Moto Arandaru
Unicorn Clan
Posts: 199| Likes: 103
In Kyuden Seppun, eager to find a way to save the Empire!
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Post by Moto Arandaru on Apr 2, 2014 12:35:42 GMT
PLAY AS HIDA REIHA, THE KOLAT ASSASSIN/ YASUKI KANEKA, THE WIND OF WAR
Reiha fell with her back on the floor as she tumbled over the bed, forcing the ceremonial decorations to scatter away like autumn leaves. These decorations were meant to soothe and relax the bridal couple's spirit, offering them an easy moment of intimacy. However, the atmosphere right now was anything but "intimate" and "soothing".
Satomi was pinning the Hida warrior down, having her in a nicely performed lock that even a sumai wouldn't manage to. Reiha's eyes shifted as she tried to heave the Kaiu warrior. She felt a pain in the back from the weight that Satomi was putting in her effort to contain the Kolat assassin.
In the middle of the room, Yasuki Nozomi was laying in a pool of her own blood. The magnificence of its crimson color would contrast with the brutality of this act. Her eyes were ajar, as she was looking to the ceiling, or even perhaps over to the majestic realm of Tengoku.
In an instant, Reiha let a horrific shriek! "Noooooooooo!" as her throat produced a horse sound, perhaps of the severity of her pain.
Satomi had the woman in a deadlock, but she hadn't her waist guarded as properly.
Reiha felt as if a stream was washing her away... A stream of agitation, regret, hormones and blood....lots of blood. For while Hida Reiha had proven to be a stout and determined warrior, enduring the hardships of the task assigned to her, her own son, the young Hida prince couldn't withstand that and ...he let go.
Satomi was the first to see that Hida Reiha had a miscarriage as well as Reiha's horrific expression. She acted as if she was staring at Fu Leng, just behind Satomi's shoulder. But she was totally in control now. Her eyes went from blank back to normal and it seemed that even the most mind-bending Kolat technique paled in potency towards a regretful mother's sorrow. And then the Hida daimyo would simply let go of herself...sobbing like a baby, totally indifferent whether she was losing face or not.
The guards had put the fire under control, but they wouldn't dare to interefere. Kaneka stood motionless, glaring at the woman as he spoke.
"Rise up." he said, throwing a glance at Satomi that explained most. He was a man that he needn't use petty words. "You've decided to let my own flower go and simply cut her off. Just as you did with the Shogun's own son. I don't care. In honor of Kakita Kaiten-sama's memory, the most perfect opponent that I'd bested in my life, I intend to give you a warrior's death."
He grasped his sword. "Prepare to die". And as both of them felt the weight of the world on their shoulders, the moments seemed like hours. The end was coming soon...
PLAYING AS MITSURU, THE GEISHA
Mitsuru had thrown the dirk over to the Asako daimyo, trying to buy some time. As long as the daimyo proved flexible enough to dodge it, Mitsuru managed to run on the opposite side. She knew many things that many a samurai would be glad to inquire and thus she wished to vanish as quick as she could. She ascended the wooden stairs caressing her hollow canine on the way.
Chisato, you may try to pursue Mitsuru. If you do so, she has a score of Air (3) + Initiator (1) + Kolat Agent (1) = 5.
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Post by Shosuro Himitsu on Apr 2, 2014 14:01:18 GMT
With a hiss in her mind the Shosuro had been watching all the movements play out with a trained eye, the clashing the scattering the rampant movements of these women and this man, all the while another lay in a pool of her own blood. The loss of a child meant so very little to her now, the intended target had been kept safe so her mission was a success, but now she faced another difficulty as her gaze was focused down.
The life slipping away from her like the water draining from the limbs of a plant, this Yasuki was bound to be fading fast, the wound was absolutely critical and without immediate care she would be dead for certain if her fate wasn't already sealed. But this is not your purpose... She told herself, This woman is an innocent bystander, there will be many more women after her of course.
There was a tremor in the Scorpion's mind as Yasuki Nozomi's gaze ascended and their eyes met. A woman now denied the chance to continue her new life with her beloved, from a moment of quiet and affection now to fatalistic realization. For a long moment, mere seconds to most, they were stare into one another, the mind of the governess swirling as she looked down to her. This was far from the first she would have watched die, yet she could feel a pain for this woman, and she had to shove it down. To lunge now would reveal herself from that position, it might end up being the distraction that killed Kaneka when his back was turned on his new wife.
This meeting of souls, whether the Yasuki could actually see her or not felt like a tug on her very essence. The ruthlessness and capabilities of the Scorpion were intended for wrongdoers, not the innocent, she would slaughter anyone who got in her way as needed. But Kaneka was safe, the assassin subdued, this woman was literally just the unlucky victim.
As they looked to each other, it was the Scorpion who broke her gaze first, resolved in what next she set herself to do.
(Stealth move vs the room's inhabitants. 1 Initiator , 1 school, 1 ninja, 1 ancestor, 5 for fire. Total of 9)
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Post by Asako Chisato on Apr 2, 2014 14:06:00 GMT
Chisato was stunned, what the hell was going on here?! The dirk managed to dig into his arm. He recalled an encounter long ago, and prayed that he hadn't just been poisoned, he looked down at the body of Kousei. This is very bad...
He snapped his head back as he heard screams and more from down the hall. He had to make a choice.
That bitch just stabbed you, Chisato. Go get her.
"Hey! You! Get back here!!"
He yanks the blade out of his arm and chases after her, he knows he was running out of time, he had to assume he was poisoned. So instead he halted, started at her retreating back, stilled his breathing, and with a power he had not tapped since he challenged his old foe Shosuro Yaki, he found his center, and threw the dirk at her, aiming for her back.
((OOC: this is a stretch but... I can tie her with Void 4 and phoenix clan magistrate 1=5 Center stance snipe!
Also, I don't want to assume the blade is poisoned, but I will let gm determine what happens to chisato next!))
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Bayushi Satomi
Unwanted Betrothed
Scorpion Clan
Posts: 1,080| Likes: 322
Rings: Earth 4 * Fire: 5 *Air 3 * Water 1 * Void 3
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Post by Bayushi Satomi on Apr 2, 2014 15:17:29 GMT
Satomi stepped away, not because she feared Kaneka (something she didn't at all) but because he deserved to look Reiha in the eyes. But when he mentioned his intetions, the Kaiu general spoke quietly, behind his shoulders.
This is what your enemies wish, Lord Kaneka. Her death by your hands, or your death by her hands, either way is victory for them. Don't do it. Let me take her to a shugenja. Justice will be made. Later.
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Post by Kurimuzon Te on Apr 2, 2014 23:05:42 GMT
Striding to the fallen bride Te kneels at her head. Knowing that there was very little he could do would not stop him from trying what he could. He quickly undoes his belt, folding it over and over until he has a thick pad. He carefully draws out the broken tanto and immediately covers the wound with his belt, trying to stop the bleeding, it's not much but he hopes it is enough to keep her alive long enough for the crab guards to bring a more competent healer. Standing, he walks over to stand beside the bed where Reiha lay. Staring down at her he was unaware that he kept clenching and opening his crimson stained hands.
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Post by Shosuro Himitsu on Apr 3, 2014 1:29:53 GMT
Stabilized for now, but the Shosuro would descend upon the woman like a darkened vulture from the ceiling. Her presence was soft now, her feet landing as though a feather had fallen, but in that brief motion she had done more than she would ever speak of. The Scorpion's hands upon the woman's grave wounds, the guards would likely be stunned by her sudden and strange presence as they gathered their wits about them.
Mere moments would linger into something strange, surreal as the dark eyed woman looked to the Yasuki who seemed to still be trying to cough up the blood in her throat. The Shosuro's hands became quickly saturated in the blood and she never stopped watching her as she held her then and there. There's a good chance she'll bleed out, there's not much time.
A thought pained her from a previous evening though, making her flinch along with the sharp sensation now plunging into her own wrist. Her former superior's words echoing in her mind as he tormented her yet again.
A wax symbol of two people together in his quaking palm, a common fortune telling trick of the courts. "A symbol of two lovers, there is something coming for you my dear. But you know already that such a happening comes with great risk."
To think, the peril I was to face was not for myself. I should not be so selfish... Her eyes would come to rest in an elongated blink as she felt the pain sink into her mind and stir her back from her revelry. Looking down she would instead churn up old memories, forbidden memories that she had promised never to use. And yet now without them she was bound to die. One soul for one life.
Finally what she needed to conceal the most trembled off of her lips. "I call to you, I give myself freely. The essence of life to restore life.." Her voice barely above a whisper, using the blood of the fallen woman to conceal her own fresh wounds. An offering. A darkness seemed to creep into her own shadow as those most sensitive to the presence of evil would note a sudden ill shift in the wind, the kansen had come as she had tasked.
Again she breathed as though speaking to a lover, tender and quiet, intimate and restrained, "I accept your offer." Plunging the blade a bit further as she heard a hiss in her mind. The wounds on the woman would close as her life would be returned to her, but the price for such healing was something beyond mere effort. With the blood saturating skin, clothing, floor, and all around them it would still be difficult to tell what had been done, save for if the Yasuki were to jump to her feet. The Shosuro would open her eyes and look to her, any expression hidden behind a tightly bound mask. A trembling in her hands as she saw the work she had done.
(The stealth check I did will apply to her whispering Maho.)
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Post by The Storyteller on Apr 4, 2014 12:55:08 GMT
@chisato
Mitsuru should know better than running with a long layered kimono isn't that easy, and that's proved to be a big mistake. Her leg's movement soon proved ineffective and even the weight of the robes caused her to slow her pace in the mazelike stairs of the secret corridor. When Chisato threw a dirk at her, repaying her action, he had a better target. The dirk hit her in the back but part of its impact and piercing capacity was cushioned by the dozen of layers of a full festive geisha kimono and the elaborate bow of her obi. The kolat agent, however, felt some of the impact and the dagger's edge perforating her flesh. With a muffled "ufh!", she tumbled forward, stumbling in the steps of the wooden stair. The woman fell through the steps of the ladder, losing control of her body. It was indeed a horrible scene to witness. When her body finally reached a transition between floors, it seemed more a ragdoll than a human body.
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@satomi (and everyone in the chamber)
Kaneka narrowed his eyes, contracted his muscles in displeasure with the mere idea of giving up his revenge and listening to the Kaiu General's advices. His blood-headed demeanor was thirsty for blood; he wasn't marrying willingly, and finding Nozomi such an interesting and beautiful spouse was a great surprise. She even grabbed her sword to fight by his side against the invader; that crazy pregnant bitch Reiha! A kolat! But something else ran through his mind. The destiny of an innocent baby. This he knew better. He was saved in the womb of his mother. Looking into Reiha's eyes, he understood her despair, her watered eyes seemed to beg to his soul: "KILL ME!" Even his ruthless nature was shaken by the realization that, somehow, he could try to repay his own opportunity to be born, sparing Reiha's life by now. Yasuki Kaneka stepped back, showing his disgust while he spat the words: Save the Shogun's son, if you can.
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@everyone in the bridal chamber
It wasn't necessary, though, since the news of an attack to the bridal chamber and the Kaiu general and an Iron Crane were chasing Hida Reiha through the castle's corridors came to the Emerald Champion's and the Shogun's ears. In minutes after the break out in the bridal chamber, Yasuki Hachi, accompanied by Bayushi Sunetra (with who he was talking minutes later) ran upstairs with dozens of soldiers. Hida Kuon was made aware as well, and followed after them. What they saw were not easy to understand at a first glance, but soon the upper floor was completed taken by soldiers. Kuon roared his anger, running to his prone bleeding woman and pushing away everything and everyone in his way.
What do you think you're doing, crazy woman?!! He bellowed to Satomi. Seeing Satomi holding a bloody sword and his woman with a finger less and some wounds, contorting in pain, he felt the urge to kill the Kaiu woman right there and now, but the dilemma of saving his spouse and child or doing it was overbearing. Fortunately, the Asahina daimyo attending the event come forth and offered to help.
Bayushi Sunetra, discreetly behind the Emerald Champion, looked around and analyzed the scene with cold eyes. Something, though, was out of order. The Shosuro governess wouldn't escape being spotted by Sunetra. What the Scorpion was doing there was something Sunetra would love to hear. Not now, of course. Anyway, she subtly touched her own chin in a secret signal, commanding Himitsu to dismiss while it was still possible. Yasuki Hachi tried to keep his calm and composure. One of his worst nightmares (besides Kaneka becoming his family, general and subject, of course), was made true before his eyes: a tragedy in this ill-fated wedding, involving the older son of Toturi and the honor of the Yasuki family. Both men exchanged glances, tension filling the air. Hachi, though, was the responsible for this castle.
What happened here?
Ask general Satomi, she seems to know better than I what is going on. One more thing, Hachi...dono. I demand... justice. Whatever it takes, I'll have it.
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@everyone in the bridal chamber, specially the Kurimuzon and Himitsu
In the pool of blood, surrounded by guards, a monk and a strange and discrete figure, Yasuki Nozomi opened her eyes with a frightening scream: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! She was returned by something evil, which caressed body and imbibed her flesh with a subtle yet disgusting energy, and she knew it. Kaneka felt a shiver in the spine, and looked back to his spouse, being tended by the monk. The crowded ambient made everything more confuse to understand the sequence of facts, and his own feelings were making him nervous and aggressive; but he turned to see Nozomi returning to her senses as a haunted poor thing, and bellowed to the crowd, angered: Are you crazy or something? What do you waiting to get medical help to my spouse???
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@ kousei@kousei
Kousei was found unconscious by the guards that followed the monk's entrance at the secret passage. Not knowing whether the Iron Crane was a hero or a criminal, the Crab guards took the him to get some medical care, and a guard was assigned to keep the Daidoji under vigilance until his status was defined. He woke up hours later, under the care of an Asahina.
OOC: All players have one more round to perform their actions before a new storyteller's intervention.
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Post by Shosuro Himitsu on Apr 4, 2014 16:18:25 GMT
The Shosuro was simple, the task done, she did not respond so much as she did act. And with a flutter of soft motion she would remove herself from the vicinity. Breezing past the Bayushi there was a flash of exchange of glances as they met side by side, Himitsu could hardly hold her nerve in the eyes of another Scorpion right then but she had to in order to ensure her resolve was still with her.
She knew there would be no end to the harassment though from her clan, her next motion was to simply go and clean herself off, clean her wound off and see a Soshi or Yogo about getting it discreetly tended to. Her features were unremarkable, her motions had been as subtle as they could be, perhaps in the chaos the memories would wash away. Yes the shrill woman could scream, but that hardly mattered, she had been saved.
And then she found herself looking at the wound as she left the area, feeling something of a cold itch right under her skin, it tingled, it was irritating and the governess found herself clenching her teeth. But it was nothing to fixate on now, she was tired and needed purification so she could sleep tonight. Tomorrow and the following days were likely to be very busy indeed.
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Post by Asako Chisato on Apr 4, 2014 16:32:52 GMT
Chisato quickly made his way past the stairs and ladder, cursing his exorbitant robes, and the gash in his arm. All the while a long piercing ringing in his head, as if something was trying to force itself to happen within his mind. He blinks, trying to force the spitting headache away as he reaches the woman's limp body. He leans in to check to see if she was still breathing, then simply passes out in pain.
But I'm not finished!!
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Yasuki Odai
Rogue, Ruffian, Rapscalion
Crab Clan
Posts: 157| Likes: 91
Of course I have what you need...
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Post by Yasuki Odai on Apr 4, 2014 20:01:28 GMT
It took every fiber of his being not to break down and scream at the nightmare unfolding before them.
The evening had been going so well. The bride and groom had been escorted off to their private suite, the Yasuki house guard had succeeded in getting rid of any whose presence was no longer wanted or required, high ranking officials aside of course, and Odai had finally found a few moments to grab some sake and relax, perhaps pursue one of the many beauties who had caught his eye over the course of the evening. Despite it, however, a shiver ran down his neck, a growing feeling of unease that somewhere, something was going horribly wrong.
Odai had risen to his feet, driven by some force; he needed to find Satomi, though why, he was not quite sure. Not moments after this, runners came bearing the words of the bloody scene unfolding upstairs to Hachi and Kuon, and the room exploded into action, with Odai only just behind his Daimyo and Shogun, hand on the hilt of his blade.
The scene they found was worse than he had imagined, and the young Yasuki needed only to look upon the blood-splattered room and its inhabitants, as well as draw from his own fears and suspicions, to determine at the very least the basic details of what had happened here. This situation was about to get very ugly, and he knew that if he did not act fast that events would continue to spiral out of their control.
Damn the Kolat, and their infuriating ability to pick the perfect moment to strike, he thought to himself as he began to skirt the back of the group, whispering instructions to several of his most trusted guards who immediately disappeared into the night. He would get to the bottom of this; he would have to, or everything that he had worked to achieve would crumble into the sea...
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Post by Kurimuzon Te on Apr 5, 2014 1:52:04 GMT
Hearing Nozomi scream out causes Te to drop back down to her side. Looking closely he sees her body shaking, in a way that would not be caused by her wounds. Extending his senses towards her, how he wished they were on the ground, he felt for further wounds. He gasps. Draws back. Shudders. There's a darkness there now, something he's never quite felt before. Clutching his staff, he whispers "there's nothing I can do".
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Post by The Storyteller on Apr 5, 2014 12:47:37 GMT
Crab and Crane shugenja arrived to help the bride, which had a last and brief opportunity to look into Kurimuzon Te's eyes before being taken to a more appropriate place in order to be tended. Her pretty eyes showed despair and confusion. Kurimuzon was probably right, very little could be done for Nozomi now. When the Crab discover her taint, she will be damned, and the sooner the better. What could be made if a tainted spouse inadvertedly was able to contaminate Yasuki Kaneka? What if she was tainted prior the already consumate wedding?
Before the anger of two hotheaded men caused a yet bigger tragedy, Yasuki Hachi acted:
All the involved will be interrogated, without exception. By now, nobody will leave the castle. To avoid unnecessary stress, I advise that all persons located in this floor prior our arrival, will be confined to their rooms until we can listen to their versions, and can have it taken into consideration. Tomorrow by the evening we'll gather to a meeting where we can deliberate about the facts.
And turning to Kaneka, he spoke, quite dryly:
You will have your justice, Kaneka-san, as the Crab clan, the House of Yasuki and the Empire have this unfortunate incident as an attempt to cause chaos and intrigue into Rokugan. I'm convoking some irreproachable elements of the Imperial legion to temporarily take care of the castle's security, as well to guard the involved and provide them the necessary safety; I don't want to have either the integrity of the Yasuki House or the loyalty of some followers of important personages questioned while we investigate the facts.
He expected that at least three persons in the room, the Shogun, general Kaneka and general Satomi, to show some hurt dignity, but he didn't care. He was not only the Yasuki daimyo, but the Emerald Champion. Noticing that weren't a good idea to let the new Shogun and Kaneka alone in the same room after such tragedy involving their spouses, Hachi asked:
I'd like to talk to you both, while the wounded are tended. There's nothing we can do now that we won't regret later.
This said, he gave a final look into the room, refraining an expression of disgust, and left, followed by Sunetra, Kaneka and Kuon, all of them with grim expressions in their faces.
As commanded by the Lord of the Castle and Emerald Champion, the guards shut down the castle until the arrival of the Imperial Legion and the required Emerald magistrates. They found the Asako daimyo passed out in a secret gallery, beside a dead body of a geisha, and he was included in the list of the officially involved, as he was seen yelling offenses at Reiha prior his sudden disappearance in the same secret passage the Iron Crane was found unconscious.
Of course, some of the important guests had mixed feelings about being enclosed in Yasuki Yashiki and indirectly involved in such tragic scandal. Some were horrified, some were indignant, and some yet, scary with the paranoid sensation of being about to get some taint or attacked by the Shadowlands. Hachi's attitude sounded temerarious, to say the least. From a celebration to the scenary of a crime, the change was sudden and traumatic to most.
Anyway, the dawn came over Yasuki Yashiki regardless these problems, and met our heroes, victims, suspects, guests and law enforcers, in the same scenary.
End of this chapter!
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