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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on Aug 29, 2014 9:21:24 GMT
Why was there an Isawa in the family line, Kasumi thought, that makes it a lot more difficult. Talent to speak with the Kami can skip a generation, and the Asahina come from the Isawa themselves. I really need that Kitsu.
She didn't say anything, but let the Shugenja do his job, casting some other spells. The child laughed some more at the for the rest of the room invisible kami. "From what I can see he is least attuned with the fire kami," Soshi Yataro said, "of course, with Isawa blood in the family line, it's difficult to use that as a base to infer an ancestry for the child. There is another ritual I can try, but that will need the assistance from at least two other Shugenja."
"The Asahina and the Tamori will send someone this afternoon, Soshi-san," Kasumi said, "I can sent them a message asking if they are willing to participate in this ritual. That way everybody with a, for lack of a better word, claim on the child is present to view the results and that way there can be no discussion afterwards."
While it was clear he wanted to do the ritual with only Soshi, he could see her point that doing it with someone from the other parties would indeed allow for an undisputed result, especially with the role of magic in the justice system. "Very well, Tsuruchi-sama," he said, "they will however need to bring a couple of things."
"If you tell me, I'll put it in the message, Soshi-san," Kasumi said, "or provide it myself if that's possible. You are welcome to stay here for dinner or to return to your quarters, as you prefer."
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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 Aug 29, 2014 11:32:45 GMT
Thousand Fortunes... Satomi noticed she once again destroyed a fan while waiting. Very well, Soshi-san, you do your call... Whatever your decision is, we'll do it. Turning to the Mantis woman, she commented:
Doesn't escape me that six great clans had a baby kidnapped... I at least didn't noticed any Mantis or Crab in the group. For all she knew, the boy could be son of one of the Samurai which returned through the Oblivion's Gate. Many decided to stay. To Satomi, options were never refuted without strong facts against it.
Tsuruchi-san, do you suspect of some sort of ritual, bloodspeaker's action, what?
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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on Aug 30, 2014 16:49:16 GMT
"There was no Unicorn child," Kasumi said, "and as to your other suggestions, I hope it's just genuine simple blackmail. But I'll inform the Jade magistrates, as maho is their job. And as they say on the Wall, it's better to be safe than sorry." She asked a couple of servants to go to the embassies of Crane and Dragon clan to request if the Shugenja they would send could come around now to perform a ritual together with the Scorpion shugenja.
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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 Aug 30, 2014 23:26:57 GMT
Satomi shrugged. That would be plain boring, the sort of thing a clan magistrate was investigating all the time. Of course it was cruel, but how many bandits would expose their identities as Kasumi told they did, if it was such a simple crime? Why try to kill a baby and not simply and merrily receive him back from the hands of his two saviors, and resume the blackmail activity when the couple turned the corner?
Well, I can check if the parents of the Bayushi boy suffered any attempt of blackmail, however of course the information will only arrive in some weeks, she nodded to her assistant, which quickly scribbled some notes and left to send messages.
Meanwhile, we rather wait here, if you don't mind.
Satomi resumed her position of calm contemplation, using the time while they waited to think in some of the several problems she had to solve. The soothing sound of the Soshi shugenja running his beads through the fingers almost made her to wish to have her own nenjo with her today. But she had a new purpose for the jade beads from a future time; she was keeping it for Takaiā¦
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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on Sept 1, 2014 9:23:17 GMT
Kasumi arranged for some tea and snacks for the Scorpion delegation, while they were waiting for the others to arrive. She also sent out some servants to get the items Soshi Yataro had requested. The Tamori arrived first, with a Kitsuki diplomat and a Miromoto yojimbo and after the greetings were exchanged, he went to confer with his Soshi colleague. the Asahina arrived not much later and also went almost immediately to confer with the two others, while the Doji diplomat did the talking to Kasumi and Satomi and the Kakita was standing at the door, watching. The three shugenja started their preparations, most of which was incomprehensible to Kasumi.
"Tsuruchi-sama," Soshi Yataro said after a while, "we have finished our preparations, but we require privacy for the ritual itself. Only the three shugenja and the child can be present." "As you wish, Soshi-san," Kasumi said, "how much time do you think you will need." "About one hour will be sufficient," the shugenja replied. "Very well," Kasumi said, turning to the others, "I suggest we retire to one of the other meeting rooms. I can provide a light lunch while we wait for the ritual to finish."
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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 Sept 1, 2014 9:58:19 GMT
Satomi complied, there wasn't much she could do there anyway... I'm not putting any controversy with you Yataro-san, but if things went wrong and you guys end up conjuring an oni, I wouldn't be there. Half jokingly she said, but Yataro showed more humor than she expected. Joining the others in he adjacent room, hoping that, at least, the Doji could gag with the snacks and shut up.
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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on Sept 2, 2014 7:16:24 GMT
The three shugenja started their ritual. The child, which was present, laughed at the pretty colours swirling around him.
In the other room, the Doji diplomat did talk less as food was served, but he did continue to talk. Kasumi let him, as maybe he did let something slip that could be useful. She was sure Satomi was doing the same thing. They did hear some noises coming from the room with the shugenja, at one point even the crying of the child, but this was to be expected. Kasumi had put two guards before the room, just in case, but they turned out not to be needed.
About an hour later the three shugenja were lead into the room where the others were sitting, followed by the wet nurse with the child. "The ritual has been successful," Soshi Yataro said, "it is our finding that the boy is Asahina." The two others nodded at this. "Very well," Kasumi said, "then this case is solved and the child is the son of the Asahina Daimyo. Asahina-san, you can take the boy with you immediately or come and collect him in the coming days, should you have to make some preparations, as you wish."
"I'll take him with us immediately," the Asahina shugenja said, "we have brought a wet nurse with us." "Very well," Kasumi said. Next she turned to the other two delegations. "Please convey my apologies to the parents of the missing children in your clan," she said, "for giving hope where there was none. Please assure them that we will continue to look out for their children."
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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 Sept 2, 2014 12:29:03 GMT
What? Son of Asahina Sekawa, the Jade Champion? Maybe shemisworded it _ it's probably a hatamoto, karo or the such. Sekawa wasn't yet married, right?
However, if not the tragic fact that the Bayushi child was still missing, this intriguing news would be better received.
Thank you Tsuruchi-san. We are doubling our efforts to find the little Bayushi. Our children are what is more important for us. Saying so, she bid them farewell and departed with her Scorpion companions.
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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on Sept 4, 2014 6:51:10 GMT
Soon the others had also departed, leaving Kasumi with the wet nurse. "I really started to like the little one, Tsuruchi-sama," she said. "So did I," Kasumi replied, "but it's better if he is with his family." "That is true, sama," the servant replied, before bowing and leaving the room. Kasumi stayed a bit, thinking about this strange case.
One down, a couple of tough ones still to go.
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