Ain't No Party Like a Scouting Party[Day 2, EA-Scout Patrol]

Matsu Erina · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 5:52 pm **Posts:** 368

"Something is wrong..."

Erina's brow furrows, wheels turning in her head.

"According to Kitsu-dono, the spirits are supposed to be coming her in a rush, and that they shouldn't have the patience to wait out a seige. Snowfall would make it harder for them to maneuver, shouldn't it?"

Erina tries to remember her battle tactics, another dark consideration forming in her mind.

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OOC:
Study the enemy tactics-Battle (Perception): 7d10o10k4 58

[PM to GM with thought]

Mindshred · **Joined:** Sat Dec 07, 2019 7:24 am **Posts:** 1559

Every so often, the group comes across a straggler or two, huddled up against a tree or collapsed in the snow. None of them seemed appropriate dressed for winter travel and seem to have perished recently, probably at some point in the night.

Most likely refugees attempting to bypass Toshi no Omoidoso in a futile attempt to reach another settlement.

Bayushi Norikami · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:22 pm **Posts:** 315

Norikami surveys the bodies when they are found here and there, looking for other tracks, and perhaps signs the corpses were tampered with, particularly if any are stripped or show injuries.

OOC
Hunting 14

Matsu Tani · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 8:49 pm **Posts:** 493

When they found each body, after others investigated them, Tani bid the others to continue their search while she would dismount, say a prayer of blessing for them, then remove their heads and collect Daisho if the bodies were samurai.

Mindshred · **Joined:** Sat Dec 07, 2019 7:24 am **Posts:** 1559

Bayushi Norikami wrote:

Norikami surveys the bodies when they are found here and there, looking for other tracks, and perhaps signs the corpses were tampered with, particularly if any are stripped or show injuries.

OOC
Hunting 14

The corpses seemed to be relatively unbothered, with only their own footprints leading up to them. The lack of scavenger tracks only emphasized how recently they perished.

Moto Baatar · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 11:41 pm **Posts:** 304

The Unicorn clucked his tongue upon discovering the bodies of the poor unfortunates. "They must've gotten lost in the dark and died from the cold," he said sympathetically.

There being little he could do for the fallen, Baatar rode ahead slightly to keep watch while the others attended to the bodies

Bayushi Norikami · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:22 pm **Posts:** 315

He shook his head.

Shit way to die in this shit situation.

Matsu Tani wrote:

When they found each body, after others investigated them, Tani bid the others to continue their search while she would dismount, say a prayer of blessing for them, then remove their heads and collect Daisho if the bodies were samurai.

He nodded to Tani, indicating he'd stay behind if she wanted a hand. If not, he'd mount up again and give her privacy, but stay close enough to back her up if something happened.

Matsu Tani · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 8:49 pm **Posts:** 493

She motioned Norikami on. She wasn't dwelling, in any case. A quick prayer, a removed head. Collected Daisho. Remount and go. As little pomp and circumstance as one would expect from a Lion.

Matsu Erina · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 5:52 pm **Posts:** 368

A curious expression comes over Erina's face, and she beats a quick path to her superior's side.

"Tani-sama...that storm...that storm seemed to follow us the entire way on our trek here, didn't it? And now, it's seeming to settle over one place."

"What if...and I hardly know for sure, what if something was calling it, or bringing it with us? Some kind of powerful object...one that has relation to the threat we now face." Erina tries to give the elder Lion a sidelong look.

Matsu Tani · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 8:49 pm **Posts:** 493

Tani looked to Erina, the last body handled, and nodded as she mounted again. "I had a similar thought. Though I do not know if it is an item or a person. I'd like to consult with Kitsu-dono on the matter. Her expertise in spiritual matters will greatly outweigh my own. Let's take a small sweep further in, then get back. What we've found is at least useful information, especially for the Shugenja."

Matsu Erina · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 5:52 pm **Posts:** 368

Erina nods.

"That seems prudent. At least we have information to bring back with us."

Bayushi Norikami · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:22 pm **Posts:** 315

Norikami didn't find himself smirking because he thought the two Matsu were being too cautious.

He was smirking because he found himself wondering how cute the Snow Maiden might be.

Togashi Tsukimi · **Posted:** Thu Apr 09, 2020 8:13 pm

"Ready to follow your lead, Matsu-sama," Tsukimi nodded, her expression somber over the ones who had perished.

May Jizo help them find mercy in the after-life.

Moto Baatar · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 11:41 pm **Posts:** 304

Matsu Tani wrote:

"Let's take a small sweep further in, then get back. What we've found is at least useful information, especially for the Shugenja."

"A little further in, then," Baatar acknowledged with a nod. He started riding forward again.

Bayushi Norikami · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:22 pm **Posts:** 315

Norikami kept in the middle, to the flank. Keeping watch and listening closely. He wished he'd dragged Aya out here. He was decent at spotting things, but she was better at identifying whether the shift in the wind was normal, or the whisper of something malevolent.

OOC
Further Investigation: 34

Mindshred · **Joined:** Sat Dec 07, 2019 7:24 am **Posts:** 1559

More searching further away from the city reveals another corpse, this one surrounded by blood-stained snow and ripped limb from limb by some unknown creature. The tracks surrounding the corpse weren't like footprints so much as disorganized slashes in the snow, almost like a pile of snakes had overtaken the woman.

The tracks lead deeper into the forest.

Togashi Tsukimi · **Posted:** Thu Apr 09, 2020 10:38 pm

Tsukimi knelt by the scene for a better look, one hand clutching the prayer beads in her sash as she murmured a prayer for the deceased. "This seems... troubling. What manner of creature, or creatures, could have done this?"

Matsu Tani · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 8:49 pm **Posts:** 493

Tani prayed briefly to the deceased. "I don't know. But I don't know that we're equipped to find out. Too much farther in and we're giving ourselves up to potential ambush." She took a breath. "And Chinatsu-san mentioned the possibility that the Crane Champion is injured among the refugees. I did not wish to mention anything while we were scouting, but at this point it might be prudent to see if there is truth to that claim."

Togashi Tsukimi · **Posted:** Thu Apr 09, 2020 10:48 pm

Her voice was a little muffled as she pulled up her cowl to cover her mouth and nose, shielding her from the smell of death.

"That is... terrible news. Did they know anything of where the Lord of the Crane were last seen among the refugees?"

But did that really make sense? Wouldn't the Crane Champion have an enormous retinue if attending the Emperor's winter court? Now she really wished she knew more about this sort of thing.

Bayushi Norikami · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:22 pm **Posts:** 315

Norikami had to press his lips together to keep from salivating in his mempo. This is what he'd waited to see, something monstrous, maybe even horrifying.

He had to admit he'd be too outnumbered to get this group to push further. He'd rather have Aya, that mule, here to help anyway.

And who could argue with getting thanks from the Crane?

"You've heard this, for certain? I'm surprised we haven't seen ten times our number out searching."

Ain't No Party Like a Scouting Party[Day 2, EA-Scout Patrol]

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