Strength of Our Ancestors

Strength of Our Ancestors

Observations on the Yodotai: Addendum 2.

While reviewing my journals and notes from my time in Medinat al-Salaam, I remembered an event that should be conveyed.

As mentioned elsewhere, since my return from Yomi I have been “graced” by the attention of my honored ancestor, Doji Tsuro; for your understanding, he was the brother of my wife in my previous life, whom I killed in a duel regarding her honor (an event that ultimately led to our marriage). To say he is unforgiving would be putting it mildly. His attention typically construes of admonitions to commit seppuku and return to the spirit realms where I belong, and it is my unswerving duty to appease his sense of honor.

Just as any other day, even in Medinat al-Salaam, my day began with proper prayers to the kami and my ancestors for guidance. I had been putting extra effort into this due to being stuck in a foreign city (Theology / Void, 1 raise. 8k4: 43). The event I will recall happened about a week after the slavers had been defeated and the children rescued.

My esteemed Yodotai neighbor, Aurellius-san, had decided to throw a celebration in my honor for rescuing his daughter Lucia from the gaijin-tsukai and his brass oni. I do not care for such a thing, but he insisted. Thankfully I had a translator (who is now my wife), which likely saved Face on both of our parts. However, my honorable ancestor did not benefit from such mediation. About halfway through dinner I heard his distinctive voice cursing and yelling at someone: I could not see what was going on, but Doji-sama is known for his temper, and as such “Alright, you foolish dog! Outside!” was all I needed to hear; such language is universally translated and well... never good. I went outside.

Once I was clear from the other guests, I was able to get more information: Apparently one of the Yodotai was honored by similarly belligerent ancestors, and those spirits had been making fun of Doji-sama’s kimono. The gaijin, a younger man named Anjinus, stepped out into the garden, and I was able to get his side of things: two out of his eight ancestors had indeed been causing offense and were now about to engage in combat with Doji-sama, and that we were drawing a crowd of other spirits. He would not say how many, but from what I could tell, there were at least a hundred present. More on that later, though.

I put my hands together and quietly prayed. I am not particularly fond of Doji-sama, but that opinion had no relevance here: he was my ancestor, and I would stand beside him. (Raw Void + Void point + 2exp + 1 raise: 6k6 (+5)= 46 (+5)) Out of some miracle I could see the faint form of my ancestor, too: it was like the shadow of movement that you see in the corner of your eye. When I would look directly they would be gone, but if I looked aside, I could see him. Kind of. I do not know how to describe it.

I could hear his half of the battle clearly. Steel was drawn and impacted on shields; kiai shouts were heard. It got muffled and inaudible at points- from what I could tell, he got the best of his opponents but was wounded in the process; I do not know what happened to them.

When it was over and Doji-sama retired quietly, and the Yodotai spirits materialized in front of me: there were indeed well over a hundred of them in full battle regalia and formation. They were oddly transparent, yet still cast shadows in the moonlight. I had a looming feeling that should I engage them, I could have. One whom I could only consider the leader (his helmet was taller) saluted me crisply. Not knowing what else to do, I bowed deeply, and when I straightened up, they were gone.

The young Yodotai and I returned inside and frankly, started drinking. He was amenable to my questions, and I was able to find out a number of things: Yodotai warriors do not ascend to the spirit realms when they die: they stand by and fight beside their descendants, forever, if they determine their descendant is worthy. Anjinus-san had about eight (of whom he was quite proud, except for his two great-uncles), which was considered appropriate for his gunso rank. Some of the more notable generals might command a whole legion of ancestors by himself, though. These ancestors protect their descendants from magic, fight at their side, advise them, and so on, and their culture is about as old as ours (give or take a few hundred years). Like us, they basically have spent the entire time fighting. Unlike us… their Empire is… enormous. A rough estimate states that at least two of their provinces are the size of our Empire alone, and they can quickly field an army with a million living soldiers (with an ancestral army easily twice to three times that). I do not know if normal weapons can harm a Yodotai spirit soldier; after later investigation, I have heard mixed reports on the matter from citizens of the civilizations who’ve fought them (and were inevitably conquered), and the Yodotai themselves will not answer.

I do not know how Rokugani magic would affect a Yodotai army. I do not know where their spirit soldiers go when they die again, if they do, or what happens to them. I do not know when they will be at our doorstep, but one day they will be there; I am told their war of conquest is a religious mandate, and that they believe one day they will conquer the whole world. They will be polite and friendly at first, but once they know our ways, it will be as trying to hold back a tsunami. Hopefully this information, and the rest of my notes on the matter, will give us a head start. The luck of defensive geography cannot hold them back forever; I do not dare imagine what might happen if they march at us from the south. I have gathered what information I can from them; I would vehemently suggest those who are better at quiet observation than I take my place in the Jewel of the Desert, and continue a vigil to learn more of their ways and prepare for the inevitable.

Yours in Honor,

Mirumoto Kissaki

Sensei: Iron Mountan Dojo