Waking to a plea, reinforcing the Iron Fans
As the Eye of Amaterasu was deciding to shed its light upon the Emperor’s Gift once again on the 22nd of Shinjo (Month of the Dog {OOC: November}). Aids were sent to rouse those samurai whom were honored the night before. A breakfast banquet had been prepared for them, no officials were there to meet them. It was just a quiet “thank you for your efforts” from the leadership to them. Eventually, everyone arrived, sans Kuni Shirai san whom had left before dawn to avoid any awkward goodbyes.
I could go on about whom ate what, but it was a meal filled with healthy and hearty options to enjoy and enrich oneself. Their meal was abruptly interrupted by a messenger for Akodo Asahi sama. The Iron Fan trio that had pledged themselves to him per the Emperor’s edict were on the road and be harried by a group of bandits and assassins! The group moved to get their gear and head out to support and potentially rescue the Lion’s retainers.
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Upon the group’s arrival at the location the guide took them to the three members of the Iron Fans were surrounded by six dead bandits or armed assassins may be a better word. Closer to the five approaching samurai was a dead courier. Dressed in purple and white, a slaughtered Unicorn clan steed a bit farther behind. Suggesting their death was due to impact after the horse was slain and threw its rider.
First to the fray was Akodo Asahi sama, followed by his Dragon cousin. Their Phoenix shugenja Tamaki sama wreathed them both in flames of wrathful retribution! Otaku Gunba sama stayed behind the Dragon and the Lion with his Phoenix counterpart. However, both were gauging the enemy forces that were still alive! Spread out over the rocky outcroppings and lightly forested plains were twenty-five additional assassins surrounding the three ronin that had pledged themselves to Asahi sama.
Tamaki sama let loose with more steam to obscure and harm the archers targeting Asahi sama. Hanzo sama hung to the other side of the rode with the Dragon courtier and Unicorn shugenja. He made the archers have to decide what targets to focus on keeping the number of arrows fired at the Dragon low enough he could deal with them using Mittsu Tamashi. When I later asked the Dragon what Gunba sama had contributed he said he promised not to say. Then he painted me a picture and said he did not promise to show.
Outnumbered “Five to One,” those assassins had no idea how screwed their numbers were! The battle was over in minutes! Thanks to Hanzo sama one of them survived, and to the Lion’s credit he tried but it would appear that they had tablets to take if they were caught! The Scorpion learning of this made sure to remove the tablet from his captive before waking them up. Hanzo sama took a bit of pleasure in later thinking about the look on their face when they tried to bite down and nothing happens. The simple joys of life.
Both Donoha sama and Asahi sama joked about watching the assailants strike them and then burn to death from the Phoenix’s magic! Once the captive was bound Donoha sama gave the courier’s bag laying nearby the corpse to Gunba sama. The Dragon said it was Unicorn correspondence and it should be a Unicorn that finishes the delivery. Gunba sama bowed to Donoha sama for thinking of a way to preserve the honor of his clan.
Upon the group’s return they made their way to the Emerald Ambassadors and delivered the courier’s bag to Shinjo Akiba sama. While Donoha sama took it upon himself to make sure the Scorpion and the Iron Fans were acknowledged for their participation. The Iron Fans had followed the Lion’s orders and guarded the shugenja aiding in killing some stragglers that tried to flank without success. Hanzo sama made sure we had someone to question about this attack.
The Unicorn Ambassador was proud he finished the mission and did not look inside, given that three of the missives were addressed to him. The prisoner was given to Bayushi Negi sama, and then the group went to relax. Matsu Shà nzi and Donoha sama spent the day getting caught up for the chronicles of “In Defense of Honor” while Gunba sama did some spell research. Asahi sama and Donoha sama planned a non-lethal duel at dusk.
