Closed after the first six PCs

The sounds and smells of the bazaar of Little Khanbulak are an orchestra of humanity. Merchants hawking their wares call out from their stalls, enticing others to haggle and barter. The finest of spices, textiles, and trinkets. One calls out "It will not break, it will not bre-... it broke!" And laughs as he chucks a trinket behind him.

Carts travel down the middle of the roads in the bazaar, as crowds part around them. A small crowd of musicians playing exotic instruments entertains some children and their parents as they move through.

Kasumi told herself she was just browsing.

That she wasn't trying to find something cool for anyone in particular.

She was, on balance, not the best liar...

Shinko is idling. She'd been meaning to take a peek around the market ever since Jun revealed that the pipe was of foreign make.

Dragon party!

Jun had presumably confided his conclusions about the pipe to Shinko yesterday (although due to timey-wimey stuff, the exact language in which he did so is as yet unknown!) He now has a sharp if subtle eye out for objects of gaijin craftsmanship similar to the unlucky pipe. However, if he passes by that one fabric stall again, he won't turn down the chance to ask if they know what kind of dye produces that interesting red color he saw the other day, either.

There is more that's new to see here than he could take in in just one or two visits, and thinking about that gives him great pleasure even though he's outwardly cool and calm.

Kaori was glancing around...she's soon to become a regular at Little Khanbulak at this rate. She might have even seen some familiar faces among the merchants...

She also noticed a couple of other Topaz contenders, nodding and waving towards them with respect.

Little Khanbulak had quickly become a favorite place for Jingyi to spend time in Tsuma. She wandered through the bazaar, taking it all in, with Aiyama at her side and Odoruhon on her shoulder, as usual.

Over by the musicians, watching carefully, is Sakura - her attention rapt, studious, but seeming to take in the technicalities of the methods of performance rather than enjoying the emotions the music brings out.

The sound of a push cart against the cobbled road is added to the symphony. The merchant pushing it whistles a little tune, keeping his rhythm, as pedestrians walking move out of his way. A few Tortoise jisamurai can be seen as those in the bazaar walk through, as well as some wearing the Unicorn mon. It is a melting pot of people and cultures.

The scent of heady peppers wafts out from a cook working a large wok over an open fire, tossing vegetables and chicken as they work quickly. A flash of fire beneath their outstretched tent awning as they work to attract hungry customers.

One of the Tortoise jisamurai approaches the pushcart. She smiles, speaking to the merchant, looking over the wares as a blanket is pulled back, just enough to allow the samurai to see, before the two carry on their conversation.

Doing Sketchy Stuff (Highest Vigilance of those who might see is 3) | TN: 3 | Success: 1 / Opportunity: 1 / Strife: 1


All PCs present see that this is weird behavior.

Hm, nosin' in on that might be a good way t'get my snout whacked...

But she had agreed to keep her eyes peeled, and Kasumi knew shady when she saw it.

Pulling from her examination, Sakura's attention turns toward the push cart that seems oddly out of place? But she can't quite put a finger on why... still, it draws her to keep an eye on what's what about it.

Jingyi, ever curious, made her way over to the cart and took a look at what was on display.

Kaori narrowed her eyes in experience. She was tempted to stay back...but her body moved forward of her own accord.

"Greetings." She gave a nod. She didn't say more, for now, just trying to observe and understand their reaction.

"Oh! What marvelous wares do you have?" Shinko exclaims, beaming with a wide eyed innocence that is not entirely feigned. Sure, it was strange, but what wouldn't be to a foreign mountain girl like herself?

Kasumi let her peers focus on the transaction.

She watched the crowd, taking note of anyone else taking an... undue interest.

Jun casually observes the pushcart, hanging a bit behind and to one side of Shinko like the (slightly) more worldly distant cousin he more or less is, in spirit if not in blood.

As Kaori offers greetings and Shinko swoops in to the conversation between vendor and Tortoise to ask about the vendor’s wares, Jun keeps an eye on the strangers’ reactions.

(Conceptually/fluffwise, Jun is employing Sentiment with an Air approach here—analytical and subtle.)

Kaeru Kaori wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 11, 2021 9:03 pm

Kaori narrowed her eyes in experience. She was tempted to stay back...but her body moved forward of her own accord.

"Greetings." She gave a nod. She didn't say more, for now, just trying to observe and understand their reaction.

The jisamurai was suprised when they came to be surrounded by a bunch of youth. The merchant quickly brings their covering back over the cart.

"Nani? Oh... hello there, ronin-san." The Tortoise looked to Kaori, stepping back slightly, looking them up and down. Ronin are nothing new to the Tortoise, but there is a reputation about their relationship with those who walk the path of waves.

Togashi Shinko wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 11, 2021 11:45 pm

"Oh! What marvelous wares do you have?" Shinko exclaims, beaming with a wide eyed innocence that is not entirely feigned. Sure, it was strange, but what wouldn't be to a foreign mountain girl like herself?

The Merchant was taken aback by the young Togashi, almost jumping. "Oh... just wares unique and varied. If you'd like to see them, I recommend talking to the owner of where I am bringing them. The House of the Exotic. They have to conduct inventory first." The merchant stammered, keeping their head bowed low to the Togashi. After all, Merchants were considered the lowest of the heimin. They dealt with commerce, creating nothing themselves.

Yukikaze no Kasumi wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 11, 2021 11:51 pm

Kasumi let her peers focus on the transaction.

She watched the crowd, taking note of anyone else taking an... undue interest.

This will be a TN1 Sentiment (Air) check.

Any who are just observing have not begun speaking/interacting directly may make that roll.

What've we got here...

[To my vast shock, a roll with a skill she hasn't got on her worst ring is... a success.

Scoping the crowd, TN 1 Sentiment/Air | TN: 1 | Success: 1 / Opportunity: 0 / Strife: 0
]

While she idly watched the goings on, anything suspicious happening went over Sakura's head.



LA2 Scoping the crowd too! | TN: 1 | Success: 0 / Opportunity: 3 / Strife: 1

using 1 opp to -1 strife

Jingyi's eyes swept over the cart and those around her as the others talked.

- - -
[LA2] - Special Delivery | TN: 1 | Success: 3 / Opportunity: 0 / Strife: 2

Ender wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 12, 2021 5:54 pm

The jisamurai was suprised when they came to be surrounded by a bunch of youth. The merchant quickly brings their covering back over the cart.

"Nani? Oh... hello there, ronin-san." The Tortoise looked to Kaori, stepping back slightly, looking them up and down. Ronin are nothing new to the Tortoise, but there is a reputation about their relationship with those who walk the path of waves.

"Gomenasai, I am Kaori." She decided to let out her family name, for now. Besides, it's not like it was a true family ,in a way, neh?

"I was just hoping to speak to such a discerning samurai sa yourself. Word has spread of your clan to all places." She glanced around. "I was hoping to ask...can one buy something...interesting in such a place? I may not an interested party."

After all, Miya Tetsu-sama would surely be interested in any illicit activities in Tsuma, after all.