Assassin!

After rescuing O-Sayumi from the clutches of the necromancer, Yugureda Shosaito, the return trip was something of a celebratory parade. They took the geisha into the marsh to see her “uncle”, the Wise Kappa. He was overjoyed to find that O-Sayumi was safe, and thanked the party profusely. Then they went to the monastery where she’d been raised. The monks were overjoyed to find that O-Sayumi was safe, and thanked the party profusely. At last they returned to Sakakabe and the Kiniro Kyomai Teahouse, where O-Kahaku and the other geishas were overjoyed to find that O-Sayumi was safe, and thanked the party profusely. By the time it was all done, the party was kind of getting used to being showered with praise and thanks instead of ambushed and attacked.

True to her word, O-Kahaku immediately began setting up a series of surreptitious meetings with wealthy, influential merchants and minor nobles who she thought would be sympathetic to Ameiko’s cause. She advised that these men would likely need to meet the princess in person, so they sent word to Seinaru Heikiko, and within a few days Ameiko and Sandru joined them in Sakakabe.

The next two weeks were a blur of meetings. Ameiko was at her charming and diplomatic best, and several of the powerful men they met with were reduced to tears to learn that at least one member of the imperial houses survived, and that they had lived to meet her. They all expressed their disgust at the policies and oppressive rule of the Jade Regent, and pledged to support the Amatatsu heir in fielding a rebel army to march south to the capital. But to a man, they said that they feared to act as long as the current provincial governor remained in power.

Sikutsu Sennaka, the governor of Sakakabe Province, was a man who was even more feared than he was hated. He had been a powerful daimyo even before the rise of the Jade Regent, but he had been an early and enthusiastic supporter of the usurper, and the Jade Regent had rewarded his loyalty. Now no one, from the humblest peasant to the most powerful noble, dared oppose him or his master in Kasai. He ruled through a strategy of terror. He traveled the countryside, executing peasants and putting whole villages to the torch for minor or imagined transgressions, and extorted exorbitant taxes from the merchants and nobility. He always traveled with a company of over a hundred soldiers and samurai, and the few assassins who had attempted to take his life had met horrible deaths.

“There’s got to be a way to take him out,” Bella mused after a meeting with yet another supportive but fearful merchant. “Those other assassins just weren’t careful enough not to get spotted.”

“Or he’s got supernatural support,” Marie cautioned. “If the Jade Regent is behind him, he might have oni working for him.”

O-Sayumi had been quietly playing her samisen as a soothing background to the tense meeting. “Please,” she interjected, “I think I have a suggestion.” Everyone turned to look at the geisha. “You must meet with the governor’s brother, Sikutsu Itsuru. He is not like his older brother at all – he is an honorable man. I know that he loathes what his brother is doing to the country, and I think he could be of help to you. I know him well, and he has come to trust me. Please, let me persuade him to meet with you.”

Despite O-Sayumi’s testament to Itsuru’s trustworthiness, the group was unsure. Revealing Ameiko’s existence to a group of merchants was one thing, but to the governor’s brother? They feared that the very honor that O-Sayumi praised would force Itsuru to betray Ameiko to his brother. But finally, and with some reluctance, they agreed to let O-Sayumi reach out to the governor’s brother. Within a few days, she eagerly reported that he was on his way to Sakakabe, and would meet with them soon.

“So I wonder if the governor’s married.” The group was having dinner at their inn, The Smiling Koi, and Bella’s sudden non sequitur caused Sawyer to choke on his fish soup. “Why?” Nicki asked with a laugh. “Are you thinking about getting engaged again?” Bella smiled coyly. “Well, it would be one way of getting close to the governor,” she said.

The inn was bustling with activity as usual. As the party bantered about the table, and old woman hobbled in, and settled herself gingerly at a table in the corner, ordering a bowl of broth. Some time later, a young boy came in and scanned the room anxiously. When he spotted the old woman, he moved to her table and bowed. “Please, Grandmother,” he said respectfully, “I’ve heard you have the Gift. Can you help me?” The old woman nodded kindly, and patted the chair beside her.

The boy sat, and began to pour out his story. “My father was the cobbler, but he got a fever and died two weeks ago. Mother knows he kept our savings hidden, so the governor’s police wouldn’t steal it, but she doesn’t know where it is. We have no money to pay the rent, and if we don’t pay, the governor’s men will throw us out on the street – or worse. Please – can you help?”

“Of course, my child,” she replied. “Give me your hand.” He extended his hand, and she took it in both of hers, closing her eyes. After a few seconds, she spoke. “Your father had a leather pouch. It holds … 87 silver coins, and 4 gold ones.” She paused. “He buried it beneath the rock beside the cherry tree behind your house.” She opened her eyes and smiled at the boy. He thanked her, and tried to give her a few copper pieces, but she pushed them back into his hand. “You and your mother need those more than I do.”

The boy hurried out the front door, and the old woman looked around the room. “Is there anyone else I can help? Past, present, future – all is known to me.”

Marie grew thoughtful. After a moment, she excused herself, pushed back from the table, and approached the old woman. Bella, curious, followed. “Excuse me,” she said with a small bow, “I can’t remember anything about my life before about a year ago. Do you think you can help?”

The old woman nodded. “Of course, my dear. Give me your hand.” Marie sat, and grasped her hand. The old woman reached out to cover Marie’s hand with hers, but at the last second, a blade sprang out from inside her sleeve, straight for Marie’s heart! Marie flinched, and the wakizashi pierced her lung, but narrowly missed a fatal blow. Fast as a snake, the old woman stabbed again, then leapt to her feet and whirled a set of dragon-headed nunchaku out of her other sleeve, and bashed them into the side of Marie’s skull. Within a heartbeat, the cleric was reeling, blood gushing from her side and bubbling from her lips.

“Assassin!” Bella screamed, and sprang over the table, her sword flashing at the assassin’s throat, but she (he?) bent backwards and the blade swept harmlessly past his nose. Nicki reacted instantly to the commotion across the room; he ran for a better vantage point, casting Greater Invisibility as he ran, then fired off a volley of Quickened Magic Missiles that not even the supernaturally fast assassin could dodge. With a bellow, Sawyer launched himself into the air, using Suishen’s Air Walk to skip over tables and chairs to the old woman’s side. He swung Suishen in a two-handed arc that should have cleaved her in two, but as the sword touched her, she vanished with a puff.

The assassin reappeared in an instant, in the spot at the table that Sawyer had just vacated – right next to Ameiko! The “old woman’s” wig was askew and the putty that had disguised her features was slipping off. Beneath her tattered dress they could see a ninja’s black shinobi shozoku, and the dragon-head nunchucks in his hand were a clear signature – this was the same assassin who had nearly killed Zhustin a few weeks before. He smiled evilly at Ameiko. “Good-bye, ‘princess’.”

When the group had sat down, it had seemed wise to put Ameiko in the corner, with her back to two walls. Now she was trapped, with nowhere to run. Sandru pushed her to the floor, standing bravely over her, hoping to shield her with his own body. From the floor, Ameiko cast Heroism on the caravan master, hoping it wouldn’t be the last thing she ever did.

Sandoval found himself directly behind the deadly assassin. Not wanting to be his next target, he used his Jaunt Boots to leap away, casting Slow at the ninja as he did so, but the spell had no effect. Shinjiro tried to hit him with a Stunning Fist, but the ninja easily evaded his blow. Marie, despite being near death, unfurled her wings and flew to Ameiko’s aid. She jabbed at the assassin with her Wand of Cause Moderate Wounds, but the ninja disdainfully batted it aside without even looking back at her.

Zhustin dove under the table. But not (totally) out of cowardice. He scuttled under the table and grabbed Ameiko’s hand just as the assassin twirled his nunchucks to strike. With a hasty incantation, they both Teleported away, appearing on the floor behind the bar at the other end of the room, out of sight and (hopefully) out of danger.

The mysterious assassin let out an oath as his target disappeared, but didn’t slow his attacks. Instead, he redirected his fury at Marie once again, but his sudden change of targets threw him off balance, and his attacks went wide. But suddenly, just as it seemed he was through, he lashed out with a Surprise Strike that brought the cleric to her knees, barely conscious.

Bella whipped out her bow, and nocked a pair of arrows on the string, sending them both flying with one shot. They flew true, and one arrow should have pierced each of the ninja’s eyes, but again, he vanished at the instant they hit, reappearing behind Sandoval. However, unbeknownst to the assassin, he was also right next to the invisible Nicki. The assassin was bloodied, and Nicki knew he would likely only have one shot before he made good his escape, as he had during their last battle. Thinking fast, he opened his mouth and said a Very Bad Word. The Power Word lashed the ninja like a whip. His weapons dropped from his nerveless fingers, and his eyes rolled back into his head as he swayed on his feet, stunned.

That was the opening Sawyer was looking for. He charged, and thrust Suishen forward with both hands. The blade slid right through the ninja, lifting him off the floor. As he hung there, gasping, an arrow flew through the air and pierced his throat. “Stay away from Ameiko!” Sandru roared, lowering his bow.

The blood-spattered inn was empty now, save for the panting party. They began to search the ninja’s body, looking for any sign of who might have sent him, but found none. When they had done Detect Magic previously, the disguised ninja had shown no sign of possessing anything magical, but now the spell practically blinded them. Armor, weapons, rings, potions – his body now lit up like a Christmas tree. But the most magical item by far was a worn bronze coin worn around his neck on a simple leather thong. It was similar to other coins they’d seen in Minkai, with a square hole in the center and six Tian ideograms embossed on its surface. Zhustin examined the markings closely, and determined that they might represent skills of use to a ninja: Acrobatics, Climbing, Disguise, Escape Artist, Perception, and Stealth. But attempts to Identify the coin and its specific powers left them surprisingly ignorant.

“Be careful with that!” Nicki warned when he saw Zhustin rubbing the coin between his fingers. “When we fought this guy before, I tried to Dominate him, and I could sense something fighting me for control of his mind. That thing might be intelligent.” Zhustin dropped the coin like it had burned him. In the end, they tucked the strange coin into a pouch by itself, unsure what to do with it. The ninja’s body was taken out to sea that night in a “borrowed” boat, weighted down with stones, and sent to the bottom of the ocean.

Two days later, they at last had their promised meeting with the governor’s brother, Sikutsu Itsuru. O-Sayumi led them to a private room in the tea house, where a young man sat waiting. He was in his mid-30’s, but looked at least ten years younger, which likely didn’t help his older brother’s low opinion of him. He bowed respectfully as introductions were made, and listened politely as Ameiko told her story and her plans, but he was clearly skeptical of her claims.

When she had finished, he sat in silence for an uncomfortable period. At last he spoke. “I am impressed by all you have endured to reach Minkai from the far reaches of the world, and I believe that you truly wish to overthrow the Jade Regent and free the people of Minkai. But the last of the imperial families have been gone from Minkai for decades, the Amatatsu family for two lifetimes. How am I to believe that you are truly a scion of House Amatatsu?”

The party looked at each other uneasily. They knew the answer – the Amatatsu Seal. But did they trust this man enough to reveal it to him? He was, after all, the brother of one of the Jade Regent’s fiercest allies. And would it bring the Jade Regent’s forces down on their heads to remove it from its warding box?  But they also knew it was not their decision to make, and all eyes eventually turned to Ameiko. She knew their thoughts, and gave a resigned shrug. “If we can’t trust him, it’s already too late.” With that, she withdrew the warding box from the deep sleeves of her kimono, and opened it to briefly show Itsuru the prize inside – the Imperial Seal of House Amatatsu.

Itsuru’s eyes grew wide, then he dropped to his knees, bowing until his forehead touched the floor at Ameiko’s feet. “My princess! I am your humble servant, now and until the day of my death!”

With Itsuru’s skepticism removed, he quickly opened up. “I am no friend of the Jade Regent, and mourn the toll my brother’s bloody rule has taken on our people. I am sick of the years of horror and abuse, and know that my brother’s injustices must be put to an end. But he is my brother, and my lawful lord, and my honor prevents me from taking action against him. Most of the samurai under his command are like me – honorable men trapped by duty into following his cruel orders. If Sennaka were removed from power, and I became governor, they would gladly follow me, and we could begin to repair some of the damage by brother has wrought. And the armies of the north are a not insignificant portion of Minkai’s military might. If these armies swore themselves to you, my princess, the Jade Regent would lose much of the military strength he now commands. And who knows – perhaps even the army of Kasai, which guards the imperial capital, might turn against the Jade Regent if faced with a rising tide of honorable samurai sworn to House Amatatsu.

“As I say, honor forbids me from raising my hand against my brother. But there might be another way. Sennaka will soon be journeying to Shuryo Onsen, a secluded hunting lodge on the border between the provinces of Enganoka and Sakakabe. Sennaka visits Shuryo Onsen several times a year to bathe in its hot springs, and is currently renovating the lodge to become a formal residence. He has pressed all of the nearby villagers into duty as laborers for the renovation, housing them in a small camp east of the lodge. Sennaka normally leaves most of his retinue in the camp to guard the company’s baggage and mounts, keeping only a small personal escort with him at the lodge. If you could keep him separated from the bulk of his troops, you could deal with Sennaka and his smaller guard on their own.

“And I know someone who can help you. Recently, a handful of samurai were dismissed from Sennaka’s service. These samurai were ordered to burn a village for not paying its taxes, but instead they managed to raise enough money to pay the village’s taxes themselves, as an honorable way to avoid destroying the village. The samurai disobeyed a direct order, but Sennaka got his tax revenue (and can now continue to tax the village), so the daimyo simply dismissed them in a rare moment of mercy. Although these samurai are now masterless ronin, I knows they are good, trustworthy people. These ronin now call themselves the “Nine Pawns,” and already have a score to settle with Sennaka. They have approached me to let me know they would support me as governor, but my honor has prevented me from accepting their direct aid. I know that they have been scouting the area around Shuryo Onsen, and I could arrange a rendezvous between you, so you could devise a joint strategy.”

The group still harbored a healthy level of distrust for the young noble, but gradually his words won them over. Ultimately, they agreed to collaborate with the Nine Pawns in an assassination attempt.

“What can you tell us of the personal guards we’re likely to encounter at the lodge?” Bella asked. Itsuru stroked his chin in thought. “I’d guess there will be 15, maybe 20. Most are local samurai who have served our family all their lives – those who have proven themselves to be most loyal to my brother, and the most ruthless in carrying out his orders. He also has a contingent of Typhoon Guards, sent by the Jade Regent himself.”

“Typhoon Guard? What’s that?” Sawyer asked, and Itsuru snorted in disgust. “They’re the Jade Regent’s imperial guard, his own private mercenary army. The tales of their cruelty have spread throughout the country.”

Everyone exchanged knowing looks. “Are they oni?” Nicki asked, and Itsuru’s eyes grew wide. “Oni?!?” he gasped. “Why would they be oni? I mean, we’ve all heard wild tales out of Kasai, but surely not even the Jade Regent would employ such monsters? No, the Typhoon Guard are human, just like you or I.” Nicki simply shook his head at Itsuru’s naiveté. “Trust us – the Jade Regent is allied with the oni.”

Itsuru was shaken by this news, but continued his description. “There’s one other bodyguard, a brute named Kazuo.  Like the Typhoon Guard, he was assigned by the Jade Regent to serve as my brother’s personal bodyguard. I’m not sure if the Jade Regent sent them to guard my brother as much as to ensure he doesn’t get out of line.” Nicki nodded sagely. “Oni – mark my words.”

They parted with Itsuru’s promise to arrange a meeting with the Nine Pawns, and within a day they received directions to a meeting point a few days ride east of Sakakabe. Following the landmarks Itsuru had given them, they arrived at an outcropping of rock overlooking the rugged countryside, covered with dense pine forest. They found four men waiting for them, dressed as simple laborers, but under their cloaks they carried katanas and wakizashis. They introduced themselves as four of the Nine Pawns, and quickly got down to business.

“There’s a thermal stream that comes down from hot springs in the mountains, to join the river down there,” their leader said, pointing to a narrow stream that could be seen coming out of the woods below them. “The workers’ camp is there, near where the two come together.” The party could make out a cluster of shanties at the edge of the woods far below. Beside the shacks, a score of tents stood in neat rows, and dozens of horses were hobbled to graze.

“The lodge is about a mile uphill from the village, deep in the forest. The only way to reach it is up a steep, narrow path, barely wide enough for one man or one horse at a time. There’s a hidden logging path on the other side, and we’ve used it to scout the area and prepare a trap. We’ve cut down trees and arranged the logs in a deadfall we can use to block the path. Once it’s down, we can defend it against the governor’s troops, who can only advance one or two at a time. We can hold them off long enough for you to finish off the governor and his guard. Once they’re dead, and we tell the others Itsuru is the new governor, we’re confident they’ll gladly switch sides.”

The ronin seemed to have a well thought-out plan, and the party accompanied them to their secret camp high in the hills. The next morning, the ronin led them down the hidden path and showed them the spot where they planned to defend their roadblock. Then they brought them to the edge of the woods, overlooking the clearing that housed the lodge of Shuryo Onsen.

It was a rustic lodge set alongside a steaming thermal stream. It was surrounded by a sturdy wooden palisade, and they could see nothing of the interior save the roof of a single-story building. Wanting more info on their target, Bella used her Oil of Invisibility and Marie contributed a Fly spell, and the rogue set out for some aerial reconnaissance. As she flew over the compound, she could see a sprawling building in the center, with some interior gardens and courtyards. To the north of it, a large area of earth was torn up, apparently creating the foundations for some future addition to the building. There were a pair of small outbuildings along the wall, and two paddocks with grazing horses. Two samurai sparred with bamboo swords in the yard, while another was tending the horses. One of the sparring samurai suddenly turned and looked up as Bella flew over, shielding his eyes as he squinted into the sun, trying to see what had caused the sudden tingle on the back of his neck. But he saw nothing, and shrugged and returned to his training.

Bella completed her flyover and gave the compound a wide berth on her return, not wanting to spook the guard again. After she reported, they finalized their plan with the ronin. They would wait until after midnight, the killing hour, and then launch their attack.

The PCs earned 10,972 XP for the night, putting them at 337,034 XP, with 445,000 required for level 14. We’ll be at Rich & Joette’s next Sunday, although Roger will be on call.