Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Black Omega" data-source="post: 1076365" data-attributes="member: 79">The party didn’t retreat far, however.  They found the first defensible spot and then the samurai went to work rallying the Crab warriors retreating from the Kaiu Wall.   Mir would have helped, but she was busy guiding her panicked thrush out of the wall.  It flew from spot to spot in the utter darkness, now and then holding still as silent as creatures it could not see passed by.  And then flying on again.  Until finally the thrush spotted daylight and zoomed on, breaking through into the light of day at long last.With some order restored, the group began to withdraw back toward Shiro Kaiu.  Along the way they ran into a Kaiu samurai directing the traffic, who flagged down the party.  “We’re reforming back at the castle for a counter attack, but the wounded won’t last the trip back there.  Wounded are being sent along that path toward a grove where our healers are working.  If Mindra and Mir have some healing spells left, their help in that area would be very appreciated.”Mindra and Mir were willing to go heal the wounded as the others returned to the castle and the Kaiu samurai gave them directions before waving them on.  Mindra and Mir joined the trail of wounded heading to the west while the others walked on northward.  When the party had safely departed the Kaiu samurai murmured softly “Stay safe, Toshiro.”~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~It wasn’t a long walk to the medical area but as theyn passed the couple of samurai on guard, Mindra started to get suspicious.  There were tainted spirits around, too many to be a simple byproduct of the Shadowlands attack.  Softly Mindra whispered this news to Mir before they went into the tent used for healing.  Upon entering, they had a bare moment to see the healer wearing the Kaiu, his eyes glowing a flickering, sickly green in the dim light,, before he struck, a cloud of tainted fumes washing over the two.  Mior’s hidden jade amulet grew hot beneath her clothing but Mindra was caught full on, his lingering wounds from the pervious battles blackening.  The bodies of the ‘dead’ started to sit up, reaching out toward Mindra and Mir, only to have the two disappear as the monkey grabbed his friend and teleported away.Though Mir’s link to the thrush, she sent it out looking to catch up with the others, something the thrush was only happy to do.  The further away from that damned wall, the better.   Meanwhile Mindra and Mir started working to stop the peasants carrying the wounded toward the grove.  No easy task, in fact, since the loyal peasants were not inclined to take the orders of a foreigner and a talking monkey.But Mir’s diplomatic skills convinced them to hold up long enough for Mindra to heal the Crab samurai they were carrying, and then she convinced him to stop the passage of the wounded into the grove.Finding Toshiro, Verick and the others, Thrush relayed the news of the ambush in the medical grove.  Grabbing horses, the others raced back, guided by the thrush to find Mir and Mindra.  From there they proceeded to the grove, the battle against the demon surgeon and his undead guards was short and bloody.     Bansho Kishu won, but there was no sign of the wounded already sent to the grove, though looking around did reveal tracks of wagons leading away.There was no sign of the Kaiu samurai who had misdirected them.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Returning to the castle, Mindra’s tainted wound was treated with heated jade, while the others waited, ready to join the counter attack they knew was planned.Toshiro had a brief moment to visit with his father.  The heavyset samurai wounded, but not seriously.  He and his wife were returning to Shiro Hiruma.  However bad it was here, the castle lay beyond the wall and would surely be the next target of attack.  They had to get back and help their clan.  And Toshiro had to return to Ryoko Owari and help seal the alliance between the clans with marriage.Then the party was summoned to meet Kaiu Ryojiro, younger son of the daimyo of the Kaiu.  As they entered, the young samurai waiting for them looked grim.  Even a little angry.  “My father has gone to lead the attack to retake the wall.  The odds are not good, but we must make the effort before the Shadowlands dig in.  I’m left here to take care of some matters that can’t be left undone.  Your group is one of them.  You will be leaving within the hour.  If the attack fails, we’ll be besieged here and could no longer guarantee the safety of our guests.  But first, Verick sent a letter to Lord Kaiu, mentioned he was attacked by some type of ‘spirit’ who played a trick on him.  And that Mindra was either tainted or a creature of the Lying Darkness.  Normally we would simply kill a pet or gaijin accused by a samurai of such a thing.  But since Mindra is also a friend of Toshiro and Kaz, and since this would have a very negative impact on the reputation of Bansho Kishu, we will handle this more…delicately.  Mindra, hold out your paw..um..hand.”Mindra frowned suspiciously “Why?”“Because we can test Verick’s accusation be poking some pins into your hand to see the reaction.  Or by driving jade and crystal swords through your body, just to be sure.  Your hand, please.”  The samurai demanded implacably.Mindra reluctantly held out his hand and winced as the jade and crystal needles pierced his flesh.  But there was no reaction, other than healthy red blood.Kaiu Ryojiro nodded “There, we’ve confirmed Mindra is not tainted or a minion of the Lying Darkness. In the letter, Verick, you said Mindra said a spirit played this joke on you.  That would seem very likely.  We have mujina here now and then.  We catch them when we can, but they are very tricky.  Either one of them played this trick.  Or someone outside your group is trying to make you look bad.  Or this is a fight within your group that we are being drawn into.  Since I’m very sure a Lion and Bansho Kishiu would surely not need our help against someone.  And you can surely solve your own problems.  We will leave it at a spirit doing this.  Mindra, you speak to spirits I am told.  Can you see this doesn’t happen again?”Mindra nodded silently and the audience was at an end.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Just before leaving, Mindra met with his old friend Sitha again, the Monkey magistrate in a somber mood matched by Mindra’s own concern.“Ok, we’ve played our joke on Verick.  Let’s not do it again, please.  He was –very- upset over it and I think next time it will turn violent.  I did promise I’d talk to the spirit who did the trick and ask it not to do it again.  Of course, I can’t control you.”  Mindra added on carelessly.Seeing the playful sparkle in Sitha’s eyes, Mindra caught himself “No, really!  Don’t do this again!”Reluctantly, Sitha agreed.  She was being sent out to fight the bandits now anyway.  And it was time for Mindra to go.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~As the group rode northward away from the castle, smoke rose into the sky behind them.  The counter attack on the wall had failed and the Kaiu were prepared for the assault on the castle itself.  As the group rode onward, they were suddenly confronted by a curious create, dressed in furs and tattered robes, carrying a gnarled staff from which various talismans dangled.  A Ratling, and well out of his normal territory.The Nezumi cried out, “Hida Banuken, I’ve been waiting for you!”</blockquote>

Verification