Calls the Lightening

The Iron Citadel
Our magistrates leave Otosan Uchi and investigate the Iron Citadel that has appeared in Unicorn Lands.

Characters
Characters used in this section

• Hiruma Izuko - Hiruma bushi
• Mirumoto Kenuchio - Mirumoto Bushi
• Moto Koshi - Moto Bushi, son of Moto Tsolmon
• Asahina Ayame - Asahina Shugenja
• Matsumoto Eiko - Minor Family samurai-ko sent by Toshimoko with them to investigate current events.
• Kuni Kotori - The Jade Champion
• Togashi Hoshi - Kuni Kotori's Lover and Assistant
• Moto Tsolmon - A Unicorn Moto tribal leader
• Iuchi Kyoru - The Unicorn Clan Traitor
  

The group traveled from Otosan Uchi, past Western Hub village (and meeting briefly with the proprietress of the House of Dawn Lotus, just for good measure), onwards through Crane Lands without incident. Their papers allowed travel without much issue until they reached Lion Lands. They met with normal border guards at the edge of Lion Lands, but it was clear that the Champion of the Lion had called up her armies...the villages were without their normal soldiers as all samurai were called to the muster.

It was nearing evening when the group reached a village and asked for a place to sleep. The ashigaru headman was terrified, and warned them that 'shadows' killed any who went out after dark, and none of the Lion samurai were around or able to help them. The samurai, mindful of their edict, decided to investigate. An investigation of the shadows after dark turned up a number of gaki, angry spirits, that were clawing the life from the living after dark. Matsumoto Eiko proved herself and they could see that her techniques were quite effective, using salt to bound the space the gaki could operate in, and her weapon, blessed with jade, to dispel the evil ghosts. Searching outside the village and following traces of the gaki, the party found a Kitsu shugenja who had been unfamiliar to them. He was using his magics to lock in place the spectral form of an ancient Akodo warrior. While the warrior writhed, the gaki tore into the ancestor. It was clear they wanted to damage or destroy him.

The party was able to disrupt the Kitsu and battle the gaki. Just before they could slay the Kitsu completely, he turned into a swarm of bees and flew away, stinging their exposed hands and faces before he vanished. The ancestor, in a mild, tired voice, thanked them and told them he was returning 'home' to his wife.

When the party returned to the village, they learned that the unmarked grave where the shugenja had been was rumored to be that of the fourth follower of Akodo, and Matsu's husband. The Kitsu had sought to weaken her by destroying the kharmic link between the two by corrupting the spirit, who had been unknown and not reverenced for so long.

After another nights sleep, they continued on, running into normal bandits and the like, but no other major challenges until they reached Unicorn Lands, and the Iron Citadel.
 
 
The village in Unicorn lands itself was unremarkable....a mismatched array of disorganized houses hunched with stiff walls against the wind. But, looming above the village, though at least a mile distance, rose the rusting, crumbling edifice that dominated the plains around it...the Iron Citadel. Even from afar the cold touch of fear lay its fingers on the hearts of the magistrates as they approached.

Before approaching the citadel, they first rode through the village and asked for directions to the home of the old Jade Champion. The villagers directed them to a somewhat larger home on the edge of town.

They were met at the door by a middle-aged Togashi. He wore his long hair in a graying topknot and his clothes were simple. The wakizashi he carried and the coiling of green and gold dragon tattoos winding around his arms told his family and rank. He introduced himself as Togashi Hachi. He begged their forgiveness, but the Jade Champion was sleeping, and he would take them to her when she awakened. In the meantime, he offered them tea.

As they knelt and he laid out tea for them, he explained the current situation with the Iron Citadel.

Ever since it had been unleashed by the reading of the black scroll by Iuchi Kyoru, it has been a source of evil in the region. Animals that strayed into it would come away tainted, attacking every living thing that came near. Men, the few who dared try to take possession of fortress, left as gibbering madmen after a few days. The Jade Champion had made her home here to keep watch over the Iron Citadel and make sure its evil did not spread and none may fall into its clutches. The village had grown up in the area around her to claim the bounties given for keeping away animals and people who might venture too near. Kuni Kotori used her spells and prayers to contain the corruption, or defeat any corrupted creatures who emerged from within. However, it was taking a great toll on her, more than he ever imagined it would. He was frightened for her.

The magistrates asked many questions, but Hachi did not know why this task was growing more difficult with time. Eventually, he stood and left to check on the shugenja. Discovering she had awakened and was willing to see them, he invited them in.

From everything they had learned, Kuni Kotori should have been a woman only in her mid-forties. But the woman lying under the heavy blankets on her futon looked as though she were eighty years old, her hair brittle and gray streaked with white, her hands lined with veins and her face worn with wrinkles. Her eyes were tired, but crinkled with a gentle smile. Her voice was similarly worn. "It is good to see that the capital is still responding with its typical haste." Ayame hastened to begin an apology, but the shugenja just held up her hand. "No, no. I understand. I am just glad you are here. I'm sure Hachi-san has told you want he could. He has taken such very good care of me, though I know he is being called back to the mountains."

Togashi Hachi modestly looked away, saying nothing. Kotori continued.

"I have fought the citadel for so long, I do not know if I am fighting to destroy it or fighting to keep it standing. But I have fought it, and I feel that my battle with it is coming to an end. Have you come to ward it? "

Matsumoto Eiko stepped forward. "I will do what I can with my wards....and to find out, if possible, what is causing the corruption to grow worse. I'm...not very skilled...at this sort of investigation, and I am sorry that this was all the Emerald Champion could send. But I swear I will do my best." She straightened. "Does the town have salt?"

Hachi nodded. "Hai."

"I will need probably all of it."

Kuni Kotori watched from her bed for a moment or two longer, and finally said, "I...think...I have been holding back a great evil from coming into the world. The scrolls are not safe. Tell him...Tell the Emerald Champion...that their power is coming forth. Tell him to be prepared...the storm is here. I see before me the flash of lightening in the distance. The full force of its fury will be upon us...with the sound of thunder. Tell him..." Her voice quavered into silence, and Hachi hastened to her side to soothe her.

"Go...go...hurry. Take what you must, but go!"

The magistrates hurried out of the Jade Champion's house and into town. Gray clouds rolled on the horizon. The magistrates dispersed across the village to procure their supplies of salt. The villagers brought out all their precious supplies, driven by the magistrates' urgency. A line of villagers bearing baskets and boxes were bearing the salt from the village towards the Iron Citadel when Asahina Ayame froze, startled, her eyes wide. "The kami....beware....a spell!"

At that moment, a huge earthquake set the ground to rolling like a tempest tossed sea. The villagers and magistrates alike were knocked to the ground with its power. After a few seconds, the sounds of their cries were drowned in a thundering din, a wrenching of metal and crashing of stone. The air became nearly unbreathable as dust enveloped them, and they could see nothing. Though it lasted less than a minute the shaking of the land seemed to roll on forever. Even after they stopped and slowly climbed unsteadily to their feet, they could not see well around them for several more minutes due to the dust that hung in the air.

Once the dust settled and the samurai got to their feet, it was clear that the earthquake had been devastating. Instead of the hulking ruin that had dominated the skyline, only a pile of rubble remained. Turning back towards the village, it was clear that many houses had collapsed. The villagers all broke, running towards the village to retrieve their belongings and find the (fortunately) few that had not joined in carrying salt.

The magistrate decided to hurry and gather the salt they could themselves and carried it to the rubble, trusting the villagers to have the task there in hand and allowing no risk of something evil to arrive from the tumbled stones. Matsumoto Eiko surrounded the ruins with wards of salt and jade, and Ayame chanted her prayers. All the magistrates examined every inch of the fallen keep but found no trace of creatures of the shadowlands or the caster of the earthquake spell.

They returned to the village empty handed. Already the ashigaru of the Unicorn were preparing to move on, always far more nomadic by nature than the heimen of other clans. There were four pyres being prepared for nightfall...fortunately only those too old and infirm to have made it out of the buildings that collapsed. The magistrates reached the home of the Jade Champion...and to their grief, found that little remained. Togashi Hachi sat wearily before the ruins of the building. Behind it, the broken boards of the home had already been built into one last large pyre of its own.

The magistrates bowed to him in grief and respect, each offering their condolences. Hachi accepted their regrets stoically.

Asahina Ayame presided over the funerals of the villagers and the Jade Champion, calling upon the kami of fire to light their way towards their final rest. When the last of the sparks had dispersed into the night sky, they met with Hachi a final time.

He carried a small travel pack over his shoulder and a walking staff in his hand, preparing to leave. Before he departed, he spoke to them, primarily to Moto Koshi. "Koshi-san....I knew your father. I think he should be told of what happened here. It seems to me that this has to do with the journeys we undertook and the enemies we fought, long ago. My heart is too tired and grieved to tell such stories, and my Lord has summoned me back to him now my duties here are done. Tell your father, and he may be able to explain more. I cannot explain it yet...these are koans to me. Travel safely on your way back to Otosan Uchi. We always end up where we started, after all."

With that they shared a respectful farewell. It seemed at that moment that the journey back to Otosan Uchi had a long, long way to go.
 
 
 
Unbeknownst to the magistrates, Iuchi Kyoru returned to her lord, the mission she had begun so many years before, the mission she had waited for so long to complete finally realized. She had been too hasty, once....eager to be the one to bring about the Dark Kami's return. And it had cost her...cost her years. But she had been forced through the trial of patience, and had learned to wait.

The time had not been right. The scrolls must be opened in order. And the new Iron Citadel could not rise until the old had fallen and her mistake was wiped clean.

Hers was not to be the glory. No army would follow her her in service to her master.

But Yogo Junzo had finally raised the citadel to the glory of Fu Leng, and the path before them was set.

It was enough.
 
 
 
The magistrates followed Moto Koshi to his father's house, and it was unlike anything they had seen before, save, of course, for Koshi himself. Moto Tsolmon had risen to a position of significance in the Moto hierarchy over the preceding years, and now held the rank, in their terms of chieftain or minor daimyo. His home was very strange to the samurai of Rokugan. He lived in an extremely large circular tent, made of leather and furs braced with wood, so tall that it stood in two layers, the main body or floor of the tent, and second story of the tent that formed a ring around its inner edge. The ceiling held a hole through which smoke could escape. Moto Tsolmon and his family and honored guests were invited to sleep in the upper tier, while, on cold nights especially, his followers would sleep on the ground around the fire. Especially the Mirumoto and the Asahina were wide-eyed with wonder. On this night, the tent was particularly crowded, and there were many magnificent horses on the lines outside.

"I regret I cannot prepare for you the feast I would like, to show you my hospitality and welcome my son home. But we face imminent attack, and my bushi anticipate battle any day now." When the magistrates inquired further, he explained. "The Dragon, the Mirumoto, led by Mirumoto Hitomi, have brought a small army into our lands. They are attacking all our villages and encampments, driving their force deeper and deeper into our territories. They kill every messenger we send to negotiate with them or scout we use to find out what she is seeking. The Daimyo of the Otaku, Otaku Kamoko-sama, is on her way here with an army of our own to stop her. I am hosting the Battle Maidens' forward scouts." He looked across the group of magistrates, his eyes settling on Mirumoto Kenuchio. "The scouts would have killed you if not for the sigil of the Emerald Champion you carry." The older Moto raised his hand and thoughtfully stroked his beard, falling silent for a moment.

"It...may be that your daimyo, Mirumoto-san and companion of my son, would show similar hesitation to kill you. I have no desire for warfare with the Dragon. It is clear even to us in these distant lands that the true threats to the Empire lie with the Crab and the Shadowlands creatures they have unleashed." He frowned, "And I have my own thoughts about that. I am not political. But if we were to but know what it was that is causing Hitomi's wrath, we can turn her anger away from us. Surely there are others who have better earned her ire."

He fixed Kenuchio in his dark eyes. "You can go and ask her, where we can not."

Kenuchio, torn and rather alarmed at the actions his daimyo was taking, still was eager to defend her. "She has more reason than anyone to seek to crush Hida Yakamo. She must have a good reason for attacking."

Tsolmon nodded. "Perhaps. Though the world has gone mad. Please, then, I ask you...all of you, to go to the Daimyo of the Dragon today. I beg you to see if you can arrange a meeting between Mirumoto Hitomi-sama and Otaku Kamoko-sama. Send word back, and I will arrange with Kamoko-sama to meet you. Koshi-kun, you will prove hostage to my word, and Kenuchio-san, you will be able to verify the truth of who we are and our intentions. Ayame-san, the Asahina have a long reputation of advocates for peace. Your presence will bless such a negotiation also. And Izuko-san, I understand if you wish to stay here, but it may be that your presence will remind Hitomi-sama, gently, that she has other enemies to fight. It is good fortune that brought you here. I ask you, companions of my son, would you be willing to try to arrange such a thing?"

The magistrates agreed, knowing it was unlikely, given the situation in the empire, that a higher ranked and more suitable group of magistrates could be found in time to stop more bloodshed. They departed before dawn, following the Otaku scouts' directions to the Dragon encampment. They were brought by Mirumoto bushi to the tent of Hitomi, Kenuchio in the lead.

They were greeted with impatience and suspicion as they pleaded that the Unicorn respected the Dragon but did not know the reason for their quarrel and their attacks on the Unicorn lands. While Hitomi gave little of her own emotions away, her advisers, especially an elderly adviser in yellow and gold kimono with a long mustache named Agasha Sano, argued that the magistrates themselves should be ignored or even killed for advocating for the Unicorn and ending Hitomi's effort. They claimed they had proof the Unicorn had allied with the Shadowlands and the Obsidian Crab, and as such, presented a grave threat to the Dragon and the whole Empire.

However, Koshi offered himself as a hostage for his father's good behavior, and Kenuchio and Ayame pleaded for a meeting so that these charges could be discussed. If there were taint or conspiracy to ally with the Crab among the Unicorn, the Unicorn daimyo needed to know. Izuko kept silent, but her presence was a quiet reminder to Hitomi of her hatred for Yakamo, her true enemy. Finally, she told her advisers that she would meet with Kamoko and, if need be, duel the battle maiden for allowing Shadowlands corruption in her lands.

Ayame and Koshi stayed with Hitomi, while Kenuchio and Izuko and Eiko returned to Tsolmon. Tsolmon dispatched riders to Kamoko and the negotiation was arranged for the next morning.

The meeting was held on a rocky outcropping, where the Dragon claimed the high ground, the Unicorn the plains below. A tent had been prepared to provide privacy the daimyo, who entered accompanied by their advisors. The magistrates sat to the side, aware of their low rank and their duty not to interfere. There was a period of anger and blustering and accusations, but the heart of the Dragon's claim came out. The Dragon had learned of the Iron Citadel in this region of the Unicorn Lands, and believed it was a Shadowlands source of corruption and the goal of Yakamo's drive north into the heart of the Empire, for Yakamo was surely driving north with anger and purpose. The Dragon believed he was moving his army into the Iron Citadel, and given the Crab's skill at defense, and the Unicorn's support, he would never be able to be dislodged from the northern part of the Empire and could attack from there at his leisure. The Iron Citadel was an endless font of power and corruption for him. Hitomi's advisor, Agasha Sano, was particularly passionate in these arguments. Otaku Kamoko tried to defend the Unicorn's position. She knew of the Iron Citadel and its origin, but did not know of its destruction, and her arguments were weak and she was growing impatient.

Fortunately, the magistrates were able to politely chime in that while the source of the Citadel was uncertain, the Citadel had recently been completely destroyed, and no trace of the Shadowlands remained in the area. At this Agasha Sano grew even more agitated and passionate, claiming the Magistrates were clearly lying and urging Hitomi to end the negotiations immediately. Hitomi stopped and turned to look at him suspiciously, though she said nothing. It seemed, perhaps, that she was surprised, or insulted, at Sano's response to such an easily verifiable claim. She made a gesture to two of her guards, and then to Sano, instructing them silently to take the Agasha under guard. Then she demanded Kamoko take five Dragon Samurai to the site of the Iron Citadel to inspect it, which Kamoko agreed to do. Then Hitomi sat down on the floor of the tent and began to wait.

The Unicorn looked at one another uncertainly, and, eventually, filtered in and out to do their daily tasks. Kamoko was restless, but not to be outdone, so she also waited in the tent, but allowed herself to be interrupted with discussion with her men when they came to her for orders or to bring her food. No such courtesy was extended to the Magistrates, so they kept face as best they could. It was a long wait. Most of the day and the following night later, the scouts returned and Hitomi stood. The scouts reported that indeed, the Citadel had been there, but was now gone, and no taint of the Shadowlands remained. Hitomi sent for Agasha Sano, but when she did so, the men she sent reported that they had found Sano's guards dead and the Agasha was missing. Hitomi scowled, and told Kamoko that Dragon would withdraw from Unicorn lands and would face Yakamo's armies directly. The Unicorn would pay if they tried to exact vengeance for the Dragon's invasions, but would be troubled no more.

Kamoko understood and Hitomi left. Kamoko thanked the magistrates, briefly and indicated that they should convey her thanks to Koshi's father, Tsolmon, and rode away with the battle maidens, leaving the group with some of Tsolmon's guards to return to Tsolmon's house.
 
The celebration Koshi's father hosted for the magistrates upon their return was even more bewildering than their first entry into his encampment. There were many people and animals, whole families, gathered in the huge tent. There was rice, but little, compared to a wide variety of strange foods that the other magistrates had to decide how they would adjust to (reactions varied). A strange, alcoholic beverage that smelled terrible and tasted worse was very popular...fermented mare's milk. Even the music was strange. It seemed to be pleasing to Tsolmon to provide a bit of a shock to his son's companions, and share with them a taste of the world beyond the norms of Rokugan.
 
It was a little much for Hiruma Izuko. She stepped outside the tent for some air, and was glad to be out of the heat and strange environment. So she was out there when a low-ranking samurai, looking pleased, moved to enter the camp carrying a large porcelain bottle, and she stopped him. "A gift from Otaku Kamoko-sama for her loyal samurai, Moto Tsolmon. Real sake from Friendly Traveler Village! We hardly ever receive such a prize!"
 
Izuko recognized him as one of Tsolmon's folllowers, who had been assisting in serving for most of the evening, but her time on the wall had taught her to trust her instincts. "When did it arrive?" she asked.
 
"One of the Iuchi with her dropped it off. She said she needed to leave quickly, however, and couldn't stay." Izuko followed the Moto into the tent, and sat down next to Tsolmon as the sake was presented. She let herself at least to pretend to be drunk, and after Tsolmon had praised the sake and Kamoko, she snatched it from his hand to take the first swig, declaring that she, as Crab, deserved a taste of home.
 
Her intuition proved true as she could feel the tingling sensation of a poison of some sort. It was subtle, certainly not something that would be detectable to those not already familiar with the smooth Friendly Traveller variety of sake. But she was familiar. Normally, each samurai would take a cup of such a valuable trade-good and pass the bottle around, but instead of passing it, Izuko immediately dashed the poison to the ground, spilling it across the rugs. She bowed deeply and made profuse apologies to Tsolmon. Then she turned to Asahina Ayame and requested her healing.
 
Tsolmon was more confused than angry, for he was an even-tempered man, and he cleared space for Izuko to lie down. Ayame monitored her as the poison took its grip. It was a long night, but Izuko's endurance was strong and Ayame was a skilled healer. She lived, and it was very clear to all why she had spilled out the sake. The Iuchi who had given the sake was never found.
 
Once Izuko had recovered, Tsolmon summoned the magistrates a last time. He told them of the true reason for requesting Satsume to send a magistrate to him. It was, in part, the deteriorating condition of the Jade Champion and the Iron Citadel, but in truth it was more. He explained that, when he was a young man, he traveled with the Jade Champion and learned of a conspiracy of traitors among each of the clans, traitors who sought the Black Scrolls and traitors determined to bring Fu Leng into power within the Empire. He told of a Kuni that tried to allow the Wall to be overrun, a Unicorn who had unleashed the Iron Citadel, a Lion who attempted to assassinate Doji Satsume himself, a Scorpion ninja, and a Crane who had tried to blow up the Emperor and the Imperial Court. He had suspected others among the Phoenix and Dragon also, but had no proof.
 
Tsolmon had come to suspect that at least some of these traitors that they had thought dead were, in fact, still active in the world. He was not sure that it was possible, but he had been patrolling with his men and came upon the body of a peasant near the Iron Citadel. Hiding nearby was the heiman's young son. The boy described a huge, muscled man who wore the facepaint and mons of a Kuni. The man killed the boy's father with a terrible spell when he realized realized he was being watched, but missed the boy who was shorter than the height of the grass. The man matched the description of one of the traitors that Tsolmon had thought dead, and not long after that the statue of Iuchi Kyoru, the Unicorn traitor, crumbled into dust within the Iron Citadel. That was when Tsolmon decided to send his son to Satsume. The Scorpion Clan Coup and later chaos in the Empire only served to further his suspicions.
 
It was a thin thread of suspicion, but with a traitor in the Dragon spurring on Hitomi, and the madness throughout the Empire...it was a possible source? Tsolmon didn't know. Now that Doji Satsume was dead, Tsolmon knew little more and didn't know what to recommend to the Magistrates. Perhaps they could take word to Toshimoko, or, if they dared, venture to find more about the Crab army led by Yakomo. Hitomi would be moving towards the Crab soon...."
 
The magistrates thanked Tsolmon for his information and departed, deciding to meet with Hitomi and see if she would be willing to allow them to travel with her. She accepted them (in surly fashion) but was somewhat grateful that they had saved her further loss of face so she permitted them to travel with her. They learned that Dragons scouts had travelled to Beiden pass to prepare to meet Yakamo's army, and were surprised to find that Yakamo's goal seemed to be a small contingent of Crab samurai holed up in the Keep at Beiden Pass who were preparing to hold the pass against Yakamo against all odds. The scouts, of course, did not give themselves away to enter, but Hitomi was determined to reach the pass before Yakamo broke through, and perhaps those Crab in the keep would know more. She dismissed them and allowed them to follow her army as she marched onwards towards Beidan Pass.