Setsuban Festival: Roadside Attack

As the party leaves Dragonfly lands, the terrain begins to change and the mountains draw nearer. To avoid the treacherous climb of the aptly named Great Climb, as well as the treacherous ground of the Great Fall, the party is using a more southern route, heading toward Anonymous Village and then north past Sleeping Thunder Mountain and to the Shrine. Along the journey, the patches of trees become larger and more frequent, and more regularly are cut with deep vales. The mountains in the distance loom larger each day.

The first week of travel from Kyuden Tonbo goes without incident. The party easily travels the southern road, and restocks in Anonymous Village without incident. The journey northward promises to be more of the same. The line crossing into Phoenix lands is again marked by clan magistrates, but the passing is no problem.

Unfortunately, just past Sleeping Thunder, things change drastically. As the road the caravan is travelling on passes between two large, rocky hills, Akodo Aramoro walks next to the scroll wagon as he has for the last week. The terrain around them has become rocky as they have passed into the mountains. Something about the scenery nags at the back of his mind. The Akodo frowns and looks around. Asako Shitasu watches alertly as he walks beside Aramoro. A little closer to the realization the Akodo was quickly coming to, he thinks to himself, "This would be a perfect place for an ambush."

Almost as if on cue, three arrows strike the wagon right in front of him. Arrows all around him are ripping through the air and the caravan. The nagging at Aramoro's mind lights up like a bonfire. The hills and rocks are a perfect setting for an ambush. He should have known! "AMBUSH! ABUNAI!" the bushi shouts. A deep THUNK! THUNK! is heard over and over, ending the whistling of an arrow in either the thick ground or the side of a wooden wagon. The arrows just keep coming.

Aramoro bangs loudly on the door to the scroll wagon. "Taiga-sama, we are being attacked!" Even as he yells the warning, Aramoro races toward the other side of the wagon to take cover. "Arrows on this side too! Well I can't take a defensive position from under the wagon," he thinks, and then suddenly realizes the best plan of action. "Drivers, circle the wagons!" the Lion shouts. "At least this way we will have some cover from both sides of the attack."

Doji Kadokawa, being not at all equipped for a ranged fight, withdraws into the caravan, using the wagons for some cover, and helps the drivers to begin moving the wagons into a defensive circle.

Pajaro draws his naginata as one arrow hits the wagon where he is standing. He drops into a defensive stance for a second, trying to spot a Target, and looking to help Asako Shitasu. "Hey Jin," calls the Falcon. "Looks like someone dares to attack us, huh? One day, my friend, your overconfidence is going to be your downfall."

"Fool! Who dares to insult the blood of the emperor? Dare I even look at you again? His Glory will surely hear of your insolence!" shouts the Otomo, obviously upset.

Pajaro merely turns from Jin and looks at Asako Shitasu. "What do you say we get this started?"

Shitasu had immediately drawn his own bow and notched an arrow. He takes up a defensive position with the guards, returning fire. Not really knowing where the enemy is, Shitasu fires in the direction of the enemy fire. Even as he fires, he tries to find a way to be able to somehow spot these attackers. "If only the flames of the Phoenix would light their position for me," he thinks to himself. Suddenly, realizing his epiphany, he ducks into one of the caravans to look for the lamp oil and any cloth he can find.

Otomo Jin, still attempting to peacefully stop this violence using his Imperial position, shouts as loudly as he can, "You are going to incur the wrath of the Emperor! This is his blood speaking! Cease and desist!"

Seeing that this tactic does not immediately bear any fruit, he then proceeds to run to the nearest tree and climb into its thick braches, turning his back so that the trunk is shielding him from the nearest attackers... presumably to scout the attackers' positions.

Ikoma Nidochi joins the growing crowd against the wagons, attempting to shield himself from the flying arrows, and trying to move them into better positions, a difficult task at least on this narrow pass. Hida Katsu follows closely behind Nidochi, grasping his Ono and wishing for the fight to advance on him.

Agasha Nyoko takes a defensive position while drawing her scroll of Fury of Osano Wo. She begins preparing the spell, wishing she could see the attackers, and not possibly waste the energies the spell requires on destroying a tree with no one standing near it.

With nowhere else to go, Aramoro stands where he is. Already his yumi is drawn. Whispered words of his sensei cross the Lion's lips, "The arrow knows the way." He lets the arrow fly to find it's way to the enemy.

While his hands work the familiar motions of nocking another arrow, the soldier begins to take in more of his surroundings. He is a little surprised that Iuchi Taiga has not come out of his wagon yet, but on the other hand, the eccentric Unicorn may decide to stay inside in case someone manages to slip in; Aramoro really doesn't fully understand the barbarian sorcerer, but he is sure that Taiga is well-versed in the way of the kami if he was given the task of escorting the scrolls by the Iuchi school. He is also a bit surprised to see Otomo Jin off that horse and up a tree. Aramoro is positive that the Emperor's cousin is a much easier target from where he rides, and he does seem to be in a much safer position where he is now.

Isawa Roshii, however, jumps as an arrow rips through the canvas of his wagon. He whirls about, and a sword wrought of pure fire appears in his hands. He peers out of the end of his wagon and attempts to locate the assailants by sensing the Earth. "Shitasu be careful," he shouts to his yojimbo. "There are about twenty men camped on that hillside, in the cover of the rocks!" And to himself, he thinks, "We can't let them get the scrolls."

Hiruma Toshidaka is greatly alarmed at the sound of incoming missile fire. It is a sound he knows all too well. "Everyone take cover!" he yells as he leaps off the wagon with a certain degree of zeal in his eyes that only a Crab in battle can manage. "We're under attack!". Although his heart does not desire a battle, the horrors he has witnessed during his years in the Shadowlands has left him thirsting for justice. Instinctively, he uses Sense Water to locate the positions of the attackers. Looking around in the relatively dry, rocky land, he sees the hidden men clearly as if they were standing right in front of him. Behind the rocks on the hill there are about twenty figures crouching with wooden bows and arrows. Turning around, he realizes that the same thing faces him on the opposite side of the road. Forty men, armed, and firing upon him and his party.

Doji Kadokawa searches the rocky walls for any type of path or cover that may lead up. Seeing none, he glances down the road in either direction for some way to come around behind the enemy. Unfortunately, he just can't find any way to flank the attackers. The pass is too narrow and the hills too steep, so any attempts to leave the caravan would definitely be noticed.

Otomo Jin tries to encourage the troops and again shouts his warning to the assailants. He suggests that a few of the men and he himself will climb up the shorter of the two cliffs and quietly try to assail that side. Kadokawa, overhearing his plan, points out that there is no way to advance the enemy without them seeing, so any surprise or flanking assault will be moot.

Akodo Aramoro hears Isawa Roshii's warning about the number of attackers, and realizes his party is outnumbered nearly two-to-one. And if his ears don't deceive him, the warning must have only covered one side of the attack. There must be that many more attacking from the other side of the road as well. Silently he curses the person who told him this was merely an honorary position.

He lets another arrow fly and glances around to see how much longer they may last against such odds. The wagons are moving and, surprisingly, no one appears injured. The soldier pauses mid motion. He does not draw the next arrow. "No one appears injured?" he suddenly thinks. "Who are these guys attacking? They must all be cross-eyed for none of them to have made a hit yet... Either that or they're shooting to miss."

Brash and bold, Aramoro ignores the wagons and the cover forming behind him. Instead he marches forward deliberately. He may be brash, but he's not stupid, "Ikoma-san, have a healing spell ready for me. I may need it." Aramoro keeps his conjecture to himself for now as he continues marching toward the source of the attack. Amazingly, he marches all the way to the foot of the cliff without any injury, despite the arrows flying all around him.

"Cover me; I am getting closer!" yells Pajaro. "I may meet my grandfather after this battle, but one thing is for sure, I am not going alone!" Pajaro runs as fast as he can toward the hillside, his naginata drawn. He manages to get to the base of one of the hills, amazingly, without any injuries.

Roshii focuses on the hillside in front of him, finding a tree standing near some of the attackers. Days before the Setsuban Festival, a time to admire the color of the changing leaves, the oak is dry and brittle. "Tree-sama," he whispers, "I am protecting a caravan for the glory of the Son of Heaven. Forgive me for requesting this of you, but please help us in our duty. Please allow my friends to join with you." And at the end of his requests, the tree bursts into flames. Three archers jump from their positions and begin trying to put out the flames on their clothing.

Behind him, Asako Shitasu emerges from the wagon with a jar of lamp oil and some cloth for rags. Seeing the flaming tree, he thinks that someone might have come to the same conclusion as he. Regardless, Shitasu wraps a few arrows in the rags, soaks them in the oil, and begins to follow Aramoro, trying to lay some cover fire for the bushi.

Agasha Nyoko, on the other side of the caravan, begins to assault the attackers on that side. Her Fury of Osano-Wo spell ready, she calls the Thunderer's might upon the hillside she is facing. From the clear sky, lightning suddenly falls down upon the stony ground, well in front of Pajaro's charge and right within the midst of the attackers' positions. With a loud thunderclap, stone goes flying from the impact, as well as two more assailants scrambling for a different cover.

Hida Katsu and Ikoma Nidochi continue crouching next to the scroll wagon, waiting for the fight to come closer. Hiruma Toshidaka, coming to the same conclusion as Doji Kadokawa, decides against attempting to flank the attackers. Instead, he stays with Katsu and Nidochi in the protection of the wagons' cover.

As the arrow onlslaught of the wagon train continues, Toriaka Pajaro and Akodo Aramoro reach the difficult part of their journies and begin trying to traverse the rocky slopes on either side of the caravan. The terrain makes their progress difficult, but amazingly, they still are not being hit by any arrows, despite the now very close range of the archers. A few of the assailants on the hills, now only about twenty yards from the quickly approaching samurai, begin to flee.

Seeing the three archers fleeing from the fire created by Roshii's spell, and now the three new ones (who are not on fire) running from Aramoro, Shitasu takes his chance. He notches an arrow as he runs and takes cover behind the wagon nearest the three enemies and takes aim at the targets.

"If we want to end this battle quickly, I need to inflict some damage. Hopefully," he thinks to himself, "they are still in range." Shitasu yells to the guards to try and hit the enemies that are in view now. He has some aim for the two fleeing on the other side and others for the three fleeing in front of him. He silently recites an ancient Phoenix saying his grandfather taught him, asking the Phoenix to guide his arrows to strike true.

His arrow flys, but without the aid of Shiba. The arrow passes the fleeing attackers and lodges in a tree behind them.

Otomo Jin, seeing the charge, races up the hill to try to catch up with Akodo Aramoro, and he does so in such a manner that he deliberately makes his presence known and makes sure that everyone knows who he is. "Do not continue in your folly! We are merely trying to get through to a festival in the honor of wisdom and prowess!"

Jin smiles as he thinks, "Odd, how little respect is shown for the blood of the Illuminous One."

Isawa Roshii directs his attention momentarily from the damage done by the fire he created to try to find Asako Shitasu. Glancing about, he locates him and runs over. "Shitasu, how is everything going over here? Do you need any help?" With the assurances of his Yojimbo, Roshii holds his flaming sword aloft and awaits the incoming attack.

Kadokawa and Katsu reamin with the wagons, both without bows, and both with little skill in them. Nidochi, Nyoko and Toshidaka remain with them, preparing their scrolls for their next volley.

Facing her fleeing attackers, and with her time of preparation for the last moment, Agasha Nyoko quickly chants to the Fortunes, and with a clap of thunder from the clear sky, a speck of fire seems to appear and grow closer from above. An apparition in the forma of a flaming dragon flies from the heavens and decends quickly upon the ronin. They scream and try to dive as it roars down to the ground amongst them. The dragon strikes one of the ronin with a terrible thunderclap, and all five of the fleeing men are knocked to the ground. Four get back up.

Nyoko gives a small, barely noticeable sigh as the fury of the Thunderer expressed as a dragon of fire does its job. She gives a small prayer of thanks to the spirits for aiding her, and takes a moment to take stock of the situation. The Dragon seems... tired, almost. Possibly. Though it seems as if there's something more to it than just that. The shugenja takes a few swipes at the dirt and assorted filth covering her kimono, and by the time she turns around, the expression is gone, as if it had never been.

Akodo Aramoro stands audaciously in the middle of the raining arrows. He keeps himself in check and makes sure he doesn't flinch as they whistle past his ears. Standing at the base of the rocks, about ten feet from the wagons, Aramoro's confidence grows with every arrow that misses. He calls out, "Archers, withdraw your attack at once! Clearly you are unwilling or unable to strike our caravan. I cannot say the same for our samurai. Our bushi carry strong swords. Our shugenja wield mighty magics." He pauses for a second to glance at the damage left by Nyoko's spell. "We will spare you if you cease this attack and show yourself at once! We seek passage through these lands and nothing more. Send your commander forward!" Aramoro stands impassively between the attackers and the caravn, awaiting a response.

Unfortunately, he does not get the response he expects.

The members of the caravan do not know how long it has been, but they slowly begin to awaken. They glance around, and realize that everyone in their party is lying where he or she was standing what seemed the second before. Everyone is moving now; no one is dead. There is no sign of the ronin. No arrows are raining down, and the fleeing and burning men are gone. Even the dead man has been carried away.

And then they begin to notice that one of the wagons is on fire. It is Taiga's. And there is no sound coming from inside.

Kadokawa shakes his head wearily as he tries to sort out what has just happened. On moment he was being attacked, the next he awakens face down in the mud. It only takes a moment for him to notice something is wrong. He turns swiftly to see the burning cart. The one that once housed the spell scrolls of each clan. He swears to himself calmly then rushes toward the fire.

Aramoro sits up on the ground, disoriented. He blinks and scratches his ear. Confusion has set in. Was he dreaming the attack? Why is he sleeping on the road? The sound of fire rises in his ears. The wind carries a sent of burning. The soldier turns in the direction of the fire. Tiaga’s wagon is burning! Leaping up and running in the same motion rapidly brings the bushi to the wagon. “Taiga-sama! TAIGA! WAKE UP!”

Beside him, Nyoko doesn't seem to react for a long moment, but then finally steps forward, reaching for a scroll in her pouch. She gives a short, monotone chant and waves her hand at the flames, as if by that motion alone they would vanish in a breeze. And they do. The smoke is still rising from the wagon, but doubtless that is because it is filling the inside.

Aramoro seems thankful for this as he doesn’t even break stride, but slams into the door of the wagon at full speed, using his shoulder to break it in. Later he will wish that he had been carrying a shield, but for now he is glad that, weakened by the fire, the door gives way rather easily.

Barreling through the door, Aramoro is the first inside, but he is followed closely by Doji Kadokawa and Hiruma Toshidaka. Inside the wagon, the scene is not a pleasant one for them. In the center of the wagon, face down in a pool of blood caramelized by the recent fire, lies Iuchi Taiga. In one of his hands is a scroll that Toshidaka recognizes as a copy of The Fires From Within. The other contents of his scroll pouch are spilling onto the floor, ruined by the fire and desecrated by the blood. The fire has not done much damage -- only the floor of the wooden wagon seems harmed.

But the scroll cache is nowhere to be seen.

As he turns back to the rest of the party, the Toshidaka practically growls beneath his breath. "We must find these ronin dogs and get back the scrolls that we are sworn to protect. Who here can track them?"

Aramoro bows his head wearily. Ignoring the now dissipating smoke, he looks around the inside for evidence of the scrolls. Perhaps Tiaga had them hidden but this is doubtful, and Aramoro knows it. But his search lights another idea in his head. He agrees with Toshidaka. Stepping out of the wagon he addresses them all. "Yes. Who can track thieves? I have seen that some trackers can discern many details about their prey simply by inspecting the places where the prey has passed by. Do we have such inspectors among us? Whatever we do we must be quick about it. There is more than OUR honor at stake."

Pajaro walks over to the small group. "Tracking dogs now, are we? You need a hunter, do you not?"

Hearing Pajaro's request, Toshidaka answers saying, "I'd be more than glad to lead." And with that, he begins looking for the enemies path of escape.

Nyoko nods her head briefly in agreement with the Crab, an odd smile playing about her fine features. "We have the utmost faith in you, Falcon-san," she says to Pajaro. Of course, she tactfully leaves unmentioned that the only thing easier to track than a horde of ronin is possibly a squadron of Battle Maidens at full gallop. Nevertheless, she follows after Toshidaka and Pajaro.

Kadokawa nods silently as the group begins to move. Looking at the damage the fire inflicted on Taiga's cart, he knows that they could not have been asleep for more than five or ten minutes, and he does see the necessity of following them while their tracks are fresh. And although he still thinks the best action would be to notify his daimyo, he understands the others' weariness to do so. He resigns himself to not cause too much trouble. He will, however, let his daimyo know once they arrive at the festival.

The Dragon lets herself fall in step next to Kadokawa, smiling gently. "Do not let yourself feel so troubled, Kadokawa-san," she says in a gentle tone. "Look at it like this, if you told your lord what had happened to this point, you only be telling him part of the story. Once we have recovered the scrolls, then you will be able to tell him the entire story. Think of it as not over-burdening the amount of time your liege need to deal with problems. I know my daimyo, Hitomi-sama, would much prefer to hear of problems that have already been dealt with." In her mind, she silently amends, When she can be bothered to hear them at all.

The truth of that thought of Nyoko's would remain to be seen for certain. However, her pervious thought, however, proves to be etirely accurate. The shugenja know for certain that between forty and fifty ronin were just attacking, and they seem to have made no effort at all to mask their trail. While the thought to look for a tracker seemed a necessary idea, the whole group now realizes that a nearsighted coutier could easily follow this particular trail. In the dark.

Their path is well marked, leading off of the raod and into the rockier areas beyond. The ten samurai follow the trail as the path becomes more and more treacherous and steep, until at last they arrive at a rope bridge that spans a steep ravine.

Well, there was a rope bridge, until someone recently set fire to it. In fact, the samurai arrive at the ravine just in time to see the supports snap and the bridge fall flaming into the ravine, quenched by a small stream running some 200 feet below. Unless the whole party can learn to jump a 100 foot chasm, they will not be crossing here. The climb is steep and perilous, and the ravine streches in both directions, surrounded by rough terrain.

Finding another way across may well take days. Days the samurai do not have, because they are due at the Shrine of the Ki-Rin the following morning. The festival itself starts in little over 48 hours. And the highly esteemed and sought-after prize is missing.

Toshidaka watches as the rope bridge falls like a fiery phoenix into the water below. "Ok, so now what? We have no way to follow them, and even if we did, what would we do, face them in battle? I'm willing to die an honorable death, but not a foolish one."

He takes a moment to ponder the situation. "Does anyone have means of getting across? I could possibly make it, if only I could reach a spot high enough, via wings of fire, but its very risky and I'd prefer a safer alternative. But I simply do not see how we can afford to lose track of them! Even if we don't confront them in battle, we mustn't lose their location." Toshidaka thinks for a moment. "And we are over a week away from the Dragonfly, so we do not have the time to ask for their assistance."

"If we had a rope long enough, I wonder if Yorei could fly it across and loop it around the stakes on the other side," Pajaro says, mostly to himself. "Perhaps if we took all of our kimonos and tied them together we could have enough..."

Toshidaka looks at Pajaro and chuckles at the idea of everyone stripping down and chasing the ronin naked. He jokingly replies, "Or perhaps I can simply stretch the full length of my manhood over the chasm and you can all walk across!" In typical Crab fashion, he then proceeds to laugh at his own sterotypically-Crab joke.

Aramoro listens to Toshidaka's suggestion. He resists the urge to glance between the Crab's legs. Instead he faces away so no one will see him laughing to himself. It wouldn't do for a Lion to be seen enjoying such crude humor.

Isawa Roshii had begun meditating, searching for a solution. He looksup and says, " It does not look like we will be able to get across here. Do we know for certain that the scrolls went with the ronin? I don't think we should make such a hasty decision and run after them. Remember the festival starts tomorrow."

"Yes Isawa-san," Aramoro says. "All the more reason we should act immediately."

Toshidaka looks at them and replies, "I do not believe anyone would simply wage war with the empire for the fun of it. Not even ronin. After all, an attack on the Empire's bloodline is like an attack on the emperor himself! Therefore, we can be quite certain that the scrolls are in their possession. The only question that remains is on what side of the canyon they travel. After all, the burning of the bridge may be a distraction or an attempt to keep us from summoning aid. But judging from these footprints, it appears that they simply do not wish to be followed. I still stand firm in my belief that we cannot allow them to get away. To show up at the festival with the prize missing, and stolen by a handful of ronin at that, would bring great dishonor to all of us. But if you'd like, you may travel onwards to town and seek assistance. But I shall not go empty handed."

A thought occurs to Aramoro, and he points out the next logical step in his mind. "Our immediate commander is slain. We lack the ability to fulfill our assignment with the time and recourses available to us. Clearly we should request assistance from Shinjo Gidayu-sama. I hate to lose the trail of the thieves as much as you Hiruma-san, but we are severely short of other options."

Toshidaka takes a minute to consider Aramoro's comments and is forced to draw a similar conclusion. He replies in a displeased tone, "I agree. We do lack the necessary resources to stage a successful strike -- our recent battle has proven that -- and time is growing increasingly thin. Perhaps it would be best to seek assistance from Shinjo Gidayu-sama despite the dishonor it may bring. But I see no reason for us all to go seek his council. I propose we elect a group of four to press onward toward the shrine to gather help, while the rest of us stay behind to search for another means across. I hate to split up our group, but I believe it to be the fastest means of accomplishing our goals. I do not know yet how we will meet back up, but the rest of us will do our best to leave distinct signs of our movement."

But there is a deeper concern churning in the back of Toshidaka's mind, one that he simply does not have any answers for. Why did none of the archers land any successful strikes? And why were our lives spared after being knocked unconscious? Not speaking these aloud, Toshidaka simply waits for a response to his proposal.

The Dragon seems deep in thought for a long moment, before finally looking up. "Toshidaka-san, it would be best, I think, to keep the group together until we've heard from Shinjo-sama. Then the group to see him will not waste time returning to meet with the other. Time is, after all, precious. As it always is.

"For centuries, people have sought wisdom and enlightenment at the Shrine of the Ki-Rin." There's a hint of a smile on Nyoko's face as she says it. "We would be in august company if we did the same." She motions down the path towards the road to the Shrine, and sets off.

Otomo Jin watches the shugenja-ko begin to walk back to the road. "As I was saying... Yes, uhm, we should continue on to the festival. I have a certain person who might be of some assistance... Well, yes, we should go. Well!? Come on then!" He trails off into thought as he is surveying the edge of the cliff safely from about 20 feet back.

Toshidaka's sense of duty prevents him from going forward to the shrine without the cache of scrolls he was sworn to protect. So, in a bold move, he wishes the others luck on their leg of the journey, and promises to meet up with them sometime in the near future. After a few short words, he finishes with "I will mark my path with my initials. If you come across this marking, you will know I have been here in pursuit of our enemy." And with that, he starts climbing to the top of a tall tree as the others begin their journey to the shrine. Once at the top, he chants a quick supplication to the kami, and on wings of fire, he soars across the chasm.

Returning to the caravan and telling the merchants and Unicorn bushi what has happened, they all agree with the decision to head on to the shrine. The Unicorn are eager to inform their daimyo of events, and after the attack, the merchants are far too wary to stay on the road much longer, but much too afraid to venture on by themselves.

The caravan moves on, and the merchants seem to have decided that they want to arrive at the Shrine as soon as possible, as they spur their horses on faster than before and do not stop for lunch, welcoming any samurai to join them sitting on their wagons. Not that such a walk would tire a samurai, of course. They are merely being polite.

With the extra speed, the caravan arrives at the Dragon Heart Plain, overlooking the Shrine of the Ki-Rin in the late afternoon. The festival participants are in the midst of preparations, raising tents, preparing foods, and rehearsing the numerous ceremonies that will take place over the next week. Streamers are festooned everywhere, and the smell of cooking rises through the air. Representatives from all seven clans can be seen milling about, talking in clusters, or conducting courtly intrigues in the numerous noblemen's quarters set up around the site. A group of drummers pounds out rhythms somewhere in the distance, while Phoenix acrobats rehearse the dance of a great paper mache dragon. The centerpiece of the festival is a huge circle littered with invocations to the Elements -- the site of the great shugenja competition.

The Shrine itself stands below the plain, on a naturally-occurring shelf of rock in the midst of the mountains. It provides a stunning view of the lands north and east, including the entirety of the Phoenix provinces. The Great Wall of the North can be seen quite clearly, marking the final barrier between Rokugan and the barbarian lands beyond. The shrine itself consists of a large white statue of the Ki-Rin rearing up towards the north. Its visage is covered in flames, and its eyes reflect a thousand years of wisdom. The setting sun bathes the statue in light, causing it to glow brightly. A phrase has been carved on the pedestal: "Look to the horizon, for the visions there are the footsteps of the future." A prayer bowl and several burning sticks of incense surround it at all times, and a small group of monks cares for the Shrine year-round.

The merchants' obligations to the caravan, being only a cover for the scrolls' transportation, is done. They thank the bushi for escorting them here and depart to find a few good spots to set up their stalls to sell their wares. The crowds are already thick, though, and the merchants seems to be wondering whether or not they will still be able to find a favorable position. But as thick as the crowds are getting, any spot they find will doubtless have people flowing past it all day long for the next week.

As Roshii is walking through the crowds, he sees pass by him Shiba Himitsu, one of the younger lords of the Phoenix, but an important man nonetheless. Himitsu is next in line for the position of Champion of the Phoenix. Roshii notes that his betters are indeed here, and thinking little of it, continues to walk on towards the Unicorns' tents.

And then Shiba Himitsu passes again. And then, a little later, Roshii sees the man walk past again. Thinking it is curious that he should be wandering around so, Roshii begins to look closer, and notices that Shiba Himitsu does not seem to be fully himself. He is wandering around looking quite distracted, bumping into people and muttering half-hearted apologies. Some distant concern seems to cross his brow.

But before Roshii can think to speak with him, the crowds swallow the man up again, and he is nowhere to be seen.

The bushi have other matters to attend to. Asking of people that pass them by, they begin to get directions to the Unicorn tents, and begin heading that way, so that they call tell Shinjo Gidayu of all that has happened. Hida Katsu, and Ikoma Nidochi each declare they have pressing matters to attend to, and that they will catch up with the rest of the group as soon as they can. Seeing his comrades leaving the group, Otomo Jin declares he has busness as well, and walks away with a promise to return shortly. Thirteen of the fifteen Unicorn bushi all head towards Gidayu's tents, with two remaining outside the gathering to guard the wagon that houses Iuchi Taiga's body. They do not want to bring any of the Phoenix dishonor by bringing the dead through their streets, even if they thought that the crowds already filling the streets would even let a wagon of any sort through.

Otomo Jin happens to have a contact at Gisu. Tracking the man down is no trouble, and getting him to speak in the mass of people crowding the streets is hardly difficult either. It is very doubtful anyone will notice two men speaking to each other, when the whole of Rokugan seems to be pressing around them. Sometimes the best place to hide is in plain sight, after all.

"I've only one thing that might interest you," the man says in hushed, conspiratorial tones. "Look around you and tell me what you see."

Jin looks around, and other than the building the two of them are standing next to, all he can see is the huge mass of people. Bushi and shugenja, samurai, merchant, and peasant, in every shade of cloth and armor he can think of. Phoenix red fills the crowd, but the rainbow of Crab blue-gray, Unicorn Purple, Crane blue, Dragon green, Lion orange, and even Scorpion scarlet is everywhere. Here and there are even the assorted colors of the minor clans and the imperial families.

"All of Rokugan is here," Jin says. "I see every clan and family. A huge turnout for a significant festival."

"Exactly," the small man says. "Every clan. Every family. Every color. All of Rokugan is here to represent their families." He stresses the last word.

Jin's brow furrows, and then realization hits him. He spins around again. Every single person he sees, samurai or peasant is sporting their clan's colors, and usually their mon as well. Red. Orange. Yellow. Blue. Green. Every single man. "There are no ronin," Jin says, turning back to his contact. "Not one."

The man chuckles slightly. "You are correct, Otomo-sama. There are no ronin at this festival. There have been no ronin here, and word on the street is that there will be no ronin here. Which is very odd, don't you think? Especially considering that there are over 100,000 ronin in Rokugan, and they generally have much more to prove than any other. One would think the shugenja would have jumped at the chance to be here and prove their worth. But there are none."

Jin thinks a moment more. "You have given me much to think on. I will be in touch if I require your assistance again." The man simply nods and slips into the crowd. Jin stares at the crowd a moment longer, then rushes to find his colleagues.

After some time of walking through the thick crowds, the group finally reaches a cluster of tents with purple and gold banners flying from them. Asking the guards, the samurai are directed to Gidayu's tent. Walking towards it, the samurai are met by a fierce looking Shinjo samurai-ko, who greets them and leads them to her daimyo.

As Nyoko is walking through the crowds, she notices an ise zumi among the throng. And he seems to be speaking to, of all people, a Kuni Witch Hunter. This strikes her as odd, since both usually have less frivolous things on their mind than festivals and competitions. That either would be here is odd. That both are here and speaking with each other is at the least deserving of notice.

Gidayu's tent is large, fortunately, but even so, the twenty samurai who have come to see him fill it completely. Which is all the better, since what they have to say, they do not want any others to hear.

Roshii bows as he enters the tent. He makes a mental note of his surroundings. He appears dazed as if he is thinking on something. Roshii thinks about the crowds he passed through on his way here. He awaits the others remarks and listens carefully.

In typical uncultured Unicorn fashion, Shinjo Gidayu, sitting at the tent's lone table, going through papers, smiles broadly as the samurai stream in. "Greetings," he says to them. "It is a great relief to see you all here. How was the journey?"

Suddenly, a flicker of recognition passes his eyes, and his smile suddenly fades. "Where is Iuchi Taiga?"

Nyoko steps forward, the question dragging her out of the thoughtful reverie she'd been in upon arriving at the festival. She could have sworn she just saw... no, no. Probably not.

She bows low before Gidayu, and she meets his gaze when she speaks. "Our convoy was attacked, by a band of ronin," the Dragon says, like most of her Clan when not being enigmatic speak with nothing but honesty. "When the battle was over, Taiga's carriage was in flames, your vassal dead and the scrolls gone." Nyoko bows again, this time not rising. "The most direct path of the ronins' pursuit, the bridge deeper into Phoenix lands, was cut. We had no way to cross. Our failure in this has shamed us all, and we humbly ask leave to finish the task before us." Only then does she half-rise, sitting in a kneeling position. "If you so wish, we will ask our daimyos' permission to peform seppuku so you may have your own bushi search."

Aramoro steps forward and bows as low as the samauri-ko had. "There is something more Shinjo-sama. The ronin's archers deliberately let our party escape from their attack. We have estimated their numbers at more than forty. Yet not one single arrow drew blood. They were shooting to miss." He states this as fact, not speculation. "Their shugenja placed a sleeping magic on the caravan. While we were unable to act they did nothing to any of us. But Iuchi-sama they slaughtered in order to take the scroll cache. Their tactics are bewildering. I do not know what conclusion to draw from our encounter." The Akodo assumes a kneeling position next to Nyoko.

Gidayu listens to Nyoko and Aramoro and shakes his head sadly. He was fond of Taiga, so he is understandably upset. He seems to consider her words for a few moments. "The loss of the scrolls is a tremendous dishonor," he finally says, "one which taints the entire proceedings. If anyone is to learn that we do not have them, the scandal could ruin us. As those chargerd with their protection, I fear you may bear the greatest weight of the burden.

"However, there is still hope. If you find the scrolls before the end of the festival and bring them back in time for the winner to recieve them then all will be well. As far as the rest of the empire knows, they were never lost at all. The apprehension of these dogs will allow you to save face, and erase the dishonor of your earlier failure. Do you think you can find the bandits who robbed you?"

Jin steps forward. After bowing low, he proceeds to say that he himself will see to it that the scrolls are returned. After bowing again, Jin steps back and watches the others in anticipation of their following his glorious leadership.

"Far be it from the Dragon to argue with a cousin of the Son of Heaven," Nyoko says with a bemused smile, bowing low before Gidayu once again. "We can."

"Very well," Gidayu says, beginning to rustle through the papers on his table. He draws one out from a pile and uncurls it atop the rest, also taking the brush and inkwell on the table. It is very obviously a map of the area. "You say that you were attacked here, by Sleeping Thunder," he says, marking the map, "and then followed these cur to this ravine." He marks a line from the road to the ravine, which is apparently enough of a hazard to warrant being put on the map. He ponders the map for a moment.

"This area is far too mountainous for the most part to support such a large band. The few paths that run through these mountains are precarious at best. And the only area within several days' walk, other than where we stand is here," he says, extending the line northwards and circling a spot on the map. "This small pocket of land next to Kanawa Taki is relatively livable. These ronin must be somewhere here. I doubt they would be so bold as to make their hideout along the path itself, but they are no doubt only several hours south of it. If the fortunes are with you, setting out from here you may find it in five hours or so."

Roshii listens to the suggestion and agrees silently with it. He can wait to rematch those shugenga to show them what the Phoenix clan is made of. "I will do whatever it takes to get those scrolls back here. That I swear on my life." And with that statment he bows low and stays there.

Gidayu watches the Phoenix's display with intent. "Rise, Roshii. And you as well, Nyoko and Aramoro. I am well aware that you all may have had reason to believe this was an honorary assignment at first, but now it is a matter of dire urgency. And it is not necessarily a blow to any yet. You need to track down these ronin, and I will help in the only way I can. Iruko!"

With the shout from Gidayu, the Shinjo samurai-ko that led the samurai into the tent here pushes her way forward and kneels before her daimyo. "Hai!"

"The caravan guards cannot help you any longer. They have duties that require their presence here. Shinjo Iruko-san will serve as my presence for this mission. Now, is there anything else, or will you be setting out now?"

Iruko stands. "We will find these scrolls, return them, and restore the honor of all involved." And by that, she of course means her daimyo.

Rising, Roshii says, "There is nothing more I require Gidayu-sama. Than he makes a swift bow and exits the tent.

Nyoko smoothly rises to her feet and bows to Gidayu-sama, before turning and falling into step next to Iruko. The Dragon gives the Unicorn an appraising glance before speaking. "You must be very angry with us," Nyoko states. "Angry this pack of samurai, whom I'm sure must be little better than ronin in your eyes, could potentially bring such dishonor to your daimyo." Her tone is considering, thoughtful. "Yes, I can see what I would do if I was in your place. I would do anything I could to spare my lord this loss of honor." Finally, Nyoko stops and smiles her strange smile at Iruko. "Good. You will be able to help us, then."

The Unicorn looks at her, obviously slightly perplexed, then nods sharply. "I see we have an understanding, then," she says. "Yes, Nyoko-san, I believe that we will do well together."

Aramoro again and bows once more before leaving. "Hai, Shinjo-sama. We leave immediately." Aramoro pauses only a moment. "The objective before us will be more swiftly attained if we had horses to carry us and that map to guide us." He glances over his shoulder at Otomo Jin. "Otomo-sama is an outstanding leader. But even leaders need to know which direction to travel."

"Hai, Aramoro-san, they do. Here," he says, rolling the map back up. "Take it. Although I'm afraid the horses would be no help to you. The terrain you must travel is not impassible, but it is difficult. I'm afraid that horses would only slow you, once you left the path. And even if that were not the case, I have none to spare at the moment. Half my patrols are on foot as it is. An awkward position for the Unicorn, to say the least."

Gathering with his companions, Aramoro looks at the sky. The sun is well towards the horizon by this time. "We should leave quickly," he says. "We will already be spending most of the trip in the dark."

"Hai, Aramoro-san," Iruko replies, "and it will be a long trip. Let us make haste while we still can."

After many hours of following the tracks of the ronin, night begins to fall on Hiruma Toshidaka. After the ravine, the path curved sharply to the north, and it has been going northwards all day. From what Toshidaka can remember of the planned route, it seems that this path is paralleling the road to the Shrine, but some many miles to the east of it. The ground is still very treacherous, and the path winds along the mountains, precariously close at times to the edge. It is very obvious that this is the heart of the mountains. Night has come an hour ago, and still the tracks go on. These ronin apparently have no plans of stopping.

But there is enough moonlight to keep going. Toshidaka follows the path for another few hours, and then he stops. He can see the end of the path, a large valley, much less rocky and treacheous than the rest of the path until now. Rice paddies line the sides of the valley, and there are a dozen buildings on the floor. This is a small village; none of the buildings look to have any sort of military function. He almost thinks that he may have lost the trail and come to the wrong place.

Except for the freshly-lit funeral pyre on the other side of the villiage upon which rests the man that was killed by Agasha Nyoko's dragon of fire. Sixty people or so circle the pyre as a shugenja chants supplications to the Fortunes imploring them for the the man's spirit to be at rest.

Toshidaka fears that there is nothing more he can do for now. He is far outnumbered, a little hungry, and very tired. So he decides to rest. After all, ronin have to sleep to. He finds a small spot near the valley that is far enough from camp that he feels little risk of being spoted, yet close enough to see enemy movement. He lays down in that spot and falls fast asleep, knowing the enemy will probably make its move sometime early tomorrow.

And as he lies under the stars, Toshidaka can't help but wonder what these Ronin plan on doing with the scrolls. Why was only Taiga killed? Why was he spared? And where are his companions?