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Chiharu and Ayame would begin to proceed in a direction away from the village. Chiharu, pick a direction! You started traveling north from the Doji castle, and east from there lead to the bandit. Ideal options would be west of the village, northwest of the village, or northeast of the village.

The "road" traveled would soon leave farmland, giving way to a more natural, woodsy feel. It wasn't dense enough to make you feel lost, but you likely felt like you were just entering blind wilderness.

As you press forward, you soon realize the land would begin to elevate; it was a gradual but noticeable incline, but it rapidly looks like you are coming up to some sort of elevated landmass. The trees thin out near the base, and you are presented with something in between a very steep hill and a butte.

The incline rapidly shifts from gradual to immediate, and the top of the landmass is not visible to you from here. Ultimately, it looks like it might be a dead end, but... before you decide to turn around... you make out a path, ascending upwards. It would be a very steep climb (requiring Stamina/Athletics; failure is just slower progress requiring further rolls and more time, or turning back).

Ayame seems uncertain about how she wants to proceed. Surely, if there's a path, there must be something at the higher elevation or else there wouldn't be a path, right? It's definitely to steep for Ayame's horse so this may be the best time to try making your way up... but risk not making it back before the storm hits if you waste too much time and energy.

What are your thoughts, Chiharu?

Tsuyoshi, you can declare what you've done with the bandit you captured (doing a couple retroactive posts, if needed) but otherwise you can catch up unless you specifically do not follow the two samurai-ko.

Chiharu would travel west, hoping for a nice view of the sunset. Maybe they could reach the top of that sort of hill in time to watch it from a privileged position?
The higher ground would probably be good for Ayame too, providing a nice view of the surroundings she could probably map the area without walking every inch of the land.

Chiharu sighs when the slope seems uncrossable but the sight of the path brings a smile to her face.

—Oh fortunes ... This way, Miya-sama.

The shugenja then hears Tsuyoshi sugestion and turns to her clan mate and the Imperial mentioning:

—I was wondering if we could climb in time for the sunset.

Just in case, Chiharu grabs a lantern from her backpack and proceeds to light it up even if there is still plenty of day light. It is better to do it in advance and the narrow path, between the innards of the mountain, could be shadowy.

To ascend the steep path - it's obviously meant to be traversable, just not easy, as the ones who originally traveled it had no control over the slope of the terrain - will require TN 15 Stamina/Athletics rolls from each of you. A single success will be needed, but a failure on anyone's part will force a decision:

Either those who succeed can arrive where the path ends and leave those that failed behind to continue the ascent.

Or

Wait for them and try again as a group.

Since progress will be made, the TN will be reduced by 5 on future rolls. If those that succeed advance without those that failed, I'll let them know when they can make a second attempt.

Note, on the advancement of the storm:
Ascent is achieved on the first result, and you descend before a second attempt is made: You can make it back to Efude Village before the storm hits (if that's where you decide to travel to).
Ascent is achieved on the second result, and you descend before a third attempt is made: You can make it back to Efude Village as the storm begins (or where ever you travel to. Really, you can go where ever you want).
Ascent is achieved on the third result, and you descend before a fourth attempt is made: The storm will be upon you as you reach the base of the not-mountain.
Ascent is achieved on the fourth result: Guess who has a faceful of storm?

Motivation.

Energy.

Gusto.

All of these things are lost to you when you start to ascend. You do spot that at the end of the path it plateaus, and in terms of measurable it's not that far.

But the path is just steep enough where you can still walk it without it being dangerous and your legs quickly become heavy with the effort, and your pace slows to a crawl.

You make it about halfway there, taking longer than you would like to. Do you press on (TN 10 Stamina/Athletics, and you won't make it back to Efude before the storm)? Or do you relent and descend for now, and worry about it when you don't have an oncoming storm?

The Doji looked at the peak of the formation from below, jaw set stubbornly as their progress went slowly, but as they caught a breath and Chiharu spoke, he reluctantly nodded. "I am inclined to agree, Doji-san. We do not know what winds this storm may bring, and it would not do for Miya-sama or yourself to be buffeted or catch ill." He looked up at the hill again, knowing he probably SHOULD head back to be safe, but he rather disliked letting a hill best him.

...and if the Miya needed it climbed, then surely as a bushi it was his duty to take that task up and find out what was up there for her!

"I would gladly find if there is anything of importance at the top and report back to you at the village if you would like, Miya-sama," he followed up, trying not to bounce with eagerness to accomplish something.

Chiharu nodded in agreement, trying to share part of her weight with the shakujo bo she was carrying.

For a while she was worried she wouldn't be able to do it, but she couldn't disapoint the Miya but the climbing was becoming harder and harder for the shugenja.

The three of you would ascend the rest of the way, the path beginning to level out towards the 'top'. It wasn't really the peak of the large hill, mind you, but a plateau near the top. It's not even 1000 meters in elevation, but the steep grade of ascent is what gets you.

As you near the 'destination', you finally see what you have climbed for. There was a house, modestly constructed (it was better than the shacks that the villagers in Efude lived in by a large margin, but definitely not up to code with Crane construction standards) is up ahead. There were also some fenced off areas, solidly assembled wooden boards forming artificial barriers sectioning off parts of the area.

A sign would greet you that would read, quite simply,


You do not see anyone at the moment.

A few seconds would pass, and some of you might have heard a response, though too distant to make out, let alone be certain.

At the house, the door would slide open, revealing a tiny old woman, hunched over and squinting at the lot of you. Taking a cane from within the house, she would begin her walk towards you.

(If any of you wanted to ROLL INITIATIVE and engage in combat, ignore everything below this point.)

The old woman, probably in her seventh or eight decade, would be shorter (probably little over half Tsuyoshi's own height), though her head would be completely shaved, much like one might expect out of a monk. Her drab brown robes also hinted at a monastic lifestyle.

"Hello!" she would squeak as she approached the group. "You've picked an odd day to come visit the springs. I'm afraid they will be unavailable due to inclement weather," she would explain, point her cane in the direction of the east, dark clouds seemingly fast approaching.