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Post by Daidoji Kousei on Mar 12, 2014 23:26:36 GMT
"That depends, Kenshin-san, on whether you are a skilled tracker or not. If there's a chance we can find Ishihama-sama then we should meet the magistrates elsewhere."
Kousei led the Hiruma through to the last place he had seen the Otomo. "The last time I saw him, he was on the floor here. What do you think?"
The Crane was hoping against hope that the kami had sent the right person to him at the right time.
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Post by The Storyteller on Mar 13, 2014 13:34:07 GMT
POSTING AS: Otomo Ishihama He nodded in agreement to putting everything to paper. He sat down at the desk, and began writing. He wrote about the group of merchants who had come to him. Their desire to make sure that they were profitable, even in a time of peace, their desire to make more money, to make sure that their families, and interests were taken care of. He wrote down four names. Azula, a merchant in the Dragonfly lands, with familial connections to merchants in the Burning Sands. Koru, a Tortoise Merchant, who worked exclusively in spice trading, and the most likely culprit behind the current Pepper Price gouging, and pepper shortage in the Crab Lands, that was hanging over the events of the current wedding. Xiang-Do, a Clothier merchant from the Unicorn Lands, who had become the "go to" merchant shortly before Winter Court, as he had the finest selection of cloth in the Empire. And Murime, a Crab Stone trader. He had provided stone for the wall, imperial castles, towns, fortifications, and much more. Ishihama then wrote about his last meeting, with Koru and Xiang-do, here in Crab Lands just after Winter Court. This is when Ishihama realized that something was amiss. Koru had devised a plan to triple the price of Pepper, before the wedding of the Wind in Crab Lands, knowing that pepper was a favored spice in Crab cuisine, and that the clan would pay. Xiang-Do, had been looking to find a way to become not just the "go to" cloth merchant in preparation for the wedding, but the ONLY cloth merchant from outside of the Crab Lands that would be present in town. Their tactics had switched from simply making money, to outright extortion, and there were veiled comments about riots, work stoppages, shipment delays, Bandit Attacks and other such underhandedness to ensure that their ideas were met. As Ishihama finished writing. He folded his hands in front of his head, and rested his forehead against them. "I hope you realize, daughter of Bayushi, from my perspective, it looks like the merchants are gaining power. This isn't something that can result in a war. If the Samurai were to openly war with the citizens of Rokugan, the only thing left, will be an empty husk of an empire."
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Post by Shosuro Himitsu on Mar 13, 2014 20:50:04 GMT
The Shosuro did not look over his shoulder deliberately, but some of the details would catch her eye as she waited. She would not pace, would not move unnecessarily, her mind ever churning in one of many directions. Her brow furrowed as she looked to him, "What could you have possibly expected from telling the first samurai to give you an ear. You think that they would somehow have been able to avoid the very thing you fear?"
Her eyes would narrow savagely, her accidental rhyme wasn't something of bemusement in the least. She had the information she needed, his life would be forfeit and there wouldn't be nearly as much loss for one less flapping jaw in the empire. The Shosuro's commanding presence loomed closer as her soft silent steps brought her over his shoulder from where he was writing. There was blood in her eyes, blood from countless murders of her own doing, blood from her own parents still ever fresh in the mind's eye. A blade slipped into her hand as easily as flexing a finger.
The sound of a thick thread being cut was all that was struck, but in her other hand a bottle would have also taken shape. She reached out with the binding to hand it to him. "Ensure that the words are secure." Watching as he would be able to easily tie and knot the script tightly. Much more secure than just a wax seal to see if anyone had violated the message, the bindings would make it difficult for anyone to casually read, and it was quicker and looked less important than a wax sealing as well.
Her other hand slipped into view, a small corked vial in hand hiding the color and nature of the contents as a sloshing sound could be faintly heard, placing it on the desk before him as she swapped it for the documents he'd just finished. "This medicine will put you to sleep for a time, and I can assure you that when you awaken you'll be far from here and safe." There was sincerity behind the Scorpion's words, but they were somewhat veiled. If he refused, if he panicked and ran or started to sputter about she was going to have to do what she only left as a last resort or unless she had no other choice. She took a few paces from standing atop him towards the door to be less intimidating, showing him her back as she could easily anticipate any foolish attempt to attack or escape. "I strongly advise you cooperate as you assured me, Otomo-san."
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Post by Hiruma Kenshin on Mar 15, 2014 11:44:04 GMT
Kenshin followed the Crane to where he last saw the Otomo. He starts talking to himself as he walks to the back of the room. "Daidoji-san and the Otomo came from the back. The Otomo didn't leave through the front, left one his own? No, he was afraid for his life didn't even want to be left alone." The Crab leaves the main room and heads to the back. "No signs of struggle in the back. No drag marks, he walked out on his own.".
He stops and asks the Crane "Did he mention meeting someone here?". Before the Crane could even open his mouth Kenshin shakes his head and answers his own questions "No, no, of course not. Couldn't trust anyone else and he came to the meeting alone. If he had someone he could trust he wouldn't seek the Crane. He probably didn't meet Daidoji-san at the inn. Had to make sure he was alone. This probably isn't a place the Otomo would go to, wouldn't want to be recognized. Came here on a whim? No reservation then. They were followed here."
Eyes racing through the closed doors he dismissed the possibility the Otomo was in one of them. Whoever abducted the Otomo could not have had time to prepare a room. Through the kitchen and out the back? He yells back and the Crane while he runs for the exit. "What are you waiting for Daidoji-san?! Quickly, they couldn't have gone far. They can go only as fast as the Otomo can run."
Kenshin stops running as he exits the geisha house. Turning around, he tries to see if he can see anyone being carried off, being helped or any carts that could have been used to transport the Otomo. He turns around to face the geisha and takes note of the buildings beside it and cocks his head sideways. Would they?
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Post by Daidoji Kousei on Mar 17, 2014 0:33:11 GMT
As they ran through the geisha house Kousei couldn't help wondering if Ishihama was playing some kind of double bluff, but as Kenshin's logic seemed sound. He hated the idea that they had been followed as he had been keeping an eye out, so whoever had been trailing them had obviously been highly skilled.
He looked around for passers by. There were quite a few out, and Kousei stepped in front of one of them and described Otomo Ishihama. "Have you seen this man? He was likely with one or more other individuals?" The samurai he was addressing looked puzzled. "No Crane-san, I've seen no one of that description. Mind you, I have had my mind on other things."
Fighting back despair, Kousei turned to Kenshin. "You look pensive, Kenshin-san. What are you thinking?"
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Post by Hiruma Kenshin on Mar 17, 2014 15:00:10 GMT
Kenshin turns to look at the Crane before he replies. "I think Kousei-san, that before we start running all over the city looking for Otomo-san we should first start looking at the closest hiding places." He gestures to the two buildings beside the geisha house. "I am not a gambling man but I feel they couldn't have gotten far, yet."
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Post by The Storyteller on Mar 17, 2014 23:52:53 GMT
Posting as: Otomo Ishihama The Otomo was scared, but not of death. He was sure that he was going to die. He was sure that his failings had been his downfall. "I don't know Daughter of Bayushi. I know that I don't fear death. I expect it. And if I live through this, once the empire is safe, I will rid itself of my existence." He took the bottle from her, and looked at it. "I'll cooperate. I promised that. And I can't in good conscience think of a reason to not." He took the vial, and drank it. He placed the bottle on the table, and was woozy before he had even taken his hand off of it. His vision blurred, and sounds began to ring hollow. As he lost consciousness, he felt himself slipping deep. "Rokguan's future will be...." and he was out.
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Post by Shosuro Himitsu on Mar 18, 2014 1:52:44 GMT
She would let the poor creature fall, down he went, limp as a bean. The thought crossed her mind to try and catch him as he fell, but at the same time she had no overwhelming urge to defend this one. He was not going to perish from a little bump on the floor. She tucked the note away, gathered up his body, exchanged his clothing with another patron who had left his on the line to dry. What a strange day it would be for the one who found his common clothes to be replaced by Imperial quality.
She'd cut his hair, alter his appearance and so on, he would likely be feuding about it when he awoke on the road to the nearest Scorpion safe house but he should really be grateful he didn't have to be killed. Stupid self sacrificing lout that he was, the Imperials would owe her for this courtesy.
So by discreet means he was taken from the city. (And that concludes my participation in this thread.)
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Post by The Storyteller on Mar 19, 2014 1:23:53 GMT
Epilogue If, Kousei, and Kenshin would like to finish up the thread, to RP out what I'm about to post, have at it, there are some things that you could add, if you so choose.
Ishihama was indeed irritable about the hair cut, and the clothes, but in more of a sulking manner. He was almost sad when he awoke. He had half expected the draught to kill him.
Kenshin and Kousei will find that the city can give them several clues as to who was Ishihama was afraid of. Several of the Merchant's plots are beginning to unfold in this city at this very moment, and are taking shape, even without the aid of the Otomo. There are several people in the city that will want him dead, and may offer to "aid" in finding him, so that they can kill him. Of course... They wouldn't be so forthright about their desire to plunge a blade into his back.
[ooc]
Depending on how Himitsu wants to play this out, she can choose one of the following:
Sworn Enemy: If you choose to reveal the merchant's plot, you will be awarded the Glory to purchase- Sworn Enemy
Or
25 Favors: If you choose to keep this information hidden, you will receive a bundle of 25 favors, that can be used in RP to gain advantage in a situation where having friends in low places would be advantageous.
[Kousei] If you so choose to contact the Otomo about the situation, and reveal what happened, we can have a small RP continuation of this. With such a grand wedding going on right now, it is obvious that Ishihama would not be the only Otomo in town. Let me know. It would be a closed RP.
[Kenshin] If you wish to continue searching the city, that is fine, and we can have something interesting happen for you. Don't feel that you can't have fun because you got in the action late. We can make some interesting "hook" for you as well.
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