Ikoshan Embassy
This message was last updated by the GM at 06:17, Sun 19 Feb 2017.

It took a while to get ready, but it was going to be worth it.  He had heard Motoko's plan, but thought it wise to make a few extra preparations.  For one thing, even if his disguise worked, there was no telling what the results were going to be like.

The first thing Crow did before putting his part of the plan into action was to gather up as much information about Ambassador Sen as he possibly could.  If there was one particular piece of information he was after, however, it was whether or not the ambassador was particularly superstitious... and where Sen was seen around town, if he ever left the embassy at all.

Fortunately, Motoko had taught him enough Okoshan to ask anyone who might be connected to the embassy... like the guards.

While Crow was busy with his part of the plan, Motoko put her part into action.  One of them was going to have to get inside and sneak around, if need be.  Crow would be the one interacting with Sen.  Motoko, on the other hand, was going to have to blend in and hide in plain sight.

That meant... applying for the bodyguard job as posted on the broadsheet.  With any luck, she'll be able to get through this without allowing her true motives to seep through.

Swords at her side, she looked at the entrance to the embassy, took a deep breath, then approached...

CROW:  Asking around about Ambassador Sen, provided he is willing to spend about 100 gold centuries for various bribes, rewards the Imperial Storyteller with the following information:

   Ambassador Sen now has a cadre of almost a dozen loyal BUSHI guards.  They are loyal primarily because he pays them quite well, but also because they are OKOSHAN patriots with a deep sense of pride in their homeland and culture.  He does venture outside the Imperial Palace.  He also has a number or lesser ministers and assistants to cater to help him in his role as representative for Oko.
    He has been seen in the Grand Market place on more than one occasion, but his favourite haunt is the Rutting Dragon Inn.  He has said he appreciates the atmosphere of the Rutting Dragon, not to mention their excellent  imported Plum Wine.  One somewhat dubious source tells Crow that the Ambassador has some rather "specific" tastes and he sends out messengers to procure women who can accommodate those tastes.  His room at the Rutting Dragon seems to be for this clandestine purpose.
   If he is superstitious it is not well known, but he is traditionalist and follows the old Okoshan customs faithfully, including placating ancestors and certain rustic spirits, even though he is not particularly religious.  He regularly attends the Grand Shrine in the Ambassador's wing, to fulfill his role as a cultural role, to celebrate holidays and make friends with the small group of priests who look after it.  One minister confides to Crow that, when among his guards or very close associates, Sen will scoff at Okoshan ways and their belief in the "fate and the will of Heaven."
   Recently he has offered a sizeable bounty for the death or capture of the woman known as Tenshi no Shi, and desires to double his usual guard to twelve.  He does seem to be much more on edge, having heard rumours that she has been seen in the area.  None of those who have accepted the bounty for Tenshi no Shi have returned, which seems to confirm his suspicions and has made him even more paranoid.
   Everyone generally agrees that he presents a confident, agressive demeanor, a clever wit, and is a dangerous man to anger.  More than one of his underlings has had "an unfortunate accident" if they seemed to eager to challenge the Ambassador.  He believes that a person achieves only what they fight for and that "those who are too weak to earn or keep what is theirs, deserve to lose to the stronger adversary."
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:06, Tue 14 Mar 2017.

A broad chested guard, with interwoven tattoos on his arms, and a crooked nose, watches Motoko approach and gruffly asks her to state her business.  The Kensai may also notice this guard is missing most of his small finger on his right hand.  He is armed with a naginata and a short sword at his side.  Upon hearing she wishes to inquire after the bodyguard job he snorts, regarding her dubiously, but motions to a rack where she can place her weapons.  NO ONE, she is told, other than the Ambassador's guards, may carry a weapon in his presence.

Assuming Motoko is willing to part with her weapons, the guard leads her through the sliding doors and into the hallway.  She is asked to remove her foot ware and leave them on the woven mat; the guard does the same.  She is asked to wait by the entrance where another rough looking guard keeps her company, while the first one walks to the end of the room and proceeds through another set of sliding doors.  The guard who stays with her is armed with a long spear, rather like an Ikoshan yari.  He does not speak, even if questioned.

After several silent minutes, old broken nose returns, along with a smaller man in a minister's formal robe, his long raven hair pulled back and braided.  He is a slender man with mud brown eyes, a long mustache, forked beard, and a disinterested mien.  Scanning Motoko up and down he sniffs and says in a pinched voice:

"Mmm yes I understand you wish to apply for the currently posted position of Shi'wei for His Eminence, Ambassador Sen, may the Heavens look down with favour upon him and all his endeavors.  What, may I ask, makes you believe you are worthy of this prestigious position?"

Of course, she had to leave her weapons at the door.  She should had expected that, even if she found it uncomfortable to remain unarmed for any period of time.  Still, if this was the only way to get inside, then she would have to deal with it... for now.

She knew proper protocol.  For the most part, anyway.  Anytime she entered the dojo back home, she was also expected to leave her footwear at the door.  This was no different.  She waited patiently until someone came in and started asking her questions.

"With all due respect, I could list all of my skills and accomplishments, but I believe action speaks louder than words," Motoko replied blankly.  "With your permission, perchance I could prove myself worthy of this prestigious position through a simple demonstration?"

The minister sniffs and strokes his long mustaches, then lifts his chin and looks down his nose at Motoko.

"I see, impatient aren't we?  Very well then, if you feel you are worthy of the position of Shi'wei for His Eminence, a demonstration of your skills will be acceptable, if a little unorthodox.  Impress me young Lady, and the job is yours, but I warn you, I am not easily impressed."
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:16, Mon 03 Apr 2017.

"Thank you, Minister," Motoko nodded her head before focusing her attention on the Minister's clothes.  If this didn't work, she figured she could always just challenge one of the bodyguards to a one-on-one sparring match to demonstrate her abilities.  For now... she looked between the Minister and the guards.

It would be easy enough to show her strength through combat, but bodyguards also needed to be vigilant.  Motoko wished to demonstrate her own vigilance by correctly identifying any concealed object that everyone else may be carrying on their person.

She was going to need more than her sight, however, if she was going to pull this off.  She was going to need her sense of smell as well.

22:18, Today: Motoko rolled 23 using 1d20+14.  Spot (Searching for Concealed Objects).

The Minister has it very well hidden, but he keeps a short dagger in his right sleeve, which is not unusual for those of his station.  There is also a thin vial of something concealed in the folds of his ornamental sash!

The broad chested guard with interwoven tattoos, crooked nose, is missing most of his right little finger.  He is armed with a naginata and short sword.  His naginata has a knob at the bottom of the haft which is, most likely a concealed weighted chain.

"Well, let's see..." Motoko smiled innocently as she approached the minister.  She reached out to grab a hold of his right arm and said, "To start with, you have a short dagger hidden in this sleeve.  Typical hiding place.  You also have a vial of something hidden in your sash."

The swordswoman then turned her gaze toward the broad chest guard with the crooked nose.  "As for you... where did you get that Naginata from, if you don't mind me asking?  Ones that come with a second hidden weapon are a little hard to come by, ya know?"

Motoko searched her memory.  She knew that a missing right little finger could mean that the guard belonged to a crime syndicate.  The question was whether or not that was a coincidence.  The tattoos could be a better clue...

The Minister narrows his eyes as he regards Motoko.  He pulls and twists his long mustaches, then sits back once more, intertwining his long thin fingers.

"You have a discerning eye; that can be very useful indeed, perhaps too discerning.  Very well, I will allow you into his Eminence' guard if you can pass one more test.  If you can survive two minutes with Zhao Yang, you will have sufficiently impressed me.  Let us begin NOW!"

At the Minister's nod, the naginata wielding guard steps forwards and barely nods to Motoko, then adopts a martial stance.

OOC: He's asking Motoko to go two rounds with Zhao yang. Initiative please.

22:34, Today: Secret Roll: GM rolled 12 using 1d20+4.  Zhao yang initiative.

Motoko could only grin confidently when the test turned into one of combat.  Her hand immediately went down to the hilt of her sword...

... Oh, wait.

"Tch..." The swordswoman was without her swords.  She had left them at the door.  She supposed she could summon them, but... she didn't want to give away all of her tricks.  The only thing she could do was bring her fists up into a fighting stance and try doing this unarmed.

22:06, Today: Motoko rolled 9 using 1d20+2.  Initiative.

With surprising speed for his size, Zhao Yang lunges forwards, using the considerable reach his naginata allows him to swing the curved blade in a swift arc.  At the last minute, he seems to remember he probably shouldn't kill the new recruit...yet, so he turns the blade to his her with the side instead.

21:18, Today: Secret Roll: GM rolled 17 using 1d20+6.  Zhao yang naginata attack.

21:24, Today: Secret Roll: GM rolled 9 using 1d10+3.  Zhao yang naginata damage.

Motoko takes nine points of non lethal damage as she is smacked in the stomach by Zhao Yang's naginata.

The warrior crouches into a defensive stance anticipating her reply.  Behind him the officious minister watches intently.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:45, Tue 18 July 2017.

"Oof!" Motoko grunted as she felt the dull side of the blade slam into her stomach.  She had been too worried about fighting unarmed and ended up letting her guard down.  She was unable to react in time and as a result, her opponent got the first strike in.  Though she had only been hit with the dull side of the blade, the full-force and strength of the guard could be felt.  Had this been a real fight, it could have ended right then and there.

Gritting her teeth, she stood her ground and bared her teeth at Zhao Yang.  She was up against an armed opponent.  Fortunately, she knew what to do in this situation.  Naginatas were long, pole-arms and designed for reach.  If she was to get in close enough, she could prevent her opponent from using his weapon to its full potential.

Not one to back down, she dashed in with both of her fists drawn back and ready to strike.  Her eyes betrayed her blood lust and the annoyance she felt from being dealt the first blow.  "That all ya got?!  In that case, let me show you some real power!"

With that, she unleashed a whole barrage of fists right at her opponent, attempting to take him down as quickly as possible.  With great precision between her attacks, she sought out every weak point in the human body that she could remember.

OOC: Taking a five-foot step to get past the Naginata's reach (and therefore possibly not trigger any Attacks of Opportunity) and do a Full-Round Attack.

19:25, Today: Motoko rolled 23 using 1d20+10.  Attack Roll 1 TWF Unarmed Strike (-3 Power Attack) Off-Hand.
19:25, Today: Motoko rolled 28 using 1d20+10.  Attack Roll 2 TWF Unarmed Strike (-3 Power Attack) Primary-Hand.
19:26, Today: Motoko rolled 20 using 1d20+5.  Attack Roll 3 TWF Unarmed Strike (-3 Power Attack) Off-Hand.
19:26, Today: Motoko rolled 15 using 1d20+5.  Attack Roll 4 TWF Unarmed Strike (-3 Power Attack) Primary-Hand.
19:26, Today: Motoko rolled 17 using 1d20.  Attack Roll 5 TWF Unarmed Strike (-3 Power Attack) Primary-Hand.

19:31, Today: Motoko rolled 14 using 1d3+12.  Damage Roll 1 Unarmed Strike (+6 Favored Power Attack +4 Favored Enemy Bonus +2 Str) Off-Hand).
19:32, Today: Motoko rolled 15 using 1d3+14.  Damage Roll 2 Unarmed Strike (+6 Favored Power Attack +4 Favored Enemy Bonus +4 Str) Primary-Hand).
19:33, Today: Motoko rolled 15 using 1d3+12.  Damage Roll 3 Unarmed Strike (+6 Favored Power Attack +4 Favored Enemy Bonus +2 Str) Off-Hand.
19:33, Today: Motoko rolled 17 using 1d3+14.  Damage Roll 4 Unarmed Strike (+6 Favored Power Attack +4 Favored Enemy Bonus +4 Str) Primary-Hand.
19:33, Today: Motoko rolled 17 using 1d3+14.  Damage Roll 5 Unarmed Strike (+6 Favored Power Attack +4 Favored Enemy Bonus +4 Str) Primary-Hand.

Three of Motoko's attacks hit home, staggering Zhao Yang, who steps backwards, dazed by the fury and speed of the lady kensai's blows.  For a moment, he stands there, looking confused, then he starts to wobble and, turning towards the minister he tries to say something, but instead his eyes roll back and he pitches forwards to land heavily on the floor at Motoko's feet, unconscious.

Motoko was just getting into it, throwing a flurry of punches at her opponent, when she suddenly realized one of her punches hit nothing but air.  Anticipating that her attack had been avoided, she immediately backed off and braced herself, expecting a counter-attack.

Instead, Zhao Yang pitched forward and fell at the young warrior woman's feet.

She blinked, confused for a second.

When she realized that she had won, she slowly got up from her defensive stance and turned toward the minister.

"So... do we wait for the rest of the 2 minutes to pass or...?" Motoko chuckled nervously.

The Minister's jaw drops as he stares at the now unconscious Zhao Yang.  For a few minutes he tries to respond, but he cannot seem to manage to make any sound, his lips move silently.

"I, well...I...yes, th...that will be quite enough.  You apparently do have a modicum of skill.  Leave him, we have no use for failures.  Come with me and I will introduce you to the ambassador.  Come come, this way, we don't have all day after all."

The Minister leads Motoko through a curtain at the back of the room and down a long hallway.  At the end is a wall with a part that can be unlocked and pushed back to reveal another room beyond.  The room is decorated with many water colour paintings of nature, often with haikus written in kanji underneath.  A number of colourful bamboo mats cover the floor.

Entering silently, the Minister walks to the center of the room and faces west, where a raised wooden platform takes most of the wall.  Sitting on the platform is a tall man in red and gold robes.  His long dark hair is pulled back in a single tight top knot in contrast to his beard and moustaches, which are trimmed very short.  His dark blue eyes focus on the painting in front of him, his brush flowing gracefully over the paper.

Kneeling in front of the platform are two muscular men in loose robes staring silently ahead.

The Minister crouches down on the mat in front of the platform and kowtows and waits to be acknowledged.  He frantically gestures for Motoko to do likewise.