Session 6. (15/12/99)

In week 23 of the Year of the Ox, work at the School of the Blade was progressing smoothly and a good number of pupils had joined the rebellion. On leaving the school, those that were sympathetic to Lord Chozo's cause were sent to the training camp to further their education. Two new teachers also joined: Kuchiki, a level 4 Bushi, and Munataka, a level 2 Budoka. This allowed Mariko time to run the training camp and Sugiyama time for his secret project, which the others were very curious about.

In the evening of the second day, the troubleshooters had given their regular progress report to Lord Chozo and were sleeping in their quarters in the grounds of Lord Chozo's house in Masaki. As they slept, a shadow approached their house and climbed onto the roof. As it crawled through the roof void, a sudden sound awoke both Mariko (Paul Burton) and, in the next room, Sugiyama (Dave Weaver). Mariko didn't know why she had woken, and settled down again; Sugiyama decided to get up and have a look around, being careful not to wake Kimori, with whom he shared a room. Then Mariko felt a liquid splashing against her lips. Spitting it out quickly, she looked up for its source but saw nothing. However, Koei woke up and spotted a figure dressed in black crouching in the roof. Without a moment's hesitation (=time to consider the effects of her actions) she cast Flaming Doom and turned the assassin into a pillar of fire (in the roof void of a house made of wood and paper...) The Ninja crashed through the ceiling and tried to attack Mariko as the flames burned his clothes away (to the enjoyment of female viewers). Mariko grabbed her knife and slashed at her assailant, causing further injuries. The Ninja fought back with his ninjato and scored a hit. Fortunately for Mariko, the poison on the blade failed to enter her system. Koei then cast four Darts of Wood, two of which got through and seriously weakened the Ninja. He retaliated by spitting a poisoned dart at Koei, but although it hit, Koei resisted the poison. Just then Sugiyama burst in, having heard the commotion (and waking Kimori as he left their room). Sugiyama grappled the Ninja using jujutsu and succeeded in getting a hold. He then tried to apply a choke hold, but the Ninja was also well versed in unarmed combat techniques and avoided the choke. He also found time to spit another dart at Koei, but the result was the same. Finally Sugiyama succeeded in getting a choke hold and rendered the Ninja unconscious.

After tidying up, binding wounds and making sure the roof wasn't alight, the troubleshooters examined the assassin. He had a small tattoo on his shoulder, which Mariko copied onto paper for future reference. Sugiyama examined the Ninja's possessions and determined the types of poisons used. Kimori tied the prisoner up and brought him round for questioning, only then discovering that you shouldn't gag a prisoner and then ask him to talk. Koei cast Fetters of Truth and the Ninja spilled the beans. He came from a ninja clan based on Gogo Island, just off the coast near Matsuyama (a place Sugiyama had considered for his own secret ninja base!) He said there were about 20 ninja and their families living in a fishing village, and all worked for the Daimyo who had ordered the assassination of Mariko and any other members of Lord Chozo's staff. The Ninja didn't know any other worthwhile information, so Sugiyama disposed of him.

For the rest of the week the adventurers returned to their duties. Kimori spent some time working out what he had observed of the old man that killed the giant lizard, and made a start in learning the Beast Killer okuden. Koei learned the level 4 Bind Soil spell and started making a talisman to counter School of Soil spells. She was also charged with finding out more about the Death Squad and their suspected magical enhancements. The talisman was also part of the plan to overcome them.

Having spent several days learning the Bind Soil spell, Koei retired to her room at the School of the Blade to construct a talisman against School of Soil spells. One day, while she was taking tea in her room, the maid who was serving it slipped a thin cord round her neck and started to garrotte her. Koei couldn't break the hold and began choking to death, but she cast Burning Touch and managed to grab the maid's clothes, which caught fire. The maid shrieked, dropped the cord and jumped back. Then she threw a shuriken at Koei but missed. The other troubleshooters were nearby and, hearing the shriek, rushed to help. The maid, her clothes now burned completely away, ran off towards the servant's quarters, dropping caltrops as she went. She was followed by Sugiyama and Kimori who spotted the caltrops and leapt over them (It was just like a scene from "Zobeni Hiro-sho", an art form of a subversive subculture involving comedic chases of naked women by old men). Mariko and Koei were more cautious - Koei tip-toed through, while Mario stopped to sweep them up. Sugiyama and Kimori caught up with the maid as she turned to face them, ninjato in hand. They battled it out with swords while Koei watched from a distance and fired in some Darts of Wood. The ninja/maid was overwhelmed and collapsed.

Mariko bound the ninja's wounds and brought her back from the brink of death (where Kimori's attempts at medicine had pushed her), and noticed that she had no tattoos^*. Koei cast Fetters of Truth and began to question her. She said that she had come to kill Koei and no-one else. She had been travelling for months from Edo, where she had been hired by a retainer to the Emperor. At this revelation Mariko became very concerned and Koei cast Omnipresent Sword and looked about to use it on the ninja. Kimori recalled that the old Emperor, now in retirement, had at one time killed all his daughters. Sugiyama wondered if this was to promote the line of succession to a son he had had by a concubine ("I said a concubine, not a porcupine, Koei.") Koei asked, "How high up was the retainer?" The ninja answered, "No, Hau-Hi Yup was the Chinese butler." "I don't know. Why, what did he do?" "Er… Wat Dee-dee-du was the Korean maid^**. How come you know all the staff but don't know that the Emperor has no legitimate sons and has killed all your sisters…oops!" And with that Koei swung her sword and finished the ninja, but too late. Thus ended Koei's secret (it wasn't) history (it was).

[Note: this ending is slightly different from the one originally broadcast. The one presented here flows more naturally and is the Director's Cut.]

^* Always very wise. Jackie Onassis wouldn't have gone as far with an anchor on her arm.

^** Fortunately Koei didn't ask about the African manservant 'Av Ntaklu or the cleaner Noie Diya.

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