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]

[Yukimura is being Yukimura. That's the only explanation that anyone needs.]

... I simply wished to ensure that you and Chou'un-dono were all right.

[Which is true!]

[iaijutsu]

If we stay within your sight, will you promise to stay put?

[SUCH A TROUBLEMAKER, YUKIMURA-DONO...]

[dragonrises]

Yukimura... [he calls out from behind another tent flap over there somewhere]

[ex_onslaught851]

[He wouldn't be a Sanada if he wasn't causing trouble.]

Yes... I would be agreeable to that. I simply wish to make sure that you are both looking after yourselves.

[He looks and feels a little embarrassed, though.]

[iaijutsu]

Then please, sit down.

[They can talk about looking after themselves once he sits! X( ]

[dragonrises]

[and Zhao Yun is already sitting! they're just finishing up with him, he's trying to put his tunic back on over his bandages]

[ex_onslaught851]

[Surprisingly, Yukimura sits down without protesting or having to be asked to do so again. It's a miracle!]

[iaijutsu]

[Good boy.

Saitou takes a seat next to Yukimura; as much as he dislikes admitting it even if only to himself, he's plenty worn out from the battle, even if he's not openly bleeding.]

[dragonrises]

[giving them both a quick once-over to be sure they're both fine, as well]

Well, then. This may not have been how I expected to meet up again, but nevertheless, I am glad to see you. And meet you, Lord Saitou.

[ex_onslaught851]

It is good to see you again as well, Chou'un-dono. I am grateful that you came to our aid.

[Yukimura is glad to see that he's looking better than before. Since Saitou and Zhao Yun haven't really had a chance to talk properly yet, Yukimura doesn't add much to the conversation- but he does motion for Zhao Yun to join them. The bed is big enough for the three of them to sit on!]

[iaijutsu]

It is an honor to meet you, Chou'un-dono.

[Quietly starstruck at past legends, don't mind him...]

[dragonrises]

[polite and gracious bows for both of them before he sits down, gently]

You know that I always will. Yet, this time, I was sent because of rumors of demons at Nagashino. It does seem like that is what we found.

[ex_onslaught851]

It seems as though the truth was even worse than the rumours. And on top of it, Kiyomori...

[Yukimura was feeling very troubled.]

[iaijutsu]

The oni clans have no distinct ties to Orochi, the way the other demons here do. I suspect many would have no interest in working with him.

[Some of them may be assholes, but Sen? Amagiri? He can't see them doing anything of the sort, and if they have the influence to keep their clans out of it...well, not that he knows much about their politics, but.]

They are dangerous opponents, but I do not think they have to be opponents.

[dragonrises]

You know of them, then, Lord Saitou? Do they come from your time?

[he has no problem making peace with anyone who would be interested in working against Orochi. He glances briefly to Yukimura]

Though, with Kiyomori already getting his hands dirty in this, I fear they may be a step ahead of us in swaying the oni. But...you, Yukimura. Are you all right?

[ex_onslaught851]

We are trying to persuade as many as possible to join our cause... they would be useful allies to have. However, we may now have to move quickly due to the fact that Kiyomori has come back into the fray. If he continues to brainwash people, we will only have more trouble on our hands.

[Yukimura hesitated at the question-- to be honest, he wasn't sure how to answer that.]

... I am not sure. As much as I would like to think so, I cannot ignore the fact that I allowed Kiyomori to take control of me in such a manner.

[iaijutsu]

[To that first question, Saitou can only shake his head.] I know much less than I would like. In my time, they are largely in hiding and number far fewer than they once did - supposedly hunted down as a result of their involvement in human politics centuries prior. I have not seen most display such abilities, however...they are strong and fast, and heal from wounds in mere seconds, but the rest...

[Shutendoji was pulling some shit he never suspected was possible. Possibly something worth asking about, although given the generally secretive nature of the oni...perhaps not. And they seem to think even more poorly of rasetsu than they do of humans, after all...

In response to Yukimura, he shakes his head again.]

Your willpower is beyond question, Yukimura-dono. I see no reason to blame any weakness in yourself for what happened.

[Not mentioning the fact that he'd probably do the exact same in Yukimura's position...]

[dragonrises]

Lord Saitou is right. [there is nothing at all accusing in his tone, only kindness] We have long known Kiyomori's sorcery to be unlike anything we have experienced before. I doubt that it was any failing on your part. This is, after all, the man who resurrected Orochi we are talking about.

[he's merely worried that Yukimura is going to keep hoarding that guilt over it]

I think...perhaps we should be wary of the movements of the oni, then, and hope that Lady Oichi has some success in convincing Shutendoji to find a new ally. She was very brave, stepping in like that. She may have saved us all from far worse.

[ex_onslaught851]

[“Strong and fast, and healing from wounds in mere seconds”… There’s something in that which Yukimura wants to ask about, but he forces himself to hold his tongue. At least for the moment. It’s a question that he wouldn’t mind knowing the answer to, but maybe it’s better not to while he’s not in a state to process the information.]

I am sure that a stronger man would have been able to resist. After all, it’s not the first time I have been tricked, and turned against those I should consider allies.

[And yes, there was a rather large amount of guilt that came with that. He’d managed to attack Zhao Yun both of those times, and it was hard to accept that it had been out of his control. Had it truly? Was he not to blame at all? It was hard to believe.

Quiet for a long moment, he finally decided to ask.]

What… exactly happened, while I was unconscious? The last thing that I remember is… that he wished to look into my mind, to see my true self.

[iaijutsu]

If a stronger man would have been able to resist, I have not yet met a likely candidate.

[Stop blaming yourself Yukimura-dono YOU ARE BEING SILLY

(exactly as silly as Saitou would be himself, were the roles reversed.)]

...we entered after you, and caught up just after you had fallen unconscious. We attacked, but Shutendoji set some of his army on us. The odds were not looking good before Lady Oichi intervened and managed to convince him to talk to her rather than fighting.

[It's probably not as much detail as Yukimura wants, but Saitou doesn't want to remind him to ask about any of the details he's purposefully avoiding, and anyway, he's a bit distracted considering something about the battle, himself. Shutendoji had called the followers he set on them "shuras," and while they were clearly also oni...what was it that set them apart? He'd never heard that word before in his limited dealings with the oni at home...]

[dragonrises]

[he nods along with the tale - that's about as much information as he would have given. The tiny details of who took what hit and just how many enemies had surrounded them weren't necessary]

If that is all he did to you, Lord Yukimura, then we are fortunate indeed. He could have put you under a spell again. Perhaps your mind resisted, this time.

[like he knows how sorcery works]

[ex_onslaught851]

... I am sorry that I was of no help. Perhaps you would not have been so disadvantaged, if I had not yet again fallen under someone else's spell.

[He shook his head.] Being brainwashed was worse. Having no control over what I was doing, no memory of my former life. The only thing that I wanted to do was... serve Kiyomori. There are few fates worse than death, but that might well be one of them.

[iaijutsu]

You have nothing to apologize for, Yukimura-dono.

[This is ridiculous off the wall bullshit that nothing before Orochi's world could have prepared them for. NO BLAME. X( ]

[dragonrises]

[he may be blunt, but...] Listen to Lord Saitou. No apology is necessary. If anything, I am sorry you had to go through that...that I was unable to make it here sooner, that no one was able to stop Kiyomori before he reached you.

[that left open the question of just how Kiyomori had managed to abduct or waylay or sneak up on Yukimura and get him in the first place, but Zhao Yun is not asking that question. Not now. Instead, he places a hand on Yukimura's shoulder to assure him that they aren't judging]

[ex_onslaught851]

It is not your fault either, Chou'un-dono. It wasn't something that you could have prevented!

[It's as he says that when he realises that it's not as though he could have done anything, either. Stronger men than himself, in his mind, had also been enslaved by the sorcery, but he was hardly going to blame them for what had happened, now was he?

He falls silent for a moment, the weight of Zhao Yun's hand on his shoulder reminding him of just how tired he is. And if he's feeling like this, then surely the others are too.

For now, he doesn't say anything more, but he does lean on Zhao Yun a little bit.]