[center][h3]Kyoto[/h3] [b]Friday, June 3rd 20XX[/b][/center] [hr] [h3]Ultana[/h3] [@I-Am-X] [hider] Poring over hard to read texts proved to be a rather taxing experience, furthermore a small floating shikigami was now permanently floating around her. Monitoring? Or something else...? When asked, it revealed that it would be her assistant. Thanks to it, Ultana was now able to make some sort of headway in her research... So let's see. The texts on different exorcists were interesting, but their arts not nearly as much. A lot of it were similar to things she'd already learned. Was it really just down to writing onto talismans and chanting? Afraid so. In particular though, Abe no Seimei... She learned that he was a half-yokai exorcist, a kitsune mother and a human father. His exploits as an exorcist were great, wrought with rivalries and foes, but it appeared he was very much a positive figure. As she went text after text, she eventually reached a shred of paper hidden among one of the dusty old books. As soon as she touched it, it revealed itself to be a talisman, which activated upon touch. The shikigami beside her began to disipate, before a scroll appeared in her hand, but just as easily as it appeared, it suddenly disappeared when she heard a voice reach out to her, and pretty soon... She blacked out. ----------- [i][color=662d91]"Well well, isn't this a surprise, for one so young to find my hidden arts... I had made those talismans to only appear to those with a potential necessary, I could not have imagined it would reach the hands of one not even of this world. Perhaps that is fitting"[/color],[/i] The image of a handsome dark haired man with a long black cap and flowing white robes appeared before her in a pit of darkness. [i][color=662d91]"But I'm afraid this is only part 1. When you awake from this transient dream, you shall have written the manual yourself. To find the others... Well, I'm sure my old books have ended up in some old exorcist's library somewhere. Hmhm, well then, I look forward to your progress, should you pursue this path"[/color][/i] [/hider] [h3]Otis[/h3] [@ERode] [hider] [color=fff79a]"My my, quite the curious one are you not? Far be it for me to refuse such curiosity"[/color], he had listened intently over the barrage of questions with the fan open, closing his eyes after a moment, before snapping his fan closed again. [color=fff79a]"Come, we shall walk through the estate"[/color], he motioned, and hopefully Otis would not refuse the offer to walk around his estate's gardens. The Fujiwara estate was rather large, perhaps the size of two football fields. This was an estate set up in the forests around Kyoto too, and it was clear it had it's own storied history to it's construction too. The gardens of the Fujiwara estate were full of old trees, flowers, and the trained alchemist may spot some herbs too, perhaps even recognize that a lot of these flowers were used in certain mixtures and recipes. Truly, this was not simply an expensive estate, quite utilitarian for what appeared to be a pretty house. "The Kyoto Alliance of Occultism is perhaps better seen as the mediator, rather than the exterminator. It was founded on the principle of harmony, as yokai are natural to this world as well, to eradicate them can have disastrous consequences, though, that in itself is another topic entirely. The spirit world itself is not another world in the same way as Arcanis, but rather the society created by yokai. Yokai that have become powerful however, are capable of creating their own separate 'realms' that mirror our own, or perhaps can be of their own creation entirely. Hm, hopefully that is something you may never need to experience, it can be quite harrowing even for the most experienced exorcist", they moved on as they went over a bridge, set under a tree. [color=fff79a]"There are indeed other organizations of our nature, while the Kyoto Alliance is primarily controlled by the families in this region, other organizations work with us too. In Tokyo there is the Japan-Euro Christian Exorcists Organization, the Ainu Spiritualism and Tribalism Group that lives in the far north, and the Okinawan Exorcist Alliance in the south. The JECEO have connections with European groups, while the ASTG are more isolationist, only working with us should it be necessary. The OEA however have been rather cooperative, almost like a sister organization, as some of the families originally from Kyoto have moved southward"[/color], he explained. Throughout the whole conversation thus far he has managed to maintain a long thin smile, the same that he had had when Otis first saw him when he conversed with Kuuto. [color=fff79a]"Leading into that, I did mention European groups, which do indeed exist. Every world government employs at least one of these, it can be said that the FBI and CIA have exorcists among their ranks in the USA, while the Vatican has it's own private and strict sect that encompass all of Europe, with smaller groups working in cooperation with them"[/color], the setting had moved towards some of the gardens just outside the dojo area, where some of the younger recruits of the Fujiwaras were training. [color=fff79a]"The Kaganomiyas hm? I am surprised one such as you is aware of them. Though their members are kept secret, their name and presence is important. The role they fulfil may appear difficult to understand, but hmmmm. Perhaps, their approval of us gives us more authority. I predict that even with the influence of the Fujiwara, without a representative of authority, all the families of the Kyoto Alliance may begin to fracture, and eventually break apart. This finely crafted order and society we have made will crumble as a result"[/color], the purpose of the Kaganomiyas seemed to be more passive than active, so it appeared... [color=fff79a]"And of course..."[/color], he stopped at a rather small building, Otis could see into it, a lot of scrolls were kept here. [color=fff79a]"Well, the best talisman-writers in Kyoto, that would have to be the Tsuchimikado Clan. I'm afraid it would be quite difficult to help you get in touch with them, as they no longer live in Kyoto, but we do have in store some of their arts. Members of the Tsuchimikado were once part of many large clans in the past, perhaps this alone has made them among the best in writing charms and talismans"[/color], he directed Otis' attention to this dusty storeroom-like mini-library. [color=fff79a]"Please, show the young man to them. He is one of Kuuto's students, here to learn. Do not be reluctant to show him what we have stored away"[/color], he ordered. [color=fff79a]"Now... I do believe my free time is over, before I depart, perhaps you can tell me your name?"[/color], he inquired. His long smile accompanied by eyes that seemed sharp themselves. [/hider] [h3]Lorelai[/h3] [@Lonewolf685] [hider] As Lorelai happily walked along the river, perhaps unknown to her as she was following what might be a trail, but the bustle of the crowd began to really thin. Perhaps not out of the ordinary as she was heading away from the central areas, but it went a bit further than that. As she walked along she began to wonder why she was here, though... The feeling was a bit weak, she almost wanted to turn back, but as soon as she decided not to, she moved her hand around to eat yet another dango, she bit nothing but air. The one she was about to eat was... Gone? She noticed the same feathers again. She still had her others, but as soon as she tried to bite them, a black shadow swept over her for an instant, and they were gone. Immediately, she would hear some jolly laughter from a female voice. [color=f26522]"Ahahahahaha! If only ya could see yer face! Well, ya did make it pas' the barrier anyhow"[/color], Lorelai looked around, but as soon as her eyes went up, standing on one of the houses was a female. She had a traditional Japanese kosode and hakama with greaves and gauntlets keeping her silhouette thin at the limbs. She had a red mask with a long nose, a Tengu mask, and some black wings. Her hair was short, black, but cleanly cut in a sharp outward shape. Her eyes were sharp, dark, but there was a playful grin to it. In one hand she had Lorelai's dango, and proceeded to take a bite out of one of them. [color=f26522]"Ya really got good taste goin' to that store ya know, so you a whatsit-corsit of somethin'? Otherwise I dunno how you'd be unaffected. Hey look, if yer tellin' me to scram or somethin' I will, just prolly not right now yanno?"[/color], she had a pretty heavy slang to her accent, but she was mostly understood. [/hider] [h3]Koyuki[/h3] [@Amaterasu] [hider] The duties of the day were pretty straightforward, meeting with clients who supplied the inn with everything for food, washing, tools, repairs, and so on. The streets of Eiseikato were truly something of their own, she was also told that any pictures she took wouldn't actually be viewable outside of here, a kind of interference from Lady Kuzunoha. Which was a shame, but if she wanted any views to be preserved, she should probably see one of the artists that lived here. It appears that physically drawn art would be preserved going from here to the outside world. The lights of Eiseikato made it appear as if it was in a constant festival, the abundance of traditional garbs mixed with strange shapes and yokai had a truly mystical feeling to it, the festival food sold almost around the clock, the different and varying architectures, the mix of perfectly immaculate streets, to some jaunted and jagged layouts made every corner a small treat of their own. Every tiny street had something too, not just doors to homes or deserted corridors, many held tiny almost hidden restaurants and cafes, or bars among other things, every street they walked down offered something, and the souvenirs on offer were quite interesting, usually depicting yokai. Down a certain street she even saw figurines in the image of Lady Kuzunoha. This so far was quite the day out, although for Kohane it was a bit more serious. From some of the conversations, it appeared that due to events outside, getting supplies this week might be tricky... [color=fdc68a]"Hmmmm. If we limit the amount of guests each day... No, not every guest consumes the same amount... And rationing to sacrifice quality may be rather difficult..."[/color], Kohane had in her hand a notebook as she scanned it trying to figure out how she might report this to the manager. [color=fdc68a]"Of course this isn't a problem if we can get another supplier for food... Yokai certainly consume more than normal... Sometimes I wonder what working at a human inn is like... It can't be more stressful right?"[/color], she muttered and pondered to herself. The little trip was at a standstill as she stood in the middle of a street, albeit, not so crowded. [/hider]