LOG START
[17:34:50] Master of Games
All Creation, Beneath The Sword
Session 2
A sword demands to cut. But who?
An unassuming barge docks in Jibei’s harbor and unloads its cargo, as well as three heroes. Though the city’s elevation shields it from the worst late-summer heat baking the profane lowlands, its patron mountain also shields it from clouds, so the midday sun burns down unimpeded. The slanted roofs of Vanehan buildings gleam in the sunshine: the higher up, the brighter. Shade is provided by the trees required to be planted around homes and alongside streets. Here in the lower city, these trees often bear edible nuts or fruit, and indeed you can see a group of children climbing a tree by a nearby rowhouse to see if its bounty is ripe yet.
Speaking of children: the young dominate the lower streets, and the din of the harbor has a different tone—and lower volume—than it did this time last year. Nosy Fao is assisted in docking the barge by two girls who might be women in another year or two. The Imperial Daiklave may be held to the throat of faraway Nathir, but it makes itself known back home by the absence of those who must wield it.
[17:35:11] Master of Games
Once the boat is moored, Fao waves you all onto dry land. “Gentlemen, welcome to Jibei.”
[17:37:36] Datei ma Kagemori
Kagemori holds an umbrella as he steps onto dry land. “Strange to hear the city so quiet. Relatively.”
[17:39:07] Master of Games
”It’s been like this since spring, but it’s particularly noticable in the port, isn’t it?”
[17:39:43] Raizo
”I’ve never been, so I don’t know how busy it should be. I take it this is unusual?”
[17:40:58] River Snake
”Hard times recently I take it?”
[17:41:15] Datei ma Kagemori
”Many are off with the Prince.”
[17:43:44] Master of Games
”As my lord says. A good chunk of the able-bodied younger folk are sitting on their behinds outside Nathir, especially from the lower city. The centipede needs its legs.” Nosy Fao refers to the popular banner of Vanehan military forces featuring a centipede and tiger—the centipede’s legs marching with unified purpose representing the rank and file, the tiger’s noble ferocity the officers.
[17:50:31] Raizo
”While handing every prisoner a spear and saying die on the palisade.” Raizo glances at his men, once bound for such a fate. He sighs through his nose and idly rests his arm on his sword belt.
[17:53:31] Datei ma Kagemori
”Unless either of you have need of me, I will be off towards the estate.”
[17:54:36] River Snake
”I’ll join you, would help to say hello and know where it is, unless you’re rather I didn’t” He chuckles a little
[17:54:58] Datei ma Kagemori
”That is acceptable.”
[17:55:48] Raizo
”I need to find somewhere my men can lay. And all things considered it would probably be better if you weren’t sheltering brigands.”
[17:56:57] Datei ma Kagemori
”Very well. Shall we determine where we should meet again later, then?”
[17:59:08] Raizo
”I’m sure we’ll find each other when we need to. Appreciate the ride. Sorry for the threatening to kill you.” He issues a sharp whistle to get the Band of the Canopy’s attention and leads them off the barge. Off to… well, somewhere shady.
[17:59:49] Datei ma Kagemori
Kagemori heads off in the opposite direction.
[18:01:15] River Snake
Snake follows along with Kagemori. “Anything I should say or avoid saying in front of your family?”
[18:05:21] Datei ma Kagemori
”For now at least, you should feel free to speak your mind. A talented hunter would be a valued ally even without other factors. If you come along to the palace, then you might want to be more cautious, but for now you need not worry.”
[18:06:41] River Snake
”Alright, just checkin.”
[18:11:41] Master of Games
You part ways, and Fao suggests to Raizo that the easiest place to get lost might be the outer city—that is, on the outer side of the purifying canal that encloses Jibei proper, where reside those too poor to afford even a cramped rowhouse, foreigners who are not anyone’s guest, and various restricted or licensed trades. There is practically certain to be an empty house there, or any number of folks willing to put up strangers without asking questions.
[18:13:44] Master of Games
In the meantime, Kagemori leads River Snake to the Datei compound. To a newcomer, it may be hard to believe that these are the poor districts of the city proper. Commoners’ houses, while modestly sized and unadorned, are well built. Even the cramped rowhouses are clean and in good repair—though less so than last year, as fewer hands are available for routine maintenance.
[18:15:34] Master of Games
The Datei residence is humble only in comparison to other clans’ mansions. It takes up a block of its own, surrounded by a garden and receiving its own water via aqueduct, as demanded by law. Many clan hostages adorn their gardens in manners reminiscent of their home provinces, and so Kuromi, representing the family without a home, has had strange plants and rocks brought in from Dead Laris. Here is a boulder that has partially turned to glass at the center of an otherwise normal rock garden; there a shrub that’s naturally grown to uncannily resemble a sleeping figure.
Just as your group is about to reach the gate, though, your attention is drawn by an ox carriage rumbling down the street at a rather faster pace than is entirely appropriate. For some reason, it is entirely decked out in flowers—and marked with the same Datei crest as Kagemori bears on his kimono.
[18:18:33] River Snake
”You didnt tell me your clan doubles as florists”
[18:20:06] Datei ma Kagemori
”Everyone needs a hobby.” He watches the ox-cart carefully but doesn’t yet see the need to try to intervene.
[18:22:42] Master of Games
The carriage rolls to a half in front of the residence’s gate, overshooting slightly, and as you approach you can hear a laughing voice Kagemori recognizes as belonging to his older sister, who sounds as though someone’s just told her the funniest joke ever told.
[18:28:03] Datei ma Kagemori
Kagemori moves towards the gate. He turns to look at the cart once he is between it and the gate. “Glad you’re in a good mood, sister.”
[18:34:28] Master of Games
A bespectacled woman steps out of the cart first, followed by one of thin build, similar to the clan lord’s but healthier and even now just a little bit taller, and a face bearing clear resemblance to his. She takes a deep breath and wipes a tear from her eye, then beams when she sees Kagemori. “Brother! Your timing’s impeccable. I was just worried I might not be home in time.”
[18:35:42] Master of Games
”See what we’ve done to the carriage? The ox must think it’s been made to pull a garden!” The ox, in fact, looks like it couldn’t care less.
[18:38:27] Master of Games
The flowers on the cart are aesthetic enough, but don’t appear to have been added with any greater plan besides making it as gaudy as possible. In fact, they’re still on their branches, stuck in every available space. There’s no particular occasion for it that Kagemori’s aware of either.
[18:38:56] River Snake
”Is there a festival soon?” He looks to Kagemori
[18:40:06] Datei ma Kagemori
”It is the brightest carriage I’ve seen, I believe. Is this the style now?”
[18:46:57] Master of Games
”Oh, I hope not. I was paying a courtesy visit, hoping we’d see some of the season’s birds in the Kanro mansion’s garden, but when they didn’t show themselves, our host gave us some of these flowering branches as an apology. Then everyone began adding more and more on a lark, and we got carried away.” Kuromi looks at River Snake, still smiling, and looks him up and down. “This is the guest you wrote about, then?”
[18:49:32] Datei ma Kagemori
He nods. “A finder and acquisitor of significant talent. Snake, this is my sister and trusted advisor, Datei ma Kuromi.” He moves into the estate as he talks rather than wait outside. “I have just arrived back. It seems the city has gotten quieter while I’ve been away, but I imagine it has been just as busy as ever.”
[18:52:14] River Snake
Snake does his best smile and a proper greeting “A pleasure to meat you, Miss Kuromi.”
[19:05:37] Master of Games
Kuromi responds with a bow. “My brother’s guest is a guest of the clan. It’s important to have friends, sir.”
[19:09:55] River Snake
”Ah, I forgot to properly introduce myself. Shadow’s Edge, at your service. Feel free to call me Shadow or Snake, if you like”
[19:19:23] Master of Games
”Oh, I know someone who loves snakes, but the shadow is an old friend of our clan’s. Come on in, then, and take the guest’s seat.” Kuromi ushers you both in as servants take the bedecked ox-carriage away to the stalls.
[19:22:15] Master of Games
Outside the Brilliant City
Nosy Fao is a chatty and curious fellow, but has a way of sidestepping sensitive topics. After a while, it feels like he’s asked Raizo about everything but his lawless activities. He points out a number of empty buildings, cautions against several signs that mark buildings as not so empty as they look, and offers to make introductions with Clan Datei’s overseer of operations in the outskirts of Jibei, a gambling queenpin and alchemist known as the Smoking Dragon.
[19:31:02] Raizo
Raizo’s familiar enough with the sort from his magistrate days but isn’t one for so much indirect chitchat, so he spends more time listening than speaking. When the band reach their final stop, the place at least looks worth his attention. “I trust your smoke hides many secrets?”
[19:40:02] Master of Games
The outer city has its own order, but not that of the inner. Many buildings here are not to code, in foreign styles, or in disrepair. Here and there is what was likely a lavish mansion long ago, built to older aesthetics, since repurposed several times. “Oh, yes. To tell you the truth, Smoking Dragon is… not among Lord Kagemori’s closest allies in the clan. But if you set up shop in the outer city, it’s best to be in her good graces, and if you make a good impression, it might help the Lord too.”.
[19:44:40] Raizo
”Well, I will certainly try.”
[19:52:03] Raizo
”So, shall we meet Miss Dragon?”
[20:02:34] Master of Games
Raizo and his guide are ushered in fairly quickly; the presence of a baker’s dozen of rough fellows has not gone unnoticed. Smoking Dragon’s residence is in a renovated warrior’s mansion, and follows the currently accepted style of Vanehan architecture only in having an extensive garden pupulated with a dizzying variety of herbs and flowering plants. The guest room is well appointed with imported furniture boasting a vaguely Southern touch, but though Raizo is offered tea and a smoking pipe, the manner in which he is received resembles an audience more than an invitation. A light haze of oddly scented tobacco smoke permeates the air.
Smoking Dragon, or Datei ma Kanano as she formally introduces herself, sits on a sofa of foreign make with a pipe of her own and regards Raizo coolly. She’s a woman of middle age, tall and slender, in a kimono fine enough it could likely buy clothes for several of his men. She’s attended by an unassuming girl in green with a vaguely foreign cast. “I have to say I wasn’t expecting guests today. What brings you to my humble abode of all places, then?”
[20:09:36] Raizo
”Well, it’s only polite to introduce yourself to your neighbors, isn’t it? My name is Raizo. No clan. I came from Taba Ama with my fellows here,” he gestures to his men-at-arms. He considers and then decides against a ‘maybe you’ve heard of me’, too uncouth. “We were told you’re a good friend to have around here. Well, I’d like to earn my way into that friendship.”
[20:11:36] Raizo
”All I ask in return is a place where we can rest our bones, something to wet our throats, and the occasional piece of information on people whose heads might be best separated from their necks.”
[20:21:31] Master of Games
Smoking Dragon expels a puff of smoke which coils like a living thing and lingers longer than one might expect before dissipating. “I hope you’re not surprised to hear, Raizo of No Clan, that I’ve heard similar words before.” She gives her attendant a look, and the latter leans forward to whisper something to her, giving Raizo a long glance. “Hmm.” Her tone says she’s heard of him, and she leans back to regard him quietly for some moments, making no attempt to hide the gears turning in her head.
[20:24:52] Raizo
”I was hoping you had, because it means I’m talking to the right person. And I think most of the people who tell you that can’t do what we can.”
[20:30:47] Master of Games
Finally, she speaks again. “Well, since you’ve gone to the trouble of coming here and calling on me, I suppose it’d be impolite to just send you all the way back to Taba Ama. Let me think… unfortunately, right now I have an issue with some riffraff who’ve gotten the impression that one of my properties is in fact their rightful property. Hard to be a good host and accept guests’ tribute with my attention split like that, you understand?”
[20:36:25] Raizo
”Then I suppose someone will have to convince them otherwise.”
[20:38:51] Master of Games
”Indeed. Say, Raizo, do you consider yourself a convincing man?”
[20:40:42] Raizo
”Very. I hope to consider you among the convinced when I return.”