- Location
- Leeds
[X] Go talk to Bayushi Sora, maybe she can give you some tips.
Thanks for the heads up.
Legend of the Ronin (Legend of the Five Rings)
- Status
Sirrocco
Pedantic
[X] Go talk to Bayushi Sora, maybe she can give you some tips.
She and/or the Scorpion may have their own opinions on this man, and we are kind of trying to slide into retainer status. Also... this seems like an issue that cannot be solved in a direct way. It may be best to seek the counsel of those who know indirect ways.
She and/or the Scorpion may have their own opinions on this man, and we are kind of trying to slide into retainer status. Also... this seems like an issue that cannot be solved in a direct way. It may be best to seek the counsel of those who know indirect ways.
Sirrocco
Pedantic
I'm personally enjoying it, and would be interested in seeing more. The question is... if you're not inspired enough to update consistently, are *you* enjoying it? Trying to dredge inspiration out of yourself when it's just not coming naturally isn't sustainable as a recreational activity. What do you hope to get out of this, and are you getting it?
- Location
- Leeds
Yes.
A completed quest
Okay joke over. All in all I like story telling, I like doing this. I'm fond of Megumi, even if she's evolved from the somewhat ditzy duellist she started as. But, it's less that I don't wake up thinking 'I'd like to write on Legend of the Ronin today' more that I have a bunch of other things come up, and then find my creative drive drained when I get back to it. I'd like to finish this quest and come to the end of Megumi's story. But I also want to do it on a time period where it's not four years later and she's just hitting IR 4 either.
Well now I feel like an entitled jerk.
- Location
- Leeds
Well. How many arcs do you have planned for the rest of the story, I think all of us would prefer a ending rather than for this to go on for an extra few months then die without explanation.
Macros
omnisciently vague councilman
- Location
- Dirac Sea
Wait, I forgot to vote? I forgot to vote.
[X] Go talk to Bayushi Sora, maybe she can give you some tips.
I'll also add my voice to those saying they'd like to see this quest continue. Rokugan is always an interesting setting when well-executed (which it certainly is here) and Megumi is a rather noteworthy protagonist. Of course, what we want in this matter is less important than what you want. Inspiration can't be commanded, after all.
[X] Go talk to Bayushi Sora, maybe she can give you some tips.
I'll also add my voice to those saying they'd like to see this quest continue. Rokugan is always an interesting setting when well-executed (which it certainly is here) and Megumi is a rather noteworthy protagonist. Of course, what we want in this matter is less important than what you want. Inspiration can't be commanded, after all.
- Location
- Leeds
Well we're on arc 4 and you started in march so wrapping it up would be another half a year or so. It does give us plenty of time to get back into the Crane.
Honestly that does sound like a not bad at all time frame if you want to finish this and start a new project.
Arc IV: Earthen Shadow
--Go talk to Bayushi Sora
As you walk out of the Citadel, the skies open up and pour rain down you. Well at least the Heaven's understand your mood.
Kaiu Tanako-sama...she...was so sad, but she wasn't your friend not really.
In the end it's not your problem, your superior has explicitly said it's not your problem.
But the words of your mother filter through your mind
'Be more concerned with good things than great things'
The last words of the last Founding Kami. (You don't pay any credence to that tale of Hida-no-kami still fighting his son, and Togashi-no-kami doesn't count.)
And that's why it's your problem isn't it? The right thing is, has to be, saving Kaiu Tanako-sama. Not because she was your friend, not because she was a fantastic engineer, not even because she was someone you said you'd help.
But, because you were Samurai. Even in your debased, lordless, nameless state, you were Samurai. You had proven that to yourself time and time again.
To give up on Kaiu-sama, to give up on fighting corruption and injustice, you could no more do that, then give up your swords.
With that in mind you set your head for the northern ward. You needed to pay a visit to your old commander, in Eiyuu Ward.
Bayushi Sora-sama might not like you, but she was one of the few people you knew who might have a solution to this beyond beating a monk most heinously.
The rain is pounding down, soaking your clothes by the time you get into Eiyuu and find yourself standing in front of the Scorpion Clan's Estate Embassy. It was always such a strange contrast for you to see the Scorpion's buildings. So like the Crane filled with artistry, passion and elegance. Yet, those same buildings were always built in such a way as to promise things that the Crane buildings never would. Deception, sensuality, falling into the pool of humanity and never surfacing again.
The lone gate guard that you can see stands at the end of the path. As you step forward, you can hear more than anything at least three others with arrows trained on you in the shadows. Well, you didn't think they'd give you a welcome mat, but three archers? Where was the fifth? Four was a dangerous number, and for all the Scorpion disdained superstition...
You watch the wall beside the gate guard...ah a hidden compartment.
Well five on one wasn't good odds at all, good thing you weren't looking for a fight.
The gate guard, a short man, with a half mask along the left side of his face, looks you over.
"Can I help you Ronin-san?" He says not quiet insulting you by not bowing.
You bow back. "Scorpion-sama, I am Megumi the Ronin, one time comrade of Bayushi Sora-sama. I would ask to speak to her or to pass a message."
"Bayushi-sama, isn't taking visitors right now. What's the message?"
You frown mentally, as you look at him.
Scorpion never can tell if they're lying or not...
"I wish to speak to her about the recent case I was on, of Kaiu Tanako-sama and Yasuzki Gozaburo-sama, when she has time. She can find me in Goemon-no-kami's Shrine" You answer.
"Very well. You may depart." He says.
For a moment you consider trying to force your way through before dismissing it as folly, instead you turn away and begin walking back towards Toriyama Ward.
The rain comes down even harder, the sound of your sandals against the wet streets echo in your ears. Why is it so quiet? This isn't...natural, even in rain like this there's usually someone. You stop, and begin to reach out with your senses. Too loud to hear anyone, too dark to see anyone...but that's not your only sense. You take off your sandals and wait...
It's faint, barely a whisper in the earth that you want to dismiss as more rain, but yet.
"Whoever you are, come out now, I know you're here." You call out.
On the roof above a figure in grey moves out from the thatch and jumps down landing in front of you.
"Impressive Megumi-san."
The figure stands up, his face is covered by scarf that only allows his calm brown eyes to show. The rest of his clothing is simple, something a peasant would wear really.
Your hand goes to the hilt of your katana.
"And who are you?"
The light tenor that answers reminds you nothing so much as incense.
"Hmm, names might not be so good, you can call me Tsuchi if you need a name."
You don't relax at all. Even though he's made no hostile moves since being called out. You can feel his eyes looking you over, cataloguing the ways for him to kill you. With your shoulder as it is, you can't guarantee he won't succeed either.
"Well you mentioned a very interesting name, and well, I'm here to help you with that." He says
"Why should I trust you?" You ask.
"Do you have another choice Megumi-san?" He answers your question with his own.
You growl a little
"Yes, what do you want?"
Tsuchi shrugs.
"I want Yasuki Gozaburo's head. I think you can help with that." He answers.
Your eyes narrow. No this is too simple, too direct for it to be a Scorpion plot. There's something else going on.
"...Why?"
"Call it vengeance on my part. Or did you mean why you? Well honestly opportunity knocks for me, and I can use another distraction." He says easily. "If you want the full details, you'll have to trust me a little...but I will say this, Kaiu Tanako-san isn't dead but will be if you don't act quickly." He answers.
What's his angle? For the life of you, you can't figure it out. Maybe he's trying to frame you? If so why go to these lengths...it had only been the intervention of Bayushi Sora, and your own suicidal charge that saved you last time. Yet, the name draws you, a chance to save Kaiu-sama wasn't that what you wanted?
"You're not giving me a lot of choice." You say.
He rolls his eyes.
"I'm not interested in giving you choice Megumi-san. You honourable types always make the wrong ones."
Without meaning too, your stance settles into a battle stance.
"...Is that a threat?"
Tsuchi shakes his head.
"An observation. So will you work with me to both our benefits, or are you going to let fortune walk away?"
[] "Alright I'll hear you out"
[] "No, I'll find another way" (Go to beat up the Soju)
[] "No, I'll find another way" (Go talk to Iuchi Yukiko)
[] Write in
As you walk out of the Citadel, the skies open up and pour rain down you. Well at least the Heaven's understand your mood.
Kaiu Tanako-sama...she...was so sad, but she wasn't your friend not really.
In the end it's not your problem, your superior has explicitly said it's not your problem.
But the words of your mother filter through your mind
'Be more concerned with good things than great things'
The last words of the last Founding Kami. (You don't pay any credence to that tale of Hida-no-kami still fighting his son, and Togashi-no-kami doesn't count.)
And that's why it's your problem isn't it? The right thing is, has to be, saving Kaiu Tanako-sama. Not because she was your friend, not because she was a fantastic engineer, not even because she was someone you said you'd help.
But, because you were Samurai. Even in your debased, lordless, nameless state, you were Samurai. You had proven that to yourself time and time again.
To give up on Kaiu-sama, to give up on fighting corruption and injustice, you could no more do that, then give up your swords.
With that in mind you set your head for the northern ward. You needed to pay a visit to your old commander, in Eiyuu Ward.
Bayushi Sora-sama might not like you, but she was one of the few people you knew who might have a solution to this beyond beating a monk most heinously.
The rain is pounding down, soaking your clothes by the time you get into Eiyuu and find yourself standing in front of the Scorpion Clan's Estate Embassy. It was always such a strange contrast for you to see the Scorpion's buildings. So like the Crane filled with artistry, passion and elegance. Yet, those same buildings were always built in such a way as to promise things that the Crane buildings never would. Deception, sensuality, falling into the pool of humanity and never surfacing again.
The lone gate guard that you can see stands at the end of the path. As you step forward, you can hear more than anything at least three others with arrows trained on you in the shadows. Well, you didn't think they'd give you a welcome mat, but three archers? Where was the fifth? Four was a dangerous number, and for all the Scorpion disdained superstition...
You watch the wall beside the gate guard...ah a hidden compartment.
Well five on one wasn't good odds at all, good thing you weren't looking for a fight.
The gate guard, a short man, with a half mask along the left side of his face, looks you over.
"Can I help you Ronin-san?" He says not quiet insulting you by not bowing.
You bow back. "Scorpion-sama, I am Megumi the Ronin, one time comrade of Bayushi Sora-sama. I would ask to speak to her or to pass a message."
"Bayushi-sama, isn't taking visitors right now. What's the message?"
You frown mentally, as you look at him.
Scorpion never can tell if they're lying or not...
"I wish to speak to her about the recent case I was on, of Kaiu Tanako-sama and Yasuzki Gozaburo-sama, when she has time. She can find me in Goemon-no-kami's Shrine" You answer.
"Very well. You may depart." He says.
For a moment you consider trying to force your way through before dismissing it as folly, instead you turn away and begin walking back towards Toriyama Ward.
The rain comes down even harder, the sound of your sandals against the wet streets echo in your ears. Why is it so quiet? This isn't...natural, even in rain like this there's usually someone. You stop, and begin to reach out with your senses. Too loud to hear anyone, too dark to see anyone...but that's not your only sense. You take off your sandals and wait...
It's faint, barely a whisper in the earth that you want to dismiss as more rain, but yet.
"Whoever you are, come out now, I know you're here." You call out.
On the roof above a figure in grey moves out from the thatch and jumps down landing in front of you.
"Impressive Megumi-san."
The figure stands up, his face is covered by scarf that only allows his calm brown eyes to show. The rest of his clothing is simple, something a peasant would wear really.
Your hand goes to the hilt of your katana.
"And who are you?"
The light tenor that answers reminds you nothing so much as incense.
"Hmm, names might not be so good, you can call me Tsuchi if you need a name."
You don't relax at all. Even though he's made no hostile moves since being called out. You can feel his eyes looking you over, cataloguing the ways for him to kill you. With your shoulder as it is, you can't guarantee he won't succeed either.
"Well you mentioned a very interesting name, and well, I'm here to help you with that." He says
"Why should I trust you?" You ask.
"Do you have another choice Megumi-san?" He answers your question with his own.
You growl a little
"Yes, what do you want?"
Tsuchi shrugs.
"I want Yasuki Gozaburo's head. I think you can help with that." He answers.
Your eyes narrow. No this is too simple, too direct for it to be a Scorpion plot. There's something else going on.
"...Why?"
"Call it vengeance on my part. Or did you mean why you? Well honestly opportunity knocks for me, and I can use another distraction." He says easily. "If you want the full details, you'll have to trust me a little...but I will say this, Kaiu Tanako-san isn't dead but will be if you don't act quickly." He answers.
What's his angle? For the life of you, you can't figure it out. Maybe he's trying to frame you? If so why go to these lengths...it had only been the intervention of Bayushi Sora, and your own suicidal charge that saved you last time. Yet, the name draws you, a chance to save Kaiu-sama wasn't that what you wanted?
"You're not giving me a lot of choice." You say.
He rolls his eyes.
"I'm not interested in giving you choice Megumi-san. You honourable types always make the wrong ones."
Without meaning too, your stance settles into a battle stance.
"...Is that a threat?"
Tsuchi shakes his head.
"An observation. So will you work with me to both our benefits, or are you going to let fortune walk away?"
[] "Alright I'll hear you out"
[] "No, I'll find another way" (Go to beat up the Soju)
[] "No, I'll find another way" (Go talk to Iuchi Yukiko)
[] Write in
- Location
- Leeds
Urk...
Its times like this the alienness of Rokugan stumps me.
Tiny Squid help pls.
Its times like this the alienness of Rokugan stumps me.
Tiny Squid help pls.
- Location
- Moon-Station
[X] "No, I'll find another way" (Go talk to Iuchi Yukiko)
- Location
- Austrlia
The description and wording suggests a Scorpion ninja.
Could be sent by Bayushi Sora, given we parted on good terms.
If not, hell, even if so, understand we are utterly disposable to him. He'll use us, then throw us away. (Fucking Scorpions.)
The way he spoke about Honor is what clinched it for me, though.
[X] "No, I'll find another way" (Go talk to Iuchi Yukiko)
Could be sent by Bayushi Sora, given we parted on good terms.
If not, hell, even if so, understand we are utterly disposable to him. He'll use us, then throw us away. (Fucking Scorpions.)
The way he spoke about Honor is what clinched it for me, though.
[X] "No, I'll find another way" (Go talk to Iuchi Yukiko)
- Location
- Moon-Station
He never identified himself or who he works for. Until that is done in some way (even in a wordplay which would tell us that he serves the scorpion or Sora directly), there is no way we should treat this as anything more than a threat/delay. He has failed to persuade me to vote for letting him speak.
cokerpilot
Here comes the rain.
[x] "Alright I'll hear you out"
Even if is hostile to our over all objectives this allows to get more info on him.
Even if is hostile to our over all objectives this allows to get more info on him.
[X] "Alright I'll hear you out"
Yeah he is being an ass and I do think we shouldn't actually trust him but If we throw this chance away we might throw away our chances at succeeding.
Yeah he is being an ass and I do think we shouldn't actually trust him but If we throw this chance away we might throw away our chances at succeeding.
Er on the subject of word play, I might have been too in love with my own cleverness on this one.
But Tsuchi's name means 'Earth' in Japanese and Sora's name means 'Sky'
Whether or not that counts as enough of a connection, I leave to you folks to decide, but I wanted to make this clear because I realize I didn't.
But Tsuchi's name means 'Earth' in Japanese and Sora's name means 'Sky'
Whether or not that counts as enough of a connection, I leave to you folks to decide, but I wanted to make this clear because I realize I didn't.
Sirrocco
Pedantic
You go to the Scorpion on a matter. They turn you away, and in a *completely unrelated* note, someone who is obviously-not-a-ninja-no-really shows up to chat about that very topic.
This is pretty much how Scorpion play the game. Also, we can be pretty sure that this guy is Scorpion-aligned, because it he wasn't, the ninja that *are* Scorpion-aligned would have hunted him down and had him killed, and even if they hadn't managed to do that yet, there's absolutely no way someone like that woudl be handing around in anything likeScorpion-controlled territory.
Scorpion are kind of obsessive about loyalty, to the point where schemes that pit Scorpion against Scorpion are pretty rare, and wind up getting *ugly*. I will assume for the moment that that's not what's going on here. By extension, there's a good chance that this is, effectively, the official Scorpion response to our request for assistance. To break down the possibilities a bit further...
- Assume for the moment that this is a loyal Scorpion ninja (most likely case, by a decent margin)
-- option 1: he has no idea who we are and doesn't care. He's intending to make use of us in his own schemes, and may wind up leaving us holding the bag.
-- option 2: he has some idea of what we are, and he still doesn't care. Fact is, we don't have enough of the appropriate kinds of rep with the Scorpion to make us not worth betraying if the situation calls for it.
Soo... that means that he's most likely either an honest and loyal Scorpion ninja, or a lying but loyal Scorpion ninja. If he's lying, then he intends to use us for his own schemes (which are *likely* to be harmful to Yasuzki Gozaburo) If he's telling the truth... well, basically the same thing, really, except that doing nothing threatens the life of Kaiu Tanako.
Further, if he is telling the truth, he's pretty much straight-up saying that he thinks that honor will lead us to make choices he doesn't want us to make. He's *also* saying that he intends to use us as a distraction, which might well entail a failure of Duty on our part, in addition to the ways in which this coudl reflect poorly on us.
So... basically, assuming that we want to remain reasonably honorable (and we do), going with his plan has "terrible idea" written all over it, in signage loud and proud enough to be visible even when we don't know what his plan is.
That having been said, I want to hear him out - not because of his most-likely status as a Loyal Scorpion, but because he's claiming to have information we might find important, and I'm hoping he'll tell us some of it. Listening wont' take that long,
[x] "Alright I'll hear you out"
This is pretty much how Scorpion play the game. Also, we can be pretty sure that this guy is Scorpion-aligned, because it he wasn't, the ninja that *are* Scorpion-aligned would have hunted him down and had him killed, and even if they hadn't managed to do that yet, there's absolutely no way someone like that woudl be handing around in anything likeScorpion-controlled territory.
Scorpion are kind of obsessive about loyalty, to the point where schemes that pit Scorpion against Scorpion are pretty rare, and wind up getting *ugly*. I will assume for the moment that that's not what's going on here. By extension, there's a good chance that this is, effectively, the official Scorpion response to our request for assistance. To break down the possibilities a bit further...
- Assume for the moment that this is a loyal Scorpion ninja (most likely case, by a decent margin)
-- option 1: he has no idea who we are and doesn't care. He's intending to make use of us in his own schemes, and may wind up leaving us holding the bag.
-- option 2: he has some idea of what we are, and he still doesn't care. Fact is, we don't have enough of the appropriate kinds of rep with the Scorpion to make us not worth betraying if the situation calls for it.
Soo... that means that he's most likely either an honest and loyal Scorpion ninja, or a lying but loyal Scorpion ninja. If he's lying, then he intends to use us for his own schemes (which are *likely* to be harmful to Yasuzki Gozaburo) If he's telling the truth... well, basically the same thing, really, except that doing nothing threatens the life of Kaiu Tanako.
Further, if he is telling the truth, he's pretty much straight-up saying that he thinks that honor will lead us to make choices he doesn't want us to make. He's *also* saying that he intends to use us as a distraction, which might well entail a failure of Duty on our part, in addition to the ways in which this coudl reflect poorly on us.
So... basically, assuming that we want to remain reasonably honorable (and we do), going with his plan has "terrible idea" written all over it, in signage loud and proud enough to be visible even when we don't know what his plan is.
That having been said, I want to hear him out - not because of his most-likely status as a Loyal Scorpion, but because he's claiming to have information we might find important, and I'm hoping he'll tell us some of it. Listening wont' take that long,
[x] "Alright I'll hear you out"
- Location
- Leeds
[x] "Alright I'll hear you out"
Arc IV: Yet another plan
-Alright I'll hear you out.
While talking can kill you, you don't think it will in this case. The rain continues to pour down, as your hand moves slightly away from your katana.
"Alright, I'll hear you out Tsuchi-san" You say.
Tsuchi smiles...or you think he smiles under that mask of his.
"Not what I expected, hmm a little exposed though" Tsuichi says.
He turns away and walks over to a building letting the roof cover him from the rain. He listens at the door into the building.
"...That'll do, come over here"
You put your sandals back on and walk under the roof yourself. Tsuchi takes out an umbrella from somewhere and seems for all the world to be your servant waiting for you to decide whether or not to go back inside the building, or not.
How did he?
"Yasuki Gozaburo, is a man who needs killing, unfortunately for us, there are people who disagree with that statement. Informally they're known as the Four Kings. Ronin, Ji-samurai, people with nothing to lose. Together they manage and run Gozaburo's criminal empire all without him being officially implicated for anything. And when someone does manage to get something to stick, one of them arranges for that person to disappear. Usually the King of Air." He says looking out on the street.
You shift, looking like your trying to decide what to do, which you are.
"So to strike at Yasuki-san you would need to kill his four kings?"
"In essence, but they're also protected, or blessed, any attempt to kill them seemed met with ill luck until lately." He says.
You want to scoff...on the other hand, you saw a tiger person eat someone so...maybe you need to be more credulous.
"Ill luck?" you ask.
He raises the umbrella in a shrug.
"Birds cawing at the wrong moment. People getting lost at the wrong moment, roofs collapsing, things that could be coincidence...if it didn't happen every time"
"Uh--huh" You aren't sure what else to say to that.
"So it seemed like I was stuck...until about a month ago. When one of the Four Kings was found dead. Every week since, another one of them died, now there's just one left along with Gozaburo, and they've all pulled back to his main base of operations. A casino that goes by the name of the Fortune's Favour. If the pattern holds true, that last king is going to die tonight." He continues.
Huh well that's interesting, but you can't help but feel like this is distracting from your purpose.
"How does this relate to Kaiu-san?"
Tsuchi gives a snort, annoyed by you interrupting you.
"Normally prisoners are kept in a warehouse on the edge of Senbonzakura, but with everyone pulling back to Fortune's Favour, it's pretty much a given that she's in the cellars beneath Fortune's Favour."
"So we need to get down there....I'm still not seeing what you need me for." You admit.
Tsuchi continues.
"With the recent murders, Gozaburo is what we'll call paranoid....anyone trying to get into the casino has to submit their weapons at the door, and go through a pat down...but there is a way around it."
A sinking feeling in your stomach
"....go on."
"Recently a relatively wealthy Doji by the name of Doji Manami has come into the city as a high roller. While traditionally she prefers to while away the wealth of her family at the mah-jong tables, she always goes into the best casino in the city and expects to be treated like royalty. Since she throws down ten koku as a tip, she usually gets it."
Your eyes narrow, where is he going with...wait ten koku as a tip? That was what your family spent on you for a year. What the actual hell? Who throws around money like that? (Yes Samurai aren't supposed to care about money, but you're a ronin, you're allowed. No you aren't. Grandmother please!)
Taking your brief internal argument as permission to continue, Tsuchi keeps speaking
"So we have you pretend to be Doji Manami, and me your loyal servant, since your expected to drop down a thousand koku, Gozaburo won't dare try to search us too heavily. Once inside, play a few rounds and then retire to 'freshen up' after that the fireworks are going to start, you should be able to get your weapons, and make your way to the lower floors, find Kaiu-san, then get out of the casino before the flames get too high." he finishes.
"...." You want to say something but it doesn't come out.
The sheer audacity, the sheer galling lie of it, to imitate a member of your former clan no less...
If you weren't struggling between cutting him down, and not, you might almost admire him for the level of bravado he has, almost.
As it stands...the plan could work, you know how to be a Crane dilettante.
You know how to throw money away...
But it violates the tenet of honesty so blatantly that you're half afraid that Yojiro-no-kami will spontaneously manifest, and punch both of you in the face. Which given you're almost 80% sure that Tsuchi is a Scorpion would be kind of ironic. Beaten to death by a Fortune from your own clan.
No you can't do it, honour wouldn't let you.
"So you in or out? This is the best way to get to Kaiu-san" Tsuchi says
You know saying yes will piss off your grandmother. Good you can learn.
But at the same time, Tsuchi might be right in this being the best way to get in.
Although you could try another method...
Decisions, decisions.
[] Agree to Tsuchi's proposal
[] Agree to work together but come up with your own plan
[] Refuse and come up with another plan? (Write in)
While talking can kill you, you don't think it will in this case. The rain continues to pour down, as your hand moves slightly away from your katana.
"Alright, I'll hear you out Tsuchi-san" You say.
Tsuchi smiles...or you think he smiles under that mask of his.
"Not what I expected, hmm a little exposed though" Tsuichi says.
He turns away and walks over to a building letting the roof cover him from the rain. He listens at the door into the building.
"...That'll do, come over here"
You put your sandals back on and walk under the roof yourself. Tsuchi takes out an umbrella from somewhere and seems for all the world to be your servant waiting for you to decide whether or not to go back inside the building, or not.
How did he?
"Yasuki Gozaburo, is a man who needs killing, unfortunately for us, there are people who disagree with that statement. Informally they're known as the Four Kings. Ronin, Ji-samurai, people with nothing to lose. Together they manage and run Gozaburo's criminal empire all without him being officially implicated for anything. And when someone does manage to get something to stick, one of them arranges for that person to disappear. Usually the King of Air." He says looking out on the street.
You shift, looking like your trying to decide what to do, which you are.
"So to strike at Yasuki-san you would need to kill his four kings?"
"In essence, but they're also protected, or blessed, any attempt to kill them seemed met with ill luck until lately." He says.
You want to scoff...on the other hand, you saw a tiger person eat someone so...maybe you need to be more credulous.
"Ill luck?" you ask.
He raises the umbrella in a shrug.
"Birds cawing at the wrong moment. People getting lost at the wrong moment, roofs collapsing, things that could be coincidence...if it didn't happen every time"
"Uh--huh" You aren't sure what else to say to that.
"So it seemed like I was stuck...until about a month ago. When one of the Four Kings was found dead. Every week since, another one of them died, now there's just one left along with Gozaburo, and they've all pulled back to his main base of operations. A casino that goes by the name of the Fortune's Favour. If the pattern holds true, that last king is going to die tonight." He continues.
Huh well that's interesting, but you can't help but feel like this is distracting from your purpose.
"How does this relate to Kaiu-san?"
Tsuchi gives a snort, annoyed by you interrupting you.
"Normally prisoners are kept in a warehouse on the edge of Senbonzakura, but with everyone pulling back to Fortune's Favour, it's pretty much a given that she's in the cellars beneath Fortune's Favour."
"So we need to get down there....I'm still not seeing what you need me for." You admit.
Tsuchi continues.
"With the recent murders, Gozaburo is what we'll call paranoid....anyone trying to get into the casino has to submit their weapons at the door, and go through a pat down...but there is a way around it."
A sinking feeling in your stomach
"....go on."
"Recently a relatively wealthy Doji by the name of Doji Manami has come into the city as a high roller. While traditionally she prefers to while away the wealth of her family at the mah-jong tables, she always goes into the best casino in the city and expects to be treated like royalty. Since she throws down ten koku as a tip, she usually gets it."
Your eyes narrow, where is he going with...wait ten koku as a tip? That was what your family spent on you for a year. What the actual hell? Who throws around money like that? (Yes Samurai aren't supposed to care about money, but you're a ronin, you're allowed. No you aren't. Grandmother please!)
Taking your brief internal argument as permission to continue, Tsuchi keeps speaking
"So we have you pretend to be Doji Manami, and me your loyal servant, since your expected to drop down a thousand koku, Gozaburo won't dare try to search us too heavily. Once inside, play a few rounds and then retire to 'freshen up' after that the fireworks are going to start, you should be able to get your weapons, and make your way to the lower floors, find Kaiu-san, then get out of the casino before the flames get too high." he finishes.
"...." You want to say something but it doesn't come out.
The sheer audacity, the sheer galling lie of it, to imitate a member of your former clan no less...
If you weren't struggling between cutting him down, and not, you might almost admire him for the level of bravado he has, almost.
As it stands...the plan could work, you know how to be a Crane dilettante.
You know how to throw money away...
But it violates the tenet of honesty so blatantly that you're half afraid that Yojiro-no-kami will spontaneously manifest, and punch both of you in the face. Which given you're almost 80% sure that Tsuchi is a Scorpion would be kind of ironic. Beaten to death by a Fortune from your own clan.
No you can't do it, honour wouldn't let you.
"So you in or out? This is the best way to get to Kaiu-san" Tsuchi says
You know saying yes will piss off your grandmother. Good you can learn.
But at the same time, Tsuchi might be right in this being the best way to get in.
Although you could try another method...
Decisions, decisions.
[] Agree to Tsuchi's proposal
[] Agree to work together but come up with your own plan
[] Refuse and come up with another plan? (Write in)
- Status