| | 272 | ==== 7 Hare ==== |
| | 273 | |
| | 274 | * Arrive at Breeze through the Long Grass. |
| | 275 | * Letter from Yaeji delivered by Senbei: |
| | 276 | * Snow lillies blossom. / Travellers brave the spring showers / to witness rebirth. |
| | 277 | * Something off about the hiaku -- specific words chosen and seasonal indicators seem to be for end winter not beginning of spring. |
| | 278 | * Arrived with messenger who came a day ago. |
| | 279 | * Nagataka divinates and receives a vision of a dead icky starling struggling with a icky chitinous spider. |
| | 280 | * Senbei attempts to connect with the underworld: |
| | 281 | * Pointed towards The Painted Lantern (the geisha house). |
| | 282 | * The Painted Lantern: |
| | 283 | * Run by Natsuo (well-off merchant woman; Scorpion traits). |
| | 284 | * Natsuo says there is a group of people who you ask for information about things that no one knows. |
| | 285 | * Not in Breeze through the Long Grass after Satoshi became lord. |
| | 286 | * Based near Phoenix lands in villages near Honoured Treaty City. |
| | 287 | * Senbei asks Natsuo to make some enquiries -- he will also make his own. |
| | 288 | * Kamenosuke speaks to Harumi: |
| | 289 | * She is keen to assist personally. |
| | 290 | * Can probably twist Satoshi arm into giving men. |
| | 291 | * Her last chance to see battle. |
| | 292 | * Eventually end up with: |
| | 293 | * Harumi, 4 Daidoji and 16 ashegaru with spears (4 per Daidoji). |
| | 294 | * Visit peasant seamstress family: |
| | 295 | * Given them a gift. |
| | 296 | * Ichiro acquired the jade at that Hanshiro produced. |
| | 297 | * Ishie sends message to Aiko asking for men. |
| | 298 | * Diachi sends four Shiba guards. |
| | 299 | * Kunika reads poetry for us. |
| | 300 | |
| | 301 | ==== 8 Hare ==== |
| | 302 | |
| | 303 | * Rolling hills, copses of trees, singing birds. |
| | 304 | * Two days of riding. |
| | 305 | |
| | 306 | ==== 10 Hare, Moonlit River ==== |
| | 307 | |
| | 308 | * Tsume: Chiyari, Hirotada, Ayako, Ishen, Kazutaka. |
| | 309 | * Major industry: rice and fish. |
| | 310 | * Inn: The Red Leaping Mullet. |
| | 311 | * Estate has vast and elaborate gardens. |
| | 312 | * Topiary is work of Hirotada. |
| | 313 | * Ishen's garden has many rare plants. |
| | 314 | * New bath house designed by Hirotada: |
| | 315 | * Has an ornated and bejewelled statue of Jotei -- Fortune of Morning Dew. |
| | 316 | * Dinner with Chiyari's family: |
| | 317 | * Certain tradesmen from Three Herons expected around this time of year have not arrived. |
| | 318 | * Chiyari can spare four Tsume guardsmen and six ashegaru. Wants Kazutaka to command them. |
| | 319 | * Tea with Ichiro: |
| | 320 | * Senbei, Ayako, Nagataka and Kamenosuke also present. |
| | 321 | * Ichiro offers to give us Jade -- on condition that we do not act against his employers for the moment. |
| | 322 | * Amulets made of obsidian and jade -- detects taint. |
| | 323 | * Story about employers: |
| | 324 | * Long time ago, group bound by common interest -- share resources. |
| | 325 | * One of associates became greed and let associates into a trap. |
| | 326 | * Some killed, some ruined. |
| | 327 | |
