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Play By Post Section => Mythic Nippon: The Demon God of Sendai => Trophy Room => Adventure VI => Topic started by: BerkaZerka on February 10, 2015, 05:47:27 pm
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12th Day of Mid Summer 1303
Day of Reckoning!
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 Kurokawa’s 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.
On the other side of Yuki’s Gate to Sendai, the Exalted Patriarch pokes his head through and asks – “Did you feel that? Something big just happened.”
Then seeing the rising plume of ash and fire, he adds in awe, “I think Sendai is going to be needing her Samurai now. You had all better come back through the Gate.”
Lady Shirahata meanwhile turns to Yuki and Roka – “We need to talk. You need to tell us (and General Meji) what is going on. What is happening to Sendai? What is happening to Nippon?”
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"I think this means that the Naga won?" Roka says with a perplexed look. "I, uh, can't even think straight, the priest said my chi was messed up."
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"See, that is what I am talking about," Lady Shirahata replies, walking through the Gate to the Exalted Patriarch's side.
"Someone go summon General Meji," she orders - the Exalted Patriarch waving a Priest off to the task - "If we are to protect Sendai, then we all need to be on the same page. I only know bits and pieces about what you Samurai have been doing for Yunikawa all these years. Now that he has betrayed Sendai, left assassins in our midst, and somehow the Naga are now involved... Well, time to spill it! What the heck is going on?!"
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"Mother..." Yuki begins, following her through the gate.
"We don't know either. I just felt that Yunikawa was killed, but at the same time (checking her lopan), he appears to be moving towards the Naga Temple where we got the book for secrets from."
She explains.
"We're just as confused."
(OOC: Yuki already told her about the marks and stuff, so no need to explain that again.)
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"You should probably get that checked out," Udo unhelpfully advises Roka before beginning to listen to Mrs. Shirahata.
"Yeah, it's like Yuki, uh, said. The only thing we did one or two 'missions' for Yunikawa, pretty much all of the decade was spent in a weird time-blip in the Spirit Realm. We just know that Yunikawa, who is dead, I think? gave himself to Masaka Dai Oni, or something and is trying, err, tried, at least, to serve him. That's all we know, I think."
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"Are we just supposed to wait then? And if so, what are we waiting for? Especially if Yunikawa is dead." Lady Shirahata asks, showing a little frustration in her voice.
"We should ask the General if Yunikawa's magical barrier is still up," the Exalted Patriarch adds.
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"The Naga are coming. They killed me before, if Yukinawa is dead they'll be here soon." Roka rambles.
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Rai stands up and says, "First thing First we need help fixing Roka's Chi now. If Yunikawa is dead then we are either going to have naga upon us shortly or Demons. Since he was trying to revive the father of all demons and Mount Fuji erupted that contained the twisted elemental spirit we could have demons upon us soon. That is not even discounting the fact that Rokukurbi are still alive and are our enemies. Also Yuki do you know what happened to my chain and sickle I seem to be missing it and I last had it before we entered the lust yoai's house."
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"Are we just supposed to wait then? And if so, what are we waiting for? Especially if Yunikawa is dead." Lady Shirahata asks, showing a little frustration in her voice.
"We should ask the General if Yunikawa's magical barrier is still up," the Exalted Patriarch adds.
"We could head to the Naga Temple. That's where Yunikawa was headed... probably. We should prepare... somehow."
Yuki replies.
"Can we help Roka without seeing what you saw, mother?"
Yuki asks her mother.
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"Oh, Roka," Lady Shirahata replies, "I'm sorry, I got distracted."
Turning to Yuki she continues, "You can look at Roka's Aura, Yuki. When I did, I saw that it was all messed up and swirling around - distorted and not yet whole. When I looked deeper - reading his Aura with spirit sight, I saw that thing inside his aura that attacked me. You should be able to check Roka out as long as you do not look too deeply. You could try mixing Feng-Shui and your Wu-Jen magic on Roka to set his Chi pattern right again..."
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"That's a relief!"
Yuki replies, eagerly pulling out her Lopan and casting read aura on Roka. She'll then attempt to fix his chi.
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"you can do it Yuki!" Roka cheers on, lending her a surge.
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Aside from a serious unbalance of negative Chi, Yuki can not see anything else wrong with Roka's Aura. It is not 'swirling' or whatever her mother had said. Maybe it had fixed itself over the night? Maybe it was 'whole' now?
Unable to resist the temptation, Yuki uses her Spirit Sight with the Read Aura, seeing Roka's line of attunement to the Naga Shrine, but nothing else.
"Shame on you Yuki!" Lady Shirahata scolds, sensing what Yuki just did. "You are lucky you didn't see what I saw - then you'd be sorry!"
Then casting Heal with some fine tuning of her lopan, Yuki removes all of Roka's Psychosis.
Roka feels absolutely amazing compared to just a few moments ago.
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Unable to defend her actions, Yuki hangs her head in shame.
"Sorry, mother..."
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"All that matters is that you are OK," Yuki's mother reassures.
"So, what did you see?"
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"All that matters is that you are OK," Yuki's mother reassures.
"So, what did you see?"
"Nothing unusual. Just Roka's line of attunement to the Naga shrine."
Yuki replies.
"Maybe Yunikawa's... death changed things?"
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"Hmm..." Lady Shirahata thinks aloud, "When I looked at Roka's Aura, it was all time-distorted and fluid. It must have re-stabilized since then."
"And Roka," She says, turning to the Samurai, "Did I hear right this morning after I was revived - you traveled through the Heart of Creation? Is that what messed you up so badly?"
"You never did answer my question, about what happened to you when we were battling Lee."
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"Wow." Roka mutters. "That was not fun.."
"Thanks Yuki." Roka then says, returning to his usual demeanor, with a grin.
"And of course, Lady Shirihata. During the fight, the vampire teleported me to Yukinawa's fortress, leading me to get his book, or something. I was stopped by the blue shield thing, which teleported me to the home of the bimari, where I met with Akira Kuwabara... Which reminds me." Roka says, turning to Udo and bowing.
"Your cousin, Akira, died in his duty, honorably. He fought for Sendai as an honorably liuetenant must. I was saddened by his death." Roka tell Udo, before returning to his narrative.
"After meeting Akira, I encountered a little bimari girl who led me to their sacred Glen, where I met a blood oni protecting my passage way home. So I single-handedly destroyed the beast, suffering burns from it's poison, and went through the heart of creation to save the magistrate." Roka finishes.
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Rai nods and says, "Good now that your back to normal we can continue."
Turning to Lady Shirahata Rai says, "Ok so to answer the rest of your questions. If Yunikawa is dead then we are either going to have naga upon us shortly or Demons.Mount Fuji erupting is disturbing since we know that it contained the twisted elemental spirit herald. Added to the fact we have the Rokurikobi out there still. We are seriously in a tight spot."
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"I wouldn't fret about Mount Fugi or the Rakurobi right now. With Yukinawa dead, his plan is finished. What we need to worry about is the Naga. If they killed Yukinawa then they'll probably be after us, or at least me, and fast. And we don't want to be caught unprepared." Roka states.
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"I wouldn't fret about Mount Fugi or the Rakurobi right now. With Yukinawa dead, his plan is finished. What we need to worry about is the Naga. If they killed Yukinawa then they'll probably be after us, or at least me, and fast. And we don't want to be caught unprepared." Roka states.
"We need the book of secrets... probably."
Yuki replies.
"If he's moving, he might not... be dead...?"
She asks while tilting her head.
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As Yuki consults her lopan, she suddenly realizes that she can no longer get a vector on Yunikawa with Divine Location...
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As Yuki consults her lopan, she suddenly realizes that she can no longer get a vector on Yunikawa with Divine Location...
Confused, Yuki checks to see if she can find Sakura and Keitaro.
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"We need the book of secrets... probably."
Yuki replies.
"If he's moving, he might not... be dead...?"
She asks while tilting her head.
Roka shrugs.
"With him dead, it's far less important. Though I think we still should get it, just to prevent anyone from trying to do what he was planning on doing ever again." Roka replies.
"And he's dead. The naga are probably just moving him to the Shrine, like Sakura and Keitaro."
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And another of our family passed...
Udo nods solemnly, "Thank you for telling me this, Roka. I'm certain Akira died honorably."
After taking several slow breaths, Udo says, "Well, if Yunikawa is dead, and he's still moving... Do dead people show up on Yuki's radar? Because I'd they do, the Naga, like Roka said, might be moving him. Or maybe... Maybe his body is being possessed or something. Like, used as a vessel. I dunno..."
Udo bites his lip, "But amount Fuji erupting is definitely of importance, I'd say. Having to combat a possibly released Order of the Shades in addition to investigating Yunikawa's death is not going to be fun. It's a question of what we go do first, though."
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Rai nods with Udo and says, "Something is telling me that the book of secrets should be one of the first things we grab. The ancestors said that much would be revealed if we read it. It might even reveal why the naga is after you."
"We are also low on spirit(Surge) and we probably need better armor and weapons. Speaking of which," Turning directly to Yuki he says, "Answer my question about my chain and sickle please. Next time I won't ask so nicely."
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Roka blinks.
"Are you... are you threatening Yuki?" Roka asks, incredulous.
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Yuki turns to Rai and nods, but otherwise says nothing.
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Rai looks shock and says, "I would never harm a comrade before a huge fight."
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Rai looks shock and says, "I would never harm a comrade before a huge fight."
"I must have misheard, then." Roka replies sharply, staring at Rai.
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As Yuki consults her lopan, she sees that Sakura and Kaitaro are still where they were before - as are Roka and Udo (testing her lopan with a short range verification).
For Yunikawa however, it's as if he doesn't even exist anymore - though now that Yuki thinks about it, she had never, up until feeling Yunikawa's death, ever tried to use Divine Location on the ancient Wu-Jen before...
But she had definitely used it on him a few minutes ago; and seen him along a line similar to Sakura and Kaitaro's; and had then seen the line moving.
But now he was simply gone.
It brought to mind the way Yunikawa's Line of Attunement was somehow hidden (unlike the other of the Samurai's) when Yuki had first noticed it at the Tournament of the Daimyo way back when...
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At this point, General Meji walks into the room and gives a nodding bow. He is followed by Chief Magistrate Hai Yama-Uno and Second Magistrate Juro Saito.
"Ah, Lady Shirahata!" General Meji smiles, I am glad to see that you are back on your feet after last night's excitement!"
Then stepping back to allow the Chief Magistrate preeminence in the room, he turns and gives a short bow to Sendai's currently highest ranking authority.
Once everyone has bowed and proper protocol satisfied, the Chief Magistrate addresses the Samurai.
"Samurai of Sendai," he begins, "Word has been sent that the Daimyo and an Imperial Envoy will be arriving in Sendai tomorrow morning."
Here, a look of anger flashes on the Chief Magistrate's face as he continues.
"The Emperor is very much concerned with what he deems 'Sendai's Failure to stop the traitor Yunikawa'."
While speaking, the Chief Magistrate literally grinds his teeth on the words, furious to even think about how Yunikawa's treachery has put Sendai in such a bad light.
"And," he goes on, "has taken a personal interest in seeing the Wu-Jen brought to justice for his crimes."
Pausing to regain his composure he rubs his temple, clearly still agitated by the current situation.
"This Korean Assassin," the Chief Magistrate concludes, "he is still in Sendai. Find and slay him before the Daimyo and Imperial Envoy arrive. That is one less headache we need right now."
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Roka bows.
"This time, my lord, I am certain he will be removed." Roka replies.
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"I dunno if we'll be able to get Yunikawa now that he's, uh..." Udo stops mid-sentence, "Agh, this is all so confusing... But Lee is still alive and can, uh, hopefully be vanquished very quickly, so we can probably get on that..."
Udo continues, "And, uh, Chief Magistrate, if I may ask, have the other cities in Nippon begun to search for Yunikawa and his league of Demons? Or is all of this on Sendai's shoulders to handle?"
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"Yunikawa is Sendai's responsibility," the Chief Magistrate andswers Udo, "The Shogunate made that exceedingly clear."
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"Cheif Magistrate" Rai respectfully adds, "We suspect the Yunikawa is already dead and what happens next depends on weather he succeeded in summoning the father of the Oni or not. If he did we have a big problem. If he didn't we still have the naga after us. Also the Order of Shadows have escaped there prison in Mount Fuji."
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The Chief Magistrate just looks at Rai, as if Rai is speaking gibberish.
"The what?" He asks.
Here the Exalted Patriarch cuts in with a quick bow - "Chief Magistrate, if you will - Yunikawa may have been trying to summon demons and dragons of a scale greater than Sendai's capacity to subdue."
"Well fark!" the chief Magistrate curses, "I guess all we have left is dying with honor. Curse Yunikawa and whatever hell-spawn he has unleashed on us!"
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"We may die," General Meji declares, "but it will be for Sendai. And that's good enough for me!"
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"We may die," General Meji declares, "but it will be for Sendai. And that's good enough for me!"
Roka nods.
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Rai nods and says, "To die protecting Sendai is a great honor. However if we could put the artisans to work making great armor and weapons to fight it would give us a greater advantage."
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"We will protect Sendai and stop whatever Yunikawa was plotting."
Yuki says with conviction.
"But the ancestors said in order to stop him, we first must know what his plan is, and that the book of secrets will reveal it. After we deal with Lee, we should return to the Naga temple. He'll probably be there... I think..."
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Again, Rai's words bring confusion.
"We have armor and weapons," the Chief Magistrate says to Rai, "And to craft more would be a time consuming affair. If it is a grave as you say, do we even have that kind of time?"
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To Yuki, the Chief Magistrate says, "Take care of the Korean assassin tonight - and be here to meet the Daimyo and Imperial Emissary in the morning."
"Do not do anything else, until the Daimyo directs it personally."
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Roka nods.
"We must prepare then. Yuki, can you check on Jenna the Vampire's location, as well as Lee's?"
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"Indeed, this is a matter that concerns much more than just Sendai. Potentially more than even Nippon if we can't stop it." Udo states slowly.
"This will be a hard conflict. I think that we should try to get as much done as possible before even the Daimyo comes. With Mount Fuji erupting and the Naga coming... We have very little time."
He turns to the General, "And instead of preparing new weapons, General Meji, do you have elite weapons and armor for some of us to borrow? I don't personally need, I think, but anything can help."
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Roka nods.
"We must prepare then. Yuki, can you check on Jenna the Vampire's location, as well as Lee's?"
Yuki consults her Lopan, then answers Roka.
"Lee is at Kado Hasakura's Hunting Lodge... Again..."
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Yuki consults her Lopan, then answers Roka.
"Lee is at Kado Hasakura's Hunting Lodge... Again..."
Roka nods.
"And the vampire? Is she there as well?" Roka asks.
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Roka nods.
"And the vampire? Is she there as well?" Roka asks.
"Probably?" Yuki replies, uncertain.
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"With Sendai's destruction at Yunikawa's hand, there is nothing left that is not already being employed to protect this people from the traitor!" General Meji says to Udo.
"But you will have me by you side tonight and against anything that fate will bring against us."
"And me too!" Lady Shirahata adds.
Then with everyone looking expectantly toward the Exalted Patriarch, the man replies after some hesitation - "I'll have one of my Priests go with you as well."
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"Probably?" Yuki replies, uncertain.
Roka nods.
"We will have to assume that all four of them lay in wait, then." Roka responds.
"With Sendai's destruction at Yunikawa's hand, there is nothing left that is not already being employed to protect this people from the traitor!" General Meji says to Udo.
"But you will have me by you side tonight and against anything that fate will bring against us."
"And me too!" Lady Shirahata adds.
Then with everyone looking expectantly toward the Exalted Patriarch, the man replies after some hesitation - "I'll have one of my Priests go with you as well."
"I thank you, lords." Roka says with a bow. "The traitor will be swiftly removed."
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"Let us not forget that he is a Master of Poisons." Lady Shirahata remarks.
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"Let us not forget that he is a Master of Poisons." Lady Shirahata remarks.
Roka nods.
"Yes, but this time, we will be prepared for it. I suggest everyone prepares for the toxins. I believe I could source us some herbal remedies to protect against his poison, albeit only slightly." Roka states. He then looks to the giant soul steel plate.
"My lords, I must ask if we may excuse ourselves to better prepare. I suggest we return here in an hour or so, to be ready for the battle." Roka states.
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"Yes, do what you must," the Chief Magistrate replies to Roka.
"Just be here in the morning to meet the Daimyo and Imperial Emissary. Only the dead will be given leave to miss it."
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"Yes, do what you must," the Chief Magistrate replies to Roka.
"Just be here in the morning to meet the Daimyo and Imperial Emissary. Only the dead will be given leave to miss it."
Roka nods.
"Of course my lord." Roka states.
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To satisfy her curiosity, Yuki casts read aura on the new exalted priest and Najin (if hes still around).
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Yuki see nothing unusual about the Exalted Patriarch and Najin and his craftsmen have already left.
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"Anyways, we will meet back here in an hour." Roka states.
"Now, I must go." Roka states, as he heads over to Yakuza tent, steeling himself. Again, he'll have to control his urges, but again it is critical.
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Before Roka Leaves Rai says, "I carry a number of antidotes on me at all times. It helps to be prepared." pulling out his stash.
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Roka nods.
"That's good. You have enough for the group?" He asks
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"I have twelve purge root and could probably get more fairly easily because of my position." Rai says reminding Roka that the ancestors made Rai a Ninja Master.
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Roka nods.
"That's more then enough. Yuki, miya, General, Lady Shirihata, Id suggest taking one of Rai's purge roots before we kill the traitor."
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"Take two each just in case." Rai says. He looks to Yuki and says, "Can we have that needed conversation now before we leave this place?"
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"Take two each just in case." Rai says. He looks to Yuki and says, "Can we have that needed conversation now before we leave this place?"
Yuki tilts her head quizzically then nods.
"Sure."
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Walking Yuki away from the others Rai now asks, "So where is my chain and sickle?"
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Yuki hands Rai his sickle and chain.
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Rai shakes his head and says, "Why did you steal it?"
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Rai shakes his head and says, "Why did you steal it?"
"Because it's shiny!"
Yuki replies enthusiastically.
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Rai just sighs shakes his head and walks back to the group. He casts send thoughts on miya and says, "Should we fake our deaths in this battle so we can kill the Damyio later? "
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Miya thinks back to Rai - 'It brings dishonor to us for no reason; when simply killing the Daimyo and holding up his inhuman corpse will vindicate us in the eyes of the people.'
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"I shall, uh, leave to prepare then." Udo states with a nod. "I'll see you all in an hour."
He leaves to gather 3 of his doshin, and returns riding a Kirin-- it may help in the battle.
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The Samurai of Sendai were joined by a young Priest named Kan (provided by the Exalted Patriarch to assist in their mission) before taking leave of the Temple.
Bowing to the Chief Magistrate, the team – now consisting of General Meji, Lady Shirahata, Kan the Priest, Roka, Yuki, Miya, Udo, and Rai – took an hour to ready themselves, before rejoining to travel northwest out of Sendai in the darkening night to the hunting lodge of the Daimyo’s cousin, Kado Hasekura.
Kan summoned a Water Elemental, while Udo showed up riding a fiery Ki-Rin.
“Ooof! You win haha!” Kan says to Udo, impressed with the glorious holy steed.
Arriving at the hunting lodge, the place seems deserted, being a two story structure with a high stone foundation, front and rear entrance, and a wrap-around balcony on the second floor.
“Everyone watch themselves,” General Meji warns, “he has a thing for poisons.”
Yuki meanwhile, consulting her lopan, sees that Lee is indeed hiding inside the lodge somewhere…
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"Nice ride indeed." Roka says with a grin, before sunmoning his ki spikes.
"So, everyone, assume every entrance in booby trapped." Roka states. "Yuki, can you look on into the building, and tell us what you see?"
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Udo grins, "Thanks. I'll miss using Yoshi, but this Kirin is no doubt a mighty and loyal steed as well." Just not sure what it can exactly do...
He scratches at it's mane, "Squirrels," he commands from above, "discreetly scatter around the entrances to clear the way for us."
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"Nice ride indeed." Roka says with a grin, before sunmoning his ki spikes.
"So, everyone, assume every entrance in booby trapped." Roka states. "Yuki, can you look on into the building, and tell us what you see?"
"I could, but I wouldn't be able to see far into it because I haven't been inside before."
Yuki replies.
"Shouldn't we surrounded the lodge first? Last time you tried to catch Lee, he escaped through the roof, right?"
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"I don't think so. We can easily remove the bastard without surrounding him, and the man can imitate how we look. If we are separated, he could trick us." Roka says, shaking his head.
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Yuki glances at Roka, before casting Clairvoyance to see inside the hunting lodge.
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"I don't think so. We can easily remove the bastard without surrounding him, and the man can imitate how we look. If we are separated, he could trick us." Roka says, shaking his head.
"Then we should make a passcode. We can't let Lee flee again, this is our last chance to really get that man. Surrounding him may be our best option-- groups of uh, I dunno. 4? With the doshin watching outside?"
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"I will cast X-ray vision so I can tell you where traps are and where Lee is exactly." Rai says casting the spell allowing him to see inside the building.
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Using Clairvoyance, Yuki sees the lodge is empty, except for in a bedroom, where the sucked-dry husk of the real Kado Hasekura lies on the floor – a single vampire bite wound to the neck.
Interestingly, Yuki notes a burned Ofuda in an Arcane Circle – what appears to be the leftover of some demon summoning. Judging by the rather skimpy dress of the dead Kado and the turned down bedding, Yuki surmises the man was getting ready to engage in a little Roka-esque activities with a freshly summoned Succubus…
Rai meanwhile, looking through the house with X-Ray Vision, sees less detail than Yuki – but notes arrow traps on all the entry doors and windows to the lodge.
Then from behind the group, a huge wave of saltwater abruptly rolls in at the gathered Samurai – while from over the lodge, the Korean Assassin Lee rides the magic cloud he stole from Rai – throwing a clay pot down on the Samurai and then opening up with some super-surged arrow onslaught!
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[OOC – Combat has started – the characters must spend Surge to act this Round (getting an Initiative Roll) – or spend 2 Surge to act before Lee’s attacks hit…)
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Roka quickly turns around, and quickly surges force to act.
"Yuki! Dispel his cloud!" Roka shouts, as he quickly grants himself double strength and Amaizing celerity. (-2 KI points)
And with that, Roka quickly throws a blast of ki towards the jar of poison, aiming to knock it far away.
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Miya uses Uncanny Dodge to avoid the wave, then shoots once with Bulls Eye + Uncanny Shot, and an Auto Crit from the Iron Warlord Mask.
Genral Meji will Surge to move out of the wave's path.
Lady Shirihata and Kan the Priest will ride out the wave and then ready themselves for whatever comes next.
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Realizing the wave could cause serious damage to everyone, Yuki decides she needs to turn it against Lee.
First she'll cast Initiative, so that she can act first and help protect everyone.
After, she'll cast Dispel Magic on the cloud Lee is riding, so he can't escape.
Right after, she'll create a gate between the group and the wave, large enough to protect everyone. She'll then make the other side of the gate right above Lee, so he's hit by his own wave (likely destroying the cabin as well :P).
Finally, she'll use her last action to dodge anymore incoming attacks.
If Lee tries to do something, Yuki will use Jinx to stop him (temporarily at least). She'll also prepare to use uncanny dodge if she needs to.
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Rai will use uncanny dodge for the wave if Yuki's spell doesn't work. If it does and lee is within range Rai will mystic chain and sickle trip and hold him down.
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"Show me what you got, Chirin!"
Waiting until the wave smashes into Lee, Udo flies his Kirin up to where the foreigner is is-- whether he was buffeted by the wave or not, and attempts to grab him from the air, only to sumo-slam him, crashing into the ground and maintaining a hold. (Any luck necessary to make it work if it even happen + Uncanny dodge with Ki points wherever necessary).
If Lee is taken down by Rai or Miya, Udo will at least try to get a bird's eye view of the situation to make sure there are no more surprises.
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Yiuki Surges to act before the wave hits, casting Initiative, Dispel Magic, and Gate in Rapid succession.
Everyone sees the cloud vanish out from under Lee’s feet, followed by a Gate opening in front of the wave – redirecting it right over Lee’s head.
The man Surges to fire two arrows at Yuki before he gets slammed between the roof of the lodge and his own tsunami wave! Yuki Jinxes him, but he forces the issue.
As this happens, Roka deftly sends Ripple across Pond to knock the pot of poison out of the air – sending it flying behind the lodge to break open on some trees. Fortunately, the Samurai are upwind.
Lee’s two arrows meanwhile, both shatter mid-flight into a thousand sparkling shards of spirit energy – saturating an area 30 ft in diameter around Yuki. They are Fire and Earth powered Elemental Barbs fueled with Rain of Shooting Stars.
The first does 32 Damage and the second 23 AP Damage.
Lee is tremendously disappointed however, when Yuki, Roka, Miya, Udo, and Rai all use Uncanny Dodge.
General Meji, Lady Shirahata, Priest Kan, and Udo’s Doshin are all nailed pretty hard. Udo’s Doshin perish instantly, while the General wades through it fine and Lady Shirahata and Priest Kan are both wounded (after all three use luck to halve each attack).
Lee then slams through the tile roof of the lodge, taking 20 SL Damage from the fall and 10 Damage from the wave. He uses Luck to reduce each attack by half.
Yuki and Rai can see him inside with Clairvoyance and X-Ray Vision respectively.
Udo meanwhile, flies the Ki-Rin up to the hole in the roof and leaps off – landing on top of Lee after a fifteen foot fall – taking 10SL (Luck for half), while dealing 18 SL to Lee.
Lee uses another Luck for half Damage, but is now caught in Udo’s Hold.
Outside the lodge, Miya makes a guess where Lee would have fallen and shoots an arrow blindly through the side of the building – powering it with Bulls Eye, Uncanny Shot, and an Auto Crit from the Iron Warlord Mask.
Udo sees an arrow punch in through the second story wall, skitter across the floor, and lodge itself in Lee’s arm for 8 Damage.
“Fark you Nipponese dogs!” Lee yells from under Udo.
Udo then hears Lee crunch something underneath himself and gas quickly swirls around!
Another Uncanny Dodge allows Udo to spring off Lee and dive out a window before the poison envelops him! Udo lands nothing at all like an acrobat, taking another 10 SL Damage from the landing on the hard ground below.
---
[OOC – Combat is over, Lee is Dead]
-
Roka looks to Udo.
"The bastard is dead, then?" He asks.
-
General Meji pats Roka on the back - "Nice trick keeping that poison off us Roka!"
Priest Kan menwhile, uses Heal on himself and Lady Shirihata and Restore Vitality on Udo and the General.
-
"Goddam..." Udo states, rubbing at his bruises. "I'd rather he survived for the moment... He could have probably told us what's going on..."
He gets up and thanks Kan for healing him, though remains unsure what to do next. He looks to his dead Doshin with a frown, "So what now? Are we investigating the lodge?"
-
"Goddam..." Udo states, rubbing at his bruises. "I'd rather he survived for the moment... He could have probably told us what's going on..."
He gets up and thanks Kan for healing him, though remains unsure what to do next. He looks to his dead Doshin with a frown, "So what now? Are we investigating the lodge?"
Roka grins.
"Don't worry about it. I doubt Yukinawa told the bastard anything." Roka says with a smile. "As for investigating the lodge, priest, could you send in your water elemental?" Roka asks.
"And thank you, general." Roka says in response to the General's praise. "But the real magic was that gate. Didn't even know you could use it tht way, Yuki." Roka adds with a grin.
-
"Of course," Priest Kan replies to Roka, sending the water Elemental into the lodge to neutralize the poison inside - with the added bonus of setting off a few of the arrow traps.
When Rai checks with his X-Ray Vision, he sees that there are still a few armed arrow traps in the lodge, but at least he knows were they all are. If he points them out to the others, they shouldn't present any problem.
-
Roka nods,
"Thank you, priest kan." Roka says. "Someone get a doshin to retrieve the bastard's body." Roka then states.
-
"My three doshin were killed..." Udo states with a sigh, "But Bleach can likely do it. Problem is that I'm worried about whatever other traps that are in there!"
-
"My three doshin were killed..." Udo states with a sigh, "But Bleach can likely do it. Problem is that I'm worried about whatever other traps that are in there!"
Roka nods.
"Rai, did you find any traps?" He asks
-
Roka grins.
"Don't worry about it. I doubt Yukinawa told the bastard anything." Roka says with a smile. "As for investigating the lodge, priest, could you send in your water elemental?" Roka asks.
"And thank you, general." Roka says in response to the General's praise. "But the real magic was that gate. Didn't even know you could use it tht way, Yuki." Roka adds with a grin.
"Ehehehe", Yuki replies, happy to be praised.
"Kado Hasekura's body is also inside the building. It seems he was trying to summon something for..."
She turns to Roka.
"Something... probably..."
-
"Ehehehe", Yuki replies, happy to be praised.
"Kado Hasekura's body is also inside the building. It seems he was trying to summon something for..."
She turns to Roka.
"Something... probably..."
"Something for something." Roka mutters with a nod. There's really only one reason a noble would summon anything, anyways, so it's fairly obvious what she meant.
"So another Hasekura falls." He then says, sadly. "I had hoped they kept him alive... But I guess evil does not give honor to a name."
-
Noticing that the four vampires don't seem to be here, Yuki casts Divine location to see where Jenna is.
-
Rai looks at Roka and nods, "The water elemental took care of most of the most dangerous ones and the few that are left can be avoided rather easily. Since I can see the traps I will guide the group through to see Lee's body. If you don't mind I would like to take back the cloud flute he stole from me."
-
Roka chuckles.
"Of course, Rai. But, even with a few remaining traps, I'd rather us all not to venture inside, especially not to just carry out two bodies." Roka states.
"Udo, can you and your Kirin ride off and get one of my doshin? It would be preferably for them to carry the bodies out."
-
Rai nods and says, "I think one of us should go inside at least. My spell can't see through lead and I think we might want to prepare for a trap I can't see."
-
Udo sighs, "Rai, can just do that mind-thing of yours and notify Bleach and me as to where the traps are. I will be there with Bleach, and he can get Lee and Hasekura out for us. I feel like that'd work, and I don't think getting the doshin is necessary. And even so, Rai can like, mind-thing to any of his doshin from far away, I think."
-
Roka nods.
"That sounds good, Udo." Roka states. "You sure you'll be safe?"
-
"Not really," he admits, "But I can deal with poison pretty well and can heal Bleach if needed, so I think we'll be fine with Rai's direction. Are we certain the only things inside are the traps? Wouldn't want to deal with a vampire..."
Setting up Celestial Armor (Ki), Udo motions for Bleach to pay attention to Rai.
-
"Yeah, the vampires are gone." Roka replies. "We need to figure out what happened to them."
-
Noticing that the four vampires don't seem to be here, Yuki casts Divine location to see where Jenna is.
Jenna is still not anywhere - at least as far as Divine Location is...
-
It is an easy matter for Rai to lead whoever wants to follow through the Lodge - Rai even disarming the remainder of the arrow traps himself.
Udo's white tiger Bleach then drags the bodies outside.
One if of the Korean Assassin Lee and the other is of the Sendai Noble Kado Hasakura.
-
"I think Jenna was unsummoned..."
Yuki concludes.
"Probably when Yunikawa was killed."
She then steps beside Lee and casts Postcognition on him, hoping to learn about what Yunikawa planned to do, or at the very least, where the book of secrets is. She'll also attempt to discover if Lee left anymore traps for the group, within Sendai or elsewhere.
-
"That would make sense." Roka says with a nod. "It's a shame. She was possibly planning on bringing us the book herself."
-
Using Postcognition, Yuki sees the past seven weeks or so of Lee - from the time the Samurai had found him wandering in the Spirit World, to their betrayal of him at the battle against the Chinese Wu-Jen Jan Xian - to his escape and return to Yunikawa.
From there she sees him complaining to Yunikawa of the Samurai turning on him for no reason and simply instructed by Yunikawa to wait in Sendai and a chance for revenge that would come in due time.
Yuki is horrified to see that while waiting, Lee murdered a family of fox folk, hanging their tails on his belt to mock Yuki and the Samurai when they again saw him with Yunikawa in Sendai - and also with Rai's Flute tauntingly displayed.
Lee never went to Yunikawa's castle however, always staying in Sendai.
He was instructed to hide out during Yunikawa's assault on Sendai and then told to remain in Sendai in disguise to watch for the Samurai to return from the Celestial Palace. He was to distract them from trying to go after Yunikawa, while Yunikawa spent time doing more important things.
Jenna joined Lee in the distraction mission; she and Lee first coming on Kado Hasekura's hunting lodge and killing him, shortly after he summoned a succubus (Lilitu) for sex. They let the Succubus (now free of anyone's control due to the summoner being slain) free to further cause Distraction, especially for Roka, knowing his weakness for the demon.
Lee then posed as Kado Hasakura to try to rile a mob against the return of the Samurai to Sendai. His plan was foiled by Roka. He also placed traps in Yuki's home, while Jenna tried to get Roka to jump Lady Shirahata's bones. He and Jenna then took control of the Chief Magistrate and his house - waiting to Ambush the Samurai when they came after him.
From there, Jenna disappeared - leaving Lee abandoned and alone. He then flew on his cloud back to Kado's hunting Lodge where the Samurai encountered him.
-
Yuki stands up and shakes her head.
"Sendai is safer now without Lee, but Yunikawa never let the Korean close enough to know of his plans."
She remarks.
-
Yuki stands up and shakes her head.
"Sendai is safer now without Lee, but Yunikawa never let the Korean close enough to know of his plans."
She remarks.
Roka nods.
"Unfortunate. We should take any of his valuables, and then dump his carcass somewhere. It deserves no honor." Roka states.
"Do you know where he got all of his poison? Was it the Yakuza?"
-
"That would make sense." Roka says with a nod. "It's a shame. She was possibly planning on bringing us the book herself."
Udo says, "Wait, why would Jenna maybe help us?"
-
Udo says, "Wait, why would Jenna maybe help us?"
Roka smirks.
"Sometimes, I'm very charming."
-
"Anyways," Roka says, "We're done here. The bastard is dead, and just in time for the Daimyo's arrival."
"There's only one thing left for us to do. I know a blacksmith here in Sendai, a really good one. I want him to take a look at the metal plate we brought from Kurokowa and maybe make something out of it. Hopefully the Blue Wall is still operational." Roka says to the group.
"I want it done before the Daimyo arrives."
-
"Yunikawa's blue wall is still there," General Meji answers Roka - "It waivered a bit when the earth shook under the eruption of Mount Fuji, but it yet stands."
-
"Anyways," Roka says, "We're done here. The bastard is dead, and just in time for the Daimyo's arrival."
"There's only one thing left for us to do. I know a blacksmith here in Sendai, a really good one. I want him to take a look at the metal plate we brought from Kurokowa and maybe make something out of it. Hopefully the Blue Wall is still operational." Roka says to the group.
"I want it done before the Daimyo arrives."
Yuki tilts her head at Roka quizzically.
"There's no need. I can use the metal plate to make armour and weapons, now that I can preform epic magic!"
Yuki announces proudly.
-
Udo nods enthusiastically, "Woah, that's pretty cool. You can do that instantly?"
-
Udo nods enthusiastically, "Woah, that's pretty cool. You can do that instantly?"
"Of course not."
Yuki replies shaking her head.
"But it will seem like instantly for all of you... probably."
-
Yuki tilts her head at Roka quizzically.
"There's no need. I can use the metal plate to make armour and weapons, now that I can preform epic magic!"
Yuki announces proudly.
"You could use Epic Magic? That's what Yukinawa could do, right? That's amazing!" Roka says enthusiastically.
-
"Hey Yuki could we stop time and spend it resting to regain our spirit?" Rai asks. (OCC assume spirit means surge)
-
"Oh Yuki, I am so proud of you!" Lady Shirahata says to her daughter.
"Epic Magic?" The Priest Kan says, "Whoa, I though that was just a myth."
-
"Oh Yuki, I am so proud of you!" Lady Shirahata says to her daughter.
"Epic Magic?" The Priest Kan says, "Whoa, I though that was just a myth."
"Eheheh."
Yuki replies, happy to receive even more praise.
"Mother, General, I can make each of you armour or a weapon out of the Soulsteela as well, if you'd like."
-
"Hmm..." General Meji grunts thoughtfully; "If it will help in our fight against Yunikawa (or whatever he has set in motion), then I accept!"
"Yes, we're helping," Lady Shirahata says to the Samurai; "No more going off alone and disappearing for years on end. Sendai is ours; and so this fight is ours too."
-
Yuki nods in response to the two, although she is apprehensive of her mother participating any further, given she's already lost her Feng-Shui abilities.
"I'll need to return to the Temple to preform the ritual."
Yuki says.
"Everyone should rest for now and meet at the Temple in the morning, before the Daimyo arrives. The ritual will be done by then."
Yuki will then cast Heal on herself (since she's still injured), and cast Summon in an attempt to have Jenna return to them.
---
Yuki's Heal works as expected and her Summon seems to have also been a success, though no telling how long before Jenna would show up.
-
Roka nods.
"You're Amazing Yuki. Good luck on that ritual." Roka says with a grin.
"Rai? We need to talk."
-
Rai looks at yuki and says, "Good luck we are counting on you."
Turning to Roka Rai says, "Alright but we have to be quick. I going to try to see second magistrate Saito and meet with some associates before this night is out."
-
Roka nods.
"In private." Roka specifies.
-
Rai shrugs and says, "All right."
-
Rai shrugs and says, "All right."
Roka nods, and taps on his head.
"Magic, remember?"
-
Light dawns on Rai's face and he says, "Ohh I thought we were just going to step asaide." He quickly casts send thoughts and asks in roka's head. "Whats on your mind?"
-
Light dawns on Rai's face and he says, "Ohh I thought we were just going to step asaide." He quickly casts send thoughts and asks in roka's head. "Whats on your mind?"
"It's much safer this way." Roka sends back.
"Anyways, I assume that you and miya aren't going to set up an ambush against the daimyo tomorrow, correct?"
-
Rai smiles and thought sends, "I will be doing nothing of the sort."
-
"Rai, I'm the master of bluff. Call of anything you plan on doing. I'll be talking to the exalted priest as well. We can not afford both whatever Yukinawa planned as well as a Chinese revolution, especially when you'll be fighting the general, ms Shirihata, and me."
-
"You disappoint me Roka." Rai sends and heads off to his first meeting of the night. Going to second magistrates house to finish the secrets.
---
Rai Continues HERE (http://www.bountyheadbebop.com/forum/index.php?topic=1508.0)
-
"The bushido code is far more important to Nippon then your silly games, Rai." Roka replies, heading to the exalted patriach.
---
Roka Continued HERE (http://www.bountyheadbebop.com/forum/index.php?topic=1509.0)
-
Realizing no one has anything left to say to her, Yuki follows Roka and heads to the Temple as well.
---
Yuki Continued HERE (http://www.bountyheadbebop.com/forum/index.php?topic=1509.0)
-
Seeing how the rest of the party is retiring, Udo leaves himself, riding on his flashy Kirin. Before getting some sleep, however, he takes a detour to Kado Hasekura's lodge and does a cursory examination for tracks or marks (Unshakeable Tracking with Earthpoints), wondering how long it was that someone aside from them, Lee and the late-Kado Hasekura.
With Bleach, Udo carefully takes any of Lee's valuables. Additionally, he orders for his remaining Doshin to get people to bury the 3 dead doshin who died fighting the foreigner.
If nothing shows tracks-wise, Udo will just find a place to rest for the night, making sure his squirrels wake him up early so he could regroup with the others.
-
Miya sticks with Udo to help out, but neither find anything else of interest at Kado's after recovering everything and burying the dead.
Apparently, Kado's noble friends left Kado there the other night and went back to Sendai. When Lee showed up the next day disguised as Kado, no one missed the original.
There's nothing left to do now, but go home an get some rest. Tomorrow will probably be a big day...
-
13th Day of Mid Summer 1303
The Daimyo Returns
It was mid-morning and the Samurai found themselves at the gates of Sendai with Chief Magistrate Hie Yama-Uno and an assemblage of Sendai’s Nobles (Including Second Magistrate Saito, General Meji, all the high Ranking Officers of Sendai’s Army, Exalted Patriarch Onishi, and Lady Shirahata). The Daimyo and Imperial Emissary would be arriving shortly and Sendai was largely a complete wreck still, in spite of all the efforts to clean it up over the past three days.
And while it was not humanly possible to have done more, Chief Magistrate Yama-Uno still considered it an embarrassing failure on the part of the city.
Looking beyond their own elect group, the Samurai could see that every last surviving citizen of Sendai had turned out to welcome the Daimyo. The plaza at the City Gates was packed, while the peasants and farmers of the outlying regions had gathered outside the city for the occasion. The General’s army had come down from Yunikawa’s mountain trail too; and were marshaled along the walls to maintain order, while everything inside the city itself fell upon the shoulders of Chief Magistrate Yama-Uno and his Yoriki – the Samurai of Sendai – to take care of.
Also among the crowd were the Priests of Sendai, there under the Exalted Patriarch’s direction to help maintain order – and employ their newfound insight, while everyone was conveniently gathered together.
Then a huge magical Gate suddenly appeared in front of the fortress city and the sound of heavy drums could be heard from the other side. Soldiers moved to swing the great doors of Sendai open as the Daimyo and his personal contingent of sixteen Samurai Honor Guards, all dressed in highly lacquered ornate black lamellar armor with matching katana and wakasashi, rode out.
Behind the Daimyo followed the Grand Premier, Kenji Nogachi: Wu-Jen of Sendai and Advisor to the Daimyo.
After they had come forth, they turned to face the Gate – through which, now proceeded two dozen Chinese Dragon’s Breath Cannoneers – marching along with their massive Dragon’s Breath Cannons. Nearly all of these men was the size of Udo, large and well-muscled, which was a necessary trait of those who would use such a weapon – the weapon that had conquered the Nipponese and taken many of the Samurai’s real fathers…
And the lead Cannoneer – Miya recognized immediately – It was him! Win Pan, escort to Imperial Magistrate Jiang Li Feng. The man who had kill her father for the Daimyo. The man that had sliced her open and left her to die. The man that had given her the terrible scars that still haunted her physically and emotionally to this day.
Miya was barely able to contain her seething rage; her mind and heart screaming for vengeance; It was all she could do not to shoot the man dead then and there on the spot.
Then, came through – on a stunningly beautiful albino horse – Imperial Magistrate Jiang Li Feng: The Emperor’s Imperial Magistrate over Daimyo Shinsen Hasekura. She was (of course) Chinese, haughty-looking, proud, and dressed in finery that the region had rare occasion to see.
Her Dragon’s Breath Cannoneers then parted – as did the Daimyo and his men – as the Imperial Magistrate rode through them and into the city first, in a poignant display of her power and authority as the Emissary of the Chinese Shogun.
As she passed, all (including the Daimyo) knelt down and bowed low, as was the custom. Then the Daimyo, his men, and the Grand Premier rose to follow the Imperial Magistrate through the Gates of Sendai – and finally the Dragon’s Breath Cannoneers.
Once they had passed, The Chief Magistrate, his Yoriki, and ensemble, were bidden to rise and follow behind the procession to the Daimyo’s Palace, while everyone else remained prostrate – they would remain there on the ground, until the Daimyo and his guests were well out of sight, at which point then they would rise and return to their labors and the efforts of rebuilding the city.
Still coming through the gate meanwhile, was a drum company, thumping on four massive drums as the contingent moved along, each resonating a deep heavy thump – and every note seemed an echo of the battle fought long ago in Sendai, and of the Nipponese defeat.
Behind the drum company were the servants and attendees of the Imperial Emissary.
Once these has passed through, the magical Gate closed and was gone.
At length the procession reached the remains of Sendai’s Ancestral Palace, where the Grand Premier used Make Whole to cause the entire palace to spring back up like a new sprout bursting forth from the ground!
It was an impressive display of magic and the building looked (indeed it was) as new and fresh as when first made centuries ago!
The Imperial Procession then went inside – leaving the Samurai of Sendai, Lady Shirahata, and the Army Officers waiting outside with the Dragon’s Breath Cannoneers – who eyeballed the Samurai with unhidden distain and took up defensive positions around the building.
For a few minutes at least, while the Daimyo and his guests were getting settled, the Samurai of Sendai had a moment together alone.
Inside with the Daimyo and his company meanwhile, Exalted Patriarch Onishi found himself weighed down under a most heavy burden – by the Ritual of Seeing his fears had been confirmed. Both the Daimyo and Imperial Magistrate Jiang Li Feng were Rokurokubi!
Outside, Priest Kan hurried to the Samurai of Sendai and with a loud whisper proclaimed – “By the Ancestors, it’s true! The Daimyo and that Imperial Witch are filthy bloodsucking monsters!”
-
Roka keeps calm as the priest whispers, but quickly rebukes him.
"Keep quiet, Kan. What they are right now, matters not. We must simply be prepared to assist the daimyo in dealing with the current threat. What happens afterwards is not our concern right now." Roka whispers.
Of course, on the inside, Roka Takemura is anything but calm and collected. The daimyo, his master, the lord who praised him 9 years ago, is prepared to rebuke him on his failures. Failures that should not have happened, had he been more careful. And all the while, he, the loyal samurai, is protecting the identities of two Assasins, two fools who care nothing for the Code of Bushido. And yet he countinues to hide them, fearing the wrath of the ancestors. He has failed as a Samurai of Sendai, as a servant of his daimyo... But from now on, he will no longer fail. He will make up for his inadequacies and stop Yukinawa, somehow, and prove his worth. That is how it must be.
-
Rai nods and says, "That was not unexpected now we wait for the Exalted Patriarch to get out of the meeting with those devils. We need to wait for the Patriarch then maybe we could get someone to teleport us to Dewa province."
-
"We will do no such thing, Rai. I trust that the daimyo will direct us to get the book of secrets from Yukinawa's fortress to disrupt his plans." Roka replies.
-
"You might be okay with following the orders of a bloodsucking Spirit but some of us have higher standards. I have been commanded by the ancestors to kill those spirits and I will do that duty." Rai says back.
-
"I will follow the Code, as a samurai must. Your insult to them just proves your unworthiness." Roka retorts.
"Stopping Yukinawa's plot is of far greater importance then you accomplishing your ego trip." Roka whispers
-
"Insult? You really don't understand do you? Those things are not human. I am starting to wonder if you have a mind of your own. Would you capture civilians for the Daymio Roka? Would you watch as he sucked there blood out? And smile when he pats your head with a tentacle arm because you were doing your duty?"
-
"I would not smile, but I would act. Because that, Rai Tsukahara, is the reason I was born a samurai, and honored in the Palace for each and every one of my lives. Until another daimyo steps against him, I will act on my duty." Roka replies.
-
Rai just looks disgusted.
-
Yuki nods in response to priest Kan, but otherwise remains silent. The ancestors had already told them about the daimyo, so it was not news to her that they were able to confirm that.
"Rai, the priests must gain the support of another daimyo first."
She comments.
"Do not do anything rash. We should focus on Yunikawa and his plans for now."
-
"Now that the existence is proven we can go to Daimyo Noriko Inari of the Dewa Province. Like the ancestors said." Rai replys.
-
"Dealing with Yunikawa and the Demon-gods comes first, Rai." Udo states with a sigh. "Roka makes a strong point-- the Daimyo can give us permission to seek out Yunikawa, a matter that could explode at any moment. With Mount Fuji erupting and Yunikawa's death... We don't have time to find the other Daimyo and settle on a meeting to deal with this. We need to move a fast as possible to investigate what happened. Leave the Daimyo to General Meji to handle."
-
"I am just worried we might not be able to do or set anything in motion before we all likely die. Even if we don't the likelihood of the people who know being killed goes higher. It's what happened to Miya's father." Rai said pessimistically.
-
Miya stands silent facing the direction the Daimyo and Win Pan had traveled, her hands tightened and her stance aggressive.
"I do not expect to die until I have seen the life leave those monster's eyes. If he sends his assassin to try and kill me again, I will make him pay dearly." She says in a matter of fact way.
"While I will continue to serve you I do expect you to help finish what I have longed to do; before or after I die it matters not." She says quietly to Rai.
-
"He will die as soon as I can manage. However I saw you react berifly to one of the gunners in the party. Do you know him?" Rai asks.
-
“That’s not all,” Priest Kan continues to report to those still listening, “Some of the Imperial Magistrates entourage were talking about Mount Fuji erupting.”
“They say that Edo itself was spared, but the region roundabout had been shaken badly by the blast and that the villages of Numazu, Odowara, Kamakura, and Yokohama had been lost under ash. A tsunami also smashed into the eastern seaboard shortly after, causing damage all along the coastline and swamping or sinking most of the ships and sailing vessels in the water.”
“There is even a rumor that some saw a mile high jet of magma shoot up out of the mountain, following the initial blast, to disappear into the rising clouds of ash!”
“Due to all the devastation, the importance of Sendai’s own plight with Yunikawa has been diminished somewhat in their eyes; and the Imperial Magistrate’s visit will be hurried.”
-
"May the ancestors protect those who perished." Roka mytters, shaking his head.
"But we will have to inform them as to how Yukinawa is related to all of this. It is of upmost importance that they don't ignore whatever is happening with the traitor."
-
"Maybe the Exalted Patriarch and General Meji can talk some sense into them," Kan offers hopefully.
-
"Maybe the Exalted Patriarch and General Meji can talk some sense into them," Kan offers hopefully.
"One can only hope." Roka states firmly.
-
Wondering if Jenna is any closer, Yuki casts divine location on her.
-
For whatever reason, Jenna is still not 'reachable' with Divine Location ...
-
"He will die as soon as I can manage. However I saw you react berifly to one of the gunners in the party. Do you know him?" Rai asks.
"I did, his name is Win Pan and he was the one who left me with my scars." Miya says in response while gesturing along her arm and up to her lower neck.
-
Rai smiles and it is not a kind one. "He might find himself unable to breathe very soon."
-
"Maybe the Exalted Patriarch and General Meji can talk some sense into them," Kan offers hopefully.
"Where are they, anyway?" Udo asks, looking around for them, "It may be a good idea to tell them that pretty soon. Like, uh, now."
-
After waiting in the courtyard of the Daimyo’s Palace for what seemed a good thirty or forty minutes, the Emissary of the Shogun finally came back out, escorted by Second Magistrate Juro Saito.
“Announcing the arrival of the Shogun’s Emissary, Imperial Magistrate Jiang Li Feng,” Juro calls loudly, before turning and bowing himself low before her and the entourage that following behind them.
As everyone bows low, Imperial Magistrate Jiang Li Feng nods her head and bids everyone rise.
Behind her were a couple of the higher Noble women of Sendai and the female servants that the Emissary had brought with her from Edo. Just beyond these were the two dozen Chinese Dragon’s Breath Cannoneers (including Win Pan) that had marched into Sendai with the Emissary – and aside from the Noble women of Sendai, the entirety of the group were all pureblood Chinese.
As Second Magistrate Saito and the Samurai rose from the ground, each of these in turn bowed to them in proper measure and the Emissary spoke – “Greeting Samurai of Sendai. I have heard of your fascinating exploits and have been told that you are each worthy Samurai, fit to provide the proper level of security due one of my position and standing among the Shogunate. And while I can hardly believe what I have heard of the former, as it is obviously nothing more than the gross exaggerations of your quaint, yet backward and superstitious commoners, I trust you can handle the latter.”
Then specifically addressing Second Magistrate Saito, she continues, dismissing him with a wave of her hand – “That is all I require of you; you may go.”
As Second Magistrate Saito bows himself out of the Emissary’s presence, the haughty and proud woman turns back to the Samurai – “Take me to the Grand Bathhouse of Sendai – I have need to wash the foul dirt of this region from my royal skin.”
Here, each of the Samurai could sense the woman’s utter distain for them and their people. The woman – and all the Chinese in fact – carried themselves as if they were better than the Nipponese, whose land they had invaded. It was hard to keep one’s tongue.
‘Not for much longer…’ Rai thought to himself.
Truly the Chinese would one day be thrown from Nippon and the people would be liberated, but for now, that had to wait, and the Samurai had to bide their time.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v651/BerkaZerka/MythicNippon/bathhouse.jpg)
Arriving at the bathhouse, the Samurai could see The Grand Premier already there, having used Make Whole once again, to rebuild the impressive structure for the Emissaries’ immediate benefit. Once that was taken care of, he hurried back to the Daimyo’s Palace, carefully avoiding a run in with the egregiously unlikable Imperial Magistrate.
Inside were a number of steaming hot baths, each in its own private section and scented with the finest of spices and bath oils – the sweet scent of lavender and roses filling the air.
As the emissary and her group move to the largest of the heated pools within the bathhouse, twelve of the Chinese Dragon’s Breath Cannoneers take up positions surrounding the outside of the building, while the other twelve go in with the Samurai and remain close to the Emissary.
Without embarrassment or concern, the Emissary, and all the women with her, then disrobe and slip into the hot waters, enjoying the baths and leaving the Samurai to stand alone at one end of the massive pool, while the twelve Cannoneers stand ready at the other…
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Farking Chinese bitch. Roka thinks to himself, as he quickly sets himself up in position to guard the nobles, standing opposite to the big dragon cannoners.
Of course, Roka being Roka, and seeing a bunch of attractive women in a bath, and being mostly bored, Roka begins to display his overwhelming machismo, trying to attract attention to himself. He can't speak without being addressed, but perhaps this will get him somewhere with all the women.
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Rai takes up a guard post as well but it is clear he is watching the cannoneers more then his surroundings.
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Miya seems hesitant to be in the same room as both of the people she hates while not doing anything to bring unending pain upon them.
She takes up a spot where she can best watch(and possibly shoot) both Win Pan and the Magistrate. The situation is making her tense trying to keep her rage under control.
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Sensing something bad may happen, Yuki pulls out her Lopan and casts Danger Sense.
She'll then begin reading the auras of the Imperial Magistrate, then some of the women nearby her, then some of the cannoneers.
After that (assuming nothing happens before she's done), she'll simply stare down the cannoneers silently like the rest of the samurai.
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Yuki finds that the Imperial Magistrate is somehow blocked from Aura Reading, as was the Daimyo.
Surprisingly, the Chinese Dragon's Breath Cannoneers appear more adept with Close Quarter Combat than with Ranged.
Using Danger Sense, Yuki feels a palpable tension in the air between the Cannoneers and the Samurai, but no immediate danger...
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Rai uses threat assessment on all in the room.
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Udo flips on the Spirit Sight (Earth) as he begins to stop ogling the pool and the women who fill it for a moment before taking a look around, wondering if anything is going to disturb them.
He bites his lip, wondering what would happen if he turned on his Celestial Armor to 'accidentally' perturb that Chinese-bitch of a demoness. Probably not the best idea, even just out of curiosity...
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Yuki uses her Ritual of Seeing to confirm that the Imperial Magistrate is a Rokurokubi.
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As Yuki looked with her Ritual of Seeing, she saw through the Imperial Magistrate’s magical façade to the real monster lurking below the surface.
The woman’s true form was a gaunt white face - skin stretched much too tightly - with ragged tangles of matted greasy hair falling from her head, flat pointed ears, and a puckered mouth full of long sharp fangs. A black pallor hung over her and her shadow cast a reflection of her flailing entrails that even now lay dormant inside her false body.
As Yuki was repulsed by this revelation, Udo looked around with spirit sight and saw nothing yet out of place.
Rai meanwhile, gauged himself mentally against a few of the Cannoneers and realized that they didn’t even come close to his level in ranged combat, though they could probably bash the heck out of him with those cannons in close quarter.
Roka continued to flex, strut, and grunt – to some tittering giggles from the women bathing in the pool (though the Imperial Magistrate seemed to be ignoring his antics).
The Chinese Dragon’s Breath Cannoneers however, clearly found it annoying and they started to make signals to Roka, apparently insinuating that they would shoot him if he didn’t stop.
Of course, Roka did not stop – making even more exaggerated hip-thrusting motions than normal – which began infuriate the Cannoneers to no end.
They kept their rage silent however, and just cast eye-daggers at Roka for the time being.
As this went on, Yuki’s Danger Sense suddenly alarmed – and she was just able to warn the Samurai, when six Naga, two Earth Elementals, and what looked like a seven foot wide floating lopan abruptly Teleported into the room near the Samurai.
One of the Naga was clearly a High Priest/Feng-Shui Master; and he coiled in a corner of the bathhouse as the others all fanned out toward Yuki, Roka, and Udo.
The High Priest wore oriculum blessed chain and radiated a blinding grandeur, which Yuki recognized as a Terrifying Apparition of Glory meant to intimidate everyone. Truly, it intended to harm the Samurai, but for the moment just waited, smoking a strange Iron Kisaru (pipe) – which Yuki could perceive was a powerful artifact of some kind…
Yuki could also tell that the large floating Lopan was a Feng-Shui Spirit – and it hovered near its master in the cool gray smoke rolling out from the Kisaru.
The other five Naga wore starmetal breastplates and were awash in Ki energy and rippling sinuous muscles.
Two of them wielded white fire-shrouded great bows and brought them around to target Yuki, while the other three swirled huge iron naginatas overhead that had to weigh several hundred pounds apiece.
These three made a beeline for Roka, while the two Earth Elementals, apparently wrapped in spiked iron banding of some kind, lumbered at Udo.
A cry of panic and alarm went up from the bathing women meanwhile, who immediately began struggling to get out of the pool – with the Imperial Emissary herself clawing over the other woman in an unabashed display of self-preservation.
The Dragon’s Breath Cannoneers at the other end of the pool looked completely dumbfounded, trying to determine who the Naga were going to attack – clearly thinking it was a move against the Imperial Magistrate.
---
[OOC – the Samurai are not surprised, but the Cannoneers are. Combat intentions for Round One.]
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Rai casts Infinitive and Light Manipulation (Use my temporary luck point to help it succeed.) And surrounds the Naga's heads in darkness and diminish the glaring light and attacks the prist with his mystic chain and sickle trying to trip him.
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"Naga! We aren't the sacrificiants! You got the wrong guys!" Roka shouts out, using his convincing lies to try and trick the Naga. Hopefully it'll affect at least one of them....
"Yuki! Do your magic stuff!" He also shouts, giving her as many surges as she needs, as he activates both radiate as well as his Amaizing celerity, and begins to chathe up his ki spikes. He'll dodge the naga's attacks with uncanny dodge if neccesary.
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Yuki quickly casts initiative, to go first and get the extra action.
She'll then cast Killjoy on the Naga Priest. Immediately after she'll cast Karma drain on it.
Following those two actions, Yuki will cast Teleport, with the help of a Surge from Roka, to teleport all of the samurai, and all of the women that were in the pool (including the Magistrate), behind the cannoneers in order to give them a clear line of fire.
She'll use Jinx on the Naga Priest and the Elementals whenever they attempt to preform an action.
(She'll use luck points to make sure all of this succeeds)
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Udo, now behind the cannoneers, petitions for his Celestial Armor from the heavens before whistling for the Kirin to return to him.
Additionally, he will send a 4-point pinning vine at the Feng-Shui Master-Naga with the giant lopan. "We don't want a fight!"
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The Samurai of Sendai are all Intimidated by the Naga Priest’s Terrifying Apparition of Glory – as are all but two of the Dragon’s Breath Cannoneers (one of them being Win Pan). Udo, Yuki, and Rai were close enough in their Will Save that a Luck Point would have pushed them over – but it would be a waste as the Save is required each Round and it’s only a -2 Penalty when acting directly against the Naga Priest anyway.
Rai Botches his Initiative spell and is forced to spend a Luck Point to save the spell and avoid being KO’d. He then casts Light Manipulation and can’t bring himself to enclose the Naga Priest’s head in darkness for some reason. He is able however, to create a larger bubble of darkness around the Naga Priest and the Lopan Spirit – in a ten foot radius around them. That should effectively prevent them from seeing out, but now no one can see in either…
Rai then attempts to make an attack into the darkness, but once again hits a mental wall – preventing him from directly attacking the Naga Priest in any way.
Roka then Radiates Hell Fire, activates Amazing Celerity, Ki Spikes, and uses Convincing Lie to trick the Naga into thinking that they are after the wrong guys. Four of the Naga Ki-Masters fall for it and hesitate, confused by the conflicting information (losing their Actions for the Round).
“Kill them all regardless!” The Naga Priest hisses to clarify, speaking in Old Realm – and the effected Naga burn 2 Surge each to get their Actions back.
Yuki having already cast Initiative, wastes an action trying to use Killjoy on the Naga Priest – able to see his aura through Rai’s darkness with her Sorcerer’s Sight, yet unable to bring herself to act directly against it. She then switches tactics to throw a Karma Drain on the Lopan Spirit and is rewarded with 4 Luck Points.
Yuki then uses one of Roka’s Born Leader Surges to Teleport everyone behind the twelve Dragon’s Breath Cannoneers.
Udo activates Celestial Armor and is suddenly enshrouded in brilliant white glory! He whistles for his Ki-Rin, which flies into the bathhouse through a high window.
Udo then surrounds the Naga Priest and Lopan Spirit in twisted spike-covered vines that erupt through the floor – noting that he can only enclose them, but can’t actually harm them – leaving (like Rai’s Darkness) a ten foot diameter hollow within.
The Feng-Shui Spirit then throws Killjoy on Yuki – but Yuki uses Uncanny Dodge to avoid it. Then it uses the Naga Priest’s Born Leader Surge to slam Yuki, Roka, and Udo with Discord.
The two Naga Archers each fire double Rain of Shooting Stars at Yuki – enveloping the back row of Cannoneers on one side, and half of the fleeing Noble Women on the other. Yuki tries to Jinx them once each, but the issue is pressed both times.
The attacks do 15, 14, 16, & 19 Damage – killing all of the women hit (both Nipponese and Chinese), while the 6 Cannoneers use Luck to halve the worst two attacks – each losing all of their Vitality in the battering, but their armor keeping them from getting Wounded. The Samurai all use Uncanny Dodge to avoid the first two volleys, but are caught in the second two Miya and Rai forced to burn Luck for half damage on one of them. Yuki escapes any Damage from a Luck Point timed Deflection Spell, Compliments of more Roka Born Leader Surge.
As this goes on, the two Earth Elementals lumber forward, intending to bowl their way through the Cannoneers. Yuki Jinxes them both but the Feng-Shui Spirit gives them both Luck Points to resist. The Cannoneers open a volley of six shots, three at each Elemental – the tactic being to fire half the cannons each round, reloading the other half, to sustain a continuous fire.
The heavy brass cannons roar with thunder – blasting their three inch diameter stone balls into the Earth Elementals, doing 25, 28, and 21 Damage to the first and Criting the second elemental in the head for 26 to Wounds, followed by 24, and 24 Damage. The Elementals’ incredibly tough exterior keep them up as the stone balls explode on impact – though both are now Wounded somewhat.
The heavy-iron naginata wielding Ki-Masters then glide forward with Amazing Celerity, and begin to Reap the Field with Heavy Hitter among the Cannoneers – taking six apiece. The first does 25, 23, 25, 24, 28, & 23 Damage; the second does 24, 21, 22, 25, 24, & 19 Damage, and the third does 25, miss, 26, 22, 23, & miss Damage.
The six front line Cannoneers attacked by two Naga are all slain, while four of the ones hit in the Rains of Shooting Stars are also dispatched – leaving two wounded Cannoneers left standing.
Lastly, Miya looses two Lightning Arrows with Rain of Shooting Stars – the first fueled with Through the Heart! It crackles down through the Naga and remaining Cannoneers for 25 AP Damage and Disables the Cannoneers – but the Naga Uncanny Dodge! The follow-up 29 AP Damage Kills the Cannoneers (Damage on Disabled = Dying) and once again the Naga Uncanny Dodge!
Even though she failed to harm any of the Naga, Miya feels a huge burden suddenly lifted, as she watches the Chinese scum Win Pan go down under her own attack.
---
[OOC – Round Two:
- The Naga High Priest and Feng-Shui Spirit are currently wrapped in spiked vines and darkness – and no longer visible, presuming they are still in there.
- The 2 Naga Archers are spread out.
- The 3 Naga Heavy-Naginateers are right in the Samurai’s face now.
- The 2 Earth Elementals are also at the Samurai now.
- The 12 Cannoneers are Dead (there are 6 Loaded Dragon’s Breath Cannons on the tile floor).
- The other 12 Cannoneers are running into the building from the outside.
- Half of Noble Women are Dead.
- The other half of the Noble Women are fleeing
- The Imperial Magistrate is Fleeing
- Take care to note your Luck and Surge Totals when posting your intentions.
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"Heh, fools." Roka mutters with a grin, as fire burns around him, as he bolsters his muscles. (-1 ki for heavy hitter)
"Hey! Are you guys deaf?! The priest said "Stop the attack!"" Roka adds with a hidden smirk, trying his luck once more with a convincing lie. [-1 ki point]
"And Rai, move faster!" He adds with a smirk.
"Whirling fists of death!" Roka then shouts, as he activates reap the field and starts striking at the enemies around him (the naga and the Elementals). If he rolls above a 10, he'll add in a death touch for one, if he rolls above a 10 after that, he'll use his Brutal Maiming style attack, if he does it again, he'll make it a critical strike with Grevious Injury Method, and if he rolls a exactly 10, he'll make it a savage blow and a crashing mirror.(-1+-X ki points).
If he gets hit with a incredibely powerful attack that breaks through his armor, he'll instinctively activate brass body defense.
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Yuki shakes her head, upset at herself for failing to protect all of the noblewomen, and for being unable to affect the Naga Priest. In order to undo the Discord on herself and the others, she'll give a luck point to herself, Udo, and Roka.
Deciding she needs more actions to act, she casts Haste first.
She'll then create a blinding flash of light from herself, using Mote, hoping to blind all the Naga and Elementals.
Yuki will then cast Fling on one of the (hopefully blinded) Naga Archers, hurling it towards the other Naga Archer.
She'll then hold onto her last action, in case she needs to dodge anything or cast another spell to help the group.
-----------------------------
[Assuming Fireplay doesn't isn't on in time again]
Miya smirks contently, happy she's finally achieved some of the revenge she's longed for. Then, realizing the effects of the Naga Priest's intimidate must be dealt with, Miya turns to Roka.
"Roka, you're a womanizing, egotistical fool. Would it kill you to at least try and act like the inspirational leader you claim to be?" She says with some disdain. (AKA - use Inspire Heroism)
Miya will then use her ruby eye to make sure there are no illusions around her.
After that, she'll use One for Each, using Lightning arrows against the three heavy-iron naginata wielding Nagas nearby, and normal arrows for the rest of the Naga/Elementals (attempting to shoot the Naga Priest last given she can't see them).
(Yep, I went all out controlling her!)
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Assuming it doesn't take any more actions, Udo will first Physically Boost himself to atleast be on even footing with the muscle-y Naga. He jumps onto his Kirin, raising his Silver-shod Tetsubo high in the air as he begins his attacks.
"Chi-rin, Go!" Following Roka's attacks, he will spend 2 attack-actions to attack the Heavy Naginateers a total of 4 times with multi-attack.
Hopefully the Kirin does something firey and cool as well.
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Rai quickly (Using the surge roka gave to win initiative or counter the counter) adjusts the light so the samurai can see in but the naga and spirit can't see out. He then grabs one of the loaded cannons and cast poison (blood agent) on it (Use all the luck I have to to have it succeed.) and fires it using a surge creating a rain of shooting stars to hit the elementals and the 3 up close nagas.
"Hit them hard Yuki!" Rai says giving her 2 of his born leader surges.
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Yuki Casts Haste and removes Roka’s, Udo’s, and her own Discord with 3 Luck Points and then gives the Samurai the safety word ‘Fuzzy’ before setting off a Mote (blinding flash) over her head.
The Samurai, having closed their eyes are not affected, but one of the Naga Archers, a Naga Naginateer, and both Earth Elementals are Blinded, but the Naga Archer uses Uncanny Dodge to avoid it (his eyes diving for cover at the last moment haha!).
As this goes on, one of the Archers, two of the Naginateers, and both Earth Elementals then hesitate a moment at Roka’s Convincing Lie.
‘Kill that Samurai first, then the others’ the Naga Priest sends thoughts to his minions and those effected burn another Surge to swarm at Roka.
Not done yet, Yuki continues her magical assault, trying to cast Fling on a Naga Archer, but failing, and then spending a Luck to try again and succeeding this time.
One of the Naga Archers abruptly catapults across the chamber to slam into the other Archer – but the intended target of the flying Naga uses Uncanny Dodge! The flying Naga however, still slams hard into the wall, taking 30 SL Damage and being KO’d. It Surges to shake it off however, and gives a very angry hiss at Yuki.
Because Rai has to go and pick up a cannon meanwhile, the Naga are acting before him, but Roka valiantly interposes himself with whirling Ki-Spiked fury to keep them at bay long enough for Rai to prep his area attack.
Using Multi-Attack, Roka intends to Ki-Spike all three of the Naga and one of the Earth Elementals – his radiating Hell Fire Fatiguing one and causing 6 Damage to all of them; as he lets them surround him.
Roka’s first blow is parried however, and Roka takes a brutal 22 Counter Damage (the Naga all having Vengeful Counter Stance already activated). Roka soaks it with Brass Body Technique, but the hit was so solid, that he still takes 1 Wound from it anyway.
Realizing the folly of engaging the Naga Ki-Masters in close quarter, Roka leaps away, Activates his own Vengeful Counter Stance, and sends out three Ripple Across Ponds.
The first one Botches and Roka counters with a Luck Point, stolen (thanks to Yuki’s Group Harmony) from Udo.
“Thanks Udo!” Roka grins at the Forest Ward.
Roka’s second Ripple strikes a Naga in the chest for 16 AP Damage and a Death Touch – instantly Disabling the foe!
His last Ripple hits an Earth Elemental squarely in the chest for 19 AP Damage, causing it to shatter into rubble. Interestingly, the remains do not vanish away as could be expected – confirming for Yuki that they can’t simply be Dispelled.
At this point, Rai has readied a poison Dragon’s Breath shot and shoots it at the three Naginateers and the remaining Earth Elemental – spreading it into a deadly firestorm of toxic awesome with Rain of Shooting Stars!
It hammers down on them for 21 Damage and then and additional 5x4 shrapnel Damage with Rai using Uncanny Shot for AP (thanks to a Born Leader Surge from Roka). The Poison doesn’t effect the Earth Elemental and the Naga use Ki Energy to Shrug it. All of them, save the Elemental, using Luck for half Damage.
The Earth Elemental is reduced to ruins from the pounding, the Disabled Naginateer is killed, and the remaining two Naga Naginateers are buffeted, but not yet wounded.
Rai then adjusts his globe of darkness around the Naga Priest to allow those outside to see in, while inside remains dark. Unfortunately, all this does is let everyone see Udo’s gnarl of spiked vines.
Looking with her Ruby Eye, Miya sees no Illusions in play. She then uses One For Each to put an Uncanny Shot + Through the Heart boosted lightning arrow through both remaining Naginateers’ heads – Disabling them with 24 & 24 AP damage straight to Wounds. Figuring the two archers are going to Dodge after seeing that, she just fires two normal arrows at the Naga Archers with no boosts.
Sure enough, both waste an Uncanny Dodge to avoid them.
At this point, Udo’s Ki-Rin arrives, allowing Udo to mount – then swooping over to the ‘wall-smashed’ Naga Archer. It rears up and Thunder Slams the Naga under fiery spark-showering hooves for 16 Damage and setting it Ablaze!
Udo activates Physical Boost and multi-attacks the Naga with his tetsubo – being Uncanny Dodged once (would have been a crit if not multi), then pile driving the Archer to the stones with another non-crit for 25 Damage and then another 19 & 20 Damage.
The Naga spends Luck against all three blows, rolling with them to allow his armor to soak all but 1 Point of Damage.
The two Naga Archers then both fire One for Each at the five Samurai - using Uncanny Head Shots and Bull’s Eye – hoping to end this now.
The first Naga Archer successfully targets all Samurai, but the second (on fire) only hits Roka before Botching and ending his run.
Roka is hit twice in the noggin for 16 & 20 AP Straight to Wounds, but uses Brass Body and feels both tink off harmlessly.
Udo blocks one shot with his buckler and watches another miss him by a mile.
Yuki Crits her dodge.
Rai Botches his dodge and is forced to Uncanny Dodge or die. He is Fatigued by the effort though.
Miya dodges the shot aimed at her.
Then the Naga Priest and Feng-Shui Spirit suddenly Teleport behind the Samurai! The Naga Priest is no longer smoking the Iron Kisaru.
They are Hasted and the Priest casts a Wither Spell on Yuki, Surges to Cast Heal on both Archers, and gives Born Leader Surge so they can both blast Yuki, Miya, and Rai with 2 Earth Elemental Barb Rain of Shooting Stars.
‘Elemental Earth Rain of Shooting Stars; these ones; now!’ he sends thought to them.
Yuki Uncanny Dodges the Wither and Surges to Dispel both Heal Spells (thanks to Roka and Rai’s last Born Leader Surge) The Naga Priest tries to Reflect the Dispels back on Yuki, but Yuki’s magic mirror prevents it and the Heals are ruined.
Then the Elemental Earth Barb Rain of Shooting Stars burst overhead – saturating the area in an armor piercing blitzkrieg.
The first deals 18 AP Damage and the second does 16 AP Damage.
Yuki burns 2 Luck to halve the damage of each and escapes serious harm.
Rai Exhausts himself For a Surge to Activate Restore Vitality (which counters the Fatigue) then burns 10 Vitality for 2 more Surge to Uncanny Dodge twice!
Miya also uses Uncanny Dodge for both.
---
[OOC –Round Three:
- The Naga High Priest and Feng-Shui Spirit are now on the other side of the chamber
- The 2 Naga Archers are no longer spread out (They are out of Surge & the Wounded one is Ablaze)
- The 3 Naga Heavy-Naginateers are Dead or Disabled.
- The 2 Earth Elementals are Destroyed.
- The other 12 Cannoneers are now entering the chamber this round and may or may not fire some Cannons.
- There are still 5 Un-Fired Cannons on the floor.
- The Imperial Magistrate and Noble Women are now out of harm’s way.
- Take care to note your Luck and Surge Totals when posting your intentions.
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"Udo! Miya! Take care of the archers!" Roka shouts, as he begins to turn red, bringing all his rage at the situation foward, activating his bezerker rage.
He then quickly begins his Attack on the naga priest, planning to slam the snake with 4 Ki spiked multi-strikes! The first Attacks shall be normal, non-powered strikes until the Maga stops uncanny dodging, but the next should be a surge fueled Grevious injury method, true striking, crashing mirror (taking 10 vitality points of damage in payment for the extra surges), and then, if the naga priest survives this brutal strike, and the remaining strikes will be used as combos of GREVIOUS injury, true Strike, death touch, and crashing mirror.
"RAAAAAAARGH!!!!!!"
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Rai activates another restore vitality and casts haste (Use luck if needed) then he casts despell magic (luck agian on his mystic chain and scythe and uses it to trip and hold the naga priest. Surging to cast read minds he asks the priest, "Where is Yunikawa of the Gods?"
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With the Naga Priest finally able to be hit, Yuki focuses on it.
First though, she casts Heal on herself, followed by Haste. She'll then use KillJoy and Karma Drain on the Naga Priest.
Yuki will then attempt to stop all the actions of the Naga Priest (and the Feng-Shui tablet), using Jinx.
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Udo continues his continuous bashing, returning on his Kirin and riding in on the alit Nagarcher and multi attacking him twice [or once if the first takes him out) with his Tetsubo once again.
Hopefully done with his foe,
"Chirin, restrain the other one now!"
Turning around, he spends his remaining 2-3 multi-attacks on the last Naga archer, hoping that it and whatever his Kirin does will be enough to stop him from attacking again.
-
Once the press of fleeing Noble women subsides, the twelve Dragon’s Breath Cannoneers from outside are able to enter the bathhouse.
They stop in their tracks and just stare in awe at the battle now taking place before their eyes.
Yuki tries to cast Haste and Heal, but the Feng-Shui Spirit Jinxes her, forcing her to use 2 more luck to Counter. Yuki then burns a Surge to resist KO from the Drain and yet another Luck to force a failed Heal spell to go off anyway. Unfortunately, the Naga Priest casts Dispel Magic on Yuki’s Heal, but Yuki Fatigue Surges to Uncanny Dodge. The Feng-Shui Spirit Jinxes her again and Yuki spends her last Luck to Counter. The Feng-Shui Spirit Forces the Issue with a Born Leader Surge from the Naga Priest, but Yuki takes a Luck from Miya to settle it.
Yuki then tries a Karma Drain on the Naga Priest, but again the Feng-Shui Spirit continues to Jinx her. Yuki spends a Luck from Udo to Counter, but the Feng-Shui Spirit spends another Born Leader Surge from the Naga Priest again to force the issue. Yuki then takes a Luck from Roka to settle it and finally, after all that, gets 4 more Luck Points.
As this goes on, the Naga Priest Surges to go before the rest of the Samurai. Roka senses that it is about to go all out on Yuki and Surges to interrupt – entering a ferocious rage and attacking with a blistering Ki-Spike assault!
His first strike hits doing 21 AP Damage, but the Naga uses Luck for half.
Roka’s second swing is dodged, but it wasn’t the uncanny version – just plain old agility on the part of the Naga.
Activating True Strike and Grievous Injury Technique, Roka then drives his Ki-Spikes mightily into the side of the Naga for two Crit hits Straight to Wounds – both for 26 AP Damage!
The Naga Priest also takes 6L from Roka’s radiating Hell Fire.
Again the Naga Priest uses Luck for half – but still suffers serious Damage. Fortunately, he also has Unbreakable active which saves his life, after soaking a total of 10 AP Damage.
The Naga Priest otherwise ignores Roka at that point and tries to Heal itself, but Yuki Jinxes it. The Naga Priest spends Luck to Counter though; and Yuki is about to Fatigue Surge to force the issue – but then thinks better of it after looking at the Feng-Shui Spirit (a virtual well of Luck Points for the damn Naga Priest).
Once Healed, the Naga Priest Spends 3 Surge to cast two non-touch Fatigue spells on Roka. Roka is Exhausted by the negative energy. Then the bastard snake checkles almost evily and surges again to throw a Wither at Roka.
Yuki uses one of Rai’s Luck to Jinx the Wither, but again, the Feng-Shui Spirit is there to Counter.
Faced with eating 28 SL AP Damage from the Wither and being Disabled anyway, Roka Fatigue Surges an Uncanny Dodge and is KO’d instead.
As this goes on, Rai activates Restore Vitality, casts Haste on himself, and then Dispel on the Naga-Priest’s Terrifying Apparition of Glory. In spite of the blazing aura abruptly snuffing out, the Naga Priest still looks rather intimidating – though no one suffers any penalties because of it anymore.
Rai then tries to ensnare the Naga Priest in his chain and sickle. He hits it for 12 Damage, but fails to entangle it – the Naga just being too slippery.
Rai thinks about casting Read Minds as well, but wisely elects to wait till the next round, rather than Fatigue himself over it now.
“Where is Yunikawa of the Gods?” Rai demands.
“You will be joining him soon enough,” the Naga Priest hisses. Then, as if sensing the inevitable outcome of this fight, it adds, “If not by my hand, then by another – and another – and another!”
“Send another then!” Miya yells, now knowing that the Naga Priest does not have Uncanny Dodge – and burning the remainder of her Ki Energy and Surge for three Lightning Arrow Called Shots to the heart with Through the Heart on each!
Unfortunately, the Naga Priest dodges with alarming adroitness – proving to be a much harder target than anticipated (even without Uncanny Dodge). The first two shots miss entirely, but Miya adjusts and puts the third lightning arrow through the Naga Priest’s heart with a loud crack! – Doing 19 AP straight to Wounds and Disabling him!
The damnable thing just grins wickedly as it coughs up blood and Fatigue Surges to cast Heal! It looks like this is going to continue on for quite a while longer…
Udo meanwhile, allows his Ki-rin to stomp the flaming Naga Archer into pudding for an additional 19 Damage plus even more Ablaze (if that’s even possible), then tetsubo smashes the remains a few times for good measure (20 SL Damage + 24 SL Damage) when it has the nerve to spend Luck for half damage and try getting back up.
The one remaining Naga Archer meanwhile, disregards Udo and fires at Yuki six times with a born Leader Surge and Multi-Shot, using a Marksman accurate Uncanny Called Shot to her head with each one.
Yuki Fatigue Surges again for a Defensive Action to Dodge the attacks, but only manages to slip the third shot.
Yuki takes 15 AP Straight to Wounds, 17 AP Straight to Wounds, 24 AP Straight to Wounds, 15 AP Straight to Wounds, and 18 AP Straight to Wounds!
The Samurai of Sendai watch helplessly, as their most endearing friend is Disabled, Dying, and then Dead before their very eyes.
As had happened with Sakura and Kaitaro before her, Yuki’s body suddenly transformed into a brilliant flash of white light and is gone – leaving her possessions scattered on the floor. Curiously however, Yuki’s Divine Ephemeral Soulsteel Scale armor is not among the remains.
Udo, being the only conscious ‘Sacrifant’ left, feels Yuki’s pain as she dies – leaving him with an empty void in the pit of his stomach when she is gone in an instant.
Still, the battle was not over – though the tides seemed to now be sweeping in the favor of the Naga Priest…
---
[OOC – On to Round Four:
- The Naga High Priest is only banged up a bit and no longer Wounded. He is reaching the end of his Surge and Spell Energy though.
- The Feng-Shui Spirit is uninjured and appears to be a bottomless pit of Luck Points…
- Only 1 Naga Archers is left Alive and though he is out of Surge he still has Ki Energy available.
- The 12 Cannoneers have entered the chamber and will fire their cannons at the Naga this Round.
- There are still 5 Un-Fired Cannons on the floor.
- Take care to note your Luck and Surge Totals when posting your intentions.
---
Yuki Continue HERE (http://www.bountyheadbebop.com/forum/index.php?topic=1526.0)
-
Miya suddenly hears Yuki through Send Thoughts - "Miya? Miya are you okay?"
-
"YUKI!!!" The Forest Ward cries out, bewildered by the turn of events. God damn it... We can only hope that we can reach her later.. But if not...
An angered Udo rides his Kirin through the last Naga-Archer (hopefully flaming it up) as he nears Roka, reaching down to Restore Vitality on his fallen-- though actually alive, friend.
Using whatever actions he has left (and using a surge if needed to get these attacks in), Udo continues his ride to the Naga High Priest to multi-attack it twice.
He will uncannily dodge any attack at him (and if he needs extra surge he will do the Valiant Sacrifice)
-
Miya suddenly hears Yuki through Send Thoughts - "Miya? Miya are you okay?"
'Yuki?!? Is that you? I saw you die!' Miya sends back to Yuki in great surprise.
-
"It's me, ehehe. I did die... I think..." Yuki thinks back, trailing off.
"Anyway, I'll explain what happened later, just make sure you and Rai survive the Naga no matter what." Yuki continues in Miya's head.
"It's probably fine for Udo or Roka to die... Probably. Oh, and don't mention me yet. I think the Naga think I died for re- I wonder where the exit is...
-
'Whaaa?!?' Miya thinks back to Yuki - 'Can you get back here? We're about to get out asses kicked without you!'
-
Rai Faituges himself in order to go before the naga priest. Sacrificing 20 vitality for 4 surge he then uses his last restore vitality on himself before throwing down a smoke bomb and attempting to hide from the priest. Casting mind control on the spirit he orders it to only jinx everything the naga priest does and nothing else. Then (if he has surge left) from his new hidden spot he launches a uncanny spear shot at the naga.
-
(Assuming Udo acomplishes anything...)
Feeling Udo's arm on his back, Roka gets up to his feet, aiming to finish the naga priest once and for all. With a quick roar of anger, he begins to strike.
"Sudden Deadly Strike!" Roka shouts out, attacking the priest with two wicked ki point fueled true striking death touch multi attacks, hopefully killing the naga priest outright (draining roka of ki). If the bastard priest survives, Roka will in turn burn up his remaining vitality to repeat the Deadly Strike on the priest.
If it still lives, Roka will burn his remaining wound points to surge and inflict three more multi-attacks on the priest, shouting "Takemura Mirror Fist!" the deadly Crashing Mirror, True strike, Death Touch, and Grevious Injury Style combo, trademarked by the Takemura Dojo, and repeating it until the priest dies.
If the priest dies before Roka uses up his combos, but the archers remain, Roka'll quickly send off his "Repeating Ki Canon" Strike (Ripple Across Pond, Crashing Mirror, True Strike, and Death Touch) as many times as he could.
[First attack set: 4 ki points for 2 muti attacks
Second Attack set: 10 vitality for 1 multi attacked Death Touch and True Strike and 1 Combo multi strikes
Third Attack Set: 2 Combos and 5 wound for another 2 multi attacks]
-
After Surging to go first, Rai employs Valiant Sacrifice to power up and then disappears in a cloud of smoke to stealth behind a column and try his luck with Mind Control.
At first, Rai fails to cast the spell, but continues at it and finally manages to make it go off. He then commands the Feng-Shui Spirit to Jinx everything the Naga Priest tries, but the Feng Shui-Spirit uses its own Luck to Save and then Karma Drains the last of Rai’s Luck and Curses him for his audacity.
Rai then hurls a spear at the Naga Priest with Uncanny Shot, but the Feng-Shui Spirit Jinxes it and the spear ends up missing by a mile and tanking in the heated pool.
The Naga Priest then Surges to cast a couple more Fatigue spells on Roka to finish him off, but Udo Surges to Interrupt. The Naga Priest Surges again to Interrupt the Interrupt, but Udo replies in kind.
The Naga Priest, now out of Surge watches as Udo and his fiery steed dash over and Restores Vitality on Roka with his Quickening SoulSteel Buckler.
Udo then successfully clobbers the Naga Priest with his tetsubo (after Countering a Jinx with his Luck), doing 24 SL Damage. He then repeats the process (countering another Jinx) for a second hit landing for another 17 SL Damage and KOing the bastard for good measure!
The Naga Priest is forced to Fatigue Surge to shrug the KO and then goes to cast Heal on itself.
A now conscious Roka however, is not about to let that happen and Valiant Sacrifices for a Surge to interrupt the spell.
Leaping onto the Naga Priest’s shoulders, Roka makes two rapid Ki Spike attacks with True Strike Death Touch!
The Feng-Shui Spirit Jinxes Roka, but Roka Counters 1 of them at least with his last Luck point.
With an unholy fury, Roka punches a Ki Spike deep into the Naga Priest’s neck for 22 AP Damage + Disable!
The Naga Priest uses a Luck from the Feng-Shui Spirit for half Damage and only takes 6 Damage to Wounds after his Unbreakable is accounted for – but can’t avoid the Disable.
Undeterred, it intends to Fatigue Surge for Heal to start this whole mess over again.
Miya, not about to stand for that, Fatigue Surges to put a Multi Shot (2 arrows) into the Naga Priest’s head. Once again the Feng-Shui Spirit Jinxes the actions against its master, but Miya overrides with her own Luck.
Miya Botches her first shot and has to burn a Luck to Counter the Botch. She then hits with her second shot for 15 AP Damage. It’s enough to kill the Naga Priest before he is able to Heal!
At this point, a tremendous boom abruptly shakes all of Sendai from somewhere deep in the mountains to the west of the city – shattering the widows of the bathhouse!
A look of abject defeat suddenly covers the face of the lone Naga Archer left to deal with the Samurai and it just drops its weapon, hangs its head, and says in Old Realm – “It is over... we…. we have lost…”
Encouraged by this, the twelve Dragon’s Breath Cannoneers blast awat at the Naga Archer with all twelve of their cannons. The Naga doesn’t even try to dodge and is shredded by the exploding stone balls.
The Feng-Shui Spirit meanwhile, bows to the Samurai and then Unmanifests and is gone.
“Guys,” Miya hurries to whisper to the Samurai, “Yuki is still alive, she sent thoughts to me.”
---
[OOC - combat is over]
-
Roka quickly looks towards the Chinese Soldier, and, burning some some of his vitality, quickly uses his silver tongue.
"You 12! Go make sure the magistrate is okay! We will interrogate the Naga to understand the reason for their attack on her!" He shouts, and then quickly turns to Miya.
"Of course she's alive, miya. Tell her to teleport back to us quickly, alright?" Roka says, having not seen Yuki's 'death'.
-
"The Magistrate!" the Chinese reply in New Realm - "Yes! Yes!" They say and all run out of the bathhouse.
-
Roka nods.
"Udo, Rai, could you guys gather the naga's equipment? We'll need it soon. I'll try and figure out what's going on." Roka states, slowly moving towards the disabled naga, still fatigued.
"Naga, you want to tell us what's going on, right?" Roka asks, burning his wounds for another convincing lie.
-
"Yes, we would like nothing more than to be relieved of this burden," one of the Naga replies to Roka in gasps.
"To be rid of this failure," says the other.
Then both of them simply fade away...
-
"Godamnit." Roka mutters.
"If the world explodes, its the god's fault. This is getting ridiculous." Roka adds, strained.
-
"Well we need some serious help now." Rai says as he checks the naga priests body. Looking back up he uses spirit sight to see if there is any more danger in the area.
-
Kenji Nogachi, the Grand Premier of Sendai, suddenly teleports into the room.
Miya, with her Ruby Eye, immediately recognizes it as Yuki.
Feeling a bit playful however, she declares loudly - "You traitorous fiend! How dare you hide a monster in the midst of the good people of Sendai!"
-
Roka glares at Miya with both confusion and shocks, before bowing before the Grand Primeir.
"I am sorry, my lord, for my companion's outburst. The... Er, naga must have done something to her mind."
-
Miya can't help but fight off a sudden fit of giggling...
It's not so much that this is all that funny, but more like a breaking point, where things are so grim, that even this little thing just sends her over the edge.
All she can do is laugh, so she laughs.
-
Roka frowns, and then looks to the Grand Primeir as if saying "See?"
-
"Roka maybe miya is seeing something your not." Rai says from the corpse of the naga. Hinting to the red eye that sees through illusions.
-
Yuki is initially taken aback by Miya's sudden outburst, but after seeing her laugh, and noticing the lack of Naga, she calms down.
"Eh?!? Ah... So the Naga are dead?"
Yuki asks, deciding to somewhat uphold the ruse. She'll also cast heal on the severely injured Roka.
-
Roka nods.
"Yes, lord. We believe the Naga attempted to assassinate the Magistrate for some reason." Roka states.
-
Roka nods.
"Yes, lord. We believe the Naga attempted to assassinate the Magistrate for some reason." Roka states.
Looking at the fallen Naga, Yuki notices a few are missing.
"Weren't there more of them? Where did they go?"
She asks.
-
"Thank you, my lord." Roka says, as his body is quickly healed.
"The others died dissipated into nothingness, I think." Roka replies, before wondering how the WuJen even knew about who was at the fight.
"So, you were watching the fight, my lord?" He then asks.
-
"Godamnit." Roka mutters.
"If the world explodes, its the god's fault. This is getting ridiculous." Roka adds, strained.
"Don't say that..." Udo murmurs, trying his best to not agree with the sentiment. After going to collect whatever remnants exist of the Naga, he merely bows to the 'lord' and lets Roka speak.
-
Miya stops laughing and wipes her eyes with a sigh.
"Oh my, I needed that," she says with a smile.
"Isn't that right 'My Lord'?" Miya says with a mock bow to Yuki.
-
Yuki smiles back and does her own bow.
"Quite right, hehe."
She replies with a smile. Still unsure if she's being watching, Yuki will maintain the illusion, at least until she confirms the missing Naga cannot see her.
-
As the Samurai gather up the Naga's equipment and 'accidently loose site of' a few loaded Dragon's Breath Cannons, Lady Shirihata and a bunch of Army Officers storm into the bathhouse.
The Officers immediately begin cordoning off the area.
"Err...???" Lady Shirihata says, looking at 'Grand Premier Kenji Nogachi' and seeing through Yuki's Illusion with her Sorcerer's Sight.
Then, not wanting Yuki to get in trouble for impersonating the Grand Premier, she rushes over and whispers in Yuki's ear - "Get out of here looking like that! Hurry! Before the Chinese see you!"
She then turns to Roka.
"Roka, there was some sort of eruption or something out in the mountains. Yunikawa's blue wall has fallen."
"By order of the Daimyo, the Samurai of Sendai, myself, General Meji and the Army of Sendai are to move on Yunikawa's Citadel immediately."
-
Roka nods.
"Of course, Lady Shirihata. But first we need to find your daughter." Roka states.
-
"Yuki is fine. She'll be joining us shortly," Lady Shirihata replies.
-
At this point, yelling in New Realm is heard outside. It's the Chinese returning to the bathhouse.
"Don't let anyone leave, until all cannons are accounted for!" someone outside commands with a heavy Chinese accent.
-
"Yuki is fine. She'll be joining us shortly," Lady Shirihata replies.
Roka nods.
"That is good to hear."
-
Rai shakes his head and says, "Here's to the end of days."
-
Nodding to her mother, Yuki will first descretely take one of her outfits from where she died, then she'll use Jump to teleport back to the temple. Once there she'll get dressed and then dispel the illusion and send thoughts to Miya.
"Come to the Temple of the Ancestors, I have something to tell everyone."
-
General Meji then enters the bathhouse with six of the twelve Chinese Dragon's Breath Cannoneers and a few Chinese Bureaucrats from the Imperial Magistrate's entourage.
One of the Chinese Bureaucrats speaks however - General Meji looking only mildly irritated - "Gather the cannons and have the Doshin of Sendai or whoever, I don't really care who, remove the dead."
Then looking at the Samurai of Sendai he commands, "You there, what happened here? Explain this most egregious breach of security that threatened the life of our beloved Imperial Magistrate!"
-
Before anyone can answer, one of the Cannoneers exclaims - "three cannons are missing sir!"
The Chinese Bureaucrat's face goes red with anger.
"Who dares to lay hands on the Shogun's own cannons?!?" he says at the Samurai accusingly.
"Such an offense is worthy of death!" he screams - spittle flying from his mouth.
-
"The cursed naga, my lord." Roka says, mentally apologizing to the protectors of man. "It must have been their goals, to steal the legendary weapons of the Noble chinese. My mind was preoccupied with the safety of the Magistrate.... I apologize for my failure to project them, lord."
"Oh, and I must applogize again, my lord. I realize a wise man like you would want us to challenge Yukinawa, who is a threat to the Chinese, instea of worry about Canons. I apologize for my mistake, my lord." Roka states, burning his vitality to sooth the Chinese with a convincing lie.
-
"Right, there is that," The Chinese Bureaucrat replies, calming down and dismissing the Samurai with a wave.
General Meji raises an eyebrow at the situation, but hastily directs everyone to the door - "Come, we ride for Yunikawa's Citadel."
-
Rai stands up after collecting his spear and says, "Of course."
-
Once outside, Miya tells the rest of the Samurai, Lady Shirihata, and the General - "First, we need to meet Yuki at the Temple of The Ancestors."
"I really need to get my men and the Army headed to Yunikawa's Citadel ASAP," General Meji replies.
Lady Shirihata just looks between Miya and the General, waiting patiently.
"Yuki can teleport us there instantly," Miya counters, "We can get there in the blink of an eye. No need to ride."
"Ah, but can she teleport the entire army? And I for one don't intend to die on the battlefield without a trusty steed under me. Yunikawa has an army of Bakemono, remember?"
"Yuki can open a Gate and you can all ride through," Miya offers.
The General just sets his jaw to the side.
"Hmm... You go ahead and fetch Yuki. I'll get my men ready. Tell her to meet me at the camp when you're all ready. She can open a gate for us there."
"OK," Miya smiles.
-
The Samurai and Lady Shirihata then head to the Temple of The Ancestors, where Yuki is waiting for them - sipping tea in a private chamber near incredibly life-like statues of Sakura and Kaitaro.
-
"Umm Yuki," Rai prepares to ask hestantly, "Why are there replica statutes of your dead comrades?"
-
Yuki looks at the two statues then to Rai.
"They aren't replicas. They're the real Sakura and Keitaro."
She explains.
-
Rai gets an enlighten look on his face and says, "So you really did die and go to the temple. Why are they statues and your not?"
-
Yuki frowns at Rai and tilts her head.
"Of course I died. You were even there to see it."
She replies.
"Them being statues, and me being here, are both Yunikawa's doing. It seems he turned them both to stone, then desecrated the Naga Temple using the bones of the fallen we helped him retrieve."
Yuki explains, pausing to consider their large part in helping Yunikawa.
"It seems Yunikawa died as well, and appeared in the temple. However he was fine, and used a gate to leave unhindered. Perhaps he anticipated the Naga would succeed in killing him, and desecrated the temple in preparation. Since the temple is still as it was, it's likely the Naga are unaware that it no longer works."
She then pauses again.
"Until the temple is fixed, Roka, Udo, Yunikawa and I are likely immortal... Probably."
Yuki concludes.
-
"Also I feel that something is off" Rai says with a grimance. "Can you see if I am cursed or something?"
-
While the group absorbs what Yuki has said, she'll attempt to use divine location to get a direction on the real book of secrets.
-
Yuki gets a line on the Naga Book of Secrets - pointing in the direction of Yunikawa's mountain citadel...
-
Roka nods.
"Keitaro does not deserve to be brought back." Roka states definitely. "But could you, possibly?, make Sakura not stone?"
-
Rai disagrees and says, "We need all the help we can get."
-
Roka nods.
"Keitaro does not deserve to be brought back." Roka states definitely. "But could you, possibly?, make Sakura not stone?"
Yuki looks at Roka then Sakura's statue.
"Maybe."
She replies, attempting to cast Dispel Magic on the stone.
-
Rai disagrees and says, "We need all the help we can get."
"Keitaro is not help. He is insane." Roka replies simply.
Yuki looks at Roka then Sakura's statue.
"Maybe."
She replies, attempting to cast Dispel Magic on the stone.
"Let's hope it works." Roka says with a nod.
-
Udo lets out a huge sigh of relief. "I'm very glad you're alive, Yuki."
"Keitaro is not help. He is insane." Roka replies simply.
"Agreed," Udo states, perhaps a bit biased. "After the stunt he pulled... He may or may not have been earnest with that apology, but either way he was extremely reckless and was an embarrassment to Sendai. It is safest if we don't take him..."
"Yuki, can you find Yunikawa?"
-
Udo lets out a huge sigh of relief. "I'm very glad you're alive, Yuki."
"Agreed," Udo states, perhaps a bit biased. "After the stunt he pulled... He may or may not have been earnest with that apology, but either way he was extremely reckless and was an embarrassment to Sendai. It is safest if we don't take him..."
"Yuki, can you find Yunikawa?"
Rai looks at them both and says, "So your going to trap his soul for eternity?"
-
"Once this is done, we will free him and have him actually commit seppuku and return to the ancestors. But not now."
-
"Are you suggesting that the Daymio takes back his word that his honor was recovered when he first committed seppuku? If the state of the universe hadn't been changed by Yunikawa it is likely that would have been his death for all purposes. So to restore honor you request someone kill himself not once but twice."
-
"He did not die. It was not seppuku, Rai. This is self-explanatory." Roka states looking at Rai perplexed.
-
Rai looks to Yuki and says, "Did you feel the pain of death?"
-
Udo lets out a huge sigh of relief. "I'm very glad you're alive, Yuki."
"Agreed," Udo states, perhaps a bit biased. "After the stunt he pulled... He may or may not have been earnest with that apology, but either way he was extremely reckless and was an embarrassment to Sendai. It is safest if we don't take him..."
"Yuki, can you find Yunikawa?"
Yuki smiles in response.
"As am I. As for Yunikawa, we must get the book of secrets first. If Yunikawa guards it, then we'll have to fight him for it."
She then observes the conversation between Rai and Roka, but decides it's best to ignore it, opting to sip her tea instead of talking.
-
Yuki casts Dispell Magic on Sakura and is pretty sure that she nailed it, but to no avail.
"So," Miya asks, "Are we going to Yunikawa's citadel with or without the General and his army?"
-
"Dunno if it's a good idea to bring the rest of the army with us. Who knows what might come after the remnants of Sendai while we're gone."
He looks at Yuki's failed attempt with a frown, "You think we should bring the two statues and see if the Exalted Patriarch has any idea on how to fix one of them?"
-
"General Meji and the Army of Sendai will head to the Citadel without you," Lady Shirihata says (hey, where did she come from?) - "It is their duty. Your duty is to go there with the General. Though you could probably go scout things out first and then open a Gate for the Army after you see what has happened."
-
"The General and his army?"
Yuki asks, confused as to why they're being mentioned.
"We need to get the book of secrets before we try to attack Yunikawa."
She then looks to her mother.
"We can't allow them to go, at least not until we know how to stop him (Yunikawa)."
-
"The Imperial Magistrate, through our Daimyo, has ordered the Samurai of Sendai (that's you all) to go with the General and lead the Army of Sendai against Yunikawa immediately." Yuki's Mother replies, "The magical blue barrier went down with some sort of massive booming sound while you were fighting in the bathhouse."
-
He looks at Yuki's failed attempt with a frown, "You think we should bring the two statues and see if the Exalted Patriarch has any idea on how to fix one of them?"
"Unfortunately, I do not believe the Exalted Patriarch has knowledge of epic magic. We can either dispel the magic somehow, or destroy the statues. Once broken, Sakura and Keitaro would be killed, and should reform back at the Naga Shrine, no longer encased in stone..."
Yuki asserts. She then turns to her mother again, but unable to say anything against the order of the Daimyo, simply gives her an uneasy look.
-
"Don't give me that look," Yuki's mother scolds with a wink. "I'm sure you'll figure out the right thing to do."
-
"So, break statues. Yes or no, Yuki?" Roka asks.
"Also, Yuki, do you think we should drop off in the Earth Realm? I could probably get an army of binari as well as refresh ourselves."
-
"So, break statues. Yes or no, Yuki?" Roka asks.
"Also, Yuki, do you think we should drop off in the Earth Realm? I could probably get an army of binari as well as refresh ourselves."
"I think it's worth a try, though I'm not sure they will be broken so easily."
Yuki replies.
"Wasn't the blue wall what led to the Earth Realm? I don't know how we can get back there now that it's down."
-
"I think it's worth a try, though I'm not sure they will be broken so easily."
Yuki replies.
"Wasn't the blue wall what led to the Earth Realm? I don't know how we can get back there now that it's down."
"I'll punch it 'till it breaks." Roka says with a shrug.
"Yuki, magic can do pretty much anything. I bet you could open a portal or something if you tried."
-
Yuki cringes at the thought of Roka punching the stone Sakura and Keitaro until they break. While she believes killing them is worthwhile to try, the thought of them slowly being smashed to pieces makes her uneasy.
"There's no need for that... I can summon an Earth Elemental with my bow, and order it to... break them."
She states.
-
"If that's how you want to go about it." Roka says with a nod.
-
Yuki will then summon an Earth Elemental with her bow and order it to gently carry the statues outside, gently place them on the ground, then wait for further instructions, without destroying anything.
-
A hearty Earth Elemental appears, bows, and follow Yuki's instructions, carefully taking the statues of Sakura and Kaitaro outside the Temple.
-
"Well, let's go try."
Yuki says, following the earth elemental outside.
-
Roka follows Yuki.
"Onwards to breaking stuff!"
-
Roka follows Yuki.
"Onwards to breaking stuff!"
"Roka... These are our friends, and we're technically killing them..."
Yuki replies, a bit upset that he seems so easy going about it all.
----
Once outside, Yuki will attempt to create a gate to where Sakrua and Keitaro will reappear.
"Roka, can you help?"
She asks, request him to give her a surge point.
"And we may want to prepare clothing for them."
-
Rai come out with Yuki and says, "That is a good idea." Looking to a priest he asks, "Can you get some robes here right away? We are going to have some uncoalthed guests soon."
-
"Not killing them if they don't really die." Roka replies with a shrug, not understanding the concept, obviously.
---
"Of course." Roka replies with a nod, valiantly burning away his vitality to gain a born leader surge. "Use your magic Yuki!" Roka shouts giving her a Surge.
-
"If thats how you feel Roka I would find it very therapeutic to kill you. Since you don't really die that is perfectly fine with you right?" Rai asks
-
Roka chuckles.
"if that would bring you joy, oh great leader, I can not argue." he says, as he begins to remove his armor.
-
Yuki gives Roka and Rai a confused look, baffled that they would actually do such a thing.
-
Rai nods saying, "Yuki when you came back you were in perfect health and restrengthen by the shrine. In fact Udo should also do this so that he also comes back at full strength." Looking at roka rai says, "I don't gain joy by killing someone." As he stabs Roka through the heart.
-
With a Gate opened into the Inner Sanctum of the Naga Shrine, the Samurai watch as Roka dies and is transformed into a white light that instantly shoots along his line of attunement to the area above the well.
There, Roka reforms naked in the air and drops down onto the pile of bones.
He feels completely renewed - while Yuki and Udo just feel the sharp lingering pain of his recent death.
-
Yuki takes a deep breath and looks at the earth elemental.
"Okay, destroy this with a single hit."
She orders it, pointing to Keitaro's statue. If it works she'll repeat the order for sakuras statue.
-
Roka grunts, as he picks himself up, and walks through the gate back to the group.
"Was that therapeutic for you, Rai?" Roka says with a smirk, as he begins to put on his armor and other equip quickly.
Roka then looks at Udo, confused.
"Why are you carrying a bow, Udo?"
-
The Earth Elemental nods and smashes the Kaitaro statue to smithereens!
As with Roka - a brilliant white light returns to the Naga Shrine and Kaitaro is remade - while Roka, Udo, and Yuki all feel his death once again.
He falls gracelessly into the bones and looks around with more than a little confusion.
"What the fark?!?"
-
"It works!"
Yuki exclaims triumphantly, trying her best to ignore the constant stings of pain their deaths cause her.
"Now, destroy this with a single hit as well."
She commands the earth elemental, pointing to Sakura's statue.
-
The Earth Elemental does as directed and smashes the Sakura statue.
A blinding flash of light follows - and Sakura is also made whole over the bones in the Naga Shrine.
She tumbles down and then looks around in wonder.
Seeing Yuki on the other side of the Gate, she hurries over - "Yuki - What is going on? We were ... "
-
Udo brings a palm to his brow, "I can't believe you just did that, Rai."
He looks to the reborn Roka, "Glad to, uh, see you survive. The bow protects me from flames, it seems. So I just sorta took it."
He stares at Keitaro with an awkward chuckle, and bows to Sakura when she appears. "It's nice to see you again..." he breathes, "Long time no see, eh, Keitaro?"
He nervously laughs, "So I guess it's my turn now to die-- hard to explain. So by dying I'll regain my vigor, right? But it won't be you who kills me, Rai. Still can't believe you did that to Roka, haha..." After shaking his head, the Forest Ward grabs his naginata and attempts to rip open his torso with it, as per that one part of seppuko.
-
The Earth Elemental does as directed and smashes the Sakura statue.
A blinding flash of light follows - and Sakura is also made whole over the bones in the Naga Shrine.
She tumbles down and then looks around in wonder.
Seeing Yuki on the other side of the Gate, she hurries over - "Yuki - What is going on? We were ... "
Yuki smiles upon seeing Sakura again. After Udo kills himself, Yuki will give him a look of confusion, before closing the gate after he returns.
"Yes, you were dead", Yuki replies with a nod, "It is good to see you again, Sakura".
"We should explain. Come inside and we'll tell you, the two of you, what has happened... and get you some clothes."
She says, leading them inside. Once there, she'll attempt to explain as quickly as possible what happened with Yunikawa, the Naga, the Ancestors, and their current predicament.
-
It is a lot to take in, especially for Sakura - who has been gone from the world of the living for so so very long.
She sits speechless for the time being, trying to absorb it all.
Kaitaro meanwhile, just huffs, "A Samurai's duty is never done it would seem."
-
Roka glares at Keitaro.
"You are no samurai, villain."
-
"WHAT?!?" Kaitaro roars at Roka. "My Honor is intact! You are a fool Roka. Not as bad as that farking half-breed, Jie Hu, but nearly if you say I am no Samurai!"
-
"Your right of seppuku was taken away by the gods, drunkard. Your honor is gone, like the Nippon you killed." Roka retorts. He then turns away from Keitaro, and turns to Sakura.
"You saved us, all those years ago, Sakura. It is good that I can finally thank you for it."
-
"Stand and fight then fool." Kaitaro says angrily, spitting at Roka.
-
"Unfortunately, I still know how to act as a samurai. Once this threat is over, I will personally send you to the ancestors. Properly, this time."
-
"No, I don't give you that choice, worthless dog." Kaitaro replies and attacks Roka - his huge naked body being thrown full force at Roka.
---
[OOC - Combat Round One]
-
Roka groans, annoyed, but shrugs.
"You understand that attacking me just proves me right. You don't want to do that." Roka says, with a convincing lie, with a sigh.
-
Yuki shakes her head at the two and decides to take a moment to use Divine Location to see if Jenna has popped back up.
-
Kaitaro, not interested in what's true, only wants to throw Roka beneath his feet for the grave insults.
He charges in on Roka like a bull, Crits a Body Slam for 25 Damage (20 if Roka Counters the Crit) - then throws Roka into a Pin and surges for a Multi-Attack, double-punching to Roka's face with his free hand.
Roka (having not declared any Defensive measures this round) takes 10 & 12 Damage from Kaitaro's fat meaty knuckles.
---
[OOC - Round Two...
- Roka is Pinned
- Roka can spend Luck for Half if desired
- If not, Roka will need to Surge to avoid KO from the Stun Damage
- Please specify if he will use a Defensive Action to Dodge this Round - or if he is willing to use Uncanny Dodge, etc...]
-
Yuki shakes her head at the two and decides to take a moment to use Divine Location to see if Jenna has popped back up.
As this goes one, Yuki gets a bead on Jenna with Divine Location.
Apparently, the Vampire Samurai-ko Jenna and the Naga Book of Secrets both share the vector...
-
Kaitaro, not interested in what's true, only wants to throw Roka beneath his feet for the grave insults.
He charges in on Roka like a bull, Crits a Body Slam for 25 Damage (20 if Roka Counters the Crit) - then throws Roka into a Pin and surges for a Multi-Attack, double-punching to Roka's face with his free hand.
Roka (having not declared any Defensive measures this round) takes 10 & 12 Damage from Kaitaro's fat meaty knuckles.
---
[OOC - Round Two...
- Roka is Pinned
- Roka can spend Luck for Half if desired
- If not, Roka will need to Surge to avoid KO from the Stun Damage
- Please specify if he will use a Defensive Action to Dodge this Round - or if he is willing to use Uncanny Dodge, etc...]
Roka surges avoid being knocked out, and deciding that he can just kill himself again if needed, decides to go all out, attempting to escape out of the pin, and then true strike-death touch Keitaro, to force him to stop the fight, pushing him back with a ki powered knockback. If Keitaro manages to do an attack that gets past his armor, he'll use bronze body.
-
Rai sighs as the fight breaks out and looks at roka and yells,"You just enjoy pissing people off don't you." Looking at udo rai says, "I was really the only one with rank to kill him at the time and I knew he would come back so what was the harm?" Looking at Yuki rai asks, "Says can you do something for me while they," pointing to roka and Udo, "resolve there differences?"
-
Yuki tilts her head and looks at Rai quizzically.
-
Roka attempts to break the Pin but Botches, while Kaitaro spends Luck to Crit. Roka is forced to spend Luck to Counter the Botch.
Kaitaro then Surges to heave Roka over for a series of four suplex body slams – Criting his first shot for 20 Damage – Spending Luck to land his second for 10 Damage, repeating with his third for 16 Damage, and finishing up with 13 Damage.
Roka activates Brass Body on the first and lets his armor soak the rest – but the brutal slamming still causes a total of 4 Wounds!
Becoming a little irritated at Kaitaro’s persistence, Roka Surges again to try another escape – but still cannot Break Keitaro’s Pin!
“Take it back Roka!” Kaitaro growls, “I am still Samurai; until the Daimyo says otherwise!”
---
[OOC: Round 3…
-
Roka grunts, and attempts yet again to escape from the pin, increasing his strength with heavy hitter and attempting an opposed grapple roll.
If he escapes, he will try a death touch true strike yet again.
-
Kaitaro spends his last Luck to continue holding the Pin against Roka. Roka Surges to try again, but Kaitaro Surges to Interrupt and then again twice more to make eight Multi-Strikes – bashing Roka’s head off the ground a number of times.
Out of the eight attacks, Roka’s bell is rung 6 times - and even with Armor/Brass Body, the Damage still trickles through and Roka is Disabled by the beating.
Roka Surges for another escape attempt and with his own Luck this time, and finally manages to get free.
He then Surges to act while disabled and powers up a Heavy Hitter, True Strike, Death Touch.
Kaitaro doesn’t bother to dodge, not knowing of Roka’s incredible power.
Roka nails Kaitaro in the sternum for 20 Damage and Disables Kaitaro right back.
“Ha! First Blood is mine!” Kaitaro gloats (as he spits out his own blood), content to stop fighting, but ready if Roka tries to press the issue any farther.
---
[OOC: Combat Round 4?]
- Roka is Disabled
- Kaitaro is Disabled
-
Roka just throws a ripple across pond death touch true strike at Keitaro, to kill him. He'll go into dying, but he needed to do that anyways.
-
Kaitaro attempts to dodge Roka's attack but fails. Being that Kaitaro did not spend Surge to do so takes him to Dying. Roka's blast then kills him outright - and Kaitaro immediately disappears in a flash of white light.
-
Roka meanwhile, lies there Dying, but isn't quite dead yet ...
-
Roka sits there bleeding. Any minute now... Any minute...
-
Seeing that the two actually fought to the death, Yuki hangs her head in disappointment, shivering a bit from the pain.
"We should probably head to the general now."
-
"What about Roka?" Miya asks, "He's not dead yet."
"I can see leaving Kaitaro in the shrine, but we need Roka - don't we?"
-
"He fought... wanting to die."
Yuki replies, obviously distraught.
"He'll reappear at the shrine. I can make a gate to get them later. I think they need some time to work things out..."
-
Rai asks, "Where is that book of the gods? We need that way more then we need to met up with the general.
-
Sakura meanwhile, looks at the dying Roka and says to Yuki, "You should heal him, just to spite his recklessness behavior."
Then, hearing Rai, she adds, "Yes, we need this Naga Book of Secrets you mentioned. I agree that should be before all else. The General and his army can wait."
-
"Yes," Lady Shirihata replies in regard to Roka, moving to bind his wounds.
"This is an unseemly way for a Samurai to act. To fall in true battle is an honor, but to take one's own life without meaning ..."
-
"Yes," Lady Shirihata replies in regard to Roka, moving to bind his wounds.
"This is an unseemly way for a Samurai to act. To fall in true battle is an honor, but to take one's own life without meaning ..."
While Yuki won't heal Roka herself, she makes no effort to stop her mother.
"The book of secrets is in Yunikawa's temple. It's seems Jenna, whom Roka convinced to help us, is there as well."
She states.
-
"Then having Roka to deal with her is a good thing," Lady Shirihata replies.
"So either heal him," She says to Yuki, "or have your elemental carry him till you do feel like healing him."
-
"Yuki we really need you to heal him. It costs less energy to do that rather then opening another gate does." rai says.
-
"Actually, it costs the same," Sakura replies; "Unless it's a Mastered Spell."
-
"So, why don't we want to kill Roka again?" Miya asks. "I mean if it will fully reenergize him, then why is that a problem?"
-
"Because it is disgusting and wrong," Lady Shirihata replies flatly.
-
Rai sighs as the fight breaks out and looks at roka and yells,"You just enjoy pissing people off don't you." Looking at udo rai says, "I was really the only one with rank to kill him at the time and I knew he would come back so what was the harm?"
"A leader needs a heart as well as sense," Udo states, getting his equipment back on. "Killing an ally so unhesitatingly... Ugh. I dunno, man..." He watches the fight a frown, too busy getting his stuff and recuperating after dying to stop the bout.
"We need to be at our peak right now," Udo states slowly, in response to some of the discussion. He leaves it alone for the moment to ask, "Roka, do you actually know for sure whether Jenna is on our side or not? You mentioned something along those lines a while ago, I think. Is it safe to contact her?
And Rai, if you want to be any sort of leader then you need to lead, not be asked to. Dunno what happened to Roka... I think all of this has been pretty hard on all of us. Yuki happens to be smarter than all of us combined and bold enough to make decisions."
Udo looks at Rai curiously, "Do you think you should kill Roka again?"
-
Yuki gives her mother a silent nod before healing Roka.
-
Roka gets up, and coughs.
"Thank you, yuki."
"And I apologize for that." He says, wiping his mouth. "But he was no samurai. Acting as such was an insult to us all."
-
Rai just shakes his head. "You say that but almost everyone else here disagrees with you. The only one who felt insulted was you. For that pride you cost us an ally and you almost passed again. Not to mention the fact you made Yuki waste precious spell energy on healing you. Don't you all feel it when one of the chosen dies? So that means Yunikawa knows you guys all know about the shrine. What if there was a trap waiting for you this time?"
Looking to Yuki Rai says, "You need to heal me and Miya since we don't get to regenerate. Also while you do that I would appreciate it if you would check my aura. Then I will use the last teleport to get us where the book of the gods is. From there we have Miya decipher it in a time stop space or the like and teleport to the final battle."
-
Rai just shakes his head. "You say that but almost everyone else here disagrees with you. The only one who felt insulted was you. For that pride you cost us an ally and you almost passed again. Not to mention the fact you made Yuki waste precious spell energy on healing you. Don't you all feel it when one of the chosen dies? So that means Yunikawa knows you guys all know about the shrine. What if there was a trap waiting for you this time?"
Looking to Yuki Rai says, "You need to heal me and Miya since we don't get to regenerate. Also while you do that I would appreciate it if you would check my aura. Then I will use the last teleport to get us where the book of the gods is. From there we have Miya decipher it in a time stop space or the like and teleport to the final battle."
"Your opinion is irrelevant, Rai. You have already shown disdain for the Bushido Code and all it stands for." Roka states.
"And just ask the Priests to heal you, there is no reason to waste Yuki's strength with that."
-
Rai nods at the sound advice and looks for a priest and asks, "Can you heal myself and Miya?" Once that is completed he will wait for Yuki to read his aura.
-
The Priests of the Temple are happy to Heal whoever needs it (and do so).
-
"Alright, so are we charging Yukinawa's palace now?"
-
Then suddenly, something seemed to slam Roka, Udo, Yuki, and Sakura to the floor with such tremendous force that it actually cracked the stone beneath their bodies!
All four of them were knocked unconscious for a time, and when they came to, they were in great pain and noticeably different.
They each felt as though something had just torn itself free from within their soul – destroying a part of who they were in the process and replacing it with something entirely malevolent and evil. Whatever it was filled their hearts a burning rage – one that bombarded their very thoughts with unspeakable acts of violence that they should do to one another. KILL… KILL…. KILL… repeated loudly in their heads – proving very distracting, but not yet dominating enough to actually compel any action.
The Samurai also knew that Kaitaro was no more – not dead, but somehow shattered both in body and spirit! Lingering wisps of Kaitaro’s memories and experience also drifted through the four Sacrifants’ thoughts – almost as if the memories had been their own in some distant past.
Looking, everyone could see that Roka, Udo, Yuki, and Sakura’s eyes were gone! Replaced with hollow cavities filled with flame that licked up several feet above their heads.
Greatly concerned, Yuki and her mother activated Sorcerer’s Sight to get a better understanding of what was going on.
That’s when they saw that the lines of attunement to the Naga Shrine were now gone!
Yuki’s Mother then screamed and pointed - and Yuki could see the head of a five dragon-eyed demon, bedecked in long black horns, and shrouded in hellfire, manifesting in their auras – only it was massively huge, being fifty feet or more in size!
“Th… That’s what I saw in Roka!” Lady Shirihata cries, dropping her Sorcerer’s Sight before it turned to look at her. “Yuki! What does it mean?!?”
Yuki, now a little numb from the shock, just regards the giant demon head. It looks at her and laughs. She suddenly feels very very small in comparison…
-
Roka clutches his head, and looks around in shock.
"What the Fark?... Yuki? Udo? Sakura? What the hell happened to you?!" Roka asks, both shocked and confused.
-
"You too Roka," Sakura points out stoically.
"It would seem that we can still see normally with these flames. And that they do not burn us..."
-
"I have to say you all look quite creepy," Miya offers with a weak amile.
-
"You too Roka," Sakura points out stoically.
"It would seem that we can still see normally with these flames. And that they do not burn us..."
Roka's face turns pale with horror at the meer idea that his perfect face was ruined with soulless eyes and fire everywhere, but takes a deep breath to try and calm himself down.
"Someone take us to the book, now." Roka says with urgency.
-
"Agh... What the hell just happened?" Udo gasps, getting up. "Somethings in my head... It's screwing up my thoughts... And my eyes-- they're just like you guys's then?"
He takes a deep breath, "I'm not sure what this means, but we need to get to Yunikawa, now."
-
As he gathers the samurai and the Lady together to teleport them to Yunikawa's fortress.
-
Yuki quickly turns off her spirit sight and begins to shiver.
"I... I don't know..."
She replies to her mother.
"But we really need to find the book of secrets, and figure out what Yunikawa is trying to do."
-
With everyone in close enough proximity, Rai used his ring to Teleport everyone to Yunikawa’s Mountain Citadel – remote in the rugged and high peaks of Nippon’s mountainous spine – sixteen miles west of Sendai.
It was now early in the afternoon, as the Samurai of Sendai appeared out of nowhere and were greeted with the most unexpected freefall… – Yunokawa’s Mountain Citadel was gone!
In fact the entire spire itself, upon which the citadel had been built, was no longer there either – the ancient stone steps leading only halfway up, and there ending abruptly, where the mountain itself had apparently collapsed into the rift in which the old spire had once stood.
The Samurai now plummeted down that rift and could then see into the chasm itself. There the walls dropped away steeply for six hundred feet below them, to a rapidly approaching jagged floor of sharp rock and stone, where the broken spire itself lay – and with it, the rubble of what was once Yunokawa’s home.
Sight heightened by adrenalin from the fall, the Samurai could’nt help but notice a profusion of bodies in the chasm down below them, strew across the ground and broken upon the rocks – perhaps two or three thousand – and of these there appeared to be only to be two types – a few hundred of the long and serpentine forms of the Naga – and thousands of the dark and twisted remains of the Bakemono.
A great and terrific battle had recently been fought here – and magics unleashed of truly earth shattering proportions…
Of course none of that would matter in a moment for most of them if Yuki didn’t do something to save them …
LET THEM DIE! WHY SHOULD YOU BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR MISTAKES? A voice in Yuki’s head roared – WHY SHOULD YOU PAY? LET THEM DIE!!!
-
"GOOOOOOODDDAAAAAMMMMIIIIIIT RAAAAAAAI!" Roka shouts as they free fall down.
-
Yuki takes a minute to absorb the fact that the Yunikawa's mountain is now gone, and the great battle that took place. She then snaps back into it, and shakes her head, ignoring the voice inside.
"This isn't good..."
She thinks to herself.
Acting fast, Yuki casts teleport and puts the group onto a path, overlooking the carnage. She'll then attempt to use divine location to find out where the book of secrets has gone (and Jenna).
-
Everyone is set down on the path high above the chasm, thanks to Yuki's Teleport.
Then, as she does Divine Location again, Yuki determines that the Naga Book of Secrets and Jenna are both down among the large craggy rocks below ...
-
"The book is down there..."
Yuki announces, pointing toward the debris.
"Along with Jenna."
She then checks to see if she can see where Yunikawa is.
-
Roka nods.
"So, should we hike down?" Roka asks
-
For the first time, Yuki actually gets a read on Yunikawa - he's along a line that leads to the Naga Shrine in the Spirit World.
-
Rai says, "We should that book is what we need. I could jump down there."
-
Udo, now on the ground, examine's the surrounding area for bodies-- or anything that could give a better hint on what exactly transpired (besides the Naga killing Yunikawa, if that even happened).
"We can't go down there if Yunikawa is waiting to fight us. Yuki, where is he, uh, at?"
-
"I don't think we have time to hike down," Sakura replies, "not if Yunikawa is after you guys."
"Let's see if I got this," Sakura says - casting a Gate between the Samurai and the valley below - "What? I've watched how Yuki does it. Easy as pie!"
-
"Nice." Roka states.
"Let's move. Don't waste time killing stragglers down there. We need to move and get the book and then get out, alright?"
-
Rai looks down over the battlefield and strikes a dramatic pose.
-
"Yunikawa is at the Naga Shrine."
Yuki replies.
"Thanks Sakura, let's hurry and find the book."
She says, rushing through the gate and attempting to use Divine location to hunt down the book. Figuring it will be tough to balance on, Yuki will activate Physical Boast from her bow. She'll also attempt to locate Jenna, if she's able to, in between looking for the book of secrets.
-
Heading through the Gate, the Samurai of Sendai find the battlefield at the bottom of the chasm littered not only with the dead, but also a vast fortune in magical metals and other broken weapons, armor, and artifacts.
Yuki meanwhile, with her Sorcerer’s Sight, can see the fountaining energy of the original Demesne, upon which the citadel had once been built and formed into a Manse – now its unfocussed energies pouring like an invisible geyser into the air.
Then, from out of a fissure in the rocks, Jenna the Vampire Samurai-ko called to the Samurai - "Hey, over here guys! I got the book for you!"
Looking, everyone could see a series of cracks and crevices at the back of the fissure, where Jenna stood in the shadows, holding what looked to be the Naga Book of secrets...
-
"Jenna? You got the book? Perfect! I knew I could trust you!" Roka shouts out to her. "I was afraid tha nagas got you!"
He then heads on over to jenna, cautiously, though he does stop to pick up some star metal gauntlets and puts them on. Can't be certain that the convincing lie hasn't work off, after all.
-
Yuki will check that divine location does indeed head towards Jenna for the Book of Secrets. Once that's confirmed, she'll begin to run over, before suddenly getting distracted.
"Oh, pretty!"
Yuki exclaims, stumbling upon some Ancestral Jade bracers. Then, after taking a moment to put them on, she'll continue rushing over to Jenna.
-
"No, I actually got the book a few hours ago and was down here when Yunikawa returned to the spire," Jenna explains in answer to Roka's question, "I think he knows I took it, because I am no longer bound to him, but he hasn't tried to get it back."
"Then the Naga attacked, but Yunikawa was ready for that. He had an army of Bakemono and demons at the ready and they fought a terrible battle."
"The Naga would easily have won, except that their Epic Wu-Jen was killed after collapsing Yunikawa's magical barrier - oh, and Yunikawa had a dragon."
"And I don't mean a little dragon either. I mean a really really big dragon. I've never imagined anything could be so big. It was easily a mile long... and it knocked over the entire spire with but an accidental brush of its tail."
-
Yuki gets a bit pale after hearing about the dragon.
"Was... Was covered in long black horns, with... five eyes?"
She asks cautiously.
-
"No," Jenna answers Yuki, "it was like living magma and radiating brilliant heat - like something straight out of a volcano."
-
"Yunikawa has freed Infernumis then..."
Yuki exclaims.
-
"Infernumis?" Sakura asks, "Why does that name sound familiar?"
Jenna then answers - "Oh, that would explain why it was so big. It's not a dragon; It's a god."
-
"Umm well, the good thing is that you're no longer bound to Yukinawa. With you, I hve no doubt we have a chance at winning this." Roka says gladly.
"Yuki or Miya, could you try and read the book now?"
-
While this conversation is happening Rai scourers the battlefield looking for throwing spears in Starmetal, Oriculum, Moonsilver, and Ancestral Jade. Then he Looks for a Moonsilver shortsword to replace his current one. Once this is done he will join the others.
-
"Oh right," Sakura remembers her Occult Lore, "Infernumis wasn't a god, he was the Elemental Herald of the Sun God A-Buji - though maybe that makes him an elemental god? I don't really know..."
-
"Oh right," Sakura remembers her Occult Lore, "Infernumis wasn't a god, he was the Elemental Herald of the Sun God A-Buji - though maybe that makes him an elemental god? I don't really know..."
Yuki nods at Sakura.
"Infernumis was corrupted by the Massaki Dai-Oni. He was previously held underground by the Wood Herald and wood elementals, but it seems as though Yunikawa really has freed him."
She then turn to Jenna.
"Here, let me see the book. We need to figure out how to stop Yunikawa... after we figure out what he's actually doing..."
-
"Here you go," Jenna replies and hands the heavy silk tomb with thread-embroidered script over to Yuki - then slides over to stand next to Roka.
"I told you I would get the book," she whispers to Roka proudly.
-
After receiving the book, Yuki will quickly cast stop time and attempt to read through it and figure out what's going on.
-
"Here you go," Jenna replies and hands the heavy silk tomb with thread-embroidered script over to Yuki - then slides over to stand next to Roka.
"I told you I would get the book," she whispers to Roka proudly.
"I knew you would." Roka whispers back, and leans in to kiss her. (But is then stopped by Yuki's time stop)
-
Stopping Time and sitting down to examine the Naga Book of Secrets, Yuki sees that much of the embroidered script on each of the four hundred plus silk pages has been unraveled and pulled out.
What had once been decoded as a nothing more than a random collection of obscure Shinto Prayers now proved to be something else entirely – and Yuki realized abruptly why "Not even the wisest in all the world could decipher a copy," of the Book of Secrets.
Those numerical sequences that they had originally discovered were not a code after all – they were coordinates. They pointed to a letter on each page that was to be pulled out.
Yunikawa had discovered this secret and done so – unraveling the text and with it, changing the very characters on each page as the threads were drawn out.
What remained was perfectly legible Old Realm.
Yuki flipped the pages and began to read.
---
The Naga Book of Secrets contained a very long-winded and ponderous history of not only the doings of all the Emperors and Shogunates of Nippon from the beginning – even revealing Rai Go-Uda as the true Heir to the throne of Nippon and mentioning a bastard brother, named Takaharu Tenno, as a last resort – but also contains the history and information on the Naga Shrine itself and, more importantly, its purpose.
In addition, it also details with agonizing minutia the maintenance and upkeep rituals used to empower the Shrine, as well as the names and genealogies of every Naga ever associated with its preservation – and lists human contacts friendly to the Naga, including the Kai Shugyo family and other Ninja Clans and mercenary forces used throughout the millennia in times of need.
The result is a very difficult read, with tremendous effort and concentration needed to wade through the four hundred and some pages of endless triviality just to get a scrap of something specific to what one is looking for.
After what was (to her anyway) almost two days of arduous research, Yuki finally gleans the following relevant history –
Out of the Ocean came the Naga, to help Man destroy the Oni. And Foremost of these Oni was Masaki-Dai-Oni, the First and Immortal Oni; the Bastard Child of the Sun and Earth; the Father of all lesser Oni …
The lesser Oni were easy prey, but Masaki-Dai-Oni could not be killed. His will was so strong, that upon death he would simply reincarnate himself into life anew…
Massaki Dai-Oni also 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 also 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.
The only option then was imprisonment – to somehow contain these terrible powers.
A plan was first made to capture the Five Elemental Dragons and in time, with the help of the East and West Winds, the Naga managed to subdue and bind three of them – Umbrunus of Air to the Will of the East and West Winds; Desolikus of Earth into the Bowels of the World; Abysmael of Water into the very Depths of the Ocean.
But the two most powerful - Infernumis of Fire and Lothorum of Wood 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, under the Mountain Fuji, 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.
After the Five Elemental Dragons had been dealt with, the Naga then created a Great Shrine, and using the most potent magic, created a prison for Masaki-Dai-Oni himself. The Naga would battle him one last time, and if successful, would be able to kill him. At the moment he would reincarnate himself, the Nagas’ magic would take effect, diverging his being into six separate paths – each into the body of a newborn Man – a ‘Sacrifant’ – so known, because it would be sacrificing the fullness of its life to preserve mankind.
Broken in this manner and with the weakness of Man, each piece, in its human vessel, could be forever bound to the Shrine.
The plan worked and all was well for five hundred years, but slowly the pieces of Masaki-Dai-Oni regained power and oneness of mind. After this span of time, the Great Demon managed to will each of his human vessels dead. It was Masaki-Dai-Oni’s plan to reincarnate himself yet again, but the magic of the Shrine was still in effect and when he did so, he came back again into six new vessels, once again losing himself. These new human vessels were then tracked down and captured or slain by the Naga; and having no knowledge of their true identity or powers, were easily redirected into the Shrine prison upon death.
After another five hundred years, Masaki-Dai-Oni once again slew his vessels with the same results. Though not completely foolproof, this then became the accepted situation. The Naga would go out into the world and recapture each new batch of Sacrifants every five hundred years, and thus it still is to this day.
It is the duty of the Naga to maintain and upkeep the magic of the Shrine. Should the Shrine ever lose its power or be destroyed, Masaki-Dai-Oni would be free to rejoin himself into one. This must never happen, as the Naga have dwindled over the millennia and could never again defeat Masaki-Dai-Oni in his true form.
Should Masaki-Dai-Oni become whole, he would thrust Man into the Spirit World and rule the Earth with his Oni minions forever . . .
-
With the knowledge of the book obtained, Yuki will unfreeze time and quickly explain to everyone what she learned.
"We need to fix the Naga shrine, fast."
She'll finish with.
-
Roka gulps, and nods.
"So, what do you need to fix it, Yuki?"
-
Roka gulps, and nods.
"So, what do you need to fix it, Yuki?"
"Magic."
Yuki replies.
"I can fix the shrine with Epic Magic. After that we'll be able to kill Yunikawa and stop the Masaki-Dai-Oni from being summoned."
She then looks around at the group and looks away. While she's fairly certain it's possible to stop the Masaki-Dai-Oni, she's unsure of what's in store as far as their fate goes.
-
After quickly gathering some powerful lightweight (though hopefully enchanted) armor, Udo looks up, determined to stop Yunikawa even more than before, "Jenna, what's Yunikawa doing right at this moment? And what are the rest of your, uh, sisters doing?"
-
"Sounds like a plan." Roka says, nodding his head.
"What about the dragon? Got any tips on destroying it?" Roka asks
-
"Sounds like a plan." Roka says, nodding his head.
"What about the dragon? Got any tips on destroying it?" Roka asks
"Hit it hard?"
Yuki suggests halfheartedly, walking to a nearby slain Naga and casting Postcognition in order to see if she can glean any insights on what they should do.
-
After collecting his new weapons rai walks back to the group and says, "We need to find a way to wake up the wood Herald. If we kill the fire dragon doesn't that mean we kill the essence of fire?"
-
After quickly gathering some powerful lightweight (though hopefully enchanted) armor, Udo looks up, determined to stop Yunikawa even more than before, "Jenna, what's Yunikawa doing right at this moment? And what are the rest of your, uh, sisters doing?"
"I've been hiding down here for a while," Jenna answers Udo; "After the battle, Yunikawa and the Dragon Teleported away. As I am no longer bound to him, I have no way of knowing where he is or what he is doing right now."
"As for my sisters, they perished in the battle with the Naga I think; as did a few of Yunikawa's Demons - though that Concubine bitch is still around I believe."
'Yes, I am still here,' an unholy voice replies and a familiar figure rises from the ground to fill the entirety of the fissure with and inferno of soul-fire!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v651/BerkaZerka/MythicNippon/Oni.jpg)
[OOC - Combat Round 1 - specify if you are not going to use Surge for Uncanny Dodge...]
- Jenna and the Samurai are at the end of a two hundred foot long fissure that is about thirty feet wide and seventy five feet deep. All along the sides are various cracks and crevices from large rocks and boulders strew over each other. The fissure is well out of sunlight, but not so dark that one cannot see.
- The Kyoso-No-Oni rose up from the stony ground on the other side of Jenna and the Samurai and is filling a 50 ft radius around her with Soul Fire.
-
Yuki will cast Initiative in order to go first and get another action, then she'll cast Haste in order to get a fourth action.
Once that happens, Yuki will cast Dispel Magic on the Soul Fire caused by the Kyoso-No-Oni. She will then cast Killjoy on her, followed by Drain Luck.
Yuki will keep the last action to either cast Dispel Magic if needed, or dodge attacks by the Kyoso-No-Oni.
Yuki will use the luck points she drained from the Kyoso-No-Oni to Jinx whatever actions she tries, and alter chance to make her fail rolls that she tries.
-
"Damn she's far away." Roka says, raising his fists in preparation to fight. Deciding that now would be the best time to do so, Roka quickly summons Lilitu to assist the samurais. Another spellcaster should help greatly.
"Miya! Lady Shirihata! Take her down with your arrows!" He cheers, giving them a surge each.
-
Rai uses the initiative spell that is on his sword. Then he Throws the Orriculm spear with a boost by ancestors rebuke before fallowing that up with a sliver dagger.
(If Yuki doesn't stop magic fire Rai will use uncanny dodge.)
-
Miya nods to Roka and uses the surge the get an Iron Warlord Mask Crit with her normal bow and arrow. She'll then use Multi-shot to shoot 2 additional shots with her other action.
Miya will also use Uncanny dodge if needed.
-
Jumping atop his Kirin, Udo casts Initiative via his Buckler, and then proceeds rides up close and personal with the demon, multi-attacking it 4 times with his Demon-Slaying Naginata and also turning on his Celestial Armor, which should radiate against the demon at this range.
[He hopes that his bow will protect him from the flames.] (Udo readies himself to use Uncanny Dodge)
-
Reflexively casting Initiative, Yuki throws a Dispel Magic at the Kyoso-No-Oni, but the demon Counter Spells and the soul-searing flames engulf everyone in agonizing torment! Uncanny Dodge is also proven futile, as the soul fire exists in both the physical and spirit world simultaneously and completely fills the fissure (only physically leaving will get one out of it).
Aside from Roka (and Yuki by proxy with her Postcognition spell) who had been drawn through the Heart of Creation, no one had ever felt such astonishing anguish before! The soul fire embodied the raging spirits of all the Oni ever destroyed - and as the ghostly flames lapped at the skin, they tore at one’s very being like a swarm of hungry piranhas!
It took exceeding effort on the part of the Samurai not to just wither up and die in the unholy conflagration and they knew that they could not survive in this inferno of hell fire for very long.
As it is, Yuki spends 2 Luck points to Save, loses 1 point of Constitution, and takes 1 Wound Point.
Roka spends 2 Luck points to Crit his Save and takes no Damage.
Udo makes his Save, loses 1 point of Constitution, and takes 9 Wound Points – and becomes Disabled, but is allowed to spend Luck for Half and ends up only taking 5 Wounds and remaining in the fray.
Udo’s Ki-Rin is slain outright – along with all the rest of his animal menagerie except for the white tiger Bleach.
Miya spends 1 Luck point to Save, loses 1 point of Constitution, and takes 2 Wound Points.
Rai spends 2 Luck points to Save, loses 1 point of Constitution, and takes 4 Wound Points (after Luck for Half).
Sakura spends 1 Luck point to Save, loses 1 point of Constitution, and takes 1 Wound Point.
Lady Shirihata Crits her Save and takes no Damage.
Jenna spends 1 Luck point to Save, loses 1 point of Constitution, and takes 3 Wound Points.
---
[OOC – anyone want to change their strategy for the first round? The above represents only the Kyoso-No-Oni’s surprise attack. She hasn’t even Attacked herself yet. I can go ahead and apply your above combat intentions, but then you’ll still be in the Soul Fire at the beginning of Round 2 … ]
-
Rai tries to move out of the flames but fails.
-
Yuki cringes and almost falls to her knees from the pain, but manages to stay standing.
"Roka, tell her to stop!"
Yuki yells, gathering all her focus and casting an instant Epic Magic Spell to Enthrall the Kyoso-No-Oni, causing it to fall in love with Roka.
She'll use however many luck points she needs, along with alter chance, to make it work.
-
Roka considers running out of the fire, but is stopped by Yuki's plea for him to shout at the Concubine stop.
"What good'll that do?!" He thinks to himsef for but a moment, before understanding Yuki's thought process. Yuki obviously knows that since Roka is so incredibly masculine that maybe the sex demon to end all sex demons would stop for him. Seems logical.
"STOP!" He shouts, as the soul fire burns around the group
-
Sakura tries to Teleport everyone out of the fissure, but the Kyoso-No-Oni counters it - keeping everyone stuck in the soul fire.
Yuki then uses Epic Magic to Enthrall the demon to Roka; and the Kyoso-No-Oni's counter magic fails to stop her.
When Roka gives the order to stop, the terrible soul-blistering flames immediately disperse; and the ten foot tall, four-armed, horned female demon slides over to 'her man.'
"Forgive me Master!" she begs, "it is my duty to slay you all, for the great Masaki-Dai-Oni, that he may return. Allow me to slay these and Yunikawa, that you will be granted the honor of hosting the all powerful demon-god for yourself."
---
[OOC - Combat over for now ... ]
-
"Back off there sister!" Jenna snaps at the demon, as it sidles up against Roka ...
-
"Erm.. Maybe later?" Roka sends back to the 10 foot tall, antler-clad woman, with a look of utter confusion and bewilderment, but quickly gets over it.
"Don't worry Jenna, I'm sure there's enough Roka to go around." He then says in response to Jenna with a grin, before turning to the group.
"So, I guess the fight's done now. Sakura, can you heal everyone hurt? We need to be at top of our game when facing Yukinawa."
-
"Healing is not one of my focused spheres," Sakura replies with a shrug, "I would risk too much trying it more than once or twice."
-
Rai coughs and says, "I would like to remind everyone that killing Yunikawa right now does absolutely nothing and remember what happened to Keitaro when you sent him there Roka."
-
"Healing is not one of my focused spheres," Sakura replies with a shrug, "I would risk too much trying it more than once or twice."
"Hmm... Uh, Yuki?" Roka asks. Rai coughs and says, "I would like to remind everyone that killing Yunikawa right now does absolutely nothing and remember what happened to Keitaro when you sent him there Roka."
"Killing him would kill him permenatley. And we don't have a better idea other then that.
-
"Maybe but it would also make the father of demons stronger. Which is the last thing we want. Not to mention the Fire dragon that escaped." Rai sits down on a rock nearby looks down towards the ground sighs and readdressing the group says, "Not to sound doubtful in our abilities but we are stuck between a rock and a hard place and I don't see much of a way out."
-
"Whew!", Yuki says, relieved that the epic spell worked.
She'll then hurry over to Roka and whisper, "She's in love with you now... you're welcome, hehe".
Then she'll use a surge to call down a Kirin.
"I'm going to ask the Ancestors for help. They said it would be up to us to stop Yunikawa if the Naga failed... and they failed, but we can't stop Yunikawa with the shrine destroyed."
Yuki announces to everyone.
-
"Aha. Thanks for that." Roka whispers back with a chuckle. Probably best to still act like its his own charm though.
"That sounds right. Do you want us to do anything with? Udo still has that plate, if we can get back to the Tree we could all go, I think." Roka asks
-
Yuki tilts her head and gives Roka a look of confusion.
"Why? We only need to ask them a few questions."
She replies.
"As for what to do... avoid Yunikawa? Probably? Maybe the Kyoso-No-Oni can help somehow."
-
Roka nods.
"Hmm... Best place to hide from Yukinawa.... Hmm. Rai, you know how to hide well. Any ideas?" Roka asks.
-
Realizing how bad Yuki looks (she is Disabled after all) - Sakura yells - "Yuki! Stop! You mustn't run around like that in your condition!"
She then casts Heal Off The Cuff on Yuki, taking 2 Wound Points more Damage herself.
"Ouch."
-
"Hehe, thanks Sakura... and sorry."
Yuki replies, casting heal on Sakura in return, and apologizing for her reckless behaviour.
-
"Thanks Yuki," Sakura replies warmly.
-
"I can kill Yunikawa for you dear," the Kyoso-No-Oni offers to Roka, "He won't suspect me and is not as strong as you might think, when his guard is down. None of you humans are very strong. Quite easy to pluck your spines out while you sleep. I never understood why you were always unconscious half the time. So easy... hehehehehe ..."
-
"Ugh, disgusting!" Jenna huffs.
-
"That's kinda creepy." Roka replies, growing increasingly uncomfortable with the Kyoso-No-Oni's form of love.
"Though I suppose I should ask, what would happen if you killed Yukinawa. How strong would the first Oni's become?"
-
Udo remains in silence as this transpires, nearly all of his animal companions burnt to soul-ash. Yoshi, the squirrels, the twins, the hawks, Kirito's monkey, the skunks, Autolycus... All gone now, because I was too selfish to let them stay somewhere safe. Wanted to bring them with me. Starling's still safe, though... Should have left more back in Kurokawa, to the kid. Stupid me for bringing them along. Farking stupid. Damn it... I knew something like this could happen...
He angrily eyes the KyosOni before looking to his feet in rage. Instinctively, he shuffles towards Bleach, nuzzling his hand on his back. After trying to calm himself, he speaks up again, would be silly let this get to me... we need to finish this, he looks up to Yuki and the rest,
"Killing Yunikawa won't help too much, considering what the Book of Secrets told us. We need to capture him and restrain him before he can do anything. Unsure how to go about that... Maybe lock him in a magic ward? Goddammit, I don't know..."
He breathes, "Yuki, uh, do you think I'd be of assistance if I came? The Kirin is a spirit of sorts, I think, so I can summon it once again. May even be able to summon more than one if the apples are unharmed."
-
"Probably not."
Yuki replies bluntly.
"But you can come if you want."
-
"As each of you vessels are shattered," the Kyoso-No-Oni replies to Roka's question, "a portion of Masaki-Dai-Oni is reformed within all of you. That is why you bear the Mark. It will make you all even more powerful as well; until only one of you and The Father is left ..."
-
Yuki listens to Roka and the Kyoso-No-Oni's conversation as she waits for the Kirin.
-
Udo nods, "I think I'll, uh, join you then. Even if it isn't necessary, it can't hurt. The Kirin is nice to have around anyway..."
Using a Earth Surge, he attempts to raise another Kirin for the new day.
-
"As each of you vessels are shattered," the Kyoso-No-Oni replies to Roka's question, "a portion of Masaki-Dai-Oni is reformed within all of you. That is why you bear the Mark. It will make you all even more powerful as well; until only one of you and The Father is left ..."
Roka nods.
"What exactly do you mean by more powerful? Like, physically?"
-
"Yes," the Kyoso-No-Oni replies, "You will take on more and more of The Father's Mark, becoming less human. Less weak. Stronger. More like The Father."
-
As Roka talks with the she-demon, two Ki-Rin fly out of the sky and down into the fissure. Initially they balk at the presence of the Kyoso-No-Oni, but some coaxing from Udo gets them to land at the far end of the fissure, so Udo and Yuki can come over to mount up.
-
"Roka, keep a... Strong composure in our short absence. Rai and Miya, just uh, make sure Yunikaqqndoesn't get the drop on you 4."
With a solemn nod to Yuki, Udo heads off with her to the Ancestral Palace.
-
Yuki immediately hops onto her Ki-Rin mount.
"To the Ancestral Palace!"
She orders, holding a fist into the air.
"Good luck everyone!"
-
Rai sighs and says, "I don't have any idea of how to hide your spiritual energy but I can make it harder for most people to find us." He makes a readily overlooked campsite.
-
"Wait a minute. The trip to the Ancestral Palace is pretty long..." Udo bites his lip, "Even if we can shave it off by several hours, it'll still be out least be a six hour trip, and that's only the distance with extreme effort. Yuki, I think we should consider just bringing everybody along-- too uh, dangerous, I'd say, considering how little time we have. Yunikawa is probably planning to seek us out and kill us, and 6 hours may just be enough."
The Forest Ward looks at the Kirin and begins to speak to them, "Can you two call over some of your friends to come over here? The world is at stake here, and we need to get to the Ancestors in safety."
-
"Wait, what'll we do with Jenna if we're going to the ancestors?" Roka asks.
-
"Can't she just come?" Udo responds, confused.
-
"What? The Ancestral Palace?" Jenna asks. "Yeah... I'll be fine here. Yunikawa isn't after me."
-
In response to Udo meanwhile, the Ki-Rin he summoned rears up and stamps its fiery hooves on the stones a number of times, sending sparks showering out in all directions. It whinnies loudly and snorts - which is then answered by more whinnying from above - as five more Ki-Rin trot down out of the sky and alight near the others.
Again, they are all appalled at the presence of the Kyoso-No-Oni and fidget uneasily in her presence.
"Got a spare?" the she-Demon asks in jest - "I just love seared horse flesh. Yes. . . Almost as tender as innocent children. Mmm . . . "
Needless to say, the Ki-Rin are not amused.
-
Meanwhile, Yuki sits awkwardly on her Ki-Rin with her arm still in the air. Eventually, realizing that they're waiting for the others, she lowers her arm and hangs her head in defeat, then waits silently.
-
"Alright, so we'll be heading to the Ancestral Palace then." Roka states.
"You sure you don't want to come with, Jenna? I could definitely use your help with this. I don't know what we can do without you." Roka adds.
"And, Kyoso-No-Oni, what would be really useful right about now would be someone spying on Yukinawa. It'd really make me happy if you did that, instead of... Well, doing this."
-
"With pleasure," the Kyoso-No-Oni replies and abruptly sinks into the ground and is gone.
"Creepy bitch." Jenna pouts.
"Yeah, I can't say I'm sorry to see her go" Yuki's mother says. Then noticing that there is a spare Ki-Rin, she asks, "Do you think I should come with you?"
-
Rai will look to see if he recognize his old steed. If he does he will ride that one to the palace.
-
Sure enough, the Ki-Rin are the ones that the Samurai had ridden before, plus a few new ones.
-
Miya nods to Yuki's Mother.
"I think that'd be best."
She then will look to where the Kyoso-No-Oni went underground.
"I won't forget what happened today, bitch."
She'll think to herself.
-
Before leaving, Yuki will send thoughts to General Kaori Meji, informing him that Yunikawa's Palace has already been destroyed, mentioning the battle between the demons and Naga. She'll mention the big bad dragon, and that Yunikawa lives, but won't mention the Massaki Dai-Oni.
-
Udo spits as the Oni leaves, "Alright guys, get up on your Kirin and be on guard... Or something. If that Demoness screws something up somehow we'll be in big trouble. Hopefully the Ancestors will be able to bring us back to full energy or something, I think I'm still bleeding..."
Trying to reinspire Yuki, Udo awkwardly just announces, "Onwards!... Then?"
-
Strengthened by the urgency of the situation and Udo’s encouragement, the Ki-Rin took to the sky like streaks of lightning. The clouds parted and the Ki-Rin galloped into the Spirit World and on up – higher and higher and higher.
At this rate, they would make the Ancestral Palace in just under three hours.
It was two and a half hours into the trip and the Ki-Rin sweating from the effort, when the superlative expanse of star-filled night opened before the Samurai and the gleaming alabaster city of the Ancestors came into view under the corona of U-Mani the Moon.
Just a little further and they would arrive at the Court of the Ancestors, to petition the Exalted Patriarch and Matriarch for help – or at this point, even something as simple as honest advice concerning the dire situation now at hand.
“It is beautiful,” Lady Shirihata gasped.
“Absolutely amazing,” Sakura agreed.
Then, halfway across the remaining divide, Roka, Yuki, Udo, and Sakura slowly started to feel sick. It started in their stomach as a bit of nausea, but then, as they drew closer to the Ancestral Palace, grew to be a low burning sensation throughout their entire bodies and ungodly screams anguish from the voice in their head – it was the demon within – it could not abide the holy light of U-Mani’s corona.
It was all very uncomfortable, but not something they couldn’t push through.
But then – without warning – Roka, Yuki, Udo, and Sakura’s minds were blasted with white hot pain that seemed to consume even more of their dwindling psyche! They were knocked unconscious and rocked from their mounts – though it was an easy matter for the Ki-Rin to swoop around to scoop them back up in their protective halo of flames.
Surging themselves back to consciousness, the four remaining Sacrifants had to abruptly pull up their steeds to a stop – because the light of U-Mani now boiled their very skin! What had a moment ago been a surmountable obstacle was now an impossible barrier.
‘HAHAHAHA!’ the voice in their minds laughed – and they could feel that Yunikawa was now with them – inside them somehow, like Kaitaro. The Epic Wu-Jen was dead!
Rai, Miya, and Lady Shirihata meanwhile, looked on in unmitigated shock.
Roka, Yuki, Udo, and Sakura were now barely human-looking at all – and as they soon realized looking at themselves – they were each ten feet tall, had red skin, orange fangs and orange claws on both hands and feet, while black horns jutted from their still hollow-fire-eyed heads!
They felt stronger though, but also the Voice in them raged like a river – it compelled them to kill each other – promising even more power to the survivor! (Will Save every Minute or Berserker Rage on other Sacrifants)
‘THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE!’ (if you’ll pardon the plagiarism haha!)
-
Rai looks at his friends (and Roka) and knows this situation is getting dangerous. So he yells, "I will go on ahead and try to get help you guys should spread out so the temptation to kill each other is less!" He then yells "Hah" On the kirin and rides as quickly as possible to the palace. He whispers "Show me how the fast the fastest Kirin can go."
-
Yuki looks at herself and her friends in horror, realizing that it is now only be a matter of time before they all succumb to the voice inside their heads.
"Yunikawa... must be dead somehow..." She asserts, gently grasping at the horns coming out of her head.
"You should hurry... we'll wait here..."
Yuki then looks at the other sacrifants, trying to stop herself from shaking.
"The Ancestors should be able to help. Until then, we should wait here. It will be better if we can't see each other though... so I'll see you when it's safe."
She says, casting Illusion. With Illusion, she'll make it so Roka, Udo and Sakura can't see or hear each other, or Yuki. Since Yuki can see both the illusions and the normal world, she won't bother altering what she can see or hear, figuring she can hold out against the voices anyway.
She'll also make Roka, Udo, Sakura and herself appear normal, both in appearance and voice, to themselves and everyone else.
-
"By the ancestors!" Yuki's mother gasps. Turning away to hide tears.
-
"It seams that we cannot go further," Sakura says, "Let's hope the Ancestors receive Rai well..."
-
"Damn this eye," Miya says, trying not to look at Roka, Yuki, Udo, or Sakura with her illusion-piercing vision.
-
"Ach, my skin burns." Roka mutters.
"But with Yukinawa dead, we should be fine, right? Just need to get rid of the dragon, and then we'll have saved everyone."
-
"By the Gods..." Udo mutters in horror, shuddering as he recognizes just how horrid his physical being has become. And slowly, he realizes, what on the outside will become the inside...
"Rai, Miya, and Mrs. Shirahata-- please beckon from the Ancestors help. Whether to heal us all or to give us any sort of edge against the incoming evils. Yunikawa may be slain or something, but that only means his servants are on the loose."
-
Rai hurries toward the Ancestral Palace and is met well before arriving, by the Celestial Patriarch and Matriarch, with a contingent of Ancestors - all flying out to meet him.
They sweep Rai and his Ki-Rin up in some wave of the wind that they appear to be riding and continue out to the rest of the Samurai.
Upon arriving at the others, the Heavenly Parents say in unison, "So the Naga have failed most spectacularly."
-
"Patriarch and Matriarch, I apologize for I have failed in both my duty of driving the Rokurbuki out of nippion and in stopping Yunikawa before his plan came to fruition. The holy shrine of the naga is desecrated and there appears to be something there tearing asunder the demon parts they all hold." Rai with a desperate look in his eye continues, "and to make matters worst the twisted herald of Fire has escape his mountain jail." Bowing deeply he adds, "In this hour of great and desperate need we have turned to you for whatever help you can provide."
-
"Rai, did you really believe you could rid Nippon of the Rukurokubi in three days?" the Ancestors ask in surprise at Rai's sense of failure in the matter.
-
Rai shakes his head and says, "No but if we had headed your advice we would not be here and I feel the need to apologize for both of the mistakes."
-
Rai hurries toward the Ancestral Palace and is met well before arriving, by the Celestial Patriarch and Matriarch, with a contingent of Ancestors - all flying out to meet him.
They sweep Rai and his Ki-Rin up in some wave of the wind that they appear to be riding and continue out to the rest of the Samurai.
Upon arriving at the others, the Heavenly Parents say in unison, "So the Naga have failed most spectacularly."
Yuki nods solemnly.
"Yunikawa is dead, but the Naga temple is damaged beyond our ability to repair, and Infernumis has been released..."
She states.
"And we're... we're..."
Yuki starts, but fades off, unable to bring herself to tell the Ancestors the condition of the sacrifants.
"We need your help."
-
Roka nods, as he can't really bow on a horse.
"Yukinawa has died, my lords, permenatley. All we need to know now is the way to destroy the Demon God. Being chosen as a sacrificiant has been an honor, but it is far too dangerous a tactic to countinue with."
-
"We need to, uh, find a way to stop the process of us turning into the Demon before its too late. Already... The voices tell me to hurt my friends, and I don't know how long I'll be able to hold out. Every time another of us die the feeling becomes stronger."
Udo takes a deep breath, "Like Roka said, I don't think the Sacrifice idea is good route to go for eternity. Please! Tell us a way to stop all of this forever!"
-
The Celestial Patriarch and Matriarch looked on the afflicted Samurai with great compassion; and while they were in their presence, the beast inside the Sacrifants was somewhat subdued – though it wouldn’t last long.
“As you have found from the Naga Book of Secrets,” they explain, “a Pact was agreed to, between all the Powers of Creation to Bind the Father of Demons using the bodies of Man and great magic focused in a special Shrine.”
“You are those to whom this duty has fallen at this incarnation of yourselves. From the beginning, only the most honorable of Spirits have shared in carrying out this burden, and now is no different.”
“With the destruction of the Shrine however, and the corrupted Fire Herald certainly after you to complete the liberation of Masaki-Dai-Oni, Creation has been plunged into unprecedented peril.”
“No doubt that the Moon Goddess U-Mani could address this, but the Gods sleep. And what to her would be a simple matter, to us would end Creation as we know it, as the Goddess irrevocably wiped clean the slate of existence to start things anew.”
“If this were so, we do not know what would become of us. We prefer then to see if we can solve this ourselves.”
“Therein must be why we – at a future time – sent Kioko back to us. She is an Incarnation of Sakura and shares a link with her. We suspect, that should Sakura be lost, Kioko would then become the vessel for the portion of Masaki-Dai-Oni in Sakura. And, as we now hold Kioko in deep Stasis, perhaps that will be enough to prevents Masaki-Dai-Oni from ever becoming whole.”
“What?” Sakura asks, “Who’s Kioko? I don’t get it.”
“When you died, saving your friends,” the Heavenly Parents answer Sakura, “Another incarnation of yourself, a So-Kitsune from the future, was sent to replace you. The honorable Samurai of Sendai brought her here, where we set her to sleep to await rebirth into her own time-line.”
“Oh, I see,” Sakura nods.
The Celestial Patriarch and Matriarch then continue - “Unfortunately, we don’t believe the Elemental Herald, corrupted or not, can be kept long from coming after, should Kioko become a vessel for its Demon Master. While we can certainly mount a significant defense, the Herald is god-spawn, not to mention demon enhanced, and would cause great loss before we could subdue it.”
Here the Patriarch and Matriarch stop talking and look into Creation itself. Then with a stoic countenance they add, “Yes; The Elemental Herald comes for you even now. It is currently two hours behind you. It will follow you one at a time, killing you as quickly as it can, until it has brought back its Master.”
“We can suggest two courses of action,” they conclude, “We let it come and fight it here in the corona of U-mani the moon – which hopefully will burn off its demonic corruption to the point we can try to revive the Herald himself.”
“If successful, then we can then work to restore the Shrine. Once complete, you will then give your lives to reclaim the demonic prisoner.”
“The drawback here, is that you are currently corrupted to the point that you cannot enter U-Mani’s corona without yourselves being lost and giving more power to Masaki-Dai-Oni. Given that, the Herald has little reason to actually come into the corona at all, until Kioko is the only one left.”
“In this you are lucky however, as Yunikawa has blundered. Had he waited to take his own life, letting you attain the Celestial Palace beforehand, he would have achieved his cause – as you would all have been consumed by holy fire before you could have escaped. Masaki-Dai-Oni, being then released, would have dropped back down to Earth to claim it his own.”
Then, after a thoughtful pause, they finish with – “The second option is to travel to the Heart of Creation and use your magic to control the Heartstone. Use it to travel back in time to when Yunikawa was young. Take his life and send him to the Shrine, before he can ever live long enough to learn of its secrets and cause such calamity in the first place.”
-
Heart of Creation? Roka thinks, remembering his own adventure in the earth realm.
"Wait, is that the what the prophecy thing was talking about?" Roka asks.
-
"What prophesy?"
-
"Yeah, the wasp people prophecy. That the... son? of masaki-dai-oni would go into the Heart of Creation and save the world of man." Roka says.
"Wait, you didn't know about it?" He then asks.
-
"Each tier in the Order of Creation has their own Prophesies."
-
Roka furrows his brow, but then nods. Thinking isn't his specialty, after all.
"So, is this what the prophecy was referring to?"
-
"If we kill a child-Yunikawa..." Udo starts, "What happens to our experiences up until now?"
-
"As we stated, we are not familiar with the Bisan Prophesies," the Patriarch and Matriarch answer Roka.
Then to Udo they say, "Killing Yunikawa would alter everything; but for the better. The Naga and their Shrine would be restored, you would never have been corrupted by Yunikaw's influence. You would live your young lives in peace until the Naga came to collect you."
"Then, as has always been, you would come here to rejoin the Ancestors and await a new incarnation back on Earth."
-
"How do we travel to the heart of creation?" Yuki asks, remembering Roka needed to pass a blue wall before, which is no longer there.
"And is there no way to truly defeat the Masaki-Dai-Oni for good?"
-
"Does this not defeat him? Or are you asking if he can be destroyed? In which case, no. One cannot destroy a god."
-
"Does this not defeat him? Or are you asking if he can be destroyed? In which case, no. One cannot destroy a god."
"I see..." Yuki replies, disheartened.
-
Rai thinks for a second and says, "Why don't we make more sacrifices and dilute the power again?"
-
"It is within Yuki's power to do so, but not before the Elemental Herald will undo everything."
-
Rai thinks and says, "If she makes either me or Miya sacrifices then they can enter the palace and we can try and make the dragon uncurupted again. Or am I missing something?"
-
"Perhaps," the Ancestral Parents reply to Rai.
"It would require two willing volunteers to put you back to the loss of only one Sacrifant. Then you could enter the corona and make a stand against the Herald if you desired."
-
"I thought we had only lost two? So wouldn't adding one make it down to one loss?" Rai replies.
-
"No. It doesn't work that way." Rai is answered. "You will only be able to divide the segments that you currently possess."
-
Roka shakes his head.
"There would be no point, Rai. This timeline is farked, the Naga have all died. We need to restart it all, and the best way to do so is through the Heartstone." Roka states.
"How can we get there, Ancetors?"
-
Rai stares at Roka and says, "You realize that your signing your death warrant if you do this right."
-
"Ancestors... How can you expect all the Sacrifants in the future to go along with this? Yunikawa can't be the only one to run away from his duty."
Udo pauses, "I just don't like the idea of hoping our reincarnations do the right thing for the next eternity. IS there truly no way to break the cycle?"
-
Rai stares at Roka and says, "You realize that your signing your death warrant if you do this right."
Roka chuckles.
"Rai, I already signed that aeons ago. My oath is far more important then anything else."
-
Answering Udo, the Ancestors reply, "This was set up by the Naga, who acted in direct accordance with U-Mani the Moon. It is what the gods have decided would be the way to deal with another god."
"There is nothing we Spirits or Man can do to improve upon that."
Then to Roka they answer - "The Ki-Rin can take you there from here, but it is a very long way."
-
"Then let's go." Roka states.
"Someone tell that to Yuki and Udo." Roka adds.
"Thank you for your advice, Ancestors."
-
"Before we go though," Udo meekly raises his hand, "Can you give us your blessing, Ancestors? I do admit, some of us might be battered up-- I certainly am, and it'd be much appreciated if you could, uh, help us in any way you can right now."
(OOC Note: he's referring to both a rejuvenation-spell and maybe the Ancestors Rebuke thing back XD)
-
"If the Ki-Rin can take us, we should hurry", Yuki says.
"Is there any advice you can give us, Ancestors?"
-
"We can do nothing more fore you," the Ancestors answer Udo, "The power of Masaki-Dai-Oni's corruption of you is beyond out ability to overcome. It is all up to you now."
To Yuki they add, "Take great care to accomplish all that you would do, before ending the life of Yunikawa - as in the very moment you do, you will create a paradox that will cause you to fade away, out of that new timeline forever."
-
Beyond Time
The Samurai of Sendai leave the Ancestral Palace in the night sky, under the comforting corona of U-Mani the Moon, and fly on their Ki-Rin mounts not down toward the Realm of Man, but upward toward to blazing fiery inferno that is A-Buji the Sun.
Pressed on by Udo’s urging and with an unstoppable dragon god not far behind, the Ki-Rin shoot like comets through the great void between the two gods – never tiring – galloping on a road of shimmering sparks that fly from their hooves with every fervent step.
The journey seems timeless, dragging on hour after hour, and then day after day – until the Samurai are weary from the ride – only their two Wu-Jen companions, Yuki and Sakura, having been able to sustain them with magically conjured water and food.
At length, almost the entirety of what lies before them is filled with blazing white fire, when the Ki-rin finally pull to a stop. Behind is an empty expanse of darkness – U-Mani the Moon still visible as a small pale orb, standing watch over the Earth so very very far away …
Then, scanning the vista before them, the Samurai spot an almost invisible mote of darkness – floating just below the lower horizon of A-Buji’s all-consuming fire – held there by spiraling coils of flame emanating from the sun god itself.
It is a tiny world of some kind – but black against the night sky – seeming to absorb all the light and energy that A-Buji is feeding into it.
The Ki-Rin nicker and prance is a nervous manner, as if gathering courage in themselves, then rear back, whinny, and charge toward the dark planetoid.
Getting closer, the Samurai see that the darkness comes not from the surface of the tiny world – only measuring about one hundred and fifty miles in diameter – but from black swirling mists that enshroud it.
In a matter of moments, the Ki-Rin plunge into the dark mists – the light of the Ki-Rin’s fiery bodies struggling to penetrate the all absorbing darkness.
The Samurai can see only about twenty feet ahead of themselves with the Ki-Rin radiating a brightly as they can.
Then something large and shadowy slithers past – just beyond the light – followed by another and another.
As the Samurai move downward through the darkness, it feels like they are in an ocean surrounded by a pack of sharks – circling just beyond the edges of the light …
-
Roka looks around.
"Did anyone else just see that?" He asks.
-
Fearing the darkness, Yuki will use light manipulation to make the area around them light up normally.
-
Udo activates his danger sense, warily watching out for anything out of place.
"We must be careful, guys, somethings moving from beyond the light."
-
Yuki creates light, pushing it out like a bubble against the darkness - it literally causes the darkness too boil away like lifting fog out to one hundred feet - where huge long dragons of smoke and soot are momentarily seared and blistered by the light and slip away into the darkness with terrible howling roars ...
-
"It would appear that they cannot enter the light," Sakura points out.
-
"Damn, I guess Akira wasnt exgerating..." Roka mutters.
"Though if they cant enter light, we'll be safe on our way to the Bisan. There's no meed to worry." Roka states.
-
Yuki watches the dragons leave the light and concludes that this must be the darkness that Akira mentioned when Roka entered the Earth realm. Not bothering to repeat what Roka and Sakura have already stated, Yuki quietly waits until the exit the darkness.
-
With the smoldering dragons of darkness unable to penetrate Yuki's barrier of magical light, the Ki-Rin push through the black mists and break free over a vast mountain range that opens to view.
Behind is the wall of darkness, curving off in either direction as far as one can see. Ahead are nothing but forested mountains and the light of day - yet there is no sun - just a general ambient light from an indistinct source.
The Ki-Rin slow and begin to circle, waiting for the Samurai to direct them further ...
-
"Towards the sacred glen!" Roka orders, pointing past the mountains.
-
It takes thirty minutes for the Ki-Rin to fly over the mountains, where the Samurai then see a central savanna (or Glen as the Bisan call it). Indeed, it’s a grassy plateau with a large central lake surrounded by trees.
when the Ki-Rin gallop down out of the sky and into the Glen, next to the lake, the surrounding trees erupt with hundreds of giant wasps (each about the size of a person) that fly into the air to surround everyone with loud angry buzzing …
-
"That's a lot of wasps." Roka mutters, before quickly raising his hands into the air.
"Captain of the guards, Jar Thok! Where are you?" Roka quickly asks. "I have returned to the Glen, please disperse your guards!" Roka asks, trying to look for the wasp that looks like that guy
-
Not understanding what's going on, Udo begins grunting in the Wasp language, "We're not here to hurt you all! The fate of the world is at stake, so please let us through."
-
"Oh, I think it's a Forest Ward," buzzes a giant wasp to another.
"Yes, you are right," answers one back.
"OMG! Is that Roka of Sendai?!? It is it is!!!" a third buzzes excitedly.
Then the wasps pull back and a few of them land near the Ki-Rin - to morph into a regal collection of human-looking spirits. The Elders of The Sacred Glen.
A young girl, maybe thirteen years old, rushes over to Roka and hugs his leg as he sits on his Ki-Rin. It is Li Li, the girl he met while stranded here the first time.
A large well-muscled young man also steps forward. Jor Thok, Captain of the Bisan Guard.
"You have returned," a woman in her thirties spoke to to Roka. This was the Matriarch of the Glen.
-
"Li Li! It's good to see you." Roka says with a smile, glad his true body is hidden by an illusion. It'd be pretty bad otherwise.
"And yes, honorable Glen Mother, I've returned. The heart led me back to my home, thankfully. It has been an eventful week."
-
Yuki keeps silent, rather nervous since she can still see the other sacrifants for what they really are at the moment.
And those damn voices in her head...
-
"Week?" the Glen Mother replies. "You have been away from here for more than seven hundred years."
"But no matter, you and your company are welcome here and do honor us with your presence - as do the Noble Ki-Rin."
Here, the Ki-Rin all bow their heads to the Glen Mother and she takes a moment to bow back (as do the rest of the Glen Elders).
-
Rai says, "Yes nice to meet you and all that but we need to move quickly if you don't want the twisted fire herald burning this lovely place to the ground."
-
"700 years?" Roka asks, mouth agap, "But.... wow. I'm sorry for being gone so long, Li Li. I was planning to come and visit earlier..." He says.
Roka looks at Rai, shocked. Does he want the place to go into a frenzied panic?! He then sighs, and tries to regain his composure.
"My ally here is, unfortinately, right, however. My companions and I must move to the Heartstone. Is the guardian still operating?"
-
"It's OK Roka!" Li Li says with a smile, "You look remarkably well for seven hundred years. The other humans aged so much faster."
Then looking at Udo, Li Li points out - "Oh, you are a Kuwabara . I had a Kuwabara once. He was a nice Kuwabara. So, you're a Forest Ward huh? That's pretty neat I guess."
The Glen mother meanwhile, answers Roka's other question - "Yes, the Guardian is still there."
"Still no match for you 'Great One!'" Jor Thok says, pounding his chest and saluting Roka. A bunch of the other Bisan, still in wasp form and flying in the air not to far off, all seem to buzz excitedly at Jor Thok's mention of the 'Great One'.
"It's him!"; "The only one to ever defeat the Guardian!"; "The Great One!"; Udo hears the Bisan buzzing to one another.
-
"Of course I do, Li Li." Roka replies with a chuckle.
"And yeah, someone tell Udo that Li Li's the one who took care of Akira. He probably owes her a thank you." Roka then adds, off handedly as the Bisan begin buzzing.
"Quite right, Jar Thok. The blood demon is nothing." Roka says confidently.
"Now we must get going. World Saving buisness, I'm afraid."
-
"That's what Roka mentioned... That Akira died." Udo states with a frown. He shakes his head, "Little girl, knew him well, then? Did he die honorably?"
-
Li Li looks at Udo, then at Roka, then at Udo and tilts her head.
"I think so," She says.
"He died when he saw Roka. But he died happy."
-
"Of course," the Glen Mother answers Roka and points down the shore of the lake to a large outcropping of rocks.
There a strange prismatic fall of water can be seen.
Moving closer, everyone gets a good look at the strange phenomenon.
The fall came out over a naturally sheer rock face – falling about seventy feet and filling the lake with a thunderous roar of water.
What was odd about the fall (and immediately noticeable) was that the water flowing out radiated a scintillating rainbow of colors that streaked and swirled around it – leaking into the mist and spray, here and there, like brightly pigmented clouds of magical ink.
Another thing somewhat jarring about the fall, was that the water occasionally stopped and started midair – even reversing itself a few moments every now and then, before snapping back to what gravity would normally demand.
Yuki and Sakura immediately recognized this as some sort of time distortion - the fall wasn't actually reversing - time itself was.
-
"Thank you, Glen Mother." Roka states, getting off his Kirin and bowing to the glen mother, as he then prepares to jump down into the water and swim into the cavern.
"The insides are worse then the outside." Roka warns. "And the blood oni like, erupts in deadly poison when it's killed, so I'd stay out until I kill it, alright?"
-
"What's up with that fountain?" Udo asks, motioning to it from stop his horse. "And what guardian are you all talking about?"
-
Rai shakes his head and looks at the portal. "Until roka comes out we gotta be diligent in watching that distortion."
-
"What a beautiful place," Lady Shirihata says, taking in the lake and Glen.
-
Roka nods, and jumps into the lake and swims through the fall.
-
"We should wait here."
Yuki states, sitting by edge of the falls.
-
"Yuki Catch" Rai says throwing some purge root to her. "Eat it if you get hit with posion. We should all probably help." Tossing another piece to each of his team mates.
-
Once again, Roka dives under the pounding deluge – to access the wide hollow behind the curtain of magical water.
On the other side, he pulls himself up into the mouth the strange crystalline chamber.
The area looks exactly as he left it - still about forty feet wide, thirty feet high, and going back about sixty feet. As before, the walls prickle with huge iridescent crystals of some kind – the points of which seep floating beads of mercurial silver into the air that snake their way through the cave in tenuous rivulets; and down into the massive, eighty thousand pound boulder-sized diamond hovering in the center.
The diamond still glows with tremendous magical energy and like before, Roka can see reflections of All Creation in the mirrored surfaces of the mercury trails as they flow into the multi-facets of the gargantuan gem. Roka has to burn a Surge Point to tear his attention away from the images, before they suck him into doen into insanity.
Not surprisingly - the Guardian - a vast pool of slick and cloying blood the consistency of pudding, still pools under the huge diamond too.
When Roka enters, it initially surges forward like floodwaters - but then rears back - pausing a moment, before sloshing back into its pool under the Heart of Creation where it then does nothing more ...
-
Roka looks confused.
"What the hell?" He mutters to himself, before shrugging. It must be fearing the one who demolished it last time.
"Guys, I think the oni is afraid of me, ha ha!" He then shouts to the group, before moving closer, creating his ki spikes.
If it still doesnt attack, he'll send two flying true striking death touches.
-
Roka easily dispatches it again - and this time, it doesn't even make a retributive strike for some reason.
As before, it slowly begins to regenerate, the blood dripping from beneath the huge diamond into the pool - but Roka has plenty of time.
Unfortunately, no one can hear him shout through the thundering falls.
-
Roka shrugs, and jumps back into the lake, towards the group.
"Come on, guys. The blood oni's dead again. Didnt even explode into giant heaps of poison this time." He says, still in the lake.
-
Yuki, knowing how her magic works, seamlessly covers Roka's emerging form with the Illusion.
-
"Odd..."
Yuki states, entering the waterfall.
-
In the chamber beyond, Yuki sees the reflections of All Creation in the mercury trails as they flow into the multi-facets of the gargantuan gem. Her magically enhanced wisdom allows her to at least comprehend the basics of what she is seeing (after a successful Will Save).
Here is literally all time and space, every event that has or will happen.
Yuki spots something familiar - a reflection of herself when she was a small child. Following it forward she lives her own life out in her mind - from then to now - to nothing ... Her existence seems to vanish from the lines if she uses epic magic and then enters the Heart of Creation with the rest of her companions.
Curious, Yuki then traces her line back to when she first saw Yunikawa. There she jumps to his line and follows if forward. It goes through everything he did, including using the bones of fallen heroes, not only to desecrate the Naga Shrine, but also to cast an epic spell of some kind in the fiery heart of Mount Fuji, in order to awaken the corrupted Elemental Fire Herald Infernimus. Yuki notes that Yunikawa used the power of the shrine to do be remade, when his successful casting and the superheated environment killed him.
Continuing on Yunikawa's line, Yuki reaches a point at the Naga Shrine, where after feeling the death and rebirth of Kaitaro, Yunikawa teleported with Infernimus to the Shrine and had the great dragon crush it with one thunderous slam of its tail.
Then after waiting for the Samurai to come to him, he sensed the holy rays of the Celestial Palace burning the demon inside him and had the Dragon kill him too - in a gambit to stop the Samurai. His last order to Infernimus was to hunt down and kill the remaining Sacrifants one by one.
Then, going back the other way, Yuki peruses Yunikawa's young life, learning that he was born over five hundred years ago in the Sendai Orphanage . . .
-
Curious, Yuki looks along Yunikawa's line to find out how he managed to hide from the Naga when they first came for him (500ish years ago), and what caused him to fanatically try to bring the demon god back to life.
-
Rai steps inside the falls as well.
-
Everyone, including Lady Shirahata, go into the chamber behind the falls (otherwise, Yuki's Illusion fails and the Sacrifants begin killing each other).
All spend a Surge Point to avoid madness as their minds are overwhelmed with too much information ...
-
"Wow," Sakura marvels, "It's like being omniscient, except that the human mind can't handle it!"
-
Rai nods, "Except Yuki seems to be able to."
-
"Yes, that is very impressive," Sakura agrees.
-
"This place is so bizarre," Lady Shirahata comments, "Yuki? You know how it works?"
-
"It's... everything", Yuki replies.
She'll then (after finishing her look into Yunikawa's past), will try and figure out what other materials she'll need to travel back in time.
-
Roka nods.
"Yeah, it's a weird place." Roka says with a nod.
He then sighs.
"I said that I would be fine with this whole plan of ours, but... this whole thing is... We're gonna be erasing our whole lives, everything we've ever done is gonna be erased forever. It's a difficult task that we've been given." Roka states.
-
Udo scratches at his head, "So the plan is to simply kill Yunikawa when he was younger? That's like, centuries ago. Before the Chinese were able to overtake Nippon... You think we'd also be able to prevent that?"
-
He then sighs.
"I said that I would be fine with this whole plan of ours, but... this whole thing is... We're gonna be erasing our whole lives, everything we've ever done is gonna be erased forever. It's a difficult task that we've been given." Roka states.
"Oh!", Yuki exclaims, surprised.
"You understand! Good, good" she says, nodding in approval.
"It's true that everything we've done will be erased, but we may be able to make it so we ourselves aren't quite erased."
"Probably."
-
"Should we warn everyone about the Chinese invasion?" Rai asks everyone.
-
"Should we warn everyone about the Chinese invasion?" Rai asks everyone.
"Of course", Yuki replies.
-
"So that means it doesn't succeed." Rai smiles thinking all the lives that would be saved then frowns, "Wait what happens to us?"
-
"So that means it doesn't succeed." Rai smiles thinking all the lives that would be saved then frowns, "Wait what happens to us?"
"We'd probably disappear, but we don't have to", Yuki replies.
"We can put our souls into objects, and use them to merge with our future selves."
-
"Wow, Yuki! That's Brilliant!" Sakura replies.
-
"I've heard worse ideas," Miya adds, making a token effort to remain in the conversation.
-
"Wow, Yuki! That's Brilliant!" Sakura replies.
"Ehehe", Yuki replies bashfully.
Yuki will then use epic magic in the heart of creation to send everyone back in time to when Yunikawa was a baby.
-
Five Hundred Years In The Past
Yuki’s spell allowed her the ability to pass through the Heart of Creation, with control of when and where she would emerge. Instructing the Samurai of Sendai and Yuki’s mother to all hold hands (forming a human chain with Yuki in the lead), Yuki placed her hand on the massive magical diamond in the center of the chamber.
Immediately, the world shattered around them!
The Samurai felt their physical bodies disintegrate into their atomic structure – becoming acutely aware of every particle of their beings – their motions, orders, and functions when joined together to form the whole. They swirled around everyone’s consciousness as they seemed to flow morpheus through the very strings of time and space.
Drifting, each Samurai found themselves envisioning their entire existence – their minds filled not just with that of their mortal lives – but of each life they had ever lived from their very first incarnation at the dawn of mankind. In a flash, they all experiences every birth, every life, and every death of each generation of themselves from the creation of man until the moment Yuki had placed her hand on the Heart of Creation. For Roka and Yuki, it was a redundant experience, yet still mind-shaking in its magnitude. For everyone else, it was positively mind blowing and they reeled mentally from the overload.
Then, as suddenly as the knowledge had come, it quickly faded away and the Samurai felt themselves reforming in the ether.
That is when something else coalesced together near them. It was a three hundred foot tall leviathan of dark and sinister evil.
Masaki-Dai-Oni in whole.
The Demon God’s red scaled skin was shrouded in radiating hell fire (the same sort as the Kyoso-No-Oni had tormented the Samurai with). It had orange fangs and claws, five dragon eyes on its face, long black horns jutting from its head, and an array of spikes and quills sprouting from its back.
It didn’t seem to notice the Samurai floating near, as it towered over the entire world. Filled with limitless cruelty, it reached down and wounded the earth – tearing open the land and releasing all manner of terrible Oni from the depths below.
Not satisfied there, the Demon God turned his attention to the still sleeping Sun and Moon, and seeing how small and insignificant they were in comparison to his own might, he crushed them in each of his hands – plunging the dying world into an eternity of darkness.
The shock of seeing this snapped the Samurai out of wherever they were; and they wearily came to, lying on a dirt road somewhere. Everyone was whole again, but felt strange, all but Yuki’s minds buzzing with chaos and unable to cope with all that they had seen and experienced.
---
Taking a moment, Yuki cast Heal on everyone, tied with her Feng-Shui powers, to remove the massive Psychosis that besieged the Samurai’s burning psyches.
When that was done, Yuki directed everyone off the road into the woods, where the burned out ruins of a humble cottage could be seen.
Yuki explained that this was the birthplace of Kenjiro Yunikawa – after brigands had come through and slain his family, leaving the baby Yunikawa to starve alone in the crib. From her tracing back Yunikawa’s timeline, Yuki knew that a wandering monk had heard the baby Yunikawa crying, as he walked down the road, and had taken him to the a nearby orphanage outside the city of Sendai.
As the place was abandoned, Rai and Udo used Easily Overlooked Campsite and the Samurai rested the night. The next day, Yuki cast Make Whole on the cottage and the Samurai then had a proper place to lay low, while they carefully set their plan into motion.
The first thing was to prepare the spell by which the Samurai would transfer their souls into objects upon the death of Yunikawa. This way, using Epic Magic, tied with the Feng-Shui power of Summon, Yuki could ensure that the items would find their future selves on the day of their Gempuku – and when they touched the enchanted Items, the two souls would merge – becoming one.
The old selves would not be lost to the paradox of time travel and the new selves would benefit from the vast experience, memories, and powers of their current selves.
Each Samurai carefully chose an item and the spell was cast.
The Samurai then took the items into Sendai and gave them into the care of the Exalted Patriarch of the Temple of The Ancestors – after explaining their purpose and of the impending doom of Nippon to come by way of the Chinese Invasion in the distant future.
Knowing that what he was hearing was true, the Exalted Patriarch promised to prepare Nippon with holy prophesies against the arrival of the Chinese and to also see that the items were delivered to the Samurai of Sendai and Rai of Edo, at the appropriate time.
With that set, the only thing left was to deal with Yunikawa.
Rather than dirty their own hands killing an innocent baby, Yuki first visited the orphanage in secret and spotted Yunikawa by his Line of Attunement. Then, taking the baby with her, she returned to Yunikawa’s family cottage with him.
Placing him in his crib, the Samurai all went outside and bid each other farewell and good fortune, hoping that this would work – that by this infant’s sacrifice, the World could be saved.
Roka, then used the power of his armor to summon a Fiend and ordered it to go inside the cottage and quickly slay the baby within – something the Fiend was more than happy to do.
It lumbered into the cottage radiating fire and catching everything alight.
Moments later, the Samurai of Sendai all began to fade away into nothingness …
THE END
-
Epilog 1
It was the day of their Gempuku, when the strange items of the past were delivered to the new Samurai of Sendai at their coming of age, to Yuki’s Mother Lady Shirahata, and to Rai Go Uda of Edo.
The items were ancient things – five hundred years old the Priest had said, as the handed them to their respected recipients.
And touching them – an alternate life was suddenly opened up before each of them – and they knew who they had once been and how they had saved the world from the Father of Demons and his wicked pawn Kenjiro Yunikawa.
It took some time to come to terms with who they now were.
They were still themselves, but also much more – and with experience and powers unlike their wildest dreams.
And they realized that there was still much to do – especially Yuki.
They had to change the way the Naga Shrine worked – to free Mankind from the sacrifice of the Sacrifants. To ensure that what had happened in another lifetime could not happen again in this or any other.
It would be challenging, but not beyond their incredible new powers – and after that? Who knows, maybe even immortality!
-
Epilog 2
It was a hot summer day in the city of Sendai as the children of Headmaster Gakusha’s class sat enthralled at the stories he had been telling of their great nation’s past. Particularly of the great Chinese invasion attempt lead by the Kublai Khan some seven hundred years ago.
As the headmaster spoke, one child in particular listened most attentively – It was Kioko Kikuchi.
Something about the stories struck a cord with her and she was especially interested in the heroic figures of the time; Samurai like Shinsen Hasekura, the Daimyo of Sendai and his trusted Yoriki, who together repelled the first invasion of the Chinese at the decisive Battle of Sendai.
And then later, when the Chinese tried to invade a second time, the legendary Wu-Jen Kenji Nogachi, who summoned up a Divine Wind to sink the retreating ships of the Chinese and burry them once and for all in the sea.
To Kioko, the stories and legends seemed to come alive in her mind and she could envision what the people were like and the adventures they must have had. If only she could have lived back then, she would have been a Samurai-ko and fought alongside heroes like these!
Then suddenly a bell was rung, snapping Kioko out of her daydreams and marking the end of the school day. Grabbing her books, she rushed outside and found a long stick – and just in time too! The Chinese were invading and she would need a sword to fend them off and protect the land!
Then with a grin, Kioko stepped forward and swatted at a boy with her stick. To which the boy responded by finding one of his own and the battle commenced.
Today the fate of Japan would be decided by a mighty battle between the heroic Samurai-ko Kioko Kikuchi and the wicked invader Kublai Khan!