Session Report: 22 January 2021
Champion of Nightmare
General Summary
In this session of Tsuwamono, the following events transpired:
Shigeaki Fujino: Compromised?!1559年11月15日: 17:00 (Afternoon)
Grand Yamana Observatory
Historical Entry: Shigeaki Fujino: Compromised?!
Ryūzaki Sanosuke's day had taken him to a variety of places and plots, but this was perhaps the strangest of all. Esteemed psychic and lynchpin of the Hashinara communications network, Shigeaki Fujino, had been apparently added to an entirely new mental network by an unknown individual. A startling lack of experts in the field of mentalism meant that it would be difficult to determine what, if any, negative effects this might have on their beloved network hub. Sanosuke suspected, just as Maxim before him, that it couldn't be anything good. With few options remaining to him, he decided to take the case to the one person who, despite her prickly personality, seemed to know everything. The Grand Yamana Observatory hadn't changed much in the time since Sanosuke's last visit, although the setting sun cast its signature sandalwood tree in a beautiful silhouette behind the main building. It didn't seem as though the Yamana Daimyō himself was around. Fortunately, Aoki Michiko was. Sanosuke found her in the adjoining library, and almost startled a few loose scrolls out of her hands. The irascible scholar didn't seem too pleased to see him, but then she was one of the few who rarely did. Once Sanosuke and Fujino explained the situation to her, Michiko's analytical mind took over, and she began devising a plan, if not a solution. Although she could boast a solid grounding in most subjects, the intricacies of the mental world were still largely a mystery to Michiko. Indeed, according to her, there were few even among the scholars of the Imperial Court who could truly call themselves experts. While Michiko couldn't offer any further insight into the psychic phenomenon itself, she did have some advice on how to proceed. This mental link, if it were the same as Fujino's, must work both ways. Therefore, they could use it to ask the culprit herself what was going on. Perhaps they'd get no answer. It was likely, even. But it was well worth the try to solve this issue in one go. While the rogue Fujino clone had touched Sanosuke, he only had the possibility of having been inducted into her network, while Fujino could offer certainty. Therefore it was she who first opened up communication and hailed the other psychic. Sanosuke could only watch an unseen conversation play out as Fujino's face drooped, then darkened, and eventually found sanctuary between her hands. It was bad, she said. The other had answered, and it was worse than she could have imagined. When pressed, Fujino explained that her family was more than just a mother and father squirreled away somewhere they'd be safe. She had an aunt as well who had been traveling the world for the past several years. Shigeaki Tōno was an eccentric, a deadbeat, and generally an embarrassment whom even the lackadaisical Fujino couldn't stand for long. While this black sheep of the family should have been abroad in Tianchao, apparently she'd returned recently and started making trouble without delay. This was at least an explanation, but Sanosuke couldn't grasp why it'd cause Fujino so much distress. So, she prompted Tōno to contact the Silver General himself over the line she'd established back at Tachibana Castle not an hour before. Moments later, Shigeaki Tōno herself had Sanosuke on the mental line. When questioned about her behavior, the eccentric aunt's responses were simple. She'd been off traveling the world using her own powers of teleportation and picked up certain interesting ideas. The one most appealing to her was that of a "Newspaper," a journalistic production that could cheaply and easily inform even the common people of the going-ons in their country. To that end, Tōno had started adding people she thought were interesting, movers and shakers, to her mental network. That all seemed to check out, but Sanosuke still had to ask why Tōno had acted so strangely when they'd met briefly in Tachibana Castle. That behavior had been the true cause of all this confusion. Without hesitation, the other responded that she'd been drunk and panicked when her niece unexpectedly showed up, thus teleporting away without a word. Try as he might, Sanosuke couldn't find any hint of a lie in her words, so took her at faith. It seemed more and more likely that events apparently connected to other attempts to compromise Fujino had instead just been the antics of an estranged family member. This "newspaper" that Tōno was talking about caught Sanosuke's interest. He mentioned the possibility that the Hashinara Clan might be interested in sponsoring such a public work, which seemed to be exactly what Tōno was looking for. In return, she insinuated that things which the sponsor found "inconvenient" might not find their way into the news. This caused Sanosuke no small amount of relief. Tōno was apparently not eccentric enough to fail to understand that part of the relationship. The two seemed to have quite a bit to offer each other, so Sanosuke arranged dinner with the formerly-unknown aunt. They agreed to meet at Yakisoba Yashiki in Shimonoseki, apparently one of Tōno's favorites, and discuss things in more detail. Once that was settled, Sanosuke delivered the good news to Fujino, only to see her face fall once again. Her aunt was trouble, the petite psychic insisted, and was probably broke again, looking to snag Sanosuke as a sugar daddy. To Fujino's growing horror, the Silver General didn't seem perturbed by this idea. Michiko, who had been standing politely by while their mental conversation proceeded, took this as a sign that things had worked out thanks to her advice. Sanosuke caught her off guard by offering to take her to dinner as well, but Michiko was eventually persuaded to accept as a bit of repayment for her services provided. Doubts still clouding Fujino's usually-sunny countenance, the trio departed for Yakisoba Yashiki and what would surely be a dinner to remember.1559年11月15日: 17:00 (Afternoon)
Wakigami Castle
Historical Entry: Tea with the Empress (Continued)
...Maxim stopped. A few feet away, poking up from beneath one of the rugs which littered the floor, a pair of yellow eyes glowed impassively at him from the darkness. Now on guard, Maxim demanded that the interloper show themselves. Genmei, however, chastised him. The creature beneath the rug was none other than Usutsuki, a Sheele of Wakigami Castle itself. She was apparently curious, and the Empress appeared to be tolerant of the little lurker's presence. With that in mind, Maxim cleared his head and began again. To start his tale, Maxim offered Empress Genmei a question: had she ever known someone to give up their humanity for reasons beyond their control? With her usual haughtiness, the Empress answered that she herself had given up her humanity. Or did Maxim think she was merely wearing the last thousand years with natural grace? Hozumi, too, had not always been a snake. Maxim took the point, then began his story in earnest. It began when he'd been called upon by the clan Daimyō to assist in an assault on the Palace of the Firebird. As newcomers to the clan, the Knight Commander's Wolfpack would be distractions. He told then of how they'd engaged in brutal battle. When Maxim reached the part of the tale where the Hand of Mammon burst from the ground, Genmei seemed to become more interested. Apparently, she had little knowledge of these things called "Demons," save how they related to the more traditionally Japanese Oni. She was delighted to learn that Maxim had met the Great King Enma, and wondered if that ruler of Jigoku had mentioned her. Of course, Maxim could see this was a lie. Genmei had never met a Demon, nor the King of Hell, but he humored her all the same. Once he arrived at the battle between dragons, Genmei was fully hooked. She bragged about how her retainer, Fujiwara no Fuhito had wrestled a great dragon into submission with his bare hands. To Maxim's surprise, this did not appear to be a lie. Although the final piece of the story was not something to be told lightly, Maxim did not hesitate. He explained how he'd given into a dark voice which offered him power; power to save those who were even now being overrun by demonic forces of the Tokugawa. The Empress went cold then, but Maxim was able to convince her that he posed no threat to the Hashinara, despite his "corruption" if that was what she wanted to call it. He'd attained great heights for a moment, before being smashed down by Bishamonten and ultimately killed. Genmei was suitably impressed that he'd clawed his way back up from hell, although of course she claimed she'd been to more planes than just that. Another lie, but this time Maxim sensed a certain sense of longing behind it. Perhaps it was at that point that the Knight Commander felt an unexpected attachment growing toward this ancient empress who had shut herself away from the world. For better or worse, Maxim brought his tale to a close. Genmei appeared suitably impressed, perhaps a bit pleased that she'd been able to get some boasting in as well, and she agreed to provide his letter of recommendation on one condition. Maxim must visit her every few days with a new tale; the first might be how he came to meet Great King Enma. He found that easy to agree to. Indeed, the Empress had caught his attention as well. As politely as he might, Maxim ventured to ask why Genmei was shut away in here, locked within the Daimyō's chambers rather than experiencing the world herself. Her answer was simple: Genmei's time was over. She did not wish to steal attention away from her descendant, as would surely happen if she made her presence known. Now was the age for Hashinara Yoshiyuki to put her* mark on history, and Genmei would not allow herself to stand in the way.1559年11月15日: 17:00
Isle of Oriab
Historical Entry: First Voyage to Baharna
While everyone took some time to secure the prisoners and recover from their recent battle with the Black Galleon Slavers and their captive Gug, Fubuki set about preparing the floundering Black Galleon for sail. This was not her* first dealing with such a vessel, as another served as Fubuki's flying transport back in the waking world. A bit of magic was enough to patch up the hull and, together with Taira no Tokuko and Aka no Kitsunebi, the Matsumoto gang was able to safely take the remaining frozen slavers prisoner. Fubuki thought to ask Sothy what should be done with them and received in reply that the Chieftan of Baharna would decide their fate. It was to be expected, however, that they would be thrown to the Wamps. A quick chat with the refugee Baharnans discovered that they were both skilled enough and willing to crew a Black Galleon, navigating it through familiar waters back to their home port. As a final thought, Fubuki reached out across the realms to Tsukijō Hanahane. His flamboyance was still well awake, and suggested that he'd not be retiring for many hours yet. That meant that they couldn't count on Jericho Petalwing's patronage anytime soon. Fubuki did learn, at least, that dropping the Petalwing name might earn them a bit of pull in Baharna. Meanwhile, Aotsuki Tsukamoto was watching with reserved melancholy as the stubborn little Zoog, Zhyrgal, called him boring and ditched him for more interesting climes. This apparently meant Hashinara Yoshitakatomo, who stepped away at the mere sight of a magic-eater approaching her*. Indeed, this masked maiden seemed more receptive to Zhyrgal's demands of revenge on those who had sent her away. Yoshitakatomo, for her* part, carefully avoided making any commitment to the zoog's cause. Instead, she* pumped the other for information, making sure to stay a safe distance away all the while. Through this, it came to light that Zhyrgal had been sold from somewhere called Dylath-Leen, where she used to work for the Caelestis Collegium as a messenger and general servant. Zhyrgal had trouble with the idea that Yoshitakatomo didn't know some of the big names of the Collegium, like Shibukawa Shunkai, who had apparently taught her to speak Japanese in the first place. It was not Shunkai, but someone named Azophi who had sold Zhyrgal. Yoshitakatomo might know her by her full name, Abd Al-Rahman al-Sufi. She* did not. With a true investigative spirit, Yoshitakatomo cast a hungering void spell upon Zhyrgal without warning. The results were interesting. While the little zoog was not immune to the spell's effects, after resisting the initial burst, she was able to eat the void energy and eliminate it. Not even spells drawn from the yawning void were safe from the ravenous appetite of the Zoog, it would seem. Still, that could be useful. Yoshitakatomo eventually assented to Zhyrgal accompanying them on their voyage. Zhyrgal, who took this to mean that they'd be going to Dylath-Leen for her revenge, happily boarded the vessel with the rest of the Hashinara. It didn't take long from then to cast off toward Baharna. With Fubuki's magic turning the waves to their aid, it would only take about an hour for the Black Galleon to make the northern port. From the mountain in the center of the island, a great stone profile seemed to watch them go with impassive eyes until it, too, was out of sight. Their journey was to be fairly uneventful, or so it seemed until Baharna rose over the horizon in the distance. There were ships coming in and out of port even with the sun hanging low in the sky. None of them matched the silhouette of a Black Galleon, and a few of the Hashinara realized this just as another vessel came out from the harbor's mouth and sped in their direction. Thinking quickly, Fubuki gathered up some of the water she* still held under magical control and used it to craft a simulacrum of Jericho Petalwing's dashing figure hovering above their ship. This seemed to do the trick and the other vessel slowed slightly, altering its course to swing around abreast of their ship. The more keen-eyed also noted a single katana fly up from the other deck and shoot away toward Baharna. As it approached, all could see that the new vessel was not like anything commonly on display in Japan. Long and narrow, its prow was carved into the stylized visage of a snarling wolf. One huge sail caught the wind above and two rows of closely-packed shields lined each side of the vessel. Just below those, a line of ten huge oars caught the water with impressive force, sending the ship lunging forward with each mighty row. Strangely, there didn't seem to be anyone on deck save for a tiny figure wearing armor and a horned helmet. Beneath golden locks, a pair of suspicious sea-blue eyes studied them, but as she shouted out in broken Japanese, it became obvious that the other captain did know and trust Jericho Petalwing. Her recognition opened an opportunity for Fubuki to parlay, and eventually the longship came up alongside them, although it maintained a respectful distance just out of boarding reach. The Black Blade continued to explain that they'd taken the vessel from Slavers, but were not themselves affiliated with the Moonbeasts' horrid trade. The other captain, Steersman Leaf, wondered where "Battle Brother" Jericho Petalwing was, and if his absence meant a trap, but the motley assortment of people on deck and the continued work of Fubuki soon lowered her guard. At a barked order from little Leaf, a quintet of razor-sharp katana burst from the water around the Black Galleon under some unseen control and returned to their owner, who was now coming abovedeck on the other ship. Apparently, if they had answered wrong, those blades would have punctured their hull and created quite an inconvenient situation. Toba Himawari sheathed her blades, however, catching the interest of both Fubuki and Sasaki Kojirō. At the same time, most other members of that aforementioned motley assortment were distracted by the appearance of an unknown girl in traditional Japanese dress. Her arrival had been so quiet, so natural, that it took a moment before Aotsuki Tsukamoto noted that she hadn't been there before. The girl, wearing a black fox mask atop her purple locks, spoke first with Zhyrgal in hushed tones. After Hashinara Yoshitakatomo approached and demanded to know her business there, the girl only told her to come back later. After all, the eighty-second Empress of Japan was over on the other ship. Wasn't Yoshitakatomo interested in that? The Hashinara's feared Princess-Daimyō was not so easily swayed, however. She* kept her expressionless gaze locked on the newcomer until the other finally relented. A brief discussion ensued, focused on obscure topics such as secrets, fear, forbidden knowledge and its discovery. Yoshitakatomo had been doing well, the stranger praised, but it seemed as though she* did not yet fully respect fear. If the elderly young Daimyō would embrace the shadow, feel true helplessness... Yoshitakatomo accepted. A brush of fingers later and Yoshitakatomo was alone in an empty black void. The ground beneath her*, spongy and as stygian as the rest, felt like shadow might if it had a physical form. To everyone else, Yoshitakatomo stood silent and contemplative on the deck. To the Daimyō herself*, even sound was deadened as horrid figures began to rise out of the surrounding murk. With gaping, hanging mouths emitting the stench of death, she* recognized these creatures as Putrid Jikininki, servants of Yomi. Aotsuki was not here to aid her*, wherever here was, and so Yoshitakatomo was helpless against the stench as it pierced her* mask and burned her lungs. Strength drained from her* muscles even as an unholy, terrible hunger rose in her* gut. Almost in reflex, Yoshitakatomo cast a cocktail of spells that would hide her* presence from all but the most powerful observers. That did not help the stench, however, and all but the barest strength vanished from her* body before the Jikininki finally withdrew. They stepped aside as if to make way for the new figure which was even now rising from the muck. With a slender, womanly form, a shroud covering her face, and the white snakes of the underworld writhing behind her, this could only be Izanami-no-Mikoto herself. As an Undead creature now herself*, Yoshitakatomo was helpless against Izanami's command of the dead. Forced by an overwhelming compulsion, the Princess-Daimyō could only assent as the Goddess of Yomi ordered her* to end her* own life. If she* was going to die, at least she* would go out in spectacular fashion. Conjured by a powerful weave of magic, a visage of Katamoto's old body appeared in front of the ailing Daimyō. At the same time, his fallen wife knelt in the darkness, given form by the same dark magic, and thrust a blade into her stomach. Yoshitakatomo did the same, pressing her* wakizashi deep into her* gut and wrenching to the side. At the same moment, the vision of Katamoto conjured the Black Blade of Doom and, cutting downward, beheaded his helpless future self. In the world of dreams, on the Black Galleon, Hashinara Yoshitakatomo buckled at the knees and fell to the ground, all unlife vanished from her* limp form. Aotsuki rushed forward in an attempt to save his lord, but was stopped by Osogami Wakatsu, who held out a hand and implored him to wait. The Daimyō's true death lasted only as long as her* trip to that realm of nightmares: a few seconds. She* climbed to her* feet and regarded the avatar before her* as impassively as before. Wakatsu, however, appeared satisfied. With Yoshitakatomo's assent, she, Omoikane, declared the newly-risen Princess as Champion of Nightmares, a god in the realm of dreams. Unaware of the momentous events transpiring just over the gap, Fubuki had made her* way to the longship to speak with mysterious swordswoman Toba Himawari. Apparently the technique that Dreaming Empress had used to command her swords was called Ophiucos, or Lord of the Infinite Swords. Despite Fubuki's interest, however, Himawari expressed no interest in teaching the style to another. Her days of tutoring children, she claimed, were long over. Fubuki took the news well, stating that she* was probably not ready regardless. Jigenmaru, so prompted, agreed. Perhaps when the still-young Matsumoto Scion was ready, Matsumoto Jigenzaemon would pass down the same technique himself.Rewards Granted
- +3 total Kuma Commendations
Character(s) interacted with
- Aoki Michiko
- Baharnan
- Daidōji Tsuneyo
- Empress Genmei
- Hashinara Katamoto
- Hosokawa Gracia
- Izanami-no-Mikoto
- Jigenmaru
- Ka-ten Agni
- Omoikane
- Osogami Wakatsu
- Oyama Hikari
- Putrid Jikininki
- Sasaki Kojirō
- Shigeaki Fujino
- Shigeaki Tōno
- Sothy
- Steersman Leaf
- Takenaka Hanbei
- Toba Himawari
- Tsukijō Hanahane
- Usutsuki
- Zhyrgal
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