Lion Officers In Jeopardy (Closed)

[Daigotsu Daisuke]

This thread is meant for any lion inside Toshi Ranbo after the fall. It is meant to rp the action in Toshi Ranbo to assassinate lion officers. Shosuro Honzo, Bayushi Hisa and Shosuro Kyo have agreed to participate in some manner. If anyone else would like to join and has a good reason to be in Toshi Ranbo after the lion have taken it, please pm me and i'll let you know if you're welcome to join.

Also please be aware that as this thread takes place in a geisha house, it may contain some adult themes. I ask however that characters refrain from describing any actual sexual acts for as much as I enjoy reading character development there are somethings which are better left to your imagination and not mine. Also please keep in mind that the word Geisha doesn't exactly mean the word prostitute. There is a difference between Geisha and Oiran. You may read here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geisha
and decide which you prefer for the section of the geisha house you are in. Sorry I wasn't thinking entirely when i started this post apparently.

Akodo Jin was still celebrating. He had been a part of the taking of Toshi Ranbo and as such had been rewarded by an old friend of his, Akodo Tomatsu. The two had served together in the Yobanjin campaign and Jin had been active supporter of the man for years.

Sitting in a nice hot bath at the Emerald Springs Geisha House, Jin let his old tired bones soak in the warm water. This week long visit to the Geisha house was Tomatsu's gift for his long service and dedication to the cause. Fortunately he wasn't alone, Akodo Taiyo and a few other Lion officers had received a similar boone from the Lion champion as well. There was much entertainment all around for those who had served well.

Jin started to look at his old wrinkled skin and noticed the effects of the water.
"So thats what old men look like after they get pruny in the bath" he thought to himself.
Recognizing that he had soaked far too long he then stood up and got out of the bath moving to a private table that held towels. He picked one of the table and began to dry himself off making his way to the changing room that held his kimono and personal belongings.

No one was around so he gave a nice large yawn and stretched before putting his clothes on. His second day at the house had been greatly relaxing. He had putting off some matters that needed attending to, mainly some small things like gaining some equipment for his men. They had found housing in the city with other Lion soldiers and he had made sure that they were all given the proper rewards for their service to Toturi III, The Lion, and the Empire. However, small things always seemed to crop up.

He started walking down the hallway when he noticed a younger lion officer walking his way talking to a young geisha, the two seemingly in mid conversation about some small personal matter. They seemed quite happy so Jin didn't wish to bother them, he bowed to them both and greeted them and shared the small pleasantries and then moved on his way. The important matters would have to wait until after dinner.

It seemed the hostess was now trying to move everyone together to start dinner. He made his way downstairs to a large room with a large table and many cushions for all guests of the house to sit at. Jin bowed to those at the table and then he found a proper seat to sit down at and waited for his tea. It seemed like another pleasant dinner was waiting for him.

[Daigotsu Daisuke]

(OOC: oooop sorry i originally was unsure as to the purpose of the scorpion characters and had the wrong idea and posted as such before. I meant no disrespect and have modified my post to reflect the change in understanding as to their place in this post... carry on )

[Akodo Taiyo]

Giggles erupted from behind closed shoji as Taiyo enjoyed a bath. It seemed like an eternity had passed since he was last able to let go and relax. Here, thanks to Tomatsu-sama's generousity, he had found the perfect companions for just such an endeavor. Three servant girls had joined him in the tub, scrapped all the dirt from his skin, and washed his hair. He'd even managed to secure some warm saki to take with him, and had been hard at work emptying the bottle. Tossing back the last cup, he declared success!

Another flawless victory for the Lion, and you three get to share the prize! Reaching for the nearest of the trio, his arm knocked the empty saki bottle onto the floor. The girls giggled again, but protested none the less.

Taiyo-san, you are quite a rascal! But it is getting late and we must get you ready for dinner. There will be time to pillow later if you wish. For now, let us help you out of the tub and prepare you for tonight's entertainment. You are in for quite a treat, our most experienced geisha will be performing for you and your friends tonight, and she is quite skilled indeed.

Taiyo tried to refuse, but in his intoxicated state he was no match for the skillful handling of the servants. They had him dried, dressed and groomed almost before he realized it. It occurred to him that here they were the experienced generals, and he was little more than a pawn in their hands.

Dressed in a fresh kimono, with his wakizashi tucked into his obi, Taiyo was led to the main room where the others were already gathering.

Sensei Jin-sama! I am surprised to see your old bones here already. Did they have to haul you from the bath in a cart, or did you manage to roll out on your own? It was good to be in the company of good friends and companions, in a place where the pressures and rules of perfect etiquette could be forgotten for just a little while. Taiyo moved to take a seat near Jin, smiling at his respected teacher while delivering a friendly barb.

[Daigotsu Daisuke]

Jin had been in conversation with a young lady across the table when Taiyo burst into the room. Jin apologized to her and welcomed Taiyo. While the servants had used their great skill to try and cover up the sake on Taiyo's breath, Jin's hypersensitivity and still pounding hang over from the night before made him all to aware of Taiyo's condition. Jin had tried to cure the problem with more alcohol but it had yet to take hold. He had hope the bath earlier would cure him of his ailment, but he was now beginning to doubt that simple rest and relaxation would do the trick. It seemed the answer was now quite simple as many an apothecary would tell you, the best remedies to ailments from alcohol was simply to drink more (ooc quick note: Read almost any bar book and look for the common hang over remedies section or look at most liquors and you'll find that hangover remedies include generally more alcohol or that liquors were often a "tonic" to cure some ailment)

Jin looked to the mistress hoping that she could hear his mental pleas. Luckily she had heard him and after many of the guests began to settle in exclaimed the greatness of the lion, toturi, and her establishments iwai-zake (or celebration sake). She spoke favorably of the lion patrons and the sake that she had had specially concocted for them. Jin doubted she had hoped for their victory but instead understood that it was brewed to curry favor with whoever held the city at the end of the seige. He didn't complain though, the celestial order of things demanded the peasants curry favor with their betters and tonight, the peasants were doing so in fine style.

After receiving his cup and shouting the customary cheers and thanks to the Kami and the fortunes Jin turned to Taiyo:

"Roll me out? Little boy, I have been sampling the finest geisha houses since before you were even a seed in your mothers belly. And i'll have you know my current condition wasn't caused by a mere bottle of sake unlike your own. It is lucky for you that I am here to teach you one final lesson, how to drink like you have a pair."

He then raised his glass for the first cup of the evening. It was going to be a long night.

[Shosuro Honzo]

(OOC-This happens in one of the geisha houses in Toshi Ranbo. It is not necessarily where Lion PCs are located. If you wish to be in this geisha house, that is your choice, but you are not being forced to be here. Also, no Lion PC will have their character killed, as that is godmodding. You can RP your death if you wish, or you can "escape" in the chaos. This reply has adult content, so be warned. That is all. Enjoy.)

The geisha house was packed with Lion. The conquest of the capital city was over and the Lion had fully entrenched themselves into Toshi Ranbo. The occupying force was celebrating a monumental victory, and it was in this section of the city that the revelry was at its highest.

Lion bushi and shugenja toasted their success in the sake houses, gambled their spoils in the gambling houses and quite a few sought out the geisha houses in the more seedier neighborhoods. It was on this night that in one particular geisha house, the Gentle Blossom, that the celebration was about to come to an end.

The Gentle Blossom had been in operation for many years before the Lion had come. As one of the many safe houses for agents of The Master of Shadows, Shosuro Honzo, daimyo of the Shosuro family, it boasted as one of the central hubs for his spy network, to those in the know that is.

However, that all ended when the army invaded. There were fires, murders and rapes. The peasants were killed alongside the defenders. Courtiers attempting to escape were cut down. Mothers and their babes were riddled with arrows, rode down with horses or otherwise savaged by men drunk on bloodshed.

This area of Toshi Ranbo was mostly unscathed by the battle. It was here that the Mistress of Jet and Jade, a courtesan of fame and renown that was one of Shosuro Honzo's best agents, had set up her operation for her master. The Gentle Blossom was hers, and these Lion had killed some of her friends, family and agents. There were even a couple of geisha that had been killed on their way to the Blossom, after having been savagely raped by entire squads of Lion soldiers.

The Lion were getting heavily drunk. Sake flowed and the geisha merely smiled and bowed as the men pawed at them, sang bawdy songs and demanded services of the house at cheaper rates for "liberating them" from the tyrannical Hantei. The madam of the house had a deep scowl on her face and she regularly checked on her girls, to make sure that the celebrations didn't turn violent against her geisha. A good and profitable geisha that was damaged was a ruined thing, and she did not care to lose any good money or reputation amongst such brutes and savage men as the Lion soldiers.

One such geisha moved through the throng. She apologized to all the low-ranking bushi and shugenja that attempted to book her for her services, saying only that she had already been reserved for the entire night. As she passed by the madam, she made several subtle hand gestures. The madam bowed and signalled back.

A gong rang out in the common room of the geisha house. The madam croaked out in her raspy, aged voice that she had a special evening planned for all officers of the Lion. She apologized, saying that all the other samurai would not be able to stay, but offered them a free night in a neighboring geisha house several blocks away. Some of the Lion roared their disapproval, but the officers shouted them down and ejected the low-ranking samurai all the same.

The officers thanked the madam for their hospitality and inquired as to what this special evening entailed. The madam explained that as such high ranking samurai had chosen her house for this evening of celebration and liberation, she was treating the officers to her best fare and her best geisha that she kept secret from all but the most important dignitaries. "Why, even the mighty Emperor Hantei has sampled from my house, though no dignified samurai would dare to ask the Emperor so."

Some of the officers swore at the mention of the escaped Son of Heaven, while the older, wiser officers nodded their assent. They accepted the madam's offer and sat down to a night of frivolity that they would not soon forget, nor the rest of the Lion army.

The madam clapped her hands, and tea, celebration sake and sochu were brought out along with sticky rice candy, sushi and other delectables. She left the room momentarily and came back with a line of geisha, one for each officer. These geisha were truly spectacular, and the Lion officers were impressed with the quality of these women. One middle aged Lion officer was even heard remarking that he had sampled geisha from all over the Empire, but none such as these. It didn't take long for the other Lion to settle in and relax.

After an hour of drinking, eating and conversation, the geisha blindfolded the Lion officers playfully, whispering seductive tidbits in their ears and shyly blushing and giggling. The Lion officers were lead back through the corridors of the geisha house to a private, screened off section. The Lion officers were giddy with excitement, as the provocative and seductive women playfully whispered promises to the men of a night they would never forget.

The madam clapped her hands and the women unblindfolded the Lion. Each man was taken to a separate room and shoji screens were closed with soft, wooden thunks. The madam, known as the Mistress of Jet and Jade turned and padded to a small table where a wooden figurine of a nightingale rested. Twisting the figurine, a panel opened in the wall and she stepped through.

Inside the private chamber, the shinobi waited. Poisoners, assassins, ninja. The shinobi took no note of these other, more vulgar terms. They waited in the shadows while the Mistress looked at them and nodded. The time had come. The poisoned tea, sake, sochu and food would make their quarry sick, weak and sluggish. It would be a simple matter now.

The shinobi silently left the hidden chamber. Some took to the rafters, others waited just outside the doors that the Lion had entered. There would be no escape. The entrances were covered, the windows barred (thanks to special preparations). The only way out was to fight out, and the Lion were unarmed. Their weapons had been stowed in the weapons locker, and that too was relieved of the swords by the Scorpion.

A silver chime rang out, just one note. The signal had been given. The special geisha heard it and knew the time had come. With playful smiles and devilish grins, the shinobi sprang their attack. Geisha 'faces' dissolved into their predatory masks of their true nature. Shosuro actors playing the part, the Lion never knew what hit them.

Shuriken were thrown, hitting some in the head, eyes or throat. Ninjato sliced off limbs and heads. Sceams were cut off by garrotte, eyes stabbed with sharpened hairsticks, others hit by poisoned blowdarts. Lion officers dropped one by one.

A few managed to throw off the women to barge out of the shoji screens. These brave fools were cut down in the halls. They never stood a chance. A couple of insane fools even tried to go out the barred windows. Fools, thought the Mistress of Jet and Jade. That was until a rather rotund officer actually broke through the shutters, leaving a gaping hole that others might go out. Shinobi followed, springing out into the streets to end the fat Lion's squeals of alarm. Unfortunate that this wasn't going flawlessly. The slaughter would continue though, and there were none that could stop it. This night, the Gentle Blossom would flow with blood. It would be its last night in operation. Her agents would burn it down, so that the Lion would never find anything of use to expose any of the other safe houses.

The screams were swallowed up in the celebrations of the night. The killing kept on and on. It was the Master's will, and the Mistress of Jet and Jade would see it done. "For the Empire", she whispered and silently vanished into the night.