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Himeko keeps her face even for the duration of Sanefusa's rant. It is unseemly for any samurai to concern himself with profit and sales, but the Unicorn was nobility, so certain allowances could be made. "My lords," she interjects. "My name is Doji Himeko, yoriki in service to Doji Oruku, and these," she gestures to the rest of the samurai present, "Are my companions. We came as soon as we had heard of the trouble here. How can we be of assistance?"
Himeko steps forward and gestures to the samurai behind her. "Please stand aside." she adds to Hideyoshi's statement. The courtier puts some measure of steel behind her voice. To allow an argument now would waste more time.
I'm back! Catching up now.
Himeko accepts the tsangusuri with all the grace and hospitality hammered into her during her time at the Doji school, but in truth, she was disgusted. This exchange represented the part of her Clan that she cared the least for: adherence to ceremony, even in the face of urgency. While the tea is being prepared, Himeko leans towards Oruku. Using her fan to block her lips, she whispers: "I apologize for my boldness, Oruku-sama, but surely we have more important things to do? An oni targeting our Clan runs free in the city and a tattooed man has stolen a sacred sword. I fear that the more time we spend here, the colder the trail will become."
Just read the minefield Katsuyoshi gave us. I'll try and have a diplomatic response up in the morning.
= higher than 10
Himeko returns Xiaoxing's bow, matching its depth. "I am glad that I could be of some assistance. Without your blade, I surely would have met my end, charging foolishly into that abomination's claws." When Himeko gets a chance, she will check on her man-servant. "Teju, are you unharmed?"
= 11 Himeko remains silent during the gift exchange. Her companions had already refused the gifts an appropriate number of times. To interject now might be seen as too ingratiating. Instead, she observes Doji Ukidanu, wondering if she knew the elderly Crane.
Himeko grimaces with the snapping of Usija's wakizashi, but there was little use in despairing over broken honor. Holding herself in a position to cover Xiaoxing's exposed flank, she stares balefully at the oni. "There are others in need further down the hall. They might be in danger. We should help them before dealing with this." She mutters to the Unicorn.
Himeko recognizes the wakizashi and points at the podling. "Xiaoxing-san, that's Usija-san's blade. He must be in trouble." The courtier moves beside her bushi companion, hoping to protect her after the violence of the Unicorn's attack.
Himeko wakes with a start. She quickly takes stock of the situation and decides that she would be of better assistance upstairs. Xiaoxing-san couldn't go alone and Teju was up there. "Protect Oruku-sama." she demands, before following the Unicorn bushi up the stairs. She feels a tug on the hem of her kimono as one of the tiny oni grabs at her, but she pulls free with a rip.
Himeko walks through the Crane magistrate slowly, as if in a daze. The air was stiff and unnaturally quiet. When she sees the prone guard, she stifles a gasp and moves forward to see if he is alive.
"Did Anitano-san have family? Where is his sword now?" Himeko interjects. "If this 'Fade' character is as tenacious as he seems, perhaps that is where the next blow will land."
I won't be able to post until late tonight. Sorry! Also, welcome Hideyoshi-san!
Himeko will take the chance to wash and change, sending a servant from the onsen to the Crane Clan estate for a fresh, more functional kimono. The torn and blood-stained kimono she had burned. While she soaked, her thoughts turned to the dead eta boy, a life she had gambled with and lost. Surely his sacrifice in service to the Crane would bode well with his reincarnation and the bandit had been apprehended, but what could she have done to save him? The thought is still on her mind when she returns to the inn. With its tighter sleeves and looser flow, her pale blue kimono is designed more functionally than her last, more stylish outfit. Her hair is much less ornate as well, tied into a simple ponytail that drapes down to her back. She is quiet at the table and sips her tea slowly, only mentioning that: "I pursued one of the bandits through the eta village. I stopped him, but not before he killed a boy."
GM Onnotangu: As the Thunder Guard begin to take the bandit away, Himeko will lean in and snap her fingers for the man's attention. "Why you were desecrating the morgue? If you tell me, I might be able to save you from further pain."
After receiving (or not) a response, she turns to the kaisatsukan. "Please inter him for questioning. Oruku-sama might have more to ask." With that, she turns and heads back to the Inn of the Orange Blossom. She looked frightful, of that she had no doubt. Her kimono was covered in blood and her hair would be a nightmare. Carefully, she reaches up and undoes what remains of Teju's hard work. Her ebony hair cascades down to the small of her back. She tears a clean piece from her ruined dress and ties it up into a functional pony tail. A tad crude, but it couldn't be helped.
GM Onnotangu:
Finally seeing her chance to end the pursuit, Himeko doesn't hesitate to plant her fist in the jaw of the bandit.
= 23 -Posted with Wayfinder
Himeko internally chastises herself for letting her jiujutsu become rusty. She prepares herself for another chase. = 17
-Posted with Wayfinder
GM Onnotangu: Himeko shrugs off the dying boy, sparing only a glance back to the life that she had gambled and lost. His blood splattered across her kimono, but it seemed like a small price to pay for an opportunity to stop the bandit. The courtier darts forward and kicks at the man's ankle.
= 4
GM Onnotangu: Himeko curses and jumps away from the body. She stares in disbelief at the body for a moment before running after the bandit.
GM Onnotangu: Himeko digs in. She couldn't let this man escape, even if it meant the boy's death. It would be tragic, but he was an eta. Her eyes flash angrily. "Killing him will not save you. If you wish so badly to escape, you will have to go through me. His death will be one more sin you must account for. Surrender now and face justice."
GM Onnotangu: Himeko continues to hold her hands in front of her, showing the bandit she held no weapons. "I won't kill you. I'm not even armed. Before we can negotiate, however, I will need you to release the boy."
GM Onnotangu: Himeko stands at the hole torn in the paper wall, studying the bandit and his eta captive. The way the man spoke implied some sort of mental instability. It meant he was dangerous and unpredictable, but he also could be more easily confused. Himeko made some calculations in her head and decided the life of the boy was worth the gamble. Raising her hands so they could be clearly seen as weaponless, Himeko spoke, trying to layer her voice with the authority her time in the Doji courtier school had provided her. "Do you know whose bodies you defiled in the morgue earlier? Their names were Doji Usina and Daidoji Anitano. They were Crane, as am I, and our honor is worth more than our lives. They were also friends of the Crane magistrate in this city, Doji Oruku. You might have seen him in the morgue earlier, slaughtering your friends. He is not finished. So kill the boy. Escape from me. He will hunt you to the ends of the Empire and he will make you suffer for it." Himeko lets the threat sink in for a moment before continuing. "There is another option. Surrender yourself to me and face the justice of my Clan. Tell us all you know and you might find us merciful. You might even be allowed to live. An act of redemption like this could even save you before the judgement of Emma-Oh. Is your escape, is that boy's life worth an eternity in the pits of Jigoku? This is the only path that allows you to leave this life peacefully."
GM Onnotangu: Himeko follows the bandit down darker alleys, keeping track of him by the grunts. She briefly entertained the notion of cutting him off by going through one of the buildings, but it was too likely that she'd lose track of him. She couldn't return to Oruku-sama empty-handed. Cursing her choice of clothing (kimonos were useless when it comes to running through dark, dirty alleys), Himeko continues to give chase.
GM Onnotangu:
Thanks. :D
Himeko races after the balding man heading into the residential neighborhoods. He only had a knife, but a knife could still kill, or even worse, leave a nasty scar. She would have preferred a budoka present to try and subdue the man, but the reality was that her lord had demanded that they not let the remaining bandits escape. The courtier follows an alley that she just saw the man duck into.
Himeko leaves Katsurou to talk with the eta; she had heard enough. She heads into the morgue and takes a moment to survey the situation. The scene before her was madness. Corpses everywhere, viscera flying through the air, and broken men crawling on the ground for loose bu. She couldn't think of a more poetic description for Ryoko Owari. She moves next to Chinatsu, sliding into her mizu-do stance.
Himeko pauses a moment to take stock of her surroundings. She turns to an eta bystander. "You! Tell me everything you've seen here."
Himeko will whisper a quick prayer to her ancestors and plunge into the burning building after Chinatsu.
Sorry about my absence. I've had a busy holiday weekend. I'll get back to my posting first thing tomorrow. -Posted with Wayfinder
Himeko continues Chinatsu's line of thought as to why the creature fled. "It is true that Katsuyoshi-san injured it, but it also nearly killed him. I believe that if it had wanted to, it could have killed us all. Only by revealing a chink in its armor did we have a chance to slow it down." Himeko will help Katsurou in his 'investigation.' While she might take issue with it in court, finding exactly where the demon went could save more lives.
Himeko pointedly ignores the eta. She had little time to waste on non-persons. However, she immediately stiffens when Oruku enters the inn. She takes a moment while he is distracted by the Thunder Guard gunso to straighten her kimono. She knew her hair would be a mess, but that could hardly be helped in such a short time and without Teju. Himeko bows low when she is conscripted by her superior. "Oruku-sama, if I might be so bold, I believe that Usija-san is still in danger. The oni sought only to kill Doji Juzo-san, Usija-san, and Daidoji Anitano-san. When my companions wounded it, the creature retreated into the city. I can only assume that unless it is found, it will bide its time to attack him again." The courtier kept her face even, maintaining her on despite the carnage surrounding them and the horrific topic. "As for the why of the attack, there was little indication. The oni did not speak except through its actions. I am hardly an expert on the Shadowland, but I doubt that the thing crawled over the Carpenter Wall and walked to Ryoko Owari. It was brought her, summoned by someone, or..." Her exposition trails off as she imagines the worst case scenario: that somebody might have given an oni their name.
Himeko sighs in relief with the arrival of the Red Plumes. Seeing that the other samurai were explaining the situation, she turns to Usija. "Usija-sama, you might not know me, but I am Doji Himeko, yoriki to our Clan's magistrate in Ryoko Owari. Are you injured?"
Himeko keeps herself between Usija and the oni. The whistles give her hope that help is coming, but to be sure she begins to shout. "In here! In the Orange Blossom! We need help!"
Himeko slides into her mizu-do stance, careful to keep herself between the horrifying creature and Doji Usija. She risks a quick glance around while the beast was distracted with the ronin to look for other samurai approaching the commotion.
Himeko had seen many horrible things in Ryoko Owari: the bodies of noble samurai left to rot in allies like eta, men and women so addled by opium that they did not care where they were or what was done to them. But this monstrosity... this was different. An oni was something only the Crab on their Wall was supposed to see. Himeko steeled herself for action that her training had never prepared her for, but that her duty now demanded. Noticing that Katsurou and his wife could get Hakiku to safety, the Doji turned her attention to the stupefied Crane merchants. Bounding over to them, she places herself in between the Doji Juzo and the oni. "My lords," she shouts, "Defend yourselves!"
= 30 w/ added exploding die
Doji Himeko rises quickly after the explosion, thanking the Fortunes that she did not suffer the fate of the heimin girl.
Xiaoxing's question snaps Himeko's attention away from focusing on the conversation of her Crane betters. "Thank you, Xiaoxing-san. It was a gift from my sensei congratulating me on my selection as yoriki for the Crane magistrate here in Ryoko Owari. It was painted by Kakita Getai, an artisan that Doji Hoturi-sama is fond of." The courtier smiles demurely, considering the odd-sounding name. "Sheeowshing? Forgive me if I am pronouncing it incorrectly."
= 15 Doji Himeko arrived last, as was her style. If her tardiness bothered her, she did not show it. To show up too soon would imply that she had nothing better to do, an observation that she would not afford her companions. It was also simply not true. Since returning to Ryoko Owari, Himeko had headed straight away to the Crane Clan estate and made herself known to her superiors. She had also taken the time to review any correspondences waiting since her journey to the Crane provinces. Finally, she had bathed, changed clothing, and had her hair re-done. Her attendant, a young heimin named Teju, had seen to the last part. Himeko found that his natural talent for ikebana translated well into arranging her long, ink-black hair into decorative and fashionable styles. Now that all of her pressing matters had been seen to, she stepped into the Inn of Orange Blossoms. She returned Hametsu's grin with a slight smile. Although he was heimin she was fond of the man. She could appreciate another storyteller's craft, regardless of their station. Taking note of the weapon rack, she ducks into the private room and bows before the assembled samurai. Soshi Kongming and Shinjo Xiaoxing, a pair of contemporary yoriki, she knew only by reputation. The pair of mangled Dragons she had met on the road were present as well. Finally, a large man wearing the robes of a monk. His presence was odd, but Himeko did not allow her surprise to touch her face. Perhaps he was the one responsible for this impromptu meeting? Such things happened in legend, but this was simply tea in a small inn. Feeling slightly foolish, Himeko kneels at the table and produces a fan decorated with a painting of birds taking flight. "Konnichiwa, friends. To what do I owe this invitation?"
Sorry! Internet was down last night. Writing up a post now. :)
I like your suggestion, GM Onnotangu. Himeko is in the business of knowing people. Although I did write her as having a magisterial position of some sort in Ryoko Owari. That sounds good to me.
Hello and thanks for the invite. :) I like your suggestion, GM Onnotangu. Himeko is in the business of knowing people. Although I did write her as having a magisterial position of some sort in Ryoko Owari. PS. I added two new skills with my spare XP, Lore: Scorpion & Lore: Unicorn.
On second thought, guys, I don't think I have the time for another game. I'm going to have to pull out. Luckily, I'm sure there are some other people that would love to play.
This is what I have so far. Expanding more tomorrow. Apostate WS - 34
Skills
Talents
Traits
Gear
Corruption: 8 Infamy: 22 Wounds: Charm:The Heretic expects the respect and obedience of those around him. He revels in their worship, praise, and self-sacrifice in his name, and depends upon their assistance. Characteristic modifier: +5 Fellowship, –5 Toughness. Deceit: As all of reality is little more than a matter of perception, truth is a relative concept. This Heretic exploits that philosophy to the utmost. Much of what he says is compulsively cloaked in falsehood. Even in the most strict of circumstances, he feels tempted to colour the truth. Characteristic modifier: +2 Infamy, –4 Perception.
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