The Battle for Ayo Province

The Khan of the Unicorn Clan stood in the saddle with ease as his great steed pounded away at the earth beneath him. He rode with his scouts, seeking to get an understanding of the bandits who “ruled” these lands. He saw nothing but huts and small stockades, men clutching makeshift weapons, and not a single good horse to be found. This used to be prime grazing land for the Unicorn herds. It would be so again.

The ronin Ronso blinked sleepily as he sat up in bed. The peasant girl groaned and he casually backhanded her. By the Pit of Fu Leng, his head was pounding! He didn’t remember drinking that much the previous night. As his feet hit the ground he realized it was shaking to the noise that reverberated in his skull. An earthquake? Here? He grabbed a shirt as he staggered outside. Dozens of other bandits were doing the same, and thus were treated to the majesty of thousands of Unicorn horsemen in full change as they descended upon the camp.

As Tetsuko trampled yet another pathetic worm, he looked around and saw nothing but petty bandits and thugs, screaming like women as they died. There was no challenge here.

It was over in minutes. The Unicorn steeds did most of the work. The bandit camp was a shambles. Only a few survivors were found. Ronzo himself, with two crushed legs, blubbered for release. He said that Shodokai ruled from a crumbling kyuden in Shisame province. Tetsuko leveled his steely gaze to the north.