Sacrifice
By Rich Wulf
Shahai looked up at the empty space where the statue of Fu Leng had once stood. Behind her peasant laborers carted away the rest of the broken obsidian that had represented the Fallen Kami in this temple. The Dark Daughter's pale face was uncomfortable, her arms folded in the sleeves of her long burgundy kimono. Her hair fell loose and untended around her slim shoulders.
Beside her stood Iuchiban, the immortal founder of the Bloodspeakers. His regal features held a smug, arrogant expression as he surveyed the temple. She could feel his power from here, radiating out like a stain on the elements. She felt a boiling anger deep within, an urge to strike him down for how he had used and betrayed her to return to life. Somehow, she fought the urge back and stood by his side.
"Why so unhappy, Shahai?” Iuchiban asked, raising one eyebrow as he studied her face. “Do you disapprove of the changes I have made to the temple Daigotsu built?”
“I think it is unwise to defy Fu Leng so openly,” she replied in a soft voice.
“Why?” Iuchiban replied, “I fear no man or god.”
“Perhaps you should, “ Shahai answered. “The Empire has changed a great deal since you last lived. Fu Leng is no longer imprisoned by the Black Scrolls. He watches us even now. He will not be pleased by this act of defiance”
“Then let him act upon his displeasure,” Iuchiban replied. He cast a slow baleful look around the temple. All was silent.
Shahai felt her magic well up within her, felt a strong urge to throw her considerable power against the Bloodspeaker. He would surely destroy her, but perhaps she would injure him in the attempt. Again something restrained her. She felt a sudden calm spread over her being. A single word echoed in the depths of her being. Wait.
“As I thought,” Iuchiban said with a laugh. “Fu Leng is as scared and useless as any god. This city is mine now.”
Shahai frowned. “Perhaps Fu Leng may not act against you directly, but there are many in this city who are still loyal to Daigotsu. Defiling the temple that he build may only stir opinion against you.”
"Then let those who would act against me do so," Iuchiban said coldly. "I will destroy them. My long existence has been ruled by one philosophy, Shahai, The strong control the weak. All else is fallacy. I am strong, and thus I rule. Should someone else depose me, obviously they are more deserving than I. It is for this reason that I bear no malice or anger toward those who imprisoned me long ago ... Though I will rule them just the same and may their gods help them if they stand against me.”
"A cunning philosophy to be sure, my lord, proven by the undeniable fact of your existence," said a smooth voice, Chuda Mishime strode into the temple, his long green robes making no sound as they glided across the floor, He regarded Shahai with an oily smile, then returned his attention to his master. "For all the Empire's fear and hatred of you, they are unable to destroy you, for all of Daigotsu's power, you cast him aside like a weak child and here you stand. Supreme." Mishime bowed deeply.
Shahai choked down her rage again. She had never liked Mishime much, but he appeared loyal enough to Daigotsu, during the years that they had stood beside him. Now, he changed his loyalties as easily as a snake shedding its skin. She expected such sentiment from many of Daigotsu's other former followers, but Mishime had been one of the few that Daigotsu had truly trusted. Shahai silently vowed a special torment for the man when Daigotsu inevitably returned to take back
His city.
"Was there something else that you required, Mishime?" Iuchiban asked, looking at the obsequious Chuda in irritation.
"Yajinden and Mohai have returned," Mishime replied with a small smile. "Their expedition was a great success."
Iuchiban nodded brusquely, as if the news did not please him nearly as much as Mishime had hoped. "Very well," he said. "Take me to them.”
Mishime's face fell, but he bowed again. "This way, my lord”
The Snake turned and swept out of the temple. Iuchiban followed in his wake. Seeing no invitation but sensing no forbiddance, Shahai followed as well. Iuchiban seemed to care little. In fact, he turned to her as he walked and spoke as if he had commanded her to follow.
"Tell me, Shahai, what do you know of the Ki-Rin?"
"It is a Creature that resides in the northern mountains," she replied "It is a being of great magic. – it's gaze cripples the corrupt and strikes awe in the honorable. The Unicorn Clan once took its name from the Ki-Rin hoping to live up to its example of strength and purity.”
“And what do you know of its death?” Iuchiban asked eagerly.
"I know that it serves no purpose," Shahai replied. “Kuni Yori hunted the Ki-Rin decades ago, and his beasts killed it. A new Ki-Rin was simply born and continued to wander the north, as useless as its predecessor.”
“Yes, and like much else, Kuni Yori completely missed the significance of what he had done,” Iuchiban replied. “He murdered the Ki-Rin because Jama Suru, my own henchman, encouraged to do so. All was part of Suru's experiment. For centuries I have been crafting the likes of which the Empire has never seen. A ritual failed by the blood of failed heroes. Suru studied the last Ki-Rin's sacrifice, and learned that the results are precisely what I require.”
Shahai sighed “I have heard Suru speak of this,” she replied. “It is an impossible spell, the ritual would require the blood of true legends who failed miserably, and a tsukai of incredible power.”
“Of the later, have no fear,” Iuchiban laughed. “I shall cast this spell myself. As for the former, what better failed heroes than the Seven Thunders, now that Fu Leng – the monster they fought so valiantly to destroy – roams the Spirit Realms once more?”
“The Seven Thunders?” Shahai replied “You have their blood. How is it possible?”
"It was difficult to be sure, but Suru is vigilant and patient," Iuchiban replied. "Be has been collecting these things for many decades”
Shahai shook her head slowly. "Daigotsu had not even come to power then," she said. "How could you have known that he would free the Dark Kami?"
Iuchiban did not answer, but only kept walking. Shahai followed, turning the corner into a large, open square. Dozens of Lost samurai and peasants had gathered to watch something transpiring at the heart of the square. There stood two of Iuchiban's most powerful lieutenants, Yajinden and Shahai's own former henchman, Mohai. Yajinden was tall and broad-shouldered, white hair tied back in a careful topknot. His thick arms were folded across his chest in a confident arrogant stance. Mohai, on the other hand, bad seen better days. Since Iuchiban's return, the once strong and powerful maho-tsukai had been consumed by blood magic. He was now a, pale, shriveled man with ghost white skin.
Shahai barely spared a glance for either man. Her attention was diverted by the spectacle behind them. There, on an obsidian altar, lay a large horse with shining white fur. A rough bag covered over its head and its legs were bound. It struggled fruitlessly in its bindings and whinnied pathetically through the gag. Mohai and Yajinden ignored it as they bowed deeply to Iuchiban. Shahai noticed that Yajinden did not bow quite so deeply as his comrade.
"Iuchiban-sama, we bring you success," Yajinden said, his voice shaking with anticipation.
'Though the hunt was long and difficult we did not falter but triumphed amid the-"
"Enough," Iuchiban said, brushing past Yajinden and drawing a short dagger from his robes. “I have waited centuries for this. I shall wait no longer. Bring forth Suru's artifacts”
Mohai nodded and brought a large iron box to Iuchiban. He opened its lid with a metal squeal. The First Bloodspeaker drew out its contents one by one.
"A vial of Utaku Kamoko's blood," he said taking out a small bottle. 'The most easily obtained of the seven, given to Suru at Morikage castle”
"One of Kuni Yori's blades," he said, holding a thin knife, "Used to attach the demon's claw to the Crab Thunder” He set the blade upon the altar beside the Ki-Rin.
"A shard of the Obsidian Mirror," he said, taking out a sliver of black glass and setting it aside. "Stained by Bayushi Kachiko's blood as she summoned its divinatory power”
"One of Bayushi Aramoro's knives," he said, drawing out another implement "used to torture the Crane Thunder during his imprisonment by Bayushi Kachiko” He set that one down as well.
"A tattoo needle," he said, taking out a thin shaft of steel "Used by the Lady Hitomi to graft her blood onto the flesh of her kikage zumi” He placed the needle carefully beside the others.
"The Iron Citadel" he continued, lifting a dark sheaf of paper from the box. "The Black Scroll stained with Isawa Tadaka's own blood during his foray into shadow:' He set the Black Scroll upon the altar.
“And finally," Iuchiban said, taking out another small bottle. "The blood of Emperor Toturi the First taken when Daigotsu's Onisu slew him."
“How is any of this possible?" Shahai asked. "Suru would have been searching for all of these items long before he ever knew you would be released, long before he knew that Fu Leng would return or that Daigotsu would one day rule the Shadowlands.”
"Ah, but you forget, Shahai” Jama Suru said, stepping from the shadows to join his master "We Bloodspeakers created Daigotsu."
"Everything has led to this," Iuchiban said with a wicked gleam in his eye as he lifted his dagger.
Shahai found it impossible to believe that Daigotsu's existence and rise to power, Fu Leng's ascension to the heavens, and the City of the Lost were all mere manipulations to bring Iuchiban top this moment. She knew from coincidence how easy it was to paint coincidence as planning in order to impress one's foes. Was it possible that Iuchiban was so cunning and diabolical as to manipulate a god and murder an Emperor merely to complete a magical ritual?
She would soon see.
Iuchiban began chanting and drove the dagger home. The Ki-Rin shrieked in pain and confusion. A moment later, all was silent. As soon as it began it was done. Iuchiban's servants looked to their master. The Lost shifted uneasily among themselves, uncertain that any thing had happened at all.
The Shahai sensed it. It was small at first, a disturbance in the elements rippling slowly outward from where the Ki-Rin had died. A low rumble of thunder echoed in the sky. Something warm and wet dripped on Shahai's cheek.
The Dark Daughter looked up at the blood red clouds, and watched it begin.
"To arms!" Akodo Tadenori roared, whipping his tessen in complex patterns. The Lion armies surged forward at his command, hurrying to cut off the Unicorn's escape. As hard as they fought it seemed there was nothing they could do. The Unicorn were more numerous, more maneuverable, and better equipped. Every strategy Tadenori formulated had been stymied. Chagatai was clever, relentless, and resourceful. Never had Tadenori faced such. an opponent.
The Lion could not fail here, if they did not cut off the Unicorns retreat, the horsemen would regroup and crush the City of the Rich Frog. Following so closely after the fires in Toshi Ranbo, the shame would stain the Lion's standings in the court. They would be disgraced before the Emperor and all of Rokugan. A Lion could not admit such defeat but it seemed there was nothing he could do.
Tadenori scowled as he marched forward, searching all his vast experience for some unused tactic, some unexpected gambit he could use to bring victory to his clan. Above him, thunder rumbled in the clear sky. Dark clouds rolled across the horizon, moving more swiftly than any the general had ever seen. Perhaps he could use this to his advantage somehow. Perhaps the rain might soften the earth and reduce the Unicorn's cavalry advantage. He continued to speculate as the first drops of liquid from the sky, spattering his tessen.
Then the general looked down upon his iron fan, and realized that it was now stained red. He held one hand out to his side, and several more drops fell in his palm. The rain was red, and warm and smelled of copper.
"To shelter!” shouted one of the Kitsu in his unit. "This is maho, dark magic! I have never seen anything like it!"
Tadenori ignored the Kitsu's warnings. He felt a sudden strength flowing through his body, an energy unfamiliar to him. On the earth around him, the bodies of fallen samurai began to shift and stir. He moved his tessen and they fell into orderly lines eager to follow his commands. Tadenori's Lion troops fell back in shock and surprise, backing away from their general – some of them at least. A few, like Tadenori, now looked upon the Unicorn forces with a bloodthirsty new zeal.
“Charge” the general whispered, pointing his tessen at the Unicorn.
