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Play By Post Section => Mythic Nippon: The Demon God of Sendai => Trophy Room => Adventure V => Topic started by: BerkaZerka on September 30, 2014, 05:30:57 pm
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PROLOG
Sendai Wounded
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v651/BerkaZerka/MythicNippon/Wujen.jpg)
Exalted Patriarch Yasuo Sanjo and his Priests hurried away from the bones recovered from the Village of Kurokawa. Something about those skeletons had really upset the Exalted Patriarch upon first seeing them. The signs were clear; the Mons were there; and the Postcognition confirmed it all – they were Rokurokubi. But was there really an infestation of them living unknown among the people of Nippon now? Exalted Patriarch Sanjo hoped that it was not true – for such a thing would cause much disruption and bloodshed before it could be rooted out completely.
Summoning the senior members of the Order to the holy meeting room deep within the depths of the temple, Exalted Patriarch Sanjo was just about to lay charge upon them to travel throughout Nippon and seek out these Rokurokubi – who would need to be discovered and exposed, before they could be dealt with – it would be a secret crusade – one that he could only trust to the highest and most honorable members of the Holy faith.
But before he could get into the matter, the entire temple shook suddenly to its very core, then again and again. A look of confusion and concern crossed everyone’s face, as Exalted Patriarch Sanjo commanded everyone to hurry from the temple, to see what was happening.
Once outside, everyone could see that the sky over Sendai was roiling black and unnaturally thunderous – and worse – fiery meteors were pounding down upon Sendai from the darkness above, shaking the earth with the force of their impact and ripping the city asunder. Fires were also springing up everywhere from the blasts and the ancestral palace of the Daimyo was being hammered most fiercely, crumbling under the assault.
“No!” Exalted Patriarch Sanjo gasped. Then turning to the assembled Priests, he recomposed himself and spoke – “We must get down into Sendai and help keep those fires in check.”
No one hesitated, immediately moving down into the city with the Exalted Patriarch, even as the meteors continued to fall.
As they went, two Earth Elementals and two Water Elementals manifested near Exalted Patriarch Sanjo, and he began directing them as to which places needed the most attention first. Once everyone was down in the city however, the bombardment stopped – thought the fires still raged uncontrollably.
Then suddenly, a female demon with four arms and a great rack of horns rose up from the ground in front of the company – it was Kyoso-No-Oni, the ten foot tall first circle demon – and concubine to the father of all demons – Massaki Dai-Oni. She held in her hands a black burning hoop of wailing steel, which she then threw at the feet of Exalted Patriarch Sanjo. When it hit the ground, it spread out suddenly with a shockwave to fifty feet in diameter and broke open the earth with a tremendous force.
Exalted Patriarch Sanjo leapt back from the hole before it opened under his feet, but half of his Priests were not so lucky; caught off guard and falling into darkness below.
No sooner had the hole opened to swallow the Priests however, than it began to disgorge a clambering hoard of thrall demons, all clawing their way up from the depths of hell below. The burning black hoop was a gate to the underworld and an open mouth that spewed forth the Oni therein – with no end.
It was something that the Exalted Patriarch could not close with casual magic – it was something of the gods themselves – forged from the blood of the Demon Father himself!
Immediately, the Oni pouring up from the earth began to attack everything in sight, particularly the Elementals that Exalted Patriarch Sanjo had brought to help put out the fires. As the remaining Priests engaged the demons in a fight for their lives, Exalted Patriarch Sanjo shook his head – “I was a fool to trust Yunikawa,” he said ruefully. Then radiating his spiritual energy in a blinding glory, and with a satisfied look of pride on his face, he stepped over the edge and fell into the hole.
There was then a sudden burst of searing white light and the cold ring of snapping steel – when the spots cleared from everyone’s eyes, they saw that the ground had suddenly closed up on the Oni and that only a broken hoop of black metal remained – its unholy flames even now flickering out.
Exalted Patriarch Yasuo Sanjo was gone.
The Kyoso-No-Oni meanwhile, frowned with a look of mild disappointment and then sunk back into the earth, not to be seen again.
The rest of the night was then spent fighting the hundreds of Oni that had crawled up from ground with every ounce of might the Priests, Samurai, and Occult community of Sendai could muster. The cravenous beasts would not stand and meet in a clean fight however, but ran amok throughout the city, killing and carrying people off wherever they could. It was a chaotic hunt to track them all down and kill or drive them from Sendai – while the city burned around everyone’s ears.
But by the next morning, the Oni had finally been dealt with, either slain or chased into the mountains; and the people left alive set about to recover from the horrible disaster.
High-Priest Midori Onishi; the High-Priest of Sendai’s Temple of The Five Gods (and now the most senior member of Sendai’s Spiritual Community), joined his own Priests to those of the deceased Patriarch and with them, returned to the Temple of the Ancestors – which by some miracle still stood undamaged by the fire and stones that had fallen from the sky. But that was little consolation; for they arrived to find that all the apprentice monks and those who had remained behind had been slain, and now lie scattered across the temple grounds in their own blood.
That and the bones from Kurokawa, which the Samurai of Sendai had brought back with them – they were gone! Only the broken and empty carts they had used to transport them remained.
As High-Priest Onishi took in this awful scene, a moan from one of the apprentice monks indicated that he was yet alive. Going to him, the High-Priest could see that he had been mortally wounded – he would die and there was nothing he could do to save him.
Opening his eyes, the lad forced himself to tell High-Priest Onishi what had happened –“We watched the fire fall on Sendai… When the others had left… four beautiful Samurai-ko and a Korean came among us and attacked… We tried to stop them… we tried… then two immense and corrupted boar demons appeared and gobbled up the bones… One went north and one went south …*
With that the young man died in the High-Priest’s arms...
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(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v651/BerkaZerka/MoonGoddess_zpsab71fc47.jpg)
~Umani the Moon Goddess
10th Day of Mid Summer 1303
The Ancestral Palace
The Samurai rode into the sky for hours and hours, climbing high into the heavens until the daylight had finally given way to the vast expanse of open starry night. Still the Ki-Rin galloped upward, their fiery hooves falling upon the wind and carrying the Samurai on with untiring quickness.
Kioko was now asleep peacefully in Yuki’s lap, still glowing, while the little spirit familiar thing snored softly as it curled up against the foxgirl’s neck. Even Udo himself, on his own mount, had become comfortable enough to doze off here and there (though his snoring was considerably louder).
Then rose up into the night sky, Umani the Moon – luminous and full – and from this high up, seemed to fill half the sky. And there was something alive about her; an immeasurable sense of intelligence; and her light seemed to warm the very soul.
Were the stories and ancient legends of Creation true? Was this then truly one of the Five Gods in whose presence they now basked?
Then a sparkling glimmer of light caught the eyes of the Samurai as their Ki-Rin mounts turned directly into that comforting light.
Nestled in the moon’s radiant corona could be seen a floating city of gold and alabaster spires – wondrous beyond all description. This was the Ancestral Palace, the celestial abode of the spirits of Man who had passed on and now awaited rebirth and new life back into Creation.
Seeing it struck the Samurai with a deep and profound sense of humility – few mortals had ever seen the Ancestral Palace – and now at once, the Samurai were more than all combined who ever had come before – the five Samurai and their charge flew on magnificent steed, towards that great honor.
Then, after closing with the city and flying in among its great spires, the Samurai could see below marvelous streets of pastel colored jade and perfectly arranged trees, fountains, and flowers – and among these, there could be seen here and there the spirits of the Ancestors, clothed in glorious white radiance.
The Ki-Rin then flew down and alighted in an enormous square – once again heralded in a rain of cascading sparks, which scattered from their hooves and across the jade flagstones from which the square was paved. To the head of the square itself stood an impressively large and elegant building made entirely of polished ivory and moonsilver, and towards that trotted the Ki-Rin after their landing.
As the Samurai drew near, three personages came out of the building to meet them – first was an older-looking and regal man accompanied by an equally regal and like-aged woman. These two walked forward together, surrounded in holy white fire and arrayed in the most glorious of royal finery; more vibrant and bright than anything the Samurai had ever before seen. Then following behind these came one that the Samurai already knew – it was Kirito, whom Roka and Yuki had slain to protect the Book of Secrets – also in the royal attire of the Ancestors and surrounded in a holy nimbus of pure white fire.
The three then stood on a stone landing above the square overlooking the Samurai and waited for the Samurai to dismount and bow before speaking. As the Samurai did so, Yuki noticed that Kioko and her little spirit familiar thing were both still asleep, but that Yuki was unable to wake the little foxgirl quickly and found herself, for the moment, just holding Kioko in her arms and bowing for the both of them.
Once all of the Samurai had done so, the man and woman nodded politely, while Kirito smiled and bowed back to the Samurai in return (he seemed quite at ease, serene even, meeting with his former killers). Then the man and woman spoke – but together in perfect unison, so that their voices mixed together as one – "We are the Patriarch and Matriarch – the first parents of Mankind. We welcome you to the Ancestral Palace, having not had mortal visitors in some time."
"What brings you here children?" they asked, seeming as more of a formality, rather than something they really needed to enquire. Surly the foremost of Ancestors would already know why they were here.
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Rai bows and says, "My Lord and Lady, I believe we are all here to ask separate questions,but there is one thing that binds as all in solidarity coming to you today." Gesturing to the small sleeping spirit he says,"This is Kioko a spirit who has found herself transported through time after being killed. We wish to send her spirit to where she belongs."
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Roka, after bowing towards his gods, humbly addresses them, keeping his surprise at seeing Kirito hidden.
"Father and Mother, our unworthy selves have come to your palace to return a child's soul to her proper resting place." Roka states. "we are unworthy of the honor you have given us, and we thank you mightly for it."
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Yuki gives a short nod to Rai then looks at the Patriarch and Matriarch.
"Yes... We would like to return Kioko to where she belongs." She requests with a bow. Yuki glances at Kirito mid-bow, briefly wondering how, and why, he's in the Ancestral Palace, but she concludes that it doesn't really matter.
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Unable to hide his shock at seeing Kirito, Udo just looks down after he bows, "What they, err, said. Thank you so much for the warm welcome, ancestors."
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Miya bows next to Yuki and gives you a smile of encouragement if her friend looks over. She does not respond to the Patriarch and Matriarch, instead choosing to remain silent.
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“Young ones,” the older couple replies softly with a warm smile – “How kind of you to look after the welfare of your little sister; an innocent one, lost in a time and place not her own.”
The Matriarch raised her hand, and Yuki could feel a soft tugging motion on Kioko in her arms. While nothing was said, Yuki knew that it was alright for her to let Kioko go, and in doing so, the Samurai watched as the still sleeping Kioko and the little spirit familiar began to float gently through the air towards the landing where the Patriarch, Matriarch, and Kirito stood.
“And it is well that you have brought her here, for we did not even know of little Kioko Kikuchi, until the one you know as Kirito Kirigaya brought her to our attention upon his arrival into the Spirit World following his mortal death.”
Here, Kirito bows his head humbly at the acknowledgement from the celestial parents.
“You see,” they go on, “we are aware of the whole of Mankind and know when one spirit is lost or found; but Kioko was never lost to us – she has yet even to exist – and her own time is far distant by your mortal comprehension.”
“But looking into the reflecting waters of time itself, we realize that we sent her to you from the future – as a safeguard against your own fall.”
Then, seeming to choose their words more carefully for some reason, the Patriarch and Matriarch begin to deliver sobering news –
“You see, terrible things greater than you, greater than Sendai, or even the whole of Nippon itself, have been put into motion by your elder brother, the Wu-Jen Kenjiro Yunikawa. He has chosen the darkness. He has given himself fully to his Master – Massaki Dai-Oni – The Father and Foremost of Demons – and will attempt to draw you into that darkness as well, to fulfill the purposes of he who rules him.”
Looking at the still sleeping Kioko and her spirit familiar (still hanging gently in the air nearby), the heavenly couple then allowed a look of pained compassion to cross their face, as if feeling some hidden weight or burden concerning the child, that they cannot (or will not) share.
“It is most fortunate that little Kioko was so small and insignificant to him,” they say, “that he discounted and overlooked her and discovered not her true nature. You may well have saved the world itself in delivering her to us at this time.”
“For even now, Sendai is destroyed and Kenjiro Yunikawa seeks to make the father of demons whole again once more.”
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Rai, while surprised Yunikawa is fully evil, he is not shocked to hear that the old man had betrayed the group and is bringing about Armageddon. Looking down he says, "I must apologize to you Celestial Parents. It was we who retrieved the book that likely gave rise to Yunikawa's power. I wish I had time to steal the book and spirited it away before we had made it to the city."
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"The Wujen destroyed Sendai?!" Roka says with utter shock. "But... How? Our General, our high priest, they must of had the strength to stop him!"
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"Sendai can be rebuilt, son," the Patriarch and Matriarch reply solemnly. "Sendai wasn't his target, the bones of fallen heroes were. Sendai was just a distraction."
"The Book of Secrets!" Kirito blurts out from behind the two, apparently stepping a bit out of normal protocol to do so. "You must get the original from Yunikawa – it is impossible to translate a copy – it will make known Yunikawa’s plans and …"
Here, Kirito is silenced by a stern look from the Patriarch and Matriarch, who then turned back to the Samurai – "Our son risks much for his concern over you – perhaps to make up for his transgression against you in his past life – but yes, the Naga Book of Secrets contains many answers to many questions, which we cannot answer for you at this time."
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"But, great masters, even the wisest in Sendai could not decipher the book! Even if we could steal it from the Epic Wujen, we would be unable to read it! There must be more you could tell us!" Roka shouts out, begging, with flawless ettiquite (AF use).
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"Not even the wisest in all the world could decipher a copy," the Matriarch whispers alone (for the first time since the Samurai's arrival).
The Patriarch meanwhile, remains silent a moment, with a stern look on his face - then says, "Yunikawa has already deciphered the Book. In due time, it will fall into your own hands, and then you will understand."
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Udo Kuwabara is utterly shocked at the news, "Our sage and Uncle... Betraying us? Why?"
He shakes his head, then stops to whisper, "How will... How can we fight Yunikawa and his armies of demons... Alone?"
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Yuki ignores the bit about yunikawa being evil and betraying sendai in lue of hearing about Kioko. Shes concerned about the city they failed to protect, and her mother, but a more pressing question needs to be asked.
"Her true nature?" Yuki asks, tilting her head. "What do you mean? What is Kioko's true nature?"
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Back in unison, the Patriarch and Matriarch answered Yuki – “Kioko Kikuchi is a future incarnation of the one you know as Sakura Kashiwagi.”
Then giving some thought before continuing, they add, “Apparently, we broke a sacred treaty between the Ancestors and Naga (or will at some future time) to send her to you following the ‘loss’ of Sakura.”
“That same treaty prevents us from telling you why we might have chosen to do so, though I can assure you that only consequences most dire could ever move us to even consider such a thing.”
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At this point, the celestial Kirito (or whatever he is) begins pantomiming behind the backs of the Patriarch and Matriarch – clearly indicating a book – opening it – reading a page – and suddenly understanding.
“The treaty also covers pantomime, sign language, telepathy, or any other forms of ‘communication’, I am afraid son,” the regal couple scold, not even bothering to turn around to see what Kirito was doing.
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"Forgive me, but I must voice the same question as Udo. How can we defeat Yunikawa if we are but mortal and few in number? I doubt we can fight him directly; are there other targets we could remove to stop his plan?"
Miya asks as the Patriarch and Matriarch cease speaking for a moment.
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"Is there any chance that the treaty does not preclude literal assistance? Our ancestors were powerful and mighty, you must be able to assist us measly mortals in such a task!"
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"I see, that's why the little spirit of Sakura was so taken to her."
She replies. Then she thinks of something else.
"There are lines of spiritual attunement coming from some of us. Do you know their purpose?"
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“Absolutely not my child,” the heavenly couple reply warmly to Roka, while conveying adamant finality in the statement.
“With very few exceptions, strictly outlined in the Exalted Treatises between the Gods of Creation, we cannot interfere in the lives of mortal men; they are given agency to play their own parts (as they will); and it is the sacred duty of the Naga to protect mankind from the demons and Oni that threaten to enslave them.”
“And I fear that for you, that bridge has already been burned…”
“As for what to do?” they add, in answer to Yuki, “Return to Sendai and help to rebuild it. Return to the Temple of the Ancestors in Sendai and reveal to the New Exalted Patriarch the threat of the Rokurukubi. Return to the Village of Kurokawa and set right the mischief that you have inadvertently released there. Then wait for Yunikawa’s downfall at the hand of the Naga.”
“And should the Naga fail; it will then be up to you to stop your elder brother – but you cannot hope to succeed, until after you gain a knowledge of what he means to do.”
“As for the lines of attunement some of you share with the Naga Shrine, they are, shall we say, the aforementioned ‘exceptions’ – but we are forbidden to tell you anything useful about them, or their nature, or even how Kioko may fit into all of this.”
“What you discover about these things on your own however, is up to you.”
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"I am guessing you can't tell us why two of this groups former companions where in the shrine?" Rai asks politely.
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"We can not," they reply simply.
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"We can not," they reply simply.
Rai thinks a little and asks, "Is there anything else you can tell us?"
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"I see. Will you... be keeping Kioko here while we return to Sendai?"
Yuki asks.
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"Ancestors, can you at least tell us of who remains in Sendai? Did any survive the traitor's rampage?"
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Rai thinks a little and asks, "Is there anything else you can tell us?"
"Of course," the Patriarch and Matriarch answer Rai, "You just need to ask."
"I see. Will you... be keeping Kioko here while we return to Sendai?"
Yuki asks.
Then answering Yuki, they reply, "Yes, Kioko will stay with us. For six hundred and four years will this precious child sleep here in the Courts of the Ancestors. Then, following the moment of the day that she was sent back to you, we will return her back into Creation. She will awake with new life, as if from a dream, and will run home to her mother and tell her of all the wonderful things she has seen, while she was with you and your mother, Akiko Shirahata."
"And until then, you may all again visit her here between each of your mortal lives – But this only if Yunikawa is stopped."
"Ancestors, can you at least tell us of who remains in Sendai? Did any survive the traitor's rampage?"
"We can," the heavily couple say to Roka, "many survived and many passed on. We presume you are concerned for someone in particular?"
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Roka breaths a breath of relief.
"I would not wish to bother the ancestors with a list of those important to me in the honorable fortress city, but I must ask on behalf of us all here, especially Yuki, for the fate of her mother, as well as the leaders of Sendai, the general."
"And for my own sake, I must ask about the safety of my students, and my allie, Yone Ishida."
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Yuki looks at Roka and gives him a thankful nod.
"Speaking of which, the Kistune attack my mother and Kioko before. We managed to ward it off, but do you know why it attacked? Was it after Kioko?"
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Miya remains silent for a moment longer before speaking up again.
"What are you able to tell us of Yunikawa's past, present, and future along with any information that we could use against him or his allies to disrupt his plans or even assist us somehow?"
She hesitates before continuing. Asking with far more sincerity in her voice.
"I... must ask a more selfish question. Will I have to choose between my father and our mission in the future? Are you at least able to tell me who caused my father's death?"
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"... And what is Nippon's people's fate in all this?" Udo asks, having most of his own queries asked and answered already. "Will we retake our land from both the Chinese and the Demons?"
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Roka breaths a breath of relief.
"… but I must ask on behalf of us all here, especially Yuki, for the fate of her mother, as well as the leaders of Sendai, the general."
"And for my own sake, I must ask about the safety of my students, and my allie, Yone Ishida."
“Yunikawa brought fiery meteors down upon Sendai;” the Patriarch and Matriarch begin to answer, “Most notably on and around the castle of the Daimyo. The Chief Magistrate Noburu Saito and his Yoriki were in the castle at the time (in the stead of the Daimyo’s absence). They were all killed rather quickly with the fall of the castle.”
“Yunikawa also opened a Gate to the Underworld in Sendai, flooding the city with Demons and Oni. The Exalted Patriarch Yasuo Sanjo, gave his life to close that Gate.”
“Many also died in Sendai, due to the Demons, Oni, and fires, started in all of the destruction. Yone Ishida was not among these.”
“And Akiko Shirahata, living as she does on the edge of the city, was unharmed by the initial attack and was instrumental (with others) in removing the rampant Demons and Oni from Sendai.”
“And all this, simply to ensure his recovery of the bones of fallen heroes, before they could be cleansed and blessed by the Temple of the Ancestors. He condemns the spirits of these noble ones to continue languishing in dishonor, while he uses their bones in unholy and forbidden ritual. He will exploit their sorrow to release the Demon God Massaki Dai-Oni back into the world.”
… "Speaking of which, the Kistune attack my mother and Kioko before. We managed to ward it off, but do you know why it attacked? Was it after Kioko?"
“As for the Kitsune, it is unrelated to Yunikawa’s evil schemes. The Nine-tailed fox simply noticed Kioko and recognized her as one of her ‘kills’. The fact that Kioko was from the future and not one of the children the Kitsune had yet taken, confused her. So she tormented Akiko Shirahata in sport and hoping to find out more about Kioko as she did so.”
“Akiko Shirahata was lucky you found her with the Kitsune when you did.”
… "What are you able to tell us of Yunikawa's past, present, and future along with any information that we could use against him or his allies to disrupt his plans or even assist us somehow?"
… "… Will I have to choose between my father and our mission in the future? Are you at least able to tell me who caused my father's death?"
“Child, you carry much pain for your father’s vengeance. But the time for you to avenge him is nigh. Your father was killed because he discovered the secret of the Daimyo Shinsen Hasekura – that he is Rokurokubi. The man who took his life and left you with your scar is Win Pan, escort to Imperial Magistrate Jiang Li Feng.”
“They will all, along with Daimyo Shinsen Hasekura, arrive in Sendai shortly, to assess the destruction of the city and determine how to deal with Yunikawa.”
“As for Yunikawa, they cannot touch him. He is too far beyond their power and at this time out of any mortal’s reach.”
“For his past, Yunikawa was orphaned at birth and raised in Sendai by the Previous Wu-Jen of Sendai, the Grand Premier Torio Inokuma. It was from this upbringing among the occult wonders of the ancients that Yunikawa learned his place in Creation – and ultimately chose to disregard it.”
“His allies are the Demons of the First Circle and Horse-Walker Generals of Massaki Dai-Oni’s Armies. Even the Order of Shades is responsive to his call.”
“For his future, he has none. What he seeks to accomplish is suicide for himself and the mortal world.”
"... And what is Nippon's people's fate in all this?" Udo asks, … "Will we retake our land from both the Chinese and the Demons?"
Here the celestial parents pause, as if weighing things out in their minds.
“If Yunikawa succeeds in returning Massaki Dai-Oni to the mortal world, it will be the end of Man. The Naga have weakened much since the beginning, when first called upon to save man from the Oni. I fear that another war on Earth between the Oni and Naga, at this time, would go in Massaki Dai-Oni’s favor.”
“You must stop Yunikawa if the Naga fail to do so. But you cannot stop him until you know what it is he knows. And we cannot tell you what that is…”
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“Yunikawa brought fiery meteors down upon Sendai;” the Patriarch and Matriarch begin to answer, “Most notably on and around the castle of the Daimyo. The Chief Magistrate Noburu Saito and his Yoriki were in the castle at the time (in the stead of the Daimyo’s absence). They were all killed rather quickly with the fall of the castle.”
“Yunikawa also opened a Gate to the Underworld in Sendai, flooding the city with Demons and Oni. The Exalted Patriarch Yasuo Sanjo, gave his life to close that Gate.”
“Many also died in Sendai, due to the Demons, Oni, and fires, started in all of the destruction. Yone Ishida was not among these.”
“And Akiko Shirahata, living as she does on the edge of the city, was unharmed by the initial attack and was instrumental (with others) in removing the rampant Demons and Oni from Sendai.”
“And all this, simply to ensure his recovery of the bones of fallen heroes, before they could be cleansed and blessed by the Temple of the Ancestors. He condemns the spirits of these noble ones to continue languishing in dishonor, while he uses their bones in unholy and forbidden ritual. He will exploit their sorrow to release the Demon God Massaki Dai-Oni back into the world.”
"So even our honorable fight for the bones of our ancestors were part of the traitor's plot? He has been playing us the whole time..." Roka mutters, sadly.
"And to think that our magistrate was killed..." Roka then adds, clenching hi fist angrily.
"But thank you for telling us of their fate, great ancestors. Are the fallen here, in the palace?"
“You must stop Yunikawa if the Naga fail to do so. But you cannot stop him until you know what it is he knows. And we cannot tell you what that is…”
"Who can, great ancestors? Is there anyone alive who could tell us of his knowledge?"
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Rai asks with great respect, "Can you tell us who the Rokurokubi are? And how we might get in contact with the other parties in the treaty? Maybe negotiate the release of our old comrades?"
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“You must stop Yunikawa if the Naga fail to do so. But you cannot stop him until you know what it is he knows. And we cannot tell you what that is…”[/i][/color]
Miya thinks for a moment.
"Could... Kioko tell us if we to ask her? Would that be against the Treaty that you two are bound too?"
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… “Are the fallen here, in the palace?"
… "Who can, great ancestors? Is there anyone alive who could tell us of his knowledge?"
”Most wander the Earth and Spirit World as shadows or wraiths of their former lives; unable to move on, because of the overwhelming sense of vengeance they feel for the great wrongs perpetrated against them. Only when avenged (or they finally lose themselves to complete madness and forget) can they ascend; and begin life anew.”
“No living man knows the secrets of the Naga; save Yunikawa. And because of it, the Naga cannot let him remain living.”
Rai asks with great respect, "Can you tell us who the Rokurokubi are? And how we might get in contact with the other parties in the treaty? Maybe negotiate the release of our old comrades?"
“We will give to Yuki, the Ritual of Seeing, that she may teach it to the Priests and Monks of Sendai. It is they who will be tasked with exposing the RokuroKubi and saving Nippon from their evil. In so doing, they will also undermine the rule of the Chinese. For it is the Chinese who have brought this disease to Nippon. And, as the true nature of the Chinese Leaders are revealed, the people of Nippon will once again find the will to stand up against them.”
“The other party in the treaty is the Naga. They will kill you if they can, because you have seen too much already. Fortunately for you, Yunikawa poses a much greater threat to them immediately.”
Miya thinks for a moment.
"Could... Kioko tell us if we to ask her? Would that be against the Treaty that you two are bound too?"
“Kioko knows nothing of such matters. She is an innocent child.”
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Seeing this as an opportunity to ask any questions he's had for a while, Udo inquires, "Can you tell us what happened to the Wood element? Or what happened in my dreams?"
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”Most wander the Earth and Spirit World as shadows or wraiths of their former lives; unable to move on, because of the overwhelming sense of vengeance they feel for the great wrongs perpetrated against them. Only when avenged (or they finally lose themselves to complete madness and forget) can they ascend; and begin life anew.”
“No living man knows the secrets of the Naga; save Yunikawa. And because of it, the Naga cannot let him remain living.”
"Would it be possible for us to find them, oh great ancestors? Perhaps one of them knows of Yukinawa's plot?"
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... Udo inquires, "Can you tell us what happened to the Wood element? Or what happened in my dreams?"
At Udo's unusual question, the Patriarch and Matriarch seem genuinely surprised to hear it asked. "One could expect none other than a Ward of the Earth to ask such a thing," they say to themselves, then turn back to Udo.
"There are Five Gods who rule over Creation, comprising what is known as the Celestial Order. Each God encompasses one of the Five Elements of Creation, with an Elemental Herald that acts (or rather acted) as the God’s intermediary between the Celestial Order and the rest of Creation. As you know, the Five Gods are: A-Buji the Sun with his Fire Elemental Herald Infernumis; U-Mani the Moon with her Wood Elemental Herald Lothorum; Tok-ji and Suk-chi the East and West Winds with their Air Elemental Herald Umbrunus; The Earth with its Earth Elemental Herald Desolikus; and The Ocean with its Water Elemental Herald Abysmael."
"During the War Against Darkness, Massaki Dai-Oni tricked the Five Gods into sending their Elemental Heralds down to him to discuss terms for a possible surrender. But through great cunning, he managed to corrupt them, changing them into Five Elemental Dragons to serve as his personal guard - The Order of Shades."
"The Order of Shades could not be destroyed, because to destroy them would be to destroy the very Elements they represented, to which Man had come to rely on. But, in time, and with the help of the East and West Winds, the Naga managed to subdue and bind three of these Great Elemental Dragons along with Massaki Dai-Oni. But the two most powerful - Infernumis and Lothorum could not be defeated or bound - proving to be equal to the god-children in every way."
"Only when their battle took them into the corona of Umani herself, did Lothorum suddenly remember who he was. Turning on Infernumis - and with the help of East and West Winds - Lothorum drove Infernumis deep into the Earth and sunk roots in to hold him fast. Infernumis raged with rock-melting fire, burning Lothorum horribly - but the Wood Elementals rallied to their Sire to join with and strengthen him."
"There they remained, struggling against each other for hundreds of years, until Infernumis finally tired enough to fall into a deep sleep. With it however, came a terrible price - Lothorum grievously wounded and on the edge of oblivion - allowed himself to petrify, turning into stone, in order to prevent his loss to Creation; while the Wood Elementals surrounded the two and produced poison blossoms to keep Infernumis from ever waking."
"To this day, the Wood Elementals stand Vigil over their Sire and the sleeping fury that is Infernumis."
-
"Would it be possible for us to find them, oh great ancestors? Perhaps one of them knows of Yukinawa's plot?"
"They do not, for they knew it not in life, nor do they know it in death."
-
Hearing how formidable the Elemental Heralds were Rai asks, "Is there no way to return them from there madness? Is it possible that with what Yunikawa is planing that the Dragons might break there bonds? Will the gods help us if the Naga are defated?
-
"We do not know, because it is the Realm of Gods and we are not privy to all of their ways," they answer Rai - "Ours is to see to the affairs of Spirits and Man, but we do know that not even Yunikawa has the power to free them all..."
-
Yuki gives a soft sigh of relief upon hearing that her mother is safe, then bows.
"I am honoured to receive the Ritual of Seeing and help expose the RokuroKubi."
-
"We do not know, because it is the Realm of Gods and we are not privy to all of their ways," they answer Rai - "Ours is to see to the affairs of Spirits and Man, but we do know that not even Yunikawa has the power to free them all..."
"Free them all? Are you saying Yunikawa could potentially free some of them?"
Miya asks in concern.
-
"I am honoured to receive the Ritual of Seeing and help expose the RokuroKubi."
"The Rokurokubi have charms that hide their true nature from Spirit Sight, and some that hide from even Sorcerer’s Sight. But the Ritual of Seeing will allow the Priests of Sendai who’s mission it will be to find and record their numbers, to see their true nature in the shadows they cast."
Here, knowledge of the Ritual of Seeing suddenly entered Yuki's mind and she knew how to perform it and teach it to the Priests.
"Yuki, This Ritual of Seeing is only for the Priests and Monks of Sendai. You may use it for yourself, but you must not give it to any, other than those who's sacred charge it will be to seek out and expose the Rokurokubi."
"This it is for the Honor of Sendai; a reward for standing the longest against the Chinese and being the last to fall."
"It is written that the Emperor’s place is to lead the people in harmony with the will of the Ancestors; the Priest’s place is to interpret the will of the Ancestors; and the Wu-Jen’s duty is to carry out the will of the Ancestors.
"This is our will - That the Priests and Monks of Sendai (both Ancestor Worshippers and Emissaries of the Five Gods) discover the Rokurokubi among Nippon and report back to the High Priest of Sendai. The High Priest of Sendai will in turn, relay this information to Rai Go-Uda, Heir to the Throne of Nippon and Ninja Master of Sendai."
Then turning to Rai, "Rai, you will task the Ninja of Nippon with executing those wicked spirits discovered hiding in the ruling body of Nippon and exposing what they were to the people. When the Rokurokubi are dealt with, then will the people be ready to stand up - and fight to return your bloodline to the Throne of Nippon."
"Free them all? Are you saying Yunikawa could potentially free some of them?"
Miya asks in concern.
"Yunikawa has knowledge of ancient and forbidden magics. He would risk near certain death to employ some of it, but yes, it could allow him to find and release one or more of the Order of Shades. The Ritual would require a focus of tremendous power - such as the bones of fallen heroes..."
"But here, if Yunikawa succeds, then none of this will matter. The Naga would have failed and the world will become a far different place. Man will be displaced upon it by the Oni and the Spirit World would flood with evil. The Celestial Palace would become no longer a place of transition between Earth Lives, but an Eternal Prison."
Here Kirito steps forward with a pleading look directed at the Patriarch and Matriarch, who regard him a moment then grant leave for him to speak, but carefully this time.
"Honorable Celestial Parents," Kirito begins, "If the Naga fail to stop Yunikawa, then they will have breached their own end of the Sacred Treaty. If this is the case, would it not then be null and void? Then could you not give the Samurai of Sendai the knowledge they would require to face Yunikawa themselves?"
Giving a little thought to it, the Patriarch and Matriarch reply - "Yes. Should the Naga fail, then the Naga Book of Secrets could be shared openly."
Then turning back to the Samurai - "It may not contain enough for you to stop Massaki Dai-Oni, but it will give you knowledge of what you face, so that you could at least frustrate his plans."
"Should the Naga fail, then we will arrange for the Book of Secrets to fall into your hands. Do not try to face Yunikawa directly however, until after you fully undertand what it is he is doing. Otherwise, you will play directly into his hands - giving him exactly what he needs to bring Massaki Dai-Oni back into the world."
-
"Yunikawa has knowledge of ancient and forbidden magics. He would risk near certain death to employ some of it, but yes, it could allow him to find and release one or more of the Order of Shades. The Ritual would require a focus of tremendous power - such as the bones of fallen heroes..."
"So we must retrieve the bones once more, from Yukinawa this time?"
-
"No. Yunikawa has taken them out of your reach." the Ancestors reply, "It is up to the Naga to deal with Yunikawa now. But you should continue to train your minds and bodies - to gather power against the day that you may be forced to face Yunikawa as Man's last hope."
-
"No. Yunikawa has taken them out of your reach." the Ancestors reply, "It is up to the Naga to deal with Yunikawa now. But you should continue to train your minds and bodies - to gather power against the day that you may be forced to face Yunikawa as Man's last hope."
"So that is what we must do? Gather strengths and prepare? Should we not attempt to stop the reawakening of the Shades? Is there no way for us to assist the Naga?"
-
"You cannot assist the Naga," the Patriarch and Matriarch answer, "You must avoid them if you can. They will be after you as much as Yunikawa, for your involvement in the theft of their Holy Book. The fact that Yunikawa poses an immediate threat to Creation and you do not, does give you a better chance of escaping their notice for a time."
-
"You cannot assist the Naga," the Patriarch and Matriarch answer, "You must avoid them if you can. They will be after you as much as Yunikawa for your involvement in the theft of their Holy Book. The fact that Yunikawa poses an immediate threat to Creation and you do not, does give you a better chance of escaping their notice for a time."
"Can they not forgive us, and accept our aid? They must realize the dangers that will follow if they do not!"
-
Looking at the Samurai, the heavenly couple give a look of compassionate sorrow.
Knowing that they are constrained by Celestial Law, they can only shake their heads sadly and say, "They can not. They will not. And you can never understand, unless they fail."
-
"But Ancestors, when the Naga succeed, and they must, will they hunt us as they do Yukinawa?"
-
"They will."
-
Udo bows once more, "One more thing... When we go back to the human realm, how much time will have passed?"
-
"With the Kirin, there is no danger of slipping through time," the ancestors reply, "there is only the duration of your ride."
-
"Yuki, This Ritual of Seeing is only for the Priests and Monks of Sendai. You may use it for yourself, but you must not give it to any, other than those who's sacred charge it will be to seek out and expose the Rokurokubi."
"This it is for the Honor of Sendai; a reward for standing the longest against the Chinese and being the last to fall."
"It is written that the Emperor’s place is to lead the people in harmony with the will of the Ancestors; the Priest’s place is to interpret the will of the Ancestors; and the Wu-Jen’s duty is to carry out the will of the Ancestors.
"This is our will - That the Priests and Monks of Sendai (both Ancestor Worshippers and Emissaries of the Five Gods) discover the Rokurokubi among Nippon and report back to the High Priest of Sendai. The High Priest of Sendai will in turn, relay this information to Rai Go-Uda, Heir to the Throne of Nippon and Ninja Master of Sendai."
"Understood", Yuki replies with a solemn bow.
-
"Another... Thing," Udo states, embarrassed, "Would it be wise to search out the Wood Elementals? Or would it create an imbalance and let Infernumis free?"
-
"They do not respond to summoning," The Ancestors answer, "They do not leave the side of the Herald and ensure that Infernumis does not awaken."
-
"Where is the herald, then? Is there any way we could petition help from them?"
-
Rai bows at his mission and says, "Of course, since my memory returned I have thought much about how to remove and expose the Demons in our midst. Great ansactors do you know where we might find allies other than the priests and wu jen? Also do you have any advice on how to reclaim the Nipponian (Not sure what to use here) throne?
-
"Where is the herald, then? Is there any way we could petition help from them?"
"The Herald is in langour and the Elementals will not leave his side." The ancestors answer Udo.
-
Rai bows at his mission and says, "Of course, since my memory returned I have thought much about how to remove and expose the Demons in our midst. Great ansactors do you know where we might find allies other than the priests and wu jen? Also do you have any advice on how to reclaim the Nipponian (Not sure what to use here) throne?
“Those you could trust, once the existence of the Rokurokubi is proven, would be Daimyo Noriko Inari of the Dewa Province, and your own Mutsu Province Magistrates: Chief Magistrate Hie Yama-Uno of Sendai; Magistrate Mikio Amori of the city of Morioka; and Magistrate Rai Higoshi of the City of Hirosaki.”
“One you could trust even before then would be Second Magistrate Juro Saito of Sendai. And of course the Priests and Monks of Sendai – most notably High-Priest Midori Onishi, the High-Priest of Sendai’s Temple of The Five Gods.”
“Do not trust Grand Premier Kenji Nogachi, the Wu-Jen of Sendai and Advisor to the Daimyo – as he keeps the Daimyo’s secret and is in league with the Rokurokubi.”
“Those who would not follow you, but would follow Daimyo Noriko Inari of the Dewa Province, once Daimyo Shinsen Hasekura is exposed, are General Kaori Meji of Sendai’s Army; Master Overseer Kaito Nakamura, Chief Instructor of Sendai’s School of Martial Combat; Headmistress Kimi Otaka, Headmistress of Sendai’s Horsemanship and Mounted Combat School; and Headmistress Akiko Shirahata, Headmistress of Sendai’s Zen Archery School.”
“Once these back you, the rest of the Noble Houses of Sendai will follow. With Mutsu and Dewa Provinces on your side, it will provide a united front against the Chinese.”
-
Rai thinks that this road map is great if he can convince his fellow samurai to help. Rai says, "Thank you for the information. I will be sure to fallow your directions."
-
Roka, seeing that his group has no more questions, bows to the ancestors.
"Ancestors, we thank you for gracing us with your presence. The honor you bestowed upon us will not be wasted. We shall rebuild Sendai, and if, heaven forbid, the naga fail, we will destroy Yukinawa ourselves."
-
The Patriarch and Matriarch smile – "Good then," they reply to Roka.
Then in general, they state, "Your time here draws short."
"Have any of you more to ask of us while you yet tarry?"
-
"If it comes that we have to face Yunikawa, does he have any sort of weakness?"
Yuki asks, hopeful.
-
"Is there any weapons or artifacts hidden that would help us unite Nippon?" Rai asks.
-
“Yunikawa’s weakness is the lust for power that lead him down forbidden paths and brought the whispering madness of Massaki Dai-Oni into his ear.” The Matriarch and Patriarch answer; “from across the abyss of unconscious thought, the Father of Demons has promised Yunikawa great and marvelous things – but all these are lies and manipulations.”
“Should the Naga fail to stop Yunikawa, then this poison will spread to you through the lines of attunement that you share. Your will must be stronger than that of Massaki Dai-Oni… or you too will become his.”
Then answering Rai’s question - “There may be, in Creation, some things that can be of service in this regard - - - “ they begin, but stop short with a sudden shocked look on their faces.
“Yunikawa has moved against the Naga,” the Patriarch says to the Matriarch.
“He has chosen to preempt the inevitable,” the Matriarch say to the Patriarch.
“A bold gambit,” the Patriarch continues.
“Interesting…” they both say, once more in perfect unison…
-
"Err, Great Ancestors...." Udo nervously says, "Can you help us fight the ONIs and Yunikawa yourselves? Cuz I think that'd be a huge help...."
-
Rai thinking Interesting is not a good thing in this connotation he says, "Ancestors the artifacts and weapons?"
-
"Err, Great Ancestors...." Udo nervously says, "Can you help us fight the ONIs and Yunikawa yourselves? Cuz I think that'd be a huge help...."
“Child,” the ancestors answer Udo, “that is not our place.”
“It is divinely decreed the sacred duty of the Naga, to directly fight against the demons and Oni that threaten mankind. And we as the Ancestors of mankind are beneath the Naga in the Celestial Order (as are all Spirits).”
“But we are graced with the honor of choosing the Wu-Jen, Priests, and Shaman of the living world and giving them power to stand for themselves.”
Rai thinking Interesting is not a good thing in this connotation he says, "Ancestors the artifacts and weapons?"
“Yes, Rai,” they reply, “there are many still hidden in the lands; and if you continue to act honorably, we will see that fate guides you to them.”
-
At this point, the Ki-Rin mounts that had brought the Samurai, trotted forward and began to nuzzle at the Samurai - indicating that the time had come for them to leave.
"Before you go," the heavenly parents spoke, "The Blessing of the Ancestors upon you."
The Patriarch and Matriarch each raised a hand and a golden ethereal corona - almost like a radiating halo - appeared over each of the Samurai's head. A wash of glorious power followed (and for Roka, a cleansing of his 'sins' as well).
"You may now rebuke Demons and Oni in our name," the Patriarch and Matriarch say, "as long as you do nothing to incur our disapproval," they add, seeming to direct that little bit to Roka with a knowing glance.
-
"We thank you again, great ancestors, and I pray we meet again after Yukinawa's defeat." Roka sas, bowing once more, before getting on his Kirin.
-
Udo kneels down to bow before getting up and going over to his horse. "Thank you, dear Ancestors. We will try our hardest not to fail you."
-
"Thank you. We'll be leaving Kioko in your care."
Yuki says with a bow.
"We will not fail Nippon, or your expectations."
She finishes, mounting her Ki-Rin.
-
Miya bows before following Yuki's example, still thinking over the situation and her desire for revenge.
-
Rai bows and says, "Thank you for your blessing." As he gets on his Kirin.
-
Leaving the Celestial Abode of the Ancestors on the backs of their Ki-Rin mounts, the Samurai of Sendai began their journey back down to the Physical World.
They had done what few before them had ever even dared to imagine – visiting the Ancestral Palace in their mortal forms and being well received and blessed in the process. They felt good, having kept their word to little Kioko and ensuring that she would eventually be returned home and find her mother again.
Yet, at the same time, there was a sense of unease and foreboding at what lie ahead; with Yunikawa’s apparent betrayal; the mystery of the Naga Book of Secrets; and the Heavenly Treaty that bound the Ancestors from speaking directly concerning it. Thoughts of these things weighed heavily upon the Samurai in the long hours of flight back to the realm of the living.
The night then passed and the sun rose the next morning, just as the Ki-Rin broke from the Spirit World and alighted with a dazzling shower of magical sparks in the seclusion of the foothills just north of Sendai. After the Samurai had dismounted, the Ki-Rin all trotted together in a group and bowed down collectively to the Samurai on their fore-knees. The thought then entered everyone’s mind that the Ki-Rin had been honored to serve in this important mission and would again be there for the Samurai should they stand in need – ‘just be sure to remember the delicious apples’.
With that, the Ki-Rin reared up majestically and galloped back into the sky, disappearing shortly after in a wink of fiery light.
-
10th Day of Mid Summer 1303
Yunikawa’s Betrayal
Walking down from the foothills, the Samurai came to a high overlook, offering a panoramic view of the valley where their grand city lay, to see for themselves the destruction that had befallen their home.
It was astounding.
Nearly the entire city was in ruin and great craters, some nearly two hundred feet across, pockmarking the landscape. Where stone buildings had once stood, there was now only broken shells and large piles of rubble – and of those buildings that had been made of wood, only cinders remained.
Even the roads were broken up, and the trees – those beautiful and magnificent trees that had lined the way and given cooling shade to the people of the city – they now stood broken and scorched.
But Sendai was not dead. Even now, there was a bustle of activity from her people – clearing the rubble and gathering together supplies and equipment for the city’s reconstruction. And to the center of Sendai, a great bamboo scaffolding could be seen, being set around the foundation of the ancestral palace of the Daimyo, where workers would soon begin to set new stone.
Sendai would survive, rise from the ashes, and flourish once again.
And, as if to underscore this sentiment, a lone and great building stood visible on the hill of the temple district – it was Sendai’s Temple of the Ancestors – miraculously untouched by the devastation that lay around her…
-
As Yuki takes in everything, the words of the Ancestors repeat quietly in her mind - “Return to Sendai and help to rebuild it. Return to the Temple of the Ancestors in Sendai and reveal to the New Exalted Patriarch the threat of the Rokurukubi. Return to the Village of Kurokawa and set right the mischief that you have inadvertently released there. Then wait for Yunikawa’s downfall at the hand of the Naga.”
“And should the Naga fail; it will then be up to you to stop your elder brother – but you cannot hope to succeed, until after you gain a knowledge of what he means to do.”
-
Seeing the devastation of Sendi angered Rai but he knew now wasn't the time for anger. Now was the time for action. Looking at the other members he says, "I know we all want to go into town right now and help. However, we have a more important mission to accomplish. Let us hurry to the temple of the ancestors." As Rai moves to go.
-
Roka visibly shudders, pained to see his city in this state. Not only his city, but his dojo, and everything he worked for. But now is not the time to mourn. Every wasted second gives Yukinawa an edge.
"Agreed. We must visit the temple." Roka states, as he begins the trek there.
-
Miya looked down at Sendai and began to silently cry as it reminded her of that horrible nightmare where her childhood ended. But as she looked again the rebuilding of the city gave her hope...
Hope for the future and herself that one day things will be set right again, if that means defeating Yunikawa then so be it.
"Come on Yuki, let's get going before they leave us behind." She motions for her friend to follow.
-
Yuki looks at Miya then shakes her head.
"The city of Sendai needs all the help it can get right now. The rest of you should help with the cleanup, while I head to the Temple and speak with the New Exalted Patriarch."
She then looks towards then city and sighs.
"So much destruction... Not only did we assist Yunikawa with his plans, but the Daiymo we swore to serve and protect has been an Oni under the control of the Chinese. We've been acting like fools since we became samurai, helping the enemies we swore to defeat, and failing to protect our beloved city. Perhaps it is just our fate to help with the fall of Nippon..."
Yuki proclaims ominously.
"Well, luckily I have the power to alter fate, ehehe."
She says with a smile. Yuki then summons an air elemental and orders it to bring her to the Temple of the Ancestors, then to help clean up the debris in the city.
"Make sure to meet with my mother and tell her what we know, Miya!"
---
Continued in The Temple of The Ancestors Thread (http://www.bountyheadbebop.com/forum/index.php?topic=1323.msg74748#msg74748)
-
"Roka, are you sure we should leave Yuki alone? These are... Uncertain times..." Udo states, gazing at his destroyed homes. It's not like anybody he was especially close to was killed, as he wasn't very acquainted with anyone but his team, yet Sendai is his home, and it terrifies him that something could have ravaged it so horribly.
"We can't be sure if Yunikawa's demons are out and about or not."
-
Roka turns to Udo.
"No, we should not split up. Yuki's visit with the Priesys should not take time, and we could gather information from somewhere there." Roka states.
On the way to Sendai, he'll order someone he sees to bring Yone Ishida to the temple of the ancestors of she is still in Sendai.
-
As the four Samurai made their way into the valley and approached the walls of Sendai, they noticed that it caused a small stir. People started to gather around them and in a matter of moments, a large delegation of Sendai’s Samurai – nearly fifty in number – were riding out to meet them.
The delegation of Samurai were composed of nearly all the remaining Samurai in Sendai and represented most of Sendai’s Noble Houses.
The leader was none other than Kado Hasekura – a Retired Samurai (of some years) and first cousin to the Daimyo Shinsen Hasakura. Noticeably absent from the delegation, were any of Sendai’s Officials. No Chief Magistrate, no Second Magistrate, none of the Officers of Sendai’s Army, no Yoriki. It was just a bunch of the Nobles – bureaucrats mostly – and their Samurai Caste retinues.
Still, they represented a massive amount of political clout; and for most, their word was absolute law.
“Traitors!” Kado Hasekura yelled, pointing a trebling finger at the Rai, Roka, Udo, and Miya accusingly.
“You are the ones in league with the monster Yunikawa and his demons!”
“You brought the ‘bones of the damned’ into Sendai and helped to cause our destruction!”
“Your absence in Sendai’s gravest hour of need proves your guilt!”
With each accusation laid, the four Samurai could see the expressions of the gathered Samurai harden. Kado Hasekura was riling up a mob…
-
Rai focusing his energy (Surge) to hide what his doing casts Read mind on Kado Hasekure. Proceeding to cast Send thoughts to Roka he says, "Remind them that we were on the mission for the Exalted Patriarch. That by calling them the dammed they are spitting on the face of the warriors who fought to last for Sendi."
Rai just stares at the crowd with a hardened expression.
-
Roka almost breaks a smile when Rai mind messages him.
"Rai, I know this crowd. Do not feel the need to instruct me in controlling them. I've been doing it since I was a child." He sends back, and then turns dark red from fury.
"Fool! Do not dare insult our ancestors! I care not that you slander me and my fellows, but never insult our ancestors!" Roka righteously throws back, effectively intimidating the whole crowd. The simple rule to breaking these things. First scare them, then make them on your side.
"And slander it is! For we have now become an gents of the ancestors, Warriors deemed proper enough to fight for vengeance for our beloved! We have returned from the ancestral palace to destroy Yukinawa, not Sendai!" Roka shouts out, flawlessly (flawless decorum)
"You all know me, and know that I would have nothing to do with this evil." Roka says, scanning the crowd for his minion, Ichiro Miyizaki, the samurai.
"Ichiro, my brother! You know I could have nothing to do with this. Kado Gensai! Ayame Ko! [insert every minion Roka has thats a noble (more then half, I think.)] You ALL know I and my allies would have nothing to do with this! Desist from this folly and remind my brothers and sisters who we are, and what we would never do. And togheter, all of us, we shall destroy Yukinawa and return the splendor to Sendai!" Roka shouts, heroically shouting, finishing off his speech with a removal of intimidation on any of those who are with him.
-
Roka almost breaks a smile when Rai mind messages him.
"Rai, I know this crowd. Do not feel the need to instruct me in controlling them. I've been doing it since I was a child." He sends back, and then turns dark red from fury.
Impressed by Roka's words but not overly so Rai says in the mind, "Not doubting your ability but I thought since they likely saw the Exalted Patriarch sacrifice himself to stop the portal saying the mission to the bones came from him might help."
-
Some of the Samurai ride forward and turn to interpose themselves between the larger group and Roka. Among them was Roka’s friend Kado Gensai (though none of his other minions seemed to be present).
“Roka-San is right,” one of the Senior Noblemen said, “the plan to bring back the bones was approved by the Exalted Patriarch of Sendai’s Temple of the Ancestors. It is the wrong words to call them ‘damned’.”
A murmur of agreement then goes up among the Nobles and everyone can see the wind go right out of Kado Hasekura’s sails.
“That is not what I meant!” Kado Hasekura growls, highly irritated at the sudden loss of Face – but rather than risk further embarrassment , he turns his horse away – followed by his more loyal supporters.
Rai meanwhile, gets hate-filled thoughts from the man, indicating a current desire to see the mob riled against Roka and Rai particularly for some reason. Unfortunately for him, Roka’s rebuke completely dashed those plans.
The majority of the Samurai then disperse, leaving the smaller group (and Roka’s friend Kado Gensai). Their Leader, the Nobleman that spoke to Roka’s defense speaks to the four Samurai.
“As you can see, disaster has befallen Sendai. The great castle of the Daimyo has been destroyed. The entire city was pounded by a storm of fire and stone falling from the heavens, followed by a plague of Oni. Much of the city has been burned and hundreds of people have died or been carried off by the demons.”
“All this because of Yunikawa’s treachery.”
“We,” he continues, indicating the Samurai that have stayed, “do not believe you were party to this madness.”
“But your association with Yunikawa, is hard for some to ignore.”
“At any rate, you are here now and you can help Sendai.”
“Word of what happened has been sent to Edo, and I hear that Daimyo Shinsen Hasekura will be returning to Sendai as soon as possible with a delegate of the Shogunate itself, to witness for themselves firsthand the destruction of Sendai and to oversee the reconstruction efforts.”
“Magistrate Mikio Amori of Morioka has also been appraised of Sendai’s misfortune and is sending her army to help restore order and to rebuild the city.”
“But first things first – you need to go into the city and report to the new Chief Magistrate, Hie Yama-Uno.”
Then bowing his head, the Nobleman explains, “Chief Magistrate Noburu Saito was killed in the fall of the Ancestral Castle of the Daimyo.”
-
Rai nods, "We were appraised of the situation by the Ancestors." Pausing he griminces a bit and says, "but to see the destruction first hand is chilling. Thank you for your help in calming down the crowd." with a node to the nobleman. (Can I get a Who Who role to see if I know who he is?)
-
"Yes, thank you." Roka states. "And we would be honored to report to the new Magsitrate."
Roka then turns to Kando Gensai, and smiles.
"It is good to see you, friend. I'm glad the ancestors protected you from the devastation. Where is the rest of us?"
-
"It's best if we keep moving, I suspect the Naga are already in battle as we speak and we have limited time regardless."
Miya says while stepping up from behind Rai and Roka. She looks around with unexpected vigor at the destruction.
-
Udo frowns. He's pretty sure Noburo Saito scolded him once over the squirrels, but at the very least he was one of the 'good' guys.
He turns to the nobleman, confused by something he said, "Do you know why the demons were taking people away? Or to where?"
-
“I was fortunate to have only lost half of my house,” Kando Gensai replies to Roka, “And even more fortunate that my family and I were in the half that survived.”
“The others are around, I think,” he adds, “everyone is scattered all over helping to deal with the ruin. Those that are able at least.”
When Miya mentions the Naga, it raises a lot of eyebrows – but nobody says anything about it.
When Udo asks about the demons, The Nobleman simply says, “May we never find out.”
-
Rai asks, "What happened to the temple of the five gods and its high priest?"
-
“I was fortunate to have only lost half of my house,” Kando Gensai replies to Roka, “And even more fortunate that my family and I were in the half that survived.”
“The others are around, I think,” he adds, “everyone is scattered all over helping to deal with the ruin. Those that are able at least.”
Roka nods.
"It'll be okay, friend. Yukinawa will pay for what he has done to us, I swear it." Roka states with conviction. "We must gather the group. We work best together, and right now, we must work our best for Sendai."
"Kando, do you know where Yone would be? I need to speak to her."
-
"Yone is all right," Kando replies, "I saw her briefly after the assault on the city, but do not know where she currently is."
-
"That's good. If you see her, tell her that I need to speak with her on an urgent matter, alright?" Roka says to Kando.
-
"Also, what happened to Mrs. Shirahata?" Udo asks of the nobleman. "And what of General Meji? Where's he now?"
-
"The General and what are left of Sendai's Soldiers are up in the mountain pass to the west. They were on their way to Yunikawa's Citadel, but something in the pass has stopped them. At night you can see a blue corona over the mountains. Some kind of magical barrier."
"Lady Shirahata is probably at her archery school. She has taken in many there that have lost their homes."
-
Entering Sendai, the four Samurai and some of the Samurai that had supported them at the gate, made their way towards the ruins of the ancestral palace of the Daimyo, looking for Chief Magistrate Hie Yama-Uno – or whoever was left in charge.
It was not long, before they were spotted and contacted by a messenger, who directed them to the home of Hie Yama-Uno, the former Second Magistrate and now the new Chief Magistrate of Sendai.
There, they ran into Yuki (as she was coming down from the Temple of the Ancestors) – but before they could talk to her, everyone was ushered inside to be addressed by Juro Saito (Noburu’s brother and former Steward of Sendai), who was now wearing the official dress of Second Magistrate. Waiting at the head of the room upon a raised platform was Chief Magistrate Hie Yama-Uno.
“Welcome Samurai of Sendai,” Juro began – “It is most fortuitous that you have returned to Sendai from your unexpected disappearance.”
“We have much to discuss, but first you must know that Magistrate Saito is dead (and others). This is Chief Magistrate Hie Yama-Uno – You know him already of course, but now you also know his new station (and mine).”
“As of this moment, you are all officially instated as the Yoriki of Chief Magistrate Yama-Uno.”
“We will see to the rebuilding of Sendai, and do as much as we can to restore her, before our Daimyo and an emissary of the Shogunate arrives. Due to the emergency, the Daimyo has been ordered back to Sendai from Edo with the emissary of the Shogun, Imperial Magistrate Jiang Li Feng; who is coming with him to view the restoration of Sendai for herself.”
Second Magistrate Saito finished and bowed; then Chief Magistrate Yama-Uno spoke – “Good. Now that the formalities are satisfied, I bid you all relax.”
“I am not so hard a man as my predecessor, Magistrate Saito – and as long as you show proper respect, you may address my freely during our official meetings.”
“I’m sure that you have many questions.”
“And I do have one important question of my own to ask first – where were you in Sendai’s hour of need? I trust that there were extenuating circumstances for your absence; but your presence was sorely missed. You were last seen in Sendai with the traitor Yunikawa, just moments before the disaster – and had we not known of your unquestionable integrity, we might have suspected you were a part of Yunikawa’s attack.”
Here Chief Magistrate Yama-Uno gave pause – long enough for the Samurai to answer…
-
Rai steps forward bows and says, "We were given a mission by The Exalted Patriarch Yasuo Sanjo to retrieve the bones of Sendai Army from the battlefield outside the village of Kurakawa." Rai's face shows wrath, "There we found out the army had been buried in a mass grave. We returned with the bones so the Priest could purify the remains. One of the many reasons we were doing this was because we needed to prove ourselves to the Ancestors in order to visit the Ancestral Palace. We had found a So-Kitsune who had somehow been brought from the future and we wanted to help her return to the Palace. Yunikawa knew the spell to take us to the Ancestral Palace, so after we recovered the bones we were called there to go to the Palace. That is where we were when Sendai was attacked and we were betrayed."
Rai pauses here and looks briefly at Yuki before refocusing on the Magistrate and says, "We were given a Mission by the Ancestors and I believe Yuki has already spoken to the Exalted Patriarch about it."
-
Roka nods, and allows the others to reply. He has much to think about. It's great that he is now returned to his proper station (if only for a short while until Sendai re-stabilizes), but the daimyo's visit will be a problem.
Rai and the priests will most likely consider this the perfect chance they have to actually taking out the Daimyo, which means that he must decide quickly which side he shall stand on. It's no longer an option to be indifferent, the war is begining, and if he does not warn his master, then he is effectively rebelling against his word.
-
Yuki nods to Rai when she's mentioned, but otherwise stays silent.
-
"Is this true?" Chief Magistrate Yama-Uno asks, looking between Rai and Yuki. "You were given a mission by the Ancestors? What is it?"
-
Rai nods and says. "The Chinese released Rokurokubi at that last battle and they, wearing human disguises, have penetrated Nipponese leadership. Yuki was given the Ritual of Seeing, which is the only way to see the yoki that are hidden, and was tasked to teach it to the prists. I am sure she has already done so. Next they assigned some of us to kill them. Finally they told all of us to return to the village of Kurakawa.
-
"Gah! What a horrifying thought!" the Chief Magistrate remarks with a frown.
"I'll have to get with the Priests then, to see if they root any out."
"In the meantime, Kurokawa will have to wait. I want you here for now, to help restore order to Sendai and to support General Meji in the event that Yunikawa tries to make another attack before the Army of Morioka arrives."
"Not to mention that the Daimyo and an Imperial Magistrate are going to arrive any day now..."
-
"But... The Ancestors... They said that the Daimyo is a demon as well." Udo mutters, finally speaking up. He doesn't stare at the Chief Magistrate, but rather looks down at his feet in thought.
-
Hearing what Udo just said, the new Chief Magistrate's face goes from confusion, to shock, to pure outrage.
"SILENCE!!!" He yells, drawing his wakisahi and pointing it at Udo – eliciting the response of four armed soldiers in the house who rush into the room, swords drawn.
Second Magistrate Saito meanwhile, lets a stern countenance cross his face, but stays where he is –
waiting to see what transpires next.
The soldiers, standing ready for anything, appear confused – perhaps having not heard what Udo uttered. Seeing this, Chief Magistrate Yama-Uno, grits his teeth and walks over to place the edge of his sword across Udo’s neck on one side, while leaning in to whisper angrily into Udo’s ear on the other.
“The Daimyo is the Daimyo, until he is not the Daimyo.”
Then stepping back slowly, he sheaths his shortsword and orders two of the soldiers – “Take Udo Kuwabara to the stockade.”
“The rest of you,” he adds, “conscript your Doshin, ten each, and begin organizing work parties immediately. Dismissed.”
-
As Rai turns and sends to roka via thoughts and says, "That was a foolish thing to do. We will prove it to the Magistrate but until then we should meet with Second Magistrate Saito and tell him everything including who I am as the ancestors told us to."
-
Udo could probably summon a Kirin and leave in some sort of blaze of glory, but instead, he merely nods.
He continues to speak in a hushed tone, "O- Okay then. Be on your toes, uh, Magistrate Saito, I hope it all becomes clear to you soon. The Earth God must have chosen me for a reason, and I hope you get a Priest to verify what I said as soon as, ahem, possible."
He turns to view the soldiers directed to take him away. "Lead the, uh, the way then. I won't struggle unless you restrain, uh, myself though."
-
Roka doesn't respond to Rai's send thoughts, and rather simply bows to the Magistrate.
"Thank you, honorable magistrate." He states, and begins to leave.
"Come Yoriki, we need to gather our Doshin. The day is short and we have much to do." Roka states.
After a bit, Roka returns the Send Thoughts.
"Udo will be out tonight. Don't do anything rash."
-
(OOC: Assuming this is possible)
Using a surge point (to go unnoticed), Yuki casts read mind on the Chief Magistrate to see how he feels about the situation.
She then casts Rewind to go back in time before Udo mentioned the Daiymo (though I'm not sure she chooses how far she can go back). She uses a surge point so Udo remembers what happened too, and as many luck points as needed for it to work.
-
"Gah! What a horrifying thought!" the Chief Magistrate remarks with a frown (Yuki having rewound time back a few minutes after Udo’s unfortunate faux pas).
"I'll have to get with the Priests then, to see if they root any out."
"In the meantime, Kurokawa will have to wait. I want you here for now, to help restore order to Sendai and to support General Meji in the event that Yunikawa tries to make another attack before the Army of Morioka arrives."
"Not to mention that the Daimyo and an Imperial Magistrate are going to arrive any day now..."
---
As Udo heard this, he blinked in confusion. He must have somehow skipped backward in time a few minutes. To him, this had already happened. They were taking him to the stockade, for mentioning that the Daimyo was one of the demons they sought…
Yuki meanwhile, had read the Chief Magistrate’s surface thoughts before sending everyone back.
The Chief Magistrate was supremely insulted by what he considered tantamount to ‘death threats’ against the Daimyo by Udo.
Still, he harbored fears that the Samurai could be telling the truth about it, and intended to demand proof from the Priests of Sendai after the meeting.
Unfortunately, he had also made up his mind to keep Udo in the stockade until proof could either be supplied – or the Daimyo returned (at which point, had no proof been produced, he would have turned Udo over to the Daimyo and charged the Priests with conspiracy against the Daimyo)…
-
Rai feels as if he had already heard this before and looks to Yuki casting send thoughts quietly (Surge)he asks, "Did something weird just happen?" and he actual says to the Magistrate, "Who will be greatting the Daymio when he arrives? I would like to be able to welcome him back."
-
"As my Yoriki, you will (of course) all be there to properly receive the Daimyo and Imperial Magistrate when they arrive."
-
Rai feels as if he had already heard this before and looks to Yuki casting send thoughts quietly (Surge)he asks, "Did something weird just happen?" and he actual says to the Magistrate, "Who will be greatting the Daymio when he arrives? I would like to be able to welcome him back."
Yuki looks at Rai then tilts her head slightly, her ears twitching as she does.
-
"As my Yoriki, you will (of course) all be there to properly receive the Daimyo and Imperial Magistrate when they arrive."
"We thank you, Magistrate. What of our Doshin?" Roka asks
-
“You may conscript your Doshin - or re-instate any of your old ones (assuming they are still alive after the attack); Ten each, of course."
"Once you have done that, organizing work parties with them as soon as possible. No later than by tomorrow morning, at the latest.”
"Any questions?"
-
Udo feels like he should say something about the demons to the Magistrate, but he remembers what happened from before so he refrains from spilling the beans. He could quite likely serve his country better outside of prison.
Odd.
"Err, yeah. What exactly will we be doing?"
-
The Chief Magistrate raises an eyebrow at Udo's question, because the answer is self-evident.
"Clean up the rubble; rehouse the citizenry; keep order," he replies sternly.
-
"Would we be allowed to begin forming militia in case of the Oni and Yunikawa's return? Perhaps having more soldiers of our side would turn such a battle to our favor."
Miya asks.
(OOC: Totally don't believe myself. ;D I just want some meat shields.)
-
"We'll leave that to General Meji," Chief Magistrate Yama-Uno answers Miya.
"The General has already assembled what's left of Sendai's Army and positioned it west of the City. The Nobles have formed a watch in the city itself (which you will have to 'handle' yourselves as you see fit. They will insist on 'helping' to protect Sendai in its hour of need (and they should), but as my Yoriki, you are ultimately responsible for seeing to Sendai's safety now."
-
Yuki bows to the new magistrate and then leaves the room. Once she's outside of the building she casts Clairvoyance to see what the situation is like in Kurokawa.
---
Casting her spell, Yuki looks in on the Village of Kurokawa; seeing the small central square outside the Village Elders house.
It is immediately apparent that something is terribly wrong.
The entire square is filled with older male villagers (twenty five and over) – all fist-fighting each other in some kind of massive brawl. They look incredibly pissed at each other and give no rhyme nor reason to their attacks – punching, kicking, biting, choking, and throwing each other around with apparently random aggression toward whoever happens to be closest to them at any given moment.
Yuki also notices that there are no younger men, women, or children anywhere in sight – just the older men of the village.
Additionally, the surrounding houses all seem haphazardly left open and neglected – as if no one is actually living in them anymore…
-
Roka simply bows to the Magistrate.
"Thank you, honorable magistrate." He states, and begins to leave.
"Come Yoriki, we need to gather our Doshin. The day is short and we have much to do." Roka states. Intent on setting up his Doshin, and then gathering his minions, and then finding Yone.
---
Heading outside, Roka sees Yuki with a 'far-off' look in her eyes (almost as if she is in some sort of a daze)...
-
The Chief Magistrate raises an eyebrow at Udo's question, because the answer is self-evident.
"Clean up the rubble; rehouse the citizenry; keep order," he replies sternly.
"Hai!" Udo salutes, then bows. "If possible, however, I'd like to speak to the new High Priest of Sendai, if possible. Can I? After I set up my new doshin, of course."
-
The Chief Magistrate looks at Udo as if Udo is the dumbest moron in all of Nippon for some unknown reason.
"Just go do whatever it is you need to go do." He sighs - waving Udo off.
-
"Thank you, Chief Magistrate." Udo bows once more and leaves to get his doshin, and then to meet the High Priest.
-
"Thank you for your time." Rai says as he bows and leaves.
-
"Thank you Magistrate, I will gather my Doshin and see what I can do to help."
Miya bows before leaving.
Outside she finds Yuki apparently casting some sort of spell, so Miya waits nearby until Yuki is done doing whatever she usually does.
When she comes out of the spell Miya will ask her a question in a quiet tone.
"Is it right for the gods and demons to manipulate us as pieces in their game?"
-
Heading outside, Roka sees Yuki with a 'far-off' look in her eyes (almost as if she is in some sort of a daze)...
Roka waits patiently near Yuki (and now Miya) until she returns to the real world, and gives her a chance to explain. If she doesnt, he'll simply smile.
"I'll see you all later, alright? I have some Buisness to attend to." He states, and heads on. If Yuki saw/was told anything that needed to be said, she'd tell him. If not, it won't matter until later.
-
Yuki snaps back to reality and looks at Miya and Roka (and whoever else is there).
"It seems the village of Kurokawa in is trouble. We should head to my house so we can go to Kurokawa quickly."
She states.
"Hmm... probably? Do you disagree with one of the tasks we were given?"
Yuki asks Miya in response to her question.
-
"Yuki, the daimyo will be in Sendai soon. We can not leave now! The trouble in kurokawa can wait, right?" Roka asks
-
"Yuki, the daimyo will be in Sendai soon. We can not leave now! The trouble in kurokawa can wait, right?" Roka asks
"Probably... not? If you're concerned about the Daiymo arriving, someone can stay behind and let us know when he shows up, so we can come back."
Yuki replies.
"Because I know how to teleport now!"
She says triumphantly.
-
"You know how to teleport?" Roka asks.
"When did you even..." He begins, but then trails off. "Fine, we could do that. Um, think we could convince the head priest to warn us a few hours before the Daimyo arrives?"
-
"You know how to teleport?" Roka asks.
"When did you even..." He begins, but then trails off. "Fine, we could do that. Um, think we could convince the head priest to warn us a few hours before the Daimyo arrives?"
"I don't think they know the exact time the Daiymo will arrive back..."
Yuki replies.
"If you'd like we may be able to get them to alert me once the Daiymo arrives. Teleporting back won't take long, unless we get separated."
-
"We probably won't be separated." Roka says with a grin.
"So, what's actually happening in Kurokawa?" Roka asks.
-
"I just think they should keep their conflict out of the mortal world. But that doesn't mean I don't appreciate their help in saving the world."
Miya says to Yuki as a response before letting Roka and Yuki talk.
"If we are needed in Kurokawa then we should go as quickly as possible."
-
Rai shakes his head and says, "We need to prove the Daymio is a Yoaki so that sendai stands with us. As much as I would like to help the village as soon as possible we need to be here to plan for Dayimo's arrival so that he doesn't have time to prepare. Also since they are working for the Chinese we can expect they know we killed that wu-jen in the village and will execute us."
-
Udo magically decides to be with the rest of the group to join in, "Do you think we should just split up? What exactly needs to be done in Kurokawa?"
-
Rai shakes his head and says, "We need to prove the Daymio is a Yoaki so that sendai stands with us. As much as I would like to help the village as soon as possible we need to be here to plan for Dayimo's arrival so that he doesn't have time to prepare. Also since they are working for the Chinese we can expect they know we killed that wu-jen in the village and will execute us."
"We aremt doing anything Rai. The ancestors said that the priests must do that. We have an obligation to help the village. We go, and we will return when the daimyo arrives."
"Yuki, we need to have a priest ready to contact us, can you make sure that happens?"
-
"We probably won't be separated." Roka says with a grin.
"So, what's actually happening in Kurokawa?" Roka asks.
"Fighting and a lack of people. I can go speak with the Exalted Patriarch Onishi and request he get in contact with me should the Daiymo arrive before we return."
Yuki replies.
"Stay if you want, Rai, but we were not tasked by the ancestors to prove anything about the Daiymo. The only reason we need to be here when he returns is to not cause suspicion."
-
"Fighting and a lack of people. I can go speak with the Exalted Patriarch Onishi and request he get in contact with me should the Daiymo arrive before we return."
Yuki replies.
"That would be perfect Yuki. All of you, get your doshin, and arrange for them to work. I'll have my remaining students help out with the efforts while we are gone. When do you think we should leave Yuki?"
-
"That would be perfect Yuki. All of you, get your doshin, and arrange for them to work. I'll have my remaining students help out with the efforts while we are gone. When do you think we should leave Yuki?"
"As soon as we can. I'll go to the priest, then instruct my Doshin, and I'll meet you all back at my home."
Yuki replies.
-
"Sounds good." Roka states.
"Yoriki, it's time to move out. Talk to whomever you need to, and let's go, the next time we will be in Sendai is when the Daimyo returns."
-
"I will go see to my Doshin then, hopefully they will have the (cough)common sense(cough) to start helping to rebuild Sendai already."
Miya says after Roka.
-
"Yeah, I'll set up my doshin and maybe fit in a short conference with the High Priest before getting to your house, Yuki. I'll be sure to be uh, swift." Udo states, readying to leave.
-
"As soon as we can. I'll go to the priest, then instruct my Doshin, and I'll meet you all back at my home."
Yuki replies.
Rai sighs and says, "How about we meet tonight. That gives us a day to set our affairs here in motion."
-
Rai sighs and says, "How about we meet tonight. That gives us a day to set our affairs here in motion."
Yuki ignores Rai and begins walking to the temple.
-
CONTINUED IN MULTIPLE THREADS:
- Roka’s Thread (http://www.bountyheadbebop.com/forum/index.php?topic=1336.0)
- Yuki’s Thread (http://www.bountyheadbebop.com/forum/index.php?topic=1333.0)
- Miya’s Thread (http://www.bountyheadbebop.com/forum/index.php?topic=1334.0)
- Udo’s Thread (http://www.bountyheadbebop.com/forum/index.php?topic=1335.0)
- Rai’s Thread (http://www.bountyheadbebop.com/forum/index.php?topic=1337.0)
-
Back at Yuki's house, Roka is the first to arrive, seeing not one, but two Elementals (Water & Air) scooting around the area, while Yuki appears to be inside inspecting the floor?
-
As Roka was standing there, he also happened to see Udo coming along.
-
Roka looks remarkably confused upon seeing Yuki and 2 elementals cleaning up her home.
"Mid-Summer cleaning?" he asks, puzzled.
-
Yuki looks up at Udo and Roka and shakes her head.
"Poison Traps. Someone is trying to kill us... probably Lee..."
She remarks.
"Are the two of you ready to go?"
-
"Lovely" Roka says, angrily.
"And no, unfortunately. We have buisness in Sendai to attend to." Roka says, as he heads on inside.
"Is the house safe?"
-
"Probably."
Yuki replies as she nods. Then as if just remembering something, walks over to one of the broken clay pots and casts Postcognition on it, to see if she can tell who placed it.
-
"Probably."
Yuki replies as she nods. Then as if just remembering something, walks over to one of the broken clay pots and casts Postcognition on it, to see if she can tell who placed it.
"Good enough for me" Roka says with a shrug.
"Udo, follow, we all need to talk." He says to the forest ward.
-
"I think we should go soon..." Udo mumbles. The fight can't be going on much longer if it's even still on.
"Let's make it quick, Roka." He says, following Roka to wherever.
-
Yuki ... walks over to one of the broken clay pots and casts Postcognition on it, to see if she can tell who placed it.
Yuki sees the pots being made in a Yakuza Lab by a Poison Master and eventually being sold to Kado Hasekura (the first cousin of Daimyo Shinsen Hasakura) - who then snuck into Yuki's house and expertly placed them there...
-
Yuki sees the pots being made in a Yakuza Lab by a Poison Master and eventually being sold to Kado Hasekura (the first cousin of Daimyo Shinsen Hasakura) - who then snuck into Yuki's house and expertly placed them there...
"Oh. I suppose that makes sense too."
Yuki says to herself after her inspection is complete.
"What do you mean business to attend to in Sendai, Roka?"
-
"I have been told that the traitor Lee the Korean, and the four vampire servants of Yukinawa reside in the home of Kado Hasekura." Roka states simply.
"We have a duty to Sendai to rid them of filth like that, and I don't think we can leave Sendai without taking care of them."
-
"We also have a duty to the city of Kurokawa, Roka..." Udo begins, "Lee and the Vampires could probably be, uh, dealt with later. The situation in Kurokawa seems much more urgent."
-
"Udo, there are incredibly powerful forces that are literally acting against us in our own home. Kurokawa matters, I agree, but our first objective must be to protect the fortress city, especially in this time." Roka states with conviction.
"Last time we went on a mission, and neglected our duty as warriors of Sendai, this town was brought to ruin. We can not allow that to happen again."
-
We're this conversation taking place a year ago, Udo would have backed down, But now I'm a Forest Ward now... I have a title and everything.
"But, uh, Roka, those forces aren't going anywhere. The problem in Kurokawa needs to be resolved now or never. I don't think this trip will take too long anyhow, right, Yuki?"
-
"I'd rather them go away from Sendai, Udo. If they did, I would not have a problem. The fact that they are here, and actively acting against us, is a problem that must be quickly removed."
-
Yuki nods in approval to Udo, but otherwise says nothing.
-
"I dunno, Roka... You think we can take down 4 of Yunikawa's bodyguards, plus Lee, while they reside in the home of one of the most powerful families in Sendai?"
Udo shakes his head, "And besides that, why do we have to do that before Kurokawa?"
-
"We can and we must, Udo. And we must do it first, since the longer they are here, the harder it will be to remove them." Roka states.
"As for being in the home of Kado Hasekura, I have a sneaking suspicion that the Hasekura known as Kado lives no more." Roka states.
"We can draw them out, and kill them seperately. 'Kado Hasekura' is in Sendai, speaking dissent against us. If not the four vampires, we must kill him, at least."
-
Udo sighs and looks to Yuki, "Uh, what are your thoughts on this? You wanted to go, but I dunno if you need all of us to go to the Village, but we need to make a decision."
-
"We don't all need to go."
Yuki replies. She then looks at Roka.
"We are not assassins, Roka. If you wish to rally Sendai against Lee and the four vampires, I doubt the people will be opposed. They are in league with Yunikawa, the one who caused all this destruction, after all. Perhaps you could talk with the Exalted Patriarch or some other high members of the city and convince them to help once the five are located."
-
"Ooh, good idea Yuki." Roka says, nodding.
"The general is out of town, but we could probably gather some Priests and warriors, right?"
-
"Probably."
Yuki replies.
-
Miya arrives shortly afterwards with a grim look on her face and her body slightly tensed as if expecting an ambush.
-
Coming to the left of her is Rai who seems to not be in a rush.
-
"Are you two ready to go?"
Yuki asks.
-
"Yes, but we should be careful when we get back."
Miya leaves the issue unspoken until they have left Sendai as she wouldn't be surprised if the Magistrate sent someone to follow her.
-
"All good over here.Rai says.
-
"Great!"
Yuki announces happily.
"Well, good luck, Roka!"
She says, teleporting herself, Udo, Miya and Rai to just outside of Kurokawa. Whether by accident or on purpose, her Unrequiting Mirror falls to the floor after she disappears.
-
"I'll see you guys soon." Roka says with a somber nod, as the group teleports. He then begins to turn away and leave the house, but he notices that Yuki seemed to have dropped her Mirror.
"Huh." Roka says, picking it up, and putting it in his pocket. "I'll have to thank Yuki when I get there."
-
Thinking at Roka Rai says, "Don't forget our link. I could also transfer messages to Yuki."
-
Thinking at Roka Rai says, "Don't forget our link. I could also transfer messages to Yuki."
"Right, forgot about that. Tell Yuki thanks." Roka says, as he begins to head to the Ancestor temple.
---
Roka's Thread Continues HERE (http://www.bountyheadbebop.com/forum/index.php?topic=1386.0)
-
11th Day of Mid Summer 1303
Kurokawa Held Hostage
Leaving Roka in Sendai, Yuki teleports herself, Miya, Udo, and Rai back to the Village of Kurokawa.
Arriving at the outskirts of the village, about two in the afternoon, they see that they are standing on the narrow cart track leading into Kurokawa.
Up ahead, the Samurai can see a makeshift shantytown sitting in a neglected bean field, just off the road – hobbled together from old boards, tarps, and blankets. What appear to be most (if not all) of Kurokawa’s children currently occupy the area. Milling about aimlessly or huddled together under the shanties.
A number of older boys stand watch by a tended bonfire at the center of the hovels, completely surprised and awed by the Samurai abruptly popping out of thin air – too stunned to say anything or run away.
The children all appear to be afflicted in boils of some kind and look rather haggard and sickly.
As the Samurai take this in, a spirit of some kind slowly manifests in the road between them and the shantytown.
It appears as a willowy seven-foot tall golem, composed of a stomach churning mass of wriggling worms and other parasitical things; wearing a black porcelain facemask depicting hungry sorrow.
It stands on the road, silently regarding the company …
---
Observing the disgusting Yori with her Sorcer’s Sight, Yuki recognizes it as a Concept Spirit – Namely ‘Corruption’. The appalling thing was known to spoil food and inflict its victims with parasites and boils.
From her studies in the Sendai Order of Arcanum, Yuki knew that Concept Spirits could not be ‘killed’ – instead, they had to be ritually banished. Sure, the Samurai could use Spirit Cutting or Spells to disrupt it for a few hours, but it would always come back, over and over again, until properly banished.
Fortunately, Yuki knew the ritual for banishing this particular Yori – The porcelain facemask the Yori wore had to be struck and broken with a Shinto-blessed club, hewn from the heart of a freshly felled spirit willow; a tree that only grows high in the mountains and marks the transition between the physical realm and the spirit world.
That and it could not pass over a line of salt…
-
"I see..."
Yuki says out loud.
"So this is what the Ancestors meant when they said we needed to set right the mischief we caused. How awful."
She then turns to the rest of the group.
"We need salt."
-
Udo coughs, wondering if he was ever close to that level of disgustingness.
"Yuki, I can make sure the golem thingy doesn't move for a while, I think. You think you can quickly get some salt from the village? Assuming it'll help stop it somehow." Udo says, considering to change form. He can shrug poison and disease, so holding this demon down should be easy enough. I hope.
-
Rai looks up and says, "Sorry but I don't carry salt in its pure form."
-
"Oh, help us, help us!" the children in the shantytown cry - terrified of the yori standing between them and the Samaurai.
-
"Oh, help us, help us!" the children in the shantytown cry - terrified of the yori standing between them and the Samaurai.
Yuki looks at the children and smiles.
Okay, new plan. Destroy that spirit!"
She says to everyone. Yuki then orders the Water elemental to standby, the wind elemental to protect the children, and takes out her lopan to assist the others. To start, Yuki casts Karma drain on the spirit, an attempts to use Jinx to prevent it from attacking back.
-
Rai runs out in front quickly throwing 2 of his silver knives (If successful boosted with ancestors rebuke.)
"Let's move Udo." Rai shouts as he gives 4 surges to udo.
-
The Forest Ward gazes from the sickly children to Yuki, "We'll deal with this fiend, don't worry."
Udo grunts to Rai in thanks, dramatically reaching his arm out and subsequently bringing his fingers together into a fist. "Creations of the Earth, pin this evil spirit down for us!" (4 surge Entangle-pin).
Whether or not it works, Udo will then charge the corrupt Golem with his demon-slaying Naginata (empowered by Ancestor's Rebuke).
-
Seeing the desolate state of the town and the sick children causes Miya to close her eyes for a moment in shame.
As the spirit appears she draws her bow and attunes it to her own spirit before taking aim, planning to use 4 of the lightning arrows she carries. Using all her talents she unleashes a barrage of what one would call 'Spirit-Lightning' on the Golem. "We shall remove you vile spirit."
(Item: [4]Lightning Arrows.) (AF: Spirit Arrows, Heroic Surge and/or Ki Master, Flight follows the Eye, Rain of Shooting Stars(On the Golem's area), Multi-Shot, Through the Heart, and finally Grievous Injury Technique)
-
As everyone readied to set the Yori in its place, it raised a hand towards the Samurai – and Yuki, not wanting to know what was going to happen next, Jinxed it. Somewhat persistently, it exerted its will and continued with the gesture anyway – and suddenly, everyone felt a slight irritation of their skin. Looking down at their arms, the Samurai noticed tiny mottled maggots crawling across their flesh and trying to chew their way inside…
Yuki drew deep not to freak out (Luck) and cast Karma Drain, sucking out only three points of Luck. At least now she knew it didn’t have any left to oppose her powers.
As this went on, the Air Elemental went over to the children and stirred up a wall of dust between them and the Yori. The children could no longer see the foul spirit, which was a good thing, but they remained frightened nonetheless.
Ignoring the parasites on himself for now, Rai ran out and threw two of his silver knives – boosted with ancestors rebuke. The knives seemed to melt into liquid mercury midair – and slammed through the Yori like radiant comets!
The Yori exploded into a shower of black putrescent goop after taking 32 and then 20 points of Damage. The porcelain mask then fell to the ground, before it and the wicked slimy mess abruptly sizzle away like drops of water dancing across a hot skillet.
Udo, who had had some pretty impressive plans on how to deal with the Yori (before Rai squashed it with such surprising ease) – couldn’t bear the thought of these things burrowing into him any longer and immediately threw himself to the ground in a fit of rolling and flopping around in the dirt. It was unclear if it was doing anything to help remove them however.
Miya meanwhile, didn’t especially care for the skin crawling sensation and prickly bites these maggots were giving her all over, but for the moment, she was able to steel herself past it – though how were they going to get rid of these horrifying little bloodsuckers?
That, and nasty looking red welts were beginning to form along the tracks these unwholesome littler critters were making across everyone’s flesh!
-
"Ewwww" Yuki remarks looking at herself and the others.
"Water elemental, heal all of us", she commands.
-
The Water Elemental does so, curing the contagion on all of the Samurai - causing the mottled maggots to snap and pop as it washes them all away - leaving the Samurai clean, welt free, and a bit damp.
-
Rai in a form of shock says, "That was surprisingly easy. Yuki is it really gone or did we just temporarily stop it?"
-
Rai in a form of shock says, "That was surprisingly easy. Yuki is it really gone or did we just temporarily stop it?"
"It will be back" Yuki replies dramatically. She then turns her attention to her elementals.
"Good work. Water elemental, begin healing the children. Wind elemental, quickly explore the town and then tell us what you find."
She commands. Yuki then casts gate and creates a portal to Morioka.
-
The Water Elemental washes over to the children and cleans up a few of them, then returns to burble that is has no more spell energy. The majority of children are still afflicted.
Yuki opens a Gate to the Fortress City of Morioka as her Air Elemental whirls off into the Village of Kurokawa to check things out.
Needless to say, the people on the other end of the Gate (in Morioka)are more than a little surprised by the Gate's sudden appearance, and scurry back, as a few of the city guard take notice.
A moment later, and Yuki becomes aware that her Air Elemental has just been Dispelled.
-
"Hm... Can someone escort the children to the Temple?"
Yuki asks, pointing to the portal.
"That's Morioka. They should be able to help. Probably."
She says, looking through the other side and waving at them.
"There's something else here though..."
Yuki states, turning and scanning the village.
-
Udo, admittedly disappointed that he couldn't deal with the Golem his own way, moves over to the children and bends down to look at them at eye-level.
"Does your city have a medicine shop? With Ofudas?"
-
"City?" one child asks incredulously.
"I heard Sendai has everything!" a little girl offers helpfully.
"My daddy is going to buy me a real live dragon!" a young boy adds.
-
Udo sighs, "If only, if only... I want a dragon too."
He shakes his head, "I misspoke. Does your village, Kurokawa, have a pharmacy or something?"
-
"A what?" one child asks.
"He means medicine," a ten year old boy replies.
Then to Udo, he says - "The Village Elders have all the healing herbs and teas in their homes. But they are all fighting each other in the square. If you go there, they will beat you and throw you out! We can't go back there!"
-
Udo looks to Yuki and the others with a shrug. "How do you think we can stop it? Isn't that what we came here for?"
He turns back to the children with a weak smile, "Do you know what they're fighting over? We want to help."
-
"No," another child answers bursting into tears.
"They are mean, and yell at us, and throw rocks at us!"
"I want my daddy!"
The older boy then adds, "Our mothers are missing and our fathers chased us all out of the village. Then that monster ghost came to haunt us and made everyone sick."
-
Miya walks over to the children and kneels down before them. "Then let us leave this village until my friends have calmed the storm."
She then gets up and offers a hand to the children to show she won't hurt them.
"Come with me through the portal, you will be safe there."
-
"Halt!" one of the Samurai of Morioka yells from his side of the gate while looking through.
"What are you doing Wujen? And Samurai - who is your Daimyo? You cannot just pop into Morioka like this! And what is wrong with those children? They look diseased. Close this magic immediately!"
-
Udo turns after Miya, "No! That's a bad idea, the disease could spread further if the kids go elsewhere. We have to deal with the problem now. Heck, I dunno... We need to screen ourselves, possibly. We need to get the medicines from the village after we settle things down." If only Roka was here, he could calm the folks pretty easy, I'd bet.
After stopping the kids from moving through the gate, Udo calls to the Samurai, "Err, sorry about that. But this village is disease ridden, and the children are being terrified by some sort of corrupted golem spirit thing." He looks back to Yuki, "But we have to keep it contained for now. What we need from Morioka is, uh... Yuki?"
-
"Halt!" one of the Samurai of Morioka yells from his side of the gate while looking through.
"What are you doing Wujen? And Samurai - who is your Daimyo? You cannot just pop into Morioka like this! And what is wrong with those children? They look diseased. Close this magic immediately!"
"We are samurai of Sendai and our Daimyo is Shinsen Hasekura. These children were afflicted by a spirit and require assistance from the priests at your temple."
Yuki replies. She then turns to Udo.
"I see... Then we should banish the spirit quickly."
She then turns back to the Samurai of Morioka.
"In that case, we will need a priest to preform a blessing ritual so we can banish this spirit. And salt."
Yuki says. Then (assuming she can have two gates open at once) she casts a gate to the Red Shinto Arches on the Mountain Pass between the Mutsu and Dewa Provinces. In order to prevent too much of the disease from spreading, she decides to make the actual gate a bit off of the trail.
(OOC: Why is the OOC thread locked?)
-
"Ah, the famous Samurai of Sendai," the Morioka Samurai replies through the gate, covering his mouth at the mention of contagious diseases.
"Uhm, yes - keep the children there and we'll send a Priest through with some salt."
As she waited for the Priest and supplies, Yuki opened another Gate - this one opening on the Red Shinto Arches they had been to, when crossing the high mountain pass between the Mutsu and Dewa Provinces.
Sure enough, a number of silvery spirit willows were growing along the outskirts of the arches, all within sight of the gate.
-
"Udo, can you go cut down one of those spirit willows?"
Yuki requests, pointing to one of silvery spirit willows. She then turns to Miya and whispers:
"Ehehe, we're famous."
-
"Yeah, though you'll have to tell me why at some point." Udo states with a chuckle, heading over there.
Once he passes through the gate, he tries to see if his Entangle-powers can be used for something like cutting down a tree, or he'd have to messily smash one off with a weapon.
-
Udo considers to show the world just how powerful his Forest Ward abilities are by ripping an entire tree out of the ground as a giant bear, when he realizes how offensive that might be to the Earth itself."
"Uh, Yuki?" He calls, only turning his head back, "Are you sure we need an entire Spirit Willow Tree?"
-
Udo considers to show the world just how powerful his Forest Ward abilities are by ripping an entire tree out of the ground as a giant bear, when he realizes how offensive that might be to the Earth itself."
"Uh, Yuki?" He calls, only turning his head back, "Are you sure we need an entire Spirit Willow Tree?"
"We need the heart of a freshly felled spirit willow."
Yuki replies, as if she's mentally reading off of something.
-
"Right..."
Udo nods, mostly to himself. He sets his footing and plants his feet into the ground as he transforms into a Dire Bear.
Once formed completely, Udo Kuwabara will growl angrily at the tree before attempting to slash at its lower areas, and then ram it to knock it over in a safe zone so it doesn't hit the other trees. Assuming that succeeds, he will surgically cut into the bark, and search for whatever the 'heart of a tree' is.
-
In a rather savage fashion, Udo manages to uproot and peel away the bark and outer trunk of a Spirit Willow - obtaining a decent section of the central rings (AKA the heart).
-
Grabbing at the Heart, Udo carries it to the gate back to Kurokawa, shuffling his paws to kick his clothes back there as well.
Once back, he lays it on the ground near Yuki, though he doesn't bother to morph back just yet.
-
Rai looks at udo and casts send thoughts and asks, "Are we infected again?"
-
Udo turns to him and gives a soft growl back. Maybe, dunno. You'd think Yuki's elemental would have cured us for sure, but I'm not certain about it. We'll have to wait and see. Won't be a problem if we can find some Ofudas, though.
-
After a few minutes, a Priest of the Morioka Temple of The Ancestors arrives at the Gate with a large sack of salt in each arm.
Stepping through the gate he asks, "You need a circle of salt? This should be enough. What are we looking at here?"
Then looking at the children he grimaces - "Ooh, that's a nasty pox. Probably a good idea to close the Gate to Morioka."
"I'll stay here and help where I can."
Setting the salt down, he then summons another Water Elemental and directs it to start cleansing more children.
"The name is Yoshi Ueshima," he continues, "nice to meet you."
-
"Thank you for your assistance, Yoshi Ueshima. We need to create a Shinto blessed club out of the heart of a freshly felled spirit willow."
Yuki replies, pointing to what Udo brought back with him.
"Do you need anything from Morioka to preform such a ritual?"
-
"OK, that makes sense," the Priest Yoshi says, taking out some prayer strips and incense. "Won't take but a moment," he continues, lighting the incense with a candle he draws from a pocket (that happens to already be lit at the time).
After making some signs over the piece of Spirit Willow with his fingers and grunting out a few prayer words, he smiles and pockets everything again - burning candle, smoking incense, and all.
"That should do it," he smiles.
"So you got a Corruption Spirit, eh?"
"Good, good, Easy enough to deal with, just got to wallop it in the mask. There's far worse Yori out there to be sure. Rather fortunate this is all you had to deal with."
-
Yuki closes the gates for now.
"There may be more. Something in the town dispelled my wind elemental when I sent it to investigate."
She replies.
"But yes, it's a corruption spirit. Can you stay here with the children while we investigate the rest of the village?"
She requests.
"And Udo, you should use the... club?"
Yuki suggests, tilting her head upon realizing he's still in bear form.
-
Rai looks at the priest and says, "We should probably separate the healthy children from the sick ones to keep them from being infected again.
-
Bah, can't stay like this forever. The bear gives a sigh, taking the club from Yuki with its mouth and dropping it before shifting back into human Udo.
"Yeah," Udo grunts, meanwhile getting his clothes back on, "When will the spirit be back?" Once done with that, he'd pick up the club.
-
"Probably in a few hours. We should have enough time to investigate the rest of the village before it returns."
Yuki replies.
-
"Oh, it should only be a half hour or so, form being physically destroyed, for a Corruption Spirit," Priest Yoshi replies, picking the salt bags up.
Then handing one to Rai, he continues - "If you would, help me pour a circle of salt around this collection of little huts. The children can stay in there and the Yori won't be able to get to them."
"It will also serve to keep them from becoming re-infected."
At that point, the Water Elemental comes over to report that it has (like Yuki's Elemental), run out of spell energy. The Priest thanks it, dismisses it, and then summons a new one.
"Please cleanse as many of these children of disease as you can," he directs the new Elemental.
Then to Yuki he says, "We should only need one more elemental after that one."
"Now then, to contain the Contagion from spreading to the rest of the village," he continues, "we all should stand in the salt circle and wait for the Yori to come back."
"Once it is dealt with, then the risk of accidently spreading the disease will greatly be reduced."
-
Then, as an after thought, he adds, "Besides, if you really do have more than this one Yori to deal with here, it's best to tackle these sort of things one at a time."
"So then, what can you tell me about what's going on here?"
-
Rai nods and starts making a circle of salt around the town.
-
Not being a very good liar, Yuki explains to Yoshi how she and the other samurai dug up the fallen heroes, about Yunikawa's betrayal, and about the Ancestors instructing them about fixing this city (she won't mention anything about the diamyo or Rokurokubi).
She then will use read aura on Yoshi to see what kind of person he is.
"Also, I saw what seemed to be the men of the village in a brawl at the city centre before coming here."
She'll finish with.
-
"Oh my, what an unfortunate series of events," Yoshi says - as Yuki sees from his aura, he is a Good aligned Priest of some experience.
Then, concerning the village, he adds, "Hmm... another Yori for sure. These things are quite territorial."
"If the children were here, and the men are fighting in there, and the village women and youth are missing, then we are looking at a minimum of three to four Yori - each with its own thrall of poor villagers to torment."
Then, as if on cue - the Corruption Spirit suddenly re-manifests on the road outside the circle of salt...
-
"Udo, attack!"
Yuki yells dramatically, casting karma drain then jinx on the spirit. She'll also use alter chance if it seems like Udo might miss the mask of the spirit.
-
Looking at the re-manifested spirit Miya gains an amused smile as she draws her bow in case Udo fails in his attack.
"At least this means that the village is safe from that spirit right?"
-
Rai says, "Damn at least stay dead for a little while longer!" He stays just inside the circle.
-
With but a nod, Udo runs at the corruption spirit and angrily takes a heavy swing at its head.
-
With a powerful overhand swing, Udo brings the Shinto-Blessed club down on the Yori's vile head - splatting worms and parasites everywhere and knocking the porcelain face mask right down into the thing's chest cavity for 10 Damage.
Undeterred, the Corruption Spirit slams Udo across the waist with its disgusting appendage - doing 8 Damage and covering Udo in more of those little mottled maggots.
A moment later, and the porcelain face mask rises back up with a newly constituted head.
-
"Ooh! You almost got it!" Priest Yoshi cheers - "Aim for the mask!"
-
Goddammit. Udo grunts, covered in slime. This time, he specifically aims for the mask (since head isn't specific enough).
-
Udo lines up a strike. just as the Yori opens its mouth wide - to disgorge a massive swarm of lanky black mosquitoes and tiny biting gnats. These immediately fly into Udo's eyes, nose, and ears - blinding him, while suffocating his breathing, and drowning out all sound with an incessant buzzing!
Ignoring all this, Udo takes his swing and feels the Shinto Blessed club find its mark - smashing the white porcelain facemask and shattering it into dust!
Immediately the Yori howls with a terrible cry and begins to roil in upon itself – stumbling about blindly as it does.
A moment later it seems to draw in a great rush of air (sucking in the swarm of mosquitoes and gnats dive-bombing Udo), and then utterly implodes with a loud pop!
-
"Good work, Udo! Now, let's look into the rest of the village and rid them of their Yori."
Yuki says.
"Yoshi, we'll leave the care of the children to you!"
She announces, beginning to walk into the village with her water elemental.
"We'll let you know what we find, probably."
-
"Ah, yes, OK then," Yoshi replies - "be careful!"
"I'll be here with the kids if you need any more help."
-
Rai yells at yuki, "Wait till Udo is healed before we go into the village. He was just fighting corruption."
-
"Don't worry about it, Rai." Udo mutters after having a coughing fit, trying to swipe away the gunk sprayed on him. "Just follow Yuki, I'll catch up pretty soon."
He turns to the priest, "Priest Yoshi, thank you for your assistance, but uh, can you please heal me?"
-
Rai shakes his head and says, "No we are a team I will wait for you here. Besides when we get jumped whose going to disable the villagers without killing them. I don't have much hand to hand combat training neither does Yuki or Miya were all long range. We need you to fight the angry men in town."
-
Priest Yoshi, casts Suppress Toxins on Udo, curing him of any infectious diseases the yori may have given him.
"Probably best you all go together," he adds, "but either way, you must take care not to enter the Yoris' domains without the proper precautions, or you will come under their power. Unfortunately, you'll need to find out what kind of yori they are first, before you'll know what precautions to take."
-
Now how are we going to do that? Hopefully Yuki can do something with her Wujen powers...
Udo bows, "Thank you priest. Hopefully we'll be able to deal with them. But for now, what are you going to do with the children? I'm honestly not sure how contagious the disease is."
-
"I'm going to keep them here until you Samurai clear the village and make right whatever it is the Ancestors wanted you to make right here (these Yori I suspect being part of that) haha!"
"And now that the corruption yori is gone, I think you will all be OK."
-
"I wonder if these Yori were summoned by Yunikawa?"
Miya says as she begins walking after Yuki to make sure she is safe. She throws a glance back at Rai and Udo in an effort to make them hurry up.
-
It was getting late in the afternoon, as Yuki, Miya, Udo, and Rai left Priest Yoshi and the children in the shantytown and moved cautiously into the village. No one was around in any of the outer buildings, and each looked as if it had simply been abandoned and left as is; with a thin layer of undisturbed dust that now covered everything.
Approaching the village square, a loud commotion could be heard ahead.
Quietly creeping between the houses (which really wasn’t necessary due to all the noise), the Samurai looked out and could see the square filled with the older men of the village, perhaps sixty or so – all fist-fighting each other in some kind of massive brawl.
Like Yuki had seen with her Clairvoyance, they were incredibly brutal with each other and gave no rhyme or reason to their attacks – punching, kicking, biting, choking, and throwing each other around with reckless abandon.
Using Spirit Sight, Yuki and Udo could both see another unmanifested Yori, standing in the square amidst the raucous mob.
It appeared as a twelve foot tall O-Bakemono (ogre) and was armed with a massive black naginata that seemed to weep blood continuously, staining the Yori’s hands and arms in a crimson sheen. It wore course iron plates banded with barbed chains across the expanse of its heavily muscular body and a ferocious-looking war mask fashioned of rough iron.
Yuki knew that this Yori was far more powerful than the last one the Samurai had faced – it was Malice – one she knew well from her studies of mystic lore.
This Yori could stir up the hearts of men to incredible depths of hate and anger and was sometimes the cause of much senseless bloodshed and, in one recorded case, even caused a civil war.
The villagers trapped in its power would fight and brawl and do everything short of killing each other, magically sustained by the Yori to do so indefinitely. Anyone unlucky enough to be caught by these men would be beaten senseless and thrown back out of the Yori’s domain – that is, if they did not fall sway to the Yori’s power first.
Fortunately, Yuki also knew how to banish it, but therein lay the problem – it needed to be splashed with the sorrowful tears of the village women…
-
"Hmm... Okay, let's go find the women now."
Yuki announces quietly, carefully avoiding the village square. During this time, she'll start up Send Thoughts with the Exalted Patriarch to see if the Daiymo has arrived yet.
-
The Daimyo has not arrived as yet, comes back the reply.
-
Yuki thanks the Exalted Patriarch then turns to Miya.
"By the way, how was my mother?"
-
Rai assuming Yuki knows what is going on turns away with her and sneaks into the led helping clear the way for the others.
-
Yuki thanks the Exalted Patriarch then turns to Miya.
"By the way, how was my mother?"
Miya gives a look of confusion as she follows Rai and Yuki in stealth mode before sheepishly responding to Yuki.
"Oh, I knew I forgot something... I did not visit her after we separated Yuki, but last I heard she was taking care of those who had lost their homes from the attack at her Archery School."
-
"You... you forgot?"
Yuki replies in a grave tone.
"If Miya is forgetting things the world really is in danger..."
She says to no one in particular., shaking her head.
"So, she doesn't know what has become of us then?"
-
As the Samurai walked and talked - Moving from the village and to the south, where the Samurai would cross the river by way of the old stone bridge that lead into the fields, they caught sight of something quite unusual.
Down on the banks of the river was a large bathhouse that the Samurai had not seen before. It was much too splendid to have ever been a part of the village; large and spacious; with brightly colored woodwork and shimmering silk in the high windows. A soft glow came from within, as well as clouds of steam and the heavy sent of bath oil and perfume.
Looking at the bathhouse with her Sorcerer’s Sight, Yuki could tell that the building was a magical construct – physical, yet not wholly real.
Udo meanwhile, while unable to understand completely the arcane nature of the bathhouse, could see with his Spirit Sight the great spiritual energy radiating from it, and knew that it was not something of this world.
-
"Hmm..."
Yuki ponders, observing the bathhouse.
"I think it's for you, Udo."
She remarks with a smile, pointing at the bathhouse.
"Go inside."
-
"A bath house of the the spiritual sort?" Udo ponders aloud, shaking his head. "If you say so, Yuki. I hope it's safe..."
Watching where he treads, Udo slowly walks in...
-
"I hope so too, good luck!"
Yuki says with a laugh.
-
Rai looks at it and says, "Udo stop. Yuki that was a bad suggestion. This is a new building and it could be where the women from town are which means there is likely another spirit."
-
Udo stops for a moment, "... Which means we need to go inside it. Well, Yuki does, since she'll be able to tell us how we're supposed to deal with the spirits."
He turns his head back to the others, "I dunno, it seems that the bath house is of great spiritual energy, I think Yuki back me up or something, of only since I can't identify the spirits like she can."
-
"How about we draw a line of salt around the bathhouse first or is that not needed?"
Miya suggests while trying to get over the shock of forgetting something for once in her life.
-
Rai looks at udo and says, "Why don't you send one of your furry friends inside to check out the place? Maybe they can give us an idea as to what we are facing."
-
"I suppose you're right..."
Yuki says, looking at Rai.
"Well, guess we'll just have to go inside and find out."
She decides, walking towards the entrance of the bathhouse. On the way she'll pull out her Lopan and cast Danger Sense
-
And knowing Yuki Rai will cut her off and lift her up in a firman's carriage and say, "No yuki if all the women in there is effected with a Yori we don't want it to happen to you as well.
-
"Don't worry, Rai, we'll probably be fine."
Yuki says confidently while being held on Rai's shoulder.
"Now march!"
She says, holding her arm our towards the bathhouse.
-
"You are not going any where until Udo finishes recon." Rai says.
-
Yuki's Lopan shows no sign of imminent danger...
-
"You are not going any where until Udo finishes recon." Rai says.
"Aww..."
Yuki replies, going limp on Rai's shoulder in a defeated fashion.
"Not like his squirrels will discover anything useful."
She mumbles to herself. Yuki then idly looks around to see if she notices anything interesting.
-
Udo sighs before directing 8 of his squirrels to search through the bath house and report back. "alright guys, tell me what you find in there."
-
Udo's squirrels chitter in the affirmative and then scurry into the bathhouse. A minute later, only seven squirrels come back out to report.
'Lots of steam inside' they communicate to Udo - Hard to see. Many humans inside mating. They got Fred! Not Fred! Poor Fred!'
-
"His sacrifice wasn't in vain." Udo states with a nod to his squirrels, and then turns back to the group.
"Apparently they have some sort of, uh, meeting in there. But not the dangerous kind. Usually, at least,, I mean, they took a squirrel in there, so I guess it could get dangerous... I dunno. But we should probably fix this, regardless. I guess we can go in, but we will need to keep an eye out for the Spirit causing the, err, debauchery-- and then how to deal with it."
Awkwardly, Udo turns forward, "So, uh, yeah."
-
"Debauchery?" Rai asks with a smile and says, "Man, Roka is going to be pissed he missed this. So me and yuki go in. Unfortunately, I don't have spirit sight or I would just go in myself and hopefully get out quickly. Udo if were not out in 5 minutes turn into an animal since the yori don't seem to be affecting them and try to pull Yuki and me out. However prioritize Yuki she is more important because she knows how to dispel yori."
-
"I see. So you want to go into a bathhouse of debauchery with me, alone..."
Yuki says, lazily. Obviously not wanting this to occur, Yuki does an escape roll to get away from Rai. She then casts Mental Invisibility.
"I can enter just fine without being seen. There's no need for anyone else to come."
She announces, calmly walking towards the entrance of the bathhouse.
-
Rai casts mental invisibility and jumps out ahead and says, "I am not Roka. I am going in as a back up and because I move more silently then you and like I said your more important if you get caught we won't ever figure out what is going on. Hopefully, my presence would distract the yori giving you a chance to flee or there is the chance it is just girls in there and they are the only ones infacted in that case I would be the back up to pull you out."
"Besides your to young for my tastes." rai adds a quick and to furry in his head.
-
"I don't really know what to you think you can do in there, Rai, but, uh..." Udo shrugs, Rai already leaving.
"Hey, Squirrels, what type of humans were in the bath house? Male or female?" He asks, chittering quizzically. It'd be pretty bad if either Rai or Yuki were put under the spell.
Soon after, he turns to Miya, "You know, I thought you'd be following Rai there, being his bodyguard and all. Heh."
-
Miya shrugs as she continues to watch the area for danger.
"I don't have any invisibility and an archer isn't much use inside a small 'cramped' building. If Rai falls under the spell of the Yori then I will do what I can to help, but seeing as how we can't do anything about it yet I have no reason to risk myself and the group to provide minor protection."
She smirks before continuing, as if amused by something.
"Why don't you go in there as a bear or something to guard him for me, the Yori seem less interested in the natural wildlife so you should be safe. Who knows, I might even handle your arrow later..."
-
"Miya stop teasing him. Udo the reason your not going in is because an animal capable of dragging someone out can't be stealthy or you would be going in." Rai replies with a smile.
-
"What? I can't have some fun once in a while?"
Miya says in an amused voice.
"Would you like me to accompany you Rai? I don't know how helpful I will be inside however."
-
"What? I can't have some fun once in a while?"
Miya says in an amused voice.
"Would you like me to accompany you Rai? I don't know how helpful I will be inside however."
Rai shakes his head and says, "Nope your good out here."
-
As Yuki and Rai head in, Udo's squirrels report 'male and female of course. What else could mate?'
-
Moving through the doorway, Yuki and Rai took a few steps before the steam cleared enough for them to actually see into the interior of the spacious bathhouse. The floors where of glossy white tile and the walls of ivory with white waxwood accents. Dark stone benches surrounded the outer walls, while four massive raised pools of the same material occupied the central area – each pool reached by a wide flight of steps and heated like some giant cauldron from a glowing fire set beneath. Steam and the heavy sent of bath oils and perfume rolled from the pools and billowed up to the high domed ceiling above, which was painted to look like a pleasant afternoon sky. There, a gentle breeze, entering though the high silk draped windows, carried away the steam in swirling eddies.
Below, thrown about the space between the pools, was a myriad of rattan whicker furnishings and overstuffed pillows. It was here, and in the pools themselves, that the Samurai were greeted with a sight most obscene – For every missing villager of age (both male and female) were within the bathhouse and embroiled in a wanton orgy of carnal depravity. Centered in this hedonistic mass of undulating flesh was an obese and haggard old crone with burning eyes and a bald head. She cackled hideously like a fat Madame as men and women both tried to satisfy her unquenchable desires. But while the villagers so engaged, moaned, giggled, and panted with their pleasure seeking, their faces told another story – for each shown with terrible exhaustion and the glossed-over stare of the enthralled.
And here also, there was a powerful pull – an unreasoning compulsion to join in the ribaldry (resisted for now with -1 Luck Point each)…
Looking with her spirit sight, Yuki immediately recognized the old crone as the Yori ‘Lust’. It would trap men and women in its power, seeking to satisfy its degenerate needs – sustaining its victims magically without food or rest, but at the expense of their chi energy. Those caught up under its spell would eventually die, after slowly being drained of their energy and life force. These villagers had obviously been at it for some time, and would not last much longer than another day or so at best.
Yuki also knew that this Yori was one of the most powerful Yori there was. Even now, it was draining the Samurai’s will; and if they remained here long, they would eventually succumb to the Yori’s power. Luckily, the Lust Yori was also one of the easiest to banish (assuming one had enough self-control to complete the ritual, before falling under the Yori’s power). And no, it wasn’t by satisfying it – for Lust could never be satisfied.
One simply had to confront the Yori with a scolding rebuke from an innocent child (while maintaining the child’s innocence throughout the ritual - generally accomplished with a blindfold)…
-
Rai turns at looks at yuki grabs her and runs out of the building.
-
She smirks before continuing, as if amused by something.
"Why don't you go in there as a bear or something to guard him for me, the Yori seem less interested in the natural wildlife so you should be safe. Who knows, I might even handle your arrow later..."
"Uh, not really sure what you mean by that, uh, last part?" Udo remarks back with an awkward chuckle, "But I dunno if the bear thing would work, as fun as it might be..." Frank...
"But we'll see how things go. Hopefully both Yuki and Rai can resist whatever temptations there are in there. Apparently there are both men and women cohabitating in there."
-
Rai turns at looks at yuki grabs her and runs out of the building.
"Well, now we need a child."
She says with a nod.
"Can you go get one, Rai?"
Yuki asks with a tilt of her head.
"And a blindfold."
"... And a small container to hold liquid in."
-
As Yuki went over in her mind what they had to do next, it occurred to her that she couldn't quite remember the entire Ritual to banish the lust Yori. There was something else, after the Rebuke of the Innocent...
-
"Well, now we need a child."
She says with a nod.
"Can you go get one, Rai?"
Yuki asks with a tilt of her head.
"And a blindfold."
"... And a small container to hold liquid in."
Rai nods and asks, "Anything else?"
-
Rai nods and asks, "Anything else?"
"Hmm... Ask Yoshi what he knows about the lust Yori."
Yuki replies.
-
"One last question. Why do you need this?" Rai asks.
-
"One last question. Why do you need this?" Rai asks.
"Um... For the Yori, Rai."
Yuki replies.
-
"What was the Yori in town again?" Rai asks.
-
"What was the Yori in town again?" Rai asks.
"Malice. Why?"
Yuki asks, confused as to why Rai is asking such pointless questions.
-
"Cool" Rai responds and dashes over to the priest and says, "Hey what do you know about banishing the Lust and Malice Yori?"
-
“Ooh, those are nasty ones,” Yoshi replies to Rai’s sudden appearance and queries.
“The malice one just needs to be splashed with the sorrowful tears of the women in the village who care about their men and don’t wish to see them fighting.”
“You need to be careful though – because once you get rid of a Malice Yori, all the wounds the men have up to that point will be real. It is possible that a few could die from their injuries, if they are severe enough. Also be prepared to have to fight your way through the thralls to get to the Yori.”
“The Lust Yori is a bit more difficult,” Yoshi continues, “for her, you can banish her for twelve hours by having an innocent child deliver the ‘Virtuous Rebuke’. It’s just a simple call to shame, but you need to be wary that the Yori does not try to spoil the child’s innocence before the rebuke can be given.”
“That could be by getting the child to look at what the grownups are doing, or worse, getting the grownups to pull the child into their own lascivious acts.”
‘After the rebuke, you’ll need to have all the victims meditate in atoning prayer to the Ancestors for eight hours afterwards – or the Yori will just keep coming back. If even one villager fails to atone with the rest, the Yori will be able to come back and do it all over again. This part is very important.”
“If you like, I can lead the villagers in their meditations after you banish the Yori with the rebuke. Though we’ll need some men to ensure that they all stick around to do so until the end.”
-
Rai nods and says, "In that case we have a bit of a conumdram, all the woman and men from 13-25 are affected by lust and all the older men are affected by malice. So we need to free the woman and men get one of them to cry over the fighting use that to banish malice and hope that the older men can keep the others in line for the prayer. Is that correct?"
-
"Uhm... I suppose so... What?" Yoshi asks confused. "Are you saying free the women, then the men, then do the prayer meditation with the women?"
"If so, then yes, that should work, as long as the eight hours of meditation are done before the twelve hours are up between the Virtuous Rebuke and the Yori reforming..."
-
Yuki shakes her head as Rai walks away.
"What a strange one..."
She then decides to send thoughts to her mother, to finally let her know everyone is well (while walking back to Miya and Udo).
-
Yuki's Mom sends back - 'I know dear; Thanks to your friend Roka. He's with me now, we're meeting with General Meji about how to handle this Korean Lee fellow.'
-
Rai asks, "Do you have a container or bowl we can put the tears in?"
-
"Will this do?" Yoshi asks, handing a wooden bowl to Rai, as the children curiously crowd in around to see what's going on.
"Did you find my mommy yet?" a little boy asks Rai.
-
Rai thanks the priest and says, "We will need you to help with the prayer afterward." Then he kneels on the ground to get to the eye level of the little boy and says, "Yes we found your mommy but she needs your help. Can you listen to me and the priest in order to help your mommy?"
-
Yuki's Mom sends back - 'I know dear; Thanks to your friend Roka. He's with me now, we're meeting with General Meji about how to handle this Korean Lee fellow.'
"I see... Sorry... This is all our fault, and when Sendai needed us, we weren't there."
Yuki replies, sorrowfully.
"We'll leave the traitorously Lee to you then. After we finish up here, we'll come back and continue to try and make right what we've wronged."
-
'I know that you will make things right dear,' Yuki's mother sends - 'I have to go now, but I have faith in you my daughter.'
-
Rai thanks the priest and says, "We will need you to help with the prayer afterward." Then he kneels on the ground to get to the eye level of the little boy and says, "Yes we found your mommy but she needs your help. Can you listen to me and the priest in order to help your mommy?"
"Yes," the boy replies bravely.
-
Rai nods and says, "Great. Fallow me" Turning to the pirest he says, "Fallow me, I will lead you to the woman."
He then attempts to lead the priest and the boy back to Yuki.
-
"It is not appropriate to leave the children alone," Priest Yoshi replies, "Until the rest of the village is cleared."
"If you require my assistance, bring back someone to watch them first - and then I will come with you."
-
"Give me a second." Rai nods and sends thoughts to Yuki (casted them earlier in the day while meeting magistrate) "The priest says after the rebuke we need to have the villagers do an 8 hour meditative atonement prayer. Do you know the prayer? because if you don't it be a great help to send someone down here to watch the kids as the priest leads the prayer.
-
"Give me a second." Rai nods and sends thoughts to Yuki (casted them earlier in the day while meeting magistrate) "The priest says after the rebuke we need to have the villagers do an 8 hour meditative atonement prayer. Do you know the prayer? because if you don't it be a great help to send someone down here to watch the kids as the priest leads the prayer.
"Ah, that's right, the prayer!"
Yuki thinks back, suddenly remembering it.
"I know it, just remember to bring back the things I mentioned before!"
-
"Ok coming back with the kid and a bowl Just going to tear off a piece of from my outfit for the blindfold."
Rai looks at the priest and says, "I apologize but with the reminder of the 8 hour prayer my companion remembered it so we won't need you to come with us. Please keep watching the children hopefully this will be over with soon. Thank you for the bowl."
Looking at the boy Rai says, "We are going to help your mommy now." and sets off to the bath house.
-
Rai and the boy make it back to the bathhouse on the stony riverbank.
"Hi! I'm Taki!" The little boy says, hugging Yuki around the waist. "Ooh is that your tail?" he adds, nuzzling Yuki's foxtail under his chin and laughing when it tickles.
"Hi, I'm Taki," he also says to Miya.
No love for Udo or Rai, appearently...
Then, to inadvertently add insult to injury, he asks Yuki (about Udo's flock of beasts), "Ooh, are these all your animals? Can I have one?"
-
"Hi Taki, I'm Yuki."
Yuki replies with a smile.
"Those animals are all Udo's, so you'd have to ask him", she says, pointing to Udo.
"He probably won't let you take one though", she whispers.
"Rai, where's the blindfold?"
-
"Hi Udo," Taki says, after Yuki points him out.
"Do you got any extra animals? I could take a squirrel if you need someone to take care of it."
-
Rai takes out a knife and cuts off a piece of cloth from his sleeve and hands it to Yuki and says, "There it is."
-
Rai takes out a knife and cuts off a piece of cloth from his sleeve and hands it to Yuki and says, "There it is."
Yuki looks at the cloth then back to Rai.
"You want Taki to put that on his eyes?"
-
"Hi Udo," Taki says, after Yuki points him out.
"Do you got any extra animals? I could take a squirrel if you need someone to take care of it."
Udo's sigh at the child's unintentional rudeness turns into a chuckle.
"Ha! Uh, no, not a squirrel though. They like to act like their domestic," he pauses to stare at the horde surrounding them with a raise brow, "but they really aren't, as fun as they are. Little uh, bastards can get plenty nasty."
Udo coughs, "But I think I have an animal you'd enjoy. Starling is pretty cute, but also uh, well, you'll see."
Taking off his travel pack, he reaches into one of the pockets to reveal his hedgehog. He picks it up carefully and with both hands, to show it to Taki. "I'm surprised he's still alive after I completely forgot about him after all he's been through, and it's hard to see him go, but Starling here is much smaller than the other animals, haha. Do you want him?"
He looks to the boy and then to the hedgehog, "And are you okay with leaving us, Starling? It might be for the best, my friend, but...
Udo frowns, "Or, you can take a skunk. They don't speak much, but they can shoot really smelly stuff which is, uh, pretty cool too."
-
"WOW!!!" the boy marvels at the hedgehog - "It's got spines and everything!!!"
He holds out his hands to take the new pet, barely able to contain himself.
-
As the boy tries to take the pet, Udo keeps his grasp on it and eye the kid carefully, "And you must be responsible over him. I'll try to keep in touch but I need you promise that you'll take good care of him." The Ward begins a cursory explanation on what it needs to eat and other things involved in hedgehog-caring, and once done and Taki agrees, Udo will finallylet go of one of his brood.
-
Yuki looks at the cloth then back to Rai.
"You want Taki to put that on his eyes?"
Rai looks confuesed and asks, "Why not? It was cleaned by a water elemental about an hour ago."
-
Rai looks confuesed and asks, "Why not? It was cleaned by a water elemental about an hour ago."
Yuki looks at Rai then sighs.
"Alright, let's go then", she replies, walking towards the bathhouse.
-
Miya watches the child with amusement as he jumps from one person to another.
"Taki, did you know that Yuki can use magic?" She asks the child expecting an overly excited response.
-
"Really?" Taki says in awe - taking his blindfold off to look at Yuki. "Can you do a trick?"
Fortunately, for the Samurai, they weren't inside the bathhouse yet, as something like this happening in there, would ruin the banishment and likely put the little boy in tragic childhood-scarring trauma forever...
-
"A trick? Hmm... Probably!"
Yuki exclaims, promptly becoming invisible to Taki. She then circles around him and reappears behind him.
"See, ehehe. Now remember, you can't take blindfold off until we say so. No matter what."
Yuki then looks to the rest of the group for support, believing it unlikely that Taki will really listen to her.
-
"Yay!" Taki claps at Yuki's trick.
"OK," he then adds, to the instructions about the blindfold.
-
"Err, yeah." Udo agrees with Yuki, rubbing his chin, "in fact, if you take off your blindfold without our say-so, I may just have to take away Starling. This hedgehog's owner has to prove himself to be a good listener, see? This is very important, Taki."
-
Taki gasps at the threat and holds the hedgehog even closer, turning away from Udo - as if protecting it somehow.
"I promise," he says - "please don't take away my animal!"
-
Udo nods, "I'm sure you'll do fine, Taki. Now, uh, Yuki, you can go to fix it now, right?"
-
Rai nods and puts the cloth over the lads eyes and says, "Now walk with me and Yuki." He takes Yuki's hand and drags them both inside.
-
Rai boldly lead Yuki and little Taki by the hands and inside the bathhouse.
Once again, the two Samurai felt an overwhelming wave of sensual desire wash over them; as if the Yori had doubled, or even tripled, its powers to tempt them. Perhaps, while it could not see Yuki or Rai, it still knew that Udo and Miya were standing outside the bathhouse and had prepared for them in some way.
Steeling themselves with all the discipline of their Samurai station, and focusing their minds on the task at hand, Yuki and Rai ignored the powerful draw the bathhouse now radiated.
The disgusting Yori meanwhile, turned to regard the little boy entering with his blindfold, and hissed – “A child?!? This is no place for a child! Be gone with it immediately!!!”
Then a number of thralls disengaged from their vile activates and schlepped over toward the unsuspecting boy with depraved intentions – but at Yuki’s prompting, Taki uttered the Virtuous Rebuke before they could get to him.
Instantly, there was a collective gasp from the Yori and all the villagers present in the bathhouse.
The Yori cried out – “No!!! I have yet to be satisfied!!! No!!! Aeeeiiii!!!” before fading away like the steam rising from the heated pools. Subsequently, the pools themselves, and finally the entire bathhouse, washed away into the early evening air, evaporating into nothingness before the Samurai’s eyes.
When the bathhouse was gone, the villagers abruptly came to their senses and stood in frozen shock at what they had been engaged in. A moment later, a wailing went up from the women, who cried grievously at their embarrassment, while the men who were present just hung their heads in shame and began to look for their wives among the throng.
Taki meanwhile, stood there blindfolded, obviously confused by the sounds he was hearing – “Why are they all crying?” he asked innocently.
-
Rai gets down and says, "They just realized some bad things just happened and are sad about it. Don't take off the blindfold."
Calling to Miya and Udo he asks, "Can on of you lead him back to the priest this is no place for a child right now."
OOC: Is there clothing around BZ?
-
The Samurai see scattered clothing across the rocky banks of the river, where the Yori's bathhouse had stood.
At Rai's prompting, the villages begin to dress themselves. When all of the clothing has been picked up and put on, the Samurai notice a strange pair of slippers remain. Much too extravagant to belong to any of the villagers.
The slippers were silky green; each embellished with the stylized depiction of a dragon coiled around the foot, which of itself appeared to be fashioned from gold wire and carved pieces of green jade…
-
"I think we should go to th- Oh shiny!"
Yuki exclaims, rushing over to pick them up and see what they are.
-
Yuki seems to recall hearing about slippers like this before - Silky Dragon Slippers. It is said that the feet of whoever wears them will never touch the ground.
-
Curious, Yuki tries on the shoes and mwalks around a bit.
-
True to the legend, as soon as Yuki puts the slippers on, she notes that her feet do not in fact touch the ground. She stands only an inch higher, but is able to glide around silently without even having to make any walking motions. She simply thinks of were and how fast she wants to go and zips effortlessly in that direction...
-
Yuki tries to think about going up, to see if she can fly with them.
-
Rai looks over at Yuki's antics and shakes his head. Looking at the now cloth villagers he says, "I know this is soon after the" he pauses for a second looking for a delicate way to say it, "event that just happened but were not done getting rid of that spirit yet and there is still one' more that terrorizes the older men in the village. There the spirit of Malice is forcing the men to brutally engage in a battle Royal. We need one Women to cry over the violence in the square to banish the spirit. After that Yuki will lead you in an 8 hour meditation to banish the Lust spirit."
-
Yuki can jump as normal, but only gets an extra inch of height from the slippers - though she notes that she floats back down slowly.
-
Yuki smiles as she takes off the slippers and places them neatly on the ground. She then turns to Rai.
"Where's the container? They're already crying."
She states, as though it's obvious and Rai should already be at work.
-
Rai nods assuming she knows what she is doing he takes the bowl over to a crying women and says, "Let this catch your tears." Handing her the bowl after it looks moderately full he will take it to Yuki and say, "We got the tears who should go splash them on malice?"
-
Yuki looks at the bowl and at Rai as he solicits the woman for her tears.
"How is Miya supposed to shoot that at the Yori?"
She asks, confused.
"Won't it all spill out?"
-
Rai looks at her confused as well and replies, "When did we say that was what we were doing? I wasn't awary that she was suppose to shoot the tears."
-
Rai looks at her confused as well and replies, "When did we say that was what we were doing? I wasn't awary that she was suppose to shoot the tears."
"It was always the plan", Yuki states plainly.
-
"Maybe to you but if you never say anything to the rest of us. We will never be able to help or point out flaws in your plan. You said container the bowl would be sufficiant to contain the tears. You never explained your idea and since I had little information I did not know what type of container I needed. Hell we were facing spirit enemies and you didn't even tell us what type of spirit they were and how to banish them. Then when I asked you looked like I had just asked a dumb question instead of asking what we were dealing with and how to fight it." Rai speaks harshly.
-
"Maybe to you but if you never say anything to the rest of us. We will never be able to help or point out flaws in your plan. You said container the bowl would be sufficiant to contain the tears. You never explained your idea and since I had little information I did not know what type of container I needed. Hell we were facing spirit enemies and you didn't even tell us what type of spirit they were and how to banish them. Then when I asked you looked like I had just asked a dumb question instead of asking what we were dealing with and how to fight it." Rai speaks harshly.
Yuki tilts her head and frowns.
"Telling you what they are wouldn't have changed anything. You can't even see them unless they manifest."
She replies.
"I'm sure we can find a way for Miya to shoot the Yori with the tears..."
Yuki says out loud, looking around and pondering as to where they could find a container to hold the tears of the women.
"Though, I could always make her invisible instead... Probably..."
-
"Its called common courtesy to a team member who is trying to help you." Rai says with indignation.
-
"Its called common courtesy to a team member who is trying to help you." Rai says with indignation.
Yuki looks at Rai for a moment, as if contemplating a reply, but instead decides to walk to Miya.
"We should take care of the last Yori now", she states.
-
"What kind of Yori is it and what do I need to do? Also, are you and Rai okay? It looked like you two were having an argument of sorts."
Miya asks in a concerned voice to her friend.
-
"Uh, I hate to butt in, Yuki," Udo starts, amused by the previous conversation, "But does Miya have to shoot the thing at the Yori, like with a bow? Or can she just, uh, throw it or something?"
-
"What kind of Yori is it and what do I need to do? Also, are you and Rai okay? It looked like you two were having an argument of sorts."
Miya asks in a concerned voice to her friend.
"Probably", Yuki replies in regards to Rai.
"It's a demon of Malice. It can be banished by being hit by the tears of some of the women here."
"Uh, I hate to butt in, Yuki," Udo starts, amused by the previous conversation, "But does Miya have to shoot the thing at the Yori, like with a bow? Or can she just, uh, throw it or something?"
"It's safer if she's further away. I don't think Miya can throw that far..."
She replies, as if she has a safe distance already planned out in her head.
-
"Can she just, uh, dip an arrow in the tears and shoot that?" Udo asks, trying to be helpful. "Unless you have an idea on how to do it otherwise, I mean."
-
Rai walks over and says, "Soak some cloth in it and tie it on the arrow like it was a fire arrow."
-
Rai walks over and says, "Soak some cloth in it and tie it on the arrow like it was a fire arrow."
"Oh! Good idea, Rai!"
Yuki says excitedly, as she takes the bowl of tears from him.
"Now we need a cloth", she determines. She then attempts to mimic what Rai did earlier when he ripped the cloth from his clothes, but ends up being too weak. Instead, the result is her struggling and pulling on her sleeve for a few moments without success. Disheartened, she awkwardly stands still as she continues to weakly tug on her sleeve and brings her eyes to the ground.
-
"Uh, Yuki, I think that would work better if you cut it, not tried to rip it." Udo chuckles softly, "But either way, I don't think just a sleeve would be enough to safely go around an arrow, I think I got something that could work, though. Easily wrap-able and we don't have to ruin our clothes either, right?"
He smiles as he grabs at his pockets, grabbing at some of his family-marked headbands and presenting one to the group, "Err, how about we use this?" Haven't had the opportunity to show these in a while...
-
Yuki looks up as Udo presents the headband to the group, and nods.
"Okay, yeah. That will probably work."
She says, taking a few from Udo.
"Let's go Miya. Udo and Rai, you two should... comfort the people here. I suppose."
She suggests, looking at the villagers.
"They've been through a lot."
Yuki then will lead Miya towards the last Yori.
-
"Hmm, I don't think I'm uh, well suited to do that." Udo remarks with a frown. "I think I'd be more useful if I stood aside and, uh, waited or something until the battle ends. I think the men fighting could use some mending once they come back to their senses."
He turns to Rai, "Rai, maybe you can try to comfort them while I go help the only way I really know how. I dunno, you're probably better at words than I am, maybe. At least, when you speak. I hope."
-
As Rai is left by the group he looks around at the crying villagers and ask himself what led him to this point in his life. For now he makes sure the group stays together trying to get the women to stop crying. He looks for an older man in the group who might be able to shed some light on what happened."
-
"Hmm, I don't think I'm uh, well suited to do that." Udo remarks with a frown. "I think I'd be more useful if I stood aside and, uh, waited or something until the battle ends. I think the men fighting could use some mending once they come back to their senses."
He turns to Rai, "Rai, maybe you can try to comfort them while I go help the only way I really know how. I dunno, you're probably better at words than I am, maybe. At least, when you speak. I hope."
"You could just turn into an animal, Udo. Or do preform with your pets."
Yuki replies.
"Either way, it's more dangerous if you come. We won't be far, or long, so you can come heal them after."
-
Udo raises an eyebrow as he clarifies, "... You want my friends to stage a show or something?"
-
Udo raises an eyebrow as he clarifies, "... You want my friends to stage a show or something?"
Yuki tilts her head in response.
"Probably?"
-
"Somehow I don't think that'd make them happy..." Udo sighs, "I mean, after what happened, I don't think some animals parading would really lighten there spirits, but I suppose it might be worth a shot."
Then he stops, "But wait, shouldn't they be doing the ritual thing Rai mentioned? I could go check to see if they started on that..."
Udo leaves to see the people that were affected by the lust-yori, to ask Rai about what he said earlier and see what the situation is. Maybe I can help with that?
-
"Yuki, let him do what he will. Some events in life simply leave scars that can not be removed, even if they enjoy his show they will still bear the memories of this day."
Miya says with a bitter voice as images of the past seek her attention.
"Let us remove this Yuri, help the children and be done with this place."
-
Miya and Yuki return to the Village Square - looking out between the houses - they see the older men of the village out there, still fighting away at each other.
The Yori is also there, still unmanifested and currently visible only to Yuki. It seems to be chuckling to itself and enjoying the show put on by the brawling villagers.
Then suddenly, a villager is tossed out of the square - to land in a heap right at Yuki and Miya's feet!
Shaking his head groggily, he looks up at Miya and yells - "HEY!!! NO WENCHES AT THE PARTY!!! WE'LL TEACH YOU FOR SPYING!!! GET HER MEN!!!"
At that, the villagers all stop fighting and snort in disgust at the presence of a woman. They collectively crack their knuckles and necks - then surge in a mob toward Yuki and Miya's position.
The Malice Yori meanwhile, continues to watch in amusement, but doesn't yet manifest physically...
-
Meanwhile back at the rocky banks of the river near the stone bridge, where the shamed women and young men of the village now sit - the little boy Taki asks, "Can I take off my blindfold yet?"
Rai, looking for an older man out of the Lust Yori's victims, sees a really really old man among them. He far exceeds the age of the rest of the young men (all no older than 25).
He just sits there with a 'happy as ever' smile on his face. Rai notes a number of teen boys eyeballing him with a look of sheer disgust on their faces...
-
Rai looks down at the little Boy and says, "Sure Taki am sorry you had to wear it so long." As he kneels down to take off the blindfold he says, "How about we go find your mommy?"
-
"OK," Taki says.
When is blindfold is finally off, he looks around and spots his mother, running to her arms.
"Mommy!" he cries, happy to see her.
Taki's mother meanwhile, hugs the little boy close.
"Thank you," she says to Rai with her head down, not looking him in the eyes due to the shame she currently feels.
-
Rai nods at the woman and asks, "Do you know when this started?"
-
"Ah. They spotted us", Yuki announces. "Don't move."
Thinking quickly, Yuki casts Illusions and does a number of things.
Firstly she creates copies of Miya and herself where they stand.
She the makes a "normal space" where she and Miya are standing, so after the two illusions run away, the space appears blank.
She'll have them let out a terrified scream, before running away to the side, to draw the men away from the real Miya and Yuki (just fast enough that they can't be caught). She'll attempt to have the illusions run all the way around the village square, eventually to the opposite side (so the Yori is facing away from them).
After that, she'll wait an hope that her plan worked.
-
Yuki's Illusion works like a Charm and soon, she has the enraged villagers chasing her phantoms all across the square.
Still watching, the Malice Yori falls for the bait too - turning away from Yuki and Miya to follow the comical proceedings...
-
Yuki's Illusion works like a Charm and soon, she has the enraged villagers chasing her phantoms all across the square.
Still watching, the Malice Yori falls for the bait too - turning away from Yuki and Miya to follow the comical proceedings...
Yuki then nudges Miya.
"Quick, shoot the Yori."
She whispers, placing her hand on Miya and allowing her to see it with her spirit sight using a surge.
[Fireplay, make sure to have Miya dip the headband into the tears, then put it on her arrow first.]
-
Nodding to the instructions Miya quickly takes the headband and dips it into the bowl of tears before tying it to her silver arrow's head. She then takes aim at the Yuri and uses all her considerable skills to let the arrow fly to it's destination.
-
Nodding to the instructions Miya quickly takes the headband and dips it into the bowl of tears before tying it to her arrow's head. She then takes aim at the Yuri and uses all her considerable skills to let the arrow fly to it's destination.
To ensure the arrow hits, Yuki will prepare to cast Jinx should the Yori try to dodge.
-
It was an easy matter for Miya to shoot the silver arrow with the band of tears into the back of the unsuspecting Malice Yori.
The Yori reels in surprise when the arrow plunges through it, spreading the tears – like dappled streaks of sunlight – through its being.
It spins around, as if to look for its assailant, and then seizes up abruptly and topples over like a falling statue. Crashing into the ground, the Yori brakes up with a tremendous noise – shattered pieces of iron rusting away before everyone’s eyes, moments later.
After that, all that is left of the Yori is its iron mask – empty and lifeless, yet radiating still an almost tangible malevolence.
At this point, the villagers come to their senses again. They look around puzzled for a second, and then nearly in unison, all collapse to the ground in agonizing pain, moaning and wailing loudly. Their bodies had sustained many injuries, and while the magic of the Malice Yori had prevented any of it from killing them, they now faced a long and painful recovery on their own.
-
Udo, entrusting the situation to Yuki and Miya, follows Rai to the riverbank. He walks around a bit, analyzing the situation best he can.
The Ward motions to his non-threatening animals (the badger and the three birds) and says, "Can you all sift through the crowds and try to comfort the ones that seem the most sad? These people aren't evil, and perhaps they will interpret it as a sign of that. I hope.
Then, once he eyes the creepy old fellow with both confusion and distaste, points at him as he utters, "Squirrels, get him." (Surge)
Turning around while the squirrels are on the move, "Rai, what were you saying to Yuki about a ritual?" He whispers, uncertain what to do next.
-
At first, the old man reacts with surprise to the sudden angry mob of squirrels leaping on him. Then, with a perverse cackling, he floats into the air - before turning into a large pale moth about a foot across.
-
With the Yori gone, Yuki dispels the illusions and sends thoughts to Rai.
"The malice yori is gone, it's safe to bring the vilagers here."
She then turns to Miya and smiles.
"Nice shot!"
Yuki then walks towards the mask to see what it is.
-
Sending thoughts back Rai says, "Great but now we have a situation here."
"Udo call of your squirrels. I don't know why you feel the need to attack the old man but clearly he is more then that."
Calling to the moth Rai shouts, "We don't mean any trouble and my friend is calling off the squirrels now. Can we talk?"
-
The moth, now out of range of the springing squirrels, ignores Rai and begins to fly away in the direction of the field of fallen heroes...
-
"Something is very off about that creep, Rai, whether you see it or not. The squirrels did good." Udo states, biting his lip. "Come on, we can't let him get away."
Bewildered by the recent chain of events, Udo begins to follow the moth to the field. If there's a possibility of it suddenly disappearing, I may have to follow it in the air... .
Anticipating danger, he also makes sure to level his breathing while running, as to make sure he's ready if things don't go as planned. (Revitalizing trance)
-
"Okay", Yuki thinks back.
"We should tell Yoshi the village is safe for the kids again", she tells Miya.
After that, Yuki will head back to where the children are and inform Yoshi that the Yoris plaguing the villagers have been taken care of. She'll recommend those affected by the lust Yori do their prayer in the city square, while the men keep them there, and the samurai rest nearby.
(She's already told Rai to bring the women and younger men to the city square).
While the villagers are doing their prayer, Yuki will rest and when it's time, do her meditating for her spell points.
-
Rai goes to tangle Udo with the mythic chain scythe - but sees that it is missing...
Unable to tangle Udo with his missing chain scythe, Rai tells Udo "You are being reckless and we have to watch over the villagers for the prayer. You attacked with no good reason other then he looked creepy and now your going to purse a clearly magical being without our spell caster. I am not going to allow you to get yourself killed."
-
Miya walks over to the fallen mask and retrieves her silver arrow. She then draws a small box around the mask and kneels next to it while she waits for Yuki. She will remain alert of any danger to her friends and the villagers.
-
Yuki relays the message to Yoshi, who brings the children into the square. Then seeing all the beat up men, he begins tending the wounded, using a few Close Wounds spells on the more serious cases and simple first aid and bandaging on the rest.
Yuki meanwhile, sees Miya waiting by the iron mask left by the Malice Yori.
Using her Sorcerer’s Sight, Yuki recognizes it as an ancient artifact of substantial power – The Mask of the Iron Warlord - Yet another wonder left at the defeat of a ghostly foe; and Yuki recalls now, that some of the more powerful Yoris leave behind items of magic with their destruction.
As for the mask itself, it is said that the most powerful Generals from the beginning fought over the mask and waged war across the land to possess it. Of its powers, all Yuki know is that when worn, it renders the wearer utterly fearless; and that the truly valorous can will things to happen through the power of the mask.
-
Meanwhile, down at the riverbank, Rai and Udo have been distracted from their duty to see that the victims of the Lust Yori are taken to the village square to begin the eight hour prayer and mediation required to permanently rid the village of it.
Looking at the strange pale moth flying away, they note the sun going down...
-
Rai goes to tangle Udo with the mythic chain scythe - but sees that it is missing...
Unable to tangle Udo with his missing chain scythe, Rai tells Udo "You are being reckless and we have to watch over the villagers for the prayer. You attacked with no good reason other then he looked creepy and now your going to purse a clearly magical being without our spell caster. I am not going to allow you to get yourself killed."
"While I appreciate your wish to protect me, that is untrue. I thought that, maybe... Something was off for that an older man not being taken by the other Yori. I took a chance-- worst case, uh, scenario an old creep has some nasty scratches, best case the squirrels prompt him to reveal something about himself without us being in dangerous range. And well... Something happened, at leastm however odd."
Udo sighs, staring at both the villagers leaving and the butterfly getting away. "Either way, Rai, we can't let him leave-- I think he might have the answers we seek! Yoshi can handle the villagers better than we can, and I'm sure we can stop that weird moth from whatever it's planning to do in the grave site-- together atleast, um, right?"
-
After investigating the mask, Yuki turns to Miya.
"It's a really powerful mask. You should take it", she says.
While waiting for Udo and Rai to bring the rest of the villagers, Yuki will then walk to Yoshi.
"I think it would be better for them to do the prayer at the temple in Morioka." She suggests.
"What do you think?"
-
"Er..." Yoshi the Priest hesitates... "I'm not sure the Daimyo or Magistrate of Morioka would approve of displacing the villagers. Even though we intend to bring them back, right? Still, I think we will be fine here."
-
"Er..." Yoshi the Priest hesitates... "I'm not sure the Daimyo or Magistrate of Morioka would approve of displacing the villagers. Even though we intend to bring them back, right? Still, I think we will be fine here."
"It would be just until the prayer is completed, but okay! Here is fine too."
Yuki replies, then she looks in the direction of the grave site.
"Probably..."
-
Rai shakes his head and says, "Fine but first we wait for Yuki."
Sending thoughts to Yuki he says, "Yuki we need some help there was a old man here that Udo decided to attack and He turned into a moth and started flying away. You got any idea whats going on?"
-
"Rai, the Moth-man is gettin away now. Direct Yuki to meet us at the gravesite, heaven knows why he's going that way." Udo responds, getting a bit impatient. "Still don't know why you're so worried-- nothing in Kurokawa has been especially dangerous to us yet. Besides disease."
-
"It's just a perverted spirit", Yuki thinks back. "You can get rid of it without a ritual."
-
Sending thoughts back, "Udo is hell bent on destroying it and its headed to the grave site. You think you could met us there. Something tells me that we are missing something important."
Rai puts his palm out to Udo to get him to stop talking for a second.
-
"We probably are, but we need to protect the villagers and rest first", Yuki replies.
-
Looking to Udo Rai says, "Yuki says that it isn't that it is just a perverted spirit. It is not a problem and that if we are going into the graveyard we need to rest."
-
"Rai, I'm a grown man. I don't need to rest." Udo states with a weak chuckle. "So just ask Yuki how to deal with it-- what if it's going to fly off and tell Yunikawa something?"
-
Rai really anyoned now looks at udo and asks, "So let me get this straight, you are going to, by yourself, chase a spirit, that was doing nothing till you antagonized it, into the graveyard where we found a sealed well that sent a Chinese wu-jen to attack us that held the bones of the warriors that are now being used by Yunikawa and when our expert in the occult tells you to rest and not go in, you decide that your a "Man" and you don't need to heed her advice? We have no idea what is in that graveyard and even if your not tired or weak. Me and yuki have cast a lot of spells and used a lot of energy today and need a break. There could be way worse in the grave yard and your going in with no back up. However if you seek your death so much according to yuki, if it is the spirit she think it is, you can banish it with a slash."
Turning he helps direct the villagers to the village.
-
"Rai, I realize that your ego has grown so large by now that you can't even hear what I'm saying, but I'll repeat," Udo replies, taking a deep breath, "First-- I was asking if you'd come with me, so I wouldn't be doing it alone. Second, I wasn't planning on killing the spirit, since I don't even know how, and in addition to that I wanted to make sure it wouldn't leave, so if it was just staying at the gravesite I wouldn't approach it-- and lastly, are you seriously defending a spirit that was abusing children?"
-
Rai stops mystified and says, "I told you how to banish it already making your second point redundant. Already stated that I wasn't coming with you without Yuki who said we should rest. So yes you would be going alone. Fallow that by my inheritance by the man who raised me was stolen recently I am under equip to fight in the first place. I wasn't defending it I was defending the possibility that you attacking an old man might be the wrong thing to do. Unless you were certain it was a spirit before you attacked?"
Rai pauses and adds, "By the way the ritual is an 8 hour prayer of atonement to the ancestors. It is the last step in banishing the lust oni and everyone who was there needs to say. Which is why we need to watch them."
-
"Banishing it with a 'slash' has got to be the most vague description you can come up with. Even I wouldn't believe that banishing a spirit would be by just attacking it." Udo states, trying to keep his cool, though doing a bad job at it.
"Besides you missing my other point, I hope you understand that worst case scenario the squirrels were hurting a man who was LAUGHING with glee while the rest were crying over their actions." The Ward says, making hand motions to emphasize his words, "I don't care what age he was, but enjoying abusing children in any way whatsoever is disgusting. You are, by effect, promoting that if you don't think chasing him away during a mourning process was a good thing. I don't care who you're related to, Rai; it doesn't excuse ignoring those who are hurting others. It doesn't matter if it was a spirit or not, even though thinking about it retroactively it was pretty obvious, but turns out doing a good act-- driving away a creep disturbing grieving others-- brought light to something very important-- something I don't think we can ignore right now."
After his tangent, Udo sighs, motioning to his birds, "You two, track down the foot-long Moth. One of you go to him and immediately come back to me to tell me what its doing, and the other should stay there for as long as they can before going back, to watch if it leaves."
Once his birds fly away to his command, he concludes, "And I honestly don't care if you lost a weapon. You throw stuff. The heirloom thing I can get behind, but do I seriously look like I should care about that right this minute?" Udo crosses his arms, amidst the debate.
-
"He wasn't laughing he was smiling and you have never met a retard before? Some one who just doesn't get social interaction and is a bit slow. I have no idea where you get abusing children and if your going to bring up the 13 and 14 year olds then you should have the squrialls drive away any of the adults. Finally if it was a regular human we would have needed him to complete the ritual so the Yori wouldn't come back. Also I told you exactly what Yuki told me so if you don't like the kill it thing bring it up with her."
-
"I'm a doctor, Rai, and retarded persons don't act like that after that sort of experience, and I really don't know why you think that's something to bring up."
Udo continues, rolling his eyes, "And no, we wouldn't have, because he was too old to be affected by the Lust Yori anyway. Dude was completely displaced here, and by affect was mocking the others' grieving process. Furthermore, teenagers are still children, and he was the only adult there who wouldn't have been compelled by the Yori. Why you think that what the Spirit was doing was 'nothing' and, we're it a person, shouldn't have been chased out anyway is beyond me, Rai. It really is."
-
At this point, one of Udo's birds returns to chirp back that the 'large moth flew down a well in a field' ...
-
Rai Feels he won 2 of the three arguments so he lets him have the attacking an old man and keeps his your not going to the graveyard and says, "Well fine if you think attack him was the right choice the risk is clearly worth the reward but still going towards the graveyard by yourself is not a good idea. I have given my reason why I won't go with you and you can argue them but its not your reasons there are mine. So I am going to make sure every villager goes back to the village and participates in the prayer."
Turning he makes sure the stragglers get to the village and will ignore Udo studiously the entire time. During the ceremony he will meditate to get back spell energy.
-
"You did a superb job at not listening to me, Rai. I'm glad you will continue to do so." Udo mutters with an exasperated sigh, realizing that Rai is leaving as quickly as possible as to end the conversation on his note.
Petty wanna-be emperor. Too late to find the Moth now anyhow.
He turns to his bird, "Good work, Birdie. We'll have to ask Yuki about it, then. I hope your buddy comes back soon..." With a nod to his animals, Udo leaves to the village square to report back to Yuki and Miya, and witness whatever ritual Rai mentioned.
-
Gathering all the villagers in the square, the Samurai are able to ask them what happened.
They report that shortly after the Samurai had left the village nineteen days ago, all manner of Yori began to come up out of the well that had been uncovered in their field – where the bones had been dug up.
The villagers tried to run, but three greater Yori also rose up out of the well and ensorcelled everyone. Two of them then fought each other for control of the grownups, while a third less powerful Yori, chased all the children from the village, afflicting them with a pox as it did. These children were then refugees outside their own village, sneaking in for food and fearing for their lives.
The older villagers were all under the greater Yoris’ control, and the men of the village sorely beat any children they caught looking for food, while the women of the village and younger men did all sorts of unspeakable things inside the bathhouse.
As far as anyone knows, the black soulsteel lid that once covered the well was never placed back over it. In fact, the Village Elders had incorporated the lid into a new stone shrine on the edge of the field to honor the fallen…
-
Rai looks at them and says, "It is clear that we need to re-seal the hole but if I remember correctly there is a crack now so we need to fix that to. Yuki can you get the village started on the atonement prayer because I agree that both of us need a rest before we attempt to re seal the hole."
-
The Priest Yoshi, hearing this, says "Better wait until morning light to go messing with an open well. I do not think we will be bothered by any other Yori tonight."
"The three you banished were quite powerful. It will have sent a message through the world of spirits not to mess with this place for a long while."
Then to Yuki, he adds, "I'll take it from here if you like. You and the Samurai can help tend to the wounded and keeping everyone in the square. It would be a shame if anyone snuck out and the Lust Yori came back. They do not have to be awake for the entire ritual, just the beginning, so we should start soon, before we start losing them..."
-
Yuki nods to the two.
"Will you begin the prayer now then, Yoshi?"
Yuki asks, hoping one of the more persuasive members convinces the men to help watch over.
-
Rai stands up and looks over the crowd and says, "Ok I need all the men who are not too injured to help keep everyone here in this square tonight. This is the last step for banishing the Yori so I ask you to be paitent with us." Looking at the children he adds with a smile, "Can you all please go get blankets for everyone tonight."
-
"Yes," Yoshi agrees with both Yuki and Rai, calling the villagers to attention.
"People of Kurokawa!" he yells over the crowd, "You have been exploited by the Yori and been through much hardship because of it. Taking wounds both physically and mentally. To cleanse your souls of this pain and make atonement with the Ancestors, we must pray and meditate here in the square for eight hours. You must hear the words of the prayer, but after than, you are free to sleep. You must not, even one of you, leave the square until the sun rises in the morning."
"If you do," he warns, "the Yoris will be back and you will have to endure all of this over and over again."
-
11th Day of Mid Summer 1303
A New Dawn
The Samurai then spent the rest of the night either watching over the Priest Yoshi and his charges or tending to the villagers who were recovering from their injuries in the square.
It wasn’t difficult to keep the villagers there either – they had all had enough of the Yoris and would do whatever they could to ensure they didn’t come back.
Yoshi meanwhile, led the villagers through the cleansing ritual and meditations necessary to fully banish the Yori Lust. In the new morning, as the sun rose from the east, he had finished and the Yori had not returned. The villagers thanked him and the rest of the Samurai profusely and then (those that could) set about to begin to get the village back in order.
This would be no small task, as there was the wounded in the square to continue tending to, the houses to get back in order, livestock to go find and gather, and of course sorting out the children and families to make sure no one was missing.
It would be a long day and much work to be done – and that would just be the beginning. It had taken a day and a night to liberate the village of Kurokawa – but would require much longer for the villagers to completely forget and move on from the terrors they had all gone through…
-
Refreshed, Yuki checks in with the Exalted Priest to see if the Daimyo has returned.
After that, she'll attempt to get in contact with her mother, to ask if she knows any spirit artisans.
-
When Yuki Sends Thoughts to the Exalted Patriarch, she gets terrible news - 'Yuki, the Daimyo has not yet returned - but I am here with Roka. Your mother... she has been gravely wounded by something we cannot heal with our spells.'
-
Yuki pauses to calm herself before answering back.
"What do you mean? What happened to my mother?"
-
'We don't know exactly,' the Exalted Patriarch sends back, 'There was a fight at the Chief Magistrate's home, the Korean rogue used poison on everyone. Then she was looking at Roka when her lopan and sunstone shattered and she went blank.'
-
Yuki doesnt send a reply back, instead she casts a gate to the temple in order to see what's going on herself.
-
Rai asks, "Yuki what is going on?"
-
Unsurprisingly, Rai is ignored as Yuki enters the portal.
---
YUKI CONTINUE HERE (http://www.bountyheadbebop.com/forum/index.php?topic=1386.msg82863#msg82863)
-
Rai shakes his head and looks to the priest and says, "Something bad must have happened we need to go soon. Is there a way you have to get back besides walking? We will come back with a spirit artisan soon to repair the well."
-
"Ah... no," Yoshi replies to Rai - "I'll definitely need your Wu-Jen friend there to take me back to Morioka in the next day or so at most..."
-
"We should probably fallow her. There is no telling what trouble is going on." Rai sighs
-
Looking in through the gate, Yoshi shakes his head - "I'll wait here, thanks."
"I suppose I can wander around and look for anymore wayward spirits that might be lurking around the area. Don't think there'll be any really powerful ones though, so we should be fine if you want to go through with her."
-
"Yoshi, do you think the disease the children had may still be going around, only to show up later?" Udo asks, making sure that it's alright for them to go.
"And would you want any of us to stay here with you anyhow? I can probably get you back Morioka pretty quickly, though only if necessary."
-
"Do you know where this 'well and lid' is that the Villagers were talking about?" Yoshi asks Udo.
"We should probably make sure it's secure before anyone leaves - unless you want to do this all over again in a few days."
"And, no," he concludes, "I don't think the Corruption Yori's disease has spread. The villagers and you Samurai should be fine."
-
"Yeah-- the well is by the field where the bones were so long ago." Udo says, pointing in the general direction. "So, uh, yeah. We definitely want to get it done right this time..."
Udo scratches his head, "Um, I think Yuki would have told us to follow if it was that serious of a situation, but it is worrying... Rai, are you going, then?"
-
Rai nods and walks into the gate having caught glimpses of what was going on but not everything.
---
Rai Continue HERE (http://www.bountyheadbebop.com/forum/index.php?topic=1386.msg83160#msg83160)
-
Miya quickly runs into the gate after Rai and Yuki, obviously concerned for her friend.
---
Miya Continue HERE (http://www.bountyheadbebop.com/forum/index.php?topic=1386.msg83160#msg83160)
-
Yoshi, watching Rai and Miya go through the Gate to join Yuki and Roka on the other side, turns and asks Udo - "They're coming back right?"
-
"I... Think so?" Udo wonders aloud, raising an eyebrow. "I think I should probably go through to. Find out what the big hullabaloo is about, and then make sure they come back..."
With a nod to the priest, Udo moves though the gate.
---
Udo Continue HERE (http://www.bountyheadbebop.com/forum/index.php?topic=1386.msg83292#msg83292)
-
Yuki arrives back through the Gate with her mother (Lady Shirahata) and the Master Craftsman Najin in tow.
A moment after their arrival, Najin's small army of workers begin filing through.
"So, where do we need to set up?" Najin asks Yuki.
-
Rai arrives on the otherside of the gate confusingly before Roka but he decides to brush it off. Looking at the craftsman he says, "The well is in the field next to town. The cap to the well is also there."
-
"There was already a cap?" Najin asks with intrigue.
"Interesting..."
-
Remembering Yoshi, Yuki addresses him.
"Ah! Thank you for your assistance, Yoshi. I can return you to Morioka now if you wish", she offers.
-
"If you wouldn't mind, I'd like to see this well first," Yoshi asks.
-
"Sure!", Yuki replies, leading the group to the well.
-
Roka arrives, and looks around.
"Huh. So what happened to the villagers?" Roka asks, as he walks with the group
-
"They survive to see another day, a bit scarred but alive."
Miya says as she follows the group while watching for danger as usual.
-
Moving to the field where the Samurai had dug up the bones of fallen heroes, the group could see the old well still exposed.
At the edge of the field where they entered, the villagers had set up the black soulsteel lid that used to cover the well as a sort of shrine.
Looking with her Sorcerer’s Sight, Yuki sees all manner of minor spirits being spewed from the well as it gushes unseen spirit energy into the physical world. Udo and Lady Shirahata also see this with their Spirit Sight.
The Leering Pervert Spirit is nowhere to be seen, but Udo’s birds are still there; and fly over to report to Udo that the large moth flew into the well and disappeared.
Najin and his workers meanwhile, begin to set up their tools and materials near the well.
“Do you want up to incorporate that strange metal into the build?” he asks Yuki and her Mother; “It’s not necessary I think, and is probably worth a fortune to the right buyer, but it might also boost the focus of spirit energy if we do decide to use it.”
-
"They survive to see another day, a bit scarred but alive."
Miya says as she follows the group while watching for danger as usual.
"Well yeah, you guys are powerful enough to help them, but what was actually was going on?" He asks. "Was it the Chinese?"
-
Udo slowly approaches the well, taking a peek into what's inside.
-
Roka then clutches his head once more, and mytters to himself.
"Damn it still hurts..."
He then turns to the guy in the poofy priest hat.
"Hey, priest guy, any chance you could heal me up? The exalted patriarch did it, but my head still aches. Ridiculously."
-
Udo slowly approaches the well, taking a peek into what's inside.
With Spirit Sight, the well is geyser of fountaining dazzling blue spirit energy - a myriad of strange little spirits flowing out all around to slitter or crawl away from it.
Without Spirit Sight, the well is just an old well in the ground; where the Samurai had discovered the headless skeletons of Sendai's Generals.
-
Yoshi looks at Roka and asks, "What's wrong? Your head? You don't look injured. You say the Exalted Patriarch Healed you already?"
-
"Yeah, uh, I already got healed but my head is still killing. And I've been healed before, and I know that shouldn't happen after a heal spell. Probably."
-
“Do you want up to incorporate that strange metal into the build?” he asks Yuki and her Mother; “It’s not necessary I think, and is probably worth a fortune to the right buyer, but it might also boost the focus of spirit energy if we do decide to use it.”
Yuki looks at the strange metal.
"Why do you think it could be worth a fortune?"
She asks, activating spirit sight on it, to see if see can see why.
-
"Hey, Priest Yoshi!" Udo calls, taking his head out bof the well for a moment, "What would happen if someone fell inside the well? Where exactly would they go?"
-
Yoshi, speaking to Roka, nods over to Yuki and her mother - "If a Heal doesn't work, then it's a matter of Chi Energy and your Aura. I can't do anything more for you than the Exalted Patriarch did. You need to go talk to them about it."
Then answering Udo he explains, "Normally, a person would just fall to the bottom of the well. But occasionally, when the veil between worlds is thin, like on the full and new moons, they stand a chance of falling through and into the spirit world. Spirits on the other hand can freely move between the two worlds through an open spirit well. That's why the Yori were able to come through and enthrall the village."
Yuki meanwhile, goes over and looks closely at the black soulsteel lid with her spirit sight. The metal seems to contain the trapped and wailing souls of the damned, but Yuki knows they are not real, but rather some strange phenomenon that shows a reflection of those once tormented by the metal. Sort of like a recording device of sorrow or something...
-
"Shouldn't we just seal the well once again instead of possibly letting more Yori into our world?"
Miya asks Yuki as she walks up to her friend.
-
Yoshi, speaking to Roka, nods over to Yuki and her mother - "If a Heal doesn't work, then it's a matter of Chi Energy and your Aura. I can't do anything more for you than the Exalted Patriarch did. You need to go talk to them about it"
"Well, can't you just heal my chi? Or something?" Roka asks.
-
"I have no way to look at your Chi," Yoshi replies, "you need a Feng-Shui Master for that."
-
"But the last time someone looked at my aura it messed them up bad, priest." Roka protests
-
Having finally made up her mind, Yuki replies to Najin.
"We'll keep the lid. If you need additional funds, one of us should be able to help."
She replies, motioning to Roka.
"Probably."
-
"I don't understand what you are saying," the Priest Yoshi replies to Roka, beginning to get confused by the whole conversation...
-
Roka grumbles incoherently.
"I guess I'll just ask the Exalted priest. Sorry to bothe you, priest"
-
"Uhm, OK then?" Yoshi replies with a weak smile.
Then going to Yuki, he asks, "Can you get me back to Morioka now? I believe you all have the village situation quite well contained now."
-
"Uhm, OK then?" Yoshi replies with a weak smile.
Then going to Yuki, he asks, "Can you get me back to Morioka now? I believe you all have the village situation quite well contained now."
"Sure!"
Yuki replies, casting a gate to Morioka.
"Thank you for your assistance."
-
Yoshi bows to Yuki in thanks and heads through the Gate.
"Good luck!"
-
Between Yuki, Lady Shiriahata, (with their Feng-Shui knowledge), Roka (donating a number of fine gems), and Najin (with his Assembling Efficiency Process), the craftsmen are able to construct a graceful stone shrine over the Spirit Well in a matter of hours, harnessing its energies and sealing it off from any more marauding Yori.
Lady Shirahata then drops a few silver charms into the focal point of the Shrine, explaining that in a day or so, they’ll be fully charged Luck Charms.
With the sun just about to dip behind the mountains to the west, the Samurai and craftsmen ready themselves to head back through Yuki's Gate to Sendai.
Before anyone steps through however, Yuki suddenly feels a titanic movement of Ki Energy on an almost incomprehensible scale. It is as if the energies of the land and mountains themselves, of not only their immediate area – but of all Nippon – are suddenly being drawn into some great and mighty magic – the likes of which seem to rival even the power of the very gods!
Then the ground starts to tremble and with it, a booming roll of thunder echoes across the sky. Villagers nearby, look to the south in horror, as the quaking of the earth shakes them off their feet – there, the horizon begins to darken and flickering tinges of red can be seen dancing below a colossal rising plume of boiling ash – two hundred and fifty miles to the south, the ancient and terrible mountain Fuji has just erupted!
A moment later, those Samurai who share attunement to the Naga Shrine (Yuki, Roka, and Udo), feel a sharp pain in their hearts – and know in that instant, that Yunikawa has just died.
Yuki meanwhile, observing with her Sorcerer’s Sight, sees the Samurai’s lines of attunement surge brightly for a moment, then almost die out sputtering, before returning to normal once again.
Slowly, the rumbling of the ground stops and the villagers lay still a moment, before picking themselves up and hurrying together around the Samurai to find out what it all means…
END
-
Epilog
It was a beautiful summer morning in the city of Sendai when a little fair folk girl walked along the path on her way to school. She was dressed in a green and white school uniform with a sailor’s flap and carried two schoolbooks bound with a pretty red ribbon – only her small fuzzy fox ears and bushy red tail marked her any different from any other six (and a half) year old child.
She was not alone however, for lurking among the trees alongside the path was a fox of another sort – it was Kitsune, the nine-tailed fox demon, leering at the small child through malicious and wicked eyes.
"So, we meet again little one…" the terrible beast growled to itself in vicious delight, as it watched the little girl come down the way – "Now I shall have my vengeance upon you!"
With that, the evil creature leapt out onto the path in front of the startled girl. The Kitsune was as large as a horse and swished her nine tails back and forth like a cat, creeping toward the little girl with a noticeable limp and a feint scar along her right flank.
The little girl screamed and turned to run, but the Kitsune pounced on her with lightning speed, crushing her instantly in her vicious jaws and swallowing what was left with a quick snap.
"Yes, your innocent blood made it all the more sweet my darling," the Kitsune said, satisfied with its work and licking the blood from its claws. When it was done cleaning itself, the wicked demon then bounded back into the trees and was gone.
Then, on the other side of the path, something else stirred behind a tree. It was the same girl, just waking from sleep. She was dressed as she had been before; only now, she had a small scroll in her possession in addition to her two schoolbooks.
Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, the little fox girl sat up and looked around in confusion – "Lady Shirahata? Yuki? Miya?" she called out. Then seeing the path and suddenly realizing were she was, she laughed happily and stood up, exclaiming – "I’m home! I’m home!"
But then settling down a bit, the little fox girl looked around again in wonder and confusion – "Where is everybody? Was it all a dream?"
A little sad now, she sat back down against the tree and picked up the scroll.
Unrolling it, she saw the picture she had drawn of the little fire creatures that had cooked the dinner at Yunokawa’s mountain citadel and the picture she had drawn of the Samurai of Sendai and Lady Shirahata's garden. This one was her favorite. It depicted the Samurai with Kioko and the tiny little radish-headed creatures with spiraling sprout-like limbs that inhabited the place.
No, it had not been a dream – she really did have all those amazing adventures with the Samurai.
Happy again, the little girl gathered up her things and jumped back up with a smile. Then moving to the path, she looked both ways, as if trying to decide which way to go. If she was late for school, Headmaster Gakusha would be angry, but it had been so long since she had seen her mother. The choice proved to be an easy one however, and the little fox girl turned and ran back up the path from where she had just come a few minutes before.
A moment later, she was running past all the bald monks in orange robes, that were practicing their exercises outside the temple, and crossing her mother’s garden – and there in the doorway stood her mother – a little surprised to see her back so soon, but smiling warmly all the same.
"Mother! Mother! I’ve missed you so much!" the little fox girl said through joyous streams of tears, hugging her mother as tightly as her little arms could muster – "I saw them mother! Real Samurai! And Oni! And we went to the Ancestral Palace in the sky and rode on Ki-Rin and they promised to bring me back and they did! I was lost, but they brought me back!"
"There there Kioko dear," the woman replied, sensing the sincerity of her little girl, in spite of the incredible sound of it all – "come inside and you can tell me all about it. I’ll write a note to Headmaster Gakusha, telling him that we’re taking today off, to spend it together. I love you little one, and wherever you were, I am glad that you are back now with me."
The woman then hugged her daughter and the two entered the small house – where, over a cup of hot tea, Kioko showed her amazed mother her pictures and began to tell the tale…