[OOC: I need to make up some Bushi, and I'm taking suggestions. I'll post them by the end of this weekend. But the Phoenix Yojimbo for Sorano is still with you.]

Normally, one would have expected Shiba Kimiko, the quiet Shiba Yojimbo/Clan Magistrate assigned to watch Sorano, to lead the way into Phoenix territory ... but these were not normal times. Her job, while ostensibly a bushi job, was really mostly political -- her job was to see to it that no one did something stupid to Sorano.

And by "no one", her uncle meant "no Phoenix".

So it was that the lone Phoenix was lagging while the group approached Phoenix territory, and allowed the group's leader -- Otomo Hoshi -- to deal with the Phoenix Samurai guarding their borders. The group had come up the coast, with mountains to the west and ocean to the east. The mountains would soon come to an end, or so they were told.

The Phoenix guards gave the small group just enough trouble to make sure that they were seen as properly doing their duties, but it was quite clear that they were more interested in seeing the party of Imperials (and whomever else was there) somewhere else.

Imperials were trouble.

They had traveled an additional half-day when something caught Kimiko's eye ...

[OOC: Perception/Investigation (Notice) please ...]

"It would present an interesting challenge," Akio began, gesturing with his hand to the grade of the mountains flowing in the ocean.  He continued discussing with Hoshi, "It might be a fun climb.  It would definitely be worth the view."

He paused for a moment, a hitch in his step as his eye caught...

Perception/Inv(Notice): 59

Hoshi is not a mirthless aesthetic creature, as one might expect a graduate of the Miharu to be.  She may not drink, but she does laugh, sometimes smiles, takes an interest in arts and entertainment and the like. With her sister, or Yuki, she is positively playful.  But, on the trail she is cantankerous, and there is a certain sense she hides even more discontent, for the sake of civility.

And so, by time they come to boarder guards, who might even be immediately deferential, there are sharp words and insinuations, lest she be delayed even a moment longer from reaching whatever passes for a city in the phoenix lands, or, as Hoshi imagines it, a library ajoining a temple, ajoining a monastery, ajoining a bare garden, without a sweet note of music or a delicious morsel for leagues of forest and mountain--and mountainous forest.

Hoshi peers from peak fo her campaign hat at great swells of land.  She snorts at the notion of a mountian being fun to climb.  She has, damp, cold, hungry, sore.  That is certianly not fun. "Mountains are for wolves and beggars.", definitively said by a woman whose own name references them.

"I think there's about twenty of them" Shiba Kimiko said, indicating some splotches on the mountains. "What would you say, Kitsu-Dono?"

"Most of them are trying to hid in the snow" Urako agreed.

The scouts watched the bandits upon the mountain, but there was little they could do directly -- horses and mountains did not mix well, after all. Still ... it wasn't as if the party was short Bushi. There were not many, but the ones that they had assigned to them were all quite skilled.

"They think they're out of bow range" Sakyo grinned.

"Not just yet ..." E-Ling said, "We have a third party involved ..."

"That's ...." Apparently Urako had seen it as well.
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 17:26, Wed 29 May 2019.

The near-nameless Ronin didn't often speak -- it wasn't his place, after all -- and when he did, it was usually muted and concise. This time was no different. He turned to Hoshi.

"Orders?"

"As we do with all strangers on the road, Shido-san.  We greet them."

A comment aside to Sakyo.  "If those ronin come out of hiding, Skayo-san, feel free to do your thing.  Better, I'd think, if you led them away from us."  A nod toward where the white woman was.

Without any worry given to the ronin Akio started walking toward the woman and her wolves.

Sayoko grinned and withdrew her gigantic steed somewhat to the rear, bow in hand, and waited to see what the mysterious figures would do. Mirumoto Kedo, meanwhile, walked with his charge. If these Ronin attacked, they would find out just how dangerous a Dragon could be in the mountains ...

[OOC: Normally you would require an athletics roll for mountaineering, but with Kedo ... er, Mirumoto Kedo along we'll just consider it automatic.]

"I tired of killing bandits."

  Almost as if to prove Hoshi's jaded point, the world arranges itself.  Bandits might have their lives spared by indifference from Hoshi, who really wishes to return to civilization more than leave bodies for the carrion eaters.

  But then something even more annoying than wilderness happens: Akio preempts her command.  She raises herself up in her saddle and inhales the thin, crisp air in disapproval.  She does not countermand it, but nods to Shido.

 "This better be interesting."

There is an old Rokugani Curse: "May you live an interesting life." For a moment, things were dull and uninteresting. Akio moved up the mountain, both guided and guarded by Mirumoto Kedo. The bandits rose somewhat, seeming more interested in the Kitsu than anyone else. The bandits braced themselves and prepared to attack. Shido, bow in hand, focused on his distance.

Then things got interesting.

A sudden and fierce blizzard struck, of such power and intensity that no one could see more than a foot in front of them. Sometimes not even that far. Somewhere to the rear, a lone Kirin archer surrounded by snow. The core group quickly closed ranks, it was rather easy to hear each other with all the metal rustling and no attempt a concealment. Still, Shinjo-San was well outside of range ...

-------------- Secrets -----------------------------

The small group walked through the driving snow. Little Yuki was quiet, though she did remain close to her mother who was watching carefully. After what seemed like forever, Yuki gasped and pointed into the blizzard.

"Basama! That's not me!"


[OOC: Awareness/Spellcraft if you'd like.]
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 18:32, Wed 19 June 2019.

Akio didn't have long to think upon emerging - the confusion evident in not only Yuki, but the faces of others.

He glanced quickly at Kedo and dismissed him as a target quickly - Yuji wouldn't have two swords.

Needing to pick a shugenja for his device the corner of his mouth lifted in a subtle smile and offered an almost inaudible "Forgive me" to Otomo Urako.  Almost wordlessly he cast again.

Casting Sympathetic Energies: 51 (easy for a Mastery 1 spell)
Subtlety: 29 (+ raises from storm?)


Barring other intervention, Yuki2 was gone, replaced once more by Akio as he emerged from the storm.  If Yuki1 dared glancing to her side she would notice that her mother was no longer around, but instead replaced with Yuki3 - shugenja scrolls and all.  The affect of his earlier spell now transferred from Akio to Urako.  The appearance now that there were twins.  "Its for your protection, Yuki-chan."

Akio turned and shouted to the storm, "You should negotiate harder, white woman.  I'm worth double that."

OOC: Pausing incase anyone else wants to act, but Akio's fingers are reaching into his scroll case again, this time intent to attempt to counter and cancel the woman's storm.