Sungar, the Eastern Coast, the city of Okuramoto. Midday.
Here resides Kireina Miyake, a samurai in the service of Lord Katsuro. She is a Nekai -- a cat-person, one of the various animalfolk of Sungar, akin to the Lupii. Her fur is like a snow leopard, pale silver with dark gray and black spots. Brown hair is tied into a neat bun, staying out of her eyes. Her armor is similar to that of most other samurai, but lighter, more flexible, and less bulky, giving her a slimmer frame. Lord Katsuro, tabby orange and resplendent in his nobility, stands on the balcony on the highest floor of the castle, gazing out over the city. Kireina and her sister, Uta, stand behind him. Uta is a shinobi, though she is dressed quite lavishly in a beautiful silk kimono -- easier to blend in as a handmaiden of the daimyo than be dressed in a black ninja outfit!
The sound of cannon fire echoes across the city. Squads of Ashigaru, the common soldiers of Okuramoto, jog down the streets to the walls, where smoke and the distant, muffled sound of fighting can be heard. The smell of gunpowder and iron wafts through the air. Flags flap in the breeze, emblazoned with Okuramoto’s Mon: golden yellow with a black three-legged crow. Kireina’s armor is similarly dyed, and upon the chest of her cuirass is the same three-legged crow. On the horizon, beyond the city's walls, is the war camp of the Ostronians, an independent Human Clan from the north. They surround the city on all sides but one: the docks of Okuramoto are untouched by the warriors of Ostronia, as they have no navy to speak of.
Now, Kireina stands behind her Lord, gazing out over the city. While her journey through the trials of bushido has been long and hard, it is here that her journey truly begins. Here and now, as the smell of battle tickles her nose. And always, a journey begins with determination: Kireina grips the hilt of her katana as she waits for orders from her daimyo. Her eyes scanned the city, looking for where the fighting was heaviest. She hoped to prove herself this day.
Lord Katsuro's tail flicks in anger. He turns slightly, looking over his shoulder. "Kireina. You have been one of my most loyal retainers." His gaze turns back to the fighting in the distance. "I sense your eagerness to prove yourself in battle, but I have a special task for you. You and your sister."
Uta nods. "Hai, Katsuro-sama. I am ready." Uta glances at her sister and smiles.
"Whatever you need, my lord." Kireina snapped to attention when addressed.
Lord Katsuro turns to face his two loyal subjects. As he does so, a stray bullet from the distant fight hits the nearby wall and clatters to the ground, having lost so much velocity from the distance that it doesn't even chip the stone. Lord Katsuro doesn't even flinch. As the lead ball rolls slowly towards him, his tail flicks out and swipes it off the balcony. "Uta, head to the eastern gate and tell Lieutenant Hakano to divert a squad to the docks. Then signal the other shinobi to assault the Ostronian's rear cannons."
"It will be done, my Lord," Uta replies. She bows deeply, then runs off with a surprising amount of grace and speed given the heavy silk kimono she is wearing. Lord Katsuro turns to Kireina.
"As for you..." his gaze lowers slightly. "My brother, Akira, currently lives on the island of Shantou. He has contented himself with living a humble life as a monk. I respect his decision, and have always supported him in his endeavors. But there is a very real chance that Okuramoto may fall today. Kami willing, it will not, but I am no fool. I always have a ‘Plan B,’ just in case."
He looks back up, his face stern. "I must send a messenger to my brother so he knows of the precarious situation we are in. Should Okuramoto fall, I will not allow myself to be captured. Akira will then become daimyo of the Okuramoto Clan and all of its vassals."
Kireina gets a feeling that she knows what Lord Katsuo means by 'not allowing himself to be captured'. There is only death for those who play at war. A man such as him would not let these barbaric Humans spill his own blood. No, he would take his own life rather than be humiliated.
Lord Katsuro continues. "You will be that messenger. I trust your instincts, your blade, your courage, and your honor. I can count on a single hand the number of people I could trust with this task, and two of those people are dead as of today's battle."
He points towards the eastern docks. "There is a ship. It is not one of ours, but it is captained by a friend of mine, and I trust him dearly. It came into port before the Ostronians besieged us, and has been waiting for a lull in the fighting so it may leave unscathed. Once Uta's shinobi clear the cannons, that ship will be able to set sail. With no navy of their own, the Ostronian army will not be able to capture you. This ship will head for New Trensidale, which is very close to Shantou -- it will be simple to find another ship to ferry you there."
Lord Katsuro straightens his back up all the way. His wondrously detailed robes flutter slightly in the breeze, and the sun glints off the ornaments in his hair and on his ears. "Do you understand your task?"
Kireina considered his words for a moment "You mean to send me away?" She tried to hide the irritation in her voice, but her hand tightened on the hilt of the katana.
There is a massive explosion that shakes the earth. Various items on shelves topple and fall, and the fragile ones shatter. Both Kireina and Lord Katsuro stumble slightly, and their gazes are drawn out to the commotion. The ammunition store at the north wall is now a smoking crater, and a giant gap in the city's wall has been revealed. A stray spark in the gunpowder stores must have destroyed it, and now the defenses have been breached. As the sound of the explosion echoes into the distance, it is now replaced with the Ostronian war cry as they pour through the gap. Lord Katsuro glares out at this new development. His whiskers twitch.
"Kireina..." he finally says, under his breath. He turns to Kireina, his tail trembling slightly. "There is a small chest in my room, resting upon my bed. Take anything inside that you need. An Ashigaru by the name of Riku is waiting outside the castle gate with your faithful hound. He has been instructed to assist you in your task."
His gaze goes down to Kireina's hand upon her katana's hilt. "I know there is nothing more honorable for a samurai than to die by the side of their master. But you dying now would be a waste of your skill. You are perhaps one of the most talented samurai I have ever met." He gently puts a hand on Kireina's shoulder. "My brother has many powerful allies. He can get us the reinforcements we need to turn the tide of this war. But as long as he is ignorant of our struggles, he cannot help." He slowly takes his hand off her shoulder and clasps both hands behind his back. "The fate of the Okuramoto, and all Nekai, will rest on your shoulders. And I feel that is the greatest honor of all."
Kireina lowered her head, before raising it to look into her lord's eyes... the last time she might do so. "As you wish, my lord." She gave him a very low bow and immediately turned to leave for his room.
Lord Katsuro's room is, of course, very lavish. Tapestries, silks, vases, and rare plants in porcelain pots are just a few of the decorations within. The explosion has shaken the room, though, and some things look disheveled -- a broken pot here, a tilted painting there. But, sure enough, there is an ornate chest of lacquered wood resting on the bed, unlocked.
Kireina knelt next to the bed and popped the chest open. Within the chest lay a waterproof scroll case, locked with an intricate mechanism. It seemed a signet ring was required to open it. There was also a hefty velvet bag filled with coins, as well as an engraved tanto. Laying atop them both is a note that says "for emergency use only". One might suspect that this is an adequate emergency to warrant it being taken.
Kireina’s lucky charm, given to her years ago by her sister, feels heavy. It is an omamori -- a small silken pouch, containing small wooden blocks upon which blessings and prayers of protection are engraved. It is strung to her belt for good luck. The heaviness Kireina feels from it is not a heaviness of foreboding doom, but rather a heaviness of grounding. It is as though the charm is reminding her to stay in the moment and remain calm.
Kireina touched the charm gently before gathering the contents of the chest into her bag. Uta liked making these kinds of charms. She had made this one for Kireina when she had finished her training and became Lord Katsuro’s retainer. Normally, they are only kept for a year before being replaced, but Kireina has never lost a battle for as long as she has carried it. Uta gave Kireina her full permission to wear it eternally, and so Kireina does.
There is another explosion in the distance. Outside the door to the room, Kireina can hear the thumping footsteps of soldiers running by, shouting. It seems that all available troops are being sent to the breach.
Kireina peeks into the hallway to see if anyone was there before heading to her destination. A few Ashigaru, ordered to never leave their post at the penalty of death (or worse), stand at attention with their weapons at the ready -- a mix of rifles, yari spears, and katanas -- and are prepared to defend the halls of the castle to the very end. Some glance at Kireina and offer a small nod. She nodded back as she passed, hoping their participation in the battle wouldn't be necessary.
The halls of the castle are familiar to Kireina, though would be confusing to any would-be assailant. More Ashigaru jog by in small groups, gripping their weapons tightly. Other Ashigaru are either standing at the ready or guiding the servants of the castle to safety.
Upon reaching the front doors of the main castle, Kireina is now in the wide yard. Here, even more soldiers are running about and shouting at one another. There is one who isn't, however. A single Ashigaru stands at attention in the center of the yard, their brown-orange tabby fur somewhat disheveled. A Shiba Inu sits patiently next to them, wearing a dog-sized version of the Ashigaru uniform. Upon seeing Kireina, the Ashigaru perks up, and the dog begins panting happily.
This must be Riku. She approaches them and gave a small bow before crouching to pet Dog. Yes, her dog is named Dog. It was her choice, and she stands by it. "The ship is ready to leave?"
"Hai, Kireina-sama!" Riku says, bowing back. "The side alleys and back streets will be the safest and fastest path to take. I am certain you know the way, but I have been tasked with accompanying you." Dog, the dog, loves the pats and scritches. They stand, wagging their tail. They, too, are ready to accompany Kireina!
"I will -- or, we ..." Riku says, gesturing to Dog "... we will follow you at your command."
Kireina nodded. "Let us go then" She made off into the backstreets of the city.
Their path takes them down the ramps surrounding the castle, through each ring of walls and each gate in the wall, past the towers and guard houses. Now, on the streets of the city, below the looming shadow of the castle, they walk. The streets are still, but for a few stray animals. The citizens of the city are hidden in their homes, and the soldiers are taking the main streets rather than the backstreets that Kireina has elected to take.
In the distance, there is another explosion. A few seconds later, a whizzing and whistling sound can be heard. Kireina glances up and can see a blur in the sky above her. She rolls backward as an explosion shakes the earth right in front of her. Damn, the Ostronians must have gotten their hands on mortars.
Riku is standing still, arms outstretched in either direction. A magical shield surrounds them, with a faint soap-bubble shimmer. Dog is standing inside the bubble, panting happily. Bits of debris from the explosion rest atop the bubble, slowly sliding off. Riku claps their hands together and the bubble pops, pushing away the nearby debris. The street ahead is now adorned with a smoking crater, and the nearby buildings have collapsed. Small fires crackle and smoke fills the air. A handful of civilians flee from the carnage, escaping to other buildings.
"Are you okay, Kireina-sama?" Riku asks, rushing to Kireina's (very much unharmed and unscathed) side.
She nodded, casually dusting herself off "Perfectly fine Riku-san. Shall we continue?" Kireina regained her bearings fairly quickly -- she hadn't trained for so long to let a little thing like an explosion shake her.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Both Riku and Dog nod. "Hai!" Riku affirms. "Bark!" Dog also affirms.
As they continued, Kireina spoke to Riku. "You know magic?"
"I am a Magi. I focus primarily on the element of air." Riku responds as they clamber over some debris.
"So what kind of things can you do? How can I put you to use? I saw your shield."
"I can create shields, and reflect projectiles." Riku looks over their shoulder at the crater the mortar left behind. "... Small projectiles. I am lucky that it was not a direct hit, or I would not have blocked it."
They shake the thought of that potential death out of their head. "I can't fly, but I can leap quite high! And while I can't go slinging fireballs and lightning bolts as the more aggressive Magi will, I can push enemies away with blasts of air." Riku puffs their chest out, hoping to look more important in the presence of the esteemed samurai.
A small smile crept across Kireina's face. "Sounds good, I just hope you're not full of hot air."
Riku smiles. "I am not an airhead, Kireina-sama."
She grinned. "Good. Will you be joining me on the trip?"
"I have been tasked with assisting your journey. If that is what I must do, then I will."
"You seem to be good company at least." The conversation continued as they moved through the alleys.
Riku opens their mouth to respond, but closes it upon hearing a commotion up ahead. Dog makes a little bork upon hearing it as well. It sounds like talking. It’s in a language Kireina does not know, and they sound angry. There is nothing inherently wrong with people speaking other languages angrily, but she also hears the scream of a Nekai screaming "No, stop!", and then the sound of someone being stabbed. At least, that’s what it probably was. Kireina was intimately familiar with how stabbing sounded, and this sounded incredibly stab-like. Kireina drew her katana quickly and rushed forward.
Three Ostronian soldiers surround the still-twitching body of a peasant. Their armor is clearly scavenged, and a poor attempt at a ‘uniform’ has been made with tattered tunics of a similar green color. These may be conscripts that had to scrounge for gear and aren't being paid -- their "payment" is simply in whatever loot they can find. Truly a desperate measure from the Ostronians to bolster their ranks with more infantry.
One of them is holding a short sword, still dripping with blood. Another has an axe, and the third a crude cudgel. They look at Kireina, then at each other, then back to Kireina -- this time with a look of wicked determination on their faces.
Riku and Dog are close behind Kireina -- Riku enters a casting stance, and Dog growls. They, too, are ready to fight.
"I can guarantee it's not worth it," Kireina addresses the Ostronians, hoping they might understand the mistake they have just made, and the new mistake they seem to be about to make. They do not understand her words, nor the mistake they are about to make. They raise their weapons.
She gripped her katana and darted forward to strike the nearest foe.
Her katana slices across one of their chests, sending a spray of blood out. Unfortunately, it isn't a killing blow, and they strike back with their cudgel. They strike Kireina on the arm, sending a shiver of pain through her body.
Riku sends a blast of air towards the second soldier, who begins to run towards Kireina, but it isn't enough to knock them back or away. If not for the seriousness of the situation, it would seem almost comical: a man walking against the intense wind and not moving at all, grunting and pushing and yet going nowhere.
The third soldier also takes a step forward to advance, but gets a Dog mouth around their leg. They shriek and tumble to the ground, kicking and flailing at the faithful hound.
Kireina knew Dog could handle himself for now, and Riku seemed to be holding their own. She repositioned herself before going for another strike on the wounded foe. Too slow. The soldier gives her a thump in the stomach with their cudgel. It doesn't hurt much, but it does stun her for a second.
She was becoming irritated. She thought she had trained better than this. Another strike was aimed at the assailant. Then, she follows up with a quick jab. It slices the cheek of her opponent, causing him to flinch. Unfortunately, her foot lands upon the slick cobblestones, now wet with blood. She slips into Riku's wind blast, knocking her into the soldier. Both of them slam into the wall. Boards, poles, brooms, buckets, and pots fall on them both.
Riku immediately stops their magic. "Kireina-sama! Are you okay?!"
"I'm fine Riku!" She called out to them before trying to grab the nearest pot. The soldier lying next to her raises his head, and then immediately gets a pot in the face. He's knocked out cold. Standing, Kireina quickly scanned the area for the next foe.
The soldier with the cudgel is still standing, though bleeding heavily now from Kireina's messy slashes. The axe-wielding soldier is still dealing with Dog, who's continuing to gnaw on his leg.
"Riku, Help Dog," she instructed them before standing to face the cudgelman. Kireina had lost her sword when she had fallen. She drew her tanto.
The Ostronian soldier wipes his cheek, smearing blood everywhere from the deep cut Kireina had given him. Riku directs their attention to Dog's chew toy, sending a blast of air downwards on them, forcing them to their knees.
She crouched low with the tanto and swept in for an attack on the still-standing soldier. Her blade slices across the man's side. He flinches and looks down. Nothing happened.
"Hah!" he laughs, before saying something that is likely an insult in his native tongue. Suddenly, the tanto strike, as well as all of Kireina's previous attacks, spray blood as they open up into wide gashes. His eyes roll back, he teeters, then falls to the ground.
Kireina nodded in approval, then turned to the one she had hit with a pot. His nose is broken and blood is streaming out of his nose. He lies there, surrounded by shattered pottery and other bits of junk. He definitely won't be waking up for a while.
"You two need any help?" Kireina called to her companions. She bent to retrieve her katana, which had fallen from her grasp after being blasted by the wind.
Dog doesn't reply, as they have a mouthful of Ostronian. Riku glances over at Kireina. "If you want to finish him off, Kireina-sama, now would be the time!" The soldier is still on his knees, struggling to get up but failing with Dog on his leg and a gale of wind blasting down on him.
Kireina walked over, cleaning off her blades. She stopped next to the soldier and looked down at him "Welcome to Okuramoto," she said before swiftly kicking him in the temple.
THWACK. He falls to the ground extra hard thanks to the high-speed winds. The combined force of Kireina's temple kick and hitting his jaw on the hard cobblestone means that, like his potted friend against the wall, he's down for the count.
Riku wipes sweat off their brow, and Dog stands, panting happily.
"Good boy!" Kireina gave Dog a pat on the head and a treat from a pouch.
"Bork!" is Dog's reply. He gobbles up the treat, muzzle red with fresh blood.
Kireina nodded to Riku. "And you too, good job. Shall we continue?"
Riku nods. "Hai!"
She led the way again through the streets towards the dock. The streets are now (relatively) quiet -- it seems those three soldiers were straying far beyond the line of battle. The sounds of fighting can still be heard, but the journey to the docks is uneventful.
Uneventful, until Kireina reaches her destination. A small detachment of samurai stand in a semicircle at the pier. Behind them, a ship. In front of them, about a dozen Ostronian soldiers. The soldiers lob various insults at the samurai, not daring to get into the range of the various katanas and yari pointed at them. The samurai stand their ground, silent, unmoving.
The ship at the pier is docked, and only a few Lupii crewmen stand at the ready. They look a bit nervous, waiting for the order to pull up the anchor and get the hell out of this warzone. One Lupii isn't so nervous, and stands with his arms crossed, glaring at the Ostronians. The soldiers haven't seen Kireina, Riku, or Dog yet, but the tall Lupii and some of the samurai give them a quick glance.
Kireina decides to take advantage of the element of surprise, and makes the bold decision to shove her way directly through the small mob. Riku and Dog follow close behind, tackling Ostronians to the side. A few of the soldiers take swipes at her (thankfully missing), but one of them catches Riku in the side with a club. Though they make it through, they tumble to the ground behind the line of samurai, clutching their side.
Kireina knelt next to them. "Are you okay, Riku-san?"
"They took the wind out of me, that's all..." There's no bleeding, but they definitely seem out of breath.
The Ostronians jeer at Kireina. One of them speaks in Aifysh (the common trade tongue) rather than their native tongue. "Diplomatic immunity my arse! Let us at that ship or we'll tear this whole city to pieces!"
The Lupii on the ship snarls. "We are not part of your war with the Nekai. Leave us in peace, and let us set sail!" The Ostronians just respond with more jeering and insults.
Kireina straightened up. She moved to take a place with the samurai. "Come and take it." She hissed at the Ostronians.
There is a whistling noise, and an arrow with a note attached to it lands at Kireina's feet. As she looks in the direction it came from, a shadowy figure disappears from sight. She retrieves the arrow and reads the note.
"Ostronian cannon teams eliminated. Ship safe to sail. Reinforcements? Coming from the north. Cannot make out who they are, but there are many. Leave while you can.
-Uta."
As Kireina finishes reading the note, the sounds of fighting in the distance… go silent.
Kireina took a deep breath. She wasn't going to let her sister finish her mission without finishing her own. She nodded to the defending samurai and turned to the Lupii captain. She bowed. "Are you ready to depart?"
There are the sounds of screaming in the distance. The sound is getting closer.
"I take it you're the messenger I was told about?" The Lupii says. He quirks a brow and looks towards the direction of the yelling. The Ostronians are still slinging insults, and are too wild and rowdy to hear the commotion that was getting less distant by the second.
Kireina nodded. "And you are the captain?"
"Lucius Miretalon, captain of --" He is interrupted by a loud crashing noise. Dozens of Manchatii pour into the street, causing anything in their way to be tossed aside or trampled. The Ostronian soldiers are taken by surprise, and some of them are cut down instantly.
"DO NOT LET THEM ON THE SHIP!" Lucius yells. The crew set to work hauling up the anchor and removing the ropes lashing them to the dock... but it's a slow process. It might take a minute before they can fully set sail.
"Dog, Riku, come." Kireina urged as she grabbed Riku’s scruff and dragged them towards the ship. She turned Riku by the shoulders she they’d face her. "Put wind in those sails. Take Dog with you. I'll get on after you." Kireina drew her Yumi, nocked an arrow, and turned to defend the ship as it prepared to set off.
As Kireina gets close to the ship, a massive Manchatii, larger than any she's ever seen or heard of, crashes through the crowd. It grabs Riku by the leg and lifts them into the air. She draws her bowstring and looses a shot at it without hesitation.
The arrow lodges into the demon's arm. It faces Kireina and glares at her. An unearthly howl emanates from its toothy maw, and it tosses Riku over their shoulder. It begins lumbering towards Kireina, claws clacking on the cobblestone.
Kireina screamed in anger seeing them be tossed. She loosed another arrow, moving towards the ship. The arrow hits home, knocking the massive Manchatii back a few paces. Black fluid trickles out from the wound.
The samurai are holding off the mob of Manchatii, but are slowly being pushed closer and closer to the edge of the pier. Behind the mob, Riku lies on a pile of rubble, struggling to get to their feet.
The ship's anchor has been brought up. The gangplank shifts slightly as the ship gently begins moving. Kireina turned and ran up the gangplank. She took a look back at Riku, hoping they would be ok.
Riku stands on shaky feet. The wind picks up around them, swirling about in a vortex that slowly gathers strength.
"Put wind in those sails." The words echo in Kireina's head as Riku lifts their arms. One arm is broken, but they are pushing past the pain to fulfill Kireina's request. Their stance lowers, they motion their hands in careful, trained motions, and the high winds turn into a hurricane. The shingles of nearby rooftops fly off, windows shatter, rubble and debris are knocked about, and the frail Manchatii are tossed into the air. The sails of the ship are immediately filled with air, billowing out to their full splendor.
Riku looks at Kireina. They are an air magi, but even from this distance, she can see a fire in Riku's eyes.
"GANBATTE, KIREINA-SAMA!" Riku shouts, their voice carried along the wind. The massive Manchatii reaches out a claw to grab the ship, but Riku's gale forces the demon's hand away. Kireina stood by the rail of the ship, looking out at her companion. Her hands gripped the railing tight, jaw clenched… then, she relaxed, and bowed deeply to Riku as the ship began to leave the harbor. As the ship is quickly propelled by Riku’s magic, Kireina quickly loses sight of them behind the nearby buildings. Lucius mutters a prayer under his breath.
She turned to the Lupii. "You know where we're going?"
"Around the coast to New Trensidale." He looks down at Kireina. "I owed Lord Katsuro a favor. I'll get you there safely. I'm not one to back down on fulfilling a favor."
Kireina nodded quietly. "Show me to my bunk." She wanted to be alone.
He glances towards the guest quarters. "Well, the guest quarters are occupied by a… special guest. I'd offer more hospitality to a loyal servant of Lord Katsuro, but you'll have to sleep in a regular bed for now." He guides Kireina below deck. The rest of the crew jog upstairs past the two, now able to work without fear of being shot by Ostronian artillery or grabbed by angry Manchatii.
Lucius puts a large but gentle hand on Kireina's shoulder. "I am sorry about your friend, and for your city. I know words are not enough in times like these, but I will pray that your people bounce back from this tragedy."
"I'm sure they'll be fine. They are strong," she replied without looking up.
Lucius doesn't say anything in reply -- perhaps out of respect, or perhaps because he doesn't know what to say. He shows Kireina her bed -- a bunk in the back of the ship, unclaimed by any of the crew members. "You and your dog can sleep here. We'll ring the meal bell when food is ready."
Kireina nodded, sitting down on the bunk. "Thank you, captain."
Dog curls up at Kireina's feet. The boat rocks gently.