L5R Army of Midnight Chapter 2

The samurai questioned Kimiko about details, but all they could get from the shocked peasant was the location and that there was a lot of blood surrounding the body. Junko didn't seem all that concerned, but then again she's an old, old lady. Suspecting the work of more goblins, the PCs get ready and leave for the crime scene, asking Kimiko to send the village's undertaker after them.

[2009-07-10 18:10:33] <Traveller> And so both samurai set off in search of a corpse.

[2009-07-10 18:10:40] <Traveller> Back at the watch post:

[2009-07-10 18:10:56] <Traveller> Jin: "Sure, go away, it's not like I'm freezing or anything."

[2009-07-10 18:11:14] <Traveller> "Damn this cold!"

Under the moonlight and the cold winds, Yuzuki and Akira quickly made their way through Makaimura towards the road. They approached cautiously, suspecting trouble, but all they found was the dead body of a Crane samurai, head covered by a straw hat. Reluctant to touch the body due to their Rokugani taboos, they could only surmise at first that the samurai had died from a wound that went from the left side of the chest all the way towards the throat. Unable to find out anymore after almost an hour of searching, Akira lost patience and asked Yuzuki to look the other way and started examining the body. He found out that the wound was definitely caused by a blade, and when he removed the hat covering the face he confirmed the pair's suspicions: Asahina Benkei lay dead, his face horribly savaged.

Junko told Yuzuki before leaving of the Emerald Magistrate living in the City of Remembrance, someone from the Doji family. As a Magistrate and a member of the Crane, the PCs felt she had to know about things, and they set off for the city. Nearing midnight, they arrived, and were challenged by the bushi guarding the city gates - who, as it turned out, was a young acquaintance of Akira's, Shiba Kouichi. He led them to the Magistrate's manor, where Yuzuki whispered to the Crane guard the reason of their (very late) visit. With Kouichi back to his post, they followed the guard inside.

[2009-07-10 19:46:02] <Traveller> The first thing people think about the Doji family are their famous women - beautiful, petite, slender, charming.

[2009-07-10 19:47:00] <Traveller> Emerald Magistrate Doji Kaori, on the other hand, is more like a female-shaped ice block. She's taller than both of you, and you are not sure if that sudden gust of cold air that entered the room came from outside or her.

Not at all happy at being awakened this late and for such a reason, Doji Kaori questioned the PCs. She seemed to be particularly cold to Akira. From the information they provided, she figured out that an iaijutsu attack couldn't have been the cause of death (wrong side of the body), but a proper investigation would have to wait until morning. She allowed Yuzuki to stay in the manor, but as for Akira...

[2009-07-10 20:10:22] <Traveller> "...I believe you have a home in the city. A runner will be sent to wake your wife."

[2009-07-10 20:10:34] <Shiba_Akira> (FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF)

He... doesn't get along with his wife.