Interview with a Kitsune - RPLOG

Participants

• Fenris
• Siyu

Date

29/7/477

Log

The address that Bernard provided has led to a modest home near Saint's square. Apartment might be a better word for it. It seems that this old fox rents a few rooms on his pension. There is a plain knocker on the door.

Siyu hmmms a little bit the merchant is dressed in his best silks. A flowing, well cut creator suit. In black and silver, with a white shirt. It's dashing, complete with a cane. His hair is tied back in a formal style with a silver clip. Dressed as formally and professional as he can, he'll give a knock on the door.After a moment, the door opens a bit to reveal an older gentleman, a thick set fox with a distinguished grey mustache wearing casual military attire. "Yes?" he asks in a refined tenor, "How may I help you?"

Siyu rests the cane against one of his wide hips, rodent can't really hide his figure, even in his suit, and he removes his gloves and offers his hands, "Bellamy I presume? I am Gang Xi Siyu, Bernard said I might have a chat without about a few things which cause me concern"

Bellamy smiles at the mention of Bernard. "Ah! Yes," he says, "Bernie mentioned that you might stop by." The old fox takes Siyu's offered hand in a firm grip. "Bellamy Foxglove, at your service," he says before stepping back. "Come in, come in!" he says, "I've got some tea on." He leads Siyu into a cozy parlor and waves him to one of the comfy chairs amidst the medal displays and decorative weapon racks. "Sit down, and I'll fetch the tea," he says.

Siyu tucks his gloves into the vest of the three piece suit and he takes his cane back up, "Thank you,of course of course. Interesting that you know an innkeeper from Cliffside, he's only recently come into the city from what I've understood of him. Interesting fellow." he wipes his feet before stepping in. After settling his cane into one of the racks he swishes over into the parlor, "Tea would be lovely, I thank you."

Fenris would have to be careful here. Siyu was sharp and he did not want to lose his edge by losing access to any of his established aliases. "Ha! Bellamy barks in a genial way as he returns carrying a tray with a tea service and a packet of biscuits, "Old Bernie kept the best inn I have ever had the good fortune to occupy." The old fox places the tray on the low coffee table and settles into a chair of his own. "Captured the place in the last war," he explains, "Found the old dog to be as accommodating to us as to any paying customers. Smart man that. Kept up a bit of correspondence after the fighting was done." He nods at the tea and biscuits. "I do hope those are alright," he says, "as a confirmed old bachelor, I can't claim to be much of a cook."

Siyu files all the information away, the rodent asks for names and is polite about having a perfect memory. He's found most people find it somewhat creepy that he remembers everything about them, so he often feigns a fleeting grasp on his own. Though it is perfect, and he has been growing more paranoid lately. "Hm, the last war? You've only recently retired then?" he inquires and gives a glance over to the weapon racks. He takes the tea and gives it a sip, "Quite all right sir, quite all right. I was told perhaps you have some skill with illusions"

"Retired!" Bellamy blusters, "Who says I am retired!?" He points to the town guard captain's badge displayed proudly on a mantel piece. "I still wear that badge, young man!" he says, before relaxing a bit. "Ah, yes," he says, taking a sip of tea, then making a face and setting it aside, "Bernie said you had some questions about kitsunes." The old fox shifts in his seat, allowing four suddenly visible tails to wave behind him. "Where shall we start?" he asks.

Siyu raises a brow a bit and he glances at the badge, giving it a look over, he ohs, "Well I apologize I..." ah yes, tails...his eyes sharpen and he lowers his head, causing the light to reflect off of his glasses, "Well then. A Captain of the Guard and a Kitsune dedicant. I suppose you're the man to talk to indeed." he sets his tea cup down and draws breath. "From what I understand...the dedications come from the creators. They are available to all beings yes? How exactly do you dedicate to kitsune?"

Bellamy waves a hand. "It isn't a dedication," he says, "It is about discovering a sacred family line." He points to what looks like a family tree framed and hung on one wall. "In most of us flows the ancient blood of the sacred families," he explains, "The first colonizers of Promise. The ritual is all about awakening the connection to the power of our ancient ancestors." The old fox brushes his fingers along his mustache. "The ritual site for those of the Kitsune line is nearby in the Academy district," he says, "Though the power of the site requires lunar dust to activate it.

"Siyu leans back, "So it's about blood...anyone can have the blood but it takes a little bit of dust, a little bit of power to activate it...but I want to go back to that. Anyone with the blood in them can activate it. It does not matter their intention?"

Bellamy frowns. "No, young man," he says, "I don't believe that it matters at all. There is hardly a test, after all." He reaches out and snags a biscuit from the tin and munches on it thoughtfully. "I had not thought of it, honestly," he says, "Though most of us are foxes or other canines."

Siyu leans back and lets out a sigh, "It's been quiet...too quiet. The plague in the hinterlands and the shadows in the forest only recently happened. But since Robert's battalion was cursed to fight, we know the Old Ones are working together. They're working TOGETHER. Which means of course that they could have their cultists working together." he leans forward, "And of course, if any of them share the kitsune blood, they could simply dedicate, and shift, and change their appearance, and infiltrate how they will. It's been far too quiet. Do you know, if the illusions you use could mask you from say...Kendrac?"

Bellamy scratches his head and looks to Siyu. "I don't know much about these mad Spirits that have been popping up, but let me explain it this way," he says. The distinguished fox picks up his teacup and holds it out in the air over the table before letting it go. Instead of falling, the teacup and saucer remain poised in the air. "Now," he says to Siyu, "Go ahead and take that, young man."

Siyu leans back and he watches, he observes, "No slight of hand...the image isn't wavering..." his eyes sharpen tighten again at the corners. He leans forward and reaches for the handle of the teacup...where it was originally. Set at the table.

Bellamy laughs as Siyu's fingers bump into his cup, sitting in its original spot. He waves his hand, dispelling the illusion. "Very clever, young man," he says, stroking his mustache, "A kitsune's illusions do not change the nature of a thing, only physical perception. Does that help?

"Siyu leans back and sips the tea from the formally invisible cup, "Illusion yes, but is it a trick of the light, can it be warped by light, prisms or mist? It cannot change you, yet your apperance. Can you hide a smell, a scent. Even something as obvious as a missing limb?" he prods the limits of his knowledge, how does the blasted thing work. "Is there a way to detect it...aside from deduction that is." he sets the cup down back on the saucer.

"Ah," Bellamy says, "You are working on two different problems, I see." The old fox holds out his hand and retrieves a poker from near the fireplace. As he holds it, the iron bar begins to glow red and shimmers of heat distortion rise from it. "With illusions, a kitsune can effect what you see, and what you hear," he says, holding the poker out to Siyu. The kangaroo rat can FEEL the heat radiating from the poker. "We can also give the impression of hot or cold," the old fox explains, his tails waving behind him, "But all it takes is a touch to see through many illusions." With that, he drops the red hot poker into Siyu's lap!

Siyu is quicker the most, especially with hot steel. His hands are rough, without his gloves on he decides to sacrifice the left hand and hope his callouses are thick enough, grasping the poker in his left he tisks, "So it is not just illusions of sight...that is troubling." he holds the cold poker, and quickly pushes the thought away of whacking the fox with it. That's not very nice, nor appropriate for the life court. "that means you don't have to be an actor...or a spy. You can hide your voice, hide your gait, or mannerisms. Hide behind the stench of an unwashed beggar, or the perfumes of a noble. You could, in fact...be anyone." he narrows his eyes again, "I am curious why no one would think to investigate how to see through such a dangerous veil before..."

Bellamy shakes his head. "Not quite, young man," he says, "Disguising ourselves is a bit different." The old fox closes his eyes for a moment and his features start to slowly shift, his fur turning white with the distinctive black patterns of a husky. After a moment, the fox turned husky opens his startlingly blue eyes. "When we change our appearance, we remain canine," he says, his voice unchanged, "But acting and voices, those require a thespian greater than I.

"Siyu nods his head a bit, "Hm, so you can't alter pitch or timber?" he stands and looks around, "And armor and clothing obviously are faked, a touch will prove the lie to it..." he considers, "Still it worries me. Prehaps I'll have to find a Kendrac dedicant to truly calm my fears..." he reaches a hand up to tug at the moustache like Bellamy did, "Unless of course they are clever and cunning. There have been quite a few Kitsune around that have been fairly obvious. I can see a spy or assassin turning such skills into a fearsome thing. My fears about cultists remain until I can speak to Kendrac."

"YEOUCH!" Bellamy cries, swatting away Siyu's hand, "No need to get personal, sir!" he says, smoothing his currently snow-white mustaches. He relaxes himself and allows his features to return to those of the stocky, semi-retired fox gentleman he had been before. "The truth of the matter is," he says in his refined tones, "That most beings with kitsune blood do not have any real drive to do much more than play casual tricks." He shrugs and snags another biscuit. "It is in our nature to be tricky, but not malicious," he says.

Siyu gives a gentle nod, "It's not the average I fear. The average being is kind, the average being just wants to be left alone and live their life. The average being is dependable..." he motions, "The exceptions are those who make history, for better or worse." he hms, "Well I thank you for your time Bellamy, it's given me a few things to think about." he looks more worried then when he came in, but he at least has a concept now.

Bellamy nods and stands to walk his guest to the door. "I'm sorry I could not ease your mind," the old fox says, "But you have more power on your side than you know." He opens the door and looks out into the heavy rain before producing an umbrella from a stand near the door and giving it to Siyu. "Do visit me again sometime, young man," he says, patting Siyu on the shoulder, "It is nice to have a bit of company from time to time."

Siyu nods his head, "If you're a captain of the guard I am surprised you don't seek out the barracks more often? There is always young men, and reservists to entertain you." he smiles as he takes his cane, and the umbrella, "Thank you for that. Be well!"

Bellamy chuckles, "All rowdy young men," he says, "Not so polite as yourself, young man." He waves as Siyu takes his leave and closes the door on the heavy rain.