Goods of the City of Lies

[Soshi Kiso]

(Anyone interested can pm me to get involved, otherwise I guess I'm playing this rp for my own fun. )

The trade route was starting to pick up extra traffic, good news. On the other hand, disturbing news came from the south. The plague was picking up in strength, slowing trade from the Crab lands. The Sparrow were ramping up security along its borders. Those coming north facing more customs inspections, those traveling south second guessing the worth of koku over their health.

Following the meeting with Yoritomo Akihiko, Kiso had assigned more Scorpion Magistrates along the northern passage to Outsider Keep. The combination of these two events would work out perfectly. Making his way to Outsider Keep, he stopped off in Ryoko Owari Toshi to trade pearls from the Mantis Isles, for a far less beautiful commodity, opium. Stashing a decent quantity upon his person, he continued northward.

Twice he was stopped by checkpoints, the guards later feeling foolish having stopped the Soshi Daimyo. His bags were never checked. Arriving at Outsider Keep, the odd aromas assaulted Kiso's nose. Strange foods being eaten by Unicorn Samurai and Gaijin alike did not appeal to Kiso's olfactory sense. He could only imagine the horrible taste should he be forced to eat any. If there wasn't any rice or salted fish up here, fasting might be a requirement during his stay.

Now he just needed to arrange a meeting with some residents of the Burning Sands...

[Soshi Kiso]

Having set up a small tent on the outskirts of Outsider Keep, Kiso checked again to ensure he would have everything he needed today while in the strange bazaar. His merchant charter rolled up neatly in his travel scroll case, just barely squeezed in with the scrolls he deemed favorable for the trip. Two pouches filled to the brim in koku, a third filled with opium in a pocket woven into his flowing kimono. It so well hidden, it wasn't until more recently when his yojimbo inquired what he might hide there did he locate it. Last, and not certainly least, his wakizashi. Given the fact he was in the process of trying to get gaijin addicted to opium, he felt slightly unworthy of his father's sword at the moment. "Honor above all else" would have to wait, it was for the good of the clan, as his aunts had taught him.

So to not seem out of place, he filled a small hand cart with fine Crane tea, and silks from the Mantis Isles, a few bottles of sake from the Tsi, and for the final touch, a small amount of gaijin goods and trinkets, giving the appearrance of having already been up to his obi in trade.

(ooc: all I had time for before work got busy...)

[Soshi Kiso]

Kiso spent the majority of the day in performing small trades, giving him time to investigate the gaijin in the area. He was looking for ones interested in making larger deals then seemed available from the many samurai and merchants engaged at the market.

The first few days were not proving fruitful, he had traded away most of the goods he had brought with him that the merchants had interest in. It was a blessing then, when out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glean in the eye of one of the men in a tent behind a stand. From what he could see, the gaijin was going over the items spread before him on a small rug. He did not appear overly enthusiastic about the items his men had procured.

Tucking away this nugget of intel, Kiso left the market for the fourth day, mulling with possibilities. Now that he had found an opening, it was time to get some collaboration on the project.

[Soshi Kiso]

Kiso was not surprised to see a figure waiting for him by the tent, but he was caught off guard by who was waiting for him. But then, blessings come from places you least expect them. He had not seen Ishida since he had donned the name, but he seemed to be fitting into character well. He would not have recognized him had he not slipped who he had been.

He was still hesitant to deal with the shugenja, but his Champion spoke for him, and Kiso was nothing, if not loyal. He had yet to hear of the occurrence in Beiden Pass, which surely would have improved Kiso's opinion of him, but given the nature of his current venture, a man such as him would help significantly, and dirty hands would be needed.

Ishida-san, I must say I am surprised to see you this far north. But then, I'm sure your curiosity over the effort put into the trade route must have drawn you to find what wonders plague the market here. He was sure no one was around to listen to their conversation, but it never hurt to use a little subterfuge in any public setting, even the open air around his tent. Please join me for some tea, while we might discuss the nature of trade with the gaijin.

Wheeling his cart over to his yojimbo to leave in his care, he retrieved a deep blue bottle of sake from it, turned back a flap to his tent, and gestured for Ishida to enter. After Ishida had entered, Kiso came in behind him. It is not as spacious as a regular facility, but it suffices on the road. He knelt before a small table, facing the tent's entrance and placed the bottle in the center gingerly.

Today might have finally proven fruitful. I was going to take the night to ponder my next move, but I'm sure the collaboration of more then one scorpion can work out the kinks. I had sent word to the south for Ichiro-san for that exact reason. Your presence can only further help the success of increasing the Scorpion's trading power.

[Shosuro Ichiro]

A middle age man, wearing the Mon and mask of a Scorpion, made his way through the traders. Weaving his way through the gathered numbers looking for the right sign. After twenty minutes he found the tent he was looking for. He even saw the yojimbo tending the cart and decided it was better to be announced then just barge in. He walk up to the yojimbo and spoke softly yet with purpose.

"Hai! I am here to speak with your Master. My Daimyo, Ichiro-sama, sent me to assist him in his endeavors of trade. Would you be so kind to let him know the Shosuro Toyojiro wishes to present himself to the Daimyo and report for duty."

[Soshi Kiso]

I believe I have found a gaijin who is not as pleased with his gains as much as I am not pleased with the lack of more trade occurring in the Scorpion lands for our endeavors to secure the route.

I have been working on a compound with opium to make a quasi-useful medicine. (I find it ironic I was thinking about this when opium ended up being needed as a medicine for the plague, maybe great minds think alike!) Obviously to make this more readily available would require the use of the Shosuro Poison-masters. Now, obviously for the gaijin to buy the need for it, they need to see it in use. This is where the extra hands will come into play.

It was then Kiso's yojimbo, Bayushi Nemuru poked his head into the tent. My lord, Shosuro Ichiro-sama has sent Shosuro Toyojiro to assist you and seeks audience to report for your command. Kiso nodded to his yojimbo, who's head promptly vanished from the tent's entrance.

Nemuru turned to Toyojiro. Kiso-sama is expecting you...