Shiba Kazuma
Phoenix Clan Mod
Phoenix Clan Champion?Samurai?Shiba's Soul?Unique?Enlightened
Posts: 369
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Post by Shiba Kazuma on Apr 6, 2011 9:13:18 GMT -5
Kazuma's personal quarters contained four rooms. There was the main entrance area that guests would be greeted at. This room has currently filled with the gifts that Kazuma had recieved. They were displayed all around each one had an area all to itself.
The next room was the main room. As you enter the room from the main hall you see two doors one straight ahead and one to your left. There is also a window located to your right. In the room there is a table set up in the middle with a saucer on it. On the Saucer is a pot of tea and several cups. Underneath the window is located a weapons stand that holds Kazuma's personal weapons. On the top is proudly displayed Ofushikai in all its wonder and glory.
Outside of Kazuma's room stand two armed Shiba holding naginatas. These men have been instructed by Kazuma to allow Shodai, and any companions he brings, in without question. They have also been told that anyone else trying to enter must first get Kazuma's expressed permission.
Kazuma is currently in the greeting room looking over all of his gifts taking a mental note on everything that he has. He is particularly concentrating on those gifts that he needs to have repaired or meet with the givers of the gift again in order to get the final part of the gift and honor the givers.
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Shosuro Ichiro
Scorpion Clan
Shosuro Family Daimyo*Courtier*Diplomat*Actor*Spy
Posts: 241
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Post by Shosuro Ichiro on Apr 6, 2011 9:51:21 GMT -5
Ichiro went through the grounds of Kyuden Isawa and headed towards the Champion's quarters. In his hands he cradles two fair sized bottles of sake. His moves are steadied and casual, as Ichiro is in a good mood after the ceremony and feast. He even went so far to change his mask to be able to enjoy these fine bottles with his friend, Kazuma.
As he finally approaches the doors he is stopped by the guards. Ichiro stops and bows to them politely, as they are only performing their sacred duty. Before he rises he shows the two bottles and speaks.
"Honorable guardians, I am Shosuro Ichiro. I come presenting personal gifts to the Champion to be enjoyed between old friends. I sincerely hope he will accept us at this hour. I will patiently wait for an answer."
With that Ichiro raises his head and then sits on his knees and awaits an answer.
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Shiba Kazuma
Phoenix Clan Mod
Phoenix Clan Champion?Samurai?Shiba's Soul?Unique?Enlightened
Posts: 369
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Post by Shiba Kazuma on Apr 6, 2011 9:59:32 GMT -5
One of the guards opens the door and steps inside. There is a brief pause and then both the guard and Kazuma step outside.
Shosruo-san I hear that you bring a personal gift. Unfortunately I am already expecting company this evening. If you are planning to stay in Kyuden Isawa then perhaps we can meet at another time.
Kazuma bowed to Ichiro.
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Shosuro Ichiro
Scorpion Clan
Shosuro Family Daimyo*Courtier*Diplomat*Actor*Spy
Posts: 241
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Post by Shosuro Ichiro on Apr 6, 2011 10:11:11 GMT -5
Ichiro stands and bows deeply to Kazuma.
"Champion-sama, I do understand and thank you for your consideration. I shall be here for the next few days taking in the sights. A few more days of aging of these bottles will not hurt them at all. Maybe if we are lucky we can get everyone back together from the capital incident and actually enjoy pleasant company without violent interruption for once.
Ichiro raises from his bow and smiles a knowing smile towards Kazuma with the mention of the capital incident.
"I will leave you know and let you go back to your business. Please enjoy your evening, and again congratulations on your ascension to Championship of your illustrious Clan."
Again Ichiro bows deeply and takes three steps back before turning from Kazuma and heading back to his room. Not disappointed in the least. Ichiro knew Kazuma was trying to sort out many of his new gifts.
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Shiba Kazuma
Phoenix Clan Mod
Phoenix Clan Champion?Samurai?Shiba's Soul?Unique?Enlightened
Posts: 369
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Post by Shiba Kazuma on Apr 6, 2011 10:27:52 GMT -5
Kazuma waited for Ichiro to leave before returning to his room and closing the door. As he made another mental note he decided that he had so much to do it would be best if he just wrote it all down. He walked over to a small table in the reception area that had paper, an ink well, and a brush. He began to write down a "To Do" list for himself. He let out a small chuckle. This was the first time Kazuma had ever needed to do this.
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Post by tadakasan on Apr 6, 2011 15:34:54 GMT -5
A little after Ichiro left the door opened again, but it is not Agasha Shodai who entered. With Shodai still out in the hallway behind him, Isawa Tadaka walked into the room with a wave of the Shiba, both because he was with Shodai so he would be let in per the Champion's instructions but also because of the fame of Tadaka who had, after all, been an Elemental Master for almost six years. He did look different though; he no longer wore a mask and he had grown a beard; he appeared thinner but stronger, and a little worse for the wear as far as his features went... though he still appeared alert and healthy. Despite his somewhat rougher appearance he wore a beautiful red and yellow silk kimono, the red deep and the yellow almost gold so as not to be too flashy or bright, blending in better with Tadaka's demeanor.
He folded his arms in his sleeves and bowed deeply to Kazuma as Shodai entered behind him, "Well Kazuma, my old friend... or I should say Kazuma-dono now, you who posses the soul of Shiba." Tadaka leans up with a small smile, "I am most glad to see you once again; it seems I might have missed the best of your celebration and the festivities, but I came here for your sake; not the sake of myself Champion."
He bowed once again, looking over at Shodai nearby briefly before looking back at Kazuma quietly.
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Shiba Kazuma
Phoenix Clan Mod
Phoenix Clan Champion?Samurai?Shiba's Soul?Unique?Enlightened
Posts: 369
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Post by Shiba Kazuma on Apr 6, 2011 15:47:54 GMT -5
Kazuma smiled as he saw his old friend. He bowed as well.
Tadaka-san, my friend, just because I am the clan Champion does not make me above my old friends.
Then a questioning look crosses Kazuma's face.
What do you mean by you are here "for my sake"?
(OCC: When you said sake did you mean the drink or for my personal wellbeing?)
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Shiba Kazuma
Phoenix Clan Mod
Phoenix Clan Champion?Samurai?Shiba's Soul?Unique?Enlightened
Posts: 369
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Post by Shiba Kazuma on Apr 6, 2011 17:54:50 GMT -5
(OCC: Good then Kazuma's questions still stands)
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Agasha Shodai
Phoenix Clan Mod
Phoenix Clan * The Void Master * Tensai * Taisa * Enlightened * Paragon of Compassion * Unique
Posts: 783
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Post by Agasha Shodai on Apr 6, 2011 18:20:05 GMT -5
Shodai raised his eyebrows as he entered the room. 'Not quite the direction I was expecting this conversation to take,' The man thought to himself as he closed the doors behind him. 'But it sounds serious enough that I will not interrupt - perhaps it is something he learned of while infiltrating the court of Daigotsu...'
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Shiba Kazuma
Phoenix Clan Mod
Phoenix Clan Champion?Samurai?Shiba's Soul?Unique?Enlightened
Posts: 369
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Post by Shiba Kazuma on Apr 6, 2011 21:20:15 GMT -5
(OCC I am deleting all of the OCC that was based on me making a mistake)
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Post by tadakasan on Apr 6, 2011 22:03:45 GMT -5
Tadaka looked puzzled but shook his head and smiled, "Maybe not above Kazuma-dono, but certainly having a lot more responsibilities now. As far as me being here for your sake, it's nothing to worry about certainly; all I mean is that this is your celebration, your big day, not mine. I am here to show my congratulations to you and you again, not for any other reason."
Tadaka took his pack from his side and rustled through it, fishing around for something in the largish red bag, "I of course did bring you something Kazuma-dono. Such a day deserves as such. if you are willing for me to give it to you." Finding what he was looking for, Tadaka pulled out two scrolls, holding them in his hands, "I do not think you should handle these as of yet, for I could still sense some lingering Taint in them the last time I checked. As to what they are, they are Phoenix Poetry by Champion Shiba Kagaro from the reign of Hantei the Seventh. I found them deep in the Showlands, in a library housed in the City of the Lost. They can be cleansed that I am sure of, and I could think of no better gift than returning that which belongs to the Phoenix to you Kazuma-dono... not to mention something so artistic belonging to another who bore the Soul of Shiba."
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Shiba Kazuma
Phoenix Clan Mod
Phoenix Clan Champion?Samurai?Shiba's Soul?Unique?Enlightened
Posts: 369
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Post by Shiba Kazuma on Apr 6, 2011 23:21:26 GMT -5
Kazuma looked at the gift, his face slightly portraying his thoughts. Taint, city of the lost, what had his old friend been doing these past years? He shook himself free of the thoughts.
Thank you Tadaka-san these are indeed great gifts and once they are cleansed I am sure they will be welcome into the library.
Kazuma lead Shodai and Tadaka into the main room and knelt down at the table in the center of the room.
I think we have much to talk about, but first I must ask. Since I did not see either of you at the feast, did you all get anything to eat?
Kazuma began to pour the tea and handed a glass to Tadaka and Shodai.
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Agasha Shodai
Phoenix Clan Mod
Phoenix Clan * The Void Master * Tensai * Taisa * Enlightened * Paragon of Compassion * Unique
Posts: 783
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Post by Agasha Shodai on Apr 7, 2011 1:10:35 GMT -5
"I, for one, could certainly go for a decent bowl of ramen, my friend." Shodai said with a smile of gratitude as he accepted the cup of tea. "A group of Bloodspeakers assaulted Shiro Hiruma yesterday evening. We destroyed them, but not before they Tainted an entire month's supply of barley and rice that had just arrived... It was a truly demoralizing sight as the men assigned KP duty ran out of grains two days earlier..."
The Tensai sighed, feeling the irritation of the men and women he'd been working beside the last few weeks. "At least we got them before they got to the beans and preserved meats... That would have threatened the entire outpost with starvation." He frowned contemplatively. "I must remember in the morning to check and see if the harvest in Reihado Shinsei has been gathered... See if we can spare any additional bushels to our Crab bretheren." Shodai took a sip of the tea; closing his eyes to savor the subtle flavors normally masked by the jade powder that was routinely added to protect Shiro Hiruma's water supply from Taint.
As he re-opened his eyes, he glanced upon the prize Tadaka had brought back with him from the City of the Lost to gift to Kazuma. His gaze then flit over to the open box with the gift Shodai had presented.
The five gems representing the five mystical elements on the bracer depicting the Kami Shiba's last stand were cut with a flat circular surface and gleamed with an internal light from the magics the Tensai had given them... The light within the emerald and the diamond were currently brighter than those of the sapphire, ruby or onyx. The diamond's light was weaving about, but was generally pointing in Tadaka's general direction while the brighter light, which glowed like the flame of a candle, within the emerald was unerringly aimed at the scrolls.
Shodai breathed a silent sigh of relief. The ruby - which was enchanted to detect Maho spells and effects - was quiescent; meaning the scrolls had not been booby-trapped. After the taint of having been in the Shadowlands - which the emerald was clearly sensing - was purged, the scrolls would surely be an interesting read.
"I do not doubt that the archivists in the grand library should be able to purify the scrolls in short order... What I am truly curious about, though, Tadaka-san, is the surely intriguing story behind how you managed to sneak them out from under the nose of Daigotsu's minions. I should think they would be considered of value; if only for the irony of having such a prize kept from our clan..."
Shodai smiled, taking another sip of tea. The story would likely be as interesting as the scroll's contents...
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Post by tadakasan on Apr 7, 2011 2:24:19 GMT -5
"I could certainly use some food as well; all I have eaten since I have arrived is a simple steamed bun and some tea." He sat down fairly close to Kazuma on the other side of the table from Shodai. Passing on the tea, Tadaka instead sat and listened thoughtfully to Shodai's story about the assault on the food supplies in Shiro Hiruma; he was somewhat surprised they had managed to get so far in the Hiruma garrisons actually, for if anyone was cautious and mistrustful, one might more accurately say careful, about the risk of such things it was the Hiruma. The infiltrators must be getting more skilled.
Looking over he could see Shodai glancing at the gift he had given Kazuma; Tadaka had heard some about the jewels and wasn't at all surprised they were reacting to the scrolls and himself. He held back a chuckle and shook his head at Shodai's question, speaking softly, "Well, it is a long story and a simple one all at once Shodai-sama. The short version is this; I was easily able to sneak them out because the..." He hesitates a bit, deciding mentioning more about the Spider would lead to the longer story. Tadaka continues after clearing his throat, "Excuse me there sama's. What I was going to say is the denizens of the City of the Lost weren't concerned with me taking them. I... well I had permission to be in the city by Daigotsu himself, and few would argue with his orders. Not to mention that as much as they might enjoy having old scrolls from the Phoenix, the Lost for the most part don't really care so much about the arts in the same way we do and the poems certainly weren't being guarded or anything. I had largely free reign of the library apart from the back chamber, which I did not attempt to go into since if I would be betraying the hospitality of my hosts as well as risking starting a commotion, or setting off traps."
"The long story..." Tadaka trailed off and shrugged his shoulders a little, looking up at Kazuma, "I would leave it up to you whether you would like to hear the longer version... but it looks as though you have questions hiding in your eyes Kazuma-dono; I certainly don't need to read minds to see that. I do not fear the Spider hunting down those scrolls and I am happy to bring them back to where they belong, and that's a fact."
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Shiba Kazuma
Phoenix Clan Mod
Phoenix Clan Champion?Samurai?Shiba's Soul?Unique?Enlightened
Posts: 369
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Post by Shiba Kazuma on Apr 7, 2011 8:36:42 GMT -5
Kazuma could almost not believe what he was hearing. He tried to clear his head so he could think clearly. He called for a servant.
Go bring us some food.
The servant rushed off to go and get the food. As Kazuma watched him leave he caught Shodai looking at his gift. The light emanating from the two runes caught his eye. One was pointing towards the scrolls and that confirmed what Tadaka had said about them. The other rune, Kazuma had to stifle a gasp, was pointing at Tadaka. He almost could not believe what he was seeing or hearing. His old friend had permission from Daigotsu to enter the city of the lost. He was allowed to enter the library there and had free reign in that city. Something was not right. The short version of the story was not telling Kazuma enough.
Tadaka-san, you are right to think that I have many questions. I really must get the full story from you before I start to draw my own conclusions. Especially since... Kazuma pointed to the bracer... That is showing me something that I do not want to believe. So please tell me the full story so that I may better understand all that is occurring right now.
After he finishes that line the servant comes back in carrying a tray of food from the feast. He places it down on the table bows and moves back. Kazuma not taking his eyes off of Tadaka motions at the servant.
Leave us and instruct the guards to turn all away and to not enter no matter what they hear.
With that the servant hurries out the door.
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