Curios and Hidden Threats

Timeline

Evening Plans and Shin Confrontation - The group agreed to visit a Curio Shop near closing and to defer a Tongbo Temple visit until the next day, noting they would formally introduce themselves to the city’s governor the following day. Outside the teahouse an official-looking samurai confronted the group about being new to the city; Doji Setsuna recognized him as Daidoji Shin, a Crane agent hunting rogue shugenja and social threats. Daidoji Shin stated he had sworn to find the shugenja who stirred spirits to cause the Crane Lands tsunami, suggested a Mantis suspect, named Miya Tetsuya as governor and said appointments were required to meet him, and offered warnings and leads about districts and suppliers. The interaction included Shin delaying a requested write-up, flirting and barbed banter, recognition of Bayushi Monban, and parting invitations and warnings.

Plans for Evening and Governor - Doji Setsuna, Shiba Midori, Bayushi Monban, and Kakita Kazumi agreed to visit a Curio Shop near closing and deferred the Tongbo Temple visit until the next day. The group noted they would formally introduce themselves to the city’s governor the next day.

• Plans For Evening - Doji Setsuna, Shiba Midori, Bayushi Monban, and Kakita Kazumi agreed to visit a Curio Shop near closing and defer a visit to the Tongbo Temple until the next day in the City Of The Rich Frog.
• Governor Introduction Planned - The group noted they would formally introduce themselves to the city’s governor the next day.

Daidoji Shin's Investigation and Warnings - Outside the teahouse an official-looking samurai confronted the group and was identified as Daidoji Shin, who said he had vowed to find the shugenja responsible for stirring spirits that caused the Crane Lands tsunami and suspected a Mantis. Shin named Miya Tetsuya as the governor and implied appointments were required to meet him, advised avoiding the Dragon District, suggested suppliers might be in the Unicorn District, promised a write-up the next day, congratulated and flirted with members of the group, recognized Bayushi Monban by reputation, and issued parting invitations before leaving.

• Official Approaches Party - Outside the teahouse, an official-looking samurai confronted the group about being new to the city.
• Daidoji Shin Identified - Doji Setsuna recognized Daidoji Shin, a Crane agent of Doji Uji who hunts rogue shugenja and social threats, as the official addressing them.
• Shin’s Tsunami Vow - Daidoji Shin stated he had sworn to find the shugenja who stirred spirits to cause the Crane Lands tsunami, adding he suspected a Mantis.
• Governor Named And Access - Daidoji Shin mentioned “Miya Tetsuya” as the governor of the City Of The Rich Frog and implied appointments on the island were required to meet him.
• Dragon District Warning - Daidoji Shin advised avoiding the Dragon District due to too many “Katsuki” pursuing the same illicit-magic trail.
• Unicorn District Lead - Daidoji Shin suggested suppliers were in the Unicorn District but believed dealers operated elsewhere in the city.
• Write-Up Requested - Doji Setsuna requested a commercial situation write-up; Daidoji Shin promised delivery the next day on his schedule, attempting to delay her timeline.
• Shin Congratulates And Flirts - Daidoji Shin congratulated Doji Setsuna on becoming an Emerald Magistrate, then turned to overtly flirt with Shiba Midori, remarking on her as a practicing shugenja and hinting about “elemental lord’s students.”
• Provocative Banter - Daidoji Shin needled Doji Setsuna about being a “peace cow with the Unicorn,” and Doji Setsuna coyly referenced “Hanano Ame” novels in reply.
• Monban Recognized - Daidoji Shin identified Bayushi Monban by reputation, trading barbs, and presented his long-suffering bodyguard (unnamed), whose demeanor suggested exasperation.
• Parting Invitations - Daidoji Shin advised sending “reprobate” Kakita Kazumi to The Docks if needed, invited Shiba Midori for tea at his house, and left; his bodyguard mouthed an apologetic “I’m sorry” behind his back.

Curio Visit and Tailing Encounter - At dusk the group took the last ferry to the Unicorn side and located a small Curio Shop off the wharf where an elderly proprietor welcomed them. While inside and around the shop they noticed a samurai-like tailing figure; Kakita Kazumi climbed to a rooftop to observe while Bayushi Monban guarded the entrance. Inside the shop the group examined Gaijin and Rokugani curios, were offered a silver necklace, and discussed acquiring spiritually active items; the proprietor grew cautious and shifted to displaying steppe-themed items after Doji Setsuna asked for something to ease Shinjo Harunobu’s spiritual burdens and Shiba Midori signaled interest in meishodo-like objects. A confrontation staged by Shiba Midori led the proprietor to admit the tail outside was a local police officer and to produce receipts; the group secured the paperwork, found a buyer’s chop matching the pen name "Hanano Ame" tied to a talisman said to contain a wild Burning Sands spirit, obtained contact information for a Fox Clan seller hidden in a purchased tassel, and then confronted the tailing ronin outside—Bayushi Monban showed his Emerald Magistrate badge, Kakita Kazumi trapped the ronin from above, the ronin bowed and withdrew, and the proprietor shuttered his shop while the group exited.

Ferry and Shop Arrival - The party caught the last ferry to the Unicorn side at dusk and found a small, drape-darkened Curio Shop off the wharf where an elderly proprietor welcomed them. Kakita Kazumi, Bayushi Monban, and Shiba Midori noticed a poorly shadowing samurai-like tail outside; Kakita climbed to a rooftop to watch while Bayushi lingered near the entrance.

• Ferry To Unicorn Side - The group caught the last ferry across the river to the Unicorn side at dusk as many shops were closing.
• Curio Shop Found - They located a small, drape-darkened Curio Shop off the bustling wharf, packed with strange antiques; an elderly proprietor with a long white beard welcomed them.
• Tail Spotted Outside - Kakita Kazumi, Bayushi Monban, and Shiba Midori noticed a samurai-like tail—wearing two swords, no clan colors, ill-fitting straw hat—shadowing them poorly and bearing a symbol tied to an employer seen earlier.
• Rooftop Overwatch - Kakita Kazumi climbed to a rooftop to watch the tail while Bayushi Monban lingered near the entrance to guard the others.

Curios and Spiritual Inquiry - Inside the shop Doji Setsuna and Shiba Midori observed many Gaijin artifacts mixed with Rokugani curios and were shown an elegant tea set and a silver necklace. Doji Setsuna asked for an item to ease Shinjo Harunobu’s spiritual burdens, the proprietor grew cautious and shifted to steppe-themed goods, and Shiba Midori clarified she sought meishodo-like spiritual objects rather than mere mementos.

• Gaijin Goods Noted - Inside, Doji Setsuna and Shiba Midori observed many Gaijin artifacts intermingled with Rokugani curios, including an elegant, older tea set prominently displayed.
• Necklace Offered - The Shopkeeper presented a silver necklace with an unusual, non-Rokugani locket design as a courtly adornment.
• Help For Shinjo Harunobu - Doji Setsuna asked for an item to ease the spiritual burdens of Shinjo Harunobu, describing his upbringing on the Great Plains and signaling interest in something “spiritually active.”
• Shopkeeper Grows Cautious - The proprietor’s demeanor tightened; he shifted to showing steppe-themed curios—saddle charms, stirrup ornaments, and mane trinkets—while avoiding overtly spiritual items.
• Meishodo Interest Signaled - Shiba Midori clarified using a colloquial, childlike term (“small friends”) to indicate interest in meishodo-like spiritual objects rather than mere mementos.

Receipts, Hanano Ame Trace - Doji Setsuna proposed an indemnifying writ to cover the proprietor’s past entanglements; Shiba Midori then provoked the proprietor, who admitted the tail outside was a local police officer and hurriedly produced receipts and paperwork. Doji Setsuna took custody of the documents, discovered a buyer’s chop matching the pen name "Hanano Ame" linked to a talisman said to contain a wild spirit from the Burning Sands, learned the proprietor had acquired the item from a Fox Clan Samurai and provided an inn address for contact, and the group purchased an ornate saddle tassel at an inflated price with the proprietor concealing the contact details inside the box.

• Indemnity Offered - Doji Setsuna proposed an indemnifying writ from her office to cover The Shopkeeper’s past entanglements if he cooperated; he hinted such information merited more compensation than indemnity alone.
• Outrage As Leverage - Shiba Midori launched into a heated performance accusing The Shopkeeper of arranging their being followed, provoking him into a rash response.
• Tail Admitted As Police - The Shopkeeper blurted that the tail outside was a local police officer following the judge, then hurriedly produced receipts and paperwork.
• Receipts Secured - Doji Setsuna pressed to take custody of the paperwork before authorities arrived; the proprietor handed over the documents.
• Hanano Ame Chop - Among the receipts, a buyer’s chop matched the pen name “Hanano Ame,” linked to a purchase of a talisman said to contain a wild spirit from the Burning Sands.
• Fox Clan Seller Identified - The Shopkeeper said he acquired the item from a Fox Clan Samurai (name forgotten) and sold it to the buyer using the Hanano Ame chop; he provided the inn address where the Fox Clan seller could be contacted.
• Inflated Tassel Transaction - To compensate him, the group purchased an ornate saddle tassel at an inflated price; The Shopkeeper concealed the contact details within the box; Doji Setsuna arranged to charge the expense to her office.

Confrontation with Tailing Ronin Guard - Outside the shop Bayushi Monban confronted the tailing ronin and displayed his Emerald Magistrate badge while Kakita Kazumi dropped from the rooftop behind the ronin, hemming him in. The two urged the ronin to keep the matter quiet; the ronin bowed, said he would inform his superior of the Emerald Magistrates’ presence, and discreetly withdrew, after which The Shopkeeper shuttered his shop and the group warned him to be careful and assured him cooperation would protect him.

• Badge Shown To Tail - Outside, Bayushi Monban confronted the tailing ronin officer and displayed his Emerald Magistrate badge.
• Kazumi’s Pincer Maneuver - Kakita Kazumi dropped from the rooftop behind the ronin, hemming him in, and the two urged him to keep the matter quiet.
• Ronin Withdraws - The ronin officer bowed, stated he would inform his superior of the Emerald Magistrates’ presence, and discreetly withdrew.
• Shop Closed Under Watch - The Shopkeeper shuttered his shop as the group exited; Bayushi Monban warned him to be careful, and Doji Setsuna assured him that cooperation would protect him.

Dumpling Debrief and Future Plans - The party moved to a dumpling shop to review the receipts and handling instructions in safety. They reviewed talisman mechanics, concluded the released spirit could not be returned to the original talisman and would need to be subdued and sealed into a new vessel, discarded using the purchased saddle tassel as a vessel, and discussed the ethics of coercive meishodo-style bindings versus Phoenix cooperative rites. The group considered consulting local kami but noted city spiritual disruptions and political tensions between the Elemental Council and the Unicorn could complicate such consultations, reaffirmed plans to visit the Tongbo Temple and introduce themselves to the governor the next day, and resolved to investigate the Unicorn District docks that night despite warnings about ongoing police operations.

Dumpling Shop Technical Debrief - The party relocated to a dumpling shop to review the receipts and instructions in safety. Shiba Midori decoded handling instructions indicating a bound spirit, once released, cannot be reused and must be subdued and resealed into a new vessel; the group discarded the purchased saddle tassel as purely decorative and discussed the ethics of the binding methods described.

• Dumpling Debrief - The party relocated to a dumpling shop to review the receipts and instructions in safety.
• Talisman Mechanics Reviewed - Shiba Midori decoded handling instructions indicating that once a bound spirit is released, the original talisman cannot be reused; the spirit must be subdued and resealed into a new vessel.
• Replacement Vessel Needed - The group concluded they would need to acquire an appropriate new vessel; they discarded using the purchased saddle tassel as it was purely decorative.
• Ethics Of Binding - Shiba Midori contrasted the coercive, non-consensual meishodo-style binding described with Phoenix Clan cooperative rites, condemning the method as contrary to their practice.

Kami, Politics, and Docks Decision - They considered consulting local kami about any released spirit but noted the city’s spiritual disruptions and political tensions between the Elemental Council and the Unicorn could complicate matters. The group observed the buyer’s details were vague while the Fox Clan seller’s address was explicit, reaffirmed plans to visit the Tongbo Temple and formally introduce themselves to the governor the next day, and resolved to investigate the Unicorn District docks that night despite warnings to avoid ongoing police operations.

• Kami And Politics - They considered consulting local kami about any released spirit but noted the city’s spiritual disruptions and political tensions between the Elemental Council and the Unicorn could complicate matters.
• Buyer Vague, Seller Clear - The buyer’s details were deliberately vague beyond the Hanano Ame chop, whereas the Fox Clan seller’s contact address was explicit.
• Next-Day Agenda - The group reaffirmed plans to visit the Tongbo Temple and make formal introductions to the governor the following day.
• Docks Despite Warnings - Despite warnings from Daidoji Shin and others to avoid ongoing police operations at the Unicorn District docks, the group resolved to investigate The Docks that night as Emerald Magistrates.