|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2017 8:15 am
Chiharu glanced at the clouds that were pointed and couldn't be happier to have made the way up before being caught by the coming storm.
—This is a site named after a Fortune. It was most certainly the grace of such fortune that allowed us to beat the steepness and brought us here before such storm.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2017 7:18 pm
"Oh, that," the old woman would respond to Chiharu in a friendly voice. "This site is managed by a small branch of the Temples of the Thousand Fortunes, like several more scattered across the Empire. This particular Spring is blessed by Ebisu himself, as a reward for the effort one is willing to put in to arriving here. We monks rotate out once we are no longer capable of managing the hot spring on our own. My time will come soon enough, I suspect, but it has been several years since I had anyone come in and check on me up here. But I have a few good years left in me yet, so I'm not too worried about it." She would place her left hand on her right should, rotating it to show she wasn't quite so brittle yet.
The old woman would then frown. "I'm afraid your timing is bad, however. I'm in the middle of locking everything down during the coming storm. Perhaps you would like to visit another time?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2017 4:28 am
Chiharu showed a mild smile, worried by the words she had heard from the woman.
—Aaah... perhaps this is not the best time to go all the way back to Efude village. If there is no where else for us to visit nearby we might need to use your hospitality a little longer...
With a polite move Chiharu introduces the Miya, directing the attention of the woman to the Imperial:
—I'm sure it would be a honor to this modest site to have the presence of the honorable Miya Ayame-sama. The Son of Heavens is checking on his lands through Miya-sama's eyes and cartography skills. If noone have visited in a while the Imperial's presence is providential.
The shugenja move to introduce Tsuyoshi:
—Doji Tsuyoshi-sama, honorable magistrate of the Doji family, serving the Crane and the Empire.
Chiharu then offer the woman a brief and polite bow:
—And this humble servant of the Crane is a shugenja by the name of Doji Chiharu.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2017 12:19 pm
The bushi bowed as he was introduced, not deep as deep as the imperial might have gotten, but with care and respect to the motion for the monk. Once his clanswoman had finished he took a small step forward and followed suit. "It would please me to pay further tribute to Ebisu, in aiding you in securing against the storm. Though it is most unfortunate we have not arrived at a time we could enjoy these springs in reward, I might ask a different blessing in its stead-" He gave another small bow.
"I fear we would be unable to get Miya-sama, and Doji-san, to shelter before the worst of the storm is upon us. If we could instead weather the worst of it here, we should be most gracious of your, and Fortune Ebisu's, grenerous hospitality."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Sep 09, 2017 10:57 am
The old woman would frown slightly for a moment when Chiharu and Tsuyoshi made her request, but it faded shortly thereafter. "I can provide you shelter from the storm easily enough, but the hot springs will be inaccessible until probably a couple days from now. I'll have to clean the springs from dirt and debris, and sweep the area itself to make it presentable once more. And the path itself becomes hazardous once the dirt becomes saturated by water, so you may be trapped here a couple days with nothing to do. If that is acceptable to all of you, then there is no problem with your stay."
Tsuyoshi, as a result of the Intelligence/Lore:Law roll I requested from you: If the bandit assassin you captured manages to escape your capture before your return, and you cannot re-capture him, you stand to lose a good amount of honor and glory for this. You probably won't be asked to commit seppuku, seeing that Ayame never actually took harm, but you will be an embarrassment, for starters. (This only applies to yourself, being a Doji Magistrate, and not to Chiharu).
Bowing her head in acknowledgement, the woman would bow her head, as low as she could while remaining standing with the cane. "My name is Hanako, and I hereby officially welcome you to Ebisu Hot Springs."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2017 12:46 pm
"A few days? Truly?" The bushi suddenly looked very concerned, glancing at his companions. "...there is no one to guard our prisoner. Miya-sama, I doubt any danger could find its way atop here if that slope becomes impassable- with your permission, I should probably return to stand watch and question him. It seems safe to me for the both of you to remain to avoid the storm. If you prefer to venture through the storm with me, I will do my best to shield you from the storm."
Though unless he was picking her up and running with her, he had little to offer except for some cover in the form of his spare kimono... or a cooking pot in his pack? He supposed it would keep her head dry.
He bowed to the monk again. "Please accept my apologies that I must turn down your gracious hospitality so soon after asking it, but duty compels me."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2017 6:40 pm
The cloistered little Imperial didn't seem too bothered letting her hosts do the talking as she stood back regally and considered their options. Being trapped up at a hotsprings didn't sound like the worst experience as she waited to let the rest of the lands she would otherwise have to go exploring all muddy and messy dry out. It would surely be more comfortable than that squalid village.
"Hm. That's a good point. Well I would rather stay here than down in that village. In the meantime you could take the opportunity to bring that vagabond back to Kyuden Doji for judgement. We haven't gone even a full day from the castle so you should be back with time to spare before we make it down this hill. In the meantime I'll take this opportunity to draw up what parts of the map we've seen thus far." she declared imperiously, before turning to the monk and giving another bow. "Thank you for your hospitality. Perhaps if we help clear out the springs we could enjoy it after all, before the path becomes traversible again."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2017 7:43 am
@ Chiharu, Ayame:
"If duty compels you to depart, so be it," the monk Hanako would respond to Tsuyoshi. "Ebisu does not frown upon those who handle their responsibilities with due diligence, after all."
There would be no further interruptions from Tsuyoshi making his exit, so he would be able to do so now.
After he left, Hanako would comment, "I wouldn't dream of asking to put either of you to work, especially one of such noble and pure lineage as a member of the imperial families," Hanako would say dismissively to Ayame's offer. "It is my responsibility and mine alone to manage the upkeep of the Springs."
She would pause, and give a sort of sad smile as she looked in the direction Tsuyoshi disappared. "But for the sake of transparency, I am saddened that your companion departed. From my many years of being hostess here, I've always found that groups of mixed company tend to enjoy the Springs more." Re-noticing the encroaching dark clouds, she would turn around. "Well, I still have things to do before the storm hits. Come along now," Hanako would instruct, as she began her slow hobble back to the main building.
--------------------
@ Tsuyoshi:
You are able to safely descend the path, as long as you take your time. Whatever pace you take to get back to Efude, you'd find the wind picking up quickly, light quickly fading, and eventually, drops of heavy rain beginning to impact you by the time you reach the outskirts. Peasants would be quickly taking shelter, since the rain was carrying a chilling bite to it due to the season's close proximity to the recently passed winter.
Give me an Awareness/Investigation (Notice) roll vs TN 10 to gauge everyone's current state.
What do you do now/first?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2017 6:14 pm
Chiharu bows to Tsuyoshi widhing him a safe return to the village:
—May the fortunes watch upon Doji-san. We shall meet soon.
She would hear the worlds of Hanako and agree with a brief nod. The shugenja would also prefer the group to stay together, but as it didn't seemed possible she was glad to follow the monk when invited to do so.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2017 4:56 pm
The Crane makes as quick time as he can, hustling, if not running, to make it back to the town ahead of the storm- hard for a mortal to out-pace Osano-Wu, however. Fortunately the rain does not begin to fall until he comes to the fields of the little village, heading toward the buildings at a brisk walk, hoping he can check on the bound charge, and the imperial's horse, briefly before retiring himself to proper, if meager, shelter for the night.
Giving a quick shudder, he looks around the village as he enters, heading initially toward the building where the prisoner had been bound.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2017 11:55 pm
@ Chiharu & Ayame:
The ancient monk would lead the two of you to the resort, though perhaps the word resort should have been emphasized with quotation marks. The building was sparsely decorated, befitting a humble monk's residence but not exactly very Crane-y. It was more like a large, fairly empty residence with a good amount of guest rooms, divvied between two branching halls.
"Please, feel free to make yourself comfortable anywhere. I'd offer to serve you tea, but I have pressing matters to attend, at least in regards to preparing for the storm. The wind's already picked up quite a bit."
Without waiting for confirmation, the woman slides open a door and heads out to the back, which seemed to be a private garden.
Chiharu, Ayame, while you have some privacy with one another, is there anything you wish to discuss?
--------------------
@ Tsuyoshi:
You are on the way to where you last left your prisoner, though you see villagers quickly rushing to take shelter, as if in a panic. They don't really take stock of you at all, more concerned with the rainfall than anything else... at least, that's what it looked like at first.
Now, Tsuyoshi's likely done some patrols, in both good weather and bad. Maybe it was because winter was a short memory ago, or perhaps it was because nightfall was fast approaching, but you've never seen farmers so quick to hide from a little rain before, ever.
If you didn't know any better, you'd think that something was spooking the peasants.
You reach where you left the man bound before, and he's still face down where you tossed him last, tied up and undisturbed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2017 10:27 pm
Something about it was a little unnerving, the sheer sense of panic, urgency in the villagers whom he'd have thought would have little concern once they'd brought their tools and children in from the storm- they all had shelter, after all, and surely while the storm looked worrisome it wasn't so much that one should fear even their homes being harmed, right?
Probably some sort of local peasant supersticion?
He didn't have long before it would be wet, but keeping to his duty as promised, the Crane left the bound man, intent on having a peek at the well being of Rakurai-sama before retiring to the hut that had been prepared for the samurai.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2017 6:06 am
Ayame opened her mouth to respond, but the world moved too fast for her and by the time she'd managed to think up a really great, fitting response-! ...the moment to do so had passed and their host was gone, leaving her standing dejected and disappointed in the main hall. A feeling she had no choice but to sigh away, and look to the companion that remained.
"Well, seeing as we're going to be here for a few days, most of which not able to use the hotsprings themselves, was there anything you wanted to do to keep entertained? Mayhap I'll finally learn to do a proper tea ceremony here..." she mused in a friendly, conversational tone, trying not to let her nervousness over the coming storm show.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2017 8:26 pm
@ Tsuyoshi:
The rain turns into a downpour, quickly soaking through Tsuyoshi's kimono. The skies would grumble, and the winds that begin to pick up start to bite at you with chilly fangs.
Rakurai would be fine when you checked up on the horse. A little more alert than you would have expected though... perhaps due to the departure of his mistress? Or maybe the weather?
Otherwise, nothing major to report.
You start making your way to the large hut that had been intended to be reserved for Miya-sama. Though while it's in sight and up ahead, you can see into one hut you are about to pass; the farmers, who definitely look super on edge, are frantically beckoning you into their hut.
--------------------
@ Ayame & Chiharu:
There is some awkward silence for a bit, but soon the old woman would return. She would have some clothes draped over her arm and some gardening tools gathered into a bucket she set down by the door. She would turn to close the amado, followed thereafter with the shoji door. "Just about done, then I'll put on that tea I promised."
After closing a few last shutters and doors, she would pause in the middle of the room you waited in, thinking to herself. "No, that's everything." Smiling proudly, she would move to fill a kettle with water and then walk it out to the serving area. Kneeling down, she would light the ro, and place the kettle upon it to heat up the water.
Noticing the two of you standing there, she would gesture to the low table near the sunken hearth. "Come, sit already," she would say, almost in a chiding manner but not quite enough to be offensively so. "So, tell me about what brings you all the way up here? You mentioned something about cartography... that's mapmaking, I believe?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2017 9:03 pm
Fortunately he had a spare kimono, and could light a fire. He was starting to get slightly nervous himself, between the horse and all the villagers being jumpy, but that was nonsense- nothing except the storm seemed at all the matter. Even as the driving rain started to hit him, the samurai hummed a tune to himself quietly, just enough to hear it in his own head over the tapping of rain on his noggin, heading toward the hut. Perhaps he'd allow himself to delay slightly in the morning, if the downpour stopped, to allow the roads to become less sodden before starting his trek back to-
He turned his head at the villagers waving him over, and very nearly kept going- he was quite already being in the rain a minute longer when he was already wet of course, but finally curiosity got the better of him and he walked over to the villagers, stopping by their door and looking at them curiously.
"Is something the matter? I understood that abode had been the one prepared for us," gesturing toward the one he'd been making his way for, "If this is about the rain I'm quite alright to walk the rest of the way in it, it's not even far."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
