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[somemildmanneredidiot]

Google suggests that it's a flintlock, so we personally probably won't get much use out of it.

I'm assuming that Tsuki having the guarss dealt with includes that aspect, but if not it shouldn't be the greatest obstacle.

[vishdafish]

Yeah, only use of guns for us, is when we have a larger military force. Pretty easy to operate, so just give them to the unskilled peasants and get the foreigner to train them. Correct me if I am wrong, but I think at this time period, a skilled archer > skilled gunner.

[Pancaek]

@teppo: Correct, teppo generally means matchlock. More specifically, it refers to the imported portuguese ones and several years later the Tanegashima matchlocks during the sengoku. In our Nippon I'm skipping straight forward to flintlocks though, because of reasons.

I think it's a toss-up between skilled archers and gunners though. Even in the sengoku some samurai opted for matchlocks. The biggest upside is that you don't need to train for years to use a teppo, which made it great in the hands of large armies. Just see the battle of Oda vs Takeda cavalry. In game terms I'd say that the teppo will be slower to reload, but have more immediate stopping power at shorter ranges.

[Pancaek]

Action: Write down a message stating to this effect:
I [name here] am still alive. I have reason to believe that [traitor Scorpion name here] caused the death of [my family] while involved with Crane, Lion, and Phoniex clan members of import. If you want me to be a deniable asset in this matter, I need to meet with a representative before the banquet concludes, preferably before it begins.

Seal the message.

Give Tsuki the message and inform her that we need to know if [traitor Scorpion] has any relation of to the Daiymo as soon as possible. If he does not or such a relationship is of limited influence or importance, get the message to the Daiymo before the banquet begins. If all of the previous can be done quietly then do so, if not, time is the limiting resource at the moment. Let Tsuki know our general travel plan as follows so she can have someone meet us. Code words are in effect.

Try to recruit the NPCs and then go shopping in that order. Personnel are of more importance than gear when we have limited funds at the moment. If the meet is set up before we finish parts of this, then so be it.

Turn 18

Sayo's snackhouse

As Hideki is writing the message, he speaks to Tsuki.

"I need to have this message delivered to the daimyo, but only if Ogino Iemochi's relationship with the daimyo isn't too great. Can you do that for me?"

"Sure thing, sensei. I'll figure out how who this Ogino guy is related to and deliver your message, no problem. I'll either send someone or come myself as soon as we figure something out."

Hideki finishes the letter and folds it, handing it to Tsuki. The two of them get up and walk outside together. Tsuki heads off towards the palace, blending into the crowd in no time. Hideki heads the other way, towards the guardhouse and prison.

Nara holding cells

Hideki approaches the prison complex. It is a squat building made out of stone instead of the usual wood, with iron bars over the window holes. The guard asks Hideki to identify himself. Upon saying his given name, the guard simply nods and lets him in. Hideki is awaited by the prison warden and the man leads him towards the Nanban's cell. Once at the cell, the warden leaves Hideki alone and goes back to his post, conveniently leaving a large key on a small table nearby.

Inside of the cell, a man rouses himself from the spartan looking bedroll. He is easily a head taller than Hideki and quite muscled, and wearing some odd clothing. The man has a thin moustache that curls up at the ends and a goatee. He is overall rather handsome, in a rogueish kind of way. When he speaks his voice is low and easy to listen to and to Hideki's surprise he speaks Nipponese rather fluently, though heavily accented.

"And who might that be, standing in front my cell?"

"I am Hideki Nagayoshi. I am looking for people of skill to help me on my quest. Who are you, Nanban?"

"Tsk Tsk, mister Nagayoshi. Nanban is such a cruel word. It means Southern Barbarian, did you know that? Well, I am neither from the South, nor am I a barbarian."

He takes a bow, flourishing his tricorne dramatically.

"Edward Waverly Blakestone is the name. Former captain of the Angelica, merchant and entrepeneur, one-time rover of the high-seas and interpreter to the wonderful Mantis Clan. Lately, however, turned to petty theft and other naughtiness."

He stands back up and puts his tricorne back on. He winks at Hideki.

"But you, my friend, may call me Jolly Ed. Now tell me, what is the reason a man such as you comes to visit little old me? You mentioned a quest?"

"I am on a mission to avenge my clan. It will involve many hardships, danger and mortal combat."

Ed claps his hands together and the biggest smile is plastered on his face.

"Oh my! Avenging loved ones, mortal danger! My good ronin, your quest has all the hallmarks of a good adventure. Oh, it has been so long since I've done anything dangerous. Interpreting for the Mantis's paid allright, for sure, but there was no thrill, no excitement! And most of all, danger equals profit!"

He takes off his tricorne again and holds it over his heart, and raises his free hand in the air.

"I, Edward Waverly Blakestone, hereby pledge that I will aid you in your endeavors, on the sole condition that when it is over or when you perish, I get to skedaddle with the riches we will no doubt pick up. That is, of course, if you'd be so kind as to get me out of this cell."

Well, that was easier than expected. Hideki opens the man's cell with the key. On their way out, Ed collects his belongings as Hideki waits outside. When Ed comes out, he has two flintlock pistols hanging from a bandoleer and has a cutlass hanging from his belt.

"Can you believe that? They somehow managed to lose my shortbow! How do you even lose a shortbow in a small building like that?! Unbelievable. Oh my, cutie at your six o' clock.

Hideki looks behind him to see one of Tsuki's subordinates coming towards him. The woman stops, gives Ed a sideways glance, and then hands Hideki a letter.

"Mother sends you a letter. She also says that she has not heard of uncle, and that she has no contact with that branch of the family."

The woman leaves. So, the daimyo doesn't have strong ties with Ogino. That's good. Hideki opens the letter and reads.

"Come to the palace before sunrise. We must discuss things."

The letter is not signed, but bears a seal with the imagery of two magpies sitting on a bamboo branch. The seal of the daimyo's personal clan.

Next to Hideki, Ed is watching the woman as she goes back towards the city.

"Yeah, I'm already liking the decision to follow you."

[somemildmanneredidiot]

Perfect! We're either REALLY screwed or things are going fantastically well! Tsuki was either successful and we lucked out or she's been compromised and we're about to walk into an ambush. Either way this is going to be entertaining. (This is my reasonable paranoia talking. I've let it run a bit freely for this game because it seems to fit the character.)

I like this Nanban, he recognizes an opportunity when he sees one and he's a romantic. Perfect for color commentary.

Can we get a price quote on getting him a replacement short bow, arrows, as well as additional powder and ball? Presuming that Jolly Ed knows where he'd get a fair price on such things.

How much time do have before sunrise? I'd like to attempt recruiting the Spider Clan brawler if we have time (with the idea being that we have at least 3-5 hours before sunrise after the meet), but that can wait until after the meet if need be.

[Pancaek]

Perfect! We're either REALLY screwed or things are going fantastically well! Tsuki was either successful and we lucked out or she's been compromised and we're about to walk into an ambush. Either way this is going to be entertaining. (This is my reasonable paranoia talking. I've let it run a bit freely for this game because it seems to fit the character.)

I like this Nanban, he recognizes an opportunity when he sees one and he's a romantic. Perfect for color commentary.

Can we get a price quote on getting him a replacement short bow, arrows, as well as additional powder and ball? Presuming that Jolly Ed knows where he'd get a fair price on such things.

How much time do have before sunrise? I'd like to attempt recruiting the Spider Clan brawler if we have time (with the idea being that we have at least 3-5 hours before sunrise after the meet), but that can wait until after the meet if need be.

Let's say 6 silver for the average shortbow, 10 copper per arrow and 20 copper per powder+ball combo.

Sunrise is still about 6-5 hours off and the docks aren't that far. So you've got enough time to go to the bar where the spider clan brawler hangs out, loop around to Matsudaira's shop to grab some supplies and then hurry over to the palace. Don't worry, I'm not keeping a strict "every turn is X amount of time", but you're probably not going to be able to fit another stop in there.

[somemildmanneredidiot]

Sounds perfect. What funds do we have again?

Action: Swing by the bar where the Spider is known to hang. Ask to hear more of Jolly Ed's story along the way.

[vishdafish]

Sounds perfect. What funds do we have again?

Action: Swing by the bar where the Spider is known to hang. Ask to hear more of Jolly Ed's story along the way.

+1, right now we have 9 silver and 20 copper mon. Its on the first page.

[somemildmanneredidiot]

I was entirely unaware of that section, thank you!

[Pancaek]

Sounds perfect. What funds do we have again?

Action: Swing by the bar where the Spider is known to hang. Ask to hear more of Jolly Ed's story along the way.

Turn 19

Nara, docks district

Hideki and Ed walk towards the bar, conversing along the way. without much prodding being needed at all, Ed begins to tell Hideki about how he came to be here.

"So there I was, aye? A succesfull privateer, wooing the ladies and taking riches whereever I could find them. Oh, those were the good days. But alas, the man started cracking down on people in my kind of work. Dirty pirates, they called us."

"But weren't you a pirate?"

"No! And I certainly wasn't dirty! Look, the line between pirate and privateer is a bit hard to see, I agree. But unlike a die hard pirate we tended not to execute any crew of the vessel we robbed. And hell, sometimes we just worked for traders, protecting their ships. Why, yours truly didn't even rob a single ship in the two years before coming here, because the mercenary work was so good."

"How did that happen, anyway? You were just getting to that part."

"Well, you see, the man in charge of that part of the seas began sending out pirate hunters. Fate was not kind to this dashing rogue, and he got caught right when he was visiting a seamstress when he was in port. The bastards didn't even let her finish sewing his shirt buttons. Anyway, the man came with an ultimatum. They clapped my crew in irons and tooks what cargo we had. Then they calculated what damages I had caused, and I had one year to come up with that sum of money. If I did, all I had to do was hand it over and I recieve a full pardon."

"Ah. So that is what you are here for? To find enough treasure to recieve your pardon?"

"What? Of course not, don't be silly. I came here to find enough treasure to raise a privateer fleet, break my lads out of jail and burn that basterd governor's port to the ground. It all fell apart a bit, literally so even,  when we got caught in that reef which tore up the boat. But that is but a minor setback in the grand scheme of things, wouldn't you agree?"

At this point, they came at the bar in question. They are just about to go in when a rather bulky looking fellow comes crashing through the rice paper door. A second man stumbles out, holdings his nose as blood seeps out from under his fingers. Both run away as fast as they can. From the borken door, a woman emerges. She is rather small, half a head smaller than Hideki and almost two heads smaller than Ed. She is wearing simple clothes made from a dark brown fabric, with a cloak, a big straw hat like an upside down bowl that droops until just below her eyes and a red scarf that hides her mouth and nots. Her hair is probably short, because none of it sticks out from under the straw hat. She is carrying a wooden bo staff and a bottle of sake.

"Well, I guess that's the one you're looking for. I'm not entirely sure what a small woman with a stick could do to help us."

Hideki approaches her.

"Greetings, my name is Hideki Nagayoshi. I seek skilled warriors to help me in my quest for vengeance."

She quickly pulls down the scarf, swigs some sake and pulls the scarf back up. She regards Hideki in a relaxed way, either not on her guard or just very good at not showing it.

"I am Otsu, of the Spider Clan. Why would I give up my days of brawling and drinking sake to help you? Do you always just come up to people and ask them to join you on some kind of quest?"


Ed leans in and says in a low voice: "She does kind of have a point. Also, did you catch a glimpse of her face? She sounds cute, but Icouldn't catch a glimpse of her face."

What will Hideki do to convince her?

Spoiler: NOTE (click to show/hide)

Sorry about no update for a few days. Got busy and didn't feel well yesterday.

If you want Hideki to speak, you can either typse what you want him say OR put into an action what elements should be included in what he says and I'll make up the actual text. Choice is yours.

I'll try my best to do an update tomorrow as well.

[NRDL]

"Because the odds of us landing in a brawl as we go on our way are more than likely.  Don't you want to fight better opponents, for actual coin?"

[vishdafish]

"If sake and brawling is all you wish for in this life of yours, then stay, and rot here, forever forgotten among the countless nobodies. But, if you want to be part of something greater, then join me! I shall kill all those who wronged me, and tear down this rotten country! Join me, and together, we shall be the fire that burns the withered forest and, out of the ashes, a new forest shall sprout, teeming with greenery and life. Join me, and be forever immortalised in the annals of history!"

((Maybe a bit OTT??))

[Wolfhunter107]

Yeah, that's a bit much.

[vishdafish]

"Because the odds of us landing in a brawl as we go on our way are more than likely.  Don't you want to fight better opponents, for actual coin?"

+1 then, she seems pretty casual anyways

[somemildmanneredidiot]

"Because the odds of us landing in a brawl as we go on our way are more than likely.  Don't you want to fight better opponents, for actual coin?"

+1 then, she seems pretty casual anyways

+1 and "The ways we intend to go are most likely to be filled with sake of all walks of life as well. There are surely drinks you've dreamt of tasting, no?"

I quite like the reveal for Otsu and how the rumors went. A staff user will definitely be of use here.