Session 5.

Before being given a chance to recuperate from the rescue operation, the four adventurers were called to see Lord Chozo, who is quite friendly with them by now. He tells them that he wants them to make a raid on the Serpents' main base and kill as many of them as possible. He has paid the other Yakuza gangs not to interfere - there is no love between them and the Serpents anyway.

Sugiyama and Kimori set off immediately back to Matsuyama to gather information on the base. Koei also returned to Matsuyama to continue her studies. Mariko remained in Masaki to analyse the list of names Kimori found in the safe house. Sugiyama and Kimori started by going to the Yakuza safe house they had raided the previous evening, hoping to find clues and loot. As dusk falls, Sugiyama approaches the house. However, he fell over a cat in the back yard and alerted all those in the house to his presence. A guard came out, spotted Sugiyama hiding and charged, sword drawn. Sugiyama waited for him, then dispatched him with two quick strikes. Sugiyama and Kimori then went into the house. Seeing movement in the corner of his eye, Sugiyama whirled round as two Yakuza attacked him from the guard room. One of them managed to land a blow before Sugiyama felled him. Meanwhile, Kimori was surprised by two more Yakuza leaping down the narrow, twisting stairway, their swords cutting through the air (but not Kimori). He quickly overcame his surprise and his foes. Sugiyama, advancing on his second opponent, failed to notice the low doorway and stunned himself. Fortunately Kimori was able to step in and finish the hapless Yakuza with clinical precision.

Sugiyama and Kimori then set out to explore the house. No further sounds were heard, other than the thumps and creaks as Sugiyama tried to force open the door to the strong room. When his bones had stopped complaining, he finally managed to get the door open. Inside he found a large collection of weapons, some ropes, two chests and a strongbox. One of the chests was unlocked, and he found some silver coins, which he pocketed. Then he started looking through the fifteen swords in the room. Meanwhile, Kimori went exploring down the corridor. Most of the rooms had been lived in by the more senior Yakuza (all now dead). Kimori didn't waste much time on them, and overlooked a good quality Wakizashi in the leader's room. He also failed to recognise an expensive painting on the wall of the leader's office. He did pick up the ledger that was there, though, and found a superior Wakizashi in another room. Ignoring the kitchen and eating room, he headed upstairs.

By this time. Sugiyama had been through the swords and found two good and one superior Wakizashi, and a whole load of inferior ones (he did however miss the master quality Wakizashi!) and had also uncovered another chest. Sugiyama swapped the superior Wakizashi for his own, and bundled up the good swords for transporting back to the village. Then he used the inferior swords to pry open the chests (breaking one or two in the process). In the largest chest was another superior Wakizashi, a set of samurai armour and a few more silver coins. He pocketed the coins and bundled up the sword and armour to take back. In doing this Sugiyama came across yet another chest. He forced it open to find only a gemstone. The final chest contained some black silk clothes and a lock pick. Sugiyama then took the strongbox and hid it in the yard behind the house.

While Sugiyama was exploring the Aladdin's cave, Kimori was finding lots of empty rooms upstairs. Eventually he came to the drug store, which contained bandages, medicinal herbs and a preparation of opium. The medical room next door also contained bandages and herbs. Kimori took all these, presumably to sell on the notorious bandage black market. Then he headed down to the strong room to find Sugiyama missing. Sugiyama reappeared explaining that he had heard a noise outside. The two picked up the loot, headed back to Masaki and presented it to Lord Chozo, who accepted the weapons and armour for the clan's fighters.

Back in Masaki, Mariko had been unable to make anything of the list of names (except a brooch and a hat), but did better with the ledger. It accounted for the sale of drugs and stolen goods. Sugiyama tested the herbs that Kimori had found and discovered they were illegal drugs. Having found no more information about the Serpents, everyone then went back to Matsuyama.

Kimori started by looking for "Lucky", but a thorough search failed to locate him. Kimori thought he might be lying low to hide his new-found wealth. Later he had a lot of success when he went dancing. His elegant style attracted a lot of admirers, and he made several contacts. Among these were a farmer, who said that he knew someone who lived in a cottage on the south side of the Gemsmith’s block, and was certain none of the houses had anything to do with the Serpents; a priest who said that there were about 25 Yakuza in the ward; and a pilgrim who related a rumour that a spirit had moved into Osumi province and was driving the people away.

Koei, who was injured and didn't want to leave her bed, used her amulet to enter the Astral Plane to spy on the Yakuza base. She had a good look round the blacksmith's, the cottages, the corner house and the Gemsmith’s. The corner house was full of about 25 Yakuza. She drew a map after returning.

Mariko went round her social contacts and found a merchant who told her that a magical cult had moved into Osumi province, and an artist's clerk who, while working near the Gemsmith’s, had seen a number of men training in the compound. In order to find out if the blacksmith was involved, Mariko tracked down his physician, who confirmed that the blacksmith, the Gemsmith and all the occupants of the cottages and houses on the west side of the block were "in the same business."

Sugiyama went to his secret lodgings and extracted some more poison from his still, then visited the old herbalist for more supplies. There was a note waiting for him in Ninja dialect giving an address and time. When he went there the address did not exist, but at the appointed time a shadowy figure called to him. It was a young Ninja who explained that most of the local Ninja had been wiped out by the Daimyo and the survivors were too scattered and inexperienced to reform a clan. If only someone could organise them and perhaps set up a training camp…? Sugiyama and the Ninja agreed to meet again at a future date to see what could be done. The Ninja also told Sugiyama that the leader of the Serpents, a level 4 Yakuza called Chazo Fan, lived in the northernmost cottage on the west side of the Gemsmith’s block.

The four adventurers regrouped and spent an hour planning the raid. They decided to position Kimori in the middle of the compound armed with a bow and for the others to attack the corner house through the front doors.

After night had fallen, Kimori was helped over the compound wall. However, things had changed: there was a guard posted on the compound door, and another patrolling inside. What would happen now…?

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