In the search of a fallen friend (closed RP)

[yuuka]

((OOC: This thread is a spin-off of A Winter Night Within a Summer Storm.
Characters are currently looking for Daidoji Koten-san, someone who was severily injured and is "lost" on hostile Lion territory. It seems like he saw something "weird" at Yasuki Hachi-sama camp at Valley at Two Generals, may be something that prevented the Emerald Champion to join MWK battle.
What truly happened? Some heroes must to find out.

If you would like to join PM Bayushi Hiromitsu-sama (guthorn)

This part of the plot will be GMed by Hiromitsu-sama. By joining this I would like all the participants to agree with it and to respect him as such withing this thread.

Why we gonna have a GM?
1. To make things fun.
2. We would like to connect this to a few other plots without blowing up the surprise, so Hiromitsu kind offered to mediate it.
3. He is a good GM
4. As this is a side quest within a side quest it seems like a proper place to try out/make experiments on how to improve our RP(G) experience, that's why we are going to try a new approach here.
5. Fell free to discuss your thoughts with him, or PM him or myself if necessary. We really hope this arch can please everybody at the end - but only at the end, the greatest achievements are the hardest ones ))

Yuuka is finally moving to find Koten-san. But she was sad, she had the feeling it is already too late for him.

Daidoji Kenichi is alert, among the small Daidoji group is the one more skilled in survival arts. It would be a long walk, all the way back to where they met Asahina-san with her Pohoenix allies.

Ow, if they have had help back there.

And then, 40 minutes further. Rocky plains, great for massive battle manuvers trainning, not very good to plant rice.
They arranged to leave Koten hidden from heat and sun, almost underground in a burrow, surrounded by some larger rocks that provide protection from wind and scouts.

Kenichi is search for that place.

[Asahina Yukihime]

((OOC: Just doing a few arrangements with other players and Hirois out of town >.o and trying to have they decided if this guy is dead or alive >.<
Homura-san, as this is unlikely to change the fact that we are going to TR, if you would like to proceed to the travel with what you had in mind, feel free. We can mentally organize the time line ))

Yukihime was riding silently. Sasayaku is a quiet horse very used to carry it's light load of shugenja around.
Clearly the horse is careful, what kinda compensates Yukihime's lack of riding skills.

[Akodo Tsanuri]

[ooc: last time Yuuka said about continuing old topic... heh]

Toshi asked two of her men to help searching for Koten. The faster they find him the better. For him and them all. She watched the neigbourhood in case of any potential enemy.

She couldn't noticed that Yuuka-san was far quieter than earlier. And more grim. Toshi moved towards her.
Don't worry Yuuka-san, we will find your friend.

[Daigotsu Daisuke]

sitting on her horse followed closely by 5 other lion samurai, Akane had been riding for what seemed like hours. She was seriously tired, but this was no time for complaining or winging.

"Yes Daidoji-san im certain we'll find your friend. We'll do what ever it takes as it seems your friends mysterious location is something even our ancestors desire to see found."

While she had nothing against Yuuka or Yukihime she certainly was going to do her best not to complain and make no sign of weakness with crane around. While these ones might not be the enemy it was still a matter of pride to show strength even while being tired.

(ooc: figured id bump us ahead a couple of hours of riding, might move the plot along as well. No idea where we are headed to though.)

[yuuka]

Kenshi seems to know precisely where he left his friend. He pushes the horses into higher speeds once the woods are left behind, moving towards phoenix territories.

Yuuka bows to both, Akane-san and Toshi-san.

"I much appreciate both of your effort in doing this. I know it may be taking precious time from you."

It took not much longer to reach a nearly open plain,rocky ground, filled with some tortuous bushes and tall grass.
Kenichi dismounted announcing

"It was somewhere here. There was an entrance to a natural den among some rocks. We had him underground to protect from weather and other scouts..."

Kenichi had no time to finish his speech, he found the bush that he had used to hide the entrance and removed it.
Yuuka quickly joined him... and besides a considerable amount of blood there was nothing to be found inside.

Both Daidoji were stunned.
They were preparing themselves for a dead body but... nothing? no one?

"How? Where is...?"

[Daigotsu Daisuke]

As Yuuka searched the scene, Kojiro a pet fox given to her by her husband after his most recent trip outside of lion lands, popped his head out of Akane's satchel. Giving a small yawn, he then jumped down onto her kimono and then climbed his way down her leg to the ground. Taking stock of the scene he then began to sniff around. Finding a particularly interesting leaf he then began to bat at it with his paw and then proceeded to tackle it to the ground as viciously as a young fox kit could.

As Kojiro amused himself, Akane then looked at the scene herself. Pulling from another backpack her bowl and the flask that held her ceremonial water she then poured a bit of the water into the bowl, then speaking to the kami of the water bowl. "Hello water kami-sama! Its good to speak with you again." Speaking to something that was obviously not there for everyone else (unless you're a shugenja as well) she then continued to speak:
"Water-sama if its ok with you im going to give you a sample of blood. This once belonged to Daidoji Yuuka-san's friend Koten. If its alright with you and if its possible could you please point me in his direction?"

For Akane the water kami in the bowl then replied to her and for any other shugenja that might be able to hear it:
"Hello Akane! I have a favor to ask of you in exchagne for the favor you asked for. I have been asked by the plants around here to nurture them, if you could splash me onto them, im sure i could gain some favors from them and if possible they will then point you the way you wish to go. However that all depends on if you have any of the blood readily available. Let me taste it so I may know what Yuuka-san's friend's aura is like."

With that Akane then grabbed a small cloth from her bag soaked it in a small amount of blood spattered at the scene and then dropped it into the bowl. When she seemed satisfied and the water kami answered in the same satisfaction she then lifted the bowl swirled the water inside and then threw the water on the nearest plants trying to hit as many as possible.

(OOC: I dont know if this is a spell in cannon and as i have been playing things by ear whenever i have akane do spells im not sure what i should do. Not sure if i should advance the plot myself or not so i left it up to everyone here. Make some suggestions or maybe we'll get a reply from our shadowy gm if he exists? Anywho I enjoy playing Akane hopefully this scene will play out interestingly)

[Bayushi Hiromitsu]

OOC: Hi guys. ^^ Is already decided if we are going to use sheets or not? May I start then?

[Asahina Yukihime]

(( OOC: I'm ready, sheet ready. EE sheet, right? Haven't heard about the dices yet.
May be we could mic styles for those who doesn't want to built a sheet for their NPCs.

This thread is supposed to be a "test", if it works we can develop things better in the next story arch))

[Bayushi Hiromitsu]

OOC: Hum... Ok... >.o You guys know how huge the gap between players can be obviously. But if you could be so kind to post the sheets of send me I can start very soon.

[Daigotsu Daisuke]

sorry im gonna be that obnoxious player that has no interest in rolling up a sheet for an npc of mine. If you wish to then by all means but im stuck in mainly 3rd ed rules and have no knowledge of 4ed just wanted to rp.

[yuuka]

(OOC: Hum... not working huh? Suggestions? Considering who behind we are from the main time line, Is there still any interest in this?)

[Akodo Tsanuri]

Toshi observed how Akane was performing the spell. She knew Kitsu-sama is skilled and powerful shugenja, and that she didn’t mean to do anything wrong. But watching shugenja enchanting mantra to communicate with spirits while holding bloody cloth. Too similar to maho.
In the meantime, her people dispersed in the woods looking for some traces. When Asahina was finishing her spell one of them came back