On the edge of Yasuki lands (rp)

[tadakasan]

Tadaka nods, "Not the best environment and perhaps not necissary." Tadaka casts Regrow the Wound on Kaymar, before standing up and walking over to the cup. "We not only have no one to question afterall, but it also seems the ritual was completed before I could break through the maho user's defences." He looks down at the cup but does not touch it. "There is a curse present on the Kuni relic meant for Setsuro-sama."

Tadaka turns to Kaymar, looking at the priest, his expression hard to read behind his mempo. Leaning against the wall, he crosses his arms on his chest, "What we do next is up to you; I do not know one hundred percent for certain whether this spell can be undone; this cell does not seem to have had someone terribly powerful leading it or any strong nerumai in their possession, so it may be able to be... but there was a lot of time and effort put into this curse, so it may be beyond hope."

He pasuses and starts up again, "As to leaving someone alive, we could always see the past of what happened here if that would help. Otherwise I fear without Kitsu present they are beyond our grasps."

[Kuni Kaymar]

Feeling his strength returning, the witch hunter shook his head slowly. "Seeing into the past is an interesting notion, but no. I saw enough of the ritual to investigate further within our the Kuni libraries, and in turn see if purifying the cup is possible. Where maho rituals are involved, too much direct curiosity is perhaps not always to be advised. As to speaking to the dead, well, I see no need to involve the Kitsu in what I am sure they would consider to be a rather unpleasant task." Sometimes, the Crab mused, the reluctance of other clans to even talk of the taint confounded him, but he was realistic enough to understand the implications of even asking such a thing of the Kitsu.

"The investigation may even lead me down a few new paths. While this cell may not have been particularly powerful, they did hunt this location down. Unanswered questions, but it is a good thing I can be a patient man. Occasionally." Kaymar tried not to wince as he flexed his left leg, then slowly pulled himself upright. "Yes." he confirmed as is to himself, "I will return the cup to Crab lands, into safe storage." He removed his finger of jade from around his neck and looked at the cup, a determined set crossing his face as he hobbled towards his satchel, summoning another earthen tetsubo to use as a walking stick.

[tadakasan]

Tadaka nods and looks at Kaymar cuiously, able to heal the spiit but the leg needing a little more time. He stands up straight, casting an alchemy spell he learned from an Agasha friend that could burn something without producing smoke, taking care of the cultists bodies so they would be no use to others in the future.

As he finishes he speaks up, still watching one of the burning bodies, "You mean to take it straight to Shiro Kuni then? Or were you planning on attending Setsuro's celebration with it? Either way, Imay be of assistance still."

[Kuni Kaymar]

Kaymar's travel stops as he bends over, leaning heavily on the tetsubo, and picks up his satchel. The Crab doesn't reply until he is back upright. "Thecup will eventually arrive in Shiro Kuni. Unless the Champion wishes all trace of it removed of course. Yasuki Yashiki is the closest location with a secure Tsukai-sagasu holding and Junti is already on his way there with a message from myself informing them of this...former... cell."

Opening his satchel, Kaymar selectivly removes several scroll cases, placing them into secure outer pockets, before dumping the remaining contents onto the stone ground. Holding the satchel upside down, he places it over the cup, scooping it up, before dropping his jade amulet inside. Ensuring the satchel is tied shut the Crab drops into a quiet chant, placing a minor ward over the ties of the satchel.

Shoulders slumping slightly, the Crab starts to look exhausted again as he turns back to Tadaka. "I would feel guilty accepting further assistance Tadaka-sama, you have already done so much. That being said, the quicker this item is in a secure location, the happier I will be." he continued with a wry smile as he realised how miserable he must look after the rain and the events in the caverns.

[tadakasan]

Smiling behind his mempo and bowing to Kaymar, he went over to his bag. "I hope you don't mind a scroll satchel in Phoenix colors Kaymar-san; I do carry extras for possible reseach materials, and I'm sure you could replace it with one from your Clan soon enough."

Walking over he put the satchel down on one of the benches, one clean from any blood or dirt. "As far as further help... well, I would like to be someone warm and with good food as soon as possible of course Kaymar-san. So you should feel no guilt for that" Tadaka cast Rejuvinating Vapors on the exhausted looking shugenja, making sure he was rested as well as healed for the most part. Taking his hand off Kaymar's shoulder, he stood, upright, straightening his bag, "I'm ready as soon as you are."

[Kuni Kaymar]

Kaymar bows to the Master of Void, suddenly realising most of the pain and stiffness has gone. "I would be honoured to use a scroll satchel in Phoenix colours, and once again am in your debt." It wasn't long before the Crab had filled the satchel and smiled at the Phoenix Shugenja.

Casting a last glance at the cavern, the Crab indicated he was ready whenever the Isawa was and silently thanked the fortunes for meeting the man on the road.

[tadakasan]

"Come now; if people were owed debts for doing what they should be doing, than I owe your entire Clan a debt. Either way let us be off!" Passing through the tunnel. As Kaymar follows him, summoning two steeds that seem to be made out of water. He undoes his mempo and smiles at Kaymar, "This invocation was created by the Unicorn during their time in the Burning Sands. What is fascinating is how the spell was refined after the Unicorn met the Isawa... even someone not particularly versed with the water kami can use it."

He hopped up onto his horse with a grunt, the weather just outside the cave a downpour with thunder and lightning. Looking at the clouds Tadaka could see them heading northwest. "Thankfully the storm looks like it will miss your Champion's event Kaymar-san, but I'd still rather get there quick, if for nothing else a chance to change into something blood free and dry." Tadaka motions for Kaymar to mount up, his horse looking almost eager to get out into the storm.

[Kuni Kaymar]

The crab ran his hand down the flank of the horse and uttered "Impressive." before mounting the steed slowly - he was much more used to ponies. Looking at the slowly clearing storm the Crab smiled and pondered a slight redesign of his facepaint.

"Yasuki Yashiki it is!" he proclaimed as his steed started to dart forward, leading the way through the storm to the Palace of the Yasuki.

(ooc - and that's that. Thanks to anyone who read/kept with the little adventure. Kaymar and Tadakas adventures continue at the Crab Champions party! )

[Hiruma Kenchu]

The rain fell sharply and the cold drops bounced off the road and hit the flanks of a brown steed as they touched the beast the steam rose from the warmth of the scout and his mount. Kenchu was no natural horseman but his varied training had made him comfortable at riding long distances but he was no Unicorn, in battle give him his own two feet, his blade, bow and his senses.

His nose wrinkled as he got close to the clearing. Something wasn't right.

His journey was important, but not enough so he would not investigate swiftly in passing. That way the Lost and Kami knows what else would be allowed to infiltrate the Empire. The Wall wasn't that far off. It was his duty to help stop such monsters at every turn.

He tasted it first, an earthy tang registering in his throat and tingled slightly. Someone had been communing with the Kami here quite recently. Not damning in itself but when magics were used you always have to be more careful oni and major cultists could bring vile forces to bear even on the strongest. The tracks were rather well hidden as if the couple who had rested softly but a master of tracking such as Kenchu had no difficulty. Apart from a small fire nothing else seemed out of place. Kenchu pulls a knife and swiftly carves the Hiruma runes; Caution. Magic. From West. He stood still for a moment as he checked the bearings. A smile crosses his wind beaten face "East, good, a trail that hasn't gone entirely cold.... East, to the Palace of the Yasuki it seems" He turns and pats his steed to calm the swift animal "Just a little while more then you can rest in a warm stable"

Kenchu mounts up and rides swiftly in the darkness towards Yasuki Castle.

[Kuni Kaymar]

A week later

Junti arrived at the caverns looking rather nervous. Kaymar had gave him a task to do, and while it made him uneasy, it was something that he agreed needed to be done. The team of servants with him started to ready their equipment. Junti nodded, and instructed the servants to move in. They had a couple of oni spawn skeletons to move.