Shosuro Honzo
Scorpion Clan
Scorpion Clan * Shosuro Daimyo * Ninja* "Master of Shadows"* Loyal * Unique
Posts: 194
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Post by Shosuro Honzo on Mar 3, 2012 2:06:48 GMT -5
The three masters fought as a team. Po and Yosuto acted as the pincers, staying on Honzo's flanks, while Honzo himself acted as the stinger. Many of the guardsmen now were either dead or fled. The few that remained refused to approach the Taizin no Oni or Shoju. And there were now new combatants to worry about. A Crane wielding two katanas and a Dragon with a dark aura to him had entered into the audience chamber.
The battle had raged so much, with the kami becoming ever more violent and agitated that a large explosion had tore through the audience chamber, blowing out most of the roof and one wall. The three Scorpion masters had raised their wards in time to avoid most of the damage, though the force was enough to fling them several dozen meters to land painfully, if relatively safe.
The open winter sky was a dull, bruised blue-black as evening stole the daylight away and night began to set in. Harsh winter winds sucked the heat out of the audience chamber, setting a bitter chill upon the combatants, though none felt it.
Honzo snapped commands to the guards to handle the two new samurai. If they in any way attempted to aid their master, they were welcome. If they were here to assault the Scorpion daimyo, they were to be dealt with. Unfortunately, Honzo knew that if the latter were the case, he would be sending those men to their deaths. Honzo recognized the heraldry on the mens' kimono and/or armor and knew the men by their reputation. Masters of the blade, the elite guard would only slow the two down, but the delay would give Honzo, Po and Yosuto time to change tactics.
Why were they here? The Dragon was the most curious of the pair. Honzo didn't know what business brought the Niten master here. He only hoped that as his Clan was an ally to the Scorpion, he was here to help. He had not made an enemy of this man, so perhaps he was here for Shoju. That would make him a most welcome addition to this fray.
The other, the Crane that was wielding two blades was known as Sojiro-san. After a quick mental catalog of what he knew of the man and after hearing the man's anguished screams, he could only guess that he was here for someone that he cared for. That someone was no longer in the room. With Shoju feeding him half-truths and other blatant lies, in addition to snippets of the truth, Shoju was planting the sour seeds of doubt. That made Sojiro-san unpredictable...and dangerous.
The Oni would never tire, this Honzo knew. The battle was beginning to wear on the Masters, though they were not beaten yet. The Oni itself was not fresh either. Several spells and attacks from their enchanted weapons had struck true and the creature bled dark, ichorous fluid from several wounds. Po had managed to land a fortuitous Jade Strike that tore a large wound in the Oni's chest. Corrupted flesh and stinking, acidic blood tore free, landing on the marble floor. Where they struck, the stone was melted away several meters. Yosuto had confused the Taizin no Oni with illusions that kept the worst of the demon's attacks from finding the shugenja masters' true locations. Fog, mist and other means of concealment infuriated the Taizin no Oni as it had desperately attempted to eviscerate the three Scorpion.
Shoju took a back seat to the Oni, preferring to conserve his energy. The poison was burned mostly out of his system. The maho's dark power had accelerated the man's metabolism to the point that the poison could no longer get a hold of his body, thus mitigating and eventually negating the effects. The cost was high, as maho always was. Though unaffected by the poison, the increased rate of metabolism also meant that his physical body was eating away at itself. Shoju's body was now gaunt, his cheekbones sunken in and his limbs mere sticks. His muscle tone was gone, leaving him a frail version of what he had been when he had entered the chamber. Even through his robes, Honzo could see the man's frame was spare.
The tsukai now was hurling blood-red flaming bolts of energy at the trio. Honzo could see that the Oni's attacks now were in concert with Shoju. Picking apart their attacks in his head, he could see that they were attempting to separate them. The fiery bolts were aimed more at Yosuto, who was now having to back up a couple of steps to deflect all the spells with his twirling yari of air. Honzo himself was being driven further from Yosuto and Po as the Oni attempted to bull-rush him and pin him down. That was leaving Po exposed. Honzo suddenly realized the danger.
Oh no, thought Honzo. Dammit, he's too clever by half.
Honzo shouted several commands, attempting to re-establish their fighting formation. By using Water Flows on Rock, the trio were able to coincide their defense with their enemies' attacks in a way that made their bullish, brutish offensive work against them. The purpose of Water Flows on Rock, was to make the defender less vulnerable as they moved around the enemy's attack and used their momentum to keep safe from the most harmful attacks. If they had instead used Fire That Burns or Dancing Winds, the first would sacrifice defensive power too much due to the overwhelming amount of attack that the kata required. The latter would not work either, as it relied too heavily on wearing down an opponent by making them tire themselves out. The Oni would not tire and without enough attack power, they would not be able to inflict any damage upon their enemy. That left only Water Flows on Rock.
A few more signals and the trio were back in fighting formation. Yosuto took his cue and erected more illusion spells around them, giving false mirror-images to the masters and blurring their shapes to prevent direct assaults. Po launched several boulders from the rubble at Shoju while Honzo wreathed the Oni in blast after blast of wrathful blue fire.
Honzo was purposefully not attacking Sojiro. His only hope was that the man would see that he posed him no harm and that he was not the enemy. He felt compelled to at least signal him somehow. So when the Oni was pressed back by a powerful blast of a blue fireball, he shouted, "Sojiro-san! Mai is safe from this monster! My agents have taken her to a safe location where he cannot harm her. Anything he has promised you in exchange for her safe return is now nothing but lies!" He renewed his attacks as the Oni swung its blade towards him and he grunted as he parried with his katana of fire. Honzo was pushed back by a flurry of blows and his left sleeve was torn through, barely missing his flesh.
We cannot do this much longer. We have to banish or destroy the Oni. And Po-san is our best hope. Without him, we are lost.
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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 Mar 3, 2012 6:56:08 GMT -5
Sojiro stalked (it was more like a drunken stomp to anyone watching) through the shattered castle, making his way towards the battle that raged within. As he made his way through the courtyard, several scorpion guards surrounded him as the oni that Shoju had summoned unleashed a blast of blue flame towards three shugenja.
He leveled a stare at the guards with his blue and green eyes.
"You will back down, if you value your lives. I have no desire to end them, but attacking me will be a direct path to the afterlife. You have been warned."
"You!"
He pointed his Kakita blade, glowing a pale blue in the moonlight with it's blessings and enchantments, towards the oni while keeping his crystal katana at his side. It was a terrible thing to behold, even more so given the damage it had taken in the battle.
"Back down, spawn of Jigoku. Attack me and I will happily send you back to your home, far sooner than I'd be willing to cut down the scorpion fodder in front of me."
He walked forward with a confidence borne of concussion damage and pure bravado, bleeding from several holes in his body, making his way steadily towards the shugenja as Honzo addressed him. When Honzo had finished speaking, he had only one question.
"Where. Where is she?"
The expression on his face told the full story. Here was an unparalleled kenshinzen, a man standing at the head of one of the most famous and potent families in the empire, beloved of the Void itself. He was wounded, angry, and had traveled the length and breadth of the empire for one reason - to bring the woman he loved to safety, no matter the cost.
His eyes locked onto Honzo, and they brooked no room for games.
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Shosuro Honzo
Scorpion Clan
Scorpion Clan * Shosuro Daimyo * Ninja* "Master of Shadows"* Loyal * Unique
Posts: 194
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Post by Shosuro Honzo on Mar 4, 2012 2:52:11 GMT -5
Honzo deflected another blow from the Taizin no Oni. His arms were numb now from the impacts and each one he blocked the Oni's blade got closer and closer to him. His strength was waning, he knew. Despite their best efforts, the Taizin no Oni was wearing them down. Yosuto was taxed as well, his spinning yari of air was not the whirlwind it used to be, Instead, he focused his parries to each bolt, and was forced to doge others. This kept him from staying in formation on a consistent basis. Po was likewise almost spent. His spells did not have the same potency they had at the beginning of the fight. Instead of hurling boulders as if they were pebbles, he now rolled them and shoved them across the marble. His brow was beaded with sweat and his breaths were heaving with the effort.
Kakita Sojiro-san strode across the marble floor, hopping over debris and dancing through the melee. The elite guard did not stop him, but kept their weapons at the ready as they flanked his movements. They would guard their master as best they could, but they would not interfere unless he became a threat.
Sojiro-san even went so far as to stare down the Oni, challenging it if it were to come at him. For a moment, the Oni broke off its attack, much to Honzo's relief. He stepped back a couple meters, letting his arms drop, still clutching the katana of fire, though in a weak grip. The katana itself even guttered and wavered, as if struggling to stay in existence.
The Kakita's eyes blazed with determination and desperation. His jaw was clenched, his knuckles white as they gripped the hilts of his blades. "Where. Where is she?", he demanded. There was more than threat in his tone. It was longing. It was hope...and fear.
Honzo looked at Sojiro and whispered into the air, sending his words on silent currents so that only Sojiro-san could hear. "To the place where all shadows dwell. To..."
A dark blur interrupted the Master of Shadows' words. Sojiro saw something large whip by him. Then he felt something warm and wet splash across his face. He heard someone shouting a bellow of denial, and it took his mind a moment to realize it was him. He touched his face where he felt the wetness and his hand came away red, glistening like rubies.
Sojiro looked up now to see the Taizin no Oni standing in front of him where the Shosuro daimyo had been. Held aloft upon the Oni's weapon, the shugenja master lay limp and unmoving. An inhuman roar erupted from the monster's lips and triumph gleamed in its monstrous eyes, giving off a fell light. Sojiro saw the two other shugenja screaming their cries of anguish as they saw their master impaled upon the demon's weapon.
Shoju stood upon his broken pillar, a mocking, yet disappointed look upon his face. It was clear that he didn't see what the Oni had planned.
Sojiro dropped to his knees as the man who knew where his love was had just been killed, and with it, any hope of ever finding her.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elsewhere
Shosuro Honzo, the true daimyo of the Shosuro family and the Master of Shadows rested upon his meditation cushion in his inner sanctum. His close ties and spiritual connection to his twin brother Shosuro Honsou, allowed the brothers to feel each other. Their moods, their fears, their joy...were all shared between the twins.
Alone in his sanctum, the Master of Shadows suddenly fell off his cushion. His chest erupted in fire and pain and he clutched at his heart in agony. He felt his brother's spirit scream out in pain, a long keening wail, and was suddenly silenced. Honzo felt the area of his chest then go from burning fire to a freezing chill. His body was wracked with spasms and he couldn't breathe. After several moments his vision tunneled, then blacked out altogether.
When he woke, he woke screaming his brother's name, tears pouring down his face. He looked down at his chest and noticed that his robes were torn to ribbons by his own hands. Where he felt the fire and ice, a large burn, roughly two fingers thick and five inches wide lay directly over his heart. It wept pus and blood, though Honzo knew not where the wound had come from.
With a cold, sobering thought he realized that for the first time, he was truly alone in this world.
His brother, his twin, was dead. Honsou had failed.
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Saiko
Spider Clan
Here we stand, at the end of all things...
Posts: 355
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Post by Saiko on Mar 4, 2012 3:53:37 GMT -5
Darkness... darkness and rage...
The fuel of his anger, his rage, the quarry of his hunt stood before him, and ever fiber of his being told him to strike. But he stood his ground. The young fallen Dragon looked on as his cousin and mentor talked with the man he hunted, and despite the initial violent outburst, his intentions seemed to be focused on his lost love, and at this, Saiko softened, if only for a moment; he knew of the situation regarding Sojiro's love, if only at the basic level.
He drew his blades, though it seemed he only did so to prevent the guards from coming near him and risking their lives, for only the men who got in his way seemed to suffer his wrath. His kata seemed to deflect any attacks that came his way, though by this point only the oni was being struck by the occasional counterattack; the Niten master was lost in the frenzy of combat, the only ones safe from his anger being his close friends and any who cleared the way for him as Saiko focused his gaze on Shoju, slowly getting closer and closer to the tsukai.
He was rocked by the mental force of the death of the Shosuro daimyo, and at this, Saiko was caught off guard; he had never taken the Master of Shadows to be a powerful enough shugenja to cause such a wave. He pushed it to the back of his mind, however; it was another mystery of the evening that could be solved when business was taken care of. Saiko broke his wary gaze on the oni and Shoju for a moment to glance over and see Sojiro cry out in agony, and he knew that the next few minutes were very critical, and the swordmaster tightened his grip upon his blades as he centered himself, waiting...
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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 Mar 5, 2012 5:02:57 GMT -5
Sojiro watched in dismay as Shoju's pet impaled the Scorpion before he could give the answers that the Crane sought. Some part of him wished he could feel some sort of disbelief over this, but he just wasn't surprised anymore. He dropped to his knees.
This game is over.
His katanas slid back into their sheaths. For a second despair washed over him as everything fell on his mind at once. This quest of his had caused a rift between him and two people he cared for deeply, had probably damaged his honor with Fitsu-sama beyond repair, dragged him all over the empire in the middle of a war, in winter, and he was still no closer to saving Mai.
He looked up at the massive form of the oni, and that dispair was changed into something else - something that brought Sojiro back to himself.
He balled up his fist and, using the technique taught to him by his uncle, Saiko's father, he slammed the jade covered hand into the oni's body, standing up into the strike as he did so.
"I am sick of this charade, Tsukai!" Sojiro snarled his words out as he addressed Shoju.
All of this over a damn nodachi!?
"I'm sick of your damn sword. I'm sick of your excuses as to why you were justified in involving me and Mai in your schemes. You want this thing back so badly?! FINE!!"
He snatched the nodachi from the sheath on his back, ignoring the entirely unpleasant sensations it was sending up his arms. Ignoring the fact that he was now bleeding all over the naked blade of a weapon that was for all intents and purposes an extention of Shoju.
As Taizin-no-Oni was still howling in surprise from the unexpected jade attack, he reared back and drove the nodachi into the oni's chest to the hilt.
"I warned you, you jigoku-spawned slime," it was unclear whether he was addressing Shoju or the oni at this point, although the separation between the two was likely a matter of semantics, "that I was the wrong person to make an enemy of."
Every shugenja in the room, Tsukai or not, could feel the fluctuations of void energy rolling off of Sojiro. The strange prism effect that Saiko had seen earlier was now clearly evident in the strange eyes of the Crane. Taizin, giving up on the idea of removing the cursed nodachi from it's torso, instead decided to lash out at this annoying gnat of a duelist that had dared to strike it not once, but twice. Bellowing loudly enough to wake the dead, it swung it's massive blade at the human that was arrogant enough to believe he was capable of truly harming an oni. The weapon crashed into the shattered stones of the floor, throwing up shards of flying rock that whistled through the air in all directions as well as a shower of sparks. Clearly, it was angered.
Faster than should have been possible, Sojiro rolled to the side. The oni blade took a large lock of his hair off, but no more. One of the pieces of stone shrapnel had sliced his cheek wide open, and blood flowed freely down that side of his face, casting a sinister pall over the kenshinzen's already striking features.
Enhancing his speed by tapping into what he now knew was the void, he grasped the hilt of his Kakita blade - a katana with the words Slay Evil Swiftly etched into it's steel, a katana forged for him in love and respect by Battou, one of the people he cared for that he had offended by ever starting this mad quest - centered himself in that non-moment between heartbeats, and drew.
One Strike, Two Cuts.
It was clearly a single iaijitsu strike, but the time honored kakita family technique lived up to it's name. Two wounds opened up in a diagonal line through the oni's right knee, one on each side of where the single cut should have been. He followed up the attack by drawing the crystal katana in a saka-te grip and slicing open the back of the oni's thigh, where the hamstring obstensibly would be. Sojiro had no idea if the oni even had hamstrings, but he knew that, hamstring or no, that had to hurt. He jumped backwards out of the way of Taizin's wild swing at him.
"I am tired of this, Shoju. I am tired of you, and I am going to make you regret dragging me and Mai into this."
Unnoticed by Sojiro, the blood that had been coating the hilt and had splashed onto the blade of the nodachi seemed to be slowly draining into the weapon somehow, as if it was absorbing Sojiro's shed life essence. A strange play of energies was slowly wrapping itself around Shoju's sword, and whatever it meant, Taizin had gone back to trying to remove the thing with renewed determination... or desperation, perhaps. One could hardly tell with an oni.
(OOC for those who don't know, saka-te is simply a reverse grip on a japanese sword. Think of how you would hold an icepick, or how a ninjato is held in all the movies.)
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Post by Shoju on Mar 5, 2012 10:51:30 GMT -5
Shoju watched as the Oni tore through the Shosuro Daimyo. It wasn't the target he and the oni had agreed on, but when an opportunity presents itself... One thorn in my side handled he quipped, and the morale of the remaining Shugenja was crushed. Shoju let out a booming roar in unison with Taizin.
Victory. Victory. They spoke.
He felt the void spiral out from the man. He saw the blood consumed by the blade, and could hear the blade in his head. It was muted. Someone had attempted to bind the blade. As Sojiro assaulted Taizin, Shoju could feel the attacks, and see the murder in the eyes of the Oni, and Shoju and the Oni warred over allowing Sojiro to live. When the blade pierced his chest, Shoju could feel the blood consumed by the Blade. Oni and Duelist. The blade shrieked in a muted delight.
And then, the accusation flew from Sojiro's lips. I didn't Drag you in! Your.... Your.... Your LOVE did this! For what!? For some... some... BOY from some village that her family has?! The Oni was still grappling at the blade in his chest. Do you think for one second that I wanted to involved anyone else in this?! Do you think that I wanted the scorpion to take her?! Do you think that I wanted this fight?!
Shoju closed his eyes, extended his hand, and the No Dachi tore from the Oni's chest with another guttural roar, and landed in Shoju's hand. Someone had indeed attempted to bind it, and he smelled the mark of Shodai on it. That damned meddler. he remarked. The blade's screams was anguish and joy. It was home. But it would take time to unravel the binding.
Shoju flicked blood from the blade, and as the blood hit the ground, the Kami groaned, the floor shuddered, and rose. A wall seemed to be forming around them. Shoju saw out of the corner of his eye, the Dragon made its way inside. Soon, a new wall of earth had surrounded the 3 men, and the Oni.
This No Dachi? If you remember correctly I told you I wanted a Kakita Blade. I told you to let me handle the breaking of its spirit, but you.... YOU offered to recover Himitsu no Akumu for me[/b]. [/color]
Shoju held up the blade, it's color shifting, red, steel, then a sickly green. The Oni moved towards Shoju, and stood at attention, as if it had been beckoned, but no words were uttered. This blade, this No Dachi that you don't seem to understand the significance of, is my Current Life's work. [/i] It was the tool of my second death, and it will be the tool of death for the Master of Secrets.[/color] Shoju turned and stared Sojiro in the eyes, a maddening look on his face. Shoju's eyes burned with a rage and hatred, his face set in a grimace.
You need to understand, I did everything in my power to keep Mai safe. When she betrayed me to the scorpion, there was nothing I could do. Shoju looked Sojiro in the eyes, never wavering. We have sacrficed more than you could imagine today. All in an effort to save the shiotome. The man and Oni spoke in a pattern and duality that seemed to come from one man. It wasn't as if one was completing the other's sentence, it was as if someone had simply chose what mouth to speak from.
Shoju held his gaze firm on Sojiro, while The Oni Spoke. Once, I was Scorpion. Once, I was Bayushi Taizin. Once, This land was mine. The voice was raw, and raspy, and had a terror inducing undertone. A lesser man, would run in fear. The Shiotome lives. She will be taken to the place where shadows dwell. To the place where lies take shape. To the place where beauty is hidden. To the place where the air can kill you. To the place where your sensibilities will destroy you. The Oni paused, and Shoju smiled.
Shiro Shosuro Shiro Shosuro
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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 Mar 5, 2012 13:29:09 GMT -5
"Of course, Shoju. You're the innocent victim here. You just had to kidnap Mai after she prevented you from raising an undead army in Unicorn lands. She should have just... what, let you damn the souls of all those people? Turn a blind eye to it?"
The blood running down his cheek had turned that half of his face crimson. The wound was likely going to leave a nasty scar.
"She forced your hand by not letting you commit mass murder on a group of innocents. Obviously, it's all her fault right? Just like I had the option of giving you a Kakita blade or that damned thing you're holding. There was never any option, you sick bastard, and if you ever truly cared for Tenshi then you are well aware of that fact."
"You didn't do everything in your power to kep Mai safe, Shoju. You did everything in your power to keep her in a condition that would allow you to use us both."
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Post by Shoju on Mar 5, 2012 13:56:08 GMT -5
Shoju nodded at Sojiro's words. I only took those who willingly joined me. I only killed those who attacked me. I'm not innocent, and I'm no victim. Shoju's voice was flat, his face betraying no emotion. If an undead army was my goal, by the time Mai had reached that village, there would have been nothing[/color] left. I was grieving. That is all that kept me there.
Shoju held the No Dachi in a lax defensive position. I don't blame her for anything but what she did. She gave you her word. She broke that agreement because she wished for this moment to not come to pass. The Oni turned and looked down at the Crane. You are right. I didn't do everything I could have. My word given to you prevented me from doing everything. The voice held a tinge of regret. I could have spirited her away to the Shadowlands. I could have made you seek me there. I could have held her like a prisoner. I could have given her to the Shadowlands to protect. I could have used her name to fuel...ME.
Shoju turned and walked towards the wall behind him and held his head in his hand. I did what I did because I let love cloud my judgement. Because Tenshi was once Shiotome. Mai's resemblence to Tenshi spared her life, and almost cost me mine. Shoju looked up, his back still turned. My word was broken. That is my fault. I should have been prepared for treachery. That is my fault.
Shoju was motionless watching Sojiro through the eyes of Taizin. You seek retribution. The Oni placed its hand over the wound in its chest. and eyed Sojiro with a hateful stare. Your motives aren't so different from my own.
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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 Mar 5, 2012 19:15:00 GMT -5
"Our motives may be similar, but our methods are vastly different. As for the rest," Sojiro shook his head. "I'd love to call you a liar, but it's obvious that you actually believe what you're saying. Therefore you are not lying. You're just completely insane."
Bleeding but reinvigorated, the duelist raised his blades into his modified Niten Fifth Stance.
"I pity you, Shoju. But this ends tonight. Only one person can possibly help you, and I will send you to Tenshi's arms."
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Saiko
Spider Clan
Here we stand, at the end of all things...
Posts: 355
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Post by Saiko on Mar 5, 2012 23:36:52 GMT -5
"Enough."His words burned with a dark fury as Saiko broke the silence he had maintained for the majority of the battle, and his eyes burned with a similar rage. "Shoju, it is a pleasure to finally make your formal acquaintance." He struck a stance just as his mentor did, and unseen, he smiled once again. His attention turned to Sojiro, and as his hands went to his sheathed blades, his voice was tinged with a dark amusement. "Sojiro-san, we are going to have a talk after this, but for now, I have some advice for you. Duck."His next move was a blur of steel as his blades flew from the third Niten stance in a crisscross of strikes. This was only the motion, however; the attack came from the blur of dark angry flames that wreathed him and took the shape of a great dragon, and filled the enclosed space with a burning roar. Beneath it all, Saiko could be seen in a vicious dance of blades moving towards Shoju, a maniacal laughter echoing as the flames became a whirling frenzy, but never touching him as his vicious assault grew more violent and unstable by the second...
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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 Mar 6, 2012 0:06:12 GMT -5
Knowing better than to hesitate for even a second, Sojiro dropped and rolled to his left, towards the oni. A split second later, Saiko's pyrotechnic display lit up the night around them. For a second he was awed - he had never seen Saiko display such potency and control over fire before.
Rising up out of range of the flames, the Crane moved to cut off Taizin's angle of attack on Saiko and advanced towards the oni. Using the void the way he was would give him a slight speed advantage over Taizin, but not nearly the advantage it gave over a typical opponent - he had already seen just how quick the monster could be when it impaled the Scorpion earlier. Sojiro's best strategy would be to remain firmly on the offensive.
Kakita blade in one hand, crystal blade in the other, he launched a furious barrage of strikes.
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Shosuro Honzo
Scorpion Clan
Scorpion Clan * Shosuro Daimyo * Ninja* "Master of Shadows"* Loyal * Unique
Posts: 194
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Post by Shosuro Honzo on Mar 7, 2012 4:24:48 GMT -5
Shosuro Po and Soshi Yosuto both screamed their grief when their master fell. The Oni's murderous glee at Honsou's death fueled their hatred for the Taizin no Oni to a volcanic level. Burning, churning rage built up in Po's insides, threatening to consume him from the inside out. His concentration on his weapon was shattered, however, and it crumbled into dust.
Yosuto on the other hand was crushed. Like a candle flame snuffed out by a quick puff of air, Yosuto-san likewise felt vanquished. It was as if all his energy has been blown away in a second. He collapsed to the floor and stared at his master's body impaled upon the large blade of the Oni.
Po and Yosuto watched helplessly as the Taizin no Oni reached up with its free hand and plunged it into the wound. With a sickening, wrenching, wet ripping sound, the Shosuro shugenja master Shosuro Honsou was torn in half. Blood sprayed in liters everywhere and intestines and other vital organs slopped out in a huge pile of offal, filling the air with a pungent stench of waste and death. The Oni seemed to revel in the aroma, while Yosuto retched his revulsion. Po kept his stomach quiescent, his rage dulling any sense of sickness.
Then the tides turned. Both the Crane and the Dragon swordsmen, who up to this point had not taken notice of the Oni or Shoju, leapt to the attack. The death of the Shosuro "daimyo" had galvanized them to launch their attacks at the tsukai and his pet monster. Their motives upon their arrival were not known, but after Honsou was eviscerated, the good inside each man showed through. Now, with lightning fast strikes of their blades, the singing clang of steel filled the air along with ki-strike battle yells from the Niten Master and the Kenshinzen.
Shoju, Sojiro-san and the Dragon Saiko-san exchanged words. The tsukai erected up a wall of earth around the trio and the Oni with the unholy power of his blood magic. There was the sounds of fighting, shouting and the occasional blast of dark maho.
Po found a new strength within himself. He felt the hand of his ancestors within him and whispering to him. They lent him their strength and their wisdom. The fury within roared and begged for release. His eyes, a pale honey-brown with flecks of gold, suddenly took on an entirely different aspect. With the power of the earth kami filling him with their power, his eyes took on the color of molten rock. With the fire kami aiding the earth, his fury took on a fearsome aspect. He seemed to grow a good foot and a half and his skin took on a greyish color, as if he were carved of stone.
Shosuro Po stood with a power he'd not ever felt in all his years. Though over forty and reaching his age when he would retire to a monastery, He felt years younger. Gripping his hands in a weapon stance, the earth kami responded to his will. A tetsubo of earth, larger than he'd ever conjured before formed in his mighty fists from the rubble around the room. Large, stony spikes eight inches long sprouted from the enchanted earth weapon, and iron bands from sconces that lay ruined and twisted upon the floor flew onto the weapon and reformed to band around the shaft, giving it strength and weight. The stone flowed like clay, then hardened again to the firm, unforgiving density of marble. Ebon stone with scarlet veins, the tetsubo was a terrifying thing to behold.
Striding over to Yosuto, he looked down at his grieving friend saying, "We have lost our friends, but I will still fight to avenge them. Will you join me, cousin?"
Yosuto seemed not to hear him, still staring with blank eyes at Honsou's mangled corpse. Then, with slow movements of his head he locked eyes with Po. His mouth opened, "He's dead...that monster kil-...did you see? How can we...it's impossi-...can't kill it. You were right Po-san. We should have fled. I cannot help you, though I want to. I'm spent, the kami hear me no more. I'm so tired. So very, very tired." He slumped even more to the ground.
Po sympathized with his cousin. But now was not the time for grief. Now was the time for vengeance. "Get out of here Yosuto-san. Take our Master's remains. Get some eta to help. Take them to his ancestral home, Shiro no Shosuro. All of my family will mourn their leader. The daimyo is dead. The Master of Shadows is no more. But that does not mean I will not kill the bastard and the monster who are responsible."
Po stomped away from Yosuto-san. He knew in a few minutes his cousin would snap out of it and obey. He would need help though. Seeing a handful of elite guard who had survived huddling in a corner, he snapped orders to them to help Yosuto-san in his grisly task. Eta were being shouted for, though none knew if any of them would even come.
In the end, the elite guard decided they would take on the task of recovering the daimyo's body and taking it with them out of the city. Yosuto-san went with them, though two men had to aid him as he seemed incapable of walking without help.
Po stood outside the huge wall of earth that the tsukai had erected. His rage burned in his molten eyes. His mask, the aspect of earth, was craggy and shaped as if carved from the face of a mountain, though in reality it was made of wood. His robes, ripped in a dozen places, hung to his broad frame. One might have confused Shosuro Po for a Hida Berzerker in the right light.
Po bellowed his anger and fury at the huge, spherical barrier."This barrier will not protect you from me, monster. Earth is my ally. With it I will smite my foes. With it, I will break you. With it I will see your head upon these spikes!"
With a mighty swing, powered by his vitriolic rage, the tetsubo crashed into the stone sphere. Pouring the fire kami into his blow and screaming a word of power, the weapon struck true.
The world exploded in a deafening sonic boom, and the barrier shattered.
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Post by Shoju on Mar 7, 2012 14:49:46 GMT -5
Shoju was caught off guard by the attack from the Dragon. He had been a mercurial addition to the day up until that point. Shoju shielded himself from the fire in maho, and Taizin sprang to the defensive as Sojiro push the offensive.
What!? now the... Dragon have a quarrel with me?! Or do you have some other purpose mountain man? Shoju yelled as he lept back out of the way. When he landed, his form slid through the ground, momentarily vanishing until he reappeared behind the Dragon. He brought the blade down upon the remains of the marble, shockwaves, echoing through the floor, and a wave of earth rolled towards The Dragon.
As Shoju quarreled with the Dragon, Taizin continued his defense against the attacks of Sojiro. His massive No-Dachi deflected blows, but the Crystal blade chipped away at it. Your assault is folley Crane. You have beaten yourself. Taizin kept backing from Sojiro, leading him into the path of the Flame, slowly, but surely.
As The Scorpion Master Split and destroyed the Maho Wall, Shoju rolled away from the impact, and found himself kneeling behind the Fire Dragon. Shoju stood, and roared I DO NOT WISH TO KILL ANYMORE TODAY!.
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Saiko
Spider Clan
Here we stand, at the end of all things...
Posts: 355
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Post by Saiko on Mar 8, 2012 1:10:21 GMT -5
He was closing in on his target, flames flying wildly about him and he blades a whirl of deadly steel precision, but as Saiko prepared to make his killing blow, the tsukai disappeared. Silently cursing, Saiko instinctively dropped and rolled, rising to his feet with his blades in hand, preparing to renew his attack, but was instead met with a rolling wave of earth. The Dragon sprang forward and lashed out with his flaming blades, but at the moment they connected with the wall of rock, the world collapsed him in a hail of stones.
From the clouds of dust formed by the destruction of Shoju's wall he came, and his rage was palpable as he stood shaking with anger and adrenaline as the flames around him settled into a steady but agitated flowing across his figure and swords, his eyes also quite literally burning with a dark green flames, and he took the scene in with a glance, focusing on Shoju when the man addressed him, though he noticed his cousin may soon need some assistance.
"The Dragon and I walk a different path, Shoju, for my goals are my own," Saiko replied to the man, his voice calm but undertoned with something far darker. "I have been looking for you for a long time, and there is something I wish to ask you, tsukai. If you immediately know the candlelight is fire, was the meal cooked long ago?" His words hung in the air for not but a moment before the flames surrounding him flashed outwards, and in the blink of an eye, Saiko was speeding towards Shoju, his blades in his hands and fury burning from his gaze...
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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 Mar 8, 2012 1:37:59 GMT -5
A grim smile played across Sojiro's bloody face.
"I hear that line from my enemies often, oni. They haven't been right about it yet."
Keeping the oni on the defensive had been working fine so far. The Crane had been able to land five or six minor blows that would, eventually, add up. But the creature had a point - Sojiro was not fire proof, and he could already feel the heat in his metal armor and smell the faint stench of scorching hair. Whatever Saiko had been doing, his skills with the fire kami had greatly improved. It was time to switch tactics.
Noticing the cracks and chips forming along the blade of Taizin's nodachi, another plan formed in Sojiro's mind. Slipping the crystal katana back into it's sheath, he sidestepped to the right as the kakita blade was shifted to his left hand. The sidestep itself was a rookie maneuver that would leave him vulnerable to attack - in other words, bait.
Taizin took the bait with it's unholy speed, seeming to slide forward rather than step as he brought the nodachi hissing towards the exposed left side of Sojiro's rib cage. The Crane wouldn't have the kind of leverage needed to parry the strike with his kakita blade in his left hand, it would blow right through his guard.
Of course, he had never intended to parry the strike in the first place. Somewhere off in the distance, there was an explosion of rock and earth and a howl of anger that Sojiro didn't recognize. He blocked it out of his mind - this would require absolute perfect timing and focus.
As the oni howled in triumph, another voice filled the Crane's mind. The voice that always found him when No Mind had been achieved. Everything seemed to slow down, the half second stretching into an infinitely long present as the nodachi came hissing at him.
NOW! now...
Sojiro dropped his left arm to his side, grasping the saya of his sheathed sword and the hilt of his drawn one in the same hand. His right hand found the hilt of the crystal katana, and in that infinitely long instant, he drew. The technique was flawless, a symphony of released friction of blade against saya, body torque, and arm strength, all enhanced by the void.
In a glittering arc of beautiful death, the crystal katana came free and whipped up into the nodachi's path, shearing through the damaged blade cleanly and slicing two of the oni's fingers off in the process. It would be temporary damage - whenever Taizin was reformed, his physical form would be brand new - but at this moment the effect could not be overstated. The oni's howl of triumph turned into one of pain and frustration as shattered chunks of nodachi scattered over the battleground and dissolved into the same disgusting goo that was leaking from Taizin's damaged form. Sojiro's grim smile became one of absolute peace and tranquility.
It was short lived.
The fatal flaw in iaijitsu, and the reason Sojiro had created Ha no Arashi in the first place, was that if your opponent survived your attack, you were left wide open, with no defense to speak of. Taizin didn't let it's lack of a weapon stop it. The oni brought it's other, uninjured fist around in a wide swing, and suddenly Sojiro was hurtling through the air. He crashed into one of the earthen walls and then hit the ground, the right side of his rib cage making a sickening crunch when he hit. The katanas fell from his hands, and his vision went dark for a second from an incredibly acute pain in his torso. The only thing that kept him conscious was a supreme effort of will to force the pain from his mind and get to his knees. The oni, sensing victory, was charging towards him. Sojiro wasn't without options though - he snatched one of the tantos from his tabi boots and hurled it towards the creature's face.
It wasn't much of an attack. Sojiro was a Crane Duelist, not a Scorpion shinobi, so the tanto clumsily struck Taizin in the collar bone hilt first, doing little more than causing the oni to stop for a half second out of sheer surprise and curiosity. But that split second was all that was needed for another combatant to intercede on the Crane's behalf - one of the shugenja, seemingly sheathed from head to foot in stone and wielding a tetsubo equally stony, stepped in between the oni and the injured kenshinzen.
It wasn't much, but it gave Sojiro a chance to pick up his weapons and experience another of those intensely painful waves emanating from his ribs. Looking down, he saw blood leaking from between two shattered steel plates of his armor.
His ribs were broken. And there was probably more damage internally.
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