Information Event: Sake and Skullduggery (D2, EE)
Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2022 5:14 am
Soshi Biochemicals is releasing no fewer than three new blends of sake, all crafted from bioengineered rice cultivars developed for the very purpose, the long grains rich in both vitamins and carbohydrates, creating a variety of 'sweet and nourishing' drinks 'best served chilled' as the commercials have it. The launch event is a public occasion, with everyone welcome - as long as you are a clan samurai. With sake flowing freely and with Soshi Biochemicals having hired Yogo Tamiyo to perform, the mood is cheerful and the large hall is filled with mirthful banter, with various visiting merchant patrons seeking to figure out if they should seek to arrange a deal with the manufacturer. While the Akodo and Doji might claim the Empire is bound together by honor and traditions, the Yoritomo and Yasuki scholars would suggest that instead it is the pacts and koku that force the hand of the buke. After all, an excuse for war can always be found or fabricated, should there ever be a need for one. This means that the diplomats try to keep a close eye on whom everyone is talking to, with the flow of koku often far more telling than any public proclamations. Meanwhile, Soshi Biochemicals is more than happy to entertain a bidding contest between various merchant patrons, seeking to fill the coffers of its shareowners.
For roleplaying purposes, the three blends first offered to the public are as follows.
Dark Blossom Blend, a seishu type sake with a wonderful flowery aroma and a delicate flavor. The art of the bottle portrays black hollyhock flowers.
Red Swallow Blend, a genshu type sake with a slightly bitter taste and earthy scent. The art of the bottle shows a stylized crimson swallow.
White Rat Blend, a junmai type sake with rich and sweet flavor with no discernable scent. The art on the bottle portrays a white anthropomorphic rat holding Daikoku's hammer and sack in its paws.
Magic: Magic is not allowed unless character rolls contested Agility / Stealth (Spellcasting) against the crowd. Emphasis is needed to make the roll and only spells that last at least for an hour can be employed. Needless to say, getting caught has consequences. Soshi Shugenja school technique can be used to bypass this restriction.
Ronin: This is a high society event. Ronin cannot take part unless serving as yojimbo or avec to a clan samurai. Ronin serving as yojimbo or avec to a PC should state so in their post.
Persona non grata: A PC that brings a ronin with them will be looked with disdain and have to call a Raise for no effect on both 'Smooth sake, smooth talk' and 'Coins talk' rolls as the Scorpion patrons distrust anyone willing to openly associate with the alley wolves.
Bottoms Up!
A character may chose partake to the launch party and show that they can drink by rolling raw Stamina against TN 20. Should they succeed, they suffer no ill effect. Should they fail, they will suffer -1 penalty to Awareness for the duration of this event. This roll triggers Advantages, Techniques and Spells that help the character to resist poisons. Should the character refuse drinks, they will have to call a Raise for no effect on rolls for 'Smooth sake, smooth talk' and 'Coins talk' rolls.
'Smooth sake, smooth talk'
To appear appropriately curious without being too pushy while discussing with the Scorpion merchant patrons, character may roll Sincerity (Deceit) / Awareness or Etiquette / Awareness against TN 20. Success and each Raise grants the character a Free Raise for their 'Coins talk' roll. Characters with Contrary Disadvantage roll against TN 25 instead. This roll triggers Benten's Blessing when rolling for Etiquette / Awareness.
'Coins talk'
Character may infer a fair bit by following the flow of the koku, as long as one is savvy enough to keep track of what one has seen and heard. While chances that any deals are made during the party are low, knowing who is talking to whom allows a skilled courtier read the situation. A character may try to infer what is going on at the sake markets by rolling Courtier / Awareness or Commerce / Intelligence against TN 20. Success and each two successful Raises called grants the character's faction an Information point. Rolls are considered to be Social Skill Rolls made against Scorpion characters, but they are not considered to be Contested meaning that techniques and advantages referring to Contested Rolls do not apply. This roll triggers Benten's Blessing when rolling for Courtier / Awareness.
For roleplaying purposes, the three blends first offered to the public are as follows.
Dark Blossom Blend, a seishu type sake with a wonderful flowery aroma and a delicate flavor. The art of the bottle portrays black hollyhock flowers.
Red Swallow Blend, a genshu type sake with a slightly bitter taste and earthy scent. The art of the bottle shows a stylized crimson swallow.
White Rat Blend, a junmai type sake with rich and sweet flavor with no discernable scent. The art on the bottle portrays a white anthropomorphic rat holding Daikoku's hammer and sack in its paws.
Magic: Magic is not allowed unless character rolls contested Agility / Stealth (Spellcasting) against the crowd. Emphasis is needed to make the roll and only spells that last at least for an hour can be employed. Needless to say, getting caught has consequences. Soshi Shugenja school technique can be used to bypass this restriction.
Ronin: This is a high society event. Ronin cannot take part unless serving as yojimbo or avec to a clan samurai. Ronin serving as yojimbo or avec to a PC should state so in their post.
Persona non grata: A PC that brings a ronin with them will be looked with disdain and have to call a Raise for no effect on both 'Smooth sake, smooth talk' and 'Coins talk' rolls as the Scorpion patrons distrust anyone willing to openly associate with the alley wolves.
Bottoms Up!
A character may chose partake to the launch party and show that they can drink by rolling raw Stamina against TN 20. Should they succeed, they suffer no ill effect. Should they fail, they will suffer -1 penalty to Awareness for the duration of this event. This roll triggers Advantages, Techniques and Spells that help the character to resist poisons. Should the character refuse drinks, they will have to call a Raise for no effect on rolls for 'Smooth sake, smooth talk' and 'Coins talk' rolls.
'Smooth sake, smooth talk'
To appear appropriately curious without being too pushy while discussing with the Scorpion merchant patrons, character may roll Sincerity (Deceit) / Awareness or Etiquette / Awareness against TN 20. Success and each Raise grants the character a Free Raise for their 'Coins talk' roll. Characters with Contrary Disadvantage roll against TN 25 instead. This roll triggers Benten's Blessing when rolling for Etiquette / Awareness.
'Coins talk'
Character may infer a fair bit by following the flow of the koku, as long as one is savvy enough to keep track of what one has seen and heard. While chances that any deals are made during the party are low, knowing who is talking to whom allows a skilled courtier read the situation. A character may try to infer what is going on at the sake markets by rolling Courtier / Awareness or Commerce / Intelligence against TN 20. Success and each two successful Raises called grants the character's faction an Information point. Rolls are considered to be Social Skill Rolls made against Scorpion characters, but they are not considered to be Contested meaning that techniques and advantages referring to Contested Rolls do not apply. This roll triggers Benten's Blessing when rolling for Courtier / Awareness.
