Arc 5, Session 27, L5R
June 6th, 1119 (Continued)?
A crack within the earthen wall grew into a small chasm, a
sluice to control the flow of escaping yokai. Blazing fires framed the new
entrance. The smoke flowed into the cave with the wind, slowly poisoning the
spiders. This would work- if they had enough time.
Yudai held the gap to further stem the tide. Megumi &
Takeshi cut down the Inugumo that were able to push past the Crab. Hayata
coordinated support with the other samurai while Kiyuki focused on maintaining
the rest of her wall.
It was clear the smoke was beginning to affect the spiders
still fighting to escape the cave. Our heroes allowed themselves a second of
hope. All of them were battle-tested & all of them knew that an enemy
backed into a corner is all the more dangerous. So, none of them were
particularly surprised when the air behind them began to ripple.
Reminding them of Kitsu Nari’s planar jaunt from days prior,
a horrid Tsuchigumo stampeded into the mortal realm. A handful of Inugumo clung
to it: most dropped off to begin their own assaults. One stayed upon her back,
using its webbing to heal & strengthen the Tsuchigumo’s hide.
Though the appearance of this foe meant danger for the back
line, the fact that nothing followed it implied that the other Tsuchigumo had
fled somewhere else. Adding to that, it looked like only the larger spiders
were capable of hopping between planes on their own. This information bolstered
the samurai’s resolve as they continued to fight through the slog.
By the time the massive yokai was taken down, the spiders in
the cave were beginning to choke & die. Yudai bodily hurled the burning
pyres into the gap. The few surviving Inugumo could only weakly struggle as
they caught flame. The group had largely made it through without major injury,
though both Moto Shozo & Toritaka Buro required medical aid.
While the samurai took a calming breath, the Crystal
Magistrates experienced yet another time flash. They saw the Naga temple, much
younger than in the previous vision. Several Naga chanted in their hissing
tongue. As their spell came to fruition, a familiar giant pearl coalesced onto
a podium.
Evidently, the pearl was a sort of “living spell” involving
time in some manner. The Naga left after anchoring it in place. Strangely, the
pearl they could see now showed no signs of the sentient “stain”. As the vision
faded, the last thing they could see was a thin strand of webbing dripping
towards the pearl from the ceiling….
Exhausted, our heroes made trudged their way back to Ie. The
ratfolk immediately moved to offer aid when they saw the condition the samurai
were in. The Crystal Magistrates took this time to reflect on all they had
learned thus far. The party discussed next moves, eventually deciding to pay
another visit to the Naga ruins.
Megumi insisted that they force Moto Shozo to accompany
them, unsettled by the idea of him being amongst the Nezumi unsupervised. While
she had previously explained the situation to Kiyuki & Hayata, the others
didn’t know what her charge had planned. The Unicorn decided that it was time
to allow more trust to her comrades. Takeshi took immediate offense at the
Moto’s proposed ritual, & even Yudai agreed that it would be…sub-optimal.
While the others checked their gear, Megumi visited her
charge’s tent. Moto Shozo was in the company of two young Nezumi who were
tending to his wounds. The sight sent a shiver down Megumi’s spine. Maintaining
as much propriety as she could, the bushi began to insist that the group
required his attendance when they left the village. He leveraged his higher
status to decline.
Games off the court had no place here in Shinomen Mori.
Megumi dropped her pretense: Moto Shozo would be joining them, whether he
liked it or not. She refused to allow him the opportunity to harm the innocent
ratfolk. From a distance, the others could see from Megumi’s face that Moto
Shozo was resisting. Takeshi decided to fetch Ych’tor’kin before striding over
to join her.
Between the two of them, the Lion & Unicorn forced Moto
Shozo to admit his plan before the Nezumi Warrior. Ych’tor’kin’s reaction was
as immediate as it was predictable, but he had the wherewithal to not skewer
Moto Shozo himself. Instead, he left to get the Rememberer.
A scene was clearly brewing, so Hayata, Kiyuki, & Yudai
joined their allies. When Ych’tor’kin returned with A’gon’flii, the elder
already had a sorrowful look on his face. The Rememberer asked to hear things
in Moto Shozo’s own words. Tears began to fall from both Nezumi’s eyes as the
shaman admitted to his betrayal.
It took a few moments for A’gon’flii to regain enough
composure to speak. In a broken voice, he decreed that, while Moto Shozo’s
plans were horrible, he would not issue the death of a samurai. He stated that
the Tattered Ear would prefer to hold the man in captivity for the rest of the
group’s stay, before releasing him into their custody. The elder left shortly
afterwards, leaving Ych’tor’kin to watch the prisoner.
The party realized that Moto Shozo’s fate was in their
hands. Reflecting on it later, none of them was certain who first made the
suggestion. Kitsu Nari’s spell to cure Kitsune Ryosei of her Taint required
there to be a recipient. Would it be a fitting punishment to have the shaman
be forced into this role?
Enough of the group was uneasy with this that it was decided
to speak to the Fox Daimyo. She was the highest status person here by a wide
margin & thus held sovereignty. Before bringing up the suggestion, Yudai
first asked her for permission to sanction a duel against the Unicorn. Kitsune
Ryosei pressed for further details. This, naturally, led to a full accounting
of the situation- including finally telling her what they knew of Kitsu Nari’s
ritual.
There was no word for the expression on her face other than
disgust. She did not wish to remain Tainted but could not force such a fate on
another. In her distaste, she also forbid a duel. Moto Shozo would be tried by
a court, to suffer whatever judgement they lay upon him. The group took their
leave as the Fox returned to her tent in silence.
Tried by a court…well then. As representatives of the
Crystal Magistrate’s Office, our heroes could argue that they could serve
such a role. Additionally, Kitsune Ryosei’s “state of mind” meant she was
potentially unfit to serve as a judiciary- at least, from a legal perspective.
A trip to the Naga ruins would have to wait.
After fetching Matsu Domotai- who explained her master was
not in their tent- Takeshi & Yudai led the group back into the forest. Moto
Shozo was frog-marched to the spot of the carriage ambush, protesting all the
while. Though his feelings were plain, he knew that it would be impossible for
him to fight through all of the other samurai.
And so, a Crystal Court was called to order. Moto Shozo’s
“crimes” were read through once more. The fact that he had both literally &
legally not committed any offenses yet made several of the group hesitant
to demand his execution. Still, enough voted in favor for the measure to pass.
When the moon saw them safely back to the Nezumi village, it
was with one less samurai among them.
Kitsu Nari still could not be found. The ratfolk confirmed
that they had not seen her either coming or going. Most of her belongings were
still in the Lion’s shared tent, though these were mostly the ones her student
had been made to carry. Anything she deemed important enough was gone with her.
The scholar must have stepped into another plane when she
saw the way the group accosted Moto Shozo. Truth be told, they had already been
planning to deal with her in some way already. Whether she would return at
some point, none of them could guess. All they could do was update the ratfolk
before resting for the evening.
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June 7th, 1119?
Morning brought with it a sense of urgency. Moto Shozo had
been executed, Kitsu Nari had fled, & Kitsune Ryosei was Tainted. Now they
had to figure out how to handle the fact that the missing Lion had not taught
her disciple how to break the time spell or transfer the Taint.
For the former, Matsu Domotai believed she could intuit how
to cast the spell with help. Kiyuki offered her aid in this.
In regards to the latter, our heroes knew the transference
spell required a focus object of some kind to mark the person taking on the
corruption. They sat for hours, discussing the vision they had all experienced
of Kitsu Nari performing the spell. Hayata was able to produce a solid sketch
of the charm in the vision to work from.
From here, Kiyuki took the lead. She sent Takeshi &
Yudai to gather the components she believed would work while prepping her inks.
When they returned, the Scorpion began painting arcane sigils on each
component. Megumi, possessed of the steadiest hands, physically assembled the
charm with Kiyuki’s guidance.
Noon had come & gone, but they had successfully
recreated the focus. Kiyuki, Matsu Domotai, & Toritaka Buro could all sense
the magic inherent to the small charm. So, the supply side of things was
handled. All that was left was to hunt down the remaining Tsuchigumo- as long
as the spiders were alive, the time loop could not be broken.
They knew “where”- when, really- they could find the
beasts: just after the forming of the giant pearl. Without Kitsu Nari to guide
them, how could they send their bodies through time deliberately?
Kiyuki had the answer, though she did not like it.
She had spoken with the Tattered Ear’s Dreamer at length
over the group’s stay. G’luc’luc’ts had let the shugenja know that there was a
Nezumi spell that could help them visit another point in the curse’s timeline.
All it would cost was for the Dreamer to offer a finger in sacrifice.
This felt too much to ask of the Nezumi, but what other
option did they have? G’luc’luc’ts did not hesitate to agree when they asked
for her assistance. Laden with guilt, the party sat with her around a fire &
drank an herbal tea. The Dreamer began to whisper in a singsong voice. She took
hold of a knife provided by the samurai. And as the blade severed her digit the
samurai’s vision began to swim.
Fresh stone materialized beneath their feet as the Naga
temple came into focus. The pearl, unmarred, was at the far end of the chamber.
As one, the group drew their weapons. A hissing rattle filled the space as the
final Tsuchigumos descended. This was it; just one more battle & the forest
would be free of the spiders.
There were no Inugumo to support them. Though this made them
easier to handle, each Tsuchigumo was still more than capable of killing an
unwary foe. Blood, sweat, & venom soon spilled across the floor. The last
drop fell. The only sound remaining was labored breathing.
They had won. With the yokai dead, their tweak to the Naga
spell could be broken.
Returning to the present should have felt triumphant. Yet
something was lurking at the back of their minds. Even to the untrained, the
time spell did not feel weakened. With no Tsuchigumo left to repair it, why…?
Maybe it was a last gift from Hida Masateru. Maybe it was
the Crab’s burgeoning relationship with the nature of Void. Whatever it was, a
spark of understanding came to Yudai’s eye.
They had the means to destroy the Tsuchigumo’s addition to
the magic. As for the original Naga spell’s hold on them…it could not yet be
broken, as not all they had seen had yet come to pass.
When it was formed, the giant pearl bore no blemish. Even
with the spiders’ meddling, its surface had remained pristine. Where was the
stain? The strange form of sentience they had found within the pearl in the
present?
It was not from the Tsuchigumo, nor the Naga. It radiated
feelings of safety, warmth, & comfort. Familiar, in a way they could not
name. Resonating with their souls…because it was one.
It did not take long for further investigation to confirm
what they suspected: the stain was a human spirit, bound eternally to the
pearl. Bound at some point in the far distant past. Kiyuki & G’luc’luc’ts
were able to discern that this soul was the only reason the Naga’s magic could
be broken at all. It had been seeded into the spell centuries ago to weaken it
over time. To slowly create just enough of a gap that the samurai could escape
into normal time.
To ensure they could break out of the time loop, the pearl
needed to be marred. To mar the pearl, a human soul needed to take up residence
within it. So…who among them would it be? If none of them volunteered to do
this, none of them would be able to leave Shinomen Mori.
A somber discussion followed this revelation. Whoever did
this would likely spend all of time isolated within the pearl, unable to ever
engage with another, nor re-enter the wheel of reincarnation. It was one thing
to lay their lives on the line: all honorable samurai committed to this daily.
But to remove one’s spirit from the karmic wheel was a far more dread fate.
Takeshi was the eldest among them & seemed willing to
potentially shoulder the burden. Shocking everyone, Kiyuki spoke up to say she
would do so if it got Kitsune Ryosei free. Their allies argued against both
decisions, but with no alternative suggestion. Eventually, the talk fell
silent.
“You’re sure this will rid us of the curse?” Toritaka Buro
quietly asked. The magic-users nodded. “Then…I will do this. I am of little
import to the Empire. My career is of no consequence, & I…will not be
missed.” He swallowed before looking to each of our heroes in turn.
“All I ask is this,” he continued, “Do not tell Ryosei I do
this. I…I would not want this to haunt her. To make her feel guilt. Please,
promise me.”
After a heartbeat, each of those present agreed. The Falcon handed his katana to
Takeshi, who swore he would find a way to break the pearl & release the
young man’s spirit. As the group spoke with G’luc’luc’ts- requiring yet
another sacrifice- Yudai spoke with the yojimbo alone.
The Crab had been ordered not to allow anyone afflicted with
the Taint to leave Shinomen Mori. If Toritaka Buro was to do this, everyone
else would get to leave…except the Daimyo. Yudai’s orders would compel him to
ensure she did not.
Unless her Taint was transferred to someone else.
Though he had already committed to sacrificing himself, it
was clear the premise of doing this shook the Falcon yet further. There was at
least a chance his soul might one day leave the broken pearl to reincarnate.
If his spirit were Tainted though, all that would await it upon being freed was
exile to Jigoku.
More than any of the others, Yudai understood this concern.
To voluntarily take on the curse of Fu Leng was all but unheard of, even
amongst the Crab. Still, he stoically pressed further.
All of the times the group had examined the pearl thus far,
all of the times they felt the soul…it did not bear the Taint. There were
tales of Naga magic that could cleanse the corruption in some way: if the
spirit was clean, then it was likely the pearl itself would somehow purge the
Taint over the aeons.
It was the smallest shred of hope, but sometimes that is
enough. The Falcon agreed to potentially damning his soul.
Kiyuki & Matsu Domotai worked together to enact the
transference spell. Toritaka Buro winced in pain as corruption bloomed in his
eye. He made no sound as the Taint spread across his face. As soon as the spell
was done, the Dreamer sent them back to the Naga temple.
The samurai stepped over the already decaying spider
corpses. The pearl stood before them, perfect & unblemished. The Falcon
approached it as the others watched in silence.
“I didn’t think I would die so young,” he said, voice
wavering slightly. “I thought there would have been time to…” No one
responded. What was there to even say? The yojimbo held his wakizashi against
his neck. “For the Empire.”
“…For Ryosei.”
Thus ended the life of Toritaka Buro. Exactly as Hayata had seen
it would in a vision. A fate that could have been avoided: if not for the execution
of Moto Shozo & scaring off of Kitsu Nari.
G’luc’luc’ts said nothing as the samurai reappeared before her.
She knew the cost that had just been paid. After seeing that those who returned
were safe, she wearily made her way back into the warren.
A tent flap rustled. Kitsune Ryosei came stumbling out. The
bandage was absent from her face, revealing skin untouched by Fu Leng’s
corruption. She began to ask what had happened- before cutting her question
short when she saw that the Falcon was no longer present.
The group offered her his daisho with reverence. Without
going into detail, they simply said that he had fallen while helping the group
break the time spell. That he had died well. A true samurai. Not a lie, per se.
This news was enough to drive further thoughts from the
Daimyo’s mind. In time, she would gather the wherewithal to ask what had
happened to the Taint afflicting her…but not now. She returned to her tent to
avoid embarrassing herself publicly.
Evening came. To thank the Nezumi for all they had done, the
samurai suggested one final farewell feast. A celebration between the two
peoples. Together, they all drank & ate until Lord Moon say high above
them.
To close out the festivities, one last round of storytelling
began. Our heroes listened as the ratfolk spoke in turn. When the fire was
waning, & sleep began to draw near, Hayata cleared his throat.
“Here in Shinomen Mori, not far from where we sit, there is
a massive pearl. Listen to its story & that of the brave spirit trapped
inside,” he began. The Tortoise took care to avoid names as he told a veiled
version of what had happened.
Hayata finished the story with a heartfelt plea: it was said
that the trapped soul suffered in loneliness. But perhaps the Nezumi could
visit it once a moon. Build a fire beside it & tell their stories in its
company. Just to let the spirit know that it was not forgotten: that it was not alone.
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June 8th, 1119?
Before departing Ie, A’gon’flii paid a final visit to the samurai.
He gifted each of them with one of his “memory sticks”. These were encoded with
a tale of the friendship they now had with the Tattered Ear tribe. As he waved
them off, he swore to pass down all the tales they had shared.
The journey towards Fox lands felt quick in comparison to
all they had been through beneath the haunted eaves. Day by day, they followed
the traveler’s trails South. Soon they were able to see their exit, wreathed in
blinding light. They stepped forth, leaving Shinomen Mori-
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October 16th, 1119
Unfettered by thick foliage, Lady Sun’s light blinded them
momentarily. When their vision adjusted, the samurai could see that all the
nearby plant life was either withered or browning. Almost as if it were Autumn.
As the party gathered their bearings, they could hear
someone gasp from nearby. A scruffy young man stared at them from a campsite near
a familiar shack. There was confusion amongst the group as the bedraggled
herald stumbled to his feet outside the forest. He quickly waded across the
marshy area surrounding Byako Nio’s hut, leaving the small camp he had set.
He bowed while introducing himself as Miya Kaigo…
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