Hiruma Koji
Crab Clan
Hiruma * Crab * Scout * Hiruma Daimyo
Posts: 96
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Post by Hiruma Koji on Apr 10, 2011 2:41:14 GMT -5
A message eventually arrives in the line of messages Koji has received.
Koji snorts. "Well, pride is not a lesson he need to learn...perhaps, humility. Detail this...Steel Dragon to fight alongside the Kaiu and Hiruma in the tunnels," comes Koji's command alongside a writtent message being handed off, as a messenger receives it and runs off once more to report.
Koji shakes his head, and then calls out, "Orders from two champions indeed. Make sure he has jade. We'll doom no one to jigoku, even if they come unprepared and boastful." The messenger turns and nods.
Koji turns back to the list of notes he's been making, frowning heavily. There seemed to be more and more reason to grow concerned. Attempting to appear idle, he snapped a command to another of the messengers. "Get the drum's beating. We need the men's adrenaline pumping...our last scouts for this force should be back in under an hour. Drum's all along the wall. I'll not risk anyone being unprepared. Standard codes. The station nearest Shiro Hiruma should send two runners there, to tell them to be prepared for an attack as well. If this is meant to be a distraction, we'll not fall for it so easily."
He nodded, and then walked to start putting his armor on. He stared at the Hiruma Tetsubo...brought with him from Shiro Hiruma. It would be the first time he'd wield it in combat...a weapon made by Hida himself, and carried by Hiruma.
It would need to meet with only success today, or else all confidence in his abilities would likely fade quickly.
******
The messenger arrives, bowing to Katsutoshi. "To the Steel Dragon, from Hiruma Koji, Daimyo of the Hiruma and current commander of the Wall.
You have come to learn from the Crab, to learn the way of the Wall's defenders. If you need jade, this messenger will secure you some. Ready yourself, for you come before an attack.
Your first lesson will be that the foundations must be protected, should all they support be kept from falling. You will be part of the joint Kaiu and Hiruma defenses in one of the passages through the Wall, led by a one Kaiu Sezoku. Report to him to learn your barracks location and further duties.
I greet you and you who shall stand alongside the Crab, we call brother."
The messenger ends his verbal report, rolling up the scroll he was reading from and handing it to Katsutoshi.
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Post by Kitsuki Bareian on Apr 10, 2011 17:17:06 GMT -5
Katsutoshi tried hard not to frown upon hearing the delegated duty he had been tasked by the Wall's commander. He had hoped he would be given at least a small unit to lead and a learned Wall veteran to advise him of actions he would need to decide upon when the need of such action should arise. After all, he was the Steel Dragon, one of the hero that survived the Yobanjin assault upon Mountain Keep, and singlehandedly defeated a raiding force of the Yobanjin Dogs with only twenty men at his disposal.
Now-- he had been reduced to Sentry duty
Katsutoshi clenched his teeth to bite a remark he had held inside and let the messenger be on his way. The Steel Dragon thought deeply as he walked aimlessly around the courtyard. He shouldn't have dismissed the messenger so eagerly. Apparently, he was clueless to where to go. He had no idea where to look for this Kaiu Sezoku and the tunnels he had been assigned to defend.
Katsutoshi stopped walking and tried to observe. The courtyard was full of activity as samurais and servants moved quickly to every direction; The Wall was a busy place indeed.
Katsutoshi tried to recall the messenger's words. He said that there would be an attack... letting his eyes wander. The Steel Dragon searched for a sign that would lead him to where he needed to be. Some seconds later, his eyes locked on four Crab warrior bearing the Hiruma mon, hurrying across the field, with their arrows already notched to their bows, adn faces that suggested grim battled was to be expected.
Katsutoshi breathed hard, checked his equipments, and followed suit.
"This can become mildly interesting" The Steel Dragon thought...
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Hiruma Koji
Crab Clan
Hiruma * Crab * Scout * Hiruma Daimyo
Posts: 96
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Post by Hiruma Koji on Apr 10, 2011 22:36:24 GMT -5
The beating of the Hida War Drums reverbrated through the air, and the very earth. Koji tapped his armor idly in time with the drums. He remembered his stint on the wall, protecting one of the drum posts...it had felt like such a silly thing at the time...to protect a drum.
But the way the sound had battered back at the cries of the chaos on the other side of the wall, how it had gathered the men together...and the sneakiest trick of all, how the creatures who would attack in their near mindless destructive power would fall into the drumbeat's rhythm. And how that protected the men, who'd been trained to not fall into that trap.
He picked up the tetsubo, hefting it to one shoulder. A priceless treasure, an heirloom, a tool of war. It was worth more to the clan than he was...and yet, he needed to follow traditions. It would be his first battle since becoming daimyo. He would live or he would die, depending on if he was worthy of wielding it.
He grinned..he was worthy.
**************************
The Wall began to shake. The creatures coming...surely they could not truly exist. Thirteen limbs...tendrils or feet or claws, one couldn't yet be quite sure, dragged a seemingly massive form towards the Wall. Rivets in the earth betrayed the presence of other creatures, ones many had come to fear, for it meant fighting underground, or else they could become trapped upon the very Wall that protected them, as the creatures destroyed all they had built.
The Crab stood waiting, except for the Kaiu, who worked a few of the siege weapons behind the wall, readying them for battle.
Four Hiruma, their bows held steady and at the ready moved across the courtyard, silent. They either didn't see, or ignored the Dragon following them, for they soon came to the business of climbing the stairs of the Wall, upwards towards the nearest Tower.
There was a great *THRUM* from the siege weapons, and a stone near the size of a wagon flew through the air upwards and outwards. It disappeared out into the Shadowlands.
In the reserves, flags went up, messages being passed between sentries below and above, so that the defense of the Wall might be organized. It was preparation, courage and skill that defended the Empire from the lands held under the sway of Jigoku on the otherside, for it was here that samurai declared the line to be.
No further than here, would they be allowed to come. No further then here could their grasp reach.
**********
The greatly limbed creature was struck by the boulder flung by one of the Kaiu's toys. It seemingly shrugged the stone off, moving forward yet.
A greenish light began to find itself forming around a few of the Defenders of the Wall...the Kuni interspersed amongst the Crab, gathering the kami about them to strike out at the abomination coming towards the Wall.
*****
Below the Wall Kaiu Sezoku gritted his teeth. He hated this part of his position. The days when he had to tell someone to venture into the dark, to insure that the traps were ready.
He hated it partially because they were his traps, his ingenious design, and so were they to harm the Crab, it would be he who had failed. But largely he hated it because his men had started placing bets on which trap would claim one of their lives first.
But today, the likely part he hated the most, was that he needed to go with the Hiruma who would check to make sure things were clear. The furthest alarms had gone off, which meant the tunnels had been entered...and so he would need to get ready for the collapse of the tunnel, and all that he had accomplished over the past six months.
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Post by Kitsuki Bareian on Apr 11, 2011 13:16:12 GMT -5
The Steel Dragon stopped in his tracks when he saw the four Hiruma clamber up to the Wall's ramparts.
"Damn it!" he silently cursed himself " Obviously that wasn't the way to the Tunnels."
The Steel Dragon wanted to let his eyes wander more just to locate the possibility of where to go next, but the vibration of the Wall did not give him that luxury. As the Wall continually shook, and the War drums continued their slow steady beat, Katsutoshi felt a certain hollow feeling of doom from within. He had waged war before, he had fought countless times on different skirmish between clans, and even successfully led a unit against the Yobanjin forces.
But this time-- It felt different. He could not stop breathing rapidly, he heard his heartbeat pound on his chest.
The Steel Dragon heard a loud voice shouting that the tunnels had been breached-- He saw a Kaiu commander signalling for men to check the status of the tunnel. The world seemed to slow down as he reached for his daisho-- He swallowed the bile that was rising from his throat- he bit his lip hard and tasted the salty, coppery fluid that oozed from his lip.
These was what he feared- this moment that when chaos surrounded him- he lost his will to control himself.
Mirumoto Kastsutoshi, The Steel Dragon, let out a guttural howl, as he drew his swords and ran towards the tunnel. His eyes contained no emotion except violence.
His world, visually, and mentally, turning red then black...
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Hiruma Koji
Crab Clan
Hiruma * Crab * Scout * Hiruma Daimyo
Posts: 96
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Post by Hiruma Koji on Apr 11, 2011 14:10:23 GMT -5
Within the tunnels below a number of Crabs found themselves running after the howling Dragon, inspired or perhaps hoping to protect the man who was charging into the unknown. They too readied their weapons...for it was their duty to protect all those above. Many knew they charged likely to their deaths...for if they did not succeed quickly the tunnel itself would be collapsed.
Darkness, intermittently dispelled by the guttering flickers of lanterns left strategically along the tunnels, led the way, with the howls and war cries of those taken up with the Dragon's mad charge shortly behind it.
Somewhere ahead of them a Kaiu curses, and a Hiruma begins frantically disarming the traps that would slow an enemy, or kill a counter-attack by the defenders of the Wall.
And even further ahead of that, a pair of oni fall out of the walls, their bodies great masses of what almost look like worms, a new tunnel behind them in the dark. Their slathering masses seem to stand, gathering limb-like appendages around stones clutched within their writhing bodies.
*****
Above, the Kaiu continue to attempt to harm the oni coming towards them, many of their stones now missing as the creature picks up speed. Other things near it find themselves sped into their next lives, as whatever they were in this one now consisted of a fine flat paste.
And then the skies began to darken, as the beating of wings was drowned out by the war drums. Creatures of the air, twisted by the Shadowlands, began pouring down at the defenders of the wall. Many quickly destroyed by the jade like energies from the Kuni, others pierced by the arrows of Hida and Hiruma archers...And others sneaking past to attack yet.
Men began to die.
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Shiba Kazuma
Phoenix Clan Mod ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_red.png)
Phoenix Clan Champion?Samurai?Shiba's Soul?Unique?Enlightened
Posts: 369
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Post by Shiba Kazuma on Apr 11, 2011 20:38:55 GMT -5
Kazuma stands his ground in reserves. He is waiting for the symbol to move out and help any part of the wall that may need it. The Kami seems to circle around him as he is concentrating. He is a picture of calm as he can hear the battle raging around outside. Ofushikai seems to be glowing even brighter as Kazuma is concentrating, something about the sword has changed with the arrival of the Oni. It looks as if the ancient weapon knows the enemy it is about to face and is anticipating the battle.
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Post by Kitsuki Bareian on Apr 12, 2011 15:25:52 GMT -5
The Steel Dragon was out of control...
Mirumoto Katsutoshi charged towards the tunnels at full speed. His action catches those nearest the entrance of the tunnel off guard, as they see a blur of black green charging towards certain death.
"Who in the name of the fortunes was that?" One of the Crab warriors frantically shouted to another Hiruma warrior near the entrance.
"I think it was that newly arrived Dragon samurai" the Hiruma warrior answered as he picked up his weapon and gave chase to the Steel Dragon "Come now... That Dragon's courageous incompetence will likely compromise Kaiu Sezoku's operation below."
Nodding in agreement, the curious Hida took his tetsubo and followed suit.
* * * *
An arrow head, which may have been part of one the Traps designed for these tunnels, grazes the face of the charging Steel Dragon- yet he barely notices the pain- he follows the trail of small flickering lights- never noticing a handful of Hiruma scouts that were now panicking to whether disarm or continue with the operation.
"Some one get that fool!" Kaiu Sezoku screamed "Everyone will be killed needlesly with his antics."
* * * *
The Steel Dragon was out of control--
In his mad charge inside the tunnels, he had chanced upon a burrowing monstrrosity that sees for the first time. He continually slashes and pierces this worm-like creature while trying to dodge and counter attack small whip like tentacles that were flailing around.
The tunnel had limited space to move around.
Out of control and with no further choice, Mirumoto Katsutoshi lunged towards the Worm in a desperate maneuver...
Only to be knocked out towards the wall by one of the whip like tentacles. The last thing the Dragon's vision sees before fading to darkness were blurring figures of a Hida and hiruma trying to divert the attention of the worm. He felt his body being dragged away and hears the solid curse of one Kaiu commander.
"Get these piece of oni refuse to a better place-- I'll reprimand him later."
The Steel Dragon drifted into unconsciousness...
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Kuni Kaymar
Crab Clan
Crab Clan * Damiyo * Shugenja * Witch Hunter * Jade * Earth *
Posts: 162
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Post by Kuni Kaymar on Apr 13, 2011 16:53:40 GMT -5
Several Hida Elite were checking their equipment, seemingly oblivious to the drums and rush to battle that was taking place on the walls. Toritaka Roan envied them. Yes, he had been on the wall, but these warriors had survived and killed things that he could only have nightmares about. Looking about, the older of Lord Kuni's guard were in conversation with some of the Shiba Bushi - to better coordinate their efforts he imagined. Knowing he should probably join them he found he could not. Whilst most of the guard were accepting of him, he still did not feel particularly welcome. Of course, the Toritaka knew he deserved the promotion - but he didn't have the experience.
With a hidden sigh he glanced around, discovering that Lord Kuni was in conversation with Phoenix Shugenja, obviously supporting their Champion. It was then that the Crab noticed the Phoenix Champion, and the way the man carried himself. The young Crab approached the Lord, knowing he probably should not.
"Champion-dono, if I may." the Crab started, and without waiting for an answer continued, "When we are called it should come from the tower on the right. A signal flag will rise and provide directions, and the Hida Elite Guard will take us to the correct location. I was always told that when we were not in active duty on the wall to ensure that most of the squad is resting in order to preserve stamina for the long fight. How quickly we are called..." the Toritaka began to taper off as he noticed his Kuni master observing the conversation from a distance - his expression unreadable. "..uh..well, I am sure you know all of this already." Roan quickly bowed and moved backwards suddenly aware that many of the veterans amungst the Kuni's guard were talking and looking in his direction.
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Kuni Itsuko
Crab Clan
Shugenja * Healer * Heart of Stone * Crab Clan Nakodo * Jade
Posts: 41
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Post by Kuni Itsuko on Apr 13, 2011 18:17:49 GMT -5
A quiet, cold soprano voice murmured something the drifting Dragon could not quite comprehend. His darkening vision cleared, slowly, giving way to the shadows of the tunnels, leaving his journey to the Gray Roads of Meido for another day.
Electric green eyes stared down dispassionately from a white and red painted face, a scarlet mouth twisted into a scowl.
"Leave him with me."
The Kaiu were only too happy to obey, as eager to return to aid their kin as they were to escape the wrathful presence and questionable mercy of the Kuni.
Small hands moved deftly to remove armor and the material beneath, revealing the ravaged flesh and shards of bone which had pierced it beneath. The priestess' frown grew and paper rustled and snapped as an ofuda was brought forth from the case at her side, soon joined by her voice raised in prayer. The chill of water kami blended with the pain and disorientation, seeming as cold as any mountain winter, before full sense began to return.
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Shiba Kazuma
Phoenix Clan Mod ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_red.png)
Phoenix Clan Champion?Samurai?Shiba's Soul?Unique?Enlightened
Posts: 369
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Post by Shiba Kazuma on Apr 13, 2011 18:57:15 GMT -5
Kazuma watched as the young Crab that had approached him walked away quickly. He looked around to see all of the elder crab talking and looking at the young Crab. He thought deeply for a second trying to recall the family mon he had seen worn by the young crab. After a few seconds pass Kazuma let a smile cross his face and walked over to the young Samurai.
Toritaka-san thank you for telling me about how your strategy and flags work.
Noting how nervous the young samurai looked Kazuma tried to sound kind and reasuring.
You seem to be younger then everyone else here. The crab must think highly in your abilities to promote you so young. I am honored to have one such as yourself fighting beside me this day.
Kazuma hoped that his words would inspire the young samurai and help curve some of his nervousness. After all of the years Kazuma had seen battles there was one thing that always ran true was that fear was more deadly to any army then any weapon.
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Hiruma Koji
Crab Clan
Hiruma * Crab * Scout * Hiruma Daimyo
Posts: 96
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Post by Hiruma Koji on Apr 13, 2011 22:17:50 GMT -5
On the wall the flocks of tainted birds continued to peck and claw at the Hida, as swaths of them were destroyed by the practiced swings of those upon the wall. Still, wounds continued to gather. Swarms of arrows filled the sky, most taking one of the bird creatures with them out and over the wall as they went.
Koji marched out, bringing the tetsubo through an arc in the air to bat one of the birds back towards the shadowlands. And then he swore as he looked out at the beast approaching the Wall.
******
Down in the tunnel the oni were being fought, the blood of a number of warriors being shed and then absorbed by the creatures...which swelled in size the more the Crab were wounded.
Kaiu Sezoku took a moment to pat away the sweat that was getting into his eyes. A lever had been broken...and he bent over it, trying to salvage it in time. They had the answer for this kind of the oni, just moments away...
*****
Back above, the tower glowed the color of Jade, almost looking like the stone was being suffused with the energies being called upon by the Kuni within it. The Kaiu in the courtyard prepared a different kind of boulder, one covered in pitch and oil.
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Kuni Kaymar
Crab Clan
Crab Clan * Damiyo * Shugenja * Witch Hunter * Jade * Earth *
Posts: 162
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Post by Kuni Kaymar on Apr 14, 2011 16:48:33 GMT -5
The Toritaka looked back to the Phoenix Champion, slightly taken aback at the kind words. Not that he didn't expect the Champion to be personable. Or something like that, those above him in the chain were worthy of respect - and a Clan Champion most assuredly was above him in the chain. With a slightly dry mouth the Crab replied, bowing as he did so. "My duty demands my presence here and I am not one to shirk it. That being said it is more than an honour to be assigned to fight in the same unit as the Champion of the Phoenix and I am sure the glorious tales of your abilities I shall tell my children and grandchildren in the years to come shall be pale reflections of your skill." The Toritaka showed due respect again, realising that his mouth was dry now. With a snap of realisation he almost laughed, talking to a Clan Champion was proving to be almost as nerve wracking as the first night on the wall. He had got through that well enough, not shirking what needed to be done during that cursed event. Another attack on the wall was nothing.
Dammit, he suddenly thought, catching sight of Lord Kuni again. Well if he was going to have words with him about this then so be it. He would have tales to tell that would keep him in sake for a good few years. He hoped.
((ooc - away to a kotei this weekend so probly no updates from me til into next week))
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Post by Kitsuki Bareian on Apr 15, 2011 5:55:56 GMT -5
"Monster..." Mirumoto Katsutoshi gasped the words into consciousness.
The numbness disappeared replaced by the sudden shot of pain from his body. Katsutoshi gripped both his hands to feel his blades.
Both were gone.
He weakly turned his head. He was still in the tunnels, and the last thing he remembered was flying and smashing to the hard walls by the tentacles of those worm like monsters. He had to find his sword.
He could hear voices around him screaming battle cries, curses, and death moans. He shuddered to thin of what he might see.
"I must find my swords..." he whispered weakly.
He was about to try to stand up but was caught by surprise when in front of him a painted face stared back at him. His fear of the massacre being delivered by the monster to the crab was great-- but the emotion and the thought was pushed back... Only to be replaced by a sense of fear when he stared into those electric green eyes of the Kuni that stared at him.
"Who are you?" for the first time in his life, the Steel Dragon genuinely felt intimidated.
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Kuni Itsuko
Crab Clan
Shugenja * Healer * Heart of Stone * Crab Clan Nakodo * Jade
Posts: 41
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Post by Kuni Itsuko on Apr 15, 2011 16:54:30 GMT -5
A small smile that was not at all reassuring appeared on the woman's face.
"Kuni Itsuko, shugenja and healer...fortunately for you." The expression she wore returned to almost grim solemnity. Even as she spoke, she began to draw bandages from the pack she carried over her shoulder, along with a nasty-smelling jar of salve. "I've too many to care for to do for you all that your body needs. I've kept you from Emma-O's judgement for now."
Heedless of the blood that still covered him, the priestess slipped an arm under his shoulders and levered him into a sitting position. One hand pressed a packet of unbleached cotton against his still oozing ribcage while the other measured off several long strips of the same material. "Since you are here to help my Clan, however, I will see that you have another chance to do just that. Hold this here, I can't give it suitable pressure and tie off the bandages with only my own two hands."
She leveled the eerie green gaze at him again, obviously expecting to be obeyed.
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Hiruma Koji
Crab Clan
Hiruma * Crab * Scout * Hiruma Daimyo
Posts: 96
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Post by Hiruma Koji on Apr 15, 2011 17:55:28 GMT -5
The fighting continued, dead and tainted birds falling from the sky. The flock seems to finally have enough of those who fight upon the wall itself, and swoops up and then down towards the reserves behind the wall.
Arrowfire quickly stops, as the danger of friendly fire becomes worrisome.
The War Drums continue their steady rhythm, although a few who have worked with them before turn their heads as a ripple of beats makes its way along the Wall.
The Kaiu and Hida turn to fighting off the birds from the siege weapons, working fervently to aim at the large almost sack-like oni dragging itself towards the wall. Tube-like tentacles seemed to be forming upon the creature as it neared.
Koji yelled out orders, and flags signalling the reserves to be ready and defend themselves went up. Others began preparing the top of the Wall itself to repel the oncoming oni, a beast that stood larger than many castles one might see elsewhere in the Empire.
As it moved closer, small ripples could be seen throughout it, almost as if something was moving inside of it, under its skin.
***************
Underground the order to hold the tunnel came through. Sezoku swore for the thirtieth time, having just about been ready to collapse it.
A trio of samurai with jade weapons moved foward down the tunnel, Kuni just behind them.
The Hiruma moved aside to let them pass...and then followed behind, ready to give what aid they could.
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