The demon army entries...

[hagureoni]

WHO: 'Shutendoji', whoever wants to fight him and his army
WHAT: Some more fighting, brainwashing, possible hypnosis and everything
WHERE: Nagashino
WARNING(S): There are not any yet... probably angst?


['Shutendoji' had taken position inside the castle walls of Nagashino. He had kept the doors of the mainkeep carelessly open - he didn't see any need to lock himself into them. Plus it wasn't like he intended to stay in there all the time. On top of it, he wasn't only accompanied by Orochi's demons, but the ones from his own world as well - the ones he had made drink the 'sentan', a medicine that strengthen the demons and bring out their deepest and ugliest feelings.

And this was still not all. Kiyomori had given him another few henchmen. Famous warriors that were under his control now.]




((ooc: Feel free to toss up brainwashed characters in here, and if you want to fight 'Shutendoji', he has several abilities that go along the lines of hypnosis with words, looking into people's mind to see secrets even they might not be aware of and he can warp time and space. Just give me a heads-up if you want to fight against any of those powers or how far it is okay with you that he uses them on your character!))

Comments

[dragonrises]

[Zhao Yun's strikes are quick and precise, battering the shuras with as many blows as it took to daze or weaken them and leave them open to a spear through the chest. There's too many, it feels like he will never get through them to Shutendoji - and he's wary of Yukimura, still unconscious. It won't do to have him trampled in the fray]

Lord Saitou! Forget the minions, I will handle them - go for Shutendoji himself!

[iaijutsu]

[Saitou doesn't have to be told twice. He still cuts down any of the shuras who happen to be standing between him and Shutendoji, but he focuses on cutting a path through them, rather than taking out as many of them possible.

He still takes a few hits here and there, from attacks he's not focused or quick enough to dodge with the circumstances wearing down on his ability to fight - but those heal almost instantly, and he hasn't lost control of himself yet.]

[hagureoni]

[Shutendoji smirks a little. One human against the shuras? It was like asking for death, almost.

Though he couldn't waste his time to spend too much attention to the fight going on in front of him when he saw the other man charging at him. Well, as well as the charging went. Shutendoji warps himself just behind Saitou - and tries to thrust through the man's stomach area with his claws.]

[dragonrises]

[certain death or not, Zhao Yun is focused completely on drawing the foes off, knocking them with one end of the spear or the other in order to get their attention, and then simply exhausting himself beating on them. As long as they target him and not Saitou, the other man can concentrate on Shutendoji himself.

...strong and determined as he is, Zhao Yun will not be able to keep this up forever. But he's making a fair dent in the onslaught]

[iaijutsu]

[Oh, that...

...hurts.

That hurts a lot, actually.

Still, there isn't time to stop and think about it, and the moment he feels the claws go through his stomach, Saitou knows it means one thing for sure - that Shutendoji is right there and not going anywhere until he pulls them out again.

So he lifts his sword to stab blindly behind him at an angle that - ought to hit something, hopefully somewhere in the chest but it's hard to be sure of anything - and at the same time tries to push himself forward enough to get off Shutendoji's hand and turn himself around to face his opponent.

If that had been a little further up, he might be dead again, but he can heal from this, if he can just get himself a few seconds to do so.]

[hagureoni]

[Pulling his hand out of there took a moment longer than Shutendoji anticipated and he doesn't get away in time to avoid Saitou's blade completely - the cool steel meets his shoulder and blood spills out of there. Not too long, though, he was an oni, after all and it took just a moment of time until the wound closed again.

But now he was pissed. As if humans didn't hurt them already enough as it was by now.]

You're going to die.

[And he doesn't waste in trying to make that threat a reality. He warps himself behind Saitou again, aiming to use his claws to cut deep into Saitou's left shoulders before the healing process of the stomach could start.]

[dragonrises]

[even from across the way, Zhao Yun can see what's happening. But there's a wall of enemies blocking him from getting there. The best he can do is stand over Yukimura to protect him from being trampled, and keep swinging the spear. He's taking hits himself, and growing too fatigued to even have a chance at succeeding.

But that brave man over there, throwing himself into this battle without regard...]

Lord Saitou! No!

[ex_incompliant956]

Stop! Don't do this!

[Hopefully she didn't arrive here too late, but Oichi is still frantic. She has her own weaponry on her, but she certainly hopes that she won't have to use it much. Regardless she doesn't hesitate before rushing over, trying to stop Shutendoji by flinging her weapon at him, trying to engage Shutendoji herself. However, it certainly isn't her main aim here.]

[iaijutsu]

[He's not sure who's yelling or whether she means one or all of them, but Saitou's not about to waste a good distraction, and he tries to use the moment to leap out of the way as soon as he senses Shutendoji behind him, passing on the chance to attack and instead just taking the time for his wounds to close again.]

[hagureoni]

[Shutendoji stops in his tracks, glancing over where the voice from a female was coming. His face is almost expressionless - almost, because there is a slight narrowing of his eyebrows.]

And why shouldn't I do this?

[dragonrises]

[what - where did Lady Oichi come from? No time to wonder, Zhao Yun is still smacking shuras off him. He's definitely at the end of his strength, though, his swings are wide and weaker and there are red slashes in his white silk clothing...]

Be careful, my lady...he is no normal opponent...

[ex_incompliant956]

What do you hope to accomplish by cutting these men down? Do you truly wish for Orochi to reign once more?

[At least Shutendoji had stopped for the moment, though now Oichi is more concerned about Zhao Yun. She hesitates for a brief moment, and then goes to lend him a hand.]

We should all be working together to fight him off. Not quarrelling amongst ourselves. Do you believe that you will earn anything worthwhile by doing this?

[iaijutsu]

[Saitou draws in a deep breath, then another - through his mouth, not his nose - and keeps one eye on Oichi and one eye on Shutendoji. (He hasn't got a third eye for the shuras, but hopefully Zhao Yun has that covered well enough.)

Maybe they're not earning anything worthwhile, but...this guy fucked with Yukimura.

You don't fuck with Yukimura.

But nor can he deny that they need the intervention; this fight isn't going in their favor. And if they lose here, then things only look worse for all of them, so he watches, and waits.]

[hagureoni]

I wish...

[He could really care less of the reign from Orochi. What he really wished was a place for the rogue onis - a place where they could live in peace, where they weren't hunted down, expelled. The victims, the sacrifices...

The humans wouldn't give them those. And the council of the oni were responsible for this in the first place. That is why they had to get rid of them.]

This is the only place where we can stay.

[This is why he had drunken the sentan himself and changed his body, just for that goal.]

[dragonrises]

[Zhao Yun appreciates the help, really. He's so tired he's leaning on his spear, in the break given as what's left of the shuras back off. What Shutendoji says is...curious]

Is that why you assist Kiyomori? Has he promised you a cut of the land if you help him?

[ex_incompliant956]

The only place that you can stay? Why do you think that?

[At least he seems to have calmed down some, which is a start. Though now she eyes Zhao Yun with a worried expression.]

Are the injuries bad, my lord...?

[iaijutsu]

[It's probably simpler to let Oichi do the talking.

Still, the only place they can stay...

He hasn't forgotten what Amagiri told him about the demon clans that had to take refuge with opposition domains after Sekigahara. Even they hadn't seemed quite as desperate as Shutendoji makes it sound, though...

Not much to do for it but to keep listening, since the question has already been asked.]

[hagureoni]

Yes...

[Seriously, any piece of land would do as long as his clan could live in peace finally. And his people are off far worse than the ones of the Amagiri-clan, even if they didn't have the easiest time either.

His tone gets lightly more aggressive at Oichi's question, but it wasn't directed at her.]

My clan is a clan of rogue oni. The other oni-clans don't want to have anything to do with us. [If they even knew that they still existed.] Humans obviously won't accept us either, so that is why... there is no other way than this one.

[dragonrises]

[to Oichi:] Not as bad as what Lord Saitou has suffered. [though he hasn't noticed that the serious wounds have been healing. His own are...well, neither mild nor severe, but nothing life-threatening] I will be fine. Please, be careful, my lady - Shutendoji is powerful.

[no comments about Shutendoji's reply - Oichi asked, she may be able to explain things to him better than the two guys who just attacked him]

[ex_incompliant956]

Why do you think that humans will not accept you? You would be welcomed in the Resistance Army. We have many different people from different walks of life that have joined us, and not everyone there is human.

In fact, Lord Shingen and Lord Kenshin have requested that you at least come to see them for an audience.

[After she's said as much, she turns back to Zhao Yun, giving him and then Saitou a worried look.]

Perhaps the two of you should get outside to the healers.

[iaijutsu]

[He doesn't have anything to add to Oichi's appeal to Shutendoji...but he shakes his head at her suggestion to him. He'd rather stay put and keep an eye on things.]

I will be fine. I am more concerned about Yukimura-dono's condition.

[hagureoni]

[It was more than obvious that they were wary of him. Considering how they fight was going and how he had acted up until now that was no surprise. It also didn't make it any easier to trust them in turn.]

Nobody accepted us until now. Humans tend to use the oni a lot for their favors in the first place.

[He let his look wander between the three of them, but het his eyes settle firmly on Oichi.]

How can you guarantee me this will be different this time?

[dragonrises]

[he only averts his gaze - he hasn't exactly made it easy for a demon to want to work with. He speaks more to Saitou than anything]

...yes, we must see to Lord Yukimura first.

[ex_incompliant956]

Then please, take him with you. I will be just fine here.

[Besides, Shutendoji had stopped and was listening to her, at least for the moment - it was a hopeful sign.

She then turns back to Shutendoji, meeting his gaze.]

I can make no guarantees. The only thing I ask of you is that you give us a chance. Let us show you how we live, how we interact with one another. Only you can decide - and even if your mind doesn't change, it's all right.

[At least if they had to come to blows at camp, there would be more warriors to back them up.]

[iaijutsu]

[Saitou glances between Oichi and Shutendoji one more time - he doesn't particularly like the situation, no matter what she says.

But there's still Yukimura to worry about, and they won't be going far...

He relaxes fractionally, and his hair and eyes fade back to their normal color as he turns and moves to kneel beside Yukimura and attempt to pull him up.]

...very well.