The rock dissapears when it hits the portal.

Zokiro nods at the portal.  "It seems that fate had given us a path.  Come, sister, let us face our destiny."  She holds out her hand to Setsuko, and then walks through the portal, head held high.

Setsuko hesitates a moment, looking over he strange glowing portal in the air before them, then she nods to Zokiro. "I trust you clan sister, so where you go, I will follow." she says as she takes the shugenja's hand and follows her though the portal.

Taking a deep breath, the ranger goes into the portal as well.

The three of them seem to get teleported to their horses and its night time.

Oddly the disk shatters into dust.

Looking around with a puzzled expression she spoke to Zokiro as she examined the horse that looked like the one she'd rode from the temple. "Clan sister it seems we are back to our horses. I suggest we examine them and the equipment they bear. If all seems in order, we should continue without further delay. Yes?"

Zokiro nods, puzzled, but pleased to see Nori again.  "Yes, let us do that.  I am not certain where Qing has gone, but he is skilled in survival and seems to be no part of our fate with the kami."  She will check over Nori and her supplies, and if all is well, will ride with Setsuki back to the monastery.

The ranger shakes his head, as he seems to get ignored. Again. Qing gets up onto his horse, not saying a word as its made clear neither of them want to bother with the elf. He turns upon his horse, and takes the lead. He pauses and turns towards Set "If I have upset you, I feel it should be put to rest. I ask for your forgiveness. I have been a wandered for some time and dealing with not one but two woman is something I am not used to. Also acting like I am not here bothers me. If either of you have anything to say-do it." Is that a apology or a mock? Hard to tell by the ranger.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:53, Wed 06 May 2020.

Zokiro jumps back, startled at Qing's voice.  She composes herself before responding, giving him a small bow.  "I apologize, I did not see you! Truly, I thought with the appearance of the kami that you had been given a mission like ours and had gone!  Such a being is overwhelming, and the strangeness of the magic of the amulet drew all of my attention. It is a testament of your stealth that I did not hear you."

After being as shaken as Zokiro, Setsuko pauses for a long moment to ponder the ranger's words before replying. "I believe I previously offered to exchange apologies before. I offered to walk the path of humility with you so we could reach accord. As you might remember, you rejected my efforts fairly conclusively. However, since you now seek my forgiveness and my attention I will grant you both. Qing Shan." the young monk responded in a calm tone with a smile.

"If I may add, you seemed to be very rash and did not listen. And you ignored me acting like I was not there. That bothered me. I do not like being directly ignored and I was angry-in some ways I still am. If you have something to say-say it. Not to her and act like I am nothing. Say it to me. Understood?" The elf watches the monk, tilting his head. He seems serious but at least he's confronting her-not hiding. Not running off. He holds a hand out to her. Odd.

Nodding his head to the shugenja, it seems they have some things in place as they ride.

Zokiro mounts up on Nori, enjoying looking at the world from a higher perspective again, as Setsuko and Qing determine their path forward.  Once all is in readiness, Zokiro is ready to ride back to the monastery, eager to start on the kami's mission.

"I...I..." she sputters for a moment before taking a deep breath and then continuing to speak. "The dispute no longer matters. We are choosing to move forward and give respect to each other. I will speak with you Qing when I have something to say. Because I am now sure that you will listen." Setsuko finishes her words with a respectful bow.

Having no more to say, she rides alongside her companions as they swiftly make their way back to the temple.

After some time the group gets back to the temple and night has fallen. They are allow inside by two monks, bowing their heads. Once inside, they dismount and their horses are tended to in a stable. Its quiet within the temple, probably due to most that are asleep but there are a few monastary people walking around and some watching the area from the small walls.

As they neared the temple, the party would hear the soft sound of a flute at the road near the entrance.  Koko stood by her horse, her only friend at the moment, playing the song taught to her by her father.  It whispered softly into the night, as she looked at the stars.  It was dark, so she did not recognize the travelers as they entered the temple.

A few minutes later, after settling her horse, she greeted the monks at the temple hoping for their hospitality for another night.

Within the temple, Setsuko sought out one of her brethren and paused him long enough to speak. “Brother, I know that the hour is late and that the Master may have already gone into his chambers for the evening. However, Sister Zokiro, the warrior Qing Shan, and I have just returned from a mission vital to the Master. Could someone please tell him that we are back and successful?”

As she awaited the reply from the master, the lilting tones of the flute reached her ears and she turned to smile at Zokiro, “Sister, I believe that is the flute of our ronin friend, Lady Tachibana. Would you please make sure that our gates welcome her and her mount into the temple?.”

Zokiro nodded at Setsuko.  "Certainly.  The Lady is a welcome warrior in times like these."  Zokiro will head towards the gate, very tiny in her green traveling robes now that she is off her horse, and bows as soon as she sees Lady Tachibana.  "A fair evening to you, Lady.  I hope you are in good health."
This message was last edited by the player at 07:50, Thu 28 May 2020.

Putting down her flute, she gave a warm smile in recognition of Zokiro.  "It is a pleasure to see you.  I am doing better than most...these are hard times." She was not of this region, so she greeted the Dragon clan member with utmost courtesy.  "I hope I was not disturbing with the music.  It helps me concentrate for my training.  I had planned to ask the monks for a place to stay for the night.  I hope they are welcoming." 

"Certainly not, Lady.  Music is always welcome.  We have had a most enlightening time, one that required a great deal of learning and compromise, and now have direction to a Fate we must attend in the forests to the south.  Once we give the fruits of our labor to the Master, we will be moving on soon.  The monks have been very helpful," Zokiro says.  She does look somewhat dusty, and it's clear she and Setsuko have been traveling with little pause for rest.

She nodded, and her brows curled at the signs of a recent adventure.  "If "we" includes your sister Setsuko, I would welcome to see her as well.  I have been in this region following a mission very dear to me but have come to a dead end.  However, fate has brought me to this region, and I am set on seeing it through.  Perhaps, I can join you if you need some company and a capable sword."

The ranger comes around the corner and is confronted by three woman. He stands his ground, shaking his head for some reason and bows his head towards the woman he doesn't know "We need to go to your masters area."

"Thank you, Qing. Let us go and give the masters the news, my sister, Lady," Zokiro says, giving Qing a bow before turning to head towards the masters' area.

Setsuko steps forward and bows respectfully to both the samurai and the ranger. Turning to the lady warrior she smiles and greets her in a warm, friendly voice,  "It is always good to see you Lady. Your company is always welcome."

With an apologetic expression she introduces the unfamiliar man standing alongside, "Forgive us Lady for not properly introducing our other guest. Lady Koko Tachibana, this man here is Qing Shan, a guide who has aided us in a journey on behalf of our Master." after a pause she continues speaking while the ushering Koko along with the three of them, "We now go to speak with the Master and know he would be pleased to see you as well."

Briefly pausing to speak with another monk outside the Master's chambers, Setsuko passes word that Lady Tachibana will be staying the night here.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 06:43, Wed 10 June 2020.

Koko followed along but her eyes did glint with curiosity at the mention of "the news".  She paid her proper bows to the ones she did not know.  "Well met, Qing Shan.  I am a swordswoman from the Lion's lands." 

As she entered the temple, she waits for the master and to hear what troubles are afoot..

When the three arrive at the masters area, he is sitting crosslegged on the floor. The area above him is more of a sunroof and his eyes are closed. Two monks stand there and one turns towards them "Did you get the flower as requested?"

In reply to Rokugan (msg # 274):

Setsuko steps forward into a kneeling position before the seated master. Not turning her eyes away from the Master, she replies with excitement and respect. "Yes brother, we have brought back the flower that our Master needs to save his child. While I cannot speak for Qing Shan, I can say on behalf of myself and Zakiro that it was an honor to be chosen for such an important mission and our pleasure to have completed it." She paused, turning first to Zokiro and then to Qing Shan, silently offering to let each of them tell more of their adventure to the Master.