Campaign6/session23
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The Saiji
Proposed Session Date: September 10th, 2005
Trailer: The Prefect has arrived, and one of his consorts has the stink-eye for Anna! What's up with that? Gotta show up to find out!
Synopsis:
Assynt 36, 1022 (Evening)
While the Prefect and his escorts dine with Shimura and his adjutants, the party watches the comings and goings of various servants from the porch of the guest house. They notice that the miner that led them to the mine where they found the Nilhen Time Chamber was summoned for questioning, along with Mayako, the midwife who delivered Naruko's sister's baby. Then Naruko is summoned to speak with the Prefect. It is clear that he has taken interest in the events of the past few days.
Anna sneaks off to the crossroads, hoping to track Nymvayas and find the body that she thinks Nymvayas has stashed as part of her disguise. Anna is followed by one of the runts from the village. He tries to grab her, but she handily trusses him up like the pig that he is, and leaves him in the woods.
Naruko returns, and indicates that she told them about Triella's healing of Hoshiko, and that the mine has run out of gems but Gurath has found a new site for a gem mine. She tells them that she left out any mention of the underground chamber, or the unusual things that have happened since they found the chamber.
Feiruhn, Tegred, Triella and Naruko track Anna, find the trussed Nith male, who tries (and fails) to lie his way out of the situation, but they easily see through his tale. They cut him loose and send him scurrying back to the village, where Naruko will inform the guards that he tried to subvert the Saiji, a ritual combat used to determine who may take a mate. The ritual combat is to the death.
They find Anna, and convince her to return to the village, and promise to help hunt for Nymvayas tomorrow.
Assynt 37 (Morning)
The party has an audience with the Prefect. Before meeting him, Shimura warns the women not to look directly at the Prefect because that would be considered an offer of courtship. Once offered, it cannot be withdrawn without losing face. During the audience, Triella, Naruko and Anna manage to keep their eyes averted.
The meeting is straightforward, and the Prefect proposes that a delegation accompany the party back through the gate to meet with officials from the Kingdom of Hebridonia. He wishes this to take place so that the Nith's interests are properly represented. He inquires about the magical arts that Triella has practiced and seems intent on determining if these powers are divine in nature. He also provides the party with a map of the surrounding area, and indicates that they should avoid the Kronnoch to the east, because they are a "savage people" who will take the women and trade goods and slay everyone else. The Akura to the northeast are trustworthy, but weak, and appease the Kronnach fend off attack.
The audience is concluded and the Prefect departs to oversee the Saiji.
The party gathers with the rest of the village to watch the Saiji. There are five warriors present with low tables before them with ceremonial tea service, their swords at their side. Behind each warrior is a banner representing the family the warrior represents. A sixth man, the runt who attacked Anna, sits beside the 5th warrior, without tea service or banner, but with his sword at his side. Those who try to subvert the Saiji must fight to restore their honor or commit seppuku.
The Prefect calls for the bravest warrior to step forward and select his first opponent. A strong man steps into the ceremonial ring, which consists of a 10 yard diameter circle made of coarse crushed salt, and points to the coward runt. The fight does not last long, and the victorious warrior does not wait for the coward's carcass to be dragged from the ring before calling on another fighter. Soon, the ultimate victor is decided, and he is offered to the young woman who has come of age and may now select her life love. She accepts the man as worthy, and the celebration begins!
Notes:
This session was originally titled "The Unexpected Guest". As is often the case, the plot moves in a direction that I don't expect once the game starts, and the title just didn't fit anymore.
Suppuku (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seppuku) is a japanese word meaning (literally): Stomach Cutting or slicing.
Previously: Session 22: Hunter or Hunted?
Next: Session 24: The Oncoming Storm
Back to Campaign 6 Index
