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Message: <blockquote data-quote="SolidSnake" data-source="post: 1992031" data-attributes="member: 102">Chapter 6Saburo leaned over Giyoshi’s maimed body.  He still clenched the naginata even in death, the blade sticking into Blaze’s corpse.  He was a true soldier.  A warrior.  Taking a deep breath, Saburo freed the weapon.  He had been told numerous times about the basic etiquette of the Empire.  Everyone was born into their role…knew their places.  Touching the dead was a position strictly for the Eta; they had no honor and consequently could do so.  Taking a fallen man’s weapon was disgraceful in the eyes the Empire…only a Scorpion would so such a thing…or so he had been told.  Words aren’t going to bring Ren back!  Saburo heeded Akira’s advice and began to take various items from the stables he thought might be useful later.  He stashed everything into a bag and set hid it half way between his house and the ruins of Old Town.  He marked the position with a scarf.On his way home, his thoughts began to ponder the day’s events.  Akira was rumored to be a nomad…even in the standards of the Unicorn.  He dressed in the hides of animals and fought with the weapons of the gaijin.  He had been outside the Emerald Empire so many times people in the village wondered if actually was Rokugani any longer.  Many say that he fought with the Hiruma in the Shadowlands.  Others said he was a dangerous man not to be trusted.  Most agreed; however, that he was a fine hunter and trapper and many winters would have been difficult without his help.  This year was no exception.  The salve the man had left with him completely sealed his wounds, making the conversation he was going to have with his parents a little easier.  Though there were deep scars and blood on his clothes at least he wasn’t dying!Upon arriving, Saburo explained the entire story to his parents.  This lead to a whirlwind of activity.  Not the least important of which was to report this matter to Goto and ultimately Prefect Ide Chuukun.  The smooth diplomat immediately called up another Village Meeting with the Wyrm Call and proceeded to answer every question the audience threw at him.  The conclusion of the meeting saw a definitive curfew installed for dusk, a doubling of patrols, the creation of various search parties, the promise of Ide Chuukun that the victims would be found and that the Liberation Festival would proceed as planned.  The only bizarre question came from Utsuge, an old hermit that lived off by herself fin the ruins of Old Town.  She asked what everyone thought of the dreams they were having recently.  Chuukun immediately interceded with the idea that the various stresses the village has recently endured are no doubt causing troubled sleep for everyone.  Many people were eager to agree with this answer, but some began accusing the calamities of the village upon Utsuge herself.  If it upset her, she didn’t show it.  Ide Chuukun was quick to point out that Utsuge’s “visions” were nearly never wrong and had always benefited the town in the past.  He called upon her to make a prediction.“Before a fortnight is done, we will see the end of these dreams once in for all.”  The words hung in the air as she left meeting.Never one to miss an opportunity, the Prefect used this prediction as a sign of good news and dispersed the remainder of the village’s concerns.  Saburo took Yatsen aside and told him about his run in with Akira.  He asked the young man to meet him in Old Town at dawn, just as Akira had instructed him.  I hope you make it Yatsen.Saburo used the remainder of the night to do what he was good at, making sake.  After all, he had responsibilities to his father and he did not know how long he would be gone.  Some of the “harder” sake he kept for himself.  He filled the sturdier jugs with the substance and capped it all off with cloth soaked in the potion.  I must use the only weapon at my disposal...my mind._____________________________Sleep; it seemed, was becoming a luxury.  The dream continued to haunt him and it was so vile this time that he awoke in the morning with a splitting headache.  Brush aside the pain, he left the previously written note in the common room and made his way towards Old Town; picking up his satchel on the way there.  Both Akira and Yatsen waited for him amongst the rubble.  In a cleared patch at the dead center was a hut, presumably Utusge’s abode.“You are late Saburo,” Akira said.“I have no excuses to give,” Saburo replied angrily.Akira smiled.  “Good, you are learning it seems.”“Come,” Akira said as he brushed aside the curtain of the hut and ushered them all inside.The inside of the hut seemed larger than it should be.  Circular shelves lined the canvas drape.  They were filled with jars of various animal parts, bones, and herbs.  A large firepit sat in the center of the room, with a gapping hole in the top to allow the smoke to escape.  Utsuge, a withered old woman, dressed in a black kimono sat on the bare earth that blanketed the floor.  Her eyes fixated on each of them as they entered.  Akira immediately kneeled in front of the old woman, waiting expectantly for the other men to do the same.  The old woman waited for what seemed like an eternity before speaking.“Come to claim your part in history Akira?”“I only seek to right the wrongs,” he replied firmly.“Careful what you seek,” she warned.“How can we help,” Yatsen blurted out.Utsuge’s eyes turned to face him.  “You?  YOU, can do nothing.  But together, perhaps everything.  The Fortunes are aligning all around us; the time is nearly at hand.”“Goto will not find them,” Akira said flatly.  “He has read too much of the Crab.  In order to hunt this kind of game, you must leave your shell.  The tasloi are no doubt imbedded deep within the mountain.  I have tracked the movements of this new tribe and assume that small contingent of kidnappers has rejoined its main force.  The mountain; however is not so easily climbed.”  The last part he said as he looked to the men flanking him.“You speak the truth Akira,” Utsuge responded.  “Climbing the face of the mountain would be foolish and lead to a quick death.  The tasloi are a fearsome enemy on such terrain, but they are not students of history.  They claim the lair of the once mighty Doushi.”“That is what I feared.  The Wyrm Path is difficult to climb and will take many days,” Akira muttered.“Do you remember the history of this place,” Utsuge said as she directed her glances towards Saburo and Yatsen.  “The story of the great heroes and how they killed the mighty Doushi?”“Everyone does Utsuge-dono,” Yatsen said.  “They battled through his minions, climbing the mountain to meet him in a final epic battle.”“History has a way transforming events,” Utsuge sighed.  “No one ever told you children whether the climb came from within the mountain or without.”“A tunnel,” Akira uttered.“But where might it be Utsuge-dono,” Saburo asked.“These minions you said the heroes fought through…where were they stationed again,” Utsuge inquired playfully.“They were all over the old Town, but most of them were-““-in the mine,” Saburo and Yatsen exclaimed at once.“Then it seems as if I have very little left to offer you,” Utsuge declared.  “Except this.”The old seer pointed to a large chest near the gathered companions.  She glided over towards where it was and opened it.  She removed a number of items: 6 wrapped roots, 3 green fletched black arrows, a silver bracer decorated with engravings and a large sapphire, an elaborate wakazashi marked with the seal of the Unicorn, a simple child’s hand drum, and a regular bamboo flute.“Disperse these among yourselves anyway you see fit.”The arrows and 2 of the roots went to Akira, Yatsen received the Wakazashi and the flute, while Saburo took the drum and the bracer.“The roots will heal your wounds; use them sparingly.  Each of these items was at one point wielded by the Kamigishu.  These are not gifts but a burden of responsibility; for it is you three who must bear it.”They each bowed deeply and left the hut.  Akira turned to Yatsen and Saburo who were busy admiring their new equipment.“Now we must go on the hunt!”</blockquote>

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