Kiyonai Province
Established
Roleplay posts: 33
Registered: Apr 25, 2017 23:37:17 GMT -8
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Post by Kiyonai Province on May 3, 2017 21:06:36 GMT -8
The Magistrate's Office, known as a Bugyosho to those who retained much of the ancient language, was a well-kept establishment in the city, built within its own small pavilion off one of the main roads. Here, the assistant magistrates, known as the yoriki, helped settle domestic disputes and issues with the law among merchants and artisans. The office also served as the head of the police, known as the doshin and consisting of mainly lower ranking samurai, who reported to the yoriki.
It is to this building that citizens can report crimes.
Overseeing law and justice in the city of Kiyonai and the surrounding province was the magistrate, who supervised and organized the yoriki, though is rarely accessible from the city's office.
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Tika Seya
Committed
Roleplay posts: 78
Age: 19
Physical Description: Long raven hair, blue eyes, and an average build. Soft features.
☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼
Clothes and Equipment:
A pink kimono is accented by the red trim of her lower hiyoko layer, an ornamental display of feminity in what was otherwise a men's cut of garb free of the constrictions of traditional female clothing. A white obi holds a single katana to her left hip. Zori sandals and white socks. Her hakama trousers were the deep color of violet, with a display of light rosey flowers bedazzling the hem of the left leg.
Her sword, Hikari-no-Kazu: http://i.imgur.com/P6AzAI8.jpg
Registered: Apr 25, 2017 20:44:32 GMT -8
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Post by Tika Seya on May 5, 2017 20:45:45 GMT -8
It was night when Tika arrived. Hopefully there was still someone to man the station after hours. She'd happily wait until morning if necessary, but had spent about half an hour searching for this very establishment. If any part of the building appeared lit, she'd cross the courtyard casually..
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Inaba Kiyomasa
Established
Roleplay posts: 22
Age: 35
Registered: May 3, 2017 20:55:12 GMT -8
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Post by Inaba Kiyomasa on May 5, 2017 21:26:43 GMT -8
He was on his way out for the evening. The building entrusted to his trusty guard, Taro, he started on his way home. There was much work to be done tomorrow, with all of the market disputes lately. Taxes were quickly becoming an issue, and the town's rapid expansion had caused legal issues of zoning and land ownership to grow uncontrolled. He then notices Tika, the young woman, gracefully straddling some sort of line between samurai caste and noble artisan. What could she possibly want? And this late? The last thing he wanted was another case. He was tired, and his right leg was sore from yesterday's jujutsu practice. Yet good citizen he was, he stopped before her, scrolls held to his robes in his right hand.
"Yes? Can I... help you?"
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Tika Seya
Committed
Roleplay posts: 78
Age: 19
Physical Description: Long raven hair, blue eyes, and an average build. Soft features.
☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼
Clothes and Equipment:
A pink kimono is accented by the red trim of her lower hiyoko layer, an ornamental display of feminity in what was otherwise a men's cut of garb free of the constrictions of traditional female clothing. A white obi holds a single katana to her left hip. Zori sandals and white socks. Her hakama trousers were the deep color of violet, with a display of light rosey flowers bedazzling the hem of the left leg.
Her sword, Hikari-no-Kazu: http://i.imgur.com/P6AzAI8.jpg
Registered: Apr 25, 2017 20:44:32 GMT -8
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Post by Tika Seya on May 5, 2017 22:03:31 GMT -8
"Um.. yes.. I'm sorry to bother you so late, but I only just arrived.."
Tika looked genuinely apologetic for bothering the poor man so late in his day, but there was a grave concern to her voice when she made her report, and its nature should surely excuse any untimely interruptions.
"On the Midori road here to Kiyonai, this morning... I was attacked, yoriki, by at least five men with swords. They appear to have been ronin," she said, bowing her head with a disclaimer, "I am new to this land, yoriki, so please, forgive me if this is a known issue. I met three others when it happened, two of whom were being harassed by the men."
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Inaba Kiyomasa
Established
Roleplay posts: 22
Age: 35
Registered: May 3, 2017 20:55:12 GMT -8
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Post by Inaba Kiyomasa on May 5, 2017 22:37:57 GMT -8
"Bandits..." Attacks happened, raids occurred, and false reports submitted. He had no reason to believe her scenario was much different than any other similar tale, but the crime was serious enough to warrant collecting the data.
"Come with me. We're heading back inside. I'm going to write your report really quick, and then we'll be on our way."
He'd lead her back to the building. Here, a guard stood on patrol, a young samurai with his long and short swords at his left hip, and also a sort of hooked metal baton, the jitte, for disarming aggressors. In his left hand was a lantern, which he was instructed to hand over. Inaba would use this flame to ignite another set of candles, which dimly lit a formal room of records. "Sit. We will make this quick."
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Tika Seya
Committed
Roleplay posts: 78
Age: 19
Physical Description: Long raven hair, blue eyes, and an average build. Soft features.
☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼
Clothes and Equipment:
A pink kimono is accented by the red trim of her lower hiyoko layer, an ornamental display of feminity in what was otherwise a men's cut of garb free of the constrictions of traditional female clothing. A white obi holds a single katana to her left hip. Zori sandals and white socks. Her hakama trousers were the deep color of violet, with a display of light rosey flowers bedazzling the hem of the left leg.
Her sword, Hikari-no-Kazu: http://i.imgur.com/P6AzAI8.jpg
Registered: Apr 25, 2017 20:44:32 GMT -8
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Post by Tika Seya on May 6, 2017 18:44:55 GMT -8
She followed, observing the proceedings silently. When instructed, he sat upon her knees on the other end of the table, her face warmly illuminated by the flickering candles.
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Inaba Kiyomasa
Established
Roleplay posts: 22
Age: 35
Registered: May 3, 2017 20:55:12 GMT -8
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Post by Inaba Kiyomasa on May 6, 2017 19:53:06 GMT -8
Hour of the Rat - Inaba Kiyomasa, Tika Seya He had retrieved some paper and a a brush, on which he could write his report. He laid some other scrolls beside him on the table. Then, he began writing. After a moment, he seemed to finish what it was he was writing down. "Tell me your name, and the names of those you were traveling with." ---------------------------------------------------------------------
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Inaba Kiyomasa
Established
Roleplay posts: 22
Age: 35
Registered: May 3, 2017 20:55:12 GMT -8
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Post by Inaba Kiyomasa on May 6, 2017 21:06:32 GMT -8
Hour of the Horse - Inaba Kiyomasa, Ketsueki AkiyamaInaba sat in seiza, working away at several documents with his practiced calligraphy. Some time during the mid-day, a junior policeman announced the arrival of a new prisoner. As was customary, the prisoners were to be processed through the Kiyonai magistrate, the actual work left to assistants, as the province took official custody and decided their fates. Ketsueki would be brought to the front courtyard in her cage, not to be released until the doors of the compound - two thick oaken doors that were barred with a piece of heavy wood - were shut. Two guards flanked the door, should she still attempt to flee. They never did. It was all a show, as most prisoners knew they were properly confined within these walls.
Inaba came strolling out, nodded in approval, and the guards brought her into the building. Here prisoners were instructed to sit in seiza before him (their legs physically forced and bound into position if they were stiff or broken from recent violence or torture), while he read out their accusations and confirmed their identities. A couple times, a mix-up had resulted in the wrong prisoner being received.
Ketsueki was sat before the junior magistrate. Here, judgement was often swift and unfair, frequently steeped in heavy bias around gender, social class, and perceived loyalties. It wasn't infrequent that members of the samurai class had charges dismissed entirely, and often crimes of heinous nature.
Quietly, he looked up at her only after writing some things down on his paper.
".. Tell me your name."
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Deleted
Roleplay posts: 0
Registered: Nov 21, 2024 17:50:02 GMT -8
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2017 21:25:55 GMT -8
It was hell being dragged out of the crude cage, and she didn't have the strength to fight as they forced her to her knees to sit. But it had been necessary - holding up her head alone was painful and difficult after days of no food or water. Her hands were still bound before her, and her middle and ring fingers of both hands were still broken and tied - making use of them extremely difficult. The will to live was wavering with each passing minute, her breathing long and low as she struggled to remain upright.
When she heard the question she tried to lift her chin, but failed as her head hung limply off shoulders. "K... Ketsueki," she manages in a breath. She winced when she realized how much her throat burned. "H-House Ak... ... Akiyama..."
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Inaba Kiyomasa
Established
Roleplay posts: 22
Age: 35
Registered: May 3, 2017 20:55:12 GMT -8
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Post by Inaba Kiyomasa on May 6, 2017 21:35:25 GMT -8
Hour of the Horse - Inaba Kiyomasa, Ketsueki Akiyama
"Ketsu...e... ki..." He slowly narrated, as much to her as to himself, as he wrote down her name on the paper, "...Aki... yama." Then he jotted down some more things, leaving a long and drawn out awkward silence. As this was his fist chance to observe her response to a question, perhaps he was making notes of her demeanor.
"..You're in a dishonorable place, Ketsueki... what do you think your father would think of this?"
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Deleted
Roleplay posts: 0
Registered: Nov 21, 2024 17:50:02 GMT -8
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2017 21:43:32 GMT -8
Her father. The thought of what he would think of her, after being arrest. After suffering torment and ruination at the hands of the Shogun and his shinobi. After having wept in fear and pain.
Inaba would be able to see her shoulders slump entirely, the long dark strands of her hair falling to veil her face - hiding the fresh tears attempting to roll down her cheeks. She remained quiet for a moment longer before finally speaking - her voice almost cracking.
"... I did nothing wrong..."
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Tika Seya
Committed
Roleplay posts: 78
Age: 19
Physical Description: Long raven hair, blue eyes, and an average build. Soft features.
☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼
Clothes and Equipment:
A pink kimono is accented by the red trim of her lower hiyoko layer, an ornamental display of feminity in what was otherwise a men's cut of garb free of the constrictions of traditional female clothing. A white obi holds a single katana to her left hip. Zori sandals and white socks. Her hakama trousers were the deep color of violet, with a display of light rosey flowers bedazzling the hem of the left leg.
Her sword, Hikari-no-Kazu: http://i.imgur.com/P6AzAI8.jpg
Registered: Apr 25, 2017 20:44:32 GMT -8
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Post by Tika Seya on May 6, 2017 21:46:29 GMT -8
Hour of the Rat - Inaba Kiyomasa, Tika Seya He had retrieved some paper and a a brush, on which he could write his report. He laid some other scrolls beside him on the table. Then, he began writing. After a moment, he seemed to finish what it was he was writing down. "Tell me your name, and the names of those you were traveling with." "Forgive me, yoriki, for not introducing myself. I am Tika Seya... Two of those I came here with are named Kiara, and Pana. The third has not given me his name, yoriki. He wishes to hide it and has made this clear. I did not pursue the subject. He did say he was going to find an inn here and meet me with the others a few streets down, very soon."
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Inaba Kiyomasa
Established
Roleplay posts: 22
Age: 35
Registered: May 3, 2017 20:55:12 GMT -8
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Post by Inaba Kiyomasa on May 6, 2017 21:49:31 GMT -8
Hour of the Horse - Inaba Kiyomasa, Ketsueki Akiyama
"Nothing wrong?" Inaba looked slightly suspicious, as though he knew what her crime had been all along and had witnessed it himself. It was as though a father scolding a lying child, some of its edge lost from endless repetition. "Then, why are you here..?"
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Inaba Kiyomasa
Established
Roleplay posts: 22
Age: 35
Registered: May 3, 2017 20:55:12 GMT -8
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Post by Inaba Kiyomasa on May 6, 2017 21:51:48 GMT -8
Hour of the Rat - Inaba Kiyomasa, Tika Seya"Hmm..." He looked over one of his documents, searching for a name. He could have swore she sounded familiar.
"Seya... is that correct?"
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Deleted
Roleplay posts: 0
Registered: Nov 21, 2024 17:50:02 GMT -8
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2017 21:54:13 GMT -8
She best she could do was lift her chin enough to look where the man stood, and that hurt her neck and her shoulders to hold her head up longer than a few seconds.
"I wish you could... could tell me." She dared to attempt flexing her fingers, regretting it instantly as the broken ones were struck with licks of sharp pain. She wanted to stop hurting, inside and out.
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Inaba Kiyomasa
Established
Roleplay posts: 22
Age: 35
Registered: May 3, 2017 20:55:12 GMT -8
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Post by Inaba Kiyomasa on May 6, 2017 21:57:41 GMT -8
Hour of the Horse - Inaba Kiyomasa, Ketsueki Akiyama
Inaba looked completely unimpressed and unphased. Clearly he had been through so many trials and lies that he couldn't help but feeling very jaded about the whole thing, and in particular the prisoners. His tone had a flatness to it that suggested a complete indifference to her condition, and an adherence solely to the court's proceedings.
"Describe to me the events leading to your arrest."
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Tika Seya
Committed
Roleplay posts: 78
Age: 19
Physical Description: Long raven hair, blue eyes, and an average build. Soft features.
☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼
Clothes and Equipment:
A pink kimono is accented by the red trim of her lower hiyoko layer, an ornamental display of feminity in what was otherwise a men's cut of garb free of the constrictions of traditional female clothing. A white obi holds a single katana to her left hip. Zori sandals and white socks. Her hakama trousers were the deep color of violet, with a display of light rosey flowers bedazzling the hem of the left leg.
Her sword, Hikari-no-Kazu: http://i.imgur.com/P6AzAI8.jpg
Registered: Apr 25, 2017 20:44:32 GMT -8
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Post by Tika Seya on May 6, 2017 22:03:18 GMT -8
Hour of the Rat - Inaba Kiyomasa, Tika Seya"Hmm..." He looked over one of his documents, searching for a name. He could have swore she sounded familiar.
"Seya... is that correct?" "Yes. I am... the last, of the Seya family, yoriki. Of Katashima. I came as soon as I heard some of our surviving clan had established here."
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Inaba Kiyomasa
Established
Roleplay posts: 22
Age: 35
Registered: May 3, 2017 20:55:12 GMT -8
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Post by Inaba Kiyomasa on May 6, 2017 22:14:39 GMT -8
Hour of the Rat - Inaba Kiyomasa, Tika Seya"I see.. and your family name is on this list. It marks the most loyal retainers to the Hizashi clan that had been lost." Inaba hadn't forgotten about the bandits, but he had already written that report and would advance it through the appropriate channels. But this was highly important. "You say you are the last survivor..."
He jotted down one last thing, and then looked up to her. "This has its implications. And they're serious. Look. I'm tired. And I really wanna get outta here. I need you to do me a favor. Don't tell anyone that you came here tonight. If anyone asks tomorrow morning, tell them you just arrived and left my office. And when tomorrow morning comes, I need you to take this letter to the House of Falling Blossoms Tea House and present it to a man named Omura. You stand out like koi in a crystal pond. He'll know to recognize you, and he'll introduce himself. Arrive alone. Do not bring anyone with you into the establishment."
He handed her a letter, sealed with the official seal of the Kiyonai Magistrate.
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Deleted
Roleplay posts: 0
Registered: Nov 21, 2024 17:50:02 GMT -8
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2017 22:15:58 GMT -8
The young woman took a breath before she started trying to explain what happened.
"I came here... was looking for a new home. A guard heard me. ... was talking about myself. Katashima. I was a shinobi." She went quiet to breathe for a minute. "They arrested me. I was b... brought before your Shogun. Your Emperor. The Shogun, he... he took me aside. To a room. It was dark... don't remember much."
She grimaced as she recalled what happened upon waking up, bringing her to a point where she began to quiver. "I woke up. He-He has shinobi. They..." She stopped, swallowing hard as she tried to suppress that memory over the last few days. "I woke in that cage. Jailed, for days. Now I'm here... I did nothing wrong."
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Inaba Kiyomasa
Established
Roleplay posts: 22
Age: 35
Registered: May 3, 2017 20:55:12 GMT -8
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Post by Inaba Kiyomasa on May 6, 2017 22:26:03 GMT -8
Hour of the Horse - Inaba Kiyomasa, Ketsueki Akiyama
"Well, you clumsily revealed yourself to be a foreign shinobi... and we all know spies are dishonorable vermin and slime, worth one sixth of a person and worthy of the most punishing of sentences. You should feel forever lucky and honored, that those retainers of his did not see him too pure to have you in his presence." Inaba made no secret of his distaste for spies, as it was considered dishonorable work that had no place among those who walked a path of virtue and purity. "Lock her up," he said casually, dismissing himself. She herself would be "dismissed" to a pitch black, dirt floored storage cellar behind the main structure, and locked in deprivation for the remainder of the day and all throughout the night. Her only solace would be a tiny circle that'd be bashed into the wooden door of the locked cellar by a policeman's jitte sometime during the night. The door was unlocked swiftly enough to drop her a bowl of rice and some water, and the moonlight through the hole would be just enough to allow her to consume it.
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