L5R - Unity - Chapter 1 - Winter Solstice

[Rain Yupa]

@ Naohiko:

Oh, there's a few people definitely hiding, and what sounds like a minor struggle to keep someone quiet. With that raise, you have time to act (rather than react) accordingly with that information, even if that means turning tail and running.  

[Plainsfox]

The samurai growled, "I know you're there. You may as well come out now. Maybe let whoever you're holding go. I don't know what shenanigans are going on here, but they're going to stop now."

Naohiko tried to position himself so that the light coming into the alley would help make him appear more imposing than he was.

Void point spent for 1 rank in Intimidation
3k2 w/ 2 dice to handle explosions
dice:
Results: 9  

[Raganui Minamoto]

He opened his mouth, then closed it and tapped his chin with a finger. "I honestly have no idea. I know that the previous one greatly enjoyed the fugu that the Kraken oversee the fishing of, but I don't know much about this one."

After a few minutes thought, he nodded. "How about we just see what we can find that we think the Emperor would like?"

Void/Investigation - 3k2 - 16
Something Kiyo thinks the Emperor would like.  

[Paidi tou Selini]

Well, there was no arguing with the man, it seemed. Being rejected like that was a very new sensation; something that had only ever happened with her mother, for reasons she certainly understood. An icky sensation. Cranes... even the elderly were too high and mighty to have tea with a lowly minor clanswoman.

"I miss home..." she lamented to nobody in particular, though Shoichi was likely the only one who could hear it. She didn't bother looking over her shoulder to see what manner of look he had been giving to cause such a parting comment. The answer was of course 'Definitely not' but she wouldn't say that one out loud. Still, they'd gotten what they came for. With the end of this little adventure so close in sight, she didn't have time to dwell on the rejection. It was time to go!

"I heard a tale once. A very beautiful story," she explained as she moved on, once again to no one in particular but suspecting Shoichi was still with her. "Of how the Lady Doji saw a beggar outside her window one cold winter day. She asked her guards to escort the man inside, but he refused. Curious at this, the lovely Kami went out to ask the man why he would refuse to come out of the cold. The beggar asked her if she had taken the time to look at the snow and appreciate that every snow-flake was different. The beggar's understanding that all things will eventually be forgotten, even the Kami, caused Lady Doji to sit with the beggar in the cold and enjoy the falling snow around them. I think if we could find a more permanent representation of a snowflake, it would be a pretty good symbol for something that would make the Lady Doji-no-Kami smile."

She finally glanced over her shoulder to address the Spider directly, if he was there, as she continued to seek inspiration. "Any ideas on where to start looking?"


[Void/Investigation (Search) to stumble upon Something that would make Doji-no-Kami smile
Roll: 4k3 + 2 /w 3 Free Raises to Reduce TN to 15
7, 1, 7, 1 = 17]  

[Rain Yupa]

The Scavenger Hunt

The Teams
Himura Naohiko & Moshi Ruri - 3 items collected, 0 Banked Raises, -5 zeni
Himura Kaichiyo & Daigotsu Shoichi - 5 items collected, 0 Banked Raises, -2 bu 8 zeni
Himura Gendo & Suzume Kiyo - 2 items collected, 2 Banked Raises
--------------------
(+2)Tamori Aritomo & Ikoma Tadao - 5 items collected
(+2)Kakita Otsu & Isawa Marihito - 5 items collected
(+2)Kitsuki Senzo & Mirumoto Otsu - 5 items collected
(+2)Utaku Bayarma & Shinjo Hideki - 4 items collected
(+0)Ide Urako & Mirumoto Katsunan - 4 items collected
(+1)Kaiu Taniko & Hiruma Shigemasa - 3 items collected
(+0)Ide Seibei & Kuni Sanjiro - 3 items collected
(+1)Daigotsu Josuke & Daigotsu Arisa - 3 items collected
(+2)Yoritomo Kiyonobu & Daidoji Takahashi - 3 items collected
(+0)Kakita Mitsuko & Shiba Noburo - 2 items collected
(+0)Suzume Kayoko & Agasha Mai - 2 items collected
(+1)Yoritomo Mamoru & Yoritomo Katsue - 2 items collected
(+0)Bayushi Kojiro & Bayushi Masuyo - 1 items collected
(-1)Akodo Masaru & Daigotsu Danjuro - 0 items collected
(+2)Matsu Koji & Akodo Tamafune - 0 items collected
(+1)Toku Seiichi & Ide Chieko - 0 items collected
(+2)Shosuro Hyobe & Shoruso Kazu - 0 items collected
(+2)Shosuro Nene & Shosuro Tamiyo - 0 items collected

--------------------

@ Naohiko:

(18 for the Willpower roll to resist).

One sketchy looking man steps out into view further down the alley, a little girl, maybe 9, dragged by her arm with him. He has a knife in his other hand. The others, you think there's 2, still remain in cover.

"Well then, Samurai," he would say with confidence, apparently not impressed with your posturing. "I can oblige at least the first request. As for the other..... wellll... I'm going to need you to drop your swords and come in here. Then I'll let her go."

He appears to be a peasant, and doesn't look particularly powerful, but you haven't gotten a good look at anyone else.

--------------------

@ Gendo:

Kiyo would ask, "Well, if Iweko II did, perhaps his son does as well? Though... I don't know where we'd get it, since it's not exactly a common delicacy. I can't remember a time anyone I know has ever had it."

In perhaps a moment of insight, she would offer up, "Well, a lot of the past emperors took a Crane bride. Maybe something related to that?"

Gendo, you can give me a Lore (History) roll concerning that in addition to any other rolls you make during your next post. In the meantime, you find a free raise! But you're not sure if the Emperor would like it.

--------------------

@ Kaichiyo:

Shoichi would soon move so he was shoulder-to-shoulder with Kaichiyo again, before he would speak. "... sorry. There was something about that old man that gave me the creeps. You didn't feel it?" He would slide up the sleeve of his kimono, and the hairs on his arm were standing on end, even still.

As they walked, Shoichi would listen to the story silently, though if you looked at his face, it appeared that he didn't exactly 'get it'. "But... but snowflakes are the same. They're little white flecks of ice and snow. They're identical to one another," he would try to argue, before huffing. "Must be a Crane thing." Scratching his bearded cheek when asked where to look, he would then look around, and comment, "I can't say that I do, though maybe a written recounting of that tale might do? But that would be like a needle in a haystack."

Though not too long after, as if almost by divine intervention, the two would stumble upon a debate, of all things, between some peasants, a quartet of men in their 50's, sitting at a table in a tea shop having tea by an open window. It wouldn't have necessarily meant anything of itself, but Kaichiyo would overhear the phrase, "Her skin was as white as snow itself!" followed by dismissive groans from the other three.  

[Raganui Minamoto]

He frowns lightly, thinking on it. Kiyo would probably have a better idea than him, anyways.

Int/Lore - 3k3 - 24  

[Paidi tou Selini]

The little princess glanced dubiously over her shoulder at the little explanation for the Spider's absence... at least until her eyes went wide at the proof of genuine discomfort on the man. "N-...no, I didn't feel anything."

She shook her head and partially dismissed the thought. At least in that there were too many different things it could mean for speculation to do any good. She could only shake her head at the man's naivete in response to her story, and was in the middle of saying "I haven't seen it myself; this is my first time seeing any snow! But I was told to go out with a piece of cloth and catch some when it snows. Take a closer look and you'll...

Well that was interesting. Without wasting any time she trots on over to the window, completely forgetting the fact that she'd been mid-conversation. She considered the fact that her intrusion might not be wholly polite, so she decided to give them a little incentive to talk to her. It wasn't her style, but she'd seen it work before. With a few subtle tugs she opened her haori and loosened the top of her kimono to show a little cleavage, and with the power of boobs she leaned daintily upon the window sill and stared with keen interest at the occupants within. "Please forgive the interruption, but I couldn't help overhearing. May I ask who's skin was white as snow? Could you point me to her?"  

[Plainsfox]

Naohiko rubbed his forehead here. He vaguely imagined cutting the stinking bandit in half.....but that didn't seem possible for some reason. Ah well. Perhaps he could make it a reality soon enough. "Let me run through a chain of events here. On one hand, if I leave my daisho behind and let myself get worked over by your two friends who are WAY too big for what they're trying to hide behind, I would get injured or killed...most likely killed. Also, your hostage would be a witness to your crime, so you'd have to kill her too. You think this would let you get away with things but there are Kitsuki at this winter court and I doubt they'd let the death of one of their cousins in what was supposedly a "safe" event go unquestioned. So, naturally, they'll find you. It's what Kitsuki do."

Naohiko paused to let that sink in. With the tone of a bored bureaucrat explaining the more annoying nuances of administration, the Kraken continued. "They, in turn, will bring you before Doji Kioko, the Champion's daughter. Having a guest of hers die while exploring her "safe" city is a slight against her honor. She'll need to make a strong example to maintain her face. I've heard that some Daimyo prefer to kill the offender, the offender's generation of siblings, their children, and their parents in an effort to remove the stain from their clan's honor." The Kraken then fixed the bandit with a gaze. "All this blood and for what? Nothing I can do can guarantee the safety of that little girl. All of my training and intuition tells me that to trust a man who is so dishonorable as to take a little girl hostage is the ultimate folly."

The Kraken let out a deep sigh. "That brings me to my second option. I turn around and walk out of this alley and tell the Doji what is going on here. You can imagine the initial results, but let me add this. My honor will be impugned and we will meet again, when I want us to meet again. You cannot hide behind little street urchins forever."

"There is a third option though." Naohiko said hopefully. "You let the girl go and we both go on as if this never happened. I'll take the girl to her sister and you can take those two off to a sake house or something. No blood. No pain. No loss of face."

OOC:
Awareness/Courtier 4k3 w/2 dice to handle explosions
Raises called: 1 to indicate the gravity of the situation.
Dice 16,3, 14, 9
Results: 39-5  

[Rain Yupa]

The Scavenger Hunt

The Teams
Himura Naohiko & Moshi Ruri - 3 items collected, 0 Banked Raises, -5 zeni
Himura Kaichiyo & Daigotsu Shoichi - 5 items collected, 0 Banked Raises, -2 bu 8 zeni
Himura Gendo & Suzume Kiyo - 2 items collected, 2 Banked Raises
--------------------
(+2)Tamori Aritomo & Ikoma Tadao - 5 items collected
(+2)Kakita Otsu & Isawa Marihito - 5 items collected
(+2)Kitsuki Senzo & Mirumoto Otsu - 5 items collected
(+2)Utaku Bayarma & Shinjo Hideki - 4 items collected
(+0)Ide Urako & Mirumoto Katsunan - 4 items collected
(+1)Kaiu Taniko & Hiruma Shigemasa - 3 items collected
(+0)Ide Seibei & Kuni Sanjiro - 3 items collected
(+1)Daigotsu Josuke & Daigotsu Arisa - 3 items collected
(+2)Yoritomo Kiyonobu & Daidoji Takahashi - 3 items collected
(+0)Kakita Mitsuko & Shiba Noburo - 2 items collected
(+0)Suzume Kayoko & Agasha Mai - 2 items collected
(+1)Yoritomo Mamoru & Yoritomo Katsue - 2 items collected
(+0)Bayushi Kojiro & Bayushi Masuyo - 1 items collected
(-1)Akodo Masaru & Daigotsu Danjuro - 0 items collected
(+2)Matsu Koji & Akodo Tamafune - 0 items collected
(+1)Toku Seiichi & Ide Chieko - 0 items collected
(+2)Shosuro Hyobe & Shoruso Kazu - 0 items collected
(+2)Shosuro Nene & Shosuro Tamiyo - 0 items collected

--------------------

@ Gendo:

Though it was a time-honored tradition for most Hantei emperors to take a spouse from the Crane, it had not been the case of Hantei XXXVIII, the second to last of the line, nearly 150 years ago. As such, it miiight not be quite so applicable of a gesture now.

--------------------

@ Kaichiyo:

It would be four aged men, in various states of showing their age, simply sitting around a table, debating over tea. They would stop talking to turn to face you, as if about to rebuke you, but they would remain silent for a few seconds later.

You think they meet someone's gaze past you, and they respectfully turn away.

"It's Junichi," the fat one would say, finally breaking the silence. "He keeps going on and on about how he met a Yuki no Onna a few years back, but it's malarkey."

"It is not!" protested the tall one, Junichi. "I did meet her, I did! The only reason I'm here now is because of her!"

"He tends to get lit and wander off during the off-season for harvest; I personally think he dreamed the encounter," the bald one would say.

"..." would add the quiet one, arms crossed over his chest as he nodded in agreement.

"You believe me, right, maiden-sama?" Junichi would ask with pleading eyes, trying to milk for your sympathy.

"Either way, real or not, there's no way we could direct you to her now," the fat one would confess apologetically.

Kaichiyo! Give me a TN 25 Intelligence/Lore: Spirits to know about Yuki no Onna! The high TN is because it's a story that might not have carried over well into the Colonies, due to their lack of winter.

--------------------

@ Naohiko:

There would be a fairly long silence, as no one made any moves. Silence, that is, beyond the whimperings of the little girl.

"How do I know I can believe what you say? What if me releasing the girl is just a trick, for you to get leverage? Or if you attack us after we let her go? And what's stopping you from going to the magistrates anyways? We need some reassurances..."

They seem to be buying into your proposal, but they're shifty buggers. A Sincerity roll will be needed to seal the deal. Honesty applies if you're planning to be true to your word; Deceit if this is just a ruse.

Of course, in lieu of a roll, some sort of action might likewise suffice.  

[Raganui Minamoto]

Ah well, worth the gamble right, if it was just a 'eh, this one of the line didn't'. "Alright, let's find us something about crane samurai weddings."

Nodding to the girl, he set off, searching for anything being sold that would fit it.

Perception/Investigation - 3k2 - 10
Item: Crane Wedding Fan  

[Plainsfox]

"I have my honor. My face. I give you my word that if you let this girl go and leave by the other exit of this alley, then I will not stop you. Naohiko would pull his daisho out of his obi and set the blades up against the wall of a nearby building and positioned himself so that the swords were *just* inside his reach. "It's all up to you now."

OOC:
Awareness/Sincerity (Honesty) 3k3 (Untrained)
Dice: 8, 4, 9
Results: 21  

[Paidi tou Selini]

The little princess gave a half-pout-half-frown at the reception she received, half tempted to look over her shoulder and finally see what in jigoku that Spider was doing behind her to intimidate everyone. But in this case it seemed to be beneficial compared to the reaction she was evidently about to get so she let it slide this time.

She tilted her head at the explanation she finally did get, not at all sure what to make of it. A woman of snow? Was that some sort of mainland winter-y thing? The name sounded vaguely familiar but she couldn't recall where she'd heard it before, if she even had at all.

"Aaah? Umm... I don't believe I've properly introduced myself. I am Himura Kaichiyo, heir to the Kraken clan - a minor, but important! clan out in the colonies - and well... you see, Megumi Tenpi is a vibrant, tropical island that knows no winter. This is the first time I have seen snow in my life, much less heard tales of... Yuki no Onna, was it? So I hope it doesn't seem strange when I ask... what is that, exactly?"


[Intelligence/Lore: Spirits to know aboutremember Yuki no Onna
Roll 3k3 Untrained vs TN 25
7, 7, 1 = 15]  

[Rain Yupa]

The Scavenger Hunt

The Teams
Himura Naohiko & Moshi Ruri - 3 items collected, 0 Banked Raises, -5 zeni
Himura Kaichiyo & Daigotsu Shoichi - 5 items collected, 0 Banked Raises, -2 bu 8 zeni
Himura Gendo & Suzume Kiyo - 2 items collected, 3 Banked Raises
--------------------
(+2)Tamori Aritomo & Ikoma Tadao - 5 items collected
(+2)Kakita Otsu & Isawa Marihito - 5 items collected
(+2)Kitsuki Senzo & Mirumoto Otsu - 5 items collected
(+0)Ide Urako & Mirumoto Katsunan - 5 items collected
(+2)Utaku Bayarma & Shinjo Hideki - 4 items collected
(+2)Yoritomo Kiyonobu & Daidoji Takahashi - 4 items collected
(+1)Kaiu Taniko & Hiruma Shigemasa - 3 items collected
(+0)Ide Seibei & Kuni Sanjiro - 3 items collected
(+1)Daigotsu Josuke & Daigotsu Arisa - 3 items collected
(+0)Suzume Kayoko & Agasha Mai - 3 items collected
(+0)Kakita Mitsuko & Shiba Noburo - 2 items collected
(+1)Yoritomo Mamoru & Yoritomo Katsue - 2 items collected
(+0)Bayushi Kojiro & Bayushi Masuyo - 1 items collected
(-1)Akodo Masaru & Daigotsu Danjuro - 0 items collected
(+2)Matsu Koji & Akodo Tamafune - 0 items collected
(+1)Toku Seiichi & Ide Chieko - 0 items collected
(+2)Shosuro Hyobe & Shoruso Kazu - 0 items collected
(+2)Shosuro Nene & Shosuro Tamiyo - 0 items collected

--------------------

@ Gendo:

You know what they say about brides at weddings! They should wear something old, something new, something borrowed, and a free raise!

--------------------

@ Naohiko:

As soon as the weapons were placed against a wall, one of the hidden brutes would rush towards Naohiko! But stop, when he realized he didn't have backup. Looking over his shoulder, the other hidden person, a woman, and the hostage-taker, would shake their heads.

Backing up, though holding his jo cautiously, he would rejoin the others, and they would slowly retreat back out of the alley, kind of haphazardly pushing the little girl so she fell to the ground between both parties. You think you hear the hostage taker mutter something about not being paid, but he's too far away to hear what he said exactly, since you convinced them to retreat and all.

Though about this point, you sense someone standing directly behind you now - you hadn't noticed, with all the talking you were doing, but you think whomever it is had been there since you started listing options!

--------------------

@ Kaichiyo:

"It's a snow maiden, an embodiment of winter itself and a spirit of a beautiful woman who lives in the forests during winter," explained fat one. "The forests of Phoenix lands, I might add."

"Hey, I saw what I saw!" Junichi croaked. "I still can picture her vividly if I close my eyes! Like she were before me still!"

"..." contributed quiet one, his eyes closed, as if deep in thought.  

[Plainsfox]

The Kraken samurai carefully turned around to face whoever was behind him. Given his luck, it was likely to be a Crane magistrate that was going to give him an earful for his actions. Best he could do is just roll with it."Ahmm....hi!"