Investigation of the Scene (Day 6, Late Afternoon, CLOSED)

[Volsung]

High Investigation Preferred.
Danger Level: Moderate
Thread closes after: Fuichi, Tomoe, 2 more.

The City guard lead several of the Rokugani to the scene of the crime. The guards lead the samurai down into the allwyways of the temple district, where the closely packed homes of the lesser servants of the temples make the passageway tight with many sidealleys jutting off suddenly. An easy place to stage an ambush. The mist has begun to creep up into the temple district and the samurai are upon it almost before they realize it.

The scene is rather grisly, blood covers the ground and runs in rivulets down into the cracks of the stone pavement. Blood has also splattered against one of the walls rather liberally, then run down some ways before growing sluggish as it dried. The body still lay where it had fallen, though someone had the decency to cover it with a sheet and place several men as a guard to keep looters or other less savory types away from the body.

Roll Perception/Investigation (search) upon entry. Raises are a good thing.

[Daidoji Fuichi]

Fuichi entered the alleyway and immediately had to fight down the urge to retch. Even the Crab hadn't been so brutal during the war. We should never have come here.

He approached the body with his practiced serenity and grace, his eyes unused to carnage or the art of knowing its cause.

Unskilled Investigation=11

[Mirumoto Tomoe]

Tomoe did her best to keep her face. She had to concentrate strongly. The carnage one could see and smell was terrible. This was not an ordinary murder. It was far too graphic. So violent. She looked at the scene with untrained but sharp eyes, giving it the same level of inspection and attention to detail that she reserved for when she met new samurai.

16

(ooc: A couple of actual investigators would be nice! Please people?)

[Yoritomo Kaito]

Two meals, a pot of khava, a short nap and a bath later Kaito was feeling more or less himself once again after his offerings to Suitengu this morning. Having spotted the group on the way out of the embassy after his bath he had inquired about the problem and decided to tag along.

As they entered the alleyway he looked around somewhat shocked at the pure amount of blood covering the scene. He had seen death before in battle but this was something more chilling then that.

23 with one raise called

[Bayushi Kichirou]

Following the Crane and Dragon and Mantis, Kichirou took a look about the scene noting as best he could the details without letting his emotions or physical reactions get in the way. He'd never seen anything like this, nothing even close.

[Volsung]

And Closed.

Most samurai have seen death, in one way or another, and it is amazing how much blood the human body holds. One thing is immediately clear to all the samurai present however, there's only enough blood here for one person to be dead. Which makes sense in some respects as there is only one body. As the sheet is pulled away, it is not the body of a samurai they see, but the body of one of the servants. That much is clear by her clothing and weapons. But she does not look fully Rokugani, her skin too dark, her remaining eye was too almond shaped. A halfbreed perhaps.

It is Tomoe that notices a small strip of paper laying a few feet away from the crime scene. When she examines it closer she realizes it's an ofuda, meant for blessings and to keep away danger. It appears that this one had not done it's job well. Still, this isn't something a heimin ashigaru would carry around. This was clearly made by a shugenja.

Kaito, a bit closer to the body, notices a black shape wedged against one of the walls. Upon closer inspection, it is revealed to be a black, wicked looking dagger with a blade that is covered in congealed blood. A weapon he has not seen at all since he has been here.

Kichirou, carefully avoiding the blood as he steps past the body in the narrow corridor, stops as he spots an odd formation in the blood splatter. Looking more closely, it looks akin to if someone was dragged off. Looking the way the trail goes, he can see the occasional drip of blood on the ground, and towering above the horizon, a black stone behemoth to a god whose name is only whispered.

[Yoritomo Kaito]

Kaito was somewhat relieved that it was a Heimen under the sheet but he didn't let it show on his face. The murder of a Heimen could perhaps be excused the death of a Samurai would be a different story completely. Still though it's with patient eyes he observes the scene spotting the strange knife? several long moments later.

Approaching closer to examine it in more detail he frowns slightly then turning motions for one of the guards to come over. Perhaps one of them could shed some light on this obviously foreign weapon.

[Mirumoto Tomoe]

Tomoe reached down to pick up the prayer strip, her hand covered in some cloth so she would not directly touch the blood. She cleaned up the item as best she could before letting the cloth fall to the ground. Where was an eta to clean up this mess when they needed one - had the Embassy sent one? Or a Kitsuki investigator who definately knew what they were doing? She wondered these while also pondering why the guards had asked for a funerary expert when really they needed a crime scene expert. Still, the murder of an embassy heimin, even a half Rokugani, was angering to her. What angered her more was the likelihood a shugenja was involved.

"I have found a prayer strip here. I imagine this heimin was acting as a bodyguard for one of us. A shugenja. Are any missing? I think one must be now. We can ask the embassy officials who this heimin was guarding and translating for... when we know who she is" Tomoe finished distastefully, looking at the body before turning away before she could begin to feel sick.

She instead watched the others as they picked apart the crime scene, watching closely as Kaito inspected something - spotting the nasty looking weapon herself. She saw him gesturing the guards over and asked "Do you need a translator? We may learn more if they say it naturally?"

[Yoritomo Kaito]

((I knew I should of clarified I didn't pick it up in my previous post :p Will do so now to end any confusion.))

"That might be for the best Mirumoto-san." Replied the mantis as he continued to examine the weapon from it's position on the ground. He didn't want to touch the blood covered instrument of murder unless he had to. "Might see if we can get permission for Daidoji-sama to cast spells as well if we're going to see if we can find out anything else about this. Especially since the murder could still be in the area."

[Bayushi Kichirou]

"I think the answer may be in this direction...." Kichirou says being careful to avoid all the blood. The trail was faint to be sure and he was no expert hunter, "If we are missing a shugenja I believe they may have been taken."

[Mirumoto Tomoe]

(Corrected, thank you)

"Well, there aren't any other bodies but... why that direction?" Tomoe asks quizically, almost dismissing the comment as she is still concerned with the more obvious weapon and prayer strip. She turns to the local guards and points to the weapon before asking loudly in Rhumaali "please tell us what this weapon is and how it is used"

[Daidoji Fuichi]

Fuichi looked up the trail to the black temple. "Oh, I think the answer to that question is very clear, Mirumoto-san. That is the temple of the Enemy. Whomever was taken...well, I do believe that they are in there."

[Bayushi Kichirou]

"It looks here as if someone was dragged." Kichirou says pointing to the blood, "If you follow the line....see here, a little more blood." he says as he moves the direction he had indicated before scanning for more evidence of the trail.

[Daidoji Fuichi]

Fuichi desperately wanted to send a message to the Captain, and it would be so very easy to do so if he could only call upon the Air.

Frickin' frackin' edicts.

Instead, he held up a hand. 'Bayushi-san, we need a moment. Going further without all the information would seem suicidal."

[Mirumoto Tomoe]

Tomoe openly frowned. He is too cautious when action is potentially immediately necessary. She thought of a possible solution but she wanted the opinions of the others "and if one of our number is still alive and in need of assistance? If we wait that could well be signing their death warrant. I can see your point too Daidoji-sama but... perhaps we can compromise? Maybe the town guard would accompany us and assist us in searching? If it is a false lead, then no harm will be done. If it isn't... then we will have acted alongside the correct authorities and in decent numbers?". She crossed her arms before adding "of course, no matter what we all think Daidoji-sama, you are welcome to remain here and conduct the funeral rites for the body". There, he has an honourable opt out. She waited for the group to consider her argument and either agree or offer alternatives. She gave the local guards another look and nodded to say they should tell her all they could about the weapon.

[Daidoji Fuichi]

Fuichi blinked. To be accused of cowardice, however kindly, was a slap in the face of serious proportions.

With a look of reproach to the Mirumoto, he turned to the guards. "You understand the profound danger of the situation. When we move out, I need to be able to do my utmost to shield these people from harm. I cannot do that without calling on the kami. Therefore, I need one of you to do whatever is necessary so that I am able to serve apropriately. Secure the necessary permission, or at the very least stand aside to let me do my work."

[Volsung]

After several minutes, two eta catch up to the samurai with another of the City guard. The guard speaks to their commander, who turns to the samurai. "These two say here to help with body. He turns as the black bladed kris is pulled up for him to see, his face pales some and he mutters what sounds like a blessing under his breath. "That is weapon of sacrifice. That it is black..." He shakes his head. "Destroyer." He whispers, as though afraid of the very name.

As the samurai talk about actually going to the temple, the guards all look worried. Their commander steels himself though. "We will stay with body. Some will escort to that place. But we will not enter."

[Yoritomo Kaito]

Kaito turns towards the guard at least they had said they could enter the temple which was a plus they at least had permission to do that. Addressing the guard that looked to know the most rokugani he spoke slowly hoping he could be understood. "We won't require you to ho in with us but we need permission for our priest to call on his power and further permission to do what is necessary if they have one of our people can you do this for us?"

[Mirumoto Tomoe]

Tomoe ignored the Daidoji's look. He was welcome to pout and be indignant as much as he liked. What mattered were results, not niceties, in her mind.

Tomoe nods at Kaito's words. He knows what needs to be done. She thanks the guards for their information and willingness to help. Destroyer huh? She considers the blade before looking towards the temple. She seems to now believe that the blood leads there, after it is pointed out to her more. Mentally, her respect for the Scorpion increases. I have heard a little about their temples. Why would anyone worship a creature than can only destroy?

[Daidoji Fuichi]

[[Fixing magic issue in earlier thread. Prepare for retcon....]]