Oplasma, tiring of the night's festivities, decides to return to his room and get some more sleep. As he heads down the various corridors back to his room he does not see another living soul, but he decides that they must all be at the celebration.

When he arrives at the turn to his room he is shocked to find both of the guards have been slaughtered. As if by instinct, he pulls both of of his rapiers and scans the surrounding area. Off to his left he sees a dull green glow. As his eyes adjust to the darkness he sees that it's a large jade shard in the hand of an oddly dressed man in a dark blue robe with a staff.


The man quickly puts the shard away and places a finger against his lips to silence Oplasma before he would say anything. The man then points toward Oplasma's neck. Oplasma looks down and notices the same dull green glow coming from the necklace Shinsei had given him.

The man then draws closer and points down the corridor towards where The Chosen's rooms. In the room Oplasma sees...

The creature is almost 7 foot tall by Oplasma's estimation. It has not noticed them yet and instead appears to be looking at the various doors and sniffing them.

The man then moves back against the wall away from the creature's line of sight and motions for Oplasma to join him. He whispers lightly,"Chosen one, we do not have time for such formalities. Know simply that I am Utagu and that is an Oni no Kariedo. Know also that we must kill it. If you can keep it distracted in combat and buy me some time I can greatly assist you in dispatching the creature."

[OOC] Just had to leave the celebration, didn't you? :P Ok, so now what will you do?[OOC]

*Thinks for a momment, and grins*
So, this is how I'll die, in battle.......

Yells: Hey minotaur reject!!!! Lets get this thing going, I need my sleep.

[OOC] Oh, I wish, I wish I could call on Captain Planet [OCC]

Hariedo turns towards Oplasma and hesitates for a momment. It sniffs the air deeply and then lets out an earth shattering roar. It then rushes down the corridor towards Oplasma.

Oplasma hears Utagu begin to chant behind him.

[Begin Combat Sequence]
[Round System Activated]

[OOC]Your action, Oplasma. :D [OOC]

"Wow, I guess you're one of those abused kids."

*Starts looking serious and goes into a fighting pose*

[OCC] Hey just because my character is anti-social to people, doesn't mean he can't make fun of a monster [OCC]

[OOC]You are correct. Feel free to make fun of the monster. Oh and I'm guessing you meant full defence for you action. Oh well, here we go.[OOC]

Hariedo charges and brings both of it's claws down toward's Oplasma. Oplasma dashes to the left, his back up against the wall, and dodges the left claw. He blocks the right claw with his rapier.

Utagu's voice gets louder as he points his staff towards Oplasma. Oplasma begins to radiate with a brilliant white aura. Hariedo takes a step back and uses it's left forearm to shield it's eyes.

[End Round I]
[Begin Round II]

"Man! You must have been beating badly to be scared of light"

*Attempts to stab in heart*

Oplasma seizes the oppertunity and stabs the creature in the heart with the rapier in his right hand. It lets out a howl in pain and lashes out with it's right arm. The blow knocks Oplasma to the ground and he slides a few feet down the corridor before coming to stop. The rapier is still in the beast's chest.

Utagu pulls his staff down in the front of him and grips it firmly with both hands. He begins to chant again.

[End Round II]
[Begin Round III]

*Gets up*
"Wow, and I thought I had problems, well ugly let's wrap this up I need to have a nap."

*Gets out dagger and grips rapier tighter, and lunges at the monster*

Kariado retrieves the ball and chain from it's side and lashes out toward Oplasma with it. The ball strikes Oplasma square in the chest and knocks him into the wall. The wall cracks under the pressure of the impact and small pieces of it fall to the ground, as does Oplasma. Oplasma gets back to his feet, he is remarkably undamaged.

Utagu continues to chant.

[End Round III]
[Begin Round IV]

*Gets up, examines self*

"A newborn can hit better than that"

*charges, in an attempt to use rapier as a defensive way and dagger in an offensive way.*

Oplasma charges back towards Kariedo. He raises his rapier at an angle to shield himself and lunges forward with his dagger. Kariedo roars and swings it's weapon towards Oplasma, but the chain if deflected by the rapier. The force of the blow, however, knocks Oplasma into the other wall. Kariedo looks up towards Utagu as if it senses something. Oplasma turns to see what is happening.

Utagu opens his eyes and a brilliant white light encircles them. His voice echos in the corridor as he raises his staff into the air and exclaims,"Foul denizen of the Shadowlands! Your very presence in our land is an obscenity! Walk here no more!"

A glowing circle of intricate symbols bathed in brilliant shades of green and white appears on the ground around Kariedo. The beast attempts to flee, but it's too late. Pulses of light erupt from the circle and strike Kariedo's body. It screams out in pain and writhes under the force of each impact.

Utagu slams the base of his staff against the floor and shouts,"Walk here no more!" A massive light explodes from the circle and strikes the beast. The circle fades and Kariedo falls to the ground. It's body smoking from the assault.

Oplasma gets to his feet and approaches the corpse. He kicks it once to see if it's alive, but it rolls over onto it's back and stares at him with dull white eyes. The beast has been slain. Oplasma smiles at this and retrieves his other rapier as the aura fades from his body.

Utagu approaches Oplasma, he appears to be laughing,"Well done! You fight like a demon. Where did you learn to fight like that?"

The sound of several sets of footsteps can be heard echoing down the corridor. A momment later several Imperial Guards round the corner and survey the scene. One of them speaks,"Utagu-sama, what has happened here."

Utagu turns and laughs,"Nothing you were on time to assist with I can tell you that. Send word to the celebration and summon the Kitsuku and other Maho-Tsukai immediately."

The guard bows deeply,"At once!" He then runs off down the corridor.

Utagu then turns and heartily pats Oplasma on the back of the shoulder,"You were amazing."

[End Combat Sequence]
[Round System Concluded]

*Shrugs*
"I do what is right, and not for glory or any of that stuff, now if you'll excuse me I need to catch up on some sleep"

*heads to room*

Oplasma enters his room and attempts to sleep.

Mutters to self:
"Note to self, bring explosives."

Hey gunpowder and fireworks, invented in the Orient

Imported explosives.

[OOC]You do realize I made the OOC Section for this kind of chit chat, right? :angel: [OOC]

Yes sir.

The Historian returns from his task and hands Oplasma the scroll. Oplasma notices that the seal has already been opened on the scoll so he simply rolls it out on the desk in front of him.



[OOC] Ok, it's HUGE and it's har dto read in certain places...but it's functional. As we progress I plan to use some of my own maps and more of a zoom in on the contents here as we need them.I can answer certain questions about this map if you wish. Just use OOC and we'll pretend that you're thinking about this stuff and trying to figure it out on your own.[OOC]

[OOC]Wow, that map is really hard to read, I can't even read the little scribbles on them.[OOC]

[OOC] Yeah, I am trying to find a better one, but this one does show one important thing. It has the mons of the clans over their respective lands and it shows the general layout of the continent. [OOC]

[OOC]Theirs a whirl pool?[OOC]

Nagare Kyodai na Yu Kumo
(Current of the Great Water Spider)
The treacherous waters north of the "Mantis Islands" that restrict navigation to the waters nearest to the Rokugan Coast. Named for the fact that many sailors who have seen it off in the distance have sworn that they had seen a large spider in it's center. These rumors are unconfirmed due to the danger of getting too close and being pulled into it's currents.

[OOC]Somewhow I am reminded of Greek Mythology, what about the small islands, and why is their a squid?[OOC]

[OOC] The islands are those controlled by The Mantis Clan. The squid is basically one of those decorations like you would find on the old mariner maps and such....course there could be a giant squid there....never know. ;) [OOC]

[OOC]Ginat Squids, Whirlpools of doom, what next a yeti?[OOC]

[OOC] Go north and look for snow...you never know. ;) [OOC]

[OOC]So what now?[OOC]

[OOC] If you're finished with the map then return it to the historian and make another request. If not, then keep asking questions. ;) [OOC]

*Returns map*

Can I please have something on mytholigical creatures?

The historian vanishes with the scroll and returns shortly with another one. He unlocks the seal on it and places it on the desk in front of Oplasma to read. Before he begins, the historian informs Oplasma that this is but one of the hundreds of scrolls on various mythological creatures, but that he thinks he will like this one as a start.

Oplasma learns the following from the scroll...

____________________________________________________________________
The Snow Bride
____________________________________________________________________

Mosaku and his apprentice Minokichi journeyed to a forest, some little distance from their village. It was a bitterly cold night when they neared their destination, and saw in front of them a cold sweep of water. They desired to cross this river, but the ferryman had gone away, leaving his boat on the other side of the water, and as the weather was too inclement to admit of swimming across the river they were glad to take shelter in the ferryman's little hut.

Mosaku fell asleep almost immediately he entered this humble but welcome shelter. Minokichi, however, lay awake for a long time listening to the cry of the wind and the hiss of the snow as it was blown against the door.

Minokichi at last fell asleep, to be soon awakened by a shower of snow falling across his face. He found that the door had been blown open, and that standing in the room was a fair woman in dazzlingly white garments. For a moment she stood thus; then she bent over Mosaku, her breath coming forth like white smoke. After bending thus over the old man for a minute or two she turned to Minokichi and hovered over him. He tried to cry out, for the breath of this woman was like a freezing blast of wind. She told him that she had intended to treat him as she had done the old man at his side, but forbore on account of his youth and beauty. Threatening Minokichi with instant death if he dared to mention to anyone what he had seen, she suddenly vanished.

Then Minokichi called out to his beloved master, "Mosaku, Mosaku, wake! Something very terrible has happened!" But there was no reply. He touched the hand of his master in the dark, and found it was like a piece of ice. Mosaku was dead!

During the next winter, while Minokichi was returning home, he chanced to meet a pretty girl by the name of Yuki. She informed him that she was going to Yedo, where she desired to find a situation as a servant. Minokichi was charmed with this maiden, and he went so far as to ask if she were betrothed, and hearing that she was not, he took her to his own home, and in due time married her.

Yuki presented her husband with ten fine and handsome children, fairer of skin than average. When Minokichi's mother died, her last words were in praise of Yuki, and her eulogy was echoed by many of the country folk in the district.

One night, while Yuki was sewing, the light of a paper lamp shining upon her face, Minokichi recalled the extraordinary experience he had had in the ferryman's hut.

"Yuki," said he, "you remind me so much of a beautiful white woman I saw when I was eighteen years old. She killed my master with her ice-cold breath. I am sure she was some strange spirit, and yet tonight she seems to resemble you."

Yuki flung down her sewing. There was a horrible smile on her face as she bent close to her husband and shrieked, "It was I, Yuki-Onna, who came to you then, and silently killed your master! Oh, faithless wretch, you have broken your promise to keep the matter secret, and if it were not for our sleeping children I would kill you now! Remember, if they have aught to complain of at your hands I shall hear, I shall know, and on a night when the snow falls I will kill you!"

Then Yuki-Onna, the Lady of the Snow, changed into a white mist, and, shrieking and shuddering, passed through the smoke-hole, never to return again.

____________________________________________________________________

Mutters: "That was a disturbing tale.............."

Hands the person the scroll back

"Can I please have another one on the same subject of mythological creatures?"

The historian nods and a small smile crosses his features. He then vanishes with the scroll and returns shortly with another one. He unlocks the seal on it and places it on the desk in front of Oplasma to read.

Oplasma learnes the following from the scroll...

____________________________________________________________________
Collected Histories of The Naga, Part 1
by Ikoma Kaoku, Lion Clan Historian
____________________________________________________________________
It is my undertaking and privilage to attempt to unite the many myths, stories, and other legends of the mysterious Naga into one series of works. May these works prove valuable to you, the reader. In this 1st part I will provide a general overview. It is my hope to go into greater detail on various aspects in future volumes.

Deep in the heart of the Shinomen forest long before the time of humans and the Children of the Sun, the race of Naga thrived. Their cities were built within the sheltering boughs of the forests, and the Naga raised great magics in order to protect their cities and villages. Time passed, and the Naga grew in their understanding of natural magic, such as the power of pearls. The Naga were foes to the Darkness: a powerful evil that hunted the land unchecked, destroying all creatures it could find. Terrible Oni-like creatures and shadows with no faces were their enemies, but the Naga fought back, conquering the Evil and sending it away. It is a time of Naga history known as "The First Burning of the Land".

After the war, prophets and astrologers spoke of a time of Great Sleep, a period of Ages in which the Naga would rest, undisturbed, waiting to fight the Dark again, in a far-distant time called only "The Second Burning of the Land.' It was accepted by their people as the duty to which their race had been born, and the Naga faced their Sleep with the peace and serenity of wisdom. When it came, the race of Naga vanished from the face of the land, their cities hidden with great spells prepared by their magicians, deep within the forest of Shinomen.

For a thousand years and more, the Naga have slept. Their lands remain undiscovered, only the ruins of outlying cities exposed to mortal eye. They slept and they waited, confident that when the Evil returned to the lands of the mortal world, they would be awakened to fight it again, as their duty demanded. To the humans who conquered Rokugan with the assitance of The Kami, the Naga were little more than a child's tale, an ancient and mythical race of unknown origin whose ruins occasionally dotted the Western lands.

Most Naga have a rather centauroid appearance, a human torso, head and arms on a long, serpentine tail. Their length varies somewhere between 10-20 feet from head to the tip of their tail. Naga are rumored to be faster than a horse and as silent as a light breeze, but due to their physiology they are rather easy to track by the marks they leave on the gound.

Oplasma notices that the next portion is written in a fresher ink than the previous part.

Although stories do arise from time to time from the villages surrounding Shinomen. It is important to note that many more sightings of The Naga have been surfacing in the recent months. Perhaps these are just the rumors of superstitious peasants, but perhaps the time for their awakening is sooner than we would like. If the time for the return of The Naga is upon us then Rokugan is in a greater peril than any of us knows.

One would think that the peril would be the recent Scorpion Clan Coup, but that is behind us now and the reports have not died down of Naga sightings. Is "The Second Burning of The Land" Upon us? Only time will tell.

*Hands back scroll*

"Can I please see part two of this?"

The historian collects the scroll from Oplasma. He rolls is back up and redoes the seal. He then turns to Oplasma,"I'm afraid that's not possible as the second part is not here yet. I've heard that it's been completed by Kaoku-sama, but he's not traveled from the Lion provinces to deliver it yet. I too have been looking forward to reading it." The historian then smiles at Oplasma for a momment and dissapears into the racks to return the scroll to it's rightful place.

Mutters: "Dang it all"

"Can I please have scrolls on the more dangerous mythological creatures?"

[OOC] Just to make certain we're on the same page here...Do you want Mythological Creatures(which could or could not be real) or are you asking for a Bestiary(Real baddies)? [OOC]

[OOC] Mythological creatures for now. [OOC]

The historian nods and a small smile crosses his features. He then vanishes with the scroll and returns shortly with another one. He unlocks the seal on it and places it on the desk in front of Oplasma to read.

Oplasma learnes the following from the scroll...

____________________________________________________________________
Shinsei and The Eight Headed Serpent
____________________________________________________________________
Shortly after his appearance in Rokugan, Shinsei was making his way towards Otosan Uchi. He had stopped at a small river to have a drink. Just then some chopsticks came floating down the middle of the river. Seeing that, he realized there must be people living further upstream, and he decided to go that direction to search for them. After a while he came to three people-- an old man and old woman with a girl between them-- who were all sobbing loudly.

Shinsei asked the people who they were and the man answered,"We are but humble farmers. My name is Ashinazura. My wife's name is Tenazura, and this girl is called Kushinada."

"Well then, why are you all crying?" Shinsei asked next.

The old man wiped his tears and explained, "My wife and I originally had eight daughters, but every year a huge, terrible snake has come and eaten one of them, and this child is all that is left. And now the serpent is about to come and eat this one."

"What on earth is this snake shaped like?"

"The serpent has a single body, but its head and tail split into eight, and each of the eight heads has eyes red as winter cherries that glow like they were burning. The body has moss, cypress and cedar growing all over it. The serpent is huge-- its body is so long that stretched out it could surround eight valleys and the foothills of eight mountains. And its belly is red, from always being engorged with blood.," was the horrifying answer.

"Hmm, I see," Shinsei said, looking down. Then he faced the old man again.

"If that girl is your child, will you give her to me?" he asked, "If you do this then she will live," Shinsei added.

"As you say, but since I don't know who you are you or where you're from . . ." the old man asked, rather fearfully.

"I am simply Shinsei, nothing more and nothing less. Since you are willing to give her to me then I will see that she lives to a ripe old age," he replied.

Hearing this Ashinazura smiled. He then asked Shinsei,"How will you do this?"

"You two go mash up some rice and make lots of good wine. Then build a fence all around this place, and make eight gates in the fence. Place a stand inside each gate, with a tub on each stand, and fill the tubs with the wine you have made. The two of you will hide up on the hill with your daughter. Bring with you the scythe you use to harvest."

The couple prepared everything as they had been ordered, and then waited. By then it was nearly time for the huge serpent to come.

Shinsei stood still, listening. Before long the great snake came slithering up, as huge as the couple had said, and with glowing red eyes.

When the snake saw the eight tubs of wine lined up before it, each of the eight heads poked through the gates and quickly lapped up all that wine. The intoxication spread all through its body, and the snake fell down in a deep sleep.

Shinsei stood still, and only when he could hear the snores of snake did he move. He called the farmer down who cut the heads from the snake's body. When the act was finished he called down the wife and daughter.

They both made their way down the hill, trembling badly, and saw that everything around was covered with blood running out of the pieces of snake. The blood eventually ran into the nearby river, and turned the water of the river red.

Ashinazura and Tenazura rejoiced for this as Shinsei and Kushinada dissapeared down the road. Kushinada indeed lived to a ripe old age...as one of the 1st and most trusted of Shinsei's order of monks. It is said that she lives in the monastery to this very day.
____________________________________________________________________

*Hands scroll back*

"Can I have scrolls on creatures that are real?"