D2 EA - A missing persons case? (expecting)

[Kakita Konohamaru]

Some peasant lost his wife down by the docks, she probably just ran off with another fisherman. Poor bastard.

Konohamaru was assured, this was the last time to be lax about a disappearance. Between the witches, the party's importance and the influx of guests, a disappearance like this could very easily spiral out of control if not left alone.

It reminded the monster of a gruesome case in a small village in the Northeast where the gentry only assisted with a missing person's investigation when his own son went missing.

No one in the town raised a fuss when he punished the gentry for his folly as well.

With the address in head, he decided to take the long way to the breft's place of work.

Still, something held him here, looking into the depths of the ocean. It was almost... calming.

It had been a long time since he had been near the sea, it seemed.

[Kakita Masao]

The Kakita nikutai joins Konohamaru, with a respectful bow and appropriate words of greeting. "How can I help?"

[Kakita Konohamaru]

The Kakita nikutai joins Konohamaru, with a respectful bow and appropriate words of greeting. "How can I help?"

Konohamaru returns the bow in kind.

"Kakita-Nikutai. Your presence is welcome."

At the question, however, the joy visibly runs from the Magistrate's body, allowing a visage of the nightmare to return.

"I'm heading to investigate a missing persons' case. Perhaps we can clear some misconceptions along the way."

It was a cursory summary, but not untrue.

[Kakita Masao]

"Lead on, Kakita-sama. I am at your disposal if there may be a danger to my cousin or her wedding." Masao's wary eyes are already watchful, without even knowing where they're going or why...

[Kakita Konohamaru]

"Thank you."

And lead on he does.

After some paces of soaking in the atmosphere, the dreaded one spoke.

"I'm sure you've heard the rumours surrounding the witch haunting Hida-san. The witch specifically said 'the mountain will fall to the Crane'."

The implications of such a statement was obvious.

[Kakita Masao]

Masao snorts, then apologizes to the magistrate. "Ah, please excuse me, Kakita-sama. This one is skeptical of witches and prophecies and such, but it will in no way impair my vigilance."

As they continue, the soldier can't resist asking a silly question: "Kakita-sama, isn't this 'warning' from the witch exactly what happens if the wedding succeeds? That is, if Hida Yoji-sama is marrying into our clan... The mountain is 'falling' from Crab to Crane... For those who might agree that it's a step down of some kind."

[Kakita Konohamaru]

Masao snorts, then apologizes to the magistrate. "Ah, please excuse me, Kakita-sama. This one is skeptical of witches and prophecies and such, but it will in no way impair my vigilance."

"Anywhere else and I wouldn't blame you. Here, witches means something more. It's good you keep your vigilance, even in doubt."

As they continue, the soldier can't resist asking a silly question: "Kakita-sama, isn't this 'warning' from the witch exactly what happens if the wedding succeeds? That is, if Hida Yoji-sama is marrying into our clan... The mountain is 'falling' from Crab to Crane... For those who might agree that it's a step down of some kind."

There was something strongly optimistic about how Masao viewed the situation. Not naive, but optimistic; there was no way Kono could believe it was just that. If that was all, he doubted the so-called "witch" would have

"Maybe. Doubtful. Either way. it's a case of risk assessment; if it's nothing, then we wasted time but . If it's something and we did nothing, the results could be devastating."

Still, if the Sergeant knew nothing that could be a relief - if there was complete honesty - as it helped eliminate some potential angles of attack from the back of his mind.

"But the clan has no plans I'll need to shield the flock from, then?"

[Kakita Masao]

Masao's feet do a better job following the magistrate than his mind. "Plans, Kakita-sama? So far as I know, our only plans are to see the wedding successfully completed... perhaps strengthen our alliances..." And get out of here as fast as possible. Hai, grandmother. I agree.

The nikutai feels some trepidation as he follows the intimidating Crane magistrate, but it isn't fear. He's been on the front line against Hida heavy infantry who didn't scare him. It's just... What in all the realms is going on here.

[Kakita Konohamaru]

Masao's feet do a better job following the magistrate than his mind. "Plans, Kakita-sama? So far as I know, our only plans are to see the wedding successfully completed... perhaps strengthen our alliances..." And get out of here as fast as possible. Hai, grandmother. I agree.

The nikutai feels some trepidation as he follows the intimidating Crane magistrate, but it isn't fear. He's been on the front line against Hida heavy infantry who didn't scare him. It's just... What in all the realms is going on here.

...He won't press him.

The hesitation, the trepidation - it could easily be a liar's hesitation, fear, any number of things. The wedding as feint attack could have been a strong showing, but if it was he and Masao were not in the know.

But the man was a Nikutai - surely a mere magistrate like him would be child's play?

In any case, they were getting close to their location, but whatever was bubbling within him could be a powder keg about to go off.

With a sharp turn, the magistrate rotates to face the man behind him as his legs lock into a military stand with a sharp, audible click before he returns to normal. His posture shows concern, which from a monster is perhaps more scary

"You seem hesitant, Kakita-Nikutai. Whatever holds you back, let me know if I can help."

[Kakita Masao]

Masao's eyes flicker large for a moment as he's surprised by the abrupt movement. He's physically quick enough to not enter the magistrate's space, and he's mentally quick enough to know what "can I help?" means from a magistrate.

With a sigh, feeling embarrassed to say it after mocking the idea of witches just a sort time before: "I just have a bad feeling about this whole place. Not that anything or anyone in particular is bad, but..." He shakes his head. "Perhaps just a soldier's wariness from the war so recent. It--" He pauses. "The war was unkind to my family, Kakita-sama, but i swear to you it will in no way prevent me from making sure this wedding succeeds."

[Kakita Konohamaru]

With a sigh, feeling embarrassed to say it after mocking the idea of witches just a sort time before: "I just have a bad feeling about this whole place. Not that anything or anyone in particular is bad, but..."

"That is a fair feeling. The heavens gave us our instincts for a reason - do not dismiss them unduly."

"The war was unkind to my family, Kakita-sama, but i swear to you it will in no way prevent me from making sure this wedding succeeds."

"I believe you."

The war... it had been by some grace and miracle that his own had not been effected by it. But no magistrate left in the Crane lands couldn't tell you about its effects on those it touched, and how it was time to stop Cranefooting whenever it came up. Perhaps he was being too soft, not trying to push the matter at all, but discretion was the better part of valour.

"And thank you. Your commitment will not go unrewarded. Should you need it, my ears will be open at any time."

Perhaps it was time. He looked at the establishment and turned to the Nikutai.

"Shall we?"

[Kakita Masao]

"Ready to follow your lead, Kakita-sama" comes the determined answer.

[Dapper Dog]

There is a group of peasants trying to console a middle aged man and his two children, both girls. They notice the samurai and start to disperse slowly not hoping to gain the attention of the samurai.

[Kakita Konohamaru]

"Ready to follow your lead, Kakita-sama" comes the determined answer.

"Ready to lead myself. Quick brief - the man recently lost his wife, as in she disappeared, yesterday. He may sound ridiculous, but it'll be based on truth. We can think about what, exactly, after we finish speaking to him. Sympathy will be a priority."

There is a group of peasants trying to console a middle aged man and his two children, both girls. They notice the samurai and start to disperse slowly not hoping to gain the attention of the samurai.

For those who knew of the legend of the monster magistrate, the idea of him showing any kind of sympathy to a peasant would seem almost like a lie, but those who knew the man for real would know he once attended the wedding of one of his Yoriki torturers.

He stopped abruptly, bowing to the group and showing his magistrate's seal.

"I have come to speak with the bereaved and express my sympathies."

[Dapper Dog]

The old man said, "Samurai-sama, how can I help you?"

[Kakita Konohamaru]

The magistrate asks Masao to look after the children while he speaks to the elderly man.

"Can you tell me what happened last night?"

[Dapper Dog]

He frowned and said, "We made dinner samurai-sama, and my wife likes to get up early to get the bot ready while I make sure the children are fed and have their chores for the day. But she never returned to get me and when I came to look for her I found the boat was only half ready and no sign of her. No one has seen anything."

He sighed holding back tears, "Perhaps it is true what the people said."

[Kakita Konohamaru]

He frowned and said, "We made dinner samurai-sama, and my wife likes to get up early to get the bot ready while I make sure the children are fed and have their chores for the day. But she never returned to get me and when I came to look for her I found the boat was only half ready and no sign of her. No one has seen anything."

He sighed holding back tears, "Perhaps it is true what the people said."

The dread magistrate looked sympathetic. He made a note of the boat - perhaps he'd look at later.

"Had there been any recent behaviour changes in the household?"

[Dapper Dog]

"No," he said simply.

[Kakita Masao]

Masao is no investigator, so attending the children is actually a relief. He waves them over to him as he kneels a few feet away from where the father speaks to Konohamaru.

"Girls, can I show you something?" He takes his flute from his obi, thankful he'd kept it with him after getting Kono's summons. "This flute was made by my grandfather. He carved and shaped it himself. How do you think it sounds?"

[Dapper Dog]

The girls are deathly afraid of Masao, well the samurai in general, but nod slowly.

[Kakita Konohamaru]

"No," he said simply.

Hmm.

"Can you lead me to the boat?"

[Dapper Dog]

He turned and gestured to the mall fishing boat, "Here it is samurai-sama. Do be careful, if you mean to get in."

The last thing he needed was a Crane to drown and him being at fault.

[Kakita Masao]

Masao sits down on the ground, looking as unimposing as a man with three feet of sharpened steel at his hip can be.

Right. Let's try this. The Crane bushi begins a simple song on the flute, a little brighter and faster than would be played in a court, but hopefully more enjoyable to young ears.

As he plays, he keeps a peripheral eye on Kono, in case he's needed. But until called, he's quite happy to play and just keep attention off of the magistrate.

[Kakita Konohamaru]

He turned and gestured to the mall fishing boat, "Here it is samurai-sama. Do be careful, if you mean to get in."

The last thing he needed was a Crane to drown and him being at fault.

The magistrate gave a nod before calling out to Masao.

"I'll be back in a minute, keep up the good work."

He looked around the boat and its mooring for anything... out of place. Any freshly chipped surfaces, any signs of a struggle, anything that could indicate what happened that night.

(result 27)