You walk towards a large brick building, the red brick looks baked hard into shape. You walk towards the wooden door and gently push it. Immediately to your left is a large brute of a man, he welcomes you into the Omotesando.

You are now in an open area, at the rear is a bar and dancefloor off the main room. The air is heavy with the voices of the patrons. Along most of the walls of the mud building are booths wrapping wooden tables, while wooden tables line the middle of the room, you notice people are sitting at them in wooden chairs. A few tables are in the rear, leaving enough space open for a group of musicians playing Japanese Dancing music while an assortment of beautiful dancers entertain the crowd.

A portion of the building to the far rear of the building has a long marble bartop about waist height, behind it, a jovial young man talks with his female co-worker, then turns to the customer in front of him. He serves him a drink in a goblet.

He turns to you and smiles. You walk towards him noticing the fine polishing on the wood and marble beneath you. He welcomes you and asks what you would like tonight

Kanpai!

Welcome to Japantica's first and oldest bar. Situated on the lovely riverbank of Immo, Zarnia Province, The Omotesando is home to some of Japanatica's finest drinks, and ladies! Seats are availible for all patrons to sit upon and relax. Smoking is permitted.

Founded in BCE 2150, it is THE premiere destination of those seeking adventure, many a traveller have departed from this site seeking their fortune. One can find offers for jobs from many of the patrons of this establishment, even the bartender, "Immo" as he is called (though his Real Name Is Ian Thrace) and his crew of waitresses know who to ask about jobs. Merecenaries for hire, merchants looking for a place to sleep.

Drinks do not cost any real money, as long as you Role Play ordering. You can stay as long as you like, but please do not make posts smaller than 3-4 lines of text, this isnt a spamroom, its a place of business!

The beds on the second floor are free too, but you require access from the barkeep. At the moment we have a selection of fermented wheats, rice, and more. But were always looking for outsiders and passer-bys who may have some of that legendary Roman liquor. Oh well, a business can dream! Ask our bartender who to talk to about adventures, maybe he knows something!

This will be an evolving thread, so check back often for updates as not only the patrons change, but as the building itself does!

Rough Floorplan for the sake of allieviating confusion:
http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads8/Omo-Ancient1.jpg

Drinks:
Shochu: Sweet Potato Spirit
Whiskey: Typical 80 Proof
Sake: Rice Wine
Beer: Ranging in Body from Ale to Porter
Lemon Water: Perfect addition to Water on a Hot Japanatica Day.
Fruit Juices: Banana, Orange, from keep in the jungles around Japanatica.
Secret Drinks: offered to friends only, don't ask, don't tell :shh:

Food:
Moningu: A Japanese breakfast set usually with toast.
Miso: Soup
Nori: Dried Seaweed
Soba: Noodles (Includes DIpping Sauce, Tempura, Green onions and in broth)
Udon: Thick Noodles (aburaage, or fried bean curd, Green Onions, Seven Spices, and tempura. Optional Beef Slices).
Ramen: Popular Noodle Dish in the early morning, comes with Roast Pork
Donburi: Bowl on rice. Variety of ingredients, made to your liking with Beef, Chicken, Pork or Fish.
Curry: Variety, including Beef, Chicken, Fish, vegetable, Pork, and dry.
Okonomiyaki: Flour Pancake, fried, cabbage, bean sprouts, bits of tempura, egg and pork, shrimp or squid are piled on top wity nori and a special sauce.

"Ill take some of your finest Japanese Beer."
Black_Hole says, and asks:
"Would you care to play a friendly game of cards, I have a few gems I wanna use".
As Black_Hole sits he trips over the chair and dumps the person's drink to the right of him. The person to the right of him is ...

Strider walks in with a tired look about him, glancing around quickly he choose's a wooden seat alittle ways from the door and sits down.

Hey! Hey! Can I get a drink? I just got done advertising my tournament and I'm pretty tired right now. A good drink would be nice, also anything interesting going on? I was to busy to stop and chat with anyone.

Immo walks over to Black Hole first, stopping along the way to ask his most loyal waitress, Ichi to excuse him, her long black hair tosses and she moves out of the way. Immo can't help but notice Black_Hole stare as she walks away, carrying a drink.
"What can I get for you sir?" Immo asks the tall man leaning in front of the wood.

"Ill take some of your finest Japanese Beer." He says with a smile, noticing Ichi from the corner of his eye.
Immo hands him the beer, and he continues:
"Would you care to play a friendly game of cards, I have a few gems I wanna use".

I'll tell you what, why dont we..." Immo is interrupted by Black_Hole spilling his drink on the person to his right.

Meanwhile: Ichi has brought a drink over to Strider, they start to share a conversation about the tournament.

CivGeneral walks into the bar, dispite being a first timer in the bar he decided to ask the barkeep for a recomendations for there first customers.

"Excuse me barkeep, but do you have any recomendations on drinks for your fist customers?"

Immo finishes wiping off the table after Black_Hole unfortunate incident and strolls over to a very confused looking stranger

"Excuse me barkeep, but do you have any recomendations on drinks for your fist customers?" The stranger says.

"Well, we got everything you can think of, if you're looking for something to wash away the day, I suggest some Shochu, if you want to relax and enjoy the flavour, a dark beer would be nice"

Superpelon quietly walks into the Omo, and sits down at the end of the bar. He recognizes a few of the patrons, but avoids eye contact. Superpelon is not happy today.

He turns to the barkeep and asks in a low, but polite voice:

"Good day to you. I would like a bowl of noodles please, plain and unseasoned. A cup of Sake as well."

A unkeppt, muddy man, with arrows in the poches in his back, enters.

A donburi, please, with some water.

i'll have some warm Sake, how is everyone finding the new forum?

Asano sits at the bar listening to the sounds of the crowd. Nothing much of any importance thus far, but there is a character in the corner that may hold promise.

He has come here to find work, driven from his home by a politically motivated Leader. The road has been long and winding, it is time for some brief meditation with this beer.

As Asano slowly becomes one with the beer, Immo brings him another one as directed. "Much better", Asano says silently. "Now I must put away this anger and focus on my task."

Suddenly his beer erupts, splashing the liquid up towards Asano's face. He leaps backwards from the log he was perched on and no sooner had his feet touched the ground, he was moving towards the man who had tried to drench him.

"Fool! Have you no sense?" Asano's voice booms across the room. "Could you not just ask me for a beating? Did you have to waste my beer in doing so?" A knife appears in his hand. Immo and the man are staring at it, not so much from fear, but wondering how the hell this tall man coming at them had done that.

"What kind of establishment are you running here?!?" Immo apologizes, cleans up the mess and quietly moves on to the next customer.

"And you, clumsy one...", the knife disappears as quickly as it had appeared. " What have you to say? Think quickly."

:The Night Before:
SaaMsan walks into a bar. He passes the priest, the rabbi and the nun and sits down.
"Barkeep. I need a months worth of food for my travels. Yes, that right. My travels. I need a large jug of water. It must be good enough for many days. And dried foods. These must be good and able to be kept for many days."
SaaMsan gets his supplies. With a swish of his blue cloak, he walks out of the door. Immo looks at SaaMsan suspiciously. What would he need all that food for? And why was he paid with a picture of a lanky figure in the fetal position saying "No Money... No money, please."?

Sorry Asano, I seem to have hit the bear against the bar table to hard. Won't happen again.

Sorry Asano, I seem to have hit the bear against the bar table to hard. Won't happen again.
*Ankka comes in to the Omotesando and noticed a huge bear lying on the floor near Black_Hole*

"Oh my! Can you bring pets in?"

*turns towards Immo*

"Could I have a Lemon water, please? It's a Hot Japanatica Day."

Sorry Asano, I seem to have hit the bear against the bar table to hard. Won't happen again.
Seeing no threat in the young man, Asano relaxes. "I'm sorry too, I shouldn't have jumped at you. Replace my spilled beer and all is forgiven. What do they call you, by the way?"

As the man places the beer in front of Asano, he rplies "They call me Black Hole. I'm in here a lot. Say, ..." as he glances over both shoulders, "you wouldn't be interested in bartering for a few gems, now would you?"

Asano looks from the corner of his eye, "Gems? No, I'm only interested in a stable to care for my horse." Then his forehead wrinkles some, "Black Hole? Really? Hmmm. Anyway, do you know the location of a stable?"

Black Hole gives detailed instructions on how to get to the stable. Asano drinks his beer as he listens. Whe Black Hole is done, Asano thanks him and motions for Immo to come closer.

OOC: Please remember this thread is not just for ordering, please do some role-playing as well :D

Immo, curious about the commotion which has just occured turns away, noticing that the bar has filled with some very wreched characters. He laughs to himself while he makes his orders, he grimaces as he burns his hand on the woodfire.

He notices two hungry looking men, SUperpelion and Babbler loudly chowing down on their bowls, "savages, have they no manners?" He thinks to himself.

SItting in front of him, the curious knife wielding stranger Asano beckones him closer. Though skilled in unarmed combat, he trusts his instincts that this odd-ball is not dangerous.

"something troubling you my new friend? Those barbarians to the north? You know... a few nights ago I heard a warrior talking with his band of mercenaries about needing more warriors to find and disperse the barbarian camp. I wager you would get a tidy profit from THAT adventure...." Immo whispers as he leans in to hear what he has to say...

hmm as always the samurai offer their services to rid our great empire of the plague of barbarians.

"Seriously, friend I'm not interested in overturning barb camps. I believe I'd rather tend bar, and I'm not looking to do that either. The information I'm looking for is on any nobles in the area. Are there any land owners of note in this area? Men of title, money?" Asano looks amused as Immo finishes cleaning the same spot over and over again, then stops to find a clean rag.

Immo, finding the rag he wants, leans back in close to Asano, "Well, yeah I do. I could probably put you in touch with someone that could talk to someone who would know for sure". He smiles widely at Asano after inspecting the really clean wooden goblet he held in his hand.

Shaking his head, Asano pulls a very small pouch from his coat. He opens it and pours a small amount of gold dust onto Immo's rag. "Think we could cut out one or two of those people?"

"Think we could cut out one or two of those people?" Asano, with a grim smile says. Immo is immediately taken aback, "cut one or two of those people?" he thinks.

The memories comes flooding back of many years ago, his military service, during the dark times, when little beyond our inherited lands were known. Hearing the news of the attack on the barbarian camp to the north, and all those who had profitted from the plunder. Were they really so hostile? Was it because they looked different? Surely Immo, someone who looked VERY non-japanese would dispute the presence of racism in his beloved country. Immo had heard rumours that some of the barbarians families were kept alive and returned to Fanatikku as slaves, to be bought and sold like wares.

He remembers when it all came crashing down, the day he saw an oligarch leading a small barbarian girl, infront of him, no doubt a slave. Those men...How could they justify their actions to their ancestors?

"Maybe not tonight, but let me ask around over the next day or two, garissons are weak, it could be done with very little risk." Immo noticed one of dancers watching him discuss with his new business compatriot. She smiled and turned away.

"Well then fine," Asano drinks the last of his beer, "that gold should get me your best meals and a bed until then." He then looks in the direction Immo's eyes had gone to and notices the same dancer.

Smiling he adds, "I need to tend to my horse, I'll be back." And with that he leaves.

While wandering around the club BCLG trips and knocks into Asana, spilling his drink on him,

"i apologise" said BCLG "here let me buy you another,"

"no i'm fine" Cyc says back

"no i insist," BCLG replies " Now while wandering around i couldnt help but hear what you were talking about, i was wondering if there was a way in which i could be cut into the deal"

"well...." mutters Cyc

Asano walks halfway to the door when another local yokel spills his beer on him. He's able to dodge most of it but smacks the beer off his arm into the face of the culprit, who's head jerks back every time the beer hits it. Then he starts to call Asano different names and offering to buy him a beer. Asano wonders what kind of drugs they're selling in this dive.
"no i insist," BCLG replies " Now while wandering around i couldnt help but hear what you were talking about, i was wondering if there was a way in which i could be cut into the deal"

"Well....no. In fact, there is no deal. I merely had a transaction with Immo." Wondering just what kind of town he's encountered, he looks around and says to the guy, "But keep your eyes peeled, you never know what's gonna happen...".

With that Asano hustles to the door and exits. He takes the reins of his horse and walks it down to the stables.

Immo, eager to target one specific man, an extremely wealthy member of the now disgraced Michiwara clan, leaves the bar for a moment to travel down the street to Asuka's home. A young woman, no more than 19 years of age. She had been a servent of this clan member for 3 years, having left when he refused to save his honor over the betrayal of his clan.

"This scum would not be missed," Immo thought to himself as he approached Asuka's home.

He arrived and knocked on her door, she travelled much, to escape her problems no doubt. SHe answered the door, looking as delicate as the last time he had seen her. She had cut her hair short and had tied it back, her hair was more chestnut then most women. Immo welcomed the change, he had always prefered her lighter coloured hair over darker colours.

They exchanged small-talk briefly, but Asuka knew this was strictly a business call. She told him of the lack of guards at the Michiwara's abode, only 2, both of which stupid and untrained. She told him more, and they enjoyed tea and talked of her older brother, who was campaigning to the north with the military.

"Thank you Asuka, now I must ask you a favour: Leave this place, travel back to Fanatukku and travel with the settler group to the new founding. If something happens it will not be safe, you cannot ever return here."

WIth that, Immo left, kissing Asuka on the cheek, and returning to the bar.

Riko Anjin, the young woman at the bar had not missed a second of this show. On the outside she just seemed strangely attracted to the blunt savage. On the inside she was interested as well, but only in him as a tool. What did he call himself? Asano or something. Perhaps he was the one she was looking for to accomplish the plan. But she had to be careful. Not many people knew, and certainly no Japanaticans knew, that her mother was a Babylonian and although she got her appearance from her Japanese father, she got her upbringing from her mother.

That low life son of a bear! How could he call himself a father? He was never home, always 'exploring more land'. As if she didn't know he was just looking for an excuse to not be home. She had not shed a tear when he died.

She knew that one day she'd no longer be a daughter of a daughter of a slave. Sure, to the outside world she was free, but the barely hidden rascism against her mother's nation and the open war-cries made her sick. Sick of Japanatica. Sick of homesickness.

And then, 2 years ago, she was contacted other Babylonian descendents. Nearly a third of Fanatikku was unhappy, they told her. This is our chance. If we don't get equality, at least we can help our Babylonian countrymen to free us. If the Japanaticans don't want us, surely the Babylonians will. It was hard work, and always secretly. But she had some success and some setbacks. Too many setbacks lately. And this man could be the tool to change all that

"Miss, your sake is getting cold"
The voice of Immo got her back to the here and now. She had to recover quickly, this could endanger her plans.

"Oh thanks, I was just miles and miles away".
She gave him her trained natural smile. Immo smiled back.

"I'll have just one more please."
As Immo poured in another sake, she checked where Asano went to. He seemed to head for the bedrooms. She saw him enterring the corridor to that area. If she could just get to meet him unnoticed, he could be turned. There was no way Asano was going to know the real plan, but a few twists here and there, a small clevege and a listening ear would do the work. First let him think you can help him, give him the bait and slowly reel him in as the big fish.

"The bathrooms are located in the back?" she asked, and after a quick nod from Immo she walked to the corridor she had seen Asano leave in.

Enter Michiko, a childhood friend of Riko. Michiko is Japanese, but is also fluent in Babylonian, as her family lived in a mostly Babylonian neighborhood. She's not the most educated young girl in Japanatika, but then again, 98% of citizens are uneducated. She a naturalist at heart, and never loses her temper. She is, though, plagued by nightmares... One would call them, premonitions.


Michiko entered the bar, waiting to meet with her friend, Riko. The meeting was a simple one, Michiko was to give Riko a stray kitten, one of many that Michiko found by the hills to the south. This was no ordinary 'gift', but merely a signal... Or rather, Michiko was just the messanger. She felt a little guilty using a young animal this way, but someone inside of her troubled her as she sat down on one of the tatami (bamboo) mats, and started eating her rice cake. Ever since she found this kitten, she has been having nightmares, most involving Riko. She knew of Riko's plan, and was waiting for her to return to the main room, in which she would let the kitten roam freely for Riko to pick up. She would then utter a their secret friendship word, a Babylonian word, as a signal that the exchange has been made. It would also tell Michiko what to do next...

Observant as allways, Pelon had quickly noticed the silent young woman sitting at the bar. He recognized her. Where? Was it from the Ministry? From the Zenedoshou House? No... somewhere closer to home... and from long ago...

Her mother. The young womans mother was Babylonian, one of the slaves the Hammubari had sent over to the Japanese warband all those years ago. She had been abused by her owner/husband. That young warrior had lived for many years near Pelons home. One night, after a vicious beating by her owner, she had ended up in the alley next to his home. It was the baby she had in her arms that made him pity her. He gave her some scraps of food, a small wooden doll for the child, and told her that life was based upon suffering. That she should understand and accept this. The sooner she accepted lifes suffering, the quicker she would have peace.

For the next 15 years, Pelon watched as the warrior left on expeditions, the woman toiled and was beaten when the soldier returned, and as the child grew into a young woman. Pelon, a quiet person by nature, never crossed words with either the woman or the child again.

Then, news that the warrior had died in the mountains to the south came, and the woman and her child dissappeared.

This young woman was that child. She had Babylonian blood in her. No wonder she did not talk.

Why was she here, in this cesspool?? The mood in the city was not good at all. News from Fanatikku was that the people where unhappy. Could a revolution be on the verge of starting?? No one knew with any certainty, but the possibility existed. Immo, a much smaller town, had not the same troubles, but it would be only a matter of time before the masses got tired of the poor and cruel leadership of the Japanatica ruling elite. This had been a topic of much debate in the Immo Zenedo House these last few weeks. A few more extreme members of Zenedo had pushed for open revolt, but had been expelled from Zenedo. He had seen a few of them gather at the Omo before, but they avoided him, and he avoided them

Why would a Japan/Bab mix-blood daughter of a slave be in the Omo??, Pelon asked himself... It made little sense. How did she get here?? What did she want here??

"I wish i could talk to Comnenus, I bet he would have a few good ideas about HER being HERE... Where is he??" Pelon said to his half empty bowl.

He felt eyes looking at him. The bartender. A quick glance at him and the he looked back at his bowl.

"YES, Im very hungry..." he mummured

The young woman stood up, as if following the knife wielding Asano. Interesting.

Another young woman walks into the Omo... carrying a kitten?? Pelon, recognizes her as well. She had been a friend of the young mixblood, all those years ago, in Fanatikku. An educated young woman, one who Pelon had once tried to recriut into Zenedoshou. Pretty as well.

Pelon wondered who would walk into the Omo next....

"Excuse me miss, we dont allow animals in here, You wouldn't believe how drunk a kitten can get off the fumes in here" Immo smiles from behind the counter.

"Can I get you something to drink, maybe a bite to eat" Immo continues as he puts a dish of water down for the kitten to drink from.

"Ah, domo! Onegai! Sumimasen, Immo-san!", said Michiko, slightly startled. Michiko explained that the kitten, only a few weeks old, lost its' mother, and that she would give it to Riko when Riko returned. The kitten was small enough to fit in her tiny berry bag (a small, leather pouch less than the size of a fist for small foods and berries when one is on a short journey).

Michiko looks up as she finishes her half-eaten rice paddy that she brought with her. "I'll have 2 pieces of sashimi (raw fish), please", she said as she waited for her friend.

http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads8/fidget2.gif

Asano walked his horse, a beautiful black stallion, in the direction of the stables. At a predetermined point, he rendevous with life-long friend and comrade, Oishi. Oishi steps up onto the road "How goes it?"

"Excellent, my friend. I have made a contact. Hopefully, the wheels of progress are turning as we speak. We may soon be adding another stone to the wall of vengance." The two make a fist in their right hands and touch their hands together at the knuckles, as if they were transferring energy between them. Then a polite, but militaristic bow.

"I am camped in the forest NW of the town. If you need me, I will be there. I will watch for you", Oishi says and then leaves the road and slips in the cover there.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The stables were right where Black Hole said they would be. Asano set the terms for the care his second closest companion, Ako, named after the city they were both from. Just as Oishi, Ako had been with him from the begining. They had matured together and were now in their second wind. Everything was going according to plan. He would now return to the Omo.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Back at the Omo, Asano went directly to Immo and was assigned the room at the end of the corridor, the door just out of sight from the drinking and eating portion of the establishment. "Thank you, Immo. I shall return momentarily for my meal." And with that headed down the corridor.

The room was small, no window. A thick tatami in the corner and nothing more. Asano placed his bag there and exited the room, sliding the wooden slide bar into its slot to secure the door. As he spun around to go claim his meal, he found himself colliding with the attractive woman he had spotted before. As they pressed up against one another and fumbled for dignity, they performed a comical dance that brought a smile to both of their faces. The ice was broken. "Excuse me, madam. I hadn't realized you were there."

"It's all my fault," said Riko Anjin. "I should have looked where I was going..."

Immo brought the sashimi out for Michiko, she seemed grateful, as if she had not had a meal all day. She glanced upward every few seconds as if nervous of the heavily trafficked bar, and Immo himself.

"Are you from around here?" Immo asked, trying to get some conversation going...

"No, Im not." She snapped. Immo rolled his eyes and walked toward Asano, who had returned from the stables.

"Welcome back my friend, your dinner will be waiting for as soon as you like it. I took the liberty of preparing your bed, I have an attendant who can awake you in the morning if you like. SHe's absolutely lovely, a welcome sight to wake up to for sure."

"Thank you, Immo. I shall return momentarily for my meal." Asano replied, looking a little preoccupied.

"Don't worry, the BED is MADE" doing his best to insinuate that the plan was in motion.

Immo turned back to the quiet girl in-front of the bar, who by now had finished her sashimi.

"Waiting for somebody?" He tried one more time to make conversation, as he noticed Superpelon staring strangely at her from a table.

Fool!! Idiot!! You've made 2 errors in 1 go. You weren't paying attention to your feelings of danger when you walked the corridor and bumped straight into the only person you didn't want to meet openly. And the biggest mistake was that instead of cornering him and starting the fishing; you apologised!!!

"It's all my fault, I should have looked where I was going..."

Disgusted with therself Riko went to the bathrooms. She felt like crying, but that would make things worse. She knew she quickly needed to return to the Omo, to not arouse suspicion.

This Asano guy didn't seem to leave very soon. There'd be plenty more opportunities to get to him. But not now. She blew her chance.

As Riko walked back through the corridor into the Omo, she noticed Michiko from the corner of her eyes. She didn't try to make contact, the words were chosen wisely. They could be spoken freely. Now what animal was chosen ?

Michiko apparently also noticed Riko. Michiko walked towards Riko.
"Not now !!" Riko's eyes tried to signal Michiko. Riko realised that Michiko was never thaught these eye signals and still came towards her. Some quick thinking was required here.

"Excuse me, is this seat taken?" - Michiko asked.
This was the question she had to answer with the code-word. But she couldn't. Michiko had made an error. She had forgotten to show Riko what kind of animal she took with her, before she asked the question.

Riko shook her head, furiously eye-signalling Michiko to show her the animal, but Michiko clearly didn't understand.

Riko sighed, this was turning into a real bad evening. How could she make Michiko show her the animal, before answering the code-question and not showing they knew eachother? And she still had to inform her chieff that Asano could be the man who could be the tool for their task. And she had to keep an eye on Asano and she didn't like the way superpelon was looking at her. It wasn't the normal stare of men attracted to her, it was the stare of "I know you".

This was a night really everything was going wrong. Again.

Michiko watched Riko and Asano in the other room. "This isn't going to be good", she though. "I don't know who that gentleman is.". All Michiko knew was that she had to give the kitten to Riko, and whisper, "Nishu" (Akkadian dialect for 'people'). It was a childhood word that they both thought was funny, yet, in Japanese, it means "2 of something (species, class, etc.)". Michiko had a plan. They would both be in the Omotesando bamboo garden in the morning, just after breakfast. Michiko would ask Riko to come to her grandfather's shrine, a favorite place for them to hang out when they were kids. Their grandfather was used to them greeting eachother with "Nishu! Nishu! Nishu!" when they were kids, so it would be a much safer exchange. Her father was out fishing in Furuyama, while her mother was working in the gem mines. The shrine would be closed the next day, so they could go into their prayer room without anyone disturbing them. In there was a secret playroom that only Michiko and Riko knew about. Michiko finished her meal, paid, and went to her room for the night. She would meet Riko tomorrow.

A tall, slender man enters the Omo, slamming the door behind him, almost breaking it. Someone opens his mouth to tell him to be a little more careful, then shuts it quickly as he notices the worked wooden badge on the man's shoulder: a small clay vial and a narrow dagger, symbols of the internal security forces of the despot. As they notice the badge, the people in the bar turn back to their own drinks, and conversation resumes. Meanwhile, Noldodan surveys the room slowly, looking for anything... seditious. Noticing nothing out of the ordinary, he takes a table and unlimbers his bow, setting it against his chosen table. He flags down a server and places his order: sake and nori, the same as always. Over the next few minutes, a number of patrons sit down at his table and make conversation, but no one stays with him for long; his arrogant manner drives even the most talkative to dour silence. Conversation elsewhere in the bar is more muted now as well; no one wants to speak too loudly thoughts that could bring them in for questioning.

...Nori long finished, and sake lukewarm, Noldodan is still at the bar into the evening. All but the most recent arrivals are wondering: what is he waiting for?

As Asano sat eating his meal he couldn't help wondering about his chance, if not failed encounter with the woman in the corridor. He checks his pockets to make sure nothing is missing. "Too bad, really." He thinks to himself. Beyond her attractive features, she seemed interesting. Intelligent eyes, polite, culturally proud...

Bah! Stop it. Play time is later. Immo's comment about the bed being made meant that his preparations were complete. His use of words may also indicate that we must now lay in the bed we've made. The stage is set, the actors await their queue. But a curtain blocks the unfolding. I must hear what Immo has to say. Hopefully, there is a noble/landowner with a good parcel of land and a grand house. We shall see.

Just then the door opens and a government secret police official walks in and slams the door behind him to announce his arrival. I can smell them a mile away. I do not need to see a badge. I glance at Immo, who's eye I have caught. My eyes dart to the newly arrived official and back to Immo, who continues to clean a goblet and inconspicuously nods his head.

This place really gets hoppin' at night. The weekends must be a blast here.

The night was nearing its end. Riko was cold, wet and stiff. And she was tired. She'd been waiting outside the Omotesando for hours now. Her hands were all dirty from the digging and breaking of the clay walls. She wanted a bath. How did she end up her, she kept asking herself.

She remembered getting a look at the animal Michiko was carrying. A cat. That meant a one-on-one to receive further instructions. It was up to her to pick the location.

"Nishu" was her response; meaning the Omotesando bamboo garden. Michiko has nodded and left. Shortly after Riko left the Omotesando. She went straight (after making sure she wasn't being followed) to the chieff's hut. She talked with him briefly, explained about Asano and his desire for some land and work and received orders to approach him. The Babylonian community would have all the land in the Fanatikku-area. Sure Asano could have some land in the jungle.

As ordered she had waited outside the Omotesando in the darkened streets. Noone could see her. Her black clothes and masks secured that.
When finally she saw a torch light up in Asano's room she focussed. This would be it. She walked slowly and carefully to the clay-walls of Asano's room. The walls would be no problem; they had large holes in them for ventilation, because it was summer. In winter they'd be closed off by tatami's but in this time of year they were open. They were only blocked from view from the inside by the thick tatami Asano had spotted in the corner. It only required some digging in the clay, and that she'd finished hours ago. It didn't need to be large; she was a very small woman.

"I hope he's not too drunk ..." she whispered.

She crawled through the hole and saw Asano sitting on the bed with his back towards her. He was alone, the door was closed. Her heart-rate was nearing the 150's from the tension and the view on Asano's naked male-body. His bronze knife within grasp. He was praying, it seemed.

Riko slowly and silently crawled towards him. She felt the danger.

"So you're looking for land" she said softly.
Asano grabbed his knife, jumped up, turned and looked in the general direction the words had come from, ready to strike. There was noone there. The second he turned clockwise was the second Riko quickly turned with him, always facing Asano's back. She wasn't seen by him. Asano carefully turned back and saw Riko standing in a corner, smiling. Their eyes met and in a few moments that looked like hours Asano's glance turned from suspicion to recognition. Riko brought on the smile that showed all her charm. No man could withstand it.

"You're not planning of putting that thing into me, are you?" Riko teased, looking both to the knife and Asano's naked body. "I'm here for business, not for entertainment... yet ... I've got knowledge that will interest you"

Michiko left with the kitten, and thought, "Good, Riko got the message. I will meet up with her in the bamboo garden tomorrow. After all, I've got to trade for some bamboo to repair the temple tatami mats.". Michiko returned home to greet her grandfather, who was busy sweeping the temple grounds.

"I would like to order the Shochu drink please" I said to the barkeep. "Oh and the name is CivGeneral".

CivGeneral then takes his drink and tries to find a conversation to get into.

Hideyoshi, having just managed to get the front door open on his 4th try, stumbles into the common room, promptly trips over a chair and falls flat on his face. He then decides it will not be worth the effort to get up at that moment, and, mumbling something completely inaudible, falls asleep, his foot propping the door open. The snoring begins within seconds, to the dismay of the patrons.

Black_Hole walks into the bar again, to fine a drunk man lying on the floor. "How rude, altho the floor looks comfy" BH thinks. BH Pokes Hideyoshi and nothing happens....

Hideyoshi's eyes open about halfway, to find some sort of gremlin poking him. He recalls his last encounter with one of the little evil people from the mountain woods, and decides he doesn't have the energy to chase him around for an hour like he did last time. He then crawls under a table, the effort bringing all sorts of grunts and barely audible curses.

Black_Hole doesnt like the drunk man under his table, so he shakes his shoulder, expecting a thank-you for getting him up when....

Black_Hole doesnt like the drunk man under his table, so he shakes his shoulder, expecting a thank-you for getting him up when....

Hideyoshi moves with amazing agility considering his size and stupor, trying to tackle the man who just woke him...unfortunately, he initially goes in the wrong direction, knocks over Immo who happened to be walking by, mumbles an apology, and then lunges at Black_Hole, bringing both of them to the floor in a heap. He then proceeds to try and punch him, relishing his chance to finally stick it to one of those annoying gremlins that plague his existence.

BH(Black_Hole) draws a pointed stick to defend himself, hes had enough of this drunk old man. BH prepares to spear when Ichi, the waitress, gets in the middle of the fight and yells "Stop it!", BH dives around here and smacks the drunk man a few times with the non-pointed end, so not to hurt him too much.

BH(Black_Hole) draws a pointed stick to defend himself, hes had enough of this drunk old man. BH prepares to spear when Jennifer, the waitress, gets in the middle of the fight and yells "Stop it!", BH dives around here and smacks the drunk man a few times with the non-pointed end, so not to hurt him too much.

Not even noticing the stick that wacked him, Hideyoshi grins at the waitress: "Pretty lady want a present? I'll be right back." He then stumbles back to the door, managing to get it open on his second try this time. He bows to the waitress, nearly falling over forward, and then leaves...

"You're not planning of putting that thing into me, are you?" Riko teased, looking both to the knife and Asano's naked body. "I'm here for business, not for entertainment... yet ... I've got knowledge that will interest you"

Asano closes his eyes briefly, finishing his prayer and thinking, "There is a God..."

"Speak woman. The hour is late, and I am interested", Asano states as he leans to pick up a towel. "Here, you look like you need this more than I do." He also slides the lamp closer to her and backs away. Reluctantly, he throws on a tunic.

"Well?..."

EDIT: Put in a parenthesis mark.

Let's just try to stay away from the hentai scenes, ok? ;)

Looking so enjoying and cheerfully, Riko's mind was working on top-level. Her concentration focussed to the maximum. She heard some stumbling and cheers from the bar. -good, no they won't be hearing us.

She noticed the quick closing of Asano's eyes. The bait Riko gave him was being tried. Now only a small nibble and he'd been hooked.

"I overheard you talking to the inn-keeper..." she started, "you seem to desire to settle down. All those talks of land, nobles, stables, houses, ... You seem eager to settle in Fanatikku."

Asano's pupils widened, displaying unintentionally his interest. Encouraged by this involuntary sign, she continued:

"I can help you. Soon there will be plenty of homes for all worthy. It will take time, but you can help us, and yourself, to speed this process up."

Asano sighed. Why do they always make promisses they can't keep?
"What process ?" Asano asked.

Riko gave Asano a quick smile -the bait was being swallowed.

"When you walked through town, did you sense anything ?"
"Yes, people are afraid, dissatisfied even. As if they want something they're not getting"
"And what do you think they want ?"
"I'm not sure" Asano replied; "but the unhappyness is spread out wide".

Riko was considering if this was the moment to tell of the riotting and the rebellion. It seemed so. Asano was showing more interest so early than she and her Chieff had anticipated. This could be both good and bad. Good if he was sincere, bad if he was a double-crosser.

Riko had to decide now whether she should tell him of the plan or not. Could he be trusted ?

"For you to have spent the night making your own small window in my wall, what you have to say must be very important. But before you go any farther, let me say that I am not interested in settling in Fanatikku. I am planning on staying here in Immo for a while." Asano watched as she stripped and dried herself off, wrapping her hair in the towel. Riko dried her clothes the best she could and lay them next to the lamp. Asano was sitting on the tatami, back to the wall. Riko came and sat at the corner of the mat. "I have hopes of business here and have many plans already," Asano continued. He sensed that she was part of a liberation movement, one that was making plans on a large scale. "Some times ignorance of certain subjects is a great part of wisdom, my friend. Be sure you want to tell me of your process. There was a government man at the bar tonight. How do you know I am not with him?"

Asano quickly ran through the events of the night, from returning from the stables, dinner, the government man (later finding out he was called Noldodan), the eventual rowdiness of the bar, and the desire to return to this room. There were a couple of ripples, like the woman with the cat, but pretty much everything checked out.

He had pulled some dried fruit from his bag and was eating it when he returned his sleepy gaze to Riko. "Would you like some?" he asked. She graciously accepted and started to eat as Asano wrapped the blanet around her.

"Does this have anything to do with your Babylonian descent?" Asano asked as he leaned back against the wall.

From the worn-out doorway the small tavern contrasted its peaceful aura that Myein observed from the fringes of Immo Town. The secret stories told of this place truely matched its face. With difficulty, Myein dodged through a diverse crowd (That even contained someone who seemed to be Babylonian) and went up to the attender.

"Miso," Myein requested as the server beckoned an order. (( OOC: Am I allowed to control Immo to this extent? Or is this too much control? ))

Something WAS going on in here. It could be as simple as a prostitution ring, or a opium deal going down, or someone smuggling out Japanatican dissenters from Fanatikku.

But.

There was the mixed-blood. The Babylonian girl. She had matured very nicely, her Mesopotamian blood only served to enhace the beauty of the Japanatican women she was. She was the only thing that made Pelon think twice about the whole scene he had just seen.

Riko. That was her name... Riko.

The young Japanatican woman had tried to sit down next to Riko, but for some reason Riko pretended not to recognize her childhood friend. Strange. Why?? They knew each other, but the way Riko ignored her friend made it seem as if she DIDNT WANT her to sit with her.

Lord Sarevok had warned his officers at the Ministry to be on the lookout for any strange or suspicious activity by foreign nationals, with an emphisis being made on the Babylonians. Pelon had heard soldiers and officers alike talk of "fightin off them Babylonians" at the Ministry. Talk of such fighting did not please Pelon, but there was little Pelon could do. In any case, Pelon had become a little more paranoid and observant since Sarevok had given his order.

Pelons sake cup was empty. Not good.

"Honorable Immo-san!!, another cup of sake, if you please" Pelon told the bartender. He needed to talk to Immo. Immo knew people. He might be of asistance.

Riko was standing up, and walking towards the rear of the Omo. To the bedrooms. Was some lucky Japanatican about to get lucky? Maybe.

Pelon looked around the room again, looking for anyone to talk to. Wait. Was it... yes it was. CivGeneral was in the Omo. How interesting. Japanaticas top soldier. He might be good conversation. Pelon almost never got a chance to talk to him at the Ministry, and any conversation with such a great warrior was bound to be interesting. And with his contacts in Military Intel, he might know where Comnenus was, or who was the man Riko kept on pretending not to look at.

Rikos friend left. Another bar fight broke out.

"Maybe I should go and talk to CivGeneral"

Pelon stood up...

Pelon stood up...

...and was accosted by Noldodan, who almost had to knock Pelon down to get him to sit back down.

"Who do you think you are? I'm here on the authority of the Lord Sarevok himself and-" He cuts off as Noldodan shoves his badge into Pelon's face. "Well then. In that case... What do you want to talk about? Make it quick though, I have people to talk to."

"I'm just offering a warning, or rather a few. If you have time...?" Pelon nods for him to go on. "I saw you considering the bartender, and you're wrong about him. He's thick with the rebels, giving them information, helping them with whatever they need. Major deals have gone down lately here in Immo, and he's been in all of them. And stay away from Riko. You're wary of her already, and that's good, but believe me, she's very dangerous."

"But you're part of Internal Security. You can kill her, no questions asked, nothing."

"I could, yes. But what would happen then? A band of rebels, bent on revenge in my sleep? A rebel uprising even? No, she's very dangerous alive, but she's even more dangerous dead."

"Interesting observations... Are you sure you aren't on assignment from Lord Sarevok?"

"Hah! I've never even seen him. Why do you ask?"

"Well... it just seems like we're here for the same thing. Perhaps you'd consider joining forces?"

There is a long silence, while Noldodan considers the offer. Then... "Come to my tent tonight. I can guarantee I've got a better one than you do, and it's going to rain tonight. I'm in a tent in the forest, on top of the little hill, you can't miss it." Rising, he gestures goodbye to Pelon. "Go on, talk to CivGeneral. We were friends, once. But now I'm here serving the despot, and he's a warrior of fame and fortune. Oh, how times change... Anyway, goodbye, Pelon. Until tonight." And with that, he sets out into the windy evening, leaving a thoughtful Pelon behind.

"Its always nice to have a few pretty girls watching your back" Immo thought to himself as his dancing beauty told him of the internal security guards discussion with one of the customer.

"HAH! Rebellion, Im no revolutionary, my father is the Judge Advocate of Japanatica, maybe one day when the despot is weakened I'll support the peasentry, until then, I know what side has the swords. Isn't that right my Roman beauty?" Immo cupped the face of his dancer, Diana she prefered to be called.

She was new to Japanatica, Immo had come across her walking to the store one night, she was tall, with red-brown hair and green eyes, something no other woman could boast of in Immo, except that one who came in earlier, but she no doubt lacked the artistic skills of Diana. She had fled barbarians when her family was killed by them, somehow she had ended up on the streets, before she had resorted to prostitution Immo had found her. She was slowly learning the language, and her educated mind began to emerge, she was clearly no peasent girl.

"When will it be....safe again?" she asked slowly, analyzing each word before she said it.

"Safety is relative, nothing is a problem for now, go take a nap, you look tired." Immo said with a smile as Diana retreated to the off-limits bed's behind the tarp directly behind the bar. Immo's part time home and office.

Immo had been waiting all day at the local barter-house for the labourers to finish remodelling the Omo, it was being completely redone from top to bottom. Mud had been replaced with brick, the tarps had been taken down and replaced with walls, sturdy and hard, capable of withstanding great pressures against them before collapsing. It was now a legitimate place of business. Moderately lit, warm and inviting, and above all, clean.

"Maybe father will respect my wishes not to become a magistrate as he did" Immo thought hard, mother would surely have cried at the prospect of her son being a peddler in drinks, among other things.

"Maybe I should clean up the Omo's less favourable characters now as well, the clean torches and tables would match with the patrons for once." Immo decided to hold off and wait for a while, once Asano had the information he wanted, Immo promised himself to focus on more honorable endeavours, but for now, he needed his cut...

As an added affect he had also added his housing area, and a second floor to the Omo, making it now a two leveled building.

"Its all ready sir, we think youll be pleasently surprised with the changes" the foreman called out.

"good" Immo thought as he headed back to reopen the bar after it being closed.

OOC: The Omo is now remodelled, the front door opens into a vestibule which has a beautiful rug on the floor, and warrior shields and swords (dulled of course). It opens into the main room which is now modelled in typical pub style, a more modern loooking bar along the rear wall with a marble bar-top and an actual area to serve drinks and sit, even barstools! Tables made of wood still in the middle, with the dancers now having an elevated area to dance upon and a live band playing! And booths booths booths!

behind the bar is the door into Immo's private office and his living area. To the rear of the bar is stairs which lead to beds that can be rented for a price (simulated).

Heres a rough outline:

http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads8/Omo-Ancient.jpg

"And the plot thickens..." Pelon thought, as he walked back to his stool at the end of the bar. Thankfully, that end of the bar, darker that the rest of the Omo, was almost always empty. Pelon could think in peace. "Internal Security at Omos... saying saying Immo cant be trusted. Little Riko, a revolutionary. Internal Security at Omos. The last time I was them for the apointment of Lord Sarevok as War Minister..."

Pelon was deep in his thoughts. His conversation with Noldodan had unsettled him. He had known Immo for some time, ever since this glorifed pig sty had been renamed and opened for buisness. They where not friends, but Pelon prided himself on his observational skills, and has always thought a Immo as a loyal and trustworthy individual.

The idea of a revolution was not new to Pelons ears. Discussions on the tyrannical and despotic rulers of Japanatica where very common in the inner circle of The Zenedoshou. Ideas on a less rigid and just government had been commented in these discussions, but that was just talk. Talk between loyal sons of Japanatica.

This was new. Babylonian mixed bloods, Japanatican bartenders... this unnerved Pelon. This wasnt revolution. It was a revolt. Treason.

Pelon narrowed his eyes and took a sip of his sake.

What was the deal with Immo??
Who is this Asano person??
Internal Security at Omos??

Pelon stared at himself in the reflection of his sake cup.

He would go to see Noldodan tonight. But he would not go alone.

A hand touched his shoulder. It was Seizo Fukumoto, his aide from the Ministry, and one of Zenedoshous first members. Mute and older than Pelon, Seizo was a master swordsman and served as Pelons bodyguard as well as his advisor. He was a great listener.

"What is it Seizo?" Pelon asked.

Seizo looked at Immo and shook his head once, then raised his left hand.

"Immo is dangerous? You think so?? But perhaps he is but a pawn... or maybe he really is dangerous. I dont know. Please Seizo, sit down.

Seizo looked around, then took a seat next to the wall. His eyes never stopped scanning the room.

"I need to ask a favor of you. I need someone to watch my back tonight. Im meeting with Internal Security."

Seizo suddenly looked at Pelon, and placed his hand on his sword. He frowned.

"I know... Internal Security gives me the creeps too. But I must go. It is my duty, as it is yours. I will explain more later. Meet me outside the Zenedo house tonight, at midnight. Bring your sword."

Seizo nodded, stood up, glared at everyone and walked out... after finishing off his sake, Pelon stood up, looked for CivGeneral and walked to him.

"I must speak with you later, sir. Nothing urgent, yet. But a matter of importance may reveal itself later on tonight." Pelons said in a low voice.

Pelon walked out of the Omo into the darkening night.

"Miso," Myein requested as the server beckoned an order. (( OOC: Am I allowed to control Immo to this extent? Or is this too much control? )) YOu can hold a conversation with him, and he can do things you control. As long as he doesnt get hurt or killed.

"Does this have anything to do with your Babylonian descent?" Asano asked as he leaned back against the wall.

Riko gave him her biggest smile and amused look. She started to laugh. But her eyes didn't laugh. This stranger knew her biggest secret. Well ... 2nd biggest secret.

"Babylonian descent? So is that what you've been thinking? And why is that?"
Instinctively she tried to move away, but Asano's strong hands were holding her.

"Well, for several reasons; I saw you moving to the Babylonian representative earlier this night when I walked back from the stables, Your eyes are a bit widened; Babylonian style, you use words that sound Japanatican, but are only used when talking to slaves and you taste like one"

Asano's last words were muffled by his mouth on hers. He started to kiss her. She didn't kiss him back. Riko frantically tried to fight him off, but his grasp was too firm. She panicked. But in all her fear and anger, a small part of her enjoyed his firm arms and his sweet mouth.

Asano ended the kiss as abruptly as he started it. She stared at him furiously, panting and with the eyes of a cornered animal. For seconds they just stood there. She looking furiously at him, he smiling back.

"Yes I am partly Babylonian, so what ??" she shrieked, "Does that make me a lesser human being? Am I an animal because of it? Am I just to be used because of it? I am a human being just like anyone else here!!!!"
Tears of sadness and rage ran down her cheeks. Asano was just standing there with a little smile around his mouth enraged her even more.

"No it doesn't" Asano said softly, "I am also not fully Japanatican".

He walked to her, hugging her. She put her crying face on his shoulder. She felt she needed his protection. They hugged for minutes, Riko crying, Asano holding her. Finally she looked up to him.

"Aren't you? really? Tell me you were telling the truth!"
Asano nodded. And smiled inside himself. He had tamed her.

"Riko, it's up to you now; I'm tired, I'm going to bed. If you want you can stay. If you do, we'll talk business in the morning."

Pelon silently when over the event of the day as he undressed in the Zenedoshou House. What had started out as a typical day in Immo had become a potential nightmare.

Pelon looked over his small wardrobe, looking for something fitting for his meeting with Noldodan. The bloodred uniform of the Japanatican Army was to conspicious, as was the white and blue robe of Zenedoshou. That left a couple exercise gis, the cloak and the black...

NO. Not the black. That was in his past. Never again.

It was beacuse of that black past that he was going to see Noldodan tonight, and would make a small detour beforehand. He owed it to Okakura Sakamiya.

After putting on his loose fitting gi and the dark grey cloak, Pelon walked to the door...

A flash of pain hit his right knee. It had never healed, and started acting up whenever it felt like it. Pelon picked up a handbo from the closet before stepping outside.

Seizo was already there, dressed in black carrying his sword. He nodded at Pelon, looked at the sky, then at the walking stick.

"Yeah yeah Im late. Sorry. The handbo is because my knee is hurting again. If we get into trouble I wont stand in your way. Dont worry" Pelon said.

Pelon started walking down the street, Seizo fell in behind him, his eyes alert.

"Look Seizo, we are going to stop at the Shinto Shrine before meeting Noldodan..."

Seizo stopped walking, then started walking again.

"Its complicated, youll understand later... ok? Just follow my lead and cover my back."

They arrived at the Shrine and walked in. It was deserted, but a soft light glowed in the bamboo garden. Michiko was there, tending some bonsai. Pelon ans Seizo slowly and silently walked into the garden, where Pelon suddenly rapped his handbo against a wooden bench.

"Who are y--" Michiko asked

"You know who I am... but that is not important. Michiko!! Listen to me. Stay way from Riko. Stay away from her. She is dangerous and will get you into trouble. If you are smart you will not speak to her ever again. Be careful, Internal Security is already tracking you and your friends down..."

Before Michiko could say anything, Pelon and Seizo walked out of the garden and off the Shrine grounds.

"I owe a debt to the Sakamiyas I had not been be able to repay, Seizo. Perhaps today I can start to repay that debt." Pelon said softly.

They walked quickly to the camp site Noldodan had told them. A small fire burned next to a tent under a tall tree. Noldodan sat there. He sensed Pelon and Seizo and looked up.

"Good, you came. And you brought some protection. Thats an even better idea Pelon. I underestimated you." Noldodan said as he stood up.

"Ive decided to join you Noldodan. But we are going to do this my way."

Noldodan smiled and let out a small laugh "Ok, lets hear it"

"This rebellion has two sides, Noldodan. There is the Babylonian connection and the Japanatican faction. That much Ive figured out. Im thinking that you cant cover both sides, since you seem to be working alone."

Noldodan nodded, but remained silent.

"I dont know why you want my help, but Im thinking that Seizo and I are the only allies you have in this Godforsaken town. So this is what we are going to do...I warned Michiko" Pelon said in a low voice. Noldodans eyes narrowed and his hand fell on the hilt of his sword.

Seizo started to move but Pelon raised his hand, showing it was open and he was unarmed. "I owe a debt to her grandfather, and I have never had the chance to repay him. I plan to start repaying tonight. Seizo and I will track down the Japanatican side of this rebellion. You will track down Riko and her Babylonian allies. I dont care what you do to them, but you will not interfere with Michiko, Immo or any other Japanatican citizen. I will take care of those. As for the Babylonians and Riko... I dont care. Kill them, throw them in prison or send them to the mines of Furuyama. I dont care."

Noldodan looked at Pelon, then at Seizo, then exhaled loudly.

"You are right my dear Pelon... Im alone. Internal Security thought Riko was just a opium smuggler." Noldodan smiled. "I still have resources though..."

"We will follow your plan. You cover the Japanaticans, Ill track down the Babylonians."

Pelon felt a great deal of relief. He might save a few lives.

"I will meet you at the Omo tomorrow. Bring proof that Immo is a traitor. I need to see such thing with my own eyes... and be careful around the waitresses. They are Immos eyes and ears."

Pelon and Seizo walked away into the night.

http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads8/stream.jpg The sun was just peeking through the hills as Asano collected his things and left the small stream located behind the Omo. Feeling refreshed by the calm, rural setting he had not experienced in a while, he walked slowly back to his room.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

People had just started to stir in the Omo. Tea was on and breakfast was being organized. Softly sliding the doorbar, the door opened to reveal Riko sleeping soundly on the mat that Asano had forfieted earlier in the morning.

Focused once again, the tall lean Asano finished dressing. Recapping the night before brought a smile to his face. Riko had worn herself out digging through the wall. From the looks of her hair and clothes, she had spent some time in the rain awaiting my return. He had figured her to be hungry and offered her dried fruit, which she accepted gladly. What she didn't realize was that he had stuffed a small dose of root in the fruit. The effect of this root had on a person was narcotic in nature, similar to a truth serum. He had seen it take effect almost immediately, and had to put up with her hallucinogenic advances until she fell asleep. But at the same time she was quite talkative about the Chief, a garden, ans the Jungle. She then passed out, as if someone had blown out her candle. Asano had made her comfortable on the mat, then crawled off to sleep on the floor. He had his honor to uphold.

While tying back his hair, Asano heard Riko stir. He could now tell by her breathing she was awake, though she pretended to be asleep. Asano crouched by the mat close to her head. He had not been this close to another (besides normal working conditions with Oishi) for a long time.

"Are you going to lay there all day?"

Riko's eyes opened directly on Asano. "Time to get up. I have a lot to do this day." As Asano stood, Riko closed her eyes again, "If you don't get up now, I'll take your blanket", he said whimsically. Riko lifted the blanket slightly, just enough to see she wasn't wearing anything. She got up promptly, wrapping the blanket around her. "Good Morning", was all she said as she tried to recollect what had happened the night before.

"I'll meet you for breakfast, if you'd like. Otherwise until we meet again, take care. I need to speak with Immo about something and then I'm out of here. Thank you for dropping by." said Asano as he reached for the door with a smile and bag in hand.

Riko stared at the door as it closed, rubbing her forehead, thinking ~ wtf?

Immo hadn't slept a full night for years, not since...well, best not to dwell on it, he thought as he sipped on his tea. Immo sat quietly outside the Omo on his bench watching the sunrise over the desert that surrounded the oasis the town has been built upon. He played his shakuhachi as he watched the birds fly overhead. Diana served breakfast to the patrons inside, while Immo's favourite elderly ladies in the whol world cleaned the emptied rooms and awoke them.

"Thrace-san, the unkempt one has awoken, his wench is still sleeping, he wants to speak with you." Her wrinkled face was exaggerated by her quinting against the bright sun.

"Not a cloud in the sky today, its going to be a hot one! Tell him to come outside, and tell Diana to bring the tea. I have a busy day today, so no further disturbances, Diana will run the bar in my absence.....ANd BTW, please don't refer to my patrons as wenches" Immo called out to her. She shook her head and smiled a fake smile, and went inside.

Diana brought the tea, and some toast with her, she set it on the bench next to Immo and stopped for a moment.

"You look different with your hair tied up, and the tight dress, but why did you cut it so high? It barely touches the top of your knee!" Immo added, laughing while Diana gave him a scowl, a smile, and retreated inside.

He looked to his left and saw the military police march by, he gave them a smile and a wave. One stopped to say hello, then jogging to rejoin the patrol. "I wonder if Asuka is alright" he shrugged and went back to his seat and picked up his shakuhachi.

"Asano! Do you play?" holding up his shakuhachi.

OOC: The shakuhachi is a beautiful Japanese Flute, one of my favourite instruments. Heres a Signature gving you an idea of what ambience it invoked:

http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/music/flute/shakuhachi/sounds/RLsignature.mp3

Asano once again breathes in the morning air. Bowing slowly towards Immo, he finishes with a business-like look meant to penetrate Immo. "Good morning, Immo. I'm sorry to say my flute playing is no match for yours." He sits in the chair next to Immo's bench, as Immo pours him tea and plates some toast.

"The tea is delicious, you run a good house here, Immo. Shall we discuss business here, or go for a walk?"

"well that depends on whether your beautiful friend expects you to be around on this day. If she is not expecting your presence today, a walk through the town may provide an answer or two to the demands you make of me."

Immo paused for a moment, wanting to say more than he did. Looking tortured, he braced himself for what he was going to say. He had to do it now, for his own protection, that security official and his pawn, that Pelion fellow, cannot plot against me, too much is at stake for the statue Immo desired so badly.

"But this much I want to make clear, I love my country, this female you frolic with, she may appear as a flower, but I hear here petals are of poison. Poison against Japanatica. I will make this clear to you now, I do not betray my country for profit, only those who have betrayed my country do I so freely plot against. You must choose now, walk the path of Japanatica, or of the foreign devil. Walk with me to the blossoms, or inside, and gather your belongings."

"Walk with me to the blossoms, or inside, and gather your belongings."
Asano looks deep into his teacup in an attempt to divine from the tealeaves what mysterious events are to unfold for him in this town. "Immo, if I am to be associated with the people I speak with, in the manner you prescribe, then surely I will be called a bartender before the day is through. I am a businessman, not a revolutionary. I do not pander to the political whims of the masses or the rich. I am my own man, whereas you seem to crumble as soon as a government official has a drink in your bar. If this is the manner in which you do business, then maybe we should preclude further discussion." he says taking a sip from his tea.

Immo places his fingers over the blowholes of the instrument. It is then that Asano realizes that it is not a flute at all, but a cleverly disguised handle and case for a short sword. As he listens to Asano, Immo's head tilts in reflection. "Then you are telling me that you are not part of the regime that seeks to overthrow our government. You will not be one that brings the secret police down on my newly upgraded establishment."

"With all due respect", Asano counters, "I fear that with these words you offer with your tea you would bring those very government scoundrels down on me. I hope that is not the case. I grow weary of people telling me who I am and what I want. If it will help ease your conscience and prove my innocence, please examine the outer wall to my room. You will find that the person you speak of entered through a hole there, not through my door." Asano stands. "We may proceed with our business arrangement as planned, but now I will require much more detailed information.", he says glancing through the door of the Omo, making sure they are alone. "Let us walk together."

A laugh, full and bold rises from Immo.

"No hard feelings old boy, I just needed to be sure! There are things you will learn about me, why I do what I do, why I must be so careful of security forces. This plan was going to go forward from the start, but my aims are single, the return of something dear to me."

Immo leads the way to the blossom patch.....

Asano led the way around the building, down the wooded hill's path, room for a single person to walk down, little more than gravel. The two arrive at the small pond where the trees are in bloom, the pink petals of the flowers coat the surface of the water. Immo leans down to clean the stone seat at the pond-side.

"I was born the son of a magistrate, my father, his father before him, generations immemorable have been members of the council. However, our family has always had one secret, the Shinto religion of the nation dominate the highest positions in our society, while the order of yevon dominates most of the masses of Japanatica, they share enough that little conflict is done. But what of before? What of before the praetor of Yevon? We worshipped our world!

This is our secret, my families secret, we are among the last of the animists of Japanatica, our religion has been subdued for centuries by others, our relics confiscated by Shinto and Yevon clans, including one figure of the greatest importance to me: The Jade Eagle. The spirit of my family, and my descendants. The clan of the man we plot against stole this treasure from my people, his blood is tainted with his crime, only the aura of nature can cleanse it. But enough of my reasons, this man is disgraced by his clan for many reasons.

He coveted the wife of a clan member, and plotted the murder of the clan member, then when caught, refused to save his honor. FOr this, he must fall."

Immo paused, stroking the flute in his hands, ready to pull the dagger free if he should hear but a rustling in the bushes

"His home is large, a temple almost, with riches, all I ask in return is the Jade Eagle. His lands are yours, none of his clan will attempt to avenge his murder and the seizure of his assets. Two guards patrol the front, with a possible guard inside at his bed. If we could dispatch the guards in the front with bows, we would be able to enter his home before he is awoken. From there we storm the place, take what we wish, including the rights to his lands, and set the building alight."

Immo went into more detail, pausing briefly to take out a container of rice to share with Asano.

"My companion, Diana, says you remined her of a friend she had in Rome, strong and valiant." He handed Asano a roll of rice in nori.

"SHe would cry if she were wrong. Then again she considers the same about me. If only she knew, oh the tears she would shed!" Immo laughed.

"Honorable Immo. You shall have your Jade Eagle. I thank you for the information as well as the history lesson," Asano says with a slight bow. "It will be better if you did not ride with us the night of the taking. And there will be no torching of the home, as I will need shelter. Simply tell me his name and location and the deed is done."

After another five minutes of conversation, enough information was exchanged to seal the deal. The two men stand and bow, then Immo takes the path back to the Omo. Asano moves to the pond and says a short prayer in the beauty of this garden. He wonders what has become of Riko...

"Michiwara, in Nobii district. ANd Asano, bring me his hair."

Could those be the last words Immo would say to his compatriot? If it were, he would surely flee to Rome....

He walked along the blossom covered path back to the Omo, and went into his quarters, Diana followed him in. She sat next to him, and watched him quietly hold the small wooden carving of a turtle. Immo's mother had made it for him before the illness had taken her. From her deathbed Immo promised her the world, but he was too young to understand. The world of men was hostile.

Diana sat with him, she held him in her arms as he wept, quietly.

Pelon had not slept that night. After leaving Noldodan, he had sent Seizo to watch Michiko, and then had gone back to the Zenedoshou House. There he had stayed awake the entire night, thinking, going over the day. He had also kept one eye on the lookout for any sign of danger. Pelon was not the trusting type.

He had also thought about Immo. Immo the bartender. The son of the Magistrate. Immo could not be a traitor. Pelon was sure of this. But he had promised to Noldodan that he would investigate him, Pelon felt it was his duty to get to the bottom of this.

Better him, talking to Immo, than Noldodan torturing a confession out of him.

Pelon walked into the Omo early that morning, looking over the new booths and the bar. His dark corner at the end of the bar was still there, but the air was cleaner, the floors where no longer covered in dirt and there where no drunks laying about. Pelon walked to his usual dark corner, placed his handbo under the bar and sat down.

A tall redheaded waitress walked up to him and smiled.

"You want to... order??" she asked in broken Japanatican.

Pelon smiled back at her, even though he knew she was a foreigner and was one of Immo little toys. "Yes, please... Miso and Ramen, a cup of Sake and a cup of water, if you please" Pelon winked at her and she smiled again and walked off.

Pelon looked around for any sign of Immo, Asano, Riko, Michiko or Noldodan. None of them was in at the moment just a few random customers and the old crones who cleaned, although Pelon thought he had heard noises from upstairs...

The redheaded waitress returned with Pelons order. She smiled again and said. "Ramen, Miso, Sake and Water. My name is Diana. You are??"

"My name is Pelon. You are from Rome arent you??" he asked.

"Yes I am. Anything else??" Diana smiled again and waited. "Yes my dear. I need to talk with Immo." Dianas smile faded quickly and Pelon lowerd his voice "It is a matter of some importance, so please tell him as soon as possible."

"Enjoy your meal sir." Diana said in a cold voice as she turned around and walked away.

Immo came out from his quarters as Diana had asked, and approached the table.

"oh great, you again" he scoffed to himself as he was pelion. He sat down at the table.

"Pelion, you stay out of my business for 10 years and now I see you twice in one sunrise? Did you finally learn to play the drum correctly?" Immo Laughed.

"But to be blunt, you are affiliating with some interesting characters these days, internal security, if you wanted a position in the security groups you should have spoken to my father, he does after all help organize them...

Now then, what is it you need to tell your friend Noldodan there? My business dealings? That warrior gent with a penchant from freaking out last night needed a bed, which I graciously gave him. The wench I had nothing to do with, opium and whores aren't my trade anymore and Noldodan knows this."

*Ixosis and Pete ride around back of the Omo into the stables. Ixosis gives the stable boy some extra gold dust to take care of the horses, and hima nd Pete walk up to the Omo. They walk in and take a table and a waitress, obviously Roman, walks up to take their orders.*

"What would you like?" she asked in broken Japanatican.

*Ixosis knew she was Roman, so he decided to make it a little easier for her.*

"I'll take a Lemon Water, and let me ask my friend what he'll take."

*Ixosis said this in the most fluent Roman around, and the waitress' eyes grew wide.*

"Pete, what would you like?"

*But Ixosis noticed Pete had fallen asleep from the long ride here, so Ixosis gets a room and brings Pete and puts him on a bed to rest. He comes back and takes his seat and starts a conversation in Roman with the waitress, but also keeping an eye on the suspiscious character Immo was talking to in the corner. All Ixosis could catch was something about internal security, which made him a bit more suspicious.*

Noldodan waltzes into the Omo and slams the door behind him, every inch the arrogant Internal Security official, and proceeds to Pelon's table, where he's talking to Immo. As Noldodan plops down onto the bench, he slips a note into Pelon's pocket and laughs inside; he doubted Pelon noticed the pass, let alone Immo.

"I heard my name mentioned. Anything you would like to talk about, Immo?"

......Later, when Pelon returned to the Zenedoshou House, he discovered the note: "Come to the Shinto shrine tomorrow. I have your proof."


(OOC: If Pelon or Immo could finish writing up the conversation, that would be great...)

Asano picked up his bag and walked back to the Omo. Seeing that Riko was not to be found, it was off to collect Ako from the stables. He also stopped at the local merchant to pick up some supplies. This would include some freshly butchered chicken, and lamp oil. This done, he rode out of town headed East by Northeast, to skim the edge of the forest.

Strange days these were. Nothing like the old days when Oishi and Asano trained and climbed the ranks. Even though their talents lay in different areas, each had spurred the other to exceed the norm. Asano went to tactics and strategy, Oishi to weaponry and procedure. Asano to administrator, Oishi to Samurai. Asano to military intelligence, Oishi to Zen Master. The real split was there. Oishi learned to expand and develop beyond the limits of Asano. His brilliance in weaponry has placed him highly ranked in the Kanpaku Samurai class. He became proficient in Lotus and Nirvana Sutra. Oishi's choice to leave with him was the best thing that could have happened to Asano. Together, their balance made for the perfect team. Their life-long loyalty to one another set it in stone.

The sound of an arrow sailing through the air filled Asano's ear. It then stuck into the ground some 15 feet in front of Ako. It was immediately recognized as one of Oishi's. Looking in the direction the arrow had come from, Asano saw Oishi's familiar clothing disappear into the forest. After collecting the arrow, the rider took his horse to the forest's edge and dismounted. As he entered the forest, Asano saw his partner walking back to his camp, small as it was, his footsteps unheard, his movement swift. Soon they were eating roasted chicken and talking of the events of the last few days.

"So things have become very complicated in Immo of late. I have inadvertantly been drawn into the situation, simply by riding into town", Asano says shaking his head side to side. "It is a strange world we live in." Oishi nods in agreement. Rising, Asano continues, "But tomorrow will be a better day. Our new target lies 6 hours ride due east of here. In the flood plains, there are freshly irrigated wheat fields controlled by a disgraced noble. He has left his compound poorly gaurded, has no social or government backing, and is sitting on a title for maybe two or three hundred acres of land. Tomorrow we ride to wish him luck on his new journey into a brand new day."

Oishi smiled and finishing the last piece of chicken, says "I let the birds fly yesterday after speaking with you. They carry a message asking for two lieutinents to meet us here in Immo. They should be here the day after tomorrow."

"You've endangered the complete plan !!" Michiko said, "How could you be so stupid??"

Riko stared at Michiko in a secluded area of the Bamboo garden. Usually she wouldn't allow a lower-ranked member of the order talk to her like that, but she wasn't in prime condition. She had missed the obvious insult.

"Err, I was poisoned with the fruit" Riko mummbled. Het brain was still in low-gear.

"Lesson 13, subsection B - never accept any food or drink from a stranger" Michiko quoted, "Weren't you paying attention the day that was taught ?".

Riko looked down. Humiliated and emberassed. She thought over the night before.
Why did she go to Asano's room? Because her chieff instructed it. Because she knew this man could help them. Because the order needed this man. Because no-one else could. Because she found him attractive.

"Michiko, all is not lost. He is also not completely Japanatican. He is unhappy too; I've felt it."

"Yeah, I know what you've felt!"

Suddenly Riko's mind worked again. This insult was unacceptable. Riko jumped up, drawing her Katana. Michiko knew she'd gone too far.

"Apologise Michiko-chan, or fight!"

Michiko looked at Riko. Riko was still under the influence of the poison and not in prime condition. Michiko could win this battle. But did she want to ?
No - she had stepped out of line. Michiko threw herself to the floor, her face in the dirt.
"Accept my apology Riko-san. I went out of line!"

"Get up Michiko!" Riko ordered. Michiko obeyed immediately. The 2 women looked at eachother knowing that everything had changed between them. They were friends no more.

"Now give me the message!" Riko ordered.

Immo glared at Noldodan as he sat down at the bar. Out of the corner of his eye Pelon saw that the Roman waitress slipped out the back door of the Omo. Noldodan was carrying his sword and Immo had quite a few weapons behind the bar. The last thing Pelon wanted was a fight here in the bar.

Pelon turned around and looked at Noldodan. He took a deep breath. "You keep quiet. This is my buisness, and if you know whats good for you, you will keep out of this..." Pelon quickly turned around and stared at Immo. "And you. Dont go throwing Daddys name around here. This isnt Fanatikku, it wont help. The only thing that has keep you out of a Internal Security interrogation cell right now is my word that you are clean."

Pelon stood up and looked at both Noldodan and Immo. "I know you think Im just Internal Security pawn here Immo. If thats what you think... fine. Just remember what I said Immo."

Pelon turned around and looked at Noldodan. He could see that Noldodan was not happy. Not good. Pelon was walking a very fine line here. He could well end up dead in a ditch somewhere.

"You leave this man, and his bar alone. I told you last night. You want my help, you leave him alone."

Pelon stood up, turned around and saw Seizo standing at the doorway. Pelon walked towards him and said in a low voice "We are leaving NOW. Go."

Immo and Noldodan watched Pelon leave, then turned around and looked at each other.

"Your friend is very loyal..." Noldodan said in a mocking voice. "Too bad he doesnt know the truth."

Immo stood up "That man is not my friend."

Noldodan laughed "You couldnt tell that by the way he keeps on covering your back." Noldodan lowered his voice and leaned towards Immo "And he is right. He IS the only reason I havent brought you in for questioning... so Id be a bit more careful if I where you."

Noldodan stood up and lay down a few coins and a folded piece of paper on the bar. He strolled out of the Omo.

"I can protect myself from that paraniod freak. I dont need my fathers connections." Immo thought. He then picked up the coins and looked at the piece of paper. He picked it up, looked at it and then touched it with the fire of one of the torches.

"Whatever it said, it can only bring me trouble."

________________________________________
OUTSIDE...

Pelon and Seizo had sat down on a log on the riverback in front of the Omo. Pelon was nervous.

"Immo doesnt trust me... and Noldodan would give me necktie if he didnt need my help... I should have never gone into that bar again. Next time I see something wierd at a bar Im just going to order more sake."

Seizo pointed at Pelons pocket.

"What??" Pelon felt inside the pocket and and read the piece of paper "Oh. More intrigue. Great... So Seizo, what happened with Michiko at the Shrine?"

Seizo made a few had gestures: Woman. Foreigner. Arrive.

"Riko is at the Shrine? Damn!! Lets go Seizo..." Pelon and Seizo stood up and started running

The Babylonian was at the Shrine... This made things difficult. Doubtless Michiko thought all her priests loyal, but there was one, a former animist, that Noldodan had let go in return for his services. He disliked using IS's usual methods, and the fellow had started talking as soon as he saw the badge, so fearsome was its reputation.

He knew he was just wasting time standing there thinking about going in. His only choice was to go in, but he felt uncomfortable about it, especially Pelon's involvement. Whatever had sent him running in there, it surely had to do with Michiko and Riko's meetings, which meant Pelon had known about them and hadn't told him. Most people were reduced to meekness and a will to please after a single meeting with IS, however friendly, but Pelon had held out on him. He would doubtless be a useful ally in this new endeavor, but he seemed to be too trusting.

Suddenly the shrine erupted in noise. Whether just shouting or a fight, he had to go in now. With a sigh, he rushed in, fearing what kind of madness he would have to stop inside.

Gulliver walked into the Omo and sat down at one of the barstools. "I'll have a Okonomiyaki and a sake please" he said. As the bartender fixed his drink he asked "you have a funny accent mister, are you from Rome?". "Yes,yes, I am " Gulliver replied,"I'm a beverage salesman." "You don't happen to have a bottle of that roman whiskey do you"asked the bartender. "No, I,don't" replied Gulliver "Do have a room that I could stay in for a month or two months while my house is built". " Yeah maybe, I'll ask Immo next time I see him, but anyway are you building your house in Rome?" Gulliver started to feel suspicious, why was this bartender asking him all these questions? "No, I'm moving over here." Gulliver replied "So that I can start a rice wine buisness with a few friends". " I'm sorry but I have to leave" said the bartender suddenly " All those customers are waiting over there,enjoy your meal".

Riko got out clear. The back fence of the Bamboo garden was no obstacle, but Superpelon and Noldodan had people guarding the fence.

But this was close again; too close. Seeing first Pelon and after that Noldodan was a bad sign. This could be no coincidence. Not that they'd ever catch her, but she had to have the freedom to move around.

The small note, written on rice-paper and tied to the leg of a pigeon was enough. She'd warned the Chieff, who had set some fireworks to explode across the street, so she could jump the fence unnoticed. Back in her hide-out there was a pigeon waiting with a written note from the Chieff. "Furansu". This meant "France".

"I need to take a low-stand now, perhaps even leave town for some time". The Chieff's note left nothing to be imagined. She had to leave for France, where-ever that might be.

"No, I won't !" Riko said to herself. I've felt passion and love for Babylon all my life. I recognise the feeling. And I've felt the same just yesterday. Asano's kiss unlocked her heart. She wasn't going to France, she'd go to Asano. That way she still could try to turn him.

"What do I need ? Well, 2 things; Asano's location and a horse". Getting a horse was no problem. The stable was owned by a Japanatican fool who believed Riko was part of the Nihonnians, a secret Japanatican female army-group who were to perform as horsewomen in case of war. She had borrowed horses so often, using the excuse: "All Japanatican horses need to be trained".

"The hardest part will be to contact Asano. There will be only 1 who knows where he is; Immo. And that means I have to go back to the Omotesando". But not dressed like this.

Riko walked to the river-side where in the floodplains men and women were harvesting wheat. She stole some poor women's clothing and disguised herself as a peasent, going to town for groceries. This way she reached the Omotesando unrecognised.

The Omotesando was virtually empty. She saw Immo near the bar and some men in the corner laughing and chatting. They didn't seem to pay any attention to her.

"Immo, where is Asano ? I need to talk to him!" Riko whispered. Immo looked at the peasant woman, not recognising Riko at first. Suddenly he realised.

"Riko, is that you ??"

"'-chan', huh?", thought Michiko. She knew that long-time friends calling eachother 'san' (or even chan/kun) is a grave insult. "Very well, I'll return to my Shinto Shrine (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=97385)".

OOC: (Michiko's part of the story continues there)

Having discussed their unseen options, Asano and Oishi rode out at a strong gallop towards the East in mid-morning. The lay of the land had allowed them to make good time and neared their destination sooner than expected. It was around noon when they decided to ride Northeast beyond their goal and then cut Souteast to the river. This would allow them to not only survey the land and the river, but enter the compound from the back. It was late afternoon when they met the river and watered their horses. Refreshed, they followed the river Southwest, walking their horses. As the sun started its speedy decent towards the hills, their future Headquaters came into sight.

"So far, I see wheat, rice, tobbaco, and fish jumping in the river", Asano said, making mental notes. "Enough to feed an army." Oishi has been counting medicinal plants. It could be that dream come true.

Tying their horses to a lone oak tree by the river, they scan the two hundred yards to the compound. The sun is just setting as they make their way in. The two guards roam the front of the house, thinking about dinner. Oishi crouches and pulls back an arrow aimed at the farthest guard. Asano leans in and sends a knife into the throat of the near gaurd, and as the other turns to investigate, Oishi lets fly, straight to the heart. "No witnesses" were the only words spoken as they ran into the large home. The immense size of the building, which would probably house a family of twelve comfortably, meant it might take some silent hunting to find the owner. Amazingly the house was empty as they made their way through it. Oishi cleared the first floor, as Asano climbed the stairs to the top floor. There he found Michiwara, reading by torch and candlelight. Asano examined the small leather pouch in his hand that was filled with lamp oil, which he opened slightly. In one swift move, he entered the room and kicked the sword Michiwara was reaching for to the wall. Then he squeezed the pouch, ejecting the oil into the eyes of his target. Asano rounded the table and had a knife to the rich man's throat before he could clear the oil from his eyes. "Fold your hands together in front of you and walk downstairs" he said, grasping the man's hair and collar with one hand, holding the knife to his throat with the other. Being forceably moved by his assailant, Michiwara stumbled towards the stairs still unable to see much. They met Oishi on the second floor, "All clear, the house is empty", he said. "I'll recheck the top floor." Movement down the stairs was slow and tedious. Asano did not want the man to fall to his death. As they made it out the front door and across the deep patio, he pushed the man down the small steps, forcing him to his knees in the dirt.

"Who are you? And what do you want? I can give you anything... Gennan!" Michiwara cried, his tears mixing with the oil.

Filled with displeasure, Asano just looked at the man. "Bow to me...", he said. The man froze, and slowly bowed in Asano's direction. Oishi, who had silently come along side of him withdrew his sword and decapitated him in perfect executionary style. Michiwara never felt a thing.

"I'll take three horses upriver and you dig the graves. I'll be back as soon as possible" said Asano as he headed for the barn. Oishi picked up the feet of his victim and started to drag him in the same direction.

Asano bridled the horse that was obviously Michiwara's and two lesser horses. He then rode out to where Ako had been patiently waiting. Switching to his own horse, he took the other three into the river, crossed at an angle and took the horses deep into the hills to free them. Soon he was back at the compound, helping Oishi finish up. A quick day's work for extremenly high pay.

He had spent most of the night going through Michiwara’s office looking for not only the Jade Eagle, but also all legal and financial papers. Oishi was also going through the “books”, only in a different manner. One of the office walls was filled with books ranging in subject from weaponry to haiku to the future of mankind. All of which had intrigued him. “Still no sign of that Jade Eagle, I’ve found all the hidden compartments, I believe. I guess I should have gotten a better description of it from Immo.”

Oishi wonders whether it could have been a book, entitled ”The Jade Eagle” instead of a statue, but says nothing. He is knee-deep in reading and doesn’t want to lose his train of thought. He will learn much here.

“I did find the title to the land here, it says Michiwara owns just under 300 acres. Quite a farm he had here. I will draw up a ”new” document later.” Said Asano as he threw the rice paper document down on the large desk. “I’m turning in. I’m claiming the bedroom across the hall (which was the only bedroom on the top floor). See you in the morning.” To which Oishi’s only reply was a quite glance and a turning of the page.

Once nearing the low-lying, large, black-framed bed, you couldn’t help but notice the immense headboard that commanded the area. It was deep and ornate, with books and metal and glass. The centerpiece was the trophy. At last, the Jade Eagle.

http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads8/je2.jpg


The next morning, Asano wrapped the Jade Eagle in rice paper and then a blanket. He would hand-deliver this beauty to Immo himself. It’s easy to see why it’s a treasured item. Just the sight of it was inspirational.

Looking out the back door, he saw Oishi at the water tower. This farm being the size that it was had all the tools and equipment normally associated with it. One could not have asked for a better deal. Next to the water tower was the buckboard wagon, horses hitched and ready to go. It was strange, just the two of them on such a large compound. But then crops were not due for a while and everything was cleaned up and in good repair. Asano carried the covered statue to the wagon and put it securely in the back. The wagon was needed to transport the bird, as its wingspan was about two and a half feet. The wagon would also be needed for carrying supplies back with them. Oishi on horseback (he refused to ride in the wagon), the two set off for the Omo.

Riko rode her horse on the road towards the East. She rode hurriedly, but with care. Once in a while she'd stop and hide, to make sure she wasn't followed. These stops could last for upto half an hour.

"Asano ? You want to know where Asano is, Riko?" Immo had whispered "He's somewhere you won't find him and I won't tell you. It's a secret". The last word made her even more eager to find Asano.

She deducted: Northwards ? no; there is a new city being build there and all those preparations for Iron-mining. Not the location Asano would be heading.
Westwards ? No, he came from that direction and she expected him to see Immo as a stop-over place, not a destination.
Southwards ? Impossible; she would have seen him.
So it's eastwards. And Riko rode of.

During one of the safety-stops a horseman and a wagon passed her. She saw the wagon was carrying something big and heavy. Not her problem. She about to look away when she recognised the man riding the wagon;
"Asano ?"

Asano heard a woman's voice call out to him. He abruptly stopped the wagon, signaled Oishi, who had drawn his weapon, to put the weapon away. He jumped of the wagon smiling and walked into the bushes.
"Hello Riko, are you always going to turn up when I least expect it?"

Asano leaps from the buckboard and enters the bushes, "Hello Riko" he said softly, "Are we always to meet when I least expect it?"

"I'm sorry," Riko said as she placed her hand on Asano chest and went up on her toes to look over his shoulder, "who's the horseman with you?" she said, now looking him in the eye.

Asano glances at Oishi, "He is my brother, as I have known him since childhood. He is also my partner in crime."

Riko frowns slightly as there is an obvious diference in the two men. She thinks he must mean they are very close, not actually brothers. And what's this about a crime? "If he's with you, I trust him. But I need to speak with you. Alone and soon. Also, I believe there is a government official after me. Can you stay and talk?"

"'Fraid not, milady. I need to attend to urgent business. If you need refuge from the government, join the crowd." Asano looks to Oishi again, who is checking out the road leading to Immo. Then back at Riko, "Nice horse you have here. Hmm, tell you what. Ride out this road about an hour and you will see a large house with a barn and other out-buildings. Go there and wait for my return. The house is all locked up but you will find plenty to do. There are horses in the stables, plenty of water, and...", he says with a smile, "there's even some fruit trees in case you get hungry."

Riko's head turned, one side of her large smile turned downward, to which she added a slight blush. "Ok, I'll wait for you there."

Back on the road again, the wagon caught up with Oishi. "Who was that?" To which Asano cleared his throat and slapped the reins on the backs of the horses. "That was Riko. Possibly a new partner..." Oishi raises an eyebrow.

Asano ran his thoughts past Oishi, not loud enough for anyone else to hear, but definitely loud enough to keep Oishi’s interest. The Samurai listened intently, scanning the road and surrounding area as they made their way into town. “Very interesting, Asano-sama. You devise wise plans, I think I’ll keep you around for a while,” he said with a chuckle.

The two rode right through town, passing the Omo. Immo was on the front porch again, playing his flute. He stood when he recognized Asano on the buckboard. Asano watched Immo rise with a concerned and questioning look on his face, so he put out a gloved hand in a gesture that said “hold on”. He then glanced in the rear of the wagon and then back at Immo. As Immo saw the package, he gave an acknowledging nod and returned to his seat. Oishi had seen it all out of the corner of his eye, but did not reveal his awareness. The two kept on going to the West end of town. As they reached the outskirts of town, two figures could be seen tending their horses under a lone and looming tree. This would be the lieutenants asked for in the message, as standard operating procedure (SOP) for reporting to a town with no contact point, was to wait by the road leading into the town. This was one of Oishi’s procedures that Asano liked. It made it easy to find incoming parties or messengers. Oishi received their report and then filled them in what was happening. The party then rode back to the Omo and dismounted. With no words spoken, one lieutenant entered first and went to the back wall, followed by Oishi, and then Asano carrying the package. The last lieutenant stayed by the door. Again, simple SOP.

Immo had been behind the counter and watched the whole scene take place. His first reaction was interest, in a quizzical kind of way. When he saw the package, he leaned into the office asked Diana to watch the bar. Asano never slowed down, rounding the bar and walking straight into Immo’s office. He placed the covered statue upright on the desk, and stepped back. “Immo-san, I present you with your prize,” he said hand extended towards the desk.

In an almost ceremonial procedure, Immo unwrapped the Jade Eagle. Memories rushed past him as he gazed at the statue. After several moments of silence, Asano approached and put his hand on Immo’s shoulder. “You have earned our respect and our protection. Let us know if you need us.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~

After rounding up the needed supplies, further orders were given and the four men headed out of town towards the compound. Moving past the location they had run into Riko at, Asano says, “You know, Oishi. We’re going to have to come up with a name for our new home. I don’t want to call it home or Headquarters. What do you think?”

Smiling, he replied, “Let me think on it a while.”

Immo had waited days for word from Asano, anything that might indicate he was sucessful. Immo had prided himself on being reliant only upon himself, but lately he had felt different, this new face, Asano, Immo actually wondered of the well-being of this man. A stranger, he had wandered into the bar just a few weeks ago and already Immo felt as though this Asano was going to be a big player in the town in the coming months, as the season of falling leaves approached. With it would come the frost, Immo, an isolated oasis in the desert, would see the arrival of the wealthy aristocrats of Fanatukku. They would bring their money, and their intrigue, with them. Immo considered getting his Jo staff from storage and starting practice again.

"You look a little preoccupied" Diana spoke from in front of him, leaning down to be eye level with Immo, who was leaning on the surface of the bar.

"I wonder sometimes how all this came to be. Why are we here?" He inquired, as if DIana knew the answer.

"You need to do get out of this town, you know what? WHen we learn about Asano's where abouts, and that matter is resolved, there is something I must ask of you." Diana cleared her face of her hair while she spoke. Immo couldnt help but hear the desperation in her tone.

"I need to take a break is what i need to do" Immo stood up, and walked to his office, he grabbed his flute from the countertop next to his bed and walked to the bar.Picking up the sheet of paper with the orders for this week. It was going to be an expensive week, so much sake to replace.

"Some tea?" Diana called out with a smile, holding up the kettle and cup.

"Yep, I would" Grabbing the cup diana had already poured for him and walking outside.

He had sat no more than ten minutes before a wagon had passed in front of the bar, at first Immo did not recognize Asano, but a wave of relief followed after the realization. Quietly Immo sat back down, he saw the covered "gift" in the back of the wagon. Immo did his best not to yell WHOOPIE! at its sight.

An hour past before Asano, this time followed by two horsebacked men dressed in military gear. Immo swallowed hard and immediately thought them Michiwara's men coming to behead everyone in the bar. Immo walked back into the bar thinking about running off, but reconsidering after a moment of insanity.

Immo was standing at the bar when the four figures walked in, the recognized one walked with one of the military individuals into the back, while the other unknown face stayed in the front. "watch the bar" Immo shouted to Diana as Asano walked in carrying a covered object, immense, looking heavy. Immo didnt need to think to know his dreams had come true.

Asano stood next to the object while Immo carefully removed the bundling from around it, first a green-blue wing, long and sharp, strong feathers textured with a precision modern artists could never match. Then the other wing, as the first, so powerful, it was priceless in history and immense in significance. Finally the beak, the face of the eagle, Immo felt like falling down, hugging the statue with such strength he feared it would break.

“You have earned our respect and our protection. Let us know if you need us.” Asano said, Immo barely heard him. He turned and shook his head, he would travel to the Michiwara compound to thank him later, Asano and his friends would be welcome here, what they did here would matter not.

For now, all Immo could think of was his prize, his family, his father....

"I need to see him."

A week has passed since Pelon and Seizo had lost track of Riko at the Shinto Shrine. Noldodan had also shown up, probably tracking Riko. Seizo had seen Riko running down an alley and Noldodan had run after her. After that Pelon and Seizo had tried to question Michiko, but she had clammed up and refused to talk. After that night she rarely left the Shrine.

Pelon had tracked down a few other Japanatican revolutionaries. He had talked to some, threatened others, in general warned them thay Internal Security was on to them. Most of them had been terrified that Int Sec might arrest them, but Pelon promised that as long as they ended all revolutionary activity ASAP, no harm would come there way. Only one man, a low level clerk at some government office had resisted in any way. Pelon had defended himself, and Seizo had taken care of the body.

Pelon visited the Omo a few times, looking for leads on this Asano man. He found nothing. Immo refused to talk to him, and Diana was polite, but never gave away any information. Seizo and Pelon would keep up surveillance on the Omo and the Shrine, but nothing came up. Noldodan had also dissappeared.

Then one afternoon, Asano returned. Pelon was sitting on a rock next to the river, a block down from the Omo. Asano didnt even notice him. With something stolen. Pelon could tell by the way Immo had eyed it, and by the way Asano and his goons where guarding it. Pelon smiled, then frowned. His past had a tendency of creeping up on him like that. Pelon could remember performing drops like the one Asano was about to do.

Seizo appeared next to him and looked at Pelon.

"Seizo, I need to find out what that is. I also need to fine Comnenus and Noldodan. Please, I need you to go to Fanatikku and FIND THEM. Go. Go now." Seizo nodded and left. Twenty mins later Pelon saw Seizo and his brown warhorse thunder by, on the road west to Fanatikku. A few minutes later Asano and his men left, taking the road to the east.

Pelon sighed and said to himself. "Time to face the music. Get in there. Make peace with Immo."

Pelon walked towards the Omo and placed his hand on the doorknob...

"*ahem* I need to get my affairs in order before I go anywhere" Immo thought as he sat quietly,

"maybe father will suffice with a letter, it has been almost a year since last time I had seen him though, I should go"

For now, Immo had to concern himself with his pre-travel affairs, who will run the Omo, who will care for Diana, naturally she cannot leave.

As Immo stepped out of his office he saw a familiar face standing at the bar, Pelion.

"well hello there Pel, are you well?"

As the four men rode onto the compound, Asano pulled up next to the water tower. The lieutenents would see to the gear, the horses, and the supplies. Oishi made a quick perimeter check and then returned to the barn. Riko stepped out of the stables as Asno approached. He knew she would be in there. They moved into the stables, out of the sunlight simultaneously.

"How are you?" Asano asked as he removed hid gloves. "Did you have any trouble finding this place?"

"No, it was just as you said," was Riko reply as she inspected her host. "I've spent most of the time telling Babylonian fables to the horses. They seem to like them."

"Heheheh. Fables in the stables. It has a ring to it." Asano looked out the door and then back to Riko, "So we're alone now. Briefly, what was it you wanted to talk with me about?"

This is what Riko had really been thinking about for the last several hours. She climbed up on a stack of hay and pulled off her boots. "Well, it's like this..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Later, the smell of food had drawn people naturally to the house. The two lieutenants had fixed a meal from the supplies to feed all five of them. Riko, Oishi, and Asano ate in the main dining room. The lietenants ate elsewhere.

"So, weren't you just looking for land here in Immo? How did you come across this magnificent property?" asked Riko as Oishi poured the wine.

"Let's just say we inherited it." answered Asano. "Toast. To the new owners." as he raised his glass. The toast was met and the dinner began. Asano spoke of how he and Oishi were business partners from way back. They had pulled many capers, some if not most were considered illegal, but they always turned a hefty profit, enough to support a large amount of trained men."

Riko's eyes grew large as she listened. A tinge of fear ran down the back of her neck. She hadn't expected a story like this to unfold from these men. But she now gave them more credit than she had before. They had both been so civilized. Riko mentally slapped herself in the forehead, thinking "Pay attention, Riko."

Pelon stepped into the Omo. Since it was early in the day it was empty, save for Diana and Immo, who where behind the bar. As Pelon walked to towards tha bar, Immo nodded at Diana, who sliently stepped into the office.

Pelon looked at Immo and nodded "well hello there Pel, are you well?"

"Im fine Immo, thank you for asking..." Pelon looked down went over his next words in his mind... "Look. Im sorry about that IS guy snooping around here. I did my best to get him away from you and your buisness. I trust you, but he doesnt. I dont know why, but he thinks that you are a turncoat. And I have to ask this... are you??"

Immo looked into Pelons eyes and around the bar. Pelons bodyguard was nowhere around. Could Pelon be trusted?? If he had really kept IS off Immos back, then linking him to the death of Michiwara would be hard, as would linking him to Asano.

"Step into my office Pelon..." Immo said as he slid into the back room.

Pelon warily walked into Immos office. Diana was there. sitting on a couch. On the desk was a large package covered in paper and a worn blanket. A small corner of it was not covered, it was handcarved Jade, ad was large. Only a few

The Jade Eagle

Pelons mind raced back almost 20 years, to that night. Pelon and Seizo and the rest of the squad. All dressed in the black. Weapons at ready. The rain soaking through their clothes. The unmistakable *thud* of a sentry falling dead. Michiwara ordering them to spare none. The poor thieves, experts at breaking into Michiwara estate, had up a fight. Great thieves, terrible fighters. They had stolen the Jade Eagle from the Michiwara estate only days before, and had set up camp in the jungles north of Fanatikku. It had been a simple matter to track them down. Killing them was even easier. Pelon had killed three of them, and had enjoyed it... the last one had begged for his life... The Jade Eagle, a beautiful icon for a dying religion. It wasnt even Michiwaras, but he had paided them well. No one had ever found the thieves bodies, nor had the theft of the Jade Eagle been discovered by anyone other than Michiwara and his closest aids.

Immo and Diana where staring at Pelon. He was shaking, his hands clenched into tight fists. His eyes stared unblinking aimlessly. Something had set him off. This peaceful founder of the Zenedoshou had dark secret.

"Pelon??" Immo quietly said. Pelon touched his left arm, just below his shoulder, and looked at at Diana and Immo. "Yes Immo, pardon me, I remembered something from my youth." Pelon forced a smile and nodded at Diana "Hello Goddess of the Hunt an Moon." and winked. Immo cleared his throat and motioned for Pelon to sit.

"I am a loyal Japanatican citizen, my dear Pelon. Despite what your IS "friend" might say, I have never plotted against the government. I know Riko and a few others have, but turning them in might have brought me more trouble than I could handle. However, you and Noldodan seem to have taken care of them. I am NOT a traitor to Japanatica. I hope you can trust me." Pelon nodded. "I do. I stood up to Noldodan. And you know the reputation that IS has..."

Immo smiled "I know. I thank you. I might be leaving this fair city for a few days, and I was hoping of you might come in and check up on Diana."

"I would be glad to, friend Immo" Pelon said...

After seeing for himself the growing dissent going on in Immo, and deciding he was no match for it even with Pelon's help, Noldodan reports back to IS Headquarters in Fanatikku. There, he iwas debriefed by none other than the feared head of IS himself, a man that only known as "Lepsurusti" or "copper-fingers" (OOC: Closest thing I could find to "brass knuckles"). Myth and the unknown surrounded the man, from the language of origin of his name to why the Despot chose to keep him around, heading up IS. All in all, however, he cut a pretty imposing figure by reputation alone, even to an IS agent like Noldodan. Perhaps that was enough to explain his next actions. Perhaps…

“Sir? A Noldodan is here to see you. He says he’s one of your agents, but he looks like a ruffian to me. Could be an assassin, or--”

“Shaddap. Show him in, then find me a new secretary.”

“A new secretary? But surely you don’t need two, I barely have enough to do as it is. If you had two secretaries--

“I won’t. You’re fired.”

“But--”

“Go now, or I’ll have to ‘encourage’ you.”

“Yes sir,” the secretary says as she plods out to the waiting room. “You can go in now, Mr. Noldodan.”

“Thank you. Could you get me some of that new wine? I’ve been dying to try it ever since I heard about that new drink…”

“Yes sir, right away sir.”

Satisfied, Noldodan heads into the office and sits down in front of the large mahogany desk. “Your funding must be really dropping off to have a secretary like her. I remember your old secretary: smart, pretty, single… Whatever happened to her, anyway?”

“She tried to kill me. We’re not sure who her employer was exactly, but it was around the time the Babs were threatening. She was kindly put out of the Ministry. In several pieces, actually.” There’s a long, pointed pause while Lepsu waits for Noldodan to laugh at the joke. Seeing what his boss wants, Noldodan laughs quietly. Satisfied, Lepsu goes on, “Right down to business then. You’ve been in Immo for quite a while. What have you found?”

“That things may be worse than we thought. There are at least 2 subversive groups in the area, and they may have recently acquired land nearby.”

“Dear sweet Eru! I might have to send the military in to clear that out, and you can imagine what kind of outcry that would cause.”

“Lepsu! You’ve never cared for public opinion before. I think you might be going soft.”

“Soft! Me! Never! If you only knew what I have to do to keep order: even in the capital! We don’t have the troops to spare for an insurrection, even in Immo. You’re going to have to use the IS response team we have here in Fanatikku. I just hope nothing happens here while it’s away, or we’re in trouble. I need a full report before I send it out though, so continue.”

“I actually came very close to the major operatives, perhaps the leaders, of the factions. There was a Babylonian woman named Riko there, working with a Shinto Priestess named Michiko. Riko is easily underestimated, and highly dangerous. She seems to be well-connected in Immo, and is communicating with other Babylonian operatives. She was last seen running form the Shinto shrine in Immo.” He pauses to wait for Lepsu to digest the information. Seeing his nod, Noldo goes on, “The other faction is led by a man named Asano. His information suggests he may be working with a network, but I think he’s just good at listening. I also suspect that he has a number of men, possibly mercenaries, that he can call on at need, and he may be doing so soon.”

“So, is that all you have to say about the situation there? It doesn’t look good at all from what you’ve told me. Is there anything good happening in Immo?”

“I wouldn’t say good, but there may be some help available. There’s a Military operative in the area, but it looks like he’s been forgotten about, hasn’t been contacted in months. I don’t know how much he can help, but he could be useful.”

“Anything else? Good. Well, I think we can snuff out this rebellion right now if we send the whole response team. You’ll be meeting with them tomorrow, and leaving the day after.”

“Thank you, sir. I’ll be getting some rest now if you don’t mind, it’s been a hard trip.” He sees Lepsu nod, then turns on his heel to exit. He thought himself quite lucky to have come out of the office alive. If Lepsu had learned he had let Immo go, he would have paid for it dearly.

“Mr. Noldodan? I have your wine now.”

“Thank you, ….?”

“I’d prefer if you didn’t know me.”

“Ah. I’ll be going then.” Sipping on his wine, he thought about the possibilities. That secretary would be very amenable to bringing down Lepsu. If only he could get some more support for his own ends, he would have Lepsu’s job… and the power that came with it. All he had to do was snuff out this rebellion and-- Wait! Was that--?

“You! Pelon’s Aide? What are you doing here?” Seizo starts making signs in the air. “Oh… you can’t speak. Fortunately, I know sign language… Pelon wants to meet with me again? About Asano? Tell him I’m leaving for Immo in two days, with help.” Seizo nods, then runs back to his horse. “So he will help. That’s good. Now, if only I can pull this thing off…”

Jack Ijumo walks up to the bar and says to the tender:I'll take some Oranhe Fruit Juice please!
And he also asks who should i talk to for adventures?

Diana had watched Jack come through the door and saunter up to the bar. She smiled as she poured a Juice for him. "Adventure? Hmmm, not much of that going on around here. Where are you from,...and what's your trade, sir?"

Jack Ijumo said to Diana "I am fron the captial. I have joined the glorious army of Japanactica. I would like some pork please.Isn't a war with Babylon coming up?"

Diana sliced some hot steaming pork for the man and set it in front of him. "Army, huh?", she said in a low voice. "Foot soldier? Or are you proficient with a horse, maybe a bow?" The aroma of the pork filled the air and Jack immediately started eating, smiling and nodding his head.

Diana smiled politely. "There may be a war with Babylon, but then again, there may not be. Either way, we'd like you to come see us as much as possible."

Jack Ijumo said "I am proficent with a sword. My Dad is one of the Generals in the Japanatican Army. So i was raised like a soldier. And i am also signing up for the Legion Tournment! The Pork is delcious."

Diana had waited a week for word from Immo, she recieved a message saying only a few words "Jade Falcon, Fanatikku. Immo."

In the night one evening she had bundled it with her and left in the night.

When Asano arrived the next morning, he saw Immo's entire office cleared out, no word of where Diana went, no word of if she or Immo would return.

Dinner went well. Conversations ranged from Riko’s past to Oishi’s love of fishing. Asano was running the proposal Riko had made in the stables through his mind as he ate. Although he had figured her to be part of liberation movement, he hadn’t considered the notion of her offering him the position of spearheading the operation. That was completely counter-productive to the plans he had made for the future. There were incentives enough, as the leadership position may have allowed a sense of legendary status, but when you considered the odds of success in light of Japanatica’s discovery of Iron and its uses, the shining light of revolution dimmed considerably. The Babylonian population in this end of the world was mostly unarmed and scattered. Communication would be slow and difficult, organization would meet deadlock, even if their hearts were in it. The plan that Asano had discussed with Oishi that morning would reap more benefits all the way around. Instead of thousands dead with little gained, a stronger and more prosperous outlook was possible.

“Oishi, could you send off the first bird?” asked Asano, to which Oishi rose silently, bowed to Riko and left the room. There were actually no birds to release; Oishi was to send off a lieutenant to collect the first party of mercenaries from Ako. The day of the taking two birds had been released, just as before, asking for the lieutenants. But these birds carried a different message. They ordered the base to move en masse to this new location. Engineers and support were to caravan by wagon through Immo and head East. Troops were to break up into small groups and move cross-country by night to the river and follow it North until it broke East. There, they should wait. It was there the lieutenant would meet them and direct them back to the compound. The other lieutenant would meet the caravan and bring them back.

“So, I have a counter-proposal for you, if your Leadership should be interested”, said Asano smiling at Riko, who had been waiting for some kind of response to her offer. The wine had set an atmosphere of friendliness, so conversations were done with listening eyes and waiting smiles. “I want to offer you a bloodless revolution. One in which a free life can be merged with the safety of hard work and acceptance.”

Now Riko was sorry she had had the glass of wine. “Please go on, my friend”, she said as she shifted in her chair.

“I propose that a gathering occur of the Babylonian slave population right here at this compound. Not as a rally point to send them to their slaughter, but as an ethnic base for self-liberation, of sorts. I have got plans for this compound, and I hope that we can work together to bring these plans to fruition.” He went on to describe a future of co-mingling and self-government within the confines of this large compound. Her Chieff would be welcomed as a Leader, Riko could coordinate operations, and substructures could be formed in the overall goal of advancement of everyone involved. In essence, any and all Babylonian slaves, freed or not, could come hear and earn their keep by working within the substructures set up in cooperation with the compound. They would be free to come and go, but slackers would be cast out, and dissenters would be dealt with appropriately. If they chose, they could join the mercenary ranks as a recruit, build with the engineers, or work the fields and rivers. In return they could expect protection from outsiders, as well as room and board. Bonus incentives would depend on crops and the yearly returns of the farms. That was Asano’s counter-proposal of a bloodless revolution, as a total package.

“Please take the horse of your choosing when you are ready and deliver this proposal to your Chieff or Council of Elders. When and if you return, simply tell the guards the bird has brought you a message from me. I shall await your answer,” he said rising and placing a hand on Riko’s shoulder. “This could be the first step to a great enterprise… and personal freedom.”

SaaMsan finally returns to the Omotesando. "Barkeep!" he says quietly, with a hand on his forehead "I need a drink..."
A drink slides down SaaMsans way. He keeps massaging his forehead. "Oy Gavult. Yiddish hasn't even been invented yet and I'm kvetching and kvelling. I've been having these weird dreams. I wonder if anyone in here is a dream reader."
SaaMsan said this last part very loudly. Is there anyone in here that's a dream reader? SaaMsans been having some pretty weird dreams.

Diana snapped to and looked at Saamsan. Wondering when she would hear for Immo was not selling drinks...

Walking slowly towards Saamsan, she says "I've spent so much time in men's dreams, I've become pretty good at interpreting them. Let me see if I can help you."

SaaMsan has been approached by a woman named Diana. Having not frequented the pub for a while, he is unaware of all the subplots involving her, but decides to see if she can help anyway.

"What do you propose we do to help ease these odd dreams?" he asks.

Diana responds

Diana wathches Saamsan as he reels off this story about dreams with foreign sounding words sprinkled throughout. His speach makes him sound more like a Grandmother than a young man. Hmmm.

"I wouldn't worry about it too much, sir. Strange dreams have a way of disappearing. It sounds to me like you felt trapped in an environment where the people you knew weren't really in touch with you. They just watched from a distance. So you had a character you have some respect for come into the picture. It seems the Asano character wanted you to plant your feet firmly on the ground, and remove your self-imposed "glass ceiling". I'm not sure about the duck/penquin thing. That might be because of the way you waddle when you walk, who knows." Diana moves closer to Saamsan. "As to why your friends are having similar dreams", she shrugs, "maybe they're closer to you than you think....."

"Getcha another drink?"

"Hit me. I might need it just to knock myself out for the night" SaaMsan replies. "Now why would my friends be stuck in my dreams, or me in theirs? Could it be stress? I keep having this other weird dream about a building called ETS in a place called Princeton. I have a strange obsession with burning it down. Anything on that one? Or am I just crazy."

Diana puts another Long Island Ice Tea in front of Saamsan. Still smiling her ledgendary smile, she adds "Well your friends experience the same things as you in your small world, Sleepy. I wouldn't doubt they think about the same things as you. Burning down the ETS in a place called Princeton? That's an easy one. It has to do with proving your worth combined with the fear of success. Of course you could be crazy, but it sounds to me like you just need to get romanced," and with that Diana grabs her bar rag and moves down the bar to finish her cleaning.

Jack walks up and sits down and chats with Saasmasn

"I think I'm just gonna go with the 'I'm A Looney Bird' approach. It fits." SaaMsan resigns himself to the fact that he is crazy, but hey, he has his interns for that.
Leaving the bar and saying goodnight to Jack, he goes to find his interns and work on their newest number. A friend of SaaMsan who plays this hollowed out twig just got back from some sort of prehistoric band camp. She said she'll help. So score another intern for SaaMsan. Its now 14 nameless interns and a flautist. Sounds like a bad band. Well, if they ever wear multi colored robes and try to preach while they sing and play, they'll predate the Polyphonic Spree by a good 3000 years. So go figure. Now all they need is a good therimin player.

*sits down at bar and orders lemon water cause its all i can afford, looks depressed. starts talking to anyone will listen*
" Man lifes hard, i got no job, and do you know why? its them damn romans taking all the jobs while god, honest, jah fearing japenese can't find one. Sad isnt it? don't you wish some one would do something about it"

Jack gets up and outside hes sees Civnator with a sword and a horse. He said here have this sword,horse and armor. Jack puts it on and goes off when reached Babylonian terrtory went back to the Omoteando. Got off his horse went inside the bar and asked the tender i am tired may i use one of the beds? She said Sure go upsatirs into the first room on the right.Jack went

Diana looks at Nobody in particular. "Great, he's broke and he complains...." She tells JackA to take a room upstairs, and wonders why Nobody is looking at her. "Need something else other than lemon water?"

Jack got a rest and went down to the bar where he ordered Pork and Orange Fruit Juice.Just then Nobody started to complained about the Forigen Minister Provolution doing nothing to help the nation and hit Jack in the face. Jack calls to the Diana Help! Nobody is starting to hit me and ruining my breakfest!

The lemon water goes stright to Nobodys head.


'Back in my day (before 4000bc) we had a name for people like you' *points drunken finger at Jack who is now like on the floor after because he said somthing about nobodys mother* we called them romans. *throws chair and starts yelling* "F^&%ken romans taking jobs from good hard working *throws lemon glass* jaaaapense, you know its pieces of s&$t like you that are ruining this coun...... *Nobody goes to kick rubbish bin but slips and falls and hits head on bar, once he hits the ground he starts crying*.........Jack gets up and starts to put the chairs back and cleab up the mess nobody made while diana comes and puts hand on nobodys sholder "come on mate."

Jack got very angry and said You're a traitor to this country! I'll challenge you to a duel!!!!!!!! HE used his sword hilt and knock Nobody very hard on the chin. He called DIana Nobody called me a ROman! I am just a very patriotic man. Nobody I'm an execllent swordsman. I have a word for you buddy:Desert to Rome!

Diana pokes her head up from behind the bar at the comotion. Thinks - "This Jack guy. First he says Nobody's hitting him, when obviously someone is. Then he says Nobody's calling him a Roman. Thank Goodness. He wouldn't qualify for a Roman."

She gets up, walks around the bar, and heads for the lovely couple rolling around on the floor. She taps the complainer on the shoulder. "Hey, if you're going to continue knockin' the stuffins out of the guy, TAKE IT OUTSIDE! I don't want you makin' a mess in here."

The two men stop rolling around and stand up. They take a good look at each other, then turn around and go out the front door. Diana slaps her hands together a couple of times like she's cleaning the dirt off them. "And stay out there until you can act like civilized men!" she yells after them. She then returns to her work.

Stealth edit :mischief:

Jack went outside and aplogized to Nobody and said "If i dont call you names Wuill you not call me a Roman?
Nobody said sure.
Jack went back and aplogized to Diana.He went outside to practice when SaaMsan Came out protesting war!

Stealth edit :mischief:
OOC: :lol: Immo, in storytime, Asano has only been in town about a week. Immo just split. You wrote that Diana waited a week for the message. Asano couldn't come to town, as the silent Riko had him waiting for information at the compound. :lol:

So I'll write diana out of the story when it's appropriate. :rolleyes:

SaaMsan is sleeping when he hears Jack suddenly yelling about him protesting.
"Oy.. I'm trying to get some rest here, people. Please keep it down. Some of us have had their heads stuck in fishbowls for the last few days."
SaaMsan didnt see himself protesting. Heck, he's heard rumors that the Iroquiois were possibly planing an attack. If Japanatica was attacked, SaaMsan would be one of the first to support the war, as long as it was a vaild and well thought out war. Not ones where we went in for no reason.
But that's another story. SaaMsan just wants to sleep. He and his friend Qui need to get a move on tomorrow morning. Qui says she has a new idea. So SaaMsan just needs sleep.

"Hi everyone my name is Nobody and I have a lemon water problem" *nobody admits his problem and decideds to strighten slef out by joining recruits*

Jack Ijuno tells Nobody May i join youjr recriut band?

Riko waited anxiously in front of Asano's house. She knew the man-hunt, or rather woman-hunt, was still going on. It was somewhat lessening, but she didn't feel like it was safe enough to show herself yet. It was already a huge risk going to her chief to tell about Asano's counter-proposal. And she had to return to Asano's house as well. Fortunately unseen.

She sat there, thinking:
I hear our hated despot is forcing his scientists to research a new way to govern the lands. An absolute Monarchy. But he underestimates us; there will be many riots, perhaps even anarchy, and if the Babylonian gods 'Merodach, Nergal and Sin' were looking and paying attention there might be even a long time of anarchy. That would be the sign for her and her people to stand up and seize power. She would be the queen and Asano by her side. "

-* Bang *- The door closed, as always, with a loud bang. That would be Asano stepping outside.

"Is that you Asano ?" Riko shouted.

"Yes" she heard Asano say. "So you've returned Riko? Show yourself, I've got news for you".

Riko walked to the door. Asano looked excited. She recognised the signs when a person knows a secret he wants to share.

"Our leader is going to crown himself King soon. The festivities are planned in 2 moons. Who'd expected that ?"

"Really" - Riko said. She was amused. Riko had far better sources than Asano.

"So, you bring me the answer of your leader?"

"My leader rejected your proposal. He is willing to use your house as a base of operations and a hide-out, but working the land and living with the uncertainty of being tossed out at your whim won't do. We have far higher goals than just living here. We aren't farmers, we aren't peasents, we aren't people of the land. We are intellectuals, scientists, politicians."

Asano frowned.

"I want to tell you something else, Asano, I need your help". -This always worked with men.

-------------------

Riko was alone outside again. Asano had said that he needed time to think. Asano went riding his horse; he'd always do that to think.

Riko thought over what she'd told Asano. That the Babylonians were not the enemy of Japanatica. They were powerless. That the neighbours the Iroquois were the aggressors and the arch-enemies of the Babylonians. The Iroquois had oppressed the Babylonians for as long as people remembered. And that the Babylonians needed help. The Iro's had killed or kidnapped many Babylonian scientists and Babylon did not know yet the art of writing and not even that there were many gods.
"Then how come the Babylonian gods are 'Merodach, Nergal and Sin'"? Asano had asked, confuzzled.
"They are names for the same Deity, my dear Asano".
She had asked Asano to give her the scrolls which holds the secrets of Writing and Polyheism so she could bring them to Hammurabi to help the Babylonians in their struggle with the Iro's. Although it isn't an open war; it can be declared any day now; the Iro's are very aggressively.

Asano remembered a bunch of Iro warriors in the Immo-delta. And they didn't seem to be there on holiday and also not prepared to leave; they had made fortifications there, even.

"Now help me Asano, The Iro's want to destroy us Babylonians only to get strong enough to go after you next. They are a real danger; you Japanaticans haven't even seen a special Iroquois horse unit that is deadly. Warriors and spearmen are no match to it. We have to secretly help Babylon and openly treat them as friends. My nation needs Japanatica as much as I need you".

Riko fell in Asano's arms, hugging and holding him.

Asano broke free. "I leave now; I take my horse and I'm going to have a ride. I need to think this over! Please be here when I return."

The gears within Riko were grinding, as she had so wanted to spend the night, but this counter-offer from Asano was too enriched with potential and far too important to sleep on. At the close of the lengthy after-dinner conversation, Riko’s meal had settled and her head had cleared. She was ready to go see the Chieff. Asano slapped the rump of her horse as Riko took off out of the compound, “Hurry back”, was all he said.

“You know, I’ve thought it over. In answer to your question, Asano-sama”, said Oishi as he joined his partner watching the dust rise as Riko sped off, “I believe a suitable name for this compound would be Jakuza. In its humble way, it holds tribute to many, but stands tall.”

Asano thought about the name for a moment as a smile crossed his face. “Interesting” he said as he turned towards his friend, ”very interesting. I think you just may have found the name. When we have a gate erected, please put Jakuza across the top for all to read. I will use this name from now on, …you have done well, Oishi.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The rising sun brought in the last of the small groups of soldiers. As they had started to arrive, they were told to rest, but as the last group came in, Jakuza was starting to bustle with activity. The support caravan had arrived and set up tents through the darkened hours for everyone. Morning light had the engineers constructing a watchtower on the western perimeter. Cavalry Archers were sent out on patrol, sentries posted, and the appropriate officers, under direction from Oishi, assigned all other standard procedures. It had been a good day, which would end early, per plan. Support had fixed a late lunch for all, who were then to gather in the compound for an announcement.

In the late afternoon, Oishi ordered the troops into formation. There were some two hundred in total, including officers, support, and the engineers. The military units consisted of Calvary Archers, Yari Cavalry, and foot soldiers of the Yari Samurai class. Asano and Oishi, both in full regalia, stood under the shade of the back porch of the house, watching as the formation took place. Then Oishi left to mount his horse and ride through the ranks, inspecting as he went. Encouraging words and bold statements were made by him as he made his way to the forefront of the Company. He turned to face them, “Men, we have gathered here today to recognize and celebrate the beginning of a new future! Our destiny stands before us; join me in securing it! Hail Asano!” The troops raised their weapons in unison and a roar erupted from them. Oishi turned to face Asano, “I give you…JAKUZA!”

http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads8/Shogun3.jpg

Jack Ijuno went outside and asked Riko Would you like to go on an epedition to the Irouiquis territory? Riko said Sure get the armor and horses and lets go they rode off into the distance......

Michiko returns to the Omotesando after a few days at the shrine (and wonders why this JackA character keeps following her around). She was to meet Diana in the morning.

Diana greets Michiko as she enters and asks if there is anything she can get her, as far as libations go. Michiko replies, "Yes, I'll take a tall orange juice please. Nice place you have here."

Diana rolls her eyes, "I try to keep it up. So...you were telling me you had a dream?"

OOC EDIT: Realized my mistake in posting, and have changed the name.

But Asano didn't take more than a couple of steps. He stopped, took a deep breathe and returned to Riko's side. "I don't need to think about this any longer, Riko.

"It saddens me that your Leader has rejected my proposal. I am saddened that your Leader does not want his people to come live with us farmers, peasants, and regular People of the Land. I'm actually amazed that, without the fieldwork neccessary to provide nutrition to the mind and body, your intellectuals, scientists, politicians are not really, really skinny. How do you do it? But beyond the grief that I feel for your people persecuted by our tyrant, that will continue to suffer at the rejection of this proposal, I am extremely distraught over the continuing atraucities brought on by your "arch-enemies", the Babylonians. Becuase your people do not wish to share the burden of survival with us here in Jakuza, it is not possible for them to use Jakuza as a base of operations or a hide-out. I sincerely hope this does not cause your people additional hardship on their already difficult quest for independance. And finally," Asano looked directly into the eyes of Riko and took another deep breathe, " even though I planned to set up sessions with your people as a whole, in order to teach them the Japanatican Alphabet and carry that through with the ability to write ledgibly, I now can not see the point in revealing national secrets to a foreign country that feels we are mere peasants. It just doesn't sit right with me. I will refrain from commenting on how your single God with multiple names would, if your were to learn Polytheism, cause you to consider more than one Deity, and therefore cause an explosive amount of names for your malnutritioned intellectuals to remember. Not pretty thought.

"I also understand how you've put on great distances through perilous territory being the runner, so to speak, for these messages. I sincerely wish you a safe journey back to your people. Maybe we'll meet again someday. Good bye, Riko."

With that, Asano turned an walked back towards the house.

Jack Ijuno order a tall lemon juice. And pork. When Diana asked where he was from he said Zorijj.

Diana thought for a moment as she gazed out the front door, "Zorijj? Where's that?... Oh, do you mean Zojoji? That is a hard name to remember. It's Zo - jo - ji", she said but before handing him the pork, she said "You try it...". Then she smiled.

Jack said Zojoji.Yeah thats it. *Takes out Training Camp Promotional posters and sticks them on the wall for evrybody to see*.

They seemed entirely competent, these 30 men and women. All were at least skilled with both a sword and in horseback riding, and each had their own specialty as well. Oddly, the women were the most sinister of all, all of them skilled alchemists and experts with knives. Most of them were stunning as well, all the better to get close to the target. The one thing the group lacked was cohesiveness, exemplified by their lack of any sort of leader. This made it easier for Noldodan to take over, but it also led to other problems…

“Sir! Those two artillerymen are fighting again! I think they might be out for blood this time!” The speaker was one Folëchebin, a promising up-and-coming IS officer and aide to Noldodan. The major part of this job was to keep an eye the team, mostly assassins, and to keep them from each others’ throats. Unfortunately, some feuds, such as the one between the team’s two artillerymen, ran too deep to be forgotten in the few days that they had been traveling. Nobody really knew why they fought, but then again, they probably did not know themselves.

The artillerymen themselves were sort of an oddity, or rather, their profession was. No one (except Noldodan and the artillerymen themselves) really understood the need to drag the two heavy, slow catapults along with them. No one had seen them in action, and so most of them thought they were too complex and prone to breaking to be of any use in combat. They were partly right. In an open-field battle, they wouldn’t be able to kill nearly enough of a mobile enemy to be worth even their parts. But against an enemy entrenched in a building, as they expected to face, a single well-placed shot could be devastating, collapsing the building upon the defenders’ heads. And of course, like any new weapon, it would shake the nerve of the enemy, which was always worth the effort.

But in the meantime, Noldodan wondered if he could keep both of the men alive to use the catapults. They were only a day out from where the former noble’s manor was supposed to be, and hadn’t seen any sign of it yet, or of any other humans. And Asano couldn’t possibly know they were here… could he? No. He couldn’t possibly have more men than Noldodan had, and that meant he couldn’t be scouting out this far. All Noldodan had to do was wait here a couple more days, enough to ensure that Pelon wouldn’t try contacting him again, then he would move in, of course during the night. And then, if all went well, he would have taken out Asano and secured the manor, which would enhance his reputation a good bit. And that would give him the opportunity to--

“Noldodan! Sir! There’s a message here for you, it just came in from a runner,” Folëchebin said as he handed the message to Noldodan. The message read in a hasty scrawl: “You have been betrayed. Lepsurusti has told Asano of your location, and is currently leading 200 trained men to your location. Best of luck, you’ll need it. Pelon.”

“Dear sweet Eru! Folëchebin, get everybody up and ready for an attack, expected anytime. And where’s this messenger, I need to talk with him…”

_________________________________


Some hours later: Noldodan, Folëchebin, Seizo (who was the messenger), one of the artillerymen, and 3 others of the IS troops are fleeing Asano’s light cavalry. Noldodan swore, whatever else he would do, he would get back at Lepsu. Even Asano could wait until Lepsu was dead. But in the meantime flight was all-important. Perhaps he could rest up at the Omo until things blew over. There were Japanatican troops in Immo, and they would certainly be willing to help out an IS official, once they were sure he wasn’t going to “question“ them. He would still have to lie low though, and that grated on his pride. Oh, how sweet revenge would be…

A new order for Operations went out. Jakuza was to be self-sufficient. Our Army would feed itself, trade with others, and grow to become a power to be reckoned with. As part of the new way, soldiers were trained in the art of farming.
http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads8/GoodHarvestB.gif

Harvest was due soon, new planting was needed. Any men who were not building with the engineers, working with support, or on normal military duty (sentry, scout, training, etc) were to work the fields or the river. It didn't matter want your duties were in the military ranks, or what your level of achievement was, your duties could be transferred to the production of food, commerce, or buildings.
http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads8/AverageHarvestB.gif

__________________________________________________ ____________

With Jakuza working, productive and safe, Asano had time to reflect....

After the taking, Immo had come by to thank him for delivering the Jade Eagle. It was at that time Immo had told him that visiting the Capital city of Fanatikku was utmost importance and that he was leaving the Omo in Asano's care. Diana would handle the day to day operations until Immo sent for her. After that, it was all his. Asano had Oishi send 4 or 5 men to the Omo for protection and running the place. Oishi had sent knowledgeable AND trustworthy people to oversee the operations. Word was, she had soon gotten word from Immo to join him, as she and the Jade Eagle disappeared. Diana's absence had caused a slow down in business, but the regulars kept it running.

Then came a message from the Capital. It seemed the Government had heard wind of our arrival and had decided to include us in their plans. For some reason, their plans had included killing one of their own. It was that door slamming Noldodan. Asano had wondered what ole Noldo had stepped in to receive such attention. A man named Lepsurusti, who was head hauncho at IS had offered him 200 gold and promised a tax exemption on Jakuza if he could just do away with Noldodan. Remembering the strange happenings that unfolded when he had ridden into town, Asano accepted. Gold and a tax exemption were needed. "Had Pelon been involved in this?", Asano had thought. Immo had mentioned on his way out the door how Pelon had saved his butt from Noldodan. Knowing Pelon frequented the Omo, Asano sped Ako into town in order to find out. A return favor and the making of a possible ally may be called for.
__________________________________________________ _______

He had left Oishi in charge, with the men at the ready. Mounted scouts were to hide in the woods and fields, and to fire flaming arrows in the direction of the approaching enemy if seen. That would be the signal Oishi would need to attack. They waited in the night.
__________________________________________________ ________

At the Omo, Asano found Pelon with his side-kick, Seizo. The conversation was short and to the point. Asano spoke briefly about the protection of Immo and the repayment of a common debt. If Pelon or his men were involved with the assault on Jakuza, they were now receiving fair warning. The suprize attack was a suprise no longer, and the attackers would perish. Asano made the point that his and Pelon's account were now even and left for the battle.
__________________________________________________ ____________

After thrashing Noldodan's small force with multiple attacks of archers and cavalry, Oishi had them on the run. With only a few stragglers in flight, Oishi called for a halt, and returned to the wooden and metal contraptions Noldodan had brought with him. "Secure these devices and bring them to Jakuza" he ordered. They appeared to be some kind of weapon, their purpose would soon be found out. Asano watched the fleeing group of men dissappear into the forest.

Zio entered the bar and looked around. Amidst the confusion he spotted an open bar stool. He sat down and ordered a beer and nori. The barkeep sets his food and drink in front of Zio, and he hands him a couple gold coins. Out of his pocket, he pulls Bon-Bon. He sets her on the table and she nibles on the nori. Zio looks around the bar and drinks his beer.

It was a normal night at the Omotesando. The tavern was staffed by 4 of Oishi's men, who deserve mention here. Tomo was behind the bar, a good sized man who knew the ins and outs of barkeeping. He was the twin brother of Tajo, who ran the bar during the day. Mamoru was there as a bouncer and would stand or sit by the door. His immense size sent an immediate message to all, leaving no doubt as to his purpose. Tomo and Tajo could both give him a run for his money in a wrestling match though. Managing the place was Kin. This man was business all the way. Good looking and smart, he had no problem being the charismatic bar manager. All 4 men had known each other for many years, so it was a good arrangement for staffing the Omo. There was a fifth man, but he was an alternate/relief guy, that few at the bar had seen.

In walks a man who takes a seat at the bar and orders a small meal and a beer. He's new to the Omo, so Tomo soon returns to strike up a conversation. Noticing the little mouse nibbling on the Nori, he says"Excuse me, sir. But we're not allowed to have animals in here."

"But she's not bothering anyone, she's just hungry" replied the man.

After finding out the man's name, Tomo says, "Look Zio, it's against the rules, why don't I get you a paper container, so you can take the food outside." And with that, he enters the back room, where Kin is at the desk. "There's a guy out here named Zio who has a small mouse eating his food at the bar. Cute mouse, but I told him he has to go." He then folds paper into a small cup.

Kim rises and walks to the curtain to peek through, "A mouse....?"

Zio, downs the rest of his beer, takes the food in the small paper cup and walks out. He grumbles something about the mouse being smarter than half the people there. Spying a bench in front of the Bar, Zio sits down.

"Well girl, I supose you must be used to now aren't you."

"Squeek."

"Oh well look at this,"

Zio holds up a gold coin,

"Swiped it off the chap next to us when he wasn't looking."

"Squeek Squeek."

"I know its not much, but it will have to do for now. Don't worry though that will all change soon."

Zio smiles, picks up Bon Bon and walks down the road whistling to himself.

The Omo had a mediocre crowd for a Thursday evening and Tomo felt it was the right time to try his idea for a drinking contest. Kim had more or less approved of the idea, giving approval on a trial basis. Tomo took a large serving spoon and hit it against one of the new beer mugs (with the introduction of glass, this place really rose in class). CLACK! CLACK!

"Attention, people! It's soon time for the new Thursday Night Drinking Contest! Anyone interested, please sign up. The contest goes as follows...
Each contestant will get 5 mugs of beer (free of charge), on the condition they drink all 5 one at a time, one right after the other. When all contestants have finished their beers, another 5 will be placed before them under the same conditions. If there are any eligible contestants after this round, another 5 mugs of beer will be placed before them, under the same conditions. Any contestant who passes out, leaves the bar, or does not adhere to the conditions is disqualified. Last man standing WINS! I am the Judge for the contest.

Now, who wants to sign up?

Jack Ijuno told Tomo I'll sign up.

"Excellent, Jack Ijuno. Congratulations on being the first to sign up for the Thursday Night Drinking Contest. You get a free mug for that!" A small round of applause went up and Jack Ijuno raised his mug in response.

Tajo, who had worked the dayshift, came down from his room and after the applause died down, he thanked the people mistakenly and told them that really wasn't necessary. :D

"I'd like to sign up for the Drinking Contest" he told his brother Tomo. "I think I can outlast Jack Ijuno. By the way, where's Hideyoshi? I asked him to be here. Told him about the free beer..."

Tomo gave him the "I dunno" look and put Tajo's name on the list, saying "Ok, who else wants wants to be the winner of the very first Drinking Contest at the Omotesando?"

Jack Ijuno said to Tajo I can outlast you i bet. see ya in the contest.
Thanks for the free mug Tomo!

"Ok", Tomo said. "Looks like that's all we have this time...Oh, wait.." He had seen the door open and Hideyoshi come through it. Hideyoshi moved past Tajo on his way to the bar, "Free beer?"

"Free beer." Tajo said with a smile as he followed. All three men standing side by side, waited for Tomo to finish setting up the beers. "Sure hope you gentlemen are thirsty", he said as he grabbed the serving spoon and mug again. CLACK CLACK

http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads8/ANINEW-EJ.gif As you can see by the sign on the wall, we have just received a new shipment of glass mugs. We will be using these mugs in the Contest tonight. Jack Ijuno has already won one of these mugs. The winner of this Contest will be awarded his very own LARGE sized mug. As you can see it has an nice handle on it and some fancy markings. OK, here we go. Gentlemen grab a beer and drink. Follow that with another until you have no more beer left. GO!

Each man picked up a beer and brought it his mouth. Tajo just poured his down slowly and reached for his second. Hideyoshi enjoyed the aroma of his beer before he chugged it down. Jack Ijuno gulped his in time to keep up with the other men, and as he set down his mug smiled with a large smile, topped with a moustache of beer foam. The second beer went the same, but the third beer showed Hideyoshi tipping back his head to swallow the beer. Problem was he kept on going. Like the image of a windmill, his beermug left the bar in a circular motion and kept on going, as his feet stayed planted before the bar and he fell flat on his back, sound asleep.

"Well, he didn't last long," Tomo said as he eyed the floored contestant, "ladies and gentlemen, it's now down to Tajo and Jack Ijuno..."

Both remaining contestants smiled as beer #4 went down a little slowly. Jack Isuno was a smaller man than Tajo, but most men were. As the the fifth mug hit the bar emptied and within seconds of each other, both men let out a disguised belch, in an attempt to act dignified. Tomo took a large soft-tipped drum stick and struck the gong behind the bar, it's sound echoed throughout the establishment. "End of round One", he declared and set up the next round of beers.

"Are you up for this?" Tajo asked Jack Ijuno, who was wavering a little bit...

Oh, yeess, defnately", was he reply "bring 'em on, heh!"

Tajo watched Jack Ijuno as he drank his sixth beer, slowly pouring his down at the same time. Jack Ijuno was still smiling, Tajo had to give him that. When Tajo slammed that beer mug down, one of Jack Ijuno's knees gave in and he fell towards Tajo, at least that's what appeared to have happened. Tajo grabbed him and stood him up while looking at Tomo. "Slide my beer over here", he said as he held Jack Ijuno up with one arm. He reached for the beer with the other and as he finished drinking it, he realized the Jack Ijuno was barely able to regain his stance. "You done, man?" he asked.

Jack Ijuno sat on the barstool next to him and said "Heck, no...". Then he put his head down on the bar and pointed his finger at Tajo like his was going to instruct him. But he never said a thing. He went right to sleep.

Tomo struck the Gong again claiming Tajo the winner and presenting him with the prize. "Thank you, all" he said just before he stepped outside to relief himself. A healthy round of applause followed him out the door. Mamoru moved Hideyoshi and Jack Ijuno to a comfortable booth, wishing he could have been in the contest.

"I could have beaten him", he grumbled...

Jack Ijuno said Oh well i can ry agian at least i have a free mug! and smiles and shrugs.

Some time after the drinking game, Noldodan walks in to the Omo. Fortunately, no one recognizes him, as the ragged weather-beaten man now looked completely different from the proud, confident Internal Security officer of a few weeks before. He did, however, recognize some of Asano's men in the bar, and Diana, but no Immo. And without Immo... the Omo just wasn't the same without Immo. He would have to find another place to meet the people he needed to. There had been a new place opening up, the Bada Bing. It looked rowdy, but perhaps he could contact the right people there. After all, good mercenaries were quite energetic.

Returning to the Omo after visiting the Temple, Kin walked slowly in the dark. He saw the door of the Omo open and light pour out as a man entered. The door slammed behind him. "Hmm, that man looks familiar."

As Kin stepped up on the porch and reached for the door, it opened. The same man that just entered was coming out. They turned sideways as they passed each other, and Kin recognized him as Noldodan. Noldo, it seemed to him had lost all of his privilaged status and was now homeless. Kin had to hold his nose as he passed, being grateful that old Noldo hadn't stayed. But who had he been looking for, that he didn't find? Was that the reason he had come here, yet left immediately?

Pelon hadn't been back since that night he spoke with Asano. Now Noldodan was homeless. Another strange turn of events. This would all go in his report to Oishi.
__________________________________________________ ________________

The n ext day, Kin rode out to the Jakuza. The road was now well traveled, as small shops had been set up on the outskirts of town. The road that lead NE to Jakuza had as many curious site-seers as it did merchants. As he got closer to the compound, he could see the wall erected, still incomplete, and the watchtower. Looking to the East, the trail of dust that was cased by wagons leading to and from the new river docks was easy to see. Soon Jakuza would be using the river for commerce, adding more strength to the organization. The Omo, as always, was turning a profit. The Harvest was starting to come in, and things were starting to come around. Asano had done well.

Jack Ijuno bored started to use his room wall as an archery practice target.
The noise of the arrows could be heard from the bar.
Compliants rose.

Jack Ijuno bored started to use his room wall as an archery practice target.
The noise of the arrows could be heard from the bar.
Compliants rose.

Kin had heard the thump, thump coming from upstairs too. He signals Mamoru to go check it out, who bounces up the stairs with amazing agility for his size. Listening in the hallway, Mamuro confirms his thought that the noise would be coming from Jack Ijuno's room. He knocks and when Jack Ijuno opens the door, the Bouncer looks past him to see about six arrows stuck in the plaster walls. "What, exactly are you doing?", the large man asks.

Jack Ijuno shrugs and tries to look past Mamuro, but fails as his visotor takes up the entire doorway, "I got bored, so I'm practicing my archery skills.", looking up at Mamuro now, he says "Want to try?" and offers Mamuro the bow. The big man just shakes his head, "I knew you were trouble when I first laid eyes on ya." He takes the bow and throws it into the hallway. Then he picks up Jack Ijuno and carries him, twisting and yelling to the bed. Then he holds Jack Ijuno upside down and shakes him until all the gold and any valuables fall from his pocket (which wasn't much) and then lets go. Jack Ijuno bounces up and down on the bed, eyes wide open, trying to get up. Mamuro grabs him by the ear and takes him downstairs to Kin.

"He's been shooting arrows into the wall of his room. He totally ruined the plasterwork. Should I introduce him to the street?" He said to the bar manager as Jack Ijuno twisted back and forth from the pain in his ear.

"Yes, please do", he looked at Jack Ijuno, "and don't come back. If I see you in here again, I will assume that you are here to pay me for the trouble you've caused or are just wanting to get your butt kicked. Understand?"

Jack Ijuno made a whining noise and a pleading look at Mamuro took him to the door. Jack Ijuno, now banned from the Omotesando, stood in the road, looking at the establishment. "Fine", he yelled. "I didn't need a roof over my head or good food anyway!" and strode off to the Training Room.

Jack Ijuno went in angrily. Give me a room and i wont do archery again or i will smash these chairs into bits with my sword. He waved his sword went upstairs and took his fromer room and locked the door.

Things had quieted down in Immo. Asano’s men mostly kept to themselves now, and neither Noldodan nor Pelon had been seen for some time. But that was about to change.

As Noldodan shuffled into the Bada Bing, he was assaulted by things he would not normally have stood for; drumbeats from every side, and from smoke (from incense and other sources) heavy in the air. He smiled. No one would expect Noldodan, the quintessential prudish, straitlaced Internal Security officer, in a place like the Bada Bing. The crowd was mostly the downtrodden waifs searching for a way to relieve the monotony of the day. The soldiers mostly went to the Omo, which offered better food, as well as a job as part of the Jakuza. But there were some here, some soldiers that liked the dirt and grime here. They were the mercenaries, the ones that wouldn’t be content with the peaceful life of the Jakuza, the kind that lived for adventure, even more than money.

Noldodan would only have one chance at this. He knew the town was replete with IS spies, and once one of them got a whiff of this, his goose was cooked. And so he made his move, trying to shout above the din of the “music”, failing miserably. A few people looked at him like he was crazy, but nothing else. This called for drastic measures. Pulling out a vial, he uncorked it and upended it into a wadded shred of cloth. Then, going around to each drummer, he would press it over his mouth, sending him into a deep sleep. Once most of the drummers were silenced, and before their replacements came on, he tried once again.

“Silence! People of Immo, and visiting strangers. We have been living in fear for too long, fear for our lives, fear for our lives, and our families’ lives. And this fear is not all of our enemies, the Romans or the Zulu. Our fear is of our own Internal Security Department, ruled with and iron hand by Lepsurusti. He is the mastermind of this empire of fear. He gave the order to kill suspected traitors on sight, with no regard to our own Code of Laws. He has been the one making the rules, rules that make no sense, rules that threaten us with torture for even the smallest bending of a rule that cannot be followed. He has even tried to shut down places like this, to make us live without a moment’s pleasure.” Just then, the cheering that had broken outreached a fevered pitch, drowning him out. The noise gradually settled down, and he began again. “But we do not need a mob to bring him down, a mob to be slaughtered by his trained killers. We need our own trained soldiers to fight to unseat this tyrant. But more than that, they need to be ready NOW! So now I come to my proposal: every man here, skilled with the sword, knife, or the bow, and willing to help kill Lepsurusti, be ready outside this bar in 10 minutes!”

It turned out better than he would have dared hoped. 58 trained men showed up, along with a number of regular townfolk, whose help was politely turned down. They had to leave that very night, or else the word would get to Lepsu before them, giving him time to prepare. But in his rage Noldodan didn’t remember the most important thing about Lepsu that he could have forgotten: Lepsu had a plan for everything, and especially for something like this. But Noldodan had his own plan, one that would catch Lepsu at his most vulnerable, where he never thought he could be attacked. Only a very few people knew about his yearly trip home, and those who did were the most loyal to him. If only he knew that Noldodan had grown up there too.

Tim walked in and sat at the bar. The bartender said, "You look thirsty. What would you like?" "Just some lemon water," Tim said, "By the way, how do I get to Osgiliath? I just immigrated and seem to have misplaced my map." The bartender brought Tim his drink and said, "Just go directly north, passing by Zojoji, and you'll see Osgiliath on the right." After thanking the bartender and finishing his drink, Tim started to leave. As he was leaving, he felt something in his pocket. He pulled it out and read, "Japanatican World Map, AD 170, by MSTK." He quickly put the map back in his pocket before anyone could see it.

Jack Ijuno went to the bar,and asked the bartender to forgive him for his evils commited there,and the bartender said "Yes!" and was supriesd when Jack gave 2 coins and he whispered to the bartender "These are enough to make your own armor and sword!,may i have some pork and lemon juice please?