IZOU'S PALACE

[goei]

KYOTO BAKUMATSU PALACE
You find yourself in historical Kyoto at night. The city is shadowy and beautiful, elegant but hostile. It's a sophisticated city, but you don't belong there and it knows it. Everyone knows it. You are being watched.

Worst of all, a terrible demon haunts the streets of this powerful capital city.

Eli Walsh, Kirumi Tojo, Still Sunrise, Argenti, Yi Sang, Celeste, Mafuyu Asahina, and McGillis Fareed, do you dare journey into hell?

 

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~EVERYBODY~ RECONVENES

[vogelfrei]

[ After Mafuyu has lead Celeste back (or Celeste has lead Mafuyu back? McGillis isn't clear on that anymore) and everyone else has likewise assembled, it is time for a beautiful Team Meeting. McGillis has declared himself the head of this meeting because he's extremely used to running investigations, having worked for military audit. It doesn't even occur to him that anybody might take offense with this. ]

Alright, we've covered some ground and now know significantly more than we used to. For one, this is the mindscape of Okada Izou. The setting of our little play is the Kyoto of 1863 - a town on Earth, in Japan, for those unfamiliar.

Currently there is a conflict with the government, the shogunate. Plenty of people are still loyal to it, but it is in the process of being overthrown. Izou was aligned with the anti-shogunate faction in life.

There is a demon, or someone wearing the moniker 'demon', stalking about on the other side of the river, slaughtering pro-shogunate entities. We tried to cross the river, but we were confronted by an entity that told us we need to be more people to be a match for the demon. Thus, we reconvened. Whether the demon is Izou or not, it seems like our best lead to get to him right now.

[ He turns to Team Argenti's members, looking at them one by one like a good leader. ]

How did your side fare?

[beautifulknight]

[ Argenti doesn't exactly consider himself the type to really head meetings; he is more accustomed to working by himself, and when he's worked in groups he hasn't been heading things, simply doing his own thing. So no offense taken.

...For now. ]

I see. So this must be where Izou grew up...

[ He folds his arms, in deep thought. Is he joking or serious? He sounds serious so he must be...right? The rest, he decides to speak upon. ]

Miss Kirumi mentioned that the Shinsengumi seem to be rather well-established, and I do recall having spoken with Izou about the topic relatively briefly. As well as that her initial timeframe was between 1863 and 1869, so the former does line up well with that guess. If she wishes to add more on her end, she certainly can, however.

We too have heard about the demon; nothing all that much new on our end, beyond a good sir from our team being attacked.

[ Gesturing to Céleste, fellow trouble-causing - but in some ways, not as much trouble-making - Frenchman. ]

[cirquedesang]

[Little bit of column A, little bit of column B, McGillis, but the end result is the same... and anyway, Celeste is also not at all the sort to head meetings, preferring to listen and observe himself, so there's no objection to McGillis taking the lead from him, either. Sure, the little gaggle of mostly-foreigners is surely drawing some attention, but it's hard to discern whether that attention is worth paying mind to... or if it even exists at all, considering the lingering feeling of being watched.]

And he has mentioned once to me about being the one to cut down those trying to lead Japan down the wrong path - though whether popular opinion was with him on this matter he did not say.

[Given what he's (just now) heard about this part of history, and what he knows from his own, it was probably complicated to say the least.]

But, yes, a young lady turned into what seemed to be a doll when she was startled. I almost feel bad for her, with how easily we handled it, but perhaps this, what did you call it, mindscape? Is preserving it's fighting prowess for the demon we've yet to face.

[cleansewithfire]

[ Why did she have to be right that it sounded like a political thing... ]

Mr. Okada called himself a sword genius. He can copy any swordplay technique as long he has seen it once.

[ Which is to say, she imagines once the blades are drawn it'll probably be Unpleasant for everyone. ]

[idealitas]

[ Politics always caused problems. Anyways hi, here is Yi Sang after his little weirdo stroll to regroup. He try to not give the feeling he is being more intensely watched any serious mind at the moment, but his hand stays at his side under his draped coat. ]

I cannot say I know Izou well... But did he not post a drunken rant online that he was only good at killing or some such?

...He was willing to express ome of his feelings towards an individual named Ryoma to me, who was also mentioned in that post. Izou was abandoned by that person and left to be executed.

[ It sounds rough, but Izou didn't want pity. ]

[fullmoonmutt]

...the hell? This guy is actually dead?!

[ And betrayed, too, from the sound of it. Cool. Eli hates that. ]

Like as in super old, super dead, not alive at all anymore? How did he even end up... [ Here. Well. It doesn't matter much now, does it? ] Sheesh. Well. Whatever it is on the other side of the river, we ain't going to find out much more if we stay here yammering on about it.

If we're all here, that freak on the bridge should let us pass.

[vogelfrei]

[ Some of us died. Badly. Get over it! ]

[cirquedesang]

[And some of us died, but got better... Really, Eli, stranger things are happening here!!]

[fullmoonmutt]

[ UNDEAD DOESN'T COUNT, CELESTE??? ]

[cirquedesang]

[But what if "heroic spirit" is just a new, shiny version of "undead" huh???]

[fullmoonmutt]

[ don't confuse him with extra fancy names sobs ]

[fullmoonmutt]

[ Y'all need "DEAD" nametags in that case because Eli has no clue. ]

[cleansewithfire]

He said he was a "heroic spirit", which is similar to a ghost except... he has a "proper physical form made outta mana".

[ Quoting the man himself, because can you imagine Sunrise being able to speak like that normally?

...And no, she doesn't entirely get it either, she's just relaying what she was told. ]

[fullmoonmutt]

...wait... I think he may have told me this...

[ Thinking. Thinking. Hmm. ]

I mean, the guy says a whole lot of shit. I don't think I was paying attention.

[cleansewithfire]

Oh.

[ ??? She isn't sure what Izou has said to him but it does not match her experience (Sunrise that's because you interpret it differently). ]

I have only spoken to him when he was drunk or having a "hangover".

[idealitas]

Some can divulge much of themselves when they're under the influence of alcohol. Or when suffering the side effect of its over-consumption. That is a "hangover".

[ Helping...? ]

[cleansewithfire]

[ Hmm, she supposes it makes sense. Mr. Day somehow manages to say little about himself even when he's drinking, but she suspects it's because he has a stronger liver than most. And it is true he's a little different when he's hungover. ]

He also seemed rather proud that one time...

...Why is it called a "hangover"? [ Genuine question. She isn't sure what hanging has to do with it. ]

[kandata]

Given Izou's temperament and reputation in history, it's likely he's the demon we have heard about. We may have to confront him after all.

[And thankfully it won't be in a swordfight!]

[vogelfrei]

That appears quite likely. We should be on our guard at all times.

[ Not that they shouldn't be on their guard absolutely always! Anyway, satisfied with how this meeting has concluded, McGillis decisively begins leading the way back to the bridge. Any squabbles about being dead or not can take place on the way.

How's it looking, are we enough to pass now? ]

[goei]

[WELCOME BACK TO BRIDGE!!! Wouldn't it be funny if I just said the guy is gone now? He's not though. He's still standing in the way, though this time when they approach, he says something different;]

HAH! I'M STRONGER THAN THAT DEMON! HE'S LUCKY THAT WE'RE ON THE SAME SIDE OR I'D STRIKE HIM DOWN MYSELF!
[He points his sword at the group.]

WHAT MAKES YOU THINK YOU CAN TAKE ON THE DEMON?

[kandata]

[Kirumi doesn't address the guy over there. Instead, she whispers to anyone nearby:]

He has admitted to be on the demon's side. Even if he steps aside, there's a chance he'll alert the demon. My advice is to subdue him and ensure he will not cause trouble.

[Kirumi has given the pragmatic, albeit harsh, option. She's more than fine following any decision here, but she'd have felt remiss if she hadn't given input for the sake of the group]

[cirquedesang]

...Even if he doesn't alert the demon, he might well stab us in the back, no?

[Literally, this time, to go along with the metaphorical backstabbing Izou experienced.

So that's a +1 to subduing this guy.]

[fullmoonmutt]

'cause I've already kicked his stupid ass. Now get out of the way.

[ Eli, you never actually... That was more of a draw? Oh well. ]

[beautifulknight]

[ Who is this strange man.

Time to provoke him...! ]

With many who are skilled put together, we are stronger than a singular force such as yourself! Not to mention, the goddess Idrila smiles favorably on those united underneath the banner of Beauty.

[ What the hell is he even saying. Anyway... ]

1/2

[cleansewithfire]

[ Sunrise, who seems to have missed the memo that this could have been meant as boasting or provocation, seems to be seriously considering this question... ]