Session Report: 6 May 2022 ((and Hiatus))

The Yashiki Summit

General Summary

In this session of Tsuwamono, the following events transpired:

Pre-Summit Vignettes

1559年11月17日 10:00 (Morning)

Shimonoseki

Historical Entry: Pre-Summit Vignettes

After the eventful match between Maxim and Momo, yet before Mōri Motonari's Yashiki Summit, a small sliver of time was almost lost to the ages. Yet events did transpire during that sliver, and they are no less worthy of our attention. Let us consider them now...
First there is the matter of Matsumoto Ooawagaeri; or, in this case, Susuki. Having shed his usual disguise of "Fubuki," the silver-haired swordsmith sped away from the ruins of Sumiyoshi-taisha atop a frightfully fast fox. Accompanying him were a dejected Phenex and a creature like the Western Mermaid, tail slung heavily over the mount's side.
Susuki found his thoughts drifting back to what he'd found at that ravaged shrine; the thunderous tree stretching into the sky and piercing it in a way that even Jigenmaru could not thwart. There too was the kind, suave angel who had only given his name as "Em." Unlike the Elohim descended upon the arena, this angel urged only for kindness, especially to this poor Miko who had seen her shrine destroyed by the cataclysmic tree.
So, Susuki had taken her with him. The Wani, for that category surely extended to one such as her, was understandably still shaken. Phenex, too, was sickened by the fact that she had been unable to return to heaven even after the very sky had opened before her. These two, who were in no condition to talk now, could be comforted after the coming meeting. For now, Susuki reached out with his mind to an entirely different point of contact with a question.
Tsukijō Hanahane's answer was immediate and verbose, as was his wont. "Oh? Oh? Do go on then, dearest Su-chan. I had just thought to steal out onto my patio and enjoy one of those frightfully sticky fruit drinks whilst I while away the morning. It does so get dull around here, even when one has as many friends as I do. But of course I do count you, pink and scrubbed as you always are, among that number. So, I would be delighted, delighted, to offer you any answers which I might tenderly tender upon you. Do go on and ask. I'll just be here sipping away and watching the lovely sky until you feel comfortable to proceed."
It was not a conversation in the truest sense, but Susuki heard the other's soliloquy in his mind as surely as if Hanahane had been seated right next to him.
"The young girl I introduced you to the other night; I was wondering if would be possible to bring her here now that she has a soul of her own." Susuki thought back. The girl in question was, of course, Alice of Diamonds, whose recent acquisition of a soul placed her above the vast majority of Figments in the Dreamlands.
"What a dear she was!" Hanahane exclaimed at their shared memory. "And just your type, if I might say so. But enough of my prattle. I do tend to prattle on sometimes, don't I? Prattle, prattle, prattle. Ah! There I go again. Well, Su-chan, of course you can bring anyone over from that side to this one. It's mightily uncomfortable for most of them, though. I've heard many Baharnans say that they feel less...real. Like they're wasting away right before your eyes. Now, that such a full-figured folk as them should say such a thing is unthinkable, but it's still something to keep in mind. Soul or no, I wouldn't force anyone from the Dreamlands to come here unless they were well aware of what awaited them."
That was indeed troubling. Perhaps all Baharnans who were whisked away by the Black Galleon Slavers to this side of the Wall of Sleep suffered the same slow-burning fate.
"I see," Susuki answered."It wouldn't do to force such a thing upon anyone without good reason. I'll keep that in mind." A pause, then, "On an unrelated note, I believe the casino should be ready to open, though events have kept me from announcing a date for the event."
Somewhere across the country, in his manor on the coast, Hanahane could not believe his figurative ears. "Goodness me! You do work fast, Su-chan. The grand opening, is it? What kind of event will you host? What is the dress code? Oh dear, I shall have to start preparing my outfit immediately. Have you already drafted an invitation list? I would like a chance to vet it first, if you would not terribly mind, to avoid any messy dramas that might unforld if too many of Japan's most fabulous are on the ship together."
To many of these questions, Susuki had no answer. So, he did not bother to voice one. Instead, there was one last thing to prepare before their meeting; a potential shelter into which they could escape should the worst occur. Fortunately, Nekoi Nekoi had already foreseen this course of events and evacuated the Mirror Imperial Palace beforehand. It was a simple matter for his crew to have the magical door, behind which the mirror land awaited, prepared and delivered to Yakisoba Yashiki in preparation for the summit.
--
At the same time, any plans which Maxim might have had following his victory were interdicted by Haures. No sooner had he retired from the field than the small lioness approached him aggressively. The descendant "Elohim" seemed to have unsettled her, and, following a terse congratulations, Haures was burning with a need to discuss things with her ward.
"Right. Friends of yours?" Maxim asked. It was unclear whether he was truly so ignorant or simply being belligerent. Graciously, Haures did not snap back at him.
"Friends? No, only the most deluded of Pride can still think of those monsters as our friends."
The towering knight merely shrugged. This was something for the leaders of Japan to figure out, he opined, and not anything they needed to concern themselves with. Showing saintlike patience, Haures attempted to explain.
"The return of the Elohim signals the End of Days. We should return to Gehenna and muster our legions."
This brought Maxim's feet and thoughts up short. "Sorry, the End of Days?" The capital letters came easily to that ominous phrase.
The final war between Angels and Demons. Earth to be its battleground, as had been foretold for millennia. These Japanese people were another matter, but Maxim was from Albion, where Christianity had already begun to take root. It was hard for Haures to believe that he had never heard of the End Days.
"I can forsee no other conclusion to the events which went into motion today," she finished.
Infuriatingly, Maxim still seemed to think such rash action would be an overstep. "Even if that were going to happen," he lazed, "I'll stay here. Someone needs to protect the citizens."
Haures sighed. This was precisely what she had feared. Perhaps the Haures of the past would have gnashed her teeth, flown into a rage, argued with Maxim, or dragged him down to the depths below herself. Instead, she tied herself to his fate without hesitation. "What shall we do, then? Quietly await the judgment of the Divine Council?"
If Maxim noticed this subtle change in her character, he made no comment on it. "Have we ever just sat quietly when a powerful foe appears? If this End Days does happen and they dare attack Shima, I'll take as many of those Angels as I can with me in death."
"So be it. We'll resist to the last." Haures had almost built up a modicum of respect for Maxim's stubborn resilience, even in the face of the angelic power he'd witnessed today. Then the oaf had to go and ruin it.
"Given everything going on," the knight rambled, "I'll be having Hakuhen act as your bodyguard, just in case."
Haures couldn't help but bare her teeth. "I'll be forced to spend time with that oaf?!" What manner of punishment was this?
Worse, Maxim ignored her completely logical complaints to double down. "It'll be happening either way, so you might as well get used to it."
With that, the storied Commander of the Wolfpack departed for his meeting, leaving Haures fuming in the arena. She could see a wealth of great, golden stupidity looming in her future. How much should a Duchess of Hell be expected to endure?
--
Elsewhere, Katsusada Shishauezaemon pushed the door open to his laboratory. Or was it truly his now? The mechanics of avatars, split beings, and the pseudo-gestalt in which they now existed left many questions unanswered. For now, he would consider it his own.
Regardless, it was quiet and tidy following the completion of the Mugen Gauntlet. A temporary confinement area, like a makeshift occult prison, took up a significant share of the chamber's southwestern corner. Within, Kashin Koji glared ruefully at the newcomer with a strip of sealing cloth still bandaged about her mouth. Next to her, a Putrid Jikininki slumped in the corner, heaving with ragged breaths but otherwise entirely passive. Both of these, however, were mere side pieces to the great work of art which had at some point made its way into the laboratory.
"Now when did this get here?"
A hideously smooth creature, adorned with a cornucopia of twisting tendrils, hung suspended in a block of unmelting ice among the chamber's many tables. It stared back at Shishauezaemon from within its prison; no mean feat, considering the creature had no eyes above its wide, predatory mouth.
"We can never be too careful with powerful creatures such as this," the erstwhile adviser muttered as he rapidly wove and cast a magical net over the ice. Should the creature inside be still alive or undead in its nature, the net would "catch" and inform Shishauezaemon of what it had found. Yet it simply passed over and through the being with no change at all. Was it truly dead? Or perhaps it had resisted the spell, which was powerful enough that even a minor god should have been caught in its mesh. The latter was not pleasant to consider.
"Oh if only I had learned more complex spells or attended my mathematics lectures," Shishauezaemon whinged dramaticaly. "I suppose we have to study this specimen with more traditional methods."
He retrieved a scalpel from a nearby table and held it ready, but an obvious problem presented itself to him. The solid ice surrounding the creature would not allow him an incision; not even a small, indulgent one from one of the tendrils. How, then, to approach this "autopsy"...?
--
Many things had happened during the tournament today; things which Aotsuki Tsukamoto had not even conceived of when he chose to attend in the morning. He therefore did what he always did when he was adrift and reached out to those he could rely on. In this case, that was Abe no Seimei. The young Daimyō's first concern was not for the splitting of the heavens, however, but for the young man they'd rescued, or perhaps consensually kidnapped, from Utsunomiya the previous night.
"He is doing well, my lord, but I fear I have no further good news to offer you. I have consulted many writings and they all point to the same conclusion: the transformation into a Dodomeki is irreversible. We could furnish him with a new body but this malady is of his soul."
That confirmed Aotsuki's darkest theories. They could not house such a dangerous entity forever, but returning him to his village could also cause the situation to quickly break down. Could there be a third option? Following his adviser's suggestion, he put the Spring of Wisdom to the task. Did that mean, then, that they had completed their previous mission?
"Not directly, but they have a promising lead in a "tomb" for Yamato no Orochi at the head of the Hi River in Izumo Province." That was northwest of where Aotsuki stood even now in Shimonoseki. "Kanbei believes the Serpent's remains may be interred there."
An interesting lead indeed, but Aotsuki was hesitant to delve into such a mystery in the short time before Motonari's meeting commenced. There had, after all, been developments. He conveyed these events to Seimei now.
The "angels" who had descended upon Shimonoseki had, until now, been things of mere Western folklore to Seimei. "Are you certain they were not some other manner of creature mimicking Christian legend? Or perhaps an illusion? I have been concerned at the apparent lack of Her influence in this time..."
"Her?" Aotsuki could hear the gravity which Seimei placed on that word. And, from what she said, it was someone the ancient onmyōji had expected still be at large even after her centuries-long internment in Kuzunoha's temple.
Seimei waved it away as a mere passing, thought, however. After all, Tamamo-no-Mae had already been dealt with by Kuroda Kanbei and a lowly soldier. It was probably nothing to concern themselves with, then.
Once they were both up to speed, Seimei offered her own presence at the meeting, which Aotsuki was only too glad to accept. As they prepared to depart for the Yashiki, she gave him one last word of advice:
"It seems that the Shogunate has aligned itself to at least some degree with the Demonic powers now present in Japan. From what little I know of these "Angels," this position will place the two groups in direct opposition. Use this to your advantage during the meeting."
--
Finally, there was the matter of Ryūzaki Sanosuke. After his inflamed encounter with Honda Tadakatsu, the Silver General had returned to the arena proper. There, he caught sight of Sasaki Kojirō in the stands and watched as the newly-reforged kensei took off as though in search of someone herself.
"Musashi-dono," he called out mentally, "If you haven't left the arena yet, Kojirō-san may be looking for you."
Terse and succinct as always, Miyamoto Musashi simply informed Sanosuke to tell her "rival" that she could not be coaxed into another duel. Sanosuke, of course, had already lost sight of Kojirō, so he couldn't guarantee Musashi's safety from duel-based-harrassment. Unless, of course, she opted to make herself scarce and join them to the Mōri meeting at Yakisoba Yashiki. The Silver General waved away her protests that she hadn't been invited. Musashi could attend as his plus one, and her expertise in the art of war could very well be valuable. Thus, she was convinced.
There was little time left before the meeting, but Sanosuke would not be himself if not for the many plots he left spinning in the background. He took the time to check on these now, and to gather some information which might bear on the developing situation...

The Yashiki Summit

1559年11月17日 11:00 (Morning)

Yakisoba Yashiki

Historical Entry: The Yashiki Summit

At the behest of Daimyō Mōri Motonari, many of the leaders from today's tournament arrived at Yakisoba Yashiki for lunch and a summit. Their topic of conversation was none other than the cataclysm which had broken the sky at the tournament but a few hours ago, and the creatures it had released into the world.
Given that this was an event which could no doubt affect all of Japan, Motonari was disappointed to see how few leaders had opted to attend. Ashikaga Yoshiaki, the current Shogun, was at least in attendance, with her adviser Chitosemaru standing slyly behind her. Also present were Aotsuki Tsukamoto of the young Aotsuki Clan and the many other heads of the Hashinara hydra. Even Niiro Tadatsuru, Daimyō of the roguish Shimazu was lazily kicking her feet up on the table, with some manner of Wani whispering advice into her ear.
No representatives of the Hōjō or Takeda arrived, however, and nor did anyone from the Alexandrian detachment visiting the city.
It would have to do.
As Hospodar Mikhail finished writing down their orders in his red velvet notebook and vanished to the kitchens, Motonari began the meeting.
"Our topic of discussion is obvious," the Lady Mōri began, "The rift in the sky above Shimonoseki. Given the power of the creatures who descended from it, and their actions today, I believe it represents a threat to the country as a whole."
The Shogun gave a laconic nod and did not otherwise speak. Instead, Chitosemaru offered a response, "The Ashikaga Shogunate is in full agreement."
"Seeing as how it affects the people of Shima, I am inclined to agree." This was Lord Maxim, the foreigner who had been granted dubious status of Daimyō in Ago. Motonari herself held no ill will towards his appointment, but his actions at the end of the tournament had been insulting. No doubt the Shogunate did not appreciate his awkward political status either.
Niiro Tadatsuru clacked her heels together. "Is it really worse than that other rift up north? We've got so many stupid-powerful warriors down here that we can take on some Elohim or whatever they are."
Hearing the harsh pronunciation the other Daimyō placed on the word, Motonari couldn't help but wince internally. Had she really just called them "Ero-hime"?
Then Fubuki cut into the conversation with quite the revelation. The mysterious swordswoman had apparently been busy following her final bout in the tournament, and had traveled to the base of the pillar lightning that now sprouted north of Shimonoseki. "I came across a survivor and another one of those beings," Fubuki's explanation finished.
Motonari raised her eyebrows, then waved for the swordswoman to go on.
"Rather than provoke them, I judged it was best to return with who I could..."
Before the other could continue, Chitosemaru cut her off with a demand, "Describe this being to us."
To her credit, Fubuki showed no sign of annoyance at the interruption. Instead, a wry smile lit up her lips. "Why merely describe him?"
Blurring for a moment, like an image viewed through stained glass, Fubuki's form shifted and warped. A moment later, a suave, dark-skinned man was standing in her place. The figure's clothing was of an unfamiliar style, but cut from a brilliant white cloth, and a stylish mop of dark-brown hair covered his head. Most notable, of course, were the two luminous wings which adorned his back, nearly filling Fubuki's corner of the spacious dining room.
Yet again, the mysterious swordswoman displayed powers unknown. Still, this could be little more than an illusion, and Motonari had plenty of individuals under her own power capable of such an act. Only Ryūzaki Sanosuke, the famed Silver General, seemed unimpressed. Indeed, Motonari was certain she'd seen his eyes cut more than once toward Chitosemaru in the past few minutes.
"One of them?" a barking laugh shot out. "Those weaklings are harmless."
All turned to see the strange, Wani-like creature that had spoken. This was no doubt some manner of yōkai, but the spirits of the sea were a mystery even to a race with such history as Motonari's. Whatever this shark-woman was, she seemed knowledgeable.
"What you saw was no Elohim," she pronounced the unfamiliar word with practiced ease, "It was a Mercy of Chesed. Not that those words mean anything to you mortals."
At that, Hashinara Kiyowara shifted uncomfortably for just a moment. Motonari could only assume that whoever watched from behind that Sheele's eyes (presumably Hashinara Yoshiyuki), had noticed something unpleasant.
"Regardless, my only goal was the attempted closure of the rift and assisting any injured." This was Fubuki again, finishing her explanation in the smooth voice of the dark-skinned angel.
"We are to assume you did not succeed," Abe no Seimei said, clacking her fan closed to punctuate her speech, "As the rift is still there." The adviser sat to Lord Aotsuki's side, foxlike eyes watching the proceedings before she only now deigned to speak.
"The energy at the base acts as a barrier," Fubuki confirmed, "Preventing one from getting any closer."
"There could be a way to close the northern rift from the other side," mused Kiyowara, seeming to be on an entirely different route of thought, "Which is where I will be headed from within the Dreamlands themselves."
"So that's what you've been doing? A pity you chose not to join us here yourself, Katamoto."
The name Chitosemaru spoke landed in the center of the table like a gravestone. Motonari could not help but frown. Hashinara Katamoto was dead. Indeed, many of her plans for the Hashinara Clan had hinged on that fact. And yet Katsusada Shishauezaemon had shown himself not long before at the tournament, his neck intact despite its removal at the hands of a ninja some weeks ago. Were the Hashinara Clan's upper echelons staffed entirely by ghosts and devils? It seemed that nothing could be taken for granted in that arena; she had been foolish to do so in the first place. Silently, intently, Mōri Motonari altered the course of her plans.
"Katamoto?" she asked, more to give herself time to think than out of genuine curiosity. "I believed that this sheele spoke for Princess Yoshiyuki."
"Yes, of course. But I have no doubt that Katamoto can hear me right now." Chitosemaru's smile was unpleasant, vicious. Motonari would have hated that smile, had it been directed at her. Instead, it was focused entirely on Kiyowara. That, indeed, might be useful.
"Many things are possible in the current world we live in." Kiyowara elaborated no further.
"A question for another time," Motonari swept the matter to the side. Her own plots aside, the celestial rift presented a much more immediate concern. "Could that approach work for this rift as well? Approaching it from the other side?"
Despite Motonari being the one to speak, all of the Hashinara seemed to have their eyes focused on Chitosemaru for the moment. Something passed unsaid between that woman and Yoshiyuki's sheele. Something deep and visceral. Interesting.
"That's assuming this rift also leads to the Dreamlands and not another realm altogether," offered Aotsuki.
Fubuki answered this, "As far as I can tell, the only ones with knowledge of that realm are the Elohim themselves...and Demons."
"'Samayim'?" Sanosuke gave it a name, plucked no doubt from his information network, "I believe Aotsuki-san may have the best chances among those here of gaining entry. That is, assuming it's connected to Takamagahara as I've heard."
"You know quite a bit, for a mortal of this land. Yes, it is Samayim, and we demons know it firsthand." Ah. This shark-woman was a Demon, then. "But many of us, including me, don't want the rift closed. The gates are open. This is our long-awaited chance to strike against the heavens."
"The End Days." Maxim said the phrase with a foreboding weight of finality.
"I just happen to know the right person in this case, that's all. Are we certain, though, these 'Ero-hime' don't expect exactly that sort of response?" Sanosuke said the word so flippantly that Motonari wasn't sure whether to roll her eyes or laugh. She did neither.
"The Elohim were spiritually powerful, but if those three were representative, the demons I've encountered are more skilled as fighters." This was Miyamoto Musashi; Motonari had been surprised to see her at the meeting. Apparently she was accompanying Lord Ryūzaki, but perhaps this, advice on warfare, was exactly what he'd hoped she would bring to the table. "Only one, the smallest of them, had any killing instinct."
"Hang on, hang on." The brightly-clothed Oni standing near Maxim waved a placating hand. Kitsuno. Motonari made an effort not to stare. The other Oni was particularly attractive, and it would do the Daimyō no favors to be caught leering at someone who so resembled her own wife. "Have we completely tossed out any hope of a diplomatic solution here?"
"Nay," said Kiyowara solemnly, "It is not in the interest of mortals to be at war with another realm, in spite of demons' willingness to wage violence. Should the demons lose, mortals shall be caught in their anger."
"I'm inclined to agree with Kitsuno here," Maxim chimed in, "I'd rather not have this land be a battlefield for them."
Now Myōkyū, who had remained uncharacteristically silent for now, spoke up. "Didn't they say something about a 'Divine Council' deciding their next move? Can we talk to them, somehow?"
At that, everyone turned to Aotsuki. If this mortal realm was to have a representative, there was little doubt about who it would be. "That's what we were trying to speak with Sancta Sedes to determine," the young Daimyō said with a hint of bitterness, "But Gualdim was very insistent that the only way of saving ourselves was to pray; that this 'Divine Council' isn't something we can simply call upon."
"They claim judgment over the Kami's land. Surely they or their respective champions might be granted audience should it be requested." Fubuki brought up a good point. It was common knowledge that Lord Aotsuki had the favor of Amaterasu, and Ryūzaki Sanosuke had so recently defeated Susano'o's champion to claim that mantle for himself.
"A conversation of faith," Kiyowara put it succinctly.
"I'm disinclined to believe the whole of what Gualdim-dono told us in any case. He is..." Motonari trailed off. Her true thought on this matter could not rightfully come from the mouth of an eminent Daimyō. Instead, she turned to her wife. "Myōkyū, if you would."
"A self-righteous moron," the other chirped with obvious enjoyment.
"Just so," Motonari continued, "He seemed eager enough about our 'impending destruction' that I would not trust him to help us avert it in any way."
Aotsuki seemed to consider this. "So he could be under the assumption that any divine punishment would decimate Japan's population, leaving him and his safe in their faith and having their choice of our land."
"Ooh, that's nasty." Tadatsuru gave voice to what all were no doubt thinking.
"It is," Aotsuki agreed, "Which is why we need to discuss how this should be handled. I do wish more leaders had shown up so we could present a unified front, but we have to work with what we're presented with."
"Shame you missed your chance to talk to a member of the Council yourself," the shark-demon laughed darkly as she pointed a claw toward Fubuki. The swordswoman still wore the shape of that handsome angel. Could he have been a member of this "Divine Council"? It seemed unlikely that someone so eminent would be idling at the site of the catastrophe.
"If we assume that Lord Aotsuki's theory about Gualdim-dono is correct, it might explain why none of the foreign dignitaries chose to attend today," Motonari mused, "As for the other leaders, I believe most were simply too far away or involved in their own local affairs."
"I hear that the Takeda and Uesugi are really duking it out over there now, and the Date Clan's been pretty quiet ever since their Daimyō got evaporated in the tournament." Tadatsuru chuckled as she voiced the last.
"Indeed. As the Shogunate is well aware, those present here represent a majority of major factions in the country today." The ice in Chitosemaru's voice suggested that this was not an ideal state of affairs.
Aotsuki nodded slowly. "Correct. And I agree with the diplomatic option. I don't know if those beings were simply messengers or their idea of grand generals. Either way, conflict must be avoided. It can only lead to our people suffering."
"I do not believe an agreement can be reached," Chitosemaru said simply, "Given Samayim's apparent disposition toward demons. We are willing to try, but be aware that the Shogunate will be preparing for war as an alternative."
Motonari could not help but notice as Aotsuki bit back some manner of retort to that.
"We are, mostly, in agreement then," she said in an attempt to graciously draw attention away from the other Daimyō, "The question remains how to communicate with the Divine Council."
"I have a question," Fubuki raised the angel's hand. "Are the Elohim able to differentiate between a demon and an oni? I have been referred to as such, as well as a Night-gaunt, whatever that is."
"I've been wondering that too," Myōkyū agreed, "Didn't they say something like that about us?"
As though surfacing from deep thought, Abe no Seimei answered, "It is not impossible that demons and oni share a common ancestor."
Aotsuki frowned, perhaps at the implication that not only demonkind, but all of the oni in Japan could be seen as an irredeemable sin by their very existence.
"I suppose attempting to destroy the barrier could be considered an act of violence." This was Maxim, who knew well about destroying barriers. "Maybe a peace offering left at the rift?"
Sanosuke had been quiet for some time as well. Motonari caught him carefully watching Shogun Yoshiaki as the other mechanically ate her meal.
"They never did say how long it would take for their council to reach a decision, but having a couple more individuals investigating the barrier couldn't hurt," Aotsuki offered.
"We should assume that they will grant we Oni no quarter," Motonari concluded with resignation, "In light of this, I would like to nominate lord Aotsuki Tsukamoto as our representative."
"I propose we delay their decision for as long as possible and not close the rift," As was in character, Kiyowara gave her own opinion rather than responding to Motonari's, "Closing the Heaven Rift could be considered an act of provocation. Should another rift open elsewhere, they could consider mortals as having aligned themselves with demons."
Tadatsuru clicked her tongue impatiently. "So what are we going to actually do? Tie a letter to a pigeon's leg and fly it through the rift?"
"What does the King of these lands think would be the right move?" The word Maxim spoke was unfamiliar, although not totally unknown to Motonari. He was looking directly at the Ashikaga Shogun as he spoke. However, it was again Chitosemaru who answered.
"I believe the Shogunate has made its position clear."
"Still, if we leave it open..." Kiyowara mused, "The demons will do what they want and drag us to war. On that end, I propose we guard our side of the rift to prevent demons from entering their realm and inciting war."
Yoshiaki nodded, vacant eyes dipping downward.
"If you agree with Motonari, I will represent Japan and its people in this manner," Aotsuki expressed his dedication, "I would like to see if I could have a specialist in law join me, maybe to navigate any strange systems or rules they have in place."
"That seems wise," Motonari agreed. She and the other "civilized" Oni lived in a gray area between how the law treated humans and yōkai, so they had reason to study it well.
"I would advise you not to forget any other appointments you might have, Lord Aotsuki," Chitosemaru said pointedly, "The Shogunate's patience is not without limit."
"The Shogunate can wait while Japan itself may lay in mortal peril." The young lord's reply was uncharacteristically venomous.
"I believe the fate of Japan itself takes precedence over petty squabbles," Lord Maxim agreed.
"So long as you are prepared to accept the consequences of such a decision." Although none would be so rude as to say it, almost everyone in the room could be seen to be visibly irked by Chitosemaru's needling.
"We have someone willing to represent Japan now," said Maxim, rubbing his head in annoyance, "But how do we get them an audience? That is the biggest problem we face."
Myōkyū answered, "It seemed like Aotsuki-san was planning on going right through the rift. Is that right?"
"We'll attempt some tests to see if it will immediately kill anybody," Aotsuki ventured in response, "But yes, I'm hopeful that we'll be able to approach and enter."
"If not the rift, then surely someone in Takamagahara knows something," Sanosuke suggested.
The decision was made for Lord Aotsuki to attempt contact on behalf of Japan, and with that the meeting began to wind down. It was not long, however, before Myōkyū brought up one last concern.
"Actually," she began, "Something's been bugging me. Why Sumiyoshi-taisha? Was the shrine involved somehow? It seems like a big coincidence if not."
"indeed," Motonari voiced in support of her wife, "And the lightning seemed to come up, out of the ground from beneath the shrine. I recall feeling the earth shake moments before."
Had Fubuki just smiled? No, that was surely her imagination.
"As a place of worship itself, I doubt the location is a coincidence," said Seimei.
"I will order an investigation," Motonari decided, "So far as safety will allow. Are there any other comments before we adjourn?"
Lord Aotsuki had one. "Only that I hope these are the beginning steps toward a truly unified Japan. It's a shame that conflict brought us together, but it is better than nothing."
"You've got my help too, and the Shimazu, if we're any use," Tadatsusu gazed out from beneath the brim of her unusual, wide hat, "Just say the word and I'll kick some information out of this bitch too."
"This bitch" turned out to be the shark-demon, who merely grinned. "I'd like to see you try, mortal."
As the two half-grinned, half-sneered at each other, Fubuki spoke up once again. "It won't be of any significant help, but I can somewhat obscure the pillar of light from the public's view."
Motonari shook her head. "I fear that it's too late for that to be of much use. EVeryone at the tournament saw those events, and I have little doubt they will appear in this new 'Akegata Shinbun' soon."
"True enough. I shall abstain, then."
"Then we are dismissed," Motonari said, standing, "Please inform me when you are ready to begin, Lord Aotsuki."

Ambush in the Mirror Palace

1559年11月17日 12:00 (Afternoon)

Mirror Imperial Palace

Historical Entry: Ambush in the Mirror Palace

As the meeting closed, Daimyō Mōri Clan chose to return to her own chambers with her meal for the time being. Perhaps she was cautious, given all that had transpired, or perhaps the sickness those putrid fumes had seeded in her was draining her strength once agian. "I must make some preparations for the final match," she instructed her ward, Fubuki, "So you are dismissed. I'd like you to remain close by if you can, however. Too many surprises have sprung today to not expect another."
"Very well," Fubuki answered simply. There were other matters to attend to before her match with Maxim, but they might not take her so far away that it would become an issue. Indeed, it was only the width of a pane of glass away.
Lord Aotsuki Tsukamoto had already gotten a head start. Having been advised by Fubuki that the mysterious, freestanding door in the dining room led to a mirror version of the Imperial Palace, both he and his adviser, Abe no Seimei, were keen to look inside. For Aotsuki, it was because he had been invited (threatened) to come to the archives that same day and a preview of what awaited him could only be of help. For Seimei, it was a chance to catch up on some of the knowledge which had accumulated during her self-imposed exile from the surface of Japan.
As Aotsuki's hand gripped the handle of the iron door, he was surprised to find it cold to the touch. Certainly it was verging on winter outside, but the interior of Yakisoba Yashiki was kept merrily warm. The portal creaked open and a cool breeze wafted out to wrap around Aotsuki, causing him to shiver for a moment. Or perhaps it was the view within that elicited that response. Although it was noon in Japan, the Mirror Palace was forever under a starlit night sky.
"The time of day will never change beyond the door," Fubuki said cryptically as she appeared behind Aotsuki and Seimei without warning. "And should any records exist, they will only be accurate up to a few days ago."
This, then, was not a true mirror of the Imperial Palace, but a snapshot held fast in time.
"Normally that wouldn't be an issue," Aotsuki mused, "But I think some very important things may have been happening within the last few days."
Seimei's expression was more neutral. "Until fairly recently, the supernatural arts were the sold purview of the Emperor and his nobles. The Archive, therefore, should boast more esoteric works than any other library in Japan."
The two made as if to step inside, but Fubuki interrupted. "If you'll excuse me but a moment, I need to collect a couple of my acquaintances. I shouldn't be long. They're in the other room." With that, she vanished again.
"Hmn," Aotsuki frowned. "Well, what would you like to examine first, Seimei? I'm not sure how much time there is before the door is whisked to wherever it needs to be next."
His advisers was already stepping over the threshold, confident familiarity evident in her gait. "The spell appears quite stable. Come, let us see if I can recall the way to the Archives. It has been so many years..."
The young Daimyō was about to follow his adviser, but paused as a worry scratched the back of his mind. His "daughters," the three Sheele he'd been blessed with, would fall unconscious and eventually die if they were too far separated from him. How far was it between this side of the door and the other? Could that even be measured? Perhaps it was best to be safe. He quickly collected the trio and caught up to Seimei a few hundred steps within the Imperial Gardens.
"Ah!" Tsurugi exclaimed, "The Imperial Gardens! Look well, young Emperor, for this will soon all be yours."
"The real ones, that is," Tama added. For his part, Aotsuki merely nodded along. His eyes were focused on their surroundings, wary in this unknown, magical place.
Meanwhile, Fubuki traversed the hall of Yakisoba Yashiki and stepped into the sitting room where his companions had been waiting throughout the meeting. Shigeaki Tōno was there, no doubt to catch the latest scoop, as was Maxim's sheele Evaine and Sokotsutsu no Miko in a thoughtful barrel of water. Phenex, however, was nowhere to be seen.
Fubuki let out an involuntary sigh. "Did she say where she was going?"
"Er," the Miko replied with a breath of hesitation, as though delivering bad news, "She flew out the window. She didn't say anything, but went back toward the..." She gestured toward the tree of shimmering lightning, visible even through the thin curtains covering the window.
"Of course she did," Fubuki sounded resigned. "Well, I was just going to take a short break and was going to bring her with me. Would you like to join me instead?"
"I don't really...have anywhere else to go right now. I don't know if the Lady Mōri is going to repair the temple or..." The Miko's eyes swam for a moment, then focused with a bit more determination, "But yes, I'll come with you."
Back within the mirror, Seimei was taking Aotsuki on a determined stroll through the gardens. Though she kept a quick pace, the onmyōji would occasionally stop to point out an interesting plant or an old reminiscence from her time at the palace.
"Ah, there it is. Just as I remembered."
Indeed, the two stood now outside a low, but expansive building. It was only two or three stories tall, dwarfed in height by the mighty Imperial Palace, but it sprawled out in every direction. Like a tamer sort of fractal, its wings broke off into other wings that crawled out from a central mass. "If I am correct," Seimei began, "We should be able to simply walk in—"
She was interrupted by a rustling sound that came from behind Aotsuki and his companions. The air was still and silent until then, which made this curious sound seem all the louder. The young daimyō narrowed his eyes at the foliage and caught the briefest glimpse of pale skin moving under the starlight before it was gone. At the same time, Kagami gasped.
"Did you see that, Aotsuki-sa-ma? That thing looked like a person, but it was crawling around!"
"What kind of..." Aotsuki muttered to himself, then continued mentally, "Fubuki, what do you keep in here?"
Fubuki, who was talking with Sokotsutsu no Miko on the logistics of finding her sisters at their temples, furrowed her brow. "Hmm? The place should have been empited before being moved."
"Either way," she continued aloud, "This place will be here for the time being if you'd like to stay until other arrangments are made." Fubuki and the Miko had stepped through into the cool night air, where, with a simple spell, the former cast a spell of flight. Rising out of her barrel, the Miko was taken aback at first, but quickly warmed to the new method of travel. It was not unlike swimming through the air, and suited her fish tail much better than wiggling it along the ground.
"That's peculiar," Seimei was saying back in front of the Archive. "We should be alone in here."
"That's what I thought as well," Aotsuki agreed. He had placed himself in front of his adviser and sheele, crested shield raised in preparation for whatever might come. "Who's skulking around in the grass?" he challenged.
No answer came back, not so much as another rustle. The night air remained perfectly still. Thinking that there might be something supernatural afoot, he waved for Kagami to get into position. With a practiced motion, he bent down and searched in her mirror for anything that wasn't visible to his naked eyes, all the while keeping his shield at bear. All Aotsuki saw, however, was Fubuki briskly flying over the garden walls to meet them. Another figure undulated through the air after him. This fish tail this stranger bore from the waist down was curious. Some kind of Kappa, perhaps?
"Hm..." Seimei echoed Aotsuki's thoughts, "That is not quite a kappa nor a wani. A ningyo? I must admit that even I have never seen one in person."
Fubuki touched down a few moments later, although her companion remained floating a meter or so off the ground. Before she spoke, the erstwhile Black Blade's eyes flashed with the color of her aura for a brief moment, a sign that she was scanning the area for hints of ki. The only auras here, however, were those she expected to find.
"Oh! By the sea! What a... What a beauty!" the Miko exclaimed upon catching up with them. She was staring directly at Aotsuki's perfect features, although the young daimyō appeared oblivious.
"Hmn? It is an entrancing building, I suppose. It looks like it just keeps going and spinning off into new wings."
"Um, er..." Sokotsutsu no Miko, who was not very eloquent in the best of situations, now floundered for words like a fish flops out of water, "I'm, uh... Drat, this is why it's togh not having a name... You can call me Sokotsutsu no Miko, or just Miko, or whatever you want, sir. And who are you...?"
"Hmm," Fubuki mused, apparently unconcerned with the exchange happening nearby, "Perhaps a spirit was here? Or someone very adept at hiding."
"It wouldn't be the first time someone has hidden in apparently plain sight. Something with pale flesh," Aotsuki said, then realized he hadn't answered the Miko. "Oh, sorry, miss MIko. I'm Aotsuki, and these are my friends."
"You may address him," Tsurugi cut in sternly, "As 'My Lord' or 'Lord Emperor.'" Aotsuki bowed, but did not correct her. Instead, he introduced Seimei and his sheele in turn.
"Uh, yes, hello," the Miko gave them only a perfunctory greeting before turning back to Aotsuki, "You're the Emperor?!"
"She was at the shrine when the pillar of light appeared," Fubuki added by way of explanation. "I'm going to let her stay here until permanent arrangements are made."
"I'm working a little bit every day towards earning the right," Aotsuki answered the Miko humbly, then turned to the snow-white oni. "And that's very kind of you, Fubuki. I'm sure she'll like it here, at least in the meantime."
"Well then," Fubuki did not acknowledge the compliment, "Shall we continue?"
Aotsuki led the way up to the heavy double doors marking the entrance to the Archive. He pushed, but they remained steadfastly shut even against his impressive strength. The portal seemed to be locked from the inside.
"The must have locked it in recent times," he reasoned.
"Well," Fubuki smirked, "Someone tried to give you a key, yes?"
Aotsuki couldn't help but frown at the memory of Chitosemaru, her demonic companion, and that terribly suspicious key they'd left with him. He opened his mouth to speak, but...
"Aotsuki-sa-ma, watch out!" Kagami thudded into his leg, as though trying to push him out of the way as she pointed urgently at a nearby bush. Aotsuki's shield was a blur as he held it in front of himself, facing the tangled branches. From their depths, something terrible rose to meet his gaze.
"Hoho! What's this?" Shōjō's grinning face poked out of the bush, a few twigs caught in her mess of black hair. "Looking for a way into the Archive, eh?"
While Aotsuki, and all the rest, stared in dumbfounded silence, Fubuki cast a nudge of magic toward the door. Her spell slipped beneath its frame, slid up its length, and nudged out the bar keeping it closed. The heavy wooden beam landed with a hollow thud on the other side, clearly audible to everyone. Shōjō chose to ignore this.
"Now I happen to know a secret way in," she wheedled, "One which isn't locked. I'd be happy to show you where it is, but this information doesn't come free!"
Maintaining eye contact with the charlatan the entire way, Aotsuki marched up the stairs and pushed the door open. It swung inside without a sound.
"So, what do you say?" Shōjō continued undaunted. "Secret entrance to the Archive! One-time-only deal!"
Aotsuki still had not said a single word, features granite as he led Seimei and his sheele into the building. For the moment, Shōjō, Fubuki, and the Miko were left outside.
"Why are you sneaking around the bushes?" the erstwhile Black Blade asked. "That's my job."
"You've gotta strike right when the customer is in need!" Shōjō replied with her skinny chest stuck out in confidence. She then trailed along behind Aotsuki, staying just out of thwacking range. "So, a man of resources who can get himself into the ARchive. I can respect that. But do you know how to find what you're looking for? I've memorized the whole Imperial Decimal System (IDS) and can deliver any book to you within minutes for the right pri—"
Shōjō's pitch twisted into a shriek as something pale and terribly smooth clawed its way with inhuman speed up the carpet toward her. She buckled under the creature's weight as its tendrils wrapped around her and its featureless head split too wide in a predatory grin. Claws tore into her flesh and Shōjō withered under their touch, rapidly decaying and loughing off her bones. Within a moment, all that remained was a skeleton and a light patina of dust in a circle around it as it fell to the carpet in a jumbling thud.
Aotsuki only had time to let out a strangled gasp as he rushed forward and laid his hands upon the bones that used to be Shōjō. He called upon Amaterasu's light, channeling her healing power through his palms and into the remains to pull her soul back before it could descend too far into Yomi. But...nothing happened. It took him far too long to realize; the grim dust now coating his hands wasn't ashes, but plaster! Aotsuki howled in frustration before doubling back between Seimei and the Miko, ready to defend either of them.
At the same time, Kagami was summoning spheres of light from the air until fourteen had popped into being around her mirror. Three of these detached themselves from the halo and sped toward the creature. As they approached it, they seemed to grow distant somehow, speeding further and further into the distance while at once remaining in the same place. Soon they were just pinpricks of light that winked out without ever reaching their destination. The creature, the Hound of Tindalos, split its mouth with a horrible, ear-rattling screech.
"Most of my familiars are engaged at Ōtsu, but I have Isoko prepared," Seimei said as she readied a paper charm from the collection at her belt, "I would advise against getting too close, however. This creature is clearly not from a plane with the same laws as ours. Perhaps it even hails from Azathoth's domain."
"I don't think we should bring her into this, then, since Isoko needs to get up close to do anything," Aotsuki coughed, waving multicolored smoke away from his face. The fumes had started to pour from several places in the room where corners met other angles. "Can we do anything about this smoke?"
"I may be able to banish the creature," Seimei replied. "The smoke...I do not yet know. Watch it carefully."
With a practiced hand, Seimei whipped a paper shikigami forth and cast it through the air. She spoke a quiet mantra as the projectile zipped at the Hound. As before, it twisted in space before reaching its target, becoming more and more distant before vanishing completely. A grim expression took up residence on Seimei's face, but then something strange happened. The creature seized up. A hole in space seemed to rip open behind it, leaking a hideous black-orange light. Aotsuki's eyes felt like they were on fire just looking upon that abhorrent color. The Hound was yanked backwards into the tear with a strangled screech before space mended itself once again.
Seimei's eyes, too, were tearing up after looking into Azathoth's light, but she wore a satisfied smirk all the same. "Theoretically, no creature save the gods themselves are immune to banishment."
"Even so," Aotsuki urged, "We need to leave if more are on the way."
"Whatever you say, Lord Emperor!" Sokotsutsu no Miko flicked her tail and flipped a turn in the air before swimming swiftly out of the Archive and into the night beyond. "Fly far from the ground!" Aotsuki called after her.
"Can you not give me one day of peace?!" Fubuki slammed a white Hannya mask down over her face as she shouted with uncharacteristic intensity. This display might have shocked Aotsuki, but not so much as its content.
"These are creatures you've dealt with before?"
"They come from the clouds, which seep from where corners meet," Fubuki answered as the world took on a subtle hue of clarity beyond the mask. With a flick of Susuki Masamune, she carved out a perfectly smooth hollow in the stone of the nearest corner issuing smoke. Without an angle from which to emerge, the fumes abruptly stopped. Then, Fubuki's feet left the ground, preparing for the other creature still clawing its way through another corner. "Flee if you must. But they will return eventually."
She dashed across the room, raising her sword to carve out a section of bookcase and eliminate the angle it created. But the whims of chaos are fickle, and the Hound of Tindalos emerged just as Fubuki raised her sword, finding its prey exposed directly in front of it...! Twice it lashed out with a forked proboscis at the end of what might be called its tongue. The thing slipped out of its mouth and dove, eellike, toward Fubuki's heart. She managed to parry the first lash despite her open stance, but the second struck home. It began to sap the vitality from its prey, but Fubuki had encountered this before and steeled herself to resist. The pendulum of fate swung the other way and she found herself wholly unaffected by the Hound's malign influence. Despite the creature's overwhelming advantage and ferocity, Fubuki's training, and no small amount of luck saw her through with only a minor wound.
"An attack at a precise 120-degree angle will reach this creature," she explained after the flurry of parried strikes. Aotsuki attempted to reason this out, but he didn't have the head for math. Kagami, however, was a bit more schooled in the natural sciences. She might be able to puzzle out where a 120-degree angle would be, assuming the Hound of Tindalos was perfectly spherical and resting upon a perfectly flat plain. The thing's slithering tentacles and disgustingly human limbs were far from spherical, but three spheres detached from Kagami's halo and attempted to strike it at the correct angle regardless.
With its eyes, or lack thereof, focused directly on Fubuki, the Hound didn't even attempt to dodge the first sphere of light. No doubt it anticipated the attack would be nullified by its unnatural defenses. The orb wavered as it passed through the field surrounding its target, but struck it full in the side regardless. A reddish welt, flashing with oily hues, rose upon the creature's side as it shrieked and flinched away. It twisted, liquid in the air, to dodge the other two orbs now that it was aware of the danger.
This motion left it vulnerable, however, to Aotsuki as he approached with purpose and Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi flashing dangerously in his hand. He cut at the same angle the orbs had used, but didn't manage to copy it exactly. Aotsuki's blade wavered more violently and barely passed through to connect with his target. Even so, the Hound suffered a shallow wound as his onslaught put it on the back foot, or tendril. It lashed out in animal frenzy, but the thing's proboscis merely glanced harmlessly off of the aspiring emperor's raised shield.
"Seimei," he said as he pushed the creature back, "We can take a look at the real archives another time. I need you to stay safe and leave, please."
"Agreed," his adviser offered no argument, "Assuming you believe you can fend this creature off yourself, my lord."
"Leave that to me." It was Fubuki who spoke, but Aotsuki gave a thumbs up, or pointed toward the swordswoman. It was difficult to tell in the flurry of flailing, pale claws.
While the Hound was engaged attempting to overcome Aotsuki's shield, Fubuki approached it from behind. She grabbed at it first, the Hannya Vizard's sight allowing her to pass easily through the creature's distorted aura. Even so, it was a slippery and dangerous predator. Fubuki felt only the briefest sensation of clammy flesh beneath her palm before it writhed away. The hunter was not done, however, and opened her mouth to unleash an ear-splitting shriek. It was the roar of The Jabberwock, an apex of such strength that its cry struck fear into the hearts of all other predators.
Indeed, the Hound skittered back, momentarily cowed. Advancing, Fubuki thrust forward with Susuki Masamune and pierced the creature directly through the sternum. Bones cracked and skin melted away as the monster let out a prolonged shriek before sloughing to the ground. In moments, all that remained was a quickly-dissolving puddle of multicolored good on the floor.
"Boy, that was a close one!" Shōjō said cheerfully as she crawled out from a nearby table. "Good thing I had that fake decoy skeleton ready, or that could have been bad."
Aotsuki's face was a rictus, his stony smile like that of a skull. "At leas you're still alive," he said through gritted teeth.
"So, as I was saying," Shōjō picked up where she'd left off what seemed like hours but was in fact only minutes before, "I've memorized the entire Imperial Decimal System (IDS) and can easily find any work on any subject that you might be looking for. Just give me a title, or even a subject matter (and some cash) and I'll bring it back to you in a jiffy!"
"Forgive me," Fubuki murmured as she bowed humbly to Aotsuki, "I did not intend to put anyone in danger. I truly thought this place was safe."
The other nodded gravely as Shōjō prattled on in the background. "You may need to find what is calling these creatures to antagonize you at every turn."
"I believe runing back your time is what caused them to come after me," Fubuki said as though it was the simplest explanation in the world, "I understand if you wish the vacate the area, but it should be safe once I leave the vicinity."
"Well," Aotsuki frowned, "That's upsetting. Maybe...try to discuss with Seimei what these creatures are, preferably through the mental network. Maybe she can help you look into how to stop them. But for now, I fear it's almost time for your match."
Indeed, without but a moment to rest, the time was almost upon them for Fubuki to face Maxim in the Mōri arena.

The Groundhog Sees Its Shadow

1559年11月17日 12:00 (Afternoon)

Queen's Landing

Historical Entry: The Groundhog Sees Its Shadow

Somewhere in Japan, through a hidden portal deep below an ancient shrine, a long-departed evil returned once again. Hashinara Yoshitakatomo led Carmilla through the gateway by the hand as she breathed her first lungful of Earth's air. The white-haired maiden's expression did not change. Her eyes flitted to and fro, as though seeing a myriad of images the daimyō was not fit to witness. However, she followed along with only the barest of urging from her guide.
"There are...many more here...many more..." she breathed.
Yoshitakatomo stopped, examined the floor around them, and then turned her gaze back to Carmilla. Had the spell affecting her been weakened by their transition into this plane? She reached out with careful hands and felt the mesh beyond sight. Fortunately, Lord of Fools was still intact, granting the daimyō control over the other's insanity.
"Hmm..." Yoshitakatomo mused. "You've never been here, Carmilla?"
"Where is this...?" she answered without looking.
"It seems you've regained some sanity."
The words hung in the air for a long moment. Carmilla did not answer.
"I suppose there is no use in attempting to keep this a secret from you." Was Yoshitakatomo smiling beneath her mask? "This is where I was born."
"...I...I can hear you...almost..."
The princess-daimyō started. "You can almost hear me?"
"They're...they're quieter, here..." was all that Carmilla could offer by way of explanation.
"Hm. Quieter, but with curious questions. I wonder...was there someone else in there speaking to me?" The princess' mask stared silently at Carmilla, but elicited no response this time. A sound echoed out through the underground chamber, but Yoshitakatomo found herself so focused with Carmilla's eyes that she paid it no mind.
"I...he...so many..." Yoshitakatomo couldn't help but sigh. These were the same ramblings Carmilla had muttered in the Dreamlands. Even a great scholar who had died twice and lived again could not decipher any meaning from them. Perhaps Carmilla herself was undead. But no, she appeared human except for the overwhelming sense of presence and thought which emanated from her shivering body.
"Follow me," Yoshitakatomo said even as she called Shigeaki Fujino to take them from the temple. As she turned around, however, her foot brushed against something. The remains of tangled rope and paper seemed to have fallen from the broken Sesshō Seki, which had never left this accursed room. They did not seem to have been moved by a human hand, but looked at from this angle, the coils seemed to have formed a definite pattern. It looked like some manner of rune, glyph, or symbol, although not one which Yoshitakatomo personally recognized. More likely, it was some manner of religious symbol. It appeared almost like a robe or cloak, coiled around itself.
Yoshitakatomo picked up a shred of paper, then focused magic into her eyes beneath the mask, enhancing her vision. Even so, the sheaf was uninteresting. This was the usual kind of ritual paper affixed to sacred rocks or trees. Only the barest trace of magic still clung to it, likely from the Killing Stone itself. No signs of tampering existed elsewhere in the room either. It was as though the wind had simply brushed these things off the fractured stone and into this pattern. Except that there was no wind here, underground...
Perhaps Carmilla's very presence had broken some manner of seal. A bite of anger rose up through her at this potential misstep.
"We must return. I have a need to speak with someone before we continue on." With that, Yoshitakatomo took Carmilla by the hand, not unkindly, and guided her back through the portal to the Dreamlands. She set off at a brisk pace, eyes set on Mount Ngranek now towering over them. However, no amount of physical or supernatural urging could get Carmilla to move at anything beyond a gliding stroll.
"This will not do," she muttered, then considered a different approach. Turning toward the mountain, she spread her hands and spoke into them:
"Nodens-dono, I have come to slowly trust your word and knowledge. Your warnings of this realm foundered in my ears when you spoke, but now I take them as guidance heavy to bear. With that said, I would like to seek counsel in person, along with an entity I encountered by mere chance."
With a gust of magic, Yoshitakatomo's Message flitted into the air and vanished beyond the sky. Nothing happened for a time. Then, leathery wings beat upon the air as a Night-gaunt descended and gazed upon Yoshitakatomo with its featureless face.
"The entity is Carmilla," she finished.

Post-Summit Vignettes

1559年11月17日 12:00 (Afternoon)

Shimonoseki

Historical Entry: Post-Summit Vignettes

After Mōri Motonari's Yashiki Summit, yet before the eventful match between Maxim and Fubuki, a small sliver of time was almost lost to the ages. Yet events did transpire during that sliver, and they are no less worthy of our attention. Let us consider them now...
"Yo. You Maxim?"
The deep voice came from behind him, just as Maxim was about to tuck into a steaming-hot bowl of yakisoba noodles. It was the Yakisoba Yashiki special and a long-awaited meal after that lengthy meeting. So, it was with regretful eyes that the knight commander turned his eyes away from the food and to the demon who now stood behind him.
Others might have thought her a Wani, but Maxim had gotten quite good at identifying demonkind now. This one's bizarre style of dress didn't fit in with any sensibilities he'd ever encountered, but some demons were like that. More importantly, she had a big mouth full of sharp teeth and a heavy sword slung over one shoulder.
"Word's out that you've caused a ruckus down there. Tore up Lucifer's favorite palace. Vandalized some statues. Sound familiar?"
The demoness leaned forward with a predatory air, but Maxim was not so green as to be intimidated by an amateur display like this.
"I recall something like that happening," he said with a yawn.
"I was just down there at Ago Manor or whatever earlier. Nice place. Flammable. I'd make sure that payment gets to Lucy soon, or who knows what might happen," the other sneered at him, "I don't know my own strength, see. Might come knocking and knock that whole manor right down."
That was a little more concerning. Threats to Maxim's own well-being weren't anything new and nothing he couldn't deal with. Threats to his base of operations, though, and the followers it held, were harder to guard against. Unpleasant memories of Shax surfaced briefly in his mind.
Of course, even if Maxim wanted to pay, it wasn't like he knew where or how to deliver any money. The letter he'd received seemed to be written with the express intention of disallowing him to do so. But, as this demoness said, that was a "him" problem.
Both of them glared at each other for a moment while, on the other side of the table, Hashinara Kiyowara and Tōdaisen Nobuhara watched the exchange placidly. They commented on it, mused about Maxim's debt, and the great Daimyō of the Hashinara Clan even graciously offered her help in settling it. Maxim, however, did not respond. Since Lucifer had sent one of his dogs straight to him, that made things easy.
He smirked and stood up. Although the demoness wasn't short, especially for a human, Maxim's titanic stature dwarfed her. That is, until she suddenly grew three feet in size. Now she was looking down on him with a mirrored smirk. Despite the tense encounter, Maxim found himself liking this newcomer just a bit.
"You've got grit, I'll give you that. I'll just give you the amount owed, and we can be done with this."
"Fine by me. Settle up."
Even with that said, Maxim had his doubts. The phrase "deal with a devil" had its roots in the truth, as most demons he'd encountered had tried to deceive, swindle, or otherwise bind him to their own ends. After looking deep into this one's eyes, though, he sensed only surly aggression without a shred of duplicity. Still...
"I'll need something written saying all debt has been paid."
With a gush of dark water, a contract appeared out of the air and splatted onto the table. It was written in a language Maxim couldn't begin to comprehend, but the demoness looked down on it with a frown and waved her hand. The words squirmed and twisted themselves until the contract was in English. At least, nominally. It read:

This scroll proof that I receive payment damage on Lucifer behalf. Deliver to Lucifer with 15% extra cut for me, Botis, Earl of Gluttony.

Maxim squinted at the contract then back at Botis. ...Botis? Didn't exactly roll off the tongue. He found himself thinking of her as "Boots" instead, like the big stomping things she'd worn to this encounter. The total, according to her, wass four thousand, seven hundred, and thirty-four koku. A king's ransom, enough to feed a peasant family for the rest of their lives. So it was a surprise to everyone when Maxim nonchalantly counted out that sum and handed it off to Boots in a sack.
"...Glad you chose to do this the easy way," she said, as she counted through the money herself.
"Easy for both of us," Maxim replied with a smile. "Who did you say your boss was, again?"
That caused Boots to stop for a moment. "I already said Lucifer hired me. You deaf as well as loaded?"
"Hired you for this job. Are you saying you're a freelancer?"
"Nah, I'm an Earl. Seriously," Boots stuck out her hand and, with another wet splash, a thin stick with a tuft of cotton at its end appeared in her hand, "Clean out those ears of yours. You ain't hearing anything I'm sayin'."
She paused again, studying Maxim as though seeing him for the first time.
"Ain't nothing in the rulebooks about takin' on extra jobs, though. And the more money I make from stooges like Lucifer, the more merch I can buy."
...Merch?
"I am curious about one thing," Maxim mused, "How long have you been out of Gehenna?"
"Eh..." Boots screwed up her face as though thinking, and then cursed as she lost her count of the money again, "Coupla hours."
That was surprising, especially given that they'd closed the rift to hell in the Palace of the Firebird some time ago. Hadn't that put a stop to the influx of demons into Japan?
"Eh, you lot closed the big one, but there's still the footpath up through Jigoku. Takes a lil' bit, but easy enough if you know the way."
Or not.
"That's good information to know," Maxim said, his face carefully blank, "Where abouts is it from here?"
"Pfff," Boots sprayed a bit of salty water from her lips as she laughed, "You're even dafter than I thought if you reckon I'll give up demon secrets like that just 'cause you 'appened to ask."
Despite her words, Boots' intentions were not lost on Maxim. Nor was her hand, outstretched with palm up, beneath the table. He sighed and plopped a hundred more koku into that waiting palm.
"It's under that big honkin' mountain you lot have got over there. Whaddya call it? Mount Ōo-ay or somethin'.
That was quite the journey. But...
"You might want to head back soon. Some free advice from me," Maxim offered.
"What, 'cause of that big rip in the sky's drawers over there? That doesn't bother me none."
This was the complete opposite of Haures' reaction. Maxim paused. "You aren't concerned about the End of Days?
Boots snorted. "Yeah right. You always get those types talkin' about doomsday or whatever. Some big war between the angels and the demons. We might see some circles 'a angels fight and maybe the Pride and Wrath demons will meet 'em, but neither Heaven nor Hell is as united as all that."
Maxim tucked this information away under "interesting."
"Looks like the money's all here," Boots said as she finally finished counting over four thousand individual coins, "You got any messages for hell you want delivered or somethin' afore I go?"
"No, I can't think of anyone I'd need to sent a message to," Maxim shook his head after thinking for a moment.
"Tch." Boots seemed...disappointed? "You got anyone you want intimidated? Roughed up?"
It seemed like she was fishing for a reason to stay here in the mortal world. The amount she'd scrounged up from Maxim was, apparently, a "weak haul," and she'd done it so quickly that it'd be a shame not to go back without earning a whole lot more on top.
"Well, I don't need anything that I can't handle myself. I'll remember you if I do, though," Maxim said, stalwartly refusing to throw Boots a bone. There was something still bothering him, though. Boots didn't exactly seem like the scholarly sort. How had she gotten here so quickly from Mount Ōe?
"Well excuuuse me, mister Expert on Magic," she lambasted him, "Would you like it better if I wore a big floppy hat and some robes with stars on or something? Read my lips. Demons. Are. Magic."
A big floppy hat and robes with stars on them? That just sounded like home, to Maxim. "If you can do that, then you can take myself and Kitsuno back to Ago Manor. Because of you, I need to do something before my next match."
Unsurprisingly, this elicited the question of payment. However, Maxim was not swayed.
"I made your job easier. Consider it a gesture of good will."
"Yeah, good one. Tell me the ground rules up front and, if I agree with them, then maybe."
"You don't cause any issues while you're in Shima or to anyone in Shima. If you require something, you come to me. Just don't give me a reason to distrust you and we'll be good."
Boots snorted. "Easy, done."
Despite her puckish reply, the demoness did indeed magic the three of them back to Ago. The experience was...not what Maxim expected. Every part of his body suddenly went rigid-cold as Boots' fingers made contact with his own. It felt like he'd been submerged into ice water. Plummeting, sinking, drowning into some unseen depth below, he could only struggle in vain. There was no purchase to be found against the current which held him in its deathlike grasp. Just as Maxim's lungs began to burn, he broke through some unseen surface tension and fell onto his feet in the entrance chamber of Ago Manor. Drenched from head to toe, a puddle slowly formed beneath him. Boots and Kitsuno stood nearby, but somehow they merely seemed damp; not sopping wet like Maxim was.
"That look suits you," Boots chuckled.
Kitsuno, fortunately, was happy to lend a hand. With one quick wave of the oni's hand, Maxim's clothing magically dried out to a level that was at least comfortable.
"Thanks," he said, "Now I suppose it's time to get this castle built so we can stop leeching off Muramatsu."
--
The stark white columns of the Alexandrian Embassy rose up in front of Ryūzaki Sanosuke and his companions. Seeking some closure to the foreigners' absence during Motonari's summit, the Silver General had gathered two of his closest advisers to call on them personally. Now, in his finest attire and together with Takenaka Hanbei and Mary Lyn, he prepared himself for whatever might come.
"Before we enter, Sanosuke-san," Hanbei cautioned him, "Might I ask what your aim is for this meeting?"
"I suppose this could be a bit of a reach," Sanosuke answered slowly, "But these people are familiar with the Sankuta Seidesu. IF we cannot get the truth about these divine, foreign Tengu from them, perhaps Lady Phaenarete can shed some light. At least that's the impression I got from what Navaaru-san said before."
"A wise choice, then," Hanbei agreed.
"I think I can offer some insight afterward as well," Mary added.
Before any of the three could take a step toward the Embassy, however, its doors opened to reveal a pair of knights in massively heavy armor. These guards stepped out to flank the entrance. Their presence, and the sheer weight of the armaments they carried, made for far more security than Sanosuke had seen on his last visit. After seeming to study him for a moment, one of the two knights stepped forward and spoke.
"Lord Sa-no-skay? You are not expected." The voice jumbled the foreign name but otherwise spoke without an accent; a clear sign of magical translation at work. More concerning, that sounded almost like an accusation.
"I think it's safe to say that the Alexandrians are worried about something." Hanbei noted through the mental network.
"Good afternoon," the Silver General said with the not-insignificant gravitas of his rank, "Apologies for showing up unannounced, but I expect Lady Phaenarte will not be so surprised. I would like to speak with her and perhaps as kher wisdom in the matter from this morning. If there is some way we can help one another..."
The two knights exchanged a glance under their visors.
"The Embassy is in lockdown," the same one replied, "We cannot allow anyone inside."
"Lockdown?" Mary's brow creased beneath the brim of her hat, "Has something happened?"
"A great many things have happened. You've seen some of them yourself, no doubt." This clear, almost musical voice was not that of either of the guards. Rather, Phaenarete herself had appeared at the door of the Embassy.
"Lady Phaenarete! The lockdown!" one knight protested.
"Oh please," she brushed past him lightly on her way down the marble steps, "I am going for a walk. You cannot truly seek to deny me the chance to see the sun."
Both knights hung back awkwardly. They were obviously unsure of how to react as their leader walked calmly up to Sanosuke and his companions. "Will you join me for a walk, Sir Sanosuke?"
The silver gears spun behind Sanosuke's eyes. Was Phaenarete seeking to speak with him alone, or would the presence of his advisers be allowed. After looking into the polite expression the other favored him with, he concluded that it did not much matter one way or another.
"Of course. We'd be happy to take in some sun, Lady Phaenarete."
With that, the Lady lead the way. She set off at a calm pace down the broad street of Shimonoseki, heading downhill toward the coast. "Your restraint in using Aretí thus far recommends you well," she began, apropos of nothing.
Sanosuke was momentarily nonplussed. This was not the topic of conversation he'd anticipated. "Er, it does?" He shared a look with his two advisers, walking a respectful distance behind. Then, the meaning behind her words occurred to him. "Ah. Then it has not always been so thoughtfully bestowed in the past?"
"Always thoughtfully bestowed," Phaenarete corrected, "Not always thoughtfully wielded. But you no doubt have questions for me. I am pleased to answer, although I may not have the answers you seek."
"Somehow it would not surprise me if you indeed knew what I wanted to hear before I know myself," the Silver General answered with a roguish glint, "But yes, I hoped you might share your thoughts on the 'visitors' from earlier. If your people are on lockdown, then I assume we are right to take their threats seriously."
"'The Wrath of Heaven.' It is not something to take lightly, even if you do not believe all that Sancta Sedes says about them. There is only one thing of which I am certain: I know so little about these 'Angels' that it amounts to nothing."
Then it had likely not been Phaenarete herself who ordered this lockdown. Or perhaps she was acting with an overabundance of caution. "If I may," Sanosuke ventured, "'Nothing' is more than I have so far. 'Even a grain of sand serves a purpose.' Please tell me anything you can, Lady Phaenarete, however insignificant."
This elicited a faint smile from the Lady. "Even if we know little of something, we may be able to observe its effects. Sancta Sedes are afraid of the Elohim, even if they profess otherwise. So is Megas Alexandria. She has ordered us to return to the motherland as soon as the tournament concludes."
"She's ordered you to return because of the Elohim? So Alexandria has encountered them before."
"Perhaps. I do not know. Perhaps her priestly advisers have suggested that she should leave Japan to its judgment. That is, of course, only speculation."
The two continued to speak for the remainder of the walk, Sanosuke's advisers listening intently. That last comment hung heavy in the air over all three of the Silver Meteor Storm, however. Had Alexandria, as Sancta Sedes, decided to withdraw their hand in favor of leaving Japan to its fate? Would they, as had been suggested at Motonari's summit, return like vultures to feast upon what was left? Such thoughts were troubling indeed.
--
"I'm sorry to put you through that. Perhaps it's best you stayed somewhere different. I would have thought that place safe." Fubuki offered some apologies as she and Sokotsutsu no Miko recovered from their ordeal in the Mirror Imperial Palace. Their foes, the Hounds of Tindalos, had been dispatched with greater ease this time, but they still represented a dire threat, especially if Fubuki was not present to slay them.
"I'd rather not stay here if there's any chance for more of those...monster things," the Miko agreed. "I could stay with my sister, if you can get me there."
"Sure, where is she?"
"The closest sister would probably be in Sumiyoshi-jinja. Uh...not the one that got destroyed, a different Sumiyoshi-jinja in Hizen Province," she hesitated. "On the coast north of Saga, if you know where that is?"
Fubuki did not, but that wasn't about to stop her. "We can certainly try." Then, mentally, "Fujino, do you know where Hizen Province's Sumiyoshi-jinja is?"
It turned out that even the teleporting genius of the Hashinara Clan hadn't heard of this unremarkable shrine, but with the help of a few maps and a quick break to study, Fujino was confident she could take them there.
A few minutes later, Fubuki and the Miko arrived at Hizen Sumiyoshi-jinja in their customary flash of light. This temple looked almost exactly the same as the one in Nagato Province, with its carved canals filled with sparkling seawater. Closer examination revealed that the structure was arranged in a different manner, however, if the same style. Without wasting any time, Sokotsutsu no Miko put two fingers to her mouth and whistled.
A deeper patch of blue detached itself from the ocean and crawled up to the beach, revealing another fish-tailed woman. This one boasted hair the same deep blue as her tail, but bore more than a superficial resemblance to the Ningyo Fubuki had already been traveling with. The two sisters seemed delighted to see each other, although Uwatsutsu no Miko, as she introduced herself, was heartbroken to learn about the destruction of Sumiyoshi-taisha.
"I'll be fine from here," Sokotsutsu no Miko offered her thanks, "Er...I don't have much to offer you, but I think the sea appreciates it."
Indeed, Fubuki felt subtly as though she had earned a greater presence's favor through this act. Perhaps that of the Sumiyoshi Sanjin for whom these shrines were named.
"You are safe and that is what matters," Fubuki said with a dashing bow. "We will inform you once things are back to normal. This is goodbye for now."
And so it was, for now.

Makami-jō Established

1559年11月17日 12:00 (Afternoon)

Makami-jō

Historical Entry: Makami-jō Established

Most of The Wolfpack still remained at the tournament or were out on daytime business, so Maxim gathered a retinue of only Tanahase Muramatsu, Elaine, Harukor, and Kitsuno for the construction of his first castle. Alice of Spades was already there when they arrived, sitting on a rock on a flat slab of land a few miles from Ago Manor. A pensive look crossed her face as she stared down at the blueprints.
"Why did it have to be a moat? That's going to be the most difficult part..."
Alice turned the blueprints this way and that. "And it looks like a Western castle designed by someone who's never seen one in person..."
At this, Muramatsu let out a small, embarrassed cough.
Alice locked eyes with their leader. "Are you sure you want me to make this, Maxim?"
"It's fine," the knight commander replied. "It's a place to call home, which we need. Muramatsu did his best, and that's good enough for me."
"Okay, if you're sure." She pored over the blueprints one last time before raising a hand and concentrating.
The ground shifted, cracked, and Maxim felt as though he was suddenly looking at the field from a long way away and as close as inches at the same time. Seconds ticked away in this bizarre, spatial purgatory before reality reasserted itself with a twang. There, where an open space had been just moments ago, was a huge stone castle in the Western style.
It looked just as Maxim had imagined it and Muramatsu's brush painted it. That is, except for the enormous glass clock face on the front gate. The hands were both pointing up and it tolled the hour as they watched. Twelve sonorous booms sounded out of the plain like a gong.
"Hm," Alice double checked the blueprints. "That wasn't in the plans."
"It's fine," Maxim said again, "It has a bit of your personality as well.
"It's lacking in a certain sense of style..." Kitsuno weighed in as expert in that particular field, "But it's grand enough in size that it'll do for now."
"Mhm," Maxim agreed, "It'll do just fine. Considering your the expert, Muramatsu, if you'd do the honor of naming the castle."
"Ah, right." Muramatsu patted the sides of his dusty black longcoat. "I had something written down." He found whatever he was looking for and peered at it a moment before speaking again. "Makami-jō."
The architect turned his paper around to show Maxim the characters. As he was under a spell which translated languages, however, the knight just saw "Makami-jō" scrawled on the parchment instead.
"You see, 真神, or Makami, is an archaic term for 'wolf,'" Muramatsu explained. "Given your attachment to the creatures, I thought it fitting."
Harukor nodded with a pleasant rumble. "It's a good name."
"Uwu," simpered Fritz.
"Agreed," Maxim felt a sense of rightness in the name which he seemed to share with his companions. "You have my thanks. I'll help with moving everyone after the tournament is done for the day."

Independent Final: Maxim vs. Fubuki

1559年11月17日 13:00 (Afternoon)

Shimonoseki

Historical Entry: Independent Final: Maxim vs. Fubuki

"Try not to hit me too hard this time. That 'shadow' of yours packs a punch."
Such was Fubuki's opening statement as the mysterious swordswoman faced off against Maxim in the ravaged Mōri arena. This was to be the final round of the independent bracket, and therefore the tournament as a whole. Both fighters had powers not yet plumbed, and the audience held its collective breath, shuffled to the edge of their collective seat, and awaited the foreign barbarian's reply.
He gave none.
Scraping his sword across the ground, throwing up an arc of sparks, he began accumulating power. At the same time, a muttered prayer fell from Maxim's lips, offered to the wolf god dwelling within his blade.
Fubuki, however, did not approach. Instead, the swordswoman stepped to the side and cut through one of the nearby pillars. Hakujitsumu sheared the material with little resistance and, shortly, a sizeable chunk of stone slid off its base and thudded to the ground. This now served as a foothold for Fubuki as the ground around her turned thick and swampy, now a field of cloying mud.
Across the arena, Maxim had not yet moved. To those with the means to see such things, he was no longer alone. A monstrous wolf, fur raised and crackling like thunder, flickered in and out of existence as it paced hungrily by the knight's side. Lord Maxim raised his head and...brought his shield to bear just in time! A wet splat echoed across the hushed crowd as a chunk of fetid mud slapped harmlessly against Maxim's guard. Only the most perceptive of witnesses would have seen the knight's feet slide backward, ever so slightly, across the dusty ground from the force of the impact.
As though furious to have been the subject of such an uncouth attack, Maxim's shield roared. A blast of air shot across the distance between them and whipped around Fubuki, plastering her clothing to her body as she stood firm. Then, a mere second after the wind had passed, the swordswoman teetered theatrically and swooned into the mud. Maxim was not convinced.
Rather than approach his supposedly helpless opponent, the knight instead took cover behind a nearby pillar of his own. This thing was ancient. Maxim took the opportunity to study the long cracks and indentations centuries of wear had engraved into the thing. Then, as if finally yielding to its age (or perhaps nudged by a force beyond sight) the pillar creaked slowly to the side and collapsed, leaving Maxim exposed in a cloud of settling dust.
As soon as he was visible, Fubuki lashed out with her leg and kicked the nearby chunk of pillar at Maxim. Prone as she was, the kick still had considerable strength behind it and nearly caught her opponent off guard. Once again, however, Maxim raised his lion-crested greatshield and slammed the chunk of rock aside. Flying into the air, the thing arced and careened back down at Fubuki, who lazily raised a forearm to shatter the projectile before it could land on her.
Thus far, both warriors had merely been testing each others defenses or, in the case of Fubuki, perhaps having some fun at the other's expense. Now, however, she took her first serious move. Quickly weaving a spell of binding, the swordswoman cast its net across the field. Her target was not Maxim, however, but the half-glimpsed wolf prowling at his side. The magic zipped past his raised shield and earthed itself in the ground, but seemingly had no effect.
Now aware that his opponent was fighting in earnest, Maxim cleared the ground between them in a few leaping bounds. Hokkuken clashed with Hakujitsumu as both swordmasters tested their craft against each other. In the fray of ringing sparks, Hokkuken darted back and forth, jaws snapping like forked lightning as he sought an opening in Fubuki's defenses. Skilled though she was, the erstwhile Black Blade was effectively contending with two attackers. She sliced through Maxim's armor with the void crystals on her blade, only to have it stymied by his protective ki barrier. His response was not so hindered. Hokkuken howled with a sound like thunder as it broke Fubuki's guard and knocked her off her feet. With ringing in her ears, she could see that Maxim's blade had cut a shallow wound through her side. It was first blood.
Though the knight towered over her, blue eyes flashing in the sun above his imposing full plate, Fubuki made no attempt to rise. Rather, she reached her hand out toward the nearby canal as though beckoning for a friend. Water surged up, out, and crashed down in a wave that swamped their section of the arena. Maxim stumbled, hardly able to keep his feet in the rushing stream that even then carried Fubuki away to safety.
One she was a few feet away, the swordswoman rose magically out of the stream and floated just a few feet above. She pointed down with one hand that sparked and cracked. A bolt of lightning arced below, diving into the water and sending electricity flooding throughout the new river. Maxim gritted his teeth. From his metal boots to the chain beneath, he could feel painful currents running up and down as they slowly cooked him from within. What's worse, this attack had not come from Fubuki herself. Should he attempt to reflect it using his shield, Maxim would be doing little more than electrifying the water a second time.
Even so, the knight waded through the rushing water. Ignoring the painful lances still shooting through his legs, he trudged to where Fubuki floated just above and began a second exchange of blows. The swordswoman blocked with another weapon from her flying armory. This was Susuki Masamune, crafted by a legendary swordsmith and the same sword whose void-raked edge had bitten through Maxim's armor before. This time, however, Maxim also wielded a different weapon. His Kotetsu-forged greatsword, fully three times the size of Hokkuken, crashed with the strength of an earthquake down upon Fubuki. It was all the swordswoman could do to deflect the blow. Even so, the zweihander carried away a dented chunk of her armor in the process. It seemed this weapon's purpose was not to cut, but to batter, wear down, and destroy.
The two continued to trade blows. Fubuki suffered a dire hit through her weakened armor, but at the same time bit into Maxim's flesh with her blade that nullified his armor as surely as a void devours light. Left open by the assault, Fubuki was able to only just bring another weapon to bear as Hokkuken lunged from the side. A thunderous sound rang out as she held ghostly teeth at bay, flashing in the midday sun.
Finally, the two broke. Maxim fished at his belt and, watching his opponent all the while, gulped down a reddish liquid from a flask. His bleeding appeared to lessen and the knight stood taller, revivified in an instant! Fubuki merely smiled. Her wounds were closing too, albeit at a slower rate, but she required no such contrivances to heal. Instead, the swordswoman used the opportunity to cast another spell, flinging it across the short distance to Maxim. Her opponent brought his weapon to bear, but the spell did not deflect off his zweihander. Rather, it buried itself within the weapon. This development was naturally of some concern to Maxim.
Sensing her opponent's confusion, Fubuki pressed the assault. Her blades whirled around her, but it was not one of these which lunged at Maxim. Instead, Tonbōgiri shot from where she had left it in the stands and drove through the air at Maxim's arm. He'd seen it coming quickly enough to turn his guard, but the attack was still ferocious. Honda Tadakatsu's legendary weapon speared through Maxim's parry and buried itself in his arm. A lesser man might have had his appendage sliced cleanly off by such a blow. Maxim was made of sterner stuff than that, but he was still clearly injured.
"It wouldn't be too much trouble to attack him, would it?" Fubuki spoke for the first time since the match started. Her eyes were locked not on Maxim, nor the ethereal companion at his side, but rather at the weapon in his hand. Nagasone Kotetsu's blade made no response except to slash out through the intervening air at Fubuki. She dodged, but a crunch sounded as the blade took away another chunk of her armor. The swordswoman's fine stygian plate was little more than scraps of metal now.
As his opponent found her footing, Maxim traded his zweihander for a heavy, wicked battleaxe. At the same time, Fubuki danced away, water rising from the canal and blooming around her in the shape of an enormous, rippling flower. Then, it froze. Maxim peered at the spectacle, as did the rest of the crowd. Fubuki must surely be at its center, but he could not see her through the many layers of ice in the way.
With a sigh and a heft of his axe, Maxim went to work. The first wall fell easily. So did the second, and the third. This was, after all, only ice. It took some time, but the knight finally hacked his way to the center of the flower. There, Fubuki was lounging within, looking as fresh and rosy as her grayish skin would allow.
"Oh. Hello," she greeted.
"I think that's enough of a warm up for the both of us," Maxim said. No sense of amusement lay behind his eyes now, just steely determination.
"Very well." As she spoke these words, Fubuki reached out her hand. All at once, the frozen flower around them collapsed into a deluge of rushing water. Water which, with Fubuki's electrified hand plunged into it, began to crackle dangerously. Maxim realized the trap too late. A shock stronger than any before ran up his soles, across his armor, and seemed to earth itself painfully in his very bones. He roared. Or perhaps it was Hokkuken which roared, as it slammed into Fubuki and knocked her careening into the water.
The stream bunched up like a rescuing hand, attempting to sweep Fubuki away to safety; however, Maxim was wise to this trick now. He struck with Hokkuken not where Fubuki was, but where the water was about to carry her. The wolf howled once more, but could not shift Fubuki again. Even so, she was trapped with Maxim standing over her.
"Hey. Stop that," she admonished the sword. None of Maxim's weapons opted to reply. Then, suddenly and without fanfare, Fubuki was gone. Maxim let out an exhausted sigh as a wall of water rushed up around him in her place. With a swipe of Hokkuken and a sonic clap, the knight cut a hole in the reverse waterfall large enough for him to step out of. Then, he surveyed the battlefield. Fubuki must not have left the arena, lest that be counted as a forfeiture, but she could be invisible or...or right over there. He spied a lock of silver hair vanishing behind one of the remaining pillars.
"You're a slippery one, aren't you?" he asked as he rounded the pillar.
"You just noticed?"
Maxim screwed his eyes up as though attempting to convince himself this was the real Fubuki. Then, his aura exploded, painting the air around him a brilliant orange. As though called by the strength of his next swing, Hostimentum ripped itself from the air and clad Maxim from head to toe in burnished black metal. It roared, groaned, and lit from within as the weapon gathered more and more force behind it. Hakujitsumu leaped up to defend, a flash of silver within an inferno. Then, Fubuki was knocked a step back, a gash running down her shoulder. It was not a mortal wound, but...
"I yield."
Hokkuken roared in the air as Maxim held it high to deliver the next blow. Hostimentum creaked in anticipation, screeching as it built furious energy within itself. Then the cacophony was was broken by Fubuki's surrender. Maxim hesitated. The swordswoman seemed genuine, but Hostimentum was not satisfied. With an obvious effort of will, he managed to lower his sword arm, the infernal armor groaning in defiance all the while.
Maxim turned to Mōri Motonari who had watched the full exchange from her box. As the Daimyō opened her mouth to declare the winner, Maxim pointed his blade at her in challenge. "This isn't enough! I request a duel with you, Daimyō of the Mōri Clan."
Motonari twisted her mouth into a small smile, but did not answer the victor's challenge immediately. Instead, she announced to the crowd at large that Lord Maxim of Albion had won the battle. Lady Fubuki had made the wise decision to stand down, rather than stain the arena with further death.
"As do I," she continued as she looked straight at Maxim, "Your request to duel is rejected."
But, out of curiosity, she asked what grievance the knight had that might prompt such a request to begin with. Maxim could not tell her the truth, of course, but a lie came to his lips easily enough. He'd wanted to duel her for a while as part of the festivities, he claimed. However, those same festivities had weakened Motonari. Indeed, she was still pale from the fumes she'd ingested when facing those awful Yomi born creatures earlier in the tournament.
"I had thought to offer you an oni-bred warhorse as a reward, as I shall to the victorious Ryūzōji. Do you so wish for a duel that you would take the opportunity for one instead?"
At this moment, Hashinara Kiyowara cut in. Perhaps it was her honor which caused Yoshitakatomo to speak through her Sheele in request that these quibbles be ended. But Motonari cut her a look.
"Silence, sheele. This does not concern you."
Maxim was stalwart. Although a horse was no doubt a tempting offer, he wanted nothing more than the honor of facing Motonari in a duel. Or so he claimed. So, with some resignation, the Mōri Daimyō acceded to his request. However...
"I am still weakened, therefore you would not deny me the ancient right to choose a champion to fight in my place."
And that champion was...none other than Fubuki herself. Motonari granted Maxim the right to fight her at his leisure, although suggested that it may be honorable to wait for at least a day for both parties to recover.
Naturally, Maxim was incensed. The challenge had been turned against him, and he was now challenging the very same opponent that he'd just defeated? This was an insult, and not a very subtle one.
"I had heard the Oni face such challenges, and you would have me pitted against the person I already fought and bested? Do not insult me. My request was to face you, so forget it."
The bad blood between the two, newly tainted, hung in the air so thickly that it was almost visible to all the audience. With a wave of her hand, Motonari dropped the matter. Masuda Kita would prepare two oni-bred warhorses as prizes after all.
Maxim's armor fell off of him with a thud before dissolving into ether once again.
"I said forget it. I don't need your reward. I'm just disappointed."
And with that, he left as the victor but with a seed of anger still gnawing through his stomach.

Notes

• Watchtowers added to Kaneyama Castle by order of Aotsuki Tsukamoto  [1 silver coin]

Report Date

06 May 2022

Primary Location

Yakisoba Yashiki

Secondary Location

Shimonoseki

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• Priestesses of Sumiyoshi
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• Rank-Up: Saitō Dōsan
• Shogun's Moldering Throne
• The Dream-Quest of Hashinara Katamoto
• The Mōri Tournament

Related Characters

• Abe no Seimei
• Alice of Spades
• Aotsuki Tsukamoto
• Ashikaga Yoshiaki
• Carmilla
• Chitosemaru
• Dodomeki
• Harukor
• Hashinara Kiyowara
• Hashinara Yoshitakatomo
• Haures
• Hound of Tindalos
• Kagami
• Katsusada Shishauezaemon
• Kikkawa no Myōkyū
• Kitsuno
• Mary Lyn
• Matsumoto Ooawagaeri
• Maxim
• Miyamoto Musashi
• Mōri Motonari
• Night-gaunt
• Niiro Tadatsuru
• Phaenarete
• Phenex
• Ryūzaki Sanosuke
• Sasaki Kojirō
• Shōjō
• Sokotsutsu no Miko
• Takenaka Hanbei
• Tama
• Tanahase Muramatsu
• Tsukijō Hanahane
• Tsurugi
• Uwatsutsu no Miko
• Vepar

Related Historical Events

• 1559
  Independent Final: Maxim vs. Fubuki
• 1559
  Ambush in the Mirror Palace
• 1559
  The Yashiki Summit
• 1559
  Makami-jō Established
• 1559
  Post-Summit Vignettes
• 1559
  The Groundhog Sees Its Shadow
• 1559
  Pre-Summit Vignettes