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

[ex_onslaught851]

I realise that I owe you both much already, but... if the explanations could wait for a little bit longer.

[Because if they die here, Yukimura is never going to forgive himself for that. He's already done more than enough to inconvenience them both.]

[dragonrises]

[Zhao Yun is mainly keeping everyone else off them, but he's close enough to hear and respond]

If you feel like you can continue. Are you able? [and now the worried look comes out]

[iaijutsu]

[Saitou is silent, also waiting for Yukimura's response to that - and although his worried look is much subtler than Zhao Yun's, it's certainly there is one looks closely.]

[ex_onslaught851]

I will be fine, you needn't worry about me. I will do my best not to slow either of you down.

[With that he gingerly got to his feet, and picked up his spear once again. His body still ached, but he wasn't going to let that hold him back.]

[dragonrises]

As long as your head is clear.

[he takes a moment to clap a hand to Yukimura's shoulder before turning to the battle at hand]

I have been sent with reinforcements from Shu. We received rumors that Orochi's demon army was awake again and moving toward this location. They should support the flank while we press on to the fortress. [and here he adds a polite nod toward Saitou, since now is a difficult time for proper introductions and bowing and all that]

[iaijutsu]

[Saitou returns Zhao Yun's nod, finally taking his eyes off Yukimura - though perhaps a bit reluctantly.]

I left my forces fighting further north, but I believe they should have that approach adequately covered.

[ex_onslaught851]

Yes, it is clear... at least, for the moment.

[An apology didn't feel like it would ever be enough to make up for what he had done, so Yukimura put it aside for now.]

That sounds best, Chou'un-dono. I know the best way into the castle, so that should give us an advantage.

[-- how he knows is something best not thought about right now.]

[dragonrises]

[another nod to Saitou. This guy is smart] That's good. We are in position to pincer the main force between them, then. I will leave my men under Zhang Bao's command and come with you two up the middle. We will draw their attention to us and allow the two forces to come in from the north and south.

[he's clearly still worried about Yukimura, but bravely putting it aside for now. He will, however, have half an eye on his comrade no matter what they do, just in case.] I will follow your lead, Lord Yukimura. Who is the commander of the opposing army, here?

[iaijutsu]

[It's a solid plan, and Saitou nods in agreement. It's in all of their best interests to end this as quickly and cleanly as possible. The rest can wait.]

[ex_onslaught851]

The commander is a man named Shutendoji. He seems to have some strange powers that he is using to control his own men, so we must proceed with caution. It is also possible that there are... [He pauses for a moment, hesitating.] That there are others like me within the enemy ranks.

[That is to say, people who had been brainwashed. Yukimura had to do his best to put that thought aside for the moment.]

I believe that your plan is sound, Chou'un-dono. The enemy has higher numbers on their side, but we should not let that faze us.

[dragonrises]

[Zhao Yun mulls that information over for a minute before hefting his spear back into attack position] Very well. Forward into the charge, and we shall keep our eyes out for other officers who may have had their memories tampered with.

[and he means on foot because his horse? Knows better than to hang aorund. It's long gone]

[iaijutsu]

Understood.

[One word and a nod, and Saitou has already turned his attention back to the territory ahead of them.

Which isn't to say he doesn't have his own worries about what Yukimura's told them...but he's always been about efficiency.]

[ex_onslaught851]

[Right now, the efficiency is definitely for the best, considering that Yukimura has already forced them to waste so much time. He finds that he can't quite bring himself to meet the gaze of either of the others anyway, so he proceeds onwards in silence.

Truth be told, the closer they get to Nagashino Castle, the more the uneasy feeling within him builds. But he doesn't say anything about it, preferring to pretend it doesn't affect him at all.

... not that he's doing a particularly good job of it.]

[dragonrises]

[don't think that Zhao Yun doesn't notice. He's spent enough time at Yukimura's side to know what most of his expressions mean. But they have a job to do, first, and concentration is required if all three of them are going to get safely through the crowds of demons and other infantrymen to find this Shutendoji and stop him.

He'll only speak up if he notices Yukimura's strength or ability to fight waning. For now, he's got one eye on his old friend as they cut through the battlefield, a deadly threesome]

[iaijutsu]

[A very deadly threesome, although the further they get, the harder it is for Saitou to keep himself as tightly reined in as he'd like. It may be a good thing Zhao Yun's keeping one eye on Yukimura; Saitou's finding it more and more important to keep one eye on himself, lest he become deadly to the wrong people.]

[ex_onslaught851]

[Between the three of them they manage to cut a path through to the castle with relative ease. And yet that isn't the most surprising aspect of all. Instead... Yukimura freezes on the spot once he realises it.]

The doors are wide open.

[Has Shutendoji been waiting for them?]

[dragonrises]

[Zhao Yun pauses beside him, though he doesn't let down his guard]

It could be a trap. But what choice do we have? We must find this Shutendoji and capture him if we can, to find out what he is doing with the demon army here.

[iaijutsu]

It could be a trap...or it could be simple arrogance, or an attempted bluff.

[Hey, he can't be the only one who remembers reading about that time Zhuge Liang opened the city gates as a bluff and scared the pants off Sima Yi.

...well, not that everyone here would've read about it.]

[ex_onslaught851]

An attempted bluff... That is true.

[He eyes Zhao Yun for a moment, wondering what the best course of action is. He doesn't know Shutendoji well enough to be able to predict what reason he might have had for doing something like this.]

Arrogance is also possible with a man like this, but unfortunately I cannot give you a clear indication either way.

[dragonrises]

[Zhao Yun was probably there for that famous incident, or at least nearby. Even if it's not directly on his mind at the moment]

The only thing that gives me pause is your tale, Lord Yukimura. [giving him a look, now] Of entering the battlefield and then finding yourself suddenly at our feet not remembering anything. I would not walk boldly into the trap if it meant we would be turned around to attack our own forces.

[iaijutsu]

But by waiting we do nothing but give him time to solidify his assault.

[Not that Saitou doesn't see the dangers of walking straight in, but...they can't just leave him in there, either.

Besides, running in severely outnumbered and still kicking ass is just what Shinsengumi do. Look at Ikedaya.]

[ex_onslaught851]

[As much as he knows that he probably deserves that comment from Zhao Yun, it still stings. Yukimura is silent for a while before finally speaking.]

Then I will go in first. And if I return as an enemy once more, you have every right to kill me.

[dragonrises]

[he didn't mean it that way, but if it works, it works]

Very well. Your friend is correct - we must act. [adding, gently:] Take care, Yukimura.

[iaijutsu]

[Saitou opens his mouth as if to protest, then closes it. He doesn't like this plan - doesn't like it at all, to be honest - but it's that or gamble that three at once will be too many for Shutendoji to handle, and risk all of them being turned against their forces. The odds against them there are a little too much for his liking.

And as much as he'd like to jump in and say he'd go in instead...Yukimura hypnotized was a problematic enough opponent. If he were to let loose on his allies as a rasetsu...

...no, he can't really justify taking that risk when there's a lower risk option right in front of them. Even if that option is Yukimura.]

...

[He nods.]

[ex_onslaught851]

[Yukimura doesn't give himself time to change his mind - he steps forward, not looking at either of them as he starts off on his own. Deep down, he knows this is the right thing to do. At least if he's brainwashed again, the other two will be able to handle him. It's a surprising amount of comfort at a time like this, when so much else seems uncertain.

And yet the thought that he's walking away from two of the most important people in his life for what could be the last time haunts his every step.

Now, however, there's nothing else for it. Now he has to face Shutendoji.]