Toshi no Meiyo Gisei, Lion Lands

The last few months had not been kind to Shinjo Osema.

For years he had served honorably, or as honorably as was possible, as the governor of Ryoko Owari. Under his rule, the largest city in the Empire had flourished. The City of Lies had even known some semblance of law and order under the Unicorn Clan’s rule, at least relative to its status under the Scorpion. Osema had imagined that his tenure of governorship over the city might do some good not only for Ryoko Owari, but for his family as well. For generations the Shinjo family had been cursed by the stigma of their traitorous daimyo, Yokatsu. Even those within his own clan often distrusted the Shinjo, regarding the name as synonymous with conspiracy and dishonor. Osema had believed he could restore some of that tarnished reputation in Ryoko Owari.

Now, it seemed, he would never get the chance.

The Scorpion Clan had aided his own clan during the War of the Rich Frog, and the price for their aid had been Ryoko Owari. Thus Osema had been removed from rule. Though he considered the move unjust, he would not question his lord’s decision. Such an act would be without honor. He accepted the command grimly and even supplied his Scorpion successor with all the paperwork and contacts he would need to make a smooth transition. Osema had no doubt that the City of Lies would sink into depravity and corruption within the year, but it would be through no fault of his.

An even greater surprise came when Osema received his new assignment, drafted by none other than the Shogun and approved by the Khan. He was given the rank of taisa in the Imperial Legions and assigned to the Firefly Plains Trading Grounds, an area just outside the fortified Lion city of Toshi no Meiyo Gisei. It was a mixed blessing. His new rank was inferior to his former position as a city governor, and to be a Unicorn posted deep in the lands of the enemy was stressful to be sure. Yet to be granted such a duty by the Shogun and the Khan was quite an honor. If he could only avoid the local Lion samurai’s constant attempts to goad him into duels, perhaps he might yet gain glory for the Shinjo here.

These thoughts occupied Osema’s mind as he made his patrols through the nearly abandoned trading grounds. Since relations between the Unicorn and Lion were hostile these days, only a few Yasuki and Daidoji merchants made use of the Firefly Plains to trade with the Lion. There was very little, really, for a Legionnaire to do here. The traders mostly policed themselves, giving Osema time to reflect.

Osema’s thoughts drew back into sharp focus as he caught a glimpse of a small caravan of seven wagons moving from the plains toward the walled city. From his years living in Ryoko Owari, he had developed quite an eye for those attempting to move suspicious cargo unnoticed and there was something distinctly curious about those wagons. Each was loaded heavily and covered tightly with canvas, though the weather of late had been very fair. The markings on the wagon claimed that they bore foodstuffs. Yet the Yasuki and Daidoji surely had no rice to spare for trade with the Lion and the Lion exported no food to outsiders. Osema rode closer, taking a casual glance at the wagons. Scribed along the edge of each canvas cover he saw small markings in a strange script which he could not read. To his eye, they stank of dark magic.

Osema took no chances. He snapped his war fan in the air, calling to the soldiers at his command. In seconds, the road between the Firefly Plains and the city was filled with samurai, blocking the caravan’s path. The caravan leader looked up with a start. The fear in his eyes was not that of a peasant faced by his betters, but of a man who was hiding something. Before Osema could demand the man step down and reveal his cargo, the peasant reached back and tore the tarp from the wagon.

A cackling shriek filled the air, and a monstrous creature rose from the back of the wagon on eight spindly legs. With a savage snap, it tore the driver in half with its mandibles as it escaped the wagon. Similar creatures began to rise from the other wagons. Osema watched without fear. He thanked the Fortunes that he had stopped these fools before they bore their wretched cargo within the city, where the damage they might do would be unimaginable. He saw the shugenja among his ranks already preparing the spells that would send these beasts back to Jigoku. He saw his bushi readying their swords to defend their brethren.

This would not be an easy fight, but perhaps some glory might yet be gained for the Shinjo on the Firefly Plains after all.

“Attack!” Osema cried.