Mamoru quicksteps back and brings his heavy spear down like a hammer.
Mamoru brings the spear down like a hammer and cuts through the corby in a single swipe. He blow was so hard that the spear lodges itself into the floor as the corby falls around it.
Seori quickly gazes around the battlefield for stragglers, and seeing none, exhales and sheathes her sword, fighting the urge to favor her wounded side.
Makiko... Rushing to her wounded friend's side, she finds her pulse stable and her bleeding stymied for now. "Uta-san, I know not how far your skills at healing extend, but we'd be wise to make use of them before we proceed any further." glancing back to Mamoru, her eyes widen a bit at the gaping wounds and torn flesh of her yojimbo. "To have nearly felled Onitora-san..."
Seori grips her sword hilt tightly as she breathes. We come away from each battle with less friends, less blood, and less of the element of surprise...
Mamoru moves next to Mai, looking her over, completely ignoring his own terrible wounds.
"Are you hurt?" he says gruffly.
Seori keeps her hand at her swordhilt and away from the gash in her side, trying not to look Mamoru in the eye. "A wound, nothing crippling. Your arm was nearly torn off. Anything we can do to treat you and Makiko should come first. I will recover well enough. We still have an arrogant Oni to hunt, and our ranks grow thin. We cannot afford to walk into another battle with anyone in that condition."
Mamoru nods and looks to Uta, waiting for whatever ministrations were in store.
Without saying a word, Uta kneels beside Makiko and procures a vial of clear oil. He pours the oil upon Makiko and upon his own hands. He begins to gently caress and rub the oil in a specific pattern on her wounds and face, tracing ancient symbols of power. The oils smells wonderfully of fresh water and spice. Every place the oil and Uta's fingers touch begins to glow softly, illuminating symbols of the Celestial realm, which then absorb into Makiko's body.
Uta heaves a heavy sigh, feeling the drain that the flow of spiritual energy and expenditure of chi just cost him. He then looks up to Mamoru and pulls out a parchment with the characters sukoshi iyashi on it, meaning "a little/modest healing"
He reads the words aloud "Sujoshi Iyashi". The words flash with a barely noticeable light, then the light and symbols fade to nothingness. For an instant, it seems that they moved to Uta's hands, and he places them upon Mamoru Onitora. The symbols seems to travel from Uta's hands onto Mamoru's flesh and then seep into his body.
Uta raises his eyes to Seori. "I have 3 more scrolls of calligraphy, but no more oil. With time I may be able to make more of each, but not for the now. I can direct the flow of the spirits one more time before it becomes too taxing on my soul to continue doing so, though doing that will also make me more likely to fall to the claw as well. But if you wish it, it is yours to direct."
Seori looked over the remaining wounds of her companions, considering the opportunity costs of each choice. "It is certainly more cumbersome to use the scrolls then to direct your own energy during battle, is it not? And furthermore, the usefulness of such items means nothing if we die in trying to conserve them. Use one more of your scrolls for Onitora-san, please; he was nearly killed, and we will need his full strength in the battles to come."
Uta nods.
"Agreed. Your wisdom gives me confidence."
Uta takes out another scroll and - with Mamoru's permission - repeats the process as before, transferring the calligraphy's energy into him.
After this casting, Uta cannot help but wince in pain, as his own wounds throb with fresh blood. He removes his last 2 scrolls, and uses one upon himself as well.
"And you Seori-san?"
Seori's thoughts stray towards the gash in her side, but she is hesitant to show her wounded side.
"I...don't want to waste what precious resources we have; if you believe it is no more than needed, then perhaps it would be best."
Makiko awakens with the flutter of her eyes. "What happened?" She reaches up to tighten the cover on her head to notice that it hsd come off. She flushes red as her feathers are revealed instead of hair.
"Excuse me!" She starts looking around fanatically to cover her feathered 'hair'.
Mamoru looks at her wound, then to Uta. "Heal her."
Uta could not help but hesitate, being slightly taken aback by the feathered revelation. He pauses for a moment longer to think, then retrieves his final scroll of healing calligraphy.
"While those of avian likeness in these parts have been evil..." Uta whispers softly to Makiko. "...you, I can see, are not. I have also never seen one possessed by them to develop obvious traits like this. You need not worry. I will hold no bias because of a physical trait of a good person."
As before, energy in the form of symbols of writing made into light, from the page through the air and into flesh, transfers vitality into Makiko.
"Perhaps," Uta turns to Seori while still kneeling beside Makiko. "...we should try a different approach next time? Allow me to distract them. I will not be bait, but I will draw their attention with a song. Music can have power over the supernatural, and may give us an edge. Either they will become fascinated by my song, allowing you to sneak past or ambush freely... or they will come and investigate, in which case I will change the timbre and tempo to bolster instead us should violence ensue."
____________________
Seori smiles at Makiko's flustered panic. "You seem to fear we will think less of you in the presence of other feathered folk, Makiko-san. Worry not; your actions are more important than your ancestry. "
She frowns with concern at Uta's strategy, however, considering the sword at her side, and what it represented. "While I do not like the thought of striking from stealth, I do believe your tactic could at least draw our enemies into favorable territory where we can fight on our terms."
"Indeed. While it is not always advisable to fight fire with fire, we must at least be aware that these oni are both powerful and devious. To fight on their terms is to invite ruin."
Uta dusts himself off - his movement still a bit slow and weary from the claws he suffered - and helps Makiko up to her feet. He then removes the old guqin from his back, so that he may more readily place it before him to play should the need arise.
Mamoru said nothing. He did not particularly care what the terms of others were, or even the terms of his allies. He fought with honor, and he won. That was all that mattered to him.
Makiko remains quiet as the others address her. It is clear that she doesn't like to be exposed. You are distracted by a tapping noise coming from the largest portion of a dirty mirror. A giggling voice comes from the mirror. "Hello, hehehe, hello there. I seemed to have found a friend of yours wandering about the spirit realm..."
Seori's hand immediately returns to her blade as she turns to address the new presence. Eyeing the mirror and the surroundings for any oddities, she stands slightly to the side, ready to strike. "And who are you to know who our friends are?"
Mamoru stepped forward to look in the mirror.
In thr mirror is the vanara from your previous vision, he chuckles. "Just a friendly monkey looking to play a trick on fate and help you in the process so you don't have to resort to using the seal yet and lighting the beacon for the Jade Regent."
The vanara rears back as if to throw something at the mirror really hard and releases a ball of light that speeds at Mamoru. The mirror explodes outward around the massive samurai and he feels a human-sized thud on his chest as Taliv drops to the ground with an audible groan of surprise and pain.
Mamoru lets the body thud off his chest and fall to the ground, looking down at the figure.
The massive oni does not move to offer aid. He just watches.
Seori's hand remains frozen on her blade as she tilts her head to the side with incredulity.
"Taliv? Is that you?"
With a groan of pain and surprise, Taliv lands on the floor. Reacting quickly to the impact, he would roll backwards facing the others, scooting quickly backwards to place his back against a solid structure.
"Wha?!...Who?!...Whuh?!..."
His hair tossed by sudden breeze. his face full of questions, he glances quickly at the others. His thoughts at the moment mirroring his words.
What happened? Who are these folk? Wait! That is the Oni, and the woman is Mai Seori. So...By Asmodious' Gate, what is going on? I remember a queue of others, and it being so pleasant. And then the monkey man arriving behind me, calling me a fool and dragging me quickly away... And now, I am here. Where ever here is..
The panic begins to drain from his features, to be replaced by wary assessment, as he begins to take more note of his surroundings.
Did Seori say something? oh. She asked if it were me. I am pretty sure I am me. Best not think on that too much. In fact, best answer quickly before getting punished.
With a barely ascertained nod of affirmation he would respond quietly. "Yes. I am me. Did everyone have the same experience? I do not think I wish to enter doors under pools of water anymore."
Uta stares at the man for a moment. Slowly, he blinks. Then, he cocks and eyebrow. Eventually, his gaze softens and he speaks, his voice soft and airy as if he both whispers and sings.
"Young one, whom the kami of lost kingdoms find worthy... Welcome to Teikoku palace."
Uta keeps his eyes on this newcomer for now, but the stark contrast of his words to the surroundings everyone is currently in cannot be ignored. They are in ruins, a city that has long since been destroyed, ransacked, and abandoned. Splayed nearby are the bodies of three creatures, humanoid in general shape and size, but monstrous in actual appearance, showing features of crows: oily, black, and bloody in their recent demise.
Seori Visibly relaxes, stepping up to Taliv with a hand extended. "Easy there, Taliv. It's us. It's all right. You're back among us now. We thought you'd died. It seems a mutual friend of ours has done us a service in returning you to us." I must thank our simian guide later...for many things.
Taliv grasps the offered hand with an honest smile. Hoisting his surprisingly light frame to a standing position.
That was unexpected, I could have easily gotten up myself, but, that was nice of Seori to help one of my sort. I wonder why she did so, one of her station helping...
The many bruising lessons of Master Urashida concerning unexpected niceties exploded through his thoughts. Rewards that turned into punishments, traps set with baits of kindness, every action has hidden multiple purposes. Squelching the momentary joy of friendly contact, Taliv's carriage returns to the proper servile facade. However his eyes continue to gaze upon the corpses, sometimes flashing glances to the torn clothing of the others.
I should be more careful. I need to be more aware. Tests come in all forms. I know this.
"I am most thankful for your assistance. "
More at ease, in his familiar paranoia, his eyes take in the ruins, the hunter, Seori, the giant, and the poor musician. He would humbly walk and pick up his hat, offering each a quick head bob of respect, before returning to stand where he was lifted. Questions race through his thoughts.
Who is this fellow? Where are the others? That giant is too close. Why the dead bird things? Did the giant finally lose control? Teikoku palace? This? Remember, do not ask questions. Watch. Study. Learn. ...why would she offer to help me up?
He would bob his head respectfully again to Seori.
Seori returns the light bow to Taliv, then returns her attention to her surroundings.
"We need to find that arrogant fiend who masterminds this force, or we will never truly chase them out. He toys with the dead and dishonors all living things. We cannot leave him unchecked."
Viewing the halls before them, she sighs quietly. "Sadly, I do not know the chambers of this palace, for my life never brought me here. Uta-san, are you at all familiar with the castle or its corridors? I suspect that our quarry has set traps for us in some form or another, and I'd like to be ready for them."
"I am. This is where I grew up, and I did walk the halls of the castle on occasion... but that was many seasons ago."
Uta seems somewhat sad while he reminisces of the past, but he does not let these memories slow him from helping his new companions.
"Come, but be wary."
Seori consults with Uta's best recollection of the castle layout, thinking of places where ambush might be likely and sections that could lead to a flank. As they discuss possible routes, a thought flashes to mind.
"We should secure the weapons and treasure of the castle. We do not need the yamabushi arming a force against us or absconding with the valuables of the palace. Where do you suppose they might have gathered the greatest collection of such prizes?"
While the others plan looking over a sketch of the castle and scratched diagrams int he dirt, Mamoru simply looks at the gates and the archetecture.
Examines the the corpses of the bird men. Looking for items that maybe of use, or emblems of identity. Continuing to listen to the conversation concerning the one time layout of the palace. If finding any weapons or anything else of value setting it carefully aside, away from the bodies.
I wonder what we do here. Mai Seori seems to wish to search this place. I wonder if these are yamabushi, or agents of the yamabushi, or just something that needed to be killed.
He would give the barest of shrugs to his internal meanderings, as he continues to examine.
Uta shakes his head.
"Alas, I was not privy to all the ins and outs of the castle. Military stations like the defense towers, and high in the central chambers, as well as the sub levels, were restricted to me. I tried to explore there a few times, but always ended up in trouble for my efforts. If they have not already been ransacked, I could only assume the defense towers that still stand would have small cashes of arms, while large storage of wealth and arms would likely be in one of the lower levels. Though I cannot be certain. Most of my memory beyond this main level is of the people who used to share these halls."
While Onitora inspects the walls and gates, Uta cannot help but walk by and drag his hand across the stones. He stops as memory and emotions seem to flood into his mind. He takes in a deep breath and looks upon the work with affection. He speaks even softer than normal.
"My father build this arch. This very stone that I now touch... he placed here with his own hands."
Mamoru watched Uta's reminiscing impassively, but the usual scorn that completed the big oni's stoicism was missing. Something about the way Uta respected his father's legacy resonated within Mai's protector. He didn't say anything, but he did take a long look at the workmanship of the arch.
"Then all chance of accuracy is likely lost at the hands of our enemies. We are left with thorough searching and the hope of good fortune."
Examining the exits and comparing with Uta's sketch, Seori closes her eyes for a moment as she ponders the scenario. "If our foe fled in the direction he seemed to, we can pursue him by going through the north door. He will likely try to rally his minions to strike, or gather his preferred possessions to escape. Finding him may lead us to both our goals at once."
Keeping her left hand on her sheath, Seori advances to the north door and waits for her companions to regroup.
Once Mai has made her intentions clear, Mamoru moves forward to the door, throws it open and advances through, leading with his spear.
With a quiet glance up from his task, Taliv would move to fall in behind the others.
With his guqin in hand, Uta nods and quietly follows Seori. He will do his best to keep an eye out for anything and everything: dangers, interesting facts of objects and areas, old memories, and the like.
T17
Old tapestries depicting a majestic palace hang askew on the walls of this circular room and a thick layer of dust cakes the floor. The air is musty and weirdly cold. Old bloodstains splatter the walls, along with numerous brutal gashes and flashes to the stone itself. Two doors hang askew on hinges in a passageway to the south, while to the noth, a third door lies in fragments on the floor, opening onto a flight of stairs leading down into darkness. A second staircase leads upward against the north wall.
Uta continues as before, ready to sit and start performing an enticing song to lure or distract potential enemies with. He stops and looks at the multiple sairs, then quietly speaks.
"I cannot even guess as to where the evil Oni make berth. Shall we venture down into the depths, potentially finding a dungeon or, if fortune smiles today, abandoned stores? Or up, to find either living quarters of defensive outposts of men who are no more?"
Mamoru did not care for the cramped confines of human structures. Dungeons tended to be even worse.
"Up first." he scowled walking proudly down the hall, stopping to throw open doors and scan inside rooms as he went. If he saw no dangers he simply moved on, seeming to have little interest in exploring the castle beyond the necessity of looking for enemies.
Seori stays a few feet behind the lumbering behemoth, also alert for danger, but more specifically alert for items of import and interest. Her eye envisions the castle in better repair, as the signs of battle and abuse disgraced the crafters of these halls.
"Much rebuilding needs done once these halls are safe again. So many scars left by these Oni and their carelessness. A craftsman's work deserves better treatment."
U16
Judging from the blood and gouges marring the walls, a terrific battle once took place in this guard room.
Mamoru prowls into the Y shaped intersection and opens the leftmost door.
Eyeing the scars of battle upon the stone, Seori smiles slightly. "Well. At least we know this place was not taken without a fight."
As Mamoru prowls forward through the narrowed hallway the bloodstains on the walls that Seori is admiring begins to lighten as it seems to freshen up and begins to run down the walls of the hallway.
Suddenly ghostly faces animate on the walls and unleash nerve-wrecking and soul-shaking shrieks of terror.
"True. But the fighting was fierce and terrible."
Uta's voice is exceptionally soft and low. His words are slower than normal, as if they are strained and difficult to speak.
"Many fell without knowing what had come. And those who did fight back faced horrors no man should bear witness to. Even now, their spirits are tormented by this horror. Be careful, for the evil of so long ago may still..."
Uta's sentence is cut short with a silent gasp as blood starts to flow from the walls. His eyes go wide.
"Spirits forgive me! I should not have trespassed!"
Uta falls to his hands and knees and lowers his head reverently, and - on all fours like this - backpedals backwards down the stairs behind him.
__________________________
Something snaps in Seori's mind as the crimson trail begins to ooze anew. Her sword rattles in its sheath as her hand trembles uncontrollably, and she almost seems unaware that her feet are moving backwards; her entire body instinctively seems to pull her away from the mind-numbing fear. All she can manage is a stammered whisper as she fights to keep her composure.
"walls...do not...bleed..."
The unnatural shrieking cuts to her very core; her jaw clamps, her eyes squeeze shut, and her hands leap to her ears as she staggers backwards. All she can hear is the screaming and the pounding in her chest as she nears the stairs, barely holding her balance.