The Jukai, Sea of Trees Report

General Summary

The group spent 4 days researching in Abe no Seimei as they waited for Vuzath to be cured of his flaw. In that time, Genji learned a little bit about Seito Hakari and the Jukai, Numa, Kita-Yama, and Tochigi Forest. Once Vuzath was healed, the group took Pietdidro and Mumei along to the Jukai. Upon entering, the group was stalked and tormented for two weeks by a band of Nopperabo, Skinwalkers who managed to abduct Benkei and Mumei, taking their place in the party. After Vuzath revealed their trickery, Pietdidro and Vuzath managed to kill one while the other fled. With Genji in tow, they tracked the fleeing Skinwalker to an underground lair guarded by hordes of black dogs. They infiltrated the lair and located their captured allies, and after an intense combat with the remaining Skinwalkers and their pack leader, they broke them free and escaped the lair. From there, they entered the Deep Woods where they were assailed by spirits and ghosts who tested the mental limits. They traveled for almost a week in the Deep Woods, encountering "The Guardian" who presented them with a riddle and allowing them passage to the Heart of the Jukai upon its completion. In the Heart of the Jukai, they finally encountered Sutoku Tenno, the Emperor of Vengeful Spirits. Upon pleading for information, he flew into a rage and demanded that they earn it. A puzzle combat ensued, wherein four different spirits representing the stages of life had to be slain in the correct order. After proving their physical prowess, Sutoku Tenno demanded tribute in the form of the afterlife of one of the party members, Vuzath and Benkei both volunteered, and willingly condemned themselves to damnation. With satisfactory tribute acquired, Sutoku Tenno explained the legend of the Yomotsugami, the being known as She Who Invites. He also explained that Sealing required life force proportional to the strength of the one being sealed, either through the casters, or from an outside source collected beforehand. With this new information, the group made to return to Abe no Seimei. However, Benkei did not have the necessary components to cast the spell.