(D13 ME-expecting) Gaki Study Group

[Asahina Hoshiko]

Hoshiko arrives with her satchel full of notes and a small box of dumplings from the kitchen to provide sustenance.

[Kuni Shiori]

Shiori didn't have too much experience hosting a gathering of more than one but she supposed occasions like this would be good practice for her future court attendances and in her next married life. Considering that this was a gathering on trapping and vanquishing a gaki, this wasn't a fluffy social call at the very least.

She had no intention of keeping people at the door waiting and had clear instructions laid out so that the staff would quickly usher people inside. The meeting would be held at one of the larger meeting spaces. There were some of the screens shifted around so that they could host guests in the double digits if they needed to but the extra space was mostly for the work they were doing to do. The room was spartan, safe for two low tables at the centre with appropriate cushions and some teapots. There was a bit of a hitch with the prep that might have left the black tea cooling a bit earlier than expected. The iron lanterns were placed on the tables and left a bit of shadows congregating in the corners of the room, surely that wasn't intentional for effect. The heavy scent of incense was present in the air, although it didn't seem to be coming from the room itself, another unintended mystery.

She bowed politely to greet her and gestured her in. "Good evening, Ashaina-san, welcome. I know that you're somewhat familiar with the decor already but...I have done my best to dress it up slightly for the other guests. Please, have a seat."

[Asahina Hoshiko]

Hoshiko offers appropriate greetings, looking around the room. "The incense gives it a proper temple feel. Good for focus on this sort of work. Thank you for hosting."

As she enters to sit, she asks, "I hope the fortunes have found you well today."

[Kuni Shiori]

Shiori smiled faintly on that note. "I figured they would be good for concentration. Admittedly, I'm not really much for meditation but there is something soothing about the scent. I get the feeling that some of our guests will feel the same...And no thanks needed, you've already played host last time. But, hopefully, we won't need to make our rounds with the others. Here's hoping we managed to get most of it done soon, if not tonight."

"I've been doing well, thank you. A bit of perspective found at the festival and some short-lived thrills at the wager...as for you?" she asked in return after remembering the last meeting was more than a day ago.

[Asahina Hoshiko]

"I've been doing well, thank you. A bit of perspective found at the festival and some short-lived thrills at the wager...as for you?" she asked in return after remembering the last meeting was more than a day ago.
[/quote]

"I hope we won't need another three or four meetings to hash out the ritual, winter will be nearly over by that point! But I've been well. Busy with all the odd bits of court, of course. The sumo was...well a little disorganized, but it went well, considering the circumstances I think. I hope it soothes the earth a bit to have the traditions maintained like that."

She sets out the dumplings. Simple fare from the kitchens. "From what I could work out yesterday in the library, I think we'l definitely need multiple people able to direct the kami, using multiple elements."

[Agasha Yuna]

Yuna arrived with several relevant scrolls and lots of paper and ink for note taking.

She bowed to their hostess, Kuni-san.

"Thank you for organizing this. It was so helpful to share what we knew before. I hope we can work out the ritual and then see this terrible harm put to rest. It's good to see so many clans working together."

[Kuni Shiori]

"There are many pious traditions observed with sumo, so I imagine this would appease them in normal circumstances. Even with all of that rumbling and stepping, I imagine it would have been equally entertaining for them." She supposed in the Phoenix shugenja kami appeasement-leaning sense, that was true.

Shiori was still full from the gathering earlier this afternoon, enough that she skipped supper without regretting it. That said, the appearance of the dumplings did make her curious enough to fetch out her own chopsticks to sample. They all came from the same servants in the kyuden but it did make her wonder if there was a difference in kitchens. "I attempted to recruit Moshi Akane to the effort, or at least warn her. From what she gathered in passing, she also did say as much as well."

*** [For the interest of time]

Once everyone was gathered, Shiori would piece together everyone's portion of the research while narrowing down the variables so that they could seek out a tailored answer for this problem they had. They, being the future of the Empire, it seemed.

Roll
Day 13, Mid Evening, Spellcraft/Intelligence: TN0, with 3 raises called. Void spent for +1k1 | 7k5 ⇒ 30 (TN: 15)

[Agasha Sanjuro]

Sanjuro arrives at the Crab House and greets those in attendance. He turns to Shiori, "Thank you for your hospitality and this important gathering."

He sets down a backpack containing some scrolls and ink and his lucky tea set. Never leave home without it. He awaits whatever will come next.

[Agasha Sanjuro]

Adding his research, with the Fire kami

Spellcraft/Intelligence | 7k4 ⇒ 33 (TN: 15)
success with 3 called raises

[Fukurokujin]

The research yields the following results:

This ritual will require shugenja to make a spellcasting roll, base TN 55, to restrain the spirit. Each participating shugenja may make one roll and only one roll. The TN is lowered by 5 for each Element represented among the spellcasting rolls being made. (IE, if we have all five Elements, the TN for each of the rolls becomes 30.) In theory, one shugenja could do this, but it would be hard.

Success will restrain the spirit.

Binding him will require the presence of a vessel or other object suitable to retain the spirit (this is fluffy; let the PCs have their head on this). As with the restraint, a number of shugenja not participating in the restraint will need to make spellcasting rolls, base TN 55, to force the spirit into the object. Again, each shugenja may make one and only one such roll. Again, the TN is lowered by 5 for each Element represented among the casting rolls, as well as by 1 for each successful Raise made on the binding roll. Again, in theory, one shugenja could do this, but it would be hard.

Success will bind the spirit in the object.

Failure to restrain or to bind the spirit means it will escape. It will attempt to possess one PC present, chosen randomly. This will be a Contested Willpower roll; add Honor to the result of the roll. If the spirit wins, it will be bad news for the character; if the character wins, the spirit will flee, presumably to possess someone else.

Bringing in Ancestral Swords will lower either the restraint or binding TN by 10 per sword. It will also make the Champion a possible host for the spirit.

[Asahina Hoshiko]

After all the talking, sharing notes, and scribbling out sometimes strange looking arcane formulas...it looks like Shiori's pulled together something that will work.

"That's...not going to be easy, is it?" She points to the theories regarding the effect that ancestral swords would have, the weight of those awakened spirits that served generations of champions devoted to generations of Hantei, should have an effect on a creature out of its proper place like this. "Doji-sama has already agreed to lend her blade. We need to present all this to Lady Seppun regardless, but she will also know if the Empress, may her memory live forever, brought the Hantei's sword with her this winter."

"We'll want a suitable vessel to hold it, and decisions about who will take on which prayers."

[Kuni Shiori]

"It's not going to be easy but I feel it's...doable in many ways. We have some swords here and we would likely have to call on a few shugenja to join the ritual. The numbers are on our side, we just have to use the sum of our parts and solve the equation, so to speak." She nodded, feeling confident that this would be just a matter of just making sense of things and doing their parts. "I know that I've made Moshi Akane-dono aware of the situation. I am adept with the Earth and can take on that element, unless there is a master in attendance?"

[Yasuki Masaki]

Masaki was there as well - mostly quiet after handing Hoshiko and Shiori the results of the previous day's research. She places on one of the tables a small cat figurine, its eyes on the procedures as if inspecting them.

-----
OOC: New job has been making it really hard to get things done, sorry :/ Will take a look at things tomorrow afternoon probably.

[Agasha Yuna]

"I asked Togashi-ue if he could help this morning. Anticipating the ritual would begin to take shape. He is happy to help. Just let me know as you confirm the time and place."

"Agasha-san, you can represent us well in this ritual."

"Do you all anticipate this will be dangerous? I mean, of course it will be spiritually dangerous, but it is helpful to have a bushi or two on hand? Shiba-san is keenly trained as a Shiba to support shugenja in these sort of situations."

[Asahina Hoshiko]

"I asked Togashi-ue if he could help this morning. Anticipating the ritual would begin to take shape. He is happy to help. Just let me know as you confirm the time and place."

"Agasha-san, you can represent us well in this ritual."

"Do you all anticipate this will be dangerous? I mean, of course it will be spiritually dangerous, but it is helpful to have a bushi or two on hand? Shiba-san is keenly trained as a Shiba to support shugenja in these sort of situations."

Hoshiko nods. "While Kitsu-sama was purposely calling when the spirit possessed him, it is possible that it could possess another, even without that invitation. At least, that's certainly a theme in many tales. In which case someone will need to restrain them."

"It's not going to be easy but I feel it's...doable in many ways. We have some swords here and we would likely have to call on a few shugenja to join the ritual. The numbers are on our side, we just have to use the sum of our parts and solve the equation, so to speak." She nodded, feeling confident that this would be just a matter of just making sense of things and doing their parts. "I know that I've made Moshi Akane-dono aware of the situation. I am adept with the Earth and can take on that element, unless there is a master in attendance?"

"None of the Elemental Masters are here, at least. Yasuki-san and I are good choices for working with the air components there."

[Yogo Kiuchi]

Kiuchi arrived late due to his player somehow missing that this Thread exists. He bows as he enters. "My apologies for being late."

[Agasha Sanjuro]

"Welcome Yogo-san. We are glad you could make it."

Sanjuro provides him a quick catch up of the discussion so far.

[Asahina Hoshiko]

(I just assume less active folks have always been here. No worries)

Hoshiko also welcomes the Yogo when he arrives, scooting aside from all the notes so Sanjuro can bring him up to speed.

"There are a lot of people still to talk to tomorrow. But the sooner we can finish this, the safer the court is, and the less angry the elements will be. I'll send Kitsu Shintaro-sama a note. Doji Minehime-sama is already appraised and will just need to know when...and where."

[Kuni Shiori]

"It would be best to minimize any potential damage, regardless of how confident we might be in our planning. There's always a non-zero chance for something unexpected to go awry, naturally. Somewhere remote but connected would make the most sense, perhaps the mine in the hinterlands? The epicentre of the earthquake and the first obvious signs of trouble. At night, there shouldn't be any or many people in the area, I assume."

[Agasha Sanjuro]

(I just assume less active folks have always been here. No worries)

Hoshiko also welcomes the Yogo when he arrives, scooting aside from all the notes so Sanjuro can bring him up to speed.

"There are a lot of people still to talk to tomorrow. But the sooner we can finish this, the safer the court is, and the less angry the elements will be. I'll send Kitsu Shintaro-sama a note. Doji Minehime-sama is already appraised and will just need to know when...and where."

"With Doji Minehime-sama coming, Shiba Higashime will also attend once she knows where and when."