Sae had paused only briefly to pickup a few of her most trusted samurai before heading straight out the castle gates and into the eye. There may not be seconds to lose.

Her expression is completely neutral but the magistrate's eyes flicker rapidly over every approaching face as they approach the tavern Aoki spoke of.

At least a few week's shopping meant she could travel relatively incognito with a broad hat and boring (non-dog patterned) clothes. Best not to spook anyone before it was time to throw her weight around.

Masumi assessed her superior for any injuries, definitely not checking her out. "I am glad you are well," she said, a bit pink. Perhaps since there were so many bushi involved that Sae would not have noticed Masumi's absence... But this was an Emerald Magistrate's perceptivensss in question.

As for her appearance during the approach, her feelings of meekness didn't have her emanating that usual Matsu rawr people seemed to fear. She almost seemed like she had no business at all going where they were headed, assuming it was the shady pit that she imagined it to be.

Ryu also assessed his superior for injuries, even more definitely not checking her out. That's his cousin, you perverts!

His clothing was always a bit on the incognito side anyway, and he had practice not standing out, so he felt comfortable walking with the others.

"Unharmed, although several of the guards were not so lucky."
Sae frowns slightly, trying to remember if Masumi was there before shrugging slightly, it had been a chaotic scene.

And so, not being checked out by anyone, she led the party towards the tavern of ill repute.

-----------

Cearnach wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 27, 2024 4:09 am

Snip

We stand ready to continue the investigation mighty GM-sama!

The tavern is closed at this hour, but there is clearly someone inside cleaning. They respond to your knock with wide eyes and a look of pure surprise.

"Oh, samurai-samas! Our establishment is not quite equal to people of your station, particularly at this hour. The Copper Hills is open, however, and is well-spoken of by quality people."

Cearnach wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 30, 2025 4:21 pm

Snip

Sae gives a slight nod at the other two to look around just in case there was more to this tavern than met the eye before looking back at the cleaner.

Very politely. "Oh there is no need of that. We just have a few questions for you about some of your clients." She steps forward, "And then we can be out of your hair."

Ryu knew that they wouldn't be telling Sae no; one did not turn away an Emerald Magistrate.

He began looking around, his grey eyes narrowed.

Daidoji Sae wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 30, 2025 7:58 pm

Sae gives a slight nod at the other two to look around just in case there was more to this tavern than met the eye before looking back at the cleaner.

Very politely. "Oh there is no need of that. We just have a few questions for you about some of your clients." She steps forward, "And then we can be out of your hair."

"My clients? Okay, shoot." If it meant this guy did not have to go to the Emerald Office, there was no one he knew that he would not give up promptly.

Cearnach wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 30, 2025 8:10 pm

"My clients? Okay, shoot." If it meant this guy did not have to go to the Emerald Office, there was no one he knew that he would not give up promptly.

"Some ronin were here recently, one was called Aoki, he's from the east. Another was Nio, he had a very fine sword and grew up in the Lion lands."

Sae tries to imagine the gathering in the tavern as she looks around at the empty tables.
"They met someone here, a funny looking man. Loud talker, complained about things, rich. Do you recall?"

"Uh. we do get a lot of ronin in here. Loud guy sounds familiar though. Funny lookin', you said? I think he hired the back room. This would have been day before last. Haven't seen him, since."

Cearnach wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 30, 2025 8:31 pm

"Uh. we do get a lot of ronin in here. Loud guy sounds familiar though. Funny lookin', you said? I think he hired the back room. This would have been day before last. Haven't seen him, since."

"That would make sense."

If necessary they could always check the backroom to see if anything had been left behind, but it sounded as though this nefarious character was well known enough.

"You wouldn't happen to recall his name? Or anything further about him? It's very important we find him."
Sae certainly didn't want to call in a flood of yoriki and guards to search the place, and it sounded as though the owner didn't want that either.

"Well, as I recall, he used a name, but...it was Ichiro, so I'm not sure what use that'll be to you. He ordered our cheapest sake for the room, and was a little rude to my kid. But that's what you get with rich customers. Had these kinda buggy eyes and big teeth. Carried himself like he owned the place. Oh, there was one weird thing. My kid mentioned that he was complaining about the way we stabled his horse. Only, we ain't got no stable."

That drew Ryu's attention. He turned to the man, frowning.

"That seems odd. What could he have meant, do you suppose? Is there someplace nearby he might have put a horse that he thought was yours?"

Cearnach wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 30, 2025 8:52 pm

Snip

Daidoji Ryu wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 30, 2025 8:59 pm

Snip

Ryu made a good point, at worst he'd drunkenly stabled his horse in some other establishment.

Otherwise...

((Would Sae recognise this as some kind of code with a lore:underworld roll?))

Daidoji Ryu wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 30, 2025 8:59 pm

That drew Ryu's attention. He turned to the man, frowning.

"That seems odd. What could he have meant, do you suppose? Is there someplace nearby he might have put a horse that he thought was yours?"

"Not exactly. Most of the stables are up by the main roads and nearer the gates."

Daidoji Sae wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 30, 2025 9:37 pm

Ryu made a good point, at worst he'd drunkenly stabled his horse in some other establishment.

Otherwise...

((Would Sae recognise this as some kind of code with a lore:underworld roll?))

Folks can make an investigation/Awareness check tn 20 to theorize what he was up to.

Cearnach wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 30, 2025 10:05 pm

Folks can make an investigation/Awareness check tn 20 to theorize what he was up to.

Ryu narrowed his eyes as he considered, his mind at work on the problem...

----------------------------------------------------------

Inv/Aware, TN20 D11LM, 1CR if that helps! | 9k4 ⇒ 27 (TN: 25)

It occurs to Ryu that this guy most likely had no horse, but was putting on a show for the ronin to mislead them about the possibilities of his origin.

Ryu scowled. "Misdirection. They wanted to deceive about their method of travel."

He frowned, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "There's only one possible conclusion. If they'd traveled by land, that wouldn't have been misdirection; the routes are the same by horse or on foot. A local would have known where the stables are. Therefore, they must have come by ship."

Masumi rubbed her chin as Ryu explained along. By the end of it, all her brain was doing was wondering if she'd gotten into the right profession. What? Well, at the very least, she didn't expect them to come by air.

Her eyes glanced to the backroom, though she waited for her superior to order her to go that way. It didn't seem like she needed to push the owner around...