Legend of the Five Rings: Test of Thunder part 1
 

The travel for the first two days were uneventful. There was no food to be found and the ronin were running out of everything other than rice. Soon they would reach the River of Gold, and the imperial road through Seikitsu pass. Without travel papers they wouldn't get far as they began to approach the scorpions border out posts. Kyuden Nanbu could now be seen high in the foot hills of the Mountains.

As they drew closer to the River, it became apparent a man was standing in their path. The man was very tall and heavily muscled. He wore only a dark grey hakama, and had his black hair in a top knot. He rubbed his goattee as they approached and looked at the samurai appraisingly.

"My house is infested with vermin." He said in a voice that boomed across the plains. He pointed at the ronin band infront of him. "You will clean it out."

Tenshi stayed near the back of the group, unsure of how to address this man, but definitely sure he didn't appreciate the tone. He decided to let one of the more traveled ronin amongst them answer, while staying ready to draw his weapons should it result in a fight.

"Excuse my tone, but what of our appearance would suggest an inclination to perform a retainer's duties?" Matt said, bringing his horse forward. He didn't know how to appraise this man, and thought that if he had a horse equivalent it would be a particularly nasty Otaku.

"You will serve me. I don't like your tone, boy. I was to understand you were noble samurai of the emerald empire, not whining geisha." The large man said adjusting his stance. He had the bearing and demeanor of a crab samurai.

"We are sorry, good sir. Some of us are a little... grumpy after what happened to us a couple days ago. Some of us would gladly lend a hand if we could help out with a small problem." Hideki knew that he would probably be getting them into a bit of a problem if he was getting them into a pointless job, but this Crab was huge. He looked to be almost twice the size of Hideki by brawn alone. Something that could pose a large problem to the group if they got him any more angry.

"Do this task for me and I'll reward you nicely. Fail... well let's say failure should not be in your vocabulary. So are you proud warriors, or weak mice?"

OOC: Out of curiousity, how much bigger is the crab to Zenko?

IC:

After a meeting durin ght enight with At'kee, Zenko went with the rest of the ronins.

When they ran across the demanding crab samurai, Zenko waited until the other ronin finished speaking. "I will accept, though, what exactly is infesting your house?" Zenko wanted to know what he, and possibly the other samurai, would have to deal with.

"It would take large rats to demand ronin exterminators." Matt grumbled. He could tell he was on thin ice so he decided to let the others control the negotiations. It was obvious that this Crab commanded some power, as no one weak would control such haughtiness.

ooc: this guy is about 10 feet tall and 5 feet wide from shoulder to shoulder. so he's pretty big.

"My servant serves himself, and have become no better than beast's of Fu Leng." The massive samurai said. "I want you to take care of him."

Benitora stepped forward, Shizune asleep on his back. His eyes narrowed as he surveyed the imposing Crab.

"Samurai, you have come out of the mists and suddenly demanded that complete strangers do your bidding. Even the most humble disciple of Shinsei would balk at being ordered thusly. "

"We are ronin, mercenaries who will work as long as we are paid. We are also little better than heimin, and to be honest, the reputation is not ill-deserved. But we would like to know who wishes to employ us. It is not arrogance. It is not presumption. It is simply common courtesy. Even we, least among the Celestial Hierarchy, still retain the etiquette we were brought up with."

He smiled thinly. He didn't know why. Here he was, lecturing another like one of his students at the academy. This colossus of a man looked like he could break any of them in two and here he was, grinning at this mysterious stranger like they ahd just shared some great joke known only to the two of them.

Perhaps the expression of nonchalance was armor to stave off the mounting panic within.

"After all, even a dog knows who is holding his leash."