The Lower City Shah Hath

The Dao Hall

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The Dao Hall is an extremely large, traditional Shah Dojo with two very important particularities. One, the Dao Hall is built inside a cave, and it's walls and ceiling are the polished stone of the cave, its many columns are made of the same rock and its courtyards and training halls have polished rock ceilings about three times the height of a man. The hall itself is kept alight by powerful Galvanic Lights affixed to the cycle of the Lights which keep the Royal City lit, which makes it seem as if it was outdoors when it's actually all enclosed. The second particularity is its status as the seat of the most powerful organization the Shah have in the lower city, the Shadowswords. To some, they are a criminal ring, to others, honorable warriors who police the lower city when the Daguerrians won't. They themselves, if asked, say they are only practitioners of the way of the sword, hailing for the Dao Hall and are simply looking out for their school's interests. The Hall itself is opulent and an ode to all things Shah, seemingly plucked straight out of the glory days of the empire. Each detail is made to echo the power of the old Shah, before they were forced to grovel at the feet of the Daguerrian Royal Crown. Porcelain statues and vases, gold leaf covered columns, water paintings drape the walls and there are fine silk cushions on the floors and sitting decks. It is much more a palace than it is a place of training and contemplation.

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It was crazy. The beautiful dojo filled Daiyu with awe. This was what the Shah had been before the war... To imagine this place existed even within the city was proof of the Shadowsword influence and she pulled herself up. She wanted to appear strong in front of the master and she carefully made sure that any hint of pain was gone from her features as she walked through the lavish hall and tried to ignore how incredibly dirty and pathetic she was feeling.

As Daiyu walked into the Dojo, she noticed an old woman standing there in the middle of the foyer. She had snow white hair and pail skin and was very short, her back curbed forward by age. The woman wore a black Shah dress, with the traditional Dao symbol on it marking her as a Shadowsword. "Welcome." she said simply with a smile, her face was covered in wrinkles and her eyes seemed barely open, even though it felt as if she was aware of every single one of Daiyu's movements. <"You must be miss Han, I'm Shu Xuejun. Mistress of this Dojo. I've been expecting you.">

Shu was a woman? Daiyu was stunned. The Shah women were supposed to be delicate, gentle and soft spoken, at least that was what she had been taught. The Dao symbol was plain on the cloth dress and it did not escape her the way that her elder seemed to observe her. <"I am."> Daiyu spoke softly as she bowed her head in respect to the woman before her. <"I, thank you for the men you sent to escort me."> She finished as she tried to keep the burning curiosity from breaking out and demanded to know why she had been waiting and how she'd even known she was coming.

<"Do not mention it, child.">, replied the Shadowsword mistress, waving her hand as she turned away from Daiyu. As she did, a half dozen attendants appeared from the sides of the reception hall, as if from nowhere. <"You are beaten and bloody, allow us to tend to you."> she added, walking into an adjacent room where several women stood in attention, lined up against the far wall. A large tub of steaming hot water had been prepared in the middle of the room and clean linens, as well as bandages and other medicinal-looking items had been set next to it. <"You must also be wondering what the Shadowswords want with you.">

Diayu blinked in surprise as the attendants seemed to materialize out of thin air but otherwise didn't react as she followed the older woman into the room. She looked longingly at the tub, aching to sink into the hot water and wash away the dirt and blood but she managed to stand strong, well as strong as she could on a crutch. <"Yes. I was surprised to hear that you were waiting for me."> She paused and then spoke again, <"Did my father contact you?">

<"I don't know your father, child."> replied simply Mistress Shu as she sat on a short chair across the room from the tub. The second Daiyu moved into the room, the female attendants moved in unison and closed the shutter doors to the room, blocking the sight from outside. <"I'm not interested in your father, either."> she added, flicking her hand as if giving an order to the women in the room. Two of them quickly began undoing Daiyu's vestments, trying to get the top layer of her still filthy clothes off her. <"I'm interested in you or, what you might know. The Shadowswords are not known for subtlety, we leave most talking to our blades, so I'll speak clearly and directly."> said the mistress as the attendants danced around Daiyu, trying to rid her of all her clothes before she entered the tub. <"I want to make a deal with you.">

Daiyu fell into thoughtful silence as she moved her arms out if the way to allow the attendants to undress her. She couldn't imagine what knowledge she could possibly supply the Shadowswords but she knew she was willing to do anything she could to help one of the last remaining Shah powers. <"What do you need?"> She finally answered cautiously.

Shu's attendants worked quiet and swiftly, Daiyu barely had time to realize it before she stood there, naked before the mistress of the Shadowswords. Her clothes, filthy and torn at the bottom, was being carefully folded as if they were the finest linens by two of the women, who then set it next to the large wooden tub. Daiyu's own legs were bruised and looking awful, the one that had was broken was still somewhat swollen, but all and all they looked much better than they did on the train. Though they were still covered in a thousand scratches and small cuts, as well as dried blood and mud from the tracks, they at least looked like their legs again now that the swelling had gone down. One of the attendants reached over and offered the Shah woman her hand to help her get into the tub. <"Battle scars."> said Shu after a cursory glance at the younger woman's body. Shu remained seated with her legs folded beneath her body, and one of her attendants brought a small, precious porcelain tea set in traditional Shah fashion, with small bowls instead of the decorated cups the Daguerrians used. <"The question is more what I'm offering, Miss Han. I'm offering safety, training and a place where you can belong here in the city. What I need will be determined once I have decided I can trust you."> said the old woman with a sly grin before she took a sip of her tea. <"Are you interested in becoming a Shadowsword?">

At least her legs were looking a bit better. Daiyu thought to herself for one brief moment before she was struck by a deep shame of her appearance. She took advantage of the maid's help and gingerly lowered herself into the tub, sighing in relief as she sunk into the hot water. She was reassured slightly by the woman's disregard for her wounds but she didn't have much time to dwell on it. She'd just been asked to become a Shadowsword... To say she was stunned was an understatement. Becoming a Shadowsword could help her achieve things she would never be able to do otherwise. To be trained to use the weapons she had seen in the market and to be counted among such a powerful organization. She swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry with excitement.
<"Yes... Yes, I would be honored to become a Shadowsword.">

With that, Master Shu let out a smile and looked straight at Daiyu though her own narrow eyes. "Good! Then we will induct you into our little Dojo. You will be treated as any other Shadowsword is and we will test your resolve." she said simply, letting out a small clap before she grabbed the small cup of tea once more and took a sip. In the meantime, two of the attendants had began to industriously wash Daiyu's back and legs, pulling her broken leg out of the water and applying some strange smelling ointments to it. "Once we are sure you are worthy of being one of us, then we will tell you what your new family requires, Han Daiyu, Blade of the Shadowswords." the old woman waved and Daiyu's clothes were taken away, instead, one of the woman placed a set of plain, black robes a few feet away from the tub, much like the ones the men who had escorted her were wearing. "We will provide a room for you in Dao Hall, you can take the rest of the day to familiarize yourself with the hall and our school. You start your training tomorrow."

It hurt. Daiyu fought to keep the pain from her face as the maids pulled her broken leg from the water and scrubbed it down before starting to apply some ointments. She closed her eyes for a few moments but opened them when the older woman addressed her as a Blade and allowed a small, proud smile to grace her lips as she bowed her head. "Thank you." She said respectfully and then looked over at the black clothing that had replaced her former clothing. The robes weren't as colorful as what she was used to but she had no complaints. The idea of training on a broken leg though... that was worrying but she refused to open her mouth and object. She'd manage, she was certain the mistress wouldn't have forgotten her injury and the training would be adjusted to allow for it.

Mistress Shu simply nodded, acknowledging Daiyu's thanks. After she finished her tea, the old woman stood up and turned to the younger highborn again. Oddly enough, even for her age, Shu seemed to move without any troubles, with the same ease as someone Daiyu's age. Before she left, Shu nodded towards the one attendant who had been pouring her tea an unremarkable woman a bit younger than Daiyu, with the traditional Shah features, thin eyebrows and hair tied back in a tight bun. "Mai will take care of anything you need until tomorrow." she said simply as the attendant woman nodded and bowed in Daiyu's directions while keeping her knees on the ground. "I must take my leave then, there are important matters in the dojo I must attend to." added the older woman while she walked towards the door, just as the other attendants finished washing Daiyu and put a wooden and linen splint on her leg.

Daiyu dipped her head in both greeting to Mai and respect to the woman leaving. She couldn't help but watch as the older woman moved, captivated by the contradictions of her appearance. She realized that this woman was probably not the type to make an enemy and she silently resolved to make sure she did her best and won the elderly lady's approval. Now that the woman was gone she turned her attention back to Mai. They'd finally finished binding her leg and she felt loads better at just being clean. She started to stand, careful not to jar her leg to badly.

"Gaosheng, tomorrow you are a lowly blade." said simply Mai, the girl's voice was very soft and calm, nothing like Shu's commanding tone. As she and the other attendants helped Daiyu out of the tub and began to dry her skin, Mai continued. "But, tonight you are still Gaosheng. Mistress Shu has made this decision on purpose." the young woman didn't speak in Shah, like Daiyu and Shu had, but a somewhat stiff Daguerrian. Mai must not have been a pureblood, if she was from a Shah subgroup removed enough, she might even speak a different kind of Shah language than the one Daiyu knew. As she pulled up her hair, Mai drew closer and whispered: "Tonight we must find you a doctor and heal your leg, or you might fail training tomorrow. This was the mistress's first test." she said low enough that the other attendants hopefully did not hear, as if it was a secret. This was the reason Shu had not inducted her into the Shadowswords immediately, but had pushed it off until tomorrow, as she knew Daiyu would be unable to train with a broken leg, it was a hidden test.

What kind of test could the mistress be planning? Daiyu had been looking forward to being able to retire to her bed but it seemed she was going to have to keep moving. Still... the way the woman tried to keep her voice low... Daiyu watched her closely as she talked (notice) as if trying to tell if the woman was trying to lead her astray and make her fail the test. For a moment she wondered why she didn't speak in the normal Shah language but then occurred to her that she probably spoke one of the dialects she'd heard stories about. Her gaze softened (empathy) "I give you my thanks. Where can I find the doctor?" She asked gently. 

Daiyu could sense no deception in the woman's words. Besides, if she was trying to trick Daiyu, she might not have tried so hard to keep her words hidden from the other attendants. When Daiyu turned to ask about the doctor, however, Mai took a step back and looked around. The other attendants were almost done dressing Daiyu in her new Shadowsword robes. "I-I will take the Gaosheng to her room." she declared simply, with a small nod and a bow to the others. The rest of the attendants looked at each other as puzzled before one of them shrugged and led her companions out of her room. "I was meant to take you to your room, gaosheng... I do not know where we can find a doctor that heals your leg in one night... but it must exist. The lady does not give tests cannot be acheived, they arre only difficult to achieve. If you cannot train tomorrow, you cannot be a shadowsword, Gaosheng." said the young woman, bowing so low to her Daiyu thought she could keel over any minute. "I will help you however I can." added the young woman as she finally straightened back up.

This was frustrating. Daiyu thought carefully to herself. She wasn't quite sure what to do. (Memory) She tried to think if she knew of any doctors that were that powerful. She pursed her lips as she decided to call in the assistance of a someone else. "Mai, there was a man who was on the train with me. Dakai Steelheart... I think his name was that. He is a Daquerrian... Is there a way to contact him?" She asked after the other women had left.

"I know not of this Steelheart, Gaosheng." replied simply Mai with an apologetic look and a bow. "Mistress Shu rarely permits engineers in Dao Hall, but she will not object you going to talk to him, if you need. I can call a palanquin for you." added the attendant as she opened the sliding door to the courtyard adjacent to the room she was in. From there, one could go right into the receiving room where Daiyu had met mistress Shu. "Do you know where he lives?" asked the woman meekly as she walked next to Daiyu.

"Yes, please." Daiyu nodded to the woman's suggestion of calling a palanquin. "He lives on Stonebend road... to the east and down an alley." She added thoughtfully as she recalled the instructions he'd given her before they'd parted ways. She didn't want to waste time by attempting to walk on a broken leg, instead she was hoping Dakai would know of some doctor especially because she didn't exactly know where anyone else was.

"I will arrange it, Gaosheng." replied Mai with a slight nod as she turned around and quickly walked towards the receiving door and then out of the Dao Hall. Around ten minutes passed on which Daiyu could rest her feet a bit, now clean and in dry clothes, she felt much better than before, with the pain on her broken leg considerably lessened. Suddenly, Mai walked back into the hall, her demure and tiny figure shuffling towards Daiyu while in her full on Shah dress. "The Palanquin is waiting outside." she said simply, bowing as she spoke. "It would be wise to have Nobu or Hiroshi to go with you." she added, "The Stonebend is not always safe for Shadowswords, or womens alone."

Instructed by Mai, Daiyu stepped out into the WoW - Shunlao

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