Magistrates of The Emerald Empire: The hunt begins.
 

The room was dark. Mirumoto Raiden stood in the candle light. He wore a simple silk kimono, and leggings. An attendant brought out the golden laquered armor. He helped Raiden dress for combat.

Raiden moments earlier had written 6 letter. One for his father, one for the daimyo's in the enclaive, one for the Togashi Daimyo, one for the emerald Champion, and the last for his older brother.

The attendant tightened the silken straps so the armor would fit snuggly. Raiden tightened his greaves. He took his mempo. The mempo resembled a snaraling dragon. He tied the mempo to his face. He then picked up his steel Jingasa and tied it on. The last thing he put on was his green obi. He took his swords off their stand and placed them in his obi. He left the building. His guards bowing to the magistrate. He wore the Jade amulet the mark of his office over his armor. He then walked to the North road the only way in or out of the city.

Izumi had just finished putting on her mask worn traditionally by Scorpion clansmen. She had put on her lightfitting armor which was a dark violet and concealed various poisonous powders and salves inside her gauntlets. She sheathed her Wakazashi and placed her amulet around her neck. After releasing the carrier pidgeons to the various daimyos and family members, she began the walk to the North road to meet up with the others.

After taking the two bandits to prison, Yoshi was tired from the long drag and spell casting. While thinking of where he could rest, he remembered a saki bar near the north exit of the city. He began to walk to the north road to get a couple of drinks and relax.

(If IHMN doesn't like this I can delete it any time.)

As Yoshi continued down the road, he heard horse's hooves behind him, the sound getting closer and louder. His steps slowed, then stopped as the man turned to look behind him.

There was a horse, and on the horse was a rider, a young woman clad in the livery of the Phoenix clan, but with no visible mon on her haori.

"Isawa Yoshi-san!"

The horse whinnied as the rider pulled up beside Yoshi in a small puff of dust.

"Are you Isawa Yoshi-san, sir?"

Yoshi folded his arms and regarded the woman. She was young, probably not even past her gempukku yet. And the lack of a mon probably meant she was either from a vassal family, or that she had not earned the right to bear one yet. Still, she was dressed in the colors of the clan, so it might be good to at least hear her out.

"Yes, little one. I am Yoshi of the Isawa. What business have you with me?"

She smiled brightly before realizing her loss of control and hurriedly looking down. Her fingers scrabbled in the pouch she was carrying and produced a scroll sealed with a wax stamp of the Isawa family. In an awkward, yet audible voice, she read,

"Isawa Yoshi, I am Isawa Kenren, kindred shugenja and fellow hunter of evil. It is my duty to inform you that your presence will be needed urgently by the band of magistrates, due to new developments regarding the ma...ho..."

Here her voice trailed off, and Yoshi could see her fingers shaking.

"Well girl, come on, I haven't got all day!"

"B-but... it says h-here..."

"Give the scroll to me."

Without another word, he strode over to the horse and easily snatched it from her quivering fingers. Still in a state of shock, the girl did not react until it had left her hands. She opened her mouth as though to speak, then closed it and sighed dejectedly.

Yoshi opened the scroll.

"Isawa Yoshi, I am Isawa Kenren, kindred shugenja and fellow hunter of evil. It is my duty to inform you that your presence will be needed urgently by the band of magistrates, due to new developments regarding the maho-tsukai you slew half a month before.

A few nights ago, a great disturbance was reported near the Imperial Palace. Three oni were summoned into the city, and the damage they caused was vast. Fortunately we subdued them, but we are now aware of a few things.

One: There is a maho cult active in the Empire.

Two: The cult has murdered a Scorpion shugenja, a Yogo, in the course of their twisted efforts.

Three: The cult is seeking a Black Scroll. This is probably the most important reason for your recall to duty. I do not think I have to tell you how disastrous letting a Black Scroll fall into maho-tsukai hands would be.

We will be gathering at the north end of the city, where the trail of the tsukai leads. Please meet us there with the greatest of speed.

May the Empress smile upon our efforts.

Isawa Kenren, Isawa Ishi.


After reading the carefully penned words, Yoshi was silent. At great length, he spoke again.

"Very well, young one. Return to your master and tell him I will rejoin the others presently."

The young rider nodded, and her mount galloped away.

So. It has finally begun. The great hunt...

There wouldn't be much time for drinks now.

Raiden was the first to the Gates.

"Halt Dragon. What business do you have armed so in our city." A guard said. Raiden recognized the Man as Doji Kazo, the duelist who won the tournament.

"I am Mirumoto Raiden, Son of Mirumoto Tomo, Magistrate of the Emerald Empire. I am investigating the recent Maho activities in this city."

"I will of course be of service Magistrate-san" Kazo said.

"Have there been any suspicious people leaving the city."

"There was an odd group of farmers being escorted by a Kitsu Shugenja. I did not like the look of the Kitsu, he had an ill favored look."

"How so?" Raiden said.

"He was very pale, he also had the look like a predator, Like the way a wolf looks at it's prey. I was tempted to challenge him for the way he looked at my men, but he never showed a sign of disrespect, so I let him pass They moved toward the North toward the lion's lands."

"Thank you for your help Kazo-san."

"Raiden-san, why did you let me win the tournament? Why did you refuse to face me?" Kazo asked.

"As I said then. I knew who would win."

OOC: Where you just really bored Dante? And let's assume that the messanger mentioned something about the others meeting at the north exit.

IC:

Before the messanger had left, Yoshi quickly wrote a note and gave it to the messanger with a message. The messanger was to copy the note several times and send it any way possible to Yoshi's family and certain Pheonix clan members.

Not knowing when the other magistrates were leaving, Yoshi continued to the northern gate. Since he wore no armor and carried all his scrolls, the only piece of equipment he did not have was his wazaki, though he never used it. He had decided to meet the other magistrates to see if he had time to go retrieve his weapon, just in case.

Izumi reached the gates next. She saw that Raiden and Kazo were the only ones to have arrived. She walked up to them and bowed, "hopefully fortune will smile upon us today and we shall find the source of the maho."

"I should hope the Fortunes are smiling on us, we will need their aid." Raiden said to Izumi. Kazo went back to his duty. "I'm glad you came."

"I am happy to be of assistance, however I do not know how much help I shall be. I am no warrior like you or Kazo and I fear that I shall only get in the way and find myself needing your protection."

"I have no problems being your Yojimbo, lady Izumi." She couldn't see it but he was smiling beneath his mempo.