Tihn enters to the greeting he is accustomed to. Eyes turn to the door, and then drop to meet his diminutive stature. He approaches the inkeeper, aiding his stride with his staff. When within earshot, he inquires "Luizo asked me to come. Am I the first?"
Jiro approaches the slightly run-down inn. He brushes some of the worst dust and dirt from his clothes before he enters.
He stops at the entry and slips off his slippers. Storing them in his bag, he enters the Inn proper. He scans the room, noting the few locals and the Ratling sitting on his own. He smiles as he recognizes Tihn and moves over to great him.
"Tihn! It is good to see you again! It has been too many years. May I sit?"
I was wondering about the possibility of exchanging 2 of my magic items for something else. If possible I would like to swap the Ring of Evasion for Monk's Robe and the sandals of lightest step for a ring of substance. If not possible, that is fine, just thought I would ask.
I was thinking we could have met while we were both in the Osogen Grasslands. It would most likely have been before the clan was attacked. And perhaps we have run into each other a few times since. Up to you. What do you think?
"Cod stew would be delightful. And tea, please."
Later, "Jiro! It is good to see you again. I didn't know you knew Luizo as well, although I suppose I shouldn't be surprised! Sit, please!"
Ok..thanks anyway!
Jiro bows and kneels at the table. He looks at the cod stew delivered by the innkeeper and asks for an order himself.
"SO how have you been? Still in the same place?"
An older man, short, but hale, stops in the entryway of the inn, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the dimmer light of the interior. He carries a tightly wrapped bundle over his shoulders, which those who know him recognize as the armour he has donned time and time again, even though he rather not he'd rather not have need of it. Along side the main bundle is a second, a long straight bundle wrapped tightly and secured to the side. He must have borrowed the sword again.
His dark eyes are brightly lit and cheery, and he looks around the room with a slight grin on his face, laugh lines showing deeply around his eyes. When he spots the two old friends sitting at the table the grin turns to a teeth baring smile.
He kicks off his simple straw sandles, next to all the others near the door, and makes his way over to the table. He sets down his bundle, and bows low to the two seated men.
"Konichiwa. Tihn-san, it is an honour to see you again. Jiro-chan, I am surprise to see you here. Weren't you at the monastery when I left? Had I known you were coming we could have traveled together, though it seems I might have slowed you down, seeing as you beat me here anyway. I take it then that Luizo-san sent his missives to you as well? I wonder if he'll have contacted other old friends. It will be good to see who turns up."
He gestures to an empty spot at the table, asking an unspoken question, and then setting down his bundle and sitting when invited to do so. When offered the soup, he declines. "Domo, just rice, with a raw egg, and cha, if you please."
From a hundred feet above the inn, Ukyou shifts his sight from the distant plum blossom to the lake and mountains beyond. So different from the streets of Kasai...it is truly another world. He lets out a long, soft sigh as he focuses on the inn. The tiny ratfolk descends gracefully, his clawed feet sinking slowly into the wet grass after the long flight from Kasai. After a moment to shake out his legs and reacquaint them with the earth, he walks up to the inn and enters, breathing in the scent of tea. "Mmmmm. Konichiwa old friends."
The whirl of wings and a great flattening of the tall grass besides the plum trees is all that announces Taizo's arrival. But any being capable of seeing the invisible would have been blessed with the glorious sight of the silver dragon Ayalerill alighting and Taizo leaping from her back.
The Magus offered the silver dragon a low bow of thanks, blinking as she assumed the form of a gorgeous white haired woman and stepped up to kiss him, then launch herself into the air transforming back to her true form mid leap before soaring away into the clouds.
Taizo watches her go, despite the fact he cannot see her, until his own invisibility fades. Then he turns and enters The Sleeping Lion, feeling overdressed in his blue silks.
When he sees his old companions his, rodentine face splits in a grin, that renders it much more appealing, and he approaches, bowing,
"Greetings my nakama, it is a pleasure to find you here. I had hoped when I received word from Luzio that you would have been summoned as well. Has anyone ascertained the nature of whatever it is Luzio feel so certain will catch our interest?"
Tihn's furry brow furrows with the additional arrival.
"Taizo? Not that I'm not glad at your presence, but I cannot help but wonder what the is to be shared with us if Luizo thinks we all need to be here for it."
"Yes, it is troubling that he would feel there is a matter grave enough to call for us all. But if there is some peril to be faced I can name none I would prefer to stand with against it. Has anyone spoken with the Innkeeper's son yet?"
Taizo's brows raise, and he draws his scimitar slowly setting the jet black blade across his knees.
"A good deal, my sword is inhabited by the spirit of one of the Hanado. You all recall Iyashi?"
Tihn fishes out a large piece of cod from his stew bowl and holds it out to a pouch. A rat's head emerges from the opening, takes the morsel and retreats back into the container.
Tihn History check
Tihn Nobility check
Mikko History check
Mikko Nobility check
"The Hanado clan? Sadly not as much as I would like. But let me share." Tihn will procede to discuss what he does know, unless the young man indicates he's looking for specific details. He occasionally confers with the rat in his pouch in a series of squeaks.
You can go with the first two and then Tihn can elaborate.
Akiyoshi looks off into the distance for a moment, a wistful look an his face.
"They were an older clan who despite their former glory days disgraced themselves and were stripped of their titles as a result. Their Mon was the head of a Medusa, if I recall..."
Tihn nods in agreement with Akiyoshi’s recall, and then adds ”I belive their mon was the medusa. Their patriarch at one point, Hanado Tanaka, it is said could turn a recruit to stone with a glance. Though I think that was figurative, not literal. Once it became a symbol for the clan, each branch ended up with its own variant: Sarudo with the howling medusa, Voshu with the mocking medusa and…” Tihn struggles to recall for a moment. A squeak from his pouch prompts him and he finishes ”Ah yes, Dalano with the cross-eyed medusa.”
He continues ”One account that is rarely told, though I find credible, comes from Kadesoda, the historian. He wrote of the branches of the clan warring amongst themselves. Sarudo fell first, for they lacked discipline and were to enamored of worldly pleasures. Their last survivor slayed himself in a brothel. Though, now that I think about it, maybe not the last. He had five daughters who had killed their husbands before disappearing.”
”Then Voshu fell, the naval powerhouse. It was two brothers within the clan warring that caused that demise. Vasapo and Viseno, I believe were their names. A shame, for their lineage had so much honor from when their ancestor, Hanado Pado, was the admiral of the third imperial fleet.”
”The Dalano clan could have gone on to a successful end after the termination of the other branches of the clan, but they brought doom upon themselves. Hanado Barotome was a military genius, but for some reason felt the need to enter into forbidden pacts with demons. Or was it devils? Hmmm. I don’t recall specifically at the moment. But that was the final outrage in the eyes of the Emperor. It was at that point he damned the entire clan and all records were stricken in the public domain, and all public tributes and moments were destroyed or rededicated. Any survivors were certainly not considered noble any more.”
Tihn fishes out another piece of cod from his stew and feeds it to Mikko, before resuming his own meal.
The young man nods as he listens to Tihn: "You have vast knowledge of the Hanado clan. I am humbled by the breadth of your knowledge..."
"My pack values lore, and the Emperor's decree to erase all records of that clan - your clan - did not affect us, for our warrens lie outside of his domain, even though I now happily reside within Minkai."
"Redeeming your family honor is an extremely ambitious aim. Laudible, but formidable. Typically I would wish you luck and finish my stew, but Luizo implored us to hear you out, and for Master Luizo there is little I would not do."
"Please, tell us more. How do you know of your heritage, and what course of deeds do you think sufficent to raise your family again in the esteem of the Emperor? And for that matter, how can I" he pauses and glances around the table at the others "Or any of us, aid you in that regard?"
Taizo glances at his scimitar and nods, looking back to the boy,
"Well this is a goal I share, can I presume you have a way in mind to achieve such a redemption?"
Jiro listens to the others talk about the clans and their falls from grace. Being removed from these types of complications, he does not truly understand the ideas of 'clan honor', but holds his tongue and listens to those around him.
Ukyou raises his tea to his lips, breathing in the aroma and allowing a few warm drops to spill onto his tongue with a bitter sting while he listens to Tihn's knowledge of the clan. Impressive. His furry eyebrows arch further with the young man's admission. "Mmmmm. I too would hear your story." The small ratfolk shifts forward on his cushions, eyes no longer taking in the beautiful scene, but now fully focused on the young man.
"The goal of righting past wrongs is always a noble one. What do you intend to do that might see this come about?"
"It is not wise to speak so openly of opposing those in power, I council more caution in the future, though I do not think you have erred here. I see no problem with agreeing to your terms, and must admit my curiosity would not let me sit this out."
"Caution and valor are not mutually exclusive, if you can impart your meaning more circumspectly with less risk you are more likely to survive and be able to serve your cause. It often takes a braver man to follow the sensible coarse when his heart and passion demand more of him. I am perhaps hypocritical in offering up such advice, but I do believe it."
Jiro listens to the man's plea and cannot help but be moved by his passion and dedication.
"I would be honoured to take part in the exploration of this tomb and helping restore an honourable family to its rightful place."
"You walk a perilous road, and could bring retribution down upon you and all those you care for... however, I too have noticed the need for action in this. I do not know if the Hanado truly can be redeemed, but I will help you uncover the truth. Tell me, what will you do if we discover instead that their fall from glory was deserved, and their honour truly lost?"
"My interest is less in the particulars of high court and intrigue, and more in the well being of the vast citizenry of the nation. If honor is deserved and can be restored, it is a worthwhile pursuit. I see no reason to oppose this venture. And with Luizo tacit agreement on the importance of it, I am willing to actively aid it."
"How far away is this resting place of your ancestors? Do we need significant stores of food to reach it, or is a mere stroll from here? I would infinitely prefer to be able to do this ourselves, without putting honest porters at risk."
Tihn gives the lad a shrug. "If it is merely a day away, then why don't we set out first thing in the morning? We can trouble our host for the evening" he says, gesturing to the innkeeper "To prepare us a few days worth of food that will travel well, and set out in the morning."
Ukyou muses, "Forced them into hiding. An interesting turn of words." His whiskers twitch, "Ah, no matter. I must admit, my curiosity is piqued. Though I admit, I am still surprised to see all of us called to this task."
"I should not have spoken for everyone regarding leaving so quickly. Is that a concern for anyone? Do any of you have misgivings about this venture at all?"
"The fates will steer us as they will; perhaps it was fated that we take on this challenge immediately. Karma."
"I for one have no misgivings about taking on this venture, but I worry for the boy. What I have heard of the Hanado make me believe that their fall was hard, but well deserved. Should we confirm this, the knowledge might haunt him. Honour can be redeemed, and new honour earned, but it may be a long, steep climb from the depths to which the Hanado have fallen."
Taizo, old friend. I have brought the monastery's blade yet again. They are kind to allow me to keep taking it. Each time I swear to them I have no intention of asking for it again, and yet time and again I do. I think they have stopped believing me. Now they just smile. Could you prepare one of your surprises for me to carry within its core?"
Jiro nods his head in agreement to leave.
"I am prepared and am grateful for any supplies you might offer."
Taizo nods and places a hand upon Akiyoshi's borrowed blade chanting the familiar words of his perfected intensified piercing shocking grasp and passing the magic into the blade with a brief flicker of blue sparks as he withdraws his fingers,
"Let us hope it serves against whatever guards this tomb. Personally I think not knowing would be harder for me, at least a man can expunge dishonour he is aware of, perhaps it will spur the boy to greatness, perhaps it will break him. That is up to him in the end, we can but offer our aid."
"In anycase I am ready to travel now, I can simply teleport us to the base of the mountains - we can see them afterall. I see no point in wasting hours."
"I have only what I carry now. Today or tomorrow makes no difference to me..."