Bayushi Izo
Scorpion Clan
Posts: 245| Likes: 75
Rings: Earth:5 Water:4 Fire:3 Air:3 Void:1
Scorpion Hatamoto
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Post by Bayushi Izo on Jul 20, 2014 15:07:08 GMT
If the man was in anyway thrown off by their being alone he showed no outward sign internally he was quite unsure what to say or do if anything besides speak of their task.
"It is unfortunate when a crab has no crystal of his own to speak of, the duties of an Emerald Magistrate can often times be taxing on all resources, unlike a Rikugunshokan." unable to help a smirk from behind his mempo. His social etiquette had improved dramatically in their time apart or at the very least was using his best courtly voice, perhaps a tiny sign of the tension.
"They would if it was indeed smugglers, the local magistrates should have noticed an increase of illicit goods in the area.. if they were paying attention. Has the opportunity been found to speak with the local magistrates to rule that out at least?" he was convinced it wasn't smugglers, but he wasn't wrong before the ineptitude of some people in their duties was cause for more then one severe beating.
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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 Jul 20, 2014 21:28:32 GMT
Her good eye narrowed slightly when he used the opportunity to mention her personal wealth versus his low incoming as Emerald Magistrate.
About crystal, I believe you have the means and official reasons to request the substance from the official sources. I of course can finance any extra cost it may have; we don't wish to burden the Empire… however currently I don't have access to such things without good reasons and a lot of red tape.
Local magistrates? I believe there's an outage of magistrates in the area. She said, but in fact, he was the expert and should know better.
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Bayushi Izo
Scorpion Clan
Posts: 245| Likes: 75
Rings: Earth:5 Water:4 Fire:3 Air:3 Void:1
Scorpion Hatamoto
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Post by Bayushi Izo on Jul 20, 2014 22:41:53 GMT
"Ah of course Bayushi-san and I will request it through the official channels, but do not worry overmuch on the burden of the Empire. We are doing the will of the Empress after all and I doubt anyone would be keep us from that duty. We may very well be dealing with the left overs of the Fall that slipped into the ocean." referring of course to the attack on Otasan and he figured that was reason enough. "Your kindness is duly noted and I will be sure to mention that in my request."
Purposefully he cleared his throat a bit as he thought "Then I will take care of that as well, perhaps their are magistrates aplenty, but their tasks are not efficiently focused." truly whatever work he had been doing refined the crab a bit when he really wanted to be and that was usually when he was wheedling away for something.
"It appears as I have quite a bit to accomplish. If there is nothing else I had best set about doing it. Red tape seems to clear faster when a large Emerald Crab is hovering close by." that last bit perhaps just the tiniest attempt at humor.
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Kitsu Hiraku
Lion Clan
Posts: 18| Likes: 11
Rings: Earth: 5 - Water: 3 - Air: 1 - Fire: 3 - Void: 4
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Post by Kitsu Hiraku on Jul 21, 2014 0:15:54 GMT
Hiraku smiles once again "Speaking with any of the survivors is important and if you feel that you can see the difference that's great and I'll leave that to you. Because I think I would rather take a chance at speaking with some people that are... unacessable to most" he says as they reach their destination.
He introduces himself to the guards and 'explains' why they're here. Of course, no one would say they're here to ask questions to everyone since 'official imperial case related to the Dawn Tower' sounds way better.
"I think this is where we go in different directions, Te-san. I will see you tommorow, with the rest of the group" Hiraku says and then walks away from the monk and soon after that, away to where pretty much no one from the group, or the town, could find him.
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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 Jul 21, 2014 0:24:27 GMT
Interesting…
Some Crab sports the Emerald Green wonderfully… she replied,as a compliment and maybe referring on the recent ascension of the Crab in important positions within the Empire, then felt silent.
With some lucky the Dragon monk would return with the results of his inquiries, and they could have their conversation about whatever was bugging him… The other samurai, including Izo, probably would only return in the next day.
In the inn nearby, her retainers made sure everything was ready for a good night of sleep for Satomi and whatever guest she might have. She knew few would accept the hospitality of a Scorpion… But maybe the monks were above those petty and predictable things.
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Post by Kurimuzon Te on Jul 21, 2014 2:16:05 GMT
Bowing to the Lion Te branches off to the nearest place to house one of the survivors. Surprisingly, one lives not that distant from where the group had gathered. He thought that any who would survive the incidents he had read about would move much further from where they had happened.
As he gets within sight of the house he starts to shuffle his feet strangely in the dust of the street. Once they are completely covered he plants them firmly and extends his senses downward into the earth, asking the ground at his feet for help. The vibrations that come back at him almost make him step backwards before he can firm his resolve, he should know better than to do this with so many people around. Luckily, he is not able to sense anything overtly evil, sure some people have a darkness about them but they're just people. And he senses nothing like what had befallen Little Sister.
Bringing his senses back to himself he walks to the front door and knocks.
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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on Jul 23, 2014 8:41:26 GMT
It had been a stuffy day for Kasumi, stuck as she was inside the archives. It had taken her some time but she had managed to find a floor plan from the tower from the time before it was in the hands of the Tortoise. That meant it was probably not completely correct with it's current state, but it might be useful nevertheless. She had it copied so the original could stay in the archives. But she continued to look for other things. She found the same report Satomi had quoted from, which she didn't copy. There was probably more, but the problem was finding it.
She was already thinking to get back to the village, when an Otomo arrived with another paper, very fragile and almost completely faded ink. "I've found this in the back somewhere, Tsuruchi-sama," he said, "it mentions the Dawn tower." He put the paper gently in front of her. It took her a while to decipher the text. It turned out to be a report from a Phoenix Shugenja just after the issue with the tower started. It looked as if it had been written in haste, which might explain why the paper was so fragile. It seemed from what she could understand of it that the kami in the vicinity were acting strange. She decided to have it copied as well and show it to the shugenja in the group in the hope that they could understand.
All in all it was not much for a full day of searching, but it was still better than nothing. With the map and the report in a scroll satchel, she rode back to the inn where they would meet, arriving there just after sunset. She was brought back to the same room. "Greetings," she said to the people present, "I hope other people's days were more productive than mine."
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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 Jul 24, 2014 1:19:46 GMT
Satomi hoped it was just a figure of speech. She was in the same room of the teahouse, taking care of some personal letters, and dispatched them through a retainer, then the Mantis woman arrived.
Please, have a rest and enjoy some tea. Not a tiny bit of new information, Tsuruchi-san? She asked.
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Post by Kurimuzon Te on Jul 24, 2014 1:53:09 GMT
After a few hours Te was satisfied that nothing was amiss with the survivor. He had apparently been struck a horrible blow to the head during the escape and the only other survivor from that excursion had dragged him to safety. Due to the head wound he didn't actually remember anything about what had happened. Te should have left hours ago when he realized he wouldn't find anything useful, but the man's wife made excellent fish and his children amused Te with their youthful energy.
Te was about halfway to the inn that Satomi had told him about when the vibrations coming from the ground had warned him that someone was following him. After another 100 feet the followers increased their pace, so Te stopped. He put a grin on his face and turned to face his followers. Behind him were two young men with a middle aged man between them, all had swords drawn. The center man had a katana while the younger two only had wakizashi but their intent was plain.
"How may I help you this fine evening?" Te asked the men.
"Your money and your food." the center man replied. "there's nobody around to hear you and we can take them from your body if need be."
Te despised bandits. Bandits had slain his brothers in their sleep. They had killed innocents to no end. He would never be able to stop all of the bandits, but he could stop all the ones that he found. The younger two were just followers, the one in the middle was the leader and with the quality of his sword he was probably ronin as well. Te's grin grew wider, and wider. When his mouth was open wide enough Te released the Heartflame of the Dragon, directly at the ronin. The two younger men flanked him bringing their swords to bear. Te clamped his mouth shut and swung Tsuito out to his left to deflect the sword of the oncoming bandit on that side. At the same time he kicked his right foot out to his other side, aiming for the knee and connecting but taking the bandits sword into his thigh. When he snapped his foot back the bandit lost his grip on the hilt then promptly crumpled as Te's foot found the bandits nose. Spinning on his planted left foot he looked for the third man, who was now fleeing empty handed back down the street where he came from.
After testing the stability of his right leg Te grabbed the hilt of the short sword and pulled it free. Tossing it with the dropped weapon of the running man Te limps over to the smoldering body of the ronin and picked up his katana. While he had no use for it perhaps one of the others of Satomi's gathered friends could use it and the other swords. While his leg would heal quickly he doubted he would get back to the inn until the next morning.
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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on Jul 24, 2014 6:40:17 GMT
"I'm not sure, Bayushi-san," Kasumi said as she took the papers she had while tea was served, "I have found some plans. Old ones, probably from the time the tower was constructed, but they can help. I've also found a report from a Shugenja who was one of the first to investigate what happened. I don't understand half of it and it was written hastily on low quality paper, but from what I've understood the kami around the tower acted strange. I'll have to show it to Moto-san and Kitsu-san, maybe they can make something of it."
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Bayushi Izo
Scorpion Clan
Posts: 245| Likes: 75
Rings: Earth:5 Water:4 Fire:3 Air:3 Void:1
Scorpion Hatamoto
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Post by Bayushi Izo on Jul 26, 2014 16:31:57 GMT
He never understood why he always seemed to be late, his duties just always seemed ot take longer then expected and he doubted if the winds could carry him from place to place it would be any faster. His trip to the magistrates had proved... less then hospitable. The relocation of the capitol left much to be desired in the reformation of law keeping duties and the magistrates had not noticed any increased smuggling traffic. If that what true it reenforced what he already suspected. Something was truely amiss, he then spent the rest of his time searching for clues amongst the populace. Heimen eta, it didn't matter to him they all received the same general inquiries once they were done blubbering their praise and help. It was proved to be a good day overall.
He finally returned to the tea house a bit after Tsuruchi's own return. This time he did not need to ask for Bayushi as it was difficult to forge such a big man in black armor after all. Seeing Tsuruchi he bowed to the both of them before moving to take a seat "Did I miss any new information?"
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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on Jul 27, 2014 17:51:24 GMT
"I just have some maps and a text for our shugenja to study, hida-san," Kasumi said, "the maps are old and probably not completely up to date anymore, but they should be a guidance at least."
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Bayushi Izo
Scorpion Clan
Posts: 245| Likes: 75
Rings: Earth:5 Water:4 Fire:3 Air:3 Void:1
Scorpion Hatamoto
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Post by Bayushi Izo on Jul 28, 2014 1:43:16 GMT
"Ah very good. I am looking forward to seeing what everyone else found out before putting forth my own discoveries and theories. When can we expect everyone back?"
He gave a glance to Satomi from under his kabuto and gestured to a servant and ordered some food "Anyone else want something?"
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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 Jul 28, 2014 2:25:04 GMT
I'm fine thanks. Satomi said, still checking some papers. Then she raised her glance to both of them, a half smile showing she was glad to have them in the party. Surely there are reasons for their delay; unfortunately we can't wait too much, I know other duties are waiting for us elsewhere. A more practical tone, of a woman trying hard to sound not too commanding. However, it was inevitable.
Two hours more and we proceed, with or without the others.
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Kitsu Hiraku
Lion Clan
Posts: 18| Likes: 11
Rings: Earth: 5 - Water: 3 - Air: 1 - Fire: 3 - Void: 4
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Post by Kitsu Hiraku on Jul 28, 2014 19:56:27 GMT
A sound of something heavy hitting the floor could be heard outside the room that Satomi, Izo and Kasumi were in. After that another sound, something that sounded like the beggining of an angry shout but it got really quiet, really quickly. A few moments later a servant entered the room and informed the people inside that Hiraku will be with them momentarily.
After the servant left the room and told Hiraku that the group he was with was indeed still in the room he entered and bowed to everyone. He looked a little tired, but other than that not much different from when he left the room earlier "Greetings. I apologize for taking this long to come back here, but searching for information related to the tower turned out to be... problematic. I did learn a few things, but before that I'd like to drink a cup of tea, if we're not in too much of a hurry"
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