S3E8: Ronin in the Shell

The ronin were brought into the castle and taken to the training yard. After an hour, the castle taisa appeared. Reju Masaru welcomed the ronin into his ranks and explained the regimen at Closed Shell Castle. They would be brought in as new recruits, trained and mentored, and eventually given an assignment as a permanent member of the castle garrison. In exchange for their service, they would be given a place to sleep, three meals a day, and once they completed their training, they would be paid 1 koku a week. It would seem that Closed Shell Castle was serious about raising an army of well trained soldiers. The ronin convinced Masaru to let them begin their training the following day, so they could spend the rest of the day settling in and getting a feel for the castle.

Kaizoku staged himself in the mess hall, playing games with the other hired ronin and getting to know them. He discovered that Masaru’s promise of gainful employment was legit. The other ronin seemed quite content with life at Closed Shell Castle. For many, it felt good to wake up every morning with a purpose, and it was the only opportunity for reliable pay in the region.

Meanwhile, Tsume and Boa spoke with the castle shugenja, an eccentric young man named Reju Tetsuya. Tsume told the priest about his affliction as well as the circumstances that lead to it. Tetsuya performed a Cleansing Rite, dispelling Tsume’s affliction, but was sure to take careful note of the fight with Naoki. He didn’t quite seem to believe that the merchant’s death was in self defense. Tetsuya then recommended that Tsume bring the cursed wakizashi to Miya Shinkako, a guest of Lord Reju Jikai who had been staying at Closed Shell Castle for a couple weeks.

Boa asked the priest about the wolves they encountered on the road the previous night. Tetsuya claimed he didn’t know anything about it, but Boa felt like he was hiding something. He pressed the shugenja, commanding him that something needs to be done about the balance in the forest. Tetsuya seemed ashamed of himself, stating that he had done things which he could never be forgiven for. He then fled the room.

Tsume trailed him to see where he was going. The priest fled the keep, traveled across the bailey to the exterior wall where a derelict tower stood. He climbed through a half-hidden hole in the tower, and traversed the dry moat surrounding the castle. He then rested at a rock outcropping, shaded by the only tree visible near the castle. It appeared the place was a common meeting place. Tetsuya sat there, clearly troubled by inner turmoil. As the sun set, the priest began to meditate.

As Tsume trailed Tetsuya, Boa searched the priest’s private quarters. Hidden away behind a pile of books and scrolls, Boa found a small leather pouch. It contained a series of cryptic messages on folded and crumpled pieces of paper. Each one had a date and time written on it. Boa was a thorough and methodical investigator, but he was not a sneaky one. As he was going through the hidden notes, he knocked over a glass case, alerting the servants outside. They ran to investigate the sound and immediately called for the guards.

Artwork by Dylon Munoz

Music by Brandon Spain & Podcast of the Five Rings