Parlay With Darkness (Day 6, Late Night)

[Yuzuki]

Oh no...

Yuzuki had apparently walked into some serious shit. Talk of undead armies. And now... this.

"Are you... Eli?"

She looked at the figure when Khulun had spoken, a bit confused. And entirely wary of what was to come.

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

Monkhbaatar takes a position next to Khulun, his eyes peering at Kiyoshi with clear mistrust. He remains ready to protect any of those present as best he can. Khulun is at the lead of this, so he lets her talk, observing all the goings on as best he can, watching for any signs of aggression.

[Kiyoshi]

A flicker of confusion crosses the Onyx Champion's face at Yuzuki's question. "...perhaps it is best to remain quiet, Mantis-san."

He turns his attention back to Khulun. "Do you still have the trinket I gave to you upon our first meeting? Have you managed to puzzle out its meaning, or must I explain things more simply?"

[Yuzuki]

Huh... I really hope Eli's still coming then.

She frowned at being told to essentially shut up by some random dude with a bunch of ghost friends on undead horses.

Well, he probably was important.

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

Of course an evil creature like him is an arrogant ass, the Shinjo thinks to himself as he observes.

[Moto Khulun]

"There is a threat to Lady Shinjo that is also a threat to you?"

She adds, "Best you simply explain."

[Kiyoshi]

Kiyoshi suppresses a sigh. "There are forces in this world which are inimical to us both our lords. Your people encountered in during your return to Rokugan. We know it as the Lying Darkness, but it has many names."

His gaze sweeps over the other Unicorn present. "Do you know of this enemy?"

[Bayushi Hotaru]

It felt like it had been ages since she snuck away from her dormitories high atop the Soshi mountain so that she could join the secret congregation of the gossipy sisterhood at the mess hall. Those meetings had a cost to them, heavy lids and great fatigue during daily lessons, but it was an acceptable price of keeping up with the popular kids. However, she got the sense that this particular meeting had a higher cost attached to it...

She slowly approached the clearing to see several spots of purple in the darkness, alongside the darkened figure from her visions. So! This is a party, then. The fact that the group didn't react to the figure with anger or fear made her wonder if she missed another part of the memo here.

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

Monkhbaatar shakes his head no, having never heard of anything called the Lying Darkness, but if it's related to those shadow things during the ride back to the Empire, then there's probably not a Unicorn alive that wouldn't be wary.

[Iuchi Saksaha]

Saksaha crosses her arms over her chest and silent-treatments Kiyoshi like she's a Moto and he's Butaj. She'll answer questions from her fellow Unicorn if they speak to her, but she has not one word for him unless it's of defiance.

[Yuzuki]

The discussion was definitely not heading in a direction she liked.

Aren't they here to kill this thing?

She debated pulling out her weapons... but under these uncertain circumstances, such a move seemed more than a little reckless. Also, she was on a horse, and she'd never fought on top of a horse before.

[Moto Khulun]

"We have faced this darkness, yes," she replies.

[Kiyoshi]

"Then you know the threat it represents. Many years ago, the darkness approached my lord, seeking to deceive him into assistance. When he refused, the darkness revealed its true intentions."

Kiyoshi gestures with the hand not holding his mount's reins. "The Empire and the Shadowlands are engaged in a great game of Go. We sacrifice pieces and capture others, building up our stones, black and white, until there are no more moves remaining and the score must be tallied. There have been previous games, and there will be games after our own. Such is the way of the world."

"The Lying Darkness, however... it seeks to steal away our pieces, to upend our board, to make the game impossible to finish. There is no greater threat to either of us."

[Moto Khulun]

"This Darkness consumes all and the Dark Brother has nothing to rule. Why then summon only the children of the Mother of Unicorns?" Khulun asks.

[Ide Samai]

Well, this was a whole mess. A giant, freaking mess.

Samai glared at Khulun from her horse. "That is... interesting information Kiyoshi-sama." She replied for now, trying to butt in.

Why would we help you? The Ninth was a traitor!