Kisako follows behind Sam, stopping to chit-chat amiably with people he sees and thinks are popular - in other words, people that look like they know things.
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Kisako muses to himself, touching his hairless chin as he does so. "Investigation...witch hunt...same thing, no? Any dangers involved that you know about that we do not? Surely adventurers are not needed for a simple errand, yes?"
Kisako looks from the card in Sam's hand to the home, and back again. "High Incoo-see-trix...lives here? Where is the palace?" He scratches his head. "We wish to enter?"
Kisako walks over to the table, armor clanking, where he sees Keith and Sam talking. Pointedly ignoring Keith, even though he is standing directly behind the man, he asks Sam, "What is happening now? We have payment and job?"
Ushered back into the inn by his compatriots, even though he's somewhat turned around, Kisako adapts. When Sam and Oswin mention sharing a room, he approaches Cyean. "Excuse me. You would perhaps consider sharing watches with me over the inn's common room or other such place? The building must be kept safe, and with fires spreading with abandon I fear for integrity of building."
Kisako stares at the body - he really doesn't understand. He thought Asmodeus had power? Surely those with power protect those who devote themselves. He is silent and stock still as the crowd buffets him about, and really doesn't seem to be trying to resist them. It takes him a few moments to realize someone has died, and that more people are probably in danger right now. Suddenly his back becomes rigid and his muscles pop as he resists the flow of the crowd. He calls out, his voice ringing loud and clear above the din of riot, "People! Please remain in calm and slowly, quietly disperse to your homes. Your panic will only make things worse."
"I will not take Keith his nose ring." says Kisako, somewhat affronted that his opinion really didn't matter that much. "I will be visiting the Cathedral. Someone else will have to lie for us." Without another word, and ignoring anything that any of his fellow mercenaries have to say, he leaves the flophouse and makes his way to the celebrations. But he isn't there to celebrate, or to take part in the festivities. He's there to see the Cathedral. Kisako has never in his life seen a place of worship as grand. Surely the power Asmodeus possessed must be great, to compel his servants to complete such a word. He stared in wonder. After a few minutes, he shook himself out of his reverie and began to shoulder through the crowd. Surely the inside must be just as grand, and there would possibly be fewer inside to shoulder him around and interrupt his admiration.
"HRMM." Kisako clenches his fists and fumes. This wasn't right. He was a murderer, they couldn't just let him off scot-free, but it was also wrong to kill someone who was unarmed and unarmored and surrendering. Sam had acted like there were only two options, but neither of the options were...were right. 'Is this how justice is done in this country?' Kisako thinks, despairingly.
"I think that pretending there is no difference between a sniveling, piteous creature groveling at our feet and a half-dozen armed robbers threatening us with explosives is nothing other than lying to yourself to make the hard decisions easier on yourself. I do not wish him unpunished, I wish him repentant, and I wish for the truth of the matter. There is something more than strange about this, even if I cannot figure it out." When Sam hastily decides on her own to let him go, Kisako puffs his chest up. "Who gave you that right? Since when are the only options release and murder?" 'You're not a guy?' he thinks, absentmindedly. It's probably best not to bring it up now, though.
"You propose lowering yourselves to his level? Because he is a murderer, we are suddenly allowed to be as well? Is this how things are done in your country?" Kisako's eyes are alight with the fire of a building righteous anger.
Kisako's brow furrows. "What part of 'not up for a vote' was not clear? Are you really prepared to devalue his life so much that raising your hands decides whether he stays here or moves on to the Great Beyond?"
With barely a clank, Kisako appears in the doorway. With a severe look at Sam, he chastises her. "You are suggesting executing an opponent who has surrendered? You dishonor yourselves. A person's life should not be up for a vote." Crossing to the sniveling wererat, Kisako holds his hand out for the wererat's weapon. "Please, your weapon. I will not treat with you while you are armed." If he hands over the weapon, Kisako carefully hands the weapon, hilt-first, to Oswin. "Please hold this." he says. Then he turns to the wererat. With as disarming smile as he can muster and his hands very deliberately not on his sword's hilt, he asks, "So, Jesse. Why did you kill those people? And what is this thing that is not forgotten?"
Kisako meanders about the small room depicting the religious icons. He stops at the alter to Iomedae, looking between the blazing longsword and his own Shizuru - icon around his neck. There was a resemblance there. He wonders how there could be two faiths, so far apart, and yet so similar. Then he hears the crash of flesh and armor on wood. His hand goes to his sword's hilt, and his other hand strays to his back, where his shield is. Kisako is glad to have his lamellar on, this time. He wasn't prepared to take a beating like he had earlier.
"...or whether they were tourists. Customs officials do not have to speak truths, and it is not as if we are in a position to turn down an employment." These words are the first anyone has heard Kisako speak in several hours, and even he is shocked by their loquacious-ness. For awhile, he had just been following Sam and Oswin around, eager to get a few weeks' living wage and happy to have something to do for the first time in a long, long time. It felt good to be given an order. But this wasn't his home. He wasn't a subject. He, perhaps, even had a say in what happened.
Silvered weapons cost an additional 90gp over the base cost, so say...a silvered katana (which is something I might want anyway) would cost 140gp. So no, I'm not wealthy enough. It's fine, I can just hit 'em with spells can tank his damage with my 23 AC :D By the way, I'm moving right now. Into college, actually. My activity will be scant for a couple days, but I'll pick up again.
Kisako, lost in the jumble of negotiations and double-talk, merely leaves the back room, pays for his own room, and heads up to it, plonking his large and heavy bag of things on the floor and locking the door. His ears flop out of the top of his head, and his face elongates. His feet grow into short pads, and he steps out of his sandals with ease. Ginger fur sprouts over his whole body. He looks at a little bottle of shampoo, dubiously. Then thinks about what Sam had said. 'It's going to be a few hours before I'm finished', she had said. Well, he might have enough time. Turning the knob, he steps into the stream of hot water and gets to work.
Kisako just kind of...wanders after Sam, curious as to what kind of "work" is available to ronin in this country. When he proposed a hundred gold for one rat, Kisako fishes in his pocket. Pulling out a few gold pieces, he looks at them. Somewhat distractedly and spacey, he mutters, "Is maybe rat-person problem? If I accept, you will give me more information?"
As disadvantageous as it might be to them, Kisako feels an urge. He's noticed something. "Sir, maybe I give you some advice? Payment model is poor. A person can stay for six days and leave for free. Is that not so?" "Alcohol..." he says ponderously. "I am familiar. Rice wine very popular in my home. You are very generous, Sam." he says, a smile on his face, before he takes the glass of whiskey. Taking a sip, he grimaces. "Ouch, that burns!"
When Sam guesses why he's here, he turns his head away from her. "I would like it if we did not speak of why I am here. Thank you." He spends the rest of his walk in comtemplative silence. Why was he here? I mean, he knew why he'd left, but why was he here? What did this land have to offer him but confusion? If he was a real loyal subject, he would have committed seppuku upon being exiled. He should not have ran away from his home. There was no honor in that. Upon arriving at the inn, Kisako is knocked out of his self-deprecatory reverie by Sam's offer to buy him drinks. "Whizz-key?" he asks, "What is that?"
"His...?" Kisako mutters as he follows after Sam. He doesn't care about the money, but he does need something to do...and maybe this "smart and savvy gunslinger" can help him about what would appear to be his new home.
Kisako grabs his bag, making sure to clean off his katana with the rag before sheathing it and sticking it back across his back. Exiting the train alongside the other train defenders, he takes note of the "inspector" and further note of his pentagram identification.
He wishes he knew more about it, because the pentagram means nothing to him. If only he knew what laws he was supposed to be following, it would make Kisako's life much, much easier. "Maybe there is a bounty out for those creatures? Maybe the danger we went through is recognized?"
And regarding experience, you did say fast track, right? That means we hit level 2 at what...1300 experience?
Kisako purses his lips and lowers his head at Sam's tirade. "I am sorry." he says, softly. "I had not thought that we would be attacked. Armor is in bag." Kisako begins to look about the car, and about the next car. Nobody's answered him about whether or not they're hurt, and now he sees why. The bodies heaped here and there surprise him, if nothing else. He hadn't seen the goblins as any more than a cursory threat. "These ones did not have faith to protect them." His voice is still soft as he kneels to close a dead woman's eyes. "If only we had finished the green things off sooner."
Kisako rubs his remaining wounds. "Ouch." he says, plaintively. "Nobody is hurt, I hope?"
As his wounds knit together from his positive energy, Kisako continues to move forward , moving slowly and with caution. As he moves, he grabs his holy symbol yet again, and a shimmering wave of light bursts out from his body, further healing those around him.
Kisako limps back to the entrance of the car he's in, weakly calling "Wait!"
Grasping the silver icon of the sun with the sword crossed over it hanging around his chest, Kisako closes his eyes tightly, holds his breath for a moment, and then releases his breath. Accompanying his breath is a flash of light energy, billowing out from him.
Staggering from the pain of multiple dagger wounds, Kisako desperately leaps past Oswin and back into the car from which they came. He holds the biggest wound, a gash across his ribs, as he moves, and heavily sits on the carpeted floor of the traincar.
Kisako does a little running start, his feet pattering unusually quietly as he runs, and moves to leap over the goblin.
Soaring over the creature's head, Kisako tucks into a tight ball on the other side of it and does a half-roll, stopping himself with his feet and pushing himself upward, spinning and sweeping his blade around to meet the goblin.
The blade strikes the goblin in the back, drawing blood and leaving a thin line of riven flesh. Kisako smirks a little smugly, satisfied that he's ended the creature's bragging spree so well.
Kisako moves to follow the goblin, dropping the bundle as he goes and readying his katana for further battle.
Kisako balances on the train hitch between Sam and the goblin. When the bundle is shoved into his arms, Kisako stands in abject confusion as to what to do. Then he sees Sam pull on the burning portion, and he tries to copy her.
Savagely, he rips the fuse out of the bundle of sticks and drops the bundle downwards, to fall onto the tracks and beneath the train. Then, heeding Sam's words but remaining silent, the kitsune vaults past and around the goblin in front of him, leaving a firing path open for Sam but still exposing him as the greater target, readying his katana for another strike.
No it won't. Moving into the threatened space of a creature doesn't provoke. Only moving while you're already in the threatened space.
Kisako barely even registers the pain of taking the blow from the little holey knife that the little green creature is holding. Their response to his offer of mercy is known, and so their fate is decided. He raises his katana, the blade flashing in the light as his wrist bends and he bends it towards the green creature's flesh. It only takes a pound of pressure to break skin. This has been drilled into him again and again and again. This was, of course, because one didn't need to use force to kill. It was just a waste of one's strength to put full-armed power into one's blows. And so it was with no small amount of grace that Kisako swung his sword at the goblin in front of him, his keen ears registering that Sam was moving away and beyond his protection to attack further enemies. Of course, it wouldn't do to disengage to move and protect her again. The goal in front of you is always more important.
The sharp curved blade slices through the goblin's flesh like so much butter, and Kisako observes with approval the big human's martial skill as he cleaves apart the other goblins. Only for a moment, though. There's no time to waste. He turns to follow Sam to the other car.
The door is burst open as Kisako is extending his hand, but it only takes him a few moments to process what's happening. In one fluid motion, he raises from the seat, reaching up with the handshake-hand to grasp his katana's handle. Drawing it from the sheath, he moves in between Sam and the nearest goblin .
Kisako's face has transitioned from friendly and amiable to rock-solid in mere moments, and his voice is steel and emotionless as he speaks. "You will not harm anyone here, nor will you have any of our goods. Leave now or die."
Kisako picks up the cards that he's given with fascination, mumbling a repetition of the last word that Sam's said every time she takes a breath, as if he's rehearsing them to himself to remember. "...Parts...thirteen....ace....fisherman..bucket.." and it goes on. Several times during the game, he asks for another repetition of the rules, and he has trouble connecting all of the rules together. Still, when it turns out that his score is higher than Sam's, he beams widely with sincere happiness. "I win!" He says, a grin on his face and a twinkle in his bright golden eyes. "Thank you very much for teaching me. It was fun."
His head snaps to the side at Oswin's words. He doesn't really process the "taking" part of the money, merely connecting the money and the wager suggestion. Still, he smiles again. "Yes, of course. My name!" He extends a hand. "I am called Kisako. What are you called?"
Ohh okay. Hmm. I'll just play along, then :)
Hey Sam, I'm wondering if you're okay with something. I'm assuming that Sam's going to cheat on any game with a wager in order to win. I want Kisako to play for a wager (even though he would NEVER bet his sword and he only has a few gold pieces), but I don't want him to lose out on all of his money or go into indentured servitude with Sam (although he would so be the perfect servant). I'm wondering if, because Kisako's entire divine portfolio is about honesty and honor and austerity, whether he could so subtly effect the game such that your cheatyface ways are foiled and the cards are dealt as normal as opposed to how you'd like it. Like, you'd deal the cards, look at your hand, and think something like 'What the hell? this isn't the hand I wanted to deal myself! This is actually random!'. This wouldn't be any conscious effort of Kisako, he would have no clue it was happening. His aura just influences the world around him like that. Is that okay? Just from an interesting RP perspective? Especially since Kisako would be gracious enough, assuming he won, to just give back all of the money that he won from you to you.
Looking up from his sword when he notices the strange people around him muttering, pointing, and staring at him, he draws a blank as to why. Eagerness leaps into his eyes when Sam offers to play a game with him, though. "You are offering to play a game with me? Of course! Teach me." He gives his sword a final wipedown before sheathing it and threading it through the mesh of the bag that his stuff is all bundled together in. Then he puts his hands together in his lap and gives Sam an expectant look.
Oswin - I was just reading through your fluff and I thought of something - try arm-wrestling Sam. I bet that she can't beat you at THAT. Also, someone's gonna need to collect Kisako if no one wants him to get lost. He's like a fish out of water. He has no idea what he's doing. I'm looking forward to seeing how the GM keeps us together.
Kisako doesn't even say anything as Sam loses interest in him, but just heaves his bag of armor into the overhead slots and sits in his chair, right after unslinging his sword from his back and laying it across his knees. He reaches into the overhead compartment into a backpack that's bundled in there with his armor, pulling out a whetstone and a rag. He unsheathes his sword. Glittering in the continual flamelight of the train's onboard lights, the blade is sharp along one edge, and only carries a slight curve. Black except for the portion that's sharpened, which gleams silvery, it's an excellently-made weapon. First, he wipes down the weapon a few times, making sure it keeps it gleaming sheen. Next, he runs a finger down the blade, carefully and slowly, checking the edge. Then he takes some time to meticulously and carefully sharpen it. He is silent, and his gaze is transfixed on the sword. Nothing else but what he's doing enters his mind, although he has put the newspaper, folded, in between his feet for later. He treats his sword nearly reverentially.
The little woman's words tumble through his head like water off of a falls. So many. What was she even saying? In the wake of Sam's confident tirade of invitations, he could only hold his mouth open and stare for a few moments, before he finally collects himself, gulps, and says, "I...I frequently enjoy Go, but I know not of these games you speak of. 'Gin Rummy?'? 'Hold 'em'?."
Sheepishly showing his ticket to the conductor, Kisako wanders onto the train, feeling as conspicuous as ever.
To the others, he appears human. Approximately 5'6", ginger, with golden eyes and a fair complexion and features, he carries a clanking bundle of armor, with a strange curved sword strapped across his back. He wears soft golden silk clothing, and similar breeches that merely tie in the front to keep them on. Around his neck is a pendant, a silver sun with a curved sword set across it. With a loud jangle of metal, he sets the bundle down on his seat before turning to the boyish girl with the deck of cards (of course it doesn't even compute with him that she's not a girl, or that she could be mistaken as a boy), and asks, his voice lilting and sweet, "Excuse me. What are you doing?"
Yep, I'm here, I've just been out all day, doing interesting socialization things :D Interested to see where this goes, and I'm excited for this opportunity. Kisako would be more interested in a guide and interpreter than a bodyguard. He, like most DnD PCs, can take care of himself. I hope I portray the foreigner thing well enough :D I'll dot gameplay in a moment.
Apologies. I didn't have any information on your homebrew world, so I sort of tried to make it up. Do you have any comments besides that?
And I took the time to make an alias. Hopefully I get in :D |