March of the Doomed (D3, Late Morning)

Seppun Horonigai · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 4:03 pm **Posts:** 1054

Doji Koushi wrote:

"I fail to see how your honor will be satisfied with the panic you will cause cutting each other up in front of these people. There is a higher duty, here. They cannot be allowed to panic, leaderless, and find their way back to the city. Let us part company with Togashi-san, and give our city and the refugees the best chance they can have."

She looks at Koushi with glaring eyes, and fills her mouth to tell him, quite offensively, "FINE! And you should stay quiet while I am talking to someone else!"

She snorts, "Baaaka."

With narrowed brows, the Imperial girl turns her back to Tsukimi, and mounts up the horse again, issuing a sounded command to those gathered. "All the samurai are to return to Toshi no Omodoiso. Togashi-san here will guide the rest of you along the northwestern path. May the Heavens light our path."

Before leaving, she glares at Tsukimi for a moment. Ill thoughts running through her mind that she'll later dismiss and learn from them.

--
Awareness/Etiquette vs. Koushi + Benten's Blessing + Rank 1 Tech + 1 Raise to Avoid Offense TN 63: 7d10o10k4-5 28
Perception/Battle: 5d10o10k3 24

Togashi Tsukimi · **Posted:** Mon Apr 13, 2020 2:25 am

Tsukimi sighed as she maintained her outward calmness. Inside, she felt a bit more jittery over what had just happened... when even the Matsu had seemed to approve of her action, she was surprised that she had to stand her ground on this.

But it seemed to have worked out. "Thank you for your words, Doji-sama. I will see to it that these letters and these people reach Nikesake."

In return to the glare, Tsukimi only offers the princess a serene expression with a slight smile.

Looking to the people she was now responsible for, Tsukimi stepped forward, hoping that many of them would remember her from the night before as one of the ladies that had helped them out.

"Minna-san," she let her voice ring out as the lion on her arm flexed in a majestic roar. "The sea-route is no longer an option for us, but there is still hope. The path to the west, towards Nikesake, is clear. The snow there is light, making travel easier as well."

"It will be a hard journey, but I know that you are good people of the earth, of Rokugan. And it's not a journey you have to go alone - you have eachother, and I will follow you and protect you. Together, we will make it there safely."

"I have faith in all of you. I ask you to have faith in me, Togashi Tsukimi, to lead you."

----

D3 LM Battle/Perception to make the refugees follow me. TotVD (Water), Lion Tattoo (2 ranks), +1k1 Void.: 7d10o10k5 79

Matsu Kōgyoku · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 5:36 pm **Posts:** 368

Kōgyoku had neither the right to sanction nor to dismiss the duel, so she was glad the disturbance was soon over and she could return to the dutiful course of returning.

"May honour guide you, Togashi-san." She said bowing to Tsukimi after a bow to Horonigai, nodded with acknowledgement to Koushi, and turned, setting off on her way back toward the castle, though not before leaving her morning onigirazu she'd had not time to eat with the kid she had carried before.

Doji Koushi · **Joined:** Sat Apr 04, 2020 5:22 am **Posts:** 314

In response to the Seppun's tantrum, Koushi bowed in simple acquiescence, then, after handing his charge to Tsukimi with a smile and wordless nod of thanks, turned and followed Kogokyu back to the city.

Matsu Erina · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 5:52 pm **Posts:** 368

Erina strides along the Seppun, offering a small smile and waiting as the others walked by

"I have to admit, it's a tough choice that you ordered, and you made the correct one." Erina looks back as Togashi is directing the heimin. "It's brutal to think that we might leave them to die, but truly, if the city falls I highly doubt that there is any force that could stop our ancestors from swarming down and killing them before they reach Niakese. The best way to save as many of them as possible to keep the city, and to do that we need as many skilled soldiers as possible."

"For what it's worth, I believe your judgement was correct Seppun-sama. I can see why Homura-san spoke highly of you."

Seppun Horonigai · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 4:03 pm **Posts:** 1054

Horonigai covers her face with the mempo of a black cat bearing thin mustaches that she had found earlier. It was stored along the Imperial armor set within Toshi no Omodoiso's armory.

She bows atop the pony to Erina. "I appreciate your support, Matsu-san. Unfortunately, honor binds some more than others. I only hope they reach Nikesake soon and in safety."

Still quite angry with Koushi, she comments outloud to Erina, "I would rather have you, Moto-san or Agasha-san delivering the messages. But that task wasn't up to me. It would have been faster."

Moto Baatar · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 11:41 pm **Posts:** 304

Baatar managed to stay quiet while the others argued, only approaching Horonigai at the end.

“You’re the Boss, Seppun lady,” he said simply. “What’s the plan? We heading back to the castle now?”

Seppun Horonigai · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 4:03 pm **Posts:** 1054

She opens a tiny happy grin behind the mempo. Recognition and praise managed to smooth out her anger quite well. Grateful, she gives a seated bow to Baatar, saying, "Hai. Back to the castle as quickly as possible to reinforce defenses. You have done a fantastic job, Moto-san. Arigatou gozaimshimashita, ne?"

Matsu Kōgyoku · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 5:36 pm **Posts:** 368

"Thank you for your timely intervention, Doji-san." Kōgyoku said quietly as they were moving along the column.

Doji Koushi · **Joined:** Sat Apr 04, 2020 5:22 am **Posts:** 314

Koushi inclined his head in acknowledgment, answering just as quietly.

"It was nothing; one gets lots of practice with these things at the Academy. I am certain that Seppun-sama and Togashi-san would have realized the effect of their choice..." ...too late was the unspoken phrase in that sentence.

Matsu Kōgyoku · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 5:36 pm **Posts:** 368

"It gets difficult when samurai don't see Bushido in similar ways. I couldn't entirely relate to either of their opinions. Though if the Togashi were a Lion, I would have issued a command for her to return." She clarified.

Doji Koushi · **Joined:** Sat Apr 04, 2020 5:22 am **Posts:** 314

Koushi flashed a smile, but quickly re-schooled his features.

"The sack of the port was a surprise, and rather frustrated our plans. Moments of forced discretion like that pose a challenge." He shrugged.

"Of course, the implications of the port's fall are troubling. As was mentioned earlier, it seems as though we are dealing with something a little more devious than we initially anticipated."

Matsu Kōgyoku · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 5:36 pm **Posts:** 368

"The Steel Chrysanthemum was a very cunning man during his rightful reign. He was known for plans within plans within plans. In a way, we might have expected this. It cautions against too great optimism in the future, if there is one for us after today."

Doji Koushi · **Joined:** Sat Apr 04, 2020 5:22 am **Posts:** 314

Doji Koushi nodded. "Just so, though even if we have no future, we still have a little fight left in us."

Matsu Kōgyoku · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 5:36 pm **Posts:** 368

"Our lives might be forfeit, but our honourable souls are eternal. All we must do is to not let them get stained before they return to Meido. And that presupposes courage in facing the likely imminence of our deaths." Kōgyoku smiled with quiet resolve.

Doji Koushi · **Joined:** Sat Apr 04, 2020 5:22 am **Posts:** 314

There was no response required beyond a matching smile from the Left Hand.

Together Right and Left rode back to certain doom, courage and serenity their swords against the darkness. What storm could sweep them away?

Matsu Kōgyoku · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 5:36 pm **Posts:** 368

As they would learn eventually, not the one to unfold that day.

/exit

Seppun Horonigai · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 4:03 pm **Posts:** 1054

/exit

March of the Doomed (D3, Late Morning)

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