S2E33: In the Dark

Podcast of the Five Rings

With map in hand, Kenshi and his retinue of Emerald Magistrates began to explore the tunnels beneath Otosan Uchi. They spent hours carefully navigating its passages and caverns, learning its secrets, and making sure to not draw unwanted attention.

The bard and his magistrates found a lone sentry—equipped in the same manner as the warriors who captured Tomo and Akari—seemingly guarding a corridor. Kenshi, with the help of Kitsuki Mayumi, apprehended the guard and began to question him. Who was he, and what was he doing there? At first, the sentry would not give up any information, only dispensing vague threats and telling the samurai that they should flee the city. But even the stoutest of warriors has a tipping point. Mayumi drew her katana and slid the blade slowly across their captive’s neck, promising death if the sentry truly had no purpose for living.

The guard broke. He professed that he was an agent of the Scorpion clan, and that he and his unit had orders to lie in wait beneath the city until the command was given to strike. Then, they were to secure the Forbidden City and hold it until they were relieved of their station. It was then that the sabateour made the most startling announcement: Shoju and his army were headed toward the capitol that very moment. He was due to arrive tomorrow. Shocked by this information and realizing just how little time there was, Kenshi decided to leave the tunnels and take his captive directly to Ide Makujin.

Elsewhere in the caverns, Kaiu Tomo awoke from an unconscious stupor. He found himself in a makeshift cage, chained at the ankle to a nearby rock. Beyond his enclosure, he saw that he was being kept in a cavern chamber which had been turned into some kind of holding room. Across a short walkway, he saw Kuni Akari, unconscious and locked up just as he was. As he tried to move, pain shot through his body. His head and back ached from being beaten unconscious, but more importantly, his hand reeled in agony from the fingers which had been cut unceremonsiouly from his body just hours ago. The bleeding had been stopped, but the reality set in as Tomo realized that his hand would never be whole again.

As his head swam and his body reeled in pain, he studied his surroundings. He determined from the rock formations around him that he must be somewhere directly beneath the Imperial Palace. As he came to and his senses started to adjust, he began to hear faint voices coming from a nearby corridor. With a stubborness that only a Crab could muster, Tomo began to taunt the voices. Soon, armed guards like the ones he had seen before entered his holding chamber. Tomo used what little he had to try and leverage information out of the guards, but it was to no avail.

Feeling he had exhausted his options, Tomo began to meditate. His pain and his desperation washed away as he entered the flow state, feeling only the life force of the world around him. Communicating with senses that he could not quite identify, he put out a message for help. As he fell into a restful trance, he had a premonition of freedom, and his mind resonated with the sound of buzzing wasps.

Credits

Art by Dylon Munoz

Music

The Royal Banquet by Podcast of the Five Rings

Blessings of the Water Kami by Podcast of the Five Rings

Dark Reckoning by Podcast of the Five Rings

Sultry Silence by Podcast of the Five Rings

Rokugan Theme by Brandon Spain

Cave Drips by Everythingsounds https://freesound.org/people/everythingsounds/sounds/199515/