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

[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.

[hagureoni]

[Of course it didn't escape Shutendoji what they were doing in the background just there. But he didn't really feel like chasing after them either - not yet anyways.]

So you want me to give you a chance?

[But if they had to deal with betrayal once again... he didn't want to fail for his people once more.]

Prove to me that you mean it. Show me your true self.

[dragonrises]

[he moves to help Saitou, despite his own battered body - he has to use his spear for support bending down and getting up.

...that's a frightening demand from the demon]

...Lady Oichi. Will you be all right? I don't know what he means by that...but he was able to do something to Lord Yukimura's mind...

[ex_incompliant956]

[Good luck with that-- right now Yukimura is a dead weight. He shows no sign of stirring, even after being touched.]

I will be all right. No matter what he has in store... I need to do this.

[With that said, she steps towards Shutendoji once more.]

How do you wish for me to show my true self to you?

[iaijutsu]

[Good thing Zhao Yun is helping, then, because even if being a rasetsu gives Saitou enough strength to heft around a deadweight guy who's almost a head taller than him, the size difference still makes it pretty awkward.

He doesn't like the idea of Shutendoji's demand any more than Zhao Yun does, but Oichi is showing the same kind of determination Yukimura had to go in alone. He doesn't have to like it, but he has to respect that.]

...we will not be far if you require intervention.

[hagureoni]

I have an ability with which I can look into your heart.

[Unlike with Yukimura, he kind of prepares her for what was to come. He glances at the other two men.]

I promise I won't do anything to her now. An oni never breaks their promise. [Unlike humans, who did that quite frequently.]

But stay here. I don't know how well she will take it and you might end up carrying her back as well.

[He approaches her slowly and raises his hand over her head.]

Are you ready?

[dragonrises]

[stay there, huh? It's not like Zhao Yun and Saitou are in much of a position to disagree. But Shutendoji stating things like so, it's probably worth it to listen and stick around. All the better to have a moment to rest, even while toting their weighty burden. Zhao Yun is watching closely, though, not entirely trustful just yet]

[ex_incompliant956]

[If she's feeling anxious about this at all, she doesn't let it show. Instead Oichi simply nods, willing herself to stay calm.]

I am ready.

[iaijutsu]

[Saitou, too, stays put and watches closely. And admittedly...he is curious - about how this works, about whether it's common among the oni...it's nothing that ever came up before, but on the other hand, they only had to deal with a small handful of them, at home.]