Mystery at Old Ōuchi Manor (Part 2)

Discovery, Exploration

That rhythmic thump-thump beneath Ryūzaki Sanosuke's feet was certainly a little unnerving. It was as if the Old Ōuchi Manor itself was a living thing with a tremendous heartbeat deep within its core. Spooky as it was, Sanosuke asserted that it was a bit early to assume it was actually a heartbeat. Instead, he and his entourage were here for Randi Carter's personalized tour, so that should be their first priority. After that, perhaps they could figure out what was causing this blasted heat. It was a good bit warmer in here than the brisk autumn day outside, and Byakurei complained as she adjusted her apron. Sanosuke pretended not to notice the motion, instead turning attention back to his guest.   Unsurprisingly, Randi wanted to see the building's attached chapel. She'd spotted it from the outside on their way up the cliffside and, as a student of Henry Holiday, had quite an interest in seeing the stained glass up close. The chapel wasn't Sanosuke's favorite place. He'd gone through a few things there that he'd rather not remember. Even so, Randi was the boss. Ever-helpful, Takenaka Hanbei was able to create a rough magical map of the place using her magic. Following her directions, Sanosuke led the way left through the east-facing hall and into the chapel.

It wasn't actually all that bad. Sanosuke scanned the plush carpet underfoot, but it seems like they'd managed to get the results of his last visit mostly out. None of his companions seemed to notice at all. Randi was too busy scanning the colorful windows with the expression of a jaded connoisseur. It might not be fair to compare mortal works to the master artists of the Dreamlands, but even so, she declared, these windows were pretty shoddy. She certainly wasn't impressed, to the point that she asked Sanosuke if he knew who had crafted them. Caught off-guard, the hapless Silver General had to admit that he didn't, but maybe Ōtomo Sōrin did. Indeed, he should be hearing back from Sōrin and company about their mission at Odawara Castle soon. Perhaps he could ask her then. He was partway through saying something about Randi teaching his people a thing or two when Hanbei cut him off.   She'd been keeping a sort of watchdog spell active as a precaution, and it'd just come back with worrying results. They weren't alone in this manor. At least two other individuals were moving around, back and forth, seemingly unaware of Sanosuke and company's presence. Fortunately, all their activity seemed confined to the basement for now.   This wasn't exactly what he'd wanted to deal with on their tour but, for the safety of the city, he asked Randi if she wanted to check it out. Never one to turn down adventure, she jumped at the opportunity. Soon enough, Hanbei was leading them back through the main hall in the opposite direction. A short walk west brought them to the head of a spacious, stone stairwell. The ambient heat was stronger here; sweltering, even. At the same time, Sanosuke noticed that the pounding sound from below had grown stronger. It had taken on a new texture now that they were closer, like metal slamming into metal. Tanegashima Shigetoki offered in a rare few words that it sounded like a forge. As blacksmith-princess of the preeminent riflesmiths in Japan, she should know.   Sanosuke took the lead and braved the eye-watering heat to take his company down to the basement. As they turned a corner to the shadowy stone room beneath the manor, none of them were prepared for what they saw. Taking up a large part of the spacious chamber, Asteria Talos's enormous head stared blankly at Sanosuke with dead eyes. Her neck was still severed just below her chin, but no blood flowed. Instead, it looked as if he brass-sheened skin there had indeed been heated to molten metal. Nearby, turning in surprise to the intruders, a mismatched pair of blacksmiths tended a great, burning forge.   The closest of the two was a great, amazonian woman with flame-red hair and a burning luster to her dark skin. Sanosuke pinned her immediately as an Empowered Human. Indeed, the resemblance to Hachisuka Masakatsu left little room for doubt. The other smith seemed at first to be a Hitotsume, with her single, gazing eye forming a lake in the center of her face. Her stark-white hair and earth-colored skin, however, indicated a foreign aspect that precluded Sanosuke forming a solid verdict on her race.   The first woman heaved a huge smithing hammer over her shoulder and gave Sanosuke a look of challenge. What, she reasonably wanted to know, was he doing here? The Silver General cast his mind out for an excuse and it landed on something he remembered Tsutsumi Hōzan once saying. They were building inspectors, he proclaimed, here to check the manor. Randi Carter backed him up. After all, hadn't they just been checking the stained glass windows upstairs? The big woman's face screwed up in confusion for a moment, but the other cut in with a certain declaration that Sanosuke was lying. It seemed like the fiery one might have fought him right then and there, but her companion kept her head.   At the very least, Sanosuke talked his way around, there was something shady going on here. He vaguely remembered hearing something about Asteria Talos' head being shipped off to Alexandria for "repairs." Did its presence here mean that they'd decided to do it in-house instead? He began to lay the groundwork for his exit, everything seemed to be in order here after all, but was stopped by the one-eyed girl. She blinked slowly at him and asked, in a level tone, who he truly was. Perhaps that eye was good for something, because she seemed to see Sanosuke on more levels than her companion.   In response, Sanosuke poised himself for theatrics. Reaching to his side, he drew forth Aretí, swinging the glittering sword into the air with a flourish and a suave pose. The first smith scowled under her burnished locks. That sword, she seemed to think, was far too small for a big guy like Sanosuke. Her companion seemed more impressed. Indeed, the one-eyed girl immediately recognized the name of his sword. After introducing herself as Arges, she claimed that it had been some time since anyone had received Athena's blessing in that form, and he might be the first foreigner ever to hold such an honor. Of course, that name meant little to Sanosuke, but he tucked it away for the future.   Something in the forge fizzled and popped, impelling Arges to excuse herself and tend it for a moment. Sanosuke wasn't at a good angle, but Hanbei filled him in with a stunned telepathic report. Unless her eyes had deceived her, the one-eyed girl had just used her tongs to move a live, crackling bolt of lightning into the forge.   By the time Arges returned her attention to Sanosuke's company, the other smith was clearly losing her patience. The bronze was cooling, she complained, and they'd be in trouble if they didn't get a move on. This prompted Sanosuke to offer his services, but Randi seemed pretty hopeless with metalwork and, in fact, the other smith didn't want help anyway. This was her job for her pay and she didn't want anyone else edging in on it. Nagasone Kotetsu, as she referred to herself, was the greatest smith in Japan, and this task for the Alexandrians was going to put her on the map.   That name sounded a little familiar, and soon Sanosuke realized why. In his extensive studies of warfare, he'd come across weapons nicknamed "Kotetsu" more than once. This term referred to a disparate selection of arms, but all of them were thought to be exceptionally good at dealing with armor. Colloquially, they were often called "helmsplitters" by the troops, valued especially when one expected to face a samurai in battle. The name was certainly the same, and she was a blacksmith. It seemed like too much of a coincidence to believe that this woman was not the same Kotetsu for whom those weapons were named.   Having noted this, Sanosuke bid a brief farewell to Arges, then turned back to his group. For once, he seemed surprised to say, everything had turned out fine. Of course, there was still one last portion of the manor to explore. Leaving the heat of the makeshift forge behind, Sanosuke followed Hanbei's directions back up through the hall, past the chapel, and around the corner to the audience chamber.   This room's sliding door was solidly closed, but not locked like the front portal had been. Sanosuke pulled one panel to the side and revealed a pleasant sitting room decorated in an immaculately Japanese style. Surprisingly, it was already occupied. Hanbei hadn't caught this person's movements in her magical scan, and the reason behind that soon became apparent. On a sitting cushion, with a disc of sake halfway to his lips, former Daimyō Ōuchi Yoshitaka sat completely motionless. The lopsided half-smile on his face seemed at odds with the eerie stillness that seized the rest of his body. As Sanosuke stared, the frozen man didn't even breathe.   < Mystery at Old Ōuchi Manor (Part 1)