The Harvest Moon Consortium

[Winterhawk99]

Several months ago, the server Adalee to which I like to play went down until the end of june to go from Beta to a standardized persistent world. I started up a Kozakura pnp campaign once a week for 4 hours to help folk bide the time on discord.

Last week I asked them if I could put their adventures into storybook form. They agreed and I will be posting it here. I am not the Author or authors of these stories. It's my players that decide how the plots go. I just referee the chaotic mess (chuckle) They are the Authors I'm just a choreographer and ghost writer making an outline for them to tell their stories.

We currently have Three player/Authors (guys if you want your real names here, I'll gladly edit this post)

1. Maxalpd playing a Fey/elven arcane archer by the name of Drasta
2. Shalvaney playing a Hengyokai mastiff from Shou-lung named Sei
3. the1kobra playing a kozakuran Kobold in the service of a spirit dragon.

The next post will be the start of their story. (I might need a few days. I am still writing a novel.) There are 3 more slots open. It's a flexible friendly game. The mad dm isn't really strict on the rules just yet because of the levels of the party. if you want to bump me on discord. my name there is winterhawk99. Be warned this is not in any way shape of form politically correct. It is a representation of medieval japan during the Minamoto era. And we are old and cranky. Especially when it comes to someone trying to stick pronouns up our asses.

[Winterhawk99]

She floats in an endless void. Her eyes closed in true sleep that few adult elven know. But Drasta is not fully elven. She also has a more mystic ancestry, an ancestry of the fey and a connection to the fey wild plane. Suddenly and without warning her eyes open, and for a second, she only sees blackness. She falls an eternity. Then the sea of blackness returns.

After a time Drasta once again wakes up. She is lying in a forest upon a moss bed. Pixies and butterfly dragons play around her. She knows she is home. She knows she is in the land of the fey. The first thing she does is check her equipment and armor. Though frayed her armor is usable. Her weapons are there. She checks all her pockets. She finds two letters. One reads.

By imperial decree of his radiance Emperor Hojo Todahiro

Drasta Resh’Dalin commoner of the west is authorized to travel within the empire of Kozakura to learn her duties as Besshikime to Ambassador Mayonaka Sakurya: Imperial ambassador to the island of Adalee.

Drasta Resh’Dalin for the period of her engagement within the empire agrees to be a vassal to Shogun Barasume Kyo and assume training duties within his realm. By coming to Kozakura, she agrees to follow all customs, traditions, and laws of the empire and her Superiors within her chain of command.

Thank you and be at peace,

大使 真夜中 咲く

Ambassador Mayonaka Sakuya of the Kozakurian Empire

(imperial ambassador’s seal)

The letter repeats but instead of high Shou it is in the trade common of the west.

The second letter is written only in trade common.

Dear Drasta,

We have discussed you becoming my personal guard, a position you have already done without knowledge that such could exist. Thus, I will formally offer you this position but only if you can complete the training to become one. It would be a necessary thing to do in my lands. The term for a noblewoman’s guard is called besshikime. If you choose to take this path, go to Kozakura and find the Shogun. Present him with the scroll I have slipped in your pocket. He will take it from there.

I must also warn you; Kozakura is far from your nature. It is a hard land of many traditions; laws and the samurai have final say over life and death of a commoner. You could lose your head in an instant if you so much look crossly at one. Be careful. Be humble and learn our way of life. Think before you act if you choose to take this challenge.

You would not lose honor in my eyes if you chose not to take this path. If you do, I want you to recognize the constant danger to your life you have invited to yourself by taking up my banner. Success will bring you much honor and respect. There is only one failure. I think you know by my own ways what it will be.

Be at peace.

大使 真夜中 咲く

Ambassador Mayonaka Sakuya of the Kozakurian Empire

Memories flood her. The fight with Lana. The conclusion. How Miwa used her logic to strike the first blow needed in Lana’s heart. The doubt it caused. She looks around her again. “Where is everyone else?” Drasta did not have an answer. She is alone in the fey wild. She looks over the letters again and makes a life changing decision.

Drasta goes from portal to portal within the Fey lands. Always headed east, ever east. She travels for days what one would need to travel months. As she comes out of a portal five days later running as fast as a hare being pursued by a fox, she suddenly hits an invisible wall that knocks her flat on the ground. After several waves of her head catching fire and subsiding, she gets up.

She places her hands and feels the wall. There seems no way past. She strikes it with weapons and tries to use magic. Shoots arrows at it with all her might still the wall will not yield. She starts to walk parallel to it with one hand on the smooth invisible surface. She walks south for nearly two days. The barrier meanders slightly here and there but always seems generally north and south. Then she sees it: A portal to the prime.

She takes it and finds herself on the western side of the Dragon wall. The entrance to Kura-tur. It takes her another three days until she finds a gate. Walking up to the guards she presents her papers. The guards let her through for the few silvers tax. She now must walk down the main trade road. After a month she finds a city and takes the silk road using her broken high shou to learn how to get to the land of the rising sun. Eventually she finds the sea and books passage to the home of her patron: The Imperial ambassador Barasume Miwa.

[Winterhawk99]

The first wife of Shogun Barasume Kyo comes out of the palace and to the large aviary just to the west of the large training field in the back of the castle. She politely knocks on the door and waits. As it opens, she bows to Sei Liu.

He is a tall fellow, well over six feet tall, with raven-black hair kept loose down to his shoulders, a somewhat shaggy beard and moustache, and skin and eyes that'd be typical of the area, albeit subtly heterochronic as his left eye is a darker green than his right. He is wearing a comfortable, if plain, shirt, baggy trousers, and a pair of sturdy leather sandals, as well as sturdy leather gloves and a simple cord belt. Thanks to the sandals, one can see that his feet are kind of...hairy, though -- not to the extent of a hin's, but still, more hirsute than most men one'd run into.

He recognizes her being that he is in his home, and she is a guest, “Greetings and be at Peace, how may I help you, ma’am?”

“Good morn to you, Falconer. We have a great horned owl we purchased. It should arrive at the docks today. Your services are needed. Make sure it is in good health and of proper age, please. Also let us know when it should be released. Hopefully we will get a good many years of service from such a large creature.”

Sei bows to her. “Of course, my lady. All will be in order, and I will report to the family after dinner.”
The first wife smiles and bows to him, turns her heel and walks back to the palace. Sie gets a few pieces of equipment and starts on the path to the city and the docks.

[Winterhawk99]

The strange woman gets off the ship while collecting all her gear. Drasta Resh’Dalin stands around 5'8" slender form with long very dark black hair eyes are golden in color just small tips of what seem to be elven ears poke though her hair her posture gives off no emotion, the kimono though a bit big on her is fashioned in almost a pure black color with elegant gold trim her arms wrapped and covered noticeably from the sleeves not being long enough to cover to her wrists, if you were to catch her gaze it would be as if she was looking through you in some ways.

She sees three samurai, by their armor she thinks, questioning people as they walk up the dock. They stand in front of the gate at the pier. It is a large city built upon a slight hill with a huge castle on the top about a mile in the distance. As she pauses to watch she see’s them stop a large man much taller than themselves. It seems he must wait until the passengers disembark and get checked over before he can move forward.

The big man smiles and shakes his head as Drasta has trouble walking in the overlarge kimono she is wearing. She slings a large pack over her shoulder and gets in line. Impatience and nervousness line her face for everyone to see.

When it is her turn, she approaches the three samurai and tall man. The leader or assumed leader puts out his hand to say stop then swings his hand palm up while speaking in a low shou. The others take her bags. She complies as she has seen others do the same. Meanwhile Sei looks on, hands folded in front of him at ease, waiting patiently for the samurai on security duty to deal with letting the passengers off.

Drasta bows to the samurai effectively which impresses him. She then holds out the imperial scroll and the letter in her possession with one hand. The Samurai’s smile turns to a scowl, and he accepts the paperwork. The others start to open bags and inspect the contents. The lead samurai looks suddenly surprised and comments to the others in low shou. which Sei understands, "Imperial seal! and looks authentic. Check those bags extra carefully”! He then goes about checking the seal very carefully while looking at Drasta.

The samurai reads the letter while the other two rifle through her things. They laugh when they see the long bow and talk among themselves but the other draws her attention. "Do you understand high shou?"

She nods, “Some, yes.”

“You know Ambassador Miwa Gozen?”

“Indeed, she is a great friend of mine.”

"And you are here for training then?” He Shakes his head. “If you do not lose your head foreigner.”

The other two samurai look up surprised. One comments, "This rail of a woman is here for training what kind?"

The leader replies "Besshikime."

The other two look at Drasta and then the leader and start laughing." Oh, this is going to be good bets on how long she lasts." Drasta nervously chuckles with them.

The head samurai shouts at them, "Silence! We're not going to start up when the little wolverine is involved. You may not have known her. I did." He looks and spots Sei. "Sei Liu! Please escort this woman to the Lords court. Why are you here anyway?"

Sei gives the head samurai a courtly bow "Certainly, it would be my honor." He then hands the leader the paperwork for the owl he's to pick up. "I was sent to pick up an owl for the court that was being delivered on this ship."

He looks at the paperwork. Turns to the two others. “Find that bird and bring it here. for Lord Barasume's Falconer. It’s a giant owl."

Sei tilts his head briefly as he eyes Drasta for a long moment while waiting for the owl to be brought to him, before giving her a deep bow "It is an honor and a pleasure meeting you. I am Sei, the Lord's falconer if you did not grasp that from the conversation. As to what you prefer to go by?"

Drasta while watching the samurai go through her bag says, “Drasta, May I have my belongings back?”

The guards give Drasta her belongings all except for the booze she brought along. She looks at them questioningly. The leader looks at her and simply replies, “Tariffs.”

“A price for my rum must be paid.”

“Are you saying you won’t pay your taxes?”

Drasta pulls out a small bag of gold. “If payment is needed.”

The Samurai looks at the letter again and back to her while the other two are bringing out the caged bird. He speaks softly "If you let them keep it. it will give you measure with the lord’s samurai. If you want it back, I will tell them to give it back and take your gold. That will also have a reaction. What do you want to do then?"

She sighs, “Do not drink too much of that to fast It is of my own making.”

He nods and places his hand on Drasta's shoulder. "A little advice. You are no more than one of the peasant class here. When you go to court get on your knees and touch your head to the ground before speaking." She nods to him in affirmation.

The two samurai bring the bird the one that has the cage offers it to Sei Liu with both hands. Sei
nods firmly in response to this, before stepping back to let her address the matter of her belongings with the guards. He bows politely and takes the birdcage with a gloved hand "Thank you."

Sei looks Drasta over a bit more "I take it you were...invited to these lands, then?" a slight curiosity in his eyes as he notes the points of her ears.

“In a way yes. I was asked as well if I would like to come and learn here.”

He nods slightly to this "I hope you find the opportunity an honor then. It is rare to see one of your heritage here -- the few stories I have heard of such are of savages deep in the woods."

“Yes, it would appear that way, would it not. We all have our secrets though don't we.”

"That is very true" He gives a small, knowing laugh.

The pair make it to the castle. It is a large compound of about 5 acres on a hill overlooking the grand city of Renkyu. There are many buildings housing officials including an aviary, large stables, and outdoor courtyard and of course the palace itself.

Sei bows to the gatemen "I have returned, with owl, and newcomer to the Court as well." then prompts Drasta "If you would show your court-papers please." She bows and hands them forward.

The gate guard looks them over. He is also surprised. He recognizes you both with a bow and opens the gate silently. Sei takes Drasta through the palace and presents her at court.

[Winterhawk99]

As Sei and Drasta come to the shogun’s courtroom the guards open the door for them. Sei steps in, giving a short bow of acknowledgement to them. Drasta follows and does the same as she has no clue where to go.

They see a large chamber. There is a short throne in the back with Kyo sitting there. Behind and to the right side of the chair stands a 14- or 15-year-old boy standing at attention. To Kyo’s left are two women on kneeling pads facing him. They keep their eyes down and listen to everything intently.

Further on both ends to the side are two samurai to the right and two Onna-bugeisha to the left. 20 feet in front of the throne is a table with a man standing behind it. He is not a samurai. To the sides running down the chamber are many men on the right on kneeling pads and man women on the left also on kneeling pads. They form a path along the hallway of sorts to the man standing at the table. There are three petitioners lined up to talk to the man at the table. Sei politely lines up behind the petitioners, motioning for Drasta to join him. Some of the men and women in the rows have weapons some do not.

Drasta follows directly behind Sei carefully studying the room and people within. Behind the rows of men and women guards are stations but far off to the sides like the others near the throne. Drasta spots one man she knows in the middle of the men’s row. He is the only one she has ever met. It is Kyo’s personal wu-jen he is very old.

As they walk toward the table the man in front writes a note to the first in line and brushes him off. The second the man bows to. This petitioner is samurai. The samurai passes him and heads to within 10 feet of the shogun. He kneels of the prayer mat and bows keeping his eyes on Kyo. He then states his case.

Several of the men on the right-side stand and question him sometimes roughly in turn. When they are done the shogun questions the man himself. The samurai answers in a humble quiet voice. The shogun makes his judgement. The samurai stands and bows. Kyo in turn stands and recognizes him. The samurai leaves.

The 3rd is a peasant while Sei waits. The peasant is let through. He kneels on the mat and bows touching his head to the ground. The peasant speaks about a local god that has started to eat fishermen in his villages.

Kyo replies that it is up to the lower courts to handle it first. He gives him directions. They preform honorifics once again and the man leaves. Meanwhile Sei is conversing with the man at the table.

Sei bows slightly to the man. “Good day, administrator Rye. I wish audience with Lord Barasume, for I have returned with his request of the aviary as well as a recruit to the court.”

The man recognizes Sei. “On what grounds.” Then he looks at Drasta.

Drasta bows and holds up the scroll showing the seal. This time she holds the scroll with both her hands at the ends.

He takes the letter and examines the broken seal then reads it. He then looks at Sei. “So Ambassador Midnight Bloom wishes to circumvent this court and my own authority? She’s turning as barbaric as these western heathens.”

After getting no answer, he says, “Go show off the new bird. This…. westerner will stay here until I tell you to call her to the front…. If he will see her.”

Sei bows and heads to the back. Taking the cage, he comes up front to the mat. He puts the cage down and kneels touching his head to the floor. Kyo recognizes him, while Drasta waits patiently to be called herself. She thinks to herself, ‘It’s best to keep my mouth shut for now.’ As she thinks this, she gages the crowd. She sees many of the shogun’s retainers also studying her: some in a professional way, others with a bit of wonderment, still others with firm disapproval on their faces. She looks over to Kyo who displays no recognition of her in his eyes.

Kyo stands after honorifics with Sei are affirmed. “Ah! The new bird is in. Good! Has it fared well in its journey?”

Sei nods to this, “Aye, Lord, it is as hale as any.”

Drasta thinks to herself, ‘Just don’t ask about the other birds she has seen. Some sailors get hungry.’
Kyo smiles and nods, “What kind of game may we fetch with this one? What is the resting time? And how long shall we keep him before we must release the bird back into the wild to fulfill its journey?”
“Owls are takers of small game, much like my own companion of choice. I’d recommend taking him out for a stretch every few days or so, and we can keep him for at least a few years.”

“A healthy bird with a few years of service. Good! You may take your place in court.”

Sei bows deeply and takes his assigned place in the back with the men.

The man at the table turns and walks to the shogun presenting the letter Drasta gave him with both hands. The shogun reads it and nods to him. The man then offers two men in the front row and two women in the front row the letter in their turn. All hand the letter around to one another with both hands. After they read it, the room goes silent for a time while those that read think about the implications of the court.

The man comes back to the table and motions Drasta forward to the prayer mat. Drasta bows slightly to him then approaches the mat. She goes to her knees and touches her head to the ground in a bow. Kyo stands and gives her a slight bow of recognition. He sits down and the first woman on the right stands. She walks up to Drasta then turns to the Shogun. “My lord this is highly unusual in every regard. Ambassador Mayonaka Sakuya once again overbears her authority in this court. This… This thing isn’t even human.”

She draws a kaiken and deftly swipes the hair away for Drasta’s ear. “I hear they are called elves: A barbaric untamable race of heathens.” There are two gasps. Kyo notes who they are.

Drasta’s face shows that she is not happy about being touched but keeps her silence.

The large woman walks around her. “This could also be a plant. This letter may have the Ambassador’s imperial seal but how do we know if she still holds it or even if she is alive? We all know the ambassador is reckless herself. She has disobeyed you before. What was the cost of this disobedience? To be banished for 8 years with an impossible quest! And now you want my women to train her? Is that what you truly want, my shogun?”

She walks around Drasta again, “Look at her! Even her looks are barbaric. A kimono too big for her, perhaps even stolen. No make up. I doubt she even knows how to put it on. Look at this strangled and dirty hair! No self-respecting woman would show up to court in this dishevelment. “I say, No!” She walks back to her place, bows to the shogun and sits down.

The second woman kneeling beside the first stands and bows to the shogun. After he recognizes her, she steps in front of Drasta studying her face for a long time. Drasta notes that this one seems more refined than the Onna-bugeisha that just spoke. As she does Drasta studies her back.

Drasta immediately notes many of the things Miwa once showed her. The woman has poisoned steel hair sticks in her hair. Her had fan is really an iron tessen (fighting fan), and she seems to have a multitude of small hidden weapons on her that most would not pick up on. She sees their faint imprints.

The woman places her fingertips on Drasta’s chin and lifts. Their eyes meet. The woman stares directly into them.

Sei keeps his place in court and uses his superior hearing to listen to everything, his arms folded in front of him, politely.

The woman lets go and walks around Drasta studying her more. She looks up contemplating or praying a moment before speaking to the shogun. “She has killed before, many times. There seems to be ‘a darkness’ surrounding her. The question is can she be trained. She is here, so she must know the gravity of this. She is also too skinny. She needs at least 2 kilos. That can be corrected by feeding her like a sumo wrestler.

I do not know these elves. Are they Kami? Bunka Gozen has a point. This one could have stolen the ambassador’s seal or killed her and taken it.”

Several chuckles come from the men sitting in their row.

Kyo in an unusual instance responds, “Those are the ambassador’s words as well. I would know. She is my niece.”

“There is another question. Is this woman capable. She is obviously experienced in killing but how and why? Does she have honor or will she run at the first sign of trouble. I have my doubts great lord.

However, I am willing to give this one a chance if and only if she can integrate.” The woman bows and after being recognized sits in her place. The first man in the row stands. He is in his 50’s and has many scars: An elder samurai.

He only glances at Drasta a moment and turns to the shogun. “My lord. This is ambassador Mayonaka Sakuya we are talking about: The little wolverine, The Hummingbird. I’ve seen her face a dozen men with my own eyes and take all their heads. What does she need with a besshikime? The cruelty and efficiency of her sword is known to every samurai, soldier and onna-bugeisha that has ever fought with her. In my eyes……. This is not needed.”

After that the second man stands. He doesn’t even look at Drasta. He carries himself a bit differently than the rest of the audience: A peasant that rose to the rank of samurai. After honorifics are concluded he speaks. “We all know well the power of Miwa Gozen’s blade.” Kyo stops him.

“Ambassador Mayonaka Sakuya!”

“My apologies great lord. We all know the power of her blade. We also know of a certain of a certain naivety about her regarding people. After all, for all her marshal prowess, she is a woman. A noblewoman at that.

What is the job of a besshikime? It is twofold. They are to protect their charges at all costs………and……...to gather information for their charges and clan. It is well known that Ambassador Mayonaka is not perceptive in many situations. I think this may be a good thing. We have a foreign ambassador for the emperor within our clan. We should sho some respect and provide that ambassador with the tools she needs that she lacks.” The man bows to Kyo and is recognized. Kyo’s eyes turn to Drasta’s a moment considering then holds up his hand and points to a woman at the far end of the hall.

She comes up beside Drasta and bows to Kyo then kneels on the floor beside her. She states in western common, “I speak the language of the west.”

Drasta keeps her head down unsure for a moment then looks to her right softly speaking in common, “And for what purpose?”

“So that your words may be heard in court.”

Drasta seems utterly perplexed. And asks in high should, “Would it hurt if it was something I know?”

Surprised the translator asks, “You speak our language?” She then looks around at everyone and whispers, “There is an advantage and disadvantage to each path. That is if you can truly speak the court language of our realm.”

Drasta bows her head down to Kyo and speaks to the floor in High Shou. “This is not a secret; I should keep from your court.”

The woman stands, bows to the shogun then heads back to her position silently. The shogun speaks, “Then stand and make your case Drasta Resh’Dalin.”

There are many signs of both approval and disapproval among the others gathered. The boy behind the throne seems to perk up and take interest. Kyo turns to his son for a moment and studies him then turns back to the crowd. “Besshikime Haru, take this woman to quarters and make sure she can be properly dressed for all her duties. She will take the blood oath of the clan after one week if she can prove civility.”

The second woman in the row stands and bows to Kyo, then walks over to Drasta. She watches the weapon strapped woman approach and stands still. The woman comments, “If you are to be trained you will know who your superiors are, and who must give you honors. For now, everyone in this room is your superior. Bow or walk out in shame! I am Haru general of the shoguns besshikime. Now Bow!”

Drasta places both her hands clasping in front of her and takes a deep bow.

“Next time, I will use a lash. Come with me. Stay three steps behind.”

Drasta nods and follows, not making a sound with her footsteps. Many notice the softness of her steps and question it, yet there are no signs that this was noticed at all. Drasta is taken to a female barracks just across from where the concubines are housed.

As the court breaks up Hideo approaches Sei. He bows to Hideo. “Ah, greetings Hideo. I was just planning to make sure the new arrival to the aviary was getting settled in alright before I return to my room.”

Hideo returns the bow, “You brought this creature here. Do you know anything about it?”

“Ah. ‘Tis a great horned owl, quite a majestic bird, albeit not one most notice, as a silent-winged stalker of the night sky.”

“Oh yes. I did not mean the owl. It seems a fine bird. I meant the woman. What are these creatures? What are they like?”

“Ah. I am not the most familiar with her kind, although from what I have heard, elves are as widely variable a lot as any, from the high noble courts that they would not hesitate to compare to ours to wildlings prowling the woods with tigrine stealth.”

“Why would Miwa Gozen know her? or even associate with such?”

“That I do not know. She may see something in her others do not.”

“It looks odd with its pointed ears and thin face like some kami are described.”

“One does not judge based on looks alone, no? I reckon that she will prove herself able or not in the challenges the court will give her.”

“Thank you master of birds.”

Sei bows a deep bow, “Be well. Hideo.”

[Winterhawk99]

The next week a councilman comes up to the aviary and knocks on the door. Sei answers the door with a bow after a brief delay. “Ah, yes. Is there something I can do for you?”

He bows to Sei, being this is Sei’s home and not his, thus the normal situation is reversed. "Master Sei, the ladies Yoshie and Eri have proposed to go hunting two days from now. Please prepare for the hunt. They plan to leave one hour before daybreak if Eri can be up at that time." He then waits for Sei’s reply.

Sei nods "I can prepare myself for such, aye. Will they wish birds of their own, or do they wish for a more...personal style of hunting than working with a falcon?"

"They will use their own birds. Make sure they are ready. I believe the smaller hawks being it’s their mating season."

Sei nods with a bow "I will prepare such then."

"And I will see to the entourage and protection. Good morn to you." He bows again and leaves once Sei recognizes him. Sei heads off to get the huntresses' birds ready for the trip out, as well as his own.

He goes and uncages three birds. He draws them out and undoes their hoods, making sure to weigh each so that it is the proper flight weight and will hunt. Yoshie has a cooper’s hawk for small birds. It’s a bit big but is a forest hawk. Sei decides not to use his companion Kestrel, which will probably be too small for this hunt, and chooses a sharp-shined hawk to take along which is also the kind of bird Eri hunts.

After a few hours Eri knocks on the door. She is quite beautiful and in her mid-20s. Sei answers after a bit "Ah, good seeing you lady Eri.” Because she is the shogun’s wife Sei bows to her due to her status.

she looks around. “Is he ready Sei? Can I see him. I just love a good hunt. I wish I could write poetry. I would write about our hunting trips.” Her attending Besshikime sighs ever so slightly.

"He is ready indeed" Sei whistles, and Eri's bird comes to perch on her hand.

Eri smiles at her sharp shinned, "Oh lightning, are you going to be a good bird and get us lots of game.” She strokes it. “I just know the two of us are going to have a great day." She takes a mouse out of her pocket to feed Lightning. Sei says nothing. Lightning gobbles the mouse up and seems sedate afterward.

Sei smiles as the hawk he is bringing with him alights on his own shoulder "I think it'll be a wonderful time indeed." He is wearing his hunting gear -- sturdy boiled leathers over a quilted silken gambeson, paired with soft leather boots and tough leather gloves. A hand axe and tanto hung from his hips.

Eri pets the bird one more time and hands it back to Sei. "Ok master ranger. I'll be back tomorrow. to see him one more time. Sei nods and sends his own bird back off for the time being.

After a few hours there is another knock on the door. Sei opens the door with a bow "Ah, good seeing ye as well lady Yoshie." and calls for her bird in turn, whose name is Strike.

"Greetings master Lui. may I come in?" while raising her arm to let the bird perch.

"Certainly" He nods and steps aside as Strike soars into land on Yoshie's hand.

"I used Strike three days ago if you remember. Is he starved enough to hunt again in two days? I do not want to take him if he will not fly."

"He'll be fine, don't you worry."

"Tell me again Sei. Do you have family?"

"Ah, I know of a couple back where I'm from but nobody around here."

"Parents, aunts, uncles, wife, children?"

"Extended family, mostly. Have a half-brother but he went his own way."

"Tell me about this half-brother. Do you know him well?"

He shakes his head "I left when he was still fairly young, only heard of his later travels second-hand."

"So, you have no feeling about what being a sibling is really like. growing up with another. alright. I may wish to take Hideo on this hunting trip but now am reconsidering. The boy is languishing in his studies. 15 and nowhere near fit for samurai trials. He is the heir as you know. I fear I have spoiled him too much. He needs someone. Yet all who teach him cannot reach."

"Does he...see himself as already better than those who try to teach him, or...?"

Yoshie studies you, "Or?"

"I was wondering if you had a different theory as to why nobody can seem to teach him."

"I have lavished too much on him. He is my only child though I have tried. I suspect Eri will do better in time. He is spoiled but in the last year or two has changed. I do not know. That is why I am asking others for their advice. He seems arrogant yet sometimes afraid I think but he no longer speaks to me as he did always formalities. He is never clear in his thoughts anymore." I am speaking to you now because you have ever been nothing but honest with me these years in our service.

He furrows his brow a bit "Is there something specific he struggles to learn, or does he see learning itself as beneath him at the moment?"

She nods, “He fights with many of his teachers refuses to learn. He is 15 Sei well past the age when these things should happen. He must be prepared to take his father’s place. He is not anywhere near ready as he should be."

Sei nods "A classical rebellion of such critical years -- he seeks to find his own path, independent of what others say. What are the flows of his arguments like?"

“He is disruptive which frustrates his teachers. Once that happens, he often leaves to seek out one of his concubines or other personal pursuits.”

Sei nods along "What other pursuits does he have? Some learn by sitting and listening, others by speaking and arguing."

Yoshie thinks about it for some time. “He is getting close to marriageable age. The shogun has little time for this, and I must take up the slack in getting him ready for both marriage and to take his place after Lord Barasume retires or dies. Fine, I will take Hideo and set him close to you. Perhaps just perhaps you might get through to him.

"I can see about stepping aside with him at some point, yes. Is there anything specific you want me to broach or try to teach?"

Again, Yoshie takes her time thinking about it, "No but tell me what you find within."

"For your troubles Sei. I must be going back to the palace now" she hands him a small bag of gold coins. Sei accepts the bag and tucks it away, giving Yoshie a bow farewell. Yoshie leaves him to his various tasks getting ready for the hunt.

Haru visits Sei later in the evening. Sei bows to Her "Ah, hello there. Is there something ye need from me, lady Haru?"

Being that both are of the same rank in the shogunate she looks at him quizzically for a second. She has a bottle of sake with her. "So formal Sei! Everyone must have already seen you. I brought some sake wine. I know you don’t like the harder stuff."

"Why, thank you for the gift." He accepts the bottle with a soft smile.

"It’s for both of us. go ahead pour. I wanted to arrange how many of my girls you want. Yoshie will be taking Hiromi and Ume of course. and Eri will be taking Na and Mana. Anyone else for protection?

He moves over to a suitable place to sit nearby and pours them both some sake "I don't think we'll need more than that, really. It almost strikes me as too much, but I do not wish the ladies to be uncomfortable either."

“I was thinking the foreigner. She only has 6 months to cram in years of training. I’m testing her now.

"If ye wish it so, lady Haru. Were ye thinking she'd be part of the hunt proper, or simply part of the retinue?"

"What would a foreigner know about falconry and a commoner at that. No, I want her to observe. I'll give her just enough weapons to be able to defend herself and to hang back. listen in learn but only if she is successful on her testing today."

He nods "As ye wish."

"You listen too. There is some question as to her nature. she comes out of the blue claiming Barasume Miwa sent her. Thats not the woman I knew. I'm still suspicious."

"I will keep an eye on her then."

Haru sips her sake. “Well, hopefully a good hunt for you. I have other tasks as always to complete. So many trainees every year. Most will not see their 30th birthday.”

"Aye, I think we will do well as usual."

“Too many plots and schemes of the courts of Kozakura. I do my best.”

"Well Sei I must be going" She looks around, "A good woman could help you a lot around here, especially with the hawk splicing. It would free up more of your time." Haru shrugs. “Or another man. You know what I mean. Ok Sei, I'll go. I hope I did not offend.”

Sei rises and bows her farewell "I will not keep ye further, that much is certain."

Haru leaves still steady in her steps after splitting a bottle with him. He shakes his head and goes back to make ready on the morrow.”

[Winterhawk99]

During the first week of Drasta’s stay as a trainee, she works on familiarizing herself with just walking and proper etiquette of the palace. Haru is not so pleased with her progress. She decides that perhaps she needs to work Drasta a day in the regular duties of a Besshikime.

During the day that Sie gets his visitors, Haru walks into the Besshikime dorm bright and early as the sun rises with about twenty women within. She brings everyone to attention after proper honorifics and asks for the newest members to line up. They are Suzo, Masa, Hiromi, and Drasta.

Drasta steps into line and immediately bows to Haru.

Haru starts her speech. “You girls have not been tested yet, so we have two for you today. You will wear your court kimonos and have no weapons for this challenge. You have until sundown to complete this.

The first problem we have is someone within the palace has become rebellious against the shogun. You are to find information as to who it is and…. show proof. The second test involves a magical tessen with an evil spirit within. It is somewhere in the palace. Its blazon is A tiger gowling and showing its claws. You will steal this tessen and bring it back to me. These are your tasks. Anyone not completing this test will not eat until tomorrow and must wash all the dishes for the whole of the unit tonight. If they are not spotless…… You will be lashed.

Drasta looks at the other girls, measuring them, and nods.

Haru makes eye contact with each of her students including Drasta. “Go to it then.” She leaves to train the older squad with weapons.

Drasta immediately heads out of the barracks moving quietly and begins her information gathering audibly and visually doing her best not to draw any attention. She wanders around the housing area for 45 minutes finding nothing and finally comes up to the palace. The guards stop her.

One of the guards’ questions her, “And just why are you here?”

Drasta makes a small bow. “A task we were given by my mistress.”

The guard looks incredulously at her. “Learn to fix your make up better!” Still, he opens the door anyway. He closes the door behind her.

Drasta randomly walks the halls listening and becoming acquainted with the way a shogun’s palace is set up. She does not make eye contact with anyone unless stopped, attempting to overhear anything on rebel activity. She wanders through several meeting halls, guest quarters, 2 banquet halls, a concert/play theater, 3 places of worship, 2 kitchens, an inn-like room with a bar and a garden in the middle of the palace all considered public squares.

She goes into the bar room and finds a quiet corner out of the way to sit and listen to any coming in or out of the place. A few people come in and out but nothing important to what she needs to hear. After an hour passes without hearing anything she heads to the palace garden hoping to overhear someone talking or acting like they are hiding something.

Drasta goes to the garden to find Yoshie and two besshikime there. Yoshie is planting a small bonsai plant. As Drasta enters one of the besshikime stares at her in a hard way and looks at the other one. That one blocks Drasta’s path. The pair of guards are in kimonos with no weapons showing but Drasta knows since they are guarding the lady of the palace, they must have at least 20 within the folds of their garments so well hidden that she cannot place them. She also knows some will be poisoned.

As the Besshikime approaches, Drasta bows to them. The besshikime who bars her path is called Kei. She curtly recognizes the bow. “What are you doing her trainee?” You are not supposed to be here yet and your face looks like a child. Go clean up in one of the bathrooms and fix your face properly if you have duty in the palace.
Drasta turns around and as she does, Kei’s foot accidently (on purpose) swings on the elf’s instep but Drasta is just barely able to avoid it. Kie walks off without even turning back and takes her place behind the shogun’s wife. Yoshie is quietly and silently observing the whole of the scene.

Drasta gathers her composure and watches the woman walk back a moment. She then bows towards Yoshie and leaves. Yoshie does not recognize Drasta. She goes back to her planting.

Still Drasta persists in needing to explain. “Apologies for the intrusion. I am on task.”

The other Besshikime curtly but politely states, “Then go back to your task after you have cleaned yourself up and make yourself presentable, foreigner.” This one’s name is Ume.

Drasta nods and takes the advice to do so, standing from her bow and walks away but listens if there is any conversation as she leaves. She hears nothing but out of the corner of her eyes the two guard look at each other like, ‘Yo! That was good!” Meanwhile Yoshie observes all the interactions silently while she is gardening. Drasta goes to the powder room to fix her face.

Drasta next tries a meeting hall. There she finds a conference of territorial accountants within. They are discussing crop port fees and export fees. She listens for a moment then heads to one of the banquet halls.

In one of the halls, she finds some maids cleaning up. She quietly walks in attempting to not to make any sound to disturb conversations. The maids see her but pay her no mind. Drasta’s ears perk up. She overhears something.

"Aye so unlikely with Ran She could balance a platter on her head and dance but now is gone dismissed for fumbling a tea kettle onto lady Eri's dress. I tell you Mayumi there is something wrong in the royal quarters near to Eri's room. Some foul magic is afoot." "Na now you just be fouling yourself Kimi. There aren’t no foul spirits in the royal quarters. accidents happen." "Yet more and more accidents happen involving anyone near the lady’s room!" "If there would be something going on the priest would look into it. Ran was sloppy and got what she deserved."

Drasta hides behind a pillar until the maids forget about her. Then she tries to speak at the walls hoping to cascade her voice throughout the room. “What accidents are happening?”

The maids look up from their work seeing no one they run into the kitchen in fear. Drasta follows sticking to the shadows to the door she opens it just a crack to hear if more is said from them. Hearing nothing at first, she waits until their attentions are to the back and sneaks in while listening to the maids telling the chef about their experience with a disembodied voice.

Looking around the kitchen, Drasta spots an oddity. Around the greased stained walls of the kitchen, she finds a clean space in the shape of a hand fan. The ungreased spot stretches 4 feet: a sizeable space for a fan. She stares at it curiously and watches to see if any of the three people here go to it.

No one goes near the space and the chef settles them down. The two maids go back out the door to do their chores. Drasta leaves and wanders near the hall, finding herself in the chapel of the sun goddess. There is no one there but a monk tending to it. She bows to him as he enters.

The monk smiles, “"Services are every ten-day at high noon and someone is always in attendance for the faithful. How may I help you sister." He then recognizes you.

“I have heard whispers of accidents that have been taking place regularly. Would you know of these?”

"And you are, sister?"

She looks him over a moment, “I am called Drasta.”

"And what title do you hold to be in the palace itself?"

“I am a trainee on a task for Mistress Haru.”

"Oh of course all these little tests she has for her pupils, very well. I do not know of......ah wait. Being the shrine is near the north kitchen and feast hall I know Ran had an accident in the royal apartments and was dismissed. Yes, but those things do happen. she did not come to this old monk for help unfortunately. I may have been able to save her job."

“Has there been other accidents?”

“Yes a few but you understand how Eri is. She's not here for her intellect. She’s young and strong a perfect baker.

“A Baker?”

“Yes of course. Soon enough her yeast will rise, and we will have 3 or 5 more children to see playing in the palace. I would like that. The more children the better. Barasume is a good family and a good clan. They need as many children as they can make.”

“I see.”

“It’s too bad that Ai and Tomia are gone. Yoshie lost both in battle. Even Kyo was upset for a long time.” he whispers, "You can always tell by what they order to cook for them."

She nods and whispers back. “And how can you tell this?”

He smiles and becomes tight lipped.

She nods again, “I understand.” She bows and heads out towards the kitchen once more. The monk bows and goes about his duties again. She passes the maids and chuckles lightly while walking.

Drasta now enters the kitchen to see the chef looking up at her. He grunts and goes back to doing his prep work. The maids are now gone into the banquet hall to add their finishing touches.

Drasta nods to the chef. “Would you have a moment of time?” She taps on the work surface.

The chef looks up without bowing, "Hurry it up then I don’t have a lot of time." He keeps chopping vegetables."

She points to the shape on the wall. “Something was taken recently?”

he chuckles, “That air head of a princess thought it looked pretty so took it for herself. She doesn’t know that it was Tohmowai Barasumes Tessen she used in the battle of Korgoto two centuries ago. But what can I say she’s a royal I’m just a minion a very well-trained minion but a minion still the same."

“What was it adorned with?”

“Her arms of course. A tiger”

“I see. Thank you for your time.” she bows slightly with thanks.

"Aye " He keeps chopping.

She gets the feeling the chef is tolerated for his uncouthness because of his cooking. She chuckles and leaves knowing where one target is. She heads for the private apartments. Theres a huge divide between the private quarters and the rest of the palace. There are three samurai guards at the door to the private areas. All are badly battle scarred.

Drasta measures the ceilings and looks for doorways. She sees the ceiling is about 15 ft so high vaulted. and the doors are wide thick and walnut like in appearance. Two doors each 5ft wide and 8 feet high. obviously thick and probably can be barred very effectively in siege. All doors that can make defensive points are like this in the palace.

As Drasta searches for ways in she sees Yoshie’s entourage walking down the other end of the hallway to go to the apartments. It seems she has completed all her self-imposed tasks for the day and is going back to her rooms with her two besshikime and her handmaids. She also sees Hiromi, one of the other girls slinking behind Yoshie’s party. She goes to shadow.

As they pass Drasta flicks an earring directly at Hiromi. She notices the shiny object and tries to catch it but misses. It clatters to the floor. Ume runs to the spot to find her. She starts to chew the young woman out while Yoshie observes for just a moment in silence then continues to the doors. As the besshikime is chewing her out, Hiromi flips off whoever threw the earing in Drasta’ general direction because she knows someone is there even though she cannot see the elf.

Drasta uses the time to trail the group from the shadows looking for an opportunity to get past the guards with them. No one seemed to notice her. The guards open the doors while Ume catches up. Drasta slips in behind them silently following keeping an eye and ear out for the room she would be headed to. She makes it past the samurai guard and through the door into the private apartments of the family.

Yoshie and her women enter her apartments. Drasta is left in the hallway. She looks through keyholes trying to find Eri’s apartments. She didn’t have to. Eri’s besshikime are posted outside of her door playing a Kozakurian board game.

Drasta takes in the area. There are pedestals with plants in them on stands going down the halls. There are paintings along the walls of landscapes about halfway down then the paintings turn to battle scenes. At the moment the two women are so into their game that they do not notice Drasta, but she knows they are sharp eared and eyes and will see or hear her if she waits too long.

Drasta sneaks up to the door as quietly as she can and scratches on it. One of the handmaidens opens it and peeks out.

She looks at the other women. Na one of Eri’s guards asks, “Something wrong?”

The handmaiden rolls her eyes and whispers, “She’s at it again.”

“Mana the other besshikime stands up, “Come on then, I'll.... we can go to the private garden where you can wait her out."

The handmaiden opens the door all the way and Mana motions her to come with her.

Drasta slips in the doorway. The woman comes out and the door closes behind you. It was never locked. You see the furniture has been moved around. Eri has a bo-stick and the large fan that she is using as a shield. while two of her handmaidens are in Oni mask and also have bo-sticks.

" I am the great Onna-musha Eri and I will defeat your evil plans Oni spirts of darkness." She swings her bo-stick around threateningly and completely incompetently. The handmaidens attack her with equal proficiency they fight with Eri 'slaying the handmaidens. she throws the fan and bo-stick away and falls on the couch with the two as all three giggle at each other."

They start talking about what happened at court today and other nonsensical things completely wrapped up in their conversation.

Drasta sees the fan she needs on the floor. She goes to a dark and out of the way area, so the girls do not catch her here. The women stay there for a while and then get dressed for dinner. Drasta slips behind furniture and curtains maintaining her cover. When they leave, she takes the fan. It weighs a good 5 lbs. and has steel ribs. She finds a piece of cloth to wrap around it when it’s folded and straps it to her back. She approaches and quietly cracks the door to the hallway peeking out.

Everyone seems gone from the hallway.

Halfway to the boundary of the castle doors Yoshie stands in the center of the hallway. Her eyes are closed, and her arms are folded in front of her hips. She’s in a court gown for dinner too. but she is perfectly silent as if waiting for something.

Drasta steps to the side against the wall. She moves very slowly trying to pass. Yoshie doesn’t move as you pass her, but she turns her head with your body. When you pass, she snaps her head back and goes back to her apartment.

When she reaches the doors, she sees there are two samurai guards there, but she also notices Yoshie has gathered her girls coming down the hall. Drasta hides and waits for them to go through. She makes it through the door and back to the barracks.

Haru is there. Hiromi and masa are there lined up. Suzo is not there yet. Drasta bows to Haru on entry and goes to stand in line. Haru recognizes her. “Have you accomplished one of the tasks?”

She pulls the wrapped tessen in front of her with both hands holding if forward. Haru accepts it silently.
Hiromi protests, “I know she cheated.”

Haru takes her hand fan out and slaps her on the side of the head. “Drasta has it. You do not. That was the mission.”

Suzo finally comes just before sundown. After honorifics Haru asks her the same. She puts her head down and shakes it getting back into line.

Drasta stands quietly watching the others.

“Hiromi and Suzo go to the barracks kitchen and prepare for your punishment. Masa you are dismissed good job. They all leave with you standing in front of Haru.”

Drasta watches the others leave with her still standing in the same spot not moving an inch.

Drasta, you completed the task, but I was informed someone saw you going into the royal apartments. I fully expected the winner to do so. I did not expect them to get caught. You will enjoy your dinner and some time, however at 9pm to 12 you will guard the concubines’ quarters until relieved. Do not drop your naginata, and in full armor.”

Drasta nods “My own armor?”

“She looks at you incredulously the ceremonial light armor we gave you. Official duty.”

“I understand.”

“Go!”

Drasta bows then leaves to eat then takes her post at the time needed.

As Drasta guards the door to the concubines’ home, she notices at about 9:30 someone on the balcony. It’s the head of all Onna-bugeisha, Bunka. She seems to be studying you, while tapping her fingers on the edge thinking.

Then again at about 10:45 a door opens to another balcony at the royal apartments. laughter and music streams out. You see Hideo, bottle in his hand laughing with what looks to be friends his age. He backs up and hits the railing. He then turns around and sees you. He seems to sober up and consider your form. He gets a worried look upon his face and backs up into his rooms again, closing the door in front of him.

Cho relieves her. Drasta, exhausted by the missions of the day and evening, falls into her bed and an uneasy revelry.

[Winterhawk99]

On the appointed day the hunting party gathers at the gate. Sei is there first on his small horse less than a ½ hour before 6am. He is in his leather-and-quilted-silk hunting garb, with a tanto and hatchet at his hip. His bird is perched on his shoulder ready to lead the party out into the countryside to hunt small game.

Yoshie shows up next with her two guard Kei and Ume. Eri is right behind with her guard Mana, and Na. Surprisingly Hideo comes in next with his bird. Surrounding him are his two samurai guard Samo and Ru. The latecomers are Haru and Drasta. Haru is in functional light armor. She has a naginata strapped to her horse in an easily removable leather case along with several tantos and she is holding a yumi in her hand. The sheath of arrows is strapped to the opposite side of the naginata.

Drasta is wearing her near full black padded leather armor accented with gold trim. A black hood covers her head and ears. She has a nearly 7-foot longbow on her back and a dagger tied to her wrist. The longbow is about the same size as a yumi, and one wonders how she will draw it if on the ground if needed.

Sei sets up the order with Drasta and Hideo next to him with Haru on the other side of Drasta and Ru and Samo both opposite of Hideo. Eri and Mana have the flank on Hideo’s side, while Yoshi, kei and Ume are on the other flank beyond Haru.

They start out into the fields. There are rations on the horses and plenty of water. They ride mostly in the fields hunting both them and the wooded hollows being that both cooper’s hawks and sharp shinned hawks are forest birds. Sei, Yoshie, Eri, and Hideo have birds. The rest of everyone else is there for protection.

They travel through the hill country, an area between the beach flats and mountain jungles where Kozakura grows most of its food and has most of its silk farms. It covers a vast area with many shogunates all up and down the main island. Barasume’s realm sits stanchly within except for the port of Renkyu where he rules. There is a small amount of beach front around it to which he considers his own.

The sun comes up just before 7 am and the first few fields seem to harbor no birds. The group comes to a large hollow of about 20 acres. The saddle has mostly southern pine and rattan growing within its depths. Here Sei calls for the two ladies and their entourage to tighten up and fall behind the lead. The party dismounts and lead their horses while investigating the hollow.

Eri complains, “What is Sei doing? Are the grouse in the hollow?”

Sei stops at the entrance to the wooded area and changes the formation again being that it is tight. He puts the ladies and their hawks forward and Hideo’s group center. He follows behind with Drasta, Haru beside him so everyone can move somewhat freely, and all are still protected.

100 yards in everyone releases their birds and begin to slowly walk in the hope that birds will flush. Sei's, Eri's, and Hideo’s hawks fly in about 15 meters off the ground weaving in and out of the trees. Yoshie's coopers hawk, being much larger must sail above at 20 meters. They all dive into the forest bells singing as to the distance. Samo takes a slug of sake every now and again, and hands it to Ru occasionally. They both start a soft song about hunting for good luck. Yoshie looks to the side and back shaking her head at the noise.

Drasta nods to Sie. “I never thanked you for your help leading to the palace.”

“It was not an issue.” He softly smiles. He keeps leading the party at a slow pace, keeping an eye on the birds as he does so.

Hideo doesn’t turn and speak to anyone yet. He’s listening for his hawk’s bell. Drasta checks the string on her bow. As she turns back Haru makes a supple sign pointing to Samo and Ru and motions slightly with the palm of her hand down drawing it back and forth.

Eri gets infuriated when her hair gets tangled in a spider’s web and then wipes her face quickly with both her hands saying, “I don’t know why we do this. It’s so boring!” Yoshie just looks at her without comment but with a slight frown of her face. Meanwhile you hear the bells, each with their own sound flying around you.

Ru speaks up. “Ah, nothing better than a leisurely day of hunting.” He takes another swig of Sake. Sei

glances over to Haru and Drasta at their signaling. Drasta is nodding to Haru meaning she understands. He questions the signals not understanding what they are communicating about then turns to his charges again and listens for his bird.

As the group gets about 5 acres in, they flush a covey of grouse. The hawks suddenly swoop down and converge on the others. Only one grounds a grouse. It is Yoshie's bird diving in on high. All the birds go back to their owners including Sei’s. Yoshie takes the grouse and snaps its neck. She smiles and puts it in her game bag. Everyone again releases their hawks. Sei gives time for Yoshie’s bird to again get altitude.

Hideo comments, “It’s not fair. Mother’s bird is big and when it gets into a dive is faster than our birds.”

Drasta closes her eyes and listens letting the horse follow the others. She becomes almost meditative. Sei chuckles in response to Hideo. “I’m actually hunting with a larger bird than I usually do. Raw might is just that, raw. It is up to the wielder of that might to convert it into results, no different than a chef turning raw food into a delicious meal.”

Hideo mutters and listens for his bird’s bell. You get near the center and the bamboo lessens up to tall pines. This area is dry but filled with majestic pines in more open terrain just as it does a bunch of grouse flush about 10 feet in front of Sei. The birds once again come in and this time all 4 get a bird. It’s now about 8am. The falconers retrieve the birds break their necks and put them in the game bags the hunt continues.

The next quarter of the hollow is also somewhat open. here the bamboo comes back but is obviously being harvested. There are small hollow stumps here and there as the bamboo has been picked out for either knuckle spacing or straightness its good enough territory to ride so they mount once again.

Drasta looks back to Haru and points to her bow, chuckling playfully. Haru nods and scans the depths of the forest. Sei scans the woods intermittently between looking to keep an eye on the birds working. Hideo looks back at Drasta and mutters to himself. Drasta’s ears perk up as she tries to hear what he is saying. Sei also notices and tries to hear him.

They both hear it. “I wonder what that foreign bitch knows and what she doesn’t.” Drasta smirks back at him. Hideo turns his head back around and up looking for his bird.

Samo’s boisterously asks, “Well one for you good master but will we have a wonderful luncheon of grouse?”
Ru answers him. “Our shogun’s first lady already has two. We will feast on a good lunch.”

Drasta stretches and stands on the back of the horse cracking her neck and looking around. “Many moons have passed since I have seen a hunt this peaceful.” She is already getting somewhat fatigued from riding. She’s not used to being mounted a long time. Haru rides up beside her and checks the saddle straps for her then pats her on the shoulder as she falls back.

Hideo comments, “It seems the west is full of monsters. Here the Samurai make sure things are peaceful.”
Drasta pulls a leg as she is standing on the saddle and stretches it a bit then the other. Haru says to her, “Careful trainee. A horse can hit a rock and topple you easily like that.” Drasta nods and sits back down in the saddle.

Sie responds to Hideo, “It varies. Some places in the west are well patrolled, from what I’ve heard and read, and there are wild places here too, where even the samurai don’t really get out to so much. Swampy places, for instance, don’t admit the notion of regular patrolling about all that well.”

Ru has a belly laugh over that comment. “Samurai will go anywhere for their lord. Whether frosted mountain, fiery volcano, or fetid swamp isn’t that right Samo!"

Samo laughs and replies, "Hai, but it’s not us in the palace that does that kind of dirty work.” He furthers it. “Let the samurai that are retained by the daimyos do that work. We made our way here and only war or protect the family."

As the hunting party goes through the third part of the hollow, a group of grouse flush again. The birds swing in and again all 4 get their birds and come to their owners. Everyone takes game, and the birds fly off, but Eri's is rather slower now. They get to the last quarter of the hollow.

Sei suddenly catches the scent of a large cat in the area. He raises his hand to stop the party, scanning carefully. “Got a big cat on the wind here.” Drasta pulls her bow and watches around them. Sei continues in a plain-spoken calm voice. “Reckon we’ll let it do cat things as long as it doesn’t try to put us or our birds on the menu unprovoked, if so then we’ll drive it off, Okay?”

The smaller sharp shins fly back to their owners. The cooper's hawk dives out in front of the group. Suddenly a paw comes out and swats at it. The hawk veers off back to Yoshie and tiger jumps out of the bush on two legs wielding a bow and points it at Hideo. "Stop!"

Hideo looks back at his guard and fingers his katana. Samo makes a sign to him. Sei picks up on the sign “No! not yet.” while Drasta is confessed by it. Samo comes up abreast of Hideo and brings out his Tedate shield in front of the heir. Eri squeaks and falls back. Yoshie slowly starts to flank the creature. Drats slowly pulls the string on her bow getting ready to fire if needed. Samo then looks to Sei for directions.

Sei dismounts, eyes on the creature, giving it a short bow even, his stance surprisingly non-threatening as he tries to defuse the situation "Why, hello there. Did we interrupt your hunting sir?"

“You are too close to my cubs leave this place.”

"Ah, that is understandable, we will take our leave then, apologies for the interruption. May the spirits guide you and yours." He gives a short bow to the weretiger, then looks to the rest to see if that made sense to the rest of them before mounting up.

He comments to the others focusing on Hideo, "Bit awkward, accidentally dropping in on someone's kids' sleeping room. Would be like some random stranger from another daimyo stumbling into your room in the middle of the night, or the other way around, no?"

Drasta nods but Hideo just smirks and says in a low voice, “"Tiger cubs are worth quite a bit and it would be a chance to prove myself."

Samo smacks the young heir in the chin with brim of his shield." Not this time young lord.” Meanwhile Kie and Ume slowly make their way to Yoshie to shore up the left flank.

The weretiger still aiming at Sei says "Go northwest out instead of west. My wife will be tracking you to make sure you stay on that path."

Yoshie slightly frowns at her son being assaulted in such a way.

Sei nods to the weretiger. He leads the party as instructed, responding to Hideo calmly "'T’was a weretiger, a force to respect, especially given the circumstances -- any animal, us people included, gets their hackles up when their own heirs are at stake. Imagine if someone said that about your own young children, that they were a chance for them to prove themselves, how you'd feel?"

Drasta keeps an eye trained behind them watching the shadows for the other.

Yoshi joins the group as she passes, she stares down both samurai, "We will have words at lunch gentlemen."
Ru not about to take the insult even from a royal grunts disfavor which is the best he can do in her presence. As they off on a bearing north-west Ru again comments. “For all her skills she pampers the young lord too much. You will never become a samurai listening to the soft ways of a woman Hideo. You need to toughen up and not in a stupid way in a smart way.”

"Stop talking about my mother like that, guard." Ru lowers his eyes in anger.

Drasta taps her bow and looks to Haru. She shakes her head. Drasta and some of the others notice a shadow following them just out of range as they make their way out of the hollow. The party breaks the woods to more fields separating two daimyo’s territories. It’s 10 am. The group moves into the fields to hunt quail.

Drasta watches as the shadow stops at the edge of the woods. “That one did follow up on their words to the letter.”

Haru nods to her.

Drasta waves a hand to it nodding in respect. Sei also returns a salute. “Facing an angry father is one thing. Facing an enraged mother is entirely different story.”

[Winterhawk99]

The hunting party goes into the fields of the next Daimyo’s territory. Everyone releases their birds except for Eri. She tries but it won’t fly.

Sei comments, “I think Eri’s bird might be a bit full. One too many snacks earlier…”

Drasta looks over to Eri. Shes shaking her forearm, “Come on fly?” The bird raises its wings to balance but still will not fly.

Drasta watches carefully as Eri handles the bird with some ineptness. Sei also observes that the hawk probably weighs too much now to hunt, due to snacks. He now deduces that it will not fly anymore today. Yoshie slightly purses her lips but doesn’t say anything.

Sei laughs lightly, “Yea that might have been a bit of a mistake a few days ago. I think he’s had his fill, were getting close to time to have ours anyway, no?”

Some quail flush as they ride through the fields. Yoshie and Sei’s hawks miss but Hideo’s gets one. He smiles and says, “Now I’m tied with mother.”

Sei knows of a shrine to a god of tranquility in the next hollow, which is only a couple of acres. A good place to make lunch camp. He directs the group towards the shrine. Banners show the god is a giant frog creature.

Unusually there is a priest that happens to be tending to the shrine. As they come into the confines of the holy place he goes to his knees and bows to the party, “Oh what a wonderful day that I have clan Barasume on a hunt. Welcome, welcome. There’s a fresh spring. Don’t mind the insects they are for the god. They hardly bite and don’t if you pay proper honors. Make yourselves at home.”

Yoshie gets down off her horse and greets him. “We fair well this day priest. May we start a fire on the grounds?”

“Oh of course, just not near the spring. Make yourselves at home ladies of Barasume and heir.” She goes to the shrine and burns incense saying a silent prayer.

Drasta dismounts and bows to the priest respecting the area. She feels a tap on her shoulder. She looks back to see Haru has also gone to ground with everyone else. She presents her with the proper incense sticks. Drasta bows her head and takes it. “Thanks.” Drasta then steps quietly to the shrine and places the incense respectfully and kneels in front of it listening to everyone.

She doesn’t hear anything important yet. After all is done Haru, being the guard leader by rank tells Drasta, Kei, and Na to start a fire, clean and cook the birds. Yoshie looks at the samurai and says you two come with me. The three of them walk out of the shrine and out of eyesight.

Sei is the last off his horse. He gives the priest a deep bow with a soft smile, “Thank you for your service.” Then heads over to the shrine to make an offering himself.

After the birds are cooking, Yoshie and the samurai come back. None of them are happy. Drasta watches her curiously from a short distance. Meanwhile Sei inquires with the priest. “I trust all has been well here?”

“Yes, huntsman. Things have been peaceful in the area. The daimyos do not fight. They trade instead. Lord Barasume seems to have them well at hand since he has become shogun. A few bandits here and there of course but no major incidents.”

“It is good to hear that all is well. Do let me or one of the lord’s other folks know if there’s trouble afoot, no?”

"Oh, course huntsman. I will endeavor to alert someone of any problems. you or your colleagues if it is natural."

"May the spirits guide ye" bowing the priest farewell.

"The priest recognizes you and goes about his duties."

Drasta watches Yoshie go over and talk to her son. She also sees Eri picking flowers. The guard are talking amongst themselves. Haru walks up to her. “No need to post here. No one would disturb this shrine being the god’s nature.”

Drasta bows her head to Haru and whispers, “It was her was it not?”

She looks at Drasta questioningly. “In the trial…it felt at one time she was waiting for me.”

"The first lady has good senses, Drasta. Better than most. Consider her skills much like your own at archery her senses are........ finely tuned."

Drasta nods quietly, “Good…” She pulls a small bottle from her pouch, “Sake if you would like?”

Haru takes it and sips, “A little is ok. A lot and I’ll bring my fan across your face in front of the nobles, Understand?”

Drasta nods, “Small amounts to calm and focus.”

The birds finish cooking. Bread cheese and wine (or sake) is passed around. Everyone sits to eat. The priest is also invited and fed. It is a meal of finery for him. He becomes all smiles. As they get ½ way through their lunch, smoke starts to rise from the area the road crosses. It starts to billow and becomes a large cloud rising up to the blue expanse.

Drasta clutches her bow looking at Haru.

Sei stands up, “That’s not good!” Peering off into the distance, he tries to pick up on the scent of the distant smoke. Smoke is not filling the air so much as rising thus the smell is feint.

Haru stands and goes to action giving orders. Sei, go scout! Ume! Manna! Drasta! Samo! Form up and find out what’s going on!”

Sei finishes his meal hastily and packs himself up, jumping on his horse. He doesn't need to spur it to get it going at a full gallop, even -- the horse almost preternaturally knows that Sei has no time to waste as he heads for the source of the smoke.

Everyone else is mounting while Sei tears out of camp. Drasta has trouble keeping up due to her horsemanship skills or lack thereof. It goes to show even befriending and expert horsewoman is very different from doing it herself. She chides herself in not talking to Miwa more about it.

Sei is the first to close in on the scene as he goes through the quail field and down to the road. He sees a group of men riding away at full charge. They look like samurai but have no badges of allegiance. There are people lying on the ground and a small form is shaking one of them. There is also a large burning wagon in the center of the road.

He sends his hawk out to track and harry the men, wheeling back off to return to the rest of the group before the raiders can notice what is up.

The rest of the hunting party catches up with him. They see everything but the men on horseback. Already out of eyesight headed into the hollow on the far end of the road.

Sei waves his hand and pursues the bandits. The rest follow, leaving the scene. He uses the scent of his own bird to help augment the scent trail of the raiders left behind as the hawk continues to harass the outlaw band. The bandits try to drive the annoying bird off their tails, and one clips the bird with an arrow.

The hawk comes back with a slight wound on its breast. The raiders seem to outpace the group to the point where it would be hard to catch them.

Sei growls "They have swifter horses and a bit more of a direct notion of where they're going then we'll ever have. I started riding back to alert you as soon as I saw them, set my hawk on them to try to slow them down the best I could as I knew that I wasn't going to be able to take them down alone...I guess we get to clean up the mess and hopefully get some more knowledge as to what happened."

The group comes back to the burning wagon. They surround it and find a young woman trying to wake up her dead father. Sei holds up a hand to the group, then dismounts and approaches softly. His eyes scan the scene trying not to startle the young lass. Everyone else holds back.

Sei seems to detect something familiar but cannot place it. He makes a mental note before he approaches further, trying his best to not appear threatening. The girl is crying and still tries to wake up her father. Hideo seems to have the most interest in the situation.

“He can’t be dead. Papa, please wake up!”

Sie before doing anything else quickly takes in the scene again. The wagon has been put to the torch. there are two men, one dead woman about in her 40s and a young man in his 20s also dead. The wagon had carried bags of silk which is fueling the wagon fire to a good intensity, but most is now burnt to ash. The 15–16-year-old girl is kneeling over what must seem to be her father. She’s the only one left alive.

The bodies are cut up by swords. most likely the Ronin that left. it looks like classic katana wounds which both Drasta and Sei would know well.

Drasta looks backward to Haru closing her eyes in sadness.

Some including Drasta and Sie note the wounds are less precise than a weapon master like Miwa. Either the Ronin were weapons masters just testing new swords on the peasants (which they do on occasion), or they were less trained than a well-known samurai would be perhaps lordless apprentices. Each body took 6 or 7 cuts.

They can also tell there are marks showing the peasants did put up some defense and the bodies are spread out more than usual as they tried in the end to run in different directions.

Drasta comments to Haru, “It seems they were either testing new metal or….They are ill-trained.”
Sei frowns deeply and looks back to the party, nodding slightly to Drasta's line to Haru.

Haru nods dispassionately but doesn’t speak. She stares at the girl. Eri, upset, dismounts, and goes to the girl her guards immediately dismount to try to stop her but she’s too fast. Sei looks to Eri to see if she’s headed to try to console the grieving girl or… Drasta leaps off her horse in Eri’s path screaming, “It is dangerous to approach someone who is not known.” She almost stumbles on one of her stirrups and lands badly. Eri passes her.

She makes it to the stricken girl and hugs her, whispering. It’s pretty obvious Haru does not like this at all. and Eri's guard stop and shrug. They are at the point where they need to be subservient to Eri's wishes. Hideo now dismounts but his samurai stop him from approaching the girl.

Drasta draws an arrow on her bow preemptively and watches, quietly. Sei keeps his eyes, ears, and nose open for any sign of the attackers returning to the scene, or other trouble for that matter...

Eri gets the girl to stand up. The young girl through all the dirt and blood is very beautiful. Hideo perks up even more. The girl still crying asks. "Papa is dead, Momma is dead. My whole family is dead, and our crop is ruined. what will I do? Where will I go?"

Sei turns and speaks up at this point "We will find a place for you to call home, worry you not."
Drasta turns to Haru for a bit of freedom to act. She looks at Drasta then to the girl indicating that she is interested in what Drasta will do. Drasta nods and pulls a small pouch from her sleeve and holds it out to Sei to give to the girl.

Hideo then says, "We should take her home and clean her up. A good meal, a warm bed."

Yoshie sternly looks to her son, "You already have two concubines and are almost of marrying age."

Sei takes the pouch and looks inside it first, while turning to Hideo. "It is best that we give her a chance to find her own way instead of adopting her wholesale as one of us."

Hideo retorts, "We found her. she should at least be given a chance to get back on her feet."

"Aye, I am not saying we do not do that, but we should not interfere beyond that either." Sei replies to Hideo.

Hideo smiles, "Then we agree, Hawk master."

Sei now empties the contents of the pouch in his hand. There is 50 gold coin along with a strange blue seed he does not recognize.” He tilts his head to Drasta unsure himself what it is and does.

Eri then says, "I will give her to my handmaidens to clean up she will not starve and get a good rest tonight."

Sei nods to Eri then glances at Drasta, puzzled "What do you propose she do with the seed?"

Drasta replies, “That is from the land I call home...If the father has will to live still place it in his mouth and he may or may not live once more. I make no promises.”

The girl seems to smile a little, "Is it possible that momma and papa can be healed?"
Drasta shake her head, “Only one… I am sorry…”

The samurai and Eri's Besshikime start to put out the fire with saddle blankets and by spreading out the ash. Sei meditates for a moment thinking of something that makes him uneasy. "Hm. Perhaps there is something more than randomness to this, though..." Sei moves to examine the other dead man more closely, holding the pouch still.

Haru frowns deeply as she watches the situation. Drasta bows her head to Sei then Haru.

As Sei examines the scene again, he takes mental notes: The peasants seem to be a family in all aspects. there seems to be no illusion or anything on them that denote other than a family carrying their stuff to market. He frowns softly, then presents the pouch to the girl "This is from one of my companions, she wished you to have it."

The girl runs over to her father, takes out the seeds and puts them on his forehead. She then prays to the gods. Sei bows his head in quiet reverence. Drasta closes her eyes and stares down a moment quietly mouthing something. Nothing seems to happen after several minutes. Sei looks at Drasta questioningly who is keeping her head down not making any sound her hood pulled up.

Haru looks around, "This seed did not work. It is time to burn the bodies with respect and go our way. at best the night will chase us." The girl starts to cry again.

Sei nods slowly but sadly to Haru then looks back to Drasta, then the seed to see if it is spent.

Drasta says, “Place it in his mouth.”

Drasta walks over to the girl for guidance as she places it in her father’s mouth. Drasta reaches for the man and places her hand on his mouth speaking the sylvan word for, “Life.”

After a second try and several minutes the man does not stir as Drasta opens his mouth this time the seeds are gone. Haru stands a little straighter, “Drasta come here!”

Drasta gets up from her kneeling position and goes to Haru. She whispers to the young. Elven. She then stares at Eri but doesn’t say anything. Eri gets the message and goes to mount her horse.

Hideo speaks. "She can ride with me when we are ready to go." Sam and the other samurai are mystified but also go to mount up again.

Drasta while mounting says to the girl, “I am sorry for your loss….”

Sei mounts back up, looking to Hideo "It would be best if she rides with me instead."

"I'm perfectly fine, bird master. come girl I'll help you mount."

Sei nods slightly, keeping a close eye on Hideo all the same though.

Sam speaks up, " everyone able let us build a fire and send these ones on their way. One guard per person. stays the others work except Sei. I need your sharpened senses to scout. Just you and your bird Sei will be enough to keep watch. it will be a chore to make this funeral by nightfall."

Sei lets his bird fly again, staying where he can keep an eye on his charges as they work while the bird provides early warning.

Samo jumps back down and motions for Kei, Na and Drasta to join him to make a funeral pyre. Drasta dismounts and does what she can do to help. As the Sun breaches the horizon, they pile the bodies onto what’s left of the cart and the wood they pick up. Sam lights the fire and everyone religious bows their heads in respect for the dead. While all this is going on dusk starts its gentle darkening of the day. The group mounts up. The girl is holding on very tightly around Hideo’s waist. He’s all smiles now.

The group heads slowly back home as night takes over.

[Winterhawk99]

The group heads back to the palace along the roadways. Sei doesn’t place any particular order but lags behind to keep a better eye on Hideo and the girl, trusting the rest of the party to know the way back home. It’s early at night sometime between 9 and 10pm.

Sei picks up on a smell. It starts as something faint but gets stronger as they trot. It is the smell of death. He perks up, “Something is not right. I smell the fallen on the wind.”

Same and Ru tighten up on Hideo and the girl. They stop which makes Yoshie and Eri stop. Their Besshikime bring their naginatas to guard positions. Haru asks both Drasta and Sei to seek out the smell.

Sie nods and begins to try to track the scent. Drasta says to Haru, “Keep them safe and bolts off on her horse.”

Drasta rings the area with her horse never more than 50 yards away. She uses her darkvision for detection. Sei uses another tactic. He uses his heightened sense of smell to follow the scent of death. The figures come out of the woods at the same time.

Both Drasta and Sei see them. Drasta has a tough time believing what she sees for she has never encountered anything like them. Sei knows what they are and knows them well. They are one of the most feared of the buso. They look like skinny, cannibalistic creatures. They each have only one eye like a cyclops along with a set of sharp teeth and claws. Their necks are unusually long and appear unnaturally flexible. And they have a hooked chin upturned to catch drops of blood that drip from their mouths.

Drasta stops her horse away from the group while Sei rides back. He yells out, “Ghoulish sorts, can’t quite get a good bead on precisely how many though.”

Samo spits, “Which type falconer?”

“Tigbanua Buso!” Sei’s reply is brief, but not panicked.

While Drasta pulls an arrow from her waist, Yoshie cries out, “Do not let them touch you.”

Kei says, “Shit!” and makes a sign of warding with her hand to one of the gods.

A voice cries out from the dark. It is Drasta. “Haru…. Tell me when to fire…”

Haru chides her yelling back. “Do your job Besshikime!”

Na drops back to where the younger people are, to support Samo and Ru. The one-eyed ghouls come for them first.

Drasta is the first to do something. She draws her bow and fires. Ume who has been waiting charges the creatures with her naginata when their shadowy forms come to view.

The creatures come in as Ume makes a pass. The one she attacks is able to avoid her blade by a hairline. She continues on in the charge and comes round for another.

The creatures all charge Hideo’s horse as he and the girl are the youngest of the band. The creatures preferring young blood, the younger the better.

Drasta’s buries itself one of the ghoul’s necks. It digs deep into him but being that it is undead it hardly notices snaping the arrow off.

The next to action is Mana. She strikes out as they close in. She nearly takes its arm off as it continues to Hideo and the girl.

An arrow flies in between everyone and buries itself into the ground near the foot of one of the creatures. It is Haru who has pulled out her great daikyu in helping of the defense of the group. Eri moves her horse behind her. Her eyes wild with fear.

Sei casts ‘enlarge animal’ on his bird. He hopes to use it to harry the ghouls while staying back in a defensive position as the ghouls hit the defensive formation around Hideo’s mount.

They converge on the horse, but Sam, Kei and Na are there in tight formation. Same parries the first. Kei misses her parry. The Tigbanua buso strikes her across the face with its dirty claws. Na also misses her parry. The ghoul gets around her and strikes Hideo’s leg, ripping through his leather armor. The rest lay open Hideo’s horse. It goes down felling both Hideo and the girl. Hideo covers her with his body and keeps her down on the ground.

Ume has turned around and is charging at all the bodies in the pile. The defenders separate a moment to let her pass. She carves one of the unwounded one’s arm completely off but it’s still in for the battle. Mana is right behind her with her own naginata. She goes after the same one and slices it across it’s back severing the backbone, but it still claws at the young woman and man.

Drasta draws back again but this time as she does, she whispers an incantation in sylvan. Her arrow lights up with fire and as she loosens it. It splits into six fiery bolts of destruction. Each of them comes down on one of the creatures. One is now serious damaged and on fire. The others have taken hits and are slowed down.

Just after that a very long arrow strikes on of the stronger ghouls slowing it down. It penetrates completely through the Tigbanua buso spinning it around and away from the downed pair. It was Haru using her 71/2-foot bow.

Sei’s bird swoops in on one of the creatures from behind. While Sei jumps off his horse. The bird gouges it with its claws and tries to carry it away but the body becomes so badly damaged that all the bird gets is a bunch of intestines. It flies back up for another dive: intestines trailing in its claws. The ghoul is deceased now and very little of it is now intact.

The rest of them are now on top of Hideo who is covering the girl with his body except for one. It attacks Kei. She takes a flesh wound in the shoulder and plate that protects it is ripped off. Hideo’s back armor protects him from two of them but the other two rake his back badly. The two girls come back to make a pass. The samurai leave them room to charge.

Ume’s blade strikes across the upper back of one making its arms useless, but it clearly is not done it uses its legs to try to take a chunk of flesh out of Hideo.

Drasta again uses her arcane archer abilities and fires an arrow that turns into six. Three of the enemy go up in flames they are so badly damaged now they can no longer move. Haru also fires an arrow which finds its target. She pins it on Hideo’s dead horse. It expires squirming on the long arrow.

Sei now in hybrid form comes in on foot. The rest of them see a man like creature with paws and the head of a tibetan mastiff run into the fray. He runs into where Hideo is holding the girl and casts a healing spell called ‘cure serious wounds’ on him. Sei’s bird goes after the remaining monster. The bird makes short work of it.

Drasta rides in now holding up her hand. “Do not kill all of them. We could use them for information.”
Sei speaks after incanting his spell, “Not much we can glean from what’s left of the mind of something animated by such foul forces.”

Hideo’s wounds seem to heal up, but they have a bad smell to them. Drasta walks over to Hideo and watches his wounds. Sei unshifts. The others see the dog-like creature’s fur recede into its skin. Its face twists into a human-like appearance. It is Sei. No one comments. The girl is holding on to Hideo for dear life as Sei continues to work.

Drasta comments, “Sei! You’re an awfully domesticated-looking werewolf.”

Everyone looks at her strangely.

Exasperated, his healing isn’t working, Sei exclaims. “If this doesn’t work, we’ll have to get Hideo back to the castle to be tended to properly.

Haru speaks up. "Yes, as Sei said First and foremost, we must make haste to the temple at the palace to have these wounds blessed. No one and I mean no one here saw anything about our falconer. I suspected. Now we must keep the secret for his honor. Does everyone understand this? Sei is a good person and a great hawker. He will keep his family honor and name this day by our silence. Now let us make hast to the castle. Sam, take the lead. Drasta, you take the rear."

Drasta chuckles, “Did we see something?”

The hunting party gets back to the castle and the wounded are treated at the temple, so they don’t turn into ghouls. Everyone goes back to quarters. They all know in the morning there will be questions.