Dining on Blue Crane Eggs
The old man had eyes that missed nothing, alert and beady like the eyes of a rat. Only a handful of people knew this, but that was actually what he was when he changed his shape. He was a rat hengeyokai, a hybrid of an intelligent rat and a human. When traveling he preferred to assume his bipedal hybrid form, but in Dojyu he strictly used the human one. His long, white hair was tied into a neat braid, and his beard was also neatly clipped. He was walking downriver from the Sunrise Gate toward the warehouse district - and the Black Water Hall, the most notorious gambling establishment in Dojyu, and the place to meet the shadowy figures of the city. Normally an old man walking in that area, especially after sunset, would instantly be targeted by a mugger. But something about the way he carried himself kept those in bay.
The gamblers betted and shouted enthusiastically, the Two Gates yakuza keeping an eye on them and dealing the games. The old man paid them no heed, but approached the yakuza who seemed to be the pit boss of this section of the gambling house.
- "Good evening, friend," he said. "I would like to dine on blue crane eggs."
The yakuza understood.
- "The second dining room from left, knock twice in the panel next to the painting depicting the Jade Pavilion."
He nodded and walked to the dining room, which was occupied by a few yakuza, strongarm men by the looks of them. Apparently they were guarding the entrance. The panel seemed solid, and the man nodded in acceptance, then knocked it. Two Gates was not the most influential yakuza gang of Dojyu for nothing.
A young woman came to slide the panel open. Itami, a promising young wu jen. She knew well enough who the old man was, after all they all were waiting for him, but still the old man indulged her by conjuring a fleeting illusion of rainbow colors swirling in a special pattern, hovering briefly upon his palm. It was the secret sign of the Iridescent Peacock Society, a society of the more powerful and notorious wu jen of Kozakura. As far as the society knew, no-one knew of its existence as all the members were invited by existing ones. The illusion was a specifically crafted inori, a minor spell the Westerners called cantrip, and it was taught to the members so that they could prove their membership when meeting each other.
The wu jen were seated around a table, politely bowing to the old man. He nodded and they all knelt again, helping themselves to the sushi and the chopsticks.
- "The wards are in the place?" he asked, and the others nodded.
- "This is the last chance for anyone to get out. I promised you that you would be a part of the greatest vision and a plan yet, a plan only our power as the most powerful wu jen can provide. But there is no backing off after this. If you stay in this room, you will be part of the plan."
As expected, they didn't move, just stared at him unblinking. They were chosen because of their ambition and talent.
- "Good, then. You do know the island of Shizushima, though I doubt anyone of you has ever visited it."
Solemn nods. The island stood alone in a bay south of Shinkoku, named after the bay. It appeared lush and fertile observed from a distance, but if vessels approached it, they noticed that the waters surrounding the island were unnaturally devoid of fish and other sea life, and strange apparitions and light phenomena could be seen on the island shores when it was dark. If a vessel managed to land on the island and explore the shore, no-one ever returned. Usually they didn't make it that far, though - most were attacked by a skull tide gaki before reaching the shore. The skull tide gaki was a swarm of skulls floating on the surface of the sea, clattering their teeth in a terrifying manner as they approached. They then clattered their teeth against the wood of the ship, driving the sailors mad. In this manner they tried to pierce the hull and sink the ship,and overwhelm anyone falling to the water. Their chilling bite slowly incapacitated the victims, who were eaten alive except for their skull which became a part of the gaki.
- "No-one ever goes there anymore, not even the wako," Itami pointed out.
- "That is right, dear woman," the old man smiled. "That also is why almost no-one knows what occupies the island. But as it happens, I do . And not only that, I also know what has been prophesied. However, with the combined power of the wu jen of the Society we could be able to harness the prophecy to our own advantage and create something no mortal has never dared to try." Of course, he wasn't exactly mortal himself. His natural lifespan would have run out a long while ago. But there was no need to tell anyone that. He was a man who kept his secrets.
- "There is another who is aware of this. She is a... friend, and an ally of mine. She dislikes travel so she is not here. Yosuki of Matsujima."
A few of the wu jen widened their eyes in surprise. Matsujima was a small island of steep profile and tall cliffs, and refuge of one of the most skilled and notorious wu jen of Kozakura. The woman was involved in schemes against the shogun but was left alone in her solitary refuge. The local fishermen brought her food and kept their silence of her whereabouts, and she protected them from the wako and worst storms.
- "Yosuki's house is not... entirely on physical plane..." the old man started his tale.
wako = pirate
