D4EA - A second serious banquet (Crane only)

[Doji Soon-ja]

Yuuwaku leans towards Soon-ja.

"Please, Auntie, tell us more!"

Encouraged, Soon-ja continued with her rambling.

“This other Hitomi would’ve been before my time … at least a hundred years ago,” she recalled. “I only know of her from the stories my own auntie used to tell me, when I was young. A Crab and a Crane had a daughter named Hitomi out of wedlock - terribly scandalous, don’t you know. Through calling in favors they made arrangements for the Hida family to accept Hitomi. They boarded a ship to take them to the Crab lands… the Blue Peony, I think? No, no, it was the Azure Orchid, a good Crane ship. But the ship was lost at sea and their bodies were never found.”

“My own auntie warned me that this kind of thing happens to naughty girls who sleep with men who aren’t their husbands,” Soon-ja said sternly. “I hope you will all remember - such scandalous affairs never end well.”

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Something clicks for Yuuwaku.

"Auntie, do you remember the names of the Crab and Crane?"

[Asahina Sanaharu]

He was listening, lost on the conversation, but he enjoyed good storytelling nevertheless.

[Doji Soon-ja]

"Auntie, do you remember the names of the Crab and Crane?"

"I don't remember the names of the parents," Soon-ja admitted. "It's the child's unfortunate fate that stuck with me... lost at sea, drowning, without even a family name." The old woman shuddered.

"They would've been a Hida and a Doji, though," she reflected. "Maybe the Crab bureaucrats up in the castle would have some record of their names. Why, do you think they are connected with that old duel somehow? It's a good thought."

[Kakita Yuuwaku]

Yuuwaku nods.

"It has the makings of a tragedy, such as the Academy teaches. But what does Kakita-bugyo think?" she poses, putting the question to their host and summoner.

[Doji Yuma]

Yuma pondered aloud:

"Was that affair part of the issues that started the feud that had been plaguing this region for one century? The dates and the protagonists roughly match.

I confess I have willingly avoided the subject of why Crab and Crane are especially at each other throat until now, for fear of rekindling that barely extinguished warfire, but now I'm left wondering if that was a wise approach."

[Asahina Sanaharu]

He wondered for the slightiest second if Kio was a child like Hitomi with their ancestry in secret, but this was an outrageous claim he would never call aloud. He sipped on his tea, letting the flavor and scent come to him before gathering courage to question.

"Please pardon for my ignorance, but as the war is already to end due to this matrimony, why would we go search for this certain Hitomi? I believe all is well."

[Doji Kintaro]

“It certainly fits though I do not recall there being a child involved with Hida Gusari or Doji Bujeihime… but,” he paused to take a drink as he considered his next words.

“But, what Doji-sama says is true, there was a ship called the Azure Orchid but the records say it was stormed by Crab to kill Doji Bujeihime but she escaped to the shore to have her famous duel with Hida Gusari. If the child was never claimed then it would make sense that such a detail was omitted.”

He stroked his chin and added, “Things are coming together, more so than this nonsense about repeating days.”

[Kakita Konohamaru]

“It certainly fits though I do not recall there being a child involved with Hida Gusari or Doji Bujeihime… but,” he paused to take a drink as he considered his next words.

“But, what Doji-sama says is true, there was a ship called the Azure Orchid but the records say it was stormed by Crab to kill Doji Bujeihime but she escaped to the shore to have her famous duel with Hida Gusari. If the child was never claimed then it would make sense that such a detail was omitted.”

He stroked his chin and added, “Things are coming together, more so than this nonsense about repeating days.”

"I suppose the question is, then, how do we appease the spirit? Do we need to reunite Do-Hida Hitomi with her lineage, whoever her parents were?"

He thought back to being called 'daddy', but he wasn't so sure it meant anything anymore. Perhaps he was a reincarnation?

He decided to ignore the comment about repeating days.

[Doji Kintaro]

"The realms of the spirits is the purview of the priests," he said calmly.

[Kakita Konohamaru]

"The realms of the spirits is the purview of the priests," he said calmly.

Konohamaru nodded in agreement.

"Yes, but we are not without priestly lineage, or indeed priests, here. I value their input so that the rest of us can support them in whatever needs be done."

[Asahina Sanaharu]

"To get things clear... Do you believe that there is a stray spirit named Hitomi, who was the daughter of the two samurai who issued this duel? Is this spirit related to what happened tomorrow morning?"
He nods to Kintaro.
"I had invited a wardmaster from the Hiruma."

[Hiruma Roger]

The mentioned Hiruma steps in and bows low "I thought you had asked me to check the hotel for Trickster Spirits Asahina-san, not ancestral ones."

[Kakita Konohamaru]

"To get things clear... Do you believe that there is a stray spirit named Hitomi, who was the daughter of the two samurai who issued this duel? Is this spirit related to what happened tomorrow morning?"

"Tomorrow morning? Otherwise yes."

He nods to Kintaro.
"I had invited a wardmaster from the Hiruma."

Konohamaru nods. Normally he would have talked about asking for permission first, but now was not the time. He turned to the servants at the door.

"See to it this Hiruma wardmaster is - oh, you're here."

Konohamaru bowed to the guest.

"Welcome. Feel free to enjoy the food while you're here."

[Doji Yuma]

Yuma decided it was well-time for a hopefully clear summary of the issue:

"To sum up facts: The presence of a restless spirit who calls herself Hitomi has been witnessed by Kakita-sama and at least one other samurai.

We would like very much to appease her wrath so she does not trouble this wedding any further. For that purpose an investigation is ongoing to determine who she is, what she wants, and what's the best way to deal with her. The great erudition of Doji-sama and Doji-sama, as well as the skills of Hiruma-sama, might prove critical for that purpose."

[Asahina Sanaharu]

"Oh if it is not Hiruma-san! Have you eaten your portion of rice today? As for your affirmation... I believed, for I am sure of nothing, that it was trickster spirits. Everyone on the Blue Bird house woke up with their things as they were left yesterday. I have asked some heimin about the festival, and they recall it as it was yesterday as well. It is usually trickster spirits who play pranks on people, so it was my guess. We know not what exactly is happening, Hiruma-san, and for this I beg your pardon and help."

[Hiruma Roger]

----
D4 EA - Lore Sakkaku: 5d10o10k4 43

D4 EA - Lore Ghosts: 5d10o10k4 28

-----

The Hiruma bows low and then begins a slow examination of the room, looking for signs, and seeing what he can find to either prove their theories or disprove them.

[Dapper Dog]

----
D4 EA - Lore Sakkaku: 5d10o10k4 43

D4 EA - Lore Ghosts: 5d10o10k4 28

-----

The Hiruma bows low and then begins a slow examination of the room, looking for signs, and seeing what he can find to either prove their theories or disprove them.

OOC: What exactly is he trying to recall with each roll, that's a wide topic.

[Hiruma Roger]

----
D4 EA - Lore Sakkaku: 5d10o10k4 43

D4 EA - Lore Ghosts: 5d10o10k4 28

-----

The Hiruma bows low and then begins a slow examination of the room, looking for signs, and seeing what he can find to either prove their theories or disprove them.

OOC: What exactly is he trying to recall with each roll, that's a wide topic.

OOC : Signs that Trickster spirits or ghosts might be present/have been recently present, and ways to protect against them in general. I am aware that i have little to no spells or techniques that can do anything seriously against them.

[Hiruma Roger]

After a brief communion and checking various signs, the Hiruma shakes his head slowly, "There is much...malevolence, violence, suffering, and hatred. I sense none of the normal playfulness that comes with the realm of mischief. " He pauses, "I am not an expert in such spirits, this is definitely the realm that the Kitsu or Toritaka are more adept in. Such spirits are very difficult to banish or defeat, but can sometimes be... dealt with by finding the reason for the haunting, and resolving it." He shakes his head, "Do we have any idea why the spirit is lashing out?"

[Kakita Konohamaru]

After a brief communion and checking various signs, the Hiruma shakes his head slowly, "There is much...malevolence, violence, suffering, and hatred. I sense none of the normal playfulness that comes with the realm of mischief. " He pauses, "I am not an expert in such spirits, this is definitely the realm that the Kitsu or Toritaka are more adept in. Such spirits are very difficult to banish or defeat, but can sometimes be... dealt with by finding the reason for the haunting, and resolving it." He shakes his head, "Do we have any idea why the spirit is lashing out?"

"Sadly, no. We do have a rhyme which might have a clue:"

"First night, curse begins,
Second night, I eat your sins,
third night, curse reborn,
Fourth night, a child you mourn."

"...Is a phrase she's used a few times."

[Doji Kintaro]

Kintaro listened but this was beyond his level of knowledge.

[Asahina Sanaharu]

"Earlier today, Kitsuki-san said that she saw the spirit of an old man worried about his daughter on the village, but also gaki on the bath house and the spirit of a girl who called her mother. As well, an evil dog she fought with a Hiruma and an Ichiro. Perhaps we could try to summon the old man somehow and ask him about Hitomi?"

[Hiruma Roger]

"Two ghosts, a gaki, and a demon dog? Creatures from three or more other realms all appearing at once seems rather....curious...." he pauses " Do you know the name of this Hiruma I would like to speak with them"

[Asahina Sanaharu]

"Nothing says they aren't all gaki, though. Or corrupted gaki for the matter. Isn't Gaki-Do near..." And he stopped speaking. "I know not. You may be interested on speaking with Kitsuki-san."