bando: first blood part two

[bypartisan]

Can anyone hear this?

Just so everyone knows, I'm dead again. Please let me know if my soulless body is roaming around liminal. Currently my consciousness seems to have been summoned and somewhat bound to this world by the Master Summoner of the Sun Guard. He's asked me to spy on a woman named Sora. According to the information I've been able to exchange with a delightfully gossipy ghost named Keiko, Mademoiselle Sora is actually the Summoner's long-lost and estranged daughter, Ran, who ran off from the monastery ten years ago and is currently a Suzuki Riflewoman.

Keiko also assures me that Ridou and Ritsuki--that is, Riddick and Valeri--are adorable together, but I digress.

I did have to explain werewolves to the Summoner, but I managed to distract him enough by explaining the transformation process that he didn't think to press for the rest of my origins or my own mission. I wouldn't say he trusts me, per se, but he seems to recognize that in my ghostly state I can't exactly report to any of the other major players and that I could be of some use to him as I am. And I presented myself as being very willing indeed.

I'll let people know when I have more news. As it is, it's been a while since we've had an information pooling conversation. If you can hear me and you have something to share, please report in.

Comments

[leftbehindagain]

...Well, that's... a thing. [Naoki's not sure what kind of a thing it is, but it certainly is a thing.] For what it's worth, I haven't seen you in Liminal Space yet.

As it happens, I do have some news. Kanji and I headed up to Higura Village to see if we could find any kind of trail the attackers left on their way out, and I'm choosing to call the fact that they forgot to clean up after their horses a stroke of luck instead of gross. Even if they hadn't taken a rocky path, much of anything else would have washed away by now anyway.

The horse crap leads toward the border wall, roughly to a gate in it. Kanji did a flyover and couldn't find any more on the other side, so presumably the Empire does a better job of cleaning their trails when it's land they care about. More to the point, the trail, such as it is, doesn't continue on this side of the wall.

The Empire don't strike me as the sort to let Bando civilians traipse through the wall whenever they like, even if horses were more common here.

We had to turn back to try and keep Kanji out of trouble, and I'm freaking exhausted after that, so if someone else would like to try to pick up the trail they're welcome to.

[bypartisan]

... well. Congratulations? And yes, that much... evidence... of horses is a bit disturbing.

[leftbehindagain]

We're probably lucky there was still anything to follow, this far after the fact. I'll take it.

Unfortunately, we didn't see any of that group at all, but that's not really surprising.

[failgoyle]

You died again? Shit, I'm sorry.

[There's a pause.]

Wait, and you're a werewolf? There is something out there capable of killing werewolves? And now there are soulless zombie werewolf corpses as a Liminal possibility?

[Hell no, time to get out of there.]

[bypartisan]

Since we had our Jaunt in Sarmatia, yes. Quite a few of us kept the form, although I think they're mostly Infiltrating or perhaps on the other side of the Jaunt/Walkabout divide.

I don't actually know if my soulless corpse is wandering around Liminal Space, Thibault. That's why I asked people to tell me if it is.

And yes. It turns out that even werewolves die when we're beheaded. And Aikawa, the Old Man of the Akuryu, does not like wolves at all, even when they're innocently nosing around his compound.

[failgoyle]

Oh, that's...uh...that's good to know. Didn't know there were so many...

I will keep an eye out for your soulless corpse as long as I'm hanging around here, which...isn't going to be much longer.

[There are chances he's not taking, thanks.]

...Koroshima is just not a very nice place. I'm staying the hell away from there.

[capital_asset]

Well, that explains why my Questing Sense was so insistent I find her. Keiko was oddly close-mouthed on that particular topic.

...Was it quick this time?

[bypartisan]

... not really. Aikawa shot my wolf form full of poison darts, then threw non-silver knives at me, then kicked me very hard in the chest, then lopped off my head.

I rather preferred Izanami's way of murder.

[capital_asset]

So would I. I'm sorry you had to endure that.

[fridgeninja]

Unfortunately, I can't say I have anything to report.

[bypartisan]

Not everyone does. It's fine, Seta.

[amadine]

Congratulations. I don't think any of us has died in order to become a spy before, rather than as a result of spying. You're something novel.

Speaking of spies, the Sentai clanhouse in Mibu has attracted some attention. The watcher who was there has been dispatched, but no doubt more will be along sooner than later. Their houseguest seems allergic to subtlety.

[tailforbrains]

... I didn't do it this time.

And, um, welcome back.

[amadine]

No, don't worry, you were gone long before the trouble began. I don't think they send spies because people think they need to talk to plants to use elementalism.

[private]

[capital_asset]

...What?

[He remembers Neeshka telling him Sabetha had killed her, but the reverse is new.]

[capital_asset]

Subtlety did seem to not be one of his strengths.

[private]

What happened?

[bypartisan]

Dare I ask the name of the houseguest?

[He's got a feeling he knows who anyway.]

[laceandcarnage]

The decimated bodies of the Shinjuu now decorate their compound, and I have successfully convinced Mari that I am a ghost.

She appears impressed by this.

[bypartisan]

... at least someone's plan went successfully.

[But why was it the ridiculous ghost plan???]

[rustyhonesty]

I'm sorry to hear that.... you died again as well.

[That's all he can really contribute to the fact. Well, not everything.]

I can keep an eye if I see your... uh... body here in Liminal.

[bypartisan]

Thank you. If we're lucky it hasn't manifested itself again yet. If we're not, it's mindlessly roaming around without me in it.

I'd much rather it was the former.

I suppose this means we're tied for deaths, aren't we, Kirstein? Do try not to beat my total.

[fearinahandfulof]

...It happened again?

[bypartisan]

Yes. Because Aikawa evidently does not like wolves.

[capital_asset]

[After some time has passed, Raidou contacts the network again.]

I've had a chance to do some reconnaissance within the palace. So far, I've found three rooms under guard. One is most likely the shogun's own quarters. The other two are in the basement. Of those two, one is centrally located, has double doors, and was clearly part of the palace's design; unfortunately, the location was such that I couldn't get safely in and out without risking discovery.

The second room is in a much more inconvenient location, only recently converted to something more secure, and has a number of very uneasy-looking guards. When I broke into it, I found two large scroll cases - locked, but giving off very large amounts of power. One seems to be Metal, while the other is Fire.

They're also making preparations for waiting out a siege.

[bypartisan]

Of course they are.

[Byerly is pinching the bridge of his spirit nose.]

Any chance you can break in and steal either of those?