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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Comments

[vogelfrei]

The last times we attempted speaking to regular people, they just ignored us despite being cognizant of our presence.

[ So. Chances are looking bad, but... ]

It would not hurt to try again just to be sure. Argenti, with your armor you currently look the most like an affluent paying customer. Sunrise unfortunately can't come to the door on account of her gender - a woman trying to enter this establishment as a customer will raise eyebrows.

[ McGillis himself also has the bearing of a rich guy, but he is dressed in normal modern men's fashion... ]

[beautifulknight]

Very well.

[ It occurs to Argenti to think of something else while the other man is speaking.

...also it occurs to him to potentially suggest tailgating one of the women or something like that, but McGillis is so big that even Argenti understands that's an extremely terrible idea. Alas.

Yet, all avenues are not lost, given Sunrise's suggestion seems to make him think for a bit, if only to add to it. ]

...Perhaps what Sunrise has suggested could work out well enough. Let's see what happens on her end first.

[goei]

[Unfortunately, the woman's response is exactly what the group predicted. She looks at Argenti, says nothing, before then turning her attention to an ACTUAL customer.

However this distraction will give McGillis and Sunrise a +2 to their endeavors.

Also, Argenti now feels like he is being watched though tbh knowing him he probably is unbothered and used to it.]

[beautifulknight]

[ ...Let's be real he probably still chatted up the lady, so distraction is a go!

Sunrise and McGillis please do your thing, he will wait out here a little longer because while he's used to being watched, well...he feels like maybe it will hamper efforts if he follows. ]

[cleansewithfire]

[ Don't worry, they'll return soon enough. ]

We met another one of those shadowy figures... But he gave us something helpful.

[ Unexpected but not unwanted. ]

We should meet up with everyone else.

[beautifulknight]

Yes, let's do so! You two did well.

[ Argenti says, because the fact the two of 'em snuck around badass like deserves a remark. Anyway he will happily accompany them back to the crew (tm)! ]

[cleansewithfire]

[ She is not entirely sure why being a girl would make this suspicious, but she is trusting McGillis' judgment on that count.

Thinking... Oh, right, these sorts of establishments usually have entertainment, she's...pretty sure? ]

...I have this. [ She gestures at the instrument case she's been carrying on her back—it's taller than she is, even. ] It is an instrument case. I could say I am bringing it in for one of the performers, as long as they do not want to check what is inside it. [ Because the content definitely isn't an instrument. ]

[vogelfrei]

That could work. This kind of delivery usually wouldn't be made through the front, so looking for a back entrance should still be a good idea.

[ IS there a way to go around the building? ]

[goei]

[There is! There's an alley between this building and the next that seems like it could lead to a back entrance as there are wooden crates and a cart left in it. Would you two like to attempt to roll to sneak?]

[cleansewithfire]

[ You say this like Sunrise would think twice in this sort of situation.

...And maybe that's why it works out, since she's so naturally quiet and unobtrusive that even with an instrument case meant to fit a guzheng inside, she's stealthy (15+2=17). ]

[goei]

[With that roll, unlike Celeste (rip), these two are able to skirt into the alley!

After passing the crates and such, they will in fact find a back door! However, standing in front of it is another Shadow figure. They are not reacting to Sunrise and McGillis at all at the moment.

What do you wish to do?]

[cleansewithfire]

[ Hm, ]

...Do we talk to the mysterious figure, Mr. McGillis?

[vogelfrei]

The last one granted us passage to the next scene, so my vote is in favor.

[ The last one was also weak as shit, so. Not letting his guard down for this one, but maybe the trend of low difficulty will continue. ]

Try your bit with the instrument on him regardless. That way we show the least of our cards. You are an instrument expert, I am your foreign hired bodyguard.

[cleansewithfire]

[ ...Oh. It occurs to her that she may have to act, which is sort of a daunting prospect now that the moment is upon them. But she was the one who suggested this, so she will have to do her best anyway.

She approaches the Shadow figure.]

Excuse me, sir? I am here to make a delivery.

[goei]

[The shadow man shakes his head.]

That demon doesn't even fight with a proper sword style. So unrefined…

[He holds out a shadowy hand. There's a small metal object within.]

You'll need this to find him, if you're going to take him on.

[cleansewithfire]

[ ...Huh, this is turning out quite differently than she was expecting. Sunrise reaches to take the metal object. ]

I am curious. How is it unrefined when I have heard that the demon is also a sword genius?

[goei]

[Help I wasn't expecting her to make conversation. Anyway, the metal object is thin and flat, shaped like a segment of something round (like a pie slice). The round outer edge is gilded like the flat surface, but the straight sides are just the raw darker metal underneath.]

That's just what he says. He's like a dog picking up scraps of sword technique wherever he can find it.

[cleansewithfire]

[ She's examining it quite a bit, partially because professional curiosity has her wondering what sort of metal it is (though, this being a mindscape and all, maybe it doesn't really matter).

But, huh... ]

...So it is unrefined because it is not only one school of swordplay?

[ Sunrise will not claim to actually know much about swordsmanship except perhaps the very basics (or more accurately, an understanding of the physics involved even if she would not know to call it physics), purely because she's had to repair swords before. ]

[goei]

[If Sunrise has familiarity with swords, she might actually think this looks like it could be a segment of a katana guard also known as a tsuba

The shadow, meanwhile, has nothing more to say.]

[cleansewithfire]

[ ... ]

Thank you.

[ Even if he has nothing more to say, she'll still be polite and bow before leaving with McGillis in tow to reconvene. ]