Alesha
Spider Clan
Fallen Crane * Duelist * Bloodspeaker * Tactician * Maho-Bujin
Posts: 418
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Post by Alesha on Nov 20, 2011 2:27:21 GMT -5
He stood up and took his Kakita blade laying nearby, tanto in one hand, katana in another. His armour was now covered in blood almost completely, and looked at Hitoshi. Now when they were wrapped in the embrace of the mists, quickened, not to mention the power that blood gave the students of first legion's lesson...
"Many enemies bring much honor, neh Hitoshi-san?" - he declared suddenly. Clearly recognizing the Crane, but you can swear he was almost about to lash out on Hitoshi. Not seeing Mitsuoko near to them, he dramatically pauses.
"There we stand... At the edge of the sea... Snatching sun from the sky... Hitoshi-san..." -he mused suddenly and turned and headed into the mist - "Hitoshi-san... Make the kami cry..." Leaving this cryptic message, he moved in the blur of speed in general Mantis direction... Going solo, he clearly had a plan.
Moving through the mist, his vision blurred by fog, blood and scarlet craving burning within him he moved in... Now everything mixed up - truth, illusion, fog, Mantis, Crane... It was like a mad dream... As he noticed man running towards him kama in hand, warcry freezing on his lips as he cut his arm off and kicked him down to the ground...
"Pig clan bushi... When you enter the halls of gaki-do, carry on your lips the sweet name of Mitsuoko, Lady Kakita. It is in her name that I fight today." He speaks in cold mocking tone, as he makes another cut along the leg of wounded mantis, making sure he won't do anything but bleed slowly to death... He looked to the sides for a moment, he was all by himself... Then a black cloaked figure approached, applauding...
"Well done... But what is it you desire now?" - Black figure ask. "The ritual you told me of. Can you perform it here? "Most certainly... But you need to give me a name, but it has to mean something to you" "Mitsuoko. She will follow the path of perfection with me..."
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Kakita Sojiro
Crane Clan Global Mod
When you die, will you be remembered, or will you be just another strand in the tapestry?
Posts: 900
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Post by Kakita Sojiro on Nov 20, 2011 3:55:23 GMT -5
Hitoshi couldn't believe his eyes.
It was bad enough that he was sure Alesha had nearly attacked him. But that..... thing.... that he had been talking to...
I have to find Mitsouko-sama. Now.
He watched as the blood-soaked Alesha vanished into the mist, and then turned to his soldiers.
"Hold this spot. Stay moving, and keep to the mists, but do not allow the Mantis to advance beyond this point. The mist should keep you hidden from any lightning."
He sighed.
"Alesha-sama has become..... compromised. Be very wary of him and the samurai under his command. I need to find Mitsouko-sama immediately. Kakita Yenchi-san," he called to his second in command, "you are in command here until I return. Use your best judgement."
"Hai, Hitoshi-sama."
"I need a horse, and I need to know where Mitsouko-sama is."
A horse was quickly brought to him, and he set off in the direction of the cavalry with Alesha words haunting his ears....
Make the kami cry, Hitoshi-san.
She will follow me down the path to perfection.
I have to find her, and I have to do it before he does.
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Alesha
Spider Clan
Fallen Crane * Duelist * Bloodspeaker * Tactician * Maho-Bujin
Posts: 418
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Post by Alesha on Nov 20, 2011 4:20:31 GMT -5
Just as it crossed Hitoshi's mind thrown nage yari pierced the neck of its horse sending him down into a uncomfortable fall... He saw Kakita Kiko, former Daidoji married into Kakita, Chui of Alesha in her full battle garb, readying her decorated Yari, she was quite immaculate in her armor, untouched by blood or battle so far... Where did she come from!
"The enemy is in other direction, Hitoshi-sama. I do not believe desertion is the option here." She took her stance. "Get back into battle, and fight for your clan!"
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Kakita Sojiro
Crane Clan Global Mod
When you die, will you be remembered, or will you be just another strand in the tapestry?
Posts: 900
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Post by Kakita Sojiro on Nov 20, 2011 4:28:33 GMT -5
"Desertion? Perhaps you fail to understand the difference between bringing a report to another unit - one essential to our presence here - and fleeing from combat."
Hitoshi noticed several of his men forming a loose ring around the two of them, eyeing the woman with dangerous looks.
"I suggest you take your own advice and return to your unit. Alesha-sama may be in command of this battle, but you are not him and I am not a member of your unit. Your place is at his side, not here wasting time killing horses."
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Alesha
Spider Clan
Fallen Crane * Duelist * Bloodspeaker * Tactician * Maho-Bujin
Posts: 418
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Post by Alesha on Nov 20, 2011 4:41:58 GMT -5
"I was warned about you, Hitoshi-san. So spare me your lies. As for your advice, it is quite amusing. Don't think your men will make that much difference, for I am not far from my unit at all..." Dozen of her men stepped out of the mist... Nage-yari ready to be thrown... The set up was absolutely not in the Hitoshi's favor. "If you value lives of your men, Hitoshi-san, you will return to the fight, single step towards us and not towards battle lines and you will be impaled on our yari's before you manage to step half way towards me. Is that understood? We have our orders, we will carry them. We won't let you turn this into another Toshi ranbo"
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Kakita Sojiro
Crane Clan Global Mod
When you die, will you be remembered, or will you be just another strand in the tapestry?
Posts: 900
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Post by Kakita Sojiro on Nov 20, 2011 6:37:02 GMT -5
Hitoshi's expression turned grim.
"Are you threatening me? If you know anything about Toshi Ranbo, you're certainly aware that I'm used to being outnumbered, Kiko-san. Where were you when the ram was coming towards the west gate, surrounded by Lion on all sides?"
"I was in that sea of Lion samurai. I was there when the ram was stopped. And I'm here now to tell that tale. I was also there when 200 Lion samurai were hunting Doji Kenna-san, and 50 Crane samurai, samurai under my command, killed them all and brought Kenna-san back home. Tell me, Kiko-san, do you outnumber my forces 4 to 1? I've faced those odds before and won. Do you outnumber us 10 to 1? The Lion had even more numbers and still couldn't kill me. So, I will leave this decision to you. You can either waste your numbers fighting against your own clan and become a traitor, or you can do your duty and face the mantis."
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Kakita Mitsouko
Crane Clan Mod
::Daimyo::Kenshinzen::Hatamoto of Crane Clan::Paragon of Duty
Posts: 1,952
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Post by Kakita Mitsouko on Nov 20, 2011 8:06:55 GMT -5
Unaware of these events into the mist, Mitsouko led the cavalry, breaching the first line of Mantis. They were valiant, strong, and ferocious, but the kami-powered speed and the mist helped the Crane. The pitch fires over the mist glowed with phantasmagorical heat passing over their head. She was still semideaf but it nevermind right now. Chad-sama I'd kiss you for it! She thought.
When her unit touched the skirts of First Legion she saw glimpses of unnecessary carnage from some Crane over Mantis, into the mist.
Shocked, she focused in a man wearing blue displaying some cruel use of his sword ability. From her horse she kicked his back and used the iron fan to hit his head with enough force that the mad Crane fell onto his knees:
Monster! You do not deserve my family's name!
She spat, turning the horse to continue fighting the real enemies. It was very wrong, very wrong! What Alesha is turning it into? Should I have killed him in the hills of Northern Crane provinces instead of giving him a chance to prove his loyalty?
The men with her were loyal and efficiently lethal, and were following their orders to the core.
But then, into the mist, she found something entirely not right... and disappeared for an instant from her men's sight...
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Kakita Sojiro
Crane Clan Global Mod
When you die, will you be remembered, or will you be just another strand in the tapestry?
Posts: 900
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Post by Kakita Sojiro on Nov 20, 2011 8:43:31 GMT -5
Hitoshi stood with his katana in the suki position, prepared to parry any strike that may come from Kiko's yari. The chui hadn't said anything yet, and having witnessed the Kakita First Legion's actions personally, he knew better than to let his guard down with her. When he saw her attention divert for a split second, he struck - knocking the tip of the yari aside, he stepped forward and drove the pommel of his katana into her mouth with the return strike, knocking her to the ground as a few teeth flew backwards. He lowered the katana to her throat but didn't strike, keeping a foot firmly on the shaft of that yari.
"Back off, all of you! This is disgraceful, we are here to fight the mantis, not each other."
He looked at the Kakita First Legion.
"Return to your duties with Alesha-sama. Make a move towards my men, and your Chui dies first."
Suddenly, he became aware of what had caught Kiko's attention. Mitsouko came riding through the mist, with an expression on her face that could freeze the blood in a man's veins.
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Yasuki Chad
Crane Clan
Crab Clan
*Crab Clan Courtier *Experienced *Samurai *Daimyo *Hero *Experienced *Commander
Posts: 476
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Post by Yasuki Chad on Nov 20, 2011 10:53:34 GMT -5
Yasuki Yagyu and His men from the 9th Legion arrived on the shore without encountering Mantis resistance or seeing any Crane soldiers.
What they did discover was the unusually brutalized remains of the Mantis. One of his Gunso examined the bodies, carefull not to touch them, and stood up with a ugly look on his face.
"It's like looking at the results of the Berzerkers or Damned. But what.....," whatever else he was about to say was cut off as a band of mantis charged through the mist into the Crab. They surged deep into the Unit before being brough down with few causualties to the Yasuki. This brought Yagyu no satisfaction, upon closer inspection the Mantis hadn't charged them....They were fleeing something.
"I don't like this. Split up into teams of 20, if you find Mantis engage them. If outnumbered or if you find something else... use the whistles. " He didn't have to elaborate what else it might be. Paranoid or not, when unexplained things like this happen the first thing the crab think of is Oni and maho.
He took his men right up the path the Mantis had ran from. The damned mist reduced visability to perhaps a dozen yards, and seemed to distort sound as well. The Clash of steel could be heard from all around, but nothing he could see.
He stumbled upon a scene where two Crane units faced off. The officer of one standing over the officer of the other with his blade at her throat. Both units looked eager to attack the other. A dead horse lay nearby with a Nage-yari stuck from it's neck.
"Here now! What is the meaning of this?" he shouted, as a terrified Mitsouko rode in from the mist.
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Kakita Sojiro
Crane Clan Global Mod
When you die, will you be remembered, or will you be just another strand in the tapestry?
Posts: 900
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Post by Kakita Sojiro on Nov 20, 2011 11:05:47 GMT -5
"I'm not certain you will believe me if I tell you, Yasuki-san. I'm still not sure I believe it myself.
I'm sure you've seen the mantis bodies that have come across the Kakita First Legion - or what's left of them. I thought they were being particularly brutal, but didn't really question it. That was until I saw Alesha-sama conversing with.... a...."
He hesitated before verbalizing it.
"By the fortunes, he was talking to an oni, Yasuki-san. I saw it myself. He told me to "Make the kami cry", and then mentioned forcing Mitsouko-sama to "follow him down the path of perfection", whatever that meant. I ordered my troops to hold this position and went to report what I had seen to Mitsouko-sama, but I didn't get far. Kiko-san here," he nodded to the chui, never taking his eyes off of her, "Put a yari through the neck of my horse, then accused me of being a deserter. After she threatened me and my unit, Mitsouko arrived, and I used the distraction to put her in a more... amicable...position."
In spite of his steady stance and grip, it's clear that recounting what he saw, actually speaking it aloud, had an effect on the man, by the way his voice sounds as he speaks.
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Yasuki Chad
Crane Clan
Crab Clan
*Crab Clan Courtier *Experienced *Samurai *Daimyo *Hero *Experienced *Commander
Posts: 476
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Post by Yasuki Chad on Nov 20, 2011 11:26:08 GMT -5
"Kill her then. We aren't in a situation or place to take prisoners. If an Oni is here all other concerns are moot. It must be destroyed." He Tosses something to Hitoshi, who catches it Reflexively. A finger of jade. "Test her if you must."
He hoped that her entire unit wasn't comprimised. His men appeared relaxed but he could feel the tension. They were ready to attack the Kakita 1st legion at a moments notice.
"Mitsouko-dono. Please come over here." He kept his voice neutral. She was in danger where she was if Hitoshi was correct.
A whistle blew. Then another. Then another. All round something was happining. Something.....wrong.
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Kitsune Poxo
Mantis Clan
Mantis Clan | Shugenja | Earth | Thunder | Kitsune Blooded | Naval | Daimyo | Unique
Posts: 225
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Post by Kitsune Poxo on Nov 20, 2011 12:34:41 GMT -5
The Kitsune were normally pacifists. They were normally content with just staying within their forest. A change had to be made when they joined the Mantis. Though they still remained off the battlefield as much as they could, it was their unusual allies that they would call to help.
The conditions had to right. They would not come to an open field. As with a normal animals it just was not their way. They would not normally go on the offensive but when allies are being slaughtered they make their exceptions. Then there is the pure fact they do not think as we do, and you need to convince them of the cause.
Daichi produced an item from one of his satchels. It was a a lock of various hair and a feather. Placing it into the center of the ritual site he started chanting as the rest came to their crescendo of their chanting. Then they all stopped at the same time.
The mist swelled to envelop cover the entire beach right up to the castle walls as the battlefield became attuned with Chikushudo. An illusionary forest began to form within the mist, one that felt extremely real to any who would touch. Then they solidified from the mists. The animal spirits began their attack amongst the maddening forest of the mist.
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Kakita Mitsouko
Crane Clan Mod
::Daimyo::Kenshinzen::Hatamoto of Crane Clan::Paragon of Duty
Posts: 1,952
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Post by Kakita Mitsouko on Nov 20, 2011 15:32:50 GMT -5
Mitsouko saw a bright source of light through the mist, and unsheathing her sword again she cautiously rode to it. It was magic, like she had seen other times…she smelled of gore, she saw things growing and things dying, crazy beasts and things encircling her to devour and possess… She fought her way out, when the illusion, and the contrary forces of Mantis and Crane shugenjas clashed under the nails of maho. Everything was silent, however… Two or more realities overlapping what her eyes were supposed to see. It was for some seconds and then again she was in the battlefield, watching Crane fighting each other. Suddenly she understood everything… she had witnessed maho effects before… People talked to her, but she barely heard them, and when her anger boiled from inside, stuck to it something ominous happened...she tried to fight against it, but something was trying to take something from her.... her name... Mitsouko slipped slowly from the horse, vomiting dark blood… and passed out.
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Yoritomo Raiden
Mantis Clan Mod
Mantis Clan - Shugenja - Water - Thunder - Damiyo - Not Kolat
Posts: 437
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Post by Yoritomo Raiden on Nov 20, 2011 17:59:53 GMT -5
The Mantis Fleet
Raiden saw the mist roll over the castle, cliffs, and beach. He saw as both armies were consumed in the mystic fog.
"That's precious. HAAA! Watchmen send the order for the fleet to reposition out of the range of their catapults. The Moshi need to keep working on killing those fires across the fleet." Raiden looked at the mist non impressed. "Watchmen also give the command for the other Thunder shugenja to call the storm, lets add more chaos to this situation."
Raiden looked into the darkening sky like an artist looks unto a canvass. he grasped the railing of the ship felling the wind change to aid in the sails of the Mantis fleet. The thunder shugenja must be already working.
"Night will be here soon, and after the twilight drops many lives will be lost. Darkness, Mist, Forests, and Rain how glorious of a night this shall be." Raiden said these words with no emotion.
The fleet being hit by slag from the castles defenses began to move with the aid of the Yoritomo magic. Moshi priestess qwelling the flame of the slag as it descended. As the night fell the clouds rolled with thunder as it began to rain slowly building up into a full violent storm.
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Alesha
Spider Clan
Fallen Crane * Duelist * Bloodspeaker * Tactician * Maho-Bujin
Posts: 418
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Post by Alesha on Nov 21, 2011 3:45:57 GMT -5
...And all of a sudden... A ear piercing shriek wrecked the field, reaching miles along the shore and sea line... A feeling that something terrible just happened fills Mantis, Crab and Crane alike... But especially Mitsuoko...
The first mask was cast off, Mitsuoko was marked, all went according to the plan. Alesha nodded to the Tsukai that conducted the ritual to name the Oni no Mitsuoko. Needless to say, it was time to dissapear into the mist... As he walked through he met some Yasuki heavy infantry blowing their whistles. Making short work of them wasn't difficut, not now, that he and two of his bodyguards were empowered by blood. It was time for second stage of the play.
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