[D4, MA] Expedition to the crater lake (expecting)

[Kakita Haruhi]

The group had planned a trip for the middle afternoon, after hanging out at the con, and the weather was kind!

The plan was to travel up Mount Jinsei, the extinct volcano that now sees significantly less thermal activity, allowing the peaceful landscape to flourish with lush vegetation. The collapsed crater of the mountain top is known to be home to the serene Lake Ibuki, which hosts some particular breeds of freshwater fish.

A freshwater lake! Freshwater fish! Could this be the place the jimen tori were seeking? Maybe they never saw it since they couldn't fly over? Were any other native birds discoverable on the path there? The goal was to learn all they could, and it was a chance to spend time together.

Haruhi was dressed for hiking, with all her audio and visual recording equipment. She also had a cooler presently with snacks, but which could be re-purposed to bring back some fish samples to the birds. A most theoretical idea as Haruhi had never caught a fish in her life.

For now, she looked for the others, ready to set off.

[Susumu Sumiko]

Still dressed more casually as she was before, Sumiko had made her way to the agreed meeting point. She had brought a bag with her, which held her drone and recorder as well as a box with some fresh sandwiches and sushi picked up from the shopping district before making the journey. She had a bottle of water hanging from it also, along with the last of a nebula bubble tea that she sipped as she approached.

"This is exciting" Sumiko said as she bowed upon arrival.

[Kitsune Kiyoshi]

A monkey came loping up, followed by a familiar Kitsune..

"Hello! We have some good weather for this."

[Kakita Haruhi]

"I'm so glad you both could make it! The weather is most fortunate."

She smiled brightly at them both.

She had a little mango for Detective.

"This could really use expert eyes. Is the spot viable for the jimen tori? Would they have all they needed? Is the supply of freshwater fish sustainable? Are these fish that would be good for them to eat? Do you see sign of any other native birds?"

"Ah, this is so exciting."

"Let's wait for Agasha-san, and then we can set out."

[Agasha Sorato]

The Agasha appears in hiking togs which have clearly seen use (though they're still in good condition), with a small daypack. "Good afternoon, Kakita-san. Oh, hello again, Susumu-san." He raises his eyebrows on recognizing Sumiko. For Kiyoshi, whom he's probably seen around at some of the investment functions but never formally met, he'll bow and introduce himself.

[Kitsune Kiyoshi]

"A pleasure to meet you, Agasha-san." he returned the bow. "This is the Detective."

The monkey bowed.

[Kakita Haruhi]

Haruhi was glad to see the Agasha arrive, and made sure everyone was properly introduced.

"You three are all students of nature. Keen eyes to help us find what the jimen tori need."

As they set out walking, she kept an eye out for any interesting birds along the way.

And there was plenty of time for small talk as they hiked.

"Did everyone have fun at the con? What did you do? Have you decided what character you are going to play at the LARP tonight?"

[Agasha Sorato]

"I'm somewhat at a loss about tonight," Sorato admits with a sheepish chuckle as he makes his way up the dirt path with long, ambling strides. "I've never played this kind of game before. I don't think I can reprise my persona from Yoritomo-san's party, somehow."

He keeps an eye out for interesting wildlife, but for now spots only a few relatively common Shiawase birds and reptiles he's already seen before.

---

D4 MA--fluff Hunting to spot birds and other fauna | 4k3 ⇒ 15

[Susumu Sumiko]

"Agasha-sama" Sumiko smiled and bowed "good to see you again! We won't need an umbrella this time" there was a chuckle as she turned to follow after the energetic Kakita.

"The con was fun, perhaps a little less loud compared to the one held on Kyuden Oborozuki but that can be attributed to a Scorpion verses Crab version of a convention. The wall based escape room looked very interesting."

[Kitsune Kiyoshi]

"I don't have much familiarity with the game, but I've played similar ones." Kiyoshi said. "I tried to do a bit of gaming at the con. I didn't try the escape room this time."

[Kakita Haruhi]

"I really enjoyed the role playing game, though our quest struggled. But it was very poignant and exciting. And I learned more about the backstory of my character I am going to play tonight! My vampire princess has become an evil vampire queen!"

"Sumiko and I did some computer research on the jimen tori. It's really interesting stuff."

"The jimen tori are sometimes seen ascending the mountains. For Mount Jinsei, they lived for a time in the caldera at the top, and then come back down. For Mount Nakahama, though, they would be seen going up and never coming back down. It is believed that the blessed birds ascended to the heavens. Alternatively, they suicidally jumped into the lava. Or, there is possibly a cave that they enter that leads to hidden water. But none have gone up Nakahama for a long time."

"Jinsei is a good nesting environment for them, we think. Maybe not special in the sense of extraordinary. But a decent option. They'll eat any fish."

[Susumu Sumiko]

"I heard many necks were offered in the rise of the Vampire Queen" Sumiko offered with a small laugh "mine may have been risk if I was more than a mere volunteer."

She took a moment before continuing.

"Hai the jimen tori are nesting in the mountains. I think they may have preferred the other mountain which might have caves which create both a warm environment for raising young and also have water within. However that habitat has been damaged by the building of the touring platform by Mount Nakahama, and I imagine the hotel didn't help either" there was a small look at Kiyoshi before she looked onwards again.

"Mount Jimen should be safer and meeting more criteria than Mount Nakahama now. Plus I don't think exploring unmapped caves on an active albeit volcano would be smart without local guides."

[Agasha Sorato]

Sorato's lips quirk at the two women's account of their roleplaying game adventures during the con. "I tried my hand at those role game tables, too, but I might not be invited back. It's not easy improvising lines with no notice." He shakes his head ruefully. "Maybe I need more practice."

He listens with interest to the description of the jimen tori's habits. "Mount Nakahama is active, and a lot of it is rough trail or no trails at all. I went up two days ago--we ran into the security services on patrol, making sure no one strayed from the public areas. Apparently they have to rescue people out there from time to time." He rubs his cheek, thinking as he walks. "Caves are likely enough in a volcanic peak. Might be ecologically interesting. But we'd need to ask permission. Or forgiveness," he adds, deadpan.

[Kakita Haruhi]

"It is interesting that the walkways and development have maybe gotten in the way for the jimen tori. If we could find a wonderful hidden place for them, it won't do them any good if they can't go there. They'd need a route. A sanctuary."

"But I believe several of you are expert at arranging animal sanctuaries. There is a whole bureaucratic side to it. And making the case for it."

"Who would give permission to explore the caves? The governor?"

[Kitsune Kiyoshi]

"She probably could. But, she'd need convincing. If any of us were hurt, it coukd cause trouble for her." Kiyoshi responded.

[Agasha Sorato]

"Straight to the top?" The corners of Sorato's lips curve upward. "If we went in to look around a little without getting into any scrapes, I'd guess no one would care, permission or not. To make a proposal for a wildlife corridor or anything of that kind, though, you would have to get access openly."

He shrugs, spreading the long, blunt fingers of one hand in a 'letting go' gesture. "I've found that as long as you're prepared and don't make trouble for anyone, no one much minds if you go into wild areas. It's needing to rescue people that causes annoyance."

[Kakita Haruhi]

She nodded.

"It might be best to bring some who are protective types. Though a smaller group may draw less attention. I really am supposed to be out here looking for birds. I have a list of five more native birds to look for."

"The main thing would be staying out of trouble. But I think you naturalists might be able to keep an effective watch for sign of larger creatures. Better to just avoid startling or upsetting any creature that might attack. And I think the jungle is much worse than either mountain. If I understand the warnings I've been given as I looked at maps."

[Kitsune Kiyoshi]

"Most animals here should avoid us, even predators." the Kitsune said. "The jungles is a bit different. Creatures there have been driven deeper as the areas around the jungles are developed. I'm sure some people have explored it, but not as many as have visited the mountains. So jungle animals may not be as inclined to leave humans alone. And, of course, there are more ways for dangerous animals to hide in the jungle."

[Agasha Sorato]

"And more ways to get into difficulty than animals," Sorato adds... possibly from experience. "Especially on a mountain. Bad footing, slides, tree roots, heat exhaustion--those probably call for at least as many rescues."

Meanwhile, he ambles on upward pacifically, looking at ease in a way that belies all such disasters. Of course, today the four of them are on a clearly marked trail with company and plenty of water, which minimizes several potential causes of trouble right away.

"One might ask the Earth spirits up there about caves. Sometimes they're willing to help locate things like that." Another shugenja might also suggest asking Air spirits, but Sorato is out of that habit.

[Kitsune Kiyoshi]

"There may be anomal spirits who can tell us more as well." He nodded.