Session 7. (17/2/12)

The moon disappears behind a particularly thick cloud, plunging the area into utter darkness. The only lights are the ones out in the reeds, bobbing and weaving and creeping relentlessly ever closer. Their presence is not reassuring. The wind in the reeds is softly menacing, whispering cryptic secrets at them.

There is a smell too. Something in the distance is rotting. Its foul stench assails their noses, and makes their eyes water. A wave of dread sweeps over the defenders. They pull clothes tighter over their shoulders, but nothing can keep the chill of fear at bay. They fight for breath, as visions of the future try to seduce them into stopping breathing altogether. Faint misty tendrils creep across the ground, deadening sound. Our heroes long for the daylight, and safety. Even closing their eyes to the scene does not help as minds fill with untold dreadfulness. –Is it not better to face the horror full on? -And still the ghostly procession advances. Closer and closer.

More than one of the defenders is starting to have doubts over this enterprise. They check their positions, their weapons at the ready and feet planted firmly on the ground. Minds race. Have they taken on more than they bargained for? Are the approaching lights rat-men, or evil spirits....Or something much, much worse?

Tomtare looks around. Dread and anticipation has drained all colour from his companions' faces. They look like bleached corpses standing there, making him even more nervous.

At the shrine, Kaya curses quietly. –Though not quietly enough for Ryôichi not to hear. He shoots her a glance. –It's obviously a word that a young girl shouldn't know. Onuma smiles nervously. She already knows a few words that would make the most hardened pirate blush! Kaya changes tack and starts reciting the Karma yoga – just in case this whole enterprise goes horribly wrong.... She stumbles over her words with her nerves. Ryôichi sets her right. She tries again.

The lights change course. Tomtare and Yoshi Yeesu guess that they have joined the path to the lake. "They've reached the first marker...," Tomtare observes, with a hint of a tremble in his voice. At this point Onuma changes position, joining the others at the base of the steps. A few moments later, the procession of lights slows. It is around the place that our heroes have sown improvised caltrops. "So at least they have sensitive feet!" Tomtare says uneasily. "Let's hope the rest of them feels pain too!"

Onuma isn't so sure. She tries to lighten the sombre mood. "Maybe we should use our charm, guile and diplomacy...."

Yoshi Yeesu looks forlorn, "Actually we'd better stick to our strengths."

Tomtare agrees. "Bring 'em on..." he says, anxiously, clutching at his tetsubo.

The soft howling of a wolf makes them all jump.

"I have a bad feeling about this...."

They think about this for a moment. "I want the ground to swallow me up...," Onuma says. Yoshi Yeesu tries to steady their mental strain. "That's not a wise thing to wish for in a graveyard...."

"If only we could see what is going on...," Sahpo whispers. Onuma decides to break the darkness with a light of her own. With a soft word and the clap of unsteady hands, a small fire-pot appears magically. This she throws with all her might toward the approaching lights. The lights respond by hissing back at her. In the pool of light, the defenders think that they can see movement. The shadows intensify around the area, negating most of the benefits of the light. They hear padding feet. More than one of them shivers uncontrollably. What ghastly beings are out there? A second or two later, two sleek forms slip by Onuma's fire-pot. A fierce growl pierces the dank mist. What hell-born horror is this?

Finally the defenders see something! Two sleek wolves are approaching on an intercept course! One through the reeds, and the other over the treacherous ground in front of our heroes. At the last minute, the second wolf steps on an especially sharp reed, and turns tail. It runs back into the darkness howling. Its distress finally breaks the tension, and the defenders raise faint smiles.

The other presses its own attack, but Sahpo is on the case. "Here wolfy....Wolfy....Wolfy...," he coos softly, trying to control the wolf. The others hold off slicing the wolf into doggy chunks in their relief from the tension. The wolf is impressed. It stops its murderous intent, and trots through the reeds to sit at Sahpo's feet, looking up expectantly. Tomtare glances nervously down at the beast, and sees that it is a thin and scrawny specimen, but flesh and blood for all that. Sahpo gets the wolf to 'stay' while he prepares a spell. In seconds, he rubs his eyes and the spell fires. He can now see in the dark! He can see the procession stopped at the far end of the treacherous ground, he can just about make out rat-like shapes too. There are several more lights approaching through the reeds. He readies another spell. "They're in the reeds.... They're coming!" He hisses at the others. His trembling fingers pat the head of the wolf. "Keep calm wolfy...," he says, reassuring it. No-one reassures him, though. –Has he misjudged the situation after all?

Ryôichi is standing by on the rise above the path. He waits for his moment as the column of lights start to advance once more over the spiked path. He cups his hands and flings an invisible force at the ground. The soil beneath the feet of the attackers becomes soft and wet. Mud bubbles and boils up in a large area all around and across the path. Several non-human yelps are heard. A second later, the defenders at the steps make out a rat-like figure wading through the ooze of mud.

"Oh rats!"

"Rats indeed!"

Sahpo is still feeling a little scared. "Kill him!"

Yoshi Yeesu points out something fundamental. "If we kill them all, there'll be no-one to tell the others about the folly of their attack!"

"If they kill us and start on the village, there'll be nothing for us to tell either way!"

The rat-creature snarls at the defenders. The last few yards are taken at a semi-run. Onuma calls to the creature. "This is sacred land! Advance further and we'll kill you!" It growls in return. This is all the others need to commence carrying out this threat. Tomtare unleashes an arrow. It finds its mark, and sticks through the creature, making it shriek. Onuma slices in with a sword, and Yoshi Yeesu follows suit. His blow fells the beast which sinks into the mud. The others breathe a sigh of relief. They catch their glance at the rat-like creature. It is dressed in rags, and has claws on its hands. It has a long pointed nose and beady eyes. It is also filthy, dirty and disgusting. "No tail." Yoshi Yeesu points out. "Not real claws either...," he says, kicking an arm aside to reveal sharpened sticks attached to the fingers. "An elaborate disguise," Onuma agrees, shivering at the sight. "–Enough to scare the villagers...."

The creature sinks further into the mud. Meanwhile, other attackers are starting to flank the defenders, while still more are attempting to scale the bank close to the shrine. Onuma and Yoshi Yeesu break left, to meet the flanking attackers. The others withdraw to defend the steps. Ryôichi prepares to repel his invaders. –The fight is on!

At the far corner of the shrine, and on the path, several lights can be seen advancing on Ryôichi's position. It's now or never. His hands warm with a spell, and a second later he flings a ball of flames at the largest concentration of attackers. The spell catches many of them, but Ryôichi's night vision is somewhat spoiled in the blast –he can't quite make out what or who is attacking – Several of the attackers shriek in pain at the fire. Hitoshi and Kaya ready themselves. From the reeds, Yoshi Yeesu dryly observes, "That's what I call spell casting! –Blast 'em till they glow, then shoot 'em in the dark!" Sahpo uses this as his cue, and two magical wooden arrows streak into the night. From the shriek of pain as one of them hits he knows that it has found its mark.

Onuma and Yoshi Yeesu are making progress toward the flanking opponents. –Unfortunately for Yoshi Yeesu, the attackers also know how to throw a spell! He takes a few steps before a rustling in the reeds indicates a magical effect. The reeds part in a straight line and the young bushi is blasted by a great gust of wind that knocks him onto his back!

Ryôichi is also on the receiving end of spell casting, and a dart of metal slams into him, he staggers back a few steps, surprised at the ferocity of the attack. Tomtare has seen a target. He squints down the shaft of the arrow. His attacker comes in close....Too close. The arrow has hardly left the bow before it pierces the attacker, and passes straight through! The attacker slumps at his feet. He hastily kicks over the body at his feet. This is no rat-spirit, but an ugly grey-green parody of a man. His mind races. – A second later another comes close, with murderous intent. A thought suddenly strikes him. These are bakemono- evil goblins, known to him through tales that his parents told! "Bakemono!" he calls into the night, warning the others.

Onuma pauses and helps up Yoshi Yeesu. –And not a moment too soon, as another bakemono comes running up to them, sword in hand. Onuma slashes at him instinctively, taking a chunk from his hide, turning him to one side. This is enough for a kneeling Yoshi Yeesu, who aims low, and manages to slice the creature's leg from its body! The creature yelps pitifully, before falling dead at his feet. What little life it had quickly flows from the horrible wound.

The scared wolf is leading a charge up the bank to the shrine. Ryôichi casts another mud spell, and catches several of the bakemono in it. However, the wolf is too fast for the spell, and leaps on doshin Hitoshi He flails at it with sword and jitte, but can't quite beat it off. Kaya steps in with her jo-staff. But the wolf is too quick for her and evades the blows. Tomtare changes weapon from bow to sword, and starts advancing on the shrine. Sahpo lets fly with two darts of wood, and registers a hit with one of them.

At this point, a spell triggers and a great cloud of smoke erupts from the path by the shrine. In the dark and the confusion it is difficult to tell whence it came. Ryôichi knows of the spell, but has problems of his own as more bakemono scramble through the mud to attack. Tomtare quickens his pace. Onuma and Yoshi Yeesu wade through the reeds as quickly as they can. Onuma spots a disturbance in the grass at her feet, and skids to a halt. As she does so, she comes up against an invisible barrier! Yoshi Yeesu has seen this also and also slows his pace. He too crunches into the barrier, but without injuring himself. The two of them feel around. It is as though a wall of glass is between them and two of the enemy about twenty yards ahead of them. The two defenders glance at one another nervously.

Across the way, in the dark, is a blood-curdling yell. This is all the more frightening as it is coming from doshin Hitoshi who has lost a sizable chunk of flesh to the savage wolf. Kaya and Ryôichi close in to attack the beast, but it is wiry and dextrous and evades their blows. More enemies appear, and now Ryôichi is facing four bakemono raiders. He flings out his arm and several darts of water leap from his fingers to impact on their targets. One explodes critically, bashing the unfortunate creature to the floor, and exploding in a pretty shower of magical water. Sahpo follows suit, and fires an arrow of wood into the crowd. His victim slumps face down into the mud. When his companions don't revive him, Sahpo claims the kill.

Back in the reeds, Onuma sucks in a great lungful of air. Yoshi Yeesu yells at her. "No wait, Onuma! No!" But it is too late! The girl lets out a blast of fiery breath. Instead of being blown back in her face by the barrier, it passes straight through! The bakemono are luckily just out of range, but even still take a step or two back. "Just proving a theory!" Onuma grins at her companion. "That gives me an idea!" Yoshi Yeesu yells back, "We need to bypass the barrier!" They are aware that spells can penetrate the invisible wall of force. This is confirmed when they are both the victims of darts of metal. The magical darts fizz through the barrier, and thud into our two heroes. The magical effect makes them stagger with the force, but doesn't knock them over. This has however, hardened their resolve. Onuma makes a circular gesture with her hands, and in the blink of an eye, disappears in a puff of wispy smoke! Yoshi Yeesu is suddenly all alone in the night! The bakemono grin evilly at him, and avance. The two of them are joined by another two. It's now four against one! Yoshi Yeesu curses Onuma with a very, very bad word.

Back at the shrine, Tomtare is getting into his stride. At the halfway point of his run, he stumbles forward just a yard, but manages to heed Ryôichi's words about spilling blood on holy ground. He switches to the tetsubo strapped to his back, and resumes his forward charge. At the end of the run, the wolf turns on him, snarling. -Only to meet the end of the tetsubo coming in the other direction. "Fore!" Tomtare yells, but his shout manages to distract the wolf, and the mighty weapon merely parts the air beside the wolf's head! Doshin Hitoshi and Kaya leap in to assist, but their caution is their weakness, and they both fail to land a blow on the wolf, which leaps at Tomtare, snapping and biting. Below the shrine, more forces are mustering. Ryôichi spies several starting to make their way toward the side of the graveyard, out of the mud and out of danger. He soon puts a stop to their little game. Even-bigger gouts of flame erupt from the old man's hands. This shoots toward the attackers, and explodes in a most impressive fireball! Ryôichi starts counting the dead. "Ichi, ne, san, shi, go, roku!"

"What about the injured?"

"Ichioku!"

Indeed several of the attackers lie dead or dying, and the others in the blast radius have been badly burned. Four of them scramble up the bank to the rear of the shrine. The rag-tag mob at the bottom of the slope are being urged on by a gruff voice. The minions have seen enough of the response from the defenders. Their courage wavers and they break ranks and start to flee down the path and into the night!

Tomtare takes stock. The wolf is still snapping at him. Four more bakemono are in the shrine, and another four are scrambling up the bank to the rear. Though he cannot see that far, Yoshi Yeesu and Onuma are dealing with another four in the reeds far off to Tomtare's left hand side. His calculations are cut short, as the wolf springs up at him, and bites a chunk out of his flesh. That's fighting talk! Tomtare reverses the swing of the tetsubo, and crunches it down on the head of the animal, making an instant wolf-skin rug at his feet, and stunning it into the year of the rabbit!

Yoshi Yeesu is not pleased with being left alone with a bakemono spell-caster and his retinue. Valiantly he switches to his bow, and lets fly with an arrow. A yelp of pain from his attackers confirms what he suspected, -that the arrow has found its mark through the barrier. In another puff of smoke, Onuma reappears, some ten yards in front of Yoshi Yeesu. She swings with her sword, but is just out of range to make a telling blow. She is starting to reconsider the wisdom of her actions. –Sure she has cleverly bypassed the barrier spell, but in doing so has cut herself off from backup! The bakemono relish the thought of cutting the young girl to ribbons and making Onuma kebabs out of her soft flesh. They lick their lips and drool!

At the shrine, Kaya is defending valiantly. She lashes out with the short jo staff, and catches a bakemono a nasty clunk to the face. It tries to yowl at her, but finds it difficult with a mouthful of broken fangs. Ryôichi is throwing darts about again, and though they find their mark, the bakemono throw off the effects of the magical poisoning. Sahpo is gaining ground even at his slow pace. The bakemono at the rear are clambering upon a grave, and rummaging through trinkets and sniffing at the food. Sahpho isn't going to stand for this! Tomtare is taking on the other raiders and is starting to enjoy swatting the enemy with his tetsubo. Another good hit pitches a bakemono against the back wall of the shrine. It stands and wobbles on legs of jelly, before nearly collapsing. Kaya and doshin Hitoshi take on another opponent. Hitoshi traps a bakemono's spear with his jitte, and turns it away, while Kaya repeats her move with her staff. The bakemono crumbles. Ryôichi is almost drained of magical energy, and takes up his longer staff. He too manages a hit on one of the critters, making it yelp horribly. Tomtare is not quick enough to hit another of the creatures. He curses his luck, and then looks apologetically at Kaya and Ryôichi. Sahpo gets to the edge of his range, and casts 'traitor's ground' upon the grave-robbing bakemono. They turn to leave, but their progress is hampered by the churning soil beneath their feet. Sahpo hears more orders being barked at them from the unseen bakemono leader, but on seeing Sahpo readying another spell and advancing, the minions decide to face the music back home and flee as fast as they can. Two of the four manage to run, but the others look like sitting ducks. Sahpo has done what is required, and lets them escape in their own time. Tomtare smashes another bakemono unconscious, and Ryôichi beats another senseless. The graveyard is secure for the moment!

Onuma is still considering the consequences of her actions when the huge brute of a bakemono lieutenant swings his sword at her. The beast towers over the young girl. She is made of agile stuff though, and her sure-footedness pays dividends as she rolls with the blow, turning the brute's blade with her own. Yoshi Yeesu finds his mark with the bow and another arrow thuds home into his target. Onuma is slashed with the brute's blade, making her wince. She manages to evade another attack, and this time the brute has left an opening. Onuma uses her superior speed to good effect. Her sword slices into un-armoured flesh beneath the arm. A deft twist is all that it takes, and the huge bakemono slumps at her feet. The smaller bakemono runs in to attack but is over-eager, and misses. Yoshi Yeesu suddenly finds that there is no more barrier now that the lieutenant is dead. He runs in with an arrow nocked. Onuma manages to land a good hit, but this is nothing to Yoshi Yeesu's next arrow, which catches the creature in the throat. It falls back, gurgling its last. The two defenders are level once more and brandish their swords. Two more bakemono who were approaching see the lie of the land turn tail. Onuma and Yoshi Yeesu let them go, seeing that the flank is secure.

Orders are barked in the harsh language of the creatures, and quicker than they arrived, the survivors of the raiding party depart. Ryôichi shouts after them, "Return to your people! This place is protected!"

Our heroes start mopping up. They have avoided unnecessary bloodshed. Ryôichi retires to his bed, needing to rest. Kaya and Hitoshi guard the shrine. The others patrol the area but the raiders have fled for good. They manage to retrieve a large sword from the bakemono lieutenant that Onuma killed. They look over the body. The creature also had a rudimentary rat-man disguise. "You killed this?" Sahpo asks.

"All by my own self!"

"You realise that this might well be a dai-bakemono – they're the real nasty ones!"

Once the area is secured they stand watches. Sahpo tries once again to control his wolf. The creature growls at him. Sahpo makes a fatal error, by not letting it trample the reeds before settling down to sleep. The wolf snaps at him, and then runs off into the night. The young shugenja lets it go. Once dawn breaks the defenders can all rest easy.

In the late morning, Ryôichi approaches. Hitoshi is with him. "It seems that I underestimated you. My apologies." He tails off, embarrassed. Hitoshi continues, "I...We....Misjudged you.... -And master Andō too. I have nothing to give, but you'll always be welcome here in Detohama village." Riyôichi leaves to fetch something. Kaya is full of youthful exuberance. "You'remyheroes!Ifthere'sanythingIcandoforyou...Inapriestlycapacityofcourse.....Or haveyourchildrenblessedoryouwanttogetmarried,oryoudie,orifyouhaveanadventureandneedmyhelp....." Ryôichi returns and cools her enthusiasm. "I think you need to keep calm, child. Say it again....But slowly...."

"You're my heroes! If there's anything I can do for you... In a priestly capacity of course.....Or have your children blessed or you want to get married, or you die, or if you have an adventure an need my help....." Ryôichi reassures her. "I think that they get the message, child...." Kaya blushes. The others smile back at her. –After all they are still rash young ones too.

They arrange to take any remaining unconscious bakemono far out of town and leave them. The dead are cleared away by the local eta. By the time this has finished, it is nearly noon. "Time for a celebration," Hitoshi says, beaming at them.

"But we should be getting back...," Tomtare protests.

"Nonsense! You've at least earned a hearty lunch. -And I've also gathered some supplies for you to take home." He shows them a small stash of goodies. There is plum brandy, some sake, a sample of healing salve, food enough for a fortnight, and a small makeup kit. "You can also help yourselves to any swords, weapons and armour." He tells them. The armour is not much more than scrap-metal and thick animal hides. They donate the metal to the local blacksmith. They examine the sword with interest. It is in poor condition and rusty. They guess that it might have been buried by the lake for some time, or perhaps belonged to a pirate. As they discuss possibilities, they tuck into a hearty feast. They hardly ate last night nor this morning, so they feast with relish. There is also wasabi relish. "I wouldn't eat that," Onuma warns, thinking back to the bridegroom. "You don't know where it might have been!"

At this point, they hear pounding hoof beats. Emishi and Ishan Ashte arrive at a slow trot, leading several more horses. They dismount. "What's going on then?" Emishi demands with his usual blunt diplomacy.

"We're working hard, defeating evil spirits and goblins and keeping the world safe for feudalism...."

"Pfft! More like having a banquet at the expense of the locals."

"They defended us with their skills and their lives. – Now they're reaping the rewards," Hitoshi tells Emishi.

Tomtare is defensive. "Well what have you been doing in our absence?"

"Keeping the peace in Oga town...," Ishan Ashte says, "Double shifts!" he points out. "Which reminds me why we came. The local magistrate...."

"The one that stripped naked and danced on the table at the wedding party....?" Tomtare asks.

"Well, not entirely naked, but yes, that one."

"What about him?"

"He is indisposed for a few days."

"So?"

"So when you have quite finished saving the village from all their excess food and drink, we need to deputise for him in Oga town."

Tomtare asks, "We need? What about you need?" The others look at him blankly.

"We haven't finished our lunch." Tomtare objects, tucking into another generous helping.

Emishi is blunt. "Get your stuff. And get a move on!"

The others ignore him. Ishan Ashte decides to join the others while Emishi fumes. Finally Emishi calms down, and they are soon starting over with generous helpings of food and drink.

They are about to depart when Ryôichi comes hurrying up. Kaya is carrying a bundle. "I want you to have this...." He offers Kaya's bundle.

"What is it?" Emishi demands.

"Thank you, but we need no more reward," Sahpo says, "We have more than enough already. Even Tomtare can eat no more."

Ryôichi is not taking no for an answer. "This is part of the shrine's screens. It is the last remaining cat picture by the young artist. I'd like you to have it."

"Thank you." Tomtare says, speaking for them all. "We'll treasure it, I'm sure."

"See that you do. If that young lad becomes famous, it might be worth a lot of money someday."

"Thank you again. We'll put it where it can be enjoyed back at Master Andō's house. I'm very sorry but we must be going...."

"Farewell then!"

Kaya waves goodbye. The heroes and Emishi head off into the spring sunshine, wondering what their duties might bring.

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