The Day of Thunder

!!WARNING: This is a dangerous combat event! Do not join if you are not prepared to potentially lose your character.!!

Ukyou was worried. Intensely worried. So much that he found himself shifting from foot to foot and shaking his fea- sleeves without thinking about it. So much that he had gone to the camps and sought out the people who were close to the Little Teacher and/or might be willing or able to help. Maybe it was nothing. Maybe it was that he was just that tired.

He'd found Shinsei asleep in the Garden. He'd spoken to him, shaken his shoulders, everything he could think of. He checked his pulse, but it was beating strong. He just wasn't responding.

Now that the people were gathered here, he was back at Shinsei's side, hands on his shoulders as he leaned down.

"Hey, wake up, kid. You can't sleep here. It's not safe."

Rules: This event is limited to 4 Participants.

"Of course I'll help, Ukyou-san," Ayako said. She followed the monk to the garden and looked concerned as Shinsei seemed unresponsive.

"I saw something .... strange ... earlier tonight, too," she volunteered. "Maybe it was just a dream. But it seemed like some kind of obake."

Sugri had been centering himself following the strange events of the previous night when he heard the alarmed speech.

"Good morning?"

(Sugri is doing his normal morning meditation to activate Soul of the Four Winds as per all previous days. D4, EM: Meditation/Void to activate Soul of the Four Winds if allowed | 7k4 ⇒ 29 (TN: 15) - Birbproval granted)

As she was on Night Watch, it made sense for her to be out on patrol. She was still armored and holding her bisteno. She found the commotion, and approached.

Ayako nodded to Matsu and Sugri as she recognized them. "Something's wrong with Shinsei," she told them, sounding concerned. "Ukyou is trying to wake him up."

Satsuki was among the earliest risers in the camp, and was already well awake when Ukyo was calling people for help.

Grabbing her wakizashi and satchel, she hurried after, joining in with Matsu.

"Oh... shit, this can't be good."

[this thread is now closed to further participants]

Yoshitsune Ayako wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 04, 2023 7:32 pm

Ayako nodded to Matsu and Sugri as she recognized them. "Something's wrong with Shinsei," she told them, sounding concerned. "Ukyou is trying to wake him up."

Sugri moves to inspect the fallen prophet looking for any, assuredly absent, medical reason for his continued slumber.

"A figure, twisted by Yume-Jigoku, was moving among us last night. But it vanished when I caught sight of it."

(D4, EM: Medicine/Intelligence (pretty much fluff because, c'mon, we know it's not mundane) | 4k3 ⇒ 16)

Satsuki gasped a bit in shock. She knew this place was bad news, but an actual monster sneaking around? Fuuuuck...

"Did he go to sleep here last night?" she asked of Ukyo and the others. She couldn't remember seeing him there. Maybe he was uncentered and needed his spirits restored?

Something is indeed very wrong, as is evidently clear to Ukyou. Shinei's eyes are not still, the lids fluttering as his eyes rapidly move about, suggesting a state far, far from peaceful slumber. At the touch to his shoulders, they blinked open, the pupils pulsating as if struggling to focus on Ukyou's face. Shinsei's lips began to move, his voice croaking out softly, muttering words that could scarcely be heard even at such a close distance.

"Know the truth....figured it out....purity, honor....mmmeeeeerrrrcccyyyyyyy...."

An arm struggled up towards Ukyou's shoulder, as Shinsei started to rise from the ground. "Mmmmerrrcy....mercy....I'll show them all mercy."

In a lightning flash, the Little Teacher's hand snapped from shoulder to throat, clenching down with inhuman speed and strength. At this, Shinsei's eyes began to take on a wild expression, as if struggling between mirthless humor and abject horror. His arm shook, fingers flexing as he continued to rise, his body moving in jerking motions, like the limbs of a marionette pulled into motion by strings.

Ukyou was lifted with him as he rose to his feet, the hints of an apologetic, agonized glance meeting his eyes as Shinsei's fist closed with a soft, wet crunch.

"Heh, that wasn't merciful at all, was it?"

And then the body was dropped, like so much refuse after a festival night.

Ukyou let out a noise, wet and terrible, like the caw of a dying crow. Black feathers rose through his hair and appeared under the sleeves of his kimono as he dropped roughly to the ground, struggling weakly, clawing at his throat.

The sudden shift and attack startled the guru, possibly slowing his reaction, though he quickly moved to interpose himself between the monk and Satsuki. He was unsure if priestesses in these lands were combatants or not and trusted in the two obvious warriors to defend themselves.

"His mind does not seem his own!"

(Guessing that we'll need these before further actions D4, EM: Initiative - Attack Stance | 7k4 ⇒ 27
TNtbH: 35
Void: 0/4 Spent
Wounds: 0)

EM4 - Dawn Awakening - Initiative (Reflexes 3, IR 2) | 5k3 ⇒ 36

Seeing Shinsei kill as such, she prepared herself, interposed her body between the others, her teeth bared. The Arachnid Amazonian would defend everyone.

Attack Stance
ATN 25
Reduction 3
0/15

Satsuki flinched, and gritted her teeth in determination, split seconds before Ukyo was cast aside. This place had seemed wrong from the start, and now it was rearing its ugly true face.

Already she was ready to act.

--------

D4 Dawn Awakening. Initiative roll! +1k0 Foresight | 7k3 ⇒ 36

Defensive Stance
ATN 25
Reduction 0
Wounds: 0/15 (Healthy)

“Damn it,” Ayako swore, as she watched Shinsei transform into a monster and strangle a man, who then transformed into a crow. The dense fog shrouding the garden made the scene seem even more unreal. “Not another bad dream!”

I will not let these nightmares paralyze me again, Ayako vowed. I will face them … and win!

She readied her axe….

—
D4 EM Initiative, Reflexes/Rank | 6k4 ⇒ 19
Defense stance. ATN 36.

Shinsei flexed his hands "such strength." his voice strange and dull but muted emotions hidden behind it.

He looked up his eyes more docile but a battle hidden behind them "so you are the protector then? Strong Matsu we've seen much about you." he closed the distance between them in an instant his hands were a blur striking Matsu in the solar plexus and diaphragm and a strong kick at her legs looking to topple the Amazonian woman.

-------------------------
D4 combat intiative shinsei | 10k5 ⇒ 40

Initiative order
Shinsei 40 atn 30
Matsu 36
Satsuki 36
Sugri 27
Ayako 19

Free action to move to engage Matsu
Two Simple actions for Unarmed attacks on Matsu
D4 combat Unarmed attack on matsu two raises for knockdown one raise for damage | 10k6 ⇒ 57 (TN: 40)
D4 combat Unarmed damage +1k0 from raises | 8k2 ⇒ 27
D4 combat strength roll knockdown | 5k5 ⇒ 29

D4 combat attack on matsu 2 raises for damage | 10k6 ⇒ 57 (TN: 35)
D4 combat damage +2k0 from raises | 9k2 ⇒ 25

Players start a reasonable distance from where they would be in relation to Matsu when the fight started.

Ukyou is roughly 15 feet from shinsei and matsu

He was where it would be least expected.

Up a tree.

He watched the events in silence as they spun out below him. His low, almost growling, voice did not carry further than the empty tree canopy around him.

"I knew it. Once a fucking donkey, always a fucking donkey. Too clever for your own good and we're all fucked now if this goes wrong."

He tensed, about to leap into the fray and then a memory came back to him. Months . . . no years before, when the Throne Room was newly completed.

Shiba looked down at the fox with a gentle gaze. "I know what you are and . . . I thank you for the protection you have given him. Your oaths to the Ayakashi though . . . they need to change now that tribe is part of something new. Tengoku will protect you as long as you protect him and as is the way with your kind to never break your taboos."

"Fuck it . . . can't help . . . but that crow is mine. No other fucker gets to do that to what is mine."

He watched . . . perhaps waiting for an opening.


/ooc The Fox in Hoooman's clothing is hidden from those below, . . . for now.

Satsuki wasn't quite sure what was happening with Ukyo, but he had been attacked by the same... being... that was attacking Matsu now. Not knowing how much time they'd have before it would be too late for him.

She cringed as she heard the blows against Matsu, but it didn't stop her from what needed to be done. Fuck, I've never done this for real. Nadare had taught her this particular incantation many times, but this was the first time she absolutely had to do it without room for failure. "Heal him, damn you!" she commanded of the water kami. And thanks to all the foggy weather, there was more than enough of them to answer her call and work against her innate fire.

---------

D4 Dawn Awakening. Round 1. Casting Path to Inner Peace on Ukyo. +1k0 Dutiful Disciple | 4k2 ⇒ 27

Free: move to Ukyo (15 ft from Shinsei and Matsu)
Complex: Heal Ukyo for 17 Wounds

Defensive Stance
ATN 25
Reduction 0
Wounds: 1/15 (Healthy)

Water slots: 1/2

It clearly wasn't just some waking nightmare that the monk was experiencing but either possession or corruption his continued assault proves that.

While he originally considered tackling the man after witnessing his skill against Matsu he knew that his odds were not likely. He would need to rely on other methods.

As he reflexively strings his bow his mind is in a state of no-thought opening himself up to the world and to a greater awareness of his opponent.

(Simple Action to string bow
Simple Action to spend 1 VP to activate Vision - Sugri gains +Xk0 on all attacks against Shinsei with X equal to Shinsei's lowest trait
TNtbH: 35
Void: 1/4 Spent
Wounds: 0)

Togashi Satsuki wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 04, 2023 11:15 pm

snip

With her effort, he sucked in a wet, horribly thin and constrained breath before coughing, releasing blood and red foam.