Magistrates of the Emerald Empire: Through the Spine of the World.

[Squishy Cheeks]

The mountains loomed on either side of the group. The world was pristine. Fatigue wearing heavy on them. There were faint tracks, only two people. One wore the sandels of a samurai.

________________

A zombie reached out to Raiden. The masked peasant did his best to attempt to grapple the armed and armored samurai.

ooc: Batgirl it's still your turn.

[Raiden]

Tama looked down at the tracks.

"So, are we hunting a samurai, or what?"

[Dante]

"Worse. Much worse. We seek a group of maho-tsukai, From the number of tracks it would appear that there are two of them. But the tsukai are still to be feared despite their small numbers."

[Krylo]

Taken nodded as he led his horse along. "Yes. These Maho-Tsukai have filled a village with the undead, summoned three earth oni, one of which did this..." He held up his hand, which was covered in shards of rock, still, which blood was caked and scabbing between, "To my hand, and summoned an Oni no Akuma."

[Squishy Cheeks]

A shard broke off, revealing muscle and a flow of blood. Mei looked worried at Taken.

"Perhaps we should take a break. If we push our selves to hard we will walk ourselves into a trap." Mei said.

_____________________

(TN 5+10=15 18+9+9+8=44 15+9+9+8=41 19+9=28 23+13=36) Raiden spun to put himself between the hordes and the beautiful scorpion his blade cleaved two heads from their bodies. The zombies fell down dead.

ooc:22 to go

[Raiden]

Tama seemed nervous. Then grinned and rubbed his neck.

"Should we? We don't want to be any farther behind than we already must be."

(OOC: I'm pretty sure Celes already knows, but I'll be out of commision Monday and Tuesday. My wisdom teeth are going to be pulled from my skull bone.)

[Squishy Cheeks]

"Our horses need water, and we need to bandage his arm before he hurts it any more." Doji Mei said.

[Dante]

"Water can be arranged. I need a minute to conjure it, though."

Kenren reached into his pack. It had been a long time, such a long time since he had to use the scroll for this spell. The secrets of the Void were etched into the minds and hearts and souls of its practitioners, and Kenren had not wielded magics other than those of nothingness for quite some time. Still, his fingers found the weathered roll of parchment easily. He opened it before him, eyes darting up and down the characters, and as he continued reading he began murmuring, his attention slowly fading from the words themselves to the meaning they embodied. The short prayer finished, and he felt a kami of water hovering nearby, invisible, but still within the sight of the mind's eye.

Honorable kami of the flowing rivers and depthless seas, this one entreats your presence. Grant this trifling request of his, and gift him with the blessing of the truest manifestation of water.

For a timeless moment, there was silence. A sound danced in the emptiness between worlds, and Kenren almost thought the could hear a sound... the sound of dice? No, it couldn't be. It must have been his mind trying to fill the spiritual void with meaningless gestures.

(Base TN is 10, +5 for negative attunement to Water. Raise twice to summon three fists full of water for a final TN of 20. Spend one Void point to increase Water to 3, roll 5 dice and keep 3 - 5,3,8,6,10, roll that 10 again for 6. Total is 8 + 6 +10 + 6 = 30)

Very well, Voidwalker. We are pleased by your obeisance and proper respect. It is our honour to bestow this boon to you.

Kenren opened his eyes, and in front of him a small, shimmering marble coalesced from the air, catching the light and throwing it around in odd ways. It took him a while before he realised it was not actually a marble, but rather, a madly spinning sphere of water, growing larger as it pulled the ambient moisture from its surroundings into it. Kenren smiled and turned to the others.

"It worked! Hurry, get a waterskin!"

But his momentary joy was just that - momentary, as he realised that there probably wouldn't be enough for all their horses. They would need to find another way to provide water... and soon.

[Squishy Cheeks]

Kuni Shiroku took his blade to a zombie's head. The cut was clean severing the mask in two. A zombie grabbed him from behind. Shiroku was pulled from his horse and landed hard on his back. Two zombies moved toward Shiroku. While the zombie, that pulled him from his horse moved to strangle him

[Krylo]

Taken merely shook his head at the small ball of water forming. "It's useless. Nowhere near enough for the horses... Doji Mei, do you know of any nearby streams? The close the better. We must be very near to them now..."

Another stone fell from Taken's arm as he spoke, prompting him to cover it with his good hand, applying pressure to the wound, not only to stem the flow of blood, but also to dull the pain and protect it from any particles of sharp stinging sand which may find their way into his exposed musculature.

[Squishy Cheeks]

"Yes there is a pond fed by a waterfall from a hot spring. within a mile of here."

[batgirl]

Not waiting for backup, Izumi ran to where the voices were coming from. Opening the door in the ground, she found some stairs leading into a cellar area where a group of villagers were hiding. They were clearly frightened and clung to each other. "I mean you no harm, I am Izumi Soshi and my comrades and I are here to protect you. Tell me, how did these evil dead come to this village?"

[Raiden]

Tama jumped off his horse, and walked beside Mei. He then began to talk louder than normal.

"We should head for the water! Yep, our horses need some nourishment! Good old water!" When he got close to Mei, he stopped talking abnormally loud and whispered.

"Is it just me, or do you have the feeling that we aren't alone here? I've got this feeling that someone, or something, is watching us. Ever since we saw those tracks."

[Squishy Cheeks]

"three people came to town, A man in a white kimon, a samurai in black armor, and a women with an Iron mask on her face. They killed all the vilagers they could. We hid, when we came out the villagers had been turned into zombies." A peasant women said.

_________________

A zombie moved to grab Yoshi. The dead fingers desperatly trying to grab the shugenja by the arm.

A zombie moved to cut Raiden off from saving Kuni Shiroku. Shiroku was on his own for the time beeing.

[IHateMakingNames]

Yoshi hopped off of his horse, opposite of the side that the zombie was on. The horse took off to get away from the zombie, and gave Yoshi a clear shot. Taking out his Fires from Within scroll yet again, Yoshi forced the fires to appear quickly. The fire gathered in his right hand as he had wanted, but soon after it vanished.

Damnit

Yoshi whistled to try to get his horse back as he backed away from the zombie.

[Squishy Cheeks]

A beating sound came above Izumi as a group of zombies tried to beat their way to the living.

______________

Kuni Shiroku broke free of the zombie, he kicked the zombie into the zombie moving toward him.

Raiden leapt his blades striking the zombie attacking Yoshi, the zombie's head came clean off. His wakizashi took another head. (The TN to hit a zombie is 5, 15 if you want to perform a called shot. 11+9+9+7=36 13+12+11+9=45 damage 16+5=21 20 to decapitate. 16+9=25) A dull ache moved into his arms, his breath dry. He was feeling tired.

[batgirl]

"Get behind me!" Izumi stood in front of the villagers and began preparing a Fire from Within spell incase the zombies managed to break in.

[Squishy Cheeks]

Raiden dodged the fist of a zombie, The beheaded zombie fell, dragging Yoshi with her. Shiroku rolled out of the way of a zombie trying to fall on him.

"We need to stand together." Raiden yelled.

(19+9+8+5=41 18+18+17+9=62 6+7=13 18+7=25) Raiden struck quickly his Katana struck a zombie in the neck, but it became imbedded in the spine stoping the stroke. His wakizashi however took the head of another zombie.

[IHateMakingNames]

After forcing the beheaded zombie corpse off of him, Yoshi reached into his robes and pulled out his Fire of Purity scroll.

Taking a quick glance at it, he faced towards Raiden. Raiden suddenly was set on fire.

OOC: Used raises obviously.

[Forever Zero]

Shiroku drew his sword after dodging the zombie and said, "Now it's my turn, beast of darkness." He leaped at the zombie that had been trying to fall on him, which had just gotten back up, and cleaved through it's arm in one fell blow. "That should make you a bit easier to take on," He said then, sword still raised.

[Squishy Cheeks]

"These lands are said to be the prison of a mighty demon." Doji Mei said. "I'm surprised you don't know the tale. The demon was said to be one of Fu Leng's top assassins. It is said it's spirit watches travelers, and lures the foolish to their deaths." Doji Mei winked at the group. "Don't worry I'll protect you from the big bad demon."

[Raiden]

Tama patted the hilt of his katana.

"Who's worried? I was kind of hoping for a fight today, anyway."

[Dante]

"Well, I wasn't. I have no intention of drawing more trouble than I can handle down on my head."

[IHateMakingNames]

Yoshi whistled to get his horse to come to him. It was nearby, so Yoshi quickly mounted the horse and ran off into the village. Raiden seemed to be able to handle himself for the time being, and Yoshi just remembered about Izumi. He hadn't seen her since the beginning of the battle, and decided to go see if she needed help.

OOC: Not doing anything because my stamina is in the negetives...

[Squishy Cheeks]

A path split from the main road. Steam flowed down the path, made of wet stones. The sound of water could be heard in the distance.

"This way to the hot spring." Doji Mei said.

__________________

A pack of masked zombies were swarming a single house.

___________________

The peasants in the basement began to scream as the wooden trap door splintered. A bloody fist with broken finger bones appeared as board shattered. Black blood dripped from the hand.

[Forever Zero]

As the approached the house and saw the zombies, Shiroku knew there was little time. He immediatly jumped off his horse and opened his palm, feeling energy focusing into it as he prepared his magic. He said the words of power and sent the green bolt of Jade Strike hurling at one of the nearby zombies.

[Squishy Cheeks]

The shards of jades ripped through it's leg but the zombie still stood. The zombie tried to tackle Shiroku but fell to the side.

The zombie with daiden's katana tried to grab the sword but raiden pulled the sword free and finished severing the head. He struck the last zombie in his area in the neck. the wound was short of the spine and black blood sprayed into the street from the slit throat. The zombie however stood. Raiden's breath has ragged.

_____________________
(ooc: I'm assuming Bat girl went to camp for the summer like she said she would so I'll take over for the mean time)

Izumi finished her prayer to the fire spirits. (8+9+3=20 tn 15 success) The candle flame shot tow balls of flame too her which began to spin around her arms growing larger, and larger.

A masked face dropped through the opening. Izumi drew back and threw the ball of fire at the masked zombie. (Dear God! 39+17+5=61) The fire ball ripped through the zombie. The trap door exploded into flaming splinters a pile of charred bones and ashes fell too the dirt floor. (1k1=28) the burning splinters ripped into nearby zombie's shredding soft tissue. one zombie's mid section collapsed and it's torso fell into the basement. Another lost it's left leg.

Izumi chucked the second fire ball at the torso disintegrating it. ( 19+9+8=36)

________________________
"ARRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO" A nearby wolf called.

Soon a second, then a third howl answered back. The wolves were all around the samurai in the mountains. Apparently the wolves were hungry.

____________________

Izumi grabbed one of the peasants by the hand and jerked them toward the latter. flames beginning to spread.

_____________

The zombies groaned as the fires in the house began to consume them. Undeath making them numb to pain. three zombie's turned to face Raiden and the others. The five feeding zombies brandished the limbs of a now dead women, she is wearing an iron mask that looks like the masks on the zombies. Raiden begins to run toward the now armed zombies.

(FZ you're up. Raiden and the others you should react to the wolves and i'll begin combat for you.)

[Raiden]

Tama grabbed the hilt of his katana. His horse reared up and ninnied.

"I think a trapped demon is the least of our worries right now."

[Squishy Cheeks]

In the darkness of the night the glow of lupine eyes could be seen in the under brush.

[Krylo]

Taken wasn't comfortable fighting on horseback, and so he leaped down from his mount and drew his sword as his feet hit the snow covered ground.

Moonlight reflected off the cold metal of the blade, making it seem to glow in the dark night, and the moonlight had a similiar effect on the half-congealed blood still dripping from his injured hand. Dark red drops, which seemed to be almost silver in the lunar light, fell into the snow quietly as the Ronin stood at ready, facing the eyes in the brush.

[Squishy Cheeks]

Taken heard a snaraling from behind him. the horses looked wild, frightened. A wolf barked at Taken's side. There appeared to be about 6-10 wolves over all.

______________

With the summoning Tsukai dieing in the snow at the hands of her own creations the porcelain masks began to crack and crumble. The zombies fell to the earth as corpses as the magics animating them disipated.

Raiden stopped his run. He was tired. He fell to his knees trying to catch his breath as the flames surronding him extinguished themselves.

[Forever Zero]

Shiroku looked as all the undead simply fell lifeless once more to the ground. Shiroku look on in confusion for a second, surprised by this sudden change of events, then shook it off. He walked towards the dead Tsukai, and examined the body for any clues that could tell why she had attacked this home. He couldn't find anything specific, so he headed into the still burning house next, both to look for survivors, and to search for clues.

[Raiden]

Tama entered a defensive position with his katana in one hand and his grappling chain in the other.

"I can probably take down two or three. How many can you guys take?"

[Squishy Cheeks]

Raiden wiped his swords and sheathed them. He then stood. His horse nodged him in the shoulder. He began to pet the horse. He mounted the horse.

"We should try to catch up with the others."

[Krylo]

"All of them," Taken replied calmly, "But we don't have time for you to stand around and watch," The ronin glanced at Doji Mei and the Void Mage as he spoke, signalling that they should get ready for combat. "We still have to catch those tsukai."

He took a step forward, toward the brush, and held his katana in front of him, prepared to strike at a second's notice.

[Forever Zero]

Shiroku headed out of the house, finding nothing. He looked back and saw Raiden, ready to leave, so he went to his horse as well and said, "Alright, we shall see how the others are. There is nothing left to see here."

[Squishy Cheeks]

Combat round:
Raiden
Krylo
Wolves
Mei
Dante

Tn to hit the wolves is 15 +5 (night) +5 (cover) =25 add 10 to grapple with your chain. TN 35 you roll 9+8+8=25 I'll allow a hit. but no grapple. You only do 9 points of damage, 30 hit points to kill. Raiden, rp accordingly

[IHateMakingNames]

Yoshi rode up the Raiden and Shiroku. "Do either of you know why these zombies suddenly died?"

[Raiden]

(OOC: *scratches his neck* hehe... yeah.)

"Might as well hit them before they come out for us." Tama leapt in with his katana at the ready. As he headed forward, one of the more bolder wolves pounced. They charged at each other. When he was within range, Tama yelled loudly and slashed out with his sword. All that could be seen of his sword was a flash of moonlight reflecting off of it. When Tama landed, the wolf's head plopped to the ground.

[Squishy Cheeks]

ooc: at your technique level Raiden you only get one attack per turn either the chain or sword. if it's the sword I need to re roll your damage.

[Raiden]

(OOC: I guess it's the sword. It's the only one that hit the first time.)

[Squishy Cheeks]

ooc: with your sword you do 49 damage, that is one dead wolf.

[Krylo]

(OOC: Might want to change your post to reflect that you killed the wolf, Raiden)

Taken charged in shortly after Raiden, slashing his sword through the bushes at one of the pairs of eyes he could see glinting in the moonlight. Unfortunately, the wolf began to move, throwing off the ronin's aim. Not by enough, however.

The blade bit deep and a loud yelp reverbated through the area as it's blood, colored silver by the moon, sprayed outward and into the snow. Taken's blade began to steam from the hot blood on his sword meeting the cold air of the winter night as he prepared himself to attack again.

[Squishy Cheeks]

"My guess is when the tsukai dies so did her spell." Raiden said. He helped Izumi on to he horse.

"We need to catch up." Raiden spurred his horse and took off toward the north.

_______________
The wolves growled but after the first two attacked they stayed hidden in the underbrush.

Doji Mei looked scared.

"We should head for the spring." She kicked he horses flanks and took off for the spring.

[Dante]

"It's almost as though the kami were trying to tell us to get to the springs..."

Taken had been as good a swordsman as expected, and the otther hotheaded samurai was at least mildly competent in battle, though somewhat touched in the head - trying to ensnare a wolf while the others tore him apart? Then again, such were the ways of warriors.

In his case, he drew the gleaming steel of his sword, Samehada, gripping it in one hand as his other took the reins. He would not be caught off guard, but neither would he fight a pointless battle.

[Squishy Cheeks]

ooc: next combat round.

Krylo
Raiden
wolves
Dante

Doji mei has left the combat zone and taken 3 wolves with her.
___________________________

Doji Mei charged trough the wintery forrest. three snarling wolves gave pursuit.

[Krylo]

Taken struck out at the wolf again, planning to finish it off, but the wolf was faster than he and managed to stumble out of the blade's path, leaving the katana to cut through naught but air.

Taken cursed quietly under his breath and watched the brush, waiting for another opening.

[Squishy Cheeks]

Raiden rode hard to the north. He heard in the distance a howling wolf. He was tired. His muscles ached. He found his water bottle and took a drink. He waited for the others to catch up to him.

[Raiden]

Tama readied his katana.

"I thought you could take them all?"

Tama lunged in with his katana. The wolf growled at Tama. There were several bright flashes. The next moment, the wolf shuddered, and then fell to the ground in pieces.

"Yep."

[Squishy Cheeks]

A snarling wolf leapt from the underbrush behind Tama and bit deaply into his thigh. (your Tn was only 5, 15 for a called shot. 13+9+8=30 12+8=20) Tama's hamstring tore he fell onto his back.

[Dante]

Tcheh. Not good. Not good at all...

The hot-head had been good, but not that good, and he had left himself wide open to a vicious attack by the wolves. Kenren was in a quandary. He was by no means a master swordsman, and Tama could not move much, if at all.

Still, he couldn't leave the man to die.

Bloody, stupid idiots, all of them...

Kenren grabbed Tama by the lapels, silently cursing the latter's armor for getting in his way, and tried to sling him onto the horse.

[Squishy Cheeks]

New combat round

Raiden (unable to fight.) You get a non attack action. Your leg needs medical attention.

Dante
Wolves
Krylo

2 turns before the cavalry arrives.

[Dante]

Kenren knew he had made a very bad move when the wolf which had just savaged Tama's leg growled at him.

Shit, I forgot!

Gripping Samehada's hilt with both hands, he brought the Isawa steel down in a glittering arc, hoping to kill, or at least wound the beast enough so it would back off and die.

OOC: JAD, you do the roll, I don't have a dice program at work.

[Squishy Cheeks]

ooc: 18+8+7=33 tn to hit 30 damage 15+9=24.

[Dante]

Kenren shuddered as the jolt of Samehada striking the wolf's skull ran back up his hand, as though he had struck a rock with a tetsubo. However, he heard the wolf's growl turn into a pitiful yelping, and as he pulled Samehada loose he could vaguely see some white flecks mixed with the blood.

The wolf whined and staggered back drunkenly, and Kenren kenw that his hit was true. Not lethal, but close enough. Hopefully the lupine would take the hint and beat it...

[Krylo]

"I can take them all," Taken said, and then there was nothing but a flash of silver in the moonlight followed by a splash of blood as Taken struck his blade across an uninjured wolf's face, cutting deep into, and through, the skull. The lupine's corpse fell to the ground, twitching quietly, it's head nearly split in two horizontally. Taken quickly turned toward another wolf, holding his weapon toward it in preperation for another strike, while his ears kept track of the others, listening for any sign that they might attack so that he may move.

"However, I am not foolish enough to leave myself open just to do so a bit more quickly." His eyes never met Raiden as he responded to the man's comments, his concentration keeping with the wolves, which seemed to be readying themselves for another attack.

[Squishy Cheeks]

The last two wolves cut their losses and disappeared into the forest.

[Dante]

"Thank you, Taken-san. Without your sword skill we would surely all ahve been lost."

[Krylo]

Taken remounted his horse quickly, not bothering to clean his blade, or sheathe it, instead opting to hold the reins in his injured hand, despite the pain it would cause. "We don't have time for congratulations. Three wolves were pursuing Doji Mei, and we still have to find the Tsukai. Stay here with Tama-san... I hope it isn't too late for Mei," the ronin replied as he kicked his horse forward, following after Doji Mei's tracks as best he could in the dark.

[Dante]

Kenren simply shrugged and hefted Tama over the back of the horse.

"Damned if I let him go after her alone, what with those three wolves... and they might need healing."

[Squishy Cheeks]

The tetsubo blow that knocked Taken from his horse was a weak blow, only meant to get his attention. A samurai in black armor wearing a very demon like mempo. stepped out of the shadows. His eyes glowed an angry red. He wielded a massive Iron rod. He moved gracefully to the pool of water. Three wolves lay next to the water. their bodies broken. Their blood pooling in the stones.

"You must be Taken." A dark skinned shugenja said. "Sorry to not have met you on better circumstances I could have used someone like you. "

In front of him he held Mei in a kneeling position

"I thank you for bringing me a sacrifice to fu leng." He said gesuturing to Mei. "And she brought about the means of our escape from you and your friends." The Obsidian samurai grabbed Taken's horse and mounted it. The Shugenja forced Mei to mount hers and then he mounted behind her.

"Another time samurai." The Maho Tsukai called.

"TAKEN!" Mei called as she was dragged off toward the north.

____________________


Raiden and the others caught up with Kenren and the injured crane ronin.

"Where is Taken and Mei?"

Thunder peeled in the sky and snow began to fall.

[batgirl]

OOC: I'll be on and off for a while, because I'm at camp, JAD can control my character while I'm gone.

BIC: Izumi looked up at the sky. There was no break in the clouds and the snow was getting rather heavy. "While finding our two comrades is a priority, it may prove difficult to pursue them in this storm. If the snow gets much higher the horses will have a hard time moving."

[Squishy Cheeks]

Raiden led the way. His katana was drawn, but his sword arm was sore. Soon thet came across Taken, he was battered from falling off his horse but otherwise alright. The snows were getting steadilly worse.

"There's a cave" Izumi said pointing at a cave near the hot springs. the path to the cave was rocky.

[IHateMakingNames]

Yoshi looked at the rocky path. "Will the horses be able to climb that?"

[Squishy Cheeks]

"Not easilly, but if we lead them up, maybe."

[Krylo]

Taken shook his head as he looked at the cave. "We can't. The Tsukai and a dark samurai took Mei and our horses after ambushing me. If we allow them to escape now, they'll make her a sacrifice to Fu Leng... and if we don't follow, their tracks will disappear in the storm."

[Squishy Cheeks]

"The tracks will be lost regardless, This is a blizzard. If we don't make it to that cave, we are as good as dead."

[Raiden]

"I'm for saving a damsel in distress as much as the next guy, but we aren't exactly in the best shape to go take on a demon and his samurai. My leg is out of commission until it's taken care of, and your arm isn't exactly the picture of health itself."

[Dante]

"It would seem I will have to bare Samehada in the coming conflict. Taken and Raiden cannot be expected to face those fiends alone."

[Squishy Cheeks]

ooc: Raiden I've consulted my books and guess what, you get a disadvantage that will take double points to buy back. You are now lame. You're a point short of losing the leg entirely.

[Raiden]

(OOC: That's fun. How do I get those points to get it back?)

[Squishy Cheeks]

ooc: you need to use experience points.

[Raiden]

(OOC: Hmm... Now, let's pretend that I don't know what those are. Hehe. If it's a long explanation, just PM me. Because I honestly have no clue as to Experience points or using them to get my guy un-lame.)

[Squishy Cheeks]

Raiden led his horse up the rocky path to the cave. The snows were falling hard. The hot spring was steaming. The cave wasn't deep just deep enough for the samurai.

Raiden left his horse by the hot spring. In the cave were some smoldering ashes probably from the maho tsukai. Raiden threw a log onto the coals and it began to burn.

[Forever Zero]

Shiroku directed his horse in as well, shivering against the cold. Once his horse was settled, he quietly headed to the fire and sat down, enjoying the bit of warmth that was thrown off. He didn't speak, not thinking much needed to be said.

[Raiden]

Tama took his injured leg and gently let it rest in the hot spring while he sat on the edge. He sighed as the hot water touched the injuries.

"Damn. The wolf got me good. I won't be using this leg for a while."

[Squishy Cheeks]

"We should bind your wounds, Crane-san." Raiden said. He had come out to gather fire wood.

[Raiden]

Tama nodded.

"As soon as someone can find some bandages, we'll do just that. We have enough people bleeding everywhere as it is."

[Squishy Cheeks]

Raiden scooped some snow into his jingasa. He had removed the straps. He put the metal hat on the small fire. The ice crystals melted into water. He added some rice from a small bag he had in his travel basket.

"I don't have more than little rice for everybody." raiden said. "I also have no seasoning."

[Raiden]

Tama clicked his tongue, and his horse came over. He reached into a pocket in the saddle, and pulled out a small bag. He tossed it to Raiden.

"Here, put some of this in. It's a mixture of dried meat and herbs. It'll make it taste better. Don't use all of it, though. I don't have much."

[Dante]

Kenren closed his eyes. Mere physical sight was hardly enough for what he was going to do now. He let his mind reach out, sensed the ambient water kami. and spoke.

Noble kami, my comrade has been wounded, and I fear the worst for him if he does not receive your aid. All know that the kami of the water are the keepers of purity and wholeness. I beseech you, share some of your gifts with your brother Man.

OOC: Cast Path to Inner Peace on Tama.

[Squishy Cheeks]

ooc: good news. Dante stopped tama from hemorraging to death. Now for the stuff till the storm blows over.

[Raiden]

Tama had a strange look on his face. He looked down at his leg.

"Wow. My leg stopped bleeding. This must be one of those magical springs I've heard about! Let's see if it will get rid of this nasty scar on my shoulder." Tama sunk down into the hot spring.

[Squishy Cheeks]

Raiden cooked the little bit of rice. He added rice wine vinegar.

"The rice is done." Raiden called. He prepped a meager cup for tama and took it to him.

[IHateMakingNames]

Yoshi sighed and shook his head at Tama's statement about the magical healing hot spring. It should have been obvious some one healed him.

After hearing that the rice was done, Yoshi stood up and walked over to it, and made himself a little cup of rice.

[Squishy Cheeks]

Izumi came and got a small cup, she moved to the back of the cave and ate in silence.

[Forever Zero]

Shiroku made himself a small cup of rice, and sat back on the falt rock he was using as a seat. He looked to the cave entrance, staring off into space as he ate mechanically in silence...

[Krylo]

Taken had been standing outside staring at the tracks of the Tsukai, and watching them fade along with any hope, he believed, of finding those culprits before they could sacrifice Doji Mei or, worse, destroy another village. Finally, as the storm became stronger, and the tracks were all but gone, Taken climbed the path to the cave amongst the cold whipping winds and made his way all the way to the back, where he sat, nursing his right hand.

All of the stone chips had finally fallen from it, revealing his muscles and circulatory system to the world. Oddly enough, it wasn't particularily painful, although it stung whenever something touched the exposed flesh, which is why he was currently nursing it. Unfortunately, it had also begun to scab in places, making so much as moving his lower arm rip open wounds anew in a most painful manner, but Taken knew that his wounds were nothing compared to what would happen if they could not catch and finish those last two Tsukai.

[Squishy Cheeks]

"Kenren-san, you found our querry before, could you do it again?" Raiden said handing the ishi a ball of rice.

[Dante]

"Kenren-san, you found our querry before, could you do it again?" Raiden said handing the ishi a ball of rice.

Kenren did not answer immediately, instead breaking off a small piece of rice and rolled it into a smaller ball, then tucked it behind a stone by the spring, as a form of thanks to the water kami for healing Tama.

Thus was our treaty written; thus was our agreement made. Thought is the arrow of time, memory never fades. What was asked is given; the price is paid.

He then turned to Raiden and the others and nodded.

"I will do what I can."

He quickly finished off the rice, then sat seiza amidst the billowing clouds of mist, already deep in concentration.

Kenren opened his eyes to the realm of spirit, where the elements were one and none, and he was no longer seemed to be within his body, but rather, his point of view bobbed slightly, even though he knew he was perfectly still save for his breathing.

He glanced around, seeing the others - Raiden, Izumi, Shiroku, Taken, Yoshi, Tama - as points of multicolored light, colours swirling in accordance to the balance of the elements within them. But it was not enough, still not enough. He had clarity, but he needed vision.

Willing himself higher, Kenren sensed the "ground" recede beneath him, as he sent his viewpoint further into the heavens, seeking to expand the radius of his sight, and hopefully track the tsukai down before it was too late. The details of the ground quickly became indistinct, sparkling points of light that represented lives and souls surging towards his center of vision as his spiritual senses encompassed more and more ground.

Now the task of actually finding the Taint of the tsukai could begin. Kenren sighed inwardly, and began to sift through the multitudes of beings in search of the right, or as it were, the wrong ones.

His eye was drawn to a small cluster of lights... but they were no ordinary lights. All three were dimmed... tinted with some strange colour. Suddenly Kenren stopped himself from going closer to get more details. He sensed dark kami following them, and he realized that they might alert the tsukai...

No. They would have to approach the villains on foot, without giving them warning of their approach. Kenren withdrew his mind into his body again, and his eyes snapped open, glinting with the new insight he had gained.

"I have found them. They are in a cave, further up the mountain. They have stopped to rest, it would seem."

OOC: Cast Sense Void, JAD, PM me with the results so I can properly describe it, unless you want to do it yourself.

EDIT: Edited.

[Squishy Cheeks]

ooc: I'm going to disney at the end of the week. I'll start the last chapter after I get back.

"I doubt we could make it there now. We will wait for the storm to lesson, till then get some rest."

Raiden took a small bit of the rice for himself and ate a little. He took some snow and melted it and drank the water.

"I'll take the first watch."

Raiden went to the edge of the cave and took off his swords. He began to polish his katana's blade.

[Raiden]

(OOC: Disney is fun. If you're going to Epcot, do the new Mission to Mars ride. It's frickin' great!)

"I'll take second watch."

Tama was now sitting by the fire, and eating some rice he took from the pot. He was rather hungry.

[Squishy Cheeks]

Raiden sat out in the cold. This place reminded of his home in the mountains. The hiking trips he'd go on with his brother, Karasu. He wished circumstances could be better.

It was a cold few hours. Raiden was very tired. He moved over to Tama and woke him

"Your watch."

(ooc: remember Raiden your wounded leg is now lame, no doing flying leeps, you're lucky you can walk at all.

[Raiden]

Tama groaned and sat up.

"Alright, I'm going." Tama reached out for his sword sheath. He stood up, and began to use the sheath as a crutch. He hobbled over to the cold outside and looked around.

"Nice view. If it was warmer, dryer, and less dark, it might look good enough to be crappy."

[Squishy Cheeks]

Raiden moved to the edge of the cave and fell asleep.