Session 38. (2/11/12)

It is summer of the Year of the Horse (1486). In the year that has passed since the unfortunate kappa incident, the troubleshooters have found time for 10 weeks of training. Sahpo finished learning the Saga of Critical Healing and spent 2 months improving his deftness so that he could cast his spells on action phase 6, ahead of the others' secondary actions. Tomtare mastered karumijutsu and kyujutsu and almost mastered kenjutsu. Onuma spent 8 weeks persuading the local kenjutsu master to teach her Precision Strike, and two weeks starting to learn it. Emishi spent three months improving his speed to 15 (to get two actions) and a week on bajutsu. Ishan Ashte mastered kenjutsu, ni-to-kenjutsu and improved his yadomejutsu.

One day near the end of the summer a messenger arrives and reports to the troubleshooters. He tells them that two tax collectors, collecting tax from the summer harvest near Nasuno-no-hara, were attacked by peasants and badly beaten up. The local Ikko-ikki priest did nothing to stop them. The tax collectors returned without any taxes.

The troubleshooters are ready to ride straight off to Nasuno-no-hara, but the messenger points out that they need to tell Hidasue. Hidasue in turn reports to the Daimyo. When he returns he has instructions from the daimyo to deal with the troublemakers severely - execute the farmers or throw them off their land and arrest the priests.

Hidasue, however, is not convinced a heavy-handed approach will work. "I want you to go to Nasuno-no-hara to guard the tax collectors as they return to get the taxes, and to deal with the situation as you find it. You are not to return without the tax and you are not to start a civil war."

Leaving Yoshi Yeesu in Utsunomiya to deal with day-to-day tax issues, the other five troubleshooters ride with the two tax collectors to Nasuno-no-hara, in the far north of the province. When they arrive in the village, Emishi casts an ex-farmer's eye over the fields to see what state they are in, but deduces nothing. Sahpo casts an experienced tax collector's eye over them and notes they are in good condition and should yield a fairly good harvest - and tax.

Onuma asks the tax collectors, "How come you didn't get the taxes the first time?"

The chief tax collector replies, "The farm managers just got angry and refused to pay. The peasants rioted and set about us. We're not paid to fight!"

The party rides into the middle of the village and stops in front of the headman's house. Everyone dismounts, and the tax collectors enter the headman's house. Ishan Ashte and Sahpo go with them as observers. The chief headman orders the headman to summon the farm managers. The headman sends a runner, then sits waiting. Sahpo notices that the headman is providing nothing in the way of hospitality and gloomily expects another difficult encounter. On hearing the farm managers arrive, the headman leaves the house and meets them in the open area in front of his house. In addition to the three farm managers, a crowd of about 25 peasants has turned up. They are silent and scowling. Ishan Ashte notices that most of them are armed with sharp farm implements. Behind the peasants, four Ikko-ikki priests are standing, watching the situation.

The tax collectors talk quietly to the farm managers. The headman looks on impassively. The troubleshooters shift uncertainly from foot to foot... minutes pass. The tension in the crowd of peasants grows. Then the voice of one of the tax collectors rises above the hubbub. He's lost his temper and demands payment of the taxes in most offensive terms. A peasant strides out of the crowd, aiming for the tax collector. Tomtare tries to trip him up with his tetsubo, but manages to hit him painfully on the shin. As the peasant howls, nine more peasants attack the tax-collecting party. Blows rain in, but the few that land are deflected by the troubleshooters' armour - all except for the tax collector, who is hit for 6 damage. While the faster troubleshooters wait to see what will happen, Sahpo casts two Arrows of Wood, one fizzling but the other striking a peasant who was attacking him, and floors him. Onuma draws on her acting experience and makes an impassioned plea for calm. Most of the peasant stop and back off, but three press their futile attacks. The troubleshooters let the blows bounce off their armour. Then on of the priests calls for calm and the peasants desist. The activity seems to have sapped some of the tension out of the crowd. Onuma thanks the priest for his intervention and the tension drops a little more. Sahpo calls the priests to come over and discuss the situation - in private.

"But this is all about these people - they need to hear," protests one of the priests. They come to the front of the crowd. Onuma makes a formal greeting.

"Welcome to our village," replies the head priest, slightly strained.

Sahpo explains the situation. "We have been sent by the daimyo to collect his due - but we want to do this peacefully." Mention of the daimyo - and tax - noticeably raises the tension again. Sahpo presses on. "The daimyo will get his tax, you know. So how will conflict help these people?" The peasants grow restive and start shouting insults. Tomtare gives one a hard stare; his expression - and the size of his tetsubo - cow the peasant and he subsides.

Ishan Ashte nudges Sahpo and whispers, "We need a peaceful resolution or the daimyo will... well, he won't be happy."

Sahpo addresses the priest. "How will this protest help?" he asks.

Acting on an impulse, Onuma asks the farm managers if they have enough money to pay the tax. Two of them nod, but the third one protests, "It's not the tax, it's the conditions of the farm workers and being dragged away to fight the Satake clan." He simmers.

Onuma tries to smooth things over. "We can take your concerns back to the daimyo and see about protecting the town," she says, her voice dripping with conciliation. The crowd takes this in and quiets a little. But the farm manager disagrees.

"If you take the taxes we will have no bargaining strength."

Then Sahpo weighs in. "Why would the daimyo protect a town that doesn't pay its taxes?" Despite the combative tone, the farm managers concede the point and the crowd's agitation subsides. Emishi takes his hand off his sword and lights a kiseru, blowing smoke out in an affected, casual manner. The crowd seems to relax.

"We can take one of the farm managers or a priest back to Utsunomiya to negotiate better terms," announces Onuma, somewhat to the consternation of Sahpo and Ishan Ashte.

"Why did she say that?" hisses Sahpo.

"Well, Hidasue did say to do it peacefully, not necessarily the way the daimyo wants it," hisses Ishan Ashte back. "And after all, he is our immediate boss."

Emishi asks one of the farm managers why the peasants are so overworked. "Because our strongest men are taken away to fight," replies the farm manager simply.

The head priest says, "These people are too busy running the farms; one of us will represent them."

Emishi responds, "And we'll guarantee your safe passage to and from Utsunomiya," mentally adding, "But we can't guarantee your safety in Utsunomiya." The village headman and the farm managers go into the headman's house with the tax collectors and Onuma to get the tax money. The crowd, satisfied, starts to disperse. One of the taxmen starts to say something, but is instantly shushed by Onuma, holding her hand up and mimicking holding his lips together with her fingers. The headman gives the silenced taxman a small, plain chest with the requisite number of silver coins inside. He bows. The tax collecting party gathers outside and sets off back to the capital, with Onuma looking after the village's representative, the female gakusho Chiba.

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