Final Session (29): And so time marches on

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

Before leaving the Shosuro estate, the party talks to Shosuro Kimi, getting a deeper perspective on how she sees the situation moving forward in a positive way. She is aware of the hardline view Ide Baranato has on opium use, but asks the party for the consideration of potential innocence from her betrothed. 
The group then makes their move, order of appearance in hand, and peacefully force their way into the Unicorn estate. A long conversation ensues with Jinsoku appealing to Ide Baranato's sense of righteousness and duty, while Baranato offers the party a final chance to take down the Scorpion in their own domain, but considering what is at stake, the head of the Ide family in Ryoko Owari decides to shoulder the blame and designates himself as the sole party responsible for the series of incidents now dubbed 'the Opium War'.  

He cleanses the stain on the honour of his family through the act of seppuku, with Jinsoku standing as his second, allowing his children and those who could have been involved as well to return to their daily life best they can. 

Daidoji Jinsoku will finally see his sensei (Kakita Katsuhito) visit him, the old warrior glad of heart to see his student grown so and asks him to help the foundation of a new dojo in Otosan Uchi, where Jinsoku's wife has taken up residence, which Jinsoku accepts, taking his two students (Kakita Doze and Bayushi Otodo) with him. Matsu Mizuki, overhearing this, quietly sneaks into Jinsoku's bedroom and with utter alacrity places the sheath of her wakizashi in the bedroll of Jinsoku, resolved to leave this dream in the past.
Before taking his leave, Katsuhito-sensei also speaks to Shohei, taking the care provided in safeguarding Doji Chi as a repayment of the duty incurred after the death of Chi's mother. He assures the Mantis that his former ward will now be taken to the Asahina family and raised there to become a shugenja of exceptional power. With this duty off of his hands, Yoritomo Shohei can now focus on developing his newly enlarged group at the Juniper Teahouse, with Hyobu granting them concessions to establish not only there but to also patrol the lands around the city 'in case of wildfires', an extremely unusual yet profitable way to employ a group of ex-ronin that find themselves in Mantis employ.
Togashi Amajino, walking down the street, suddenly feels a twinge in his Crow tattoo as a Crab samurai walks by. The man's face is sunken and sallow, not unlike that of an opium addict, yet the beating of inked wings summons the vision of Togashi Yokuni (the clan champion) to the mind of Amajino. "Child, the time has come. Destiny will not be stopped. You may proceed to the next step."
Ganko soon becomes restless now the city dies down to a peaceful simmer, so when he hears of the rising danger of the Shadowlands, he heads out with Amajino to safeguard the far border of the Empire, using their new knowledge and allies to ward off various incursions of the Tainted. 

And so the years pass until the group is drawn together to a reunion in Otosan Uchi.
Gathering at the Dojo of Blue Wings, the gang reminisces about the old days until the alarms start to sound all over the capital.
The Scorpion Coup has begun...

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.

Sessions 25 and 26: The swift regard of honourable things

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

Having discussed potential avenues for the Tournament of the Five Storms with Matsu Mizuki, 
Jinsoku heads over to reconnect with his friends at the Bayushi compound. 
Determining an ambush to be too dishonourable, he waits outside until a disturbance is noticed.
The others, wanting to take advantage of the situation to catch some perpetrators in the act, set up a trap in the warehouse. 
As the six observers (two appear to be better dressed than the others and in command) head in to clear out the Liquid Void storage, the trap is sprung by Jinsoku walking in on the intruders which leads to a very hefty combat that sees various party members dangerously injured, though their combined efforts sees all the attackers either dead or caught. Shohei manages to pick up the strange clay balls that the infiltrators were dropping all around and trying to light, thinking they'd make nice souvenirs.

As the group investigates their attackers, they find a Bayushi mon on one of the better dressed ones, but also a unicorn trinket on one of the others.
The group then discusses how they want to proceed, as the quantity of liquid void in this location is a clear red flag. They conclude it would be impossible for Bayushi Korechika to be unaware of this operation taking place here.
One of the captives insults Jinsoku, who slays him out of hand, putting the fear to the remaining one.
The group proceeds with an inquest of that poor soul and learn that they were indeed under direct orders of Bayushi Korechika, four of them were ronin hired for the purpose and that Fade had been forced to 'rent out' their services with the lack of caravans moving in and out with the current civil unrest.
This is corroborated visually, as the man (and the ronin corpses) looks close to starving.
In exchange for the information, the group shows mercy on the surviving ronin (Suju) and lets him return to Fade with the message to get in touch with the Emerald Magistrates.

Jocho is called in and told 'not to tell' Korechika, as the party (except Amajino who remains at the scene of the crime to keep it safe) heads to inform Shosuro Hyobu themselves.
The Lady of the Scorpion is not fazed by the news, offers the party the assistance of her troops and drafts up an Order of Appearance for Bayushi Korechika.

The party contemplates detouring a moment as messengers flock all over the city and the Thunder Guard converges on the Bayushi warehouse where Korechika is said to be. By the time the party arrives, the battle is joined, with Jinsoku and Ganko leading the charge into the building, where a massive Oni no Robai is causing untold chaos and carnage to unfold, while the walls of the compound catch fire.
Outside, Natsuki and Sohei spot a figure dressed in purple flying off. 
The dynamic duo on the inside defeat the Oni and Ganko heads up to take out Korechika, while Jinsoku heads back outside. 

As the building's fire catches up with him, Ganko clotheslines Korechika off of the wall and into the waiting blade of Jinsoku, who bisects the leader of the Ryoko Owari Bayushis.

Session 24: This alcohol needs burying

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

The group discovers Uma (Horse), the lead caravan retainer from the Bayushi family has been slain.
(Daidoji Jinsoku has to discuss his tournament idea with Matsu Mizuki, but says he will join them later.)
The way Uma died was particularly gruesome, being trampled by her horses after being attached to the floor with nails used for shodding the horses.
Many of these steeds then dispersed throughout the city, with very few actually finding their way back.
The party splits up in two teams of two and searches the place for clues after telling the guards they need to investigate, one group with a clerk who shows them the 'administrative office', the other pair near the corpse.
The guards run for Korechika to inform him of the Emerald Magistrate presence.
The man turns up after a while to make a fuss, but is spoken to by Hida Ganko for a good amount of time, before heading to Necessity Village to prevent further damages to his 'investments'.

Initially, the searches turn up scant clues for the group, but things start shifting into a pattern. 
The building, with five possible points of access, seemed closed off while the horses were running roughshod over the indoors area. 
The trampling seems inconsistent with a rush of animals trying to get out and seems more frenzied, with the very posts in the building being damaged. The horses, also, would normally be individually stabled, so all of them getting out at once would be difficult at best.
Yoritomo Shohei requests for the Isawa Inquisitor (Nagitoro) to come check the scene.
A ledger is discovered when the clerk in aide of the party is spotted trying to hide certain pages, this then cascades into the group discovering a hidden trapdoor that gives out on a basement set up to turn sake into Liquid Void (using pots that were drawn from sake deliveries noted under 'damaged goods', and the legally processed opium from the Bayushi family). The clerk made a desperate last play to set things on fire, but was knocked out.

The group discusses their options and decide to 'leave' the building in pairs but circle back to spend the night there. In doing so, they note that six Bayushi retainers are set up around the building to do ... something.

Session 23: Sending the Scorpion scurrying

 Party: Daidoji Jinsoku, Yoritomo Shohei, Togashi Amajino, Doji Natsuki and Kuni Kobayashi

The Kuni Inquisitor is called to the Shosuro Palace in order to assist the Emerald Magistrates in their duty of liberating Shosuro Kimi. When he arrives to the Bayushi estate, the group has a firm grip on the situation.
Having negotiated the 'training' of Bayushi Otodo and enabled Shosuro Kimi to talk freely with Natsuki, the group finds Korechika using the arrival of a new guest to try and wiggle his way to a better deal.
The group happily shuts him down hard. 
Jinsoku offers the idea of a tournament when Bayushi Korechika keeps implying that the wrong person is leading the city, with the core tenets of Bushido as a guideline (so argues Jinsoku) all would be better of. 
Clearly the winner of such a tournament would be a good candidate for the leadership of the City at Journey's End. 
It seems like Korechika would be open to the idea, though he is loathe to put himself in a position where an Imperial duelist or a hand-chosen champion of the Crane (through the pull of the Emerald Champion) would take the prize he has so long tried to gain control of. With this on his mind, he makes a few brash statements that 'outsider interference' would not be tolerated, linking it with the foothold the Crane recently established on Teardrop Island.

With Natsuki back in the meeting and with an impartial representative to ensure that no harm would befall "his niece" Shosuro Kimi, Korechika has no choice but to relinquish the girl and let her return to her mother.
As the party returns to the Shosuro palace, Kimi talks about how her first fiancé (Ide Michikana) came to die due to opium and her fell dislike of the substance. The dead man's brother, Ide Asamitsu, is her current fiancé, and she would rather go to him than be caught between her family should things come to a head.
The party considers this, but filial piety is placed as a higher virtue than love, so to her mother the girl goes.
Ide Asamitsu also meets the party while they walk, as he was eagerly looking out for his betrothed, and the party questions him a little on his father. Ide Baranato's seal was involved with the mysterious horse incident, so he might be their best link to Fade, and Fade seems to be involved in a lot of things happening in the City. 
Asamitsu gladly tells the group that saved his wife-to-be that his father can be found making devotions to the Lady Amaterasu in her temple around noon each day.

The group then gets some time to recover from a VERY short night, a few intense moments and some injuries. A couple of days (literally two) pass without incident before a runners disrupts the peace again.

"Someone killed Uma, the main horse handler of the Bayushi!"

Session 22: Masks, Threats and Pineapples

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

Ganko, after a hot night's pursuit of villains, finds himself in the unfolding melee near the Juniper Teahouse. He grinds a couple of firemen into a fine paste before coming face to face with a messenger from Shosuro Hyobu, who informs him that his cunning and wisdom will be needed to free her daughter from a kidnapper's hands. As the messenger also is searching for the rest of the party, Ganko follows him to the group, where the same message is delivered.
Happy to see pieces moving, the group bids farewell to uncle Ebi, leaving a good impression by getting a round of sake for all involved.

At Hyobu's palace, the party meets with both the Shosuro and the Soshi family leaders in the city, Seiryoku being irate about the Teahouse situation, as her Firemen were forced out by uncle Ebi. 
Hyobu confides that Bayushi Korechika is the one who has taken her daughter hostage, under the pretense of 'protecting her from the current unrest'. He has written as much in an insulting letter that refers to the other family heads as 'little sisters'. She asks for the party to bring her back, offering a signed Order of Appearance for Bayushi Otodo (Korechika's son) due to the suspected involvement with the opium warehouse raids.

The party then heads out to confront Korechika. They first meet the guards and duly impress upon those the need for a face-to-face, which is granted. 
The courteous host, Korechika tells the party that maybe the city has not been off as well under the leadership provided by the current governess and implies he would be a lot more able and may even allow the Crane clan to establish on Teardrop Island (through stating that the Emerald Magistrates are currently acting in the interest of their Emerald Champion - Doji Satsume - a crane).
After Natsuki asks leave to meet with Shosuro Kimi (and is granted the request), Korechika visibly relaxes and talks to the party about various things, including his suspicions that a ronin named 'Jaw' matches the description of the hitman who took out the merchant Watchful.

From the visit to Kimi, Natsuki learns that she is held against her will, but that she is not really eager to return home through violence either. If anything, Kimi seems to be disinterested in most outside news, though she does ask about her fiancé (Ide Asamitsu) and if her mother could make a deal to get her out.
Natsuki and Kimi agree that if Kimi feels like she is ever in real danger, she should request pineapples, as those exotic fruits are hard to come by, and word would reach either Ebi or Shohei before long.

Session 21: A visit long overdue

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

The session starts with a full flashback to the past of Shohei, revealing the fate of Doji Chi's mother, the link to the Kakita Katsuhito and the burden Yoritomo Furikake placed on his son due to the incurred debt of honour to the Crane Clan.

Snapping out of his dreams in the morning, Shohei finds himself surrounded by his friends, minus Hida Ganko (who is already chasing down the potential culprit), and a short chat later, the gang gathers to check out the Temple of Benten, where Shosuro Kimi was kidnapped.

Based on their previous experience, the group sets out to track the culprit(s?). As traces seem lacking, they follow the rampage of the Investigate Crab and angle towards Madame Kakaru's place in the Crab Caves, passing by the North Rim of the Fisherman's Quarter. 
After talking to a local fishcake merchant, they walk straight into a hot street full of Moment's Edge Kakujin fighting Ebi's Shoremen.
Seeing a fair chance at revenge against the gang that threatened them before, the group bursts into violence and clears out the leaders of the Kakujin, allowing Ebi to take the field and the Tea House. Jinsoku lands the killing blow on the leader of the gang (Hana), Shohei kills the second in command (Kyoaku) and the strongest fighter (Chinpira) is dispatched, after a grueling stand-off, by Amajino.

Though injured and exhausted by the skirmish, the group presses on to reunite with their ally Ganko, who seeks still for the elusive kidnappers.

Session 20: We will be together then

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

The week leading up to the meeting with the Scorpion family heads is both eventful and quite calm. 
A lot of the tensions in the city are still simmering, but with the combined forces of the Emerald Magistrates and the Thunder Guard out in force, few people try their hands at any shady dealings.

The party has some things happening...

A merchant known as Muji comes to Yoritomo Shohei, who has been identified as the key figure in the department of travel papers, and suggests he may be able to provide some useful additions to Shohei's stipend, but gets rebuked.

Ganko, chatting with Shosuro Jocho, is alerted to the presence of a spy. When the jig is up, the man tries to run away but is caught by Togashi Amajino who was in the vicinity. He turns out to be a Bayushi-sponsored hand-for-hire. Ganko hands the man over to Jocho for ... questioning.

During the rebranding and redecoration of the Kikyo, Mizuki and Natsuki seem to become closer friends, as Natsuki takes the Lion's advice about themed story nights, but bends it to suit the Crane Clan esthetics.

Doji Chi, now without the Moon Cult to threaten her, is doing well and remains doted on by all three of her uncles.

And on the larger scale, Ebi manages to tell the party that a Bayushi barge caught on fire in an unusual way - implying shugenja were involved - and Fade has carried out new raids on the Scorpion holdings outside of the city, bringing the price of opium up to a point where recreational use is down.
The clearing of the air brings to the fore the importance of the Eta Nightsoil workers.

Then, the group meets with the Scorpion clan families at Kikyo. 
The conversation goes well, led by Shohei and Natsuki, though Bayushi Korechika proves to be an annoyance all around. A truce is suggested between the families and Shohei breaks off the countertop to chisel the wording on the base of it. 
Korechika, furious at the idea of having to split some of his opium into a central warehouse, storms out.
Gyobu and Seiryoko both agree that their families stand to gain from less enmity between their sides, so they sign.
After a fruitful conversation, the Shosuro and Soshi both take their leave, while the party remains at the Geisha House. 

Then, as all seems well, Mizuki bursts in to inform the party that Shosuro Kimi has been kidnapped while praying at the Temple of Benten (the Fortune of Romantic Love).

Session 19: Coming Home

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

Jinsoku makes his way to Chi, only to be caught up with Matsu Mizuki. The samurai-ko talks to the duelist, trying to plan a way to get Chi to the safety of the Temple of Lady Sun. She explains she saw dubious individuals around the temple, and suggests getting Chi out of there, as brigands and rogues would be able to enter the open temple of Osano-Wo more easily than the enclosed Amaterasu temple.
The pair meet with a shifty looking individual and provoke him into drawing his weapon on them. As the man calls for back-up, the pair quickly takes him down and turns to face the new threats... before Mizuki turns on Jinsoku and fierce combat ensues between the two, where the lady is revealed to be a shadow-creature that absorbed part of Mizuki's identity. 
However strong this supernatural being may have been, Jinsoku's training proves him to be a superior force and before she gets away again, he strikes her down.

The others, with the real Mizuki guarding their back, head down to the dwelling of the Maho-tsukai, near the Bridge of Drunken Lovers. Ganko releases the door from its hinges and the group manage to get through the scattered remains of the house and into a trapped tunnel-system that leads to a spot under the river. Through experience and quick thinking, they easily make their way into a ritual room, where the remains of the victims of the Moon Cult are piled into a heap on an altar.
The vile shugenja and his followers, caught off guard by the rapid chase, hastily try to resurrect the remains of their victims into an avatar of Lord Moon. The combat is quickly joined and the combination of Ganko's strength, Shohei's combat manoeuvres and Amajino's incredible defense breaks the power of the tainted trio. 
Shattering the links between the incomplete avatar and its ritual components destroyed the unholy vitality that animated it, leaving it to crumble back into separate parts.
The group realize that leaving this location as is, would be bad, spreading potential taint through the city.
They call in their Isawa friend, who brings along a familiar face in Kuni Kobayashi. 
Over the course of a week the Inquisitor, the Witch Hunter and the party set out to destroy the remaining cells of the Moon Cult in Ryoko Owari, using the information gathered from captured cultists and helpful kami in the city.
The other plans of the party are halted, as the big meeting they wanted to have with the heads of the Scorpion families in the city get delayed with polite but insistent messages. The group does manage to set an official meeting at a later date.

Fade, the local bandit whom the party had invited to visit Kikyo, does not show up. 

Session 18: The Man in the Moon

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

Come morning, Daidoji Jinsoku is feeling restless and disturbed by the dream he had. Was it... a warning, a threat or a nightmare? Determined to not show his worries to the group, he suggests to take the watch with Doji Chi for the day and heads out.

The rest of the group, as they settle into their morning routine, exchanges the information they gathered the last day, figuring out where all the pieces may fit for their current situation. Amajino and Natsuki hatch a plan to get Fade into Natsuki's geisha house (which still needs some sort of renaming ceremony) and make the ronin an invitation for the next day's lunch there.

Shohei, on the other hand, finds a LOT of travel paper requests in the morning mail, deducing that most of the opium peddlers and their workers seem uneasy after the hit on Watchful. Mainly Soshi-related merchants seem to want to be anywhere but in Ryoko Owari.
Ganko, having taken stock of the struggle going down, posits that the magistrates should gather their support behind Shosuro Hyobu, as she is most likely to keep the Emperor's peace. His reasoning solid, the others agree and a second letter leaves the house, requesting an audience with Hyobu.

Because they aren't the only ones inviting people or seeking audiences, the group finds a note from Ide Baranato to check if their busy schedule would allow them time to visit him.

Matsu Mizuki comes down, noting the absense of Jinsoku. She talks with the group for a bit and gets a finger of jade from Natsuki, after which she departs ~ appearing to follow Shohei and Amajino's suggestion to go to the Kitsuki dojo. While passing Mizuki the jade, Natsuki notices ritual scars running up Mizuki's arms.

The party then heads out to inspect the house of the dead merchant (Watchful/Jittu), but as they do so, the red-robed Maho Tsukai springs a trap on them, having set an ambush with a group of Moon Cult fanatics.
The party fights best they can against the initially overwhelming odds, with a heroic effort of both Hida Ganko and Yoritomo Shohei to halt the tide, while Doji Natsuki convinces the locals to take up arms against the attackers by invoking the name of the Emperor. From a side-alley, Matsu Mizuki emerges as a violent whirlwind that attempts to assist the group in their fight.
The struggle is fierce and violent, showing when Ganko gets knocked down by the sheer number of attacks. Shohei also gets to look at the darkness of the inner eyelids for a bit, but manages first to shatter the mask of the Bloodspeaker and injure him badly.
As Amajino sees his opening, the monk dispatches of some of the more potent foes with his fire techniques and together with the crowd and the Lion, he clears the immediate danger away from the group. Then, channeling the power of his tattoos, he restores his allies while Natsuki spots a trail of blood that may well lead to the Maho Tsukai's hideout...

Session 17: Little Boy Blue

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

The group gets up in the morning to talk strategy and divide tasks.

Hida Ganko offers himself up to guard Doji Chi, as he feels she is most at risk, together with Matsu Mizuki (eager to make up for her earlier failings), thus avoiding the festival.
Jinsoku and Natsuki take interest in a messenger asking them to come to the merchant Watchful, who should have "important information" for the magistrates' ears only.
Yoritomo Shohei and Togashi Amajino check out the celebrations, following the procession through the city.

Jinsoku and Natsuki witness, after arriving at the merchant's district, the assassination of Watchful. With her being Soshi Seiryoko's main merchant, this feels like the recent opium unrest may have something to do with it. The attacker, a lanky man wearing a wide-brimmed straw hat on a dark charger, cuts the head off of Watchful and impales it onto his nodachi, but loses this long blade to Jinsoku's skillful disarming manoeuvre. Undaunted, the man draws his katana, slashes at Jinsoku and rides off, his horse getting hit by one of Natsuki's darts on the way out.

The pair then investigates best they can in the vicinity, but only turn up a few notes in scorpion clan cypher. They decide to return to the others.

Amajino and Shohei witness what is largely an uneventful parade, though they spy a large fire outside of the city, or at least the massive plume of smoke going up. When they see Shosuro Jocho, he informs them their ploy worked: two men were caught trying to pretend to be Thunder Guards: Bayushi Kurin and Mirumoto Kurokun.

Hida Ganko and Matsu Mizuki, after arriving near the temple, take up station. Before heading out to the celebrations, Isawa Nagitoro blesses Ganko's Tetsubo so it glows with the golden light of the phoenix's flames. Ganko, in the temple of Amaterasu, shields the child with his body from strange shadow-beings that strike at them, while Mizuki fights them off in the streets around the temple. Kakita Michitaka, also present as one of Chi's guardians, eventually joins the fracas in the street.

The group reunites at the temple and exchanges information.
Shosuro Jocho is called upon to check the cypher that the Crane found, while Shosuro Kimi guides Amajino and Ganko to two samurai infiltrators.
When the prisoners are asked a question, they start transforming into hideous creatures, leading to their timely death at the hands and tetsubo of the magistrates. From the body of Mirumoto Kurokun, a scroll is plucked instructing him to seek out the ronin Fade and join forces.

When the party finally ends the day in their residence, Daidoji Jinsoku gets a "nightly visit" from Matsu Mizuki. She says she was cold and lonely in her room and tries to share his futon, which he refuses. She then states her intention to reclaim what is rightfully hers before moving close to him. The scream he lets out when she pulls his jawbone out of his skull before he wakes, disturbs the peace of the house.

His face is whole when he touches it, but a black mark shaped like a hand is burned into the tatami next to his bedroll.

Session 16: Silver Spoon

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

The group continues the day before the Liberation Day festival with more research.

Shohei discovers that the horse in their stable had a scorpion mon branded on it, which combined with Pinpin's discovery that the horse is clearly battle-trained brings the focus back on who the actual owner of this horse may be.

Eventually Fade arrives to take the horse, holding a civil chat with Shohei over the city, the value of trade and his dislike of the Moon Cult. He leaves Shohei with the feeling that the ronin still clings to some form of bushido, though twisted it may be, which led him to 'ransom' Mizuki away from the Moon Cult in exchange for the stolen guard armours. Letting her go early was Fade's way of showing himself to be a trustworthy man... he also warns to stay inside the city for the coming three days, as things 'may heat up' outside.

Meanwhile, the long divide between Jinsoku and Mizuki is gently overcome by a tea ceremony and some martial practice in the garden, allowing the Matsu to regain the strength in her muscles, head and heart that were sapped during her captivity.

The Dragon and Doji in the Loops, meanwhile, rope one of Ebi's men into their service to help as a messenger, before noticing that Uncle Shrimp has a rather robust network of helpers that are keeping an eye on the Wayward Pine Inn. Before long, Isawa Nagitoro receives the messenger and rushes to help investigate. Amajino and Natsuki, working together, spy various strange things that seem oddly familiar. An obsidian crow, a ritual dagger, candles set in the removed eyes of the victims. As they gather together these items while awaiting the Inquisitor, they also scrape together what they can of Mizuki's meagre belongings.
With the added information provided by Nagitoro and their own deductions, the ritual used by the Moon Cult to summon their servitile horrors reeks of Shadow-tainted Maho, against which pure crystal is said to be most effective. Natsuki immediately sends out another one of Uncle Shrimp's men to procure 7 sets of crystal necklaces.
The trio then head to Kitsuki Jotomon's dojo on a hunch from Amajino, discovering the sensei has a crystal box in which they deposit the ritual items taken from the Wandering Pine Inn.

The group gathers together again to discuss things and learn that children of all clans with some connection to the Moon were taken from their families and reported missing. The final piece of the puzzle slides into place when the investigative trio - based on a tattoo they saw on the 'oni' Pine - reveal the statuette may not be a crow at all, but a badly made Crane figure.
As far as the group now can tell, whatever is going on needs only Doji Chi to be set into motion.

Turning their attention to Mizuki, they also learn that the samurai-ko was already trapped by the time they ran into her when meeting the lady Crescent on the street. The one that greeted them with some familiarity was thus... an imposter?

Session 15: Cat's cradle

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

The group brings back the horse from the Moon Cultist residence.
Perturbed by all the recent happenings, Hida Ganko swears to defend the residence from all who would come to disturb it. He reasons that with the Crab Festival soon, the streets may have some rowdy figures that may want to use the distraction to strike at their house AGAIN, and rather than face a festival angled against his clan, he will be better off making sure the Magistrate's Residence is safe.

The rest of the party seeks to go out and visit the Dojo of Kitsuki Jotomon to gather information, a familiar red-cloaked individual trips up Amajino, causing him to fall onto a pebble that has an omnious note attached "Return the Statue of our Lord or suffer the consequences!".

The party backtracks, and Amajino discovers a hidden compartment in the statuette, where a note reads: 
"The Phoenix will rise once the Lord Moon waxes thrice". 
Shohei, thinking outside the box, grabs the ledger and starts comparing the handwriting and content to see if there is a way to predict what this may mean. He discovers that the 'Month of the Phoenix' actually is the month of the Tiger, in a demented shift of the traditional calendar and there are clear indications that whatever the Cult is trying to do, will be reaching its climax at the full moon of that month. 
[Liberation day is the first day of the month of the Ox, which is followed by the Tiger's month. Given that each month is 28 days, the party has at least 29 days remaining at the time of finding out to stop the ritual]
To put a sharp end to the matter, Jinsoku smashes the statuette, making sure it cannot be used for nefarious rituals ever again. That finished, the party heads out to the Dojo.

At the Dojo, Jotomon is training some very green recruits, peasants and merchants from the looks of it.
When asked about it, she explains that it is her way of making those who are not born bugei better able to defend themselves. As Shohei usually brandishes peasant weapons, she asks him to give two students some pointers, which he does in wonderful athletic fashion, leaving a positive impression.
As Jinsoku seeks a dragon duelist that had given him some side-eye, Amajino takes a moment to talk with Jotomon during a technique demonstration and discovers one Mirumoto Kurokun tried to visit this dojo but was ejected ("He was talking to my pupils about Lords that should not be worshipped").
The party, however, now has an open invitation to attend the dojo or teach those who arrive near nightfall.

The next day, during the morning routine, a dazed and shellshocked Matsu Mizuki arrives at the house. She had been taken captive by the Moon Cult after a Shugenja trapped her in a weaving, after which she has been traded to procure armour stolen by Fade. As Natsuki takes Mizuki to the bath for some much needed rest, Jinsoku takes it upon himself to order some new plates for the house by destroying what was on the table.

Shohei and Jinsoku remain at the house, to keep the guest safe, and Amajino joins Natsuki to find the Wayward Pine Inn to gather the items Mizuki may have carried.
They have a bit of a run in with the owner Pine... or whatever horrid creature took his place.
The investigating pair did learn that a man with a porcelain mask and a red kimono visited this location very recently before dispatching the being.

They discover Mizuki's ransacked room, where everything is torn to shreds, Pine's lifeless and deboned body upon which are carved the kanji for 'Crane' and 'Death' and a pair of other corpses (eyes gouged and throats slashed). 

Session 14: The forest is solitude

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

The group, having Amajino and some servants deal with the messy aftermath of the fight, gets down to business. They feel like they should investigate the mysterious Matsu Mizuki, but Jinsoku digresses and eventually storms off. 
Shohei starts going through the records of Hitsoyu Mura (Necessary Village), the Bayushi holding. He discovers they pay enough ronin to form a small army, together with arms and food for those troops.
Natsuki checks over his shoulder, providing refreshments and small talk.
Ganko starts patrolling the grounds, hoping to keep further dangers at bay with the force of his presence.

Jinsoku heads to the Loops, the rough part of town where those who would prefer to remain anonymous would reside, chatting with uncle Ebi and discovering the residence where Mizuki stayed... the Wayward Pine Inn. He speaks a while with old man Pine, the owner of the establishment, discovering Mizuki has not been back for a couple of days. He pays for her stay and gets to look around her room for clues. Barely sniffs anything while in there. Does find a scroll containing a secret message from the Lion Clan, but as it is written in the Lion Clan cypher, that does not tell him much.

Eventually, as Jinsoku returns to his friends, Amajino comes up with an idea. What if they would look into the people that are missing? It seems a good lead to find out where the Moon Clan is hiding. 

But then time runs long and the group sets out to meet with Fade. They chat a while with the ronin on the Bridge of Drunken Lovers, with Fade asking for a specific horse (a black stallion like the one used during the raid on the Soshi's Opium warehouse in town ~coincidentally looking a lot like the one used by Bayushi Otodo). Procuring this animal would mean the party would have an extra ally in their camp and he offers them a 'wild lioness' in return to sweeten the deal.
In exchange for their kindness in meeting with him, Fade does offer a bit of information: He traded some liberated Thunder Guard uniforms with the Moon Cult.  

Using Shohei's research, the party tracks down horse trader Momoko as the person who procured a horse fitting the description, but discovers that the man has passed away. The horse, mildly uneasy at the lack of food, is calmed down by the gang.
In creative investigative pursuit of the truth, Natsuki, Amajino and Shohei ransack the entire hovel the man used as a dwelling and shop, which provides them with a ledger that shows the horse was bought by the Unicorn clan for a hefty sum and sold back to Momoko at a nice discount by Ide Baranato.
They also find proof of Moon Cult activity, including a small statuette representing Onnotangu (Lord Moon), showing a group of four to six cultists likely gathered here to perform their rituals as a sort of splinter cell of the Moon Cult. 

Session 13: In the Shadow's Embrace

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

The group wakes up and gets down to their morning activities, happy to have a moment to see to their affaires.
Ganko invites Shosuro Jocho, after receiving word that the man would like to meet up, to the breakfast and finds an invite to meet with Fade at sunset on the Bridge of Drunken Lovers. 

Daidoji Jinsoku is, after arriving at the breakfast, confronted by Kakita Doze (his pupil), who has been vetting the new caretakers of the house. He is introduced to Utsukushi - a delicate girl with a swan's neck and large eyes who will work the kitchen - and Pinpin - a sturdy tomboy who will take over the stable duty. The other potential staff has been let go due to a lack of proper manners or proper background. Doze will keep his efforts up, hoping to regain the favour of his sensei.

Doji Natsuki arrives at breakfast to a stack of paperwork which states her claim on the Red Lotus House, formalizing her new status as Denna for that place.

Shohei takes stock on the market updates and notes that paper and sake are being bought in bulk, alerting him to the immanent Liberation Festival (known to the locals as 'Crab Day'). This in turn reminds the group that they were scheming to change the uniform of the Thunder Guard in order to flush out those who may present themselves as such. Jocho seems very on board with the idea.
Doji Chi attends the meeting together with Ashidaka Michitaka, chasing small kami-butterflies around the room when the group is not watching. Shohei has procured a small fan with which she can send subtle gusts to guide the spirits and this seems to please her to no end. He takes the moment to also warn both Isawa Nagitoro and Ebi of potential dangers in the City. 
Additionally, he brings a large fan for Natsuki, to thank her for the Crane Clan help he has been able to receive thus far. 

As Jocho has a moment of Jinsoku's time, he offers him a duelist ribbon (as the current trend is to wear a trophy for dueling victories). Jinsoku, non-plussed and with full awareness, refuses three times and sends Jocho off. 
Jocho then convinces Ganko, before leaving the Magistrate's Residence to head to his daily duties, to take the ribbon and talk to Jinsoku about wearing it.
There is a small amount of words between Ganko and Jinsoku, in which some of the reality of the politics of Ryoko Owari is brought to the fore. 

Before much else happens, a group of merchants and the lady Matsu Mizuki arrive to speak to the magistrates, only to turn out to be a hostile cadre of ... shapeshifters?
The group fights again in their dwelling and wins a costly victory, with Shohei and Natsuki in need to medical assistance after bravely defending their dwelling.
In the end, Jinsoku slices through the mouth of the thing wearing Mizuki's face, which leaves its amputated jaw behind before it disappears and the other humanoids that attacked slowly dissolve into puddles of obsidian goo.

Session 12: As Petals on the Breeze

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

We rejoin the group as loud noise from the street distracts them from the quaint meeting in the House of Gilded Lilies. An irate Bayushi Korechika is making his displeasure known, implying various things the party has done in the City to be a strike directly against him. He demands the return of "his ward" Doji Chi, he implies they are either in league with Hyobu against him or at the very least refuse to investigate her, he is angry about their lack of visiting his holdings and showing preference to the other sites of recent crimes... and he feels strongly that his son has been beaten unfairly in the recent duel.
The party talk him down and manage that get the situation defused quite well.

After Korechika takes his leave, assurances made that the situation with Doji Chi and his warehouses at Necessity Village (Hitsoyu Mura) would get due consideration, the Lady of the House of Foreign Stories (the gaijin Magda) makes herself known and offers the party a gift of clean kimonos to use. She, in turn, spends a while talking with the Emerald Magistrates and receives an offer from Hida Ganko to assist with her travel papers. 

Doji Natsuki, duly displeased with the display of Bayushi Korechika, heads to the place where Iyo and Kirame work, the Red Lotus House. While it does not carry the grandeur of the Great Houses of the island, it is a quaint and relaxing place, with an older ojisan (Pyoteru) running the kitchen - which is the main draw of the House, as even Shosuro Hyobu is known to drop by for their Lotus Buns.
Seeing potential, Natsuki invests into the place and will be on the lookout for more talents to add to the ranks.

Eventually the day winds to a conclusion and the group heads back to their dwelling, discussing how to help Doji Chi escape the conspiracies that seem to swirl about the City. 

They have a number of clear ideas of what to do still. They want to check out Hitsoyu Mura, they want to learn what Itoshi (the eta torturer) managed to learn from their Moon Clan prisoner and want to set up a meeting with Fade.   

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.

Session 9: The Shelter of Osano-Wo

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

The group reacted to the news of the opium store raids in the best way they could: they headed to the Temple of Osano-Wo (the Fortune of Fire and Thunder) to regroup with Yoritomo Shohei, but also grabbing Isawa Nagitoro (resident inquisitor) as a useful touchstone to figure out what they were dealing with in relation to Doji Chi.

Shohei-san was put to the question, oft repetitively by Ganko-san, and Kakita Michitaka (Cousin of Naritoki) gets called in to corroborate the story of Shohei-san.
Michitaka-san from his part, eager to help those who would fill the void left by the death of Naritoki, swears the group to secrecy before revealing Doji Chi's mother was Doji Tsuki, a powerful shugenja born outside of the Asahina family and a paramour who had gotten pregnant with Naritoki's child before the man came to perish. 
Astute as they are, the party links the name Tsuki to the Moon, as it is spelled with the same kanji, putting the Cult of Lord Moon back at the fore of their thoughts.

The short version of Shohei's tale (with additions by Michitaka) which was revealed is:

When, in the dead of night, an unknown person boarded the vessel of Shohei's father (who was ferrying a senior member of the Kakita family with a cargo of goods for the man's dojo), Shohei's father drew his blade and ran through the interloper, thinking them to be a bandit or saboteur. This bandit turned out to be Doji Chi's mother - carrying her baby away from the captivity at the hands of Bayushi Korechika.
The Kakita suggested that, in order to cleanse the stain off of the hands of his old man, Shohei should bring the child to safety and ensure she could grow up the way she would have with a proper family - in Ryoko Owari, Shohei would likely find her relatives among the magistrates.

Considering all of this, and the threat of the Moon Cult looming in his mind, Shohei-san passed on the young Crane to Nagitoro-san and Michitaka-san, making them vow to keep her safe and in the gaze of the Statue of Osano-Wo at all times.

The group then headed out to investigate Watchful's warehouse (Jittu is a known merchant vassal of the Soshi family). Jittu seems ... fidgety, but takes GREAT PAINS to assure the magistrates know she's in the clear with her possession and sale of poppies and medicinal opium.
With what she told the magistrates, and what their own investigations turn up, following pieces of evidence are... evident:

*A Netsuki shaped like a coiled Scorpion with one claw raised is found trampled on the ground. (it bears striking resemblance to the Bayushi family mon)
*One of the attackers rode a large black horse with a white star on its head.
*Three guards were struck down, one from behind.
*The thieves piled a lot of the opium in a boat that was moored nearby and some of them sailed down the river to escape, while the others rode off on their horses.
*The Thunder Guard was not at the scene of the crime.

After this, the group decided to invite themselves (thanks to Doji Natsuki) to the wounded Ide Asamitsu and talk with him about the ronin Fade, whom they expected to have Unicorn Clan ties.
They did not get a lot of new information, but shared a pleasant talk with their host, leaving with the feeling that they had done well for the way the Unicorn viewed them.

At the end of day, Hida Ganko -with the party's blessing- went to place a short note at the Moon Caves for Fade to find, inviting him to reveal a meeting place to talk.