"This isn't an inspection." Ayame spoke up from behind (and on high), giving the woman an endearing smile. The Miya were friends to the common folk after all, the Emperor's Blessing spread to all corners of the Empire. "I have been tasked to map the realms, and we may need to make use of your hospitality while we're surveying the region. Is there a Samurai in charge here?"
Tsuyoshi nodded in confirmation of the Miya's words, smiling quietly as he looked over the fields. "Indeed not, but your diligent work is appreciated all the same," he said to her- before turning to take a look over the fields. He'd known that the destruction had been great, and even the Crane clan's beautiful lands and wealth had suffered- but to see this area like it meant something more entirely.
Well, that was easy. He wasn't really certain what else one would need to map a town like this- simply know where it was, and mark that it existed by name, and some idea of where it related to other places, right? Still, he agreed entirely that it could be good to return here for a place to rest after they'd finished scouting for the day, and took a look around for anything out of the ordinary- besides the destruction- for such a peasant village. Not that he expected any great wonders or banditry in a place such as this.
Partially for practical reasons, and partially in order to evade risk of boredom.
[Perception/Investigation(Notice) 4k3 to spot anything abnormal.] [5+5+4=14]
There is definitely something abnormal, that wasn't visible at a glance unless one actively took a look for it.
There seems to be far too few farmers, as there were buildings to house them. Even assuming every person Tsuyoshi could see had their own house and didn't share, there'd still be more than enough. Entirely like that there was a hit to their population with the hardships of the past couple years.
Besides that, most of the "damage" here has been unattended lands, doubled with a good amount of trampling through it. Marching armies, possible conflicts... it was no easy task to simply pick up where one left off years before.
@ Hotaru:
WHATEVER IT IS, IS CLOSING FAST! IF YOU DON'T READY YOUR WEAPON YOU'RE BOUND TO HAVE LOST YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO BE READY FOR THE FIRST ROUND OF COMBAT.
WHATEVER IT IS, UNDOUBTEDLY MUST BE SOMETHING THAT HAS AND WILL INEVITABLY FURTHER SPOOK THE PEASANTS HERE AND OF COURSE YOUR MIYA CHARGE AAAAAAAAAA
@ Party:
The woman would seem a tad relieved, but only a tad. But she would seem to worry a bit when Ayame asked about samurai. "I'm sorry, Miya-tono. There is none. The governor of this province has not sent any samurai to oversee our work since first thaw, Miya-tono." Still somewhat fearful, and drawing the attentions of other farmers, she would prostrate herself upon the ground, and other farmers would cease their work to do the same. "If hospitality would ease your concerns, Miya-tono, then it is yours to take, as is anything further you desire."
Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2017 6:32 am
Tsuyoshi considered the population in the fields- it really did seem half empty, which hardly seemed the way to begin farming for a proper reclamation of such fertile land, but he also had little knowledge of farming, or of managing rice collection, taxes, and peasant villages. Not his place to make assumptions, and if he was correct he'd hate to shame whomever was in charge of this area- but considering he didn't' even know if there were enough other peasants to spare to it, he'd simply keep it in mind for now.
He turned back around at the sudden exclamations, seeing all of the peasants prostrating themselves to them (or the Miya in particular) and shuffled nervously, with a small uncomfortable laugh.
Whatever was rapidly approaching Hotaru, she seemed to be the only one who'd noticed so far, as Tsuyoshi waited for Ayame to thank them for their hospitality and move things on to food, so they could eat and make some more headway before the sun began to fall.
The sounds of something rushing through long grass reached Hotaru's ears. Had she heard it sooner but not acted? Not wanting to give away that she knew something was out there.
Stepping between the approaching unknown target's direction and Ayame, Hotaru would draw her No-Dachi just in case. Her eyes narrowing just a little as she tried to pick up details in the grass. A glimpse here or there as the wind blew the grass side to side.
"Miya-sama, we have...company..." she said quietly, not wanting to startle the Imperial, though no doubt the unsheathing of her blade would draw everyone's attention.
"Whoever is out there, show yourselves!" she ordered, raising her voice in the hopes that if it was an innocent person they would cease their hasty advance towards the Miya and you know...say something back.
[Perception / Investigation 5k2 to spot whoever is approaching w 2 for explosions Rolled: 6, 4, 5, 9, 2, (8, 1) Total: 15]
It's hard to tell. They were keeping low so you couldn't perceive who, but it sounded like one, maybe two. BUT IT'S TOO LATE YOU'VE MISSED YOUR CHANCE TO STRIKE PRE-EMPTIVELY...
... as a small child burst through the tall grass, giggling, a young puppy playfully chasing after. The boy, probably no older than five years of age, would be giggling and not realize until he was upon you that you were there, thumping off your armored leg and falling upon his keister. The puppy would begin barking up at Ayame upon her horse, while the young boy would look up at Hotaru and Ayame and respond with "Whhhoooooaaaaaaa..."
IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO ROLL INITIATIVE!
Y'know... if you want to, that is...
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Daidoji Hotaru
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Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2017 7:23 pm
Hotaru had barely enough time to brace herself as the child ran into her leg, though really there was no need. He was small enough not to push her off balance in the slightest. She held her No-Dachi out to the side, rather than over the poor boy's head before looking around and resheathing it. Stepping back, she would smile.
"Such play in the fields was always a favorite of mine, however such days of carefree safety are behind us I am afraid. At least for the short forseeable future. You shouldn't stray so far from the villagers, I'm sure they can use your vigilance in watching their backs whilst they work, no?"
She spoke calmly to begin with, not putting any extra seriousness into how unsafe Rokugan might be so soon after the wars. And towards the end when speaking of the boy's ability to help, she would add a touch of warmth to her voice. As much as the Daidoji could muster at least.
[[OOC: Ah, he has mastered stealth...in long grass!]]
Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2017 7:27 pm
Really the peasants' reaction wasn't nearly as surprising as that of her traveling companions, set so on edge by the simple act, and shockingly even drawing steel. Even if the Miya were a friend of the common folk, she was still an Imperial making a request. Another great clan might have consequences for striking them down for a perceived failure, but the same would not apply if one of the Imperial lines declared an execution. The fear was natural. Healthy, even. Though she would still do her best to diffuse it.
She didn't even notice the approaching child until he had collided with her wary guard, leaving her staring dumbfounded at the scene, but soon relieved as the Daidoji put her weapon away. Rakurai gave a derisive short and stomped his foot at the bold little canine, but otherwise Ayame elected to let her yojimbo deal with the child, since she seemed to be handling in well.
"Your masters must be proud to have such diligent, respectful servants." she began, inclining her head slightly to acknowledge the bow. "Pray tell us where we might find your leader or elder, that we can make the arrangements and let you get back to your work."
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Psychofish
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Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2017 9:17 pm
Daidoji Hotaru
"Miya-sama, we have...company... Whoever is out there, show yourselves!"
The Doji turned quickly at the cry of alarm, second hand coming ot his polearm as he closed the short distance between himself and the Imperial... only to see the child burst from the field. He had to stop himself from laughing aloud, but smiled broadly as he took his second hand off of it, relaxing and deciding that the yojimbo seemed plenty kindly and capable in this matter.
In any case, he couldn't place much to be of alarm to them here, and he didn't care to confuse and alarm the poor peasants with more requests while they were already dashing to please the Miya and bring someone in charge. Just as well- it would be delightful if they could eat something more than their rations before returning to finish the day's scouting work.
As Ayame's horse used stomp, it was super effective at startling the puppy (which was some kind of mutt) as it yiped and fled back into the tall grass. The boy, however, was not quite so easily deterred by the amazing site he stood before, oblivious to both custom and personal space.
"Kojiro! Please, come here," the middle-aged woman would address the child, obviously nervous at his breach of etiquette. The boy would obediently nod but not take his eyes off of both Hotaru and Ayame, his eyes lingering on the latter. He would bump once more into Tsuyoshi as his gaze never left the mounted Miya, though this time he would promptly get startled and run around the magistrate back into the fold of his fellow villagers, hiding behind one and peering back at the lot of you.
"Please, forgive my boy, Miya-tono, he's too young to know of protocol. I'll make sure he learns," the woman would say.
Though, several of the villagers would raise their heads and look nervously at one another at being inquired about their leadership. "We... ah... we don't have anyone like that here, Miya-tono. We were merely instructed to reclaim the land by the governor, and haven't seen him since. But that wasn't too long ago, maybe twenty days or so. We had been escorted here as soon as the thaw set in."
Tsuyoshi, Hotaru, you can give me Intelligence/Lore: Crane Clan vs TN 15 (Tsuyoshi, being a magistrate, gets a free raise on this roll) to know that with Crane lands being so involved in the war, many peasants had to be relocated until the violence subsided. These lands were probably completely unoccupied until recently, which matches the story the farmer woman is giving, at least as far as timetables go. It is unorthodox to not have any sort of supervision, but that's a different matter unrelated to this check, and the farmers don't seem to be abusing the trust placed in them...
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Psychofish
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Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2017 9:46 am
((Lore rolled in the OOC.))
"No Samurai, and no one of leadership..." He tapped on the pole of is sasumata thoughtfully. That seemed very strange to him, as evidenced by the frown, but given the shortage of peasants here, the work they'd already seen them doing, and his own experiences seeing how much the plague had gotten around... well, he had to imagine that the area had been hit hard and then it had been overlooked?
"Well... then unless there is more you would see to Miya-sama," oh, that was easier to get right when others were bowing and being respectful to her, phew. He looked directly to the woman and the little boy, who seemed to have a spirit Tsuyoshi liked well, if not manners, and inclined his head slightly to indicate them. "Please, show us where Miya-sama might rest when we return, and ready a small meal so we may return to our task." They did have rations, but they didn't really thrill him, and they would surely need them later, when they might not always be able to stop in civilization to get more food.
[Intelligence/Lore: Crane Clan 2k2 for knowledge of recent history, FR for +5] [1+2+5=8]
The woman would nod her head. "We will ensure the best we have to offer will be available to Miya-tono upon your return this evening," she would respond.
If you three wanted to map this village now, you'd need to spend a bit more time here but if you plan to return later, it can be mapped then. If you guys wish to poke around here a bit more for other reasons, feel free. If you depart for now, pick a direction based on here. Note that you are in spot 15, near the southeast corner of the province.
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Daidoji Hotaru
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Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2017 7:40 pm
Daidoji Hotaru's parents had worked to help some of the villages throughout the Crane Lands during the Great Plague, their leadership helping to ensure that many survived. However, it left Hotaru with the uneasy knowledge that such duty had eventually cost their lives. Not that these peasants were to blame, she held no vengeance of any kind towards those who worked so hard for the Crane Clan. It merely made her rather sullen inside to remember such times, but her On didn't fail. It wasn't as if they had specifically known her parents, or brought up some other piece of information closer to home. But those times were still fresh in memory, that is all.
"This might prove to be a good place to keep in mind whilst investigating the surrounding lands, of course, should you wish to press further without stopping that is your decision."
Enough time without the person who was asked to make the decision making one. As soon as someone lets me know what you want to do, I will assume the group agrees unanimously unless I hear otherwise from another player.
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Psychofish
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Posted: Wed Mar 01, 2017 6:55 am
((Tsuyoshi is going to be strongly in favor of MORE EXPLORING for today, and coming back to finish mapping the village after, unless the Miya voices disagreement. Heading East unless Lilly gets one up before the GM does. ))
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