After this latest disturbing incident, you travel quickly to make up lost time.  Quickly enough, in fact, that Lady Sun is barely beginning to set as you approach the Lion Clan border.

"As much as I would like to leave Crane Lands behind us, no offense intended," Miya Shiko says, reigning her horse in, "I have some apprehension about approaching a Lion border outpost under less than full daylight.  I will defer to your judgment, however," she shrugs, "as I'm not one to turn away good advice."

"Then we should weigh the risks of spending another night on the road against those of confronting the Lion at a time they might be inclined to see things in a bad light," Yoshiko shrugs. The yojimbo is not inclined to decide either way, as she is torn between her duty to her Clan - which would be better served by stalling the Miya's progress  - and that to her charge - which would have her avoid unnecessary risks.

Ooops! Sorry, thought I had posted here!
Sakura looked around and thought for a second.

"I suggest we stop here for the night. The risks of the Lion `accidentally` killing a few Crane approaching at night is too great a risk."

Besides which it would give Sakura time to think.

You settle down for the night with little fuss and while you are all gathered around the campfire, Miya Shiko says, "Alright, now that we have some time, would someone mind telling me what is going on?"

"Your guess is as good as mine Miya-san," he said as he shifted his eyes momentarily toward Sakura.  "It seems to me that whatever it is you carry, someone or something doesn't want it, or you, to reach its destination."

Ukyo gave a hearty cough.  Thinking a moment about what he just said, he shifted his sword, which was propped up on his right side, back over to his left side in case it needed to be used.

Sakura looked at the herald for a long moment. There was something deep, yet untelling, in her eyes.

"I would tell you, Shiko-Sama" she finally replied, "but I do not wish the Seppuku of an Imperial Herald on my conscience."

Sadly, this gave her an idea ...

Hearing her charge's reply, Yoshiko closes her eyes in despair.

.oO(What is she thinking... Does she absolutely have to provoke the Miya? What good will that accomplish?)

Ukyo raied an eyebrow in curiosity.  She is full of surprises that one...

Ukyo knew from his own knowledge of the possiblity of forces fromt he Shadowlands being involved, but Sakura seemed to have even more information.  It was clever of her to not reveal anything.  She would save face by having the Miya request whatever information she had, yet it was still a bold move to suggest such dire consequences.

"Well then," Shiko grins, "as I would much prefer not to commit seppuku, I'll not ask.  Though I expect answers will be forthcoming, if for no other reason then I doubt our enemies will stop their bizzare behavior any time soon."

The night passes without incident and all too soon you are on your way towards the Lion border with far too many unanswered questions and answers that make no sense.

The border between Lion and Crane lands is a fluid one, with only a few isolated outposts on the roads to mark it.  This particular border crossing is little more than a hastily constructed hut with only a few ashigaru to maintain it.

"In the name of the Lion!" an unmounted ashigaru shouts, placing himself firmly in the middle of the road, his spear ready, but not threatening...yet, "identify yourselves!"

Sakura held her ground -- and her tounge. This was, after all, an Imperial party now, so the sole Imperial present should speak. Or one of the Courtiers, perhaps ...

What she did do, however, was stare. Lion or not, they were still Ashigaru ...

.oO(Brave, to make that challenge alone and outnumbered. But then, the Lion never lacked in courage - or they made up for it in foolishness.)

Yoshiko refrains from reaching for her sword, not wanting to provoke hostilities. She looks around in case more ashigaru should be observing them from hiding.

[Private to GM: Not sure if it was necessary, but I went ahead and rolled to try and find other Lion ashigaru in hiding.
Daidoji Yoshiko rolled 13 using 4d10, dropping the 2 lowest rolls, rerolling max. Perception/Battle to detect ambush.]

"I am Miya Shiko," the Herald declares, bringing her mount to the fore, "traveling under the auspices of the Jade Emperor, Toturi I, and these are samurai sworn to my protection.  Is it your intent to bar us passage through the Emperor's lands under Lion stewardship?"[Private to Daidoji Yoshiko: you detect no others in hiding, though there are certainly more soldiers in the hut]
This message was last edited by the player at 10:14, Sun 08 July 2007.

"No, Sama," a voice calls from within the hut, "we would never dream of denying the Emperor's Herald's passage," from within the hut emerges a kimono clad Lion, armed only with his daisho sheathed at his side, "I am Ikoma Kuromaru, at your service," he bows, "travel through the lands stewarded by the Lion is often fraught with unexpected dangers, Miya-sama, and these loyal Ashigaru simply intend to warn you of them.  If you so desire, I would be most honored to act as a guide through these lands, such that you will avoid surprises."

.oO(And avoid doing something that might surprize the Lion as well, no doubt.)

Yoshiko has her own ideas about the Lion's motivations.

Sakura cocked her head, listening to the Lion`s words.

"A kind offer" Sakura finally said, "but we couldn`t possibly allow a Bushi of your stature to be drawn away from the borders. That would cause ... many problems in the courts."

Innuendo are not words, Sakura-Chan her Uncle had once told her, they are innuendo. How do you think the Scorpion manages to survive in the courts?

"No trouble at all, Sama," the Ikoma smiles, "it is my duty to ensure that the honored Shisha is untroubled during her tenure in our lands."

"Thank you for your kind offer," Shiko smiles, "but I believe we will be able to find our own way."

"Very well then," Kuromaru shrugs, "I would suggest very strongly to sticking to the main roads and not taking any detours regardless of what may seem like a good idea at the time."

With those words ringing in your ears you take your leave of the small border outpost and continue your journey to Toshi Ranbo.

"Strange, that a Lion would so openly imply there are dangers to travellers through their lands," Yoshiko remarks.

"It is likely just a way to keep us from interfering in Clan issues, but I would not have expected this kind of argument."

"It is strange," Miya Shiko says thoughtfully, "investigation will have to wait, however, though we should definitely report it as soon as possible."

"Hopefully" Sakura replied thoughtfully, "That is simply his not-so-subtle way of warning the Crane -- which would be all but you Shiko-Sama -- not to engage in any spying under the pretense of protecting an Imperial messenger."

"Unfortunately I suspect that this is *not* what we were being warned against ..."

Sakura looked around for several moments, trying to take things in for a bit. There was still one matter on her mind, the matter of dealing with messages that should not be delivered while still protecting the honorable of the Crane clan. She had been debating the issue for several days and only one answer came to her.

But she couldn't escape the feeling that the answer she came to was the wrong one ...

"How so, Sakura-san?"