Session 4: Lord Sazen Report

General Summary

Last session you were forced onto your knees awaiting to meet the elusive Lord Sazen you had heard about during your time in Takaiyamagun. A medium sized, stocky man wearing samurai attire greeted you with a smirk and introduced himself. He pondered as to why you chose to sneak around the district and not come to him to announce your presence, but what he was most displeased with was the fact that one of the party had killed one of his guards men. You luckily avoided being forever branded with a hot iron for your crime through Nox singing a ballad that showed a complete disregard to the murder that was on your hands. His two guards that had survived their battle with you though were not so lucky and received a branding of their own to mark their incompetence. He explained that the rumours you heard about Takaiyamagun not allowing outsiders in was false and the only reason the gates have been closed for so long is due to the fact the district is being plagued by demons, though he advised that this was not a matter for you to get involved in.   With three of his guardsmen being out of action he was happy you 'accepted' his offer of replacing them and in return gave you each a citizenship badge, allowing you to roam the district with ease but asked that you returned to him in 2 days time when he could prepare some tasks for you. You were then escorted to the Sui-Rogu Inn which you could use as a base to rest. You met Haruyoshi, a drunken former master swordsman who did not take kindly to the guards who told him to either take you in or face the consequences, he threw a glass at them in anger and asked why you were in his 'shithole'.   You told him the truth and he explained that it doesn't surprise him, after you had some fiery drinks with him he gave you some information (whilst drunkenly sobbing) that he used to be a master swordsman until the fame, drink and gold went to his head, ruining everything he had worked so hard for, he then told you a story of a kind old woman who used to live in a temple in the Sakura Forest before the district walls were erected, he then proceeded to pass out from the drink.   You decided to head back to the Grand Karst, owing to the fact you still couldn't sleep for a long period of time, and to try re-attempt visiting the sewer that lived at the top. When you arrived it was midnight and the area was in darkness, you made out the shape of an old woman at the well, she approached you, specifically talking to Majutsu before you all decided to follow her to her house, she was the sewer you were seeking. With a tap of her cane the stairwell that had previously turned into a slide was now a functioning staircase again.   You went inside and soon discovered she was a hag but unlike those you may have heard about, she fled her convent before she fully turned into a hag and led a life helping those who wished to escape their old lives, creating new ones in the remote district that is Takaiyamagun. She also mentioned her convent was wiped out by a paladin order, saddened by it but understanding why it was needed. When you asked she told you the location you were looking for related to your dreams was in the Sakura Forest. She advised you do not go there but after denying this she gave you a pink potion each that when Majutsu looked closely at appeared to be some kind of healing liquid.   After intimidating a guard to open up the gate, due to the fact citizens were not allowed out of the district walls at night, you set foot into the forest ready to find the source of your sleepless nights.