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Play By Post Section => Mythic Nippon: The Demon God of Sendai => Trophy Room => Side Quests => Topic started by: BerkaZerka on December 29, 2013, 01:52:27 pm
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6th Day of Summer 1297
A Trip to Edo?
Following the return to Sendai, the Samurai and Company all returned to their homes and enjoyed finally being able to sleep in their own beds after so long on the road. For everyone but Roka, this was a nice way to unwind and relax.
Roka however, found that he was constantly plagued with thoughts of Lilitu the Succubus and couldn’t get her out of his mind. The lust to see her again was almost overwhelming and he was beginning to think that he might have been cursed or something from sleeping with her.
It occurred to him that Yuki might be able to do something for him in that regard (the curse part at least), so he set off to visit her. Along the way he ran into Udo, who had this idea to take a trip to the Capitol City of Edo (something about dire half-dragon chaos boars or something) – which reminded Roka that this was the time of year for the Dragon Boat Races. He had always wanted to see that crazy event and the idea to actually go down with Udo and compete in them (rather than just watch) suddenly entered his mind. Perhaps it could even take his mind off Lilitu - should Yuki’s Feng-Shui not be able to set his aura right again.
Roka and Udo, then neared the Sendai School of Zen Archery, run by Yuki’s mother, Headmistress Akiko Shirahata.
Ahead of them, they spotted Yuki and Miya heading into the School, so Roka and Udo hurried to catch up with them.
Inside the School, Keitaro was already there, visiting the little fox girl Kioko and giving her a gift from their long trip. Yuki’s mother was there as well and the Priest Kirito.
When everyone entered, Kirito bid them all good morning and then excused himself, saying that he had to go to an important meeting with the Exalted Patriarch Yukio Onishi - the High Priest of Sendai and Exalted Patriarch of the Temple of Five Gods. As the Highest Ranking member of Sendai’s Spiritual Community, it was a great honor for Kirito to be summoned like that and he didn’t want to be late.
As Kirito ran off up the street, everyone had the strange feeling that they weren’t going to be seeing much of him from now on…
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(OOC – everyone is now gathered in the Zen Archery School, to visit Kioko or seek each other out for various reasons. Have at it! :))
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Kioko lights up seeing everyone coming to visit.
She actually runs over to Yuki and wraps her up in a big hug, crying - "Sister Yuki, it is so good to see you again! I didn't know when you would ever get back!"
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Kioko lights up seeing everyone coming to visit.
She actually runs over to Yuki and wraps her up in a big hug, crying - "Sister Yuki, it is so good to see you again! I didn't know when you would ever get back!"
Yuki hugs Kioko back and smiles.
"Hehe, yep I'm back! And guess what, we rescued a princess!"
She says excitedly.
"Well, she was a barbarian princess, but I think she still counts."
She continues. Yuki then decides to use her spirit sight to see if she can notice anything about Kioko.
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Roka smiles, albeit weakly, towards Kioko, and sits down, in the room.
"Yeah, it was an interesting adventure, certainly." Roka says, nodding.
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Using Spirit Sight, Yuki can see a glowing radiance about Kioko - revealing that she really is a spirit - even though she has a physical presence somehow.
It occurs to Yuki that she could try Reading Aura with Spirit Sight - 'I wonder what that would reveal'...
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Kioko meanwhile, wants to know all about the Princess you rescued - "Was she pretty? Did she have a beautiful dress? Did she wear a tiara? Did she have a wand?"
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Kioko meanwhile, wants to know all about the Princess you rescued - "Was she pretty? Did she have a beautiful dress? Did she wear a tiara? Did she have a wand?"
"Of course she was pretty! She was a princess after all."
Yuki replies.
"She was a prisoner though, so she didn't have any of her nice stuff with her. Apparently, she was taken while she was having a bath in a hot spring."
She continues enthusiastically. Yuki then tests out her idea to try read aura with spirit sight.
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Udo nods to Kioko and sits down. As per usual, a falcon perched on his shoulder, squirrels and skunks under his armor, and Rai and Autolycus outside. However, the unnamed Hedgheog is on his lap, as Udo is unsure what to do with it.
"So, how has it been in here since we left?" He asks Kioko.
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"Oh, it has been wonderful!" Kioko beams. "Yuki's mother has been teaching me Zen Archery and says that I am good enough to be an honorary member of the family! That is why Yuki and I are now sisters!"
Kioko then hugs Yuki once again.
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As Yuki combines Read Arua with Spirit Sight, she is startled by what she sees – Kioko’s Aura is exactly the same as Sakura’s used to be (though her skills differ, as could be expected between a child and a Wu-Jen).
And looking closer, Yuki can actually see a barely discernible, small silver line of spiritual attunement of some kind, pointing north out of Kioko about a foot, before it wisps completely out of sight. For some reason, Yuki gets the feeling that the line is being hidden by some sort of magic beyond her understanding.
But it is not this revelation that stuns Yuki, for looking down at herself, she sees a similarly feint (almost invisible) line of attunement extending from herself in the exact same direction.
Glancing around the room in shock, she sees that Roka, Udo, and Keitaro also have this line, while Miya and Yuki’s mother do not. Additionally, Yuki can see that Roka has been Cursed with some demonic energies – though these seem independent of the strange silvery lines of attunement they all seem to share – all pointing north for some unknown reason…
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"You're learning Zen Archery? Cool, I guess that's the benifit of being with the head of a school." Roka says, nodding.
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"Yes," the little six year old fox girl replies proudly - "and I can hit the target if I stand close enough!"
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"Yes," the little six year old fox girl replies proudly - "and I can hit the target if I stand close enough!"
"You're probably better then I am, then." Roka says with a smile.
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Kioko giggles at Roka's comment.
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"She really is good for her age," Yuki's mother says, "She reminds me of Yuki when she was little."
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"Oh, it has been wonderful!" Kioko beams. "Yuki's mother has been teaching me Zen Archery and says that I am good enough to be an honorary member of the family! That is why Yuki and I are now sisters!"
Kioko then hugs Yuki once again.
Yuki smiles and pats Kioko's head almost absentmindedly while she tries to comprehend what she just saw. Ignoring Roka's personal issue, the spiritual attunements are definitely something that she will need to investigate further. She then shakes her head and decides to not think about it for now.
"That's great Kioko! Welcome to the family."
She replies.
"Hey, has mom taken you to see the occult society yet?"
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"She really is good for her age," Yuki's mother says, "She reminds me of Yuki when she was little."
"After spending some time with her, I can attest for her skills. She is truly Gifted (Keitaro hints at her spirit..ness). It has been a blessing to spend time with her again." Switching his focus to the girl He continues speaking. "My Doshin, Miko, was suppose to have been back here first but since i returned home before hand, and I am unsure of where the road will take me in the next few days, So I want to give you this." He walks over by the door and opens a sack, inside he pulls out a doll and a box of sweets.
"Here ya go Kioko, I figured since Children's day is coming up on us soon that I would get you a little something. I hope you enjoy these" he then hands her the presents as he walks over to her.
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"Hey, has mom taken you to see the occult society yet?"
Kioko crinkles her nose - "Huh?" she asks confused, "to see who?"
"Oh, no, we haven't made it," Yuki's mother says, "Those magic types are so darn wrapped up in themselves. They have no time for anyone. Besides, Kioko and I were too busy having fun here!"
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"Sounds like you were having a blast, huh?" Roka says, nodding.
"Anyways, Yuki, mind if we talk in private?" Roka asks, bowing to Mrs. Yuki (:P).
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"Well....we should stop by them for a visit sometime!"
Yuki says to her mother and Kioko.
"They should have some answers....probably..."
She says in a quieter voice. Yuki then turns to Roka.
"Is it about your curse?"
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"Here ya go Kioko, I figured since Children's day is coming up on us soon that I would get you a little something. I hope you enjoy these" he then hands her the presents as he walks over to her.
"Oh thank you Keitaro-san!" Kioko smiles and gives him a hug, before taking the doll out and cradling it motheringly.
"She's beautiful!"
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"Oh thank you Keitaro-san!" Kioko smiles and gives him a hug, before taking the doll out and cradling it motheringly.
"She's beautiful!"
"Oh you're quite welcome!" Keitaro says patting her on the back before she backs away to hold the doll. "I hope the celebration is great and that you are at peace here." he smiles at the little fox girl.
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"Well....we should stop by them for a visit sometime!"
Yuki says to her mother and Kioko.
"They should have some answers....probably..."
She says in a quieter voice. Yuki then turns to Roka.
"Is it about your curse?"
Roka motions to move outside, which he does.
Assuming Yuki follows, he nods.
"Yeah, I think my... Interaction... With the Succubus caused some sort of curse upon me... I feel somewhat off. You know of any way to deal with that?"
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Yuki nods.
"Yep, I could fix it."
She replies.
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Yuki nods.
"Yep, I could fix it."
She replies.
Roka nods. And waits.
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Yuki stares blankly at Roka, making no attempt to actually fix the issue.
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Yuki stares blankly at Roka, making no attempt to actually fix the issue.
".... Are you... Well... Going to fix the curse? I would be greatly thankful if you did..." Roka says, eyebrows raised.
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".... Are you... Well... Going to fix the curse? I would be greatly thankful if you did..." Roka says, eyebrows raised.
Yuki tilts her head in response.
"What for? It's more fun this way, hehe."
She replies with a smile.
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Yuki tilts her head in response.
"What for? It's more fun this way, hehe."
She replies with a smile.
"How is this fun? I'm being driven insane from this!" Roka shouts, internally searching for a reason Yuki would enjoy his torment.
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"How is this fun? I'm being driven insane from this!" Roka shouts, internally searching for a reason Yuki would enjoy his torment.
"Hmmmm....."
Yuki says, seemingly pondering what she should do.
"Okay!"
She says, deciding to fix Roka's curse (consulting her lopan and moving his aura back into proper alignment).
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"Thank you very much, Yuki." Roka says, smiling.
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Roka, thinking for a moment, and stares at Yuki.
"Hmm... Have you ever heard of the Dragon Boat Festival?"
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Roka, thinking for a moment, and stares at Yuki.
"Hmm... Have you ever heard of the Dragon Boat Festival?"
Yuki blinks.
"Why are you staring at me...?"
She asks.
"And of course I've heard of it!"
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Yuki blinks.
"Why are you staring at me...?"
She asks.
"And of course I've heard of it!"
"Have you ever wanted to join the races? It's been one of my hopes, and while the army heads off to Ho-Kamatsu and destroys him, I thought that I should go. One of my pals knows how to sail, and I was thinking of grabbing a couple of us for the race." Roka says.
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"Have you ever wanted to join the races? It's been one of my hopes, and while the army heads off to Ho-Kamatsu and destroys him, I thought that I should go. One of my pals knows how to sail, and I was thinking of grabbing a couple of us for the race." Roka says.
"Sure! Oh, we should see if Kioko wants to go to!"
Yuki says, rushing back to everyone.
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"Sure! Oh, we should see if Kioko wants to go to!"
Yuki says, rushing back to everyone.
"I don't know if she'd enjoy watching it, but if she wants to go." Roka says, shrugging, and following Yuki.
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Seeing Roka come back, Udo waves to him, "So, how about it Roka? Chaos Boars in Edo trip?" He says, smiling.
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Yuki runs up to Kioko upon entering the room.
"Hey Kioko, how'd you like to come to a boat race with us!"
She says.
"It'll be fun!"
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Seeing Roka come back, Udo waves to him, "So, how about it Roka? Chaos Boars in Edo trip?" He says, smiling.
"Probably a bit more then that, Udo." Roka says with a chuckle.
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"Probably a bit more then that, Udo." Roka says with a chuckle.
"Awesome, we should get going though, Edo is ways away after all," Udo says, surprisingly merry.
He stops and looks at Yuki, "Boat race?"
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"Awesome, we should get going though, Edo is ways away after all," Udo says, surprisingly merry.
He stops and looks at Yuki, "Boat race?"
"Yeah, Yuki and I are planning to join the Dragon Boat Race. I've watched the races before, but I want to see how well I can do. The two gold chests are a great motivator as well." Roka says with a chuckle.
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"Oh, I always wanted to see the Dragon Boat Races!" Kioko says.
Then turning to Udo she adds, "if it is such a long way, then you should take the train. I love riding the train!"
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"Erm... what is a train?"
Keitaro says COMPLETELY dumbfounded
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"You know silly," Kioko laughs, "It has cars pulled by the steam locomotive and a caboose and goes on tracks and sometimes they have a dining car and a sleeper car for really really long trips."
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"You know silly," Kioko laughs, "It has cars pulled by the steam locomotive and a caboose and goes on tracks and sometimes they have a dining car and a sleeper car for really really long trips."
Keitaro scratches his head... "Cars?"
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"Yeah, Yuki and I are planning to join the Dragon Boat Race. I've watched the races before, but I want to see how well I can do. The two gold chests are a great motivator as well." Roka says with a chuckle.
Udo rubs his chin, "Hey, that's in Edo! Can I join with you?"
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"You know silly," Kioko laughs, "It has cars pulled by the steam locomotive and a caboose and goes on tracks and sometimes they have a dining car and a sleeper car for really really long trips."
"Ha ha, we have no such thing, though we have boats." Roka says, with a smile. "It's a nine day trip, I believe. How fast were these 'trains'? I bet they couldn't get to Edo in 9 days!"
Turning to Udo, Roka pauses.
"You're interested in going on a Boat Race?"
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Udo looks at Kioko for a moment, wondering what she's talking about. Turning to Roka, wiping his nose, he says, "Well, I'm going to Edo anyhow, and I'm sure it'll be enjoyable enough."
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Udo looks at Kioko for a moment, wondering what she's talking about. Turning to Roka, wiping his nose, he says, "Well, I'm going to Edo anyhow, and I'm sure it'll be enjoyable enough."
"If you want to, I don't see any harm in it. The more the merrier."
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Kioko scratches her head with a puzzled look.
"Trains are fast, but I don't know how long they take, I'm only six after all," she states mater-of-factly.
Then she asks Roka, "You have a boat?"
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Kioko scratches her head with a puzzled look.
"Trains are fast, but I don't know how long they take, I'm only six after all," she states mater-of-factly.
Then she asks Roka, "You have a boat?"
"Well, I have 2 canoes..." Keitaro chirps in. Still a little bewildered about what Kioko is referring to in trains, and cars...
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Kioko scratches her head with a puzzled look.
"Trains are fast, but I don't know how long they take, I'm only six after all," she states mater-of-factly.
Then she asks Roka, "You have a boat?"
"My friend is part of a crew. We should be able to get a ride to Edo"
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"Ooh, can we take a canoe ride?" Kioko asks Keitaro - clearly impressed that he has two canoes.
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"Ooh, can we take a canoe ride?" Kioko asks Keitaro - clearly impressed that he has two canoes.
"why yes, that would be nice. we can go for a ride whenever you'd like little one." Keitaro smiles at the girl. Clearly he feels sorry for her and whatever is going on with her spirit. He touches the hilt of his sword and activates the spirit sight just to make sure nothing has changed and the like...
"Miko should arrive in Sendai in a couple of days maybe she could join us?"
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Using his Spirit Sight, Keitaro can see the glowing radiance about Kioko that reveals her as a spirit being, but sees nothing else out of the ordinary.
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Udo grins, but inquires, "So, Roka. You have someone who can drive a boat, but I think they judge the boat on it's appearance. Do you know anyone who can decorate the boat?"
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Udo grins, but inquires, "So, Roka. You have someone who can drive a boat, but I think they judge the boat on it's appearance. Do you know anyone who can decorate the boat?"
"I think one of the mercs I brought back was an artist. I think her name was Oki?"
OOC: Now I do ;)
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"Neat," Udo says excitedly.
"So when do we get going to Edo?"
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"Neat," Udo says excitedly.
"So when do we get going to Edo?"
"Hmm, well, I don't think we should miss Children's day, but building the ship takes time... Hmm... I'm not a craftsman though, so I don't really know when we should go..."
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"Hmm, well, I don't think we should miss Children's day, but building the ship takes time... Hmm... I'm not a craftsman though, so I don't really know when we should go..."
"I thought your Sea-Dog friend had one" Udo says, frowning.
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"I thought your Sea-Dog friend had one" Udo says, frowning.
"I was specifically talking about a normal boat, but he may have a dragon boat." Roka replies, shrugging.
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"I was specifically talking about a normal boat, but he may have a dragon boat." Roka replies, shrugging.
'What about.. Reforming his boat?" Udo asks, unsure if he'll allow that...
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'What about.. Reforming his boat?" Udo asks, unsure if he'll allow that...
"I doubt it... Hmm, well, I should get going with the planning and all. Thanks for the help Yuki, and I'll see you both, and maybe Kioko later on." Roka says, before he bows to Ms. Yuki (can't remember the last name), and leaves the house.
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"By by Roka-San!" Kioko says with a wave.
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"Ooh, can we take a canoe ride?" Kioko asks Keitaro - clearly impressed that he has two canoes.
Yuki goes in close to Kioko and whispers.
"I wouldn't trust his canoes. The reason he has two is because he crashed his last one, so he bought two extras...."
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Kioko raises her eyebrows in playful disbelief - "What? He crashed a canoe?"
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Yuki nods, then puts her finger to her mouth.
"But shhhh."
She whispers. Yuki then looks to her mother.
"You'll come with us to the boat race, right?"
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"Sure, I suppose I could," Yuki's mother replies.
Then turning to Kioko, she asks, "Would you like that Kioko?"
"Yes yes yes! Let's all go!" Comes the excited answer.
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OOC: Heh, Forgot to check the side quests. :p
Miya seems excited to join Yuki and is glad she can take her mind of other issues she has right now.
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Udo yawns, "So, when are we going to get going? Children's day is about a week away, and we need to build the dragon boat, but I think we'll still have enough time to build the boat if we wait it out, I think..."
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"If you are going to build your own boat, you should do it in Edo and as soon as possible," Yuki's mother says.
"If you are going to wait until after Children's Day to head to Edo, then you'd be well advised to send someone ahead to begin things on that end for you."
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Yuki nods in response to her mother.
She then consults her lopan/gatestone, in order to summon a shipwright capable of helping them build a boat worthy of winning the dragon boat race. Yuki then turns to everyone still in the room.
"So, do we have enough people for the race?"
She asks.
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Udo stands, "I'm sure we could pay for some people if we don't have enough, but Roka has a bunch of people following him around, perhaps they could fit?" He shrugs, "Uh, thanks Mrs. Shirahata, and uh, bye Kioko and Yuki"
Udo walks out, wondering what to do in his spare time.
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Udo walks outside, once well away from the Shirahata abode, he kneels behind a bush, trying to hide himself from any passerby. Once unseen, he thinks about how awesome it'd be to fly...
..."Agh!"... (:P)
A black nose peeks out from the bush, and soon he ups and aways to the air, searching Sendai for animals to befriend, partly because he's bored, the other part because he's looking for another animal companion since Yoshi had to leave. He spends a luck point if needed to find something interesting...
Wow, this form is kinda odd. I wonder what else I can do...
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21st Day of Summer 1297
The Imperial City of Edo!
The day following Children’s Day (which little Kioko found most enjoyable, except a for a little homesickness and tears for her real mother later that night), Roka, Udo, Yuki, Miya, Kioko, Yuki’s mother Akiko, and whole bunch of Roka’s minions, boarded the old sea dog Tanak Abe’s boat and set sail for Edo.
The trip took nine days and was largely uneventful, except for Udo – who’s ability to change into animal forms proved quite entertaining, especial when he balanced a ball on his nose in seal-form.
As it was, the ship made port in Edo late on the evening of the 20th Day of Summer.
Sleeping the night on the ship, the party disembarked the next morning to seek out Roka and Yuki’s contacts who would be waiting for them somewhere in the city. The first thing everyone noticed as they got off the ship, was just how many Chinese there were in the city – in fact, the only Nipponese immediately visible were those in the harbor prepping their Dragon Boats for the upcoming Races in just twelve days.
That, and the city itself was massively huge! Sprawling in its greatness over the land – and to the west, just over a hundred miles away, yet visible in the clearness of the day – Mount Fuji – the highest mountain in all of Nippon, rising to almost thirteen thousand feet! The beautiful perfectly cone-shaped mountain that legend said held the slumbering form of a terrible dragon – imprisoned there eons ago by the very gods!
In fact, Edo was larger than anything anyone had ever seen – Why, the fortress City of Sendai itself would barely fill the confines of the Imperial Castle alone. And the rest of the city could easily encompass dozens or more Sendai’s in its awesome vastness!
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Udo's amazement is only slightly diminished at the sight of the Chinese. This is the place... he thinks after consulting his Mythical Beast book. Udo looks at the other boats, wondering about their chances.
"Hey Roka, what now?"
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The beauty of this city is simply diminished by the Chinese. It's an unfortunate truth. This city will always feel disgusting, until the Chinese leave. Roka thinks to himself, though, truth be told, even the Chinese have some attractive women. However, even sex is not enough of a reason to accept the Chinese. One can only hope they will leave soon.
Udo's voice breaks Roka's thoughts, as he suddenly looked alert.
"Right, pretty sure Tanak has some knowledge of how to acquire ourselves a dragon boat, right?" Roka says, smiling, as he turns to Tanak Abe, who nods.
"Oh, and Udo? My deciples found your performance as a seal quite enjoyable. They talked about it for far too long during the trip." Roka says, pointing at his three deciples.
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"As our per our previous arrangements," Tanak Abe says, "a Dragon Boat is already waiting for us... somewhere..."
Then after looking across the harbor, he finishes - "We just need to find the Shipwright 'Kozu'."
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"As our per our previous arrangements," Tanak Abe says, "a Dragon Boat is already waiting for us... somewhere..."
Then after looking across the harbor, he finishes - "We just need to find the Shipwright 'Kozu'."
"Fun." Roka says, sighing. "I assume it's not going to be easy to find one shipwright in this harbor, huh?"
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Udo bows slightly with a grin, "Indeed, didn't know I could turn into a seal until then, but I know of some other forms that'll be quite, entertaining..."
Kuwabara seems quite proud of his new ability, and continues, "And since Yoshi left, I've begun to understand the other animals, and they understand me as well! It's quite amazing, though I miss that glum guy..."
He turns to Tanak, "What does the shipwright look like?"
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Tanak replies to both Udo and Roka - "Not sure what he looks like, except that he's an old fella. Shouldn't be too hard to track him down though, he's well enough known in Edo."
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Miya looks out at the vast city before her with a thoughtful expression.
Reminds me of the forest; but with less stone and people.
She gives a quiet laugh at herself before following Roka and Udo. Miya also makes sure to keep close to Yuki in case the chinese prove hostile to her fair-folk friend.
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Udo looks uneasy for a moment, "So we, just err... Ask around?" Definitely not one if the things I'm good at...
"So, uh, I guess we should, uh. Do that!"
He looks hopefully to Roka, who likely would be able to get the information from-- Strangers...
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"I suppose. Let's hope my Charm will work on these folks..." Roka says, with a smirk, as he begins to ask around for Shipwright Kozu
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Miya looks out at the vast city before her with a thoughtful expression.
Reminds me of the forest; but with less stone and people.
She gives a quiet laugh at herself before following Roka and Udo. Miya also makes sure to keep close to Yuki in case the chinese prove hostile to her fair-folk friend.
Yuki follows the others, not terribly concerned with finding who they are looking for, since with "summon" the two would meet even if she didn't look for them at all.
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Wandering around the harbor and asking after 'the Shipwright Kozu', eventually leads the Samurai to a berth with a newly build Dragon Boat in it. The vessel looks solid, but is unadorned and quite plane-looking at the moment.
An old Nipponese man stands on the deck directing some carpenters around - his long white hair uncombed and wifting in the salty breeze.
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"Oh a boat!"
Yuki exclaims.
"Hey, is it ours?"
She asks, turning to the rest of the group.
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"Maybe..." Udo looks around, "We should ask the Old Guy"
He pauses and turns to the geezer, "So, uh, I guess you're Kozu the ShipWright right?"
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"Kozu looks down and smiles, throwing his hands wide - "To what honor am I privileged to have, not one, but three Fair Folk visiting this day? And all such radiant beauties?"
The old man with unkept hair winks at Kioko and then nods at the Samurai - "I am the Shipwright Kozu! You are Roka-san? I must say, you are a little more 'outdoorsy' than I though you would be - given your rather dashing reputation..."
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The actual Roka, laughs, as he shakes his head.
"No, that would be Udo Kuwabara, a fellow Yoriki of Sendai." Roka says, amused. "I'm Roka Takemura, pleasure to meet you. Tanak said good words about you, Shipwright."
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Yuki smiles and waves happily at the old man.
"We'd like a boat for the dragon race!"
She states. Yuki then carefully looks at the boat.
"Can we have that one?"
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"Of course! Hahaha!" The old gentleman laughs, "I did build it for you after all!"
"Come aboard and check it out!"
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Udo chuckles, and looks at the boat. Pulling one of his caltrop-filled barrels, he wearily gets on the boat, and makes sure it's sturdy.
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"Um.. Udo? What are you doing with that barrel?" Roka asks, looking confused
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Udo looks back and shrugs, "I doubt any of the competitors will be able to board our ship if it's outlined by sharp thorns" he grins.
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Udo looks back and shrugs, "I doubt any of the competitors will be able to board our ship if it's outlined by sharp thorns" he grins.
".... Why.... Why do you even have a barrel of that?"
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Udo frowns slightly, "It... Was just... there!"
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Udo frowns slightly, "It... Was just... there!"
"Do you just purchase all sorts of random crap? I mean, I suppose we could put it on our ship, if the Shipwright can figure out how that would work, but.... why?"
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Yuki climbs aboard the ship and smiles gleefully.
"It's perfect!"
She remarks.
"Probably!"
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"Do you just purchase all sorts of random crap? I mean, I suppose we could put it on our ship, if the Shipwright can figure out how that would work, but.... why?"
"It isn't crap Roka" Udo says, slightly offended, and perhaps a bit annoyed, "I mean, you should see all the Caltrops I have. Cold-iron, Pure Silver, and some really neat 400 pound Novelty ones I keep at home"
He crosses his arms, "And guess what?"
"They were for free"
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As she wanders around on the boat, Yuki wonders if she can curse the other ones in order to give them an edge in the race. With that in mind, she decides to try and do so, as sneakily as possible of course.
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1st Day of Mid Summer 1297
The Dragon Boat Race!
The Samurai of Sendai then spent the next ten days exploring Edo as the finishing touches were made to their Dragon Boat – including an array of spiky caltrops all over the thing, some garish paint, and a bunch of flags.
As the week prior to the Dragon Boat Races was also Arts Week, everyone enjoyed the festivities that led up to it, especially little Kioko. There were plays, traveling poets, outdoor symphonies, jugglers and tumblers and all manner of entertainers. Everyone was doing their best to display their finest artistic ability. Even Kioko got into the spirit of things – participating in a children’s painting contest and winning 1st place with a surrealistic painting of what she called a ‘train’ – that looked sort of like a long mechanical dragon on tracks.
“See?” She asked the Samurai, “I told you about the train, so I drew a picture of it for you. But it was also fun to travel by boat!”
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Then, on the morning of the Dragon Boat Races, everyone gathered at the harbor. The scene was sheer bedlam and loud – with a hundred and eight Dragon Boats positioned in the starting point – and the crews yelling and threatening and heckling each other.
Kioko and Yuki’s mother wished everyone luck – with Kioko’s mother actually Blessing the ship itself (in addition to any of Yuki’s preparations) – then the two of them went to a place where spectators could watch the event (in relative safety).
As this went on, the crew from Sendai all took their positions and Udo jumped overboard (sans clothes), to turn into a harp seal. Once submerged, he grabbed the towline hidden under the ship – which would give them the equivalent of an extra two rowers.
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Unfortunately, as first-timers to the races, the Sendai Ship was positioned near the back of the starting line. They would have to somehow get past nearly a hundred ships ahead of them to win. While that was certainly the goal – the Samurai also had to focus on defending their ship from the others – who seemed to have a thing for ‘fresh meat’…
Then a volley of booming fireworks signaled the start of the race and the Dragon Boats surges forward under the powerful strokes of their oarsmen.
The course was a half mile long, quarter mile wide, figure eight in the harbor – which meant that two laps would total a three mile trip and pass through the center four times. With the Dragon Boats averaging about six miles an hour, the race would take about thirty minutes under normal circumstances. Unfortunately, circumstances in the Dragon Boat Race were far from normal, and the Races could actually take hours.
At any rate, the ships raced through the center of the course, spreading out with no one yet fighting.
With Udo helping to speed the ship, the Sendai team managed to arrive in the top twenty ships by the time they came around the bend into the middle for the second time. There, they noticed a traffic jam of ships – as some of the tailing ships had not even bothered to go around the track – just stopping in the center on their first pass and now ready to attack anything trying to get through. Suddenly, the Samurai of Sendai realized the advantage of having more than one ship entered in the race – one fast and maneuverable one to try to get through the race with; and one or more heavy duty ones to block or ram enemy vessels.
As it was, the Samurai’s ship was grappled by a ship as it tried to negotiate the center. The crew of the other ship tried to board – but Udo’s caltrops quickly ended that business.
Unfortunately, while the maneuverability of the ship was compromised, another heavy ship rammed into the Sendai vessel and both ships began to sink.
Just like that, the Samurai of Sendai were rendered without a ship.
But quick thinking on Roka’s part, had the crew board the other ship still grappled – and with their superior martial prowess, they quickly had the enemy crew overboard and the new ship under their control.
Udo meanwhile, without a tow line to pull, swam around trying to ram ships, but quickly got a headache. The hulls of the ships were much too stout to be effected by his ramming attempts.
With their new vessel, the Samurai of Sendai managed to break through the mess in the center and complete a first lap – one of only thirty ships to actually do so. Then they threw another line overboard for Udo to pull; and were off to the center for their third pass.
Amazingly, due to some spectacular piloting from the salty dog Tanak Abe and the competition failing to see that the ship was actually being crewed by the enemy – and letting them pass – the Samurai edged into tenth place by the time they hit the center for their fourth and final time.
Now however, no one mistook them for an allied ship, and they ran smack-dab into the fray. Another ship rammed them, but Tanak Abe angled the ship at the last moment and had the oarsmen raise oars – so that the incoming ship sheered alongside and snapped all their own oars in the process!
Then getting grappled and repelling even more boarders, the ship stayed in the center battling it out furiously for nearly five minutes, before being able to finally break free. Once out of the melee and with Udo’s help, the ship crossed the finish line in 8th place – then promptly sank.
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Following the Race (and getting fished out of the water) the Samurai of Sendai were challenged by the crew who’s ship they had taken, claiming that since it was their ship that crossed the line, it should be their win. Fortunately for the Samurai, it was ruled that it was the Captain and Crew that determined who’s ship it was, so the Samurai’s placing stood.
That and they had been awarded 3rd place in the ‘most impressive ship’ category.
All told, their winnings for competing in (and finishing) the race came out to just enough to cover the costs of their trip.
Perhaps not the glorious ending they had been seeking – but not bad for a ‘new ship’. Even finishing was impressive – given that two thirds of the ships never do.
END
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At least we survived right?
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At least we survived right?
There's that. XD
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ADDENDUM
The first night of the trip back to Sendai finds a stowaway aboard the ship. Hidden in the cargo hold under some tarps is a huge Siberian Tiger!
The tiger is quite friendly though and turns out to be spirit-bonded to Udo. Unfortunately, everyone aboard the ship also knows without a doubt that the tiger is none other than one of Emperor Taiko T’ien Shinhan's personal pets that mysteriously 'went missing' a day ago...
The penalty for stealing something from the Emperor is public execution for all involved.
And now, thanks to Udo, everyone on the ship is now 'involved'.
One can only hope that Sendai is far enough away from Edo, that no one is going to question Udo's new pet. Or maybe if the Samurai bleached it, they could pass it off as a white tiger...
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Arriving back in Sendai with a now peroxide-blond tiger, Udo was (with Roka's help) able to convince everyone that it was a naturally 'white tiger' and had nothing to do with Edo - having been bought on a side excision to the Korean Peninsula.
Imagine Udo's joy then, at not only securing himself a real tiger for his Spirit-Bonded Pet, but when returning to his manor, he found that Roka's Minion Yone had happened upon and returned his horse Yoshi - along with Kirito's pet Monkey.
;D