Satoru thought to call for more magistrates but he knew there were more pressing concerns. He glanced around at the staring faces quickly to gauge their responses to the woman's grief.

"My dear you must calm down." he said.

[Private to GM: 13:01, Today: Satoru rolled 29 using 7d10, keeping the 4 highest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 7,2,5,6,3,7,9. investigation .
For my glance around for anyone suspicious. ]

The old woman wails a bit more and sniffs a little before replying, "Yes, sama."

The passerby seem to be nothing more than the curious and the concerned, though none seem brave enough to approach you.

"Begone, all of you who are not related to those who dwelt here or who know nothing of what has occurred. If you do know stay here, while I go inside." Satoru said in a flat but firm voice. He turned to the once wailing woman. "Please remain calm and stay here while I investigate for myself." he said and entered the dwelling.

The street quickly clears of passerby and soon you are alone with the old woman.

Entering into the small dwelling, you discover a carnage similar to that in the other house.  The dead have been killed swiftly and efficiently--clearly the work of professionals rather than amateurs.

Satoru looks over the cottage for anything to help him in his investigation, he tries his best to keep his mind detached from the carnage.

[Private to GM: 14:59, Today: Satoru rolled 29 using 7d10, dropping the 3 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 5,4,8,4,8,2,8. investigation roll. ]

There is little enough here to find.  Perhaps one of those trained in Kitsuki's Method would find more, but it seems clear to you that the dead were not expecting to be killed out of hand.  There is no forced entry, the wounds seem entirely defensive, and some of the dead still wear expressions of surprise.  It is unlikely that these victims knew anything of import save the identity of their killer or killers.

Satoru shuddered with revulsion, he did not wish to call for the Kitsuki that he knew were within the city, but he had little else to go on. He stepped outside, "Woman, tell me everything you know about who your friends have been speaking with recently. Has anything been out of the ordinary recently?"

"No," the woman replies, trying to control her sobs, "just that he had been given some days off..."

"Given days off? I was under the impression that he fell ill."

"N-no, sama," the old woman stutters, "he said that someone high up among the samurai had given him the day off..."

"He did not give a name?" Tadahiko asked unable to hide his frown.

This is not news unless I can obtain specifics, it is already known that those in high ranks are these Jigoku-damned creatures...

"N-no, my son only referred to him as Daidoji-sama," the old woman sobs.

Bayushi Kenshin, bushi, yojimbo, junshin, errand boy, whatever his title, had been sent--like a lowly messenger--to retrieve the Crane's one armed monk.  It was a duty that he had become resigned to, but not one worthy of his skills.

The peasant quarter of Toshi Ranbo was unusually busy for this time of day and whispers of murder were in the air.  He found the monk Satoru interviewing a weeping old lady with milling peasants shooting them worried glances.

Kenshin waited a beat, for the "polite" time to interrupt before doing so. He was a Samurai and could have done so anyway, but there was no point in being rude.

It simply wouldn't do.

"Pardon me, Monk-San" Kenshin said, using the polite formal. He bowed, but only so much as to be polite. Certainly not enough to be rude or dishonor the holy one.

"you are needed elsewhere."

"Who is requesting my presence?" Satoru replies, "and who are you?"

NPC by GM to move things along

"I am Bayushi Kenshin" the Samurai replied, bowing slightly. "I have been in this city for some time, though I have only recently been returned to the Scorpion Clan. I spent most of my time at the Dojo ..."

[Errr, who did send him?]

OOC:  Shosuro Shinobu, the Scorpion are interested in furthering negotiations with the Crane to the Crane's benefit--though Kenshin isn't sure why since the Scorpion might improve their negotiating position by waiting ^_^

"Shosuro Shinobu-Sama wishes to discuss certain matters with you that may be to the Crane's benefit. More than that I am not privileged to ..."

Quite true. One of the disadvantages of being "Junshin" was that one was rarely trusted with "important" information. He would most likely find out when the Monk did ...

"If you would follow me please ..."

"This is terrible timing," Satoru mutters, looking back at the building, "all right then," he replies to Bayushi Kenshin, "but first we must find and report to Daidoji Sakura.  Come with me," the monk says to the weeping old woman, "I'll take you to where you'll be safer."

"So tell me, Bayushi Kenshin-san," Satoru says, as they head back towards the palace, "how did you get your duty?"

"Of course" Kenshin said politely, "I would not wish to interfere with an official investigation. Where would we find Daidoji-Sama?"

[Insert pause ...]

As Kenshin turned, the character for the word "honor" could clearly be seen artistically etched into his mask. It was his subtle reminder that Honor was the mask that most Samurai wore. Some few wore honor in their hearts, but for most it was a mask.

"How did I get my position?" he replied politely, "I was one of the children fostered by the Crane when the Scorpion Clan was ordered destroyed by the Last Hantei*. It was only recently, when the Glorious Emperor returned the Clan to their place in the order that I was allowed to return."

"In the meanwhile I was permitted the honor of attending the Kakita Dueling academy. Because of that, it was deemed that I might be of some diplomatic use with the Crane."

Indeed, he did carry himself as a Kakita Duelist might. One with much skill with the blade, yet lacking much real experience with life.

"I am still a beginner with much to learn" he added with some modestly, "but because of this I do have a better understanding of the Crane than most Scorpion Samurai."

"Perhaps one day I will even be worthy of standing in for my Lady ..."

Modesty, with a touch of reality.

[*chuckles* I almost wrote "... the last Hentai" by accident -- "Hentai" being the Japanese word for "pervert" ...]

"Questioning the survivors of the recent attack at the bath house I would imagine," Satoru replies to your first question, "if not there, then it should not be difficult to find a Daidoji shugenja with a ronin yojimbo."

"A Scorpion with the heart of a Crane," the one armed monk says thoughtfully, "no offense intended to you or your Clan, but it seems that our adversary--while almost certainly not a Scorpion--has the heart of one."

"None taken" Kenshin replied politely. It was, after all, one of the more polite responses to his nature that he had heard. "Where would we find the survivors?"

"What adversary is it that you speak of?" he inquired politely. "I assume that you refer to the recent assassinations?"

He was well aware of the suspicions that had been leveled on his clan. Had the Lord of the City not intervened, his honor would have forced him to challenge at least one of them to a duel.

"Imprisoned in the palace, under guard, lock, and key," Satoru replies, leading Kenshin and the old woman in that direction, "yes, but of all the possible suspects, your Clan has the least to gain and the most to lose from an unstable Crane Clan," the monk says reassuringly.

"Then we shall head to the prisons" he said, turning in the appropriate direction.

"I agree with your analysis" he added to the previous conversation, "though I have noticed that not all of your clan agrees with your Lord's wise interpretation of the situation."

It was tactful, though honest. Many Crane did believe that the Scorpion were behind it. But Kenshin knew otherwise.

Or perhaps "hoped" would be a better word?

No, "knew". Though there were some in the Clan that would be as foolish, the Leaders would not. Who would have what to gain? Only the most dire of circumstances would budge the Shinobi Assassains from their perch in this kind of situation ...

"I am quite pleased that he has called for a thorough investigation into this matter ... that Honor may prevail."

"An unusual sentiment for a Scorpion," Satoru says grimly, "and one with many meanings during these dark days.  After all, I'm sure that the Lion believe that their actions are perfectly honorable as well, and those that cast aspirations on your Clan's honor have obviously forgotten that it was not so long ago that the Crane made some less than perfectly honorable choices."

Entering the palace, you encounter another person headed in the direction of the prisons:  Doji Sotan, a monk who sojourned for some time with the Dragon Clan.  Though he was allowed to keep his family name, he was also granted one of their mysterious tatoos.

OOC:  post in Chapter 6 - Loose Threads
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:05, Fri 13 Feb 2009.