(L5R) Ch 3 – The Dragon, part 1

The Crossing

Synopsis: The samurai leave Kyuden Ikoma and cross into Dragon lands.

Two hours earlier: Ryu has heard the news about the approaching Unicorn army. He sends a message to Yori at the Teahouse of Jade Thunder, but it is returned unopened. Worried, he returns to the Teahouse to find her but instead finds Shosuro Shigeru. Shigeru explains that he sent Yori away to keep her safe from the Unicorn invasion. Ryu is not entirely convinced. Shigeru then asks for the Dragon Helm. If he gives him the Helm, he will let him know where he can find her. It is a matter of utmost importance in the Scorpion Clan that he get the Helm. Ryu knows he is lying and that Shigeru is hiding something, but agrees to meet at the Hour of the Ox to give it to him. Shigeru agrees.

Ryu returns to his quarters and finds his wife, Kita, and his two daughters. They speak for a few moments about their daughters’ future – whether they would grow up to become Scorpion courtiers or perhaps rejoin the Crane as beautiful Crane Clan courtiers. Kita doubts they will marry for marriage brings too much sadness. Kita asks whether she has done anything to offend her and Ryu says no. Ryu tells her that the Unicorn army is approaching and that they must return to Ryoko Owari for their own safety. Kita says she will go as a dutiful wife should.

When Ryu returns to the manor with the rest, he tells his servants to go and gather things up for him, then goes to investigate the Dragon Helm when he is attacked by someone clad in black – by shurukin. The ninja jumps down at him from the roof and he fends him off with a wakizashi. He pulls out a jitte but Ryu manages to kill him just as three more ninja jump down to surround him.

Just then, the rest of the samurai arrive and see the ninja surrounding Ryu. They attack with Jin rushing to aid Ryu and the rest rushing in to pull out their katana and attack. They manage to kill two before the last climbs up a rope and tries to escape. Jin and Ying Lien rush out to follow. Ying Lien pulls out her bow and hits the ninja from a great distance, knocking him off the roof. By the time the town authorities get there, the ninja is dead.

Back at the manor, Ryu explains to everyone where he has been for the last day. He also tells them about his encounters with Shigeru and the fact that he did not believe him when he said he would give him the Dragon Helm. They send authorities to the Teahouse to find Shigeru, they explain that he is a traitor and must be arrested. The authorities return empty handed. Shigeru was gone.

Ying-Lien and Kenjiro begin to pack and they discuss what they should do. Honor is at stake. She made a promise to join the Battle Maiden but Kenjiro says their duty is more important. She eventually relents when he explains that he will tell Utaku Yaeko that this is entirely his fault. Before dawn, they venture to the Unicorn camp and find Utaku Yaeko and explain their predicament. Yaeko makes Ying Lien promise she will be there in the spring when they invade Toshi Ranbo. She has lost honor, but at least she is allowed to continue her mission.

Jin sends message to Ikoma Tadasu about using caltrops in the snow. Ryu sends Hiroko with his wife and kids.

They leave before the invasion and meet Ying-Lien and Kenjiro at the crossroads. They venture along the road that crosses the Plains of Battle for several days before arriving at a small village along the banks of the Drowned Merchant River – the border between Lion and Dragon lands. The villagers are stopping a caravan to try and get food. The others give up their provisions knowing there is a Dragon village across the wide river. One bridge is open but guarded by Unicorn and ronin – Ying-Lien has not seen so many ronin and it bothers her.

Ying-Lien goes to give food to a hungry old woman and kids when she is accosted by ronin who tries to rob her. He is part of a band of ronin who will soon become a great clan. They fight briefly but she gives her money to feed the poor. He promises to and she is convinced that he would.

The rest give food to distract the caravan and go to cross the bridge but run into bureaucracy trying to do so. They cross just as they say something about what is on the other side of the river.

They enter town and get a room from a kindly innkeeper. The town is abandoned. There is no business and no trade since the Unicorn has burned many of the bridges.

The innkeeper tells the samurai that there is a Shrine to the Keeper of Fire in the mountains. The samurai decide to visit the shrine. When they visit the Shrine, the Keeper says that he can read their fortunes if the Fire within their spirit is strong enough. Each of the samurai is told their fortune. Ying-Lien is told she will have to protect what she hates. Ryu asks about Daidoji Kage and is told there is no one by that name. Hughes asks if the Spider Clan is evil and is given no answer. Kenjiro is told nothing at all. They all return to their rooms at the compound near the shrine.

During the night, Jin has a dream. In the dream, he is caught in a web with a giant spider and the darkness is talking to him, telling him that ‘they have him.’ He discusses this dream with the other samurai. The entire group is beginning to think that this Spider Clan is more than it appears and wonder if Shigeru was involved.

Next: Exile's Road