THE INVESTIGATION IS A FOOT FOR THE FIRE BREATHING DETECTIVE
5th of Doji in Rokugan’s year 1123 (Month of the Goat {OOC: August}) – The Dragon and Lion awoke and began morning sword practice with a mock duel using Donoha sama’s pale oak bokken. The Crab began their day alongside the Phoenix shugenja getting bowls of rice and a side of fish together. It should be noted that the cousins had drastically different styles of fighting. The Lion was trained to survive skirmishes where the numbers did not favor their side. The Dragon was trained to hunt criminals and make a decisive strike to finish their quarry.
Akodo Asahi sama asked to learn some of the finer points of dueling from his cousin as a way to support the skills of the courts he had been trained in. In the alternate world they visited he’d witnessed his cousin strike and use the blood of his opponent to draw the symbols for peace. All of that before his opponent could free their katana from their saya! Within 100 miles there were very few better teachers of the duel one could engage.
When the duel took place it was with the pale oak bokken he’d received from Pale Oak Castle in the Aoijiro Province of the Phoenix Lands. Made from branches of the tree above the burial of Emperor Hantei the XVII. First they assessed their opponents and then focused their ki or spirit before the strike. In a FLASH it was over! Kitsuki Donoha sama had disarmed Akodo Asahi sama and then spun the bokken back through the air and caught it with their left hand!
Next, before they had rice he spent the time to show his cousin what he had done and how to practice it. He asked his Lion cousin to show him his style once the investigation was over so he could learn to be better in a skirmish or mass combat. Thus was rice was served amongst the companions. During the meal Donoha sama mentioned his concern for having not seen Agasha Re san. Prompting Isawa Tamaki san to go over to the second of the wagons and check upon his charge. To everyone’s relief the shugenja had just been finishing putting themselves together for the day.
When they joined the circle of rice. They became embroiled in the discussion of the case surrounding the death of Asako Eiko, much to Tamaki san’s concern. Since they had two people to investigate it was decided to go after Shiba Ayame sama first. In order to find her it was determined by the Dragon to begin with tea houses where the more erudite members of society might go. Agasha Re san mentioned the Tranquil Lotus Teahouse as a place to begin. Not wanting to involve her more than she had become, it was decided Hiruma Gombei would stay as their bodyguard.
The Tranquil Lotus was located in a busy part of Shiro Shiba and Donoha sama decided to go unarmored to the teahouse. After consulting their lucky cricket, Kuri, Asahi sama wore his grandfather full suit of armor even the lion maned kabuto it was most known for. Tamaki san wore his usual attire and the three made their way to the teahouse. Upon arriving they asked a list of options the house provided and were shown to a private room. The group settled upon the half day retreat guided by the head mistress of the Tranquil Lotus, Shiba Miho sama.
Donoha sama mentioned that payment requests should be sent to Shiba Sono sama as he was the one that set them upon this investigation. Once was their guide made an entrance and began to discuss what the retreat would entail. It became very clear to the Dragon that this matronly Phoenix sees all in her bailiwick of a teahouse. This was her castle and she was the all knowing daimyo of it without question.
When Donoha sama let it slip in polite conversation his interest in finding a tea house he thought Shiba Ayame might frequent. Miho sama was quick to point out that while she has hosted many of Ayame sama’s fellow shugenja. The lady in question has not left the Temple of Eternal Wisdom since the eclipse upon the celebration. Nor has she personally visited the Tranquil Lotus herself. Not wanting to dash now that they had the information they sought, they took the half day retreat of the tea ceremony, small tour out to the hot springs where Donoha sama and Airi sama had shared a moment together not long before.
After the refreshing time spent in the care of Shiba Miho sama and the Tranquil Lotus teahouse. They made their way into the forest northeast of Shiro Shiba for the well ecologically integrated to the forest, Temple of Eternal Wisdom. It did not take long to be directed to the location of Shiba Ayame sama within the inner chambers of scrolls and books. From their dress and mons Donoha sama was able to recognize they were of the sixth dan amongst the samurai class.
In reverence he approached and sat across from Shiba Ayame sama. His Lion cousin took a seat at a nearby table and looked at a treatise on mass combat. Tamaki san sat next to the Dragon before he spoke to the scroll reading, engrossed, shugenja. Startled would be an appropriate descriptor for Ayame sama’s reaction to being interrupted. Tamaki san took the opportunity to glance over some of the scrolls and notated one about the “History of Eclipses” among them.
Donoha sama was able to explain that he had been tasked with the investigation of Asako Eiko’s death. He phrase his questions to Ayame sama is the guise of “Akkam sama’a Tanto.” By eliminating those that had nothing to do with the crime it made finding the criminal easier. Ayame sama went on to explain they had been plagued with dreams. Both leading up to the eclipse and after it passed. They had also been going over a dream connection to the spirits surrounding such and event. Some of the dreams had involved seeing a tortured soul in Jigoku, birds falling from the skies after the eclipse.
Worried about public embarrassment surrounding these events. She has locked herself away researching all of the meanings. Going over maps and trying to piece together a chain of events that could pre-date the Emerald Empire! Tamaki san offered to help if he could and they began talking about maps and locations did not appear to match up. With that information he tried a water element spell known as the Reflections of Pan Ku. When used upon the map it showed him a temple had been removed in the Mori Kuroi (Black Forest).
Tamaki san shared their findings with Ayame sama. Donoha sama made a mental note to scratch this shugenja off his suspects list. Everyone parted on good term but it was Asahi sama that left them speechless! As they exited the chamber, a pause was taken to quote a passage of the Tao of Shinsei to the elderly shugenja! While every Lion dojo is required to have a copy by the order of imperial mandate. It was common thought that none of the students in those dojo ever read it. The trio made their way out in order to head to the wagons. In the open air on the way back birds began to fall from the skies just as Ayame sama had researched about!
It ended up being a total of three birds but Tamaki san accompanied Donoha sama inside to let Ayame sama know one of their portent dreams had just come through. Tamaki san stayed behind as the Dragon brought the other shugenja to look upon their dream made real. Upon reaching front of the Temple of Eternal Wisdom, they found Asahi sama investigating the birds turned to ash and one had crumbled under the prodding with a stick. Ayame sama told them they would prepare for a plague and alert those necessary.
She retreated into the Temple and sent Tamaki san back out to us. After finding out he learned nothing further from his perusal of the scrolls with the another use of the Reflections of Pan Ku. Everyone present agreed Ayame sama was no longer a suspect. The group talked amongst themselves as they headed back to Shiro Shiba in the afternoon sun, discussing the next steps toward Asako Takumi sama.
It was decided to visit the docks and less savory teahouses in order to learn about a lord of the transportation of goods for the Phoenix. Donoha sama’s memory and his investigation skills regarding the celebration night had picked up all kinds of information. In this case he directed everyone to find Kaze ni sarasa reta rantan (The Wind-Swept Lantern). What made it easier to find was the very large lantern hanging from a post out front and swaying in the afternoon breeze.
They walked in and saw the proprietor cleaning a table. When Donoha sama ask if that table would be available now. The proprietor nearly fell backwards trying to bow while suffering from shock! Introducing themselves as Nasu Keiji, they offered a better table near the back. To the credit of the establishment the plates were made with presentation in mind as much as the content of the food presented. Donoha sama admired the effort and then was surprised to find out they made their own sake!
After everyone had tried sake, which was described as hot, potent, and quite flammable, Donoha sama had a thought and asked for a lit candle. Thus was one brought and the Dragon asked everyone if they wanted to see a party trick. When everyone nodded he took a larger sip and spit it out through the candle’s flame!
FWOOM!!!
Everyone took quick note of the Dragon samurai BREATHING FIRE! Straight out over the table a five shaku long gout of fire erupted forth! The glow of it lingered the way a craven man gazes upon a geisha. No one had been hurt and everyone was whispering about it. Donoha sama thanked Keiji san and returned the candle to him. The group left after their meal having garnered no information from the patrons, although the Dragon did find it hard to hear over his cousin slurping the tast noodles down.
The nest stop was Sabita ankā (The Rusty Anchor) and this time, they were about to sit down at a table that had spare seating. However the heimin patrons got the wrong idea and vacated the whole table to the samurai. After whom could blame them.
- Kitsuki Donoha sama was dressed in shades of mint green, forest green, and grey shashiko patterns. Bearing Mittsu Tamashi the three soul tachi katana. There was a black and copper accented wakizashi in the back of his obi. Lastly a smithing hammer, Chikai no kodzuchi 誓いの小槌 known as the Oath-hammer in the front of his obi.
- Akodo Asahi sama was dressed in his grandfather’s fully functional armor but the amount of gold shakudo upon it was eye catching to say the least.
- Isawa Tamaki san bore his straw hat with prepared ofuda talismans for spell casting. Adorned in their reddish-orange kimono bearing their clan and family mons.
The group waited patiently as Donoha sama began to comb over every detail, every conversation, every whisper. When the proprietor, Atsumaru Riku san, came out to serve a table their meals. Their reaction to seeing samurai sitting at one of their tables nearly mimicked the prior location. They were quick serve the one dish available, a fish stew. As with the last location he mentioned to send their bill to Shiba Sono sama of the Emperor’s Gift. It seemed correct in Donoha’s mind that the lord that requested services would cover the expenses incurred.
One table mentioned about their good fortune coming soon. Certain sea and river trade route would be getting better pay. The teahouse had just paid off as the food was brought back out. This establishment did not have their own brand of sake but did have a fermented fruit drink, which came with the meal. After tasting it Donoha sama made a pursed face and Tamaki san asked him if he wanted to do the fire trick again. The subtle grin was the Dragon’s reply.
The Dragon began to boast about how he could breathe fire to everyone and did they want to see him do it? Of course there was a positive consensus. So a candle was requested that was already lit, this would give Tamaki san the time to beseech the Kami of Fire to heed his request. When the candle arrived the Dragon and the Phoenix shared a look as Donoha sama inhaled once more…
…FWOOM!!!
The whole was stunned into silence and then from across the way in the group talking about the trade deal a cheer arose! Then quickly joined by everyone there, and Donoha sama introduced himself once more so the tales would spread about the fire breathing Dragon. With the swell of good cheer he invited the heimin tradesmen to drink and each side went through the customary three offers and two refusals to ensure both groups the offer was genuine. They caroused as a group till the late hours of the night and learned a few things.
- The deal is not finalized yet but should be soon.
- The organizer of the deal is far up the social ladder.
- People whom have disagreed with the deal often disappear!
It would fit with “Akkam sama’a Tanto” that if Asako Eiko had reservations about the deals Asako Takumi sama was making she would be marked for removal! In thanks for the information Donoha sama had that group’s billed added to his. Then everyone began making their various ways to sleep.
Upon arriving at their wagons Donoha noticed Hiruma Gombei sama and Agasha Re were not visible. When they check the wagon Re san was using a Phoenix attendant stepped out. Re san could be seen sleeping soundly behind them. The attendant informed the three that Hiruma Gombei sama had been summoned away and they had been tasked in watching over the Phoenix shugenja. It was not lost on Tamaki that after grand adventures with Donoha. Two separate members of his group have disappeared under unknown circumstances. With that everyone turned in for the night.