The sight below the top deck was one that would be more appropriate to an eta butcher's hut than a ship. Bodies of the dead lay scattered about the quarters and galley, many of them in assorted stages of decay. Some had been butchered, some simply lay dead with no obvious wounds. They ranged in age from wizened old men to children, no distinction made for sex, age, or social station.

Only five living beings stood midships but, by the strange neck-ruffling scent of musk, older blood, and something like vipers from the blackness of the cargohold, worse things still awaited.

Amir, Captain of the regiment of guards they were with, turned to the Rokugani even as his people drew steel. "We will take these...you, clear below!"

Without awaiting an answer, he let out a cry to one of his gods and moved in, his soldiers coming behind.

{{I AM STARTING THIS ON EFFECTIVE INIT ROUND 11 TO ALLOW EVERYONE TO PARTICIPATE! Kindly reroll Initiative. I have EVERY INTENTION of finishing this combat by 6PM CST tomorrow so do not join if you don't anticipate being on!}}

Sugita readies himself for the coming assault.

Init 21

Qian-Fan glanced about, making sure the bushi preceded him.


/ooc and the Bushi will go first with an init of 7

Following the healer below deck, Yakusoku clutches her katana in one hand, the other twitching against her leg. She was ready to move at a moment's notice but for the time being intended on getting patched up by the Agasha before things really went to shit.

Initiative: 22

Initiative=24

Itsuho moved down into the hold, though she kept back. She was hunched over a little, her shoulder bleeding where the enemy sword had wounded her quite deeply.

I followed behind some of the others who were over-eager, my weapons drawn and ready. The sight that greeted me was most unwelcome. It reminded me of the cursed temple from the town. Our enemy were beyond depraved or malevolent. They must all be destroyed. With that thought I prepared myself for the coming combat, holding onto my anger.

Initiative 8

"Tch." Was said by Hoshi in disgust at the sight was in front of them once they got below deck. A hand went up momentarily to her mask, which did little to conceal the scent all of these rotting corpses could have made. She took hold of her weapon again and went at the ready to eliminate these would-be threats to the Empire.

Initiative: 19

With his grandafther's sword in his hands, and channelling the speed of the puma, puma, puma, Jishaku readied himself for the horrors that were undoubtedly to come.

[Initiative: 28]

Heading aft Jishaku finds himself walking through blackness, inky and unbreakable. As his foot hits the bottom, his very blood boils and pain rips through his body. He staggers and looks for something to stick his katana into.

Something down here was very...wrong. Cub could sense something slightly taller and broader than a man, something that's breath smelled of blood and fur and raw meat and sweat and raw animal musk. Still blinded he took a chance and swung at whatever the hell it was.

"Rrrraaaarrgh, kiai!"

There was the satisfying feeling of steel entering flesh as he wounded the thing he could not see. [22 damage] There was something odd about the sensation though. At least he could proudly meet his ancestors knowing he helped bring down the thing that would likely kill him.

Itsuho remains on the top deck a moment to catch her breath. Her wound it stinging, and it's makes it hard for her to concentrate. She keeps a firm grip on her sword though, keeping in a basic defensive stance.

Seeing there is little light below, Musasha grabs a lamp and heads below behind Jishaku. (Defensive stance TNtbH 33)

As he reaches Jishaku, the lantern goes out.

With impatient prudence, the Ichiro awaited the healing of the Agasha, readying her Katana.

Sugita follows the other two men into the blackness. He focuses all his senses to detecting anything while keeping his reflexes ready.

{Defensive Stance TN 28. Investigation(Notice) roll: 25}

When he steps in, he's assaulted by terrible agony, nearly passes out, and decides it's better not to have come in here at all. He backs away from the breathing he heard in front of him, headed right back out the door again.

A howl, inhuman, bestial, and enraged, billowed out from the form that Jishaku had sunk his blade into. It was answered from several throats throughout the hold and bodies pressed nearer.

From Jishaku's left side, first the rush of air and then raking pain arrived, along with another roar. {16 damage}

*Ignore second damage for GM error*

Hoshi steeled herself to continue on with the others to the deck below even as something was more eerily unnatural about the place, beside being a gaijin ship and the ghastly scene. She quickly switched her favour in chains and spun the kama beside her, while getting a sense of the darkness. Something she could at least get a definition of even as her own body was turning against her...

Damage: 15 (will void to 5)
Investigation/Perception: 11

And she couldn't see much.

Defensive Stance! Armor TN 23 and +5 via school rank 1

With more howls, more of the creatures closed.

The one that Jishaku had stabbed was less than pleased. Following the scent of it's prey's blood, the creature dropped down to the deck. It's hot, stinking breath brushed the Akodo's face as it sank its teeth (very, very pointy ones, it turned out) into his shoulder. {23 Damage*}

Across his face, he could feel whiskers, the last whisper of sensation before darkness fell upon him.

Hoshi felt the rush of wind past her, but nothing more.

Against his armor, Musasha felt strong ringing blows, felt the metal bend under the assault. The thing roared in fury, it's foul breath right in his face.


*Again, ignore second damage.

Tomoe, unable to see below, stays above to ward the healer at his work in case one of the foe should slip past the hard-fighting men of the Ivory Kingdoms.

Qian Fan, hearing the urgent need for help below, laid his hands upon Yakusoku, easing her pain. {{Heal 15}}