Arc 1, Session 3, L5R

 Hida Hotaru’s Private Records, August 4th

When our troop gathered in the lobby of our villa, Shosuro Kiyuki was absent. However, we found one of the Crane staff Shizuko, waiting for us. She appeared to be feeling sick, but insisted on performing her duties. I can certainly relate.

It was during Shizuko’s explanation that Shosuro Kiyuki came walking in from the castle grounds. Unkind circumstances seemed to have led her to re-use her formal clothing from the day prior, & clearly bedeviled her sleep besides. Shizuko let us all know that all the representative guests were eagerly asked to attend a special breakfast.

Once Shosuro Kiyuki had changed clothes, the maid led us to a dining chamber in one of the other nearby villas. Echoing our initial entrance to the wedding, we were the last to arrive. One long table stretched across the room, with everyone in attendance- save the rōnin & the bride.

Having enjoyed his skills thus far, it was an honor to meet with Kou, the chef responsible for the wedding’s fare. He graciously allowed us to sample his literary delights in the form of a poem. With that complete, the food was quickly served.

Each dish was small in portion, but clearly designed with artistic intent. I was quite astonished when the final plate had been laid out: when viewed together, the dishes created a vast mosaic of clan crests. Though several of us felt hesitant to disturb the image, food must be eaten to be appreciated.

As the closing of our meal, Kou returned to introduce a light, airy dessert. A mostly clear gelatin was delivered, studded with trimmings from various fruits. Before leaving, the chef explained that the dish would shine brightest in specific lighting. The servants doused the candles & shuttered the windows.

One by one, small blue flames flickered to life about the table. The cyan hue filtered through the gelatin, revealing a heretofore unseen emblem of the Crane. It was a marvel to behold, but attention was quickly brought elsewhere.

Alone amongst those in attendance, Shosuro Kiyuki’s features were limned in an ethereal glow. No one dared breath a word, unsure of the providence of this display. When the silence grew too much, we were all too pleased to distract ourselves with the dessert. Daidoji Hansha thanked all of the guests, & announced the events for the next two days.

Before leaving the dining chamber, Utaku Megumi pulled Shosuro Kiyuki aside- no doubt to inform her of her…condition. Yudai, Kasuga Hayata & I mingled briefly with the other samurai in the garden. We spotted the Scorpion marching towards our villa in a huff, followed by the Unicorn. Given that there was a gap of time before the day’s artistic events would commence, we elected to join the pair.

Panic & exhaustion warred across Shosuro Kiyuki’s face as we all spoke together. Though getting details from her proved exacting, Utaku Megumi was able to fill us in on what the courtier had already shared on their hurried walk.

It seems our little Scorpion has a keen sense for secrets. Curious who had been leaving incense at the temple to Kisshōten, she set a watch one evening in the twilight hours. A hooded figure, coiling with matted hair, approached when all was quiet. After watching the offering, Shosuro Kiyuki was able to catch a glimpse of the figure’s face.

The hair seemed to be growing from every pore, & the figure let out a strangled cry at the thought someone could see. Following the figure led to the discovery of a hidden entrance to tunnels beneath the keep. Shosuro Kiyuki reasoned well that this figure must be the absent bride. One would think these discoveries would make one keen to share their findings, but the Scorpion are meticulous in the council they keep. Clearly, there was more to unearth.

Her next step had been to write a letter claiming knowledge of the afflicted appearance of the bride. Along with this, she suggested that the bride visit the village’s temple to Benten in the dead hours, to discuss possible remedies. Though I believe this was sent in goodwill, the message was interpreted as a blackmail attempt from the one who inflicted the curse in the first place.

If no one but the couple-to-be knew of the affliction, receiving a strange letter regarding it would surely rattle them. Shosuro Kiyuki left Kyuden Amaoto to keep her appointment. She did not disclose much of what transpired there, but did recount how she was smoke-bombed by an unknown assailant. Escaping the temple was easy, but the guard around the keep had been doubled. Thus, she was forced to stay in the village for the rest of the night.

It was clear now that the smoke-bomb had contained a form of invisible ink, only visible under certain lighting- explaining the beautiful, yet strange, dessert at breakfast. Our Scorpion friend was thus “exposed” as the cause of the bride’s cursed appearance to whomever employed the assailant. Keeping one of our number safe from abduction or assault will certainly liven up our continued investigation.

Once all that would be said had been, the five of us decided to part ways once more. Yudai would follow Kasuga Hayata’s map to the rōnin's camp, accompanied by Shosuro Kiyuki. Utaku Megumi would attend the day’s events, along with the Tortoise. For my part, I would attempt to speak with Tonbo Todori. I shall update my records this evening, after we have all reconvened.

 

Hida Hotaru’s Private Records, August 4th, Continued

Much has occurred, & much has been learned. First, my paltry contributions to such. Though I had only a brief time to do so, I was able to spend a few moments in conversation with the Dragonfly Daimyo. Seeing my ailing health, he kindly flagged down a servant to prepare a small sitting area in the shade near the podium being set for today’s main event.

He was a consummate gentleman, but there was a lingering sadness beneath his words. “It is interesting, & sad”, he said “to realize that everyone bears multiple faces. Even those we thought we knew.” I would have pressed further, but the disastrous embarrassment of the day forced an early end to many things.

It was Edakumi Dayu’s day to display his finest talents; it was Edakumi Dayu’s standing now set for risk. I sat nearby to watch as he took to the podium with Shizuko & Rika to aid him. The maid looked even sicker than she had in the morning. Still, she wore as brave a face as she could muster. Sadly, she ended up dropping some of the stone-crafting tools in her fever, & fled to seek medical relief.

Utaku Megumi managed to introduce herself to Fureheshu Garou, while Kasuga Hayata spoke with Moshi Jukio & Kitsune Ryosei. All of us in attendance were enjoying the relaxed spectacle, which unfortunately changed tenor in an instant.

A resounding crack echoed through the courtyard. At once, Edakumi Dayu’s stone shattered into a pile of rubble beneath one of his blows.

The mortified silence from our breakfast returned to visit. The Sparrow’s mouth worked noiselessly in shock, before he, too, ran for solitude. Most of the samurai began to gossip before his footsteps had faded. Mirumoto Hino & Kasuga Hayata approached the broken stone together. While holding a brief discussion, the pair managed to arrange the rubble into a rough silhouette of the Northern Wall Mountains.

Unsurprisingly, it was soon announced that all events for the day would be delayed until the morrow. Utaku Megumi spent the free hours at the training grounds. A sparring match against Usagi Oda led to a fruitful conversation afterwards. Though his skills lied more with the blade than the hammer, the Hare Daimyo was nearly certain he saw evidence in the rubble of a hollow previously carved within the stone block. He suspected this was deliberate, though on motives he could not speculate.

Kasuga Hayata sought to pay Moshi Jukio a visit, but was unable to find her. In one of the community rooms of her villa, he instead worked on his maps. He kept company with the others relaxing in the space: Asako Rekai, Toritaka Ochiyo, Kitsune Ryosei, & Kaikoga Ochiai.

Meanwhile, Yudai’s trek into Kashu no Mori was meeting with fair success. Though the sudden appearance of two samurai at his camp clearly surprised Seichū, he reached first for his words, not his weapons. After discussing some of the recent events with him, Yudai asked the rōnin about the other tracks found in the forest.

Seichū followed them to the tracks, & Kiyuki overheard him intoning prayers to some of the local spirits. The rōnin was able to determine that similar skills had been applied to the shoes that left these tracks- explaining their seeming ability to walk atop water without getting wet. Further discussion caused him to reveal that he had felt whispers in the nature spirits nearby, telling of something strange & dangerous.

A Furiribi: the aimless flame left behind by a victim of a traumatic death. These spirits would lead others into danger as they raged at the unfairness of their fate. Though he had not seen it himself, Seichū worried that one lurked somewhere near the forest. Unbeknownst to him, this fact checked out with the details of the murder that Otomo Sorai had told us earlier.

Yudai managed to convince Seichū that it would likely be safer to stay within Kyuden Amaoto for the time being. Before beginning the journey back, the group visited the spot where our friends had encountered wolves the day before. Seichū’s talents were able to pick up the trail of the other footprints that had been lost in the scuffle. As they had come, so too did they go- back to the water.

Upon arriving back in town, Shosuro Kiyuki suggested that Yudai visit the temple to Benten. He spoke briefly with the monks there, & what he gleaned set his ire on the Scorpion. Even after our group found each other joining the discussion around Kasuga Hayata’s maps, Yudai’s gaze seldom left Shosuro Kiyuki. It was clear the courtier was withholding something- a recurring theme?-, but Yudai would not let the matter go.

At dinner, several of us spoke to some of the other samurai in attendance, before retiring for the evening. With the sun’s departure, the Scorpion’s nerves were fraying indeed. Certain of a reprisal against her due to her…misguided actions, she all but begged Utaku Megumi to grant her space in the Unicorn’s room.

Regretfully, this proved most wise.

Yudai woke shortly before the hour of the guard change, sure that would be the moment of any retaliatory strike. Secreting himself within a wardrobe in the Scorpion's room, he hunkered down in his armor. When he felt the time had arrived, he revealed himself- only to see a single shuriken sticking out of the tatami floor where Shosuro Kiyuki’s head would’ve been.

Taking it in his gloved hand, Yudai could tell it was coated in poison- but what kind? Following the possible throwing arc led to the window, which now carrier a hole in its glass, just large enough for an arm to fit through. Yudai swung the portal open, scanning for the attacker. When he glanced past the awning, a shadow could be seen draped across the nearby castle wall: someone was on the awning just above him.

A thrown knife pierced the eaves overhead, causing some amount of damage to the lurker. In response, they swung down more smoke-bombs, which filled the space with stinging fumes. Yudai stormed through the hallway in our floor of the villa to the stairs, waking Kasuga Hayata with his steps. The cartographer wasted no time in rousing the rest of us, though I was too weak to run with them in aid.

When our comrades caught up to Yudai, he was leaning out of the window directly above Shosuro Kiyuki’s room. Without a word, he quickly ran to a window on the Eastern side of the floor. Distant, & growing smaller, he pointed out the figure of someone clad in black, gliding towards the ocean cliffs on wings of fabric. 

The assailant dipped down, disappearing from view entirely. Given the swiftness of this reprisal, I find myself fearing for the Scorpion. And…I am doing my best not to think of the fact that our aid to her may have been noticed as well.