The Journey
A blizzard was working its way across the Sokenzan Mountains it had brewed at the top near Shinka and now was trundling through the range in the direction of Eiganjo and Reito. Right then a shaman was preparing his storm rites so that it might be known when and where the storm might strike so it would be where the first ogres would sheathe their armour so the Akki could be prepared.
The shaman also consulted his newly bought amulet which before had only pulled towards a horn which had belonged to an Akki who had blown it when a deposit of loose snow had been over him.
Too bad about Ganrgu he was a good burner but he could never keep himself out of harms way. Ah well ill miss the old hard-shell that is for sure! Well might as well get on with it that storm isn't going to show itself until its right over us, unless I have anything to say about it!
The shaman grabbed a bundle of grass tied with smoke herbs for the extra effect he put out a bowl of fire berry juice and dipped the grass in.
The flammable juice slicked the entirety of the wad of grasses.
I've always loved this part!
The shaman threw the bundle up into the air.
Ikki Akky Dithi! A small flame rose to meet with the grass sending it into a blazing ball of flame slowly falling. The fire consumed itself and black smoke wisps painted themselves across the sky tendrils spreading into a cloud.
He moved his fingers in strange ways until the smoke did what he wanted. The black cloud sent tendrils to meet with the shamans elongated fingers coiling around embracing them and submitting to his control. The smoke weaved into many shapes until it settled into a board. The shaman thought of a storm to the smoke. The smoke copied and a cloud like shape appeared with lighting thundering down. The smoke showed him a house. No or was it a hall he saw on the walls a skull human. A fire burning inside and a massive guard. Slowly it came to him the black image revealed Shinka, if so the storms would come soon.
The amulet pulled in another way east this time; he wondered what it pulled to?
The shaman by the name of Horundo or, He who makes rock burn, he sure loved that spell. It was said if he wanted, he could light all of Sokenzan.
He got up and a sliver of pain sent through him he was getting too old for such magic.
I must start training an apprentice within a decade. Nevertheless, who should it be? I do not know any of the children who demonstrate any sort of talent a tribe full of warriors and arsons. I guess I should be proud. Other shaman would be honoured to have a clan with so many good with a Kachi stick or a torch.
Anyways he went among his village and saw his grandchildren Rungo and Frund with rocks painted as humans they were thinking of playing fight against them.
"That's the spirit! Tell him who is better!"
Ah kids they can be a pain in the spikes sometimes but I love 'em!
He also saw his sister's children playing ball kick. Horundo had loved that game especially when you have to kick the other Akki and see how many bruises they had when they got back. Hrundo had sent many into the lava pit even old' Tok Tok the only one to ever survive.
He then went over too his nephews cave. He was good; as nephews go but not very dumb he was a thinker, only shamans should be cautious. A cautious akki with no magic does not go well with the tribes. The cave was small but had an ogre pelt and a samurai helm on the walls. These were cheap copies because his nephew was a coward, but they looked good.
"Hey Horundo what you been doing? I have been wondering. What of the storms? What of the Ronin ?"
"Gorundo a storm is coming; I think it will come from Shinka but my new trinket pointed elsewhere strange isn't it."
"Shinka? Not many come from there... but I hope that trinket is what it is advertised. We need a failsafe storm detector after the yonara tribe's misinterpretation fiasco. I hope you can fix it."
"Ill try."
The shaman left the cave and returned to his magic place where a lava river and the snow met creating little gusts of steam. He sensed now what was coming besides the storms there were enemies out there and the Onuwasha tribe would have to be ready.
It was just a routine job for Sranaure, she was a mirror guard and had to protect the soratami secrets. She was armed with her sword and her mirror.
Her band were making a good clip up Sokenzan they had been flown as far as Egianjo by upon Oboro but would have to get to the village themselves.
There were 6 to the band including herself and a ronin mercenary who would act as a guide, she hoped it would be enough.
One of the soratami snobbishly said in a condescending tone;"Human where are we?"
"We should be quiet we near Shinka keep." The ronin replied a little hurt by the previous comment.
"That will be all , for now."
As they flew or trudge through the snow Sranaure thought bitterly about this wretched rock she was on. Sranaure hated Sokenzan. She could fly to the top of the world see the toe of the genju of the realm. (pre kami war) and not feel a chill.
But when she topped those mountains she was frozen to the bone. She would take atleast a weeks holiday in Juakai after this little exploit.
On the horizon a white band appeared the pressure changed the ronin grabbed two others and ran for the nearest cave. Other Soratami followed suit. They weathered it out for a few hours sleeping in shifts, until one of her colleagues looked troubled and screamed.
"NO! Not here not no!"
"What is it Fourunduo ? What pains you so?"
Then a gush of fluid escaped her Sranaure had seen this before! With the distress of Fourunduo a magic around her stomach faded then revealed a bloated stomach that could only mean one thing, childbirth! She was having a child in the middle of an ice storm on Sokenzan!
After hours of waiting holding hands pain, supporting words Diyouro had delivered the child and given it to its mother. This would create a scandal on Oboro but it was not time to think about that.
With thought from her mother blue blobs on the child's forehead turned into runes of magic that was the baby's name, Nourobo, Moon under cloud.
With this part done the new mother collapsed unto the ground into a deep sleep...
While the rest of the party slept another thing moved within the caves it has not seen such white flesh and silver blood for a long time...
The party was wakened when they heard heavy feet striking stone, it was getting closer...
The party dressed and got up...
The ronin blurted out.
"We are doomed! Please have mercy!"
Within a moment a giant with a maw the size of a head, a kabouto the width of one of the largest Minamo tomes. It was an ogre. It hefted its O-Nagatina The ogre launched himself at the advancing enemies and were met with a club and various swords and mirror shields. Sranaure then jumped behind it ready to strike the ogre. Its weapon struck through the celing of the cave many rocks crashed onto 4 soratami and a ronin. The ogre satisfaction of defending Shinka and then a stab of a sword in his back.
Sranaure wept for her companions for as long as tears could flow from her cheeks.
She knew she could not save them but she still dug through the rocks for supplies and weapons then she heard a baby crying! Nourobo! She was still alive! Sranaure rushed to dig her out. Crying with tears of sadness and relief. A month of Sundays over Juaki could not have comppaired to how much happiness she felt now.
The baby awoke and the scream cut through the cave. She began to sing the ancient soratami soft sleep song that her mother had sung her.
"Do not cry. I will bring you to a safe place, I will be your mother."
Still crying Sranaure carried her new baby a pack of supplies and her weapons unknowing that only the first part of her promise would be true in the end.
She found a path through the snow and followed it thinking it would be to a bandit or Yamabushi settlement she was right but a sign in Akki on the road said Onuwasha.