To The Capitol
The 6th of Hida (Month of the Boar {OOC: December}) the group had rested a day while Amir san made preparations for the trek to the capitol of the Senpet Empire. During that time a delivered reward from Neferhotep-Tawy sama for the safe return of his daughter arrived. 20 golden coins of the Senpet Empire for each of them. Mentu san, the innkeeper, prepared some candied fruits for the trip. The trip was warned to the group about being more dangerous because we were taking a shortcut through a gorge Donoha was able to parse out that “W’rt n nḥḥ m’bwt” meant roughly the Gorge or Chasm of Eternal Peril or Danger. The Dragon laughed that Mori Kage Toshi had a desert twin it would seem.
On the night of the first day of the journey when the group stopped for rest and before the evening meal. Both Asahi sama and Amir san had the duel they had been talking about. Donoha sama lent them his pair of white oak bokken. While he sat close enough to translate and interject some smack talking. Knowing his cousin could tell what was him and what was Amir san. The duel was amazing and it was not a clear victory for Amir but one they both had to work at. There was even a moment Asahi sama might have won, but the Dragon realized it was more important to loose the fight. Winning is an echo chamber, defeat forces you to learn from your actions and choices. Wise people seek the lesson, the arrogant seek victory.
He quietly thanked his cousin knowing tomorrow, the 7th of Hida was his 20th birthday. This was probably the closest to a celebration as he was bound to get. He dared not to say it out loud because he had assumed in the City of the Rich Frog, Kagero san, must have lost family. Truly, Kagero san was a perplexing mixture of grief and duty. He just hoped that the road to rescue the Kami Shinjo would help him find a new road back to honor. As he was learning this new path of the bushi so must Kagero san learn his heart and find purpose again. The night ended with Asahi talking with Amir about ideas regarding food fusion concepts. The Lion finally came up with a yakisoba style rishta dish.
It was the 9th of Hida (Month of the Boar {OOC: December}) when the group made it to the Gorge of Eternal Peril. Amir san had warned them about creatures, sand storms, and other dangers they may face. The safer route around the gorge was often plagued with bandits trying to avoid the patrols from the capital city bearing the name of the empire. He warned about giant scorpions that would likely pounce on them because they attack caravans going through the shortcut and then wait a few days while they get hungry once more. Since the plan was to move fast they would likely create enough noise to draw their attackers out.
They did not need to wait long once they entered the gorge. Eight of the gigantic scorpions appeared and skittered down walls into the gorge. Each of them the size of a Unicorn clan’s horse and riders in bulk! If the picture that Donoha sama has painted was not enough, when you got close enough to engage in a skirmish with these monsters. Their head and front claws could extend forward and rear up as though they had a man’s upper body merged with the beastly lower half! The two shugenja swear they checked but these creatures were not tainted by the shadows of Jigoku!
Amir san charged forward on his Senpet horse they call a camel, Zara. The giant scorpions divided their efforts with three going after him and the others converging on the four samurai. Both Asahi sama and Donoha sama dismounted and let Matsukaze and Yukiabo run to safety. Each of them engaging and killing their foes with precision strikes to their heads. Tamaki sama focused on fire magic to support Amir san from afar. Kagero san mentioned to the earth kami how much fun it would be to grab two of the giant scorpions and make them earn their freedom, only to capture them again and again. Giving the Lion and the Dragon plenty of time to move and kill them.
Just as things were beginning to clear a dust storm rolled in covering everything in a swirling chaos of sand and darkness! Donoha sama found themselves isolated and alone in seconds. When he found another presence through following tracks and noise he came across another eight of the giant scorpions having surrounded Amir san! Moving quickly he began to end the gigantic monstrosities and was soon joined by Tamaki sama. Whom he directed to heal and aid Amir san. Soon both Kagero san found Asahi sama found each other and they made it to the fight from the other side. Donoha allowed himself a brief smile and called out to Kagero san. He had not known of his arrival until a boulder dropped out of the sky finishing off the fourth giant scorpion he’d been dealing with at that moment. Relief washed over the young Dragon as he called out, “Thanks Kagero san!”
In the aftermath of the storm and our second skirmish Donoha sama wanted to collect the shells of the beasts to make armor from them. However, when it was confirmed the tracks he’d follow of his horse to where he found Amir weren’t just his horse. Bandits had used the storm to attack and try and steal Yukiabo. The Dragon’s face hardened, and he confirmed with Kagero san that he’d do the same thing with his horse. Chase was given as Donoha sama sat behind his cousin on Matsukaze. Making it out of the other side of the gorge they came to a small village or perhaps waystation might be more apt.
Amir san and Donoha sama both saw Yukiabo being cornered by bandits. They noticed a woman and her father being harassed by the fresh-water spot. Just off the road’s edge past the little village’s last building. Making this an oasis of sorts in the desert. While both men are remarkable swordsmen neither were able to make it before the father was cut down. Each claimed one of the two bandit’s responsible.
Tamaki sama spoke to the kami and a pit opened up beneath the bandits trying to secure Yukiabo. Then he snapped his fingers and fire erupted from the pit and the fire kami fed very, very well. Asahi sama moved to the other side of the village where a small family with a child were being harassed. To say that he did not roar is in no way to say he did not strike. He took and an arrow from one of the bandit archers and just notched his bow to shoot it back at him! Hori and Tiaa, the mother and father looked on in awe as Pa-Ra-Hotep the boy saw the kind of person he wanted to become.
To say Kagero san was not engaged in the battle would be a falsehood. He once again made the earth kami laugh and play with a bandit that had been untouched. Giant hands made or the ground grasp and toyed with the person until Asahi sama had a spare moment to kill him. He maintained this all while being in the open to archers among the bandits. Until both Amir san and Donoha sama cut them down. When it was all said and done, horse and human reunited. The necklace of languages was passed around to those that needed to speak with those of this land.
Isawa Tamaki sama speaks offered words of comfort to the woman that had watched her father slain defending her. Kagero brings a plate of food near the girl, setting it beside her if she doesn’t respond. Offer a prayer for the father defending his daughter. Finding out their names from Kagero san. Nedjemet, was the daughter while Khaemwaset is her now late father. During this time Asahi sama trains the child Pa-Ra-Hotep with the bandit’s bow. The remaining arrows are collected and left with the family.
Donoha sama spent most of the day’s remaining hours with Yukiabo by the watering area. His Lion cousin joined him at one point and they spoke late into the burgeoning night. Amir san mentioned that tomorrow they would come across the Nahr’umar River, and would be able to follow it the rest of the way to the capital. When the Dragon asked if it was the same river that had coursed through Per Amunu he nodded in the affirmative.
On the 10th of Hida (Month of the Boar {OOC: December}) the group prepared to leave. Not before all the bandits were buried in the pit Tamaki sama had made the previous day. Next the two shugenja worked with Amir san to erect and monument to the battle. On two sides the information was stated in Low Rokugani, and on the other two sides of the obelisk it was written in the language of the Senpet Empire. Little did they know in years and decades to come it would become a pilgrimage for those wishing to honor the Unicorn or trace the steps of these heroes.
While the three negotiated with the Kami or how to write words in language correctly. Kagero looks at Tamaki, tilts head, seems to realize something then abruptly goes back to tending to horses. Donoha sama made a small metal horse for the boy Pa-Ra-Hotep from the nails of a destroyed wagon. Nedjemet had wrapped her father and was preparing to head out the day after so he may be given a proper funeral. The Dragon made preparations to leave, as Asahi sama followed suit.
On the 12th of Hida (Month of the Boar {OOC: December}) the group came across the Nahr’umar River once more. The Dragon had spent the past day working with Amir on getting better with the language so he could fully pass the magical pendant on to one of the others. Also so the knowledge could not be taken away were the crystal pendant be stolen. On the outskirts of the capital they saw the great pyramids of the Senpet Empire. Stone slanted castles with carvings and colorful paint making them look like rising gardens in the sun’s light. Amir san rode forward once more to make preparations and the group wait for his return. Once they were re-joinned he led them to the Lotus Rest. An affluent housing establishment for patrons and those flush with coin. The lady Meritre was their host and just as in Per-Amunu Amir had covered the accommodations.
Amir went to make arrangements about an audience while the Dragon and Lion toured the market. Tamaki sama and Kagero san spent time going over their own agendas and topics. Upon everyone gathering once more that eve. Amir explained it would be the 14th when we would be given audience. Everyone began to settle in for the evening as the sun dipped low to trade watch with the moon.
