>>1629623
“Well then,” the princess muses, crossing her left leg over her right in an empty gesture of modesty: it's not like you're in any danger of immodesty when you're wearing hakama. “We hope our bodyguards did not treat you with any unwarranted animosity, they tend to take their duties very seriously regardless of how many times we insist that their paranoia is unfounded.”

“They were somewhat hostile,” Yoruichi shrugs in summary dismissal, “but it was hardly threatening and understandable given the nature of their tasks.”

“Basically, we can let it slide,” you chime in. “No harm no foul.”

“Very well, we too are keen to put any disagreements behind us,” Rurichiyo agrees. “If we may be so bold as to ask, what is the purpose of your rather unexpected visit today?”

You exchange a quick glance with your wife, and the two of you reach an immediate agreement: this girl doesn't have a single political bone in her body.

>Well, we had some concerns regarding an oversight: your house failed to properly declare its standing guard.
>We had some concern over your well-being. There have been several 'unfortunate' deaths in the house recently?
>We have some indication that a member of your house has been harboring unusual ambitions... and may have broken the law.
>Other?

>>1629652
>We have some indication that a member of your house has been harboring unusual ambitions... and may have broken the law.

>>1629652
>>Well, we had some concerns regarding an oversight: your house failed to properly declare its standing guard.

>>1629652
>We had some concern over your well-being. There have been several 'unfortunate' deaths in the house recently?
She's the clan head.
>Other: I heard of your rise to becoming the head of the clan. We know it's hard for you because honestly, we've been there before, in your position. We're here to help give you some tips and tricks on managing your clan!
Try to seque into this and have her gain trust. Two "goddesses" giving her advice would be something that she would not hesitate to bite into.

>writing

>>1629687
“Well,” you sigh, trying to decide where to even start, and failing. “We're here for a number of reasons, actually. Of course we've heard of the young head of the Kasumiōji clan, and your name's come up a few times. So we decided to stop by and have a chat.”

“Is that so?” Rurichiyo muses, her tone somewhat distrustful as the tea she demanded arrives. “And just what is it that you have heard about us that has apparently piqued your interests? We find it difficult to believe it would be idle curiosity.”

“It isn't,” Yoruichi admits grimly. “The Kasumiōji clan is in a unique position in the Seireitei and as ranking members of two Noble clans it's our business to ensure that things go smoothly with the... well, what some in our position would call the 'lower' houses.”

Her two guards seem to bristle at the notion that the house they serve is somehow 'lower', but neither puts words to their thoughts and if Rurichiyo herself feels insulted she manages to avoid showing it.

“We understand that your clan is currently being run by a regent?” Yoruichi presses, getting straight to business as usual. “What can you tell us about him?”

“Who, Kamoi?” Rurichiyo responds skeptically. “We cannot tell you all that much, and as one of our subjects we do have an interest in protecting his privacy. We are certain you understand our position.”

“With the recent events surrounding your succession, I'd have hoped you'd understand our position a little better,” you sigh.

“And what do you know of our situation?” Rurichiyo contests, clearly losing what little patience she started with. She's... not good at this. At least not when diplomacy becomes an endurance event, that is.

And without a clear strategy in mind, you're rapidly losing your opportunity to get anything useful from the girl. From here there's a real risk of her digging in her feet.

>Yoruichi, tell her how you came to lead the Shihōin Clan.
>Well, we know that there have been quite a few bodies. That's never a good sign.
>We know more than you realize. What we'd like to know is what YOU know.
>Other?

>>1629727
>We know more than you realize. What we'd like to know is what YOU know.

Wow, shit's gotten as slow as SoZ has.

What's up?

>>1629727
>Yoruichi, tell her how you came to lead the Shihōin Clan.
>>1629752
Dunno, I just had shit to do.

>>1629752
2 in the morning for me

>>1629727
>Yoruichi, tell her how you came to lead the Shihōin Clan.

>>1629752
Being the anon who followed this quest since thread #1,I got to go to work in about half an hour. Missing an active participant in your quest would have an impact on the thread and quest speed.

>>1629727
>>Yoruichi, tell her how you came to lead the Shihōin Clan.

Sometimes it feels like /qst/ is dying.
Sometimes.

>>1629727
>>Yoruichi, tell her how you came to lead the Shihōin Clan.

Well, at least we're all in agreement.
>strap in, this story's actually kind of unpleasant

>>1629783
That's what I had in mind when I voted for it.

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>>1629783
“We both know how succession goes sometimes in aristocratic families,” you explain. “Well, I'd assume Yoruichi here knows better than I do, since I'm adopted nobility where she was born into it.”

Yoruichi sighs, glancing down into her teacup with an unusual melancholy. “Well, you know about the marriage aspect of it... how I ascended to the position in part to avoid an arranged marriage with Shunsui.”

“You mean you were engaged to Head Captain Kyōraku?” Rurichiyo practically squeals. “And you didn't go through with it? Whatever for!?”

“Because I couldn't stomach the idea of being used as a pawn in someone else's political schemes when I could easily be the one moving all the pieces instead,” Yoruichi explains with a stern look. “Plus, neither of us wanted to be married.”

“Yeah, I know that part,” you nod with an uncomfortable grimace. “But you're implying there's more to the story?”

“I haven't told you this because it's not a pleasant story,” Yoruichi admits. “You may have wondered who would have taken control of the Shihōin Clan if I did not?”

“I'd assumed it would be Yushiro,” you admit.

“No,” Yoruichi shakes her head sadly. “Not at all. In fact, I had an older cousin with a blood claim to the position: Yūsuke.”

“And so what happened to him?” Rurichiyo asks. “We cannot imagine that a noble would be keen to surrender the authority which they had believed rightfully theirs.”

“When two members of the Shihōin clan have competing claims to the position of Clan head, the one among them whose hakuda skills are the greatest is the one who ends up leading.”

“And so you proved that your skills were the strongest?” Rurichiyo asks, practically enamored with Yoruichi at hearing of her skills.

But you understand a little better what she means, and though you rarely see it you know that troubled look on her face.

>Say nothing.
>Yes. That is what happened. And nothing else.
>... she means she killed him.
>Other?

>>1629820
>... she means she killed him.

>>1629820
>Other: *To Yoruichi* you wanna talk about it or should I break the news gently to her?
If she says Riku can break the news...
>Other: It was a fight to the death.

>>1629820
>... she means she killed him.

Just tuned in for the vote, too late for the last one to cast mine.
What's up with having this situation about deaths in the Kasumiōji clan alluded to for two votes in a row in spite of not being mentioned in previous threads?

>>1629820
>>Other: *To Yoruichi* you wanna talk about it or should I break the news gently to her?
>If she says Riku can break the news...
>>Other: It was a fight to the death.

>>1629831
I'll support this.

>>1629837
It was specifically mentioned when Riku was dealing with the Feng's representative in the C46.

>>1629820
>... she means she killed him.

"It was a duel to the death wasn't it?"

>>1629843
>Feng's representative in the C46
Ah, I'll go take a look again then. Seems I didn't backtrack far enough.

>>1629820
>>Say nothing.

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You glance at Yoruichi, who quietly nods.

“It was a fight to the death,” you explain.

It takes a moment for those words to register with Rurichiyo, but when they do the precise moment is obvious to everyone in the room.

“That's barbaric!” she protests. “If we were involved with such a ritual...”

“You wouldn't have gone through with it,” Yoruichi guesses, “or else you would have stepped down. But Yūsuke was convinced that his skills were better than mine. He considered my death a reasonable way to get out of what he considered my family duty to marry and build relationships between clans. He didn't even think his life was in any danger.”

“Did anyone know how extensive your skills with hakuda were at that point?” you ask.

Yoruichi shakes her head. “Kisuke and my father had a vague idea at the age of sixteen that my abilities were... unusual.”

“Peerless,” you correct her.

Your wife shrugs. “Call it what you will, I'm in no position to debate it. But that was the only time I've ever used the Sōkotsu technique in an actual fight.”

Good lord, she used that? Against an unprepared opponent?

“What's this Sōkotsu technique?” Rurichiyo asks, noticing as you wince from the mental image of even a Lieutenant-level fighter taking Yoruichi's most powerful technique out of nowhere.

“It's a two-handed blow capable of destroying a victim's entire body,” Yoruichi explains. “The force of the blow compresses the reishi that makes up whatever you strike with it to the point that even a shinigami's body hardens and crumbles away.”

“From that point onward I was the head of the Shihōin clan,” she concludes with a sip of her tea. “And that was where Shihōin Yūsuke's story ends.”

Rurichiyo is quiet for a while.

>Like I said... Yoruichi in particular understands how dangerous your situation is. So is there anything more you can tell us?
>Tell me, how is your family's succession supposed to work?
>We were alerted to a problem when your regent failed to declare your private guard. Know anything about that?
>Other?

>>1629885
>Like I said... Yoruichi in particular understands how dangerous your situation is. So is there anything more you can tell us?

>>1629885
>>Like I said... Yoruichi in particular understands how dangerous your situation is. So is there anything more you can tell us?

>guess we've reached an agreement, more or less
>will give it ~5 more minutes

>>1629885
>>Tell me, how is your family's succession supposed to work?
Keep an eye out for any tells that indicate she or her own personal guard might be aware of the deaths in her clan. Here's to hoping she can connect the dots, if she is aware, but it could be more likely that she just genuinely doesn't know.

>writing

>>1629947
“Like I said, we understand your situation,” you reiterate. “Yoruichi in particular, which is why we're so concerned. If there's anything more you can tell us about the situation, it'd help us help you.”

After taking a few moments to regain her composure, the princess of the Kasumiōji takes another sip of tea. “What we can tell you is that several of our family's retainers have passed away recently.”

“What were their duties?” Yoruichi asks. “If you don't mind me asking?”

“They were simply our retainers,” Rurichiyo explains, at a loss for any further explanation. “They had no special duties or responsibilities.”

>3d10, DC 18

Rolled 3, 6, 6 = 15 (3d10)

>>1630005
Big numbers no whammy

Rolled 9, 1, 5 = 15 (3d10)

>>1630005

Rolled 3, 1, 10 = 14 (3d10)

>>1630005

Rolled 2, 8, 6 = 16 (3d10)

>>1630005

Rolled 3, 6, 3 = 12 (3d10)

>>1630005

>you've learned what everyone else figured out in canon: Rurichiyo is kind of useless

>>1630005
You and Yoruichi share a knowing look... Rurichiyo can't tell you anything, and not because she's woefully uninformed or because she's stupid. It's because she's a young, painfully privileged noble girl. Of course she has no idea why all those people died, because not only does she not know what they did she's never felt concerned enough with the subject to bother learning. Maybe another few years from now she'd be in a position to actually absorb the intricacies of the politics she's been born into, maybe if her parents were around and able to explain the situation to her she'd even know what questions she should be asking.

But right now, and for the purposes of your investigation, she's kind of useless.

“Well then, I suppose there's no sense in pushing you on the subject,” you sigh.

And then she has to go and remind you that she's a bit brighter than her inexperience paints her.

“This hardly seems like typical tea party fare,” she frowns, and her guardians exchange a worried glance. “Normally when three young noble ladies...”

“Thanks for that,” Yoruichi mutters.

“.. get together over tea the subjects spoken of are less morbid. There are fewer questions as well: so far this has felt more like an interrogation than a friendly visit.”

>You're right. We're here investigating the attempted theft of several Captains' zanpakuto.
>We wanted to inform you that your house failed to report your guards. That has the Central 46 jumpy.
>You have a point. I get the feeling you're not some kind of malicious mastermind.
>Other?

>>1630058
cute though

>>1630095
>You have a point. I get the feeling you're not some kind of malicious mastermind.
>We wanted to inform you that your house failed to report your guards. That has the Central 46 jumpy.

>>1630095
>>You have a point. I get the feeling you're not some kind of malicious mastermind.

>>1630095
>>We wanted to inform you that your house failed to report your guards. That has the Central 46 jumpy.

>>1630095
>>You have a point. I get the feeling you're not some kind of malicious mastermind.

>>1630095
>You have a point. I get the feeling you're not some kind of malicious mastermind.
>We wanted to inform you that your house failed to report your guards. That has the Central 46 jumpy.

>writing, and then will need to take a brief break

>>1630181
Sorry for not being here, but work was fucking me over for time

>>1630190
Yeah, no big deal. These things happen.

My own schedule this week is going to be hell on wheels, so I can sympathize.

>>1630197
8 hour shift with an hour long break turned into a 9 hour shift with no breaks. I was ready to strangle someone.

>>1630197
“Your house failed to properly report your permanent guard contingent in its last appearance before the Central 46,” you explain with a weary sigh. “The obvious discrepancy has some members of the Central 46 worked up a bit, and given the particulars of your house's succession process we knew very little about the reality of the situation.”

“Either a house with importance just shy that of the Noble clans was going through a chaotic transition period,” Yoruichi adds carefully, “or someone within the Kasumiōji was plotting something nefarious. And to us there was no indication which it was.”

“We can guarantee you, our intentions are hardly nefarious!” Rurichiyo insists indignantly.

“And that's what I've concluded,” you admit. “You genuinely seem like you're not conniving or ambitious enough to be making some kind of grand political play.”

“Oh,” Rurichiyo mutters, apparently embarrassed at having lost her temper so easily. “Our apologies then.”

“Which does leave us back at square one unfortunately,” Yoruichi sighs. “No solid leads.”

“No leads on what?” Rurichiyo asks. “We thought you were here over our guards?”

“Well, that turned out to be unrelated to our other bit of drama,” you admit. “My zanpakuto were nearly stolen right out of the Central 46's front lobby.”

“That hardly seems possible!” Rurichiyo exclaims. “If the security of the Central 46 has been breached a second time in less than a year, it hardly seems a wonder that the assembly would be concerned.”

“Who was it that managed such a feat?”

“One of the guards, from what we've put together,” Yoruichi explains.

“Somebody paid the man off is my guess,” you add, “but didn't tell him precisely what he was supposed to be looking for. So he took all of our swords and paid a heavy price for the attempt... trouble is now we don't know which sword he was after either.”

“We suppose your zanpakuto must be incredibly valuable to you,” Rurichiyo muses quietly. “A part of your own soul, unless we were taught falsely?”

You shake your head. “No, that's about the size of it. To call them our most prized possessions would be to misunderstand exactly how precious they are.”
>1/2

>>1630233
“Then your paranoia is totally excused,” Rurichiyo tells you. “In fact were we in a similar position, we have little doubt that our response would be... poor. We do wish you luck in your continued endeavors.”

“Thanks,” you nod. “I appreciate it.”

“If you have any further need for our assistance, please do not hesitate to call on our house,” she offers... more a polite offering than something definitive, you realize. Something that at some point along the line she's been taught is an appropriate thing to say to a fellow noble at the end of a meeting.

The two guards, Kenryū and Enryū the princess called them, spare each other a glance before withdrawing from the room.

“We may just be in touch again,” Yoruichi nods, rising to her feet. “So don't go regretting that generous offer.”

You're seen out of the building, ushered into your awaiting palanquin with a speed and efficiency that only a noble house that's tired of your presence could possibly hope to achieve.

However, as you and Yoruichi are carried away, you feel that you're being followed.

>Tell your litter-bearers to stop. See what the ones following you want.
>Bail on your litter-bearers... with your speed and stealth you could position yourselves to ambush your tails.
>Tell your litter-bearers to go on without you. You'll go on foot from here.
>Other?

Rolled 9, 5, 1 = 15 (3d10)

>>1630289
>>Bail on your litter-bearers... with your speed and stealth you could position yourselves to ambush your tails.
Warming up the dice...

>>1630289
>>Bail on your litter-bearers... with your speed and stealth you could position yourselves to ambush your tails.

>>1630289
>Bail on your litter-bearers... with your speed and stealth you could position yourselves to ambush your tails.

>>1630289
>>Bail on your litter-bearers... with your speed and stealth you could position yourselves to ambush your tails.

>>1630289
>Bail on your litter-bearers... with your speed and stealth you could position yourselves to ambush your tails.

>>1630289
>>Bail on your litter-bearers... with your speed and stealth you could position yourselves to ambush your tails

>>1630289
>Bail on your litter-bearers... with your speed and stealth you could position yourselves to ambush your tails.
Wonder if the palanquin offers enough privacy (along with Riku and Yoru being capable of it) to instantly don outfits for this situation?

>>1630319
I mean, leaving behind an Utsusemi clone on a formal kimono while deploying in battle gear would be some next level stuff.

>>1630328
What is this, Looney Tunes?

>>1630330
Looney Tunes can only aspire to step into the degree of bullshit Bleach can come up with.

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147 KB JPG

>>1630330
With all the shenanigans Riku deals with it might feel like it at times.

Something important came up suddenly, I have to stop for the evening: non-emergency family issues. I won't be running tomorrow night either, same reasons.

I can put in a few hours through the week, starting at 7pm PST on Tuesday.

>>1630355
Alright, good luck with that stuff. Thanks for the run!

>7pm PST on Tuesday
Hey, I sorta remember this schedule.

Hopefully we can inspire the princess to grow some backbone. Still mad that anytime I miss out on a thread the dice rolls absolutely shitty in my absence.

>evening is still shot, but I should be able to get ~2 hours in tomorrow at 10am PST
>shit's still rough, but not as rough as it first seemed

I thought this quest was about a dude.
Did he die off and you guys started playing a chick instead?

Wow, well I got a sinus infection and slept through the thread today. Sux to be me, I guess.

I'm not sure what is with the overall drop in participation, though. I just know I wanted to be here but couldn't.

>>1631210
nah, mc's always been a grill

>>1630328
>I mean, leaving behind an Utsusemi clone on a formal kimono while deploying in battle gear would be some next level stuff.
I wanna support this vote so I'm putting that as an option but I'm gonna take it another step further.
>>1630289
In this order:
>other: leave behind an Utsusemi clone on a formal kimono while deploying in battle gear.
>other: Cast Kyokko on yourself (except for the Utsusemi clone) and sneak out to prep for ambushing your tails.
>other: using Faux Ventriloquism through your Utsusemi clone, tell your litter-bearers to stop. See what the ones following you want.

Also: What do you guys think of Lady Rurichiyo's potential? Can we help her go from a useless spoiled noble girl to someone that can get shit done?

>>1631764
If we stop het getting killed by the one really pulling the strings? Maybe.

>>1631384
Again, shit happens. The only reason the slow start had me a little rattled is that if people aren't having fun anymore that's a problem, and a sudden drop in participation could signal that.

If nobody was having fun anymore that'd defeat the whole purpose.

>>1632327

Please don't stop.

I have a really horrible work schedule that makes it nigh impossible for me to watch threads live, but reading this is like the sole remaining reason I even drop by /qst/ anymore.

>>1632327
Yo.

You run early in the morning in my time, which is why i cant join in most times. I enjoy reading the threads when they are done.

Seriously, you have an audiance, its just that /qst/ sucks ass.

>>1632334
>>1632336
Yeah, it was never a question of dropping or not, thought never crossed my mind. Just a question of whether I needed to change tack or not plot/pacewise.

>>1632341
Its fine, theres always going to be "slow" portions for people because not everyone likes the same things. You cant cater for everyone and anyone reading this knows its just a matter of time till we get to the parts we enjoy again.

>>1632341
Also its summer, people are going away for vacation and not spending as much time on the computer (or spends more time on the computer depending)

>>1632341
4th of July and I work weekends I usually catch the tail end of your runs. Busy summer weekend will slow participation some.

>>1632327
Qst is just slower and has less traffic.

>will resume at 11am PST due to unforeseen delays

OKAY! Ready to continue:
>3d10, DC 17, Crit 21 for pulling a fast one on your tails

Rolled 1, 5, 10 = 16 (3d10)

>>1632618

Rolled 1, 2, 4 = 7 (3d10)

>>1632618

We got this

Rolled 4, 6, 9 = 19 (3d10)

>>1632618

>>1632627
whew!

>>1632627
Okay then, there we go. I can begin writing in earnest.

>>1632636
“We're being followed,” you mention to Yoruichi. “How about we bail and set up a surprise for our friends back there?”

“I like the way you think,” Yoruichi nods, sliding open the side door to the palanquin. “Keep moving, Captain Kusajishi and I have business with the fighters who are tailing us.”

“We're being followed?” the leader of the palanquin team asks. “Should we stop?”

“No need,” you reply. “We wouldn't be wearing these outfits if we couldn't move in them, and even if we were unarmed we'd be fine.”

“Alright, if you're sure we'll comply.”

Yoruichi takes the lead, suppressing her reiatsu and swiftly rolling out of the palanquin and disappearing into the brush by the side of the road. You follow suit, rocking the palanquin slightly from the force of your exit and coming to rest at Yoruichi's side.

“You moving okay?” she asks you quietly. You look down and find that you've managed to shred the long, trailing hems of your yukata by using hirenkyaku in them. “Aw... that was such a lovely outfit, too.”

“Honestly I could do with it being a bit shorter anyway,” you shrug. “And if you're really that upset you can take the cost to replace it out of the Kasumiōji's collective hide.”

It takes your followers a few moments longer to pass by your hiding place, since they're following the pace of the palanquin rather than what you or Yoruichi would consider reasonable. But once they do, you open with a surprise attack for the ages.

Your kogai streaks past the lead shinigami's nose, causing him to stop dead in his tracks and turn to face you as the skewer embeds itself in a tree on the other side of the pathway. He reaches for his sword, only to find your kogatana pressed against his throat. A glance at his partner reveals that Yoruichi has grabbed the larger man's right wrist from behind and crossed his throat with an anken.

“Kenryū and Enryū?” you muse, shocked to find the two Kasumiōji bodyguards are your victims. Kenryū is staring at you wide-eyed in surprise, having apparently underestimated your speed, strength, and insane aggression.

>Why were you following us?
>Go home and tell whoever sent you how much shit the Kasumiōji are in now.
>Other?

>>1632672
>Why were you following us?

>>1632672
>Don't you have a Clan head to protect!? What kind of Bodyguards are you two?

>>1632672
>>Why were you following us?
and if we do NOT like your answer you get to
>>Go home and tell whoever sent you how much shit the Kasumiōji are in now.

>>1632672
>>Why were you following us?

>>1632686
Good point there. They could've just sent one guy to attempt to trail us, and have the other remain with the young lady. Not exactly doing their clan any favors leaving her without close protection.

>>1632672
>>Why were you following us?

>>1632672
>>Why were you following us?

I had a feeling the bodyguards knew more than they were letting on

“Why are you following us?” you demand. “Shouldn't you be off protecting the little Lady back there?”

“From what?” Kenryū demands in return. “The way you two were talking was as if you knew of a threat against Lady Rurichiyo, we both came because if it came to blows...”

“Then one of you would buy time so the other could escape,” Yoruichi concludes. “That's why the Onmitsukidō typically deploy in teams no smaller than two... you had some basic training it seems.”

“Punishing people didn't seem as rewarding as protecting them in the first place,” Kenryū responds with a defiant glare. “But that's beside the point...”

“We don't have any specific information,” you admit, “other than a hunch that someone in the Kasumiōji family, or someone who works for them, may be involved in something criminal.”

“We've actually had your compound under surveillance for some time now,” Yoruichi admits, knife still held firmly against an anxious-looking Enryū's neck, “because we've had suspicions even before this morning. That's why we came here so quickly.”

“Well, we're not chasing you down to attack you or anything,” Kenryū insists. “And it seems as if our fears were unfounded... so if you wouldn't mind releasing us it'd be best if we could return to our duties.”

>3d10, DC 18, Crit 21, best of four

Rolled 5, 9, 15 = 29 (3d20)

>>1632736
dice pls.

Rolled 5, 1, 5 = 11 (3d10)

>>1632738
shit. wrong dice roll.
>>1632736
I should roll this right before queen mistakes my last roll.

Rolled 9, 2, 8 = 19 (3d10)

>>1632736

Rolled 5, 10, 2 = 17 (3d10)

>>1632736

Rolled 8, 10, 10 = 28 (3d10)

>>1632736

Rolled 4, 3, 1 = 8 (3d10)

>>1632736

File: 1482736385231.png (497 KB, 682x614)

497 KB PNG

>>1632754
AYY is this the end of our drought?

>>1632754
Oh hey, finally. And here I was thinking mediocre rolling Riku was back.

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Something doesn't feel right here...

>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxrRD6rhEM8

In a flash of instinctive motion you drop, sweeping Kenryū's feet out from under him in just enough time to avoid a flash of steel that would have passed right through one or the other of your respective necks.

“Yoruichi, go!” you shout.

“On it!” she calls out, having kicked off Enryū's back in a maneuver that sent him reeling away from danger and your wife tearing off through the underbrush. Several dark figures dash off after her, while several more stay behind with you and the bodyguards, who are just struggling back to their feet.

“You two!” you order. “Get back to your posts, now!”

Kenryū looks as if he's about to protest until his partner throws him over one broad shoulder and takes off back down the road. One assassin makes a gesture with his left hand and one of his subordinates gives chase... for about two seconds. He falls to the ground with your kogatana lodged firmly in the back of his neck, an immediately fatal blow that leaves the assassin limp as a wet noodle.

You turn to stare down the assassins' leader, your arm still extended from the throw. “Did I say that you could follow?”

The man slashes at you with his sword, and you get a good look at it... it's as if someone had the bright idea to use a living mollusc as a basket hilt. Backpedaling lets you quickly pry your kogai skewer out of the tree it ended up embedded into, meaning now you at least have some sort of weapon.

“Oh my, how exciting!” Tenkotsuki titters in an amused tone. “It has been so long since I saw a proper, old-fashioned political assassination.”

“It's not an assassination until it's successful,” you frown. “And last I checked I'm still breathing.”

“Take very good care of that kogai, Lady Riku,” your zanpakuto replies more thoughtfully. “Without access to our magic a lucky hit seems more possible... retain our connection through that skewer and victory is all but assured.”

>Remain in the road, nice openings here.
>Head into a nearby bamboo thicket, use it as light cover.
>Head to the bamboo thicket, use one as an impromptu spear.
>That's it, everyone dies. Use kidō to wreck shop.
>Other?

>>1632818
>That's it, everyone dies. Use kidō to wreck shop.

>>1632818
>Soko Shunko. You doubt these idiots would be able to scratch your Blut Vene.
Maybe the leader can, but the mooks? Nope!
The fact that it will ruin the silly dress we bought is in no way a bonus.

>>1632818
>>Head to the bamboo thicket, use one as an impromptu spear.
I want one of them alive

>>1632818
>Head into a nearby bamboo thicket, use it as light cover

>>1632818
>That's it, everyone dies. Use kidō to wreck shop.
FULL WIZARD
>Make use of Binding Kido as well to keep one of them alive.

>>1632863
Backing this

>>1632818
>That's it, everyone dies. Use kidō to wreck shop.
>Other?
Environmental kido like Horin or Tsuriboshi for anyone we want to keep alive.

>writing
>dice+3d10, DC 16 and Crit 20 due to previous crit

Rolled 6, 2, 7 = 15 (3d10)

>>1632884

Rolled 8, 9, 4 = 21 (3d10)

>>1632884

Rolled 7, 6, 6 = 19 (3d10)

>>1632884

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>>1632890
AND THE TRAIN IS BACK!

>>1632884
>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1o-ZPyEmy0
“Hyapporankan!” you call out, hearing Tenkotsuki swiftly reciting the incantation in your head. You give the silvery shaft of light a spinning flourish, meant to disguise the fact that you've made it a little longer than usual for what you're about to try.

At first you use it as though it were a spear, thrusting at the lead assassin with one end while using the shaft itself to parry those strange crustacean-hilted blades of theirs. You meet with some success when you abruptly reverse, using the opposite end to impale an unsuspecting assassin and pin him to the ground. You break off part of the staff and leave the man pinned there, extending the weapon in your hands once again to its full size and shifting into more of a quarterstaff style.

The second assassin goes down after you strike his chin with the middle of your Hyapporankan, then turn in place to run him through and pin him to a tree before breaking the shaft a second time. In a surprise assault you extend the weapon explosively, catching a third assassin off-guard and lifting him off his feet. His subsequent collision with the ground after you snap the shaft and let him fall is enough to pin him as well.

The fourth goes down when you shift your grip to mimic the length and weight distribution of a sword, parrying the blade wrapped around his hand, pivoting on your foot, and impaling him with what would otherwise be the pommel of your blade.

That just leaves two.

“Hang on...” you protest, pointing your Hyapporankan at the man standing next to the head assassin. “No fair, that guy's dead as shit!”

Sure enough it's the first assassin you attacked, the one who was chasing after Kenryū and Enryū, who was most certainly dead a few moments ago. Around you the other assassins, pinned to various trees and to the ground, also begin to stir. Their arms are wrapped in fleshy, unnaturally-colored tendrils, and instead of breaking your bakudō they simply pull themselves off by brute force.

Effective, but it leaves each with a bloody hole torn through their torso. Those men shouldn't be alive.

“What the hell kinda swords are those?” you demand, though you suspect you shouldn't expect a reply.

“It seems that restraint has hardly worked,” Tenkotsuki summarizes. “Perhaps more extreme violence is called for after all?”

>Use your kidō to completely destroy the assassins a few at a time.
>Try to use bakudō to corral them... if they're already dead they won't be as nimble, so it'll be easier.
>Mince their bodies. See how they get back up when their biggest bits can fit in a meat pie.
>Other?

>>1632970
Disarm them, literally.

>>1632970
>Mince their bodies. See how they get back up when their biggest bits can fit in a meat pie.

>>1632970

>Lop off their limbs. They can't do shit if they're just a torso and a head.

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Hey queen I still love your quest, but I work 2nd shift as a chef until late. I can rarely make it to live threads, but I love to read yours on sup/tg/

Please don't give up on running!

>>1632970
>>Use your kidō to completely destroy the assassins a few at a time.

>>1632970
>>Use your kidō to completely destroy the assassins a few at a time.
Yeah, I don't think interrogation is in any agenda here considering the state of their bodies.

>strange crustacean-hilted blades
Also, I could've sworn that one guy who brought those Arrancar twins and have a beef with Hitsugaya had this same M.O. Probably just me though.

>>1632970
>Use your kidō to completely destroy the assassins a few at a time.

>>1632970
>>Use your kidō to completely destroy the assassins a few at a time.

>writing, possibly last update until Tuesday because I need to get some other shit done tonight
>dice+3d10, DC 17, crit still 20

Rolled 6, 10, 8 = 24 (3d10)

>>1633071

Rolled 8, 3, 6 = 17 (3d10)

>>1633071

Rolled 7, 7, 3 = 17 (3d10)

>>1633071

>>1633075
>well now.

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>also, I need to take care of something quickly, will be back to writing in a bit

>>1633104
Well then, if these guys can keep on fighting even as corpses then you're just going to have to not leave any corpses this time around.

“Haien!” you shout, hitting the nearest assassin-zombie squarely in the chest with a raging ball of purplish flames. The fighter is immediately incinerated, but sure enough puts up no protest... he's already dead, this is just a formality. The grim punctuation at the end of his life's footnotes.

The one who still has your kogatana lodged in his neck is your next priority. You spin the Hyapporankan in your hands, a blur of white that bends any attacks launched at you out of its way, until you can use hirenkyaku to get behind the walking corpse and wrench the small blade free. Then you extend your bakudō into the corpse's back and repeat your Haien, incinerating it entirely to free the working end of your lingering spell.

The brutal work continues as you turn your attention to two more assassins who have tried to take your back. “Hyōga Seiran!”

An avalanche springs from your outstretched palm, freezing the duo solid then shattering under the blast's own force, scouring deep gouges into the path as the spell's icy shards crush and slice everything in its way.

An assassin leaps at you from the side to find its head impaled on the Hyapporankan's end, and you thrust the opposite into the dirt to free your hands. You grip your left wrist.

“Sōren Sōkatsui!”

The roiling white blast utterly annihilates your assailant even as it works frantically to free itself... too little too late, just like their Captain's last, futile strike. An overhanded sweep that barely grazes your cheek, drawing a thin line of blood... his reiatsu's stronger now than you recall it being. The thing on his arm has spread up the length of his arm and over part of his head: you're not certain at this point which is in charge, this disgusting weapon or the man who ostensibly wields it in battle.

You're also unsure whether the two can be successfully separated, least of all with only the tiny blade you have to work with.

>Try to sever the weapon from its wielder and destroy the body.
>Destroy the body, but if the weapon goes too it's no big deal.
>You don't know what this thing is: destroy it to be safe.
>Other?

>>1633225
>>You don't know what this thing is: destroy it to be safe.

>>1633225
>>You don't know what this thing is: destroy it to be safe.

File: 1458341995351.gif (885 KB, 250x189)

885 KB GIF

>>1633225
>You don't know what this thing is: destroy it to be safe.

>Another summon in Brave Souls
>2 FUCKING 5 STAR SWIMSUIT RENJIS

>>1633225
>>Destroy the body, but if the weapon goes too it's no big deal.

>>1633225
>>Destroy the body, but if the weapon goes too it's no big deal.

>>1633225
>>Try to sever the weapon from its wielder and destroy the body.
Its evidence you idiots

Alright, I'll leave it open for a while since I have to get on a plane in a few hours. Thanks for dropping in, and remember: I plan to continue at 7pm PST on Tuesday, likely for another 2-3 hours.

Keep an eye on Twitter for any other updates, and hope you had fun!

>>1633335
thanks for running!

>>1633225
>Try to sever the weapon from its wielder and destroy the body.

>>1633225
>You don't know what this thing is: destroy it to be safe

>>1633384
>>1633274
>>1633271
>>1633272
>>1633244
>>1633236
Just so everyone knows, making illegal weapons is one of the very few things we can use as evidence against a noble clan. Without a smoking gun we can't even start an investigation. This is the break we need to raid the place and get to the bottom of things.

>>1633225
>Try to sever the weapon from its wielder and destroy the body.

>>1633422
I'ms sorry anon, but I'm an idiot. I don't understand.

>>1633422
>Try to sever the weapon from its wielder and destroy the body.

>>1633426
He means this is evidence we need to break the case open because it would force the Central 46 to allow us to do a proper investigation. Although they might demand we wipeout or exile Kasumiōji clan in it's entirety (Which might be what the real criminals aim is if it isn't an attempted coup d'etat for the clan head position). My prime suspect is the acting regent, but we need more evidence.

>>1633426
Basically, this is the entire soul society legal code
The ultimate law is to maintain balance.
It is against the law for a Shinigami to give their spiritual power to Humans.
It is against the law for a Shinigami to use forbidden Kidō.
It is against the law for any citizen of Soul Society to create weapons of a dangerous nature not sanctioned by the feudal government. To do so is treason.
It is against the law to attack a captain. To do so is treason.
It is against the law to commit terrorist action(s) or attempt to overthrow the balance of Soul Society. To do so is treason.
It is against the law to commit murder.
It is against the law to kill a Human that a Shinigami has not been ordered to kill.
It is forbidden for a Shinigami to acquire or attempt to gain Hollow-like powers.
It is a crime for a Shinigami to remain in the Human World longer than a certain time limit.
It is against the law for the Gotei 13 to meddle in the affairs of the noble families unless the family in question breaks one of the laws of Soul Society beyond a shadow of a doubt.
It is by ancient law that two Shinigami cannot hold the same Zanpakutō. They must fight for the honor of bearing the spirit, with the spirit going to the winner, and the loser being executed.
It is forbidden for a Shinigami to intervene in anything that is related to Hell.
It is a crime to lose a sacred treasure.
It is against the law to alter the Dangai records.
All Modified Souls must be scrapped.

You litter ally can't be prosecuted for anything not on this list. You can be assassinated extrajudicial, because the C46 are assholes who refuse to set up a proper court system, but you can't do that to nobles.

Effectively, because of the law we can't investigate a noble family unless we've already proven they've broken the law. This is incredibly stupid, but fortunately we coincidentally just had tea time with the head of a family we suspect of making illegal weapons. Now somebody is trying to murder us with likely illegal weapons. Kill or capture them, grab the weapons, get a warrent to raid the place because hey, somebody affiliated with them is clearly making illegal weapons.

>>1633454
>>1633456
It's a joke.

>>1633298

>>1633225
>>Try to sever the weapon from its wielder and destroy the body.

>>1633460
I try to never underestimate the stupidity of random anonymous people on the internet. I admit, I often fail.

>>1633460
It failed to land because you delivered it in text without any clues that it was a joke.

>>1633472
>>1633475
I'll make sure to explain it in detail next time.

>>1633517
No need to go into detail. and No need for sarcasm. Just next time a simple j/k at the end would enough for most people.

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>>1633534
OK, that's pretty funny.

I forgot I was namefagging in a CYOA quest. Fuck.

>>1633225
>Try to sever the weapon from its wielder and destroy the body.

>trying to save a sample wins
See you all Tuesday, in the mean time post omake ideas for me to keep busy with.

So is this going to all lead up to fighting a roided bankai weilder while our zanpakutō is sealed?

>>1633225
>Try to sever the weapon from its wielder and destroy the body.

>>1635344
I don't think he has a bankai, and we can always delay until help arrives.

>survived transit
>Will update around 7pm PST tomorrow
Also, still accepting any and all omake suggestions.

>>1637394
>Beach episode
>Girls night out
>What if Riku and best cat had been exiled
>Female Ichigo in trained by aunt Riku

>>1638088
Okay, so here's the thing: I was so disoriented yesterday I forgot that today was America day and that I have various patriotic duties to see to this evening. So I'll post an Omake and continue the quest Wednesday evening instead.

“Lieutenant, we need to call for reinforcements!” one of the Tenth Division shinigami calls out over the sound of gunfire and artillery, having all but dropped his sword in his haste to report.

“Turn around, Fifth Seat,” Rangiku orders, her expression grim and her sword drawn. “Reinforcements are on their way, but we need to stand our ground until they get here.”

“But that thing is...”

“I know damn well what it is!” Rangiku snaps. “And if you know anything about Menos you know we can't just let a Vasto Lorde do as it pleases.”

“And what do you think you can do to stop me?” the scorpion-like being hisses, having crossed the open, blasted landscape of the battlefield near-instantly. “You're not even a Captain!”

“I may just be a Lieutenant,” the young woman replies, having already shifted her stance to respond to the threat, “but you shouldn't underestimate my capabilities.”

The scorpion lord laughs, the sound harsh and booming, at the implication. “Fool. I will greatly enjoy...”

In an instant deep gashes appear in the Vasto Lorde's torso, one across the chest and the other across the back, spilling deep, black blood to the ground below.

“What is this!?” the pinnacle of natural hollow evolution demands angrily.

Rangiku's eyes widen in shock as she recognizes the two figures who have joined her. “It's you...”

“Of course it is,” a dark-haired woman replies from behind a white mask, her voice familiar even despite its distorted tone.

Rangiku tries to speak, but is quickly interrupted. “Please don't speak my name, Lieutenant.”

“I...” Rangiku begins, before the second figure places a hand against her shoulder. Looking face to face, the feline-masked newcomer shakes her head at the Lieutenant.

“Yes,” Rangiku sighs sadly. “Of course, I'm sorry.”

The first woman glances over her shoulder, black eyes betraying sadness from behind her mask. “Yeah... so am I.”

“Am I being ignored?” the scorpion hollow demands hotly. “Who the hell are you two? What's with those swords, and those masks?”

“I don't have to explain shit to you, Menos,” she growls in a warbling tone reminiscent of the hollow himself, turning to face her enemy. “You're causing a scene here, so I hope you'll have the courtesy to die quickly for me.”
>1/?

>>1639028
“If that was your intention, fool,” the Vasto Lorde replies, practically frothing with rage, “you missed your one chance!”

A powerful ball of energy builds at the tip of the hollow's tail, causing the seated officer at Rangiku's side to panic. “A cero!? I've never seen one that powerful, we need to withdraw!”

“Shut your mouth and watch,” the second masked woman replies calmly as her partner raises her sword to a midline guard stance.

“Not going to move?” the Vasto Lorde crows. “Fine then, you'll have your wish for a quick end to our battle after all!”

“Cero!”

The massive blast of red reiatsu bears down on the stationary fighter, who offers a single word in response.

“Prohibit...”

The cero explodes, a powerful release of pure energy that seems to shake the word, but a blast that seems to abruptly cease along a shimmering, flat plane. Dust and dirt are whipped up and blown past the three observers, two of which stand firm while the seated officer is blown off his feet and onto his ass.

“What... what power!” he stammers.

Rangiku glances down at him. “Stand up, you're embarrassing our Division.”

“How is such a thing possible!?” the hollow demands as he finds his would-be victim unharmed.

“How?” she asks with mock curiosity. “Fuck you, that's how.”

“You dare mock me!?” the Menos screams, charging in with his claws drawn back, baying for blood.

The masked woman sidesteps and produces a shimmering silver shaft, like the solidified beam of a searchlight in her hand, and impales the menos through its ribcage. So pinned, as if crucified and nailed to the air itself, he's helpless when in the next instant the sweeping strike of a kodachi finds his neck and slices clean through it. Before his severed head even hits the ground the complimentary stumps burst into flame, swiftly engulfing the corpse as it crumbles away into nothingness.

“Who are they, Lieutenant?” the seated officer wonders aloud as the victorious woman sheaths her blade. Her outfit, like that of her fellow, is at once as nondescript as it is unique. Their unadorned uniforms are even difficult to pin as 'eastern' or 'western' in cut, marrying the less restrictive proportions of a karategi with the drab materials and utilitarian design of an officer's field uniform.

Certainly not shinigami, but their reiatsu, their power... they can't be human either.
>2/?

>>1639128
“As you may have guessed,” Rangiku explains stoically, “they are the ones responsible for those unexplained hollow-slayings that have been reported for the last few months.”

“But aren't we supposed to...” the man responds hesitantly, drawing a sharp glare from his superior.

“No. Report to Captain Shiba that the situation has been handled,” Rangiku orders. “And make your report only to him, other than that consider everything you saw here classified.”

“Classified, ma'am?” the man asks, confused and somewhat concerned at the need for secrecy.

Rangiku nods sternly. “You heard me. Go.”

After watching her junior officer run into the distance over mud and across open trenches, Rangiku turns to address the women who had silently watched the exchange unfold. The one who took down the Menos with her blade reaches to her face.

“It's been more than sixteen years,” Rangiku sighs as the woman removes her mask. “How have you been... mother?”

“Holding out,” Kusajishi Riku admits with a gentle smile as her eyes fall on her adopted daughter. “Though it hasn't been easy. I don't think a day will go by that I don't miss how things used to be, at least a little.”

“Seems you've done well for yourself, Rangiku... I'm glad.”

Rangiku glances away, trying desperately to maintain a hardened, controlled facade. “Well enough. I've been keeping busy... I've had to, you know.”

“We know,” Shihōin Yoruichi nods, having removed her mask as well. “It certainly kept us busy by extension.”

“So that was you?” Rangiku half-gasps, half-whispers. “Port Arthur?”

Riku can't help but smile a little more broadly. “And during the Harbin epidemic.”

“And all through the war so far,” Yoruichi adds.

“What, did you think I was gonna stop looking out for you that easily?” Riku snorts. “Those asshole nobles are gonna have to try a lot harder than that to get rid of me.”

Riku's laughter is interrupted as her daughter's arms wrap around her in a tight embrace. Her expression softens first, her eyes grow misty, and she returns the embrace.

“I know,” Riku mutters quietly. “It all seems so damn stupid, doesn't it?”

Yoruichi watches mother and daughter for a while in silence, a sad smile of her own on her face.
>3/?

>>1639128
>>1639028
>>1639420
Is this the omake of what would've happened had Riku and Yoruichi got found out by the C-46 for being Vizards and got exiled as a result? if so, then dayum. What a twist. I am SO glad that Riku and Yourichi managed to stay in the G-13 for our "canon SSQ"

>>1639472
Correct. It's one possible version of events, but the one I felt most likely: that Riku and Yoruichi stubbornly decide to continue working in parallel to the Gotei 13. WWI would've been the first chance to reconnect with loved ones without the Central 46 breathing down their necks over it.

>>1639916
More likely in my mind? Fuck the C46, we'll make our own afterlife military organization. With blackjack! And catgirls! And we'll take all your potential recruits from the Rukongai before you ever even notice their potential!

>>1639420
“What the hell happened?” Rangiku demands quietly from Riku's chest. “What was that you were using?”

“It's hollowfication,” Riku explains to her daughter. “We... ran across an experiment, and were exposed to a contaminant. We were given a choice between exile and having the Captains mustered against us.”

“The Central 46 threatened you with all the Captains?” Rangiku asks in alarm. “Over an accident?”

“They failed to see things our way,” Yoruichi sighs, crossing her arms. “It's easier not to make distinctions... that requires you to actually have morals of your own.”

Rangiku remains silent for several long moments. “Why didn't you take me with you?”

It takes a moment for Riku to answer. “I couldn't. The Central 46 didn't give me the choice... all I could do was support you from the shadows like this, at least until security started to relax.”

“You could come back... we could make a case to the Central 46...”

“I doubt it,” Riku admits. “The situation hasn't changed at all, so why would their minds?”

Rangiku is about to continue the argument, but Riku suddenly pushes her away. The look in her eyes is a mix of frustration and sorrow as she realizes the reunion has been cut short.

“Isshin's on his way,” she declares. “We don't have long... I'm sorry.”

“Tell Gin we're alright for me, okay Rangiku?”

The Lieutenant refuses to make eye contact, steeling herself once more after an all-too-brief moment where she could let her guard down. “He'll be happy to hear it.”

“And one more thing,” Yoruichi reminds Riku with a knowing look.

“Right,” Riku nods. “Listen, Rangiku... Aizen Sōsuke is the reason we were exiled. Don't make any moves against him... but definitely don't trust him.”

“Captain Aizen...” Rangiku mutters. “I can't believe it.”

“Neither could we,” Yoruichi sighs, “but here we are.”

“We'll be in touch,” Riku declares as Yoruichi takes the lead, kicking off with a shunpo and disappearing from sight.

“How?” Rangiku asks, confused as to what her mother could possibly be planning.

“Well, I don't exactly need a Senkaimon anymore...” Riku admits, her usual confident grin returning. “So 'exile' is more of a notional thing.”

“I'll see you soon...”
>4/4

>>1639916
So what between your expectations of Riku and Yoruichi getting Exiled and becoming Vizards and our current "Canon SSQ" Where Riku and Yoruichi somehow through player choices and some REALLY good dice rolls in containing their hollowfied state and hiding that fact long enough to turn the diplomatic tables when the secret got out, how surprised were you in seeing this unfold?

>>1640190
We have been very lucky and had a GM that didn't want to screw us over.

Although this version of events is interesting too.

>>1640190
I never presumed to expect exile or containment, since it really was up to you guys and the dice to determine what would happen on that front. So I wouldn't say I'm surprised at all, but I'm rather pleased at the outcome.

Riku's position is at once complicated and amazingly simple, which is fun to write.

>>1640569
Is Rosa being a sword rather than a mask a powerup or an equally powerful state?

>>1640611
They're not even comparable. Fully developed hollowfication like what Yoruichi and Riku could have had would be extremely powerful, but Kobara no Tachi and Raijūsenkō essentially go beyond questions of how much reiatsu their wielders can muster and become a tangible embodiment of kenshō.

You're talking about two Captains who have now basically attained Enlightenment in the Buddhist sense, having realized and accepted aspects of their true nature that others are taught to avoid and repress, and who subsequently weaponized those aspects.

File: Sweatingnegro.gif (1.99 MB, 375x375)

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>>1640625
...Santoryu when?

>>1640635
Possible, but as Riku would know IC inadvisable. Having to forge a second distinct zanpakuto requires you to essentially fracture your own soul, which was Riku's default state and was something Yoruichi was almost singularly capable of doing safely (more or less).

Which is why others might possibly be searching for ways to circumvent the usual limitations.

>>1640698
I... I was kidding, dude.

>>1640710
I tend to default to serious answers, because people have honestly asked how things like that would work.

>>1640725
pls no fighting with sword in mouf

>>1640625
>You're talking about two Captains who have now basically attained Enlightenment in the Buddhist sense, having realized and accepted aspects of their true nature that others are taught to avoid and repress, and who subsequently weaponized those aspects.
And how is that fact holding in the eyes of our other Captain Co-workers? What does Oetsu think of the above fact?

>>1640763
The actual significance of that is lost on most people aside from Oetsu, who feels a little warm and fuzzy at seeing someone using a zanpakuto not just as a weapon but as a tool for spiritual enlightenment.

>>1640791
Is the Monk aware? There's a good chance I'm mistaken, but he was the most Buddhist thing about Bleach. He's gotta have an opinion about it.

>>1640824
He's technically NOT a monk. But for some reason his zampakuto powers force him to dress up and act like a monk.
>>1640791
Ichibe:
>If you were to keep your station but choose to be anything else other than having a buddhist monk theme, what would it be?

>>1640791
>The actual significance of that is lost on most people aside from Oetsu
So who didn't lose the connection aside from Oetsu?

>>1640824
The Monk is in a situation where his experience is telling him that something has never happened and can never happen, and yet somehow is. It's yet another reason he's not entirely sure what his plan should be in the long term.

>>1640892
Ichibe, Yamamoto, Unohana, and Nanao are the ones who really get/got it. Isshin, Kaoru, Urahara, and the other Royal Guard take it very seriously but still aren't quite sure how significant it is. The others range from suspicions (Sui Feng and Hitsugaya) to not really caring (Kenpachi).

Gin, Rangiku, and the Commandos are at the point where nothing would surprise them anymore, so they rarely consider the broader implications.

>>1640966
>but still aren't quite sure how significant it is
I seem to be missing it myself, so what does it mean?

>>1640985
Or were you referring to the “attained Enlightenment” part?

>>1640966
>Gin, Rangiku, and the Commandos are at the point where nothing would surprise them anymore, so they rarely consider the broader implications.
So which revelation was the point where they go numb to any new revelation/surprise for Gin, Rangiku, Kai, Mirai, and Rukia?
>Ichibe, Yamamoto, Unohana, and Nanao are the ones who really get/got it
>Nanao
I never expected her of all people to get the significance and implications to Riku and Yoruichi's situation. Did her duties to the Ise Clan give her background info?

Omake Idea:
>Scientist/Engineer/Local Sorceress Riku Route: Kisuke, Mayuri, and the Kido Corp's Nightmare and Prodigy combined. Everyday you hear Riku cast a new Experimental Modified spell that's technically legal within C-46 laws that almost always ends with an explosion of a different flavor. Everyday You see Kisuke and Mayuri both facepalm at the notes Riku takes when it comes to her book keeping but marvel at the insight she gleans from asking the simple common sense questions. Everyday you see Riku touting around a new experimental gun that look straight out of a sci-fi movie. And every night you see her sleeping in the lab surrounded by gunpla models.

I don't know if I hate Brave Souls or not. From the vacation summons, I've gotten a Byakuya, a Soi Fon, 2 Renjis in one summon, a Rangiku, and a Unohana. Why can't I just get a Nel man?

>>1640966
Also, whenever you post up a new omake, please type in a title and indicate what omake it is, some of us are starting to have difficulty on figuring out which AU SSQ Omake you're posting after every session.

>>1640966
Can't help but notice Yoruichi is missing from that roster.

Also a bit surprised Kyoraku doesn't have an inkling.

>>1641010
The roster is in reference to who realized how Riku and Yoruichi view their zanpakuto.

>>1640625
See the second part of this post.

>>1640985
Thought experiment: Riku is a Captain whose body is already a shintai, the home of a kami. What happens if Riku herself becomes a bodhisattva on top of that?

A mortal who lives outside the wheel of reincarnation and possesses the powers of a goddess would be, in many ways, the perfect being. Bound neither by the limitations of her own mortality nor by the cosmic rules and conventions usually applied to divinities, she could do... anything, really. Forging a truly independent "inner hollow" into a proper zanpakuto can be interpreted as a momentous step in that direction.

>>1641012
The question's whether she's aware of it herself, but I guess it's more than likely.

>>1641003
Yeah, fell out of the habit of doing that. Easily remedied in the future.

>>1641010
He has Nanao to explain it to him. He personally is uncertain, as he's not particularly devout.

And Yoruichi isn't on the list because she's also the subject.

>>1641000
It's because you want Nel. The game knows.

>>1640993
Pretty much.

The Ise protect an artifact that specifically counters divine influences/attacks, they know a fair few things about priestly affairs and the divine.

>>1641025
At least they're going to hold the event again in August.
Also, inb4 I get Yoruichi in my last summon.

>>1641015
Well, now we have a new goal.

>>1641015
So if a shintai becomes a bodhisattva with the option to enter enlightenment and become a Buddha, elevating the shintai to a level that's equivalent of godhood, then what happens to the kami residing in the shintai? does the kami get elevated along with the ride? So then what makes a kami who has become a bodhisattva?

>>1641071
Riku's hypothetical bodhicitta would have no impact on Tenkotsuki aside from a change in the nature of her 'vessel'.

>>1641118
Now the real question is how literal nirvana is meant to be taken. Right now, the implication is that Izanami is either better at her husband's job than he is, or is delaying the death of the universe using a method as pleasant as Kyubey's.

So, to summarize.
Riku has, though sheer accident, achieved something that most would have to spend vast amounts of time to achieve.

>>1641265
and half of that's just from existing due to a bargain from between a dead goddess and a Quincy in the middle of soul suicide. The other half is Riku's life in Soul Society and 200 years of hard work.

So technically she did spend lots of time to achieve it. but that's all just during in Riku's prime/youth.

And from some past conversations with Yoruichi, it's stated that Riku's still got about 1000 years left in her before she hits her "middle age" years and has to start conserving energy/reiatsu. So that puts her lifespan as a spiritual ghost in a whopping 2400 years before she dies naturally. And that's not counting the option to ascend to godhood or Nirvana which also extends her lifespan greatly depending on how much worship she'll get post-ascension.

>>1641298
There is no way humans won't have the tech to detect and interfere with spiritual matters within the next millennium, though. All it takes is one leaker going undetected, and both population and technology are advancing at a rate enough to challenge any and all afterlives and pantheons.

>>1641298
>So technically she did spend lots of time to achieve it. but that's all just during in Riku's prime/youth.
And the time spent wasn’t directed toward achieving Enlightenment either.

>>1641298
Honestly i give Riku about 100 years to hit full blown buddha goddess, probably throwing everyone in Japanese mythology into an epileptic fit wondering where the shit to put her on the cosmological scale, even more then already.

>one hour until we resume
>>1641663
To be fair, I doubt Riku would willingly attain Buddhahood: a Bodhisattva is one who could become a Buddha but passes it up out of a compassionate desire to help others on the road to enlightenment and self-improvement.

>>1641709
>Riku the Bodhisattva
There’s something for the omake list.

File: 1443310858255.jpg (121 KB, 700x715)

121 KB JPG

>>1641709
As cautious as you are with this new, unknown, and possibly dangerous weapon, you also realize that recovering an example for Kisuke to examine would be of immense use going forward. So in a moment you decide to sever the weapon, or the man's whole arm if need be, and destroy whatever remains of his body for safety purposes.

And if the weapon itself proves too dangerous to recover, you guess you'll have to destroy it at that point.

So you ready your kogatana in what must seem to any reasonable eye a farcical display of force, like raising a bread knife to parry a battleaxe... but the bread knife is in your hands, and in this situation it should suffice.
>3d10, DC 18, Crit 22
>best of three

Rolled 1, 9, 6 = 16 (3d10)

>>1641941

Rolled 6, 10, 2 = 18 (3d10)

>>1641941
Time for Riku to cut a bitch?

>>1641951
Always.

Rolled 4, 2, 5 = 11 (3d10)

>>1641941

Rolled 4, 5, 2 = 11 (3d10)

>>1641941

Rolled 9, 8, 7 = 24 (3d10)

>>1641941
rollin

>writing

>>1641971
You move swiftly, without thought but hardly with what you'd consider reckless abandon, and slide under a sweep of the assassin's blade. A thrust of your kogatana is curiously stopped by the tough, fibrous tendrils of the bizarre blade that has taken over, and the small weapon is nearly wrenched out of your hand as the assassin swings his arm and backhands you with it.

With a grunt of exertion you manage to backpedal, staying on your feet and raising your slender blade to parry another swing of the unknown sword, then you lower its point and push against a thrust that slides past to your left.

“It seems he has some sense left,” Tenkotsuki observes. “At least his reflexes still seem sharp.”

“He wasn't exactly talkative to begin with,” you counter, throwing a punch at the assassin's elbow to try and break it. You feel something give way, but if the damage to the joint is any sort of hindrance you see no evidence of it.

“Of course,” you grumble, sidestepping yet another sword strike. “It acted like a splint.”

“This guy's reitsu keeps increasing,” Rosa warns. “We need to finish this quick...”

“Yeah, but I want a sample,” you hiss, leaving a deep gash across the tendrils that encase the assassin'ss right arm. The gash quickly regenerates, new fibers extending from the cut ends and growing over in something like a massive, muscular tumor.

So it's going to have to come off in one clean sweep, is that it? That leaves you with one idea.

“Tenkotsuki, get ready...”

With a swift hirenkyaku you trust your kogatana into the assassin's side, lodged more or less into his armpit all the way to its hilt.

“Hadō 32: Ōkasen!” you shout, and in a burst of yellow light your spell tears through tendon, muscle, and bone in one stroke.

Striking with your fist you sever the last of the strange blade's tendons, and the weapon falls to the ground. Before you can finish your assault you find that something has happened to the assassin: the bloody mess of bone fragments and flesh where you severed the arm has all but exploded into more tendrils, writing wildly as if searching for the sword and arm you robbed it of.

>Finish the body off.
>Seize the weapon and “kill” it.
>Other?

>>1642063
>Finish the body off.

>>1642063
>>Finish the body off.

>>1642063
>Finish the body off.
I wonder if fire would do well.

>>1642063
>>Finish the body off.
If Haien already worked...

Would be a nice bonus if a Tozansho can be managed to isolate the sword and arm.

>>1642084
>>1642092
>>1642101
>>1642115
KILL IT WITH FIRE
>3d10, DC 17, Crit 21
>best of three

File: Elmo Satan.gif (377 KB, 293x199)

377 KB GIF

Rolled 6, 10, 3 = 19 (3d10)

>>1642139

Rolled 10, 7, 6 = 23 (3d10)

>>1642139
NUKE IT FROM ORBIT

Rolled 9, 7, 6 = 22 (3d10)

>>1642139

Rolled 6, 8, 7 = 21 (3d10)

>>1642139
Rolling

>>1642146
>>1642148
>>1642145

Fire seems... effective...

>>1642154
Old Man is weeping tears of joy in the after-afterlife.

>>1642160
>A whelp after my own heart...

>>1642160
You are now aware that the old man has in all likelihood been reincarnated in the real world and has yet to receive potty training.

>>1642139
“Rikujōkōrō!” you call out, watching as six spikes of yellow energy meet at the assassin's center of balance in a swift, brutal convergence.

Then, you unleash something that surprises even yourself. A massive, dense ball of reiatsu compresses in your palm, burning a bright white like a miniature sun.

You release the cero, obliterating the assassin's entire body in a single shot.

“What did you just do?” Tenkotsuki asks curiously.

“I... guess I just used a cero?” you muse, glancing down at your palm. “Weird. I guess I keep using the garganta... why shouldn't cero be possible too?”

“We're going to need to talk about this at some point,” Rosa sighs. “But don't you have other things to focus on right now?”

You turn to watch the sword, thrust point-first into the ground, slowly change shape. The tendrils withdraw into its hilt and the arm contained within flops to the ground, and you promptly incinerate the remaining limb with a Haien.

“Seems it's gone dormant without a host,” you guess, extending your arm and focusing on your tattoo there and finding Yoruichi's reiatsu in the near-distance. “I've got an intact sample.”

A few seconds later there's a massive explosion that rattles your teeth inside your skull and seems to level a huge swathe of woodland all at once. A few seconds after that your wife reappears with a smirk.

“So that's the head assassin's weapon?” she asks.

>We need to get it to Kisuke... let's wrap it up and shove it in the palanquin.
>I could use kidō to isolate it. Kind of illegal, but safer.
>Can you analyze it and reproduce it for Kisuke?
>Other?

>>1642202
>>We need to get it to Kisuke... let's wrap it up and shove it in the palanquin.

>>1642202
>We need to get it to Kisuke... let's wrap it up and shove it in the palanquin.

>>1642202
>We need to get it to Kisuke... let's wrap it up and shove it in the palanquin.

>Can you analyze it and reproduce it for Kisuke?
>Yoruichi becomes an eldritch abomination
Worst timeline

>>1642202
>We need to get it to Kisuke... let's wrap it up and shove it in the palanquin.

It's probably best not to give Yoruichi the Tentacle sword...

>>1642222
Does she need to hold the sword to analyze it?

I'm in the fence whether it should be scanned first so we'll know if there's a chance it will latch onto somebody out of nowhere, before putting it in the palanquin.

Also, I have a hunch the assassins may have been the dead retinues of the Kasumioji clan.

>writing

>>1642202
>>Other?
Hands-off, cursory scan. No replications.

If Yoru tells us it's inert or if we can work around keeping it that way, shove it in the palanquin.

If contact with any external stimulus reactivates it, attempt to isolate with kido.

>>1642264
“We should get this back to Kisuke,” you suggest, eyeing the weapon cautiously. “If you used Shōsōtō on it you'd have to recreate it later, right? I'm not sure I like some of the ways that might turn out.”

Yoruichi takes a moment to consider the point. “You may be overreacting... but I don't wanna end up like those guys. So we'll take this slowly, no direct contact.”

Glancing down at your own outfit, you realize that it's largely unsalvageable anyway and take your kogatana to it. Yoruichi winces slightly at the sound of fabric being roughly sliced away, and you hand her a strip of colorful silk about four inches wide. She uses it to carefully wrap around the blade, then pull it free from the ground where it fell.

“Alright, let's get caught up with the palanquin.”

It takes only a few moments to catch up, at which point you place the weapon inside the sedan and lead the team carrying it back to the Seireitei's gates.

“Alright, I say we take it straight to Kisuke,” Yoruichi suggests.

You...
>Agree, and will accompany her.
>Agree, but have business at your own Division.
>Disagree, you want to head to your Division first.
>Other?

>>1642326
>>Agree, and will accompany her.

>>1642326
>>Agree, and will accompany her.

>>1642326
>>Agree, and will accompany her.

>>1642326
>Agree, and will accompany her.

>>1642326
>>Agree, and will accompany her.

>>1642326
>Agree, and will accompany her.

All the precautions

>>1642326
>>Agree, but have business at your own Division.

>>1642326
>Agree, but have business at your own Division.
Change clothes, then we’ll meet you at Kisuke’s.

>writing

>Kisuke: So, how was your dress-up day?
>Riku: Terrible. I was dressing up for someone other then Yoruichi.

>>1642403
“I'll accompany you,” you nod. “Not like we need to worry about anyone trying to 'reclaim' this stupid thing...”

“It's still an instinct, isn't it?” Yoruichi muses. “To operate in pairs that is?”

“Yeah,” you admit. “It kind of is.”

“Alright then, let's go... but I'm gonna do us a favor and send for fresh uniforms,” she replies.

The Shinigami Research and Development Institute is a hive of activity, as usual. Officers file in and out of their respective workplaces with reports to file, contact reports from all over east Asia, remote sensing reports, and the like. A few gazes seem to avert, not so much for the torn hems of your kimono but rather for your unusual attire in general.

“Jumpy, aren't they?” Yoruichi mutters as you finally reach Kisuke's office.

“What's this?” Kisuke asks in confusion as you and your wife set the palanquin down on the floor of his personal laboratory. Lieutenant Kurotsuchi, who's already wearing a labcoat, peeks over her desk to try and ascertain what it is you've brought her.

“We were just jumped by some assassins on the way back from the Kasumiōji manor,” you explain.

Yoruichi slides the palanquin door open, and retrieves the sword within by grasping around its silk-wrapped blade. “Each of them was carrying one of these. From what we can tell they function as parasites.”

“Like parasites?” Kisuke repeats, frantically scribbling notes on one of the many pieces of paper lying around. “Interesting. And how did you come to that conclusion?”

“They sent out tendrils, the further it developed the more their wielders seemed like zombies,” you tell him. “And I swear I killed all of them at least once, and they never stopped fighting until I destroyed their bodies entirely.”

“Really...” Kisuke mutters. Then he begins to unwrap the silk torn from your kimono from around the blade...

>Advise that he doesn't touch the weapon.
>See what happens, Kisuke's got this.
>Get him to explain what he's doing, make suggestions.
>Other?

>>1642521
>>Get him to explain what he's doing, make suggestions.

>>1642521
>>Advise that he doesn't touch the weapon.

>>1642521
>Advise that he doesn't touch the weapon.

>>1642521
>>See what happens, Kisuke's got this.
>>Get him to explain what he's doing, make suggestions.

He'll be fine probably

>>1642521
>Get him to explain what he's doing, make suggestions.
"I never knew you were into that tentacle stuff, Kisuke."

>writing

>>1642593
“What are you doing?” you ask, causing Kisuke to pause.

“Well, I have to figure out how this thing works,” Kisuke explains carefully, retrieving the weapon from where you've left it in storage. “And that means isolating and testing it.”

“It's not responding to you,” Yoruichi observes. “You're suppressing your reiatsu as strongly as possible, aren't you?”

“That's exactly right,” Kisuke nods. “I suspected that it functions by drawing out its wielder's reiatsu, working like a parasite instead of like a partner the way a zanpakuto would. Simpler in a way.”

“It draws reiatsu?” you ask, narrowing your eyes as Kisuke places the weapon into a glass case that Lieutenant Kurotsuchi has quickly brought for the purpose. “By force, or by focus?”

“Likely a mix of the two,” Kisuke guesses. “Weaker wielders probably struggle to control such weapons.”

“I did notice that the lead assassin was getting stronger the longer we fought,” you recall, “and the tendrils sent out by the weapon expanded accordingly.”

“That would be consistent with the theory,” Kisuke nods. “Alright, we'll run a series of tests and get back to you as soon as we have any clearer an understanding of what this even is. Lieutenant, this is our new top priority.”

“Yes, sir,” Nemu agrees with a shallow bow before bowing to you. “Captains.”

“Lieutenant, Captain,” you nod in return. “Now if you'll excuse us, we need to get back in uniform.”

“Nemu,” Kisuke orders, eyes still locked on his new subject, “please fetch a screen for the Captains.”

A runner arrives with your freshly-washed uniforms, and once you have finished changing into them the same runner carries your torn kimono back to your Division barracks. That task having been taken care of, Yoruichi pulls you aside.

“So what do you think?” she asks in a low voice. “I doubt the timing is a coincidence, but there's no real evidence that those assassins were sent by the Kasumiōji.”

“We'll have to see what happens with Kisuke's investigation,” you shake your head. “But the circumstantial case is already solid. We'll need to be careful.”

“No kidding,” Yoruichi sighs. “I just hope next time they give us a little clearer evidence...”

“We'll see,” you shrug.

And since I'm still a little jet-lagged, that's about as far as I can go. Maybe one more omake this week, with a short thread Saturday evening PST. It may be a late-ish start, since it's prerelease weekend.

Thanks for turning out, hope you've had fun so far.

>>1642708
Thanks for running!

>>1642708
Thanks for running.

>>1642708
Thanks for running.