Jade Legacy [L5R 3eR] - Act 2 Chapter 2b: Mahiru/Midday

[Tei Kae]

Miyako sighed, and thought very careful of how to speak. "Yes, I thought I had explained to you, Denbe-san. Agasha Ryuden came to speak to the Boar Clan to offer alternatives." The word alternatives was stressed for Denbe's sake. It was worth a try, although he hadn't had much luck yet figuring out what she was trying to let him know. Her last hope was that the name of the Bloodspeaker, would at least known to the maho-tsuki hunter to be.

"It is a very dangerous time and we must be careful, Denbe-san so as to not bring harm to anything." Every word was stressed, but mostly for Denbe's notice to take note but not do anything rash.

Courtier/Awareness 7k4 + 5(Rank) + 5(Voice) = 45-2 Raises to get Denbe to pay attention and the Boar not to ask questions =35  

[Rain Yupa]

The men and women claiming to be Boar don't react strongly one way or another to the conversation.

Denbe, what you should be rolling in this case is more of an Awareness/Lore: Bushido, I think. I will give you with your roll that they don't seem to actively be trying to deceive you, but you are trying to gauge their character. This is one of the things Honor is used for.

Miyako, you get the sense that any implications you are trying to make to Denbe aren't hitting home with the Boar.

"Nay, Scorpion-sans. The Dragon sent an emissary hither to guideth us in our last hour. A priest of the kami, a shugenja."

(I will likely jump to the magistrate's arrival after the next set of posts, depending on how they go.)  

[Psychofish]

Denbe nodded as Miyako explained, trying not to look as confused as he was. Play along and just let silence pretend for him that he knew who this Agasha was. The way she spoke of him said it was a name he should know... perhaps already. Something about it did strike faintly familiar, and he reflected upon that as they waited. Not that he was much surprise when turning it over in his head for a while turned up little. The Dragon were strange, even the ones that ever did come down from their mountains, and a Hare had little reason to fret about them much.

One thing was for sure though- these people sure were convinced they were the Boar Clan.

As if there wasn't already enough strange. They didn't seem to know who he was, Miyako seemed to know plenty of what was going on, more than anyone else here (unless, again, Scorpion wiles, etc) and the girl who had warned him she had need of him was missing entirely... and he seemed to have more need of her than vice versa.

For the moment, the bushi decided that knowing when to keep his yap shut was the better part of etiquette.

[3k3 Intelligence/History Lore: 9]  

[Psychofish]

((Darn it Gaia, stop turning off my dice when you log me out in the middle of the posting process.))  

[Rain Yupa]

Denbe would not know the name - it rung no bells whatsoever.

"Well, this is an interesting... and completely undesired... surprise."

An older-looking man of the same clan colors had approached the duo, crossing his arms over his chest. He carried with him an air of authority, and his chiseled features and steely gaze would look over Miyako and Denbe both.

"Forgiveth my bluntness; as a representative of the Boar, it is no stretch for me to admit that we, as a whole, art having a bad day. My name is Heichi Ninsei. To what doth I owe the honor of thine visit, 'guests' of the Scorpion Clan?"  

[Psychofish]

Denbe was not entirely comfortable with the kind of evasion he was finding necessary to stay within Miyako's plan, and the need to carefully avoid anything like giving his name or clan, as he normally might have to such an introduction, in order to allow her to work without lying himself (in part because he was not especially skilled at it).

But with no pangs of guilt at all, he could say "There is no offense taken, Heichi-sama."

He tried to be as respectful as not introducing himself otherwise allowed... especially considering he almost felt as if he had already offered offense simply by being here as a Scorpion. His clan certainly had little enough reason to be fond of them, he imagined many others felt the same. Made it impressive, how harmless Miyako and Kojiro managed to seem to be most of the time. He looked to her, hoping she knew where she wanted to go with this. Until he could ask her what exactly was going on, he was not entirely at ease, and hoped the courtier would not need him to take the reigns too much until then.  

[Tei Kae]

Miyako smiled warmly, for some reason, she actually felt a great deal of attachment for the older man who was so devoted to his Clan; as much as their methods might differ, their devotion did not. "I understand your distress, Heichi-san. It is why we have come. The signs are against you, but the Boar are not without friends." She only prayed she was right and it wasn't just her and the Hare. "I have wish only to speak with you in trust."

Awareness/Etiquette (Sincerity) + Voice + Rank = 7k4 + 3 + 5 + 5 = 21 + 13 - 5(Raise) = 29

One raise to emphasize that she has important information but wishes to give it privately.

((OOC: Wow, probably my worst roll for Miyako ever. XD))  

[Rain Yupa]

Heichi Ninsei would raise an eyebrow, and look towards the guard who went to fetch him. "Thou art correct; they doth truly speaketh with odd tongues."

He makes an impressive show to try to read Miyako better, but a 29 is still better than what he managed.

"If thou must speaketh with me, then thou wouldst not mind parting with thine weapons, I would hope." Ninsei didn't give any sort of commands or looks to the Boar guards, and they didn't really change their postures, leaving the balls completely in the hands of you two.  

[Psychofish]

It was more than a reasonable request, if they were going to expect to speak to anyone of another clan who didn't already have great reason to trust them in private. And they certainly were not the least suspicious individuals here today... from the "Boar" perspective, he was sure. Still, the bushi looked to Miyako first, a little uneasy about disarming himself in an unknown place, for unknown people, when he'd been surrounded by enemies so recently. Even if they did seem moderately trustworthy.

As soon as she'd display any sign of disarming or accepting, however, the Hare would reach to his left- slowly as he caught himself and realized that might not look so well- and removed his katana in scabbard, placing it on his right hip and tying it in place. In further sign of good faith he then removed the knife from his person, in sheath, and offered it to the guards.

He'd give the guards an uneasy look, but unless they made some aggressive motions quite soon after he and Miyako were disarmed, he'd start to relax.

Relaxing, in the spirit of today however, still meant hovering nearby the courtier as though he were the one that was her yojimbo.  

[Rain Yupa]

Ninsei would inhale and exhale slowly as he watched the Hare switch sides with his katana. "The Boar art not of great number, and I hold a high rank amongst our people. We art on the eve of war, and it would be a disservice to my Clan to put myself at risk. I... here."

Ninsei would remove his daisho, saya and all, and hand it to the guard that has escorted him here.

"If thou art here as friends, thou should not have need of any blade, lest this is an assassination attempt in disguise. Thou didst beseech to see our Lord immediately upon discovery, didst thou not?"

He would pause, then look immediately at Denbe. "I'm sorry, I didst not catch thine names."  

[Tei Kae]

Miyako motioned for Denbe to fully disarm. "It is alright, Denbe-san. Ninsei is one here that I would trust above most others. His love is to his Clan. As long as we mean them no harm, he shall not harm us." She removed her own blades. "I am Shosuro Miyako, and this is my yojimbo. Denbe-san. " She smiled at Ninsei. As the last of the blades was laid aside, she sighed. This was an all or nothing gambit and she really hoped she wouldn't die again. She still felt like she could feel the knife twisting into her stomach even now.

Once they were escorted and with Ninsei privately and only then, she would continue,"Denbe-san has no name, but has earned my trust as he he hopes to earn his name as I hope to gain yours and you have gained mine." All technically true, in this time, there was no Usagi or Ujina family, or even a Hare Clan. At least, she was pretty sure of this fact. "I apologize if I have misled your people but the certainty of his treatment otherwise was unknown to me." She was also hoping the Hare wasn't completely clueless and getting the emphasis she was placing on his background even if she couldn't directly refer to it.

Awareness/Etiquette (Sincerity) + Voice + Rank = 7k4 + 3 + 5 + 5 = 39- 5 (raise)=34
One Raise to show how much respect she has for Ninsei and the Boar Clan.  

[Psychofish]

Denbe paused for a moment, but if they pleased he'd offer his katana as well, leaving only the little blade that symbolized his status as a samurai. It seemed very odd to him that she seemed to know Ninsei quite well, but he clearly did not recognize her, but how could he argue?

...and of course, shortly later, he had to repeat the argument to silence in his head as suddenly her story seemed to turn him a ronin. The Hare's brow furrowed, but he simply watched as she explained, trying not to openly contradict her. Which he was all too tempted to do, despite that he couldn't quite figure a way that this could be explained as a slight against the Hare.

The man looking directly at him, about it all, was making him uneasy, however.  

[Rain Yupa]

Heichi Ninsei would let out a snort of displeasure as he was ignored (by Denbe), and the yojimbo did not comply with his requests.

"Guards, see that our fere hither is made comfortable. He durst not speak nor listen; mayhaps he shalt haveth plenty to say when I speaketh to him later."

The guards, who have grown more to attention up to this point, would all level their spears at Denbe now. Not Miyako, however.

"My lady Shosuro-san, I prithee thou joineth me now to speak in trust, by thine request. Though, I doth suspect we may haveth more to discuss than thou might wish." Ninsei would extend a hand to assist Miyako to her feet, and would begin leading her away from the fountain, and from Denbe.

Miyako, being the courtier type, you may need to make some etiquette rolls on Denbe's behalf later.

Denbe, lose 1 point of honor for a major breach of etiquette (insulting one's host), since you kind of snubbed the head magistrate by refusing to completely disarm when he did so first to show peaceful intent. Also, disobeying Miyako on that very order she gave you.

Also, if you consider Miyako's treatment of you as an insult to your family/clan, which it sounds like you do, lose 1 more point of honor for enduring an insult to your family or clan.

Miyako, Denbe didn't follow your example, which, as your "yojimbo", makes him look unruly and you look bad. Your honor is too high to benefit from ignoring this behavior, but you are entitled to 1 point of honor gain for enduring an insult to yourself if you do not address the matter.  

[Psychofish]

The Hare's face fell somewhat, flattening out to as inexpressive as he could manage. He had no idea who these people were or what was going on with their holding him here, but he did his best not to show any signs of disrespect or aggression. The man had still managed to take insult somehow, after kidnapping him here, while he was being perfectly compliant?

No, that didn't really make sense, but all the same he simply stand quietly for a moment if Miyako did allow herself to be led away, until they were beginning to exit earshot.

"On your lead," he said politely as his temper allowed him to at the moment, nodding to one of the men leveling spears at him. "I will comply peacefully. I will tie my wakizashi if you wish," he'd already moved it to the wrong hip for fighting besides. "I have surrendered my weapons- I merely wish to hold a symbol." If they fancied themselves a minor clan, they might understand that need.

For all he knew they were being used by the maho-tsukai he was after, but even if he was turning himself over to his fate here, he intended to die a samurai.

[1 Raise to better show sincerity.]
[5k3-5 Awareness/Ettiquette: 34 to convey good intent.]  

[Rain Yupa]

@ Miyako:

I'll assume at this point you comply.

Heichi Ninsei would guide Miyako from the streets, and after a minute or two of walking, to an tea house - one across from the onsen chamber and bath house Miyako had visited 'yesterday'.

"Goodst morning, Nins-" a samurai patron would start to say to the magistrate, who lifted a hand that silenced him immediately. He glanced at Miyako for a few seconds, before nodding. "I understand."

Ninsei would guide Miyako towards a table towards the back of the tea house and offer her her choice of seating. If she listened, she would hear tabs being collected and the customers that were here being hurried out the door.

"My lady Shosuro-san," Ninsei would start when they were both comfortable. "I hath many questions, but prithee first, enlighten me: Why and how doth thou know me as well as thou madest seem?"

--------------------

@ Denbe:

The guards would be silent for a few seconds - longer than Denbe would take to made the decision if the situation was reversed, no doubt - before one of them finally responded: "Very well. Thou shalt comply on all other orders, though, ronin. Thou better not wit on any humorous business, or we shalt take it from thee, by use of force."

The guards would escort a soaking Denbe in the OPPOSITE direction of Miyako, soon to a building that, when opened, reveals a barred cell in the back.

One guard would move forward to open it while the others would remain behind Denbe, and soon, the man would indicate for Denbe to enter the cell.

Do you comply through all of this?