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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Black Omega" data-source="post: 196538" data-attributes="member: 79">And again.  Just a fast update from work.-----------------------------------------------------------The fall of Naoya ended the battle finally.  And a little bit to their suprise, but group wasn't in bad shape at all.  Kaz was pretty bloody, as was Yukiyo, but almost everyone else had come out unscratched.  But their anger at Naoya's betrayal was only slightly dampened by his death.  Verick took the katana of his prisoner and broke it before allowing the cowardly guard to flee.  Volar shot an arrow at the servents trying to put out the fire, then he and Mindra, with a little belated help from Verick, chased off those fighting the fire.  Unsatisfied, the group then set fire to the stables and guest house as well, after Verick and Mir made sure the horses were safely out of the way.Even then, it wasn't enough for some people.  Volar looked out from the burning buildings to the village and said "We should wipe out this whole area.  Kill them all and burn the village to the ground. Salt the earth here."The proposal took everyone off guard and there was a moment of silence before Yukiyo agreed.Mir pondered, then shook her head "I don't mind torching the village.  But we must not salt the land.  The village can't return to nature if the land is salted."  the cleric of the Oak Father reasoned.Mindra remained silent.But Toshiro spoke up "No, we won't destroy the village.  It would not be honorable or right.  It's is the duty of a samurai to protect the peasants.  They have nothing to do with our grudge against that dog, Naoya."  Kaz nodding in agreement.That left Verick.  The desire for vengence warring in his young mind with the other things he's been taught.  Finally he nodded to Toshiro "We won't destroy the village.  Our vendetta against Naoya is settled.  But Sadoka still has to be taken care of."The discussion was brief and to the point, the outcome never in doubt at this point.  The commoner and two barbarians in favor of destroying the village.  The two samurai and the one wishing to be a samurai against.  Thus was the village spared.The group set up camp on Naoya's land, the fires slowly fading to embers as the day turned to evening.  And then from the village proper they spotted a ronin on horseback.  Then two..five..ten..twenty!  Twenty ronin, eighteen armored and two shugenja, riding up toward their camp.  The armor wasdarkand each one bore the White Fan symbol, the ronin brotherhood Sho had briefly belonged to.  The group relaxed a little as the ronin simply rode up calmly, the leader dismounting to present a letter to Toshiro.Toshiro,I've heard a little of the troubles following you on your trip back.  Regretfully, a request for more Shinjo Samurai to enter Ide territory was turned down  So I've taken an alternate approach.  No one really cares where ronin go, after all.  The leader of this group is Kenji.  He's charged wityh escorting you and your party back to Bugaisha.  He's not been told what your trip is about, nor is there any need for him to know.  He has his orders.  I suggest you pretend you had hired them previously and they are just catching up with your group.Shinjo Jyaku, Lord of the Heigen Yuki.There was a brief discussion but the group was tired of fighting their way across Ide territory and aware they really weren't in much condition for a fight with twenty ronin, even if this was a trick.  So they agreed, Toshiro loudly thanking Kenji for arriving so promptly. It was a four day trip back to Shinjo Jyaku's land and with their new 'friends', the group ran into no more trouble.  If there was anyone laying in wait, they evidently thought better of it.  Finally, after an absense of over a month,the group rode back into Bugaisha, relieved to be home.-----------------------------------------------------Next, lunch with a Lord, favors granted, and a return to Mimura.</blockquote>

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