For part one, see here.
We started the session a little late, owing to using the gang to move some boxes over to my new house before we began. Also, pizza.
It might be very apparent that I’ve made the tournament a lot bigger. The players all decided they wanted to play as Crab, so increasing the numbers in attendance for all the clans made more sense than having the group only watch one contestant perform.
I decided the larger tournament was in honour of the 35th anniversary of the Emperor’s ascendency to the Emerald Throne.
The three Crab began to explore the town of Tsuma, signing in to the tournament registry over at the Kakita Duelling Academy and investigating as much of the grounds as they were allowed. Then they headed for the sake house, drank a cup of shochu with the other Crab contestant, Hida Fujizaka. They rented themselves a private room for the evening, anticipating coming back to mark the evening’s festivities!
Following their shochu with a quick cup of tea at the House of the Laughing Carp teahouse and inn, commotion about town meant that the Imperial Barge was close to the town docks. Moving to the street, they witnessed the Imperial entourage disembark, and meet the various dignitaries in attendance.
The Emperor and his son, Bayushi Shoju and Kachiko, Hida Kisada, even Ichiro Akitomo of the Badger Clan and Yoritomo of the Mantis.
One old veteran samurai whispered an insult to the heir to the throne into the ear of the young Hida bushi, but Crab being Crab, all the young samurai agreed wholeheartedly that signs of weakness were to be held in contempt.
They noticed a few oddities among the crowd. A young make in the black and red armour of the Scorpion would later turn out to be Bayushi Sugai, a late entrant into the tournament. Also, following beside Hida Kisada’s niece was a Unicorn carrying three swords – one wakizashi and two katana. The ornamentation along the saya of one of the katana was clearly in Crab colours. Among a small party of Phoenix stood a female shugenja who was ALSO carrying a katana, ornamented in the Phoenix colours, but the two swords looked so similar they were clearly made by the same person.
On the way back to the sake house, the group ran in to Ichiin, a wandered who gathers information. He offered them knowledge on the other contestants, for a price, which they seemed happy to pay. They found out that the Crane were also fielding four contestants, with most of the others fielding two, or three in the case of the Lion clan. Gaining some idea of the various strengths of each contestant, they also found out that a Mantis had been entered into the tournament, as had a ronin named Toku.
The private room helped them later on, when a drinking contest with Hida Fujizaka got out of hand, the group all eventually passing out, some after almost embarassing themselves!
Waking up some time later, they hauled themselves back to Megumi’s house to sleep off the worst of their drinking. Hida Fujizaka came too, although he had a room at the Laughing Carp.
When they woke, the Hiruma found a note hidden in his obi. Presumably left by the private geisha at the sake house, it read simply ‘help’.
Bleary-eyed and as well-groomed as they could make themselves, the group headed to the Kakita Academy for the start of the tournament.
More next week!
jot jot ïota 