[locked to sutoku alliance] video, un: levirage

[fibrillate]

Hello, everyone!

[on the screen is a polite-looking person with messy green hair and purple eyes. they give a wave and smile with their whole face from behind their white-rimmed glasses.]

My name is Leviathan Astrape—Levi, if you'd all like—and let me be the first to welcome you to the Sutoku Alliance! What we do here is a little more up in the air than other factions, but I think that just gives us the freedom to be who we are. If you're not sure what to do next, just keep your ear to the ground and get to know as many people as possible! It really can't hurt in the long term, and it's always better to know more than to know less.

[they don't sound stiff as they're saying it, like they have some practice with public presentations like this, but anyone watching the tracking of their eyes could probably tell that they're reading off cue cards.]

And on that note, we have a few names to know. They'll spend some time introducing themselves, I'm sure, but please keep an eye out for Artemy, Kim, Xingqiu, Yuri, Ydris, Marie, and Cloud. [a pleasant smile as they get to the end of the list.] Please also look out for Emily Dyer, especially if you need any kind of medical assistance or you're interested in helping out there. And our lieutenants within the alliance are Matoba Seiji and, of course, the death-defying Sakamoto Ryouma.

[they gesture in front of them with an open palm towards the person behind the camera.]

You're coming in during exciting times, everyone. We just had a bit of a shake-up at the Tanabata festival. The daughter of an important financial magnate has been kidnapped by an enemy of Toraguma, and though we haven't heard any orders from the Daitengu quite yet, I think we all know how things like this play out.

[and bringing both their hands in front of them, at waist level, they smile and give a polite little bow.]

So please, take this time to get to know your fellow alliance members. [they look towards the camera, then glance at their lapel, where they have a pin with the kanji for sutoku. they laugh like they knew they were forgetting something, and look back up towards everyone else.] And don't forget to pick up your official faction pin from most places within our area if you're interested.

[they wave goodbye, then stand there for a couple seconds. without the feed cutting, they walk forward towards the camera and start talking much more casually.]

Was that okay? Getting those names right was harder than I expected, and I even cut out a lot of the last names. I don't know how you did it the first time.

Hehe, y' know, I wondered about that "death defyin'" part on paper, but hearin' ya say it like that makes it sound pretty heroic! And honestly, I'm pretty sure ya did way better with those names, now that I'm thinkin' about it...

[ anyone who isn't new here will recognise the voice that responds to them from behind the camera, especially with that accent. ryouma is pretty sure he botched a couple names last time, mostly for that same reason. he might be able to fake it and cover it when he's speaking his own language, but when it comes to foreign-sounding words all bets are off. ]

So that was perfect! I think ya gotta real knack for this sorta thing!

[ which... hmmm, take that with a grain of salt because this man long predated show business, but still!! judging by his tone, ryouma is very pleased since all his coaching and cheerleading and cue card holding paid off, in his opinion! sure the rest of the faction will agree... right? ]

((this is a mingle post! feel free to threadjack and get to know everyone within the faction. and thank you again to min for contributing ryouma here!))

Comments

[worldbent]

This is excellent progress.

Now that testing for the sleeping agent is complete, I will move on to testing the paralyzing agent in the field, as well.

We won't be able to get as much data as quickly for that one, since we don't have the convenient excuse of testing it for medical purposes as well, but if the Wastelands are going to be an active battle, I'm sure there will be enough opportunities.

Good to hear that the flowers were useful. I will see if I can maintain a steady stock- if not, now that you've acquired some, I suppose we could attempt to cultivate more ourselves. It will be much slower, but it's a decent backup plan.

Let's take a look at our current output and run the numbers again. It would be good to know a more longterm picture of what the operating costs will be.

[psionicmolotov]

I will do some testing on it myself as well
Two sources of data is better than one even if progress is slow

It may be worth investing in somewhere to grow our own supply
Lost Souls seem to slip away as easily as they arrive so the more self-sufficient we can make the operation the better
Perhaps some sort of 'hydroponics' operation?

I will deliver the inventory and invoices for the last few months so you can look them over. As well as some vials for the new paralyzing agent

[ He'll take a copy of those records to him in person, of course. He's not going to mail it and he certainly doesn't trust these phones, and if he's going to get him the vials he might as well take over the records as well... ]

[worldbent]

A clan greenhouse, hm? I will look into the funding and location. It would need to be selected carefully, so that only clan members who we know we can trust are aware. The current operation is known by a few outside of our clan, but if we are putting that much money into supply then it will need to be handled more carefully.

Very well. I will be at the Tengu temple in the early to mid-morning, and you can deliver them to me. I will be testing my new arrows there, anyway.

[On targets? He doesn't... specify.]

-> action

[psionicmolotov]

Those terms are entirely fair

I will deliver them to you at the temple then

[ True to his word, the next morning he shows up at the temple with a meticulously copied-out book of records and a few nondescript vials, tucked away discreetly within his clothing. Dressed as an inhabitant as he is, he looks more or less like just another yokai employee, here on business.

It takes him a little while to locate Matoba on the temple's grounds. When he does, he moves deliberately, letting his footsteps be heard, but doesn't call out. ]

[worldbent]

[It has become a fairly predictable routine of Matoba's that the days in which he works at the Tengu Temple, he arrives from dawn to take his morning exercise and his morning archery practice.]

[And so the common sight (and sound) has been, in the mid-morning, of the ring targets set down the lawn from the back temple veranda within this inner sanctum, a safe area where the back stone walls of the temple complex would keep a stray arrow from piercing anything it shouldn't. Much as Matoba would love that excuse.]

[A thick THNK sound resounds in the yard before Kimmuriel is even in view, the man standing in an even-shouldered drawing stance with his head turned towards the target; his eyepatch hid the sight of his focused left eye from view, like this. The arrow has sunk in on the corner of the target's eye. A large part of loosing an arrow was the follow-through- you must calmly dispel all of that aura which you have built up in aiming and firing it, taking time to reflect on the trueness of your aim.]

[He doesn't let the drow's arrival interrupt that discipline, even then, but after a moment of looking down the firing distance at his arrow, he turns his head again to bring his eye onto Kimmuriel with one of his usual half-smiles.]

Good morning. [Down the yard, Matoba's shadowy, slender servants are collecting the arrows from the shot targets.] I hope you have good news.

[psionicmolotov]

[ He's unsurprised to find him practicing archery; he really should have expected it, in fact. It is one of his major weapons, after all. ]

It is only the news I brought you before, so whether it is good or bad is up to you to decide. But I have brought you the records, and the paralyzing agent - which works quite well on smaller creatures. Obviously it will still need testing on those that are human-sized and larger.

[ As he makes his way over to Matoba, glancing over at those summoned servants, he takes out the invoice book and three vials in a cloth roll. The vials in their housing are neatly sewn so they will not make the telltale sound of glass clinking against glass if they happen to be jostled. ]

As for money...some of the ingredients are difficult to process, and being paid for the service of processing them and giving a share back to the original sellers are lucrative enough arrangements that they are recouping some of the costs. The operation is not exactly paying for itself, but it is less expensive to maintain than I first thought.

[worldbent]

[One of the servants lumbers forward to accept Matoba's bow as he holds it out, stepping down from the veranda to meet Kimmuriel on the path.] Very good. Things seem to be moving along better than I expected, so we should be in business with this in no time...

If it's good enough, we'll be able to utilize it in the Wastelands. [Matoba accepts the book and opens it in the crook of his elbow, beginning to flip through and scan it with his eye. The sleeping agent and the paralysis agents, at the very least, would be best to have. Any actual, lethal poisons... That would need to be handled more carefully.]

That's good. So long as this arrangement is beneficial for them as well, we will likely be able to trust them to keep their ends of the deal up and won't have to worry about being cut off unexpectedly or having our production stolen and sold out from under us. Although they would have to be suicidal to try.

By the way... How traceable will these elements be within a body, do you think? Is it unique enough to be traced back to us?

[psionicmolotov]

Even for demons, it seems to be that it is more attractive to have someone else do the difficult work so you can reap the benefits. It is a gap in the market I am happy to exploit. [ He sounds a bit amused, as if this reflects his own arrangement with Matoba....which, it might a little bit, though Matoba is certainly no stranger to getting his own hands dirty.

He taps his cheek in thought with a slender finger. ] Many of these elements are already in circulation to some degree, since they are used as weapon coatings and such. Much of my personal budget goes to negotiation with local suppliers, who are understandably reticent about giving out the exact details of their supply chain. [ He can't just pull it out of their brains (yet) so he has to resort to the good old staple, money. ] I would say that while there is always an element of risk, the nonlethal drugs are not so designed to stay in the body as poison is, and it is much less likely it can be traced back to us at all.

[ There is not a guarantee that it is completely untraceable, but there's only so much you can account for here. ]

That is the ideal use for them. I am not fond of grand quests, but I am quite happy to assist, as long as I am not dragged along. [ He's gonna be staying right here, thanks. ]

[worldbent]

[Rolling his shoulders, Matoba delicately flips another page as his smirk shows he is... self aware.] It pays to have allies. In addition to taking a load off our hands directly, it will mean future relationships to make use of. What's not to like?

[Sutoku was the clan of business through and through; if it had the potential for profit, there was truly no reason to capsize the potential of a business relationship.]

I see. We have many medics in our clan, but I wonder if they would be the sort to get ... preachy, [Matoba muses, lowering his voice,] About the use of such elements. I am of two minds as to whether we should have them study the effects. I did ask Emily-san to determine if the tranquilizer would be effective for her uses; perhaps we can follow up with her finds to determine, at least, any possible residual effects in that one.

[Finally, he tucks the book under-arm, with the glass vials safely within the folds of his kimono.] I don't mind a field trip now and then, but... [He pauses, considering Kimmuriel carefully. So he was going to stay, hm? Might as well tell him.] I think that the enemy we will be facing by remaining in the city will be a more dire threat.

Kimmuriel-san, have you ever heard whispers of the door in the Underground?

[psionicmolotov]

What indeed? As I have learned, the ideal compromise is when both parties walk away satisfied. [ Something he certainly took to heart when his co-leader first passed control to him, more than a century ago. ]

That is true. Still, medicine is so often about dosage, like poison. Perhaps there is a way to get them interested without completely divulging the purpose...I would not mind sharing the ingredients, provided there are those who know what to do with them in their raw state. It would be a great boon to have medicines that can be made in the clinic alone.

[ He glances at him. ] Only small things that I cannot properly confirm, considering the rumors that suffuse this place. So it is a real location after all?

[worldbent]

Hmm... yes. [Matoba tilts his head, thoughtful.] ... That ...thing inside Emily-san is not overly fond of me. [Understatement. Mutual.] Perhaps if you were to approach her to offer some of the ingredients and chat over their uses, she would take it with less suspicion. Of course, I think that she is aware I am working on a project of this nature, but she doesn't seem inclined to interfere for the time being.

I would like to keep it that way. [He doesn't want to hear any idealistic hand-wringing about morals getting in the way of this work. The Alliance could not defend itself with business leverage alone.]

[But that business settled, Matoba considers the topic of.. that door. It would be best not to let anyone hear them talking about it too much...] Yes, it is real. Deep in the bowels of the kappa's offices and pipeworks. It is a simple industrial door with no keypad, or lock, or a spell that I could perceive sealing it- nor anything else that would appear to be used to secure it. And yet, it is impossible to budge.

I hear that in the time shortly after the Enma relinquished the tunnels after their interrogations of the kappa clan, after the bodies of their Lieutenants were discovered and cleaned up, a small group investigated the premises and found evidence that there had been an attempt to get into the door, but it didn't seem any had managed to get inside. And so it remains a mystery...... just what that is.

...But, I did ask the boss about that...

[Matoba's eye glints, dangerously amused.]