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Post by The Blue Ronin on Sept 15, 2011 9:58:08 GMT -5
Ryumon approached the three samurai cautiously. Two were a Phoenix - not optimal but hardly unexpected. The other was a Lion. An Ikoma, he thought, kudging by her mon, although heraldry had never been his strong point. Ryumon had never had a great interaction with the Lion Clan since they rarely set out to sea, and some of his mentors at the Yoritomo Dojo who had fought in the Clan Wars had spoken harshly of the Lion, even if his own Clan were descended frm them. But right now the Lion were allies of the Mantis, as both Clans supported Toturi. So here he was, Ryumon thought to himself. Time to speak. He swallowed a little nervously, glad that the elaborate gorget of his armour hid the nervous reflex and shifted his grip on his naginata.
"Phoenix-sans. Ikoma-san. I am Yoritomo Ryumon, bushi of the Mantis Clan. I am currently in the service of the Governor of Broken Wave City. I was in the area making my way south by sea when I saw an explosion" He had to shout to be heard over the crashing rain - he didn't want to draw too close to the woman even if it would let him speak more easily as he didn't want to seem a threat. "Has anybody been hurt? Can I be of assistance?"
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Yoritomo Raiden
Mantis Clan Mod ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star.png)
Mantis Clan - Shugenja - Water - Thunder - Damiyo - Not Kolat
Posts: 437
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Post by Yoritomo Raiden on Sept 15, 2011 20:45:46 GMT -5
As the three Rokugani talk on the shore they can see a faint glow dying in the distance. They hear the distictive flapping of a large bird. A very large crow land on the kobune next to Ryumon. The bird resembled a raven a rare bird in Rokugan but a crow is almost never seen.
CAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAW!
The crow pecks at the wood then takes flight towards the almost gone light in the distance. As the Rokugani turn to see the bird take flight a aroma of exotic things can be smelled on the wind burned and odorous.
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Post by Isawa Kaida on Sept 15, 2011 22:16:56 GMT -5
The Shiba followed Ryumon's advance through narrowed eyes, though made no move to impede the man's progess. As if on cue, the pair of Phoenix dismounted, the smaller shugenja passing the horse's reins to her yojimbo.
Kaida gave Ryumon a short bow, quickly introducing herself, Rise and Tachi.
"A touch water-logged, perhaps, but no injuries that I am aware of, Yoritomo-san." She watched the bird with interest. "How curious ..."
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Post by The Blue Ronin on Sept 16, 2011 5:31:08 GMT -5
Beneath the frontispiece of his helmet Ryumon's nostrils flared. They were similar but not identical to the rare spices he'd often smelled being unloaded on the docks of Kyuden Gotei and the City of Lightning, coming from the trading vessels arriving from the Ivory Kingdoms. In comparison to that, the crow didn't strike him so much - the bird was unfamiliar.
"My friends, we could discuss why we are here but I think there is something more urgent. Whatever the source of thos explosions is I think we should investigate. Once we've found out things are safe maybe then we can discuss who has business being here and who doesn't"
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Post by Ikoma Rise on Sept 16, 2011 11:31:48 GMT -5
I agree Mantis-san, something is amiss out there. If one were to interpret the signs that we have seen here tonight, great death is nearby. Hopefully it is not our own and rather someone else's.
She began to slowly walk up the beach as if there was no rain, but just a sunny day on the beach. All her actions, save a few small attempts to wring her hair out, gave the others no indication that she even noticed the storm. She loved the rain, felt most at home with it. She made a mental note to have herself check out by the Isawa, perhaps she shared a connection to the water kami that was deeper than the average samurai. She stopped a few feet beyond the other three and half turned.
Coming Samurai-sans? This mystery isn't going to solve itself.
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Post by Isawa Kaida on Sept 16, 2011 12:28:25 GMT -5
Leaving Tachi to deal with the horses, Kaida nodded, moving to catch up to Rise, and seemingly just as unconcerned with the rain as the Ikoma was.
"Perhaps it is for the best." Her voice was faint, and a small frown curl the shugenja's lips.
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Post by Ikoma Rise on Sept 16, 2011 13:26:54 GMT -5
She matched paces with the Isawa, not turning her head to give off the impression of speaking to her, but talking to her at a level that could be barely heard above the storm. Isawa-san, please tell me, is there anything you might know of that your clan was working on that could cause this? I only ask because if my memory of history serves me well in the past your clan has dabbled into many dark things that have led to disasters and if this is the case, I wish to be more prepared to give my life in service. She wrung her long golden brown hair out again. She thought she might have to cut it after this storm, as it was getting to be a hassle in the water, but then she vainly remembered that she did love her look so, very perfect for court, and other things.
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Post by Isawa Kaida on Sept 16, 2011 14:02:29 GMT -5
Kaida's frown deepened for a moment before she shook her head.
"Nothing that I know of, Ikoma-san. And certainly nothing that would carry such a smell with it."
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Post by The Blue Ronin on Sept 16, 2011 14:04:52 GMT -5
Ryumon was a little surprised that the women took to his suggestion so readily, but his long legs allowed him to catch up easily enough. He wasn't particularly relishing the rain, but he had weathered some mighty storms in his time, and he felt safer knowing that he was on solid land, which would take some sinking. He slung the naginata over his shoulder and listened to the Ikoma speak. He wasn't able to resist replying.
"You are right to ask, Ikoma-san, but for my koku this doesn't smell like some sort of Phoenix foolishness. Er, no offense. But the smells that are coming to us, and that bird... I think this is something to do with the lands beyond Rokugan. And that isn't something the Phoenix have any special expertise in. Again, no offense"
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Post by Isawa Kaida on Sept 16, 2011 17:49:19 GMT -5
Kaida's features remained impassive as she kept her eyes on their destination.
"Yoritomo-san, do you recognize any of the scents carried by the wind?"
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Post by The Blue Ronin on Sept 16, 2011 21:46:15 GMT -5
"Only faintly. So many exotic foreign goods come through the docks of Kyuden Gotei. There are a few that I've smelt before, but I couldn't tell you where or when... smell isn't a precise sense."
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Post by Isawa Kaida on Sept 17, 2011 12:12:16 GMT -5
"So nothing you could put a name to?" The shugenja tilted her head slightly, glancing over to Ryumon as her yojimbo caught up to the group. "Have the Mantis seen anything odd on the seas in the last few days?"
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Post by The Blue Ronin on Sept 18, 2011 0:01:25 GMT -5
"This storm itself is odd. It blew up out of nowhere. You get a sense for the seas when you sail enough, and while I wouldn't go so far as to say it is not natural, it is certainyl very, very unusual to go from a flat, calm sea to a storm this terrible so quickly. If I was not so skilled a sailor I might be at the bottom of Umi No Yamato by now" Ryumon was actually quite a shy self-effacing man despite his size but there was one thing he took unrestrained pride in and that was his ability to handle a kobune, whether solo or as part of a crew.
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Yoritomo Raiden
Mantis Clan Mod ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star.png)
Mantis Clan - Shugenja - Water - Thunder - Damiyo - Not Kolat
Posts: 437
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Post by Yoritomo Raiden on Sept 18, 2011 6:25:28 GMT -5
Asthe trio crest over a lightly tall grass spotted hill they saw the wreckage. The wind blew heavily making the clothes on the trio whip to one side, and their hair whirl around if it was long. They saw a ship like no other broken and burning despite the falling rain. The foul smoke billowing from the husk of this gajin ship caused people close to it to cover their mouths in disgust.
The ship was like no other the rokugani had ever seen. It was slender and not that tall either. it rose at the front and back, yet bowed down in the center. some type of serpent had been carved out of the wood of the front of the ship. Debris littered the shore as the inferno kept burning.
Bodies were sprawled across the beach most burned beyond any recollection. Some bodies floated in the water near the ship moving towards the shoreline by the water rushing back and forth. Some bodies hung from the side of the ship burning with it. There were some that were unburned on the beach, but they remained still.
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Post by Isawa Kaida on Sept 18, 2011 19:56:38 GMT -5
Kaida stopped at the top of the hill, a small gasp escaping her lips. She was about to start off again when Tachi leaned over, tugging on her kimono sleeve and whispering something in her ear. After a moment, the shugenja shook her head, turning to glance out over the ocean.
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