Session Report: 17 December 2021
Akegata Shinbun's Pilot Story!
General Summary
In this session of Tsuwamono, the following items transpired:
Objects of Interest: Caves of Life????年??月??日
Caves of Life
Historical Entry: Objects of Interest: Caves of Life
The list below comprises a record of Objects of Interest (OI) discovered during the Hashinara Clan's first expedition into the Caves of Life. OI1, OI2, and OI5 are considered to pose a low level of risk. OI3 is confirmed to be a high-risk object. OI4's risk level remains unknown. List compiled automatically by: Askaenos, Servant of Mēn To be delivered to Oyama Hikari at first possible opportunity.OI1: Brass Decanter
Risk Level: Low Description: A crude brass vessel designed to hold an unknown liquid (possibly water). Bears an engraving of a whale. High detail, but symbology unknown. Confirmed to be non-magical. No supernatural effects detected. Retrieval: Discovered by Oyama Hikari and Ryūzaki Sanosuke in an abandoned storage room within the Caves of Life. Weak treasure response.OI2: Jewelry Box
Risk Level: Low Description: A wooden jewelry box designed to hold a single ring. Simple design with no carvings, but bears a large black jewel on its lid. Interior is velvet or velvet-equivalent fabric. Ring is missing. Confirmed to be non-magical. However, inlaid jewel may be effective at storing and channeling magical energy. No supernatural effects detected. Recommendation: Channel magical energy into inlaid jewel. Observe response. Retrieval: Discovered by Oyama Hikari and Ryūzaki Sanosuke in an abandoned storage room within the Caves of Life. Weak treasure response.OI3: Void Mirror
Risk Level: High Description: A black mirror surrounded by wrought metal. Approximately 1.5 meters tall. Covered by a cloth at time of discovery. Confirmed to be highly magical with aspects of Dream and Void. Supernatural effects observed (see addendum). Recommendation: Avoid visual contact with mirror's surface at all times. Retrieval: Discovered by Oyama Hikari and Ryūzaki Sanosuke in an abandoned storage room within the Caves of Life. Source of strongest treasure response. Addendum - Observed Effects on Hashinara Yoshiyuki: Following retrieval and magical appraisal, OI3 was set in the middle of the room while party discussed further options. Party designates individuals present at the time of event: Oyama Hikari, Hashinara Yoshiyuki, Matsumoto Ooawagaeri Ryūzaki Sanosuke, Umashiashikabihikoji (Unconscious), and Zvonimira. A gust of wind (source unknown) shifted the cloth covering over OI3, causing it to fall away. Ryūzaki Sanosuke grabbed the cloth and replaced it, but in the fraction-second window, Hashinara Yoshiyuki's line of vision made contact with the surface of the mirror. Hashinara Yoshiyuki observed to "fall apart." To elaborate: The Daimyō's body vanished, leaving three items in its place. These were catalogued as:- OI3-1: A mask
- OI3-2: A robe
- OI3-3: A black heart
OI4: Ichtyoid Creature
Risk Level: Unknown Description: An enormous creature housed within a chamber in the Caves of Life. Approximately 11.5 meters in length. Fills nearly the entire room and, notably, is far too large to fit through either of the chamber's entrances. Rear body similar to a deep-sea fish with black scales, large red eyes (presumed sightless) and a head-dominating mouth with sharp teeth obviously designed for predation. Forward body resembles a Human from the waist up, but is twice the size of an average of the species. Black scales extend to cover the forebody and a red fin acts in place of "hair." Resemblance to human subject deemed superficial, but not coincidental. OI4 was inert at the time of discovery, presumed dead. However, no signs of decomposition were present. Recommendation: Removal for further study impractical. Treat with caution and avoid. Retrieval: Not retrieved. Discovered by Oyama Hikari and Ryūzaki Sanosuke in transit from abandoned storage room to rejoin with Party. Physical contact avoided through supernatural acrobatics. No treasure response.OI5: Discarded Parchment
Risk Level: Low Description: A piece of parchment covered in writing and sketches on both side. Markings appear to be charcoal and material appears to be mundane, but neither show signs of decomposition. Front side contains scribbled ramblings; currently indecipherable, language unknown. Rear side shows a detailed drawing similar to murals discovered elsewhere in the Caves of Life. Illustration depicts a city with architecture. No match found for architectural style on Earth. Large, bristling black wolves surround city on every side. A titanic figure stands over the city, holding a spear with a crescent at its point, but cowers in the face of the wolves. Spear is raised defensively. Retrieval: Discovered by Ryūzaki Sanosuke and possibly Zvonimira (presence difficult to confirm) in an abandoned cupboard northeast of room then containing OI3. Confirmed non-magical. Supernatural effects are unknown. Ryūzaki Sanosuke reported a sense of sharp-wittedness upon observing the parchment. Connection unknown.1559年11月16日 18:00 (Evening)
Ago Manor
Historical Entry: Snatched from Another World: A Demon's True Account of Theft Beyond the Veil of Sleep
明方 新聞
Akegata Shinbun
Pilot Story: Snatched from Another World: A Demon's True Account of Theft Beyond the Veil of Sleep
Welcome to the very first story published by Akegata Shinbun, Japan's first newspaper. The Dreamlands are on everyone's mind right now, what with that First Hashinara Expansion Order that went around not long ago. That's why, for our launch story, we'll be looking into a story that suggests the veil between our world and that of dreams maybe isn't as thick as you might think!
Here's our guest journalist, Marquis of Envy, Lady Shax:
Do you really want me to write this? Are you sure? It won't be nice. Well then...
I was particularly bored that day. You see, the Daimyō of the Hashinara Clan (that's like a Duke for you Demons out there) released my from my centuries-long prison and then promptly buggered off to some other world. Most summoners ask for my help in stealing great riches, or the souls of their enemies, but this one hardly had a word for me. So, I had to find my own entertainment.
When I first got let out of that damnable bottle, I met a young man from Albion. He was exactly the kind of hapless, stuck-up sort that I love to toy with. I stole his voice then, but was ordered to give it back. That's why, why I thought about having some fun, his was the first mug to pop into my mind. It wasn't hard to convince someone to give me a lift to Ago Manor, where I knew I'd find "Lord" Maxim.
He was just sitting around in his room when I arrived. Exactly how I thought I'd find him. I've met rulers like him before, and they talk big but mostly just stand around and object whenever you suggest anything remotely interesting. That's what I expected him to do now. See, I'd been thinking a lot on the way over to Ago. It seems like that Yoshitakatomo girl could get us in a lot of trouble (read: entertainment to break up the mediocrity of my hell-banished existence), but she was stolen away by the Dreamlands before we ever got a chance. So, what if I stole something back?
I'd gotten a pretty good idea of how I was going to do it, but I needed someone who had been to the Dreamlands before. Someone with a little bit of a bond I could abuse. Conveniently, Maxim had been there at least once. I could smell it on him, just like I could smell the sulfur from Gehenna all over his soul. Of course, he wasn't interested. Mortals are always so touchy about their souls. Mention that you're going to poke around in their essence and they get all up in arms. He told me to get lost.
I made a dignified exit and started thinking about how I could get back at him. Maybe I'd steal the loyalty of his most trusted commanders. Or maybe I'd wipe those good looks off his face, literally. Come to think of it, hadn't he gotten more handsome since I last saw him? I mean, way more handsome, a real blonde bombshell. But I'm getting off track. He was going to regret turning me away. I'd make sure he thought twice about doing so again.
Or I was going to, but he called me back. It seems Maxim isn't as dumb as his slack-chiseled jaw and empty blue eyes would suggest. He'd be willing to try after all. Not to say that letting me fish around in his soul was the intelligent option, but making an enemy of me would be even worse. I didn't have any ulterior motives anyway. This time.
I came up on him and reached around. Having four arms is useful for things like this (if the cretin who stole my other two is reading, I'm not finished with you), and I found his soul's bond to the Dreamlands right away. After that, it was just a matter of sending some magic out and finding someone who'd had their own interactions with someone from this world. It wasn't hard. Those idiots had been all over at least one of the major cities. I got a good grip, pulled, and—
Look, I won't say it wasn't embarrassing, but when your whole existence is a two-arms-missing embarrassment, you get used to it. I fell over. My crows went everywhere. Some hussy from the Dreamlands popped out of the air and collapsed into Maxim's arms. Dark skin, beautiful features, and a shapely body. Disgusting. Reminded me of some of those insufferable Lust demons back home.
Maxim seemed happy enough, animal that he is. The girl, "Jorani the Whitesmith," apparently, had no idea what was going on. I enjoyed her stammering and confusion for a little bit and bided my time. Then, when Maxim offered to take her home, I drove the nails in. She wouldn't be going home. Rather, because I stole her from the Dreamlands, this was her home now. Go back to that side and she'd start to waste away. The expression on her face was priceless. It's times like these that I love the perks of being an Envy Demon.
Of course, the two managed to work it out anyway. I guess Jorani was just worried about not finishing her last job and Maxim offered to send someone over to Baharna to sort it out. Other than that, she was delighted to be here on Earth, with all the new sights and sounds. Ugh. Some people can really see the silver lining in anything, and it makes me want to—
I doubt they'll print that last part, but use your imagination. That's about it. And before you get any ideas, no human is going to be able to do anything like this. I'm an Archdemon. You know that, right? I've had millennia to practice my magic. So don't get any ideas about the Veil of Sleep being thin or whatever. Got it?
So there you have it. Thank you for your contribution, Shax, and we hope you'll be willing to write for us again in the future! In our guest journalist's expert opinion, the veil between our world and that of dreams really is just as thick as you might think. At least we learned that demons aren't always out to get you! You can definitely trust them every once in a while. Maybe. Thanks for reading, and look forward to the official first volume of Akegata Shinbun, printing in all major cities tomorrow!
1559年11月16日 18:00 (Evening)
Owari Castle
Historical Entry: Owari no Exodus
Leaving the mysterious iron-red key on his floor for the moment, Aotsuki Tsukamoto instead took his business to Owari Castle. It was the opinion of Saitō Dōsan that young Akechi Mitsutoshi would be the person to ask about all matters of demonology. Upon his arrival with Shigeaki Fujino, however, Aotsuki immediately discerned that something was wrong. It was far too quiet. Owari Castle's ramparts, which should have been manned at any hour in these turbulent times, were entirely bare. Only a single ashigaru guard stood at the steps leading to the castle's entrance. Though armed, he would prove no resistance at all to a dedicated invading force, or even a single powerful enemy general. A seed of worry began to sprout within Aotsuki's heart. Moving to the startled ashigaru, he asked what exactly was going on here. At first, the guard didn't know what he meant. To him, everything was in order. Further questioning did eventually elicit the reason for the castle's empty state. Put simply, the entirety of the Oda Clan had left. All but Akechi Mitsutoshi, who served as the castle's custodian in their absence. It was fortunate for Aotsuki that the one man he wanted to speak to was who had stayed behind. However, the sudden exodus from Owari was still concerning. According to the guard, they had departed for the lands of central Japan to join the Takeda Clan in their assault on the Uesugi. Although Takeda Shingen's requests for aid had gone unheeded by the Hashinara Clan, Shōemon had ensured that the Oda Clan would fight at their side. Fortunately, it seemed that the castle was not as ill-protected as it first seemed. The guard admitted that he himself was something of a formality. The real protection was a magicked barrier, cast by Akechi Mitsutoshi, which would alert them of any interlopers or invading force. Hopefully, the warning would come in enough time for them to request Hashinara reinforcements to be teleported in. Aotsuki couldn't fault this strategy, but it presented a new problem. Could he simply walk in? Would the barrier stop him? No, it was only an alarum. The young lord entered the castle without incident while Fujino vanished off to some other task. Owari Castle's entry hall was, not surprisingly, as deserted as the rest of the grounds. Aotsuki was not forced to wait long, however, before Akechi Mitsutoshi arrived. The young was flushed and a little out of breath. Indeed, he gave Aotsuki the impression of a boy left to care for the house while his parents were away on business: awkward and out of his depth, but earnest. A quick discussion with Mitsutoshi confirmed much of what Aotsuki had heard from the guard. When the Cardinal Generals had last visited Owari, the Oda Clan was in shambles. Oda Nobunaga's departure had left them with no leader to cleave to and there was much dispute on who was worthy to take her place. Fortunately, Shōemon's return to the clan seemed to have quelled the situation. That farm girl had always been more than she appeared. Under her leadership, they had rallied together and departed with haste to join the Takeda Clan on the battlefield of Central Japan. Indeed, when Aotsuki thought it through, that course of action itself might be a tactic to reinforce the clan's tenuous bonds. Unfortunately, Mitsutoshi was less able to shed light on Aotsuki's demonic key situation. He offered that merely accepting a key was likely not enough of an action to enter into a contract with a Demon. However, even he could not say for certain. Although Oda Nobunaga herself had pioneered the field of demonology in Japan, it was still a very new field for even the most brilliant of occultists. Throughout the conversation, Aotsuki had been delivering snippets of information to Tōdaisen Nobuhara, adviser at Wakigami Castle. The erstwhile onmyōji now returned with his own suggestion: why not ask a demon? The Hashinara Clan had experienced more than a few encounters with the infernal by this point, both as friend and ally. Indeed, Shax should still be kicking around Wakigami Castle somewhere. Should being the key word. With no small amount of concern, Nobuhara delivered news that the miserable demoness was nowhere to be found. With her bound master, Hashinara Yoshitakatomo, away in the Dreamlands, there was no telling what Shax could get up to unsupervised. With a kind farewell to Mitsutoshi, Aotsuki made a hasty departure to Wakigami. When he arrived, the young lord did not look for Shax, however. Her absence was worrying, true. However, it was also quite frankly none of Aotsuki's business. That was a Yoshitakatomo Problem. Instead, Aotsuki determined to follow up on a promise he'd made not long ago. He made his way through the general quarters to Minamoto no Yoshitsune's room. The legendary warrior was seated next to her window, enjoying the evening air. At Aotsuki's knock, she bid him enter and relax with her. Together, they watched the moon rise as Aotsuki described the reason for his visit. Indeed, Minamoto no Yoshitsune had been feeling a fell presence around Wakigami Castle. It felt much like a foe she remembered from her distant past: one Taira no Kiyomori , who had cursed both herself and Musashibō Benkei with his dying breath. That admission brought about a realization in Aotsuki. Yoshitsune did not know that Kiyomori still lived. His presence in the castle, and that of his associates in the Black Ocean Society must be behind the malaise Yoshitsune was feeling. In some depth, Aotsuki went on to describe the encounter he and his companions had faced with Kiyomori beneath Wakigami Castle. That had been to sort out some business over the Matsumoto Family's succession, but it absolutely indicated that Kiyomori had some manner of hideout within the castle. Immediately, Yoshitsune's demeanor raised from relaxed to alert. The way forward was clear to her. As soon as Aotsuki was ready, they would collect Benkei and find this hidden chamber. Then, they would put an end to Kiyomori for the final time. This, perhaps, was a bit more than Aotsuki had bargained for. Still, he owed no loyalty to the Black Ocean Society, and he had given Benkei his word. He agreed.
Report Date
17 Dec 2021
Primary Location
Secondary Location
Related Plots
Related Characters
- Abe no Seimei
- Akechi Mitsutoshi
- Aotsuki Tsukamoto
- Hashinara Yoshitakatomo
- Inheritor of the Sunken City
- Jorani the Whitesmith
- Matsumoto Ooawagaeri
- Maxim
- Minamoto no Yoshitsune
- NPC
- Ōtomo Sōrin
- Oyama Hikari
- Shax
- Shigeaki Fujino
- Sunken Cultist
- Tanahase Muramatsu
- The Scavenger
- Tōdaisen Nobuhara
- Umashiashikabihikoji
- Yatsukahagi
- Zvonimira
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