Now that I have taken Junzen...or should I say "Shinji" into my service, the raggamofyn needs to be cleaned up a bit. I have had to take the unfortunate action of giving him ryo to purchase some weaponry and to get some suitable clothing. Once he returned we all sat and discussed what we must do about Tadamitsu Juro. Action is called for, honor demands it.
We watched Kaizuka Tower for some time, while waiting for Asagi-san to join us. He had some odd errand or such to run. The movement of guards and eyes were noted and our plans thought out. We infiltrated the tower with guile and stealth. The event, whatever it is, appears to be happening on the 5th level of the tower. I'm not quite sure how Tozawa-san know this.
I can't believe it! Juro! He really is summoning something up from the depth of the underworld. Yomi he said...
I bloodied Tadamitsu Juro! I drew first blood on him! All honor to me!
As we crept up onto the fifth floor, I slipped like a shadow across the out cloister, while Tozawa-san entered, acting as a flustered acolyte. The fiery creature in the summoning circle was a thing called a "Yomi Guard". As the patrolling retainers heard Tanuki-baka lumbering around like an oaf I slipped underneath the steps of the central chamber and under the floor. Tatami mats are nothing to a blade shaped of the soul! I'm still not sure exactly what happened as I crawled beneath the floor, but then I heard Tadamitsu Juro speak...I homed in on the sound. I burst from beneath the tatami and stabbed him in the side...and drew first blood, as I mentioned before!
I wasn't sure quite what was happening as the battle intensified, there were little, long-eared bakemono flying about on leathery wings spitting fire, the Yomi Guard was trying to embrace Tozawa-san and Juro laid open my shoulder with a quick slash of his blade that caught me off guard.
All this ended as the man we interviewed with earlier, Kaizuka Shogo came into the room, apparently alerted to our doings by Junzen throwing two guardsmen off the balcony to shatter against the cobbles 30 meters below. Much as it may pain me to say it, I think Junzen's doing so may have saved us from a terrible fate, for Shogo banished the Yomi Guard and Tadamitsu vanished with it, saying "Our work here is finished..." A troubling statement.
Shogo-san told us a few things after the ashes had settled. Apparently part of the draw of the Burning Blood and what Tadamitsu Juro offers is a way to regain power and skill that may have faded with age and infirmity. Some of the very men who participated in this ritual were ones whom had dealt with such loss of position and prestige. This is a simple lesson to remind the ambitious that misbegotten honor is not the same as honor fairly won and gained. If one cannot remember the difference and the price that is so often paid for honor gained, then it becomes very easy to find yourself willing to do whatever it takes, no matter how dishonorable, to regain that which you once had. The Kami be praised that I was born a woman and one of questionable dignity, sanity and morality, as it were.
Today we strike out hoping to learn what we may at the many noble schools of Tonbo Go Ryu. Asagi-san has suggested that we claim to be from a place called Sansawa Mura, a small village at the edge of the Lands of the Dragon and Horse. As we broke our fast before leaving the White Saint Monastery, my thoughts turned to the Tanuki-Baka...most odd. A prayer for remembrance and the eternal hope that his spirit remains firmly in the Spirit World.
Later
As we went out, Tozawa made an idiot of himself...dancing in the rain with his Shikigami. There is something seriously wrong with that man. A strange burst of rain and heat came from the tall towers of the first school we came to visit, the school of the Kaizuka family. The clouds seemed to swirl and looked ready to loose their fury upon the towers when sound and heat burst and crackling red traceries ran down the walls to ground out. It was very odd, to say the least. Finally after the strange disturbance had passed, a noble of the Kaizuka family came to speak with us. He granted us audience and spoke with Tozawa about animism. Much of this conversation was completely nonsensical.
Then...Fates be Accursed! TANUKI-BAKA lives! And he's been in service to the very noble we were speaking to! All the Yama Kings must be taking personal interest in my torment! He knows who we are...at least some of our purpose...and has shown no interest in our plight or loyalty...not to mention bathing! We can't kill one of our own though...in spite of Tozawa's suggestions.
Why in the world did I take him into service?! I am a complete idiot. A Ryo per week! Far more than that refuse heap is worth....
But hopefully it will buy his silence. Unlike Tozawa, I certainly don't think Junzen has no uses...perhaps he can perform a mission that will mean dire peril...?
Then I heard it..the voice of despair, that of Tadamitsu Juro, our daisensei's attacker! What in the world was he doing here!?
What are we going to do now? He is returning to the Kaizuka Tower tonight? Should we strike?
The Dragon 13 or 14, continued...
I am better now. Abbot Matsushiro is a kind man who has given us shelter when we needed it. I shant complain any longer, especially not when all I should be is grateful. We have decided on a course of action. Tozawa will attempt to infiltrate one of the schools to polish his uncultured skills as an Onmyoji, just as the Saitama Ojo-sama suggested. We discussed the matter at length. Tozawa doesn't want to simply concede to the inevitable and go to the school of the Saitama, though. He is being needlessly stubborn. I am beginning to think that the Ojo-sama truly frightened him in some arcane manner.
Oh well, Tozawa-san attempted to divine what the best course of action would be and then Asagi-baka had to go and start talking about the dead and the monastery! That was the last thing I wanted to talk about. The fool started even questioning my belief in the skill and faith of the monks here!! I may not know the monks and priests of this monastery, but that doesn't mean I doubt their ability to keep the evil burried here hidden aware from our tender flesh! THAT Man!!!
I digress. Tozawa-san cared for his Shikigami with an uncharacteristic tenderness, like it were gravely injured. It did seem sluggish after the...whatever it was they did. This monastery it "Muddles the spiritual energies".....that is not a good sign. That is a sign of ghostly turbulence I think....of the unquiet dead. Oh kami I hate this place...Perhaps it is not truly..WTHAT WAS THAT?!!!!!!!
I write this passages early on Dragon 14, I think.
After a somewhat...interesting ingress into the city, we quickly made our way to a local Izakaya. Hardly any better place to take refuge and blend in. As we settled in to enjoy a little relaxation and drink a strange thing happened, a great knell and crackle of emerald lightning broke around a statue in the rafters. The barmaster and Tozawa acted as though this were rather natural...I'm still not quite sure what cause it. No reason to let the Bushou know that though.
Shortly after that...or perhaps before, now I am not certain, some dirty ruffian entered, carrying a flock of dead birds over his shoulders...it was rather...uncouth. An untouchable, no doubt. Oddly enough, he starts bandying with Plum Blossom and the wanton hussy responded by blushing! What poor....conduct! Anyhow, all of that was soon put to rest as a Great Lady entered the Izakaya with her retainers. I took a moment to burn the image of the Mon into my mind. She and her retainers were there for the drunken man in the corner, on which I could just make out the same Mon. A...errant member of the family no doubt. Heh. I'll see if I can sketch it later...
It is the Mon of the Saitama family, a ruling family of the Dragon.
We walked through the streets of Tonbo Go Ryu to the White Saint Monastery, an eerie looking place in the wan light. Apparently this 'Asagi' (and how insultingly familiar was that!) know the Abbot of the monastery, a monk named Matsushiro. Ugh...apparently Asagi is one of us. Why are they all either filthy or an arrogant dandy like Bushou-kun?
Oh all Kami in heaven, why did we have to come to this ghastly place!? This place...it is a place for the dead! I just know it. They sing prayers for the dead, to keep them from waking!!!! What kind of place is this!? I doubt I shall ever sleep here...the dead walk in these places during the darkest time of night, when all is still. How shall I ever sleep again??!
Just a reminder: We must be at the Imperial City just near the tail of the Snake to meet Genryu-dono. Don't forget!
We have arrived at Nesuto Ryu Mura, finally. Weary from our long walk, we've taken rooms at a local inn to rest before trying to locate Plum Blossom. A bullying man arrived shortly thereafter...I forget his name now and that is not necessarily a good thing. He was apparently a man of importance hereabouts and in spite of his crass attempt to buy the Innkeeper's daughter, a dangerous one as well. Stupidly, I went and made a spectacle of myself to shift his attention away from the girl. The detestable man also seemed to intuit my background amongst the Crane's artisans, he was definitely not someone to be taken lightly.
In the later evening we set out to find the Geisha-house in which Plum Blossom worked and made arrangements for a room and entertainment. Plum Blossom arrived with a two Koto accompanyment. Their music was quite an enjoyable diversion. Then, surprisingly, Plum Blossom seemed to ensorcell her fellow musicians and warned us that they were assassins! Her enchantment ended. We erred in thinking two simple Geisha would be quick ends. As it happened, both Geisha were actually skin-clad bakemono! Fortunately for us, we ended them before any of us but hale Alabaster-san was harmed. The scabrous claws that injured her seem to have not bothered her in the least, though I think if either Bushou-kun or I been injured by them we would have been sick for weeks. We fled quickly from the Geisha-house, as being associated with monsters is good for no one's reputation, but not before Bushou-kun and Alabaster-san tried to get some information out of the creature. With Plum Blossom's help, we realized that we must head for the capitol of Dragon lands. We quickly decided that it was time to head to Tonbo Go Ryu.
The Dragon 12, 1090
We should reach Tonbo Go Ryu and the Shippu-Ryu straits tomorrow, best as I can tell by the stars. Considering it was Alabaster-san who taught me the intricacies of navigation...something must be bothering her greatly. Twice along this trip she seemed completely lost, once almost leading us into a dangerous sinkhole. Perhaps once we reach the city and some comfort I will speak with her about it and find out what is putting her so out of sorts. Hopefully, once we are within the city, learning more about the Burning Blood and the secrets of the Dragon Onmyoji won't be too difficult.
After finally awakening and speaking with us at length about the Burning Blood, some secret group of monster-taming lunatics...
According to his experience, only Onmyoji of the Dragon are so adept at monster and beast taming. He suggests we seek answers with them, at Nesuto Ryu Mura. There we are to meet with a sympathetic geisha named 'Plum Blossom'. She may already have some information for us.
Once we have learned all we may from the Dragon, we are to meet Genryu-dono at the Imperial City in two months time. Precious little time to travel and snoop, but we shall do what we may.
Today we struck out for the easterly regions across the river, searching the crags for the Bloodcap mushrooms. Fortunately, Alabaster-san is proving to be an excellent scout. Those survival skills she speaks so often of are certainly coming in handy. As I have little to no skill with such things, all I was able to do was merely follow along. As we headed deeper and deeper into those forbidding canyons and foothills, Tozawa-san thought to mention that he felt that the spirits were wild and less than friendly here. Before long he seemed rather certain that they followed us, watching what we did and judging us for our actions. Certainly a time to make certain not to offend the unseen world, I say.
How long with this drugdery last!? Finally we spotted (well actually the eagle-sighted Alabaster-san sighted!) what we believe are the Bloodcaps. They lay nestled in a small copse near the edge of a rockfall cliff. Tozawa-san seemed to think that the attention given us by the spirits was heightened to acuity at this moment. I then thought to ask if there was nothing we, any of us, could do to appease the spirits, to soothe their ire? No answers were forthcoming. Then a strange wildcat walked calmly from the brush near a stunted tree. None of need be told that this were no natural animal, but a spirit of the unseen world given form.
Knowing not what else to do, I did the only thing I thought might appease the spirits, I unslung my Shamisen and began to play a mournful tune. Haunting and melancholy I plucked the strings...I don't know why. I just didn't want to end up the beast's next meal!
I nearly stopped playing in shock as the spirit cat simply watched me! It was WORKING! Somehow....I don't know! It began to sway with the music as I began a simple dance to accompany the strumming. Even Bushou-kun's Shikigami began swaying with my melody. Thusly, Alabaster-san quickly gathered the Bloodcap and we retreated from the area as I played on.
As we left the hilltop, my legs felt like overcooked soba, my hands tremored. Know this, I don't fear crossing blades with my enemies. If I die in such an exchange then it is simply that they were the better. This was something else entirely...the spirit world is something so beyond my understanding that I didn't know what I could do, so I just took a chance...my body is now punishing me for it, the quickling fear I felt flushing through me now.
Once we finally left the foothills for the riverside we slowed to a more relaxed pace. Golden Nettle shouldn't prove too difficult to find, it was more the Serpent that I worried over. We finally found the Golden Nettle in patches next to the river at a lovely glade. A deep dell with a light-shattering waterfall and the moldering remnant of an ancient shrine nearby..the air was crisp and cool in the dappled light...until that is the enormous Unagi leaped out of the waterfall, persuing Tozawa-san's Shikigami! The Serpent was enormous, its snapping jaws glistening and wet in the light. Quickly I threw a Nage-Teppo at it, hoping to blind the beast, but it had a clear eyelid that closed at just the wrong moment, knocking the bomb away. Alabaster-san and Tanuki-Baka struck out at the beast, Tanuki-Baka punching the serpent with his battle gauntlet. And this...this I could hardly believe!
Tanuki-Baka weilds a Blade of the Soul as I do! That undisciplined, stinky, uncouth, ill-mannered, grog-swilling, gutter-born, wretched unraised son of a disgraced geisha! While I understand the Tanuki-spawn is Clan...Kami, I decry you...by all the Fates that disgraceful man had best not be my brother! At that point fratricide may be my only option. Perish the thought.
Oh! Yes. We killed the beast. As is began to bite and thrash those near it I realized that my fan would be an inadequate weapon with which to injure it....so I was forced to reveal myself. My shimmering argent blade manifested I leapt into the breach and eviscerated the beast with one mighty slash just as Alabaster-san distracted the beast for me. Its vulnerable underbelly presented and I did not let the opportunity pass. One final crack across the skull from Alabaster-san's Nagimaki and the beast lay dead.
Simply by our negelecting to offer aid, Alabaster-san was volunteered to retrieve the bile-gland of the beast, a disgusting undertaking. After all our exertions we found that the day had grown too long to simply return to the village. So we rested at the old shrine. The morning of the following day found our master getting his treatment and recovering from his affliction. Thank all the heavens and the Fates! More later, on what he said...
Other players in the Minkai game, please don't peek!
Spoiler:
The Hare 1, 1090
I've decided it is time to begin keeping a journal to record my thoughts at Okou-senpai's suggestion. It almost makes me wonder if he wants to steal within my chambers in order to read my innermost thoughts... (Okou-senpai...if you are reading this...Naughty-man!) I will admit though, just thinking about having this outlet has made my mind turn contemplative. The dioramic scene before me, for example...
I shall call this,
Rovagug's Maw
Jagged teeth gnashing
Insurmountable ramparts stare
On insects below.
The Hare 7, 1090
Would you believe it!? Today, as I bathed I spotted one of the local louts attempting to spy upon me. What a complete degenerate! If only I could go and give him a show he would remember...instead I threw a rock at his eye, instead of the shuriken I wanted to throw. The boy will be lucky to ever see clearly in that eye again, the doctor mentioned. Such a pity, but a valuable lesson learned for him.
The Hare 12, 1090
A message arrived today for Okou-senpai. The messenger was swift and spoke little. Okou-san apparently decided it best to send me off on errands, ostensibly to get me out of the way. Secrets are being spoken while I am out, I just know it. Okou-senpai will only tell me if he feels I must know it though...frustrating misbegotten son of a one-legged courtesan. I understand this is for the best, it still bothers me though. We'll have to see what develops.
The Hare 13 (predawn), 1090
Okou-senpai has come to me at this horrific hour and told me to pack my things and leave for this monastery...somewhere. As I sat shaking the sleep from my eyes, I had little comprehension of what he was even saying. Frantic preparations took place, needless to say. By the time I finished packing and eating I had a relatively good idea of where I was going and some inkling as to why. The Liqiu Monastery is located deep within the haunted lands once ruled by the Clan of the Bat. Only unclean things and fatal memories dwell there now, or so the peasants say. Hopefully this is an embellishment.
The Hare 21, 1090
As I arrived at the Liqiu monastery I had a somewhat embarassing encounter with one of my new companions, Alabaster-san. She and I both apparently mistook one another for threats and had a less than civil conversation. The reason for her brusque manner was soon apparent though. Master Genryu lay horribly injured. From what has been said since, I understand some strange enemy attacked him. Master Genryu has yet to give us the entirety of the story. Perhaps once he is well and can speak without it paining him.
The man I met today at the monastery was far more disappointing than Alabaster-san, his name was Tozawa Kazutomo, but I have named him Bushou-kun, for the lazy sloth that he is. Even though Master Genryu lay there grievously wounded, Tozawa refused to help move the travois. He felt the work too menial. As if a flea-bitten hermit such as he were above such a thing. He is a foul being. Lazy and crass.
I have written a little haiku for Bushou-kun. I think it describes him nicely.
Bushou-O
Sloth-King, weak of arm
Gallant or Brave, he is not
Privvies have more sense.
Tozawa is a gutless thing. Earlier he showed his cowardice by moving to stand behind Alabaster-san as those nasty little bakemono attacked us. Honestly, I doubt we would have been in any danger...if only I hadn't stumbled right onto that last one's claws as it collapsed, none of us would have been injured by the pathetic creatures. Bushou-kun did show some little compassion by helping me clean my wound, even if he wouldn't touch it save for with magic. The little man is squeamish as a child, its unbelievable.
The little flyspeck we've arrived at fortunately does seem to have a healer. He has seen to my wounds and declared then superficial, Genryu's on the other hand have been tainted by some rather nasty poison. We are going to have to find some rather exotic ingredients for the healer, Jin, before Genryu can begin mending. This seems portentious somehow.
How in all the hells are we to find all these things? What remains of our honor demands that we succeed however. We must know whatever it was that Genryu summoned us to speak of, to say nothing of the final tests we must be given. We will succeed.
Hmm...I've been thinking of another haiku...in remembrance of the little screeching monsters...
Crimson Moon
Blood on blades, Crimson
The Moon above, hungry for life
Lacquers my fan red.
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