Calling in favors (closed rp sprinkles & Shodai)

[sprinkles]

(This rp is for myself and Shodai. Anyone else who wants in on it please pm me first.)

Sprinkles rode wearily into the Phoenix lands. The journey north had been quite painful for him. He had his arm wrapped to his chest. Only a week before Toku Kenpachi had nearly killed him. Any normal man would have died but Sprinkles magics had saved him, although unlike other khadi he felt pain. In time he would heal, but time was something he was running out of. So he traveled north to the Phoenix to seek possible allies in the most unlikely of places.

Sprinkles traced the symbols in his minds to connect with the Void. And sent out a message to a single man: Agasha Shodai. The message was simple "25, 15, 18, 31, 30, 13" It meant nothing to him, but it was a message Shodai had used durning the Festival of the White Orchid. He hoped it meant enough for Shodai to respond.

[Agasha Shodai]

OOC: Don't spend your time looking in the Kyuden Isawa threads for a reference to the Phoenix Clan's war plans; our strategy is on the Phoenix-only page. *Crosses fingers, hoping Jay will use the plans in the game*

Agasha Shodai was hard at work with his fellow Masters in the encampment of the Phoenix Clan's army in the Valley of the Two Generals, evaluating the final plans that the Elemental Council had agreed upon before leaving Kyuden Isawa to meet up with the forces they would soon be sending into battle. The plans were rather unorthodox in terms of "conventional military wisdom," but, then again, the Phoenix clan rarely did anything conventional when they made war.

The Void Master felt an odd thrumming sensation through the endless fabric of the Void. Opening his senses, he heard a set of six digits that corresponded to his personal scroll cipher. Shodai frowned to himself; he'd used that particular code when he'd put a Void Tracer on Chuda - no, it was Tamihei now - Shoju's no-dachi during the Festival of the White Orchid.

But that Tracer had faded away months ago, well before Toshi Ranbo had even been attacked.

'Someone is playing games; trying to get my attention...' Agasha thought to himself as he took ahold of the Isawa Naginata, which the Council had brought along with it for the coming battle. Each member of the Council would carry one of the Phoenix Clan's nemuranai that was best suited to his skills and mission, though the final decision would not be made until they were ready to depart.

"I will be back in a few moments."[/b] Shodai said to Isawa Tetsuro, his principal student. The lower ranked Ishiken nodded in acknowledgement.

As the Void Master exited the tent, he pinpointed the source of the message and Voidwalked from here to there along a road that existed only in the space between spaces. As he emerged from the heart of the Void, the master shugenja spotted a wounded man on horseback: the Gaijin looking Khadi from the Festival... Chuda Sprinkles. The man had been one of the more impressive competitors - one of the few whose skill and technique surpassed the level Agasha Shodai had been competing at.

Shodai began to run the memorized prayer for Major Binding through his mind; preparing to have it ready at a moment's notice if the Chuda so much as twitched the wrong way. As he did so, the Void Master gripped the Naginata firmly, feeling the nemuranai's energy flow through him, augmenting his already powerful magic. If it came to a fight, his choice of weapon might be just enough to close the gap in their abilities.

The Isawa Naginata made an authoritative *THUMP* as Shodai brought it's shaft down on the rocky surface he stood on. "The Fesitval is long over, Chuda, and your safe-travel permit though Phoenix lands along with it. Why have you returned?"[/b]

[sprinkles]

Sprinkles smiled. It had worked. The Void Master came just as he hoped.

"You made a public declaration during the Festival that anyone who impressed you could ask and receive information. I may not have won but did I not impress you? Will you honor your word now? I seek an answer not to fight. Will you indulge me?"

[Agasha Shodai]

"I have many answers; some of them may actually be pertinent to one such as you."[/b] Shodai said coolly, maintaining his level of alertness, but slightly relaxing his demeanor. "Though I did not expect either of you two Khadi to impress me during the Festival, you did and thus my promised offer of knowledge is yours. I shall answer any one question you ask, provided that is does not endanger my Clan, the Empire, or the forces loyal to Emperor Hantei."

"Choose your question wisely..."[/b]

[sprinkles]

"Will you assist in destroying the Snake Clan? Surely you can see the threat they pose you. And you know that Shoju is not one to be trusted."

[Agasha Shodai]

Agasha Shodai was silent for a few minutes as he considered the Khadi's question.

"I am aware of Tamihei Shoju's plans, the danger they represent, and the fact that I trust all Bloodspeakers to the same extent: which is to say, not at all. But until the War ends - one way or another - the fate of the Snake Clan is much like the fate of the Spider Clan... Of minor importance to me in the grand scheme of things, but something to be dealt with when there are no other priorities."[/b] The Void Master answered.

He paused, considering leaving it at that, but his personal code of honesty required him to give a complete answer; even to a dishonorable dog like the undead thing before him. "That said... The Phoenix Clan Champion has taken control of the ruins of Shiro Chuda and the Ox Clan, seeking to annex more of our territory, is occupying the Dragon Heart Plain. Should Tamihei Shoju and his followers attempt to enter Phoenix territory, they will be dealt with."

"Once the War ends, I have already promised my assistance to Bayushi Senshi in tracking down and eliminating Shoju to avenge the Scorpion Clan Champion's brother. Only at that time, if the Snake has not already been dealt with, will I actively concern myself with the Snake Clan."[/b]

[sprinkles]

Sprinkles knew Shodai would eventually deal with Shoju but time was of the essence. He needed Shoju dead now before he could contact Daigotsu on why the peace broken.
"I won't pretend to have any honor Void Master, but I will be honest with you. I want Shoju dead. I have no interest in you or your Clan at this time. Allow me to peacefully move a small army to destroy Shoju and I shall leave your Lands peacefully afterward. I don't ask that you be seen collaborating with me. Just be more distracted with your war than me for a short time."

[Agasha Shodai]

Agasha Shodai's eyes narrowed at the sheer arrogance of the man's request. That ANY Clan, much less a Great Clan like the Phoenix, would willingly permit another clan's forces - let alone those of the Spider - to enter their sovereign territory was an insult to the Clan and every one of its samurai.

Even considering the fact the man was gaijin, it was an insult that would not be accepted.

"Neither Tamihei Shoju nor anyone bearing the Snake Clan mon exist within so much as a square centimeter of Phoenix territory. The last sense I have of Shoju's mystical stench was when he entered the Shadowlands several months ago. I have yet to detect it emerging from that domain of iniquity you and your dark master call home. Seek him there if you wish to eliminate him... For you shall not pass through Phoenix territory to do so."[/b] Agasha Shodai said with cold finality; his chill tone making it painfully clear that Sprinkles had overstayed his ungiven welcome.

The Void Master gestured south with the Isawa Nagigata, which began to glow with jade light as Shodai primed his spell and stared down the Khadi. At the same time, he silently issued an numerically encoded command through the Void to the nearest unit of the Void Guard. The message conveyed location, target, and specific orders on what to do if the Khadi refused to depart.

"And now you have the answer you have earned. I will permit you to depart my Clan's territory in peace one final time, provided you do so immediately."[/b] A series of small rifts in the fabric of reality began to form in a loose hemisphere around Sprinkles as the Void Guard began their unified spell. There was a gap large enough to allow the Bloodspeaker and his horse to exit the forming dome that would close only if Shodai joined in the spell.

"If not... I cannot guarantee what shape you'll be in when we deport you... Or which of the Spirit Realms you'll be in when we're finished. It is your choice."[/b]

[sprinkles]

"Thank you Void Master." The sarcasm in Sprinkles voice was obvious. Once again the Great Clans sacrificed reason for their illusion of honor. "I see that I will have to seek allies elsewhere." He turned and left through the opening in the spell.

[Agasha Shodai]

Agasha Shodai watched as the Spider chose not to press his suit. The Void Master had a feeling like the Khadi was attempting to play him in a wheels-within-wheels scheme. Had it been Senshi asking the question, Agasha might have even considered the plan, but there were too many unknowns where Sprinkles was concerned.

"I gave you my terms to have allies; even indirectly. If they are insufficient to your needs at this time, perhaps you should speak to your Dark Lord about it. I have no doubt your fell master has PLENTY of men to spare."[/b] Agasha Shodai pointed out, watching the man with all six of his senses; trying to read the undead thing.

"But in any event, there are only so many way Shoju and his followers will be able to come. Given the open warfare spread across the continent, it seems reasonable that they will travel on the water instead of overland. If you gather yourself some ships and place them strategically near the northern ports, you can let your prey come to you..."[/b]

[sprinkles]

Sprinkles paused for a moment. "You are a man of many surprises Void Master. I look forward to our next encounter. Perhaps we will find common ground yet." Sprinkles bowed for the first time to Shodai. For the first time including the festival it seemed he was showing him respect.

[Agasha Shodai]

"In all likelihood only common ground that we will share, Chuda-san, is that we both seem to view Shoju and his Tamihei followers as a threat to our interests... Though I suspect that we view him as such for different reasons."[/b] Shodai replied, giving a nod of acknowledgement at the Bloodspeaker's gesture of respect.