01[20:48] <~ShadowDM> ..BLACK 01[20:48] <~ShadowDM> When we last left our heroes, they had just arrived at Hitodejima and got right to work discover who was stealing these priceless artifacts! Well... some were hard at work. Others were playing hooky and running off to the beach. 01[20:48] <~ShadowDM> With tens of millions of Ryo worth of goods already stolen, Chief Kishimoto urges you to work as fast as possible while he works to get the museums to cooperate with your efforts. 01[20:48] <~ShadowDM> Who was this mysterious thief? Why couldn’t the cameras pick him up? What was the significance of this card? The answers to all these questions and more on Sunagakure, Sands Stained with Blood! 01[20:49] <~ShadowDM> With a sputter, the van stops outside the hotel where Yasu, Yori, and Tanaka are ushered out. It is a tall building painted in warm pastels with a mural of a palm tree on the side. 01[20:51] <~ShadowDM> um... Hello? [20:51] <Nawa_Yasunaka> Yasu waits for their escorts to show them to their rooms. He seems determined to find out more about their target from the only piece of evidence. 01[20:52] * Tanshin_Yori climbs out of the van. He's interested to see this security footage firsthand... and hopefully catch something Kishimoto's men missed. 01[20:54] <~ShadowDM> A policeman leads you into the hotel and past the check in counter to an elevator. In short order and assuming neither of you decides to do anything out of the norm, you make it to the sixth floor. The hallway you step into is lavishly decorated with what you assume is gold embossed wallpaper. The policeman walks you down to room 610 where he opens the door with a key and lets you in. 01[20:55] <~ShadowDM> Inside is a small living area with a table where there is a stack of 7 tapes and a television. On the far side of the living area is a kitchenette and a door beside it opening onto a balcony. To the right are two doors, one which you can assume leads to a bedroom and the other is a bathroom. [20:56] <Nawa_Yasunaka> Yasu heads over to the bedroom door and peaks inside. 01[20:56] * ~ShadowDM : -> Policeman: "I'll just leave the keys here by the door. Is there anything else you need?" 01[20:57] * Tanshin_Yori takes a quick look around. "Yeah, could we get the security tapes from the museum? I'd like to review those." 01[20:57] <~ShadowDM> The bathroom decorated in shades of light blue with a porcelain sink and bathtub, and otherwise appears to be a normal bathroom. 01[20:57] * ~ShadowDM : -> Policeman: "We've already taken the liberty of supplying them." *he points to the table in the living area* [20:57] <Tanshin_Yori> "Ah. Excellent." [20:58] <Tanshin_Yori> "..." [20:58] <Tanshin_Yori> "... thanks." [20:58] <Nawa_Yasunaka> Yasu, while preoccupied, remembers enough of himself to bow to the officer and thank him for his help. 01[20:59] * ~ShadowDM : -> Policeman: "If that is all, I'll be on my way." 01[20:59] <~ShadowDM> He bows and closes the door behind him on his way out. 01[20:59] * Tanshin_Yori wastes no time in popping the first tape in, nodding absentmindedly to the policeman. 01[20:59] <~ShadowDM> The tv flickers to life, bringing up the image of the inside of the museum. As the tape plays, the screen is momentarily filled with falling glass. A few moments pass before a circle is cut in the glass of a stand holding an ancient flag. As the circle is finished, it slides out and falls to the floor, smashing on impact. A few seconds later, the standard disappears. [21:00] <Tanshin_Yori> Is there any noise made by any of the glass? [21:01] <Nawa_Yasunaka> Yasu watches the video for a minute, but he is more interested in the card. "Yori, I'll leave it to you and Tanaka to analyze those tapes. I'm going to do my best to get something from this card. I've got a feeling that there is a clue to be gotten from it. [21:01] <Nawa_Yasunaka> " [21:02] <Tanshin_Yori> "Sure. I'll be right here if you need me." 01[21:02] <~ShadowDM> The video does not have sound as far as you can tell. 01[21:02] <~ShadowDM> Tanaka flops down on the sofa and watches the tape along with Yori, but looks quite stumped. [21:04] <Nawa_Yasunaka> Yasu goes into the bedroom and sits on a choice bed as far from his teammates as possible. He doesn't want the reading of any other signatures to interfere with his senses. He makes himself comfortable, and then he meditates in attempt to clear his mind before sensing chakra from the card. 01[21:05] <~ShadowDM> give me a CC check. 01[21:05] * Tanshin_Yori rewinds the tape and replays it in slow motion [21:05] <Tanshin_Yori> (if possible) [21:05] <Nawa_Yasunaka> ((One second...)) [21:05] <Nawa_Yasunaka> ((Can I take 20 on it?)) 01[21:05] <~ShadowDM> Slow motion is not an option, however, if you look at the table, the next video in the stack has the same name written on the side as the one you popped in along with "SMVC" on it. 01[21:06] <~ShadowDM> You cannot take 20. [21:06] <Nawa_Yasunaka> ((Aight.)) [21:06] <Nawa_Yasunaka> 1d20+8 chakra control ftw! [21:06] <Orac> Nawa_Yasunaka rolls 1d20+8 chakra control ftw! and gets <2 + 8> = 10 [21:06] <Nawa_Yasunaka> ((The same roll I got last time, how quaint.)) 01[21:07] <~ShadowDM> You feel a very faint signal from the card after 10 minutes of concentrating on it, but you apparently have other things on your mind. [21:09] <Nawa_Yasunaka> Growling in frustration, Yasu puts the card back in his belt pouch carefully and goes back into the sitting room to watch the tapes with the others. 01[21:10] <~ShadowDM> Yasu finds Tanaka and Yori watching the video closely. [21:12] <Nawa_Yasunaka> "Any luck?" 01[21:12] <~ShadowDM> Tanaka shakes his head, but doesn't appear to be willing to speak for more than himself. 01[21:13] * ~ShadowDM : -> Tanaka: "I don't think it's genjutsu." 01[21:13] * Tanshin_Yori shrugs. "Seems to be exactly what the guards said thus far." [21:14] <Tanshin_Yori> (anything come up on the slo-mo rewind?) [21:14] <Nawa_Yasunaka> "Me neither, so far as I know there is no genjutsu that can fool a camera, so it is ninjutsu that most likely is responsible. Or perhaps it is a discipline we have not heard of. We ninja are not the only people with great powers." 01[21:15] <~ShadowDM> The slo-mo video seems to be exactly like the first, except at a much slower rate. 01[21:16] * Tanshin_Yori pops in the next tape. 01[21:16] <~ShadowDM> Tanaka nods, "That's possible." [21:17] <Tanshin_Yori> "We'll have to double-check with the people at the museum. These cameras may not record sound, so I wouldn't rule out Genjutsu just yet... for silencing the glass, at least." 01[21:17] <~ShadowDM> The next tape is very similar, except this one is angled toward a door that swings open violently. A few seconds pass before the glass around an old looking suit of armor shatters and one by one the pieces dissappear. [21:17] <Nawa_Yasunaka> Yasu looks grim, "Possible ,and an unpleasant possibility at that. In that case, we know nothing. But also, it's exciting. We might encounter someone with abillities no ninja has ever seen before." [21:18] <Tanshin_Yori> any sound on this one? [21:18] <Nawa_Yasunaka> Yasu watches the next tape and something occurs to him, "What about a summon? They can have all kinds of strange powers." 01[21:19] <~ShadowDM> no sound. 01[21:20] <~ShadowDM> Tanaka looks perplexed, "Invisible summons? I've never heard of something like that..." [21:21] <Nawa_Yasunaka> "Neither have I, but it seems plausible at least." [21:21] <Tanshin_Yori> "Hm. Well, let's have a look at the rest of these and see if they clear anything up." 01[21:21] * Tanshin_Yori pops in another tape. [21:23] <Tanshin_Yori> "At any rate, the guards claimed they heard nothing. Either these videos just don't have sound and they were put under some kind of Genjutsu, or this Gambler guy has got some kind of silencing Ninjutsu. That's my guess." 01[21:24] * ~ShadowDM : -> Tanaka: "We could call the police station and ask, I guess..." 01[21:25] <~ShadowDM> The next take is a slow motion capture of the previous one. 01[21:25] <~ShadowDM> Awareness checks. [21:25] <Tanshin_Yori> d20+6 Awareness! [21:25] <Orac> Tanshin_Yori rolls 1d20+6 Awareness! and gets <9 + 6> = 15 [21:26] <Nawa_Yasunaka> 1d20+8 awareness [21:26] <Orac> Nawa_Yasunaka rolls 1d20+8 awareness and gets <14 + 8> = 22 01[21:27] <~ShadowDM> Yasu notices something small seemingly pass through the door before it is knocked off its hinges, but can't quite tell what it is. 01[21:29] <~ShadowDM> The rest of the tape appears to be just the same as the previous, albeit much slower. [21:30] <Nawa_Yasunaka> "Replay that bit! I think I saw somehting!" 01[21:30] * Tanshin_Yori does as Yasu asks. 01[21:30] <~ShadowDM> Awareness once again! [21:31] <Tanshin_Yori> (for both of us?) 01[21:32] <~ShadowDM> Sure. [21:32] <Tanshin_Yori> d20+6 Awareness Part Deux [21:32] <Orac> Tanshin_Yori rolls 1d20+6 Awareness Part Deux and gets <4 + 6> = 10 [21:32] <Tanshin_Yori> -_-; 01[21:32] <~ShadowDM> Yori fails to see the significance of this particular moment on the tape. [21:33] <Nawa_Yasunaka> 1d20+8 awareness again! [21:33] <Orac> Nawa_Yasunaka rolls 1d20+8 awareness again! and gets <18 + 8> = 26 01[21:34] <~ShadowDM> Yasu sees something very familiar, something like what he has in his pocket. The only question on his mind is, how did a card do that kind of damage to a door? [21:34] <Nawa_Yasunaka> "I see a card, like the one I found, breaking the door." 01[21:35] * Tanshin_Yori blinks at Yasu. [21:36] <Tanshin_Yori> "... hold on. Did you find any chakra on that card?" [21:36] <Nawa_Yasunaka> "A tiny bit, but I was having trouble concentrating. I was gonna try again soon." 01[21:36] <~ShadowDM> Tanaka looks at Yasu strangely before appearing thoughtful. 01[21:38] * ~ShadowDM : -> Tanaka: "You know, I've heard of these things called 'Assassin Decks' used by some ninja. They're cards designed to be lethal and balanced enough to throw... but they're not supposed to be more powerful than an average kunai..." 01[21:38] * Tanshin_Yori looks at Tanaka expectantly. [21:39] <Nawa_Yasunaka> "Kunai can be made more powerful, there's a technique I'm working for just such a purpose. Less flashy than this though." [21:39] <Tanshin_Yori> "Hrm. Well, a card could fit through the crack in the door. Maybe he used that to break the lock and kicked the door in." 01[21:40] <~ShadowDM> (( Yasu saw the card go THROUGH the door, nowhere near the crack )) [21:41] <Tanshin_Yori> (I don't know that.) [21:41] <Nawa_Yasunaka> "I think we are dealing with someone a great deal more dangerous than a master thief." [21:42] <Tanshin_Yori> "It would seem so. If this is one of those 'Assassin's Decks', then we're at least dealing with someone trained in the Ninja Arts." 01[21:42] <~ShadowDM> Tanaka seems in agreement, "That would explain how he evades detection from the camera, even if we don't fully understand how." [21:43] <Tanshin_Yori> "Maybe... this guy's a rogue ninja and he's being hired for these heists." [21:43] <Nawa_Yasunaka> "Maybe... This might even be a great deal more sinister than we originally thought. Hmm." [21:45] <Tanshin_Yori> "I doubt anything he stole ever turned up again, though. Anyways, let's have a look at that next tape." 01[21:45] * Tanshin_Yori inserts another tape. 01[21:48] <~ShadowDM> The next tape appears to be one of the Art museums, as the walls are lined with paintings and there are several free-standing installations and stands with pottery and stonework. Like the other tapes, there is no sound. 01[21:48] <~ShadowDM> The glass cover on the far wall shatters and the large painting it was over seems to float in the air. In mid-air, the backing is pealed open and the painting itself is removed before it is rolled up and vanishes. The frame falls to the ground and nothing else appears to happen. [21:51] <Nawa_Yasunaka> Yasu goes to try and sense from the card again. [21:51] <Tanshin_Yori> hrm... can I make a Ninjutsu check to see if I know of any techniques that would afford him this sort of invisibility? 01[21:52] <~ShadowDM> Sure. [21:52] <Tanshin_Yori> d20+7 Ninjutsu ID [21:52] <Orac> Tanshin_Yori rolls 1d20+7 Ninjutsu ID and gets <10 + 7> = 17 01[21:52] <~ShadowDM> Yasu, give me another CC roll. 01[21:53] <~ShadowDM> Yasu can think of several techniques that give the user unrivaled camoflage, but nothing that grants outright invisibility on this level. 01[21:53] <~ShadowDM> *Yori [21:53] <Nawa_Yasunaka> 1d20+8 cc! [21:53] <Orac> Nawa_Yasunaka rolls 1d20+8 cc! and gets <8 + 8> = 16 [21:53] <Nawa_Yasunaka> Better than two. 01[21:55] <~ShadowDM> Same as before. Yasu thinks this reading is strong enough that he could recognize the signature again if he felt it, but isn't quite sure. [21:56] <Nawa_Yasunaka> Growling, Yasu tries again, focusing with all his might! He isn't going to give up until he gets something concrete! 01[21:56] <~ShadowDM> roll it! [21:57] <Nawa_Yasunaka> 1d20+8 cc again!!!! [21:57] <Orac> Nawa_Yasunaka rolls 1d20+8 cc again!!!! and gets <1 + 8> = 9 01[21:58] <~ShadowDM> Yasu doesn't feel anything... [21:59] <Nawa_Yasunaka> He tries again, he refuses to be beaten by a card of any kind! 01[21:59] <~ShadowDM> ROLL IT MAN! [21:59] <Nawa_Yasunaka> 1d20+8 supreme chakra control secret technique of doom! [21:59] <Orac> Nawa_Yasunaka rolls 1d20+8 supreme chakra control secret technique of doom! and gets <8 + 8> = 16 01[21:59] <~ShadowDM> DO IT TO IT! [21:59] <Nawa_Yasunaka> 1d6 ap [21:59] <Orac> Nawa_Yasunaka rolls 1d6 ap and gets 5 01[21:59] <~ShadowDM> 21 01[22:00] <~ShadowDM> Yasu gets a stronger feeling from it. He gets a solid hold of the signature, but there is something else in there he can't quite get a full read on. [22:01] <Nawa_Yasunaka> Yasu smiles as he finally gets something useful. [22:02] <Nawa_Yasunaka> (He'll know that signature now right?)) 01[22:02] <~ShadowDM> Aye, he'll recognize the signature. [22:03] <Nawa_Yasunaka> Yasu puts the card away, he hasn't given up on that last bit of info he feels he is missing, but he wants to inform his group of this new developement. [22:05] <Nawa_Yasunaka> He walks out into the main room and nods to his teammates. "Get anything?" 01[22:06] <~ShadowDM> Tanaka shakes his head. [22:06] <Tanshin_Yori> "Nothing solid. I can't think of any jutsu that would replicate what we're seeing here." 01[22:07] * ~ShadowDM : -> Tanaka: "Yea, me neither..." [22:07] <Nawa_Yasunaka> "Mmm, well I have got somehting. I know his chakra signature now. If he gets close enough I'll be able to sense him, and maybe track him." 01[22:08] * Tanshin_Yori shows the hint of a smile. "Well, there's some good news at least. We still haven't finished with these tapes though." 01[22:08] * Tanshin_Yori pops in the next tape. [22:09] <Nawa_Yasunaka> Yasu smiles back hesitantly, "Indeed, but it's not enough yet, maybe Rairaku's eyes will better be able to track with this chakra information." 01[22:10] <~ShadowDM> The next tape shows a bird's-eye view of a long display case where a weathered scroll sits. The glass is carefully cut along the top all the way across and then gently pulled up. The scroll is rolled together and as the clasp shuts on the scroll case, it disappears. 01[22:12] <~ShadowDM> As with the others, there is no sound. 01[22:12] * Tanshin_Yori frowns. "I feel like we're missing something important in all these clips, but I have no idea what it might be." 01[22:14] <~ShadowDM> Tanaka taps his fingers on Inubatsu as he thinks, but doesn't seem to be on to anything. [22:14] <Nawa_Yasunaka> Yasu nods slowly, "It may just be my frustration getting the better of me, but I feel like this guy is toying with us. Which is ridiculous because it is very unlikely that he is aware we are here yet. Though he may be, thieves tend to be well informed about just about anything." 01[22:16] * Tanshin_Yori sighs heavily and pops in the next tape. 01[22:17] <~ShadowDM> The last tape is of the museum you just came from. It shows the colored glass raining from above. Like the police said, the glass display is cut open and one by one the pieces of jewelry vanish into thin air. [22:19] <Nawa_Yasunaka> "I will say one thing, whoever this is isn't actually very sneaky. In fact, he leaves a pretty impressive trail of destruction, at least inside the museum. Not a master thief at all. But an experienced shinobi, probably more experienced than any of us." [22:20] <Tanshin_Yori> "Maybe. That or he just likes taunting anyone who watches these videos." [22:21] <Tanshin_Yori> "Or both." [22:21] <Nawa_Yasunaka> "Considering his assumed moniker, I'd guess he likes messing with people. I hope we get to hurt him, and that's not like me." 01[22:22] <~ShadowDM> Tanaka gives Yasu a strange look, "This guy pissed you off already?" [22:23] <Nawa_Yasunaka> Yasu shrugs, "It's more like frustration, I don't like being toyed with, intentionally or not. And I don't like being confronted with all the evidence of the things I am incapable of." 01[22:26] * ~ShadowDM : -> Tanaka: "So what's the plan?" [22:27] <Tanshin_Yori> "I think Rairaku's 'sting' plan is our best chance of catching this guy. Honestly, my plan is essentially the same." [22:28] <Nawa_Yasunaka> Yasu grimaces and plops down on a couch heavily, "I'm stumped. I hate to admit it, but I really have no idea how to procede as of yet. My only thought is to set up a trap around a likely target and hope for the best." [22:28] <Tanshin_Yori> "Although I would propose having one of us use Henge to transform into a necklace rather than exposing something actually valuable to the theif. Plus, if he manages to get away, then our decoy can give his location away once he's made it to... whatever safehouse he's been using." 01[22:29] * ~ShadowDM : -> Tanaka: "Yea, we already have an idea of how he gets into the museums, should be easy to set up a trap or two at the likely entrance points." [22:30] <Nawa_Yasunaka> "Traps I can do, but I'm not sure they'd be good enough." [22:31] <Tanshin_Yori> "Yeah, but thus far all we know is that he uses these cards as some sort of weapon and that cameras can't pick him up. A trap's effectiveness is dependent on our preparation, and that's dependent on our knowledge of the target." 01[22:32] * ~ShadowDM : -> Tanaka: "He seems to be pretty straight-foreward in his approach." [22:33] <Tanshin_Yori> "True. I hate to admit it, but it seems like all we can do is set up to the best of our ability and hope it's good enough. I'll make a call to the police station and ask about the sound on those videos." 01[22:34] <~ShadowDM> There is a number jotted down on a small pad beside the phone that appears to be for the police station. [22:34] <Nawa_Yasunaka> "Alright. I'll... Think about traps I suppose." 01[22:34] * Tanshin_Yori makes the aforementioned call. 01[22:35] <~ShadowDM> The phone rings twice before it is picked up and a female voice answers, "Hitodejima central police station! How may I direct your call?" [22:36] <Tanshin_Yori> "I'd like to speak to Chief Kishimoto." 01[22:36] <~ShadowDM> "Hold on just a second!" A few moments pass as you are put on hold. The sound of light music akin to that you heard about an hour ago in the elevator plays in the background. 01[22:37] <~ShadowDM> "I'm sorry, Kishimoto-sama is out at the moment, would you like me to take a message or is there some other way I could assist you?" [22:38] <Tanshin_Yori> "I've been assigned to the Gambler case. I was wondering if the museum's security cameras have an audio feed or not." 01[22:38] <~ShadowDM> "Hold on just one moment and I can check for you!" 01[22:38] <~ShadowDM> Again with the elevator music. 01[22:39] <~ShadowDM> "Yes, according to records, all the museums have audior recievers on their security cameras!" [22:39] <Tanshin_Yori> "Hmm. I see. That will be all." 01[22:39] <~ShadowDM> "Alright, have a wonderful day!" 01[22:39] * Tanshin_Yori hangs up. [22:41] <Tanshin_Yori> "Hey guys. The police say the cameras have audio recievers, so this guy's got some way of silencing the area around him." [22:41] <Nawa_Yasunaka> Yasu nods but remains silent. [22:42] <Chikamatsu_Tanaka> "Maybe he has acess to sound related jutsu". [22:43] <Tanshin_Yori> "So it would seem." [22:44] <Nawa_Yasunaka> Can Yasu try to think of any jutsu like that? 01[22:44] <~ShadowDM> sure, roll me a ninjutsu check. [22:48] <Nawa_Yasu> 1d20+10 ninjutsu knowledge [22:48] <Orac> Nawa_Yasu rolls 1d20+10 ninjutsu knowledge and gets <2 + 10> = 12 01[22:48] <~ShadowDM> Yasu can't really think of anything off the top of his head. 01[22:48] <~ShadowDM> party actions? [22:50] <Tanshin_Yori> Hmmm... what time is it at this point? [22:50] <Nawa_Yasu> "Shall we begin planning our operation?" 01[22:51] <~ShadowDM> Right now it's about 5 in the afternoon. [22:52] <Chikamatsu_Tanaka> "Sounds,like a better alternative than this". [22:53] <Tanshin_Yori> (Hrm. I'm tempted to say beach time, dinner time, naptime. We can try to get someone to put word out about our priceless jewelry tonight, and set up shop in one of the museums tomorrow.) 01[22:56] <~ShadowDM> Time wears on... assuming you guys don't do anything, the phone rings around 6:30. 01[22:56] * Tanshin_Yori picks up the phone if nobody else does. [22:56] <Tanshin_Yori> "Hello?" 01[22:57] <~ShadowDM> "Hello! This is Chief Kishimoto!" 01[22:58] <~ShadowDM> "I just wanted to let you guys know that I found a museum willing to assist us!" 01[22:58] <~ShadowDM> "How are things going on your end?" [22:59] <Tanshin_Yori> "Ah, that's good news. Things over here are... well, we have reason to believe our culprit has received some sort of shinobi training." 01[23:00] <~ShadowDM> "Ah, we were thinking of that possibility, but weren't sure... that's why we called you guys in!" [23:00] <Tanshin_Yori> "Indeed. We're still working out the details. How soon do you think we could set up in the museum and spread the word around town?" 01[23:01] <~ShadowDM> "I could get a few agents to leak word to the press that a new exhibit was getting shipped in tomorrow... it might be a little late to get it into the papers, but I'll see what I can do." [23:02] <Tanshin_Yori> "Hmm. Sounds good. Let us know if anything else comes up." 01[23:02] <~ShadowDM> "Sure thing!" 01[23:03] * Tanshin_Yori bids the Chief goodbye and hangs up. [23:05] <Tanshin_Yori> "Chief Kishimoto says he found a museum willing to go along with the sting plan. He's putting out word that it's recieving a new exhibit tomorrow, so let's get the details worked out." [23:08] <Nawa_Yasu> "I'd like to lay as many traps as possible, and that means I'll need more kunai, if there are any to be had in this city, then I want them. [23:08] <Nawa_Yasu> " [23:08] <Tanshin_Yori> "... I doubt it, but this Gambler guy is getting his supplies from somewhere." 01[23:09] <~ShadowDM> Weapon stores don't typically carry kunai. 01[23:09] <~ShadowDM> Ninja Weapons Stores are difficult to come by. 01[23:16] <~ShadowDM> ... [23:17] <Nawa_Yasu> Yasu shrugs, he seems resolved to get any kunai he can, but if not, he'll work with what he has. 01[23:26] <~ShadowDM> And so, as the pieces of the puzzle being to come together you begin to your preparation... 01[23:26] <~ShadowDM> Your journey and your life ends in children’s card game induced terror as we... 01[23:26] <~ShadowDM> FADE... 01[23:26] <~ShadowDM> .TO.... 01[23:26] <~ShadowDM> ..BLACK