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"I was just trying to get your attention. You were so focused on Chiaki-san that you didn't even notice me!" Suzu pouts, exaggeratedly. "Actually I was wondering why you're here, if it's not for Chiaka-san. Are you in trouble? Who are all these strangers? What is that man doing to Chiaki-san?!" ~ Chiaki murmurs, "So it's tongues, is it?" and grabs Asano for a tongue-y kiss. She knows what she wants! ~ Shiran, expression betraying her horror and shock at this unseemly display, carefully reaches over without looking and takes Win's teacup, lest a second spray be forthcoming.
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Jan 12, 2014 16:56
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| # ¿ Apr 28, 2024 12:41 |
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Suzu shrugs. "Sure, I can go let Jun that you're looking for her. Anything else that you want me to tell her?"
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Jan 14, 2014 04:14
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Whatever the others may or may not have wanted to add, teir chance to speak is pre-empted by a group of magistrates, in Imperial regalia (but wearing masks to a man) entering the theater. "All present are ordered to remain calm and stand for inspection," the leader announces boredly. "We have reason to believe that there are a group of traitors who have come to this theater to spread sedition. Once we have either apprehended said traitors or determined the innocence of all present, we will permit you to leave. Until then, you are advised to cooperate fully." Suzu definitely doesn't look happy. Shiran is also pale, looking to Win for reassurance or direction... Chiaki, on the other hand? Not breakin' away.
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Jan 17, 2014 02:06
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The lead Scorpion sneers, producing a scroll and unrolling it. "It so happens we have a description of the traitors here," he says. "You lot match it perfectly. You would be wise to consider your next move carefully..." he tilts his head, indicating the drawn bows of his men. "I would certainly hate to...further spoil the evening of the others who have come to see this play."
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Jan 20, 2014 06:11
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"I have long ago learned never to treat a Togashi monk as defenseless simply because he is not holding a weapon. Will you come quietly or not?"
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Jan 20, 2014 06:17
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The Scorpions escort you out of the theatre, and direct you towards a nearby building, hurrying you through the streets. As soon as they have you inside, they begin to pull off their masks and uniforms. "Well, now I suppose I'd best explain what this is actually about," comments the leader - Yoritomo himself, as it turns out. "The best thing about the Scorpions and their masks is that everyone sees the masks and nobody looks at who's wearing it. You lot were going to cause trouble if I officially met with you, but now you've been...well, made to disappear at the hands of a group of Scorpions, and nobody is going to bat an eye at that. So, here's the thing: I need your help."
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Jan 24, 2014 05:18
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"My need is dangerous - don't be so hasty to agree, my Lion friend. As you well know, the fortunes of my Clan are thanks to Emperor Soju, but his Imperial Majesty has not exactly been the most stable of men recently. His bitch of a wife manipulates his every move to her own advantage, and frankly, I fear for the future of the Empire, especially with the word I've heard from the Wall. I've heard that Toturi's Army has declared for a true Hantei - and as most of you are outsiders here, I can spare you to go find this true Hantei and tell him that Yoritomo and the Mantis are his, on the sole condition that our status as a Great Clan is not to be revoked upon his ascent to the throne. I'm afraid I won't take no for an answer--I'm having you all shipped out tonight, in secret. After all, I did just publicly have you seized by inquisitors...nobody's going to question it if you vanish." He pauses. "Now...what did you need to speak to me about?"
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Jan 28, 2014 06:25
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Yoritomo looks mildly irritated at Itaru. "Ratified, then. I'm not going to bandy words or play games here--what did you require of me, that you came all this way to seek me out?"
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Feb 4, 2014 05:12
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"Well then!" the Mantis Clan Champion laughs. "That does rather simplify things. As for a bigger ship, I'm afraid not," Yoritomo frowns. "The Scorpion have eyes everywhere. I can't risk giving you anything more than I have already at the moment. Now...is there anything else before I get you to the docks?"
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Feb 17, 2014 05:22
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Yoritomo is about to answer when the door to the warehouse rattles with the force of someone pounding on it from outside. "Open up, by order of the Inquisition!"
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Feb 20, 2014 05:48
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Yoritomo grins at Asano. "A good question. There's a trapdoor beneath a crate over there, but your friends seem to want to get rid of these particular Inquisitors in a rather violent and permanent fashion. I'm up for a bit of a fight, but it'd be a pain for me to deal with, eventually." He pauses, then shrugs. "But that's eventually." Do you guys want to fight or flee?
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Mar 4, 2014 05:44
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The door begins to splinter as Yoritomo pulls out his trademark kamas, grinning fearsomely. "Flee? I think not. None of them shall be left alive to say who slew them, and it is as Togashi-san says--Thunder does not flee!" Then the Scorpion are upon you. There's a swarm of them, and at least one shugenja hanging back. Let's have some initiative. Also, just a side comment, remember that Day of Thunder 2: Electric Boogaloo hasn't happened yet/may not even be A Thing in Scorpyverse, so I just had Yoritomo assume Win was talking about Osano-wo. There's enough Scorpions here that you can all have one if you like, though getting to the shugenja may be tricky. If you want to play around with them, there are crates and such in the room, and there's certainly a lot of Mantis here as well to join the battle for any noncombatants in the room.
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Mar 5, 2014 04:57
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The shugenja standing behind the Scorpion begins to cast a spell, as Asano begins to do his thing. Asano, do your thing. Itaru's gonna hit one of the Scorpion dudes, but it won't be enough. The Shugenja is casting something big, apparently, as it's not going off this round. There's Scorpions between you guys and him. They go last.
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Mar 9, 2014 06:27
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And take his head off it does. And the other Scorpion look none too eager to engage the Togashi. However, there are still several of them ready to act. To attack Asano, Itaru, Shou, and Win: [01:20] <Ridley>: .roll 5k3 [01:20] <Morphball>: Ridley: 32 = 5k3(9,7,1,[10,6],7) [01:20] <Ridley>: .roll 5k3 [01:20] <Morphball>: Ridley: 23 = 5k3(7,7,1,9,4) [01:20] <Ridley>: .roll 5k3 [01:20] <Morphball>: Ridley: 18 = 5k3(3,2,8,7,3) [01:20] <Ridley>: .roll 5k3 [01:20] <Morphball>: Ridley: 32 = 5k3([10,6],4,9,7,2) Asano is hit, Itaru and Shou are not -- Itaru's has penalties. Win's hits. [01:22] <Ridley>: .roll 5k2 Asano damage [01:22] <Morphball>: Ridley: Asano damage: 13 = 5k2(1,7,2,6,6) [01:22] <Ridley>: .roll 5k2 Win damage [01:22] <Morphball>: Ridley: Win damage: 10 = 5k2(4,1,2,6,4) One Scorpion down, one direly injured, and at least four more not engaged by Mantis. Yoritomo is cutting them down left and right. The Shugenja continues casting...
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Mar 10, 2014 06:25
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Bunches of punches? I've got my hunches those bunches of punches cause crunches upon crunches! Realtalk: That fight has clearly been resolved in your favor, do you wanna finish the actual rolling or do you wanna just narrate out how you kill the shugenja and other opponents before I pick up tomorrow?
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Mar 18, 2014 05:51
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So narrate. Yoritomo and his lads have cut down the other Scorpion troops as well. Yoritomo looks like he hasn't broken a sweat. "You'd better hurry and get back to the mainland," he tells you. "They'll be blockading the port soon enough."
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Mar 21, 2014 05:33
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As the days of the reign of the Scorpion Emperor came to a close, certain individuals became known for their roles in spreading the word of the returned Hantei Emperor, and as they became more widely known the Scorpion became more desperate to stop them. Oddly, Shoju himself seemed to be less concerned than his Inquisition, and indeed, unsurprised to learn of the Hantei Emperor's existence... Miya Shouko, as usual Hey guys, have some XP! Take...three. A hasty trip to the docks shows how to blockade the Mantis...the Scorpion troops are, evidently, firing the kobune. This is not going over well, and there is in fact a pretty nasty fight going on. Fortunately, you've got support from an elite cadre of Mantis, and shortly you're underway. One slightly tense trip later, you're back ashore, in the lands of the Phoenix. The port you land at is...not especially large, though it's big enough that you need not fear being singled out as travelers should someone come looking. The lands of the Dragon are...well, across the Phoenix territory. And it's late.
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Apr 7, 2014 05:40
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You may thank a certain Togashi monk's supplications for this: upgrade that three XP to five XP.
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Apr 9, 2014 15:46
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The nearest inn is one of fairly rustic standards - You have avoided the busy ports and put ashore at a smaller town, whose name you learn is Singing Tide Cove. There's probably a story there... There's enough travel through the town that a group like yours is not remarkable, but at the same time, you essentially have the inn to yourselves. Kakita Shiran does not seem impressed with the accommodations, but dos not make much of it. In the morning, you are free to get underway. You have no mounts, few supplies, and a long journey ahead, especially if you make your way directly through to the Dragon lands with no delays...
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May 20, 2014 02:55
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"We must announce ourselves to the Phoenix," Shiran opines. "To be caught traveling through their lands with no papers and having not announced our presence here would end poorly." She seems to sag a little. "But how can we explain what our purpose is? Do we tell the truth? Do we dare hide our purpose?" Shiran appears to be struggling with matters of honor here. Meantime you guys do have a lengthy trip ahead if you're going to try to avoid entanglements with the locals; doubly so if you're going to do it on foot. You really do need supplies for the journey, unless you're prepared to hunt for food, which brings with it its own problems. Really I am fine with whatever approach you want to take, here, but you kind of need to come to a consensus on how you want to handle this journey and if that takes discussing it in the thread and then announcing the results clearly, that's what it takes. I can't decide for you! Have five XP though.
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Jun 1, 2014 16:02
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"Then you propose we present ourselves as...pilgrims?" Shiran asks, with a slight frown. "I suppose I have always heard of the many beautiful shrines and temples in the Phoenix lands. Then, we should make haste to the office of the nearest Magistrate."
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Jun 2, 2014 15:04
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Papers are obtained after a brief meeting with the local daimyo, one Shiba Inoue. The blind young woman is somewhat surprised to be paid a visit by a Lion pilgrim, but more than happy to issue traveling papers for the betterment of his spiritual wellbeing and that of his friends. The lands of the Phoenix, as you travel across them, show signs of trouble. Rumors abound of famine throughout the Empire, and worse, there are dark tales of maho-tsukai and oni. It seems that there is yet much work to be done, for even should the Hantei resume the throne, the Empire is on the brink of ruin. And then, after some weeks of travel, you arrive back in the land of the Dragon, where it all began. It is spring, and the Mirumoto are mobilizing. The Emperor, you are told without preamble upon your arrival, awaits.
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Jun 11, 2014 04:01
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The Emperor is not as you remember him - he has truly shed his disguise as a humble Kitsuki samurai and now openly wears the regalia of the Hantei. Behind him stands Shosuro Shizuka, the loyal Scorpion woman who helped reveal him. At his side, Mirumoto Chihiro - now his bride Hantei Chihiro - stands, radiant. "It is good to see that you return safely," the Emperor says. "Many are the dangers in my Empire at this time. How fared your journey?"
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Jun 12, 2014 03:40
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"Speak. I would hear what the loyal and honorable Toturi has to say."
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Jun 19, 2014 01:55
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The Emperor looks saddened by this news. "A great man, and his absence will be felt sorely in the coming times. The ancestors are blessed by his presence as we are lessened for it. We cannot take the time to mourn, however. We must march on the city of my fathers - we must retake Otosan Uchi. I know the face of the threat behind this Shadowlands invasion and an Empire divided stands no hope of victory. Though you have already braved much in my service, I ask you, will you join me for this duty?"
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Jun 20, 2014 15:52
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"I believe that Shoju intended to act in the Empire's interest," the Emperor says sadly. "I do not expect that he was prepared for the full nature of the reign his actions have brought about. We ride tomorrow to Otosan Uchi, to relieve him of his unfortunate burden. If you have any final preparations before we depart, please, take the time now to see to them."
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Jun 22, 2014 04:26
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| # ¿ Apr 28, 2024 12:41 |
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I'll answer that question with some narrative! You set out the next morning, with the army of the Dragon--the army of the True Emperor of Rokugan--at your back. It is a small army, perhaps, compared to the forces of the Crab, of the Lion or the Crane, the Unicorn or the Scorpion. The knowledge that it is only a portion of the forces loyal to the Hantei is countered by the fact that the remainder is already at the Wall, or on its way. Still, the small size of the force makes it easy for the shugenja traveling with the army to use spells of rapidity, and it is mere days before you have arrived at Otosan Uchi. The Imperial City shines before you, and relief fills you as you note that the defenders of the city number no more than your own army. A rider from the city emerges, with an honor guard around him. The Imperial mon flies from his back. "Shoju Dairu," Shizuka identifies him as the riders come to a halt halfway between your army and the city. "Shoju sends his own son to treat with you, Your Imperial Majesty." The Emperor looks to you. "You have served me well as emissaries to this point, my friends. Will you continue in that role now? Shoju sends his own son as a representative, but I have no son to send - however I can think of no others I would trust more than yourselves."
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Jul 5, 2014 14:53
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