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WHO: Honebami Toushirou and Tonbokiri
WHERE: One (1) cursed castle
WHEN: 01/22
WHAT: A spear and a wakizaahi go looking for a way to break a curse. Or at least something useful. They're used to this.
WARNINGS: Some violence and creepy factor, as per abandoned castle standards.

It's not much of a surprise the two tsukumogami would go out and venture into the thorny covered castle. The spread of the curse started around the same time as the appearance of such an ominous structure. It makes sense to go in there and find something.

Of course, it can't be that easy. This castle looks much different from the outside upon entry. With the moving stairways and unexpected turns in hallways, one wonders where they'll end up. Or if they can get out... Honebami understand that Tonbokiri isn't the most suited for fighting in narrow areas, so he's sure to get through the hallways quickly.

Somehow though, the two end up in what seems to be a snowy, dilapidated courtyard of sorts. The crumbling walls and a drop off one broken side would still imply they're inside the castle, at least.

"Should we go this way?"

Honebami would seem to prefer they venture outdoors a bit. The musty interior of inside isn't really pleasant. In its own way, the scenery is hauntingly lovely. There's a wind rustling the dried grass but otherwise it seems quiet, so Honebami takes a few steps from the doorway where they were standing.

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"We shall cover every metre of this place until we find something of use," Tonbokiri says resolutely. And that, at least, he can be sure about.
Finding the way back out once they do find something is going to be another matter.

He knows that he is somewhat weak when it comes to scouting, so he is relying on Honebami to glimpse anything that has the look of a cure. Still, his own skill is not 'zero' either, so he also keeps a sharp eye out. This is for the sake of his friends and comrades. And, he thinks, glancing at the back of his hands that'd been scraped by those thorns as they'd made their way to the castle, maybe for his own sake as well.

Following Honebami out into the courtyard, he stretches out his arms. The wakizashi had conscientiously moved them through narrow spaces quickly, but it still feels better to be outside.

Looking around him slowly, he doesn't immediately see another way into the castle from where they're standing, so he moves further into the courtyard-- and something dark moves in the corner of his vision. Turning around sharply, he sees nothing there, and can sense nothing, either. Relaxing his stance slightly, he frowns, eyes narrowed at that spot.

"Do you sense anything here with us?" He could use a second opinion.

It's alright Tonbokiri, even a little familiarity with scouting helps out the two of them. Even one person can't catch everything in their sights. In this instance, Honebami misses that shadow. He's caught up in the feel of a foreboding winter breeze, shaking up the grass and tatters of cloth from old decor. It hits the old walls to almost make a slow, wailing sound.

"I didn't."

Honebami won't dismiss the concern though, looking around. He doesn't catch that bit of shadow, but it's good to be cautious. They take those steps into the courtyard
There might not be much out here of value, but perhaps they could find a connecting room.

"Tonbokiri-san, do you know what we might want to bring back?"

Honebami thinks of practical things to break curses, but that might not be so easy to find.

Tonbokiri isn’t the type to dismiss things by saying ‘it was just my imagination’, but he cannot pursue something that doesn’t seem to be there, either. So for now he leaves the shadow be.
Turning his attention to Honebami’s question, he nods thoughtfully.

“Potions and elixirs seem to be common in the stories I’ve read from the library. So I think anything that can be drunk will be a good place to start…”

He trails off, then taking a deep breath his expression brightens.

“Oh, I smell horses! Finding a cure is the priority, but if we could bring back a couple horses that would be a boon for us. Let’s take a look?” He starts walking towards where the wall has crumbled down.

(Truth be told, there was no shadow and there are no horses. He’s hallucinating.)

"..."

That would be the slight sound of disbelief that can't really be put into words. He doesn't think there would be horses here, nor can he smell them. Mind you, he like horses very much. But it's also weird to be doubtful of Tonbokiri?

"Please be careful."

Honebami is unfortunately a rather independent individual, with enough trust in his yari comrade to let him go a bit ahead to find his horses. Meanwhile, he sees a surprisingly green herb growing between the cracks. Something to drink like Tonbokiri has originally suggested is a good idea, so maybe this could be steeped into something.

Comfortable with the confidence Honebami puts in him, Tonbokiri goes on ahead.

(Never mind that the cold wind that had blown just then was from the wrong direction to possibly carry a scent to him.)

Approaching the crumbling wall that now drops off into something - perhaps it was a moat? - Tonbokiri is both looking out for dark shadows and horses. It is some combination of the two that finally catches his attention, at the edge of the drop amongst the broken stones of the wall.

Beckoning towards the horse-shaped shadow, he calls out, "Here, now. Here, now. It has probably been a long time since you've seen a friendly face." Hoping to catch a glimpse of the horse itself and not just its shadow, Tonbokiri moves further into the rubble.

And in an instant, the ground falls out from under him.

Tonbokiri is sliding down a nearly vertical incline, his feet unable to gain purchase in the sandy gravel. Instinctively, desperately, he clings to his spear as he ricochets against protruding rocks on his way to the bottom. (Is there a bottom to this?)

Honebami has the herb in hand, about to inquire Tonbokiri about this "horse" he had met... But he only heard the yari's voice, not a neigh or a whip of a tail. It's strange, and it just grabs Honebami's curiosity sooner because surely, Tonbokiri hadn't gone mad.

But then there's that horrifying sound of stone and wood breaking ahead and below.

"Tonbokiri-san!"

A wakizaahi is swift but he can't stop a much larger figure from sliding and falling. He leaps from piece to piece of rubble, trying his bast to follow down. He can't make an exact leap of faith to land where his comrade would, but he can try to maintain his own balance, being able to see better and find spots among the rocks to take careful steps and descend, despite the darkness and mysterious depths

"I'm coming, please hold on."

If Tonbokiri were in a position to be reflective, he might think about how human bodies are both incredibly resilient, yet fragile. Tadakatsu went to hundreds of battles and never had a serious injury, yet a scrape on his palm heralded the end.
Tonbokiri himself also enjoys that legacy of formidable strength, however this body is still human.

In a stroke of horrible luck as he falls, the back of his head strikes a rock in just the place to knock him unconscious. He limply rolls the last few meters to the bottom, and perhaps the only good things that can be said of this situation is that his clothing and armour took most of the superficial damage (although he's going to be bruised something awful), and that he is still (just barely) holding onto his spear.

Honebami makes it to the bottom, trying not to panic. Humanlike in form they may be, yaris had always seemed to be very resilient, especially in comparison to tantou and wakizashi. On top of that, Honebami wishes to be hopeful, because this really is tragic. He knew he couldn't save his comrade from his fall-- he would only be pulled with him into the depths. Still, there's guilt that pangs in his heart.

"Tonbo...-kiri-san?"

When he reaches Tonbokiri's motionless form, first he inspects his spear for any damage, thankfully finding it unbroken or heavily damaged. As for his body, while the same can be said again, Honebami shakes him gently, hoping he can be roused. He doesn't realize it, but with every shake he grips the other more tightly. He's leaning into Tonbokiri, with worry in his voice.

"Please, wake up...!"

From Honebami's perspective, it no doubt takes an incredibly long time for Tonbokiri to finally stir.

He first senses something small but quietly powerful leaning in close over him, and his hand grips his spear reflexively. His breathing becomes more sharp, and he tries to sit up-- only to be assailed by a tremendously unpleasant sensation from his stomach to his head.

"Who--" he can only choke out that word before that awful feeling rises up even further, and he instinctively knows to keep still or he'll regret it.

He is in no position to think straight easily, let alone fight. But a sliver of reason dictates that if the small presence wished him harm, he'd be broken already. And besides that, it seems familiar.

Tonbokiri opens his eyes in slight slits, trying to see who is near him. Yet again, his body betrays him and his vision is blurred. Light-hued hair? Who is it?

[CLOSED]

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Thank you ;A; the curse of email replies struck again...

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