Tangled Webs (D8, Early Evening)

[Susumu Yakumo]

Yakumo returned to the embassy once more, dressed fashionably as always, and once she had caught up with the local news there she waited for Sumiko in the same meeting room as before, with the tea set from yesterday as well in case Sumiko was interested in another round of chado.

[Susumu Sumiko]

After some long meetings about the sights seen in the desolation, Sumiko had headed back to the embassy to refocus again before her meeting. having dressed more like her usual style compared to her more recent modern style, she had done some reading until she learnt Yakumo had arrived. Collecting her beloved Spider plushie, she made her way to the meeting room. Bowing in the doorway.

"Yakumo-sama, good evening! Or should that be Princess of Twilight?" Sumiko smiled "I hope you are well and haven't been waiting too long?"

[Susumu Yakumo]

"Good evening, Sumiko-san," she bowed politely, then chuckled with warmth. "Rather fanciful name, yes? I think I do like it as a moniker, to be honest."

"I trust you've been well since yesterday?"

[Susumu Sumiko]

"I like it as well, and it feels fitting also. There were a lot of quite unique names at the gathering."

Sumiko entered the room to sit down as comfortably as she could.

"I have been well. Yesterday was a difficult one, and a learning experience as I was assisting a friend with finding lost memories but it'll be something the clan will benefit from as well. It did involve a trip into a rather dangerous area though."

[Susumu Yakumo]

"Oh? Do tell me more about it. I was going to ask you to further look into what we discovered yesterday, but you can tell me about your adventure first, mhm?" Yakumo asked with interest, as there seemed to be quite some mysteries going on in this place.

[Susumu Sumiko]

"Hai, although not all the details are shareable at the moment. A small group of us travelled into the lab in the epicentre of the Desolation to collect some samples of research, or one specific one that the researcher Soshi Kioku-sama had been working on. It seems the Scorpion are very much involved in some manner of creature cloning" Sumiko chuckled "despite heavily denying it. I would recommend not speaking of this, especially if the Lord Magistrate is showing interest. Delving into Scorpion secrets usually doesn't go well with the leading Scorpion right?"

Sumiko took a moment before coninuing.

"That area...I don't know if they were aware of it before, but there is either a portal to, or a tear to, the realm of Gaki-Do in the vicinity of the destroyed building."

[Susumu Yakumo]

"That is concerning..." though from what she had seen of official dates, the destruction out in the Desolation had happened a year or so after the death of Mineichi's wife. That the two were connected weren't impossible, but so far that would just be conjecture.

"That sounds... really concerning. Do be careful, Sumiko-san. I wouldn't want anything to happen to any of us. And I'll be careful too," Yakumo assured her. "There is absolutely some kind of spiritual activity going on in this province. And I feel like a lot of it is being buried rather than looked into, and it's going to pose some kind of danger to everyone here. Such as what happened to the dead wife. Do you think there are reports about it that are being buried, that could shed some light on the situation?"

Perhaps something was wrong with Mineichi, that he was some sort of monster in disguise or something not quite human.

"Because it would be bad if there is some way that these leading Scorpion as you put it is putting us all in danger, right?"

[Susumu Sumiko]

"It was an experience for sure. The Scorpion do not know how to deal with the issue so they've just warded it away. In my time there I discovered some of the other projects they were working on though. Some very fascinating in fact!"

There was a nod at the request.

"I would be surprised if they had no reports at all! However it won't be in the public records, so I would need to dig a little deeper."

[Susumu Yakumo]

"I understand such come with risks, Sumiko-san, so I want to be absolutely clear that - as you are the expert on this - I will not force you to dig deeply into this if you feel it is too dangerous."

Everything would fall apart if this somehow went horribly wrong.

"But yeah, I think the Scorpion could learn a few things from the Kuchiki on Shiragiku on how to contain and deal with dangerous spirits..." that much she agreed on.

[Susumu Sumiko]

Sumiko nodded, moving over to the machine and again taking out her lucky plushie to sit on the computer.

"I think we could stand to gain from the situation in the Desolation were we to offer the Scorpion assistance in cleansing it. There is a lot that the Soshi seems to have lost with their inability to access that lab due to the spiritual imbalance as well as the paranormal haunting of those who died in the destruction. I'm surprised our kin based here haven't considered it, or maybe they have and it was rejected outright? Hm..."

Sumiko looked thoughtful, before smiling and patting the plushie before getting to work.

"Now let's see what they're hiding..."

D8 EE hacking Crimson tier of info.net for more information on the incident and death of Bayushi Kaede, Mineichi's dead wife. +15 to hide access. Computers(hacking)/int+prodigy+void+inheritance. TN45 | 10k7 ⇒ 80 (TN: 45)

[Susumu Yakumo]

"Could be the Scorpion haven't dared to ask for help. Appearances of Strength must be kept and all that..." Yakumo remarked with some thought.

"If the help can be offered discreetly though, I think we could stand to gain some good will."

[Susumu Sumiko]

"Hai, maybe we should..." Sumiko trailed off as she was reading, her eyes widening as she pulled up what looked like a detailed magistrate report.

"Oh. Oh dear. That could be an issue. Spiritual Intelligence services huh...I'm glad I'm an expert in covering my tracks, pretty sure we'd be killed on the spot for having access to this."

She sat back, and let Yakumo read it the screen, as it would be easier than her reading it out loud.

CLASSIFICATION: Crimson U
CLEARANCE: Black Watch Level IV-O
ENCRYPTION: Weasel-3.31
DATE: Ox 22nd 3118
AUTHOR: Lord Arbiter Yogo Ayana
SUBJECT: The indicent
RECIPIENT: Governor General Bayushi Mizuki

We have finished our research on the death of Bayushi Kaede (formerly of Mirumoto), wife of esteemed Bayushi Mineichi-dono. Based on witness testimony of Lord Magistrate himself and the spiritual auguries ran at the dojo, we conclude that the ancestral blade of Bayushi-dono contained and ancient spirit, bound to the blade sometime during 24th century. The spirits refer to this entity as Ketsuyoku - Massacre. We assume that Massacre was able to extend control on Bayushi-dono for a briefest of moments - or more precisely, sharing soul with Lord Magistrate, causing him to slay his wife in the form of the beast. However, the entity seems to have since split into two - with part of the spirit disappearing along with the ancestral blade. We expect and assume that part of Ketsuyoku to remain bound to Mineichi's soul. Lord Magistate is unaware of this - we assume that this unfortunate conditions should not affect his ability to carry out his duties as long as the spirit remains dormant. Meanwhile, we have prepared a copy of his sword so that fewer questions will be asked. As far as the general public and Lord Magistrate are considered - something forced its way into reality that day and slew Bayushi Kaede, only to escape afterwards. Lord Magistrate fought bravely, but was injured. With Bayushi-dono having no memories of the event, we expect this story to suffice for all purpose.

Should Bayushi-dono become compromised, we might be forced to liquidate him. Our agents will keep an eye on him, as is only proper.

More worryingly, our research on the spirt dubbed Ketsuyoku found scrolls referring to him as Second of Four - suggesting that three similar spirits might be at loose. We have identified two of these spirits - Kurayami (Darkness) - First of Four and Haiso (Rout) - Third of Four. Whereabouts of these spirits are a major concern. Bayushi-sama may rest assured that the Black Watch is on the matter.

Your most loyal servant,
Yogo Ayana

[Seal of Lord Arbiter]
[Seal of Vice Chief of Kuroiban]
[Seal of Vice Chief of Spiritual Intelligence Services]

[Susumu Yakumo]

It was a good thing they hadn't started to drink tea yet because the result Sumiko pulled up would've earned the spittake of the century.

"Oh blessed Daigotsu..." she murmured in complete shock, because if this report was true, everything suddenly got a lot more complex than she had thought. There was no way the Scorpion would fake such a report, right?

"This is... insane." Yakumo managed to look away from the report and to Sumiko. "Do you know anything about these spirits? Or... can we find out anything more about these spirits? I... I'm no shugenja, but I've spent a lot of time with those who are - on Shiragiku, and my uncle is a shugenja as well; is there something that can be done to banish such spirits?"


----

OOC: Also possible to get a copy for the report for Yakumo to have?

[Susumu Sumiko]

"Well, to be that old and bound to a sword it would have to be quite a powerful spirit. Ketsuyoku...Ketsuyoku...why does that name ring a bell?"

Sumiko hopped up, going over to pick up the big encyclopedia of the spirit realms, dropping it down onto the table with a thud and going through it.

"Nope nope.....AHA! Got it! Knew that name...ah."

Sumiko looked over at Yakumo before walking over carrying the heavy book.

"This one might be a bit tricky. Going by what I can find here as well as what's clicked from reading a report from our kin, Ketsuyoku is an ancient gaki, representing one of the four primal fears - the fear of uncontrollable bloodlust that drives samurai strike at their friends in the heat of battle or when their minds are clouded by substances."

She leaned over to look at the report again.

"If this thing is sharing a soul with the Lord Magistrate, that means an ancient and pretty scary Gaki of uncontrollable bloodlust is bound to the man. So he likely lost himself in a sparring battle, the spirit from the sword took over, and he killed her. Without any knowing that he'd done it too. That means this planet may have had known links to Gaki-Do well before the destruction of that lab if there was a sword here with an ancient gaki bound to it."

[Susumu Yakumo]

Yakumo linked her hands together as she rested her elbows against the table. "Ugh... this is getting really really big and messy it sounds like." At least she had some small comfort in that she had followed her instincts and looked into things.

"Think I can get a copy of the report there? There's a few people I trust who are pretty knowledgeable on spiritual threats, I would like to get their insights on it."

To her it seemed like Mineichi was almost a victim of things too. Kind of like she were, although she thankfully didn't have any violent gaki hanging around her... that she knew of. "How can you tell if something is from Gaki-do, or somewhere else?"

[Susumu Sumiko]

"Ah, hai I can print it. I would recommend being very sparse with who you share it with of course, paper trails can lead back and I think this information getting out would be cause for alarm" Sumiko moved to set the printer going.

"Telling spirits apart....well, gaki-do and Toshigoku spirits are more aggressive and have a feeling of dread about them. Sakkaku and Chikushudo spirits often are not as deadly in terms of wanting to kill you, plus are often more animal-like. A priest could likely tell them apart very easily, we're relying on sight without that otherwise. Gaki-Do is one of the worst realms however, as it's a realm of punishment. You're condemned there for doing something wrong and often spend your life trapped in a grotesque shape feasting upon something based on your punishment. Like Shimmerflies that have to eat silk as a punishment for forsaking their households to pursue their agendas. Or Jiki-Kwa that have to consume fire to survive due to being pyromaniacs in life. An ancient gaki though...that's a whole different level. It could be one of the original spirits of Gaki-Do, or linked to it."

She frowned.

"My apology, I may have sidetracked a little in my thought process. The short answer I suppose is a priest can tell them apart, otherwise it's in their mannerisms."

[Susumu Yakumo]

Yakumo felt like she was back in class and should probably take notes. Damnit, she really needed to know this stuff now... why didn't she pay attention back then?

"I see..." she wasn't sure if she quite got it. Maybe she should stop spending time around Hinata, as it felt like it was making her dumber by being in his proximity. The Derp Field was real.

"... So this Ketsuyoku and those other spirits mentioned, is that also related to this ruined lab?"

[Susumu Sumiko]

"Yes. Wait, no."

There was a thoughtful pause as Sumiko considered it.

"There may be overlap, but not directly unless Ketsuyoku or by proxy the Lord Magistrate caused it via negligence or sabotage. The lab and the area around it are without question swarming with Gaki-Do spirits of various sizes and powers. It would be a huge coinsidence if the two were not linked in any way. The spirit splitting in two would certainly support a link between these two incidents if they haven't tracked the spirit and the sword. Soshi Kioku-sama insisted that the lab did not have a link to Gaki-do while it was operational but after yesterdays visit to the lab and this information I'm starting to have doubts."

[Susumu Yakumo]

"Hmmmm... there could be activites related to these other Gaki mentioned in the report going on. It seems like there's some sort of connection with them, no?" she asked, mostly because she felt very much out of her depth dealing with supernatural threats.

She was a singer, not a shugenja, damnit!

"And surely, there must be a way to banish something like this gaki?" Yakumo paused herself, taking a break. "I know I'm asking a lot, Sumiko-san. I'm sorry. But do you think you could look into ways of driving away a spirit like that, if there's anything in your book or somewhere else, and get back to me tomorrow? I realise it might take some time, and I shouldn't occupy all of your free time."

[Susumu Sumiko]

"I'll continue my research" Sumiko nodded "however the main thing to remember about denizens of Gaki-Do, same as denizens of Toshigoku, they are bound by their punishment and cannot resist. Older spirits have a bigger tolerance, but when faced with what they are bound to feed off they will instantly try to claim it by any means. So in this instance, a sparring session that becomes tense or perhaps one of the participants becoming injured or visibly cut would bring the creature out. Or at least allow it to take over the Lord Magistrates body, which I would assume would be a requirement to banish it - it would need to be active, although I have nothing supporting this so it's just a theory right now."

"The Hungry Dead are always hungry, they always need to feed."