Dark Bargains

General Summary

After arriving in the sunken village where the army has been stranded, Benkei disclosed the need for an innocent soul to Masahige. Although perturbed by the request, Masahige agreed to bring Benkei a handful of his most loyal samurai. In order to at least stand some sort of chance against Izanami's null arts, Izanagi began working on some sort of arcane abjuration formula. Benkei waited forLiu-Xiao, Mugen, and Sayuri to return from their scouting expedition before inviting the two Yonkishi to the fortress where he asked Mugen to restore Genji and Conradus in exchange for a year-long period where Mugen would travel Koryo with Benkei as his Ayakashi while advocating for Yokai rights and an end to the Ayakashi contract system and the cycle of violence between Yokai and human. Mugen and Sayuri rejected the offer, but agreed to see the battle with Izanami through to the end before deciding if Benkei's proposition was even worth considering. Mugen mentioned that although Genji could be restored in the process of his transformation into one of his thralls, there was nothing he could do for Conradus. With Genji's approval, Mugen completed the transformation and Genji was revived as one of his puppets.   With no way to revive Conradus other than with his Wish, Genji visited Ayaka and Liu-Xiao for information on magical means of reattaching lost limbs. Both of them informed him of the Regeneration spell, though neither of them was able to cast it themselves. Liu-Xiao informed Genji of an acquaintance of hers who might be able to help if the problem remained unsolved after the situation in Yomi was resolved, an Archcleric named Selena Wisel who resides in South Seraphix. Along with Taka, the samurai who'd volunteered to give his life for their bargain with Viras, they transported themselves back to the horrid, putrid cavern where the Court of All Flesh is located. When they laid eyes on Viras for the second time, Benkei and Genji's minds were unable to bear the strain and both suffered forms of insanity. Benkei became deafened, and Genji developed another narcissistic flaw. When the time came for Taka to be handed over Benkei had second thoughts and attempted to intervene, causing both Genji and Izanagi to turn on him. Unfortunately, he failed to follow up on his words and Viras forced them to watch as he transformed the screaming and writhing Taka into a satyr-like demon. Making good on his end of the bargain, Viras told them that Hiruko makes domicile in the Mausoleum of the Wretched, the palace that is not a palace. However, when the group made clear that they would be leaving, Viras allowed the demon horde in the Court to finally spring forward and attack them.