Folded Steel Session 4 - Claiming Katsutoyo Castle!
Our cast for this week:
Akamatsu Shiori - Our resident Shrine Maiden. Shiori's second virtue is spirituality. She is bound to help the spirits of Gekkōshima, care for their shrines, and respect practices regarding local spirits.
Akamatsu Furi- A bushi seeking mastery of the blade and glory for the Akamatsu clan. Her second virtue is bravery. She is bound not to back down from challenges or allow others to face danger for her.
Akamatsu Sumire - A yumihiki (like a bow woman) who has mastered the bow. Sumire's second virtue is abstinence. She is bound not to take part in superfluous indulgences that could distract her from mastering her spirit.
Akamatsu Sen - Akamatsu's shadowy shinobi. Sen's second virtue is loyalty, she is bound to her word and bond, even when it would be more convenient to break it.
Treasure in the Study
After reading the creepy journal from last week, Furi explored the other books on the shelf in the room. Seeing one book that wasn't caked with dust, she gave it a tug. The book pulled out halfway, causing a kachunk sound from the room to the north.
Carefully opening the door to the north, they saw a pair of chests flanking a spear throwing devices. Fortunately, tugging the book deactivated the trap, giving them easy access to the chests, which were full of gems as well as a pair of black powder bombs, which will surely be used responsibly.
All that remained was to open the final room. Flinging the door open, they discovered a skeletal lord sitting upon a throne with a 7-foot-long bone hilted odachi.
Despite the skeleton taking a chunk out of Furi, they made quick work of the Lord, finally clearing the castle of its dangers.
Catching up With the Umbrella
Before they left, the party decided to have a quick word with the animated umbrella they found in a tearoom earlier. The umbrella's name was Oba, and he was very happy to hear that the party cleared out most of the yokai, leaving just him and the garden slug in the castle.
As a reward, Oba shared what he knew about the castle with the party. The castle was built by Lord Katsutoyo, but the first few times he attempted to erect walls, they crumbled. A priest recommended the lord include a human pillar - a person buried under the foundation of the castle, as an offering to the Kami.
Lord Katsutoyo agreed, and an elderly villager named Kano volunteered, under the condition that her grandson, Daikichi would be made into a Samurai when he became older. Katsutoyo agreed, and she was buried (She was the Oni in the basement).
By the time Daikichi grew up, the castle had changed hands, controlled now by Lord Kazuya. Kazuya refused to uphold the agreement and had Daikichi killed. Days later, he rose as a wrathful skeleton and slew everyone in the castle.
The party ultimately decided that Oba was harmless and left him as he was, and began their march back to Gerozato, where they could report their accomplishment.
A Dangerous Pit Stop
On their way back to town, the party passed by the small inn they stopped in on the way to the castle. This time, however, they heard a scream from inside. They rushed in to find the rug in the center of the inn had been rolled away to reveal a staircase.
Following the stairs down they found the innkeeper, but her skin was blue and wrinkly, and horns protruded from her head. The old man they saw in the inn previously was dead eyed, as if hypnotized, and was in the process of tying a noose.
The innkeeper asked the party to leave, explaining that the inn is cursed. The owner is bound to the inn as a demon until a new victim is ritualistically sacrificed in the inn.
After a fight, the demon surrendered, asking the party for a chance to negotiate. Eventually the party agreed to allow the demon to complete her ritual, but only once they bring her a victim to perform it on. They are planning to bring in someone that "deserves it" (hope they don't take too long...)
Back to Town
After a weird night, the party arrived back in town and reported their exploits at Katsutoyo castle to Administrator Yahagi Yayoi. Furi successfully negotiated for the Akamatsu clan to hold and manage the castle, as official allies of the Yahagi clan!
We left off with the party planning their trip back to their new castle.