|
Post by Shoju on Feb 28, 2011 8:48:47 GMT -5
(OOC) This is an RP that is designed for
Toku Kenpachi Bayushi Senshi Shinjo Roku Isawa Tadaka Daigotsu Takayma and Myself.
If you would like to be a part of it, PLEASE PM ME FIRST, and I will see what I can do about finding a place for you in the story.
<--BACKGROUND-->
Samurai and Shugenja of the Empire
As the war rages in Unicorn Lands, more and more Crab scouts are going missing in the shadowlands. While the Crab are accustomed to losing scouts, the increasing frequency has called for action to be taken to find out what is happening in the Shadowlands.
Those who would be coming and aren't as "honorable"
There have been rumblings in the Shadowlands that a black scroll has been opened. There have been rumors that in the Crab Lands of some in the mountains showing signs of the horrible Wasting Disease, though it hasn't spread far yet. There is also talk that an aspiring Chuda is working on a way to 'incubate' the undead inside the living, meaning an instantaneous reanimation, sometimes with fantastic results. You have heard that he has perfected the procedure on Bakemono and is now working on Rokugani to perfect it. You are needed to verify his work.
Oronkohiro looked up from his research, and smiled. Yes, Shiro Saisei was going to be splendid. His Legion, fresh off victories against the Yobanjin, had settled in here.
Looking back at his notes, then to Crab Scout on the table, and then to the 3 exhausted Maho Tsukai who slumbered on the other side of the room, Oronkohiro was pleased. The ritual was fantastic, even if a little unpredictable in the exact results. It was also bloody. Very bloody. This was the closest to perfection he had come on a Human yet. The Goblins took to the ritual with fervor, and saw it as an honor, similar to their own Magic Mud.
His work in Crab Lands had been Splendid. The Scroll was opened, and then returned to the Scorpion. In return, he had added another hero of the Empire to his party. With Minturo as his Military Advisor, Kijiro as the head of Spies, Tinishi the head of Scouts, and the Archer, everything was coming together. Soon, Oronkohiro's Legion would be the greatest under the banner of Daigotsu. All that remained, was a way to replenish the troops fast enough.
That is why Saisei was being built. In his travels, Oronkohiro found information that other bloodspeakers had been working on involving reanimation that bordered on Incubation of the undead in the living host. Oronkohiro planned to finish their research, and perfect it.
Bakemono skittered from here to there, some with materials, some with tools. The Stronghold was coming along swimmingly. The Kaiu engineer that had been 'selected' for the task was very efficient at getting the most out of the Bakemono and other Lost who worked to finish the stronghold.
Shiro Saisei, the Temple of Rebirth, was shaping up to be a small Fortress built to the west of the Big Stink. It wouldn't be as big as the former Crab Fortress, but it would be big enough for The Chuda's needs. The main structure held Oronkohiro's personal chambers, a place for him to work and research, and then rooms for his council, as well as a small court. The rest of the Fortress was coming along nicely.
With the Big Stink so close, the Bakemono were plentiful in the region, which is why he settled so close. Plus, it wasn't so deep in the Shadowlands that the Crab scouts wouldn't be hard to come by. The Lost had started laying more sophisticated traps, and more and more Scouts were arriving unharmed, and ready for testing.
<---Information on NPC's I will be using--->
Minturo - If you haven't been around or read a thread of mine, he is my yojimbo. Formerly Siba Minturo, now an undead Champion in a full suit of Black Laquered Armor. He speaks little, and is vicious in combat. He is fiercly devoted to Oronkohiro.
Tinishi - A "lost" toritaka scout. He dreams of a life lost. He was raised the son of courtiers, and it shows in his speach. Crafty, a scout, and is loyal to Oronkohiro only because he took him in when Tinishi was corrupted, and has never judged him for it. As long as Tinishi succeeds, he is favored.
Kijiro - A former Shosuro Shinobi who volunteered to be Oronkohiro's retainer in exchange for the black scroll. He is constantly worried about Oronkohiro turning him into a mindless undead servant. He is loyal to Oronkohiro because it is his oath. He is not corrupted, and Oronkohiro gifted him with a mempo with heavy Jade accents to keep him free of the taint. He is training Lost troops in Shinobi, a task the he loathes.
The Archer. An Undead Yobanjin Archer who showed amazing courage in trying to strike down Oronkohiro in the battles against the Yobanjin. because of his determination to kill his foe even when faced with Death, Oronkohiro resurrected him after he killed him. The archer doesn't speak, and is not normally seen in the middle of a scene. he is ever present when Oronkohiro ready to strike down any who would attack Oronkohiro.
There might be a few Bakemono I use, but doubtful. This should be the breadth of the NPC's that I use to help flesh out the Lost side of things.
|
|
|
Post by Shoju on Mar 2, 2011 10:56:01 GMT -5
Oronkohiro dismissed the Maho Tsukai, clearly they were spent, and wouldn't be much help in additional rituals this evening. One of the nice side effects to his new life, was that there was no need for rest. No need to eat, or to drink. He could, if he so chose, but they were not required.
What had Originally seemed a curse, was now proving to be quite an enjoyable existence. Where he once secretly held resentment for the life that had been thrust upon him, he now saw an opportunity. And once Shiro Saesei was completed, Oronkohiro hoped that he would be able to start about the task of becoming his own master. A willing servant of Daigotsu and his dark lady, but, with control over his heart.
Would the Dark Lady grant this? Would the sinister Gaijin woman allow it? Oronkohiro didn't know. But, he hoped that one day he could prove that he was no longer an insubordinate that needed a leash. He was a willing servant of the cause. And this, This fortress was going to be the first step in proving it.
Shiro Saisei was going to bolster the forces of the Spider. Yes. The research that was incomplete was coming together. Soon, the Army of the Spider would be an unstoppable machine that not even death could stop.
|
|
Shinjo Roku
Unicorn Clan
Unicorn Clan * Samurai * Cavalry * Scout * Magistrate
Posts: 43
|
Post by Shinjo Roku on Mar 2, 2011 13:26:29 GMT -5
For the first time since he became an Emerald Magistrate, Shinjo Roku was regretting taking the position... Not even a day after finally returning home after a long winter and finding out that it was under attack, he got orders from the Emerald Champion to head to the Crab lands! His sensei could be dying out there and there was nothing he could do! After furiously biting off a piece of his jerky, Roku realized he had to keep his rage in check, he could see Shiro Hiruma in the distance.
To keep his mind off of things, he started to assess what he would need to try to find out what was going on with these missing scouts. He would definitely need jade, at least 3 or 4 fingers. And a shugenja would be useful as well, Kuni would be best but anyone would do. He would need to leave his jade orb, the symbol of the Emerald Magistrates, behind lest it becomes a useless hunk of black rock.
He then looked down at his horse Kasi. Roku could feel that she was anxious. Probably because they were drawing closer to the Shadowlands. He said to the horse softly as he scratched her behind the ears. "I'm gonna have to leave you at the castle, girl... There is no way to be sure that you won't be tainted..." The sense of worry that followed nearly knocked him off the saddle. Woah... I'll be fine, my lady. Ain't no way a few oni are gonna kill me. You forget how well I keep an eye on my surroundings! The worry definitely died down at that point, yet all he could think about was how good of a liar he was becoming... He had spent too much time in Scorpion lands...
At this point, he spotted a patrol approaching him. Once again, he shifted his mind to other things, and thought out loud to himself: "I wonder if my jerky will get corrupted out there..."
|
|
Bayushi Senshi
Scorpion Clan
Scorpion Clan * Clan Champion * Samurai * Kensai * Experienced * Loyal * Unique
Posts: 1,891
|
Post by Bayushi Senshi on Mar 2, 2011 13:35:31 GMT -5
Bayushi Yosuke was a servant of the emperor. He was a shugenja. More then that though, he was a Kuroiban. He was also the Scorpion clan champion's only surviving sibling. Their brothers and sisters not surviving the gamut of their paranoid and delusional father. Yosuke though, like his elder brother, survived and became all the more powerful for it.
Though he served his emperor first, there did come time on occasion where he would act on a favor for his elder brother. Senshi never ordered his sibling to do anything, holding respect for him as though he were an equal, if only because of the horrors their father committed to them both. And though the two never truly got along as children, they had become much closer since the death of their father, Bayushi Jin.
Today he stood in a clearing outside of the Hiruma castle, it for once not under an attack from the shadowlands, none the less Yosuke had one hand on his wakizashi at his waist. He turned his head to regard a new arrival, a unicorn by the looks of him. As he approached the new arrival would notice that the scorpion wore jet black robes with a crimson lining, and his mask was unconventional, a simple strand of black fabric running from ear to ear under his eyes and across the bridge of his nose.
As he watched he ran through what his brother had told him. The news was bad, a scroll had been opened and Senshi's best shinobi had been scared right out of their robes. But oddly enough, the man identified as Bayushi Taizin alias Oronkohiro had returned the scroll in some sick sense of duty and loyalty to the clan, having opened a black scroll. He kept repeating that last part in his head, and still found it hard to believe.
Yosuke could tell then as he knew now he would need help. The arrival of this unicorn was fortuitous. Yosuke raised an arm in greeting to the man on horseback. "Hello, samurai-san."
|
|
|
Post by Daigotsu Takayama on Mar 2, 2011 14:00:02 GMT -5
*the walls decorated with hiruma banners and crab simbols to make the lost or misdirected crab scouts at home* "we are welcome to the scouts who have found us the outer post of shiro hiruma, this is a safe place recently purified by the kuni and reclaimed for the crab"
|
|
Shinjo Roku
Unicorn Clan
Unicorn Clan * Samurai * Cavalry * Scout * Magistrate
Posts: 43
|
Post by Shinjo Roku on Mar 2, 2011 22:50:02 GMT -5
Roku arched an eyebrow as he regarded the Scorpion man in front of him and swallowed the bit of jerky he had been chewing on. Assured by the fact that his steed wasn't afraid of this man, he dismounted his ashen gray mare and said: "Greetings, I am Shinjo Roku, Emerald Magistrate. Whom do I have the pleasure of addressing, and what is your business here?" Biting off some more jerky afterward.
|
|
Toku Hirotomo
Monkey Clan
Bushi Paragon of Compassion Clan Champion Toturi's Army
Posts: 793
|
Post by Toku Hirotomo on Mar 2, 2011 23:55:54 GMT -5
Toku Kenpachi wandered the halls of the Hiruma castle. It was quiet, and Kenpachi hated silence. As he rounded a corner he thought of his wife and her Sparrow background. His dislike of silence started after she finshed her first story. Her constant speaking grew on Kenpachi. This land was strange. He was leading his men to battle days ago when a letter came asking his assistance with missing scouts. The Minor Clan Alliance needed Great Clan assistance and this seemed a great oppurtunity to ingraciate the MCA with the Crab. He saw a Unicorn and a Scoripon bearing the Family Mons of the Shinjo and Bayushi repectively. The Unicorn Samurai introduced himself as an Emerald Magistrate. Curious. He walked to the pair. It seemed that there was more then him investigating the missing scouts.
"It is a pleasure to meet both of you, Bayushi-san, Shinjo-san. I am Toku Kenpachi. I am a Jade Magistrate investigating the excess missing scouts."
Toku gives Bayushi-san a strange look for a moment, a brief moment of recognition followed by confusion.
|
|
Bayushi Senshi
Scorpion Clan
Scorpion Clan * Clan Champion * Samurai * Kensai * Experienced * Loyal * Unique
Posts: 1,891
|
Post by Bayushi Senshi on Mar 3, 2011 0:23:28 GMT -5
"Good. I won't look a gift horse in the mouth. Two magistrates..." He nodded his head appreciatively. "My name is Bayushi Yosuke, a member of the Kuroiban. Now that we have established that we each are loyal servants of the empire I suggest we cut to the chase. I won't dance around the issue trying to figure out why you two are here so I'll speak plainly in the hopes you will return the favor."
He took a deep breath, choosing his next words carefully, knowing that he was about to deliver a bombshell. Still though he knew he had to be honest to gain their support. "I am here on the request of my champion to investigate the opening of a black scroll in the shadow lands." He paused to let the gravity of his words sink in, "The scroll has been recovered by the shinobi of my clan. My duty is to investigate and deal with the problem if I can... if not, well, I plan on dieing before letting this particular taint spread any further. The man I seek to hold accountable is known as Oronkohiro. A ronin of great mystical maho power. He travels with a yojimbo and a shinobi at the very least. His taint will be easy to recognize."
He took a deep breath, "Now that I have shared this, will you two kindly tell me what you know? I am in dire need of more information before I can act. Why are you two here?"
|
|
Shinjo Roku
Unicorn Clan
Unicorn Clan * Samurai * Cavalry * Scout * Magistrate
Posts: 43
|
Post by Shinjo Roku on Mar 3, 2011 0:56:58 GMT -5
Roku coughs a few times, almost choking on his jerky. "By the Kami... One of THE Black Scrolls?!?" Says Roku in a hushed tone, quickly looking around before continuing. "I was sent here by orders of the Emerald Champion to investigate the missing scouts, much like Toku-san's reason..." I wonder if the Champion knew about this and sent me here using the scouts as an excuse... "Maybe our missions are related in some way... The Hiruma are losing more scouts than usual out near the area known as 'The Big Stink'... regardless if our missions are related, I will aid you in yours for the safety of the Empire. The last thing we need is another Day of Thunder while we are under attack from the yobanjin...
(occ: jumping to conclusions and predicting worst case scenarios, all in a day's work ;P)
|
|
Toku Hirotomo
Monkey Clan
Bushi Paragon of Compassion Clan Champion Toturi's Army
Posts: 793
|
Post by Toku Hirotomo on Mar 3, 2011 3:10:10 GMT -5
Kenpachi moistened his lips before speaking, looking carefully at the rest of the entrance. A day of Thunder. With the Crane and the Lion already squabbling about Three Sides River, and those damned Gajin acting like apes in the north, the Empire was not ready for a two front battle. “I’ve tracked maho-tsuki before, but someone who had read a Black Scroll is a grave threat. I’m familiar with this area. The big stink is not too far from here, and I believe our tasks are most likely one and the same. If this ronin is in the area he most likely is killing the scouts to eliminate easy tracking. Or to create servents. That is of course not the only option, but it fits.” Kenpachi turns to Shinjo-san. “I believe Bayushi-san is familiar with dealing with maho users, Shinjo-san. I’ll give you some advice as I am not sure you’re accustomed to dealing with them. Aim for the head, then the arms, do not let them close enough to bite you, and for the sake of your soul, if they bleed on your face, don’t swallow.“ Kenpachi looks down the hall. “I will obtain more jade. We should move fast.”
|
|
Bayushi Senshi
Scorpion Clan
Scorpion Clan * Clan Champion * Samurai * Kensai * Experienced * Loyal * Unique
Posts: 1,891
|
Post by Bayushi Senshi on Mar 3, 2011 4:01:56 GMT -5
Yosuke nodded, "I agree, we must move quickly. I have had some time to prepare however," he opened his robes and removed a pouch, in it were several fingers worth of jade. "My champion saw fit that I was well equipped for such a task, magistrates."
He then bowed deeply to them both, clearly still flustered over the immensity of his task, "You both have my deepest thanks. We should rest here for tonight before we move on. And though the situation may have changed, our task is still the same. Find the missing scouts. We'll deal with Oronkohiro only if the opportunity presents itself, agreed? These missing scouts have been my only lead on finding the man."
|
|
|
Post by Shoju on Mar 3, 2011 7:11:29 GMT -5
Oronkohiro looked up from his scrolls, and Kijiro was standing there. "Yes Kijiro-san, what do you have to report?"
Kijiro broke into a walk around the room "Tinishi is tracking a shugenja in phoenix trappings on the outskirts of the fortress." Kijiro bowed, and began walking away.
"Don't be so hasty to leave Kijiro. I know that this may not be how you thought things would be, but I promise you Kijiro, my plans for you have nothing to do with you ending up an undead servant to me." Oronkohiro smiled as Kijiro stopped in stide. "You may think me a villain, you may think me an abomination, but I promise you Kijiro, my motives aren't as dark and sinister as you may think." Oronkohiro stood, and started walking towards Kijiro. "My goal is the preservation of this empire, just as yours. The only difference between us is the perspective that we have on our Duty." Oronkohiro was standing behind Kijiro now. "I meant what I told Keiko, I will not falter on that part of the bargain."
Oronkohiro walked past Kijiro now, and started towards the courtroom of the main building.
outside the main building, at Tadaka's location
Tinishi saw what happened to the Bakemono, and started moving towards the man who had cast the spell. Once he was in range, he made his presence known, and bowed to the Phoenix.
"Greetings, My name is Tinishi. Welcome to Shiro Saesei. May I have the pleasure of knowing who it is that I have met?"
Tinishi eyed the Phoenix. He was curious if not sending for Minturo and a legion was going to get him killed. He had lived a long time in the Shadowlands, both as a Crab Scout, and now as a servant of the Spider. In all his time, he had been very lucky, and very purposeful about living. This phoenix though.... Well, Tinishi was told sometimes they were unpredictable.
(OOC) I had thought about PM-ing you all, but as you make your headway, I would ask that you go no further than the big stink in terms of travel. There will be another person joining the RP at that point, and I would like to make sure that they have the opportunity to make their presence known.
|
|
|
Post by Shoju on Mar 3, 2011 11:41:31 GMT -5
Tinsihi thought for a moment. "I'm sure that I can take you to the one you seek, but are you sure that is what you really want?" He puzzled over the phoenix shugenja. "You are right, I am a former Crab scout, but I doubt I'm the one you are looking for. I was lost a long time ago, before there was the newfound sense of order in the Shadowlands."
Tinishi turned and signaled one of the towers that was finished. a small guard patrol exited the tower and met Tinishi and Tadaka. "I hope you understand Isawa-san, I don't know your intentions, so I will take precautions to ensure that you aren't here to cause trouble." The guard fell in line with Tinishi, "Come. The master of Shiro Saesei awaits."
With that, Tinishi started escorting Tadaka to the main structure. "Tell me Isawa-san, what brings you to the Shadowlands?"
|
|
Bayushi Senshi
Scorpion Clan
Scorpion Clan * Clan Champion * Samurai * Kensai * Experienced * Loyal * Unique
Posts: 1,891
|
Post by Bayushi Senshi on Mar 3, 2011 12:04:41 GMT -5
The three newly met companions stayed in the Hiruma lands only for a few hours resting only briefly. And before long, after gathering supplies as well as replacement horses, were ready to begin traveling to former crab holding, now known as the big stink.
Yosuke's own brother had spent much time in these parts, acting on the will of their father. He looked to his traveling companions. Nodding to each to show that he was ready. "Should the Kami favor us, perhaps we will find more samurai who wish to investigate this."
|
|
Bayushi Haruka
Scorpion Clan
OOC Cleanup Crew
Samurai? Battle Maiden? Cavalry? Paragon of Courage? Friend of the Lion
Posts: 1,054
|
Post by Bayushi Haruka on Mar 3, 2011 12:17:21 GMT -5
Surely enough, the pounding of urgent hoof beats sounded. But as the group might've turned to look, the horse had stood on a slight rise between them and the sun, slightly up and over them. As their eyes adjusted to the light a windswept woman sat astride the horse.
"Sorry I am late everyone." The pure black stallion gently stepped down alongside them as she dismounted with relative ease. Pulling off her helm she showed her long dark hair as she looked on them with her own eyes. "I'm sure you're wondering why the unicorn have much interest in investigating this particular but a recent discovery of a Yobanjin camp in our lands was found burnt to the ground. Our investigators have ascertained that it was a tainted army that had fought battles there, and I have been tracking their movements. I also caught wind of this particular venture and though it might be best to lend my aid, if you would have it."
She bowed deeply to them all, only partially recognizing the scorpion as he seemed familiar but she couldn't place how.
|
|