Glory of the Emerald Empire (Legend of the 5 Rings Quest)

[Winged Knight]

[x] Burn up the pool of blood. Cleanse the area

Will Roll: 7d10=41
Stamina Roll: 3d10=15


The fire is welling up inside of you, creating a colossal pressure beneath your skin. Your skull is pounding now, a rhythmic thumping of agony lacing through your head in time with your heartbeat. You feel like a water container that has been overfilled, just a few short moments from bursting apart.

You must relieve the pressure… You have to gain some space within your own body to regain a hold over your mind. But there's just nothing for you to grab on to, nothing for you to focus on to pierce through the overwhelming weight of the power coursing through your flesh. You have to direct the fire somehow, push it away from you…

Two giant hands reach up from within the bloody portal, settling on either side of the lip. The fingers end in claws rather than nails, and the skin is an unhealthy purple. The ground cracks as the hands begin to push against it, as if they are trying to widen the portal further. Something is trying to get out. Or, perhaps, to get in.

Could this hole in the world lead to another place? Might this ritual that Kohsa had unwittingly completed been to bore a hole from this mortal world into another far more terrible one? You get the same feeling from those hands as you did from the demon before. Whatever this thing is, it is related to the creature you just defeated.

That means it cannot be allowed to come through.

You are not sure how, but you force the fire away from yourself and on to those monstrous hands. It extends from your hands, from your mouth, in a torrent of flames so thick it is almost like a fluid. The inferno latches on to the otherworldly flesh greedily, blackening it beneath terrible heat. A deep, piercing howl fills the air from the other end of the portal and the hands retreat back.

You keep pushing the fire away, though, setting it upon the whirling blood. The liquid bubbles and steams, evaporating in a crimson mist, but not as much as it likely should have. The blood almost seems to be fighting against you, struggling to maintain its form. Whatever is empowering this portal will not be dispelled so easily.

Your thoughts come more clearly now that you have finally had a chance to release the fire, and you push your way through the haze that has so clouded your mind. The seconds pass by agonizingly slowly as you wrestle with the pressure within yourself, trying to regain full consciousness.

It is like you are pushing a stone up a steep hill. The endeavor is not just a matter of strength, but of focus. If you try too hard in an incorrect way, you will lose balance and the stone will come tumbling back down. That cannot be allowed to happen, for you are certain you will be crushed beneath its weight. So you have to do this right, have to ensure your burden reaches where you can release it safely.

Finally, after what seems like hours, you feel the power fade within you. The fog within your mind vanishes, and you are fully yourself again. You are Hiruma Sosuke, Samurai of the Crab.

But with the return to clarity comes perfect feeling of all the agony you have endured. You gasp and fall to your hands and knees, just barely managing to keep from collapsing upon the ground. Everything hurts. Your joints feel as if someone has stabbed them with knives, and your muscles are burning so much you would almost think you were still on fire.

But even still, this is a normal pain. The pressure from before, the overwhelming heat that rushed out from within you, has vanished. All you feel now are the normal aches of one who has overexerted himself, if perhaps multiplied several fold. Even hurting as you are, it is by far more preferable to your previous state of being.

Several more moments pass as you do your utmost to keep your breath steady, trying to fight through the agony. It is a useless gesture. Your will is all but spent by this point, and exhaustion is dulling the responsiveness of your body. The best you manage is to not pass out right then and there, keeping conscious only through sheer concentration and stubbornness.

A sound next to you draws your attention, creating a blessed distraction from the pain. You look up and see Shasa gazing at the portal. She is injured, her armor cracked and stained from the blood flowing from her wounds. She looks as if she can barely stand, though somehow she manages.

One injury in particular draws your attention. Shasa's beautiful face is marred from where she attempted to rip out her eyes, deep scratches torn into her skin. What could she have seen within the Oni's illusions that would drive her to such an extreme?

"It's not over yet," she whispers, so quiet you can barely hear her.

"Sha-" you start, your voice raspy. You swallow and continue. "Shasa?"

"You were right to direct the fire there, Sosuke-san," Shasa continues. "The ritual was not yet ready for this step. More blood was needed to ensure the portal's stability, and your flame has weakened it further. But more will be required to seal it."

"How… How do you know these things?" you ask. "Shasa, what are you saying?"

She looks down at you with a sad smile, sorrow filling her eyes. "I know because the kansen are whispering it to me even now, Sosuke-san." Tears flow down her cheeks. "I know because I am Maho-tsukai. I cannot deny it any more, not now. Not after what I have seen. I tried to fool myself into thinking it was just a few times, that I would never touch it again. But that is… That is not how this works. I realize that now."

"Wha-What?" you ask, unable to speak any further. Shock and pain hold your tongue fast, and all you can do is stare at Shasa with wide eyes as she turns her attention back to the portal.

"There is still something that must be done before this portal can be closed," Shasa says, ignoring your stupefaction. "The ritual was completed with a sacrifice… and it must be broken with one. I will see this finished."

She walks forward.

[] Call out to her and beg her to stop.
[] Let her continue.
[] Write in.

Sosuke has suffered 25 Wounds. He has 43 Wounds remaining and is in the Hurt Bracket. He will take +10 difficulty to all actions until he is healed.

 

[Winged Knight]

[x] Call out to her and beg her to stop.
-[x] "Shasa, oni lie. The kansen lie. I do not know what was done to you or what you can hear, but if dark powers tell you to shed blood on a portal to their realms you should probably not do that, no matter what they claim it will or won't do!"

Courtier Roll: 5k3=34


This is insanity. Yes, that must be it. You must be dreaming, or have gone mad, because none of this makes sense. How could you have channeled such awesome powers to defeat an Oni in two blows? How could Shasa, your friend… perhaps even more than friend, be a Maho-tsukai? None of that makes any sense! This just can't be happening!

You try to struggle to your feet, but all you really manage is to slip and catch yourself before you fall over. Your limbs ache so badly… You've not felt this horrible since your first few days of training, and you could barely move after that. But you hardly think about that. No, your attention is completely focused on Shasa walking over to the pool of blood.

I have to stop this, you think desperately. I can't… No! She can't do this!

But Shasa is too far away now, even if you could rise. You think you could manage, given a few minutes. But in that time your friend will be dead. You've nothing left but your voice.

So you will do what you can with what you have.

"Shasa, oni lie," you shout. "The kansen lie. I do not know what was done to you or what you can hear, but if dark powers tell you to shed blood on a portal to their realms you should probably not do that, no matter what they claim it will or won't do!"

Shasa picks up Kohsa's fallen knife and holds it steady in her grasp. However, she does not use it immediately. Instead, she turns around to look at you, tears still in her eyes.

"My apologies, Sosuke-san," she says, so calm despite the sorrow in her gaze. "I was not clear. I do not know how to close this portal because the kansen are telling me how. I know what must be done because the kansen are telling me how to stabilize it. I am… I am not the best with blood magic, but by doing the opposite I will be able to destroy this foul thing."

"You don't know that!" you scream. "Shasa! Shasa, please! You don't have to do this!"

"But I do," Shasa says, looking at the knife. "You don't know what I saw, Sosuke-san. I was… I was a monster. I bathed in the blood of my family, lorded over the torture of our people. And you… what I did to you…"

"That doesn't matter," you answer. You have to keep her talking. The more she talks, the less she'll be thinking of what to do with that knife. "Shasa, it was a lie. It was a vision made to hurt us, nothing more!"

"No," Shasa responds, shaking her head. "It was that, and so much worse. I have lived my life deceiving myself, thinking my petty wants were justified and that Bushido was nothing but silly rules to hold me back." She looks back toward you. "But then you showed me what true honor is with your every action, the joy that could come from serving a cause larger than oneself. And I was… I was ashamed of myself."

"Please don't do this," you beg, your voice nothing more than a whisper. "Shasa, please! We can get you help. We can find another way to close the portal. Just… please…"

"I think…" Shasa says slowly. "I think you and I might have been good together, Sosuke-san. I think… I think I might love you. And that is why I cannot let you die to the horrors waiting to emerge." She smiles at you. "Goodbye."

Shasa cuts the palms of both her hands, and you scream as the blood pours out of her in a rush. She still smiles as her body begins to crumble away, disintegrating into a powder that falls into the spiraling pool. The portal quakes as the dust of Shasa's body mixes with it, the crimson liquid boiling away.

The hole in the world quivers and, finally, closes as the blood smashes back together. The pool bubbles violently, as if trying to hold together beneath a great heat, and then explodes into a red mist. When it clears, the pool is empty. The blood, and the portal, have both vanished.

All that remains of Shasa is her armor and swords…

Your vision blurs as tears flow down your cheeks. It is a shameful thing to do, displaying such great emotion like this. But you do not care. There is no one to see you now, no one to chastise you. Shasa is… Shasa is gone.

She is dead, and you could do nothing to stop her. A hollow feeling grows within your chest, like a gaping hole where your heart should be. This emptiness hurts like nothing you've ever felt before. You have seen friends die, but Shasa was… What? Was she more than a friend?

You do not know. And now, you never will. And that, above all else, is perhaps the greatest tragedy.

Laughter distracts you from your grief, and you look to see the body of the Oni shifting, ever so slowly, in your direction. The insectoid form is broken and scorched, obviously unable to do much more than this pitiful movement. Even still, though, it lives. The monster looks at you with its few remaining eyes, those children's faces expressing dark amusement.

"To think," the Oni says with its many voices. "I believed you small and helpless. Just a child… Oh, you can only imagine my surprise." It laughs again. "I opened that portal with blood and terror, and sealed it with a father's desperate love. I thought myself so clever. After all, love is such a powerful force!"

With struggling, shaking feet you stand and pick up your tetsubo. It feels so heavy in your hands... An almost unbearable weight, really. It is as heavy as the world itself. You've only just enough strength left in you, with those few moments of rest, to even walk. Each step is a monumental task as you make your way to the Oni.

"But then you and she come along, break my body and destroy my work using another kind of love," the Oni continues. "Such remarkable symmetry… Fate truly is a troublesome thing." The monster cackles. "That man who fancies himself Daigotsu's heir doesn't acknowledge it. He sees only this material world. But I, Kohsa no Oni, should have known better! I should have seen the signs… But I did not. Not until the end was already upon me. I must congratulate you, Samurai! I am well and truly defeated!"

You are standing over the Oni now. Most of its body has burned away, leaving only a portion of its front and a few of its faces. The humor in those expressions dies away, and the beast grows somber as it gazes up at you. You raise your tetsubo over your head.

"I see you for what you are now," Kohsa no Oni says. "Legends scatter with time, but some appear to return if the situation calls for it." It points at you weakly with a single, remaining claw. "But beware, Samurai, for darkness comes. And in its wake, not even the brightest of lights may burn." Those faces smile. "All you have done, as your kind ever does, is buy a few moments more. But in the end this realm will fall, and your world will be as our own!"

Then the Oni laughs once more, a horrible sound. You drown it out with your roars as you smash your weapon into the Oni's faces. You hit it again and again and again. You strike it with all the force you can bring to bear, and yet the monster still laughs! Its horrible, childlike glee resounds throughout the cave even as you finally break the Oni's remains into a shattered mush.

You fling your tetsubo, now showing cracks all across its battered form, away from you and fall to your knees. Your enemy is dead, but you experience no joy. You feel nothing, save for a coldness within your chest and a terrible ache in your limbs. A scream rips its way out of your throat, fists clenched before you as if trying to grasp something, anything to hold on against pain both physical and emotional.

And then, finally, you fall over. You have nothing left in you. You are spent.

It is a blessing when you close your eyes, and let unconsciousness take you away.

*****
​

Thus ends the second arc. Wow, but this was a long one. I must apologize for the various delays in updates. My workload at my job has shifted around these last few weeks, and I've also recently gone from part time to full time employment. As such, I've been a fair bit more tired recently. Hopefully I'll get used to it soon, though, and things will mostly be back on track.

As with the last arc, there will be about a week's hiatus before we begin the next segment of this Quest. This is as much to let me fix my sleeping schedule for work as it is for you to play around with your Experience Points.

Speaking of…

Honor
Sosuke aligned himself with a creature that is, by all rights, an enemy to the Clan. He may not have done so in words, but his actions speak louder than any clever excuses. At his current honor rank, this is an incredible disappointment. However, he has also slain an Oni, a physical embodiment of the Realm of Evil itself. This accounts for his previous transgression and more. Overall, Sosuke has gained 3 points of Honor.

Glory
Sosuke has slain an Oni. Such are the tales legends are built from, spoken throughout generations. Word of this deed will spread, and will be acknowledged. As such, Sosuke has gained a full rank of Glory, equaling 10 points.

Experience
Sosuke has triumphed against a terrible foe, stronger than any he has ever faced. He has also experienced great loss, and even while he grieves he has grown as a person. As such, he has gained 10 Experience points.

Thank you all so much playing. I look forward to continuing this story with you all soon.

 

[Winged Knight]

And we're back! Sorry for the delay. My work schedule has changed quite a lot over the last several weeks, and I've also gotten increased hours. I'm employed full time now, which has also shifted my sleeping schedule quite a bit. I'm still getting used to it, honestly, so that might impede my ability to write. I apologize for that, and will do my level best to update at least four times a week. We'll see if I can manganese hold to that.

But enough about that. For now, the game must go on.

[x] Faster, Stronger, Better, Harder



You float in blackness, numb to everything around you. Nothing can hurt you here, for nothing exists save yourself. Memory is but a few fragmented wisps, bare slivers creating the only thing that separates you from the emptiness. You've no idea how long you have been within that darkness. Ultimately, it does not matter.

Eyes form out in the nothingness, glowing red. They are gigantic, easily larger than yourself and illuminating a long, sinuous shape that goes out into the dark before melding with it. But aside from tilting your head to look, you give no response. After all, how could this be important? As long as nothing matters, you can avoid being hurt.

Something massive reaches for you, though you cannot see it very well. It is the same color as the tenebrous gloom that makes up this place. But you think it might be a claw, though far larger than any you can dredge from your foggy memory.

The claw comes within feet of you, about to make contact, when fire erupts around your form. Your eyes widen as the flames encircle you, and your memory begins to solidify. It is hazy as of yet… But you can grasp your name. You are Hiruma Sosuke, of the Crab Clan.

The reaching appendage recoils at the sudden heat and light, and the eyes vanish. So, too, does the serpentine shape that rested behind them. You are left alone now, with nothing but this strange fire to give you thought and form against the nothingness you've found yourself in.

"How very interesting," a deep, oily voice says from the darkness. "So this is what has become of you? My oh my."

A figure steps into view, clad in fine ebon robes with a gray trim. He has long black hair, but his features are oddly indistinct. It's not that he is ugly, but it's also that he is not particularly good looking either. His face is rather plain. In truth, there's really nothing recognizable about this man at all.

Save for the eyes… Those, at least, seem to glow with a crimson light. The same light you saw just moments ago.

"If only I could observe you for a little longer," the man says, cocking his head as if noting something. "But for now… Ah, our time together is already ending." He smiles. "I'll see you again."

This strange place fades, and you feel yourself being pulled elsewhere. You do not fight the sensation. Now that awareness has begun to return to you, you find this place strange and disturbing.

Best to be gone.

o\O/o
​

You awaken to a dull ache that seems to cover your entire body, and a deep weariness that goes down to your bones. Your eyes are heavy as you open them, and you can see from the gathering light that it is morning. That is your first indication that you are no longer in the cave, the second being that you are resting in a bed.

The cave…

Memory comes back in a flash, and you almost gasp for breath at how sudden it hits you. The cave, the Maho-tsukai, the Oni… As well as the strange fire that almost consumed you as you fought the enemies of all who live.

Finally, your thoughts turn to Shasa, who sacrificed herself for your sake. She was your friend, and perhaps she was becoming something even more precious than that… But you'll never know now. Shasa is dead. She died for you.

You blink your eyes as tears fall down your cheeks. You put forth only a token effort to restrain them. No one is here to observe your weeping, to bring shame to your grief. You are alone. And, in that solitude, you can let down your guard for at least a little while.

Shasa deserves that much.

Almost an hour later you have composed yourself, sitting up and leaning against the wall next to your bed. Your chest and limbs are covered in bandages, and you feel exhausted. Hunger and thirst also gnaw at you, and you are pleasantly surprised to see a cup of water resting nearby. You take a shallow sip, moistening cracked lips and a dry throat. It is painful at first, but soon enough relief comes.

You are half way through the cup when the door opens. You attempt to bow as Yasuki Goro walks in, but the motion makes you wince in pain. Your superior raises a hand as you try again, forestalling your efforts.

"No need for ceremony now, Sosuke-san," the courtier says. "Not in your condition. It'll be another day or two before you're ready for that."

"How long…" you ask, your voice raspy despite the water you drank. "How long was I unconscious?"

"Three days," Yasuki Goro replies before sitting down in a nearby chair. "During which I have had the people of this village take care of you and treat your wounds."

"Three days?" you ask, bewildered. You raise a hand to your head, suddenly dizzy. "I was… How did I get out of the cave?"

"The ogre brought you out," your superior says with distaste. His lips draw into a firm line. "Both you and Shirou, along with the child and Shasa-san's armor and weapons. I have questioned him on what happened, though the creature is tight lipped on the matter. Shirou was more forthcoming, but his memory is addled from a blow he took." He leaned forward. "I was hoping you might be able to explain better what went on inside that cavern, Sosuke-san, and why Shasa-san is dead."

[] Tell the whole truth.
[] Tell part of the truth. (Write in.)
[] Tell a lie. (Write in.)

 

[Winged Knight]

Enough people voted for Void Point expenditure with telling the partial truth that I decided to just allow it.

[x]Gman
-[x] Spend a Void Point.

Sincerity Roll: 5k4=23


You blink, so many thoughts going through your head at once. What had happened back in that cave? In all honesty, you are not entirely sure. You fought, you were hurt, you were trapped within a nightmare…

And then came the fire, and when the fire died so did Shasa.

Thought of the loss of your friend twists your guts like an icy claw. You remember the blood, the knife in her hand… Her smile, right before the end. That, more than anything, you will remember until the end of your days. She died for you, claiming use of powers your Clan has condemned for over one thousand years.

How much of that can you reveal? Honor demands you tell the truth, but what if that truth would cause more harm than good? Do you even properly remember those last few minutes? You were almost delirious with pain, and Shasa seemed little better. Who is to say whether or not what she told you was correct, or just lies brought upon her by those horrible visions?

You take a deep breath. You need to follow procedure. Tell the truth as you most clearly understand it, and then move on from there. Shasa may or may not have been Maho-tsukai, but more than anything she was your friend. That means something. It has to, elsewise her sacrifice might be tarnished by something you can't even be completely certain is real.

"The ogre was not the source of the kidnappings, and it told us of a cave where a Maho-Tsukai was and said that was the source," you answer, picking your words carefully. We checked it out, with the Ogre following."

"So that part is true, then," Yasuki Goro says, frowning. "Go on."

"There we saw a man named who was indeed a Bloodspeaker, he was using children at the behest of an Oni," you continue. "We fought, and the Bloodspeaker opened a portal to the Realm of Evil."

"He did what?" your superior asks, eyes shooting up in alarm. "Sosuke-san, are you certain of this?"

"Very certain, my Lord," you say. "Then the Oni forced us into a vision of our darkest nightmares. I saw the Empire fall, and myself broken... and something broke then. I don't remember anything but heat, fire and light. I used it to kill the Oni, and then before I collapsed forced the portal to weaken." You pause, the next words so painful to say. "Then... then Shasa-san gave her life to finish the task. How she did it I know not, but she did. After that?" You shrug. "Well, I ended up back here."

"You weakened it with fire you cannot remember," Yasuki Goro mutters. "And then Shasa-san sacrificed herself in order to close it…"

The courtier stood up, turning toward the window and clasping his arms behind his back. He gazed out into the morning light for some time, deep in thought. Yasuki Goro seems so stoic, like he has been carved from stone. But at the same time, he also appears… resigned? Calm? You are not certain. The man's expression is carefully controlled, and you can divine no true meaning from it.

"You have made a mistake in these events, Sosuke-san," Yasuki Goro says at last. "Are you aware of what it was?"

You wince. "I should have returned to you after I was certain the Ogre was not the culprit, and we could have made a new plan with the knowledge there was a Maho-tsukai in the area."

"Yes," he says. "You are correct. An ogre is one thing, but as soon as you believed a Maho-tsukai was involved you should have gathered the full strength of our caravan." He rests his hands on the window, still staring out. "The Bloodspeakers are not dumb beasts or brutish monsters, capable only of wielding club and blade. They hold dark powers, and must never be taken lightly. Doing so costs lives."

He doesn't say anything else, but you can read his meaning easily enough. You underestimated your opponent, and because of that Shasa died. The group followed your decisions, which makes the results of the expedition your responsibility. By most measurements, this means the victory can be laid at your feet.

But it also means the cost for that victory is a burden you must bear.

"I am sorry, my Lord," you say softly. "I have caused you trouble, and lessened your protection as a consequence."

"You have, but you have also ended this time of dead children. That is worth something," Yasuki Goro says before turning back to you. "We will be here for two more days so that you and Shirou may rest and recover. I have been composing letters, and will send them off today. This information must be told to only to a few select individuals. It would not do for it to spread wildly, though I fear details might escape no matter how much care we take."

Your superior nods to you, and then heads out the door. You are left alone in your room, aching and tired. Hunger still gnaws at you, as well, though it feels less now that you've been awake for a little while. You feel… numb, after that conversation. No, perhaps that it not the right word. You are just weary, still, in both soul and body.

The morning's light continues to shine into the room, bringing forth the day. You have many hours yet before it ends. What you do next is, as always, your own decision.

[] Go back to sleep.
[] Find some food.
[] Write in.

 

[Winged Knight]

[X]Find food, eat. We will do no one any good by letting hunger overwhelm us
[X]Take rice and sake as offering for Shasa, pray.
[X]See to Shirou, as his wounds were grievous and he too has lost a friend.


You debate with yourself briefly on how to proceed. You are, to put it frankly, exhausted. Even after three days of sleep your body feels incredibly heavy. Another sip of water revitalizes you a little, moistens your still parched throat, but this alone will not sustain you.

That leaves either sleeping longer, or getting some food. Your stomach growls in response to the two options presented before you, making its opinion known. You pat it lightly, and it growls again. You suppose you have your answer.

Standing up is a challenge. You have been sleeping for so long that your limbs have grown stiff, and you have to support yourself for several minutes by leaning on the wall. Your robe is wrinkled from your long slumber, but you care little for that. Slowly, your strength returns to you. With careful steps you make your way out of the door.

You can tell immediately that you are in the hallway of an inn. In hindsight, that should have been rather obvious. Your room had been comfortable yet spartan in its furnishings. Such is typical of many inns. You keep one hand on the wall as you make your way down the stairs.

The common room is empty this early in the morning, everyone else going about their own business at this hour. The proprietor is up, though, along with some of the staff. They approach you as you make your way on to the floor.

"Honored Samurai," the innkeeper says, bowing low. His underlings do likewise. "Our most sincere thanks for ending the terror that has plagued our village. What might we provide for you?"

The gratitude makes you wince. It was not you who saved this village, not really. If that portal had remained open the monsters that crawled out would have attacked this place first. Everyone would have died. But instead, Shasa sacrificed herself. She died so that you, and all of them, would live.

You push the thought down. Now is not the time to linger on such things.

"Food and water, if you would," you say as you sit down, grateful to take your weight off your legs. "Something filling."

"Of course, noble Samurai," the innkeeper says, bowing again. "Whatever you wish."

He comes back swiftly with a plate of fish over grilled vegetables, a bowl of rice and another bowl of soup. The dishes are well made, and obviously not the sort of thing he normally serves customers on. You are being given special treatment. On the one hand, that is your right. But on the other… Do you truly deserve such, after all that has happened?

You brush the thought aside and eat your food. It is not especially flavorful, seeing as this village does not appear abundant in resources. However, it does fill your belly. Your weakness lessens as your hunger dies, and as you finish off every morsel of your plate you can't help but feel a little better.

With your immediate bodily needs met, your mind turns to other matters. There is something you have to do, something that you would have done immediately had you not been concerned you'd have fallen over in the attempt.

"Innkeeper," you say. "I need a bowl of rice and some sake."

You are, of course, swiftly provided with both. You thank the innkeeper and head outside with both your parcels. Your legs are much more sturdy now, and your body does not feel nearly so heavy. The ache remains, of course, but with renewed energy you stride out purposefully to complete the obligation you have set for yourself.

And promptly halt when you see the looming bulk of Muharanok sitting outside the inn, his arms crossed and his sword resting upon his shoulder. He almost appears to be sleeping, but you get the impression he is very aware of his surroundings. This feeling is vindicated when the ogre opens his eyes and glances at you, his lips curving into the semblance of a smile. It is, quite honestly, a disturbing sight on his tusked face.

"You have awoken," he rumbles. "Good. You slept so long I was wondering if perhaps you had been lost in Yume-do."

[] Question the Ogre.
[] Continue on with your task.
[] Write in.

 

[Winged Knight]

[x] Question the Ogre


You stare at the ogre for a few moments, as if disbelieving that he is there. Frankly, his presence boggles your mind. What exactly is he doing here in the village? Why hasn't anyone tried to force him out yet? He's an ogre, for Heaven's sake!

Granted, he's also eight feet tall and made of muscle. Everyone has likely been far too frightened to mount any kind of resistance to his presence. And, in truth, there probably isn't much they could do to actually hurt the ogre. Not without massive loss of life, anyway. The people here just aren't equipped for such matters, for all that the ogre still appears wounded and scarred from the battle with the Oni.

Then you notice the bowls and plates around him, along with the water skins. He has been sitting down there for a while, apparently waiting for you. He's also been getting fed somehow. Most likely he has been intimidating the villagers into providing for him, something that makes you eyes narrow.

"Not lost," you say. "Just recovering. The fight took a great deal out of me."

"I can imagine," the ogre responds. "Since you were on fire and all. It doesn't seem like it should be a comfortable experience."

"While we are on the subject of comfort," you say, motioning toward the dishes. "You seem to be relaxing off the efforts of other people."

"All this?" the ogre asks, grinning. "It is merely an expression of gratitude. After all, I did help end these people's torment."

"So you did," you admit grudgingly, lips tightening into a thin line. "Just do not push this too far. The citizens of this town are not your servants."

"No, they would be yours if my understanding of your society is correct," Muharanok says. His smile widens, showing some teeth. "Do not fret, Samurai. I'll be gentle while amongst these little people."

"See that you are," you say. "I don't want trouble."

"Your superior said much the same," the ogre responds. He motioned toward the rice and sake in your hands. "You go off to honor the fallen?"

The reminder of your task reminds of you the gaping pit in your stomach, for all that you just ate. Shasa is dead. She sacrificed herself, using dark powers your Clan has reviled for centuries, to break the machinations of the enemy. The paradox of that twists your mind almost as much as the realization of her passing. How could one use an evil force to achieve good? It makes no sense.

But despite that, she was your comrade. She deserves to be acknowledged, even if only in this small way. You owe her that much and more.

"Yes," you say. "I am going to pay my respects to my friend."

"Good," Muharanok says. "She died well, for all that she had her… issues. Her actions deserve recognition."

"I must admit I am... surprised to hear an ogre talk of honor," you say. "I'm not familiar with the concept coming up in relation to your kind."

"The Mikata appreciate honor," Muharanok responds. "Ours simply isn't what you Rokugani would recognize as such. But sometimes they… overlap."

"Mikata…" you say, frowning. "You've called yourself that before."

"Yes. It's something I wanted to talk with you about. That can wait, though." He nods to you. "Go. Honor the dead. I will be waiting."


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[Winged Knight]

[x] Complete your task
-[x] Gman prayer.


You nod slowly, taking in the ogre's words. He wanted to talk to you? What in all the Heavens could this hulking creature wish to speak with you about? Frankly, you're still surprised he's lingering within the village. It's just so damned strange.

It's also not an issue for right now. As… troubling, as it is to have an ogre in a populated area, Muharanok is obviously not a typical example of his kind. The fact that he could talk and had something resembling a sense of humor, if a poor one, was the biggest indication. He could think and reason, and apparently had no desire to cause trouble save intimidating people into giving him food.

Which is a concern, true, but not an immediate one so long as nothing came to violence.

"I will return later," you say. "I will be expecting no reports of issues."

"I've already given my word," Muharanok responds, waving a hand dismissively. "Nothing more need be said on the matter."

You nod again, considering the ogre for a few more seconds. Then you turn around and walk down the street.

This village is not large enough for a dedicated temple. Monks would likely wander in and out, providing what services they may for the populace, but this village was far enough out of the way that it likely didn't happen often. But still, spiritual needs had to be met.

This was likely accomplished by most of the peasantry with small shrines within their homes. It was a very personal way to honor the Fortunes and one's ancestors. However, you saw something else along the road as you went about the village just a few days before. You did not think much of it then, but you require it now.

You see it on the street to the blacksmith's shop. There, off to the side, is a small shrine set beneath a slanted wooden roof supported by three walls. It was shaped like a temple, the woodwork remarkably well done for a community this size. In front were little statues of the Seven Fortunes, all arrayed before the temple's gates.

Shirou is there, sitting with his legs crossed and his fists pressed together in his lap. The monk has removed his robe's top, revealing a chest covered in bandages. Two sticks of incense were lit within a holder set on the ground before the shrine, halfway burned down.

You kneel down and set down your offerings and set two sticks of your own incense within the holder from the unlit ones set off to the side. Then you place the rice before the shrine, and put a cup of sake to go along with it. After that you close your eyes.

"Shasa-san..." you whisper, your voice barely audible even to your own ears. "I… I thank you. Thank you for being my battle companion, for being my friend, for saving myself and everyone." The memory of her sacrifice, of her smile, twists your guts into knots. "I know that whatever you thought of yourself in life, you are a true Samurai now and always will be. So watch me if you can, Shasa-san, and know that you are honored and remembered by this one, for all that is worth."

You open your eyes and light the incense, clapping twice and keeping your hands pressed together. Your eyes close again, your brow furrowed by the intensity of your thoughts. Wherever Shasa's soul is now, you wish your feelings to reach her. You speak but a few more words before falling silent.

"May the next life grant you the joy you missed in this one."

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[Winged Knight]

[x] Just breathe and wait.


You sit in silence, just breathing in and out as the smoke from the incense begins to fill the air. You focus on nothing save your breath, on the steady rhythm of your heart. It thunders in your ears, and then quiets as the beats slow down to a calming tempo. All noise, all feelings, are but things to lead you astray. You will have none of that.

Your anxiety begins to fade away in your concentration. Lingering doubts, errant thoughts… All are meaningless in the face of this meditation. You brook no distractions, allow for nothing to disturb the innermost core of yourself.

For a few, brief moments you feel as if you are one with everything and nothing. You sit within the Void, connected to all things while at the same time separate. Your consciousness is but a single aspect of the wider world, and yet it is also the world itself. All that exists is bound together, creating a transcendent harmony.

The experience lasts but a few seconds. This is not something that can be held on to. To even try would defeat the entire purpose. Meditation and prayer are in many ways the same thing, and sometimes one could touch upon something beyond the base flesh. But this has to be sought carefully, and you are no monk or Shugenja seeking enlightenment. You're just happy to have a few moments of true peace.

You open your eyes, exhaling deeply. The concerns you have are still there. Remorse for Shasa's death, guilt over your part in creating the situation, your confusion over Shasa's final words… All these and more you will have to come to grips with in the future. To run from it would be cowardice, and that it not something you could brook. It would not just be shameful to you, but also to Shasa's memory. That will not stand.

But they don't need to be handled at this moment. Right now, you are honoring a comrade who has paid the ultimate price to fulfill her duty. Heroes deserve recognition, and whatever Shasa may or may not have been, you cannot doubt that fact that when she met her end she was a hero.

"It is always difficult," Shirou says from beside you, his pose unchanged. His eyes have opened however. "When friends and family pass."

"Yes," you respond. "It is."

The monk nods slowly, looking over to you. "We as a people hold ourselves to such high standards, don't we Sosuke-sama? To maintain face, to not bring shame to ourselves and our lords… It can be so hard."

"A responsibility to be borne," you say evenly, turning your head to match his gaze. "Just like many others. Such is the way of Samurai."

"Yes," Shirou says. "Something none know better than the Crab. But Sosuke-sama, you need not bear this burden alone." Shirou sets his hands on the ground and stands, then offers you his hand and smiles. "I will be here for you, my friend. Whatever aid I can give you, it is yours."

[] Write in.

 

[Winged Knight]

[x] Gman


You look at the hand for a moment. Shirou's arm is strong, and quite a bit more toned than your own for all that you loom over the man when you're standing. But that just seems so typical of the monk. He is stocky and sturdy, a rock that holds against storm and fury without flinching.

For all your difference in status, you know you have made a lifelong friend in this man. You've endured much together, experienced so many things. And through it all he has been by your side, aiding you in your endeavors. Shirou was not here at the beginning of your journey, but he has been so intrinsic to your travels that you cannot imagine having walked your path without him being there.

In truth, you wonder a little whether you have taken advantage of his good nature. Shirou has always been so accommodating, always willing to tackle whatever might happen. But what of his own desires? Did he have his own dreams before you came along and peaked his interest? What was his life like before he met you?

All questions you have barely touched upon, so caught up as you are with the present and the future. But your friend doesn't seem to begrudge you that. Shirou hardly seems to begrudge anyone anything. He is always calm, always smiling. It is ironic that a man so peaceful is a member of one of the most militant orders of the Brotherhood of Shinsei.

"Thank you Shirou-san," you respond, taking a moment to breathe. "I… I think I'll always miss her, but she died a hero, and that's all any of us can ask in the end." You smile wryly, looking up toward the heavens. "I doubt this was what you signed up for when we left your temple was it?"

"No one ever expects what life eventually throws their way," Shirou answers. "Even the wisest of us can only see but a few paths that make up the Kharmic Wheel. It is a sign of strength that when one road becomes impassible that you can find another to lead you where you need to go."

"Heh. I suppose so," you say, taking his hand. The monk hauls you up easily. "You have sage words, as always."

"I am but a man who tries his best with what the world has provided," Shirou says. "If I am able to aid others as they make their own way, then I would consider it good."

You shake your head and chuckle, something that makes your friend eyes widen in confusion. He's still smiling, though. You're not certain much of anything save combat would make Shirou lose his smile.

"You're a good man, my friend," you say, clapping Shirou on the shoulder.

"As I said, I am but one who tries," the monk responds. "But I am happy you think so."

"I do," you say as you both begin to walk back to the inn. "I do indeed."

[] Write in.

 

[Winged Knight]

I would like to apologize for the lack of steady updates this week. My workplace is off for three days thanks to Easter weekend, and that meant there was a big crunch to get everything done in time. Add some bad sleep to the mix and I've just been in a daze all week. I'd like to do a double update today to make up for it, so if there are enough votes come this evening I'll do my best to accommodate.


[x] Go see what Muharanok wants to talk about.


You walk side by side with Shirou as you return. What few people are on the road give both of you a wide berth, but you do not mind. While it is your duty to defend the peasantry and rule them, becoming too familiar with the lower classes is unseemly. Some distance is required in order to maintain proper decorum.

Although… In many ways this could also apply to Shirou. He is a monk, after all. That makes him of the Heimin, though in truth monks have always held an odd place within the social order. They are of it, and yet also outside of it thanks to the ambiguity of the life they held before.

You glance at the man out of the corner of your eye. He has a faint smile on his lips, as per usual. The monk always seems at ease with his situation, no matter what it might be. Your own mouth begins to quirk up as you observe him. Wherever Shirou stands on the social hierarchy, you know one thing for certain. He is your friend.

That surety is comforting, and you feel a faint warmth in your chest at the thought. It helps alleviate some of the lingering turmoil within your mind. This last week… You cannot deny it has been hard. You still do not know what to feel about Shasa. You enjoyed her company dearly, held affection for her. In the back of your mind, you wonder if perhaps you even loved her.

But that is a question you cannot know the answer to. You are still young, and you knew Shasa for barely two months. What do you know of love? You've hardly thought about it at all, and in truth have nothing but nebulous feelings to base your observations upon. Inexperienced as you are, you still realize that is not enough to come to any firm conclusions.

Even still, there is a soul deep ache within you at Shasa's passing. You've heard before that the passage of time heals wounds, but you are unsure if this one will ever truly vanish.

Muharanok is still sitting there as you come back to the inn. You approach him warily, though Shirou seems more relaxed. Then again, your friend has also had three days to get used to the ogre's presence. You, on the other hand, are full of fresh memories of the giant tearing great chunks out of a demon's carapace with his oversized sword.

These things have a way of coloring one's reactions.

"You wished to speak with me?" you ask.

"Yes," Muharanok responds, uncrossing his arms to rest them on his knees. "The monk, too, though I wished to wait till you were both ready." The ogre took a deep breath and frowned. "This isn't something I wish to have to repeat."

"Then let's not dither," you say. "Circling around the point is a waste of time."

"You cut to the point. That is good," the ogre says back, chuckling. "You two have impressed me with your strength and bravery. I wish to tell you the history of the Mikata."

You blink. You're not sure what you were expecting, but it certainly wasn't this. The ogre wanted to give you a history lesson? Even more, he wanted to do so because you and Shirou had impressed him? You blink again, and your brow furrows as you are unable to hide your surprise.

"I am happy to hear your words, should you desire to share them," Shirou says. "Though I find myself curious as to why you would speak of this now."

"As I said, because you both have impressed me," Muharanok answered. "This is not a tale to be shared with weaklings. I wished to give you a measure of my esteem."

"There must be more to this," you say. "You took a great risk staying in this village for as long as you have. Would you really have done that simply to show your respect?"

"You are rather sharp…" Muharanok mutters, rubbing his chin in thought. "Yes, there is more to this than just showing you honor."

"Then what is it?" you ask. "No games, just straight answers."

Muharanok sighed. "Because in all of Rokugan there are only a few hundred of the Mikata that retain their minds." His expression shifted, his lips curling downward into something that was not quite a frown, and he looked as if he was gazing upon something far away. "Most of my people are nothing but beasts. As much as I hate the thought, it is clear that we cannot stand alone. To continue as we are will lead to nothing but the death of the Mikata."

"Are you proposing an alliance?" you ask. "I recall something like this was tried before, and it didn't work."

"Kayobun was a fool," Muharanok growls. "He made his proposal after warring with your Clan for months. I cannot fathom why he expected anything but the response your Champion Hida Kuon gave him. Our interactions have been more favorable, but do not insult me by believing I am so foolish as thinking we can forge a true accord from just this."

"Then what is all this for?" you ask. "Why do you want to tell us your people's history in the same breath as your concerns over their destruction?"

"Because I want you to understand us, even in some small way," Muharanok answers. "The Mikata can live forever, if they are not killed by battle or illness. We have some time yet before my fears might come to pass. In that time, I believe it better to enlighten those amongst your people most worthy of the knowledge." He shrugged. "Perhaps something will come of it, or perhaps not. Regardless, it is better than stewing in bitterness and awaiting our final destruction."

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