The winds blow warm in the hidden kitsune Village, as long as there have been kitsune there has been this place. Fok kin know of it from tails and pass from parent to child. A safe place locked away from the prime where kitsune life lives of farming, hunting and from time to time trade to the prime and other places.
The Temples, bath houses, homes, tea houses and trading shops, small street with paper walled houses. Here and there a water/fire troff.
With Spring as always the weather can change, warm to cold and even snow. But for the last week has been warm and the blossums have started to come out on the trees.
Soon trading will start up again, and the elders will need help with other matters,
Fei sat with his back to ‘his’ house. It was odd, looking around. Seeing ‘kitsune’ walking around, going about their business. On one hand, it was comforting to know that he wasn’t alone. On the other, he had spent his entire life thinking he was special. Unique. He chuckled. Nothing made much sense any more. Least of all this place.
From what little he could gather, there was a group of elders who controlled this place. And it was their favor which determined who you were and what you had. He hoped that he would have a chance to meet them soon, or to earn their attention. Maybe with this ‘trading’ beginning he would get his chance...
"The power of magic, the color of magic," said Akira. "Wouldn't be wonderful, brother? Studying magic is what I do." It was odd, this place, it was always rumored to be a kitsune city. Well, if it was a city, it would have a place to study magic, would it not? Well, that and good tea.
"I hope they have good tea," said Akira. "Tea is one of life's pleasures. Of course you hear me drone on about tea, haven't you brother?"
Tsume is still getting used to this... 'town' idea. It's strange, building nexts with tops, but useful. They'd even given him and Kiba one, though he wasn't quite sure what to do with all of the things in it. He was pretty sure Kiba had broken some things, but... he was a bit too embarrassed to ask just what they had been, so he'd just stuffed the pieces in a corner and ignored them.
Now, he and Kiba were standing around on a street corner, Tsume trying not to reveal just how uncomfortable he still felt with so many other... 'kitsune' around, Kiba waiting impatiently for his master to do something interesting.
How to express Saino's feelings? A nice, sunny day in the Kitsune Clan village, with no plans at all but to enjoy his free time. Excelent! Saino plays with Inari, his spirit fox, and greets anyone who passes by.
After a while, Saino lets Inari go for a walk and some hunting, and he directs his steps to one of the tea houses. A tea and something to fill his belly will fit perfectly now. If this is also accompanied by some nice chatting, then how can he complain?
"Good morning! Can I have some rice tea, please, and something for breakfast? Oh, look who's there!"
At ease in his kitsune form, despite the black color of his fur, Yuichi pulls the dagger out of his teeth to answer his twin brother. "Tea sounds good, but I still think that sticking your head in a book for hours on end is just boring," Yuichi replies to Akira. "I hope something more exciting comes along soon."
"It could be worse," said Akira. "You could be doing kabuki theater. Now that's worse." He jabs his brother in the ribs. Exciting? What could be exciting? Aint nothing here is going to happen that would be exciting. They were in a kitsune valley. Nothing exciting here except for potential lady friends.
"We should find a place, Yuichi. Then who knows?" Akira continued. "You might bring home a lady friend."
With half a riceball in his mouth, Saino jumps into the conversation, not able to refrain himself. "If you wanf lafy friendf, you can alwaif look elfwhere." He drinks some tea to help the riceball down.
Yuichi genuinely laughs at the perceived joke. Like that would ever happen to him. "Yes, that would be exciting. You'll end up chocking if you keep that up," he points out, turning to the third party. "You are?"
Tally lounges at the inn, a nexus of travelling Kitsune, currently being entertained by his sister Tilly.
The young kitsune is tucked away in a corner out from underfoot, enjoying the simple pleasures of shared stories of adventure and watching his talented sister play the crowd. His tail twitches to the beat and he briefly considers bumming a drink off of a patron eyeing his sister with much interest, but decides against it upon recalling how she frowns upon that. He grows groggy and his eyelids droop. Keeping his sisters litter of pups entertained takes its own kind of toll on even a young todd like Tally. He starts into wakefulness with Tilly's face inches from his.
"Time to go home, Tally. You need to get some rest. You never know what snow the next day brings."
Tally smiles at the euphemism local to the land they were both raised in, probably far from Fox Clan Village, though Tally really has absolutely no idea where the village is. Groaning from the aches passing out on a stone floor are sure to bring, he staggers to his feet and makes his way to the exit, looking a lot like an inebriated customer.
To you all comes a young child, who bows low and hands you a flat peace of bamboo with writing on it. Then the child runs off,
As you hold the odd bit of babboo the letters shift into a form that can be read.
YOU ARE REQUIRED TO ATEND AN ELDER MEETING AT NOON TODAY AT THE FOUNDERS TEMPLE.
"A meeting?" says Akira. "But we just got here."
"Ah, ha!" Yuichi exclaims. "Something exciting! Seems your book learning will have to come later, brother."
Tsume starts at the child's bow, but he manages to surpress his growl. It takes him a moment to realize he's supposed to take the piece of plant, during which he just stands awkwardly staring at the child, Kiba at his side looking the other kitsune up and down. Finally he realizes he's being given the wood thing and takes it.
He looks at it and almost drops it when the letters form. Letters are a new thing to him, but he'd learned enough to read.
A meeting at the Founders' Temple? That meant... he had to go meet people... at the big nest. Okay. At noon. That was when the sun was highest, right?
He looks up at the sun to gauge the time. Kiba, not knowing what's going on, follows the motion, then looks down at his brother. The kitsune looks over at the dinosaur.
"Come," he says, and the two siblings start making their way to the big nest... the Founders' Temple.
Tally stumbles out of the inn, bumping into the lad carrying the note from the elders.
"Hi Tally. Late night? I figured I could find you here."
"Oh, hi Derek. Yea, fell asleep again."
"Figured when I did't see you at your sisters playing with the pups. Good thing you weren't out hunting and trapping, the elders sent me to give you this."
"What is it?"
Derek shrugs and hands over the bamboo, sticking around to see what it says.
"The elders want to see me? Wonder why. Probably time to earn my keep. Got a few hours. I better gets some more sleep. Only got a few hours in the inn and they were not very restful. See you around."
Tally returns to his own modest hut sized apartment on the edge of town and grabs a few hours of sleep before noon, gears up, and sets off.
"Ah, ha!" Yuichi exclaims. "Something exciting! Seems your book learning will have to come later, brother."
Akira grumbles at the prospect and almost shifts to human. He rubs his third tail, trying to brush it. Power is what he desired, but if he had to talk to the village elders so be it. He made an audible sigh.
Fei thanked the child. He was expecting something like this to happen. The warm welcome, the food, the place to stay. Everything had it’s price. Which was good. This he understood. This meant he could get rid of that feeling of doom which he had felt since arriving by making everything square. The kitsune wondered though, what he should wear for such an occasion. Adjusting his sleeves, he activated their magic to ensure that his clothes were not just clean, but spotless. Looking around, he found another kitsune with an outfit that he liked, and willed his clothes to change into what he had seen. They looked well cut, but not ostentatious. Now, feeling dressed for the occassion, he set off for the temple.
Soon noon comes around, sun high in the sky and you start to make your way to the temple of the founders. Its a simple open plan bigoda with a small garden, just under a cliff.
as you get close you note others are also making there way there.
Sitting in the garden looking at a zen rock is one of the oldest Kitsune you have ever seen. He has nine gray yet still bushey tails. His clothing is that of a monk, resting next to him is an old walking stick
As you get close he looks up and smile at you, around the zen rock are ample seats.
"Well hello there why not sit with me a while and look at this fine rock"
His voice is gental and kindly, then the same vouce come into your minds as if talking to you directily.
::"Its about time, do you think I have all day, you young-ens always dard-a-ling, wait until your as old as me and you don't have much time life. Then move you will, So come on sit sit, we will be talking this way so ears can not hear what I have to say. Think your words and I will hear them Understood."::
From nowhere a tray of tea comes into being next to him, he picks up a green tea cup and sips it.
::"Right then, no one gets to live here for free, it takes hard work and time to keep the Clan Valley stocked and safe. Everyone does what they can. You westrales have yet to do anything of use. That changes today. I have a little task for you and I want it done quickly. It has come to be known that a Slaver and his band have been collecting Kitsune females for the brothels of Chaliax. His band are making there way to Merab and ship across the inner sea. Our informant has told us of there last siting. You task is to intercept them, and do what ever is needed for the safe freeing of any Kitsunne, use Force if needs be. This..."::
He places a small gold star on the seat next to him.
::"Will open a way to to that last seen location. Get what ever you need and then head out, once your done use the star again and it will open away back. Bring the Kitsune with you and IF you can the slaver alive. Any questions"::
Think back? Shyt. He can read minds! Ok, ok, ok, calm down. Just don’t think about anything embarrassing. Focus, focus. You were in the city guard, you faked your way through plenty of boring briefs. Gods I’m stupid! He can read minds. I must sound so stupid right now? Wait, can he know my memories too? Even that night with the half-elf? Ok, focus. Mission. Brothels. Beautiful girls to rescue. Slaver. Got it. Wait, I’m supposed to think my words to him. Alright.
It will be an honor to serve the community. I am humbled by the trust placed in us. We will bring them back.
Damn I’m smooth. The old geezer is going to love that. I wonder how many beautiful damsels we need to rescue? I should ask that.
Honored elder. How many of our fellow citizens have been captured by this slaver, and do we know how many men he has?
Yeah. I’m good. Almost...too good.
Nine whole tails. Just how much magic does this guy possess? Yuichi wonders as they reach the gondola.
Yuichi flinches a bit when the kitsune suddenly begins speaking to his mind. Reminds me of Akira's attempts. So...you can hear me now, then, Mister...um, Elder, Sir? I'm ready for action, sir. Though Akira probably won't like it. So...why are we doing this whole...mind thingy for? And can everyone else here me, too? Yuichi asks, uncomfortable with the magical form of communication.
He chuckles
::"At last count there where 11 slaves with them, hey will have more by now. The star will take you to an Inn they stayed at 3 days ago. Once there you will have to find hem. As for talking like his, Yes we can all hear each other and no I don't read your dirty minds. We are talking like this because if you get your selves and everyone killed I can say how sad and deny all knowledge. But if you do well I will slap you all on your backs for being such clever Kitsune and saving the day. Ether way you will not to tell anyone of my part in this. Elders now I will have every young Kitsune fox asking me for heroic missions and getting most of them dead. I picked you all because 1 you look like you can handle this and 2 your not critical to the village and so expendable. Don't take it personally its just we elders have a lot to look after and sometimes we have to make hard calls. Saying that I wish you the best of luck. I would get to know each other before you head out. Find out what your good at. No I must be going."::
He gets up, with the aid of his walking stick.
"Well it was nice to have company for once. But I must go, its time for by back rub"
You feel the link in you minds drop as he walks away.
Yuichi stares over at the kitsune across from him. "Real smooth there," Yuichi says, unable to help it as a grin spreads across his face. "Looking forward to the rewards already, are we?"
Saino stands up and wipes the dirt from his clothes. "Alright, we should get going, don't you think?" Looking to everyone and whispering, he adds "If they were there 3 days ago, we shouldn't let them go further away..."
Tsume looked around curiously as he entered the temple. He didn't understand what most of this was for. He had, however, learned enough to recognize that this other kitsune was both very old and very powerful. Kiba, ever-present by his side, seems somehow to recognize he should be quiet and still, and does both.
He stayed mostly silent during the instructions, simply thinking an agreement that he was ready to go, keeping his thoughts about how little he understood to himself. Once he was left with these others... were they to be his hunting pack? To hunt this... 'Slaver' and rescue those he had taken?
He looks at the other kitsune and, trying to not look as confused as he felt. "Is "Slaver" a name?" he haltingly asks, carefully forming his words and the sentence.
"Wow, that was, disconcerting," said Akira. "Yuichi, you think going after this slaver is going to get me some magic? Also sounds dangerous, but then again, I can spend the money on magic scrolls and spells."
Akira brushed his second tail before getting up and headed to the nearest magic shoppe. He needed to be bonded to an arcane item. Might as well be a wand.
Looking at Yuichi, Fei smiled. "It was, wasn't it? Thank you."
Then, to Tsume "A slaver is not a name. It is a profession. It is someone who forces another person to work for them for free. These women are being taken to a brothel. Which is a place of, ah...how do I put it? A place where intimate affairs take place for money. Given that Cheliax is a place of demon worshipers and where slavery is not only legal, but is encouraged, I can't say that I'm surprised. Also, as they have a dozen slaves being moved, all who are of high value, we should expect a fair number of guards."
Sitting back, with a smile, Fei continued "Which shouldn't be too much of an issue for us. I mean, we're all kitsune, right?" With that...
...Fei turned into a perfect likeness of Tsume. "All we need to do is take out a few of the guards, take their forms, and then walk right in. Easy, eh?"
"Seems like a kink in the tail to me. Why would anyone want to have a slave? Some folks are just odd. Before you use that star Sayno, remember that some of us need to take care of things first. It is Sayno, right?"
I'll be danged! They are sending me on a rescue mission! w0000t! Good thing Fei was so loud thinking - my own thoughts went unnoticed. A guy can dream. I wonder if Fei is as loud...
As Fei goes into another long and loud lecture he breaks Tally's train of thought.
I guess that answers that.
"Take their forms? Unless you have the magic for that, all I an do is this form."
Tally changes from a white furred Kitsune into a teen lad dressed in white furs, then back again, and shrugs.
"Meet back here in an hour? Should be enough time to grab my stuff and make sure my trap line is taken care of."
Turning back into himself, Fei looked at Tally with evident confusion.
"If you have the-oh. I thought...you know, never mind. See you all in an hour."
"It wouldn't be exciting if there wasn't danger," Yuichi points out, getting up to leave with his brother. "We do need to hurry, though. They said an hour, and the last time you went to a magic shop, you took eight."
"I had to charm the shop assistant," Akira explains. "She was so helpful afterwards. After all, I nearly got to see a gate spell scroll that time until you pulled me out."
Tsume growls at Fei's description of slavers. "They are bad," he states. Kiba picks up on his anger and hisses with him.
He starts as Fei takes his form. Kiba looks back and forth between the two of them in confusion. Tsume gets up right next to Fei and sniffs.
He gives the other kitsune an uncertain look. "How did you do?"
Tally heads first to his sisters home to give her the news and arrange for things to be taken care of in his absence. Tilly takes it with her usual composure, stating simply, "I figured they would send you out on something involving hunting, trapping, or combat. I've only gone on diplomatic missions. And I like it that way. Don't forget to say goodbye to your nieces and nephews."
Which Tally does, to a chorus of grumbles that ends up in a wrestling match of 6 against one. Tally gets nipped a few times in the process, probably the work of Damselle, the feisty and youngest one.
When he leaves, she asks, "Who's going with you?"
"A bunch of newbies, most of them fancies. One wizard who wants only to talk about magic and his brother who likes knives a bit too much, one fellow with this weird tropical 'companion' with lots of teeth, a really confusing fellow from Tien, I think, that likes to talk a lot, and a quiet fellow I haven't gotten a good read on yet."
[b]"I think I recognize a couple of them. You be careful, OK,"[/ooc] she asks, knowing the futility of it.
Tally makes it back just in time to make his self-imposed hour delay.
Akira turns to Tsume. "I'm doing very well, thank you for asking," he says to the hunter.
Tsume looks confused. "That is good..." he says, uncertainly.
After a moment, he remembers something about 'introducing yourself' that his friend Hanata had taught him. He points at himself. "Tsume."
Then he points at the small dinosaur standing by him. "My brother, Kiba."
Kiba trills and looks Akira up and down inquisitively.
Yuichi leans over to his brother and whispers, "Think they're twins?"
Yuichi leans over to his brother and whispers, "Think they're twins?"
Akira whispers back, "Certainly not. Look at them, a hunter and a prehistoric thing. Certainly not twins."
Saino picks all his things and hurries back to the meeting place, accompanied by Inari. He greets anyone that's already there. "I'm ready! Oh, this is Inari" he says, pointing at the giant red fox. "Say hello, Inari!"
The strange fox looks at everyone and appears to make a weird gesture, as if smiling. Then he sniffs them and seems to approve.
Hot winds blow over vast desert sands, its mid afternoon when you arrive just outside the oasis
"As I see it, we have a few options. First, we can ambush the slavers. This will be the most direct approach. And, to be honest, it will be refreshing to not have to worry about 'due process' or any other such nonsense. This could take the form of setting up a sale, and attacking them when they come to buy. Or just hitting them on the road. Personally, I like this plan. None of them deserve to live."
"Or we could also infiltrate them. For example, if we could find one of his guards, we could murder him and I could take his place. Sneak the women out, maybe even kidnap their leader. What do you all think?"
Tsume remains silent for the moment. He is new to this type of hunting. He will listen to the others and learn from them first.
Akira wonders if buying the slaves back is the most civilized approach. But then they won't free all the kitsune that way. So he decides on another plan. Charming the slaver's guards that guard the kitsune into becoming slaves themselves.
He wanted to figure out a plan that wouldn't involve bloodshed. But he was running out of options and getting out voted. Akira sighed, "Alright if we are ready, we can go to the place that the elder described and carry out our ambush."
"I love a good ambush. But a good ambush requires good intelligence. We will need to scout the area ahead of them, learn their patterns and numbers, and prepare well. Nothing against your sale idea, or the road idea, but I'd like to know more first."
”No, you are right. We do need to do some intelligence work. But let’s hurry. The slavers will be on the move.”
"I'd rather buy the slaves back," said Akira. "It's a lot easier to do that than spilling blood. But if we are going to ambush them, can we do it without bloodshed?"