[Day 5, MM] Event III: Papers, Please!

[Cearnach]

Because practically every street in Ryoko Owari ends in a cluster of warehouses huddled around a wharf, the river gates are the last check that the Shosuro have on goods entering or leaving the city, and they use them assiduously. Monchou is forced by law and the anti-ship weapons built into the towers of the City of Green Walls to pull up to the harbormaster’s wharf and submit for permission to enter.

Please Choose 1 of the following options. If you rebuffed Inspector Kaneshiro in Event I, you must choose option C.


Option A: We’re On a Mission from God.
Your situation is, of course, slightly different than Monchou’s. You still need to account for yourselves to the Thunder Guard, but a simple flash of your Imperial Seal will let you through…though it will also alert the Shosuro as to the sensitive and important nature of your mission. If you mean to present yourselves as the representatives of Imperial Authority on a Mission from the Daughter of Heaven, then you will receive an escort to the Governor’s Office so that you can be welcomed properly. Proceed to Event IV: The Long Wait Lengthens.

If you do not wish to go to the Governor's Office, you can attempt to overawe the yoriki here into letting you avoid the Governor by using your authority. This will entail a major breach of etiquette honor loss and require a Courtier (Manipulation), Temptation (Bribery), or Intimidation/Awareness check at TN 25. If you do this, proceed immediately to part VI: A Ronin in a Haystack.

Option B. Badges!? We Don’t Need No Stinking Badges!
If you want to obfuscate your mission and your authority, then you need to provide some other form of identification. If you have an Ally who is an Emerald Magistrate attending Winter Court (or are such an Emerald Magistrate), you can spend a point of devotion with them (or simply assert yourself) to declare that they provided the team with alternative travel papers (or simply declare that you have them). You then only need to make a Sincerity (Honesty)/Awareness roll of TN 20 to present your situation to the yoriki.

Disadvantages: Failure of Honesty

If you are a Scorpion samurai of Status 3 or higher, you can simply suggest that your companions are with you, and that you of course have every right to be here. You only need to make a Sincerity/Awareness roll of TN 15 for the yoriki to let you pass.

If you are none of these things, then the task is much harder. You will need to make an Intimidation or Temptation/Awareness check of TN 25 to overawe the yoriki. If you take this option, the yoriki will not insist you visit the Governor’s Office, but will send a signal up the ranks that you are to be watched. This will trigger the “Somebody’s Watching Me” rules in Event VI: A Ronin in a Haystack.

Option C: Ah, Yes, I See That You *Are* the Chosen Ones.
If you rebuffed Inspector Kaneshiro in Event II, you are instead met by a squad of Thunder Guards in full armor led by a dashing bushi of early middle age.. He introduces himself as Taisa Shosuro Hiro and informs you that he and his men will be escorting you to meet with the governor, who wishes to place as many Scorpion clan resources as you need to facilitate the Empress’ wishes. You may attempt to refuse this and abscond using a Social or Low skill roll appropriate to the situation. The TN to do this is 30. Shosuro Hino has heard it all before.

If you fail, or indeed if you choose to go along with the Taisa, continue to Event IV: The Long Wait Lengthens. If you are successful, head straight to Event VI: A Ronin in a Haystack.

Advantages: Benten's Blessing

[Ikoma Honoka]

As the ship is pulled up and the welcome party of armed samurai waited for them, Honoka stepped forward and bowed. It seems their origin was rumbled.

"Good morning Shosuro-sama. Thank you for your warm welcome and invitation! However, unfortunately at this time we must refuse the generous invite as it not the will of the Empress to displace the resources of the Scorpion working diligently in this city. We shall only be briefly here, and I'm sure the Governor would not wish for any delays to happen while we were here ne? It would certainly not sit well at the greatest court in the lands to hear that there was obfuscation at work, but I trust that the honourable Scorpion would never allow such things" she gave the man a smile "thank you for your consideration at this time Shosuro-sama. May we pass?"


(ooc: Day 5, MM Event III: Papers, Please! Courtier/awareness + ILS2 + ILS3 + Bentens. TN30 | 10k6 ⇒ 61 (TN: 30) 3 points of honour lost

[Cearnach]

Shosuro Hiro smirks. "Very well. I cannot say that the Governor will be best pleased to miss his chance to show his love to the Empress, but the Most High receives what she wishes. No more, no less."

He bows deeply, and lets you pass. Of course, some moments after you've gone, he signals a pair of guys on the rooftops, who immediately set off to keep track of your activities. The Empress' interests are valuable information, and the Shosuro aren't going to sit on their hands for this one.

Please proceed to Event VI: A Ronin in a Haystack the Sombeody's Watching Me rules are in effect