Heavenfall

There might have been fewer people, but there was also a new face, a haggard young man wearing tattered robes, bits and bones dangling from his garments. Waving his hand to greet everyone as he took a seat by the fire, asking the hostess if he could still join, having not been present on the earlier...

"I mean, not like we are running out of space any time soon. I walked to Seidou lands from the north and well, there isn't much there. A lot of places where you could put up a village, if you had the people. Arable land? Different story. Then again, do they even grow crops?" The rat-rats back home f...

"Not something I'd like to dwell on." the young man murmured, shaking his head. "And if so, what guarantees that they won't need more land. I mean, there's only so much you can eat underground, yes?"

"This one doesn't look like doing much growing." Yogo noted dryly, patting the wall. "The rat-man I talked said that their realm is in ruins. Because of Fu Leng." he coughed softly. "So no, I suppose they have no reason to love us, let alone like us. We are here for the spirit that ruined them."

"I think it's bit too humid here, but I guess you could find someone willing to relocate?" Yogo sounded bit suspicious, pressing his hand against the wall. "They don't seem too friendly either." he added, glancing nervously around. "I understood that the Seidou and the rat-people don't get along too...

"Ah, the followers of Shonjo? No, Shinjo!" the young man snapped his fingers as he worked to recall the name. "Doesn't look too hospitable to me, though." Glancing around, Yogo nodded at the long winding tunnel. "Haven't really been underground before. Can't say I am fond of the experience. It's bit...

"Uh-huh." The young man nodded. "Why?" he asked. "We are just passing by, aren't we?" Why would you need a map of a place you weren't planning to visit again? This place wasn't nearly comfy enough to warrant a second visit as far as he was concerned. "Uh... I see." Yogo replied, totally not seeing w...

A scrawny figure came around the corning, almost bumping into Jin before managing to dance out his way with all the grace of a drunk ogre. "Uhh, my apologies!" the young man stuttered, bracing himself against the wall. "What are you doing?" he asked the other man, eyeing her parchment suspiciously.

Chisei looked at Yogo, frowning curiously. "Ummm. Society meaning our shared culture, with the Kami. Rules being what that society considers appropriate. Besides the obvious, like prohibition against murder, it also includes the proper ways to greet each other. And many other things, such as what K...

"Take care." he bobbed his head at Umeno before allowing his body sink deeper into the hot water.

/scene

Chisei listened, noting the names she spoke, a flicker of recognition at the first. He cleared his throat. "We are bound by the rules of our shared society, of course. The exploration of ideas requires that everyone be able to express themselves, and while we might ask that someone try to push thei...

She tilts her head at his comment and explains, "It is a... gruesome thing to describe, and I'm sure you'll see it too, as we march forward. That's why I prefer not to talk about it. Unless, of course, you're just being judgemental and consider I may be not speaking the truth. If this is the case, ...

"You are right. We don't know. Your charms may be perfect, and make you the most protected person here. Though, all the magic I know, save one, relies on blood being spilt, and I don't think there is any more blood in your charms. Unless they are better if bled on? That might work, I suppose..." Ky...

"Hmhm. Not even Bayushi?" he asked, an eyebrow raising a little. "Hum. More fighting you say. And I thought you were bitter about the danger we are heading to - or being sent to." He remained sitting when she stood up, glancing at Umeno only when she spoke again. "Hmhm. May you find all the blood yo...

"Your charms, clever though they are, are only of a few elements, yes? The jade is, somehow, able to include all the elements in it. No, I do not know how, but it does. Which seems to have effects on spirits, including the Yuki Onna, and others. And others have suggested that it will also act upon ...

"It can be found as many other sorts of stones can be found." Chisei put in with a frown. "There are mines for jade. I know the Seidou recently opened one. It may be that there is extra, somewhere." Gently, he shook his head again. "I do not know if your charms have some protective properties. But ...

"Don't we all." he gave her a marked look. "Mayhaps you will have a chance to change your destiny during all this." The young man waved his hand in the general direction of the camp.

"As noted, I'm not sure. Something... something... spirits! Have you encountered any wandering spirits that might show it works, or not? What about spirits like the Yuki Onna? Um, do you know of the Yuki Onna?" "Maybe somehow." the younger man shrugged. "They've worked well enough so far." He was r...

He still kept his distance to her, just in case. "I see. That is unfortunate." the young man sighed softly. "I never knew my parents. My father.. adoptive father says he found me in the woods." Yogo had his reasons to doubt this story, but since the other villagers seemed to agree that his father ha...

"While I am not trained enough to see it clearly, somehow, I feel there is a flaw in your charms." Kyosei pulls out a small jade figure. It is carved into the shape of a bent finger, each joint carefully showing. "How do you know that?" The young man asked, sounding somewhat upset. "As far as I can...