Inspecting the Paper

[Toritaka Sasaiko]

Sasaiko nods and looks about...

(Investigation 14; what do I get here?)

[Vutall]

After some time, with the help of Sasaiko, the three students are able to check the entirety of the dojo, finding a few more holes in the different barrack, forge, and kitchen areas.

[Toritaka Sasaiko]

At one such, Sasaiko asks "Which wards are you using on these?"

[Kaiu Aiichiro]

He helped, mostly on silence, not mastering the subject the two were talking about.

[Kuni Yotsuo]

"No wards. The danger comes from the opening itself. The gaki exists in the border between it's realm and Ningen-do and it can only look through the holes. Fixing the holes should cause it to move on. I'm not aware of anyone ever defeating or even fighting a Mokumokuren. Just fixing the holes and forcing it to leave," he replies as they continue their work.

[Toritaka Sasaiko]

Sasaiko, upon hearing the words, racks her memory for information on the named spirit (Lore: Spirits 15)...

[Vutall]

Sasaiko can recall learning about a strange spirit from Gaki-Do called a mokumokuren. In fact, the Toritaka seem to treat the spirit as a quite serious threat, where much of the empire thinks them to only be legends. The create has no true form, and is a st of eyes that appears in shoji screens, feeding on those who are too careless to avert their gaze. It can be defeated simply by patching the holes.

[Toritaka Sasaiko]

Sasaiko nods.

"Patches will do well enough in the interim. I imagine there will be panels replaced entirely, however, and I can guess that the students may be put to such tasks."

She considers.

"Of course, it might be that some enterprising students could get ahead on such a task and be rewarded for their initiative. Were they thus ambitious and skilled."

[Kaiu Aiichiro]

"We are doing this more because it is necessary than to gain anything. At least on my side that I can speak of." He says, looking at the paste.

[Kuni Yotsuo]

"Yeah, I'm not overly worried about what the shoji screens look like. They provide some privacy and now they don't let that creature threaten us," he replies. "If the sensei want us to replace them completely or want to have them replaced, I'll wait for those instructions, but for now this should keep us safe."

[Toritaka Sasaiko]

Sasaiko shrugs and continues pasting.

"It has been only a short time so far, but what do you think of this place so far?"

[Kuni Yotsuo]

"It's cleaner and the people are more pleasant than back home. But Kuni are not known for being very cheery. It's also nice to see people from all the different clans and duties."

[Kaiu Aiichiro]

'Way less music, more walking and more noise than what I am used to, but it is not bad, not bad at all. I'm enjoying my stay here a lot."

[Toritaka Sasaiko]

"More noise? That seems...at odds with what I know of the Kaiu lands."

[Kuni Yotsuo]

"When I traveled through Kaiu lands with my master, there were loud places and quiet places. But the loud places were loud with the forges and anvils. They're not all like that though and that's just in the bigger cities and castles."

[Toritaka Sasaiko]

"That would make sense; it was to such a place I traveled earlier. Good fried tofu, too."

[Kaiu Aiichiro]

"I can see why. Engines are not quiet, and sometimes we bulldoze or build nearby villages. But inside the castle is a dojo, and a place for studying should not allow much more noise than music and engines. The forges and testing grounds are obviously deafening."

[Kuni Yotsuo]

"I was never a big fan of all the fried foods. It's okay from time to time, but I've always preferred steamed soybeans and rice. The fried foods kind of leave me feeling like I have a rock in my belly. Such a heavy feeling."

[Kaiu Aiichiro]

"I like them. You need to eat less for less times a day because you can go on for longer with fried food, or something like that. Bushi training sure finds them very useful. It's quite convenient, actually." He says.

[Toritaka Sasaiko]

"It helps one stay rooted in the world. Hunger typifies so many of the spirits we work against; fullness is a reminder that we are us and not other."