The sun is curiously veiled the next day and the morning is shrouded in heavy fog. The mists have curled up and melded with this fog, causing the whole city to be a wash of smudged color and swirling grey wet. Coolies and other servants of low birth clad themselves in rain gear to keep dry but it's a futile effort since the vaporous air penetrates all but the best adventuring gear, chilling anyone out in the early hours right to the bone, and making everyone linger over morning tea just a little longer than usual.
Azami and Yohei have been given explicit orders along with the last known address of Bethany Erodal, the inn where Kyras is staying, and the address of Xun Roi Bao's cartage and storage company. Tokine has an appointment with Rhon and Erudima. Shoto Imuri will be very busy with many guests this day, and San Pen, too, will be visiting with people. Daveth, meanwhile, is under cover outside town, wondering at the sheer quantity of merchant caravans awaiting entry into the city while Kyras has much now to consider as he continues looking for his sister.
The water receeded and left you standing on a mountain peak next to a tall crimson-haired gaijin. She was looking east, at the dawn, at clouds the color of iron. Her feet were encased in ice and earth. There was a plant between the two of you, wiry and leafy, and it gave off an amazing scent -- floral and honey-ish, leafy and humic -- that hung thick in the cold mountain air. The redhead turned to look at you, though her feet remain rooted. "yiufan. bushes." she said haltingly.
You awoke with a tremendous craving for mountain tea.
They come for you.
You know that one has tasted your blood, and has shared that taste back through the living mouths of angles in doors, joists, rocks, planar intersections, bone, gristle, energy and unlife. They all know you, now, and they hunger. Their hunger is greater than worlds, greater than planes or gods. It is timeless and relentless. Across the twisted and inhuman geometries of netherspace they move in their unfathomable rigidity, always appearing closer. Closer. Closer.
You are in an eye. You are in a bone. You are in a tumor that is a rock. The rock is a room. The room has no doors. In the center sits a very handsome man of perhaps 35. He has dark hair and a closeley-trimmed beard and moustache. There is an intense vitality about him. His eyes are closed but you know he knows you are there. "In beauty is life." he says, and his voice is musical and a pleasure to listen to. You do not know why but you would follow this man into any battle, any endeavor. "She knew Them. But They are unknowable. This was her first Crime. You will have to eat the eye one day. The dragon will help, but beware the price. The cook is angry." He opens his eyes, then, and smiles winningly at you. "You should come to dinner." You awake sore and hungry. Immensely hungry. You feel like you could eat a horse or three.
The Erinyes and other devils laugh, and the Great Wyrm looks to you and smiles as you bathe in fire and lightning, strengthened by the suffering of the nobles you have cast down, and he says to you "You are beautiful, you are our son, in death you will live anew, in life you will never despair to die."
You awake in rapturous joy, only to have that joy crumble when you realize you are sleeping on the ground by a cow pasture, and now have poop all over the bottom of your backpack.
You are on a mountain. Far away you see two figures on a different mountain peak but cannot make out who they are. They are facing east, you are facing west. A giant voice, immeasurably old and unbearably sad, rumbles at your back; "Time is, time was, time's past, Sifu. These are not our times, but there are no others who know the time. This is the time of fire. Of change and cleansing." There is the sound of beating wings, each as large as a town.
You awake, and there is an emerald at your feet, identical to the one that accompanied the scroll you received yesterday.
The tengu in red is a man, then. Then he is a lion. Then he is a true dragon, an eastern dragon. You are on a street, you are on a boat, you are on an island. There is an emerald the size of an egg. It is hatching. A horrid, raspy voice speaks from inside it as a twisted crystalline claw reaches out from a green light at the center blinding you; "Hello, father. It is a pleasure to meet you."
You awake.
You awake.
Everyone, please describe how you awake and begin this day of strange omens and ill portent.
Imuri: Daisuke looks at you a little sadly, then rises. He is of average height, and what little hair he has left can grow no whiter. "What you say is true. First, let us find how your form is, a little about what you know." He then engages you in some light dueling with bokken, has you go through a couple kata and tests your strength and flexibility. When this is done, he looks at you and says "I believe I know of work that could be had by one with your present skills." He says this with a great air of resignation about him, as if it makes him miserable to be telling you this. "Come here for midday lessons tomorrow and there will be three other students who will join you. A master from the Honsui street Dojo will also be here and will give you your instructions."
Waking suddenly from his dream, Yohei almost falls out of his hammock before catching himself. Blinking away sleep's hold on his senses, the Tengu pulls himself down from his resting place and lands without a sound on the tatami mat below. Donning his usual robes, he clamps on his bracers and ties his headband around his forehead. Completing his morning ritual, he dons his cloak and heads out the door, ready to get started on the day's tasks.
His first mission: Find Azami-san and get to work tracking down this Kyras fellow. He doubts the woman is up yet, but knows she will likely gravitate to the mess hall when she does rise so he makes his way in that direction. Entering the hall, he grabs a bowl of rice and sits down at one of the low tables waiting for the gaijin's arrival.
DRA
Imuri receives this information thoughtfully, then looks into the blue eyes of his "sensei". You are saddened to provide me with such an errand. I ask you not to pity me, -sama, as it is my own failure that brings me to you.
The sly Shoto lets the ethos of his statement sink in before turning the tables. Your dojo disappoints you, Sensei. Why?
@Imuri: Daisuke smiles at you, more genuinely this time. "You are insightful, friend, and...skilled. I believe you will do well at this task. I am sad because I do not like to see men with talent forced to taking odd jobs simply to survive. Perhaps the coming war will provide more work for fellows like you and I, eh?"
Everyone, please describe how you awake and begin this day of strange omens and ill portent.
I wake early, thinking, Today is a day forr guilty pleasurre. I must spend a time in study lest I lose trrack of trrue imporrtance.
Calming my hearts after placing the gem with it's fellow, I make my way through little used corridors to a small room near the servants quarters.A nod at the young woman in front grants me a chance to reward myself.
A gathering of the youngest of the children of palace servants return my bow and greet me with giggles and smiles.
Honorred childrren, let us rreturrn to ourr lesson. Arre we still on the alphabet? Good. Now, rrecite with me..
B is forr Byakhee that flies on by.
C is forr Cthulhu who slumberrs dead drreaming in the deep.
D is forr Deep Ones...
The weathered wave man bows again, this time with less duration and depth. I have deceived you, Daisuke-san. I came for a lesson, but I never said I was the student.
The wave man tosses the bokken aside and draws the plain katana, as he does so, he becomes a larger figure clad in the black regalia of an experienced ninja. A cloth hood covers his head, with a lacquered mempo forming over his face. Imuri, disguised yet again, circles the sensei like a bored cat, moving to cover any attempt by the instructor to escape.
I came in service to the Empire, and as a matter of personal honor. I was attacked today by incompetent minions bearing your mon. I have decided that you may either live in my employ, telling me all you know and acting as agent in my interests, or I will simply kill you and take your place. Your dojo will serve nobility again, or your name will become a curse on the lips of your progeny.
Imuri narrows his eyes - black in this presentation - and summarizes. You have two choices. Both offer deliverance, but only one gives purpose.
Tokine awakes in a start. San Pen!..my Father!.. She feels no relief from the nights sleep and moves quickly to the bathhouse to wash away the night sweat.
Once back in her chambers, she chooses a kimono of misty mountains, holding a rushing river crossed by a graceful bridge. She sees someone has cleaned her glaive, and replaced in on its velvet perch.
She goes to check on her guest, wishing to have order restored to her Temple before sitting down for her morning meditation.
Rhon and the Princess will be here this morning, but then perhaps she can stop back at that tea shop on the way to the Palace. Yes, some mountain tea...that would be calming.
@Imuri: Daisuke's eyes widen. "Ahhhh, so that explains it." Clearly shaken by your new bearing and harsh words, he shakes his head. "No, samurai, not my mon, for I am but an employee, I...times are hard for sellswords, and worse for a ronin such as myself. I have to take what work I can get" He kneels on the floor, not a gesture of submission, necessarily but certainly not a fighting posture. He stares at the scarred bamboo planks. "Who are you? You speak of nobility, and you say I can work for you, but must I fight you to earn that right? I will if I must, but I swear on what honor I have left that I will abandon this criminal's life for a chance to redeem myself before I cross the Bridge of Ghosts one last time."
You awake.
For the first time in two years - two years of dreams of a distant sunrise- Azami shuts her eyes tighter instead of opening them, wishing she were dead instead of alive, bleeding out instead of breathing in. She strains to return to the dream, to push past the red dragon's head and voice that fills her senses and go back to her grandchildren's faces, to the girl who has Juro's eyes.
But the only thing behind her eyelids is darkness and dragons. Azami releases a shuddering breath, narrowly skirting tears through the clenching of eyes and teeth and fists; she realizes that she is curled into a ball on her tatami mat. My hand is a heart, my heart is stone, and it is chipped. Flawed. Broken.
She opens her eyes and immediately rises, knowing that one action must follow the other without pause, submitting herself to the habit of waking activities to carry her to numbness. Washing. Dressing. Rolling her mat. Prayers. It is when Azami faces the banner again that she stops, staring hard at the iron sunburst for a long moment. She layers on the pieces of armor with a ritual gravity, each tie focused and tight. As the weight settles into place, so does the placid acceptance of the burden she bears, like a cursed mask divinely shaped for her face. Her unlucky face.
The paper screen door slides shut behind her, and she is off to the mess hall to fuel this stone body and undertake the tasks ahead.
Kyras wakens slowly, his body still extremely sore from the day before. What's more, the magical healing left him with a terrible hunger. His stomach rumbling fiercely, he immediately begins the morning meditation to keep the Dragon at bay. After a moment, though, he notices that his draconic mental companion is not rushing into the barrier between their consciousnesses. He lays in the cot, warily waiting for the mental assault to begin, but the Dragon appears to be sleeping in this morning. Kyras smiles rather deliriously at the respite, but knows that he will have to be vigilant. A moment of anger or carelessness would cause the barrier to be thin enough for the Dragon to seize control, even if just for a little while. The balance of power inside their body is such that Kyras controls when the Dragon is released, not the other way around.
As Kyras ponders his mental state, he is awoken by the light footsteps of his beautiful Tokine, his host. Leaping to his feet, he shrugs a shirt on over his torso, now showing several mostly-healed scars from the vicious fight for his life. Smiling at her arrival, he does his best to push back his anxiety over the looming Dragon in his psyche. "Good morning, Tokine." He tries to think about the many, many customs and polite rituals of the citizens of the Empire. "I am quite thankful for the hospitality that the temple has shown me and for your healing magic." He stumbles through the thanks, but manages to make it quite genuine. "Might I return the favor in some fashion?"
As Daveth awoke he kept his eyes closed for a few moments, sometimes he just HATED how much he enjoyed those sorts of dreams this hadn't been the first time he'd had that sort of dream though he had to say this was one of the most vivid. Part of him hated the dreams, he assumed they were born from his devil blood but as well he knew that he couldn't blame his enjoyment wholly on that he DID enjoy fighting and destroying though usually he channeled that towards his enemies but more than once he'd been tempted to just ignore what his father had taught him and try joining his mother, but part of him knew no matter what his dreams said he was unlikely to be accepted by them so easily and likely for the same reasons he was shunned by other people, he was a half-breed and while it would be difficult to get the trust needed to be accepted by 'mortal' races they tended to be far easier to escape and significantly less powerful in a general sense.
Lifting himself up Daveth noticed his error in sleeping area judgment and with a groan of frustration he did his best to clean off his bag before heading off to find a pond or something to clean himself and his bag off in better. "Hopefully this isn't a sign of how well my day is going to be." Daveth says to himself with a sigh.
Tokine is glad to see her guest is up and about. She gives him a smile and a bow at his thanks.
At his request to return a favor, she tilts her head to the side in contemplation. Her hair takes the opportunity to make an escape from its bounds and starts to cascade on her shoulder. "excuse me..." She pins the hair back in place and glances again at her guest. Her temporary embarrassment fades and she gives him a studious gaze. Doing this, she catches herself before tilting her head again. "My gifts were freely given, but ..I am intrigued, as Shelyn led you to our door last night of all nights. A lost gaijin in the Empire of Mists..what favors are you in a position to grant?" Her question has a hint of a smile.
Kyras keeps his smile, a rather silly grin on his face. For the first time in a while, maybe even since his Awakening, his life isn't entirely based on a semi-fruitless quest for his sister, treacherous merchants and fox spirits, or mad creatures beyond comprehension. Despite everyone in this nation treating every single detail as if it were a world-shattering secret, with every sentence a maze of hidden meanings and half-truths, Kyras feels like he can trust this unusual woman with blue hair. "Maybe I could regale you with Warbanian folk tales? Honestly, I've mostly been in the business of asking for favors lately. I've been looking for my sister Bethany, who I haven't seen in years. It hasn't turned out so well for me so far. I finally tracked down a merchant named Xun Rui Bao, who was supposed to know where she might be, but that basically led me into a trap. I survived an assassination attempt by an Erinyes Fury, which was just great. I talked to a fox spirit who knew my sister, but she just betrayed me and locked me in a storage unit with some unnatural creature, which is what clawed me up so badly last night. As if that wasn't enough, I came across some of my sister's items in the storage unit, including this." He shows her the magnifying glass. "Not sure what to make of it, but I know that it's evil." He sighs, almost a growl of frustration. "It feels like I'm an insect tangled in some web, and I can't even see the spider that's set to eat me."
Still, it feels good to get that off his chest.
As you step out you see another gaijin, a crushingly handsome half-elf, a magic user of some sort, you'd guess. He has very bright sky-blue eyes and flawless skin, hair like spun gold cut unfashionably short, but in a way that flatters his classic features. He is leaning casually against a building across the street. He could, conceivably, be oblivious to the maelstrom of tittering and giggling and flushing cheeks his exotic western good looks are causing amongst the girls walking by on errands, the shopkeeper's daughters, the apprentices and the like.
...everyone in this nation treating every single detail as if it were a world-shattering secret, with every sentence a maze of hidden meanings and half-truths,
And how many are going to keep showing up at my door?
Azami enters the mess hall with no appetite; she notes Yohei and - after grabbing a bowl of rice - sits at the same table, placing her mempo next to her. Picking up the chopsticks, she nods towards him.
"Greetings this morning."
Tokine's nose wrinkles up at the proffered magnifying glass and she makes no attempt at picking it up. "Well your luck is changing there. We will have a guest here this morning who likely knows what that item is , if not already has one. It looks like something he would be interested in...not the evil mind you...but a lens."
"Akiko", Tokine calls out and a young woman enters from just outside the doorway. The girl eyes Kyras, but keeps her gaze down, a slight blush to her cheeks. Oh dear
"Yes, Madame Curator?"
"Akiko, are you not working in the kitchen this morning?"
"I traded with Chiro, he didn't mind..I mean, I don't mind waiting on our honored guest." The blush got deeper. dear..dear. Shelyn's mischief on the young...but we have no time for that today.
"Akiko, please fetch Chiro and have him bring a tray of food...a large tray...for our guest. Then find Kai or Jinn, and have them find me after my meditation...we have an important guest coming this morning."
Akiko had looked crestfallen at her assigned duties, but perked up at the mention of the guest and boldly looked right at Kyras.
Tokine chuckled. "No offense to our honored guest Kyras." Akiko mouths the word Kyras slowly. But the gaijin Princess Erudima is coming this morning, I may have neglected to tell the girls that.
"Eeep!" Akiko bows quickly and hustles out the door, knowing the Temple was about to spring into a flurry of activity.
She turns her attention back to Kyras, laughter in her eyes. "Parden that..youth."
"But as to your situation. I myself was found on the steps out front of this temple in need of shelter many years ago, so your plight is not lost on me. But let me meditate on this. Having a sword around might not be such a bad thing, as I am sure you saw the guards out front...but..you do not really have red hair do you?..no,no, did not think so..It would have made things clearer.
But as you heard, I am having food brought. Then feel feel to have Chiro show you around. Join any of the artist sessions that might inspire you. I will find you again after my meditations and we can plan how to proceed in your search for your sister. And I will introduce you to the Princess and her Adviser Rhon. It will be quite the morning."
Kyras stands and casts prestidigitation, hoping to impress Tokine (even just a little). He uses its magic to temporarily color his hair red. It looks fairly fake and would not work as a disguise, but it is an entertaining sight. "I'll change my hair whatever color you'd like, Madame Curator." He manages to make it charming, hopefully eliciting another of her small smiles.
Still, at the mention of food, Kyras remembers his terrible hunger. His mood goes from flirtatious to serious. "I do appreciate how much hospitality you've shown. This is the first time since I arrived that I've felt safe. Thank you." He offers the bow that he's been practicing, a passable attempt from a gaijin such as himself.
@San Pen:
Tokine claps and she emits a small laugh, but then her smile becomes a playful smirk. "I do not think it is supposed to work that way. Dreams have a way of showing true colors, not cosmetic tricks."
She returns his bow, "As to feeling safe..." All joy leaves her expression. "..I have been assaulted two times yesterday on the streets and this temple was invaded and the Assistant Curator brutally attacked. So I am not sure it is safety I can provide and wisdom would perhaps have you leave without pause for a morning meal. But if you linger till we talk again, I should mention that if a repeat incident occurs and you find yourself threatened, please draw no blood within these walls. Even if you perceive the action to be saving my life. I know it is much to ask a warrior, such as you are, but I would not want you to be denied Shelyn's blessings nor earn her ire...so I guess my gifts do have a price...for that I am sorry." She bows slowly, a troubled and sorrowful expression on her face.
@San Pen:
@San Pen:
@Azami and @Yohei: after breakfast the two of you begin your trek into the city. Beads of water vapor cling to every metal surface and collect on Yohei's beak. The day is clammy and cold, and shows no signs of improving. There is little foot traffic, and you easily make your way to your first destination.
Looking up from the rice that he had been piling into his beak, Yohei swallows his mouth-full and smiles warmly at the approaching gaijin. "Azami-san! A fine morning indeed! Are you prepared to start on this hunt for the dragon-man the Captain spoke of? Where do you think we should start? I'm thinking the inn where he was staying would make the most sense, yes?"
"Mmm" Yohei's bright banter somehow gets past the cloud in her mind, once again, as he always seems to be able to manage. Still, she can hardly forget that dragon...
She taps her chopsticks against the bowl tap...tap tap "Kyras told me he was staying at the Golden Dragon. But he's likely gone from there already--he was very...unbalanced." It's the only word she can come up with for Kyras. "I cannot see him staying any one place for long, Yohei-san. Perhaps the apartments I last left him at might give more information; I have a feeling he wants to take the furies up on their invitation, even if it is to laugh in their faces." She forgets her lack of hunger and swallows down some rice
"We should take the path past the Temple of Cultural Exchange on our way there. Just...a feeling."
Just a dragon the size of a city...filling her head with his voice. Azami looks up at Yohei for his thoughts to her suggestions, focusing on his black feathers to push that monstrous red face from her vision.
Finishing the last of his rice, Yohei nods, "You're probably right Ito-san, I'll let you lead the way since you've met our quarry once before. But I must ask, what makes you think we'll find anything at the Temple? I mean, not that I'm opposed to a nice little detour, but skipping out on our mission for a cultural outing isn't like you old friend." With a sly smile, the Tengu leans back and stretches, puffing out his feathery chest, "Perhaps a new day is dawning where the great Azami Ito finally learns to have a little fun?"
Thank you, honorred childrren, forr sharring yourr lessons with me. I am happy to worrk with such scholarrs.
bows to teacher, leaves
hurries off to Tokine's temple for early tea, hoping for a moment to compare thoughts but knowing his indulgence with the children means he will arrive later than planned
wonders at the bustle of activity at the temple
@the guards
Is therre trrouble?
Evaluating the man's posture and words, Imuri retains his stance for several seconds. His training tells him to trust slowly and evaluate every possibility. If I were preparing an ambush from the wings, thinks the Shoto, I would lower myself to the floor to draw the eyes down and away from the flank. If I were going to throw a weapon, I would bow low so my robes would obscure my movement.
Satisfied that no such event is coming, Imuri visibly relaxes his posture, though his loose wrists are still framed by taut forearms should he need to draw his blade in the iai style.
You are required to fight me for nothing, Daisuke-san. I simply offered you a choice, and you have chosen life and restoration. I have need of men that I can rely on. We both know that an uncertain man is a dead man. The Empire faces many decisions. For the greater good and that of your own, I expect that once promised, your loyalty will be unwavering.
Imuri turns to assure himself that the wooden door is closed and that few candles are lit. When he returns, he has once again changed his image to a black-clad samurai, his kimono bearing simple white trim and the mon of a perfect yin yang at his side. Even the tsuba of his katana bears the black and white symbol. His face is not his own, but the weathered wave man is gone.
He sits across from the ronin sensei and bows shallowly. Now then, Daisuke, begins the young samurai, his voice a combination of authority and mercy, tell me of the attempt to steal the painting this afternoon from the head curator. Who hired you, and why did you send simple thugs who had no chance to accomplish the task? Was the painting your target, or the Imperial Advisor? And what connection is there between this event and your plans tomorrow? I must know these things if I am to be able to offer you a chance at restoration.
Azami bristles at the phrase skipping out on our mission, even though she knows Yohei is teasing; she forces herself to take a breath, which then comes out in a snort at 'great Azami Ito', causing her to cough on her last bite of rice. The unevenly cut locks of red hair tucked behind her ears tumble into her face as she hits her chest to finish the cough. Immediately, Azami hunches in attempt to hide from any attention she may have drawn.
Despite her embarrassment, Azami's mouth twitches towards a smile at Yohei's joke; she sweeps the errant hair back behind her ears and adjusts the tie on her low ponytail. "Fun. No." She presses her lips together in a tight line, brow furrowing. I just...I think there might be something there. At the Temple. That could be important. Something connected with all of this. Or connected with me, at least.
She reaches for her mempo and presses up to standing in a smooth movement, offering him another twitchy half-smile. "It is not much longer to take that path to the apartments. And if asked, I can easily blame the detour on insatiable curiosity of tengu. No one would believe I suggested it."
Tokine will linger to finish talking with Kyras if he still has a response.
But then she will make her way back to her quarters. She will give
instructions on morning preparations, and then settle down for her
meditations.
She rolls out a fresh sheet of rice paper. Dips her brush and holds it
above the paper surface. She clears her mind except thoughts on plum
blossoms, moons and stars, and was Kyras led here and does his sister
fit in all this? She prays for the wisdom to see through the mists of deceit. She then moves beyond her conscious mind, to a far distant mountain top....
Kyras bows as Tokine leaves, sad to see her go. Once she takes her leave, he wanders out of "his" room into the magnificent temple. He leaves his katana and armor in the room, not wanting to displease the lovely curator or having her associate him with violence. Using magic to clean the blood off his shirt and mend it as best be can, he looks downright presentable. Seeing the young woman who was in his room earlier, he strides over to her with his long Western legs. "Akiko, was it? Could you point me out to this Chiro fellow? I am ravenous." He gives her his most charming smile.
@Kyras: You are led amidst a swirl of barely-stifled giggles and sidelong glances to an outbuilding that is attached to the temple via a small hallway and which has rather more of a lived-in look to it than any other part of the temple you've seen thus far. It, too, is an elegant cream color and sparsely furnished, but there is a tremendous harmony to the placement of things in the room that you find pleasing at a sort of spinal level you'd be hard-pressed to describe with any accuracy. The room has a couple large windows, and even on this grey day of mists and chilly dampness, the blinds are pulled aside, giving you a clear view of the front door, the side street, and the stretch of the temple to the south.
You are given a seat in a sunken eating area, and miso and tea are brought to you immediately. The soup is surprisingly hearty and quite comforting and the tea does much to liven your mind and enervate your spirit. Next comes a sort of chicken onigiri and a sweeter fúkúsa.
It is all amazingly delicious. Vastly superior to the food at the inn. As you are eating, you are brought up short when a xorn(!) glides smoothly up from the earth, and the guards bow deeply to the creature, and converse with it. You cannot make out their conversation, of course, but it appears quite amicable. Presently, a tengu with a heavily-magicked bow and the crimson-haired female samurai -- the same one who accosted you yesterday -- walk up. They, too, speak to the xorn as if he were an old associate or respected friend.
Akiko has come back to refill your tea and notices you looking out the window. "Kyras-san, is something the matter?" She notices where you are looking and smiles brightly, her lovely face lighting up as she does so. "It is sifu! Oh, he is here. I must tell Nagano-sama." She refills your tea and bows before hurrying out of the room.
Then, as you think of your next move, still more people arrive; this time a quartet of westerners. There is a peculiarly good-looking half-elf (almost as handsome as you, in fact, but much less stylish) who you'd reckon to be a 'pure' spellcaster based on his dress. There is a scholarly-looking elf, bookish and slim, but well-equipped. He has a heavily-magicked rapier and good, strong leather armor. Also a thick spellbook. There's more power there than meets the eye, you'll wager he fools a lot of people with his "schoolboy" schtick. Next to him is a crushingly lovely young female elf, clad all in white leather armor, with a white cape clasped by something you've not seen in...so very long; the crest of House del Solarian of Mamban, the massively powerful shipping magnates of Tiria, and a noble family of tremendous and ancient power and wealth. She is wearing a holy symbol of Sarenrae quite prominently. Lastly -- of all things -- is a dwarf. He, too, wears symbols of Sarenrae but he is clad in chainmail and as is usually the case with dwarves is much...er, 'crustier.' The whole group of them walk into the temple, leaving behind the guards and a few suspiciously industrious street cleaners.
@San Pen: The guards bow deeply when you arrive, and smile sadly. These are men from Inspector Cho's precinct, where you were well-known and much respected, and they share your sadness at the loss of your friend at a profoundly personal level. One of them speaks; "Sifu, greetings on this grey morning. It is as if the city is ashamed of those terrible events that happened last night, and wishes to hide its face. There is no cause for alarm here, though a strange westerner is inside he seems peaceful, and Madame Curator appears not to be worried. Still, we are vigilant."
The other guard furrows his brow suddenly and looks past you. "Why are the palace guard here? Do they mistrust us so much?" You see that coming down the street are indeed two of the palace guards, though both are of high rank and personal friends of Captain Takagami. One is a tengu named Yohei, and you have heard of his exploits as a skilled archer and a being of great humor. Indeed, so great is his talent and loyalty that he has been given his own special squad of tengu archers to lead. The other one you also recognize -- a terse and haunted-looking gaijin named Azami, though you not that is not her true name, and that she has a dark past you prefer not to dwell on. How odd the two of them should be here.
Shortly after Yohei and Azami walk up, Rhon, Erudima, Earanthil, and a dwarven cleric they introduce as Gilly also arrive. Erudima is having a hard time keeping her eyes off of Azami.
@Azami and @Yohei: your walk to the Temple of Cultural Exchange is quiet and uneventful. As you get close, you see that Sifu San Pen, advisor to the Emperor, is there, though it is well-known he and Curator Nagano are good friends so this is not much of a surprise.
You hear one of the guards say "...strange westerner is inside he seems peaceful, and Madame Curator appears not to be worried. Still, we are vigilant." and the other guard's hissed accusation.
San Pen greets you warmly, as he often does, and then the four gaijin arrive ().
@Daveth:
As you are cleaning your bag, thankful the offal didn't get anywhere else, you hear a couple merchants from the nearest caravan walking towards you, deep in conversation. Ducking into the trees () you listen in as your backpack quietly drip-dries into the grass as best it can in this damnable eastern fog.
"...compromised?"
"Mm-hm. Some idiots launched an attack on the palace, but it wasn't much of an attack."
"Do we know...?"
"No."
"Now what?"
"Now we continue the plan, that's what. That camp knows they're on their own now so they just have to eat it if there's a counterstrike. That or they armor up and join the decoys up north."
"Speaking of, anyone seen them yet?"
"Dunno. If not, they will soon enough."
At this point the two have filled their waterskins from the pond and are walking away. You are able to catch a couple last snippets of conversation as their voices recede.
"You really think Stonegard's telling the truth? The Abomination is in the Erodal woman's possession?"
"Would you call him a liar?"
"Hells, no. No!"
@Tokine: Upon completion of your meditation, you are surprised to find both Rai and a breathless Akiko waiting in your antechamber. Both bow deeply, then Rai, following protocol, speaks first. "Nagano-sama; Akiko-chan wishes to inform you of something. Akiko...?"
Akiko's eyes are bright as she visibly calms herself and reports that not only are Rhon and Erudima here with two other friends, but Sifu San Pen has arrived along with two members of the palace guard!
Everyone at the Temple of Cultural Exchange: Feel free to interact as you will. I'll keep an eye on things and play the NPCs, of course, but assume introductions have been made and the group that was on the street has walked in. Kyras, you would have seen them all enter, including redheaded Azami who you know confiscated your invite to the State Dinner that the Erinyes gave you.
@Imuri: Daisuke bows deeply. "Sama. The only decision I was entrusted with was who to send. Dàocaorén runs everything. The plan and the target was delivered by courier, and I chose from my poor lot of students those I felt best suited for the task. In my humble estimation, we would have succeeded if not for your interference, or the arrival of three powerful gaijin, all mighty warriors. Ken was to distract the Curator and Advisor while Tun led the raid. The Temple is not guarded, usually, nor does it have reason to be, and little effort would have been required to get the Item. It is the truth, master, that I did not know what the item was until you just now said "a painting." That information was in a separate scroll case, to be handled by Tun only."
Hmmph -a sound Yohei likely recognizes as frustration loosely translated to Prepare for time-wasting interference, in reference to the presence of city police. After hearing mention of a gaijin, her grey eyes dart between the gathered folk and then to the Temple, finally noting Kyras in the side building-watching them all from the window.
Better than a red dragon, Yohei-san she murmurs aloud, gratefully, alerting Yohei to Kyras with a small signal he would recognize. That their quarry should be there, based on the hunch of a nightmare, is not entirely comforting.
As if on cue to her disquiet, the gaijin emmissaries arrive and enter the Temple; Azami inclines her head to the group of them, trying not to stare at the brilliant white princess. That Erudima also seems to have some returned interest in her is not missed, and she tenses as the lines of her duty cross.
Instead of following, Azami turns to the Xorn. Greetings honorable Sifu. I trust you are well this interesting morning, Azami offers with a bow. Then to the city police, she also offers a more curt incline of respect.
1. I will demand an informant that studies powerful people of low birth - an important category when employing assassins, ronin and magistrates. I specifically would like to know about the oni, Saru-utsu. How long has he been here? What are his tastes? Any dealings with the Shoto? Has he been working for the dragon in advance of its arrival?
He's actually not of low birth. I mean, in Lanzhu, compared to you he is, but in ogre society he's a nobleman. He's been in the mountains outside the city for centuries, where he keeps a large estate. His tastes are bizarre and difficult to know. He changes them arbitrarily to keep servants on edge and give him an excuse to have people executed for the tiniest offense. If anyone in Clan Shoto has dealt with him, they're not forthcoming about it. And no one knows if he's had any dealings in advance with the Black Dragonflight.
2. I will send for both my parents. If they can get away discretely, they must prepare and we will reconvene after my engagement at the Palace.
It seems to me your mother would refuse to leave.
3. I will summon rumormongers to tell me what the Sera family is aiming for with the gaijin. I wish to know before my meeting, so their attempts at subterfuge will only fool those I wish it to.
By now you've spoken some with Sera Aki-Kirei so you've at least a bit of info in this regard. Rumor on the street is Clan Sera is making a power grab in the west and covering all their bases, but no one really knows how or to what end.
4. The Shoto Elite Guard must be fully mobilized. A show of strength, safety for my parents, while looking like a full honor guard for the dragon. Said force will also need to include Broken Promise ninja, who are somewhat less visible.
Gotcha.
5. Shugenja or another subtle tool present that allows us to pierce the veil of illusions. Is the dragon the Princess in disguise? Is the Princess a dragon in disguise? What can we learn about what they refuse to show us?
Gotcha.
6. The most entertaining geisha in all Shoto-ville. If there is one that is talented, but has dishonored herself unforgivably, I will propose that Mother allow me discretionary use of her life. Either to gift the dragon, to please the oni, to forgive publically to show a side, whatever. You'll see a different side of Imuri if they have need of her.
Man I wanna go to Shoto-ville! Sounds like a great place. We'll say you have access to just such a person because I think it's going to make for some awesome story points.
7. Gifts and honorarium. A shogi set crafted from black and white alabaster after the master Shoto Ning Pa traveled abroad and first encountered the gai jin. The board is enchanted to teach the game, moving pieces and responding to strategy according to opposing skill. That he carved opposing eastern and western dragonsinto the set is a mere coincidence. : } Also, generous amounts of koku with the Shoto mark on the center of the coin, usable by the dragon's servants as credit in even the finest stores in the Empire. Perhaps this way, we can track their gift buying, bribes and supplies. Finally, three fantastic black silk kimonos with little dark green spiders that appear to move in place. There's nothing magical about the spiders, just expertly crafted kimonos and line tricks in the weave.
Gotcha.
8. What do they eat? Preparing both cooked and uncooked meats, even a couple of live animals. Tea, sake, fruit, rice, cookies and mints. Whatever you feed a great state luncheon, and still planning for possibility the dragon might refuse to eat like we do
The black dragon, you are able to learn from men who study such creatures, will want horribly rancid meat, lots of it, preferrably meat that's been kept to rot at the bottom of a vile swamp for a few years. The more bones and fur and horns and whatnot the better.
9. One other informant to get me as much of the dragon's full name as possible, so I can have the heralds pronounce it correctly.
That, unfortunately, no one will be able to do for you. Names have capital-P Power and an ancient Black Dragon like this would have learned that lesson many centuries ago.
What does the Scarecrow want with these gaijin goods? Do you think his motives are political, or simply to embarrass the Empire?
When Imuri gets his answer, or it becomes clear Daisuke does not know, he will ask, What is the nature of tomorrow's errand, then?
What I meant about the dragon's name is whatever name he goes by honorofically. If his true name is Da'alxerindos, but he goes by Rathoragnifus the Razor, then whatever his 'known by' name is how we want to honor him.
What does the Scarecrow want with these gaijin goods? Do you think his motives are political, or simply to embarrass the Empire?
"On my honor I swear I do not know. I assume the painting must have great value, being an art thief seems like something he would do."
What is the nature of tomorrow's errand, then?
Daisuke's eyes remain fixed on the floor. "To subdue and capture the gaijin Kyras Erodel, known as "The Dragon." I do not know who has ordered this, but I am to be paid handsomely to carry it out. He is staying at the Golden Dragon Inn and is a large and easy-to-spot man from Warbane. I was not going to send students for this, but more skilled...warriors."
Hahaa, yay! Zero more dollars!
** spoiler omitted **
D'oh! Daaammnnn youuuuu Helllllllt! *shakes fist at sky*