As agreed the previous day, Kioku waits for Kiyoshi, Sumiko, Sakura and possibly some others to join her at the Spine Drake Centre for some more work with the samples. Having taken the time to look at the slideshow Dai had prepared, and carrying the recording Kiyoshi had given her with her, she waits at the lobby with a bright smile.

The sample is at the same table it had been left the previous day, waiting for work on it to start.

Still feeling a bit bewildered by his morning, Kiyoshi arrived with the Detective. They both offered a respectful bow to the Scorpuon before sitting down.

Sakura joined the others, a hopeful smile on her face. "Greetings minna-sama!" She bowed to the group. "

Kioku seemed to be doing better, and she waved specifically at her. "I can't call on the kami, but I can help. I'll bring refreshments, if nothing else."

"Kitsune-san, Hotaru-san. I'm happy to see you", she says, bowing. "We do have tea and other beverages here, Hotaru-san!", she says, pointing to the same door she led you through the day before. "But if you want to get us something to eat later if this extends into lunch time, I won't be the one to complain", she adds with a friendly smile.

"Do we try to work together, then, Kitsune-san?"

(OOC: I imagine Sumiko will be joining us too, maybe Dai too - if we start the work with the samples, we can always assume she arrived as well and has joined us later)

While the priests did whatever priests do, Sakura brought out her own sample, Deepblack silk, and started to develop it into something stylish.

"Aha!" It seemd like she managed to find the right combination.

OOC:
D9 MA Developing Deepblack Silk project, Engineering/Intelligence, tn 25 | 5k4 ⇒ 25 (TN: 25)

Sumiko had arrived soon after, still dressed a warmly, just in case the rain got worse again. She bowed to the others and smiled.

"Mina-sama, good afternoon. I hope you are well?"

She placed her bag down, keeping her sample within it.

"I imagine it would be better to focus on one sample at a time, although the Olm sample seems far more serious in its curse so I'm unsure how much I can assist with that beyond information."

"I will do what I can, Soshi-sama." he nodded.

"Ganbatte minna-sama!"

Sakura cheered them on, from the sidelines.

OOC: Kiyoshi, if you want, you can throw an unvoided attempt at it, if you don't have Void, as it is cumulative, I don't think we can exactly fail it

The Kitsune made some preparations before beginning the ritual, calling on the water kami to bring him good fortune. They aided him, as they had before, but the ritual was already taking a toll on Kiyoshi.

- - -
[D9 MA] - SOME HEAVY (CURSE) LIFTING, Casting Reversal of Fortunes | 5k3 ⇒ 16 (TN: 10)

[D9 MA] - SOME HEAVY (CURSE) LIFTING, Lore: Theology/Intelligence, Reversal of Fortunes, Roll 1 | 2k2 ⇒ 5 (TN: ?)

[D9 MA] - SOME HEAVY (CURSE) LIFTING, Lore: Theology/Intelligence, Reversal of Fortunes, Roll 2 | 2k2 ⇒ 14 (TN: ?)

Total: 14

Exhausted. (Kiyoshi would like to continue, regardless)

Kioku sits next to the Kitsune as they start researching and dealing with the Sample - Kioku first focusing on its genetics and letting Kiyoshi deal with the more spiritual aspects of the curse.

Kiyoshi will notice, when he first actually touches the sample to start the prayers and rituals that will hopefully get rid of whatever is corrupting it, that something inside the sample seems to push his mind back, as if fighting against his interference.

First it's just a feeling. Then an image forms in his mind.


Angry Spirit

"ᗡou'ʇ ʇonɔɥ ɯǝ! I losʇ ǝʌǝɹʎʇɥıuɓ ɐlɹǝɐpʎ!"

The push back is then felt almost physically, leaving Kiyoshi as tired as if he had run for miles.


Soshi Kioku
Kioku, who had been focusing on studying the genetic makeup and signature of the sample and how the spiritual contamination might have affected it, suddenly shivers when Kiyoshi hears the voice.

"... did anyone say anything?"

Pipette in hand, notes on how to perform some procedures in front of her, she goes on to actually touch the sample.
As she starts the procedure, the image that had form in Kiyoshi's mind manifests to all those around, who see it screaming and lashing wildly at the Scorpion.


Angry Spirit

"⅄on! ⅄on sɥonlp uoʇ qǝ ɥǝɹǝ! ⅄on sɥonlp ɥɐʌǝ qǝǝu ʇɥǝɹǝ ʍıʇɥ ns, ʍıʇɥ ǝʌǝɹʎouǝ! Mıʇɥ Oɯoı! Mǝ H∩N⅁Ǝᴚ ɟoɹ ʎon!! ⅁ɹɹɹɹɐɐɐɐɓɥ!!"


Soshi Kioku
Kioku widens her eyes in surprise and, perhaps, some fear. But, eyes pressed, struggling, she brunts it and keeps on, obstinately. "I... I'm sorry, but I need to do this!", she exclaims between ragged breaths as some cuts appear in her arms and face.

As soon as she finishes what she was doing and steps back, the spirit is gone. The sample on the table seems to be more or less the same, but Kiyoshi and Kioku have positively started to make progress on it.

Kioku stands silently staring at the table, her eyes far away.

(OOC:
Kiyoshi becomes Fatigued (-5 to all rolls) until he rests for 1 time slot.

Spirit pushback vs Kioku. 3k2 damage | 3k2 ⇒ 19 (TN: ?) => Kioku takes 19 damage, Voided to 9. One more Void spent to overcome Lost Love at the start of the scene!

Lore: Biology/ Intelligence vs Rainbow Olm sample. Cumulative TN 60; 14/60 done. Exhausted if below 15. | 7k4 ⇒ 20 (TN: 15)

Total accumulated: 34/60)

Hotaru Sakura wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 27, 2022 7:57 am

While the priests did whatever priests do, Sakura brought out her own sample, Deepblack silk, and started to develop it into something stylish.

"Aha!" It seemd like she managed to find the right combination.

OOC:
D9 MA Developing Deepblack Silk project, Engineering/Intelligence, tn 25 | 5k4 ⇒ 25 (TN: 25)

Before the whole thing with the spirit happened, Sakura's first efforts to produce the textile had borne fruit already.

(OOC: You have the textile ready! Just need one Time Slot to make it into an outfit now)

"Soshi-sama!" Sakura frowned as she saw the cuts appear, her breathing shallow.

"Are you okay? What WAS that thing?" It must be a powerful curse, at this rate...

She pulled out some bandages to help the priestess, and managed to slow down the breathing. "This is important work, but you mustn't throw your health away."

OOC:
D9 MA Medicine/Int, healing Kioku | 5k4 ⇒ 20 (TN: 15)

D9 MA Wounds restored | 1k1 ⇒ 5 (TN: ?)

"Can.... can we... bind it...?" Kiyoshi asks, trying to catch his breath.

Hotaru Sakura wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 27, 2022 9:46 pm

"Soshi-sama!" Sakura frowned as she saw the cuts appear, her breathing shallow.

"Are you okay? What WAS that thing?" It must be a powerful curse, at this rate...

She pulled out some bandages to help the priestess, and managed to slow down the breathing. "This is important work, but you mustn't throw your health away."

Kioku eyes are still focused on the table in front of her when Sakura comes to help. "I... I'm ok, Hotaru-san", she says, still panting a bit. "That... looked like a spirit tied to the sample." She looks at the others. "Not unlike what you had mentioned, in fact."

Hunger. Even through the being's distorted voice, she could make out the word clearly. And it seemed like whatever it was, it had reacted more strongly to Kioku than to Kiyoshi.

She looked at the Fox actor, shaking her head slowly. "I don't know... Binding spirits is not something I'm well versed at. If Kitsune-san is knowledgeable about such things, maybe we could if it shows itself again."

But if that spirit was the Rainbow Olms'...

"The sample... it may need the spirit to be cleansed, though, I believe. Or part of its essence will be gone..."

(OOC: Do you want to continue working on the LA?
Sumiko, you can start working on your sample now and get Kioku's help later, if that's OK. One of the rolls must be done by a shugenja to deal with hands-on spiritual things
but you're free to do the other ones, here and elsewhere, one per Time Slot)

Sumiko had to take some time to keep calm at seeing the spirit pop out again. It brought back memories from the lab trip.

It's fine. It's safe here. It's not the lab.

The others had jumped into action faster than her, so she let them assist while she looked over the biology of the sample so that it would be ready to remove the curse.


(ooc: D9 MA Removing curse from silk sample. Lore:Biology/Int (sage)+1k0 from previous research and FR used to add 5 to roll. VP spent | 7k5+5 ⇒ 44 (TN: ?) need a shugenja (Kioku in LA?) to roll a whole 6 on Lore:theology to remove the curse)

Soshi Kioku wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 28, 2022 2:59 am

(OOC: Do you want to continue working on the LA?
Sumiko, you can start working on your sample now and get Kioku's help later, if that's OK. One of the rolls must be done by a shugenja to deal with hands-on spiritual things
but you're free to do the other ones, here and elsewhere, one per Time Slot)

(ooc - can make a LA thread as not using it)

"It would take time." he said with weariness still in his voice. "The binding ritual I am familiar with takes half an hour. Regardless, we can continue."

- - -
I have LA open.

"We'll continue then", she says, obstinately. "Kitsune-san... if you bind the spirit, we must make sure we can still purify it and keep it within the sample. Otherwise... our work will likely be for nothing if the sample's spirit is lost."

She gives a half-smile to the others. "Minasan, thank you kindly for being here and for your help again. Kitsune-san and I will keep working on this for now, so feel free to go if you have other commitments. I keep my offer to help with the other samples", she says, looking intently at the sample on the table. "Even though it seems there are some risks involved. I can help as soon as the work with the Rainbow Olm is done..."

(OOC:
Continues here.

Sumiko - Kioku will still be busy with the Rainbow Olm sample in the next slot. She could help you in the EE if you leave the sample with her (I'll just post her roll and whatever happens, you don't have to be around. This 'may' put her in some risk - the spirits seem to be particularly hungry for Kioku!). But that's a way to do it so you can start working on developing the silk sample afterwards

Kiyoshi - rules for using Bonds of Ningen-do are in the other thread!

For the others - you can either keep around or leave!)