Shadows Over the Rich Frog

Timeline

Relocation and Early Inquiry - Governor Miya Tetsuya secretly relocated his niece Miya Misato within the castle after multiple shinobi attacks. An emissary had requested an honor guard and three shinobi attacks were reported during that period. Two Crane were confined by the Emerald Magistrates amid accusations, and Doji Setsuna was briefed on the niece’s relocation. The group debated escort options and Ikoma Tadayoshi drafted a petition proposing an escort west and offering himself as bodyguard.

Niece relocated; investigations - Governor Miya Tetsuya had Miya Misato moved secretly within the castle after multiple shinobi attacks. An emissary had left two days earlier seeking an honor guard while three shinobi attacks occurred, and two Crane were confined by the Emerald Magistrates; Doji Setsuna was informed of the niece’s relocation.

• Governor’s Niece Relocated - Governor Miya Tetsuya, governor of the City Of The Rich Frog and kinsman to the Imperial Herald, had Miya Misato, his niece, secretly relocated within the castle after multiple shinobi attacks.
• Honor Guard En Route - An emissary had departed two days prior to request an honor guard from the Miya estates in Unicorn Lands, during which three shinobi attacks reportedly occurred.
• Crane Suspects Confined - Two Crane were confined to quarters by order of the Emerald Magistrates after accusations (the court also noted Daidoji Shin was investigating).
• Setsuna Briefed on Relocation - Shiba Midori informed Doji Setsuna that Miya Misato had been moved and was not present at recent incidents.

Escort proposal drafted - The group discussed leaving soon and concerns about pace and unity with a palanquin available. Ikoma Tadayoshi offered to petition Governor Miya Tetsuya to allow a westward escort to draw out attackers, offered himself as bodyguard, and drafted a letter proposing the plan.

• Escort Debate Renewed - The group discussed leaving soon; a palanquin was available for Doji Setsuna’s travel, but pace and unity were concerns.
• Tadayoshi Courtyard Gossip - Ikoma Tadayoshi, a court poet and musician, noted court gossip about the niece on an imperial mission to the Lion–Unicorn front and the lack of imperial banners or entourage.
• Setsuna Consults Tadayoshi - Doji Setsuna spoke with Ikoma Tadayoshi, asserting Emerald Magistrate neutrality and hoping local partners (including Daidoji Shin) would bring evidence to light.
• Tadayoshi’s Offer to Petition - Ikoma Tadayoshi offered to petition Governor Miya Tetsuya to let the group escort Miya Misato west to draw out attackers, and offered himself as bodyguard.
• Petition Letter Prepared - Ikoma Tadayoshi drafted a letter to the governor proposing the westward escort plan and his service as Miya Misato’s bodyguard.

Search and Protective Measures - Doji Setsuna and allies pursued access to Miya Misato and implemented protective measures while court activity continued. Shiba Midori observed aftermath from a tea and noted Bayushi Monban’s distress and plans for spirit containment. Doji Setsuna procured a carrying chair, persuaded guards to admit her, discovered a false imitation behind a door, and gained entry to Miya Misato’s guarded room to attend her. Ikoma Tadayoshi circulated rumors, spotted a potential Lion escort, and secured a private audience with Governor Miya Tetsuya who assigned watch duties and approved joining the Lion contingent.

Tea aftermath and spirit concern - Shiba Midori observed Governor Miya Tetsuya withdrawing quickly after the tea and noticed Bayushi Monban behaving with possession-like anxiety near garden water features. Bayushi Monban described a plan to set a barrier by the courtyard pond, draw the spirit out, and trap it in boxes; Shiba Midori confirmed prior boxes would not work and new boxes plus shugenja assistance were required, while Kakita Kazumi was unavailable to answer questions.

• Tea Aftermath Observed - Shiba Midori noticed Governor Miya Tetsuya withdrew quickly after the tea; Tombokuma briefly met a Iuchi Rua in passing before they separated.
• Monban’s Distress Noted - Shiba Midori observed Bayushi Monban, a Scorpion bushi, sweating and fidgeting unnaturally, showing signs of possession anxiety near garden water features.
• Spirit Containment Plan Revisited - Bayushi Monban told Shiba Midori he intended to repeat the previous containment—set up a barrier by the courtyard pond, draw the spirit out, and trap it in boxes.
• Need for New Boxes - Shiba Midori confirmed the prior boxes would no longer work and that new Meishōdō crafted boxes and shugenja assistance (e.g., Asahina now, a Crane shugenja) were required.
• Kazumi Unavailable - Kakita Kazumi had retreated to his room and could not answer questions about prior box preparations.

Setsuna locates Miya Misato - Doji Setsuna analyzed likely hiding places and procured a carrying chair with two servants. She persuaded ronin guards to admit her, detected a false falsetto imitation behind a door and a young woman linked to Governor Miya Tetsuya, then closed that deception and proceeded to the niece’s actual location, gaining access to the guarded room and beginning to read to and coach Miya Misato.

• Setsuna Seeks the Niece - Doji Setsuna analyzed likely hiding places (governor’s upper residential levels) and procured a carrying chair with two servants (Ryu and So).
• Guards Yield to Command - Doji Setsuna persuaded ronin guards at the Governor’s residence to admit her despite “no visitors” security orders.
• False Voice Detected - On the third level, Doji Setsuna heard a poor falsetto imitation of Miya Misato’s voice behind a door and discovered a young woman in mild dishabille linked to Governor Miya Tetsuya, not his wife or niece.
• Setsuna Withdraws and Proceeds - Doji Setsuna closed the door on the deception and continued toward the niece’s actual location.
• Entry to Niece Secured - Doji Setsuna leveraged the governor’s authority to reach the guarded room where Miya Misato was hidden and gained access.
• Setsuna Attends Miya Misato - Doji Setsuna entered Miya Misato’s room, had a bench fetched, and began reading to and coaching her.

Tadayoshi’s observations and audience - Ikoma Tadayoshi played flute in the garden while circulating rumors that the Crane plotted against the Miya and noted servants exiting with Doji Setsuna’s chair. He learned an unusual contingent of Lion Clan would pass nearby, then received a private audience with Governor Miya Tetsuya to discuss escorting Miya Misato and was tasked to watch the Emerald Magistrates and remain close guard.

• Flute and Rumors - Ikoma Tadayoshi played flute in the garden and discreetly circulated rumors that Crane plotted against the Miya while noting a servant team with Doji Setsuna’s chair exiting the governor’s area.
• Lion Allies Spotted - Ikoma Tadayoshi learned from Ikoma Yukio and matsu Ceci that an unusual contingent of Lion Clan would pass nearby en route to the front, a potential escort opportunity.
• Private Audience Granted - Governor Miya Tetsuya received Ikoma Tadayoshi in a private audience and discussed escorting Miya Misato to the Lion and Unicorn camps to broker imperial peace.
• Watch the Magistrates - Governor Miya Tetsuya tasked Ikoma Tadayoshi to watch the Emerald Magistrates to ensure they were not endangering Miya Misato and to remain her close guard morning, noon, and night.

Route, demands, and access - Governor Miya Tetsuya approved joining the Lion Clan to reach the main Lion Camp and asked Ikoma Tadayoshi to rally the Emerald Magistrates to depart soon. The governor noted likely hard Lion demands referencing Shinjo Altansarnai’s prior refusal, and Ikoma Tadayoshi reported that no Emerald Magistrates had entered the governor’s quarters though he saw servants leaving.

• Route via Lion Contingent - Governor Miya Tetsuya approved joining the Lion Clan to reach the main Lion Camp and asked Ikoma Tadayoshi to rally the Emerald Magistrates to depart soon.
• Truce Terms Anticipated - Governor Miya Tetsuya noted likely hard Lion demands and referenced Shinjo Altansarnai’s prior refusal; a treaty or alternative marriage might be pressed by the Lion.
• Castle Entry Denied - Governor Miya Tetsuya asked if any Emerald Magistrates had entered his quarters; Ikoma Tadayoshi reported none had, though he saw servants leaving.

Spirit Containment and Departure Plans - The group worked through the spirit possession of Bayushi Monban, debated containment versus release, and coordinated plans for departure while encountering logistical obstacles. Court members discussed options during a go game, and Asahina now warned against moving the spirit into a trained warrior. Bayushi Monban manifested physical signs of possession, agreed to remain temporarily if taken away from water, and coordinated a swift departure with Shiba Midori. Retainers could not leave, island exit was prohibited at night, a haiku was sent to Setsuna, an escort plan for Miya Misato was announced, the party split responsibilities, and departure preparations were set for morning with follow-up steps for assembling the Emerald Magistrates.

Debate over containment vs release - Ikoma Tadayoshi observed Iuchi Rua leaving the governor’s area and Shiba Midori checked on Kitsuko Ayoko’s recovery. Shiba Midori consulted Asahina now and Tombokuma during a go game; Asahina criticized moving the spirit into a warrior and urged entrapment and safe burial while Tombokuma favored release and taking the spirit far west, prompting Shiba Midori to weigh both options.

• Iuchi Rua Sighted - Ikoma Tadayoshi observed Iuchi Rua, betrothed to Tombokuma, leaving the governor’s area in slight disarray, implying an intimate entanglement.
• Kitsuko Ayoko Checked - Shiba Midori checked on Kitsuko Ayoko, who was recovering from a head strike and did not require shugenja intervention.
• Go Game Consultation - Shiba Midori found Asahina now playing go with Tombokuma and solicited advice on the Fire Spirit possessing Bayushi Monban.
• Shugenja’s Critique - Asahina now criticized moving the spirit into a trained warrior and warned of the increased danger, while Tombokuma favored release rather than long imprisonment.
• Containment vs. Release Debate - Asahina now urged entrapment and safe burial; Tombokuma argued for taking the spirit far west and freeing it; Shiba Midori weighed both options.

Spirit’s terms and agreement - Bayushi Monban exhibited smoke from mouth and ears and struggled with the spirit’s impulse to flee water. Doji Setsuna overheard parts of negotiations through paper walls; Shiba Midori pledged to take the spirit west to the Burning Sands, and the spirit agreed to remain within Bayushi Monban temporarily if immediately taken away from water and released beyond the last large river north of the mountains near a Fortune shrine and past the Border Waystation; Bayushi Monban then regained composure and coordinated departure.

• Possession Manifests Physically - Bayushi Monban exhibited gouts of smoke from mouth and ears and struggled with the spirit’s impulse to flee the water-laden castle grounds.
• Eavesdropping Through Paper Walls - Doji Setsuna overheard parts of Shiba Midori and Bayushi Monban’s heated negotiation with the spirit through thin interior walls.
• Midori’s Oath to Release - Shiba Midori pledged to take the spirit west to the Burning Sands and free it away from Rokugan.
• Spirit’s Conditional Acceptance - The Fire Spirit agreed to remain within Bayushi Monban temporarily if immediately taken away from water, with release beyond the last large river north of the mountains, near a shrine to a Fortune and past the Border Waystation.
• Monban Regained Composure - Bayushi Monban briefly regained control (reduced strife) and coordinated with Shiba Midori to depart swiftly after informing allies.

Night constraints and messages - Bayushi Monban attempted to retrieve Ryu and So but they could not leave their post; ronin guards cited the governor’s order that no one leave the island that night. A major-domo said the governor had retired and would grant audience in the morning, servants were dismissed to return in the morning, and Shiba Midori sent a pointed haiku to Doji Setsuna before withdrawing.

• Retainers Unavailable - Bayushi Monban attempted to retrieve Ryu and So from outside the governor’s chambers; they were waiting for Doji Setsuna and could not leave their post.
• Exit Orders Blocked - Ronin guards relayed Governor Miya Tetsuya’s standing order that no one leave the island that night, preventing immediate departure.
• Governor Unavailable at Night - A major-domo informed Shiba Midori and Bayushi Monban that Governor Miya Tetsuya had retired and would grant audience in the morning.
• Servants Dismissed to Retire - A castle servant told Ryu and So to retire and return in the morning, confirming that Doji Setsuna was inside despite guards’ earlier denials.
• Haiku Message Delivered - Shiba Midori sent a pointed haiku to Doji Setsuna highlighting the discrepancy between appearance and acknowledgment, then withdrew.

Escort announced; departures planned - Bayushi Monban learned from Ikoma Tadayoshi that the governor had authorized departure in a few days to escort Miya Misato, likely joining the Lion Clan, and agreed that Shiba Midori and Bayushi Monban would handle the spirit matter and might be a week or more behind. Doji Setsuna kept vigil with Miya Misato through the night while Ikoma Tadayoshi planned to assemble the Emerald Magistrates to depart with Miya Misato and Bayushi Monban and Shiba Midori planned to secure horses and leave in the morning toward the Burning Sands.

• Escort Plan Announced - Bayushi Monban encountered Ikoma Tadayoshi in the corridor and learned the governor had authorized departure in a few days to escort Miya Misato into Unicorn Lands, likely joining the Lion Clan.
• Party Split Agreed - Bayushi Monban informed Ikoma Tadayoshi that Shiba Midori and he would handle a dangerous spirit matter and might be a week or more behind; Ikoma Tadayoshi would proceed with Miya Misato.
• Setsuna’s Night Vigil - Doji Setsuna remained with Miya Misato through the night, coaching her in diplomatic argument and honor-preserving rhetoric.
• Morning Departure Intended - Bayushi Monban and Shiba Midori agreed to wait until morning to secure horses and depart west toward the Burning Sands to fulfill the release agreement safely.
• Next Steps for Others - Ikoma Tadayoshi planned to assemble the Emerald Magistrates to depart with Miya Misato; the fate of the confined Crane suspects remained pending.