Defenders of the Empire

Defenders of the Empire is a fiction written by Shawn Carman. It is the seventh of ten parts from the Dawn of the Empire promotional ccg set. 

Annotated Story
Previously: Way of the Dragon.

Kaimetsu-Uo is beginning to wonder why all but Hida were given tasks by Hantei, and if Hantei did not trust Hida. Unmei does not know for certain why, but he does know the destiny of the Crab Clan found them soon enough.



Somewhere in southern Rokugan, Hiruma sits down after a long day of work searching for resources. Not as abundant with natural resources as the lands of Doji, Hiruma and his men had been tasked with scouring the mountains for decent quarries. Another warrior sits down next to Hiruma, dumping his do-maru and other armor plating on the ground. Hiruma recognizes him as the armorer who equipped him and his men, and wonders why he treats his equipment like that. The man replies that the way he feels he is treating the armor better than himself. He cannot remember meeting Hiruma before, and suggests he may have met his son who looks alot like him, but introduces himself as Kaiu. Hiruma introduces himself and offers the smith some of his food before asking about Kaiu's son. Kaiu reveals his son took over the building site and banished Kaiu here, because he demanded too much of the peasant work crew. Hiruma admits that he has seen Kaiu at work many times, and he never seems to tire. Kaiu thinks his son was exaggerating, but it will give him time to investigate a possible improvement on his armor. Hiruma says that the armor Kaiu made for him was the best has ever worn, and suggests the smith should rest for the moment. Kaiu asks if Hiruma has sons also, but Hiruma reveals with a grin that he is not married but never alone either. They both laugh loudly, and moments later a robed shugenja arrives mentioning that the long day has obviously not taken away their humor. Hiruma does not think life would be bearable without laughter but the shugenja counters that a warrior does not need humor. Kaiu points out that a warrior could find use for it, if left behind and taken up again later. Kaiu explains that he has been working on Hida's castle, and asks what Hiruma has been doing. Hiruma reveals he has been scouting the mountains with his men for suitable resources. Next he intends to begin scouting to the south, and wonders what the robed shugenja does. The shugenja names himself Kuni and suggests Hiruma not venture t the south as they are plagued by something dark. Kuni has been using his spells to help craft difficult stone, although not as skilfully as Kaiu. Hiruma wonders what will become of the Crab, and doubts he will be able to be a farmer or artisan. Kuni points out their duty is to follow Hida, but he to does not want a boring life. Hiruma asks why he must avoid the southern lands, and Kuni mentions that they have never been a safe place with Ogres and Nezumi. There seems to be something evil there now however, and Kuni wonders if the Shadowlands will reach out and swallow them. Kaiu does not understand that which he cannot touch, and suggests they rest tomorrow and worry later. Kuni concurs, and suggests they discuss the matter tomorrow in depth. Hiruma agrees, but looks south and knows he will not sleep well.

The next morning, Hiruma wakes with a start as he senses something wrong. He quitely picks up his weapon and moves to his tent's opening. A shout in the night from the south where the sentries were stationed alerts him to the threat. In the distance he can see the siluettes of forms oving in the starfilled sky and a huge thing moving against the backdrop. The scream of a dying man follows, and Hiruma shouts for his men to prepare for the attack. Kaiu and Kuni appear from their tents, and Hiruma's men arrive shortly after. Hiruma thinks it is Kuni's shadows that have found them, and is troubled by the look of confusion on Kuni's face. Kaiu asks what is happening, but Hiruma cannot answer before a huge beast as tall as ten men and just as wide bursts out of the darkness. A dozen mouths cover its torso, and dozens of tentacles swipe about at the men. Hiruma dodges away from the tenacles, and severes one of them. Kuni begins to chant, and a pillar of stone erups from beneath the beast skewering it. Kaiu asks what it is, and Kuni replies that it is dead. Hiruma orders his men to search for more, but Kuni motions for them to stop. Kuni asks if the can feel something, and Hiruma thinks he can hear a distant roaring on the wind. Hiruma thinks something is coming, but Kuni is certain it is already here.



Sometime later, in the Crab settlement, a battle is raging. Hiruma has never seen atrosities like those attacking them before, and they had almost been routed from the encampment surrounding the unfinished Kyuden Hida. It was only the arrival of Hida-kami that changed the course of the battle. Hida himself destroyed more beasts than twenty other men combined, and at his side was Hida Atarasi towering over the other men. Hida seemed to fluctuate between outrage and rapture, but despite his raw force his men would be overwhelmed eventually even if he was not. Hiruma raced to his lords side, and was quickly joined by Kuni and Kaiu and with their consentrated effort the battle turned. Kaiu again wonders what will become of the Crab, and Hiruma merely saluted him in return.

To Be Continued in: Fires of the Phoenix.

Characters

 * Kaimetsu-Uo
 * Unmei
 * Hiruma
 * Kaiu
 * Kuni
 * Hida
 * Hida Atarasi

Not Present, But Mentioned

 * Hantei
 * Doji
 * Akodo
 * Shinjo