From behind him as they walk, "But I still did not catch your name? Did you come here with the Captain?"
@Tokine: The tall half-elf makes an inquisitive noise, then; "Name? Yes. My name. Ah. I am called...Pyang. And I do not know any captains."
As they pass San Pen, in a pleasant, polite, but impassive voice, not how San Pen would ever have known his friend to address him. "Adviser, this gentleman...Pyang, wishes to have a word...then we can continue to my Temple. We should still have time and I wish to show you that Jackdaw painting." She indicates with a nod of her head that she is headed toward the office.
She is also measuring 'Pyang's' pace as she is tempted to slip her glaive pommel between his feet to trip him. How paranoid should I be?..Should I just leave?...Could I just attack him?..Is that what it has come down to?
The morning sun climbs high overhead, announcing the close of mid-day rice and the obligation of the laborers to resume their work. As dozens of servants clean the lawn of the East Shoto Garden, Shoto Imuri sits across the go board from his father, Shoto Situbo. His mother sits nearby with her hands full of scrolls and bound books - plays her company is entertaining for the coming season.
Imuri loudly slaps a white stone onto the board and collects three black ones. His father smiles, the outward sign that he expects his son's strategy, or to mask a sense of frustration. Shoto Maemi continues in her reading, not even glancing at the board when she comments.
There was a time when you could not beat your Father at go one game in ten, Imuri-kun. With that play perhaps the student appears to have become the master.
Imuri indulges in his father's expression for a full second before responding, I have unfair advantages, Mother. I was born a Shoto, and my father is a shogi player. Try as I might, I cannot defeat him one game in twenty. He places another white stone, ignoring his father's pained expression as he collects another five black ones.
Maemi smiles broadly, still not looking away from her books. She seems to be reading them all at once, but imuri concludes she is more likely comparing them for cadence and dramatic effect.
Tell me what you have surmised from the visit by the dragon today, my son. the Shoto matron says. Your father could use the assitance at this point.
Imuri knows this is yet another test. His mother is a nurturing, proud woman. Imuri knows she takes joy in the samurai she leaves behind to take her palce. But always she challenges him. There is always a lesson. He considers once again that just realizing that fact is a lesson by itself. One he knows was taught to his mother also by Yohuro-sama.
Imuri remembers not to lose his focus on his go game. His father is no novice player, and the boy's hope is to gain enough advantage before his father plays his way out of the trap set by his son.
I have learned that he will not ask the Shoto for their support. Not without meaning something else. Situbo capture nine white stones, a gain allowed by Imuri for the greater victory. He feels he has his answer. He is used to mortals cowing to his threats. He learned today there are some that will remain independent of him despite his strength. That the fear and vulgarity he spreads are not enough for everyone. But it also means he knows he will have to fight.
Though the pages turn and her eyes move across them without ceasing, Shoto Maemi raises her eyebrows with interest in her son's words. It seems you have decided how you would advise your elders about the Black Dragonflight.
Imuri picks up a white stone and surveys the board to make sure. His father has the look of a man waiting for his last dawn. Fingering the stone, he peaks without looking up, a habit clearly borrowed from present company. I have said nothing that my parents nor the other nobility did not already know. He slams down the stone and surveys the board a final time. Utz.
His father nods in acceptance. Locking eyes with his son, he grins sagely and says Then you find yourself in excellent company. You will convey our beliefs to the Momoto and Sera families and seek unity with them in this matter. We will then consider our approach. Perhaps with enough strength, the Black Dragonflight will simply exclude Lanzhu from their ambitions.
Imuri bows to his father and then, more deeply, to Maemi. I will do all that the Shoto require of me, my lords. With that, he stands and straightens his daisho. Pray the Fortunes bless my next effort. I believe if the Black Dragonflight or others are tracking this gaijin within our city this week, we must understand his value to them.
He bows again, and is off to Daisuke's dojo.
Captain- Explain yourrself. Why arre you herre?
Captain- Explain yourrself. Why arre you herre?
lots of stuff...
@San Pen and @Tokine: As San Pen reaches out for him, the "Captain" bolts up the street! The policemen all look around inquisitively, not understanding what's going on, but the blue-clad half-elf takes off right after him without a word.
Thieves! Imposterrs!
sinks into the earth, hoping that at a run, he will be able to keep up by avoiding obstacles and rounding corners, using tremorsense to track
Tokine's suspicions blossom in front of her as her companion bolts. She sees San Pen sink in to the floor in front of her, clearing her path to the door. She sees her quarry and yells "STOP!", as she brings her glaive down in a crash, but the bells sound off musically. Inky symbols of restraint and binding curl out of the bells and set off after the blue-clad half-elf.
"Hurk! Oof!" The half-elf suddenly freezes and falls forward, his momentum carrying him a short distance as he hits the ground and skids, tearing his robes. Underneath is beautiful midnight-blue leather armor, covered in tiny gold studs. His hood flies off his head revealing long, shiny black hair, as healthy and beautiful as on any geisha in the city.
When he comes to a stop he glares at Tokine. "What are you doing?! He's getting away!"
"Just once today, I would like somebody to be openly frank with me...In this City...Hah!"
Tokine runs up to where her quarry had fallen, trying not to get left too far behind 'the Captain'. She slams the butt of the glaive down adjacent to the half-elf's head, out of the corner of her mouth she mutters, "Shut up liar." and then in a much softer, sensual, but equally compelling voice, she utters, "Come.."
One inky tendril sets out from the bells to caress the fleeing man.
[ His hood flies off his head revealing long, shiny black hair, as healthy and beautiful as on any geisha in the city.
@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."
DC27
Azami cannot help but wonder why this man would speak so easily about Bethany - and in the first person. That is odd, but nothing immediately manifests as a lie.
Then I will accompany Kyras to Captain Takagami - as it was his orders that I remain with him at all times. I intend to follow those orders until the Captain relieves me of them.
@Tokine: the fleeing imposter stops and turns to listen. "Huh? Oh. Sure, okay. Of course!" He begins walking calmly back towards you, his eyes half-lidded and a sleepy expression on his face.
@San Pen: You hear the fake captain's footsteps abruptly stop and turn to head right towards you!
Surges up from soil to capture the miscreant
Tokine smiles and thanks Shelyn for her gifts. Tokine always finds that words can do more more where brute force fails.
She watches San Pen breach the surface of the street like a shark..so graceful in his element...and like a shark grab hold of his prey.
She turns to the cluster of confused policemen standing back in the doorway. In her polite yet official voice, "Officers! Please come and detain these men!"
Wong Tsai looks from Azami to Kyras to Yohei with obvious unease. He opens his mouth to speak but is interrupted by a rough, crackly voice from behind him.
"Hey Yohei! Buddy! Boss! Hey, you got a second?" Hayato, Yohei's lieutenant, is jogging across the courtyard towards the group. His voice has a particular note of urgency to it.
Wong Tsai siezes on the opportunity to move things along. "Ah! Yes! Well then, Yohei, you'll need to deal with that, won't you. Very good. Come, Azami-san, if you must. You may accompany us." He gives another tight, annoyed (and annoying) little smile, the kind government functionaries seem to be uniquely skilled at, and continues walking towards the palace, away from Yohei.
Wong Tsai leads Kyras, Azami, and his two bored guards through a door Azami has never before encountered. In fact, she can't recall it ever having been there. Walking through strange and dusty hallways that do not look to be at all common paths, it is easy to get a sense that this is a deep secret. A terrible dark foreboding settles over Azami. Something is not right, here.
For Kyras' part, it just looks to him like the emperor needs to fire his housekeeping staff.
Seeming to sense Azami's thoughts, Wong Tsai speaks; "If you are wondering about our strange route, guardswoman, we functionaries have paths through the palace that you warriors do not, as I am sure you have paths that we do not. You need not be alarmed." Despite his words, something is off about these tunnels. There is a pervasive shadow that reminds Kyras of the shifting dark around the hound-creature that attacked him yesterday, and Azami of the feelings of dread before her family was attacked. The group passes cross-tunnels and arches, rooms both open and closed. Odd sighing and speaking sounds can be heard, but no words discerned.
Eventually you come to a solid stone door. Wong Tsai makes a gesture and the door slides quickly open, disappearing up into the ceiling. Beyond it is a small, well-appointed chamber that appears to be a drawing room or sitting room of some sort, decorated with elegant tapestries and with fine furnishings and a day bed. The functionary looks at Kyras and waves him into the room. "Please, Kyras-San, if you could leave your weapons in here. Just set them on the day bed and we can continue."
Kyras spots the hideous creatures, confirming his suspicions that something is not right here. He considers running, but quickly discards the plan. Azami would surely strike him down without a second thought. He needs to get her on his side. From their tea together at the Temple, he is fairly certain that she is not part of this. He weaves together the somatic components for his spell while walking, doing his best not to alert Wong Tsai to his intentions.
"Azami, there is something not right about this place. I just saw a pair of the same daemons that we saw in the Templem just walking with a palace functionary. Take my weapon and be prepared for an attack."
Kyras takes his sword and sheathe off, handing it to Azami. "In my native Warbania, a weapon may only be surrendered to a foe that has bested the warrior. Seeing as I was brought in by Azami, I am bound by honor to turn my sword over to her."
@San Pen: You burst up from the cobbles right underneath the disguised man and wrap up his legs, preventing him from running. As you do so, the police officers respond to Tokine's firm command and rush forward to assist, piling onto both the Held half-elf and the disguised, erstwhile "captain Takagami."
The fake captain is now silent, but the blue-clad half-elf is kicking and struggling. "You don't understand! He's a criminal! That's a criminal right there, and a refugee! A warmonger!"
Yohei stops when he sees his old friend and lieutenent rushing towards him, "Hayato-kun! Yeah, hold on a moment." He turns to Azami, "I'll meet up with you in the situation room Azami-san. Make sure our large friend gets there promptly, I'm sure the Captain is looking forward to seeing him." Turning back to Hayato and letting the others walk off, Yohei claps his friend on the back, "What's up Hayato-kun? Everything okay?"
"Gently men with this one, unless he makes trouble, but take him back to the station for questioning." She taps her glaive on the street and the bells ring in unison, sounding much like a single gong. The half-elf suddenly free from the bonds tries to swing about widely but the officers tighten their grip and lead him away.
"And what of this one..if you are not Captain Takagami." She steps in close, under her stare to she can see that something was amiss.
Disappointed, Tokine gives her glaive a twirl. As the weapon passes before her eyes, her vision swims into a frame of black and white. Every detail sketched with loose fluid ink strokes. People walking by trailed inky lines from their features as they passed. But there was color.
Her glaive shown with gold, her slippers a silky white, her sash a speckled pink and white of granite, her ring a rainbow. These colors she was accustomed to. The same for the colors that painted San Pen and the deep bright glow that seemed to fill him.
But for this Captain-notCaptain is where she bore her concentration.
Her normal vision returns. "He is under the affect of some magics. Deception and illusion most likely. Keep a good hold. Place him in a cell and remove any personal effects." Suddenly coming to realize the situation. "Yes officers..that is what I would do if I fond myself in your situation."[\b] She gives the men a warm smile and a bow.
As the men proceed, she goes to follow with San Pen. She will take hold of a hand as it spins by and give it a small squeeze. [b]"Well done, Dear Friend. What an interesting landscape we seem to have been painted into."
After a few steps with obviously not too much explanation needed. "I will start with the blue man, he seemed talkative, you take the notCaptain, seems he might need persuasion..but gentle, we do not yet know the who..." She stops her sentence and laughs. "I am not sure we know any of the story, but lets at least find out what this chapter is about. Then let's compare notes."
"What's up Hayato-kun? Everything okay?"
Hayato grins back, it always does his heart good to see Yohei. Best. Boss. Ever. "I don't think the Cap'n was gonna bother you with this, but I know you better. Those gaijin you saw in the woods yesterday? The ones that've got guards doubled and increased patrols? Well, they're gone, which I figure doesn't surprise you, but you might wanna see what they left. C'mon." With that, Hayato, starts off at a light jog across the courtyard and out a siege door, into the woods that you were pounding your way across barely 12 hours ago, now. It feels a lot nicer to be on a pleasant -- if focused -- run with a friend that sneaking around with your life in danger, that's for sure.
After a bit, you come to the clearing where the caravan was camped. Two more of your men are there, and they respond to to Hayato's "all-clear" whistle appropriately and smile when they see he brought you with.
"We're glad to see you, Yohei. Something's going on here, but we sure can't figure what."
At first you don't notice anything -- the field looks a bit trampled, but that's about it. Then your sharp eyes lock on to a pattern; the ground color is off. You look closely and...
"Sawdust, boss." It's Hayato. "TONS of sawdust. They were working hard on something, but there are no tree stumps or other evidence they hacked down any part of the woods. It's the darndest thing."
DRA:
We never discussed the refund samurai characters should get if they paid for their diashos when buying equipment. The gpv for magical enchantments comes out of our allotment, and should, but according to the disho feature and the samurai class in most printings, the daisho is a class feature and not purchased equipment. I can combine the extra 645 koku and my remaining money to pay for a wand of dimension door with two charges (of course I have to succeed on my DFU check to cast) and a single dose of blue whinnis poison, so I can hope for unconsciousness. If I get there with no one else there, I will also offer a dose of Shoto poison to Daisuke so he can try to knock the ninja unconcscious, also. We'll see if it works out. Unconscious is better than dead, so we can decide how the Shoto want to spin this situation. I am more than happy to create headaches for you with that once we cross the bridge.
Am I okay, or do I need to think of something else?
Wong Tsai behaves erratically for a Palace guard --too familiar, too straightforward, and for once she wishes for the annoying political niceties of He Mun. At least the falseness was visible. She notes him leaving off "-san" from Yohei's name.
When Yohei heads off to Hayato, Azami's teeth unconsciously clench, following Wong Tsai into the odd doorway. The tension travels through the cords of her neck to connect with the building weight in her chest. Everything is wrong. And despite Wong Tsai's attempts to explain, Azami finds her breathing changing, the itch in the joints of her fingers to reach for her weapon. The shadows, the arches, the places that should not be here...
...and certainly cacodaemons should not be here, their filth a defilement anywhere, but especially the Palace.
At the door, Wong Tsai's words, Kyras' message and offering of his sword to her, Azami turns to face Kyras, taking a step slightly ahead of him. She inclines her head very slightly, reaching her sword hand towards the blade as if to push it back to him, pressing on the crossguard so that the grip nestles more firmly in his hand. "Kyras'-san. she purposely uses the respected title, her grey eyes locking with his and flickering back to the other two guards. You honor me. But you are a guest here at the Palace, and I am sworn..."
This die roller and I are breaking up.
Azami's hand slips to her blade--a rush of satisfaction to be gripping the handle again, flooding her arm as if blood were already running down the katana's keen edge -- draws her katana, pointing it at Wong Tsai, her voice hardening like steel, "...to seek the dawn, and drive away the shadows.
Her arm stabs towards the Wong Tsai viciously, uncaring whether he is a palace functionary or a daemon.
"Looks like they did quite a bit of building..." thinks Yohei out loud as he bends over to pick up one of the small glass vials laying on the ground. "Now, what have we have?"
Studying the strange liquid he grins, "Up for a little science experiment guys? Let's see what happens when I do this..." As Yohei speaks, he unsheathes his wakizashi at his belt and proceeds to pour the last of the liquid out of one of the vials onto the exposed blade, holding it out before him to see if the liquid has any effect.
As Azami pulls away to attack Wong Tsai, Kyras uses her momentum to pull his blade free. His sheathe falls to the floor, clattering as it lands. He takes the opportunity to follow her attack up with his own, stepping up to fight shoulder to shoulder with the strange woman who was arresting him mere moments before. His sword at the ready, Kyras unleashes his own talents in a blast of fire. He grits his teeth, resisting the power of the Dragon as it flows through his outstretched arm and into a fine line of pure flame.
The heat radiates out from him as the fiery line crosses the short distance between himself and Wong Tsai in a mere heartbeat, promising a fiery death and an abatement of the Dragon's bloodlust.
@Yohei: as soon as you uncork the vial, the liquid stops all activity and changes color rapidly to yellow, then a muddy brown. You pour it on your blade and nothing happens. The liquid is kind of stinky -- it smells sulfuric and sour at the same time. It pours like water, with very little viscosity, and runs off your blade and into the grass, harming nothing as it goes.
@Azami and @Kyras:
Sensing something is wrong, Wong Tsai looks at Azami, who he had largely been ignoring up to this point. Catching the flicker of movement as she starts pulling her katana, he flails backwards, sputtering and shouting "Guards! Guards! Detain her! What...agh!" The first guard, who had been in the room dully watching the proceedings, springs to life and jumps in front of the functionary, shoving him back out of danger and drawing his weapon as he does so.
Kyras, however, deftly avoids dealing with the guard by stepping back and sending forth a scorching blast of fire that sears the staggering functionary's flesh.
Howling in pain, Wong Tsai weaves his hands into a complex pattern. "Oh you like playing with fire, do you? Fine! Then let this be your entertainment!" After barking commands in a foul and demonic tongue, the stones just a few feet away from Azami's feet rumble and twist and a 7-foot-tall magma elemental bursts up from the ground, like a terrible primal beast with skin of rock and veins of fire. It roars a challenge, steps forward and swings at Azami, clubbing her hard in the head and burning her badly. A piece of molten lava lands on her shoulder but the quick-thinking warrior shrugs it to the ground before it can set alight any part of her uniform.
Undeterred, Azami then lashes out at the guard who pulled Wong Tsai out of the way, catching him still preparing and slashing his torso badly, spilling his blood out into the hallway. He manages to parry her second attack though, knocking her katana aside at the last possible moment.
The other guard then steps up and slashes Kyras across the leg, drawing blood from the Dragonborn. His companion, however, is not so effective; he swings at Azami and misses, his sword clanging loudly against the stone wall.
Yohei twitches his beak to the side, "Well that wasn't very exciting. I was hoping my sword would turn into an elephant or explode or something. Oh well! Maybe we should take one of these vials back to the Palace, I bet someone around there would know what they are. Either way, I definitely have to report this to the Captain. Hayato-kun, take charge of things here and have the men start fanning out, looking for tracks or any signs of where those wagons went. I have a feeling I might already know, but I'll need to get this potion checked out to confirm it."
With a casual salute, Yohei sprints off through the woods towards the Palace. 'Have to hurry. Have to warn the Captain. If my suspicions are on the mark, those thugs might already be inside the city walls with a caravan-load of trouble!'
@Tokine and @San Pen: the officers take the half-elf and disguised man to the precinct house and detain them as per Tokine's orders. The blue-clad half-elf is manacled to a beam near the door and watched over by three policemen, who remove from his person all weapons they can find. As the two of you walk in, he stares defiantly, raising one eyebrow in question as San Pen trundles back to the holding cells. Turning his head from the Xorn as he vanishes behind a door to Tokine as she walks up to stand over him, the half-elf glares back defiantly. "That man is a criminal. You should have let me have him."
San Pen stands before the bars of the cell where the fake Captain sits. There are three guards here, as well. The prisoner stares levelly at the Sifu, betraying no emotion.
@Imuri: Disguised, you shamble up to the Dancing Crane dojo that Daisuke runs. It is even shabbier by day, if such a thing were possible. You pass groups of keikogi-clad students, the familiar grey of these less-than-honorable criminal acolytes causing you to shake your head, internally if not outwardly.
Daisuke is inside with three others who are obviously his paid student/thugs -- Big Hat, Jade Tusk, and Gallows, each one's appearance comically married to their outsized monikers. Big Hat and Gallows are both small, athletic women. Gallows wears a noose around her neck, though you believe it is more than initially meets the eye and not just a prop. Big Hat is indeed sporting a big hat; an oversized tophat. Jade Tusk is a brawny half-orc who appears to have lost a tusk at one point and had it replaced with one made all of jade. By its appearance you'd hazard it was magical.
Daisuke sees you and gestures at the other three, who step back and disappear calmly into the back room. He then walks outside, closing the door behind him and speaking to you quietly. "Master. Those three were early. Swift has not yet arrived. I have confirmed reports that Kyras Erodal, the Dragonborn, is at the palace, escorted by Imperial guards. How shall we proceed?"
Ignoring his comment for the moment, Tokine composes herself and her attire after the brief tussle in the street.
She gives a small short bow and smiles to the officers. "Well done men. Thank you for your assistance."
Turning to the Half-elf,"I would like to think the shackles are not necessary, but you have already lied to me once. Act in a rational manner and we can have a reasonable discussion. The other man is detained, safely in the care of the Sifu. Do I have your word you will behave as we sort this matter out? As a show of good faith...."
Tokine produces a horsehair brush and an ink bottle, dipping the brush, she leans forward and dabs at his robe. She softly sings a refrain from a peasant working song.
"Good, then perhaps we can start again with out all this aggression and lies. She will sit. Then indicates the officers should release him. She nods to a chair across from her. "One of you fine men, if I could get some water, or even a cup of tea?."
She will then turn to the half-elf. "Anything for you?...Please, I am sorry for how all this has unfolded. I do not want you to think of yourself as a prisoner. But things are on edge with the Inspector's murder last light and then subsequent attacks on me and the Sifu. So your deception and erratic behavior has brought us to this moment."
"Hopefully a few simple questions will clear this all up. We can start with you real name? What are you doing here? What was your role at the Palace last night? Then we can move on to the other prisoner."
As she finally turns all her attention to him, she notices the hair...the blue hair...a small streak, but unmistakable...but first things first...What is going on! she wants to scream, but gives him a disarming pleasant smile.
Hrrrm. Now I must begin a distasteful rround of questions. It is on me to deterrmine who you arre and what you arre doing herre. It would allow both ourrs souls some rrespite if you would answerr without rrequirring me to make and carrry out the usual thrreats.
Believe me, I will cause you harrm.
With the sudden violence, especially taking a cut from one of the guards, the Dragon roars to be free. Kyras pushes the malicious creature back, but it is only a matter of time before he has to give in. Knowing that the Dragon will fight with little regard for their shared body, Kyras casts a shielding spell to protect himself. He conjures a shield to intercept their attacks before affixing his eyes on the elemental. The Dragon pridefully whispers in Kyras's mind, "That one, the strongest! Leave the fodder for the mortals."
AC: 23
Spells: 6/7 1st, 3/4 2nd
Rage: 8/8
@Tokine: The half-elf looks at you intently, and listens as you speak. When you finish, he takes a deep breath. "I am Deinor. Deinor Maren." When he says it, his voice takes on an achingly familiar lilt that's gone before you can place it; it's like he has to sing to say his name. You know you've heard that kind of speech before.
"I was invited last night simply as a guest to fill the room, but I brought with my own purpose, as well -- to root out members of the Plum Blossom cartel like that bastard you have in your holding cell, there. They are sinking their hooks deeper into the palace staff with every passing year."
@San Pen: The prisoner's belongings sit outside the cell on a small table where two more police, aside from the guards, are going through them. You already spot a Hood of Disguise (which of course explains his appearance), two magic daggers, two magic shuriken, and a healing potion.
Without his Hood on, the man before you appears...unspectacular. He is quite muscular and lean, but of small stature. His hair and eyes alike are black, like 98% of the population. His height, appearance, weight, bearing and manner are all utterly unremarkable. He could, you realize with a sudden concern, be anybody.
He does not respond to anything you say, just stares levelly ahead at the middle distance. His breathing is very slow and regular.
The drab dojo captures Imuri's full attention as he surveys the walls and corners for any sign that other occupants hide within.
As his eyes search for clues and his mind processes his new surroundings, the samurai also takes in the words of his recent accomplice, recognizing the telltale signs of rudimentary deceit.
@Imuri: Your sharp eyes survey the scene, no detail escaping you. There can be no one else hiding within; the walls are too thin, the floor too low. It is possible someone could be on the roof with a listening aid, or there could be an additional person in the backroom who was there before the other three entered. You can spot no other likely hiding places.
As for Daisuke, it is clear he is telling you the truth, or at least believes he is. His body language is rigid and clear, his words completely unadorned and straightforward.
@Azami and @Kyras: Wong Tsai once again swirls his hands in the air, creating a strange pattern and tearing a great rend in the fabric of reality. "The emperor shall hear of your treachery, Ito! And your complicity, Drrrragonborn!" The last word, a big, fat taunt at Kyras, hangs in the air as the conjurer steps into the dimensional rift and vanishes, leaving the two gaijin to face the guards and the enraged magma elemental.
The elemental tries to club Azami again, seeking to smash her head against the stone wall, but she is too fast for the creature and ducks its clumsy haymaker. Stepping up, the redheaded warrior lashes out again at the guard before her, but now that he is in his stance the dungeon guard is proving to be as capable a foe as any and he parries both her blows.
The other guard makes another attack on Kyras, seeking to bring down the Dragonborn Erodal, and slices another rend in the big Warbanian's flesh, drawing more blood. The guard seems to take no joy in his work, instead simply focusing silently on the task at hand.
The other guard, wounded by Azami and still bleeding badly, scores a hit on his foe, gouging a chunk out of the redhead's shoulder.
The Dragon roars in rage as Wong Tsai teleports away, fixing his eyes on the elemental. His voice is low and primal as his skin morphs into red scales and his eyes turn as black as the Dark Tapestry. "You think you know FIRE? The heart of a dragon burns hotter than a mindless creature can possibly imagine!"
Gripped in rage, the Dragon overswings as he steps towards the elemental, driving his blade into the floor with the power of his downward strike. He spits a bit of fire out of his mouth as he growls in his burning rage. As he pulls it out of the floor, leaving a huge gash, he growls a demand at the guards: "WHERE DID HE GO?"
AC: 21
hp: 45/75
Spells: 6/7 1st, 3/4 2nd
Rage: 7/8
Current Effects: shield, 6 minutes
goes over to the door where Tokine has the other prisoner
The otherr gentleman rrefuses to talk. Perrhaps my questions must be morre forrceful.
What do you have to say forr yourrself?
@Tokine: The half-elf looks at you intently, and listens as you speak. When you finish, he takes a deep breath. "I am Deinor. Deinor Maren." When he says it, his voice takes on an achingly familiar lilt that's gone before you can place it; it's like he has to sing to say his name. You know you've heard that kind of speech before.
** spoiler omitted **
"I was invited last night simply as a guest to fill the room, but I brought with my own purpose, as well -- to root out members of the Plum Blossom cartel like that bastard you have in your holding cell, there. They are sinking their hooks deeper into the palace staff with every passing year."
** spoiler omitted **
"Plum Blossum is a name not unfamilier to me, or the late Inspector. What is your stake in their activities?..." She cuts herself short as San Pen enters the doorway, throwing him a curious smile. "Oh..San Pen this is Deinor Maren, he was about to explain his strong dislike of the Plum Blossom cartel."
The weathered wave man approaches the door to the room beyond and curtly addresses the other three. Each of you seeks to right the ship of your life or to maintain the lifestyle you desire. Today is an excellent opportunity, with two targets, and very little extra risk. If you can be counted on, you will reap enough reward that you can take measure of your life and begin again, if that is what you wish. For now, all you must do is wait for the rest of our orders. Have tea or meditate until I draw my blade. Then join me if you wish to prosper.
Imuri fits his hand on his blade in one of the deceptive iai maneuvers his dojo teaches, and slides open the door to the room beyond.
DRA:
@San Pen and @Tokine: Deinor watches San Pen closely as the xorn closes the door to the holding area and approaches. "Didn't get anywhere with him, did you? He's probably not even human, you know. Probably a summoned demon. Or a construct, or worse. If he is human, he probably had his tongue removed. They know better than to send anyone who can talk, or who can be read with mind magic." The half-elf settles back, his face set in an expression you might see on a petulant teen. "The Plum Blossoms want a puppet emperor. They don't care who sits on the throne, they just want him under their thumb. Slowly, for hundreds of years, against our best efforts, they have been infiltrating the palace staff, until now you cannot tell who in the staff is truly loyal, and who serves two masters. Rooting them out gets harder all the time."