Tea Party of Eeeeeeevil

Lekha descends to her dream with the piece of the snake chimera's skin. A curious thing, scrying, a form of guaranteed vision that requires a focus. The visions are not always clear, or helpful, but this time, they are vivid. ...And Lekha is not alone.

A strange connection lingers between the five of you still, and Katsuo, Soma, Iltani, and Cornell, you find yourselves drawn into Lekha's dream as well - with the five of you aware of each other, despite lacking form.

The snakepede slithers into what looks to be little more than a crack in a rock formation, but within is an entirely different world. A comfortable sitting room for tea has been set up within the cavern, halfway between a Sarangan and Kanto-style (Kanto being the word for the distinct style and culture split among the regions, especially the ninja villages). Inside, six people are gathered - Three figures shrouded in purple robes, marked by a familiar eye-shaped rune, are standing along the walls - and then Killjoy and Masaru among the three at a small table, its surface barely a foot off the floor. The third is a woman sitting cross-legged, wearing numerous veils and light clothing. http://i.imgur.com/a68uI9A.png

http://www.infinitelooper.com/?v=e3ZvuaqK66g&p=n

She sits holding a long, thin pipe, smoking it through her mask rather than lower it and expose her face. She lets out a long, drawn out exhale of smoke, and through her mask, the shape of her lips can be seen pulling into a cheerful smile as the chimera waddles up to her like a happy puppy. "Welcome back, Jigarthanda. I trust your did not have much difficulty?" she strokes the Seviperpede a moment, staring into its eyes. "Ahhh, I see."

Masaru looks a tad impatient, cutting into what looks like a nearly raw, blue rare steak. "So? What did you find out, Zahara?" Killjoy remains silent, awkwardly holding a cup of tea.

"The mayor has recovered to full health. Unexpected, I must say. Without one of my antidotes, I had my doubts a man of his age would live. They must have been able to procure something potent - or the old man was simply tougher than I'd have given him credit for." Masaru wrinkles his brow. "...So why didn't you have your pet finish the job, if you could tell all that?" Zahara shakes her head. "We are past the point that his death would have any meaning for our cause. A surgeon must be precise, and decisive. We have lost the appendix, but we move on. More importantly, my Ascension formula seems to have been a success. You were right, Kiba no Masaru. The ones who shamed you before were hunting demons. And my dear Pari was among them. With the stone and serum both, a reaction managed to occur. The look on her face..." Masaru reaches up to touch the scar that Soma gave him with a scowl.

Killjoy speaks up. "You say that as if you were there." Zahara shrugs. "Jigarthanda is... descriptive enough. Somalakshmi Pari... It's really her." She looks a bit distantly dreamy. "What's your relation to her, anyway?" "Hm? Ah, we just... go way back, let us say. The details aren't important at this time. Now then! I am certain Killjoy will be interested to know that her prey was also traveling with Pari." Killjoy sits up. "Isaacs was still with her?" "For what reason they have remained together, I don't know... They don't seem to have anything particularly in common. However, you said she was often seen in the company of a squad of retrieval experts. Jigarthanda also saw one of them, so it's safe to say her unit is also in the area."

Masaru pipes up. "...So was that kid still there?" "Hm... yes." "I see. ...Tsukinoshi no Katsuo. I did some digging after our fight. My sources tell me he's been officially assigned to pursue his sister, who's left their village. I've also heard rumors of a suspicious woman in the Crystal Grove area, snooping into the White Wolves. He might still be on her trail."

Zahara frowns. "Do you think it's related to the disappearance of those runes?"

"Oh, more than definitely." Comes a fourth voice, from the group of robed men who had up to this point been silent. The middle figure among them shudders a moment, then lifts their hood, revealing http://i.imgur.com/bVkORXG.jpg - the boy that Lekha saw in her dream. Masaru frowns. "...Oh, you. I forgot you could do that." Killjoy speaks next. "...So this is the Founder that I've heard so much about?"

The boy bows a bit and takes his seat at the tea table. "Correct. I am the Founder, the leader of the Myriad Oculus. I hope you don't mind my intrusion. The eyes and ears of my followers are also my own eyes and ears." "Scaaaary." Masaru mutters.

"In any case, the runes that were lost are almost certain to be involved in this little tangle, somewhere. If our shinobi's words are to believed, then I have reason to believe this kunoichi is seeking one of the True Runes herself due to the events thirty years ago. This is no coincidence. She and the other boy are the children of two individuals who had become interlocked in that 'quiet war', Kiyoshi and Mikaela. This is Fate, plain and simple. A clash of titans is inevitable. We must simply ensure we have as many cards on the table as possible. Our side is already in possession of two True Runes."

Killjoy shifts a bit in her seat, and Masaru speaks up. "What, Land and Oceans, over in Nolgranda?" The Founder laughs. "Naive. No, they are in this very room. But I will leave their nature for you to discover later. ...In the meantime, there was one more, wasn't there, Zahara? The girl with the azure hair."

Zahara shakes her head. "Two. A boy with white-" The Founder frowns. "The Nolgrandan milksop is of no interest to me. Speak to me about the girl, if you please." Zahara shrugs. "She is called Lekha. Jigarthanda observed her shielding her allies and predicting the movements of her enemies." "Lekha... an absolutely divine name. It means 'picture'. ...I shall watch her with great interest in the coming days. As one who Sees, I must say I am quite taken with this girl who both Sees and Hears." Killjoy rolls her eyes. "As long as you don't let the contents of your pants interfere with our actions." "Nothing of the sort. I will simply continue to divine... and see what Fate has in store for the two of us."

Masaru shifts in his seat. "...In any case, I think it'd be wise to investigate the kunoichi. Occupying forces will make it easier for us to move around, but a True Rune is still a hell of a problem." "You can spend your time on that if you prefer." Zahara leans back, taking another long drag on her pipe. "As much as I'd like a chance to entangle myself with Pari... Lord Raeth wishes for me to continue with my experiments on demonkind. That, and there's a different rumor I wish to investigate... I'll pass." The Founder considers. "I'll donate some help to your cause, Masaru. I forsee you are on to something." "That'd be a change." Killjoy quips. "Hey!" She then follows up. "Only Isaacs concerns me. Chase shadows if you wish." "...What's your beef with her anyway?" "...Because of her, I lost something precious." "What?" "..."

The Founder stares at Killjoy a moment longer. "Isaacs... indeed, Fate does play intricate games."

The vision begins to fade out, and you all awaken the next morning.