Burden of the Emerald Empire (A Legend of the Five Rings Tale)

[gman391]

-Fuck this shit, you're out. You're finding a good magistrate and reporting this in.

You stop looking back to where the people went and then back to Toka. You don't have anyway to save that person, no on your own, you're faster than most, stronger than some, and smarter than some, but against those four? You'd have no chance at all.

But it doesn't sit right with you, to just let something like that happen. You might go to prison for breaking and entering, but the Emperor...the Emperor has done right by you. Eri no longer has to be afraid to walk the streets near Mantis Samurai, you're no longer worried about execution if you're caught, just hard labour. No the Emperor has done right by the scum of the land, and what kind of man are you, if you turn your back on that.

"Minato, come on." Toka says.

"Sorry Toka, I can't just ignore what they're doing."

"So what you'll snitch to a magistrate?" He hisses.

"Yeah" You say at last.

The punch is strong, fast, but you were expecting it as you duck and begin to run. Toka curses at your back telling you not to show your face to him again. Honestly didn't expect him to take it that bad, but then, this might be the largest score of his life, and you're taking it away for someone you'll never even meet.

For whatever reason, maybe the friendship you used to have, you can't find it in you to be too angry at him. You dive out the window you came in, hands reaching for an outstretched spar of lumber as you look down at the street. The feel of ash wood under your fingers distracts you for a moment as you think.

There's really only one magistrate that you'd trust with this. She's a bit of a hardass, but she's also just, and apparently holds to something different from Bushido. Tsuruchi Mayu has always been too intimidating for you to really ask her about it. However, you know she's clean, and not easy to buy off, that makes her your best bet.

It takes you maybe a quarter of an hour to find Mayu in an amongst the various other magistrates and guards. The far too tall woman walks around with a simple looking wakizashi at her waist and a bow on her back, unstrung of course. You won't say that she's not attractive, or that you've never had...thoughts about her, but she also terrifies you by the way she looks right through you. Beside her is another samurai, uh...Moshi a male moshi with a more traditional daisho set up and man catcher pole arm.

You come to a stop in front of her, bowing low.
"Tsuruchi-sama, please may I speak to you?"

Mayu blinks in surprise.
"...Minato right?"

"Hai" You say.

That you're internally freaking out that she knows your name is something to deal with later.

"Alright let's hear it" She says.

"I have reason to believe that the merchant, Golden Oak is sheltering a bloodspeaker cell" You say quietly.

The Moshi seems to focus on you intently, almost like....he's planning something. But that doesn't seem too odd. Mayu for her part glances at him for a moment before looking at you.

"Explain"

So you did, telling her of discovering a way in, and exploring, of discovering the hidden room, of reading the writing you did, and of seeing that strange group of people before you went to find her. Mayu seems to believe you, and not press to much on your omission of Toka's existence.

What happens next is almost too fast for you to see. The Moshi seemingly mad, draws his sword and stabs Mayu in the side. She looks at him with complete betrayal, even as you find yourself back peddling looking around frantically for a way out...where did all the people go?

Taking the sword out of Mayu, the Moshi begins to advance on you with something of a...resigned air.

"Should have just taken the vault kid, there's nothing personal about this"

He takes a swing at you, you roll to the side, the bloody blade hitting the dirt. You need to get airborne--
The thought ends as the Moshi nearly takes your head off...he's so fast, there's no way you can expose your back to him.

Another dodge by a hairs breadth, too close, you need to do something, anything...
Minato, let your ancestors guide you
Inspiration hits as you see two kama on the ground, where they came from, you don't know but they're...Yoritomo use these as weapons all the time right? You slide around the Moshi's sword thrust and pick up the two peasant tools. Taking a stance that feels...right somehow, you look at him.

"...Huh, must have picked up something watching the Yoritomo play around....no matter" The Moshi says.

He attacks again in a brutal overhanded swing meant to break through your guard. Instead you swing your left kama in an arc towards the blade sending it off to the side, even as your right comes up in a quick cut across his face.

The Moshi pulls back, one hand going up to cradle the cut on his face.
"You'll pay for that brat."

Unrelentingly savage blows rain down on you, and your weapons are only by the barest of margins able to ward the blows. The truth is you're probably going to die here, you can feel that the peasant weapons you picked up are breaking.

As the sword comes down, you're forced to catch it with both kama. A loud snap echoing in the street as the wood and metal begin to give way.

"...This is the end" the Moshi snarls as he begins to push down forcing you to your knees.

There's a loud thud, and you both look at his chest, a single arrow coming out of it.
No more words are spoken as he collapses to the street. You rush over to Mayu, your own form nicked and bruised, but you'll live.

Mayu looks up at you, her skin pale, the side of her kimono covered in blood.
"You did good Minato-kun...sorry I took so long"

"Tsuruchi-sama...what..what do I do?" You ask.

"I'm not going to be fair to you at all Minato-kun." She says.

Mayu takes out a chop and a paper, and using her own blood draws down a message on it, and signs it.

"Take this to the Seppun in the Noble Quarter, don't trust anyone. Get another set of weapons if you can..." She takes a deep shuddering breath.

"...You fought like a Samurai...you are a Samurai, the Emperor needs to know...Minato-kun...promise me."

You nod and take the message along with her chop.

The woman who terrified you once gives a small sad smile.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't be more help...tell my family if you get the chance, that I love them..."

Her eyes close, she must have...taken all she had to make that shot, to save your life, maybe if she had ran...but she chose to save you.

"Tsuruchi-sama...." you say shake her.

There's no response, and while you didn't know her at all. A part of you can't help but feel regret for getting her killed like this. Still, you can fulfil those last requests.

[] Go and retrieve your daisho
[] Just take the weapons from here and use them

Now how to get to the Seppun, the Noble Quarter is locked up tight for the Imperial Winter Court.
You'll have to be a little creative to get in.

-----------
[] Go along the ocean shore and try to use a boat to sneak in on the water
[] Take the roofs again and climb in
[] Disguise yourself as a labourer and be escorted in.

 

[gman391]

---Get your own Daisho
--Take to the roofs

You take a deep breath. There's a part of you, a large part that just sort of wants to sit here in shock. Death is nothing new, people die all the time, but you've never seem something this violent before. A broken nose and and a black eye is more your speed.

But these people killed her, killed a woman that for all of her reputation, wasn't evil. Hell, she was even willing to take you seriously when you came to her with a story of a bloodspeaker cell. No you wouldn't dishonour her by stealing her things...and touching the assassin's weapons seems like a good way to get poisoned.

So you leave the scene, and hurry as quick as you can back to the small shack on the outskirts of the city that serves as your 'home' it's not much, barely four walls and a door, but the price (free) is right. In the humid heat of the afternoon, you carefully move around the boxes that serve as furniture to reveal the daisho of your father.

It's a beautiful thing, even now aged, it's steel shines with an inner strength to you, the intricate saya work depicting a mantis overcoming a scorpion. You're pretty sure that's important, but what it means well...mother suggested something about becoming a man and you kind of tuned out after that.

Setting the daisho at your waist. You come out into the setting sun, Lady Moon is slowly rising along the horizon. The twilight makes your life both easier and harder. Easier because it's harder to see you from below, harder because night running has the irritating habit of making buildings look too far or too close in your experience.

Mindful of the distance you need to cover, you set a moderate pace and fall into the rhythm of running. Never too fast that you got winded, but never too slow that you didn't make any progress. Below you the people are out about. Hundreds of fortunes made and lost in a single night, loves won, and bitter partings, people in the prime of their lives, and old men nursing memories. Kyuden Gisei is alive at night in a way that you don't think any other Clan's capital could be. None of the other clans are as close to their people, none of the other clans have such a hunger for life.

The moonlit sky is the only guidance you have as you reach the dedicated palace district, where all the nobles of the Clan and the Emperor are no doubt beginning their 'winter court' festivities. The walls loom large, and the quiet lanterns moving about them warn you of guards. No doubt they're on extra high alert for obvious reasons..but well you can climb. Hmm, that doesn't feel right somehow.

Carefully you scale up the walls, reaching for handholds and toe holds that have only the barest of purchases. Were you anyone less skilled, this would be impossible. As it is, your arms burn from the effort as you hang right underneath the parapet. The sounds of people walking bye as you wait for the right moment to come over the edge.

When the footsteps fade, you pull yourself up over the ledge, landing with a quiet thump as you look around. The torches along the walls, are all just far enough to let you...in. There's no way this isn't intentional. Which of course explains why Mayu didn't trust her own Clan. Well that and being stabbed in the side.

Still you take advantage of the gap and clamber over to the other side of the walls, climbing down into the palace proper, you realize for the first time that you have absolutely no idea where the Seppun would be staying. You've never been in the palace proper, which means you kind of just have to wing it.

Yoritomo-no-kami don't fail you now!

While you were no ninja, a life time of running, thieving and generally being a no good punk serves as a good substitute that leaves you sticking to the shadows and bushes, as you make your way deeper and deeper into the palace. Seriously, all you saw were Mantis Samurai, where were the Seppun?

You hear something coming from one of the gardens...investigating reveals an older woman with an older man very much praying to Benten. You blush a little...didn't think anyone was that flexible. Although the woman looks a little familiar...maybe you saw it on a painting somewhere? Well the Crab mon on the pile of clothes beside her means it's probably not important.

Ignoring that, you find yourself search all over the Palace for signs of the Seppun, anywhere, and failing. That doesn't seem right. You understand that there's a limited number of them, but as you got closer to the central keep there should have been someone, right? Well unless they were all holed up in the keep for some reason...

You look up at the tall central tower. Outside it was relatively easy to hide in bushes and what not to avoid being seen. Going inside the keep would forfeit that, but it might be the only way to find them. On the other hand you could keep looking, you do remember a hulking giant of a man at one of the temples apparently praying. You can trust a monk right?

[] Go into the keep
[] Go talk to Giant Monk
[] Something else (Write in but be reasonable)

 

[gman391]

-Go into the keep

In the end the words that Mayu said stick with you. Trust no one who isn't a Seppun. So while Giant Monk might be helpful, he might also be an enemy...and you're pretty sure that you can't take someone who literally can bend you into an abstract origami piece.

So you make your way towards the keep, something in the back of your mind is worrying at you.
Where are the Tsuruchi? There's always supposed to be a coterie of Bow Masters here
The towering stone and wood looms over you as you look at the main doors, seemingly left open. There are no guards watching them or anything. No this wasn't right at all. You weren't...you weren't a properly trained samurai or nothing, but you weren't stupid. You don't just leave the doors open when the Emperor is in residence.

Taking a deep breath, you run across the gap from the bushes into the main entry way. There you see what happened to the guards. One of them an older Seppun lays on the ground holding his guts in, as the other is impaled into the wall.
We took too much time getting my weapons, we need to get topside fast
The Seppun looks at you.
"...Who are you kid?" He says with a gurgle.

"Minato...I had a message from one of the magistrates."

"Seppun Sousuke, Kind of know about the traitors, thank you kindly...but I suppose it can't be helped...you know how to use that sword?" he asks.

"A little" you say.

"Listen. I played dead after they well, cut me open like a fish. I over heard something. Their leader this smarmy fucker named Susumu, he's holding a war fan shiny silver thing with obsidian inlay. That's what he's using to control the spirits. If you can get that to the Emperor...it might be enough. The fucker's no fighter so stab him a couple times."

"...Hai" You say.

"Sorry kid, I'd come with you if I could...but kind of can't feel my legs...healer'll fix me up though...Kami world coming to that I need a ronin to do my job."

"I'll do my best Seppun-sama" You say after a moment.

"Good kid, get the fan or the bastard...I'm going to uh..take a moment to rest my eyes."

You swallow, yet again someone was dying and you had no way to help. That thought bothered you, yes you stole, lied, and beat up people. But you never actually wanted to kill anyone...and now people were dying because of you.
This is what it means to be a Samurai, draw your blade if you want to avenge himWith a slow, oddly calm hand, you draw out your blade. Too many people were dying because of you, and you were going to stop it, no matter what it took.
That's my boy, we are the scions of the Storm, show them our fury!
You climb up the central keep, ignoring the opulent display of wealth the Mantis put forth. You couldn't feel something like pride in it, but it wasn't important. The Emperor was in danger, and like some sort of deranged pillow book you were the only one who could stop it.

On the third floor, you see a pair of samurai, ronin like you but on their backs, a mon you don't recognize, a symbol resembling a spider. Having long since thrown away silence in your attempt to hurry, they're ready for you. The spider ronin, one a man with lithe features suggesting he's from the Crane and the other more stocky, Crab like features look at you for one moment and laugh. The man beginning to taunt you

"Oh is the little baby ron--"

You silence him with a single slash of your blade. It felt...like you did with the kama, like you knew this weapon and how to use it far more than your hours of practising should allow. The thought is pushed to the side as the woman moves to cut you down. You know the strike before she does it, duck, and come up with a lethal upward's slash that sees your sword point through her skull.

Two people dead in less than two minutes, that should...worry you more than it did, but you had no time. Instead you kept going, absently flicking the blood off your katana, as you do so. There are more spider ronin like the ones before. Like them they die, your body moving and flowing like it's less a human being and more of a force of nature. Is this what those scrolls meant by 'munshin'?

Finally you find yourself on the top floor. In front of you, a man who true to Sousuke's word loooks like a smug git


On the other side of the room, the most beautiful woman you've ever seen stands, holding a naginata along with another man, this one is, you're not sure who, but he too holds out his sword. The pair are facing off with those four demon armours from earlier today.

The git speaks.

"You've done well this far Hisao-kun, but no matter how skilled you and your lovely wife are. These spirits cannot be stopped by you. Surrender now, and I'll make it quick."

The other man, Hisao speaks.

"I will cordially invite you to go kill yourself Susumu, my father and grandfather killed your previous masters. I will do the same to yours."

"...well I tried, for old time's sake." Susumu says.

The demon armours begin advancing. You don't hesitate coming up at a run behind Susumu your blade coming through his chest.

He looks down and then back.
"...a ronin?" He asks.

"Hai, Seppun Sousuke-sama said to stab you a few times...he'll forgive me for just one" You say.

Susumu chuckles, as he collapses to the ground, his face sliding off into a smoky ooze as a completely different person is revealed. That's...well you're going to have nightmares about that. The demon armours turn to face you, and remembering Sousuke's words, you quickly search the corpse to pull out the fan he mentioned.

The woman's face lights up.
"Destroy it!" she calls

You see no reason to deny her, and take your katana to it...the world goes white. As you fall to the ground you hear:

"Why do people keep attacking me at Winter Court?"

---------------------------------

Your name is Toturi IV and you are very tired. Part of you wants to blame the man standing in front of you for that. Yoritomo Naizen had been found drugged out of his mind in a small out of the way part of the tower surrounded by the Order of the Spider.

Kisada had taken a very enthusiastic walk to go get him. Naizen was on his hands and knees apologizing You know the man was proud, you know that this galled the pirate's pride. Fact was though, Naizen had failed. Failed to keep you safe, it had taken someone barely younger than you to do that. Granted, he seemed to be Yoritomo Aramasu's bastard son, so his skill was expected, but still.

Kotaro and Akane were still piecing everything together, but they had the gist they think. Kisada had found that Yoritomo's chief guard captain, Yoritomo Hideaki, had received a blood sword approximately two years ago. Hideaki had been corrupted by the sword, and with it, the rot of the Spider had been subtly spread through out the Guard ranks, and magistrates that were incorruptible paired with those who had committed deeply to the cause of Emperor Kanepeki.

Daigotsu had a son, that was news you had been...upset to learn about.
In the end it was known that eventually you would grace Kyuden Gotei with your presence. When that happened they would use certain blood magics designed by Shahai, along with the suborned guard retinue to create four unstoppable weapons of death, doing to you what Daigotsu had done to your grandfather a generation ago. Susumu had been slipped back into the city to ensure the plan went off without a hitch when you announced your intent. Hideaki had arranged for Naizen to be poisoned and put out of the way for the event. The intent seeming to be to cause another civil war in the Empire and deprive the Imperial Throne of its finest naval assets.

And while you had lost your guard, the plan had failed thanks to a single bastard ronin living up to a promised mission. The avenging fury of the Phoenix and Seppun had turned the upper echleons of the Mantis into an empty shell of itself, as countless Yoritomo, Tsuruchi and Moshi were purged for the allegiance.

"I completely accept all responsibility, but please Mikado, take my life, or let me take mine, but do not punish the Mantis for my mistakes" Naizen says.

[] Naizen will be allowed to commit seppukku, you will have the closest branch to the family of Yoritomo-no-kami inherit
[] Naizen will be executed
[] Naizen will be allowed to live but made ronin
[] Naizen will be allowed to live and maintain his position

The Mantis will be
[] Punished severely with their great clan status stripped and the families rendered back into minor clans. Your treasurer is likely to walk if you do this
[] Punished moderately with some confiscation of money, land and new tolls
[] Punished lightly, you have purged out the corruption, you have done enough.

Then there's the question of what to do with Minato
[] He saved your life, least you can do is make him a Clan Samurai
[] You expect that the Yoritomo are going to want him...but you will arrange for him to get a boat or something
[] You could use a plucky hero type by your side. Make him a Seppun and sponsor him to your court
[] Fuck it, your father made Minor Clans for less than saving his life. He will be the Catfish Clan, you'll give him Ryoko Owari or something

 

[gman391]

Fourth Year of your Reign
Fifteenth day of the Month of the Dragon

The House of the Inoe family was a distant one to Yoritomo. Being his second cousins through his father. But this century that had seen the Mantis rise to its greatest heights, had not been kind to that family. Thus as Naizen knelt in open court and preformed the Three Cuts without uttering a sound, that you found yourself receiving vassalage from Yoritomo Okimoto

Spoiler: Portrait

You were unsure of the man. He was by most accounts a moderately successful courtier who spent much of his time managing relations between the disparate holdings of the Mantis Clan. Yet something in his gaze had reminded you of a hunger, of a need for power that dwarfed even the ever ambitious Shosuro Jimen. For now though he was loyal, and all too glad that you had effectively severed his one real rival for the seat of Daimyo, by making Minato the head of a Minor Clan in his own right.

Taking the name Kobayakawa Minato, the somewhat bewildered boy had ascended as champion of the Catfish Clan now sovereign rulers of the city of Zayko Toshi. At your request, each of your council had arranged for a trusted associate to join the clan and help him rule well.

The Mantis as a whole had taken things...as about as well you could expect. They were not happy, but their anger was directed at the Shadowlands at the people who did this to them. You had only given justice, and the Tsuruchi and Moshi could not hate you for that, nor could most of the Yoritomo. But a burning hate now lay within the Mantis hearts for the enemy of the south one that only the Crab could exceed you think.

At least the Otomo were happy with their new island, and at long last they had stopped pestering you to give them a new castle.

These thoughts are banished from your mind as your council comes in and sits. Yoritomo Hiroko for her part, looking more sombre and reserved than you would like. You cannot blame her though, her clan...her clan had just been hurt by you severely.

You look around.

"Thank you all for coming to the cabinet meeting."

Noritoshi shakes his head.
"Of course my Emperor, even though we all know that this year must belong to the Shogun, we are ever your loyal servants."

Kaneka gives a snort.
"Kakita-san, you sound jealous."

Noritoshi replies smoothly.
"Never Kaneka-sama, merely cutting to the chase here."

"Be that as it may, the Emperor will decide not us." Akane says firmly bringing things in line.

You nod.
"Unless there are objections, I do think that the bulk of our focus must be on the military this year. Kaneka-san do we have enough time?"

"Possibly, it's going to be tight, and it won't be as good as I want it, but you'll have your army Mikado, promise."

"Very well, is there other business?"

Shem-zhe and Akane look at each other for a moment. With some unspoken word shared. Shem-zhe begins first.

"I have discreetly sent some Jade Magistrates to investigate Medinaat al-Salaam, their reports are to say...not heartening exactly, in that they confirm that there is indeed a large army building up there, mostly made of inhuman servants. They are currently looking to make contact with some of the nomadic tribes at my discretion. It is unlikely that they will help in anyway...but we will not be caught flat footed."

"And?" you press.

"The servants of the Shi-Tien Yen-Wang have at my order moved their main temple inside the Unicorn lands proper, but it is causing some....backlash with more conservative members of the Clergy. It is nothing that I cannot handle. It is something for you to be aware of."

"Very well" You say.

Akane waits for you to nod before beginning to speak.

"Unfortunately, we are extremely limited in our knowledge of the outside right now due to the interference both west and east. However in the North, we have finally managed to get some reports on what Isawa-dono has accomplished. The Shaman whoever he was or is, is dead. Most of the Tribes have seemingly scattered, but there are rumours of someone, or something pulling them back together, not with magic, but sheer charisma...I have pressed for more information but we have none" She finishes.

You frown...Sezaru...you hadn't been able to hear anything from him since he left. But you had hoped, that maybe he was somewhere in the north. But there had been so much to do that you hadn't been able to focus on it.

Nothing for it, you suppose.

"Thank you, I'll keep it in mind." You say.

"Other than that, there is to my knowledge nothing to discuss, merely getting to work as it were." She says.

You look around the table.
"Agreed. Thank you all for your time."

The brief meeting over, you're left with time for yourself. Well not really, you have another meeting to attend to. Kisada, has requested marching orders having spent the last year building and gathering monks to his order, he's ready to work.

[] You will have him search the Spine of the World for the weapon that Yakamo left you
[] You will have him head north to find out what's really happening
[] You will have him join the Jade Magistrates Shem-zhe sent.
[] Write in

Alright that decided, you have a little while before the enormous monk comes in.
Your mind flickers to the earlier meeting, usually you listened to your councillors and then decided. But today you had unilaterally gone with Kaneka's favoured plan, was that the right choice you wondered?

[] Yes
[] No

Right, you'd have to check in on that, and spend time with the wife tonight. She'd been...affectionate since that night, something about 'people keep trying to kill you, I'm going to have all time time I can with you'

AN: Sorry for the delays guys, this one fought me and the week hasn't been great.
For the record, if you go back to the last cabinet meeting, Kaneka's plan is virtually unchanged but -5 to the TN. If you vote no I'll give the other four elemental options but the thread consensus as I understood it, was pretty strong on doing the military thing this year, so it didn't see worth it to have a vote on that.

Also I need a pregnancy roll.

 

[gman391]

Fourth Year of your reign, month of the Horse, tenth day.

You don't quite rub your eyes in a deep sigh, as you listen to the report. But you swear you were this close. This close. While your Uncle had employed his not inconsiderable talents to force the Imperial Legions into something he could use. He had nearly been thrown out of the Phoenix Clan for essentially purging the entire Imperial Legion of Phoenix officers above the rank of Chui. Your wife had had to personally guarantee that she would provide a place for all of those Samurai. On a related note, your wife now had a small legion worth of her guard. The Crane were hardly happy about this loss of authority and respect, you had been able to persuade Domotai that this offered a good chance to rebuild the Crane/Phoenix alliance and show her own power through generosity.

But, while your Imperial Legions were ready for battle, the rest of your Empire...less so. With your Imperial armies as something of a supporting force for the main battle armies of the Lion and the Unicorn, politics had reared it's ugly head once again.

The Lion and Unicorn both wanted the position of Hatamoto for Kaneka. Kaneka had pointed out he already had one and wasn't replacing him. Despite this, Shigetoshi and Chagatai continued to argue about virtually everything with an increasingly irate Kaneka playing peacemaker between them. It wasn't that they didn't like each other, on the contrary they respected each other and considered each other great rivals....but both had entirely different ideas on how to defend Rokugan. For now at least peace was being maintained, albeit with a few more impertinent tongues wagging that the two champions should just kiss already.

No those two were your uncle's problem, it was everyone else that was your problem. While the Imperial legions had reformed, you had commanded the banners of the Great Clans to march in defence of the Empire. Naturally what should have been a smooth operation with your vast investment in infrastructure was anything but.

The largest problem was that none of the Clans wanted to fight beside each other:

The Phoenix refused to fight alongside the Mantis who had waged war on them without mercy for so may years. Nor did they trust the Unicorn with their strange magics.
The Mantis having sent a largely Tsuruchi based force, refused to fight beside the Scorpion or Lion contingents
The Lion didn't want to fight beside the Dragon, Scorpion or Unicorn but were somewhat less zealous about it.
The Scorpion did not want to fight alongside anyone, and had sent a token force in any event. Paneki arguing that the defensive nature of his army was poorly suited for anywhere but his own provinces.
The Crab had sent a larger contingent than expected, but also refused to fight beside Crane and Scorpion armies.
The Crane had been relatively simple only wishing to not fight alongside the Crab.

To say nothing of the round of musical chairs that you had increasingly forced to play using the small Dragon forces, as a buffer between the Scorpion and well everyone. (Satsu had sent what he could, but ultimately, most of his forces were staying home as a potential fall back position, as had been agreed on ahead of time) and then the Unicorn as a buffer between everyone but the Phoenix and Lion.
But ignoring that head ache was the question of who was in charge of what. In theory they should have been subsumed into the Imperial Legions, as a practical thing, the Imperial Legions could not reform and take in everyone at the same time.

Meaning that only the Unicorn and Lion were effectively set up as Legions, leaving you four legions worth of samurai without clear leaders. Which naturally had lead the unholy hell of politicking to break lose as everyone argued they should be put in charge of the new army that they were calling 'The Army of Eight Banners'

In a word it was mess, and you had just received a report that a Lioness with a familiar name Ikoma Motoko, had duelled and then killed a Kakita Ashidaka Kazuki, the son of the Ashidaka daimyo. It seems to have been a fair duel, but it does nothing for the tensions boiling over as so many samurai gear up for a war that they know will come in the spring.

You take a deep breath, you need to put together a plan to organize your Eight Banners Army, and you need to do it without pissing anyone off or promoting...idiots who would get good Samurai killed. A delicate line to walk in any times.

Taking out a paper and ink brush, you rotate the brush around in your hands as you begin to think.

You could...

[] Organize a tournament testing both martial skill and tactical acumen, the better you do the higher your position, the champion will of course be your hatamoto

[] Leverage the relative neutrality of the Dragon and the Minor clans to create an officer Corp that everyone could live with. It might anger the Lion, but well they aren't helping

[] Delegate this to Noritoshi and sack him if things go wrong

[] Appoint your wife to the position of commanding general and let her sort it out.

[] Decide to dismiss the army and trust that the Lion, Unicorn and Imperial Legions will be enough to handle things.

[] Write in

You twirl around that ink brush for a long time before you eventually ink it and write down your decision. Whether it was the right one or not, only the Heavens will now. With a crack you look up from the desk you had been sitting at seeing your wife before you. Kaname is holding a lantern, when had it gotten dark? That lantern look like it had been burning for some time how long had you made her wait lost in your own thoughts?

"Kaname-chan, my apologies, I didn't see you there" You say.

She nods. "You've been really hard at work Hisao-kun, so have I."

A sigh from your lips as you look at the paperwork you didn't get done today.
"There's so much of it to do."

Kaname sits down beside you, hanging the lantern up on the ceiling.
"I know, and I know you don't like leaving work unfinished..."

"But?" You press.

"I am your wife, and you have duties to me." She says.

You blink, thinking back...had it really been two months since you've done more than kiss her?

"I've been busy." You say.

Kaname simply coolly glares at you.
"I promised, we promised to be partners Hisao-kun. I was willing to wait for you to be finished, but the rest of the night? Belongs to me and your daughter"

"But..." you begin.

She kisses you, hard and firm, cutting you off.
"But nothing husband."

Kanames squeezes your hand just enough to hurt.
You are the Emperor of Rokugan, hundred and thousands will die by your command. But, like your father and grandfather, you have no real defence against a strong , forceful woman telling you what will be.

The rest of the night and day are spent with your small family, an oasis of peace in the madness of this summer.

AN: Roll Pregnancy with +1 bonus
Kaname is uh...concerned Hisao might not come back.

 

[gman391]

Kisada Search 35
Eight Banners Reform 29

Month of the Rooster, Eight Day

You look out at the skyline of Capital, hands behind you back as you consider the latest missive from Kisada on your desk. The Old Bear as he styled himself these days had been going through the Spine of the World with a fine toothed comb, looking for the weapon that Lord Sun had left you. Unfortunately while Kisada had more or less eradicated a half dozen maho cults that had run to the safety of the mountains after your reforms, he hadn't found the weapon. Although he has no proof, Kisada believes he is close to where it lay, he can't explain it beyond 'it feels like home' which home he means, well is less clear than you would like. You hope he hurries over the coming winter months. You don't know how badly you will need that weapon, but you suspect that you will need it very badly when the time comes to take Medinaat al Salaam back from the Shadow Dragon. You ignore the twinge of future headaches no doubt coming when you decide what to do with the place.

Your headaches have largely ceased after the mandatory vacation Kaname made you take for half a month. While you on some level regret the time lost (even if regret is a sin) you know that you really did need a break. Time to rest, time to be well a normal person. The position you have is a huge burden for all of its perks and well, you're only human. Your wife more or less forced that upon you when she made you take a break with her.

Besides, in the end the Eight Banners have largely been organized. You had to execute more than one Samurai for being a screaming jackass, but you managed it just in time for them to all go home. There's something oddly cathartic about that. For months you have in combination with the hatamoto of the army, one Mirumoto Kei, daimyo of the Mirumoto, fought, screamed, and kicked the army into a cohesive unit. You don't doubt that a lot of people are going to have hell to pay for their failures to get more important positions. On the other hand the Dragon and the Minor Clans, have performed admirably given you had essentially three months to train them to lead your Eight Banners Army. (Which is inaccurate you guess, in terms of naming, but you are rolling with it for now.) All in all you feel like you can rest for the first time in a while, something that Kaname appreciates, even if she frets about you only having a single daughter. (Adorable and amazing as she is).

For yourself, you can't say that you're not worried, it seems less important to you at the moment. (The fact that you are still ultimately a young man getting to make many many prayers to Benten-no-kami with his beautiful wife probably contributes to this) Truth be told, you feel ready, ready for this war to come, ready to fight for your Empire and show everyone once and for all that the Toturi are here to stay and you will fight literal monsters to prove that. Maybe you have too much of your aunt in you after all.

However, while your armies are ready, and indeed most are even eager for the war in the new year, there are still a few key choices to make that you've been putting off. You decide to sleep on it, as you turn away from the skyline...tomorrow will always be waiting and for now, you'll pace yourself better. (Lest Kaname once again threaten death on anyone who disturbed you)

---------

The next morning you're looking over the missives from several people regarding one of the key choices. Who leads the Army of the Eight Banners?

You could promote Mirumoto Kei, she has experience, skill and while not a brilliant commander, competent enough. It would mean getting another hatamoto but that's her problem you guess.

On the other hand, Bayushi Paneki has volunteered to lead, and even offered to step down as the Scorpion Champion for the chance to do so. For decades now he has been one of the few given the title Defender of the Empire, something he had earned in the Spirit Wars. His skills may have degraded but he was still a skilled commander and had the clout to do so. His offering to leave his position as daimyo and Champion made it at least somewhat likely this was genuine on his part.

On the other...other hand (you needed more hands) Kaneka has said that his old strategy teacher. Hida Otoya, could also lead an army. While the man is positively ancient. There might be no one left alive who knows more about warfare than he does. But the chance of him dying is...higher than might be wise.

On the fourth hand, you do have a wife, and while Kaname is more noted for brilliant naginatajutsu, she is in fact a reasonably skilled tactician in her own right, with your uncle even lamenting that he had no daughters like her. With the political headaches ironed out you could give the Eight Banners to her to use.

However, there was also the option of yourself. In the first truly great war of your reign, should you not in fact be on the front lines, fighting for you Empire just as your father and grandfather had done? To earn with blood sweat and steel, undeniable truth that you were the scion of the Toturi in truth. While you had always preferred court and internal expansion to war, you could do war if it was needed and your uncle would be nearby to guide you.

[] Mirumoto Kei
[] Bayushi Paneki
[] Hida Otoya
[] Toturi Kaname
[] Yourself

There you had made the decision for better or for worse. Now for the second great decision. For what might well be the last Winter Court held in peace time for a very long time, you had to hold it where again?

[] Kyuden Hida (Crab)
[] Kyuden Doji (Crane)
[] Kyuden Kitsuki (Dragon)
[] Kyuden Ikoma (Lion)
[] Kyuden Bayushi (Scorpion)
[] Stay home
(Mantis and Unicorn are not options for this year's winter court)

AN: The Commander vote is also a vote for a perspective change. The War of Light and Shadow will be played out in front of you rather than having Hisao sit on the back lines worrying.

 

[gman391]

My sword moves through the cold winter air, hot blood almost steams as it hits the snow beside me. The tension of a moment ends with a whisper, not a shout, just as it should be for those of my clan. My name is Bayushi Paneki, and I have just killed my own flesh and blood. Falling to the ground the sound of a corpse, giving up it's last semblance of life.

Deep inside my long frozen heart, a twinge of pity. My cousin was not an evil man, ambitious, yes, so very ambitious, but evil? No. He truly believed that to save the Scorpion from me, that I had to die. In the end he had not the heart to kill his own family.

I did.

With a flick of my blade, the blood is cleansed as the ritual of the duel continues. The chiburi, the cleaning of the blood is the last part of the duel. It is where an opponent proves they care for their blade no matter the outcome of the duel itself.

I look up towards the roofs of Kyuden Bayushi, the lone figure catching my eye for only a moment.
A nod, as if to acknowledge that I had won this battle, but hardly the war. Then I blink, and he's gone.
Bayushi Atsuki, to think that you are a sin that I have yet to fully expunge from our Clan.

Twice now, you have set Scorpion against Scorpion. Twice now in your lust for power, you have made me condemn dozens of souls to the Traitor's Grove. You will not do this a third time, you may think the game is still in play, but by removing myself from the board. You are left with a choice. Act, and take power only for my return to destroy it. Or refuse and see your influence, your prestige undone as those who follow you out of their own ambition see you as the coward you are.

I know what you will choose Atsuki, and my blade will pierce your heart. Just as it cut down my cousin on this cold winter day.

"Well fought Bayushi-san" The Emperor says.

Those brown eyes of his, they seem so young yet so old at the same time. A mountain's will is to be respected, even if it ends up set against you. He's young, I can tell that his patience for the games of court slowly wear thin, just as they did for his father, his grandfather...and his aunt.

It is the curse of the Toturi I think, to be Emperors who cannot delegate. In time it may be that his descendants will learn, but by then the land will be so much different from what we fought for that I question whether they would understand us at all.

I do not question my Emperor. I do not always agree with him, but I do not question his will, or his ideals. My duty to my clan requires me often to move around him, or to act against him, but it is not what I want. To serve as a simple warrior again is almost a relief.

Almost.

"Thank you Emperor. I trust you are satisfied with my efforts?"

"Of course, the Heaven's have declared you a worthy leader. Your strength will be unleashed on our enemies when the snows thaw." He says.

"You honour me" I say bowing low.

He does, I know that. Yet, as I look at the attendants moving to cover my cousin in white cloth, my mind can't help but go back to how this all started, three months ago.

[] It began almost from the beginning, a whisper campaign against me within the Imperial Winter Court, that I was foolish, that I was being chastised by the Emperor for my obstinance against him. His Kizoku, Otomo Kotaro came to speak to me...

[] It was at the first great event of Winter Court, that it became clear that someone wished to divide the Scorpion from the Emperor. During the Winding Water Banquet, as the night wore on, the drunken poems flirted with disaster as several Scorpion 'mistakenly' composed poems to the Emperor's wife and why she had taken in so many Shiba. It was lewd and crude....and the Emperor nearly had me executed on the spot.

[] The first tournament was to be something simple in my mind, a competition of martial arts, specifically hand to hand as the Emperor was known to be quite proficient in jiujutsu. A ronin with a death wish had won it, and then in his victory speech insulted all the Scorpion as being too weak and low to ever be a challenge. I sent my most trusted agent to find out who he worked for....

AN: Sorry for the delay on this one and the relative shortness of it. Papers have been killer.

 

[gman391]

Three Months Ago

"All Elements are one
One in many, as many are in one
So says the Phoenix"

"A Blushing bride in white
Red clothes underneath, under that?
Why lovely pink naturally"

"Fairest of all women
Grace me with your song this night
With burning delights

These are only a few of the poems spoken. All of them seemingly looking at the Empress as they are made. None of them are strictly speaking something wrong. In conjunction with each other though. They are all but accusing the Empress of cuckolding the Emperor with her new Shiba guardsmen and that is why she went through the effort to save them.

They will all be dead before the next sun sets. The question is will I be with them? I look at the Emperor. His face oddly calm, no not calm, calm implies that there is nothing going on underneath that mask of iron. I know that look, it is the look my beloved had when her father died, it is the look my old Emperor had when Iuchiban marched on us...it is the look of controlled fury. An ocean in a storm, great in its wrath, but focused on a single island.

Me

I have faced and killed many men, it is not often that I find myself worried about my survival, but as the Emperor declares the banquet over abruptly. The question looms large in my mind. The house of Igasaki had only ascended on the whim of Bayushi Sunetra, and while I have the right by blood and law. The Scorpion have ever been quick to sacrifice a Champion to save themselves from Imperial Wrath...and my wife, honourable as is, would not survive the experience, and with her my son.

I move towards the Emperor and prostrate myself before him. I do not ask for mercy, I will gain it or I will not. There is the sound of steel drawn, and I feel the cold touch of a blade on my neck. Careful, deep breaths to calm myself, as I commend my spirit to my ancestors.

The steel is pulled back, as harsh ragged breathing becomes still.

The Emperor asks, a simple question.

"Why"

"It was not my order" I answer.

"You are the master of secrets." He says.

He's right, of course, I have knowledge of things even the Emperor would be surprised by, like his uncle's wishes for after the war. A conspiracy should not be beyond my reach. Yet, no...I was not the only Master of Secrets still alive. Sunetra for one...could there be another. Could Atsuki still live?

"...I am not the only master of secrets yet living" I say almost to myself.

"You would accuse the woman you wished to be my Kizoku?" Toturi demands.

"No, I do not. I did not order this, I would never presume when you and your bride are so obviously blessed by Benten-no-kami. Even if as of yet your journeys to Musubi-no-kami's shrine have not born fruit. It is stupid, and unproductive to destroy our bond just as it was beginning to be rebuilt." I say.

That brings the Emperor to a halt as his mind begins to work. He is not his father, but he will be one day. "Then someone seeks to divide us in your mind."

"Hai."

"I should strip you of your position regardless.'

"If that is your will."

"I will think on, it for now, get out of my sight!"

That was enough of a command for me to simply leave. I did so, but I was not about to let things lay still. I had not drunken enough to dull my wits that much. I needed a certain Yogo, fortunately she was here in the castle with us. Someone was trying to hurt my clan, and I would be damned if I allowed it. Besides, there were a few loose ends for my house to clean up anyways.

Yogo Rieko, was in many ways, the opposite of what people thought a Yogo should be, calm, friendly, even honest to a point. Her black hair and eyes held no hint of the actions she had undertaken over the years to protect the Empire. Of friends murdered in their sleep, villages burned, and more. She was the finest hunter of men that I had when it came to those who use magic. Her teacher Koji had slowed in his skill years ago.

Many suspected that Rieko was to become the adopted daughter of Koji and become his heir to the position of daimyo. I knew it truth, I had authorized the adoption myself. That gave me some leverage to set her loose.

What she found though, did not make me happy at all.

[] Not only were the Soshuro in the castle largely subverted (explaining readily how my spies had failed) but that they had begun to take the Shadow Brand mark once again, in defiance of my orders and common sense.

[] There was an assassination attempt planned, not on the Emperor, the Seppun were expecting it, and perhaps more importantly had brought a small army of guards to prevent it. No the assassins wanted my head with the intent to frame the act on a radical member of the Crane.

[] Against my hopes, and confirming my dark suspicions, Bayushi Atsuki had not died that day in the Shadowed Tower, and yet lived, under the guise of a number of ronin, that all appeared to have a different faces, somehow...

AN: Another short one, I'm afraid. To be clear these are all a thing, but which one Paneki knows about first decides what he can do going forward.

 

[gman391]

--Not only were the Soshuro in the castle largely subverted (explaining readily how my spies had failed) but that they had begun to take the Shadow Brand mark once again, in defiance of my orders and common sense.

Two and Half Months Ago (17th Day of the Rat)

I sat in my study as Rieko threw down a Shosuro I vaguely recalled as being one of the new generation that Toson was grooming to take control of the Eastern Shinobi Network. The man was bound, and gagged, landing with a thump. Rieko puts her knee on the small of his back as she holds him down.

"Yogo-san, I hope you were a little discreet?" I ask.

There are appearances to maintain, and it does no good to find a key to the conspiracy if he's suspected of portrayal.

"Yes my lord, the air kami cloaked my movements until I entered." She says.

"Very well, and who is this?" I gesture at the person on the floor.

Rieko looks down at her captive.
"This is Shosuro Toranaga, a traitor to the Scorpion and all that live"

Toranaga manages to look up and glare before Rieko slams his head into the floor.

"You are unworthy to look at the Champion" She hisses.

"All that live?" I asks. A tainted Scorpion happened from time to time but Rieko was usually more composed than this.

Rieko pulls down his kimono just a bit, enough reveal the faint black markings of the Tejina markings. The Shadow Brands that bound the soul of the bearer to Shadow Dragon. Bayushi Kachiko-ue had forbidden their use after the War Against Shadow. An injunction I had kept.

"...So a slave to our enemy. Is he the only one?" I ask.

My mind began to work, I had to use this, how waited to be seen.

"No my lord. This filth has had a dozen others branded, and worse, through them taken control of most of the Shosuro in this castle. They are why your spies failed my lord."

I clasp my hands in front of me, looking down at Toranaga.
"You have done well Yogo-san. Leave him with me, I will deal with him personally, and please, ask your friend to join me."

Rieko stiffens a little at that. She believed that no one knew of her quiet affair with Soshi Matsuhide. Truthfully few did, and given that he was a widower, and she was as of yet unmarried, it mattered little, to me. Except, that is that it provided useful leverage and Matsuhide was a gifted Shugenja when it came to the air kami.

"Hai my lord" She bows and leaves me alone with Toranaga.

I stand up and walk around my desk, slowly sliding out my knife as I did so.

"Toranaga, Toranaga, you have disappointed me. Toson is going to be heartbroken over what happened." I say.

Toranaga doesn't say anything. His back is squared, he is prepared for any torture. Fool, torture is so inelegant. It works, but when you have a multitude of tools, why only use the hammer?

I kneel down, placing the crystal knife I carried against the shadow brand marks. Toson manages to not scream.

"Ah yes, you can resist torture, you're trained for it even. But you know what Toroanaga, that was merely for me to be sure that you were lost. I hate losing shinobi uselessly. It seems however that I must lose you, pity. " I say.

Carefully I remove his gag.

"You expect me to beg not to be put into the grove?" Toranaga asks.

I chuckle.
"Oh Toranaga, you think so small. I have a small elite band of Shinobi with magic powers, did you think I wouldn't use that?"

"I serve the True Master of Secrets." Toranaga says defiantly.

A knock at the door.

"Yes, you will" I say.

Putting the knife back, I go and open the door. Soshi Matsuhide is a relatively handsome man, if you like the aristocratic look. Short black hair and a simple domino style mask portray someone more interested in results than in formalities.

He bows low.

"My Lord you summoned me?" He asks.

"Indeed Soshi-san. You are familiar with the technique, Cloud the Mind yes?" I ask.

"Hai."

"I'm going to need you to ask the kami for their favour on the prisoner.".

"As my lord commands." Matushide says.

He closes the door behind him. Walking towards Toranaga and taking out a certain scroll from a locked portion of his satchel.

Cloud the Mind is perhaps the worst spell that the Soshi have ever made. Not only does it steal the memories you had, it allows another to...suggest others, and make them your own, almost like hypnosis but much more powerful. There was no real defence against it, though certain minds were naturally resistant to such tampering. Typically those who are especially beloved by the Air Kami. Toranaga did not fit that description.

Matsuhide finishes the spell. Toranaga's head rolls as if he's drunk, his mind hazed by the fog of the Kami.

"Do you hear me?"

"Hai..." Toranaga says slowly.

"I am the True Master of Secrets" I say.

Toranaga's mind is too befuddled to do anything but think it the truth. I cease being Paneki in his senses, instead becoming this 'True Master of Secrets' to him.

"Hai my Lord." He agrees.

"My spies have told me that the fool Paneki, intends to ask the Phoenix for help in rooting us out. They intend to use the Eye of Saibankan to do so. I wish for you to take your men and retrieve it first. I know it is winter, but that is what will make it work, they will never expect you in Gisei Toshi. Do you understand?"

"Yes My Lord" He says.

"You retrieved a map to Gisei Toshi from Paneki's office first. That was good. When you walk out of here, you will make your excuses and go in three days." I say.

Toranaga nods. I untie him and place the map in his hand.

"Now rise, and walk out of here." I say.

The shinobi obeys, and while looking some what dazed, leaves my office. Matsuhide looks at me.
"Thank you Soshi-san, you are dismissed, do try to be discreet if you can. I now have to make some arrangements with the Phoenix." I say.

His eyes widen and he nods.
"Of course my lord."

With a bow he leaves me alone. I check myself over and go to find Shiba Tsukimi. Time to earn some favour by warning her about my 'rouge' ninja and providing the tools to stop it. My other not so rogue ninja will in fact take that artefact. The Phoenix will lose prestige, I gain it...and poor Toranaga will be cut loose by his true master. Rieko will hint that I arranged it all...and my house strengthened.

-----------
In retrospect, I probably should have expected the counter stroke of attempting to kill me. None the less I didn't and instead found myself under attack in...

[] The Bayushi Labyrinth
[] The Gardens
[] the Dojo



AN: Sorry for the delay on this. Hope you enjoy.

 

[gman391]

---Month of the Ox, 5th Day

The red lanterns cut through the winter twilight, as the cool air hung on my skin. It was rare for someone to be out in the labyrinth in the middle of high winter. Sensible folk stayed in doors...but for those willing to risk it, the white snow changed the entire place into one of renewed wonder.

The Bayushi Labyrinth was always my favourite place to go when I was growing up. Endless passages, twists, turns and traps, all of it conspired to be the place where my body and mind could be pushed to their limit. In theory you weren't allowed in until after your gempukku, in practice, if you could make it in, you were allowed to explore.

Behind me the faint sound of footsteps, I had asked not to have anyone follow me....
I begin to hurry towards the entrance, back the way I came. Years of instinct told me that there was something wrong. The crackle of snow underneath my feet echoes too loudly, there shouldn't be anyone here. I glance up at the sun, maybe twenty minutes until the sun set, while small clouds form above the hedges around me. Small but not invisible, not to someone looking for the signs of others.
I was surrounded, and as I came up to a new hedge, cut off. They had altered the labyrinth to trap me.

My hand goes to my daisho slowly, as I close my eyes and listen. Ten on one, a death sentence by any rational logic. Not even Kisada would have gone against those odds willingly. I draw my blade along with some certain party favours and turn around. Gray masks, and nondescript clothing hide who they are. Yet their stances I know all too well, after all, they were ones I shared.

One hand on my obi, I raise my sword and point it at their leader.
"What's the meaning of this"

I know, but the script needs playing out.

"...By order of the Master of Secrets, you are to die" The lead says.

"Funny, I didn't give any orders like that." I say looking to my sides, plan forming.

"You are an imposter. Unworthy of the Shadows."

"That so?" I say lazily.

"Kill him" he says.

Three things happen in the space of three seconds the smoke bomb, I palmed in my hand went off in front of me. Two the slim bo-style shuriken I threw sinks into the leader's throat, and third, I was running up the hedge.

I land on the other side, my knees protesting, as I roll across the ground, not a young man any more, I really need to remember that. From the other side of the hedge, I hear hushed whispers. They'll be coming soon, hunting me down, I had ambushed them once, surely I couldn't do it twice. I was prey now, so they think. Idiots.

A breath and I begin to run, how much of this place had they changed? How much of it remained the same? Questions I find the answer to, as I throw myself to the ground, the triggered arrow trap going right over my head. They had changed everything they could.

I scramble up, and run forward some more, before stopping and running back my feet landing in my own tracks as I go back to the trap. I can hear the sound of them coming for me. Only one chance to get this right.

Once again I jump on to the hedge clambering on top of it, and lying down. Ignoring the branches poking into me as I wait. The sounds of people coming rewards me soon enough. I shift enough to look down into the path that I came from. Only four of them, they must have split up to try and cover more ground. They look down at my tracks, one of them making a series of hand signs to begin the search. People just don't vanish, certainly not past their prime Champions...Past my prime? That's just rude.

I rise up on my knees, as two of the assassins prepare to climb the hedges, and the third goes forward trying to see if I had somehow jumped or something to break my trail. I wait until the assassin has nearly climbed the ledge before I strike, breaking the branches beneath me as I jump at him. My sword held out like a point that goes into his skull. The first assassin falls down, as the others look up from where the corpse appeared.

Standing on the ledge, I hold myself calm, as I look at the remaining three of them. The one standing on the other ledge, snarls, and throws a barrage of shuriken at me. A sweep of my blade sends them falling to the ground.

"So, which one of you is going to put this 'past his prime' samurai down?" I ask conversationally.

Instead of answering the assassin that had stayed behind takes out a whistle to call for his companions. Well looks like a volunteer then. I jump off the hedge, my blade coming down with me in a brutal overhand smash that cuts through his shoulder almost into his stomach. Instead of pulling him off the blade. I turn around, using the dead body as cover from the last assassin's throwing knives.

The knives go deep, good throwing arm, not good enough though to stop me though. I pull my blade free, and jump back, evading the hedge assassin's own attempt to replicate my feat. The snow under my feet betrays me though as I slide down. Hedge doesn't waste the opportunity striking again, as I'm forced to block his blow. Our two blades slide against each other making sparks, as I struggle to keep him from cutting me with the no doubt poisoned blade.

I opt to get out of this through the simple expedient of kicking him in the groin hard. The slight moment of distraction is enough for me to force him away as I get up. A second kick connects with his face as the Hedge assassin goes down, neck clearly not meant to do a full rotation.

However, I took too long with hedge. Far Assassin holds up the whistle and blows. The piercing scream being as good as a firework to draw the remaining four to me. Damn, maybe I was out of shape? I don't say anything, merely charging at the last one. He attempts a decent feint with his ninja-to, but it's not enough as I dance around the attempted stab on my chest and decapitate him.

There's a few moments for me to search their bodies, I'm lucky that the 'ninja' kit is pretty universal for the Scorpion. Ten shuriken, three vials of poison, blow gun, four needles and two smoke bombs. I only need the smoke bombs and shurikens so I leave the rest.

From behind me the sound of more people coming. Fighting four on one without choosing the ground wasn't really my style, so taking a deep breath, I again climbed the hedge. This time landing on the other side without hearing my knees complain. Adrenaline is a wonderful thing.

I run forward a few steps, before turning around and taking out the smoke bombs I had. Only one chance to get this right. Four more assassins land in front of me. They look at me like I was mad to face them. I probably was, but this ground worked for me. I memorized their positions and threw down all the smoke bombs, holding a cloth to my face as I charged in. No one could see anything in the melee, we needed touch and hearing to do anything.

People are terrible at relying on touch and hearing, they hadn't moved at all, as I cut the first one down. My blade comes out as I stab into the person behind me a soft gasp tell me it's a woman. Two down, I try to pull out my sword, but it doesn't come. She's holding on to the blade?

The fist that come rocketing at my temple, gave me no time to really think about that, as I'm forced to let go and parry the blow. I hold my hands up defensively, as the thick smoke blocks us both. Neither can really see each other as anything but shadows. Fists dodged at the last moment. Kicks barely blocked, slowly the smoke clears and with it my shot at survival. I take out the shuriken and throw them blindly at my opponent. A grunt from him as I hit, having found him for certain I charge, elbow up as I slam into the assassin and push him against the hedge. His throat nearly destroyed by my charge, he doesn't manage to put up a fight, as I the knife from his waist and drive it deep into his heart.

One left, I breathe clean air again as the smoke fades and my last opponent comes into view under the last of the setting sun. Between us is the corpse where I left my sword, she looks at it and at me. The long silence fills the air. The question neither of us quite knows the answer to. Can I get that sword out of her friend before she cuts me down?

The tension breaks as she lowers her weapon.
"I want to cut a deal."

"A deal?" I ask incredulous.

"Ronin hood for information and walking out of here alive."

"How do I know you have the information I want?"

"Don't you want to know who set all this up?" She asks.

"They would have used cut outs."

"Hai, they did, but..."

She stumbles forward, on to one knee, her back filled with throwing knifes.
I run forward and grab my sword. With it in hand defensively, I move over to her, dark green eyes look up at me.

"....bastards...Yojiro's Daughter...Ekiji" She manages to hiss out.

"Who?"

The last assassin doesn't say anything as she collapses. I hold myself on guard for a long time before, I relax. There had been ten of them, I had thought that the last was placed on guard at the entrance...but no the last was guarding against defection. Yojiro's daughter....she couldn't mean Bayushi Yojiro, he had never even married...and would never have handed off the Championship to someone not even of his house if he had a daughter. Ekiji was a little clearer, if more infuriating, my cousin was named Ekiji, and in the event of my death, he would likely be placed as regent. My wife was too honourable for most of the clan to stomach.

I had leads, but somehow, I didn't think that it was that simple.

[] I ended up investigating the life of Bayushi Yojiro and discovering a certain woman
[] I interrogated my cousin
[] I looked into who was in charge of the guards for this shift

AN: This was a lot of fun to write, but exhausting. The next update will be the last Winter Court update. I hope you guys enjoyed it.