He doesn't have anything he can do but press forward, does he? There are people depending on him, and he's not just about to let this forest get the best of him, purple shadow things aside. The markings get a cursory inspection but right now, as long as he can put weight on it, the maybe probably poison will have to wait for later. ( ....maybe he should tourniquet it from spreading....?)
For now, he raises the lantern, holds his sword tight, and moves forward ]
kogi finds he can put weight on his leg without too much trouble, so that's good. if he pauses, the darkness doesn't seem to get too much worse.
as he moves forward, he'll recognize he is still in the forest, right where he left off. a path branches left, and right, and the fog oozes over his head. the lantern flickers, once, but continues to give off warm light, keeping the space kogi stands well lit.
a single sliver of moonlight breaks through the canopy of the trees, through the purple fog that leaks in the area, and seems to almost dance down the path to the left. the path to the right is a mystery.
[ terrible how he sees moonlight and feels a touch of relief. despite all of his moon related grumblings, it's still a source of guidance and in a place like this, certainly it means good tidings.
[ Even with the sudden extra changes, Kogitsunemaru trusts his gut instinct of following the moons guidance.
After all, even at his most ornery, Mikazuki-dono means well, after all.
This however, doesn't stop him from flicking his eyes up and around for certain sir not appearing grandpas, not even conscious of the frown forming. We must choose what is right, not what we wish for, he thinks.
[ there's a laugh, that comes from the darkness. now that sounds familiar, doesn't it?
the moonlight shivers.
What is right can be what we wish for.
the darkness on kogi's path is getting colder, and colder. the leaves above his head are starting to change colors - even in the purple fog, he can see hints of fall colors. red, orange. the leaves are dying. the fog thickens.
the voice says: You cannot stop me from doing what must be done. ]
[ At first he thinks, godsdamnit Mikazuki. I knew you were up to something. But then, he recalls that this is not home, and as far as he is aware, Mikazuki is not here.
.....Hopefully.
Anyway, he raises the lantern higher because maybe-jiji can say what he wants but Kogitsunemaru is always ready to kick his butt again ]
[ when kogi raises the lantern, there is simply nothing there. the purple fog shifts in front of him like a miasma.
there's a soft noise - like whoever he is talking to chuckle, ruefully. Kogitsunemaru...can you ever stop anyone? Have you ever saved anyone at all?
Does the straight and narrow path serve you? It does not serve your comrades. Your fellow Rabbit fell before your eyes.
the shadow suddenly feels very, very oppressive. it reaches out for kogi from behind while he's focused forward, and curls its fingers in his hunters clothes. it feels like a tiny child, fingers clutched onto his silks.
[ More trickery. Unfortunately for him, his blade was not one remembered for cutting through such. All he can rely on now is his wits and perhaps a foxes intuition. ]
Changing myself will help no one. You know this as well as I do. For all that has happened and all that will, this Kogitsunemaru will continue as he ever has.
[ he refuses to speak the name out loud, not willing to give face to this entity, especially nowso when little hands touch him. he stiffens, feels the hairs at the back of his neck rise but continues looking forward ]
Why do any of us? To live and seek meaning.
[ especially so as a sword given flesh. why do any of them remain as they are, fighting this endless war against the dark? ]
[ he keeps moving, eyes firmly forward even if he has to start using his sheath to drag himself there. there's certainly a sense of 'the minute he stops, he's in trouble' and he's not about to find out, quite honestly. ]
Then we continue to exist regardless. For is that not what it means to be human? To question and wonder yet continue on for the world around us does not stop while we ponder our existence.
by now, kogitsunemaru must know this is certainly jiji. it sounds like him. the sludgy feeling of being dragged into the darkness is getting worse. another clawed hand grabs onto his front, around his chest, and digs in, trying to drag him backwards.
And I do not trust you well enough to understand. I will not ever trust you well enough, to understand. Neither age nor time can seem to teach you any lessons. Can you continue to dance through life, with the many, many times you have failed? ]
This body is human. It bleeds, it cries, it feels. Or is your standards become so narrow to only mean those we protect?
[ even if it is not jiji himself, there's still the push pull of fighting (verbally) with him. it gives him the strength to push himself forward, one foot at a time through the sludge. ]
You do need not trust me. I certainly need not trust you. Our goals have been similar enough find our way there despite such.
[ he continues forward, thinking a little ]
Each failure is a lesson learned. Each day is a new beginning.
[ each step kogi takes gets more and more difficult.
the hands are digging into his arms, now. his leg that was injured previously starts to ache, a dull, miserable pain that feels like it's sapping his energy. like he's been poisoned.
the voice - warbles, a little, like its disconnecting, like something's wrong with it.
You can pontificate about being human as you like, but you never will be. They will never accept you among them. ]
[ everything hurts but he's not dying just yet so even with the horrendous grimace on his face he continues on. the fangs are bared, the red of his eyes certainly take a glow in the lanterns light, yet still he does not give up. ]
Ha! Whoever said one needed them to accept me? This Kogitsunemaru knows his place will never be among them. I am a touken danshi as long as my mission continues I and this human body of mine will exist to protect them.
[ the bearing of the fangs and the red eyes just get a little laugh.
the moon flutters again, the light starting to disappear.
My. Are you a touken danshi? Are you a fox? Are you a human? Could you be successful at one of the three...?
his lantern is starting to dim, too. the hands - clawed and vicious, keep pulling kogi down, down, down, like they're trying to slow him. take him over.
Perhaps you could lose your control. If you give into the night, it would be easy. Why do the humans deserve to be protected, Kogitsunemaru? What have they ever done for you? ]
[ they can hecking well try but grandpappy is too stubbon for such behavior. ]
I am who I am, creation myth or not. This Kogitsunemaru is a warrior at days end and even I not let some mockery of Mikazuki-dono deny such...!
[ hHHHRGH. STUBBORNNESS RUES THE DAY and even if it feels like he's wading through the deepest of swamp muck, this challenge will not drag him under ]
These humans are worthy of my time and protection regardless of what the have or haven't done. That is a choice I've decided for myself and need no more reason than that. To give in, to lose to a battle even the strongest face at times is not an option!
[ well, grandpappy's stubborness is going to do him well here because ari rolled a nat 20.
the determination of kogitsunemaru is as sharp and well honed as his blade, as tough as tempered steel. as he calls on the illusion for its mockery of jiji, the lantern in his free hand flares. the light turns yellow, then flashes a brilliant blue.
kogitsunemaru, you hear the voices of your teammates. of your leader. they latch onto your spirit, course strength through your bones. despite the vicious, sucking pull of the shadowy hands, despite the way they claw at your silks, you tear one arm free and grab for the loamy dirt. your other arm tears free of another clawing hand, and grabs onto a tree branch.
the voices all call at once.
THE TRUTH LIES IN THE FLAME.
and with a violent flash of light, you tear free from the shadows and burst forward into the darknesss like a bat out of hell. the dark fog clears away, enough to show you the entrance of a temple, where your exhausted companions are trying to heal themselves.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
He doesn't have anything he can do but press forward, does he? There are people depending on him, and he's not just about to let this forest get the best of him, purple shadow things aside. The markings get a cursory inspection but right now, as long as he can put weight on it, the maybe probably poison will have to wait for later. ( ....maybe he should tourniquet it from spreading....?)
For now, he raises the lantern, holds his sword tight, and moves forward ]
no subject
kogi finds he can put weight on his leg without too much trouble, so that's good. if he pauses, the darkness doesn't seem to get too much worse.
as he moves forward, he'll recognize he is still in the forest, right where he left off. a path branches left, and right, and the fog oozes over his head. the lantern flickers, once, but continues to give off warm light, keeping the space kogi stands well lit.
a single sliver of moonlight breaks through the canopy of the trees, through the purple fog that leaks in the area, and seems to almost dance down the path to the left. the path to the right is a mystery.
where to? ]
no subject
he doesn't even hesitate picking the left path. ]
no subject
the wind whistles through the trees on the left side, rustling the branches. it's colder, over here, almost obviously and immediately so.
the moonlight dapples the ground, light, playful, almost giving kogi something to follow.
We must always choose the past. says a voice, Isn't that true? ]
no subject
After all, even at his most ornery, Mikazuki-dono means well, after all.
This however, doesn't stop him from flicking his eyes up and around for certain sir not appearing grandpas, not even conscious of the frown forming. We must choose what is right, not what we wish for, he thinks.
no subject
the moonlight shivers.
What is right can be what we wish for.
the darkness on kogi's path is getting colder, and colder. the leaves above his head are starting to change colors - even in the purple fog, he can see hints of fall colors. red, orange. the leaves are dying. the fog thickens.
the voice says: You cannot stop me from doing what must be done. ]
no subject
.....Hopefully.
Anyway, he raises the lantern higher because maybe-jiji can say what he wants but Kogitsunemaru is always ready to kick his butt again ]
Show yourself!
no subject
there's a soft noise - like whoever he is talking to chuckle, ruefully. Kogitsunemaru...can you ever stop anyone? Have you ever saved anyone at all?
Does the straight and narrow path serve you? It does not serve your comrades. Your fellow Rabbit fell before your eyes.
the shadow suddenly feels very, very oppressive. it reaches out for kogi from behind while he's focused forward, and curls its fingers in his hunters clothes. it feels like a tiny child, fingers clutched onto his silks.
Why do you walk through this world? ]
no subject
Changing myself will help no one. You know this as well as I do. For all that has happened and all that will, this Kogitsunemaru will continue as he ever has.
[ he refuses to speak the name out loud, not willing to give face to this entity, especially nowso when little hands touch him. he stiffens, feels the hairs at the back of his neck rise but continues looking forward ]
Why do any of us? To live and seek meaning.
[ especially so as a sword given flesh. why do any of them remain as they are, fighting this endless war against the dark? ]
no subject
To live, and seek meaning.
What if there is none?
around kogi, the darkness starts to press in. cloying. heavy. it's getting harder to walk, with every step forward. ]
no subject
Then we continue to exist regardless. For is that not what it means to be human? To question and wonder yet continue on for the world around us does not stop while we ponder our existence.
[ philosophy 101 from your professor kogi ]
no subject
says the voice.
by now, kogitsunemaru must know this is certainly jiji. it sounds like him. the sludgy feeling of being dragged into the darkness is getting worse. another clawed hand grabs onto his front, around his chest, and digs in, trying to drag him backwards.
And I do not trust you well enough to understand. I will not ever trust you well enough, to understand. Neither age nor time can seem to teach you any lessons. Can you continue to dance through life, with the many, many times you have failed? ]
no subject
[ even if it is not jiji himself, there's still the push pull of fighting (verbally) with him. it gives him the strength to push himself forward, one foot at a time through the sludge. ]
You do need not trust me. I certainly need not trust you. Our goals have been similar enough find our way there despite such.
[ he continues forward, thinking a little ]
Each failure is a lesson learned. Each day is a new beginning.
Is this not what it means to be human?
no subject
the hands are digging into his arms, now. his leg that was injured previously starts to ache, a dull, miserable pain that feels like it's sapping his energy. like he's been poisoned.
the voice - warbles, a little, like its disconnecting, like something's wrong with it.
You can pontificate about being human as you like, but you never will be. They will never accept you among them. ]
no subject
Ha! Whoever said one needed them to accept me? This Kogitsunemaru knows his place will never be among them. I am a touken danshi as long as my mission continues I and this human body of mine will exist to protect them.
no subject
the moon flutters again, the light starting to disappear.
My. Are you a touken danshi? Are you a fox? Are you a human? Could you be successful at one of the three...?
his lantern is starting to dim, too. the hands - clawed and vicious, keep pulling kogi down, down, down, like they're trying to slow him. take him over.
Perhaps you could lose your control. If you give into the night, it would be easy. Why do the humans deserve to be protected, Kogitsunemaru? What have they ever done for you? ]
no subject
I am who I am, creation myth or not. This Kogitsunemaru is a warrior at days end and even I not let some mockery of Mikazuki-dono deny such...!
[ hHHHRGH. STUBBORNNESS RUES THE DAY and even if it feels like he's wading through the deepest of swamp muck, this challenge will not drag him under ]
These humans are worthy of my time and protection regardless of what the have or haven't done. That is a choice I've decided for myself and need no more reason than that. To give in, to lose to a battle even the strongest face at times is not an option!
no subject
the determination of kogitsunemaru is as sharp and well honed as his blade, as tough as tempered steel. as he calls on the illusion for its mockery of jiji, the lantern in his free hand flares. the light turns yellow, then flashes a brilliant blue.
kogitsunemaru, you hear the voices of your teammates. of your leader. they latch onto your spirit, course strength through your bones. despite the vicious, sucking pull of the shadowy hands, despite the way they claw at your silks, you tear one arm free and grab for the loamy dirt. your other arm tears free of another clawing hand, and grabs onto a tree branch.
the voices all call at once.
THE TRUTH LIES IN THE FLAME.
and with a violent flash of light, you tear free from the shadows and burst forward into the darknesss like a bat out of hell. the dark fog clears away, enough to show you the entrance of a temple, where your exhausted companions are trying to heal themselves.
go join them! ]