Welcome to Gaia! ::

Kagae looking a bit embarrassed took the map.

The fallen Crab would scramble for his Tetsubo quickly, clambering to his feet in time to sidestep an incoming punch from the hotheaded Noriyori.

A second punch was thrown, which landed but was deflected upon the armor. The Crab would wind up with his tetsubo and KLUNK the Hida beneath the chin, causing his head to whip upward. Though, how much of it was him rolling with the blow is uncertain, but he didn't seem nearly as phased as he should have been.

"Shosuro Miyako, get your clansmate in line!" the general barked at the Actress, gesturing with his eyes to the bushi that had turned his back to the general amidst a briefing.

Kojiro loses 1 point of honor for a major breach of etiquette (insulting one's host). Yep, I went there. Everyone else's honor is too average to gain anything for ignoring the fight, though.

The General tried to move on with business, despite the action-fueled combat happening just across the room. "If you all would like, we can send a small unit of Hiruma to escort you to the trails up the mountain. Shadowlands activity have been low recently, and the mysterious sightings aren't this close to the keep. I suspect you'd be fine without, but it would be our honor to protect you while seeing you off. I leave the decision in your hands."

Looking over at his empty pipe rack, he would turn once more to the Wardens. "When do you suspect you'll be off, so I can get things arranged accordingly?"

As much as she may have once adored Kojiro, she now found him extremely tiring and was reminded for once to thank the Kami their betrothal had fallen through. "Bayushi-san. You would do better to pay attention to the information for our meeting. The general has been quite patient with us." She spoke even as she faced the general, having only given the fight the barest of glances. At this point, she was beginning to wonder if even death would be preferable to staying here a moment longer.

"Thank you, General. I think that would be very comforting in unfamiliar lands. With Ujina-san and Kaiu-san both rested, it would be best to leave as soon as we can provision ourselves and arrangements made. We wish to complete this mission in as timely of a manner as possible. For the sake of everyone concerned."

[7k4 + 3 Awareness/Etiquette to be as polite as possible without being courtly about wanting to get the F*ck out of the castle and on with the mission with utmost sincerity. +5 to contested social roll Free Raise {Voice}to keep the general from getting even more pissed at Kojiro= 34]

Kojiro would almost appear excited at the prospect of leaving soon. He suspected it would take a small miracle to drag Kagae away from the forges here, but the sooner they did their duty, the sooner they got back home.

Not that he'd be so unwise as to voice anything at the moment. Kojiro seemed to be walking on eggshells lately.

Kojiro pondered the decision before them hard. If it wasn't even noon yet, then chances were strong they could leave at noon today and make good progress. " I think there is little we actually need here. We could provision ourselves quickly and then spend the rest of the day moving forward. If time matters, then we'll be all that more closer to finding Asako-sama."

The slow witted Scorpion also thought of something else....but he had to phrase it carefully. "Begging your pardon, Kaiu-sama, but due to the situation at hand, we are short a healer. We would be more than honored if you could recommend someone who would be able to aid us in such a manner."

OOC:
Awareness/Courtier (Manipulation) 5k3 w/ 3 dice to handle explosions
Raises called: 1 to make sure the request sounds properly respectful
Results: 23-5 (Raise)

Hida Noriyori would lunge forward, taking a fierce swing with a right hook, which the Crab opponent dodged! The Crab would swing with his Tetsubo (not too close to risk hitting any of you, but uncomfortably so regardless), which Noriyori would evade.

The Crab would swing a second time, though Noriyori would grab ahold of the haft before it could gain much momentum. Not wasting the opportunity, Noriyori kneed the Crab through his armor into the midsection, actually denting the armor somewhat! With the wind knocked out of him, Noriyori would grab the Crab as he keeled over, and ran him to the nearby window, allowing the momentum to carry the man through it.

A cry of panic would sound as the man fell two stories to the ground before. Noriyori would clamber into the window, looking downward to see where the man landed... and elbow drop downward after him.

And silence.

The general would break the silence to finally address the questions asked of him. "We can give you traveling provisions needed to aid your trek through Yugure Yama. None of the sightings have been near the Carpenter Pass, so if you wish to investigate, you'll need to go mountain hiking, I'm afraid. It'll be dangerous, as Kagae-san might confirm. There are traps strewn about to keep Shadowlands creatures at bay. The Hiruma will be able to guide you past them, and it'll be a rarer occurrence as you move farther north."

Turning to Denbe, he would then comment, "The Hiruma can be ready for assignment immediately. You may be unaccustomed to how things are done in Crab lands, Hare-san, but we don't bog things down with politics. Any delays with troop dispatchments typically mean people die. We lose enough as it is on the Wall, even as far removed as Kamisori sano Yoake Shiro. Something which, if I'm correctly informed, all of you are already aware of."

Turning to Kojiro, the general actually scoffs at the later request. "A healer? Shugenja aren't particularly plentiful, Bayushi-san, and I definitely can't afford to dispatch one with you for your journey. You will simply need to make due. I'm sure your Scorpion Ingenuity will be more than sufficient to see you to the end of your mission relatively intact."

Denbe wants a quick meal, Kojiro wants to grab a few provisions, Miyako wants to DO EET NAO!! Kagae wants to wait for another day, leaving at daybreak. I'm going to interpret that you guys will be ready to leave in an hour? Real time, not Rokugani time.

If anyone wants to make an argument otherwise, speak now or forever hold your peace.

"If that's all, I can have the Hiruma meet you at the western gate at the time of your choosing. Otherwise, you are dismissed."