Warring States - The Village, A few Months Later
Just to move things along, we will arbitrarily say that four months have gone by since last we gamed. The village (which is just called East Village) has been heavily overhauled and is back in operation. Most of the buildings are either barracks for laborers or small apartments for families. All told, there are about a hundred people here, either construction workers, fishermen, or support staff.
The following features of the East Village bear closer examination:
1) Manor House - This elevated strongpoint serves as the home for the PC samurai when they are actually at the East Village. The largest room has been taken over by Akihiro as his primary residence on the island. The stable has been repaired, and a small number of horses are now here.
2) Ship Construction Ramp - The new ship, which as yet has no name, is under construction, and much of the hull is completed. It is recognizably different from traditional Japanese ship-lines. It sits upon a sturdy wooden scaffold, save from weather and waves.
3) Shimizu Akira’s Dojo - This old farmhouse has been converted into a dojo and a home for Shimizu Akira, who seeks to attain martial perfection with the katana. It is somewhat isolated from the rest of the village, making it much quieter than other areas.
4) Berm/Palisade - The entire village is surrounded by an irregularly spaced berm of earth and rocks, which is then topped by a rough wooden fence. Though not as secure as a wall, this quickly built barrier provides a useful defensive line to protect the village.
5) Workshop and Warehouse - Two farmhouses were converted into large secure buildings to serve as a complete smithy and a place to store the equipment and supplies used to build the ship, including ropes, metal fittings, tools, and sail canvas. The buildings are generally guarded by two watchmen at all times when not in use.
6) European Dormitory - The five foreigners reside in this separate building, which ended a lot of complaining on their part. The building is equipped with European furniture (chairs and tables), and their meals are prepared in a manner they are accustomed to.
7) Office - The administrative aspects of the operation, inevitable in any operation, are run from this building. The laborers are paid monthly by a older samurai administrator named Gozen Masayuki (lent by Mori Sadahiro), who lives in the back of the building.
8) Crop Fields - The scrub has been cleared and small fields of grain and fruits have been planted. The fields are tended by the wives and children of the laborers in order to supplement their diet of seafood.
9) Shrine and Cemetery - A small shrine has been built, serving as both a Buddhist temple and a Shinto shrine, with a small plot of cleared ground for graves. There are currently only three graves (one pirate, two laborers). Rinzan is the only person on the island with any priestly training, so he occasionally conducts services for the laborers.
10) Uncle Takeo’s Inn - Satoshi’s “uncle” arrived one day with a large batch of workers, and promptly set up shop, claiming persecution by the Ryuzoji, just like Satoshi. He acts as an ombudsman and leader for many of the laborers. This building is the village’s social center - it is a gambling hall, brothel, and bar. Uncle Takeo also has a supply of luxury goods that he sells to the laborers at a substantial markup.
11) Abandoned Cemetery - There are about two dozen graves here, covered over in tall grass infested with snakes. It is avoided by everyone on the island. On nights with a full moon, ghostly lights can be seen in the darkness, though no right-thinking people dare look too long.
12) Grandmother’s Hut - The insane old woman has been left alone on her end of the village. Though the debris and ruins have been cleared out, and the hut repaired, everyone avoids this end of the island for good reason… the last two people who intruded on her privacy uninvited were bitten by vipers within a day, and are now buried in the cemetery. The laborers have gotten into the practice of leaving small offerings of food and sake on the bridge - the next morning they are always gone.