Joji's Demise

[Hida Joji]

This is my idea: In 3 days Joji will go completely lost and will fight for the Spider for the rest of the game.

Here is my challenge to all the great writers around:

Since Hida Joji is losing control, as you can read below, I'm appealing to the community to create episodes of Joji's final collapse to the Taint.
If you want to make the Click moment just before he swears his allegiance to Daigotsu, PM me. I'd love to see your points-of-view!

Here are some "facts", they are not binding:

- Hida Joji wants to prove a Samurai can and should get Tainted, so as to be more powerful, while he serves his lord.
- Joji's taint manifests as black sweat, tears, blood and need to cough and spit black thick blood-like liquid.
- Joji has "died" a few times now, he always wakes up alive. Each time he feels he lost a piece of his soul. (For L5R old timers, this is my take on a power that gives you a rank of taint and make you an undead for each extra life. I ignored the undead part so far.)
- Joji has been fighting with a Dragon Daisho, calms him a bit... or used too. Has a distinct preference for close quarters fighting.

Hope you guys want to juggle your imagination!

Here is my small episode!

Joji screams in fury as his ally falls, felled by an Ono chop to the neck. Joji and the Moto had been reunited by chance as both found themselves surrounded by enemies, together they managed to fall back to a small weapon storage and defend it for a long long time. It would not be used by the attackers to gain a foothold on the fortress, but he alone could not hope to hold against all the bushi around him. Joji puts a wall to his back and prepares to take one more with him into Jigoku. The attackers part to allow a Kuni witch-hunter to approach. Joji’s eyes widen, a moment later he is flying through the air towards the fallen witch hunter screaming – “TRAITOR!!!!!!!”

Toritake Hayatetsu had seen this before amongst the fallen. They fought as long as they could until they died, selling their souls as dearly as they could. Some, however, didn’t die before the taint took them. This one, Hida Joji, was more corrupted than most Spider but until now he had managed to fight for the Crab. Now he was totally lost and probably didn’t even know it. The undead Moto finally falls. The Crab spread to surround Joji, the Kuni witch-hunter assigned to this band prepares to purge the taint from Joji’s body and give him a last chance to die well. As the Kuni get within 3m Joji’s jumps at him screaming, black blood streaming from his eyes. Hayatetsu was prepared and with his usual skill, he smashes Joji’s head with his Jade studded tetsubo. Joji’s head explodes his nearly headless body falls at the Kuni’s feet. The Crab step over the dead enemies and take the weapons and jade they came for.

Some time later, Joji wakes up. He grinds his teeth as he feels his bones grinding and knitting. A few minutes later he manages to sit and look around.
“Where am I?” – One dead Moto and seven Crab corpses litter the room. – “Must have been a damm fine Moto to kill 8 Crab bushi! Well, seven at least…” – Joji scavenges around, managing to patch his armor and goes out to continue his defense of the Fortress.

OOC:
Joji’s contribution:
Crab: 170
Oni attack: 920

[Tamori Manji]

OoC: LOL, great scene

[Hida Joji]

Green = Joji thinking, Blue = Joji outloud, Brown = Speech from other characters

“Must be dawn… We… They! they always retreat at dawn… “ – Joji looks around him, the glare of the dawn almost blinding him. Shielding his watering eyes with his hand Joji spots a Crab Bushi kneeling down, almost as in prayer, only the very slight rocking back and forth betrays his movement – “ Hey, you! Get up Bushi! Just because they are not here doesn’t mean we can rest! Drag your tetsubo here!”
Joji steps into the shade – “Damm sun is really bright, we must be winning if the sun is shining like this within the shadowlands.” – Joji raises his eyes and sees the Crab Bushi shuffling towards him, a severed Oni arm is stuck inside his chest, he is carrying his tetsubo, holding it like a gift. He was obviously dead, now he is a very fresh zombie.

“Hida! Hida! Hida!” rings out from nearby, automatically Joji replies “Hida! Hida! Hida!”.

“Jigoku be cursed! They can’t see this!” – Joji looks around and spots the wary patrol turning a corner less than 50m away. Lowering his voice he commands – “Attack! Kill!” – The zombie starts to turn to the approaching patrol – “Attack the closest living thing!” – The zombie turns again raising his tetsubo.

Joji decapitates him easily and kicks the head away from the body – “This can’t be good….”

[Akodo Keisuke]

We begin our scene after Joji has entered the Fortress and a fierce battle is spilling over the walls.

---

What hour was it, Joji could not say, the storm clouds and burning smoke had turned the sky to a wounded twilight. Odd the one place he had avoided with such vigor in all the empire was now the one place he was made to feel most welcome. No accusing glances no icy condescending stares, just simple samurai who carried their duty far beyond what was required of them. Strange this is the place he would find acceptance at this when the Empire needed him.

Joji looked at his hands, the veins in his arms growing darker as the taint took hold of body. But his heart was pure his action forth right, and with every heart beat Joji could resist the call of Jigoku. He had lived longer than anyone else with taint, used it's gifts and mastered its corruption. Now it time to turn that corruption on the very spawn that threatened his Empire. Let the children fight over who was to sit on the steel throne, it was time for men to stand at the wall.


An alarm sounded, and his body was moving before Joji's mind had time to recognize the sound. Samurai were running, though leaping might be a better term. With their fortress threatened and the presence of so many Oni, Most of the Damned where giving fully over to the corruption to draw on its strength before the end. Joji leapt past an ancient vaults and high alters as he left the great hall. If one was able just to watch the damned move from a high vantage it would be frighting sight indeed. No orders were screamed, no valiant war cries just silent efficient movements each samurai knew his task and each carried it out with lethal precision.

Joji scaled the stares two by three and met his battle brothers upon the top of the wall. Oni crawled up its sides and over its top. And such as heavens thunder Joji obsidian tetsubo went to work and dealt out destruction with a heavy hand. Joji threw himself in to the heart of the fighting, every swing of his weapon felled an Oni. Yet two more seemed to scurry into it place.

Joji found himself back to back with a youthful samurai wielding a heavy ono. It is a good day brother these oni fall like stalks of rice before the sickle, the young Crab spoke. Pup this is just the first wave things are about to harder soon enough, not that I am complaining. Joji and those at the top of the wall fought like the samurai of the elder days and with the waves of the shadowlands crashing down on the walls they stood defiantly against the tide.

23 pup Joji shouted as a swing of his tesubo split sent an Oni flying from the wall, my count 23, 23 time I have saved your life. Age must be slowing you down, the youth shouted back. My count is 25.

Like the ocean tide, the Oni and foul things began to with draw, and the attacked halted for now. Joji looked around at the carnage covering the and a smile crossed his face. A few standing at the gate so the darkness may not pass this is what it meant to be a Crab. Then he noticed a sliver of sunlight pointing to a broken ono under a pile of bodies and Joji realized the youth whom he had fought beside was dead.

Joji let out roar, a shout that shook the wall, and echoed in the
fortress. Victory was at hand, he could see it now on the horizon.

But the shout was answered, a thunderous roar assaulted those that
still stood atop the wall.


With a hot wind and the beating of wings and a giant of an oni descended from the clouds. Terror and furry given given form the Oni advanced to gate ready to rend it asunder and open the fortress.

No thought, Joji lept from the top of the wall to face the terrible Oni. He hit the ground in a puff of smoke, his bones and muscle protested the the taint drove him forward. With hesitation, Joji charged the Oni and bringing down the tetsubo upon the it with all the might the taint would give him. Joji's arms blazed with dark fire as he swung. But something happened he did not expect the obsidian reflected off the Oni's skin and shock forced pain through out Joji's body.

Fool, I was shaped of such powers and stone; begone you are a minor thing. The oni took Joji limp arm and heaved him in to the air. In to the air and over the gate and Joji came crashing down in to the great hall and through one of the ancient vaults, such as a heavy stone cast in a pond.

Boom ..... Thoom the gates began to shake.

Joji's head swam, he could hear laughing in his ears as though a thousand voices laughed as one. He tired to stand bu t could not his legs and body failed him.

Boom... Crack The gates began to break....

Joji crawled he did not know what to do... as he reached forward horror struck him he saw his withered blackened hands. No not yet, I still have much to do as tears filled his eyes.

Get up, once more! and the laughter ceased. Joji fingers felt the ground, and found something. Endure this task before you, stand once more and then you may rest. His hand met cold steel, in the ruble. Blackened Joji's fingers fumbled to close around the handle of the tetsubo. Yet when he gripped the weapon his hands began to burn.

Golden flame raced from the end of the Tetsubo down its length and up his arms. The moment it touched skin burned burned as he had dipped his hands into molten steel. As he stood the cleansing washed over his body and he could move again. Not just move but he began to run for the wall quicker than before. Without a moment to loose he was once again standing astride the gate looking down at the massive Oni. If oni's can ever know what it is like to feel fear on this it could said that this oni knew what it felt like to be afraid.

Joji descended like a comet from the celestial heavens upon the oni in the span of seven breaths it was over. The oni lay broken upon the earth. Joji fell to his knees, he had past then test done more than one man could have done and now it was time to rest. As his eyes began to close he could swear he saw one of his ancestors coming to greet him. The ancient Hida spirit looked down and smiled at Hida Joji.

---

.


....

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Here, he is mother! a child's voice sounded. Why, yes he is child are so clever about finding things. Suddenly the Hida ancestor spite head whipped up to see the two approaching figures. A woman and a small child moved silently forward.

Making a dismissive motion with her hands the woman spoke Shew, away with you, I get this one; there is a problem with his heart you see. As a puff of smoke the Crab spirit faded away.

The woman kneeled before Joji, hand delicately fixing the kimono she wore. Hida Joji-san, that was quite a brave thing you did today. Give me a minute girly and I will do show it you again. Who ever you are, Joji spat.

Who, am I that is a very good question, and so quick witted even for a Crab. My name is not so important, what is important is the message you will carry for me and who you will now serve.

Hahaha; my time is done girly, I get to go home, and Joji made an obscene gesture with his hand.

Such rudeness, and that is part of the problem I am afraid, that flaming trinket may purified your body but it did not touch your heart. Waving her hand in a throwing off gesture. Let us not mention the fact, that you people just can not seem to let destiny run its course always thinking you know better. You where supposed to die corrupted and rise again in the service of one of the Oni lords.

And take my death for instance I was supposed to live for a very long time with my husband and child, she gave a glance at the small child with her. Yet that Lord of Secrets and void master had to step in alter my destiny and sent us off to Toshigoku.

What!? Joji caughed.


Hush now, quiet now Joji. The woman placed one delicate hand over his heart, and leaned in to whisper. The problem is your heart is not pure it has always been corrupt, that is the curse of the taint. When will men learn you can not control it only surrender to it.

Pain exploded once more in Joji's body he could feel the taint rushing back in filing his limbs and making him whole once more. Joji screamed from inside his mind as the corruption took hold he could feel his control and will ebbing out of his body. When Joji rose his eyes had been replaced by two glowing greens moats. His hands blackened and sharpened in to claws.

Looking at the woman who had freed his soul and finally set him on the correct path, Lady Tenshi, what task do you have for me?

Go and find my beloved Shoju, tell him I am watching over him and even though we are separated I will assist him when I can, and together set the empire aflame.

Bowing As you wish Lady Tenshi. Joji began to walk away, so that he might complete his task for his new master.

Mother we must go now, the gate keepers will begin to look for us, the child spoke once more.

Looking down at her child she smiled a warm motherly smile Yes child our task is done here.

---

Thank Hida Joji for letting me write this I hope you enjoy readin as mus as I did writing it.

[Hida Joji]

Great! Love it!

Thanks a lot for writing it, for the cards to illustrate the plot for the interest and the drive you send into this community!