Ok, Each of you will be split into these threads when the time comes. As free time is given I will jump to these threads to handle some of the more complex 'solo' oriented content.

We start off in the Room in the Imperial Palace that is connected to your individual rooms.

Naruko moves through the corridors for a while. At each intersection he passes two Imperial Guards, apparently on duty. The Guards pay him no attention nor do they make any motions to prevent his exploration.

After a few minutes he comes to a doorway leading out into a small garden. An ivory fountain with what appears to be a woman with a solid gold tierra and staff stands in the middle of the fountain. She faces towards the horizon where it looks like the sun will rise shortly. Water slowly trickles from her opened right hand and the top of her staff. Closer examination reveals that there are many orange and white fish swimming around in the fountain.

Content with his discovery Naruko enters the garden and has a seat on one of the many stone benches around the fountain. He sits back, takes in the air, and relaxes. It isn't long before he hears what appears to be a conversation taking place between 3 men in dark blue robes at the other end of the garden. They do not seem to have noticed him.

[OOC] What will you do?[OOC]

Naruko stays put but try's to hear the convo

Undetected you hear the following conversation between the 3 men...

The first man says with a raised voice,"The Emporer's days are numbered. His health if failing and he has no heir. When the time is right Lord Kisada would make an excellent replacement."

The second man, smaller in stature, makes motions to hush the man,"Not so loud, someone may hear you. I agree that Lord Kisada would be a grand emporer, but the walls have ears."

The third man chimes in to agree,"Yes, we must be discrete and report back to our homelands with what we have learned. When the time is right surely no man could stand against Lord Kisada and the Crab Clan. If not for us then the entire empire would be consumed by The Shadowlands and it's vile denizens."

At this point Naruko comes to the realization that perhaps this is a conversation that he should not be caught listening to so he moves himself closer to the fountain to stay out of sight. He continues to listen and can barely see two of the men from his new position.

The 1st man laughs loudly and then continues,"True, while they sleep peacefully in their beds we defend the wall night and day. Although, I still bet those pompous Crane make some kind of bid for power. They're still bitter about The Emporer choosing a Scorpion as a bride and not a Crane."

The third man replies quickly,"Well, for generations it has been tradition for The Emporer to be wed to a Crane Bride. Would you not be angered by such a dishonorable act?"

The second man laughs,"I would be more dishonoured if I were forced to marry a Crane."

With this all three men let fourth with thunderous laughter. Shortly thereafter they realize the volume of their laughter and cease. They look around to see if they have brought any attention to their discussion by this outburst, but they see no one and continue.

For the better part of the next hour they talk amongst themselves. They mainly tell stories bragging about their great fights against The Shadowlands and each story seems more spectacular than the last. As they do this Naruko starts to get bored, but he dares not move for fear of being seen by the three men. He sits back calmly and watches the sun rise. As it does so the 1st rays bathe the statue in the fountain with a radiant light. The gems in the golden tierra cast a brilliant collection of colors on the entire garden. Naruko would appreciate this more if not for the fact that he feels it is too much light. Apparently the three men agree. They make several snide comments to this effect and then start to leave the garden. Naruko pulls closer to the fountain as they pass and circles it as to not be seen by them. They do not seem to notice him and they leave. As they leave he takes notice of the symbol on the back of their robes...



After they leave he waits a few minutes to make certain they have left. Just when he is about to leave an old woman enters the garden. Her clothes are not as nice as those he has seen others in the palace wear. She bows to him and smiles, then heads over to tend to the gardens. With this he decides she is just a servant and leaves the gardens himself. He returns to his room, spends some time with his studies, and then goes to bed.

[OOC] And now Naruko is ready for the party as well. [OOC]

( OOC )That was very interesting :lol: Now what?

Naruko finishes with his breakfast and decides to track down someone who might have a good grasp on the area. He randomly travels the corridors for a few minutes and then encounters a servant girl. He catches up to her and stops her,"Excuse me, but where might I find someone with a good knowledge of this area?"

The girl bows in return to this greeting and answers,"If you seek a person with knowledge of the terrain then I would seek out either Genzo, The Falcon Clan Hunter, who is currently staying in this castle or one of the various Akodo Tacticians who arrived last week with the Lion Clan Champion."

[OOC] Decisions, Decisions, Decisions. Which will it be? The hunter or the tacticians?[OOC]

" Would you mind taking me to the Tacticians first young lady" with a gracious bow

The young girl smiles, almost blushing, and agrees. She leads Naruko through many different corridors and over the distance of a good portion of the Castle. After some time walking they walk out into a garden, but only for a momment as they continue onto another corridor on the other side. They turn with a grand arch at it's beginning. Naruko glances up to see a large Lion Mon carved in what looks to be solid gold. At the end of this corridor Naruko notices two guards dressed in brown and yellow. He guesses that they are Lion Clan Guards since they look more like the Lions he has encountered than the usual Imperial Guards that he is used to seeing in the castle.

When they reach the end both of the guards instinctively hold their long bladed spears as if to defend the door. The girl turns to Naruko and bows,"I will go ahead and see if they are recieving guests today. Please wait here." With this she approaches the two guards and they allow her to enter the room. A few minutes pass and then she returns. She motions for Naruko to follow her. He hesitates for a momment while scanning the guards. They notice this and hold their spears up as if to let him know he is permitted to enter. Naruko follows the girl into the room.

The chamber is much larger than his own room and it's decorations are far more lavish. The room itself is oval with a large stone bench in the middle of the room. The bench appears to be designed to allow one person to stand in the middle of it while all of the others would be facing him. On the bench are brown pillows and it's lined in gold. The room itself follows this theme as Naruko notices the draperies are all brown and almost everything that one could think to line in gold is actually lined in gold. Naruko takes a momment to appreciate the room and is almost unaware of the woman who enters it. "Welcome Chosen One," she greets him with a deep bow,"I am Akodo Kurako, one of The Lion Clan Tacticians."



She crosses the room and has a seat on the bench opposite from where Naruko is standing,"How may The Lion assist you on this day?"

[OOC] Yes yes, I know there are alot of those word things you don't like in this one, but I had to set a scene. Your action. ;) [OOC]

Naruko bows in return

" May I say, this room is marvolous, the Lions have a clear sense of style and harmony in this room but back to why I came. Ive been in this world of yours for a little while and heard about the lands beyond this Palace and one that intriges my curiousity is The Spine of The World Mountains, may I ask, whats in that region and maybe for a map of all this area for my friends and I will leave eventually and would like atleast a map to help us."

Naruko bows in return

Kurako bows politely at such a compliment,"You have a good eye, Naruko."
She then motions to her two servants and a small table is brought to the middle of the circle. It appears to be a solid wood construction and is one mass as opposed to being a conventional table with legs and such. Karuko then claps lightly and the top portion of the table, which was intricately carved with a scene of a great warrior in battle, is lifted, turned over, returned to it's original spot. On the flipside of this large panel is what appears to be a large map.

[OOC] I cut a portion out of the main map and highlighted it so you could see exactly what is being shown to you in this conversation. Should you like to take a look at the whole map(since it's right in front of you) then you can look at the full map I have posted in Oplasma's Thread here. [OOC]



Kurako then peers over the map, "This is Rokugan. We are currently here in the Otosan Uchi," she points to a large castle on the map to show Naruko. "The mountain range you seek is here and as you can see it is quite large," She traces her finger down a length of mountains to show Naruko the sheer size of this mountain range.

Kurako then glances up at Naruko,"And might I inquire what, Chosen One, you intend to find in these mountains?" She grins and then quickly adds,"So that I might assist you in locating it if I am able."

[OOC] Wow, those are some pretty big mountains aren't they? Fella could get lost there for a loooong time. ;) [OOC]

(That person stool my name :lol: )

"Well, ive jus been here awhile, hearing about different places and these mountians seem interesting to me for some odd region,It would be nice jus to see something other than this palace and maybe visit another clans turf or two. What is the quickest way to cross this mountian anyhow?"

Kurako bows politely with a smile "As you wish, Chosen one. As you would guess the mountains are a trecherous place. There are multiple Shiros and Kyudens in it's heights. The easiest way to cross would be to take Beiden Pass. The pass connects the Crane and Scorpion provinces, it is a major means of travel frome one side of the mountains to the other. Many merchants and caravans use this route for that very reason." She sits back and ponders for a momment,"Alternately you could take a ship along the coast and go around the mountains, but it would be far simpler to just use Beiden Pass."

Thank you for your information but ther is one thing, if theres a main path, surrounded by mountians, wouldnt that be the perfect place for bandits and other vile beings?

Kurako sits back and, for a brief momment, a grin crosses her face,"At one time that was indeed a problem, but it's a thing of the past now since The Imperial Legions have patrols routinely traveling the pass." She thinks for a momment before adding,"I suppose anything is possible though."

" Thank you so very muchand if I may, can I keep that map please"

[OOC] Considering that the map is carved into a huge piece of wood...I'll ignore the last post and let you rethink your next action. ;) [OOC]

OOC- you never said that :P How can you make a map of wood anyways?- OOC

" Well, thank you for all your time but I feel I must be going, do you know where my companions are?"

[OOC] It's in the description. It's not that hard to do actually you just carve the map into the wood. It's a woodcarving. If I had more time I could probably find you an example, but it wouldn't be an example of the map of Rokugan carved in wood. [OOC]

Kurako bows politely,"The pleasure was mine. If you wish to talk again then please feel free to stop by for a visit. I regret that I do not know where your associates are at the momment."

" Hmm, well, may you escort me to where the Falcon Clan leader is located, I have heard he to is well known with terrian"

Kurako smiles and stiffles a laugh which Naruko notices,"The Falcon are barely what we, The Lion, would call a clan. They're more like a small family to be honest. They lack the power and prestige that we possess. Although," she thinks for a momment to herself,"I believe I saw Genzo at the party the other night. Let me get one of our servants to show you to his quarters."

With that Kurako claps her fingers and a servant enters the room. She motions for the servant and he lowers his ear to her lips. After some whispering he stands up straight and bows deeply towards Naruko, "I will show you to the hunter's quarters so that you may speak with him."

Naruko stands with a quite pleased look upon his face. He exits the room with the servant and they make their way down the corridors together. Naruko notices that they seem to be heading back to his own room, but remains silent. He is correct in this because they do travel most of the way back to his room, but make a different turn immediately before they reach the corridor that leads to his room. They follow this new corridor to another set of rooms.

The servant stops and converses with one of the two guards on duty for a momment. He then returns to Naruko and bows deeply again,"I am told that Genzo is in his room at the momment. It's the 2nd door on the right if you wish to talk to him. I wish you luck in your quest for knowledge this day. May The Fortunes smile upon you." The servant then bows deeply again and excuses himself to return to his lady.

I walk to the door and peek in so i announce my presance

Naruko slowly opens the door and peers into the room. Situated in the center of the floor is a man with his back to the door. Before him are many types of weapons. He appears to be in the middle of sharpening them. Naruko studies this man for a few momments and notices that he raises his head and ceases his works for a momment to say,"Just leave the food on the table near the door and I'll have it later."

Naruko is a tad puzzled by this reply and also the smallest bit offended by the lack of attention from this man so he takes a step into the room. Genzo hears this and in an instant he snatches up one of the small daggers from in front of him and throws it towards the door. The dagger sticks into the door facing and pierces Naruko's robes, thus holding him in place for the momment.

Genzo jumps to his feet and is somewhat puzzled by what he sees,"You're not the servant girl with my food?"

Naruko bends over, somewhat annoyed, and pulls the dagger from the doorway, freeing himself,"Most certainly not, I am Naruko and..."

Genzo cuts him off midsentence,"Ah yes, one of The Chosen Ones that the castle is whispering about," He takes the dagger from Naruko and returns it to it's rightfulplace while continueing,"And what can I, a lowly hunter, do for a Chosen One?"

' Ahhaha, you must teach me to dothat next time and Id pay attention a little better. I heard you know this regions terrain well and since im njew it, it would be nice to figure out for safety and I heard your the man for tat, whats your experiance, your not a tactician?"

Genzo smiles at Naruko and bows slightly,"I'm not a cartographer if that's what you mean, Chosen One. I am Genzo, hunter of The Falcon Clan. I take what I need from the land and so far The Fortunes and my skills have kept me from starving. I also make a somewhat modest living dealing with the artisans in furs and various other animal parts."

Genzo crosses the room and peers out into day. He seems to lose himself in the scene for a momment. He continues,"Occasionally I have been known to act as a guide for some of The Emporer's Envoys...you would have a hard time finding one who knows the woodlands and lesser traveled roads than myself and my clansmen." With this statement Genzo smiles proudly.

And what do you know of the LAnds East( whatever < that direction is)of Spine of The Worlds Mountian. I heard that area has sme interesting sites.

Genzo mommentarily gives Naruko a puzzled look, but then he replies,"Those mountains are a death trap only fit for monks and goats. The hunter who finds himself at their mercy on cold nights without proper provisions will wake up next to his ancestors come sunrise."

Genzo smiles a momment, as if amused by his own words, then he continues,"Dragon Lake has some excellent fishing and if you're lucky you might catch a glimpse of The Water Dragon. Does this answer your question Chosen One or is there more you wish to ask of me?"

"Dragon, there are dragons in this land,i have never seen one with my eye but read much about them.... but thats just a side track. I was told there it was safe to travel threw, why such danger?"

Genzo turns a happily suprised look towards Naruko,"So, Chosen One, you've done your homework after all. Yes, Beiden Pass is a safe travel route for the usual traffic and merchants. The accounts of attacks, bandits or otherwise, are very small due to the patrols and such. As for The Dragons," he pauses for a momment,"You've not lived until you've seen one in all it's glory."

" Why yes, thank you for all your help but now im interested in this Dragon subjecxt, what kinds are there and what are the "special" ones i should be aware of."

Genzo turns towards Naruko,"My own eyes have seen The Water Dragon, but the legends say there is one for each of the five elements. Rumors speak of another dragon which resides in The Mountain Keep of The Dragon, the home of the mysterious Dragon Clan. I cannot verify that though because I have never been there. "Genzo stops for a momment to think before he adds,"Your best bet to find a Dragon would be either to talk with The Dragon Clan, The Phoenix Clan or perhaps The Brotherhood of Shinsei."

" Maybe illdo that later in my spare time, for now,i have to find my friends,so long..and oh, do you have any portable mapof this region?"

Genzo smiles,"The only copy of the map I have currently is up here," he says as he points to his head,"Although I have requested certain provisions be brought to me from my clan. I'll see if I can find you a map and drop it off to you. Good luck finding your friends, Chosen One." Genzo gives a light bow.

I return the bow and try tolocate my friends, maybe check where i last remember them

Naruko makes his way back to the dining room in which he had breakfast this morning, in an attempt to locate his comrads. The woman that brought him breakfast greets him and after a short conversation informs him that they went to the Scroll House to gain more information on Rokugan. She appologizes for not being able to take Naruko there herself, but she has been called away to prepare lunch for The Emporer. After getting some basic directions from the woman Naruko heads off to locate his the others.

As he enters the throneroom he notices Zeus lounging about in the garden just outside of the throneroom. He heads in that direction and discovers that they are all there except Oplasma.

[OOC] You will enter the main thread after the post I am about to make there. ;) [OOC]