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Post by M'thack-kir on Jun 10, 2017 15:29:20 GMT 10
Kiru bows low to the Asako—it is rare a Rokugani is willing to click their teeth and squeak to enact proper Nezumi enunciation, and she deserves all of the respect he shows her.
"Hida was expected also? What of the other members of her crew?"
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Post by Hida Tetsuko on Jun 10, 2017 17:43:07 GMT 10
"I think this was Hiruma Kakumau's object," Tetsuko said. "He gave his life to open the way for the Sanyochu so we could flee, and saved my life before his ended. Was he known to you, Asako-san? I know little about him apart from that he was trained in the ways of the Kuni."
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Post by Mirumoto Nanashi on Jun 10, 2017 22:22:43 GMT 10
Nanashi gives a proper, of less then formal, bow. He stays near the rear of the group. His cultured expression of boredom plane on his face. But those of the Warren might notice that he is clearly uncomfortable without his weapons. And he appears to be trying to be as unobtrusive as Shiba Itsuki. But it's hard for a tall, bald green armored man to blend into a bookshelf.
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Post by Shinwa on Jun 10, 2017 23:53:10 GMT 10
Shinwa returns the bow with formal and proper courtesy and straightens. He looks thoughtfully at Doji Kaiden for a moment when he is described. Mostly, his eyes roam over the details of the Phoenix library. The ancient scrolls. The jade lights. Taking it all in.
This is not a place a ronin would normally be allowed to go.
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Post by emeralddragon on Jun 11, 2017 1:50:28 GMT 10
Honoka froze and then closed her eyes. For a long time she was silent, sorrow radiating off her. Finally she spoke, "It is not the ending he would have wished for....but he did his duty none the less. Few could ask for a better death." Her words were for herself more then the Hida and then finally she opened her eyes. The energy from before was gone, as was the scholarly look, lost in sadness. "Hiruma Kakumau was my Uncle. That he choose to jump here, rather then a Crab system tells me he had little choice, for he always favored the Clan of his father over the Clan of his mother. Yet...its good that in his final moments he found a way to serve."
"What did he bring you here to tell us? What foe caused his death? Such information should be passed to the Kuni." She paused for a moment, focusing on the now, trying to push her grief away till she was in private, "Afterwards, I will inform you why I have gathered everyone else here. I suspect Hida-san, that you will be quite interested in what I have to say."
Despite her will and self control, a single tear rolls down her face. Just the one, and she made no move or effort to acknowledge it, but it was there.
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Post by Hida Tetsuko on Jun 11, 2017 11:04:42 GMT 10
" While I do not know what Kakumau intended to tell you," said Tetsuko. "I think I can guess this much: he wanted word of what happened to the Sanyochu to get to you. I will tell you what I can." Then found a chair and sat in it, closing her eyes and thinking back to the attack. "The Teitetsu Platoon along with the others in our company were being sent to the front in support of the search for Jigoku aliens. We were to rendezvous with a convoy in the Tenmei system. That was the plan as to us by Chui Hida Shugeki-sama. But that wasn't what we found when we got there." She paused again, her eyes glazed over as she remembers. "The other ships were under attack by gaijin Chuda when we arrived, we put up what resistance we could but an oni came after the Sanyochu. It could survive in the vacuum of space and went straight for us. The Shinyaku, the Kyushu, the Tsuki platoons were sent out but the Sanyochu was taking damage. The Teitetsu was next to deploy but Shugeki then made the call to withdraw." She looked at Honoka. "Asako-san, your uncle managed to Open the Way for us to escape as well as somehow hold the Sanyochu together at the cost of his life so that I was able to give you this message. I Pledge to you that his sacrifice will not be in vain."
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Post by M'thack-kir on Jun 11, 2017 11:58:56 GMT 10
Shiba Itsuki's face pales, although whether it is due to one of the many disturbing revelations in particular, it is unclear. Either way, he seems to take pains to shrink a little, becoming less noticeable or confident in his bearing.
Kiru, on the other hand, puffs up his chest somewhat. "Asako-Asako-Asako, is the mission to pursue the oni? Something capable of sustaining itself in space must be potent-potent."
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Post by emeralddragon on Jun 11, 2017 12:49:06 GMT 10
Honoka types out the Hida's words as she speaks and at the mention of the Space Oni does go a touch paler. When Kiru asks his question, it is clear that the Asako is considering changing her course of action, "It is a symptom," She said finally, "A final bit of proof as to why I called you here, Kiru-san. It is horrific that it came at the cost of the lives of your men, Hida-san, but this message has will not be received in vein. Your information will be sent to the Kuni immediately, and your clan will respond as necessary. However, your name will add further weight to your claims."
Once Honoka got Tetsuko's name the inquisitor pulled a data stick out of the datapad and pulled out a Holocom and plugged it into that, "Report of recent Oni and Gaijin Chuda attack by Hida Tetsuko-san, recorded by Asako Honoka to Kuni Bich-san. Report includes mentions of Oni traveling through space, and the death of almost an entire Platoon of Crab soldiers."
Once the message is away, she paused for a moment, and then began to speak, "The reason I have called you all here, relates strongly to Hida-san's report. As you are likely all aware, a battle occured a few months back that lead to the Emperor declaring that the 4th day of Thunder was canceled. The Emperor's statement, delivered by the Voice, specifically mentioned the creature that empowered the Dark Oracle of Water had been slain. This revelation led me to seek what little knowledge we have about the Dark oracles and their masters." She falls silent for a long moment.
"The third day of thunder was the last time one of these monsters was in our world. These horrible creatures want nothing more then the complete destruction of the ordering of Nigen-do, the return of all to chaos. But due to their sheer power, they are not easy to bring forth into this world. The arrival of the one that lead the forces of the jealous realms during the war of 14 thunders was felt Rokugan wide and led the Jade Champion to act, although it would be many years till the monster revealed itself. Such a powerful ritual of Maho should leave a scar, a pathway, a rift through which spawn of the Jealous realm can pass through. Thats if it does not require such a wound in the first place to occur."
She looks them in the eye and said, "This means, somewhere out in space, their is a new Festering Pit. And unlike the state of worlds such as Inferno, where taint and unstable yet natural portals appear and disappear, this unnatural pit will be both large, and stable. It will be where this space Oni has come from. And it must be found and closed."
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Post by Hida Tetsuko on Jun 11, 2017 12:57:03 GMT 10
Tetsuko took all of this calmly, but when she spoke her words had an edge of steel. "If this is indeed true, Asako-san, then the Crab will serve. We are the wall, as we always have been since the dawn of the Empire."
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Post by M'thack-kir on Jun 11, 2017 13:17:15 GMT 10
Kiru's eyes almost glow ablaze with determination. "The Burnt Crane will see this rift repaired, Asako-Asako-Asako. The Darkness cannot be allowed to inflict greater calamity on this Field than it already has. Is The Warren's task to locate it?"
...Itsuki blanches even more.
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Post by Shinwa on Jun 11, 2017 14:58:02 GMT 10
When Tetsuko begins to describe the space oni and Honoka describes the possible presence of a new festering pit, Shinwa leans forward slightly, listening intently, though his face is completely steady and betrays no emotion, at least not for any not searching hard for it.
Is this the way that the Empire must travel?
But as Honoka finishes, and Kiru describes closing the rift, Shinwa settles back on his heels and closes his eyes.
I will do what I must...But please Fortunes...
"We need to know if such a rift exists," he finally says flatly. "And if there is...what will be faced there."
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Post by M'thack-kir on Jun 11, 2017 19:28:31 GMT 10
Kiru thinks further on the matter at hand before speaking up again, "Where can we find an elder knowledgeable on the matter of Realms crossing over, and this one in particular?" (OOC: Not that people are yet, but when you're eventually ready to board the ship: Link. Just figuring in case we start pushing time a bit compared to the other parties, we might wanna start getting settled there, too.)
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Post by Doji Kaiden on Jun 12, 2017 0:57:16 GMT 10
Kaiden uses all his skill to try and maintain his emotionless visage, but he cannot stop the blood draining from his face at the mention of a festering pit, and actively seeking it out.
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Post by emeralddragon on Jun 12, 2017 4:18:28 GMT 10
"A wound like this hasn't to our knowledge existed for 400 years, Kiru-san. There are no experts, not really. The Silkworm, and Phoenix jurisdiction overlap in this matter is politics I will not bore you with, however I believe that once the wound is found the Ishiken are best equip to deal with the problem, with support from the Avalanche Guard. I have no doubt, that without humanity protecting this world that it was quickly consumed by Taint and a minor clan, honorable and noble as the Silkworm are, lack the Jade and the manpower to do what is necessary," She sounded honest, which was surprising given the historic relationship between the Silkworm and the Phoenix.
"Should the records from the last time a festering pit was closed be not enough to preform the ritural, the ability to look into the past will allow the Ishiken to become a master of the knowledge they need to know."
"The matter before us first however, is finding it. While I can arrange a team to close it, until we know location and size, as well as confirming what the facts tell us, their is nothing we can do but put such a team on standby, and the Universe is hardly at peace right now. Fortunately we have a..." she trailed off as the group of Samurai was approached by two new figures.
The first they all recognized. Shiba Shou, current Master of Void, was an easily recognizable man with long white hair, pale skin and a beauty about him that was both androgynous and unearthly. As he walked it seemed like he was listening to a voice that no one else could hear.
Behind him, walked a Lion, a bushi by the looks of him, his Yellow armor standing out againest the reds and oranges around him.
Standing up and moving out from behind the table, Honoka bows low, "Shiba-dono, it is a great honor to meet you. How can I serve the Council of Five."
Shou bows a reply, still appearing to listen to a voice only he can hear, "Asako-san, the Void speaks to me, as do the kami and they tell me of those who come before you and their purpose. And yet, their number is not complete. Someone needed to be here, but would not be. A hole the needed filling for fate to spin in the Empires favor." He stepped aside, "This is Ikoma Dorai-san. He will be joining those you send to search for this new wound between realities." He flinches as soon as he finishes that sentence, "Ningen-do itself hurts, and must be healed. He is required to see this happen."
Honoka blinks, still in a bow, before finally nodding, "It shall be done." She replied sincerely. She wasn't sure how it would be done, but it was not her place to argue with Shiba Shou and if this Lion was needed to find the Pit, then he needed to come.It would simply be up to Kiru to find space for him.
"Please, if you have any further guidance, any at all, enlighten us," she finished.
Shiba Shou is silent for a long time, before he said, "I am told it all goes back to the beginning. Again and again, stories and destiny both share path, a narrative, woven into the tapestry of creation and all Samurai's Dharma, and you must go back to the beginning to understand the end."
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Post by Mirumoto Nanashi on Jun 12, 2017 5:03:02 GMT 10
Yay riddles. Who doesn't love riddles.
He thought sarcastically.
Nanashi's brow furrowed as the Phoenix talked.
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