Answers, Please [LA, Closed, Sneaky]

Bayushi Degarashi · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:02 pm **Posts:** 1027

Disguise, +5 profession, +5 Clan, 2 raises, VP 1k1: 8d10o10k4 37
Disguise success, 2 raises for difficulty to see through it: TN40 to break disguise
Bland: TN55 to be recognized if disguise is broken
Craft: Perfume, Eau D'peasant, unknown TN: 4d10o10k3 14

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While the governor had decreed that court would continue despite her absence, Bayushi Degarashi was, if anything, unsatisfied with the distinct lack of answers to the goings on within the city. So, he decided to take matters into his own hands.

He opted to dress down for the situation. Way down. With any luck, as he made his way towards the castle proper, all anyone would see was a simple servant, on their way to answer the beck and call of their lord within.

Despite his familiarity with adopting various roles, his heart still fluttered as he approached the servant's entrance.

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

None of the Lion guards seems to give Degarashi much of a second glance, allowing him to enter the castle without being stopped.

Bayushi Degarashi · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:02 pm **Posts:** 1027

Having passed the first hurdle, Degarashi begins making a quick circuit of the castle interior. Unfamiliar with his surroundings, he stops every so often to scratch out a basic map on his parchment, eyes open for signs of the governor, ear to the ground for the kind of gossip that might lead him to the answers he was after.

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Investigation (Search) Unknown TN: 5d10o10k3 27
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Mindshred · **Joined:** Sat Dec 07, 2019 7:24 am **Posts:** 1559

It doesn't take long to learn that the governor has sequestered herself within her quarters. No servants are being allowed in or out.

Bayushi Degarashi · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:02 pm **Posts:** 1027

Degarashi takes some time to observe the governor's quarters, to see how thoroughly defended it might be. A total lockdown would make a direct intrusion exceedingly difficult, but he couldn't be sure without direct observation.

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

The governor's quarters were, not surprisingly, in one of the more secure areas of the castle. An Ikoma samurai stands guard outside the entrance, serving as a sentry.

Bayushi Degarashi · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:02 pm **Posts:** 1027

Degarashi weighed his options. Directly opposing the guard would risk his cover and possibly his life if it went poorly. So he elected to sacrifice a bit of time to create the impression that he was simply a cleaner, dutifully going about his work, and occasionally checking around corners and beneath random objects for some few minutes, until eventually he came to rest a short distance from the sentry, fully prone, with his face pressed to the floor.

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

The guard glances down at Degarashi... and doesn't say anything.

Bayushi Degarashi · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:02 pm **Posts:** 1027

Degarashi bit the inside of both his lips, to give himself something of a natural lisp.

"Sumimash-en, honorable shamurai-shama. Thish pathetic one would not dare to disturb your vigil, but haff you sheen any ratsh come by thish way?"

He did not lift his face from the floor.

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

"Can't understand a word you're saying," the Ikoma replies with a bored drawl. "Back to wherever you came from."

Bayushi Degarashi · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:02 pm **Posts:** 1027

Degarashi nodded and retreated.

"Very well, shama. If a rat crapsh in the lord'sh chambers, I shall be back later to accept her ire."

He turned to leave, slowly. Betting on the Ikoma was a longshot, so if it didn't work, he needed to find another way, more servants who might be in the know.

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

The Ikoma remains at his post as Degarashi walks away.

Bayushi Degarashi · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:02 pm **Posts:** 1027

One option closed, Degarashi begins searching for any other areas which might connect to the governor's room, whilst heading for the servants in charge of food preparation. Something was bound to turn up somewhere.

[Need investigation?]

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

There were plenty of samurai staying in the castle, so the kitchen was busy with servants preparing meals and trying to stretch out their supplies as much as possible. An overweight samurai in brown and gold armor sat in a corner of the room, reading a scroll and not paying much attention to the heimin he was no doubt supposed to be supervising.

(Sure)

Bayushi Degarashi · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:02 pm **Posts:** 1027

Degarashi tried his best to switch roles quickly, changing from cleaning staff to general kitchen assistance, moving food and kitchenware whenever there was a need or order to do so. He kept his eyes moving, looking from heimin to samurai, samurai to heimin and back, trying to take in the general flow of traffic and chatter. Every so often he'd glance towards the scroll in the portly Lion's hands, trying to discern the contents without getting too close.

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Investigation (Search) Unknown TN, Looking and Listening for gossip and talk of the governor: 5d10o10k3 38
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Mindshred · **Joined:** Sat Dec 07, 2019 7:24 am **Posts:** 1559

Degarashi overhears one of the heimin - seemingly one with some degree of authority - telling another that the governor isn't taking dinner today. Something about "fasting" or some-such; the heimin don't seem to know much more.

The Ikoma, for his part, seems to be reading a series of scrolls titled "Echoes of the Akasha."

Bayushi Degarashi · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:02 pm **Posts:** 1027

Finding little of direct use in the kitchens, Degarashi began forming an idea. It might be a stretch, but there seemed little enough information to be had about the governor without observing her directly. So, once a moment presented itself, he accepted an assortment of food and left the kitchen, searching the castle grounds for any sign of a medicinal herb garden, stopping occasionally to pass out the food he had until what was left was easily concealed on his person.

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

(Investigation/Awareness TN 25)

Bayushi Degarashi · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:02 pm **Posts:** 1027

[Investigation/Awareness TN25: 5d10o10k3 14
Nupe]

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

The only herb gardens that Degarashi finds are either still recovering from winter or they've been raided by the refugees to spice up their rice rations.

Answers, Please [LA, Closed, Sneaky]

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