Welcome to Gaia! ::

Following the Imperial's directions, Tsuyoshi leads the way northward, starting off at an eager pace once the direction is clear.

Ayame perks up as the scenery changes, an ever evolving landscape, though the mapmaker in her knew what it meant, so when they finally arrived upon the path of a river she was hardly surprised. A bit nervous at the increase in trees, but otherwise quite pleased. Doubly so when they seemed to have come across a landmark at the crossing.

"My my, this looks... like THE Iaido Bridge! Famed for its strategic role in the War as a single nameless Samurai held off a whole platoon of Destroyers and plague zombies! Eeehehe, now this is the sort of thing I came out to see! Mmm, you can feel it in the air, this place is Alive with history!" she spouted with all the fangirlish glee of a pent-up scholar who'd only read about such places in scrolls. Which... wasn't too far from the truth, all things considered. Though she corrected herself quickly and coughed. "Ahem... well... that and Divine Duty, of course. Still, we're here, may as well take in the landmark itself."

And with that she was trotting down the path once more towards the bridge.


[Intelligence/Lore: Crane Clan 5k4 w/ 2 raises for Details! vs. TN 25
Roll: 9, 6, 5, 8, 1 = 28]

The walk to the bridge would take about another 10 minutes at a leisurely pace, but as the winding road rounded a bend, you would see it. A fine wooden bridge spanning about 80 feet. The river it spans flows steadily but not fast, so it could be crossed by swimming - it would just be really cold, considering how early into spring it was.

The bridge seemed to be a little worse for wear - it hasn't been a full year since the Destroyer War ended, so if Ayame's factoid is true, then the Crane probably haven't had time to repair it yet. However, while it does look like signs of a battle here happened, there are no corpses remaining. A Perception/Engineering vs TN 15 (from this distance) would indicate that

As you near the edge of the bridge, however, someone appears. Or, probably more accurately, 'comes into focus'. A pale blue figure (not just in attire but in complexion) with a somewhat silvery silhouette, which appears to be a ghost, stands upon the middle of the bridge. His left hand rests casually upon his daisho. While armed, he is unarmored. He watches your group keenly as you make your approach.

Chiharu, your air kami seems to grow more active as you draw closer to the bridge, as if agitated (or perhaps invigorated?) by this specter's appearance.

Ayame marveled at the bridge and the picturesque scenery around it, worse for war wear as it was the sight remained truly impressive.

"Ah it's everything I'd hoped. I'll have to paint a picture of it later. It's no wonder this place has such... a... history..." she trailed off, tilting her head and blinking a few times in wonderment at what she witnessed materializing upon the bridge. "Erm. Well this... isn't part of the stories. You'd think someone would have mentioned a spirit. Any light you could shed on the matter, dear Shugenja-san? Besides that which it sheds on its own. Which is quite pretty, by the way..."

"Ahem." she cleared her throat and addressed the specter, though stopping Rakurai at a respectful distance just in case. "Greetings. I am Miya Ayame and these are my escorts, Doji Tsuyoshi and Doji Chiharu. Be at ease, we seek only to cross these lands in peace."

@ Chiharu:

You do not know this spirit exactly, per se. You've of course heard of "the ghost of Iaido Bridge", though it's more of a Kakita tale. Examining it, it does seem that the ghost was not from recent history - the style of dress and mon upon its ectoplasmic kimono are obviously dated. From a few centuries ago, maybe? It's hard to place without a history roll. But your knowledge of this specific type of spirit has escaped you, beyond the fact that it's obviously a ghost.

--------------------

Ayame would step forth and address the spirit. It was a young man, probably no older than any of you, as much as you could tell. He wore a cloth over the lower half of his face, and there is a visible ghost-wound across his throat. He did not wear armor, but was otherwise dressed as a samurai of the Crane might. His left hand rested casually upon the handles of his daisho.

the spirit would proclaim.

Tsuyoshi, you step forth and take your place beside your Miya charge.

The ghost would hesitate, eyeing Tsuyoshi.

The tiny Imperial bristled at the threat, readying a scathing response. Unlike the desperate peasant, to a samurai she could at least argue against his honor. But then the spirit recognized Tsuyoshi's post-duel state - a fascinating feat to be sure - and she found herself at a crossroads between confrontation and a possible route of peace. A point that her father would make, and one that her mother would. After a moment's hesitation, she chose to try the Miya route first. "Mm... putting aside, for the moment, how much dishonor you would bring upon yourself and your Clan for attempting to strike down an Imperial envoy, Chiharu and I do not carry katana, and it is our right to select a representative in a duel. This representative is Tsuyoshi-san, who you have just said may pass. Do you still intend to stop us?"

He tensed slightly at the ghosts hostile stance and careful look at the Imperial, listening to it announce the threat to those who would pass untested and let himself feel ready to intercept as it met his eyes and-

"Oh. Erm. Thank you, Ghost-san."

He shuffled awkwardly, and looked at his companions, surprised by the sudden shift in tone from 'ghost attack imminent' to being praised and invited to pass. The Crane looked at the imperial uncertainly at her suggestion of championing her, but nodded without hesitation even so. Until the ghost shot that one down and he paused, mouth half open as he churned on an argument before instead turning to the Imperial.

"He is... accepting my duel from earlier, and Chiharu's? If we cannot champion you perhaps... you... could challenge him to a duel of wits...?"