[Day 10, Late Morning] Prayers Before Battle

Kodama · **Joined:** Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:17 pm **Posts:** 404

Kodama is among those monks offering prayers and blessings to the warriors who will soon be manning the walls or otherwise.

He doesn't mind the rain so much today. Not yet at least.

Yasuki Yukarin · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 9:22 pm **Posts:** 802

Having one last chance to pray before the enemy army got close, Yukarin took advantage to go outside to the shrines. The roads outside the gates were even worse than the roads inside the city, and Yukarin was tired and had muddy sandals by the time she reached the Twin Shrines. Still, she went inside and left the sandals at the door, watching the monks packing things up to take into the city as she found a spot to pray near another monk who was already praying.

Matsu Tani · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 8:49 pm **Posts:** 493

Tani approached the shrines as well, armored and ready for what was to come... or so she thought. While she wasn't exactly a great fan of either of the clans represented, these were the shrines she had available. So she stood at the shrine to the Fortune of Redemption, praying that the fortune would continue to watch them through all of this fighting.

Togashi Tsukimi · **Posted:** Sun Apr 26, 2020 5:07 pm

Another armored figure was at the Shrine of Redemption, seemingly lost in thought as they stood nearby and looked up to the rain-filled sky to catch glimpses of the serpentine figure in the clouds.

The wide-brimmed strawhat served to protect from the worst of the weather, but there was a dampness in the cloth on Tsukimi that seemed to cling to everyone these days.

Seeing the Matsu pray, she seemed to focus back into the moment, and gave Tani a bow, waiting for her to conclude her prayers.

Matsu Tani · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 8:49 pm **Posts:** 493

It didn't take long. A few solemn words. A request to watch her kindly. As she looked to her left, she saw Tsukimi and offered a polite smile and bow.

"Togashi-San. I'm pleased to see you again."

Togashi Tsukimi · **Posted:** Sun Apr 26, 2020 5:43 pm

"Matsu-sama. It's good to see you again, this time dressed as a Lioness as the first time I saw you," she remarked with a smile. The baths were always an odd place to meet people - the way someone dressed and presented themselves spoke much of their personality. Though the baths had the perk of stripping away all pretention and finery.

"Today will be a day of battle. I hope I will be able to stand by your side."

Matsu Tani · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 8:49 pm **Posts:** 493

"I'd be honored to stand by yours," she affirmed in return, bowing her head. "Have you ever fought in a true battle? Before the one fought at Toshi no Omoidoso?"

Togashi Tsukimi · **Posted:** Sun Apr 26, 2020 6:26 pm

Tsukimi shook her head. "Not in war as such, no. Only smaller skirmishes, and... border conflicts." She didn't feel like elaborating the conflict with the Lion when they had attacked the Dragon while the late Emperor had been in seclusion there.

"I didn't fight at Toshi no Omoidoso, Matsu-sama, as I left the morning of that day to escort the refugees to Nikesake. It was probably for the better as I suspect not many could have made it otherwise."

Matsu Tani · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 8:49 pm **Posts:** 493

She nodded slowly. "Then at least this won't be your first real combat. I will warn you, some of the spirits have no care for the armor that we wear. Their blades cut right through like the armor was paper." She took a breath.

"I have not had a great amount of experience with others. Hopefully, most of the more powerful spirits of Toshigoku are left there and will not become a greater threat with the portal closed."

Togashi Tsukimi · **Posted:** Sun Apr 26, 2020 7:27 pm

"“You need no armor, you need no sword. You need only to know that you cannot be defeated.”" She recited with a knowing smile. "But thank you, Matsu-sama. I will be aware of such dangers."

"Though... to be honest, it is the living I worry more about than the spirits. The living may yet act unpredictably, whereas the spirits of Toshigoku can only act as the realm would want them to."

Matsu Tani · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 8:49 pm **Posts:** 493

"I wonder how true that is. The spirit of the Steel Chrysanthemum at least seems surprisingly patient. Honestly, that they sent their general to negotiate surrender in the first place surprised me." She considered. "But ultimately, we will have to prepare for anything. These battles have shown us only to expect the unexpected."

Togashi Tsukimi · **Posted:** Sun Apr 26, 2020 8:48 pm

"I guess it depends if all of them are native to Toshigoku," Tsukimi added in thoughtfully. "I heard from Asako Kashiwagi-sama that a woman named Matsu Kassenko leads his armies, and she is not someone who has passed through the portal in Kyuden Asako."

She tapped her chin. "Curious that they sent someone to negotiate surrender, I guess. But it might be perhaps a ploy of the Steel Chrysanthemum? As he attempts to push further into the Empire, he cannot afford to be seen as a raging spirit, but as someone justified in his actions instead."

Matsu Tani · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 8:49 pm **Posts:** 493

"I served under Kassenko, actually," Tani reflected. "She was the commanding officer in the War of Broken Fangs. I would not dare to say we are friends, but she and I talked on a pair of occasions."

Togashi Tsukimi · **Posted:** Mon Apr 27, 2020 12:41 am

She nodded at the revelation, as if another piece of the puzzle was coming together. "What is your assessment of her? Apart from not being your friend, that is."

Matsu Tani · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 8:49 pm **Posts:** 493

"She is effective. And brutal. She made several orders I was not exactly comfortable with, and thankfully did not have to participate in." She took a breath. "I doubt she will be the sort to show mercy."

Togashi Tsukimi · **Posted:** Mon Apr 27, 2020 1:14 am

She had heard some from Kashiwagi, and it didn't seem like Tani wished to elaborate.

"Sometimes, one must be quick and decisive in order to win. Though I believe it is important that we do not lose ourselves or sight of the bigger picture in our pursuit of victory."

Matsu Tani · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 8:49 pm **Posts:** 493

She tapped her nose once at the mention of not losing one's self. "That is the thing, Togashi-San. I agree that battle should be won swiftly and decisively. But it should be done so to be able to then show compassion to those who are defeated. We cannot forget we are samurai as we fight, or else what is the point?"

Togashi Tsukimi · **Posted:** Mon Apr 27, 2020 2:00 am

"How can one show compassion to those whose souls have been so consumed by slaughter and destruction? Perhaps the best we can do is to end their existence mercifully here in this realm and pray they are given another chance in the Kharmic Wheel." She wasn't quite sure herself as such theory began to exceed her knowledge.

"I worry more about the divisions already being spread within the city. Those who speak of political loyalties, rather than focusing on the danger in front of us."

Matsu Tani · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 8:49 pm **Posts:** 493

"I worry about those as well," she sighed. Heavily. "We should be uniting against the Chrysanthemum. Not worrying about if Seppun Kato's claim is more legitimate than the Empress's."

Togashi Tsukimi · **Posted:** Mon Apr 27, 2020 2:24 am

"Yes," the Dragon agreed with a nod. "It is... well, too much above me, to say who is in the right and who is in the wrong. But the last thing the Empire needs now - that its people needs now - is a civil war to further bring harm to the land."

She sighed too, and looked up to the sky once more. "But our late Emperor never spoke against the Empress or the child, so I will trust that it is a child of his blood."

[Day 10, Late Morning] Prayers Before Battle

Who is online