What’s One More Curse?
As the evening of the 9th of Doji in Rokugan’s year 1123 (Month of the Goat {OOC: August}) was coming to a sunset. The sky over Shiro Shiba was inundated with hundreds of birds that fell to the ground. Upon hitting every last one turned to ash! Our group of intrepid samurai raced off to the Temple of Eternal wisdom to track down Shiba Ayame sama and coonsult her once more.
While the avian calamity appeared to be continuing, the four were led to the same internal chamber. Donoha sama got on his knees and bowed to the floor, “Shiba sama, it appears the curse you’re following has made its way to the city.”
Even with signs of a lack of sleep Shiba Ayame sama straightened their kimono and the air of a noblewoman adorned them as though it was the finest silk. The Lion followed his cousin in action and the two shugenja bowed at the waist. After the pleasantries were exchanged, the newer points of her researched was discussed. The hidden castle or fortress Tamaki san had uncovered on the map was indeed the source of the curse in Kuroi Mori (Black Forest). It would take days to reach as the length of all of Isawa Mori, of which the Kuroi Mori lies in its northern most part, is over 150 miles. Pressed against the Northern Wall Mountains that mark the northern border of the Phoenix, Dragon, and Unicorn lands. While not all maps are equal in their quality, the distance of the trip was thought to be about 49 Ri (120 Mi).
It would seem there has been a seal or gate to the realm of oni. This oni’s aura is what is spreading the disease affecting Shiro Shiba, and probably all of the northern Phoenix lands. It seems to be a curse on the Phoenix clan for when the Phoenix shugenja called upon the void kami is what brought the disease down on those around them but not the shugenja in question. However, cruel irony of the oni is that to keep it from spreading you must keep those that spread the plague around you!
The group knew they needed to do something but wanted to check in with Shiba Sono sama first. Leaving with the blessings of Shiba Ayame for success in resolving this. The four samurai made it to the cluster of caravan wagons and the Dragon was to direct, scarring an attendant. The next time he remained vague and the attendant mentioned they were expected and led them to the Phoenix ambassador’s wagon. When they entered Phoenix ambassador had the placements arranged minus a criminal Asako courtier among them. With bows everyone took their seats and tea was poured. While it tasted to the Lion and the Dragon as horrible their faces kept a stoic expression. Both the Unicorn and Phoenix shugenja thought it was some of the finest tea they ever had.
When it came time to discuss the dilemma the elder samurai wasted no time, “How long do you feel you’ll be gone this time?”
It was easy for everyone to see that the Dragon was happy at such a frank opening to the discussion. The caravan was preparing to leave in the morning and begin making their way west and south to Kyuden Asako, the Morning Glory Castle. Requests were made of supplies and tools for the road including a bag of jade finger stones since they knew they would be facing another Oni. Throughout the evening attendant brought the needed tools and supplies. Asahi sama spent time help Takami san into wearing a suit of light armor he had. Donoha was working on coordinating but would make his back up light armor available to Gunba san if they requested such. The Unicorn shugenja was busy arranging the mounts because they were taking one of the two wagons for this trek!
Agasha Re was loaned the other wagon for their lodgings in turn for keeping it safe and secure while they were gone. Donoha sama was happy to loan it to a distant cousin in the Agasha family, but it was Tamaki san that delivered the news and updated her as to the fate of Asako Takumi sama. Re san was fired up for vengeance, but Tamaki san extracted a promise she would work her fury through Shiba Sono sama and do nothing rash. With supplies set at the dawn of the 10th of Doji in Rokugan’s year 1123 (Month of the Goat {OOC: August}) the caravan began to head west as Donoha sama’s group began to trek north.
They were told they were not allowed to stop at Kyuden Isawa or any other northern settlement unless it was a dire emergency. The settlements farther north had already been inundated with the plague and were struggling in helping their own populations. The last thing they needed were outsiders taxing their resources further. On the road that day Asahi sama requested his cousin make some jade arrowheads. After a discussion that these would be his first arrowheads from a piece of jade he agreed to try. Each arrowhead consumed a jade finger and was styled to match an armor piercing tip and then affixed to two shafts from the supplies acquired from the caravan. Being on the road was good as cleared 16 and a third Ri (40 miles) that day.
11th of Doji in Rokugan’s year 1123 (Month of the Goat {OOC: August}) led to a discussion during breakfast to distract from the food’s taste for the Lion and the Dragon. About what would happen if a shugenja ran out of spells. Donoha sama asked Tamaki san if they felt they could learn the basics of wielding a knife in a fight. The Phoenix said they felt confident they could pick up the basics. Thus began their day of training with the Dragon courtier with his vast knowledge of weapons. It’s really no wonder many confuse him for being a bushi. At the end of the training some five hours of the day (10 hours to us) later. Tamaki san did indeed have the basics down but was physically and mentally exhausted! What surprised him the most was the dual focus of breathing and situational awareness. The Dragon kept beating into him all day that if you can’t breathe, you can’t fight. That day they made just over 12 and a quarter Ri (30 miles).
On the 12th of Doji in Rokugan’s year 1123 (Month of the Goat {OOC: August}) Donoha sama took three fingers of jade and made a jade dagger in the shape of a tanto with a sheath. In a form of reward for Tamaki san for their work of learning the knife fighting basics. Named Hisuitsume 翡翠爪 for the Jade Talon. For their time while Gunba san was keeping the wagon moving, Tamaki san had been pondering the nature of the curse with meditation. They came to the conclusion that this may not be a thing that can be stabbed as much as a door or gate that needs to be closed and sealed once again. It was during this day that they entered Isawa Mori followed by the southern portion of Kuroi Mori.
It was the 13th of Doji in Rokugan’s year 1123 (Month of the Goat {OOC: August}) when the group had to start clearing the way forward. Eventually they found the hidden pathway in the Kuroi Mori to the location obscured in Shiba Ayame sama’s research. They began following it as the afternoon began to continue onward. It was then they encountered truly their first obstacle, six animated vines that began attacking them. The battle was fierce but the Lion was skilled at engaging with multiple targets with the Phoenix combining water and fire magics to prevent burning the forest down but hurting their foes. The dragon’s black and copper blade made purchase and severed two of the vines so perfectly it looked as though something of the blade’s kami had been awakened. Onward they would push with Gunba san bringing the wagon up behind them.