Session 28: The City comes alive

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

With Amajino taking an interest in the identity of Fade, Shohei remembers he can actually trace a lot of official records. The combined efforts of monk and mercantile samurai lead to a full revelation of the backstory for Otaku Isas, a man disgraced by not attending a pair of duel (due to his scorpion opponent poisoning him). Digging through the notes left by not only Naritoki but also those of his predecessor Matsu Shigeko, the party learns that the attacks of Fade seem to follow a pattern that is in line with his story of needing to supply his men with food.

The group heads to Teardrop Island, learning that everyone assumes Daidoji Jinsoku is now in charge of the Bayushi cartel's remaining holdings, treating the Crane Clan in general with a lot more respect and Jinsoku with quite a level of curiosity considering the honourable Crane duelist truly is an odd horse in the race.
Upon learning of this, Jinsoku wastes no time in staking the claim of ownership for the House of Gilded Lilies (renaming it the Azure Lilies accordingly) and lets out that it will be led by Doji Natsuki's capable hands from the Kikyo house.
Magda, in full propaganda mode, is met on the street and Shohei quickly produces travel papers for her to go see the capital of the Empire, Otosan Uchi, breaking the Unicorn's main draw for the House of Foreign Stories. Magda, in response to the kindness shown, also talks at length with the group about the death of the previous Emerald Magistrate, his lack of interest in the opium issues and making it clear that the man's yojimbo (Ample, to be found in the Crab Caves) may know more about the assassination. 

Otaku Genshi, a fierce battle-maiden who recently has been assisting Otaku Naisha in establishing the Unicorn in the opium market, takes ill to this news and seeks to rectify it at the source... by challenging Daidoji Jinsoku to a duel! With weapons not allowed and the duel being largely informal, Jinsoku lets Hida Ganko serve as champion for a wrestling contest. The Crab utterly wipes the floor with the Unicorn, forcing her to tap out in a savage armbar after taking her down.
The group then happily walks to the ferry, where they officially accept stewardship of that operation as well, with Natsuki becoming the main patron for the ferrymen upon seeing their worry about the lack of payment coming their way since the death of Korechika.

At the Crab Caves, the group meets Ample. After the party assures him he can be kept safe and employed as one of the bouncers at the Crane Houses, he explains that the attackers were unicorn clan members, or at least wearing purple, affiliated with Ide Baranato. He supposed it had something to do with the death of Baranato's son (Ide Michikana, Asamitsu's older brother) from overdose and Naritoki's lack of enthusiasm to eliminate the illegal trading of opium. Ample gets a new name (Apple - Ringo) and is sent to the island.

The group is then informed of the seppuku of one Ide Nakatada, an unassuming unicorn shugenja.
When they have an eta check the corpse, they note an arrow wound that severed the muscles in the shoulder of the man. 

The group, armed with this information, presents it to Shosuro Hyobu and politely request her assistance in drawing up an order of appearance. With heavy heart and convincing from the party, the Lady of the Scorpion signs the order for Ide Baranato.

Session 27: When the pieces fall into place

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

As the group stands around the remains of the Bayushi warehouse... and Korechika, the rush of combat wears off and they start stepping back into reality.
A massive fire means the various Kakujin gangs all converge to try to clear it out, and with the assistance of Natsuki, this happens largely without inter-gang violence. More so, as Shohei calls out to the arriving men of the Juniper Teahouse, they also integrate into the bucket chains and rescue efforts, leading to training for the 'Shrimpers' and minimal casualties.
Shohei also spots a merchant (Baki) who offers his services willingly for a good patron.
Jinsoku and Ganko, meanwhile, decide that it is only right and proper to return the body of Korechika to his family. Though deluded in his ways, the man's sense of duty strikes a chord with the bushido teachings.

The party then decides to return to their residence, where they find a letter (in mocking tone) from Bayushi Otodo stating that he will present himself to his sensei on the next day, to learn the finer points of honour. 
The group discusses what they have learned, mostly that Shohei spotted a shugenja clad in purple floating by on the wind as the fires bloomed in the warehouse. A meeting with Fade is in the cards, due to the actions of certain members of the party and their treatment of the ronin Suju, so the group discusses what information to get from him.

The next morning, Shohei notices in the paperwork that Otaku Naisha has been slowly but surely building a position in the opium market. His study is interrupted as a downcast Bayushi Otodo offers himself up to any and all training his new sensei may wish to bestow upon him. 
Prodding into the matter after noticing all the bluster is gone, the party hears about the suicide by fire of Otodo's mother (Bayushi Saisho) after receiving the remains of her late husband, leaving the heir of Bayushi Korechika suddenly an orphan without a home.

As the situation with the opium currently being lacking becomes apparent in small riots and incidents, Hida Ganko instates a 'Crab Camp' to help those who are kicking the habit. It is successful in at least getting the addicts something else to do than commit crimes to get their hands on anything poppy-related, but the muscle craps, nausea and diarrhea that manifest in some of the hardline users make sure that 'going to Crab Camp' becomes a new folklore way of saying 'having a real bad bad unpleasant time'.

About a week later, the group meets with the actual Fade. The former Otaku Isas speaks plainly and confidently with the group, explaining what he knows about the death of the late Emerald Magistrate Kakita/Ashidaka Naritoki, linking it to him being too distracted by women (and at the end that meant mostly Magda) to take the opium cartels seriously. He also divulges a lot about his situation and how he remains hopeful to one day become a samurai again, regaining his honour.

Afterwards, the party's thoughts turn back to the Unicorn clan and Shosuro Hyobu, both being promising leads to finally discover who had the former Emerald Magistrate killed. They decide to go to Teardrop Island to check out what the local nobles may think of things and maybe to pump Magda for some more ... information.