The Butt Rock (LA, D13)

[Ongaku no Ryoko]

Ryoko, face turning a little purple from exertion, and the hunched form of her drummer, Tago the ogre, came into view around one of the supply carts, with the damn rock in hand.

Why on earth they had felt compelled to bring it, even they didn't know, yet here it was.

A big flat rock.

Bringing it over to the tent, the set it down, Ryoko gasping with relief, Tago just grunting and then stomping away grumpily.

Ryoko watched him go with a rueful expression. She'd need to get him something nice for dinner to pay him back.

Still... it was here. Where it belong. Somehow it felt right... though she wondered why.

Settling onto the stone, she sighed, catching her breath.

[Shinsei]

The bustle of returning the rock wa quite hard to miss, and Shinsei eventually poked his head from within his tent to see what the fuss was about. When he saw Ryoko, and the rock, he was quite pleased.

"Ah, thank you. I would have spent quite some time looking for that if you hadn't been so kind as to bring it for me. I am in your debt."

[Kyosei of the Isawa]

"That's a lot of effort for a large stone. Is it supposed to be what is used to cap the hole?" Kyosei was sitting nearby, carving at a large jade stone. He seemed determined to be near Shinsei's tent at this time. Perhaps coincidence. Perhaps on watch.

[Ongaku no Ryoko]

Ryoko glanced between the men, first laughing at Shinsei's comment, not entirely sure if he was joking, and then glancing at the Isawa. "I don't know about that, but it does make a good seat."

With a shrug, she leaned back on the stone, giving it a pat, and then added, "Is a bit heavy though. I had to borrow space on one of the wagons for it."

[Shinsei]

"The effort is highly appreciated, Ryoko. And no, I would rather nobody throw my rock into Jigoku." Shinsei stepped out of his tent, then looked briefly up to the sky. "I am not certain we wish to remain outside and exposed for much longer, the skies look unpleasant."

[Ongaku no Ryoko]

"Unpleasant. Yes."

She frowned. "It's just rain though. No harm in it."

The first fat drops were beginning to fall, and to her surprise, it was not, in fact, just rain.

"Ow. Ow!"

Glancing around in surprise, she looked for somewhere to take cover... the rock was obviously not an option.

Well... Shinsei had a tent.

Ryoko ran to it, demanding, "Let me in! It hurts!"

[Shinsei]

Shinsei had already opened up the tent flap and stood aside to allow for easy access.

[Ongaku no Ryoko]

Ducking inside, she crowded toward the back, not sure if Kyosei planned to join them.

Wincing, she added, "What's wrong with this place! Monsters, fire rain, poisonous plants, and bad dreams... it's wretched!"

With a humph she sat, cross-legged, and glanced around the tent, never having seen the home of a supposed wise-man before, not even a mobile one like this.

[Kyosei of the Isawa]

Kyosei had been right at her heels, and squatted down immediately. "Well, that's not something I expected to have to worry about. The damage from the rain - interesting. I thought the hole was just warping the land, but this seems much more extreme."

[Shinsei]

"Farther out, yes, only the land." Shinsei closed the flap of his tent and secured it. "Further inward, closer to the wound from which the corruption seeps out, everything will be stronger. Even the land itself may eventually turn against us."

[Kyosei of the Isawa]

Kyosei thought a moment. "I don't know of any, but are there any spells that might lock the land in place? Something to make it more likely we succeed?"

[Shinsei]

"Such is not my direct area of expertise but purifying the ground itself should be possible, at least temporarily."

[Ongaku no Ryoko]

Ryoko grumbled under her breath. "Magic... rain... spirit realms... all of it should stay out away, leave us in peace."

Rubbing at the red marks on her arms where the rain had landed, she scowled.

[Kyosei of the Isawa]

"I have found, if you don't pay attention to the world, which is always changing, you will find yourself left behind." Kyosei asides to the horned girl, then turns his attention to Shinsei.

"Are you also a spirit-speaker, hooded one?"