In reply to Chye Isuel (msg # 307):
"Those men trouble us not, nor do they help any, keeping ever to their own kind. When the old baron and his son were here, they were at least courteous, but that virtue died with the man, and it as if we dwelt among bakemono for all the civility we find among these Gaijin.  The new baron is worse, his troops with the golden sheaf of wheat on black and red check are as akaname, filth eaters."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:33, Fri 30 Aug 2019.

"The men who do not trouble you, are the old baron's men. We met them in the forest, after we made camp, and they rob the wicked baron, and those who do business with him. We know the Baronet is back in the city of Northport, from whence we came. When we return, we plan to seek him out, tell him that he has men loyal to him out here, and see if we can arrange a meeting with our lord, and perhaps, by working together, we can improve your lot here. It makes Chye angry to hear from these men, how the others make free with your women, and there is no justice!"
This message was last edited by the player at 23:30, Fri 30 Aug 2019.

In reply to Chye Isuel (msg # 309):

One of the women enters with a tray of roast duck, rice, and tea.
She bows and turns away quickly at Chye's  last comment.

In reply to Village worker (msg # 310):

Tanaka bows low to the woman as she departs.
"For the village to be this defenseless in the face of oppression is unforgivable. Perhaps it is time for me to cease my wandering."

"It is good, for I have fought with this man."
Iskander vouched.

Chou-Zhen continues listening, and accepts food when it is polite to do so.

19:26, Today: Chye Isuel rolled 14 using 3d6.  savoir faire 14.

19:24, Today: Chye Isuel rolled 9 using 3d6.  gluttony 12 or less.
Chye manages to mind his manners, and not pig out, when the food arrives.

In reply to Chye Isuel (msg # 314):

"Most venerable one, we have brought bricks of tea, dried squid, five spice powder and barrels of aged soy sauce, along with some strings of cash to exchange for the fruits of your harvest."

Ales quietly listens as the others speak. He enjoys the food provided by the hosts and thanks them for their hospitality.

"I would like to help ease the suffering of your people in a small way. He reaches for his coin purse and discretely places fifty dollars in assorted coins in the chief's hand."

Ales begins to wave his hands and chants. The sky is filled with the most beautiful reds and oranges as an image of the blessed dragonfly appears overhead and zips around playfully. "May this be a small token of my appreciation of your generosity towards us."

(Ooc:18:44, Today: Ales Konstantin rolled 7 using 3d6.  Perfect Illusion 14.Roll passes.)

In reply to Ales Konstantin (msg # 316):

A man in robes and beads with a head shaven except for his queue bows and enters the elder's home.
" I have just seen a vision of Akitsu-san in the sky. It is an omen of great portent."
 He looks around at your peculiar group.

In reply to Ales Konstantin (msg # 316):

The elder bows to the priest as he enters, and to Ales.
"Your gift is well intentioned, but coin enough comes from your lord. There is another matter I would ask your assistance with."
This message was lightly edited by the player at 13:42, Thu 05 Sept 2019.

"What is your need, elder?"  Chou-Zhen speaks softly and keeps his expression neutral, knowing well the effect of letting his face have its way.

In reply to Village elder (msg # 318):
"Whatever Chye can help with, Chye will do."

Iskander nods in approval.
"Of course, I will help as well."

In reply to Iskander (msg # 321):

"When we came to this place a generation ago, it seems we had brought some yokai with us. As our villiage has grown, so have they. Many are harmless, and we are used to them. Others have become freeer in their actions, as only a few household guardians accompanied us to this place. Our potter strives to build receptacles for them to dwell in, but many who came did so without the memorials to their ancestors, and sadly some have forgotten the names of the founders of their families. Your master said he was sending Lee Phuong to negotiate the consecration and copying of some of our ancestral shrines and geneologies, that our ancestors muight come to protect us in these foreign lands.
 Until such time as he returns with a means of invoking our ancestral guardians, we require assistance in dealing with the yokai who plague us. Some we can propriate, although I tell you, lamp oil is dear."

In reply to Village elder (msg # 322):

"There have been sightings of many on the roads, and even within the village,  including tragic ghosts that have followed families from the homeland. It is surprising that some of those came, when the ancestors did not. I expect that exorcisms and blessings performed back home had given them little choice. With such spirits, the good within them has already found rest, and all that remains is resentment and hunger."

Chou-Zhen's queue lashes.

"Please, respected elder, I learned my mother's tongue as an adult, and I hear Yokai as the same as shijie, or sekai, but I hear you using it as if you mean -- oh! Spectre!"  He inserts the Shevnian word, as closer to the connotation he detected.

"You have many of these spirits?  And what has that to do with lamp oil?"

"Chye expect lamps and lanterns keep the spirits at bay, for they do not like light, and some do not like music either."

In reply to Chye Isuel (msg # 325):

"while the lanterns may keep some of things at bay, perhaps less so than daylight, we have been finding lanterns completely drained of oil when there should have been enogh for another day."

[Private to Narrator: shirime-butt beholder, penanggalan,  rokurobi - long neck oil drinker yokai]

"Missing lamp oil? Sounds like the work of mischievous spirits, to me.."

"Have you anyone among you who uses, or can sense magic?"

06:17, Today: Iskander rolled 11 using 3d6.  hidden lore (undead) ~ 12.
Thinking on how he's studied undead, and how to assuage some of the restless ones, Iskander offered up some of what he knew: "Restless spirits can sometimes be assuaged by leaving the blood of animals in a basin, and also pouring out libations to them, can help. Often, the blood can give the spirits temporary form, so they can then, enjoy and consume the libations offered them.. Have you tried such a thing? Perhaps they will behave, and become more manageable, until Senyor Phuong, can return with what you ultimately require.."
This message was last edited by the player at 10:31, Fri 06 Sept 2019.

In reply to Chou-Zhen Mou (msg # 328):

"We are simple folk. We have the priest, Saishi, who serves us well."

"Well met, priest. We encountered Akitsu-san on the road, and he lit upon Chye, and blessed our group. He is very lucky. Does he require anything in return, from the village for his protection?" Chye bowed to the priest in greeting.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:40, Fri 06 Sept 2019.

In reply to Chye Isuel (msg # 331):

"Akitsu-san keeps the great ka away from the village, even as his little cousins hunt ka themselves. He hears our prayers, and land upon his image in the sand to be fanned and hear our songs. Alas he protects only against the ka, and we are left with the problem of the yokai."