Session 27

Mike transfixed his haiku from the Topaz Tournament to a gateway at the shrine with a shuriken. Mike bought a gaudy sword tassel at the shrine and Milosh threatened his way into receiving one for free. Milosh put matching wreaths on a shrine gateway.

Discovered shrine to Fukurokujin is missing its Kami and Milosh took reading learning that Tree Weeping Blossom is also missing its spirit--and that the scorpion have something (possibly) to do with the two missing Kami.

Mansaku--doctor of medicine--tree weeping blossom. Milosh claims to be coming to teach Mansaku the ways of astrological healing. 14-year-old girl is heading up to Mansaku to receive panacea to heal her mother; we meet her on path up to Mansaku.

Tree Weeping Blossom is 4x size barren cherry tree. Woman (beautiful) sleeping? resting against tree. Milosh hugs tree.

Saho--baby found in knot of tree, ages slowly, been caretaken for 450 years. Head grafted onto new bodies. Received bottle of tree weeping blossom sake, 10 charges of greater restoration and 2d10 temp hit points. Orca released the doctor to continue to care for Saho.

Traveled to village to address missing people. Talked to leader of Rokogu, heard people were being called to the mountain/High House of Light.

Group duel halfway up mountain to High House of Light--called to mountain by Lord Togashi to bolster ranks because foresee great calamity coming to Kozakura.

Togashi Gaijutsu is tattoo master of High House of Light

Togashi is the dragon--size of the land--spine is the dragon mountains. Missing people are studying in High House of Light.

Togashi says Fu Leng is in Shadowlands -- was broken but not beaten -- has been regaining strength -- Fu Leng seeks to obtain revenge against siblings for abandoning him in festering pit in Shadowlands. But Kami siblings dislike Fu Leng and chose to leave him banished. Call Fu Leng vile and cunning. Kami siblings by group consensus chose to leave Fu Leng banished in the Shadowlands and not to rescue him. Fu Leng was attempting to side with father against Kami siblings. Fu Leng works with Oni in Shadowlands, subjugated races (turned ogres into Oni). The Ogres were subjects of the Nezumi Clan, once a very proud people, the mouselings, today but a shadow of their former selves, but perhaps not subservient to Fu Leng. Ogres were a diverse race, subjects of Nezumi. When Fu Leng fell, he gave Ogres power to enact will.

Other peoples: Tengu (birdpeople) live in the small island Aizen wants to conquer. Naga live on land and sea in Shinomen Forest NW quadrant. Kitsune (foxpeople) live in nothern Mantis island.

Followers came to Togashi to High House of Light to become disciples.

Togashi ordered by Hantei to watch the people--to observe.

Togashi told his version of Creation Story--more detail.

Learned of Obsidian Hand--hand of Onnotangu--cut away from Hantei when Kami arrive. Used to be located at High House of Light. Taken by monk Togashi Okkio who decided the Void was the way who struck down monks and then fled with the hand. Kokujin learned how Togashi stayed alive by using bodies of volunteers who act as vessels for him. Togashi Kikiyo -- duelmaster monk, 35 year old bald with tattoos, shifting; becomes other: Togashi Okkio, and more forms. Togashi recognizes all forms as former monks, all killed in last 50 years. Tattoo is sliding lizard. Absorbs bodies of those with tattoos "because they weren't using them well." Intends to kill and eat us to absorb our tattoos. Kokujin is Togashi Kikiyo master. Kokujin is of Spider clan. Seek to return Fu Leng to his rightful throne. Togashi Kikiyo was sent here by spider to prevent us from learning anything from Togashi--seek to prevent us from learning about Dawn of New Sun Prophecy. Kokujin took many followers with him. He was a blacksmith who crafted Masamune blade--currently wielded by Bayushi Katchiko.

Togashi tells us that Badger's purpose is kept secret from most of Kozakura. Badger's goal is to maintain grave of 10th Kami who died in Onnotangu's stomach. He is ruler of lands of dead. Only go to see him if need is great; if one of us fell in battle (died); rules over land of dead--spirits of dead samurai are cared for by Badger. Badger might be able to resurrect Bayushi Mori but it would be a great ordeal.

Rokugo Tando: 7' tall man, scars over body and gruff appearance, spirit animal is a fluffy bunny; is junshin (pure of heart) (scorpion call it "not of the blood"); we invited Rokugo Tando to join us at Winter Court as Mike's date.

Fukurokujin has no Kami because Togashi acts as god of wisdom; there is no fortune to wisdom because there is a god to wisdom. Other shrines have fortunes because the Kami of that role left.