This thread combines The Road to Kakou and The Streets of Kakou.  All active PCs from either thread may post here.

The acolyte beckons for you to follow him through the door which reveals a modest but immaculately cultured garden courtyard. It almost appears as if the Winter Sect Temple was built around this natural scene in an effort to not disturb its tranquil setting. You know stand upon a wooden plank porch that follows around the edge of the scene in a "n" shape.  The planks of the porch are richly polished and smooth; however, it is the simplicity of the construction and not any gaudy decoration or ornate carvings that make it beautiful.

As you come to the far side of the "n" shaped porch, the door opens for the acolyte leading you and the group enters to find themselves on the west side of a room 20' long (in front of you) but only 10' wide (left to right). A large 10' long rice-paper door takes up half of the northern wall. The room holds no decorations.



Another acolyte already in the room steps forward to help the one who lead you in finding a place to sit or to offer any he;p a guest might need before meeting the priestess.  Once everyone is seated in formal manner (or as formal as they choose to be), the servants prepare to slide open the double, rice-paper doors in the northern wall.

Kasumi ate his breakfast rice and fish with deliberate care and respect. He whispered a quiet prayer to the four winds upon completion of his meal then helped the servants clear away the bowls and accompaniments. When he received his summons to see the temple priestess Uriki-sama he bowed to the servants and followed behind them to the shoin.

The ratling’s clothing was worn and stained but he held himself with decorum and deep dedication to his calling so that he did not look out of place in the serene beauty of the temple. When he was in the hall Kasumi prostrated himself on the ground with his forehead touching the polished floor. He then awaited the arrival of the priestess.

O' remained far from comfortable throughout the meals. He spoke little and looked around a lot.
The white rice was almost more than he could handle. The crippled monk Sozen lived off of alms from the villagers and none of them had ever had the luxury of white rice high up in the mountain valley with no name.
O' found the treat to be delicious. The steam alone seemed enough to swallow him whole. He had many times before eaten fish, but never so prettily cooked with soy sauce and ginger. O' was particularly self conscious about his table manners, or complete lack therefore of.
He ate what was presented to him and was careful not to take too much.
This feast was repeated again at breakfast, and finally O' was almost relieved to be summoned. He gathered up Tecchan, his only posession and followed, careful not to bump his head against the doorway.

Daikihina reveals cultured raising even though not having spoken about it by seating her self in the proper way and fashion. Paying attention to the small details and intricacies of ceremonies surrounding the event going trough them with tranquil smooth grace and perfect silence.

The event is something of an experience for her as well as it has been a long time since she has lived and acted as this. But she smiles softly as she realiseds it is as much part of her as her martial arts are.

The morning revealed Zheng-Ze to once again have the appearance of the slender, weak-framed human male with the pronounced overbite. With his gregarious attitude and high-energy level, he was a definite contrast to the cautious half-ogre. The fact that the wu jen was more than happy to try and strike up conversations as he sat next to O' helped accentuate their differences.

As they left the guest room, and even after they were seated in the receiving room, Zheng-ze was still whispering to those who would listen.
_{"So, it's the same priestess as yesterday or a different one?"
Do you think there's a reward? I'm not really interested in funds, maybe some privilages? I'm sure they have an extensive library.
Last night she mentioned others, 'two pathways' I think. Do you guess those nezumi are them?"....}
This message was last edited by the player at 22:02, Thu 06 Jan 2011.

Kuuhaku enjoyed the pleasant company and good food for both meals.  There would be much grim business to discuss and carry out when the time came.  He noted the presence of the second group at the gathering place, commenting to himself, "Good, more souls dedicated to good...or perhaps altruistic enough to accept reward for doing good at least."  The monk bowed politely to the others but chose to remain standing towards the back.

Smirking to the other group of well-armed invididuals upon entering, the young traveler spends a considerable amount of time sizing Kuuhaku up. He nods to himself, then seems to wander off visually, appearing to be thinking of something. The sliding doors provide him with a distraction from that reflective gaze, and he looks to see who steps through. Hearing the human male ask his questions, the man simply smirks, and says "Well, there isn't much sense in wondering about that which very well may be apparent shortly, is there?"

The acolytes get everyone seated, and the two servants on either side of the double rice-paper doors slide them fully open to reveal a combination of three rectangular rooms, all similar to the one you are in now. The sliding doors of each have been opened to create one large room (approx 20' wide by 55' long).

Approximately 20' from your position is the end of the first section. The next area is a step higher and is approximately 15' x20' while the final area---the jodan---is another step higher and is about 10' x 20'. In the final section sit two figures to the left and right of an honored place in the center of the jodan.  In that spot, a large, sky-blue sitting cushion remains empty. A small "armrest table" that is barely 8" wide and about 18" long and only about 10" high is next to the empty sky-blue cushion.

To the right (your left) of the jodan's honored empty seat, sits the beautiful, apparently human, and perhaps about 30 year-old shugenja from the night before. She wears her immaculate, snow-white robe. Her jet black is pulled back in a different (but still elaborate) braiding than last night. Once again it seems to enhance the beauty of her naturally pale complexion. She sits silently in a formal posture as her gaze quickly moves from person to person.


To the left (your right) of the jodan's center seat is an apparently human, dark-skinned male wearing the formal, ceremonial robes of a sohei. The robe barely seems able to contain the man's massive shoulders and wide chest. His head is shaved smooth, except for a thick but tightly-braided ponytail that extends from the back of his head and is drapped across his right shoulder. A sheathed jian (longsword) lay on the floor near his right thigh.

The servant who led you along the porch touches his forehead to the floor and announces your names:
"Kasumi, your young brother, defender of Renshu Kiro
Kuuhaku,  defender of Renshu Kiro
Daikihina, defender of Renshu Kiro
Ishikawa Chizuru, defender of the common children along the Imperial Road
Tenba Ichiro, defender of the common children along the Imperial Road
Zheng-Ze, defender of the common children along the Imperial Road
O, defender of the common children along the Imperial Road."

The hyperactive Wu Jen quiet downs under the formality of the room, although his facial muscles seem to resent the quiet as they occasional twitch or crinkle up his nose in quick double-sniff as if testing the air.

As his name is called Zheng-Ze bows deeply and respectfully defender of children he thinks to himself, well, not the title I expected...but it all starts somewhere I suppose.

O' likewise bows his head to the floor with surprising flexibility. When his head comes up from the bow, he wears a grin both slightly disturbing for those jagged half-ogre teeth and just slightly less bright than a sunny day.

Kuuhaku gives a polite bow to their hosts.  His expression is mostly neutral, but does betray interest.  He considers the title bestowed upon the other group mentally, concluding that it is unsurprising that intertwined events took place in different areas.

Daikihina looks at the unknown faces, but remains stately a bit cool and silent. She barely even moves past the occasional breath the faint blink of an eye here and there. She acknowledges when her name is called but noting more.