Everyone:<br/><br/>The functionaries were distressed as everyone scattered in three different directions and after a moment of flustered movements reminiscent of birds squabbling over a few scattered grains split off to follow each group closely.  "Please wait up!"<br/><br/>~~~<br/><br/>Looking At The Defenses: Hida Yuji & Moto Akemi<br/><br/>As they walked around the village it became readily apparent that the defenses of the town were fairly rudimentary.  Aside from the guards at the gate, it appeared that the only thing keeping anything out was the wooden wall ringing the entire town.  It was constructed out of poles made of sharpened tree trunks two men tall and two hands wide.  Neither Yuji or Akemi could see the presence of any other soldiers even as common as peasants wearing straw armor with sharpened poles.  The functionary accompanying them would routinely speak up asking what the two 'honored samurai' were looking for and if he could be of any assistance.<br/><br/>~~~<br/><br/>In The Village: Doji Riel, Daidoji Misaki, Kai<br/><br/>The commercial section of the village seems to be bustling enough.  People moving back and forth conducting their trade as normal, although there is a slightly subdued tone to the proceedings.  Likewise, you all draw the attention of everyone who look at you before quickly looking away again.  One of the men heads over to the group with a smile and an obsequious nod.  "Esteemed samurai-sama, your horses look weary.  Perhaps you would care to have them penned at my stables?"<br/><br/>~~~<br/><br/>At The Sake Works: Matsu Tetsuya, Doji Ayano, Suzume Hachi<br/><br/>At the doorway, there was a lone sentry dressed in ashigaru gear who stood up straighter and looked as if he was going to bar their way before deciding against it and letting you three pass without argument.  In the courtyard, there were already a collection of casks sealed, tied, and stamped.  There was the smell of sweet sake lees in the air that perfumed everything.  Some of the workers were busy carrying empty casks from one building to another while others are carrying much heavier casks to yet another building.<br/><br/>In the background, you can all here an song...one of the rustic work songs that the peasants are prone too between the thumps of wood against wood and other sounds of hard labor.  A slightly portly man steps out, wearing rude cotton clothes his body stained with unsightly sweat and in general looking much like the antithesis of the samurai ideal.  "Greetings humble samurai...  This one is Kosugi, merely humble overseer to this place.  How can I be of service?"<br/><br/>When Hachi talked, Kosugi frowned.  "Bandits?  We have not seen bandits here, samurai-sama.  Perhaps out in the woods.  Some of my men's families were hassled when they were out foraging.  You may want to speak with Reiji more about it.  Would you like to, samurai-sama?"<br/><br/>~~~<br/><br/>Meeting the Lord: Bayushi Yukiko, Mirumoto Ichirou, Yoritomo Kei<br/><br/>The lord's keep could be barely called one in comparison to some of the more majestic ones you three have been into.  Aside from the stone foundations that reached up one floor, there were only two more floors rising above it.  The wood looks a bit worn from time but standing at the door are two bushi dressed in Dragon colors with the Mirumoto mon emblazoned on their chest.  Unlike the sentries at the village gates, these bushi look sharper and much better equipped.<br/><br/>"Halt, identify yourself."  The one on the left calls out to you while the one on the right casually rests his hand on his pommels watching you carefully.