With my choice of 1 dice or 1 dice I go with conversation...
20:40, Today: Chiziwa Kiku rolled 1 success using 1d10 with the World of Darkness 3rd ed system with a target of 6 with rolls of 10.  Charisma. –


Kiku gives a formal bow.

Greetings master Yoichi, We were told you might be able to assist us in the loss of a sword 2 days ago.  Someone appears to have broken in and taken it.  Might you be of assistance, maybe you noticed something which might indicate who could have done such a dishonorable action.

Since Kiku seemed to gain Yoichi's good side, Reiko used her guile to enhance Kiku's success... by insinuating an opportunity and appealing to Yoichi's vanity.

"...and to help the sword's owner would surely gain his favor.  I think the shrine would look a lot better with your picture on the wall..."

And Reiko could actually deliver upon the picture part.

OOC: 00:59, Today: Kimura Reiko rolled 3 successes using 5d10 with the World of Darkness 3rd ed system with a target of 6 with rolls of 9,8,10,1,9.  Man+Subterfuge.

The monk--who doesn’t look like he’s in any great mental shape--watches Kiku bow and takes a sketch of a bow himself, keeping his palms pressed together in front of him. If nothing else, it gives a facsimile of mindful alertness.

Yoichi scrunches his forehead as he listens to Kiku’s request. In a voice that sounds ancient and dusty, he replies, “Yanagida is whom you search for, thought that is not without its dangers.” Yoichi refrains from expounding on that.

As Reiko chimes in, the monk does the same focused listening. Then says, “A photograph. I could be remembered. I fear not being remembered.” He shakes his head and lowers his hands. Still with shaking head, he says “I fear not being.”

He laughs of a sudden. “A hypocritical monk: I’m not so sure I belong on the temple wall.”

Turning away, he seems to calm himself again. “Yanagida, yes, she battles against the invaders. At Shibuya sukuranburu kōsaten. It would not do well for any of us if she and her forces fail.

“I do know this, there are worse fates than No-Being.

“I can escort you there if you want. I fear I go mad when I’m alone too long.”

I would certainly like your company to  Shibuya sukuranburu kōsaten, maybe on the way you can tell us something about yourself?

I was a school teacher, though that seems to fade away in the mists.

Walking with him.

Why would she needs the sword, if it was that important to defend against the invaders, would it not be something to be lent out?

I think i answered my own question, probably not.

Breathing in the more pleasant Yin-ness of this place, Reiko followed after Kiku & Yoichi.

"Can you tell us more about Yanagida?  Like... if she won the battle, would she be the sort of person to return the 'borrowed' sword?"

At the mention of Shibuya sukuranburu kōsaten, Reiko perked up.  She had been there to cosplay a few times.  It was also a fantastic place to accrue followers.  Maybe this year she could drag Kiku (and Setsuna) along?

You follow Yoichi down the streets. Lights only shine from the occasional street lamp. Most usually-lit floors of windows in the decaying counterparts of high buildings lay dark. Setsuna is strangely quiet as he walks behind you.

You catch a glimpse of Tokyo Tower and see its upper half burning with a strange white fire.

Closer at hand, you turn a corner and see a barricade made from the hulks of battered and rusted cars. Chatter from behind it slows and stops. A solitary wraith leans in front of the car-wall, watching you approach. The wraith looks to be pushing 6’ 6”. In one large, gnarled hand, he grips the haft of a naginata with a green jade blade.

The wraith calls out in a pleasant-enough voice: “Yoichi! You get lost again?” And then, standing up to his full height: “And some folks from out of town. Welcome, and what in the hells are you doing here?"

Kiku bows to the large wraith.

Hello,  I am Chiziwa Kiku, Master Yoichi was kind enough to guide us here in our search for Yanagida.   It seems that possibly this person might have mistakenly taken a katana, and we are here to retrieve that item and return it to its owner.  Though if such a great need was required instead of just ignoble ambitions, per chance we could find another solution.

Since Yoichi wasn't going to answer her questions, Reiko didn't ask anything further.  She just followed.  Maybe the time/place wasn't right for talking... or perhaps he didn't know?  She didn't think it was malicious or rude.

As for the Wraith guard, she sketched out a quick, informal greeting.

"I am Reiko... and I echo what she said."

Reiko eyed Tokyo Tower with some interest.  In all of her Yin studies, she had never seen this phenomena before.  It was either new or something rare.

OOC: Kiku, make Charisma + Empathy check, difficulty 7.

Reiko, make Intelligence + Occult, difficulty 8.
 

And my awesome 1 dice says 1
11:23, Today: Chiziwa Kiku rolled 1 success using 1d10 with the World of Darkness 3rd ed system with a target of 7 with rolls of 8. – 1 success

Ooc: Also 1 success.
04:25, Today: Kimura Reiko rolled 1 success using 4d10 with the World of Darkness 3rd ed system with a target of 8 with rolls of 7,8,7,4.  Int +occult.

In response to Kiku, the large wraith says, “Yanagida is manning the front lines up at Shibuya sukuranburu kōsaten. Seems the Chinese wraiths are supposed to have some weapon or champion that our forces will be hard set to match. I would suppose that is why she took the sword. If you think you can help her, I’ll go ahead and let you through.”

As Yoichi turns to go back to the temple, he finally replies to Reiko: “For thirty years, Yanagida has been fighting the Chinese wraiths who would take us prisoner and fashion us into white jade. She’s reasonable about everything besides doing whatever it takes to finally repel them.”

As to the strange white flame burning on--but not consuming--Tokyo Tower, Reiko only has a notion that it is not the deeper Tempest trying to break through. This would imply that some other realm is interacting/intersecting with the Yin world.

Is there anything that we should do to prepare before we go to the front lines?  Weapons or armor?  We were not prepared for this as originally this was just supposed to be a formal ceremony.


Setsuna? maybe in your bag of tricks?

This message was lightly edited by the GM at 21:42, Wed 02 Mar 2022.

Reiko nodded her thanks to Yoichi

"Well... that's not very neighborly.  We shall have to remind them of that."

Reiko also took out her phone and did a selfie (just a smile, nothing extravagant) with the Tokyo Tower in the background... both to mark the occasion and to have a picture of the white fire phenomena.

OOC:
Kiku, make a Perception + Alertness check, target 7
and same for Reiko but target 9

17:13, Today: Chiziwa Kiku rolled 4 successes using 5d10 with the World of Darkness 3rd ed system with a target of 7 with rolls of 8,8,6,9,10. – 4 successes

Reiko remained oblivious to… something.

Ooc:  0 successes

Kiku, turning to address Setsuna, who has been bringing up the rear, sees that he is absent from that spot and has started down a smaller street they have just passed.

He does not listen to any calls for him to come back.

The large "soldier" leading you both around the blockade of stacked, ruined cars asks, "Is everything all right?"

lowering her hand after Setsuna leaves.  Continuing to follow the soldier.

Well Reiko, it looks like we are on our own with what we have.  I am not sure why he even came with, I guess he was not joined with us anyway.

She shrugged.

"Perhaps his element is to stalk and report.  See what I did there?  Hehe."

Apparently the barricades looked like serious business, so Reiko wondered exactly what forces were arrayed against Yanagida.  Nonetheless she followed onward.

It’s a fairly long walk to Shibuya sukuranburu kōsaten. All around, deserted-looking buildings stand their silent watch.

You pass a couple dozen other soldiers. One even has a rifle, of old make and model.

As you approach the crossing from the south, another barricade rises before you. This one--rising twelve feet tall-- is formed of pieces of fallen buildings, both large and small, reinforced by steel girders. A walkway rises behind it, allowing soldiers to get a glimpse or a firearm over.

A tall woman (ghost) stands at the center of the walkway. Her black hair flows down to waist-length, caught up in a ponytail. A sword is sheathed on her back. At a whistle from your guide, Yanagida twists around, leaps nimbly down to street level, and approaches. Her potentially attractive face is marred with a multitude of scars.

“New meat, huh?” She tosses her words out fast: no-nonsense. “But not ghosts. Tourists,” Yanagida adds, sounding a bit curious.

[OOC: You know the drill, Cha+Empathy, difficulty 6. As you talk with her.]

19:06, Today: Chiziwa Kiku failed (no successes) using 1d10 with the World of Darkness 3rd ed system with a target of 6 with rolls of 5.  Talking. – failed (no successes)

We are here to clear up a misunderstanding.  A sword might have been taken without permission.

"... and we're here to bargain for its return.  Both of us follow the Song of Shadow."

Reiko could have said more, but was worried about Yanagida tuning out.

OOC: as much luck as Kiku, hehe.
20:38, Today: Kimura Reiko failed (no successes) using 4d10 with the World of Darkness 3rd ed system with a target of 6 with rolls of 2,8,1,5.  Cha+Emp.

Yanagida glances between the two of you. "Bargain for the sword back? I'm not sure what that relic of a Kuei-jin needs it for."

She nods at the large soldier who brought you to her. He leaves, to return to his post, presumably.

"My roof-scouts report that the Chinese are bringing some sort of entity to the front. It might attack as early as tonight."

Yanagida pushes back some hair that has come loose from her ponytail. "From what they say, it's a mass of ghosts intertwined into some sort of creature. My best advisor thinks it is the Yin remains of an abomination crafted by the Si-Mi-Si. Whatever they are."

Her lips turn up in a feral grin. "Bone Flowers, huh? Can you fight?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:31, Sat 12 Mar 2022.

I have been successful in at least holding my own against my sensei, at least when she took it easy on me.  Maybe tougher than most people.  I will fight for what it is worth.


Kiku will stretch out some, and rip the seem on her dress to give her more room to work.

Well wont need the dress if we win, and wont care if we don't