For the Empire IC

[13_CBS]

Glory to the Empire
The Two Emperors be praised
Glory to the Empire
May her enemies fall before her
Glory to the Empire
My heart, my soul, my blood for the Empire
Glory to the Empire
All for the Empire

-Oath of Imperial Allegiance

The Golden Library is known throughout the world for its splendid courtyards, towering pagoda residences, and most of all, the Library itself. The streets are lined with yellow sandstone mined from the nearby quarry, while the buildings are often made with pure white bamboo; sturdy, beautiful, and plentiful. Highly skilled dancers, singers, and other minstrels sometimes prance about the street; often these performers are dressed as richly as the citizens themselves. Small children laugh and chase one another through the busy streets, stopping occasionally to chat with the candy man or the circus performer dancing on a sleeping bear. And of course, there is the Library, that Imperial academy without peer, where the best and the brightest take mind-crushing exams to learn from some of the most learned scholars and skilled engineers in the entire world. The Library looks something like a cross between a temple and a palace, and every inch of the outer layers is covered with a thin layer of gold.

But perhaps the Golden Library deserves a different name; the Gilded Library, for that is what it is. The gilded state of the library itself not withstanding, the Outer parts of the city is much more...normal. Mediocre. Worn out. Dirty. The outskirts feature filthy slums and filthier beggars, dirty business and dirtier thugs conducting business, middle class and lower class homes...children still do laugh in the streets and dart through the crowds, but they often do so because a disgruntled citizen had his wallet stolen by those urchins. The place is certainly tolerable, but compared to the great wealth that lies within the Inner walls...

And here, here in this Golden city, our tale begins. In the street cries a herald, something about an important dwarven Professor of Engineering found dead in his office, and a great treasure stolen from the Archives...

[Seribro]

Mongo was glad. Glad that he was wearing his rice-paper had that is. He took it of and wept the dirty food spoils from it. He looked up to the window from which they had came but the perp was already out of sight. He shook his head and placed the flat cone-shaped had back on top of his head. He had seen dirty towns before, but rarely did the dirt quite literally fall from the sky. But he had reached the main road now and it was high time to move on to the city that lied beyond the second gate.

As the river of people steadily flows towards the second gate, it takes up the far majority of his attention to ensure himself no child robs his purse or nimblefinger takes out the equipment his horse is carrying. But the closer he gets to the gate, the thinner the crowd gets in the main street. It doesn't take to long before he reaches the gate and notices the guards that watch it. Yet beyond he can already see the white buildings and colourful decorations.

[Grymmheart]

Tai-Jyn

The effeminate boy walks the streets of the high city. Pretty beyond what is right for a boy, some may easily think he is a girl pretending to be a man. But if one takes the time to look deep within his eyes, their core will be burnt by a fire that speaks of no simple past or of a soul seeking to fool others. With katana at his side and traveling pack on his shoulder, he heads toward the library with another attempt at gaining the knowledge held within for his people.

The emmisary's note he carried from the Yamato Monastery should have gotten him entrance into the more private reaches of the library, but the boy learned early in his stay here that if one was not of obvious Empire of Knowledge blood, no matter what title they held, they would be considered second-class or lower. His only hope would be to find someone of enough power within this country to offer such access as payment for a deed the boy performed in their name. Reaching up to resecure his headband, he allows his eyes to wander and pull in all the sights the day offers.

[EvilWalks]

Wu-feng the Dragonfly

Somewhere between the 'Barbarian' at the gates and the 'Samurai' at the library, a woman walks beside her companion. She is young woman of average height, and of a lean and flexible build. Her hair is raven black, cut short, and held behind a blue headband that bares the taoist symbol of the Yin and Yang. She wears a layered monk's traveling outfit, consisting of a white shirt under a blue and black coat, a pair of blue pants, white wraps, and black slippers. More taoist symbols cover each of this articles of clothing, including the blue metal back-fist guards that are tied to the white wrappings that bound each of her hands and forearms. Around her waist, is a black silk sash that holds a magnificent sheathed jian, which has a hilt made of a blue-jade metal and was made to look like a dragonfly. In the small of her back, also bound to the silk sash, is a tightly rolled traveler's bundle.

Her sapphire blue eyes gaze around the city of the Golden Library, each finely analyzed sight bringing back a rush of half-forgotten memories of a different time. A time when she was more younger, more rash, and more innocent...she missed those times despite the reprocautions they eventually led too.

Speaking of reprocautions.... She thinks as she looks up to the Gilded Library itself, and the guards who stand by it's gates and doors. ...maybe it was not the best idea to come here...no matter how dry the leads or vague the rumours were becoming.

Wu-feng hid her growing sigh beneath a small smile and turned to her traveling companion. "Tiang...how do you feel? Have you been in this large of an imperial city before?" She seems emphasize on the world imperial...there is a chance after all, that her companion has been in much more magnificent and...lofty...cities then this in the past.

[The_Snark]

Tiang

In contrast to her companion, the young woman walking alongside carries very little. Or is she young? Her face is fair and unwrinkled, and does not bear any marks of the passage of time—but she holds herself with an aloof dignity that strikes onlookers before they notice her apparent age and simple, unadorned clothing, and her light blue eyes seem to hold more years than her face. Long brown hair cascades unrestrained over her shoulders, reaching midway down her back. She wears a simple wool tunic with short sleeves, colored an undyed brown, and a light skirt of the same material and colour; the sort of garments that would not look out of place on a farmer coming to town, or on a down-on-his-luck craftsman. Two pieces of jewelry—a plain ring on her finger and what looks like a lacquered blue piece around her neck—complete the impression of a peasant wearing her best on her way to market; or they would if it were not for her demeanor. Her hands are clasped austerely at her waist, giving her a look of aesceticism rather than poverty.

"I have not," she answers, her voice a calm, precise sound. "I do not make it a habit to travel abroad very often." She surveys the scene ahead of them serenely, unimpressed at the street stretching out ahead of them, before turning her head to look at her travelling companion. "Why? You have been here before, have you not? Are we lost?" She doesn't sound worried about the possibility; it would be a minor annoyance, and nothing more. More difficult would be if Wu did not know where she wanted to go. Finding where a place was was much more difficult than finding what a place was.

[13_CBS]

Seribro:

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One of the guards spots Mongo and strides purposefully towards the Tungusk. "Hey, you don't look like you're around from these parts...you're not a northern barbarian are you?" The guard is quickly joined by another one, this one gripping his spear quite tightly. The first guard sneers, "If you ARE a barbarian, then it looks like we'll have to send you back to the filthy wastelands that you're from. People like you aren't allowed in these parts, you see."

Grymm:

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The gates of the Golden Library, though not as large as the Outer and Inner city gates, are rumored to be the most beautiful in the world...and now you see why they say so. The doors seem to be made of solid gold, with colored glass carved into the shape of gems studded into the doorway. The entire gate is about twenty feet tall.

Over to the side you see two young women...well, more like a young woman and a woman who looks like she's about the same age. They seem to be citygazing, but for the moment their eyes seem to be pointing towards the Golden Library gates.

Before you can do or say anything else, one of the guards spots you. "Excuse me, but foreigners are forbidden from this area." The arrogant look in his eyes hint that he knows he's lying through his teeth.

Snark and Evil:

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To Wu-Feng, the city had changed very little since she had last come here. The streets are much of the same; quite clean, with happy (if somewhat carefree or snobbish) people walking about, chatting about daily life, business, the barbarians in the north...
As for the dragon, the subtle stench of city life is more noticeable than anything. This so-called Golden Library is nothing like the quiet, honest farms along the river banks of your home.

Off to the side, a young Yaman-looking gentleman seems to be talking to one of the Library guards, and though it's difficult to hear the exact words due to the city noises, it's clear that the conversation isn't exactly friendly, and it's not due to any fault of the young man.

A passing noblewoman spots Tiang's relatively shabby-looking appearance and comments, "Ha! To think that a filthy slave like yourself would be allowed in here." She turns to Wu-Feng. "At least you've got yourself a healthy one. May I ask what brings your business here is, madam? It is frowned upon to cart about slaves so openly in the city, and more so to have them speak to you as an equal." And then she notices Wu-Feng's majestic Jian. "...but considering that you dirty yourself with inane things like combat, perhaps this is expected."

[Grymmheart]

Tai-Jyn turns to the guard and pauses a second. After listening to the guard speak to him in Low Imperial and make such a preposterous claim, he answers in fluent High Imperial

"I was here just last week, so unless you are seriously mistaken, I have a right to be here."

[EvilWalks]

Wu-feng the Dragonfly

The sword monk stifled an aggressive twitch and quelled the growing anger inside of her...all beings regardless of race, age, nation, gender, or ability..and that included this insulting woman...

...besides...she had seen what happened to those who showed open dishonour in front of Tiang before and she really did not want to attract a crowd with displays of jade-coloured flames.

"My dear lady..." She began in slightly accented high imperial, her face now forcing the smile that remained upon it. "...my companion is no slave, no peice of dirt, no object to gawk at and insult openly and without forethought. She is valued, respected, and honourable friend...and while you may insult me in whatever manner you wish, I can not allow you to verbally assult my friend's honour, integrity, and strength of character. If you refuse to offer a sincere appology to her and persist in your attacks of words and speech, I will offer a free and intensive of display of my own so called 'inane and dirty form of combat' as a measure to defend and protect her from further abuse. That is the Way of things as they stand now...how will you walk your path today?"

[Shiny, Bearer of the Pokystick]

Tsuki and Umi

Two figures glide through a gilded street.
The motion is too deliberate, too inhuman in execution to be a mere graceful stride; too ghostly in the way it fades through crowds of laughing children- who fall silent- and chattering adults- who feel a chill.
Tsuki and Umi glide through the crowd.

They are identical, these two; hair dark and shining like the wings of a crow, skin pale as bone. Their clothing, too, is mirrored. Each wears a sleeveless, elegant jacket embroidered painstakingly in silver thread; the designs are abstract, but as they draw the eye, one sees faces, eyes, teeth bared in a grimace...then, a blink, and they are abstractions again, strange half-symbols in the Mahayana style.
Beneath this disconcerting garment both are robed and shrouded and sandaled like a lady of Yama, with the broad cloth belts that are still the fashion in its more archaic regions.

All in all, both figures are eccentric, but not so greatly so as to arouse comment, nor so greatly so as to cause the silence they cause; the blame for that must lie not in their foreign nature, nor in their staring, black-on-black eyes.
The silence is produced by their hands.

In the left hand of Tsuki, the right hand of Umi, as they walk side-by-side, there is a shield. On both, the snarling, bull-horned face of a demon stares outward, rendered so perfectly its gaze transfixes the wearer, breeds shame, despair, and pain.
In the right hand of Tsuki, the left hand of Umi, as they stand together, there is a weapon. It is forged of iron, perhaps, or steel, or even stone- its surface is so deeply black that it could be of any metal, or none.
Its form is that of a head.
Each hair is carved, each pore; the quirk of avaricious lips, the gleam of lecherous eyes, is transmitted by the artist who forged it. The figure bears the tonsure of a monk, and where the head joins the haft, the shapes of beads have been replicated. If the subject matter were not so terrible, it would be exquisite. But it is terrible; and as they walk, the heads of their great clubs, their war-maces, seem to move under the eye- carved lips seem to smack and wet themselves, eager for the taste of blood.

And so, the silence, and so, the twins; and one turns to the other and speaks.
"And so, sister, we come to the house of knowledge."
The other nods and lets loose a dismissive laugh, letting the words, in flawless high imperial, echo to one and all.
"So, and so; but what profit to learn if you do not know the purposes of knowledge?"
And both speak as one.
"To deal a death-blow to all iniquities, and to destroy the dishonorable; to draw out the breath from the fool and the villain alike. That is the purpose to which knowledge may be turned."

So saying, they stride toward the gate, and the bickering there....

[13_CBS]

Grymm:

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Before the guard can respond to your "insolence", another one steps over. You remember this new guard from last week; he was quite amiable and respectful.

"Ah! Tai Jyn-san, you honor us with your presence again. Is something the matter?"

Evil and Snark:

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The woman at first panics as though a thug had come to accost her. She then remembers where she is, and with a smile all but dripping with nervousness and terror she manages out, "Y-you would dare threaten m-me like some common thug? Don't you know who I am? I'm the Juggernaut, b*tch'm Lady Zhen of house Fu! I-I have connections to the governor of this city!"
Her eyes dart back at forth to the two of you and a burly looking man gripping a huge spear. A bodyguard, it seems.

A curious passerby or two are starting to give the three of you odd glances.

Shiny:

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The wake of silence the two twins leave swiftly becomes a wake of confusion. What happened? Who were those two women? And what in all the hells were the carrying?

The guard accosting a huge horseman at the Inner City gates stops badgering the man and abruptly turns to the two of you.
"Excuse me madams, bu-what the...is that...what the hell is that?!

...

Oh, err, my apologies, madams. But, uh, please leave your, uh..."fineries" at the station over there, w-weapons are not allowed in the Inner City..." Despite his agitated state, the foolish guard seems to be hinting at a bribe...

[Shiny, Bearer of the Pokystick]

Tsuki/Umi

"You are, of course, quite correct. However, observe-"
Both hoist their weapons and display the hafts; both are composed of prayer wheels emblazoned with holy symbols, clacking along even as they grip the weapons.
"These are not simple weapons, but instruments of religious practice. Surely you would not wish to interfere with the work of those who seek enlightenment and virtue?"

Tsuki, meanwhile, is unlatching a small wooden box carried at her side. It appears to have several very sturdy latches, in fact.

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(1d20+21)[39] Diplomacy.

[The_Snark]

Tiang

Tiang turns slowly to regard the woman as she speaks, allowing Wu-feng to take the lead, her face completely impassive as she examines the woman from head to toe with narrowed blue eyes. Offering violence? Too quick. The woman's offense merits a verbal thrashing, not a physical one. I will have to speak with Wu about that. But later.

She gives a small bow of greeting; smaller than a peasant's bow to a noble would be by far, but more than the woman had bothered to give to her or to Wu-feng. In the process, she steps forward slightly, not quite interposing herself between the noblewoman and Wu. "Honored to meet you, Lady Zhen," she says levelly. "I would be more honored if you did not, apparently, make it a habit to go about accosting strangers in order to insult them. One would think that a lady, especially a well-connected one, would have other things to do with her time; do you not? Or do you enjoy these walks enough to neglect what duties you have?"

[Seribro]

Seribro:

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One of the guards spots Mongo and strides purposefully towards the Tungusk. "Hey, you don't look like you're around from these parts...you're not a northern barbarian are you?" The guard is quickly joined by another one, this one gripping his spear quite tightly. The first guard sneers, "If you ARE a barbarian, then it looks like we'll have to send you back to the filthy wastelands that you're from. People like you aren't allowed in these parts, you see."

Mongo raises an eyebrow and looks from one guard to the other.
"First of all, A barbarian is an uncivilized being that couldn't tell Guan Dao From a greatspear even if he fell on it. Let alone be able to create first class scale armor that rivals that of an imperial officer. Second, the very fact that I travelled this far into the Empire of Knowledge all by my self should be a sign that pillage and onslaught are not the reason of my visit. Third if your going to start about what is allowed an what isn't, I think I will have to report to your superiors that you tried to deny an adversary of a neighbouring country access to a public area on terms of his looks. That is not only illegal by your laws, it is also reason for dishonourable forced retirement. Are you willing to risk such a disgrace?"
Mongo looks aside when two ladies with rather... peculiar 'holy symbols' are getting halted as well by another guard. They how ever seem not to be having as much trouble by entering, but rather with carrying along their belongings. Which could very well prove interesting.

[Grymmheart]

Tai-Jyn turns from the first guard to address the new one, "Just a simple misunderstanding it seems. I have returned to try again at obtaining passage into the private areas of the Library. I was told last time to come back, and I would possibly be allowed inside to begin my research. It is paramount for my land," he replies.

Tai-Jyn worries that the people of this land would enjoy keeping his homeland subjected to the evils of the Akuma, that is why he did not mention that aspect of things. As many of his order worry, the Shogunate would just turn their energy from fighting the Akuma to re-conquering outside lands. Whereas it is the hopes of the monastery to free the burden of death that holds yoke over their people and allow greater prosperity not conquest.

[13_CBS]

Shiny and Seribro:

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"A walking stick? You could beat horses to death with that-oh gods, is it moving? Please don't tell me it's moving.

...

Ok, fine! G-go on through, just get away from me!"

The guard then turns to the horseman. "As for you...fine. Go on in. And take your stupid weapon with you. But we'll be watching you...scum." The rest of the city guards give Mongo death glares as he rides by.

Seribro:

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As you enter the inner city, a man dressed in typical Imperial finery approaches you. "Hmm...quite impressive how you dealt with those guards. Far too many of our countrymen would have simply picked a fight, but you...you're as skilled with words as you are with your Guan Dao, yes?"

This human seems a bit...odd. His dress indicates that he is an Imperial citizen of good stature, but his face looks very much like that of a clean shaven, well groomed Tungusk.

Evil and Snark:

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The woman's face contorts with embarrassment and fury at Tiang's stinging words.

"H-how DARE you insult...! Ugh!

Come along Miao Chan! Let's not waste any more time with these fools." The woman leaves with a huff, dragging her burly bodyguard with her.

The noblewoman's grating presence had been hiding a quite magnificient-looking noodle shop called Chiao's Finest Noodles. The entire store sign seems to be made of expensive colored glass, and the shop itself is two stories tall. It seems to be somewhat crowded at the moment.

The nearby squabble at the Golden Library gates seems to have come to an end.

Grymm:

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"Ah, so business as usual, then, sir? Go on ahead." The second, more courteous guard ignores the flustered first one and opens the gates for you.

"I should warn you, sir, that due to, uh...recent events, some sections of the library have been locked away to all people except the most senior University staff."

[Seribro]

Mongo smiles with a warm broad smirk across his face as the human approaches him.
"Well, not really to be honest. Its a trick I learned from a dwarven diplomat with whom I travelled for a while. I saved him from some bandits so he owed me one. When he saw how I got treated in an elven town we visited later on, he thought me a thing or two about imperial laws and and how to use them to ones advantage. By the way, my name is Mongo Naichuk. Would you by any chance know of a respectable inn or similar place of stay? My visit here is not arranged yet I would like to stay for a few days to see more of the city before I travel further."

[Grymmheart]

"If I may be so forward, what recent events are you speaking of? May chance I be of assistance."

Tai-Jyn hopes that this could be a chance for him to gain the trust of these people. He ignores the first guard completely, while waiting for an answer.

[13_CBS]

Seribro:

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"Intriguing...

Ah, an inn. The Noble's Rest inn lies just ahead. You can get lunch there, or at the many different shops in the Inner City. I personally recommend Chiao's Finest Noodles, especially the beef noodles; Imperial chefs can make strands of noodles out of meat! Nothing like that in our steppes up north, eh, brother?

Oh! Forgive my manners. I am Ogdai Kulan, an attendant to our Empire's diplomat here. And our Council has need of you, Mongo Naichuk..."

Grymm:

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The guard walks alongside you as you enter the Library's familiar courtyard. He scratches his head as he tries to answer your question; "Eh, I apologize sir, but you'll have to talk to the Minister of Archives. I'm just a guard, so they don't tell me much, but judging from the fact that they've been trying to keep everything hush-hush, it's something big and nasty.

Here, I'll take you to his office."

As the two of you walk by, scores of young students wearing expensive apprentices' robes walk by, talking about their daily lives or the latest examination. Some students are exercising outside; two of them are fighting with wooden Yaman swords, and to Tai Jyn's trained eye, they're not very adept at using them.

You reach the Minister's office, which is surprisingly spartan. All the furniture and walls are well made, of course, but there is nothing gaudy or wealth-flaunting like many of the other rooms are. The Minister notices you at his door and smiles, looking less like a stodgy old official and more like a kindly, sage-like grandfather.

"Ah! Tai Jyn-san, welcome back. I apologize, but the section of library that you were in last week has been closed off today.

Is there anything else I can do for you?"

[Seribro]

For a moment Mongo looks surprised and as he looks over his fellow country member, an eery feeling creeps up his spine. Likely it would be best to decline for they would either use him as a message boy or to do some dirty work that they do not wish to remain clear of. But then again, no harm in checking it out. He shrugs and says
"Lead the way, my brother"

[Grymmheart]

Tai-Jyn

With a friendly bow, Tai-Jyn returns pleasantries to the Minister, before replying "I had hoped that the information that I seek would be open to myself as an emissary of my Monastery. But I see that still is not the case. I hope whatever has locked the areas to further study is dealt with quickly." He begins to turn to leave, before returning his focus on the Minister, "If there is something a lowly foreigner can do to help in the situation, I would be more than happy to offer my services as I have free time."

[Shiny, Bearer of the Pokystick]

Tsuki and Umi

The twins scent the city, having passed through her gates, into her skin, her heart; they move along her veins and arteries.

They have heard whispers; infection. Wound.
There is blood, somewhere, in the city, murder, death.
Rumors. Tales. Stories.

The twins scent the city, weaving in and out. Gliding once again. They near the library, reach its door, if they can...and are gone.

((Freakin' forum roller won't let me correct my tags grumblemumblesnark. Insert a hide check here. If any of the guards can beat a +29 modifier, I'll eat my mace.))

---

* post roll count doesn't match database

[13_CBS]

Seribro:

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The diplomat smiles and says in a voice tinged with comfortable Imperial living, "Ah, I thought you would understand, Brother.

Now, as you know, our great Empire's expansion has ground to a halt, mostly since we simply cannot continue to press into Imperial lands; we lack the manpower. This is common knowledge. What most do NOT know is that, were the Empire of Knowledge to attack our Empire of Gold, they could very well retake the lands that we fought so hard to take. They do not do this since, until now, they have feared our might and our wrath.

But...if our spies' information is correct, Imperial troops have been mustering around our borders. As I have said before, we cannot fight them, even with our new fortifications; we are, after all, a nation of horsemen, not a nation of wall-defenders. We have lately been trying to placate the Imperials, but it has been difficult to do so while trying to maintain a strong appearance; we cannot beg, but nor has it been easy to coerce. " He then gives you a wide grin, a grin full of trained charisma and opportunism.

"This is where you come in.

Since you have only recently arrived, I am assuming that you are unaware of what has happened in the Golden Library? Last night, a team of assassins somehow infiltrated the University, assassinated the headmaster, and attempted to steal a certain scroll. The headmaster is now dead, of course, while the scroll remains under heavy guard. Likely, the Imperials will need extra muscle to investigate this matter, for the assassins were from a cult known for its powerful warriors, both living and dead; this they know from the remains of one of the assassins.

If you could somehow assist these Imperials with their little problem, no doubt that the relations between our two nations will be healed; at the same time, we can also show off what one of our warriors can do in battle."

Grymm:

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The minister gives Tai Jyn a long, hard look.

"Hmm...perhaps. Normally, no foreigner, or even most common Imperial citizens, would be privy to the information I am about to tell you...but you, sir, I feel as though I can trust. Though there may have been many opportunities that you could have exploited to steal our knowledge for your own gain, or sabotage our great archives, you have never done so. But take heed; what I tell you now must not escape from this room.

Last night, a group of cultists of the Blood Cult infiltrated our sacred academy and assassinated our headmaster. The destruction in the wake of our honored headmaster's death...oh..." The old minister looks hard at one of the ornaments on his desk, taking a moment to collect his thoughts.

"Our headmaster was killed, and they took his head with them. They also tried to steal a certain scroll that we have been attempting to translate, but our guards managed to drive them off before they could. We are worried that they may return.

We need powerful sword-arms to investigate this matter. We would send our own men, if we could, but at the moment we are trying to keep the whole incident away from the eyes and ears of the public; thus, many members of our ruling council have voted to hire either freelancers or foreigners to travel South to the Mahayana Empire and see what they can find out about the Blood Cult.

If you would help us, then I will take you to the headmaster's private chambers and to the scroll room. You should watch your step in there; the assassins left behind small disks inscribed with strange runes; we are afraid that they will unleash whatever they contain should someone touch them.

Please, noble Yaman...help us. We must find out why the Blood Cult tried to steal a particular scroll from one of our Empire's greatest cities, and we can hardly spare any men; our warriors lack subtlety, and our spies lack muscle. If you assist us, we can give you full, unrestricted access to whatever you desire in our archives."

Shiny:

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The guards seem fairly on edge lately, but that is no matter for Umi and Tsuki. The hustle and bustle of the throngs of students makes it difficult to move around without being detected, but fortunately for the twins, everyone seems distracted by something.

As you pass by a certain office containing an old man and a Yaman-looking warrior, you over hear something:

""Our headmaster was killed, and they took his head with them. They also tried to steal a certain scroll that we have been attempting to translate, but our guards managed to drive them off before they could. We are worried that they may return..."

Looks like something's happened in the Golden Library.

[The_Snark]

Tiang

"That one flees her failings rather than confront them," Tiang says disapprovingly, staring after the woman. Clearly, she is not satisfied with the woman simply departing to avoid bothering them, and would have preferred to have managed to make an impact on the woman. Perhaps it would have been better not to insult her pride so blatantly. She will hardly agree to learn from someone who offends her, however injust her offense was.

But there is nothing to be done for it, and so Tiang turns back to Wu, putting the noblewoman out of her thoughts. "Where shall we go first, then?" she asks, as if nothing had happened. She still wasn't sure that Wu knew what she wanted here, and if that was the case, Wu should admit it to herself as soon as possible. Made to admit it to herself, if need be—they could hardly decide where to go next before they realized they needed to make that decision.

[EvilWalks]

Evil and Snark:

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The woman's face contorts with embarrassment and fury at Tiang's stinging words.

"H-how DARE you insult...! Ugh!

Come along Miao Chan! Let's not waste any more time with these fools." The woman leaves with a huff, dragging her burly bodyguard with her.

The noblewoman's grating presence had been hiding a quite magnificient-looking noodle shop called Chiao's Finest Noodles. The entire store sign seems to be made of expensive colored glass, and the shop itself is two stories tall. It seems to be somewhat crowded at the moment.

The nearby squabble at the Golden Library gates seems to have come to an end.

Wu-feng the Dragonfly

As the incident comes to an end, Wu-feng breaths a sigh of relief. Tiang's usual draconic crass often hid the heart and tongue of the diplomat that she possessed...something that Wu-feng needed the occasional reminder of...she could defend herself, despite the appearance that she usually assumed.

"Are we lost, you asked...I wish it where so. The Golden City can seem rather...tarnished at times. I was hoping we could have avoided that part until after we enjoyed the more gleaming parts of the city." She gestures to the noodlehouse in front of them. "Like this establishment which I had planned to visit before the Library...unfortunately, it seems our river has taken another bend right around that rather rude woman's bosom, and straight towards the gates of the Library. We have attracted attention, and that woman did not seem like the 'live and let live' type...I would long to avoid anymore incidents with her..." Wu-feng pauses for a moment in contemplative thought, before looking back to the 'young peasant woman'. "What do you belief we should do?"

[13_CBS]

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2 things I forgot to tell you:

1) NO ONE knows the true story of how the world was created, not even the oldest of dragons (except perhaps Zu Long). This great Lie, agreed upon by the four out-bound factions, prevents mortals and earth-bound supernaturals from knowing the Truth, that the world was made by fiends. Upper level earth-bound creatures know that mortals were made by devils; mortals have all but forgotten this little fact. Lesser dragons such as Tiang do not know the latter fact, but greater dragons such as Li Long and Oh-Oni such as Spirit of Carnage know this.

2) This game is going on at the same time as Team 2's game

Grymm:

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As the old minister waits for your answer, a loud rumble and then a huge CRASHing noise shakes the whole office.

"By the gods, what's going-"

Terrified shrieks of students and angry, nervous shouts of guards can barely be heard over a chorus foul, disgusting voices, all of them sounding excited. You can hear a cry for a volley of spears, some clattering noises following immediately afterwards, and then a series of horrific screams of anguish and tearing flesh. When the screams die out, you can hear the sound of what seems like large animals gorging upon meat.

Students flee like a maddened herd of buffalo away from what seems to be the late headmaster's chambers.

Seribro:

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Ogdai patiently waits for your response when a strange creature bursts through the roof of the Golden Library. It is twenty feet tall, hairy, has a huge, gaping mouth, and looks something like a demonic bear. Despite its tiny wings, it flies with great agility. The thing swoops down on one of the young students in the courtyard and greedily swallows him whole, completely ignoring the volley of arrows launched by the panicked guards.

Ogdai looks at the scene with horror. "What?! That...that's a demon! Those Blood Cultists couldn't have..."

Evil and snark:

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The two of you are pondering upon where to go next when a strange creature bursts through the roof of the Golden Library. It is twenty feet tall, hairy, has a huge, gaping mouth, and looks something like a demonic bear. Despite its tiny wings, it flies with great agility. The thing swoops down on one of the young students in the courtyard and greedily swallows him whole, completely ignoring the volley of arrows launched by the panicked guards.

Shiny:

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Before you can continue sneaking about, you hear a loud rumble and then a huge CRASHing noise shakes the whole hallway.

Sienna"By the gods, what's going-"[/COLOR]

Terrified shrieks of students and angry, nervous shouts of guards can barely be heard over a chorus foul, disgusting voices, all of them sounding excited. You can hear a cry for a volley of spears, some clattering noises following immediately afterwards, and then a series of horrific screams of anguish and tearing flesh. When the screams die out, you can hear the sound of what seems like large animals gorging upon meat.

Students flee like a maddened herd of buffalo towards the academy exits. Some of them bump into you, but none stop to see what they bumped into and instead charge on ahead to an exit.

[Seribro]

Mongo reaches back to his horses pack and rips out a stylish guan dao.
"You wish to see me in battle? Here's your chance!"
With the Guan Dao firmly in his hands, Mongo darts of with incredible inhuman speed

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(1d20+6)[17]initiative
What is the approaximite distance between Mongo and the demon? What obstacels are on his path? (stairs, doors, people, trees etcetera)
And incredible speed be: 50 ft
I know by far not the greatest speed, but incredible none the less. The others just happen to have inhuman speed...

[Grymmheart]

Tai-Jyn Demonsbane

'Free access to the library,' thinks Tai-Jyn as the minister offers his proposal. Before he can reply, a large crash breaks the relative calm of the situation.

"By the Masters," exclaims Tai-Jyn as he moves toward the sounds of battle leaving his sword sheathed at his side.

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enters the absolute steel stance to gain slightly better than mere mortal speed (40') but not inhuman.

[The_Snark]

Tiang

"If she is wrongheaded enough to try to do anything, we will correct her," Tiang answers firmly, but any reccomendations she has on what they should do next are drowned out by the sound of screams and splintering wood.

The dragon in human form twists about to stare at the demonic beast, striding towards it and raising her hands to her mouth. She breathes a thin wisp of mist, which gathers in her hands, and then releases it, dropping her hands once more. The streamers of mist waft across to the courtyard, abruptly thickening into a thick fog as they reach the demon until nothing but the thing's feet can be seen.

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Initiative: (1d20)[10]
Tiang uses Chilling Fog. If there are still people within 20 feet of the thing, she'll target high up enough that the fog wouldn't affect human-sized creatures. (That would also mean that the thing's legs would be visible.) She also moves 30 feet towards it. Cold damage to those within the fog: (2d6)[6]

Why is it that the only one of us who moves at a normal mortal speed is also the only one who isn't actually a mortal?

[EvilWalks]

Wu-feng the Dragonfly

The screams and splintering wood shake Wu's ears. "What is that?" She asks in suprise as she looks to the cause.

A demonic beast in the Golden Library, the largest city of the Empire...why? Why is it here, among so many innoncents? She thinks, her own experience with demonic entities flying through her mind's eye....the demonically enhanced bandit hordes at the battle of Baichuxai...the Shadow Mercenary Leader...the sorcerous cult...

She can't help but for a moment, feel like she attracts these attentions...like her path would always be a bloody long line of battles against influences from beyond...

With a breath, she forces those thoughts out of her mind. She needs clarity of purpose and mind for the task ahead...stopping the waves of disharmony this beast was creating. She draws her sword, it's blued metal edges and intricate dragonfly and lily patterns that are etched into the flat of the blade gleam in the sunlight, and runs forward at an incredible speed towards the beast.

When Wu-feng nears the demon, she leaps up for an airial strike.

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Initiative: (1d20+5)[16]
Knowledge Checks to see if Wu-feng can recognize the type of demonic beast: Religion (1d20+8)[23], History (1d20+8)[11]
Draws blade, charges towards Demon (base speed 90ft), makes free Jump check (DC 25) and attacks with an Eagle's Swoop manuver (Raptor School feat)
Jump: (1d20+37)[57]
Attack: (1d20+18)[33]
Damage: (1d8+12)[17]

I hope that's how Eagle Swoop works...It's actually my first time using a Tactical Feat

[13_CBS]

Seribro, Evil, Snark:

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Brown squares = building floors
Gold squares = street floors
black lines = walls
white lines = doors/gates
Green squares = courtyard

Big red thing = creature

I will rule that Wu Feng is close enough to reach the creature with her sword, so Evil can place Wu Feng anywhere adjacent to the red circle. The rest of you may place your characters anywhere reasonable, as long as it's not within 3 squares of the red circle.

As for combat order...

Wu Feng's attack connects, while Taing's Fog Cloud envelops the creature fully. Since the thing's distracted by the sudden appearance of the two fighting females, Mongo gets one surprise round to act after Seribro places him somewhere on the map. Afterwards, the creature's initiative will be rolled and combat will resume normally.

Evil:

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You recall from your studies that this...thing is most certainly a demon, and not some kind of ogre or somesuch. You're not quite sure precisely what kind of demon it is, but you know that it prefers to close into melee with its enemies, and that it can fly quite quickly.

Grymm:

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You dash down to where the sounds of battle were, but all you find are torn human bodies, rubble, and a few faded jade disks inscribed with strange glyphs. The creatures seem to have fled elsewhere.

"By the Bureaucracy...our Library...

Please, Tai Jyn, we must hurry to where the scroll is kept; I have a feeling that the intruders are heading for the scroll."