The Story: In Pursuit!

The Cavalry

"Hey!  C-c-c-coward!  C-c-c-come back!" he chitters in the direction of the assassin whose world he has so recently rocked.  "N-n-not-t af-fraid of ratsss are you-you?"  He tries to puff himself up impressively, but experiences a certain amount of difficulty owing to his generally unimpressive demeanor, but the words still cut deep.

Rik adds insult to injury by scooping some mud and throwing it at the fleeing archer, with merciless accuracy.  The man wipes both mud and blood from his eyes, hurrying towards the closest horse with a now lumbering gait, a memory from Tokkan's earlier attack.  Upon reaching the horse, he grabs a hold of the bridle, panting.  The dappled grey horse throws his head, unhappy, but calms down immediately.

Kentou looks at the newcomers with narrowed eyes, gauging his odds of on pegging the horse the fleeing archer is leaning on in just the right place to cause maximum panic (maybe just rearing up, but actually running away or hitting the guy with hooves would be ideal).  He decides to give it a try, carefully selecting a pointier-than-usual stone for his sling, and lets fly with his sling.

At the same moment, Rik changes targets, also aiming at the bad guy's horse with his next nezumi mud pie.

The gambler's accuracy is as devastating as before, hitting the horse right behind the eye, while Rik's mud pie splatters the horse.  The horse shies violently, sending droplets of blood raining all around, but  it seems to be a trained war horse and the rider jerks the reins briskly, wrestling for control.

The rider of the harassed horse tugs on the reins, clicks his tongue, talks to his mount, doing his best to calm the frightened horse.  It takes him a moment to get the horse's attention, but his efforts seem to pay off.

The fleeing archer takes this opportunity, while the horse is somewhat under control, to climb behind the rider.  He manages this only with the greatest difficulty, because of the injuries he has sustained.

Tokkan follows the riders from the air.  He drops his hands to his waist, in front of him, and brings them up to chest height together, palms toward each other, fingers down; and thrusts them both toward his target palms first, fingers up. He shouts "Storms of change, from the Duke of Thunder's rage, with lighting paint a brand new page!"

An odd twining glowing green tendril of lightning leaps forward from the extended hands, and lash down at.....the horse. Tokkan says, "This world has far too many steeds of war. What is more needed are sheep to produce soft fleece."  And he focuses on transforming the warhouse into a fat sheep.

The green fire envelopes the poor distracted horse, outlining its shape in eldritch light.  But the will o'the wisp glow is faint, and dissipates almost immediately like fog in the sun.  Both the rider and the wounded archer now perched behind him look at Tokkan's airborne form with horror.  The rider barks a few words over his shoulder, and pulls hard on the horse's reins and wheels his mouth around.   With a kick of his heels, he urges the horse on and the beast is only too happy to oblige, almost stumbling in its haste to be away.

Some of the other mounted enemies help their half-dozen colleagues on foot to climb, while the rest start turning their horses impatiently.

Rik explodes into motion, charging across the distance towards the nearest horse as fast as his bare little paws can carry him.  Hesitating not an instant he leaps into the air, performs a vault over the shoulders of a ninja who manages to look surprised, even with the black face mask on, lands on the horse's head, does a double somersault with a half twist, lands just behind the rider, and attempts a viscious double kidney punch from behind - using his tail as a counterbalance.

The "ninja" who was trying to climb onto the horse flinches away as the fierce ratling vaults past, almost diving under the horse in fear.  The one who was sitting on the horse takes a moment too long to realize that it is not his companion who has just climbed behind him, but overgrown vermin.  Rik's blow land squarely, and the rider doubles over in pain.  He tries to hang in the saddle, desperately clutching the reins, but ends up sliding to the ground in a heap, pulling the horse's head down with a painful tug.  This leaves the Nezumi sitting alone on the horse, still balancing with his tail against the increasingly unhappy shuffling of the spooked horse.

Kentou frowned in mock solemnity.  "Promoting from Pawn to Knight?  That's not legal.  Of course, Rat may follow different rules than Pawn... well, there's already too many Knights on this board, and as they say,  'the far jumping Knight falls prey to a Pawn.'"   With that, he lets fly at another rider, hoping to knock him clean off his horse.

The stone whistles through the air and with a graceful arc, hits another mounted assailant in the back of the head, with such force that the masked man is thrown forward.  Between his own momentum and that imparted by Kentou's missile, the man is thrown over the horse's head in a spectacular somersault.  Unlike the other horses, however, this one seems unimpressed and simply stands there, gazing thoughtfully at his ertswhile rider.

Calmly, the horse bends down and gnaws off a cluster of wildflower near the dazed "ninja's" head, chewing with relish.

Ushida turns his back to the fleeing horsemen and walks back to the assassin he previously rendered unconscious. He prods the body a couple of times with his toe before kneeling down and beginning to divest the black garbed figure of his weapons.

The horse that was so cruelly harassed by Tokkan, Kentou and Rik earlier is galloping away, urged on by his rider.  Even grazed and carrying two people, the horse manages to obey his insistent rider and jump a ditch, barely clearing the slippery edge.  The archer, sittng in the back and holding on for dear life, looks one last time over his shoulder at those who routed his troops.

"Hee-yaw!" Rik yells, sliding forward into the saddle, reaching forward to grab the reigns while giving the beast a whack on the rump with his tail.  He apparently either does not know or does not care that it generally requires a certain amount of experience and/or skill to drive a horse.  Turning the beast's head in the direction of the fleeing bad guy, he sets off in heroic, if probably doomed, pursuit.

Rik's tail snaps like a whip, startling the horse.  He neighs and shakes his head, but the chamfron prevents him from getting a look at his new rider.  The overpowering scent of vermin, however, spooks him.  He gives a little twist and kick, trying to throw the Nezumi, but Rik's gleeful handling shows a natural flair and the horse is brought back under control.  Responding to the whack and the flick of the reins, the horse takes off after his colleague.  Rik slides a bit in the saddle, shaken like a bag of rice straw, but fortunately for him his big ratty feet slip inside the stirrups (a tight fit), making it easier to steady himself.  The Nezumi is off in hot pursuit!

The other enemy riders watch the ratling join their rank with more than a little surprise.  Those closest to him move instinctively away, but those furthest start moving in to cut him off.  The pack of dark-clad riders -- and one Nezumi -- moves away, leaving the ravaged mourning party and numerous bodies behind.

Lightning flashes in Tokkan's eyes.  Crackling serpents of blue-white eletricity crawl over his clothing.  His cry of rage fills the skies he sails through.  Anger fills his voice as he once more summons the force of the storm to him.  Hatred fills his frame as he flings the lightning, the very primal force of the heavens, like a lance down at the retreating form of the archer that started this whole mess with his dishonorable sneak attack upon the peaceful funereal ceremony.

Tokkan's bolt of raw elemental power streaks through the heavens, and everyone can feel their hair crackling with static as the lightning arcs towards the dappled grey horse and its riders.  The scent of ozone fills the air.

The man holding the reins had been looking over his shoulder, checking on Rik's progress.  Seeing Tokkan's demonstration of destructive might, he whips out something from inside his kimono, some sort of pendant, and holds it up at arm's length.  The deadly bolt meant for the archer deviates slightly at the last possible second, striking full on the object held aloft.  The blue-white lightning explodes in a ball of black fire, but makes only a short snapping sound like a piece of very dry lumber suddenly breaking.  The black fire flares, then is sucked up by the pendant, leaving no trace of Tokkan's lightning.

Kentou watches as the lightning bolts are rendered ineffective.  "Loaded dice, hmm?  I think you'd better quit the game... but leave the dice behind."  With that, he lets fly at the rider, hoping to make him drop the talisman.  His stone arcs towards the galloping horse and almost reaches its intended mark,  But the range is opening rapidly, and the stone, instead of hitting the rider or even his battered passenger, hits the horse squarely on the romp, egging him on.

The rest of the defenders lower their weapons and watch the attackers gallop away, pursued by one lone, crazed ratling.  Precariously perched on the back of the horse he just captured, Rik'EEEE'k'chik Tukkatukka is chittering and cackling like mad,  using great whipping lashes of his hairless tail to urge his mount on.  The last view anyone has of him after he jumps the ditch is the whipping tail waving like a flag, as the horse rides over the top of a little hill and Rik seems ready to jump on another horse to attack the "ninja" riding it.
 
 

Aftermath

Ueda Ishi has spent long nights and day patrolling the most remote and inhospitable reaches of the Crab lands.  He would never have gotten this far if a mere snake bite could get the better of him.  He whips out his tanto from his sleeve and cuts a length of silk from his clothing.  Using the strip of cloth, he binds his leg tightly above the wound.  This causes his foot to throb even more, but Ishi ignores the discomfort for now.  The snake's venom must not be allowed to course through his body.

He has seen this type of poison before and knows that the flesh around the punctures is already dead.  Unless the effect is stopped, it will keep spreading by contact to the surrounding tissues.  Ishi must first apply a paste of the strongest daikon [horseradish used to make wasabi] mixed with the most potent alcohol he can find on the flesh immediately surrounding the dead area.  Then he must cauterize the mortified tissues.  It appears he actually received very little of the venom, but it is enough, unattended, to cost him his foot and perhaps his leg.

He rolls up his tabi and picks up his sune-ate from the steps.  Then he makes it over to the others, being careful to not have his poisoned foot carry too much weight.

"That snake bit me, and I will need a paste of very strong daikon and sake to stop the poison," Ishi explains. Then I need to burn the flesh that is already dead. Could someone get me the paste and some fire from the castle?  I would do it myself, but the poison will spread faster if I put such a burden on my foot."

Still snarli ng in frustration that much of his effort did little more than scare the attackers off, Tokkan descends to the earth on twisted writhing strands of raw lightning.  Casting off the crackling electricty, Tokkan strides to the fallen man.  He tilts the large basket hat covering his features back so the fallen one can see his face.  "I am called Isawa Tokkan of the Clan Phoenix."  He looks down at the wound.  He frowns.  "I cannot treat this affliction because of the poison.  I might be able to heal the deadend flesh, after the poison is neutralized.  I am able to provide flame."  With a wave of his hand a lash of blue white lighting arcs toward a small dry shrub standing alone beside the road.

"Thank you. I am Ueda Ishi of the Clan Crab.  But I need the daikon paste and sake before I can make use of any fire."

Kentou bows deeply.  "Hai, bushi-sama.  It would be my honor to serve."  His voice is perfectly neutral, as is his expression.  His thoughts remain his own, however.  "If it will help without the daikon, please take this," he adds, producing a small jug of sake from within his sleeves somewhere.  He then turns and heads off in search of the daikon.

"Thank you. If I am not mistaken, there should be some daikon in the castle kitchen."  Ishi then unplugs the jug and takes a whiff to make sure that the alchol is potent enough for his needs.

Over the hill, cries and crashing noises can still be heard for a moment longer, then trail off.  After a longer pause, the chitter of the Nezumi can be heard again, ceaseless and exulting.  He can soon be seen returning on foot, his tail still wagging madly.  He is now leading the horse he had taken off on, and on the horse are piled four more brown-clad bodies, inert.  Rik is skipping, hopping, and occasionally doing a little dance step.  This causes him to wince once, for he is bleeding fairly profusely from a long diagonal cut slashing his scrawny torso.  His right ear is also dripping blood from a cut.  His gray fur is matted where the blood has pearled.  Those who are familiar with Ratling speech will recognize Rik's song as a sort of victory chant.  Roughly translated, it goes something like:
 

We who were here
before the kami fell
we are victorious!

We who fought
before the Naga slept
we are victorious!

We who live
in the shadow of Fu Leng
we are victorious!

We who do battle
with the land's greatest foe
we are victorious!

We are the nezumi!
We are not afraid!
We fight!
We hide!
We live to fight again!

Nothing shall defeat us!
Nothing shall destroy us!
Not naga!
Not demons!
Nothing!

We are victorious!

Rik capers up to the crowd, leading his horse behind him.  With obvious pride he gestures to the incapacitated assassins draped over the horses back and continues his chittering, jerky dance for a moment.  Then, the victory dance complete, he sags like a puppet with cut strings, the loss of blood finally catching up with him.

"Ugh, ugh, ugh..." he says vaguely, sitting down on the ground.

"Nice work there," Ishi comments.  "Maybe you should have been the one handling the snake."  Then he turns back to Tokkan.  "Looks like you got a fresh cut there to treat."

"Indeed," replies Tokkan. He turns towards Rik, "Ratling, your antics have brought me as much amusement as it caused our common enemy vexation.  Please allow me to try and ease your pain."  Lightning flashes in Tokkan's eyes, and his hands glow with energy.  "Do not fear, Ratling."  Tokkan rubs his hands together briskly, causing sparks to fly.  He claps them three times, "Kami of the skies, heed my plea and knit with fire from on high the wounds of this one whom suffers!"  He lays hands upon Rik and casts a healing spell.

Behind the brave defenders, the survivors of the funeral procession are picking themselves up.  As long as it seemed, the fight lasted mere seconds, leaving the guests in shock.  Lord Togashi Kyugoro's troops are just now running in, in response to the noise they heard.  Lord Kyugoro gives brief orders, and the guests are escorted to the safety of the castle - belatedly.

The nikutai of the guard is kneeling before lord Kyugoro, and those close enough can hear him his mortified apology for his failure to protect his lord.  He seems to be begging the right to commit seppuku, and it looks like the humiliation might kill him before then anyway.  Lord Kyugoro's response is given too quietly to be overheard, but he motions the nikutai away.  All the while, Kyugoro's eyes keep straying to those who defended his guests: the Nezumi, the commoner with his deadly accurate sling, the Phoenix shugenja, Kaneka's yojimbo, and the Agashi scholar armed with shuriken...  And then there is the Crab who dispatched the ominous snake.

Since it appears the area is now safe from bandits, servants fearfully venture in the open to attend to the maltreated guests, particularly those who are still trembling from being used as hostages, mostly women and elders.  Meanwhile, Agashi Ushida is methodically examining the possessions of one of the men he killed and removing weapons.  Unfortunately, the man was carrying no personal objects beyond his weapons: not even a comb, a cup, or chopsticks.  As if he had removed all these before the ambush.

Mirumoto Haruka is still standing in place where she fell her last opponent, trembling with rage at the offense this attack represents.  Kentou is walking towards the castle in search of daikon paste, but the arrival of the cautious servants provides an opportunity to ask for help.  Isawa Tokkan is looking at Ueda Ishi and Rik'EEEE'k'chik's injuries.

Kentou collars one of the servants.  "Do you see that injured bushi over there?  He needs daikon paste from the kitchen for his wounds.  He's not really in a good mood, and is likely to be in a worse one if he doesn't get the paste.  Do you think you could do something about it?"  Though he is now using the coarse speech to be expected from a commoner, he does make an effort to turn on the charm.

Tokkan calls on the powers of the elements to knit the Nezumi's torn flesh.  A shower of little purple sparks jumps from his hands as he brings them close to Rik's torso wound, and latch on to the edges of the cut.  Rik squeaks involuntarily and starts at this unexpected turn of events!

The lights sparkle and shimmer there, forming little arcs of power from edge to edge, slowly closing and sealing the cut like so many diminutive stitches of lightning.  The ratling can even feel something tickling his cut ear, and sure enough a few of the little sparks are at work there.  In a matter of moments, the wounds are healed, leaving only the mark of cleanly sewn cuts.  The glow fades from Tokan's eyes and hands, and the sparks fade from Rik's flesh.

It takes all of the ratling's willpower to keep himself from batting at the purple sparks wildly, as if they were biting insects, but gradually as the results begin to become noticable, he relaxes, although the expression on his face is undoubtedly comical enough to make any nearby at least smile.

Meanwhile, Kentou's "sincere" concern about the Crab samurai's temper convinces the servant.  "Hai!"  The lowly one bows quickly and turns, hurrying to the kitchens in search of daikon paste, botsu-botsu¹.

The usually dour Tokkan smiles slightly at the Ratling's silly expression.  Such simple joy and relief, a quality to be treasured.  Tokkan ruffles the hair on the creature's head, as one might do with a child, or dog. He has not often been called upon to use his powers for healing.  The use he has made of it, causes him to think back upon his training.  Perhaps he could do something for this man suffering from snake venom.  The pain, as the fire of the serpent's bite courses through the man's system, is evident to Tokkan.  He takes position beside the prone man.  Again Tokkan rubs his hands together until sparks fly from them.  Lightning flashes in his eyes as he claps his hands towards the ground, first to the left, and then the right.  "Spirits of the Earth hear me!  Ease the pain, quench the fire, quench the fire that a creature of the earth has caused this one.  Quench the fire, and save his life!"  Tokkan's hands grasp the area bitten by the snake, as he tries to burn out the poisons from this man's systems.

By now, Tokkan is beginning to feel the strain of casting so many powerful spells.  He has to coax the kami of the earth, who are always the most sluggish anyway.  Slowly, a brownish red mist rises from the ground, gathers up, and takes the shape of a small snake.  It pokes its head between Tokkan's hand and fastens its tiny mouth on Ishi's wound.  The Hiruma scout feels the heat and throbbing left by his ophidian nemesis slowly drain, drunk by the small earth snake.  The redness and swelling subside gradually, while the earthsnake becomes more and more translucent.  Finally, it fades to nothing, leaving two small marks on the otherwise healthy skin, where Ishi was bitten.

"Ahh, that's better than both burning bushes and hot sake!" Ishi exclaims as he rubs his hands over his now healthy foot.  Then he quickly leaps up on his feet so he can bow before Tokkan.  "I am in your debt."

Tokkan returns the bow, and replies levelly, "Yes.  Yes you are."  Eventually he adds, "I am Isawa Tokkan, of the Clan Phoenix.  I am pleased to meet you."

"Yes, we already went through the formal introductions when you set the bush on fire," Ishi replies quietly. "Pleased to meet you too, though," he adds with a grin.

Tokkan raises his basket hat enough to see Ishi clearly.  A weak grin flickered across his face, "I must be more drained than I had thought.  Perhaps I could persuade you to accompany me to the feast, on the chance I may keel over before we get there."

"Of course," Ishi replies with a nod.

Kentou watches the procedure with interest, then turns to one of the servants who was with the one who went running back to the castle.  "It appears that the noble shugenja's actions have rendered the daikon paste unnecessary... if anyone wants to go tell the other guy not to bother."  If there's a hint of annoyance in his voice, well, it's just between commoners.

The servant nods, but there is far less urgency in his response (since no Crab bushi is going to get angry now) when he turns to go after his colleague.

"Nice of you to take care of that.  Here's your jug back.  I wouldn't want to be accused of cheating my would-be helper of his liquor," Ishi says with a wink in his eye.  "As you might have heard, I am Ishi of Clan Crab. Who might you be?"

Meanwhile, Lord Kyugoro has started approaching the guests who were harmed or frightened by attackers, and courteously enquiring how they may be helped.  The woman who was hit by the first arrow is being carried into a litter.  The guests are being escorted towards the castle by the soldiers and attended by servants.

In his deliberate but unobtrusive way, Togashi Kyugoro gradually makes his way towards the defenders.  Upon reaching their small knot where they are still loosely congregating, he bows deeply.

"Honoured guests, you have saved my household from great shame by defending us from these brigands. Your bravery will be remembered with gratitude.  I beg that, after you have refreshed yourselves and partaken of the meal in memory of Togashi Kaneka, you may do me the honour of a private visit."  He bows again.

"All right," Rik replies rather distractedly (still not quite over that whole purple spark thing).

Tokkan bows in response, he is somewhat pale and shakey following his exertions. "Such a visit would surley be a privilege, honored Sir."  He feels weakness close in on him, but resists, doing his best to show no ill effect.  "Perhaps once I have an opportunity to rest, I may see what my meagre skills may do for some of the other guests that recieved injury due to this heinous assault?"

Kentou stands to one side, having bowed deeply before the lord, but doesn't say anything.  While it's possible he is included in this invitation, he doesn't expect it.  It's a rare noble who's willing to look past the signs of class; Togashi Kaneka was one, and it's probably stretching things to hope that his family would contain more.  Still, he'll hang about, and see whether he's dismissed or not.  There might be something important to learn here.

"I will of course be at your service, Kyugoro-sama.  I am Ueda Ishi of Clan Crab, and Lord Hiruma has sent me as his representative to this funeral.  He also sent this most capable ratling as my travel companion, hoping that he would get the opportunity to study with the reknown Dragon sages."

"Yeah!" chimes in Rik enthusiastically.  "CAPABLE ratling!"

Togashi Kyugoro nods at the defenders, a small smile briefly twitching his lips.  He includes even the commoners in his sweeping glance, and answers Tokkan's offer:  "Your help is always most appreciated, Isawa-san.  If our shugenja cannot heal all those who were hurt, we will certainly accept your gracious offer with gratitude, but only after you have had some rest and food.  I will see you, and these worthy guests, after the meal"  He bows again, then takes his leave.

Most of the guests are now entering the castle.  Trailing behind, Haruka seems to be lost in her grief, ignoring the servants and barely conscious of Lord Kyugoro's invitation.  She picks up the funeral jar again and hugs it to her heart, head bowed, then returns it to the altar and kneels before it in deep meditation.

Tokkan, Kentou, Ishi, and Rik'EEEE'k'chk trail the guests' procession, leaving Haruka to her meditations.  Somehow, Agasha Ushida has slipped away unseen.