The Terror of Shapwick

The town of Shapwick was nestled in a clearing a day's ride from the edge of the forest. Set up as a logging town with a road connecting the loch to the plains, it was a home to nearly a thousand people where isolation had granted some level of independent spirit. Coming into town the group of Jun, Hiroshige, Keiko, Akiko and a handful of support troops were dressed as traveling merchants headed to the center market square, splitting into small groups on the pretense of making purchases. Looking around, Keiko in particular noticed Masako was nowhere to be seen, so she pulled Akiko aside. "Didn't the plan include Masako-chan getting a town guard's uniform so she would be able to frame them for committing violent actions?"

"I guess she can do it on her own," Akiko said absentmindedly.

"Yeah... about that," Keiko mentioned. "Can we talk somewhere private? There's something sensitive I'm needing to discuss with you."

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"So, what did you want to talk about?"

Keiko had pulled Akiko outside into the woods on the outskirts of town. After verifying their privacy, she continued. "Have you noticed anything different about Masako, in particular ever since we reunited?"

"You mean other than her beating me down in our training sessions?" Akiko deadpanned.

"No, more than that," Keiko asked with a serious tone. "Something about the way she talks and holds herself just feels... off. For example, when we were talking about freeing the prisoners, she referred to them as 'your people', not 'our people'."

"Well... she's never actually met any of them," Akiko deflected. "To her, they would be complete strangers."

"OK true," Keiko admitted. "But do you remember how many times you've heard Masako-chan talk about the code of conduct being integral to her kendo club and its historic Bushido code. We used to say she was maybe a little strict about the whole honor code; now she's talking about going straight up assassinating people ninja-style."

Akiko shifted uncomfortably. "Well... um... "

"Oh, and at night... when everyone else is in bed, I've started hearing her whispering to herself, only they sound like she's talking to someone."

"M-maybe she talks in her sleep," Akiko offered.

"If we're lucky, that's all it is."

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As night came and the forest grew dark, the Empire's caravan arrived in town with Sergeant Inen Taira making his way to the town mayor. Getting his attention, he took command of the situation.

"...as you can see, we'll need accommodations for my men. In addition, we'll need your town's guards to act as support throughout the night to help keep watch on the prisoners, which we will keep in the wagons parked near the stables until morning," Inen dictated.

The town mayor crossed his armed and huffed. "Of course, we're at the Empire's service. But our guards are also responsible for keeping the peace in town. You have too many prisoners for us to effectively watch and still maintain that duty."

"Then find a way!" Inen ordered. "Or the Emperor will hear about your lack of cooperation when I return to the capital!"

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Masako watched from the shadows of the rooftops, studying the movements and patrol patterns of the town's guard and the newly arriving Empire troops. Typical soldiers, they all headed to the taverns to spend their wages on wine, women and song. In preparation, she had managed to acquire a guard's uniform, a handful of their accessories and some standard equipment they all carried.

Jumping across the buildings above the street lighting allowed her to move in darkness. She stalked her targets like a bird of prey hunting its next meal. Depending on how close together they were, she estimated she would be able to dispatch up to three to four at a time before any of them could utter a sound. She needed to be fast, but ironically not too fast, as she needed to make the wounds ugly and messy, not the usual clean and precise cuts that she would have inflicted, not to mention avoid using any of the soul sword's magical abilities. These had to look like the work of someone with only marginal training. Once the deed was done, she wanted to be spotted from a distance, in uniform before breaking line of sight around a corner or alleyway, disappearing into the night. Each crime scene would have a piece of evidence left behind, "proving" a town guard was responsible.

After an hour of preparation, an opportunity presented itself. A group of four of the Empire's men left one of the bars in a group. From the conversations, they served in the same squad with the usual rivalries and camaraderie. She followed from above as they headed towards their assigned inn, taking a path between buildings to save time. Perfect... she thought as she jumped down, slashing the first victim with a downward stroke, killing him instantly. The next two barely managed to turn around before being sliced across their abdomens in a single stroke. The last man managed to shout in panicked fear just before she stabbed him in the chest. As planned, the shout got the immediate attention of people in the vicinity, but no one was close enough to actually see her face. Dropping off a Shapwick guard insignia, she stepped into the alley before jumping back into the rooftops, disappearing once again into the night.

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"Aah...!"

A loud scream cut into the night, the grisly scene of slain Empire guards drawing the shocked attention of the public, guards and soldiers alike. A few moments later, officers were finally called up including Sergeant Inen Taira who blanched when he beheld the horrific sight. "Who... did this...!?"

"We're questioning everyone, sir!" the nearest soldier reported tersely. "But witnesses reported seeing one of the local guards attacking this group before heading into the alley!"

Inen and the other soldiers investigated the alley, which led to the residential block of buildings that housed inns and private homes. "I want house-to-house searches throughout this block! Find this attacker!"

"Sergeant, we found this at the scene," another soldier prompted, revealing the Shapwick guard's uniform insignia.

"Th-that's doesn't prove anything...!" the Shapwick night watch vehemently denied. "Anyone could have put that there!"

"So, you're admitting you don't protect your standards? That your uniforms are readily available for anyone to acquire?!" Inen demanded.

Just then, there was another shout that interrupted the group. "Sir, there's been another incident!" an Empire guard reported, breathlessly running up. "Three more of our men were murdered at the town's perimeter while they stood guard! Witnesses also reported they were killed by one of the local guards!"

Inen drew his weapon and pointed it at the local town guard's most senior officer, who instinctively took a defensive stance, with his hand on his weapon. "I want every town guard rounded up and searched!"

"We will allow no such thing! We have enforcement authority in this town!" the guard snarled as the men in his unit took positions, backing him up. "We'll find whoever's killing these men, but it isn't the work of our town guards, that we know!" he shouted defiantly.

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Jun, Hiroshige and the troops watched from their positions in the marketplace as they made their way towards the stables. The shouts of anger and fear were unmistakable as commands were issued to be on the lookout for a killer on the loose. The Empire's guards however were all quickly turning against the local guards, demanding they account for their whereabouts, which was quickly rebuked as tempers began to flare up and discipline broke down.

Jun took point as he listened carefully to the shouted accusations. "Apparently there's been about three attacks, with close to a dozen of their men killed. They're accusing the town guards, but the guards are having none of it! Tempers are flaring, it's now or never!"

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Sergeant Kenji Takeda and the rest of the prisoners were all on high alert as the sounds of shouts across the city were apparent as the guards assigned to guard them were all fearfully looking around, as if anticipating an attack. He quietly went to his companions, ensuring they were each as ready as possible to move in preparation for any planned escape.

"Keep the guards back," the Empire sentries ordered. "One of their own guards has apparently gone crazy and is killing our men!" As he deployed his group of six, he barely noticed the merchants coming up until it was too late and weapons were coming out. "It's the killers, they're here!" he called out.

Yeah right, Keiko thought. We're taking it easy on you. Don't give us too much trouble and you might walk out of this alive. If you had run into Masako, chances are your heads would be rolling on the ground right about now... She set her feelings aside; they were here to rescue their leaders and like it or not, the calculated violence was part of their plan. But she couldn't shake the feeling that there was something wrong with their friend that would need to be resolved sooner or later.

Hiroshige snapped Keiko out of her self-reflection, "My Lady, your turn!" motioning her forward.

"R-right," Keiko nodded, remembering her part of the plan as the wagons were being broken open and the guards were being subdued. Concentrating on the crystals around her neck, she focused on the now-empty cages, creating a phantasm of the prisoners before their release. "That'll last maybe five minutes. But what about the guards?"

"We'll take them with us," Jun ordered. "With what's going on, everyone will simply assume they've run off, at least for those few minutes." He turned to the rest of the unit, motioning them to assist the prisoners who were less ambulatory. "You heard her, five-minute head start, let's make the most of it!"