Tokine-san, such an arrangement can be a powerful tool. Supposing we could hear what the enemy hears, and communicate false information to them. How would we usurp the ritual?
"There is that possibility, I suppose. It is sort of why I wanted you to leave it under such dubious circumstances. If they do not know we are aware of them, there is a chance to use them against their creators. But I don't know exactly what they are doing. And they are not well disguised, blatantly showing a maker's mark. They seem to want to insult us as they spy upon us."
"You now understand what I had trouble putting into words. These descendants of the Chan, the humans in blue, are here in the city, there is one here tonight in the palace. Today I..." was that really today? "..I mean, San Pen and I confronted one of these blue-robed Chans as he fought with some living duplicate of a police officer."[/b] Here Tokine's eyes look to Imuri remembering his questions about the palace functionary.
"He claimed his order is devoted to preserving the Empire. But I have a suspicion that it is a different Empire than one that would have our illustrious Emperor as its leader. The Duplicate he treated like an abomination. The 'thing' resembled the officer, but had no tongue with which to talk. Unfortunately the police station was destroyed in the initial attack today, allowing the Chan to escape and the duplicate to be crushed."
"But it all comes back to these paintings. I think they mean to follow the Telestari or learn their secrets, [i]from[i] these paintings..I have heard them referred to as maps. Either result, I fear, will be bad for the Empire."
She scans the crowd, briefly glancing upward at the antics of the black dragonflight - unable to divorce this revelry from her memory of them earlier this day, during the false attack. Unthinkingly, her hand brushes her nose to clear it of the onslaught of the perfumes and other smells.
A head gesture to Kyras and Daisuke lets them know to follow her. She steps ahead, beginning to press a path through the side of the crowd in order to reach halls by which they can progress to where they are expected for dinner. To Kyras, she says,"Stay close. Once at the meal, I will have to separate from you and take up a guard position." It doesn't occur to her that she has not eaten since breakfast.
When they do arrive at the hall (assuming they are not waylaid), Azami murmurs to one of the servants outside that another chair should be added for Daisuke, sent by the Hoshi.
Daisuke follows Azami and Kyras into the palace, subtly watching the crowd as he travels.
For a ronin sellsword, he seems strangely at ease in the environment.
Bluff
Looking out for anything suspicious or dangerous:
Perception
Watching Azami and Kyras:
Sense Motive
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Chu looked stunned for a moment as he tried to digest what he had witnessed, the whole event was simply amazing to him. Tokine's voice though called him back to reality, he would have to dig deep into the archives to find out more about what he just witnessed. He kneeled back by the Kotatsu and delicately handled the ancient Telestari scrolls. "I can understand how that would be hard to explain... These descendants of the Chan will have to be dealt with, no matter there agenda. They cannot be allowed to duplicate our officials and threaten citizens of the Empire. This is all quite disturbing and I am glad you brought this to my attention." After rolling the scrolls up he locked eyes with Tokine, his pupils were barely perceptible slits surrounded by molten gold. "Now... Do you know the whereabouts of Sifu San Pen? Did the Chan take him after the fight?"
He looks to Imuri as well, for the first time since they entered the dim counsel chamber Chu looks deathly serious as he asks Imuri. "Do you know of any other strange happenings occurring in the empire?"
Imuri smiles diplomatically, the events of the day falling off his face to reveal the placid expression of a practiced courtier.
I know of many things, advisor-sama. I know that a man named Wong Tsai has several duplicates in the city and tonight's events keep me from extracting truth from him. I know that a major crime syndicate appears to be embroiled in either treason, or an attempt to save the Empire. And I know that my duty is about to create conflict with many whom I would call allies.
He continues, We have no shortage of strange events, sama. WHat we need are answers and allies we can trust, so we can pursue their honorable end.
"I am not sure the Chan and the duplicates are the same, but they both must be dealt with."
At news of San Pen missing, Tokine's face loses her composure. "What do you mean, he's missing? He survived the attack this afternoon, I saw him leave for the palace as I left for my temple. I fully expected to see him here tonight so assumed he must be off on the Emperor's word. The Sifu was formidable and unique in his...abilities, what could have happened to him?"
Kyras involuntarily growls. The artifice of this place is appalling. He grinds his teeth thinking of the Black Dragonflight being welcomed as honored guests instead of killed on sight. After hearing their secret orders earlier in the day, there is no doubt that their allegiance is to no one but themselves. A voice drifts from his consciousness, an envious thought from his other self. 'We should stand at the head of their army. We can make them follow us, if only you would let me take control of them. It is our birthright. They are weak for all their strength. We are strong for all your weakness.' Kyras ignores the voice, though noting that the Dragon seems strangely sated.
He leans over to Azami to whisper to her. "Yeah, let's just find Tokine and tell her what's going on. After that, we can find Shoto Imuri and find out where he has my sister. I can stand to skip the meal. I'm... not hungry." He doesn't mention that he's been trying to get the coppery taste of blood out of his mouth since they fought Vu's mercenaries.
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Chu remained calm and collected as he digested each answer, the Sifu's disappearance saddened him greatly but the Shoto's answers caused him to pause for a long moment before speaking again. "The Chan and these duplicates will be dealt with especially if they threaten our Emperor, May he live forever. With so many enemies and plots encircling the empire, it is no surprise that the Sifu has vanished. I won't be surprised if I too an targets, but so long as the Emperor remains safe, I welcome them to try. As to what could have possibly happened I had hoped you knew." He turned to Imuri then. "Wong Tsai, you say, has multiple duplicates of himself in the city? I will try and investigate this as well, I wish you luck Shoto Imuri in your extraction of the truth." He didn't expect the to hear what would be obtained from the interrogation, but as long as the Shoto served the Empires best interests, Chu didn't care. ome would say he could use his position to demand such information but that would make gaining the Shoto's trust impossible, if he wanted to offer Chu information he would. That would have to do for now.
"I will see what I can find out about the various crime syndicates as well. I hope that we find Sifu San Pen and return him to serve the Empire once more, if they have harmed him in anyway..." Chu couldn't say what he truly thought, but his emotions betrayed him as his claws enlarged suddenly.
When he spoke again it was in a cold and calm tone. "They will find out that my wrath is long lived and not easily avoided."
Azami considers Kyras suggestions, her eyes narrowing in thought; the Emperor had said that he would see them at dinner, that they should find Bethany Erodal, and that she should keep him safe. And then, he would send them away...
She speaks low to Kyras, turning to scan the crowd again, still not seeing any of the people missing. "We only have a short time to attempt to find them before the gong for dinner sounds. I do not think either Tokine-san or Imuri-san would go so far as to be absent for this circus." The irritation of dealing with a social gathering momentarily floods her tone before she clips it back. "Follow me - perhaps they have sought a quieter space nearby." Or have been abducted into the Palace.
@Daisuke: You are not at all surprised when, as you scan the room, you feel a very slight tug on your belt. You make no move, give no indication that you noticed any such thing. As Azami and Kyras begin striding through the crowded room, you take the opportunity to pull the scroll container off your belt, the one that was just delivered to you.
The Erinyes that is here tonight has amongst her effects a jawbone. You must take it from her. When you get Erodal to the dig site you will know what to do with the jawbone. The Hoshi and the Oda will take care of the rest.
Put this scroll in water to destroy it.
@Imuri: As you were walking with Advisor Chujitsuna, you were able to observe the Main Room from a slight remove, and could see that there were five such arrangements of stones placed strategically around the room in the shape of a plum blossom. So not only are each of the arrangements themselves done to resemble plum blossoms, their overall placement is as well.
@Azami and @Kyras: As the two of you make your way around the edge of the Main Hall, heading towards a staff corridor, there is a rustle of silk and musical fall of voices, and you are separated. You can still see each other, but people are now between you. A small group of courtiers and nobles have blundered between you and put about 10' of space and eight people in between you, and a softly-scented, huge-eyed young woman is standing in front of Kyras, peering up at him from behind her fan.
"Good evening master, I do not believe I have had the pleasure of your acquaintance." Her voice is somehow both soft and strong, delicate as flower petals on the back of your neck but musical and clear like a songbird's call. "I am Kazue of House Oda, what brings one so tall and strong as yourself to our humble city of Lanzhu?" As she speaks with you, Kazue-san is making no effort to hide her frank appraisal of your muscular figure. She moves her fan in elegant little waves and circles, at one point revealing to you a glimpse of her face.
She is shockingly beautiful.
Imuri nods toward the silk curtains separating his company from the larger room. There are several such displays - perhaps five? On is missing its stone, since I took it to show you. It would appear I was standing next to several of them.
Despite the whisper, Imuri's voice conveys urgency. So, they have agents here, but they are still listening. The syndicate is a front for someone else, and the Black Dragons serve an entirely different master, who is also our enemy. Finally, he produces the amulet with the symbol of the Uniter on it, shaking the illusion free as he does so. This was on a member of the syndicate before I kidnapped him earlier today. It's presence here may be useful or dangerous. If it also is magical, or if being caught with it endangers our cause, tell me.
Kyras smiles at Kazue despite himself. He is drawn to her, as any man does to a beautiful woman. Despite everything that has happened in the day, not least of which was the culmination of events that led to him tearing out a man's throat with his teeth, he is of little ability to ignore her, and even less to not flirt with her. "I am Kyras Erodal, Lady Kazue of House Oda. I have come to the Empire because stories of your grace and beauty have reached my native Warbane, and I had to see for myself. Of course, they did not even begin to describe you."
Tokine bends to look at the amulet, again not touching it, when suddenly her head snaps up. "Did you feel that, either of you? Strong divination magic, almost like a pulse. Come, it is up ahead."
Her bells set up a swaying charm as she hurries with purpose down the hall.
Daisuke darts nimbly through the crowd to catch up with Kyras and Azumi, then holds back upon discovering Kyras speaking with Lady Kazue.
He maintains a respectful distance, allowing the noble to carry on her conversation, but close enough to intercede should a threat present itself.
Sleight of hand:
Perception:
Azami rolls her eyes at the sudden separation between her and Kyras. This man isn't going to survive if he stops for every beautiful face in the Empire that bats her lashes at him.
Then, she watches Kyras throw on the charm, as if he's completely forgotten the last two days; Azami grits her teeth with an imperious scowl, marching a straight line through the courtiers to the Dragonborn's side. Her hand wraps firmly around his arm with the unmoving grip of stone.
"Let's go," she says, giving him a hard look of we have no time for this. Briefly, she spares an emotionless glance to Katzue.
@Everyone:
Azami practically hammers her way through the small cluster of people in front her, all of them too terrified of her to even think of intervening, then she unsubtly reaches out and grabs Kyras' arm. Oda Kazue gives a little start as the ronin suddenly, brusquely, appears at her side, and at the frightened little cooing sound she makes, every male heart in a twenty-foot radius utterly melts and all eyes turn to stare pointedly at the crimson-haired gaijin guard committing a heinous breach of palace protocol.
If she is aware of the tremendous liberty Azami is taking with the priveleges afforded her by her station, Kazue-chan gives no indication. She regains her composure with tremendous immediacy, and once again covers her face with her fan, revealing only her enormous, dark eyes, accented so tastefully by the smallest necessary amount of cosmetics, though even that seems to be an unnecessary flourish, applied more as a matter of routine done out of respect to the occasion than any need for such artifice.
The talented young scion of ancient House Oda places her soft hand over Azami's and looks her in the eye. "Oh! He must...go? But we have only just begun to converse! You are wise and well-traveled, Azami-sama, and know much of the world. I have made no such journeys and would learn from this dashing gentleman more of his homeland, Warbane, about which I have read, but know so little. I would hear more of the stout hearts of the great men of that land, and their deeds, and from the mouth of a native, if you could but see your way to granting us a paltry few minutes before the Function proper begins."
Her fan moves as she speaks, and you see she is giving you a heartbreaking smile, her eyes sincere.
Sleight of hand to trash the scroll
Stealth to slip out unnoticed, primarily by Azami and Kyras, who would be the most distracted anyway
(I'm not skulking the in the shadows or doing anything that would appear particularly suspicious unless you expected me to be glued to Kyras, I'm just trying to leave the room as quietly and nonchalantly as possible so as not to attract Azami's attention.)
@Daisuke: It would appear that this is your lucky day. Just as you fumble the scroll, dropping it gracelessly into a decorative fountain, there is a gasp from near where Azami is that distracts everyone around you, causing your disposal of the scroll to go unnoticed. You see Azami and Kyras and young Oda Kazue in some sort of stand-off. They are too far for you to make out what is being said, but it is clear the crowd favors Kazue-chan, not that that surprises you in the least.
The scroll fizzes softly and immediately vanishes, leaving no trace it ever existed.
Imuri has clearly seen you dropping the scroll into the water. You are not sure about the curator or the advisor.
1. at the end of the hall, in the direction Curator Nagano is walking, there is a shadow with glowing eyes. It is obvious she sees it as well.
2. in the Main Room, a ronin bearing the mon of Clan Hoshi klutzily drops a scroll into a decorative fountain. The scroll fizzes softly and then vanishes. No one else has noticed this. You see that the Hoshi symbol this ronin is wearing is the temporary sort given to sellswords in temporary employ.
Daisuke stops suddenly, turns, and heads down the hallway toward Tokine, Imuri and Chu.
"Curator Nagano!" Daisuke stops and bows formally, "I am Daisuke, a ronin, currently in the service of House Hoshi. It is a great honor to meet you. I have just come from the Temple, and I must compliment you on you on the quality of your collection."
He bows to Chu and also to Imuri, "My lord Imuri, also a pleasure. I believe you are acquainted with my associates."
Bluff (I'm not actually very interested in Imuri or Tokine at the moment.)
Perception
Sorry to bombard you with questions, but this is an incredible challenge, and a ninja must be invisible.
While it is true that he is loudly addressing you, you are able to intuit that he doesn't actually have any interest in you, and it is difficult to discern just what exactly he's after.
I'll wrap my skill based stuff in individual spoilers from now on.
Amidst the battle of veiled politeness (which Azami seems to be losing), Kyras hears Daisuke calling out to Tokine. He does his best to withdraw from the current entanglement (as much as he would like to be entangled with Kazue) and make it to that conversation. "It seems that it will have to wait. We have a prior engagement, which she is quite impatient to get to." As much as he tries, her breach of protocol is severe, and his words have little success at smoothing the situation over.
She'd had no intention of addressing the Oda House scion, hoping to extract Kyras from his flirtatious interlude and continue on their way. But then Kazue places her hand on hers, looking Azami brazenly straight in the eye as the diminutive beauty wraps the soldier in a jūnihitoe of insults. Azami bristles, giving a short, tight bow, trying to say something that will end this interaction smoothly...and failing. "Oda-sama, with war imminent, I am certain that soon the whole world will come to you."
Azami turns to leave with Kyras, realizing she also heard the name of the curator.
Imuri all but ignores the ronin who approaches him, bowing politely, but quickly straightening and gliding to the end of the hall. As he passes, he murmurs in one quiet breath, practicing on of the many drills of diplomatic behavior his mother taught him.
He sweeps by the entourage, noting the presence of Erodal and the ronin Azami. His voice registers for only a few inches, aimed and timed perfectly with his bow. Come with me ronin. Explain the business about the scroll or I will have you arrested and arrange for you to stay as a guest of the Shoto. Do not try me.
The tall samurai steps quietly ahead of the Curator, aware that any display of urgency will be noticed by the throng, but concerned about the spy in everyone's presence.
Daisuke follows Imuri, smiling. As they walk, he gestures toward an intricate wall hanging.
"This piece, here, what does it say to you?"
Turning toward the artwork, and away from the crowd, he whispers to the noble, "You are most perceptive, my lord. I'm gambling that are you also wise. We all keep our secrets, and if you would not kneel before gaijin conquerors, you will preserve mine."
Tokine bows to the ronin, he seems to have refinement, but her mind is elsewhere. She continues to scan the hall and is glad when Imuri takes the lead, drawing the man off. Free to concentrate, she looks around again and spots Azami and Kyras with Oda Kazue, and Amami seems to be...oh my.
Tokine suppresses a giggle as she sees the looks Azami garners as she pulls Kyras through the crowd like a plow behind an oxen.
The ronin notices that Imuri does not slow down for the painting,but continues to walk toward the end of the hallway.
So be it, Hoshi-san. There is nothing a spider likes less than a flurry of flies in his web. You will explain later, but I warn you that treachery is rewarded by my family like no other.
Imuri strides immediately to the end of the hallway, toward the prying eyes of the shadowy figure there. His right hand drops to his katana, and for not the first time, Imuri silently thanks the Fortunes that he is left-handed. He thumbs the pommel out of his saya by a fraction of an inch, through the loose sleeve of his kimono.
Imuri weaves between functionaries and diplomats, smiling impoersnally as he darts between them. But as he uses their presence to shield his advance down the wall, his eyes remain steadily on the figure ahead of him.
You see what is ahead, Hoshi-san?
Observing Imuri's deceptive posture, Daisuke similarly dodges between several guests before returning to his side a few feet ahead.
"Hai."
The word is barely more than a grunt, but from Imuri's distance it is clear.
Oda Kazue cannot help but look puzzled at Azami's less-than-stellar attempt at a put-down. Her confusion lasts only a moment, though, before her fan resumes its fluttering and she giggles, a silvery and alluring fall of sound. With dancerly grace, she steps lightly aside to let the brawny westerners thunder past, her courtiers and followers and admirers and hangers-on following her lead and parting before Azami and Kyras' passage, the act of which of course merely calls more attention to them. The bourgeois smirking of Clan Motomo, consternated moustache-stroking from Clan Hoshi, secretive smiles and narrow eyes from Clans Shoto and Sera, all are directed their way. Perhaps worst of all, from the center of the room, the erinyes and the tiefling stand tall, at least a head or two above the crowd, and their obsidian eyes bore holes into the two gaijin as they pass.
The two get to the service corridor in time to see Daisuke and Imuri following Tokine down a dimly lit side hall, leaving advisor Chujitsuna standing at the intersection.
At the far end of the hall is a shadow-shape of some sort, barely recognizable as any kind of humanoid or animal of any sort. Two orange eyes burn in what could, conceivably, be a head. The creature is gliding backwards, floating quickly through the air on some ethereal wind, keeping a consistent distance between itself and the three citizens approaching.
Suddenly, a gong sounds, and the apparition disappears into thin air, flying apart into a thousand slivers of shadow. The gong is the signal that the meal is about to begin, and all those with appropriate invite levels are to enter the dining hall and find their assigned seats.
This would, of course, apply to every one of you.
"Did either of you recognize that ...thing? It disturbs me that its presence coincideds with the magic I felt. I think I know what the magic was meant for.." She turns and faces back to where Kyras and Azami have entered the passageway. "It would not be too much of a stretch to think the magic detected Kyras and the pulse was a summons for that creature."
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Chu's tucks his hands into the open ends of robe, he gives the Ronin a respectful bow. Despite the ronin's actual station.
With the newcomer about Chu decided to speak to Shoto Imuri and Curator Nagano telepathically because he had no idea if this newcomer was trustworthy or not. You did not survive long assuming that everyone you met was an ally, that was a quick way to finding a knife in the dark and disappearing into the night.
{You have left me with much to consider and if you have need of me I will be in the Imperial library, if I am not there then I will find you.}
He watched the shadow, just before it dissipated Chu had pulled his hands free from his robes and motes of lights were dancing around his now elongated claws. When it was gone he stood there for a moment watching the hall before dismissing whatever magic was creating the faint light. He tucked his hands back into his robes and moved gracefully to another entrance into the main dining room. He was trying his best to not appear at the same time as the others, so they could avoid undue suspicion.
As the gong chimes, Daisuke turns with surprising speed to watch the crowd begin filtering into the dining area.
"No, Curator. I did not. You must convince Kyras to be prepared to leave the palace if anything goes... wrong."
He nods toward Imuri, "I am sworn to aid Kyras in his endeavor. I must turn him toward his goal, and to do so I require a harmless object carried on the person of an enemy of the Empire.
"You have what you asked for. May it please you."
Without waiting for a response, he vanishes into the crowd.
While you cannot be certain that this thing was a Shadougōsuto, it is the closest reference you have. You almost hope you're wrong, since even very strong devils and wizards only summon tiny shadow ghosts, and this thing was very large; the size of a tapestry, and you are given pause by the thought of how powerful a summoner it would take to call such a thing, and keep it.