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Session

Ambush on the way to Castle of the Swift Sword

Session 6·2025-04-15

They let go of the two women who named their rank and took the man who had just been promised an Emerald Magistrate's protection. That is not banditry. Bandits do not sort their prisoners by rank.

Asako Taishi joined the road out of the waystation on a pony too small for him, a tall Phoenix scholar failing to keep pace. Shiba Midori read his papers and read his accent — a northerner, she guessed, Isawa perhaps. Isawa by blood, he said, raised among the Kaito. She told him she was the same shape in reverse: Shiba by blood, raised among the Kaito, and studying the spirits long enough that they sometimes answer. His papers put him east of Morning Glory Castle and wandering the Imperial Roads with no destination written down. She judged he was drifting toward the Ikoma libraries, which is where a man goes when the thing he wants confirmed is old.

He was carrying something and he would not say what. What he would say was that everyone he had told about it had come to harm — every person I've told about this has had unfortunate things happen to them — and that he needed it authenticated. Bayushi Monban and Doji Setsuna agreed to take him to the Castle of the Swift Sword and see it done under the Emerald Magistrates' authority. He accepted, and from that moment he was a man under Imperial protection, which obliges everyone who hears of it and shields him from nothing.

Two of them checked him. Kitsuki Wataru ran Traces of Passage over him and reported that he had cast nothing in the last day but had been the target of magic recently, or was still inside the effect of it. Shiba Midori saw the shape of it: a presence overshadowing him, a shadow not thrown by the man or by anything standing near him, and not malignant, nothing like a demon's weather. Bayushi Monban called a cleansing kihō, emerald snowflakes and a small wind. Asako Taishi felt better for a moment. The presence did not leave.

The road went into a copse of trees by a bridge and the copse filled with smoke.

Asako Taishi shouted that he was under the protection of the Emerald Magistrates. It was the correct thing to shout and it did nothing. Bayushi Monban called the retreat, rode the clouds up into the canopy, put on the Kuni Warden mask and threatened whatever was down there from a height. Arrows came back out of the smoke with fouling heads on them and put wounds in people without killing anyone, which is what an archer does when the order is not to kill.

Then hands came for the riders. Shiba Midori and Doji Setsuna were both taken hold of and both let go the moment they named what they were. Kakita Kazumi put himself between the smoke and Doji Setsuna and addressed the attackers formally, telling them the party was bound for the Castle of the Swift Sword and that they should hold their hands. They redoubled instead, and came out of the smoke with Asako Taishi.

Bayushi Monban came down out of the trees restating the authority they had already ignored twice. Shiba Midori set herself to guard. Kogarashi kicked and hit nothing. Bayushi Monban came off his horse and landed on his feet. Asako Taishi was still calling for the protection he had been promised, and the smoke was still in the trees, and that is where the evening stopped.

Setsuna

The ambushers released her and Shiba Midori as soon as rank was asserted, and took Asako Taishi anyway. They knew what an Emerald Magistrate was, they were unwilling to hold one, and they were willing to seize a man under a magistrate's protection in front of four of them. That is not robbery on the road. Someone told them who could be touched and who could not, and someone wanted the scholar specifically.

She and Bayushi Monban gave Asako Taishi that protection in as many words, on the road, in front of witnesses, hours before it failed. Recovering him is a matter of the Emerald Magistrates' own authority now and not a favour, and every clan on this road will read what happens next as the measure of what an Imperial promise is worth in Lion lands during a war.

The arrows were fouled and nobody was killed. Both facts are deliberate and they point the same way: whoever this was wanted the party stopped and infected, not dead.

Timeline

Escort and Investigation En Route - The group traveled toward the Castle of the Swift Sword while evaluating Asako Taishi and his possessions. Shiba Midori inspected Taishi's paperwork, identifying his stated origin and route and concluding his travel pattern suggested wandering toward Ikoma Lands; Bayushi Monban and Doji Setsuna agreed to escort him and Shiba proposed authenticating his item at the Castle. The party exchanged background information about lineage, Emerald Magistrate duties, and prior losses, and discussed spirit lore and practices. Kitsuki Wataru detected recent magical targeting, Shiba perceived a shadowing spiritual presence, Bayushi performed a Cleansing Spirit kiho that soothed but did not remove the presence, and Bayushi urged Taishi to tell Shiba Midori everything.

Riding Toward the Swift Sword - Shiba Midori, Bayushi Monban, Doji Setsuna, Kakita Kazumi, and Asako Taishi rode toward the Castle of the Swift Sword in Lion Clan lands; Taishi lagged on a small pony while trying to keep pace. Shiba Midori examined Taishi's Phoenix Clan paperwork and travel documents while riding. She determined his stated origin as due east of Morning Glory Castle with a route along the Imperial Roads to the Shrine of Durogin and into the Dragonlands, assessed his travel pattern as wandering rather than a direct journey, and noted his route trended toward the Ikoma Lands.

Dangerous Find and Escort Plan - Asako Taishi stated he possessed something dangerous and that those told had suffered misfortunes; he sought authentication before revealing it. Bayushi Monban and Doji Setsuna agreed to escort Taishi to the Castle of the Swift Sword for safe authentication. Shiba Midori proposed authenticating the item at the Castle, citing her family's arcane knowledge and the location's safety.

Lineage, Duties, and Introductions - Asako Taishi asked about Shiba Midori's Phoenix Clan lineage; Midori clarified she was Shiba by blood and raised among the Kaito and confirmed she had studied the ways of spirits. Doji Setsuna described their service as Emerald Magistrates as a righteous duty to fight the Emperor's enemies and bring them to justice; the group acknowledged missing comrades and grim experiences with death. Taishi raised the Wheel of Reincarnation and the group reacted evasively; Bayushi Monban declared they would not let Taishi out of sight and required him to show his discovery to Shiba Midori for Phoenix Clan scrutiny.

  • Phoenix Clan Oversight Proposed - Shiba Midori proposed authenticating Asako Taishi’s item at the Castle of the Swift Sword, citing its family’s arcane knowledge and safety.
  • Phoenix Clan Lineage Clarified - Asako Taishi, riding alongside, asked about Shiba Midori’s Phoenix Clan lineage; Shiba Midori clarified she was Shiba by blood and raised among the Kaito.
  • Spirit-Talking Acknowledged - Shiba Midori confirmed she had studied the ways of spirits for many years and could speak with them, sometimes successfully.
  • Magistrate Service Discussed - Doji Setsuna described their service as Emerald Magistrates as a righteous duty to fight the Emperor’s enemies and bring them to justice.
  • Fallen Comrades Mentioned - The group acknowledged mourning missing comrades and alluded to grim experiences with death and the afterlife.
  • Wheel of Reincarnation Touched - Asako Taishi raised the Wheel of Reincarnation; the group reacted evasively, indicating discomfort discussing their experiences with a stranger.
  • Vigilant Escort Declared - Bayushi Monban stated they would not let Asako Taishi out of sight and would require him to show his discovery to Shiba Midori for Phoenix Clan scrutiny.

Spirit Lore and Examples Shared - Shiba Midori explained she preferred communing with elemental spirits rather than ancestor spirits, and recounted a childhood contact with a wind spirit and an encounter with a drowned person's ghost at Float Island Harbor. She described spirit temperaments—earth spirits as calm and slow, water spirits as changeable, and fire spirits as intense—and recounted being encased in a fire spirit's flames to battle a poorly manipulated water spirit. Bayushi Monban and Shiba stated harmful spirits should be exorcised and sent on, Shiba emphasized jade and Lady Sun's purifying light, and Bayushi noted that some instigators are mortals rather than the spirits themselves.

  • Spiritual Lessons Shared - Bayushi Monban summarized lessons learned, including that the Lying One (Fu Leng), the great enemy, was closer than expected and Rokugan faced real dangers.
  • Elementals vs Ancestors - Shiba Midori explained she preferred communing with elemental spirits rather than ancestor spirits due to the latter’s human desires complicating matters.
  • First Spirit Recalled - Shiba Midori recounted childhood contact with a wind spirit (a small whirlwind) in a courtyard that revealed her true gift when it reacted to disrespect.
  • Harbor Ghost Cited - Shiba Midori referenced an unusual spirit encounter with a drowned person’s ghost at Float Island Harbor.
  • Spirit Temperaments Outlined - Shiba Midori described earth spirits as calm and slow, water spirits as changeable, and fire spirits as intense and easily distracted toward burning and destruction.
  • Fiery Protection Described - Shiba Midori recounted being encased in a fire spirit’s flames without harm to battle a poorly manipulated water spirit, crediting fortunes and Lady Sun’s blessings.
  • Spirit Justice Philosophy - Bayushi Monban and Shiba Midori stated harmful spirits should be exorcised and sent on peacefully, while the Wheel of Judgment (Emma-O) ultimately judges spirits.
  • Jade and Sun’s Light - Shiba Midori emphasized jade and the purifying light of Lady Sun as effective against impure spirits.

Investigation and Cleansing Attempt - Kitsuki Wataru applied his Traces of Passage technique to Asako Taishi and determined Taishi had not used magic in the last day but had likely been targeted by magic recently or was under an ongoing effect. Doji Setsuna noticed Taishi's nervous behavior and Shiba perceived a non-malignant spiritual presence overshadowing him. Bayushi Monban invoked the Cleansing Spirit kiho, manifesting emerald snowflakes and wind that encased and soothed Taishi; the effect did not remove the presence, which participants interpreted as indicating possession rather than an Afflicted condition, and Bayushi urged Taishi to tell Shiba Midori everything.

  • Not Always the Spirit - Bayushi Monban noted that instigators are sometimes mortals attempting to break the celestial order, not the spirits themselves.
  • Kitsuki Detection Began - Kitsuki Wataru, Dragon Clan investigator, quietly applied his school technique (Traces of Passage) to Asako Taishi while traveling.
  • Magic Trace Found - Kitsuki Wataru determined Asako Taishi had not used magic in the last day but had likely been targeted by magic recently or was under an ongoing effect.
  • Nervousness Observed - Doji Setsuna noticed Asako Taishi’s nervous behavior and sensed he was cautiously probing for help without alerting others.
  • Spiritual Shadow Identified - Shiba Midori perceived a non-malignant spiritual presence overshadowing Asako Taishi, like a shadow not cast by him or anything nearby.
  • Keho Cleansing Attempted - Bayushi Monban moved alongside Asako Taishi and invoked Cleansing Spirit (kiho), manifesting emerald snowflakes and wind that encased and soothed him.
  • Cleansing Effect Limited - Asako Taishi felt cold and amazed by the kiho; the effect did not remove the presence, implying possession rather than an Afflicted condition.

Ambush Near the Bridge Copse - The traveling group was ambushed in a small copse of trees near a bridge amid obscuring smoke, and the situation escalated into a physical confrontation. Bayushi Monban ascended into the tree canopy using Ride the Clouds, revealed his white-painted Kuni Warden Hunter visage, threatened the attackers, and was struck by fouling arrows that caused bruising fatigue; attackers rushed through the smoke attempting to grapple mounted targets. Shiba Midori and Doji Setsuna were each seized then released after being identified or addressed, Kakita Kazumi guarded Setsuna, and Setsuna delivered a formal speech prompting some restraint from attackers. Ambushers refocused and successfully grappled Asako Taishi; Bayushi descended to support, Shiba took a defensive stance, Doji's horse lashed out and Bayushi briefly lost his seat but landed on his feet, and Taishi continued pleading for Emerald Magistrate protection as the skirmish remained unresolved at session end.

Ambush Begins in Tree Copse - The group rode into a small copse of trees near a bridge when attackers began their assault and filled the area with obscuring smoke. Asako Taishi shouted he was under the protection of the Emerald Magistrates as the ambush commenced. Bayushi Monban ordered allies to fall back up the road and used the Ride the Clouds kiho to ascend into the tree canopy; he removed his mask revealing white-painted Kuni Warden Hunter visage imagery and threatened the attackers from above. Archers fired fouling-headed arrows at Bayushi, inflicting bruising fatigue rather than lethal wounds, and assailants rushed through the smoke to grapple mounted targets.

  • Confession Urged - Bayushi Monban urged Asako Taishi to tell Shiba Midori everything so they could help him properly.
  • Ambush Terrain Entered - The group rode into a small copse of trees near a bridge when an attack began, filling the area with obscuring smoke.
  • Protection Declared - Asako Taishi, terrified, shouted he was under the protection of Emerald Magistrates as the ambush commenced.
  • Ride the Clouds Used - Bayushi Monban commanded allies to fall back up the road and activated Ride the Clouds (kiho), ascending into the tree canopy on a pillar of air.
  • Mask Revealed in Tree - Bayushi Monban removed his mask, revealing white-painted Kuni Warden Hunter visage imagery (Onahime on one side, Lady of Decay on the other), and threatened the attackers from above.
  • Nonlethal Arrows Fired - Ambusher archers, samurai-armed, drew bows with fouling heads and shot Bayushi Monban in the trees, inflicting bruising fatigue rather than lethal wounds.

Grabs, Guarding, and Warning Issued - An assailant seized Shiba Midori from behind with a jitte in the smoke but released and disengaged upon realizing she was not their intended target. Another assailant seized Doji Setsuna similarly and released her and her horse's reins after her formal address asserted their mission and status. Kakita Kazumi moved protectively to guard Doji Setsuna, and Doji Setsuna delivered a formal, courteous speech invoking the Lion Lands, the Akodo Roads' blessing, and their duty to reach the Castle of the Swift Sword, prompting restraint from nearby attackers.

  • Smoke Grapples Attempted - Ambushers rushed through the obscuring smoke to grapple mounted targets, leaping onto horses with jitte to immobilize riders.
  • Midori Grabbed Then Released - An assailant seized Shiba Midori from behind with a jitte in the smoke, then released and disengaged upon realizing she was not their intended target.
  • Setsuna Grabbed Then Released - Another assailant seized Doji Setsuna similarly in the smoke but released her and her horse’s reins after her formal address asserted their mission and status.
  • Kazumi Guarded Setsuna - Kakita Kazumi, Crane duelist and yojimbo, moved protectively to guard Doji Setsuna during the ambush.

Taishi Seized and Support Response - Ambushers refocused and successfully grappled Asako Taishi amid the obscuring terrain. Bayushi Monban descended to Doji Setsuna's position and commanded the attackers to cease, reiterating their Emerald Magistrate authority; Shiba Midori regulated her strife, adopted a defensive posture, and echoed the order to stop. Doji Setsuna's warhorse lashed out but struck only air as enemies shifted; Bayushi briefly lost his seat behind Doji Setsuna's horse but landed on his feet without going prone. Asako Taishi continued pleading that he was under the Emerald Magistrates' protection as the skirmish remained unresolved at session's end.

  • Courteous Warning Issued - Doji Setsuna delivered a formal, careful speech invoking Lion Lands, the Akodo Roads’ blessing, and their duty to reach the Castle of the Swift Sword, prompting restraint from nearby attackers.
  • Target Seized in Smoke - Ambushers refocused and successfully grappled Asako Taishi amid the obscuring terrain after several failed attempts.
  • Descent to Support - Bayushi Monban descended to Doji Setsuna’s position and commanded the attackers to cease, reiterating their Emerald Magistrate authority.
  • Defensive Posture Taken - Shiba Midori regulated her strife with calming breaths, shifted to a defensive stance, went on guard, and echoed the order to stop.
  • Warhorse Kicked Out - Kogarashi, Doji Setsuna’s horse, lashed out with a forceful kick in the smoke but struck only air as enemies shifted in concealment.
  • Fall Without Prone - Bayushi Monban, briefly mounted behind Doji Setsuna, lost his seat amid the horse’s movement but landed on his feet without going prone.
  • Taishi’s Plea Repeated - Asako Taishi continued pleading that he was under the Emerald Magistrates’ protection as the skirmish remained unresolved at session’s end.

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