Back on his way to Cove...

[Moraine DiGoraz]

The sun had long set when Moraine finally arrived in the city of Zento. Past the local armoury, though the gate, straight into the slums of the Tokunian city Moraine went. It was there where a den of criminal activity was established, the headquarters of the recently reformed Crimson Raiders, lead by Ro'tzac, a drow with a history of violence and crime.

Quite a few of Ro'tzac's men were once members of a shadow syndicate called the Organization. An organized crime collective operated by Kazuo Shinrai and for a long time they were based in Cove before moving to Tokuno. Several months ago, the Organization had been disbanded and Kazuo Shinrai presumed killed in an ambush which was setup by Moraine, who at the time worked for Kazuo as spy and thief. Moraine had been rewarded hansomely and offered his allegiance to the Crimson Raiders when he returned to Cove to spy on the Baronship in the Raider's name.

A few days ago Moraine had received a signed note from Ro'tzac to meet him in what was called the Raider Room, a hidden throne room under an old abandoned martial arts school which now served as a base for the higher ranking members of the Crimson Raiders. It was here where Ro'tzac was usually to be found, at all times surrounded by masked bodyguards and mercenaries to ensure the safeguard of the compound without making the presence of the Raiders too obvious.

Moraine entered the desolate garden of the abandoned school and made his way downstairs, casually nodding to the guard who looked over the upstairs entrance. When on duty and wearing their mask, the guards were never all that talkative and even though Moraine knew this he could not help but allowing the feeling of walking straight into an ambush creeping up to him. This was nonsence he thought to himself, not even the Daimyo's quarters in the Zento city palace was guarded this well! But still, something seemed out of place. Having made his way down the stairs, Moraine arrived at another guard who kept his gaze fixed in front of him, looking straight past Moraine as if he was not even there. "Goin' ter see Ro ey!" Moraine spoke while pointing towards the door of the throne room. The guard nodded at him and opened the large oak doors behind him.

Walking into the throne room, Moraine saw Ro'tzac sitting on his throne. On the floor next to Ro'tzac lay a decorated goblet which appearantly fell on the floor when it as still half full. The guards observed Moraine as he approached the drow yet they did not seem quite as vigilant as they usually were. Standing next to him Moraine looked at the goblet and said "Heh, tha's gonna stain yer rug boss!". Being insolent as usual he then gave Ro'tzac a nudge on the shoulder to emphasize his joke and Moraine could not believe what happened next. Ro'tzac slumped forward, now leaning with his weight on the table, not moving. His eyes were still open, so he could not have been sleeping. As Moraine stepped back he quickly looked at the guards. They stared at him but did not react, they had not even drawn their weapons nor did they seem taken back by the situation.

Quickly looking down at the cup again it then hit Moraine. He had been set up. But by who? Who would have the means to take down not just the leader but an entire guild of rogues? The bodyguards were clearly no longer taking orders from Ro'tzac. They must have been bribed or worse... been put under a spell! Would the Brittish throne finally have found the raiders and gotten the council of mages to put a stop to them? Not likely... they would sooner have assaulted the school by full force, arresting all raiders present and killing those wo resisted.

It did not take long for Moraine to realize what had happened here. But it couldn't be. Kazuo Shinrai was the only one (as far as Moraine knew) who had the exact knowledge as well as the means to pull off this kind of takeover. But the old man had been killed, Moraine had seen it with his own eyes! It was then when a man clad in a black kimono entered the room. The most of his face was covered by an equally black kasa. He slowly looked around and nodded at the guards in turn. Both immediately drew their weapons and stood at the ready. Standing between them the man in the black kimono took off his kasa, revealing the face of a Tokunian who had seen many winters indeed. There was no mistake, this was Kazuo Shinrai. Alive and well!

"Well well, mister DiGoraz...", Kazuo then spoke with a soft but cold tone of voice.

Taking a breath and nervously fiddling with a coin between his fingers Moraine responded.
"Mister Shinrai.... alive and well it seems.... Good ter see ye be doing well ey!"
Moraine knew what would happen next. No man who crossed Kazuo Shinrai or his organization ever lived to tell the tale. Life had been good to Moraine, up to this point. This was it, he would not leave this room alive. One of the guards cocked a bolt on a crossbow and took aim, preparing to fire at Moraine. As he was about to pull the trigger, Kazuo raised two fingers, causing the guard to lower his crossbow slightly but still stand at the ready. Moraine slowly arched one eyebrow. This was rather unusual, he should have been dead by now!

"It does seem I underestimated you, mister DiGoraz... I did not think you were capable of setting up a plot causing the demise of the Organization and not to forget... myself! But you did... indeed you did..." Kazuo then spoke.

More became clear for Moraine now. Kazuo must have known about the ambush he was planning and must have taken precautions. The mercenary who had struck him down must have either been working for him or he faked his own death in another manner. By some alchemical means perhaps... Yet Moraine still did not understand why he was still alive. However, knowing Kazuo and his ways there was a good chance he just may come out of this situation alive, IF he played he cards right he thought.

A couple of days later Moraine was seen in Cove again and he was up to his usual tricks. Trying to con locals with clever tricks and disguises and as usual keeping an eye on the daily goings of the people of Cove. From Kazuo Shinrai or his Organization nothing has been seen or heard yet. As for the demise of the Crimson Raiders, all the underworld can do as to what happened is guess. No one seems to know anything concrete.

The Richter family of the Baronship of Cove however, they seem to have received word from Kazuo Shinrai a few weeks ago. Appearantly it stated that his business trip to Tokuno (the outside world knew nothing of Kazuo's staged demise, all they knew was that he was away for his own business) was succesful albeit slightly longer than initially expected and that he should be returning to Cove in the coming days.