Play the Begin a Session move.
Health +5, Spirit +5, Supply +5, Affliction +0, Momentum +10, Menace +9
Honor +2, Status +3, Glory +1, Infamy +0, Koku +70, Chaos +5
The party have collected a few objectives and are ready to start adventuring.
Chaos Factor = 5 , Chaos roll =8. Scene continues as is.
The scene opens at the Adventurer's Homestead within the Heinen district just outside Hirosaka city. Jin and Gorisho are lovingly chatting to each other as they hurriedly plate the multiple servings of grilled fish for everyone's breakfast.. Outside the heavy rain is accompanied by a light breeze that pushes the aroma of from the kitchen throughout the house. The trio sit around a table facing each other in the common room, a map unrolled between them.
" I'd LOVE to visit Daylight Castle," Kenshin states around a mouthful of food.
" Why?! Why of all the places we can go, would you want to go there??," Takenaka asked, not looking up from the map. "We are not going anywhere near the Crab territories. Plus, Daylight Castle is part of the Shadowlands now."
Maki scrunches up her eyes and leans away from Kenshin. Slightly shaking her head in disbelief as to what she has just heard.
"What? It will be..." Kenshin starts to reply but is interrupted as a trio of figures emerge through the doorway from the rain outside.
Otomo Kazuko enters with two Phoenix, dressed in orange and red robes, one is an older man with thinning hair, lean and weathered, a shugenja’s scroll-satchel at his hip. He leans on a well-used walking stick. The other Phoenix is a young woman, probably only a couple of years past her gempukku, her hair tied back in a maiden’s foxtail.
"Good morning all", Otomo Kazuko starts, " I was approached be these two after Seppun Sora had turned them away. If I recall correctly you may be traveling the same direction soon."
With an exasperated snort at the mention of the Seppun, the older man turns to the group and bows low. “My deep apologies for interrupting your breakfast. Might I trouble you for a few moments of conversation?”
After a split second of the our trio sitting at the table agape, Takenaka finally swallows the food he was processing and stands, rolling up the map to clear the table. " Yes, please sit, have some food, let us figure out how we may be able to help you."
Takenaka plays the Gather Information Move
Action Dice : 3 + 3 Wits + Community +1 = 7
Challenge Dice : 4 & 6
Strong Hit : You discover something helpful and specific. The path you must follow or action you must take to make progress is made clear. Take +2 Momentum (10)
Both are members of the Asako family, with the older man wearing the school mon of the Isawa shugenja, while the young woman is an Asako courtier, both of them wear the insignia of the Inquisitors. The older man introduces himself as “Asako Kato, Acolyte of Air, of the Order of Inquisitors serving Lord Asako Heishi.” He introduces the young woman as “Asako Ryoko, my niece and apprentice in the Order.”
Takenaka plays the Make A Connection Move on Asako Kato
Action Dice: 2 + 2 Heart = 4
Challenge Dice: 6 & 7
Miss: You don't make a connection and the situation worsens. -1 Spirit Takenaka (+4)
"I do not care to know you Takenaka, I have heard of the things you and your group have done and how you do them. Do not think for an instant that if there was any other way to do this, I would not be speaking to you. Unfortunately the fortunes have seen fit to put us on a path together, I do not care to see you again after my niece has been escorted safely. I have reports on my recent investigations which I must send to Lord Heishi-sama. However, I have also received a summons to the City of the Rich Frog to investigate an incident there. My apprentice has offered to carry my reports back to Lord Heishi-sama in Phoenix lands, but,” he heaves a sigh, while the young woman tries to hide an embarrassed glower, “I do not believe it would be safe for her to travel alone.”
"If I may interject, this crew has done quite a few favors for me in the past. And while their methods may be unusual, I can't really argue with the results." Otomo Kazuko rebutted "They can be subtle when need be, and this group will not draw as much attention as a cadre of proper samurai escorting your niece would."
“That would be quite helpful, samurai-sama. I would be indebted to you for such assistance.”
" Otomo Kazuko speaks the truth, we will get your niece back to the Phoenix lands safely, but it will cost you. How much do you have available to offer?" Takenaka asks. "Unfortunately not being from one of the Great Clans we three have no other means of income."
"I can offer 10 koku along with the promise that Ryoko can pay for your food and lodging during the trip," offered Asoko Kato "possibly more once everything is sorted out?"
The three move away from the two Phoenix to talk amongst themselves, Kenshin's gigantic frame blocking the old man's view.
"It seems simple enough", Maki signs.
" Does food and lodging cover sake as well?" Kenshin interjects.
" We are already heading in that direction." Takenaka mumbles.
And with a nod between the three it was settled. " Yes Asako-sama, we vow to escort your niece safely and with the documents secured to the Phoenix Lands. We do reserve the right to renegotiate the payment if she proves to be a problem though." Takenaka states.
Takenaka plays the Swear An Iron Vow move to Escort Asoko Ryoko to Pale Oak Castle
Action Dice: 5 + 2 Heart +1 Fortune Hunter = 8
Challenge Dice: 3 & 4
Strong Hit: You are emboldened and it is clear what you must do next . Take +2 Momentum (10)
Asako Kato explains that he is departing in the morning, and both he and his niece are spending the night at a local House of Evergreens Inn. He asks the trio to stay at the inn as well, so that all can leave fresh with the sunrise.
"My lord, Asako Heishi, is currently in Pale Oak Castle in western Asako lands. It is his home castle and he resides there every year from spring until autumn, leaving once or twice to visit the Imperial capital and deliver reports to the Emperor. I can supply travel papers for Ryoko and the three of you, if you need them."
The House of Evergreens Inn
This is a respectable middle-quality Inn, two stories high, with a stable, garden, bathhouse, and other standard amenities. The innkeeper is happy for the patronage of samurai and bustles about serving them and seeing to their needs.
Takenaka is going to play the Sojourn move
Action Dice: 6 + 2 Heart +1 Bond with Hirosaka = 9
Challenge Dice: 7 & 10
Weak Hit: Choose One, shared bond choose one more. Takenaka is going to Consort : Take +2 Spirit (+5)
The inn’s common room is warm and well-lit, a welcome contrast to the chill spring air outside. The room is crowded with other samurai and ronin, along with the usual assortment of merchants and other commoners. The samurai guests are, unsurprisingly, almost all Lions, but you can also see a pair of elegant Crane noblemen with a small entourage of servants and sycophants. At another table, a man in the colors of the Unicorn sits with some ronin, while at a third table you see a shugenja wearing Dragon green with rainbow colors on the edging of his kimono. Asako Ryoko glances at the Dragon shugenja, grimaces slightly, and looks pointedly away. Takenaka nods at Maki, indicating that he would like her to find out what information she can regarding the Dragon Ryoko grimaced at. Kenshin wades into the throng of people, calling for the first of many sake.
Takenaka is going to play the Secure An Advantage move
Action Dice: 3 + 3 Wits = 6
Challenge Dice: 4 & 6
Weak Hit : Burn Momentum (+2) : Strong Hit : Add +1 on your next move , Take +2 Momentum (+4)
Takenaka is going to play the Gather Information move on Ryoko
Action Dice: 2 + 3 Wits + 1 Community +1 Advantage = 7
Challenge Dice: 4 & 10
Weak Hit : The information complicates your quest or introduces a new danger. Take +1 Momentum (+5)
Takenaka asks Ryoko about her reaction to the Dragon shugenja, she frowns and says only, “That is Tonbo Ukiya, he has made an unsuccessful appeal for my hand in marriage. Of course my uncle does not consider a match with a minor Tonbo to be a good choice.”
Takenaka is going to play the Make A Connection move on Ryoko
Action Dice: 6 + 2 Heart = 8
Challenge Dice: 3 & 7
Strong Hit: Created a connection.
Kato, Ryoko and Takenaka find an open table and take their seats. Ryoko requests from the Inn Keeper some steamed rice and vegetables as Takenaka and Kato converse.
"Why do you feel that it would be unsafe for Ryoko to travel alone?" Takenaka asks, cautiously watching Ryoko for any reaction.
“Surely, you would not expect a young woman to travel the Empire without an escort.” Kato explains pedantically. Ryoko looks slightly impatient but does not contradict her elder.
" The reports she carries, do they put her, or my crew, in some kind of danger?" Takenaka quieres.
Kato treats Takenaka to a lengthy lecture on the cult cell which he discovered five years ago in the village of San no Mura in the Kintani Valley. The cell had eight members, and Kato discovered it when he investigated oddities in the apparent drowning death of a local samurai. “The body had lain in the water for some days before its discovery, but the local magistrate still noticed odd cuts on the arms, and asked my assistance. It was the blessing of the Fortunes that I happened to be just across the border in Phoenix lands at the time. Once we began investigating in earnest, it was only a matter of time until we unraveled the cult.” He is clearly quite proud of this achievement, and will make a point of noting that his lord Asako Heishi personally praised his efforts.
"My recent investigations have been looking into possible Bloodspeaker cults in the central Empire, the Lion and Crane lands. I have found much suspicious activity, but can not name any specifics, such important information is for my lord Asako Heishi." Kato finished.
"And you cannot accompany your niece to Pale Oak Castle for what reason , if I may ask?" Takenaka asks suspiciously.
"I know one of the magistrates of the City of the Rich Frog, named Ikoma (Kaeru) Oteki, and received a note from him saying that a local murder might have cult significance. I am eager to pursue the matter, and I am confident that Oteki is not steering me wrong. The Empire is far too complacent about the threat which the Bloodspeakers still pose. Happily, lord Asako Heishi-sama won the Jade Tournament, ensuring that one who understands the danger is in charge of investigating it.”
" Interesting, very interesting. I thank you for sharing this with me. It is getting late though and we have an early start tomorrow. I believe my crew and I will be turning in for the night. Good night the two of you, I will see you in the morning," Takenaka states.
Later, our three adventurers meet in Takenaka's room.
"So, you are saying that our Dragon friend is so enamored with Ryoko that he didn't even notice the concubines that were part of the ...what were they again Kenshin?" Takenaka asked.
"Crane brothers! A Doji Torusawa and a Doji Matsuro, wealthy land gentries touring the Empire. They had servants, bodyguards, and some beautiful ladies," Kenshin adds, then throws back another large gulp of sake.
Maki signs that Ukiya watched Ryoko closely, with a very intent expression. He tried not to make his observation too open, but lacks the subtlety to succeed. She was also able to read his muttering lips saying “We are a fine match, I cannot understand why her family refuses to see it. The Agasha or the Isawa must have poisoned her mind against me.”
"From what I was able to learn of him is that he claims to be on a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Jurojin in Phoenix lands. So we may be sharing a lot of road with him so keep an eye out," Takenaka states.
"The only other notable person I ran into was the Unicorn magistrate, Shinjo Tamaji. He is an earnest and eager young man who is on his way back to Unicorn lands from the Imperial Capital. He has a deep distrust of Scorpions, and given the chance he will lecture anyone about Scorpion involvement in various crime cartels and yakuza gangs around the Empire. He spent the evening speaking with any available ronin, trying to pump them for information on crime networks, opium dens, and other underworld doings." Kenshin hurriedly finishes his report.
Play the End A Session move
Develop Your Relationship : N/A
Reach A Milestone : N/A
Much love and a Hearty Shout Out to Heroes of Rokugan , whose many game modules provide the backbone to most of the questing our adventurers partake in. I'd also like to thank Shawn Tomkin for the Ironsworn game that inspired this playthrough.
