The Story: Gathering the Winds

Conversation and Disturbance

Hiro arrives, clad in a dark green robe, his breath misting in the evening air. He nods in greeting to Tokkan, but does not speak, not wishing to disrupt the serenity of the moment quite yet. Tokkan acknowledges Hiro's arrival politely and returns his gaze to the gardens.

As Hiro takes in the scent of plum blossom, the breeze cool on his cheek, a vivid memory stirs within him. He and his father, having spent some days in the capital one spring, were returning home on the last day of cherry-blossom viewing. With a quiet smile on his face, Hiro's father gestured toward one of the many cherry tree groves as they passed by.

"a long journey
 some cherry petals
 begin to fall"

With a start, Hiro realises he has spoken aloud. He turns to meet Tokkan's level gaze.

As Hiro and Tokkan look over the garden walls to the hilly orchards near the castle, the muffled sounds of some altercation wafts their way.  It sounds like it's coming from the direction of the main gate.

"What 'ya mean I can' come in? I needa talk ta Togashhhi Kyugoro-sama."  The speech is slurred, somebody's had too much sake tonight.

The response from the guard is too quiet to make out.

"I need to know who killed Togashi Kaneka-san. I'm here to offer my services to investigate the murder."

Another quiet response.

"Magistrate Togashi Kaneka-san thought that he had things under control, and even his funeral was disrupted by an attack.  Somebody has to keep these children alive until they can find out what's going on."  The guard tries to get a word in but can't find a polite way to do so.  "Just passing my offer along isn't enough. You don't understand, Magistrate Togashi Kaneka-san had information for me, and somebody killed him to stop anyone from finding out.  Stop being so stubborn."  This is followed by a loud thud, much like a stick connecting with an unfortunate guard's helmet.

Rik (who has likely been fidgeting around in the garden for at least forty-five minutes, and who is certainly carrying both his cast iron pot AND his iron pipe just on the off chance that people might change their minds and decide to leave tonight.  No, he hasn't been gnawing on anything.  No...  NO!  Rik would never....  Well, one little bonsai, that hardly counts does it?) hurriedly swallows and heads in the direction of the others, then notices the altercation coming from the front gate, and changes course in that direction, hoping in his little ratty heart that it might be more assassins.

This garden is an inner courtyard of the castle, situated on the third level. The first (ground) and second levels are used by the stores, prison, training areas, garrison, stables, and some servants' quarters are.  The third is where the masters/guests areas begin: dining hall, rooms, gardens, baths, libraries, etc.  The eastern edge of the garden is almost directly above the main gate, however.  Rik scuttles over to that spot and looks down upon the altercation.

Some eight or ten yards below, two guards have come out of the gatehouse and are standing in front of the main gate, blocking access to a wizened old man leaning on a cane.  They seem to be rather angry, and one is rubbing his shoulder as if he had received a painful blow.  The little old man's face is mostly obscured by a large straw hat, and his clothes are very worn.  His stance is lofty, although he seems to be wavering a bit.

Meanwhile in the garden, Toshino presents himself to Hiro and Tokkan, still dressed modestly in the clothes he wore earlier, but now perhaps more appropriately attired, given the more casual tranquility in the gardens. "Please forgive me, honored sirs, for intruding on you here, but this garden... beautiful as it is, it cannot provide me with much solace, given the recent events in these lands. Most worrisome to me is this new attack... who would despise a man so, to interrupt the honored Kaneka's funeral procession when it is obvious enough that the beloved magistrate could no longer pose a threat to any living person? Before we leave tomorrow, I feel it is necessary to investigate these attackers. We must know if they are related to his murder."

Toshino turns to Tokkan. "Tokkan-sama, I have heard how you valiantly fought off these attackers earlier today. We are all fortunate to have a warrior and sorcerer of your skills available to defend the honor of the Togashi clan. Hiro and I, however, have only recently arrived... could we investigate the bodies of the fallen attackers? If we could discover even a small clue, it might lead us to whoever ordered the attack. Also, I have heard your powers of sorcery are mighty indeed... the four winds roar at your command, and your thunder and lightning split the sky. I have heard of shugenjas who have the power to make the dead speak or divine the secret whisperings of their enemies. Could such magic aid us now?"

Ishi gives Tokkan a bewildered look. Could it really be, that the shugenja could go past the barrier that keeps the dead and the living apart, and pry information from the dead? He then quickly decides that such could not be the case, because then why would he not have asked the spirit of Togashi Kankeka-san who attacked him? That would certainly shorten their investigation...

"I would not presume to speak for Tokkan-san, but what little knowledge I have of the magical arts does not permit me to do such things. If Kaneka-sama were to return as a spirit to haunt us, I might be able to do more, but let us hope that his soul is not so disturbed."  Hiro gestures towards the seats, and waits for everyone else to sit down before he does as well.

Tokkan gazes at Toshino coolly, hints of lightening flickering behind his eyes. In a cool controlled tone he replies, "I would not waste the air to speak with such scum had they been living. I most certainly would not consider bringing thier spirits to this fine castle to do so now that they are dead.  I do not know what they did with the bodies of the attackers. I would have them fed to the pigs, but I expect they are planning on burning them. I can only assume they will allow you to examine them, if you wish."

Toshino quickly corrects himself. "I did not mean... well, I would not want to disturb the spirit of one so revered. Perhaps a more general divination... where we might look for clues.  I-ching? Yarrow Sticks?"

Hiro nods in understanding. "Of course not - I did not mean to suggest that you did. A divination would certainly be most useful, Toshino-san. Perhaps once we have seen the bodies we will know more."  Hiro turns to Toshino. "Might I say, Toshino-san, that it is most refreshing to meet another  investigator who is willing to handle the dead to discover the truth of a matter. I have often encountered magistrates and investigators who consider it beneath them and dirty to even come close to a corpse. Such an attitude disturbs me - a minor matter of perceived honour and cleanliness is, for them, more important than bringing to justice the perpetrators of a crime.

Tokkan gazes at Hiro as he speaks. To his mind there is no such thing as a minor matter of honor. He holds his tongue though, not wishing to embarass the man.

"I would also like to examine the bodies of these attackers. In my time as assistant to a yoriki, I learnt many techniques for gleaning information from the dead. I understand from what the servants have told me that the attackers wore no colours and displayed no mon, but I would appreciate it if either of you," Hiro gestures towards Tokkan and Ishi, "could tell me anything more distinctive that you could recall about them. How did their attack seem to you? Well-planned, or not? Were they trained at all? Did any of them say anything?"

Toshino only nods. What could angry ghosts do that could hurt him now?

Tokkan consideres.  "Actually, there is little to tell, as they seemed to be very concerned with hiding their identities. I would say they were indeed trained. They acted in concert upon several occaisions, and their leader seemed to be a man of considerable skill. Somewhat more disturbing to me is that they seemed equipped to deal with the sorcerous threat I presented. Fortunately they were not equipped to deal with a wild Ratling."

Hiro smiles. "Very few are, I would think, Tokkan-san."  His face becomes serious again as he continues. "I believe I heard mention of something that neutralised your magics; a medallion? Tell me, such items are rare and difficult to fashion, are they not? Perhaps that is a possible point of attack. Find the source of the medallion, and perhaps we will have found the base of these brigands."

"Such would seem a reasonable assumption," nods Tokkan.  "However...  I am not really certain... how one would go about doing so."  The Storm Sorcerer shrugs.  "Another line of thought that was shared, before you worthy gentlemen arrived, was the possibility that, with so many enemies lurking around seemingly every corner, that the raid upon the funeral may not even have been associated with the actual murder of the Most Honored Personage of the Revered Lord.  It may well have been engineered by yet another of his enemies as a message and show of disrespect."

Downstairs at the gate, the impact sound has been followed by some scuffling, in turn followed by grunts and groans as more impact noises are heard.  Angry voices are raised in addition to the earlier slurred, boisterous one.  Shouts and thuds are now coming in quicker succession.

Hiro raises an inquisitive eyebrow as he turns to face the source of the sounds.  "Who is it who calls so late?" he muses.  He rises from his seat. "My apologies, gentlemen. I believe I heard Kaneka-sama's name mentioned earlier - perhaps whoever is trying to get in has...had some business with him. It could not hurt to talk to this person."  He moves over to the eastern edge of the garden with haste. Who knows - it could be a very drunk, loud, lone assassin.

Or perhaps not.

With nary a thought for his own personal safety - or the fact that he might not be needed, or wanted, or appreciated  (or, really, truth to tell, much thought about anything at all except the possibility for adventure), Rik leaps from the battlements, swings twice around a conveniently placed banner pole, bounces off the roof of the guardhouse, somersaults in mid-air and lands just out of striking distance of the antagonists.  Once again, puffing himself up to his full, ratty ferocity level he demands "What-what is going on here?"

The guards stiffle a startled twitch.  One turns to cover Rik while the other (the bruised one...) leeps a baleful eye on the noisy old visitor.  Upon recognizing the Ratling who made a name for himself this afternoon, they both return their attention to the old man.  Before they can answer Rik, however, another arrival interrupts them.

Tokkan looks towards the disturbance. He puts on his great basket hat, and snaps his hands off to the side, and a low angle. "Queen of the Nothern Winds, please carry me in your gentle grasp." A wind sweeps into the balcony from the North, and lifts Tokkan up. It carries him toward the disturbance at the gate.  He lands near the Ratling and stands silently waiting for an explanation from the people creating the hubbub.

As Tokkan comes sailing down towards the disturbance, Rik seems oblivious to his presence until the last possible second.  Then the startled ratling gives a startled *SQUEAK* and jumps a good two feet to the side.

Ishi decides to remain in the garden. Whoever is at the gate seems to be on their side, and judging from the various noises, he also seems to be making his way past the guards on his own accord.  "Invite him up here," Ishi yells after the disappearing shugenja.

The guards look torn between relief at dealing with a samurai rather than a ratling or an old drunk, and discomfort at having a Phoenix involved in an incident at a Dragon gate.  "No need to trouble yourself, shugenja-san.  As I was going to tell the... the honoured guest," one guard manages to say with a cautious look at Rik (who is, at that moment, desperately attempting to regain the tatters of his dignity), "this man is causing a disturbance by demanding to see our lord, but we have this under control."

The old man bows to the shugenja. "Ah, at last somebody who will talk some sense. I am Takezo, follower of Shinsei. As I was explaining to these guards, I am here to talk with Togashi Kyugoro-sama. A magistrate of his, Togashi Kaneka-san was supposed to meet with me to give me information about the disappearance of one Kakita Shiro-sama. Unfortunately he was murdered before he could pass along his information. Whoever had him killed also sent some assasins to stop me, but I know a few tricks. I am here to aid in the investigation of the murder of Magistrate Togashi Kaneka-san. Shugenja-san perhaps you could talk to these guards and talk some sense into them."  Takezo looks at Tokkan expectantly.

"Look, old man," says the bruised guard with a dark frown, "it is not for you to demand to see Togashi-sama.  Leave your request and His Excellency will decide upon it in the morning."

"If that's the best you can do..."  Takezo twirls his walking stick over his head and then drives it into the ground. He then sits down in the middle of the road and begins to meditate.

Tokkan watches the entire encounter silently, with his arms crossed, looking through the side of his great basket hat.  He looks towards Rik, mostly just to see if the creature is doing anything else interesting.  Rik mostly seems interested in trying to act as though he hadn't recently just about jumped out of his skin.  He is peering at the old man and sniffing loudly.

Finally Tokkan says, "This is not necessary.  My humble self, and honored Ratling warrior, Rik The Avenger..."

Rik leans over in Tokkan's direction.  "HERO," he whispers sotto voce, "Rik the HERO."

"... are part of the very group that have undertaken to investigate the foul murder of his most worshipful Magistrate.  If this man is to join in the investigation, he must join with us.  After conferring with us this night, he may meet with Togashi-sama in the morning before we depart."

"Yeah!" says Rik helpfully (this seems like a good place to put in a forceful supportive comment.

"Ah, excellent, a man of reason," interjects the old man.  "So you are in charge of the investigation?"

"No, we are a gathering of equals," replies Tokkan, but something in his tone gives the slightest of hints that he does not really think so. "That is, of course, except for Rik the *Hero* who provides much guidance by shining example.

The two guards exchange looks and a few murmured words.  Rik turns again to Tokkan.  "I think he's drunk," he comments.

"Not, drunk. I only had a drink or two.  Shoju anyone?" Takezo offers a waterbottle towards everyone.

Rik wrinkles his nose and his whiskers twitch somewhat.  "No-no, thank you," he says after a pause.

Tokkan sighs pointedly, but follows with a slight shrug. Bureaucracy, one of the reasons Tokkan liked to live alone, rather than in the Phoenix Clan's stronghold. He nods, "Very well. I shall not create a disturbance in the home of our host."

"I'll take some, thanks, o-jii-san.  Chilly tonight, ain't it?"  This comes from Kentou, emerging from the shadows.  His voice is pitched low, his language distinctly common.  He takes a swig from the proferred bottle and hands it back.

"Isawa-san," the less surly guard says to Tokkan with a bow, "it is not for the likes of us to authorize  entry to vagrants.  But we will notify our gunso and inform him that you are offering to vouch for this... individual."  He nods to his scowling companion, who turns and goes into the gate house for a moment before returning.  A third soldier comes out on the castle side and heads towards the garrison area.

Kentou, his face carefully turned away from the guards, rolls his eyes slightly.  "Yep, definitely chilly out," he murmurs.  Turning to the guard, his tone shifts markedly towards the obsequious.  "I've just gotten here and am ignorant of what has happened.  Is there any way I... uh, this one can be of service?"

Tokkan nods in greeting towards Kentou. To the newcomer he says, "I am Isawa Tokkan of the Clan Phoenix."  His face still hidden by the great hat, he remains standing impassively.

Less Surly guard eyes Kentou warily.  This heimin just came in from inside the castle, so he should either be a servant, or...  Recognizing the commoner who fought so efficiently this afternoon along with the overgrown rat and the samurai, and was treated with extraordinary respect by the lord of the castle, the guards answers carefully:

"No, honoured guest, no help is required.  This one," he gestures towards the odorant Takezo, "tried to force his way into the castle and demanded to see Togashi-sama.  The honoured shugenja wishes to vouch for him, but it is not appropriate that we should take it upon ourselves to let uninvited, discourteous persons into our master's castle even on the word of an honoured guest -- particularly when the person has shown that he will rudely attack anyone who does not immediately bow to his wishes," he adds with a frown for Takezo.  "Our gunso will be informed and will decide on this matter."

Kentou nods.  "I see.  Well then, there's nothing to do but wait."  He turns towards Takezo and gives a slight 'What can I do?' shrug.

Rik wrinkles his nose, both at the smell coming from the old man's bottle, and at his earlier suggestion that someone other than Rik the HERO is in charge of the party.  Does this upstart not realize that it was Rik who sounded the alarm before anyone else?  (No, probably he doesn't.)  Does he not understand that it was Rik who battled the assassin leader? (No, he likely doesn't know that either.)  Does he not understand that it was Rik who pursued the assassins when no one else dared, bringing down two more in a glorious and HEROIC pursuit?  (Well, in all fairness, probably he doesn't, since he wasn't there and nobody has really had time to make up an epic tale about it yet.  Darn it!)

Rik attempts to stop slouching and adopt a human posture once again, and addresses the old man in tones as imperious as he can manage (which is none too imperious you understand - heck, how can Nezumi be imperious?  They don't even have an emperor!  But I digress.)

"I am Rik'EEE'k'chik Thukkathukka, Nezumi ambassador to-to the Dragon.  Is it not-not rude to appear before the gates of a powerful daimyo in such a state-state?  And you have hit-hit one of his guards!"  Rik sounds incredulous (probably because there was a fight and he missed  it).

Takezo just looks at the Nezumi for a few moments. "This is none of your concern, ratling. Stay out of the business of your superiors, or I'll give you a sound thrashing."
 

Brawl!

Takezo realizes this is a distraction and as the rat lands behind him, launches himself backwards over his opponent, trying to avoid his "attack".  But the Nezumi's blindingly quick -- and dishonourable! -- tickle attack pierces through Takezo's whirling defense, triggering a twitching reaction.  It's been a long time since anyone has tickled the old master, and the short fit of involuntary giggles leaves him momentarily out of breath.

The less surly of the two guards at the gate reverses his naginata to bring the butt end to bear and takes a step backward.  But the two combattants are too closely entangled and moving too quickly for him to pick one from the other, so he opts for a global solution.  Poking his weapon's end through the tangle of legs, he tries to trip the closest to cause a general fall.

On the sidelines, Kentou watches the early stages of the scuffle with interest.  He murmurs in a low voice, loud enough to carry to the other onlookers, but not to those engaged in the fight.  "This seems like it could be an interesting contest.  I wonder if it could be that there would be someone interested in making a small wager on the outcome?" 

Meanwhile, Takezo ignores the guard and, between chuckles, reaches out to pull the Nezumi's whiskers.  Rik does a standing back flip away from the drunken old coot attacking him, landing with rodent-like agility several feet away.  Feeling (rightly) that a moving target is a difficult target, he follows it up with several shoulder rolls² - left shoulder, right shoulder, left shoulder, right shoulder - before kipping up to his feet again, ready to continue the action.

The guard narrowly manages to slip his naginata past Takezo's distracted defense, tripping him into a comical cartwheel that still looks almost graceful in the ease and speed with which the old man recovers.  Takezo's spin sends him towards Rik, but the ratling dances away.

Rik sprints over to the two guards, swarming up onto their shoulders before they can react.   Using the helmet of the one on the right, he executes a hand stand and a half spin before vaulting off, spinning like a high diver.  He lands behind the startled monk and plants a ratty foot in the seat of his pants (well, where the seat of his pants would be if he weren't wearing monk robes anyway).

Takezo's behind receives Rik's ignominious seal.  The second guard, who has been Takezo's victim earlier, sees his chance.  As the monk stumbles, he too swings the haft of his naginata to add insult to injury.  But overreaching in his eagerness, he ends up tripping over the old man instead, goes tumbling past the combattants, and sprawls on the flagstones.

The first guard tries another attack, lashing out with a swing of his naginata, bouncing the haft off the palm of his hand as it it was a jo stick.  But his strike falls short of the mark, barely noticed by the tussling monk and Nezumi, and hits the pavement with and audible clap.

Tokkan considers Kentou's words. "Yes, interesting. But which one do you favor? Which are you interested in wagering upon?"

Takezo shakes his head to clear it. This creature is fast, very fast and he needs his wits about him to defeat him. He fakes a run at the guards, runs at the castle wall, takes a few steps up the wall and then leaps off the wall clearing the combat.

Rik does a series of back flips to further open the distance between himself and the old man.  "What-what is wrong old man?  Not so rude-rude now, eh?" he says, chittering with laughter.  "Come down!  We are not finished yet!  Try not to fall-fall, you might break your old bones!"

The old monk's concentration is unshakable this time, and he sees through the Nezumi's attempts at distraction like the morning sun piercing the night's mists.

Surly Guard picks himself up from his humiliating fall and resumes a martial stance on the far side of the scuffle.  His companion watches with narrowed eyes, and at the first opening swings the butt end of his naginata again to strike Takezo, a sharp rap such as one inflicts to an unruly peasant.

Takezo takes his attention off the creature for a moment. These bumbling guards are getting in his way. He looks around for a moment and sees the banners that the creature used on the way down. He collects himself and leaps up, snagging a banner. As he falls, he snaps one end of the banner at the surly guard, the other end at the other guard. When Takezo hits the ground, he yanks on the middle of the banner, causing the guards to become completely entangled within it.

The two guards are taken by surprise by the ferocity and swiftness of Takezo's manoeuvre.  They move to fend him off using their weapons, but this time the length of the polearms is a nuisance rather than a boon, making them more difficult to free from the lengths of flapping fabric.  The guards become hopelessly entangled.

Kentou gives a shrug.  "It is hard to say, knowing so little of the contestants, but it seems to me that the old man's skills are superior, though the Ratling's speed may tell.  I would think that it would take odds of two to one for me to wager on the Ratling."

Tokkan's broad basket hat moves not a bit as his eyes take in the combatants manuevers. Finally he says, "My ten on the drunken old man, to your five on our Ratling Hero? I find this acceptable. Agreed?"³

"Done," says Kentou, his eyes never leaving the fighters.  "It's too bad I don't think we'll find anyone to bet on the guards," he murmurs in a very low voice indeed.

Rik fairly chitters with mockery (well, he fairly chitters no matter what, but it's mockery this time, I tell you!)  "Hey old man!  Your fight-fight is with me, not with them!" he says, pointing at the sprawled guards.  As if to bolster his words he goes through the twenty eight kata of Nezumi-do (AKA "That Psycho Ratling Shit") at lightning speed, shifting from one to the next almost faster than the eye can see (accompanied by the appropriate "WHOOSH!"  "WHOOSH!"  "WHOOSH!" sounds) before uttering an earsplittingly shrill kiai and vaulting in Tazeko's direction.  Scooping up the naginata of one of the entangled guards he uses the weapon to make a miniature pole vault past both Tazeko and the guards, hacking downward in mid-air at the banner with the intent of severing it just at the perfect moment to allow both of the struggling guards to crash into the drunken monk.

Takezo jumps up with a spinning kick to deflect the naginata as the Nezumi leaps over. "They were getting in the way, they're safe where they are now."

The enfeebled but erratic thrashing of the parcel-wrapped guards sends them bungling between Rik and Takezo.  The ratling, seizing the opportunity, snaps the butt of the naginata in an upward slam under what is likely a guard's chin.  The impact sends the bannered shape rolling to the ground, dragging the other guard along, and colliding with Takezo.  The old man quickly jumps away to free himself from the tangle -- backing into Rik just in time to receive an earful of Nezumi kiai from a distance of roughly one handspan.  Nezumi kiai does not kill or main (most non-Nezumi refer to it as "shrieking"), but it does make one's ears ring painfully.

Rik throws himself into an acrobatics display worthy of a prepubescent gymnast - rolls, kips, handstands, somersaults, springs, tucks, you name it.  Like an insane pinball he ricochets across the battlefield from guards to flag poles to monk to guardhouse to wall and back again.  He scrambles back up the wall to the locale from which he originally leaped into the fray, seemingly for the sole purpose of leaping into the fray again.  But this time in lieu of swinging from the flag pole he simply bounces off it, using it as a springboard for a leap of heroic proportions.  He makes a perfect landing in front of Tazeko.

"Well old man, you're pretty good."  he chitters.  "Not your fault that I'm better-better.  Ready to give in?"

"Well, you do know how to fight." Takezo grudgingly admits.  "But I'm not done yet."  The old man reaches out and tries to immobilize his opponent.  He wraps up the Nezumi's arms in an odd position, rendering him helpless.

The ratling cockily jumps just a hair's breadth past Takezo's reach, chittering mocking laughter --

-- and suddenly finds Takezo's reach goes just a little further than he had thought when the old man's hand snags him!  With a deft spin, Takezo makes Nezumi origami.

"Not bad for a drunk," comments Rik conversationally, not (for the moment) struggling.  "We are investigating a murder - would you like to join-join us?"

"Not bad for an annoying ball of fur." replies Takezo. "I'd be honored to help you."
 

To Be Continued...

koku: enough rice to feed one person for a year.  The coin of that value (on average harvest years) is a ryo.  One koku's worth, or ryo, is equivalent to 5 bu.  Ordinary samurai receive the equivalent of 5 koku a year in pay.

ryo: coin about equivalent to one koku's worth (on average harvest years); worth 5 bu.  Looks like a thick flat oval plate of gold, about 65 mm by 40 by 8.

bu: short for "ichi-bu", or weight of silver; silver coin worth 10 zeni strings.  Five bu make a ryo (or koku).  Looks like a rectangular silver tile, about 20 mm by 25 mm.

zeni: copper coin.  Ten zeni strings make a bu.  For smaller denomination, the packages of zeni can be opened and the small copper pieces inside are used individually.  However, most zeni strings (or wrapped packages) are never opened; the seal on them is a garantee that they have not been tampered with.  A standard string contains 100 thin copper pieces, about 20 mm in diameter.

So 1 koku ~ 1 ryo = 5 bu = 50 zeni strings = 5,000 zeni.  In common parlance in Rokugan, the word "koku" is used freely to mean "ryo" when discussing coin.  In this particular case, I believe the players agreed to a fairly hefty bet, in bu (5 bu, or 1 ryo, on Rik to 10 bu, or 2 ryo on Takezo).  Return.

Credits:
- The picture is "Evenining in Nara" (1933) by Hiroshi Yoshida and was obtained from the section of the Hanga Online Gallery dedicated to Yoshida.
- Hiro's haiku is from a paper on haiku techniques by Jane Reichhold.