Thanks For The Memory

[strange behaviour]

Kiyoshi and the others are ejected from the memory just as Huri seems set to follow what appears to be Kemensu down the side of a hill. A memory fades into place.

All is still and quiet as the memory starts again. The only sound is the sea. A giant blue crystal, like an iceburg, stands atop a small rise, surrounded by men armed with katanas and wearing ceremonial robes. One of the men - the one who was gutted - bows, beginning what appears to be some kind of ritual. Kemensu is beside him, one among many. Some of the others there are part of the ritual, chanting in unison or weaving strange symbols in the air. Others appear to be merely guards.

The ritual goes on for some time. The man leading it raises his voice. He becomes strained, sweat streaming from him with effort. From the other side a voice cries, "It's getting loose! Hold it. Concentrate!" The chanting grows louder.

Without warning Kemensu turns, transferring his sword to his left hand. It slices open the belly of the man beside him. The man stumbles, impaling himself again, and then slips to the ground. There is shouting from the others. Weapons drawn, they run at him.

Kemensu moves like a dancer, laughing as he cuts through them effortlessly. A sword flashes towrads his face and he leans out of the way and swats the swordsman like a fly. All is blood and death and then, just as suddenly as it began, it is over.

There is a smile on Kemensu's face as he wipes the sword clean on the robes of the first man he killed. He bows mockingly to the dead and turns away, sauntering down the rise with a song on his lips. As he disappears from view the carnage fades and the figures begin to reappear as they were before.

[mainlorn]

Huri turns to the others, acknowledges them with a nod, then gestures to the memory around them. "I would say that we have gone beyond the first obstacle," he observes, somewhat pointlessly.

[strange behaviour]

"Have you found him?" Takagura asks, watching the ritual take place again around the crystaline construct.

[furball]

Kiyoshi watches sadly. "This is a horrible thing to remember. No wonder he couldn't face it."

[mainlorn]

"If he is here, he doesn't answer," Huri replies to Takagura. "I would guess that he has fled this memory."

[furball]

"Perhaps," Kiyoshi replies. "But if this is the source of the problem, we should find out as much about it as we can."

[mainlorn]

"Agreed, though I will not willingly share those emotions again," Huri states, flatly.

[furball]

"Neither would I," Kiyoshi replies with a shudder.

[strange behaviour]

"I will do whatever is necessary," Takagura replies. "But with luck, none of us will need to relive the memory. We can learn by watching."

[mainlorn]

Huri moves up the rise to the crystal. Careful not to touch it, he examines the immediate area, then the longer view.

[furball]

Kiyoshi also investigates.

[Red Dragon]

The warrior, likewise, investigates.

OOC: FYI Samuri use a special technique to flick the blood off their sword before they re-sheath

[strange behaviour]

(OOC - Then he's obviously not a samurai!)

[Red Dragon]

OOC: Persons trained in Japanese Katana based martial arts, and therefore probably placed into a Nipponese context if we extrapolate the current GW milue for transposing their influences onto their product. For future reference
A Martial Artist reading would throw a fit. Not me! My mate is trained the the art of Japanese sword play. He tells me this crap all the time.

[strange behaviour]

(OOC - What makes you think the demon's from Nippon? )

There is a figure inside the crystal. It appears to be Kemensu. The battle replays itself again, with Kemensu killing all the others and walking away.