Agasha Shodai
Phoenix Clan Mod ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_red.png)
Phoenix Clan * The Void Master * Tensai * Taisa * Enlightened * Paragon of Compassion * Unique
Posts: 783
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Post by Agasha Shodai on Dec 19, 2011 22:36:54 GMT -5
The jade Phoenix looked down upon the obsidian armored form of Shoju. "I have seen no proof of this claim of yours, Shoju. Nor has the True Emperor, Hantei XL, proclaimed you - or anyone - to be the heir of the Snake Clan. Until HE so decrees it as the Truth, your claim is little more than air."[/color][/b]
Within the heart of the jade beast, the fiery outline of Agasha Shodai became visible. "Events are unfolding here based off of events you YOURSELF set in motion, influenced by actions taken by yourself, your followers, and even Senshi himself. You should have waited for diplomacy to win the day, Shoju... If your claim is true, you should have waited patiently for the Emperor to give you what you believe to be yours. If you had bided your time, Senshi would not have been in a position to claim right of vengeance for the family of his wife, Haruka, since you would have been under the Emperor's protection of recognized Minor Clans."
"My role here - bound by my honor and oath to aid Senshi's revenge given many months ago - is to even the playing field against you and your fellow maho-tsukei. But I must weigh the lives of a few against the souls of countless thousands that your plan to recreate the practice of Maho would corrupt when it inevitably fails. It may not be in our lifetimes, but it would eventually occur when a new Iuchiban - one even more insidious and corruptive than the first - is born. I may find this slaughter distasteful, but it is my duty to protect Senshi."[/b]
The Void Master looked at Shoju sadly; feeling a modicum of regret for the pain the man was clearly feeling. "But even if Senshi hadn't found you, the Gaijin that accompanied you to the Festival - Sprinkles, I believe his name was? - was already here seeking the lives of you and all your followers... I do not know what you did to earn his emnity, but ask yourself this, Shoju: would you rather find your people at the mercy of Senshi or Sprinkles? My fires will only burn those who bear the Taint; Sprinkles' assault would spare not a single one of you."[/b]
The Void Master knew from the competition at the Festival that he could not defeat Shoju in a one-on-one battle - not unless the other made a truly sloppy mistake - but he could slow the khadi thanks to Shodai's greater flexibility of elements: including that of the Void and the Agasha family secrets of multi-elemental magic.
The phoenix lashed out again, the feathers on its wingtips shimmering as if made out of jade ice, despite the flames of the rest of the wing. The tips cut a gash in Shoju's obsidian armor, shattering both the armor and themselves where purity touched corruption and cancelled each other out. Shodai spotted a tainted samurai charging towards Senshi and the wing flicked, releasing the broken feathers a storm of shattered jade ice fragments that ripped dozens of holes through the samaurai; dropping him mid-stride.
"This is the onus of a leader, Shoju... Will you attempt to save those you love at the sacrifice of all those who put their faith in you or will you accept a personal tragedy to protect your people?"[/b] The broken "feathers" began to regenerate. "It is never an easy choice, Shoju: either to make or to live with. Trust me: I have been forced to make them more times than I care to remember..."[/b]
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Tenshi
Ronin
? 'Reborn' Samurai? Battle Maiden? Cavalry
Posts: 62
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Post by Tenshi on Dec 21, 2011 9:51:00 GMT -5
That word, that single word bore no meaning to the woman as Senshi roughly handled her form. She glared wide eyed like a crazed beast as his hands held her up by her clothing. Shoju could hear it ringing through, echoing as the phoenix being continued to rain down sacred destruction on everything he had worked so hard to assemble.
Burn.
It would be mere moments between Senshi grabbing the woman, Tenshi tried to fight him back but her body was too sapped from the young life she held inside of her. To her horror her eyes only shifted from the Scorpion to witness the flames that he spoke of, the flames created when the phoenix entity was born.
She hadn't realized it, but her body was already trying to expel the child in panic. Tenshi for once in her life was helpless, and it was in this moment of weakness she knew would be her undoing.
Her strength only allowed her a few words as she felt herself carried the few paces towards the hungry flames.
"Sen...shi... killing me... will not.... end her misery! I will... see you in Jigoku!"
Forcefully Tenshi's form was hurled into the flames without hesitation, the purified element greedily consuming her tainted flesh as her screams pierced the entire battlefield. Unable to stand, unable to move Tenshi was quickly perishing, her dying throws ringing out in Shoju's mind as well as his soul.
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Post by Shoju on Dec 21, 2011 10:24:14 GMT -5
Shoju felt the pain of Senshi's attack against Tenshi. He felt the pain as the flame licked at her flesh. His soul felt the fire as she fell to it. As it consumed her, He dropped his No-Dachi to the ground and screamed. nnnnnnNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooo!. It was all he could do to catch himself on his hands, and sob. As she died, he could feel the piece of his soul slipping away, lost, beyond his reach.
You murderers. You dare talk about diplomacy, after ambushing a camp OBVIOUSLY DIPLOMATIC IN NATURE!? Where is my Army Shodai? Where is my grand invasion scheme!? Shoju looked up at him, his eyes streaming tears and blood. The agony on his face unmistakable. Where is the Snake Clan? You aided a monster in attacking and slaughtering a dozen guards, a couple of handmaidens, and a pregnant woman! His face contorted in rage. WHERE IS YOUR HONOR NOW!
Shoju turned and stared at Senshi. Did it feel good to take something else away from me? Did it feel good to take her life from me? Shoju's sob choked him for a moment. Did it feel good to slay your OWN CHILD?! DID IT!? The hatred in Shoju's eyes burned.
That's right you worthless, vengeful, beast[/i], The child she carried was yours.[/color] Shoju pointed at him, as his mouth closed in a tight line. Your wife came to me, ME!, and asked me to save her child. She said that the path she had to take could lead to her destruction. That her life, was forfeit, that the life of the child she carried was more important. Little did she know that she carried twins.
Shoju nodded, giving the words time to register with Senshi. So I, willingly, gave a piece of my soul to make Tenshi whole again, alive again, and I took one of the twins to keep safe, to honor her wishes. Shoju stared blankly, almost as if he were looking past Senshi for a moment. He shook his head slightly, and focused back on Senshi, his eyes narrowing But I guess, you can explain the death of your child to your traitorous wife. Shoju almost spat the last sentence out. As he did, he tossed the crystal he had used to contact Haruka to the ground.
Shoju heard footsteps behind him, and turned in time to catch a Scorpion Clan Samurai by the throat. And now you wish to end the life of a grieving man? Truly then, you serve your champion well. Shoju lifted him off the ground, and withdrew a dagger from his Obi. But now, your blood will serve me well . Shoju plunged the dagger into his abdomen, and ran it up, through his chest, breaking ribs, and causing carnage, then out of the samurai's shoulder. The Samurai gasped as Shoju tossed his bloody, evicerated, body to the ground. Blood ran from the massive gaping wound and seeped into the ground. The Earth Kami groaned again. Shoju picked his No-Dachi up off the ground, and then plunged it into the earth. Turning back in the direction of Senshi and Shodai, he called You destroyed the one thing that made me an honorable man. The one thing that made me less dangerous. The one thing that made me want to be human As he finished the sentence, the bodies of dead Snake and Scorpion alike began to pick themselves up off the ground.
Bonfei ran forward Shoju-sama! Don't do this!
Shoju turned and stared at him, tears still streaming. Tamihei Bonfei, the mantle of Champion of the Snake falls to you. Return to the Snake. Tell them what has happened, tell them the Snake Clan Lands are no longer theirs. They are to rebuild where they are, and to stay hidden. Shed the sins of their ancestors, and when the flesh of the Snake is whole again, join the Empire. The path I walk now is not for the Snake Clan. Shoju tore the intricate mon from his kimono, and tossed it towards Bonfei. I'm so sorry. It was all he could think to say.
Shoju turned back towards his adversaries, the agony and sadness in Shoju's form overshadowing the rage burning in his soul. KILL THEM At his command the mindless undead began to move towards them. You speak of lifetimes Shodai. You are the only one of us bound by lifetimes. You are the only one of us held to this mortal coil by a lifetime. You cannot comprehend my existence. You spoke of the Gaijin seeking to destroy me? He lusts for power. Power over the Celestial Heavens. He uses his existence as a way to garner and harbor power. I use my existence for the pursuit of knowledge. But you can't fathom that. To you, we must be cut from the same cloth. So you must find a way to destroy me, because my creation was an abomination upon your principles. Nevermind my honor since then. Shoju shook his head side to side as he spoke. Nevermind that I held to my word, until you sided with a man who has twice dishonored himself for a chance to destroy me.
From the corner of his eye Shoju saw Bonfei backing away, out of the camp. Shoju's sorrow at all that had been sacrificed in his name, and the lost chance of reclamation was reflected in Bonfei's face. Shoju turned and saw the mass of undead moving in on their prey. He knew that the undead were no match for the Void master and Senshi. He just needed them to hold their attention for a moment.
He walked over to the corpse of the eviscerated Samurai. It was too shattered and torn to be of use. Shoju knelt and touched the blood still seeping from the wound. He closed his eyes, and the earth swallowed him. The earth opened next to Tenshi's smoldering corpse. Shoju cleared the area surrounding the corpse, and ended the last of the fires. He looked over the body and began crying again. The soul was lost, the body was destroyed. She was truly taken from him.
Shoju tried to touch her cheek, but the remains were too far charred, and the husk that was Tenshi, his love, his humanity, began to fall in on itself. The fire had ravaged everything. Shoju stood and turned towards Senshi, tears still streaming down his cheeks, his voice almost fragile. She carried the child... Your child... with love. Leave, before I show you the same vengeance you enacted upon her. His voice grew a little stronger. Leave and enjoy the time that I give you with your wife and child. Shoju's voice grew bitter Leave, and remember that every morning you wake between now, and the next time we meet is a gift.
Shoju sat on the ground. His head, buried in his hands. The emotions flooded him, his body shuddered, the missing piece of his soul ached. Rest assured Bayushi Senshi, when next we meet, I will be the one who destroys your world. As he finished the sentence, the earth moved and swallowed him.
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Khamul
Spider Clan
Monk - Kensei - Sensei of the Venomous Shrine
Posts: 70
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Post by Khamul on Dec 21, 2011 14:43:54 GMT -5
(ooc Note: Per Shodai's description. Kourako was not incinerated, as she was not tainted; she was however badly burned and probably has several broken bones and some internal damage.)
As Shoju dissapeared beneath the earth somewhere in the shadows around the camp, Khamul's eyes narrowed...
As the undead and Scorpion clashed and Shodai paused, no one noticed the Sohei that had been surrounding them as they fought move into the camp. Then hell broke loose....
Two of the monks bearing marks of Osanowo as well as strange black tattoos, struck like a storm, sending Scorpion and Undead alike flying. Another, with Dragon tattoos as well as those same strange black tattoos, opened her mouth and doused all near her with roaring flames. Several others led small units of budoka in crushing all that they came upon.
Kourako lurched to her feet and, seemingly immune to her agony, leapt into the air and through the flames clasped the stunned Shodai about the ankles with a vicelike grip, and with a twist of her whole body, wrapped her legs around his neck and began to squeeze...
Amid this chaos, no one but Senshi saw the sohei with the ornate double ended yari (or at least what seemed to be one) leap onto the spot where Tenshi had burned, thrust his hand into the ash heap that was once a pregnant woman, pull out something and hold it to his breast. The Sohei turned his head, and looking into those strange eyes, Shensi's head swam. When finally, staggeringly, his head cleared, the sohei was gone and all about him was chaos.
Then, almost as suddenly as they had arrived, the sohei and budoka that had attacked the two forces slowly began two scatter and dissapear into the surrounding night.
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Bayushi Senshi
Scorpion Clan
Scorpion Clan * Clan Champion * Samurai * Kensai * Experienced * Loyal * Unique
Posts: 1,891
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Post by Bayushi Senshi on Dec 21, 2011 15:09:11 GMT -5
(ooc: ok, I'm a little confused. I consulted Haruka about this, she vouches for you, but I really don't recall ever consulting you about this story, Khamul. Did you get my pms about the sequence of events? I knew you had a conversation with Shoju at first I was wondering why you were involved without messaging me, but I let it slip past, cause it seemed harmless at the time, and it seemed that Shoju knew your character was going to be there. Shoju did you take Tenshi's body with you? I thought you had? I only post this cause it really derailed me from the sequence of events the rest of us had planned out in pms.
I post this here instead of in pm cause I'm hoping someone can fill me in on what happened? o.O just a tad confused
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Post by Shoju on Dec 21, 2011 15:15:38 GMT -5
[OOC] I didn't take the body. The way I imagined it in my post was that the fire that burned Tenshi was the type of thing that leaves behind a 'husk' so to speak, and that when I tried to touch her cheek the whole thing kind of fell apart, into dust so to speak.
Yeah. I knew he was going to be there, even posted as much in the 'intro to madness thread', but I don't know much past that.
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Bayushi Haruka
Scorpion Clan
OOC Cleanup Crew
Samurai? Battle Maiden? Cavalry? Paragon of Courage? Friend of the Lion
Posts: 1,054
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Post by Bayushi Haruka on Dec 21, 2011 15:17:54 GMT -5
(OOC: Regardless I'd like to make it clear there will be no resurrecting of this kid. It's burned up too.)
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Post by Shoju on Dec 21, 2011 15:23:25 GMT -5
[ooc]I agree.[/ooc]
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Khamul
Spider Clan
Monk - Kensei - Sensei of the Venomous Shrine
Posts: 70
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Post by Khamul on Dec 21, 2011 15:33:09 GMT -5
(ooc: Yeah, sorry about the surprise. I was supposed to be there but due to several reasons, including not having been in on the original messages that detailed how this was all to play out, had to play things a bit close to the vest. I was also hoping the surprise might be fun. Didn't read the bit about Tenshi turning to ash correctly though, so I'll have to change that, and no worries about the kid, as you said it is dead dead dead. Did I mention that Khamul really is insane? There is still quite a bit that hasn't been openly revealed despite my hints, but feel free to PM me if you really want to know. Anyway, I'll change things a bit so it reads more correctly; in the meantime, have fun weeping, killing scorpion and undead, and battling Kourako.)
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Post by Shoju on Dec 21, 2011 15:41:15 GMT -5
[ooc] Yeah, that was my bad. I would have swore (up until I went back to check) that I had included you in the beginning of the prelude to madness thread. I was... shocked when I went back and checked and hadn't included you..... I think we got it worked out [/ooc]
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Agasha Shodai
Phoenix Clan Mod ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_red.png)
Phoenix Clan * The Void Master * Tensai * Taisa * Enlightened * Paragon of Compassion * Unique
Posts: 783
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Post by Agasha Shodai on Dec 21, 2011 16:59:20 GMT -5
Agasha Shodai watched in disbelief as he looked between Shoju and Senshi; his eyes looking through the nature of things to see that Shoju's words were, indeed, the truth - the Scorpion Clan champion's target had been a pregnant woman - a disturbing concept since the woman was clearly undead.
'And I helped him do it...' Shodai thought to himself with a bit of disgust, knowing that his features were hidden by the flames of the Jade Phoenix spell. 'In seeking to restore the honor of my post for the crime Tadaka, my predecessor, performed against Bayushi Senshi and his family, I offered my assistance blindly. I would never have expected this to happen... I have restored honor to my title, but it comes at the cost of some of my personal honor.'
The Void Master's dismay grows at Shoju's condemnation and - though most of it is fueled by Tamihei's emotional pain - finds a few nuggets of truth in them. He HAD considered Shoju and Sprinkles to be cut from the same cloth: they had both carried the mon of the Spider, they were both khadi - undead of a nature mostly unknown within Rokugan, and both had been steeped within the evils of blood magic.
During the brief conversations that Shodai had had with them - Shoju at the Festival and Sprinkles when he came to claim the prize of information that the Void Master had offered to any shugenja that had impressed him at the touranment - however, he HAD realized that there was a difference between them. Sprinkles' attitude and behavior had told the Phoenix shugenja that he was irredemibly evil and as corrupt and selfish as the cycle of rebirth was long.
Shoju, however, had managed to give Shodai the impression that he'd made some mistakes - some of which he might even feel something akin to regret for - and sought, if not true redemption, then a means to prevent OTHERS from making the same mistakes that he had made. On some level, Agasha Shodai could admire that effort, but the potential complications that could come from his efforts backfiring were too great to simply allow to happen unchecked.
Then Shodai saw something that he never would have expected to see... Something that put a new spin on his preconceived notions of the nature of the undead...
Tamihei Shoju... wept.
In all of Shodai's considerable experience with fighting the Lost, the undead, Bloodspeakers, maho-tsukei, and all other things that worshiped at the altar of evil, they had all possessed the same traits: emotionless, one-track thinking, selfish...
Shodai looked towards the scattered men and women carrying the mon of the Snake. Many of them carried minimal burns from his purifying flames: they may be descendants of evil, corrupt shugenja, but they themselves were, if not pure of heart, not yet guilty of the crimes of their ancestors. These people had a CHANCE of being rehabilitated and rejoining the Empire; perhaps as the Minor Clan whose lost mon they wore...
'These men and women would always bear the burden of suspicion from the rest of the Empire at large, but adversity helped people grow. If they were determined enough and worked hard at it - and passed those ethos on - perhaps, in time, their descendants could be looked upon with respect rather than fear. Perhaps that is where I shall find penance...' He thought to himself.
Suddenly, Shodai found himself under attack in the very heart of the Jade Phoenix spell. The oddly two-faced sohei that had been watching Shoju and leapt into the heart of the flames and had her legs wrapped around his throat. The Void Master knew that he lacked the strength of muscle to force her legs open enough to free himself.
Fortunately, unlike normal shugenja that have to be able to speak to cast magic, Ishiken knew how to let the Void carry their will directly to the kami's hearts. Members of the Void Guard - as a general practice (and Shodai was no exception) - invoked that spell each morning, since you never quite knew what to expect...
'BURST! WHORL AND CUT!'[/b] Shodai willed the air kami that surrounded him within the heart of the Jade Phoenix to permit him to breathe safely.
The Jade Phoenix EXPLODED as the air kami whipped themselves into a frenzy, destabilizing the careful balance of Earth, Fire, Water and Air magics that made the spell possible. The Phoenix lost cohesion and turned into a brief fireball that flashed out in a 100' dome, incinerating most of the undead horde that Shoju had summoned and singed the hair of the Scorpion samurai.
Kourako, however, suffered the worst of it. The air kami swarmed over her, cutting sword-like gashes into her arms, legs, and torso. When the wind blades severed the tendons by her knees and elbows, rendering her a quadriplegic, her grip on the Void Master was instantly released. Shodai brought up an armored leg, his knee striking her in the abdomen; driving the breath out of her and throwing her to the ground, lying face up.
"BIND HER!"[/b] He commanded the ground as he rubbed his neck and took a deep breath. Steel chains burst from the Earth and wrapped around her useless limbs and her torso.
Agasha Shodai looked at the face that was not the woman's own. Channelling the Void into his hands, he reached down to catch the lines of energy by the "throat," leaving the woman's neck untouched. "I do not know who you are, what you are, or how you can do this, but do not mistake me for being like those that are trapped by their use of Maho: I am one with the Void - an equal, not a pawn. You should know what your opposition is capable of before you challenge him... Like THIS!"[/b]
Shodai's other hand took the second face by the "head" and sent a series of Void tendrils into it; tracing the eldritch energies back to their source... Soon he would find the man behind the curtain.
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Bayushi Senshi
Scorpion Clan
Scorpion Clan * Clan Champion * Samurai * Kensai * Experienced * Loyal * Unique
Posts: 1,891
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Post by Bayushi Senshi on Dec 22, 2011 10:37:11 GMT -5
[ooc: ok, we got it cleared up now. Though Khamul please pm Haruka and myself with what you plan for the body. :3]
What lies and treachery is this? Senshi heard what his rival had said, but refused to believe even one strand of truth from it. It couldn't be possible. Then he began to piece together the information he did know, and began to notice a pattern, what he did know for sure is that he would have to get back to his wife's side immediately.
Senshi returned his focus to the field of battle, to be distracted is to be dead. He found that he was speechless from the encounter, and surrounded. He fought his way to the easiest identifiable bastion of safety, Shodai. His clansmen were doing the same.
That was no child of mine. To be born of the taint like that... it was an abomination. When it was robbed from my wife's embrace it ceased to be mine... but what of Haruka? Would she willingly have done this? Would she so easily send me off to kill her sister and child?
Senshi was yanked back from his distraction as Riku caved in the already mangled head of an undead bushi with a swift kick. The bushi was in such a position that he could have dealt Senshi a fatal blow. Senshi nodded a thanks to his wife's trusted steed, and he swore he saw Riku nod back. I swear that horse is smarter then some of my agents.
With all the chaos around him, Senshi thought back to the odd arrival of the sohei, and the one that took something from the fire. Without the dead child's- no, dead thing's body, things just became far more difficult. Thankfully the fire meant that no more would come from this hideous story.
Senshi shook his head, forcing the thoughts from his mind, he and Riku had made it to Shodai, as did a dozen of his men and agents. One man, Odamitsu, was back at the stables protecting their horses. Senshi pointed with his katana, and the survivors surged in that direction. They had accomplished what they came to do, it was time to end this.
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Post by Shoju on Dec 22, 2011 11:59:58 GMT -5
ooc Just wanted to point out really quick, that Shoju left everything there. The No-Dachi (it is sort of like a bloodsword, I wouldn't recommend Senshi picking it up... Or maybe he should. The sword thirsts for his blood... And the crystal, you can assume it's laying on the ground near the no-dachi, if you didn't burn his tent, everything would be there. his armor, any clothes he might have had, a small scroll case with a few spell scrolls, and a standard looking not very flashing, black daisho set.
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Bayushi Senshi
Scorpion Clan
Scorpion Clan * Clan Champion * Samurai * Kensai * Experienced * Loyal * Unique
Posts: 1,891
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Post by Bayushi Senshi on Dec 22, 2011 15:18:49 GMT -5
(ooc: oh, I know. ![;)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/wink.png) hadn't counted them out yet.)
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Khamul
Spider Clan
Monk - Kensei - Sensei of the Venomous Shrine
Posts: 70
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Post by Khamul on Dec 26, 2011 23:04:20 GMT -5
For a moment, the force behind Kourako seemed stunned and uncertain; and indeed, for the first time in recent memory, Khamul met a situation and force that he was completely unprepared for.
In that brief moment, Shodai caught a glimpse of a small shrine somewhere in the low hills to the northwest between them and Shiro Chuda. How had the Phoenix and the Ox both missed it? How had he not sensed it? Here was a mystery to add to that of its exact location.
Then that cold face was before him again blocking all before his vision, its skin dusky, its eyes strange and hypnotic, swirling patterns of darkness playing about its features. "I see." Khamul spoke. "There is indeed a worthy opponent other than he whom I sought before. We shall face, but only in a time and place of my choosing 'Master of the Void'." Its smile was cold as death. "The Void may well be your plaything Phoenix, but I have playthings of my own..." At that, all about Shodai's spirit seemed to darken and fade and then there was a sudden lurch, and his senses were back within his own body.
Looking down, he saw the young Sohai, still trapped; her eyes were rolled into the back of her head and blood streamed from her mouth. The girl had clearly bitten off her own tounge and died; sacrificed to save her master...
At the Venemous Shrine
Khamul moved quickly past the two small shacks on either side of the grounds, as the women and children, and a few bodoka bowed low. Moving to the shrine itself, he called for two pouches, and a satchel which were quickly delivered from the hut to the right. Into one pouch he let pore a handful of ashes from his right hand; the ashes of the unborn child. This he tucked securely somewhere in his sleeve. Into the next he placed a small gleaming object; the crystal which Tenshi had used to communicate with Shoju. Finally, he opened a hidden face on the fron of the shrine itself and removed a bundle from within; the kimono of Isawa Chuda. this he placed in the satchel. Returning the false facing to the front of the shrine, he turned and spoke to his lesser followers. "This phase of our destiny is complete and all is now in place for the rest to begin. Guests will be arriving soon, and there are preparations to be made so that they may be greeted properly." The peasents bowed before their lord and sensei and, beneath the folds of the cloth which masked his face, Khamul smiled...
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