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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Black Omega" data-source="post: 1089344" data-attributes="member: 79">Seeing the group’s confusion at his appearance and the name, the aged ratling lifted his staff, pointing it at Hiruma Toshiro “you may have a new name, but the soul never forgets.    Yesterday you were Hida Banuken  the great leader who defeated the Shadowlands when the great wall was built.  Today you are Hiruma Toshiro, though that name doesn’t cling as tightly to your soul…not yet.”“And tomorrow?”   Toshiro asked impulsively.“No..no…we are all running from tomorrow.  Tomorrow is chasing and when tomorrow catches you…very bad.  We Nezumi know this.  We are all running from Tomorrow.  Someday last Nezumi caught by Tomorrow then great battle.  Nezumi win, we gain great empire.  Nezumi lose, we are forgotten into dream.  Very sad…”  the ratling said in his low, raspy voice.“I have no idea what he’s talking about.”  Toshiro whispered to the others.“It makes sense to me…in a way.”  Verick whispered back.The aged Nezumi shook himself from his thoughts and lifted his staff again ‘You will return to the wall again, Toshiro!  You have a destiny bound there, you cannot escape it.  But this is not why Te'tik'kir  is here.  We have another matter to discuss.  A name calls to me.  Because of the attack today you cannot come meet Te'tik'kir  so Te'tik'kir  comes to meet you.  You seek to save one who’s name is lost.  To do so, you must bring three things to me.  The lost one.  The name.  An item with a great connection to the lost one.  With these, the name can be bound back to the person.  Verrrry difficult task.  Suitable for one’s with a great destiny.”“You know what he’s talking about, don’t you Toshiro?  We need the katana that we had until you told her how to get it back!”  Verick growled, still irritated over that.“When you have these things, you come find Te'tik'kir .   Waiting, the Nezumi will be.  Until then, pursue your destiny and may Tomorrow never catch you!”~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Riding onward, someone in the group wondered aloud “Do all old masters carry staffs or sticks?”Volar said thoughtfully “It was probably magical.”Verick chimed in “It was probably used to hit the ratlings that annoyed him, if he’s anything like my master.”By the end of the day, the group had found an inn to stay at.  That night the set watches, wary of sleeping so close to the wall.  A good thing to, on the second watch while Verick rested with his katana laid over his lap he heard a muttering outside the room the group slept in.“Yes, this is the place.  We smell him, yes we do.”  A soft, hissing tone.  Verick tossed something over at Toshiro to wake him then slowly edged up to peer out into the darkness, frowning.  Nothing there he could see.Another frown, Toshiro wasn’t getting up, either.  Verick turned back to make sure Toshiro was ok, and almost jumped when he saw Toshiro standing right behind him, waiting.  Again, despite his protests, Toshiro proved he could move in utter silence when needed.[GM Note:  And again, when he needed a move silently roll, Toshiro rolled a 20.  A ort of running joke in the game since he’s put nothing into move silently, but his family is known for stealth.]Verick was just starting to explain what he heard then a create crashed through the thin wood and paper wall, coming in from the hallway.  Windows flew open and a gaunt, dog like creature leapt into the room, and on the sleeping Kaz…the creature from the wall still seeking revenge.The last remaining doglike creatures the group had fought when they first entered the Crab lands joined in the assault.  Last but not least, a Tsuno teleported into the room.  Robes clad his powerful body, the creature’s horns sticking out in all directions.  Red-Gold eyes glittered as the creature rumbled “It took a while to find you after you ran from us on the wall.  And a lot of chasing.”  The creature helt out his hand, an Ancestral Vengeance calling the fury of the Tsuno down upon Verick in the form of a sharp, physical blow.  Rousing himself from his sleep, Kaz snatched up his sword, facing off with the creature who was still muttering various curses on Kaz’s name.  Kaz slashed the creature once quickly then growled “What, you couldn’t take a joke?”“A joke!?  Yes, yes!  A Crab dozes off on the great Wall.  He was dead tired!”  the creatures claws drawing more blood from Kaz’s unarmored body. “A Crab,  Crane, and a Ratling walk into a teahouse.  The tea master says ‘what is this, some kind of joke?’”Toshiro confronted the largest of the creatures, his honorable katana having trouble damaging the creature, but Toshiro was determined.  Mir and Mindra both woke up, surprised by the creatures biting and clawing at them, but quickly cast spells of protection and got into the battle.While Verick took an attack to get in close enough to start hacking up the Tsuno, only to slowly start realizing his sword wasn’t doing as much damage as he expected.The battle was short and sharp once the group had recovered from the surprise.  Mindra and Mir hammered the dogs with their mace and staff before Mir ran between the oni and Tsuno, taking the attacks to heal Toshiro and then Verick.  Slowly Toshiro hacked down the oni, who’s unfocused attacks rarely went after the same person moment to moment.Even without his armor, Kaz was simply too tough for the gaunt, doglike creature and despite it’s jokes it was forced to flee again.  The sinister Tsuno took hit after hit from Verick, while Mindra’s healing kept the young Lion fighting.  Until finally the Tsuno was forced to take a step back, then he drew upon the spirits of the area, disappearing from that spot in the room and appearing back outside the room.  Verick was not done with the creature and he broke into a run, diving through the window to chase after the Tsuno.  The Tsuno paused, red-gold eyes glancing over Verick coldly.  Then the creature disappeared for good.[GM Note:  Leaving a few questions unasked.  Why this attack? What was this creature doing chasing the group so far beyond the wall?]~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The rest of the trip back to Ryoko Owari was fairly peaceful.  Back in the City of Green Walls, Toshiro and Kaz had time to settle in to their new posts, officers in the Thunderguard, the local magistrates who  keep order in the city.  Shinjo Toru, the Thunderguard who had nearly died last time while helping them against the Scorpion, as assigned to show them around.  The prison to the north, used for holding prisoners before their punishment is decided.  The Dragon Gate, where the Thunderguard headquarters is.  Toshiro was being assigned the Fields of Gold, a more peaceful and prosperous merchant sector.  Kaz was assigned an area much rougher and more violent known as The Loops.  Aside from the rank and file Thunderguards, there were two special groups.  The Lightning Squad was 50 horse man, mostly Unicorns, who could can be anywhere in the city in ten minutes, or so it is rumored.  The Samurai Squad is assigned to handling the licensed district, set on an island in the middle of the River of Gold which cuts through Ryoko Owari.  They are well used to dealing with rowdy samurai.Toshiro met his assigned Thunderguards and made his speech about making sure the area was kept clean and orderly.  Since he’d been given a wealthy area, free of crime, where even the local firemen were honest, this seemed like an easy task.Toritaka Kaz’s assistant was an efficient young man named Kato, a commoner but an experienced Thunderguard.  Kaz made a very different initial impression, first making it clear to his Thunderguards that he would not tolerate any corruption in the area.  Then taking a tour of the streets and meeting the less reputable merchants, innkeepers, and businessmen in the area.  And making it clear he wasn’t much worried about things like gambling, but theft and murder…that would only get them trouble.  He also started keeping a close watch on his guards, trying to start picking out who were good guards, who were dirty, and which of those might be worth keeping and rehabilitating.  It was going to be a very difficult task.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Verick returned to finish moving in to the Akodo estates, the enter of Lion activity in the area.  A place established by Lord Akodo Ginawa to keep an eye on the Scorpions and Unicorn in Ryoko Owari.  Though it was nice enough to be spending so much time in the company of his fellow Lion samurai, it also took some getting used to.  He had never spend much time with the Lion clan, and was used to being almost on his own, save for his sensei.  Now he was in an estate filled with Lions, serious men and woman totally dedicated to honor.  It took some getting used to.Once he was settled in, Verick was scheduled to meet with Akodo Jusho, former Emerald Magistrate and Lord of the Akodo estates.  Jusho was a thin, wiry man with a neatly trimmed mustache and a very proper air about him.“Thank you for your fine service so far, Verick-san.”  Jusho began, smiling.  “You’ve been placed in very difficult circumstances and you have done well.  It’s been a very trying time for the Lion Clan, we’ve had to withdraw many troops from the Phoenix lands to deal with the attack of these Tsuno.  I expect a report on your own contact with them in the morning.  For now, you’ll be pleased to know your duties will no longer require so much contact with the barbarians you’ve been traveling around with.  I’ve not doubt it’s been very trying but you have held up under it very well.”“You do realize my mother was a ‘barbarian’.”  Verick said softly, color rising to his face as his temper grew hotter.“Your mother is the mother of a samurai.  Nothing more or less.  Since you were not traveling with her, you are safe in assuming I was speaking of the elf, the Vanara, and the human who worships that foreign spirit.”  Jusho replied promptly “Don’t be so sensitive, Verick-san.  This is a city of Scorpion, if they sense a weakness like temper, they will use it against you.  “Seeing Verick’s silent, angry nod, Jusho went smoothly on “And while we are on the subject of appearances. I understand you often fight with two weapons, katana and wakizashi.  As you might know, this is a Dragon technique.  And while I’m very sure your style has nothing to do with the Dragon clan, still…it would not be proper for a Lion to be walking around Ryoko Owari fighting like a Dragon.  Give quite the wrong impression.  So please refrain from doing so here in Ryoko Owari.”~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Mindra was having trouble getting work in Ryoko Owari.  No one would give a strange talking monkey a job, no matter how skilled he was.  It took Toshiro visiting a local carpenter shop and ‘suggesting’ he would like his friend given a job before work was finally found for Mindra.  The carpenter eager to find something for Mindra to do.  At a good price.  And really, Mindra didn’t even need to show up for work!  As long as Toshiro was happy….~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Verick went to the temple of Bayushi in the Temple District, known as Daikoku’s Shadow after the huge, gold plated temple to the fortune of Wealth that loomed over the area.  He offered incense to the spirit of the Golden Scorpion while he plotted and considered.  And then made arrangements for a party at the Akodo estates, with all the proper permission.  A chance for his Bansho Kishu friends, as well as some Unicorns,  to come visit and see good Lion entertainment.Akodo Jusho was happy to attend, he was curious to see these barbarians in the flesh.  He was not the least bit offended by them.  In fact, he questioned Mindra closely about his quaint and charming monkey customs.  Jusho was quite accepting that people from outside the empire did strange and amusing things.  His questioning went from Mindra to Volar then to Mir, annoying them all in various degrees, not with insults but with condescending amusement.Verick had prepared for this, however.  He knew Jusho had a loathing for Kabuki Theater and has arranged for a performance.  If Akodo Jusho was really annoyed, he gave no show of it.  But then a diplomat who made a habit of showing his emotions would not last long in a Scorpion city.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~That night Mindra had a dream, he was back in the jungle, being chased by something.  There were whispers in the jungle all around him, dark shapes moving and chasing…the danger looming around him before a monkey spirit offered to help him.  With an ear piercing shriek Mindra woke in his bed, panting.  The dream so real….and as he drifted off into that restless sleep he found himself in the jungle again…~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The next day Verick was visited at his duties by Akodo Jusho, who was smiling slightly “Well done, Verick.  I’ve not given you enough credit.  At first I was annoyed you choose Kabuki for the party last night.  But on second thought, it was an excellent and subtle  choice.  They won’t be familiar with more classic and traditional theater like Noh.  So a performance would be wasted on them.  Kabuki appeals to the lowest common denominator and so was more likely to be something they would understand.  Good thinking, Verick!  Keep up the good work!”  and with that Jusho walked on as Verick glared.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The group slowly settled into their routine.  Only a week after they had arrived came the first of the great Ryoko Owari holidays.  The Days of Generosity.  Two days of gift giving, not only between friends but also strangers.  Itoshi the torturer sent everyone in the group a small carving of Daikoku.  Volar sent a scroll of spider climb to then Scorpion clan.  Toshiro got his little old lady to help pick our gifts for Lord Jyaku and Toshiro’s fiancé.  A sleepless and tired Mindra got a gift from his employer.Mindra also got another surprise, however.  While walking to work a young Crane lady approached him, her servants trailing along behind.  Warmly smiling to Mindra, she asked “Do you have a moment?”Warily Mindra nodded then was surprised as the servants pulled out sheets of silk and stood around the two, creating a  makeshift ‘room’ there at the side of the street for a more private conversation.  He has seen these before, but had not been sure why they were used.“I’ve been thinking of getting a present for Toshiro but I’m not quite sure what he might like.  I was thinking off…”  the Crane lady murmured softly, but Mindra could not focus on her words…he was suddenly assaulted by physical blows from something unseen.  His spells helped him weather the sudden assault ands Mindra quickly vanished from the silken room, reappearing a couple hundred feet down the street before taking off at a run in case they were still pursuing.</blockquote>

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