The next part of the trip would take them to the Otori ranch where the otori were kept and typically stabled. After days of harsh weather and rains, the otori would be let out of their pen for the first time and into an open field where they would be allowed to do some exercise. The otori were generally ornery when they kept for too long.



There were a great number of otori here, grazing on some trough where they were fed shredded fungal stocks as part of their daily diet. Chiruha's otori was found here among the others, perhaps a specimen among his kind as he was gifted to Chiruha by the governor. Aoi was his name, perhaps named that for the blue markings on his neck.



There was a heimen here who carefully navigated the field and dropped off more fungal stocks into one of the trough.

___

Yasuki Nakaba can roll Intimidate/Willpower at TN11 to scare off the heimen.

D10:LA intimidate TN12: 3d10o10k2 11
((Reroll on contested))

There was an awkward pause from the heimen on duty as he wondered what Nakaba was getting at.

Day 10, Late Afternoon: Etiquette/Willpower unskilled: 2d10 7

D10:LA intimidate attempt 2: 3d10o10k2 11

Stepping out the vehicle, Nakaba signals the others to follow out him across the field towards the Otori ben. Despite the risk of this operations there was a peaceful air to this place. The blades of grass flowing to the breeze of wind. Locked away most his life on the world of dreams its easy to forget the little moments of nature's tranquility. That's just the way it goes he thinks to himself.

Approaching the first of the heimen, Nakaba speaks while concealing his face. "You and your friends need to leave. There has been vicious wildlife spotted in the area. Hurry off and don't come back." he commands.

"O-o-oh, of course, Samurai-sama! Right away!" he said as he quickly fled from the fields. There was several hundreds of koku worth of animals on the field but it seems that he valued his life more.



As the heimen fled, Jisei had his hand on his holster as he seemed almost certain that it would come to that. However, the outcome allowed him to cool a smidge.



"Flllllrrrrrrrugh," Aoi huff at the commotion that just transpired as the heimen feld the scene and gave a shake of his body, looking at the unfamiliar company at the ranch with great wariness.

___

Yasuki Nakaba may choose to open the gates or if he wishes to corrall Aoi specifically, this would take an Animal Handling/Awareness roll at TN25. Nakaba and the ronin appear hostile to him.

Much as Nakaba would love to call Aoi directly, to make them a promise that their master will get back to them safety, it just wasn't in his talents for such a task. Instead he instructs the two ronin to get a safe distance and he heads up to the gate. A long moment spent eyeing Aoi directly attempting to make that same promise regardless. If not for the bird, for whatever foolish code he called his own. With a metal click he opens the gate and swings it open, stepping far back as to give the Otori space to run free. "Yip Yip or whatever." he remarks loudly for the bird to get moving.

((We run into a complication in that we did not discuss that compromised communicator I needed. If available I could use whatever communicator this stable has to message Chiruha but need GM imput))

Some otori saw the open gate as an invitation for freedom, especially some of the newly trained otori. Two bolted out from their place in the field while a few more would wander out curiously but wouldn't leave the area just yet. However, Aoi seemed steadfast in his place. He seemed to refuse to wander off, remaining here where he was.



"Krrrrelll! Krrrreeeeeel!" he barked at some otori, as if calling them back.

Using his proud posture, he stood at the front to the gate but did not leave.

The heimen who was on staff earlier might have a contact link to Chiruha, although it would also depend if Chiruha had set her defaults off to mind the messages from heimen. While he was running for the hills, it shouldn't be too hard to catch up with him in a vehicle and potentially intimidate him for his possessions.

"Go get the heimin's communicator! Don't hurt them!" Nakaba shouts out after the ronin and letting them take the vehicle if necessary.

With the ronin distracted Nakaba drops the tough guy act and growls in frustration at Aoi. "She's got you trained good doesn't she. Such a good boy you are. Unfortunately I need you at least out of sight." He begins scrounging up what he was know as Otori food or some sort of treat that these stablemen would have for the otori. "Come on Aoi yip yip. Lets go for a walk and make a deal." with a good degree of self humor he plays the act of attempting to bait Aoi away from the cage and out towards the field using the food.

"Yeah, sure, you got it," Jisei said before wandering off with Chinmoku beside him.



The heimen were already in the process of feeding the otori at the ranch, so food wasn't quite an issue. Aoi opened up his wings in almost something in a challenge stance. He did not look particularly amused but kept his distance for now.

___

If you wish to lure Aoi out, it would take an Animal Handling/Awareness at TN25. Failing this roll may result in further issues.

"Easy easy. I get the message." Nakaba backs away from the giant chicken and leaves it be. Knowing the loyal beast was sure to cause some trouble once the operation was underway, maybe even attack them, Nakaba spends some time adjusting the plan slightly. Ether by searching among the stable workers gear for some sort of net or restraint for behaved otori or studying the road leading to this place as to instead great an ambush on the way to the ranch rather than stage it anywhere near Aoi.

Ether way the next step required the return of the communicator.

Eventually the ronin would return and hand him over the heimen's communicator.

"Here you go, fucker almost got mud on me," Jisei said with a bit of irritation.

With the communicator in hand Nakaba plugs in Chiruha's number if it wasn't already there. The message sent,

The message was sent.



"'The fuck is your problem bird? You got something? What the fuck is your problem?!" Jisei yelled out at the bird as he stood by Nakada, rather agitated by its open and proud stance.



"KRRRELLLL!" Aoi yelled back at the ronin, opening its flight-less wings once more and not backing down.

"Back away from the bird this instant. Leave it be and it leave us alone else you want your face pecked off." Nakaba commands and attempts to close the gate on Aoi and keep him in the bin. Only thing left to do now is wait for Chiruha's arrival. If too much time passes he send another message claiming Aoi ran off as to weave a convincing narrative.

/scene

The next scene is here.