Sakura finished up her lunch quickly, as she was expecting many people. She brought the best tea the embassy had to offer (it was still mildly mediocre), and went to grab some select books for the incoming people.

Being the one with a car, and knowing multiple folks involved in this now, Yakumo played the role of driver to make sure everyone got to the embassy for the meeting. And picking up coffee, bubble tea, and a very late breakfast on the way.

For something like this, she chose practical comfort over fashion.

"Alright, here we are," she said, parking the car and letting folks out of the car.

Rei would be outside to greet them.

"Ladies." He said with a smile and a bow. "If you'll follow me." Spotting the smallest guest, Rei gave another bow. "Usagi Rei, at your service." He frowned curiously at her; something about her seemed familiar...

Shaking his head, he would lead them into the embassy, escorting them past security, until they were all in the big Embassy common room. Couches were strategically placed around, as well as a number of consoles with chairs. "Hey, Hotaru-san!" He waved as he spotted her, still setting things up.

Having called shotgun by virtue of being first, Koyuki exits on the other side of the vehicle. Which puts her in the prime placement for her other most nefarious plan of being the one to elect to carry what beverages were still had, and ready for their study session. None would be able to take this task from her as she would fight for it with insidious glares and the overwhelming presence of 'don't you dare.' One would be reasonably forgiven for thinking that Koyuki starts a low growl if anyone even dared to try and take them, she didn't mind but the effect was very much present.

Following along, she would maintain what was assuredly her heavens granted task.

Sumiko had been fine taking the back seat, having carried her heavy spirit realm book with her which she had been quietly studying and making notes on as they drove.

She still dressed a little warmly, just in case the rain got worse again.

Arriving she packed her book up and slipped it into a bag before leaving the car and with a smile bowing.

Well hello again.

"Good afternoon, I am Susumu Sumiko. It's lovely to meet you!"

Sakura bowed deeply. "Greetings Susumu-sama, Susumu-sama, Kuni-sama and Usagi-sama." When you're a ronin turned Minor clanner, even the heimin are sama.

"I was informed you might wish to avail yourself to our library?" She gestured towards the many paper books, some recent, some older.

"I've prepared some snacks and tea." Technically, it was tea. Some, though, might disagree.

Susumu Sumiko wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 26, 2022 6:45 pm

Sumiko had been fine taking the back seat, having carried her heavy spirit realm book with her which she had been quietly studying and making notes on as they drove.

She still dressed a little warmly, just in case the rain got worse again.

Arriving she packed her book up and slipped it into a bag before leaving the car and with a smile bowing.

Well hello again.

"Good afternoon, I am Susumu Sumiko. It's lovely to meet you!"

That voice sounded familiar... Rei studied her another moment, then shook his head.

"Please, join us too, Hotaru-san. You're familiar with the subject matter. Although I understand some new information has come to light?" This was directed more at the two Spider.

He guided them all to one of the areas of couches, with three arranged in a sort of U shape, a table in the middle for the snacks and tea. And overflow books.

"Yes."

Yakumo produced a piece of paper from her purse. "I can't go into detail of hiw I acquired this information, as you might understand that we're dealing with some big deal here. Sumiko-san shed some light on its content for me, as this sort of knowledge isn't something I know much about." The others didn't need to know, for their own safety as much as for the Spider's.

She slid the printed copy of the report on the table for the others to read while she helped herself to one of the bubble teas and pastries.

----

The report: https://shadows.fallenash.com/viewtopic ... 940#p14940

Still busy setting them out, and with no rush to see the letter again before the other had a chance. Koyuki was busy taking her time. When Yakumo reaches for her cup of bubble tea Koyuki pushes it out of her hands path at the last second and continues unpacking the others as if she hadn't. Subtle as it was to anyone not paying attention, and turned away as she was, she allowed her a smug little look. Collecting her own cup in the process of removing it from the tray after she'd removed all the others.

Shifting around, she stands guard by the assortment of snacks and drinks to make sure everyone had a hand to point them to which one was intended for them.

"To add to the report that Susumu-sama has discovered, as I was lucky to be able to see it earlier in order to do some prior research, 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. So this is no normal spirit, unfortunately" Sumiko added

Rei picked up the piece of paper, reading it carefully, turning it so that Sakura could see it. Slowly, his casual smile faded, the muscles in his jaw gradually tightening.

"Fortunes." He looked at the Spider. "You've got this backed up, right? I can destroy this copy? The thing's so hot I'm surprised it doesn't burst into flame in my hands."

He grimaced, looking around. "Still, we've got one big question. Can this be cured?"

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From me and Tassu

1) What exactly does Miniechi have partially possessing him, and how is it cured? Second half more important than first, but I figured this might count as 2 questions.

2) Now that we have the name of the sword, can we find anything useful in looking up its history?
1) Lore: SR TN:20 Raises likely needed.
2) Lore: History or Lore: Bushido TN:25 Raises likely needed

Sakura got up from her seat and moved to the library. "I think there might be something here..Toritaka Tanjiro's Not My Sister, it is slightly fictionalized, but it might have something...."

Unfortunately, the book only had the tale of a nice young man and his exploits to free his sister from possession...but nothing concrete was found.

"Gomenasaiii."

OOC:
D9 EA Lore: spirit realms/Intelligence, TN 20, 3 CR, VP for +1k1, WW for +2, spirit realms book for +2 | 6k5+4 ⇒ 32 (TN: 35)

Yakumo exchanged a narrowed eyes-look to Koyuki over the bubble tea, but she said nothing, only smirking a little bit.

"Yes, don't worry about it, Rei-san," Yakumo assured him. Though she had no idea if Sumiko had actually backed it up, she just assumed she had because it seemed like a smart thing to do, and Sumiko was perhaps the smartest person she knew.

She listened to Sakura, and tapped her chin in thought. "Maybe it was Matsu Monjiro...?" Or was it Usagi Gonpachiro? Santaro? Tontaro? With a shrug, she sipped some more of her brown sugar milk tea.

"It's alright, Hotaru-san. I don't think we expect to get all the answers this afternoon, but if we start looking into it now, and cover different areas, I'm sure we can find some sort of solution. But yes, the goal is to find a... uh... cure. Not sure if that's the right word for a spiritual malady."

With her own tea collected, and her tease of Yakumo dutifully accomplished. Koyuki finds herself a spot among the group with a few books and articles lined up around her with a napkin placed over her knee. Atop that napkin was placed one of the many pastries that had been afforded them for this grueling task and it clashed so wonderfully with the deep black of her pants. Carefully making quite the cozy little space for herself surrounded by books, Koyuki would sift through some of what was there and track through to see if she might find anything of use.

Unfortunately, nothing she was able to gather seemed to be amounting what they would need. Her search didn't end so quickly, but ultimately the task would prove for naught.

Day 9, EA | Cure Mineichi: Lore Spirit Realms/Int (Skilled from HoMC) 2 Called Raises | 4k3 ⇒ 21 (TN: 30)

"I'm sure there is a backup copy" Sumiko said with a nod, not confirming anything as she continued making some notes, before getting up to look at the first bookshelf. She took a few moments looking along this before quietly saying to herself "author system" and walking along six bookshelves. Checking the top book name and nodding before crouching down to the bottom shelf. There was a frown though as she looked through what was there

"I think the book you're referring to isn't here Hotaru-san. It's called banishment by Toritaka Renjiro, a historical document detailing a 23rd century banishment of an ancient Sakkaku spirit that was plauging a village on Rokugans western border."

There was a frown.

"Maybe someone is borrowing it already?"

(ooc: D9 EA hunting for information on how to cure Bayushi Miniechi's spiritual possession. Lore:Spirit realms(Sage)/int+1k0 from Minor Clan library bonus +2 from Encyclopedia+void. 2 raises, so TN30 total | 7k5+2 ⇒ 27 (TN: 30))

"Possible, let me see what is in the archives perhaps."

A big fat nothing.

OOC:
D9 EA Lore: History/int, MCa embassy, 1 CR, | 5k4 ⇒ 28 (TN: 30)

Since everyone seemed to be drawing blanks, Yakumo stopped sipping her boba and thought out loud. "Could the Scorpion have anything on it perhaps in their databanks? They seemed to know what they were talking about in that report."

Sometimes, the bimbo had brains.

Sumiko had moved to assist Sakura also, and was left disappointed.

Susumu Yakumo wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 27, 2022 4:05 pm

Since everyone seemed to be drawing blanks, Yakumo stopped sipping her boba and thought out loud. "Could the Scorpion have anything on it perhaps in their databanks? They seemed to know what they were talking about in that report."

Sometimes, the bimbo had brains.

"Hmm, the Scorpion libraries may have something different to here, however that would require gaining permission to search them for information on Gaki-Do which could be difficult. After all, if someone gets wind of what we're doing it isn't going to look good."


(ooc: D9 EA hunting for information on the history of the sword. Lore: Hisotry/Int plus MCA embassy bonus. TN25+1 raise (Tn30) | 6k4 ⇒ 21 (TN: 30))

"Oh, I didn't mean getting permission." She clarified, thinking she had made it obvious.

Rei, meanwhile, had been mostly carrying books here and there, and keeping everyone's tea topped off. It seemed to be the role he was best suited for.

Hearing the lack of success, he grimaced. "Well. I suppose it was too much to hope that our library would have all the answers we need. It's pretty impressive, but it's hardly full of forbidden tomes." He smirked. "Probably for the best."

He raised his eyebrows, but smiled at Yakumo's suggestion.