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.
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