Perrinor

Session 111: Caution Kills (July 2, 2026)

Last session, our heroes finished dealing with their captives. Maho knocked one out and made the other shit his pants, and Eden tossed Harry Nickel off a short cliff after pretending to slit his throat so he could return in disguise to Maho’s mom’s house.

After some time, Rei returned with Io Hojo, Suzuki, and a few goliath fighters. Io greeted Maho after many years without having seen each other. She seemed bittersweet about having a chance to perform her job while dealing with the gruesome reality of it. The party decided to help the soldiers carry the assassins back to Hojo’s jailhouse before setting about on their remaining tasks.

The party walked through the village towards the jailhouse, getting looks because of the captured and killed assassins, but also because of Heph and Eden’s presence as well as a kind of brief confused recognition of people Maho had encountered years before. The jailhouse was not much of a prison, with no lock on the cell door and loose bars on the window, being watched over by a single goliath. Heph set about fortifying it beyond its usual purpose of containing drunks for a night, casting Arcane Lock on the door and strengthening the window. Io threw the living assassins in the cell, prepared to carry off the others to be buried, and told the party that they could meet at Hake when they were ready to talk to the chief. She gave Maho one last hug, and Maho asked her about Himeji, who Io said had really come into his own in adulthood.

The party headed over to Rock and Scissors, Himeji’s shop by Tavern 3, and were met with a flurry of living paper creatures and the laughter of the children who played with and chased after them. They walked in to see Himeji hunched over a table, alternating between folding paper and selling products. He jumped up gleefully in surprise when Maho entered. Himeji explained that after Maho left, he and Izume broke into the scroll repository, where he found what appeared to be ancient paper folding instructions interspersed with art of the giants. Heph recognized that Himeji seemed to have discovered a third type of artificery, separate from that of elves and dwarves.

Maho filled Himeji in on their adventures and her work as a “punk for hire”, but said that she had returned to Hojo because war was coming. Eden, after trying out a paper instrument and emptying out a gashapon machine, invested 1000gp into Himeji’s business with the hope that he could manufacture armor and weapons to use against Central Command.

Maho admitted that she was stalling talking to Himeji because she didn’t want to discuss the situation with the chief. Himeji, increasingly agitated about the revelation of war that was going unaddressed, pushed Maho and the others out the door towards Hake. Outside the longhouse-like building where Chief Mori Hojo holds court, they met Izume, head in her hands on the front steps. She said “Oh, good, good. I hope you have had more luck than me, because if not we’re screwed.”.

• Izume has not had much luck convincing her mother (the chief) of what is coming
  • She doesn’t have any knowledge about the invasion
  • Heph explains what happened with the assassins, and Maho and Eden jump in to explain a bit more of what happened
  • Izume explains that her mother and brother Isamu are much more prone to diplomacy, but they aren’t currently aware of the invasion force marching up the mountain
  • Izume thinks her brother is going to be difficult to convince, and that the best option is going to be gathering her whole family in the council chamber
  • Heph says we should get Harry, explaining to Izume that he defected, and she immediately assumes Maho did something to him, but that’s not really how it went down
  • Maho asks what has been going on here, and Izume explains that Isamu has been increasing contact with other villages and cities in Cryptop and establishing commerce channels
  • After we discuss for a bit longer, Io and Rei wander up, Io explaining that they were looking for us, and Heph explains that we were going to come find them to help explain what is going on
  • Rei turns to Maho, holding up the letter, and says to her that they need to talk when she has a chance
  • Heph and Eden head off with Io to get Harry from Mana’s, leaving Maho to talk with Rei
• While Eden and Heph head towards Mana’s, they send Karrl and Eden’s owl out to scout
  • They don’t see any more Central Command coming, but they do see a court being prepared at The Garden
  • Eden asks, and Io explains that they are playing Hoops, a version of basketball
  • The other interesting thing they notice is the Suto Winery to the West, positioned up against a lake, and there are sections of it that are rice paddies, lots of barrels stacked, buildings with barrels being carried in and out, and mud flats bubbling with geothermal heat
  • Arriving at Mana’s house, we find Goro inside unpacking a sizable haul of groceries, including wine, which probably took a decent amount of the cash he was given
  • Looking over at the couch, we also see Goro fast asleep on the couch, and the Goro unpacking pulls off his mask and we see that it is really Ana
  • Eden tells Ana she is a delightful person, and she is thankful to hear that
  • Ana also tells Eden that she was originally spying on “Harold”, which Heph explains to Eden is one of many names Elias and Rormir gave him
  • Ana tells us she made sure Harry couldn’t leave, and we find Harry curled up in a ball in the room being attacked by paper soldiers
  • Heph asks Ana to call off the soldiers, and she is disappointed, and Eden suggests the soldiers can come with, and Ana whistles, and the soldiers prod him towards the door
  • Eden again calls Ana a delight, and we march back through the village, attracting a lot of attention as we go
  • Eden hears the name Maho amongst the whispers of the people, but isn’t able to understand much else because she doesn’t speak giant, so she ritual casts Comprehend Languages as she goes
  • She picks up people gossiping about Maho returning and bringing a bunch of outsiders with her
• Meanwhile, Maho is with Rei, having a conversation after everyone else has left
  • Rei asks if Joerg has ever told Maho anything about the cavern he found
  • Rei hands Maho the letter, which she reads, and learns she has some inheritance coming to her
  • Rei explains that Joerg was very adventurous in his youth, and at one point he found a cave North of Hojo with faded etchings on the wall
  • He went deep into the cave, and found that the symbols were lining the walls, getting more numerous the deeper into the cave he went
  • Rei helped catalog and decode the writing, and eventually after a lot of research they found the symbols were similar to the runes that get used by Izume and others, maybe older versions of the runes
  • After he met Mana and had Maho, he knew things would be tough for her in the village, as a child of an outsider
  • He wanted Maho to have something in the village that belonged to her, and he wanted to pass along the knowledge of the cave and writing to Maho when she came of age, as something she alone would have
  • Rei explains that they have the whole catalog and a map to the cave at the book shop, and it’s for Maho when she has a chance
  • Maho is a bit lost for words at this, a bit surprised that Joerg gave up his big discovery so Maho could have it
  • Rei explains that Joerg had plenty of discoveries and wanted this one to be Maho’s and not his
  • Maho decides to swing by the book store after the discussion with the chief to collect the notes and see what she can make of them
• Around this time, Heph, Eden, Ana, Io, and the soldiers (both paper and goliath) arrive back at Hake
  • Heph asks Izume to go call a meeting now that everyone has gathered
  • She goes to grab Ichisake, the other brother, from his shop first
  • She comes back with a broad shouldered goliath, wearing an apron and partially covered in soot, and raises his eyebrows at the newcomers
  • He looks at Maho and gives her a nod, pretty much ignoring everyone else
  • Maho knows this brother to be the author of the Cipher of Maimon, the smut that we found in the museum in Eken
  • Eden and Heph notice he is not especially personable and seems very uninterested in taking any part in village leadership
  • He isn’t rude, but is rather cordial, even to Maho who he hasn’t seen for a while
  • He seems very artsy and takes himself very seriously and carries a sketchbook on his belt that he periodically sketches designs in, and seems very preoccupied with his work in that way
  • Izume leads us into Hake, down a hallway towards a door, which she knocks on and waits
  • A male voice from the other side gives permission to enter, and she turns to us, saying “the court is in session”, and she walks in
• She bows her head as she walks in, explaining she would like to present a case and now has additional witnesses and evidence, asking permission to call court once again
  • There is a cushioned section of the room where a very old woman is sitting, stooped with age but still large due to being a goliath
  • Seated in a less cushioned chair next to her is another goliath, Isamu, not thin but not overly broad and muscular, who is very well put together
  • Isamu and Chief Mori look at each other, the chief nods, and Isamu tiredly says that court can be held again, but make it brief as the day grows long
  • Izume brings us into the room and closes the door, explaining that she brings Maho, her companions from far away outside the mountains, and she says we will expand on the case that she has already made
  • The chief raises her eyebrows, interested, and asks us what we have to say
  • Heph can tell there is a sadness in her eyes when she looks at Maho
  • Izume, Ichisake and Io head over to the side of the room to sit down
• Maho, with a nudge from Heph, starts explaining what is going on
  • The rumors of people going missing are real, and Mana is missing after heading out to try to investigate, and Maho explains that there is a force coming
  • Isamu explains he has no reason to disbelieve Izume’s story, however, Maho is making a very broad claim of a greater danger threatening Hojo than just a few outsiders hunting in the mountains, which is all he claims is happening
  • Maho asks if he is concerned at all by them being taken, and he responds that he wants to look into them on a case by case basis
  • He does not understand why a full council must be called in this case
  • Eden messages Maho, trying to calm her a bit, explaining that she knows it’s distressing, but we have a compelling case and she just needs to present it
  • Maho responds back asking how do you suggest we proceed, and Eden tells her to take control of the situation and call forward our witnesses to establish what happened, rather than letting them get distracted by tidbits
  • Eden looks around and notices Heph is distressed, as is Izume, but Isamu is calm and being patient, but isn’t on board with what is happening
  • Ichisake seems bored and isn’t listening, the chief’s eyes are drooping and she seems tired
  • Io also seems agitated but is hiding it as best she can
  • Eden uses a Subtle Spell to cast Enhance Ability, giving us all advantage on charisma checks
  • Eden steps forward to speak, doing a deep curtsy and addressing Esteemed Chief Mori, explaining she comes from the Far Lands, far away, and continues to explain that we are here out of great urgency to the safety of her people, and so far she has only felt the beginnings of it
  • There is an army formed to the East who will attack in just a few days, and we have evidence to present in support of this fact, and hope that she will hear it
  • The chief pauses, exchanges looks with Isamu, who turns back to us, and thanks us for traveling a long distance to be here and make our case, expressing that it is an honor to meet someone from so far outside their borders
  • He continues to ask to see the evidence we bring to support our broad claims
  • Eden decides to start chronologically from when we arrived in Hojo, and she looks to Isamu, explaining that we arrived just today in Hojo
  • On our way to come speak with Isamu, we stopped by Rei’s, as he is Maho’s family friend, and as we did that, we noticed some strange human observing us from the woods and hiding
  • They were clearly interested in scoping out the area, but we weren’t sure at the time for what purpose
  • We spoke with Rei, and during our visit, the same human along with several others, approached Rei’s home, and they appeared to be assassins out scouting, and they attacked without provocation, and Rei can corroborate it
• Rei steps forward, and explains that 6 cloaked individuals approached from the woods and attacked, and he would likely be dead if not for the bravery of Maho and her companions
  • Ichisake has been bored, but as soon as Rei mentions their bookshop potentially being destroyed, Ichisake perks up a little and listens more
  • Rei continues, explaining that these individuals were proficient in combat to a degree they haven’t personally witnessed, but luckily Maho and friends were significantly more proficient
  • The outsiders had devices intended for capture, and struck to kill with poison weapons, and after the fight a number of them were captured and upon interrogation revealed they were part of a larger force
  • Isamu hears this, nods a bit, and says he is sorry that happened to Rei, noting the borders of the village are becoming more dangerous, and expressing confidence that the village’s warriors would be up to the task
  • He asks if the claims to a larger force could have been exaggerated to encourage us to release them
  • Eden steps back up, saying the assassins did turn out to be a small scouting party, but they did have on them the tools needed to capture and enslave more of their people, and we captured some of them and some of the tools and can demonstrate what they were doing
  • She continues to say that we have personally seen the force gathering to march on the mountain, gesturing towards Maho who has seen it
• Maho steps forward to explain that we have some of the equipment, much of which is magical, and even if a full army is skeptical, they must have deep connections to have so many items in hand
  • Isamu asks for a demonstration, seeming rather unconvinced of the danger that these people pose
  • Eden steps forward again, saying we are happy to demonstrate the devices at work, and would also be happy to demonstrate our capabilities as individuals to give an idea of the strength of these 6, asking to take a fight outside if desired
  • This causes a shift of the vibe in the room, Io seems a bit amused but seems to tense up a bit, Isamu and the chief both tense up, and the chief narrows her eyes and glances at Io
  • Isamu says that he appreciates the forthrightness and willingness to present the evidence, but says the rules of decorum require us to stay inside the room, and asks Eden to not damage people or the room
  • In response to this, Heph throws a force bead at Maho, who doesn’t expect it, and she is encased in a translucent sphere which has a wavy surface like water
  • Heph explains how the force bead works while lifting Maho in the air, explaining that they are modified to capture and control
  • From inside, Maho hits it with her axe, it fully absorbs the energy and ripples, and then she rolls around in it a bit like a hamster ball
  • Isamu raises his eyebrows, saying it is interesting and it is something that they do not have available to them there, and it is a great piece of information to have, and asks for some of them to study, which Heph willingly gives
  • Eden speaks up to explain that these are not common items, and these are from a well-funded adversary
  • Isamu takes the beads and hands them to Ichisake to examine, and then proceeds to explain that the edges of the village to seem dangerous and that he will implement a curfew and get people to stay in groups
• He turns to Maho and asks how she saw the army, and Maho explains that we had a powerful mage help us to see it with an observation spell
  • He interprets this as a vision, which Maho confirms
  • He turns to his mother, who speaks, saying that sometimes the spirits deliver visions, but they are not always true in a literal sense, and tries to explain to Maho how the gifts given by the giants manifest
  • Heph jumps in very exasperated, explaining that lack of information is itself actionable, and they should at the very least gather information
  • Io speaks up to back Heph up a bit, saying that recon and intelligence gathering are important to a military
  • Isamu looks to Io, nods, and says he appreciates her input, and asks about the danger of doing so
  • Heph explains that we can take someone and prove it in a matter of hours, and we can make it as safe as possible, but there is some inherent risk, but if there really is a force, the risk is clearly worth it
  • Heph and Maho can’t really tell how people are reacting, but Eden is able to tell Izume is on our side, Io is convinced by the talk of recon, Ichisake is worried about the cultural impact, Isamu seems like he is entertaining the ideas but is rather risk adverse, and the chief is largely deferring to Isamu but she also would respond well to authority, like the bold authoritative decision making being demonstrated
  • In response to Heph’s comments about risk, he says that evaluating risk is tough and we might be triggering an invasion by doing so
  • In response to this, Heph turns away from Isamu and turns towards Io, impressing on her that this is a military advancing with military objectives and she knows what to do
  • In response, she nods but doesn’t speak, and Isamu, seeming a bit impatient, says that we are making many claims that seems to come from information that we are unable to share, and asks what else we have to share
  • Eden Messages Heph and asks if the masks will help anything here, and Heph’s response is that they won’t be willing to believe anything they can’t directly see and if Heph has to bring the army to their door to get them to believe he will
  • Maho asks the party if we have any evidence to present, and Heph turns back to Isamu and says we don’t have any evidence to present that he will believe
• Maho asks the chief if she trusts Mana, and she responds that Mana has been a faithful servant
  • Maho pulls out the cloak that Mana gave her, saying that Mana gave that to her and it proves that Maho is a capable warrior and can lead the scouting force to prove that the army exists
  • Chief Mori looks surprised and asks if that is why Maho is here, if Mana left to find her, and Maho responds that perhaps their fates crossed in strange ways, Mana is missing and Maho has happened to come at a time when she is not there
  • The chief responds that Mana is a formidable warrior and it is no small thing to put her in a place where she cannot do her own will, and the chief has never known Mana’s judgement to be faulty
  • She turns to Io and looks at Rei, saying that Maho is clearly a formidable warrior, and could have put up a fight if there were twice as many assassins
  • Eden notes that Chief Mori clearly feels the absence of a strong leader who is a peer and not her child, and Maho bringing this up seems to sway her greatly
• We have no additional evidence to present, so the family gathers to discuss
  • Izume is fully convinced, having seen the enemy herself, and speaks to our capability and the danger presented by the enemy
  • Io is also convinced, although she’s only had the information for a short time, but she encountered the aftermath of some danger, and at the bare minimum she’s convinced they need a scouting party, but the evidence suggests the threat is real and imminent
  • Eden catches Ichisake’s eye and winks at him, giving him some Bardic Inspiration, and seems charmed by it, but he sighs a bit, and says that “Things change, people move, and armies march, that’s the nature of the world. Really there’s only so much we can do about it, who’s to say that a broad invasion years down the line doesn’t create the condition for a better world. Who’s to say that any of our actions to keep things stable or stagnant leads to our decline more than action would. I can’t say if any course of action is the right one because we’re all just floating down the river and the current is strong. I think we should continue to go with the flow.”
  • Isamu speaks up and says “There’s still much we don’t know, and caution is the most prudent course of action. If there really is an invasion, what can Hojo do about it? We need to act defensively, reach out to other settlements and act together so we can more effectively defend against it. If we strike out on our own too hastily we may trigger violence sooner and be unable to defend against it.”
  • Chief Mori considers the opinions and everyone turns towards her, and she adjusts slightly, looks at Isamu who smiles back a tiny bit patronizingly and then looks directly at Maho, and Eden notices some candles lit in the temple next door flare up, and the light of the candles reflects in the chief’s eyes in a way that makes it seem like the fire is coming from inside her
  • She says “Well, my children have spoken. So. Maho. Let’s see how much like your mother you really are. Do what you need to do, gather a force, I am giving you full reign to head down and see what we are really dealing with.”

Referenced in

• Calendar