Akodo Taiyo
Lion Clan
Lion Clan Hero ? Samurai ? Tactican ? Shireikan ? Honorable ? Loyal
Posts: 196
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Post by Akodo Taiyo on Nov 2, 2011 9:42:44 GMT -5
Tonma stumbled down the street, weaving back and forth while other heimin looked on and giggled. Tonma was always drunk. It helped that he worked all day making saki...nothing beat having a fresh supply on hand when he was parched. And Tonma was always parched. It made his wife as angry as a charging boar, but he didn't mind. He could always sleep it off and forget for an evening that his wife was the man of the house. She would most likely beat him again, if he went home in this condition. Better if he found another place to sleep tonight...give her a little time and space and maybe he could avoid a new round of welts from the bamboo reed she wielded with the alacrity of an iajutsu duelist.
Pleased with his new plan, Tonma turned and proceeded in nothing quite like a straight line towards the nearest stables. The inn next door was loud, quite a crowd had gathered tonight. Lantern light spilled out from the door, illuminating the street. Tonma ducked around the back of the stables, out of sight of the road. Looking around to make sure no one had spotted him, he crept into the comforting darkness inside the stables.
The smell of hay and animals was strong, nearly enough to mask the odor of saki emanating from his clothing where he had spilled it earlier in the evening, before he'd been tossed out and told to go home. There was a comfortable spot in the corner...just over there. He remembered from the last time he'd slept here, evading his wife's wrath on another occasion.
Tonma's bare foot caught on something in the hay and he lost his already precarious balance, dropping to his hands and knees while plunging his face in the straw. Odd, this straw was wet, warm and sticky. He pulled himself up to his knees, reaching out to steady himself. Whew...too much saki. Maybe I should cut back just a little. His hand met something large and bulky, covered in cloth. He grabbed it and pulled himself towards it. Wiping his eyes, he began to make out the shape before him in the dim light.
A dead man...dressed all in black!
Quickly he released the body, his revulsion causing the gorge to rise in his stomach. He jolted upright, and almost fell over backwards. Fear began to settle in, and he released his bladder in the hay. Turning to run, he burst out through the main door of the stable, into the illuminated street. There he stood, weaving back and forth.
"MURDER! MURDER!" he screamed over and over into the night, as his blood soaked face gazed down at his blood soaked hands. He doubled over, evacuating his stomach of the night's intake of saki into a puddle before him, while lanterns began to appear in the distance. The heimin in the street began to run about, either going inside and blocking their doors or rushing back and forth in the street, trying to get away from the grotesque scene. Surely some doshin would be along shortly to take control of the situation.
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Post by Soshi Kiso on Nov 2, 2011 16:31:53 GMT -5
There was a commotion on the streets outside the inn, Kiso immediately felt an unease. He was hoping to arrive and leave Ikoma's Eye with ease. Hoping the ordeal unfolding outside had nothing to do with his entourage, he stood up and made his way to the door to peek outside. Lantern's light gleamed off mons of yoriki coming down this direction.
He stepped back from the entrance, turned to go back to the table, when he saw for sure that 2 members of his group were missing. That is when he knew the yoriki had business with them. He slipped back to the table and began speaking in a whispering tone. The guards come this way. I know not their reason, but I'm sure they have business with us. We must find the two missing from our group, before they get us in for more ordeal.
Turning to Kotaro, Could you slip out the back and find Kyo and his apprentice?
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Post by Ikoma Kibo on Nov 2, 2011 20:45:12 GMT -5
(OOC: fixed this- Lion don't tend to do much at night other than entertaining things. ) Kibo looked over and realized something wasn't going according to anyone's plan when she heard the shouting and commotion and subsequent quiet wods from Kiso-sama. Nothing was ever easy. Now, she'd have to figure out what happened and how to deal with it appropriately. She made sure her fan and sword would be ready to go, even if seated, in case this was a ruse to set up some kind of assassination attempt on her or the guests. Watch and prepare to act when it was time to act. It was easy to make sense of confusion in a stand up battle or skirmish, but these kinds of problens were far messier....
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Akodo Taiyo
Lion Clan
Lion Clan Hero ? Samurai ? Tactican ? Shireikan ? Honorable ? Loyal
Posts: 196
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Post by Akodo Taiyo on Nov 2, 2011 21:25:46 GMT -5
The chaos on the street had only intensified in the last few minutes since the doshin had come on the scene. There were about twenty of them, several clutching yaris with white knuckled fists, while others held their jittes in shaking hands. They pushed back the fearful heimin, creating a clear space around Tonma and the stables. One man among them stood stationary in the eye of the swirling mass of peasants. He bore the mon of the Ikoma on his kamishimo, and a daisho was tucked into his obi.
Send for eta to collect the body, and bring that lantern over here. I want to take a look inside. He ordered his subordinates, then stepped into the stables to see the body for himself. Meanwhile, two more doshin entered the inn across the road.
By order of the Magistrate, you are hereby detained for questioning! Do not attempt to leave until released by Yoriki Kuro. There has been a murder, just across the street. If you've seen anything, speak up now! The doshin, clearly heimin themselves, spoke with wavering voices. Ordering samurai was tricky business, which could end badly if not handled with the appropriate protocols.
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Post by Soshi Kiso on Nov 2, 2011 21:37:55 GMT -5
Just as he feared, the commotion led to a confrontation he had wanted to avoid. The night of rest he had looked forward to was now for naught. It would not be simple to sneak out in the night now, for their very transportation was tied up across the street.
Kiso stood up before the others. You speak to Soshi Kiso, Daimyo of the Soshi. My men and I know nothing about the events across the street. I fear questioning us will be a waste of your time, for as you can see...gesturing to the many bottles of sake upon the table, we have been here for some time enjoying the inn's hospitality.
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Shosuro Yoichi
Scorpion Clan
Actor, lover of... late night walks.
Posts: 71
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Post by Shosuro Yoichi on Nov 3, 2011 0:03:17 GMT -5
[OOC: Sorry. Been sick for the past few days.]
Indeed, to underscore Kiso-sama's point, Yoichi made a slight stumble on his (very fashionable, but very tall) geta.
His slightly languid sway to seemingly recover his balance spoke volumes.
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Shosuro Yoichi
Scorpion Clan
Actor, lover of... late night walks.
Posts: 71
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Post by Shosuro Yoichi on Nov 3, 2011 19:59:51 GMT -5
Having used his feigned sway to scan the crowd, Yoichi saw three likely assailants hidden in the masses. All three look too well built to be merchants, and too well fed to be peasants, despite their peasant garb. Amateurs. At least they spaced themselves out, so as not to appear to be associated. At least I can memorize their faces. Too many people here now.
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Post by Ikoma Kibo on Nov 4, 2011 5:03:06 GMT -5
(ooc: fixed previous post.)
Kibo looked up at the magistrate and raised an eyebrow, then began to rattle away in the typical Lion-accented clipped patter that they all seemed to use when they were obviously irritated.
"Kiso-sama is correct. We've been here for some time now listening to my hopefully interesting stories and drinking. A murder? Explain further, please. Perhaps I can offer assistance if this problem proves to be too difficult for your men to figure out."
Kibo took another drink and stabbed with her chopsticks at one of the sweets at the table. This issue likely meant this was the last decent meal she'd have for the forseeable future, the last time she'd be out of her armor for a long time, and the last time she'd get to drink anything decent as well. If something got in her way in the next few weeks, she'd just have to kill it at this point. This was getting... irritating....
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Shosuro Kyo
Scorpion Clan
*Magistrate *Loyal *Paragon of Duty *Lord of Dance
Posts: 123
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Post by Shosuro Kyo on Nov 4, 2011 9:36:52 GMT -5
With Kumai's sudden appearance, followed by her disappearance, Kyo was left a bit reeling. He closed is eyes and forced his body into a meditation to calm down, he needed to think and not to act rashly at this moment.
Kyo took a moment to clean his blade of the tainted blood as well as reequip his jitte and katana to his side. He paused, he reached and grab his Magiste badge from his bag. It might prove to be useful.
After everything was set, he left the room as is, he head downstairs and snuck pass the guard and magistrates into the room where the others were. He cleared his throat and looked at the magistrate with a glare, using what he knew to control the situation in his favor.
I know not about these other bodies that were killed, magistrate-san. What I do know is an assassin snuck into my room and tried to murder me. I am unaccustom to the laws in rules in the Lion lands, but I was under the impression that the Lion Guards were some of the best in the empire?
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Post by Soshi Kiso on Nov 4, 2011 17:07:59 GMT -5
Kiso was at a shock. Great, the young magistrate just insulted the Lion's guard. This was not going to go over well. Instead of trying to make the situation worse, he gave a slight glare at Kyo, and hoped Kibo might be able to get them out of the confines of detainment.
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Akodo Taiyo
Lion Clan
Lion Clan Hero ? Samurai ? Tactican ? Shireikan ? Honorable ? Loyal
Posts: 196
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Post by Akodo Taiyo on Nov 4, 2011 20:10:31 GMT -5
The two wide eyed doshin glanced back and forth between Kiso, Kyo and Kibo, clearly unmanned by the presence of so many enemy Scorpion hiding in plain sight, and so deeply within Lion territory as well. Perhaps they were the ones responsible for the murder...or assassination...despite what they claimed. The Scorpion were infamous for being liars and murderers, after all. However, Kibo's presence and alibi completely confused the shaken deputies of Yoriki Kuro.
The shorter of the two pointed his jitte at the group, and attempted to gather his courage by shouting a hearty KI-AI![/i] before turning tail and running back outside, leaving his terrified companion alone to face the much feared Scorpion. Believing his life to be hanging in the balance, the remaining doshin dropped his jitte and fell to his hands and knees to grovel before the high ranking samurai.
A thousand pardons! We did not know that such esteemed guests were enjoying the hospitality of our inn. Please take pity on me. I have a wife, and a daughter....please don't kill me! He crawled forward while he debased himself, clutching at the hems of their kimonos.If you would step outside and speak with Yoriki Kuro, I am sure he would be able to explain everything to you! Please, I don't want to die!
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Post by Soshi Kiso on Nov 4, 2011 21:26:33 GMT -5
This is how a law man acts?! Such a bewildering thought. Does he think the Scorpion so devious and powerful that we would slaughter him for attempted his duty. He had to take a step back from the pitiful excuse for a yoriki. Get on your feet, fool! If your going to die tonight, it's going to be from your own cowardliness.
He knew the other had run out to get reinforcements. At least he had the upper hand on the given situation and had no intention of stepping out into the night. As far as he knew, they had nothing to do with the murder, and did not wish to lend rumor to it by engaging the Yoriki on the streets for every ear and eye to bear witness.
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Akodo Taiyo
Lion Clan
Lion Clan Hero ? Samurai ? Tactican ? Shireikan ? Honorable ? Loyal
Posts: 196
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Post by Akodo Taiyo on Nov 4, 2011 23:46:52 GMT -5
(OOC: Point of clarification - The Doshin aren't samurai...they are heimin peasants who act as deputies to the Yoriki and Magistrate. Normally they only get to boss around the eta and other heimin...so when they accidentally step on the toes of a mighty samurai it can go very badly for them. Besides his jitte, he has no other weapon, and is not permitted to carry a sword.)
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Post by Ikoma Kibo on Nov 5, 2011 6:13:08 GMT -5
Kibo looked over with resignation at Kiso-sama. He knew what was coming. She hated doing this, but sometimes, a full-blown Lion rant was necessary, and she'd learned to do one when she had to. Otherwise certain bullheaded soldiers and individuals wouldn't respond appropriately or they wouldn't respect her.
She raised her eyebrow at the paniced Doshin and snapped her fan loudly at him, scaring him even more.
"What kind of a jitte man are you that throws away the sacred symbol of the Emperor's laws? All of us here respect the laws of the Empire! Pick it up and think! If anyone in this room was complicit, don't you think you'd have been dealt with already or that we'd have left by now and been far down the highway out of town?"
Kibo paused and gathered her thoughts quickly. This kind of thing made her head hurt. Ths situation was also highly embarassing for several good reasons. Steps would have to be taken to remedy the failure in security, that was for certain.
Once the paniced man grabbed his Jitte and continued to try and become one with the floor of the inn again, she continued.
"You will report your embarassing behavior to your superior and ask them to help you reflect on your role as an upstanding representative of justice in this city when this incident is over. I expect nothing less from a Jitte man. I will find out! Kiso-sama's father was a well-regarded Emerald Magistrate in a period of great tumult! He catches criminals, you headlice, he's not a cold-blooded killer!"
Shinsei, she hated ranting like this. She never figured out how some Matsu were able to continually bellow like this for most of their day.
"Now, Potato Bug! What you will do is take us to the scene of this unfortunate incident so perhaps I can assist you as someone who has investigated and assisted various organizations in situations like this for the Lion and other Clans. I want to see the scene before it gets cleaned up and any evidence is tampered with!"
Kibo shook her head and finished her cup of Shochu. She then stood up and bowed deeply to Kiso-sama and his companions.
"On behalf of this Beetle and my Clan, I apologize for this unseemly incident and for the lack of decent security in Ikoma's Eye. I am certain I have your word you will cooperate with myself and the investigators, and we'll try and get out of here as soon as is practiable, which should be rather shortly if I have my way about this. If indeed this was in self-defense, there will be no problem. Understood, Potato-Bug!?"
She stood up and her almost shoulder-length coppered hair bounced a bit. More work to do as the Shining Lion's unofficial special agent for trying to fix messy problems like this one....
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Akodo Taiyo
Lion Clan
Lion Clan Hero ? Samurai ? Tactican ? Shireikan ? Honorable ? Loyal
Posts: 196
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Post by Akodo Taiyo on Nov 6, 2011 9:53:14 GMT -5
Hai Sama! Hai! The doshin exclaimed with joy in his voice. Having received only a verbal lashing instead of the cut from a sharp sword, he scurried out the door and into the street where his voice could be heard yelling for Kuro's whereabouts. The remainder of the inn's guests, mostly heimin, stood stock still, not knowing quite what to do next. Between Kibo's authoritarian rant and the Scorpion revealing their presence, the poor peasants were at a loss.
Meanwhile, Yoriki Kuro was busy examining the scene inside the stables. His lantern light had revealed that all the horses had been slain. Clearly the attackers wished to limit their target's ability to travel quickly. Two dead men lay in the hay, their masks removed. Whoever had killed them hadn't known who they were...and needed to find out. The mark of the Taint was upon them! These were not your typical, folk tale brand of ninja. Their blood had soaked into the straw...which would make it easier for the eta to clean up, unless it had also soaked into the ground below. That poor drunken sot outside, however, covered in their tainted blood...he would have to be dealt with, and quickly before he could spread that tainted blood any further.
Just then Kuro heard the commotion as the short doshin burst into the street from the inn, telling his comrades that the assassins were inside. What a fool! He'd have to be dealt with too. The yoriki turned and left the stables behind as he made his was back to the street. There he saw that the remaining guards had formed a half cirlce around the entrace to the inn, with spears and jitte pointed inward, ready to skewer anyone who came outside.
Kuro-sama! Scorpion assassins are inside! They threatened our lives, but I escaped in time and now we have them trapped like rats! The short doshin, proud of his efforts at law enforcement, beamed happily at his great accomplishment. This was certainly a turn of events...if it was true at all. Clearly the assassins were dead in the stables. If the Scorpion were here, maybe it was they who so easily dispatched them?
It was then that the second doshin came flying out of the inn. Kuro-sama! Kuro-sama! Kibo-sama is inside, and has been sharing saki with the Soshi Daimyo of the Scorpion Clan! One of their party was attacked, and they are very upset. Kibo-sama has offered her assistance... and then he noticed all the spears pointed right at him. The courage of these doshin left much to be desired, but their usefulness for intelligence gather usually weighed in their favor.
Kuro had finally had enough of this. Fools! Put your weapons away! The assassin has been caught, and you are making yourselves look like trembling children! Get these heimin out of here. All of them, except for the drunk! And create a perimeter around the stables. What are you waiting for? I said NOW!!! Any one of you who goes into the stables, I will personally execute! Understand!?!
As the crowd dispersed, the yoriki turned to Tonma. Kuro's voice softened as he spoke, I'm so sorry, I hate to have to do this. You were doing no one any harm, but I cannot allow the truth of this night to get out to the public. May you have better fortune in your next life. As he finished the farewell his sword swept from its sheath, gleaming in the lantern light for a moment before the single cut ended Tonma's life.
Approaching the inn, he cried out You inside the inn! This is Yoriki Kuro. I apologize for any inconvenience these bumbling fools have caused you. Please come out, you will not be harmed!
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