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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Black Omega" data-source="post: 1097127" data-attributes="member: 79">Bansho Kishu was summoned to the scene quickly to investigate.  What little there was to investigate.   Some workmen with confused accounts of Mindra’s actions against some unseen foe.  Assuming there was really an enemy and the monkey was not simply playing a joke.    Verick found an invisible rope leading to the roof from the next house over.  But no solid evidence of who had taken the monkey.  And it simply got stranger from there.While Verick and Volar were discussing where to go next, the panda that had been following Mindra around lately woke up and looked around, listening in before the creature said “Is something wrong with Mindra?  He was supposed to wake me up…”Verick’s hand fell to his katana instantly but Volar just shook his head “Don’t worry.  I noticed the panda turn magical days ago.  Probably Mindra using a spell to awaken the animal.”“Yes.” The yawning panda agreed.  But he had no luck picking up Mindra’s scent.  Too many people had passed this way since the monkey was kidnapped.Without any firm clues to follow up on, Bansho Kishu dispersed  Verick had an idea he wanted to try.  Mir and Volar were going to consult on spells that might help them locate Mindra.  Yukiyo had her own ideas, though.Disguising herself, Yukiyo went out to hit the streets alone and start asking about Mindra.  Hopping from one bar to another.  Until Yukiyo thought she was on the right track.  A shady looking character who seemed to know something about someone who had a grudge against Mindra.  But while they were talking, Yukiyo felt that strange feeling again, of being watched.  Yukiyo barely had time to stand before the attacks came, only her roguish reflexes saving her.  Without any clue where the attacks really were, Yukiyo tried a tumble through the crowded bar to send her out the door.  A puddle of spilled safe foiled that plan and Yukiyo fell in an undignified thump before the follow up attacks sent her into darkness.Later that night one of his Yoriki brought the news to Toshiro that someone had disappeared.  A stranger close to the size and built of Yukiyo.  The disappearance had occurred in exactly the same way Mindra had.  A reaction to a sudden, unseen attack, though the only proof there were unseen attackers was that the unconscious body disappeared.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The next day was the final day of Generosity.  In a move he suspected was purely political, Toshiro had been elected King of Generosity.  A position that required him in the Shosuro Gardens most of the day ‘holding court’ and giving out presents.  Toshiro could not refuse the honor, so he had no choice but to play along.  The very first visitor to Toshiro was a finely dressed Scorpion named Bayushi Kaukatsu.“I understand you lost your pet monkey recently, Toshiro.  Please accept this small gift as a replacement.”  The gift was a small black monkey with a white face and short cut tail.This was the theme of the day, in fact.  Toshiro received two more monkeys as the days went on.  And by the time the day was winding down he was firmly resolved to keep them all.[GM Note:  Toshiro’s player could not show up this week, and this was a convenient way to get Toshiro out of the way for a day.]~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Verick knelt in the Temple of Bayushi, lighting a stick of incense, another offering to the spirit of the Golden Scorpion, dead these many months ago.  By the time he was done with his prayers and rose there was a Scorpion waiting behind him.  Slim and clad in dark crimson kimono bearing the mon of the Scorpion and then Bayushi.  But her mask Verick recognized from months ago.  A white kabuki style mask of a beautiful girl, smiling.  His old rival from the Topaz Championships, Bayushi Sakura.“We received your letter.  It was most flattering. You want to know what we know about who might kidnap the members of Bansho Kishu.  You know you’ll owe us  a favor for this.” The young lady murmured softly.“Didn’t you get promoted to Emerald Magistrate for winning the tournament?”  Verick asked “I’m surprised they would send you.”“I’m here now as a Scorpion.  Later I’ll be wearing green as a magistrate.  As a magistrate I’m honor bound to be truthful.  They thought perhaps you would trust someone you knew more than a stranger.”  The girl said, her mask still smiling.“Then let’s get to the point.  What do you know?  I’m sure the Scorpion know a little on everything going on in the city, I’m sure you know about this.”  Verick commented with a growl.The Scorpion knelt, a graceful offering of incense to the temple before she spoke “Mindra and Yukiyo were attacked twice.  No one else in your group has been.  This is not our doing, but they are suffering from their crimes against the Scorpion.  When you first visited Ryoko Owari, you fought a group of Scorpion.  You behaved as any good samurai would.  Your friends did not. We cannot account for Mir and Volar at the end of the fight, so we do not know what they did.  But Mindra and Yukiyo looted the bodies.  We spoke to certain foolish fences.  And to the spirits.  There is no doubt in this matter.”“But you said this was not a Scorpion attack?”  Verick asked, that frown growing, with his suspicion.“It is not.  Our memory is long.  And with the death of the emperor at that time, there were more important matters.  If this was us, the first attack would have succeeded, and your friends would be dead as thieves.  The brother of the shugenja whose body was looted took it personally, though.  Soshi Ikio.  He put his personal loyalty before his loyalty to the Scorpion.  So he was released as a ronin.  We acknowledge that there is some justice to his anger.  But have no use for someone who is not loyal to the Scorpion first.  Ikio has gathered like-minded people to help him.  At this point, we do not care who wins.  If Ikio dies then an unreliable ex-Scorpion is gone.  If Mindra and Yukiyo die, we simply mark them off our list.”  The smiling Scorpion lady murmured.“And were can we find Ikio?  The faster we find each other the faster one of both of your problems are taken care of.”  Verick said quickly, intensely.The smiling mask regarded him for a minute, green eyes sparkling “He has several spots around town, like any good ex-Scorpion.  If you want to find your friends, though, you might check out the Dead Rat.  It’s a sleazy bar.  But a good place to do something secret.”Verick nodded and rose to go before pausing.  His thoughts raced for a moment before he finally shrugged and drew out the kusari-gama Mindra had given him after the battle against the Scorpion.  “I believe this might have been one of the items that was looted.  Can you check on this for me?  If it’s looted just keep it.  I have no use for something stolen.”The advantage of wearing a mask, the Scorpion’s ‘face’ was completely impassive as she accepted the weapon.  “Interesting.  I’ll check into this and let you know what I find out.  Hmm, I understand you enjoy Kabuki Theater.  When this is all over, if you survive, would you care to accompany me to a performance?”Verick nodded after only a moment’s thought.  He owed the Scorpion a favor; staying on their good side wouldn’t hurt.  However, he couldn’t help but think he was just getting in deeper and deeper with exactly the wrong people.[GM Note:  A tough decision for Verick as well, since the kusari-gama at the time was his most powerful magic weapon.  A good honorable decision, though.]~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Mindra slowly returned to awareness in a forest, a place that looked very much his ancestral jungles.  Looking around he saw a cloaked figure drawing new.  As the cowl was pushed back he recognized his old friend Shinjo Sanetama, the explorer who originally told him about the Emerald Empire.“You are in trouble, Mindra.  You’ve been kidnapped and these people do not look nice.  I think they plan to kill you.”  Sanetama said.Mindra frowned a monkey frown ‘This isn’t real then.  A dream?  What’s going on out there?”“You are drugged.  And I believe they plan you harm.  Serious serious harm.  I can help you though, Mindra.  If you let me.  But you have to ask.  I’m weak, you need to help me make the connection before I can reach out to help you.”“You’ve been gone for so long.  Are you a spirit now?  Is that what happened?”  Mindra asked ‘I’m just not sure…”“I’m a spirit now…yes!  Yes, I am.  That last trip through Shinomen was my final one.  But my spirit has not passed on.  And I want to help you.  But you must ask me to.  You must ask me for the help or I can do nothing.”  Sanetama said eagerly.The eagerness just made Mindra more suspicious “Who has taken me?  Where is my body then?  What’s going on?”Sanetama’s concerned look grew “Some dark room.  It doesn’t look good Mindra, oh no.  Not good.  Knives and razors are being brought out!  I think they mean to kill you!  You must decide quickly, Mindra!  I don’t think you have much time!”Mindra didn’t trust the spirit...he didn’t like it’s need for him to ask for help.  But he couldn’t feel his body...couldn’t wake up and he was getting scared.  ‘Ok, please.  Help me right now.”</blockquote>

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