Kiku enters the shrine stopping in the middle with a deep bow, Good evening, I am Chiziwa Kiku, under the tutelage of  Hisashi, Tae, Amachi, Akagi and Fuse.  I have come as you requested this evening.  Thank you for this audience Arima-sama.

She awaits the response from Arima-sama.

Reiko did the best to hide her discomfort, so deferring to Kiku made sense.  She was more concerned with not failing the test... than passing with distinction.  She chanted a mantra in her mind... Don't be weird, Don't be creepy

"Hello Arima-sama.  Kimura Reiko here as requested."

Somehow she managed to fake more cheer than she felt.  Maybe it was the red dress?  Did curling her hair help?  Bright cosmetics?

While you introduce yourselves, the woman who just let you in goes to stand off to one side behind Arima. She folds her arms, revealing a Browing 9mm in a shoulder holster.

Arima finishes with the apple and nods sagely. Then he smiles, and it is somehow grotesque. “Two Bone Shadows, then.” His voice sounds bland, non-threatening. “From what I hear. And at least one of you is quite promising.” Arima then laughs at some joke only he can decipher. He rises up from the table, more nimbly that his bulk would indicate.

That’s when you notice that all five of the Wu who trained you have fallen back about twenty feet and are kneeling.

“Setsuna!” Arima calls out. Within moments, a Kuei-jin enters from the opposite hallway. At least you assume he is, for all that he is dressed like a street punk, with a buttoned blue-jean jacket, wild pink hair and cold blue eyes (contacts?). His expression is one of derision.

After he enters, the Kuei-jin starts to mark the floor with a bit of charcoal attached to a wooden stick.

Arima regards the two of you again. “State your direction, so we can go ahead and form you into a Wu.”
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:09, Tue 08 Mar 2022.

I am sure that Reiko will meet your expectations, i still have much to learn.

I am of the East direction.


Kiku takes her place wherever Setsuna says.

Reiko couldn’t be sure whether it was she or Kiku who was Arima’s interesting one.  The old Reiko would have hoped it was herself.  The new Reiko considered the feeling to be irrelevant… in the greater scheme of things.

“West for me, Arima-sama.”

Setsuna was naturally evaluated.  Reiko tried to peer under his ‘colourful’ exterior, seeking to gauge his body language and other Tells.

OOC: Reiko, make a Perception + Empathy roll, target 8.

Setsuna traces a circle on the floor with the charcoal and then, within, two shapes that look somewhat like leaves. He finishes, and Arima motions with his head for you to enter it. Each of you takes up position in one of the leaves.

Without a word, the pink-haired Kuei-jin grabs Reiko’s wrist and deeply traces a symbol in her palm with a fingernail that looks more like a claw. He repeats the process with Kiku.

OOC: Lose a Chi point.

As the two younger Kuei-jins blood drips to the floor, the charcoal flares to life with a soft red glow. Setsuna begins to chant, in a harsh, clipped voice: “In their hearts, one. In their pain, one. In their path, one. In the shadows, one.”

The light flares and then subsides. Setsuna glares over at Arima. “It is done.”

Arima calls out, in a deep below, “Now leave us!” Not only does Setsuna turn and withdraw, but the members of your instructive Wu depart as well, from the way you came in.

All that remains is for you to kneel before Arima (who still has the young, armed Kuei-jin woman lurking behind him, to one side). In a voice that sounds informal, now, he says “You’ll want to pick a name for your Wu. For record-keeping, if nothing else.”

-1 yin

Kiku sits seiza as requested waiting for Reiko to suggest a name.  Keeping her head up and aware as this was supposed to be a test.  At least that is what she thought, and she hasnt seen anything like a test yet.

Reiko was treated to the quickest and most impersonal display she had seen from Arima and Setsuna.  Why was the Wu being formed like this?

Well, better than a long drawn out process with the pomp factor dialed up to eleven  She mused inwardly.

As to Arima’s question about the Wu name, Reiko sought out some reason to delay her answer.

“Arima-sama, we would need time to come up with an auspicious Wu name and excluding Setsuna might be a bad omen.  Could we give an answer later this evening?  Perhaps an answer would be swifter if we knew what you intended the Wu to do…”

“You are correct, it can wait.” Arima laughs. His voice drops to a stage whisper. “You should know that all the members of Setsuna’s previous Wu were killed. All but him. By some sort of shapeshifting viper. He wants revenge, but that will have to be put off to some more auspicious time.
“Your first task is straightforward but not trivial. My sword has been stolen. Though lately it’s been no more than ceremonial. Uta no Tatakai the blade was named, long before I killed the Akuma that wielded it.”

As Arima shifts his bulk around, it is hard to imagine him as a warrior.

“The thing is, it exists as much in the Jade Kingdom [land of the dead] as in this world. I know no mortal pilferer has been in my vault, so your first directive is to recover it.”

At this point, Setsuna returns from the back, carrying a gym bag. It looks crammed-full of unknown objects, but he hefts easily. As he approaches, he gives a lopsided grin at Reiko and Kiku. Reaching a spot right next to the two Bone Shadows, he drops his tote and bows deeply to Arima and says, loudly, “We won’t let you down!”

Arima’s face clouds over for a moment, then his blissful smile returns. “I am sure you have questions. Speak them.”

Setsuna will agree with whatever Wu name.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:23, Thu 03 Feb 2022.

Kiku looks confused briefly before realizing that Setsuna is coming either to help or monitor.



Thank you Arima for this opportunity to prove ourselves.

As I have not seen it what does it look like?
Is it more dangerous than a normal sword?
Who or what might want to steal it?
Who might find it valuable enough to wish to risk angering you?



Kiku looks down slightly as she just blurted out a pile of questions which seem simple.

"It's a jian [double-edged straight sword] I picked up in China a few hundred years ago.

"As to special properties, it lowers the will to survive of those it strikes.

"I have killed a great many mortals, so I have no idea what particular ghost would steal it.

"I am reasonably certain it is a denizen of the underworld. Which is one place I have difficulty navigating in."

Quite a formidable task.   When was it stolen or at least noticed missing?

Kiku seems lost in thought on more questions to ask.

"I noticed it was gone two days ago, but the last time I had checked my vault before then was four days ago.

"The one resource I propose you look to, first, is a ghost named Yoichi. His spirit has ties to this temple, so he is apparently around rather often. Beyond the Veil, of course."
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:11, Sat 05 Feb 2022.

Reiko listened to the details and chanted an inner mantra

Don’t be weird, don’t be creepy…

She was glad that Kiku had taken the lead and her questions were excellent.  There was little left to add, except to suggest the Wu name.

“Given our shrouded natures and the fact that someone has taken Arima-Samoa’s property without permission, should we not be called the Forbidden?  Kiku, Setsuna… do you agree?”

Nodding to Reiko in agreement on the name.

I think this is like a missing person case, the longer we wait the harder it will be as they will have more time to get away.   As it has already been more than 2 days, this will be challenging.


OOC:  If this was DnD i would say i need to get my stuff.  i have my stuff, just nice clothes on instead of jeans ... oh well i can buy more :-D

Through means unapparent, the slender woman wearing a motorcycle jacket and with black hair hanging nearly to her waist enters the large hall just as Arima says, “Juri, show these eager young Disciples my vault and then a suitable place for them to cross over.”

“Of course, Arima-sama.”

She looks expectantly at you and then goes down a back hallway, along which are many doors. At the third door on the right, she pauses to take out a ring of keys to unlock it with. Following her within reveals a small altar to the Buddha, festooned with candles, icons and incense. Juri approaches it and then puts her hand along one side of it.

A hidden cabinet in the left wall swings open somewhat, and Juri opens it the rest of the way. “This is probably something you should forget about once you have seen it. Inspect it in any manner you like, if that will help you. It hasn't been disturbed since Arima-sama found the sword stolen.”

Measuring roughly four feet high and five feet wide, the “vault” is relatively shallow, indented into the wall only about nine inches. Contained within are three metal spheres perhaps six inches in diameter with the single kanji for “nightingale” on them, a white stole that looks like one a Catholic priest would wear, a silver chain crafted of fine links, a sawed-off shotgun and a quill with a bottle next to it, of blue ink.

In the center, set high, are two supports that come out from the back, presumably where the sword was held before its disappearance.

OOC: You can describe what you're doing and then roll Perception + Investigation, target number 8.
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:59, Sun 06 Feb 2022.

Kiku mentions to Reiko Well clearly not a smash and grab as nothing else appears to be missing.   Kiku openas and closes the door in the light looking for signs of prints.  Along with checking the inside to see if anything else appears to have been moved or disturbed like they were checking to decide what they wanted to steal.  Lastly just based on where this is located in the house? mansion? compound?  how far did they need to come into get this.

Yes I am not going to be able to fingerprint match or collect.   I am expecting to find 0,1 or alot.  ) tells me it was cleaned and the person opening it either didnt leave prints or cant.  1 indicates the thief was something that could leave prints assuming keiujin can't, a lot means he needs a new maid :-)

After a farewell bow to Arima, Reiko followed after Juri.  She liked the style of this other woman and wanted to know more about her.

“Juri-san, if this investigation proves to be protracted… will you be our intermediary?”

Looking over the empty supports, Reiko nodded in agreement to Kiku’s comment.  She withdrew her iPhone, opened up her Creep Cam app, and swept the shrine and nearby area.  She’d never used it to check for ghostly residue, but it was worth a try…

Ooc:  1 success, Artifact writeup on my sheet, if needed for referencing.   

As Kiku opens and closes the doors to the alcove, Reiko's phone's video reveals the presence of a small patch of ectoplasm on the center outside, where the doors meet.

OOC: A Yang-inbalanced Kuei-Jin might leave behind fingerprints, but that would be the only case.

Both of you can make an Intelligence + Occult roll, target 7
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:28, Mon 07 Feb 2022.

Reiko didn't push Juri for an answer.  Maybe if they found the sword, she might regard them with more interest?

"Hmmm, we definitely have a sticky fingered ghost here, Kiku."

Ordinarily she might have taken a picture, but given it was Arima's secret cupboard... Reiko elected not to.


OOC:  1 Success
23:03, Today: Kimura Reiko rolled 1 success using 4d10 with the World of Darkness 3rd ed system with a target of 7 with rolls of 2,4,4,8.  Int+occult.

07:33, Today: Chiziwa Kiku rolled 1 success using 3d10 with the World of Darkness 3rd ed system with a target of 6 with rolls of 9,1,8.  int+occult. – 1 success

Strange why would a ghost want the sword, well probably not the ghost probably someone that commanded the ghost.  Kiku continues to poke around.

Juri watches all the investigation with mild interest, then takes out a piece of bubble gum and a card from some inner pocket in her leather jacket. She pops the gum in her mouth and starts chewing, even as she drops the wrapper to the floor.

Juri hands the card to Reiko. It is pink with only a printed black phone number on it.

Only then do Reiko and Kiku notice that Setsuna is only now entering the room. He says, "I found a good place to cross over. It's a cleaning closet with its only door into an unused room. You said you wanted to start here, and soon."

Juri looks at Setsuna and tilts her head to one side, smacking her gum.

OOC: You've entered a building that abuts up to the temple from behind it.

Oh yeah, and both of you are positive this is ghost flesh, but neither of you can think of the correct word for it. "Ectoplasm" is only the pseudo-science-y one.

This message was last edited by the GM at 14:39, Mon 07 Feb 2022.

Not sure it is the best idea, but that is the one I got.   Time to find Yoichi.

Kiku heads to the closet, focuses on the jade figurine Don't forget to close the door and steps into the spirit world.  Realizing she should have asked how to identify Yoichi.


After stepping out of the closet she looks around, maybe she will get lucky and Yoichi will be here already.

Reiko followed Setsuna & Kiku into the spirit world.

As soon as she had her bearings, Reiko looked around for Yoichi or some ghost that might be him.  There was also a nagging thought that she felt compelled to voice.

"Kiku, Setsuna... if this sword is dangerous, how do we ensure it isn't turned upon us?"

As you translate into the world of the dead, the color seems to be sapped from all your perceptions. Even your voices sound drained.

Opening up the closet reveals the room you were just in, though the chairs and tables are in such disrepair as to be unusable. It is no great difficulty to retrace your steps to the main temple area. Even the grand space has withered into something that almost feels claustrophobic.

Out from behind one of the tattered curtains on the far side, a figure steps out. What should be his flesh is gray, and his eyes are solid white. He's dressed in tatters of what might have once been saffron robes. The ghost makes a clawing motion at you and spits, twisting so he is sideways to you.

If you had to guess, this is Yoichi. Or what is left of the man he once was.

[OOC: If you talk to him, he acknowledges that name.
You can make a Cha + Empathy roll to try and actually have a conversation with him.
OR
Manipulation + Subterfuge is you want to trick him into helping you, somehow]
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:27, Sat 12 Feb 2022.