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 30, 2014 12:16:32 GMT
Do you really think I need a big blade to take care of you? She sneered. No, but it would make things easier, of course. However, when you're not the largest girl or boy in a dojo full of Crab, you may wish to expand your options… Gratefully she had a Hida sensei who liked her singing skills and they exchanged sad songs for extra lessons on improvised brawling...
Grabbing the nearest saucer her hand reached, she threw the disc on his face. While he was busy dodging the plate, she projected herself to his midsection, and he, of course, defended, (uhn, I saw this style before…) but it wasn't her main target… She finally used her feet to sweep him from the ground, and grabbed his wrist, immobilizing the blade's hand while he sought for balance. With the left hand she reached her own blade.
Ok, I don't need it, but I like it.
No, you can have all the fun, Hida-san. she replied, once she finished her opponent. Uhn... Then she looked around, seeing Te and Izo surrounded by dying, dead or knocked out men. You guys did it already.
|
|
|
Post by Kurimuzon Te on Jul 31, 2014 1:05:17 GMT
Getting to the rack shortly after the Crab did, Te wasted no time in separating his staff into two pieces. Taking a bandit in the knee with his foot he spins to put his back to Izo's. Seeing the man try to hobble away Te brings his left hanbo swiftly to meet the man's temple dropping him unconscious. Unable to deflect the next blow he is forced to parry, the bandit's sword marring the black wood. Angered at the damage, slight though it might be, spurred Te to move faster. The hanbo striking the bandit in the forearms first, breaking the bones of both before coming together on either side of the man's head. This one dropped to the floor more than just unconscious.
|
|
|
Post by tsuruchi kasumi on Jul 31, 2014 8:52:35 GMT
As soon as the combat was finished, Kasumi checked out the opponents, letting one of the others guard the one who was wounded, but still concious. The ones who were unconscious, but still alive she had moved and bound, so they could be questioned. Then she returned to the first one, while the innkeeper and his servants cleaned up the inn. "Okay, I think it's time for you to start talking," she said, "so, what were you doing here?" At first the ronin didn't reply. "Look, we can do this the easy way or the hard way," Kasumi said, "you were trying to attack a group of samourai, including two magistrates, who are operating under an imperial edict. So we can hang you here and now if we want. If you want any hope for a lenient sentence, I think it's best you start telling us why you were spying on us and why your friends tried to attack us."
Kasumi didn't have time for political finesse and in this case it was also not needed, so she decided to brute force the investigation. The ronin told her that they wanted to know extra information, as they didn't know anything about the cause of the events in the tower. They wanted to get in themselves to claim the price he told was a gaijin "nemuranai" that grants incredible wealth to its possessor, protected by the Kasuga family by a request of the last Hantei. Kasumi had heard of said artifact during her history lessons, although she couldn't recall the name herself. Interrogating one other gave the same story. Then she went back to the rest of the group, while some local Doshin guarded the ronin.
"Okay, I have something," she said, "They are after some 'Gaijin artifact which would give incredible wealth to its possessor and they think it's kept in the tower. I've heard of it, but I don't remember the name. They didn't know anything else. Now rests the question what to do with them? We can have them executed, or we can take them with us to spring the traps."
OOC: To get information from the Ronin: air 5 + emerald magistrate 1 + right question 0.5 + eye for detail 0.5 + initiator 1 =8
|
|
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 31, 2014 12:53:31 GMT
She wasn't sure about any gaijin nemuranai of note, but that made some sense. Even more why the ronin wished it so desperately.
Thank you, Tsuruchi-san. The information will surely help us identifying the relic. Satomi said, after hearing the news. Also means the Kasuga forgot to mention the Empress she had such thing in the chest in the current situation the Empire is... After the destruction of Otosan Uchi, the Dragon-Phoenix War and the general empoverishment Crab and Lion were facing, which clan wouldn't like to have the possession of such an item?
However the Magistrate woman's last words were quite surprising… Satomi really didn't follow the recent changes in the rokugani ritsuryo, but never thought of hearing a magistrate suggesting about using prisoners to spring traps before. The idea, though, amused her imagination.
I won't underestimate the will of an angered man, so we won't be taking any prisoner of the Empire to spring traps, Tsuruchi-san.
A messenger, using Unicorn symbols, entered the inn with surprised eyes, by finding the signals of a recent fight. Clearly looking for the one-eyed woman he approached and delivered her a letter.
After reading the message, she turned to the others.
Very well. Moto-sama is coming, but it takes some hours until he arrives, so he suggests we start without him… I believe it's the right route for us; if we go now we arrive there by the noon.
|
|
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 31, 2014 21:33:52 GMT
Hiraku finished studying the notes and the map in relative peace. Sure, he had to knock down someone who decided to get too close for comfort but other than that his companions did a rather splendid job.
"I haven't heard of this artifact before and so it is good to know about it. As for springing the traps, I hope it was just some morbid humor from you, Tsuruchi-san"
He got up from the table and gathered the papers he was reading. "As for what was in the notes, it seems to affirm the theory we came up with. There is an absence of kami near the tower and those that can be found there have even their influence decreased by something that is inside the building."
|
|
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 31, 2014 23:16:55 GMT
Izo couldn't help but be disappointed at the fact.. everyone was dead. Normal people jsut lacked the stamina and difficulty of shadowlands or the tainted. He sighed inwardly and looked over to make sure Satomi was alright.. then the others.
"Good fighting monk." not sure he had caught the man's name or if he had he had already forgotten it.. such was life. He proceeded to check out the others of the crew as Tsuruchi-san interrogated the man. The results he overheard, but it changed his personal plans little. If the Tsuruchi wanted to argue she could certainly try but he was busy finishing off any survivors and executing the rest.
"Treason has only one reward Tsuruchi-san." echoing the Bayushi's statement almost. Still something about the artifact bugged him and he wasn't sure he should share his knowledge of such things with the others..
"Then let us be off before our rivals make it there first." if they had any they would no doubt try to beat them or ambush them on the way out.. such was the life of a magistrate.
|
|
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 Aug 1, 2014 11:13:55 GMT
Not long after, they arrived at the Gold Bay Eastern Bank, where once the proud Dawn Tower used to welcome the ships about to enter the most prosperous port of Rokugan. It wasn't the vision today. After the fall of Otosan Uchi, the scenery was quite gloomy; the ruins of the building as one of the many marks of an historic tragedy.
Stopping at the start of the promontory where the ruins remained isolated and blackened, the group started preparing. It wasn't like being ready to enter Shadowlands; the feeling was different, but Satomi was alert, nevertheless.
Opening the plans the Seppun borrowed her (not the ones Kasumi found in the libraries), she said:
I believe that part of the first floor collapsed, however the reports said some groups were able to reach the second floor.
We first look into the first floor, it was where the Shrine to Kasuga was located and it's quite probable that we need to look in what once were the basements… Not sure how we're going to manage that, but I brought ropes, extra force to pull out huge things, and other tools that may help us a bit. She waved in the general direction were two of her servants were waiting, along extra ponies. They'll wait here. I have hopes of not needing them, but let's see.
Practicalities said, she asked.
Let's enter?
OOC: I'm fast forwarding the thread a little bit, let me know if you wished to do something else in the inn and I delet this post. Again, although Satomi is the "leader of the party", this thread plotline, and the perils we must face in the Tower, are completely up to you guys.
|
|
|
Post by tsuruchi kasumi on Aug 1, 2014 11:44:45 GMT
Kasumi had left the ronin in the care of the local magistrates. They would see what to do with him when they came back. At the tower, she looked at her own plans and compared with what Satomi had. "I see here an entrance from one of the lower cliffs into the basement," she said, "which is not on your plan, Bayushi-san. If we can't find a way into the basement from the tower and we have a need to go there, we can always look for that entrance. It can also provide a quick exit, should the need arise. And before we enter it might be safe to do a recon around the tower. Plus our shugenja can see what the local kami, provided there are still any, can tell us about the tower."
She wasn't a coward, but it had been drilled into her that she had to check first, instead of running headlong into danger. The Tsuruchi family was too small to let that happen. "I'll go to the left," she said, putting her old map away.
|
|
|
Post by Kurimuzon Te on Aug 2, 2014 0:57:12 GMT
"Umm, collapsed you said." Te looks down at himself then over to the Crab and Lion and sighs. "I suppose what's left would be unstable then? Looks like I'll be one of the first to check the basement, the rest of you can just come down any holes I make. Do you mind if I check something first?" Not hearing any arguments and with Kasumi scouting around the structure he felt he had plenty of time. Moving his feet to coat them in dirt he plants himself and enters a trance, sending his questions downward. It took longer than normal but eventually he came out of the trance and was able to move his feet again.
"The ground itself is stable, we shouldn't have any troubles with that. It seems that there is a latticework of tunnels under us as well though I can't determine the size of them. Have you noticed anything about that on your maps?"
|
|
|
Post by tsuruchi kasumi on Aug 3, 2014 7:31:14 GMT
Kasumi walked slowly around the tower, checking it and its surroundings. What we now need is a Toritaka, she thought. They were renowned for their dealings with spirits of all kinds. But they didn't have one, so they would have to do without. She went back to the others. "I didn't see any movement," she reported, "also no tracks going in or out on that side. The vegetation looks normal to me, so probably no taint."
When Te came back out of his trance and started talking about caves, she opened her map again. "I have a few," she said, "there's that back entrance I mentioned and one or two others, but not all that many. But there are earthquakes here, so that part of the map won't be accurate as caves and tunnels would appear and dissapear with every earthquake."
|
|
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 Aug 5, 2014 12:43:57 GMT
As the Lion shugenja said already the kami were banished from this area, consulting them sounded to her a bit useless, however the Kitsu knew what to do about it and she didn't think he needed some guidance in the spiritual matters from someone like her.
She was about to say that such huge basement could wait, meaning, "don’t you think the fact one plan has more information than the other most probably means traps, hidden tunnels and of course, lots of extra entrances and exits, all things anyone who masters Kaiu techniques know how to deal with…" but while she was thinking in a nice way to say it (dammit the courtesy!), Tsuruchi Kasumi was gone, fortunately followed by the Ise-zumi. The Tsuruchi spirit was rebellious by nature, so it shouldn't surprise anyone that the Mantis woman was so quick in part ways from the main group.
Well, let's hope the connection the monk has with the earth, and the Tsuruchi swiftness are enough to spare them of mudslides or traps meant for naughty pirates and robbers.
After a quick assessment of what was left from the shrine itself, I believe we could have an idea of what is the unnatural event's source. We have about five hours until it gets too dark inside the ruins, so if you don't mind, I'd like to check it first. After that, we could decide our best course of action.
|
|
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 Aug 5, 2014 23:03:54 GMT
Grunted softly at Satomi when he realized he was going to say something to the Tsuruchi but paused to be diplomatic.
"Next time you hold back for courtesy might end up with a dead body." heck it could be this time too.. it would be hard to tell. As Crab he knew the sorts of enginering 'marvels' the Kaiu had.. hopefully none such existed.
"More then likely they will just get lost for a few days. It builds character." callous perhaps, but he had been through and survived worse.
"I agree.. though if this particular artifact appears to be what I think it is.. it needs to be taken into Imperial Custody." under supervision of high ranking people who already had more then enough wealth..
"Let us hope the both of us are up for the task of not falling into pits or getting hit with poison darts.. or my personal favorite death by beheading." pitfalls, arrows, and buzz-saws oh my. Why did he sound enthusiastic? Well he was a very odd Crab thats why.
|
|
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 Aug 5, 2014 23:29:20 GMT
Hida Izo was in great mood, most probably because he "flexed" his muscles in the teahouse fight.
She's not my subordinate, Hida-san. The only thing I can do is trust she's everything they say she is… And a bit more. She grunted back to her old friend. Also, I'd hate having to tell everything about Lady Mai's death to another magistrate… Although so many things occurred through the ten years since they last saw each other, it seems he kept the old humor… What else remained the same?
Uhn… So you have an opinion about the artifact? Mind sharing?
She gave the first step into the ruins, observing the surrounding scenery and taking mental notes about its overall safety.
|
|
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 Aug 6, 2014 0:17:35 GMT
"Bah, everyone is always more then they say they are and not always for the better either. At least the Hida blood runs through some of the Mantis line.. otherwise they might forget all about strength and get all giddy child over money like the Crane do."
He really hadn't a clue about lady mai's death, but he wasn't about to pry either.
"Yeah, every whore-son across the empire that is desperate or believes the stories is going to be after it. Most likely what those Ronin were after. Not that a guy can really blame anyone for wanting a full stomach. As for what it really is.. well the less said about it the better. There is alot of desperate people after all these wars." for once he seemed to be exceptionally condescending about the fact the clans were making war on one another time and again.
His eyes scanned the place as they proceeded into the ruins. The place was dangerous and for more then the obvious reasons and he took in a deep breath.
"This is going to take forever.. and even when we find the thing.. the Kasuga are notorious smuggler. Whole place is probably rigged to blow up with gaijin pepper." sure he might not sound like an optimist, but being prepared for the very worst had kept him alive.
|
|
|
Post by Kurimuzon Te on Aug 6, 2014 0:28:14 GMT
Te considers placing one of his large hands on Satomi's shoulder to stop her from entering. The sudden thought of him losing that hand to her reflexes made him reconsider.
"If you don't mind, I think I should go first. If the structure holds under my weight the rest of you should be safe." Looking at Izo and Hiraku he continues "maybe we should spread the three of us out."
|
|