Bayushi Satomi
Unwanted Betrothed
Scorpion Clan
Posts: 1,080| Likes: 322
Rings: Earth 4 * Fire: 5 *Air 3 * Water 1 * Void 3
|
Post by Bayushi Satomi on Jul 28, 2014 20:45:46 GMT
Uhn, what is this? Lion shuggies falling from the sky? She wondered, raising an eyebrow, after Hiraku's arrival. However, questioning about the particularities of his transport methods would be totally impolite.
Of course. Take your time and refresh yourself, Kitsu-san…
Satomi motioned the servant to fill another cup of tea to the Lion shugenja, then he was dismissed.
I hope "problematic" doesn't mean you were attacked or something like this…
|
|
Kitsu Hiraku
Lion Clan
Posts: 18| Likes: 11
Rings: Earth: 5 - Water: 3 - Air: 1 - Fire: 3 - Void: 4
|
Post by Kitsu Hiraku on Jul 28, 2014 22:29:19 GMT
Hiraku sat down and took a slow sip of the tea after which he breathed out slowly "Oh no, not at all Bayushi-san. If that was the case then my search would be dangerous instead of problematic"
He takes another sip of the tea and continues talking "I have left speaking with the survivors that stayed here to Te-san while I tried to find the spirits of the samurai that guarded the tower or one of the unfortunate souls that tried to explore it for a reward"
Another sip and he puts down the empty cup on the table "And I found neither. This convinced me that what can be found in the tower is not simply criminals or shugenja" he said and slowly turned the cup round and round with his hand "The other problem was finding someone to ask more questions to. The families of the guards are, I presume, already in the realms where the honored dead travel and the men that tried to go into the tower before us..."
"Well, the dead were living humans before they died. And as such, they would rather not talk about their failures. Or when they do, they talk about them in a way that presents them as heroes and great fighters not cowards and incompetent people. Oh, I did learn about the monsters in the tower. All kinds of monsters. Ghosts, zombies, oni, gaijin, sea monsters, ogres and many, many other things. And so, the problematic part was finding the truth in what they said, and without angering or annoying them." Hiraku took his hand off the cup and instead put it flat on the table "From what I learned, I can guess a few things. One possibility is that the ghost were bound to the tower by their anger and kept from moving on and since they had no way to forget it they are now violent to anyone that moves near the tower"
Hiraku really hoped it would only be that "The other possibility is that whoever betrayed the guards also somehow... how should I say it... corrupted the area near the tower, making it difficult for the kami to act there and also binding the ghosts to where they died. But the way of this corruption would be one that does not require jade to protect from, so I am not sure how to prepare against it. What I do now is that removing the source of it would probably get rid of out problem."
"There is one other possibility that I can think of. There are... certain creatures that enjoy torturing the souls of the dead, and keeping them from going where they should. If that is the case then I will know exactly what to do and I will inform all of you"
|
|
Bayushi Satomi
Unwanted Betrothed
Scorpion Clan
Posts: 1,080| Likes: 322
Rings: Earth 4 * Fire: 5 *Air 3 * Water 1 * Void 3
|
Post by Bayushi Satomi on Jul 28, 2014 23:21:03 GMT
Oh, it's quite interesting, Kitsu-san. So our predecessors' souls diverge about their experience into the ruins… I believe we shall be prepared for the worst. Our friends also have some information…
What do you found, Izo-san? Mind to tell us?
|
|
Bayushi Izo
Scorpion Clan
Posts: 245| Likes: 75
Rings: Earth:5 Water:4 Fire:3 Air:3 Void:1
Scorpion Hatamoto
|
Post by Bayushi Izo on Jul 28, 2014 23:46:11 GMT
Figured the food would have to wait now.. damnable shugenja. He gave a nod to the Kitsu Shugenja by way of thanking him from having to explain so much himself and reenforcing his own theories.
"Of course Satomi-san.." he paused a moment to collect his thoughts in order to make it the simplest most direct manner as speaking for long periods of time irritated him.
"Kitsu-san has reenforced my previous thoughts on the matter. It is a little known fact that the Dawn Tower also acted as a great shrine to Agasha Kasuga founder of the Tortoise clan and in attendance to the Kasuga shrine a shugenja was always present by way of protection. I confirmed it with a living relative of the Kasuga shugenja that his relative did not leave or make it out of the incident alive whichever the case may be. Given the delicate nature of the shrine and my.. close working relationship with the Jade Magistrates I can surmise that guards were poisoned in attempt to gain entrance to the shrine and retrieve some artifact, failed and summoned the creature to destroy it, leaving the shugenja to place a ward of protection of some kind to protect it from those that would defile the place for wealth or personal gain. Or on a darker note the power the shugenja required was the deaths of all the guardsman to put the ward in place which also perverted the local spirits in the area."
He paused a moment to clear his throat.
"Either way I believe an artifact of some kind is responsible either for the attraction of the great monster in the first place or the reason the spirits are restless. Of course such large dark creatures often spread the taint int heir wake and it could be a distasteful combination of angry tainted spirits on the outside and the ward of protection in the ruins. Such would be my luck." it went without saying they would have their work cut out for them.
|
|
|
Post by Kurimuzon Te on Jul 29, 2014 1:03:28 GMT
Finally arriving at the tea house Te showed no outward signs of his earlier struggle, not even a scar. His hunger was another matter entirely. Using the heartflame always drained his body and left him ravenous, as if he were consuming himself in the fires that he breathed. He hoped they had more of the broiled lemon fish.
After being introduced back into the room he bowed respectfully to the other attendees and laid his wrapped bundle on the table. "I have no use for these" he states "in truth I don't know if they are even of any quality. If any of you would like them you may have them". As he finished speaking he unwrapped the three swords so the true warriors of the group could appraise them.
"I was not able to find out anything from the survivor that I had spoken with. There was no indication that he had been possessed by a spirit as I had feared. After leaving his house however, I did find out something else wrong with this general area. I was beset upon by three bandits, the leader of which I believe to have once been a ronin. Is it possible that these bandits could be working out of the tower?"
|
|
Bayushi Satomi
Unwanted Betrothed
Scorpion Clan
Posts: 1,080| Likes: 322
Rings: Earth 4 * Fire: 5 *Air 3 * Water 1 * Void 3
|
Post by Bayushi Satomi on Jul 29, 2014 1:34:17 GMT
Te's arrival bringing the booty from his encounters with bandits was, as always, intriguing, but Satomi learned to not question monk's reasons… not all the time, at least. Anyway, maybe one of the magistrates present could provide a worthy destiny for the weapons…
What the Dragon monk said was far more interesting:
Ah, let me understand it, please, Te-san. So you "feel" the terrain? And you say there's something wrong with the area? How come?
|
|
|
Post by Kurimuzon Te on Jul 29, 2014 2:01:43 GMT
"I ask the earth and if the spirits are willing they answer. The wrongness I referred to was the presence of bandits though. We can hope that these three were the only ones in the area but I doubt it. Every group of bandits I have ever run into had a few working together in different areas while the main group and leader stayed further away from the actual action, much like an octopus using its tentacles to catch prey and feed the head."
|
|
|
Post by tsuruchi kasumi on Jul 29, 2014 6:21:27 GMT
Kasumi listened to the reports of Hiraku, Izo and Te. "I have a report from a shugenja who went near the tower when it was first destroyed and he wrote that, from what I understood of it, the kami there acted strange. Here is the report, maybe you can make more out of it." She handed over the copied report while she took a closer look at the swords Te had gathered. The katana drew her attention. "This tsuba is Yoritomo craftmanship," she said, "maybe I can ask around to see where it comes from."
|
|
Bayushi Satomi
Unwanted Betrothed
Scorpion Clan
Posts: 1,080| Likes: 322
Rings: Earth 4 * Fire: 5 *Air 3 * Water 1 * Void 3
|
Post by Bayushi Satomi on Jul 29, 2014 13:31:31 GMT
Uhn… my only desire is that "the head" is not an actual "head"… Satomi said, pondering about Te's musings.
We finally discarded the inexistent of violent non-natural events in the tower. Thoughts about what we've just learned? I always found difficult to believe we're only dealing with living people trying to use the ruins of this tower as a smuggling point or the like, and for now we don't have enough proof that the bandits of the city are connected with the events in the tower… However everything can be connected, yes. We are near the Ruined City, and yes, its decay is rapidly banishing good people of its surroundings…
She heard that even the Wolf's Army was in the verge of leaving Otosan Uchi definitely, however they would still need a place to go… But it wasn't the topic now, so she focused again.
One theory we have is that the resident shugenja used the death of more than a hundred of Seppun soldiers to feed a ward spell; thus protecting the mysterious artifact hold by the Kasuga. Probably a very important one… Another theory is that they were bound to the locale by some spell; which in part corroborates the first hypothesis and the one we al agree is the weakest, tells about a bunch of vengeful ghosts defending the tower out of perceived duty.
Whatever is happening, seems to cause interest in some ronin around us; and it's probably the reason why, although I offered to pay for their services, nobody really applied, but it seems a group used the opportunity to try to get one member of our party, as soon as he was seen walking alone.
She made a movement with her head, pointing out the wall in her left. Trained ears could notice they've been spied…
Nevermind. We can deal this problem once we return… At least, it was the right thing to say when you know something else is listening. She knew that, once they return from the Tower alive and with the artifact, they were going to be graced with ronin company.
One of our fellow shugenja would do us the favor to check the plans and notes Tsuruchi-san brought us, neh?
|
|
Bayushi Izo
Scorpion Clan
Posts: 245| Likes: 75
Rings: Earth:5 Water:4 Fire:3 Air:3 Void:1
Scorpion Hatamoto
|
Post by Bayushi Izo on Jul 29, 2014 18:44:24 GMT
Izo didn't like ronin bandits.. in the grand scheme of things they were horribly boring once you've face shadowlands creatures and maho-tsukai, they also were pretty straightforward in their wants or needs. Money, power or both. this time it just seemed there were enough hanging around waiting for someone to retrieve or correct the problem at the Dawn Tower. The conversation of Otasan Uchi caused him to sneer a bit, thankfully he still had his mempo on so noone could see it.
The thought of being spied on didn't really bug him. It was something you got used to as a Magistrate and more so in his own particular fond line of work. Always some local lord, bandit king, rival magistrate, local magistrate, curious samurai, gutless ninja from a rival clan, scorned geisha, or some of about a hundred other possibilities that it could be. Just one more excuse to torture and kill people for invading his perceived privacy.
The fact there was a Yoritomo weapon in the hands of a ronin was probably the least surprising surprise of the day. Oh dear, a clan of smugglers that became a great clan then turned ronin when the Mantis had to clean up their act. Huge shocker there or at the very least who could fault the Mantis for lining their pockets further by selling weapons to ronin? He probably would never understand his cousins, but all the clans did what they had to do to remain relevant and survive. Something that was somewhat more difficult when you were not of the Left or Right.
His thoughts on the ronin matter would be left unsaid, it wasn't important and needless discussion about things you couldn't control annoyed him in the company of strangers. He did however give a glance to Satomi indicating they were no doubt in for at least one fight for the day. He may hold a more favored and senior position in the empire, but this was Satomi's show so he would just wait patiently until the business was concluded until called upon again.
Then he heard the slightest shift of movement.. oh the spy was still spying.. well that was certainly a surprise. His eyes narrowed in unrepentant fury he hated eavesdroppers. In a moment he went from sitting to flying across the room like a black streak and smashed through the wall without hesitation. If the others int he tea house weren't surprised then the man who was eavesdropping certainly was barely managing to skitter aside from behind the wall to avoid taking the majority of the blow accompanied by the spray of wood and rice paper.. scrambling the man attempted to flee only to get tackled from behind, a tanto shove through his right shoulder. The next moment he was back through the wall into the room with their little party was gathered.
"Look what I found, a little bird." he twisted the tanto in the man's shoulder "Sing our little songbird. Why are you spying on us and what do you know?" noone ever gave the crab points for subtly so he didn't bother trying for any.
|
|
Bayushi Satomi
Unwanted Betrothed
Scorpion Clan
Posts: 1,080| Likes: 322
Rings: Earth 4 * Fire: 5 *Air 3 * Water 1 * Void 3
|
Post by Bayushi Satomi on Jul 29, 2014 20:16:35 GMT
For a moment Satomi thought he wouldn't do it, but he did. Stifling a laugh, she went for the door, not wishing to discover after the "questioning" that they've been cornered in the teahouse by a gang of ronin ready to get rid of them. She was quick enough to reach the rack of weapons in the exact moment a man in grey clothes was slaughtering the guard of the Green Koi. Other customers of the inn revealed themselves as part of a gang as well, the servants just scattered away as soon as the tumult started:
The ronin was swift, and before that the guard could do something, his blood was splattered in the wall and the body fell awkwardly on teh floor. His opponent turned his back to the dying man with a smirk, assuming a stance and challenging her to come by:
Come on, Scorpion lady… Come by and take what is yours...
|
|
Kitsu Hiraku
Lion Clan
Posts: 18| Likes: 11
Rings: Earth: 5 - Water: 3 - Air: 1 - Fire: 3 - Void: 4
|
Post by Kitsu Hiraku on Jul 29, 2014 23:08:31 GMT
Hiraku reached for the notes and the plan when Hida-san decided to charge a wall. That was something rather unexpected, but what was even more unexpected was that someone was hiding behind that wall. Guess emerald magistrates notice more when it comes to spies. Then Hiraku noticed the tanto in the spy's arm, and what Izo did with it
"Now, Hida-san, I might not know as much about interrogations as you do, but I was under the impression that the living can tell more than the dead. If you were under the impression that my presence here would get rid of that problem then I'm sorry to say that it won't, and what you just did is rather bad for the health of a human."
He calmly reached for the notes and pulled them closer to himself "Now, I'm sure you'd like to talk with this bird but there does seem to be quite a commotion outside the room and I would think that leaving the 'guest' with us and going out of this room would be a preferable thing to do, since I would assume you're quite experienced in dealing with... commotions, Hida-san"
|
|
|
Post by Kurimuzon Te on Jul 30, 2014 1:10:49 GMT
Well, looks like he won't have to hunt down the bandits after they were done in the tower after all. This is much more convenient. Looking over at Hiraku Te wondered if the shugenja would be able to help in a brawl such as was just starting, or if he would be to powerful for such close quarters. Quickly glancing at Tsuito as he stands Te just as quickly decided to not use the staff, even separated it might be to big to use in the small rooms and hallways.
Intercepting the first bandit to actually make it into their meeting room, other than the one on the end of Izo's tanto, Te grabs the man with both of his hands. One on the bandit's sword arm and the other on his throat. Lifting the man Te snaps his wrist to the side quickly snapping the bandits neck. Looking out the door he sees the tea house guard having his throat slit. Maybe he will use Tsuito after all.
|
|
|
Post by tsuruchi kasumi on Jul 30, 2014 6:18:03 GMT
Kasumi put her hands in the sleeves of her kimono, just like a good samourai-ko should. But when Izo and Satomi charged out, she also stood and her right hand had a tanto in it. She was not far behind Izo. "You can go help Bayushi-san if you want," she said to Izo, "I'll keep this one under guard." From the look in his eyes she knew he had some aggression to burn out of his system, and she rather have him do it here than in the tower, where a more careful approach would probably be probably better.
"You might want to stay put," she said to the spy, "I might not be as strong as a Hida, but I'm faster and I can throw a tanto about as good as I can shoot a bow, if you think about making a run for it." She was within throwing range, but she kept her distance so he couldn't rush her. She also made sure he saw her Tsuruchi mon. The wound he had would probably cripple him for life, however short, but unless he did something stupid, it wouldn't be fatal.
|
|
Bayushi Izo
Scorpion Clan
Posts: 245| Likes: 75
Rings: Earth:5 Water:4 Fire:3 Air:3 Void:1
Scorpion Hatamoto
|
Post by Bayushi Izo on Jul 30, 2014 11:41:48 GMT
Izo had barely waited for Kasumi to finished her sentence before he grabbed a sword off the table and was out, yelling a warcry. Of course he enjoyed a good brawl, no Hida in the last thousand years didn't and the next he imagined would be no different. Violence and aggressiveness were in his blood and something he took great pleasure in. Despite what some might think would be his initial plan he charged towards the weapons rack, it surely wouldn't do to be killing ronin with anothers katana however divinely ironic it might be. Sometime however your hand was just forced as he saw a blade whipping through the air toward him and he stopped his bulk suddenly enough where it slashed in front of him. The man lost his hand in a flash of steel for his troubles and he finally made it to the weapon wrack, tossing the sword aside to pick up his Dai Tsuchi with a feral grin from behind his mempo. "Satomi-san! How dare you try to have all the fun without me." he chided her before moving to take her back. Not willing to risk some other ronin being a bastard in the middle of what appeared to be a duel in the making. With good reason too, a sickening crunch echoed in the din of the place as he staved in a man's skull in a blur of martial strength. He refrained from a laugh.. this scene was almost just like the one crane play he saw.. a fight in a teahouse. Not just for the plays.
|
|