Session 14. (31/8/07)

Refreshed from their night on the beach, and with some judicious use of the healing Buddha statue, the Troubleshooters rejoin their horses, and Koei, in Mihara and set off for Osaka. Passing through the town of Okayama, Kimori notices that there are quite a lot of Shogunate troops around, though they seem to take little interest in the party. Seeking a reason for the troops' presence, the party splits up to make enquiries. Kimori heads for the nearest bar and asks the barkeeper a rhetorical question. Caught in a logical conundrum, the barkeeper tells Kimori that the troops are in fact Imperial troops, drawn from the local lords. Pressed further by Kimori's rhetoric, the barkeeper explains that the former emperor, father of the current Empress and known as "The Stone", is having nightmares about an unknown daughter that is coming to kill him. The troops are a reaction to the nightmares: running around looking busy without actually doing anything. Kimori thanks the barkeeper and finishes his drink, pondering the implications for Koei (The Stone's daughter) and her reconciliation with the former emperor. Emiko, visiting the local shrine, hears much the same story from the priest there. She donates one silver piece before leaving. Sugiyama looks for a herbalist, but can only find a legitimate one where he gets a few legal herbs and no information. Mariko asks about the roads ahead and hears that they are fairly easy to travel as they are currently patrolled by Imperial troops, who don't seem to check travel permits rather than Shogunate troops who do. The Troubleshooters press on as quickly as they can, staying at inns if they find one near dusk or camping near the road if they don't.

One night, camping near the road, Mariko on watch sees an apparition. In front of her eyes she is approached by a floating, translucent human form. The figure is milky white, has blank features and is quite see-through; the only colour comes from a green brooch sparkles in the starlight. In barely discernable, breathy tones it says, "Help me… avenge me…" over and over again. Mariko quickly wakes the others, who try to communicate with it, but it doesn't react. Then it starts to recede. The Troubleshooters follow it up the road, faster and faster as it slowly dissipates until it finally disappears. Komako, who ran the fastest, casts around for it, but it has gone. Emiko looks for a nearby grave but can't find one. She tries to enter a trance to look magically, but is totally unable to relax. Mariko marks the spot where they lost the apparition with a mound of stones, then everyone returns to the camp site. In the morning they wake up and the whole episode seems like a dream - Kimori is convinced it was - but when they set off and come to the same spot as last night, they find a pile of stones. In the distance they can see a village. Sugiyama's commerce instincts tell him that the local crop is cotton, and a superior variety to the one grown back in Iyo province. When the Troubleshooters reach the village they find a funeral in progress. The watch respectfully and listen to the priest, learning that the dead man was a farmer called Oribito. After the funeral is over, Sugiyama asks a villager what happened. The villager bows and scrapes and says that the man was found dead in the fields by the priest, who stayed with the body for more than a day. Komako and Emiko talk to the priest who explains that he couldn't leave the body to fetch the eta because it could be eaten by beasts or taken by the spirits that roam the area. He especially feared the o-bakemono which live in the Red Cave on the other side of the hill. The cave is literally red, and at night glows red from a fire - it is known locally as a den for o-bakemono. There are also known to be jikininki in the area, and these are also thought to live in the cave, but the link is not known. Komako tells the priest about the dream/apparition of the previous night, and the priest thinks it is significant. They decide they must investigate the Red Cave, but leave Koei and Sung in the village to guard it and the Buddhas. Emiko gives the priest a blessing to help protect the village.

The rest of the Troubleshooters discuss how to proceed - an all-out attack, or sneak into the cave? After much discussion they decide it won't make much difference. Then they argue about when to attack - during the day when the o-bakemono are out, or at night when the bakemono are in the cave and the jikininki are abroad. They decide to attack at noon. Unfortunately by this time it is 3pm, so they head off for the cave without delay. When they reach it, they find the cave, set into a low cliff face, sealed by a large boulder. Kimori, Sugiyama, Mariko and Komako all put their shoulders to the boulder, but only Komako gets any real effort in, while Kimori and Mariko push out of phase with the others and end up hindering. They try again, this time with Emiko assisting. They rock the boulder back and forth, but now Sugiyama is out of step and Kimori is hit by the rocking stone and stunned. However, this gives him an idea - if they put stones (not his head) under the boulder as it reaches one end of its motion, they can slowly advance it across the opening. With Emiko jamming stones in as fast as she can, half the opening is soon revealed and the Troubleshooters slip inside.

The cave has a 10 foot arched opening. The main cave is about 60 feet wide, 100 feet long and 25 feet high. The floor rises towards the back where there is a narrow opening into a second cave. The walls, floor and roof of the cave are red - painted with the blood of the bakemono's victims. Emiko has a little moment then runs out of the cave. The others go to examine the second cave. This cave is circular, 25 feet across and 10 feet high to a 4 foot circular opening connected by a 10 foot vertical passage to the outside. Daylight floods in through this hole to illuminate the top of a circular altar table. Komako's religious experience tells him that the o-bakemono are making blood offerings - possibly to the jikininki. Meanwhile outside the cave, Emiko gets the feeling of being watched. She sees the hard stares of many ugly faces. Her fear rising, she finds herself stuck between a rock and a hard place. She goes back into the cave, jumps into the fireplace and shouts for the others.

The others are at the back of the cave, 100 feet away. Komako runs towards Emiko while the others ready their bows. The boulder is rolled back and two huge o-bakemono enter. Kimori hits one with an arrow; Sugiyama and Mariko miss, their arrows flying low over the running form of Komako. All three drop their bows and set off after him. Emiko whirls her fire staff in a double strike that inconveniences the first bakemono for 18 points. It swings a fist and returns 6 subdual damage to Emiko. Two more bakemono push their way into the cave as Komako arrives. The bakemono swing fists and clubs at the two but in the confined space all miss. Komako hits the first bakemono, Emiko misses it and Komako hits it again, sending it to the ground. The other three Troubleshooters arrive to find three bakemono and two more entering the cave. Kimori charges in and swings the Big Chopper, doing 10 damage on the second bakemono. Sugiyama hits it for 8 and Mariko gets a critical hit on it for 15, while Komako turns on the third and does 11 damage. The bakemono seem taken aback and can't land any blows except for the second one which hits Kimori with a club for 8 damage. Kimori retaliates with the Big Chopper and finishes the ogre. Emiko has a double strike at the fourth bakemono and hits it for 11 and, critically, 18, knocking it down. Mariko joins in and does it 9 more damage. Sugiyama joins Komako and both do 10 damage to his opponent. Kimori starts on the fifth bakemono as numbers seven and eight come through the opening. He hits for 16 then scores critical acclaim with a 39, reducing the opposition numbers by one. Sugiyama finishes number three before turning to number seven, Komako starts on number six and Mariko finishes number and attacks number eight. With no bakemono landing any hits and a nett improvement of one in the number of opponents, it would have been a good round all round if Emiko hadn't panicked, hit her head and dazed herself. The others pick up the pace; Kimori starts on number nine as soon as it enters the cave and stuns it with a critical hit, following up with a second meaty blow that staggers it back. Sugiyama hands two good hits to bakemono #7. Komako also gets two good blows in, finishing #6. Mariko hits #8 then polishes it off in style with a colossal 42 damage from a critical hit. Only Emiko has problems, as she throws her weapon away and goes into hysterics. The others are feeling a little hysterical themselves as Sugiyama and Kimori finish numbers 7 and 9 with hits of 6, 9, 9 and 15, and Komako gets a critical 33 damage to start #10 and Mariko 12 to finish it. The last two o-bakemono fell back out of the cave entrance and a hush falls over the scene, broken only by Emiko's muffled sobs. The Troubleshooters cautiously peer out of the cave. There are still quite a few o-bakemono out there, hiding among the trees. Mariko takes a few steps further forward and makes a bellicose speech, trying to frighten them off. The bakemono are unmoved. They seem to be readying themselves to charge. The Troubleshooters don't give them the chance - they charge into the trees, as the day turns to dusk.

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