[Day 4, EE] Event II: Surprise Inspection

[Cearnach]

You have had a fast and uneventful trip downriver, nimbly dodging fishermen and nipping past slow-moving barges in the rocky canyons separating Lion and Scorpion territory. Gusai Monchou ordered a flag dip in salute to the Scorpion border towers flying their Soshi mons proudly in the breeze. But things pass, and in spite of a decision to cut sail as darkness came on to lower the swiftboat’s profile, you are shocked to feel the boat slowing as Scorpion military boats flying the flags of House Kaneshiro of the Soshi Family and the Scorpion Inspectorate General pull up alongside. It seems that your vessel has come under inspection. This could take a while.

[Cearnach]

Stage 1: Greetings, Inspector!

Inspector Kaneshiro Furetaro of the house of Soshi is a small man, but he is built like a boulder–with muscles. He peers up his nose at Gusai Monchou, saying “Good evening, Mantis-san. By order of Soshi Michiko, in keeping with ordinances set down by Bayushi Tometsu and maintained these three generations, I present to you my credentials as a Magistrate of the Scorpion Clan and undertake, in accordance with my duty, to inspect your boat for contraband. I take it there will be no attempts to obstruct me or my staff as we carry out this duty?”

[Gusai Monchou]

Monchou takes her pipe out of her mouth, blows a perfect smoke ring, and says “Nope” with that pop on the ‘p’ that really endears a person to their peers. “Not from me, anyhow. But maybe you’d like to talk to the Empress’ reps over here. They might have somethin’ to say about delays.”

[Cearnach]

Stage I Mechanics

When face to face with the law, especially the sort of law that comes in the form of a strutting martinet of a magistrate, sometimes it is easier to catch flies with honey. You can choose to be cordial or confrontational.

Make your introductions in character. If you are cordial, make an Etiquette (Courtesy)/Awareness roll against a TN of 15. If you are confrontational, make a Courtier (Manipulation)/Awareness roll at TN 20 or Intimidation/Willpower roll at TN 25.

If you are successful with your introduction, Inspector Kaneshiro would like to make this whole affair as quick and painless as possible, but not so quick that he cannot ingratiate himself with Imperial Representatives. He spends so much time talking with you that your allies can make two attempts each on the These Are Not the Crates You’re Looking For stage.

If you fail, Inspector Kaneshiro decides to make your life more challenging in the only way he knows how: red tape. You must call an extra raise to be successful in the Expediting Paperwork stage.

If you successfully complete a confrontational introduction, you may, if you choose and if you have a Status or Influence rank of 4 or higher, rebuff Inspector Kaneshiro. In that case, this event will end immediately, Inspector Kaneshiro will be humiliated, and you will proceed to the Alternative Version [section C] of Event III: Papers, Please.

[Cearnach]

Stage 2: Expediting Paperwork

In order to pass through the river gate at Ryoko Owari in normal times, your Imperial Pass would be more than enough. Inspector Kaneshiro informs you, however, that recently several smugglers have presented forged Imperial Papers. The only way to get through is to have passes stamped by the Inspectorate. He’s happy to do that, provided the Captain and a representative of the passengers sign affidavits as to the nature of their cargo and business in Scorpion Territory and provide a copy of the ship’s manifest.

Please provide what information you are presenting in your affidavit concerning your business in Ryoko Owari. In addition, it might be best to help Gusai Monchou quickly get her papers in order. The ship’s manifest looks…questionable.

Make a Commerce/Intelligence roll at TN 15 (Inspector Kaneshiro is not actually all that good with figures), a Forgery/Reflexes roll at TN 20, or a Sincerity (Deceit)/Awareness roll at TN 25 to get the ship’s papers in order quickly, or at least to snow Kaneshiro enough that he fails to recognize what’s in front of him.

Advantages: Benten's Blessing, Daiokoku's Blessing
Disadvatnages: Can't Lie,

[Cearnach]

Stage III: These are Not the Crates You're Looking For

While Monchou and at least one member of the team are dealing with Inspector Kaneshiro, his yoriki fan out over the boat, checking the numerous crates on deck for labels and numbers they can check against the manifest. Some crates are opened as a test, more or less randomly. As this is happening, Monchou’s second, a lanky fellow by the name of Yue, beckons you over with a quick birdcall that can only be a signal. Lucky that the other sailors are keeping the yoriki busy.

“Look, Samurai-samas. Now, you gotta remember that Cap’n didn’t know nothin’ about carryin’ no Empress’ mission-types when she agreed to carry this stuff. We put it in the hold, like, an’ it’s under a tarp an’ all, but these Inspectorate types is more clever’n they let on. You don’t want ‘em findin’ th’Capn’s stuff. If’n they do, we’ll be here all night!”

You have a choice to make. You can reveal to the Inspector that this is a smuggling vessel, which will probably kill the Mantis, but Inspector Kureshiro will transfer you to his vessel. You’ll skip Event III and head straight to Event IV. Or you can decide to help with the coverup, taking an honor loss but opening up the options of Event III.

If you choose to help Monchou’s boys, you’ll find it isn’t easy to divert an eager youth just starting out in the magistrate’s gig. It’s hard to play on the jaded sense of defeat most magistrates develop before they reach their fifth year. But bamboozle you must.

This section requires 3 successful rolls (one for each yoriki) to pass. If your teammate chose to be Cordial in section I, then you may each roll twice for successes. You can:

A) Try to make it seem like one of the other yoriki has already accounted for these crates by shifting the tarp and making tracks in the dust in the hold with a successful TN 15 Hunting (Survival)/Perception check.

B) Try to blag one of the yoriki that these crates are already accounted for with a Sincerity (Deceit)/Awareness roll at TN 25.
Advantages: Benten's Blessing
Disadvantages: Can't Lie

C) Distract a yoriki with a Perform/Awareness roll at TN 25.
Advantages: Voice

D) Put the mind-whammy on a yoriki with a successful Lore: Theology/Intelligence check at TN 20.
Disadvantages: Fukurokujin's Curse

E) Bribe that yoriki. Bribe him good. You may do so with a Temptation (Bribery)/Awareness roll at TN 20.

Any failure on this check will lead to the crates being discovered, and everyone’s day becoming that much more difficult.

Inquiring minds might want to know what it is you’re being asked to cover up. You may get a peek into a crate with a successful Sleight of Hand/Agility roll at TN 20. The crew is mostly distracted, but a failure on this roll will cause a loud enough noise as nails squeal out of their nests of wood to draw attention. Good luck!

[Daidoji Sae]

Inspector Kaneshiro Furetaro of the house of Soshi is a small man, but he is built like a boulder–with muscles. He peers up his nose at Gusai Monchou, saying “Good evening, Mantis-san. By order of Soshi Michiko, in keeping with ordinances set down by Bayushi Tometsu and maintained these three generations, I present to you my credentials as a Magistrate of the Scorpion Clan and undertake, in accordance with my duty, to inspect your boat for contraband. I take it there will be no attempts to obstruct me or my staff as we carry out this duty?”

"Good evening Inspector-san."
Sae, at this point convinced she was the tallest person on the whole river, leans over the side of her craft, her seal of office held in one hand to reflect off the torch light.

"I am Sae of the Daidoji, Emerald Magistrate by the Empress' Grace, Lady of House Miyahara and most importantly, on a deadline.

Forgive my brusqueness, but our journey is an urgent one and we do not have the luxury of time, even for important duties such as yours."

Firmly although, not unkindly, he was only doing his job after all. "Blessings be upon you."
She looks back at their captain with a "Let us continue on?" look.
----------

Day 4 EE Event, Surprise Inspection, Stage 1, confrontational introduction, TN 20 Courtier/Awareness, spending a void point | 7k4 ⇒ 37 (TN: 20)

Confrontational introduction!

[Cearnach]

Inspector Kaneshiro's eyes widened. This was the damned Meadowlark! How in the Fortunes' name did that devil Monchou get an Emerald Magistrate to back her?

He bowed deeply. "Very well, Daidoji-sama. Carry the Fortunes," he bit out and waved the Meadowlark along.

[Gusai Monchou]

For her part, Monchou grinned and clapped Sae on the back. "Great work, Magistrate-sama! That should shave about 2 hours off our journey!"


you will proceed to the Alternative Version [section C] of Event III: Papers, Please.

[Daidoji Sae]

For her part, Monchou grinned and clapped Sae on the back. "Great work, Magistrate-sama! That should shave about 2 hours off our journey!"


you will proceed to the Alternative Version [section C] of Event III: Papers, Please.

Sae looks over her back at Monchou, then the departing Scorpion, then back at the Captain.

"Such was our need for haste." Exhaling quietly through her nose. " Most of my life has been spent on the other boat, this has been most interesting."
She gives the Mantis a small nods.

[Kitsu Sayomi]

"Good job, Daidoji-sama," Sayomi remarked with a small smile.

[Ikoma Honoka]

"Two hours saved now will be very useful later" Honoka offered with a nod and a smile "good work Daidoji-sama."