A Concern Or Paranoia? (D11 EA)

[Ninube]

Ninube called for a meeting among the Clans, including the big shots. She had a concern, and it needed to be taken seriously. If not....

What was she doing? A year ago, she was a petty thief stealing food and the occasional pretty thing. Now, she's talking to god and leaders of these new Clans. What does she know that they don't?

Treachery. The darkness. The lying smile. Do gods know of such things? Do they consider them? Have the other leaders?

Maybe they had such things. But if they hadn't, well, it was important they hear her out.

She calmed herself.

As people entered, she greeted them with an awkward bow, the -sama honorific, and her jade.

((OOC: Gonna let people gather until either my lunch break tomorrow or after work. Unless someone wants to address Ninube directly.))

[Jiyo Sora]

Sora ducked in, bowed to the Spider.... scout, applied a piece of his jade to his own tongue, and set about looking fora place to sit. He'd invited Ch'chit T'kkiri to the meeting, since, if they were to treat the Nezumi as allies, it never hurt to include them, but he wasn't sure if the Fearless Warrior of Black Moonset would feel up to sitting around quite so many humans in one place.

[Shinjo]

Shinjo entered and touched jade to her bare skin before settling down. Her meeting with Phi earlier already had her tense.

[Jin]

Though he had not been officially invited the topic was one of importance to Jin on multiple levels so he arrived soon after Shinjo.

He makes no qualms about touching the proffered jade with his good hand then finds a spot to settle in and listen. If his knowledge was called on, or seemed truly necessary, he would provide it but as others had been invited to speak for now he would observe.

[Anjing Xia]

Xia wasn't explicitly invited, but then again she was never invited to anything, so she enters with a small smile and touchesNinube's jade before poking the Spider back with her own piece and stepping further into the gathering.

She shoots friendly nods at those she recognises and waits to see what will happen next.

[Nanzi]

Nanzi was there with his chipped jade which he pressed to his lips.

[Wu]

Wu was next to heed the invitation. The Dragon lord bowed politely to the spider before touching jade as was now the custom.

''Ninube-san''

[Reiko]

The champion of the Spider made her careful way in, bowing to those in attendance and placing a hand on the Jade as requested before finding a place to sit near Ninube with a smile to her kin.

[Bayushi Umeno]

The Scorpion only had Umeno, but Bayushi would always have eyes and ears, so she was present, off to the side watching and listening.

[Nanzi]

The Scorpion only had Umeno, but Bayushi would always have eyes and ears, so she was present, off to the side watching and listening.

"Bayushi-san, you look well," he said kindly.

"Thank you for calling this meeting, Ninube-san. Nanzi is eager to hear what the Spider have to say," he said giving greetings to those he does and does not know.

"Jigutsuji-san, will be recording notes for posterity." The man nodded as he settled into the background.

[Wu]

When Nanzi announced that his lackey was to record the meeting, Wu thought it wise to take personal notes.

[Nanzi]

When Nanzi announced that his lackey was to record the meeting, Wu thought it wise to take personal notes.

"Wu-san, Nanzi had not noticed you, it seems an age since we last spoke," he said warmly.

[Ch’chit T’kkiri]

The Brave-Warrior-of-Black-Moonset found his way into the meeting. Sora’s invitation gave him an opportunity to possibly speak what was on his mind...

[Ryoshun Mai]

Mai decided to enter on behalf of the Bat. She had already met the Spider. She bowed low and touched the jade. Carrying a nice bundle of arrows, she intended to distribute them when given the chance.

[Wu]

"Wu-san, Nanzi had not noticed you, it seems an age since we last spoke," he said warmly.

Wu raised his head from the wrapped charcoal sticks that would serve as his writing tools and nodded to the crane Daimyo

''Nanzi-san. It as indeed been a long time...I do not believe we have spoken since the tournament''

[Nanzi]

"Such different circumstances, it is good to see an old friend in good spirits," he said kindly.

"How have the family of Wu fared since then?"

[Ninube]

After everyone arrived, Ninube took a deep breath and step forward.

"Thank you everyone who came. Um, I know everyone has heard about creatures who tried to infiltrate the camp. We have taken good precautions, but..."

Ninube licked her lips. She was nervous about speaking because what she had to say was pretty outrageous.

"I believe they have already infiltrated the Empire. The creature we found in the supply wagons was too good. It knew how to manipulate us. It only makes sense if it has been around humanity.

"There's a lot of leaders of the Clans here. So, I think we should discuss taking precautions not just for this journey, but when we get back to the Empire. Sure, it's easy to assume a random child here might be a monster, but what about at a trading village or port? We need to make this," Ninube brushes one of her jade fingers across her cheeks, "normal for the Empire. Because even if I am wrong, they will come. What better way to soften us while they fight the Nezumi Empire? Start a war between us? Kill our leaders? Get the Clans to hate each other? Spread Jigoku's influence? I have been thinking of what can be done these past few days of marching with the abilities the creatures showed us, and they are endless."

She holds in front of her and looks at it. "Tengoku sent the Kami and jade. We need to trust both to protect us from the Jigoku."

With that, Ninube sits down next to Reiko allowing others to speak. She'll see now if she brought up a good concern or wasted people's time.

((OOC: If you come in past this post, assume Ninube waited for you unless you specifically intend to come late.))

[Shinjo]

Shinjo nodded. "Jade affects anything sufficiently infused with the essence of Jigoku. The logical step for shape-shifting creatures is to infiltrate, and what was reported did suggest she knew our customs and what we would respond to. I think your concerns are very sensible, Ninube-san."

[Nanzi]

Nanzi nodded but said nothing as he waited to see how others react.

[Jiyo Sora]

Sora likewise nodded.

"I intend to speak to the Emperor about many things when we return. Establishing organizations to investigate this kind of... business seems a sound idea."

He nodded to Ch'chit T'kkiri.

"And I'm certain the Nezumi, with their experience against this enemy, have useful contributions we could listen to."