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@ Denbe:

As Denbe lifted the straw hat from the man's head, the chin strap would pull it so the head would lean backwards... as it rolled right off the dead man's shoulders and to the ground below, bouncing twice before rolling to a stop.

Using that anatomy roll before, it looks like his head had not been cut off so much as sawed off, and placed again upon his neck. A few loose threads had kept it steady but they had easily torn away.

To those who can bear to look at it, those who were in the Jade Competition would recognize the man's face as one seen in a portrait.

Any characters who are there and are uncomfortable with death, feel free to give me a TN 10 stamina roll (vs physical illness) or willpower roll (vs fright). Your choice.

@ Kagae:

Yep, that's definitely a sword of the Asako family, typically used by their Inquisitors.

To say this was a deeply unsettling sight was quite the understatement. Masuyo was able to hold on to her rations, but just barely. She could only imagine what it must have been like for the poor courtier, and with pity atop a deeper need for living comfort, she clung to Miyako (though she did at least try to make the embrace seem like she was just holding her up).

[3k3 Stamina vs. TN 10: 15]

Hopefully, the Kami were the only ones to mark his words...."Regardless, we need shelter for the night and I don't want to draw too much more attention.

The Hare felt the pit of his stomach sink- sink deep. It was almost enough to make him sick himself, realizing just who this was- what had happened. Kojiro narrated it perfectly, as the Hare gritted his teeth, and if only thanks to the Scorpions outburst, managed to restrain one of his own, clenching and unclenching fists.

"Jigoku take them."

It had not been how he'd hoped his first mission would end.

He rounded quickly on the others, clenching his fists, and after a moment spoke. "We should move Asako-sama in before the storms reach us, and recover his wakazashi, and any other identifying personal effects to return to Doji-sama. We can lay him to rest at the temple tonight, and cremate him once our mission is complete." The Hare started digging into his bag- gathering up his tent. In a few minutes, it would become clear that he intended to use it as a makeshift mat, a way to carry the body without having to directly touch it once it had been laid down. He wouldn't ask any of the other's to help him- and dirty their honor for the task besides his own. But to the Hare, it was a worthy thing to see that the magistrate's body be no further desecrated or torn apart by the storm.

"We keep our heads low. Tomorrow, if possible, we take whoever is in the castle unawares. Whatever sort of people do this, we owe them no mercy."

Kojiro would help Denbe shift the body using the mat and avoided touching Shusui's flesh in any way possible. Hopefully by this time, someone had ignited something flammable so that they could see where they were taking the body.

If no one would do this for them, then Kojiro would point out that it might be best to leave the body where it was for the time being and get shelter.

"Ujina-san..." Masuyo cast a sorrowful frown at the misguided bushi, "The dead will forgive you for leaving them on the battlefield. Right now we need to leave."

Regardless of what they decided to do with the corpse, Masuyo was fully intent on making it to the shrine and making sure it was free of any other uninvited guests. She may not have had a torch, but the funny thing about shugenja was... they didn't exactly need sight.

...except in times when the Kami refused to answer your call...

[Earth/Sense w/1 raise to increase the radius to 15', 4k3 vs. TN 20: 13]