Original Desert Wind Archive

[Plainsfox]

Favors. That's what got you all out here to the village of Kinu and on your way to Daimyo Utaku Ryoko, One way or another. Either the favors you owe, the favors your daimyo owes, or the chance to earn favors yourself. As you arrive at the inn and before you can do anything else, a messenger greets you and delivers a note that Ide James, a Unicorn Magistrate, requests the pleasure of your company for mid day meal. It seems he would like to talk to you before you head off to the staging point of Samsan's Pass.  

[Rain Yupa]

Jinyu-Zhe would pet the neck of his horse, Chiyuuai, upon stopping in front of the inn. "Well, my wife, we- he started to say to his marital companion with a smile, before it dropped as soon as he noticed the peasant waiting nearby approach with a paper document. Obviously, it would not be handed to him, with his Utaku mon and all, so he would wait for someone else to read it.

"That didn't take long," he would comment as soon as someone would begin to read it.  

[Paidi tou Selini]

"Ah civilization, how I dislike you." the bold Utaku scout declared as they rode up to the inn. She cast a sidelong glance at her husband and returned his smile, only to blink curiously at the interruption.

"Hm. No rest for the weary, as they say." she said with a shrug, giving Chishiyo an affectionate pat as she handed the reins to her husband and dismounted, the heavy clatter of her riding armor likely as intimidating to the colonial servant as the powerful Utaku steed at her back. The Shiotome herself merely looked bored as she accepted the missive and read it. Her expression changed from boredom to mild irritation, however, as she read. With a sigh she handed the missive back to the peasant and gave a dismissive wave, turning her back to the pitiable thing and crossing her arms as she addressed the group. "Stable and see to the horses, husband. It seems we'll be staying a while. The Magistrate requests our company, to dine with him before we head out again, and I'm not too keen on seeing any horses break a leg in a night ride before we even reach the front lines, so we'll be staying here and making the final leg of the journey at first light."

She gave a profound sigh and glanced back at the inn. "Needless to say Jinyu and I will let one of you do the talking. I'm no good with these kinds of people."  

[Raganui Minamoto]

"Yea, but we're going to eat well before we ride off and deal with the enemy that thinks they can do whatever they want here." A young man with untamed hair finishes with his horse and walks towards the couple, grinning. "Oi, oi, oi, we'll ride em down and show em who they're dealing with!" Moto Masa, young, brash, and full of confidence. It's anyone's guess why he was paired with the wife and husband duo, but perhaps his skill in combat as well as the odd skills he did have was the reason.  

[Mongooseh]

Asura would quickly read the note his eyes quickly gathering the important information from the document. He noted some other Unicorns also getting a note from the same servant, Asura let his gaze drift over them sizing them up and nodding to any who met his eye before walking off to meet this "Ide James".  

[Kowsauni]

The enormous Daisuke would dismount from his equally enormous horse. It took quite the steed to bear him onto battle, so he made sure his horse Kazuo was well taken care of.

Upon receiving the letter Daisuke, politely thanks the messenger, whom he towered over, and then silently read the letter to himself. He notices the newly arrived young couple that have also received the letter, and smiles genuinely in their direction. They must be here on the same task he is. Other samurai had arrived as well, but seeing newlyweds brought joy to his heart. After making sure his horse would be seen to, Daisuke would retrieve his wrapped loot from his stable bag and head towards the magistrate's house.  

[Rain Yupa]

Dismounting from his own horse, Jinyu-Zhe would place a hand on the animal's neck. "Of course, dearest wife," he would respond dutifully, bowing his head. As soon as everyone would dismount, he would do just that; when peasant stablehands showed up to do so, he would guide them, insisting on leading Chishiyo and Chiyuuai personally.

He would rejoin the others when he was done, but that would be a little while yet - an inspection of the stable would be in order, and a subtle investigation of the inn's stablehands' integrity would be in order! As much as he would love to share a room with his new wife, he'd sleep in the stables if need be.  

[Plainsfox]

The main party would head off after the servant to Ide James' humble abode, one of the larger houses in this small town. The construction of the house is probably something a Unicorn rarely sees, despite their well traveled nature. There is a white adobe main house with a reflecting pool before it. At each corner, there is a tall white tower, also made of adobe. As you are lead to the dwelling's reception area , you pass a Daidoji warrior heading the opposite way. he gives the group a nod in greeting as you pass by,

As you enter the reception room, your are bid to wait for the servant to fetch his master. It is a well appointed room with careful touches of both Rokugani and gaijin culture. Carefully manicured bonsai are intertwined with foreign sculptures. Wall scrolls of famous poets are arrayed alongside paintings of foreign vistas. All in all a room that should make one feel comfortable if one is a Unicorn. There's time to talk before the servant returns with Ide James, if you wish to.

Utaku Jinyu-Zhe! As you are escorting your and your wife's horse to the stable, A gigantic pit opens that swallows both of the majestic beasts, sending them and you to their death Nothing happens! You arrive at the stable and give it the good old once over before consigning your charges to it. The stablehands appear to be attentive and well trained. While the stable itself is not up to Utaku standards, It is at Ide standards and that should be good enough. Is it?  

[Mongooseh]

After arriving and possibly watching the crane leave for a little too long Asura explored the room, tried to appreciate the decorations and soon found himself bored. Asura is not a man of the arts and as such found himself a bare wall to lean against, draw a knife and began picking dirt from beneath his nails.  

[Raganui Minamoto]

The young Moto looked around the room he was escorted into, just grinning as normal. He also kept walking about it, stopping only to contemplate something briefly. Ah to be young and restless.  

[Kowsauni]

Upon entering the room, Daisuke would walk around and appreciate the art pieces adorning the walls in this well-appointed room. All they needed now was some music--but that would have to wait 'til later. Once Daisuke had finished appreciating the displays, he would patiently wait for the master of the house to return. He was unsure how to engage the samurai that looked almost ten years his junior, while the other individual did not seem the type he would want to associate with at all.  

[Plainsfox]

Roughly about five minutes into your wait, a peasant enters the room and lays out a platter of skewers of what look to be roasted vegetables and meat. Another servant brings in a platter full of drinks. Half look to be milk of some kind and the other half smell like a light brandy.

Do you partake? and what do you partake of? Also, Utaku Aneksi will notice that her husband is not back yet.  

[Paidi tou Selini]

Aneksi followed along in silence as well, content to sit back an observe. She gave a curious nod to the Crane as they passed by on their way into their host's estate. Allies from afar, perhaps? From her disconnected position she didn't know much about the relationship between Crane and Scorpion, but allies certainly couldn't hurt.

In the waiting room she too remained stoic and uninterested, standing in place with her arms crossed as she continued to watch the others. Her obtuse nature prevented her from being able to appreciate any of the fineries here. Some of it could be used as improvised weapons or cover of sorts, but otherwise it seemed utterly useless.

The people, she was just as unsure about. A Moto could always be relied on in battle, but this one's youthful eagerness could cause problems when it came to stealth and reconnaissance. The Shinjo was harder to gague. Their's was a family with much to prove, and she could appreciate the honor with which they conducted themselves, though their eagerness for a fair fight could prove a strategic disadvantage at times. The Utaku, well... he was big, and looked like he could handle himself physically. But he was also male, and the soft look in his eyes was not promising in the least. All in all this group's capabilities as an advanced scouting unit was... vastly uncertain. She could only thank the Kami that they were going up against bandits and not the wily Scorpions themselves.

When the food came, however, she could see a great deal of value in that little indulgence. Especially when much of what was presented was a part of the Senpet cuisine she'd come to enjoy. She wouldn't indulge too much, of course, knowing this this James fellow planned on hosting dinner as well, so only one kebob and one glass of milk. Rich food, but understandably good considering the opulence of this place. Honestly, that this was going to be their commanding officer was a fact that was starting to trouble her too.

One fact at least that didn't trouble her was her husband's absence. He was charge to an Utaku Battle Steed, and was likely making thorough care that her aptly named Chishiyo was in the utmost of acceptable hands before even considering leaving the stables. They hadn't been together-together for very long, but she had already learned to trust him completely. He would sleep out in the stables before he allowed their companions to come to harm or mistreatment.  

[Mongooseh]

Asura noticing the food and drink laid out would stop picking at his nails with his knife and walk over to grab himself a skewer and cup of milk(?). Then he would return to his leaning spot and begin carefully consuming both.  

[Rain Yupa]

Jinyu-Zhe would stand several steps into the stable, looking it up and down carefully, as if looking for something.

"Hmm."

He would then turn his gaze towards the stablehands, giving them a once-over.

"Hmmmm..."

It wasn't long-term arrangements. Practicality was a factor in such things; one could fight for arrangements worthy of the Emperor's own horse if one wanted, but such effort would be considered a waste of energy if it was for naught but a night. The horses would be dry, they would be shaded, they would be removed from the elements. It would frankly be rude to turn one's nose up at arrangements that undoubtedly were adequate enough for a Unicorn of greater station than they. Everything should be in ordWAIT A KAMI-DARNED MINUTE

"Excuse me. I say, excuse me, young man," he would suddenly blurt out, turning to the nearest unoccupied (or mostly unoccupied) stablehand. "What will the horses be fed while in your care? Bring me a sample of their feed, if you would be so kind."