Orochi Omasu - The Ryokan was busy again tonight. Several groups of guests clustered around the suspended fire pots. The kitchen staff sent out wave after wave of innovative and savory dishes. The owner of the establishment seemed to beam with pride as the guests in his keeping enjoyed his masterfully conceived evening of food and comfotable surroundings. This was the best part of staying at a ryokan as apposed to an inn. The proprietor treated you as guests in his house. No detail was too small to avoid scrutiny.
Seated near me was a company of men that I will call a democratized mercenary company. Their youth had been scrubbed away by the ardor of their vocation. The young men wore the masks of men twice their age.
Sipping at my rice wine and tea alternately, I watched as several fair ladies joined their company. A radiant redhead joined their group, her charisma and charm earning her a starring role amid the rapidly changing discussions and topics. Soon they were joined by a nervous young woman who took care to keep a low profile. Lastly they were joined by the Half-Elf merchant woman who I had leaned was here on business from Concord. The group of them passed the evening with good cheer.
I myself was feeling some of that good cheer as I had allowed a little too much of the delicious rice wine past my lips. I was interrupted from my musings by a young man who fashioned himself as a bit of a rogue dandy. His expensive dress and puffed up demeanor quickly revealed his inner insecurities. Dismissive of such pretense, I made it clear to him that I was not interested in spending my evening in his company. Fortunately for both of us, my subtle hints were within his reach and he dismissed himself, but not before distracting me from an incident that I would have preferred view from the onset. The taciturn and very proper young woman who had taken great care to remain discrete was now being publicly scorned by, what I can safely assume, was her father. Of more interest was the difference between the two of them. He, being of full blooded Kokorese descent,
and she of mixed heritage. The two of them departed with such haste that I could observe no more.
The hours I spent in the hall were a welcome change for the rigors of the road. Seeing that the youth in my midst were well on their way to wooing the actress, I extracted myself from the equation and retired to my room.
Folding my clothing and settling into my bed. I updated this journal in the soft light of the magic candles provided by the staff and proceeded to settle in for the night.
I was dreaming of the grand gardens back home when I awoke to the sound of the earth breaking open, the smell of fire, and sounds of screaming and shouting.