Meeting with the Rindō Magistrate: Redux

Gathering / Conference

In the morning, the samurai investigators return to the Magistrate's Manor to speak again with Shosuro Jūko. It seems she's already been mostly informed by Kōichi and Sasara, but the group discusses the events at Tamrua between themselves as well. Seppun Raehua is imperiously enraged at what she sees as a gross mismanagement of Scorpion lands. Jūko can only stonily respond that she has secret duties which prevented her from investigating the matter personally. Of more concern is that the culprit is still active and could target any other tree with a kami of sufficient strength, resulting in more loss of life.   A debate ensues when Jūko claims one such tree exists in Rindō but will not give further details, as it relates to a sacred Scorpion secret. The investigators attempt to sway her from this path, while Yogo Kōichi unexpectedly takes the magistrate's side. Eventually, Jūko cracks. She is willing to sacrifice the secret (and by extension herself) to save the people of her town. Sullenly, the magistrate agrees to guide the samurai investigators to the site of this mythological tree where Scorpions imprison their betrayers' souls.