Tag: Chikai no kodzuchi

Scroll of Kitsuki Donoha Part 34

Posted on October 27, 2024 by Shanzi Matsu

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 18

Posted on July 10, 2024 by Shanzi Matsu

WHAT DOES NOT KILL YOU

26th of Akodo in 1123 (Month of the Horse) – Matsu Shànzi (yep, that’s me) As the hour of the Goat (2-4 PM) crested into its turn for the afternoon. The gloom of the location made it seem much later. The Lion, Crane, Scorpion, and Dragon fine themselves at the end of a rest from a battle. The plan was hastily made but it worked far better than expected. It is often cited that no plan survives contact with the enemy but this one pretty much followed the beats of a dance. Prisoner is rescued, most wounds are mended, and tea was had. They are awaiting the rise of their new Phoenix companion before moving out. Not sure when that will be it was decided Doji Hoto san would stay behind with the Phoenix shugenja while the rest of us press on ahead.

Upon entering a courtyard that had a stream running through it. The trio came upon an emergent combat scene. A tall samurai – almost six and a half Shaku – was beginning to engage with one of three Emarald Shades they have seen prior. The Lion ordered his Dragon cousin forward as the Scorpion and he readied their bows and began practical training for Airi san. They had studied kyujutsu when they were young but this yumi bow was a stark reminder of how long ago that was.

“I thought Eiji went home,” mumured Donoha san, “must be someone else. This one has wany more hair on their head and I don’t see any Nezumi.”

Leave it to the Kitsuki to see a battle and run up to the samurai within as though they had been long wartime companions. He was not quiet with his greeting to his new, and very large brother-in-arms. The world’s strangest Dragon samurai he is indeed. Arrows from Asahi san and Airi san began to chase down their forward companion. Raining injuries upon the shades, as Donoha nearly finished one off while the Crab was engaged wwith another. The shades made no noise so the battle had an eerie quiet to it, save for the shifting of feet, swings of weapons, and the twanging song of the two yumi.

This time it was Donoha san that got the assist from one of Asahi san’s arrows finishing off the shade but consuming the arrow in the process. Being freed up he spun around the Crab and killed the one hanging on by a thread and then came to rest at the last one. The Crab looked infuriated!

The Crab samurai crushed the last shade in a single blow!

Exchanging names the trio were now acquainted with Hiruma Gombei 蛭間 権兵衛, a bushi warrior of his clan. He too, bore the oft seen tetsubo the Crab are known for. Then Gombei san made a terrible mistake with this Dragon. He asked about his Crab gifted and inherited Oath-Hammer. Donoha went from mysterious to a person that had found someone that liked the same stuff they did!

Bayushi Airi san was treating Gombei san’s wounds from the blows the shades left. Never any blood just the feeling of frostbite when the inky blackness cuts you. Donoha san explained to Gombei san how his family came into possession of Chikai kodzuchi 誓い小槌 the Oath-hammer. An ancestor had defeated a Crab wielding a Kaiu blade. Rather than keeping it he took the time to learn of the family and returned it so the honor of his opponent could be nurtured in the next generation. In return they presented him with the hammer that made the blade. Its been in Donoha’s family for several generations and he was tasked with never letting it out of his sight.

Donoha san went on to explain he was developing his own version of the Dragon Niten style called O-Niten where the Wakizashi is replaced by either a kodzuchi (hammer) or masakari (one handed axe). From there he went on and explanation of the components of his sword, Mittsu Tamashī 三つ魂 the blade of Three Souls. Made from blades that had lost honor so they could restore reincarnated as Mittsu Tamashi. From the Phoenix there was Asako Katsumi & Shiba Tsukasa. Tsukasa had died protecting their assigned to a Phoenix Shugenja. Katsumi committed seppuku when he learned of the blade failing he had made. From fallen warriors on the Kaiu Kabe (Carpenter’s Wall) he had blades from Hida Shimazu, Hida Nagahide, Hiruma Kenji, Hida Moriyama, Kuni Asakura, and Yasuki Saigo. From the Lion he had the current reigning Ikoma Daimyo’s wakizashi and his Yojimbo’s katana. It is said the Daimyo still favors Donoha to this day. Considering he also gave him his name during their gempukku.

The dotsugi (copper joinery) saya (scabbard or sheath) prompted Gombei san to bring out a kintsugi (gold joinery) sake set that when its owner poured sake it NEVER RAN OUT! Wait till Doji Hoto san hears about that! Well not until the owner chooses to empty it. This was proof though that a item made from joinery could be awakened and have a spirit or spirits in them. Had his cousin not reminded them they were now wasting time since Airi san had finished the wound treatment, it would have been hard to stop him. From here Donoha san’s “Kitsuki Method of Ichi-Maru” tracked the path with info from Gombei san about a temple with activity in it and more shades. Once the group arrived they began to make a plan to deal with everyone before moving on to Shiro Mori Kage (Forest Shadow’s castle).

26th of Akodo in 1123 (Month of the Horse) – Matsu Shànzi (yep, that’s me)
Within the temple in the center of Mori Kage Toshi was four groups of san (three) Emerald shades each and in the center was another Maho Shugenja and six more shades. The four man team of Akodo Asahi san, Kitsuki Donoha san, Bayushi Airi san, and our newest member Hiruma Gombei san, elected to pull one group at a time since the dead seem to be attracted to the team leader, Akodo Asahi san. Then it became 4 against three. If only the Phoenix shugenja which Doji Hoto was guarding would have woken up events may not have turned out as they did. It’s hard at times to understand the Kharmic Cycle’s needs and turning of events.

After speaking with Hiruma Gombei san and Bayushi Airi san I have more respect for Donoha san and his itoko (cousin), Asahi san. In the third engagement, they had to engage with Emerald shades within direct sight of the Maho shugenja and their six shades. Since the shades make no noise they used hand signals and fought a slow withdrawl to drag them to an area to dispose of them! That is nine Emerald shades at this point the group had subdued due to their desire for Asahi’s flesh. However this battle of attrition took a heavy toll on our brave warriors. Asahi san was laid unconscious during that engagement and were it not for the healing arts of Bayushi Airi san they would have likely died.

My readers may forget that when you are stabbed by an Emerald shade. It pierces through all your garments and leaves no mark other than stinging frostbite on your bodies! You die from being frozen to death! When Asahi san came about no one pointed fingers about whom did or did not do something. There was a collective sigh and discussion about working on finding better timing.

This did not deter our group from going after the fourth group of the Emerald shades. They re-entered the temple once again, made it pass the Maho shugenja and the six Emerald shades protecting him for some dark purpose. The droning of chants echoed throughout the temple as the Maho shugenja was absorbed in their ritual.

Donoha and Gombei seem to develop a competition at first as to whom could get more shades. It quickly turned into one would weaken the shade and other would finish it off! Donoha was putting out comparable damage to a Crab samurai and their tetsubo! More often than not Asahi would have to hold off six strikes while the others finished off the Emerald shades. Less we forget the rise of the Crimson Archer – Bayushi Airi san! Her prowess with Hoto san’s loaned yumi bow was growing through trial by fire!

In order to reach the final grouping of the outer shades they had to scale a few crumbling walls. Once they caught Asahi’s scent they tried to walk through the stone wall to no avail. However, they put what passed for a foot on the wall and began to walk up and over it! In the cramped quarter the final Emerald shade laid low an already injured Asahi! When Donoha came for vengeance he injured but was taken down as well! Bayushi san saw the first strike and thought that would finish him! He stood up only to be put back down by the second strike!

Hiruma Gombei crushed the last one and together with Bayushi Airi san they took in the scene. Gombei san remembered saying, “I was supposed to be the shield, they are true swordsmen.”

Airi san inspected the bodies and Asahi san was conscious but talking in whispers! Donoha was breathing when he shouldn’t be at all! While Gombei san handled the bodies, Airi san carried his katana – Mittsu Tamashi (Three Souls) and the Oath Hammer so it would not be out of its master’s sight.

To say Doji Hoto was at a loss of words when they returned would be an understatement. The Phoenix shugenja was still convalescent and not awake. Introductions were made an both Airi and Gombei sans removed the Lion and Dragon’s armor. Setting it to their sides in as much a honorable fashion as could be done. Mittsu Tamashi (Three Souls) and the Oath Hammer were laid in front of the Dragon’s armor. Hoto san made tea and everyone got updated.

At the end of hour of the Monkey (Shiba; 4-6 PM) later Asahi san was awake and everyone made sure he did not move. Airi san offered her lap to rest his head when medicine needed to be taken. This way he could not choke on it or drinking the tea. In the back half of the hour of the Rooster (Bayushi; 6-8 PM), brought the sound many people were waiting to hear.

“Where is my sword and hammer?”

Donoha san open his eyes and rolled his head in the opposite direction of Airi san’s voice when she said, “Over there with your armor.” The Scorpion repeated the same treatment for Donoha but kept exclaiming he should be dead. He mused at the thought of the Kami of good fortune still favoring him.

 

 

Scroll of Kitsuki Donoha Part 1

Posted on July 8, 2024 by Shanzi Matsu

Great Journey of the Second Sword Birth

On his 16th birthday he is presented with a nigh impossible Gempukku – Make a Katana in a way never before done before!!!

Tales of the impossible task have been whispered throughout the Dragon lands. But the boy accepted the Gempukku without hesitation. Some whisper that his father is being punished for some hidden slight of honor.

Donoha sama planned out how he would do this and set about the journey to prove honor can be restored. He left Shiro Kitsuki in the second month after the longest night of the year. He was provided with letters to access roads and funding as the clan would pay the cost. He took three gifts with him to entreat the damiyos he met to aid him in these endeavors.

The Dragon journeyed to Aojiroi Oku Shiro (Pale Oak Castle) in the lands of the Phoenix Clan. The gift he presented to the Daimyo there was blank bamboo scrolls and ink vials prepared to inscribe and hold magic. In exchange he asks for two blades that had failed and broke under use. Whether the break was from battle or a defect would not matter to him as his plan to create a new way to craft a katana would help restore honor to the swords’ owner or maker.

Phoenix blade owners: Asako Katsumi & Shiba Tsukasa. Both had died protecting the Shugenja. Tsukasa was the Yojimbo assigned to a Phoenix Shugenja. Katsumi committed seppuku when he leared of the blade failing he had made.

During his time here he settled disputes between tradesmen with such care that he was gifted with two very thick, treated, branches from the pale oak where beneath Emperor Hantei the Seventeenth was buried to be near the woman he loved! The Daimyo was impressed with the child of the Dragon. He spent three months there (Spring to Summer) gathering the sharkskin and wood and learning how to shape tsubaka and saya (handles and sheathes). He also fell in love there. The one thing he never learned to do was dye sharkskin as the material he acquired had already been dyed black. He did learn a lot about glue and adhesives from them. In all of his travels he continued to write letters to his true love.

He continued on, leaving from Toshi no Omoidoso (City of Remembrance) via ship for Ryu Bannin Toshi in the Imperial controlled lands. It was the middle of summer when his ship docked and he got to meet his famous grandfather in person. His grandfather grilled him with question about how he would accomplish such a daunting, no, an impossible task. He told his grandfather a phrase he heard him say when he was younger, about 6-7. “Problems are merely Oni for which we have not found the correct sword to slay them with.” He went on to explain to his grandfather, grandmother, and aunt everything over a family dinner in the Seppun house. They saw his journal about his travels and his notes about the process he wished to try.

Getting his grandfather’s, grandmother’s, and aunt’s blessings to continue he left Ryu Bannin Toshi on another ship heading south to Samui Kaze Toshi. It was the end of summer when he arrived. He rode with patrols of samurai from the Crane clan to Dangai, on to Shaiga, Meidochi and finally Kaia Osho Mura. Next he joined a river merchant caravan going to Maemikake, Kuda Mura, and finally Kaiu Shiro – The Carpenter’s Castle. Here he presented a box wrapped in black silk embroidered with the dragon of his clan. The box and the four stones inside hinged with gold was made wholly from jade. Then he presented the smith hammer he’d been gifted and asked to be trained further in its use. It only took a few days for the Crab historians to realize that the hammer had been gifted to the Dragon for returning an heirloom sword after defeating one of the Crab Samurai. (edited)

Chikai no kodzuchi 誓いの小槌 known as the Oath-hammer. Was a smithing hammer from the Crab Clan used in making Kaiu Blades. It was a nemurani that required an oath of the wielder to function. At the time of this writing there has been a total of 9 daimyo that know he’s not allowed to let it out of his sight. The three Dragon Family Daimyo, the four Crab family Daimyo, the Ikoma of the Lion, and the Seppun imperial family Daimyo

During the next six months he worked with a young Kaiu smith with some interesting ideas and learned more secrets about forging blades. He made one trip to see the wall during this time and sketched it. It was there he collected the broken swords of those whom had fallen fighting on the wall. The names of the six samurai were: Hida Shimazu, Hida Nagahide, Hiruma Kenji, Hida Moriyama, Kuni Asakura, and Yasuki Saigo. These would become the core of the edge, but also prevent warping if the blade bent.

When he left, he had turned 17 and re-traced his route over land back to Samui Kaze Toshi departing on another ship to Kyuden Doji. Said to be rivaled only by the capital in splendor. Donoha drew several of the shrines and buildings within the city in his journals.

A few days later found him in the great open market city of Yufuku & Heigen Toshi. Every clan was welcomed here because of the market. He spent almost a full week in taverns listening to tradesmen talk about their work. He spent a fair amount on scrolls as he ate to take down what he was hearing. He won a game of Go against one artisan that all they did was make the Habaki (the shoulder the blade sits on before meeting the Tsuba or guard). Instead of extracting Koku (coin) he had the artisan help him make a habaki so he knew what to do later but left it with him as a token of thanks. They left as friends if nothing else. Echigo Sawanda was the artisan’s name, not a noble just one of the merchant classes.