The Day of Thunder

[Hiruma Naraku]

Naraku arrived early to the edge of the forest. He was clad in his battle finery and had prepared rations and jade. The mission was supposed to be a simple reconnaissance affair, but if his father had taught him anything it was to prepare for any eventuality.

He awaited for AI and the other volunteers to arrive.

[Togashi Satsuki]

One of the first volunteers arrived, and it was no other than Togashi Satsuki!

The Dragon priestess was dressed sensibly in warm clothes and sturdy boots, armed with her bow as well as her wakizashi, and a small knife attached to her belt. She carried a satchel at her side, with water and some food just in case. Like many shugenja, she wore no armor, but nevertheless she looked pretty prepared for the mission.

"Have you recovered from the battle yesterday, Naraku?" she asked with some concern for her fellow samurai.

[Otomo Akutou]

Akutou steps out, dressed as if for peril.

He touches the brim of his hat, nodding. "Sir, ma'am.

"Who else're we waitin' on afore we get goin'?"

[Nanzi Ai]

Ai was there in battle kit and said, "Naraku-san, my sword is ready. Cousin, Otomo-san, warm greetings."

[Otomo Akutou]

Another tip of the hat, and "Ma'am," from Akutou.

He takes the opportunity to string his bow. Might as well, since they're all there.

[Hisomu Tadaka]

Goju arrived and bowed to those present. "Hope I wasn't keeping you waiting."

[Otomo Akutou]

"Afternoon, friend," Akutou says. "Good t' see you."

[Hisomu Tadaka]

"Good to see you too. Hope you've been well."

[Otomo Akutou]

"Been busy, which ain't as good, but ain't bad," he says.

Then he shifts his head toward Naraku. "That'n's got sand in 'im. Stood strong 'gainst th' wolves yesterday.

"I 'magine it'll come in handy. I'll hafta do what I c'n do t' keep up."

[Hisomu Tadaka]

"Aye?" Goju looks at the man. "Good job then and good thinking now to lead this expedition." Goju gives a nod of respect.

Back at Akutou. "Me too. Gotta do some good while I'm here."

[Togashi Satsuki]

Making sure her bow was strung properly, and the quiver sufficiently secured, Satsuki gave a nod to the newcomers as well. "Good to see so many joining together for this." A Crab, Crane, Dragon, Spider, and Stag... they really were an eclectic bunch. And it made her happy to see them all coming together like this.

"Shall we go ahead then?"

[Hiruma Naraku]

"Have you recovered from the battle yesterday, Naraku?" she asked with some concern for her fellow samurai.

"It is better, yes," he greeted her with a smile. "Although the wound was not that serious to begin with."

"Who else're we waitin' on afore we get goin'?"

"Otomo-san," he greets the newly arrived Stag. "Always good to count with you again. We are waiting for two more people."

Ai was there in battle kit and said, "Naraku-san, my sword is ready. Cousin, Otomo-san, warm greetings."

"Ai-san," Naraku smiled warmly as she arrived. "let's make you a proper scout."

Goju arrived and bowed to those present. "Hope I wasn't keeping you waiting."

Naraku shook his head "Do not worry Hisomu-san, you arrived just when you needed to"

"Now that we are all here I shall debrief on what is the purpose for this mission," he motioned for them to gather round.

"Today I discovered that there is naturally occurring dreamstone in this village. For all of those that do not know what a dreamstone is, in very plain terms it is corrupted jade. Now normally the dreamstones I had seen were the shape and size of a finger of jade, slighty twisted, that had lost its sheen and properties from absorbing too much corruption. In the case of the dreamstone found here, whilst we can venture it is also jade that absorbed the properties of corruption, the shape was all wrong and seemed to be natural occurring rather than as other effect."

"As such we will venture into the forest and attempt to locate a possible source for that dreamstone. Parallel to that we will additionally spot any places that could serve as locations for ambush and set small early signal traps to give us a heads up in case anything tries to attack us from the forest. It might not be much, but it is sufficient to perhaps afford us a few minutes."

"This is a recon mission," he continues. "So we are to avoid combat as best as we can. The forest is a closed space of which we are not familiar, so it would be disadvantageous to engage on an enemy for now. We will also keep close to each other," he takes a small parchment from his pouch and opens it. "Togashi-san, I want you in the center where we can protect you from the four sides," he turns to Ai "Ai-san, you are to be Togashi-san's shadow," he finally looks at Goju and Akutou. "You two will be my wingmen. Hisomu-san you take the left and Otomo-san take the right."

He rolls the parchment again and puts it back into his pouch. He retrieves a finger of jade.

"Finally before we go. We might be finding influence of the enemy inside this forest. It is imperative that we take jade into the forest. Whoever does not have can have this finger."

"That being said, any questions or shall we head into the forest?"

[Nanzi Ai]

Ai found her place in the formation, "I am ready."

[Otomo Akutou]

Akutou shows his finger of jade and nods.

He looks around to see if there is anything lying in wait already, and his eyes are piercing and keen beneath the brim of his hat (Investigation against ambushes 51, https://sakkaku.org/r/11473).

[Canary]

He could only see normal forest creatures.

[Hiruma Naraku]

(OOC: Due to the misalignment of the timezones, I'm going to move this a bit forward)

Naraku nodded at the participants and once the briefing was done, headed to the forest. He would lead the way, and hopefully, he would be able to blaze a good trail.

As they entered into the forest, his eyes kept watch for any signs of corruption.

---

D3 MA | Lore: Corruption | 8k4 ⇒ 33

[Otomo Akutou]

Flanking and silently, Akutou follows, keeping an arrow ready and scanning his surroundings.

Ain't seen anythin' yet, he thinks. Still, even if there ain't anythin', gotta check.

[Togashi Satsuki]

Satsuki followed Naraku's directions, trusting in his ability as a more experienced ranger. So she kept close to Ai as they moved.

[Canary]

(OOC: Due to the misalignment of the timezones, I'm going to move this a bit forward)

Naraku nodded at the participants and once the briefing was done, headed to the forest. He would lead the way, and hopefully, he would be able to blaze a good trail.

As they entered into the forest, his eyes kept watch for any signs of corruption.

---

D3 MA | Lore: Corruption | 8k4 ⇒ 33

Unfortunately, without knowing much about the local flora, it's hard to tell if anything's changed.

Others may roll Lore: Nature TN 20.

[Otomo Akutou]

For his part, Akutou doesn't know enough about the local flora and fauna to find things much out of place in themselves.

He does, however, see Naraku make attempts at marking a trail for others to follow. Good idea, he thinks, and idly devotes some efforts to doing the same.
~~~~~
Lore: Nature 7, https://sakkaku.org/r/11492
Hunting roll to mark trail 22, https://sakkaku.org/r/11493