S2E22: A Game of Cat & Mouse

Kenshi is put on an impromptu trial at the Lion embassy. Buro, Tomo, Akari, and Tsubasa are graced with a visit by Lady Kachiko. Kenshi meets someone from his past.

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---SHOW NOTES---

Kenshi sat in audience with Akodo Toturi, Ikoma Ujiaki, and Matsu Tsuko. He admitted to having murdered Tsuko’s cousin, Matsu Toshiro. 

Tsuko launched into a rage, demanding Kenshi be executed for his crimes against the Lion clan. Taking advantage of the situation, Ujiaki dug into Tsuko’s wound, joking about her brash nature, and quickly turned  the room against her. 

Overwhelmed by the scene unfolding before him, Toturi questioned Kenshi, wishing to understand more about his motives and his character. Kenshi explained that he was acting out of self-defense, and that Toshiro was behaving in a dishonorable manner unbefitting of a samurai. Listening to his story, Toturi decided that perhaps Toshiro was in the wrong, and that Kenshi has honor in his heart after all.

Pressing Tsuko’s anger, Ujiaki claimed this could be an opportunity to stand for a new vision for the Lion clan. One that doesn’t bend to the barbaric nature of the Matsu family. Enraged by these comments, Tsuko unmasked. She told Ujiaki his words were nothing but a thinly veiled excuse to discredit her and her family, and that he will not have heard the last from her. She then turned to Kenshi and promised that one way or another, she will get justice for the death of Toshiro. She then stormed out of the room.

Wishing to regain control of the room and assert his authority as clan champion, Toturi proclaimed the fate of Kenshi should be his to decide, and that an investigation should be opened immediately.

Ujiaki then made an impassioned plea to allow him to decide Kenshi’s fate. Kenshi does, after all, bare the Ikoma name. Besides, Toturi is much too busy mediating the war with the Crane to devote himself to this as well. Toturi relented, and promised he would respect whatever decision Ujiaki came to regarding the Kenshi’s punishment.

Afterwards, Ujiaki spoke with Kenshi in private. He told him that his crime is extremely serious, but that he may be forgiven if he were willing to serve his clan. He explained that in two days, he will be hosting a party celebrating the betrothal of Akodo Toturi and Isawa Kaede. The heads of the Pheonix clan will be in attendance. If Kenshi were to tell his story of Stepping Stone Village, and highlight the destruction and devastation the Crane brought to the battlefield by using illicit gaijin weapons, then Ujiaki may be able to forgive Kenshi of his crime. If he’s unwilling to portray the Crane as honorless and bloodthirsty to the leaders of the Pheonix clan, then Ujiaki will be forced to punish Kenshi for his actions.

Meanwhile, Bayushi Kachiko showed up at the Scorpion embassy completely unannounced and requested an immediate audience with Buro, Tomo, Akari, and Tsubasa. She formally welcomed them to Otosan Uchi and to the Scorpion embassy. As a wise and gracious host, she imparted some wisdom to the samurai. Commenting on Buro and Tomo’s poor introduction before the Emperor, she remarked that “injury is more quickly forgotten than insult.” The lords and ladies of court are not quick to forgive such blatant affronts to their honor.

Next, she reminded the samurai that court this year is being held in dangerous times. Most prevalent among these dangers is the practice of maho throughout Rokugan. Her attention turned to Akari when she warned the party that to many, asking questions about maho is a short road to actually practicing it, and that one would not want to give the wrong impression about oneself. 

Before leaving, she left the party with some parting words: “Secrets and porcelain have one thing in common. Drop either of them, and the whole world hears it.”

Later, Kenshi returned to his quarters in the Lion embassy to find an origami fox with a hidden message inside. The message instructed him to meet at a park on the outskirts of town. Once there, he met Kitsune Ryosei and briefed her on all the information he had just acquired on the Lion clan.

Upon giving this information, an orange and brown cat revealed itself from a nearby tree and jumped to the grass beside Ryosei. The cat transformed to reveal its true self-- an attractive young woman slightly older than Kenshi. She introduced herself as Niao, and confirmed everything Kenshi had said as being true. Niao had been sent to follow Kenshi and make sure his loyalty truly stands with the Fox.

Niao revealed something else as well. She was in attendance at the Emperor’s commencement banquet when Kenshi sang his song before the court. Though she did not recognize Kenshi, his voice was unmistakable to her. It was a voice she had not heard since she was very, very young. She is certain that Kenshi is her estranged brother, separated when the Lion raided their village.

Niao then volunteered to teach Kenshi the techniques of the Fox and unlock the latent power he has within. Coursing through his veins is the blood of the Kitsune and their shapechanging ways.

With that, Ryosei had been given a lot to consider. She bid Kenshi a good night and told him that she may have a new mission for him very soon.

Credits

Album Art by Dylon Munoz

Music

"Rokugan Theme" by Brandon Spain

"Cold Truths" by Podcast of the Five Rings

"Ekohikei Afternoon" by Podcast of the Five Rings

"Kachiko's Waltz" by Podcast of the Five Rings

"Magic Forest" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

"Master of the Feast" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Artwork by Dylon Munoz

Music by Brandon Spain & Podcast of the Five Rings