King of the Shadow Realm Scenarios 2: Nazaru vs Yuki Onna

We just finished the second scenario for our game. We'll be adding it to Twine to implement the story and put it in a choice branch format. Scenario 2: Nazaru vs the Yuki Onna (Having agreed to his younger sister, Konhon’s plan to collect as many souls as quickly as possible, the two of them go through the snowy mountains of theYamagata region of Japan. Konhon had told him of stories of hundreds of men finding themselves trapped in a blizzard, never to be seen again. They had hoped to capture their wandering souls) Nazaru: (Walking alongside his sister in heavy snow) Are you sure this is the place? Konhon: Of course. I asked a few people about these tales. Although, one was being difficult in sharing what they know. But she grew more cooperative when I started burning her limbs with my magic. Nazaru: If this proves to be a waste of time, know that I will turn you back into the flame you once were before I made you and Kori. (Suddenly Konhon’s foot hits something and she digs through the snow to see what it was, discovering dead men that were relatively preserved) Konhon: See, brother. What you seek is here. Nazaru: (Inspects a corpse) Hmm…This one has been dead for quite some time. 20 years from the looks of it. (Looks at another one) This one has been dead for only a few days. Yet he look frail. Like an old man. (The two then hear footsteps, and see a young man covered in armor walking towards the nearest shelter) Konhon: Another wanderer. Shall I ask him if he knows anything? (Gets a sadistic smile) I promise he’ll give me an answer. Nazaru: No. Not yet. Let us see if whatever is causing this appears. I suspect this is the work of some Yokai that preys on men. (Nazaru and Konhon shadow the soldier from a far, until the soldier stops at a hut, where a pale, yet beautiful woman was sitting nearby a fire) Soldier: Pardon the intrusion, my lady. I have returned from the war and have traveled a great distance. It’ll be some time before I reach my home. Might I stay here with you tonight? Mysterious Woman: Our home is humble and we’ve not much to share, but you may stay and rest here tonight. Soldier: Thank you. May the gods grant you a thousand blessings. (Tries to warm himself up, and then sees that in the woman’s arm is an infant) This has been a harsh storm. Have you and your husband been taking care yourselves and your child well? Mysterious Woman: My husband died a few winters ago. Thankfully I have been able to take care of the child. But it has become an ever growing burden. I’m so tired. Soldier: You pitiful souls. Your lives have been long and harsh. Is there something I can do to help? Anyway at all? Mysterious Woman: I am tired and my strength is leaving me with each moment. A soldier such as yourself must be very strong. Surely you can hold my baby. Please I only need one night of rest. Soldier: I will gladly hold your child while you sleep. (Takes the child from the woman, and his arms drop down a bit). Ugh. The boy is heavier than I expected. Mysterious Woman: At last…Sleep. (3 hours pass. While the woman slept, the soldier continued to hold the child, which bizarrely grew heavier by the moment. He also grew colder and colder. Before he found the urge to ask she take her baby back, he had frozen solid.) Mysterious Woman: (Wakes up, with her having changed from brown to icy blue. She approaches the frozen soldier.) Gratitude for watching my baby. (The woman kisses the soldier. As she does, glowing blue lights flow from him to her. Suddenly a ball of fire flies at them, with the woman, barely evading it.) What? Who’s there? (The pale lady turned to her right and saw a red haired woman dressed in black standing right next to a dark creature. She knew she was in the presence of the Shadow King, Nazaru and one of his sisters, and she began to tremble.) Konhon: See, brother? Our efforts were not in vain. Nazaru: Indeed. So, the rumors of men disappearing in the coldest of nights were all caused by you, a Yuki Onna (Snow Woman). Yuki Onna: King Nazaru! Why are you here? Surely not to save this mortal? Nazaru: Of course not. His death is inconsequential to me. As are the ones of your previous prey. Their souls are another matter. I can see all of them inside of you. I count 300 souls. Give me half, and I will let you be. Yuki Onna: (Slowly gets up) I will not relinquish my souls, not even to you. (The Yuki Onna blows cold breath at the 2 dark beings, but Konhon blocks it with a wall flame) Konhon: She thinks she can defy us. (Laughs) After we take the souls from her, can I play with her? I want to watch her sizzle. Nazaru: (Charges Dark magic in his hand fires it at Yuki Onna, knocking into her hut) There’s no use struggling. (Nazaru and Konhon walk closer to the Yuki Onna) One way or another, you will give us your souls. Yuki Onna: (Moves closer to her bed, pretending to be cowering, while reaching for an item) Be reasonable, dark ones. Surely I can give you a consolation! (The Yuki Onna holds out a holy talisman, causing Konhon to become paralyzed and Nazaru to recoil from the sight of it) Nazaru: A sacred talisman? How did you- Yuki Onna: Hehehehe! I took it from one of the foolish wanderers who happened to be a priest. While it may not be enough to subdue you like your sister, it can weaken you. And the sun is rising within a few moments. Nazaru: Neither can destroy me! I am eternal! (The sun starts rising, and Nazaru’s black shadowy body writhes in pain akin to burning alive) Yuki Onna: True, but they can still cause you pain. Enough for me to flee and find a new haven. Nazaru: I must think of something. (Nazaru spots a big rock nearby, using the rest of his fading power, he telekinetically has it hurled at Yuki Onna, causing her to lose the talisman in the deep snow) Yuki Onna: No! (The Yuki Onna tries to dig for the talisman, but she is tackled by Konhon, who proceeds to place her hand on her neck, causing it to burn) Konhon: (Pants angrily) What a pitiful game you tried to play. I’ll show you how I play. Yuki Onna: (Sees Nazaru enter the shade of the hut and begins to heal and regain his immense power) Shadow King! I was wrong to oppose you, please show mercy! I’ll do anything! Scenario 2A: Kill the Yuki Onna Nazaru: (Filled with rage, Nazaru’s eyes glow like orange flames) I am no longer in the mood to negotiate. Konhon, take the souls from her, painfully. Then kill her. Konhon: Love to! (Laughs maniacally as she burns the Yuki Onna) Ah. The maggot is dead. You can take her souls, brother. Nazaru: At last. (Nazaru puts his hand on the Yuki Onna, and siphons the souls. Suddenly, an amulet drops from her remains) Hmm? (Nazaru and Konhon look at the amulet and recognize it) Konhon: That amulet belongs to one of your Dark Council. This Yokai (Monster) is allied with one of the most powerful servants. Nazaru: So some from the Dark Council wished to conspire against me. It would seem they were planning to do so even before the Shadow Realm began to decline in souls. Who has turn against me? I will have these answers. (The amulet starts to glow and then blows itself up) Konhon: It blew up! Nazaru: My conspirator knows I’ve uncovered their secret. They didn’t wish for me to learn anymore. No doubt they will strike at me soon. Konhon: Why not have Kori try to figure out who has betrayed you. Her tendancy to overthink things would be better for than collecting souls. Nazaru: I will give another test. The results of whoever gets me the most souls from it will tell me who to send back, and who shall remain at my side. Konhon Of course, brother. (Nazaru starts to disappear) I will beat you, Kori. I will be my brother’s right hand. Scenario 2B: Enslave the Yuki Onna Nazaru: Why should I let you live? Yuki Onna: You wish to collect souls, yes? I could aid you. I could give you more if you just let me live! Konhon: She couldn’t possibly amass the amount we need! Let me kill her, Nazaru! Nazaru: Silence, Konhon! (Nazaru glares at his sister, making her tremble at the consequences of defying him.) True she can’t do it alone. But if I were to get other Yokai to do the same, I can have sustainable supply. Yuki Onna: Then you will let me live. Nazaru: You will live... (Nazaru siphons half her souls. He then places his hand on her arms and black tattoos cover it.) as our slave. (The Yuki Onna is shocked by this, but relents and accepts her new fate. Suddenly an amulet falls from her clothing.) Hmm? An amulet from my Dark Council? How did this come into your possession? Yuki Onna: A denizen from your realm came to me one night. I was to be offered great power and influence over other Yokai if I pledged allegiance. Konhon: Who was it? Yuki Onna: I don’t know. They had concealed themselves. (The amulet then explodes) Konhon: It blew up! Nazaru: My conspirator knows I’ve uncovered their secret. They didn’t wish for me to learn anymore. No doubt they will strike at me soon. Konhon: Why not have Kori try to figure out who has betrayed you. Her tendancy to overthink things would be better for than collecting souls. Nazaru: I will give another test. The results of whoever gets me the most souls from it will tell me who to send back, and who shall remain at my side. (Points to the Yuki Onna.) As for you, return to collecting more souls for us. Perform well, and we may give you some of what my betrayer promised. Yuki Onna: Yes, King Nazaru. Konhon Of course, brother. (Nazaru starts to disappear) I will beat you, Kori. I will be my brother’s right hand.