Shu — Roleplayer Guild

Breck’s eyes moved to Leon, his face now expressionless. There was a chuckle or two among the group. “You will be guided toward your side of the camp,” Breck motioned to one of his men who nodded in head, begrudgingly though, “Come morning is when you all will receive your first orders. Take this evening to get used to the camp and rest well tonight. The quartermaster is preparing supper as we speak so it should be soon enough you can fill your bellies after the long day you’ve all had.”

Iliskra heard a shuffling off to the right and looked to see the source of it - two men lugging a heavy wooden chest between them as they approached Breck and the rest. Even where she stood in the midst of the other hirelings Iliskra could hear the men’s labored grunts which ended with a pair of loud exhales as they set the chest down in front of Breck with a harsh slam. Breck nodded as the two men half-stumbled away, stretching out and shaking their arms almost in protest at having to lug the large chest as they disappeared back into the camp. Breck reached forward and pulled the lid open from the back revealing the chest was filled with tied up burlap sacks.

“Your payment up front.” Breck nodded beckoning the group forward.

The group impulsively surged forward, shoulders and arms pressing together as the hirelings closed in like vultures around the chest. Breck sharply raised one hand in a “halt” gesture making them all come to a stop. Breck reached in and grabbed the first bag in sight with a grunt and heaved it to the tall, heavily armored warrior who eagerly caught it with both hands. As Breck reached for the next bag the oaf had already opened his own and a twisting grin stretched out under his helm as he reached in and pulled out a handful of gold coins revealingly. As the second mercenary claimed their coin the brute let the gold in his meaty paw tumble from his fingers back into the bag - enjoying the clinking of his newly claimed wealth. As the third person acquired their pay Iliskra and the others noticed that the Helmite and one other knightly sort had abstained themselves - standing together, arms crossed, with rather pompous expressions painted across their faces. Iliskra sneered to herself as she moved closer to the chest, let those two have their empty moral superiority. Better to be rich and hollow than noble-hearted but poor. One of the others who had also noticed asked about their shares as well as the gold meant for the fallen from earlier to which Breck sharply replied it would be kept and used for merit pay. While some were visibly aggravated at the concept of not getting a slice of the unclaimed shares they kept their mouths shut.

The journey was not easy. After making distance from smoldering Inabayama, Ichiro and Natsumi at Ichiro’s insistence began their journey south to Ise. Neither brother nor sister had been to Ise in many, many years and while the Kitabatake had always been a content, honorable clan these were uncertain days. The Shogunate’s power was crumbling, the Ashikaga could no longer retain their authority over the land. All across the realm Daimyo were rising up - declaring feuds, pressing land claims, and renouncing the weakened Ashikaga. Hachiman stirs as the fires of war begin to spread threatening to engulf all. The roads became dangerous as bandits and rapacious ronin skulked like wolves in the treelines. 

Ichiro and Natsumi stayed on the main road south. Mino itself was a small province, but going beyond its’ borders took time. Natsumi had feared that after Inabayama fell the demon Nobunaga would be swift in blocking the roads out of the prefecture - and she was right. Three times Ichiro and Natsumi were forced to leap from the road into the bush as Oda horsemen came thundering past, their spears ready to run through anyone they crossed. The Oda had also set up guard post on the border with Ise and Ichiro and Natsumi were forced to crawl on their bellies through knee-tall grass and mud to avoid being caught. Natsumi knew that if they were caught her brother would be executed and she too perhaps - thought for she there was far worse that was more likely.

By nightfall the two had made it over the border into Ise. Kitabatake ashigaru and samurai watched the main road south. Natsumi insisted that she and Ichiro avoid them as they had the Oda. “They may very well think us spies or troublemakers.” Natsumi insisted, noting she and her brothers’ arms and their young age. The two took to the woodland again, not returning to the main road until they were far beyond the Kitabatake men. By some fortune they would find themselves at the doorstep of a ryokan, a roadside house that would accept travelers for the evening provided they could pay. Unfortunately the house was full, though the kindly man who owned it allowed Ichiro and Natsumi to sleep in the barn. Despite the suspicion in his eyes the man gave them cooked for them a meal as well and did not demand pay of the brother and sister for the one night. Perhaps it was pity? Perhaps a gentle souls’ kindness for what he saw as two young ones in trouble? Ichiro and Natsumi had always slept in the finest home and been fed the best of foods, but given their staggering exhaustion and growing hunger the two found themselves more than grateful for the peasant man’s hospitality.

As the sun rose high come morning Ichiro and Natsumi awoke to the crowing of roosters and lowing of oxen. By now the smell of the barn had begun to settle into their noses - and worse, their clothes - and the two hurried away from the ryokan and continued south without seeing the house owner again. Natsumi felt some remorse at doing such a thing but she and her brothers’ safety could not be certain if they lingered now. Natsumi was not sure how far they had walked, just that they walked and walked and did not stop. Before long the sun was hanging high over the world, as it had been the day before when the Oda sundered Inabayama and ended the Saitō rule over Mino. Natsumi felt cool drops running down her forehead and her breath started to grow heavy as she tightly squeezed the sword her brother had handed her. So much of her was still shaken, filled with fear and sorrow - she knew not what would happen to she or Ichiro and that their father and the rest of their clansmen were not here to help them. The world lay before them and the land was erupting in chaos as evil men like Oda Nobunaga looked to seize power for themselves and to trample all before them. It felt as if the whole world was being torn apart around Natsumi and her brother.

As Ichiro and Natsumi tromped over a small, dusty hill and were faced with a humble fishing village Natsumi pulled at her brothers’ shoulder. When she had his attention she asked him, “Where do we go? Just who do we seek out? What allies could we - little more than children - call upon? Would Kitabatake-sama so willingly take us in?”

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