[D2, EM] Oni Aftermath

[Mindshred]

There is silence for a moment, until one of the servants kneels down and quietly starts a fire on the offered logs. Once it catches, the servants steps back as the flames crackle and smolder eagerly.

[Fairuz Kaiya]

(Oh, you)

As the fires roar to life (and don't immediately seem to be trying to eat anyone), the Fairuz leads with his first question..

"Fire-sama.. Very recently, a creature of darkness appeared and attacked a number of the samurai here. I seek information on what occurred.. What brought this creature here?"

[Mindshred]

The flames crackle as they speak to Kaiya in a voice only he could understand.

"A pact made in blood between a foreigner and the realm of evil."

[Fairuz Kaiya]

Kaiya's eyes narrowed as one suspicion was confirmed.

"Where is this foreigner now?"

If the culprit acted here, then surely they could not have gone far..

[Mindshred]

The flames sputtered for a few moments.

"Scattered across the western fields, clinging to the hair and boots and lungs of those who dress in purple, ground into the dirt underfoot, dancing upon the wind."

[Fairuz Kaiya]

Kaiya stood blinking for a moment, before glancing back at where the burnt tent and corpse was.

...what an unpleasant yet poetic manner of description.

He had to think a moment on the final question, as it seemed there was not an immediate bloodspeaker threat. At least, not from the same source as this incident.

"How strong is the realm of evil's touch where the foul creature fell?"

[Otaku Chi-Pu]

Chi-Pu watches as the Fairuz speaks to no one.

She glances to Iuchi Saksaha with worry in her eyes, as if to ask "is this okay?"

Her hand rests on the hilt of her Katana and her body seems rigid.

[Mindshred]

Kaiya stood blinking for a moment, before glancing back at where the burnt tent and corpse was.

...what an unpleasant yet poetic manner of description.

He had to think a moment on the final question, as it seemed there was not an immediate bloodspeaker threat. At least, not from the same source as this incident.

"How strong is the realm of evil's touch where the foul creature fell?"

The wood burns in silence for a few moments.

"Those of the earth are resistant to corruption."

[Iuchi Saksaha]

Chi-Pu watches as the Fairuz speaks to no one.

She glances to Iuchi Saksaha with worry in her eyes, as if to ask "is this okay?"

Her hand rests on the hilt of her Katana and her body seems rigid.

Saksaha is too busy watching intently as Kaiya holds what appears to be one-half of a conversation with the flickering flames to take any notice of Chi-Pu's unvoiced concern. But she doesn't look worried, so that's something.

[Shinjo Taichi]

Faced with things beyond his understanding, Taichi waits patiently (if a bit unsettled by the whole thing) until he can assist, trusting that they know what they'redoing.

[Fairuz Kaiya]

Kaiya bows and thanks the kami for their answers, content to leave the fire burning down (though making no effort to stop others from extinguishing it themselves) as he turns back to the others.

"Well.. Basic suspicions have been confirmed," he begins, rolling up the scroll and placing it away in his satchel, "blood magic was performed here last night, though the practitioner is now little more than char and ash."

The delivery of information was almost flat, as if he himself were not entirely sure how to feel about what he had discovered. The dots seemed somewhat obvious to connect to him, but he would leave it at that for the moment to see what others might infer.

"In less unfortunate news, the remains that creature left behind should not seep any evil into the earth itself."

[Otaku Chi-Pu]

Chi-Pu looks stunned.

"Blood Magic? Our people do not even know what that is!"

She looks to Saksaha

"Do we, Iuchi-san?"

Hearing the rest of the news, Chi-Pu seems a little relieved.

"Then the sand is just an omen and not a threat?"

[Iuchi Saksaha]

Saksaha sets aside her wonder at the simple ease of all of that to say, "I don't understand."

She'd like to say that it's impossible for her kinswoman to be responsible for any of this, but after five years traversing the dark lands, she knows better. It seems so unlikely, but even a very good heart, alone, can't always guard against the sneakings and pryings of a dark power. If this is Tareef's tent, as it seems, then perhaps such a thing could have happened to her. No, what's bothering Saksaha is--

"If this sorcerer called the creature of their own will, they why are they dead? Did the creature turn on them? I do not know much about these things, but... does not the summoner command the monster he summons?"

[Moto Butaj]

Acting on Chi-Pu's suggestion, Butaj has left this thread to look for a doctor for Khulan.

/exit

[Iuchi Batul]

Batul stays around, listening, observing. She is impressed by the power of Fairuz-sama, who seems to use magic without talismans. So this is the power that the Iuchi had before, she thinks to herself, in a way jealous of having lost it, but looking forward to recovering it for the clan, even if it means marrying a shugenja of lower status, or getting her sisters to do so.

"We use talisman, not blood for our magic. We had been unaware of magic still being with us, and being able to sbeak to the kami." Added the Iuchi to her sister's words. "What sort of magic is this, Fiaruz-sama?"