Event: Treasure Hunt

[Vutall]

"Good, it seems you have a concensus then. The Dwindling Fortunes, a gambling den in the south east part of Hirosaka near the river. Behind it is a walled courtyard, the walls too sheer to climb, the only access being through the house itself. I had a run in with the owner last time I tried to go there to investigate, so again I'll keep watch. In the courtyard, you should find a statue, which again should have an arrow pointed in a direction."

Part 3: The Dwindling Fortunes

As the students approach the Dwindling Fortunes, they are met with their first obstacle. The front of the building is guarded by a lone man, dirty and disheveled but quite alert. When he spots the students, he immediately stands to block to entrance.

"This ain't no place for kids. Scram."

To get passed the guard, the group must pay the guard 2 koku to enter. Each player may roll Temptation (Bribery) / Awareness vs TN8. Every success, and each raise, lowers the cost by 1 bu. This roll will also cause each player to loose honor for using a Low Skill.

Once inside, the players are assaulted by a heavy stench of opium smoke and sounds of men all sitting at various tables gambling away their fortunes at the houses different games. Not long after their entry, the owner of the house, Three-Scar spots the group and approaches them.

"I heard what ya did to some of Watcher's men. Good work, kid." He says to the Utaku.

"Don't think you can pull the same with me. Now, what do you want?"

Players must each roll a Sincerity (Honesty or Deceit) / Awareness check at TN7. (Every use of Deceit will cause an honor loss for using a Low Skill). Each successful Deceit, and each FAILED Honesty gains the students 1 entry point. If the students do not collectively score 4 points, Three-Scar refuses to allow entry and kicks the students out, wanting to figure out the secret himself, causing a second Part 3 event.

Once in the courtyard, the students find that the statue has many different markings on it and each must roll a Calligraphy (Cipher) / Intelligence roll at TN 6. If there are more successes than failures, they are able to figure out the puzzle, which is a word game written in ancient Rokugani, the answer to which is again a northwestern pointing arrow. If the students fail here, they must make a copy of the strange letters using a raw Intelligence roll, TN 5.

[Utaku Ichiro]

Ichiro reaches into his coin purse and draws out a bu.

He looks to Kokyou, "One bu each so we're all in this together and the rest from the spoils of the attackers? Sounds fair?"

Either way he leaves the haggling to those better suited for it. He'll cough up another coin instead if necessary.

Once they make it inside he nods in acknowledgement at Three-Scar's praise, "We're here for ancient Zokujin treasure!" Which, in turn, gets a good laugh from the crowd. The truth, and Ichiro's poor tale telling skills, combining to make them think it a jest or deflection. Regardless of which they seem to accept it as a response.

(Spending 1 or 2 bu as needed. Not bothering with Bribery.

Honesty failed = 1 entry point

VP spent on Calligraphy - Still failed)

[Kakita Kazuko]

Likewise, Kazuko draws out a single bu, although she's willing to pay another if necessary. Screw bribery, she won't stoop that low. Money isn't important, especially with the prospect of glory and treasure ahead. She didn't even want to come to the gambling den second but she unfortunately got outvoted.

"Yeah, yeah, what about kids who can pay the entry fee?"

Kazuko recoils upon entering the den, gagging at the air at first before waving the air in front of her nose in a futile attempt to clear away the opium stench. She can't stand the smell of drugs and now she'll have to wear the stench until it gets washed out in the rain. Well, hopefully it will, or she'll have to sneak off to the baths before returning to the sleeping quarters. She looks around once recovers but doesn't get to see much before Three-scar approaches and questions them.

D4 Monkey Sincerity (Honesty)/Awareness, TN7: 5d10o10k3 19 = No entry point

"What do we want? Right now, I just want to get to the courtyard. I can't stand how disgusting this place and its occupants are."

She squares her jaw and looks pointedly at the man to emphasize her point, a bit disappointed that the Utaku girl would accept praise from a man like Three-scar.

D4 Monkey Calligraphy (Cipher)/Int, TN6: 2d10o10k1 9

Through the power of Kazu- I mean teamwork, they were able to work out the solution to the puzzle.

"Oh, I know this one! It's a word game written in ancient Rokugani I believe. I recognize a few words from the calligraphy quiz earlier too."

---

D4 Monkey Intelligence, TN5 (in case we fail so I don't have to roll later): 1d10k1 3

[Matsu Qiang]

"This is dumb," the young Lion complained. "Why should we pay to get into a gambling house, when the whole idea of a gambling house is they want you to gamble your money away?" He glared mulishly at the guard and seemed disinclined to pay.

[Kokyou]

He looks to Kokyou, "One bu each so we're all in this together and the rest from the spoils of the attackers? Sounds fair?"

Kokyou raises an eyebrow to that and chuckles. "Aye! Leave this t' yer cap'n, lads... 'n lassie."

He reaches out to the guard, and whispers a name to the man's ear. Then, they exchange a measured look and the guard nods, tapping his shoulder.

The older man looks inside and tells one of his companions, "Do you know who this kid is son of? Go tell Three-Scar"

The young Mantis waves for his crew to get onboard the Gambling House deck. He takes the bu they have to offer and sums that up with his own stache to pay the negotiated vip entrances, due as arranged.

Once everyone is cozy inside and Three-Scar addresses the crew, one of the henchmen that talked with the door guard come closers to the scarred man and whispers that same name to his ear. Three-Scar takes a good look at Kokyou.

Kokyou nods, nearly saying, 'Aye.' But the silence was enough of a reply.

Three-Scar nods in recognition.

If/when allowed inside, Kokyou's magnificent intellect states the obvious. The Captain-to-be answer to the Ancient puzzle is sound and solid.

--
D4, Monkey, Temptation (Bribery)/Awareness vs TN10 (8 +1 Raise): 3d10o10k2 35 -2bu (or -4bu if exceptional is valid). Honor loss.
D4, Monkey, Sincerity (Deceive)/Awareness TN7 Unskilled: 2d10 15 +1 Entry point. Honor loss.
D4, Monkey, Calligraphy (Cipher) / Intelligence TN 6 Unskilled: 2d10 8 Success

[Kakita Kenji]

"Matsu-san, we don't pay anybody here, this is a simple donation to this noble establishment for the effort to welcome us as guests. Excuse my friend here, Guardian-San, but we're on an important mission" Kenji tried to save the face of the little lion and get admission at the same time.

He gave 1 Bu to the man.

Three-Scars of course did not believe a word the boy crane said and let him in. When Kenji looked at the hut, he had to cough a few times, the steam scratching his throat.

When they examined the statue outside, Kenji could decipher the characters even though they were pretty old.

---
D4 Monkey Courtier/Awa vs. Matsu Quiang: 3d10o10k2 16

D4 Monkey Sincerity (Honesty)/Awa TN 7: 3d10o10l2 4 Fail! +1 Entry Point
D4 Monkey Calligraphie (Cypher) / Int TN 7: 2d10o10k1 9 Pass!

If we fail:
D4 Monkey Raw Int copying the Markings: 1d10k1 4

[Matsu Qiang]

The young Lion looked rather disgruntled at the fact that they had to pay the guard at the door, even though (or especially because) Kokyou made the arrangements. But he was mollified by Kenji’s argument.

“I guess a donation would be okay,” Qiang allowed. “Compassionate, even.” His mood lightened at the thought.

When Three-Scar confronted them, the Matsu was direct and to the point. “You may not want us here, and we don’t want to be here either,” he said plainly. “But we have a mission to inspect something in your back courtyard, and if you let us through, we’ll be out of your hair right quickly.”

Once they reached the statue, Qiang recognized the symbols on the statue. “Look, aren’t these from one of the books the monks made us read?” he asked the others.

--
Day 4 Treasure hunt, talk to Three-Scar AWA/Sincerity (Honesty) TN7: 1d10 10 succeeds for no effect
Day 4 Treasure hunt, examine markings INT/Calligraphy TN6: 2d10 12 succeeds

[Kitsune Setsuna]

• Setsuna just placed a couple coins where it was needed. He would look at some grown ups eyes and stare very convincingly. "We are just here on business, that's all." What kind of business were kids up to, no idea, but it seemed to work. As for the scroll, he would quickly read it and get the right information from it and confirm to the others what was known.
  

  D4 Monkey Sincerity (Deceit) / Awareness TN7, Benten's Blessing: 3d10o10k3 19
  Pass, honor loss
  
  D4 Monkey Calligraphy / Intelligence TN6, unskilled: 4d10k4 14
  
  -2 Bu to help pay towards the entrance fee?

[Vutall]

The students decipher the script on the grimy statue, occasionally having to guess at some rubbed off words, but in the end, they solve the riddle and return to their Ronin "employer", the eyes of Three-Scar following them on the way out, curiously.

"Hmm. Another to the Northwest..."

She looks cautiously at a well concealed map and sighs.

"Still not enough information yet. Alright children, either the Shrine, or the carpenters shop."

Last Choice

--Market
--Temple

--Sneak
--Intimidate

Kenji votes for Temple and Sneak

[Utaku Ichiro]

"I don't want to risk the disfavor of the Fortunes unless we have to. I would prefer we try the market. It should be busy enough still at this hour for us to not attract attention."

(Market, Stealth)

[Kokyou]

"This booty be ancient 'n must be blessed. I believe it lies within the undergrounds o' the temple. So, logically, we shall go t' the market at this point, 'n get the information we needs by force, if necessary." Kokyou says.

(Market, Intimidation, to leave Stealth to the Temple... of DOOOM)

[Matsu Qiang]

"I think Kenji-san has the right idea," Qiang said. "If we can get what we need from the temple without anyone seeing us, that seems best to me, too."

[Kitsune Setsuna]

Setsuna will voice his preference to go to the market first, and then the temple.

ooc: intimidation at the market, and then stealth at the temple

[Vutall]

((Posting next event then as Kazuko's vote will not change the overall numbers."

"In the market district is a carpenter named Tadashi. I have heard that inside his home at the shop, he keeps a shrine, of which has a scroll hanging in it. We need to know what the scroll says. He is a stubborn man however, and from my understanding does not allow anyone into his living space."

"Once again, I will keep watch, in case anyone would come to distract him with business while you work."

The students must indimidate Tadashi into allowing them into his living quarters. To do so is a simple Intimidation/Willpower roll at TN 4. As long as there are more successes than failures, the students are allowed into his home (Players who do not roll do not count as a success or a failure). All students who roll will loose honor for both using a Low Skill and any who enter his home will lose honor for committing a Minor Breach of Etiquette.

Once inside, the shrine is easy to spot, and indeed it does have an ancient scroll hanging inside of it.

They attempt to copy the scroll, using a Calligraphy / Agility roll at TN8 to represent the dexterous work of transcribing the scroll. Each failed roll from players (Players who do not enter count as a failed roll) gives Keina one success on her raid at the temple, which she slipped off to do while the students were distracted.

Once all players have completed the roll, they realize the scroll is not anything profound, but instead a simple ancient list of Tadashi's ancestors, their birth, and their death...

When they leave his shop, both Keina and the horses are gone.

[Utaku Ichiro]

He had wanted to use stealth. What was the purpose of browbeating a peasant when it wasn't necessary. Both were dishonorable, sure, but only one inflicted harm on another....

Still he bit his tongue and looked menacing - which worked surprisingly well despite his youth and stature.

Once they enter he groans as he realizes he needs to rely on calligraphy once more but now that speed was of the essence as opposed to mental dexterity the young man swiftly transcribes the scroll.

Exiting to find the horses missing he curses in something other than Rokugani, "Follow the trail. She's not making a fool of us!"

(Intimidation - Pass - -0.1 for Breach, -0.2 for Low, -0.3 Honor total
Calligraphy - Success)

[Kokyou]

Kokyou dashed into Tadashi's living room through the window as Ichiro looked fiercely at the peaseant. The Mantis boy snarls at the man, saying, "If ye move, ye'll get yer butt kicked up around yer ears ye bloated spider lovin' pimple pocked chum bucket!"

Going to the shrine together with the Utaku, he starts hastily transcribing things. Once finished, he moves along and notices the gone horses.

A smirk opens up, as Kokyou starts thinking dearly on how Keina tricked them into doing all the dirty job for herself. What a sensei. He definitely needs to know more more about her.

"Aye! Let's go find tha' buxom wench!"

--
D4, Monkey, Intimidation/Willpower TN 4 Unskilled: 1d10 9 - Success - Honor loss on you, honor loss on your cow.
D4, Monkey, Calligraphy/Agility TN8 Unskilled: 2d10 15 - Success

[Vutall]

((Kenji refuses to participate on the grounds of honor))

[Kitsune Setsuna]

• Setsuna did not look very intimidating, or sound very intimidating. However once inside, he saw a chalkboard and knew what to do. SCREEEE sang his fingernails as he dragged them down the slate, staring at Tadashi. This seemed to work, and the poor carpenter would let the Kitsune deeper into the living quarters. He did not dare approach too close to the shrine, but at a distance where his eyesight didn't fail him he copied down the scroll well enough and was satisfied.
  
  He held up the scroll and began to read it aloud, and then: "This scroll is just the man's family. We just harassed him for nothing." Disgusted, he jammed the paper into his sack and came outside. Horses gone, ronin gone. This whole thing had been a very bad idea, but now they were going to finish it.

  
  D4 Monkey Intimidation / Willpower TN4, unskilled: 1d10k1 10
  Pass
  
  D4 Monkey Calligraphy / Agility TN8, unskilled: 3d10k3 18
  Pass

[Matsu Qiang]

"Y-yeahh-h, I'm with Kenji on this one," Qiang said uneasily. "I thought this was going to be searching hidden ruins for treasure, not breaking into some old guy's house. Sorry." The Lion boy moved to stand near the Crane.

--
Qiang will decline to participate in this step.

[Kakita Kazuko]

Kazuko refuses to intimidate the poor carpenter, rather leaving that work to her... less trustworthy peers. However, she realizes that they'll likely need her help in interpreting the scroll with Kenji and Qiang sitting out, and as such, reluctantly enters his home. She's a calligraphy master, she's got this. She'll regain her honor when she finds the treasure anyway, she tells herself.

D4 Monkey Calligraphy/Agility, TN8: 3d10o10k2 12 Success. -0.2 for Minor Breach of Etiquette.

As she translates the scroll, her doubts about Keina start to resurface. Why are there a bunch of names here? There doesn't seem to be anything great about this scroll... Wait a second, it's just a list of Tadashi's ancestors! She winces as she realizes she's been made a fool of, cringing harder when she finds Keina and the horses missing. She should have realizes something was up when it was simply too easy to enter his home. Keina will pay for this.

Before running off to the temple - the only place Keina could have gone - she bows moderately to the carpenter.

"I am deeply sorry for our intrusion. Please forgive us."