sighs deeply at the display
No regrets. Eating that Pearl may have caused me years of pain, but having a soul and being in such a presence makes it a treasure not a punishment.
To contrast the black dragon, Imuri wears a white formal kimono. His obi is also white, but with a ring of alternating katana and scrolls. The katana do not cut the scrolls as with the mon of his dojo, but simply imply both martial prowess and wisdom. The white kimono has a silvery sheen to it, as if spun from gossamer webs, and bears a large green spider embroidered on the back.
Imuri approaches the great beast, bowing lightly to the oni and then deeply to the dragon. Great Inimitareh, we welcome you to the finest House among the nobility of Lanzhu. Our hospitality is focused on you and your guest alone this morning. We honor you with our guard, with our respect, and with the artisans and courtiers of our whole house. We look forward to a meeting of keen minds and powerful forces, and may they be set on the same path to the benefit of all.
At the conclusion of lunch, Rhon is the first to stand.
"Well. I believe we should be going. Have a couple things to attend to in the market district, and I know that Kyras-san was to be 'received' at the palace with the rest of you." He gives a wry look to Yohei and Azami. "We will be on our way, but plan to be in Lanzhu for a couple more days. Hopefully we may speak again before our time here is ended and we begin the return journey west."
*nods*
"I, at the very least, will be attending the State Dinners tonight and tomorrow. I...have to see how this ends. Good day to you all. We are staying at the Inn of the Graces if you wish to speak with us, though I will of course be coming back to this...beautiful, beautiful temple as soon as I can to look at all the other artifacts, and, well, to see if the painting is completed." Eru blushes at her own forwardness, then bows politely.
Gilly, Earanthil, Rhon, Erudima and Asago all depart; their forms can be seen through the window presently, as they walk up the street.
With the guests gone, all that remain are Yohei, Azami, San Pen, Kyras, and of course Tokine. There is an awkward pause. A flock of swifts flies by, from east to west, flowing and darting over the cobblestones and past the windows and columns of the temple.
"Well, shall we be on our way? I don't want to miss my mysterious disappearance." He holds his hands out. "I'd appreciate it if you don't make the shackles too tight. And if you're taking requests, please keep the torture to a minimum?" His voice drips with sarcasm, tinged with a hint of discomfort at not knowing what is going to happen to him. "Tokine, thank you for your hospitality. I will hopefully be back soon to perform my duties of protecting you."
Looking over to Azami, he asks, "In all seriousness, do I get to keep my weapon ad armor, or will I be constrained to my spellcasting abilities?"
@Imuri: as your meeting with Inimitareh and Saru-utsu is getting underway, with both creatures displaying surprising manners, at least for the moment, a message is dropped off for you. The scroll case it is in bears the mark of the plum blossom on one cap, and the slumbering crescent moon surrounded by seven stars on the other.
Our Dragon is not in his hoard. He is taking in Culture at the Temple, and has an escort to the palace when he is done. Shall we join, or await his triumphant return home?
D
The dragon and the oni are speaking rumblingly to each other in some foul, low tongue as they take in entertainments you have specially prepared for them (him). The dragon angles his head so he is looking at you. "Such strong warriors and supple women Imuri clan has. Fine allies you would make. What of your magic, citizens? I wish to see what magic you possess." The creature has altered his voice to speak in disturbingly mellifluous and dulcet tones, and the effect is rather unnerving for those of lesser constitutions.
Before Rhon leaves she wants to check if he still wants to visit the archives later. And she will graciouslly thank the Princess for sharing her time and vision.
Tokine will need to make some arrangements to change out art pieces before tonight's reception. But then she will be ready to leave. She and San Pen wanted to stop at the precinct house and see about the funeral arrangements for the Inspector. And then continue to the Palace.
Azami rolls her eyes. "As Yohei said, as I said, we are here to escort you there. Shackles are not currently necessary."
Yohei downs the last of his sake and stands up from the table, "Phew, that was delicious! Well Tokine-san, I'm sure I'll be seeing you around." He gives Tokine a respectful bow and turns to San Pen, giving the same gesture, "Sifu, it's always a pleasure!" Turning back to Azami and Kyras he stretches his feathery arms out and grins, "Don't worry big fella, you're a guest, not a prisoner. Like I said, we're all friends here. Shall we head out?"
Kyras retrieves his sword and armor from his room, taking a moment to calm his nerves. He will be back soon, after answering some questions at the Palace. He comes back and presents himself to Yohei and Azami. "Ready to go? Great."
DRA:
I don't want to offend our guests, so I will use a brief note of sign language to tell an emissary to await my arrival. I still plan to "abduct" the gaijin before the dinner begins this evening.
If you need more specific plans, I had intended for Daisuke, the maho witch and myself to ambush the ninja, then to impersonate the ninja as we plan to hit the gaijin at his accommodations. I will then suffer an attack by the ronin in my group and be captured. The witch will be ablt to locate my person (or an object I show her for familiarity. She goes to verify that location from a distance, and I will do my best to escape. It would be best if I had some assistance in the escape, meaning the group in my employ offers to watch over me, or the witch smuggles me a scroll of dim door or somesuch. I would use the hat to disguise myself and minor items, although I don't plan to bring my katana or other larger items that would mark me if removed from my person.
I know it's ballsy and risks re-arranging the information you were prepared to give away this early, which is why I like it. : }
As if on cue, a suite of Shoto shugenja enter the room. Light music begins to play, crescendoing into a crash of dramatic drums and flutes, as the entertainment portion of the magic display features breathtaking escapes and seductive dances, flourished with illusion and divination magic.
The show subtly fades into darker tones as acrobatic warriors fight in real time, failing to accost the guests and nobles assembled, but slashing with blades only inches away. At one point, the humble shoto protagonist - a black-clad Shoto samuria with a deceptively powerful swordstyle - battles rival samurai from other clans, though the white-and-gold and brown-and-red kimonos bear no family mons. He dips backwards to avoid a high thrust, stretching his head underneath the back of his shoulders and snatching a dumpling from the bowl set for Imuri's mother. He winks at her as he chews, springing back into form and lunging at the figure in red-brown. The strike is true, cutting through cloth and flesh. The red samuria takes his wound stoically, bowing to the Shoto actor and then to the guests and crowd.
A new phase of the entertainment brings duelists in the iai style, who focus and strike one another with real blows. Some wounds are more grievous than others, and one old master - Shoto Yohuro-sama himself, strikes so quickly as to slash his opponent twice in a single draw of his blade, cleaning the katana with a lightning fast shiburi and sheathing it before his opponent falls on a tatami mat.
Four servants lift the wounded samurai up on poles and carry him away, while several courtiers spread across the display areas with flowers and candles, setting up a background reminiscent of an ancient shrine, with dozens of unlit, black candles arrayed against the wall. As they finish, four shugenja square off in a magical duel, stunning each other with balls of water and lighting the now dark room with bolts of lightning. Mystical forces shaped like charging samurai flay about with invisible katana and absorb blows with shimmiering suits of bamboo armor. The priest become invisible or preternatually quick to turn a strong defense into magical offense. When the first priest goes, down, another on the cusp of elimination takes the appearance of one of the others, causing confusion among the combatants. The single shugenja, faced by two identical foes, becomes a shifting swarm of his former self, with half a dozen priest now steping into and out of his kata to fool his opponents. From behind the veil, he launches a powerful bolt of lightning into the shapechanger, which then arcs into the last shugenja, crippling them both. As they bow in pain and defeat, several other bolts of lightning fire away from the crowd into the carefully placed candles, which light into large kanji, clearly spelling out the message:
Welcome, Inimitareh-san
As the crowd claps and marvels at the final display, the winning shugenja bows first to the great dragon, and then to Imuri's family. He then kneels to command the water kami, healing his fallen companions until they, too, stand and begin to minister to the samurai wounded in previous displays.
The message is clear: Shoto clan uses magic and martial arts with skill, even enough to wound to various degrees without killing, if commanded.
Through the display, Imuri takes stock of which elements are new and which are familiar. He is pleased to notice prolonged elements of a few of his own kata demonstrated by the samurai. But as he enjoys the display with apparent amusement, his eyes and ears take in every clue he can. Which servants struggle with their tasks? Who stretches their formal dress? Which parts does the dragon find most interesting. Is he looking to evaluate the Shoto as a rival? As an ally? as both?
DRA:
(To be honest, at this point, I don't even know when Kyras is gonna get back to his rooms.)
As for your other spoiler, you could certainly use any of those means to track Saru-Utsu. He's about 10' tall at the moment, and Imuri would be pretty confident the ogre mage is already using a lot of his magic just to be as small and svelte as he currently is, so while it's certainly possible he was/is the spy, it's quite unlikely.
@Tokine and @San Pen: Rhon agrees to come by tomorrow for you to escort him to the archives and library. He says he has some other appointments to keep today that have sprung up on him, and doesn't want to be rushed. He and Erudima will be at the State Dinner tonight, so they'll see you there.
After Tokine completes her tasks and sees that the staff have clear orders for the day, the two of you are able to depart. The harsh and strange mists of the morning have cleared, but the steady ground mist now is simultaneously added to and kept down by an equally steady drizzling rain. Tokine covers herself from the light precipitation, but the water simply rolls off San Pen's tough exterior. On your way to the precinct house, you pass a large -- surprisingly large -- merchant caravan clattering and banging its way through the streets. The merchants you can see are all gaijin, which is not particularly unusual, but their numbers are a little odd and they are headed into a rough part of town, which is also not entirely normal. There are caravans that make their way down to the open markets and black markets and greay markets in the outer rings of the city, but those caravans aren't typically as well put-together and brightly-colored as this one.
Aside from that, you also see some policemen walking up a cross street. They don't appear to notice you. Their heads are down against the rain and they are dressed all in black.
@Azami, @Yohei, @Kyras: You depart the temple and head out into a light but steady drizzle that has picked up on this day of grey and shifting weather. The mists are down around your ankles and thicker than usual.
As the three of you trudge along with Yohei occasionally engaging Kyras in conversation while the terse Azami remains silent, you pass a giant merchant caravan, staffed entirely by gaily dressed gaijin. None of this is particularly noteworthy, though it is a little odd that a caravan this big would be heading for the outer rings.
You also pass a couple policemen dressed all in black, their heads down against the rain. They do not seem to notice you.
@Imuri: Inimitareh laughs with naked glee whenever someone is hurt. At one point he turns to Saru-Utsu and says in common "It is real blood. I can smell it plain as day. Ahhahahaaa!" The creature takes loud, horrid, slurping bites of his smelly food whenever it seems that doing so may disturb one of the warriors or mages, and cackles with glee whether they seem to be affected or not. A couple times acid bubbles over from his jaw and immediately melts a pit in the ground, but the dragon appears unaware of this.
"Imuri-san, this display is most impressive, and pleases me. What numbers are you able to muster, and how quickly? Do you move at the behest of your emperor or is your great house independent of his whims? And what is your price to fight? What spoils would you claiim?"
Saru-Utsu is watching you closely.
San Pen is distracted, thinking of the fate of his friend, Inspector Cho. And how his attacker fits in the larger picture.
Azami notices the merchant caravan, and although they are dressed like performing hucksters, it too much reminds her of Mamban...of her father, and what she has learned today. Although she continues to walk with Kyras and Yohei, her thoughts have command, the world about her a daze. Afterall, it is just a walk back to the Palace, something she has done a hundred times.
DRA:
Of course, the actual situation is that I am interviewing him for worthiness and not the other way around. SO I will convey that in my answer. I just wanted to give you the chance to give me info on Shoto military capabilities if you wanted to.
Tokine walks with her hands folded in the sleeves of her kimono. It allows her to remain conscious of the painting tube in her sleeve pocket. Why are these suddenly so in demand that people are killing over them?
Yohei inclines his head towards Azami and whispers, "We're being followed. Don't look. Someone on the rooftops to the left. Something is off about this caravan. The wagons look like the ones I saw in the woods, but different. Also, one of the men seemed to recognize us."
Doing his best to look casual, Yohei watches the caravan pass and keeps an eye out for any familiar faces while keeping his peripheral vision locked on the rooftops, waiting for their follower to slip up or make himself known.
Tokine walks with her hands folded in the sleeves of her kimono. It allows her to remain conscious of the painting tube in her sleeve pocket. Why are these suddenly so in demand that people are killing over them?
"This theft is a greater tragedy than you know, than even the brutal slaying of those innocents would indicate. These paintings are not just paintings. They are maps. They are recipes. They are instruction sets and guides. There are three others like them still in the city. Two are here. The third, I will deliver here within the next 48 hours. It will be in a scroll case bearing the crest of my House. This is what I was hired to do. I bid you all good day. Enjoy your daemons."
In general, though, the more war-ready houses like yours and Motomo have armies rivaling that of even the emperor himself.
The meat-n-potatoes of the scene, for me, is how you reply to Inimitareh's questions about loyalty and spoils, and how you turn it around to show just who's interviewing whom, and then how you deal with the new Kyras Erodal development, i.e., the fact he's currently being escorted to the palace by Imperial Guards.
Enemy SM:
@Tokine and @San Pen You follow the policemen to Inspector Cho's Precinct House, and there is a large quantity of policement gathered there. Captain Takagami is present, which is a surprise to you both since he is the captain of the imperial guard. There are also numerous well-wishers and lookers-on.
There is also a tall half-elf in midnight-blue robes, with the hood up and covering his head. He is so tall his head sticks out over the crowd a wee bit. His face is in shadows, obviously, but you are fairly certain this is the half-elf Rhon spoke to at the state dinner last night, whose robes had the moon-and-stars symbols on the sleeve.
Honorred Captain Takagami, good morrning. We have come to check on the details of The late Inspectorr's interrment. What brrings you herre? Is therre new trrouble?
Imuri looks thoughtfully as if the questions hung in the air between the dragon and himself. He waits several seconds to answer, drawing the eyes of all in the room. Let this be a lesson in Shoto strength, for the young samurai.
He bows his head slightly before answering and musically as ever. Inimitareh-san, House Shoto commands a versatile army as large and as powerful as any in the Empire. Other Great Houses pursue a single goal with their forces: stealth, mercantile support, mobility, men-at-arms. House Shoto master every kind of weapon and art. The calligraphist practices control of his wrist and shoulders just as the swordsman must. The soldier must be able to scout if ordered, and must be able to land the mightiest of blows when he sees an opening. So is every walk of life measured during the youth of a Shoto. Our sense of passion is powerful, our bladestrokes are powerful.
He levels a very serious gaze at the black dragon. Our silence is powerful. The Shoto pursue two goals: that which is best for the Empire, and that which is best for ourselves. We serve a mighty and wise Emperor, as is His right by divinity. But we are sovereign wherever our interests lie. Our power is both His and our to command.
Imuri pauses here, making an intentional face, as if struggling to understand the meaning of the word spoils. If you refer to the gains of warfare, Black One, the Shoto are immensely wealthy, and conduct business at home and abroad. We have little interest in risking life or honor for the sake of mere coins. What can we hope to capture that either the Son of Heaven or our own industry cannot overmatch? Instead, the Shoto pursue goals and purpose. Perhpas our reward is undermining a rival. Perhpas we seek to eradicate a threat. Perhaps we feel the need to secure military allies for the future, though we have little need of such.
My most welcome guest, the Shoto provide assistance or go to war when it serves our purposes, and to seek specific ends. We fight neither for spoils, as you say, nor for sport. If you wish to interest the Spider as allies, you must remember our sovereignty and strength. And you must provide an end that honors our way of life and our purposes. I am very interested in hearing your case, made either here or before His Majesty.
Hmm. As much as she might try, she cannot help the tension that rises between her shoulder blades, her hand flexing in preparation to draw her blade if necessary.
Tokine will make her condolences to the officers there, but will pay attention to San Pen and the Captain.
@Yohei, @Azami, @Kyras: you continue on your way. The caravan rattles off down around the bend and while Yohei is able to catch bits of movement here and there on the rooftops, the intruder never makes a move to attack, and never fully reveals him- or herself. You pass through the palace gates and the guards there wave heartily but give a questioning look when they see Kyras. As you are walking in, a functionary approaches with two other guards behind him who you've seen around before but not spoken with at any length. They all bow low.
"Honorable guards. I am Wong Tsai, Adjunct to General Hotoru. Is this the gaijin Erodal? How much her resembles his sister! There is much we can speak of. I am here to relieve you. We will escort this man to wait for Captain Takagami and the others." He nods to the two guards who step forward to take your place.
@San Pen: The captain looks at you blankly for a moment then looks down. "The Inspector and I were good friends. I...was able to break away from my...regular duties for a while to see him off to his ancestors."
@Tokine: Someone taps you on your shoulder. Turning around, you see the strangely tall half-elf from last night standing there, looking down at you. "Hello, Nagano-san. A moment of your time?" He gestures to a side street away from the crowd, and San Pen.
Kyras eyes the adjunct with a suspicious eye, but he's been eyeing everyone suspiciously since Azami and Yohei began escorting him. He seems to have the same level of trustworthiness as everyone else: none. "I am indeed said gaijin." His sarcasm at being treated like a second-class citizen is evident. "Do you know my sister?"
@Imuri: The black dragon chuckles horridly and Saru-Utsu's eyes go wide, his eyebrows seeming like they want to crawl off the top of his head. For the first time, the Oni addresses you. His voice is high and reedy and not a little bit effeminate. "Imuri-san. Your house is powerful. Spider poison is strong. Spider webs are strong. But a dragon is a dragon."
Inimitareh picks up; "The black dragonflight has a purpose, too; the subjugation or utter destruction of all who oppose us as we seek to unite this Land. The spoils go to the weak, the lower ranks, those who value materials over things of actual worth. This is by way of saying I understand what you say. What you consider when you choose. But consider this. After tonight, we will leave this city. Whether you, or the emperor, or any of the other houses chooses to ally yourselves with us, we will go, and our allies will come with."
The dragon makes a strange snorting noise. "And then, for all those that do not elect to fight with us, we will return, and they will know our wrath. This is my 'case', Shoto. It is the same one I will state tonight."
Saru-Utsu speaks again. "There are many creatures that live in the hills and forests besides spiders. And, as I stated; a dragon is a dragon."
@Kyras: Wong Tsai nods eagerly. "Yes! Bethany! Lovely woman. Very knowledgable. It is our hope that we may take you to her after you speak with the Captain."
"Great. Let's go do that." Kyras narrows his eyes at the civil servant. Something isn't right, but he's not going to miss an opportunity to find Bethany. He looks at Yohei and Azami, shrugging his shoulders. "Are you going to keep on following me every step, or is this it for us?"
Imuri smiles, expressing that he is not surprised in the least.
I must understand you fully if I am to prepare for tonight and advise my family properly. You have come to Lanzhu, and enjoyed the hospitality of its great houses, and allowed your Furies to threaten and belittle your hosts, not to earn the allegiance of the Empire of Mists as equals united in cause, but simply offer us the choice of degrees of subjugation. Is this correct? If so, the Shoto will consider all you have told us and return our decision to you before you leave, great one.
The captain looks at you blankly for a moment then looks down. "The Inspector and I were good friends. I...was able to break away from my...regular duties for a while to see him off to his ancestors."
Perrhaps we could take a moment and honorr his wishes. His love of Go rrequirres a final game in his office. You will join me , I'm surre. We can discuss, in prrivate, details of his funerreal.
With a sad smile, "I saw you last night at the reception, but did not get introduced. A great fault on my part, but there were so many guests. Are you also a friend of the Inspector? "
Tokine hesitates as she glances toward the door and then over to San Pen and then to the Inspector's office. "I am sorry, but..you see, I was attacked out in that street last night. It holds some vivid and disturbing imagery for me. Perhaps we can make use of the Inspector's office." She will cross gesture past his arm and give a small head bow as she waits for him to take the lead.
Yohei shrugs, "I guess we're all done. I was hoping to tag along and see what the Captain wanted with you, but I guess not." Turning to Wong Tsai, he asks, "Did you say the Captain was out? I had something I wanted to report to him... Do you know where he headed?"
Turning to Wong Tsai, he asks, "Did you say the Captain was out? I had something I wanted to report to him... Do you know where he headed?"
"Out? Gracious, no. In fact we mean to take Erodal-san here to him as soon as possible. The Captain is in his situation room at the moment, I believe, if you wish to speak with him." Wong Tsai gives a tight little smile, then turns again to Kyras. "This way, please." He beckons for the Warbanian to follow him. The two other guards take up positions on either side of Kyras, but don't appear particularly interested in their task.
Perrhaps we could take a moment and honorr his wishes. His love of Go rrequirres a final game in his office. You will join me , I'm surre. We can discuss, in prrivate, details of his funerreal.
The "Captain" looks around and then smiles. "But of course! Please. After you. I am...unfamiliar with his particular precinct house, having spent most of my time in the palace."
@Tokine: The tall half-elf gives you an odd, blank expression. His face and voice are both very difficult to read, his body language next to impossible. But you can clearly detect a strange sort of...disappointment? in his voice as he looks at the precinct house. You also notice he is stealing constant furtive glances at Captain Takagami. "Oh. Attacked, you say? My goodness. Yes, we certainly may speak there, if those few officers inside will allow it." He turns and begins walking ahead of you, in the direction you indicated, towards the Inspector's offices.
@San Pen: You notice that Tokine's current path is going to take her right by you, and right within reach of this impostor posing as the captain.
@Imuri: The dragon chuckles evilly. His voice is slipping back into its customary slither, and there is a sudden aura of pure evil permeating the air. "Yesssssss SSssssssshotooooo. Thaaaat isssss what I offerrrrrr, and you arrrre luckyyy to gettt thaaaaat... hah hah hahhhh... I will ssssseeeeee youuuu at dinnnnnerrrr! HAH HAH HAH!" With that, the monster gives a massive lunge with its legs and blasts into the air, taking some foetid, dripping meat with it. There is also a smell of eldritch smoke and you realize the Oni Saru-Utsu has vanished, probably just a teleport spell.
Though they intended their exit to be fearsome and frightening, you wonder if the two evil companions realize how close they were to having to fight for their lives. For though the Shoto servants and bushi and shugenja all around look simply to be passive receivers of a message from a High Personage, you can tell that all of them, down to the lowliest busgirl, have whatever weapons they possess or could procure at the ready, hidden, and are prepared -- as well they should be -- to fight and die for the honor of their house in less time than a heart can beat.
Even the heart of a dragon.
When it is clear the threat has passed, they resume normal activity immediately; cleaning the city house and going about daily tasks. Your mother looks over at you from where she is seated. You lock eyes for a moment, and then she simply nods.
"It is good." she says, and calmly sips her tea.