((OOC: Blood Sorcerer, your portrayal, though not identical to my own envisioning, is a wonderful interpretation, and I shall readily accept it. Your portrayal and delivery of their thoughts however was spot on to what I was expecting, and very well done.))

 

   Iji was forced to muster all of his years of training and focus, and yet was only just able to maintain his stoic calm in the face of such overwhelming hatred and cruelty. He shifted only slightly but managed to turn it into a stride towards the creature, and then another, since anything else but pure confidence, or at least the appearance thereof, would be interpreted as weakness and give these foul creatures reasons to doubt his perceived nature.  Stopping abruptly only a few paces before the Oni, and more than a little enticed by the fear that once more began to roll from the Oni to join that of the bakemono, Iji suddenly brought his stick up to point directly at the Oni's midsection. There was the slightest of noises, that to Iji's ears said that the creature had shifted ever so slightly in surprise, a fact which caused a small grin to take hold at the corner of Iji's mouth.

   "You", Iji directed at the Oni in sharp tones whilst acting as if this was being a waste of his time, "Ask too many questions and assume much, which many in the service of the Shadow would tell you to be a dangerous pastime. Though I sense within you the fact that this knowledge is not unknown to you, hmm? For now I would recommend you to become one with silence, until your pittance of an intelligence is called upon."

   Hoping that he had not overdone his performance, Iji slowly lowered his guide stick back to the ground where it belonged, and at the same time turned purposefully to the creature of pure evil and hatred that stood at the Oni's side, whose broken mind seemed always on the verge of tumbling off into the void itself. Being this close seemed to give on the feeling that the emotions of anger and disgust had taken physical form, and slicked the area in a film of death. Iji pushed the imagery that the kami gave him to back of his mind for know, doing his best to stay focused on remaining calm before these beasts, even though every fiber of his being was telling him that he should be running for his life, if not already dead.

   "You however, my obsidian friend, show potential. I can see why the Masked One would want one such as yourself in his service. You skills are no doubt unfathomable, and your power undeniable. And though you may seek orders from me, I would not desire to make the same mistake that this Oni does, so I dare not risk countermanding an order given by those that would see me dead for doing so."  With a pause, Iji acted as if to glance over his shoulder at the Oni, wishing once again that he could, if for no other reason than to gauge how the performance of his life for his life was going.  "So tell me, oh killer of the light, who or what are these escapers that you seek? For they were not know to me, at least not that I am aware of. Perhaps our destinations are one and the same, but then again they may not. Speak quickly though, for time spent talking, is time spent doing nothing where the Shadow is concerned. I have no wish to anger my master, and I sense you wish nothing but to please him. So out with it about these escapers."

---

"Apparently getting your ass kicked is now part of a complete breakfast." - Roy Greenhilt, Order Of The Stick


- An Answerer of questions, and Questioner of answers.

[ The Plains - Iji ]

The darker of the two shadows, the one whose corruption did not diminish in the fear of the Kami and power which exuded from you, seemed to become much happier at the attention, and as you dressed down the other, while it's shadow decreased, the depression setting in as fear controlled it enough to cause it to back away and order it's minions off, leaving without a response, the other merely laughed a deep cackle, as though that were all that it was.  The thoughts of the other, still permeated your mind, much more stable than that of the other.

"Dear god, that one has come.  Hopefully the minion of the Masked One shall not set it upon me, as the Masked One has when others were displeased.  That minion of Fu Leng is far more menacing than many I have seen."

The shadows about the darker being, the core corruption, seemed to extend outward as it kept it's distance from you for but a moment, before it suddenly was by your side, it's agony and fury burning your mind with the power, the taint barely being kept at bay by the Kami at your side, and your mind burning as you knew that this one's pain and power would begin to inflict the taint of the Shadowlands on your body if you let it stay too near.  It's thoughts were primitive, and the feelings it gave of brutal, concise, yet brutal.

"Orders.  Yes.  Kill and hunt!  Kill, hunt!  Find not the prey.  Prey quick.  Fled town.  Other Oni eat villagers.  Yum, flesh of weak.  Strong food.  My food.  Fled.  No food for me.  Mask make order, and me get good food!  If catch.  Good food."

"Slaughter.  Kill all.  Eat prey.  Slaughter village.  Kill more.  Spread plague.  Kill all.  Awaken shadow.  Shadow beast kill.  More death.  Death make happy.  Happy bring more death.  Doom comes from death.  Death brings glee.  Glee make happy."

The shattered mind of the beast was evident, from both it's jarbled language and it's feeble grasp on reality, but there was a power to it, and your mind's eye quickly ascertained something, it was gazing at you in ways similar to that of the Kami, and it's gaze seemed to narrow on you quickly, and before you could respond it's thoughts poured out.

"Masked minion wrong.  Shadow gone.  Kill lie!  Destroy!"

It was a flash before you could reply, and it disappeared from the eye sight of you for but a moment, before you could sense it again, slightly to your left, it's bladed arms swinging forth at you with the enhanced power of the obsidian paining you with it's mere presence.  There was little room for anything save fleeing it, facing it seemed almost impossible, and it's rage permeated and damaged you in ways you couldn't grasp.

[ The Hut - Everyone Else ]

There was a silence in the room, allowing the group to pull themselves together, obviously there was much to be done and little time for it to be executed.  As such, there was a sense that someone needed to step forward, to take charge, and that there were things that needed to be done immediately.  Since the Dragon had shown itself, the orders that were previously given to each and every member of the party had seemed insignificant, if not pointless, in comparison to that of the mighty creature.  The fact that one of the ancient Dragons, one whom had turned from grace and fallen in with Fu Leng could turn on Rokugan was a dire threat, one which had never occurred, and something had to be done to stop it, everyone there understood that.

---

"... if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for Destruction Ice is also great
And would suffice."
- Robert Frost

Once Sha Ya Shi regains her composure, she comes out and starts to talk.  "We need to make an attack on these shadowlands beasts but we also must find where they are coming from.  We can not let them achieve their goal.  We must make the surest haste about this.  We haven't much time to do all this.  Though the future seems really dark and forboding, we must be victourious.  I will not let this land fall into darkness again.  I will not fail in this almost impossible mission.  We must put our differences aside for the time being and join as one if we plan to come through this.  Though we are few and they are many, we have the advangtage.  They do not know where we are and this is good.  We must do all of this and now."

"I agree. This Shadowlands taint must be purged- once and for all." Kaya said, her voice strong. Then, softer "But where do we begin with a task so great?"

---

I swear, now you're just doing it to piss me off.

[ The Hut - Chiang, Kaya ]

The kami about you, the spirits of the land, seemed in flux.  The great spirit of the plains which had led you to the hut was now seeming to give you an impression of something important, the energies of the area seeming to flow about a single being, not spirit, but of great presence in the spiritual world.  Another Shujenga, one of intriguing power and difference, as the Kami seemed to call to you asking for your aid to help him.  It was strong enough to cause you have some direction to your quest, since some great power being threatened by, what the Kami identified as a strong dark corruption, would at least give some help.

---

"... if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for Destruction Ice is also great
And would suffice."
- Robert Frost

Kaya sat straight up, sucking in air throught her teeth, sensing the change around her. She stood up, looking at one of the walls of the hut, her eyes slightly out of focus as she gazed without seeing in the direction of this new disturbance.

"Something is wrong." she stated softly.  And then, under her breath. "I sense... power. Not a spirit. Needs assistance... And... something else. Darkness." she said brokenly, trying to more clearly understand what it was she sensed.

"A Shujenga. Fighting dark beings." She said firmly. "It would seem our path has been laid before us." She said with a weak half-smile.

---

I swear, now you're just doing it to piss me off.

Sha Ya Shi looks a little confused at what just happened to Kaya  but hears that someone is in danger.  "We must go help if someone is in need."  She starts to get her stuff ready then turns to Kaya.  "Lead the way and I will follow."

((Everything from "I sense... to ...Darkness" is basically Kaya muttering under her breath trying to figure out what it is she's sensing.))

Kaya blinks, and her eyes refocus on what is here. She nods once, and grabbing her staff from where it leaned against the wall, headed towards the door.

---

I swear, now you're just doing it to piss me off.

Ksoo’ma sniffs the cautiously and silently padded over to one of the spots at the table where he took his place on the floor and began eating being the cautious survivor he would make sure to eat as much as he could.  

   With almost preturnatural reflexes, Iji flung himself backwards as the slicing arm of his demented attacker swung true to where his head had been only a moment before. Turning his motion into a backflip, Iji came back onto his feet in a guarded stance, and immediately called out an incantation evoking the powers granted him by the Kami. "Kaze tenrai, kyuuyo sumiyaka."  As Iji completed the words, and the proper gestures of homage, the breeze stirred ever so gently for but a moment. To the casual observer, nothing had happened, but Iji could feel the power swell within him. His casting had also managed to give pause to the oni and bakemono before him, for even though they all stood ready to run him down, they all also knew spell casting when they saw it. Iji took this final moment to leave his would be attackers with a final piece of his mind.

   "And now know this foul beasts. I am the shugenja known as Jinsoku Taiga, and I will not stop until your cancerous evil has been lanced from these lands. Know also that we will undoubtedly meet again, and when we do, I am certain it will be for tha last time."

   And with that Hourou Iji sprinted off in the direction he had originally been headed before this slight delay. Only when he did so, he moved with more speed than any natural born human was capable of. The last burst of surprise that Iji detected off the creatures before he was too far from them for the spell to reach, was most satisfying. Now, he thought to himself even as the demons behind him began their pursuit, how to escape with my life intact, I wonder?

---

"Apparently getting your ass kicked is now part of a complete breakfast." - Roy Greenhilt, Order Of The Stick


- An Answerer of questions, and Questioner of answers.

[ The Hut - Everyone save Iji ]

It was quick, as those who had items of importance were given time to gather them up, but even then, the tone in the air permeated with speed.  It wasn't a speed of desire, but a speed of need, a required agility and forced energy which only came to those who knew there was a great need of their aid.  They all knew it, and as they prepared themselves, they knew it with the very fiber of their being.  It was the Shujenga who were most prepared to leave first, considering the pressure of the spirits upon them, the corruption of the land which appeared to be nearing them, as though a guiding light was leading a forlorn toward the only hope for many miles.  There was a faint sensation of fear within that one, concealed by a deeper courage and internal strength that only came from experience, and the Kami of the area did seem to actively guide that one, a male, from any sense.

The shujenga further knew that their own Kami, the ones which were in the Hut, started to push them towards readiness.  This land was burned by a foul taint, a shadow which doomed the land to death and decay for all time, and the Kami knew better than to let even the smallest portion of it fall upon this place.  As such the Shujenga were soon forced to the head of the party, leading them fervently, and quickly, toward the likeminded individual who was fleeing the shadows.  Speed was needed, and all members of the party, even those to whom the Kami did not reveal all their secrets, knew that.

[ The Plains - Iji ]

The dark shadows of the lesser Oni and his bakemono compatriots showed little desire to pursue, but the rage-tinged fiery demon, the creature of utter decay and corruption seemed to inflict a fear upon them far greater than any you could wield, and rightfully so, only a beast could so frighten another being.  It was a fear that drove them, all save the shadow itself, the being which seemed to sense within you power, but not the shadow power which it's master had so resonated with, and as you realized that, you knew that only one creature could be the Masked One.  The Masked One must be a Shujenga whom had fallen to Blood Magic, Maho, the demonic power of the Shadowlands must flow through his veins, making him a much more potent threat than any of these beings, a master of shadow and hatred whose will could blister and burn away anything that remained of the beauty of the Crane lands, and your purity could not allow that, an a righteous anger filled you as the desire to right what had gone wrong filled your soul.

Yet it was outweighed by the sheer drain of such a gait, the wind Kami aiding you well, but the corruption fueled demons who chased at your heels were far stronger, their physical prowess matching your magical step for step, and it would not be long before you would be over-taken, at least, that was true until the greater powers which followed your site intervened.  A power, a surge greater than many you have felt, called forth, the plains and grasses which you ran through seeming to gain a power beyond nature, and the spirit of the plains drew itself forth, lashing out at these beings with all it's power.  Rage and fury filled your mind as it's power poured across the land, grasses grabbing forth at the creatures and pulling down the smaller and weaker ones, the land bursting forth and crushing the beings, screams of agony crying out as you felt shadows fade to nothingness, all of them, save that of the corruption, the red-tinged fiery hatred which not even the plains could quell.  The grasses seemed to slow it, but not stop it entirely, it's obsidian edged arms slicing the grass and burning them, the Kami's cries of pain not stopping it from it's attempts, at least, until a greater shadow seemed to reach out through the creature, and crush the Kami's attempts.  It was then, that pain erupted.

[ The Plains - All ]

The Shujenga had been pressing forth like nothing else toward this location, the resonation of their energies meshing forth with the Kami of the land giving them energies which seemed impossible for men to attain, and yet the rushed onward.  And in the distance there was a man, running forth from what appeared to be a single creature, a being whose arms were blades of pure shadow, obsidian which was the most corrupt of stones, the polar opposite to the powerful Jade which the Shadowlands beasts feared.  Obsidian was a corruption, a corruption which permeated with the taint of the Shadowlands like Jade permeated purity.

Suddenly, a shadow covered up the cloudy sun, the smoke of the fires of the village having spurred storm-clouds to arrive, and it was then that the figure running from the beast fell over, at the same moment that all of the Shujenga in the party fell, a cry erupting forth from their mouths which was akin to nothing, and no reason was given, at least, until the others realized that all of the living grass, all of the trees and the living beings which were in the plains, fell dead.  Black, the grass did become, and charred and burned as though it had been dead for a long time it soon became.  The land became cold, and a blast of winter's fury seemed to pelt everyone from the east, although the day before had been calm.  Yet still the creature moved.

[ The Plains - Ksoo'ma ]

The blade which you carried seemed to cry out in vengeance when you saw the obsidian armed being.  It's cry pulled you forward as the landscape around you changed, and seemed to force a righteous desire to destroy the beast, where before their might have been one, the sole desire to kill it now erupted.  The sword pulled you forward, when the others may have faltered, even as the magical ones fell, you could not be slowed, your power rising forth and being pulled by the blade in your hand, until you stood before the man who had been fleeing, your blade in the air before you, standing beside the beast which had chased him, it's breath and rage stinking of death and the Shadowlands, and it's gaze fell upon you with glee as it realized it would be forced to slay you to get to it's prey.  It's eyes, cold holes where no light could shine, gleamed with unholy blight as it approached slowly, fearing not at all your blade...

((OOC: Shujenga are crippled from spellcraft the first round, due to crippling pain.  They have half an action.  Otherwise, the other characters are unaffected.  The following rounds they can try spellcraft and actions, but they must roleplay as though having just recovered from pain; i.e. with all of those detriments.  Thank you.))

---

"... if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for Destruction Ice is also great
And would suffice."
- Robert Frost

Kaya staggered to her feet, still doubled over with agony as tears of pain streamed down her face.

---

I swear, now you're just doing it to piss me off.

Sha Ya Shi has no idea what happened to her comrades and slows down a bit it somewhat awe.  But then realizes that the beast charging the person in need didn't fall.  She then continues her charge at the beast and in the process draws he sword and tries to draw the beasts attention away from the fallen person.

   Iji could feel that he was losing ground to the beast behind him, but to focus on such would not help him in escaping it. Suddenly, as if appearing from a mist, a handful of living creatures appeared to his sight. How these beings had managed to remain hidden, or why they had suddenly appeared mattered not to Iji, only the silent urging in the recesses of his mind, pushing him towards them with all the speed he could muster. Iji could practically feel the evil rolling off his pursuer; it’s hatred for life fueling the chase. But Iji had hope, for the beings ahead of him began to array themselves so as to receive and intercept Iji and thereby the twisted perversion that was rapidly closing on him. Then, just as hope had been delivered to him, Iji felt it begin to slip away.

 

   His view of the other beings scrambling forth began to blur and dim, as if their ki were being drained away. Iji felt the strength and speed of his legs and feet similarly drain, as though all the energy in the area was suddenly being buried in a sense of dread and gloom. Iji struggled on as best he could, knowing that now he would be easily caught and brought down, but not yet willing to give in. Then the pain came. For a brief instant, it seemed as if every kami Iji had ever met were screaming in his ears. But just as suddenly as the scream came, it ceased. However, that brief moment was more than enough time for the dozens of kami in the area to send forth their cries of pain and aguish, as well as their sensations of equal dismay. The screams and cries alone were too much, but with the accompanying sensations of burning, crushing, and tearing, along with general sensations of pain, it was more than his mortal mind could handle.

 

   Iji lost his footing and tumbled to the ground, his hands clutching at his head that felt as if were ready to explode. His sight was completely gone now, as it had been for him as a child. Not just the dimness that he now associated as an absence of living creatures, but a world totally devoid of any light or form. And as he lay there writhing in pain, Iji could just make out the sound of a terrible howl at the edge of his awareness, as if an animal had been caught in a dozen traps at once. It would be many days of reflection and meditation, before his mind would be well enough to remember the sound as his own voice.

 

 

 

---

"Apparently getting your ass kicked is now part of a complete breakfast." - Roy Greenhilt, Order Of The Stick


- An Answerer of questions, and Questioner of answers.

Seeing the person running from the fell beast fall, Sha Ya Shi knows that their time is running out and it appears she is, right now, the only one that could save them.   She tries to muster up all of her strength to put it into her feet and legs to get between the helpless person and their pursuer.  Not knowing the exact distance between her and the person in need and the person in need and the fell beast she draws her sword as she is trying to beat the beast to the fallen person.