Scroll of Kitsuki Donoha Part 34

A Starlight Quest

Donoha sama described being pulled into and through the Void into the sprit realm of Meido. The land where the dead go before they meet Emma-O the Fortune of Death. Initially the new group of five samurai could not see each other or much of anything. A voice spoke to them explaining a problem of a karmic nature. The Dragon could tell to voice of the woman he loved anytime he heard it. The group soon knew the love of the Dragon as their guide and quest giver.

Composed of stars and light against what appeared to the the black of night or the Void. Hard to be certain if one or the other, perhaps both. As they focused upon her they became little orbs of light that could discern each other. If not directly “see” because they did not have eyes in this form.

How Chiasa san and Togashi Hoshi sama were apparently working together was a question the Dragon wanted to ask but weighed it as selfish compared to the task laid before them. There is an issue within the spirit realm of Gaki-do wear the hungry dead wander. It threatens the balance of the karmic cycle. In order to set the spirit realms back to the way they function. The group must go to the Gate of the Dead and convince the Fortune Emma-O to get passage to Gaki-do and retrieve the Karmic Key to defeat the Queen of Hunger.

Chiasa san warns everyone she has cast a spell to make us see Gaki-do in a manner different than how it would truly appear. To keep from possibly going mad and breaking the group’s minds! While the group asked after points of the challenge before them. Donoha sama made sure she knew her father was doing well, and if she felt safe where she was. She thanked him and assured him she was safe where she was. After she left the group to proceed their march toward the gate. Donoha reminded his Lion cousin of the time he healed Asahi sama in the cave with the stairs. A beam of what appeared to be stars shown down and he was completely healed when the bandage was applied. His cousin acknowledged the memory and Donoha sama mentioned that Chiasa san whom just left was the one he was talking about.

The group had been told about finding the Tori (Gate) of the Dead. Apparently, every path one could take would lead to the gate and the speed at which you would find it had to do with the purity of your soul. After moving through what appeared to them as a barren wasteland they found lines of people filing into a common direction. Everyone in the group had slightly different ideas on how to approach this but Donoha sama simply walked up to one and got in line with the souls of the dead.

When Gunba san, Tamaki san, and Hanzo san looked upon the faces of those in the line they found something unsettling. They had no face to speak of! The legends about this spirit world mention the wiping of your old identity to make way for your reincarnation and that was the closest guess the group could make about what was happening here.

Upon reaching the Tori (Gate) of the Dead the five samurai approached and stood before the throne of Emma-O, Fortune of the Dead. Once proper reverence was given to the fortune sitting upon their throne. They queried the group about why the living were traveling where they should not be? When they gave their explanation about the Karmic Key and the Queen of Hunger, the Fortune of Death’s tone changed to a more pleasant one. They welcomed the champions and bid them pass one and meet the one that would grant them entry into Gaki-do.

Donoha sama said that this part has to be vague. In part because the name of the individual they met was stricken from the imperial records by the first Hantei. This was told to them by the one they met! The person guarding the entry into Gaki-do was the tenth and youngest child of the Sun and Moon! The Tenth Kami, according to an excerpt from the Tao of Shinsei.

“Of the nine children of the Sun and Moon; myself, Doji, Akodo, Shinjo, Hida, Togashi, Bayushi, Shiba, and Fu Leng…” began the Emperor.
“No,” said Shinsei”
“No?” my brother asked quizzically.
“The Sun and Moon had ten children, though you will never know your youngest brother.”

The Tenth Kami stated he would only let pure souls through the gate to Gaki-do to prevent their corruption by Jigoku’s taint. The group’s souls were tested and Donoha sama was the first to pass with Asahi sami passing just after him. The other three began to fade out of existence! The Tenth Kami asked the Dragon and the Lion if they would be willing to bear the others karmic burdens. When they do the others become solid once more.

The Tenth Kami asked if we need anything before entering Gaki-do. Donoha sama was not sure if his sword, Mittsu Tamashi 三つ魂, the Three Soul katana, would be able to harm creatures that you would normally use jade or crystal for. His Lion cousin had that jade katana now, and both the Unicorn and Phoenix shugenja had access to the kami spirits. Tamaki san also had Hisuitsume 翡翠爪, the Jade Talon, that Donoha sama had made for him. Hanzo san was without a weapon he could discern that would harm the creatures they were anticipating meeting!

Donoha sama asked for a weapon to be provided to Shosuro Hanzo san so they could defend themselves. The Tenth Kami said he did not have one to provide him. However, if they needed time to make one he could halt time for a bit around him to allow for such a task! Hanzo san mentioned being very good with a bow and between the Dragon and Lion they had enough fingers of jade to allow Donoha sama to craft eight jade arrows.

As the Dragon began to knap the jade using the edge of the head and handle of Chikai kodzuchi 誓い小槌 the Oath-hammer. Asahi sama began to sing song that somehow lasted the length of indeterminate time Donoha sama needed to make the eight jade arrows. I will list the song below.

In the mountains high and old
Kami’s whisper soft and bold
Waves of time in silence roll
Mysteries of nature unfold

Lanterns flicker in the shrine
Ancient spirits intertwine
Moonlit path our lives align
With hearts a humble sign

Oh Kami hear our song
Guide us where we belong
Your breath makes us strong
Oh Kami hear our song

Cherry blossoms kiss the breeze
Life and death a sacred tease
In the rustle of the leaves
We find truths that never freeze

In the stillness of the night
Kami’s presence pure in sight
Folded hands a prayer’s light
We honor ancient might

The Tenth Kami stretched there arm out to a rolling storm cloud and it tore in half. Through the cloudy cleft came a light that flickered not unlike flame. The five samurai approached feeling no heat but a chill in their very bones. With purpose they left Meido the realm of waiting and entered Gaki-do the realm of the hungry dead.

Chiasa san’s enchantment on the five samurai’s eyes went into effect. They saw a cracked and rocky, barren, wasteland. Despite the ground feeling like soft, and well… Donoha mentioned it felt the same as when he punched person in the stomach. While he was not sure what the other were thinking he was personally very thankful for the visual enchantment.

Then the sounds in the distance of people crying out, dying began to set in. When Hanzo san mentioned it, Donoha sama mentioned that he was having flashbacks to the time he was visiting Kaiu Kabe. He was given permission to visit and collect the blades of a group of fallen samurai.

Their blades had broken during a raid by goblins. Donoha had wanted to restore their honor in his new sword. Every name fresh in his memory: Hida Shimazu san, Hida Nagahide san, Hiruma Kenji san, Hida Moriyama san, Kuni Asakura san, and Yasuki Saigo san. He only had a small moment in time to share his memory of the screams before Asahi sama had sensed the hungry dead found them.

The Lion drew their jade katana as his Dragon cousin drew Mittsu Tamashi. Hanzo san knocked a jade arrow as the Phoenix and Unicorn prepared to draw on the might of the Kami. The plan had been to use the Lion as bait because the creatures of Gaki-do sought him out over everything else back in Rokugan. However, that soon fell apart as the creatures split equally to attack the Dragon and the Lion!

Six total monstrosities of the hungry dead approached and two had been transformed by Chikushudo to each have as many limbs as a spider! The skirmish was fierce and both the Lion bushi and the Dragon courtier were lucky for their armor, school training, and the respective war fan and smithing hammer they carried in their spare hands.

Even with all of this helping them they were getting hammered to keep the attention on themselves. Thus allowing Tamaki san to cast the spell, Jade Strike multiple times. Gunba san to rip rocks from the ground, transform them into jade and throw them at the enemy. Last but certainly not least Hanzo san proved their skill with their yumi bow sinking jade arrows through the creatures and they did not shatter upon landing. Now Donoha suspect part of that it from the true nature of Gaki-do since the ground feels soft to the touch. Only “looking” the part of a rocky wasteland.

This was definitely a team effort. Donoha sama learned something about Mittsu Tamashi during the fight. His sword was warming up when striking the creature only harmed by magic, jade, or crystal! When his blows landed they cut and hurt the creatures as much as the attacks made from jade did! It was a gamble because he was concerned more for the Scorpion courtier that got pulled into this than himself. He trusted his sword would get him through and its clearly an awakening nemurani at this point! After they won, Tamaki san had their magic available to heal both the Lion fully and the Dragon to nearly full health.

Scroll of Kitsuki Donoha Part 33

The Perils of the Climb

Festival of Lady Doji and Lord Kakita and the 1st of Bayushi (Month of the Rooster {OOC: October}). You think the Dragon and Lion cousins would remember to have rice every day, but guess whom left with their companions without a morning bowl of rice. Fate made sure this was noted as they passed the gates of Kyuden Tonbo on their way up the great climb to Shiro Kitsuki, otherwise known as Last Step Castle. The official gateway into the lands of the Dragon Clan. They were entrusted with several scrolls of discourse between the Emerald Ambassadors and the Dragon Clan champion. All of them were sealed in a chest they were bringing to the High House of Light, Kyuden Togashi.

About and half and hour of the day (OOC: 60 minutes. Remember a Rokugani day only has 12 hours so that is two earth hours) north of Kyuden Tonbo they came upon a most peculiar sight! An incredibly handsome man standing on the side of the road, freezing because they were unprepared for the cold weather they found themselves in. Wearing a beautiful black, metallic, mask and the mon of the Scorpion clan upon their crimson, silken, kimono. Donoha sama pulled the beleaguered Scorpion up onto Yukiabo, his personal horse. Also providing this person his bedroll so they could stop shivering. Once on the back of his horse with their belongings they learned this Scorpion’s name was Shosuro Hanzo san.

After a short period of time and a promise to take Hanzo san to Shiro Kitsuki for aid. The four companions came to understand that magic had whisked the Shosuro from a tea house in the Scorpion lands! Only to dump them on the side of a well protected road between the Dragonfly Clan and the Dragon Clan! If you ever meet Donoha sama please make sure he eats rice in the morning or fate may whisk you away to whatever adventure he is upon!

Around the time a full hour of the day had passed (OOC: 120 minutes. Remember a Rokugani day only has 12 hours so that is two earth hours), the sounds of battle began to fill the air! Some of them were monstrous and others appeared to be from a human or humans, it was hard to tell. Donoha sama with Hanzo san behind him, Asahi Sama, and Tamaki san raced ahead. Otaku Gunba san had to stay at a slower pace because his Unicorn horse was carrying their supplies and he was riding another Rokugani smaller horse that had a similar breed as the Dragon. While smaller these horses had been bred in either Dragon or Phoenix lands and were used to the terrain.

The Unicorn shugenja was not far behind them as our tale will tell, so fear not he has his hand on the share of glory inbound. Initially Donoha thought the monstrous sounds might belong to trolls, but to his surprise they were Yeti! Facing off against four Yeti was a lone Dragon bushi whom had just been knocked back upon the ground after killing three of the four Yeti BY THEMSELVES! Truly a magnifcent battle was underway, and the samurai present wasted no time to render aid. The Lion and the Dragon cousins raced to face against the last Yeti. Following the battlefield acumen of Asahi sama, Donoha sama changed directions to help the Dragon bushi. Isawa Tamaki got into an advantageous position should he need to call upon the kami for aid. Even Shosuro Hanzo san, only slightly less frozen found a defensible position from which to fire arrows in support of the bushi and the courtier rushing into the fray!

The Dragon bushi told Donoha sama to return to the fight for he would live and the blood on him was from the dead creatures he had slain. With a quick nod the sword and hammer wielding courtier spun to aid his Lion cousin. Only by that time his cousin had deliver a set of strikes to fell the fourth Yeti on his own merit! A shout from Gunba san alerted the group to another Yeti approaching from a nearby ridge. When it burst through the tree line, our Unicorn shugenja was getting up to the fight in progress.

Tamaki san threw fire magic at it and Hanzo san let arrows fly, which caused the Yeti to jump down to where he was! Talk about your day taking a hard turn. From teahouse to snow bound fight with a monstrous beast many think are folk tales, welcome to the Dragon lands!

Donoha leapt down after the Yeti and would have cut the creature in half if their katana had been an Odachi! As the red spray of the creature’s blood painted the snow. Gunba san used their magics to hurl rocks from the surroing area at it toppling it over! Calling out to his cousin not to help Donoha strode up and beheaded the snow beast and bringing the fight to a conclusion.

The introductions to the amazing bushi that had felled three of these beasts caused Donoha sama to bow so deep his face was in the snow. Standing before everyone was Togashi Hoshi, the son of the current Dragon Clan Champion! He knew everyone by name which was a little off-putting for the assembled samurai. Our Dragon investigator was only slightly less surprised because of his knowledge of the Dragonfly Clan and his own family were experts at gathering information. Certainly someone had provided this information to the son of the Clan Champion.

Togashi sama made an off-hand comment that the group was not supposed to run into Shosuro san until they were leaving for the caravan. That bit of knowledge was leading Donoha sama to other questions but manners would not let him ask them at this point. The very impressive Dragon offered to share his camp with everyone and it would be found on a shortcut to Shiro Kitsuki. When they arrived they only had to set up the tent Asahi sama had brought to accommodate Hanzo san. While Gunba san tended to the animals where they were far more comfortable, the rest of the group shared a meal and tea.

During the meal Hanzo san began to act strangely upon learning of Asahi’s family name. This sparked a line of questioning from Donoha sama which culminated in learning that Shosuro san maybe have been born in a spirit realm that looks nearly identical to our own Ningen-do! Donoha flatly refused to share any further details about that world he visited and is fairly certain this Scorpion is from there! Needing a break he brought food and tea to Gunba san before returning to the fire. Not long after sitting down everyone began to feel sleepy as they felt the warm taste of a Scorpion spice, known as cinnamon.

Scroll of Kitsuki Donoha Part 32

Ambushed!

The word was sent out to the attendants of the Emerald Ambassadors about the poison being applied to the communal food. Next, the four samurai shared it with the healers of their respective clans knowing word would soon spread that there was no curse following them, and more lives could be saved. Word came back soon that the Dragon, Phoenix, and Unicorn ambassadors would meet with the group in the morning for a report about the news. The morning of the 28th of Shiba in Rokugan’s year 1123 (Month of the Monkey {OOC: September}) entered the sky to close out the month as attendants brought the four to the Emerald Ambassadors at dawn where they were given rice, cooked meats and a tea that would provide a small boost of energy.

Upon leaving the encounter they met back up with three members of the Ronin Otokodate known as the Iron Fans. Our group had seen their members briefly as they had docked and then left Toshi Ranbo wo Shien Shite Reigisaho on their way here to Kyuden Tonbo. This group had asked an eta among the caravan to lead them to Akodo Asahi sama as they felt a need to pledge themselves to work for a reputable samurai among the Lion clan. Among them was:

They brought additional news of a group of bandits that had broken away from the caravan and where to find their encampment. The Dragon investigator was eager to learn more about this group and their machinations. Quickly the group gather means and headed out as a band of seven samurai.

To say fate is forging the souls of Kitsuki Donoha sama and those that travel with him may be the biggest understatement of this current decade! Fourteen well trained bandits comprised of assassins, swordsmen, and archers descended upon our troop about a half an hour of the day from the camp. The group began to regret their life choices as Isawa Tamaki san let loose with a kami-gifted fireball engulfing four of them! Throughout the battle the Phoenix rained fire down upon various groups softening them up for the rest of the team, and one did fall to just his flames.

In the most awkward, spontaneous, competition the Akodo bushi and the Otaku shugenja began to see whom could kill more bandits! Where Tamaki san had large areas on fire to control the mobs. Gunba san used fire more akin to a skilled archer and sniped targets to death individually with controlled flame bursts! Clearly used to moving around in battle and making use of his fiery, ranged attacks. Not to be left out was Asahi sama’s new cat companion, Kitagawa. The cat managed to take down one of the assassins that Tamaki san had lit on fire!

The three Iron Fans took down an Assassin using nothing but their iron tessen fans! It was a gorgeous display that almost looked like dancers whittling away their target. Then they were directed to subdue another assassin but keep them alive for questioning. A task they performed with ease!

The Dragon was not left out during all the fighting. He moved through the opponents like a specter of death, removing two heads! Then injuring the one he left for the Iron Fans to capture. He almost had a third kill but an arrow from his Lion cousin claimed it with skilled precision. The final tally ended up as a tie for Asahi sama and Gunba san at four kills each, Donoha sama with two and the others with one each.

The interrogation of the last assassin brought forth statements that the group which had backed Asako Takumi was still after Donoha sama! Even more disturbing was their wish to sabotage the caravan! Claims were made they had been with the Emperor’s Gift since Otosan Uchi! The Dragon had Ginzan the ronin kill him once they were done. Upon returning to the caravan he asked the Iron Fans to write their testimony down so he could submit it along with his report to he Ambassadors. Portents of doom about a potential peasant cult trying to overthrow the whole of Rokugan was not the news he wanted to bring to light but there it was.

This was all reported to the same Dragon, Phoenix, and Unicorn ambassadors. After which the group was told to rest because they had received word the four of them – and only the four of them – had been granted permission to enter the Dragon lands and they would leave tomorrow. Upon the Festival of Lady Doji and Lord Kakita and the start of the Month of Bayushi, or Rooster in low Rokugani.

They returned to the wagons and Donoha asked his cousin to have them watch wagons alongside Agasha Re. Ginzan would be allowed to stay in the wagon with Re san while the two men would make a tent outside. Donoha wanted to give the ronin a chance to prove they could make decent retainers for his cousin. He cited to me that merit and skill should not be overlooked when finding a good team. It also followed the orders of the Emperor that all ronin should seek service among a lord. Donoha sama saw great potential in his teammates and never doubted his cousin would be a powerful lord or general someday. Growing that powerbase now was important and setting the cornerstone to build upon had to start at some point, why not now. Next, they began to go about the steps to prepare for such a journey as the last day of Shiba wore on.