Moon 12, Afternoon, Foredeck: I spy (MANTIS)

[Isawa O-Washi]

This was expected and so O-washi just nodded, taking a last pull on the bottle before wiping his mouth. "Right, then, just shimmy up and then we'll do a quick review of the piping calls you know to make sure they match the ones we use while I test your eyes."

{{Athletics/STR (Climbing) TN 20}}

[Yoritomo Kaito]

"Aye Gunso." Kaito nods and begins scurrying up the rigging like he had a hundred or so times before. Reaching the top a few moments later with little to no difficulty.

[Yoritomo Choukichi]

Choukichi nods his head then follows Kaito up like it was the easiest thing in the world.

[Isawa O-Washi]

O-washi claimed the whistle from the peasant and then followed them up with the ease of practice, settling himself not on the platform but on the spar, wrapping his legs securely around it just in case.

"Kaito-san, take a look out west and tell me what you see." He pulled the large wooden whistle out and passed it to Kaito first, since he'd gotten to 'class' first. "Then why don't you pipe how you'd signal it and we'll see what your Cousin here thinks you meant, based on call alone, then swap."

{{Investigation/Perception, raises count! The piping is Sailing/INT, TN is 10}}

[Yoritomo Kaito]

Kaito nods and accepts the whistle as his eyes look out towards the west looking for what might lie upon the horizon. After he's somewhat sure of what he saw he begins to pipe out a short series of messages on the whistle to his cousin

Which would indicate if his cousin understood in correctly a storm or other ominous signs on the horizon.

(Investigation perception = 28 with one raise)
(whistle blowing = 33)

[Yoritomo Choukichi]

Choukichi listens to the notes then answers quickly.

"A storm or some other ill fortune on the horizon."

[Isawa O-Washi]

"Ill fortune indeed. Now you look and see if you can make out more detail, then pipe it for your Cousin."

[Yoritomo Choukichi]

Choukichi nods and takes the pipe, then stares out in the direction Kaito did to see if he can make out anything more.

He then pipes to Kaito that there is no storm and that the sea is black.

[Yoritomo Kaito]

Turning to the Isawa the mantis repeats the contents of the signal. "He says there is no storm but the sea is black Gunso." Came Kaito's explanation of the signal. Though he knew well enough that the isawa had heard him.

[Isawa O-Washi]

'Just so. That's the Sea of Shadows...either of you sailed there before?" They were Mantis, after all...it was entirely possible.

[Yoritomo Choukichi]

Choukichi grasps the ofuda at his neck and makes a warding gesture with his other hand at the very mention of the place, then shakes his head.

"Heard stories enough, but haven't spent too much time below the northern coasts."

[Yoritomo Kaito]

"Sailed with a few men who have and Ol Capn Wakanabe had been through the route a number of times but never been through myself." The mantis's eye's were locked on the west setting the sight into memory. "We gonna take Osaku's Route through it?" He asked glancing back towards the big Isawa.

[Isawa O-Washi]

O-washi nodded. 'Hai. Our Captain's been through it more times than I have years of life. It's still damned unpleasant, though...tread lightly around the priestly members of the crew.' Grimacing, he added, "Myself in particular."

[Yoritomo Kaito]

Kaito nodded slightly he had heard it was bad there for shungeja. "I'll be sure to Isawa-san. Is there anything in particular we should be wary about there? Don't ant ta get into trouble by mistake."

[Yoritomo Choukichi]

"Stay away from the priests, got it."

Choukichi then nods his head along with Kaitos question.

[Isawa O-Washi]

"Don't look into the sea if you can help it. Hell, don't even be on deck for longer than you have to." He grimaced. "It's all fouled...not as bad as the true Shadowlands but bad enough."

[Yoritomo Kaito]

Kaito nodded once at the man's advice. "Thank ya for the advice Gunso I'll be sure to follow it as best as I can." He replied making mental note of what the Isawa had said.

[Isawa O-Washi]

"That's about it, I think...unless you lads have questions?" The gunso smiled, though he was clearly still unhappily distracted by the previous topic. "I imagine I don't have to do the usual 'how to get down from here' lecture with you two, though if you want it I'm happy to oblige."

[Yoritomo Choukichi]

Choukichi nods his head.

"I think we can manage it."

Anxious to get down where he can't so easily see the cursed sea, he nonetheless waits for the go ahead to go back down.

[Yoritomo Kaito]

"Aye I figure I've been down almost as many times as I've been up so I should be fine as well Gunso."

Was the other mantis' reply as he waited for the other two men to descend before he started.