S2E2: Rumors of War

Soshi No Burezu, Kaiu Tomo, Kuni Akari, Bayushi Tsubasa, and the newly recruited bard, Ikoma Kenshi, traveled north west toward the Kuni Wastes, in search of Akari’s father, Kuni Chiyagi. While traveling across the Crab lands, the party encountered the peasants Riku and Sho at a sake house in a small farming community. The peasants, drunk on sake and filled with songs of our heroes’ greatest deeds, graciously invited the samurai to stay with them in their lowly hovel. There, the peasants asked Kenshi to tell them all he knows about the escalating conflict between the Lion and the Crane. The peasants, as well as the rest of the party, learned that the Lion and Crane have been competing with each other for generations over the thriving market city of Toshi Ranbo. Tensions escalated into a bloody conflict when the Crane broke an armistice, seizing the city and claiming it as their own. The Lion launched a counter-attack, but were unable to take the city. The two clans are now in open war against each other, growing into numerous battles, and claiming many lives as the fighting escalates into the bloodiest conflict in recent memory.Upon setting off the next day, the party encountered a high-ranking samurai leading a small host of ashigaru toward the Kaiu Wall. Speaking with him, the party learned that the Crab clan are mustering their own forces and planning a lengthy campaign into the Shadowlands, hoping to reclaim Shiro Hiruma and redeem their lost honor.After traveling for three days across the heart of the Crab lands, the party reached the Kuni Wastes— a bleak, barren landscape devoid of all life and untouched by the blessings of the kami. Disturbed by the desolate landscape, Buro asked Akari how they could hope to find Yoshi in a place such as this. To which she explained that the Kuni shugenja are masters of Binding Magic, and she believes that her father will know of a way to permanently bind the spirit of the Martyr Monk to his armor… though a ritual of this scale has never been accomplished before, and she is not sure if it can be done.Deep in the wastes, the party found Bright Spring Fort—the ancestral home of Akari’s family. Here, multiple generations work together to harvest vast gardens of fruits and vegetables, protected from bandits and raiders by tall stone walls and a watchtower. Inside the fort, the party was met with a warm welcome from Akari’s mother, Mariko, who thanked the samurai for all they had done to protect Rokugan from the forces of the Shadowlands, and for protecting her daughter from danger.Mariko lead them into the fort’s central keep, into a dark, candlelit study filled with racks of leatherbound tomes and musty scrolls. Sitting at a table in the dim light was the colossal man himself, Kuni Chiyagai… Credits:Album Art by Dylon MunozMusic"Rokugan Theme" by Brandon Spain"Sleepy Little Fishing Town" by Podcast of the Five Rings  "Sake House" by Podcast of the Five Rings"Conniving and Mysterious" by Podcast of the Five Rings"Dark & Airy" by Podcast of the Five Rings"Crab Theme" by Brandon Spain"Dreamlike" by Kevin McLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Artwork by Dylon MunozMusic by Brandon Spain & Podcast of the Five Rings