[Day 5, Early Morning, Watchtower] A Single Question

[Isawa Junpei]

In the early hours of the day, as the city had begun to rouse itself from evening slumber, Junpei had walked with a gliding step through the streets. Passing by closed shops and rows upon rows of tents, he focused on his goal. Though his face was a mask of ease and tranquility, within him he hardened his will and focused his mind. He needed only a single answer from the kaze-kami and we was determined to get it. He only hoped that their mood would not be too mercurial, and that perhaps he might receive exactly what he was looking for.

Arriving at the watchtower he waited for his translator to offer assistance to getting on the tower. If Junpei could manage the task without invoking priestly privilege so much the better, but he was certainly not above it...not this morning.

[elonweis]

Servants talk.

It was how the world worked and the servants at the embassy were no different. Sampo followed his latest... charge? through the streets of Rokugan, quiet, unsmiling and apparently unarmed. When they reached the watchtower, his demeanor became resigned. Hopefully the Phoenix was less dramatic than the Crane Hachi had had the misfortune of playing guide to the day previous.

The young man approached one of the gaijin guards, talking quietly and flatly before indicating Junpei. Apparently guards talked as well as they gave each other glances and finally acceded to allowing the Isawa up the tower.

[Isawa Junpei]

It was all Junpei could do to remember offering some sign of gratitude to the guardsmen, but he did. Inclining his head but otherwise making no eye contact, Junpei headed into the tower and as high as he was allowed to climb. Set on getting to the top he traveled upwards with a steady step and for as much as he thought it was dumb for him to not simply fly to the top, he kept his feet planted firmly on the ground. Still, the tower was high enough that one could properly commune with the more far traveled and powerful spirits of air, and wouldn't draw attention to himself.

[elonweis]

And up the stairs they climbed. It was a long climb, but worth it when they reached the top. The view opened up to reveal the city, farmlands past the new walls and a thin strip of verdant green upon the horizon. It almost looked peaceful from up here.

[Isawa Junpei]

Junpei was not unimpressed with such an expansive vista, but given his unique talents, it was one he'd become accustomed to. But like watching the sunset, one could always be impressed if one was in the mood. In a way he was, but the view would have to wait, as he had other matters on his mind.

Headed to the parapet, he stood only inches from it as he raised his hands into the air, clasped. Speaking in the language of the spirits, he called out to every wind spirit who could hear. Though he did not wish to draw attention, he nevertheless needed his request to be heard.

Calling out over the breeze, he asked "What is the name of Death, the destroyer, who brings naught but destruction to these lands?"

(Commune (Air) roll)

[elonweis]

The winds stop.

Sound becomes muted from the creaking of armor, to the patter of rain, even his heartbeat seems to fade from his ears. The invisible tension stretches and even those untouched by the gods and the kami look up as they feel the very air stretch around them. With a snap, the tower shudders as a deep gong flattens the gaijin and the heimen to the floor. Rain is blasted away from the tower as a second gong sounds.

... and then, the winds come. From all directions they came, howling and adding to the cries of horror from the guards. The answer was shouted in an exultation of fear.

Kali-ma!

The name sang in the Isawa's very being as the kaze-kami placed in him the deaths of thousands upon thousands of people. Innumerable knives cut across his body, slitting his throat over and over again as the anguish and hopelessness of those souls tore into his psyche.

... and they were still there, reaching for him, beseeching him for help as the weight of immortal eyes fell upon him.

(Willpower TN 20)

[Isawa Junpei]

Junpei gripped the parapet with both hands, so tight his knuckles turned white followed shortly by the rest of his hands. His whole body tensed and he gritted his teeth as tears welled in his eyes. He couldn't help the sentiment at the sheer overwhelming emotion and agony. The wind whipped past him as it seemed to snap back into place, unbinding his hair sending it scattering. For as long as the raging winds whirled past him he managed to stay standing, but after that he simply felt all the strength leave his body as he collapsed to his knees.

His whole being hurt, but at least he had not cried out at the pain of it all. Breathing heavily, his eyes wide,his hands still held fast to the parapet, as though if they let go he might dissolve into nothing.

[Mirumoto Tomoe]

The gongs and strange events, the shuddering of the tower. They had been impossible to miss for anyone nearby. They had surprised Tomoe a great deal. She was circling the defenses and inspecting the guards and trying to learn more when everything had happened. A couple of seconds had vanished before she could think properly again, as stunned as she was. She then ran up the stairs to the tower to see what had happened. She wished she had taken her armor with her this morning.

Arriving at the top she inspected the scene, recognising one of the two floored figures as definately being Rokugani. Rushing over she asked loudly "Are you alright?!"

[Isawa Junpei]

It took several second before Junpei could fully register what the woman had said. Realizing he was on his knees he shakily tried to stand. He braced himself on his knee with one hand, the other not daring to come unaffixed to the stone. "I-I'm fine," he finally managed to say. "I had prepared for such a reaction...or prepared myself as much as I could."

[Mirumoto Tomoe]

Tomoe moved closer in case the Phoenix needed a hand. She also looked over towards the other man with some concern "and you?" she asked to him. She looked around as well to see what else was going on. What had caused the unnatural event? She looked back at the Phoenix. A spell gone wrong?

[elonweis]

Neither the presence nor the kami had left the area. The gaijin guard, all five of them were still stunned, but were quickly coming back to their senses as they were buffeted by the unnatural wind. To one man's horror, the only man who could perceive it, the kaze-kami disappeared in to that pit of malevolence.

Sampo, unaware of the spirits being devoured picked himself off the floor. He inched away from the Isawa, frightened himself and glances at the Dragon then the guards. He was pale and tight-lipped as he forced out the words, "We should leave. Right now."

[Mirumoto Tomoe]

Holding on to the front of her kimono as the fabric was starting to be whipped around by the violent winds, her hair now a mess, Tomoe nodded immediately "that is the best idea I have heard all day"

She turned towards the gaijin guards, having ignored them up to now in favour of the Rokugani and heimin. In Rhumaal she passed on the suggestion. "We should move away from this area. It is unsafe. Are you okay to walk?" She looked sincere as she showed concern for them. This is starting to unnerve me too. What madness had the shugenja caused?

[Isawa Junpei]

Junpei clutched his chest and fell against the parapet, wincing as he did so. "No," he choked out, speaking to himself.

Turning back to the Mirumoto and his translator he spoke in a voice thick with sadness, "I can't leave them. You all leave this place, but I have to help them." He drew close to the Mirumoto, far closer than proper, in an effort to whisper in her ear so that no others could hear. ""If I do not live, tell Captain Uminushi that it is Kali-Ma upon the mainland. Perhaps the name will make more sense to him. Tell him, the name, and the madness it can spread by it's sheer utterance. Speak it once, and then never again."

Standing again, and turning from them all, he looked into the open air. Brokering no disagreement, Junpei simply began to recite his incantations to speak with the spirits. He would try everything in his power to draw them back from this evil that had gripped them, even if it killed him.

[Mirumoto Tomoe]

The name caused her to involuntarily shudder. Tomoe eventually nodded, her face paling slightly as the seriousness of the request and situation grew upon her. He hasn't caused this but it is madness. Best to tactically withdraw from that one cannot fight or even view.

She turned away, back to the guards. She was lost for exactly what to say. Something that was honest but would impress upon them the seriousness of the situation. She wasn't quite sure what the situation was either. She had to be vague with her Rhumaal "I would advise removing ourselves now. He will attempt to right this situation before it gets worse but it will be dangerous"

She glances at the heimin, pointing her head towards the stairs she had come from. She moves a step towards them herself before turning back towards the Phoenix. It feels wrong to leave him, even though she does not know him. Is the wind picking up? She paused for a slight second to consider exactly what could be causing this.

[elonweis]

Heimen? What heimen? The heimen was gone down the stairs as soon as he realized that the samurai were talking rather than doing the sensible thing of running. He was screaming and jibbering incoherently, face pale, and the guards seemed to think that this was a rather natural reaction to whatever it was that was going.

(Tomoe: Sincerity (Honesty)/Awareness TN 20)

[Mirumoto Tomoe]

(ooc: I'll miserably fail this! Haha. No sincerity and 2 trait. Need 2 10s... Here goes... roll yep fail!)

Tomoe cannot think of anything from her lessons on the ways of the shugenja that can help her figure out what is going on. She remains lost for a moment

[elonweis]

They didn't so much disbelieve Tomoe as not trust that she knew what she was talking about. After all, the foreigner had appeared AFTER the madness had been summoned by the shugenja.

"Get out of the way! He was summoning evil spirits!" he replies, while another points at the Phoenix. "He is doing it again!"

"Quickly, kill him!" The guard talking to Tomoe doesn't even look at the woman who shouted the order as he reaches for his sword. He was immediately wary of the foreigner right infront of him.

----------------------------
Please roll initiative

Captain 1: 39
Swordsman 1: 16
Swordsman 2: 23
Archer 1: 10
Archer 2: 27

[Isawa Junpei]

The tensai lowered his hands and turned, hearing raised voices. Seeing drawn arms he could barely gather his wits about him, thankfully students of the wind relied on more than just their wits.

(Initiative = 26)

[Mirumoto Tomoe]

(Okay - 17)

Tomoe recalled the Isawa's words as the guards went for their weapons. ""If I do not live, tell Captain Uminushi that it is Kali-Ma upon the mainland. Perhaps the name will make more sense to him. Tell him, the name, and the madness it can spread by it's sheer utterance. Speak it once, and then never again." They were all she could picture. Her head was starting to throb. She had a small drive to protect the Phoenix but, uncertain at what was going on and with the potential that the guards may even be right, Tomoe felt a greater compulsion of alerting the captain. Most of all the repeating words in her head meant... something. She had to pass them on. She had to survive. She made no effort to draw her weapon or appear hostile

[elonweis]

The man who had ordered the Isawa's death had already had his sword drawn in the commotion. The curved blade flashes in the dimming light, slashing Junpei across his torso. One of the archers nocks and arrow and fires but misses as one of the unseen kami knock it off course right before it's devoured.