The Fall of The Castle of The Swift Sword

[Daigotsu Daisuke]

This thread is meant to rp the destruction of the CotSS. All are welcome. Please recognize that this will also be where I roleplay Akodo Jin's death as well as Akodo Daisuke's fall to the taint. Send me a PM if you'd like to be involved with that. Please treat this thread with the respect it reserves and remember that many Toturists probably have a bit of a soft spot. Be respectful and we'll all have a good time.

The rain poured down, the castle gates had broken down hours ago. The last of the defenders now holding the courtyard to the best of their ability. Jin covered in the blood and sweat of the days events held his No-Daichi in his hand. The large Mirumoto duelist he had just cut laid drowning in a pool of his own blood. Jin was tired the next opponent lined himself up with Jin ready for a chance to take on the Sensei of the Akodo War College. Suddenly a large crash echoed from the castle walls as flames exploded on the castle's northern wall. Flaming debris fell to the courtyard below. A few soldiers from both sides swallowed by the falling wreckage. Jin glared past his opponent to the hill line where the shugenja were casting their fire spells. It seemed all hope was lost for the castle, numerically outnumbered the castle seemed predestined to fall. He'd have to make it past these small insignificant insects if he was going to give his crab, mantis, and unicorn allies any chance of escaping... as for jin, this was his home and soon to be his grave.

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Daisuke had been dispatched to the southern portion of the line to help facilitate his father's allies escape. There was no reason that Kaneka should perish in the fall of the castle. Daisuke saw the first explosion and thought to himself

"There wont be a castle left standing at the end of this will there? The dragon apparently aren't gracious winners are they? We shall have to do our best to make them suffer then."

He then looked over to an imperial guard and said:

"Help me lift this box"

The shouting from the northern courtyard had begun to grow. It seemed the end was near for the defenders.

[Akodo Keisuke]

Keisuke and those with him raced towards the ruins of the castle walls, they had been fighting for what had seemed to them like hours, and most likely probably were. But thunder be damned if he was not going to extend every effort to save every member of his clan that he could. Akodo Jin the Sensei was still fighting there along with his son and so many others. And the fury of such thoughts blazed within his heart a fire that would not soon be quenched.


Raising the celestial sword and pointing it at the castle,
For the ancestors, for the Swift Sword,
he shouted, as they charged in to the thick of battle to save what samurai they could.

[Takezo]

At the Castle of the Swift Sword, two battles have raged on for weeks.

The obvious battle, overt in its crash of metal and cries of challenge and anguish and screams and lamentations of pain and death, was between men. Bushi of all clans, but mostly Dragon and Lion, swarmed in a roiling sea of flesh and armor, rendered almost indistinguishable from one another as colors bleached out in the alchemical light of the sorcerous Dragon fires and the cloud-shaded dim of the battlefield; it took canny ability among the commanders just to know whom among the throng and din to command.

And all the blood was red.

But a less apparent battle had raged all the while, covert: a battle between elements, Fire against Earth.

The walls of the Castle of the Swift Sword were ancient and strong, girded even in the legends of those warriors who had lived and died upon its walls, the memories of storied commanders who had found honor leading its defense in countless battles – ancient enough, a fortress grows a soul which strengthens it, as the Earth kami who give it that strength themselves grow ancient and wise. The Earth within these walls was ancient indeed, and very wise, and cunning in warfare.

But the Fire was endless – it traveled as though a river from the mountains, caravan upon caravan of Dragon supply chains bringing fire, and fire, and more fire. It was just so MUCH, and in time the Earth kami weakened under its assault.

And one evening the walls of the Castle of the Swift Sword, suddenly and totally, were wreathed in flame.

Takezo, in mid-shout of command, sensed the terror of the Void as the elemental balance shifted, cracked, and fell away.

“All! Take cover! The castle falls!”

It was not so much a sound as a sensation – a deep bass, the cry of thousands of ancient, dying Earth kami – a violent pulse that exploded radially out from the walls like overlapping ripples in a lake. Takezo’s heart thrummed with the force of it, and instinctively he opened his mouth to equalize the pressure and covered his ears. The blast blew him back like a leaf torn from a tree in a storm, and around him men – Lion and Dragon alike, less strong themselves in Earth, had the skins and meat stripped from their skeletons like hands suddenly ungloved, bloody gobbet and shattered bone tumbling in ghastly motley across the battlefield.

Stunned, Takezo staggered to his feet, reeling.

“It is lost.”

[Tamori Koichi]

(ooc: I will be making just one post. Manji here's your alchemical fire dragon. )

Preparation complete.

Everything was now in order. Every detail had been put in it's proper place according to the Tamori daimyo's specific instructions. It had taken weeks to accomplish, made especially difficult by the continuous attacks by the Lion and Kaneka's army. A contingent of Mirumoto had even been assigned to protect the location where the massive ritual was setup.

The Tamori had been slaving up for it. The incantations to gather the necessary kami to fuel the spell were prayed day in and day out. All the sigils were in place. The Alchemists had drawn an intricate transmutation circle to enhance the power of the spell from the Izaku Library.

It was the perfect marriage of Dragon ingenuity and Phoenix knowledge. It was the perfect force of destruction.

And the time to use it had now arrived.

The chantings of the monks and the shugenja grew stronger. Static was in the air as a large amount of the kami were condensed in the area. They yearned to be released. To be directed at something, anything. Koichi stood at the middle of all this, standing in concentration as he wrapped up the spell. An open palm facing towards the direction of the northern wall of the Caste of the Swift Sword.

The horns were sounded. The Hanteists still on the battlefield quickly scrambled to get out of the established path. Scrambling. Silence. Then a release.



The rolling mass of energy took the form of a mighty Dragon. It cackled, the kami moving about in a frenzy. The Dragon shugenja did their best to control it and maintain it's straight path towards the castle. It moved yard after yard, wrecking everything on it's way.

Then collision. A blast. It exploded from the center out, sending ripples against the castle walls. And they tumbled, the anicent earth finally giving up to the raging fire.

[Daigotsu Daisuke]

I'll try to refrain from any true hollywood story jokes from my own writing

Darkness.... Jin didn't even give the young challenger a minute to fully prepare, this wasn't a formal duel so it didn't matter how the bastard died. Jin began charging when suddenly he then heard ground screaming out in pure torture.

All was black... shifting around he could his old bones creak. Something had happened, had shifted his awareness of time as if he had fallen asleep during some boring play written by a crane. His right leg refused to cooperate. Forcing his body to move from pure will he stood up on his left and gazed at the wreckage and pure carnal destruction that had once been his home.

His eyes gazed over the landscape. The courtyard he had just been fighting in had been where he trained leading right up to the clan war many years ago right before his gempukku. Where the walls and gates had stood, he once helped to hold off an attacking army of lying darkness monsters as a young man. Where the foundations of the building, he had once taught many young men and women the basics of the blade. He remembered the faces of his many students, many proud with the accomplishments they achieved through his instruction. The wedding ceremonies of those students and his children that he had attended in that very castle. He remembered that even though his daughter was to join the Kitsu family he had finagled her marriage to take place at the castle of the swift sword, to show respect to his proud family. He remembered marching through the gates at the end of the war of the spirits to be commended for his bravery. The many hours he spent in the small rooms of the castle talking about bushido with favored and needy students. His life's work, wiped away in an instant.

The dragon army, what still held together of it anyway began moving to the crater that had once been the castle of the swift sword. No longer covered in just the enemies blood, he wiped his own from his eyes. It had become difficult to see. They were closing in now and soon he would greet them with steel.
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Daisuke had been far enough south that when the explosion went off, he was thrown to the ground. After a few moments of recovering himself he stood to see the castle his father had raised him in demolished. The secret hiding place he had hidden notes for his childhood sweet heart was no longer, nor was the place he called home. Then the sickening realization that where his father had been. He looked to his friend, a young unicorn subordinate who had helped him left a few crates earlier and shouted:
"Moto-san please tell the men it is too late, they must ride now. I must check on my father, I will be with you soon. "

He quickly retrieved his Naginata and ran forward with a few of his surviving men. It was a long enough run. After weeks of constant battle with little food and constant pressure from the dragon he had grown tired. Even now the short distance he ran was great under the stress of war. He muttered a prayer to the fortunes and his family ancestors, but thought to himself that this was no only out of habit. They no longer seemed to listen to him anymore. His luck had run out some time ago.

Upon reaching the crater, little was left of the castle. Smoke and gore were everywhere. Shadows of where a group of soldiers had cowered in fear from the explosion seemed etched into the dirt permanently. The air was thick and choking. The land seemed to be playing a disgusting joke with Daisuke's mind.

[Takezo]

Takezo stood, trying to orient himself. The air itself seemed almost aflame, shimmering with heat mirages; Takezo ripped off a strip of his hakama, wrapping it around his mouth to mask it from ash and ember.

Dizzied, Takezo tried to shake the dull, muffled roar of thunder from his head, only to have it transition into a ringing as his hearing partially returned; his mouth felt dried, stuffed with straw or cotton. He tried to spit - nothing - but as he adjusted the makeshift mask he saw it was smeared with blood.

He looked around, trying to find his men, unable even to see many intact bodies. A young Mirumoto bushi, Seiji, one of Takezo's last students as Dragon Champion, who had remained loyal to Takezo and had followed him into exile, staggered into view from a cloud of shimmering vapor; the young man's hair and clothes had been burned from his body, but he still clutched his twin swords, as they'd been fused to his hands.

"Takezo... dono... my lord... I cannot see... my lord..."

The young bushi's eyes, melted, twitched in their sockets as they tried to survey the carnage. Dead, he simply hadn't fallen yet.

Takezo went to the boy, put a hand on his shoulder, leaning in to speak to him.

"Rest now, Seiji-kun. It is over. You were honorable, and have humbled me. The teacher, taught"

Takezo saw the rivulets of blood seeping from the boy's ears and knew he could not hear, but the boy relaxed, seemed comforted.

"Rest now"

Takezo gently pressed the boy's shoulder, and he kneeled. In a flick and flash of merciful steel, the boy's head fell.

"To Yomi, Seiji-kun. My last order".

Takezo struggled on, seeking an exit from the inferno.

[Tamori Manji]

OoC: Thanks Koichi-sama. Here's what Manji was doing while your alchemical dragon trashed CotSS, guess its my time to pay a little homage. These are the direct consequences of A Dragon of Ash and Shadow. As a meteorological side note, I'm assuming that the cold winter rain set by Jin will turn to snow again sometime during the night. Another important note for those that don't know Manji that well, when I say "the fox", I'm referring to him because he is not human.

She moved gracefully amidst the combat, a single katana in hand, seamlessly alternating martial arts moves learned from the Togashi with kenjutsu techniques characteristic of the Tamori yamabushi. Her chest was bare, for the Tamori had no use for common protection, the kami were their armor and their weapon. On her back, with intricate details extending to her chest, the eternal clash between the celestial dragon and the earth tiger was artistically depicted, but none of her enemies would be able to appreciate it, for by the time they saw her tattoo, they would be laying dead on the ground. Tamori Chie advanced confidently, together with the troop composed by other yamabushi, Dragon monks and a couple Mirumoto. They were thirteen, all led by Tamori Manji.

Let none escape! Teach them what it means to face a Dragon in battle! shouted the young Tamori for he, along with the leaders of other highly mobile skirmisher groups, had taken as his responsibility to deal with any troops loyal to the fallen Shogun that tried to escape back to the safety of the Unicorn camp near the river. He knew that the main army led by Tamori Koichi would succeed breaching the castle's defenses, after all, not even all the Lion shugenja together could stop his daimyo once he had set his mind on a goal. That simple knowledge made Manji proud.

Countless hours ago, his unit started killing stragglers and harrying the flanks of Toturi's army, but the true motive for their deployment was still to come and they all waited patiently for a sign from their leader. With each hour passed, the number of soldiers trying to evade the main battle increased, putting pressure on their fighting skills. But as sure as the falling snow on a bleak winter night, the Dragon's roar echoed across the heavens and the earth itself cried in pain. In the distance, they could all see the beautiful creation of Koichi's hard work, a huge dragon of alchemical fire shinning brightly against the moonless sky as it flew towards the castle's doomed northern wall. Chie-san, status report! said Manji as he dislodged Kaen, his crystal katana, from a Lion's dead skull, cleaning the blade on the bushi's lifeless mane. All the groups are in position my Lord, waiting for your command, answered the female yamabushi. Good, have the kami tell them that the cavalry will scatter when the Dragon roars again and when it does, they should move in to kill those that escape its hunger, Chie nodded in agreement and commanded the other shugenja to send their messages. All was in place, the alchemical fires blazed wildly through the night, the snow was getting stronger and Manji's unit was starting to feel the earth trembling beneath dozens of Unicorn and Lion hooves. The time had come for him to finally feed the dark fire. Manji spoke coldly, his gaze fixed on the distance, I've chosen each one of you for this task because of your connection to the Void. I need you to be like the Void, erase your presence, empty your hearts, let go of everything that makes you what you are and you will survive this night. Now, scatter! None of them made a sound, they simply vanished into the night guided by the kami and, suddenly, Manji was alone in the middle of the road.

The fox was a haunting presence below the starless sky. He wore black waraji firmly bound around black tabi, loose dark green pants and a golden belt around his waist; his torso was bare and the air around him flickered as it would in a very hot day; on his forehead, a white strap of cloth held his white hair in place. As the earth shook beneath his feet, he calmly undid the mystical trappings binding his right arm for the first time. The bandages fell silently to the frozen ground, revealing the exquisite tattoo of a black dragon covering the entirety of Manji's arm. Moments later, the tattoo lost form and detached itself, as darkness bled from it forming a large circle around the young Tamori. The darkness crackled like fire and took the shape of a dragon that attracted and greedily devoured energies from all around it. The piece of cloth holding his hair in place burned when he opened his mind's eye, then he breathed deeply and started gathering the dark fire upon his right hand as the circle around him grew wider and the hooves felt closer. Fire, as dark as the night, erupted from the earth and rained down from the sky, melting the snow and creating an eerie mist. He could now feel the anger, fear and despair of the Lions and Unicorns heading towards him, he knew the fools intended to proceed. There were dozens of survivors heading his way and, before they arrived, their spells and arrows announced their presence. But all their efforts, although brave, were ultimately useless. The fire from the Spirit Realms had been released and it devoured everything it touched. When the cavalry advanced, desperately trying to flank and charge the lone Tamori, Manji released the Dragon wave with a loud shout: 炎殺黒龍波 (Ensatsu Kokuryūha).

The flames roared and the dragon of darkness flew towards its targets, devouring its way through the cavalry and advancing towards the infantry that had stood almost a 100 meters behind. It gorged itself on the emotions and energies of his enemies, the more they despaired, the stronger it grew, leaving only shadows and ashes in its wake. The fox laughed demoniacally as he felt the surge of power rushing through his body and remembered what someone had once told him: Dragon soars with Dragon. And soar they did for as the remnants of the Lion and Unicorn troops scattered trying to flee the power unleashed by Tamori Manji, his brethren emerged from the snowy fields, mercilessly cutting their enemies down. The conflict was over before it even began and what followed was the grisly work of finishing off the routed soldiers.

The dragon roared one last time, striking fear into the hearts of its enemies, before disappearing into the night sky. Once it was gone, Manji collapsed to the ground amongst the ashes of his defeated enemies, exhausted by the effort. It was the second time he had used the darkness flames and the first he had summoned the dragon. His technique still needed a lot of refinement but at least this time he had managed to successfully control the energies and avoid being badly burned in the process. He had finally made the dragon a part of himself.

Long minutes later, as the sound of battle died down around him, he struggled to rise to his feet and felt gentle hands grab him by the waist and raise him from the ground, my Lord, are you alright? asked Chie, at the same time concerned and afraid. Yes, thank you Chie-san. Status report please, the fox said in a low, gentle tone, to which she answered, at once sir. Our plan was very successful, Gunso Tamori Kururu, Tamori Makoto and Mirumoto Nagi are gathering their groups and have sustained very few losses. The unit of Nikutai Mirumoto Keita has not reported back and Nikutai Tamori Kiara and Mirumoto Yuzuru are pursuing stragglers. Chui Tamori Omachi is still battling the Lion and the Unicorn at the other escape route and we have not yet had news of Chui Mirumoto Daigoro. Daimyo Tamori Koichi melted the northern walls of Shiro sano Ken no Haiai and took control of the location, the day is ours my Lord, she said excited, finally stopping to breath, with a clear smile upon her face, and our troops have managed to recover that which you and Koichi-sama requested, thanks to your careful instructions. Tamori Manji saw his brothers and sisters around him, bloodied, battered, tired but mostly alive and undoubtedly victorious. Excellent, he said with a sleepy voice, have the more rested troops follow up with our plan and harry those curs all the way back to their new refuge, give them no quarter. Prepare the item to be transported to Koichi-sama at once. Gunso Tamori Chie, the command is yours, the fox said, with a relieved voice, as he hugged Chie's bare, bloodied torso and fell asleep.

PS.: in case you still haven't guessed what I'm paying homage to, check the following video, especially between 5:38 and 7:38.

[Enishi]

The rain had been pouring since early in the morning, as if trying to wash away the acrid smell of alchemical fire - to no avail, it seemed, and it could only get worse as the Tamori daimyo released the ritual he had been planning in recent days. Apprehension filled the mind of Mirumoto Kojiro, and he could feel it too among all the archers under his command. They had been stationed under the walls of Shiro sano Ken Hayai for what seemed like an eternity, and he was now convinced that should he survive the battle, he would never get free of that stench: alchemical decoction and burnt flesh.

Today was going to be the end of it, one way or another. Toturi's forces were harassing them without mercy since they had arrived and their tactics were clearly outwitting the Dragon army. At least the Shogun's reputation had not been usurped; soon, they would be as desperate as the Lion within the castle probably were. The Tamori ritual would make or break the day. If it failed, they were all doomed and would probably fight to the bitter end. If it worked, it would probably rout the enemy army and the archers would have to eliminate as many stragglers as possible. The idea did not sit well with Kojiro. At some point, the battle had degenerated from something he knew into crazed, frenzied killing as neither side was willing to compromise. Even know it was clear no one would offer surrender. Harassing fleeing enemies was accepted practice. It was the whole battle that felt wrong.

As he pondered and waited, he could hear rushed movement among his men. Its cause soon became apparent as the massive form of a tattooed man made its way towards him. He recognized the man easily. His golden eyes and the crescent moon tattooed on his chest immediately identified as one of the kikage zumi. He had been seen quite often in the last weeks coordinating with the yamabushi, and rumour had it that he had been tasked with starting fires in carefully selected places within the Lion's defenses. On several occasions he had displayed an uncanny ability to just appear where no one expected him, which was certainly useful in the current siege.

"The ritual is proceeding, Kojiro-san. Everything going as planned?"
"We are ready, Enishi-san. We will intercept any who try to flee across the river." Maybe he had not sounded as convinced as he wanted to, as the kikage zumi looked at him quizzically.
"Anything troubling your spirit, Kojiro-san?"
Kojiro hesitated, which he realized was already a kind of positive answer. He knew his duty and no one could blame him for shunning it. On the other hand, the growling voice, slow diction and emotionless face of the tattooed man always seemed just a bit threatening to him for some reason.
"Not really – well – ah, what should we do if, for example, we come across civilians trying to flee?"
The monk raised one eyebrow. "We have been here for six months, Kojiro-san. All civilians must have left the castle by now. You should not worry yourself with that. Only soldiers remain."
Kojiro was not quite convinced, and it probably showed. Surprisingly, Enishi seemed to understand his concern. "That is a good question though, Kojiro-san. Should you encounter civilian for some reasons, do not attack them. Let them flee to the shogun's camp." He looked straight into Kojiro's eyes and added "Civilians are more useful to us alive than dead. They must be fed just as soldiers but serve no purpose on the battlefield. Dead, they give our enemies more reason to hate us and keep fighting. Alive, they must be taken care of."
That was not the answer Kojiro had been hoping for. It would have to do though. As the kikage zumi walked away towards another unit, he turned his head and concluded "You do not need to kill the enemy soldiers either, gunso. Tell your men to shoot to maim. Wounded soldiers are more of a liability than dead ones."

When had it all come to this?


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Enishi felt it just as the fiery dragon summoned by the Tamori daimyo hit the wall, proceeding to raze and burn Shiro sano ken Hayai to the ground and melt as many defenders as it could. The rumble of the fortress falling upon itself, the screams of the dying – the chaos of the battle was unlike anything he had ever seen. Training was of little help; he had a hard time letting it all flow through him. He struggled to remain focused, to ignore the dying that would not just pass into oblivion and insisted on fighting, crying, shrieking, bleeding and overall making a mess. He had to draw on the power of Nothing to drown all the irritation that the scene caused him. Would they not accept peace and silence even when it was looming over them, waiting to distroy them utterly?

It happened out of the castle. He felt the noise, the anger, the hate – fade away, as if snuffed out by something far greater and violent. Frightening. He knew this very instant it came from where Tamori Manji had positioned himself and his unit. Now was the time he had been waiting for. Now he would see and know.

He started running towards the vortex of emotions that seemed intent on devouring everything around it. All the while, he suppressed his mind, calling upon Nothing to protect him from harm, rejecting all false emotions. The features on his usurped face began to melt away as he forgot who he was even supposed to be.

He was not alone. Others were running not far from him. He could feel their fear, their despair, their hate, although they seemed dulled by the proximity of the vortex. Or were they? Something strange was happening now. It was as though their emotions were drawn into the vortex – as if it fed on them. Then the men died. He looked on, awed and disgusted at the same time by the furious tide of dark feelings that washed everything over on its way. He could see it now, a dark reflection of Koichi's firey evocation...

Out of nowhere, a Lion appeared, running towards him katana in hand. He tried to dodge at the very last moment, but the Akodo technique got him square in the chest. He rolled with the blow, fell to the ground. He could not really feel the pain, so strong Nothing was in him right at that moment, but he knew somehow his body was giving in. Lie down, he thought, remain calm. This was no crystal. It will heal quickly. The battle is already won. Just rest now.

He could hear someone else shouting to his assailiant. "We have no time for this! Jin-sensei is still in there!" They ran off, leaving him alone. He was floating now. His imperfect human nature was wounded, and afraid, and tired, and it would take some time for Nothing to reshape it. The dark dragon still raged and thrashed and fed, so near, so loud, so... so annoying... so powerful.

As his vision blurred, he could guess someone over him, two golden eyes fixing him as two powerful hands seized him. "Do not fear, brother. We will take care of you."

[Akodo Keisuke]

The small band of Lion samurai sailed across the battlefield, from a distance they looked as a burnished gold spear sailing along the edge of an ocean of green. They fought with the strength of their ancestors, as tears and mournful cries of those same ancestors filled their ears, and they brought death before them.

Keisuke and his men came to a breach in the wall where a large tattooed monk spitting fire and numerous spear men blocked one of breach to the walls they were setting themselves to storm in to the ruins of the castle. Rage took their hearts as the Lion fought their way to the breach. When the last Dragon fell, Keisuke climbed the rubble in to the breach and an what he saw horrified him. Death and destruction spread before him like some sort of mad terrible dream. Then he spotted the unmistakable form of Takezo.

He turned to the men he was with, Stay here and guard the breach. I shall guide our friends to safety. As he charged in to the carnage he fought his way to the ronin known as Takezo.

[Tamori Manji]

OoC: Sorry to let you all down Lions, but we don't kill non-combatants on purpose (feel free to spread that slander, but slander is all it is). All of our prisoners will be treated fairly, even though you apparently refused to meet with our heralds before the beginning of the siege to determinate the terms of engagement. Any of you, or the Unicorns, may feel free to contact us Dragons regarding the exchange of prisoners of war or to further discuss their treatment, if you feel that to be necessary. We may have razed your ancestral home but we are not monsters (not all of us at least). You are rebels and we are at war, what else did you expect? Hugs, kisses and an invitation for a tea ceremony?

Fire and blood... Chie thought, as she carried Manji on her arms back towards their unit, that was the legacy of the Dragon. She looked fondly to the unconscious man, while thinking about what had just happened. She had no words to define it for she had never seen nor heard about anything like what she had witnessed but her sharp perception, as a shugenja, could not be fooled. Such power, such rage... were they yours Manji-san? Or did they simply reflect the dark times we are in? she spoke softly while observing the many colored fires created by the alchemical concoctions of the Dragon in the distance. No matter what happens, I won't allow you to fall into this darkness, I swear that to you Manji-san, the yamabushi said with a resolute voice, while noticing that the very snow had turned black from all the soot in the air.

Shortly after, she found herself amidst their unit again, now reunited with the other skirmisher groups commanded by the young Tamori hatamoto. Where once stood a few soldiers there were now more than a hundred Dragons and amongst them stood many wounded Lion and Unicorn soldiers, along with almost as many heimin. Nikutai Mirumoto Yuzuru, a rugged man in his late twenties, battered by all the battles he had been in recently, approached Gunso Tamori Chie cautiously and made deep bow, Chie-sama, my group met with the one commanded by Chui Tamori Omachi-sama earlier, while we were pursuing stragglers, and she tasked me with informing Manji-sama personally that her unit went on to assist that of Chui Mirumoto Daigoro-sama, who has fallen into an ambush orchestrated by our treacherous enemies with the intent of safeguarding their retreat, the nikutai paused when he noticed that the man on Chie's arms was Manji, then he bowed again before continuing, I'm sorry for my lack of perception Chie-sama, is Manji-sama all right? Yes, he is, you do not need to concern yourself with his safety Yuzuru-san, that is my responsibility. Let us find an appropriate place for him to rest and you can finish your debrief, she said calmly.

The nikutai bowed in agreement and darted off to find a temporary resting place for the Tamori hatamoto. A few moments later he came back and guided Chie to a clean space beside a ume tree, one of the few near the battlefield to survive the inferno. The Tamori gunso gently put Manji down, sat in seiza and placed his head to rest upon her lap, then she spoke in a serious tone, please continue Yuzuru-san. The man bowed again and said, thank you Chie-sama. After Omachi-sama went in pursuit of Daigoro-sama, she tasked me with rounding some of the prisoners and informing Manji-sama that these bushi and heimin were all captured while fleeing the battlefield. There are many more but, for now, we are keeping them in separate groups. I've already informed the others in our temporary camp about the situation and we await for your orders. Tamori Chie made a slight bow to the bushi and said, good, you did well Yuzuru-san. Inform Kururu-san, Makoto-san and Nagi-san that I will be with them shortly for further planning. Regarding the prisoners, we will do as advised by the strategists of your family, separate the wounded, the non-combatants and the heimin from the able bushi. Those who cannot fight but seem well enough to travel are to be released, from a safe distance, towards the Unicorn encampment near the Drowned Merchant River. If any other peasants are captured in the countryside, as unlikely as that would be now, continue with the plan of sending them towards the nearer destination, either the Unicorn camp or Kyuden Ikoma. Let the rebels feed their own refugees. As for those able enough to fight, keep them separate from each other, in small groups, our leaders will decide their destiny when the time comes. Finally, direct those who are too wounded to travel or in life-threatening situations towards our shugenja tents. Yuzuru bowed respectfully again, yes Chie-sama, at once... but, before he got up, he said in a low, cautious voice, my Lady, if you excuse me, there is one other matter...

Speak your mind soldier, said Chie, already knowing where this would lead.

Many of us saw it Chie-sama... he paused for a moment, trying to find a respectful way of asking a very difficult question, no, I'm mistaken, the correct word would be "felt" it. The dragon of fire and void, the darkness... I mean no disrespect Chie-sama, but what was that? We know that Manji-sama is beyond any kind of suspicion and that he holds the trust of Koichi-sama, the bushi hesitated when speaking the name of the Tamori daimyo, as if the man could appear out of nowhere at any second, but we cannot help but wonder.

Chie breathed deeply before speaking for she did not have an answer, I can assure you, Yuzuru-san, that Manji-sama has not undergone any kind of corruption during his entrapment in the Spirit Realms. Tamori Koichi-sama and that weird monk, Enishi, inspected him personally. But I have no answers regarding what powers my Lord now commands, that question can only be answered by him.

The bushi bowed low, of course Chie-sama, it was unkind of me to ask. Please, with your excuse, I'll resume my duties.

Without noticing, Chie rested her hands upon the Manji's head and said in a soft tone, think nothing of it Yuzuru-san, yours was an honest concern. Rest assured that our family will continue to carefully overlook the spiritual well-being of the Dragon and the Empire, as we always have. With that, the Dragon nikutai left Chie's presence.

After they were left alone, Manji turned in his sleep, grabbed Chie's hand softly by reflex and murmured, thank you, but the Tamori maiden was unable to tell if that was directed at her or at something else that only her Lord could see in his dreams.

[Daigotsu Daisuke]

Jin stood poised for the next coming strike, he moved to avoid but felt the sting of the oncoming bushi's sword. He could smell burning flesh and knew that it was his. One benefit after decades of continual martial practice was an unwavering dedication to the fight when lesser men would give up, but even he knew his time was coming. His body could hold only a little while longer. He knew it would have to do in order to hold off the attackers long enough for Toturi's army left. It was absurd really thinking he'd be the last to stand here. All through out the ruins, he hoped a few survivors stood in the way long enough for the army to move out. The vanguard would have their work cut out for them.

He felt his flesh tear with the next strike but this time he found himself with enough time and space to force his terribly large no-dachi to slash across his opponents back. He then ducked underneath the oncoming attack from another and sliced through the second dragons leg bringing the man to his fall. Four more turned ready to fight him when a voice spoke above the dust, smoke, and blood

"Stay your swords, this man is mine"

(Dont all you jump up to quickly to kill me now. Which dragon shall it be? PM me and we'll talk)
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Daisuke began muttering under his breath. So many of his friends scattered across the field. Seeing Nobuyure's corpse, he realized it would fall to him to tell the man's poor wife that her husband was dead. This had gone too far. How had it been possible that the proud forces of the lion had failed? Daisuke fell to the ground in horror. He could hear the sounds of men screaming as the dragon brought them their last moments on this earth.

It seemed as though an eternity passed where the battlefield no longer seemed to be in Daisuke's focus. Upon falling to the ground in pure shock, the earth just disappeared. Daisuke hung there in the void between life and death. It was here that he could feel nothing but a great emptiness. And then he heard it....

"Your friends are all dead, your father is dead, your home is destroyed. This land holds nothing for you now except horror and soon your grave. You must march south..."

A voice he did not know, but it spoke the words he knew were true. This ground held nothing for him anymore and soon the lion would pay dearly to slow down the dragon here. It was best if he got a move on with Toturi's army. Father was no where to be found and the dragon were quickly approaching. He could hear their men shouting through the fog and the smoke.

"Farewell father, I hope our ancestors will continue to look after you, as they have so clearly forsaken me."

Daisuke stood slowly he could see off in the distance as the dragon army began approaching. He waved to his comrades in toturi's army to retreat. As the smoke cleared away from the ground, so too did Daisuke.

[Daigotsu Daisuke]

(sorry apparently it wasn't exciting enough to kill the Akodo War College Master Sensei .)

Akodo Jin heard the man, but too much blood was spilling over his eyes to truly see him. Who ever he was had large fore arms. Even with his blurry vision he could see the man was a skilled two handed duelist. Jin had known many Mirumoto Duelists with forearms of a similar size gained from learning to wield a two-handed sword in one hand. Jin also knew that in his current state there was no method to either kill this man or all of his soldiers. This would be Jin's final stand. Recognizing how wounded he was Jin knew he would also have to press this man hard. Something extremely hard to do at his age and against a man whose fighting philosophy was to overwhelm an opponent with multiple blindingly fast strikes.
He heard the two swords being pulled out of their sheaths.

"Akodo Jin-sama, it is I Mirumoto Giri. Many years ago it was you who showed me the finer points of the Akodo method of war. How unfortunate that our duties are at cross purposes. As a former student, It would be an honor to be your opponent."

Jin chuckled to himself. He remembered Giri. Sent to the Akodo War College through a favor of some ikoma bureaucrat, Jin had seen the chance to foster good relations with the dragon. It seemed his wish to bring the clans together would be his unmaking. The boy had been impetuous and quick to attack. He remembered the boy also often lacked proper form for an Akodo bushi, but it wasn't his fault for having been trained by the mirumoto. He then smiled to himself and thought: "at least if i die, it will be at the hands of someone worthy." He had watched Giri grow and followed the career of the boy who soon grew into an honorable man.

"It seems that I have yet one lesson to teach you Giri-san. Shinsei spoke of humility for one's elders. Come let me show you."

Jin grinned with what little bravado he had left. His leg no longer moving as freely as it had before. The damn blast had wrecked his leg. The blood continued to trickle over his eyes. He wiped it aways and watched as the mirumoto began swaying his blades in front in pattern that covered the flanks in a circle but gave just enough time for a strike through the center. Rather typical for a mirumoto duelist. Jin let Giri charge. Giri lunged forward, but before reaching jin, the old man struck a high blow to the head easily blocked by the swaying blades. Using the momentum of the first strike being blocked Jin then spun his weapon into the gap in the center piercing right through the dragon's leg. As the sword entered Giri's leg he slashed Jin in the chest. The blood and pain flowed through jins body and to the blackened dirt below.

Jin stumbled forward and disengaged Giri. The two turned to face each other. Giri now with a permanent limp and Jin losing his breath quickly. The two locked eyes and Jin knew this would be the final pass. Jin waited for Giri to charge again. This time as he did, Jin used all forward momentum to lurch forward roll and as he did swing his weapon into Giri's chest. In practice this would have been fatal, but in practice being so tired his sword only cut into Giri's main sword hand before the roll. Both of Giri's blades missed Jin but as Jin finished his roll, his legs gave out under his weight. Jin fell face first into the muck and mire. His body exhausted screaming out in pain. It took all Jin's might to get into a crouch. As he looked up he could feel Giri's Katana, now in the wrong hand the wakizashi now in Giri's mangled hand, upon his shoulder.

"An admirable showing for an honorable servant of the lion. It seems i'll never be able to properly fight in the mirumoto style again. It seems I shall now have to rely on the lessons you taught me Jin-sama."

Jin bowed his head slowly and coughed up blood. He raised his arm to do something but his arms screamed in protest. Clearly they would no longer follow his will. He nodded then to Giri.

"Giri-san. I am glad to see you now realize the error of your previous ways" he said with a chuckle. "As your old teacher, please do me two favors, see my people ruled fairly and with little reprisal. The second is to see that my son maintains an honorable life. I am now ready."

Giri nodded in acknowledgment and as Jin closed his eyes, he could hear the song that all lion knew from birth. He could hear the chorus of his ancestors now surrounding him as Giri began swinging his katana. They sang for him. A song as old as the clan itself. The words forever burned into his memory and now sang for him as joined the chorus:

"We have bled,
We have suffered,
We have burned,
And we did this all,
For you
"

-------------------------------------------------------------

The troops were retreating. Akodo Daisuke was now on the rear guard of the retreating army. Even though he and his fellow lion were exhausted beyond comprehension, they had one final duty to Toturi III. To protect his army and to see them back to safety. As they crossed a field he could hear the screams of the survivors peter out at the hole that was once a castle. A large cry was given and at that moment he suddenly felt something missing. He heard this new voice say:

"You've know it too, dont you? They are now going to come for you without mercy."

Daisuke tried to shake the voice from his head. They made it to the tree line. They were coming close to the Drowned merchant river which they hope would act as a natural barrier to the dragons forces. The field was clear, but he couldn't see much into the woods. The men were crossing and there guards along the trees posted to watch the men pass through the woods to the river.

Daisuke looked to the large billowing smoke in the air knowing things would never be the same after today. Suddenly shouting came from the woods. The last company of men seemed halted by something. Then Daisuke saw it. An advanced scouting party of Mirumoto had made their way into the woods to press the retreating army. It seemed they felt they had the advantage. He quickly dispatched the men on the border of the field and woods before moving into the tree line, after all there had only been a couple and his Naginata gave him more than enough of an advantage.

Moving into the trees, the woods became a scene of blood and chaos. The Naginata became too large here. Too cumbersome. Daisuke threw it to the ground. Out of the brush two swordsmen came at him. Fighting them with all he had, he turned to see his comrades falling around him. Drawing his katana he did his best to repel his attackers but to no avail. And thats when he heard it.

"You're going to meet your death here. The men you are here to protect will all die with you. You must move to the clearing at your left if you hope to live.

Daisuke had no idea where the voice came from but he knew it wasn't a friend or foe of this realm.

"It seems I finally have the guidance of an honored ancestor, this must be a great omen" He thought to himself. In desperation and in foolish hope, Daisuke moved through the woods directing the survivors to follow him. A few more fell but the majority was able to make to the clearing. In the dirt Daisuke noticed etched lines but the fighting had grown thick and it was too difficult to pay attention to what it might mean. "we must be moving into consecrated ground or a cemetary, shall have to hold here it seems." he thought.

Daisuke shouted for his men to form a line at the nearest etched line in the dirt. The fighting continued fiercely. As Daisuke cut down an opponent he noticed another ally fall. This was going to be his grave if something didn't happen. He dodged the next blow ducking under his opponents weapon coming up behind the man and splitting him through the shoulder. As the enemy fell to the ground his blood poured across the small etched ditch in the dirt. The blood began to glow and thats when Daisuke realized.... "There is something horribly wrong here...."