Love is Mystical 2

===> COH <===> 3/12/2020, 8:11:18 PM <===

A supernatural plan
Is coming to meet me now
Living life with no need for the brakes
Something happens when I lean on my mistakes
Love is mystical
Love will break the chains

LOVE IS MYSTICAL - COLD WAR KIDS

THE STORY CONTINUES!...

The dhampyr known as Thomas "MoGui" Hu has lived an interesting life across interesting times! Now, one of the mistakes from his colorful past has come back to haunt him. LITERALLY.

A wraith claiming to be the spirit of the vampiric necromancer known as the Ouroboros has appeared to MoGui with a desperate plea for help - one of the Yama Kings has captured the Avatar of the Fenghuang, also known as the Imperial Phoenix, that last manifested in the form of the Ouroboros' one-time lover, Orson Wendol of the Akashayana Sangha. The Avatar must be freed from the Yama King's clutches before it is consumed and lost forever, or worse!

Our protagonists have journeyed through a Shallowing and into the Yomi Wan, ending up in the Yin aspected Hell of Kakuri! There, Emma-O's shikome have come to welcome our protagonists to the the Night Realm. Will the shikome be convinced to escort our protagonists to the royal palace where they can bargain for the Fenhuang's soul? Or will our protagonists be condemned to an eternity in this wasteland of no light or warmth, where the souls captive here are constantly flayed by a frozen wind full of jagged ice shards and fire does not last, only turning blue and sputtering out in the wind.
Contents:
Ying Yue
Wick
Tian
Obvious Exits:
  Lobby <LO>

	Mo had contracted a ship to take him and his friends down south into Ensenada Bay, and past it to Isla Todos Santos. That was where a small forward operating base for a rogue cell of Quincunx had been established, anchored by a small dragon nest. Once there, Mo would lower the Wall, create a Shallowing, and with Mr. Fu and Fatima, the former Chakravanti turned kinjin turned wraith as their guides, everyone would pass on through to Kakuri for negotiations to save a soul!

	Wick lingers off to one side, head bowed. It's hard to tell - as he's wearing a motorcycle helmet that hides his face - but he seems distracted. The fingers of his left hand move as if pressing down the strings of an instrument. No doubt a violin. He's got a violin case strapped to his back. He's also wearing a protective motorcycle suit. All black.

	Ying Yue is her usual self, mostly keeping quiet around the others, maybe mentally preparing herself for what is going to happen next. Glances over to Mo and the others, then to the mysteriously black clad, helmet wearing person. just killing time for the moment.

	Mr. Fu manifested as the group approached the Shallowing. Followed by the manifestation of Fatima. The wraithwoman was cloaked in darkness, except for her face. She looked to MoGui, and then to the others. "Stray not from the path, lest you be consigned to the frozen wasteland of the Night Realm, forever."

	Wick lifts his head as Fatima speaks. He nods. "Thanks. We'll keep close." He drifts over towards them a bit. His head turns to Mr. Fu, and he pauses before nodding to him. "Hello Mr. Fu. Good to see you."

	"I would definitely agree with her. That would be as foolish as jumping off a moon bridge." Ying Yue comments with a little nod. "What should we expect over there?"

	Mr. Fu looks to Fatima with a frown, then addresses the group. "Emma-o will send shikome to greet us. Many of them. It is imperative everyone keeps their wits about them, and steels their will. If we engage them in direct combat? We will be overrun, and be consigned to an eternity of being constantly flayed by a frozen wind full of jagged ice shards." The little dragon sighs, "We have an impossible task - negotiate the Fenghuang's freedom, while also keeping him from claiming Fatima in his place." Despite his grim pronouncement? He turns and makes his way to cross into the portal leading to the Yomi Wan behind Fatima.

	Fatima looks over a shoulder at the rest. "Shikome are Emma-o's personal legion of akuma - fierce, cunning, beautiful." Just like Fatima! "Quiet and emotionless avatars of Yin. They will sap our will while in our presence. Keep close to each other, and hold on to your most precious memories."

	Wick offers a nod at Mr. Fu's warnings before turning his head towards Fatima. He slips his hands into his pockets. "Thanks. Mm. I don't know if I can do anything about will. But... if it's memories we need. Emotions. I can bolster those. If someone feels like it's fading out."

	Mo frowns, then casts off the long shirt-coat he normally wears, revealing a matched pair of heavy revolvers in a dual shoulder holster, embossed with the symbol of the Sons of Aether. He'll fall to the rear of the group, protecting the party's flank. "An away we go," he mutters as the group passes through the Shallowing, and into the In-Between of the Yomi Wan, before Fatima leads them through a nihil and into the Night Realm proper.

	The transition will happen not gradually, but suddenly, as the group feels a cold blast of wind scour its way across them. Suddenly, they are in a land of perpetual night, where the sky is darker than the dark land of yin they suddenly find themselves in!

	Ying Yue would pass through the gauntlet as if this is something that she might do on a regular basis, even without the ease of passage. Despite passing in to a place where she could take another form, she remains in her human guise for now.

	The Night Realm has a corrosive effect on outlanders that trespass here. Something about its very essence gnaws at the will of those that don't belong, twisting it for unknown purposes. Everyone will feel the realm tug at their spiritual core in an unwholesome way, the realm's grip cold and icy, trying to harden people's hearts, and sap their resolve!

	Wick's head ducks a bit with an unseen wince as that sudden cold hits them. He clutches the strap of his violin and gazes ahead into the darkness. He'll keep to the middle of the group, just ahead of Mo. He brings a hand up to his chest as he feels that tug at his core. His hand tightens as he steels his resolve.

	The howl of the icy winds blasting their way across the land will change in pitch. Its a slow transition, subtle, but a transition nonetheless. The reason? It soon becomes apparent, as a mass of storm clouds out on the horizon seems to be getting closer and closer to the group!

Tian follows the group from behind. Like silence when it is broken, he is there at the back of the group. His eyes narrow at the cold that ripples his loose clothing like a slack sail or flag. He turns to look at the storm that is approaching.

	Mr. Fu frowns, and then electric energy arcs about the little dragon's body, helping to illuminate the party's way forward. His eyes narrow when he sees the dark clouds approaching at unnatural speed.

	Fatima seems right at home here - the wraith floats above the ground on discs of darkness her billowy cowled cloak of night protecting her from the icy wind. She looks at the storm cloud barreling down on the group. "Shikome," she whispers, her breath condensing in front of her.

	As the dark cloud draws near, it not even a cloud at all! Its a group of lovely women cowled in darkness like Fatima flying in close together. Their faces only become visible as they close the distance, coming to float down in front of the party and barring their way forward. They're perfectly silent, for now.

	Wick tenses at the sight of those storm clouds, already shivering. He takes a half step back. There's not much he can do other than to brace himself. Realizing that they aren't clouds at all, but other women like Fatima, doesn't ease his tension in the slightest. Head bowed, he watches them from behind his helmet.

	This isn't a good place for Ying Yue, though she's survived many other trips in to other realms, for some reason this one affects her more. Heartbeat. As the cloud of women sets in place she almost gives in to her rage, but manages to hold on by a sliver.

While there is a host of danger before the group, Tian scans to the side and behind to make sure there are no others that might attack the group.

	The shikome will speak in chorus, one voice made up of many registers. <<What business do outlanders have here?>> A pause as they look to Fatima, then back to the group, eyeing the little dragon with suspicion, as well as the Monk in the back. <<Have you come to return our errant sister, then? The Daimyo of the Dark is greatly displeased with her rebelliousness.>>

	Wick's attention remains fixed on the shikome - clutching the straps of his violin case tight. His head turns a bit as he looks to Fatima a moment before focusing once more on the shikome.

	Mo does his best to keep his hands from going for the revolvers held in his shoulder holsters. Parley? That was not a particular strength of his.

	The chill dark winds that are everpresent here suddenly change course, blasting their way across the group in an intial sign of the yama king's displeasure, scouring their bodies with his icy wrath.

	Mo staggers when he's hit by the icy blast, as the hoarfrost rimes and clings to his body. Its all he can do to keep moving forward!

	Wick leans, almost doubling over with slight pained grunt at the dark chill. But he manages to keep his footing.

	Mr. Fu flies up to eye level with the shikome. "We come to seek an audience with the Daimyo of the Dark, to bargain for the avatar of the Fenghuang. His torture of the soul threatens to rend the Wheel of Ages asunder before its time." Electricity arcs about the little azure dragon's body, deflecting bits of frost and such.

Tian leans into the wind, right hand falling on Wick, left falling on Mo. He assist in helping to push forward. There is a strange warmness to his touch, like warm breath on cold hands. Little cuts appear on Tian's face and neck from the icy shards but simply ignores them.

	As the icy blast hits and she notices some of the others that are even less adept at resisting the weather than she it, Ying Yue does what she normally does and takes on a protective stance, and in this case that means taking on her Archid form, that of a large feathered dragon. Her massive wings are likely large enough to surround a few of the group if they gathered up.

	Mo isn't one to look a gift horse in the mouth! Or a gift dragon! With Tian at he and Wick's back, he slowly, painfully slowly, makes his way to seek shelter behind Ying Yue's wing. Gives new meaning to the phrase "being taken under someone's wing!"

	The shikome don't take any joy in the sight of the outlanders being flayed by the icy winds. Their focus is singular - determine the business at hand, and decide if it would please their Daimyo, or not.

	Wick turns his head towards Tian at that warm touch and offers an appreciatve nod. His attention lingers on his face a moment before following MoGui to seek shelter under one of Ying Yue's wings.

	The shikome, after consideration in some sort of hive mind, in their impossible and perfect beauty like statues of jade or ice, slowly part, moving to flank the group, but leaving them an open path ahead. Off in the distance? A great and terrible fortress of a castle - Kyuden no Kakuri, the Night Realm's strong hold, looms large, dark, and ominous.

Tian's flesh seems to shift, soft flesh becomming rock hard, the color shifting to a soft blue, like ice. He looks down at his hands and arms and then touches his face as if this is something novel. He simply nods to himself and continues along with the group, the ice and cold seeming not to bother him now.

	Despite the 'softer' look that the feathers might give, the white dragon's form is much more durable, as well as having the ability to regenerate. She still has the ability to speak, though the voice takes on an almost etherial tone, "Stay close." She says to those without the ability to adapt so easily.

	Wick keeps close at Ying Yue's side, sheltering under her wings from the worst of the cold. But still he shivers - not quite built for this sort of thing. His head turns as he glances off over at Mo before returning his attention to looming castle ahead.

	The shikome eye the Monk in the back with something faintly resembling ... anger? displeasure? but definitely with suspicion! <<Another monk. Are you one of Jizo-Bosatsu's clan?>> they all inquire of Tian in unison as they herd the group forward.

	Fatima smirks, a faint expression. "No one will survive the trek to the fortress but the dragons. Luckily, I still have a few tricks left up my sleeve." The spectress raises her arms, her cloak of night billowing around her like thick smoke, and then she opens up a nihil large enough for the party and the shikome to pass through. "Make haste, the fate of my true love hangs in the balance!"

	Mo's eyes well up with tears, the droplets barely sliding out before they freeze and fall to the ground like tiny icicles. "We gotta go rescue Orson's avatar," he murmurs, dragging himself forward behind the relative safety of Ying Yue's majestic feathered dragon wing.

Tian shakes his head, "I have sat at his feet and listened to his teaching. I am not one to empty the realm of the hells. I am one that protects the living from the dead, and the dead from the living. I am Tarak Mandasamirana."

	Wick tenses as Fatima doesn't forsee their survival. His head gives a sharp turn towards MoGui then back again. He releases a sigh of relief at the nihil. With a sharp nod, he pushes forward under the shelter of Ying Yue's wings. His head turns a bit as he catches what Tian says to the spectresses.

	At Tian's introduction, a flutter of ... excitement? anguish? - some sort of strange emotion washes its way across the gaggle of shikome! <<Something - someONE - /new/ for the Daimyo of the Dark! This pleases us!>> And suddenly, their forms grow hazy and indistinct as they come together in a large roiling smoky mass, pushing the group from behind into the nihil opened up by Fatima. TALK ABOUT HAVING THE WIND AT YOUR BACK!!!

	Mr. Fu rises up, eldritch energy sparking along his form. "QUICKLY! Into the portal! Remember Fatima's warning! Hang on to your most precious memories!" And then the little dragon divebombs his way into the nihil, blazing a path for the group, leaving a trail of electricity for them to follow!

Tian brings up the rear making sure he is last dodging the large dragon's tail with grace and timing.

	The feathered dragon moves through with some speed, but not so fast as to leave the others behind. If need was there, she would take both Mogui and Wick in hand and carry them with her, as neither seems to heavy for her to easily carry.

	Wick doesn't stumble, even as the wind suddenly pushes him and the others through the nihil. He manages to keep pace with the feathered dragon - just barely. Her presence is a fortunate thing indeed.

	Mo? He was a creature of yang, and ill suited to the cold, yin energies here. He relies on the support that Ying Yue provides in her majestic and splendid dragonform. His mentor's friend's soul was at risk - and if that meant braving the yin, then brave the yin Mo would!

	Passage through the nihil is disorienting! Like if everyone's guts are being turned inside out and pulled apart at the same time! But once through? They find themselves at the entrance of Kyuden no Kakuri - the Night Realm's fortress!!!

	The environs here in Kakuri's center iare like a twisted reflection of northern Japan. The ground is rocky and obsidian black, rising in jutting mountains and the very, very rare hot spring. Occasionally, visitors can see the shapes of entrapped souls in larger crystals and land formations - they are now a part of the realm, and any attempt to free them will only rebound on the would-be rescuer.

	Wick is left trembling after passing through the nihil. He can't help but lean in against the feathered dragon's side. Lifting his head, it turns slowly as he takes in his surroundings with an air of wariness. He whispers to himself, keeping those memories close as Fatima and Mr Fu had warned them to.

Tian travels as if he had been through such places before, there was the occasional wince, or squinting of the eyes, but he seems to make it through. Once he does though, there is a long sigh as if that did actually take effort from him. He reaches down to take up a few loose crystline stones and feels them between his fingers, and cupping them in his right hand, raises the hand to take in a smell of them.

	Even if this place is dangerous, dark and rather evil-ish, the feathered dragon is young and curious. After shaking off the effects of the travel the pretty dragon will look at the crystal formations while still trying to act as a living barrier.

	Wick has never been to a place like this and it shows. Even with that helmet hiding his face, the tension in his movements, the subtle tremor lingering in his hands, suggests he is rather out of his depth. But, with the glow of his most precious memories inside him, he steels his resolve and continues on.

Tian walks up to be by the dragons head. He looks at her and says, "I love your wings. Just lovely." He holds out his left hand and splays the fingers wide and looks at the world through them, turning round and round until he completes a circle. There is a pause on each of the larger forms with a small nod of perhaps agreeing the creatures inside are where they are suppose to be. He looks to MoGui, "I have traveled in places such as this, but never here. If I misspeak, please correct me."

	Mo looks ... out of his depth. He's led a fantastic life, over a hundred years of it, but this? This was beyond his ken, even. He looks to Tian, "If we can't negotiate the Fenghuang's freedom without giving up Fatima? Go down fighting."

Tian nods softly, "Let it be so."

	Mr. Fu clears his throat. "Thomas is right. After we enter Kyuden no Kakuri? We either succeed, or." The tiny dragon doesn't finish his thought, but instead merely turns to make his way up towards and into the black, cold, fortress of yin.

===> Log ended by user <===> 3/12/2020, 10:49:27 PM <===