Tournament Day 2: Aftermath

Miscellaneous

With the sheer shock from seeing Akechi Mitsuhides soul devoured lessening, Mōri Motonari found the presence of mind to call the day’s activities to an end. She explained once again that board and accommodations would be prepared for those who wished it, and that some light entertainment would be held in the arena until the day’s evening.

A number of individuals had gathered around Mitsuhide’s corpse, not least Hashinara Yoshitakatomo and Maxim. Knowing that there were those in the crowd who would use a Daimyō’s body to unpleasant ends, Maxim picked up the fox-eyed husk and took it from the area. Indeed, Shōta, or the man who now inhabited him, had been eyeing the corpse. Once it was removed, however, he turned his attention to flirting with the nearby Daimyō of the Shimazu Clan. The devourer herself, Ketzi’ah, had returned to a lecture from her master at the other side of the stands, and so Yoshitakatomo ventured that way as well.   At the same time, Shibata Katsuie returned to the side of Saitō Dōsan in the extended Hashinara box and, together with Aotsuki Tsukamoto, they shared a serious discussion. The death of Akechi Mitsuhide left the Oda Clan without a Daimyō, and there were at least two powerful individuals who would quickly act to fill that gap. Ishida Mitsunari and Mori Ranmaru, Katsuie explained, were both about equal in influence, just under Mitsuhide himself. What’s more, neither would let the other take control of the clan without a fight. If no one were to intervene, a war of succession between different camps of the Oda was very likely. At this explanation, Aotsuki briefly wondered whether this was why Oda Nobunaga had chosen Mitsuhide for the position in the first place, despite the man’s many flaws.   As the conversation wormed on, the idea arose that perhaps Saitō Dōsan could take control of the clan. He was respected and powerful, with a great stature and reputation, despite the fact that he had only been with the Oda Clan for a short time. Dōsan himself was not enthralled with the idea. His primary objection was that he had no desire to leave the Aotsuki Clan. Aotsuki Tsukamoto had restored him to his family’s holding, given him power and trust, and held ideals which he believed in. Katuie acknowledged his reservations, and so suggested that the Oda could simply be absorbed into the Aotsuki. This seemed like it would not be easy, but with the White Frog’s golden tongue, perhaps it was not impossible.   Dutifully, Aotsuki brought the situation to Hashinara Yoshitakatomo’s attention. The other daimyō did not like the idea of either Ishida Mitsunari or Mori Ranmaru taking control of the clan, and so agreed to be present in an official meeting where the matter could be handled in full. Abe no Seimei, once given an explanation, promised to arrange such a meeting with all concerned parties to be held in Owari Castle, first thing that very evening.   Meanwhile, Maxim had arrived at the Sancta Sedes’ group in the eastern half of the stands with Mitsuhide’s corpse slung over his shoulder like a bag of grain. Marilène Leclair, the armed maid, met him before he could proceed any further, and enquired about his purpose for visiting. When told that Maxim wished to retrieve Mitsuhide’s soul and bring him back to life, she sadly informed him that such a thing was not possible. Gualdim Pais joined the conversation a moment later, however, and said in contrast that there may yet be a way to save Mitsuhide.   Passing Maxim a rosary, he explained that the knight commander must spend all night in vigilant prayer alongside Ketzi’ah. If his faith was true, and he avoided demonic temptation, Akechi Mitsuhide’s soul would be saved. That didn’t sound quite right to Maxim, and so he asked directly if his charge would be brought back to life. Father Pais appeared insulted at the very question, and replied that Mitsuhide’s soul would find salvation. He went on to insinuate that, perhaps, Maxim’s belief was simply not strong enough to accomplish the deed.   That kind of vague, passive-aggressive, and religious answer was definitely not what Maxim was looking for. He voiced as much, but Gualdim simply turned his back on him. Considering this a dead end, he took his cargo and left to consult with Haures instead.   At about the same moment, Hashinara Yoshitakatomo had walked up the arena wall to join Ketzi’ah and Steffi Schwangau in a not-dissimilar discussion. Steffi told her* the same with regret; Akechi Mitsuhide’s soul was eaten by a demon and thus lost. Not yet convinced, Yoshitakatomo tried the demon herself*, who replied that she would not be giving anything to a masked sinner. The princess-daimyō asked if it was the mask that made her* a sinner, and even proceeded to take it off, but Steffi interjected with the fact that all were sinners until they repented to God.   Yoshitakatomo therefore decided to take matters into her* own hands. She* cast Transmigrate Soul, and found Mitsuhide’s essence still rolling around somewhere in Ketzi’ah’s gullet. The demon resisted her magic, however, and complained only that something had given her heartburn. Trying again, Yoshitakatomo this time got a mystical hold on the soul and began to draw it forth. As soon as what was left of Mitsuhide encountered Ketzi’ah’s flesh, however, it was simply absorbed.   That left Yoshitakatomo speechless for a moment, and she* noted a change in the little demon’s expression. Something in her eyes had shifted, and her posture appeared different in a hundred subtle ways. When she* asked if that was really Mitsuhide in there, Yoshitakatomo received a pithy response. Without a moment’s hesitation, she* cast the spell again. This time, she* found two souls within Ketzi’ah’s body and, carefully selecting the right one, pulled it out. Finally successful, Yoshitakatomo now possessed Akechi Mitsuhide’s soul, and it was only a little digested. Binding the mischievous essence within her* own mask, Yoshitakatomo considered her companions. Ketzi’ah just looked confused and a bit ill, but Steffi had apparently seen and understood the whole thing. The blessed presbyter showed no desire to stop her*, though, so Yoshitakatomo bid them farewell and returned to her side of the stands, soul safely in mask.   Unaware that his problem had already been partially solved, Maxim was trudging across the seats toward Haures. He had tried to do something nice, but Mitsuhide’s corpse was becoming quite an annoying burden, and nobody seemed to care much about what happened to it. His own sheolan companion was likewise blasé. Amused at the thought of praying to save someone’s soul, she offered to call upon the help of a Gluttony demon in order to retrieve it. That, too, sounded like far too involved a process, so Maxim refused.   As he turned to leave once again, a new voice hailed him. Matsunaga Hisahide, from the Imperial box, informed Maxim that he was a problem-solver by trade, and could take that problem off his hands. When the other bluntly refused, Hisahide went further with the suggestion that he could use some of his contacts to return Akechi Mitsuhide back to full health and faculties. Perhaps his gut told him not to get involved with someone like this, or perhaps he just didn’t care at this point, but Maxim refused once again, and departed without another word.   He made his way up to the Hashinara box where Saitō Dōsan and Shibata Katsuie were still talking. Unceremoniously, Maxim handed Mitsuhide’s corpse over to Katsuie. The Great Mountain took it without complaint and told him that the fallen general would receive a burial befitting his status. A brief mental image of Katsuie tossing Mitsuhide’s body limply into the garbage passed through Maxim’s mind, but he opted not to put it into words. He returned to his own group, pulling a sealed letter from his clothing as he went. Walking boldly up to her, he presented it formally to Kiban.