Shinden Asahina, Crane Lands

Asahina Nahomi shed tears of blood as she strode across the Asahina fields. Behind her marched a small horde of nightmarish creatures. Some were minor oni, summoned forth by magic she had never dared practice before today. Others were undead, the unfortunate farmers that had fallen victim to the oni. The rest were like herself, mortals who had once believed themselves part of something larger and more powerful. Bloodspeakers, their will now lost to Iuchiban’s master. Their lord had commanded them, and they were powerless to obey. At his command they brought pain, misery, and destruction.

As Nahomi looked down upon the fields of the Asahina, the part of herself that remained sane wailed in anguish. She saw the future, the Asahina temples washed with blood, the lush green fields burned to ash. She had not wanted this. She had always looked down upon her family’s foolish pacifistic ways. She had sought the secrets of blood magic, thinking that she might turn against the Bloodspeakers and use what she had learned to fortify the Crane. Too late she had learned her error. Now she was just another fool whose soul had been lost to darkness.

Was it too late for her? Could nothing be done?

“Attack,” the madness whispered through her lips.

The nightmare army surged across the broad fields, loping toward Shinden Asahina. Nahomi cursed herself for her weakness. The priests who lived there were no warriors. The Jade Champion was far from this place, expecting no attack upon his home. There would be no defense.

But to her surprise, the gates of Shinden Asahina opened and an army of Crane warriors charged out to meet her attack. At their head rode a samurai-ko in brilliant armor, white hair flowing upon the breeze. Nahomi recognized her from the legends whispered in the court.

“Purge the Asahina Fields of these abominations,” Doji Yasuyo shouted, holding her sword high.

Nahomi’s horde was a disorganized rabble compared to Yasuyo’s army. The oni were powerful but chaotic, selfish. They fought to save themselves while the Crane fought as coordinated, disciplined units. She felt almost a sense of relief that her Bloodspeaker allies had no chance.

Then Nahomi heard words rolling from her lips unbidden again, words of magic. She recognized the spell, a curse that would wrack its target with misery and disease, bringing slow, painful, inevitable death. Her eyes looked upon Doji Yasuyo, now charging toward Nahomi with hers word lifted high. The spell would be complete in seconds; Yasuyo would never reach her in time, but the Crane did not falter.

In that moment, Nahomi realized true strength. Perhaps it was not too late.

Drawing upon reserves of strength that she had not known existed, Asahina Nizomi bit down upon her traitorous tongue and ended the spell.

“For the Empire and the Shogun!” Doji Yasuyo cried and ended the Bloodspeaker’s life.