"Nothing natural or right within the Celestial Order that is assured."

"These were my trusted yojimbo," Doji Kasarugi coughs, "why would they do this?  what could do this to them?  what is going on here?"

[Private to Asako Suleiman: it definitely has to do with the Lying Darkness; the Ashalan know that the Lying Darkness has a corruptive effect, absorbing and eliminating individuality and free will]

"The Khayel," the Phoenix whispers, chilled by the thought.  "The Great Darkness... here in Rokugan?"  His golden gaze lifts first to the Doji Daimyo, and then shifts to the Shugenja, and the Monk.  With grave expression, he regards each of them.  "This is a Taint the Crab know not," he explains.  "Please, you must tell me exactly what these creatures said and did before they were killed!"

[Private to Kaze no Kage: Does Suleiman know that it is vulnerable to crystal?  That it is as ancient as creation itself?  That it has no name, and thus is not bound by form?  (I've used 'Khayel', the Ashalan means of referring to the Lying Darkness, because it seems most fitting given where his knowledge comes from.)]

"You do know of them then? How fortunate. Perhaps however this is a matter for discussion once the immediate issue of these bodies has been dealt with and their taint prevented from further damaging this place." And there's less chance of rumours spreading and causing panic, Gyatso thought. It was looked like this Phoenix at least knew what they were facing, and indeed had a greater knowledge than he did. But were he to speak more on the subject what he could say would only cause panic.

Satoru was horrified.

"Taint?" He hissed. "What manner of taint is this?" He said doing his best to stand between the bodies and Lord Kasarugi. "My Lord you must be purified, guards fetch an Asahina priest!"

The Asako turns to the monk.  "No," he says firmly.  "It will do nothing but spread word of this threat.  The Asahina haven't seen this before.  None of the Clans have dealt with this before; I can't even begin to guess what brings it here now."  He looks towards the corpses with disgust and apprehension in his gaze.  "What we need is crystal.  These things are Tainted, but not by the power of Jigoku, or the Ninth Kami.  They have been touched by something else, called The Khayel, but in truth it has no name under Heaven.  That is what brings it to be faceless like this, and to shift forms as sake rushing to fill a cup.  It has no name under Sun nor Moon, and so is bound to no form."  He casts his golden eyes back to the daimyo.  "The Khayel and its servants are unharmed by jade, but they fear the purity and light in crystal."

"And since you seem to insist on discussing it. Yes, that is the nature of the enemy. And by continuing to discuss it in such a place before we have had chance to ensure no more of its servants wait nearby you have opened up the possibility that it knows we are aware. I was under the impression the wisdom of the Phoenix is a term of praise but if we do not take the time to get everyone here to a safer location with no such foes around all we do is provide its servants an increased reason to kill all of us. The more you tell us here, in an unsafe location, the more risk you bring to everyone in this room."

Finally a note of anger as well as a hint of fear enters Gyatso's voice and he steps closer to the Phoenix, eyes beginning to glow with an unnatural colour. He turned to look at each person in the room in turn, still speaking as he moved. "This is a matter that must be treated with the uptmost seriousness. These beings could be anyone and anywhere. If this news gets out do you believe it will result in anything other than panic or bloodshed? Not knowing who is your enemy and who is your ally? This is not a subject for discussion here and now. There are injured who must be tended to and measures that must be taken for security. Let us take these steps before we speak more on this."

[Private to GM: OC - 3 Perception rolls all with a total of above 10 as I'd hoped. Anyone in this room got Taint or Lying Darkness stuff? Paranoid, me? Oh no.]

Satoru gathers his wits. "Very well. Enough discussion. My Lord, as your advisor, I suggest we take these bodies, provided they need no further examination," he said looking towards the Phoenix & Unicorn "And have the eta, set them to torch. Then we should gather up these two, and only your most trusted advisors and discuss the ramifications of this act. However, a low profile seems to help these things as much as a panic would. Knowledge kept to oneself helps no one. But we will discuss that later, I am sure."

Asoako Suleiman bows contritely to the shugenja.  "Hai.  Perhaps it is the wisdom of the Unicorn which should be spoken of as praise."  He looks again to the corpses.  "I fear that what we might learn by examining these bodies is outweighed by the risk of coming into contact with this force unprotected.  There are other ways we might gain what knowledge and protection we need.  Safer ways."  He lets out a soft sigh.  "As for the preparations, I must beg your forgiveness and understanding, but I've only been in this city for a matter of days.  I do not know where to approach any of what we require, but I would be glad to be of assistance however I am able."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:55, Fri 26 Sept 2008.

"And I apologise for my hasty words. But these things repel me greatly, especially with people hurt. Soon we will have chance to discuss matters in a calmer fashion."

As you discuss amongst yourselves what to do, the door slides open once again and a slightly damp and disheveled Daidoji Sakura, Kedo, Doji Akibieden, and Seppun Masashi enter the room.

 Having first made quite certain that his appearance will do no dishonour to his service and reclaimed his Daisho (which he then promptly handed over again the moment he entered the vicinity of Doji Kasarugi's office, Doji Akibieden's assurances or no, it's just not polite to bear arms around someone like that), Kedo took a few moments to make quite certain that he had properly hamstrung the remaining assassin and that medical attention for said killer would be forthcoming - crippled or not, it would be unfortunate if he were allowed to end his life before he could be properly interrogated.

 Once everyone's arrived at the office however he may have brief cause to regret his good manners as he moves smoothly and without visible threat or insult to position himself so that with a heartbeat of motion he can ward Daidoji Sakura's escape in the event of further hostilities, his eyes flicking over the alien blades held in the hands of Crane guards and visibly wondering what possible reason there might be for their presence...

Turning to face the latest arrivals Gyatso immediately steps between them and the wounded holding his hands up defensively. Irrespective of who these people were they most definitely were strangers to him and given the way things had already gone he was still somewhat wary of them all.

Aki's hand drops onto the handle of his sword, his stance widens and his rear heel comes up of the floor. Anyone with a trained eye would recognise this as the first stance of crane Iaijutsu. "My lord what treachery is this!" His eyes fixed on the odd looking outlander.

Perhaps surprisingly, the half-Gaijin Phoenix did not initially turn his attention to the newcomers.  Instead, at the sound of the opening door, his eyes fell to the two corpses, which he watched intently for a few moments, ignoring the combative stance and challenging stare of Doji Akibieden.  Once he had satisfied himself with whatever had drawn his attention, his eyes lifted to the group in the doorway.  His hand made no motion towards the wakazashi in his obi - the only weapon he seemed to carry, and likely a sign of his station as samurai rather than a declaration of martial skill which a katana might have implied.  Quickly, his eyes darted to Doji Kasarugi who he had so recently bandaged; by his words the man with the hand on his blade and the pointed stare seemed beholden to him, perhaps even a guard.

Of course, under the circumstances, that meant all too little.

This message was deleted by the player at 01:57, Mon 29 Sept 2008.

A quick glance at the corpses reveals that they are non-descript Rokugani with features vaguely reminiscent of the Crane Clan.
[Private to Doji Akibieden; Satoru; Seppun Masashi:  these are definitely not Doji Kasarugi's trio of yojimbo]
[Private to Moto Gyatso; Satoru: these are definitely not the features of the Daidoji you fought just moments ago]
"Remove your hand from your blade, Akibieden-san," Doji Kasarugi replies to his indignant exclamation, "these three saved me from being victims of my 'faithful' yojimbo, here..." he trails off as he catches sight of their altered features, "What in the name of the Fortunes is going on here!  They were faceless just moments ago!  And before that, they were Kanna, Macchi, and Mari!"

[Private to Daidoji Sakura: okay, everything's settled, you can post again ^_^ sorry about that]

"Forgive my eagerness my lord, you are wounded and their have been other attacks within the castle." Aki stares at the slain combatants, "Is this some scorpion treachary?"

"So you're not just quick to go for your blade but as quick to accuse another clan? Tell me what evidence did you see to assume the Scorpion were responsible for this?" Lowering his hands the shugenja turns his gaze from the latest group for a moment to gaze at the corpses before turning his eyes to the newcomers. Once more the strange glow was back in his eyes and he gazed at each in turn as though trying to gaze right through them and into their minds. Evidently still at guard he made no move for a weapon but instead turned slightly so he at least left some space between the new arrivals and their lord. Enough that they could see him and the injuries he had suffered but not enough to get past him even at a rush.

[Private to GM: OC - Three fresh perception rolls for the newcomers and 1 for the corpses. Taint scanning only at the moment. Results all in at the necessary TN.]

"I have doubts that the Scorpion did this, Crane-sama," Suleiman said to Akibieden, erring on the side of respect in his ignorance of the man's actual station.  "If you care to notice, these three carried scimitars of Unicorn make.  Yet, I doubt the Unicorn were responsible either."  He gazed again at the corpses, troubled by their appearance.

"Well thank you for that at least." Gyatso muttered, amused rather than offended by this assumption.

"Ninja attacked the baths and killed several people before we could react. Kedo san here slew a great many of the enemy, and also had the good sense to leave one alive for interrogation. Who besides the scorpion fight from the darkness, and try to place blame on others?" Aki finishes his statement by gesturing at the scimitars.

"You saw no mons then?  No blades with Scorpion markings?  Your accusations are grave, Doji-sama, to take cowardly attacks and apparent misdirection as cause to name a Great Clan complicit."  He bowed to Akibieden respectfully.  "As for who?  I hope you will forgive me for respectfully suggesting that there are many enemies of the Emerald Empire.  Few of them fight with honour, or wish to be seen outside the shadows.  Perhaps you could enlighten us as to the events at the baths?  Who did the assassins seem to be seeking?  How many were they?  Did you recognise the style in which they fought?  Knowing our enemy's dojo would serve us well."

"Careless talk costs lives Crane-sama. Are you going to stand there, in front of witnesses not just from your own clan, and accuse another great clan of attempted assasinations, of using ninja and killing people? With no greater evidence than your opinion that this is the sort of thing they do? Perhaps before you start making claims like that an actual investigation could be done into the matter." Liatening to the Crane's accusations Gyatso struggled to see the logic behind this man's words. What foolishness was it the inspired a man to lay the blame at the feet of the Scorpion with no other evidence? He was all too aware of the sterotypes many clans attributed to one another but such things were merely opinions not fact.

"Shadow spawn ..."

Sakura's voice was loud enough to be heard, and while it traveled it would probably not travel very far. "Grab your blades, Kedo-Kun."

It was not a suggestion.

Sakura started to move over to investigate the corpses when the bickering began. She stopped, observing the chaos for a moment, before interjecting.

"Enough!" she snapped at the present Samurai. It was the first time any had heard her raise her voice.

"Lord Kasarugi ..."

Her voice was normal now.

"There is a saying, 'never borrow your Lords authority unless you must'*. Now I must ask -- in the name of Lord Kuwanan -- that you borrow my Yojimbo until the Shadow Spawn in this place have been cleansed."

She then turned to her Yojimbo.

"As you surmised, Kedo-Kun, the assassains were after specific targets. Much to my chagrin, the targets that they were after were Shadow Spawn -- otherwise good members of our Clan that had been absorbed by an ancient, evil enemy."

"I could not get exact numbers, but there were many of them. I would surmise that at least a dozen or two got away."

"Lord Kasarugi" she said turning back to the governor, "it was these creatures that destroyed the bandits that attacked the Imperial Messenger. My magics are not permitted as testimony in a court of law, none-the-less I know that there are large numbers of these creatures -- large numbers for them -- here in your city."

Sakura paused. It was only a heartbeat or two, but the pause itself was intense.

"I have more information that I can give you, if you choose to allow your Honor to bear it, but I would rather not do so in front of non-Crane. If not, then I shall bear it alone ... as is my Duty*."

[1) This actually comes from a Japanese classic, but I borrowed it.
         2) The duty of the Daidoji is very much like the Duty of the Scorpion, which is why I chose for her to infiltrate the Daidoji. This is a pun, though none present would know this.

Sorry, Akibieden. Sakura's not normally this abrasive, but circumstances being what they are ....]