Oriental Adventures (Restart)

[androgial]

Ikeira

"Be that as it may i have a more pressing question. this one has no weapons or armor. it looks like the creature feeds slowly. i saw no other camps or bodies recently slain. so where are the people she was traveling with?"

[The_Shaman]

Vrishma

Vrishma meets Masumi's gaze calmly, and "hmms" slightly as she ends. It is the way of the world that one eats another, miss Masumi. I did not say that you should seek forgiveness, indeed you should not, but it is a custom among my people to show honor to what you kill. The beast-spirits respect strength, they do, and no grudges will they hold for your victory. Yet if you also show that you respect them, they will know you as their own, they will, and help you in time. Forgive me if it seemed like chide-words.

He nods to her and crosses his feet, saying a few sentences in a sing-song voice (Spirit Tongue, let me know if you know it), strangely lower than his normal high-pitched chatter. Then he looks at Ikeira, as if remembering something, and blinks as his face twitches into a grimace of curiosity. Strange question is that, indeed it is! Perhaps this one merely had come to the river, he had, and was caught. Ai - if it were so, I myself might suffer a similar fate, indeed I could but for the grace of Old Man River!he exclaims, distraught, then looks sideways.Yet it may be that the other two traveled together with that one. And may Hanuman help us if they past their death had risen and lured that one to the monster!. Yet our guide knows more of this land, he does. Nobutada, are there any villages nearby, I ask?

[Cyrus112]

"Well, there was a village nearby until recently. Now that you mention it, the one....living yet not living figure, undead you called them?, did appear to be a man I was friends with from that village. The people left because there had been some mysterious disappearances recently, and some rumors that the dead were indeed walking around. I suppose there was truth to the rumors after all."

[Ozzy_G]

Dissapearences... Masaya muses. If they were caused solely by this mindless beast, I would think they would have some evidence. This makes me wonder again about Maho. But if they are gone, and we have defeated the creature, there is little more we can do. We have, after all, already got a job to do.

[Rapscallion]

Chion

"We should focs on he job at hand an later when we travel back we can stop by the village. perhaps the wiseman will know more of what is ocuring in this part of the country. However with agents of the Maho around should we not increase our pace ? Please move are far as ou need to make a descion. We as a group have a discordance that will do us a diservice later to our honor and lives." There is no mirth in Chion's tone or smile on his face. He will then stand go back to his watch.

[Ozzy_G]

I agree, we can debate this on the way back. Tomorrow we carry on with our quest, and maybe we will investigate on the way back. After eating, Masaya gets out his bedroll and snuggles inside. For now we sleep.

[The_Shaman]

Vrishma

Vrishma sighs, and sits down again. He will ask Nobutada a few questions about the village so that he knows roughly where it is and has some idea about it. Then, as soon as Shimikawa is back, he will tussle a little with her and - if no one wants to talk to him - hit the bedroll. He will rise early tomorrow (prayertime is in the morning I believe, and he'd want to do it at the riverbank.).

[tonberryking]

Masumi relapses into silence after eating the lion's (ha ha) share of the boar, offering one last suggestion before the others retire.

"You know, if you would prefer I could run a scouting at whatever has been left behind in this supposedly dead village. Though we have a mission, there's no sense in leaving a back gate open to invaders if we have a chance to close it."

(OOC this reminds me... what goods was Masumi asked to carry? All I know is she got a fur cloack from Chion...)

[Cyrus112]

"Sir, the village is, or was rather, a couple of miles to the west of here. They were right next to a lake. It was very beautiful."

[Rapscallion]

Chion

Chion will not reply to last statements made and will stand watch stoically after eating of the hot boar meat. He will over time shift his stnace and bearing, barely moving for those watching. he will circle the fire once changing his perspective so slowly as to appear motionless like a statue. His naginata at attention at his side as he looks over the terrain. his ponytail being picked up at times by the breeze and dropped back onto his red hakima.

After standing watch for 3 hours he will wake up Masumi. "Your turn Scout."

((Ooc Chion gave Masumi the fur cloak to carry but doesn't mind if she wears it. It was a round about way to get he to have a cloak without compromising her honor.))

[tonberryking]

Masumi, who was lying n her side wrapped in the same cloak Chion gave her is up in an instant, her eyes nearly glowing against whatever embers of flame are left near her bedding.

"Mn.. Right. Well, as a scout then I'll encircle the camp... unless you want me to see about that village..."

[Rapscallion]

Chion

"No I meant you're turn to watch over those who are sleeping. I'm sure Lord Bayushi will let you scout soon, unless he thinks you to be uncapable or it's too dangerous for you." Chion will walk towards his sleeping area lay down while setting the naginata alond his right side blade over his head with the rosewood haft bundled up with him in the grizzly fur cloak he wears.

[tonberryking]

Chion hears a Hrmph as the ronin-ko walks out of the lighted area (without the cloak) and into the shadows. ...Come to think of it, it's kinda spooky at how abruptly she can just disappear into the dark...

[Cyrus112]

The night passes by without incident ((don't worry, it won't always, hehe)). The next morning dawns clear and cold, with a very brisk, chill wind.

[tonberryking]

Masumi is allready awake, bundled up in her cloak once more, and is re-cooking whatever's left over of that boar, looking nonchalant as normal.

However, when Masaya awakens...

"So...Bayushi-san, is it too dangerous or difficult for me to explore the nearbye village remnants?"

She seems to give a darting, quick glance at Chion's general direction midway through, a flutter opf a frown appearing on her features.

[Ozzy_G]

I don't see how it is too difficult, he says sleepily, but too dangerous...? Masaya gets out of his bedroll, and gets out his dagger. He takes out his mask, revealing the pallid flesh of his upper face. It looks strange to see him without his mask, as he so rarely removes it. He starts to shave carefully. When he has finished, he cleans his dagger, and then draws his katana and wakizashi, which he starts to polish. Either there is nothing there, in which case it is a waste of your time, or there is a monster which may kill you. Of course we could all go, but that doesn't remove the risk of death. He looks at Masumi seriously. This mission we are on... it is far more important than you seem to think. This curse... it may be a threat to the Emperor. And I don't mean a threat such as he may have to send out an army, I mean a very dangerous threat to his own life. We do not have time for other things. On the way back, when we no longer need you, if you want to investigate you may, but my priority is to find a cure for this curse and get it back quickly. He puts his mask back on, and looks at her with a lop-sided grin. Of course you could go on your own, abandoning us. After all, no one is forcing you to obey me. I won't jump up and chop off your head if you go. But on the other hand, I'm sure a great and noble Samurai of the Lion, the clan famed for their iron-clad honour, would never want to put her own curiosity ahead of the protection of our beloved Emperor.

[androgial]

Ikeira

Ikeira spends the morning hour studying then looks to vrishma.
"vrishma is the spirit of this one nearby and if so does it wish to return to life or move on?"

[tonberryking]

"I'm not exactly in affiliation with my former clan, but I'll honor this ordeal and not run off the course I may think is best... Although, given my nature, sooner or later I'm bound to find a student... So for such loyalty that I give to you, perhaps I may be indulged with keeping them along?"

[The_Shaman]

Vrishma

(Hmm, good question...damn commune with lesser spirit for having a material component. Did Vrishma see the spirit after they killed the monster)

Er? the Vanara says, looking confused for a moment as he sets a small rug on the ground to use it as a bedroll. I could not see him, I could not, so I presume he has left. I can check in the morning, I can, if you are worried.Also, he turns to the young Unicorn, Chion-er-san, would the village fall in your father's lands?

[Ozzy_G]

Masaya grins. Yes, I guessed that. If you find a student, by all means they can tag along, as long as they don't slow us down.

[Cyrus112]

((If you cast see spirit, you can see that there still is a ghost over where that beastie was lurking))

[Rapscallion]

Chion

As my father is only magistrate in this region I believe so. I am not familar with this town so it would be difficult to say" Chion will yawn and eat as if disinterested. He will then pack up his gear and await the others to break camp. When Vrishma goes to the river, Chion will walk with him and watch over him.

[The_Shaman]

Vrishma

((Why cast? The class ability implies that it's always on, I think))

Vrishma blinks a few times to shake the sleep away, after which he reaches where the fire was and picks up one of the larger embers. Before he leaves, however, he takes a small rice bun from his basket. Only then he motions Shimikawa to follow and heads towards the river, leaving the bun close to the path and a little away from the camp.

When they arrive, he wades in the river and puts the ember under a rock. Seeing that Chion goes with him, he turns to young Samurai. Chion-san, I will need some time to approach the spirits, I will. I do not think I will be in danger, no I do not, yet if you would like to come I would be honored by your company. If you want to practice your crafts, I say, you can do it in while I meditate. Having said this, he sits down on the beach and begins a long, increasingly sonorous recitation.

Once he's done, he will take up the ember, sitting near the great cat, trace some obscure patterns on its fur with it. Strangely enough, they seem to blend with its skin and fade to the point where they are nearly non-existant. He then strokes it fondly, and rises, looking over the river. Only then does he notice a translucent figure in the vicinity, and his eyes widen. Why, what are you still doing here? he blurts out.

((Technically, does commune allow me to talk with a ghost, or just compel it to answer? I guess I could ask to have the components deducted from my gold - it may be that the human liked it - but it's a bit of an inconvenience to prepare something worth at least 10 GP every time we see a ghost ;) ))

[Rapscallion]

Chion

"It is an honor to escort a wise man to take his part in the grand design of life and share in his wisdom. I will be nearby and quiet."

Chion will squat down at the water's edge into a horse stance, feet shoulderwidth apart, knees bent with the naginata across his shoulders. He looks more confident almost more resolute as if in time he's becoming more than he seems. His tutors indeed must have good if not the best.

[Cyrus112]

"Noble sir, I just wanted to thank you for what you have done. You have freed me and my friends from that horrid thing. We had found this chest and we were crossing the river when we were set upon by those horrid vines. We would like you to have that chest now. We know not what is contained within, but it is yours if you like. Farewell, and may the spirits protect you."

He bows in a very formal matter as he disappears into nothingness.

[Cyrus112]

Upon inspection of the chest, it seems that, while made of a very fine wood, it lacks adornment or markings of any kind.

If you open the chest, you will find inside 300 gold, a cloth sack that is two feet by four feet in size, a simple golden headband, and two scrolls.

[tonberryking]

Not knowing about the recent find, Masumi nods with a slight smirk as she breaks camp, until she wanders by the river to get water to quelch the cooking fire.

"Oy, you find something...?"

[The_Shaman]

Vrishma

Vrishma is a little surprised by the helpfulness of the spirit, and barely manages to get in a "Kind sir, I am unworthy! Thousand thanks to you, I wish; may you find joy by your ancestors in the Spirit Realm," before the ghost disappears. He turns to Chion with a toothy grin. Apparently it's true that good deeds are their own reward, I guess. Such impeccable manners the gentleman had, I say! A sage or a noble, he must have been. I wonder much what the chest has, I do.

He nears the chest and inspects the items, when he hears Masumi calling. Well! Masumi has senses like a hawk, she does! Much in her journeys she has learned, she has, or the forest spirits aid her - or both, I think. Old Man River smiles on us, Masumi-san! The spirit of the dead pointed us towards a veritable hidden treasure, he has! he says excitedly, and points to the chest. Hmm, strange things these are, and stranger still how we found them... perhaps there could be hidden powers, I wonder? he wonders, striking his chin. He says a quiet phrase as he puts one hand before his eyes, and has another trace a sigil in the air. He closes his eyes for a moment, and then begins studying the items intently.

((Casts Detect magic. If he finds any magical aura on the items, he will study them as long as possible.))

[Rapscallion]

Chion

Chion will assist with the chest as he can. "Hmm manners you say, I couldn't hear a thing. Yes doing the right thing should be it's own reward. it seems we are building quite a reputation in the spirit world."

Chion seems at once with Vrishma's words to become the hopefull warrior you all met that first day instead of the dour companion of the last few days.

[Cyrus112]

The bag, the scrolls and the circlet all glow w/ a faint magical aura.