Legend of the Five Rings - The Story so far - The Opium War

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== Opening Shots and a Governess's displeasure ==
The days after the wedding they returned to work.
They found a crowd outside the Civil Hall surrounded by excited people.
There were plaques commemorating that Shosuro Jocho caught the infamous Wind and a list of stolen property that was being returned. Tomoe also found a list of scheduled executions, Ample was on the list for grand larceny
Using their authority they parted the crowd and headed inside where Yoko Osako was presiding over the queue of people seeking property stolen by the wind. She was quite busy and once she had a free moment she addressed the magistrates. Telling them that the Wind had been captured. It had turned out to be a young eta girl with a pet monkey that committed the thefts. She, Ample and the other suspects were next door in the prison.
The magistrates decided to take the conversation out of Osako's courtroom and so went to the smaller of the two courtrooms. They found that dozens of baskets of dried rice were being stored here. Still they could use the room and inside they found a basket of letters requesting aid from the Emerald Magistrates. 
Obviously this was a sign of the governesses displeasure, but what could they do about it? They went next door to the prison. The guards there 
The guards at the entrance did not initially even pretend to hide their opium pipes. However they tapped them out and put them away when Anzu challenged them on it, although being more confrontational than normal.
`The Wind` was a girl by the name of Genki (meaning "Brisk") of about 12 summers locked in a cage at the far end of the basement, a squalid place where eta and heimin were crammed together in the least sanitary conditions. She had large brown eyes, black hair and she was in a cell a little larger than a cupboard, clutching her knees in terror at the Samurai who came to examine her. They asked her questions but she could do little more than nod to affirm that she did indeed commit the crimes she was accused of. 
Heading upstairs they went to find Ample. The cells here were not luxurious but were clean with a simple roll mat for sleeping upon. Largely a place for lesser ranked Samurai and Ronin to sober up if their debauchery became too great to ignore. Ample was dressed in a simple set of plain clothes like an athletes uniform. He did not seem weakened by the ordeal but did ask that they use their influence to release him. He had indeed purchased a number of trinkets from an eta girl at a pittance of their true value and used them to buy the affections of various geisha. Although he was unaware of their true value. Several others had been bought in as well. A low ranking soldier of the Hida clan, a out of town Ronin named Steps and three heimin. Though, as Ample noted sourly, not a single Scorpion, even though they were doubtlessly also buying the stolen goods. He mentioned the Ronin Jaw specifically has Scorpion protection and he was definitely buying the stolen goods. He asked them to hurry as his execution was scheduled for the next day. 
Tsurichi Okura attempted to get an appointment with the governess as soon as possible. However she was out of the city at the time and would not be back until late, whilst Shosuro Jocho was leading his Lightning Squad on the hunt for Fade. 
They discussed how to get Ample and the Wind out of the jail and keep them alive. 
Going back to Yogo Osako, They tried to requisition one of the city scribes to help manage their paperwork. However she said quite plainly that these are the city's scribes and it's not within her power to spare any to take over Imperial business. However with an appeal to her sense of family she eventually relents. She can't spare one of her own scribes, but her niece Yogo Aniko is a young and ambitious woman trained as a courtier and whose career might be elevated in the service to a team of Emerald Magistrates. 
Anzu went to see the temple of Daikoku and then on to visit the merchant Subtle. 
All except for the highly principled Tomoe decide to wait until late in the evening to see the Governess Shosuro Hyobu as she returns from her visits. She accepts their hospitality with good grace and speaks broadly around the subject. Appreciating the willingness of the other Magistrates to mend bridges, but stating that Tomoe was the main issue. They said that she was "Stubborn". Hyobu retorted that Stubbornness is for Eta and Horses, both of which can be broken. She suggested that if such stubbornness was bought under control then their troubles might disappear and Ample might be spared. However there was also a request to save the Wind herself. 
Okura revealed the antique make-up box of the Shosuro family. 
Shinjo Sumi arranges a deception through the staff at the House of the Morning Star where the Magistrates would go to drink and visibly imbibe opium. She gets the staff to covertly replace the Opium with tobacco. 
Execution of Genki's father, Steps the Ronin, the Hida soldiers and others, whilst Ample was released with congratulations on his undercover work by Shosuro Jocho. 
As they left the Civil Hall a Heimin servant ran over to them begging them to come to the aid of her Mistress Watchful. 
Taking the coach to the Merchant Quarter they found that the warehouse had been attacked and three samurai guards, likely ronin for hire, had been killed and their bodies left where they lay. 
Watchful was there clutching a large ornate document with seals that marked her as a legitimate trader in medical opium to request help from the magistrates. She claimed that two mounted and masked figures wearing loose black clothes charged in to her warehouse, carrying off several large bundles of opium, putting them in a nearby boat before riding off. 
Found Otado's Netsuki (A statue of four figures sharing a single body, one holding a sword, one in prayer, one holding a bag and scales whilst the final one planted or harvested rice.) 
They also got a description of one of the black clad riders riding a powerful Unicorn steed with a white star on its brow and white socks but otherwise midnight black. The horse Bayushi Otado won in the race described in Memoirs of an Opium Eater. 
== Episode 9: A visit from old friends ==
Waking up the next day Shinjo Takaaki found his wife relentless organising the house with the aid of a number of dutiful servants and received a letter saying that Isawa Hisen and Isawa Nariko were going to visit soon. Unfortunately the letter was dated nearly a week ago and they were due to arrive later that day.
Meanwhile at the Magistrate's residence their new legal secretary Yogo Aniko came to them with a basket of letters. 
* Their fellow magistrate Seppen Sugai had sent them a letter saying he would be out of the city doing a judicial circuit. Answering calls for justice from surrounding towns and villages that only an Emerald Magistrate could resolve. 
* There had been a brawl between firemen in the Fisherman's Quarter between the Fire Eaters and the Moments Edge fire fighters.
* Eyebrow's report on the three murdered guards turned up nothing unusual or suspicious 
However she suggested that they might want to wait for Takaaki to join them before addressing any of the other concerns.
* Raspy of the Leatherworkers wants the Wretched Gate closed at night to prevent Eta from entering the Crab Caves after dark.
* Three tax assessors have been beaten in the Two-Gates and Wharves area of the Merchant Quarter. Protecting the collection of Imperial Taxes is the duty of the Emerald Magistrates. 
* Fighting broke out in the Fisherman's Quarter between the Fire Eaters and Moments Edge Firemen gangs.
The Isawa's arrived later in the morning after they had gone over the evidence and filled each other in on their suspicions about the identity of Fade and who might have been behind Naritoki's death.
They came with a servant and a cart which carried a number of gifts. For Takaaki, a large wood and brass chest, carved with images from the Topaz Championship. Iuchi Ayana was gifted a scroll of Nariko's own design that would allow another person to commune with and see a given kami and Tomoe was given a phoenix-shaped lantern that could be hung from her belt whilst lit and had mirrored wings. The others, as they were not personal friends received gifts of Phoenix brewed honey sake. Shinjo Sumi also had a gift in the form of two phoenix birch trees which they delivered later to bless the new house with. 
They said they were there to find the Phoenix Daimyo's cousin, Isawa Orimono, who was last seen travelling to the city with a cargo of fireworks. He was a sad samurai who failed their Gempuku and so never completed their Shugenja training, but his relationship to the Daimyo kept him in service as a merchant patron. Iuchi Ayana revealed that this was likely O-Sama's real name and Okura confirmed that by showing the incomplete sketch taken of the man's face. They were concerned to hear that the corruption had reached so far. 
Once that was resolved Anzu tried to talk to the head of the Little Gate firemen. However the leader Hiroshi seemed quite firmly against Opium dealers, but when asked about who was using Opium became very reticent to say anything even under intense pressure. 
The Magistrates visited the territory of the Strong Arm Firemen, where several tax inspectors who were visiting had been beaten up. This was obviously a serious crime so they came in force and identified one of the gang by their uniform of red bands worn around each bicep. This gang member went and bought out their leader, a wiry looking man named Third (His brothers First and Second lived in the city as a rice merchant and a sake seller respectively). Third denied knowledge of the beaten tax inspector, but agreed to bring 5 of his gang to be punished for it. Although he said he could not do so until tomorrow at the earliest. When the magistrates insisted, he tried to give them a hand-gift, which the magistrates said would go to the temple of Daikoku to provide rice for those affected by the rising price of rice. (Which they did follow through on). 
As promised, Third came the next day with five people wearing the crimson bands of the gang bound and gagged. They were marched to the Merchants quarter where the Magistrates directed Ample to beat them with a rod with 20 strikes each. A punishment seen as both fitting and moderate to the view of the merchant crowd. Although they did speculate that Third might have just rounded up some random people to avoid any of his own gang actually getting punished. 
Takaaki and the others went to visit Raspy in the Leatherworker's quarter outside the walls in response to his request to have the Wretched gate closed at night. The very old and decrepit man had to very slowly lower himself down to Kowtow and took even longer to get back up afterwards. He explained that eta were going in to the city at night and getting hooked on opium which was destroying their community. 
The Isawa's confided that there was a prophecy of doom recently. However the Emperor supressed information about it. Apparently it spoke of the doom of the line of Hantei Emperors and they asked the magistrates what they thought could be done about it. They discussed all of the recent incursions from the Shadowlands and cults of Maho that had been appearing recently. The magistrates considered deputising them, but decided against it and suggested that they return the phoenix lands and dig out the cult that had inspired this. They said that they would be staying a few more days before heading back. 
== Episode 10: 7 moments in the city. ==
As they met over breakfast the next day, they still had the Isawas staying with them at the magistrate's residence. After a hearty breakfast with Shinjo Sumi and their guests, they split up to take care of various errands. 
Iuchi Ayana went with Isawa Nariko to visit Asako Kinto at his residence in the Noble Quarter. 
They found that Asako Kinto was somewhat distressed by the revelations from the de-anonymised copy of Memoires of an Opium Eater. It had heavily influenced his standing in the city and driven him further in to his research. However when the topic turned to his research, he seemed revitalised. He bought out a recently uncovered tile fragment with what appeared to be an incantation carved in to it. He, Nariko and Ayana worked through the afternoon to decipher it. 
However they were interrupted by Jirohei of the Temple of Daikoku, he came expressing his anger and unhappiness at reports that Kinto had been spreading the information he had learned from the ruins and implying that the Fortunes were not real. 
Iuchi Ayana stepped in and managed to talk the angry monk down. Asking Kinto to prevent his teachings from leaking outside his small study group. This seemed to temporarily mollify Jirohei, but he threatened consequences if this happened again. 
Shinjo Takaaki and his wife Shinjo Sumi went to visit the Ide Residence, where they were greeted with open arms. Ide Barenato, Utaku Genshi, Ide Asamitsu and others were all in attendance as they lounged together and partook in foreign delicacies. Barenato restated his frustration about the Opium issue and Utaku Genshi floated the idea that Fade was perhaps not their most pressing concern. 
Shinjo Sumi suggested indirectly that Fade might find an ally in the Magistrates under the correct circumstances. They spent the rest of the day training together at the dojo around the back of the Ide apartments. 
Anzu however spent time with Yogo Aniko going over the paperwork, but she was less interested in the day to day issues of requests that had piled up and asked her to check to see if Pitiful could read and write. She went next door and confirmed that he could. Anzu asked that Pitiful be kept busy over the next few days extracting confessions through torture and making written reports of them, seemingly wanting to send a more aggressive message. 
Tsurichi Okura went to the Shinjo warehouse in the merchant quarter where he met with Shinjo Sanefusa. Sanefusa was gushing with praise for the brave deeds of the magistrates following the attack on their warehouse. Okura asked about what had been going on outside the city, as most of their sources were limited to within the city walls. Sanefusa told him that there had been a recent attack on a nearby village called Necessary Village and that Thunder Guard had been involved, although he had little information on the specifics of it. 
As he returned to the Civic Hall, he and Anzu were met by a runner. The runner came with a message from Watchful "I am Watchful the merchant. You came to investigate the attackers who killed my guards a few days ago. I fear for my life and I have information that you may find useful for your investigations. Please hurry as I suspect people are planning to harm me, come to my warehouse in the Northern Merchant's Quarter.
They sent a messenger asking for Takaaki to join them and rode off to the Merchants Quarter. As they arrived, the streets were busy as normal. However there was a violent commotion. A mounted and masked figure rode through the streets with a large wooden mallet. 
Okura drew his bow and Anzu closed as quickly as she could. The masked figure struck Watchful from behind on the back of the head with the heavy mallet, but it seemed that the blow was mis-timed as Watchful moved with it and was only moderately injured. Okura shot the attackers arm that held the mallet and it dropped to the floor, whilst Anzu struck them with their pipe, hoping to dismount them. However the figure recovered and realising that they had lost the advantage, turned to flee down a nearby alleyway. Takaaki didn't arrive until the fight was over.
They took the injured Watchful back to the Civic Hall and she was eager to help. Telling them as much as she could about Opium operations. Including the locations of the processing plants (The Bayushi's almost exclusively refined opium at Necessary Village, Hyobu has a series of small shops scattered around the city ad the Shoshi's had a place directly behind her own warehouse, but the operations are otherwise very disbursed). 
She had seen a masked figure following her and feared correctly that it was a hit on her. So she called for help. 
Shinjo Tomoe and Isawa Hisen went to Jotomon's Dojo in the Territory of the Little Gate Firemen. 
There they met Ashidaka Michitaka who had shed most of his weight and wanted to know about progress on the investigation. He had been training hard and was eager to explore his vengeance, but Tomoe said that there was little progress at the moment, though they were still following leads. 
Inside, Jotomon had some special training to help Tomoe recognise different family mons and practice swift defensive stances. Which she managed, but whilst she could identify attackers and parry quite effectively, she couldn't do both at once. 
Dove wanted to thank Tomoe for not exposing her shame and said that she was learning meditation to help resist that fear.
Hisen and Tomoe played a game of Shogi to hone their battle skills. Whilst Jotomon advised Hisen about how being a great Bushi requires the use of the totality of ones skills, and not limiting themselves to only one area of focus, which pleased him. 
Tomoe and Ayana were having tea with the Isawa's in the House of Foreign Stories on Teardrop Island when they witness people dive out of a boat and then a fire spreading along the boat. On the docks several bales of opium roll unnaturally in to the water. Investigating they found shugenja magic was responsible and that the warehouse and barge belonged to the Bayushi family.
Reuniting at the Magistrate's residence, Watchful was desperate for protection. Although her word was useless when convicting a Samurai she did give some details about the larger opium trade including that the Bayushi's processed their Opium in Necessary Village, the Shosuro's did so in a large number of small mobile operations spread throughout the city and her own cartel processed opium in a hidden workshop of their main warehouse. 
Once they had reconvened back at the Civil Hall, Yogo Aniko burst in with news: 
The Bayushi Family had kidnapped Shosuro Kimi.
== Episode 11: Escalation: ==
This news caused some concern. Aniko also said that Shinjo Sumi and another visitor were there. 
Sumi mentioned that her and Shosuro Kimi were both childhood friends. 
The sentiment was echoed by their next guest, Ide Asamitsu, who also added that the Governess has surrounded the Bayushi mansion with archers armed with fire arrows and will burn the entire mansion to the ground if ay harm comes to her daughter.
They discussed what to do with Watchful, thankfully Ample was next door and was able to escort her to the Temple of Amaterasu. Leaving the Magistrates free to investigate.
Setting off to the mansion they found it as Aniko said. with Shosuro Jocho mounted on a horse overseeing the troops. Whilst the heavily armed and armoured Bayushi guards stood to attention outside the manor, which still had its gates open, they had not taken an aggressive stance yet. 
They spoke with Jocho who said that if they were going inside, he would very much like to know of his sisters health.
Tomoe moved ahead to the gates and was politely asked to leave all weapons but the Wakizashi with the guards at the gate. The others also complied and were ushered in to a reception room, where Bayushi Karachiko, Bayushi Otado and Shosuro Kimi were waiting. 
Bayushi Karachiko took the lead and explained that Otado had been near to Shosuro Kimi in the market when the attack on Watchful happened. Concerned for her safety he escorted her back to the Bayushi mansion where she was given sanctuary until the issue could be resolved. He revealed that the Hit on Watchful had been carried out by a Ronin named Jaw, who sought medical care from the Temple of Daikoku following the failed assassination attempt. Watchful was the primary, if not only, merchant of the Sochi clans who knew of all their roots. So it was a decapitation strike against them. The Bayushi family were concerned that they might be next. The Magistrates suggested that the recent conflict might have been stirred up by a third party. 
Kimi said that she felt equally unsafe in both the Bayushi and Shosuro houses and would prefer to be with Shinjo Sumi and Ide Asamitsu at the Ide residence. Although that would surely only lead to the archers being moved to the Ide Residence instead. 
Instead they suggested that she move with them to the Magistrates residence and be kept under the protection of the Emerald Magistrates, but Jocho would need to move his soldiers away first. 
Going out and negotiating with Jocho, he was unhappy and demanded to be able to see his sister in one hour. Heading back in Korechika agreed, but wanted the Emerald Magistrates to confirm in writing that he had committed no wrongdoing in relation to taking Shosuro Kimi in. He took them up to the top floor balcony of the mansion and showed them a view of the city. From here they could see smoke rising from the Fisherman's Quarter.
Eventually everything was agreed and the situation defused with the Bayushi family providing an armed escort back to the Magistrate's residence. 
Back there they discussed their next move with Kimi explaining that her abduction was neither overtly hostile nor was it entirely wanted. The story about the attack was true, but once she arrived she was taken to the Bayushi mansion rather than her home. Whilst she played the role of an honoured guest she would be treated like one. If she had been difficult then she might have been treated worse, but she never pushed in that direction.
However they did not have long before Shosuro Hyobu and Shosuro Jocho arrived with guards. At the Magistrate's request they left their other guards outside. The magistrates explained the situation and offered Kimi their protection. 
Tsurichi Okura and Anzu made positive noises about resolving conflict regarding the Opium trade and placated her with a list of the peasants in the Sochi Opium cartel. Their overtures did earn them a couple of Thunder guard on the gate, but Hyobu said that if they wished to keep Kimi under their own protection, they would need to do so without assistance from the city. If she found that they had neglected her protection, then she would be extremely displeased and her displeasure would be extremely hazardous to them. 
After she left they went across the Bridge of Drunken Lovers to go ad find the Fire Eaters, The bridge showed signs of recent violence and smoke still rose from the ruins of a burnt out warehouse. Approaching the scene of the fire, members of the Fire Eaters were extinguishing it. Several of them were injured but there was nothing too serious.
Anzu tried to alternately threaten, cajole and Politely request answers and an end of the Opium trade. One of the thugs sized up against Anzu and they had a brief low-intensity brawl that they passed off as tripping. 
Okura meanwhile nosed around the warehouse and found an fragment of the Bayusho mon on a piece of wreckage as well as fancy oil lamps used to start the blaze. Using Spirit touch he saw a figure in a very formal smart Kimono throwing the lamp. 
Bigger arrived and revealed a few things. The FIremen of Daikoku's garden were the attackers. They came through the Little Gate Firemen's territory without resistance. They openly laughed at Anzu when she told them to give up profit in Opium.
Realisig that they were getting nowhere, Iuchi Ayana, Anzu and Tomoe all went up North to find the Moment's Edge Firemen. 
At the Juniper Teahouse they met a younger woman named Happy, who seemed to have some authority over the Moments Edge Firemen. 
Anzu also tried to persuade her, but she too explained that even if the Emperor wanted the Opium trade to end, he could not do it, as the Emperor was not here and even if he was, he could do no more to stop the Opium trade than he could stop the tide. 
Anzu gave up and the trio returned home where Takaaki, the Isawas, Shinjo Sumi, and Aniko had been entertaining Shosuro Kimi. 
Tomoe had a look at the basket of pending issues:
* Duels
** A drunken Crab had hit a scorpion in the face. The Scorpion sought simple satisfaction.
** A Unicorn bushi had been propositioned by a Scorpion, despite the fact that she was already engaged and seeks an appology. 
** A ronin by the name of Sanguine, Sought satisfaction on behalf of a Geisha who committed suicide against Asako Kinto. 
* Travel Visa requests
** Several merchants looking to bring their family to settle. 
** A couple of performing troupes who wanted to go elsewhere (one up the Coast going North, the other going East to Crane Lands.)
** A Ronin group called the Widows of the Wall (A group made up of people who married Crabs and lost them to the Shadowlands before they could assimilate in to the Clan) who wanted to visit the city.
Tomoe quickly approved most off these, but held back on the duel against Kinto and the Ronin, seeking more information first. 
Takaaki and Okura meanwhile plotted to destroy the two more minor Opium cartels leaving only the Governess, who could be persuaded to raise prices and lower availability to make it seem as though she were cracking down on the Opium, whilst secretly gaining a monopoly.
== Episode 12: Old cases ==
That evening the Isawa twins let the Magistrates know that they would be returning home the next day, presumably to hunt down cults in the Phoenix lands.
The next morning, they head to the Civil court to address some of the many cases that had been piling up in their absence,
Tomoe had already summarily ruled on a number of them and approved duels to first blood for:
* An engaged Scorpion Courtier (a minor scribe of Hyobu’s) received unwanted advances from a Crab Samurai. The Crab groped them and they seek a public apology. They have commissioned the skills of a Duellist on their behalf named Bayushi Saigo for this. 
* A Unicorn caravan guard who was punched in the face and had their nose broken by a Scorpion guard whilst they were drunk and seeks compensation.
She also approved some travel visas: 
* For a number of seasonal merchants
* The renowned Scorpion Duelist Bayushi Saigo. 
However some required further investigation:
* A Ronin by the name of Takehiko (Bamboo) sought a duel with the elderly Asako Kinto over the publication of Shiba Shonagon’s Memoires. He was in love with a Geisha by the name of Syrup. Since the publication of the Memoires she was driven to suicide by the harsh words of those who read it. They dug in to his story a bit more and it did seem that the Memoires were likely the cause of the young Geisha's suicide, they felt it would be wrong to duel an old man whose only fault was ignorance of his young niece's addiction. Tomoe implored him that Asako Kinto was not to blame for this sorry affair, but the Ronin asked where he should direct his anger. Okura suggested that he focus on ensuring that this would never happen again to any other Geisha.
* Ronin from the Widows of the Wall. Led by Hase (Long Valley, a former Crane) applied for a travel visa, but Okura thought it best to delay granting it until closer to the time, as they were concerned the Ronin may cause trouble and withholding it would ensure their good behaviour. The magistrates sought to contract their services, but they said that they were already under contract in the city, but would not give details. 
* There were two cases that needed to be delayed so that the defendant could be fetched, so were handled at the end . 
** A merchant by the name of Kenzu came from Crane lands, complaining that a Scorpion merchant had taken goods without paying for them. He claimed that the Scorpion merchant paid for seven bushels of rice, each bushel loaded in to a single basket, but took 20 instead. Kenzu admitted that he was distracted and did not notice the missing baskets until they had already left. The Scorpion merchant Gi, claimed that he took all of the baskets laid out, on the assumption that this represented the correct amount of rice. After some back and forth over contracts and the exact agreement, the Magistrates ruled that the Scorpion had to return a portion of the rice.
** A Unicorn merchant from Southern Unicorn lands, claimed that a prized Unicorn riding horse was taken by a Scorpion Samurai who did not return it. When he requested compensation for the horse at the end of the tax year, his request was rejected as the Samurai had not marked the transaction with his chop. The Samurai now resided within the city. The Samurai in question Bayushi Boro claimed that he had been in hot pursuit of a bandit who had fled in to Unicorn lands. After his horse threw a shoe he required a replacement and so took the merchant's. He was in too much of a hurry to mark a form for it. He subsequently found the bandits, but they assaulted him and he was injured and the horse died. He then came to Ryoko Owari to heal and stayed when he got a new job. He conceded that he took the horse and marked his chop to confirm this on a letter. Whilst he was somewhat adversarial when it was suggested he should act with more care in future, he left without too much fuss.
Yogo Aniko however was surprised to find an additional scroll in the basket, which she initially was going to put away. But the Magistrates asked to see it. It was a cold case from over a year ago regarding the death of Ide Michikane, the darling of the Unicorn clan and the would-be husband of Shosuro Kimi who had died of an Opium overdose. The case had a footnote from Eyebrows who wanted Ashidaka Naritoki to speak to him about the results of his investigation. 
After clearing the cases they were joined by Ample and a monk who said that the Temple was happy to help briefly, but could not hold a merchant indefinitely. They discussed it and it was suggested the safest course of action would be to send Watchful away under guard to her family and allowing Ample to take care of Shosuro Kimi again. She agreed and Ample was able to suggest some people that would do the job reliably. 
Going off to find Eyebrows in the Prison, they asked him about the death of Michikane. Eyebrows said that it was suspicious that there was heavy bruising on the back of the head and arms. Common in many deaths, but rare in Opium overdoses as he had died slumped forwards and opium supresses convulsions prior to death. 
Looking in to it further, they found that at the time, Michikane was suppose to have been at a party with his family, but instead he was last seen the geisha house, the House of the Morning Sun in the company of his brother, the courtier Ide Asamitsu. Interviewing Jewel and Precious, they said that the brothers had booked a room quietly. They did not have a geisha to entertain them and asked only for food and drink, which by tradition is left by the door. Nobody saw Ide Asamitsu leave and the body was discovered by staff the next morning. Gate confirmed that both brothers arrived, but neither left. There were no suspicious changes of staff. The drop below led down a steep cliff to the water of the river and above was an area heavily used by the staff, so it was unlikely that anybody would be able to escape in either direction. However this left more questions than answers.
Tomoe went to the Silversmith's "Star of Silver" a business mentioned in the Memoires of an Opium Eater, to get her lantern repaired. The owner Shiho, was in a deep melancholy, convinced that they were under the curse of Daikoku for his greed. He confided in Tomoe that he has lost his previous patron Shibashi Onagon and now following the release of her book, his new patron was neglecting him due to his depression about the revelation of said book. Tomoe went and found Iuchi Ayana and told her of the situation. 
Anzu was called to the scene of a death, Hiroshi of the Little Gate firemen had been beaten to death in his home along with two of his lieutenants. Next to the bludgeoned bodies was a message scribed in red paint; "This is the price for defying the Ryoku Ninja". 
Ayana followed up on Tomoe's mention of Kinto not having taken care of his merchant. She visited him, which he quite enjoyed. He explained that since his name became known after the Memoires of an Opium Eater was de-anonymised, he has disliked leaving his house as people looked at him with disdain and hatred. So he prefers to study and detach himself from the world. However he was receptive to the idea of sending an apprentice over, as the shop reminded him too much of his deceased niece Shibashi Onagon, he did not wish to see it himself. 
The Ronin returned with the headless body of Watchful. Reporting that a shadowy figure flew her in to the sky and decapitated her. Eyebrows reported that the cut was clean and the body had the same injury as when she was attacked previously. 
Whilst elemental spells could disguise people and let them fly, it could not summon a monster like the one described. Nor could Maho summon creatures besides Oni, which are generally not renowned for their subtlety. When Okura tried to use his spirit touch on the clothes of the victim, he got only a dark nothingness. 
== Episode 13: The Showdown ==
Late afternoon Shinjo Takaaki re-joined the other magistrates after a heavy day of moving in to the Ide apartments. The lovely box from the Isawa twins turned out to be poorly made and the bottom fell out when trying to move it, shattering a vase that Shinjo Sumi was quite fond of. 
They met at the magistrate's residence where Yogo Aniko gave them some correspondence:
* Usagi Ozaki (Who they knew from the Topaz Championship) had sent a letter requesting the aid of the Magistrates in relation to a situation developing in his home.
* The Emerald Champion Doji Satsumi (The Grinning Crane) was travelling to Ryoko Owari to check on the Magistrate's progress. 
* 
They split up, Shinjo Takaaki and Iuchi Ayana went to the Ide Residence to commandeer the troops of the Unicorn, which Shinjo Yasefusa granted with a bit of negotiation on price. 
Anzu went to the governess who gave up command of the Thunderguard under protest (especially as they had only sent their ronin), although she noticed that it was a very token protest and threats about what would happen if they were diminished. She insisted that she would complain to the Emerald Champion about this over-reach of their authority and that anything they did with the Thunder Guard would be entirely their responsibility. She asked Shoshoro Jocho to go with Anzu as he was the Thunderguard commander. 
Shinjo Tomoe went to Kitsuki Jotemon's Dojo to recruit her students, which she was willing to do with Ashidaka Michitaka confronting Tomoe first and asking for progress on his cousin's murder. 
Anzu took the Thunder guard, leaving a detachment of 20 at the Dragon's Bridge and went up through the merchant district and crossed the Moments Edge bridge.
Tomoe took the students from Jotemon's dojo to the Dragon Bridge where she was joined by Shinjo Takaaki and Iuchi Ayana leading the Unicorn guards as they passed the Thunderguard left to guard the bridge and went North in to the Fisherman's quarter with no real opposition.
They found an odd three-way fight happening around Watchful's old warehouse with the Moment's Edge Firemen, the Widows of the Wall and a troupe of Bayushi Bushi all fighting each other whilst the firemen "rescued" bundles of Opium whilst fending off the Samurai.
Jotemon's students carefully kept the peace and prevented the innocent from getting caught in the crossfire.
Iuchi Ayana used air magic to amplify her voice and a burst of fire in the sky to catch the fighters attention whilst Takaaki ordered them to stand down with the combined overwhelming force of cavalry and infantry. The Widows of the Wall cooperated hesitantly whilst the Bayushi were spurred on by Bayushi Otado who commanded them to not give ground. A Thunderguard arrow put him down, but he fell back behind his men and this galvanised their resistance. The combined Thunderguard and Unicorn made a short but brutal charge, putting down most of the Bayushi forces, although Otado was not found among those rounded up afterwards. 
The force made their way back to the Bayushi Manor where more guards were arrayed outside. Bayushi Korechika and his son Bayushi Otado both came to greet the assembled host. 
They announced that the Bayushi 's were guilty of illegal Opium processing and breaching the peace of the city. Korechika responded that these were baseless lies and with his blade Forceful Retort, he would face the Magistrate's champion in a duel. Tomoe eloquently accepted the challenge as they met alone outside the manor. 
Tomoe faced him down and whilst Korechika had a better eye for her stance, he was older and slower on the draw. She gave him a devestating slice across his chest. He tried to retort, but the injury threw him off balance and her second stroke killed him leaving him dead in the street. Otado shook with rage at this, but was able to control himself enough to head back inside the manor. Tomoe commanded them to stay there for now. 
Ayana went in having heard cries from inside, but the lady of the manor would not see her speaking through a door, she was an already sad woman clearly distraught at the loss of her husband and soon to be labelled criminals. 
They found another warehouse fire. Although it was claimed that Thunderguard attacked a Bayushi warehouse, Jocho pointed out that his guards are all clean shaven, whilst the burnt corpse showed signs of having had some facial hair. 
Eyebrows later identified the two bodies as a Unicorn guard and Ide Nakatada. Both bodies ruined almost beyond recognition. Though Takaaki told him that he had seen nothing, which he agreed to. 
When the Emerald Champion the Grinning Crane Doji Satsume arrived, they reported that the Opium situation was much improved, but could not be entirely removed, he was disappointed that they had not made progress on any other fronts, but the resolution of the Opium crisis was at least a success that he could present to the Emperor. 
I the days that followed, Bayushi Saisho was found dead, a suicide along with a young woman in her twenties who was cremated alongside her and her late husband. Their son put his families affairs in order and quit the city in disgrace, leaving the manor vacant. The Merchant known as Sharp, was also killed in a violent assassination. 
Opium prices soared making it difficult for common people to afford, forcing a wave of painful and often fatal cases of withdrawal, suicides and violence. Firemen conflicts changed from open brawls to smaller but more brutal stabbings and reprisals. Nobles still smoked opium but more circumstpectly, increasingly prefering sake and hard liquor like shocho to distract them from their pains, causing more violent drunken brawling between nobles.
The Governess Shosuro Hyobu was at least satisfied with the outcome, now that she held a monopoly and her hands were clean of responsibility for the destruction of the other two cartels.
Kitsuki Oki was recalled to her home for additional training. She now revealed that this was with the aim of promoting the young investigator to become an Emerald Magistrate in her own right which she recommended to the Emerald Champion.Back to main L5R page: