After an unexpectedly long detour paying a visit to Hare Clan, the party finally arrived in Ryoko Owari where they have been appointed as the new Emerald Magistrates. Following their official swearing-in each was presented with the tools of their new office: a small jade sphere, about four inches in diameter and engraved with the mon of the Emerald Champion, the symbol of their authority; a personally identifying hanko in a lacquered case with inkstone to stamp documents for official business, and a well-crafted jitte. After a ceremonial procession from the Civil Hall to the Magistrate Residence they were also formally invited to a banquet in their honor hosted by Shosuro Hyobu at the Shosuro Palace.
In addition to the usual business of settling in to their new home there were a number of other tasks attended to.
- Kasuga Osamu acquired the lease on a small workshop in the Merchant Quarter where he could conduct his medicinal research.
- Akodo Tadashi sent word to Matsu Chokoku informing him that the scroll he had been dispatched to retrieve had been located, was now in the hands of Bayushi Tomaru, and that he would explain in greater detail when he was able to do so safely.
- Akodo additionally invited Hitoshi to come assist him as a yokiri and bring any interested friends among the Mantis Clan while Mirumoto Tetsuzae sought help from his clansmen in the Dragon. A letter was also sent to Agasha Hanori seeing if he could help them in Otosan Uchi.
On the evening of the governor's banquet in addition to the Governor Hyobu and her family, they were introduced to a number of prominent samurai within the city, both Scorpion, Unicorn, and others. Having failed to bring their own cups, as in the city's custom, they were each gifted with a delicate porcelain cup, with emerald inlays both on the rim and of their respective clan mon in the bottom of the bowl.
- Bayushi Korechika expressed his concerns about the Crane control of gaijin shipping arriving in western Rokugan. That a single clan being placed in control of the licensed port operated primarily by the Thrane Rokugan Company at Jukami Mura could potentially invite corruption and evasion of imperial taxes. He also seemed knowledgeable about the actions of Ichiro Bando at The Topaz Championship along with Kasuga's time working in Kameyama Jima.
- Kitsu Senshi praised the Topaz Siblings for their fine display of traditional values in an increasingly corrupt and decadent society. She informed Akodo about the many wild theories of some sort of heathen cult operating in the city, possibly spread by Iuchi Sadako's wild theories, though she did acknowledge her own time spent battling the Bloodspeakers in the past. Recently she has been campaigning to have anything but "traditional Rokugani architecture" banned from the Noble Quarter.
- Shosuro Jocho showed Kasuga and Mirumoto a hidden passage in the palace leading to a secret balcony with a view over the city. He seemed to be having some tension with Iuchi Michisuna. He thinks that Precious will almost certainly be wearing bold patterns in the coming season. It is a time of dynamic change and this will be a strong counter to the recent gaijin influences that have become fashionable with rebellious young people. When Bayushi Korechika was in earshot he loudly praised the accomplishments of Bayushi Tomaru both his recent conquest of and subsequent mercy shown to the Hare clan in his siege of Shiro Usagi.
- Ide Baranato was quite happy to learn about Kasuga's interest in medicine and herbalism. An expert on the subject, he offered to share what knowledge he could with him.
- Ide Asamitsu invited Ichiro to a hunting party he is arranging soon in the hopes of claiming the first boar. He expressed his belief that an honest life devoted to honor and duty can lead to the acquisition of what the heart truly desires.
- Both Shosuro Kimi and Iuchi Michisuna described their experiences of having objects stolen from their chambers in the night, presumably by the elusive thief known as "The Wind". Kimi had a silver hairpin taken from her third-story room. Michisuna had a peony blossom removed from his while the valuable lacquered box it rested on was not so much as nudged aside.
- Michisuna additionally performed a song on the shamisen. It was elegant, restrained, and melancholy. He is truly a gifted musician whose song moved many of those present.
- Shinjo Sanefusa seemed distracted by something, but stated that he was merely concerned by business affairs. He invited Akodo to come visit the geisha house his family owns, the House of Foreign Stories, devoted to gaijin women and offering to make the appropriate introductions to the okaasan, Magda.
- Ashidaka Michitaka was still dressed in mourning for his murdered cousin, Ashidaka Naritoki, the former Emerald Magistrate. That is to say, he was wearing white, although he had still found a way to make it look garish. He enthusiastically gushed about his intense new exercise program and has clearly been getting results. After too much to drink, even the mention of Ide Michikane's recent death was enough to send him over the edge as he broke down weeping at the loss of his cousin.
- The construction of the Thrane compound, Ranmachi, in Rokugani style has apparently resulted in good business for the contractor Builder, and resulting profits for his patron Doji Sukemara.
While the others were out running various errands around the city Akodo was manning the front desk at the magistrate estate when a young Thrane woman came in to renew her residency permit for another year and register her new address in Ranmachi. She introduced herself as Emily Stark, the daughter of a merchant of the Thrane Rokugan Company. Having come alone, Akodo offered to escort her back home.
While walking down Monk's Edge Avenue, the border between the Merchant and Temple Quarters, a young Scorpion deliberately insulted the pair. Akodo quickly moved to answer this challenge and the conflict with the unrepentantly insolent youth escalated until it came to blows: the Scorpion drawing his blade first as Akodo quickly admonished him with his tessen.
The Scorpion had no sooner slashed Akodo's cheek than a monk emerged with a bo and interposed herself between the men, attempting to prevent any further violence. That is, her bald head made her first appear to be a monk, but after a moment he and Tamori Gojinka recognized one another from the Topaz Championship. As matters calmed down, she expressed interest in again seeing her clansman, Mirumoto, and suggested that both he and Akodo come train with her at the kenjutsu dojo of fellow Dragon Kitsuki Jotomon.
Describing the encounter later at the estate, Usagi Kamahime was able to identify the hot-headed Scorpion as none other than Bayushi Otado, son of Bayushi Korechika and her sworn nemesis.
As the magistrates returned to the estate around dusk, they found a Dragon waiting for them rather impatiently before demanding protection under Part Two, Section Three of the Emerald Magistrate's Charter. Introducing himself as Tamori Yousuke, Mirumoto was able to recall him as a man of high station known to have influence in Otosan Uchi; not someone it would be wise to anger. He claimed to have been threatened by a gang of thugs, and says that Yogo Osako told him it was a matter for the Emerald Magistrates.
Insisting that they accompany him to Teardrop Island he proceeded to immediately get drunk and debauched before going looking a dice game. Finding no takers Ichiro heard from a bouncer that he had been ejected from a gambling hall on the island for his boorish behavior the previous evening. Attempting to get Yousuke safely back to the estate he eventually encountered a man who told the magistrates the story of how last night he had lost a large sum of money to Akane, a gambler in the Fisherman Quarter, and was refusing to pay. He stated that she had insulted his honor and would only pay after a suitable apology. Mirumoto was able to appeal to his sense of honor and he shoved the money in his hands telling him to go pay her in his place and secure the apology.
After searching several of her known haunts she was found half-drunk in an unlicensed sake house located in the back of a fish market. There she told Mirumoto the story of what had transpired. Having claimed to send payment and then failing to, she told some friends of hers among the Fire Eaters about the problem. The firemen roughed up Yousuke and threatened him if he failed to pay what was owed. In response, he sent some of his servants out and, under the guise of seeking to fulfill his debt, located her home. Instead of payment, he decapitated her six year-old daughter, leaving her body in the street. At this point the despondent Akane only wants justice, but the Fire Eaters view this as an insult to them that can only be satisfied with Yousuke's head.
When confronted with this, Yousuke denies nothing, claiming that she had insulted his honor by sending the Fire Eaters to assault him and he was only acting appropriately to such an indignity from a heimin. Further that he was well within his legal rights to have done so and, having been paid, she is still the one who owes him an apology.
With no clear resolution in sight, the magistrates pondered how to handle the situation.