BZPRPG: Kentoku Archipelago

IC:

Kulrik kept his eyes on the sunrise as Seigyo approached with his clothes and armour and began to dress him.

"I was thinking we could visit clan Ageru first. They're pretty large and rich too, so we'd get to begin our journey in comfort. We have a Vilda wildlife ranger there now, I forget her name, but she should be able to give us some useful information."

Kulrik turned his head to the side to look at his Herupa aide.

"The Ageru are supposed to count among the best Soulswords in the entire Empire. Think you'll be able to hold your own against their sickles and scythes on the practice grounds, darling? You'll have to impress them with more than just your good looks, you know" he said with smirk.

IC | Aki scanned the menu. There were many different kinds of meals, but she eventually settled on the bread, salad and fruit-vegetable juices.

 

"That was an impressive fight." Said Akimatai, while waiting for her meal.

OOC: Sorry I took so long, I missed your post.

IC: Akone

"Thanks," Akone said.

"As a clan of warriors for the Rora, Menti Discipline and fighting is emphasised in our training," Akone explained.

She saw the fried fish coming her way, and the salad as well.

"Here's our meal."

IC:

 

"Without a trace," repeated Desdemona Umbraline for the fourth time in two minutes. For once, she held her dagger in her grip, tapping the sharp point of the crystal blade against one of the chairs in her royal apartments. "They found her dead without a trace."

 

"Desdemona, are you sure that maybe when you--"

 

"Have you been listening to Yumiwa again? Is she still telling you that sometimes I get bored and tired of being the friendless little problem child, so I invade the minds of the gutter rats in the holding cells and smash their psyches like glass?" Desde asked, wounded, and a bit more sharply than she intended. "There's something wrong here, I'm telling you. There are maybe a couple dozen Willhammers with apartments here that could do something like this - only eight of them aren't Umbralines or Umbraline-affiliated. There's an agenda here - there's always an agenda here."

 

Hanako was quiet.

 

"I'm going to find it," she said, filling the void originally meant for Hanako's response.

 

-Tyler

IC: (Hanako)

"You are not friendless Desdemona. If you would have me Desdemona, I would like to help you," Hanako sighed, and then smiled. Desde was biologically Yumiwa's little sister, but to Hanako she felt like a younger sibling. She didn't really like how the Royal Family kept the poor girl cooped up in the palace, her elder sister treating her as some kind of monster. It reminded her of her elder brother, who always seemed to be bitter around her, it was not something she was comfortable with, and while she loved visiting her family when she could, especially her mother, her brother had a gaze like ice, it chilled her to the bone. "Whatever you need me for, Desdemona, I am yours."

IC: Amaki

 

"Nothing that interesting," replied the drummer. "People don't do much these days."

Mmmmmhmmmm. Right. Just like the Fursics always are -- not doing much. Why was I still with Amaki, anyway? She was a Fursic. Fursics are sneaky. They are the sneak masters.

I... probably shouldn't be here.

I had the strangest of sensations as I suddenly became aware of the very serious predicament I was in. Sure, I was "incognito" and my Hogo retainers weren't nearby (also Hanako wasn't either) and Inokio was I don't know -- anywhere? At any moment Inokio was going to probably announce my identity. What do you think would possibly be the end result if that happened and whatever paparazzi existed in the palace grounds (and I know they exist) suddenly got wind of that and found me having lunch conversations with a Menti from Clan Fursic?

Honestly, I didn't care much. I hate the rules of politics. But other people would care, people who matter, people like mom. And I'm not pissing off my mom; she has high expectations of her chōjo. My lunch date with the drummer girl from the Fursics would be publicized, shared, and there would be questions. I may not have been doing anything wrong -- in fact, the fact that I was having fun was a positive thing, right? -- but there would be questions, like what if Amaki was a spy? or there were other Fursics here, too, all watching me talk with their contact? This was not right.

Suddenly there was a loud CRASHHH as a food cart spilled over on my right and I wheeled to look at the little destruction. There was a quick throng of helpful saihokos who went to assist their clumsy comrade and one rushing guy just as clutzily slammed his shoulder in me and apologized profusely to me as he backed away from me -- likely afraid I would take my right as a noble to slay him then and there for his slight upon my honour -- but I took one good look in his eyes and felt his mental projection of sincere apology and so I just nodded gracefully in forgiveness and watched him melt into the crowd. Soon, the food cart was righted and things returned to normal and I turned back to Amaki.

I couldn't just leave now, though. The food was ordered. It was a massive order, too. I could just leave some coin, take some sushi and edge away but by now I was in a committed conversation. Me leaving Amaki now would raise some flags, I would think.

And then, in the aftermath of the flurry activity, came the big reveal I was afraid of.

"Insolent 'hoko! You should know how to treat your betters!" I heard an all-too familiar voice shout. I turned to the right and saw the dashi who rammed into me accidentally stare awkwardly upwards at -- oh god -- Inokio.

There was nothing I could do to help. Even worse, though, is that I found myself unwilling to help. I watched with an expression that straddled the line between fascinated and horrified as Inokio prepared his arm for a psychokinetic weapon while yelling at the peasant. The crowd fanned out and gave the obviously highborn man room, creating a miniature arena of obeisant commoners for the lord and the single saihoko. I was focused on the scenario.

"Do any of you know who this noblewoman is?" Inokio's powerful voice demanded. He clearly gestured at me and my royal garments made me stick out even from the other Menti I was with. I wanted to slink away and shrink from the direct point but my noble traditions overruled my heart's wishes. I stood up straighter with greater poise and grace; the casual demeanor I exhibited while talking with Amaki washed away like watercolour art on a seawall. I soaked the attention in. I was safe. Inokio was here. Even if the crowd became enraged at me from Inokio's great reveal he would be able to protect me. I felt safe.

The crowd seemed puzzled. They knew I was noble but their facial expressions were still perplexed. I bet they thought I, or my servant, was haughty and spoiled enough to think i was queen of the realm or something. How almost-right they were...

"This is Lady Yumiwa Umbraline, chōjo of the Dasaka Empire and she is deserving of your utter respect!" The crowd suddenly grew abuzz with commotion as my teacher's words affected the merchants and buyers in the market. Word seemed to spread as quickly as people exchanged the news -- the crown princess was in the Market! -- but then

oh my god

no

Inokio's arm gave birth to a shimmering blue nodachi which he then seized with the other hand and he swung the mighty sword down with a lunge upon the saihoko who bumped into me, slashing the man at the chest and cutting him in two effortlessly.

...

So was the way of Zuto Nui. The laws of order had to be preserved. I would ask Inokio what was the meaning of his spontaneous revelation and public execution, but for now I took the image in. I was honestly only aghast because I knew that saihoko was regretful for his mistake and was so vibrantly alive a moment before but then was dead before my eyes. Even as the energy in his eye sockets melted into darkness I was not at all horrified by the method or purpose of his death. It was justified, completely lawful and, in fact, all but required. Inokio only did what Hanako would have done, what the Hogo retainers would have done, what any of my servants would have done, what I could have done myself had I wished so. We were all Honor-bound to do it. Power was the way Order was enforced.

Inokio vanished just as quickly as he blinked into sight, leaving nothing more than the saihoko's two body chunks on the ground with a growing mess of blood to be cleaned by other commonfolk.

I finally looked back at Amaki.

Oh neat, the sushi was being served.

The cooks bowed as they put the tray before me and expressed their gratitude that I payed their shop patronage -- my meal was on the house.

And all the saihoko who passed me now did so carefully and bowed reverently to me before moving on.

... Welp.

IC: Amaki

"This is Lady Yumiwa Umbraline, chōjo of the Dasaka Empire and she is deserving of your utter respect!"

What.

Amaki could only stare as the peasant was cut down in front of her, each piece of the man's body falling to the earth with a thud. Her mouth slowly opened and closed, much like the fish that had been recently chopped apart into the meat in her sushi. Her entire being was frozen in time, the cogs and gears of her mind failing to turn even slightly.

And then it began to thaw.

I am sitting next to the Crown Princess.

I am sitting next to the heir apparent to the throne.

I am sitting next to the future Rora.

...

###### me sideways.

With surprising speed and grace, the drummer dropped to the ground, prostrating herself before Yumiwa reverently. She could barely breathe, knowing that the daughter of her liege - a descendant of Zuto Nui, was sitting before her. Each and every one of her muscles were tensed, holding in her shock at the turn of events. She would not allow herself to show anything that could incur disrespect.

"Your imperial highness!" she cried out. "This lowly one did not mean to show any disrespect! Please, let this lowly one give an apology!"

She could hear her own heart beating, its rapid contractions filling her mind.

Forgive me Lord Zuto, for acting out of turn against your children!

IC: Arisaka - The Yards -

Arisaka, one of the guardians of the royal palace, one of the strongest warriors in the empire, and master of the dual Soulsword stood before a class of rookie Menti.

The class gulped as the muscular warrior juggled a decent sized boulder like it was a child's toy. Her Pakari hummed with energy, and the young Menti knew well enough she didn't need it to kick their ######.

Arisaka dropped the boulder, it made a loud thud as it landed next to a large pile of the things. The Menti trainees exchanged glances nervously.

"Students..." She began, eyeing each and every one of them in turn as they stood in formation, she could feel the fear sweating off of them, the sissies. "...your regular teacher, as you know, is away on Oki, studying the three virtues, and the will of Zuto Nui. I will be substituting in her stead."

Arisaka picked up the boulder once again, holding it like one would hold a piece of fruit, it's weight didn't seem to bother her at all. "I don't know what sort of training your used to, but you can forget all of it! We will be using my training..."

With warning the boulder was tossed toward the students, there was quite a bit of yelling and scrambling as they all attempted to avoid where it landed, it crashed into the earth, digging into the ground quite a few inches.

"I call it...dodge rock! Last one still standing and not screaming in agony wins!" That was when the next one was through, with much more force and speed than the previous one, one of the students already down for the count.

And the boulders kept coming.

Ic: I hadn't felt this level of reverence since the last session of court, which hadn't happened in over two months, and for the moment the emotional intensity of the public execution in my honor sort of... mellowed away. Instead I was suddenly elevated upon a pillar and revered, oddly enough, by those Inokio warned me about. The fishmongers bowed, the fruit peddlers bowed, the florists bowed, the Fursic Menti bowed. I put my mental feelers out into the market and gradually allowed the psionic noise to seep into my mind.

I sensed some insincerity.

There were some around me who did not bow with devotion. There was some resentfulness. Some fear.

Amaki was clean. She had prostrated herself before me with the utmost of humility and I could tell she was about as shocked as anyone else, if not more so, for being in actual conversation with me. But there were others, mostly some dashi, who gave their obeisance to me because they had bore witness on what happened to the last insolent wretch. In a way Inokio had ensured my safety even once he revealed my identity, and most definitely on purpose.

The halves of the saihoko Inokio slew were being stacked unceremoniously into a crate and dragged off and scrubbers quickly filled the void and began to cleanse the ground of blood and guilt. The poor commoners peeked up at me meekly before diverting their attention to their work once they saw I was beholding them in much more confident terms.

I looked down on Amaki with a sense of pity. The poor Fursic clearly never had any idea, no inkling, of her company's true nature so she could not be blamed... Yet even so I felt obligated to make use of my birthright's power and continue on the precedent Inokio had so eloquently set. "I forgive you your offenses," I declared in my noble tone, usually reserved for ceremonial situations, though I guess this scene was indeed as ceremonial as things would get for the folk watching me in the Market (which seemed like everyone who could watch me). I considered how far I was willing to take this -- I could force Amaki to amuse me, play her drums again, give me a tour, dote on me while I explored, or anything, really, but both her place as a Fursic and my nursed maturity kept me from using her as a plaything. After all, an Umbraline lady humiliating a Fursic beyond what was called for by convention wouldn't look good on any paper anywhere.

And so I simply added, "You may rise. Join me in my meal--" I leaned forward slightly so that my head was close to hers as she got up "--and tell me everything about your life on Kozu -- what it's like, trivia, etcetera." I was still quite curious about this place.

It was as I brought my head back into its poised position that my eyes darted down to my breasts for a split second and I realized, to my absolute horror far beyond when Inokio slew the saihoko, that the pendant I was entrusted with and had hid in my chest was --

-- it was gone!

IC: Amaki

"A million thanks, your imperial highness!" Amaki cried out, profusely bowing to her liege, relief evident in her every movement. Indeed, she had been incredibly worried by the turn of events, and to be offered forgiveness by the noble (no, the crown princess!) had immediately calmed her, as well as filling her with awe and respect for the scion of Her Serene Imperial Majesty.

It was as if she was in a dream when she slowly rose, head still bowed in deference to her superior. When the crown princess ordered her to join the meal, the drummer nearly protested, but the presence of her liege's face so close to hers froze the protest before it could even leave her throat. The princess' eyes were staring at her, and Amaki felt smaller than she had ever felt in her entire lifetime.

Zuto-Nui ... the princess is ordering me to eat with her!

"I am greatly humbled that your imperial highness deigns to eat with this lowly one!" she declared, bowing once more in thanks. "It is no problem for this lowly one to entertain you, your imperial highness! I am grateful that a scion of Zuto Nui wishes for my presence!"

Amaki was suddenly struck by the realisation that people were watching them, awed by the presence of the Crown Princess and the recent turn of events. Usually, the drummer was able to handle watchers, but the revelation had shaken her greatly.

However, her imperial highness had ordered her to speak, and she would loyally follow that order.

Ignorant of Yumiwa's current predicament, Amaki began to speak.

"This lowly one is the youngest of the four children of Fubuki) and Michibiki. My two sisters are Mujaki and Shuki, and my brother is Yamabuki."

"While I greatly respect my family, I believe my sisters to be incredibly stubborn! They have sworn to defeat my cousins in eighty-thousand games of Stones in order to prove their superiority! They are not alone in their respect, as my brother, a proud member of Kuno Fursic Fan Club, has established a Committee to Re-elect the President!"

There was much that Amaki could talk about, such as how her mother's horrid cooking had left three cousins with food poisoning, and how her father had gotten over the trauma associated with the accidental loss of an arm to a young Hogo so many years ago. Also of note was how rumours of a new island had been dribbled down through the ranks of the Fursic, and how another cousin was attempting to find a way to bribe a group of saihoko into crossing the sea. She considered it nonsense of course, but it could be somewhat interesting.

Yet as she continued to speak, the drummer really hoped that she wasn't annoying or disrespecting her imperial highness.

IC (Akimoto)

The sun shone through the crystal towers of the Imperial Palace, refracting and reflecting and casting pillars of light into the sky. Akimoto watched the golden rays play across the clouds from the door of her cramped forge, over a kilometre away, and sighed loudly.

She wasn't exactly handsome, but she was tall and lean, with wide shoulders and biceps that would make any Menti jealous. Her body was a midnight blue, trimmed with burnished copper that gleamed in the afternoon light. The only armour she wore was a pair of elbow-length crystal gauntlets, clear as glass.

She was a crystal smith. And she was angry.

“Screw those pompous, arrogant, good-for-nothing know-it-alls!” Spinning around, she stalked back into the forge, which was stifling hot. The forge blazed and crackled, spitting sparks from its belly, but she paid it no mind. Instead, she headed for an anvil, upon which lay a twisted sheet of smoking crystal.

It was supposed to be a breastplate. Some Umbraline noble had ordered a set for her personal guards. They were supposed to be light and strong, and, most importantly, inlaid with lightstones so that their armour would refract light just like the towers of the Imperial Palace.

It was proving to be a difficult job.

In a shower of blue sparks, the Ringti smith pulled a hammer from the palm of her right hand. The tool was about as long as her forearm, with a double-sided head, and it glowed blue. Drops of liquid energy fell from its surface, dancing and sputtering through the air before vanishing. She brought the hammer back, then brought it down, shattering the crystal into a thousand sparkling shards.

“Libro!” she shouted, loud enough that half the street could probably hear. Whatever. She was too angry to care. “Libro! I swear, I'm going to kill whoever ordered these!”

IC (Enali)

In the group of Dasaka pupils receiving Arisaka's Menti lesson, there stood a young Ageru. She was small, unassuming, and unremarkably coloured - azure blue, with the simplest of silver-metal trim. A Menti, but of no particular nobility or significance. She was fairly pretty, and had a fairly pretty name: Enali.

She looked timidly up at the substitute teacher, eyes wide in a mixture of shyness and fear. Her hands fidgeted with the green sash at her waist. Who was this teacher? Enali had never seen her before. And more worryingly, why was she toting those big rocks.......?!

As the first boulder came, she threw herself out of the way, hesitating only for a moment as her mind reeled. What was the teacher DOING? The usual one never did ANYTHING like this - anywhere NEAR as dangerous!

Heart thumping against her chest, she scrambled to her feet as Arisaka introduced the 'game':

"I call it...dodge rock! Last one still standing and not screaming in agony wins!"

WHAT?!

She didn't have much time for consternation, however, as another boulder soon flew from the teacher's super-strong arms, felling one of her fellow students.

"Seri," she gasped, clapping a hand over her mouth and running to the poor girl's side.

IC:

"As the second eldest of the Toroshu's children, I believe I can hold my own against any who try to best me in the arena," Seigyo boasted as she finished dressing him. Seigyo decided to tactfully ignore Kulrik's comment about her appearance, and kept herself focused at her current task.

-

Jiyu said he would call upon his companion in the morning, as Jiyu needed to send a letter home, and find sustenance for the night.

His dear, sick, dying mother.

She had fallen ill several days back, and in her illness, she lashed out against any and all who tried to approach her. Even her family. Especially her family. To Jiyu's knowledge, his sister Hanako had not been informed. Jiyu pondered upon the outcome of telling Hanako of her mother's illness. Jiyu wasn't fond of the thought. While his dear mother's mood might be foul, her mind was not, and she still attempted to run the Clan in her sickness.Much to Jiyu's frustration, she barred him from trying to help her, to learn from her in what seemed to be a now-finite amount of time.

Partly why the reason Jiyu was here. His mind was ablaze with the thought of possibility of Eshiwa's death. He wasn't ready. Too many in the clan favored electing one of his aunts to replace Eshiwa, which bode ill for Jiyu's place in the clan. Jiyu was not fond of the idea of having his life's purpose dashed so suddenly. Something needed to change. Which of course, why he needed to send a letter.

To Hanako. She needed to know. Even if it was against Jiyu's better judgement.

Jiyu started to write.

IC: Arisaka - The Yards -

The students were spread all over the training field, the majority of the young Menti having enough sense to avoid grouping together as Arisaka threw boulder after boulder relentlessly, she hadn't even broken a sweat.

Quite a few students were already down for the count, either moaning in pain, or just looking dazed. They still had much to learn.

Some of the students got the smart idea to use their abilities and powers to fight off the flying rocks. A Mindarm managed to repel several boulders, even sent one flying back toward Arisaka, though not at a great speed. Arisaka caught the boulder like it was a ball, and sent it flying back at the student with greater force than before, and then she sent another boulder after that. The novice Mindarm burned out fairly quickly from the onslaught and was taken down.

By now effectively half the students were down for the count, and Arisaka showed no signs of relenting. Something did catch her attention however, one of the students was running to the side of a felled student.

Running to a comrade's aid in mid fight? Very loyal, very courageous, very honorable. But do you have the power to protect your friend? Arisaka lived and breathed the three virtues, it was time to see if this student did as well.

Arisaka launched a boulder toward Seri, now Enali had to find the power to save her friend, and herself as well.

IC (Enali)

Enali ran through the mayhem of the training yard, dodging boulders where she could. In her peripheral vision, she could see her fellow students falling one by one to the veritable hail of rock. A small part of her brain was still screaming in disbelief that the teacher would put them to such a gruelling test - but it was dwarfed by the rest, which was bent on simply keeping her alive and getting to Seri.

Around her, Arisaka's chunks of stone whistled through the air. Some of the students used their fledgling powers to deflect them only to have their energy exhausted and a boulder meet its mark. Some (generally the more successful ones) were using their Kanohi to block or avoid the projectiles. That strategy wasn't much use to her; her mask was a Rau. Fat lot of good that was - what, was she going to translate the boulders? And as for her powers...well, it looked like she would be a Soulsword, but she had trouble summoning her abilities at the best of times - let alone in a panic with big rocks of pain flying at her - and in their untrained state, they had little more punch than a gust of wind.

No, all she could do was duck and roll and try as hard as she could to get to Seri. Just a few steps further...

There, she'd reached her. She knelt down next to her on one knee, anxiously checking for the prone girl's injuries.

"Seri?" she asked, patting her friend's cheek. "Seri, can you hear me?"

The downed Menti's eyes slowly opened, accompanied by a wince of pain - then widened, as she pointed wordlessly at something to Enali's left. Enali followed the quavering finger - and saw Arisaka heft another boulder as easily as if it were a balloon, looking straight at them.

Time seemed to slow down as the powerful Dasaka hurled the rock. The big, roughly spherical lump of stone rolled through the air towards her and Seri, turning end over end as it sailed above the training yard's grassy ground. In those brief (yet seemingly stretched) moments, Enali knew that she wouldn't be able to move out of the way in time, and that even if she did, the rock would severely hurt Seri, maybe even kill her.

There was no escaping this boulder.

But then, something awoke in her mind: the self-preservation instinct that, when unlocked in times of desperation, gives us the strength to do things we never knew we were capable of. And it lit a spark. The spark lit a flame. And that flame was her Menti powers.

In the last possible moment, Enali stood up and with a cry of defiance, made a fierce pushing motion at the descending boulder. As her arm moved forward, hand splayed, an aurora of incandescent energy began to surround it and then swept forwards, blossoming out into a vertical arc.

In a blaze of psionic light, the Soulsword energy surged forwards and sliced the boulder in two. The halves fell to the ground on either side of the two students, their smoothly cut faces glowing and smoking slightly. As the formless glow dissipated into the air, Enali lowered her arm, gazing in wonder at what she had done.

IC: Arisaka - The Yards -

There it is. Arisaka had found what she was looking for, someone who not only seemed to hold the three virtues with the highest regard, but had the potential to become something...more. More powerful if nothing else.

Those Menti who stood out among the rest, the ones who had the potential to become great warriors of the empire, those were the kind Arisaka looked for whenever she performed these 'tests'.

And she may have just found one. May. It was too early to say for certain, but this one had shown definite potential.

The boulders had stopped coming, though hardly anyone seemed to notice, almost everyone had been hit by the boulders, one way or another. They were either amazed at what Enali had just done, or they were too shell shocked. Probably both.

As it was, Enali was the only one standing, save Arisaka.

"Looks like we have a winner." Arisaka said stoically. "Class over." There were many sighs of relief. Several Menti with masks of healing appeared on the field at Arisaka's command to adminster first aid to...well almost all the students. Arisaka was trying to toughen them up, not kill them. Dead students wouldn't help much with recruiting.

As the students got patched up and avoided making eye contact with Arisaka, she never took her glace off of Enali, she began to approach her.

"I'd have a word with you, young one." It wasn't a request.

IC Sokuratesu

Likewise, Sokuratesu waited. However, she didn't stand still. She was constantly moving, making sure not to stay in one spot for a time. She analyzed her opponent carefully, but wasn't able to find out much. So she continued to keep moving, ready to trigger her kakama at a moment's notice.

OOC: Sorry, I thought I had replied to this before christmas. Better late then never to get things underway, hopefully.

IC (Tapui): Well, just standing there looking at each other was no fun. Tapui imagined they they both looked pretty silly. Someone would have to make the first move, and as the older Menti, she felt that it should probably be her responsibility to help the pair out of their awkward beginnings into something better. Taking a step forward, she swung her training staff at Sokuratesu's hips. She didn't use her kakama yet - that would be reserved for when it was needed. They would have time to ease into the spar and get a feel for each other's styles, rather than going all-out from the start. At least, that is what she hoped would happen.

IC (Enali)

As her classmates were dusted off (and, in some cases, revived), Enali watched Arisaka's feet approach. She had returned to fiddling timidly with her clan-sash.

She was still in a certain amount of shock. Had she really done that? Not just managed the most powerful psionic summoning of her life, but won the game? And why did the teacher want to talk to her - had she done wrong? Cheated, somehow? In going to Seri's aid, had she broken the virtue of Power or Honour or something like that? Was she in trouble?

When the teacher stopped, she slowly raised her eyes until they met Arisaka's penetrating gaze.

"Yes, ma'am?" she said in a small voice.

OOC: The Yukanna's arrival.

IC:

In the fading light the large, sleek trimaran slowly moved alongside the pier,the last sunrays reflecting off of its hull and casting a glittering pattern onto the surrounding water. It quietly floated on the low evening-tide waves softly lapping against the crystal-enforced hull, until a dozen crew members jumped deftly onto the transparent pier from the port hull, pulling thick lines of rope with them. Half of them were immediately wrapped around the thick crystal poles of the pier and fastened, while the others merely wrapped their lines around the pillars once, before tossing them back to the deckhands, who proceeded to pull the ship closer to the mooring, until the distance was close enough to extend the brow.

The commodore watched the proceedings from her usual position next to the helm, observing the well-oiled machinery that was the Yukanna's crew reap the benefits of all the underway preparations that they had done the last day and today before pulling into port. Everything that needed to be unloaded now had been prepared and just needed to be brought topside and carried ashore while the provisions they needed to restock on had been carefully listed, so that the needed numbers could be passed along right away. The Dasaka and Saihoko Suihei on the dock immediately began to assist the crew, carrying crates and barrels onto the pier, while others hoisted larger cargo over the sides with a davit.

As soon as she was convinced their docking was going off without a hitch, she handed the duty of supervising the deck over to Tazera, before going back to her cabin in order to retrieve the stack of parchment waiting in her desk's drawer. She slipped the bundle into an inside pocket of her uniform, then left her cabin once again and made her way to the officer's berths, where she found the second mate getting ready for port duties, folding up her bunk's blankets into neat squares. The second mate was not among the toughest Menti serving aboard the Yukanna, nor did she have the sort of bite that her superior, Tazera, was known for. In fact, her appearance and demeanor were rather unimposing in comparison. What distinguished her from the others however and what had made Ayiwah consider her for the position in the first place, were her reliability and her problem solving skills, which held up even under difficult circumstances.

Just as she heard the rustle of the cloak and footsteps of the captain behind her, the second made immediately stopped getting her bunk back in shape, turned around sharply and saluted. "Commodore!" she acknowledged Ayiwah's presence, who merely nodded in return and said: "At ease, Lieutenant." The second mate visibly relaxed as she lowered her hand again. "Your orders?" she asked, direct and to the point as usual.

"Standard port operations. Make sure unloading and restocking is completed when the bell strikes first watch, then declare liberty for the non-watch-standers."

"Aye, aye, ma'am."

The commodore just said: "Good. As you were." before leaving the berthing again. She returned topside, in time to find Tazera vocally directing a number of Saihoko who were carrying a heavy crate. "Lively now!" the first officer barked at them, unimpressed by the port crew's slightly awkward performance. Ayiwah watched for a few seconds, then decided Tazera was right in her assessment and made a mental note to pay a visit to the harbormaster later to have a word with her. First though, they had to do something else which took precedence and so as soon as the crate-haulers were out of the way and off the ship, Ayiwah stepped up beside Tazera.

"Everything proceeding as planned?"

"Aye. We are on schedule."

"Then it is time for us to go and receive our new standing orders."

Together, they made their way onto the pier, to the sound of the boatswains announcement of their disembarkation. Commodore and First Mate ashore, Second Mate has the deck!

They navigated the quickest path through the Saihoko working all over the mooring, scurrying like ants, making sure they did their tasks as fast and efficient as possible while staying out of the two Mentis' way. At the end of the dock, where the first buildings of the yards rose from the sand, they found a carriage waiting for them. The driver, a younger Dashi, wore the insignia of the royal court on her shoulder, identifying her to be a messenger and chauffeur in the employ of the Rora. She bowed as soon as the two officers stopped in front of her.

"Commodore Ayiwah, Lieutenant Tazera." she greeted them respectfully, before standing back up straight. "I was asked to bring you to the royal palace as soon as you arrived."

"Then we are expected?" the commodore asked. The Dashi nodded. "Yes Commodore, the secretary of the Rora has requested you to meet her at your earliest convenience."

Tazera and Ayiwah exchanged a glance. At your earliest convenience was the secretaries way of ordering them to come to her immediately, double time if possible. "Then let us be off." Ayiwah said. "The secretary is waiting." The driver took another quick bow as her passengers climbed into the carriage. A whip crack later they were moving. Using the privacy of being alone with just her best friend as company, Ayiwah seized the opportunity to relax for a few minutes, leaned back into the seat and crossed her legs, before starting to tap on her knee with her fingers a few moments later. Tazera looked at her questioningly. Ayiwah picked up on her friend's expression quickly and answered the unspoken question.

"Two months, 5 days and 19 hours." she said, looking at Tazera. "Since we last had our feet on dry ground. I am curious why they've recalled us in this manner." It was an odd number of days for a long patrolling cruise. Normally, these sorts of missions lasted a month, or two or three, depending on the size of the vessel. Ordering the flagship to return home on such relatively short notice was unusual.

Outside, the crystal spires of the imperial palace came into view as the carriage followed the curve of the road. While the sun had disappeared behind the horizon for them already, the highest points of the city still caught the orange rays of light, while their bases were already being lit by lightstones and torches, reflecting in cascades off of the shimmering foundations. It was quite the sight and Ayiwah enjoyed it whenever her duties called for her to come to the royal palace, which, if not aboard the Yukanna, happened quite frequently. Having Tazera with her however did not happen as often. And so she asked: "When was the last time you've visited the palace, Taz?"

IC: Amaki

 

There was much that Amaki could talk about, such as how her mother's horrid cooking had left three cousins with food poisoning, and how her father had gotten over the trauma associated with the accidental loss of an arm to a young Hogo so many years ago. Also of note was how rumours of a new island had been dribbled down through the ranks of the Fursic, and how another cousin was attempting to find a way to bribe a group of saihoko into crossing the sea. She considered it nonsense of course, but it could be somewhat interesting. Yet as she continued to speak, the drummer really hoped that she wasn't annoying or disrespecting her imperial highness.

I listened intently as Amaki nearly tripped herself with her the pace of her words and divulged nearly every conceivable detail about her life on the Fursic domain. A few things seemed trivial but I took it all in just the same. The truth was that despite all the talk about how sneaky and deceitful Fursics were, I was very curious about Kozu since, well, it's not often that one hears about it. Amaki's descriptions were remarkably fun to listen to and I didn't even have to try and suppress a yawn! Good Yumi!

But I did let my mind wander a little bit. I mean I did pay attention to her words and stuff but I also wanted to try and focus on other things. Notably: The missing pendant. I considered what could have happened.

Amaki went blah blah blah... (something about upholstery)

Was it possible that the saihoko Inokio slew had taken the pendant when he hit me? This bothered me, and not just because the 'hoko would have had to reach into my chest and draw the pendant out without me knowing about it. Furthermore, when i did concentrate on that man's psyche I could only feel honest apology. No, he couldn't have been the thief.

blah blah blah... (something about a pet turtle)

As I reached out to grab and eat a piece of sushi I took the opportunity to check my chest armor to see if the pendant had actually just sunk further down when I had been jostled. No. No, it was actually gone and my confidence sank a little more as I came to realize my loss. It wasn't a material loss, of course. Unless that piece of jewelry was valued at a million gold dragons (which it wasn't because I know what a million-dollar piece looks like!) I could still buy a hundred with my allowance, after all, but it was a personal loss of dignity. Inokio gave it to me for safekeeping as part of his task, which I would have honored. The fact that the pendant was gone now proved I hadn't focused enough. I failed the task. Bad Yumi.

blah blah blah... (something about clan colours)

Perhaps, then, it had been seized by Amaki? I had already considered the possibility that Amaki was a spy -- it wasn't an off the beaten path idea, either; the Fursics were sneak masters. But no matter how I tried I still could not make my paranoia that Amaki was a Fursic operative with the complete and utter shock and difference she portrayed after Inokio revealed my identity. Amaki couldn't have taken my pendant.

blah blah blah (interior decoration... I think?)

That left me with little in the way of options. The sushi chefs? Impossible -- they were too out of reach. The only thing I could think of is that someone had seem me put the pendant in my cleavage and withdrew it while I was in the crowd... sometime between then and now. Either way, no pendant means no mission accomplished. I failed the lesson.

blah blah blah...

blah.

(something about plant sex pollen allergies in springtime)

Amaki had finished her long explanation about her life and that left the ball to me. I was dropping the ball, though. I was only vaguely aware that she had ceased speaking and it was my turn to say something.

"Um, your imperial highness?"

You don't have to always call me your imperial highness. "Lady Yumiwa" works fine.

"I mean no disrespect, but you appear to be a bit distracted."

That's because I'm distracted. There's something up and I want to know more about it.

I had to leave. I had to get the five pears and head to Inokio's launch, fess up my failure and get the credit I deserved for two-thirds completion. Get it together, Yumi! I blinked rapidly and brought my mind back into foooooocus. "Call me Lady Yumiwa," I said with a smile to be polite but astute. "Please. Also, thank you so much for our conversation! It was very nice and enlightening. However, I must go but do enjoy the rest of the sushi." I got up from the stool and found Amaki mirrored my motion but then strayed from it to bow down deeply and do that whole obeisance thing again that I soooo enjoyed.

We bid each other adieu and I quickly stepped away from her and towards the nearest fruit stand to purchase the five pears Inokio required of me.

The crowd fanned out of my way and revered me as I walked. Those who didn't realize who I was were quickly elbowed by the ones adjacent to them, and then they promptly fell into suit. Whispered incantations of "chōjo" and and "your highness" and "m'lady" heralded my steps, and when I came up to the fruit stand the shopkeeper was clearly delighted and very worried about my patronage -- his face told me he was concerned I was going to scold him or give him an outlandish order of some sort, both of which were stupid ideas but they were all simple minds here. I got the five pears for free, but I insisted on giving the keeper a mint gold dragon as a keepsake before strutting away towards the piers.

IC (Akimoto)

IC: Libro - Crystal Forge

Libro looked to her cousin from her seat at the small table, covered in scrapes and scratches. Road maps and ravines that outlined past projects and old ideas.

She called out over the slamming of Akimoto's energy hammer, "Not with our breastplates you won't." She pulled off her layered glasses - with clips that magnified what she was looking at - and placed them back on the table. She stood up from her seat glancing at Akimoto angrily slamming her hammer against the crystal. Libro was built too, but not nearly as much as her cousin. Libro was a bit shorter and her muscle wasn't as filled out as well. She was never sure for herself how exactly she should feel about it.

On one hand, Akimoto was more intimidating, and with her attitude even more so. But on the other hand, Aki wasn't as approachable as Libro. She was usually the one that worked out business plans and contracts for this reason.

She walked past Aki as she brought the hammer down again. The pair were hot and sweaty from the day's work. This particular set of armor had not been easy on the two. She yelled over the noise, "The payout is gonna be much higher than usual though," she said with a shrug, "At least there's that." Opening a drawer in the farther end of the shop to pick out a small box, Libro carried it back to Aki's anvil, setting it down on her own anvil.

"Anything you wanna ask before I get smaller to work the details?" She asks as she reaches up and grips the chains about the metal workstation. The question was usually returned with a no, but Libro asks each time anyways. She looks at her cousin while she lifts herself up onto the anvil by pulling on the chains and positioning her feet on the corners.

IC: Amaki

I just ate with the Crown Princess.

Amaki slowly walked through the streets of the marketplace, her mind still whirling at the fact that she had just spent a decent amount of time in the glorious presence of her imperial highness, Lady Yumiwa of the Umbraline and heir to the Great Dasaka Empire. The experience had been so unreal - in fact, she had pinched her own cheeks several times just to make sure that she had not been dreaming everything up.

Everything had been real.

... Wow.

As her awe began to ebb away, the drummer's thoughts took on a different turn. Although it had been the princess she had been dining with, Yumiwa seemed rather down-to-earth: not like the heavenly angel that stood above all like she had originally imagined. It was very ... enlightening. She logically knew that the royal family would probably act similarly to their subjects, but knowing and actually experiencing was completely different.

It really left a massive impression on her.

"I feel like doing something," she declared to no-one in particular. "Maybe the Yards. I haven't been there in a while."

IC (Tazera)

Tazera whistled as she cast her mind back, mirroring Ayiwah's posture in the comfortable seat.

"Must've been a couple of shore leaves back," she said. "Killing some time, borrowed a book o' knots from the Imperial Library."

The First Mate laughed.

"You know, pirates and dragons don't scare me, Aya," she said. "But that Lorekeeper? Sheesh."

She imitated a shudder of fear.

"The way she just stares at you if you drop a book. No scolds, no scowls, just that STARE."

 

IC: (Senavysh Angavur)

Sunshard in hand, Sena cautiously approched the origin of the beam. It was in the middle of a field, coming from a small little dwelling. Being slightly superstitious, her mind began to race. Had these beings channeled some unholy energies? Was it a kind of weapon? She didn't know, but she would try to stop it. Part of her screamed 'Don't go to the magical light', and she half accepted it was the rational thing to do. But she was a Taajar Jahagir, not a craven.

So she pushed on.

It eerily quiet. The beam made nary a sound, the sound of her footsteps drowned by a cushion of grass. The jangle of crystalline mail, and the sound of her and her cousins breathing were the only thing breaking the silence. But as they neared, she heard noise, noise that could have been a thousand things. She increased her pace until she was only feet away from the door. With a silent signal, she and her companions rushed it.

The door opened with a crack, the yellow blade of her long-kris glimmered, and a cry came out of her mouth. "Stop your sorcery! By the will of Mother Zuto!"

OOC: Long overdue reply.

IC Nortti and Tutkee

(Obaida, Fields, Nortti's hut):

Tutkee saw the group enter Nortti's hut from afar and started running towards it.

If they discover her... she thought.

Meanwhile inside the hut, Senavysh Angavur and her companions found the hut empty, but an open hatch with a staircase leading to Nortti's laboratory and the light beam, which had tore holes in the floor and ceiling of the place.

A quick visit to the basement revealed all kinds of half-finished technical devices, a complete one which was the source of the light beam, and an unconscious Dashi on the floor.

IC: Arisaka - The Yards -

"That technique you used on the boulder, it was..." Arisaka searched for the correct word. "...sloppy." Arisaka didn't convey much emotion as she spoke.

"However, for someone of your current level of training, it was impressive." Enali saw a look in Arisaka's eyes that showed, admiration? No, that wasn't quite it.

"You have great potential as a Soulsword, enough to make you into something quite powerful, with enough effort and training." Arisaka continued, trying not to look too intimidating, a difficult task for her.

"What this means is, you have an opportunity here that comes once in a lifetime. I can give you training, training that isn't offered to just anyone. The training will be brutal...far more brutal than the little game we played today. But if you stick with it, push through, I can guarantee you that you'll come out as something far greater than you could ever hope for with your current training."

IC: Eiyu Ankora (Sado)

 

"Hey, you take the good with the bad"

IC: Daikura Sakrayo - Sado

"The Skakdi race is a group of crazy murders, who deserve to be destroyed! Perhaps there are good races on Mata Nui, but there are evil races as well!"

IC: Eiyu Ankora (Sado)

"Do you really think it's advisable to judge an entire species on the actions of only six or seven of them?" Ankora asked.

"You may think so, but as an Eiyu of considerable years, I've learned that such base generalizations are never the way to go."

"As far as I've understood, there are species equivalents to Dashi, Dasaka and Datsue over there, with powers that we can barely even imagine. The power to command aspects of nature to suit their whims, like Fire or Earth. Imagine controlling Earth, the power to rip apart a countryside like it was paper, to let the ground beneath your foes become their enemy"

IC (Enali)

The young Dasaka wasn't sure what to think. She blushed at both the criticism and the compliments, listening respectfully to Arisaka's words. What the teacher offered was a unique opportunity...but the promise of its brutality scared her. She wasn't sure what to think.

"I...I am honoured, ma'am," she said. "But...may I ask some advice from my clan first? I don't know if I'm ready to make a decision like that on my own..."

IC: Arisaka - The Yards -

Arisaka gave a nod, "Very well, it would only be right for you to ask the advice of your clan. Both a matter of order and honor."

"Let me know as soon as you decide."

IC:

"Excellent" First Son Kulrik told Seigyo. "I knew you were a catch from the moment I saw you. Now love, let's begin this journey of ours!"

Kulrik readjusted his pack slightly, taking a small moment to take one last look at his room in Castle Vilda. The job his mother Toroshu had given him would take several months at the least, possibly even a year or two. He would be the Vilda's dignitary to the clans on Odaiba, visiting and learning as much as he could about them during his stay there. Finally, he would be free.

He took a first step forward, Seigyo in his lee.

...

Eventually the pair were on a ferry, Odaiba finally in sight. The island lacked the natural, wild beauty of Oki - where there were once trees in ages past were now fields of various, mottled colours, signs of the Dasaka's domestication of the landmass. Different crops were grown, lifeblood of the life of the Empire but an eyesore to the Vilda First Son.

But, Kulrik noted, crops mean lots of food, lots of drink and lots of merriment.

He was going to have some fun.

ooc:Durandal, if you want to post something go ahead, or I'll just have them reach Clan Ageru. Kughii, sorry its been so long, I'll post as Soraph soon.

IC: (Senavysh Angavur/Farmhouse)

She was a small, short little thing. A farmer, or daughter of one, curdled up, seemingly lifeless upon the ground. Senavysh carried the poor thing to a blanket laid upon the floor. As a precaution, one of her limp arms was tied to an exposed beam. Leaving a cousin to tend to her, Sena and her other companion walked to the machine, the thing that seemingly powered the beam. What foul magicks corrupted it? Sena didn't know, or else wanted to know.

"Let's try to find a lever, to stop this-device from sending light. If not, we'll smash it."

IC: Daikura Sakrayo - Sado

"I agree it is unwise to judge a race by six members, but I am using the information that the scouting team has found. I do believe that the other races are not as bad, and are quite as interesting. But, have you heard whether or not they can use Kanohi masks? And what of their powers of the mind?"

IC (Akimoto)

"Anything you wanna ask before I get smaller to work the details?"

"Only why you accepted this job," the smith grumbled.

It was a rote response, something both of them knew better than to take seriously. It wasn't easy being a Ringti; they'd take what work they could get.

Aki frowned as she ran her fingers over the broken crystal. She'd undone an hour our two of work, but it'd been ##### work anyway. Better to let Libro take a look at it close-up than waste another hour making the same mistakes.

She sighed. "Go for it."

Ic: I, Umbraline Yumiwa, walked through the market towards the seawall steps to the piers.

Ooc: Transplanting the original contents of this post to a later point.

IC Tutkee

(Obaida, Nortti's Hut):

Just then a Dasaka entered the lab, her breath heavy and ragged.

"No!" she yelled. "Don't touch it!"

IC: Libro - Crystal Forge

Libro nodded and shrunk using her mask of diminishment. It was from this size, with a set of small tools she'd kick out whatever imperfections in the material there had been. Their forge had always prided itself on making almost impossibly smooth and detailed works. Libro prided herself on it.

It wasn't much, but it was enough.

Besides, if it could keep the money flowing, what was the matter? Life didn't have to change, it would just keep chugging along like it always had.

IC: Daikura Sakrayo - Sado

"I agree it is unwise to judge a race by six members, but I am using the information that the scouting team has found. I do believe that the other races are not as bad, and are quite as interesting. But, have you heard whether or not they can use Kanohi masks? And what of their powers of the mind?"

IC: Eiyu Ankora (Sado)

"I have been told that their powers of the mind are virtually nonexistent, they do not possess them. But yes, most of them do in fact wear Kanohi." Ankora replied.

It was true, as one of the highest ranking members of one of the oldest knowledge-oriented clans in the Dasaka Empire, Ankora had gotten a bit of an early peek at some of the things the expedition team had to tell about Mata Nui. And she was already very excited for the chance to learn more.

OOC: Sorry I took so long, I missed your post.

 

IC: Akone

"Thanks," Akone said.

 

"As a clan of warriors for the Rora, Menti Discipline and fighting is emphasised in our training," Akone explained.

 

She saw the fried fish coming her way, and the salad as well.

 

"Here's our meal."

 

IC | "Obviously," Said Akimatai as she received her meal. "You see, I am no stranger to the training of a Menti."

She then began to eat.

After a few bites, she said, "I'd like to do that again."

IC: Daikura Sakrayo - Sado

"And I have heard that on their island, the males outnumber the females, a direct inverse of ours."

IC: (Senavysh Angavur/Farmhouse)

Sena turned on a time, her jagged Long-Kris pointed to Tutkee's throat. She wasn't at all tolerant of witches, but yet, she needed to give this one a fair chance. She calmed herself, breathing long and deep, while keeping a firm grasp on the grip. She was going to have her answers.

"Tell me, straight and true, what in the name of Mother Zuto is this devilry?"

IC Tutkee

(Obaida, Nortti's Lab):

"I swear by Mother Zuto that it's not", Tutkee replied, stepping back a couple of steps. "It's a... machine."