Session 11: At the gates of the Floating World

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

The party finds themselves escorting the Geisha Crescent back to Teardrop Island, while Matsu Mizuki heads off to seek out and cull further cult members. 

The group then heads to the Little Gate Pier, meeting a crew that works the ferries for Bayushi Korechika to get people to Teardrop Island, talking at length with Fang and Crescent about the happenings in and around the Island.
Arriving at the dock, the party calmly hands over their weapons to Kado, except for Jinsoku, who insists that he has to carry his sword with him. After diplomatic inquiry, Kado allows it if Jinsoku ties the blade to the scabbard.

Teardrop Island turns out to be an political hotbed, with guests being observed by both other samurai and those that walk the streets. Estimations are made and polite inquiry as to 'where' this group of magistrates are going are as much en vogue as with 'who' they are doing so. 

Seeing an opportunity with no less that FIVE new magistrates arriving, the party is approached by two Minarai who are in need for a Danna, a patron to sponsor their rise to full Geisha. The names they give are Iyo and Kirame, from the House of the Red Lotus. The girls focus their attention on Doji Natsuki, who promises to give due consideration to their offer.

Brash and obtrusive, Bayushi Otodo challenges Daidoji Jinsoku to a duel, with various bets being placed.
Already a little uneasy with the happenings of the past day, the party spies someone trying to influence the outcome and stops the interference, so the skill of the Kakita school prevails. Otodo is forced to accept the defeat at the hands of Jinsoku and leaves the scene.

Most of the party then spends some time being hosted by Crescent at the House of the Gilded Lillies, but Ganko enjoying the charms and favors of the House's Yujo in a different room. 

Session 10: Clear as the gaze of Lord Moon

Party: Hida Ganko / Yoritomo Shohei / Daidoji Jinsoku / Doji Natsuki / Togashi Amajino

The group decides to curtail the chaos of the city and the many distractions the City of Green Walls throws at them, and spends some time to sort through their current issues.

The following are pinpointed:

*How to solve the current sudden opium violence?

*Who killed the previous Emerald Magistrate (Ashidaka Naritoki)?

*How to save Doji Chi?

*What about Fade?

Ganko suspects that the opium issue is likely to be a family struggle in the Scorpion Clan, where the party may eventually be called upon to pick a side. 

Kakita Dozé (one of the few remaining original hires from Daidoji Jinsoku's wife) has found a group of three likely new candidates. As these appear to all be vapid teenage girls, Jinsoku impresses that their abilities will reflect on Dozé's ability to estimate talent. Dozé seems properly motivated to provide the youthful servants training and he will be judged within due time on the results.

Going through the paperwork, Shohei finds that the price of opium has jumped over night with the recent attacks. And most of the trading seems focused on acquiring whatever people can get from the poppy harvests.

The gang then heads to Shosuro Hyobu (after being picked up by their good friend Jocho and his Lightning Squad) and talk through the issues ahead of them. Oni, opium and Fade all get talked about, and Hyobu offers servants to support their household, should the new hires fail.
As the party leaves, Amajino and Ganko spy a paper crane flying away on the wind from Hyobu's window sill. Also, a portrait displaying Hyobu's late husband (Shosuro Akitada) in the entrance hall of the Shosuro Castle reminds Amajino strongly of Ganko.

Still plotting their next step, the gang then turns their attention to the Juniper Teahouse (run by the Soshi cartel-affiliated Moment's Edge Firemen), but decide to first head to the Shosuro compound that was raided yesterday. They find Bimyo, a merchant who seems to be more aware of things happening than they expected. A guard does cast a certain amount of doubt on whatever testimony Bimyo gave, painting him more as a sniveling coward than a brave servant of the Shosuro.

Leaving the compound, the gang bumps into a familiar face, the geisha Crescent (whom they first met at the Ryokan), being pursued by a gang of Moon Cult thugs. The group captures one and meets with a samurai-ko from the Lion clan. She urges the group to bring Crescent back to Teardrop Island as she seeks out more information on the Moon Cult and their targets.
The gang brings the surviving cultist back to the Shosuro compound to have him securely locked up and sets their sights on the Floating World.