RPG
Introduction
As the new millenium unfolds ancient forces awaken. Some grasp at power, others seek oblivion, but some wish only to exist peacefully along side us. All around the world people are developing strange powers and horrifying creatures are beginning to appear, shrouded in urban legends. Ancient creatures, dormant for centuries, frozen beneath the artic tundra and the earth’s crust stir as demons and spirits fight to break the barriers between their world and ours. It is a world where the real meets the mythical as modern day sorcerers battle alongside vampires and the creatures of the night to protect our world from lovecraftian horrors and demons of myth.
In the year 1999, on the eve of the new millennium a secret battle raged between the forces of mankind, led by the Mage’s circle and the church, and the forces of darkness under the control of the Prince of Darkness. This battle was brought to a swift and decisive conclusion when the Prince was slain by a small band of unlikely heroes led by the Saviour and his forces scattered. Mankind was saved, for the time being. Soon after cults of demon worshipping humans began to surface, proclaiming the return of the Prince of Darkness. This Dark Messiah they believed would plunge the world into chaos of the end times. Now, the Saviour has disappeared and the forces of darkness stir in the night.
The year is 2019 and in the city of Tokyo the second battle to decide the fate of the world is about to begin.
Factions:
The Mage’s Circle (The Circle of the Moon)
The Mage’s circle, (Also known as the ‘Circle of the Moon’) are a world wide organisation of sorcerers bound by a strict set of laws that govern the use of magic by its members. The circle also act as a police force for the supernatural world, ensuring that dark forces do not threaten the world. Every Mage belongs to the circle by default, though some have been known to go rogue, resulting in them becoming excommunicated by the Circle. Each Mage has a vote in matters decisions passed by the circle, but as with any form of politics those with more influence are given more weight. They are presided over by a ruling council of the oldest and wisest among them, many of whom are heads of the Magic society in their region. The ruling council of the Circle do not always agree and each of them has their own motives. They are generally opposed to the church, however they appear to be united by a common goal of protecting mankind from supernatural forces.
The Inquisition
The Catholic church is devoted to the eradication of occult elements in the world and for that reason they have often had need of force. The Inquisition acts as the church’s occult investigation branch, seeking out and eliminating those elements deemed by the church to be too dangerous to allow to wander. At various times this has extended to encompass vampires, mages and ‘heretics’. They employ a number of specially trained assassins and soldiers versed in traditional and more ‘esoteric’ forms of combat and warfare as well as scripture and rituals. The organisation itself answers only to the Pope, with a network of handlers taking care of intelligence and strategy throughout the world, coordinating the Inquisitions members on a grand scale as well as a micro scale.
The Order of the Dragon
Vampires, though disparate and fiercely independent have had to rely on each other’s strength in times of need for their survival. For that reason the Order of the Dragon exist. Descended from a certain historical order of the same name and bound by a common goal the Order of the Dragon keep watch over the vampire community in much the same way as the Circle of the Moon keep watch over that of mages. More akin to a secret society than a real governing body, they maintain a shadowy secrecy, rarely meeting and often bickering and engaging in petty politicking and plotting when they do. They are fragmented and prone to violent disputes. It takes something of true importance to get them to act as one.
Pandora (The Apostles of the Sun)
Pandora have devoted themselves to the creation of ‘paradise on earth’ by eliminating mankind from the face of the world. They seek the awakening of a being they refer to as the ‘Dark Messiah’, who they claim will lead them into the future with his power. They believe that mankind is inferior and is a harmful parasite on the world. They come from all over the world and all walks of life, united by their common goal. Some hate mankind, others merely believe that they are begin guided by fate. Others simply have nowhere to turn, allying with Pandora out of necessity. They have gained power by entering into a pact with demons, in effect allowing themselves to become possessed in return for power. Some are subservient to their demons, others have utterly subjugated them, others have entered into a strange symbiosis and others still are in a constant mental struggle with their other. They have not yet revealed themselves to the other factions, though they and the Arcana are aware of each other‘s existence. They believe that the Dark Messiah is humanity’s natural enemy, a force of nature that will protect the natural order by eliminating humans harmful presence.
Arcana (The Apostles of the Moon)
If the Apostles seek death, Arcana wish for life. They are devoted to protecting mankind to that it may ascend to a higher state of being, regardless of the effect it has on the world at large. For that reason they will stamp out any and all threats to human life and to do so they seek the Dark Messiah’s power. Arcana consist of many members, a veritable army under the command of the ‘Major Arcana’, humans of powerful paranormal ability and power who take on the role of protectors of humanity. Each of them has assumed a second identity, that of the Major Arcana of the Tarot that best suits their powers. These powers have come into being thanks to the advances in human evolution, superhuman strength, clairvoyance, mind control and other psychic abilities as well as paranormal powers beyond traditional classification. As with Pandora members come from all walks of life and locations, united by their emergent powers and the will to protect mankind. They see the Dark Messiah, who was once human as being the ultimate representative of humanity and its potential. They believe the Dark Messiah is humanity’s guardian and seek to ressurect him so that he can continue to protect humanity.
The Illuminati
The Illuminati, favourite of the conspiracy theorists of the world have secretly been guiding history with a gentle hand. They possess no supernatural powers of any kind, armed only with knowledge, they have manipulated governments and nations according to their whims. Guided by ancient prophetic writings and studies of their enemy they seek to maintain the status quo and the shape of the world under their rule. They are headed by the wise man’s council, a group of the greatest scholars, mystics, scientists and leaders of our time. However, due to their nature they often spend more time deliberating their plans then putting them into action. Chief among their arsenal is the dead sea scrolls, which they believe hold the key to the outcome of the monumental events that face the world.
The Demon Kings
In the depths of the underworld the Demon kings plot their next move. They plot and fight among one another, waging endless wars in which monarchs are overthrown and usurped on regularly. But now, with the gateways to the mortal plane opening many of the demon kings have turned their gaze towards our world. A world they see as rightfully theirs. Their goals are many. Some seek the subjugation of the mortal world under their rule, others seek only war and destruction, there are even those who care not for the affairs of humans and their world, preferring to live in blissful peace. But common among them is the fact that we humans are of no consequence, a minor distraction to be discarded at a whim, and our world little more than another realm to be fought over.
The Old Ones
Deep in the depths of the earth’s surface, in the darkest oceans and within frozen ice caps the Old Ones lie dormant. Old gods who once roamed the stars and were worshipped as deities by our primitive ancestors. The Old Ones have no interest in the affairs of man, they sleep in the farthest corners of the earth, occasionally stirring to toy with mortals, perhaps gifting them with power beyond imagining, perhaps simply to drive them insane with their mere presence. Cults of followers worship them still, tending to their ‘gods’ and offering up sacrifices.
Guardians:
Every species has its heroes. Those beings whose actions have elevated them to the status of legends. These heroes act as representatives to their species, serving to protect it in times of great need. Their main duty is to prevent the extinction of their species when it is threatened and to ensure its survival. Guardians may not necessarily choose their fate, instead one can say that they are chosen by fate.
Character Types:
Humans
Self explanatory. They have no extraordinary abilities to speak of.
Alters
Nineteen years ago a cataclysmic battle between the forces of darkness and the forces of humanity occurred. This battle ended when the Pprince of Darkness himself was slain. Since that time people with supernatural abilities have begun to emerge. These people, known as Alters, are kept secret from public knowledge, hiding their abilities. The nature of an Alter’s power can range from the simple such as superhuman strength, flight or mind control, to the exotic, such as the ability to travel through shadows, or see through reflective surfaces.
Demons
Ancient beings who roamed the earth long before mankind. They possess tremendous power and take many forms. The most powerful among them are venerated in myth as deities. Their existence is a secret outside those who have come into direct contact with them and the organisations listed above. The most common kind of demon possesses no real intelligence, being like animals for the most part, the most powerful among them possess intellect and knowledge far in advance of any mortal and wield arcane power of monstrous proportions. For the most part they are trapped in the ‘underworld’, a hellish plane where chaos reigns, ruled over by the Demon Kings. However a few have broken through to the mortal world where they pursue their own ends. Some have blended in with the human population, living amongst them. Others prey upon humans for their own purposes and others still seek to fulfil the orders of their masters and pave the way for more of their kind. They are cold and calculating, caring very little for humans, seeing them as disposable tools and amusements at best. At worst they see them as inconsequential. A demon interacting with a human is akin to a human tormenting an insect. The insect cannot truly understand what is happening to it or the reasons behind it due to the difference in their minds.
Angels
Demons who masquerade as benefactors to humans. They have altered their appearance to be less terrifying, though their intentions are not necessarily any more benign. As with demons, they seek their own ends and for the most part have little real affection for humans.
Psychics
Human beings who have developed highly attuned mental powers. The exact reason behind their powers is not known, some have theorised that they developed as part of the next step of evolution. Psychic powers include but are not limited to telekinesis, telepathy, clairvoyance, pyrokinesis and cryokinesis. Psychic abilities typically develop around puberty and it has been known for a psychic to lose control of their powers, typically with horrific results.
Mages
Human beings who have turned to ancient esoteric knowledge as a means of harnessing tremendous occult power. Magic itself is varied, ranging from protective barriers, enchantments, attack spells, curses and divination by way of talismans, incantations and lengthy rituals. The various schools of magic are in constant disagreement with each other, resulting in considerable tension within the Mage’s circle. Persecuted throughout history mages and sorcerers have hidden themselves among the population the world over. Magic requires tremendous effort and skill to understand, taking many years of hard study to truly master.
Revenants
Revenants are the souls of the dead summoned by a mage, usually to serve the purpose of a guardian or ally. A revenant bound to the mortal plane can take physical form if supplied with enough power by its summoner, otherwise it remains incorporeal, unable to affect the world of the living. Revenants retain the memories, personalities and in many cases skills and abilities of their previous lives. The spirits of ancient heroes are prized among sorcerers who use them as servants and bodyguards due to their spectacular powers and abilities. If a Revenant’s link to its summoner is cut it will begin to fade, likewise if it expends its magical power then it will disintegrate, unable to maintain its presence on the world any longer.
Ghosts
Unlike Spirits, who have been summoned to the mortal world from their rest in the afterlife, ghosts are forced to wander the world by their own tortured souls. Unable to find rest they haunt the living in incorporeal bodies. With time they can learn to manipulate objects through telekinesis and become poltergeists. Ghosts retain their personalities, but none of the memories of their former lives.
Spectres
The tortured souls of the vengeful dead. A person who is murdered or dies an unjust death will be unable to rest, their vengeful thoughts and emotions festering during their imprisonment in the limbo of undeath. As these emotions grow stronger so do their powers until they can manifest themselves on the mortal plane through sheer force of will. These spectres are driven to avenge themselves through any means necessary, sometimes without even realising the reason for their actions. They have incredible physical abilities and occult powers and the ability to become incorporeal at will. Many are doomed to wander the world forever unfulfilled, the object of their vengeance having long since passed away.
Wraiths
Often mistaken for demons, these bizarre creatures exhibit powers far greater than most of mankind and have preyed on them since ancient times, devouring the souls of other creatures to sate their never ending hunger. Wraiths can move between the planes at will, however most prefer to remain in Purgatory, a realm within the Spectral plane where lost souls wander, finding little reason to cross over to the mortal plane. A spectre, once it has wandered for long enough will eventually adapt to their new existence and develop a hunger for other souls. They will begin to devour other souls, growing in power. They are a mass of tortured souls who will never find rest, their identities soon becoming lost amongst those of their victims, forming a gestalt entity formed from the minds and souls of those they have devoured.
The Wraiths themselves have no hierarchy, wandering alone, though weaker Wraiths often crowd around stronger ones, living off their cast offs like parasites. The more powerful a Wraith grows, the further from human its form becomes, with the oldest Wraiths (classed as ‘Tyranno’ by the Magi) resembling horrific creatures of bone and shadow the size of skyscrapers.
Contractors
Through history it has been known for humans to sell ones soul to demonic entities for great power. Those who enter into these Faustian pacts become cold hearted and callous, walking shadows of their former selves. Their personalities are blank as they no longer have the capacity for emotion. They know no joy, fear sorrow or anger, instead they act purely on self interest and cold logic. These people are often employed by magic organisations across the world for clandestine operations and often coming into conflict with each other. Their contracts often contain restrictions or clauses in return for the use of their powers, ranging from feeling the pain of their victims, completing a drawn out ritual to losing their senses. Contractors never work alone, but are often employed by a parent organisation for use as mercenaries or assassins.
Erratics
Contractors who have been driven mad by their powers. After an certain amount of time without a soul a Contractor will begin to develop odd personality traits and quirks in their behaviour, eventually derailing into full blown psychosis. The reason for this madness is not known at this point in time, and the amount of time it takes varies from case to case. One theory goes that a human mind cannot cope with existence without the presence of emotion and will begin to deteriorate as a result. One thing is for certain though, and that is that an Erratic is a truly dangerous foe to confront.
Monsters
Residents of the world of beasts, in ancient times some of these creatures managed to cross over to the mortal world, becoming part of the myths and legends of ancient cultures. Beasts like the Hydra, medusa and Ifrit. They can be summoned from their world by experienced sorcerers. Those who become trapped here hide in remote regions where they can prey on unsuspecting humans.
Werewolves
The cursed offspring of an unholy union between man and monster. Werewolves are cursed to transform into a large, unnaturally strong wolf on a full moon and in times of extreme stress. This change is often involuntary, and the victim remains unconscious throughout as their instincts take hold over them. Werewolves by birth have much greater control over their abilities, remaining conscious of their transformation Werewolves live in close knit communities traditionally, however their dwindling numbers have caused them to become remote, hiding amongst humans and in many cases unaware of the existence of more of their kind. A werewolf’s senses are extremely sensitive and their physical abilities are far above a human’s even while they retain their human form. They are highly resistant to damage, being able to shrug off mortal injuries like they were flesh wounds leading them to be known for their ‘immortal bodies‘. However, as with other regenerating species, if one can cause enough damage to their bodies, their regenerative abilities can be overpowered. They are also vulnerable to silver and mercury as well as decapitation.
Vampires
Offspring of the prince of Darkness himself. Vampires are vile unnatural creatures, cursed to walk the mortal world as a supernatural monster, devouring the blood of the living. Vampires do not procreate in the traditional manner, instead passing on the curse to victims of their choosing. Since vampires exist only as undead corpses they cannot crossbreed, as a result there are no half vampires.
A vampire gains the ability to shape shift, allowing them to alter their appearance to pass for a normal human being or take the form of a wolf, bat or mist. Vampires have no specific allegiance to either good nor evil, generally being completely amoral. A typical vampire wields their power like a tyrant, acting in their own interests with their own unknowable inhuman logic.
Abilities include strong psychic abilities, including telekinesis, telepathy, hypnotism and illusory powers. They also possess extreme physical prowess, granting them strength and speed beyond the norm as well as advanced regeneration. However vampiric abilities vary greatly between the individual, some develop strong affinity to magic while others are granted more esoteric abilities. Vampires are feared due to their immense power, however this is not to say they are invincible. They are susceptible to decapitation, silver, fire and magic. While a they possess strong regenerative abilities they can also be slain through conventional methods. They are weakened by sunlight, their strength only just above that of a typical human during the daytime and it causes them some discomfort.
Homunculi:
A homunculus is a man made living being created through the arcane sciences of alchemy and magic. They appear human for all intents and purposes, but lack a soul, leaving them blank, emotionless shells much like Contractors. Like living computers they are used primarily for intelligence gathering due to their highly powerful innate psychic powers and ability to store information like a database. Some have been ‘programmed’ to affect a personality of their owner’s choosing and some Mages use them as companions.
Gods/Spirits:
While not Gods in the traditional sense, these spiritual beings govern the workings of the world. According to the Shinto faith everything, even inanimate objects, has its own spirit. These spirits are concerned with the natural order of the world, and as part of the celestial hierarchy are involved in rectifying imbalances and disorder within the world. This task involves a vast bureaucracy of various spirits who manage the minutiae of the world, from a small army of Death Gods who are tasked with guiding the souls of the departed to their final destination to Wind Gods whose job it is to manage the weather patterns. However, in recent years the world has been increasingly thrown into disarray for mysterious reasons, causing a great deal of concern between the Gods. The Gods are largely unconcerned with humanity, and leave them alone, only stepping into the fray when the world at large is threatened by malevolent forces as was the case in the war of the Eclipse at the end of the Millenium.
Gods vary greatly in power, being blessed with control over a specific element or a power that aids them in their allotted task (A God of a forest being able to control plant life etc). However, their powers are not limited to only their field, as they also possess a number of general purpose magical abilities. Their strength also varies greatly, with older Gods generally having had longer to accumulate and develop their power and being more proficient in its use. Their society is largely based around the celestial hierarchy, with older and more powerful Gods in charge of the overall cosmos and handing down tasks to those below them. While Gods cannot be seen by regular people in their normal forms they can be sensed by animals, young children and those with particularly keen spiritual or magical or psychic abilities like mages or psychics. On the rare occasion that a God takes mortal form they can assume a form of their choosing, shaping it to their liking. However this makes them weaker and more vulnerable. If a God dies in their mortal body they die for good like any other creature.
Sorcery:
There are two major branches within the magic Eastern and Western magic, with the main branch of Western magic being based in France and the main branch of Eastern magic being based in China. Within these branches are regional bodies, such as the Albion Magic association, based in England. And even further down the chain there exists countless other minor schools. As practitioners adapt their teachings they eventually come to develop into a unique style of their own. Magic from one country may differ significantly from that of another and different people will adapt these further, becoming unique to a particular family.
Western magic:
Based primarily in Europe.
Places much emphasis on the will of the magician. Power is drawn from within and focussed through the will of the caster. They tend to use their own bodies as circuits for the power they generate though some are known to use focussing objects like wands, staffs etc. Incantations and hand seals are used to focus the caster’s will by use of key phrases which can be different for each caster. These phrases are used to remind the caster of how to perform the required ‘spell’ in a similar way to a mnemonic.
A typical example of western magic is the creation of a bolt of lightning to attack ones enemies. Other more esoteric uses include the manipulation of time or the creation of a defensive barrier.
The philosophical belief behind western magic is that one should be able to stand alone. They do not believe in a unifying force, rather that every person stands alone as a source of value and power within the universe and that improvement of the self is the path to enlightenment and true perfection. There is a strong a posteriori element to western magic, believing that knowledge can only be gained through the senses and experience. Western magic is far more rational and logical in it’s explanations, believing that the magic is simply another form of science and that the force behind it is simply a part of nature.
Eastern magic:
Based primarily in East Asia.
In contrast to western magic, eastern schools place more emphasis on the use of naturally occurring magical forces, drawing power from the world around them. They make extensive use of talismans and charms, allowing them to bypass the natural resistance of the human body to magical energies. Magic in the east is tied intimately to religion, with many priests being magicians and vice versa. Eastern magicians tend to use invocations to call upon spirits and the forces of nature. Will power is still required to tame these force to ones will. Small spells like a fire bolt are simple for even inexperienced magicians whilst calling upon the elemental spirit of fire itself requires one to bring it completely under ones will, a feat achieved by only a handful.
A typical example of Eastern magic is the creation of small talismans that can be used to summon orbs of flame for offensive purposes. Other uses include the enchantment of an object to enhance it’s abilities.
The philosophical aspect of eastern magic is deeply ingrained within it’s teachings. It teaches that all people are part of a whole, that every person and every inanimate object, from a grain of sand to the great vacuum of space is as one, unified by the binding life force known as ‘Chi‘. As such there is a strong emphasis on a priori philosophy, the belief that there are some truths that can be gained without the senses through deep contemplation and meditation.
Sub schools:
Outlined below are a few sub schools of magic that focus on specific aspects.
Necromancy:
The raising of and control of the dead. A necromancer has the power to reanimate dead matter, controlling it as he sees fit. They can command this reanimated matter to do their bidding, zombies can be commanded to attack independently for example. They will perform their duties to the best of their understanding and will not stop until they are unable to do so (being destroyed or trapped for instance) or have achieved their goal, at which point they will become mindless and wait for the next order from their master. Since they lack higher brain functions the corpses have a limited understanding and any orders must be given clearly and precisely to prevent them from acting wrongly. The act of genuine ressurection is impossible, though with considerable effort on the part of the summoner one can draw the soul of the recently departed and bind it to the mortal plane.
Illusion:
The creation of imaginary constructs through the manipulation of raw magical energies. Depending on the caster’s will power these constructs can range from small, intangible simple objects to large, complex scenes with many independent entities that look, sound and feel real. However, these illusions are only that, illusions. They are not real and cannot affect the real world in any way, though they can trick the observer into believing so if used correctly. For instance, an illusory sword cannot cut someone, though it can create a further illusion that the recipient of a wound has been cut as well as the sensation of pain and even death if the illusion is realistic enough. With enough will power one can see through an illusion.
Chronomancy:
The manipulation of time is an incredibly rare and difficult power to master. Time travel itself is considered an impossibility by most, though some still research it, hoping to make a breakthrough. Practitioners of Chronomancy can shift and manipulate time to their whims. They can cause an object to age or de-age and create a field that freezes others in place while they move normally amongst other things.
Summoning:
Summoning is an integral part of many schools of magic, due to it’s complicated nature it has been given a section of its own.
The summoning of and bargaining with spirits from other planes of existence is a difficult skill to master, it requires not only great willpower but great discipline and in some cases a certain cunning. Whilst some of the more benign entities will be happy to lend help or enter into an arrangement with the caster others will require more convincing. Certain malign beings may try to deceive or harm the summoner. More neutral beings will require some mutually beneficial arrangement or compensation.
Amongst the creatures that can be summoned are Demons, spirits or mythical beasts (such as Orochi, Cerberus, Fafnir etc). Demons will only appear to a select few whom they deem worthy and only if they feel they will benefit from the arrangement. If one knows the name of a specific entity one can try summoning them in particular, with varying degrees of success. An entity can be summoned against its will.
To summon the spirit of a dead person requires particular ability due to the difficulty of the act. Due to the nature of the cycle of death and rebirth a spirit must be either recently departed, trapped in the spectral plane or residing in paradise. To draw the spirit of one who has become part of the circle of fate the practitioner must forcibly extract the spirit before it reaches the void and becomes stripped of its memories and sense of self. This takes extraordinary skill and strength of will to prevent the practitioner losing themselves in the torrent of souls.
One typical use for summoned entities is for use as a guardian spirit. The summoned entity and the summoner enter into a contract whereby the spirit acts as a protector or companion to the summoner in the mortal plane. These contracts require the summoner to lend a portion of their power to the entity for as long as they remain on this plane.
When summoning a magician will enter into an arrangement with the summoned entity, this contract or pact must be agreed to by both parties of their own free will and will usually but not always leave some token of sorts, either a mark on the bodies of each participant or an item of some sort. Once the pact is finished or broken this mark or item shall disappear.
Summoners are advised to use a seal of some sort to house themselves whilst the deal is being made. While within this seal the summoner is safe from the influence of the summoned entity, though leaving for any reason will nullify this protection.
If for any reason a summoning is not completed it can have disastrous consequences such as the loss of power or memory on behalf of the summoned entity.
In the year 1999, on the eve of the new millennium a secret battle raged between the forces of mankind, led by the Mage’s circle and the church, and the forces of darkness under the control of the Prince of Darkness. This battle was brought to a swift and decisive conclusion when the Prince was slain by a small band of unlikely heroes led by the Saviour and his forces scattered. Mankind was saved, for the time being. Soon after cults of demon worshipping humans began to surface, proclaiming the return of the Prince of Darkness. This Dark Messiah they believed would plunge the world into chaos of the end times. Now, the Saviour has disappeared and the forces of darkness stir in the night.
The year is 2019 and in the city of Tokyo the second battle to decide the fate of the world is about to begin.
Factions:
The Mage’s Circle (The Circle of the Moon)
The Mage’s circle, (Also known as the ‘Circle of the Moon’) are a world wide organisation of sorcerers bound by a strict set of laws that govern the use of magic by its members. The circle also act as a police force for the supernatural world, ensuring that dark forces do not threaten the world. Every Mage belongs to the circle by default, though some have been known to go rogue, resulting in them becoming excommunicated by the Circle. Each Mage has a vote in matters decisions passed by the circle, but as with any form of politics those with more influence are given more weight. They are presided over by a ruling council of the oldest and wisest among them, many of whom are heads of the Magic society in their region. The ruling council of the Circle do not always agree and each of them has their own motives. They are generally opposed to the church, however they appear to be united by a common goal of protecting mankind from supernatural forces.
The Inquisition
The Catholic church is devoted to the eradication of occult elements in the world and for that reason they have often had need of force. The Inquisition acts as the church’s occult investigation branch, seeking out and eliminating those elements deemed by the church to be too dangerous to allow to wander. At various times this has extended to encompass vampires, mages and ‘heretics’. They employ a number of specially trained assassins and soldiers versed in traditional and more ‘esoteric’ forms of combat and warfare as well as scripture and rituals. The organisation itself answers only to the Pope, with a network of handlers taking care of intelligence and strategy throughout the world, coordinating the Inquisitions members on a grand scale as well as a micro scale.
The Order of the Dragon
Vampires, though disparate and fiercely independent have had to rely on each other’s strength in times of need for their survival. For that reason the Order of the Dragon exist. Descended from a certain historical order of the same name and bound by a common goal the Order of the Dragon keep watch over the vampire community in much the same way as the Circle of the Moon keep watch over that of mages. More akin to a secret society than a real governing body, they maintain a shadowy secrecy, rarely meeting and often bickering and engaging in petty politicking and plotting when they do. They are fragmented and prone to violent disputes. It takes something of true importance to get them to act as one.
Pandora (The Apostles of the Sun)
Pandora have devoted themselves to the creation of ‘paradise on earth’ by eliminating mankind from the face of the world. They seek the awakening of a being they refer to as the ‘Dark Messiah’, who they claim will lead them into the future with his power. They believe that mankind is inferior and is a harmful parasite on the world. They come from all over the world and all walks of life, united by their common goal. Some hate mankind, others merely believe that they are begin guided by fate. Others simply have nowhere to turn, allying with Pandora out of necessity. They have gained power by entering into a pact with demons, in effect allowing themselves to become possessed in return for power. Some are subservient to their demons, others have utterly subjugated them, others have entered into a strange symbiosis and others still are in a constant mental struggle with their other. They have not yet revealed themselves to the other factions, though they and the Arcana are aware of each other‘s existence. They believe that the Dark Messiah is humanity’s natural enemy, a force of nature that will protect the natural order by eliminating humans harmful presence.
Arcana (The Apostles of the Moon)
If the Apostles seek death, Arcana wish for life. They are devoted to protecting mankind to that it may ascend to a higher state of being, regardless of the effect it has on the world at large. For that reason they will stamp out any and all threats to human life and to do so they seek the Dark Messiah’s power. Arcana consist of many members, a veritable army under the command of the ‘Major Arcana’, humans of powerful paranormal ability and power who take on the role of protectors of humanity. Each of them has assumed a second identity, that of the Major Arcana of the Tarot that best suits their powers. These powers have come into being thanks to the advances in human evolution, superhuman strength, clairvoyance, mind control and other psychic abilities as well as paranormal powers beyond traditional classification. As with Pandora members come from all walks of life and locations, united by their emergent powers and the will to protect mankind. They see the Dark Messiah, who was once human as being the ultimate representative of humanity and its potential. They believe the Dark Messiah is humanity’s guardian and seek to ressurect him so that he can continue to protect humanity.
The Illuminati
The Illuminati, favourite of the conspiracy theorists of the world have secretly been guiding history with a gentle hand. They possess no supernatural powers of any kind, armed only with knowledge, they have manipulated governments and nations according to their whims. Guided by ancient prophetic writings and studies of their enemy they seek to maintain the status quo and the shape of the world under their rule. They are headed by the wise man’s council, a group of the greatest scholars, mystics, scientists and leaders of our time. However, due to their nature they often spend more time deliberating their plans then putting them into action. Chief among their arsenal is the dead sea scrolls, which they believe hold the key to the outcome of the monumental events that face the world.
The Demon Kings
In the depths of the underworld the Demon kings plot their next move. They plot and fight among one another, waging endless wars in which monarchs are overthrown and usurped on regularly. But now, with the gateways to the mortal plane opening many of the demon kings have turned their gaze towards our world. A world they see as rightfully theirs. Their goals are many. Some seek the subjugation of the mortal world under their rule, others seek only war and destruction, there are even those who care not for the affairs of humans and their world, preferring to live in blissful peace. But common among them is the fact that we humans are of no consequence, a minor distraction to be discarded at a whim, and our world little more than another realm to be fought over.
The Old Ones
Deep in the depths of the earth’s surface, in the darkest oceans and within frozen ice caps the Old Ones lie dormant. Old gods who once roamed the stars and were worshipped as deities by our primitive ancestors. The Old Ones have no interest in the affairs of man, they sleep in the farthest corners of the earth, occasionally stirring to toy with mortals, perhaps gifting them with power beyond imagining, perhaps simply to drive them insane with their mere presence. Cults of followers worship them still, tending to their ‘gods’ and offering up sacrifices.
Guardians:
Every species has its heroes. Those beings whose actions have elevated them to the status of legends. These heroes act as representatives to their species, serving to protect it in times of great need. Their main duty is to prevent the extinction of their species when it is threatened and to ensure its survival. Guardians may not necessarily choose their fate, instead one can say that they are chosen by fate.
Character Types:
Humans
Self explanatory. They have no extraordinary abilities to speak of.
Alters
Nineteen years ago a cataclysmic battle between the forces of darkness and the forces of humanity occurred. This battle ended when the Pprince of Darkness himself was slain. Since that time people with supernatural abilities have begun to emerge. These people, known as Alters, are kept secret from public knowledge, hiding their abilities. The nature of an Alter’s power can range from the simple such as superhuman strength, flight or mind control, to the exotic, such as the ability to travel through shadows, or see through reflective surfaces.
Demons
Ancient beings who roamed the earth long before mankind. They possess tremendous power and take many forms. The most powerful among them are venerated in myth as deities. Their existence is a secret outside those who have come into direct contact with them and the organisations listed above. The most common kind of demon possesses no real intelligence, being like animals for the most part, the most powerful among them possess intellect and knowledge far in advance of any mortal and wield arcane power of monstrous proportions. For the most part they are trapped in the ‘underworld’, a hellish plane where chaos reigns, ruled over by the Demon Kings. However a few have broken through to the mortal world where they pursue their own ends. Some have blended in with the human population, living amongst them. Others prey upon humans for their own purposes and others still seek to fulfil the orders of their masters and pave the way for more of their kind. They are cold and calculating, caring very little for humans, seeing them as disposable tools and amusements at best. At worst they see them as inconsequential. A demon interacting with a human is akin to a human tormenting an insect. The insect cannot truly understand what is happening to it or the reasons behind it due to the difference in their minds.
Angels
Demons who masquerade as benefactors to humans. They have altered their appearance to be less terrifying, though their intentions are not necessarily any more benign. As with demons, they seek their own ends and for the most part have little real affection for humans.
Psychics
Human beings who have developed highly attuned mental powers. The exact reason behind their powers is not known, some have theorised that they developed as part of the next step of evolution. Psychic powers include but are not limited to telekinesis, telepathy, clairvoyance, pyrokinesis and cryokinesis. Psychic abilities typically develop around puberty and it has been known for a psychic to lose control of their powers, typically with horrific results.
Mages
Human beings who have turned to ancient esoteric knowledge as a means of harnessing tremendous occult power. Magic itself is varied, ranging from protective barriers, enchantments, attack spells, curses and divination by way of talismans, incantations and lengthy rituals. The various schools of magic are in constant disagreement with each other, resulting in considerable tension within the Mage’s circle. Persecuted throughout history mages and sorcerers have hidden themselves among the population the world over. Magic requires tremendous effort and skill to understand, taking many years of hard study to truly master.
Revenants
Revenants are the souls of the dead summoned by a mage, usually to serve the purpose of a guardian or ally. A revenant bound to the mortal plane can take physical form if supplied with enough power by its summoner, otherwise it remains incorporeal, unable to affect the world of the living. Revenants retain the memories, personalities and in many cases skills and abilities of their previous lives. The spirits of ancient heroes are prized among sorcerers who use them as servants and bodyguards due to their spectacular powers and abilities. If a Revenant’s link to its summoner is cut it will begin to fade, likewise if it expends its magical power then it will disintegrate, unable to maintain its presence on the world any longer.
Ghosts
Unlike Spirits, who have been summoned to the mortal world from their rest in the afterlife, ghosts are forced to wander the world by their own tortured souls. Unable to find rest they haunt the living in incorporeal bodies. With time they can learn to manipulate objects through telekinesis and become poltergeists. Ghosts retain their personalities, but none of the memories of their former lives.
Spectres
The tortured souls of the vengeful dead. A person who is murdered or dies an unjust death will be unable to rest, their vengeful thoughts and emotions festering during their imprisonment in the limbo of undeath. As these emotions grow stronger so do their powers until they can manifest themselves on the mortal plane through sheer force of will. These spectres are driven to avenge themselves through any means necessary, sometimes without even realising the reason for their actions. They have incredible physical abilities and occult powers and the ability to become incorporeal at will. Many are doomed to wander the world forever unfulfilled, the object of their vengeance having long since passed away.
Wraiths
Often mistaken for demons, these bizarre creatures exhibit powers far greater than most of mankind and have preyed on them since ancient times, devouring the souls of other creatures to sate their never ending hunger. Wraiths can move between the planes at will, however most prefer to remain in Purgatory, a realm within the Spectral plane where lost souls wander, finding little reason to cross over to the mortal plane. A spectre, once it has wandered for long enough will eventually adapt to their new existence and develop a hunger for other souls. They will begin to devour other souls, growing in power. They are a mass of tortured souls who will never find rest, their identities soon becoming lost amongst those of their victims, forming a gestalt entity formed from the minds and souls of those they have devoured.
The Wraiths themselves have no hierarchy, wandering alone, though weaker Wraiths often crowd around stronger ones, living off their cast offs like parasites. The more powerful a Wraith grows, the further from human its form becomes, with the oldest Wraiths (classed as ‘Tyranno’ by the Magi) resembling horrific creatures of bone and shadow the size of skyscrapers.
Contractors
Through history it has been known for humans to sell ones soul to demonic entities for great power. Those who enter into these Faustian pacts become cold hearted and callous, walking shadows of their former selves. Their personalities are blank as they no longer have the capacity for emotion. They know no joy, fear sorrow or anger, instead they act purely on self interest and cold logic. These people are often employed by magic organisations across the world for clandestine operations and often coming into conflict with each other. Their contracts often contain restrictions or clauses in return for the use of their powers, ranging from feeling the pain of their victims, completing a drawn out ritual to losing their senses. Contractors never work alone, but are often employed by a parent organisation for use as mercenaries or assassins.
Erratics
Contractors who have been driven mad by their powers. After an certain amount of time without a soul a Contractor will begin to develop odd personality traits and quirks in their behaviour, eventually derailing into full blown psychosis. The reason for this madness is not known at this point in time, and the amount of time it takes varies from case to case. One theory goes that a human mind cannot cope with existence without the presence of emotion and will begin to deteriorate as a result. One thing is for certain though, and that is that an Erratic is a truly dangerous foe to confront.
Monsters
Residents of the world of beasts, in ancient times some of these creatures managed to cross over to the mortal world, becoming part of the myths and legends of ancient cultures. Beasts like the Hydra, medusa and Ifrit. They can be summoned from their world by experienced sorcerers. Those who become trapped here hide in remote regions where they can prey on unsuspecting humans.
Werewolves
The cursed offspring of an unholy union between man and monster. Werewolves are cursed to transform into a large, unnaturally strong wolf on a full moon and in times of extreme stress. This change is often involuntary, and the victim remains unconscious throughout as their instincts take hold over them. Werewolves by birth have much greater control over their abilities, remaining conscious of their transformation Werewolves live in close knit communities traditionally, however their dwindling numbers have caused them to become remote, hiding amongst humans and in many cases unaware of the existence of more of their kind. A werewolf’s senses are extremely sensitive and their physical abilities are far above a human’s even while they retain their human form. They are highly resistant to damage, being able to shrug off mortal injuries like they were flesh wounds leading them to be known for their ‘immortal bodies‘. However, as with other regenerating species, if one can cause enough damage to their bodies, their regenerative abilities can be overpowered. They are also vulnerable to silver and mercury as well as decapitation.
Vampires
Offspring of the prince of Darkness himself. Vampires are vile unnatural creatures, cursed to walk the mortal world as a supernatural monster, devouring the blood of the living. Vampires do not procreate in the traditional manner, instead passing on the curse to victims of their choosing. Since vampires exist only as undead corpses they cannot crossbreed, as a result there are no half vampires.
A vampire gains the ability to shape shift, allowing them to alter their appearance to pass for a normal human being or take the form of a wolf, bat or mist. Vampires have no specific allegiance to either good nor evil, generally being completely amoral. A typical vampire wields their power like a tyrant, acting in their own interests with their own unknowable inhuman logic.
Abilities include strong psychic abilities, including telekinesis, telepathy, hypnotism and illusory powers. They also possess extreme physical prowess, granting them strength and speed beyond the norm as well as advanced regeneration. However vampiric abilities vary greatly between the individual, some develop strong affinity to magic while others are granted more esoteric abilities. Vampires are feared due to their immense power, however this is not to say they are invincible. They are susceptible to decapitation, silver, fire and magic. While a they possess strong regenerative abilities they can also be slain through conventional methods. They are weakened by sunlight, their strength only just above that of a typical human during the daytime and it causes them some discomfort.
Homunculi:
A homunculus is a man made living being created through the arcane sciences of alchemy and magic. They appear human for all intents and purposes, but lack a soul, leaving them blank, emotionless shells much like Contractors. Like living computers they are used primarily for intelligence gathering due to their highly powerful innate psychic powers and ability to store information like a database. Some have been ‘programmed’ to affect a personality of their owner’s choosing and some Mages use them as companions.
Gods/Spirits:
While not Gods in the traditional sense, these spiritual beings govern the workings of the world. According to the Shinto faith everything, even inanimate objects, has its own spirit. These spirits are concerned with the natural order of the world, and as part of the celestial hierarchy are involved in rectifying imbalances and disorder within the world. This task involves a vast bureaucracy of various spirits who manage the minutiae of the world, from a small army of Death Gods who are tasked with guiding the souls of the departed to their final destination to Wind Gods whose job it is to manage the weather patterns. However, in recent years the world has been increasingly thrown into disarray for mysterious reasons, causing a great deal of concern between the Gods. The Gods are largely unconcerned with humanity, and leave them alone, only stepping into the fray when the world at large is threatened by malevolent forces as was the case in the war of the Eclipse at the end of the Millenium.
Gods vary greatly in power, being blessed with control over a specific element or a power that aids them in their allotted task (A God of a forest being able to control plant life etc). However, their powers are not limited to only their field, as they also possess a number of general purpose magical abilities. Their strength also varies greatly, with older Gods generally having had longer to accumulate and develop their power and being more proficient in its use. Their society is largely based around the celestial hierarchy, with older and more powerful Gods in charge of the overall cosmos and handing down tasks to those below them. While Gods cannot be seen by regular people in their normal forms they can be sensed by animals, young children and those with particularly keen spiritual or magical or psychic abilities like mages or psychics. On the rare occasion that a God takes mortal form they can assume a form of their choosing, shaping it to their liking. However this makes them weaker and more vulnerable. If a God dies in their mortal body they die for good like any other creature.
Sorcery:
There are two major branches within the magic Eastern and Western magic, with the main branch of Western magic being based in France and the main branch of Eastern magic being based in China. Within these branches are regional bodies, such as the Albion Magic association, based in England. And even further down the chain there exists countless other minor schools. As practitioners adapt their teachings they eventually come to develop into a unique style of their own. Magic from one country may differ significantly from that of another and different people will adapt these further, becoming unique to a particular family.
Western magic:
Based primarily in Europe.
Places much emphasis on the will of the magician. Power is drawn from within and focussed through the will of the caster. They tend to use their own bodies as circuits for the power they generate though some are known to use focussing objects like wands, staffs etc. Incantations and hand seals are used to focus the caster’s will by use of key phrases which can be different for each caster. These phrases are used to remind the caster of how to perform the required ‘spell’ in a similar way to a mnemonic.
A typical example of western magic is the creation of a bolt of lightning to attack ones enemies. Other more esoteric uses include the manipulation of time or the creation of a defensive barrier.
The philosophical belief behind western magic is that one should be able to stand alone. They do not believe in a unifying force, rather that every person stands alone as a source of value and power within the universe and that improvement of the self is the path to enlightenment and true perfection. There is a strong a posteriori element to western magic, believing that knowledge can only be gained through the senses and experience. Western magic is far more rational and logical in it’s explanations, believing that the magic is simply another form of science and that the force behind it is simply a part of nature.
Eastern magic:
Based primarily in East Asia.
In contrast to western magic, eastern schools place more emphasis on the use of naturally occurring magical forces, drawing power from the world around them. They make extensive use of talismans and charms, allowing them to bypass the natural resistance of the human body to magical energies. Magic in the east is tied intimately to religion, with many priests being magicians and vice versa. Eastern magicians tend to use invocations to call upon spirits and the forces of nature. Will power is still required to tame these force to ones will. Small spells like a fire bolt are simple for even inexperienced magicians whilst calling upon the elemental spirit of fire itself requires one to bring it completely under ones will, a feat achieved by only a handful.
A typical example of Eastern magic is the creation of small talismans that can be used to summon orbs of flame for offensive purposes. Other uses include the enchantment of an object to enhance it’s abilities.
The philosophical aspect of eastern magic is deeply ingrained within it’s teachings. It teaches that all people are part of a whole, that every person and every inanimate object, from a grain of sand to the great vacuum of space is as one, unified by the binding life force known as ‘Chi‘. As such there is a strong emphasis on a priori philosophy, the belief that there are some truths that can be gained without the senses through deep contemplation and meditation.
Sub schools:
Outlined below are a few sub schools of magic that focus on specific aspects.
Necromancy:
The raising of and control of the dead. A necromancer has the power to reanimate dead matter, controlling it as he sees fit. They can command this reanimated matter to do their bidding, zombies can be commanded to attack independently for example. They will perform their duties to the best of their understanding and will not stop until they are unable to do so (being destroyed or trapped for instance) or have achieved their goal, at which point they will become mindless and wait for the next order from their master. Since they lack higher brain functions the corpses have a limited understanding and any orders must be given clearly and precisely to prevent them from acting wrongly. The act of genuine ressurection is impossible, though with considerable effort on the part of the summoner one can draw the soul of the recently departed and bind it to the mortal plane.
Illusion:
The creation of imaginary constructs through the manipulation of raw magical energies. Depending on the caster’s will power these constructs can range from small, intangible simple objects to large, complex scenes with many independent entities that look, sound and feel real. However, these illusions are only that, illusions. They are not real and cannot affect the real world in any way, though they can trick the observer into believing so if used correctly. For instance, an illusory sword cannot cut someone, though it can create a further illusion that the recipient of a wound has been cut as well as the sensation of pain and even death if the illusion is realistic enough. With enough will power one can see through an illusion.
Chronomancy:
The manipulation of time is an incredibly rare and difficult power to master. Time travel itself is considered an impossibility by most, though some still research it, hoping to make a breakthrough. Practitioners of Chronomancy can shift and manipulate time to their whims. They can cause an object to age or de-age and create a field that freezes others in place while they move normally amongst other things.
Summoning:
Summoning is an integral part of many schools of magic, due to it’s complicated nature it has been given a section of its own.
The summoning of and bargaining with spirits from other planes of existence is a difficult skill to master, it requires not only great willpower but great discipline and in some cases a certain cunning. Whilst some of the more benign entities will be happy to lend help or enter into an arrangement with the caster others will require more convincing. Certain malign beings may try to deceive or harm the summoner. More neutral beings will require some mutually beneficial arrangement or compensation.
Amongst the creatures that can be summoned are Demons, spirits or mythical beasts (such as Orochi, Cerberus, Fafnir etc). Demons will only appear to a select few whom they deem worthy and only if they feel they will benefit from the arrangement. If one knows the name of a specific entity one can try summoning them in particular, with varying degrees of success. An entity can be summoned against its will.
To summon the spirit of a dead person requires particular ability due to the difficulty of the act. Due to the nature of the cycle of death and rebirth a spirit must be either recently departed, trapped in the spectral plane or residing in paradise. To draw the spirit of one who has become part of the circle of fate the practitioner must forcibly extract the spirit before it reaches the void and becomes stripped of its memories and sense of self. This takes extraordinary skill and strength of will to prevent the practitioner losing themselves in the torrent of souls.
One typical use for summoned entities is for use as a guardian spirit. The summoned entity and the summoner enter into a contract whereby the spirit acts as a protector or companion to the summoner in the mortal plane. These contracts require the summoner to lend a portion of their power to the entity for as long as they remain on this plane.
When summoning a magician will enter into an arrangement with the summoned entity, this contract or pact must be agreed to by both parties of their own free will and will usually but not always leave some token of sorts, either a mark on the bodies of each participant or an item of some sort. Once the pact is finished or broken this mark or item shall disappear.
Summoners are advised to use a seal of some sort to house themselves whilst the deal is being made. While within this seal the summoner is safe from the influence of the summoned entity, though leaving for any reason will nullify this protection.
If for any reason a summoning is not completed it can have disastrous consequences such as the loss of power or memory on behalf of the summoned entity.
Rules
* Typical forum rules apply. No Godmoding/explicit romance etc. You should know this by now.
* In the interests of progression and maintaining consistency as GM my word is law and all judgements are final.
* Character death is a possibility. If you don't want your character to die don't do stupid things.
* Keep character abilities consistent, don't pull powers out of thin air as a deus ex machina.
* Feel free to introduce new NPCs, antagonists and side plots.
* In the interests of progression and maintaining consistency as GM my word is law and all judgements are final.
* Character death is a possibility. If you don't want your character to die don't do stupid things.
* Keep character abilities consistent, don't pull powers out of thin air as a deus ex machina.
* Feel free to introduce new NPCs, antagonists and side plots.
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OOC Notes
In the depths of Tokyo’s downtown a man stood sheltered beneath a bridge, the sound of cars rumbling overhead drowning out any stray noises. He glanced down at his wrist, pulling back the sleeve of his tailored grey suit to reveal his watch. The sudden sound of footsteps alerted him to the presence of an observer in the shadows and he turned with a gasp.
“It’s me.” The other man seemed out of breath. There was an agitated look in his eyes as they darted to and fro. He wore a beaten trench coat drenched in rain with a wide brimmed fedora. The first man relaxed slightly, taking a deep breath to calm himself.
“What took you so long?” He asked, allowing a relieved smile to cross his face.
“They found me. But I think I shook them.” The second man looked behind him as he descended the steps to the underside of the bridge.
“But you got it right?” The first man asked tentatively, looking into the other’s eyes.
“Yes.”
“Good.” The man’s expression dropped into one of neutrality. His eyes became cold and apathetic. He snapped his fingers and the trench coated man toppled suddenly, a fountain of blood erupting from the top of his neck where his head had once been. His body slumped to the ground with a thud. The suited man immediately moved to the corpse and began to rifle through its pockets before removing something from the coat pocket.
“Impressive. You crushed his head under its own weight. Gravity manipulation, correct?” The voice came from the shadows and the suited man looked over his shoulder as he stood. “That is your contract, is it not?” In the shadows of the bridge a tall figure in a black overcoat and white mask stood. The suited man took a step back and raised his hand. The figure in black lunged forward, his movements lost in a blur as he moved through the darkness with ferocious speed. The man stumbled backwards and collapsed, the same empty expression never leaving his face even as the knife sliced through his jugular in a thick spray of blood. The ground rushed to meet him as his lifeless body toppled, sprawling across the floor as the vlood pooled around him. The black coated man stooped to retrieve the item in the body’s hand. A small, thin plastic strip. A memory stick.
A few streets away and Ein dialled a number into his phone. He peered over the edge of the roof off into the brightly lit neon streets of Tokyo. The densely packed skyscrapers jagged against the skyline, the stars glittering in the night sky. It was beautiful, not that he noticed. His appreciation for such things had left him long ago. He removed his mask, allowing the cold night air to cool his skin.
“I have it. Mission Accomplished.” He intoned coldly.
DARK MESSIAH
Episode 1: After Dark
The next day Kyo ambled through the university campus. He held a book in front of him, reading as he walked. His topcoat was unbuttoned and his shirt loose despite the season. He took a moment to look up from his book. It was a beautiful day with clear skies and a bright sun. A cool breeze blew through the trees of the campus, evergreens, their rustling drowned out by the laughter and chatter of the other students.
“It’s me.” The other man seemed out of breath. There was an agitated look in his eyes as they darted to and fro. He wore a beaten trench coat drenched in rain with a wide brimmed fedora. The first man relaxed slightly, taking a deep breath to calm himself.
“What took you so long?” He asked, allowing a relieved smile to cross his face.
“They found me. But I think I shook them.” The second man looked behind him as he descended the steps to the underside of the bridge.
“But you got it right?” The first man asked tentatively, looking into the other’s eyes.
“Yes.”
“Good.” The man’s expression dropped into one of neutrality. His eyes became cold and apathetic. He snapped his fingers and the trench coated man toppled suddenly, a fountain of blood erupting from the top of his neck where his head had once been. His body slumped to the ground with a thud. The suited man immediately moved to the corpse and began to rifle through its pockets before removing something from the coat pocket.
“Impressive. You crushed his head under its own weight. Gravity manipulation, correct?” The voice came from the shadows and the suited man looked over his shoulder as he stood. “That is your contract, is it not?” In the shadows of the bridge a tall figure in a black overcoat and white mask stood. The suited man took a step back and raised his hand. The figure in black lunged forward, his movements lost in a blur as he moved through the darkness with ferocious speed. The man stumbled backwards and collapsed, the same empty expression never leaving his face even as the knife sliced through his jugular in a thick spray of blood. The ground rushed to meet him as his lifeless body toppled, sprawling across the floor as the vlood pooled around him. The black coated man stooped to retrieve the item in the body’s hand. A small, thin plastic strip. A memory stick.
A few streets away and Ein dialled a number into his phone. He peered over the edge of the roof off into the brightly lit neon streets of Tokyo. The densely packed skyscrapers jagged against the skyline, the stars glittering in the night sky. It was beautiful, not that he noticed. His appreciation for such things had left him long ago. He removed his mask, allowing the cold night air to cool his skin.
“I have it. Mission Accomplished.” He intoned coldly.
DARK MESSIAH
Episode 1: After Dark
The next day Kyo ambled through the university campus. He held a book in front of him, reading as he walked. His topcoat was unbuttoned and his shirt loose despite the season. He took a moment to look up from his book. It was a beautiful day with clear skies and a bright sun. A cool breeze blew through the trees of the campus, evergreens, their rustling drowned out by the laughter and chatter of the other students.
OOC Notes
It had been a strange night, the air was filled with an bone-chilling energy, as if death was right on the doorstep. And it seemed that Rey wasn't the only one noticing it as the anti-magic talismans and the tarot cards went over the counter like hot buns. If Rey hadn't been so busy with helping his customers he might have noticed this bad omen, as the sale of these particular items increased when something bad was about to happen.
As Rey closed up shop later that night he made some quick calls for new saleswares and went to bed, knowing that he would have only untill noon before his bar would open again. It had been a long day, as the shop was only open one night per week and it was quite popular under the local mages.
When Rey finally got up there was hardly any morning left and he hasted himself to open up the bar. He gave the entier place a quick inspection, to see wether everything was as clean as he wanted it to be, and began preparing everything for his customers. He loaded the icecream maker with ingrediënts and prepared a pot of coffee, filling the bar with the distinct smells that would await everyone that was going to get his or her lunch in Rey's bar. He switched the radio on and opened the doors, just in time for the first customers of the day to come in.
As Rey closed up shop later that night he made some quick calls for new saleswares and went to bed, knowing that he would have only untill noon before his bar would open again. It had been a long day, as the shop was only open one night per week and it was quite popular under the local mages.
When Rey finally got up there was hardly any morning left and he hasted himself to open up the bar. He gave the entier place a quick inspection, to see wether everything was as clean as he wanted it to be, and began preparing everything for his customers. He loaded the icecream maker with ingrediënts and prepared a pot of coffee, filling the bar with the distinct smells that would await everyone that was going to get his or her lunch in Rey's bar. He switched the radio on and opened the doors, just in time for the first customers of the day to come in.
OOC Notes
Kojiroh took a deep breath of fresh air, his eyes closed and his hands tucked in his pockets. He stood outside the gates to Tokyo Daigaku - the renowned Todai, one of Japan's most foremost universities - watching as the students in their school uniforms ran in and out through the gates. Many of them were cute Japanese girls in short skirts, and the private detective followed them appreciatively with his eyes as they passed him. Some of them giggled as he whistled at them, others hurried their steps. Some of the male students even shot him angry glares.
Kojiroh chuckled to himself as he crouched next to the gate, lighting a cigarette. His long, unkempt black hair fluttered in the soft breeze. He scratched it slightly as he took out and lit a cigarette, smoking it in peace as he watched the young people walk by and past him to get to school. Finally, after finishing the cigarette, he tossed it aside as he stood up, stretching his muscular body with a loud yawn, and then, tucking his hands back into his pockets, wandered off into the school towards the Teachers' Lounge in the main building. On the way, he walked past both students and teachers. His flamboyant clothes and laidback appearance caught him frowns and wondering looks from both groups, but none tried to stop him from wandering through the university's corridors.
Finally, he reached the door he was looking for, and knocked the glass window on the door. Black letters said, "Professor Toshizo Hayami" A voice called out to him from inside to enter, and he stepped inside. The professor, a man in his mid-fifties, with long, grey hair similar in all but color to Kojiroh's own, looked up, and his face seemed to brighten up under the beard stubble at the sight of his old friend and former student. He stood up behind his desk, and exclaimed:
"Kojiroh! Well, I'll be damned!"
Kojiroh made a thumb up with a cocky grin.
"And we both know you would have it no other way, old man! Long time no see! I thought I'd stop by and let you introduce me to some cute schoolgirls you're teaching." The professor burst out laughing at his almost rudely cocky words, shaking his head in disbelief as he sat down in his chair again. He was one of the few people who could see Kojiroh's cocky attitude for what it really was, and not an attempt to constantly pick fights.
"You really haven't changed at all, have you?" He looked up at the flamboyant private detective, and snickered. "Still running around Kabukicho, chasing girls and drinking all night, hanging around with those Yakuzas and Triad members, and trying to be something you're not. You never change, do you?" Kojiroh's smile died for a moment, and they both remained silent, until Professor Hayami broke the silence again by asking: "How's business?"
Kojiroh sat down in the chair opposite the professor's desk, and shrugged.
"Is a private detective's business ever anything but dried up?" He asked with a careless grin. "I get a lot of Jealous Husband-cases, but other than that, nothing. It's plain boring, really. There must be some kind of Philip Marlowe asshole here in town who's monopolizing on all the cool cases." Then he added, pointing at the professor; "Which is good, because if I had to work on a serious case, I wouldn't have time to be out chasing skirts."
The two of them laughed together. They continued chatting for several minutes, bantering back and forth, joking in-between and talking about the good old days when Kojiroh had studied at Todai. Then, finally, Kojiroh came to the point of his being there. He took out and shot an envelope over the desk to the professor, and made a slightly apologetic grin.
"Sorry, old man, but you know I can't develop photos like this at an ordinary photo store. Would you mind doing it for me one last time?" The professor raised an eyebrow.
"Still haven't learnt how to develop film yourself, have you? Jealous husband-case again, I take it?" He asked. Kojiroh shook his head with a wry smile.
"Actually, it's the WIFE that is jealous this time around for a change. What a twist, huh?"
"Yeah, riveting..." The professor remarked sarcastically. Then they both burst out laughing again.
"I hope you don't mind." Kojiroh added as he stood up again to leave. The professor shook his head with a laugh and a sarcastic reply:
"Not at all. You saved my life back then, kid. The least I can do in return is develop amateur porn for you once in a while."
"Heh, yeah, I guess so. Thanks, Professor." Kojiroh said, for once sincere, as he made another thumb up to the older man. After that, he turned and headed for the door and opened it to leave.
To his surprise he found himself face to face with a young student, who seemed as if he had been about to knock on the professor's door. The student caught the private detective's eyes because of his unusual appearance. His hair was almost completely white, in contrast to his bronze colored skin. He wore a red leather jacket, making him look like a delinquent. Kojiroh looked at the student for a few moments in silence, before speaking up, uttering one of his obscure jokes that so few people understood, and so many more took offense to:
"Yo, kid. Nice hair. I bet the chicks dig the whole bleached delinquent look, don't they?"
Hayami looked up from his desk, recognizing the student.
"Ah, Mr Kamiya! Come on in! I was expecting you." He gestured towards Kojiroh, and added: "This is an old friend of mine, and a former student here. Kojiroh, meet Kyo Kamiya. He's one of my students. Mr Kamiya, meet Kojiroh Kodama. Kojiroh works as a private detective in Shinjuku."
"Nice to meet you, kid." Kojiroh said. "You ever feel like hooking me up with some hot female Todai chicks, gimmie a call. The Professor refused to do it. Damn cheapskate, hogging all the girls for himself." Witht hat, he made a sloppy salute to the two, and wandered off. "See you around, old man." He called out to the professor before leaving.
"Don't let his attitude bother you." Professor Hayami said as Kojiroh disappeared out of sight. "He means nothing by it. He's a lot like you - misunderstood. Though sometimes I think both of you work a bit too hard at being misunderstood." He mumbled to himself as he threw a glance after the leaving Kojiroh.
Kojiroh chuckled to himself as he crouched next to the gate, lighting a cigarette. His long, unkempt black hair fluttered in the soft breeze. He scratched it slightly as he took out and lit a cigarette, smoking it in peace as he watched the young people walk by and past him to get to school. Finally, after finishing the cigarette, he tossed it aside as he stood up, stretching his muscular body with a loud yawn, and then, tucking his hands back into his pockets, wandered off into the school towards the Teachers' Lounge in the main building. On the way, he walked past both students and teachers. His flamboyant clothes and laidback appearance caught him frowns and wondering looks from both groups, but none tried to stop him from wandering through the university's corridors.
Finally, he reached the door he was looking for, and knocked the glass window on the door. Black letters said, "Professor Toshizo Hayami" A voice called out to him from inside to enter, and he stepped inside. The professor, a man in his mid-fifties, with long, grey hair similar in all but color to Kojiroh's own, looked up, and his face seemed to brighten up under the beard stubble at the sight of his old friend and former student. He stood up behind his desk, and exclaimed:
"Kojiroh! Well, I'll be damned!"
Kojiroh made a thumb up with a cocky grin.
"And we both know you would have it no other way, old man! Long time no see! I thought I'd stop by and let you introduce me to some cute schoolgirls you're teaching." The professor burst out laughing at his almost rudely cocky words, shaking his head in disbelief as he sat down in his chair again. He was one of the few people who could see Kojiroh's cocky attitude for what it really was, and not an attempt to constantly pick fights.
"You really haven't changed at all, have you?" He looked up at the flamboyant private detective, and snickered. "Still running around Kabukicho, chasing girls and drinking all night, hanging around with those Yakuzas and Triad members, and trying to be something you're not. You never change, do you?" Kojiroh's smile died for a moment, and they both remained silent, until Professor Hayami broke the silence again by asking: "How's business?"
Kojiroh sat down in the chair opposite the professor's desk, and shrugged.
"Is a private detective's business ever anything but dried up?" He asked with a careless grin. "I get a lot of Jealous Husband-cases, but other than that, nothing. It's plain boring, really. There must be some kind of Philip Marlowe asshole here in town who's monopolizing on all the cool cases." Then he added, pointing at the professor; "Which is good, because if I had to work on a serious case, I wouldn't have time to be out chasing skirts."
The two of them laughed together. They continued chatting for several minutes, bantering back and forth, joking in-between and talking about the good old days when Kojiroh had studied at Todai. Then, finally, Kojiroh came to the point of his being there. He took out and shot an envelope over the desk to the professor, and made a slightly apologetic grin.
"Sorry, old man, but you know I can't develop photos like this at an ordinary photo store. Would you mind doing it for me one last time?" The professor raised an eyebrow.
"Still haven't learnt how to develop film yourself, have you? Jealous husband-case again, I take it?" He asked. Kojiroh shook his head with a wry smile.
"Actually, it's the WIFE that is jealous this time around for a change. What a twist, huh?"
"Yeah, riveting..." The professor remarked sarcastically. Then they both burst out laughing again.
"I hope you don't mind." Kojiroh added as he stood up again to leave. The professor shook his head with a laugh and a sarcastic reply:
"Not at all. You saved my life back then, kid. The least I can do in return is develop amateur porn for you once in a while."
"Heh, yeah, I guess so. Thanks, Professor." Kojiroh said, for once sincere, as he made another thumb up to the older man. After that, he turned and headed for the door and opened it to leave.
To his surprise he found himself face to face with a young student, who seemed as if he had been about to knock on the professor's door. The student caught the private detective's eyes because of his unusual appearance. His hair was almost completely white, in contrast to his bronze colored skin. He wore a red leather jacket, making him look like a delinquent. Kojiroh looked at the student for a few moments in silence, before speaking up, uttering one of his obscure jokes that so few people understood, and so many more took offense to:
"Yo, kid. Nice hair. I bet the chicks dig the whole bleached delinquent look, don't they?"
Hayami looked up from his desk, recognizing the student.
"Ah, Mr Kamiya! Come on in! I was expecting you." He gestured towards Kojiroh, and added: "This is an old friend of mine, and a former student here. Kojiroh, meet Kyo Kamiya. He's one of my students. Mr Kamiya, meet Kojiroh Kodama. Kojiroh works as a private detective in Shinjuku."
"Nice to meet you, kid." Kojiroh said. "You ever feel like hooking me up with some hot female Todai chicks, gimmie a call. The Professor refused to do it. Damn cheapskate, hogging all the girls for himself." Witht hat, he made a sloppy salute to the two, and wandered off. "See you around, old man." He called out to the professor before leaving.
"Don't let his attitude bother you." Professor Hayami said as Kojiroh disappeared out of sight. "He means nothing by it. He's a lot like you - misunderstood. Though sometimes I think both of you work a bit too hard at being misunderstood." He mumbled to himself as he threw a glance after the leaving Kojiroh.
OOC Notes
Kyo frowned in surprised confusion as the tall man appeared in the doorway as though preempting his knock. He looked him up and down, gritting his teeth with a hiss of irritation as the man commented on his appearance. He had heard enough jabs and sneering jokes in his time to be fazed by it and he stopped short of a retort as the professor cut him off. Kyo straightened his back as though bristling in dislike.
"Yo." He nodded tersely at Kojiroh, his hands still thrust resolutely in his jean pockets. He scowled slightly as he wastched Kojiroh leave.
"Yeah, right..." Kyo looked sidelong with a crooked expression of distaste as the professor compared the two of them. He briefly pictured himself in the other man's shoes in ten years time. Still prowling the university grounds hitting on girls too young for him. He snapped back to reality with a start, recalling his reason for being there.
"Uh. Actually I came about this semester's assignment." He pulled up a chair and slumped into it, stretching his arms out lazily over the back. "The photojournalism project. I need to discuss my topic with you." He reached into the messenger bag slung by his side, pulling out a small pamphlet. "I was considering the Mayan exhibit at the museum. Apparently one of the lead researchers works here at the University." He leaned forward over the desk, sliding the paper across the table.
"Yo." He nodded tersely at Kojiroh, his hands still thrust resolutely in his jean pockets. He scowled slightly as he wastched Kojiroh leave.
"Yeah, right..." Kyo looked sidelong with a crooked expression of distaste as the professor compared the two of them. He briefly pictured himself in the other man's shoes in ten years time. Still prowling the university grounds hitting on girls too young for him. He snapped back to reality with a start, recalling his reason for being there.
"Uh. Actually I came about this semester's assignment." He pulled up a chair and slumped into it, stretching his arms out lazily over the back. "The photojournalism project. I need to discuss my topic with you." He reached into the messenger bag slung by his side, pulling out a small pamphlet. "I was considering the Mayan exhibit at the museum. Apparently one of the lead researchers works here at the University." He leaned forward over the desk, sliding the paper across the table.
OOC Notes
Kojiroh left the university grounds soon after, hands tucked in his pockets and a cigarette hanging in the side of his mouth. His car, a fiery orange Hyundai Tiburon, was parked outside. As always the engine roared to life instantly, and he joined the morning traffic taking him back to Shinjuku. As always, the traffic thinned out considerably when he began to take the car towards the warehouse district in the northern outskirts of Shinjuku. Most of the warehouses in the district were all run down, and many of them in outright bad condition. Some of the workers there waved to him in recognition, and he returned the gesture with his characteristic sloppy salutes.
After a while, Kojiroh parked his car outside an anonymous, rundown warehouse. A bit of trash was placed outside the building. There were no windows on the first floor, and the only door inside was of the pull-upwards garage port type. A small sign on the side of the door said, "Kojiroh Kodama". That was all. It didn't make any references to him as a private investigator. It didn't for several very particular reasons; firstly, Kojiroh wasn't really interested in working much. Secondly, Kojiroh didn't actually exist as an official Japanese citizen in any government databases, which made it troublesome to run an actual registerred private investigations firm. And thirdly, Kojiroh worked with a very specific clientele, most of whom found a way to contact him, not from the Yellow Pages, but from asking around in the right places in the underworld of Kabukicho.
As Kojiroh exited the car, he stepped up to the warehouse door and pulled it up. A little bit of light lit up the otherwise dark, murky warehouse. He punched a button on the wall, lighting up the building as he pulled down the door behind him. Lit up, the warehouse revealed several very specific areas separated not by walls but simply by invisible borders; A specific area used as a gym, where workout machines, weights and barbells were placed. Another area for a kitchen complete with an old table and four chairs, and a third area in connection to the kitchen, complete with a sofa and a couple of armchairs. That area also held a small bar with a variety of bottles.
And in the far end of the warehouse, there were two doors - one, a public-style toilet door, hiding a rudimentary bath- and locking room with lockers containing his clothes, as well as toilet and a row of five different showers, a remnant of the warehouse's days in business. The only difference from back then was that Kojiroh had actually paid to have had a bathtub installed there as well. The other door was a heavy steel door leading down to the basement, where a once again rudimentary shooting range was located, another touch added to the place by Kojiroh himself after he had taken the warehouse in his possession.
And in a small office placed in the corner ceiling of the warehouse, with a skeleton steel stairway leading up to it, was his office and bedroom. The only reason it seconded as his bedroom was, it was the only part of the warehouse where the air condition was working, and was heated during the winter. It came complete with a modern looking desk and a laptop, a cellphone as the only phone connection to Kojiroh, and an unmade futon in one corner of the room.
"Home, sweet home." Kojiroh grinned as he walked up to the fridge and took out a beer. It was hot in the warehouse, and he sunk down heavily in the sofa, cracking the cold beer and taking several deep gulps. He shot an angry glare at the air condition in the ceiling, but it remained silent as he punched the on-button. He wiped some sweat from his forehead, leaned back in the sofa, and placed the cold beer can on his forehead, bored.
After a while, Kojiroh parked his car outside an anonymous, rundown warehouse. A bit of trash was placed outside the building. There were no windows on the first floor, and the only door inside was of the pull-upwards garage port type. A small sign on the side of the door said, "Kojiroh Kodama". That was all. It didn't make any references to him as a private investigator. It didn't for several very particular reasons; firstly, Kojiroh wasn't really interested in working much. Secondly, Kojiroh didn't actually exist as an official Japanese citizen in any government databases, which made it troublesome to run an actual registerred private investigations firm. And thirdly, Kojiroh worked with a very specific clientele, most of whom found a way to contact him, not from the Yellow Pages, but from asking around in the right places in the underworld of Kabukicho.
As Kojiroh exited the car, he stepped up to the warehouse door and pulled it up. A little bit of light lit up the otherwise dark, murky warehouse. He punched a button on the wall, lighting up the building as he pulled down the door behind him. Lit up, the warehouse revealed several very specific areas separated not by walls but simply by invisible borders; A specific area used as a gym, where workout machines, weights and barbells were placed. Another area for a kitchen complete with an old table and four chairs, and a third area in connection to the kitchen, complete with a sofa and a couple of armchairs. That area also held a small bar with a variety of bottles.
And in the far end of the warehouse, there were two doors - one, a public-style toilet door, hiding a rudimentary bath- and locking room with lockers containing his clothes, as well as toilet and a row of five different showers, a remnant of the warehouse's days in business. The only difference from back then was that Kojiroh had actually paid to have had a bathtub installed there as well. The other door was a heavy steel door leading down to the basement, where a once again rudimentary shooting range was located, another touch added to the place by Kojiroh himself after he had taken the warehouse in his possession.
And in a small office placed in the corner ceiling of the warehouse, with a skeleton steel stairway leading up to it, was his office and bedroom. The only reason it seconded as his bedroom was, it was the only part of the warehouse where the air condition was working, and was heated during the winter. It came complete with a modern looking desk and a laptop, a cellphone as the only phone connection to Kojiroh, and an unmade futon in one corner of the room.
"Home, sweet home." Kojiroh grinned as he walked up to the fridge and took out a beer. It was hot in the warehouse, and he sunk down heavily in the sofa, cracking the cold beer and taking several deep gulps. He shot an angry glare at the air condition in the ceiling, but it remained silent as he punched the on-button. He wiped some sweat from his forehead, leaned back in the sofa, and placed the cold beer can on his forehead, bored.
OOC Notes
The bar wasn't even officially open and already poeple walked in. One of the few that walked in was a regular and a bit of a odd fellow, but then again many historians were. "Good day proffesor, how are things at the museum?" Rey asked as the man walked in. "Not so good I'm afraid, and I'll have a vanilla milkshake." The man answered. Rey grabbed a glass and filled it with the milkshake, added a straw and slided it over to the man. "What is the problem then?" Rey asked knowing that the man always had good stories.
"Well, remember yesterday I told you about that Mayan tablet that we were restoring. Well, it crumbles at the slightest vibration...Its even a miracle that it survived the journey to the museum in on piece." The man said. "Yeah, that sounds like a problem. If it gets damaged beyond repair you'll lose your good reputation with your fellow historians. I'm glad that I ain't in your shoes, Rodriguez." Rey said with a smile, as he whiped the counter.
"Well, remember yesterday I told you about that Mayan tablet that we were restoring. Well, it crumbles at the slightest vibration...Its even a miracle that it survived the journey to the museum in on piece." The man said. "Yeah, that sounds like a problem. If it gets damaged beyond repair you'll lose your good reputation with your fellow historians. I'm glad that I ain't in your shoes, Rodriguez." Rey said with a smile, as he whiped the counter.
OOC Notes
The flash of red and blue lit up the grey concrete of Tokyo's waterside, streaking the rain sodden streets like blood. The drone of chatter and radios hummed like white noise beneath the whine of traffic over the bridge. A solid wall of people surrounded the underpass, held back by anxious looking uniformed police. A single woman pressed purposefully through the crowd. "What's the situation?" The woman turned to one of the officers, flashing a badge at him before slipping underneath the yellow and black tape barrier.
"Ah, Yoko." A young looking man waved to the woman with a warm smile plastered across his face. He was dressed in a white jacket and trousers and black shirt unfastened to the third button. A skinny yellow tie hung loosely around his neck. The man ran a hand through his damp hair as he walked towards the woman.
"Shin." Yoko nodded to the other detective.
"Come with me. I've got something you're going to want to take a look at." He said in a lilting voice as he beckoned for her to follow. "Its looks like we've got a very interesting case on our hands here." He shot Yoko a quick grin. She regarded his profile. She had always thought that with his sly looking, narrow eyes, high cheeks and small, button nose he resembled a snake. His wide, thin lipped mouth did little to help matters. Never the less she counted him as one of her few friends, even if he did have a tendency towards telling bad jokes and being overly familiar.
Yoko shook her trenchcoat off as they stepped under the bridge, strands of damp hair clinging to her forehead as she adjusted her glasses.
"This guy here." Shin stood in front of the first body, who was lying face down in a pool of drying blood as forensic inspectors took samples and photographed it. "Had his throat slashed." He gestured with his thumb, drawing a line across his own neck.
"Seems fairly run of the mill to me." Yoko frowned. Mob related killings were common in the area, though generally the Yakuza had a tendency to clean up after themselves.
"That's not the strange part." Shin explained, waving his finger and kneeling down besides the second corpse which was draped with a large cloth covering. "This unlucky fella..." He drew back the cloth to reveal the headless body. "...is missing a head." He peered up at Yoko to check her reaction.
"And? We've seen stranger things around here. The killer probably took it as a trophy." She seemed unfazed.
"The strange part is that they didn't take it." He dipped his fingers in a spot of blood, rubbing it between his thumb and forefinger. "In fact, they left it. Scattered all around us." Yoko looked puzzled for a second before she let her eyes drift. The floor, the walls, even the ceiling were dotted with dark red splatters of dried blood and viscera.
"How..." Yoko started before Shin cut her off.
"We don't know. We think it may have been some sort of explosive. Or maybe a large calibre round. The only problem is we can't figure out a consistent trajectory for the gunman or any trace of explosives. And its not like they scrubbed the place clean in case you haven't noticed." He grinned. But bathed in the dim light of the underpass that grin took on a sinister appearance.
"I've got a bad feeling about this Shin." Yoko confessed, narrowing her eyes. "I'm calling in some help on this one." She turned away to leave.
"If you say so. Just make sure you don't lose your head." He chuckled slightly. Yoko looked over her shoulder at him.
"That's not funny Shin." She frowned.
***
There was a knock on Kojiroh's door. Yoko leaned against the wall with her arms crossed. Her charcoal suit was impeccably neat as usual and she looked at odds with the grimy setting of the warehouse. Her hair was tied back into a low ponytail that ran to the small of her back. Small, oval glasses sat on the end of her nose in front of sharp, intelligent eyes.
"You need to check your phone more often." She chided the man. "I've been trying to get ahold of you all morning." She locked eyes with him with a characteristically stern expression. "I've got a case for you."
"Ah, Yoko." A young looking man waved to the woman with a warm smile plastered across his face. He was dressed in a white jacket and trousers and black shirt unfastened to the third button. A skinny yellow tie hung loosely around his neck. The man ran a hand through his damp hair as he walked towards the woman.
"Shin." Yoko nodded to the other detective.
"Come with me. I've got something you're going to want to take a look at." He said in a lilting voice as he beckoned for her to follow. "Its looks like we've got a very interesting case on our hands here." He shot Yoko a quick grin. She regarded his profile. She had always thought that with his sly looking, narrow eyes, high cheeks and small, button nose he resembled a snake. His wide, thin lipped mouth did little to help matters. Never the less she counted him as one of her few friends, even if he did have a tendency towards telling bad jokes and being overly familiar.
Yoko shook her trenchcoat off as they stepped under the bridge, strands of damp hair clinging to her forehead as she adjusted her glasses.
"This guy here." Shin stood in front of the first body, who was lying face down in a pool of drying blood as forensic inspectors took samples and photographed it. "Had his throat slashed." He gestured with his thumb, drawing a line across his own neck.
"Seems fairly run of the mill to me." Yoko frowned. Mob related killings were common in the area, though generally the Yakuza had a tendency to clean up after themselves.
"That's not the strange part." Shin explained, waving his finger and kneeling down besides the second corpse which was draped with a large cloth covering. "This unlucky fella..." He drew back the cloth to reveal the headless body. "...is missing a head." He peered up at Yoko to check her reaction.
"And? We've seen stranger things around here. The killer probably took it as a trophy." She seemed unfazed.
"The strange part is that they didn't take it." He dipped his fingers in a spot of blood, rubbing it between his thumb and forefinger. "In fact, they left it. Scattered all around us." Yoko looked puzzled for a second before she let her eyes drift. The floor, the walls, even the ceiling were dotted with dark red splatters of dried blood and viscera.
"How..." Yoko started before Shin cut her off.
"We don't know. We think it may have been some sort of explosive. Or maybe a large calibre round. The only problem is we can't figure out a consistent trajectory for the gunman or any trace of explosives. And its not like they scrubbed the place clean in case you haven't noticed." He grinned. But bathed in the dim light of the underpass that grin took on a sinister appearance.
"I've got a bad feeling about this Shin." Yoko confessed, narrowing her eyes. "I'm calling in some help on this one." She turned away to leave.
"If you say so. Just make sure you don't lose your head." He chuckled slightly. Yoko looked over her shoulder at him.
"That's not funny Shin." She frowned.
***
There was a knock on Kojiroh's door. Yoko leaned against the wall with her arms crossed. Her charcoal suit was impeccably neat as usual and she looked at odds with the grimy setting of the warehouse. Her hair was tied back into a low ponytail that ran to the small of her back. Small, oval glasses sat on the end of her nose in front of sharp, intelligent eyes.
"You need to check your phone more often." She chided the man. "I've been trying to get ahold of you all morning." She locked eyes with him with a characteristically stern expression. "I've got a case for you."
OOC Notes
Kojiroh opened his eyes as the sound of knocking knuckles against corrugated metal caught his ear. He realized he'd fallen asleep, the cold (now lukewarm) beer still placed on his forehead. As he turned his head, it fell to the floor with a cluttering noise. Seemingly ignoring it, he stretched his wiry arms, yawning and sratching his long hair as he did. Then, finally, he looked at Yoko, and, recognizing her, shrugged and grinned.
"You know me, Yokochan. I don't want to overwork myself. Besides, I left the cellphone up in the office all morning." He motioned with his head towards the room locked in the ceiling. "Damn thing kept ringing. It annoyed the Hell out of me." He said this with a voice that left one uncertain if he was joking or was serious, which was so often the case with Kojiroh. "By the way, how's that partner of yours? You know, the snake...what's his name? Shin? I heard he just made detective. Must be one hell of a cop." He shrugged to himself, and added: "Or, he just watches too much T.J Hooker."
Then, when hearing the female police detective had a case for him, suddenly, Kojiroh's eyes glimmered with cunning and interest. It was difficult to gain the interest for a case from Kojiroh Kodama. As a private detective he was skilled, but as a service-minded business owner, he was lazy, impolite and easily bored, (unless the client was a pretty girl). The exceptions were when there were cases that interested him. And Yoko only came to him with interesting cases.
Kojiroh, however, enjoyed toying with cops, and especially much with Yoko. Stalling, he stood and walked up to the refrigerator, grabbing a cold beer from it, tossing it to Yoko. He proceeded to grab another one for himself.
"That reminds me, Yokochan. When are you going to take me out on a date? I figure you owe me dinner after all the cases I've investigated for you. Last time I even had to turn down a hot chick because I didn't have time for her case. I was busy investigating that businessman, what's his name, Tokugawa?, for you! Gah, it makes me dizzy just thinking about it! She was only twenty-one, and a DD-cup at that, I tell you!" He made a mock painful expression as he thought about it. "Instead, I got stuck doing surveillance on some old fart in a business suit, with a vest and all. Can you believe that? I mean, seriously, who wears vests these days?" He made an annoyed "tch" as he thought about the old man. "And that chick probably went straight to Mike Hama after that. Ugh."
Finally, he turned his eyes on the woman, an intelligent glimmer replacing the joking and coy look in his eyes.
"So. Let's hear it. What's the case?"
"You know me, Yokochan. I don't want to overwork myself. Besides, I left the cellphone up in the office all morning." He motioned with his head towards the room locked in the ceiling. "Damn thing kept ringing. It annoyed the Hell out of me." He said this with a voice that left one uncertain if he was joking or was serious, which was so often the case with Kojiroh. "By the way, how's that partner of yours? You know, the snake...what's his name? Shin? I heard he just made detective. Must be one hell of a cop." He shrugged to himself, and added: "Or, he just watches too much T.J Hooker."
Then, when hearing the female police detective had a case for him, suddenly, Kojiroh's eyes glimmered with cunning and interest. It was difficult to gain the interest for a case from Kojiroh Kodama. As a private detective he was skilled, but as a service-minded business owner, he was lazy, impolite and easily bored, (unless the client was a pretty girl). The exceptions were when there were cases that interested him. And Yoko only came to him with interesting cases.
Kojiroh, however, enjoyed toying with cops, and especially much with Yoko. Stalling, he stood and walked up to the refrigerator, grabbing a cold beer from it, tossing it to Yoko. He proceeded to grab another one for himself.
"That reminds me, Yokochan. When are you going to take me out on a date? I figure you owe me dinner after all the cases I've investigated for you. Last time I even had to turn down a hot chick because I didn't have time for her case. I was busy investigating that businessman, what's his name, Tokugawa?, for you! Gah, it makes me dizzy just thinking about it! She was only twenty-one, and a DD-cup at that, I tell you!" He made a mock painful expression as he thought about it. "Instead, I got stuck doing surveillance on some old fart in a business suit, with a vest and all. Can you believe that? I mean, seriously, who wears vests these days?" He made an annoyed "tch" as he thought about the old man. "And that chick probably went straight to Mike Hama after that. Ugh."
Finally, he turned his eyes on the woman, an intelligent glimmer replacing the joking and coy look in his eyes.
"So. Let's hear it. What's the case?"
OOC Notes
Professor Hayami watched with some interest as his old friend and his student eyed each other off, before Kojiroh wandered off with a "See you around, old man". He couldn't help but chuckle at the rebellious detective's attitude. He'd been the same way when he'd studied at Todai almost thirteen years earlier. And the white-haired student across the desk reminded Hayami so much of him - and, naturally, when asked about their similarities, both Kojiroh and Kyo would vehemetly reject the notion, as any rebellious person would.
"Yeah, right..." Kyo replied at his professor's observation, making Hayami chuckle to himself at his own successful prediction.
"Uh. Actually I came about this semester's assignment." Kyo said. He slumped down lazily in a chair. Some professors would demand his sitting straight and addressing Hayami with more respect. But there was a reason Hayami understood people like Kyo and Kojiroh - and the reason was, of course, because he'd been the same way himself, many years ago. And he still had the ragged, long hair and scruffy beard stubble to prove it.
He took off his glasses, and looked at the young student.
"I see. Please remind me, Mr Kamiya. I'm afraid the memory is getting a bit worn."
Kyo did so:
"The photojournalism project. I need to discuss my topic with you." The student reached into his bag, pulling out a small pamphlet. "I was considering the Mayan exhibit at the museum. Apparently one of the lead researchers works here at the University." Hayami's eyes glimmered with sudden excitement as he received the pamphlet.
"Ah, yes, the exhibit!" He exclaimed eagerly. "I read about it, and was hoping to take a look myself soon. I'm quite interested in Mayan history, you see. I studied it at Cambridge when I was young. Even participated in an archaeological excavation in Guatemala." He took the pamphlet, and started to flip through it, all the while nodding to himself, making appreciative "Mmm" and "Mhmm" sounds while doing so. Then his eyes stopped at a particular object of interest. It was a mask, made of some kind of white material. It had a strange shape, and Mayan symbols were vaguely visible on the white surface. The text over the mask said, "The Mask of Xuelmahatl". Professor Hayami's eyes stopped at it, and glimmered with intrigue.
"Oh, this is interesting." He said. "A curse, hm? I see, I see...very fascinating." It seemed for a moment as if he'd completely forgotten about Kyo, but then he suddenly looked up and made a stupid grin, scratching his neck. "Oh, sorry, Mr Kamiya. I get carried away sometimes, haha." Clearing his throat, he turned serious again, and returned the pamphlet. "Very well, Mr Kamiya. I approve of your choice for the project. If you would like me to, I can talk to Professor Kurosawa. He's the curator of the university's museum. I'm sure I could arrange for you to see and photograph the exhibit's pieces up close." He leaned in closer, and added:
"Oh, and if it's not too much trouble, try and snap off a few photos of that mask, will you? It's so *fascinating*, what with the curse and all! Just reading about it makes me feel like Indiana Jones!" He grinned.
"Yeah, right..." Kyo replied at his professor's observation, making Hayami chuckle to himself at his own successful prediction.
"Uh. Actually I came about this semester's assignment." Kyo said. He slumped down lazily in a chair. Some professors would demand his sitting straight and addressing Hayami with more respect. But there was a reason Hayami understood people like Kyo and Kojiroh - and the reason was, of course, because he'd been the same way himself, many years ago. And he still had the ragged, long hair and scruffy beard stubble to prove it.
He took off his glasses, and looked at the young student.
"I see. Please remind me, Mr Kamiya. I'm afraid the memory is getting a bit worn."
Kyo did so:
"The photojournalism project. I need to discuss my topic with you." The student reached into his bag, pulling out a small pamphlet. "I was considering the Mayan exhibit at the museum. Apparently one of the lead researchers works here at the University." Hayami's eyes glimmered with sudden excitement as he received the pamphlet.
"Ah, yes, the exhibit!" He exclaimed eagerly. "I read about it, and was hoping to take a look myself soon. I'm quite interested in Mayan history, you see. I studied it at Cambridge when I was young. Even participated in an archaeological excavation in Guatemala." He took the pamphlet, and started to flip through it, all the while nodding to himself, making appreciative "Mmm" and "Mhmm" sounds while doing so. Then his eyes stopped at a particular object of interest. It was a mask, made of some kind of white material. It had a strange shape, and Mayan symbols were vaguely visible on the white surface. The text over the mask said, "The Mask of Xuelmahatl". Professor Hayami's eyes stopped at it, and glimmered with intrigue.
"Oh, this is interesting." He said. "A curse, hm? I see, I see...very fascinating." It seemed for a moment as if he'd completely forgotten about Kyo, but then he suddenly looked up and made a stupid grin, scratching his neck. "Oh, sorry, Mr Kamiya. I get carried away sometimes, haha." Clearing his throat, he turned serious again, and returned the pamphlet. "Very well, Mr Kamiya. I approve of your choice for the project. If you would like me to, I can talk to Professor Kurosawa. He's the curator of the university's museum. I'm sure I could arrange for you to see and photograph the exhibit's pieces up close." He leaned in closer, and added:
"Oh, and if it's not too much trouble, try and snap off a few photos of that mask, will you? It's so *fascinating*, what with the curse and all! Just reading about it makes me feel like Indiana Jones!" He grinned.
OOC Notes
"Uh, sure." Kyo was surprised at the professor's response. He had never imagined the man would be such an adventurer in his youth. He had always pictured the man as the stay-at-home type. An academic through and through. He caught himself gawping and immediately looked away, trying to hide his surprise and embarassment. "If that's OK? About Kurosawa I mean. It'd make things a lot easier if I could talk to him directly." He picked up the pamphlet and examined the picture the professor had been so intrigued by.
"Mask, huh?" He got a strange feeling from looking at that bleached bone visage. An ominous feeling, almost like there was more to it than met the eye.
***
Yoko eyed Kojiroh with her typical cold expression. "Shin is well. He sends his regards." She stepped inside, standing next to his desk and examining it. The table was messy and unkempt as always and she felt her eye twitch nervously as she fought to control the impulse to tidy it. She caught the can he tossed at her, setting it down on the desk. "A double homicide." She stated simply, tossing a couple of photographs of the bodies onto the table. "My first thought was that it might have something to do with the Yakuza. So I thought I'd bring it to you so you can drill your contacts for info. But the more I look at things, the less it seems to make sense." She ran him through the details of the case before stepping back and crossing her arms, waiting for his response. "I've got a bad feeling about this one. Something's not right."
***
Tap tap tap. Ein rapped on the door to the apartment complex. A dark haired woman answered, a cigarette hanging loosely from her lips. Her half lidded eyes regarded him with suspicion. Her hair was tied up in a high ponytail and she wore a large t shrt which hung almost down to her knees.
"What do you want?" She asked him with a stifled yawn.
"My name's Guy. Guy Clarke. We spoke on the phone earlier." He said, giving his assumed name. The woman continued to stare at him uncomprehendingly. "I came about the advertisement in the newspaper." He said, unfurling the paper and pointing to the classified's section in case his Japanese wasn't good enough to get the point across. The woman closed the door on him, leavng Guy standing there confused. A few moments later the door opened again and she emerged wearing a dressing gown.
"Follow me." She sighed wearily, making her way up the steps to the second floor apartments, the keys rattling in her hand. "You're lucky. I don't normally get up this early." She said, unlocking the door she let out another yawn before walking away and tossing Guy the key. He looekd down at his watch. It was nearly midday.
"Don't make too much noise and keep the place clean. Pay your rent on time and we'll get along just fine." She said as she returned downstairs.
"Thank you, miss..." Guy waited for her to give him her name before hearing the door slam. Alone again he let his features fall into his usual expression, a dull, blank frown bordering on a scowl. He entered the room, locking the door behind himself. The room itself was small, at least by his standards. Perhaps eight or nine feet across. An equally tiny bathroom sat behind a small door and a kitchen area lay behind a thin partition. There wee to doors, one to the outside and another to the inside corridor of the building. A window provided some light from the outside world.
After unpacking his belongings Guy left the bare apartment and stepped into the complex's corridor. He would need to familiarise himself with his neighbours.
"Mask, huh?" He got a strange feeling from looking at that bleached bone visage. An ominous feeling, almost like there was more to it than met the eye.
***
Yoko eyed Kojiroh with her typical cold expression. "Shin is well. He sends his regards." She stepped inside, standing next to his desk and examining it. The table was messy and unkempt as always and she felt her eye twitch nervously as she fought to control the impulse to tidy it. She caught the can he tossed at her, setting it down on the desk. "A double homicide." She stated simply, tossing a couple of photographs of the bodies onto the table. "My first thought was that it might have something to do with the Yakuza. So I thought I'd bring it to you so you can drill your contacts for info. But the more I look at things, the less it seems to make sense." She ran him through the details of the case before stepping back and crossing her arms, waiting for his response. "I've got a bad feeling about this one. Something's not right."
***
Tap tap tap. Ein rapped on the door to the apartment complex. A dark haired woman answered, a cigarette hanging loosely from her lips. Her half lidded eyes regarded him with suspicion. Her hair was tied up in a high ponytail and she wore a large t shrt which hung almost down to her knees.
"What do you want?" She asked him with a stifled yawn.
"My name's Guy. Guy Clarke. We spoke on the phone earlier." He said, giving his assumed name. The woman continued to stare at him uncomprehendingly. "I came about the advertisement in the newspaper." He said, unfurling the paper and pointing to the classified's section in case his Japanese wasn't good enough to get the point across. The woman closed the door on him, leavng Guy standing there confused. A few moments later the door opened again and she emerged wearing a dressing gown.
"Follow me." She sighed wearily, making her way up the steps to the second floor apartments, the keys rattling in her hand. "You're lucky. I don't normally get up this early." She said, unlocking the door she let out another yawn before walking away and tossing Guy the key. He looekd down at his watch. It was nearly midday.
"Don't make too much noise and keep the place clean. Pay your rent on time and we'll get along just fine." She said as she returned downstairs.
"Thank you, miss..." Guy waited for her to give him her name before hearing the door slam. Alone again he let his features fall into his usual expression, a dull, blank frown bordering on a scowl. He entered the room, locking the door behind himself. The room itself was small, at least by his standards. Perhaps eight or nine feet across. An equally tiny bathroom sat behind a small door and a kitchen area lay behind a thin partition. There wee to doors, one to the outside and another to the inside corridor of the building. A window provided some light from the outside world.
After unpacking his belongings Guy left the bare apartment and stepped into the complex's corridor. He would need to familiarise himself with his neighbours.
OOC Notes
"A double homicide." Yoko dropped a couple of photos onto the table. Instinctively, Kojiroh took out a pack of cigarettes and lit one up. As he left it in the side of his mouth he picked up the photos, and studied them with intrigue. Then he reached out for a magnifying glass on the table, and studied them through that, all the while Yoko continued to talk. "My first thought was that it might have something to do with the Yakuza. So I thought I'd bring it to you so you can drill your contacts for info. But the more I look at things, the less it seems to make sense."
"Double homicide, huh?" Kojiroh mumbled as he studied the photos, barely listening to her as she gave him the rundown of the case.
"I've got a bad feeling about this one. Something's not right." She finally said. Kojiroh looked up, putting down the photos and the magnifying glass, and taking the cigarette out of his mouth to exhale some smoke. He pointed the niccotine stick at her as he replied with a frown:
"You've got that right, baby. I took a quick look, and I can already point out three things that crush any theory about organized crime involvement. I know you cops like to generalize when it comes to crooks, but this definitely ain't no Yakuza handiwork. First point - this place is a bloody mess. They're the infamous yakuza, sure, but the Yakuza groups in Tokyo, and Japan in general, are all starting to get with the times. They're more akin to criminal businessmen than the butchers of old now. They're trying to win the Hearts and Minds of the people of Japan - and they know shit like this don't fly." He motioned towards the photos. "Bloodbaths like this, costs money and interrupts business, so they never do it. If they kill someone, they "disappear" him. They've also come to the conclusion that's more scary, since nobody knows what happens to those who cross the Yakuza, in that case." He shrugged, continuing his lecture:
"Point Two. The Yakuza in Tokyo are at peace currently, and if there was a shitstorm brewing, then my bro's over at Kabukicho would've let me know, either to try and get me to help them out, or to negotiate a peace before the war actually broke out. More to the point, you can feel it in the air, in the atmosphere, when blood is about to be spilt in Kabukicho. I haven't felt anything like that lately. Which means if - and I say if, because that's a big friggin' if - a criminal group is behind this, then you'd do a mistake to go blaming the Yakuza. You'd be better off investigating either the Nigerians, or 14K. Most likely the Nigerians. They're still stuck in the "My dick is bigger than yours" gangbanger development stage." He rolled his eyes, showing his lack of respect for the Nigerian crime syndicates.
"Point Three. I studied the photos through the magnifying glass. I saw a lot of blood, lots of gore, lots of Hannibal Lecter material." He looked up at Yoko and frowned. "One of the stiffs is missing his head, right? Now, that particular spot where, you know, his neck ends, and his head is supposed to be, but isn't? Well, I'm no coroner, but that "cut" ain't no cut at all, baby. It's nowhere close to the clean cut of a sword, like the Yakuza like to use, nor even close to the rather jagged cuts that the Nigerians, who completely seem to lack every level of finesse, leave behind when they hack people's heads off with chainsaws... Let me tell you, darlin', that head has not been sliced off." He scratched his forehead.
"The jackass who did this, in other words, must've used one hell of a powerful handcannon to blow his victim's head clean off like that, because he sure as shit didn't chop it off. Even a .50AE Desert Eagle doesn't blow the entire head off like the effect we're seeing here. Best thing I could think of would be one of those anti-material rifles the US army uses to snipe out insurgents in Afghanistan. And you and me both know, that is way above the kind of firepower any criminal group in Japan has access to. Maybe the Nigerians could get their hands on an anti-material rifle, but even that's a stretch. I know of one group that could for certain - they're the kind of group you never hear of, or even find out exists..." He left the cigarette in the side of his mouth again as he, once again, reached out for the photos, shaking his head. "They'd never do something this stupid. They don't want to risk this kind of attention." He looked up at the female cop again, and frowned.
"Yokochan, I think you can forget about the organized crime ties on this one." He said. "My first instinct is to say you're dealing with some kind of serial killer. But even they don't have access to anti-material sniper rifles. And I don't see any bullet holes in the walls." He frowned again. "Can't be explosives either. You eat something, it doesn't go up to your head for digestion, it goes down to your stomach. Unless it was implanted in his brain, but there's no way anyone could miss something like that - you couldn't implant it behind the cranium, it'd kill the carrier for certain by messing around with the brain - you'd have to implant it near the surface, under the skin but outside the cranium. Anyone would see it at a simple glance." He rubbed his hair in frustration. "God, you really gave me a tough one this time around, Yoko. I can't even figure out how the hell he whacked that guy." Finally, he killed the cigarette.
"Alrighty." He said as he stood up. "I'll dance, this time too." He said. "Let me dig around and see what I can find. Someone with this level of crazy - or flaire - in his methods of murder, he ain't gonna stay anonymous for very long. Not in this town. I'll call you as soon as I know something." He gestured for the door, a polite gesture for her to leave - to leave him to his thinking. Having an interesting and complicated case on his hands, Kojiroh was almost completely changed. Now he was serious, intrigued - dedicated. As Yoko reached the door, he said:
"Give me twenty-four hours, and I'll have something for you. My pride as a professional demands it."
With that, he turned around and headed up for his office.
Professor Hayami smiled broadly, seemingly ignorant of his student's surprise.
"Of course, no trouble at all, Mr Kamiya." He excitedly replied. "I'll make the call later today." He threw a glance at his wristwatch and cursed. "Oh, darn. I have to develop these photos before my next class. Mr Kamiya, would you excuse me?" He gestured towards the heavy steel door leading to his film developing room, and added: "I must develop these photos for Kojiroh. He usually wants them delivered the day after, to meet deadlines with his clients."
"Double homicide, huh?" Kojiroh mumbled as he studied the photos, barely listening to her as she gave him the rundown of the case.
"I've got a bad feeling about this one. Something's not right." She finally said. Kojiroh looked up, putting down the photos and the magnifying glass, and taking the cigarette out of his mouth to exhale some smoke. He pointed the niccotine stick at her as he replied with a frown:
"You've got that right, baby. I took a quick look, and I can already point out three things that crush any theory about organized crime involvement. I know you cops like to generalize when it comes to crooks, but this definitely ain't no Yakuza handiwork. First point - this place is a bloody mess. They're the infamous yakuza, sure, but the Yakuza groups in Tokyo, and Japan in general, are all starting to get with the times. They're more akin to criminal businessmen than the butchers of old now. They're trying to win the Hearts and Minds of the people of Japan - and they know shit like this don't fly." He motioned towards the photos. "Bloodbaths like this, costs money and interrupts business, so they never do it. If they kill someone, they "disappear" him. They've also come to the conclusion that's more scary, since nobody knows what happens to those who cross the Yakuza, in that case." He shrugged, continuing his lecture:
"Point Two. The Yakuza in Tokyo are at peace currently, and if there was a shitstorm brewing, then my bro's over at Kabukicho would've let me know, either to try and get me to help them out, or to negotiate a peace before the war actually broke out. More to the point, you can feel it in the air, in the atmosphere, when blood is about to be spilt in Kabukicho. I haven't felt anything like that lately. Which means if - and I say if, because that's a big friggin' if - a criminal group is behind this, then you'd do a mistake to go blaming the Yakuza. You'd be better off investigating either the Nigerians, or 14K. Most likely the Nigerians. They're still stuck in the "My dick is bigger than yours" gangbanger development stage." He rolled his eyes, showing his lack of respect for the Nigerian crime syndicates.
"Point Three. I studied the photos through the magnifying glass. I saw a lot of blood, lots of gore, lots of Hannibal Lecter material." He looked up at Yoko and frowned. "One of the stiffs is missing his head, right? Now, that particular spot where, you know, his neck ends, and his head is supposed to be, but isn't? Well, I'm no coroner, but that "cut" ain't no cut at all, baby. It's nowhere close to the clean cut of a sword, like the Yakuza like to use, nor even close to the rather jagged cuts that the Nigerians, who completely seem to lack every level of finesse, leave behind when they hack people's heads off with chainsaws... Let me tell you, darlin', that head has not been sliced off." He scratched his forehead.
"The jackass who did this, in other words, must've used one hell of a powerful handcannon to blow his victim's head clean off like that, because he sure as shit didn't chop it off. Even a .50AE Desert Eagle doesn't blow the entire head off like the effect we're seeing here. Best thing I could think of would be one of those anti-material rifles the US army uses to snipe out insurgents in Afghanistan. And you and me both know, that is way above the kind of firepower any criminal group in Japan has access to. Maybe the Nigerians could get their hands on an anti-material rifle, but even that's a stretch. I know of one group that could for certain - they're the kind of group you never hear of, or even find out exists..." He left the cigarette in the side of his mouth again as he, once again, reached out for the photos, shaking his head. "They'd never do something this stupid. They don't want to risk this kind of attention." He looked up at the female cop again, and frowned.
"Yokochan, I think you can forget about the organized crime ties on this one." He said. "My first instinct is to say you're dealing with some kind of serial killer. But even they don't have access to anti-material sniper rifles. And I don't see any bullet holes in the walls." He frowned again. "Can't be explosives either. You eat something, it doesn't go up to your head for digestion, it goes down to your stomach. Unless it was implanted in his brain, but there's no way anyone could miss something like that - you couldn't implant it behind the cranium, it'd kill the carrier for certain by messing around with the brain - you'd have to implant it near the surface, under the skin but outside the cranium. Anyone would see it at a simple glance." He rubbed his hair in frustration. "God, you really gave me a tough one this time around, Yoko. I can't even figure out how the hell he whacked that guy." Finally, he killed the cigarette.
"Alrighty." He said as he stood up. "I'll dance, this time too." He said. "Let me dig around and see what I can find. Someone with this level of crazy - or flaire - in his methods of murder, he ain't gonna stay anonymous for very long. Not in this town. I'll call you as soon as I know something." He gestured for the door, a polite gesture for her to leave - to leave him to his thinking. Having an interesting and complicated case on his hands, Kojiroh was almost completely changed. Now he was serious, intrigued - dedicated. As Yoko reached the door, he said:
"Give me twenty-four hours, and I'll have something for you. My pride as a professional demands it."
With that, he turned around and headed up for his office.
*****
Professor Hayami smiled broadly, seemingly ignorant of his student's surprise.
"Of course, no trouble at all, Mr Kamiya." He excitedly replied. "I'll make the call later today." He threw a glance at his wristwatch and cursed. "Oh, darn. I have to develop these photos before my next class. Mr Kamiya, would you excuse me?" He gestured towards the heavy steel door leading to his film developing room, and added: "I must develop these photos for Kojiroh. He usually wants them delivered the day after, to meet deadlines with his clients."
OOC Notes
The man was in his early forties, an Asian man with beard stubble, and scruffy black hair. His eyes were sharp and penetrating; grey like steel, and slightly slithed in an oddly cunning way, almost giving him a wolf-like impression. He wore a sharply cut black suit with a white shirt, and an expensive silk tie. It was all part of his appearance as a sharp-minded businessman. Mr Lau, however, was anything but a businessman. For now, standing outside the gates of Todai, Tokyo Daigaku or university, he was the university's newest addition to their roster of teachers in archaeology. That, at least, was his cover.
Mr Lau, in truth, knew much about, but was not very interested in, archaeology. He saw the position as a stepping stone, nothing more. As he entered the university, he considered whether or not he should assume a level of acting, as many of the students looked at him when he passed them on the campus, and in the corridors when he entered one of the buildings. Ultimately, however, he decided not to bother doing so. He wouldn't be the first teacher in Japan who was strict, anyway.
It didn't take long for Mr Lau to find the lecture hall where he was supposed to hold his first seminar of the day. Ironically, his first seminar of the day would be about the Mayan god, Xuelmahatl. He snickered to himself, a cold sneer, as he wandered through the empty seminar hall up to his desk on the podium. There, he casually put down his briefcase, opened it and took out his laptop, which he quickly connected to the projector placed in the ceiling of the large room. After he was done with the preparations, he took out a very thin file from his briefcase. It was brown, made of cardboard, and marked in black stencil letters; "Mask of Xuelmahatl".
In it was all the information his fellow masons had managed to gather in regard to the mysterious - and reputedly cursed - Mayan mask, that was currently in the possession of the Tokyo University. In the end of the file was his orders. The last sentence of the paper detailing them caught his wolf-like eyes, and made a cold sneer cross his lips for a moment. "Use any means necessary to acquire the Mask, and no matter what, do not try it on."
"Like Hell I won't... Heh. Hahahaha." Mr Lau laughed to himself at the ignorance of some of the people he took his orders from. It was a cold, dead, hollow laughter, typical of Mr Lau.
Mr Lau, in truth, knew much about, but was not very interested in, archaeology. He saw the position as a stepping stone, nothing more. As he entered the university, he considered whether or not he should assume a level of acting, as many of the students looked at him when he passed them on the campus, and in the corridors when he entered one of the buildings. Ultimately, however, he decided not to bother doing so. He wouldn't be the first teacher in Japan who was strict, anyway.
It didn't take long for Mr Lau to find the lecture hall where he was supposed to hold his first seminar of the day. Ironically, his first seminar of the day would be about the Mayan god, Xuelmahatl. He snickered to himself, a cold sneer, as he wandered through the empty seminar hall up to his desk on the podium. There, he casually put down his briefcase, opened it and took out his laptop, which he quickly connected to the projector placed in the ceiling of the large room. After he was done with the preparations, he took out a very thin file from his briefcase. It was brown, made of cardboard, and marked in black stencil letters; "Mask of Xuelmahatl".
In it was all the information his fellow masons had managed to gather in regard to the mysterious - and reputedly cursed - Mayan mask, that was currently in the possession of the Tokyo University. In the end of the file was his orders. The last sentence of the paper detailing them caught his wolf-like eyes, and made a cold sneer cross his lips for a moment. "Use any means necessary to acquire the Mask, and no matter what, do not try it on."
"Like Hell I won't... Heh. Hahahaha." Mr Lau laughed to himself at the ignorance of some of the people he took his orders from. It was a cold, dead, hollow laughter, typical of Mr Lau.
OOC Notes
"A double homicide." Yoko dropped a couple of photos onto the table. Instinctively, Kojiroh took out a pack of cigarettes and lit one up. As he left it in the side of his mouth he picked up the photos, and studied them with intrigue. Then he reached out for a magnifying glass on the table, and studied them through that, all the while Yoko continued to talk. "My first thought was that it might have something to do with the Yakuza. So I thought I'd bring it to you so you can drill your contacts for info. But the more I look at things, the less it seems to make sense."
"Double homicide, huh?" Kojiroh mumbled as he studied the photos, barely listening to her as she gave him the rundown of the case.
"I've got a bad feeling about this one. Something's not right." She finally said. Kojiroh looked up, putting down the photos and the magnifying glass, and taking the cigarette out of his mouth to exhale some smoke. He pointed the niccotine stick at her as he replied with a frown:
"You've got that right, baby. I took a quick look, and I can already point out three things that crush any theory about organized crime involvement. I know you cops like to generalize when it comes to crooks, but this definitely ain't no Yakuza handiwork. First point - this place is a bloody mess. They're the infamous yakuza, sure, but the Yakuza groups in Tokyo, and Japan in general, are all starting to get with the times. They're more akin to criminal businessmen than the butchers of old now. They're trying to win the Hearts and Minds of the people of Japan - and they know shit like this don't fly." He motioned towards the photos. "Bloodbaths like this, costs money and interrupts business, so they never do it. If they kill someone, they "disappear" him. They've also come to the conclusion that's more scary, since nobody knows what happens to those who cross the Yakuza, in that case." He shrugged, continuing his lecture:
"Point Two. The Yakuza in Tokyo are at peace currently, and if there was a shitstorm brewing, then my bro's over at Kabukicho would've let me know, either to try and get me to help them out, or to negotiate a peace before the war actually broke out. More to the point, you can feel it in the air, in the atmosphere, when blood is about to be spilt in Kabukicho. I haven't felt anything like that lately. Which means if - and I say if, because that's a big friggin' if - a criminal group is behind this, then you'd do a mistake to go blaming the Yakuza. You'd be better off investigating either the Nigerians, or 14K. Most likely the Nigerians. They're still stuck in the "My dick is bigger than yours" gangbanger development stage." He rolled his eyes, showing his lack of respect for the Nigerian crime syndicates.
"Point Three. I studied the photos through the magnifying glass. I saw a lot of blood, lots of gore, lots of Hannibal Lecter material." He looked up at Yoko and frowned. "One of the stiffs is missing his head, right? Now, that particular spot where, you know, his neck ends, and his head is supposed to be, but isn't? Well, I'm no coroner, but that "cut" ain't no cut at all, baby. It's nowhere close to the clean cut of a sword, like the Yakuza like to use, nor even close to the rather jagged cuts that the Nigerians, who completely seem to lack every level of finesse, leave behind when they hack people's heads off with chainsaws... Let me tell you, darlin', that head has not been sliced off." He scratched his forehead.
"The jackass who did this, in other words, must've used one hell of a powerful handcannon to blow his victim's head clean off like that, because he sure as shit didn't chop it off. Even a .50AE Desert Eagle doesn't blow the entire head off like the effect we're seeing here. Best thing I could think of would be one of those anti-material rifles the US army uses to snipe out insurgents in Afghanistan. And you and me both know, that is way above the kind of firepower any criminal group in Japan has access to. Maybe the Nigerians could get their hands on an anti-material rifle, but even that's a stretch. I know of one group that could for certain - they're the kind of group you never hear of, or even find out exists..." He left the cigarette in the side of his mouth again as he, once again, reached out for the photos, shaking his head. "They'd never do something this stupid. They don't want to risk this kind of attention." He looked up at the female cop again, and frowned.
"Yokochan, I think you can forget about the organized crime ties on this one." He said. "My first instinct is to say you're dealing with some kind of serial killer. But even they don't have access to anti-material sniper rifles. And I don't see any bullet holes in the walls." He frowned again. "Can't be explosives either. You eat something, it doesn't go up to your head for digestion, it goes down to your stomach. Unless it was implanted in his brain, but there's no way anyone could miss something like that - you couldn't implant it behind the cranium, it'd kill the carrier for certain by messing around with the brain - you'd have to implant it near the surface, under the skin but outside the cranium. Anyone would see it at a simple glance." He rubbed his hair in frustration. "God, you really gave me a tough one this time around, Yoko. I can't even figure out how the hell he whacked that guy." Finally, he killed the cigarette.
"Alrighty." He said as he stood up. "I'll dance, this time too." He said. "Let me dig around and see what I can find. Someone with this level of crazy - or flaire - in his methods of murder, he ain't gonna stay anonymous for very long. Not in this town. I'll call you as soon as I know something." He gestured for the door, a polite gesture for her to leave - to leave him to his thinking. Having an interesting and complicated case on his hands, Kojiroh was almost completely changed. Now he was serious, intrigued - dedicated. As Yoko reached the door, he said:
"Give me twenty-four hours, and I'll have something for you. My pride as a professional demands it."
With that, he turned around and headed up for his office.
*****
Professor Hayami smiled broadly, seemingly ignorant of his student's surprise.
"Of course, no trouble at all, Mr Kamiya." He excitedly replied. "I'll make the call later today." He threw a glance at his wristwatch and cursed. "Oh, darn. I have to develop these photos before my next class. Mr Kamiya, would you excuse me?" He gestured towards the heavy steel door leading to his film developing room, and added: "I must develop these photos for Kojiroh. He usually wants them delivered the day after, to meet deadlines with his clients."
*****
The man was in his early forties, an Asian man with beard stubble, and scruffy black hair. His eyes were sharp and penetrating; grey like steel, and slightly slithed in an oddly cunning way, almost giving him a wolf-like impression. He wore a sharply cut black suit with a white shirt, and an expensive silk tie. It was all part of his appearance as a sharp-minded businessman. Mr Lau, however, was anything but a businessman. For now, standing outside the gates of Todai, Tokyo Daigaku or university, he was the university's newest addition to their roster of teachers in archaeology. That, at least, was his cover.
Mr Lau, in truth, knew much about, but was not very interested in, archaeology. He saw the position as a stepping stone, nothing more. As he entered the university, he considered whether or not he should assume a level of acting, as many of the students looked at him when he passed them on the campus, and in the corridors when he entered one of the buildings. Ultimately, however, he decided not to bother doing so. He wouldn't be the first teacher in Japan who was strict, anyway.
It didn't take long for Mr Lau to find the lecture hall where he was supposed to hold his first seminar of the day. Ironically, his first seminar of the day would be about the Mayan god, Xuelmahatl. He snickered to himself, a cold sneer, as he wandered through the empty seminar hall up to his desk on the podium. There, he casually put down his briefcase, opened it and took out his laptop, which he quickly connected to the projector placed in the ceiling of the large room. After he was done with the preparations, he took out a very thin file from his briefcase. It was brown, made of cardboard, and marked in black stencil letters; "Mask of Xuelmahatl".
In it was all the information his fellow masons had managed to gather in regard to the mysterious - and reputedly cursed - Mayan mask, that was currently in the possession of the Tokyo University. In the end of the file was his orders. The last sentence of the paper detailing them caught his wolf-like eyes, and made a cold sneer cross his lips for a moment. "Use any means necessary to acquire the Mask, and no matter what, do not try it on."
"Like Hell I won't... Heh. Hahahaha." Mr Lau laughed to himself at the ignorance of some of the people he took his orders from. It was a cold, dead, hollow laughter, typical of Mr Lau.
The shrill ring of Ein's phone chirped like a bird call through his apartment and he flipped the small device open. He was silent.
"We've got new orders." The voice on the other end of the phone stated. Ein didn't reply. "You're to go undercover at Tokyo University and recover a sample from an item being researched there. The Mask of Xuelmahatl. It will be on display at the museum of history for the duration of the study. More details to follow." There was a brief pause before the dialing tone sounded and Ein closed the phone. Within seconds he was out the door and down the stairs.
***
Yoko excused herself with a curt and stiff nod to Kojiroh. "I'll be in touch." She added, slipping discreetly down one of the side alleys to the warehouse.
Moments later Kojiroh's phone rang abruptly.
"Mr Kodama." A low, sensuous sounding female voice issued from the receiver. "I have an offer for you. I need you to look into somethign for me."
***
Kyo swung open the door and signalled for the bartender.
"I'll have a pepsi." He said, producing the cash from his pocket and sliding the notes over the counter. He headed over to the middle aged man sitting by the barside.
"Excuse me. Are you professor Kurosawa?" He asked the man, bowing slightly at the waist. "My name is Kyo Kamiya. Professor Hayami said he'd called you earlier today."
OOC Notes
Kojiroh had barely sat down in his chair in the office before his cellphone rang. He hesitated for a moment, before taking the call.
"Yeah, this is Kojiroh." He said, all the while studying the photos Yoko had brought.
"Mr Kodama." A low, sensuous female voice said in his ear. Kojiroh lowered the magnifying glass from the photos as he heard it. "I have an offer for you. I need you to look into somethign for me."
Kojiroh shrugged.
"Well, sorry to disappoint you, Miss, but I'm booked solid for the next few weeks. Why don't you try calling Mike Hama instead? He's got his shit together, or so I'm told. Unless you're a pretty girl, of course. In that case I'd be glad to help you. Tell you what, why don't you send me a photo of yourself, and I'll decide after that?" He mumbled as he continued to study the photos with intrigue, waiting for the woman to reply. "What's the case anyway?" He added with a distanced tone in his voice.
"Yeah, this is Kojiroh." He said, all the while studying the photos Yoko had brought.
"Mr Kodama." A low, sensuous female voice said in his ear. Kojiroh lowered the magnifying glass from the photos as he heard it. "I have an offer for you. I need you to look into somethign for me."
Kojiroh shrugged.
"Well, sorry to disappoint you, Miss, but I'm booked solid for the next few weeks. Why don't you try calling Mike Hama instead? He's got his shit together, or so I'm told. Unless you're a pretty girl, of course. In that case I'd be glad to help you. Tell you what, why don't you send me a photo of yourself, and I'll decide after that?" He mumbled as he continued to study the photos with intrigue, waiting for the woman to reply. "What's the case anyway?" He added with a distanced tone in his voice.
OOC Notes
Ignore this one.
OOC Notes
Rey saw Kyo enter the bar, and order his drink. He walked to the cooler for the Pepsi and as he came back he noticed that the boy had taken a seat next to Rodriguez. "Its nice to see that he has other friends too, he sometimes looks so lonely out of his eyes." He brought Kyo the drink and walked to a window sided table where the empty glasses and bottles stood waiting for Rey to clean them up.
Rodriguez looked at Kyo at first with some disbelief, slowly the content of the messege came over and he answered like only he could: "Yes, yes...I am Kurosawa, what is it that you want?" Then the young man asked: "Professor Hayami said he'd called you earlier today." Rodriguez looked surprised when he heard that. "He did?...Oh, yes he did...Uhm, I can't recall exactly what he said...Uhm, it was about that mask, right? You wanted to do a project about that mask, right?" He asked.
Rey had overheard the phonecall between the professors and could recall it clearly even without professor Hayami's side of the call. He lightly smiled when he walked back to the two. "Rodriguez, that was important and yet you still forgot. He wanted you to show some student around in the mayan exhibit for a photoproject." Rey turned to Kyo and with a smile he wispered to him: "Don't blame him for it, he just has so many things on his mind that he tends to forget a bit or two." And with that said he walked off again to serve a small group of students their drinks.
Rodriguez hadn't heard what Rey had said about his memory, but he knew what was wrong with it and didn't mind that others knew. With a spark of exitement he asked Kyo a few important question: "So you want to make some photo's of the mayan exhibit, is there anything in specific you want to see? And do you need information about the artifacts, or do you just want photo's?"
Rodriguez looked at Kyo at first with some disbelief, slowly the content of the messege came over and he answered like only he could: "Yes, yes...I am Kurosawa, what is it that you want?" Then the young man asked: "Professor Hayami said he'd called you earlier today." Rodriguez looked surprised when he heard that. "He did?...Oh, yes he did...Uhm, I can't recall exactly what he said...Uhm, it was about that mask, right? You wanted to do a project about that mask, right?" He asked.
Rey had overheard the phonecall between the professors and could recall it clearly even without professor Hayami's side of the call. He lightly smiled when he walked back to the two. "Rodriguez, that was important and yet you still forgot. He wanted you to show some student around in the mayan exhibit for a photoproject." Rey turned to Kyo and with a smile he wispered to him: "Don't blame him for it, he just has so many things on his mind that he tends to forget a bit or two." And with that said he walked off again to serve a small group of students their drinks.
Rodriguez hadn't heard what Rey had said about his memory, but he knew what was wrong with it and didn't mind that others knew. With a spark of exitement he asked Kyo a few important question: "So you want to make some photo's of the mayan exhibit, is there anything in specific you want to see? And do you need information about the artifacts, or do you just want photo's?"
OOC Notes
"Then I'll have to come down in person to persuade you." The woman assured Kojiroh in slow, seductive tones. "I'll see you soon. Mr Kodama." She hung up.
Later on that evening there was a knock at the door. The first thing Kojiroh noticed was the dress. It was a stunning blood red, so vivid it seemed to drain the colour from the surroundings. It was chinese style, the slit sides ran up past her thighs to her waist to expose her long, slim legs. Fastenings at the side by her hips preserved a modicum of modesty. She touched a long gloved hand to her full red lips, brushing them seductively as she eyed the man. Sharp blue eyes watched him through lowered lids as she smiled suggestively, flicking back the flowing black of her hair.
"Mr Kodama." She purred. "We spoke on the phone. I need your help with something."
***
"Well, first I'll need to take a look, but I can tell you..." He reached into his pockets for the pamphlet and passed it to the elder man, the photograph of the strange bone mask was circled. "That my professor is particularly intrigued by this piece." He pointed at the photo. "I'm thinking I'll get some extra credit if I can find out a bit more about it." He took a sip of his drink. "And I'll obviously need to do a couple of interviews with you about the exhibit."
***
Guy looked around at the large buildings that surrounded him, a look of bewilderment written on his face. He looked down at the paper in his hand and then back up. He scratched the back of his head and tried to catch the attention of a passer by in faltering Japanese.
"Uh, excuse me..." They carried on walking, seep in conversation. "Hello?" He tried again with another, only for them to pass him by as well. His shoulders dropped with a sigh and he carried on walking through the University grounds.
Later on that evening there was a knock at the door. The first thing Kojiroh noticed was the dress. It was a stunning blood red, so vivid it seemed to drain the colour from the surroundings. It was chinese style, the slit sides ran up past her thighs to her waist to expose her long, slim legs. Fastenings at the side by her hips preserved a modicum of modesty. She touched a long gloved hand to her full red lips, brushing them seductively as she eyed the man. Sharp blue eyes watched him through lowered lids as she smiled suggestively, flicking back the flowing black of her hair.
"Mr Kodama." She purred. "We spoke on the phone. I need your help with something."
***
"Well, first I'll need to take a look, but I can tell you..." He reached into his pockets for the pamphlet and passed it to the elder man, the photograph of the strange bone mask was circled. "That my professor is particularly intrigued by this piece." He pointed at the photo. "I'm thinking I'll get some extra credit if I can find out a bit more about it." He took a sip of his drink. "And I'll obviously need to do a couple of interviews with you about the exhibit."
***
Guy looked around at the large buildings that surrounded him, a look of bewilderment written on his face. He looked down at the paper in his hand and then back up. He scratched the back of his head and tried to catch the attention of a passer by in faltering Japanese.
"Uh, excuse me..." They carried on walking, seep in conversation. "Hello?" He tried again with another, only for them to pass him by as well. His shoulders dropped with a sigh and he carried on walking through the University grounds.
OOC Notes
(wrong section, I apologize.)
OOC Notes
(Disturbed: "Indestructible" The Offspring: "Half Truisms" )
Clockwork... Idiom: with perfect regularity or precision. It was the only way to describe the event. Every night for the past week, at exactly the same time, the high pitched roar of Leonardo Phoenix's supercharged Hayabusa 1300 R ripped past the warehouse district at roughly 300 kilometers per hour. Now and then he saw an orange Tiburon parked outside when he passed, but it was supposed to be commercial, so Leo thought nothing of it... no residents equals no complaints... or at least no complaints from residents that want any attention from regular police. Not that it would matter: one of the flight line engineers on the base who shared his passion for motorcycles just fast enough to be stupid on clued him in that Tokyo police vehicles were factory governed, and could not go faster than a certain speed... so if you could do better than 190 kph, or 118 miles per hour, they wouldn't even try to chase you. Flat out, Leo's Hayabusa would do roughly 212, or 341 kilos... and the liter or so of radar defeating matte black paint he'd smuggled off the flight line didn't hurt.
Japan was his most recent assignment in the Air Force... a boring desk job shuffling papers in a long line of boring desk jobs. The service had taken him off the flight lines after he crashed an F-22 into the Afghani mountains and crushed the femur in his right leg. Even with extensive surgery, it never quite healed right... He could hardly put his own body weight on it, and it lacked the strength to operate the rudder pedals in a fighter jet. Well... he was stubborn, and had tried it in the flight simulator after he was cleared for duty and discovered that he'd have had to have the Marine Corps anti-torture training to fly for longer than a few seconds. How was he riding? Don't motorcycles have a foot-brake? He forgot to mention he was a mechanical genius didn't he? He didn't just fly jets, he knew everything about them and logged extensive hours on the lines as a flight mechanic. Motorcycles weren't that hard in comparison: he'd figured out pretty quick how to rig the hand brake to apply equal pressure to both wheels.
His department head had just announced that he was retiring in a couple weeks... which was just a polite way of telling him "we no longer have any use for you, and you're fired." With 27 years logged in the service, and his retiring as a Colonel, he was entitled to a hefty pension. If he was careful with it, he might not even have to work anymore.
Right... careful is my middle name, he thought to himself as he feathered the brake, squeezed the clutch and down-shifted to take a curve. Leo pulled on the right handlebar and threw his weight left to overcome the centrifugal force keeping the bike upright and accelerated through the apex of the curve without letting his speed dip below 190 kph... wouldn't want the regulars to get the wrong idea.
Riding was all he had left... riding and alcohol, at least. Nothing was quite the same after pushing the limits in a supersonic aircraft, peppering tanks with depleted uranium slugs, or laser-guiding a 2000 pound bomb into a target. Plus with the advancements in AEGIS technology, being in a jet was almost like flying a video game. Re-tasking a missile in flight was almost as simple as a mouse click. Plus with the radar defeating armor, getting a firing solution on multiple targets before they could even see you was a cinch. God damn... Americans cheat.
Since his "retirement" announcement, he decided to take the remainder of all of his accumulated paid leave all at once. So he had been frittering away his time working on his motorcycle, drinking himself into oblivion, waking up somewhere and trying to find his ride (GPS helped) and making his way (carefully) back home. Leo was basically a functioning alcoholic, so getting home even while falling-down-drunk was relatively easy. His rule of thumb was that if he couldn't get the bike off its center stand, then he had to take the subway home. Most nights it was a good enough rule... now and then he still had a frightening ride home, though.
He enjoyed riding though the country because he could go fast and not worry about traffic. The warehouse district just happened to be on his way back. Leo slowed down to city speeds when the traffic began to build up, mostly because the size of his bike made it difficult to weave in and out of traffic in the most dangerous and reckless manner possible. It was time to pull in and find a bar to settle down in. So far he had tried to hit a different one every day, but he figured with only so many bars in Tokyo, he'd have to start making repeat visits sooner or later... hopefully far enough in the future for the owners to forget about the riotous bar fights that tended to "spontaneously erupt" in his presence. For a cripple in his late forties, he was still quite scrappy. Usually he parked at the university and walked since it was often more convenient than trying to ride all over town, or park at the bar itself.
Here, as he pulled in to his regular spot, killed the engine, and pulled the bike up onto its center stand he saw a not unfamiliar sight: someone new to town. It was pretty obvious, as he'd been in that particular spot more times than he cared to remember: stumbling around, disoriented and lost, with a slip of paper and no clue, asking for directions from people who couldn't care less, or didn't understand. Such was the life of a military man. Leo pulled off his helmet, securing it to the lock on the back of his bike, then unzipped his leather bomber jacket and flagged the stranger down.
"Sumimasen, pardner. I speak English and know the area well enough," he said as he carefully dismounted from the bike, pulling his gloves off and shoving them in his pockets. He popped an aluminum cane out of a clip-in holster on the side of the bike and limped, more than walked, with heavy support on his cane towards the stranger. "You look lost, so's there somethin' I can help you with, Sir?"
Clockwork... Idiom: with perfect regularity or precision. It was the only way to describe the event. Every night for the past week, at exactly the same time, the high pitched roar of Leonardo Phoenix's supercharged Hayabusa 1300 R ripped past the warehouse district at roughly 300 kilometers per hour. Now and then he saw an orange Tiburon parked outside when he passed, but it was supposed to be commercial, so Leo thought nothing of it... no residents equals no complaints... or at least no complaints from residents that want any attention from regular police. Not that it would matter: one of the flight line engineers on the base who shared his passion for motorcycles just fast enough to be stupid on clued him in that Tokyo police vehicles were factory governed, and could not go faster than a certain speed... so if you could do better than 190 kph, or 118 miles per hour, they wouldn't even try to chase you. Flat out, Leo's Hayabusa would do roughly 212, or 341 kilos... and the liter or so of radar defeating matte black paint he'd smuggled off the flight line didn't hurt.
Japan was his most recent assignment in the Air Force... a boring desk job shuffling papers in a long line of boring desk jobs. The service had taken him off the flight lines after he crashed an F-22 into the Afghani mountains and crushed the femur in his right leg. Even with extensive surgery, it never quite healed right... He could hardly put his own body weight on it, and it lacked the strength to operate the rudder pedals in a fighter jet. Well... he was stubborn, and had tried it in the flight simulator after he was cleared for duty and discovered that he'd have had to have the Marine Corps anti-torture training to fly for longer than a few seconds. How was he riding? Don't motorcycles have a foot-brake? He forgot to mention he was a mechanical genius didn't he? He didn't just fly jets, he knew everything about them and logged extensive hours on the lines as a flight mechanic. Motorcycles weren't that hard in comparison: he'd figured out pretty quick how to rig the hand brake to apply equal pressure to both wheels.
His department head had just announced that he was retiring in a couple weeks... which was just a polite way of telling him "we no longer have any use for you, and you're fired." With 27 years logged in the service, and his retiring as a Colonel, he was entitled to a hefty pension. If he was careful with it, he might not even have to work anymore.
Right... careful is my middle name, he thought to himself as he feathered the brake, squeezed the clutch and down-shifted to take a curve. Leo pulled on the right handlebar and threw his weight left to overcome the centrifugal force keeping the bike upright and accelerated through the apex of the curve without letting his speed dip below 190 kph... wouldn't want the regulars to get the wrong idea.
Riding was all he had left... riding and alcohol, at least. Nothing was quite the same after pushing the limits in a supersonic aircraft, peppering tanks with depleted uranium slugs, or laser-guiding a 2000 pound bomb into a target. Plus with the advancements in AEGIS technology, being in a jet was almost like flying a video game. Re-tasking a missile in flight was almost as simple as a mouse click. Plus with the radar defeating armor, getting a firing solution on multiple targets before they could even see you was a cinch. God damn... Americans cheat.
Since his "retirement" announcement, he decided to take the remainder of all of his accumulated paid leave all at once. So he had been frittering away his time working on his motorcycle, drinking himself into oblivion, waking up somewhere and trying to find his ride (GPS helped) and making his way (carefully) back home. Leo was basically a functioning alcoholic, so getting home even while falling-down-drunk was relatively easy. His rule of thumb was that if he couldn't get the bike off its center stand, then he had to take the subway home. Most nights it was a good enough rule... now and then he still had a frightening ride home, though.
He enjoyed riding though the country because he could go fast and not worry about traffic. The warehouse district just happened to be on his way back. Leo slowed down to city speeds when the traffic began to build up, mostly because the size of his bike made it difficult to weave in and out of traffic in the most dangerous and reckless manner possible. It was time to pull in and find a bar to settle down in. So far he had tried to hit a different one every day, but he figured with only so many bars in Tokyo, he'd have to start making repeat visits sooner or later... hopefully far enough in the future for the owners to forget about the riotous bar fights that tended to "spontaneously erupt" in his presence. For a cripple in his late forties, he was still quite scrappy. Usually he parked at the university and walked since it was often more convenient than trying to ride all over town, or park at the bar itself.
Here, as he pulled in to his regular spot, killed the engine, and pulled the bike up onto its center stand he saw a not unfamiliar sight: someone new to town. It was pretty obvious, as he'd been in that particular spot more times than he cared to remember: stumbling around, disoriented and lost, with a slip of paper and no clue, asking for directions from people who couldn't care less, or didn't understand. Such was the life of a military man. Leo pulled off his helmet, securing it to the lock on the back of his bike, then unzipped his leather bomber jacket and flagged the stranger down.
"Sumimasen, pardner. I speak English and know the area well enough," he said as he carefully dismounted from the bike, pulling his gloves off and shoving them in his pockets. He popped an aluminum cane out of a clip-in holster on the side of the bike and limped, more than walked, with heavy support on his cane towards the stranger. "You look lost, so's there somethin' I can help you with, Sir?"
OOC Notes
*Sings "Oops, I did it again"* >_<
OOC Notes
"Then I'll have to come down in person to persuade you." The woman assured Kojiroh in slow, seductive tones. "I'll see you soon. Mr Kodama." Kojiroh looked curiously at the phone, and then grinned to himself as he closed it and turned his attention to the computer. He pushed the button and started to boot it up.
Kojiroh had returned downstairs in the evening when the knock on the door came. He was sitting in his sofa, with his feet on the table, an empty cup of ramen (his dinner) on the table and a beer in his hand. In his lap lay a book, a book detailing odd serial murders throughout the 20th Century and up to five years before the present. Kojiroh was hoping to find something similar in history, to this case, something that could give him an angle on where to start.
And then, the red dress interrupted him when its owner knocked on the corrugated steel door before entering. Kojiroh looked at her, letting out a slight whistle of appreciation as he did, quickly putting down the beer. Her smile caught his attention first, but then, it drifted to her sharp blue eyes. If Kojiroh had been a computer, and his brain loaded with binary codes, somewhere in the mess of a code, a one would have changed to a zero at the point when he saw the woman's eyes. However, that change did not show on the surface of his face for even a second. She flicked back her hair, and spoke in a purring, seductive voice:
"Mr Kodama. We spoke on the phone. I need your help with something."
Kojiroh gave her a wry smile.
"And I'm very happy that you do." He said as he stood up. "You do have me at an advantage, though. May I ask for your name?" He gestured for the bar, and added: "And can I get you anything to drink? Tequila? Rum? Bourbon?" He walked up to the bar and brought out two glasses, pouring her the drink of her choice. As always, Kojiroh poured himself a glass of amber tequila. He walked back to the sofa, putting the glass down in front of her, and sipping his own as he sat down in the sofa opposite her.
"Now..." He said. "What is it you need my help with? You do not seem to be a woman of the "Jealous wife" variety, so we can exclude any voyeuristic behavior involving me, your husband, possible lovers and a questionable photo development store...that, and you're lacking a ring around your finger. Considering that, and considering you're down-right hot..." He added with another of his characteristic wry smiles. "...I think it's safe to say I'll take the job. But I can't do it without knowing the details. So, babe, I'm all yours." He made an inviting gesture for her to give him a rundown of the case.
Kojiroh had returned downstairs in the evening when the knock on the door came. He was sitting in his sofa, with his feet on the table, an empty cup of ramen (his dinner) on the table and a beer in his hand. In his lap lay a book, a book detailing odd serial murders throughout the 20th Century and up to five years before the present. Kojiroh was hoping to find something similar in history, to this case, something that could give him an angle on where to start.
And then, the red dress interrupted him when its owner knocked on the corrugated steel door before entering. Kojiroh looked at her, letting out a slight whistle of appreciation as he did, quickly putting down the beer. Her smile caught his attention first, but then, it drifted to her sharp blue eyes. If Kojiroh had been a computer, and his brain loaded with binary codes, somewhere in the mess of a code, a one would have changed to a zero at the point when he saw the woman's eyes. However, that change did not show on the surface of his face for even a second. She flicked back her hair, and spoke in a purring, seductive voice:
"Mr Kodama. We spoke on the phone. I need your help with something."
Kojiroh gave her a wry smile.
"And I'm very happy that you do." He said as he stood up. "You do have me at an advantage, though. May I ask for your name?" He gestured for the bar, and added: "And can I get you anything to drink? Tequila? Rum? Bourbon?" He walked up to the bar and brought out two glasses, pouring her the drink of her choice. As always, Kojiroh poured himself a glass of amber tequila. He walked back to the sofa, putting the glass down in front of her, and sipping his own as he sat down in the sofa opposite her.
"Now..." He said. "What is it you need my help with? You do not seem to be a woman of the "Jealous wife" variety, so we can exclude any voyeuristic behavior involving me, your husband, possible lovers and a questionable photo development store...that, and you're lacking a ring around your finger. Considering that, and considering you're down-right hot..." He added with another of his characteristic wry smiles. "...I think it's safe to say I'll take the job. But I can't do it without knowing the details. So, babe, I'm all yours." He made an inviting gesture for her to give him a rundown of the case.
OOC Notes
Rey saw a glimpse of the mask on the pamflet, it was one of the kind you won't forget when you learn of its existance at least not when you know the curse. A dangerous mask, at least when someone tried to wear it.
As soon as the pamflet with the mask showed up you could see the eyes of Rodriguez sparkle like diamonds in the spotlights. "You want to write down something about that mask for extra credits? That won't be a problem, there is enough to tell about it." He said as he finished his milkshake. "Well, if you want I still have some spare time and maybe you could help me out too." He said with a strange smile on his face.
As soon as the pamflet with the mask showed up you could see the eyes of Rodriguez sparkle like diamonds in the spotlights. "You want to write down something about that mask for extra credits? That won't be a problem, there is enough to tell about it." He said as he finished his milkshake. "Well, if you want I still have some spare time and maybe you could help me out too." He said with a strange smile on his face.
OOC Notes
Rey saw a glimpse of the mask on the pamflet, it was one of the kind you won't forget when you learn of its existance at least not when you know the curse. A dangerous mask, at least when someone tried to wear it.
As soon as the pamflet with the mask showed up you could see the eyes of Rodriguez sparkle like diamonds in the spotlights. "You want to write down something about that mask for extra credits? That won't be a problem, there is enough to tell about it." He said as he finished his milkshake. "Well, if you want I still have some spare time and maybe you could help me out too." He said with a strange smile on his face.
Kyo frowned and eyed the man suspiciously. "What can I do for you?" He asked, taking another gulp from his glass. He shot the bartender a glance, looking around surreptitiously to see who might be listening in on their conversation. Somehow he felt this would be something to keep a secret.
***
The woman chuckled at Kojiroh's comment, a soft, tinkling like a bell.
"Ms Xiuying Fan. And I'll have a gin and tonic please." She said, noticing the bottle in the liquer cabinet. She reclined across the couch, stretching out her arms and crossing her legs obviously as she took her drink. She licked her lips, moistening them before taking a sip from the glass and listened to his proposal. "Well, you are quick to the point, aren't you. You're exactly like I'd been told." She set the glass down on the table, running her finger around the rim. "But you're right about the husband though. You don't need to worry about any of that." She waved her hand as though to dismiss a cloud of smoke. She leant in conspiratorially. "There's been some odd goings on down at Todai recently. People disappearing amongst other things." She whispered. "I need you to take a look into a few people to see if they're involved." She handed him a brown paper envelope containing a number of photographs.
***
Guy turned to look at the older man with a look of surprise written across his face.
"Uh, well I'm looking for someone. A member of the faculty actually." He looked around at the university's grounds and back to the piece of paper in his hands before showing it to Leonardo. "They're supposed to be in this building." He pointed to the address. "But I don't know where it is." He laughed nervously. "I tried asking but I don't think my Japanese is so good." He lowered his head sheepishly.
OOC Notes
"There's been some odd goings on down at Todai recently. People disappearing amongst other things." The woman whispered to Kojiroh. "I need you to take a look into a few people to see if they're involved." She handed him a brown paper envelope. It contained several photographs of people. Kojiroh looked up at her, raising an eyebrow.
"Tell me, Miss Xiuying Fan..." He said, smiling as he spoke her full name. "How did you come to the conclusion that any of these people may be involved in the disappearances? More to the point, how do you know that there's been disappearances at all? It sounds to me like someone's already done an investigation for you on the case, though far less deeply so than necessary, or you wouldn't be here. I've already said I'll take the case. But I'm going to need to know more than just the faces of the people you want me to investigate." He scratched his chin thoughtfully as he sifted through the photos.
"Are there any common themes in regard to these people? What links them to the disappearances? Do you have any files on them? Any information you can give me at all in regard to any of them, is useful, and will help me give you a better report once I've investigated them. Which brings me to the second issue. When I have investigated these people, and if I find that any of them are involved in kidnapings, I am bound by law to report it to the police. That is, I would be if I had a license to work as a private detective. As it happens, I do not." He shrugged as if it didn't matter, and then raised an eyebrow escorted by a wry smile. "Are there any reasons for me to avoid reporting such findings to the police? Because, lying to the police...not that I mind doing that, but it'll cost extra." He studied her appreciatively for a moment before finally adding with a wink:
"I'm thinking a date with you, Miss Fan, might be suitable compensation for such a hassle."
"Tell me, Miss Xiuying Fan..." He said, smiling as he spoke her full name. "How did you come to the conclusion that any of these people may be involved in the disappearances? More to the point, how do you know that there's been disappearances at all? It sounds to me like someone's already done an investigation for you on the case, though far less deeply so than necessary, or you wouldn't be here. I've already said I'll take the case. But I'm going to need to know more than just the faces of the people you want me to investigate." He scratched his chin thoughtfully as he sifted through the photos.
"Are there any common themes in regard to these people? What links them to the disappearances? Do you have any files on them? Any information you can give me at all in regard to any of them, is useful, and will help me give you a better report once I've investigated them. Which brings me to the second issue. When I have investigated these people, and if I find that any of them are involved in kidnapings, I am bound by law to report it to the police. That is, I would be if I had a license to work as a private detective. As it happens, I do not." He shrugged as if it didn't matter, and then raised an eyebrow escorted by a wry smile. "Are there any reasons for me to avoid reporting such findings to the police? Because, lying to the police...not that I mind doing that, but it'll cost extra." He studied her appreciatively for a moment before finally adding with a wink:
"I'm thinking a date with you, Miss Fan, might be suitable compensation for such a hassle."
OOC Notes
(A.F.I.: "The Interview")
"Don't let it bother you none," Leo said, and took the slip of paper, holding it at arms length and squinting his eyes until he could make out the words. "People 'round here are nice enough, just gotta rouse them from their own little universe... watch this," he grinned.
"HEY!!" Leo barked loudly at a younger man who was walking past them, he turned around with a start and stared at them like a deer caught in headlights, nearly dropping his books. "Are you a student here?" he asked in heavily accented Japanese... the man nodded. "English building, you know it?" He nodded again. "Can you take us there? I'll buy you a drink!" Leo gave a crooked smile and a bow when the student said he would, and spun the key to his Hayabusa on the end of his finger triumphantly.
"Works every time. You'll get the hang of it through immersion after a while." Leo patted the stranger roughly on the back and walked with him and the student to the building in question. "Name's Leonardo. Most folks call me Leon, or Leo." When they reached the building, Leo flipped the student a bill out of his pocket, thanked him, and bowed.
"Here ya are... say..." He began, not knowing why he'd taken a liking to this guy so suddenly but dismissed it as the nostalgia of an old man. "I was just gonna cause trouble by myself today... but if ya like, I can show you about and help ya get familiarized, after your appointment of course."
"Don't let it bother you none," Leo said, and took the slip of paper, holding it at arms length and squinting his eyes until he could make out the words. "People 'round here are nice enough, just gotta rouse them from their own little universe... watch this," he grinned.
"HEY!!" Leo barked loudly at a younger man who was walking past them, he turned around with a start and stared at them like a deer caught in headlights, nearly dropping his books. "Are you a student here?" he asked in heavily accented Japanese... the man nodded. "English building, you know it?" He nodded again. "Can you take us there? I'll buy you a drink!" Leo gave a crooked smile and a bow when the student said he would, and spun the key to his Hayabusa on the end of his finger triumphantly.
"Works every time. You'll get the hang of it through immersion after a while." Leo patted the stranger roughly on the back and walked with him and the student to the building in question. "Name's Leonardo. Most folks call me Leon, or Leo." When they reached the building, Leo flipped the student a bill out of his pocket, thanked him, and bowed.
"Here ya are... say..." He began, not knowing why he'd taken a liking to this guy so suddenly but dismissed it as the nostalgia of an old man. "I was just gonna cause trouble by myself today... but if ya like, I can show you about and help ya get familiarized, after your appointment of course."
Dark Messiah: Out Of Character (OOC)
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Dark Messiah
1, 2, 3, 4by Mr D on Thu Dec 23, 2010 8:04 am
- 74 Replies
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- Last post by XianEvermor
on Mon Apr 18, 2011 1:14 am
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Dark Messiah
Most recent OOC posts in Dark Messiah
Re: [OOC] Dark Messiah
Sorry about the lengthy delay: I had a crazy week last week. Two exams, plus a project turn in, and i have another two exams (in my other two classes) next week, but one is a take-home and the other I will ace without opening the text book so it won't absorb my time nearly as much. I'm crafting a post for Dark Messiah right now that should be very entertaining and should have it up up later tonight. My post for Altaea will probably get done tomorrow depending on how long it takes me to finish my homework.
The semester is almost over and I'm only taking one class over the summer so in a few weeks my ability to post frequently should go up. As always, thanks for being patient with me. :)
-x
P.S. Thought getting younger would be a walk in the park didn't you?! ;D And wouldn't it be an awful coincidence if they were in a hospital... like with other freshly awakened people and a magically sensitive mage? oh and the blonde lady too. I mean, how many hospitals can there be within limping, carrying injured friends distance of the campus area? *Runs with the plot hook*
The semester is almost over and I'm only taking one class over the summer so in a few weeks my ability to post frequently should go up. As always, thanks for being patient with me. :)
-x
P.S. Thought getting younger would be a walk in the park didn't you?! ;D And wouldn't it be an awful coincidence if they were in a hospital... like with other freshly awakened people and a magically sensitive mage? oh and the blonde lady too. I mean, how many hospitals can there be within limping, carrying injured friends distance of the campus area? *Runs with the plot hook*
Re: [OOC] Dark Messiah
Don't push it, focus on irl work you need to get done. D: Try to take it easy~
Re: [OOC] Dark Messiah
I have a project due AND an exam on tuesday. I will try and get something on the board tomorrow, but I probably won't be able to make a REAL post until tuesday night.
-X
-X
Re: [OOC] Dark Messiah
I went ahead and dropped Kage, just couldn't feel him in this RP anymore. Still using Leigh though since I'm loving her in here.
Re: [OOC] Dark Messiah
So... I have no idea where this is going, which, while nice and interesting in one sense, also means that if I did something monumentally stupid in my post, you should tell me so and I can fix it.
EDIT: I just realized I completely failed to put my last post in Episode 1... this has been remedied, and the other post is now blank.
EDIT: I just realized I completely failed to put my last post in Episode 1... this has been remedied, and the other post is now blank.
Re: [OOC] Dark Messiah
So I finally got thechance to write and I can't think of anything. Please accept this humble offering of a post that will at least serve to get us from A to B.
Re: [OOC] Dark Messiah
Definitely going to jump in. Just am going to need some help getting into the current flow of things and understanding what has transpired so far.
I read through the IC posts, but I am honestly going to have to read through it again because I found it a little confusing.
Mr. D, you already know what direction I am going in terms of a character. I just have to put it together, which I wont do until I understand what is going on better.
Thanks
I read through the IC posts, but I am honestly going to have to read through it again because I found it a little confusing.
Mr. D, you already know what direction I am going in terms of a character. I just have to put it together, which I wont do until I understand what is going on better.
Thanks
Re: [OOC] Dark Messiah
On that note, still waiting for Yoko to reply to Kojiroh, D-Man. ;)
I'll hopefully hav e some time to roleplay friday, though I won't be going home for the weekend.
I'll hopefully hav e some time to roleplay friday, though I won't be going home for the weekend.
Re: [OOC] Dark Messiah
Been trying to find a home for a new character I want to play out. I am considering jumping in here if its not too late.
Just a question: who are the active players now (besides D, Lox, Xian, and Machina)?
Will read up on this and get you a draft profile at some point soon D.
Thanks
Just a question: who are the active players now (besides D, Lox, Xian, and Machina)?
Will read up on this and get you a draft profile at some point soon D.
Thanks
Re: [OOC] Dark Messiah
I'm sorry to say this, but I'm going to drop out of this one. I can't realy find anything to post anymore, so dropping out might be the only solution. Sorry guys.
Re: [OOC] Dark Messiah
No need to be sorry. I know what it's like to be busy. Also I have a bad habit of grabbing plot hooks and just running around wildly with them like a chicken with it's head cut off... and then i'll get tangled up in the plot line and have to stop because it's wrapped around my ankles and i fell over. Then while i'm trying to get it all sorted out, sadistic DMs will dangle another one in front of me, and i'll hobble away with that one too (not quite as fast, being as my ankles are tied up.)
Like a ferret in a hallmark store... OOH SHINEY!
;)
-X
Like a ferret in a hallmark store... OOH SHINEY!
;)
-X
Re: [OOC] Dark Messiah
I know Xian, sorry. I've been busy with work and was a bit blindsided by all of the info you crammed into that last post. I'm planning out my post tonight.
Re: [OOC] Dark Messiah
Well I was waiting for other people to post but it seems everone is otherwise engaged, so I'll carry on.
Re: [OOC] Dark Messiah
Just waiting on Fammikins... or I could jump ahead without you, I have plenty of ideas buzzing around in my head now :P
-X
-X
Re: [OOC] Dark Messiah
Sorry for my delay, just pulling up a blank. Should get my post in this weekend~
edit; I'll be posting this week, friend needed me over the weekend.
edit; I'll be posting this week, friend needed me over the weekend.
Re: [OOC] Dark Messiah
Right, now the powers have been handed out everyone can get in on beating this fool down.
Re: [OOC] Dark Messiah
Right. Now we're all back on the same page we can get moving again. Returning to our regularly scheduled horror/action mashup.
Re: [OOC] Dark Messiah
I could've sworn I posted a reply on the RP before I returned to bootcamp. Oh, well, my bad. I'll have another reply up for y'all tomorrow. :D
Re: [OOC] Dark Messiah
Kallas told me to go ahead and post sice he's having trouble coming up with something to write. So I'll be posting soon.
