Divinations [Private]

[Deleted]

▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼

What did one do when one had a question but had no ability to seek out the answer in the normal manner? Where did one go to find a killer when they left no trace mortal man could find? Who was turned to when one sought to uncover something hidden from every living mortal? Why, the spirits of the dead of course!

It was simple. Katsu was a Soulcaster, and could touch upon the world ahead, and ask that world a question. The spirits would answer, typically in an infuriating manner, and lead him right to the answer. Today, Katsu wanted to know the location of a certain person, someone who had managed to defeat Ace Debutler Onta, and slew him. So he stood deep in the forests of Kumogakure's largest park, away from everyone, so that he might remain in peace as he spoke to the spirits. The ceremony was rather short, with Katsu merely focusing his will, his very soul, towards the task of reaching beyond and then he simply spoke, “I seek the killer of Ace Debutler Onta. Come forth to answer my query!”

After that it was a simple game of waiting for the spirit to reveal itself. The person who did would absolutely have the answer he sought, but Katsu would first have to bargain with them, at least if he wanted any chance of getting a straight answer out of them, thus when the person appeared the first thing Katsu would ask is, “Greetings Spirit, what service would you have me do in return for telling me simply the answer to my question?”

Jutsu used:

SPOILER: Click to show

Reaching Beyond
Rank: "C"
Skill: NinJutsu
Effect: Spirit helps the user find a target.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: Target is 1 Creature. Range is Personal. Duration Varies. User contacts the souls long dead and they provide clues on how to find a living target. Performing this Jutsu takes 3 full rounds. At the end the user talks to a Spirit that knows where to find the user's target. The spirit is indifferent to the user and must be controlled by a GM. The User must try to gain the information from the Spirit. Most spirits give out cryptic clues more than direct answers to mess around with the one who called upon their spirit.
Limit: Must be a Soulcaster.

Target Bio Link!
Target Location at Time of Posting Link!

[JiMmIyZ - Hel]

Tap. Crunch. Tap. Crunch. The sound of shuffling in the forest could be heard slowly getting closer and closer to the young man position. From the clearing ahead of him a figure would appear before him, a figure of an interestingly clad and wrinkled old man. Draped in a long grey robe with sleeves large enough to encompass a torso let alone the arms, dirtied by travel, he wore a black bandanna and hung off his person trinkets of all fashions. From his robe to a necklace around his neck, he even hung this trinkets from his large white beard but even that wasn't the most unusual thing about him. In his left hand, with each crunching step, he used a branch as if it were a walking stick but in his right hand, he carried something of surprising fashion. He kept with him what would appear to be a fairy or pixie trapped within a glass orb. The pixie did glow a bright green though not so bright that you couldn't make out the appearance and features of its naked body. He swung this pixie as he walked, aggravating it so. In response to his swings the pixie bashed against the glass though it would not yield to the tiny creatures strength and the old man kept walking, swinging the pixie as he walked, ever closer to Katsugan.

"My now, what do we 'ave 'ere?" the old man would enquire as he approached, speaking with an accent. It would be evident that neither this old man nor pixie were in the living world and instead existed in the land of the dead, branched over to the world of Katsugan by the latter's request. Another feature of notice would be the obvious blindness of the old man whom still managed to shuffle around despite the fact. He would not manage eye contact in the least with the Cloud Village native though would still refer to Katsugan's person. "A young man does speak with me? What 'as the world come to for a youngen to do such a thin'" the old man, despite his words, let on that he knew more than what he had spoken and he indeed did. He knew of the reason he was summoned, he knew of Ace and his killer but he was not going to give up much in terms of information. "What do you think love? The world ended 'as it?" he lifted the pixie into the air and shook the glass cage as he spoke, severely upsetting the sprite whom would become visibly infuriated. Not able to do much though she would merely beat on the unrelenting glass to vent her frustration while the old man continued his harassment.

@lumenlatonesh

[Deleted]

▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼

The appearance of the spirit that Katsu had summoned was... well it was certainly a lot different than any of the spirits he had ever summoned to date, and by a large margin at that. Or perhaps it was just how... aware the spirit seemed to be. Most spirits that Katsu had managed to call upon seemed almost oblivious to the matters and going-ons of this realm. Katsu always figured half of the people he called were those who were sleeping in the afterlife, and the other half just not interested, but this old man seemed to be more aware.

Of course maybe it was just the fact that he was obviously an evil person? That was easily noted just by the way he was treating his “love” in the glass sphere. Trapping a tiny naked woman with gossamer wings inside a glass orb and using her like a lantern; and above that rattling the orb just to piss them off, Katsu couldn't think of any being who wasn't evil who'd do such a thing. Thus in response Katsu's eyes would narrow and he'd purposefully glance at the spirit in a somewhat chastising manner, as if to say he couldn't believe someone to be so vulgar in public. Nevermind the fact that the old man was obviously blind; when you were a soul you could view the aura of people sight or no sight, and the man would be able to see Katsu's mood towards the little fairy lady.

”I'd ask you not to taunt the Fey in the glass, Peddler.” Why had Katsu called him Peddler? Ah well, it made sense somehow. ”I know I can't actually do anything to free the creature, since you can just leave where I cannot follow, but still, I'd prefer it if you didn't mistreat someone right in front of me...

“As to the world, it's mostly the same it's ever been. Horrible people doing horrible things to each other for whatever reason they can think up just to do the horrible things they do. The reason I sought spiritual help is to track down a killer who's willing to burn down a Hospital just to cover their tracks and hide the fact they murdered someone. Bit beyond my expertise, thus I called you here.” Katsu shook his head, giving a shrug of apparent helplessness.

Of course inwardly it was more frustration about the captured Fey than his current plight. Katsu didn't like people who abused others for mere amusement. At the very least it was a waste of potential. ”So again, what would it take for you to give me the location of Ace Debutler Onta's killer?”

[JiMmIyZ - Hel]

The old mancouldn't help but sigh. "So the world 'asn't ended yet 'as it? A shame..." he trail off. Seemingly more interested in observing the fey than answering Katsugan's question the old man would lift the glass cage up into the air and bring it close to his eye. He'd tap the glass trying to illicit a reaction from the little critter, succeeding in his effort as the fey began to slam into the glass by his face. "You shouldn't get ta thinkin' that ya know of good a' evil now young lad. 'Specially when it comes ta da aftalife. It's insulting for ta living ta claim 'nythin' right 'n' wrong, punishmant, reward 'n' all dat." The old man would slowly begin to walk around the area, inspecting everything and generally doing nothing at all. In no way shape or form would the old man even acknowledge that he was being asked to identify Ace's killer to the point it would be very obvious that he was indeed ignoring that request. Insteed he continued to meander through the area aimlessly with an aura of lightheartedness around him.

[Deleted]

▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼

Katsu would merely give a shrug, the ghost's demeanor seemed to improve a little bit. At least he had stopped shaking the poor Fey in her prison, although Katsu still didn't like him much at all, ”I can't really say my motivation here has anything to do with good or evil, anymore. I just don't like pointless cruelty... Thinking on it I merely want to keep my people from harm. You see this killer took down a Kage. One of the strongest people in the Shinobi world, both individually and politically. That makes this killer dangerous. Knowing who or what they are is required to prevent future disaster. Of course the slain Kage was from a country that is in conflict with our allies, and we are geographically located dead center between them both...

“I'm basically here to get the knowledge to make sure my own people don't suffer because of some asshole upsetting the political balance. If the situation remains unresolved I'm looking at two countries trading blows and my own stuck in the crossfire. By finding the killer I might be able to restore some kind of political balance, or at least keep it from deteriorating any further.”

Katsu folded his arms and leaned back on his feet, adopting a more relaxed position as his soul lifted him up, letting him recline on the air itself. If he was going to have to talk to this fellow for a more extended time than he had expected, Katsu at least wanted to be a bit more comfortable. Now at this point Katsu had given the ghost plenty of information as to what he wanted the information for, it was just time to wait out the ghost's unfocused demeanor; Katsu didn't have much else to do that day at all...

[JiMmIyZ - Hel]

"Sounds like you're trying to do some good to me but who am I to judge the living and their so called honorable intentions?" The old man was unconvinced to relay the information to Katsugan at this point, unmoved by his words in the slightest and he continued to ignore the question that had been posed to him. As he continued to meander about the area, occasionally ignoring Katsugan's request of 'not' swinging the fey around like a balloon, it would be somewhat evident that he was not leaving the area at all which could allow Katsugan to infer something. It could appear to Katsugan that he would answer and react to everything but the question that was posed to him about Ace Debutler's killer. With that in mind the task of figuring out just how to ask the question would be left up to him and his ability to be creative.

[Deleted]

▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼

Katsu mentally sighed as he continued to lean back on the air, quietly thinking to himself. Ugh, looking for a simple answer and I get this Peddler... For a long long couple of minutes Katsu would merely wait in silence, thinking silently to himself and just watching the old Peddler move about the area. Finally though Katsu would let his own natural curiosity get the better of him, if the man wouldn't answer questions about Ace's killer, might as well ask something else just then.

”So where did you acquire that Fey? I thought the one thing that was constant about the Fey was that they were nearly impossible to get a hold of.” Katsu questioned the old Peddler with a curious tone. He didn't really think it had to do with anything he was doing at the time but it was something to help ease his frustration. If he knew how to catch a Fey, he might learn of ways to free a Fey just as well.

Listening to the old Peddler's response to that question Katsu would still be thinking, and his mind would hit upon the idea that if the Peddler refused to answer questions specifically about Ace's killer, he might answer questions about someone carrying Ace's remains. They were, after all, more what he was after than the identity of the killer at this point. ”Actually, that reminds me. Perhaps you can answer me this then, old Peddler. Where's the person who's currently got Ace Debutler Onta's remains? The killer can come later, I'm more interested in the man's remains, if they exist, right at this moment. I think I'd like to acquire them instead.”

[JiMmIyZ - Hel]

When asked about the fey he immediately lit up, he was so delighted to talk of such a thing and not the boring details of the identity of the killer of the Snow Village's chief. "Ah, interested now are you? See she's a killer beauty, ain't she?!" he bore a wide grin on his face as he violently shoved the lantern toward Katsugan's person. "She lured men in with a voice of an angel and then slowly drained the life out of them through the most intense love making you can imagine, and if the man tried to escape, she dug her fangs into them and drained them of their blood ehehehe! Had to sacrifice myself in order to bring her down but my monster hunter nature wouldn't allow me not to. Oh how naive I was when I was living. Now my punishment is to lug this thing around for a little while." After speaking he would withdraw his arm and return the lantern, and now very injured fey back to his person and lean in real close to Katsugan, moving to whisper in nice and close. "Now how do you feel about my treating her?" He'd burst out laughing in the next instance and take a seat upon a fallen log that just happened to be nearby, resting his 'weary bones' though his hand would not unclutch the lantern the trapped fey was within.

If Katsugan were to observe the fey further he would find all the wounds upon the fey would quickly heal and return it to good health. It would then continue to bang against the glass of the lantern and be a nuisance as the old man would proceed to answer Katsugan's question. "Tricky... To which end do remains exist in this case I wonder? Would you even consider them remains?" He'd begin to stroke his beard, setting his walking cane down to also rest upon the log and continue. "I mean of course, he's dead but hmm... What are remains in this yes/no scenario..." After a moments pondering he would proceed to answer in the form of a riddle. "Within a country that is always hungry, a country that must always be fed, a country that if given drink would soon be dead, a country that if a finger would touch would soon turn red. Within that country some answers for you could be found as that is where the remains 'could' be located depending on the time and this time within a country as beautiful as the setting sun, as delicate as the morning dew; an angel’s dusting from the stars that can turn the Earth into a frosted moon."

(OOC: My answer is on the fact that Nira is within two threads in different country's. The issues I bring up in terms of remains are of the following three things: 1) Nira absorbed part of Ace, 2) Nira sealed part of Ace, 3) Nira gave Ace's headband and therefore a part of Ace's remains to Gosei (I think) and therefore separated his remains into three distinct pieces creating an open ended answer.)

[Deleted]

▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼▲▼

That answer was so vague so as to be almost useless Katsu thought to himself as he listened to the Peddler's words. Of course Katsu didn't think of remains as anything but actual flesh and blood, so hadn't thought to refine his question to include people who had remains that could be used to actually resurrect Ace. It was an awfully specific question to ask this rather quirky Peddler. Thinking on it however Katsu at least managed to gather some of the information he had wanted. Part of that answer had certainly referred to the Land of Snow.

That made it seem that the killer hadn't gotten rid of the remains yet, or had abandoned them in a secret place in Yuki no Kuni. But, the land that must always be fed... that could never be given drink... that sort of sounded like Fire. Fire must be fed fuel to keep burning, and water would put it out. That meant that Ace's remains were also in the Land of Fire?

Katsu gave a sound of displeasure, growling loudly. That seemed like outright confirmation that Konoha was behind Ace's death. One part had been left in Yuki, another part taken back as trophy to Hi. Despicable. If that was true, the political climate was far more stormy than he had ever thought it would be. It was seeming more and more like Kumogakure was going to be caught up in another war, and this one merely because they were in the way! Ceasing his floating Katsu would give the spirit a deep bow in thanks, ”My thanks, Peddler. I think I might have gotten more information than even I expected. If we actually meet again, maybe we'll actually make a deal. For now I need to... ensure some things are as I think they are. Farewell, Spirit.”

With that Katsu would hurry away, scowling as he thought of how he was to try and keep Kumogakure, and Kaminari no Kuni, out of the crossfire between Yuki and Hi...

[JiMmIyZ - Hel]

The spirit waved goodbye and disappeared back into the nothingness of death.