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The Wolf Eyes of the Mitsumine

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nman Since: Mar, 2010
#26: Jun 20th 2015 at 8:05:53 PM

Teahouse Corridors
"Elsewhere?" Taura said, though the funny little man had vanished. She turned around and stomped back the way she had come.


Teahouse Garden
"What do you mean, elsewhere?" she asked the ninja. Maybe this other place was the 'viewing' with sake the man had been talking about.

Taco Since: Jan, 2001
#27: Jun 20th 2015 at 9:05:55 PM

"No, actually." Ryu pulled his Nohkan off his belt, placed it to his faceplate, and blew out a single clear note. With the other hand he made several complex gestures and cast Minor Illusion. Three symbols floated in the air between him and Sen. "This is how I was taught to write my name for a long time before I learned to actually read and write in Chouji and Yamato. Again, from Dad's language. That Kanji you wrote there, though, is what goes on all the paperwork." He swiveled his head around to the emissary and dismissed the illusion. "Like what I'm probably going to have to sign now. Where's Takeshi? Why didn't he hike out here to meet us in person?"

Pyrite Until further notice from Right. Beneath. You. Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Hiding
Until further notice
#28: Jun 21st 2015 at 10:01:04 AM

Teahouse Garden

If these new applicants are all this disrespectful, I fear my lord has chosen poorly this time. The dark-clothed man shook his head, dismayed by the armoured man's informal address, but restrained himself from letting it show on his face. "As I was telling your friend the ushi-onna-"

Here, he gave Taura a brief glance as she re-entered the garden, and gestured at the flowerless branches of the wisteria vines.

"-though this is a highly-regarded teahouse, the wisteria do not bloom in autumn, and there are better places to enjoy the scenery of Satsuma at this time of year. My lord waits for you in such a place even as we speak. Had we been in Kamikawa, he would have invited you directly to his residence... but not everyone in Satsuma is favourably disposed to my lord's cause, and it would be most unseemly - and potentially dangerous - for us to advertise his presence today."

edited 21st Jun '15 10:21:43 AM by Pyrite

Not a substitute for a formal medical consultation.
Taco Since: Jan, 2001
#29: Jun 21st 2015 at 10:38:36 AM

"Is there a reason you used that term?" Ryu turned and leaned towards the ninja more directly. "ushi-onna? See, as a bard, examining not only the telling of stories but the way they're told is important to me. In particular, yeah, word choice is pretty interesting to me, man. I'm sensing definite intent behind your diction, maybe you could enlighten us so that we don't get the wrong idea." Ryu began gesticulating as he spoke. He wished he'd brought some of his poetry books with him. "I often analyze prose and poetry in terms of, like, 'why didn't they do this other thing,' and right now I'm asking myself, why didn't they just say 'your friend?' I'm not gonna assume anything though, so please, let me in on your reasoning."

nman Since: Mar, 2010
#30: Jun 21st 2015 at 12:47:36 PM

Teahouse Garden
Taura let out a hearty chuckle. "It's only natural, given my bad reputation, to have picked up more than my fair share of nicknames," she said. "I would have thought no introductions were necessary, unless you've confused me for some other tall, horned, red-skinned woman with crimson eyes and silvered hair. And if you have... well, I'd like very much to meet her in-person. The titles I lay claim to, well, let's see if I can remember them all, they seem to change depending on where you're from. Have you heard of the Demon Ox of the North? Blood Dragon of the East? Barbarian Savage of the South? Wild Woman of the West? Curse of Chouji? Huntress of Hanrou? Gyūki with the Greataxe? Taura the Terrible?"

RedSavant Since: Jan, 2001
#31: Jun 21st 2015 at 1:30:07 PM

Sen, for her part, took little notice of her compatriots' posturing and preening, instead sipping at her quickly cooling cup of tea. After one last sip, she set the empty cup down on the table and stood, the long burgundy sash around her waist swaying gently in the breeze. "My lord greets your own as the crow does the wolf," she said. "The others aside, I pledge my blade in service to the true Mitsumine for as long as my lord wills it." She bowed elegantly, though a bit stiffly. Straightening up, she looked around, suddenly a bit fidgety. "...also, I wish to see these autumn colors from the place your lord recommends. Can we move there before there is more talk of business?"

It's been fun.
Pyrite Until further notice from Right. Beneath. You. Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Hiding
Until further notice
#32: Jun 22nd 2015 at 5:29:25 AM

Teahouse Garden

"I am but a mere servant, and my lord reserves the right to accept your pledge of loyalty, Miss Sen - but he will, no doubt, be pleased with your declaration." To Kuroko's relief, at least one member of the party had some sense of propriety, although he knew he'd have his hands full with the other two. "And while both you and Mister Miaalden both come with shining recommendations from your patrons, the Demon Ox has come to my lord's attention on the strength of her exploits alone, for there are those of us in the North who say that she is as fearsome on the seas as the ushi-oni and nure-onna combined..."

...and on the other hand, she's a woman with a cow's horns. He paused in silent discomfort, unable to believe what he was saying - even if some of it was true. "But if you prefer to be called 'Taura', miss, that would indeed be more convenient. Now, as I was saying, I am not at liberty to disclose my lord's whereabouts, but if you would just follow me..."

He walked to the opposite side of the garden - a seemingly-uninterrupted wall of panels - and ran his fingers along them until he found just the right spot, sliding the hidden door open.

"...I will take you there."

edited 7th Jul '15 6:50:04 AM by Pyrite

Not a substitute for a formal medical consultation.
nman Since: Mar, 2010
#33: Jun 22nd 2015 at 8:43:45 AM

Teahouse Garden
"If the Lord of Wolves wishes to maintain that I have never had any dealings with his clan," Taura said. "Then I suppose I can spin up a few tales about how I evaded detection or capture as I sailed though his claims on the sea for so many years. Maybe the bard can make it rhyme, too."

She turned around and stepped towards the table, picking up the plate of red bean treats. She plucked one from the plate and put it in her mouth, but carried the others with her as she approached the door. "Alright, let's go, you've wasted enough of our time."

Taco Since: Jan, 2001
#34: Jun 22nd 2015 at 9:38:12 AM

"I could do that." Ryu said. "Let's go then." He stood up. "I'll craft a ballad about Taura's exploits on the way there."

Pyrite Until further notice from Right. Beneath. You. Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Hiding
Until further notice
#35: Jun 22nd 2015 at 10:11:11 AM

Teahouse Gardens

"Follow me, then - and stay close." Kuroko kept a wary eye on the motley crew, and entered the hidden passage...


Old Satsuma, Alleys

...which opened up, after much winding and twisting, into a deserted alleyway some distance from the Wisteria teahouse.

"Hold." The guide peeked around the corner, scanning the area for witnesses - or worse.

Perception check for ambushes, traps and shady characters in general - excepting present company.

edited 7th Jul '15 6:50:15 AM by Pyrite

Not a substitute for a formal medical consultation.
nman Since: Mar, 2010
#36: Jun 22nd 2015 at 10:49:12 AM

"I've already got a few words picked out," Taura said. For rhymes there's aura. And aurora. Then there's a word I picked up from a scholar a while back. I liked the way it rolled off her tongue. Stentorian. Stentorian. Sten... torian. Well maybe it sounded better with her accent."

Add to group perception? Or individual?

edited 22nd Jun '15 10:50:35 AM by nman

Taco Since: Jan, 2001
#37: Jun 22nd 2015 at 12:16:08 PM

"Alright, perfect." Ryu said, trying out some notes on his Nohkan. He sang a few notes out too, trying to find a good pitch. "Try this."

Performance check with Taura helping Ryu with the Aid action.

RedSavant Since: Jan, 2001
#38: Jun 22nd 2015 at 1:21:33 PM

Sen did her best to ignore the bard's distracting and noisy playing, looking around in a perfunctory way for any ambushes. It occurred to her that she probably wouldn't notice the difference between an assassin and a normal townsman hurrying down the alleyway until it was too late; with any luck, a would-be killer would target the horned woman or the bard first.

Perception check.

edited 22nd Jun '15 1:22:35 PM by RedSavant

It's been fun.
daltar (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#39: Jun 22nd 2015 at 2:15:29 PM

It didn't happen immediately when they stepped out into the alleyways... there was nobody around this secret exit. No traps or ambushes of any sort. However, after they spent a little while walking, getting out of the alleyways and crossing a street the perceptive thief would feel the gaze of someone upon him... and his keen eyes would take notice of a young man in the distance, pretending not to notice the unlikely group. That blew his cover worse than gawking, for what normal villager wouldn't stare at such an unlikely group? The man was leaning against the wall of a sake den a couple streets away... and their path would soon make them approach the place for the encounter... turning right onto an ascending path on the edge between city and mountain, bordered by trees on both sides.

Pyrite Until further notice from Right. Beneath. You. Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Hiding
Until further notice
#40: Jun 22nd 2015 at 5:18:19 PM

Old Satsuma, Streets

Damn. Kuroko stopped in his tracks, whispering urgently to the others.

"My lord waits for us up this path, but we are being watched. That man over there, by the sake den? He pretends not to notice us. Either he intends to trail us there, or we are walking into a trap."

edited 7th Jul '15 6:50:25 AM by Pyrite

Not a substitute for a formal medical consultation.
Taco Since: Jan, 2001
#41: Jun 22nd 2015 at 5:33:16 PM

"What do you figure, we do to shake him?" Ryu asked. "If we pretend like we aren't noticed, we might be able to get closer. Should we get within 90 feet, I can Sleep him and we get ourselves a neat little hostage. Provided I can put enough juice into the spell. Or, someone runs or teleports themselves into any escape routes, and we corner him without needing to waste any spells, at the cost of maybe missing some routes."

nman Since: Mar, 2010
#42: Jun 22nd 2015 at 7:53:30 PM

"I don't know about you all, but I'm suddenly parched," Taura said. "Anybody else feel like stopping for a cup of sake?"

Pyrite Until further notice from Right. Beneath. You. Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Hiding
Until further notice
#43: Jun 22nd 2015 at 8:14:19 PM

Old Satsuma, Streets

"We can do both. If you can distract him, I will cut off his escape route, so that he will have nowhere to run even if your magic fails." The guide nodded in subdued approval, temporarily considering the possibility that the man in armour was sharper than first impressions had suggested. "Mister Miaalden, take Miss Taura with you, and move towards the sake den on the pretext of buying drinks. Once his eye is diverted, I will ascend to the roofs."

With that, he turned to the emissary of the Mori-no-Kami. "Miss Sen. Will you be able to assist us?"

edited 22nd Jun '15 9:17:58 PM by Pyrite

Not a substitute for a formal medical consultation.
RedSavant Since: Jan, 2001
#44: Jun 22nd 2015 at 8:56:19 PM

Old Satsuma, Streets

"That depends," Sen said, looking generally in the direction of the sake house. Now that the guide had pointed him out, she could see the assassin's lookout... probably. It was one of the men leaning against the wall, probably. "How subtle do we want to be about this?"

It's been fun.
Pyrite Until further notice from Right. Beneath. You. Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Hiding
Until further notice
#45: Jun 22nd 2015 at 9:10:44 PM

Old Satsuma, Streets

"Oh, Mister Miaalden and Miss Taura can be as unsubtle as they like, as long as they do not give away their intent." A short cough escaped the dark-clothed man's lips - almost a chuckle, even. "But we should be more covert, lest our man has friends lurking in the shadows."

edited 22nd Jun '15 9:18:17 PM by Pyrite

Not a substitute for a formal medical consultation.
RedSavant Since: Jan, 2001
#46: Jun 22nd 2015 at 9:17:20 PM

Old Satsuma, Streets

"Alright," Sen said, nodding. That made sense. "There are some things I'm empowered by my lord to do. Let me know what you'd like done, and it will happen."

It's been fun.
nman Since: Mar, 2010
#47: Jun 22nd 2015 at 9:19:53 PM

"Well then, since we have some time to kill, I'll stop by for a quick drink," Taura announced, starting to move towards the sake den. "It feels wrong being this sober."

Pyrite Until further notice from Right. Beneath. You. Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Hiding
Until further notice
#48: Jun 22nd 2015 at 9:23:09 PM

Old Satsuma, Streets

"The task required is a simple one: if the spy evades us and flees in your direction, stop him by any means necessary. Capturing him alive is a bonus, but if he dies, he dies."

He looked at the minotaur, who had decided to take matters into her own hands, and groaned inwardly. "Mister Miaalden, go with Miss Taura and keep her out of trouble. We're out of time."

When Ryu and Taura distract the spy: Whichever check (Athletics / Acrobatics) applies to get to the rooftops - apply Second-Story Work bonus where applicable for jump height - then Stealth check to move to the spy's location unnoticed. Don't forget the passive Perception check against hidden enemies, if present.

edited 22nd Jun '15 9:48:07 PM by Pyrite

Not a substitute for a formal medical consultation.
Taco Since: Jan, 2001
#49: Jun 23rd 2015 at 8:04:39 PM

"I'll indulge as well." Ryu remarked, falling in behind Taura. "Get all eyes on us, then. Drinking contest? Fist-fight?"

nman Since: Mar, 2010
#50: Jun 24th 2015 at 1:07:41 AM

"Yes," Taura said in agreement as she continued walking, and whispered - somewhat. "If he's still around when the fists start flying, we can arrange an accident. And if he's gone... we're going to need to keep drinking to pass the time until he decides it's safe to take us to our destination."


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