Session 60: Sikander and the Sake...god?

Silas and Samyra join the party, sneaking in as they take seats on the floor cushions while Griselda disappears back to the gambling house. Before them, Heizo the Demon questions them leading to Sikander jumping up onto the desk, Clover quickly trying to relay thoughts for Anya, and Sella explaining the vision he was given that the young emperor is near a camphor tree.
Holding out a package, Clover and Anya open it and find a bottle of sake with special script and design. Heizo shares the rumor that the Yokai kidnapped him in hopes of reigniting the fighting and that this bottle was from “The Emperor’s Own Hands Brewery”.
Heizo introduces the party to Ningin as their “babysitter”/escort out to the brewery, which they reluctantly accept. Before leaving, Sikander advises Heizo that he is still suspicious of the inspector and not to leave town until they return. (Groovy the Moose snuggling up to Sikander on his should during this exchange)
Stopping through Edo to purchase armor for Clover, Selle performs the Moose Dance of the Frozen Nards as an example of local customs to get her a discount.
Making their way out of town, they follow the road out to the brewery, discussing some of the aspects of sake brewing, noting the best water is near the rice paddies and receiving a warning not to go near the camphor tree because it is haunted and that the sake is very dangerous, possibly possessed. Coming closer to the brewery, Samyra is uneasy, but Anya’s arm remains silver, showing no undead or God Eaters nearby. Near a copse of bamboo, Clover and Anya find the forest spirits and soot sprites. Anya is excited to see them, but the soot sprites cause some havoc on their weapons and armor.
Ahead they spot the water wheel and brewery, so Silas darts ahead to find a head being bounced around on the watermill. Collecting it, they find the body and find a small bag of rice on his person with a dagger. Climbing onto the roof, Silas peers through and spots four vats with turtle constructs bailing the liquid out and carrying them away. There is also a prevailing feeling of being watched.
Dropping in, Silas opens the door, and the others file into the sound of a creaking laugh emanating through the room. Seeing all the sake, Sikander with Tal at his side, heads to one of the casks and downs some as he sings a jig. Clearly possessed, the others try to stop him or empty the vats – Anya breaks Vat 2 and gets thrown across the room Clover falls into Vat 3 and attempts to use Spike Growth to save herself. Silas locates several documents that outline sake brewing, including the different kinds and which ones were the highest quality.
Sikander appears to be better as they head over to the other building until they begin investigating the rows and rows of sake barrels, determining that the emperor’s son is in one of them. Sikander throws a barrel at Selle as he takes off toward the maze before them. Anya tries to hit him with the butt of Thundergrace and misses. Silas starts trying to identify the barrel with the emperor while Samyra and Anya unsuccessfully use magic to stop Sikander. Selle finally casts hold person, stopping the dwarf in his tracks while Clover summons spiders to bind him in place as well. Anya stands protectively over Sikander, knowing something isn’t right as Selle restores him.
Shojo appears, telling them the emperor belongs to him and that they are to drink and be merry or get out, which Sikander agrees with.