Kakita Mitsouko
Crane Clan Mod ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star.png)
::Daimyo::Kenshinzen::Hatamoto of Crane Clan::Paragon of Duty
Posts: 1,952
|
Post by Kakita Mitsouko on Feb 10, 2012 9:05:31 GMT -5
OCC: Ok, guys time to roll. Event's name is: sea of shadows (random event type)
The shocking reality of the Sea of Shadows hit the Crane experienced crew and our heroes with those malevolent and tricky waters, and the turbulent travel didn1t end without some losses, the first ones even before the LORD KAKITA Sengokobune could make its way through the Candas archipelagos and land at the cove pointed by Kitsune Yumi. Those were days and nights of extreme discomfort and constant distress. Mitsouko watched almost impotent some of the valiant volunteers die fighting seamonsters and trying to help the sengokobune just not tear apart with the force of tempests. Though, after they passed Candas, a thick fog colored everything grey, and just the experience of Ryumon, Yasuki's maps and the willpower of everyone kept the Lord Kakita safe from treacherous reefs full of other twisted perils. If not by the strong infusions of jade and the bitter liquor Mishima gave her, she would have died of nausea and general illness just before they land to their real objective: the Shadowlands. Only her resolve made her strong enough to resist time enough to feel the pleasure of having accomplished with success the first part of their incursion. Though, once she stepped onto some dry soil, Mitsouko felt better. The cove had a different aura from everything else around. She scanned her companions, all weary as herself, and gave a sigh of relief. Mostly, they made it.
|
|
Kitsune Poxo
Mantis Clan
Mantis Clan | Shugenja | Earth | Thunder | Kitsune Blooded | Naval | Daimyo | Unique
Posts: 225
|
Post by Kitsune Poxo on Feb 10, 2012 10:24:07 GMT -5
OOC: Kitsune Yumi: explode=10,4D10+13 => 36 #NPC Benjiro-Sea of Shadows
The trip by sea alone was unbearable. There was no wonder in the mind of Yumi as to why her brother would have torn down a mountain to keep her from going. She was the smallest of the triplets and for that she was sheltered to an extent. She was sent to court to keep her away from the scorpion’s invasion only to volunteer herself to a trip to the Shadowlands.
She spent most of the time sea sick and the rest of the time barely escaping being tossed overboard with the waves and monsters. She was constantly asking how her sister could even stand being on ships as much as she could. Yumi for the most part sat in the center of the ship chewing on various herbs she had brought.
At one point when she had decided to brave the upper deck just happened to be as a monster attack occurred. The creatures climbed on board and swarmed. It was during this attack was grabbed and was about to be thrown over when Benjiro saved her by almost just barely sacrificing himself but he managed to grab some rigging before he plummeted to the ocean below.
Yumi was thankful once land was reached but it was short lived. The cove was just as she heard, different with an eerily feeling. However, it did not take her long to understand why. When she finally actually stepped on land she seemed shrunken. Her normal spring in her step seemed missing. If she had animal ears, as sometimes swear they see on her, they would have been pressed low. She was quite visibly frightened. “We need to stay quiet. Something sleeps here.”
|
|
Zeure
Crane Clan
Crane Clan ? Samurai ? Duelist ? Artisan ? Guardian of Metal ? Unique
Posts: 826
|
Post by Zeure on Feb 10, 2012 10:29:49 GMT -5
Kakita Sennosao is seen talking to another of the traveling group...
"...And you know... one of those skulls jumped up on deck and it bit my leg and... you know it hurt, but I'm such a stud I just kicked that skull RIGHT back into the sea..."
Meanwhile, Kakita Battou who did not even get attacked in the horrific raid on their way through the sea of shadows moves across the deck with a leonin grace and jumps down to the rocky cove that they have now landed in. He moves over to where Mitsouko is standing, trying to regain her calm. Battou seems eerily unaffected by the things they have all witnessed. Marking him as a man that is at least somewhat aware of what the shadowlands may hold. Or a damn overconfident fool, it is one or the other. One hand he places upon her shoulder, a strong reassuring grip.
"We made it. And lucky for us all your "yojimbo-team" survived."
|
|
Kakita Sojiro
Crane Clan Global Mod ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star.png)
When you die, will you be remembered, or will you be just another strand in the tapestry?
Posts: 900
|
Post by Kakita Sojiro on Feb 10, 2012 15:11:17 GMT -5
Kaemon spent a fair amount of the trip either comforting Mitsu and explaining to her that these men knew the risks when they volunteered for this mission, or taking care of Yumi - the kitsune just seemed too peaceful and almost fragile to be dealing with these things, and yet she never once complained and did her best to make sure she wasn't a burden to the others. The combination of those things seemed to endear her to the grizzled old Kenshinzen, and when he wasn't fighting off beasts or tending to duties on the ship he was displaying a protective streak one might expect to see over his grandchildren for the young girl. He and Kamiko had displayed a remarkable knack for fighting together as one on the voyage, as had the rest of his men to a somewhat lesser degree, and Kaemon had repeatedly made a point of stating that teamwork was going to be the key to surviving this adventure.
Stepping off of the ship with his retinue in tow, he immediately took note of Yumi's demeanor. "Kitsune-san, do you have any idea what this sleeper is?" The girl looked almost terrified of whatever she was sensing, and Kaemon knew better than to disregard such a warning from someone a sensitive as she was.
|
|
Daigotsu Thrakhath
Spider Clan
Through strength, I gain power. Through power, I gain victory. Through victory, my chains are broken
Posts: 600
|
Post by Daigotsu Thrakhath on Feb 10, 2012 17:31:55 GMT -5
The Keep of the Dead
Otsu, formerly Moshi Otsu, was bored out of his skull. In the weeks since Thrakhath had left him in charge of the Keep of the Dead and its "inhabitants," nothing of any real interest had happened. The oni he and Thrakhath had slain on their first day here seemed to be the only monster inhabiting the place, unless one counted the giant rats that were sometimes found in the deeper areas of the castle. The goblins had required a little rough persuasion now and then, but by now they had developed the sort of fear for him that made them scurry to do his bidding without question. The undead minions were hardly conversationalists. The only bakemono intelligent enough to talk to was Keppo, but all he ever wanted to discuss was siege engine and fortifications and "things what go boom." So Otsu spent his time lounging around the keep, visiting the Silence, or practicing his magic, not knowing when (or even if) his Lord would return with new orders for him.
This routine was about to be broken in a way Otsu least expected. Keppo came to what he'd taken as his chambers with a messag. "Boss," he said, in that direct goblin way, "got a scout report here."
"With nothing in it again, no doubt," Otsu said. He sighed and took the offered paper from Keppo. As usual the writing was no better than chicken scratch, but it made Otsu sit up straighter in his chair anyway. "This report is genuine?" he said.
Keppo shrugged. "Boshanai swear he see wood box with big sail on Bad Sea, going by castle," he said. "Boshanai got good eyes," he added.
Otsu was on his feet at once. "When was this?" he said.
Keppo shrugged again. "Boshanai just now gimme paper, say he come from shore where our big boat is."
Otsu bolted for the door and flung it open, and Keppo yelped as he jumped out of the way. Otsu ignored him and charged through the gate, running full tilt for the Silence and the equipment he hoped was still there. He ran up the gangway and into the captain's quarters, rummaging through the various items in the room until he came across what he was looking for: a spyglass. He ran back to the deck and put the glass to his eye, scanning the horizon for anything unusual. He spent many moments on the deck of the docked ship, but he noticed no trace of the ship Boshanai had claimed to see. Did the little goblin imagine everything?
Keppo came trotting up beside Otsu with a quizzical look on his face. "Boss?" he asked.
Otsu lowered the spyglass and frowned. "Send out patrols, cover every inch of the shore," Otsu said. It's not like they had anything better to do. He turned to Keppo. "Tell your goblins not to fight," he said, putting as much emphasis into his words as he could. "I want information, nothing else."
"Yeah boss, will do," Keppo said, and hurried back toward the keep. Otsu stayed on the deck of the Silence and lifted his glass again, scanning the sea.
|
|
Usagi Izutsu
Ronin
Hare Clane Samurai
* Hare Clan Regent * Samurai * Jade Magistrate * Master Tracker * Heir *
Posts: 54
|
Post by Usagi Izutsu on Feb 11, 2012 17:11:24 GMT -5
![](http://rolz.org/embed?1233869) The icy winds howled through the almost cumbersome fog as shouts echoed around the deck of the ship. The foul creatures of the Shadowlands were unlike anything many of them had ever seen, abominable crossbreeds of what looked like giant birds and scaly lizards, their thin pale wings ending in curved, mean looking claws. Their beady black eyes topped a head that seemed consumed by its gaping maw, lined with rows of razor sharp fangs that dripped with a thick, black viscous substance. Out of the fog they came, shrieking and howling as they cut across the ship, severing ropes and sails while others aimed for the sailors. Izutsu gave a mighty battle cry as his men leaped into action, Kenno flashing like a beacon of righteous fury in his hand as he severed the heads of one of the beasts. He saw Mitsouko likewise kill one of the beasts in a flash of steel, her skill as a Kenshinzen giving Izutsu a small smile. That smile quickly disappeared as he saw one of the beasts diving towards her, its long neck outstretched as it prepared to maul her from behind. He heard another cry of rage, however, and saw his old friend Kiyoshi leap from the top of one of the masts and land on the beast's back, his blade slashing back and forth across its long neck. A howl of pain erupted from the foul creature as it thrashed about, trying to throw the young Hare samurai from his back. This motion drove the blade into the beasts brain, and as it died, Kiyoshi gave a roar of victory. It turned into a gasp of surprise as another of the beasts snatched him from the air and threw him into the foul sea. Izutsu shook his head as he freed his Ancestral Blade from another of the creature's hides. Another fine young samurai of his clan, lost to the foul spawn of Jigoku...
|
|
Kitsune Poxo
Mantis Clan
Mantis Clan | Shugenja | Earth | Thunder | Kitsune Blooded | Naval | Daimyo | Unique
Posts: 225
|
Post by Kitsune Poxo on Feb 11, 2012 23:20:16 GMT -5
"A powerful spirit, it must be the reason this place is avoided." Yumi said quietly to the point of almost a whisper. "It's not an animal but it's not a kami. It's power is immense, I don't know if it is of Jigoku or not. It seems to have that hidden." Her eyes darted around before settling in the center of the cove. Then she uttered, "Toshigoku..."
|
|
Kakita Hitoshi
Crane Clan
Be more concerned with good actions than great ones
Posts: 306
|
Post by Kakita Hitoshi on Feb 12, 2012 6:42:30 GMT -5
![](http://rolz.org/embed?1239386) Hitoshi had spent the first part of the voyage being violently seasick, but had eventually gotten used to the motion of the ship and was even beginning to quite enjoy it when the attack came. He was fighting back to back with his friend Kakita Chikao, their blades flashing at the creatures as they emerged from the fog, and he was grateful to see the steel draw blood. The samurai on the ship fought ferociously and one by one, the abominations began to fall. "Duck!", Chikao screamed, and Hitoshi dropped to his knees as his friend span and cut a creature out of the air that was aiming towards Hitoshi's head. As he rolled backwards, the shireikan then returned the favour by driving his katana up through the middle of another one. There was a moment's respite, and across the chaos he caught a glimpse of Daidoji Genichi standing in front of Asahina Chikaku. He was forming a wall of impenetrable steel between the creatures and his chosen charge but two attacked simultaneously, both striving to get to the unarmoured shugenja. One, Genichi impaled on his yari, and as the cruel claws of the other reached out he simply moved his body in the way. The claws punched through the heavy armour like paper and he doubled over, blood erupting from his mouth. As the creature hissed in his face, he pulled a tanto from his belt and drove it through its eye before collapsing to the ground with a sigh. Chikaku knelt over his body, desperately trying to stem the flow of blood, but by the time Hitoshi had reached them both it was too late.
|
|
Kakita Mitsouko
Crane Clan Mod ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star.png)
::Daimyo::Kenshinzen::Hatamoto of Crane Clan::Paragon of Duty
Posts: 1,952
|
Post by Kakita Mitsouko on Feb 12, 2012 7:44:08 GMT -5
I'm really glad, Battou, you've been showing a remarkable talent to make them work as a "team", by the way. Thank you. She smiled wearily to her fiance. Though she was near enough of Yumi and Kaemon to listen part of their conversation, and when the young lady's gaze fixed to a point in the cove, Mitsouko craned her neck to look at the same direction.
|
|
Kakita Hitoshi
Crane Clan
Be more concerned with good actions than great ones
Posts: 306
|
Post by Kakita Hitoshi on Feb 12, 2012 8:33:18 GMT -5
The rites of mourning had been performed for the fallen, and those of cleansing for the survivors, by the time that the Lord Kakita reached the secluded cove.
Hitoshi was watchful - they had entered the Shadowlands proper now - and swiftly noticed Yumi's discomfort. He drew closer just in time to hear her muttered oath.
"What troubles you Yumi-san?" he asked. "Apart from the obvious, that is." Everyone was looking a little uneasy apart from Kakita Battou. Asahina Chikaku in particular was slightly red around the eyes from tears that she had shed over Genichi, and looked as though she were about to be sick. Hitoshi made eye contact with Chikao and nodded at the pale shugenja, and he went over to comfort her whilst Hitoshi spoke with Yumi.
|
|
Alesha
Spider Clan
Fallen Crane * Duelist * Bloodspeaker * Tactician * Maho-Bujin
Posts: 418
|
Post by Alesha on Feb 13, 2012 4:04:01 GMT -5
He listened to the sinister whispers of the kansen of the aproaching foe from his relatively luxurious quarters in city of the Lost. They were coming close right into his outstretched arms. He could not believe his luck. It was high time to release the welcoming party, and he remembered his young student Sojiro... Now that was a name quite fitting for the welcoming party for his beloved Misuoko... He smiled and summoned his bloodspeakers.
Looking upon his blade, he adored its elegance, it been a while since he drew it, and there were many he intended to kill. Dozen of fallen kenshinzen were with him, as well as a 13 finest bloodspeakers he selected. HE considered them for a moment... He didn't need them. He will kill every last one of those cranes alone and deliver Mitsuoko bound to Festering Pit of Fu Leng, its about time to introduce her to local celebrities. Picking the blade from the stand he rose... His Kakita blade's metal turned deep red, as he noticed drawing it... Before him laid a sacrifice victim, enough blood to power the spells he intended to use... For each of the coming he had something special in mind... Single swipe of blade, removed head, blood dripping upon the dark altar, by the victim stung to the ceiling... He felt the kansen gather around him...
"ONI-NO-SOJIRO, Your time has arrived..." - He screamed as a immense razorblade centipede emerged from the ground... - "Go greet out guests, but if you crave to steal your name, you must bring one alive. Kakita Mitsuoko."
He watched as centepede-demon buried itself into the ground lightning quick as Sojiro's iaijutsu strikes. Just as planned... But there was still blood and kansen waiting to be fed... He dispached them towards the atackers like sear of angry shades, tainted kami would spell the doom of the Crane expedition... And what little blood remained... He used to instill his body with strenght. Donning the pitch black obsidian armour, he mounted one of the hellsteeds of Jigoku... He will meet them alone. But for now, the kansen and Oni-no-Sojiro will entertain his guests. Perhaps they'll prove more then enough... Lets see if they can stand might of maho-bujin.
|
|
Kitsune Poxo
Mantis Clan
Mantis Clan | Shugenja | Earth | Thunder | Kitsune Blooded | Naval | Daimyo | Unique
Posts: 225
|
Post by Kitsune Poxo on Feb 13, 2012 11:33:50 GMT -5
Yumi shook herself and seemed to strengthen herself. Her eyes stayed locked on the position as she spoke. “I understand now. This cove is avoided not because of lack of taint or level of purity. The creature that sleeps here is powerful and the lesser beings wish not to awaken it. It is of Toshigoku, realm of slaughter and has no allies. If we remain quiet we should be able to avoid an encounter which I fear would be almost as deadly as if we faced are target.”
She finally tore her eyes away and looked at Kaemon, then to the rest that had gathered. Fear still hid in her eyes but she obviously was trying to put on a stronger demeanor. “Let us get our work done quickly.”
|
|
Kakita Mitsouko
Crane Clan Mod ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star.png)
::Daimyo::Kenshinzen::Hatamoto of Crane Clan::Paragon of Duty
Posts: 1,952
|
Post by Kakita Mitsouko on Feb 13, 2012 11:56:13 GMT -5
The Kakita daimyo listened Yumi's words considering it for a moment. The Kitsune Daimyo's sister's help as shugenja was a great addition to this incursion. Thank you for the valuable input, Yumi-san. Well, let’s move, then. We have few reasons to delay around such creature's pit. Mitsouko took a deep breath and a gulp of fresh water from a flask, before gazing the west horizon for a while. The crew must avoid the land, keeping in the vessel as long as possible, while they wait for us. And the rest must remains as planned. A sudden shudder shook Mitsouko's body, but she pretended to ignore it, joining the scouts in the front of the line. The natural light was scarse, the soil was strange, everything was menacing... though the group ignored the intimidating environment and started to move. He already knows we are around… she muttered.
|
|
Daigotsu Thrakhath
Spider Clan
Through strength, I gain power. Through power, I gain victory. Through victory, my chains are broken
Posts: 600
|
Post by Daigotsu Thrakhath on Feb 13, 2012 13:36:45 GMT -5
Boshanai and his goblins moved quickly and as silently as possible through the twisted foliage of the Shadowlands. Moving without sound was impossible in this environment, but Boshanai and his band had been through this terrain enough to know how best to avoid detection. They did their best to keep the shoreline in view as the went, and soon enough they came upon the cove where none of them would dare enter. Boshanai stood on a hill close to the cove and fumbled with the spyglass he'd been given. When he finally figured out which end to look through, it didn't take him long to spot the small ship floating alone on the Sea of Shadows. "Humans is good for something after all..." he muttered to himself. He waved his band on, and the left the cove to see if they could find a trail.
Whoever had come on that ship, there had been a lot of them, and no amount of ingenuity could hide their passing. The goblins followed the trail quickly, sticking to the undergrowth as much as possible. Boshanai was satisfied that they'd found something important, and gathered his mates around for a meeting. "Boss say to see if anyone come to Shadowlands, I say we find a lot of someones!" The other goblins giggled. "You boys go ahead and ambush the humans, while I go home and tell boss what happen."
"But boss," one of the other goblins said, "Big Boss Keppo say not to fight."
"Boss Keppo tell me not to fight," Boshanai said. "He didn't say nothin about you boys." The goblins grinned even wider at that. "Go get dem humans, make boss proud!" The goblins all yelped excitedly and ran off, while Boshanai sprinted for home. So clever I am! he thought to himself, grinning excitedly.
|
|
Kakita Mitsouko
Crane Clan Mod ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star.png)
::Daimyo::Kenshinzen::Hatamoto of Crane Clan::Paragon of Duty
Posts: 1,952
|
Post by Kakita Mitsouko on Feb 13, 2012 16:42:25 GMT -5
OCC: And... we are in combat again! Describe your action as well one of your NPCs (with the roll). Event name: Bakemono (combat type) Gambatte!!! ;D
|
|