Koko heard the noise and went to the room to investigate what happened.

OCC:  Let me know when she reaches the room and sees everything.

Seeing no good opening to target the demon-ridden child alone with her spell, and Setsuko rushing in to separate the two, Zokiro rushed to her clan sister's back to cast a spell of protection, calling upon the earth spirits to shield her!

OOC: Aborting previous spell, casting shield of faith on Setsuko, so +2 deflection bonus to AC to her.

The creature keeps wrestling with the sensai. She tries to tear into his neck and torso, his blood being shed but when she goes to sink her teeth into his neck she pauses then jumps up. She hangs from it for a moment and darts out of the main door still clinging to the ceiling. The samurai comes rushing down the hall, seeing the odd creature upon the ceiling as it darts further down the hall.

Koko sees the creatures and chases after it. "Stop!  Monster!"  She tries to raise a ruckus so that it may alert others.

Moving quickly to tend the wounds of the Master, Setsuko sets to treating the Master's wounds, using her own clothing if necessary to keep him alive. "No! By all the powers of our ancestors I will not let you be slain by such evil!"


OOC
14:27, Today: Setsuko Osagai rolled 24 using 1d20+5 Heal Check.

Zokiro says quickly, "Help him, I will try to stop her!"

It was clear that some terrible demon had taken over the girl when she had died, and she had become a blood-drinking ghoul or some other creature.  With a sad heart, Zokiro spread her fingers and spread a fan of flame at the demon-thing!

OOC: Casting burning hands, DC 18,
01:41, Today: Zokiro Mirumoto rolled 12 using 4d4.  Burning hands damage.

The flames lick the back of the creature as it skitters ahead at a decent pace before climbing further up a wall and dissapearing. The ranger comes from around the corner, holding his twin blades and almost barreling into the samurai. He glances up and turns to try and follow it, with the samurai and shugen. The guards fires at it from a small watch tower but hard to tell if they miss it. It just dissapears into the night.

In the masters chamber, he seems to be alive coughing a few times as the monk aids him. She's able to get bandages and part of her clothing to help his wounds and he looks at the monk "My daughter...why..." The man passes out.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:06, Wed 29 July 2020.

Setsuko cries out to the whole of the temple in a desperate voice, "Brother and Sisters! Hurry and send for our best healers! The Master has been wounded by a vile monster of the darkness in the form of his daughter!"

Koko continued to run out into the night trying to follow the creature.  She saw where the guards fired arrows and lit her lantern in the empty field.

Zokiro doesn't have the speed to follow the creature that was riding inside the daughter's skin, nor the night-sight to spy her if she did.  She knelt next to Setsuko and said, "I don't know what was inhabiting her skin, but it has fled the monastery, and swiftly."

She spreads her hands on the master and invokes a small measure of strength into him, hoping that would help until the healers could arrive.

OOC: Casting virtue.

A healer does come, nodding to the shugenja. She kneels down, checking the wounds and is followed by two monks "What happened? A demon? His daughter?" She asks, trying to keep him comfortable for now. The two monks help him to a bed as the healer gathers up supplies elsewhere and comes back "It makes little sense." The healer makes sure he is safe for now and stable "His wounds will heal. But his mind is probably shattered. It could haven been worse. Thank you." She glances at him and then motions for the monk and shugenja to follow out into the hallway leaving the monks to guard him.

Elsewhere outside the temple, the samurai glances around but even with the help of her lantern the creature doesn't emerge. As she turns to head back, Qing seems to be following her. He motions for her to follow back to the temple as he is armed with bow and blade.

When the monks first ask what has happened, Setsuko replies, "The Master was attacked by a Creature of Darkness in a corrupt version of the form of his beloved daughter."

After the revered master has been cared for and is under watchful protection from her brother monks, Setsuko joins with Zokiro and follows the healer into the hallway.

Koko wisely backtracked towards Qing.  When she was next to him, she whispered, "Do you know what was that thing?"

To Setsuko Zokiro says, "I have no great insight.  My healing power is only minimal, meant to ease temporary suffering.  I used scrolls on our journey, as my own schooling was for more martial matters.  But between the master and the kami of Fate, it is clear there are strange spirits roaming the land.  With the master needing healing of his spirit, I think we must take the urging of the Fate-kami and travel south.  Answers may be there that we cannot find here.  What do you think, Setsuko?"

The ranger gives the samurai a strange look and speaks "No." He starts to head back with probably the samurai close behind.

Elsewhere in the temple the healer can still hear the shugenja and crosses her arms "I cannot tell you what to do but if you feel going south will somehow aid him, I will not bar your way nor could. Are you going to try to find this demon?"

"We will do so if we can.  Qing, if you would help us, we would be grateful, as your tracking skills far exceed our own," Zokiro says, first to the healer, then to the ranger.  Tracking down a demon-ridden corpse was certainly a task she should take on, but hunting it down at night might be impossibly dangerous.  Hopefully they could go at dawn, and see if they could track the demon to its lair and destroy it while sunlight held sway.

"I think I don't know for sure but at the moment with no further knowledge, it's as good an idea as any. However, I think we should attempt to gather what knowledge we can about where we are going, what people we might find there, and what creatures and other beings we might meet along the way." Setsuko replied. "Leaving quickly might have us find the evil creature faster but doing some research first might give us a better idea how to deal with it. Knowledge is power."

It seems trouble always finds them.  "I cannot make suggestions on what to do, but if you need another sword, I will lend it."

Qing-
"So you need my aid? Am I to be insulted and ignored once more until needed?" The ranger watches the three of them. His eyes narrow "If I go with you, you do as told. If we are hunting them-if I say quiet, do it. Move when I want to. Hunting this creature will be hard. It will take time. And you need to talk to me not threw someone else. If it happens again, you will be on your own and I will hunt it myself. Understood?" He seems serious "We have been through this but I feel it still needs to be solved. Perhaps I am wrong, but I feel something is still there." He watches them and glances at the samurai "Of course my lady this has nothing to do with you. Past events. We just have ment. My name is Qing Shan, hunter and tracker." He glances at the others "Hunting at night could be unwise. Dawn would work well. We should go to the temple libary. Small it is but could hold information."

The healer has since left to be with the master and mentor as well as two guards.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:19, Wed 09 Sept 2020.

Setsuko will bow to Koko saying with a warm smile, "Of course your presence and your sword are always welcome Lady Tachibana inside of our temple as well as outside. We will take the rest of this day to discover what knowledge we can and prepare to leave tomorrow. We welcome the opportunity to provide you with food and a place to rest this evening."

Turning her attention to Qing, Setsuko's expression becomes slightly less warm but no less polite, "As I said to my clan sister, and repeated just now for the Lady Tachibana, I agree it is best we search the library for what wisdom we can discover before we leave tomorrow. Your assistance would be welcome but should you choose to proceed on your own, I have few doubts that the demon would find you a formidable opponent." she bows respectfully to Qing before continuing to speak, "For myself and my clan sister, this is our chosen mission and we will choose what to do and when but we will be open to your advice as a guide."

Addressing the group she says calmly, "I am headed towards the library to begin researching. Those who are interested are welcome to assist, otherwise I'd suggest getting rested for tomorrow."
This message was last updated by the player at 06:09, Thu 10 Sept 2020.

Zokiro bows to Qing in thanks. "Our thanks, Qing. We will do as you say on the hunt, and meet you at the dawn to begin."  Then she turns to Setsuko and Lady Tachibana, "Yes, let us see what knowledge the library holds."

OOC: Zokiro has a rank or two in every Knowledge skill, so let me know what you want me to roll!

In reply to Zokiro Mirumoto (msg # 321):

Koko nodded at the course of action. “That was a foul creature, though I am sympathetic that it use to be someone you know.” Turning to Qing, “The tracks will be diminished tomorrow. But I assume you can still track it?”

The ranger stares at the samurai. How can she know how to track when she's meditating when he's out hunting animals to survive? His eyes narrow "Do not tell me how to find the prey." For a moment he felt he could get along with the samurai. Nope. He glances at Set, studying her. He sighs, pulling up his hood "And to think I am supposed to have a child with you." He steps back, glancing at Set again and starts to head to the small libary.
This message was last updated by the player at 09:44, Wed 16 Sept 2020.

In reply to Qing Shan (msg # 323):

  "Wow."  Was all she said under her breath shaking her head before ignoring the man.  She was blown away though at the next statement looking at Set. "What?  What did he say about having a child with you?"

"I have spent most of my life hunting for a living. I have been doing this job before you were born. Do not tell me anything about prey. I have no doubt you can fight and fight well but telling someone about tracks diminishing when you know probably nothing about them leaves a bad taste. If it is trackable, I can find it, hunting it and kill it turning the predator to the prey. So indeed in your words..." Qing looks at everyone then back to Koko "Wow. If you wish for me to go so be it. I can hunt this prey on my own." The ranger steps back, bowing his head "A man or creature named Fate told her. Also this was a mission I chose to go on as your mentor was my friend and ally. With me you stand a chance. Will you accept my aid and guidance? It may be hard but you will need me. I am willing to ignore the past and push forwards." He holds a hand out "Take my hand if you will accept it."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:53, Thu 17 Sept 2020.