The faithful were gathering again, a procession of samurai and commoners heading towards the shrine. Armed monks - sohei in practice guarded the column, their fingers tight on their webguns. Shinri respected all life, but much of the life on Asakaze had no qualms attacking humans if they could get away with it and so the monks kept their eyes open. Some of the devout carried weapons, willing to defy the tenets of the sect to ensure their safety. The monks and priests allowed this, knowing that any ideology that required a samurai to lay down their arms would have hard time attracting the devout. The priests would still preach the message of unity and non-violence, reminding everyone of the cycle of rebirth.

Eventually the congregation would reach the shrine, the devout chattering happily with each other, the shrine keepers making sure that everyone purified themselves before entering the shrine proper. Bright lanterns everywhere, kanji of 'way' and 'gate' drawn on the paper and plastic covering the lamps. Once the visitors had purified had purified themselves, they would be ushered into the shrine proper, Saneyuki sitting on an ornamental pillow next to the statue of the Gilded King, holding a vajra in his left hand, his right hand up in the air, his palm towards the faithful. The visitors would quiet down as they entered the shrine, each and everyone seeking out a pillow, sitting down on their knees.

This was familiar to Moriko, her feet seeming to have learnt the path to the shrine already. She smiled shyly to Saneyuki, ducking her head and tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. It refused to stay there, the silken strand falling forward and brushing her cheek softly. She wasn’t alone this time, however, having brought her sister with her, and she reached out and squeezed Hoshiko’s fingers in a very un-samurai-like gesture of reassurance.

Hoshiko squeezed back as she followed Moriko. She took in her surroundings with curiosity, watching everyone with interest. Ever-present, her densai hung at her side.

The actual ceremony only took so long. The ritual began with one of the older monks reading from an old and tattered scroll, the devout listening to the words they could not quite understand. Many of the words resembled modern language and the two Phoenix could pick up that the old man was preaching them about the virtues of humility and non-violence. How fury and anger led to death of soul - and how one should seek peace through mediation.



The shrine maidens and other assistants carried large lanterns suspended on sticks, swaying them up and down as the old man spoke, causing the lights to dance on the massive statue on the alter. The audience was quiet enough to hear the insects buzz outside the temple, the creatures drawn to the light.

When the old an was done, he stepped back, Saneyuki folding his hands in his lap as if on the cue.


The young priest spoke next, thanking everyone for coming and reminding them how grateful the sect was of their presence and their donations. He would mention the ritual that had been performed few days earlier, asking everyone to remember how good they had felt after receiving the blessings. He would suggest that the ceremony would take place soon again and that just as before, everyone would be invited. Saneyuki also noted that, if anyone had friends they thought might be interested in spiritual journey, they should be invited as well. Shinri would welcome all earnest seekers with open arms.

The young priest would eventually finish, the visitors clustering to discuss with each other, quiet murmur filling the well lit room, the shrine maidens still holding the lanterns high. Spying the twins, Saneyuki would beckong them to follow him as he headed through a door, the sect members giving the two samurai a wide berth.
______

OOC: Both you please roll raw Stamina against TN 20 as you ingest Water of Life or suffer -1 Willpower for the duration of this thread.

Hoshiko drank, wondering about the liquid, but she felt nothing unusual.

- - -
[D5 LE] Gilded Mask, Stamina TN 20, VP for +1k1: 3d10o10 30

Having imbibed before, Moriko didn't find the effect as strong this time.


---
[D5 LE] Drink Deeper (Raw Stamina 2, TN20): 2d10o10k2 22
Success.

Saneyuki would lead the twins into a small room within the shrine complex, beckoning them to seat as he himself sat down on a pillow that had its cover fixed multiple times. A small round table laid between the samurai, a small wooden statue of the four armed fortune standing on the table. The walls were bare, though a small informator hung from the ceiling at one of the corner.

"Thanks for coming Shiba-san." he bobbed his head at Moriko. "And Shiba-san." Turning his attention to Hoshiko, the priest offered her a soft smile. "Welcome to you as well. I hope that the journey was not too strenuous?"

Moriko returned the bow, "thank you for hosting us, Asako-sama."

"How about you? Have you been fine since we last talked?" Saneyuki asked Moriko, turning his attention back to her, his grey eyes seeking out hers, thin smile lingering on his lips. "Do you feel any better?" The young priest wore simple robes with red accents, though unlike the one he had worn few days earlier, this one had no head had no kanji embroidered on it. He had also lost the scepter he had been holding in the temple, now resting his hands in his lap.

Hoshiko bowed. "The journey was pleasant enough."

"I do, thank you," Moriko answered. "I felt a little low yesterday, but I'm fine now."

"I am pleased to hear that." Saneyuki murmured. "Has your sister spoke about us? How much Shiba-san knows about us?" her asked her, tilting his head to the side. "We are welcoming new people to our community."



"Hmhm. I am sorry to hear that." the young man bobbed his head. "Would you two want some tea perhaps?" Saneyuki asked, finally remembering his manners.

"Tea would be lovely, Asako-sama" Moriko smiled encouragingly to her sister.

"Of course, pardon my manners." Saneyuki bobbed his head as if to apologize before pushing himself up, bracing himself against the wall to keep his balance. "I will be back in a moment. Unless the earth swallows me." he jested, mirth glimmering in his eyes. "Barley tea is fine, I hope?"

"That would be perfect." Hoshiko smiled.

Bobbing his head, Saneyuki left the room. It would take him surprisingly long to get back, perhaps causing the twins to wonder if something had come up. The temple around them was busy, men and women walking past the room, quiet chatter echoing across the hallways.

Then, suddenly they could hear two elderly men talking, perhaps in a room adjacent to theirs. It was hard to tell if the voice was coming through the walls or from a ventilation shaft.

"I think he has become a liability. First the miai and now this."

"But he has proven to be a most devour servant of our cause."

"Perhaps only because is not member of the inner circle."

"Should we induct him, then?"

"I do not think so. He is too naive, too independent."

"What should we do then? I do agree that he has been bringing in all sorts of people, all too soon."

"As we told him to." One of the voices chuckled. "Maybe, maybe we could arrange a small mishap. A terrible tragedy, really."

"I don't like that but, if the people keep snooping around, we might lose our chance. Our only chance."

"We should talk the others. Don't talk this with anyone else.

"Yes, master."

The voices would then die out, someone closing a door somewhere in the distance.

"Mori-chan, have you heard those voices before?" Hoshi asked. "Do you recognize them?"

Moriko was certain she recognised the voices, closing her eyes and letting the faces form in her mind. Her eyes popped open, "Yes, yes, I know them. One of them is the old man who was reading from the scrolls," she nodded with certainty, frowning, "the other is one of the elders. I'd be able to point him out, if I saw him," she shook her head now, "I don't know his name."


---
[D5 LE] Face to Voice (Raw Intelligence 2, Void/Shiba Tech +2k2, TN20): 4d10o10k4 30

Hoshi frowned. "I don't know the situation here, but that sounded sinister."

Moriko shook her head, “what kind of..? a mishap?” Her mind was racing, like a dozen fuses burning all a once, multiple threads being thought at once. “Snooping?” her confusion was clear, “do they mean Mumei-san? I didn’t think any of the visitors were snooping.”