|
Post by Kakita Kanehitsu on May 2, 2014 17:19:54 GMT
((OOC: @odai, is the any specific information you’re looking for? The main thing you might know from news is that Kanehitsu has brought a load of his students to the trial as an exercise in observation and playwrighting. Many of the students are social elite, but slightly disaffected with current culture. They’re mostly interested in being cutting edge and some esotericism. (That is to say, they are hipsters.) Kanehitsu himself is widely travelled and has fingers in pies all over the empire. He spends a lot of his time teaching at the Kakita Academy and corresponding with famous people the length and breadth of the empire. The group is probably actually here to write critical reviews of the Crab justice system.))
Kanehitsu had to cast harsh glares at a few students who insisted on talking behind fans as the emerald champion began speaking. When they had quieted down he turned his attention to the courtly proceedings, taking quick notes in what anybody looking on would see as an elegant and quick hand. While he was note taking on not only the words of the Emerald Champion, but also the room in general he took a moment to scribble down a note to Odai with whom he had not had a proper chance to talk. However, that didn’t preclude the possibility of conversation.
***
Soon after the trial began Odai is again approached by a servant holding small piece of paper addressed to the Crab samurai. Inside it read, “Greetings, esteemed Yasuki-sama. I am curious as to your thoughts on the proceedings of the evening. What do you think the outcome will be?”
|
|
Yasuki Odai
Rogue, Ruffian, Rapscalion
Crab Clan
Posts: 157| Likes: 91
Of course I have what you need...
|
Post by Yasuki Odai on May 2, 2014 18:19:03 GMT
Odai broke away from his careful scrutiny of the Crane delegation as the Emerald Champion, his daimyo, made his entrance. And so the show begins, he thought darkly, though he kept his face the picture of cheerful, charismatic arrogance. He gave a polite bow when Hachi acknowledged his presence, as much as his station required, though how much longer he kept that position would depend greatly on what transpired over the next few hours, a fact that the young governor was only too keenly aware of.
He took a seat at a small table that had been provided for him as well, a fine-smelling blend of strong Northern teas from the Mirumoto provinces poured before him, giving him a touch more legitimate relaxed bravado to aid in that charade. Keeping his outward attention fixed on Hachi as he prattled on at length, Odai took care to note reactions of those he could to the Emerald Champion's words, especially when it came to him speaking of duty and sacrifice, while also maintained the act of flirting with his entourage and following the whispers of the court. A taxing endeavor, to be sure, but he needed to be on his best game if he were to survive the night, both politically and perhaps literally.
Shortly after the introduction of Kasumi began, he was notified by one of his attendants that he had a message from the Crane. Surreptitiously throwing a glance Kanehitsu's direction, noting the man's state of seemingly constantly writing and multitasking, he gave the note a quick glance, and smiled slightly to himself. Very well, I shall bite. Giving a quick order for scroll and ink, he pondered for a moment his next move.
With a slight smirk, he began writing, and while his calligraphy was certainly nowhere near as graceful as the Kakita's, his letters contained a sense of strength and grace that one may not expect to find among the Crab. As the servant bowed and made to leave, he stopped him for a moment, another thought crossing his mind as he whispered instructions behind his fan, a beautiful piece bearing gold thread detailing the Yasuki mon, framed with fine cherry wood and embedded with swirling patterns of small stones of jade.
*****A Crab servant returned to Kanehitsu's table, bowing low before presenting a small note and a bottle of Daiginzyoo-syu, the finest sake produced at the Friendly Traveller Sake Works, with it's own note simply stating, Enjoy. His other note, his original response, would read: "Good fortunes to you, noble Kakita-san, I hope you find yourself comfortable this evening. While I cannot with any certainty know how tonight will end, I certainly hope justice can been found swiftly, especially in this time of rebuilding and reforging past friendships. The Empire has suffered far too much of late. But I digress. Has your stay here been comfortable? I would hate to think my staff would slip on its attentiveness to your needs, regardless of any of the more unsavory events abounding."
|
|
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 May 2, 2014 23:39:05 GMT
The beads stopped to move throuugh her fingers. Reiha and Kuon arrived. Hachi spoke. The audience seemed to think it was a show, a pastime and part of the events around Kaneka's wedding. Satomi sneered to herself. The Crab was exposing its soft inner flesh, its weak spots, to the Empire to delight themselves as birds of prey. So, isn't that a victory of the kolat itself? Satomi raised her eyes to the audience, rubbing a single bead of jade between two fingers, observing their faces, their whispered comments sounding like a hum of bees in a warm day. The arrogant arrival of her champion was an insult to Satomi. An insult and a warning, it seemed. For a Kakeguchi born woman, Reiha was showing she was very used and attached to the "throne" of the Hida. Was the current Hida Champion showing her confidence as a weapon… or as a shield?
|
|
|
Post by tsuruchi kasumi on May 3, 2014 12:03:29 GMT
Kasumi came forward. Now was the moment and the problem was that she still didn't have everything to make it completely clear. Well, the only thing she could do now was report and let the higher ups sort it out. "Lord and Ladies," she started, "I will start this by telling you that during this investigation I've come across things we normally don't speak about. Since I have to report here about my investigation in the matter of what happened the night of the wedding of yasuki Kaneka-sama with Yasuki Nozomi-sama, I offer my sincere apologies when I talk about things best not talked about."
She shifted her stance a bit and looked through the room. "The events at the wedding are not standing on their own," she began, "it began some years ago when there was an investigation into the Kolat conspiracy. Both Asako Chisato-sama and Kaiu Satomi-sama have been part of this investigation. One subject of this investigation was Hida Reiha-sama, but she was considered above all suspicion. Some time before the wedding, evidence came up suggesting that Hida Reiha-sama was a so called sleeper agent, someone brainwashed into acting in a certain way when a trigger word was used."
"At the wedding, there were sightings of a mysterious heimin. Kaiu Satomi-sama had requested some crab clan magistrates to look into this matter, but they hadn't been able to find the person before the wedding. I beleive it was Yasuki Odai-sama and Shiba Kaigen-san who have managed to apprehend this person. I have indeed seen this person, although he was deceased."
"Now, to continue, the day of the wedding Asako Chisato-sama requested the aid of Kaiu Satomi-sama, Dajdoji Kousei-san and Kurimuzon Te-san to keep an eye on things. According to Asako Chisato-sama, he was unable to prevent the activation of Hida Reiha-sama. Following her he went into the castle with Dajdoji Kousei-san, but they got split up and when he confronted Hida Reiha-sama on his own, he was taken out. He came around when he saw Dajdoji Kousei-san and Kaiu Satomi-sama run on the stairs. Following them they arrived at the entrance of the bridal chambers where the monk Kurimuzon Te-san was present. They tried to stop Hida Reiha-sama without hurting her and in that fight, someone accidentally activated the entrance to a hidden corridor which also gave access to the bridal chambers. Hida Reiha-sama and Dajdoji Kousei-san stumbled into that corridor."
"Kaiu Satomi-sama went into the bridal chamber with some guards while Asako chisato-sama and Kurizomon Te-san went into the corridor, where they found Dajdoji Kousei-san unconscious. The monk went after Hida Reiha-sama while Asako-sama stayed with Dajdoji-san. There he was attacked by a geisha who wounded him, but he managed to kill her. When Kurimuzon Te-san and Kaiu-sama arrived in the chambers, they saw Hida Reiha-sama fight with Yasuki Kaneka-sama and Yasuki Nozomi-sama. In this fight both women were wounded and Hida Reiha-sama suffered a miscarriage. Kurimuzon also indicated he saw another woman there and he felt a dark presence. Unfortunately searching so far has not yielded any identification. I've also asked Yasuki Nozomi-sama and she confirmed that she saw Hida Reiha-sama attack them."
"When I asked Hida Reiha-sama about this, she said to me that after speaking to Asako-sama she went to her room as she was not feeling well and there she was the target of a maho ritual. A man wearing a mask did this ritual so he could attack while looking like her. I've seen this mask, which was in possession of Hida Kuzon-sama. It was this ritual which caused the miscarriage. Hida Kuzon-sama, when arriving at the scene of the crime, first thought it was his wife as well, so good was the dobbleganger. He had his Chui, Yasuki Miliko, bring what he thought was his wife to their quarters and then when it was discovered this person was not, she took care of the matter together with Kuni Gendayu-san. Yasuki Miliko-san has promised me to give her testimony here tonight, so I invite her to do so now. I would like to know where this maho tsukai was brougth so we can learn as much from how he did it as possible. I'm sure you would all agree that we have to find out as much as possible so we can make sure that events such as these are not possible anymore."
She stepped back and looked around for Miliko, so she could give the testimony she didn't want to give in the afternoon. While Kasumi wanted to hear what she had to say without knowing what the others had said to see if she confirmed the dobbleganger story, it had been impossible, so now she would try to find out where they had brought the body so she could see it.
|
|
Moto Arandaru
Unicorn Clan
Posts: 199| Likes: 103
In Kyuden Seppun, eager to find a way to save the Empire!
|
Post by Moto Arandaru on May 4, 2014 20:20:41 GMT
POSTING AS YASUKI MILIKO, RUBY CHAMPION ASPIRANT
When Tsuruchi Kasumi summoned Yasuki Miliko officially at court, Yasuki Hachi nodded to a certain bureaucrat near the dais as he quickly abandoned the room to summon her directly.
In the meantime Yasuki Hachi sat speechless as the testimonies of the heroes present were read in case something was proved as false or even as a forgery.
Moments passed and Yasuki Miliko's presence was announced. And in the room strolled Yasuki Miliko, the Crab magistrate that had quickly been elevated to a "prodigy" status. Many Yasuki family members knew something more regarding this woman, including how quickly she was distinguished among the courtier mass and how quickly she's proven her worth.
The woman was wearing a fine kimono, suited for the officials in testimony. Since she was a subject of investigation, she wouldn't don the magistrate armor. The proper mons were present, the Yasuki family, the Crab Clan and the laurels of the magistrate office. Around her right arm she had a crimson ribbon placed into a tight knot, signifying that she's a contestant for the oncoming Ruby championships.
She bowed and remained as such. As she began talking she confirmed everything that Kasumi had already said.
"...I serve under the command of the Shogun, Hida Kuon-tono..." confirming her place in the command line, "...since I have been chosen by Utaku Takai to compete at the Ruby championship..." confirming her participation in the event, "...was asked to carry the body of Hida Reiha-tono back to her chambers..." confirming her involvement in this, "...as I entered the room I found a bleeding Hida Reiha-tono on the far side of the floor exactly identical to the one I was carrying..." confirming the "doppelganger" issue, "...I'd asked for Hida Kuon's presence, I'd never left the chamber..." ensuring her constant presence on the scene, "...however, at a glance the false Reiha was gone, leaving a black ichor residue on the floor..." describing the sorting procedure, "...I'd asked permission of Shogun Kuon-tono to deliver the dark substance over to Kuni Gendayu-san..." confirming the tsukai sagasu's involvement.
And there she stood, everything laid-out for examination and possibly some questioning.
((OOC: Made it in such a way, so as to avoid any cramped descriptions))
|
|
|
Post by Asako Chisato on May 5, 2014 3:26:55 GMT
Chisato watched on with surprise at much of the new information given to him. This was all news to him, but could explain a few things. The only part that didn't make sense to him would be the fact that they had suspected Reiha of kolat tampering for sometime, not just in the narrow field of that one evening.
This meant one thing, the emerald champion would have to choose to believe Miliko's testimony, or their own. It seemed highly unlikely that both could be true. Chisato could not stand by a lie.
He whispered to his karo to begin writing a note to be delivered to Kousei, Te, and Satomi. In this note detailed that which Chisato had determined by watching the proceedings... Miliko san was most likely lying in order to protect Reiha. And if the court believes it, they may be punished for it.
It was seeming more and more that this would have to be settled by a duel... why else would they have found a Ruby candidate to do a task any guard could have done? Chisato watched on, eager to hear what was said about the black ichor.
|
|
|
Post by tsuruchi kasumi on May 5, 2014 6:39:32 GMT
"Thank you for your testimony, Yasuki-san," Kasumi said with a bow. She had served on the wall and was aware that there were shadowlands creatures who could take over the looks of other people, so she assumed there could be maho spells which could do the same thing. But it paid to check. She looked around and she saw Kuni Gendayu at the back of the room with some other witch hunters. "Kuni Gendayu-san," she said with a bow, "Can you please give us your views on what happened with this man. To my knowledge, limited as it is on this subject, it's the first time a man turns into black ichor."
|
|
Moto Arandaru
Unicorn Clan
Posts: 199| Likes: 103
In Kyuden Seppun, eager to find a way to save the Empire!
|
Post by Moto Arandaru on May 5, 2014 8:31:09 GMT
A band of courtiers parted only to reveal Kuni Gendayu who was standing in the far end of the room. He approached and bowed slowly in front of the dais. Time passed and the Kuni witch-hunter rose up keeping his head low in testimony.
"I beg to differ Tsuruchi Kasumi-san. While I do not proclaim that I am proficient with neither the Shadowlands threat nor maho magic, I assure you that none of us in Rokugan has ever seen the true potential of the "nature" of this threat." he kept his cowled head low.
"I've studied close to Kuni Yori as long as his conscience had kept him beside the Emperor's side, before he succumbed to this ...menace." he turned to look Kasumi in the eye.
"I assure you that the lure is great, let alone it's power. It can keep one's mind detached, occupied with far less important things. But when it comes to murder..." he nodded.
"The ichor had been delivered to me in these vials" he said as he produced a vial coated with jade dust, shining green under the candle light.
"And along with the rest of the research I can assure you that we have to do with maho magic." he coughed to clear his throat.
"I have also notably reported to magistrate Hiruma Kenshin-san, that there were more than one agents in this. Yesterday a dead woman had been brought for research, and there I've diagnosed that she was a "prepared" agent instead".
|
|
|
Post by tsuruchi kasumi on May 5, 2014 10:30:23 GMT
"Yes, the geisha," Kasumi said, "Hiruma Kenshin-san has spoken to me about her. She had some poison, nightshade I believe it was, on her fingernails. You also said to him that she had died due to poison she had hidden in a tooth. I still wonder what she was doing there, what her mission was. But I think that's something we will not know, as she's dead and nightshade is not so rare a plant that we can identify anybody based only on that."
She bowed to the Kuni and then turned to the Emerald champion. "It seems to me that we have two or even three groups at work here," she said, "we have the geisha assassin or informant, we have the Kolat heimin who was seen talking to Hida Reiha-sama and we have the maho-tsukai. Now were those working together or not? Did the Kolat make it so that Hida Reiha-sama wanted to retire to her quaters where the maho-tsukai could do it's vile magic, or was it coincidence? Unfortunately I can't tell, but I know someone was able to infiltrate the highest ranks of a clan who is a recognised expert in dealing with infiltrations from all manner of creatures and I think we have to be very careful so that it's not repeated."
|
|
Moto Arandaru
Unicorn Clan
Posts: 199| Likes: 103
In Kyuden Seppun, eager to find a way to save the Empire!
|
Post by Moto Arandaru on May 5, 2014 12:12:59 GMT
POSTING AS THE NPCs Yasuki Hachi looked at Kasumi with seriousness in his eyes. "So, all that stand in this trial are the following testimonies. The first one of both the Shogun Kuon-sama and Yasuki Kaneka-sama that verify the presence of Hida Reiha-sama in the chamber followed by the testimonies of both Kurimuzon Te-san and Kaiu Satomi-san. Then we have the testimony of Hida Reiha-sama, claiming that she had been ambushed in the first place by a bloodspeaker, a testimony that is both backed and validated by Yasuki Miliko-san and Kuni Gendayu-san. And last we have the testimony of both Hiruma Kenshin-san and Kuni Gendayu-san that claim that there was a "geisha assassin" on the loose, a notion that is verified by both Asako Chisato-san and Daidoji Kousei-san. Correct?" he paused for a moment to let all these sink into the thoughts of the spectators. "So, the involvement of the so-called Kolat is being backed by Asako Chisato-san, Daidoji Kousei-san and Kaiu Satomi-san, whereas there is none that concerns the opposite, thus we might all presume that the claim is justified. The Kolat were involved after all." he motioned over to the bureaucrat that kept scribbling down frantically. "What's more, the presence of a bloodspeaker is also attested by Hida Reiha-sama and Yasuki Miliko-san. Neither Kuni Gendayu-san nor Hida Kuon-tono can verify that." he held his hand to the bureaucrat who suspiciously stopped writing. "And last but not least we have a geisha assassin that is branded as unaligned? With no justifiable claim? Overruled!" he raised his hand. Kuni Gendayu tried to speak but Yasuki Hachi's voice startled him. "There is a lie in that. And I am not implying that you Kuni Gendayu-san are lying, but that you were forced to lie." Gendayu was speechless but Hachi carried on. "There is no way to fool an apprentice of Kuni Yori except if you feed him with stories. People of your expertise and your status speak with facts Gendayu-san. And right now the only fact is a "planted" ichor. Very convenient." Reiha's face became pale as she fidgeted with these kind of words as she raised her hand, given permission by Hachi and spoke. "So Yasuki Hachi-san, are you implying that either me or Yasuki Miliko have planted these evidence to provide an alibi for ourselves?" And the answer came rather unexpectedly ...by Kuni Jiyuna "It is Yasuki Hachi-sama to you Hida Reiha- san!" she rose as if she owned the place and approached the edge of the dais. "I would allow no more slander over planted evidence in the name of the Kuni family and it would be a shame if there was any to be inflicted by our own Champion" she spat as she was speaking. Everything fell silent as Kuon rose from his position, ready to crack Jiyuna's skull. Then Kuni Jiyuna carried on, "All of these planted evidence were tested. The ichor had been carefully placed by the Kolat, since their involvement has been verified. There was no bloodspeaker, no taint would've been allowed that close to any Imperial wedding. Thus the place had been checked from gate to window." as she turned to Reiha. "Hida Reiha-san, you're lying in the expense of your husband's reputation the Shogun, of the Kuni family, of the very prodigious of individuals Yasuki Miliko and of the Crab Clan. And that can be verified." Reiha stood motionless, not believing her own eyes. Gendayu, Miliko and the Shogun stood mortified by the revelations. Only Jiyuna and Hachi kept their normalcy...those and Yasuki Kaneka. ((OOC: Sorry for the long post, had some proper things to write))
|
|
|
Post by tsuruchi kasumi on May 5, 2014 13:01:36 GMT
Kasumi kept silent for now as people way above her on the celestial hierarchy were speaking. She didn't take her bow, as that would be considered to treatening and there was still a chance, however small, that this could be resolved peacefully. She was fidgetting with her obi, adjusting it or at least, so it seemed. In fact, her hands were now very close to her swords in a socially acceptable way. And she would gladly take the small loss of face of being seen with nerves in exchange for having her hands close to her swords, especially since as a junior magistrate it could be considered normal that she was a bit nervous in the presence of so many of the empire's great people.
|
|
|
Post by Daidoji Kousei on May 5, 2014 13:38:36 GMT
Kousei had kept quiet, watching the trial unfold, and he smiled as he read Chisato's note. As things began to erupt, he quietly raised his hand while the noise murmured around him. As it began to subside, he spoke up.
"My lords, I beg permission to speak."
|
|
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 May 5, 2014 14:03:09 GMT
What?!!! A dopple-what? She must be kidding... Satomi was startled. After listening to the "evidences", provided, she felt quickly sinking in quicksand. It can't be true… A note reached her hands; she hastily opened it and discovered it to be a message from the Asako daimyo. She nodded to him, showing her acknowledging of the message's content and his willing to not be portraited as either a naïve person, or a liar (while the first option was quite true in some cases, his mind was analytical and sharp when it comes to data, and he wasn't a liar, as far as she knew). She was about to do the same Kousei did, but he was a bit faster. So she waited to listen his reasonings.
|
|
Moto Arandaru
Unicorn Clan
Posts: 199| Likes: 103
In Kyuden Seppun, eager to find a way to save the Empire!
|
Post by Moto Arandaru on May 5, 2014 14:03:31 GMT
Yasuki Hachi's face seemed troubled but his features dissolved into a serene glance over at Daidoji Kousei.
"Certainly Daidoji Kousei-san, you have permission to speak, please state. Can you offer an insightful view into this?"
The man reached for some words, the next moments could been the culmination of anything
|
|
|
Post by Kakita Kanehitsu on May 5, 2014 14:05:26 GMT
the ink could barely flow fast enough for Kenhitsu's enthusiasm. Such a wonderful drama was unfolding before his eyes that he might as well have asked someone to start bringing in props for the actors. This was exactly the sort of thing he longed for with his plays and he would of course discuss that with his students later. What an amazing twist of events. the next few moments would be what really made the story though.
As he looked back and forth between hsi notes, someone handed him a bottle and a couple of scraps of paper. He read them over in stride while casting quick glance in Odai's direction. He dipped his brush and put more words to paper.
***
Yasuki-sama,
I thank you for your generosity, especially in choosing such a fine vintage for me to parch my thirst this evening. I find that I am too humble a servant of the empire to accept such a lofty gift. Perhaps you would be better suited in keeping the wine for yourself and your most esteemed companions later this evening.
Furthermore, as this court unfolds I am interested in your unique perspective on the matters at hand. While we must both hope for justice, we must also be mindful of the myriad possibilities of the future. Do you have an opinion on the possible outcomes yet? I think that the possible inclusion of maho herein greatly complicates the entire case.
|
|