Hideo's face showed nothing of the deep revulsion that was rising up within him at the idea of taking the "gift" that the guard captain was offering. Instead he allowed only the slightest hint of disinterest to show in his eyes as he refused the bribe.
The guard and Hideo went through the ritual refusals three times before Hideo made a last and final fourth refusal.
"No, it would be better served given to a temple in the city." Hideo said. "My brotherhood has no temples here and it is best to help those close to you before turning to look further."
The guard's face went back to the stone visage that Hideo had seen earlier. Then he very quietly said, "There are many things in this city that could be helped by this money indeed. There is a temple to Otemi the Fortune of Recovery that is need of some new beds and bandages. Then there is the temple to Emma-o which takes care of burying the dead which could use some more space. They would accept such a gift gladly, especially if there is a sudden spike in violence in the city. Many things can happen to those who are ignorant of the city."
Hideo was smart enough to get the implied threat in the guardsman's words. While the guard was sitting down behind a desk Hideo got a feeling of intense danger from him, so strong that he felt like he was having flashbacks to the blood and the noise of the Gaki. A painful death seemed to be waiting for him behind the eyes of the captain.
Hideo has now been threatened by the Guard Captain and is suffering under Fear. Honor reroll or not. If he doesn't take the honor reroll and succeed than Hideo will have to come up with a reply that puts the guard captain at ease and will take a hit to his own honor. The reroll is a 6k6 and if he loses he loses a rank of honor. He has to match or beat a 38. Void can be attached (remember you have Paragon of Compassion).
[] Yes (Honor Reroll)
[] No
-[] Write In
I hope to close the vote tonight (10 hours or so). I will need at least 5 votes considering how important this is.
Ashmaker rolls 8h8 = 49
DaBoyz rolls 1d10 = 4
Hello: That was anticlimactic
DaBoyz: 53
Hello: But yeah
Hello: Hideo loses no honor
Hello: Down a void point
Hello: At effectively 5
We don't have an existential crisis as the path of Bushido fails us!
Hello: Does the room wish to spend a void
DaBoyz: No
Ashmaker: Not for this
DaBoyz: Blood for the blood kami!
Andy50: hmmm
Andy50: no
DaBoyz rolls 4d10 = 19 #Blood for the blood kami!
DaBoyz rolls 4d10 = 14 #Investigation.
We then fail to get into a fight because we had the foresight to not put our foot in our mouth.
ryu rolls 1d6 = 1 #LivingSpaces
Hello: ...
Hello: There is one available room in the city
City turns out to be packed.
ryu rolls 1d6 = 2 #WhichOne
Hello: There is a room in the Laughing Yuki
And we find our suitably Christmas-y inn to sleep in.
The fear was deeper than anything he had felt from the gaki, even as it had raged through everyone on that camp ground. Perhaps it was how quietly the guard captain had threatened him, the gaki had only roared and screamed. There was feeling in his hands like someone had taken string and tied them to his legs. Chills were rolling down Hideo's spine in waves as he continued to meet the measuring gaze of this stone cold killer.
Then suddenly it was gone. He would not bend. He would not break.
There was nothing to fear. Because he would not falter. He would not stumble. He could not fall.
Dragons did not shy away from death. Mirumoto, the greatest swordsman in the world and the strongest of the Seven Thunders, had grabbed onto the closest thing to death itself and held on until Fu Leng was defeated for all eternity. Honor demanded he stand firm. Duty demanded he remain unbowed. Compassion demanded that he get justice for those poor souls this villain had harmed.
Like a spark on tinder Hideo felt a fire ignite itself within his breast and spread warmth through his bones. His hands were clenched on his knees in a death grip but as the wave of fire coursed through him limbs they relaxed and became limber again. The burning inside was steadying his nerves and overcoming the paralyzing effect of his enemy's gaze in powerful waves that drew him to action. Honor. Duty. Compassion.
Bushido was the rock upon which all samurai could find the strength to weather any storm. As Shinsei said, 'a person overwhelmed still lives, a person dishonored died long before their heart ceases to beat' and Hideo's heart would never die.
Still it would not do to let this scum think that Hideo was onto his little games. There would be time after this to make the corrupt guardsmen pay, preferably when he brought all of this to the attention of the city officials maybe even the city lord. Hideo's face smoothed as he thought about what exactly he should say before he opened his mouth.
"Thank you for your kind words samurai-san." Hideo could not resist reminding the pile of trash of his duty. "I am sure that with your guidance I will avoid any dangers. In fact, could you help me pick out an inn? I am afraid that I don't know of any reputable ones in the city."
The guard seemed to be weighing Hideo's words. Hideo felt his breath stop in his lungs as the moment passed into eternity.
Finally the captain's stony face broke into the most fake smile that Hideo had ever seen and Hideo almost sighed in relief.
"Sadly I can't think of any inns that have rooms right now, but I am sure that someone in your position could always find a welcome home in a temple. Perhaps you might want to visit the temple to Otomei I mentioned, they often have food set aside for weary travellers." The guardsman filled Hideo in on where to find the temple before getting up from behind the desk and motioning Hideo to follow him.
Hideo and the captain walked outside the short wooden building and he personally escorted Hideo through the giant wooden gates and past the iron bars that blocked his view of the city proper. Hideo bowed the appropriate height and no more, finding it hard to not spit at the guard's feet before taking off in a random direction away from the gate.
The city was teaming with people who all seemed to be in a great hurry Hideo found. There were merchants down one street that Hideo saw, all of them yelling and yacking away about the quality of their goods. Farmers lined up it seemed everywhere, all trying to sell their goods to the appropriate people while constantly looking over their shoulders. Street venders sold every kind of food imaginable, fried sushami, fried octopus, and what looked like spears of mountain tuna were sold on a cart with a brazenly drawn crab on the front.
There were guards too, dressed in bright green armor walking down the street with almost inevitably angry faces. Several times Hideo felt their gazes land on his katana and then the pack on his back, but they did no more than look and Hideo did not think it wise to talk to them.
Hideo is now in the biggest city he has ever seen. You have enough to time to pick 3 subchoices in the tour the city option and still find the inn before dark. Choose wisely.
[] Tour the city
-[] Find the municipal district (Possibly talk to an official about the guards schemes)
-[] Find some food (Exactly what it says)
-[] Find a quiet place to meditate (Again, exactly what it says)
-[] Find the temple to Otomei (Meet those less fortunate than yourself)
-[] Find another temple (Pick a Fortune)
-[] Find a place to practice swordsmanship (Training action)
-[] Randomly walk around the city (Grab bag of choices)
-[] Find the harbor (Get a headstart on getting a ferryride)
-[] Write In (Keep it reasonable)
[] Go to the inn (Timeskip to nighttime)
[X] Tour the city
-[X] Find the municipal district (Possibly talk to an official about the guards schemes)
-[X] Find another temple (Pick a Fortune)
--[X] Ebisu
-[X] Find a place to practice swordsmanship (Training action)
A monk cannot live off of prayer alone...at least not until he gets the fasting emphasis.
[X] Tour the city
-[X] Find the municipal district (Possibly talk to an official about the guards schemes)
-[X] Find some food (Exactly what it says)
-[X] Find a quiet place to meditate (Again, exactly what it says)
[X] Tour the city
-[X] Find the municipal district (Possibly talk to an official about the guards schemes)
-[X] Find another temple (Pick a Fortune)
--[X] Ebisu
-[X] Find a place to practice swordsmanship (Training action)
The ocean's boundless depths hold the secrets of life and rejuvenation. When granted this tattoo, you no longer have need of food or drink, although you may still partake of them if you wish. When this tattoo is activated, you are instantly refreshed as if you had spent eight hours of sleep, and you regain all spent Void Points. This tattoo may only be used once every three days.
[X] Tour the city
-[X] Find the municipal district (Possibly talk to an official about the guards schemes)
-[X] Find some food (Exactly what it says)
-[X] Find a quiet place to meditate (Again, exactly what it says)
Who should we see about returning the daishos we recovered? That seems like something the officials could help with but I'm not certain how this is supposed to happen.
[X] Tour the city
-[X] Find the municipal district (Possibly talk to an official about the guards schemes)
-[X] Find another temple (Pick a Fortune)
--[X] Ebisu
-[X] Find a place to practice swordsmanship (Training action)
Let's not pointlessly waste an action on food and drink, shall we?
[x] Tour the city
-[X] Find a place to practice swordsmanship (Training action)
-[x] Find the harbor (Get a headstart on getting a ferryride)
-[X] Find a quiet place to meditate (Again, exactly what it says)
Try to settle Hideo's heart in meditation and training, and have a option ahead of time for our ferry ride.
[X] Tour the city
-[X] Find the municipal district (Possibly talk to an official about the guards schemes)
-[X] Find another temple (Pick a Fortune)
--[X] Ebisu
-[X] Find a place to practice swordsmanship (Training action)