Shiba Motoko and her intrepid band of deputies head west into no-man's land to protect a nameless village from the predation of bandits. But things never turn out the way you'd expect!
Characters
A bright-eyed and curious Shiba Bushi
A grizzled and half-dead Kakita Duelist
An odd-looking Kakita Inventor with a frikkin' lightning staff
An innocent 11-year old intern training to be an Agasha Shugenja
Highlights
*Helpful Peasant urges the samurai to make it through the rain-soaked forest before dawn comes, but too late!
*The Kakita Inventor slips in the mud and comes to staring at the feet of a 7-foot tall bandit!
*The Shiba Bushi promptly attempts to hit on said bandit to learn his juicy bandit secrets. Is unsuccessful.
*The grizzled Kakita Duelist challenges the bandit leader to a duel in the rain!
*Things go south, so he switches to the ancient Shotgun to the Chest Technique. Is victorious.
*The hidden bandits attack. Things get violent.
*Heroes survive and make it to the village. It's all fucked up.
*They meet Miri, the village guardian. She's got red hair, a crystal spear, and a crazy shard-shooter. Also, weird magic mom who lived in the woods.
*The young Intern get to healing and the others get to training and building montages.
*The Shiba Bushi follows the Kakita Duelist back to his quarters to "gain some knowledge," if you know what I mean. 11-year old Intern follows along. It's awkward.
*Adults give kid sake so he passes out and they can do some vigorous learning. Poor kid.
*Bandits attack the village! Including the dead ones!
*It is determined bandits are spirits of bad dudes who died 50 years ago, returning each dawn to get their violence on.
*Spirit bandits hit with philosophy bomb and forced to question their existence. Heroes take advantage of distraction to liberally apply Shotgun-to-the-Chest Technique.
*Visit grumpy old man with a gun who serves them tea.
*Grumpy old man was leader of bandits 50 years ago before he fell in love with Miri's mom and became village protector. Is reunited with daughter. It's awkward.
*Offers his sweet magic weapons and armor to the heroes while continuing to hold them at gun-point. What a nice guy?
*Heroes descend into the bandit cave, by which I mean, a portal to Toshigoku, the Realm of Slaughter.
*Shiba Bushi looks into nothingness. It looks back. That's bad.
*Miri tells them how to stop the spirit-bandits. That's good.
*It involves the ultimate sacrifice... That's bad!
*Intern gets cracking on the ritual, while Shiba Bushi and Kakita Inventor battle the slaughter spirits. Kakita Duelist summons the bad-guy boss and they duel for their eternal souls!
*Duelist has bit off more than he can chew but is prepared to sacrifice himself.
*Suddenly, slaughter spirit comes out of nowhere and stabs Shiba Bushi through the chest, killing her!
*At the same moment, the Duelist summons the strength to beat his foe, but is too late to save the girl.
*She sacrifices herself for all of them and leads the bloody dead back to the Realm of Waiting where they can rejoin the karmic cycle.
*Victory achieved but everyone is sad. Hooray!
Now
that's how you samurai!
Image property of Alderac Entertainment Group
