[IC]Mission 1: Yoshi's Gold

Si, in his disguise as a worker carrying a hoe, is waved along as he crosses the bridge. Three of the guards do not pay him any mind, but one looks at him intently with his eyes focusing on the blue scarf. He is about to say something another of guards, when the group of them looks and points at a comely young travelling woman heading towards the bridge. They snicker and laugh a bit, with the one forgetting whatever he was about to say.

As Kazuyo approaches, one of the groups steps in her direct path apparently intent to block her way. He begins to say, "Where are you...." That's as far as he gets before the one more perceptive guard grabs him by the shoulder and pulls him back, shaking his head in disapproval. "Remember what Lord Akashi said." The first guard backs away, and they let the woman pass without further incident, although their leering eyes could make a modest woman uncomfortable.

This might have passed as the most memorable moment of the late afternoon, until the monk White Teeth stops before the guards offering his blessing and making conversation. The guards regard him warily. The apparently more senior guard from the back steps forward and speaks, "Blessings of the gods to you as well, monk. What is your name and what your purpose in coming to Minamiko?" He does seem a bit on edge.

Further down the river, Nozomi scouts the riverbank for an alternate place to cross than the bridge. The river's movement near the town is slow on account of its width and the numerous diversions into the irrigation channels around the farmlands. You have travelled two miles downriver at this point, and still you have yet to find a place that you could jump the river without getting wet confidently. It may be possible that such a spot exists even further downriver, but you can't be sure. What do you want to do?

The guard's eyes narrow a bit, scrutinizing Ozunu's words and facial expression. "We're here to keep the Lord's peace. Now move along...Jiébái Yáchi." He basically spits out the words of the foreign-sounding name. He steps aside and uses the butt of his spear to wave the monk through. The other guards follow his lead, and they shift their spears from a battle-ready two-handed grip to a resting position in one hand.

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Kazuyo enters the tea house, passing by the three outdoor benches where some of the customers sit. It is a comfortable-looking local establishment with apparently a couple of separate rooms. A hostess greets Kazuyo at the door and beckons her to follow into the room to the right, "Welcome, honorable woman. Please come in, please follow me this way."

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While Nozomi can't be sure that she will clear the river in a single leap, it isn't beyond her capabilities...on a good day. She was more inclined to try her physical prowess (+14 to jump!) than her verbal wits (-1 CHA) any day. Anyways, it didn't look like it was a river she would drown in even if she didn't quite make it. Without constructed embankments, she will just fall in and will have to swim the remaining distance. She would then be wet, but some water won't hurt her...at least physically.

Si approaches the tea house, but does not see anyone yet. He was just about to ask about others, but then realizes he may have been the first to arrive. Do you still want to inquire about the others?

It took several hours, but eventually all four of the ninja have regathered at the tea room without further incident. You all note that Nozomi appears to have made a mess of herself mudding her sandals and legs in whatever challenge she had faced to made it to the room. Meanwhile, Ozunu looks completely relaxed and refreshed. The hostess has been a bit impatient with Kazuyo and Si who has been sitting there a good while and ordering little. But the arrival of their friends seemed to have been explained much of their loitering in her mind, or perhaps the possibly of serving more food and tea and the coins that come with that may have made her more cheerful.

Some small talk with the hostess taking your order tells you that it is normal to see a few Asakawa samurai in this town. Most of them accompany the frequent sedans moving through these parts carrying people of importance and affluence. They serve as armed escorts for these sedans. But the numbers you see today are more than normal.