D3 EE - The invasion? (Expecting)

[Kakita Konohamaru]

Kakita Konohamaru was not having a very good day.

First, he was facing pointless insubordination from Kintaro. Second, the bride got poisoned. Thirdly, all the servants had walked out of their inn. Somewhere down the line, there had been rumours of an Invasion?

By the team he was working with?

At best, they could invade a playhouse and embarrass them with applause, maybe a lovely speech which Kintaro would ruin by sticking his foot in his mouth, again,

"...And I half wonder if our supposed diplomat is only here to cross steel!" He bemoaned to himself.

Still, one thing at a time - it was time to quell these rumours of invasion once and for all.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku, dressed demurely, accompanies the magistrate. A few words in passing about administrative support had been all that had been needed to bring her along, and she is here to help. The rest...that's for when she's not tasked with particular duties, and even that builds relationships likely to be helpful later on...as well as fun.

But this, this will not be fun. Needed, maybe, but not fun.

[Kakita Konohamaru]

"Thank you for joining me, Kakita-san. I wish it was under more calming circumstances. I understand Masao-Nikutai also wished to join us."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku nods.

"His presence will likely help, Kakita-bugyo. And this one is pleased to be able to assist as her abilities allow."

She shakes her head.

"We have no reason for subterfuge, of course, and we would scarcely imperil those placed so highly among us in such ways as have been rumored."

[Kakita Konohamaru]

"I checked yesterday with our Nikutai and there's no attack coming - so if the accusations get too far, no reinforcements either."

His tone is grim.

"The sooner we kill these rumours the better. Otherwise our descendants can learn about our valiant last stand, critiquing a draw lot play as the pincer comes in around the playhouse."

It's clear from his rare, obsidian sense of humour that he is actually rather fearful of what's happening.

(ooc: What's the roll for finding the source of the rumours?)

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"This one was unaware that Kakita-bugyo was a writer of farcical plays," Yuuwaku responds, perhaps a bit dryly. "There are audiences for such works, to be certain."

Laughter kills fear.

[Kakita Konohamaru]

"This one was unaware that Kakita-bugyo was a writer of farcical plays," Yuuwaku responds, perhaps a bit dryly. "There are audiences for such works, to be certain."

A chuckle, as mirthless and dark as the abyss their future held.

"If I ever wrote a play, it'd probably be more along the lines of Mercy."

It was something to discuss, at least.

"You ever heard of it? There was a big fiasco a couple of years back because the Lion outlawed it, but some young up-and-comer got a hold of one of the last remaining copies and reproduced it in Tsuma, where it caught on like wildfire and spread north."

He thought back to his first year as the Dread Magistrate, hearing the news from the captain about that year's winter court - good times.

"It wasn't until a Winter Court duel with our finest that the right to produce and put on the play outside Lion lands unmolested was secured. Nowadays it goes by the name of Uji's Despair to tell Lion straight up to not come to the theatre. I once had a couple of drunk lions try and slaughter a playhouse it was shown in - the poor men were recently married as well."

What happened to the men remained unsaid for good reason.

"The play itself is a little tragic for my tastes, but there you go."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"You ever heard of it? There was a big fiasco a couple of years back because the Lion outlawed it, but some young up-and-comer got a hold of one of the last remaining copies and reproduced it in Tsuma, where it caught on like wildfire and spread north."

Yuuwaku visibly winces.

"I remember that. There was...discussion about that point in class and in the town." She shakes her head. "Much of it was quite heated. No duels, but there were a number of students who showed up to classes bruised 'from falling down during balance exercises' over the next few days. And at least two sensei."

She shakes her head.

"It is to be hoped this goes better."

[Kakita Masao]

(OOC: sorry, thought I posted here but apparently not.)

Kakita Masao had joined his 'cousins' in the middle of their theatrical discussion. He nodded politely about the subject that he was entirely ignorant of, and offered, "In chasing this foolish rumor, are we best served to stick together or split up? Clearly we must speak to the peasants--somehow the rumor has flowed through them."

(OOC: seems like this should be a cooperative Investigation roll if we go together, but several separate attempts if we spread throughout the village?)

[Dapper Dog]

OOC: Investigation + Perception check at TN 15

[Kakita Konohamaru]

At Masao's input, Konohamaru returns to business.

"Together. Last thing we need is some wise guy trying to outnumber us."

The fact they had a noncombatant with them notwithstanding.

[Kakita Konohamaru]

D3EE - Investigation (finding the, source TN15) - 38, success

Leading the group through the alleyways and gaps in the usual evening traffic, Konohamaru thinks he has a strong lead on whatever this mysterious "source" is. As he works, he explains his reasoning - more of a habit from working with rookie Yoriki than anything else.

"Marketplaces near bars are busier in the evening. A quieter one means trouble's afoot."
...
"That sign means they sell less than legal relief at night. Once the red lanterns are lit, it's open."
...
"Always avoid the Slippery Eel. I swear, I've busted a good dozen corrupt officials in these places."

And so on.

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku follows attentively, deferring to the magistrate's greater expertise--and available to apply a gentler touch, if that became needful.

[Kakita Masao]

Masao stays close as well, out of his depth and just trying hard to keep up with the magistrate -- both in steps and thinking.

[Dapper Dog]

They find out that some ronin saw a Crane soldier in armor and spoke about a battle and then left the village. They are not sure where the Crane soldier went but they are for sure that this must be the prelude to a Crane attack.

What else could it be?

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"With respect, Kakita-nikutai, but are you not the only one of us who traveled with armor?" Yuuwaku asks. "I know neither I nor Asahina-kohai have any, and I somehow doubt that Auntie Soon-ja or Daidoji Kaneko-san figure as 'soldiers.'"

She does not ask Konohamaru. If he chooses to discuss it, he will.

[Dapper Dog]

A large Crab bushi leading a group of three burly samurai soldiers and two peasant soldiers approach the gathered Crab. She smiled stretching the scars on her face, it seems even more menacing, as she said, “Good evening delegates of the Crane Hida-dono sent me out to check out this foolish rumor about a Crane invasion? Peasants say that soldiers were scouting the village and then went off into the hinterlands. Which means either the lowborn are spooked or the Crane are the dumbest assholes this side of Rokugan, Fuboshi-dono’s words and I was told to recite that word for word.”

“Where’s the big bird?” she added.

[Kakita Konohamaru]

“Where’s the big bird?” she added.

The actual 'big bird' bowed.

"If by Big bird you mean invasion force, there is none. There is no invasion planned.
If by Big bird you mean the leader, that'd be me."

He thought about why she'd chosen the words "big bird" as opposed to a specific individual.

"Fu Leng's fundoshi, what did Kintaro do?"

[Dapper Dog]

"Don't care who you are, just need to know that the Crane ain't that dumb," she asked.

"Who's Kintaro?"

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"Don't care who you are, just need to know that the Crane ain't that dumb," she asked.

Please say "Of course not; we're marrying one of us to Yoji" Yuuwaku thinks.

She is perhaps wiser not to say it aloud.

[Kakita Konohamaru]

"Don't care who you are, just need to know that the Crane ain't that dumb," she asked.

"Who's Kintaro?"

"Kintaro is the man who's been assisting the bride and being her close aide."

"And no, it's not Crab joke's Birthday - We're not that stupid. We have two fighters and several artisans between us so at best we'd upset a draw lot play."

[Dapper Dog]

"Don't know a Kintaro, not sure why you're telling me your dirty laundry but okay, well in that case go home. You're done here, Crab affairs now," she said folding her arms across her chest.

[Kakita Konohamaru]

That's it?

With a shrug, he turned to the others.

"Guess that's that."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

"If Kakita-bugyo says so. But surely our cousins-to-be wouldn't mind us helping to find out who is impersonating us so badly. More eyes watch better than few, don't they?"

Yuuwaku stares up--and up, it must be admitted--at the scarred woman.

Is this who Sana-kun was talking about? she wonders.

[Kakita Konohamaru]

Kono shook his head.

"Crab business has two specific meanings. 'You aren't qualified to do this' or , pardon my gaijin language, 'fuck off'. Best leave them to it - we'd need to be speaking to Fubushi-sama, Kitusuchi-sama or Jinzo-san to get involved at this point."