Desert Wind Chapter #1: Playing Samurai and Indians

[Glory Sieg]

The woman nodded a bit, frowning. Her certainly wasn't what she was looking for, but she nodded anyway. "Of course, brother," she said, glancing about. "What can I enlighten you upon?"  

[Paidi tou Selini]

She wasn't ignorant of that look, even if she was a little surprised to see it leveled at a Shiotome. The may have been the colonial capital, but there weren't THAT many Imperial visitors. Only a fool would be dismissive of a Battle Maiden. Yet a fool he was, so she was perfectly content to turn and find a less shameful place to stay... until someone decided to speak up for her. The bronze plainsmistress quirked a curious brow and turned to face the new stranger and give a polite bow of her own. Unexpected shame met with unexpected charity. What a day this was turning out to be.

"A pleasure, Otomo-san. I am Utaku Aneksi, Shiotome scout. To what do I owe the honor?"  

[Plainsfox]

Shinjo Asura

"They say that Demon Eyes gets the job done, but leaves a mess. That's why you're here. Messes don't much matter out there though, do they? Tomoya comments as she gestures towards the window and out to the trade routes leading into the wild wilderness of the Colonies. [ooc: may want to throw me an awareness/investigation roll with that response]

Utaku Jinyu-Zhe and Utaku Aneksi
"I had cousins among the Shiotome. Through you, perhaps I can repay a favor I can no longer repay them directly. Will you be in Second City long, Utaku-san?"

Togashi Seijun
"Do nuns really dress that way in the convent or abbey or...." The old man would shake his head. "I knew a Togashi once who dressed nearly like that....but it wasn't in the heart of civilization! She covered up for that." He sighed, noticing her glances at the girls that passed by.

Yoritomo Misaki
Goro would come back not too long later...enough time for you to drink tea and have a dumpling with you like. He would return with one of the serving girls, a slender girl with a strange mix of gaijin and rokugani features. "This is Tampopo. She will guide you to the tailors and model the various dresses for you.There are some styles here that are quite different than Rokugani norm and I think Tampopo-chan can enlighten you to them."  

[Mongooseh]

"They say a lot of things and so do you." Asura stated bluntly growing impatient, removing the pipe from his mouth before asking, "What is it that you want? You've been feeling out whether I'd take the job on or not. You've yet to tell me what the job is, I won't agree blindly."

Asura would take his eyes off Tomoya to observe the ronin for a second seeing if they were rising from sitting to do some posturing.  

[Paidi tou Selini]

She nodded hesitantly, but ultimately could find no real reason to suspect ulterior motive. Even if he called in a favor later, having a friend in the Otomo couldn't be a bad thing.

"I see. Well your kindness is appreciated. My husband and I will be staying for a week, before the caravan we are escorting departs."  

[Raganui Minamoto]

He'd stand, nodding to Ide Goro, before focusing on the girl. "Of course. If you have time later, we can discuss who all would enjoy the fine island silks I can offer, with plenty of thanks to you should they like to inquire much further." He smiled lightly towards Goro, then back to the girl. "Now, let's see... exotic looks, decent form. Yes, a good model indeed. Well, Tampopo-san, I leave the hard work of guiding me around the city to you."  

[Glory Sieg]

Seijun looked down at herself. Sure, her chest was bare, but that would hide the tattoos covering her torso. "Hm? This is how I dressed in the abbey, yes. Is there a problem?" She looked around, trying to see if other people seemed to have such a problem with her appearance. "What is the problem?"  

[Plainsfox]

Shinjo Asura

With the tone of Asura's voice, the guards tense. They seem to be ready to do something...but they're waiting on Tomoya's cue. For Tomoya's point, she looks rather disappointed. The mob boss would take one very deliberate drink of her tea before restating her comments. "This new outpost being made by the Utaku will cut into my shipping lanes. I would rather not see that happen. I am willing to pay well for your help in establishing paths through and obtaining information about the patrols in the area."


Utaku Jinyu-Zhe

A pair of stableboys come out and offer to take the reigns of your charges. "Please, Samurai-san! Let us care for your horses. We'll take good care of them!"

Utaku Aneksi
"Ahha! So you are currently in service of the Ide? The conversation continues for about five minutes or so and may or may not include an invitation to tea sometime during the week. He bids you goodbye and goes about his business.

Togashi Seijun:
You think back and seem to notice that MOST people seem to try to look at a way that does not involve looking at your chest. A few seem to only want to look at your chest. Those are mostly swatted by others around them and terse words were said.

"Well, normally those who live outside the abbey cover their torso to some extent. Those Togashi who's tattoos lead themselves where yours lead, usually wear a light top that can be easily removed."


Yoritomo Misaki:
You spend most of the day following Tampopo-chan around who happily uses her "tour guide" position to try on some of the most expensive and exotic clothes the Second City has to offer. You learn about sarongs, sarees,
and how the colonials tend to wear them and normal Rokugani clothing. Basically, the sarongs and the like are worn in the privacy of one's home and normally during a midday rest period.  

[Rain Yupa]

Jinyu-Zhe would smile and wave off the stableboys. "I thank you for the offer, young lads, but this is part of my duty. While I might otherwise relent with Chiyuuai here," he would begin to explain, rubbing the neck of the horse he was saddled upon, "This other horse is of Utaku breeding, and I would be heavily reprimanded if I were to let a stranger handle her."

Reaching into his coinpurse, he would take out a pair of zeni and toss them to the young men. "Your willingness to care for these animals so readily is a sign of both compassion to the horses themselves and dedication to your work. Keep up that attitude, and you will definitely have friends among the Unicorn."

(Currency marked -2 zeni. 3k2 sincerity roll to express my admiration towards their adherence to duty: 13).  

[Paidi tou Selini]

She kept up the polite conversation as best she could, and even accepted the offer for tea, because really who would snub an Otomo? Much less one that had just paid for her room. But eventually she was given leave, and made her way back out to Jinyu, looking curiously as he seemed to be handing something to a pair of servants.

"Is ought amiss, Husband? We have a room and stable space now. Let's settle our dears in and get settled ourselves. Unless there was some manner of night life you wanted to go to. Preferably something light or lacking in people, if such a thing is possible in this city."  

[Rain Yupa]

Jinyu-Zhe would smile a reassuring smile to Aneksi. "No, no, everything is fine out here, Wife. That took a little bit longer than I expected, but nothing your dutiful husband could not handle."

As an emphasis on his bravery during this trying ordeal, he would place a fist against the square of his chest.

Jinyu-Zhe would dismount and begin leading the horses to the stables himself. "As for plans, I have none. While I don't mind people, the Colonies are still a bit alien to me. If we weren't here for work, I might chance some exploration; however, since we're passing through, I'd much rather just keep my head down this evening."  

[Raganui Minamoto]

The Mantis would spend most of this time with Tampopo studying the gaijin garments they liked to wear, as well as the styles of kimono he could see. He also kept an eye out for who dealt with what cloth and type, for later talks of trading the fine silks of the Yoritomo.

Commerce/Intelligence
4k2 - 16  

[Mongooseh]

Asura took his time to respond as he carefully thought over his response as he slowly drew on his pipe as he finally resolved some thoughts in his head.

"Demon Eyes does get the job done but not this time. Money does not interest me nor do I think you have anything you could offer me that could sway me. Thanks for the offer of such an opportunity but I shall refuse."

Asura would take one draw of his pipe again letting the smoke seep out as he finished by saying, "Thanks for the tea and food but I think this meeting has come to an end."  

[Plainsfox]

@Togashi Seijun
On Hold for now

@Yoritomo Hisaki

You identify several merchants that are not already dealing directly with the Mantis in some way. Most are on the high end that Tampopo dares to visit and have connections to Imperials. You're gonna have to do a good sell job if you want to deal with them!

Anyrate, the tour winds down and the hour is late. Tampopo returns you to the bar, happy as a clam because she got to try on ALL of the things. Ide Goro is outside and asks "Did you get what you needed?"

@Utaku Jinyu-Zhe and Aneksi

The stable boys are happy at the prospect of zeni and seeing more awesome horses....they'll happily tell you that Chiyuuai may be on par with the Miya horses they've taken care of. They'll also say they've never been so close to anything so huge as an Utaku war horse. Usually the Battlemaidens prefer stabling near one of the gates to the town.

@Shinjo Asura

The goons would rise and Tamoya would put out her hand to forestall any action they may undertake. She would then rise herself and turn to leave. Before she does so, Tamoya calls out, I'm sorry we could not come to an arrangement. Should you change your mind, just leave word with the manager of this inn. ....and with that Tomoya and her ronin leave.