New Rokugan Post
20th of Ryoshun in the 1158th year of the Emerald Empire
The mists of battle had cleared as the heroes tended to their wounded; Ryoko surveyed the scene with a calculating eye, her own wounds grievous as well. Ameiko continued to administer her divine powers as the villagers slowly approached the gathered samurai. Ryoko gathered her wits and sheathed her ancestral blade, and took a deep painful breath as she approached the gathering heimin.
An old wrinkled woman with a round pleasant face, and a matching plump figure approached Ryoko with reverence and deference, she bowed her head, “Domo arigato Shiba-sama, we are thankful that you have arrived when you did.”
Ryoko regarded the woman with carefully before replying, “You are welcome, but I must find shelter and food for my companions…”
The old woman nodded smiling, “Yes Shiba-sama, my home is at your disposal, please this way.” She turned and waddled slowly towards her modest home. She slid the door slowly and bade the heroes to enter and rest. Eiji ducked his head as he entered, the giant taking a seat nearest the door, his scars still aching. Renshi and Ameiko took a seat nearest a low wooden table with a small tea set laid out. The rest sat or stood at their leisure, taking a brief respite from the tense battle.
Junoki and Hiyone stood outside, both watching the streets of there afternoon as various villagers passed the small home casting curious glances to them. The winter frost still clung to much of the landscape, not yet fully relinquishing to the coming spring, which added to the growing chill of the coming evening.
Junoki glanced to Hiyone with a curious glance, “Any more tales of your journeys?”
Hiyone smiled as he spoke glancing over the modest village, “Still curious?”
Junoki chuckled, “I enjoy stories, especially from someone who tells them so well.”
Hiyone nodded, “Well... I have many stories... I suppose I have seen more then many...” he glanced over the village, “each place has a tale...”
Junoki mused with stylish wave of his hand, “A tale worth a poem or a song?”
Hiyone laughed, shaking his head no, “Poetry is my specialty, I have not the voice for song,” he waved his hands gesturing the villagers, “this place reminds me of a summer I spent in the lands of the Crane.”
Junoki glanced t the villagers curiously, “Do you notice people passing by an awful lot?”
Hiyone nodded slowly, “I think we have caused quite the stir.”
Junoki nodded, “I think I shall head inside and enjoy the warm air of the fire; care to join me?” Hiyone nodded as the two retreated into the old woman’s home.
Ryoko was the last to enter and surveyed the modest home with a minor look of annoyance; she sighed and spoke to the old woman, Oba, “Thank you for your hospitality, Oba-san.”
Oba nodded as she poured hot tea for the gathered heroes, “It is we who should thank you, all winter we have suffered under their attacks...”
Ryoko replied curiously, “All winter?”
Oba nodded slowly, “Yes Shiba-sama, we have not been able to get word to the lord for the fear of exposure. This winter was strong, more so then past years.”
Falm looked up from her tea, “I am to guess that there is more of such creatures in the area?”
Oba nodded slowly, “There may be, it is not our place to tally forth and look for such trouble... we are but simple farmers.” Oba sat gentle against her table with a belabored sigh; her great age was catching up with her.
Ryoko placed her emerald green eyes on Falm, “Things grow interesting Agasha-san.”
Falm frowned under her gaze, “Yes… yes they do.”
Ryoko sighed and cast her gaze over the rest of the heroes, “We know our task, but for now we shall rest and heal, and observe what transpires in this village, besides the New Year approaches, and I dare not to work during such a festive time,” she glanced to each of her companions in turn, “agree?” Her companions in turn agreed, all weary from travel, and the day’s events, thankful for a chance to rest and prepare for what my come. Hiyone stood back, watching with a gentle smile.
Ryoko nodded, “Well then I shall see if I can find us a proper household,” she bowed, “I shall not be long.” Ryoko exited the small home as Oba sipped at her tea.
Falm fingered her bloodied kimono and sighed, “Oba-san is there a place where I may change; I fear those creatures have ruined my travel clothes.”
Oba nodded, “Yes milady, though if I may, I might be able to repair your kimono, this much to beautiful to throw away, honor me with a chance to repair such a lovely piece of cloth.”
Falm nodded and changed quickly handing over her kimono to Oba, as they returned to the main room of the small home. The others were sitting quietly, resting, sipping at their tea.
Hiyone smirked ever so slightly, “The heroes gather for a brief respite from the chilling darkness before they begin their trial... poetry in motion.”
Junoki chuckled, “A trial I hope to survive in good order,” he then placed his hands out to the fire to warm himself, “but I wonder why would those creatures attack the village without destroying it?”
Ameiko raised a slight brow as she replied to Junoki, “Perhaps they kept the villagers alive as a constant source of sustenance and supplies.”
“I don't know these creatures, they didn't seem that smart on their own,” Junoki replied feeling the warmth of the flames.
Hiyone smiled coyly, “You seem to be suspecting what I am suspecting…”
Ameiko smiled while tending to Renshi, “Perhaps someone is directing them.”
“Just a thought,” Junoki added with a glance.
Renshi nodded with a slow cough, “Might be something to look into, if we have the time.”
Junoki turned from the flames towards the group, “It's either now or later. I'd rather not have to come back.”
Hiyone smiled, “I agree.”
“We cannot allow it to interfere with our purpose, however,” Ameiko glanced to Oba, who was sitting at the low table listening sipping at her tea, “Oba, when did your village start coming under attack?”
Oba looked worried when the subject was broached but replied with a practiced smile, “It began shortly after the begin of the winter... when a young boy Lu Zao disappeared in the night was when we first heard of the attacks.”
Junoki replied, giving Oba her full attention “Has this winter been different than the others in past years, beside the attacks of course?”
“Well the weather has been harsher I suppose, and we have lost a few villagers to a wasting sickness, that is far beyond my abilities to mend,” she replied sipping at her tea.
Junoki glanced curiously, “What kind of sickness?”
Oba continued, speaking in pain, not hearing Junoki’s words, “The creatures... I fear abducted my daughter... Mei...”
Ameiko thought for a moment before turning to Oba, “Why would they wish a prisoner?”
Junoki added, “She's right, they don't seem to like prisoners.”
Oba shrugged, “I am not sure if she is alive it was weeks ago. I suspect she is dead... feast for their cravings...”
Junoki looked grim, “Is there someone sick in the village now?”
Oba replied slowly, “Yes, and I fear there is little I can do to mend him, he will not survive the week I suppose.”
Ameiko stood, “Take me to him.”
Ova looks surprised, “Milady I wish not to offend you, but the victim is in a horrid condition, I…”
“I said take me to him, come Yugiashi-san, we see to the sick,” Ameiko replied commandingly.
Oba lead Ameiko and Yugiashi to a small home on the southern edge of the village, the windows shuttered. The interior was dark and smelled of rotting flesh; Ameiko wrinkled her nose at the smell. Oba lead them to the invalid, his flesh was rotting and his skin pale and blotted with scars and boils, he was alive, but very much dead.
Yugiashi averted his eyes at the display, “This is horrible…”
Ameiko glanced down to the man, and then drew out an ofuda and slowly chanted a prayer and casted ‘Accounts of Shorihotsu’, to her trained eyes; the man took on an aura of powerful magic. She nearly gasped, “Just as I suspected, this sickness is magical in nature. Is he coherent?”
Oba nodded, “He may be able to speak…” she glanced downward at the victim’s dying frame, “you wish to question him?”
Ameiko nodded, “I would like to try…”
Yugiashi added, “What is his name?”
Oba replied, “His name… is Peng, he is the last of our ashigaru defenders…”
"I am Kakita Ameiko. I would like to help you. Can you tell me of anything out of the usual that you did in the few days before you contracted this disease, Peng?" Ameiko gave Peng a soothing smile as he slowly turned his head towards her.
Peng spoke in gasps; “My darling Lei… you have come… at last…” dribbles of blood oozed from his gaping mouth. He coughed bloodily, “Come closer Lei…”
Yugiashi moved to dab the man’s lips but Ameiko stopped him with a glare, “what are you doing?”
Yugiashi replied surprised, “trying to clean the blood away…”
“Do not touch him…” she glanced to Oba, open a window, “so that I may have a better look.”
Oba opened the window, as the light poured over the man’s pale dying frame. Ameiko gasped and looked to Yugiashi, “I am afraid now…”
Yugiashi looked surprised, “what do you mean?”
“I had forgotten my training… but this… this man is affected by the taint… I must find the others…” she rushed out the building quickly, to fine the rest of her companions, Yugiashi following still confused… during which her companions were discovering things of their own.
Junoki glanced to Hiyone, “I suppose we should see to the bodies of the bakemono,” he turned to Renshi, “will you join us?”
Renshi raised a slight brow, “I kill them, but I shall not go to investigate, such acts are beneath me…”
Junoki shrugged, “We are all out of Eta,” he turned, “anyone coming?”
Eiji stood, “I shall go, best to put myself to good use, then to languish away here.”
With that Junoki, Hiyone, and Eiji left for the fields, to see the remains of their handiwork. The slain bakemono along with their ogre gunso were sprawled out across the field, decay already setting in. The bodies were littered with scars and strange tattoo brandings across their skin. Hiyone looked puzzled as he gave the brandings a closer look. Eiji and Junoki simply glanced over the dead, very much disturbed by the scene.
Hiyone stood, “I have seen this before, in my days serving the Crab, these are markings of the Shadowlands. Sigils of pain and darkness… most likely scrawled by a worker maho, though I cannot be certain.”
Junoki nodded mumbling to himself, “What did they want with the village…” he turned to the others, “let us look at the ogre, it seemed to be leading them.”
The slain ogre wore the armor of a bushi, though much too large for a man, a wicked tetsubo close by, splattered in blood and gore. Its entrails hung from its taut gut, with a smell that nearly overcame the three samurai. Junoki wrinkled his nose as Eiji simply turned his face from the smell.
Hiyone furrowed his brow, “This thing stinks of taint.”
“I doubt anything they touch would be free of their taint,” Junoki glared at the ogre, “Hopefully someone else will have a better understanding these brandings. Perhaps have a better clue who uses them.”
Eiji nodded, “The smell is sickening…” he cocked his head to Junoki, “Is it possible that the presence of these... creatures and the Dragon incursions are more than coincidence?”
Hiyone turned to Eiji sharply, “What do you mean?”
“I guess that's a possibility. But why this village?” Junoki glanced to the dead creatures, he sighed, “leave the rest for the scavengers, there is precious little else we can find here I suppose.”
In the meanwhile, Ryoko glanced over the modest home that she had determined would serve best as a place of shelter during the coming week. Ryoko sighed the journey was to be more eventful then she had hoped, she wanted this task done quickly so that she could return to the front, but it seemed that with the recent events, that would not be. Her mind wandered ever so slightly, before she heard Falm behind her.
Falm spoke once more to Ryoko trying to get her attention, “Excuse my interruption Ryoko-san, but I had a quick matter I wanted to talk to you about, in private if possible.”
Ryoko turned and started walking, “Speak, Agasha-san.”
Falm nodded, “Why do you taunt me so?”
Ryoko glanced to her with a coy smile, “Why do you ask?”
“I sense you… dislike me… and take pleasure in teasing me over my family's new name,” Falm replied quickly.
Ryoko nodded, “You dislike the Agasha?”
“I was born Kusan, a decree does not change my bloodline.”
“Perhaps, then I shall call you Kusan Falm… is that all?” Ryoko replied glancing to the village around her.
Falm shook her head no, “You didn't answer my question though… you seem to take pleasure in your teasing... what have I done to you to merit such… attention?”
“Perhaps nothing, but your appearance is rather odd, and your reputation Kusan Falm precedes you…” Ryoko replied stopping to gaze at a single flower struggling through the ice.
“You know of the Kusan? The power of the bloodline?” Falm replied.
“I know of the legends, to be sure…” Ryoko said still glancing to the flower.
“Inside and Out I am a child of my bloodline. Gifted with power in my blood. I have read that our family once could do great things with blood, pure blood magics. Alas, those days are gone. The purity of that magic is a thing of the past mostly, tainted by the actions of Maho,” Falm sighed glancing to the flower.
“That may be so, but we must live in the reality of the now, Kusan Falm,” Ryoko replied glancing to her.
“And I fear that my... outspokenness among the Agasha has gotten me sent her.”
“I can concur with that statement, you are out outspoken, but you seem to think of this as a punishment. Why? You seem to think you know best, I shall assure you, you do not,” Ryoko replied sternly.
“But my past… and my…”
Ryoko stopped her with a wave of her hand, “I care not of your past, and actions speak volumes Kusan Falm, actions.”
Falm nodded, “I am glad you do not resent my presence…”
Ryoko nodded, “Of course not, the others I am so sure…”
“Yes the poet…” Falm shook her head, “is rather distasteful…”
“I am not so much concerned about him… so much as I am Kakita Ameiko… she plays at something… but I do not know what… be wary of her Kusan Falm.”
The two continued along in cheerful silence as Ameiko and Yugiashi rushed towards the fields to find the rest of their companions. Renshi sat silently in the small home sipping at his tea, trying to relax his aching bones and muscles. He heard a voice, a lyrical woman’s voice, or maybe it was an echo. Renshi glanced around slowly, before he heard it again, “Stranger….” It whispered.
Renshi glanced around, “Who is their?” he felt as if someone was blowing on his ear, the feeling unnerving.
The voice called once more, “Join me stranger…” Renshi stood and quickly left to join his allies, the experience very unnerving. He exited the small home and made for the fields, only to arrive just as Ameiko scampered up towards Junoki and his company. The heroes looked at each other quizzically, Ameiko was the first to speak.
Ameiko spoke through labored breaths, “Touch nothing! Lest you shall chance fate and be affected by the taint.”
Junoki nods, “Well what should we do?”
“Well do not touch them… they are of the Shadowlands… there touch… their claws and teeth can inflict such a thing,” she replied.
Renshi grimaced, “One bit my leg,” he continued, “and I just heard a voice call to me… but no one was there…”
Ameiko gave Renshi a fearful look, “everyone gather close…” she prepared another spell with her ofuda, ‘Accounts of Shorihotsu’, to her keen eyes, only Renshi had the glow of magic. Her look worsened, “Only Renshi is affected by magic… and I know now what it could be.”
Renshi nodded slowly, coughing… an uncontrollable cough. His sister went to his side immediately, “I fear we must hurry to find a possible cure… anything…”
The others nodded and gathered quickly, the decision was made quickly to go to Shiro Moritami and see if the abandoned castle had anything that could help Renshi. Time was of the essence. Oba gave them what little knowledge she knew, as the heroes set off to investigate and hopefully cure their ailing comrade. Hiyone and Eiji jogged alongside the others as they pushed their way through the brush. They happened upon a faint trail and followed it, the path sloping upwards as the hill ascended towards the mountains. Hiyone and Eiji moved ahead of the group as they entered an open area devoid of brush and moved towards the crest of the hill.
Hiyone was the first to peak over the hill as Eiji kept low to the ground, Hiyone quickly ducked as an arrow the size of a spear flew directly over his head. Eiji scrambled back some drawing his no-dachi, Hiyone followed suit drawing his black hilted blade. The rest of the heroes moved forward quickly as Hiyone and Eiji charged their attackers, four bakemono and an ogre bushi wielding a giant yumi. Hiyone slashed through two bakemono rather quickly his blade ripping them in twain as he dashed forward quickly. Eiji rose up with a mighty roar and slashed into the closest bakemono, splitting in twain.
The ogre grinned taking aim with its yumi and let and arrow fly, it slammed into his shoulder nearly bowling the warrior-poet over. Hiyone gritted his teeth as he narrowed his eyes at the ogre. The remaining bakemono leapt Eiji but he stepped back quickly the red haze of fury growing in his chest. Hiyone charged forward towards the ogre and slashed his blade across the ogre’s gullet tearing bone and flesh asunder. The ogre gurgled still standing as it stepped away and swatted at Hiyone with a resounding crack of bone and flesh. Eiji gave into his rage and brought his no-dachi down hard upon the final bakemono spraying blood and tissue across the trail. Hiyone continued his assault as he slashed low, removing the ogre’s leg and then spinning taking its head as it fell; he glanced to Eiji with a smile and then leaned against a large rocky outcropping the ogre had been using for cover.
Eiji breathed quickly as the others approached, Hiyone smiled gripping the spear-sized arrow. Hiyone snapped it quickly and pushed the arrow through his shoulder. Yugiashi assisted with pulling the arrow out, as Hiyone covered the wound with a hand, “Well that was exciting.”
Junoki nodded, “That was quite a display for such a simple poet.”
Ameiko moved quickly to see to Hiyone, she drew out her ofuda and administered healing magic to close his wound. Hiyone smiled, “Domo arigato Ameiko-san.” Hiyone flexed his arm and glanced down the trail, where Shiro Moritami was clearly visible. The tattered Mon of the Phoenix flying from the two towers that formed its main gate, “We are not far now it seems.”
The party pressed onward towards the fortress carefully, the main gate already open. Hiyone and Eiji move slipped inside to find the courtyard not so empty. Five pallid, undead ashigaru turned to face them, four of them wielding yari, while the last wielded a yumi. Behind them a woman moved from the darkness of the castle’s interior into the courtyard, she was of slight build and cackled madly.
Hiyone gritted his teeth as the rest of his companions prepared for the coming battle. Ryoko leapt of Junoki’s horse and drew her yumi as the rest prepared to move in close and do battle with the creatures.
The maddened witch smiled, “More come to sup at the table of the emperor…”
Renshi snarled… “I am here, to deal your death…”
Yugiashi dashed quickly to the left and slashed at the leftmost creature ripping into its dead flesh, but there was no pain in its eyeless sockets. With and fired an arrow that sank deeply into her gut she screamed in horrible pain. Renshi narrowed his eyes and moved quickly through the undead ashigaru and to attack the witch, but an offhand strike by one of the creatures obscured his vision, his slash going wide. The undead ashigaru slowly moved to attack slashing madly at the heroes. Hiyone kept his wits and tore two of the creatures down rather quickly keeping Falm from being overwhelmed…
Eiji laid one of the creatures low, as the witch tried to affect Renshi with her foul maho, cutting her skin to unleash her foul works. The ray she issued from her fingers went wide, as she snarled. Junoki dropped his yumi and slashed with his scimitar ripping into the undead with a fury, Hiyone added to the carnage as the two ripped their way through the creatures. Falm moved quickly to face the ashigaru wielding the yumi and unleashed the flame magics of the Agasha upon it. The creature burned as Hiyone moved to finish it. Yugiashi cut last creature down as Renshi took the head of the maho witch, he stumbled backwards some. Before collapsing in pain, Falm followed suit as well. Both had been overcome by the sickness the undead harbored in their wicked souls. Time it seemed was of the essence. Hiyone saw to Falm and Renshi as the others quickly investigated the rest of the manse. Luck was with them that day as Ameiko was able to find a charm that could heal them of their sickness, which she applied right away. Hiyone smiled and stood looking around, “Luck was on the side of the heroes… for they fight for the good of the Emerald Empire… quite a tale this will be I am sure.”
Junoki and Eiji also found unexpectedly, the young boy, Lu Zao and a strange sword, that Ameiko was able to glean was a powerful nemuranai. More so then any she had seen. Eiji handed the blade off to Falm at her request, as she touched it, she had a vision of a Phoenix bushi fighting a powerful oni and succeeding in destroying it at the cost of the bushi’s life.
Falm seemingly troubled glanced to the others, “I think… I should hold onto this blade.”
Renshi glared at her, “I think not, are you prepared to use such a thing in your self-defense?”
“No… but… I…” Falm tried to reply.
Yugiashi glanced to her, “Hand the blade over to someone worthy of its use.”
“You don’t understand…” Falm said once more.
Junoki looked to her, “You should not carry it.”
Falm replied defiantly, “You would carry it and use it without knowing much about it… wouldn’t you?”
Junoki sighed, “I have my blade. But you have been infected once before, it may be able to take you over more easily.”
Renshi glared, “You are not worthy to carry such a weapon, Agasha-san.”
Ryoko looked to Falm, “Hand the blade to me clan sister,” she held out her hand.
Falm looked at her, “Will you promise not to use it?”
Ameiko balked, “She questions your honor Shiba-san.”
Ryoko took the blade, “Never question my honor… I know very well what could come about from using an untested blade. Do not dictate to me how I should conduct myself, Kusan-Falm. I am Gunso Shiba Ryoko... Gunso of the Flaming Fist... I will carry this blade.”
Falm bowed, “Please forgive me, but I see only one thing in your eyes… desire for this blade.”
Each of her companions looked confused, Renshi spoke, “There is no desire, and you presume too much Falm-san.”
Junoki added, “We only question your actions, you are not fit to carry such a blade.”
Falm nodded, “but it is desire without honor that troubles me…”
Renshi’s eyes grew wide, “What! You dare insult my honor!”
Ryoko glared, “Calm yourselves… silence… I demand silence… you walk on Phoenix grounds this day,” she glanced around, “I apologize for the insult Kakita Renshi. You will do well to remember that this day you have made a stain upon the name of Kusan with your actions and words...” as she turned to Falm, “f not for your sacred connection to the kami I would have you removed from my presence... you questioned my honor and that is nigh unforgivable...”
Renshi seethed as Falm piped up, “I merely wished to do my duty. Safe guard those I serve. We know nothing of that sword. Only you did not have the look of desire for it's power.”
Ryoko glared, “I said silence Kusan Falm.”
Falm bowed her head slowly, as Ryoko continued, “Speak again... and it will be your last... I have heard your words... and I tire of them this eve...”
Renshi spoke up, yelling at Falm, “You dare say I desire such a blade!”
Ryoko silenced him with a glare, “The rest of you are dismissed, rest we have much to do… Kusan Falm… do not move.”
The rest of the party filed out of the room slowly, Ameiko staying behind to listen outside the door. Ryoko continued, “Speak.”
Falm nodded, “I apologize for not giving you the blade instantly, I was distracted by the visions.”
“I am ware of them, I had them as well as soon as I touched the blade.”
Falm nodded, “But we know what the blade is…”
“It maters little you questioned… me… see that it never happens again Kusan Falm. Not so blatant and in full public of our peers, you made a mockery of the Phoenix this day. You made unfounded accusations, they did not demand the blade, and they asked that you not hold it. But you assumed they desired it, that I desired it,” she glanced away, “you insulted our honor.”
Falm nodded slowly, “I apologize.”
“Go, Kusan Falm.”
Falm did not move, as Ryoko glared at her, “What is it?”
“Your servant has not been dismissed,” she replied.
Ryoko narrowed her eyes, “Go, Kusan Falm I will not say it again.”
Falm quickly turned to go, the sting of her allies words aching in her mind. Ryoko watched her and glanced to the blade in her hands, there was a darkness there, but familiar. It frightened her as she heard the gentle whisper in her mind, “The Child Emperor comes…”
