THROUGH A SPIRIT WORLD DARKLY
As though everything accomplished so far wasn’t enough. During the Hour of the Boar (Hida 10pm-Midnight) a kami of the air appeared as a small twister whose voice was a combination of wind and debris spinning around and clashing into one another. It was likely from the Oracle of Air after having encouraged her to lift the curse. It offered us a chance to witness the Dark One’s ultimate dream. Bayushi Airi san was having trepidations as this could be a trap. Donoha san wanted information on what Fu Leng the Dark One would consider the worst thing it could do.
Eventually the information about their enemy won out and the Scorpion, Dragon, Lion, and the Crab were given jade pendants allowing each to see the aura of a person they were looking at! You could see the taint or purity of one’s soul. The Crane was put to sleep because in this “other world” the Emerald Champion has not had any children. So he could not go to a world he never existed in. Another would join them once they arrived. As they accepted their pendants the wind kicked up a enough to make everyone cover their eyes. When it cleared they were standing in a shrine!
They had arrived in this alternate world’s Cliffside Shrine located just outside of monastery of Sanpuku Seidō. The last stop north and east in the Phoenix lands before facing the rest of the Great Wall of the North mountains. Located within these peaks via winding trails and nestled amongst pine trees the shrine is connected by a stone bridge. The monastery was roughly two city blocks of Otosan Uchi in size. The four samurai appeared around a lone Scorpion bushi whom had been meditating. Introducing himself as Bayushi Hitamukina, the others returned the gesture. Donoha san might have been a little to excited adding “i’m an investigator…” to his introduction.
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Picture from the Legend of the Five Rings Game
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They had quickly gathered onlookers as appearing out of thin air was never a common occurrence in our world or this alternate version of history. Especially since the shrine only has one feasible way into it via the stone bridge from the monastery. The eldest among the shugenja approached as the introductions were wrapping up. While trying to be polite they wanted to know if they were of the shadow.
Now the pendants allowed our four interlopers the ability to see the auras of those present. Everyone except Bayushi Hitamukina san had a faint, light gray aura where the scorpion’s was a bright green jade color. It would seem taint of shadow in this alternate world was much more pervasive. Our group was beginning to understand what Fu Leng’s darkest dream would be. It only got worse from there the longer they stayed.
The elderly Shugenja of the Kaito vassal family to the Isawa proposed a duel with a bushi trained monk by the name of Kaito Tofu san. The Dragon asked if anyone would mind if he took this challenge. No one objected and he took his place in the very small courtyard of the shrine. All of the other monks and shugenja gathered around as witnesses and spectators. Kaito san and Kitsuki san sized each other up and both nodded that their assessment of each would not be enough to stop the duel and acknowledge a victor. They were both in the center stance of focus before the strike.
Then a flash of the copper hamon of the Dragon’s blackened steel blade shone brightly in the setting sun. What had stunned everyone was the deliberate sakabato, or reverse hand draw as though he intended to strike with the mune blunted side of his katana, Mittsu Tamashi. Very much like the stinger of a scorpion he struck Kaito Tofu san’s left hand holding his blade’s saya with just the kissaki tip. There were five hyper quick flicks of his wrist holding Mittsu Tamashi. All of this happened in the span of Kaito san only getting his blade a tenth of a shaku out of his saya!
By the time it was halfway out he was returning Mittsu Tamashi to it’s saya! Kaito Tofu san looked back his left hand finally realizing what happened. The monks and Tofu san were astonished to see not only had he drawn first blood and won but the Dragon had written the kanji for peace 平 on the top of his hand with Tofu san’s own blood!
“May there be peace between us,” uttered a bowing Kitsuki Donoha san.
After this display leaving nearly everyone speechless, Kaito Tofu san returned the bow while Bayushi Hitamukina san gives a whisper to Akodo Asahi san, “Your cousin said he was an investigator! (with awe)”
Akodo Asahi san whispered back to Bayushi Hitamukina san, “He is, he investigates all things, to include how best to swing his katana.”
A look given to Bayushi Airi that implies that he has questions…
…Bayushi Airi san returned a slight smile to Hitamukina san but said nothing.
With the concerns dealt with everyone was brought inside the monastery across the bridge. They were able to bathe finally after the days of fighting. Their gear was tended to by the monks that had been smiths and tradesmen among the Phoenix clan of this alternate world. Rice was had and drink shared. Fish had been available since the shrine was not far from the coastline. It was a wonderful respite from the battlefield of Mori Kage Toshi against the shadow of our world.
During the Hour of the Rat (Togashi Midnight-2am) their rest was interrupted by a raid of Shadowland Oni! The small town sized monastery had alarm bells ringing throughout giving our samurai time to get ready before heading out. Coming into the chaos of smaller armored cockroach-like Oni running through the pathways and a single, larger, multi-armed insectoid, Oni that looked like an overseer directing their efforts. Quickly flanking our group from both sides when they noticed Hitamukina san. It would appear the monsters were looking for HIM!
It became clear that with their jade aura, Hitamukina was someone the Dark Lord wanted stopped. However, Hiruma Gombei san was the all knowing sage for this encounter. Their knowledge of the Shadowlands allowed them to explain these creatures would have had to infiltrate the country months ago. What’s more they had a weak spot in their armored carapaces at the small of their back! This was the turning point for our group as tactics could change to help even the field.
The Dragon, Crab, and Lion focused on the group closer to the large, multi-armed insectoid, Oni. Bayushi Airi took their bow to the roof of the closest building to provide ranged cover from above. A few of the multi-armed, insectoid, Oni followed her. Bayushi Hitamukina headed to the rear of the group to protect their backs from three of multi-armed, insectoid, Oni closing in.
While it is no mistake the Crab excelled at crushing the human sized, insectoid, Oni. Both the Lion and the Dragon had their fair share of Oni they took care of. The Lion and Crab were starting to outpace Donoha in the number of enemies slain, both being bushi it was only a matter of time. Donoha san was looking to where he could help his friends and found a spot. He threw his wakizashi from his Investigator mentor, Kitsuki Inoki sama. It slammed into one of the multi-armed, insectoid, Oni harassing Bayushi Airi san, embedding deep. This caused the Oni to miss our Scorpion archer allowing her to dance away and fire at it, sending the Oni to its end.
Bayushi Hitamukina san acquitted himself well against the Oni. The larger, multi-armed insectoid, Oni that towered over the Crab at eleven shaku to his six and a half shaku in height. The beast was felled in a group effort, but the Crab and the Lion did the most to bring it low, sending it back to Jigoku. Cries of victory began to ring out across the monastery. Those that had helped to defeat the Oni were treated as honored guests for such aid. In the later morning cresting almost to the sun’s zenith did they make their way out of the mountains. The five headed to Otosan Uchi over the next month.
7th of Bayushi in the spirit world version of Rokugan’s year 1123 (Month of the Rooster {OOC: October}) The troupe of five samurai arrived in Otosan Uchi. They were given the customary treatment of all samurai with bathing and mending to their gear. Then they were given temporary kimono to wear as they were taken to a house in the inner city under the purview of this world’s interpretation of Yogo Junzo sama.
Author’s Note: To my readers I cannot stress enough this is the events in a spirit world version of a possible future for Rokugan. It should not reflect upon the people we may know and trust in the real Ningen-do.
The tale of how they arrived was related and after that first day their gear was returned but nothing further provided. The Dragon had asked about new kimono and was told, no. He graciously accepted this wisdom, but realized pushing the issue may means his death. They were provided every comfort, allowed to keep their weapons, but were “asked” to stay hidden until the beginning of Winter Court. The 38th Hantei Emperor was planning a party to celebrate Bayushi Shoju sama’s accomplishments and they were to be guests of the Scorpion Clan during the event.
Airi san, Asahi san, and Hitamukina san shared notes about each other’s worlds. Donoha san spent time trying to learn the meaning and lore of the Scorpion masks. Gombei san had possibly the most fun as he was provided women, drink, and song. It was clear to others the Scorpion were trying to learn all the could about the Crab samurai. However, he only talked about the food and delights in front of him. Being fully in the moment of bliss.
When the 14th of Bayushi in the spirit world version of Rokugan’s year 1123 (Month of the Rooster {OOC: October}) had arrived. The group was escorted by Scorpion bushi to the event kicking off Winter Court. Everyone had their weapons with them but on the right side to showcase it would be harder to draw as being left handed was rare in this world as it is in ours. The group was wearing all of the gear they arrived in and more than a few found it odd to show up to court in armor.
The Jade Pendant’s the wind kami had bequeathed to the four samurai from Ningen-Do continued to show everyone possessing some level of taint of the Shadow. Aside from Hitamukina san it was only a matter of how dark a person’s aura was that distinguished them apart in that aspect. This spirit world was indeed a dark reflection of our world, because it implies the Crab clan had failed allowing the Oni across the Kaiu Kabe, or unthinkably, helped them across! Donoha san mentioned in their recounting that he wondered how much of Jigoku influenced this spirit realm.
To say what happened next was all of the hells breaking loose would not be an inaccurate statement. In this spirit world Winter Court during the awarding of Bayushi Shoju any one thing he wished for. Shoju sama requested to ask a question, which was granted. He asked for permission to take any steps necessary to prevent a dark future for the spirit world’s Rokugan. It was allowed which prompted Shoju sama to CUT OFF THE EMPEROR’S HEAD!
Bayushi Shoju then declared themselves Shoju the First! Taking the Emerald Throne as the court was thrown into chaos! The five samurai saw the son of the now late emperor dressed in white. They battled to his side and spirited the heir to the empire away. They met Akodo Toturi sama during time and while the Lion lord left to fight the insurrection. The Hantei heir told them of a secret way out of the city. Donoha san and everyone else refused to share any details about it on the off chance some of it may be real in Ningen-Do.