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After their findings in Kyuden Kasuga, the magistrates traveled north to the nearby town of Kiken na Roka Toshi.

Seeking to locate the "secure port" referred to in the document, they chartered a fishing boat under the auspices of taking a pleasure cruise along the coast. During the course of which the fisherman who owned the vessel related a tale of his own encounter with one of the allegedly haunted caves in the area. Caught in a storm, he stumbled upon a cave hidden behind a waterfall. The eerie lights and strange noises led him to flee, taking his chances with the storm, but he was able to direct the magistrates to it. They resolved to rent a small boat and return themselves to investigate.

Coming back in the middle of the night, they found that the cave beyond was indeed what they sought. Dimly-lit by some manner of glowing fungus, they made out the remains of a secret shipyard facility contained within, long abandoned. At anchor was the ship they had been searching for, the Fuefuki Maru.

The unusual ship appeared to be an amalgamation of gaijin technology into a Rokugani vessel. More concerning was that in the hold were the skeletal remains of numerous heimin. They were found still seated at tables that appeared to have been brought on to the ship. Kasuga Osamu's testing indicated evidence of poison in a teapot on one of the tables.

Searching further, in what appeared to be the captain's quarters a crew manifest was found. Though rot and mold had destroyed the majority of it, a few names could still be read. Among them, a 27 year-old Kasuga Hachiro.

Also nearby was another ship, clearly of gaijin design, although it was in heavily damaged condition, even taking into account several decades of neglect. A massive hole was gashed in the side, exposing the hold, and the mast had been broken. The entire ship was resting on the remains of a barge that had succumbed to the elements and rotted away beneath it.

Investigation of the buildings present showed various workshops consistent with a shipyard: a smithy, sailmaker, head shipwright, etc. Along with them were simple living facilities for a large number of people as well as some nicer quarters.

In the sailmaker's research notebook the last entry stated that the Fuefuki Maru had returned and a banquet in celebration is planned on board. The author had hoped to be able to discuss the performance at sea with the sailing master at the event.

The smithy contained the disassembled elements of a highly complex-looking mechanical device of some nature, sitting next to a severely damaged casing. Several pieces themselves showed evidence of damage and attempted repairs.

An office contained numerous dull items of paperwork. All dates listed within fell during the years 1100 - 1104. Mention was made several times of a “voyage” or “expedition” that appeared to have taken place in 1102. Additionally a quartermaster's logbook cataloging supplies gave the impression of taking on provisions to last for approximately a year.

With much of the facility still unexplored, the magistrates were discussing their findings when a loud and persistent noise from the entrance drew their attention. As they watched a ship arrived bearing numerous black-clad men with hats pulled low over their eyes. A woman referred to as "Kanami-sama" ordered them to burn everything.

A bedraggled, homeless-looking, middle-aged man came to the compound and fell on his knees in front of Ichiro declaring him to be his lord, Ichiro-sama the son of the daimyo. He claims to have been searching for him for the past 30 years.

Although he barely remembers it, Nobu eventually recalls his own name, though he still frequently appears to be looking at things that aren't there.

Ichiro Taiki returned to the compound one evening with a man he had arrested in the North Rim of the Fisherman Quarter. Unfortunately the man was missing an arm and no longer alive. He found some Blue Flame on his body but Kasuga Osamu also noticed a tattoo on his arm (see attached files). It appears to be similar to one that was previously seen on a dead body found stabbed in the back in Samui Kaze Toshi.

While going to speak to Bayushi Korechika, Kasuga Osamu spotted a man leaving the estate with a hint of pale blue at his wrist. He followed him through the Merchant Quarter, across the Moment's Edge Bridge, and into the Fisherman Quarter until he vanished inside a large, well-maintained building whose sign indicated it as the Juniper Teahouse. Watching the building he observed all manner of disreputable sorts of characters come in and out, including a number who were intoxicated enough to pass out in the gutter, but not the man he had been following.

During The Poppy Invitational a hint of blue was briefly seen on the neck of Bayushi Shizuka when she met with a strange man in an alley late at night and handed him a small parcel. Later, in the bathhouse at the Scorpion Garden after the assassination attempt during the second day, she seemed to be particularly uncomfortable and kept her kimono tightly in place as she stood guard over Bayushi Kachiko, despite the heat and humidity of the bath.

A similar symbol was found stamped on a barrel in the Ichiban Storage warehouse. Though there were several items being stored that were not inventoried in the official ledger, this was the only one with that symbol on it. Inside the barrel was filled with grain with several large parcels of Blue Flame buried in it.

One of the top competitors in the fights in Jukami Mura is a man named Shiro who bears a large, full-back tattoo of a blue oni head. Ichiro Bando fought him, but was unable to best him in the ring. Mirumoto Tetsuzae went out drinking with him afterwards, but aside from an association with a woman named Ayumi working at the Ripe Persimmon Bathhouse who purchased blue flame from him, was unable to discern any further connections.

When going to question Eyebrows, it was found that he hasn't been seen in months by anyone in Ryoko Owari and his home appears mostly empty.

Checking with the various gates out of town the Gate of Increasing Fortune recorded someone matching his description leaving around the time that he vanished. This man was stated to be "Taro", a suspiciously generic name. The pass was valid for any destination in the Scorpion provinces. The authorizing authority was listed as Yogo Osako.

Consulting with Osako-san, she denied ever issuing such a pass and it was not accounted for in her records.

Ichiro Taiki was sent to investigate any records at way stations along the Road Once Hidden. The trail continued to lead north for several days. After crossing the border into An’ei province details get sketchy. It’s too remote for papers to be checked unless heading on the main roads towards Shiro no Soshi or Pokau. Checking in some of the small fishing villages located along the lake, a man matching his description chartered a boat to take him across. That’s where the trail went cold. Locals said that there are a number of small villages off in the mountains. People come down occasionally to trade, but it would take a more concerted effort to investigate them. Taiki thought it best to return and report since he had exhausted all concrete leads.

• While returning through the woods after the boar hunt, about a half a mile from the road, they noticed a spot where the horses' hoof beats sounded different. Getting down and investigating the ground revealed a rough burlap sheet topped with dirt and leaves laid over wooden boards . Beneath them was a shallow pit in which several barrels of Friendly Traveler sake had been stashed. None of them with tax stamps. After opening discreet holes in the bottom to drain the product out in an apparent accident, it turned out that one of them was actually packed with gunpowder.
• 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.