Battle of Great Climb: The Sound of Thunder
 

Akodo Yokutsu stormed out of the room his face a mask of anger. “They will pay for this humiliation.” He told his aid, Matsu Keiko. “I want your troops ready to move at the first day of spring. I must petition the Empress. The Dragon will pay for this insult. I will burn their heartland to the ground. They have mettled in my affairs for the last time.”

Two weeks later:

The shoji screen opened, the Mirumoto guardsmen let the Ishi of the phoenix enter with his Yojimbo. In the room a balding samurai looked over maps and composed a letter. The samurai never looked up.

“You are Isawa Kenren?” The samurai asked, he continued to write.

“I am.”

“I am Mirumoto Ogami, Rikugunshokkan of the Dragon Clan, son of Mirumoto Tomo, and Brother of the one you seek.”

“Raiden-san is not here, then.”

“No he is now the magistrate of a valley in the great climb. I’ll have a map drawn for you. I’d like you to deliver this message. I’ll have your honor as a samurai, and a magistrate of her divine majesty to make sure this is seen only by Raiden.” He rolled the letter and sealed it with red wax and put the Mon of Mirumoto on the letter.

“Yes”

Three weeks later.

The path up the mountain was narrow. Lined with bamboo, and pine, around the shrine a circle of Plum Blossom. Near the entrance a man steamed in the snowy landscape as he chopped wood. A nightingale sang creating odd music with the beat of the chopping.

Kenren went up to the home near the Shrine. From the shrine on the mountain you could see the entire valley. The Valley was heavily forested save along the river, which was surrounded by rice patties. There were three peasant villages. The mountains around the valley were still in winter but the valley was showing signs of spring. An elderly monk came out.

“Hello, have you eaten today.” The monk asked.

“No, thank you. I am looking for Mirumoto Raiden I was told he was up here.”

The chopping stopped.

“Behind you, Kenren-san.” The man chopping wood said. He bundled the chopped wood together and carried it up to the shrine.

“Mirumoto Raiden, Magistrate of the Emerald Empire, doing manual labor? Oh the court gossips would have a field day.”

“It’s a quiet existence here, I have to do something to keep my sanity and Runoso-sama needs help.”

“Sama, I retired long ago. I’m a simple monk now.”

“Don’t let him lie to us like that,” Kenren said to his yojimbo. “He secretly loves this kind of thing.”

“Well…” He placed the firewood under cover. “So why are you here, business or personal.”

“Bit of both.” Kenren smiled as he pulled the letter out. Raiden took the letter and returned the smile. However the smile soon faded. He looked to the southern horizon and saw smoke black smoke in the distance.
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Raiden rushed back to his home in the valley. He had little time to explain but he needed to hurry. He got his daisho and donned his armor. He instructed his Yoriki to warn the villagers. Time was short.

“What’s going on?” Kenren asked.

“The Lion are attacking in force. I need to get the local troops ready. I have to be ready with in the hour. Sorry to cut your visit short.”

“Is it Akodo Yokutsu?” Kenren’s Yojimbo asked.

“Yes, You are Tonbo Kuyuden are you not?” Raiden said.

“I… I am.” Kuyuden replied.

“You do know I’m coming with you. “ Kenren said.

Raiden and his companions began the long hike north to the fortress hidden deep in the mountains.
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The hidden fortress was a small indentation in a tall mountain along the pass. Small sheds leading into caverns lined the indentation. In one cavern a spring could be found. In another was a storeroom of salted meat and barrels of rice.

The place could watch the pass hidden from sight. It was home to the Mountaineers of the Dragon Clan.

“I need 5 Squads to patrol the area in shifts. If you come across any Lion troops I want to know immediately. Every squad will take 5 humming bulbs.”

"Raiden-san, I have a better idea. During our last adventure, I was able to sense the presence of the maho-tsukai at range with my ability to Sense Void. Perhaps I could do this thing again. I understand there are Dragon peasants in the Great Climb... which might complicate matters since the Lion are not Tainted... but I should be able to sense any intruders by their organization and movement. From there, I can relay the information to you, and you can better direct your men to confirm the location of the intruders."

"I feel fine with either plan, as long as someone gets to feel my flying steel." Mirumoto Zentai thought outloud as he tossed one of many knives in the air and caught it. "The Lion will feel the breath of The Dragon, they wont like it."

"I ask your forgiveness, but I have need to look over the maps of the area. Nikutai Taken, Your squad is on first patrol (This includes all the pcs.)" Raiden went into the administrative cavern.

"Alright, im ready to go slay some lion invaders...maybe we should burn a few of them for that smoke i saw." He twirled his knife and got a few disgusted looks from his unhonorable remark. He glared back and put the knife away waiting to disembark on the patrol.

Togashi Katsu could hear that he was out on patrol. He arose from his meditation and walked up to the man in charge. "Nikutai Taken-sama, right? I am ready to follow you into battle." He lowered his head in respect and awaited further orders.

Ikoma Nimuro, Chui of the medium elite, slayer of Hida Toshiken, and Shiba Takuan. Standard Bearer of the medium elit stood at the edge of the cliff. He looked down the cliff into the medium sized valley.

"Form ranks the path widens." He ordered his gunso relayed to the trained samurai. He walked at the vangaurd of the expeditionary force. He turned quickly to see a glimpse of a dirty foot and some rocks. (IHMN this is you.) The young Chui motioned for the next two troops to go check it out. (If you want it and You are on the lion side then go after it.)

Keiko held herself tall as she glanced at the group she had been given charge of. She made her way through the front of the ranks, "Our orders have been given! You are to go into the valley-" She instructed loudly, staring into the faces of her troops. Excitement filled most of their faces while a look of fear distorted a few of their features, for it was the first war for many of them. A chance for glory and honor that not one of them would pass up, "And you will secure it!" She grinned a bit as she continued,

"And do not spare those who oppose us!"

Isawa Kenren was a mask of serene calm as he closed his eyes of flesh and opened those of the mind.

The Void was black, as it always was, studded throughout by the lights of life and spirit, flickering stars in the night representing the souls of kami and men. Kenren ignored most of them - they were scattered idly about the landscape, not organized into a fighting formation as only the Lion knew how to.

Suddenly, his mental senses lighted upon a cliff overlooking a valley. The Lion soldiers at last! And their commander led them...

No.

It couldn't be.

Not here.

Not now.

Kenren's eyes snapped open,a nd it took him a while to realize he was gasping for breath. Beside him, his yojimbo Kuyuden studied him quizzically.

"What is wrong, Kenren-sama?"

Kenren did not speak, as he scrabbled to compose himself. It was several moments before he could reply.

"Tell Raiden-san. Tell him... The Lions are overlooking the valley."

And she is with them, he did not add.

Raiden heard the news and began trying to make battle plans. He was frustrated, he was better in the courts, and with politics. He closed his eyes and calmed himself.

"Raiden-sama are you alright." Kuyuden asked. He had heard many tales of Raiden, the real man however was less a legend, more of a man.

"I am fine Kuyuden. I'm sorry you are going to caught in the middle of this. This may be my last stand." Raiden picked up his bow and flung it over his shoulder. "I however am not giving up without a fight."