Session 38: The Golden Gai - Jackass Edition

Needing to locate the Golden Gai, the group now known as The Sakura Smashers takes off looking for Tendi (Sikander whispering Prune. Uproot. Repeat. As they do.) They take a moment to read the various street signs but find themselves still very turned around. While waiting, Sikander notices an older looking man wearing a kimono with a tattoo peeking out, so he tries to take off after the man, but is stopped before he gets far.
Silas disguises himself as Rioko, the Emperor's nephew, and speaks into the man’s mind, saying “Turn around and kneel.” The stranger quickly does, beads of sweat on his forehead while he is interrogated. They learn he is NOT a Cherry Blossom, but instead Riocho, the head manager of the Lucky Bouncing Rubber company and working hard to keep them out of his business. When asked about the tattoo, Riocho shares it was a poor decision from his youth and reveals an image of a scantily clad woman.
He and Silas discuss the travel prospects and how the Traditionalists are making connections with the West, like Waterdeep, more difficult. He also shares that if they are looking for information, a visit to Stroke the Shamasan would be a good idea, but to be careful as they go.
(Anya questions SOMEONE about the Cartobot piece and whether that is like the Gundam needed to waken and fight the giant lizard monster. Sikander is distracted by his transforming cartobot and stops the loud discussions of killing Cherry Blossoms.)
Finally arriving at Tendi’s home, they find him outside with tea. Silas explains their need for assistance, and Tendi invites them inside. With the traditional self-deprecation and elevating the guest and host, Silas manages to convince the others to remove their shoes before entering. Silas’s feet are impeccable, and he enters using the slippers provided. Sikander’s feet have almost never been cleaned (Anya stopped noticing the stench ages ago) and Silas offers him a pair of special gnomish socks of white and green with clover tassels at the top. Initially unwilling to wear them, Anya assures him that Tymora herself would approve, prompting the dwarf to wear them proudly and heads to the tearoom. Offa uses minor illusion to disguise his kenku feet as he heads in, all the while Anya fights her boots off and finally puts on a pair of slippers, joining the others.
As they sit around the low table and begin sipping the tea, Anya offers a song to thank Tendi for his hospitality and sings “Angelborne”. Silas guides the conversation, artfully complimenting Tendi throughout, learning the Silent Tigers have been causing the Cherrie issues in recent days. When asked about avoiding the Cherries and their headquarters, Tendi shares there are two in the Golden Gai within the only two two-story buildings. He reminds the Sakura Smashers that the Cherries are the only “police force” in some regions as well, so they will be hard-pressed to avoid them. Pulling out a map of the Golden Gai, Tendi begins pointing out various bars and describing them, advising some are very small while others are more welcoming.
Thanks to Silas, Tendi is clearly at ease with them all and views them as friends. As the conversation wraps and they prepare to leave, Tendi gives Sikander a packet with bread in a bag, Offa a wooden puzzle, and Silas a tiny wooden figure of the giant Gund. In return, Silas offers Tendi a piece of chameleon metal, while Anya uses her flute to create a stone statue in the likeness of his daughter.
As they leave, there is an obvious shift in Sikander’s demeanor, becoming overly polite and apologetic, nearly mirroring Tendi. Out on the street, he insists on everyone trying to keep the street clean by picking up any piece of trash they may find. As they go, Anya fills the other two in on events that transpired years ago while they were in the Feywild that led to an ancestor temporarily being present while Sikander was “offstage” as it were. Shalmar was extremely anti-Cherry Blossom and focused on the Rhythm of how everything connects and flows together. Silas and Offa listen intently, peppering Anya with questions while Sikander takes time to interact with any kids they come across in a large park full of crows and cormorants. Hungry, they stop at a stall for rice and pork balls and all the while, discussing Sikander’s odd shift. Offa murmurs a hymn of nothingness in the language of the void, just in case it is a possession, although Anya assures them both it is nothing like that.
They eventually arrive at the Golden Gai; they are overwhelmed by the sheer number of bars to choose from. They easily identify the two buildings in question and surmise just barging in would be dangerous. Hoping to gain insight into the movement of the Cherries, Silas suggests they post up in a bar or two and keep watch.
Deciding on the Kobiashi Maru, a few of them find old friends who now own the bar and happily greet Silence, Tinker, and Tailor. They catch up on what has happened with Harlock taking over the business and the decision to come settle back here, as well as learning Stefan remained on the pirate ship. Last Silence had seen he was passed on the deck drunk. While they chat, Silence and Offa hit it off and he tells Offa about a Kenku bartender that runs the Rotten Apple - Fortunado by name. Sikander has snuck off for Sikanda’s and finds the bartender impersonating him. Insisting he would only have one drink, the bartender (in a decent approximation of Sikander’s voice) shouts, “You'll have seven drinks or perhaps you are an elfling wuss!”, prompting the dwarf to settle in and keep downing just one more.
Wrapping their chat with Silence and Tinker, a large monk stumbles in, prompting Tailor to throw him out. Anya goes out to restore him as he starts mumbling about God Eaters. They manage to convince him to wait for them at the Shamisan, where he intended to get very drunk again. Frustrated, Anya heads off looking for Sikander, Silas and Offa following close behind. Near Sikanda’s, Silas notices Riocho is at the Footsie Onsen, a spa like bar where most everyone is nude. Silas promises to return once they have their friend, and they head off for Sikanda’s. Offa peals off for the Foreigner’s Graveyard, promising to just be a few minutes.
Entering, he disguises himself and finds his nemesis Fortunado. His disguise successful, Fortunado doesn’t recognize him, and Offa manages to get him behind the bar and knocks him out with a Finger of Death then proceeds to summon a Red Slaad to help brick him into the wall. As he does, a group of art students enter. Leaving the Red Slaad to work, Offa serves them absinthe, leaving the bottle on the counter and returns to the back. It doesn’t take long before a crash of someone hitting the floor alerts Offa to the art students drinking themselves nearly to death with the absinthe.
Meanwhile, Sikander is quite drunk and sharing jokes, including “What do you all a goblin with a limp? A hoblin”. The bartender brags about winning the Sikander look alike contest, giving tips on how Sikander could be more convincing and then starts in on Tal. Anya, finally losing her temper, starts telling the guy off and is then told she is a terrible attempt at someone cosplaying Anya, mimicking and mocking her as he does. She is ready to trade blows as Silas drags her outside.
She heads off and runs into Offa, who tells her a few folks were dying in the bar and that they needed to leave. She spares the two as a couple comes in, giving an odd vibe to Anya as they do. Deciding not to stay, they head for the Blue House instead. Wanting to speak with them, she and Offa follow.
Silas, finally getting Sikander to leave with Tal, heads back to Riocho. Both strip down and climb in to join the spa party, with Tal sitting at the edge.
In the Blue House, Anya’s arm is dark, so she accepts water from the ghost bartender Yamamoto while Offa has a shot of The Revenant (absinthe base). Anya sips and suddenly becomes transparent and appears to be a ghost, sending her into a panic attack.
Back in the spa, Riocho is cleaning Sikander’s back while he share interesting news with Silas…” something about the rubber trade - sorry I've had a lot to drink. Was it the Cherries - not ringing bell - something about the imperial court - the cherries, its gone.” Eventually he does share that the emperor’s 8th birthday is approaching, and the dowager mother will be celebrating. Before much more is shared, a massive screech echoes across the sky as a monster with great pendulous wings lands in the street. They see the angry dark yokai, one of the servants of Dred Garlu, land before them. Realizing the imminent danger, Silas climbs from the water, casting mage armor and proceeds to ready for a fight au natural. Sikander wrestles into half his armor, and heads to the fight “Donald Ducking” with the top half mostly on and only his green and white socks on below, Wibbles in hand.
Ghost Anya and Offa fly over quickly, and on arrival, Offa learns this is The Sneaker, a demon that Dred Garlu banished to this realm.