Kyuden no Kakuri

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	The group had been welcomed into Kyuden no Kakuri - the Daimyo of the Dark's fortress of yin! The shikome grew solemn once inside the hallowed halls of the edifice. Everything inside was cold and dark, like black ice. Emma-o's shikome would lead the group to a large hall, gesturing for them to enter. <<Rooms have been prepared for each of you, within the hall. We will come for you when the daimyo is ready to hear your petition.>> And then? They would turn in unison and leave the group to their own devices.

Tian pauses as he looks about the room. His shoulders and demeanour drop in a reverence of tone and attitude. He nods solemnly to the shikome.

	Mr. Fu led the group into the large empty hall. In the cold oppressive dark of this place, the little azure dragon served as a beacon of hope, of sorts, bright blue electricity arcing about his little body. "Keep close, for now. Gather round," growled the tiny dragon in a voice belonging to a beast a hundred times larger!

Wick's head - still obscured by that black motorcycle helmet - remains bowed as he makes his way through the fortress. He keeps his hands in his pockets for warmth, shoulders lifted and tense with the cold. He hasn't quite stopped shivering since they arrived. At Mr. Fu's voice, he lifts his head and draws in close.

Tian moves forward to close in with the group. He breathes into his hands and then rubs them together to place them on Wick's neck. His hands feel so warm and soothing, the warmness seeming to radiate from his neck to his toes for a moment. He then takes his hands away so that he can turn and look about the room as his eyes give him away and shows him to be a very curious person.

	Mr. Fu makes his way to a brazier, then concentrates. Lightning jumps from his snout into the brazier, sparking a small fire. The fire is weak, and barely gives off any light or warmth - but it's better than nothing! Having provided the small comfort, Fu settles down onto the ground and curls up into himself. Conserving his strength and power.

	Mo looks over to Wick, motioning for the man to take off his helmet.

Wick stills at Tian's unexpected touch. But tilting his head back, he shivers with the glow of warmth that spreads through him. It eases all the tension from the cold. The moment the hands withdraw, he turns his head to watch Tian. "Thank you." He pauses at Mo's indication to remove his helmet. He seems rather hesitant. But bowing his head, he goes ahead and pulls it off. His eyes shine with a hint of caution as he looks around at the other. "Mm. Hi."

	If there is no need for her to have her wings act as a shield from the ice and cold, she would fold them back before curling up in the same manner as the little dragon, only taking much more space up as she does so. Her head comes to a rest in a position that can watch over the rest of the group.

	The large hall is rather dreary. It is meant to be, after all! But it is less cold than outside, and there's the little pitiful fire, and whatever succor Tian can conjure. Then? Fatima emerges from a patch of shadow. Had she been with them all along, or only just now arrived? She stalks on over to take a seat next to Fu. "Just like old times, eh, little dragon?" Her eyes shine like obsidian, reflecting Fu's blue lightning in them as he looks everyone over. "WHat do people plan on offering up?"

Tian settles down into a seating position on the cold hard floor. He asks, "What do you think would be proper for one to offer up?"

Wick shifts a bit, glancing at Mo for a moment before looking to Fatima. "I could offer a song. It's why I brought my violin. I can stir emotion with my music. Kindle feelings of warmth. Life. Mo said that might be a precious thing here."

	"That is a good question." The feathered dragon says, and in contrast to Fu's voice her's is quiet for her size and still has that ethereal quality to it. "I was going to ask him what he wants that would not include her, and then negotiate from there."

	The spectress eyes Tian, then laughs, revealing her maw full of razor sharp teeth. It's a decidedly unnerving sight. "We bargain for a worthy soul, the avatar of the Fenghuang, my beloved Orson. We bargain also for one soul unworthy, except to the daimyo - mine. I can't even work my magic anymore, nor my necromancy. I'm just a shadow of what I once was."

	She sits in the lotus position. "Originally Emma-O was the guide of the dead for the Ainu peoples of the islands known today as Japan. Revered as a benevolent deity, Emma-O gained great power and took upon himself to punish the wicked and protect the good. This worked well until the modern day inhabitants came, subjugating and decimating the Ainu people. Emma-O was furious and wanted revenge against the Japanese... and they delivered it to him."

	"The Japanese saw Emma-O as a demonic lord of punishment and partially integrated him into their beliefs. This was enough for Emma-O to gain power and become the demon of punishment they saw him as, feeding his rage and punishing the sinners."

	"Taking the small Yomi region known as Soko No Kuni (The Deep Land), Emma-O cultivated the darkness and the icy cold of the realm transforming it into the dreaded realm of Kakuri. Thus Emma-O became the Daimyo Of The Dark."

	Mo always did love a good story, so he listens with rapt attention to Fatima as she gives the group some background on who and what they face. "I wish the Captain were here, he was always good at putting a plan together," he murmurs to himself before he removes his revolvers, cleaning them.

Wick can't help but wince at Fatima's laughter - so full of those sharp teeth. Lowering his gaze, he drifts over to settle on the ground next to Tian. He sets his helmet on the ground beside him. Glancing back over at Fatima, he tilts his head a bit, listening.

	Mo gives Wick a smile. "A song would be a good start. Something to help thaw things out a little?"

Tian nods to Fatima, her maw of teeth gaining no real reaction from him. "So Emma-o was seen as benevolent and drew power, and then he was seen as a demonic lord even more than when he was seen as kind, and drew even more power from those beliefs. How then does Emma-o see himself? Are these lands and his image a trap to him? Would he prefer to be a kind lord again such that we could offer to teach people of his kindness so that he could draw power and replace this dark image?" He shrugs softly truly not knowing.

	Fatima scritches Mr. Fu while the little azure dragon rests, then she looks over to Tian with a much more restrained smile. "An interesting notion. of all the strange visitors to this place, before and after us, it is always one who vexes the daimyo the most - the wandering monk, Jizo Bosatsu"

	"Jizo Bosatsu may be the only person that rattles Emma-O. Not only is the wanderer capable of coming and going from Kakuri as he pleases and always foiling his plans, but he also epitomizes honor, compassion and rightness of action. All of these traits are things that Emma-O lost."

	Tian? He might've been on to something. Then the spectresses attention goes to MoGui. "I know you miss him, little devil. Believe it or not? As much as he didn't care for me and my necromancy? I miss him too. But he's gone, and you're here, so you'll have to our good luck charm, just like you were his, and maybe, just maybe, we all make it out of here alive."

	The feathered dragon listens to the others for now, her eyes closing. It might not be the most comfortable place, but always take the chance to close your eyes when you can, as you never know when you'll be called to action, and lately action has meant many painful nights for the young dragon.

	Wick glances over at Mo and returns his smile with warmth. "Sure." His attention flits back to Fatima, listening to her speak further. He tilts his head a bit. Thoughtful. But then glances to Mo with a soft smile. "This whole thing seems like something you play by ear, really. Nothing better than luck for that."

	Mo sighs and leans against the feathered dragon, hoping to borrow some warmth from her before replying to Wick. "You'd be surprised how often that sorta thing happens to be the case. We Irregulars made it outta so many scrapes with nothing but our wits and a bit of luck to see us through."

Tian nods a little and then smiles over at Wick, "What kind of song will you play? What kind of thing will you sing? What is it that lightens the darkness of ones soul, when all one desires is to be made whole?" He considers a moment, "From light he was cast down, to weak darkness like a crown, and now he wears it like a robe, kneel now in this dark abode. But even the darkness dreams, and even the darkness fades, with hope and love and memories, of times long past it seems to me."

	Wick gives a soft laugh and nods. "Mm. Yeah, I know how that is. Quite well." He glances to Tian. He tilts his head, looking thoughtful at his questions. But as the poetry comes, his eyes shine with appreciation. "With the violin... I know songs without words. Melodies to draw out the memories of warmth long forgotten. And I've got... magic, I suppose... Magic to fan an ember of emotion into a roaring blaze."

	If nothing else, the feathers are soft. She likely exudes a little heat, as something as big as she is usually will. "I do not have luck. And most of the time the wits are used for other things. I just usually get broken a little, then come back tougher the next time."

	Fatima listens to Wick, eyeing the man curiously. "Magic," she mutters to herself. Then he looks to Mo with a grin, "You were always lucky enough to have the right kind of friends, little devil. We may just see our way out of this forsaken place with our souls intact." Coming from the spectress? That was probably the most heartening thing the group had heard yet!

	Wick glances to the Feathered Dragon and offers her a gentle smile. "Resilience is an important quality..." He pauses as Fatima's curious gaze captures his attention. He seems quite pleased at her words with that bright smile of his. But catching his lower lip, he adds, "I don't know how it will work on the hearts of those here though."

Tian nods a little, eyes closing for a moment as he becomes lost in thought. Then his eyes open and he nods looking to Wick, "Yes, let us remember yesterday when the world was young and amongst children that laughed and play his name was one that was honored and cherished. Let us not forget the now though, from darkness and despair that was sewn to his soul, he has made such rags into a kingly gown." He looks to the dragon, "I feel I have been down such a road before. It was not enjoyable." To MoGui, "I can offer to create for him a following, one that honors and remembers who he once was to people, so that if he would choose he could draw on their beliefs for power. I have done such a thing before I think. Give hope and direction for lost souls so they might live a happier life."

	Mo looks to Wick. "Never know until you try, right?" Then he lifts up his revolvers, eyeing them before placing them back in their holsters. At Tian's words, the youth's eyes go saucer-wide? "Really?" A pause. "You really just might be the next best thing to Jizo Bosatsu!"

	Fatima likewise listens to Tian, then gives a nod in agreement with Mo's sentiments. "Regardless, we came together, we leave together."

Wick smiles, soon enraptured in Tian's poetic words. He leans a bit on his palm, drawing in a bit closer at the man's side as he listens. He blinks a bit at what he offers to do. He glances back and forth a bit between him and Mo. "You can create a following?" he asks, head tilted.

Tian nods to Fatima, "Yes, I agree." He looks to Mo and offers a small smile, "There is always a price to be paid. But I am willing to give part of myself to those lost souls and help them believe in a dream gone by, that if they dream hard enough it will give their life purpose and give breath into a dream that might become a reality." A softer smile to Wick and a nod, "There are many seekers that are looking for answers. One just must know the answers to what they are seeking. Once answered then might they seek to find the answers to your questions. And the questions you ask guide them into the belief and dream that you are seeking for them."

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