Remove ads

Burden of the Emerald Empire (A Legend of the Five Rings Tale)

Reader mode
[X] There was an assassination attempt planned, not on the Emperor, the Seppun were expecting it, and perhaps more importantly had brought a small army of guards to prevent it. No the assassins wanted my head with the intent to frame the act on a radical member of the Crane.
 
[x] Not only were the Soshuro in the castle largely subverted (explaining readily how my spies had failed) but that they had begun to take the Shadow Brand mark once again, in defiance of my orders and common sense.

If all of these are happening, this is the one I want Paneki to find out about first. Knowing that his spies are heavily subverted will be kind of important in figuring out how to deal with the rest of it.
 
[x] Not only were the Soshuro in the castle largely subverted (explaining readily how my spies had failed) but that they had begun to take the Shadow Brand mark once again, in defiance of my orders and common sense.
 
[x] Not only were the Soshuro in the castle largely subverted (explaining readily how my spies had failed) but that they had begun to take the Shadow Brand mark once again, in defiance of my orders and common sense.
 
New
[x] Not only were the Soshuro in the castle largely subverted (explaining readily how my spies had failed) but that they had begun to take the Shadow Brand mark once again, in defiance of my orders and common sense.
 
Sirrocco said:
If all of these are happening,
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
If all of these are happening I think we're bad ending.
I choose to be optimistically blind and hope the problems go away.
[X] There was an assassination attempt planned, not on the Emperor, the Seppun were expecting it, and perhaps more importantly had brought a small army of guards to prevent it. No the assassins wanted my head with the intent to frame the act on a radical member of the Crane.
 
[X] There was an assassination attempt planned, not on the Emperor, the Seppun were expecting it, and perhaps more importantly had brought a small army of guards to prevent it. No the assassins wanted my head with the intent to frame the act on a radical member of the Crane.
 
[x] Not only were the Soshuro in the castle largely subverted (explaining readily how my spies had failed) but that they had begun to take the Shadow Brand mark once again, in defiance of my orders and common sense.
 
Last edited:
Hmm tally
Edit: It appears we are tied, can I get a tie breaker?
Adhoc vote count started by gman391 on Nov 27, 2017 at 6:32 PM, finished with 22 posts and 9 votes.
  • [x] Not only were the Soshuro in the castle largely subverted (explaining readily how my spies had failed) but that they had begun to take the Shadow Brand mark once again, in defiance of my orders and common sense.
    [X] There was an assassination attempt planned, not on the Emperor, the Seppun were expecting it, and perhaps more importantly had brought a small army of guards to prevent it. No the assassins wanted my head with the intent to frame the act on a radical member of the Crane.
    [X] Against my hopes, and confirming my dark suspicions, Bayushi Atsuki had not died that day in the Shadowed Tower, and yet lived, under the guise of a number of ronin, that all appeared to have a different faces, somehow...
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
[x] Not only were the Soshuro in the castle largely subverted (explaining readily how my spies had failed) but that they had begun to take the Shadow Brand mark once again, in defiance of my orders and common sense.
 
[x] Not only were the Soshuro in the castle largely subverted (explaining readily how my spies had failed) but that they had begun to take the Shadow Brand mark once again, in defiance of my orders and common sense.
 
Remove ads
Year 4: Paneki III (Winter Court IV)
  • Threadmarks
    • --Not only were the Soshuro in the castle largely subverted (explaining readily how my spies had failed) but that they had begun to take the Shadow Brand mark once again, in defiance of my orders and common sense.

    Two and Half Months Ago (17th Day of the Rat)

    I sat in my study as Rieko threw down a Shosuro I vaguely recalled as being one of the new generation that Toson was grooming to take control of the Eastern Shinobi Network. The man was bound, and gagged, landing with a thump. Rieko puts her knee on the small of his back as she holds him down.

    "Yogo-san, I hope you were a little discreet?" I ask.

    There are appearances to maintain, and it does no good to find a key to the conspiracy if he's suspected of portrayal.

    "Yes my lord, the air kami cloaked my movements until I entered." She says.

    "Very well, and who is this?" I gesture at the person on the floor.

    Rieko looks down at her captive.
    "This is Shosuro Toranaga, a traitor to the Scorpion and all that live"

    Toranaga manages to look up and glare before Rieko slams his head into the floor.

    "You are unworthy to look at the Champion" She hisses.

    "All that live?" I asks. A tainted Scorpion happened from time to time but Rieko was usually more composed than this.

    Rieko pulls down his kimono just a bit, enough reveal the faint black markings of the Tejina markings. The Shadow Brands that bound the soul of the bearer to Shadow Dragon. Bayushi Kachiko-ue had forbidden their use after the War Against Shadow. An injunction I had kept.

    "...So a slave to our enemy. Is he the only one?" I ask.

    My mind began to work, I had to use this, how waited to be seen.

    "No my lord. This filth has had a dozen others branded, and worse, through them taken control of most of the Shosuro in this castle. They are why your spies failed my lord."

    I clasp my hands in front of me, looking down at Toranaga.
    "You have done well Yogo-san. Leave him with me, I will deal with him personally, and please, ask your friend to join me."

    Rieko stiffens a little at that. She believed that no one knew of her quiet affair with Soshi Matsuhide. Truthfully few did, and given that he was a widower, and she was as of yet unmarried, it mattered little, to me. Except, that is that it provided useful leverage and Matsuhide was a gifted Shugenja when it came to the air kami.

    "Hai my lord" She bows and leaves me alone with Toranaga.

    I stand up and walk around my desk, slowly sliding out my knife as I did so.

    "Toranaga, Toranaga, you have disappointed me. Toson is going to be heartbroken over what happened." I say.

    Toranaga doesn't say anything. His back is squared, he is prepared for any torture. Fool, torture is so inelegant. It works, but when you have a multitude of tools, why only use the hammer?

    I kneel down, placing the crystal knife I carried against the shadow brand marks. Toson manages to not scream.

    "Ah yes, you can resist torture, you're trained for it even. But you know what Toroanaga, that was merely for me to be sure that you were lost. I hate losing shinobi uselessly. It seems however that I must lose you, pity. " I say.

    Carefully I remove his gag.

    "You expect me to beg not to be put into the grove?" Toranaga asks.

    I chuckle.
    "Oh Toranaga, you think so small. I have a small elite band of Shinobi with magic powers, did you think I wouldn't use that?"

    "I serve the True Master of Secrets." Toranaga says defiantly.

    A knock at the door.

    "Yes, you will" I say.

    Putting the knife back, I go and open the door. Soshi Matsuhide is a relatively handsome man, if you like the aristocratic look. Short black hair and a simple domino style mask portray someone more interested in results than in formalities.

    He bows low.

    "My Lord you summoned me?" He asks.

    "Indeed Soshi-san. You are familiar with the technique, Cloud the Mind yes?" I ask.

    "Hai."

    "I'm going to need you to ask the kami for their favour on the prisoner.".

    "As my lord commands." Matushide says.

    He closes the door behind him. Walking towards Toranaga and taking out a certain scroll from a locked portion of his satchel.

    Cloud the Mind is perhaps the worst spell that the Soshi have ever made. Not only does it steal the memories you had, it allows another to...suggest others, and make them your own, almost like hypnosis but much more powerful. There was no real defence against it, though certain minds were naturally resistant to such tampering. Typically those who are especially beloved by the Air Kami. Toranaga did not fit that description.

    Matsuhide finishes the spell. Toranaga's head rolls as if he's drunk, his mind hazed by the fog of the Kami.

    "Do you hear me?"

    "Hai..." Toranaga says slowly.

    "I am the True Master of Secrets" I say.

    Toranaga's mind is too befuddled to do anything but think it the truth. I cease being Paneki in his senses, instead becoming this 'True Master of Secrets' to him.

    "Hai my Lord." He agrees.

    "My spies have told me that the fool Paneki, intends to ask the Phoenix for help in rooting us out. They intend to use the Eye of Saibankan to do so. I wish for you to take your men and retrieve it first. I know it is winter, but that is what will make it work, they will never expect you in Gisei Toshi. Do you understand?"

    "Yes My Lord" He says.

    "You retrieved a map to Gisei Toshi from Paneki's office first. That was good. When you walk out of here, you will make your excuses and go in three days." I say.

    Toranaga nods. I untie him and place the map in his hand.

    "Now rise, and walk out of here." I say.

    The shinobi obeys, and while looking some what dazed, leaves my office. Matsuhide looks at me.
    "Thank you Soshi-san, you are dismissed, do try to be discreet if you can. I now have to make some arrangements with the Phoenix." I say.

    His eyes widen and he nods.
    "Of course my lord."

    With a bow he leaves me alone. I check myself over and go to find Shiba Tsukimi. Time to earn some favour by warning her about my 'rouge' ninja and providing the tools to stop it. My other not so rogue ninja will in fact take that artefact. The Phoenix will lose prestige, I gain it...and poor Toranaga will be cut loose by his true master. Rieko will hint that I arranged it all...and my house strengthened.

    -----------
    In retrospect, I probably should have expected the counter stroke of attempting to kill me. None the less I didn't and instead found myself under attack in...

    [] The Bayushi Labyrinth
    [] The Gardens
    [] the Dojo



    AN: Sorry for the delay on this. Hope you enjoy.
     
  • Threadmarks
    • [X] The Bayushi Labyrinth

    We're plot-guaranteed to survive this one, and this fight sounds the most interesting and the most scorpion.
     
    Reader mode
    You must login or register to reply here.
    Remove ads
    Back
    Top