D&L: Chinatown Matters

===> COH <===> 8/14/2019, 8:29:07 PM <===
Underneath Chinatown - Ebon Dragon's Nest(#3634RM)

	Danny stands over by the pool of the black dragon, his hands clasped behind his back. He's still, meditative.

	Transitioning out of the low umbra stepping from death to life Lin pauses and gives a slight bow towards the altar before she waits patiently. It is rude to interrupt someone's meditation.

	Danny looks over a shoulder when Mr. Lao stirs in the Yellow Springs and mutters something in Mandarin. The maoshan smiles faintly and nod, then steps away from the pool and makes his way over towards the table and benches where tea has been prepared. "Thank you for coming. Please, have a seat."

	Lin steps over lowering herself gracefully to sit. "You are quite welcome. You are the main individual that seeks me out here in China Town. So it is nice to get out of my loft from time to time."

	Danny nods, pouring out some tea for Lin, and then taking a seat after passing it to her. "From what you know of me, directly or indirectly, do I seem a just man to you?"

	Observing Danny for a long moment before Lin smiles "You have told me what you are. So I know that you are not. You also have a sense of elsewhere that clings you you." Lin thinks for a moment longer. "Perhaps it is the Yin energies suffusing you."

	Danny smiles. "I am perfectly just. Perfectly balanced. Nothing I do is without contemplation, or consideration. Were you to have the ability to read my aura, you would see that it was so. I am the Jade Emperor's will in the Middle Kingdom. Set here to preserve, and protect that which is worth saving." He takes up a cup of tea, and imbibes a sip. "This community. My community. Our community. It is worth saving."

	"I do have that ability. Though I do not use it without need. Both because the People of the Wheel are judges. It is also intrusive. Impolite and to act out of simple curiosity is unwise." Lin also takes up a cup of tea "I have not seen much yet of this community. But the various sects of Shen do not always interact closely and my attention is more drawn to my duties."

	"Our community, Chinatown. Will need to be united and acta s one, very soon. I would ask your support in helping keep our community safe. Secure. Sovereign." Danny knocks back the last of the tea in his cup, then turns it over and slams it down on the table. He'll lift the teacup away and set it aside, then peer down at the wet tea leaves thus left over.

	Lin blinks and runs her finger along the edge of the cup. "I can agree to nothing without actual information. I am one of the People of the Law. Such agreements are weightier than for the common person." Lin gestures towards the up and out "Also.. This is a tourist trap. There are little aspects of home here but the streets are packed with kitschy shops to sell American tourists items of Chinese American make. It is to be sure that those of us native can find the apropriate things we seek. But who are we protecting it from?"

	"There is enough of the middle kingdom here, that my dragon nest supports Mr. Lao. That the hsien have a phoenix nest that supports their community in Barrio Chino. Enough residents here know and heed the old ways that I and others can walk unmolested, and respected." A pause as he squints, then lifts his eyes from the tea leaf reading. "We owe them nothing less than everything." He trains his silver eyes on Lin, regarding her thoughtfully. "The kinjin have long sought to exert dominion on all of the city, including chinatown. Such dominion is unacceptable. Above all else, our community must remain free of predation by outside forces."

	Waving a slightly dismissive hand. "So tell them to stay out. If they cannot respect our privacy then it will become an issue." Lin sips her tea slowly before giving the ring on her finger a spin. The wheel turning ever forward. "But have the Kinjin spoken of ruling over the Shen? Or are we being drawn into Kuei-jin matters?"
Comments to Job 4118 added.

	"That is the general gist of things, yes. The kinjin make no distinction, but even if they did? The Wan Kuei ARE shen, and members of our community, not subjects of the kinjin." Danny sighs. "Do you understand what I am? Do you know of the Wu T'ian?" A pause. "Our responsibility as shepherds extends to all of our community - the wan kuei, the hengeyokai, the Chi'n Ta, the hsien - all in, no one out."

	Lin listens and nods "There is.. Dissonance there. The thread of fate is tangled. They are not interested in the Shen as a whole at all.. Someone has attempted to use us as a weapon in their intrigues.. Who or what I do not know nor for what gain. If it is one within our community or without." then Lin sighs "Which makes me hesitant to agree to anything without actually looking into the matter and following the footfalls of the dance from there. But the movements are clouded at this time." before Lin looks to Danny "Very little. You deal with a different facet of society than the People of the Wheel."

	Danny nods. "If you are uncomfortable in providing support to keep our community whole, I will kindly ask that you remain out of the way of those of us that are, until you are ready to join us," he offers calmly. "The wan kuei have a role to play in the turning of the ages. They are shen, as much as you or I. The kinjin will not be allowed to exert dominion over any part of chinatown. Not one inch. I do not make this judgment lightly. I serve /the/ law. The fundamental laws of /our/ people, all of them, wan kuei included. We may and sometimes or even usually do have different opinions among ourselves, and even quarrels over our opinions, to which my role is to mediate. But as regards those forces from outside? They require no such respect. As you said - they will be told to stay out. And if they do not, i will stand with others in delivering appropriate consequences."

	"Are you protected by blessings? I offer shields of fortune to all of us who walk paths fraught with danger. You are welcome to one if it would help you in keeping you safe on the path you walk."

	Lin bristles slightly "I am uncomfortable in acting without knowledge when someone has purposefully clouded the situation. If they attempt to spread their depredations to our China Town then I shall just bar them from it and they can stand helplessly at our borders and revel in their sins." Lin sets her cup down. "I would think that you would be interested in knowing more? Do you know the duties of the People of the Wheel? Where you mediate we judge. Casting down those that upset the balance or impede the wheel. To act without knowledge is to possibly damn a soul to the Hells improperly. Or allow one out of the Hells that should not be." casually spinning her ring then to his question of protections "I am protected by a variety of blessings. Mainly in dealing with those of the Yin Realm."

	Danny offers a faint smile. "Some matters require mediation, others require judgment. By the will of the Jade Throne, I and those of the Family of Heaven provide both, and never lightly. We are held to a higher standard than the mortal servants of the celestial bureaucracy. Between lives, I serve as a Hellwalker, judging those souls deserving of being plucked from the ten thousand hells to be brought back to the middle kingdom, or the celestial heavens." A pause, "We are not so different, you and I, other than in perhaps a few things. Some of us were even as you are, once upon a time." An eyebrow arches behind his mask. "My apologies - is that a yes, or a no? A shield of fortune bestows the grace of Jade Emperor against all hostilities, be they from the middle kingdom or the yin, yang, or yomi realms. It is usually enough to at least afford the recipient a chance at improving their own fortune immediately after."

	"I would not say no to more protection. The ones I have are.. Very specific to my duties as an exorcist and judge." Lin nods "But if we are concerned about Kinjin aggression. I would need something but we could solve this rather quickly. I would need someone to teach me more about them. What makes them function. Or I would need to capture one and examine it."

	A nod from the maoshan master, "Most of their attacks are reliant on brute force, which they have in /abundance/. Some of their abilities are more mystical in nature. The shield protects against all. I will be happy to bestow one upon you. I will also work on making a couple of potions which will augment your reflexes, physical and mental, so that you are less likely to be caught flat-footed. As to knowledge of the kinjin? That too I can provide." he takes a breath and then channels his yin, while steeling his will, to bestow a blessing on Lin.

	Lin would feel the essential forces of the fundament/reality being shifted around her person, her very fate being shielded by the beneficial joss!

	Lin bows "Thank you for the blessing." as she smiles "The more one knows the more power one has. I should work on collecting knowledge on most of the inhabitants of the city. With knowledge of the Kinjin and enough. Hmm.. Quintessence or Tass.. We can make China Town completely safe."

	Danny nods. "Certainly. I am learned in most of the various communities. Let me know when you would like to begin studies."

===> Log ended by user <===> 8/14/2019, 10:33:13 PM <===