Personal History of Hashinara Katamoto

After a heated battle with the Yasutane Clan, who occupied the fortress in his absence, Hashinara Katamoto and his generals reestablish control over Wakigami Castle and, by extension, Yamato Province.

A horde of undead creatures, led by a general of the Chōsokabe Clan attack the Canal District of Wakigami. With the support of Katsusada Shishauezaemon and his trusted generals, they are driven back with few civilian casualties and their leader captured.

Tsukuda Katsuo introduces himself as a ninja from Iga. He explains that his master, Fujibayashi Nagato is currently in danger from a group called Igamono, and requests the aid of the Hashinara. Katsuo further offers to guide the Hashinara generals through Iga Province and to the city of Iga if they agree to help. Perhaps owing the ninja his life, Katsusada Shishauezaemon agrees.

Hashinara forces make landing at Awa Harbor and engage with the Chōsokabe Clan's forces stationed there under the command of Chōsokabe Nobuchika.  As the Chōsokabe Forsaken troops are defeated, Nobuchika is captured, and another enemy general, Motoyama Tsugutoshi is released from their apparent supernatural control.  During the conflict, Ishikawa Goemon faces off with Momochi Sandayu, her former master, now Forsaken and culprit behind an attempted assassination on Katsusada Shishauezaemon.  Goemon suffers a severe wound to the stomach, but Sandayu is slain.

Upon hearing from an Administrative Flunky that Matsutada Tadamatsu, emissary from the Imperial Court has failed to reach a second checkpoint in Wakigami, Katsusada Shishauezaemon gathers his most talented generals as a search party to find the missing diplomat.  His actions are hastened by news that Vengeance has escaped from the castle's dungeons.  They have not traveled far into the Canal District when they are attacked by a group of Igamono ninja.   Shishauezaemon battles alongside Aotsuki Tsukamoto, Ryūzaki Sanosuke, Matsumoto Ooawagaeri, Kamimusubi, and Yoshitaka Hitsuie to fight off the would-be assassins, but it is a brutal battle.  Partway through the unnamed Administrative Flunky turns on Shishauezaemon and attempts to land a killing blow, but is rebuffed by the timely arrival of Fujibayashi Nagato.  With the attacking ninja dead, the Flunky escapes, but Hitsuie is able to follow his tracks to an unlikely destination: The Tsukijō Wakigami Manor.

Following the "Administrative Flunky's" tracks to the Tsukijō Wakigami Manor, the generals find that it has already been taken by Igamono.  They enter the building's basement cautiously, and are confronted by a man who looks and sounds exactly like Katsusada Shishauezaemon.  When questioned by the real Shishauezaemon, the impostor claims that he already spoke to the envoy from the Imperial Court.  Among other misinformation, Matsutada Tadamatsu was told that the Hashinara attacked the Chōsokabe Clan on a personal slight, and that the Ashikaga Shogunate should mind its own business on threat of war.   Before the discussion could progress any further, Fujibayashi Nagato attacked the impostor from the shadows and a full battle broke out between Hashinara elite and the lurking Igamono.  Among their top priorities was the rescue of Tsukijō no Yumeno, tied to a post in the middle of the cellar, but this too was revealed to be a ninja fake.  She was slain with the rest, but in the chaos, a single Igamono managed to cut off the real Katsusada Shishauezaemon's head.  With the enigmatic words, "Vengeance has been served," the man accepted his death at the others' hands.  As panic spread, Chōsokabe Morichika stole Matsumoto Ooawagaeri out of the chaos.  With a few quick words, however, Ryūzaki Sanosuke was able to regain control of the situation, and the Igamono suffered a brutal defeat.   After the battle, the real Tsukijō no Yumeno was found in a nearby barrel.  She was unharmed, merely tied up, and corroborated the story that the fake Shishauezaemon had told them before.

As if drawn into a dream against their own volition, in a time and space not quite connected with what they know as reality, the heroes of the Hashinara Clan found themselves in a wasteland. Here, they were pitted against Deathlord☠Troxiom, a monstrous evil general in the midst of a ritual that would make him unstoppable. Alongside them was Date Masamune [Hero]. Queerer still for Matsumoto Ooawagaeri, he found himself to be Masamune, with his body only nominally under his own control and his mouth speaking words he did not intend. Together they battled against Troxiom in an attempt to rescue Katakura Kojūrō [Damsel], but their attacks had little effect on the bone-armored titan at the height of his power.   Date Masamune (Hero) summoned his companions to the fight, his weapons glowing bright, but they did not heed his call. It was Ryūzaki Sanosuke's clever idea to write with a conjured pen on the story-scrawling scroll in the background, albeit with little effect. Maxim held the line and traded blows with Troxiom, but could not fell him. Aotsuki Tsukamoto called upon his companion Kagami to pelt their adversary with spheres of light, weak as they were. Still, such setbacks mattered little in the face of Hashinara Yoshitakatomo's incredible magic prowess. With an unseen grasp of mystic power, she* took the story scroll's magic for her* own, and became the effective god of this corner of The Dreamlands.   Even by Yoshitakatomo's hand, the battle continued for some time. At the end, Deathlord☠Troxiom lay broken upon the ground. Date Masamune (Hero) was victorious, thanks to his stalwart companions, and Katakura Kojūrō (Damsel) was saved. With the threat gone, the dream dissolved, and our heroes were sent victorious back to the present world. Richer, perhaps, than when they entered, and with the clout of heroism to buoy them through the difficult times ahead. Indeed, it seems that Maxim took something more substantial with him, as the Deathlord's magnificent weapon, the Deathlord Buster, followed him into the waking world.

Leaving the ritual chamber beneath the Mōri Tournament Arena, Hashinara Yoshitakatomo continues her* exploration of the structure. Soon she* comes to the place where Mōri Motonari held a clandestine meeting with the Hashinara not long ago. Beyond that, Yoshitakatomo runs into another interloper coming the opposite direction. Still invisible, she* follows Yoshimi Masanori back the way she* her*self came not long ago, and watches as the gaudy Oni breaks into the ritual chamber and steals the body of Shōta.   Curious, Yoshitakatomo follows the thief all the way back to some sort of transportation hub. The warding magic here destroys some of her* active magic, but not her* invisibility, and so Yoshitakatomo continues through a portal and into the depths of the earth somewhere far away. Seeking knowledge in the stones around, Yoshitakatomo casts a Telemetry spell, but is instead assaulted with visions of yellow fog and dead, grasping hands. This place, which she* later deduces is likely the Iwami-Ginzan Silver Mine, has a powerful connection to Izanami-no-Mikoto.   The Princess-Daimyō's quarry, Masanori, is here for a meeting with the Hayashi Clan, rulers of this mine. Zenuemon, son of the clan's elder, takes Shōta's body but insists that his father, Dōhan be present for payment. After some time of waiting, Dōhan arrives from Wakigami, a powerful horse-headed oni and another in bone armor heralding his arrival. He pays Masanori a fortune in silver koku for her work, and as she leaves, sets about preparing Shōta's corpse for some kind of infiltration of the Hashinara. Unbeknownst to him, Hashinara Yoshitakatomo watches all.   The rest of the Hayashi family are ordered out of the room, including Zenuemon, who is asked to bring his sister in as he leaves.  Although obviously chafed at having Jirouemon included when he is not, the younger oni agrees.  Narinaga goes on to commend his physical body to his "idiot daughter's" care, while he transfers his soul into the boy's form instead.  Though Yoshitakatomo senses an opportunity while the other mage's soul is transmigrating, she* does not take it and the ceremony goes on without incident.  With one last warning to be careful, Narinaga, now wearing the body of Shota, vanishes in a burst of teletransportation.   Much to Yoshitakatomo's amazement, Jirouemon immediately ignores her father's commands and leaves his body there to go follow the scent of food instead.  The princess-daimyo takes the opportunity to transform herself into the guise of Shota and joins their discussion, chiding his "daughter" for acting so foolishly.  Canceling the elder Hayashi's previous order, Yoshitakatomo deceives the rest of the clan into thinking that Narinaga's body is of no consequence.  Instead, Jirouemon is ordered to accompany the Black Blade, for reasons that Dohan surely need not condescend to explain.

No sooner had Fubuki magicked the sword binding Kashirin away than yet another strange event interrupted the ill-fated Mōri tournament. The more keen-eared of those in the crowd noticed it first, and brought it to the attention of their allies. A low, whistling sound was steadily growing in volume as something approached the stadium at high speed. It was not Kashirin's prisonous sword, but rather a black spear shooting down from the heavens directly at Maxim.

In Setsu Province, villagers, cityfolk, and bakeneko alike have been complaining of strange dreams. The legend of Momotarō plays out before their eyes every night, albeit with a unique spin. In this rendition, "Magical Momo" is an idol, and she defeats the evil oni with her cheerful antics and cute companions. Could this spectacle just be residual thoughts from that idol competition in Wakigami? That wouldn't explain why farmers who have never seen an "idol" in their lives are having the same dreams too.   It's been a while since the Gauntlet of Games, where the Date Clan implored their counterparts in the Hashinara to investigate these "dream shards" popping up all over the country. Likely it's in response to the big portal up north near their capital. Regardless, the brave generals of the Hashinara were getting around to it, and their next target was that peach-colored rift halfway between Kaya and Osaka(settlement).

While the invading demon, Raym, lurked beneath the meeting room table, Hashinara Yoshitakatomo took the opportunity to cast a minor spell of healing upon the fallen. This jolted them awake, mending some of their wounds, but Azai Nagamasa was still missing an arm and Ishida Mitsunari a leg, so they were yet in no condition to rejoin the battle.   Even Kagami's supernatural powers of detection couldn't pinpoint their attacker's location, save that she was somewhere under the table, so Ryūzaki Sanosuke took the most obvious route forward. Slamming his foot down in a precise, powerful strike, he exerted just enough force to snap all four legs of the table and bring it down heavily onto the floor below. So measured was his strength that those standing on the table barely had to adjust their balance. Even so, the heavy wooden slab didn't seem to meet any resistance on the way down. Either Raym was no longer down there, or her powers of shadow extended further than they knew.

With the aid of Shigeaki Fujino, a group consisting of Aotsuki Tsukamoto, Ryūzaki Sanosuke, and Maxim arrived in Takayama Tomoteru's room at Owari Castle just in time to interrupt a strategic meeting between Takenaka Hanbei and Hashinara Yoshitakatomo. There had been whispers of a great meeting between the Hashinara Clan's top generals for some time now, especially with Maxim's sudden return from Gehenna. Fujino had taken it upon herself to make it happen, and so it was. Abe no Seimei offered some brief telepathic objections at the stealing away of Aotsuki, but he was able to reassure her, and the meeting could begin.

The summoning of Shax completed, Hashinara Yoshitakatomo and her* generals, Aotsuki Tsukamoto, Maxim, and Ryūzaki Sanosuke, were all left in the basement of Ōtsu Castle, Abe no Seimei’s sanctum. Their new, demonic guest was now under control, and so they were free to pursue other matters. A few things in particular seemed to be on Sanosuke’s mind, and he began by pursuing the idea of a sheele.

Dawn rose on the third day of the Mōri Aspirant Tournament, with the matches beginning at their characteristically punctual break of dawn. Mostly familiar faces dotted the crowd, with some missing and a few newcomers present. Of particular interest was a sour-faced, dour woman in reddish robes sharing the box right beside Shogun Ashikaga Yoshiaki who hadn't been there on days previous.   A fair number of other events occurred simultaneously with the matches, but for details on each battle that took place, see: Mōri Matches: Day 3

With all three pieces of the Imperial Regalia in hand and the blessed light of Amaterasu at his back, Aotsuki Tsukamoto returned to at Enryaku-ji where Hizashi awaited him. The current Herald of the Sun had requested that the other cardinal generals all be present as well. While neither Aotsuki nor the others quite understood why, they all accompanied him to delve once again into that painting which hung on the temple wall.

Under the escort of Steersman Leaf's longship, the Hashinara Clan's temporary Baharnan crew finally pulled their stolen Black Galleon into the great port of Baharna. While the surrounding cluster of clay and stone houses was certainly more a city than a town, all of Baharna's activity seemed to be concentrated around the docks. Several other vessels were already settled here and a variety of exotic-looking goods were being peddled right at the water's edge. Some distance above them, a mighty spyglass, easily the size of an average house, stared down at them like an enormous glass eye.

On the deck of their artificially-sunken ship, Hashinara Yoshitakatomo and Fubuki looked across the bridged abyss at the treasure which had brought them there. Soon joined by Aotsuki Tsukamoto, the three pondered just how they were going to plunder that opulent chest. Fubuki's magic had created an air bubble within which to act even this far below the sea. And yet, the bounds of that same bubble seemed much more narrow than when they'd descended. Perhaps it was the water pressure this deep, or perhaps it was the work of something more sinister.

Within a discreet meeting room at Wakigami Castle, Ryūzaki Sanosuke waited. Beside him, seated in awkward silence, was the man who still possessed Shōta's body. Rather, Dōhan was well and truly trapped within the lanky youth's form. This was a situation which Sanosuke felt his lord, Hashinara Yoshitakatomo could easily take advantage of, so he had brought the possessed boy here. And yet Yoshitakatomo had still not arrived. It was nearing midnight now, and she* was still on her* journey in the Dreamlands, despite many an assurance that she* would return soon.

It was the darkest hour of the night; the perfect time for ninja business. It was just such ninja business which drew the five Cardinal Generals of the Hashinara Clan to Iga. For some time, Fujibayashi Nagato had been working here to eliminate the remnants of the resistance group known as Igamono. With them out of the way, and Hattori Hanzō dead, there would be nothing standing in the way of Nagato becoming head Jōnin of the Iga Ninja.   Her first order of business promised to be a formal alliance with the Hashinara Clan. Therefore, it behooved the clan to lend their aid in this final confrontation. The Igamono, staunch traditional independents, would never allow the Iga Ninja to formally ally with a clan. They were a minority now, but enough families still backed them that they could prove a threat if left alone. One such family, led by Iganozeki Butsugai, had agreed to speak with Nagato tonight. Canny and with plenty of shinobi experience to draw upon, she expected a trap. Therefore, having five of the most powerful individuals in Japan at her back was a great reassurance.

Starting with the dawn, the Mōri Martial Arts Tournament once again saw a fine turnout from all across the land. Either all these generals had some manner of quick transportation, comparable to the Hashinara Clan's teleportation network, or they were staying in Shimonoseki for the duration. Perhaps a combination of both.   The morning proceeded with a series of intense fights and only a single death. Once all was done, Fubuki, Honda Tadakatsu, Maxim, and Momo would be advancing to the independent semifinals. Accounts of their matches can be found elsewhere. During and after the bouts, however, a few other events of interest were happening throughout the crowd.

It was time for the final match; that which would determine the victor of the clan portion of the Mōri Clan Tournament. The Hashinara Clan would be facing the Ryūzōji Clan and each of the Cardinal Generals had managed to make it to watch. All, that is, except Hashinara Yoshitakatomo. Instead, the Daimyō had a sobering announcement for her* generals.

Hashinara Yoshitakatomo awoke in near-total darkness. It was difficult to say how much time had passed. Still, the sun's rays were still bright in the one window illuminating the room. Time passed strangely sometimes, in the Dreamlands. Perhaps that was why Yoshitakatomo felt so refreshed, as though she* had enjoyed a full night's rest. Her* magical reserves, too, were somewhat replenished.   In the shadows across from the Daimyō, a red-masked figure stirred. It was one of Ashiya Dōman's Deep Wraiths. As an extension of Dōman himself, it had taken up post here so that the old onmyōji would know when his master was awake. The creature spoke haltingly, as though not used to having only one mouth with which to communicate. From it, Yoshitakatomo learned that the people of Queen's Landing had not been idle.

Incident Report: OI8-1