I am still about here and there so I am willing to see it all the way to the end.
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"Hai, Ikoma-sama." Daichi believed it would have been the same choice given to the unforunate Tonbo by his daimyo, and more then he deserved given the testamony of the other bushi in the group. The Ikoma had shown his respect in his own way to the Dragon by offering the option in the first place when it wasn't required and Daichi would make sure to report as much to the Dragon.
"Of course, Ikoma-sama. I will stay long enough to bear witness then carry the news on the wind to Agemasu-sama." The Mirumoto responded with a respectful bow. He tensed again like a coiled spring and went stone-faced just waiting for the proceedings to end as there was nothing else that he could do for the Tonbo or Ryoko because he had no authority over Ikoma Soaryu in this and it would take more time then the Tonbo had to inform the Dragon Clan.
"No. I do not believe that he conspired with Bloodspeakers at all, Kuni-san. I wasn't convinced after the incident that he wasn't effected by the maho of the Bloodspeaker. Asako-san further convinced me after the fog cleared when she spoke with Megumi and myself about the misguided Tonbo. I will not give her testimony for her so I will await her to delivery it." Daichi seemed finished for a moment then nodded to nothing, "Unless you can prove a prior meeting between the Bloodspeaker at the Inn and the Tonbo it seems unlikely that if Kuni-san couldn't sense the Bloodspeaker then the Tonbo would have no way of knowing him. The incident at the teahouse happened in the wrong order for the Bloodspeaker to have gleamed the knowledge of the Tonbo's obsession to appoarch him. It is more likely the Tonbo followed us in the attempt to speak with Asako-san again and got caught up in the Bloodspeaker's spells." For all that it is worth, Daichi seems to ignore Nagatsuna. Though his jaw is slightly tigthened and he is tensed in away that says he is displeased with Nagatsuna suggestion that he is acting out of mercy or a sense of protocol for the fellow Dragon clansmen.
The Dragon listens patiently as the others recount their tales to the magistrate and finally he makes a tsking noise. "I believe that my companions are entirely to quick to judge the character of a man that they know nothing about. We should listen to the testimony of Ryoko-san in the matter of the misguided Tonbo. There is also the burden of proof of my clanman's involvement with the Bloodspeaker due to the nature of the fog and the unknown abilities of the Bloodspeaker's magic and what it can do to a man's mind. While I do believe his action towards Asako-san are both dishonorable and disgraceful it should be his own daimyo who decides the proper punishment for him."
Nagatsuna, Megumi, Yukari, Edonichi:
Spoiler: "You also should know, Hida-san. That the document that Ryoko-san was carrying has been lost. We searched the area but it does not appear to be present." Daichi says in an absentminded manner after Nagatsuna speaks to the ashigaru.
Nagatsuna, Megumi, Yukari, Edonichi
Spoiler: Daichi contemplates the evidence that Nagatsuna brings in the clothing and stares at them intently as they change hands. Spending a void point for a rank in Courtier.
Spoiler: Daichi has been in a state of quiet thought when the hooves alerted him. He frowned and loosened his daisho set as he peered in the direction of the noise. He glanced at Megumi and almost shrugged. "With the way this journey has been going I would not be surprised by another ambush. I pray that it is Utaku-san but I fear we should be prepared for the worse."
Spoiler: Daichi gives an old armed shrug, "I didn't expect to find it but I wanted to cover all the possibilities, Asako-san. I also doubt finding it on Hida-san but these are the two that had the most access to your person when Ukiyo was trying to take you. It doesn't make sense for either of these two to have it which is exactly why I also asked Kakita-san if she remembers of Hida-san mentioned anything about her clansmen having contact with you while he attacked him. The possibility that it fell is also likely but you and Kakita-san have now been looking into that possibility."
Spoiler: "If you think the letter was taken and not lost, Kakita-san, then we must look at who had access to Asako-san's person. As far as I am aware during the battle there was the battle between the Tonbo and Hida-san. Do you remember if Hida-san said whether or not your clansman who attacked him in the fog had made a grab for Asako-san?" The Mirumoto thinks for a moment, "Either way we can't very well search Hida-san and the other Kakita, but we can have the Tonbo searched."
Spoiler: "You seem to know Matsu-san better then me so I will take your word on it. It appears that after this tragic event the Fortune will favor us with a speedy end to this foul business." He watches Megumi for a moment before turning his attention to Ryoko, "Did you lose something Asako-san?"
Spoiler: "I will be greatful for the company, Kakita-san. I hope the trip will not delay me any longer then it will take the others to find your clansman. Perhaps you would rather pursue them because Matsu-san seems overly eager for vengence for this insult." He gestures wide indicating the Bloodspeaker incident.
Spoiler: "That is certainly more straightforward and elegant then I put it but essentially I believed the same thing as you, Asako-san. I plan on seeing to it that he gets the proper treatment as a samurai, if I can but the Lions and Dragons aren't necessarily on good terms." He looks to the Ashigaru, "I will be accompanying the Tonbo to the magistrate."
"My, my. These are certainly some interesting developments within the Lion terrority. I do believe that my clansman's mind has been effect in his obsession over Asako-san. There is however no proof of his involvement with the Bloodspeaker. He has dishonored himself and disgraced himself but without a confession or proof of his ties to the Bloodspeakers then he should be given a proper trial." Mirumoto Daichi continues after the others that are following after the wayward crane. "There is a chance with the involvement of magic that your crane brethen was effected by the Bloodspeakers' spells and not in league with him, Kakita-san. Though to find out the truth we must catch up with him and question him."
Spoiler:
Daichi checks on Fuguki's physical condition to ensure that nothing snuck up on him in the fog. Once that is out of the way he will try to listen to get his bearings on anything else happening in the fog before... "What is happening?" Daichi shouts
Everyone except Heihachi
Spoiler: Trying to ignore the rumblings of Fuguki the Mirumoto bushi looks for a good place to strike but not seeing any it becomes apparent that he will not be able to strike his crazied clansman without the risk of hitting his companions. The fog was unnatural for sure as fast as it came up on them and Heihachi confirmed it but who was responsible for it. His clansman? He couldn't watch the state of his clansman and the sure death to come as his companion protected Ryoko from him. He faded back into the fog another few steps back towards Fuguki until he couldn't see the Hida anymore.
Spoiler: Daichi turns to the sound of Fuguki's voice and listens for a moment, "Fuguki-sama, I am going forward to see if the combat has begun." Daichi slowly moves forward and strains to hear any signs of battle.
"I feel I must certainly apologize for my fellow clansmen's behavior. It was unseemly to even witness the disgrace of the Tonbo and the shamefulness that I feel he has laid upon my clan. I will do my utmost best to make up for it while we journey together."
"Within the Universe there is no difference between War and Ikebana. We do what we feel necessary to cleanse our souls of stains whether we strained them or someone else strained them but they are distractions from that which we must truely seek to understand." Daichi nods as he lifts the tea again and sips it quietly though he muscles in his face briefly flash distaste as he realizes that he is still drinking lion tea and it has begun to grew cold thus increasing the bitterness of it.
"We may not have the time to learn the subtleties and intricate art of the ikebana while we are learning the mysteries of our universe." The Dragon turns his full attention to Kakita Umasu and smiles politely, "You should know Kakita-san that in reality, There is No Mud. Your soul must surely be in turmoil and in great need of the guidance of the Void if this mud bothers you."
Daichi kneels before one of the tables for the evening tea and listens to the conversation around him. He gives a moment glance to the crane entering the Seven Reeds before returning his attention to his companions.
"I am sorry, Hida-san. I must admit my knowledge of my brethen is more broadened to our clan and not specialized to knowing much of the Hitomi family. We, dragon, are known for being eccentric and the Hitomi even more so but I feel that Hitomi-san here is beyond our mortal understanding and has been personally touched by a Kami." Daichi moves forward to Fuguki after he has risen again in the middle of the road and gives a slight bow. "I will keep an eye on the road if it will speak omens but yesterday it was the trees that spoke the omens to Kuni-san and I."
"Indeed Kuni-san. I read the trees as the omen shown to me by the Fortunes." He doesn't speak much again after the omen is read but nods in affirmation everytime someone asks if there was going to be a new companion. He withdraws to his prays when they arrive in Rugashi for the night and isn't seen again until morning. Daichi gives the man a bow before speaking. "I believe that we are sharing your road atleast for awhile. The omens spoke of our new companion and this chance meeting has occured it seems the fortunes have directed you to us." The dragon bushi was convinced that this was the companion spoken of in the omens as their meeting seemed to coincidential on the tale of the omens.
Daichi makes a note of the omen and speaks to the group, "It appears that we will get a companion soon if I am reading the omens right."
Spoiler: Should I be making an Awareness/Divination (Omens) roll as well?
Daichi travels quietly in comtemplation and pray most of the time almost as much as a Shugenja would do but that doesn't stop him from seemly having an opinion on anything that is being discussed amongst the travelling group of Samurai.
"I am Mirumoto Daichi. I don't mind the detour as long as I can arrive in Dragon Guard City in time for the trade negotiations and that would be the answer to your question as well, Kakita-san." Mirumoto follows the proper protocol towards the offer to join the group for tea and gives Megumi a look of understanding in relation to the tea.
"I have been travelling the Lion Lands to visit all the shrines of Virtue and now I am required in Dragon Guard City in fourteen days. The road has been lonely without companions to speak too and I was wondering if I may join you on the road to Dragon Guard City."
It didn't look like he would have a better chance to speak with them before now. He stood from his place in the room and walked over to the group and presented himself with a bow to equals. "Greetings. I wanted to inquire about a certain statement I had heard earlier in the shrine. I just wanted to know if you are all indeed travelling to Dragon Guard City?"
3d10.takeHighest(3)=11 - Intelligence/Lore (Untrained) 4d10.open(10).takeHighest(3)=25 - Awareness/Investigation Daichi silently watches the other Dragon enter the inn as he sits down at a table. He had plans to appoarch the group of young samurai that came with the Lion Clan Champion as they had discussed that they were also proceeding towards Dragon Guard City but he had not gotten the chance yet. The shugenja within the group would probably be more to his liking and open to discuss afterall he seemed pious enough in the shrine. His thoughts on the other samurai had him watching their interaction with the Phoenix and he glanced back to the Dragon that had entered absentmindly when he saw the Phoenix's reaction.
Daichi studies the other young samurai as they discuss their plans to journey to Dragon's Guard City as well. It appeared that they would be going to visit the pair of Phoenix at the House of the Jade Tiger which seemed to be the best place to appoarch them to discuss the journey to Dragon's Guard City. He moved out of the shrine and down the road towards the inn.
Daichi had returned to his meditation once the argument had become quiet again. His eyes were closed and he was silently in contemplating the meaning of Duty in his daily life. As the others once again began to rumble around the Dragon bushi silently finished his prayers and stood preparing to return to the House of the Jade Tiger.
Daichi was silently kneeled in contemplation before the shrine and continued to ignore the arguement until the large crab spoke of it. "It would seem that not all find the serenity of a holy place to be a necessity." He did not speak loudly nor softly but enough to be heard though his eyes remained closed for another moment before he opened them to focus on the pair that were arguing. There was something of disappointment and a spice of outrage in his look as he watched the pair.
Spoiler:
Considering that he is still a Bushi and the Virtues are important to him and add that he is idealistic about Bushido then I would say that the Shrine of the Virtues would have significant importants to him as tenets of the virtues of Bushido. I will have my combat breakdown information inputted tomorrow.
crunchy stuff is almost done just gotta double check it and add in the few other things then an appearence and history. |