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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on Jul 5, 2014 11:07:34 GMT
"Me and Shiba Kaigen killed most of them," Kasumi said, "two got away, but the Ikoma wardens have been informed and I'm sure they have run those two down by now. We still don't know who it is, but I've had a Kuni shugenja check for taint and I've contacted a Kitsu Shugenja to see what they can do to find out who it is. Also messages have gone out to emerald magistrates to see if someone gave the child up as missing. The only thing we can now do is wait."
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Moto Arandaru
Unicorn Clan
Posts: 199| Likes: 103
In Kyuden Seppun, eager to find a way to save the Empire!
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Post by Moto Arandaru on Jul 7, 2014 10:34:09 GMT
The investigation in Kyuden Seppun was proceeding up to the point where Arandaru could be of any help. But the trivialities of the Scorpion didn't matter much to him. In his vision, he was dictated to do otherwise.
And sooner than later he'd settled to visit the Kyuden's libraries, that is before he went up to the Isawa lands. The servant that transfered Satomi's message had reddish flushed cheeks.
Arandaru simply nodded and let the man catch a breath. She was away in a closely remote village.
He left in the morning and went to the place she'd arranged for them to meet. And right now, he's pacing towards the group of gathered people.
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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 7, 2014 13:27:36 GMT
You didn't tell me what you found out about this baby, Tsuruchi-san... She was commenting when the Moto Shugenja arrived. Arandaru-sama! She cheered. If he wasn't so formal sometimes, she'd joke about his willing to have another hand cut off, by attending another of her expeditions to bizarre places. However, he was a Moto Death Priest, not only a shugenja, but prepared as a warrior as well. And to be fair, she liked that slightly disturbing atmosphere around him. Fortunes of Death or not, power is always sexy. Your arrival is so fortunate! I was starting to wonder if I'd need to resort only on non-spiritual resources for this enterprise… That'd be tough!
She of course bowed to Moto Arandaru as proper for her new dubious position, and offered him a place by the table.
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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on Jul 7, 2014 16:44:46 GMT
"I don't know anything about the child yet, Bayushi-san," Kasumi said just before the Moto death priest entered. Now she had to wonder what they were going to do if they needed that kind of firepower. As she was seated, she nodded to him. "Moto-san," she said, "good to see you again."
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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 8, 2014 2:26:27 GMT
I'm curious. Satomi admitted. She thought about her own son, and the deal she made to Kuon about Takai... a bit of melancholy started to soften her heart, so she dismissed the feeling with a sup of sake. After giving them time to refresh and eat, she commented. Well, Not sure whether my other invitee, a Lion shugenja, will attend, so maybe we should start... Satomi went to the table where she previously arranged some documents to backup their planning. As she mentioned before, she found plants, and reports.
As you may know, the Tortoise refuses to leave the Antlers of the White Stag, and the Dawn Tower was an important light house at service of Seppun and more recently, Tortoise as well. Recent History says that a monstruosity coming from the sea destroyed the tower, but also is said that when the Sppun guarding the tower sighted the monster, they also discovered that they've been betrayed. Their horses were poisoned. Ships and boats, sabotaged. With few alternatives at hand, the Seppun stationed at the Tower seppuku-ed, but for a few.
The tower remained in ruins, but the Tortoise wished it working again, as they never gave up sailing in the Golden Sun bay. Though, early reports appoint that the heimin employed to rebuild the tower were scared away by ghosts. It became worst as the time passed. The Seppun Guardsmen tried to recover the building, but after the Fall of Otosan Uchi and what happened in the bay, they have duties to attend in other places. Even their dojo near the tower is closed for undetermined time.
The Tortoise announced a reward to the one able to get rid of whatever is haunting the place. It seems they have a relic from their founder, that's now lost somewhere in the ruins. Several ronin attended. Several ronin either died, or gave up. Reasons:
"...the ghosts are violent and throw stones at anyone trying to enter the tower", says this one. "...one floor collapsed and my pal fell right upon a beam of retorted iron... It impaled the poor Roryu and he gushed blood as a torrent of lava." "the shugenja accompanying us wasn't able to conjure the Fire kami, or so was what he said. We were bearing jade, and it was uncorrupted when we left. Anyway, it was impossible to stay. It was cold as the most rigorous winter. Our breath even froze..." said another. "I was pushed with extreme violence from the only some steps still fixed in the ruined tower. I just "flew" through a gap in the wall. Before landing in the debris, I swear, I heard a maddened scream, and saw a face... Whatever did it to me, has the force of 5 men." and "my favorite": " we saw a spooky bluish light, and followed it, our shugenja preparing his spell. The ball of light seemed to attract us for a point next the shore... We were prepared, or so we thought. Suddenly, a fetid breeze hit our noses... My companion's torch blew stronger, and its flame acted as if commanded by something... As if sucked by an invisible sinkhole. Then, in the most unexpected manner, it blew yet more stronger, and converged to our companion's face. She tried to throw the torch away, but it was too late. There was fire on her hair, and she became a human torch... We saved her, but... her face and hair will never be the same, poor woman."
She let it sink and put the reports on their reach once again, in the case they wished to have more details. After all those incidents, the Empire forbid the Tortoise from "stimulating the greed of unprepared groups, causing unnecessary losses and other terrible incidents". Instead, the Empire released the Edict you all have knowledge of. As money is not the reward anymore, and you must "apply" for the task in a Seppun Office, the ronin are not as interested as they used to be in exploring the area. Nor are the Seppun, by the way.
Satomi stared at every of them, before taking another sup of sake. That's a summary of the story so far.
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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on Jul 8, 2014 9:54:17 GMT
"So we don't know much in fact," Kasumi said, "just the word of a bunch or Ronin that there's weird stuff going on. Not that it can't happen, but it can be just as well a group of smugglers who uses trickery to keep their base hidden. This can get very interesting." She was an experienced hunter and she had been on the wall and even in the Shadowlands with Hida patrols, so she knew there were all kinds of weird things out there. But she had read about a smuggler group who used a haunting to protect their base of operations from casual visitors, so that too was an option. Well, she would keep her eyes open and her bow ready.
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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 8, 2014 11:46:56 GMT
Yes, the idea occurred to me as well, Tsuruchi-san. And I think it should have occurred to the the Tortoise clan too. Let's see. The Seppun probably sent their own people to check, although the report of their "failure", if any, is not in my reach. That's why skilled people in the non-spiritual sense of the thing, are required. Satomi smiled. While the idea of a bunch of overzealous ghosts trying to do in death what they couldn't in life, sounds even a bit romantic, I wouldn't discard the influence of "another entity", actual greeedy men, taint, blood magic or just something amplified by a magic object left there. Taint was discarded by at least one group, but we won't take any chances.
She tapped a small satchel, implying that she had some jade fingers to share.
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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 8, 2014 12:45:40 GMT
A person working at the teahouse(inn? Sorry, I didn't notice which kind) entered the room and told the -samas that were already there that 'A huge man, wearing lion clothes and mon asks if his entrance to the room will not disturb what the group is doing'. If the answer is positive then after a moment Hiraku enters the room and bows to everyone (and greets them), lower for Arandaru, and not as low for everyone else
"I apologize for arriving so late, Bayushi-san. I have received your message a little late because of an investigation I am a part of... one organized by Tsuruchi-san that's sitting there." He looks at Kasumi "On that matter, I didn't find anything new, Tsuruchi-san, but as I hope you understand, this mandate was more urgent than what we're looking for, and one that I should be able to help with, unless the ghosts are not actually ghosts at all"
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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 8, 2014 13:22:51 GMT
Satomi haven't met the Lion before, and wasn't expecting one so tall and large. With him and Kurimuzon in the same room, things tended to look smaller… It was just as being at the Wall again.
Ah, welcome, Kitsu-sama. She greeted (as it was the first time they met). I know Tsuruchi-san is running a handful of investigations, but I'm glad both found time to attend my humble request for help… And now we have two competent shugenja by our side, knowing which type of "invisible enemies" we are dealing with, will become far easier.
Please, take a seat and have a refreshment.
She summarized what she just had explained, in order to have the Lion informed.
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Post by Kurimuzon Te on Jul 9, 2014 0:54:56 GMT
Looking up from his research Te gets a good look at the two newcomers to the meeting. Sensing the power coming from the two he bows to them.
Te turns to Satomi, "I am not able to find much in the reports on the few survivors of the tower after they were first talked too. Do you know anything of their behavior after they had left, was it normal for them or did they change their habits?"
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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 9, 2014 1:24:59 GMT
She pondered for a moment: Uhn, no, not really. Although not everyone trying to make a favor for the Kasuga family were ronin, most of them were... But of course, many fo them are still in the area. I've been trying to find one of the ronin who already had been there, Masahiro. They say he comes often to the Green Koi, looking for work, and also is seen frequently in the Sake House called Crimson Blossom, at the end of the street. But I didn't have success.
Maybe we can spare one day or two to prepare ourselves before going to the Tower, so if you wish to talk with people, we can arrange time.
I don't wish to unnecessarily delay this action for excess of zeal, neither to be precipitate and fail, though. So I ask you: is there anything you need to be made or found, before we go? Any previous ritual, any material, you may need? The question was directed to all of them*; shugenja, monk and bushi as well. They were clearly different and unique in their abilities, and Satomi would like to know how to coordinate their efforts in one efficient action.
* tsuruchi kasumi, Moto Arandaru, Bayushi Satomi, Kitsu Hiraku, Kurimuzon Te
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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on Jul 9, 2014 6:59:22 GMT
"I understand," Kasumi said to the Kitsu Shugenja, "which is why I'm here as well. The child is safe and cared for, so while we want to re-unite him with his parents as quickly as possible, other actions can take precedence."
"I can always use more arrows, but I should have enough for our needs," she said after Satomi's explanation. She had brought a number based upon her experiences at the Kaiu wall, so it should be okay. On the other hand, as any archer would tell you, there's no such thing as having too many arrows.
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Moto Arandaru
Unicorn Clan
Posts: 199| Likes: 103
In Kyuden Seppun, eager to find a way to save the Empire!
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Post by Moto Arandaru on Jul 9, 2014 9:32:36 GMT
Arandaru offer a bow to those present, acknowledging their status as proper. He doesn't say much as he merely salutes Satomi and Kasumi, since both women are known to him. After hearing Satomi's recital of events he says:
"So, if there isn't any smuggling or shady operation involved, we have to deal with forsaken souls. Aren't we?"
Arandaru felt a pretty chill. The last time he'd spied upon a cartel, he ended up almost losing his life. He discarded the feeling however and braced himself to hear more from Te and the rest of the group.
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Post by tsuruchi kasumi on Jul 10, 2014 19:56:21 GMT
"Or maho, or shadowlands creatures, or any of ten other possibilities," Kasumi said, "we'll have to expect the unexpected, that's for sure."
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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 11, 2014 0:43:15 GMT
Hiraku listened to Satomi, and nodded after he learned what the group has heard earlier.
"It could be that what is in the tower is not ghosts at all, as spirits of man don't stay in this realm often, after their deaths. But if there are spirits in the tower and they are the guards that died there then I will need to ask some question to the people that can be found in this town and in other places but it will not take long, as a day should be enough."
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