Flames Attract The Moth [Requesting Entry]

[Kaen]

It was late, the stars hung high in the sky with the moon as the silver centerpiece on the table of the heavens. The air was still, the crude and rough canyon walls sheltered Kaen from the howling winds above. Tiny whisps of steam vented out from the open space in his blackened cowl, his body heat contesting with the cool, crisp night air. His face had receded as far back into the scarf as he could so as to find shelter from the unforgiving chill of the night. It was difficult to discern his look aside from the ebony shroud that covered his body. Kaen pulled the cowl tighter around his shoulders as he shivered, a rouge draft snuck into the ravine, threatening to freeze him in place. He would need to find shelter soon unless he wanted to give away his position with a flame. So far from home, that would be most unwise...

In the distance, however, Kaen could make out what appeared to be a blockade. A pair of faint, flickering flames danced away in the moon light, cast petite shadows on the rocky ravine below. Kaen had traveled deep into Lightning country, haphazardly so given he brought no map. It was possible this was just an outpost, perhaps entrance to a secret mercenary camp. Kaen had little wares with him, perhaps he could broker a deal another way in exchange for shelter for the night. Then he could rest easy and continue his search for Kumogakure.

The route was treacherous, but Kaen found his way none the less. Had he not been trained as a shinobi, he surely would have fallen to his death numerous times along the way. Strange that a path would hold so many danger, perhaps this pit stop had more secrets then his cover told. "Hello there, Is anyone there? I am a weary traveler in search of shelter, might I speak with someone in regards to such a request?" it was a longshot, the gate didn't seem to be heavily manned, at least that was the appearance. Only time would reveal questions unanswered...

[OOC MFT, Requesting Entrance]

 

[Kogami Ayumu]

Shuusei Touma, NPC​

At this time of night, the gates of Kumogakure were closed. The guards watching over the gates had all retreated to the top where they could take turns either watching or warming themselves by a fire in the guardhouse. Night in Kumogakure was bitter cold, and even the natives needed reprieve from the weather after a while. Despite their efforts to keep warm, they remained vigilant as they watched over the pass leading to the gates. As Kaen approached, he was spotted quickly and word spread throughout the gate to be on guard. Few would willingly choose to travel this late at night, so it was strange to see someone approaching now.

As Kaen reached the gates and called out, he would likely spot a figure just before it lept from the top of the gates and dropped to the ground before him, standing between him and the massive doors. Touma was dressed in a warm black winter coat with a hood and his face was obscured as always by mask and the Kumogakure headband. Only his eyes were uncovered and they were sizing Kaen up. He had claimed to be seeking shelter, which wasn't unusual given the weather he was out in.

"For now, let's get out of this cold. Come with me," Touma said, beckoning Kaen to follow. Near the base of the gate and off to the side was a small building that was dark on the inside from the looks of the windows. After opening the door and stepping inside, Touma turned and lit a lantern to give light to the room. The interior was small with a few chairs and a table. A fireplace was nestled into the far wall along with a closed door leading elsewhere.

"What brings you to Kumogakure?" Touma asked, making his way to the fireplace where a few logs were awaiting a spark. Performing a few handseals, Touma cast a small Fire jutsu to ignite the logs and start a fire. This was a waiting room for visitors to Kumogakure who had to wait before entry for any reason. For now, it would serve as a location for them to talk out of the harsh elements and warm up while Touma figured out why Kaen had come and whether he could be allowed in.

 

[Kaen]

Kaen would spot a dark figure looming in the towers above, in an instant the cloaked individual was upon him, placing himself between Kaen and the massive door. He was clad in ebony-esk attire, a rather warm looking coat with a hood, this along with a warning... A mask. "Anbu..." That word rung hard and true in his mind, why else would someone mask themselves, he himself was no different, at least while on duty. Kaen would need to tread lightly here, he was in a foreign land far from any help, assuming he was ambushed. Given that Kaen was not classically trained or raised in a shinobi environment, his knowledge of political affairs was limited to say the least. Sadly he forgot to inquire about any hostilities between the nation of Wind and Lightning.

"For now, let's get out of this cold. Come with me," he spoke in a quiet relaxed voice. Perhaps this was meant to be taken as there were no issues, or this guy knew very well that Kaen was alone and outnumbered. Kaen nodded and followed the man into the building, pausing a moment to look back into the infinite darkness that stretched out into forever. For the moment he was safe...

Once inside, sheltered from the bitter cold of the outside world, the man would light a lantern to flood the room with soft ambient light. The interior was simple enough, a table and chairs, a quant little fireplace on the far wall. It wasn't a living quarter by any means, but a nice little waiting area should anyone require one. The masked individual made his way to the fireplace, kneeling down next the fire pit, "What brings you to Kumogakure?" He asked, while lighting the fireplace with a fire type jutsu. Kaen remained standing, he did not want to risk upsetting the man and cause a fight... that would be most... unfortunate, for everyone. For now he thought it best to remain truthful, if he lied and they found out, that might cause more problems when there never were going to be any. "I hail from the lands of Wind, I've come in search of a mystical beast that has been rumored in my country to posses remarkable healing abilities. This and I made a promise to a friend back home to bring them a souvenir, a fancy box of cigars to be exact ha ha." Yes, distract with silly pleasantries, these were not lies, but he also did not need to know specifics. "Also... Did you just say Kumogakure? Have I already arrived, I've been lost the past few days, wandering around these mountains and canyons and ravines alike. Funny I stumbled right into it by accident." Kaen would slowly make his way to the fireplace, kneeling down to warm his body and hands in the flame's warmth. He could fill his fiery core being stoked back to life...

 

[Kogami Ayumu]

The man came from Wind in search of a mystical beast. It sounded crazy, but there were plenty of stories to fit the bill of a mystical beast in the lands of Lightning Country. People came from lands a plenty looking for those beasts, some in hopes of forming a bond with said beasts to borrow their power. Of course, Touma did not pay much mind to those stories, so if one had mystical healing powers Touma didn't know of it. Regardless, Kaen wouldn't be the first or the last to come looking into the stories. As far as a box of cigars, those were easy enough to find if you went to a large enough city. As Touma thought, however, the man was indeed seeking out Kumogakure. The gates were not easy to find nor reach if you didn't already know the way or have a guide, but with luck some still found the gates. That said, it was exceedingly rare for someone to show up at the gates that wasn't looking for the village. It made sense that he had gone through trials and tribulations trying to reach them.

"You have indeed arrived at your intended destination, traveler. Of course, before we can allow you inside, I'm sure you're aware, we have protocols to follow and I must ask a few questions, one of which we have already covered" Touma said, watching as Kaen approached the fire to warm himself. Touma himself approached the fire but did not draw quite as near. "You say you hail from Wind- do you come from Sunagakure by chance? We had a visitor from there recently. Do you hold a passport?" he questioned. Another from Sand had recently arrived at the village, so Touma wondered if this on was by any chance following after him.

[I'll try to post promptly- currently out of town visiting family without internet but I have my ways...]

 

[Kaen]

What curious happenstances that he somehow managed to stumble his way right into the very gates that served as the entryway into the village of Kumogakure. His lucky stars had shown brightly this night, it seemed. Any longer out there and surely he would have had to resort to grizzly means of staying alive. "Eh?" Kaen's interest was peaked as the man approached. "Oh a passport? Yeah I have one of those... around here... somewhere..." Kaen rummaged through his pockets and bag searching for the passport. He couldnt seem to find it, where had it gone? "Heh... I swear, I know it's here somewhere..." Kaen grew a little frantic in his searching, still coming up with nothing... "I uh... Well I'm not really sure what to say..." Kaen felt his chest tightening in response to the Heightened state of duress. He reached up to rub his chest lightly in an effort to ease the discomfort. That was when he realized it... "OH, Hey it's right here! Ha ha ha!" It was in his shirt pocket, he remembered putting it there for ease of access. Man that could have turned out bad... "Here ya go, one Sunan passport." Kaen held out the barely acquired passport out to the masked man. Hopefully Kaen hadn't put the man on edge to much.


[MFT]

 

[Kogami Ayumu]

Touma watched as Kaen began going through his bag and various pockets, seemingly searching for a passport. For a moment, it seemed that he wouldn't come up with one, which would be a terrible shame. Touma would not force him back into the cold immediately, but he wouldn't be permitted to allow the man to enter without a direct order from the Raikage or Sennin which was not easy to get. Fortunately, Kaen managed to locate his not imaginary passport and handed it over. As Touma had surmised, the man was from Suna.

Wind Country had not been particularly hospitable to the shinobi of Cloud who had come to participate in the exams recently, what with the attempted assassinations and plague, but Suna wasn't responsible. As of right now, visitors from the village were welcome so long as they had a legitimate passport which it appeared Kaen did. Touma did not see too many Sunan passports, but gate guards were trained to verify passports from all of the major shinobi villages. He checked off the pertinent information as he flipped through passport. The pictures matched and all of the information appeared valid. Satisfied, Touma handed the passport back to its owner.

"Good. Seems to be in order. I can't say the inside of the village is any warmer right now, but if you've shaken the chill I can allow you to enter when you're ready," Touma said. If Kaen was ready, Touma would douse the flame and lead him back to the gates which would, at Touma's signal, be opened just enough to allow Kaen through. On the other side he would find it a short walk to the village proper where there were plenty of lodging options.

[Entry Granted]

 

[Kaen]

Upon the hearing the wonderful news that his passport was accepted and he could enter right now filled Kaen with intense excitement and fervor. Well... No time like the present to get out there and see a completely new and different world. It might be cold out there, but the warmth of the fire coupled with his emotions bubbling within him, he would surely survive the short trek to the nearest lodging establishment. After the man handed Kaen his passport back, Kaen would stand and wait to be showed the door. "I thank you for your warm fire, sir. I hope our paths meet again in the future, I bid you good day... err, goodnight?" And with that Kaen exited the small pit stop and entered the Village of Kumogakure, for the very first time.

[OOC Village entered, topic left, thanks man]