Chapter 1: Into the Shadowlands

[MadVlat]

Suru watches as the Crab bolster each others spirits with enthusiasm. Though his own thoughts are focused more inward. I pray father that we meet again. I will atone for your evils by removing you from the histories of Rokugan. Reaching into his small sack the monk feels for and finds the wakizashi which is to be his families redemption. Soon father you shall feel the cold steel as your honor is returned to you. Suru takes a small step forward towards the Kuni mystified by his zeal for death.

[TetNak]

Yakamo nods with a large smile upon his face. "Then let us walk into the heart of the enemy proud!" Just as the Crab-dono speaks, the tarp over a hole in the ground is pulled back, revealing a nezumi standing below. He waves to those above, chattering, "Come, come, go, go, make haste. Come, come ..." The ratling drops back into the hole, preparing to lead the Crab, and Dragon, into the Shadowlands once more. Yakamo-dono nods to the Hiruma scout, indicating he should go first.

[Toptomcat]

The Hiruma jumps in adroitly, nodding familiarly to the Nezumi who holds the hole open. He holds an odd-looking, distinctively unornamented bow close to him, ensuring that is not damaged from the fall.

[Orvost]

Hero follows behind the Hiruma, holding the tetsubo and attached lantern high above his head.

[Vardaen]

Nakastume will move without question behind or infront of the Crab Daimyo as he desires. The Shugenja would serve best behind the massive Crab -dono, his spells able to bloster or protect the Jade Crab as needed. He moves quickly, without complaint, through the small tunnel careful not to bump his head.

[TetNak]

Everyone gets into the tunnel, which is certainly cramped for the Crab samurai and the Dragon monk, who almost rivals their height. The nezumi chitters and leads everyone through many intersecting tunnels that which no one has a chance to remember or understand.

A few hours later, with minimal conversation, everyone hears the sounds of thousands of bakemono and other such creatures just twenty feet above through the tainted earth. The nezumi puts a finger up to its lips in a request to keep everyone quiet, not that the expansive horde could hear them below the earth anyway.

[Toptomcat]

Jubei's back stiffens, and he stops for a moment while his hand goes halfway to his quiver before he reminds himself that there's no possible way he can get an arrow into a bakemono through twenty feet of earth. Then, he continues on his way. glancing upwards occasionally in irritation.

[MadVlat]

Suru follows the Kuni. Watching the tunnel walls same features blend into each other in the shadows of torch light. His every step disappearing into the darkness behind him. If not for the acrid taint of these lands. The smell of the damp earth would almost be pleasing. To pass the time of their journey the monk practices several mock combats in his mind. The picture of his sensei's quick strikes threatening to bruise his hardened body all over again, sending a phantom pain shooting up his leg.

[Vardaen]

Nakastume holds his paper lamp before him, lighting the path for the Crab Daimyo ahead of him. He keeps silent, considering the power of jade to strike down his foes. Looking up a few times he listens to the noise of the horde above him and keeps silent to not to alert them, not that they can hear the samurai. He travels until the tunnels end.

[Orvost]

Hero flinches at the noise above him, as if he anticipates an attack from that direction. He thinks of his classmates, Gunso Hyobe, and the beautiful healer Kuni Raicho, all of whom are still inside the castle and, by the sound of things, will soon face another onslaught. Hero is reminded of the urgency of the current mission and the lives that hang in the balance.