorisuro against the Phoenix, Isawa Oroko. To the surprise of no one, Oroko defaulted the match. Matsu Shorisuro did a good job hiding his own disappointment, but two matches in a role won by default were doing little to boost his spirits.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Much to his surprise, during the break between rounds ‘Chen’ received another note from Kakita Asami. Saying how much she had enjoyed his haiku and wondering if he might be free later for a walk. Rather disturbed by this, ‘Chen’ sent back a hastily written note reading
Thank you for your kind words. I hope you enjoyed the one poem I sent you. I think we are better off keeping our distance though. I hope we can remain friends. Chen
Asami didn’t seem pleased by the note, but it did at least bring an end to her friendliness toward ‘Chen’.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The semi-finals of the Topaz Championships came next, the pressure building on all involved.
The first match was Matsu Shorisuro against Daidoji Suwa. Another politically hot duel between clans that have been rivals for centuries. And this time Shorisuro knew it would be a real fight. A short fight in fact. If willpower alone could lead to victory, the Matsu would surely have won. But Suwa’s speed was blinding and his technique flawless. With his victory over the Lion there were some outside his clan starting to agree he might truly be the Soul of Kakita Rensei.
This left Akodo Verick matched against the Scorpion, Bayushi Sakura. Verick hid his dislike of the Scorpion well, his eyes giving no clue to the real depths of his hatred. As always the Scorpion was cool and calm, her mask giving the impression of a relaxing, smiling maiden. This time Verick’s lack of speed cost him, Sakura’s katana was clear and slicing away Verick’s Lion Clan Mon before his katana was clear of it’s sheath. A bitter defeat for the Lion Cub, but not completely unexpected.
[DM Note: Verick actually went further here than I had figured. Lacking fast draw, and going against young warriors who had been training for this for years, Verick had no chance of striking first, so he had to hope his opponent missed. It worked well for one match, but the odds were heavily against him the further he got.]
The final round was announced after a brief, ten minute wait. Another tense, politically charged battle. All the more because behind the scenes the Scorpion Clan was challenging the political power of the Crane. Both combatants had shown perfect form, poise and lightning speed. The Crane was favored, looking much taller and stronger than his petite opponent. When the moment of truth came both moved with blinding speed, but the Scorpion was a hair faster and for the first time this tournament, a Crane Mon was fluttering to the ground. Suwa’s face was a stoic mask as he bowed to the victor. And with that the Topaz Championship was over. Lady Bayushi Sakura of Honor’s Lesson Dojo was the victor.
Hantei Naseru conducted the final ceremony, in the place of the still absent Emperor. One by one the eight who have gained five victories were sworn in as samurai of the empire. Each was given their katana from the hand of Naseru himself. For his swearing in, Daidoji Suwa chose to be sworn in as Yasuki Suwa, swearing himself to his kinsman and joining the newest family of the Crane. Bayushi Sakura, as winner of the tournament, was made an Imperial Magistrate, junior grade.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That night was very quiet. The losers didn’t want to go out. The winners were celebrating and their gempukku was being finalized. The final swearing in took place that night for Akodo Verick in an ancient, traditional ritual overseen by Akodo Ginawa, the Lord of the Akodo himself. Afterwards Verick was given his orders. He was to return to Bugaisha and act as a personal ambassador between the Akodo and the Shinjo. “Despite the troubles between the Lion and the Unicorn, it’s important to keep communications open. And of all families, the Akodo can understand how hard it is to regain lost honor. What it is like to lose control of your own clan.”
After Fujizaka’s initiation into the Hiruma, Toshiro and Kaz were taken aside by Lord Hiruma Kaji, Commander of the Hiruma Calvary. He asked them to pass along to lord Jyaku everything that has been going on with the Crane. Lord Kaji had no doubt Hida O-Ushi, their Clan Champion, would sort out the Crane if needed. But the Crane have many allies and a lot of political power and cannot be underestimated.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[DM Note: The Topaz Championship is the first published module I’ve run for my game, and even that was modified. I used a few hooks from the adventure and added many of my own. Maybe it’s just me loving to tinker, but I find using a published module doesn’t save me much time since I end up changing so much.]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next morning the rumors some of the more connected in the group had heard were confirmed. Gravely, the death of Emperor Toturi the First was announced. Details were still sketchy but apparently he had been traveling beyond Ryoko Owari toward Shinomen forest. He fell in combat when a ambush by Shadowlands creatures had trapped him. He left no official heir, but it was believed his wife Kaede would be assuming the throne.
The dire news cast a shadow over the group’s breakfast with Lord Yasuki Hachi. Despite his title, the Crane had remained as down to earth and friendly as Toshiro had remembered him. He confirmed the Crane Clan’s push for the Yasuki lands but admitted it was more the idea Doji Kurohito, the Crane Clan Champion, than his own. Hachi was content to leave the lands with the Crab and he was confident the truces agreed to for the Splendid Emperor would hold up while Toturi’s wife ruled.
Hachi could tell them little from looking at the Kakita blade save that it was indeed made by the Crane clan, several hundred years ago. He took rubbings from the markings on the handle so he could do a little investigating on his own later, when time allowed. Several Crane samurai were lost at the Battle of Oblivion’s Gate, so it’s quite possible the shape shifting girl is a Crane.
“How things change…” Hachi commented with a smile “when last we met I was a nobody. Now I’m the Lord of a family of the Crane. When we leave here, I’ll be heading to Otosan Uchi to represent the Crane in the Emerald Championship, to pick a replacement for the aging Kakita Toshiken. With all that has happened, the Magistrates must be stronger than ever. I only hope I can do honor to my clan’s faith in me. And serve the Empire wherever it needs me.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mindra also had a meeting to keep after breakfast. New samurai-ko Toturi Sitha of the Monkey clan was interested in meeting him. Sitha proved to be a little flighty but very friendly and curious. More surprisingly, she knew Mindra’s ‘Chen’ disguise was an illusion. Mindra revealed himself as a Vanara in exchange for Sitha explaining why she ‘glowed’, something Mindra had come to associate with spirits. Sitha turned out to be in disguise as well, though shape shifting rather than illusion. She was a trickster from the Spirit Realm of Sakkaku. A monkey spirit who had taken an interest in the Monkey clan. Mindra had felt called to look after Toshiro, and Sitha agreed that was, more or less, what she was doing for her clan. The playful monkey spirit drew Mindra more out of his shell than anyone he’d previously met in the Empire. She talked about tricks she had played on various people. And Mindra got an idea. Toshiro had enough trouble find him; he didn’t need any more. But Verick was so overly serious and strict at times. He was sure to be even more so now that he was a samurai. Mindra ‘volunteered’ Verick as a target, the next time Sitha was around and felt impish.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That morning the group left Shiro Matsu for Ryoko Owari. The trip to the City of Lies was smooth and fast, the roads were heavily patrolled and their papers were checked carefully so there was little chance to get into trouble.
Ryoko Owari was an impressive sight. The second largest city in the Empire, only Volar in his trip through Waterdeep had seen larger. Ryoko Owari also lacked most signs of mourning they had seen in other places. The business of making money stopped for no man. Toshiro and Kaz finally let the rest of the group in on their secret mission, and together they rode to Teashop detailed in their scroll. By the sign, the shop belonged to a main named Kurocha. Night or day, he would be there and when Toshiro gave the pass phrase, Kurocha would know what to do.
Striding up to the Teashop, Toshiro was surprised to find it was closed. A hammering at the door soon brought a slimy looking, scrawny figure to the door.
“Are you Kurocha?” Toshiro asked, eyeing the man dubiously.
“Oh yes sirs. Sorry but we are closed right now. I’m waiting on a new shipment of tea nothing to serve you right now, so sorry.” The man said nervously.
“The Moon is a harsh Mistress.” Toshiro said more quietly, watching the man.
‘Kurocha’ simply stared at Toshiro then said, “Excuse me, sir?”
“Damn it, you get Kurocha here now!” Toshiro snarled, only to watch the man slam the door shut in his face.
“So sorry, he’s not here right now! He’s gone! Please come back later!” The man yelled from inside.
Toshiro turned to his friends and nodded “Get ready, we’re going to break in.”
]~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
‘Chen’ got a poem in return from Kakita Asami that evening. Once again, delivered by a Crane page in most public fashion. Mindra was starting to get uncomfortable with this by now. As a Vanara, he had no real interest in humans. And he was noticing certain Crane were giving him unfriendly stares. This time he decided not to reply to the poem.
The next poem Kakita Asami received from ‘Chen’ was even more romantic and stylish than the first. It should be, Mir and Shiima had worked carefully on it. Doji Shiima had revealed Asami was engaged to another Crane samurai but they had been apart for a long time. He suspected she was trying to get her duelist fiancé jealous.
[DM Note: Aside from Mir, Mindra has by far the highest Charisma in the group. He took it for the benefit Cha gives Shaman but now and then it comes back to haunt him in other ways.]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Final round was held early in the evening, flicking torches providing all the light needed. As previously, the bouts were assigned at random. Before the bouts were announced, Verick’s sensei came to see him. “You may withdraw from this round without dishonor. Suffering as you do from foreign birth, they will understand you have not trained for this.”
Stubborn as ever, Verick would not give an inch, even for this.
The first iaijutsu match pitted Hiruma Fujizaka against Daidoji Suwa. Not a good match up for the powerful but slower Crab samurai. And both clans took a clear interest in the result of this match. It was over in as flash of steel, and Fujizaka’s Crab Mon fluttered to the stone, sliced from his kimono before his own katana had even cleared the sheath. Across the area where the Crane sat, ornate fans opened in sign of approval. A Rokugani standing ovation.
Second came Akodo Verick, his opponent the Unicorn maiden he had ridden against earlier, Utaku Manami. Politely they each bowed to the other and then fell into their ready poses. Their eyes met. In that split second, Verick knew he was a better fighter than her. But faster? But was impossible to say. Then both moved, the Unicorn clearly faster but Verick cleverly dodged the strike. Verick’s own strike, a second late, was more precisely aimed, slicing the Unicorn Mon from her shoulder with ease. To the surprise of many, Verick advanced to the semi-finals.
Third was another growing rivalry. Monkey girl Toturi Sitha against the Scorpion lady Bayushi Sakura. Sitha’s form glowed brightly to Mindra’s gaze, and she seemed perhaps a touch nervous. Sakura’s bone white mask hid any indication of her own thoughts. They bowed then studied each other intently. Then as one they drew, the clash of steel heard throughout the arena. Their initial strikes blocked each other but the Scorpion’s perfect balance allowed her to recover first, a flick of her sword slicing away Sitha’s Monkey clan Mon. As stoic as the others had been, Sitha’s disappoint was plainly obvious.
The final match pitched Matsu Shorisuro against the Phoenix, Isawa Oroko. To the surprise of no one, Oroko defaulted the match. Matsu Shorisuro did a good job hiding his own disappointment, but two matches in a role won by default were doing little to boost his spirits.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Much to his surprise, during the break between rounds ‘Chen’ received another note from Kakita Asami. Saying how much she had enjoyed his haiku and wondering if he might be free later for a walk. Rather disturbed by this, ‘Chen’ sent back a hastily written note reading
Thank you for your kind words. I hope you enjoyed the one poem I sent you. I think we are better off keeping our distance though. I hope we can remain friends. Chen
Asami didn’t seem pleased by the note, but it did at least bring an end to her friendliness toward ‘Chen’.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The semi-finals of the Topaz Championships came next, the pressure building on all involved.
The first match was Matsu Shorisuro against Daidoji Suwa. Another politically hot duel between clans that have been rivals for centuries. And this time Shorisuro knew it would be a real fight. A short fight in fact. If willpower alone could lead to victory, the Matsu would surely have won. But Suwa’s speed was blinding and his technique flawless. With his victory over the Lion there were some outside his clan starting to agree he might truly be the Soul of Kakita Rensei.
This left Akodo Verick matched against the Scorpion, Bayushi Sakura. Verick hid his dislike of the Scorpion well, his eyes giving no clue to the real depths of his hatred. As always the Scorpion was cool and calm, her mask giving the impression of a relaxing, smiling maiden. This time Verick’s lack of speed cost him, Sakura’s katana was clear and slicing away Verick’s Lion Clan Mon before his katana was clear of it’s sheath. A bitter defeat for the Lion Cub, but not completely unexpected.
[DM Note: Verick actually went further here than I had figured. Lacking fast draw, and going against young warriors who had been training for this for years, Verick had no chance of striking first, so he had to hope his opponent missed. It worked well for one match, but the odds were heavily against him the further he got.]
The final round was announced after a brief, ten minute wait. Another tense, politically charged battle. All the more because behind the scenes the Scorpion Clan was challenging the political power of the Crane. Both combatants had shown perfect form, poise and lightning speed. The Crane was favored, looking much taller and stronger than his petite opponent. When the moment of truth came both moved with blinding speed, but the Scorpion was a hair faster and for the first time this tournament, a Crane Mon was fluttering to the ground. Suwa’s face was a stoic mask as he bowed to the victor. And with that the Topaz Championship was over. Lady Bayushi Sakura of Honor’s Lesson Dojo was the victor.
Hantei Naseru conducted the final ceremony, in the place of the still absent Emperor. One by one the eight who have gained five victories were sworn in as samurai of the empire. Each was given their katana from the hand of Naseru himself. For his swearing in, Daidoji Suwa chose to be sworn in as Yasuki Suwa, swearing himself to his kinsman and joining the newest family of the Crane. Bayushi Sakura, as winner of the tournament, was made an Imperial Magistrate, junior grade.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That night was very quiet. The losers didn’t want to go out. The winners were celebrating and their gempukku was being finalized. The final swearing in took place that night for Akodo Verick in an ancient, traditional ritual overseen by Akodo Ginawa, the Lord of the Akodo himself. Afterwards Verick was given his orders. He was to return to Bugaisha and act as a personal ambassador between the Akodo and the Shinjo. “Despite the troubles between the Lion and the Unicorn, it’s important to keep communications open. And of all families, the Akodo can understand how hard it is to regain lost honor. What it is like to lose control of your own clan.”
After Fujizaka’s initiation into the Hiruma, Toshiro and Kaz were taken aside by Lord Hiruma Kaji, Commander of the Hiruma Calvary. He asked them to pass along to lord Jyaku everything that has been going on with the Crane. Lord Kaji had no doubt Hida O-Ushi, their Clan Champion, would sort out the Crane if needed. But the Crane have many allies and a lot of political power and cannot be underestimated.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[DM Note: The Topaz Championship is the first published module I’ve run for my game, and even that was modified. I used a few hooks from the adventure and added many of my own. Maybe it’s just me loving to tinker, but I find using a published module doesn’t save me much time since I end up changing so much.]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next morning the rumors some of the more connected in the group had heard were confirmed. Gravely, the death of Emperor Toturi the First was announced. Details were still sketchy but apparently he had been traveling beyond Ryoko Owari toward Shinomen forest. He fell in combat when a ambush by Shadowlands creatures had trapped him. He left no official heir, but it was believed his wife Kaede would be assuming the throne.
The dire news cast a shadow over the group’s breakfast with Lord Yasuki Hachi. Despite his title, the Crane had remained as down to earth and friendly as Toshiro had remembered him. He confirmed the Crane Clan’s push for the Yasuki lands but admitted it was more the idea Doji Kurohito, the Crane Clan Champion, than his own. Hachi was content to leave the lands with the Crab and he was confident the truces agreed to for the Splendid Emperor would hold up while Toturi’s wife ruled.
Hachi could tell them little from looking at the Kakita blade save that it was indeed made by the Crane clan, several hundred years ago. He took rubbings from the markings on the handle so he could do a little investigating on his own later, when time allowed. Several Crane samurai were lost at the Battle of Oblivion’s Gate, so it’s quite possible the shape shifting girl is a Crane.
“How things change…” Hachi commented with a smile “when last we met I was a nobody. Now I’m the Lord of a family of the Crane. When we leave here, I’ll be heading to Otosan Uchi to represent the Crane in the Emerald Championship, to pick a replacement for the aging Kakita Toshiken. With all that has happened, the Magistrates must be stronger than ever. I only hope I can do honor to my clan’s faith in me. And serve the Empire wherever it needs me.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mindra also had a meeting to keep after breakfast. New samurai-ko Toturi Sitha of the Monkey clan was interested in meeting him. Sitha proved to be a little flighty but very friendly and curious. More surprisingly, she knew Mindra’s ‘Chen’ disguise was an illusion. Mindra revealed himself as a Vanara in exchange for Sitha explaining why she ‘glowed’, something Mindra had come to associate with spirits. Sitha turned out to be in disguise as well, though shape shifting rather than illusion. She was a trickster from the Spirit Realm of Sakkaku. A monkey spirit who had taken an interest in the Monkey clan. Mindra had felt called to look after Toshiro, and Sitha agreed that was, more or less, what she was doing for her clan. The playful monkey spirit drew Mindra more out of his shell than anyone he’d previously met in the Empire. She talked about tricks she had played on various people. And Mindra got an idea. Toshiro had enough trouble find him; he didn’t need any more. But Verick was so overly serious and strict at times. He was sure to be even more so now that he was a samurai. Mindra ‘volunteered’ Verick as a target, the next time Sitha was around and felt impish.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That morning the group left Shiro Matsu for Ryoko Owari. The trip to the City of Lies was smooth and fast, the roads were heavily patrolled and their papers were checked carefully so there was little chance to get into trouble.
Ryoko Owari was an impressive sight. The second largest city in the Empire, only Volar in his trip through Waterdeep had seen larger. Ryoko Owari also lacked most signs of mourning they had seen in other places. The business of making money stopped for no man. Toshiro and Kaz finally let the rest of the group in on their secret mission, and together they rode to Teashop detailed in their scroll. By the sign, the shop belonged to a main named Kurocha. Night or day, he would be there and when Toshiro gave the pass phrase, Kurocha would know what to do.
Striding up to the Teashop, Toshiro was surprised to find it was closed. A hammering at the door soon brought a slimy looking, scrawny figure to the door.
“Are you Kurocha?” Toshiro asked, eyeing the man dubiously.
“Oh yes sirs. Sorry but we are closed right now. I’m waiting on a new shipment of tea nothing to serve you right now, so sorry.” The man said nervously.
“The Moon is a harsh Mistress.” Toshiro said more quietly, watching the man.
‘Kurocha’ simply stared at Toshiro then said, “Excuse me, sir?”
“Damn it, you get Kurocha here now!” Toshiro snarled, only to watch the man slam the door shut in his face.
“So sorry, he’s not here right now! He’s gone! Please come back later!” The man yelled from inside.
Toshiro turned to his friends and nodded “Get ready, we’re going to break in.”
Brown Jenkin
First Post
Notes from Mir
A little aside from me, but it will play a role in a short while. Back awhile ago while Brakus was in Bugaisha teaching me the similarities between Arcane and Divine magics he told me that he had been able to bond with an animal in the same way that wizards were able to. Wanting to try this myself I sat in with Volars students durring thier lessons on familiars. Unfortunately I was not able to put into practice these lessons before we had to leave for the Topaz Championship. Durring the long journey we had I had a chance to contemplate these lessons and felt certain I could do this. Our journey however prevented me from having a day off to complete the binding ritual that was needed. While we were reading to leave Shiro Matsu Verick informed us that his birthday would occur durring our journey to Ryoko Owari. We agreed to stop along the way to celebrate, Kaz (as expected) and Toshiro (to our surprise) were both more than willing to stop and party. I saw this as an oppertunity to try the ritual so I purchased a thrush before leaving. While we were stopped in a small village allong the way I took the day and performed the ritual that Volar had taught us. Nothing seemed to happen until the end when I finally felt my little friend's mind connect with mine. "What happend?" it questioned aloud of me. I explained quickly at that time and in more detail as our journey continued. Xul as he would later be named (Thrush for awhile as we worked on a name for him) and I would become fast friends and I began to understand why Wizards always seem to have one.
Now back to our regularly scheduled story where Xul and myself will soon be influencing events in strange ways in the near future.
A little aside from me, but it will play a role in a short while. Back awhile ago while Brakus was in Bugaisha teaching me the similarities between Arcane and Divine magics he told me that he had been able to bond with an animal in the same way that wizards were able to. Wanting to try this myself I sat in with Volars students durring thier lessons on familiars. Unfortunately I was not able to put into practice these lessons before we had to leave for the Topaz Championship. Durring the long journey we had I had a chance to contemplate these lessons and felt certain I could do this. Our journey however prevented me from having a day off to complete the binding ritual that was needed. While we were reading to leave Shiro Matsu Verick informed us that his birthday would occur durring our journey to Ryoko Owari. We agreed to stop along the way to celebrate, Kaz (as expected) and Toshiro (to our surprise) were both more than willing to stop and party. I saw this as an oppertunity to try the ritual so I purchased a thrush before leaving. While we were stopped in a small village allong the way I took the day and performed the ritual that Volar had taught us. Nothing seemed to happen until the end when I finally felt my little friend's mind connect with mine. "What happend?" it questioned aloud of me. I explained quickly at that time and in more detail as our journey continued. Xul as he would later be named (Thrush for awhile as we worked on a name for him) and I would become fast friends and I began to understand why Wizards always seem to have one.
Now back to our regularly scheduled story where Xul and myself will soon be influencing events in strange ways in the near future.
Black Omega
First Post
Akodo Setei-sensei simply stepped back to listen and watch. There could be some good lessons for Verick from this later. And Verick did have a plan. He’d seen a side entrance to the teahouse. He could sneak in there while the group went in through the front. Not even dishonorable as long as no one saw him using such low skills.
While Verick slinked off, Toshiro and Kaz prepared to break down the front door. But suddenly the oily looking fellow who had pretended to be Kurocha pulled the door open again. “I’m so sorry, but Kurocha just is not here right now. Won’t you sit and wait on him please?” Once again, he was stalling for time in his best, unctuous fashion. And this time it worked. Though more because the samurai were giving Verick more time to slip in the side entrance.
Verick slipped stealthily around to the alcove that held the door and silently worked the lock loose. Then he slipped inside, into a hallway. On the stairs to his right he heard voices and the sound of men walking closer. The first mans stepped down from the stairs, a tough looking thug with a red cloth tied around one arm. He lasted just seconds as Verick gave a cry and leapt in to attack.
Hearing the commotion from the back, Kaz and Toshiro rushed past the oily fake to help their comrade. Seeing himself left alone with the silver haired Mir, Volar, and Mindra, all unarmed and only Mindra wearing any type of armor. Smiling in cruel fashion he slipped a jagged looking Kama from within his robes. Volar shook his head and smiled “You’ve never been to the western Kingdoms, have you? You were safer with the samurai here.”
“Shut up!” the thug snarled “You’ve got a big mouth. Think I’ll take those pointy ears of yours first…”
Mindra lifted one monkey paw to cast a spell and a moment later the thug found himself totally paralyzed, not even able to blink let alone move.
“Go on ahead the help the others.” Volar suggested as he pried the kama from the man’s grasp “I’ll be along in a minute.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Deeper in the teahouse the battle had gotten bloody. Verick on one side, Toshiro and Kaz on the other, and thugs pouring down from the stairs in the middle. No match individually for the samurai, but there were more of them. And from above on the stairs came chanting and then a figure of rock and earth forming to attack Kaz. Toshiro cut down another thug but then he was rocked back by the heavy blow of a massive wooden hammer. The next thug in line was no ordinary low life. Standing not far off seven feet tall and very ugly, he proved to be a powerful fighter who drive Toshiro back.
On the stairs a figure came strolling down, casually smoking a long, iron pipe as he watched the carnage. Mindra used his healing to keep the samurai up and going, while Mir lifted her wooden staff, a symbol of the Oak Father. Her chanting filled the hallway and within seconds Toshiro’s massive opponent was as unmoving as a tree.
Volar joined the battle belatedly but took action immediately when he arrived. He laid a hand on Mindra’s shoulder and the two disappeared, reappearing right behind Verick. The young Lion had slashed down one of his thug opponents but the man with the iron pipe had charged into the melee. A hard breath into the pipe spewed a blinding dust into Verick’s face and, and the precise, heavy strikes of his iron pipe into Verick’s body showed he was a cut above the other riffraff the group was fighting.
Another earth elemental was summoned to hold Toshiro and Kaz at a standoff in the hallway. Toshiro wound up and with several hard slashes cut his huge foe down. And Volar got an idea. As Verick recovered from the blinding and Mindra healed him, Volar quickly cast haste, then improved invisibility on the Lion Cub. “Just watch.” He told Mindra “Verick will cut through those guys in seconds.”
And seconds passed. The remaining lowlife and the pipe wielding thug rushed in, both Volar and Mindra taking hits as indeed, Verick did seem to have disappeared, even more than Volar had anticipated. Only the earth elementals were holding off the other samurai now, while Volar was nearly stunned by the bash of that blunt iron pipe to his head. Definitely hurting now, Volar took no chances. He touched Mindra and popped the two of them back behind Mir and the other samurai. And still there was no sign of Verick.
The last of the thugs went down in a bloody heap thanks to Kaz and the Earth Elementals were crumbling fast. The man with the iron pipe yelled out “Time to get out of hear, meet back at base!” He never had time to do anything more, he suddenly fell apart into four sections, blood fountaining over the walls as he died. And from thin air the group heard Verick’s voice “Sorry, it’s tougher to fight when you can’t see your katana.”
[DM Note: The idea of turning Verick invisible and hasted was a good one. But the player rolled badly in his first few attacks, so it really was like he had disappeared. But when Verick did hit, it was impressive. Two confirmed crits were more than enough to take care of that last bad guy.]
The shugenja, who had been casting the elementals, escaped by running up the stairs and jumping out of the window. But one of the thugs in the hallway were saved from death by fast healing from Mir. And the man frozen by Mindra was still there, though now missing his ears. Interrogation revealed they were with a group called the Strong Arm Firemen, one of the local guilds responsible for fighting fires in Ryoko Owari. They were sent by their boss, Matsu Shigeto, to find anything that might lead to finding Kurocha. And in the meantime if they found anything valuable, collect that too. The men didn’t seem to know any more than that, and were released after a fashion. Verick tossed them out of the second story window. A search of the area revealed a secret compartment that had been opened with considerably more skill than the Strong Arm Firemen had shown. Volar had looted around 150 koku from the dead bodies and captives, but nothing else of interest. One thing out of place, there was a smashed mechanical clock, something nearly unknown in Rokugan.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Outside, Akodo Setei was in conversation with the city guards, samurai wearing tall purple plumes on their helmets. Known as the Thunderguard, they were responsible for keeping order in the city. And obviously a fight in a teahouse would draw their attention. The group had a chance to listen in from the door.
‘I’d not advise you to just charge in, Shinjo Nihao-san. My student is inside and there have already been enough misunderstandings between our clans. Another would be regrettable. While we are talking…I understand your focus is on the strict and fair enforcement of the law, so you have little time to study tactical matters, but putting your two bowmen there and there would give you an excellent field of fire. Much better than what you have now.” Akodo Setei suggested to the Thunderguard officer.
Akodo-Sensei’s stalling gave the group time to finish and come out. Toshiro and Kaz was asked to come to the Dragon Gate, the Headquarters of the Thunderguard. Not as prisoners, of course. The Thunderguard officer was quick to reassure them on that point. But to give their accounts of what had occurred and why. Three rank and file Thunderguards were assigned to the rest of the group to take them to the a local inn where they could stay. An inn that would be agreeable to ‘other people’, a very polite term for gaijin.
The visit to the Dragon Gate did turn out to be more than simply a few questions for Kaz and Toshiro. As samurai of Lord Jyaku they were asked about him. What his plans might be. Was there truth to the rumors he might be called upon to take over Ryoko Owari. The two samurai were shown around while various officers tried to sound them out about various political matters. No few officers implied they knew Toshiro and Kaz were really advanced scouts to check out the city before Lord Jyaku ever is assigned as governor. They were also asked about the Lion traveling with them. An ambassador to Lord Jyaku, it’s been announced. Was this a sort of snub from the Lion Clan? Are they favoring one Shinjo lord over the others? Kaz and Toshiro were very careful with their answers, and denied almost everything. They knew nothing more than rumors and possibilities, hardly worth discussing.
At the Inn, the others decided to wait on the samurai to return. Volar grew bored quickly and decided to have a little fun. He conjured invisible servants to start helping around the inn. And spook the residents, of course. After a while the innkeeper was talking to the various ‘others’ in the inn, Mindra, Mir and then Volar, asking about the spirits now haunting the inn. And requesting they please go away. That was not the end of Volar’s little tricks though. That night Volar took special care to make sure he was safe. He left pillows under the blankets to make sure it looked like someone was sleeping there. Then he polymorphed himself into a rat and slept in the closet with his rat familiar.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next morning Toshiro returned, but Kaz remained behind enjoying the hospitality of the Thunderguards. The group had some plans now for following up looking for Kurocha. First, a conversation with the Strong Arm Firemen. And perhaps tracking down there that unique clock came from.
[DM Note: Kaz’s player missed this week, this was a convenient way to leave him in the background.]
Volar had another surprise for the group as well. He had decided to be really ‘elfy’ as he put it. Dressed in bright shades of green, flowers in his hair, nancing about. It was a most disturbing sight to the others. The group was also not reassured to notice three Thunderguards were following them. Mir was the one who got the idea of inviting the guards to walk with them, though. The guards were surprised but more than willing. The party saw it as looking like they had an official escort. The guards saw it as having an even easier job keeping a watch on this strange group.
The first stop was the headquarters of the Strong Arm Firemen. Several strong looking men with red cloths wrapped around their arms stood guard at the door. Evidently samurai didn’t impress them, because they didn’t back down when the group walked up. But Verick was allowed in to speak to the boss while the others were left outside. The Thunderguards took the chance to catch a snack. Volar’s nancing had caught someone’s attention though. A friendly looking fellow named Kikuchi started making friends with Volar. Trying to find out whom he was with, if he was new to town, what was he doing here. By lucky coincidence he knew someone who could get exactly the information Volar was looking for. Of course, it could not be talked about in public. They’d have to go to the shop and slip into the back. Mir had come over by now and Kikuchi was willing to take the two of them there, but no more of his ‘friend’ would get nervous. Neither Volar nor Mir were falling for such an obvious trick and when Volar started talking about elvish traditions that involved mass bloodshed, Kikuchi suddenly remembered he had an appointment he was late for.
Meanwhile, Verick was in conversation with ‘Matsu’ Shigeto, the boss of the Strong Arm Firemen. He would not admit to knowing anything about men sent over to steal things from Kurocha’s shop. But the man has disappeared and Shigeto was very interested in finding out where the teashop owner had gotten. Since both he and Verick’s group were looking for Kurocha, he suggested they cooperate. Someone was offering 10,000 koku for the return of the tea man. Shigeto would not say who was offering this money; otherwise then Verick’s group might try to cut them out of the action. But he could tell Verick that the curious clock would have to come from the Glitterune House of Foreign Mysteries. Some business run by someone from the West. One of those short types. A Dwarf, something like that. Shigeto’s deal was simple. We work together, each let the other know if we find something, and then split the cash. Shigeto would never consider that with anyone else, but with a Lion…well…if one Lion can’t trust another, who can?
Verick didn’t bother to try and figure out the logical contradictions in all that. He said he’d consider the offer and left it at that. Rejoining with the group outside, Verick passed along the information he had gotten. The group’s next stop…the Glitterune House of Foreign Mysteries.
While Verick slinked off, Toshiro and Kaz prepared to break down the front door. But suddenly the oily looking fellow who had pretended to be Kurocha pulled the door open again. “I’m so sorry, but Kurocha just is not here right now. Won’t you sit and wait on him please?” Once again, he was stalling for time in his best, unctuous fashion. And this time it worked. Though more because the samurai were giving Verick more time to slip in the side entrance.
Verick slipped stealthily around to the alcove that held the door and silently worked the lock loose. Then he slipped inside, into a hallway. On the stairs to his right he heard voices and the sound of men walking closer. The first mans stepped down from the stairs, a tough looking thug with a red cloth tied around one arm. He lasted just seconds as Verick gave a cry and leapt in to attack.
Hearing the commotion from the back, Kaz and Toshiro rushed past the oily fake to help their comrade. Seeing himself left alone with the silver haired Mir, Volar, and Mindra, all unarmed and only Mindra wearing any type of armor. Smiling in cruel fashion he slipped a jagged looking Kama from within his robes. Volar shook his head and smiled “You’ve never been to the western Kingdoms, have you? You were safer with the samurai here.”
“Shut up!” the thug snarled “You’ve got a big mouth. Think I’ll take those pointy ears of yours first…”
Mindra lifted one monkey paw to cast a spell and a moment later the thug found himself totally paralyzed, not even able to blink let alone move.
“Go on ahead the help the others.” Volar suggested as he pried the kama from the man’s grasp “I’ll be along in a minute.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Deeper in the teahouse the battle had gotten bloody. Verick on one side, Toshiro and Kaz on the other, and thugs pouring down from the stairs in the middle. No match individually for the samurai, but there were more of them. And from above on the stairs came chanting and then a figure of rock and earth forming to attack Kaz. Toshiro cut down another thug but then he was rocked back by the heavy blow of a massive wooden hammer. The next thug in line was no ordinary low life. Standing not far off seven feet tall and very ugly, he proved to be a powerful fighter who drive Toshiro back.
On the stairs a figure came strolling down, casually smoking a long, iron pipe as he watched the carnage. Mindra used his healing to keep the samurai up and going, while Mir lifted her wooden staff, a symbol of the Oak Father. Her chanting filled the hallway and within seconds Toshiro’s massive opponent was as unmoving as a tree.
Volar joined the battle belatedly but took action immediately when he arrived. He laid a hand on Mindra’s shoulder and the two disappeared, reappearing right behind Verick. The young Lion had slashed down one of his thug opponents but the man with the iron pipe had charged into the melee. A hard breath into the pipe spewed a blinding dust into Verick’s face and, and the precise, heavy strikes of his iron pipe into Verick’s body showed he was a cut above the other riffraff the group was fighting.
Another earth elemental was summoned to hold Toshiro and Kaz at a standoff in the hallway. Toshiro wound up and with several hard slashes cut his huge foe down. And Volar got an idea. As Verick recovered from the blinding and Mindra healed him, Volar quickly cast haste, then improved invisibility on the Lion Cub. “Just watch.” He told Mindra “Verick will cut through those guys in seconds.”
And seconds passed. The remaining lowlife and the pipe wielding thug rushed in, both Volar and Mindra taking hits as indeed, Verick did seem to have disappeared, even more than Volar had anticipated. Only the earth elementals were holding off the other samurai now, while Volar was nearly stunned by the bash of that blunt iron pipe to his head. Definitely hurting now, Volar took no chances. He touched Mindra and popped the two of them back behind Mir and the other samurai. And still there was no sign of Verick.
The last of the thugs went down in a bloody heap thanks to Kaz and the Earth Elementals were crumbling fast. The man with the iron pipe yelled out “Time to get out of hear, meet back at base!” He never had time to do anything more, he suddenly fell apart into four sections, blood fountaining over the walls as he died. And from thin air the group heard Verick’s voice “Sorry, it’s tougher to fight when you can’t see your katana.”
[DM Note: The idea of turning Verick invisible and hasted was a good one. But the player rolled badly in his first few attacks, so it really was like he had disappeared. But when Verick did hit, it was impressive. Two confirmed crits were more than enough to take care of that last bad guy.]
The shugenja, who had been casting the elementals, escaped by running up the stairs and jumping out of the window. But one of the thugs in the hallway were saved from death by fast healing from Mir. And the man frozen by Mindra was still there, though now missing his ears. Interrogation revealed they were with a group called the Strong Arm Firemen, one of the local guilds responsible for fighting fires in Ryoko Owari. They were sent by their boss, Matsu Shigeto, to find anything that might lead to finding Kurocha. And in the meantime if they found anything valuable, collect that too. The men didn’t seem to know any more than that, and were released after a fashion. Verick tossed them out of the second story window. A search of the area revealed a secret compartment that had been opened with considerably more skill than the Strong Arm Firemen had shown. Volar had looted around 150 koku from the dead bodies and captives, but nothing else of interest. One thing out of place, there was a smashed mechanical clock, something nearly unknown in Rokugan.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Outside, Akodo Setei was in conversation with the city guards, samurai wearing tall purple plumes on their helmets. Known as the Thunderguard, they were responsible for keeping order in the city. And obviously a fight in a teahouse would draw their attention. The group had a chance to listen in from the door.
‘I’d not advise you to just charge in, Shinjo Nihao-san. My student is inside and there have already been enough misunderstandings between our clans. Another would be regrettable. While we are talking…I understand your focus is on the strict and fair enforcement of the law, so you have little time to study tactical matters, but putting your two bowmen there and there would give you an excellent field of fire. Much better than what you have now.” Akodo Setei suggested to the Thunderguard officer.
Akodo-Sensei’s stalling gave the group time to finish and come out. Toshiro and Kaz was asked to come to the Dragon Gate, the Headquarters of the Thunderguard. Not as prisoners, of course. The Thunderguard officer was quick to reassure them on that point. But to give their accounts of what had occurred and why. Three rank and file Thunderguards were assigned to the rest of the group to take them to the a local inn where they could stay. An inn that would be agreeable to ‘other people’, a very polite term for gaijin.
The visit to the Dragon Gate did turn out to be more than simply a few questions for Kaz and Toshiro. As samurai of Lord Jyaku they were asked about him. What his plans might be. Was there truth to the rumors he might be called upon to take over Ryoko Owari. The two samurai were shown around while various officers tried to sound them out about various political matters. No few officers implied they knew Toshiro and Kaz were really advanced scouts to check out the city before Lord Jyaku ever is assigned as governor. They were also asked about the Lion traveling with them. An ambassador to Lord Jyaku, it’s been announced. Was this a sort of snub from the Lion Clan? Are they favoring one Shinjo lord over the others? Kaz and Toshiro were very careful with their answers, and denied almost everything. They knew nothing more than rumors and possibilities, hardly worth discussing.
At the Inn, the others decided to wait on the samurai to return. Volar grew bored quickly and decided to have a little fun. He conjured invisible servants to start helping around the inn. And spook the residents, of course. After a while the innkeeper was talking to the various ‘others’ in the inn, Mindra, Mir and then Volar, asking about the spirits now haunting the inn. And requesting they please go away. That was not the end of Volar’s little tricks though. That night Volar took special care to make sure he was safe. He left pillows under the blankets to make sure it looked like someone was sleeping there. Then he polymorphed himself into a rat and slept in the closet with his rat familiar.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next morning Toshiro returned, but Kaz remained behind enjoying the hospitality of the Thunderguards. The group had some plans now for following up looking for Kurocha. First, a conversation with the Strong Arm Firemen. And perhaps tracking down there that unique clock came from.
[DM Note: Kaz’s player missed this week, this was a convenient way to leave him in the background.]
Volar had another surprise for the group as well. He had decided to be really ‘elfy’ as he put it. Dressed in bright shades of green, flowers in his hair, nancing about. It was a most disturbing sight to the others. The group was also not reassured to notice three Thunderguards were following them. Mir was the one who got the idea of inviting the guards to walk with them, though. The guards were surprised but more than willing. The party saw it as looking like they had an official escort. The guards saw it as having an even easier job keeping a watch on this strange group.
The first stop was the headquarters of the Strong Arm Firemen. Several strong looking men with red cloths wrapped around their arms stood guard at the door. Evidently samurai didn’t impress them, because they didn’t back down when the group walked up. But Verick was allowed in to speak to the boss while the others were left outside. The Thunderguards took the chance to catch a snack. Volar’s nancing had caught someone’s attention though. A friendly looking fellow named Kikuchi started making friends with Volar. Trying to find out whom he was with, if he was new to town, what was he doing here. By lucky coincidence he knew someone who could get exactly the information Volar was looking for. Of course, it could not be talked about in public. They’d have to go to the shop and slip into the back. Mir had come over by now and Kikuchi was willing to take the two of them there, but no more of his ‘friend’ would get nervous. Neither Volar nor Mir were falling for such an obvious trick and when Volar started talking about elvish traditions that involved mass bloodshed, Kikuchi suddenly remembered he had an appointment he was late for.
Meanwhile, Verick was in conversation with ‘Matsu’ Shigeto, the boss of the Strong Arm Firemen. He would not admit to knowing anything about men sent over to steal things from Kurocha’s shop. But the man has disappeared and Shigeto was very interested in finding out where the teashop owner had gotten. Since both he and Verick’s group were looking for Kurocha, he suggested they cooperate. Someone was offering 10,000 koku for the return of the tea man. Shigeto would not say who was offering this money; otherwise then Verick’s group might try to cut them out of the action. But he could tell Verick that the curious clock would have to come from the Glitterune House of Foreign Mysteries. Some business run by someone from the West. One of those short types. A Dwarf, something like that. Shigeto’s deal was simple. We work together, each let the other know if we find something, and then split the cash. Shigeto would never consider that with anyone else, but with a Lion…well…if one Lion can’t trust another, who can?
Verick didn’t bother to try and figure out the logical contradictions in all that. He said he’d consider the offer and left it at that. Rejoining with the group outside, Verick passed along the information he had gotten. The group’s next stop…the Glitterune House of Foreign Mysteries.
Brown Jenkin
First Post
Notes from Mir
Why not invite the guards along. At this point we were not doing anything illegal, and not even actively working on Toshiro's mission. Why not keep the guards where we could keep an eye on them, and none of us knew the city so having free tourguides helped out, and we had a few places to find and do buisness at.
Mir
Why not invite the guards along. At this point we were not doing anything illegal, and not even actively working on Toshiro's mission. Why not keep the guards where we could keep an eye on them, and none of us knew the city so having free tourguides helped out, and we had a few places to find and do buisness at.
Mir
Black Omega
First Post
Tokiwong said:this is good, samurai goodness is good
In a way. None of the PC's are actually at all good. Or evil. But the bodycount from their trip to Ryoko Owari will be rising soon.
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