[Checkpoint] City Gates

Upon the arrival of several wolves bearing riders, several guards were waiting at the gates with spears and swords at the ready. This was... highly irregular, and it was apparent in the eyes of the soldiers as they glanced between each other. Were these kinds of mounts common across the sea, maybe? The fact the wolves were making passersby and travelers coming and going through the gate was putting them a little more on edge. But provided the wolves were tame... there wasn't likely to be any trouble.

Eventually the immigration consultant would be summoned, shuffling to the gates with his kimono and haori fluttering about in his wake as he tried to make good time - after all, hearing there were armored wolves at the gate was nothing normal and certainly needed attention. The older gentleman arrived and readjusted himself once out of his jog, and removed a furled scroll from beneath his arm. He looked to the man at the... the head of the pack, and offered a quick, low bow to the man.

"Good day to you, sir. Um..." He glances again across the riding animal of choice. "What... brings you to the Imperial City today? Do you have your travel papers?"

The official looks carefully for each paper, trying to find something that would excuse the permission to let these... odd things into the city. But things were proper and in order - at least that was well. He settles them neatly back in their stack and hands them back, taking care to stay as far away from the wolven mount as possible.

"Well, then... then I shall personally escort you directly to the Emperor's palace. I feel that he shall wish to speak with you immediately, so you are, ah..." He casts a wary glance over the animals again. "Not left to linger. Time wasted is a terrible thing, yes?

"I simply have to ask... are these things safe?" he inquires, gesturing to the wolves with a quick motion - as if afraid the animal might suddenly close the distance and bite his hand off in a split second.

The envoy scowled, not particularly finding anything funny about the idea of using large, vicious animals for mounts. But he gestures with a downward flick of his wrist for the convoy to follow along - also barking a short, foreign command that brought two of the soldiers along to stand between him and the animals... he wasn't about to have one of them take a nip at his back.

It would be a bit of a slow trek with the guides being on foot, taking Sir Eli Finch along the hand paved streets of the city sprinkled with remains of snow from the winter. Residents shuffled along with more energy to keep a wide berth around the group, whispering and murmuring behind hands and on their way - such strange people and mounts. So strange. But soon the humble homes give away to larger, more intricate buildings, the streets and walking paths and general areas becoming more manicured save for the cherry trees being barren in the season. The residents around were dressed more appropriate as lords and ladies - color and silks and embellishment. But the whispers continued.

The envoy would guide them along to the largest, most magnificent palace in the entire district - the Palace of the Emperor of Tawakoshi.

The guards upon the city gates might have noticed the silhouette of a lone traveler heading towards the gates. He walked calmly, seemingly without purpose or motivation. As he drew closer they would see a black kimono draped over his person; it's yellow trimmings matched the obi he wore. A matching katana and wakizashi, his daisho, were both secured in their dark red saya, hanging on his left hip. He was, without a doubt, a samurai. Or at least, he was a former samurai; judging by his character the guards might would guess he was a ronin - or masterless samurai.  Aside from his traditional weapons, he also carried a yumi bow on his back.

The ronin finally made it to the city gates. When he spoke it was without emotion; but the lack of such emotion resonated with forlorn hope and regret. He would say "I request permission to enter the city."

Normally a noble or peasant might pass through the gates freely, but as this man was a ronin he decided to wait. Some ronin became bandits, and he did not want these city guards to label him as such.

(@xiangyuan )

The ronin looked at each man in the eye and then said "I regret to inform you I have no travel papers. I only seek rest here in the city, in the form of a tea or sake house." He looked at either man again and then said "I will not resist arrest. I understand it is your duty to ask for travel papers, so if you must apprehend me, then go ahead. I will do all that is required of me."

(@xiangyuan )

Ronin listened to the guard's words; he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, as if anticipating such a question. "I served a lord, yes" he responded in his calm but experienced voice. "But he is dead now. I have no master, not anymore." The masterless samurai looked down solemnly; he apparently grieved the loss of his master and allies. Ronin did not say much else; he preferred to leave his past behind him.

Ronin waited patiently for the official to come and do his work. He stood still as the man babbled on until he finished. "Ronin," was all the man said. "That is my name. Ronin." He looked at the official with a blank expression as he tried to consider a place to stay. His original home was... well, it simply didn't exist anymore. "Xuando. That is where I will be staying... here in the Imperial City."

"...or some peace."

For a quick moment a grin seemed to form across Ronin's face. How nice. But the thought soon vanished as the masterless samurai took the papers and walked by the three men without a second glance.

<exit>

The gate guards seemed tense and uneasy - many odd people had been passing through the gates lately and the crime rates seemed to be rising with no sign of dropping. However these two guys knew a cure for that - restricting the entrance of any who were just the slightest bit sketchy! A clear cut no admittance strategy for anyone who hadn't gotten their papers straight and they'd be damned if anyone was going to pull fast one on them. They had oiled and sharpened their katana from the morning so they were ready for any con artists trying to get past them. Because... why drag them all the way before the shogun when the result would be the same? One head lower and the city that much safer.

Today it had mostly been farmers passing through, but it was inevitable that some damn ronin was going to come by soon and try to con his way into the city. Luckily they'd be there to stop him! And just as they waved a farmer through, they looked down further onto the road seeing a rider approaching them. They frowned at each other while one of them clapped the hilt of the katana and bared his teeth at the other one stepping a little closer to the travelling stranger while puffinf his chest forwards - still with one hand resting on the hilt of the katana.

"Fine... soldiers? I'm not the least bit fine, stranger!" he snarled back at Higeki. This sounded like a cont artist if he had ever known any. "If you're weary I'd suggest prison..." he said muted and grinned knowing that a criminals head would never even reach the prison on his watch. Slowly sliding the blade out a few inches he kept a composed face... but suddenly he stopped his action.

"Oh god..! Were you attacked by bandits?" he said feeling pity towards the poor man. "And in broad daylight... Darn those bastards!" he shouted and looked back towards his friend. "This guy have been attacked by bandits and they took his papers!" he said and turned to Higeki again. "What's your name friend? I promise you that we'll look out for the bandits when they come and try to con their way through using your identification papers. Their heads will be rolling for this!" he promised Higeki and assuming he was given his name he was waved through the gate.

The other gate shook his head looking at Higeki.
"If only there was something we could d... Oh wait, take my bento! You must be hungry. Take care and remember to get new ID papers!" he said as the guards would wave at Higeki as he entered through the gates.