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Post by Kitsuki Bareian on Apr 15, 2011 22:07:38 GMT -5
Mirumoto Katsutoshi was dumbfounded as the Kuni helped him sat into a sitting position. He did not know why he suddenly felt fear, but the longer he wondered, and seeing how the look of the kuni was dominating, the feeling of fear was replaced by his characteristic anger and arrogance.
"Thank you for your help" he snapped as he attempted to snatch the bandages from her hand... only for him to feel the wounds in his ribcage throb once more and made his arms drop uselessly to the ground "I assure you I can handle this."
He was now seething in rage at himself.
After all, he was a renowned general in his clan, how could he have thoughtlessly charged to a place where he did not even knew what was going on?
Paying no attention to the Kuni beside him, he tried to shut the outside world around him, and meditated on a plan that would get him, and if lucky, everyone out of the tunnels alive.
"How to turn this to my advantage..." The Steel Dragon thought to himself as the battle raged on.
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Shiba Kazuma
Phoenix Clan Mod
Phoenix Clan Champion?Samurai?Shiba's Soul?Unique?Enlightened
Posts: 369
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Post by Shiba Kazuma on Apr 15, 2011 22:28:00 GMT -5
Any hint of personality that may have been left in Kazuma was gone when the flags went up to prepare for battle. One could tell he was deep in concentration for the upcoming battle. As he concentrated the runes on his bracer began to glow even brighter. At the same time Ofushikai began to glow brightly at Kazuma's side. The sword looked like it was anticipating the battle to come, it looked like it was about to explode from its sheath and start attacking the Oni without any help from Kazuma.
Kazuma took a deep breath, closed his eyes. Mouthed something to himself and then opened his eyes. Ofushikai seemed to have calm, but now that light seemed to be in Kazuma's eyes. He surveyed the room and waited for the final signal to advance.
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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 16, 2011 0:43:12 GMT -5
His anger and disinterest bothered the Kuni not a whit. Let him stew over his failures...perhaps it would save her Clan the trouble that having to explain his death here would cause.
"Very well, -sama, if you do not wish my aid, so be it. " She tied off the bandage she was winding, leaving his wounds covered but not yet fully treated. "I am certainly not going to waste efforts that are not wanted, not when there are others who wish to continue on being productive warriors with fully functioning internal systems. May Jizo-kami watch over the scarring you will ensue and see that it doesn't mar your breathing for all time."
Rising, Itsuko wiped her hands idly on a last bit of bandaging, already looking around for more fallen to assist or demons to smite with the aid of the earth kami around her.
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Post by Kitsuki Bareian on Apr 16, 2011 18:01:10 GMT -5
It was happening fast...
The limited space of the tunnels were beginning to be a disadvantage for the Crab troops as the monster's tentacles began hitting everyone in its reach. Few veteran warriors still stood to engage the creature in direct combat. All anyone could do was dodge and parry the wave of tentacles raining on them,
The Steel Dragon tried to stand but doubled over in pain as the wounds in his ribcage opened anew, despite the bandages and the salve the Kuni had applied earlier. The wound was painful, however, better to feel the pain and be alive than be dead.
He had to admit to himself; Kuni Itsuko saved his life. Whether he wanted it or not, he had to repay the debt.
But that had to wait...
Mirumoto Katsutoshi breathed deeply and gritted his teeth to shut the pain away. Heaving himself to stand, he backed away from the ensuing combat and searched for something or someone he could use.
The chaotic battle between the crab and that Jigoku spawned creature did not help in his search. The sounds of tetsubo, katana's, spear and other assorted weapons mixed with the battle cries, roar, curses and other sound deafened Katsutoshi's ears.
Even though numerous torches were lit up it, the tunnel was dim. There were bodies already littering the floor. Some warriors, but most of them Ashigarus that were assigned to this post.
"If there were Ashigarus..." The Steel Dragon mumbled "there should be those what I need here!!!"
He backed away as quickly as his wounds could allow him to... He needed to find a great number of what he needed. He needed to find a dozen or so...
"I need Etas!" He exclaimed to himself.
He hoped that his plan would work and the Crab wouldn't mind shedding some of their outcasts to sacrifice for the empire...
or a pair of swords.
Despite his wounds... Mirumoto Katsutoshi, the Steel Dragon, could not help but sadistically smile.
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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 17, 2011 0:14:06 GMT -5
The Dragon had been forgotten the moment he was left behind, the debt he felt he owed also abandoned for the time.
All throughout the tunnels, wounded men and women cried for aid, for vengeance, or to the Ancestors. With a practiced gaze, Itsuko surveyed the battle, her mind coldly categorizing the images into two categories: those that could be saved and those who could only be sped along before their pain forced then to shame themselves. The former group was further narrowed into those who had the rank to deserve the kami's aid and those who did not.
The choices were made in the space of three breaths and then the priestess was off again into the tunnels, ignoring the chaos around her as she headed for her first target.
Let others see to the death of the invaders. She would see to the lives of those who served.
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Post by Kitsuki Bareian on Apr 17, 2011 12:27:26 GMT -5
The Steel Dragon lunged out the tunnel. The rays of the sun, though already fading, a welcome sight for him...
He once again grimaced at the pain of his wound, but he would not give in to the pain, he needed to accomplish what he had in mind.
The wall was in full activity. He heard the orders of commanders and the stomps of running warriors to aid in whatever was needed of them. Volleys of arrow flying through the air, bringing down some of the winged terrors that was plaguing the skies. A group of Kuni were already chanting and directing their energies into a spell that would somehow end the attack on the wall. If it were not for his wounds, it would have been a spectacular view.
But he was not there to gawk at what was happening- gathering the strength he still had- The Steel Dragon limped towards the direction to where the Etas, the lowest of the lowest in the celestial order of the empire, were housed.
The distance he covered limping made Katsutoshi felt like he was doing it forever. The running warriors in every direction and his own aggravated wound made it harder still to reach the Etas' quarters.
* * * * * *
Upon reaching the Quarters he had desperately limped to. Katsutoshi cursed to find that it had been almost abandoned. Almost...
The Steel Dragon spotted five eta Children, he estimated them to be of twelve to fourteen season old, trying to hide from what was going on outside. He growled as he realized that these seem to be all that were left. He stared menacingly at the young group of Etas, trying to weigh his options and his judgement.
"It must be done." Finally insisting to himself that it was for the best.
He approached the Children with a baleful glare and which seemed to suggest a look not worth disobeying.
"You five!" he shouted "Come with me... I need you to get my swords!"
The Children cowered in fear when they saw the Steel Dragon faintly smile.
* * * * * *
Moments later...
Young Chiryo, held his tears in check, he saw the horror that was in the tunnel, saw the Crab warriors fighting it. Saw how the tentacles reached out and pierced four of his friends and sucked on their blood.
He did not know what to do anymore- he wanted to run out the tunnel- but the frighting dragon samurai was waiting outside. He had to get the swords the samurai wanted or he would be killed.
He saw a small cramp hole in one of the walls. Instinctively he ran to it and hid himself away from the frightening battle.
If he lived through this- Young Chiryo promised to himself- he would take the warriors way and make these samurai pay for their folly.
Chiryo once again stifled a cry.
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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 18, 2011 16:23:10 GMT -5
A roar of command errupted from the most senior of the Hida Elite Guard present within the reserves. "Flyers, then the wall where the big bastard hits!" came the gruff barked words. The Kuni guard started to fan out, as the years of training kicked in and they readied to sell their lives. Moving into the open, the Crab Shuggenja started their casting, with green bolts of jade arcing into the sky. It was then that Toritaka Roan noticed the Kuni Damiyo had strode out, swinging his polearm wide while chanting. With a sharp intake of breath, the young Crab ran towards his lord, pulling out his katana in the process. With a grunt, the head Kuni swung his weapon above his head, sending a line of jade into the sky, evicerating any of the winged oni it scythed through. ((ooc - hi all. If anyone else wishes to be involved, feel free. Drop a pm to Koji unless you are a Crab player or perhaps may have been in the retinue of the Phoenix or Dragon forces - might wish to check thats ok with the respective players first though ))
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Shiba Kazuma
Phoenix Clan Mod
Phoenix Clan Champion?Samurai?Shiba's Soul?Unique?Enlightened
Posts: 369
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Post by Shiba Kazuma on Apr 18, 2011 19:12:28 GMT -5
Kazuma followed the Kuni Damiyo out onto the wall. He unsheathed Ofushikai for the first time and let the blade taste the tainted air that was around them. He let the energy that he had stored inside of him release slightly onto the blade and it glowed ever so slightly. As he did this one of the flying beasts swooped down. Possibly targeting the slightly glowing weapon or possibly the person wearing the different color armor then the rest on the wall. Whatever the reasons the beast had for attacking it quickly would regret them. As it came down Kazuma thrust Ofushikai up and into the beasts chest. He used the momentum of the beast to slide his blade through the creature. As his blade was about to exit the beast Kazuma flung the rest of it over the wall. Ofushikai seemed to burn the tainted blood of the creature off.
(OOC: If any phoenix want to join please pm me.)
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Post by Kitsuki Bareian on Apr 21, 2011 7:19:43 GMT -5
Young Chiryo watched as the Oni-worm's tentacles sucked on the last of his friends from the hole he had been hiding. His tears were again filling his eyes, but he could not help but stare at the horror that was happening.
He hated the Dragon Samurai with all his heart.
Moments earlier, as the Dragon Samurai found them in the tent and froced them to run this deadly errand, he had wondered why the Dragon made them swallow large chunks of grounded green powder. The Samurai said it would protect them and the empire from the oni that was rampaging in the tunnel.
It did not work.
Chiryo watched as more men fell to the Oni in the tunnel. He saw a Kuni trying to help the wounded. Saw another samurai holding a lever and signalling for the others to fight on and hold the tunnels.
Chiryo prayed for Salvation.
* * * * * *
"It's taking too long" Katsutoshi hissed in disappointment "looks like they all died."
He spat a curse and hobbled towards the entrance. If his estimation was correct, and his plan had worked, the monster would be vulnerable at this very moment. He had no intention of going back and dying.
That was why he made those Kids eat every Jade petal tea and unfortunately, or fortunately, the grounded jade he had on his saddle during his travels across the empire.
He took a deep breath and went back in the tunnels.
* * * * * *
The Oni-Worm was becoming sluggish... it seemed confuse as if it had been sucking something that could weaken it...
It wanted to continue the assault but it was beginning to sense that it was in danger.
Then for the first time... it felt the pain as blades of the annoying humans began piercing its hide.
(OOC: If any Dragon wishes to Join feel free... As far as I know... I'm not the only Dragon on the wall. Uhm... and to those participating. Can you Pm me on how you want to play these out so I can easily steer to what direction you want to head. Thanks... btw..I'm enjoying these thread.)
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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 21, 2011 14:03:37 GMT -5
Toritaka Roan gritted his teeth, swinging his blade around and grunting as it connected - with little effect. Most of the flyers were human-sized or smaller, but this thick-hided brute was something else. Fourteen foot from horned head to stubby tail, the oni had landed heavily on its six thick legs, scattering several of the Crab and crushing one unfortunate Kuni. The young warrior wondered how the thing could fly - even with the (now folded in) large wings, it couldn't support the creature in flight.
By the Kami, concentrate the Toritaka roared at himself. Bringing his blade around to strike at the same point as before he was met with brief satisfaction as the thick hide split. It was only then he started to notice black vapours leaking out of the wound...
--
The Kuni Damiyo was pushed bruskly to the side by one of his guards as the giant flying oni swung it's heavily armoured horned head around. The blow caught the guard, sending him hurtling backwards, to smash into ground heavily. A couple of the Hida Elite Guard were running forward, one having aquired an ono, the other a brutal looking tetsubo. They started to hammer into the Oni, their heavier weapons having more impact than the Toritaka's katana - how the Oni roared in frustration. How the beast suddenly seemed to become a black cloud as the wounds opened. The Elite Guard carrying the ono screamed and the Lord of the Kuni stepped backwards, eyes wide.
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Shiba Kazuma
Phoenix Clan Mod
Phoenix Clan Champion?Samurai?Shiba's Soul?Unique?Enlightened
Posts: 369
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Post by Shiba Kazuma on Apr 21, 2011 15:01:57 GMT -5
Kazuma saw the huge creature. He moved quickly trying to get at the creature. Before he could reach the creature and bring his weapon to bear he heard the scream. This made him move even faster. The icons on his bracer were glowing with such power. Ofushikai seemed to be alive with energy as it was ready to vanquish another Oni. That was when Kazuma managed to get his first good look at the creature, at the Hida Elite guard who had let out the scream, and at the Lord of the Kuni.
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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 21, 2011 16:34:16 GMT -5
Stumbling backwards out of the black vapour, what was once the ono wielding Crab fell. The vapour had eaten away at his body, where it had touched flesh it was gone leaving bone visable. He lay, as if gazing into the sky through the holes where his eyes had once been.
The other Elite guard backed up, spitting in disgust as the oni slowly continued its advance. Toritaka Roan noticed however the beast was moving slower, its roars and beastial cries bellowing with more tones of frustration. A quick dart to the left and the young Crab positioned himself between the oni and his Lord.
The Kuni Lord flinched, as if slapped, and his years of experience started to override the shock. Spinning his polearm above his head, the shugenja started to call on the kami of air, causing the vapours to start to rise in a spiral column, filtering away from the oni and into the sky. "Strike low!" he demanded, spitting the words with venom as the oni slowly made its way towards him.
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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 21, 2011 16:46:34 GMT -5
Koji sent messengers running for the reinforcements...he'd remembered what it would do. The reinforcements would need to stay behind the wall if he was right.
And if he was wrong, he'd doom the Wall and its defenders.
Waving the Tetsubo above his head, he rallied a group of Hida around him. With a yell, "Clear the Wall! Be prepared for missile fire!"
******************
Down in the tunnel, the oni began to falter, finally. Whether it was the many blows they suffered from the quick and agile Hiruma, the debilitating energies from the Kuni or an internal problem with its digestion, the shambling collection of writhing monstrosities began to shrink.
One of the Kuni held out a gem, focusing on entrapping the creature within its confines for the rest of time.
Or he was, until an arrow, as dark as the tunnels themselves, shot out colliding with the shugenja's chest.
The Kuni fell back, lifeless, the gem rolling off to one side, as the oni's attacks strengthened once more.
The cries from behind the oni spelled doom for many as well...as a force of Lost samurai moved through the tunnels towards the stalwart defenders of the Wall.
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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 21, 2011 18:30:25 GMT -5
The war drums of the Hida began beating a new rhythm.
Any Crab who was not at that moment fighting for their life turned northward for a second, a third heartbeat and then back to the battle.
Koji was not the one who led the yell of "HIIIIIIIDDDDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA" but he did join in with it.
For a moment the oni hesitated falling back at this sudden resurgence of energy from the Defenders of the Wall.
In the North, the shadow of a banner lay strewn across the ground. The banner, carried by two of the most elite of the Hida House Guard read: "There is no honor in defeat. There is no honor in compromise. There is only honor in victory."
The shadow of the banner was the only part of it known to have ever touched the ground. And it marched now towards the Wall.
********************
Upon the other side of the wall, the gigantic sack-like many legged Oni had finally reached the waters of the Seigo River. Within it could be heard the tortured screams of no doubt countless souls crushed under the weight of the beast.
The creature had a veritable forest of arrows upon its hide, only some of which were given to it during the current battle. If the arrows had slowed the creature, none could tell.
What could be seen was the marks of the siege weapons upon its hide. Bloody streaks oozed green where the arrows had been knocked aside and the creature's skin peeled back from the force of the blows. Where ballista had hit it looked almost like scales of metal, where the force of the ballista had flattened the arrows against the creature's skin although it oddly had been unable to pierce it.
Koji braced himself, waving those who were on the wall behind the cover of the ramparts there.
What was coming would be devestating to any that it hit. He wracked his brain, thinking of a way to kill the beast. It had visited the wall a hundred times over the years of the War against the Shadowlands, and each time it laid waste to the Crab there before retreating once more.
There had to be a way...
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Post by Hida Setsuro on Apr 21, 2011 20:31:50 GMT -5
Out from under the shadow of the great banner rushed several units of the Crab Berserkers. At their front was the Clan Champion, Setsuro, wielding a tetsubo with jade studs upon it. It had been a gift to him by the Utaku Daimyo, Utaku Kasumi. Now was the perfect time for it's use, too. Climbing the walls in a practiced motion, the units of Berserkers took flight over the edges of the wall, their athletic bodies being built for something like this. Setsuro himself launched over the wall and as he did, the rest of the berserker squads landed on top of the mighty Oni. This time, there would be no retreating for the Oni. This time they would make it pay, with their own blood if need be.
The Berserkers hammered at the demon beast all the while it's tail began to pick the samurai off and fling them against various things, including the wall itself. The oni even went for Setsuro himself at one point, but the quick rage of several berserkers all around at least stopped the attack momentarily, the creature giving out a shrill screech, though one more of annoyance than any real pain. The massive creature shook and as he did, many of the samurai upon it's back were flung to the ground. Though, as one might expect this did not phase the berserkers very much. In their rage, all they saw was the destruction of their enemies or their own deaths.
Unfortunately, the attacks of the samurai up close were hardly doing any damage at all. Even the strength of Setsuro and his jade studded tetsubo had hardly made any sort of dent in the creature's carapace. This Oni, apparently, had seen the reign of many Crab Champions. It was older than he could have guessed, and perhaps this was even way too much for him.
***********************************************
Meanwhile, upon the wall, the banner carriers hung it from the nearest watch tower. This was the tradition that had held for ages. The Hiruma among them, quite a few in number, split in two. Half of them immediately began an assault on the Oni, though not on the back of the creature, but on it's legs. Coming over the hill, Setsuro had already given orders to some of them. The other half of the Hiruma immediately rushed forward and went to report for duty to the Hiruma Daimyo. He was given a brief description of the orders they had received prior to coming upon the wall and then awaited their orders.
The rest of the troops, Hida, Toritaka, Kuni, Kaiu and even Yasuki samurai amongst them. Some of them were following orders and heading into the tunnels, reinforcing the samurai that were already there. As a whole, the Wall had just received a major bolster in manpower.
Hopefully it would be enough for the tide of the battle to change. Setsuro himself believed that it would be, but then he had no idea what kind of numbers and strength the Oni had. Still, it needed to be enough. The honor of the Crab depended on it.
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