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Post by Shoju on May 27, 2011 16:42:25 GMT -5
Kijiro
Kijiro guarded Daisuke, but was saddened by all that was transpiring in his homelands. His former champion was passionate about destroying his new lord. The bloodspeaker boy was now defiling the earth, Haruka, the woman who had saved him was now an enemy, and this new woman... She seemed to exacerbate the situation instead of calming it like Shoju had predicted.
Now, the Riders had appeared. They fought even in death to save their souls. It wasn't until Shoju had broken their very minds that they succumbed to their fate. They stood and watched. As long as the fight was fair, they would serve only to keep it balanced.
Part of Kijiro wished he would be killed here and now, and allowed to pass on. But he knew that wouldn't happen. He knew that Senshi had knowledge of him killing Yosuke. For that alone, he would be resigned to the grove.
Shoju
Shoju walked towards Senshi. He took the vial of blood and sliced off the wax top. He flicked the vial back and forth spraying the ground in front of him with blood from the vial. The ran began to fall harder. Shoju began searching for someone to make an example of before he met Senshi.
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Bayushi Haruka
Scorpion Clan
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Post by Bayushi Haruka on May 27, 2011 17:18:24 GMT -5
Haruka second charge was anticipated, as Tenshi actually lept up, crushing the blade back against her armor, grappling the woman and throwing her to the ground in an incredible feat of strength. Rin would continue running until she went past Senshi. The mare had been unaware that her rider had become dislodged until then.
Haruka lost her grip on her katana as it impaled into the ground some feet away. She winced and placed her wrist guards between her and the blade coming down on her with force. "You did that on purpose." Tenshi growled in absolute displeasure.
Her eyes just tracked against her movements as she had cracked the armor with a single strike. It would not take another sound blow of such magnitude. She had no choice but to implement a slightly dirtier tactic and swept the leg out from under Tenshi. The heavens continued to open up on them as they got to their feet quickly.
But just as quick as they were they seemed to hesitate, frozen in place for the moment as they looked long into each others eyes. Haruka was disarmed, but still Tenshi waited with her blade drawn intently. "You don't even care about what happens to Mom do you." Tenshi kept grumbling. "Why are you doing this. Why..." Tenshi seemed to stop herself as her face was etched with annoyance. She bit her lip as she turned to look at Senshi, making Haruka now flinch and tense.
"Ah I see it now. Somewhat, but that's not going to save you or them. You can't have everything you want little sister. I thought I taught you better." Haruka was visibly shaken, but not for her own good it seemed as her eyes flitted nervously to Shoju, Daisuke, and Kijiro, and then to her husband.
For the moment Tenshi forced Haruka to hold her ground without even engaging her. Rin however was rather displeased to be separated from her rider and charged back. Only to be taken out by one of the former Shinjo riders as she tripped on one of her legs and landed hard on her side.
"Rin... No.." The horse would continue to fight as the rider moved on. The battle steed struggled to stand again. Tenshi just smiled as she gave a whistle, her beaten steed coming to her side obediently, much to Haruka's surprise.
"Yuki... too..?"
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Bayushi Senshi
Scorpion Clan
Scorpion Clan * Clan Champion * Samurai * Kensai * Experienced * Loyal * Unique
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Post by Bayushi Senshi on May 27, 2011 17:47:20 GMT -5
Senshi and his men broke into a run, just as the assault from the shinobi began. Their aim was to distract the shugenja as much as possible. Spears, arrows, and all manner of thrown weapons pelted out toward Daisuke.
Senshi charged Shoju, but fainted aside bypassing the maho while his men threw themselves at Shoju, Senshi bolted toward Kijiro slashing out with his no-dachi cleaving through Daisuke's horse as he approached his former agent.
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Post by Shoju on May 27, 2011 18:14:49 GMT -5
The Dark Unicorn Riders began assaulting the Shinobi wherever they could. They were brutally assaulting the Shinobi when the lightning began to strike. Their assault was effective, and the sickening sound of the gore was drowned out only when the thunder rolled.
Shoju grinned as the men came after him. He plucked another vial from his obi, and and as the first of Senshi's men reached Shoju he crushed the vial on his chest, and closed his eyes. "Burn." Shoju uttered, and the blood on the mans chest burst into flames, quickly engulfing the bushi's torso. As the second reached, Shoju parried his attack, and kicked him back. Gaining a Defensive posture, Shoju began to engage the remaining men, keeping them at bay, and delighting in the pain of the first. "COME SCORPION! Who will feed their soul to my blade next!?"
Kijiro did his best to deflect as much as he could as it came towards Daisuke, but the assault was growing. "Boy, you best finish what you are doing soon!" Kijiro saw Senshi coming. He knew his time was short. He pulled 2 shuriken from his Obi, and hurled them at Senshi's Sword arm.
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Bayushi Senshi
Scorpion Clan
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Posts: 1,891
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Post by Bayushi Senshi on May 27, 2011 18:31:31 GMT -5
Senshi was ready for the assault, and Kijiro was still preoccupied with the attacks from unseen shadows. The shinobi halted their assault as Senshi closed, fleeing deeper into the thick woods, drawing the shinjo riders further into the harsh terrain, taking away the horses' advantage. Senshi swon twice, putting Kijiro off balance, forcing him away from Daisuke. Senshi kicked out aiming for Daisuke's feet, but Kijiro was ready and blocked. The two stood there in a struggle momentarily, then Senshi drew his hidden dagger from his helm, and plunged it into Kijiro's eye.
Kijiro glared at Senshi with his other eye, breathing out a few painful breaths, Senshi twirled and lopped off Kijiro's head and right arm, hacking diagonally through his shoulder and chest. Senshi completed the turn to swipe out at Daisuke, who had moved just beyond the reach of the bloody no-dachi. Then Senshi saw the struggle Haruka was in, torn between killing the shugenja and saving his wife, Senshi bolted for Tenshi, his no-dachi held in front as if to run her through.
One in the group of bushi stepped forward to face Shoju, and threw off her mask, revealing the familiar face of Reiko, the shinobi who had negotiated with the traitor on his last visit. "Hello, Oronkohiro." She held a nagamaki, ready to strike the maho.
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Kitsu Hiraku
Lion Clan
Sodan-senzo * Loyal to the Emperor
Posts: 197
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Post by Kitsu Hiraku on May 27, 2011 18:45:51 GMT -5
Daisuke didn't hear what Kijiro said. Neither did he see what was happening around him as he was too busy with the ritual. He moved instinctively to dodge the blade but he didn't care about the duel between Kijiro and the Scorpion clan champion.
- Yes! I've done it! Daisuke shouted and stood up. This turned out to be a very stupid move as an arrow hit him in the abdomen. He cried in pain and fell on his back, clenching the arrow and whining but being smart enough not to pull it out.
Luckily for him before anyone else could wound him the spell begun to work. Black grass rose from the ground to knee level and covered him. Whenever it touched a wound of someone who wasn't tainted that person would feel paralyzing pain. Roots pushed out from under the ground to catch peoples limbs and crush them. Ground moved itself beneath the attackers feet so that they would trip. Spikes made of stone shoot out from the ground, trying to pierce the enemy bodies. Those whose bodies were tainted and who stood in the grass suddenly felt strengthened and their wounds would heal.
The boy himself disappeared, probably going into the cursed soil. As he hid the tainted area started to enlarge itself slowly covering more terrain with the black grass. In few moments it would reach the fighting sisters and Senshi who was running to aid Haruka.
As for Kijiro as soon as his remains touched the plants he rose up as a mindless zombie. Same thing would happen to every dead body that touched it.
Those foolish enough to stand close enough to the land full of kansen could feel it heating up.
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Post by Shoju on May 27, 2011 18:49:57 GMT -5
Shoju turned and stared down Keiko at the sound of that name. "Ah yes. Hello Keiko. You must not have heard, but my Lord felt the need to give me a new name, more befitting my position in the Empire. You may call me...... Shoju." He grinned, and pulled his katana across his chest. As he did, the Crystal around his neck pulsed. He turned his head and saw Kijiro fall. He turned back to Keiko. "You damned him to death. You damned him to suffer as a traitor. His blood is on your hands." Shoju growled and plunged his katana in the ground. He reached out with his hand, and suddenly Keiko could hardly breathe. "Yes Keiko. darkness floods your very soul. I will delight in the screams of your soul as it tears you apart."
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Bayushi Haruka
Scorpion Clan
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Post by Bayushi Haruka on May 27, 2011 18:59:43 GMT -5
Tenshi was hoping for a bit of distraction from Haruka. And when she heard those harsh footsteps, she could practically feel the withheld emotion behind it. She relished the charge as she waited until the blade was just close enough to turn and strike it aside, turning to face her opponent.
To her surprise and honor it was this new husband of Haruka's, and he looked right and well for this conflict. "Come to save your little wife then, Scorpion? You should have left her fate to me. But you'll do.." She smirked surely. Tenshi was delighted to exchange blades with one so skilled. She certainly didn't wish to harm him too much, but she never hesitated to let him know her own prowess with a deliberate tear at his garment.
However with Tenshi distracted, Haruka could dash with full strength to pluck her blade from the ground and charged to Shoju, not using her blade but instead her body as she attempted to resist the entangling ground and tackle him out of focus. It was a blind faith but she had to do something else quickly now, this was a losing battle by the looks of it. She kept her katana out of the way as she attempted to push her shoulder into his arm, fully focused as the rain flew down her face as she glared right into him.
"It cannot end this way, Shoju!"
It might've only been an instant, but he'd known these eyes ever since they'd first met. Something wasn't right about her now though.
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Kitsu Hiraku
Lion Clan
Sodan-senzo * Loyal to the Emperor
Posts: 197
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Post by Kitsu Hiraku on May 27, 2011 19:12:52 GMT -5
Daisuke rose out of the ground looking sickly and holding his stomach that didn't have an arrow in it now.
- Sorry Shoju *cough* stupid poisoned *cough* arrows. I have to return home. But here is a small goodbye gift from me He said before disappearing again as few shrikes flew through the area that he was standing in.
A tongue of black flames suddenly burst from the ground, burning one of the shinobi. Another one appeared before Haruka, forcing her to slow down and making the impact weaker. Then there was another one, exactly between Tenshi and Senshi, that burned both of them a little.
More randomly appeared, hurting living people. It also burned some of the plants, causing a choking ash to appear in the air. Good thing that the scorpions wore masks, otherwise it would be much worse.
Even though Daisuke left the ritual continued to work, as is the case with maho, leaving much work for the shugenja that would later have to clean this place up.
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Bayushi Haruka
Scorpion Clan
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Post by Bayushi Haruka on May 27, 2011 19:15:56 GMT -5
Haruka however would not be deterred. She didn't care what pain she put herself through, she went for Shoju, gritting her teeth as it tore through the senses of her body.
Tenshi growled aloud again. "Must you ALWAYS get in my way boy!?" She roared as she worked around the flicking horror to ensure she was fully engaged in battle.
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Bayushi Senshi
Scorpion Clan
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Post by Bayushi Senshi on May 27, 2011 21:23:19 GMT -5
Senshi had to cut her down quickly, Haruka could not face this threat alone, he knew it. But after a few strikes with the large blade he realized Tenshi was more skilled with a blade then her sister. Senshi worked to avoid the burning horror, but found himself unable to kill the former maiden. He knew he could, he was just out of time. He forced her guard down low, dropped his left hand to his shoulder mounted katana, Churetsu, drew it and came down hard on Tenshi's sword arm at the shoulder in one long but fast arc.
He turned then and bolted after his wife.
Reiko used the length of her weapon to her advantage hoping to stab and keep Shoju off balance. Her posture was not that of an experienced bushi however, and it was clear to shoju she was just stalling. The rest of the bushi were holding back as well, not engaging, but they did have their own problems to deal with. The shinobi were no longer a real influence on the battlefield, either out of ammo, or gone dealing with the shinjo, who knew?
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Post by Shoju on May 28, 2011 1:19:29 GMT -5
Shoju sprawled on the ground totally caught off guard by Haruka. "Your Husband and champion deemed it so, Haruka-san." Shoju stood, mud caked to his torso, his blade away from him. Keiko sprawled to the ground clutching her throat, steam rising from her skin. She wouldn't be in any condition to attack for a short time. "What then should I do then?! My Yojimbo is dead. And with it, any prospect of peace there once was." Shoju's face bore a rage and fury not seen before by Haruka.
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Bayushi Haruka
Scorpion Clan
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Post by Bayushi Haruka on May 28, 2011 9:05:19 GMT -5
She stopped for a moment. Keiko's freedom secured for the moment as she stood at odds with Shoju, toe to toe with him at long last. However Haruka placed herself purposefully between Senshi and Shoju. She could hear his burdened steps in the mud and unholy earth.
Tenshi seemed disinterested in Tadaka as she took her severed arm, took the blade from her still clenched hand and sheathed it, whistling her steed to her side. "And what will you do about it Shugenja, I'm not interested in any of this anymore. I'm only here to assist Shoju if he should need it now."
She glanced at the battle as she put her arm over the back of the horse. It had no tack and it was still bruised and worn, but obedient. It seemed strange for Tenshi to change so quickly, but she didn't even so much as give Tadaka a glance of real regard. "I'm in no condition to battle, but I'm not about to abandon my lord." She gave a bit of a grunt as she mounted her steed a lot less gracefully with one hand, and bareback which would make for an unsettling ride.
Haruka stood firm now, as she'd given off the convincing impression of fear, emotion, pain. None of it had been real but only a tool as a means to fuel things the way she wanted. Now she was focused on edge as she held her blade center to her form in a challenging stance. But it merely seemed to be all a poised ruse, to protect Senshi perhaps. Who's life would she really value more, her own, or her husband's.
She spoke with a familiar calm once again, "Shoju-san. You know if peace were ever to come across this land, it would be nothing short of a lie. Without an enemy this land can unite against, it will weather away and destroy itself with infighting and power struggles.
You represent that universal evil to all of them. You can't expect them to understand what I see."
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Post by Shoju on May 28, 2011 12:05:34 GMT -5
"I dont think you have been listening Haruka-san. I have said that I will galvanize this land under one banner." Shoju stared into her eyes. "I never said that I would lead it under that banner. If that is what it takes, then so be it." Shoju stood his ground. His blade in the mud off to his left, his Jingasa behind him in the Mud.
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Bayushi Haruka
Scorpion Clan
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Post by Bayushi Haruka on May 28, 2011 15:24:06 GMT -5
It was an odd moment, allowing them to stand off apart from one another. Haruka merely flicked her blade, clearing the rain from it as it cleansed her armor silently, even if it wasn't her intent. She knew he was disarmed, and had no intention of allowing herself or Senshi the chance to strike. In his case, unarmed was hardly helpless.
"Indeed. But we both recognize that the land has needs. However, with Senshi-sama's brother avenged, and your message is clear on the matters of my sister. I suspect there is little else you can do here today to better anyone in this land."
The edge of her lip flicked in a slight smile, her face only visible since the offending tendrils had revealed it earlier. "So how about we finish this up cleanly. I have been denied the chance to deal with my sister, so I will have to content myself in the chance to deal with you." Now her eyes shifted slightly, a slight shine to them.
"Ready yourself and face me, Shoju-san." She angled her blade slightly as she held it off to the left slightly. A true duel, if Shoju would oblige. Senshi would likely protest simply since he'd see no point in honoring a traitor. But would he interrupt a formal challenge?
Getting Senshi involved any further could get him injured. The less involvement, the better. He's already dealt a crippling blow to my sister, now it is my turn to prove my worth, my Senshi.
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