Tenwa

^{Actual Game date (2000-01-12)}

The return to Baamebu Daa. MeBe receives a visitor from the Imperial Court. It is lady in waiting and Head retainer for the Imperial Princess Easilo who is the fiancé of MeBe they have come to see if MeBe's house is suitable for and Imperial Princess. Being a small house outside the Baamebu Daa main complex, it is completely unsuitable, and they let this me know. MeBe decides to look for a suitable location in the local area for a new house. Having found what he thinks is a good location, he invites the Imperial representatives, Lee Ho and Tokyo to inspect the site, and to ensure it has good Fengu-Shui. They all approve that it is a good site. MeBe now approaches Lord Krappi to buy the plot of land for the house.

Here is Lord Krappi's response to MeBe's request

I am afraid that I cannot sell you the piece of land you have found. All land must belong to either a Daimyo or the Emperor. It is my ability to grant loyal clan members authority to settle areas of my holdings. They are in effect given leases and pay me rent.

However. I although foremost I am a Daimyo, I am also proud to have you as my closest friend. Not only shall I grant you permission to use the land for the building of a house, but I shall let it to you for no rent in perpetuity until your line has no more sons to pass it down to. This I give for our friendship.

As a wedding present to both you and your wife, I shall have the new home built for you. Constructed by the best craftsmen in Kurokawa.

There are but a few provisos.

• Your house must never equal or exceed the size of my house.
• It must not impose upon existing farmland.
• The gardens must be given to formal landscaping, not for the cultivation of food.
• You may station no more than 100 bodyguard for your wife and family's protection within its grounds.

Lord Tenwa

Here is MeBe's response to Lord Krappi's Offer

You do me a great honor, by giving me and my future wife permission to have a house and live on your property. I would never dream of having a house anywhere near as grand as my great lords.

I gladly accept your offer to build the house, the gardens I had always intended to be for contemplation, with some small water feature. The only food that will be produced there will be from one and hopefully more Peach tree's that I will attempt to cultivate, In a quite corner.

After much soul searching I will agree to become a member of your clan, although I have little knowledge of how a senior advisor should act. But I will endeavor not to cause any problems while I learn. While also trying to become a cultured man, so that I will not cause the Emperor to have regret about giving me his 2nd cousin to marry.

Your Humble Servant MeBe.

Word reaches the party that the city of Kyoto has been destroyed by Altuzu's forces. The only building that survived was the The Golden Pavilion Temple, where the Emperor needs to preform the ceremony of Ot the rice. There is no indication that the Emperor knows of the destruction or that he plans to go and preform the ceremony to bless this years harvest.

^{Actual Game date (2000-01-19)}

Lord Krappi magically summons a Kirin and the party travel on mass to Yedo to see if there is any reason why the ceremony was not performed. When we arrive, we are summoned by the Emperor for an audience. Lord Krappi then inquired about the ceremony but was told by the Emperor that the ceremony did not have to performed at Kyoto. Which was not what Lord Krappi knew to be the truth. So Lord Krappi asked for it to be checked, the minister of the left, took exception to this, and said that every thing was in order, and what did Lord Krappi know about it. Lord Krappi said he had been informed by a Kami about the state of the ceremony, and if the minister of the left would only double check, and if Lord Krappi was not correct he would commit Seppuke right there. This offer seemed to sway the court and a check was made and Lord Krappi was found to be correct. The Emperor then dismissed Lord Krappi while he considered this new situation.

The party then returned to our compound to prepare for what was to come?

While waiting to be summoned by the Emperor again, the party mingled with the locals in the castle. Toriyoshi reports some rumors that he had heard to MeBe concerning his future wife. Which seemed to indicate sympathy for MeBe as he was getting the Princess Easi Ko, because see was becoming a embarrassment to the court because she had little or no moral character (palace bike) and she had been though most of the palace guards!

MeBe took this badly and over the following few days spend his free time in the form of a mouse looking for who ever was spreading these scurrilous rumors. MeBe also attempted to get in to see Princess Easi Ko in the form of a cat. He crept passed the main Imperial compound guard, and was walking down one of the corridors, when he was confronted by a Buddhist priest, trying to shoo him out of the compound. He retreated and tried to go round the priest. The Priest then pointed at the main doors and said 'Out', and then began casting some form of spell. MeBe guessing that the gig was up returned to his human form, he bowed respectfully to the priest, and left. The Priest followed him to close to the door where he then sat on a stool and watch.

Toriyoshi and Lee Ho are attempting to get maps for the journey to Kyoto and of the city of Kyoto, and also how the ceremony needs to be performed. They do not have much success, but Toriyoshi manages to make contact with one of the priest who may have access to the ceremony information, but can not let Toriyoshi have a copy. But he is interesting in seeing Toriyoshi's bell. Toriyoshi agrees to let him see the bell, and later that day the priest arrive, he also brings a scroll with him, that is the ceremony information, so while the priest studies the bell, Toriyoshi studies and memorizes the ceremony.

Lord Krappi and MeBe then go into town to buy some gifts. Lord Krappi buys a some gifts for Lady Mi-Lan and there son. MeBe buys a single perfect Chrysanthemum, a exquisite porcelain Vase to contain the the flower, and a exquisite lacquered Box to contain both, he also buys a exquisite piece of Chinese porcelain.

The next day MeBe puts the Chrysanthemum in the Vase and puts the Vase in the Box, and had a note written to say who it was from, and seals the box. He then put the box and the Chinese porcelain in a sack, and turns into the form of a cat. He then returned to Imperial compound. Shortly after entering he was approached by the same priest, who tried to shoo him out of the compound. MeBe then returned to his human form. And spoke to the priest, saying. Hello honorable sir, I have come looking for you to beg a boon. I have a small gift for the Princess Easi Ko, and if he would agree to make sure see gets it, He would give the priest the piece of Chinese porcelain for the inconvenience. The priest agree to do it this once, but warns MeBe to only return to Imperial compound when formally invited.

^{Actual Game date (2000-01-26)}

Lord Krappi gets very worked up about the fact that the Emperor has not summoned him, to let him know what is to be done about the ceremony at Kyoto. Tokyo decides to go astral and investigate the Imperial compound. After some searching he finds a room where he can observer the Emperor, talking to his family. While listening one of the Emperors defenders also goes to the astral plane and attempts to dispel Tokyo, There is a struggle while Tokyo attempts to listen and the defender tries to remove him. After a few minutes of this Tokyo decides it was time to leave, and returns to out compound to relate what he has heard which is disturbing news.

The Emperor has Decided to Retire

This causes Lord Krappi, even more anguish. He attempts to get into see the Emperor, but the guards will not let him pass without a official pass. Lord Krappi begins to think there is a plot buy the Kuge, to keep him from seeing the Emperor, and he is almost ready to resort to violence. In exasperation he goes to see Lord Xinji to invite him and his men to a Basho that afternoon. He agrees to come. During the Basho, Lord Krappi talks about the problems he has been having getting to see the Emperor or his brother. Lord Xinji, says he will organize a Paper Dart throwing contest for the following day, and will invite the Emperor's brother, as he is very keen at Paper Dart throwing. That night Lee Ho and Krappi practice building paper darts, until they have come up with the best design they can in the time available. In the morning Lee Ho blesses Krappi for the contest ahead, so that he does not embarrass himself in front of the Emperor's brother. Lord Krappi and a small group of his body guard go to Lord Xinji's, and a find contest is had the Emperor's brother wins (as is right) and Lord Krappi and Lord Xinji come second, with about the same proficiency. After the match they are talking and the Emperor's brother asks why Lord Krappi has not been to see the Emperor, Lord Krappi explains that he can not get into the Imperial compound with out a pass, and he does not have one. The Emperor's bother find this strange, as the Emperor has issued requests for Lord Krappi's presents but when ever they were delivered to Lord Krappi's compound there was no one there to receive them. This confused Lord Krappi as there have always been people at his compound. The Emperor's brother decides to give Lord Krappi, a pass then and there for the following day. Lord Krappi thanks the Emperor's brother, and promises to see the Emperor the following day. On the way home from Lord Xinji's some one attempts to shoot Lord Krappi luckily one of his body guard notices something and throws his shield in the way of what could have been a fatal arrow for Lord Krappi. The Arrow was retrieved, and they returned to Lord Krappi's compound.

The arrow had the Mon of the Hikidunot clan on it. Lord Krappi decided not to confront the clan fearing that it may be part of the Kuge plotting to throw suspicion on an innocent party.

Next day MeBe turned into a dog before the party went to the Emperors compound. The party present the Emperor's brother's pass and we were admitted, and taken to a room where a scribe was busy writing something. He ignored us, which infuriated Lord Krappi. MeBe attempted to see what he was doing by walking over and trying to look at the table top. The scribe looked at the dog, and forced it aside, while muttering about never getting it finished with all these interruptions. After 15 minutes of waiting for some for of response or recognition from the scribe. Lord Krappi takes matters into his own hands. Behind the scribe are 2 doors Krappi approaches the right hand one, as he does so 2 Kuge Samurai step out of the left hand door to block his way.

Lord Krappi show them his pass and tells them to stand aside or die. Lee Ho goes forward and explains to the samurai, that Krappi is very annoyed and it might be best to let him past. The samurai have a moment of indecision, which is a Krappi, needs to brush pass then and into the corridor behind. The party follow, as we leave the scribe is heard to say 'Wait, Wait your map is not finished'. After a moments thought the Kuge samurai chase after Lord Krappi, Lord Krappi approaches another member of the house hold staff, asking directions to the Minister of the Left (there is murder in his eyes). Eventually the party arrive at the office of the Minister of the Left, just before the following samurai. Lord Krappi requests to be taken to see the Emperor and show him the pass from the Emperor's brother. The Minister of the Left reads the pass, and then explains the pass is for admission to the Imperial compound not for admission to see the Emperor, Lord Krappi begins to turn red, seeing this the Minister of the Left agree's to escort us to see the Emperor.

We are escorted to the Emperors audience chamber, where the Emperor ask Lord Krappi why he has not responded to any of the Emperor's invitations, Lord Krappi say that he had not received any invitations, and he looks accusingly at members of the Kuge, who feels have been doing every thing they can to get in his way. The Emperor say he will have some one investigate what has been happening with messages. He then gets down to business.

The Emperor is sending 3 of his sons by 3 different routes to Kyoto, and when the first one gets there, he will resign in favor of the one who can perform the ceremony. Lord Krappi is to escort one of the son's, and he should make preparations to leave. Lord Krappi agrees to do this, and is escorted out of the imperial compound.

On route to his compound Lord Krappi is again attacked by archers. There appear to be 5 archers in a building overlooking the court yard. MeBe and Lord Krappi run towards the building to engage them. Tokyo concentrates while this is happening, and as MeBe performs a heroic leap to enter through one of the windows the archers are using, Tokyo sets of a 60 magic point Metal Storm, in the area where the archers and MeBe are, fortunately Lord Krappi was outside the area of effect, and MeBe heroically avoids the whirling metal blades, But the top floor of the building and the archers are turned to match wood. The arrows are then investigated, and again they have the Mon of the Hikidunot clan.

Lord Krappi then return's to his compound, and composes a letter to Lord Xinji apologizing for the destruction of his property, and offering to pay to have the building rebuilt. While this message is being delivered Lord Xinji summons Lord Krappi to an audience. Lord Krappi takes the arrows that have been fired at him, in the last two assassination attempts, and goes to see Lord Xinji. When he gets there he again apologizes for the destruction and offers to pay for the repairs. He then goes on to explain that it was destroyed out of self defence, and produces the arrow to show who may have been shooting at him. Lord Xinji takes one look at the arrows, and immediately understands what is going on, and forgives Lord Krappi for the damage, he then explains that some months ago the Hikidunot clan had asked for permission to declare a blood feud against Lord Krappi for killing there Daimyo while he was trying to kill the Emperor, Lord Xinji had refused them permission, but it appears that they have gone ahead anyway. This makes things allot clearer for Lord Krappi because the Hikidunot clan is the official messenger carries for the Imperial court, so they had every opportunity to intercept the Emperor's invitations. Lord Xinji then gives Lord Krappi to handle the situation any way he feels appropriate. Lord Krappi then returns to his compound to consider what is to be done.

^{Actual Game date (2000-02-02)}

The party decide to attack the town house of the Hikidunot clan who have sworn the blood feud against Lord Krappi, for killing the last Daimyo.

In preparation for this, he assigns 2 of MeBe's budoka, to watch the house. So we know if anything changes. Later that night before we finished planning the attack MeBe decides to go and spy on the Hikidunot clan. He turns himself into the form of a cat, and enters the clan compound. He searches the compound and finds many empty rooms., eventually find the barracks, he over hears the samurai getting drunk on saki, and cursing Lord Krappi for decimating, the crack archer group, using fool magic. MeBe continues his searching, and find the room where the Lord of the Hikidunot clan is talking to two advisors. The Lord is cursing the dishonorable way that his assassins were killed, An Lord Krappi must die because he dishonors us all. MeBe begins to leave the compound, but notices light on in the tea house. So go climbs into to roof to find out what is happening. In the tea house is a Shugenja and two elders of the Hikidunot clan. MeBe uses his 'Master Foe' Ki power to knock out the Shugenja. The elders leave to get help, while they are gone MeBe jumps down from the roof, bites the unconscious Shugenja on the right ear, and picks up some of the incense sticks he was using, in his mouth and makes his escape.

Back at Lord Krappi's compound MeBe explains what he has seen, and Lord Krappi decides to attack at dawn. While the samurai are still recovering from the saki from the night before. The party approach the compound of the Hikidunot clan. we try to locate the Budoka who is watching the front but he cannot be found. MeBe is very suspicion about this. MeBe leads the second attack wing to the rear gate, to await Lord Krappi's signal. At the back the other Budoka is also missing, this cause MeBe to decide to investigate. Before Lord Krappi sends the signal, MeBe goes over the back wall, and finds there are no guards on the rear gate. He starts to approach the main building just as Lord Krappi knocks on the main gate. The gates are opened in front of Lord Krappi, and he is immediately shot at by a archer. And the attacked by the two guards who opened the gate. As Lord Krappi fights his way though the two guards at the door, the archers fires another shot at him. The archer is then attacked by MeBe and knocked out. Lord Krappi, then brings the rest of the assault team into the compound to do a search, but it has been deserted. Thinking they might have gone to attack out compound, Tokyo goes astral and travel to our compound to make sure all is OK, which it is.

Dave, being a nasty GM, had learned from his previous mistakes and had the clan leader commission a divination (the Gakusho power). When the divination resulted in their total extermination, the elder fled the clan home, leaving an archer and two samurai just inside the front gate where it was foretold I would single handedly assault. Thank the Kami Lord Krappi is a master in Arrow Cutting.(Yadomejutsu)!

In the centre of the compound the bodies of the two missing Budoka were found. After examining the compound, it appears that there were two groups that left the compound, one of 10 or more men left from the front gate, and a smaller group of 5 or so left from the rear gate.

MeBe and Lee Ho took the bodies of the two dead Budoka to a temple to give them a proper ritual send off. Toriyoshi, decides to stay at the Hikidunot clan compound and prepare to summon the clan Kami, to try to resolve the situation. Lord Krappi and Tokyo return to their compound, to question the unconscious captive archer.

Dave left the adventure on a cliff hanger with Tokyo, myself and my ten bodyguard returning to our residence inside the emperor's castle. Ten archers have sprung out of ambush and are about to fire.

^{Actual Game date (2000-02-02)}