D2 EA - A missing persons case? (expecting)

[Dapper Dog]

The children listen and seem to enjoy it but are still scared of the samurai.

Meanwhile the sailing boat is pretty crudely made but sturdy and looking over he does find slight claw grooves on side , something sharp gripped the wood and it seemed to have come from the water from where it is positioned.

[Kakita Konohamaru]

Meanwhile the sailing boat is pretty crudely made but sturdy and looking over he does find slight claw grooves on side , something sharp gripped the wood and it seemed to have come from the water from where it is positioned.

While out of earshot of the peasant, Konohamaru assessed the situation.

"Claw grooves on the side, coming from the water and dragging her in. And with the Mantis representation arriving on boats, we have a serious problem on our hands."

He didn't want to call a full alarm just yet, but he needed to confirm something with the old man. He also called over Masao - he may need his knowledge on this.

"Tell me." He addresses the peasant. "Do these docks have a history of... bandits, pirates or the like?"

[Dapper Dog]

"It has happened, but not often, at least since I was a boy and even then it was easily handled if I recall," he said curiously.

"You think she was taken by bandits?"

[Kakita Konohamaru]

"It has happened, but not often, at least since I was a boy and even then it was easily handled if I recall," he said curiously.

"You think she was taken by bandits?"

"This won't be easy to hear."

Konohamaru pointed out the claw marks.

"These seem to show something coming up from the water. If bandits were regular, some might hide under water. As it stands... it might be worse."

[Dapper Dog]

"Oh no," he said and started to cry.

[Kakita Masao]

Masao plays another song for the children, and encourages other peasants who may be close to join his audience as well. He sees Kono heading back to the father from the boat and, regardless of the results, figures to play a little louder and more ostentatiously for a time.

[Kakita Konohamaru]

Providing a shoulder for the old peasant, for a while the Demon of Doji simply let the man weep. Face loss be damned, he was the Demon of Doji. He needed no petty stature, no grand circumstance.

Right now, a man had gone from believing himself a failure to finding his wife had been taken by some supernatural horror he couldn't even name.

After a while, after brushing down the salt lines of mourning on his clothing, He re-approached the crowd. The sense of morbidity emanating from the dread magistrate was enough to cause a nearby bird's mating song to become a requiem.

"Nikutai. Take the children into one of the nearby buildings and play for them there. Adults, stay here."

There was no room for argument or contradiction in his Iron Maiden of a voice. There was simply the order of a Magistrate with no time to waste.

[Dapper Dog]

The peasants wait to see what the samurai needed.

[Kakita Masao]

"Hai, Kakita-sama," he responds quickly, setting an example for the peasants. As he rises, he trills three notes to help break any "demon freeze" among the crowd. "Come, youngsters, I have a very special song that you all should here, with the right kind of..." He realizes they won't understand "acoustics." "You want to hear it inside, or you'll miss the magic part."

Noting the wave of one older peasant toward a specific building, he shooes all the children inside, closing the door firmly behind them. Within two minutes, he's playing loudly enough that the loudest notes can be faintly heard outside.

[Kakita Konohamaru]

Konohamaru waits until the children are far away before he begins.

"Last night, as you know, someone was taken from these docks and has gone missing. There were claw marks on the side, as if something climbed up the boat. Something inhuman."

He let the words sink in and left his doubts out before continuing.

"It attacked at night, and attacked an unarmed woman. As such, until you hear otherwise, avoid having vulnerable or weak people around these docks at night. If you must go out, do so in pairs and do so armed. Kama, knives, whatever you have. If you see something abnormal, shout and run. Don't try and be a hero, be a survivor. If you hear word from the local authorities, follow their advice when they give it."

He then sat down by a chopped log , produced some small notes and his calligraphy kit.

"I need two runners. One of you, run to the Golden Carp castle and ensure this gets passed on to either Hiruma Jinzo or Hida Kitusuchi. The second of you, find your way to the Blue Bird Inn. Tell them to hand this to Doji Kintaro. Any further action or precautions should come to you from the castle."

He writes two notes, explaining what he found, what he determined and what he did before letting the runners take them.

"As for the rest of you, stay safe and keep your families safe. If something grabs you,"

He presented his clutched fist, before hammering down on the back of it with his other fist, which forced his fist open.

"Aim for the back of their fist. That should help burst their grip open so you can get away. Any questions?"

[Dapper Dog]

They listen and two peasants do as instructed. They just hoped the samurai would protect them.

[Kakita Konohamaru]

"If there are no questions, then I implore you - stay as safe as you can. The safer you make yourselves, the safer your Lords can keep you."

With that, he turns to leave, looking to pick up Masao before heading to the festival.