[fieldbox=Fishing for Bells: West of the Shrine, #808080, solid]
[ Month of Renewal 15th, Midday / Jiaojing Province, Maolan Forest, West of the Shrine ]
With yet more of her group seemingly egging on this trio being sent ahead, Rumiko was interested in what Yu Ri's thoughts might have been, but it seemed the choice was made for her. Yuan also had raised an interesting point, it was true it may have been paranoia, in fact their fellow may have been attempting escape of the arena and paid the ultimate forfeit for it. Taking the lead and setting off through the forest to circle around, Rumiko takes the distance from the others to speak openly.
"I am sorry to have dragged you in on this.. Hahaha.. I had not expect the rest to make you go.. But, well, let's just say I had a feeling about you and being able to scout at least. I'm not sure we'll find much out here but I plan to forage as we move along. I also agree Yuan-san, it may be paranoia on my part, but I didn't expect a large group of us to be poisoned and robbed. Well maybe we'll get lucky and find a couple bells or Rabbits..."
Leaving an opening for the other two to speak up or at least take up an active roll in the reconnaissance the Miko didn't seem overly concerned, though her gaze would shift every so often, scanning the woodland around them.
"It's a waste of time," Yu RI replied, lingering back for a few moments as she turned her gaze around, searching for traces of an approach. There were none, but if this was a proper trap, she wouldn't have been surprised if they took the time to remove all traces of their approach.
"Noriko's optimistic. The ambusher wouldn't need to leave supplies on the person, not when they could rig traps in there instead. If we were desperate, the possibility of something to loot would be enough to draw us in. And then we trigger the trap, get greviously injured, and then put out of our misery by an archer."
A pause.
"But arrows are rare enough, and I could make use of it, if nothing else."
Another pause.
"There's also no point in ambushing an ambusher if they're attacking from a distance. Kei's definitely a virgin and in the end..."
From the folds of her clothing, the assassin girl removed a small grappling hook, attached to thin, metal wire. Giving it a few whirls, she expertly cast it over onto the corpse, before a sharp yank caused the barbed hook to dig into the man's flesh. No yelp of pain sounded. That was one less thing to worry about.
She handed the extended wire to Yuan, before patting him on the back.
"Reel it in. I'll take cover in case they decided to get fancy with bombs."
"Gee, thanks. I love exploding." Yuan groused sardonically, starting to pull. "So..." He started, starting to glance around the area for any attackers even as he pulled and spoke, "Not that I don't agree with you, considering how high-strung that guy is, but what's your reasoning about Kei being a virgin? Hell, what about you?" He chuckled, sounding more casual than perverse, as if he didn't particularly care much. "Or Rumiko? Oi, Rumiko, they let your sect stick it in?"
Yuan grinned as the body was dragged about halfway over to him at this point. "This is good wire, too. Sturdy, yet thin. Assassins get good kit, huh? Could've used something like this in a few ambushes I've launched. Or just for tying people up."
Watching with a sense of boredom as the Assassin literally hooked the man, there was something a bit morbid about it all, but at least now she knew he was dead, or one hell of a method actor as the hook dug in, awfully fine wire as well.
"I had planned in the event of an attack to use my body as a shield or even punch a tree or two down if they were smart enough to hide, but you two were meant to take them out."
Seemingly serious about her remark on the tree the Miko is interrupted with what would normally be considered a rude question, though aside from tripping her up, Rumiko didn't mind giving an answer.
"Stick it in? Ah... the remark on the Virgin.. Our sect makes an allowance for courtships, but one must take on a fixed post or retire then, a child raised by you is to take over your former posting.
Until then we stay chaste and our duty is always to the Sect and Greater Good...even blood does not change this, though not like I have any admirers to try that, and I feel as if a few Priests did not hahaha."
Watching as the small Assassin went off to hide a dumbfounded expression creeps on her face followed by a sigh.
"He's slim, his hair's a weird color, and his skin's white," came Yu Ri's disembodied voice, the assassin girl already hidden somewhere that wasn't there,
"Desirable traits in women, but not in men."
There was a longer wait as Yu Ri mulled over Yuan's more crass question, before she said, flatly,
"'Innocence is but a fragile bud, easily plucked by cruder hands. Beyond the walls of the secret garden, its value is diminished, its sanctity a burden.' My body's a tool as well. So yes, I've used it before."
"And I'd rather avoid fight's I'm not paid for, priestess, but you can punch trees if that turns you on. Yuan, show me how fast you can strip a man down."
"Saving it for marriage? Boring. Besides, I know some men who are into the whole amazon thing. They'd go crazy over you."
Yuan mulled over the implications of Yu Ri's words as he continued pulling. Dying mid-coitus? What a terrifying thought. And yet a bit exciting. He'd never gotten into a fight in the middle of a lay. Might add some spice to it.
"I'd say to remind me to never get with you, but you're not my type anyway." The bandit laughed as he finally reeled the corpse in, throwing the assassin a mock salute at her words. "Right, let's see what we've got here..." He murmured as he began going through the man's things. "Baubles, a bell, oooh, spare change!"
Yuan sounded noticeably more excited about the last part, immediately pocketing the coins before holding the bell up. "Alright, so that's one bell out of...a lot. I don't feel like counting. Let's get this back to Tsubaha and the rest, yeah?"
"I wouldn't be so sure of that, some of the Nobles from my homeland were into that sort of thing." The Miko says in remarks about their talked about missing member, whos ears were likely burning.
Listening to Yu Ri's next remark caused Rumiko to frown briefly before returning to the task at hand, a sermon could wait for later.
"Ah don't give me that Assassin, you know they would not give you that option. Or at least if I were them I would not."
Listening to the Bandit's remarks in turn she was curious if that would hit a sore spot with the Assassin, though his remark towards her got a shrug in turn.
"I've heard of such men, mostly if I get any remarks it's from a few who like tall or big chested women. They talk too much though."
Looking on blankly as the Bandit searches the man a bell was indeed among the collection.
"Maybe we should go to that Village in the East..anyways yeah, let's bring that bell back..ah.."
Looking at the body closer it seemed he had been hit by a crossbow bolt..that shouldn't be too common.
"Was he trying to escape?"
Spare change? Within the foliage, Yu Ri arced a brow at Yuan's behavior, before deciding that bandits were probably all excited at getting money, no matter in what small amounts. Re-emerging, the assassin gingerly removed the hook from the corpse's flesh, before wiping the blood off on his clothes.
A crossbow bolt, hm...the Shang Kingdom's archers WERE to make sure that no one tried to escape during all this, but for them to start their killzone by a river?
"He was killed by the river," Yu Ri replied, stretching out a hand to take back her wire from Yuan,
"But we're not being shot at right now. Either the guards are just picking off people for fun like a bunch of powerhungry vultures, or someone wanted to disguise this death as a guard kill, to mark off territory and warn others away."
An index finger pressed against the tip of her chin.
"Don't suppose this man looks like some infamous serial killer or rapist? Revenge and disdain could be an option."
"Hm...that's definitely an army bolt." Yuan tapped his chin in thought, handing the wire back to Yu Ri as he did so, going back over the various baubles the man was carrying.
"See these little parcels he's got on him? He had to have come from the festival. Wouldn't have been allowed to keep this crap if he'd been a prisoner. Doesn't make sense for him to try to escape, unless he figured he got in over his head." The bandit stood, his brow furrowed.
"Makes sense for them to mark the river as a border for the competition, it's a natural cutoff point. Just leaves the question as to why he was shot. If the guards got him, it explains why they'd leave the bolt and the bell on him. No point crossing the river to retrieve either when you don't need bells and you've got plenty of bolts in a supply caravan." Yuan sighed, shrugging.
"My money's on him pissing his pants at the thought of getting killed and trying to make a break across the river, only to get shot. Then again, we've seen that there's some kind of scheming at play this time. Par for the course with Shang nobles."
"I have to say I agree with your assessment Yuan."
Rumiko says, sighing softly before running her right hand over the figures face, shutting his eyes, it was all that could be done.
"Sadly we'll have to open air bury him, or burn the Body. I just don't know if we should try getting water from that river, caution must be used. Either way we don't have the time to set up every dead body properly and we have to find our bells."
Pondering the issue it did seem a bit much for a setup and warning, though it wasn't a total loss at least. Some valuable information was gained, though at the strangers expense.
"Well least we know where the Western Edge is, whoever took our bells, be they a plot of Shang or not, we know they didn't get past the river... Maybe they went to the Ruins or that Village to the East.. Though we could fight others again either way."
Musing aloud and waiting for the pair to finish their conversations the Priestess simply waits, noting the others already heading towards them.
"Well if it is an Ambush they are taking their time, our allies are coming too."
"Wow, thought only Doven could be so stupid," Yu Ri remarked lightly, rolling onto the balls of her feet.
"Noriko can be the water boy anyways. Draw out the water from a distance, in case those hypothetically murderous guards get antsy for another kill."
A shrug, and the assassin girl was walking off, ready to congregate with the main group once more.
"Ruins sounds like where criminals will gather, while village sounds like where civilized folk would. If you're so eager, guess it'd depend on what type of person you think they are."
She curled her finger towards Yuan, gesturing for him to toss her the bell.
"All up to Tsubaha though."
Yuan nonchalantly tossed Yu Ri the bell as they walked, one hand resting on the scabbard of his sword.
"I dunno, don't mind testing out if the guards'll shoot if I just walk up to the river and yell 'I just want water, I ain't trying to run'." He laughed, seemingly relaxed despite glancing about for any sign of an ambush. "As for where we go, criminals sound more fun to fight. Less chance among civilized folk for them to know how to handle a sword or spear. No fun mugging civilians. No challenge, no struggle."
As the group rejoined with the rest, Yuan waved, responding to Tsubaha's inquiry. "Poor bastard had a bell on him. Yu Ri's got it on her if you want it. All in all, pretty sure he was some festival attendee that got cold feet and tried to flee across the river, only to get shot by guards across it. Crossbow bolt's definitely army issue."
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