The Beach of Port Argentium [Border]

The Ringbearer turned towards Coatl. 
After studying the odd situation happening on the beach, they adjusted their mask and spoke. 

"...where am I?" They asked a second time, although this time, loud enough for Coatl to hear. "I seem to have... misplaced myself." 

They brushed some sand off their shoulder, before stepping further away from the waves. 

The lack of sailors makes docking the ship difficult. Though the civilization has a port, it would be too strenuous for the surviving crew. They settle on docking at the beach. A task that was a lot simpler than pulling into port. She musters up the rest of her strength and anchors the ship. The others on board help lower a board to close the distance between the ships height and the beach.

The person that steps down the plank is akin to a living skeleton. Her cheeks sunken, her eyes blackened from endless sleepless nights, her gate wobbly trying to hold herself upright with her sheathed sword, the daimyo was a shadow of her former self. Her warriors fair no better. None of that matters now that they've gotten to new land. Her dry lips crack into the first smile since well before she boarded.

Turning to look at the ship, she was right to put her faith in the shipwrights. The ship came through unscathed. The only damage is the worn out lettering denoting it as a cargo ship. "New Sun Cargo" now read "N n rgo." The ship isn't one of the large war fleets the Empire used, but it did hold a few hundred or in this case, five hundred. With so many people, there was no chance of her bringing any of the horses. Many of the people didn't make it through the journey. The ones that died on board were turned into food for the living. All that remains of the deceased are their bones hidden deep down in the cargo hold. The ship was polished and covered with waterproof sealant, but the arduous journey has aged the vessel. The rich brown paint has peeled and faded, the sealant no longer worked. Honoka spent much of the time above deck, but she suspected the lower decks were probably flooded. She isn't sure how they didn't sink, but it must be some miracle.

She digs her sword into the sand, using it to drag herself inland. The civilization wasn't far, but in her condition, it seemed miles away. What a cruel joke if she were to die on the sandy beaches mere feet away from sanctuary.

Honoka takes a look at the food. Her eyes a weary glint towards this feline woman. What gain does she have for such generosity? Leverage it must be. To help someone on the brink of death, that is a debt most handsome. The swordswoman had nothing left to lose. She had lost everything. The journey would be wasted if she were to die this close to salvation. She ravaged the food with grizzled hands making no show of decorum, stuffing her mouth with whatever she touched. Honoka makes quick work eating her fill. 

Only when she feels a glimmer of her former husk does she wipe the chunks from her face. "You offer this food to save mere strangers. What is your ploy here?" Honoka doesn't hold back her bluntness. For all she knows, this woman may be malicious. She's never seen such a being. A bakeneko is the closest thing that comes to mind, changed cat. The thought of pulling those cat ears crossed her mind. Surely this is a costume and those aren't real. Did the tail just move? This is all an elaborate ruse or are the hallucinations still ongoing? "This port is not governed by the Great Empire. Where is this strange land?" Maybe this is all a terrible nightmare and she will wake in her barracks as if nothing is amiss.

The food brought life back to the warrior, but not enough to support herself. Please let this not be a foe for the strength I have will not be enough in her head, she prays hoping someone is listening. The few soldiers and her are in no shape to engage in any combat. The group and barely walk. The best time for someone to take advantage of them. Honoka watches keenly at the strange woman in front of her, deciphering if her words contain any poison.

"Where my position stands, I often must be wary of the kindness of others. I will thank you for your sincere kindness. You have my gratitude." Honoka returns the bow.

"Daimyo Yuzu of the Great Empire, though I suspect the empire I've dedicated my life to no longer exists." the samurai introduces herself. Though Honoka feels indebted to Naoki, her first name is reserved for friends and this woman is far from it. Her fellow soldiers had the pleasure of calling her Honoka. Some of them were even by her side when she first enlisted in the emperor's army. Daimyo, the title she wore with pride meant nothing now. Funny to even introduce herself as such. The day the shogun performed the ceremony to appoint her as a daimyo was the happiest moment of her career.


The day she went from a common footsoldier to the shogun's high general was a harmonious day. An elaborate feast was laid out at the shogun's estate. Shogun Arachi Ito controlled the northeast region where Honoka served. Distinguished lords and ladies from the land came to watch the ceremony. There have been rumors amongst a few neighboring lands doubting Honoka's ascension to a higher rank. A woman would not be able to make a good leader. The rumors fell on deft ears. Regardless of whatever pushback Shogun Ito may have received, Honoka became the new daimyo. A new crest was sewn into her uniform during the ceremony, along with the white and red kimono. Red was the color reserved for high-ranking officials that she now had the privilege of wearing. The shogun presented her with a letter appointing her new position. Her family and even childhood friends were there to partake in the feast. There were game birds, wild boars, the freshest vegetables, and all the rice wine anyone would ever want. The honorifics were short, but the party that followed lasted well into the night.

"Lady Naoki, it should be I that is in your service. I doubt I will be able to return to where I once came from so I must learn to make anew. Me and whatever handful of soldiers I have left will be at your disposal. We are forever in your favor. You mention having maps, when the time suits us better, I wish to take a look. Have there been any medical facilities? I wish to send the other survivors from the boat there promptly." Honoka's own condition wasn't any better but she would rather those less fortunate than her get the help first.

"7 of my men have journeyed here with me. I am unsure if any more of my army will arrive. For now, these are the men I can offer." She gives a sigh of relief watching the stretchers being brought out. Her men. they'll live. The food she was given revives her greatly. She may still need to go to the infirmary, but she can walk there herself.

"I can walk myself to the infirmary, but I think I will be okay for now. I did not sustain much injury only the troubles of being without food and water for so long. I am pleased that doctors have made it safely to your civilization. I am not one that knows much in the ways of medicine."

Honoka turns her head towards the new arrival. A strange floated towards them. Creatures like this brought destruction and danger from her experience. Beings that do not look human are often tainted by sinister blood. Her hands reach for her sheathed blades. Honoka approaches cautiously the lizard being. The newcomer seems to be out cold. Honoka releases her hands from her blades. As merciless as the Daimyo can be, she was never one to kill someone who could not fight. This being may be sinister but right now, they too are fighting for their life.

"Another one in search of refuge." Honoka makes an effort in bringing the raft onto the sandy beach. "Looks like another stretcher will be needed." She checks the lizard for signs of life, a finger under the blue one's nostrils feeling for any signs of breath. "It's breath is weak."

Careful, the container Lady Naoki passed Honoka. She didn't even need to put her nose into the container to smell the pungent crystals, spirit of hartshorn. These could bring anyone back to life. Where she's from, these salts were typically made from the antlers of deer. She's definitely been on the receiving end of these salts.

The skilled swordswoman held the container near the lizardfolk's nose and used her other hand to waft the scent upwards. "I do not know how many of folks like these you have encountered, but in my land people like these do not bring good fortune. Their blood tainted by beasts of sin." Honoka says to the cat woman. Lady Naoki in Honoka's eyes did not seem pure of blood either, but she still appeared largely human. It is believed that those who carry this tainted blood were the consequences of the actions of their past lives. The punishment for the deeds unanswered by their past. The more beast a man looks, the larger and more amoral their past life. Many of these people are more beasts than man, carrying on the tradition of evil that followed them to this life.