Hour of the Boar

After another lengthy ride back to the Lion city, the samurai were all relieved when Kenson Gakka once more came into view. Their Scorpion escort had been terribly quiet the entire time, and the group had little banter among themselves. After the atrocities of the day, they were more than glad to have the journey be at an end.

When the Scorpion army crested the hill before Kenson Gakka, the samurai traveling with it could make out another army before them in crimson and black. The mass of samurai between them and the city walls appeared at first glance to be another Lion legion preparing to lay siege to the city. Confusion crossed the minds of a few of them before they remembered that this must be the second mock battle, that of the siege of the city six hundred years prior. Nothing was happening yet, so it appeared to be just getting underway.

The Scorpion army rode slowly to the top of the hill, and it became immediately apparent that all activity on the small plain beneath them came quickly to a standstill to look at the newcomers.

"Maintain this position," Karamasu shouted to his army. He selected only six mounted yojimbo and the samurai that came with Ikare's men and had them come with him toward the Lion army on the plain. The general called out for Matsu Kioma, but was told that the daimyo was still inside the city.

Karamasu led the group of samurai through the mock army and to the gates of the city, where he called out for Kioma once more. The face of Matsu Kioma, clad in faux-Scorpion armor, came to the edge of the wall.

"Bayushi Karamasu. What are you doing here, Scorpion?" Kioma called down. "And why is there an army at my door? Does your patrol not end at your border?"

"We mean no harm," Karamasu replied. "I bring news and witness. Your Akodo Ikare, the Military General of Kenson Gakka, has committed a great crime today. The monks of Yaruki Jukko are dead, along with the visiting Crane that your clan promised to protect. All of this at the hands of Ikare and his men and without due cause. And I have brought witnesses to this event," he added, motioning to the motley assortment of samurai at his back.

The samurai once again recounted their tales to the daimyo atop the wall. The tone ranged from Akodo Aramoro's obviously-forced condemnation of a man who until recently he trusted to Daidoji Handen's fiery rage against the Lion that would kill his own honored visitors. When it was over, Kioma was more than slightly at a loss.

"These events are grave," the daimyo agreed. "I will not deny that Ikare had been acting greatly irrational of late. I fear his son's kidnapping has led him to be touched by Lord Moon, but I did not think such a thing was possible. Please, let us discuss what restitution can be made."

"I suspected you would do the honorable thing, Kioma-sama," Karamasu replied. "You have a reputation of being a great leader of this city. As such, I have already determined what would be best for both our families."

"And that is?" Kioma asked.

"For the glory of the Scorpion Clan," Karamasu said in a frighteningly calm voice, "and in restitution for the heinous acts of Akodo Ikare, I lay claim to his position. As restitution, I will take Kenson Gakka."

Kioma's face turned a crimson that matched his faux armor. "You are crazy, Karamasu," he shouted at the general. "I will never give you this city, no matter what Ikare may have done! you are a fool to think so!"

"I am sorry you feel that way," Karamasu replied, raising his right fist.

Arrows from beyond the hilltop rained down on the mock army laying between the massed Scorpion and the city walls. The fake armor did little to protect the samurai on the plain, nor did their wooden swords have any great effect as the Scorpion cavalry fell upon them.

Jin rode to Karamasu to attempt to reason with the general. "Honorable Karamasu-sama, how can this happen? It is without approval from the Emperor and without further inquiry into the matters..."

Karamasu cut him off. "The Bayushi were wronged, and we are now answering the slight. Imperial law does not require the Emperor's intervention."

"I charge you, in the name of the Righteous Emperor," Jin continued, "have your army stop. Let us be reasonable."

"You sound like a Miya, Otomo. We will stop when our honor is satisfied." Karamasu turned from the courtier and to his army as they decimated the mock army on the field.

As the general and the courtier argued, Roshii got down form his horse and found a position away from the immediate commotion. He prepared his scrolls and watched the battle unfold before him.

It did not unfold well for the Lion troops. Covered with fake armor and holding only wooden swords and humming bulb arrows, the mock troops were little match for Scorpion cavalry. Many valiant Akodo tried to launch attacks against their aggressors, but few succeeded. A horseman here and there would be pulled from his saddle by a group of Lion warriors, but in all, the fight was going very, very poorly for the essentially unarmed Lion troops.

With little provocation to themselves, the Phoenix sprang into action. Roshii drew a scroll and Shitasu an arrow. The bolt of lightning fell from the sky upon Karamasu at almost the same time the arrow lodged in his neck. The Scorpion general faltered and fell from his horse. The Scorpion yojimbo raised a fierce cry and turned quickly on the two Phoenix.

Jin, seeing the battle worsening, attempted to run to high ground and cry for a cease to the hostility. Completely oblivious to the unlikliness of anyone actually hearing him, his plan was dashed nonetheless by the fact that he and his colleagues were trapped between the two armies and the wall of Kenson Gakka directly behind them. If Karamasu were not already dead, Jin would have challenged him for the battle to stop.

Aramoro, once more finding himself in the middle of a battle which was not technically his, decided he would need to address the distance he felt to the Matsu soldiers around him at a later time. At the forefront of his mind was Otomo Jin and his safety. Aramoro had resumed his role of self-appointed yojimbo and placed himself next to the courtier and prepared himself to fend off all threats.

Kadokawa began to run into the battle, only to be stopped by a rough hand on his shoulder. Daidoji Handen was holding the duelist back. "Kadokawa, the Scorpion are faring fairly well for themselves. This battle" he added knowingly, "is being waged to avenge the blood of their kinsmen and ours. Do not disgrace their memory by lending aid to those that killed them."

Hida Katsu let out a ferocious roar of excitement. A large grin of total happiness came across his face as he ran toward the closest Scorpion in the fray. As he was running, he reached for his Ono, Hajikeru no Kou -- the Headsplitter. The axe buries deep in the side of the soldier. He does not fall, but only just barely. Katsu can tell the blow, while not immediately fatal, will likely prove to be eventually.

The problem for Katsu, and the Phoenix, is drawing the ire of the Scorpion army that greatly outmatches them. In the thickest part of the battle, it is not long at all before the Scorpion around them turn on the bushi that have attacked their comrades -- and their leader. Karamasu's yojimbo fell especially hard on the Phoenix. Asako Shitasu attempted to defend himself, but the Scorpion blades made quick work of him, severing both of his arms; between the pain and the blood loss, the yojimbo quickly collapsed onto the grass. Isawa Roshii attempted to assist his fallen yojimbo, but a similar fate awaited him; he collapsed on the grass next to the four severed arms.

Katsu fared only a little better. His left arm lay limply on the grass, and his right, though wounded, remained attached. Unable to use his ono any longer, he dropped the weapon and drew his katana, giving as good as he received to the Scorpion swarming around him. A small unit of Lion gathered around Katsu, shielding him from more attacks as he directed them in the battle. As honored as Katsu was for the recognition of his abilities, he knew only half of the Lion were armed with real blades and he was losing blood at a terrible rate. The Crab would not give in, but he knew he would not last much longer. For death and glory, he led the Matsu soldiers on.

Katsu quickly found a Kitsu trapped among his unit. "You. Fix this," the gruff Crab ordered, pointing at the bleeding stump of his left arm. The Kitsu was taken only slightly aback at the one-armed warrior ordering him to heal his irreparable wound. Unfazed, the shugenja switched scrolls and began chanting a plea to the fortunes. Katsu felt what was left of his arm grow cold and warm all at once. He looked and saw that it had stopped bleeding, but he could tell that he was still very badly hurt.

"That's as much as I can do right now," the Kitsu said by way of apology. "You need serious medical attention. If you want to see next week, find an Asako."

The Crab harumphed at the shugenja. "I've lived through worse," Katsu boasted.

The horseman caught Katsu in the back of his head with his stirrup. Blood poured from the Crab's mouth as he fell lifeless into the blood-dampened sod.

Around him, the battle went no better for the remainder. The Lion on the ramparts had thrown down bundles of naginata and real arrows, but all was for naught. The Lion upon the plain were decimated. The few that remained standing were quickly being given the choice of laying down arms or being finished off. Their answers were about half and half. Seeign their clansmen's loss, Matsu Kioma ordered his troops ont he wall to finally open fire into the Scorpion. A half dozen fell before Karamasu's vice-commander quickly ordered his troops fall back from the range of their bows.

From there, he shouted to the wall, "I am Bayushi Yoden, commander of these troops with Karamasu-sama's death! His previous order stands! Lay down your swords and surrender the city, or we will take it from you!"

"Impudent fool!" Kioma shouts back, utterly enraged. "We have siege stores and we are well-travelled! Long before our supplies run out, you will face the might of the entire Matsu army! And you have no siege equipment to breach these walls! Stay there! Wait for your own doom!"

"So be it," Yoden said quietly.

An explosion sounded from within the city.

---

By the next morning, Kenson Gakka had fallen. The Scorpion had bypassed the city's defenses, attacking under the walls through the river that supplied water for the city. bayushi saboteurs had made quick work of the city's defenses, destroying most of the city's vital supplies before the Lion had an opportunity to react. Nevertheless, the Lion soldiers refused to surrender, as would be expected. They were slaughtered nearly to a man.

The guests to the Lion's festival were spared, unless they took up arms against the city's new masters. Most chose not to involve themselves in the obviously-lost battle. The Seppun guard of Otomo Yoroshiku remained with the princess at all times, though the Scorpion were very careful to provide her with every possible comfort, even as the rest of the city burned around the palace in which she stayed.

News of the incident travelled quickly throughout the empire. The Miya were quickly dispatched by the Emperor to make peace between the clans, and the Fourth Legion was dispatched to enforce the decisions of the Miya. There was little work left for them, however. the city had fallen, the Scorpion had occupied it, and they had entrenched enough military force within the city to fend off the armies of the Lion Clan which had gathered on their newly-claimed land.

When presented with the testimony of the witnesses to the atrocities of Akodo Ikare, there was little left for the Miya to do except grant the demands of the Scorpion now in control of the city they claimed. The enmity between their clan and the lion became infinitely greater that day.

Isawa Roshii and Asako Sitasu, crippled beyond rehabilitation, were granted permission for seppuku by the Miya entourage in the Emperor's name. They were creamted with honor on pyres next to their fallen comrade, Hida Katsu. Otomo Jin was reunited with his betrothed to complete their journey to Otosan Uchi to be married, and their surviving companions joined them on the last leg of their journey.

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