(Day 1, EM) A Meeting On The Road

[Miya Wyn]

Wyn returns the peasants bow and turns to scan the area, looking for any missing papers or other items that may have flown from the cart, while he lets the Crab adjust the actual item.

[Vutall]

The cart is structurally still sound. With both Crab working in it, it wouldn’t be too difficult to set it right (Athletics/Strength, TN 25. TN-5for each person trying to set it right.

There are many goods still scattered on the road, though the paper Tanshin has is the only that managed to get loose. The rest are just personal effects. Clothes, art, furniture, household goods and the sort.

The old man takes Aichiro’a pendant without any reaction and then returns to his prostrated position.

“Doji-Sama does in his sleep, Matsu-sama. It was most unexpected and unfortunate. This is just one of many trips I will have to make from the Palace of the Emerald Champion to Tsuma to ensure his family receives all of his belongings. His brother in law is to see over them.”

[Yasuki Ginkarasu]

Ginkarasu nods to the others. "Well, I'm all for lifting it back up, if I could get one or two to help hold it steady?"

[Kaiu Aiichiro]

He moved himself to hold it steady. "I'm on it." He said, looking at Ginkarasu.

[Kaito Haruki]

"Ready to lift when you are."

(So who's going to roll?)

[Miya Wyn]

As the others make to lifting the cart, the little imperial begins collecting things from the road, making sure nothing is in the mud, and stacking it neatly to make it easier to load in the cart once the others have it righted.

[Isawa Tanshin]

Tanshin still felt that there was more to the story. He strode towards the water's edge, his gaze fixed upon the man.

"What is it you are trying to tell us Satsume-sama?"

He calls out to the rest of the group: "I can try to commune with the spirit, using the Water Kami as a conduit. - My questions will be limited, but what 4 things would I ask to be shown in images?"

OOC - I am unsure if this will work, but given that he is on water, yet didn't die associated with water (that we know) this seems like a good idea.
Suggestions - "Why did you overturn the cart"
- "Which of your children were most trying for you"
- "Which of your relatives do you trust most?"
- "How can we set you on your path to the afterlife?"

[Matsu Qiang]

The Lion nodded at Tanshin as he prepared to commune with the spirit. "A good thought," he said. "I'm Matsu Qiang. Perhaps you could ask the spirit what it is trying to say to us? It's clear he must be trying to give us some sort of message."

[Vutall]

The spirit on the water disappears as attention is given to it, making one wonder if it was even there in the first place, or merely a trick of the light. The Water Kami do seem quite active, and a shugenja would have no problem calling out to them due to both the river flowing swiftly and something....else.

Wyn is able to gather up all of the scattered goods without trouble and does not find anything of note in the belongings.

The old man is astounded still, keeping himself motionless and prostrated, surprised that samurai would be giving him so much positive attention.

[Yasuki Ginkarasu]

"Okay. In three. One...two...THREE!"

Ginkarasu crouches in the middle, hands reaching down to grab hold of something solid. He straightens his back and works to make sure he lifts with his legs at a pace the other two helping will be able to go.

Athletics/Strength TN 15 (2 people helping): 6d10o10k3 21

[Kaiu Aiichiro]

He hears things about a ghost over the river. He looks to the river. He sees nothing. He frowns.
"Which spirit?"
At least the wagon seemed good, and Wyn apparently, looking around, collected all there was to collect.

[Kaito Haruki]

Haruki turns to face the peasant after righting the cart. "Please do not be so surprised by our actions, one of the tenets of bushido is compassion. It would shock me if any of the competitors for the Topaz Championship would not help you with such a task. Could you rise please? There is no reason for you to be so low to the ground."

[Matsu Qiang]

"Hm-m," Qiang mused, looking carefully at the spot where the apparition had vanished from. He knew he had seen it. It wasn't a trick of the light, he was certain.

"There was something there, but it's gone now," he commented. "Perhaps the spirit was satisfied that the old man's cart has been set right."

[Isawa Tanshin]

Tanshin searched his satchel for the scroll for communing with the elements. He begins to chant the invocation to the water kami:
D1,EM Commune Water - Willpower check: 4d10o10k4 25
Tanshin begins to chant louder, as though in competition with someone or something to have his voice heard.

The waters of the river seem particularly responsive to him as he continues chanting, but in a more normal voice:
D1,EM Commune Water +1 Raise, +1 Free Raise: 4d10o10k3 21
Raises give 2 additional questions

Tanshin intones his questions in the language of the Kami:

1) Why did the spirit cause the cart to be overturned?
2) Which of Satsume's relatives does he believe would make a better steward of his estate?
3) Which children of Satsume caused him the most difficulty?
4) What can be done to set Satsume-sama at peace?

[Miya Wyn]

Wyn looks over just as the spirit vanishes, he frowns slightly, "Yotsuo will want to hear about this" He says, making sure Aiichiro and Ginkarasu are able to hear him. He then begins putting things back into the cart.

[Vutall]

The cart is easily lifted and put back on its wheels. The old man who was just about standing to obey Haruki’s request fell to his knees again and prostrated himself once more, muttering a thousand different thanks.

The water in the river responds to Tanshin and swirls swiftly, causing a miniature whirlpool.

1; An image of a note appears in the whirlpool
2; The image swirls faster and produces no clear image
3; a vague image of a woman appears
4; another violent swirl without a clear image

Then the whirlpool disappears, the water kami heading down stream

[Kaiu Aiichiro]

"I will be sure to tell this to Yotsuo-san the next time it would be possible for me." He says, not looking at Wyn although pretty loudly. Yotsuo probably didn't need to be notified several times of the same incident — he remembers how he had to explain a lot of times about holes on the shoji.

[Isawa Tanshin]

Tanshin turned to regard the old man. It irked him to see him on the ground.

"Please, grandfather, sit and rest a moment. Now that your wagon is set to rights, I'd like to know more. What is your name, and what can you tell us of Satsume's children?"

[Miya Wyn]

Wyn nods to the Kaiu, trusting him to take the message, he finishes straightening the things he put on the cart, making sure they are stacked best for traveling and nothing will shake free when the peasant gets moving again.

[Yasuki Ginkarasu]

Ginkarasu bows a bit to the Miya. "Look at all of us! Arriving at Tsuma a the same time!" He looks over to Haruki. "Kaito-sama, thank you for your letter!"