The heimin peasants who reside outside of Rich Frog have been suffering, since winter's chill began to thaw, from attacks carried out by a strange towering figure, bedecked in black armour. This warrior seems to regard the crossroads upon which he is found as his own, challenging anyone who seeks to cross it.

Initially, a group of Ashigaru and Samurai went out to drive away this meddlesome bandit, for they assumed he must be one, only to discover that their blades could not pierce his armour, nor their strikes drive him back, yet his strikes left bruises and bleeding wounds, and forced them to flee.

Word has now reached the Phoenix, who have tasked a number of their own to investigate this mysterious person, perhaps out of an unspoken fear that he may be a Maho Tsukai, or similar servant of Jigoku.

This scene is open to Phoenix Characters, with Shugenja and Bushi being particularly encouraged, though any Phoenix may join if there is space.