Cyberpunk Session 27

A View of Uragami

Our thoughts and discussions point to two areas that could lead to more information:

1. The Christian mausoleum¹.

   The mausoleum's exterior is only about six or seven feet above the water level of the lake yet the interior (which will be below that water level) is not water-logged. In our original time the Warehouse that was over the underground complex was built on reclaimed land. We also note that the distant hills (which in our original time had industry built on them) seem to be a lot less eroded than in our own time.

2. Kitsune's shrine

As both of these are of interest we decide to split our investigation. Shadow and Ricky will investigate Kitsune's shrine while the rest of us re-explore the Mausoleum.

Shadow examines the shrine in a respectful manner. The small shrine has very little ornamentation. There are small doors, about 1½ feet in height, on the shrine which are closed. Ricky circles the outside of the shrine noting that it is built on stilts. Shadow notices movement in the alleyway behind the shrine and our lodging and goes to check on it. While he doesn't see anything beyond the brief glimpse of what might be a small figure. However he does catch a faint sweet smell.

The rest of the party makes it back to the Mausoleum with no trouble and is able to re-enter without any problems (there are doors to the Mausoleum, but these were merely closed and not locked). We return to the Bas Relief and examine it in more detail. There are no words (of either Japanese or Latin scripts) and the Bas Relief (and the red painted surface in the centre of the design) is only thing that makes this room anything special (there are no fancy lights or sconces). Nameraka touches the red surface and determines that it is just a painted surface.

The rooms near the Bas Relief are empty (in our original time these had equipment in them) and the remainder of the Mausoleum is made from crypts - mostly only partially constructed but with some being finished and even smaller number, five, having closed tombs with plaques on them in both a European language and in Kanji.

Meanwhile back with Shadow and Ricky the lingering scent reminds Ricky of his nightmare in that he now recalls that the scent in his nightmare was of an iron taste. Ricky then returns to the street of the village and inquires where he can buy a small statue to leave as an offering at Kitsune's shrine. His correspondent is confused by his request and as Ricky departs he is obviously keeping his eye on Ricky. Shadow returns to the Shrine and examines it more closely while pretending to pray at the shrine.

Back at the Mausoleum we notice that another difference between then and now is the addition of metal barred doors. In this time period all of the crypt rooms have no doors at all while in the future they all have metal barred doors. Having failed to get any response from the red portal Nameraka now traces his fingers all over the Bas Relief that surrounds it. He determines that the Bas Relief was created by adding a layer of plaster to the stone walls and then carving into the plaster to create the Bas Relief.

On our return to the hostel we discover that Ricky shopping trip has not been a complete waste of time - he has acquired a flute which, to our surprise, he is actually quite good at playing. Before we settle in for the night Tremen prays at Kitsune's shrine, asking for protection.

A tanuki statue on the Philosopher's Path in Kyoto.

Overnight² Nameraka, Ricky and Shadow have a restless sleep while, around Midnight, Tremen is woken by the sound of a chink and then the sound of a liquid being poured into a cup. He sees a small³ figure in the dormitory wearing a straw hat and in monk robes and is drinking from a cup. He says words to the effect of About time you woke up. I've been told you need help and I've got the job. Come along then!. Tremen recognises this as a Tanuki and, after waking all his colleagues we follow him out into the garden and over the fence into the alleyway (The Tanuki seemed to shimmer and transform into a human sized figure to get over the fence). The Tanuki leads us off into the woods with a sweet smelling scent lingering in the air. We hear, in the distance, the sounds of a commotion back in the village.

Wakiya attempts to strike a conversation with the Tanuki but seems to just annoy it (he does suggest that she is the Cat Lady. The journey through woods doesn't finish even when the sun comes up and eventually Tremen's stamina gives out and he has to stop. The exasperated Tanuki tells the party to stop and rest and he goes off into the woods. It returns after 30 minutes or so and force feeds Tremen with a couple of berries. This rejuvenates Tremen dramatically.

The Tanuki then resumes our trek through the woods and onto a road. There are occasional other travellers on the road which, somewhat surprisingly pay us little attention. He then leads us onto a side path that goes up a hill. By the time evening arrive we finally arrive at our destination - a temple.

A modern view of the temple

As we enter the temple compound, Wakiya notices that (a) there was a slight tingle as we entered and (b) there is a tortoiseshell cat there as well. Wakiya makes a beeline for the cat and immediately makes friends with it.

The Tanuki heads off to one of the buildings of the complex after telling us to rest and wait at the entrance (Nameraka needs persuading by the Tanuki to remain with us). The Tanuki shimmers as it enters the building.

After a short while a couple of monks at the temple bring us food and water and we all start to recover from the long day on the road.

There is a some kind of commotion from the building that the Tanuki entered and as the commotion subsides the Tanuki returns to us looking even more pissed off than before!