Session Report: 29 January 2021
The View Across Lake Yath
General Summary
In this session of Tsuwamono, the following events transpired:
Arrival at Baharna1559年11月15日: 18:00(?)
Baharna
Historical Entry: Arrival at Baharna
Under the escort of Steersman Leaf's longship, the Hashinara Clan's temporary Baharnan crew finally pulled their stolen Black Galleon into the great port of Baharna. While the surrounding cluster of clay and stone houses was certainly more a city than a town, all of Baharna's activity seemed to be concentrated around the docks. Several other vessels were already settled here and a variety of exotic-looking goods were being peddled right at the water's edge. Some distance above them, a mighty spyglass, easily the size of an average house, stared down at them like an enormous glass eye. When their crew had finished docking, Sothy wasted no time in expressing her gratitude for the Hashinara Clan's rescue of herself and her people. Once captured by the Black Galleon Slavers, she'd despaired that she might never see her home again. Sothy's father, the Chieftan, was no doubt waiting up near the great spyglass, so she bid her heroes to visit them once she'd explained the situation. Veasna the Elder would no doubt want to give them a reward in time, but for now they could explore the port freely. Before she left, Fubuki caught Sothy with a few more questions. First, the cold-eyed oni wanted to know if many goods from The Enchanted Wood made their way to Baharna. While most would remember that as being where The White Rabbit Bowl took place, few knew that Ooawagaeri had taken another adventure there recently in his first experience as a Dreamer. In answer, Sothy told Fubuki that they traded often with Ulthar, and sometimes obtained goods from the Wood that way, but never interacted directly with that place's inhabitants. Zhyrgal, worried about cats, teamed up with Hashinara Yoshitakatomo's pocket, while Aotsuki Tsukamoto took his companions and sheele off into the market to explore. Meanwhile, Fubuki continued her* own investigation by holding the plundered bag of rubies high and asking if anyone knew anything about them. Steersman Leaf apparently did. After disembarking her own ship, the little viking crossed the dock and informed Fubuki in some unclear terms that the things were bad luck. If she had her way, Leaf would sail out to sea and drop the sack of rubies in the ocean. Taking that suggestion with the severity it deserved, Fubuki went on to ask her* companions for their opinion. Aka no Kitsunebi agreed with their diminuitive companion and suggested they ditch the rubies. Taira no Tokuko, however, stated that their shared ancestry was not one which easily gave up power, regardless of its source. Fubuki held off on making a final decision on the gems for the moment, instead taking her* companions into the Baharnan bustle. Just a bit further inland, Aotsuki Tsukamoto was having a bewildering encounter. He'd brought his company over to the mess of market stalls in the hopes of finding a gift for Tokku-hime and Abe no Seimei on his return. Everything on display here seemed to have too many tentacles, though. A sweet-smelling tub of resin caught his interest, but the shopkeep chose that moment to speak rapidly to Aotsuki in a language he hadn't a hope of understanding. Seeing the confusion plain on his face, the stall tender switched to another language. This one, Aotsuki was pretty sure, he'd heard Maxim speaking at some point. It was no more comprehensible to him, however. Fortunately, a friendly Dreamer standing nearby intervened and offered to translate. The vibrant young woman introduced herself as Othéa and explained that this shop probably didn't have anything the handsome visitor would be interested in. She'd until recently been talking with a Zoog, whom Othéa introduced as Zinnia the Traveler. Zinnia apparently knew enough Japanese to converse with Aotsuki and seemed genuinely delighted to practice. Othéa offered to take Aotsuki to a shop that might have more of interest to him. Unfortunately, Zinnia couldn't come along. She was hiding back, away from the water, for fear of a certain Cat of Ulthar keeping watch out there. Indeed, thinking back, Aotsuki realized that he'd passed a quite haughty-looking feline on his way up here. Despite being several times the cat's size, there was real fear in Zinnia's eyes when she talked about it. Something about Zoogs and Cats, a racial feud, apparently. Regardless, Othéa bid the other farewell for the moment and took Aotsuki just a short distance to a stall on the other side of the harbor. A young Baharnan woman was standing here watching the sea traffic. As Aotsuki approached, her eyes landed on him and lit up immediately. She began speaking in the same language as the previous trader, but Aotsuki found, oddly, that he could understand her just fine. It seemed she was using the same spell that Maxim was under to facilitate his communication with the clan. This woman, Kravann as she introduced herself, was eager to help Aotsuki find the "perfect gift" for his two lady friends. She'd even be so generous as to procure them for a trade, since Aotsuki likely didn't have any of the local currency about him. The Golden Shield had to admit this was true, and so asked what she was looking for in trade. Wamp hides, came the answer, and a vial of their blood. Baharnans earned their titles as a sort of surname-equivalent, Kravann explained, and she wanted to earn hers by crafting a custom Ghost Leather suit of armor. For that, she'd need the hides and blood. Aotsuki could find Wamps in the Ruins of Tyrhhia across Lake Yath. Although dangerous, Kravann seemed confident that a warrior of Aotsuki's obvious skill wouldn't have any trouble dealing with them. Something about Kravann's deal, perhaps the promise of hand-picked gifts and perhaps her earnest ambition, spoke to Aotsuki. He warmed to the idea quickly, and sent a mental message to Yoshitakatomo asking if she* would like to accompany him on a quick trip to Tyrhhia. The Daimyō was, however, currently busy. Kensei, Empress, and enigma, Toba Himawari had descended from Leaf's longship and stopped when she saw Yoshitakatomo. Judging from the other's bearing and dress, Himawari judged her* to be the current Empress of Japan. When Yoshitakatomo denied it, Himawari took it in stride. She did, however, express interest in the other's claim that the future Emperor of Japan was even then in the port with them. Despite their other similarities, Himawari seemed to have little interest in vague answers. She stated that Yoshitakatomo could speak to her again when she was at the side of the true Emperor. With that, she pushed past the Princess-Daimyō and continued inward to Baharna. Yoshitakatomo was not so easily rebuffed, however. She* followed Himawari, curious about what exactly the former ruler had meant when she called herself "The Dreaming Empress." As a Dreamer, Toba should have a Human body sleeping somewhere on Earth. It seemed more than possible, then, that Empress Go-Toba slumbered somewhere in the waking world, perhaps sealed away like Empress Genmei. Toba Himawari, however, had no patience left for Yoshitakatomo. She left without acknowledging the Daimyō's bow. Perhaps she did not know she was snubbing a newly-ascended deity of dreams. Or perhaps she did. Regardless, Yoshitakatomo did not stop her again. Sasaki Kojirō, however, took the opportunity to follow the Swordmaster Empress into the city for her own ends. With that discussion done, Yoshitakatomo turned her* attention back to Aotsuki's question. It would be interesting, she* allowed, to see these forgotten ruins and the strange creatures of the Dreamlands which dwelled within them. That only left one member of their party unaccounted for. Fubuki, up to that point, had just run in with a couple of strange encounters. One of them was with the perched Cat, who somehow recognized Fubuki from her* visit to Ulthar, despite that being a body and a dream separated from who she* was now. Playing along, Fubuki allowed a pair of cat ears to sprout from the top of her* head, immediately earning the Cat's kinship. He explained that he was there to keep watch for a Zoog which was supposedly in the area. Graciously excusing Fubuki's apparent amnesia, the Cat spoke that the Zoog may have forgotten their sin, but the Cats of Ulthar never would. Their feud was one which would last for eternity. Thanking him for the warning, Fubuki continued on her* way... ...Only to run into the Zoog immediately afterward. Zinnia exchanged a few words with Fubuki, mostly concerned with whether the Cat was still there. He was. Fubuki, meanwhile, was most concerned with looking for unique metals or other materials while she* had the luxury of an earthly body in the Dreamlands. Zinnia could help her* there. Pointing out a distinctive Baharnan on the ramparts across the harbor, the Zoog directed Fubuki there to speak with Jorani the Whitesmith. Thanking her* brief acquaintance, Fubuki did just that. Jorani was an energetic, buxom sort, and took time from her inspection of boxes to greet Fubuki. It seemed that the Black Blade's impressive collection of weapons had already caught her attention. Both professionals and connoisseurs of the blade, they wasted little small talk before Jorani was already showing Fubuki her latest creation. The dagger, glowing with an unearthly light, looked almost like tin to Fubuki's trained eye. Tin didn't glow like that, though. When she* admitted that she* didn't know what the thing was forged from, Jorani smugly proclaimed it to be tin. She'd developed a new technique for quenching tin blades that had earned her the title of "Whitesmith." Further, Jorani would be happy to teach Fubuki how to do it, if the other would bring some of the most difficult ingredient as payment. When asked what that might be, Jorani hesitated. It was, of course, Wamp blood. Fubuki might be able to buy it at the market, but the danger those creatures posed made their blood extremely expensive. Getting it from a Wamp was free, but Jorani cautioned Fubuki to be careful. A Wamp was nothing to be trifled with. Thanking the Whitesmith for her time and returning the dagger, Fubuki opened mental channels and informed Aotsuki and Yoshitakatomo that she* was on board for the Wamp-hunting expedition to Tyrhhia. Soon after that, Yoshitakatomo and Fubuki had met back up with Aotsuki and his companions at Kravann's stall. Under the Princess-Daimyō's severe gaze, the Baharnan saleswoman was persuaded to let a bit more information about their task slip. Wamps were indeed incredibly dangerous. Likely the remnants of whatever doomed civilization had inhabited Tyrhhia, they were capable of making creatures bleed with their very presence. Indeed, there was only one person in Baharna who was known to be able to reliably slay a Wamp. Yoshitakatomo's curiosity was growing, then. To sweeten the deal, Kravann insinuated that she could give them information which would let them get to the rift they were looking for. It was out there on the ocean, so one could sail right to it, if one also was prepared to deal with an enormous blockade of Dylath-Leen vessels. Before anyone could pursue that further, Sonisay Wamp-Slayer arrived to bring them a short distance up to the spyglass for their audience with the Chieftan. To say that Veasna the Elder was grateful would be a gross understatement. The Hashinara had not only returned to him his only daughter, but also twenty of his enslaved people, and slain all of the Black Galleon Slavers responsible. In doing, they had earned Veasna's allegiance in whatever matter they might have for visiting Baharna. Yoshitakatomo explained their goal, and received some valuable advice in response. The Caelestis Collegium, Veasna explained, were largely responsible for maintaining the rift on this side of the Veil of Sleep. A conglomerate of Dreamers, they took those not virtuous enough for the halls of Celephaïs or eccentric enough to wind up in opulent Oonai. The dross. That was what Veasna called them. Although they called themselves an institute of learning, the Collegium wielded knowledge only in exchange for power. It seemed increasingly likely that they were surreptitiously working with the Date Clan to keep the rift open, regardless of the damage it caused to both worlds. In aid of their quest, Veasna granted the Hashinara official claim to the Black Galleon they had liberated. He also promised a crew and captain, calling upon a hearty-looking Baharnan with exotic dress and anchor in hand to join them. This man, Phiruna the Navigator, would take them wherever they wished, no matter the danger. Phiruna seemed on board with the idea and eager to get to sea. If they chose to go somewhere dangerous like the Cities of the Dreaming Moon or the Plateau of Leng, however, dealing with that danger would be on them. In addition, on Yoshitakatomo's request, Veasna agreed to arrange a dwelling for the Hashinara to use as their base while in Baharna, as well as free access to the Baharnan Library. Yoshitakatomo thanked him. They were, after all, still waiting on their other companions to join them. Finally, the Chieftan's bodyguard was able to offer some advice for slaying Wamps. They did cause their victims to bleed just by their presence, Sonisay confirmed. She'd seen success by luring one away from the others and then slaying it before she was fully exsanguinated. There was no way to stop the effects of their aura that she was aware of. When Yoshitakatomo asked if the Wamps had any weaknesses they could exploit, Sonisay could only say that cutting their heads off usually worked for her. Phiruna, for his part, wanted nothing to do with the Ruins. He'd been out sailing on Yath before, and even hearing the song of the Wamps had caused him to bleed. Fubuki was reminded, oddly, of Tsukijō Hanahane saying much the same thing, but Jericho Petalwing apparently found Wamp-song beautiful. With that, Yoshitakatomo thanked their host and he thanked them again in kind. A guide was arranged to take them to their new temporary lodgings, with the Black Galleon ready to sail under Phiruna whenever they wished.1559年11月15日: 18:00 (Evening)
Yakisoba Yashiki
Historical Entry: Return to Yakisoba Yashiki, or, The Extraction of Toyotomi Hideyoshi
When Ryūzaki Sanosuke and his dinner companions, Aoki Michiko and Shigeaki Fujino arrived at the door of Yakisoba Yashiki, they found the final member of their party already waiting for them. With her long black hair, slender build, eccentric jewelry, and fine yukata open lazily to reveal smallclothes beneath, this could only be Shigeaki Tōno. Sanosuke seemed to appreciate the view, and not just of Fujino's aunt. Yakisoba Yashiki felt like a different place with the sun shining merrily over green grass below. The Silver General approached Tōno and made his introductions. The other psychic could have been Fujino's twin, rather than her aunt, and Sanosuke could not but telepathically express his amazement. Fujino was able to confirm that this was, indeed, the woman they'd been looking for. Michiko, for her part, appeared most unimpressed with Tōno's unconventional presentation. After a spot of small talk, the doors to the mansion opened. Beyond stood a diminutive kyonshi, unmistakable by the Tianchaoren dress and charm upon her head. This in itself was not too surprising. Sanosuke and his allies had dealt with a "kyonshi incident" at this very place not so long ago. That the master, Hospodar Mikhail, might have a backup seemed hardly worth comment. This one, however, did not seem so inclined to let Sanosuke and his party in without a reservation. Her intentions became clear as she unsubtly stuck out a hand and fixed a greedy gaze upon the Silver General. Sanosuke fished around and found one of the candies he'd liberated from Haro Uin previously, dropping it in the outstretched hand. That seemed to do the trick. As if experiencing a sudden jolt of memory, the kyonshi hostess welcomed Sanosuke with a warm assurance that his reservation was ready. They weren't to be the only people dining there that day, however. Upon entering the mansion's familiar dining room, Sanosuke and company found five seats at the long table already occupied. Although they hadn't met face-to-face, both The Silver Crow and the Silver General recognized each other from reputation alone. While the others took their seats, Magoichi explained that they were here on business, having tracked the missing Toyotomi Hideyoshi to this very location. It was at this mansion that the trail went cold. When asked if he'd seen anything strange, or any sign of the missing man, Sanosuke could not say he had. At least, not anything strange that could be tied to Hideyoshi. Soon he, too, took his seat. As he did so, Sanosuke heard something muttered between two of the other Saika Ikki. Perhaps, by their descriptions, Terasawa Tsuyu and Nakamikado Rui. Regardless, the smaller one seemed to be suggesting, from what Sanosuke picked up, that the Silver General was one of the lords they'd planned to overthrow. That sent a jolt through him, but Sanosuke managed to keep his composure and telepathically checked with his sources before saying anything. From what he learned there, it seemed that the Ikkō Ikki as a whole were in the lord-overthrowing business. As a part of that conglomerate, the Saika Ikki would naturally have similar objectives. Whether they still intended to fulfill them now that they were in service to the Aotsuki Clan was another matter. In either case, and with Aotsuki Tsukamoto's reassurance, it seemed they thankfully did not represent an immediate threat to him or the Silver Meteor Storm. The women who had arrived with Sanosuke all placed their orders: the house yakisoba for Fujino and Tōno and a salad for Michiko. When encouraged to order more (as this would be on the Meteor Storm's tab), the imperial scholar politely refused. As Michiko politely informed him, she tried to strictly eat vegetables when possible. The kyonshi girl who had been hanging around took these orders, but before she left to place them with the kitchen, she hesitated. That man they were looking for, Toytomi Hideyoshi, was he a stout, muscly sort with short hair and a gourd at his hip? Saika Magoichi suddenly came alert. That was a fair description of exactly the man they were looking for. Still expressionless, the hostess informed them all that Toyotomi Hideyoshi was still in the building, but not in good condition. He'd arrived earlier in the day, after having been "dumped by his girlfriend," and had gotten handsy with the help. So, the hostess had personally killed him and stuffed him in a toilet. A stunned silence draped itself over the room at her words. Eventually, on Sanosuke's prompting, Fujino begrudgingly left to check the nearby toilets. She returned not long thereafter, dumping Hideyoshi's soiled body upon the table. His eyes were rolled up into the back of his head and his skin pale. Worse, varied caricatures of a foreign-looking woman had been tattooed into every inch of exposed skin. After it set in that the fouled corpse in the middle of the table wouldn't make for a great dining experience for his guests, Sanosuke grabbed Hideyoshi's corpse and hurriedly tossed it into the corner of the room. It hit the wall with something between a thud and a splat, then crumpled ignobly to the ground. Sanosuke had to ask at that point: had the hostess... drawn on Hideyoshi. She answered that yes, she'd been practicing her art. The face imprinted upon Hideyoshi's flesh was none other than Victoire Frankenstein, a personal idol of the Hospodar's. Since she'd had to draw Frankenstein from reference, the hostess thought she'd done a pretty good job. That seemed like too much to get into at the moment, so Sanosuke did not pursue it further. Finally, the hostess left to fetch their orders. At much the same time, Saika Magoichi requested that the corpse be released into their care. It was, after all, their mission to recover Hideyoshi, alive or dead. Sanosuke did not refuse, but he covertly asked Fujino to make sure that Kuroda Kanbei knew about his hand in the matter. As it stood, he still owed the abrasive necromancer a favor, and this should fulfill the terms of it well enough. Gingerly, Magoichi and company picked up Hideyoshi's still-damp body and carted it out of the Yashiki, much to everyone's relief. As the others left, what seemed to be a housekeeper in the Western style entered the room. She stalked over to the table, annoyance clear in every part of her body language, and jumped up onto its surface to clean the spot where Hideyoshi had lain. As she kneeled, giving Sanosuke a good view of the pitch-black flesh covering every inch of her, he realized where he'd at least heard about such a creature before. This must be Kenas-unarpe Kamui, whom both Maxim and Fubuki had tangled with in the past. Maxim, especially seemed to consider this maid to be a wicked and dangerous opponent. At the moment, she seemed pretty cross, but far from a danger to himself or his guests. With a few more frustrated remarks, the Kamui finished her task and left the room without viciously attacking a single person. Even primal goddesses have their bad days, it would seem. Finally, the kyonshi hostess arrived with their food. Despite what they'd actually ordered, it was no less than four heaping helpings of yakisoba. When Michiko made to complain, the hostess cut her off with an assertion that this was not the "Salad Yashiki." They'd take yakisoba or nothing, and it didn't have any meat in it anyway. That quieted any further complaints, but Sanosuke could see Michiko's disapproval visibly building. After an admittedly delicious meal, the Silver General and Shigeaki Tōno finally got to the real reason for why they'd met in the first place: the newspaper. Tōno explained her plan to have a daily issue containing things that she found interesting, and her sponsors didn't find inconvenient, gathered by use of her teleportation and telepathy. She'd sell them in various cities for a nice sum and everybody would profit. Once Sanosuke started to probe, it became increasingly clear that, just as Fujino had warned, Tōno had not really thought this out. Most important was the matter of what "Tōno thinks is interesting" versus "what the people actually need to know." After some negotiating, Sanosuke managed to define it as two issues, one of interesting tidbits and one of important announcements, produced weekly rather than daily. Tōno agreed, although her enthusiasm was noticeably dampened as the task became more complex. Surprisingly, despite her poor mood, Michiko cut in at this moment. It would be important, especially with someone of Tōno's temperament running things, to have a skilled editor on staff as well. Although she did not say as much, Michiko seemed to be volunteering herself for that position. Perhaps the reach and ambition of this project had exceeded her doubts regarding its founder. Sanosuke was in full agreement, and Tōno did not argue either. Having an editor would only make her own job easier, after all. With that, it seemed settled. No doubt within a week, Japan would enjoy its very first newspaper. Meanwhile, outside, the Saika Ikki were making a startling discovery. Toyotomi Hideyoshi was not truly dead. He'd had all the ki drained from his body, which seemed strangely similar to what Haro Uin had been able to do. As Aotsuki and Abe no Seimei telepathically discussed the fallen Daimyō's situation, Saika Magoichi made the mistake of infusing Hideyoshi with a bit of her own ki to wake him up. It's not clear what happened after that, but Aotsuki did have to specify that he wanted the recovered prisoner alive, if at all possible. He did give them permission to knock him out, at least. The Ikki had to wait around for a short time while Fujino finished her meal, but it wasn't long before they and a comatose Hideyoshi were bound back for Ōtsu Castle.1559年11月15日: 18:00 (Evening)
Wakigami Castle
Historical Entry: Secrets Beneath the Throne
As the end of his audience with Empress Genmei came to an end, Knight Commander Maxim had but one more question. If he were to run into one of the Empress' lost retainers, say, Isonokami no Maro, how would he recognize them? It would be of great assistance if she could provide a description. Lady Genmei, however, could do something even better. She directed Maxim to traverse the labyrinth beneath Wakigami Castle, in the dungeons. At the end of the maze, he would find her self-imposed sepulcher, now empty, but still guarded by realistic depictions of Isonokami no Maro and Fujiwara no Fuhito. Maxim thanked the Empress, then stood and attempted his best at a formal Japanese bow. When he straightened, the expression on Genmei's face told him that he had not been successful. Indeed, the Empress looked much as though she'd bitten down on a particularly rancid old lemon, but the expression soon passed. Prince Hozumi, too, showed his disdain for the failed bow by slamming his head into the floor and lying there, prone and destitute. Graciously, Empress Genmei offered to teach him some more etiquette on his next visit. That seemed to be his cue, so Maxim gathered Evaine to his side and departed. The entrance to the labyrinth below was not hard to find. The mistress* of the castle was currently away on some other business in another plane of existence, but Tōdaisen Nobuhara did not hesitate to give permission on her* behalf for Maxim's exploration. That only left how to actually navigate the maze. Maxim had once claimed that he was an experienced dungeoneer, among the other skills he had brought with him from Albion. As the mighty knight stared at the labyrinth stretching before him, however, a neutral observer would not have guessed the same. Finally, he settled for sticking his right hand out, touching it to the wall, and walking forward deliberately. By following the same wall all the way through the maze, he could not but eventually end up at its other side. A great stone door awaited Maxim at the end of the labyrinth. Fully twenty spans high, the Imperial Crest of Japan showed carved deep into its rock. Flanking each side of the portal, a pair of earthen Oni stared down at the interloper. On Maxim's left side, a towering, muscular man held a hammer in his ferocious grip. On the other side, a slender, wan oni enjoyed a much more relaxed and serene pose. Beneath each statue was a clay bowl laid as though in offering. With his trained eye, Maxim could identify the red stains which marred each vessel as blood. Old, dried blood. Maxim knew what to do with bowls. Without hesitation, he walked to the bowl beneath the leftmost oni, surely Fuhito by Genmei's description, and slit his finger. When his blood dripped into the bowl, Fuhito's stony countenance seemed to come alive. The left half of the Imperial symbol lit up with a golden glow. The rightmost side, however, remained dull. This state continued even when Maxim crossed the room and allowed his blood to seep into Isonokami no Maro's cup. The serene oni seemed to care not for Maxim's blood, nor for Evaine's when she made the attempt. At least that was not wholly unexpected. Technically, she and Maxim were the same person. It seemed, then, that Isonokami no Maro was looking for a quality that Maxim did not possess. Curiosity had gotten the better of him now, and not only because of the strange noise, metal and rhythmic, that he could now hear echoing behind the closed door. Maxim called upon his perennial ally, Tōdaisen Nobuhara, and requested that the smartest person in the castle be sent to aid him. That turned out to be an issue, as the smartest person in the castle was not currently in the castle. Nobuhara promised to send another fitting candidate as soon as he was able. Soon, far too soon, a shadow detached itself from the shadows of the labyrinth and slunk its way over to Maxim's side. It was none other than Shax who, with her mistress* away, was no doubt looking for trouble. Although the demoness claimed to have the same interests as he, Maxim was not about to indulge her. When Shax refused to turn away, his demeanor grew threatening. Finally, like a kicked possum, she hissed and creeped back into the darkness and was not seen again. Maxim waited a while longer, then was surprised by the arrival of another from the labyrinth. This one, who introduced herself as Mosutoki in a single word, was confirmed by Nobuhara to be the one he had sent. This girl was a bit odd, and needed more prodding than usual to help, but she did so without complaint. Maxim almost said something when Mosutoki nearly cut her own finger off when providing blood for the statue, but restrained himself when it seemed to do the trick. The other half of the crest lit up. With a grating sound of stone on stone, the great door slid to either side to reveal a morbid sight beyond. It was as though an entire blacksmith's shop had been moved into this admittedly spacious chamber. A great forge dominated one wall, while the other was a forest of discarded blades. Indeed, well-crafted, nearly identical katana seemed littered on almost every possible surface, including the floor within. At the center of the steel chaos, a languid young man sat at a forge, methodically pounding away at another sword. He seemed not to notice the newcomers, perhaps because of the blindfold wrapped tightly about his head. Behind all of this, as if built into the rear wall itself, a great opening seemed to lead into impenetrable blackness. Around the portal were arrayed bones of indeterminate source in a structure reminiscent of a great rib cage or a pair of grasping skeletal hands. Whatever that was, it probably wasn't good. At this point, Komono Mosutoki, apparently unperturbed by what they'd just discovered, asked Maxim if he needed anything else. The Knight Commander had to admit that he did not. As Mosutoki left, he relayed the details of his discovery to Nobuhara. The clan administrator, well shocked by the report, took a moment to convey the information to Hashinara Yoshitakatomo. Finally, the Daimyō's orders came through. Maxim was to wait there and stand by until the clan's greatest minds could be assembled to study the rift within the Empress' vacated chambers. As for the boy smith, they would leave him be. For now. Although Maxim had been about to confront the lad, he held back on the Daimyō's word. He would wait.Missions/Quests Completed
- Toyotomi Hideyoshi recovered!
Character(s) interacted with
- Abe no Seimei
- Aka no Kitsunebi
- Alice of Hearts
- Aoki Michiko
- Baharnan
- Cat of Ulthar
- Empress Genmei
- Jorani the Whitesmith
- Ka-ten Agni
- Kravann
- Kenas-unarpe Kamui
- Komono Mosutoki
- Matsumoto Hiei
- Nakamikado Rui
- Othéa
- Phiruna the Navigator
- Saika Magoichi
- Sasaki Kojirō
- Shax
- Shigeaki Fujino
- Shigeaki Tōno
- Sonisay Wamp-Slayer
- Sothy
- Steersman Leaf
- Sugihara Yoshiko
- Taira no Tokuko
- Terasawa Tsuyu
- Toba Himawari
- Toyotomi Hideyoshi
- Tōdaisen Nobuhara
- Urakami Nene
- Veasna the Elder
- Zhyrgal
- Zinnia the Traveler
Comments