Ryu doesn't imitate Akira. He has left his weapons with Sakura and him. He goes unarmed to the bath, but with his armor still doned. Once in the private sanctum of the bath, he proceeds to take off all what he wears and washes himself before stepping into the hot bath. It felt wonderful. And he also can take this time to focus his mind.

A remarkably pretty young lady dressed in pristine white robes entered the inn. She looked tired from hard riding, and perhaps more than a little relieved to have arrived here in one piece. She wore the Mon of the Phoenix Clan over her heart implying that she wasn't a warrior, and indeed the only weapon that she carried was a Tanto tucked into her belt.

"Blessing of the Kami on this place, A room please Innkeeper" her voice was pleasant and that of a Noblewomen who while kind to the people working for her, expected to be obeyed. "Something to eat and drink as well" there was perhaps a hint in the way that she asked it that she was really hungry and thirsty, but it was only a hint. "Perhaps you could advise me as to the location of the Magistrate? I have urgent business with him"



Description: as per description
Gather Info: 17
Perception 9

"That is a good question that needs a complex answer. It goes in stages. Takes me about an hour to get everything ready for day to day use. If I make a quick healing potion that takes just a few seconds, they only last so long."

"The same goes for other battle potions like a true strike or monkey fish potion. Fast but they need to be used right away."

"If you want other alchemy that lasts long and you don't need me around to use... smoke sticks, sun flares, matches, or even the strange things like soul cleanser, night eye oil... that takes time to brew but once made its good forever."

"I do plan to learn how to make out right magic items once coin really gets going."

"But yea. Takes no more time than a Merlin. Just an hour in the morning and I'm set for the day."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:39, Wed 23 Feb 2022.

"And the more time it takes to craft... the more gold you need, right?" Akira thinks and grins. "And you are broke right now."

He pulled out a wooden coin with a queen on one side looking just as foreign as he did. "Used to be wealthy but I've got entirely useless trade coins now. Firestarters is all they are good for."

"But yea. The more it costs the more care it takes to make it. But given time I will be much faster. What takes me days to brew now may take hours in a few months. The more I make the faster I'll get at it."

"That being said, one gold buys a lot of ammunition. And it takes no gold for the quick brew stuff."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 01:04, Thu 24 Feb 2022.

Ryu You head off into the baths.  The water is warm and refreshing.  There is no one in there but yourself.  After you are finished you head back out into the main area of the inn and see your group talking to a tall pale man.

Okimi You take your seat and a young man approaches your table carrying a tray with tea and a bowl of food.  The man bows to you and states "The rooms are upstairs I will show them to you after you have eaten if you would like?"

From your time in town you are able to discover the following info:  Both Kunemura and Shotokami are widely regarded as strong, stubborn and doggedly persistant in pursuit of their goals.  The village and surrounding country side have been mobilized for war.

You feel several pair of eyes on you upon entering the inn but not sure where they are coming from.

Group Acions

"Well... what is your prize for a day full of dangers; John? Or should you come with us; we should pay for every time we use your concoctions?" Sakura finishes her tea and smiles to Ryu. "Soshi Ryu, meet John. A practitioner of alchemy. We are trying to reach an agreement for his services." She may want to delay her bath a little bit more.

John nodded once, "A fair cut of commissions will pay for any quick alchemy like a few healing drafts each day. If you want the longer lasting stuff you order it and pay, I'll brew it up."

"Once I get some money I'll have an open stock."

"Much later and if we get a wagon or something ill put up ten percent of any part of my take on having team alchemy you can freely take from."

"Little stuff just buy me the components.  I won't charge the group for things like smoke bombs or sun rods. But I can't make long lasting alchemy without components."

Ryu bows to the pale man. "My name is Soshi Ryu. Pleased to meet you."
He sits at the table, hearing him, but also noticing where Sakura's eyes were looking. There was a woman there, with the Phoenix mon on her shoulder. This was becoming more and more interesting. What could the Phoenix want here? A man like John could soon find his hands full of gold, if the war was not dodged. But the Phoenix?

Sakura nods at Ryu and then looks at the Phoenix. It seems bath will have to wait.

The member of the Bayushi family stands up. "If you excuse me... I think I have to start another conversation." She apologizes to Ryu, Akira and John. The Scorpion walks to the table where the Phoenix is and bows respectfully to her, looking at her eyes. "It is always a honor to meet another member of a Great Clan. My name is Bayushi Sakura. What is yours?"

Okimi had that guarded look in her eyes that Sakura would recognise. Most people that interacted with the Scorpion clan had it. She scanned his clothes for her Mon to check she was still in good standing with her clan, and whether she was a Warrior

"Isawa Okimi. Shugenja" The last was really needed, her own Mon claimed her as a graduate from the most famous and prestigous shugenja school in the Empire. "It is always a blessing to meet a Scorpion peacefully. Would you perhaps like to take a seat? What brings you here Sakura-san?"
This message was last edited by the player at 06:35, Fri 25 Feb 2022.

Akira nods to Sakura as she gets up. "Ryu, I think this man can help us... What do you think?" His excitement is evident and a little more of what is adecuated for a Scorpion. And from time to time, he cheks that Sakura is allright with the Phoenix newcomer.

John inclined his head to Ryu, "And you sir."

"So my turn. What do you expect from a team alchemist? If there is one thing I have learned from the people here, it's not just in what I can offer but what is expected."

Sakura has a crimson red dress with her clan mon right between her eyes in her black mask. She smiles to the Phoenix. "What a nice surprise, a great shugenja coming from the most faithful clan."

She takes the big metal star with pointy ends strapped to her belt so she can sit. It is not a shuriken. Too big for that.

"It is always a blessing to meet anyone peacefully." She smiles again with her red lips.
"We were just walking by, doing some errands and taking a rest with my friends there. " She points to the group she has been with. "But I noticed you has come alone. Why is a Phoenix shugenja alone here?"

"You honour me too much" Okimi said "My gempukku was but a short time ago, it will be a long time, if ever, before I am a 'great' Shugenda. Part of the answer to your question is that 'I am never alone'. The Kami are with me everywhere. That though wasn't helpful at all, and just me teasing you."

"The short answer to your question is one that the Underhand of the Emperor might be able to assist me with. I exist to serve, and my Daimyo has asked a service of me. That service is to investigate rumours of  war in this place. It's clear from even the time it takes to drink a glass of water that he is right to be worried."

"So I have answered your question, perhaps you can answer two of mine. The first is simple... 'what in the name of Fu Leng is that'." Okimi pointed to the metal star "And the second more interesting... the same question you asked me."

Sakura smiles to the Isawa with her pretty red lips. "And when did you tease me? When you told me you are not a great shugenja yet? Or when you told me you are never alone?" She looks to the sides, playully trying to see the kamis around her.

And then, a she was facing to her left side, she looked at her with the corner of her eye. "And... what does your daimyo expect of you and the kamis if war happens? Because in that regard I was not nor am alone." She looks then to the table where Akira, Ryu and John are talking.

"Now, now now... I hope that the kami who is around you is not the Dark One. Why would a shugenja even pronounce that name in a joke or casual conversation?" She caresses her belt and runs her finger on the star, taking it and balancing it with her finger in the handle right in the middle of it.
"And this? This is something from a far away place. I use it to dance and entertain."

"When I said I was never alone. While true it's not the normal meaning of the words" Okimi was being careful. This was a Scorpion clan member, and for all her prettiness she still wore a mask to hide her intent. And you never knew when the Scorpion was going to sting

There was a smile and a shrug at the 'What does your Daimyo want'. This information flow was going one way at the moment, and Okimi wasn't going to be explaining things like that without some exchange of value. The scorpions spied and took and rarely gave. "Perhaps if you explain your purpose here we could discuss that."  She'd asked and been 'fobbed of'. No Scorpion was ever 'just traveling with their friends'

Perhaps a mildly embaressed laugh at the mention of the name "Perhaps I have been traveling with Bushi too long. Even so the Ninth Kami though does not come when his name his mentioned. He is the saddest story of all of course. So much hatred caused by misunderstanding and deception. There are so many lessons for us all in his tale" she nodded at the star "Nice. Perhaps later in the evening, if you are staying at the inn, it would be possible to see it in use."
This message was last edited by the player at 10:01, Sun 27 Feb 2022.

"I heard some of alchemy. I think it can change the world. Even more than magic, John." Ryu leant on the table. "What we expect? Help. My associates here think you will be a good addition to the group. And given that I haven talked with you way less than you with them I have to trust their judgement. In any case, let me tell you that we don't expect to be safe in a room with alchemical potions in complete order."

John smiled, "Alchemy is not a spectator kind of deal unless you're some kind of a hermit. You have to be out there in the thick of it if you want to learn anything of value." He nodded once, "So, when do we start?"

Bayushi Sakura chuckles.
"So you are a great Shujenga. And given the fame of the Phoenix, your Daimyo surely expects you to stop whatever war is brewing here." No...  there was no need for further discussion on the matter.
Sakura's smile only grows bigger when she mentions that Fu Leng wouldn't come just by a person speaking his name. The Isawa surely has reasons to smile and toy with his name. All Rokugan has.
"Too bad you are not travelling with Bushi anymore. I wonder which Bushi would deny themselves the opportunity of keeping you under their care."

Sakura gyrates the star around her finger. "Maybe I will have the opportunity to offer you a special dance soon. I would enjoy it. Too bad only the Kamis and no Bushi is with you, or I would enjoy it even more."

Akira smiles to John and gives a quick stare to Sakura's back. "As soon as she is ready. Which maybe it will take some time. Let's enjoy breakfast together then and relax a little. Tell me, John. From which land are you from?"

John nodded and settled in. "I haven't run into many people who know of it. Avalon on the land of Theah. We had a ship we thought could sail the whole world. Ended up that we ran into some grand wall of fire that gave no light we could see. We ran until a storm ended our ship. So far as I know I am the only one left and our expedition will be seen as a failure."

"How about you? Is this your home town?"

Shosuro nods at ever word that John says as if he had to remember every detail he says and somehow only his word made him recall.

"No... this is not my home. But it is always good to have someone who can cure when you are traveling around. You was on board for that reason, I am sure."

A flicker of something that was perhaps 'shock' ran over Okimi's face. Just for a moment. Was this Scorpion girl 'flirting' with her? She was! If Okimi hadn't wanted to talk and find out what was going on she'd have stormed out of here with more than a little righteous indignation. Mind you she still hadn't responded to a single question, so Okimi wasn't entirely sure that staying was going to fulfil any purpose other than embaressment.

Okimi didn't really know what to do now. She'd asked twice and got nothing. Third time was the charm perhaps. It was obvious from her body language that if she didn't get a response this time she was off. She tried to ignore the flattery ... which was nice...and the seduction .... which was disturbing, as she asked the last time  "Perhaps " she repeated "you could explain why you are here. What interest the Scorpion clan has to send three of its  ... ah ... seducers and fighters to a potential warzone"

Ryu closes his eyes at the mention of hometown. Yes, he would love to be there now. "And how did you survive the wall of fire?" He wanted to ask. Perhaps the alchemist could invent a way to pass the magical protections of Rokugan.