You continue along the road where the kit flaps overhead as if announcing your presence to the whole island. You pass by the low-hanging branch to which it is tied, and you find yourself wondering if this was meant for you, or Aiko, or indeed some other ninja that could be on the island.
• Secretly cut the kite down with a shuriken (if you have one) as you pass by the tree?
• Continue to walk along the road to Nasaka, leaving the kite flying behind you? √
Alas, without our gear the kite is inaccessible.
You continue on west as a light rain shower begins, crossing a bridge over the River of Peace where blossoming cherry trees overhang and scatter their pink blossom on the road. It occurs to you that it is a little early in the season for them to bloom. From whatever cause, the ambience is more melancholic than peaceful.
You approach to see a small plaque made of steel set into the paved road saying: 'This commemorates the battle of the Broken Katana fought during the Black Lotus Rebellion, where the rebellion won a great victory against the forces of the Black Emperor. May the fallen never be forgotten.'
You look around wondering where the battle was fought, and surmise it must have somehow involved the bridge. Even your finely honed senses do not detect the hidden dangers in this area. You must make a Fate Roll.
(4, Fate turns her back.)
A branch from the nearest cherry tree slams down on you, its thorn-like protrusions puncturing your skin and drinking your blood. Lose 4 Endurance. If you are still alive, you nimbly leap aside as more branches whip at you, and you scurry away. You surmise that these trees must have developed an unnatural taste for blood due to the battle once fought here. Indeed, it is said that such trees will bear cherries heavy with the blood of their victims.
You shiver and hurry on along the paved road.
• If you have two flags, you bypass Nasaka and take the road west, already having what you need to complete the trial.
• If not, you must enter the city of Nasaka to seek another flag. √
You encounter no problems as you head along the road to Nasaka. It is night and you blend in as one of the pilgrims traveling inside the gates. You head for the inner stone wall of the traditional old town, passing empty white marble plinths where golden statues of the previous emperors once stood. You see numerous red lanterns, and you note that there are no sake dens or merchants in this part of the capital.
You pass the bowl-like Divine Scriptorium to find yourself outside the Winter Palace, a sprawling complex with its own stone wall that houses the samurai of the city. Beyond the closed iron gates is the gold statue of the first emperor wearing a kimono of silver.
'So, trialist of Kwon, you have arrived,' comes a voice from behind you.
You turn to see that the speaker is a white-haired monk in a wicker hat, who is blind and carries a bamboo walking stick. He bows to you nonetheless. You ask him how he knows of you.
'I am the Master of the Unseen, and I was told by the Grandmaster of the Dawn of your forthcoming trial here. I have a test of enlightenment for any who wish to take my Daimyo's flag.'
He walks forward to the iron gates of the Winter Palace which the samurai open for him on approach. He beckons to you, before tapping his cane on the ground on his way onward. You will get no better opportunity to enter the well-guarded Winter Palace, and so hasten after him across the ornamental gardens to a stone bench opposite a carp pond. He sits and bids you to do likewise.
'Your test to earn the flag is one of enlightenment,' the monk says. 'My first question is this: if your brother monks of Kwon were to fight for a cause that was unjust, who would hold your allegiance? Would you fight with them in an unjust cause, or would you stand apart even knowing that it could well lead to all their deaths?'
Think of a way to answer this question. Write down the answer and then proceed.
Keep your answer to 3 words or fewer, please.
Inner Force: 3/3
Endurance: 3/20
Shuriken: 0
Ninja Tools: Ninja Costume.
Special Items: Flag of Lemne.
