Session Report: 22 October 2021

Journey to the Caves of Life

General Summary

In this session of Tsuwamono, the following events transpired:

Sowing the Seed of Chaos

1559年11月16日 14:30 (Afternoon)

Sumiyoshi-taisha

Historical Entry: Sowing the Seed of Chaos

The tournament was over for the day. More importantly, The White Blade of Hope: Date Masamune had been cast off of Matsumoto Ooawagaeri's trail. At least for now. They had a truce while this Masamune did some soul searching and sought to even the score against those who had brainwashed him into thinking himself The Black Blade.
There were other things to do. There always were. Still, for this particular moment, Fubuki decided to fulfill a promise. There was a shrine nearby, one Sumiyoshi-taisha. Although not particularly familiar with it, Fubuki knew at least that it was the northernmost of three shrines dedicated to the three Sumiyoshi Deities. They had something to do with fishermen, didn't they?
Regardless, Phenex had been badgering Fubuki to go to a shrine ever since their paths crossed. Now, finally, the Black Blade acquiesced.
Sumiyoshi-taisha was only a few miles outside of Shimonoseki, but it was still quicker to take Shigeaki Fujino's teleportation than travel on foot. Fubuki, Phenex, and the Blade's companions, Aka no Kitsunebi and Taira no Tokuko arrived on a rocky northern coast. In the near distance Sumiyoshi-taisha could be seen.
Although small for a temple of its renown, this place was renowned for its peculiar architecture. While Fubuki took note of the exquisite designs of the roofs, the floor was also worthy of note. It was built almost directly into the coastline. The regular crash of waves sent washes of ocean water into rivulets and canals that carved out the general shape of the shrine.
Fubuki and companions approached the shrine, but Tokuko peeled off before they arrived. She'd spotted something interesting, but would still be in the area if needed. As for the others, they were intercepted by a priestess soon after entering the gate to the temple grounds. Although somewhat put off by Phenex's intense eagerness, she directed them to the inner sanctum. The shrine proper and its offering box were there, ready for any who wished to offer up a prayer.
Thanking the woman and herding Phenex as best she* could, Fubuki continued into the sanctum. The shrine itself was positioned over a hex of solid stones surrounded by a small canal of seawater. This, apparently, was a problem. Phenex needed soil for whatever she wanted to do here. Acting against better judgement, or perhaps for some chaotic end, Fubuki helped the tiny demoness lever up a stone to reveal the moist sand underneath. Aka no Kitsunebi watched on with obvious displeasure at the sacreligious display, but did not intervene.
So exposed, the earth readily accepted the seed Phenex planted there. Fubuki had seen her carry the thing around at times before. About the size of her head, it was golden like amber and glowed slightly from within. What purpose it could serve or what it could grow into...both were unknown. The deed was done and the seed planted, so Fubuki and Phenex placed the stone block back into place.
For the first time since they met, and perhaps for the first time in her one thousand two hundred-year exile, Phenex looked relieved. Fubuki, however, still had many things demanding her* time. She* bade Aka no Kitsunebi to take their other companions and return to the Matsumoto Black Galleon. Hashinara Yoshitakatomo had sent out a call for aid in the Dreamlands and Fubuki would answer alone.

To Andahad

1559年11月16日 Afternoon?

Isle of Oriab

Historical Entry: To Andahad

Hashinara Yoshitakatomo awoke in near-total darkness. It was difficult to say how much time had passed. Still, the sun's rays were still bright in the one window illuminating the room. Time passed strangely sometimes, in the Dreamlands. Perhaps that was why Yoshitakatomo felt so refreshed, as though she* had enjoyed a full night's rest. Her* magical reserves, too, were somewhat replenished.
In the shadows across from the Daimyō, a red-masked figure stirred. It was one of Ashiya Dōman's Deep Wraiths. As an extension of Dōman himself, it had taken up post here so that the old onmyōji would know when his master was awake. The creature spoke haltingly, as though not used to having only one mouth with which to communicate. From it, Yoshitakatomo learned that the people of Queen's Landing had not been idle.
Under Dōman's direction, the pioneers had sequestered all who bore symptoms of plague far from the rest of the population. Those others now huddled in the castle, fearful of the unseen threat outside. In all, about thirty individuals had been obviously infected. A pit of disappointment yawned in Yoshitakatomo's gut. That was more than half of the population of this small pioneer town.
Making her* way outside, Yoshitakatomo saw first to the infected. They were laid out on the sands, sheets spread beneath them as they babbled and tossed fitfully. She* squatted near the closest one. This was a man, unremarkable save for the blustering words that spilled from his mouth in an endless, senseless wash. Thirty would be far too many to petrify, as she* had done with Ganzo Sada. Instead, Yoshitakatomo attempted a different magical remedy for this individual.
The spell Purification did nothing. That was not surprising, but it did rule out the possibility that this Plauge of the Flowering Mind was some manner of poison. If it were a disease, then perhaps it would not find any foothold in an undead body. Yoshitakatomo was not yet at the point of killing and then resurrecting her* subjects, but there was a spell which would halt all of a body's functions while still allowing it to act freely. This she* wove over the afflicted man.
At once, the sickening flood of words stopped. The man's eyes rolled back into his skull until all that could be seen were the whites. He was no longer babbling, but he also did not appear cured. After a moment, a soft sound began to fill the silence left in the cessation of his rambling. It was a quick tapping, growing more rapidly. Yoshitakatomo despaired to realize that the sound came from within the man's head. At once, she* unwove the spell. The man began speaking in a flurry once again, as though the words had backed up within his head and must now all be released at once. This did not distract Yoshitakatomo, however, from noting the small white bud that had began pushing its way out the front of his skull. It seemed that Dead Body, too, was no solution to this plague.
In that case, there was only one thing to do: find the cure.
The Caves of Life seemed the only answer. Still, it could be dangerous. The Avatar of Omoikane had said something about requiring a token to enter. Yoshitakatomo had gathered up all those crow bodies, so that should be fine. Using Hashinara Kiyowara as a bridge between worlds, the Daimyō called upon her* loyal generals to attend the quest.
--
Soon, a party of whomever was free and seemed most appropriate for the mission had gathered in soutern Ise Province. In this case, that meant Matsumoto Ooawagaeri, Ryūzaki Sanosuke, Amenominakanushi, Oyama Hikari, Tsukuda Katsuo, Umashiashikabihikoji, and Zinnia the Traveler. Several of those present had been chosen for their state of life. Or, specifically, unlife. The others, Hikari and Zinnia, were along for their unique talents in treasure hunting.
Opening the portal at Ise Grand Shrine once again had seemed far too risky. Something could too easily slip from one side to the other, granting The Plague of the Flowering Mind a foothold on Earth as well. That must be avoided at all costs. So, Yagokoro Tokuyo had come several miles south of the shrine to perform the ritual at an otherwise unremarkable location. Of course, distances were somewhat different in the Dreamlands. It meant that the destination of the portal could not be certain. A risk, but far less of one than opening an aperture straight into a plague town.
Zinnia seemed preoccupied with Ooawagaeri, currently in the form of a ball of slime with weapons floating all around. The undead each kept their own characteristic taciturn attitude. That left Oyama Hikari as the first one to delve through the portal. Jumping between reality and dreams, she arrived in a sea of inky darkness. Sanosuke followed soon after. They could at least speak and had solid footing, so they hadn't been launched into some endless void. Instead, this seemed rather like some sort of cave. Hikari brought a glowing sphere out from under her shawl. It illuminated stone walls, stretching to the edge of vision in two directions.
The soft light also illuminated just how cramped it was getting inside the tunnel's smooth confines. The rest of their party had now come through and had to line up almost single-file in order to fit. Sanosuke especially, as a man of considerable stature, was forced to duck his head to avoid bumping it on the stone roof.
Blinded as they were, it wasn't easy to determine which way might lead to an exit. Still, the path to their left seemed to slope down into deeper darkness. Meanwhile, the right-hand path was steady and level. Judging this to be the most likely choice, the group pressed forth into darkness. Soon, they came to a fork. Both paths again were hard to differentiate. Even so, Hikari spotted something off to the right. Some of the others had seen it too: a glimmer of light. Passing around bends and past corners, the barest sliver of sun was visible in the distance.
Obviously, this marked their destination, so the party proceeded. Although narrow, it was not a difficult or long journey. Within minutes, they stood at the edge of a sheer cliff. Below, a grassy plain rolled away to the seashore visible some miles away. Largely unbroken by tree or ravine, the terrain did become harsher as it sloped upward to their position. The party must have been several hundred feet in the air at least, evidently peering out from a cave in the side of a mountain. There, in the flowing greens below, Sanosuke spotted something.
It was a swatch of darker green, moving with preternatural quickness through the open plain. Even the keenest eyes would have difficulty saying for certain at this distance but it did very much look like Hashinara Yoshitakatomo herself*. The Daimyō's destination at least was clear: a ruined city sprawling across the shore at the island's southmost point. A huge dome dominated the otherwise ruined sandy structures, its glory marred by time and collapse.
Too far away to hear the newly-arrived party's cries of recognition, Yoshitakatomo nevertheless felt compelled to look up at Mount Ngranek. There, under the stony inhuman face which dominated its southern face, she* spotted a splotch of silver and blue. From there, it was not long before all were gathered together once again.
Their destination was plain. Yet not one of them knew exactly where these "Caves of Life" were to be found. Yoshitakatomo had been told only that it was somewhere on the southern shore of Oriab. The suggestion rose that perhaps they could split up and search for it, but in truth there was only one place of any note within view. A quick mental message to Yagokoro Tokuyo confirmed it. In ancient writings of Omoikane, The Caves of Life were associated with Andahad. That city was now ruined, befallen by some tragedy as often seemed to happen to settlements in the Dreamlands. A ruined city on the southern shore? That confirmed their destination.
Zinnia the Traveler fulfilled her role by granting all the power of flight. Under her psychic lift, they were ale to make brisk time across the plains toward Andahad in the distance. Their journey was uneventful. Only twice was it interrupted, both times by a striped horse (a zebra, as Yoshitakatomo had heard them called) sprinting from brush to brush. Within an hour they had arrived.
According to Oyama Hikari, if there was treasure here it would be within that great dome at the center of Andahad. Indeed, the rest of the city seemed eerily empty. The half-ruined and salt-encrusted buildings they passed by bore an architectural resemblance to those in Baharna. Each was deserted, however, so empty as to cast doubt on whether they had even been inhabited at all.
They were saved from searching for an entrance upon arrival. The great dome's structure had fallen in at several points, one of them allowing easy access by climbing over some rubble. Inside, rows of crumbling seats surrounded a prominent central podium. A great stone obelisk stood at its center. The thing's stone face was blank, but it showed none of the age and disrepair of the rest of this realm. Before it, a shallow altar rose from the ground. It had a single depression in its center where something, like a token, could be placed.
As Yoshitakatomo approached, the stone flared to life. Sinking into the stone with an eerie, organic fluidity, a series of lines resolved into a single image. The mark bore resemblance to a crow, yet it showed no eyes. Worse, the underside of the thing's wings was textured more like a human brain than a bird's feathers. It seemed to writhe as the party looked upon it.

by Dan Porter Bridges

Reaching into her* pocket and pushing Zhyrgal to the side, Yoshitakatomo drew forth the first crow's skull she* had recovered. It moved subtly beneath her* fingers in time with the obelisk's vibrations. Then this would be the token to enter. Reaching into her* robes, Yoshitakatomo produced a veritable flock of eyeless crow corpses. There would be enough tokens here for each member of their party to present.
Except that did not quite seem to be the case. Between the lurker within the skulls breaking out and the damage the crows had done to each other, there were only five in whole enough condition that they vibrated in response to the obelisk's presence. That likely meant that only five of them would be able to enter. In that case, who should brave the Caves of Life?
The Silver General, Ryūzaki Sanosuke was the obvious choice. His power was the stuff of legends, although lessened slightly by separation from his supporters on Earth. It seemed that Yagokoro Tokuyo had indeed shut the portal behind them, as ordered by her Daimyō. Even so, Sanosuke was the first to accept a skull. As the horrid thing fell into his hands, the Silver General felt an unwelcome presence in his mind. Something slippery and hateful was prodding at his psyche, searching for any sort of weakness. The Champion of Susano'o could not afford such luxuries as weakness, however. Soon enough, the presence backed off, having found no way inside.
It was clear then that touching the skulls themselves would open oneself up to the Plague. With that came doubts as to whether Oyama Hikari would join the expedition inside. Her treasure-sniffing nose made her an obvious choice, but her mind and body lacked in resilience. Could they afford to risk her to the Flowering Mind? Hikari herself would hear no argument. She'd come all this way and was definitely not going to give up first pick of treasures. Even Sanosuke's assurances that they'd bring her the loot afterward did not mollify the not-a-bunny. What if they missed something?
Fortunately, Yoshitakatomo had a solution. She* cast a spell of protection upon Hikari. There was still some risk as she palmed a skull, but it was greatly lessened. Indeed, her strength of will and drive to explore was such that perhaps they needn't have worried at all. Hikari was unaffected as well.
Third came Matsumoto Ooawagaeri, currently in the form of a crow flitting around the open space. When offered a scroll, he transformed back into what some might call his "true" form. He, it seemed in response to Zinnia's questions, would not. Why did someone need to have a "true form" anyway? Before laying his hands on the skull, Ooawagaeri set some precautions in place. The mask upon his face sealed up his nose, and a layer of viscous water covered his hands like gloves. These seemed to work. Even having successfully taken it, the Black Blade felt no presence probing at his mind.
That was four. Then, who should be the fifth? Sanosuke thought Zinnia, as her well-traveled experience about the Dreamlands would no doubt offer some insight. The Zoog herself was not against it. She had been many places, but The Caves of Life would be a first for her. Katsuo and Amenotokotachi were quiet as ever, and Haro Uin was happy to stay or go, so Yoshitakatomo reached out to offer the final skull to the Zinnia. Before it could reach its target, however, a great clawed hand reached out and plucked the token away. It was Umashiashikabihikoji who, although only chosen for her undead resilience to disease, was now entertained enough to follow it through.
This was not how Yoshitakatomo had envisoned her* party forming. There might yet, however, be a solution. With a flourish of magic, Ooawagaeri created duplicates of the skulls to hand to each other party member. Just as soon as this had been accomplished, the obelisk's humming reached a feverish pitch. The ground began to rumble. A flash of light overtook them.
When the whiteness cleared, Yoshitakatomo found herself* standing in a dank cave. Metal pipes jutted from the walls, pouring dark water into darker pools running in canals through the floor. This was not exactly what came to mind when one thought of "Caves of Life." By her* side stood Sanosuke, Ooawagaeri, Hikari, and Umashiashikabihikoji. The replica skulls had not, it seemed, been enough to offer anyone else entry.
There was a sound from deeper in the darkness, bubbling water and claws against stone. More presently, the party's attention was drawn to a patch of shadows with more form than those surrounding it. Draped in almost-luminescent white strands like webbing, this thing almost seemed to resemble a feminine form with flowing hair. It greeted them with a low, eager voice. There had not been visitors to this place for a very long time, and this presence had been wanting for company for just as long.

Maxim and Mikami

1559年11月16日 Introduction (Afternoon)

Ago Manor

Historical Entry: Maxim and Mikami

Following the conclusion of the tournament (plus some extra festivities) for the day, Knight Commander Maxim prepared to take his leave of Shimonoseki. Before he could so much as stand from his seat, however, he received a mental missive from his adviser, Kitsuno. Apparently someone had shown up at Ago Manor in response to one of Maxim's summons. He could deal with it now, or later, or simply have Kitsuno take care of the introductions. Always a hands-on type of man, Maxim opted for the former.
The clan's teleporter, Shigeaki Fujino, more than had her hands full ferrying people to and fro after such an event. So it was that Maxim had to wait a few minutes before he was finally conveyed back to Ago Manor. Stepping inside the place's large main entrance, he began snooping around for anyone who looked like they didn't belong. In truth, The Wolfpack was quite a band of outcasts, so that didn't narrow it down much. Still, most of the misfits under his command were familiar to Maxim. He was looking for one that wasn't.
Soon enough he found her: a girl of exotic dress and accessory even by the Hashinara's standards. This was Mikami Chidori, and she was here in response to one of Maxim's summons. That gave the Knight Commander pause. He'd sent out a lot of summons searching for skilled individuals to bolster The Wolfpack's ranks. Hesitantly, he apologized and asked exactly which one this girl was responding to.
This obviously displeased her, judging by the puffed-up cheeks, but Chidori seemed enough of a professional to soldier on regardless. She'd come to help him make some things, particularly some kind of badge. As an example of her work, she grabbed one of Maxim's hands and slid a fine metalwork ring over his finger.
At first taken aback, Maxim settled down when he sensed nothing but the passion of a crafter from Chidori. Instead, he examined the ring. It was intricate, certainly, but otherwise appeared mundane to him. According to his visitor, the accessory would make "a new man" out of him. Others would see him in a new light. Maxim had experienced enough of that by half through his association with Kitsuno, but the craftsmanship at least was undeniable.
Then it was settled. Maxim allowed Crafter Mikami membership in The Wolfpack under one condition: her free time was her own, but she'd prioritize the Knight Commander's requests over any others. That was an easy deal for Chidori to make. After all, Maxim was known to rub elbows with some of the most powerful in the land. Perhaps she'd even have a chance to meet with Aotsuki Tsukamoto.
Leaving the ring securely on Maxim's finger, Mikami Chidori left to unpack her things.

The Matsu-Matsuri

1559年11月16日 Introduction (Afternoon)

Ōtsu Castle

Historical Entry: The Matsu-Matsuri

As The White Blade of Hope: Date Masamune vanished from the arena, Aotsuki Tsukamoto breathed a sigh of relief. He was not to be afforded even a moment of peace, however, as his adviser Abe no Seimei hailed him on the mental network almost immediately after. She'd finished scouting a priestess for their new shrine to Ōkuninushi. Their most promising candidate was waiting on Aotsuki's pleasure back in Ōtsu Castle. Or, if he so wished, Seimei could take care of it herself.
There was some business going on with a mission to the Dreamlands (again?). Perhaps attending to this newcomer himself would give Aotsuki time to decide who he wanted to dispatch on that.
When he arrived at Ōtsu, Aotsuki received instructions from Seimei on which meeting room the priestess awaited him in. As he approached, something struck him as odd. Was that...music? When he reached the door, the sound abruptly stopped. Opening it, he beheld a woman with rabbit ears, a veiled face, and white robes sitting within.
She stood up and took a bow. It was a slow, languid thing. The woman's demeanor seemed to suggest, if not demand, that she would take things at her own pace now and forever. Introducing herself as Maboro Matsu, the priestess proclaimed that Aotsuki would find no one better to overlook a shrine to Ōkuninushi. Indeed! She would keep the celebration going as long as he liked. It was a shame that they hadn't met for his wedding.
Momentarily taken aback by the sheer force of the other's introduction, Aotsuki recovered manfully. He proceeded with the interview. Apparently, Matsu wanted to join because she missed a sense of community. She wanted to get to know her fellow worshipers, and what better way than through celebration? The priestess declared (with an accompanying magical light show) that every Friday would be a "Matsu-Matsuri" so long as she tended the shrine.
From what Aotsuki knew about Ōkuninushi, this woman certainly seemed genuine in her worship. Of course, there was one last thing to make her aware of. The shrine was still new. It wasn't particularly big or established yet. Matsu would have her work cut out for her in helping it to grow. Happily, that suited her just fine. Indeed, she seemed positively excited to be able to shape the site's growth to her own particular brand of worship.
It was settled, then. Maboro Matsu would become High Priestess of Honnō-ji, effective immediately.

---

Character(s) interacted with

• Abe no Seimei
• Aka no Kitsunebi
• Amenotokotachi
• Ashiya Dōman
• Haro Uin
• Kitsuno
• Maboro Matsu
• Mikami Chidori
• Oyama Hikari
• Phenex
• Shigeaki Fujino
• Sumiyoshi Miko
• Tsukuda Katsuo
• Umashiashikabihikoji
• Yagokoro Tokuyo
• Zinnia the Traveler
• Zhyrgal

Created Content

• Maboro Matsu
• Mikami Chidori

Report Date

22 Oct 2021

Primary Location

Isle of Oriab

Secondary Location

Empire of Japan

Related Plots

• Heavens' Gate
• The Plague of the Flowering Mind

Related Historical Events

• Introduction: @[Maboro Matsu](person:30365dc1-78a4-4990-b9dd-0c682a6e1414)
  The Matsu-Matsuri
• Introduction: Mikami Chidori
  Maxim and Mikami
• 1559
  To Andahad
• 1559
  Sowing the Seed of Chaos