“The Princess has been kidnapped. It appears that the ronin Niban had kidnapped her in the hope of marrying her and becoming a samurai as was detailed in a note with his chop on it” Doji Satsume told the shocked Emerald Magistrates. “You have proven yourselves competent over the last couple of months and, as the only remaining Emerald Magistrates, you are the only ones with the currently bestowed authority to solve this issue. Therefore I charge you with rescuing Otomo Yorishiku and bringing her back safely.” Now dismissed, the samurai quickly started searching for any clues. They first wanted to visit with Koan but discovere3d he had disappeared the night before leaving a note behind explaining he had nothing to do with the kidnapping but did not want to be prosecuted by association. Hida and Shinjo went and tried to find tracks but the recent snow storm had covered any sign. They decided to rest up and set off the later in the day.

The next morning they find that a strange hush has fallen over the household. When they asked people if they heard anything they got a steady reply of “I’m sorry, magistrate, but I don’t know what you are talking about”. It was clear that the entire Dragon household had been ordered to ignore the fact that the Emperor’s niece had been kidnapped and they would not contradict the orders of their lord. They had already decided to set off towards Nightingale village, Shinjo Gidayu took them aside to look for the princess he had supported so much during winter court:

“It is not the place of the Dragon to speak of such things, and I have taken it upon myself to offer my aid in this time of crisis. As you already know our beloved Emperor’s niece has been taken from this home against her will. It is the duty of all samurai to protect the Hantei family. You should go now and bring her back. I know this is already your duty, but I also know that I will be in a position to reward all of you as well” When he was done with his quick speech he bowed to the magistrates and left the room.

When their new servants finished loading the wagon and horses with their gear, as it was unwise to travel through the northern mountains without the proper protection, they departed for the trip back to the Village of the Nightingale. On the way they discussed the many ways they could solve the situation and finally decided to leave Shinjo to scout the surrounded area and leave Kocho with the servants and the wagon while the rest would ride into town and try to resolve things peacefully if possible.

It took almost two weeks for them to make their way back to the Village of the Nightingale. It gave them time to become more accustomed to their new wagon, yurt tents and their new servants. When they finally arrived they stored the wagons back in the location they had originally camped at near the village while Shinjo Luke made his way into the dark to scout around the rest, including Shosuro Shinriko’s yojimbo Shinjo Iruko, made their way peacefully into the village where a strange scene was before them:

“There’s no reason for it! No reason at all.” Niban yelled

“What reason do they need? They’re samurai and we are ronin! We are nothing to them. That is all the reason they need!” countered Tobuko

“I don’t believe it. I won’t believe it.”

“I don’t care what you say. As soon as steel hits your flesh, you will believe.”

As the magistrates moved closer, careful to keep their hands away from their weapons, Niban ordered his men to take up positions. When they got close enough and start to explain the situation Tobuko cried out:

“Of course they’re lying! Look at them! They’re probably just distractions while the real army moves into position in the woods. Wait! Did you see that?”

The magistrates tried to continue to reason with the ronin. When they finally had the opportunity to tell Niban why they were there Niban’s jaw dropped. It was clear to the young magistrates that the ronin’s reaction was genuine. But at the mention of Yoroshiku’s name Tobuko turned ashen and starred at Niban and shacked her head uttering:

“I can’t believe it. I knew you were desperate, but….”

Tobuko went on to explain to them that Niban had talked of kidnapping the girl, but that she never expected him to go through with it. She immediately ordered ten men to look for Yoroshiku. As they talked it took the men only about fifteen seconds looking before they found the princess. As the ronin brought the girl out Niban’s expression slipped from surprise to complete lunacy. His sword cam out before anyone could move, and he snatched the girl from the ronin killing the both of them before they could even draw their swords.

As Niban snapped, Tobuko took charge. She ordered her ronin to stand down and allow the magistrates to deal with Niban in their own way. The magistrates due their best to appeal to Niban’s sense of honor and bushido but it Niban’s paranoia did not allow him to listen to reason and laughs and condemns them as fools at their attempts to use bushido to appease to him:

“Bushido is a religion for fools. Look at those you serve. Do they follow bushido? Do they? Or do they use it as a convenient tool to push their pawns about a board that only they can see?”

“Honor? That is a fine word. Do you know what honor is? It is a code of conduct mean to keep the strong from overpowering the weak. Those souls who do not have the stomach for killing invented it. Only we – the strong – only we have the stomachs to do what must be done. The weak provide what we need. Isn’t that what bushido is all about? The weak feed us as we kill those who disobey. That is our way. THAT is bushido.”

“I believed! I tried! I walked in Akodo’s footsteps, and look what it got me! Look at me! I’m nothing! Nothing! And all because of this…this…” He pushed the knife closer to the girl’s throat. The magistrates’ hands drifted towards their weapons but asked Niban why he blamed the imperial princess for his status. Niban stopped his threatening of Yorishiku and looked at them and when it became apparent that they were willing to hear his story and loosened his grip on the princess and begun to tell them his story:

Sixteen years ago, Niban was known as Shinjo Toda, karo to Shinjo Gidayu. The daimyo was having a discreet affair with a certain Otomo Jiko, a very married member of the Imperial family (although by birth a Lion. When Jiko gave birth to a baby girl (Yorishiku) she called for Gidayu. The Unicorn daimyo did not come to her side, but instead sent his karo, the man who becomes known as Niban.
__
Niban arrived, and discovered Jiko was on her deathbed, sick with fever. He knelt at her bedside, and she called him by Gidayu;s name. Niban nodded somberly, hoping his deception would bring her a little peace in her final hours.

“The girl” Jiko whispered “She is yours, my love. She is your daughter.”

Niban was shocked. By cuckolding the Imperial line, Gidayu had committed a serious crime. Niban watched as the woman passed away, then returned to Unicorn lands with the knowledge that he would have to tell his lord what happened. When Gidayu asked what occurred, Niban bitterly told him. He swore on his life that he would keep it a secret.

But Gidayu had shaken his head “No. The only way this will remain a secret is if all who know it are dead.” He ordered his karo to commit seppuku. Niban refused an again offered his word to stay quiet but Gidayu was unwilling to accept this and upon Niban’s second refusal he ordered his guards to kill him. Niban dispatched them leaving the throne room covered in blood.

“There is no need. For I am already dead. And your secret has died with me.” With that, Niban disappeared, never to be seen in Unicorn lands again. He spent the next fourteen years as a bandit, gathering the ronin who followed him now, as well as Tobuko. But that changed two years ago when Niban decided to start the Nightingale Village.

When he was done, he looked at the magistrates and smiled. “Now you know the truth,” he said. “But bushido has no room for the truth, does it?” He snickered, threw down the knife and pushed the stunned girl forward. “Go on, then. Serve your lord. Do your duty. Kill me. I’m only a ronin after all.”

Niban’s words faded away into echoes. When none of the magistrates made any move he laughed, and bowed sarcastically; “There is no room in a samurai’s heart for doubt”. Then he charged the girl.

83 kakita attack niban
35 hida attack niban
35 niban break the princess neck
31 shinjo Iruko cut down niban
25 shosuro retreat behind allies
22 akodo attack

84 hikaru cut archer
41 kengetsu shove yari
31 tobuko run away
29 iruko charge some archers kill 2 archers
27 shinriko attack Tobuko knife to leg nick (16 damage) her limp (reduce speed)
17 akio charge archers cut thru 2 archers
11 ronin 12 archers open fire, 3 yari charge (7 left archers left, 2 yari. Miss twice against Kakita, once against Akodo and hit hida once)

95 hikaru kill archer pez dispenser the archer
34 kengetsu hurl people
31 shinriko attack archer hand fall down
28 akio run up to Tobuko subdual damage for 41 (knowck out)
24 iruko chop archers kill two archers
20 tobuko limp away lies down on ground
19 ronin attack and get up

95 hikaru attack prone yari 63 damage
34 kengetsu kill some poeple dead
31 shinriko attack archer 16
28 akio run up to Tobuko subdual damage for 41 (knowck out)
24 iruko chop archers kill two archers
20 tobuko limp away lies down on ground
19 ronin attack and get up