"They must be destroyed immediately, or as soon as possible. We should learn what we can, but not linger in our duties to purge this land of evil yokai wherever possible." Baolin looks at the other, meeting their eyes with his intense gaze. "Evil has too strong a hold over these cursed lands. The gods will smile when these abominations are destroyed."
Now that they are no longer moving, the zhuyao are easier to study. They are each about the size of a geta, and are an inky black color. They have the right legs and bulbous abdomen of a spider. But, instead of a spider's eyes and fangs, they have a human head, with twin black eyes and a mouth full of razor sharp teeth.
Their bodies are hazy, I distinct around the edges, like a shadow. They don't have definite edges, but they sort of fade into the air. First they are dark and well-defined, then they grow progressively lighter and lighter until they are clear.
The zhuyao are not fully of this world. That much is obvious from their appearance. But, they are not completely of the spirit world, either. They are both less, and yet more. The yokai seemed to be composed of mostly empty space bound, loosely, by the matter of the world. They are filled with water, the element of change and travel, and death. Like shadows, they are temporary. They cannot exist in either world without a host. Indeed, the longer they cling tot the rice ball, the more indistinct they become.
At this moment, An-Ya shrieks and comes running from the barn wth her hands in her hanfu. Please!! please come! It's.. Horrible! Please!. Such is her distress that she forgets her place and reaches out to grab Jade Moon's hand. Please great lady! Please Noble sirs! Come!. She gestures towards the barn. Come!
Baolin has trouble looking at the creatures. They seem the antithesis of the majesty of the qinglong, which represents to him the best of the yokai world. As he opens his arcane eye to look at them, he understands their transitory nature and feels some pity in the midst of his disgust. "These horrid things will return to the nether without a host to infect. Let them pass."
He cannot reflect on it for long, though, as they are suddenly summoned. The qinglong moves before he can register the alarm of An-Ya. He dashes towards the barn, following his companion into the breach. "Guards! To me!" His order echoes through the trading post, beseeching the aid of those sworn to protect. He may not know what has brought such alarm to An-Ya, but her terror is clear. He prepares his mind whatever horror awaits them.
Jade Moon looks over the spiders activating a simple spell allowing her to see magical auras, she is both horrified and intrigued by these dark beings. She thought of was the magic in their creation could be turned to good and be of some use. Seeing An-Ya's terrified expression she wraps an arm around her shoulders and holds her as she gives a look of worry towards her husband.
Jian Xi suppresses a shudder at the disturbing appearance of the yokai. At An-Ya's scream a flicker of movement and his sword is drawn and ready. At Jade Moon's look he rushes towards the barn quickly overtaking and passing Baolin. What ever is in there he wants to b the first line of defense.
With the decision for brief study made, Xiang closely examines the creatures with both his eyes and magic sight. Seeing as he does, he attempts to extrapolate how they are created, and if that might provide a clue to an easier way of purging them.
His study is interrupted as An-Ya appears, panicked. At his brother's call, he grabs his bamboo staff and runs for the prison area behind Baolin.
@hayashi: you get as much time as you want to examine the yokai, I just wanted to move the action along for everyone else. I'll keep examinations in a separate thread
Xiang Lun is able to come to one conclusion before An-Ya's screams: these spiders' faces bear remarkable likenesses to the men they were pulled from.
He's fairly certain that the spiders still contain a portion of the warriors' souls. But, they should be whole again once the spiders are gone from this world. In time, they will heal, and could lead healthy and productive lives. But, the hole will remain, no matter ho well they heal. They will remain susceptible to possession by oni and other yokai that prey upon those weak in spirit. Their children will be marked as well, although they will not bear the same scars as their fathers, the children will be close to the spirit world in some way and will require minding and tutelage lest they fall prey to the darkness.
He, as do the others, follow An-Ya towards the stable and the makeshift prison within. But, the front doors burst open, and a large spider scuttles out, with one of the warriors on his back, bound in silk. As it scurries away, another follows, also carrying a writhing package on its back. Two more spiders descend the walls and click their mandibles at the the heroes!!
Hu Boalin:
Hu Xiang Lun:
Jian Xi:
Lady Jade Moon:
Narukami Hayashi:
Tsui Dawei:
Qinglong:
Spider:
Each spider is the size of a man, and covered with horrid bristles and glistening chiton. They rear on their legs, ready for the attack! Venom drips from their fangs!
Dawei took no time to question the spiders' arrival. They were here and his skills were needed. He drew and loosed an arrow at the spider nearest Jade Moon.
Hu Baolin and the Aspect of the Celestial Dragon move as one, closing in on the first spider together. Tsui Dawei's arrow flies true just before they close the distance to the grotesque beast. Baolin reaches out with his left hand, drawing the power of the heavens to wrap the creature in a mantle of stars. The spider shimmers, half-blinded! The qinglong leaps its sinuous body forward, landing on the top of its body. It viciously rips at the spider's skin, tearing and shredding with true power, as powerful as a typhoon overcoming an island. The dark blood of the spider flows freely as the dragon opens deadly wound after deadly wound. Baolin points to the other spider holding a prisoner. "These men are under our protection! You have no power here!" To the others, he issues a command and a promise - "They will be saved and freed!"
Backing away from the spider nearest him, Xiang Lun stretches out his hand. A bamboo shaft shoots out of the ground. Lifting it into the air, he makes a throwing gesture, and the spear flies towards the creature.
As his spear hurtles towards the beast, he shouts, "Do not allow them to take the shinobi! They could be cursed with such dark magic again!"
Dawei's arrow flies through the air, its whistle is a shrike-call as it runs clean through one of the spider's legs. The spider squeals and steps back, legs raised in defense. Qinglong seizes the opportunity and tears into the spider Dawei hurt. The spider's shell shatters between the dragon's jaws. The beast pulls itself free from the spirit only to suffer the pain of the dragon's claw rip into it, splaying it open spilling entrails across the ground. The spider collapses on the ground, twitching. Then, Qinglong turns back to another spider. Once more, the noble dragon's claws lash out, this time striking across the creature's face. The spider squeals again, sinister rage glares out through its few remaining eyes.
Then, Baolin stands with proud dignity. These men are under our protection! You have no power here! To the others, he issues a command and a promise. "They will be saved and freed! Blinding starlight clouds over the creature's eyes. The monsters chitter savagely, venom dribbles form their fangs and they pres their assault.
S2 Ya, that's a hit.
S4 miss
S3 moves up to attack Hayashi, but ends 10 feet from
The spider facing Qinglong latches on to the dragon with its fangs, and the celestial spirit feels the vitality and power fade from him as its poison trickles into him.
The other spiders advance into the courtyard and launch themselves at the intrepid heroes. Hayashi throws two kunai in the air just as the monsters appear. The blades catch the arachnid square in the eyes, puncturing whatever brain the vermin has. It too falls to the ground, dead.
Then, Xiang Lun stretches out his hand. A bamboo shaft shoots out of the ground. Lifting it into the air, he makes a throwing gesture, and the spear flies towards the creature. It thrusts deep into the bleeding side of the spider that poisoned Qinglong, and the beast dies, as yellow ichor explodes out the other side of its swollen abdomen.
Jian Xi is greeted by a scene from his nightmares the two shinobi are being carried by 2 of 4 man sized spiders. After overcoming his initial disgust he rushes the one remaining spider, hanneling his ki through his body he feels his muscles strengthen.
Jade Moon lets a gasp out between painted lips at the appearance of the spiders. Wasting little time and with a simple magicians flourish she produces a dagger seemingly from thin air which she flicks at the remaining spider.
Initiative order
Dawei 18
Qinglong 15
Baolin 15
Arachnis Deathachis 13
Jian Xi 10
Hayashi 7
Jade Moon 5
Xiang 3
Jade Moon's dagger sails through the air and cuts deep into the last spider's hide. Jian Xi follows after, vaulting over stumps and tables. His blade raised high, he unleashes a devastating blow that should cut his foe in twain!
But the spider dodges to the side at the last moment, and the warrior strikes earth, cutting only grass.
Dawei turned in place and fired on the last spider.
The spider collapses to the ground dead amid a spray of bray matter and yellow blood. The fletching of Dawei's arrow quivers as it protruded from the beast's' head.
Examining the spiders, Xiang cast his spell to detect magical auras, so as to see how they could have come inside the fort without being noticed.
Baolin beckons the aspect of the Celestial Dragon to gently tear open the web cocoons from the freed shinobi. "Free them, and quickly! How did they know to seek them?" He helps peel the sticky webs off one of them with his fingers. "Are you safe?" he asks. He shudders at the horror of the thought of dying a slow death encased in the webs of a creature from nightmares. No one - especially not a potential ally that could be redeemed - should face that.
Hayashi sees the spiders still clinging to the rice ball. They're more faint and faded than before, but they still tenaciously grip this world! Xiang Lun's senses cast out about the courtyard, the scent of bamboo floating on the wind, but he detects no auras. No magic was used to bring these vermin to this place. However, each vermin bears the element of water and metal about their heads, the elements of control and movement. Clearly, these beasts were compelled by someone else.
As Baolin and Quinglong tear away at the struggling captives, they see the looks of sheer horror in the men's eyes. Each has been pierced by the spider's fangs, and can barely move in their weakened state. Their struggles exhaust them, they can only gasp and move their heads "yes" to assure Baolin that they are fine. The noble warrior searches their bodies, but finds no marking or object hat would set them apart from someone else. Save for intimate knowledge of them and their whereabouts, there is no physical means to identify or locate them.
An-ya and the others rush out of the house. Are they slain, my lord? They are gone? . Bai-Cheng falls to his knees beside the poisoned soldier. An-Bao, An-Ya, fetch tea and congee! My lord, we will take them to the stables and make them comfortable. They shall not die!. Fa Si nods grimly and, together with Bai-Cheng, they carry the weak soldiers to the stables.
Fa Si returns shortly and bows. My wife, An-Ya, has some skill with herbs. She will do what she can for the soldiers. But, my lords, who would send these spiders to us?
"Probably the same men who were once their masters. I have the feeling they don't easily release their grips on those they claim as their own." Jian Xi says as he sheaths his sword.
Shaking his head, Xiang says, "These spiders were compelled to attack and capture these men, and they did not come by magic. These spiders crept up to the trading post while we were excising the dark powers that bound them." Looking at Baolin, he says, "The men you requisitioned will need to arrive soon. We cannot leave this outpost unprotected, and King Huang has given us charter to explore this land. We cannot accomplish both at the same time."
Fa Si rejoins the group and bows An Ya and An Bao are attending to the men. They are weak, and the poison runs deep, but our wives believe they will heal. He considers a moment, looking at the walls, and catapults. Noble lords, I have some skill as a carpenter. I can help with any construction you require, and I can even fix those. He points at the catapults. although it will take some time
Bless the gods! Good fortune smiles upon us!
Awesome sauce. I'll update tonight. I crashed early yesterday, so I couldn't deal with things then.
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Fa Si rejoins the group and bows "An Ya and An Bao are attending to the men. They are weak, and the poison runs deep, but our wives believe they will heal".
He considers a moment, looking at the walls, and catapults. "Noble lords, I have some skill as a carpenter. I can help with any construction you require, and I can even fix those". He points at the catapults. "although it will take some time"
"Begin the preparations Fa Si-San," Hayashi said. "We will have time enough--my lord wishes to secure the outlying region before we venture further into this land. Take good care of the men."
Fa Shi and Bai-Cheng bow and then scurry off to do their carpentry.
There we go! 16 total days!
For over two weeks, the two men labor, helped by the noble warriors from Lingshen, when their duties permit. It is a curious site, Fa Shi and Bai-Cheng suggestion courses of action, but never dictating, never commanding. Even when Xiang Lun slipped on a broken board, and sent buckets of pitch used to treat the wood cascading to the ground, Fa Shi simply bowed and complimented the young wushi on his grace and skill. And Bai-Cheng furvently agreed. They said this even though they knew their wives, An Bao and An Ya, would have to spend another night working into the early hours of morning brewing another batch of pitch for the walls. After that, Xiang Lun somehow became tasked with activities that kept him inside and away from the rickety scaffolding and ladders. Despite the occasional accidents and bad weather (several treacherous thunderstorms blasted the trading post, and undid nearly three days of work), the walls slowly came together.
During the early mornings, the heroes labored with Fa Shi and Bai Cheng, working as common men, and not the inheritors of auspicious fortune, as they were accustomed to being. It was back breaking, and arduous work, small wonder such people who toil so have little time or inclination for thoughts of philosophy or scholarly pursuit. When the sun was high in the fullness of the Hour of the Ogre, Wu Li would bring lunch and food that his mother or An Bao had prepared for the brave dignities, and the heroes would be off to explore and pacify the region surrounding the trading post. First, the heroes journeyed south, exploring the fires and plains that adjoin border between Great Lingshen and the wilds of fell Shenmen. They journey east along the border, nearly to within sight of Laozu's hut. The sen'nin appears out, as his chimney is cold for the day. After two days of exploration, Dawei feels confident that the region is free of bandits and other monsters.
On the third day, the heroes turn west and explore the boundary towards the gossamer mountains. As they travel towards those tortured and cursed mountains, whose riches of rare metals and precious gems lulled many to their demise, the lands become dreary and tortured. Well-drained soil of the forest turns to the squishy muck of a moor. The region is drab and filled with rot, it's hold little of the vibrant colors and life of Lingshen and he other lands to the west. Indeed, Shenmen is cursed, and it is never more apparent than the abrupt change the heroes note across the border: the rotting fetid plains in the north become carpets of color and birds a few miles south.
A week later, the heroes examine the hills to the north of the trading post, stopping at the river and turning west to head towards the gossamer mountains once more. The hills surrounding the trading post are gentle and rolling. We're the weather pleasant, they would be but an easy stroll. However the constant rain has turned each rise into an dangerous slide that nearly costs a horse a leg on each rill. It is slow going, and the closer the heroes approach to the mountains and the cursed shrine, the more bleak and unpleasant the land becomes. It is as though the evil of the yokai has tainted the very ground itself, corrupting nature with their vile presence.
Still, except for a few fierce looks from animals and storms, the heroes return, hardy and triumphant. Nehru are confident the region immediately around the trading post is safe.
On the twelfth night, in the midst of a torrential thunderstorm that threatens to undo all the hard work of Fa Shi and Bai Cheng, Wu Li announces there is a group of men at th front gates!
Hu Baolin recognizes the leader as Tang Bohu, first son of his friend, the merchant Tang Fengzhi. Behind him, are three carts of supplies and six men at arms. The seven warriors bristle with arms and weapons, their cloaks turned against the rain. Many of them show signs of recent conflict.
Baolin emerges from the stockade to greet their guests. The qinglong watches from above, as it has while Baolin and the others have labored to repair the walls of the fortification. He offers a polite bow, knowing that they have traveled far to assist them. The rain pours down on them, forcing him to shout loudly to be heard over the storm. "Welcome, my friend," he says with the bow. "Your presence is greatly appreciated. Brave warriors, were you attacked? These lands face the scourge of banditry and monstrous beasts, and it is our mission to make them safe!" He gestures for them to make their entry so that they can warm themselves, take refreshment, and assess their injuries.
Hayashi learns their names after the fourth day of visits. One is Lu Rong; he is a former coal miner from the mountains. The other is Lu Zan, a shepherd. Both are of the same clan and hail from Three Trees, a small village in the mountains to the north west. A hermit came to their village and promised all the able-bodied men strength and power if they joined the House of Fallen Leaves. They joined. The rest is history.
As he speaks with them, he gains their trust. Sometimes, they smile when he comes, and they speak fondly of various katas they learned in the House of Fallen Leaves--katas that Hayashi is all too familiar with being a shinobi himself. Other times, they are somber and respectful, speaking with him not as equals in the martial arts, but as students to master.