S2E4: Footsteps in the Night

Buro, Tomo, Kenshi, and their tutor, Kuni Chiyagi, sat in front of the spirit of Togashi Yoshi, now bound to his Topaz Armor. The Martyr Monk recounted the horrible darkness of Jigoku, the endless torment and misery, the boundless strife and turmoil, and a pain so deep no mortal could bear to imagine. Yoshi tried to stand, but quickly found that he had not the strength to move his limbs. He remarked that he had simply been removed from one prison and placed in another.Overwhelmed with curiosity, Chiyagi immediately had the party help him move the animated spirit into his study. While helping to load Yoshi into a cart, Buro noticed that his newly forged mask grew warmer the closer he moved to Yoshi’s armor.Once inside his study, Chiyagi asked for as much time as possible with Yoshi and the armor. This was an unprecedented ritual that had just been completed and he wanted time to ask Yoshi questions, conduct experiments, and take notes. The party agreed to spend another three days at Bright Spring Fort, but decided they could not offer any more time than that, as they have an appointment to make for the imperial winter court. Chiyagi was deeply offended by this proposal and stormed out of the room, complaining that the emperor always finds a way to steal the glory of his clan.On the last day before departing, Kenshi decided to try and make amends with Chiyagi. This only worked to enrage him further. While being berated by Chiyagi, Kenshi noticed that the man’s work table was covered in letters and intuited that he was writing to the other shugenja of his order—breaking part of the agreement the party had made with Chiyagi.Alarmed by the unwanted attention this might bring them, the party decided to enlist the help of Bayushi Tsubasa. That night, they ordered Tsubasa to sneak into Chiyagi’s study to steal the letters so they could not be sent off. After Tsubasa missed the rendezvous time with the party, they got worried. Kenshi investigated the study and found it empty of any letters. Yoshi explained that Chiyagi had already sent them off long before Tusbasa arrived to take them.While investigating the perimeter of the fort, Buro found two tracks of footprints leading away from the fort and toward the main road across the Kuni Wastes. One trail he identified as Tsubasa’s, the other most likely belonging to the courier tasked with distributing the letters.The next morning while preparing to depart Bright Spring Fort, the party was encountered by a worried mother. They then discovered that a 10 year old boy who likes to deliver mail to nearby settlements did not return home last night.Credits:Album Art by Dylon MunozMusic"Rokugan Theme" by Brandon Spain"Sultry Silence" by Podcast of the Five Rings"Tsubasa's Theme" by Podcast of the Five Rings"Nighttime Antics" by Podcast of the Five Rings"Conniving & Mysterious" by Podcast of the Five Rings Artwork by Dylon MunozMusic by Brandon Spain & Podcast of the Five Rings