Usagi Izutsu
Ronin
Hare Clane Samurai
* Hare Clan Regent * Samurai * Jade Magistrate * Master Tracker * Heir *
Posts: 54
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Post by Usagi Izutsu on Feb 8, 2012 2:35:45 GMT -5
The dungeons of Kyuden Otomo, especially those utilized by the Jade magistrates, were about as pleasant as could be expected. Dark, dank stone walls lined the various cells, and strong iron shackles hung on every wall. These were no normal shackles, however; if one were to look closely, they would see all the chains were dusted in a light coating of jade powder. All but one of these dismal cells were empty, the lone occupant only having just arrived a few moment ago as the group of samurai followed the Jade Legionnaires into the room. Earlier that day... Half a dozen men in the armor of the Jade Legion approached the man who sat on his own in one of the halls of the Winter Court, his black kimono easily distinguishing him from the many colors of the courtiers that moved here and there. The guards quickly surrounded him hands on their blades, and one seeming to be the leader stepped forward, his dark eyes burning into the man from beneath his helmet. "Your presence is requested for questioning regarding a murder that happened late last night. If you would follow us please." It was not a request.
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Post by The Book Keeper on Feb 9, 2012 18:43:50 GMT -5
Earlier that day...
The Keeper lifted his eye at the man thinking 'now i know i did not do anything wrong ....... yet, what could they possible want with me' The Keeper looked at all of the Jade Legions then looked back at the leader and said "Who request my presence, and what need do you have to question me" The Keeper was trying to think of who could be pulling this fools string but was in fact curious to find out what this buffoon had to say.
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Usagi Izutsu
Ronin
Hare Clane Samurai
* Hare Clan Regent * Samurai * Jade Magistrate * Master Tracker * Heir *
Posts: 54
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Post by Usagi Izutsu on Feb 11, 2012 17:17:59 GMT -5
"In the process of the investigation, your name has been mentioned in regards to certain events. The Magistrates simply wish to find out if these allegations are true or not." The captain shifted his weight again, as did all of his men, seemingly ready to draw their weapons at any given time. "Will you come willingly?"
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Post by The Book Keeper on Feb 11, 2012 19:09:38 GMT -5
“If that is the case, I will come willingly.” The Keeper looked at the men “You need not draw your weapons, for I will come peacefully.” He looked back at the leader “And I will come of my own accord.”
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Usagi Izutsu
Ronin
Hare Clane Samurai
* Hare Clan Regent * Samurai * Jade Magistrate * Master Tracker * Heir *
Posts: 54
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Post by Usagi Izutsu on Feb 12, 2012 16:51:44 GMT -5
The captain nodded, his cold eyes never wavering from the man's face. "If you would come with us." He gestured for the man to begin walking the guards keeping a close circle around him as they made their way out of the main chambers and into the area of the castle reserved for use by the Jade Magistrates.
They led him into a small room, where there was nothing but a low table, upon which sat two cups. The guards gestured for the man to sit and took up positions behind him and flanking the two entrances into the room. After a moment a servant came in and filled the two cups with tea, its warm, gentle fragrance filling the room.
Once the servant left, a few moments passed by in silence before a man in a dark blue kimono bearing the mon of the Otomo entered. His short, cropped hair was silvery gray, matching his eyes, though they were full of wisdom and strength. The Otomo took a seat opposite the man at the table and sipped his tea, remaining in silence as he stared at the man across the table with those searching eyes.
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Post by The Book Keeper on Feb 13, 2012 11:41:30 GMT -5
The Keeper kept his eyes on the man in front of him, taking in every detail about him, but he was going to make sure he was not the first one to give the opening move, after all way help them when they never help the people. But their always the first to point fingers and follow the course of bloodshed for the sake of ‘justice’, ha, what a lie that is, it’s just for their petty squabbles instead of the nobility that they so proudly claim they serve.
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Usagi Izutsu
Ronin
Hare Clane Samurai
* Hare Clan Regent * Samurai * Jade Magistrate * Master Tracker * Heir *
Posts: 54
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Post by Usagi Izutsu on Feb 13, 2012 18:13:34 GMT -5
"Who are you?"
The question was sudden, sharp and barbed, a hint of dark anger floating beneath the surface. The man's face remained imperceptible as he continued to drink his tea, otherwise looking as though he were carved from stone.
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Post by The Book Keeper on Feb 13, 2012 21:17:55 GMT -5
And with that question the first dice has been cast. The Keeper's face spit in a grin at that "now i was told that my name was brought up in an investigation of a murder, and that was the reason i was brought from the festiveness" after this he tilted his head a little to the left and continued "but it looks like the pretenses you brought me here for whereas false as a Geisha innocents"
Looking the man in the eye “why, oh why should I answer any of your question, I have come willingly, been deceived and you want me to be honest with you, so I ask why, oh why should I? And with this said he stops to take a sip of the tea before he starts talking. “But you ask a simple question that’s just not as simple as you would like it to be, I have had many names over my life span, and I just don’t know what one you would happen to be looking for without you being honest with me, and so far you and your people have done nothing but lie and deceive.”
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Usagi Izutsu
Ronin
Hare Clane Samurai
* Hare Clan Regent * Samurai * Jade Magistrate * Master Tracker * Heir *
Posts: 54
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Post by Usagi Izutsu on Feb 14, 2012 3:00:49 GMT -5
The Otomo sat in silence as the other man ranted for a moment, showing no emotion on his face until the man finished at which point he cracked a small smile. "You are present at the Winter Court of the Emperor himself, one of the most secure locations in the Empire. Did you really think for a second that you were not under surveillance?" He adjusted his seat and finished his cup of tea before continuing. "Your presence here has been allowed only for our curiosity and to see if you had accomplices. You have been named as a member of the Spider, however, so now we must find out the truth. As for me, I have no interest in who you are. I am simply here to make sure you drank the tea."
Quickly rising to his feet, the man's eyes burned with triumph, his grin widening as he stepped away from the table. "Its is a blend developed for use by the Jade Magistrates. A stronger version of jade petal tea, to a normal samurai, it is simply a strong, refreshing brew. To those who bear the foul mark of Jigoku, however, it violently attacks the foul taint in your body, leaving you paralyzed and unconscious for a time." The Otomo backed to the door, and the guards all drew their blades in unison. "I will leave it to others to find out who you are..."
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Post by The Book Keeper on Feb 16, 2012 2:32:05 GMT -5
“Well played” was all The Keeper said before one of the samurai behind him knocked him out by hitting him in the back of the head with the hilt of the katana.
Present time …….
The Keeper awoke what he assumed was the dungeons, now that the paralysis effect of the jade wore off, he was intrigued by that Otomo. That Otomo would make an interesting addition to the Shadowlands, now to just find his price? The cuffs that he was bound to were covered in powdered jade. but to his utter luck there was a small puddle of water in the room due to a small leek in the base of the wall. That will be of use later but he was not going to break out till he found out what was really going on.
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quarim
Dragon Clan
Merchant*Qolat*Gaijin
Posts: 334
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Post by quarim on Feb 20, 2012 13:16:18 GMT -5
Quarim entered the room first. His gaudy red robe full of gems seemed very out of place in these dungeons. Isawa Mitsuru followed. He seemed to have the spell ready. Kakita Sojiro would was supposed to be in charge was busy in a strategy meeting with the Crane and if rumors were true leaving immediately afterward. It seemed the Phoenix was now in charge.
Yes this is the one. The disgust was in his voice.
Now was the time. He was hoping his training was good enough to keep his lies going. Prepare your spell.
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Isawa Mitsuru
Phoenix Clan
Shugenja ? Void ? Experienced
Posts: 113
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Post by Isawa Mitsuru on Feb 22, 2012 14:34:31 GMT -5
The one word I would use to describe this dungeon was…damp. Clearly there was very little room for ventilation amongst the heavy stone walls and metal bars used for the cage-like cells where prisoners were kept. But then again, I suppose that dungeons are not meant to be open and airy. C’est la vie.
I followed Kuwarimu into a specific holding room where a man in black robes was chained to the wall with Jade coated manacles. Leave it to the Jade Magistrates to be ostentatious and ineffective all at the same time. Even the Crab know that jade alloy is a stronger hold on the Shadowlands and generally cheaper to produce as well. Perhaps if I had a chance I would discuss this with another magistrate in charge.
I had been quite disappointed by the lack of Kakita Sojiro’s presence today. I had hoped that I would be a helper here but now it seemed that I was to be the primary person responsible for the success or failure of this investigation. The pressure was more than I cared for but I simultaneously had little interest in appearing foolish to Lord Shodai.
After Kuwarimu’s brief pleasantries with the prisoner I spread out a little mat so I wouldn’t have to sit directly on the very dirty floors. I positioned myself on the woven bamboo and pulled a scroll from my lapels. Usually, I liked to carry more scrolls but since I was only going to be using the one spell over and over today I just had a few basics handy.
I opened the scroll on my lap and cantilated the requisite prayer to the Nothingness. After a few short moments I was able to open myself to the Void in the room and see the threads of reality in keen detail about the room.
It is an odd sensation to be omnipresent in a small space. I knew where I was in the reality of space and time but I wasn’t really looking at the room from that perspective anymore. I was sort of pulsating from the walls seeing everything from multiple angles. I could see the twisting strands of the three of us and how our fates were slowly intertwining. The first few times I did this it had made me violently ill and I had to spend a week between attempts before being able to really control the sensation of swimming in the Void in this manner.
I focused my infinite angles of perception on the prisoner so as to be able to perceive any disruptions in its form. Watching and interpreting the strange rotten pulsations of this man who clearly carried copious amounts of Taint is what would allow me to see just how truthful he was being.
I heard myself nod briefly and I felt the entire movement of my body as I said, “I am ready Kuwarimu. If you would be kind enough to question him, I require a fair amount of concentration to watch his reactions.”
((OOC: Book keeper, if you would be kind enough to tell us when you ar elying or at least hint at it, I would be most appreciative.))
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Post by The Book Keeper on Feb 22, 2012 18:45:51 GMT -5
Once the keeper herd the footsteps from down the hall he know he was going to be seeing people soon, from the looks of the dungeons there was no one else hear. After a few more min of the footsteps approaching he heard the key in the door unlock the door. This man dressed in bright red robes, with what looks like rubies in it. Then after that man fully stepped in the room another stepped in and by the look of him, he was a Shugenja, and taking a look at the way he held himself he was a most defiantly from the Phoenix Clan.
“well, well, well, just who has decided to drop by, after all with such a warm welcome you two are being so kind to little old me would you be so kind to tell me your names?” with a touch of humor in his voice the keeper was wondering if these two where the puppeteers or are they just another puppet, dancing on the strings of the masterminds plans.
Watching the Phoenix sit down on a matt of bamboo and start chanting to the kami, I know immediately that this man was of the Void. “Oh, so you decided to bring a little bird who can speak to the void down here to talk to me I’m honored, you trust me so much.” Tilting his head to look at the red robbed man “If you want to ask me a question you could just ask, what do I have to lie about? ….. But by now he already knows I carry what you like to call the taint within me, but is he talented enough to see what other kami talk to me within me, what works with me to my very heart and soul”
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quarim
Dragon Clan
Merchant*Qolat*Gaijin
Posts: 334
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Post by quarim on Feb 23, 2012 1:18:09 GMT -5
Quarim walked over to the prisoner and sat down across from him. He took one deep breath and let all the pretenses and lies fade away from him. Mitsuru had said the spell would allow him to read emotion. Quarim who had sliced open his first man at age seven to learn what the organs did; who had been tortured for months to learn how to resist pain; who had killed over and over to achieve his goals had very little in the way of emotion. He was hoping that this spell would prove to be a complete failure against him while raising more questions concerning the Spider sitting across from him.
I am Quarim. I am here to negotiate with you. If you cooperate then you shall live. If you do not, I shall kill you. Give me your name and your purpose for being at Winter Court.
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Post by The Book Keeper on Feb 24, 2012 2:20:10 GMT -5
“Well Quarim, what is it that you are here to negotiate with me about?” The Keeper looked at this man he has come to know as Quarim and wonder what games this man is playing. “Well as to your question if you need to call upon me for something, you may call me The Keeper and my busyness is my own business, as to why I came to this winter court.” With a look in his eyes of understanding at the man in the red robes in front of him. “you’re from the burning sands are you not?”
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