Lion Lands - Buzzing Fly Village

[Vutall]

Buzzing Fly Village
Buzzing Fly Village is a small village within the Kitsu lands of the Lion Clan. It is located in Rugashi Province, just a few days’ travel from Rugashi City, a major trading hub. Not far from one of main thoroughfares, the village enjoys regular traffic, particularly from merchants traveling after having completed business in the nearby trade center

The Buzzing Fly Brewery manufactures distinctive sake that has garnered significant attention among traveling merchants. The brewing methods are kept secret but involve the use of an unusual strain of rice that the family of crafters does not share with outsiders. Merchant travelers heady with the success of their trading or wishing to drown their sorrows often visit the brewery and sake house. Many spend a portion of their profits purchasing extra cases of sake to give to friends and trading partners, which has only increased the brew’s desirability.

Given its recent success, the brewery has grown, bringing on more workers and increasing its brewing capacity. However, the availability of farmland to grow the unique rice strain has begun to limit the size of its batches. Currently, the family is in negotiations to allow neighboring farmers to also grow the strain of rice

Originally a farming community, the village is still primarily focused upon that occupation. However, expansion of the brewery has seen the population grow to more than five hundred residents. The village’s center is adjacent to a small stream, and a wooden bridge arches over the stream. The sake brewery and mill are also next to the stream, drawing water from it to power the mill and feed the brewery. The building is the largest structure in the village, and homes radiate out from it. The small village is surrounded by rice paddies in all directions and on both sides of the river

As one approaches the village, the smells of steaming rice and fermentation overpower all other aromas. When the mill is running, the sound of the waterwheel turning the grindstones resonates throughout. In the evening, as more visitors fill the sake house, the sounds turn to laughter and occasionally ribald music.

Brewmaster Reiha
Reiha is in charge of the Buzzing Fly Brewery. She proudly preserves the traditions and recipes that her family has followed for twelve generations. The brewery’s relatively recent success and expansion has been a challenging experience for her. She has been reluctant to make necessary changes, fearing that the additional demand might be temporary, but she has nevertheless overseen some expansion. The brewery’s sales have kept up with production for several years, and she is now forced to consider mechanisms to expand production even further. She remains reluctant to take additional risks, but she feels compelled to do so.

A major factor prompting her to expand is the Scorpion spymaster who currently holds Reiha under his sway. When she initially began to expand, Reiha need-ed to secure capital and made some unscrupulous decisions in order to obtain it. Somehow, the Scorpion discovered this information and has used it to black-mail Reiha. Now, she is obligated to uncover secrets from any passing merchants and Lion samurai and pass them to the Scorpion. She is reluctant to continue the charade but is terrified at the dishonor she would suffer should any of these truths come to light.

Over Drinks
Those who offer a bottle of Buzzing Fly sake at their favored shrine are certain to enjoy good fortune through the following season.

Late in the night, someone has been searching the wares of merchants visiting Buzzing Fly Village. Nothing seems to be missing, but goods are often disrupted and poorly repacked. It is unclear who is doing this or why.

Bandits have been preying upon merchants near Buzzing Fly, but oddly, only those who do not belong to the Lion Clan