Session 5: The Investigation

 Party: Hida Ganko, Yoritomo Shohei, Doji Natsuki, Togashi Amajino 

We rejoin the party as Daidoji Jinsoku recluses himself to cleanse his blade from the tainted blood, not wanting the foul traces of Fu Leng's spawn to bring corruption to the soul of his ancestors. 
As the crane warrior heads inside, Kitsuki Jotomon spots a wandering Togashi monk in the street. 
Calling him over, she learns the man was sent by Togashi Yokuni (the Dragon Clan champion) himself, in accordance with some greater vision, and helps with the introduction to the Emerald Magistrates before heading back to her dojo.

The discussion about the oni picks up and various theories are brought forth, enabled in part by the expertise of both the monk (given name Amajino) and Ganko, but also the insight of Shohei, who find the porcelain masked undead from the Ryokan holding a spot in his mind. Both Shohei and Natsuki are rather convinced a Maho-Tsukai (bloodspeaker) is involved, a theory both Crab and Dragon subscribe to without any doubt.
Before long, the group deduces tainted nemuranai (artefacts) have likely acted as a lodestone for the oni to attack the house. They find two obsidian items in the house, both bloodied (a crow in the bedroll of Yoritomo-san and a sharp knife in the kitchen), and a rat impaled under the table (throat slashed and eyes gouged out).
Hida Ganko worries Doji Chi was the actual target of the attack.

As the party briefs Amajino on the happenings in the city, he considers their plight. As a group, they come up with a plan to celebrate the Liberation Day festival by offering the samurai guard new armour. All guards will have to come to a muster and the old uniforms will be clearly defunct, bypassing the theft. Then, the guards will have a victory parade through the city, honouring their efforts in keeping the city safe.

With the oni corpses slowing degrading into a black slush, the group seek a shugenja to banish the spirits and purify the grounds, calling Shosuro Jocho over from his patrol to arrange for one.
In little time, Isawa Nagitoro and his yojimbo Shiba Ni arrive to perform the duty.
After this, the group retires for the night, ready to face the city another day.

Session 4: An ember started rarely dims

Party: Daidoji Jinsoku, Doji Natsuki, Hida Ganko, Yoritomi Shohei

Returning from their encounter with the Kajikun, the emerald magistrates finds themselves... waylaid by folk on the street.
Firemen, in various guises, start bumping the group into a part of the street for a confrontation.
The party, however, proves very adept at dispatching the aggressors, Ganko and Jinsoku showing what warriors trained from birth to fight are able to do to the lower classes. 
Shohei, having put his body on the line to protect Natsuki, gets bandaged up a bit.

Injured, but content to have proven their martial prowess, they continue on home only to find the ringing of blade on otherworldly claw and carapace. 
Having noted some suspicious activity around the house, both Kitsuki Jotomon and Shosuro Jocho had made their way into the house while unknown shadow-creatures (presumed to be oni) were attacking the household staff.  Bassai and Dai, the twins, lay dead at the entrance, while the Kakita (Doze) was injured.
Jotomon-sensei had rushed to the defense of the young Doji Chi, eventually found there by the group as they sought to first find her. The Lightning Squad that accompanied Jocho had engaged with the attackers in the kitchen, inadvertently saving Flower and Hyogeki from them. 

As the party headed outside to escape the chaos and bring Chi-hime to safety, they noted red eyes in the shadows of the street, with more Oni approaching.
Without too much thinking, the group split in two. One set heading back inside to grab jade to combat the creatures (relying on Ganko's knowledge of the foe), the other holding the line to buy time. Jocho, having cleared the kitchen, joins up with the outside party and eventually the tainted beings from the Shadowlands are purged from the street.  

Session 3: Fanning Flames

 Party: Daidoji Jinsoku, Doji Natsuki, Hida Ganko, Yoritomi Shohei

During a slower period, time spanning about a week, the party began to explore Ryoko Owari, finding themselves drawn to places of interest alone or in pairs.

Yoritomo Shohei sought to find his center and studied the opportunities the city offered for training.
He came to Jotomon's Dojo, where the dojo's sensei (Kitsuki Jotomon) goaded him until she was pleased with the level of self-control the massive mantis displayed, allowing him to train on the grounds.
While there, Shohei met Ashidaka Michitaka, the brother of the former Emerald Magistrate, a man devoting a previously slothful life to avenging the murder of his kin. 

Hida Ganko, remembering the favour shown to him by the lady Hyobu, pondered how to gain an advantage for his companions and headed for the Shosuro palace, in the hopes of securing a strong alliance with ruling family.
While he failed to gain an audience, he did receive a carrier pidgeon that would be direct and discreet line to the Lady herself. 

Doji Natsuki and Daidoji Jinsoku, tired of the journey and seeking relaxation, went to the temple district, seeking out a teahouse (Ebisu's Grace) in the shadow of Daikoko's Temple. While seated, they were accosted by Ide Baranato. The wizened Unicorn diplomat warned them of the city's dangers, implying a strong lead for the investigation of the former Emerald magistrate's death could be found at the Juniper Teahouse. He also indicated that illegal opium was likely dealt there.

Regrouping after this, the party decided to visit the Juniper Teahouse and investigate it, but after a quick visit to the downstairs, they secured a talk with Hana, the leader of the Moment's Edge firemen. 
However, unaccustomed to the ways of Ryoko Owari, a lapse of judgement led to a conflict of opinions almost escalating into a lethal issue between Hida Ganko, Daidoji Jinsoku and the entire gang.
After Doji Natsuki defused the situation, Hana relented and implicated Bayushi Korechika as a person of interest, propping up the Strong Arm gang with illegal opium supplies.
When asked about it, he also mentioned his suppliers were the Soshi, but only strictly above the board. He offered to help the new Emerald Magistrates out with investigating the death of the previous Emerald Magistrate, after all, he is one of the prime providers of entertainment to the Thunder Guard when they are off duty...

Session 2: Merchants and Nobles

 Party: Daidoji Jinsuko, Doji Natsuki, Hida Ganko, Yoritomo Shohei

We find our heroes as they investigate the crime scene, learning about a dangerous bandit known to locals as "Fade". There is some doubt as to why bandits would ambush guards, but subterfuge is suspected. After all, whoever has the armour of the guard can impersonate them so much easier.
The group meet Hatchet, a local butcher, after speaking to Suisen for a while, learning that "Fade" can be asked to solve problems for the common folk by writing his name on a piece of paper and leaving it at a shrine.  
Azami and Horse, two merchants running the Golden Sunrise take a keen interest in the noble Shohei, as he would make an ideal patron for their horses and milk business. He takes it into consideration.

The gang then goes shopping for clothes at the Dove's Embrace, in order to make a good impression on the Scorpion hosts. All but Ganko grab some new get-up, but Jinsuko sets up a few insults to the hosts as a show of confidence in the abilities of the Crane Clan to perform better than the Scorpion.
As the group moves to the meeting, weapons are brought and Kakita Doze joins to safeguard the weapons rather than allow the Scorpion guards to handle them.
Jocho, mildly annoyed by this breach of etiquette, leads the group to the secondary waiting room where his sister (Shosuro Kimi) is seated, rather than the main one where Bayushi Korechika and Soshi Seiryoku were brought.

Gracefully accepting the house gifts brought by her guests, the lady of the Scorpion clearly favours those gifts brought by the Mantis and the Crab (due to their care in words and choice of gift) over the presents brought by the Crane.
During the meeting, Shosuro Hyobu speaks freely with the party, allowing them to understand the scorpion present are the family leaders in this city, disturbed by the lack of order being kept. 
Shosuro Jocho has his fair share of licks as his guards were ambushed in the street, and Hyobu implores the new magistrates to keep an eye out for elements that would disturb the peace, such as bandits under the leadership of "Fade" that attack those who guard the people of the city.

Session 1: Fishing for Fire

Ryoko Owari - session 1

Party: Ganko, Natsuki, Jinsoku, Shohei

As the party arrives to discover their new posting as Emerald (trainee) Magistrates and complimentary dwelling, we enter a brief flashback where Daidoji Jinsoku writes his wife to inform her of his sadness to be away from home, requesting her help with the domestic recruiting for his new residence.
She leaves nothing to chance and recruits the finest and most trustworthily unattractive people she can get her hands on. 

• Flower (female, heimin 60 years old, housekeeper and cook)
• Hyogeki (male, heimin, 25 years old, stablehand and horse-groom)  
• Kakita Dozé (male, samurai, 14 years old, weapon caretaker and aspiring duelist)
• Basho (male, heimin, 17 years old, cleaner)
• Dai (male, heimin, 17 years old, caretaker)

The party is greeted by these servants and Shosuro Jocho breaks off a general tour for the group with a quick goodbye, as he races to get back to the side of his mother, Shosuro Hyobu.
Daidoji Jinsoku is also informed by the new staff that two letters have been left for the new arrivals.
Opening the scrolls, the party finds the Scorpion Shosuro family and the Unicorn Shinjo family have both left polite inquiries for a next-day visit to their estates by the new Emerald Magistrates.
Considering the implications of  outright refusal and the dangers of splitting up the party, the Doji courtier picks up her inkbrush and responds an affirmative to the Shosuro and a polite 'maybe another day' to the Shinjo.
As they ponder what to do for gifts, they come up with the following ideas:

• Tessen (a war fan - Hida Ganko)
• A complex and artful knot of wood, silk and rough rope (an okibaku - Yoritomo Shohei)
• A kanzashi, preferably scorpion-shaped (a hairpin - Doji Natsuki)
• A pair of matching Shakudo earrings (to show unity in clan - Daidoji Jinsoku)

The group then decides to take a stroll through the Fisherman's Quarter to find the city's Mantis representative (at the urging of Yoritomo Shohei, who feels strongly the man may provide them what they need, both in information and in potential hand-gifts).
They do come across the man at a Sakaya, pulling up a barrel to take the weight off.
The group chatters with him and procure the tessen with relative ease.

Then their conversation gets broken up as a fire erupts near the docks. With their new function heavily weighing on their mind, they dutifully make their way to the inferno. 
Once there, they spot two gangs of rival Kajikun (firemen). One group seems to be trying to fight the fire, the other seems more invested in taking down those that came onto their turf.
As Shohei steps in to calm down the situation (with Doji Chi still strapped to his chest), the leader of one of the gangs takes offense and moves to shove the Mantis back. Before his hand can land, however, an enraged Hida Ganko throws him to the ground, forcing his one hand back in a wristlock, while the far larger Shohei rests his foot on the other hand, pinning the man to the ground.
Needless to say, it does not take much persuasion from their end to get the man to call off his gang's aggression and work together to put out the fire (and if nothing else, the Kajikun all seem very good at this).
Afterwards, a man named Bassai walks up to the party, clarifying that his gang (Daikoku's Garden Firemen) was not here to encroach, but rather fearful that the fire would spread to their turf. Whatever lines these areas have, is left rather vague. Bassai mentions he will return to his wife, Mouse, and thanks the group for the help.  

As the party has had their fill of entertainment for the day (and Shohei makes sure Chi is alright), they note something off in one of the alleys. An entire patrol of ten Thunder Guards has been ambushed and half-slaughtered. Blood and corpse-parts decorate the sides of an entire street, with about half the number of guards still alive, yet stripped of their belongings. 
The survivors speak of bandits or thugs that came upon them as they accepted a drink from local ladies.
The group has a talk with a stall-keeper, Suisen, who helps them call the eta to cart the corpses away.

What will happen next in the wonderful mess that the group has dipped their toes into?
Who is Suisen and who ambushed the guards?
Will the group manage to source the items they want to bring to the city leader?
Why are the firemen fighting and who lit that fire?

All this and more, if we do not forget what we are looking for... 

 

Ryoko Owari No Toshi

 

The City of Ryoko Owari.

Clustered around the Bay of Drowned Honour, we find the City of Green Walls, the City at Journey's End, Ryoko Owari no Toshi.
To the North, her mercantile nature shows, with the North-West being taken by the Fishermen's Quarter, where the trade of the finest fish is said to take place. The North-East contrasts this with the source of Ryoko Owari's wealth, the Merchant district.
Because the Fortunes only smile on those that remember their place in the Celestial Order, the grand temple of Daikoku dominates the skyline of the Temple District to the East.
Further South, we find the Noble Quarter, before the river parts to permit the existence of the Teardrop Island. Beyond that, on the Western bank, lie the dwellings of the Eta.

With the land's bounty stretching on for miles outside the Empire's second biggest city, many come to dwell in the embrace of the ruler Shosuro Gyobu. A lady whose grasp of the political landscape may only be rivalled by that of the rulers of the Crane and Scorpion clans. A lady who understands the needs of her citizens better than they do themselves...

NPCs at Asatsuyu no Ryokan

Samurai (in residence)

Shosuro Yanada - Lady of the House
    Shosuro Meijo - Wetnurse, alerted Yoritomo Shohei to some samurai behaving strangely.

Yogo Babana - Scorpion Clan Shugenja. Long time friend of Yanada.

Heimin (in residence)

Ghifu - an odd painter, very distracted. 

Hinin (in residence)

Leather - an Eta who helped examine the 'ninja' corpses.

Notable Guests

Shosuro Jocho - Scorpion Clan Bushi. Son of the governess of Ryoko Owari

Moto Hibari - Unicorn Clan Bushi, was involved in the geisha's event, brash and impetuous.
Ide Hojo - Unicorn Clan Diplomat.

Matsu Mizuki - Lion Clan Yojimbo
Kitsu Shunsen - Lion Clan Diplomat

Shiba Rei - Phoenix Clan Yojimbo, stood guard after Doji Natsuki fainted
Isawa Iye - Phoenix Clan Shugenja?
Asako Suzu - Phoenix Clan monk, enjoyed the unusual entertainment at Crescent's table.

Daidoji Mamoru - Crane Clan Scout, bantered with the party about the house.

Togashi Hogai - Dragon Clan tattooed monk, tried to talk to Hida Ganku.

Crescent - A geisha of some renown, seeking to improve her standing by joining a House of Teardrop Island.

Guests that disappeared

Bayushi Kurin
Mirumoto Kurokun
Akodo Bijigo