In Thunder's Echo (Legend of the Five Rings Quest)

[Maugan Ra]

"Oh?" You raise an eyebrow. "Did they give a name?"

The servant flushes with momentary embarrassment. "My apologies, Soshi-sama. Asako Tani-sama of the Phoenix has come, and requested to see you."

You nod and carefully set your brush aside, making sure the pot of ink is positioned in a way to prevent accidental spillage. "I see. Please, show the ambassador in."

The servant bows and retreats, while you take the opportunity to clear your mind and focus on the conversation to come. For the Phoenix to visit in person rather than sending a letter is unusual, but not particularly noteworthy - it might just be a matter of impulse, or potentially something that requires a quick resolution. Either way, your interactions with Tani thus far have been generally positive and enjoyable, so this should be no different.

A few moments later the servant reappears, followed by the Phoenix diplomat. Asako Tani nods to the heimin in thanks and then bows politely to you. "Soshi-san, thank you for seeing me. My apologies for dropping in unannounced."

You return the bow as best you can while remaining seated - courtly etiquette generally holds that making a show of standing just so you can bow and sit back down again is inappropriate. "No apologies are necessary, Asako-sama. My door is always open to a fellow scholar. Please, sit. Have you eaten rice today?"

The Loremaster takes a seat on the other side of your writing desk, folding her hands in her lap demurely. "I have, thank you, Soshi-san. You are practicing your calligraphy? It is quite beautiful."

"I am, and I thank you for the compliment." You say, understanding that there are certain rituals to be observed before Tani can get to the reason she has come here today. "I find it helps to focus the mind. To dwell on the shape and formation of the characters and nothing else is a wonderful aid to clearing one's thoughts, and excellent practice for being able to do the same in... more stressful situations in the future."

Tani nods. "I see, yes. Not the most conventional approach, but effective. The Brotherhood are known to practice a wide variety of meditation techniques, many of which involve similar degrees of focus and ritual movements. Some find physical exercise helps, or simply running through the basic katas of a sword style."

You consider this for a moment, thinking on the easy flow of thoughtless movement that you can fall into when practicing your own weapon drills. "I can understand that. I wonder which came first - did the early samurai witness the practices of the monks and adapt them into mushin no shin? Or did retired samurai take the mindset into the Brotherhood with them?"

"An interesting question, and not one I know the answer to." Asako Tani says thoughtfully. "It does, however, relate to my purpose in coming here today. Are you aware of the Lion Clan's relationship with the Fortune Bishamon?"

You nod cautiously. "I am familiar with the idea that they tend to favour worship of the Fortune of Strength, yes. In fact... Bishamon Seido is located within their lands, is it not?"

"Indeed, in Kitsu lands some distance to the west. I understand that Matsu Ketsui-sama trained there with the Lion's Pride." Tani confirms. "There is, however, a smaller shrine to the Fortune located in the nearby mountains. I intend to visit it tomorrow, both out of scholarly interest and because I feel it may give me more insight into our hosts. I would like to invite you to accompany me, if you are not otherwise engaged."

Do you accept Tani's invitation?
[ ] Yes
[ ] No

QM's note - The current schedule has you spending tomorrow introducing yourself to one of the Mantis in the morning and seeking acting lessons at the Five Arches in the afternoon. If you choose to say 'No' you can cite existing plans without causing offense, due to the last minute nature of the invitation.

 

[Maugan Ra]

"I would be delighted to accompany you, Asako-sama." You reply after just enough of a pause to avoid any implications of haste or pre-planning. "How close is the shrine?"

"Wonderful. It is relatively nearby - no more than an hour's journey, setting aside any unfortunate developments in the weather." The Phoenix replies with a warm smile. "Shall we arrange to meet by the stables two hours before noon? That should give us enough time to make the trip and then return without needing to navigate the pass in the dark."

"That sounds quite reasonable, Asako-sama." You reply, nodding to yourself. You will need to inform your lord, but you doubt Bayushi Kimoko will have any great objection to the plan, and there is nothing else scheduled for tomorrow that you cannot move around as required. "I look forwards to it."

The meeting does not end there, of course, because limiting your time together to the bare necessities would be highly rude, but nothing of further import is discussed. Inspired by your study of calligraphy the conversation turns towards artistic traditions of the various Clans and their changing focus throughout history. Eventually the conversation comes to a natural end and the ambassador departs, while you turn your attention back to your studies.

Yes, this is going quite well.

-/-

Naoto's careful practice and the conversation with Asako Tani have allowed him to further refine his knowledge of calligraphy. He gains a second rank in the skill.

-/-

22nd Day of the Boar

As arranged, you meet Asako Tani by the primary stables of Shiro Matsu the next day. The Phoenix is easy to spot - there is a light snow falling from the sky, and against that pale background her vivid red and orange kimono is abundantly obvious, like a flame in a winter forest. You take the opportunity to study her as you approach, for she is currently distracted by speaking with the heimin responsible for arranging your steeds.

Two things immediately stand out. Firstly, her kimono is designed with practical purpose in mind, shunning the elaborate layers of colours and styles in favour of extra warmth and protection from the wind. Secondly, the peasant seems quite happy to be talking to her, and her expression is relatively kind and gentle when compared to the arrogant self-assurance most samurai would display when speaking to their lessers.

Apparently you are not the only one to see the wisdom of having the heimin think well of you.

"Ah, Soshi-san, there you are." She calls as she turns and sees you approaching. "I trust you have encountered no difficulties?"

"None at all, Asako-sama." You reply with a smile. In truth, Bayushi Kimoko had outright encouraged you to go, though you are unsure if this is because of the potential alliance with the Phoenix or because your lord finds amusement in getting you alone with beautiful women. Speaking of which, that is an interesting factor. "Will Shiba-san not be accompanying us?"

"No, he has his own duties to attend to." Tani responds easily. "He is not actually my yojimbo - I needed a bushi representative when I came to speak with the Lion, but he is not assigned to my protection all of the time. I suppose if I find myself needing a valiant protector you will have to stand in for him, Soshi-san. I trust this would not be a grave imposition?"

You incline your head in acceptance. "Since there is no other option, I suppose my meager skills will have to suffice."

You have heard great things about the trained steeds of the Unicorn Clan, but the majority of Rokugan has no such animals at their disposal. Instead, the mounts you are provided with come from a lineage of stocky mountain ponies, well suited for navigating the treacherous landscape but not so much for managing battlefield maneuvers.

Fortunately, they are also patient and slow-tempered things, for your riding skills are not fantastic. You can sit in the saddle and guide them roughly where you want them to go, but finer control is quite beyond you at this point. Still, at least you are agile enough not to make a fool of yourself, and together you and Asako Tani head for the exit to the fortress and the mountain path beyond.

Beiden Pass and the surrounding mountains truly are a beautiful sight, you have to admit, with the multiple layers of rock peaking out behind forests of ever-green trees and a thin blanket of soft white snow. The path you take winds back and forth a bit more than you would have expected, but after a moment's thought you realize why - it has been cut into the rock in such a way as to impose the smallest possible change on the landscape when viewed from Shiro Matsu proper. Apparently even the Lion are willing to go out of their way if it means expressing their appreciation of natural beauty.

"I confess, I do not know a great deal about the monks who follow Bishamon." You say conversationally as you ride alongside Tani, your ponies having apparently grown used to this route and thus requiring little direct guidance. "One would imagine they would focus on their patron's associations of strength, but I do not think I have ever read anything by someone who has actually been in a position to witness what that entails."

"Soshi-san, I'm disappointed." Tani says with a laugh, glancing over at you. "You mean to say you haven't read every scroll in Shiro Matsu already?"

"In my defense, Asako-sama, there are a great many of them." You respond easily, surprised by the teasing. That is distinctly less formal behaviour than you would have expected from the loremaster. "And for some reason the Matsu never seem to believe that my intentions are innocent when I ask about seeing them."

"Soshi-san, I'm not entirely sure you know what innocent means." The Phoenix responds, still smiling, her tone actual one of approving amusement. "Still, from what I understand the monks here do enjoy physical labour as a form of meditation. Running across the mountains, living boulders, that sort of thing."

Is she...

"That sounds exhausting. I'm not sure I see the benefit in it." You say lightly. "Then again, they are the ones pursuing enlightenment, and the stories are full of monks doing strange things which are later revealed to have some hidden wisdom in them. Perhaps I should give it a try while we are there?"

"I would enjoy seeing that." Tani laughs, a twinkle in her eye. "Certainly I can think of much worse ways to spend an afternoon than watching you exercise."

Apparently she is.

Asako Tani is flirting with you. You must decide how to respond.
[ ] Flirt back. Why not?
[ ] Turn her down, gently. You're simply not interested.
[ ] Deflect her. The last woman you flirted with committed suicide barely more than a week ago, after all.

QM's note - Sorry for the delay. And... Dangerous Beauty strikes again!

 

[Maugan Ra]

Well. You can't deny that it is rather flattering to have a beautiful and educated woman express an interest in you like that, but...

A warm body pressed against your side. Faces turned to the night sky. The crunch of snow beneath your feet.

The look on Mariko's face as her champion falls.

You must have paused for slightly too long, as Tani's face loses some of its teasing amusement and shifts towards concern. "Soshi-san? Is something wrong?"

Etiquette/Awareness 7k4 = 25

"My apologies, Asako-sama. I allowed my memories to distract me from the here and now." You say politely, putting just enough emphasis on the right words to communicate your intent.

"Ah. No apologies are necessary, Soshi-san." The Loremaster replies softly, a hint of compassion in her tone. "We rely on the past to prepare us for the future. Neglecting lessons learned only leads to fresh errors."

There is a slightly awkward pause for a moment, the two of you not quite sure what to say. Fortunately, Rokugani etiquette expends a considerable degree of effort in providing safe topics for just about any conceivable situation, and Tani takes one by gesturing to the small copse of trees you are riding through.

"I am always impressed by the ability of nature to survive even in such inhospitable environs." She comments. "It is good to be reminded that we are not the only ones capable of surviving in adversity."

"There is much to be said for perseverance in the face of hostility." You agree. "Of course, I imagine it is somewhat easier when you need only light and water to survive."

"I have often wondered what it might be like to walk in Chikushudo, and see a realm of nature untouched by man." The Phoenix muses. "We see hints of it in the wild places and the forests, but a true wilderness... hmm. Have you ever seen the Shinamon Mori, Soshi-san?"

"Once, Asako-sama, from a distance." You reply, remembering your first sight of that place. The Shinamon technically lies at least partially within the lands of your Clan, but after the first village vanished entirely beneath it's shadowy canopy the Scorpion stopped trying to lay claim to it in anything more than name. "It is not a place that I would care to visit for long."

"I wonder... would it have become more or less welcoming once the Naga awoke?" Tani muses idly, and you realize you cannot say for certain. The strange snake-men of the forest aided your people on the Second Day of Thunder, but that does not mean they are any easier to understand... or any more forgiving of trespassers.

The conversation continues in that vein for some time, touching upon a number of the more mysterious elements of Rokugan's landscape and the myths and legends that have grown up around them. It is an interesting talk, and quite engrossing... so much so that it takes you some time to realize that something is wrong.

"Forgiveness, Asako-sama, but I would have thought we would be there by now." You say politely to your companion. "You did say only an hour, yes?"

"It is a bit further than I would have thought from the maps, Soshi-san." Tani nods in agreement. "Still, we will get there eventually, so long as we stay on the..."

The Phoenix's voice trails off in confusion, and that prompts you to give your surroundings a closer look. There are trees all around you, their dark green and brown shapes hidden beneath a layer of brilliant white, and... you cannot see the path. Nor, thinking back, can you remember when you last saw it.

"Asako-sama?" You say cautiously, one hand straying to the hilt of your sword out of a sense of general caution.

The Phoenix samurai-ko looks around, her face twisted in confusion and growing concern. "I don't understand, we were riding along it just a moment ago. What..."

It is snowing quite heavily now. And... is that the wind? Or laughter? Which way is Shiro Matsu?

With a sinking feeling, you realize that you do not know.

What do you do?
[ ] Write in

 

[Maugan Ra]

So... you are lost in a forest despite having set out along a clearly marked path and not willingly deviating from it, there is a lot of snow in the air, and you can hear what might be laughter carried on the wind. All told? Probably a spirit of some kind.

Which... could be bad. Rokugan is a spiritual land, and you have always known that there are creatures from beyond the mortal realm which might occasionally seek to interact with mankind in their own way, but dealing with such things is generally left to the Shugenja for a reason. Spirits do not operate by the same rules of etiquette as mortals, and they often possess monstrous power with which to take revenge for any slights inadvertently offered.

Still, you probably have more of a chance than most would in your situation. You are well read, quite good at negotiation, and accompanied by a Phoenix Loremaster. If there is a way to escape this situation peacefully you can probably find it.

Swallowing nervously, you remove your hand from the hilt of your weapon. Best to look as non-threatening as you can, especially since there is a decent chance you can't really hurt whatever this is anyway. Maybe if you had a sword of Jade or Crystal, but mortal steel is unlikely to bring down a spiritual foe before you are torn limb from limb by the power at its command.

"Asako-sama, we seem to have attracted the attention of a spirit." You say in a low voice. "Would you be able to share the wisdom of the Phoenix in this matter?"

Asako Tani looks over at you, her expression concerned. Beneath you, your ponies whinny in distress, as though sensing the building tension in the air.

"I think you may be right, Soshi-san." She says quietly, though she has to raise her voice to at least some degree in order to be heard over the sound of the wind. "We may have stumbled into its territory, or otherwise drawn interest. But I don't know what kind it might be..."

The Phoenix is still speaking, but you are no longer listening, because you can see what is responsible for your predicament.

There, standing in the snow at the edge of the small clearing you are in, is Doji Mariko.

The Crane is dressed just as she was the last time you saw her. Her pale hair is tied up in a neat bun, her kimono is woven from the purest white, and her face is bereft of all cosmetics or accessories. The most notable difference is the short, jagged knife-wound in her neck, and the shockingly vivid river of crimson blood running down her front.

She raises her pale, bloodless hands towards you...

Naoto rolls Willpower + Honour to resist Fear.
2k2+5 = 16. Failed.

Naoto is currently taking a -4k0 penalty to all rolls, and is absolutely terrified.

What do you do?
[ ] Beg forgiveness. You failed her, and now she's angry...
[ ] Flee. You can't fight this, you have to go, you have to get away...
[ ] Attack. You are more scared than you have ever been, but it is your duty to end this blasphemous abomination that dares to wear her face...
[ ] Write in (Options which do not take current emotional state into account will be veto'd)

The strength of honour is how it may motivate a man to stand his ground and keep fighting no matter the odds. But the Sin of Fear is corrosive, and there are few things more damaging to your internal sense of self-worth.

Would you like to roll Honour (5k5) against your Fear check? Success will overcome your fear, but failure will remove a full rank (10 points) of Honour as Naoto's confidence is shaken.
[ ] Yes, take the re-roll.
[ ] No, accept the current result.

 

[Maugan Ra]

You have been scared before, frightened of pain or failure, but this is something else entirely. As you watch the bloodstained figure of Doji Mariko lurch towards you, only now do you understand what fear truly is.

You feel... cold. As though hands of ice are wrapped around your heart, stealing all of your warmth and life, robbing you of strength and conviction. Your hands are shaking, your limbs turned to water, your breath harsh in your lungs as everything you know tells you to run, now...

Desperately you try to recall your training, thinking back to all the stories of your youth, reminding yourself that your ancestors are watching, that your lord is counting on you - anything and everything that you can imagine is called up in a desperate attempt to control the icy fear in your heart.

Honour re-roll, spending Void Point.
6k6 against TN 25 = 20. Failed.

And none of it matters in the slightest.

You are not a hero. You are not a Thunder, blessed by the Fortunes to stand against the darkness and hold your ground. You are a mortal man, bereft of any of the training or experience necessary to face something like this, and you are afraid.

"Naoto..." Mariko says, her voice disorted by the horrible wound in her throat. "Come with me, Naoto. Join me... join us..."

What do you do?
[ ] Take Tani and run. You can't fight this, whatever it is, and you can't allow the Phoenix to die here as well.
[ ] Charge. You are terrified, but you will not let this stand. Though your limbs are shaking and your heart thundering in your chest, you will fight.
[ ] Try to talk to Mariko. If she remembers your name, maybe there's enough left there to reason with?
[ ] Write in.

Spoiler: The actual rolls, if you're curious

I use an online dice roller for a lot of stuff, and in this case it rolled: 4, 1, 8, 3, 1, 3.

Naoto remains terrified, though he managed to avoid failing badly enough to actually be forced into fleeing. According to @primemountain, the chance of this outcome was about 11%.

Naoto loses ten points of Honour, dropping him down to 4.7.

 

[Maugan Ra]

You have been scared before, frightened of pain or failure, but this is something else entirely. As you watch the bloodstained figure of Doji Mariko lurch towards you, only now do you understand what fear truly is.

You feel... cold. As though hands of ice are wrapped around your heart, stealing all of your warmth and life, robbing you of strength and conviction. Your hands are shaking, your limbs turned to water, your breath harsh in your lungs as everything you know tells you to run, now...

Desperately you try to recall your training, thinking back to all the stories of your youth, reminding yourself that your ancestors are watching, that your lord is counting on you - anything and everything that you can imagine is called up in a desperate attempt to control the icy fear in your heart.

Honour re-roll, spending Void Point.
6k6 against TN 25 = 20. Failed.

And none of it matters in the slightest.

You are not a hero. You are not a Thunder, blessed by the Fortunes to stand against the darkness and hold your ground. You are a mortal man, bereft of any of the training or experience necessary to face something like this, and you are afraid.

"Naoto..." Mariko says, her voice disorted by the horrible wound in her throat. "Come with me, Naoto. Join me... join us..."

Click to shrink...

"Mariko..." The name slips from your lips before you can stop it, and in the corner of your vision you see Asako Tani flinch in surprise and shock. "Mariko, what... what are you doing? Please, this isn't right... if you remember my name, you should remember that much as well."

"Traitor." The apparition hisses, her steps utterly weightless upon the snow-covered ground. "You knew the letter was fake, you knew my enemies were working against me, and you said nothing. I am dead because of you!"

You shake your head, desperately trying to resist the urge to flee. You have always been able to count upon your words before, you can reason with her now, and if you can't... no, you will get through, you have to get through.

"No! That's not... I had orders, I had to stay silent, I didn't have a choice!" You say frantically. Distantly you are aware that this is probably not the best argument to make against an apparently vengeful gaki, but the fear clouding your mind makes it all but impossible to think of anything else.

"There is always a choice." Mariko spits, now close enough that you can make out the curved talons that appear to have replaced her elegant fingers. "You tell yourself otherwise because you dare not face the truth, too much of a coward to..."

"Soshi-san." Asako Tani says in a hard voice, her hand clamping around you arm with vice-like strength. Startled, you turn and meet her gaze, recoiling slightly from the blazing certainty you see there. "Soshi-san, it is not real. You are seeing things, illusions conjured by the spirit to toy with your mind."

"What?" You say blankly. "But she's right..."

"Trust me, Soshi-san. There is nothing there." Tani says firmly. "I do not know what you are seeing, but all I can see is the faintest shimmer. The Kami of the air are turning your thoughts against you. Look."

You don't want to obey, could give almost anything if it meant you could simply shut it out, but there is a level of command in Tani's voice that reaches right into the heart of what it means to be a samurai - to obey. Without meaning to, you turn your head to follow the direction of her extended finger and...

There is nothing there. Nothing except the trees and the falling snow. Mariko, or whatever magic was being woven to look like Mariko, is gone. Heart hammering in your chest, you glance left and right, not sure if you are searching for her or to confirm that she is gone.

"...magic?" You say, your voice little more than a disbelieving whisper. "But it... felt so real..."

"It always does, Soshi-san." Asako Tani says, not unkindly. "The Kami are fond of games that provoke human emotion, and they will pluck the thoughts from your own mind to make their illusions all the more believable. I do not know what you saw, but that was all it was - an illusion."

Slowly, you regain control over your breathing. An illusion. Of course, how did you not think of that? You are a Soshi, from a family with a rich magical tradition specializing in such magic. But it is hard, even impossible to remember such things when your heart is hammering in your chest and the cold hands of fear grip your soul.

"I... I see. Thank you, Asako-sama." You say with your best attempt at a calm and controlled tone. If the fear is not real, you can control it.

Except... if that was a spell, then the spirit responsible must be nearby. And if it can tell that you are no longer swayed by it, then...

In an instant, the previously silent wind begins to howl. The falling snow stops tumbling gently to the ground and start slashing towards you at great speed, and before you can even begin to react you are struck by what feels like a massive hammer of solid air.

??? Air roll = 32
Naoto's Earth 2k2 = 7

Your horse shrieks with fear as the sudden rush of gale-force wind catches it in the flank and sends it sprawling. Even as it goes, the wind picks you up like the hand of some enormous, invisible giant and flings you across the clearing.

There is a loud crunch, and everything goes black.

-/-

You don't know how much time passes before you regain consciousness, but it surely cannot have been more than a few moments - a minute at the most. Your vision is blurred and your head aches from the collision with the tree you now lie at the base of, but you are still reasonably functional.

You cannot see your horses. Asako Tani lies in a heap in the middle of the clearing, a bright patch of red and orange in the middle of the pure white snow.

Standing between you and her is the spirit, and you know instantly that this is no illusion.

In form she looks like a breathtakingly beautiful woman, albeit one who more resembles a stone carving than a living, breathing human. Her robes and her hair are the purest white, and her skin is smooth and polished like marble. Her lips are red like blood, and her eyes are the harsh vivid blue of a clear winter sky.

Lore (Spirit Realms) 5k4 = 45

A yuki no onna. A spirit of ice and snow. You have never heard of one traveling further south than the lands of the Phoenix, but there seems little to deny the sight in front of you. Everything you know about the mysterious spirits passes through your mind in a moment. They are empowered by an active snowstorm, and all but immune to damage while one is ongoing - as it is now - but will generally retreat from naked flame. A fact which would be rather more useful if you had any fire, but apparently the heavens are not being so kind today. And... yes, they are supposed to be able to influence the spirits of the air much as a Shugenja might.

Unfortunately, as far as you know there has never been any consensus on what drives these spirits or what they might want - sometimes they have been known to rescue stranded humans caught in a storm, other times they remorselessly stalk travelers and rob them of their warmth. Judging by this one's behaviour thus far, you would expect that she errs towards the latter option.

Right now, though, she seems content to stand there and stare at you, all thoughts and emotions hidden behind a literally frozen mask.

What do you do?
[ ] Write in

Naoto has taken seven wounds from being flung across the clearing. He is still in the Healthy wound bracket.

Naoto is currently suffering from a -2k0 penalty to all physical actions, as a result of disorientation and fear. This will gradually fade as time passes and he regains control of himself.

 

[Maugan Ra]

Well. This is... quite possibly the most danger you have ever been in. Spirits are wild and unpredictable things, and this one seems to have taken a hostile interest in you. Even if you tried to fight it, without some form of fire you highly doubt you'd have much in the way of success.

Still, you are a samurai, and as such you have been extensively trained on what to do when dealing with powerful figures that you cannot reasonably threaten. Step one - be polite.

"Honoured spirit, if I may, I must ask; is the Phoenix alive?" You say cautiously, pleased to find you can still speak. The yuki no onna doesn't react, and for a moment you fear that she might not understand what you are saying. Shugenja have to learn a special language to communicate with the Kami, after all, and that might very well hold true for the more advanced and powerful spirits as well. Fortunately, this is not the case.

"I have not taken her life-heat." The spirit says at last, in a voice like wind through the trees. "She feigns silence to hide from my eyes, but it is not her I care for."

You see Asako Tani twitch slightly at the spirit's words, but... there is a difference between not being dead and being healthy. If she thought to resort to feigning death in order to fool the spirit, then it may be that her fall was less fortunate than yours. It is impossible to tell from here, and in any case is of a profoundly secondary concern.

"And... in that case, may I ask what you want of me?"

There is another pause, and then the yuki no onna is crouching by your side, apparently without covering the distance between you first. This close, you can feel the intense cold radiating from her body, see every snow-flecked strand of hair, and you do your best to control your reaction with the aid of a lifetime of discipline. Flinching away could easily be taken as an insult, after all.

"You bear the touch of the storm." The spirit says in a slow, almost contemplative fashion. "Thunder and wind have marked you, and I was... curious. What makes you worthy of such a thing?"

You swallow. Ah. Well, if you wanted proof that your dream before the Festival was anything more than just a dream, it appears that you have it. Before you can respond, however, the spirit continues speaking.

"Not a reward for past deeds... to prepare you for the future, then. A weapon against the shadow, perhaps?" The snow maiden looks into her eyes, and there is an odd kind of compassion in her unearthly voice. "Should I let you go to such an end? Or keep you here, where it is safe?"

Respond
[ ] Write in

 

[Maugan Ra]

You hesitate for a moment. It is entirely possible that the spirit could keep you safe, but if there is one thing that all the stories agree on it is that such beings do not think in the same way that humans do. If this 'shadow' is such a threat, then from her perspective freezing you into a block of ice and imprisoning you beneath the mountain stone would probably still count as 'safe', especially if her magic is sufficient to enable you to survive the process.

While that would certainly be a kind of immortality, it is not one that any sane man would choose. Now you need to figure out a way to communicate that and get out of here without offering insult - it would not do to switch her motivations from compassion to vengeance and end up frozen solid anyway, after all.

"Honoured spirit..." You say carefully, "my life is not my own. Why forge a weapon against the foe, if never to be used when needed most?"

The yuki no onna reaches out and touches you lightly upon the cheek, and despite your best efforts you cannot help but shudder slightly at how utterly cold her hand is. Absence of heat is one thing, but this feels more like the warmth is being directly leeched from your body.

"It is not your life that you risk, samurai." The spirit says with deceptive softness. "The Shadow of All Things is not so limited. It will snuff out your soul like a candle flame."

Well. That is... horrifying beyond words, actually. You can't even really wrap your head around the idea - as far as you know, nothing has the ability to do that. Even the Shadowlands Taint merely twists and corrupts the soul, rather than destroying it utterly.

And yet...

This is a new threat. One you have never heard of before, and considering how well read you are that is quite impressive. Normally you might assume that people were aware of this threat but did not speak of it, as was often the case with the forces of Jigoku before the Second Day of Thunder... but Emperor Toturi was one of the Seven Thunders. He knows the dangers of pretending that a foe does not exist, perhaps better than anyone. If he has not told his subjects of the threat, then there is a good chance that he does not know about the threat.

To Defend the Emperor from Threats he cannot see.

"Even so." You say quietly. "I am a Scorpion. This is my duty."

For a long moment, the Yuki no Onna stares at you in silence.

Naoto's Courtier (Rhetoric)/Awareness 7k4 = 48

"Trust in the tears of the sun." She says, and then vanishes.

Slowly, you push yourself upright, wincing at the ache in your muscles. All around you the snowstorm is fading away... and there, just within sight, you can see the path.

"Soshi-san?" Asako Tani asks uncertainty, rising back to her own feet across the clearing from you. "When she said you 'bear the touch of the storm'... what did she mean?"

Respond:
[ ] Write in

 

[Maugan Ra]

Well, this is not a conversation you particularly want to have. Fortunately, the current situation provides you with all the reason you need to deflect the problem and hopefully deal with it at a later date.

"Asako-san, perhaps now is not the best time for long discussions?" You say as politely as you can, gesturing to the surrounding wilderness. "All things considered, I would much prefer to return to Shiro Matsu before the sun falls."

Etiquette/Awareness 7k4 = 29

"Very well, Soshi-san." Tani says, a pleasant smile upon her face. "We can discuss this in more comfortable surroundings. For now, let us see about returning to the castle."

Hmm. That is probably going to turn into a problem at a later date. As is perhaps to be expected, the Loremaster does not seem inclined to let the matter rest indefinitely, and considering that the yuki no onna threatened her life over its interest in you, she has more than enough grounds to pursue her enquiries. At which point you will probably be faced with the option of telling her everything or alienating the Phoenix altogether.

Well, that is a problem for tomorrow. The problem for today is getting back to Shiro Matsu. Resisting the urge to shiver as best you can, you make your way over to the path and set off.

Athletics/Stamina 2k2 = 9

The journey back is... arduous. Without the aid of your ponies, who seem to have vanished entirely into the wilderness after the spirit startled them, you are forced to navigate the rocky and snowbound route by yourself. Fortunately there is little chance of getting lost so long as you stick to the path, but the way your route twists and turns slows your progress considerably, a fact not helped by the cold and the falling snow.

Still, you struggle on, Asako Tani keeping pace besides you with relative ease. By the time you make it back to Shiro Matsu, the sun has dipped below the horizon once more. You are freezing cold, shivering hard enough that your teeth rattle in your skull, and tired to the point where it is a physical effort to keep placing one foot in front of the other.

Naoto is fatigued - He takes a +5 TN penalty to all of his actions until he has a chance to rest.

Eventually, you reach the castle and stumble back through the gates, intent on heading back to your quarters and getting some much needed rest. That, unfortunately, is when everything goes wrong.

The first and only warning you receive is when one of the Lion samurai standing guard by the gates picks up a sasumata - a four foot long wooden spear with a barbed crescent head. You recognize the weapon primarily because your family's magistrates use them as 'mancatchers', pinning fugitives to the ground or a convenient wall in order to prevent their escape. Such knowledge does not help you much in overcoming the shock when you suddenly find yourself prone on the ground, the head of that weapon pinning your sword arm to the ground with a nigh-irresistible weight.

"What..." You manage to say, your reflexes dulled by the cold and fatigue, only to be answered by a swift kick in the ribs from another samurai that sends shockwaves of pain through your body. Distantly you can hear Asako Tani protesting, but as more Lion samurai step out from the gatehouse and surrounding streets her words seem increasingly fruitless.

"Soshi Naoto." One of the Lion says in a voice practically ringing with cold fury. "By order of Matsu Ketsui-dono, you are hereby under arrest."

Gritting your teeth, you twist your head to look up at him. "For what crime?"

"The murder of Bayushi Kimoko."

What do you do?
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[Maugan Ra]

For a moment all you can do is blink in surprise. Of all the possible events you had considered and planned for, this was not on any of the lists. It is perhaps just as well that you are already pinned to the floor, for if you were standing you suspect your legs might well have just given way from utter shock.

"Kimoko-sama is dead? What? I... What possible reason would I have possibly had to..." You force yourself to stop talking with an effort of will. You do not know what is going on here, and until you have a clearer view of the picture babbling incoherently is unlikely to solve anything. The fact that anything you say could be taken as testimony is just another reason to think carefully before opening your mouth.

"I had nothing to do with any such thing." You say firmly, raising your voice so that all of the gathered samurai can hear it. "Take me to your lord or the magistrates and I will prove my innocence."

The Lion holding you down growls. "Of course you would claim that." He says, voice thick with contempt. "You Scorpion are all the same..."

"Samurai." The voice cuts across the courtyard like a knife, causing all those gathered to start in surprise. Twisting your head, you can see Kitsu Ami striding towards you, her expression thunderous. "What do you think you are doing?"

The Lion holding you down shifts his weight slightly but does not release it. "Securing a suspect, Magistrate-sama. I thought it best not to take chances."

"Suspect or not he remains our guest, samurai." The Shugenja says coldly. "Release him. I will take custody, and present him to Matsu Ketsui-dono."

The Lion does not look happy at such an order, but there is no denying the authority of the magistrate in a situation like this, and after a moment's pause he releases the mancatchers and steps away. Grunting slightly as the pressure is released, you climb back to your feet and brush the worst of the snow and dust from your kimono.

"My apologies to you as well, Asako-sama, but for the moment we are having to relocate all of our guests." Kitsu Ami says politely to your companion. "Please, allow my yoriki to escort you there. I will visit later to explain and collect your testimony."

Asako Tani looks uncertain, but eventually just nods and allows herself to be led away. You remain silent, not trusting yourself to speak just yet, and when the magistrate gestures for you to follow her you do so without protest. Only once you are out of the hearing range of those who stopped you do you speak.

"My thanks, Kitsu-sama." You say cautiously, as the two of you walk through the falling snow. "If I might ask... what has happened?"

Kitsu Ami sighs. "It is likely better if I show you, Soshi-san." She says calmly. "It would take too long to explain otherwise. But first, I will need your testimony. In here."

She gestures to one of the small barracks lining the edges of the parade grounds outside your normal accomodation. Judging by the number of Lion samurai you can see standing guard in the distance, the crime in question took place in the guest quarters themselves. Shaking your head, you follow the magistrate inside... and stop dead.

Matsu Ketsui stands in the centre of the room, conferring with her subordinates and directing what you expect are likely patrol sweeps, and while her face is a mask of professional detachment she is undeniably furious. Wrath radiates from her like heat from a fire, and you rather strongly suspect that she is taking this whole thing rather personally. Then she turns her eyes on you, and you have to supress the urge to flinch.

"Soshi-san." She says flatly, turning to face you. "I require your testimony. Where have you been all day?"

Something tells you that you won't be walking out of here alive if she doesn't like what she hears.

What do you tell her?
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Note - A sincerity roll will be made regardless of whether you tell the truth or lie, in order to model just how convincing you are.