DemetrioMachete
Messiah of the New Night
The Previous Night, the Witching Hour...
Night's dark shroud blanketed the land, illuminated only by a full, blood red moon. All of Hoken Chi slept with dread in their hearts on the yearly night of the Witching Hour, for they knew the Youkai could leave the Underworld. All they could do, though, is pray their village was not next, and the warriors of the land could take them down.
All of Hoken-Chi would hear this. Atop the highest mountain, dead center in the middle of the continent, there was a bloodcurdling scream echoed from the mountain top, it's waves of horrible sound echoing all throughout Hoken-Chi, treading across the oceans and touching the shores of distant lands. Many woke from their beds, their hearts frozen in fear as the roar penetrated their homes and violated their ears. Even in the castle of Shibata, isolated atop a plateau, the Daimyo Ruka was awakened from his sleep.
He clutched at his heart, breathing heavily. When the screaming died down, he rose from his bed, and looked out upon his land. The blood moon cast a red light upon it. His blood grew cold as he looked uoon the closest village, draped in evil. Oh, how he hated the Witching Hour... all he could do was pray to his God, as he returned to slumber.
Today, 11:43 AM
Ruka had been awake for some time. He had not eaten his breakfast, too shook up from the previous night to even eat. He sat alone in his chambers, his mind awash in thought. It was not until his closest Rank 12 General was at his door, that Ruka came to his senses.
"Shibata Akomaru, my Lord. Requesting entry."
"...enter."
The door slid open, and a man of short stature but wide frame entered. This was Akomaru Shibata, Ruka's uncle. For a long time he had been bitter that he had not been made Daimyo, but his promotion to General by Ruka had made progress in softening him up.
"My lord, the servants proclaim that you have not had your first meal, yet."
"...I havent, Uncle. I had an upsetting dream, last night."
"What happened?"
"In my dream.. It was the Witching Hour. Atop Mount Jikuro, I heard a horrible scream. Uncle, Mount Jikuro is so far away, in Acoma lands. How could I have heard it from here?" Akomaru was silent. Ruka's preference for isolation had played a terrible trick on him.
"My Lord... that was no dream. I heard the terrible bellow, myself. My men heard it. Your servants and concubine heard it as well. Reports from our scouts make note of it too. The Witching Hour was last night... My Lord, by now you know what that means."
"I do. More Youkai have surfaced in Hoken-Chi. They will take to hiding or rampaging, one. The end result will not be pleasant."
"What are your orders, on the matter, then?" Ruka was for some time, completely silent. Akomaru stood patiently, waiting.
"...I will gather up a platoon. I will take my embassy to Acoma House. What little shreds of respect I have left for them must be nourished. I fear this Witching Hour may be the worst one, yet. In the meantime, Uncle. I want you to write a Money note to the Kimura and Nanami clans of Ninja. Have them protect my castle and our nearest village, while I am gone."
"The Kimura, I can understand, but the Nanami, my lord? Are you certain those vagabonds are trustworthy?"
"I can place more faith in the Nanami than I can a Youkai, Uncle." Thus were Ruka's final words to Akomaru, as he gathered his formal kosode, draped a deep blue haori over top it, and prepared his bow and kanabo, should the need to defend himself rise. The Daimyo left his castle, descending upon a rope going down the plateau.
It was a half hour walk, to his nearest village of Saikuro, and only a matter of a single order to arrange for a group of Samurai, ten in total, to join him, gather horses to ride, and prepare for their journey to the uninviting Acoma lands. Ruka made a mental note that he would need someone to send ahead to inform the Acoma he was coming for negotiations...
Meanwhile, Akomaru, fluent in the geography of his territory, decided to shunt the responsibility of contacting the Kimura to someone of lesser rank. The Kimura clan, after all, had some degree of respect for Shibata nobles. He, however, would see to contracting the Nanami himself...
A new turmoil was about to unleash itself on Hoken-Chi. That was one thing both Shibata knew deep within their hearts...
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