Black Omega
First Post
Mindra and Mir were on the job quickly, checking Toshiro out. The wound from his arrow was revealed to be blistered and black, a yellowish pus leaking slowly from the terrible wound. The wound puzzled them, but Toritaka Kazuyuki of the Crab Clan knew a tainted wound when he saw one. A shugenja would need to treat this wound, within the next few days.
With Toshiro is such a delicate state it was decided to postpone returning to Mimura until the next morning and hope no one came looking for them in the mean time. The day passed peacefully, Toshiro tossing and turning in his troubled sleep but at least his condition did not seem to be worsening. A few wagons and riders passed by along the road by the grove, but none paused to check out the area. By the next morning the group had refreshed their spells but Toshiro's condition was starting to get worse, his dreams more troubled. After some consultation a plan was hatched.
Mir would disguise herself with her magic and start off first, taking Toshiro to the temple so he could be healed. The others would follow in the wagon. A search of the wagon had revealed casks of sake and hidden compartment filled with opium.
Disguising herself as an old woman, Mir rode on ahead, leading a horse with Toshiro's fevered form slung over it. Approaching the gate, there wasn't even a guard on duty to check on her. Evidently it was becoming dangerous to be a magistrate, however minor. Who was there was Gyo, seated casually on his wagon, watching the gate. As Mir road by he stared a moment then waved her down "Hey, where did you find that samurai?"
"He was near a grove outside town. I'm taking him to the temple." The aged woman that was Mir replied.
"Is he alive or dead? Were there any others there? Any idea what happened to him?" Gyo demanded, growing more animated.
"He's alive, but barely. I didn't see any others, I have no idea if there was anyone around. But if they were they were well hidden. He's ill. I have no idea what happened to him." Aged Mir commented sadly.
"Don't worry, Oba-san. I know what happened. And those responsible will suffer." Gyo murmured angrily before driving his wagon off.
The trip to the temple was uneventful enough. The shugenja immediately took Toshiyo in and tended to his wound. The next day would determine Toshiro's fate, the Shugenja informed Mir. But he was optimistic.
Volar, Yukiyo, Verick, Kaz, and Mindra meanwhile had been preparing. Volar had prepared certain illusions to make the others look like the ronin guards. Verick would be disguised as the masked warrior, Krall. Mindra used his amulet to look rokugani and put on the appropriate armor. Thus disguised as the men who had ridden from Mimura the previous day, the group returned.
They passed through the gate without trouble, but then a cheerful voice called out "Excuse me, gentlemen! I think your sake may have a leak! You might want to stop and check on that!"
As the group looked back they saw Gyo driving a wagon up close. A number of wooden crates were neatly arranged in the back, lumpy canvas draped over them to protect whatever was in there from the sun. Presumably. As the wagon rattled closer and moved to pass, Gyo rapped the crates with his whip. The others watched in concern, Verick's eyes widening under the concealing mask. Then thinking quickly, he plucked a golden koku from his pouch and tossed it to Gyo, calling out "For your trouble!"
Now it was Gyo's turn to look surprised as he snatched the golden coin out of the air. Then quickly he reined in the wagon and leaned back to do say something under the tarp. Without incident the group rode on, making a point of the town seeing them before driving very obviously to Kome's warehouse. Thanks to Mir, they were welcomed inside, sending an apparent message that some of Sadoka's people were switching sides. Not long afterwards Gyo arrived, a number of bowmen revealed to have been hiding under the tarp.
Kome arrived not long after, dressed in his silken kimono of dark blue, the Yasuki mon displayed ostentatiously in gold. Even though the smoke trail from his burning sake works still drifted up into the sky, the oily merchant was in an abnormally cheerful mood, inviting the group for a pleasant lunch. He had arranged for some rumors to be spread that supported the group's little trick with the disguises. The current perception was that Sadoka was not on the losing end.
It didn't take long for Madame Sadoka to respond. A guard reported in that afternoon with a flyer that had been posted around town, a challenge from Sadoka to Kome for a final showdown that evening in front of the still blazing sake works. Though it was a cool, autumn afternoon, the group could not miss the sweat that sprang up on Kome's brow. Nervously he glanced to his fellow Crab Samurai first "Kazuyuki-san, this is our chance to finish it. We should meet them. She'll throw everything at us; if we win it's the end of her in this city. Everyone will know what happens. We...dare not refuse."
As so often in the past, it was left to the group's samurai to decide. Solemnly, Toritaka Kazuyuki agreed and the group set to making preparations for the fight. Kome summoned as many ronin as he could spare; a scraggly, disreputably looking group of men who seemed far from confident in the coming fight. Volar, Verick and the others made plans on for the night. Torches were posted out away from the burning building to extend the range of Volar's sharp Elven vision even further. Kome hatched a plan to deceiver Sadoka even further. Since the war was over if he died…someone should impersonate him. Putting on his most winning, salesman smile Kome approached Kaz with the suggestion Kaz should wear Kome's own personal armor. It would be a great honor for the merchant and keep the other side from targeting him with their first attacks.
Kaz refused the request in less than polite terms. But Volar was willing to help. An illusion could be cast in the image of Kome to stand out front and trigger whatever devious trap Sadoka no doubt had in mind. This suggestion Kome agreed to eagerly, even posing in his armor so Volar could make the image more true to life.
That evening the group arrived, a little before the appointed time. The illusion of Kome was prepared and cast. But just to be safe, the nervous Crab merchant had also convinced one of his ronin to wear his armor…just to be safe. Whatever good will Yasuki Kome had built with his previous generosity was quickly being eroded by his apparent fright over this challenge. Settled in with the fire at their backs, as Kome's suggestion, there was only one direction they could be attacked from. Ronin to the front in a haphazard line, spell casters to the back and side the group waited. Kome assured Kaz and friends they would have ample warning of Sadoka's approach, he had set a few men out in the evening's darkness to watch.
In silence they waited, the stillness of the night finally broken by a loud cry off in the darkness. A few minutes later, another was heard. Evidently the lookouts had not been sufficiently well hidden. It was Volar who saw the approaching group first. A few figures could be easily picked out: Madame Sadoka's aged form, the two massive figures in iron masks. Even with that, Sadoka's faction was outnumbered two to one by Kome's.
Pausing out of the sight of the others, the leaner of the masked figures gestured, weaving a spell Volar recognized as clearly arcane, a rarity in Rokugan. White mist boiled up from the ground at the edge of the light, swirling in the nighttime breeze. From that mist came Madame Sadoka and the others, dramatic effect only slightly spoiled by Volar spotting them before the spell was cast.
"Kome! You mangy dog, I'm here for the challenge! Come forward and face me!" the elderly lady yelled out, drawing a brightly glittering wakizashi from it's black lacquered sheath as she spoke.
"Surrender all your holdings and gold and you will be allowed to leave town alive, old woman!" Kome yelled back from behind the illusionary image. "Your challenge is clearly some trick! You are outmatched. Accept it and give up!" Whatever lingering respect the group had possessed for Kome evaporated with those words. But they were given little time to reflect on Kome's 'practicality'. The groups faced each other in the night, the flickering light of the burning sake works bathing the scene. Then with a loud yell Sadoka's group charged.
With Toshiro is such a delicate state it was decided to postpone returning to Mimura until the next morning and hope no one came looking for them in the mean time. The day passed peacefully, Toshiro tossing and turning in his troubled sleep but at least his condition did not seem to be worsening. A few wagons and riders passed by along the road by the grove, but none paused to check out the area. By the next morning the group had refreshed their spells but Toshiro's condition was starting to get worse, his dreams more troubled. After some consultation a plan was hatched.
Mir would disguise herself with her magic and start off first, taking Toshiro to the temple so he could be healed. The others would follow in the wagon. A search of the wagon had revealed casks of sake and hidden compartment filled with opium.
Disguising herself as an old woman, Mir rode on ahead, leading a horse with Toshiro's fevered form slung over it. Approaching the gate, there wasn't even a guard on duty to check on her. Evidently it was becoming dangerous to be a magistrate, however minor. Who was there was Gyo, seated casually on his wagon, watching the gate. As Mir road by he stared a moment then waved her down "Hey, where did you find that samurai?"
"He was near a grove outside town. I'm taking him to the temple." The aged woman that was Mir replied.
"Is he alive or dead? Were there any others there? Any idea what happened to him?" Gyo demanded, growing more animated.
"He's alive, but barely. I didn't see any others, I have no idea if there was anyone around. But if they were they were well hidden. He's ill. I have no idea what happened to him." Aged Mir commented sadly.
"Don't worry, Oba-san. I know what happened. And those responsible will suffer." Gyo murmured angrily before driving his wagon off.
The trip to the temple was uneventful enough. The shugenja immediately took Toshiyo in and tended to his wound. The next day would determine Toshiro's fate, the Shugenja informed Mir. But he was optimistic.
Volar, Yukiyo, Verick, Kaz, and Mindra meanwhile had been preparing. Volar had prepared certain illusions to make the others look like the ronin guards. Verick would be disguised as the masked warrior, Krall. Mindra used his amulet to look rokugani and put on the appropriate armor. Thus disguised as the men who had ridden from Mimura the previous day, the group returned.
They passed through the gate without trouble, but then a cheerful voice called out "Excuse me, gentlemen! I think your sake may have a leak! You might want to stop and check on that!"
As the group looked back they saw Gyo driving a wagon up close. A number of wooden crates were neatly arranged in the back, lumpy canvas draped over them to protect whatever was in there from the sun. Presumably. As the wagon rattled closer and moved to pass, Gyo rapped the crates with his whip. The others watched in concern, Verick's eyes widening under the concealing mask. Then thinking quickly, he plucked a golden koku from his pouch and tossed it to Gyo, calling out "For your trouble!"
Now it was Gyo's turn to look surprised as he snatched the golden coin out of the air. Then quickly he reined in the wagon and leaned back to do say something under the tarp. Without incident the group rode on, making a point of the town seeing them before driving very obviously to Kome's warehouse. Thanks to Mir, they were welcomed inside, sending an apparent message that some of Sadoka's people were switching sides. Not long afterwards Gyo arrived, a number of bowmen revealed to have been hiding under the tarp.
Kome arrived not long after, dressed in his silken kimono of dark blue, the Yasuki mon displayed ostentatiously in gold. Even though the smoke trail from his burning sake works still drifted up into the sky, the oily merchant was in an abnormally cheerful mood, inviting the group for a pleasant lunch. He had arranged for some rumors to be spread that supported the group's little trick with the disguises. The current perception was that Sadoka was not on the losing end.
It didn't take long for Madame Sadoka to respond. A guard reported in that afternoon with a flyer that had been posted around town, a challenge from Sadoka to Kome for a final showdown that evening in front of the still blazing sake works. Though it was a cool, autumn afternoon, the group could not miss the sweat that sprang up on Kome's brow. Nervously he glanced to his fellow Crab Samurai first "Kazuyuki-san, this is our chance to finish it. We should meet them. She'll throw everything at us; if we win it's the end of her in this city. Everyone will know what happens. We...dare not refuse."
As so often in the past, it was left to the group's samurai to decide. Solemnly, Toritaka Kazuyuki agreed and the group set to making preparations for the fight. Kome summoned as many ronin as he could spare; a scraggly, disreputably looking group of men who seemed far from confident in the coming fight. Volar, Verick and the others made plans on for the night. Torches were posted out away from the burning building to extend the range of Volar's sharp Elven vision even further. Kome hatched a plan to deceiver Sadoka even further. Since the war was over if he died…someone should impersonate him. Putting on his most winning, salesman smile Kome approached Kaz with the suggestion Kaz should wear Kome's own personal armor. It would be a great honor for the merchant and keep the other side from targeting him with their first attacks.
Kaz refused the request in less than polite terms. But Volar was willing to help. An illusion could be cast in the image of Kome to stand out front and trigger whatever devious trap Sadoka no doubt had in mind. This suggestion Kome agreed to eagerly, even posing in his armor so Volar could make the image more true to life.
That evening the group arrived, a little before the appointed time. The illusion of Kome was prepared and cast. But just to be safe, the nervous Crab merchant had also convinced one of his ronin to wear his armor…just to be safe. Whatever good will Yasuki Kome had built with his previous generosity was quickly being eroded by his apparent fright over this challenge. Settled in with the fire at their backs, as Kome's suggestion, there was only one direction they could be attacked from. Ronin to the front in a haphazard line, spell casters to the back and side the group waited. Kome assured Kaz and friends they would have ample warning of Sadoka's approach, he had set a few men out in the evening's darkness to watch.
In silence they waited, the stillness of the night finally broken by a loud cry off in the darkness. A few minutes later, another was heard. Evidently the lookouts had not been sufficiently well hidden. It was Volar who saw the approaching group first. A few figures could be easily picked out: Madame Sadoka's aged form, the two massive figures in iron masks. Even with that, Sadoka's faction was outnumbered two to one by Kome's.
Pausing out of the sight of the others, the leaner of the masked figures gestured, weaving a spell Volar recognized as clearly arcane, a rarity in Rokugan. White mist boiled up from the ground at the edge of the light, swirling in the nighttime breeze. From that mist came Madame Sadoka and the others, dramatic effect only slightly spoiled by Volar spotting them before the spell was cast.
"Kome! You mangy dog, I'm here for the challenge! Come forward and face me!" the elderly lady yelled out, drawing a brightly glittering wakizashi from it's black lacquered sheath as she spoke.
"Surrender all your holdings and gold and you will be allowed to leave town alive, old woman!" Kome yelled back from behind the illusionary image. "Your challenge is clearly some trick! You are outmatched. Accept it and give up!" Whatever lingering respect the group had possessed for Kome evaporated with those words. But they were given little time to reflect on Kome's 'practicality'. The groups faced each other in the night, the flickering light of the burning sake works bathing the scene. Then with a loud yell Sadoka's group charged.
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