[002] Up the trail in search of the tiger

[ffilz]

You get back to the shrine. Do you want to leave your horses again as the ghost leads the way down the trail?

Come, my farm is down this trail.

[jemmus]

Kiyoshi will lead his horse. He doesn't want to count on being able to come back to the shrine.

[ffilz]

Quote from the first post of the thread:

Kiyoshi leads the way up the trail. It is a good trail, and leading the horses is no problem.

You arrive at a smaller shrine (the next "hut" on the trail). This is a simple trail-side shrine (it's not in an urban setting, but this was an image I could fine that I could directly link...):

It is a shrine to the Kami of the small mountain you are close to the summit of. There still has been no sign of a tiger or oni, however, you do see disturbed undergrowth surrounding a narrow trail heading down the backside of the mountain towards the stream. This trail will not be suitable for leading horses on. There is a foreboding silence and stillness in the air.

And actually, you probably could have anticipated this and left the horses at the temple if you prefer.

[jemmus]

Kiyoshi prefers to leave his horse on the trail, rather than at the temple. He thinks there's less chance of it being stolen there.

[Marullus]

Bankei's nimble litte donkey continues faithfully along behind him.

[ffilz]

OK, the horses are left on the trail and the donkey follows Bankei as you all follow the ghost down the trail, past the Oni, around the rock. Soon you see a small terraced farm off the trail. There is a small peasant's hut and a few other structures (I'm not sure what a rural mountain farm would look like...). A search eventually finds a gravely injured woman laying on a path near the edge of the farm. She has a slash across her chest (mechanically she is at close to -1/4 her hit points, just barely in the safe reserve - magical healing would quickly restore her, likely a Cure Light Wounds would restore her to consciousness).

The ghost declares Oh my poor Kuni, I hope she will survive. You must help her. The ghost anxiously awaits your reaction.

[Marullus]

Bankei shuffles up and crouches beside her, unflinching as his hands become unclean with her blood. "Kuni... Kuni-sama... it is not your time. Come back to us in this world, please." He forms a mudra with his hands and focuses himself, a glowing light coalescing around his hands and over the slash wound on her chest.

Magical Healing [1d1000]=343

[ffilz]

Bankei shuffles up and crouches beside her, unflinching as his hands become unclean with her blood. "Kuni... Kuni-sama... it is not your time. Come back to us in this world, please." He forms a mudra with his hands and focuses himself, a glowing light coalescing around his hands and over the slash wound on her chest.

Magical Healing [1d1000]=343

Roll your 1d6+2 of healing. I'm going to assume you don't roll a 1 so I can narrate Kuni regaining consciousness (at worst you need to use a 2nd cure).

Initially Kuni is very confused, but quickly regains her wits: Wha? Oh dear Maseo what has happened to you? Oh, you have crossed over, did the tiger demon eat you?

Maseo (the ghost): Dear Kuni, I tried to get help but was overtaken. These kind gentlemen found me in the temple and came to our aid. Now I know you will be safe.

Goodbye my love.

And with that and a gust of wind blowing the sent of fresh flowers the ghost dissipates.

Oh, and somewhere along the way, you must have passed his body. I assume you wrapped it in some cloth and will now proceed with a proper burial here at the farm?

[Marullus]

Heal [1d6+2]=6+2=8

Yes, Bankei has a lifetime of gravedigging and his donkey carries the supplies. He tends to the body with slow, placid care as he performs segaki rites, asking the Bushi to comfort the woman.

[Starbeard]

For all his swordplay, Ezo does not have much experience consoling the grief-stricken. He looks around for some water to dampen a cloth so that she can make herself more presentable, and describes how passionately the farmer's spirit clung to this world to ensure her safety and that he would be avenged.

[jemmus]

Young and callow Kiyoshi is at a loss for what to do. When the fragrance of flowers comes up, he has to look away and brush tear that forced its way into an eye. He wants to ask the woman who, or what, injured her, but now is not the time. He offers ther his water flask. Some water, aunt-san, until you can have some tea.

He doffs his upper o-yoroi and helps with the grave digging.

[ffilz]

OK, Maseo is laid to rest, Kuni is healed (she could use more healing, but can not be healed fully until the next day, though another healing followed by over night medical attention will leave her healed of all but one point (magical healing can only restore 1xHP per day on a character, Kuni was as -3 out of 10, so 10 points of magical healing restores her to 7, overnight healing with medical attention restores 2 more, bringing her to 9). She would recover the remaining point from an additional night of rest, or you could cast a healing in the morning.

All of these happenings should be reported to the magistrate.

[Marullus]

Bankei is satisifed leaving the woman hale and mostly healed, her husband buried, and with assurance of satisfaction that may console her in her grief. He defers to the Bushi on leaving and returning to the magistrate, as it is their honor to report.

He asks to pause at the shrine one more time to bury the priest's body (and any bakemono-sho or others), scrub the floor, and set the altar back to its proper place. Such is the life of the eta gakusho.

After reporting to the magistrate, he still has interest in acquiring a second sake flask to divide the potion and ensure that both Bushi have one dose each.

Are there any decisions for his advancement to Level 4 Gakusho or did you take care of it? Is the sheet updated?

[ffilz]

Bankei is satisifed leaving the woman hale and mostly healed, her husband buried, and with assurance of satisfaction that may console her in her grief. He defers to the Bushi on leaving and returning to the magistrate, as it is their honor to report.

He asks to pause at the shrine one more time to bury the priest's body (and any bakemono-sho or others), scrub the floor, and set the altar back to its proper place. Such is the life of the eta gakusho.

After reporting to the magistrate, he still has interest in acquiring a second sake flask to divide the potion and ensure that both Bushi have one dose each.

Are there any decisions for his advancement to Level 4 Gakusho or did you take care of it? Is the sheet updated?

The sheet should be updated. I might not have used all your memorization, let me check... OK, added a couple more things to fill out your memorization.

[jemmus]

Kiyoshi isn't familiar with these things throughout Nippon, but in his village, every kind of disturbance must be reported to the magistrate. He believes that doing that here too would be wise.

[Starbeard]

Nagao Ezo has little else to do here. If the wife is elderly (can't remember) he will spend the rest of the time doting on her as a grandma; otherwise he gives her space and prepares to leave. He watches the forest while Bankei finishes up his cleaning, and jokes with Kiyoshi about their exploits. "Here I am, on my pilgrimage to find a worthy battle, and right out of the gate we cross swords with a demon! You should boast of your achievements today, I'm sure plenty of lords would take on Kiyoshi 'the Oni-Slayer'."

[jemmus]

Kiyoshi laughs. Kiyoshi and Ezo the oni-slayers! We'll let the oni's head boast for us. That's why my poor horse has to carry the ugly thing.

[ffilz]

Are we ready to head off to report to the magistrate?

[Starbeard]

I think so.

[jemmus]

I think so too.