[001] The Adventure Starts

[jemmus]

Kiyoshi observes and leaves the talking to ghosts to the professional. Nevertheless, he is highly alert and watching for signs of peril, dai-kyu and arrow ready.

[ffilz]

"I fear that is most distressing," says the priest, "if we dealt with the tiger would you... be at rest?" He words it carefully, as acknowledging a state of current-death is likely beyond the farmer's grasp.

Oh, that would be so much appreciated.

The ghost calms down even more.

[Marullus]

Bankei smiles placidly to his Bushi companions. "So, there is a tiger. Or perhaps a tiger-shaped Oni. Either a worthy foe for two brave warriors."

[Starbeard]

Is Ezo still succumbing to the fear effect? If not, he slowly takes a few steps back and gathers his bow. He nocks an arrow and begins to scan the forest treeline, particularly where the bakemono ran off.

[ffilz]

Is Ezo still succumbing to the fear effect? If not, he slowly takes a few steps back and gathers his bow. He nocks an arrow and begins to scan the forest treeline, particularly where the bakemono ran off.

As the ghost calms, the fear effect subsides.

[ffilz]

What is your plan of action now? It seems like perhaps you need to try and find this tiger...

[Marullus]

Bankei lets the brave Bushi take the lead on tiger hunting.

[jemmus]

Kiyoshi gets up the nerve to ask the ghost, Where can we find the tiger? Killing a tiger would be quite a feat a good step toward going from a village bushi to a master swordsman.

[ffilz]

Kiyoshi observes and leaves the talking to ghosts to the professional. Nevertheless, he is highly alert and watching for signs of peril, dai-kyu and arrow ready.

The ghost was babbling, and for reference from earlier:

It's also still not actually clear if the threat is an actual tiger, or perhaps an oni with the visage of a tiger.

Asking the ghost more questions about the tiger is far more likely to agitate it than gain any more information.

The general sense you get is that the ghost came from higher up the mountain, or perhaps actually over the back side (if you look North of the shrine location, there are some streams heading North).

Again, the map of the region:

https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=14/3 ... &layers=CN

The Shinto Shrine is the hut symbol near the center on the road. There's another hut higher up along one of the trails. Probably another smaller shrine.

[jemmus]

Kiyoshi says, It seems we won't be seeing a tiger or oni tiger here. Shall we proceed into the shrine?

[ffilz]

Kiyoshi says, It seems we won't be seeing a tiger, or demon tiger here. Shall we proceed into the shrine?

You're already in the honden.

[jemmus]

OK, revising.
Kiyoshi says, I don't think we're going to get much more useful information from this gentleman. Shall we bypass him and proceed? He does just that, arrow nocked in his dai-kyu.

[Starbeard]

"We aren't likely to find the tiger indoors. Let's enter the wood and see what we can see. We must be diligent, there is still at least one spirit creature out there. I suggest we follow its tracks: if nothing else, we will have less chance of getting surrounded by surprise."

[ffilz]

Unfortunately with a woodsman you will be at a disadvantage for tracking... On the other hand, tigers are big. Your sense is that the bakemono headed not in the direction you interpret you should look for the tiger. Perhaps just following the trail farther up the mountain will guide you.

[jemmus]

Kiyoshi
Let's look along the mountain trail then. The young ronin starts going that way. He's a little concerned about his horse, which his most valuable possession, after his armor. He doesn't want it to be eaten by a tiger thing. He'll take it with him up the trail, if possible.

[Marullus]

"Chk chk chk," Bankei urges his donkey forward on its leadrope, following the Bushi up the trail as well.

[ffilz]

What order would you like to be in on the trail?

[jemmus]

Kiyoshi can go first, unless Ezo wants to.

[Starbeard]

Ezo bows and kindly offers the lead to Kiyoshi, making a joke about demonstrations of manliness only counting when an enemy is present. He gathers up his horse's lead and struggles up the trail in second position.

[ffilz]

Note I started a new thread just in case you aren't subscribed to the sub-forum...