[D2, EM] Oni Aftermath

[Usagi Tomoe]

Tomoe's frowned deepened at Chi-Pu's last words.

"... This is really bad, Otaku-sama. Your Governor must be informed of this immediately, so that proper security measures can be taken. I have not seen this creature myself, so I admit I cannot be completely certain in my assessement, but it does sound like that what you fought was an Oni of some sort... a servant of the eternal enemy." The rabbit opted for the most direct way to break the news to the heroes.

"... This area should be purified, and a priest should give you all rites of purification."

[Shinjo Taichi]

Taichi gratefully accepted the tea, saying "Indeed, thank you Ide-san" before drinking deeply.

He turned at the Usagi's words "ah. I suspected as much." He didn't.

"I assure you that I have no need for purification, Usagi-san. That thing may have afflicted me with some toxin when it struck, but that is but a trifling and temporary concern. I am fine." He smiles.

[Ide Amaya]

As the Hare finished speaking, the cup Amaya had been holding cracked as it fell to the hard ground, the tea splattering the edge of the girl's kimono. She simply stared at the broken cup in shock for what felt like an eternity. "Fortune's Breath, I'm sorry, terribly sorry," though it was unclear exactly who she was speaking to. Hurriedly she fetched the next cup, offering it to Tomoe.

[Otaku Chi-Pu]

"I am sure Otaku-sama has notified the appropriate individuals, she is an heir to the Otaku after all and has been well taught. She took Moto Khulun-san to get help first though, as Khulun was quite injured."

Chi-Pu looks to the Iuchi

"Iuchi-san, would you bless us to ease this...

Chi-Pu looks at the Hare

"Uh..Rabbit?-san's worry?"

Chi-Pu looks to Amaya with gentleness in her eyes

"It will be okay, sister" she says in a soft voice. "We slew it and will do so again. Fear nothing"

[Usagi Tomoe]

The rabbit politely did not draw attention to Amaya's little incident, and instead gave Taichi a hard look... she hardly looked like the dainty little courtier she had given the impression of being before. "Shinjo-sama... I am being serious."

She held his gaze for a little while longer, until Amaya suddenly appeared with a cup of tea for her. The rabbit blinked a little in surprise before accepting. "Ah... domo. I... apologize if my words caused you upset, Ide-sama." Tomoe bowed to Amaya.

[Iuchi Saksaha]

"Of course, Otaku-sama."

Saksaha frowns a little at Taichi. Hero or not, there's no excuse for being so cavalier about spiritual matters. "You should be concerned about the purification of your spirit, Shinjo-san, not just your body. You have spilled blood... or, um, something... and that is pollution. Our people did not survive the Dark Ride by being so careless."

Taking a small round mirror with an elaborate bronze back out of her pouch, she glances at Kaiya and Tomoe. "Usagi-san, Fairuz-san," she says, giving the latter name a very Mekhem-like pronunciation, "You seem to know more about this. Is there anything special that must be done as a blessing, besides what is always done after battle?"

[Fairuz Kaiya]

Somehow, even with all the other forms of culture clashing going on, it did not occur to the Fairuz that the most basic of rituals might be different or even unknown to the Unicorn, but Saksaha's statement put him a bit at ease.. as well as sparking some curiosity.

"Hai, the same cleansing rites performed after battle.. and when one is handling the deceased, or cleansing a samurai's honor and soul to return to their family..."

Kaiya did blink at the sight of the mirror being produced. "Though I must admit that I am unaware what differences in practice the Iuchi have in this regard."


(I'm a little shaky here OOC, sorry if I've got any of this wrong)

[Usagi Tomoe]

Tomoe nodded in agreement with the Fairuz on the type of ritual. She was sadly no priest or monk, and while she knew in theory how it should be performed, she also knew it had to be done by someone proper for the task.

The rabbit carefully fished out a finger of jade strapped to a cord that she carried on the inside of her clothes and untied it from her neck.

"Here," she said, stepping closer to the Unicorns. "Jade is among the pure substances that can protect against such enemies... this is the only one I have, but those who were physically touched by the creature's attacks should hold onto it for a few moments... If one's skin has a volatile reaction to the touch of jade, it means one's purity has been compromised," Tomoe spoke in a low voice, but it was firm as she clearly had an interest in helping those who had faced this danger.

She offered the green stone forward with a deep bow, hoping it didn't cause an offense to the Unicorns.

[Otaku Chi-Pu]

Chi-Pu looks to the stone and then wraps her hand around it.

"We must get some of this Jade. Where does one obtain it?"

After some time, she lets go with no ill reaction.

[Iuchi Saksaha]

Saksaha nods in understanding of the unusual ronin's words and rummages in her pouch again, taking out a rather miscellaneous collection of amulets which she arranges around her neck and at her waist while listening to Tomoe's explanation about her pretty green stone.

With a small skin bottle of water in her right hand and her mirror in her left, she proceeds to enact an impromptu purification ritual in the Unicorn style, sprinkling drops of water on the scorched ground, flashing fragments of sunlight about with the mirror, and chanting in an archaic tongue. Her stylized movements are precise but not particularly like those of other Rokugani priests, though a knowledgeable eye might recognize some common elements.

Once she is done with the general area she'll go on to Taichi and Chi-Pu, assuming they're done with Tomoe's jade and willing to hold still for her.

((No worries, Kaiya, Saksaha just wanted to know if you had a special new Oni-B-Gone dance she was supposed to do or something. I wonder if there's a thing I should roll for this business? ))

[Fairuz Kaiya]

Kaiya watched at first.. a number of the differences were almost immediately obvious, such as the usage of those amulets; He really needed to inquire further into those at a more appropriate time.

Yet, for all of that, it didn't exactly feel inappropriate, just different. It was certainly enough that he was comfortable leaving the other two in her hands unless asked otherwise.. which conveniently would also leave out the awkwardness of performing the traditional Rokugani version of the ritual on someone still potentially unfamiliar with it.

[Iuchi Saksaha]

Saksaha finishes her ritual lustrations and stands contemplating the scene for a moment longer before saying very quietly, so that her voice won't carry beyond those gathered here, "Otaku-san, Shinjo-san, you didn't mention that someone was killed."

[Usagi Tomoe]

Seeing Taichi and Chi-Pu take no visible ill effects from the jade at least gave the Hare a little peace of mind, but not much. As Saksaha finished her ritual, she was fastening the jade again around her neck, until she heard the Iuchi speak.

"... What?"

[Iuchi Saksaha]

"There is a human body here," Saksaha says in the same quiet, controlled voice. "I did not see it until I walked around to complete the ritual." She steps carefully through the mess of the nearest destroyed tent, her leather boot-soles crunching on charred fabric, until she's standing directly over the sad thing, at which point the others may be able to pick out its shape amidst the general destruction.

There's a charred corpse nearby - or what might have once been a corpse. It's too burned to make out much in the way of details.

[Usagi Tomoe]

Tomoe stepped closer, trying as much as she could to avoid the area of sand as she approached the ruined tent Saksaha had indicated.

Seeing the charred remains of the corpse, her On slipped as some tears began to form in her eyes. Poor thing... we didn't see this threat, and someone paid for it with their life. She composed herself quickly and murmured a brief prayer for the deceased to find peace in the next life... she was no priest, but it felt like the right thing to do.

"... I'm sorry, Iuchi-san. For this loss."