Session17
The Dragon, the Inquisitor and the grisly end
In the aftermath of the summoning and release of Oni no Satomi and the death of the repentant man who summoned it, Magistrate Bin was faced with a dilemma: to not bring someone to justice would reflect badly on him and could lead to panic; to name the true villain could cause diplomatic complications with The Phoenix Clan. In the end, a heimin criminal already sentenced to death was executed as a maho tsukai in an attempt to cover up the uncomfortable truth.
While performing the divination ritual that has recently been giving him clearer and more profound visions, Akodo Haraku began to feel a presence behind them; after calling to the presence a Celestial Dragon? revealed itself to him. The dragon then explained that the visions he had been taking an interest in Haraku's journey because he had an unknown yet great destiny and the dragon was influencing the visions to help steer him towards this destiny.
Doji Yamiko forgave Daidoji Ryou -now a hero of The Battle of Mamoru Kyotei Toshi- for his indiscretion with a Scorpion Clan actress after realising the extent to which both had been manipulated and that Ryou could not really be held responsible for the turn of events. She presented Ryou with a simple but ancient sword stand that had once belonged to the first Kakita, the founder of Ryou's school.
Akodo Haraku received a scroll bearing the imperial seal summoning him and four servants to Shiro Akodo, the Lion Clan Palace. Shortly afterwards a new Lion Hatamoto arrived in Toshi Ranbo, a Sodan-senzo by the name of Kitsu Shizu?; she was sent by Akodo Arasou to replace Ikoma Ujiaki who had recently secured a place representing his clan's interests at The Emperor's court.
Then, Shosuro Ayumi informed Isawa Bin that the business he'd been patronising were suffering terribly due to acute shortages of key supplies such as tea, fish and sake. Assiging Otaku Isauo and the newly promoted Yoriki Ryou to investigate is was quickly discovered that Daidoji Shintaro, yojimbo to Doji Yamiko, was at the root of a campaign of coercion and intimidation aimed at driving the establishments co-patronised with Shosuro Ayumi out of business. When confronted with this, Shintaro refuted it and offered to assist in uncovering the truth.
Isawa Toshiko, the Magistrate's betrothed, informed him excitedly that she had not only managed to secure them invitations to the prestigious shugenja tournament at the Shrine of the Ki-Rin during the Setsuban Festival? but that they would have the honour of escorting the prize -a collection of rare spell scrolls from around the Empire- on the final leg of its journey from Toshi Ranbo to the shrine. Toshiko also reported that the Emperor's niece, Otomo Yoroshiku?, would be in attendance and that her uncle had given her until the first day of spring to chose herself a husband so the festival would no doubt be extremely popular this year with samurai trying to win the hand of the Imperial Princess.
Upon arriving at Shiro Akodo, Haraku was sent for by his Clan Champion who introduced him to Imperial Inquisitor Otomo Riki, a boy of only 14 summers just past his gempukku. Riki's duty was to investigate Isawa Bin following accusations of incompetence raised at the Imperial Court by his detractors such as Ikoma Ujiaki and Haraku's new duty was to serve as Riki's yojimbo. Haraku was also presented with his family's ancestral armour but given the bad news that his father had been killed at The Battle of Mamoru Kyotei Toshi by none other than Daidoji Ryou!
Otaku Isauo was again propositioned by Yasuki Junna with regard to her becoming her husband's concubine or occasional mistress. The wealthy Crab Clan? samurai was apparently very taken with the young Unicorn maiden and was willing to use his wealth and influence to aid her in exchange for certain favours. Ueda's wife, Junna assured Isauo that she was comfortable with this arrangement and had in fact arranged and trained her husband's current concubines in order to please the man she loved. After thinking for a while, Isauo politely declined the rather strange request.
After meeting a fellow Unicorn samurai, the minor daimyo Shinjo Gidayo travelling back from the Phoenix lands, Isauo learned that a merchant travelling east was an opium smuggler. Informing Isawa Bin of this, Isauo and Yoriki Ryou were sent to intercept the man. The Crane samurai at the city gates seemed a bit uncomfortable when Ryou informed them of the purpose of their visit but did their duty. When the uncouth merchant arrived, Isauo did indeed discover a small barrel of opium and arrested the man who could not produce the papers to prove the legitimacy of his cargo.
After a brief investigation, the merchant was executed as a criminal and Isawa Bin donated a portion of the illicit cargo to the city government at which point Doji Yamiko arrived to inform the Emerald Magistrate that he had made a grave error; while it was true the merchant did not have the correct papers on him, he had been requested by Yamiko herself to bring the 'liquid void' -opium- to Toshi Ranbo in order to treat the Crane Clan samurai injured in the recent Battle of Mamoru Kyotei Toshi.
When Otomo Riki arrived at Toshi Ranbo he first went to discuss his business with the City Governor and Shosuro Goemon before arriving at Bin's residence, interrogating the Emerald Magistrate and taking over his office and quarters.
In order to mark the arrival in Toshi Ranbo of Otomo Riki and Kitsu Shizu?, Doji Yamiko decided to hold a garden party. At the party, Kitsu Shizu? overtly shunned Akodo Haraku and openly declared why: his ancestors have forsaken him for reasons unknown and to the Sodan-senzo she couldn't imagine anything more abhorrent.
Then, a scream shattered the air. Harume, one of Daidoji Asato's concubines ran into the garden naked from the waiste down, screaming and shrieking at the stunned guests as though she were possessed by demons. After a few short moments she dropped to the ground, twiching and writing in agony before dying, the look of agony still written on her face.
Last edited on Monday 24 December 2007 19:06:38
