With or Without Troop Points
As you wind the narrow mountain trails, you think with pleasure of your impending arrival in Aizuchi. Though only a small enclave, it is noted for its fine and gallant horses. Indeed the spirited mount you ride now came from this village - a white, muscular beauty with a strong girth and fast gait. She, too, seems to sense your destination, for she strains at the bit and prances with excitement. It is only with difficulty that you are able to keep the beast under rein.
Finally, you crest a ridge and there it is, the village of Aizuchi. It is set at the far end of a grassy plain, a mile or so distant. Yet even at this remove you realize how distinctive is it’s personality. Though the steeply pitched houses with their thick layers of thatch would seem to indicate a simple farming community, the absence of rice fields and the abundant grazing meadows are a reminder that the Aizuchi farmers breed a far more valuable crop in their famed horses.
But such perfection has its price. For the Spirit Of The Horses who dwells on this plain has sent a terrible creature to lord over this town. A vicious beast known as an oni, he stands well over seven feet tall, with three yellow eyes in his forehead and long fangs entwined in his thickly matted beard. His hands are horny talons.
Like the horses, the oni is wild of temperament, prone to uncontrollable rages. All the villagers live in dread of him. And for you to receive a steady supply of these fine horses, it has been necessary to entitle the oni with sovereignty of the plans. Should you encroach on his terrain, the Spirit Of The Horses would vanish and the wondrous horses of Aizuchi would never be seen again.
If the Prince has taken Aizuchi
You can only enter if you have Troops Points present. If you do, you must conquer the village back.
If the Prince has already taken Aizuchi, then he most likely has slain the oni. In a way he has done the Lord a great service - ridding him of this monstrous thing without risking the loss of the Spirit Of The Horses, the Aizuchi steeds. The agreement the shogun had was only that Lord Kenshin would not harm the oni, it said nothing about about his nephew.
If the Prince has not taken Aizuchi
Encounter
As you approach the outlying buildings of the village, a booming voice resounds from within.
“Ho, what stranger approaches the realm of Dai-Oni under the banner of Lord Kenshin? Has the lordling sent a messenger to consult with Dai-Oni? Dai-Oni, servant of the horse spirit, commands to approach.” With these words a gigantic three eyed ogre, standing at least seven feet tall, lurches into sight. Maliciously, he observes your approach with his three blinking eyes, absentmindedly rubbing his horn and stroking his fangs. Bits of food are suspended in his tangled beard. This is the creature you must tolerate to rule Aizuchi.
Restraining your anger at his arrogant behavior, you send a rider forward to proclaim your arrival. After a short conference, the rider returns,
“Great Lord, the Dai-Oni states that he gives you permission in enter his village. He asks why Lord Kenshin has arrived here without notifying the Dai-Oni of his intentions. These are his words, Great Lord.”
Restraining your impulse to lash out at the rider, you spur your horse forward. Greetings are exchanged between you and the beast, courteously but unsmilingly.
Clapping his hands, the Dai-Oni summons a servant, a young peasant girl, to escort you to the house he has set aside for you. The girl, barely more than a child, trembling leads you to a shabby hut on the far border of the village. At the door, she fails to the ground weeping
“Pardon me, Great Lord, for bringing you to such a vile place. These were the instructions of the Dai-Oni.” Lead. Them to the hut of the tanner, he said. Forgive me, for I am bound to follow the orders of the Dai-Oni.”
Your men are furious! Barely tolerable was the Dai-Oni’s vain effort at intimidation, but now he has allotted you the house of an outcast as your quarters!
Refusing Such Insults, Pride!
Infuriated, you wheel about. This insult will not be tolerated! The Dai-Oni must be taught a proper respect. With sharp command, you order your men to burn this hovel to the ground. It is a command they hasten to obey with great pleasure.
The flames leaping behind you, you enter the Dai-Oni’s house unannounced. There is the great beast, lounging on the mats. As you burst in, he jumps up in astonishment. His three eyes flash with fire and his swords almost magically leap into his hands. “Insignificant man, I am the lord of this land! You shall obey my orders!”
It is clear the Dai-Oni will never accept you role. The only recourse is to kill or subdue him.
Combat: Duel - capture or slay
Three Eyed Orge “Dai-Oni”
Body Points: 7/7
Damage Points: 4/5
Resources: Magical Daisho +1 Damage Points
Accepting An Insult
If you accept this insult, you will be shamed in front of all your men and the peasants of this village. If you demand the Dai-Oni adhere to the etiquette of rank, you will enrage him to turn against you further.
Humiliation
Maintaining an unruffled calm, you bid the girl to rise and carry a missive to her master saying that the lodgings will be acceptable for the night. Then, in a move designed to counter some of the shame, you order the Dai-Oni to appear before you. Relieved to escape without harm, the girl dashes a way. Your men look at you with poorly concealed embarrassment as you settle yourself onto the front step of the house.
Thirty minutes later the girl returns. Kneeling into the mud at your feet, she barely controls her tears as she delivers her message.
“Do not slay me, Great Lord! The Dai-Oni compels me to say. ‘As ruler of Aizuchi. It is not proper that I should come to the audience of another. Bid Lord Kenshin to come to me if he has business he wishes to conduct.’” The girl buries her face in the filth, awaiting the sword blow she is sure will come. Your men cast evil glances toward the house of the Dai-Oni, eargerly awaiting your word.
Stubbornness
The gall of the Dai-Oni is too much! Still you can not slay him or order his death without offending the spirits. You do not need to suffer his humiliations any further, however!
Angrily, you tell the girl that you will not come to the Dai-Oni. You are the lord of this province, not the Dai-Oni! He would do well to remember his place.
The rest of the day passes with you stubbornly remaining in the house of tanner while the Dai-Oni, equally stubborn, remains in his house. Neither of you resents. Finally, you retire for the night, deciding that nothing will ever be gained in Aizuchi.
A Surprising Gift
Encounter:
Play one round of Rock Paper or Scissors
- Win: play out the Encounter
- Tie or Loss: End of Day
In the middle of the night, you are rudely awakened by one of your men.
“Great Lord, there has been a terrible event! Moto Torodsudo, (one of your elite guards) has slain the Dai-Oni!”
This indeed is serious news! Storming out of the tanner’s house, you hasten to the Dai-Oni chamber. True enough, you find a scene of unbelievable carnage. Sprawled in the center of the chamber is the body of the Dai-Oni, without its head, which is no where to be seen. In the corner, restrained by your men, is Moto Torodsudo. His clothes are torn and he has several bloody bashes on his face, and arms.
Looking at his Lord, he bows as best as he can and then sits erect.
“Forgive me. Great Lord. For bringing shame upon your name and your armies,” he says calmly.
“It was my duty to remove this blot from your honor. I only ask that I do not die as a common criminal.”
How much you would like to honor this brave samurai! He has solved a great problem for you - eliminating the disrespectful and rebellious Dai-Oni without you commanding it so. But he has also committed a great crime. He must die. He knew this when he did the deed and you know it now. Ah, if only your men were so selfless and valiant!
After the samurai is taken away, you reluctantly dictate orders for what must be done. Still, suck valor must be rewarded. The samurai has a young son, only five years old. You write a set of orders on a scroll. By your command, the son of Moto Torodsudo is to be adopted by the captain or you elite guard, and raised as his own son. Furthermore, you give the boy the
special name, “Dai-Oni”, in honor of his fathers deed.
Moto Torodsudo
Body Points: 14/14
Damage Points: 3/3
Resources: None