Protect the Nomad [P|Mission]

[Flower]

Name: Protect the Nomad!
Rank: C
IIC Length: 2 days
Difficulty: Medium
Objective: Escort Okite Iru to his old dwelling in the Land of Fire.
Description: A nomad named Okite Iru has sought Leaf Village ninja to help him through the Land of Fire as he begins his nomadic journey once again. Okite Iru is an Onigami who has been living in the Leaf Village for a short time. Afraid of the people in the Land of Fire who may still harbor resentment toward him, Okite has hired bodyguards to help him pick up his nomadic lifestyle again. He has assured the Leaf Village that once he is escorted to his old dwelling that the bodyguards are free to leave -- unless they want to accept other missions that he may request. Little information is known about those who seek to harm Okite, but he has said that he slighted these individuals in the past -- making one wonder how trustworthy Okite really is. However, an employeer is an employeer, and he surely seems to want to start his life anew.
Reward: Awaken the eyes of the Onigami Bloodlimit. 25,000 ryo. 

[intro.]

In the Leaf Village, outside of the tower of the Hokage, would be waiting a man who seemed a bit nervous. He would have a backpack with him that held who knew what items, but if one were to ask he would have told them it was all that really mattered to him. His home. Due to his nomadic lifestyle, Okite found himself traveling lightly and had stayed in the Land of Fire for too long. He had requested help from a shinobi of the Leaf to get him back to his old dwelling in the Land of Fire without harm. He knew that there were men out there that wished it for him. He sure had been a wild man in his younger days.

Okite Iru had red hair and red eyes, the eyes of the Onigami bloodline which had granted him so much power. His clothes were black and red, and a longsword swong on his belt in a sheath. He had been waiting for a while, expecting the shinobi to have come earlier than this. He tried not to appear anxious, but he was excited to get home and people could tell that he was eager. If the ninja who was hired for his job walked out of the tower, they would have been able to spot the man standing off in the corner. His red hair standing out like a sore thumb.

If one introduced themselves them Okite would give them a warm greeting. "Hello, my name is Okite Iru. The man that you've been assigned to protect. If you are able to keep me alive and all goes well, this should be a splendid trip." He sure didn't seem like a man who needed protecting. The sun was still high in the sky and it was about two or three o'clock in the afternoon. It seemed good weather for travel with not a cloud in the sky. Okite wanted to move out quickly, wanting to get as much travel done before sunset as possible. It was clear that this mission was going to require some skil as a nomad and a traveler.

SPOILER: Click to show

NPCs:
    Okite Iru, Speech Color: 5dff6a
        Rank: ?? 

[Necromancer of the West]

Rael grabbed the mission scroll from the Anbu and did another dramatic bow. Raising up from the bow, he sauntered out from the room and into the lobby. Opening the scroll, Rael began to read the mission contents. Confusion was present on his face when he stumbled upon the term Onigami. Real was unsure who or what that was and assumed it wouldn't harm his being personally. 'But what did you do to garner such attention, hmm?' Rael tapped his chin, pondering who this man might be. He was escorting him somewhere in the land of fire. It wasn't out of the land, but it was away from the village and that is all that mattered to him.

Rael rolled the scroll back up and tucked it away and exited the tower. The sun was bright, causing Rael's amber hued eyes to squint. His pale skin was ever present in the sunlight, contrasting with his black, ornate-gothic designed clothing. Something red caught his eyes, and his head followed suit. A striking man with brilliant red eyes, vibrant red hair with clothing to match his physical features. But the man seemed a bit on the slim side to wield such a sword, but Rael knew better than to judge based off appearance. A feral, shit-eating grin was plastered on his face, eyes drinking in the physical attraction.

The man before him began to talk, probably sensing Rael staring at him. ""Hello, my name is Okite Iru. The man that you've been assigned to protect. If you are able to keep me alive and all goes well, this should be a splendid trip." Rael studied the man before him briefly before speaking up in return.

"My name is Rael, Rael of the Nara Clan! The pleasure is all mine, Okite Iru!" With swagger, Rael bowed in gesture once again. Raising from the bow, Rael continued to talk. "I should hope I can keep you alive! My medical prowess should be near mastered, if what my doctors have been telling me. You have nothing to worry about." Rael walked briefly past Okite gesturing the man to follow him towards the gates of the village to leave. Rael walked at a pace enough for more conversation between the two if the other man wanted.

---

Rael color code-ac3939

[Flower]

The man named Rael tried to reassure Okite that he had nothing to worry about, and indicated that he could heal him if the situation called for it. Although Okite did not feel completely safe, the presence of the shinobi had done much to put his mind at ease. He stopped glancing around so nervously and calmed down, and followed Rael after he introduced himself toward what he assumed was the exit to the Leaf Village. He was not excited to leave, knowing that beyond those walls awaited his fate, but he sucked it up and got a move on with this man. He claimed to be from the Nara Clan, an interesting body guard indeed.

As the two of them were be passing some of the shops near the hub of the city as they were leaving, the man would say, "Thank you for your support. I have been trying to leave the Leaf Village for several months now but never had the money for a guard. It's a shame that one has to spend their life's saving on protection -- but I suppose that it is the price we pay." The red haired man seemed contemplative but wouldn't give anymore information unless he was asked to do so. Before Rael could ask the man anything, however, a female voice would say something from the side of them, from one of the tents on the street corner.

"Excuse me," said the woman, with a confident and powerful voice that seemed to beg for attention. She was about six feet tall and stood out among her peers, long purple-grey hair falling down to her waist and wearing clothes unlike anything else in the Leaf Village. A white top with green lacing, and strange chains wrapped around her hips and neck, and purple loose-fitting pants underneath a red shawl that only covered her legs and her lower arms. a golden pin kept up the back of her hair, forming a bun that must have taken a long time to weave. "Would you stop for one moment to look at my shop?" she asked the two men. "I'm sure you'll find something here of interest." The shop had a big sign up outside of the tent which had been hammered into the ground. Danging on chains, the sign read, "Mystique's Magical Sanctuary." The flaps of the tent were half-closed and Rael could not see within the hut. The woman did appear to have a rather strange look to her eye, as if something magical did in fact bubble beneath the surface of her skin.

Okite looked at her a little nervously, although he had been this way ever since Rael had met him, and waited to see what his body guard would do.

SPOILER: Click to show

NPCs:
    Okite Iru, Speech Color: 5dff6a
        Rank: ?? 
    Mystique, Speech Color: 9781a3

[Necromancer of the West]

The man before Rael finally seemed to calm down, but Okite still seemed on guard, even in the village. Rael was curious to what the story behind this man was. He would ask later, when there weren’t as many ears around. Rael did not respond right away, his piercing gaze was still directed in front of the two. His Cheshire grin was still present, thinking more about the situation at hand. Rael would indeed inquire about this man. “I’m sure a man of your –“ Rael was suddenly cut off before he could continue the conversation by an enchanting voice, belonging to a woman.

Rael turned his attention towards the woman who spoke and studied the appearance of said woman. She dressed with a mystic elegance, as a gypsy would have dressed. Something seemed different about her. The feeling seemed familiar. As if she was enchanted. Curiosity got the better of Rael, which was more than likely the intended purpose.

“Okite, would you want to glance at her wares? Who knows, there might be something here to help us with our journey! We have yet to leave the village. No harm will come to you here. Anbu would step in if something like that erupted in their village.” Rael stepped closer to the hut and opened the flaps and motioned for Okite to follow suit if he wanted.

[Flower]

“Okite, would you want to glance at her wares? Who knows, there might be something here to help us with our journey! We have yet to leave the village. No harm will come to you here. Anbu would step in if something like that erupted in their village.” Okite looked at Rael with a little bit of anxiety but said, "Yeah, sure what's the harm. I've been in many stores since I've been here, what would make this different?" Rael and Okite went up to the flaps of the tent and opened them, Mystique watching them from aside. As they entered the room, the two men would note that it smelled heavily of incense -- but of what kind would be indescerniable without some sort of scent abilities or techniques. The room was dimly lit and only a single standing lamp in the center of the room gave any illumination, except for the candle which burned on the table in the center of the tent.

There were no items on display anywhere in sight and the two men might wonder what kind of shop didn't have any items? Yet Mystique walked in and said, "So what do you think of my magical hut? Quite the experience, no? You must be travelers -- passing out of the Leaf Village I see." Mystique went up to her table, which had only two chairs against its edge, and sat down in one of them facing the two men. "Please, whichever of you are interested take a seat. If you are willing to pay." Mystique's chains and accessories clanked together as she sat down and studied the two men, waiting for them to make a decision and see which one would step up to the chair. Okite seemed afraid of the place. Perhaps magic was not his most favorite subject?

The future could only tell what Rael felt about magic and the woman's statements, but maybe she did have something of use? Who was to say without giving her a chance? The heavy, perfurmed scent of the incense drifted through the air -- enshrouded those who stood there in a misty vapor. They could have slipped into another word.

SPOILER: Click to show

NPCs:
    Okite Iru, Speech Color: 5dff6a
        Rank: ?? 
    Mystique, Speech Color: 9781a3

[Necromancer of the West]

Seeing the man still anxious made Rael drop his smile momentarily and furrowed his brows. He needed to chat with the man soon to get the scope of the mission at hand. Following Okite in, Rael was hit with various aromatic scents of incense, that he couldn’t tell what was in the air. Rael surveyed the room briefly seeing how dim the light was. But the lone light and the room itself, radiated something. Rael was confused to why there were no items at all for display. She did say she was a merchant. ‘Was this a ploy?’ Was all Rael could think before the woman spoke up once more.

“"So what do you think of my magical hut? Quite the experience, no? You must be travelers -- passing out of the Leaf Village I see." Mystique went over to the lone table to sit down and continued her speech. ‘What is she getting at?’ Rael remembered the female witch he met when he first joined the village. She spoke of magic. Also, the cursed lands he experienced was dominated by a powerful curse, set forth by an anonymous entity. The feeling in the room didn’t feel malicious as the cursed lands did. Or confident, wary, and powerful, as that woman portrayed.

Rael didn’t respond to her question and allowed himself to sit across the woman and his smile returned “I am sure I can pay for your service. I have only met very few others, if what you are suggestion foretells.” What was the service she provided? Rael would figure out shortly, but he glanced back at Okite and saw how afraid he was. Rael sighed and returned to the woman. “I do hope this won’t take long. I am afraid my client is a bit wary.”

[Flower]

Mystique watched as the man sat down in the chair across from her and would smile, seemingly even more pleased by Okite's reaction and how worried he was. She seemed to like the fearful aura. "Ah, well," Mystique said, pushing her hair out of her face to get a better look at the young lad, Rael. "I can tell your quite the man. Brave enough to step forward and work with this old mystic. Brave indeed. But know that knowledge does not come without a cost, and your money is no good here." Mystique motioned around the room at all the emptiness. "All that is good here is your soul. Now don't worry, I won't harvest your soul or anything -- but once we reach into the other side to convene with the spirits, there's no telling how tainted you may become. You've been brave thus far, are you ready to continue?"

If Rael was still willing, then Mystique would hold out her hands and motion for him to give her his own palms. Mystique would act as if she was reading the lines of his palms and looking into the spirit world, but really she had other techniques that were going to work -- scouring the individuals and trying to assess his present / future. If Rael was not willing to give up this information easily, then it would require a some will to avoid it (will save to avoid). If he was not afraid of Mystique, however, and let his future be told then who knew what he would acquire?

Was the risk worth the reward? Mystique left her palms out, facing upwards and waiting for the man to decide. Okite watched closely, interested in what his newly hired bodyguard was going to do. 

SPOILER: Click to show

NPCs:
    Okite Iru, Speech Color: 5dff6a
        Rank: ?? 
    Mystique, Speech Color: 9781a3

If, then:
    Unknown Techniques requiring will save to avoid, please post and I will make a roll if desired

[Necromancer of the West]

[Oh?! Really now?]

“Not bravery, curiosity.”

Teeth could be seen in Rael’s smile as his lax gaze stared down the mystic. But the mention that his money was no good worried Rael. He kept his lax façade, but resisted the urge to furrow his brow in confusion. The mention of souls made him break his façade. Rael closed his eyes and frowned momentarily as memories flooded to his mind.

Memories of his parents came forwards, the feeling of being controlled by an unknown entity made his blood boil. The remembrance of soft flesh being pierced raised his pulse, exciting him. That quickly faded as the silhouette in his memory took something from his dead parents. Rael believed it was their souls. There was something about the memory that he could not understand. It seemed faded in his mind. Shaking his head, remembering where he was, his eyes returned to the relaxed stage, but his lips were pursed now.

He knew what this mystic gypsy held in power could benefit him. He had to know now. He knew such taint would not make a difference to his being. OR else his self-preservation would not allow him to further…harm his position in life. He gave out his hand to the mystic, who in return began to look at his palms. Rael was unaware of other possibilities of techniques of manipulation that did not involve the illusionary arts. If it were an illusion, Rael would feel the familiarity, but wouldn’t be able to pinpoint what it would do. Otherwise, whatever Mystique did would not be registered by Rael.

player speech

■TAGS

■FOOTNOTES

Rael’s gaze was focused on the gypsy, now ignoring his client.[/font]

[Flower]

Rael would claim that it was curiousity, not bravery, which led him on this path and Mystique smiled at that. "I, too, often find myself curious," she said and began to look deep into Rael's palm. Although she didn't really need to see the lines, it made for a good show and seemed as if Mystique were reading his palms. Rael did not seem particularly interested in avoiding Mystique's technique so she was able to register immediately his alignment -- neutral evil. Mystique could not help but smile as she gleaned this and said to Rael, "Ah I see much and more about your life now. You want to be a powerful man, do you not? But, not quite a saint are you..."

Okite would be watching with horror, wandering about his new body guard and listening as well. "You have done evil, I've no doubt. Is there one that you wish to speak to? A loved one that could give you closure or lead you somewhere? Let me know, friend, and I will contact them for you." She was smiling so much now that it almost seemed to stretch right off her face. The tent suddenly seemed much darker, and the incense wafted around their table as Mystique mentioned speaking to the dead. The sound of kids laughing outside the tent could be heard, making the whole scene rather ominous right here next to the public.

"If not then don't worry, I won't hold it against you. Not everyone can handle speaking to the dead." She seemed like she was being coy, maybe a little bit flirtatious, drawing in Rael to show him what she could do. The choice was now his as Mystique flashed her unusual and talented powers as to whether or not he would succumb to their temptation.

SPOILER: Click to show

NPCs:
    Okite Iru, Speech Color: 5dff6a
        Rank: ?? 
    Mystique, Speech Color: 9781a3

Know One's Self [Will Save: 16, but no indication that you wanted a save last round]
Rank: "C"
Skill: NinJutsu
Effect: Touch a target and know its alignment.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: Target is 1 creature. Range is Touch. Duration is Instantaneous. User shakes the hand of their target and the touch reveals their true nature. User performs this Jutsu and touches a target. User then knows the alignment of the user's target. A Will Save of 10 + (2 Per Class Level + Impeccable Will) will negate this effect. The target can use their Acting Skill against the user's Sense Motive in place of a Will save.
Limit: Must be a Soulcaster.

[Necromancer of the West]

[Oh?! Really now?]

Rael chuckled at that response.

"Curious minds often get them in trouble. But may I say that overly ambitious people get into more, hmm?"

Rael saw the mystic smile, and in return, he held his own feral grin. Cheek to cheek like the Cheshire cat. Another chuckle escaped when she briefly stated what he wanted and how he wasn't all pure.

"It's not just power I seek. Power is just the added bonus to my ambition. And You know I will do anything to obtain that goal."

Rael cackled a bit at the mere exchange of knowledge she was able to grasp.

"What you call evil is what I call advancement.

He was going to say more, but when she continued to speak, the thought of having one last moment to talk to his parents were now haunting his mind. Would they care for what he did to them? How he killed them both, despite being controlled to do so? Would they understand. One question was certain he needed to know. Who had made Rael kill them.

"My father, or even my mother. Mother was from the Nara clan if that helps. My father,

He paused a moment to think about him. Unknowing to Rael, his father wasn't dead at all.

"I know nought about my father."

He awaited for the response she would give to his request. Was this mystic being really capable of such a thing?

The atmosphere around him suddenly changed. It felt more ominous. It felt more illusive and haunting compared to his own, chilling, energy. He told her his answer. He had to know the truth.

player speech

■TAGS

■FOOTNOTES

[Flower]

Mystique listened to Rael and decided that she was enjoying this very much. Even more, she enjoyed when he talked about his family. Truly, she wanted to know more information about him and here she was -- obtaining it. But it appeared that perhaps they were on the same side. He, too, showed a tendency and appreciation for evil. Although Okite was now almost about to jump out of his skin. "If you don't mind," the man said, "I would rather wait outside. I am a god-fearing man and sights such as these due litle to ease my mind. I appreciate your guardianship and will wait for you, Rael." If allowed, Okite would exit the tent and Mystique would look at Rael closely. Her dark, purple hair falling across the sides of her face.

"I can find him for you," Mystique would suddenly say, "If you want me to. I can reach beyond the vealm that separates life and death and help you discover where he has gone. How you can find him. As for your mother -- I suspect that there is no point in trying to find her? When one is dead they are dead. But perhaps she will tell me something of your father. But in exchange, Rael, I require something of you. When we see each other again, and we will see each other again, you will owe me a favor. And you will assist me, no matter what it is. And if you don't it will cost you your life. Do we have an agreement?"

Indeed, the air had become very haunted. Suddenly the streets of the Leaf Village outside seemed so very far away, and Mystique did not seem like the pleasing fortune-teller that she had said. Perhaps it would be a good thing it Okite was permitted to leave, because indeed it appeared that their conversation was about to get deeply personal.

SPOILER: Click to show

NPCs:
    Okite Iru, Speech Color: 5dff6a
        Rank: ?? 
    Mystique, Speech Color: 9781a3

Prepared technique depending on response:

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.

[Necromancer of the West]

[Oh?! Really now?]

Rael didn’t care that he was giving up precious information about his past. He needed to know what happened that fateful day. Every try at remembering, it was always clouded and he couldn’t remember the minute details. It was frustrating to him. The voice of Okite brought him back to his surroundings and he turned his head and eye smiled to him.

“I was told there are many Gods out there. But you are the one to pick the one to protect you the most. But do not worry. This should be over soon”

Rael turned his full attention to Mystique now, listening to every word she spoke. She was able to speak across the veil that surrounded both life and death? She would be able to speak to them if she found them? Rael didn’t care what the price was. This was one step closer to his goals. The more he found out about that day, the more he can prepare for it once again, if it comes.

“What do you mean by how I can find my father!? He was dead, just like my mother! I was the one who killed them!”

Rael gave the rest of what she said thought. She wanted a favor. Just like that woman he met so long ago. He hated being in debt to someone, but to advance, he must.

“I accept. I will owe you this favor. No matter what it is. How do we confirm the deal?"

The air was now saturated with that ominous feeling as once before. It was a bit stifling, to be under such wary energy. This woman seemed to know more than the average diviner. But what would she have Rael do? Rael’s smile quickly turned into pursed lips and his eyes became more pierced, readying himself for the upcoming answers.

player speech

■TAGS

■FOOTNOTES

[Flower]

Mystique put her fingers together and leaned forward in her chair, her face over her hands in a contemplative fashion. She looked oddly like a sphinx in this light, her eyes a radiate and watchful color. Rael said that he would agree to her favor and her eyes lit up. "Indeed, well then. I appreciate your bravery, or curiousity as you suggest. Rael sit where you are. If you are true to your word and seek to know the truth about your mother and father, then you'll need to sit still. I am going to place a seal upon you -- to everyone else it will appear to be nothing more than a tattoo. However, this seal will make sure that you listen when I ask it of you. If we are still in agreement, then I will continue."

Mystique would wait, making sure that this evil and curious being was okay with the seal that would no doubt link them through fate. But Mystique wondered if this was not exactly what he wanted -- to be branded and tied to a twisted fate. So men were just self-abusive. She wanted to laugh but kept it to herself. If allowed then Mystique would stand up and walk over to perform the technique on the young man. She would ask him where he wanted it to be and would place it wherever he suggested. Suddenly a black seal appearing to be a tattoo would appear in that place. It was black and seemed to be sewn into his flesh. Mystique would smile when she was done, holding her hand over the area and focusing her powers. Then she would step away. Rael would not notice much of an internal difference.

"So then," Mystique would say, "Are you ready to find out about your mother? And more importantly, about your father?" She would give him a big grin and go back to her seat. "Are you ready...?"

SPOILER: Click to show

NPCs:
    Okite Iru, Speech Color: 5dff6a
        Rank: ?? 
    Mystique, Speech Color: 9781a3

Unknown Seal and Techniques

Prepped:

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.

[Necromancer of the West]

[Oh?! Really now?]

Rael was listening to her exact instructions. Rael was also observing what she was doing, hoping in doing so, he would gleam some sort of information on how she was performing such feats. But being connected. Was it worth it to him?

‘Of course it is worth it. Anything that is done to me, can always be undone. Nothing is permeant!’

Rael thought to himself to continue. His heart was pounding in anticipation, hands clenched in a fist, eyes never leaving her. A simple nod was all that was responded.

In and out, Rael controlled his breathing. He saw the gypsy get up and walk closer to him. He barely heard what she said, but was able to respond.

“On my chest. Where my heart is.”

He removed his ornate gothic shirt enough to reveal the sickly pale skin to Mystique. Rael didn’t recognize the technique she was using, but he glanced down after she was done.

“Where does this seal originate from? I don’t recognize it!”

Rael furrowed his brows at the hellish design that seemed…sown and stitched to his skin. He didn’t feel any different, but he was sure something bad was going to happen. He mumbled to himself, loud enough for Mystique to hear,

“I must make sacrifices for my goal to gain fruition.”

He had to keep on thinking that or all he had achieved this point was null. He gazed into the woman’s eyes and nodded in response to the question.

“Let us begin, my dear.”

He slipped his shirt back on and crossed his fingers, interlacing them together. Resting his chin on them, he gazed once again at the gpsy.

player speech

■TAGS

■FOOTNOTES

[Flower]

Mystique got up from her chair at Rael's acceptance and formed the seal just as he had asked, over his heart on his chest, and she smiled as she did so. "Such a trusting man," she would say, "and you don't look to bad either." She would deliver the seal whilee smiling and concentrating. Then she'd lift up and face him, forming more handseals and putting her hands over his forehead, concentrating with her eyes closed. Then she'd stand up and go back to her seat when it was done. The whole process would not last long, only about half a minute. When it was done Mystique would say, "Good, then let's begin."

She went to one of the walls and seemed to pull candles out of a cabinet that was never there, hiding as one of the floorboards, and incenses that had been collected and extracted from various countries. Mystique brought them to the table and set them out. She would create a small fire from her fingertips after a couple of handseals and light the candle, which was bright red, and cover herself and Rae in some of the incense. It seemed musky and strong. "Rael, I'm glad to be taking on this journey with you. When I perform this technique, my soul will briefly leave my body and I will meet your mother in the afterlife. I will ask her about your father and tell you whether or not he is truly dead, and if not (as I suspect) then where he is. Would you like me to tell her anything else?"

It was a rare opportunity. A moment for Rael to say anything he wanted to his mother who he had killed. Mystique sat back in the chair and started breathing slower, letting her eyes drift in and out slowly waiting for Rael's response. She was ready to get started it would seem.

---

Outside of Mystique's tent Okite would be smoking a bit of tobacco and looking out at the streets of the Hidden Leaf Village. People were walking by sparsely, not as busy as a normal day. The sun was high though and it seemed to make him sweat with his sword hanging from his hip. He wondered about Rael and Mystique, and their conversation, but didn't impose and looked off at the people. Suddenly, however, he was looking through one of the pathways with his onigami eyes and suddenly saw the sight of a man that he had not known in a long time.

The man watched Okite from across the streets, about thirty meters away, and even with his Onigami abilities Okite could not see anything out of place. It had been on of his old friends... but he had died. Suddenly the man ran off down into the alleyway. "Hey!!" Okite yelled and immediately started running after the man. He used two body flicker techniques to try to catch up to him, but his friend had been fast. Within an instant, they would both be more than twenty meters down the alley. Luckily Rael, if he were listening, he would hear his client suddenly shout right as Mystique was getting ready to go under. But when he came from the doorway of the tent, and if he did, he would not be able to see which way they had gone.

SPOILER: Click to show

NPCs:
    Okite Iru, Speech Color: 5dff6a
        Rank: ?? 
    Mystique, Speech Color: 9781a3
    Unknown Man

Unknown Seal

Unknown Techniques

[Necromancer of the West]

OOC: Sorry for the delay. Real life sucks

[Oh?! Really now?]

Rael smirked at the coy response from the woman but refrained from commenting back. His mind was too addled to think of a proper response anyway. Rael was still observing Mystique in all aspects. Seeing her light fire out of nowhere was noted in his mind. His nostrils flared as a new scent rushed into his sense. He still couldn’t pinpoint what type of smell that it was. She began to talk about what she would be doing and this interested Rael greatly. After all, he has been searching for someone who knew things about souls for years. He has finally found someone.

“Tell her that I am sorry for what I had no control over. Other than that, information. Why she would be a target, along with my Father, what were they really selling? Were they simple merchants?”

That was all he wanted to know. Who controlled him, what was the goal and purpose of such thing. He had to know. Seeing her about to go to the other side raised his blood, but he had heard something outside. He couldn’t leave now. He was so close to finding the truth. Okite seemed skilled. Rael was sure he could take care of himself, and if he was so anxious, Okite would surely stay out of trouble. But to ensure such a thing, Rael turned his gaze to the candle lighting the room.

His own shadow was behind him, slightly moving with the flicker of the candle. Rael took a deep breathe, in and out, while molding his energy in handseals. With each seal and each breath, the shadows around him would grow and shrink, his own shadow was shimmering behind him. After the final handseal, his energy was greedily taken by his own shadow. A pale grey figure stood up behind him, identical in look to Rael. With a mental gesture, the shadow puppet exited the tent, searching for Okite. The puppet would be able to be away from the true Rael for 240 meters. He would look out for Okite and where he might of went and talk him back to the tent.

player speech

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[Flower]

Mystique listened to Rael's request and nodded, before letting herself perform the technique and wafted in the smell of the incense. The light of the candles shone dimly on her face as she leaned back in the chair and let her head hang, her chin falling softly to her chest. She was breathing slowly and eventually seemed to be dozing off. There was a stillness to the air, and Rael would not be able to determine much from what he was seeing. To him it might have all appeared to be meditation or napping. Who knew if she was telling the truth? If she could really talk to these souls?

Inside of her own mind, Mystique would be drifting off with her consciousness and going toward some other place. The world of the living would seem to fade away, and after much mental preparation and dedication it seemed that she was swimming through a plane of infinite blackness -- not necessarily darkness, but blackness. Souls, like dots, littered the landscape and she looked for the ones that were attached to the young man that sat in front of her. After much searching, which was a few seconds in the "real world," she would locate the soul of Rael's dead mother. The one who had, it seemed, truly met her demise. 

"Hello," she said to the soul when she had found it, a solemn looking women in a white gown by an astral river shimmering like stars, "I've come to speak to you." 
"About what? I've no one left to speak to."
"Your son, he is alive and well. He has come to me and asked me to contact you." 
The spirit looked up, startled and confused, "He is alive? And well?" 
"As well as can be expected. He wanted me to tell you that he is sorry for what he could not control. He also wanted to know the truth of some matters -- his father and what you two were selling in his youth?" 
The women looked off into the distance, seeming to contemplate everything, and leaned forward and whispered to Mystique. Mystique opened her eyes wide, truly shocked, and spoke a few more words before preparing herself to leave. When they were finished, Mystique thanked her and prepared to be back on her way to the world of the living. To Rael it would have felt like five minutes, but for Mystique it would have seemed an hour as she floated back her consciousness to reality and opened her eyes. She'd look closely at Rael and say, "I've discovered quite a lot." 

SPOILER: Click to show

NPCs:
    Okite Iru, Speech Color: 5dff6a
        Rank: ?? 
    Mystique, Speech Color: 9781a3
    Mother, Speech Color: d0f6ff

Prepped:

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.

---

The shadow ran out of the fortune tellers shop, hoping to find Okite. Unfortunately, it wouldn't appear to be that easy. Outside of the building, Okite had already body flashed down one of the alleys that presented itslf. There was the road, which stretched to the right and the left, and two alleyways directly across from the shop. The shadow or Rael would need to come up with some sort of plan to find them. There were several people walking around the area -- it is possible that they knew something about the incident? Meanwhile Okiite could be anywhere doing anything. Rael would need to think of something fast. 

SPOILER: Click to show

NPCs:

• An old man selling apples near the shop
• A young boy crying on the street corner
• A lady and man bickering with another on the corner of the road to the left.
• A teenage girl and her dog sitting in the shadows watching the scenes (including Rael's shadow self).

[Necromancer of the West]

[Oh?! Really now?]

Rael was impatient. All he could see happening was the woman still, with steady breathing. She was making no noise, or no indication of anything that was happening. He bit his lips in anticipation, and a bit of fear. Who knew what she could uncover. With a minute going by, Rael closed his eyes and focused on his shadow puppet, to see what his shadow saw. The sickly grey form of the puppet was turning circles around to see if he was able to spot Okite. Shadow Rael saw no traces of him.

Shadow Rael was looking at the different paths that the red headed beauty could have taken. He couldn’t risk going down the wrong way. Rael would hope someone saw anything pertaining to Okite. He looked around the area and saw that there were a few civilians. Well what he thought were civilians. A piercing cry filled his ears and a scowl formed onto the shadow’s face. This child was insufferable! The shadow ignored the young boy and kept on scanning the environment. There were was a couple, that seemed like that they were arguing over something. It seemed like they have been at it for a while. They would be of no help.

There was an old man, who seemed like a merchant selling apples? The man should know something. Remembering the times he saw his parents being merchants, he knew that they always kept and eye out for potential buyers. This was the best he could do now, so the shadow slowly began to saunter over to the old man and was about to go up to him, but something in the waiting shadows caught his eye. A female, a young one that he could tell, was with her dog. He would have to keep an eye for her.

“Excuse me sir, I was wondering if you saw my friend. He ran off without me and I need to find him soon. As well as buy an apple or two of course!”

Rael was hoping that he was talking loud enough for that girl in the shadows could hear. He described what Okite looked like to the old man in hopes he saw where Okite might of went.

Assuming the conversation between his shadow and the old man took less than four minutes, Rael would hear Mystique come back from her meditative trance. Rael opened his eyes, focusing back onto the gypsy

“Oh? What have you found out! I am dying to know!”

Rael tried to sound like his usually posh self, but his voice had a slight quiver to it. What did she find out?

player speech

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[Flower]

Mystique smiled at Rael, who couldn't even respond he seemed to be so anxious. Most people didn't believe her mystical arts or her power -- but once they saw what she could do... well that was a whole different story. "Your mother said that your father is in fact alive." For Rael, this might have been a happy occassion, except that Mystique wouldn't give him too long of a reprieve. "But she also said that men who control death have oftn experienced frequntly. When asked about what they used to sell, your mother said that it was items that had been given to them by someone else. One who was very powerful and spoke to your father, but she never met him personally. Your mother said that if you were serious about finding your father then you would need to go to the Land of Waves. Here, she said, that you would discover your destiny and the fate of your father. She also said that she accepted your apology." Myistque tried to give him a friendly smile after the last sentence.

She gave him a moment to take all of it, as there was a lot of information that she had found out. Although his mother had not been overly informative, she had given him the clues needed to continue his quest. Despite herself, Mystique was interested, but knew that this was not the end for the two of them. "The Land of Waves is a country of islands and bridges," Mystique explained, "When you are done with this mission I would head in that direction. I know a bit about the countryside. A temple there, known as Dākuheibun, has been growing in popularity in the circles of the underground. I don't know much about them but perhaps if you find the temple they can give you more answers then I have been able to discover. If I were you I would learn a bit of the Shadowtongue and maybe about current affairs. But never forget our bargain, Rael."

"She also mentioned," Mystique said, "something about your eyes. That you would unlock them soon." Meanwhile, Rael's shadow would notice an old man selling apples and run up to him. Offering to buy some apples for some information about a man running through the streets, the old man (clothed in humble rags) said, "Two apples would be 20 ryo. If you are serious, I can tell you where your the man went." IF the shadow had 20 ryo or could go back to Rael for it (the conversation hadn't taken four minutes, so the shadow still had time to do so before Mystique revealed her information) then the old man would be able to point out the alleyway that Okite had went down. Meanwhile, the girl would return the shadows glance. While he watched her, she watched him.

SPOILER: Click to show

NPCs:
    Okite Iru, Speech Color: 5dff6a
        Rank: ?? 
    Mystique, Speech Color: 9781a3
    Apple Merchant, Speech Color: ebebeb

[Necromancer of the West]

[Oh?! Really now?]

Rael’s eyes went wide, and he turned still.

‘What! MY father is alive! But…’

His mind was racing not knowing how to process the information.

“But I was there! I was the one to kill him!”

The next part on what the gypsy said made Rael pause and think. Of course, there are many ways to circumvent death. There was a high possibility that his father did such a thing. But Rael didn’t know how the man would know such a thing.

“So there is a third party member possibly involved. Do you know what the items are exactly?”

But why the land of waves? What was there for him. He simply nodded at that point, taking to heart what she had said. The acceptance of the apology didn’t really matter for him, it was just the formality for his mother’s sake. She was dead and nothing he could do currently would bring her back.

Rael would look at the records and archives the Leaf village held for the land of waves. But the mention of shadowtongue confused him a bit. He wasn’t sure who or what spoke such a language.

“What do you mean that I will unlock my eyes? What does that have to do with anything? I am from the Nara clan. I have no blood of the Uchiha or Hyuuga in me! I am a man of my word, and such your deal will be honored”

Hopefully she died or something else happened to her before she were to claim such a deal. Rael did not like being in debt.

Out in the streets, Shadow Rael was able to gather the 20 RYO and return back to the old man. The puppet gave the money and gathered the two apples in return, listening to what he would say. He nodded to the man and began his journey down the alley where the old man had pointed towards.

player speech

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■FOOTNOTES