TAKEDA NO KATSUMI Appearance 5'4" (tall for her time), 117 lbs, long black hair, hazel eyes, fair complexion History/Background Katsumi was born in the city of Kamakura in the year 1170 A.D. It was time of uneasy peace between the powerful Heike and Genji clans, bitter rivals who had been warring for control over the Emperor for nearly twenty years. Katsumi was born into a small bushi clan who had traditionally supported the Genji. She, along with her two older brothers, were trained from birth in the arts of the samurai warrior. When war between the Heike and Genji clans erupted once again in 1180, her father and brothers left home to join the armies of Minamoto Yorimoto. The Genji gained won several victories against the Heike, but were unable to pursue their advantage due to a famine that descended upon the country in 1182. Katsumi remained in Kamakura, along with her mother and servants, training for hours each day in the hopes that she could soon join her kin. Finally, in 1184, Minamoto Yoshitsune passed through Kamakura with his army, on his way to join his brother in Kyoto. The Genji had taken the capital last year when the Heike had retreated, realizing the impossibility of withstanding a siege. Not willing to miss this opportunity, Katsumi sought out Yoshitsune and offered him her loyalty. Yoshitsune, impressed by her skill and character, accepted. Katsumi fought alongside Yoshitsune for the next year, and took part in the climactic battle of Dan no ura, where the Taira were finally defeated. After the war was over, relations between Yorimoto and Yoshitsune worsened. In November of 1185, Yoshitsune's mansion in Kyoto was attacked by a troop sent by his brother. The attackers were repelled, and Yoshitsune left the city later that month with his followers, including Katsumi. The small band fought their way to the shore of Daimotsu and embarked for Shikoku. A fierce storm arose and destroyed most of their vessels, but Yoshitsune, Katsumi, and a small number of other followers made it ashore in Izumi. There, they dropped out of sight for nearly a year. In 1187 Yoshitsune and his band, disguised as a group of itinerant monks, made their way to Mutsu and took refuge with Fujiwara Hidehira, a powerful friend of Yoshitsune's. Tragically, Hidehira died shortly their arrival and his son, fearing the wrath of Yorimoto, betrayed Yoshitsune to his brother. In 1189 a large force was sent to besiege the small stronghold, but Yoshitsune's loyal followers managed to hold them off long enough for Yoshitsune to honorably commit suicide. The stronghold was left in ruins and nearly all the defenders were slain in the battle, although they gave a ferocious account of themselves. Katsumi fell after being pierced by several arrows and impaled by a naginata. <><><><><> To modern readers of the Heike Monogatari, a remarkable feature is the role played by women. Some of the champions in the war tales are girls, for in the early feudal age the women of Japan had not yet been reduced to the humble submissiveness that would be their posture in later centuries. They were expected to exhibit the same loyalty and bravery as the men, and occasionally a woman exceptionally endowed with these qualities won an honored place in the warrior coterie. - The Great Ages Of Man: Early Japan Yoshitsune eluded his pursuers for some months longer, even visiting the capital in disguise if the legendary accounts are to be trusted; and early in the spring of 1187 he set forth from his secret haunts disguised as an itinerant monk of the fraternity of Yamabushi. He passed through Ise and Mino on his way to the coast on the Japan Sea and then northward to seek shelter and protection under Hidehira, the powerful lord of Mutsu. Yoritomo soon learned that Yoshitsune had been welcomed by the old lord of Mutsu, and in the spring of 1188 he sent messengers requesting that the fugitive be put to death. No notice was taken of this request, but Yoritomo was determined. He had here a cause and an opportunity of his most urgent desires. He wanted to take revenge upon Yoshitsune on private grounds of jealousy and he wanted to destroy the power of the lords of Mutsu. Having obliged the Court twice in March 1188 to order Yasuhira (Hidehira's successor) to arrest Yoshitsune, Yoritomo hesitated for some months before pressing for a third order. It was not until November that the order was repeated, and to this pressure Yasuhira at last yielded by attacking Yoshitsune, who at the end of the fourth intercalary month (June 15) of 1189, after killing his wife and children, committed suicide rather than surrender. - Abridged from A History Of Japan To 1334 Yoritomo was prepared to go to any lengths to achieve his ambitions. He distrusted anyone who had ability, and he even turned against his own brother, the noble Yoshitsune. In 1185, he arranged for his brother to be murdered. Luckily, the assassins were discovered in time, and Yoshitsune and his servants were able to hold them at bay. When he had killed his assailants, Yoshitsune appealed to the Emperor, who ordered him to arrest Yoritomo. But this was easier said than done. Yoshitsune lacked support in the capital, and had to set sail for the western provinces in order to raise an army. As soon as he had gone, Yoritomo marched into Kyoto. He forced the Emperor to reverse his decision and in turn grant him a warrant for Yoshitsune's arrest. Yoshitsune had a very hazardous journey. When he reached the court of his friend, Fujiwara Hidehira, ruler of Mutsu and Dewa, the old man agreed to protect Yoshitsune from his brother. Unhappily he died shortly afterwards, and his successor, Yasuhira, was so frightened of Yoritomo that he vowed to murder Yoshitsune. In 1189, Yoshitsune's palace at Koromogawa was besieged. Yoshitsune and his men fought with great courage against overwhelming odds. His giant retainer, Benkei, charged the enemy time and time again until he was covered in wounds. Then he stood leaning on his spear gazing contemptuously at the soldiers opposite him. Eventually, one of his opponents plucked up enough courage to charge the lone hero. Benkei made no move to defend himself and, as the horseman galloped past, the vast figure toppled over and crashed to the ground. Benkei had been dead for several minutes. Deciding that escape was impossible, Yoshitsune ordered his companion, Kanefusa, to kill his wife and children, while he himself committed suicide. Kanefusa did as he was told, and then set fire to the palace. While his enemies stood watching the blaze, he rushed out of the building and roughly grabbed a general from their ranks. Before anyone could move, Kanefusa had thrown both himself and his prisoner into the heart of the flames. The cowardly Yasuhira was so eager to please Yoritomo that he then executed his own brother for helping Yoshitsune, and sent both their heads to the shogun as evidence as of his good faith. - The Samurai Of Japan Together we roamed, Braved the roaring ocean waves, The hot desert sands. Together our swords in hell Will send its guardians howling. Beholding the stars, I know that one day They will fall from the sky. If even stars must vanish, Why mourn the shortness of life? All my life is ruled by evil stars. If only I could be like the tree at the river's edge Every year turning green again. .......... 1189 A.D. Koromogawa, Japan The end had been coming for some time. There was only so far you could run, and even Yoshitsune, though he would never admit defeat, as much as acknowledged that this would be his final battle, last night, before the treacherous Yasuhira's forces attacked. "We live in an age of glory" he said, draining his sake. "But all ages come to an end. Damn my brother for his naked ambition, and his paranoia. But he does me a favor, perhaps. The Taira are vanquished. What will men such as us do in peacetime?" He and Benkei and all the others laughed, then Yoshitsune clapped you on the shoulder. "Or you, Katsumi! Give them hell, Gozen. You always feel you have to prove yourself as good as any man, but I say you're worth any ten!" High praise, from the man who, in your eyes, was the greatest warrior who ever lived. You joined him at the age of fourteen, as he rode through Kamakura on the way to join his brother Yoritomo in Kyoto. Your first battle was the route of Minamoto Kiso no Yoshinaka's forces. Yoshinaka had once been an ally of Yoritomo. Then, threatened by the former "Shogun", Yoritomo ordered his brother to destroy his rival, and this Yoshitsune did. If only Yoshitsune had realized then that this was how his older brother would deal with all his one-time allies who became too formidable, too threatening to his own ambitions. Yoshinaka's wife, Tomoe Gozen, was said to be equal to or superior to her husband in the martial skills. You were almost disappointed to hear that she died with Yoritomo as they fled Yoshitsune's army; you were hoping someday you could test your skills against those of the more famous woman warrior. Oh, but there was still glory enough for you! You plunged down the cliffs at Ichi-no-Tani, right behind Yoshitsune, your horse screaming in terror and you barely able to stay in your saddle and marveling that Yoshitsune could inspire two hundred men to ride over a cliff. Two hundred men and one woman- after that charge, no one dared call fourteen year-old Takeda no Katsumi a girl! You stood on the deck with Yoshitsune at Dan-no-Ura, and with your own eyes saw the infant Emperor Antoku vanish beneath the waves with his grandmother....along with the holy relics of Amaterasu, the mirror and sword. You were there to see Yoshitsune awarded the fruits of his victory over the Taira; appointed Kebiishi, the title that would lead to his downfall, as his brother Yoritomo ordered his death. For five years, you have traveled with Yoshitsune, always a step ahead of his brother's assassins, but so few of the companions you began with are still with you. So many have died, one by one. Only you and giant Benkei remain of those who have been with him since before Ichi-no- Tani. And still you hear no tales told of Takeda no Katsumi, as they were (and are) told of Tomoe Gozen. If you have any regrets, it is that despite fighting as well as any man, and serving Yoshitsune as loyally and ferociously as anyone save Benkei, no one outside your band recognizes your valor. Ah well, no time for regrets now. The stronghold where you are making your last stand is on fire. Yoshitsune is within, committing seppuku. And your duty is to die also, and take as many Fujiwara warriors with you as possible. One falls, then another, then a third and a fourth, and still they come. You smile grimly and cleave another man's head in half, then grimace as another arrow slices through your flesh, this one sinking deeper and staying there. Blood runs down your arms and side, soaks your hakama, and pools inside your te handguards. Your fingers squish as you grip your sword. You saw Kuniyoshi and Rukuro collapse under a storm of arrows, and at your side, Tokimune gurgles and topples as an enemy samurai impales him through the throat with his sword. You step around Tokimune's body and stab his killer through the eye, but then feel a burning pain in your shoulder, followed by a sudden difficulty in breathing, and you look down to see a willow-leaf arrow protruding from your breast, the tip emerging even through your haramaki-do. Your vision is fading, and your knees are weak, but you keep fighting. Another man rushes at you, and you disembowel him, but not before he cuts a deep gash in your side. You're no longer conscious even of who you're facing. You see only shapes moving around you, and you swing and thrust and parry by instinct, feeling a host of pains pricking at your fading awareness, as more arrows rain down on you. Your last moment of clarity is leaning forward, puzzled and frustrated that you can't move, and realizing that the staff against which you are leaning is in fact the shaft of a naginata, which has impaled you all the way through. As someone born and raised in Kamakura, you always resented that the more refined Kyoto samurai considered you rustic and uncultured. If you were truly refined and educated, you would have had a death poem composed for this purpose. But no words would emerge from your blood- frothed lips anyway. With a sigh and a shudder, you die. And wake up, in total darkness. When you open your eyes, dirt flows over your lids. When you open your mouth, dirt fills it. You are buried alive. <><><><><> My time here is up. I will challenge Lord Emma To a duel in Hell. Blind, animal terror seizes Katsumi as the earth presses down upon her, and she desperately begins to claw her way out of the ground. After what seems like an eternity, one of her hands finally penetrates to the surface. Thrusting her shoulder as high as she can, she uses her arm as a lever and slowly, painfully pulls herself from the earth. She rises from her grave looking like a vengeful corpse: long, matted hair clotted with earth, broken fingernails, pale skin, her shitagi and kobakama tattered and blood-stained beneath the dirt. Katsumi crouches beside the freshly torn hole in the ground for a long time, breathing heavily. Slowly her mind returns to her, and she looks about, trying to orient herself. <><><><><> [GM] You were stripped of your armor, and your weapons. You seem to be at the edge of a weed-choked field that's too rocky and uneven to grow rice. The smell of recently turned soil is fresh in the air, along with the smell of decay. Then your gorge rises, as you realize where you are- an eta burial lot! You wouldn't have expected the Fujiwara to give you an honorable warrior's funeral, but at least a mass grave with the other fallen retainers of Yoshitsune would have been your fitting resting place. Instead you were given an anonymous peasant burial in shallow ground, where scavengers would quickly have dug up your body! It is so insulting it fills you with rage, rage enough to stir the dead. And maybe that's why you're here? Are you an angry, vengeful gaki, risen from the grave to pay back the Fujiwara for this dishonor? You don't really feel like a ghost, as you spit dirt out of your mouth, and looking down, you're relieved to see that you still have feet. But you cannot think of any other explanation. A quick inspection shows that all your arrow wounds, and the gaping hole you should have all the way through your torso, are gone, though the rent, blood-stained garments you still wear are evidence that the wounds were there once. <><><><><> As Katsumi looks about the burial lot, her first impression is that she has awoken in Hell. Was her karma in her previous life so bad that Lord Emma has banished her to his domain? After a moment's reflection, it is apparent that this is not the case. Amaterasu would never grace Hell with her presence, and yet there she is overhead, showering the land with her divine glory. As she realizes that she is still in the land of the living, rage courses through her at what was obviously an ignoble and dishonorable burial. Even a deadly enemy should have more respect for his fallen foes. This is intolerable! She does not feel much like a ghost, although her thirst for revenge would certainly befit a gaki. She still has her feet, though, and somehow she doesn't think that ghosts have to begin their existence by spitting out their own grave-dirt. And she has never heard tales of a ghost that could wander about during the day. But still, who knows? She has never met another spirit of the dead to ask about these things. The thought that she might be an ignorant ghost depresses her. She forces the thoughts of her place in the divine cosmology out of her head for the moment. Regardless of her spiritual status, it is clear that she has been returned to Nippon for a purpose. She is not yet certain what that purpose is, but she does know where she must start. The dishonor of improper burial is not hers alone. Some of her comrades must also be buried in this abhorrent place, and she owes it to them to provide for their remains as best she can. She sets off across the burial ground, feeling an occasional jolt of pain as her bare feet are bruised by the stony ground. She realizes belatedly that this must be the reason why ghosts have no feet. She continues onward, scanning the horizon for any sign of a caretaker's hut. It is unlikely that even an eta would have his residence too close to the burial ground, but it is not likely to be too far away, either. <><><><><> [GM] In fact, Amaterasu is almost out of sight, only the upper edge of her face still shining over the horizon. In the darkening twilight, you walk barefoot across the fields, and spot a small village down the slope of a rocky hill. By the condition and the isolation of this village, and lack of any farmland or ricefield nearby, this is certainly an eta village. Much closer to you than the village proper, on the edge of the downward slope, is a hut from which a small bit of light escapes. This hut is situated so that it has a view of both the burial fields behind you, and the village below, not that either is a particularly inspiring sight. As you approach closer, you hear loud, racous snoring. <><><><><> Katsumi strides towards the hut, reaching it just as Amaterasu vanishes completely from view. Without hesitation, she pounds on the door and calls out in a clear, authoritative voice, "Caretaker! Caretaker! Wake up, you radish! I wish to express my displeasure at being buried in your graveyard!" <><><><><> [GM] The "door", a flimsy sheet of wood, nearly cracks beneath your pounding. You hear the snoring interrupted with a phleghmatic growl. "HuuWAAzat?!" There is muttering and scuffling, and an older man mumbles rudely as he pulls the door open, looking up at you with an irritable scowl. His eyes pop open. "AAAAIIIIIIEEEEE!!!!!!" He staggers backwards and trips over his own feet, almost tumbles into his brazier, and then scrabbles back to the far wall of his hut and looks like he's about to try smashing through it (not a difficult feat even for this scrawny eta) in his desperation to get away from the horrid, dirty, blood-stained ghoul that he surely recognizes as someone he just buried. <><><><><> Katsumi bites her lip in frustration as the old man reacts in terror to her presence. Not having seen herself since her resurrection, she is unaware of just how gruesome her appearance is. She hopes he doesn't grab a weapon and attack; she would rather not be forced to kill him. "Calm down, you old fool!" she snaps, glaring at the man in a manner that is scarcely reassuring. "I'm not going to eat you." She remains just outside the doorway, unwilling to approach and frighten the old man further. "There is but one fashion in which you may rid yourself of me. The other samurai who served Lord Yoshitsune must be given proper funerary rites and cremated. Their bones are to be respectfully buried in a mass grave, away from the others." "If you do not do as I say, not only shall I continue to haunt you for the rest of your days, but the spirits of the other samurai may well return to torment you as well. You have two days to accomplish this task." With this, she turns and vanishes into the darkness. Katsumi is fairly confident that the caretaker will do as she says; he seemed to be terrified both of her and of the prospect of others returning from the dead. The two day limit was for her own benefit: she is not a skilled huntress, nor is she accustomed to surviving in the wilderness by herself. She is not certain whether starvation can end her new existence, but would much rather not find out. If necessary, she can go without eating for two days and suffer only discomfort. The thought of taking food and clothing from the impoverished village does not cross her mind; it would be both cruel and beneath her dignity, and would ruin much of her credibility as a ghost. She walks into the woods, searching for a stream in which to cleanse herself. She will also keep an eye out for anything edible, and for a heavy branch the approximate size and shape of a sword. <><><><><> [GM] The old man has no weapons with which to attack you. He simply cringes against the far wall of his hut and stares at you while you deliver your demands. Only when you are walking away does he scurry out the door and throw himself prostrate on the ground, trembling. "But, My Lady! Forgive me but there ARE no other Samurai buried in my field! You are the only one they brought to me!" <><><><><> Mixed emotions fill Katsumi at the old man's words. She is joyous at the prospect that her companions may have received burials befitting samurai. At the same time, the fury that she feels at her own ignoble burial overwhelms her as she realizes the implications of what she has heard. The Fujiwara may have decided that, as a woman, she merited nothing better than interment in an Eta burial ground. An unmarked grave amidst the dead of the most despised caste in Japan. The implied insult is almost more than she can bear to contemplate. After her years of service to Yoshitsune and her glorious death fighting against the Fujiwara, to receive treatment such as this is beyond description! No doubt remains in her mind as to why she has risen from her grave; her spirit had no chance whatsoever of passing on to its next stage of existence. The old man is clearly too frightened to lie; she must know for certain whether what she suspects is true. "What," she begins, only to find her voice so choked with rage that the word is unintelligible. She pauses and, with a supreme effort of will, composes herself enough to speak. "What was done with others?" she asks, her voice still full of strictly controlled fury. "And why was I alone brought here?" <><><><><> [GM] The gravekeeper trembles, his face pressed to the dirt. "I do not know, My Lady," he stammers. "All I know is that a Samurai came here, after the battle three nights ago, bringing your....your body. He said...." the old man gulps. "He said you were a peasant killed in the fighting. I...I knew it was not true, but....." He trails off, leaving the thought uncompleted. You can see how, given a choice between insulting a dead woman, or a live samurai by calling him a liar, the poor eta's choice was obvious. <><><><><> Despite her fury, despite his low caste, Katsumi cannot help but feel pity for the old man. What a miserable existence he must have! "You acted as you had to," she says, her voice softer. "After tonight I shall bother you no more." "I ask that you perform one final service for me. Describe the samurai who brought me here, and if you know of it, tell me his name." <><><><><> [GM] The old man hesitates, then replies, "He did not deign to tell me his name, Noble Lady. I know only that he was a Fujiwara. A high-ranking Fujiwara, by the tone he used with the other samurai who accompanied him. He was not a young man, but his hair was still black and he had no wrinkles. He was still wearing his armor, which I remember had a lot of red and yellow lacing. I am sorry, My Lady, that is all I remember, for I did not dare look at him too closely, for fear he would take offense at being scrutinized by...an eta." <><><><><> Katsumi listens carefully as the old man describes the samurai who brought her corpse to this place, memorizing his every word, trying to remember whether she knows of any Fujiwara warriors who fit that description. Despite her best efforts to contain herself, her hands still tremble with rage at the thought of the treatment she received from this man. When the gravedigger finishes, Katsumi nods. "I thank you for your information. After tonight, I shall haunt this place no longer." With this, she turns and walks into the darkness. Guided by the moonlight, she walks to the nearby woods and begins searching for a stream or pond in which to cleanse herself and for a suitable place to spend the night. <><><><><> [GM] The mountain streams and woods offer plenty of places for you to "camp out" (with nothing more than your grave-dirt soiled garments). The moon seems unnaturally bright to your reborn eyes, as you strip, bathe, and clean your clothes in a chill river, then go to sleep on its shores. That night, you dream.....all around you, the least creatures of the forest grow quiet, reflecting with you on a vision of Nippon, seen from the sky, a thousand sparkling isles dancing in the green waves, trembling as a massive shape beneath the land and the sea stirs, and curving away in all directions, you see the massive bulk of a tortoise shell. nonsense! someone snorts, and you see faces hovering in the black void above the waves. Fierce faces with lips painted red, others whose long black beards make them seem bestial and ape-like, and a stork-like bird wearing a kabuto dips its long legs into the water, then steps onto the back of the tortoise. i'll see you in hell, the bird says, its voice echoing from behind its fierce, warlike metal mask, sounding very much like Yoshitsune. You only think you've escaped, but you're trapped like all of us. "Why?" you cry out. "What have I done?" The bird and the painted, bearded faces laugh, and even Nippon seems to tremble as if the tortoise is also trembling with mirth. Then Amaterasu rises, casting light on all and banishing the escaped oni from Emma Hoo's hell, who came to taunt and mock you. She smiles gently on you, and says something inexpressably wise and comforting. But as you open your eyes and look on her in wakefulness, before her brilliance forces you to look away, you find you can't remember what it was. It's a clear morning, and a bird sings cheerfully not far off. Quite beautiful, the sort to inspire a poem. You, however, are chilly, lonely, and very, very hungry. <><><><><> Katsumi remains for a time on the riverbank, deep in thought. Returning from the dead hasn't been much like she would have expected it to be. Instead of coming back as ghost or spirit, she has seemingly been fully returned to life, with all the problems that implies. Her master is dead, her weapons and armor have been taken from her, and has no clear idea of where she is. Her only possessions are her tattered clothing. Being a ghost must be far simpler. Finally, realizing that sitting here is getting her no closer to avenging either herself or Yoshitsune, and stands and begin walking along the riverbank. As she travels downstream she keeps her eyes open for anything edible, or for a branch the approximate shape and size of a sword. Her dreams from last night continue to haunt her memory, although she has no idea what they might mean. Doing her best to ignore her depression and discomfort, Katsumi continues onwards, hoping to come across a village. <><><><><> [GM] You have a long hike before you reach another village, by which time your hunger is so acute as to be painful. This time, the buildings, while humble, are not in such a disreputable state, and the village is snugly nestled between adjoining rice fields, at the bottom of a steep road leading down from the mountains. Whereas the eta village was huddled into itself in a shadowy nook in the mountains, this village does not seem ashamed of itself. Peasants are in the fields, working, and singing doleful songs about the lot of peasants throughout time. It occurs to you that the events of the last few years, which were all-important to you, and seemed to be of earthshaking significance to the entire world, probably have little meaning to these peasants, or indeed to all the rice farmers and other lowborn throughout Nippon. Does it make any difference in their lives who is Emperor, who is Shogun, what clan holds power and where the capital is? Their only concern is probably that troops don't raze their village as they battle back and forth. Some children are the first to spot you....three boys and two girls are chasing butterflies at the edge of the village, and then they grow silent and stand still as they see you approaching. <><><><><> Katsumi cannot help but smile at the children's reaction. She is acutely aware of what a spectacle she must present: a barefoot woman, clad in the blood-stained, dirt-streaked clothing of a warrior, long hair in tangled disarray. But despite the fact that her garments are tattered and her circumstances severely reduced, Katsumi is samurai, and she carries herself as such. Normally she could expect to demand food and shelter at a village such as this, but that was before Yoshitsune was slain and she became ronin. Now, with little to offer in return for their hospitality, she is uncomfortably aware that she must rely upon the generosity of the villagers. It is a humiliating circumstance, and one that she had never dreamt she would experience. Katsumi continues towards the village, desperate for food but determined to maintain her dignity. Samurai are expected to bear hardship stoically, and Katsumi is not about to dishonor herself. She is certain that word of her arrival will soon bring the head of the village forward. <><><><><> [GM] The children all watch you approach another few paces, then turn and run back towards the village, yelling "A stranger! A stranger!" This causes those peasant craftsmen working in their huts, and the old people not out in the fields, to look up in alarm. Soon a small, wary delegation is huddled a little ways back from the road as an old man who must be the headman walks forward to greet you. His eyes assess your appearance, especially your state of dress. Your Samurai bearing is unmistakable, but the fact that you look very much like someone who came out on the losing end of a fierce battle- and your lack of swords or any other weapons- speaks volumes about your current status. He bows slightly....enough to acknowledge your nominally superior rank, but certainly not as low as you would be entitled under normal circumstances. "Konnichi wa," he says, in a high, wiry voice. "I am Kunpei, of the Mountain-River Rice Field village. We so rarely have visitors. Are you...just passing through?" <><><><><> Katsumi returns Kunpei's greeting, bowing slightly and carefully not taking offense at his actions. After all, she is forced to admit to herself, his evaluation of her is largely accurate. "I am Takeda no Katsumi, until recently in the service of Minamoto Yoshitsune. I seek information and...possibly some food." She finds the last few words almost impossible to say. Steeling herself, she continues. "I am deeply embarassed to admit that I have little to offer in return, save perhaps the tale of Yoshitsune's glorious deeds, his unjust persecution and death, and his remaining follower's quest for vengeance." Her words cut into her spirit more deeply than the Fujiwara's swords did into her flesh, and it is only with the greatest of efforts that she maintains her composure. <><><><><> [GM] "Mmmmm," the headman says, listening to you gravely. His eyes are troubled, unmistakably so. "You are most kind, but I'm sure your marvelous tale would be wasted on non-warriors such as we, ignorant of the ways of Samurai and the feuds that drive you. I am ashamed of the meager offerings we have to give you in the way of food, but at least we will not detain you unnecessarily in your travels. Once we have packed some rice and vegetables for you, you will no doubt want to be on your way as quickly as possible, neh?" <><><><><> Despite her embarrassment, something in the headman's manner causes Katsumi's eyes to narrow in suspicion. She had expected him to be wary, but he seems entirely too eager to be rid of her. Perhaps word of her reappearance has gotten out, or perhaps some Fujiwara samurai are expected to visit the village later today. She has no desire to bring trouble down upon the villagers, but her only realistic chance of gaining a weapon lays in taking one from another samurai. And any servitor of the treacherous Fujiwara clan can be considered by her to be a legitimate enemy. "Domo arigato," she replies after the headman has finished. "I shall not trouble your village long." She pauses and then, regarding Kunpei carefully, says, "I seek a samurai in the service of the Fujiwara clan. He has rank and is not young, but does not yet have grey hair of wrinkles. His armor contains much red and yellow lacing." "Do you know of such a man?" <><><><><> [GM] The headman lowers his eyes. "We...have few dealings with samurai, my lady. The Fujiwara send an official twice yearly to collect taxes after the rice harvest, and very rarely, to attend to other matters, but this is a peaceful village, and rarely is there need to trouble Fujiwara-Sama. I am afraid I would not know any of them by name, or by such details as the color of their armor." <><><><><> Katsumi nods, disappointed but not surprised. She knows it's going to take her quite some time to find the samurai who was responsible for her burial in an eta cemetery. But she will find him. She senses that any attempt to make small talk with the headman would be futile, and so wisely chooses to remain silent. Once the pitifully small package of food is brought, she bows to Kunpei and continues her travels, taking the path from the village that looks be the most heavily travelled. <><><><><> [GM] With warm winds and long days the hundred living things revive- Alone, I'm ashamed of my fusty self before Spring's radiant newness. Water blurs into sky, both gem-green; Blossoms hide the trees, all garish red and crimson! Pleasure-wagons, sightseers' horses, rush to be first; Dancing swallows, wheeling warblers, frolic to their hearts' content. Most charming of all, there's a haze-distant village And wrapped in its smoke, the thousandfold ranks of willows. -"A Spring View", Kokan Shiren I dreamed of battles and was slain... Oh savage Samurai! Insatiable fleas! -Kikaku Japan, 1189 A.D. You have no particular direction in mind. You have nowhere to go, after all. Vengeance right now is a long-term goal, possibly a dream. It will be difficult to avenge the dishonor done to you without weapons. Right now, you are less than a peasant, even, because at least peasants have a proper place in society. You are a dead, weaponless Samurai. Truly a ghost as far as the rest of the world is concerned, even with a body, and feet. Partaking of it conservatively, the food you were grudgingly given at the last village lasts you a couple of days. You're starting to think about hunting, and using your rather meager woodscraft to procure a more steady diet, which leads you again to the thought that life is so much easier when armed. Not that a sword would help you much in hunting, but a bow would be nice. Still, peasants manage without them; you imagine you can fashion an adequate noose or other sort of animal trap. A brief drizzle soaks you through as you complete your trek out of the mountains. Before you is laid one of Japan's rare regions of flat, fertile land, and beyond this strip of green, you see the ocean shimmering. You can see several villages clustered at the corners of vast rice fields. A larger town is visible in the distance, near the coast. The view from one horizon to the other is quite a magnificent sight, and you have to stop to appreciate it for a few moments. You're chagrined to realize you aren't sure what town it is....you think you are still in Fujiwara territory, but you might have crossed over into another province. The village most directly in your path is several times larger than the one you passed through days ago, and much more cheerful in appearance. In fact, as you begin walking over the blessedly flat road towards this community, you see streamers and colorful paper balloons hanging from thatches or waving from tall poles thrust into the air. Peasants are bustling happily about on the streets, and gay music comes from several directions. Children scamper about underfoot, giggling and screaming playfully. Obviously, there is a celebration of some sort going on. You can't recall any major festivals that were approaching (not that you've had much time to think about merriment, while you and the rest of Yoshitsune's entourage were running and hiding from your pursuers), so it is probably dedicated to some local kami, or perhaps an important person is getting married. You see a group of young men with Samurai topknots elbowing their way rather rudely through the crowd. One is quite mannerlessly popping some fish into his mouth. Eating while walking in public is very disrespectful to those around him, but his friends are laughing and gesturing wildly at some hilarious story in progress, and clearly none of them care much about offending the heimin. The peasants, for their part, seem not too concerned about the presence of Samurai in their midst; they wisely give the warriors a wide berth, but the revelry goes on undiminished. The Samurai are wearing Fujiwara colors. <><><><><> After her solitary, miserable trek through the mountains, Katsumi finds the activity and revelry before her rather grating. She continues towards the village, grimly ignoring the suspicious and disapproving looks that follow her. She pauses as she spots the group of samurai, and her eyes narrow as she studies them. She finds her gaze inexorably drawn to their weapons, and realizes yet again how naked she feels without a sword at her side. This is hardly the opportunity that she had been hoping for. Defeating a lone samurai with no weapons would be a difficult enough feat; attempting to face five would be suicidal. Nonetheless, her situation is quickly becoming desperate. Despite her best attempts to care for it, her clothing is ready to fall apart, and she could not bring herself to beg for food at another village. It will not be long before she is unable to defeat a farmer in single combat, let alone a samurai. Several plans flash through her mind, each swiftly considered and rejected, and she finally decides to improvise. She adjusts her wet clothing so that it clings strategically to several places on her body, changes her path so that it will cross that of the samurai, and then begins walking calmly towards what may well be her second death. <><><><><> [GM] The young men pause as you cross their path. A couple grin lecherously, but their immediate reaction isn't as favorable as you hoped. One mutters a rude comment about your status, and the group of them makes as if to walk around you, apparently not interested in "women of your type". <><><><><> Looking mildly disappointed at the reaction of the samurai, Katsumi stops and watches them walk past. She finds herself perversely annoyed their lack of interest. It's true that she isn't looking her best, but still... Reluctantly, she decides to let this opportunity pass her by. If she were still in the mountains she would not hesitate to attack or attempt to steal a weapon, but in a populated area she will be better served by restraint and subtlety. She is not yet prepared to face the wrath of the Fujiwara clan. There must be other opportunities here for her to better her situation, without calling undue attention to herself. As the samurai pass her, she casts a wistful glance after one of them, more for his weapon than anything else, then turns to continue onward. <><><><><> [GM] "I think she likes you, Jiro," one of the Samurai laughs at his friend. They continue on. The villagers don't seem quite sure how to react to you....your demeanor is haughty and proud (though bedraggled), but you certainly don't look like a Samurai. Actually, you're more likely to be classified as a madwoman. The village's name is Asa-no-tsuki, and you learn the festival is indeed to pay homage to a local rice kami. All the villages in this area have done very well this year- the Fujiwara have apparently not leaned heavily on them yet to finance their part in the war- so they are in a generous mood, and impoverished travelers like you are able to snack here and there at impromptu parties. Listening to the peasants gossip, you learn that an important Fujiwara clan member, a cousin of Fujiwara Yasuhira himself, will be visiting the village later today, or perhaps tomorrow. The peasants of course regard this as a mixed blessing; an honor, to be sure, but also potentially perilous. <><><><><> Katsumi makes a conscious effort to tone down her manner; being viewed as a madwoman will make it nearly impossible for her to meet the visiting Fujiwara dignitary. While he may not be the individual she seeks, it is likely that he can give her some useful information - if properly persuaded. As it is, she has to take some drastic steps to improve her appearance. One option is to steal some new clothing, although Katsumi is ashamed to even entertain such a thought. If it comes to that, she would rather face him in rags than in stolen garb. There is another possibility, and although it will severely damage her pride, it will leave her honor intact. Katsumi spends an hour or so examining the local inns, looking for one that is both busy and understaffed. If she finds such a place, she walks around to the back and asks a member of the staff to bring the innkeeper. If no such place exists, she spends the remainder of the afternoon looking about the village, learning the streets and watching for where the Fujiwara samurai seem to be spending their time. <><><><><> [GM] This is a fairly large village; actually, the largest in the area, probably why the Fujiwara official is coming here. So you do find three inns worthy of the name, though all of them tiny hovels compared to those in Kamakura. You choose the one that seems most in need of more staff, and flag down a serving girl, who is sufficiently intimidated by your unusual bearing that she scurries off to fetch the heimin who owns this establishment. He's a short man with a pot belly, who comes to the rear and looks at you with an irritated expression. He speaks politely, however, obviously not quite sure how to assess your status. "Yes....young lady? What can I do for you?" <><><><><> Fighting to keep her stubborn pride under control, Katsumi bows slightly to the innkeeper. "Good afternoon. I could not help noticing that your establishment looks as though it is slightly understaffed at the moment. If you would be willing to provide me with a change of clothing and a place to wash, I will assist you in whatever manner necessary for the remainder of the festival." Her demeanor holds a strange mix of diffidence and angry pride, but her sincerity is obvious, as is her growing desperation. <><><><><> [GM] The innkeeper raises an eyebrow, looking you over appreciatively, trying not to let his gaze linger rudely too long. "Ah, well," he says. "I suppose some extra hands would be helpful- it *might* get Ochimé and Yuriko to stop complaining about being overworked, but I doubt it." He smiles. "Not very many attractive, well- mannered young women come here looking for work. I really can't afford to pay you anything but food and a place to sleep in front, but if that's all you want, I think Ochimé is about the same height as you, I'm sure she must have an old kimono she can give you." <><><><><> Katsumi bows once again, her cheeks slightly flushed. "Thank you. My name isKatsumi." She has to bite her tongue to keep herself from giving her full name, but it would hardly be appropriate to openly admit her samurai status. The news that one of the other girls might have some clothing to suit her comes as welcome news; she had been afraid she would have to make do, as few other women could match her height. She follows the innkeeper into the back of his establishment, looking about curiously. She had never stayed in many inns and had only a vague idea of how they actually functioned. There must be much work to do, and she knows that she will likely receive the worst of the jobs, unless her manners and beauty earn her the position of serving girl. Even that thought rankles, but she accepts that this is preferable to starving in the street. If she is fortunate, it may even aid her in her quest for revenge. <><><><><> [GM] The innkeeper's prediction was overly optimistic; Ochimé is tall for a girl, but not as tall as you. Her spare kimono comes down to just above your ankles. It's an improvement on the rags you were wearing, though, and as promised, the innkeeper provides a wooden tub filled with hot water, in which you're able to bathe for the first time since before you died. Once clean and somewhat presentable, you are quickly put to work. As expected, you're given all the grungy cleaning chores, and the only thing that allows you to keep your "cover" as a humble commoner, is that the innkeeper, Yoshi, and his wife Saoko, and Ochimé and Yuriko, are actually rather decent people, and treat you with more dignity than you might have expected in your situation. They don't hesitate to give you all the most unpleasant chores, but they are polite about it and don't seem inclined to mistreat you. You get a few appreciative looks from travelers, and overhear some of the locals commenting about the "new girl". If you can bring yourself to flirt a little and be nice to heimin, you could probably move yourself into the front room as a serving girl very easily. Another opportunity- and hazard- becomes apparent when a pair of Samurai enter the inn. Everyone immediately falls silent, and Yoshi moves quickly to greet them, bowing low. You hear them tell the innkeeper that since his inn is the best this village has to offer, this is where Fujiwara Masanari will stay when he arrives this evening. Yoshi bows very low and offers his most humble appreciation for this singular honor. That being the case, all the commoners who were staying here are quickly evicted. They stifle their indignation, as the three young men you met on the street earlier come strutting in, apparently among the "advance security" who will secure the Fujiwara official's temporary domicile, clearly expecting that this will be a cush assignment. <><><><><> Katsumi goes about her duties more cheerfully than might be expected. Her time with Yoshitsune has made her accustomed to hard work, and she is grateful to be under a roof and decently clothed. Starved for human contact after nearly a week by herself, she loses much of her reserve when dealing with the other staff and the customers, and soon finds herself gently teasing Yoshi and flirting with a few of the customers. While she has no intention of remaining here for any great length of time, she is increasingly reluctant to leave without being better prepared. The arrival of the samurai dampens her mood somewhat, reminding her of her purpose, but the news that Masanari will be spending the night at the inn sends her spirit soaring. She returns to her work with a smile, competing with the other girls for the "honor" of waiting upon the samurai. If they happen to recognize her from earlier it is no great matter, and easily explained. <><><><><> [GM] Ochimé and Yuriko are giggling and staking out "the cute one" of the trio (which one that may be you're unsure; for some reason, none of them appeal to you much). They're a bit disgruntled that you're already trying to usurp their positions, but can't do much about it when one of the three young men spots you carrying firewood in. "Oi! Jiro, look, it's your friend!" Two of them laugh, while Jiro looks at you in surprise. The three of them are kneeling in front of a low table sampling Yoshi's cooking. They then beckon Yoshi over and speak to him, and he bows and backs away, and shortly thereafter informs you that the three Samurai have requested that you wait on them. <><><><><> At the samurai's exclamation, Katsumi blushes and increases her pace slightly, vanishing into the back room with the firewood. She looks surprised when Yoshi later tells her of their request, but nods her acquiescence. She collects the next tray of food and enters the dining area, setting it carefully upon the table. Bowing, she withdraws to a respectful distance and kneels, lowering her head. She does her best to maintain an air of respectful subservience, hoping that any slips on her part will be viewed as youthful brazenness. <><><><><> [GM] "Well," Jiro says as you bring them more food. "You're looking much better with decent clothes....not so much like a bedraggled cat!" His friends laugh. "What's your name, girl?" <><><><><> Katsumi raises her head slightly, peering at Jiro from beneath lowered lashes. "My name is Katsumi, honored sir. Please forgive my earlier presumption; I meant no offense." <><><><><> [GM] "I told you she likes you!" one of the others teases Jiro. He flushes slightly, but bobs his head ever-so-slightly to you, a very courteous gesture from a Samurai to a peasant. "No offense was taken," he says. "I am afraid your earlier state of dress gave us a....mistaken impression of you." He smiles, almost boyishly. Though he swaggers just like his friends, now that you're this close, you realize with some bemusement that Jiro is VERY young....maybe fifteen. He must have just recently been given his swords. Which probably explains much of the teasing he's enduring from his older comrades. "She's very pretty, isn't she, Jiro?" one of the others whispers loudly, elbowing the younger Samurai in the ribs. Jiro's flush deepens, and he bows his head, keeping his face close to his rice bowl....though his eyes keep shifting back to you, for brief instants, before he looks away again. His friends, of course, are enjoying this immensely. <><><><><> Katsumi lowers her head further to hide a small smile, glancing up occasionally to meet Jiros gaze with saucy boldness. Despite his youth, he is a handsome lad, and it would be too easy to forget that he could easily have been at the siege of Yoshitsunes manor. She forces herself further into her role as a flirtatious serving girl, determined not to reveal herself before the arrival of Fujiwara Masanari. <><><><><> [GM] The three Samurai- the names of the other two are Keiichi and Sukehide- finish their meal, then spend the rest of the afternoon swaggering around inspecting the inn, and watching the street traffic outside. Sukehide finds you as you are carrying heated water to the inn's small bathhouse (more like a bathshack). "Excuse me, Katsumi," he says, catching your elbow lightly. He leans close, with a twinkle in his eye. "Tell me....I know according to the innkeeper, what's-his-name, you're, eh, not the sort of girl we originally thought. But....." he lowers his voice conspiratorially. "Do you like Jiro? 'Cause he definitely likes you. Keiichi and I were wondering if you'd be willing to show him a good time." <><><><><> Katsumi halts abruptly at Sukehide's outrageous suggestion, and she feels the blood rushing to her cheeks as her mind temporarily locks up. She had never intended for this game to go so far. Her flirtatiousness had been a screen to allow her to remain close to the samurai, so that she could grab one of their weapons if necessary; she had thought it unlikely that she would be approached before the arrival of Masanari. This was both unexpected and beyond her experience. There had been little time for romance in her short life She looks up at Sukehide with wide, trembling eyes. "I cant," she blurts. "I mean, Ive never" She trails off, looking down at the ground and trying to reconstruct her composure. It would be deadly to insult any of the samurai, and even if she survived the experience, she would lose her opportunity to see Masanari. She takes several deep breaths, calming herself, then looks back up at Sukehide and smiles tentatively. "I like Jiro," she begins. "But I cantnot now. I'm sorry. Ive got a lot of work to do, and I owe Yoshi much for taking me in. But maybe later.if Jiros still interested." <><><><><> [GM] "Hmmm." Sukehide looks slightly disappointed, but more amused than offended. "Well, Jiro has 'never' either." He grins. "Actually, we were hoping to fix him up with a more experienced woman. I thought- Ah well..." He nods curtly to you. As he walks off, he says over his shoulder "Now, if YOU'D like some experience, maybe you should come see ME when you're done with your chores." Giggles erupt from the back door of the inn, a few yards away. You see Ochimé and Yuriko crouched there, covering their mouths. <><><><><> Not one week ago, Ochimé and Yuriko would have paid dearly for their insolence. Now, although she finds it difficult, Katsumi limits herself to a fierce glare, then continues into the bathhouse with her cheeks burning. If she must suffer these minor indignities to have her revenge, so be it. She would endure. Continuing about her duties, Katsumi does her best to ignore the jibes of the two other girls, biding her time until the arrival of Masanari. <><><><><> [GM] Just before sundown, Fujiwara Masanari arrives, with a modest retinue. Masanari is in his late twenties or perhaps early thirties, with a pleasantly bland countenance. His personality seems to match; he greets you and all the other inn staff who come out to kneel humbly before him with a benign nod, and then proceeds inside, chatting about the rice yield and the weather with one of the other Samurai accompanying him. The village headman follows in their wake, head bowed, having been given the honor of joining Masanari for dinner at the inn. The other Samurai, including Jiro, Sukehide and Keiichi, array themselves in kneeling positions on the porch, or stand on the street outside. As Yoshi claps and urges you all back inside to begin waiting on the Fujiwara party, Sukehide winks at you, and you notice Jiro eying you, then looking quickly away with a flush. <><><><><> [OOC: How much longer does the festival last?] [GM] According to Yoshi, it ends at sundown tomorrow. <><><><><> Katsumi returns inside the inn and begins discharging her duties with admirable diligence, although she is still slightly skittish around Sukehide and Jiro. She waits for a couple hours, until the atmosphere inside the dining area is relatively relaxed and Masanari may be more willing than usual to tolerate an outrageous request. Entering the room with a tea tray, she sets it before the samurai and bows. Then, instead of returning to the kitchen as expected, she kneels before Masanari and bows so that her forehead touches the tatami mats. "Please forgive my presumption, Masanari-sama, but I have a boon to ask of you." <><><><><> [GM] Everyone falls silent at your audacity. Before your face descends to the mat, you see Yoshi's eyes bugging out, as if he's going to be seized with convulsions. After an uncomfortable pause, Masanari clears his throat. "Eh..what might this boon be, girl?" <><><><><> It is unfortunate that Yoshi and his family will likely suffer for the generosity they have shown her, and Katsumi feels a momentary twinge of guilt for her actions, which she ruthlessly suppresses. She would have chosen otherwise if she could, but she had few other options, and it is only for their sake that she is dealing with an enemy so delicately. She rises from her bow, eyes smoldering with suppressed anger, watching in her peripheral vision for any sudden movements on the part of the samurai. The poorly constructed facade of peasantry drops from her bearing, and her voice has regained its customary soft edge. "I have endured much for this opportunity to speak with you, Masanari- sama. I seek a high-ranking samurai of your clan. He has been described to me as an older man, but with no grey yet in his hair and with no wrinkles. He was present at the siege of Minamoto Yoshitsunes palace, and wears armor with much red and yellow lacing." "This man has done me a great dishonor." <><><><><> [GM] If everyone had fallen silent before, they have now ceased breathing altogether. The village headman's face has turned several shades of grey. Out of the corner of your eye, you see Ochimé, kneeling as she prepared to pour tea, staring at you and covering her mouth. Her eyes seem to have enlarged to take up half her face. Masanari is frozen for a second, staring at you in shocked amazement. Then, he very slowly, very smoothly, rises to his feet. A rustle stirs through the room, as the other Samurai shift ever-so- slightly, hands moving near their swords. No one draws, yet. It's a surreal scene, an unarmed serving girl suddenly commanding the undivided attention of a dozen Samurai. Fujiwara Masanari stares you down, and demands in a low, unflinching voice, "Who are you?" <><><><><> [A dozen!?? Geez] Masanaris abrupt transformation catches Katsumi somewhat off-guard, although her face reveals nothing. She had thought that there was little chance that Masanari was the man she sought, but now she is not so sure. Acutely aware of her vulnerability while kneeling, she slowly stands, facing Masanari and mentally plotting her position in the room relative to the other samurai and the exits. If necessary, she will flee, although hopefully she will not be forced to do so before ascertaining whether or not Masanari is the man she seeks. She is not certain whether she can be slain, but being hacked to pieces would definitely hinder her quest for vengeance. It would be nice to able to take a weapon with her, though. Katsumi returns Masanaris gaze proudly, refusing to give an inch. "My name is Takeda no Katsumi, formerly in the service of Lord Minamoto Yoshitsune." <><><><><> [GM] [Well, let me amend that slightly; there are a dozen Samurai *total* in Masanari's entourage. But as stated before, about half of them are outside on the porch or walking around the inn. There are maybe half a dozen in this room, plus Masanari himself, plus the village headman and Yoshi and his wife and the two serving girls.] Masanari continues staring at you. "There were no survivors, among Minamoto Yoshitsune's followers," he says. "Did he leave you behind, so you would be spared what he must have known was inevitable? Foolish girl, to think you could now exact vengeance against Fujiwara Kazumaru yourself? Your master was wiser than you!" He looks away, to the Samurai kneeling to one side, and gestures towards you. "Take her!" <><><><><> Katsumi intentionally hesitates for a second, until the Samurai have begun to rise, then hurls herself at the smallest amongst them, a fierce kiai ripping from her throat. She slams into the man at full speed, hoping to send the both of them crashing through the thin wooden wall of the inn. <><><><><> [GM] The short Samurai looks startled as you launch yourself at him, and tries to brace himself. You collide and he topples backwards, cracking through the wall with a splintering sound. You didn't succeed in slamming the two of you clear through the wall, but now you're sprawled in the breach, you on top. As you and he try to disentangle yourselves from one another, he struggles to draw his sword....and to your dismay, he clears the blade from its scabbard as you half-rise. Around you, the other Samurai have already drawn their swords, and the nearer ones are stepping towards you. <><><><><> Cursing under her breath, Katsumi backpedals, looking for an opening in the ranks of the samurai wide enough for her to wriggle through. If she spots such an opening, she makes a break for the rear of the inn, hoping to make it outside and to a relatively narrow street where an ambush might be possible. <><><><><> [GM] You dive between two Samurai, slipping nimbly past the nearer one. But his partner lunges for you, and manages to close a large hand around your upper arm. He holds his sword pointed away from himself and you as he tries to wrestle you to the ground one-handed. You succeed in resisting him for a moment, but you can tell by his grip that he's stronger than you. The other man raises his sword, but Masanari says "No! Take her alive, unhurt if possible!" For the next (very short) space of time, the man grabbing you and the other man with raised sword are blocking the others in the room from getting at you. <><><><><> After trying once more to break free, Katsumi abruptly stops struggling, glaring defiantly at her captors. <><><><><> [GM] The samurai maintains his grip on your arm, and the other one quickly grabs your other side, with his sword tucked under his arm. They pivot you around to face Masanari. Masanari shakes his head. "Such a pity.....you're so young. And pretty. If you'd kept going, you probably could have settled down and had a decent life in some far province. I have to admire your loyalty and determination, but I'm afraid it will avail you nothing." He nods to the two samurai who hold you fast. "Tie her up, and keep her under guard. That tree I saw behind the inn will do." One of his suboordinates blinks. "We won't be taking her back to Kuji, Masinari-San?" "Not tonight!" Masanari snaps. "She's just a girl. I see no reason to put ourselves out with a forced late-night ride back to Kuji, when she can just as well wait until morning. Besides," he turns to Yoshi, "I have some questions to ask these commoners." Yoshi quails, as you are led outside to the back of the inn, and lashed firmly to a large tree, tied so that your arms are quite thoroughly pinned, and you can barely move your legs. The two samurai who prevented your escape are the first ones assigned to guard you. They look at you, look back at the warm inn, and sigh. "No need to put HIM out, he means," mutters one. They cut some branches off the tree, and begin whiling away their stint as guards by sparring. They quickly become tired of this. You can tell they're bored and clearly don't think you need much guarding (an opinion with which you'd sadly have to concur, your brief, tentative tests of your ropes proving that they're quite secure.) But, being dutiful samurai, and not mere peasant warriors, you don't have much hope that they'll wander off or fall asleep. <><><><><> Katsumi continues to surreptitiously test her bonds, looking for some slight weakness that she might hope to exploit. Although angry, both at herself and her captors, she forces herself to remain calm. It is possible that there will be a brief moment when the samurai let their guard down, and she must be prepared to both notice that moment and take advantage of it. Her expression remains sullen, but she carefully watches the samurai who guard her, hoping to learn something that might prove useful. <><><><><> [GM] You learn nothing from these two men's idle chatter about the teahouses in Kuji, or the villages they've been making the rounds of. Occasionally they look at you curiously, but don't seem inclined to talk to you, or discuss your fate. You're getting tired, but definitely too uncomfortable to sleep. The ropes chafe all over. It's also getting rather chilly, with a breeze blowing inland from the sea. One of the samurai finally says "What the hell are WE standing around here for? Why don't we make those youngsters come guard her? I want some hot sake." The other samurai nods. "Good idea," he grunts, and walks around the inn. Your lone guard stands with his back to you, listening to the insects, and scuffing his sandals in the leaves beneath the tree. A few minutes later, Keiichi, Sukehide, and Jiro come filing after the older samurai. "We don't ALL need to watch her, do we?" Jiro mutters. "No, but if we have to stand out here, so do you, kid," Sukehide replies cheerfully. The three young men stand around and look at you, lashed to the tree like a tangled kite. The senior samurai jabs Sukehide in the chest with a forefinger. "Don't even think about playing games with her!" he says. "Masanari-Sama specifically said she's to be left tied up, and not molested." Sukehide adopts an expression of wounded innocence, and bows. "It would never occur to me, Ryosaku-San." Ryosaku gives the younger man a skeptical frown, then he and his comrade retire to the inn. Sukehide turns to look at you. "All right....it did occur to me." He winks. "Those ropes can't be very comfortable." "Cut it out, Suke'," Keiichi says nervously. Sukehide laughs. "Relax! I'm just kidding." He clears a spot on the ground, and sits down. "Well, we might as well amuse ourselves one way or the other." He pulls out some wooden dice. "Come on, Keiichi, I think you have some money I haven't won from you yet." The two older samurai proceed to gamble, though the ground isn't flat enough to really facilitate dice rolling. Jiro sits slightly apart from them, alternately staring at the ground or glancing up at you. <><><><><> Kastumis cheeks burn at the ignominy of her current position, and she is grateful for the concealing darkness. She stubbornly avoids meeting Jiros gaze. Doing her best to ignore the cold and the discomfort of the too-tight ropes, she tries to get what rest she can. It is likely that she will need all of her available strength tomorrow. <><><><><> [GM] The night drags on, and on, and on. The village is already stirring before dawn, but Masanari's entourage doesn't pack up to leave until well after sun-up. The three young samurai who've been watching you all night yawn and stretch, to keep themselves awake. Masanari directs you to be untied from the tree, and resecured so that you can walk. They watch you carefully as the ropes loosen, hands already holding your arms fast. With half a dozen samurai surrounding you, there's little point in trying to break free. Your hands are tied tightly behind your back, and an improvised collar is fastened around your neck. They tie a rope leading from the collar to the saddle of one of the horses. You're more than a little hungry, but it doesn't look like you're going to be fed anything this morning. You hear Jiro complaining to one of Masanari's lieutenants, "Does she really have to be treated like that?" The older samurai shakes his head and mutters something to the boy, sternly. Jiro flushes and walks alongside the horses, head bowed. As you're led out of the village, you see Yoshi, his wife, Yuriko and Ochimé watching you silently from the inn. At least Masanari seems to be reasonably humane- he could easily have dealt with them very harshly indeed. The samurai, all mounted now, plod idly down the road. Idly for the horses....you're forced to maintain a brisk pace to keep up. It's going to be a long, humiliating march.