#Episode 13: Gate of the Spirit Realm (靈界の門)

#Scent — The Village That Could Not Wake

It was a village deep in the mountains. But none of the villagers were moving.

Seika stopped at the village entrance. The doors of the houses were half open. The people visible inside were asleep. It was midday, yet they had collapsed where they had been working. A woman hanging laundry in the yard sat asleep with the laundry still in her hand. An old man drawing water by the well lay face down where he had dropped the bucket into the well. Every one of them had their eyes closed. They were breathing. But there was no sign they would wake.

"About 100 people," Shion said in a low voice. Her golden eyes swept across the whole village. "They are all alive. But -- they are all inside dreams."

Miko joined her hands. Golden energy spread from her shoulders. "The sky above is too quiet. I cannot see... the stars."

Seika lifted her head and looked at the sky. It was a daytime sky, yet somehow the light had drained from it. There were no clouds, and the sun was there -- but the sky itself looked thin. As if the world were sealed by a single transparent membrane, with yellow light from another world leaking through from beyond it.

"A Spirit Realm gate has opened," Seika said. "Small. But constant."

They entered the largest house. It was probably the village headman's house. The headman lay face down asleep on the tatami. A light like a fine thread stretched upward from above his chest. It was thin enough to be almost invisible, but Shion's golden eyes saw it. The light passed through the ceiling and out of the house. The same light extended from houses throughout the village into the sky. Every thread met at one point -- the peak behind the village. There was the Spirit Realm gate.

"Their souls are slipping out," Seika said. "They have not been severed yet. But if left too long, they will be. Then these people will never wake."

Miko knelt beside the headman and placed both hands on his chest. Golden light spread. The headman's breathing grew a little deeper. But his eyes did not open.

"I can buy time," Miko said. "But unless we cut off the root cause..."

"Then we cut it off," Seika said. "The three of us. To the mountain."

Shadows followed them on the road up the rear mountain.

Konryu Fragments. Along the path where escaped souls flowed toward the Spirit Realm gate, lost souls had congealed. Transparent shadows. Things with human shapes but no faces. They did not block the three -- they let them pass. But when they came close, a cold presence touched them. It was a hand trying to pull the living into the Spirit Realm.

Shion took the lead. Her golden eyes identified the Konryu Fragments. Seika took out talismans and held one in each hand. Miko prayed behind them.

Something else was waiting at the mountainside.

The dream-eater. A yumekui.

It had a great elephant-like frame and the face of a lion. Its tail was a snake. It looked like several beasts joined together, but there was intelligence in its eyes. The yumekui was not eating souls out of malice. Eating dreams was simply its instinct. When a Spirit Realm gate opens, yumekui gather. That is where the most dreams flow out.

"That one..." Miko whispered. "We may be able to negotiate."

Seika stepped forward. She folded her talismans, put them away in her robe, and emptied her hands. She met the yumekui's eyes.

"You are eating this village's dreams. The dreams flowing from the Spirit Realm gate. If that is your instinct -- I will not blame you."

The yumekui's ears moved. It was listening to Seika.

"But the people of this village are not offering dreams. They are losing their souls. If the Spirit Realm gate is not closed, everyone will die. If you help us, more dreams will come to you elsewhere -- at another place where a Spirit Realm gate is open."

The yumekui exhaled a long breath. Blue mist poured from that breath. But it was not an attacking mist. It was a sign of agreement. The yumekui lowered its head to Seika. Its large frame slowly moved aside. It had cleared the way for them.

Seika bowed in return. "Thank you."

There was a Spirit Realm gate on the summit.

It was not a visible gate. It was a place where space had been torn. A long vertical rift, and yellow light leaked from within it. The light of Yomi. And through that rift, the souls of this village were flowing out like threads.

Seika released five shikigami at once. Paper dolls rose into the air and surrounded the rift. They began drawing a sealing barrier. Miko stood at the center and gathered the energy of Faith. She shone gold. It was Manifest Divine Authority.

Shion stood before the rift and saw the souls with her golden eyes. She caught the flowing souls one by one with her hands. She pulled the fine threads in the reverse direction. She sent them back to this village. Shion staggered. Her hanyo power had activated, but she could feel herself drawing that much closer to the yoma side.

"Are you all right?" Seika asked.

Shion clenched her teeth. "...Still."

The three powers joined. Seika's barrier. Miko's divine authority. Shion's return of souls. All three worked at the same time.

The Spirit Realm gate began to close. The yellow light grew thinner and thinner, and the torn place slowly healed. The last soul followed Shion's hand back to the village. And the rift closed completely.

The summit grew quiet. The sky looked blue again. The stars were visible, even though it was day. Once the Spirit Realm presence vanished, the original sky had returned.

They came down the mountain. The village was still quiet, but from one house came the sound of someone moving. A person had woken from sleep. Then another house. Then another. The souls of 100 people were returning. Slowly, as if waking from a dream, they opened their eyes.

The headman came out into the yard, rubbing his eyes. When he saw the three of them, his face went blank with confusion.

"...Who are you?"

Seika smiled. "Travelers passing through. Sleep well tonight."

The headman did not understand. But from deep inside his house he heard his wife getting up, and a child crying. That was the sound of ordinary life returning.

Spirit Realm gates open small. They do not cause great battles. They simply call people quietly into the Spirit Realm. Closing them is not the work of heroes. It is the work of those who know. Seika knew, Miko prayed, and Shion paid the price of drawing closer to yoma. It was the work of all three.

#Law — Session Actual Play

Battlefield (Summit Spirit Realm Rift)

[Flank Zone — mountain foot]   [Front Zone — mountainside]  [Core Zone — summit rift]
 (village approach)       yumekui(negotiated)      Spirit Realm gate
                 many Konryu Fragments     (sealing target)

Character Sheets

Seika — onmyoji 4th dan / Abe-ryu (Sorcery)
 Courage+0, Finesse+1, Physique+0, Wisdom+3, Presence+2, Fate+0
 Energy 11, Wounds 3, Defense 10
 School: Abe-ryu Sorcery
  - Licensed replacement: Great Shikigami Art(shikigami reinforcement) — replaces basic Sorcery Licensed maneuver "adjacent-zone sorcery"
  - Secret Art replacement: Hyakki Summoning(5 shikigami) — replaces basic Sorcery Master maneuver "sorcery range 2 zones"
 5 shikigami (not Lord-grade, treated as Minion-grade)
 Equipment: many talismans, evil-warding staff

Shion — hanyo 3rd dan
 Courage+1, Finesse+2, Physique+0, Wisdom+0, Presence+0, Fate+1
 Energy 12, Wounds 4 (lull +1 regeneration), Defense 12 (light armor)
 Trait: Yoma Blood [aptitude] — lull Wounds+1, yoma detection, free Core Zone
 3rd-dan trait: Claws [aptitude] — unarmed attack(bleeding)
 Three Ways and Six Hearts position: moves 1 step from Truth toward Demon (2 accumulations)

Miko — arahitogami 3rd dan
 Courage+0, Finesse+0, Physique+1, Wisdom+1, Presence+3, Fate+1
 Energy 10, Wounds 4, Defense 10 (unarmored)
 Faith: starts 3, maximum 10, current 5
 Trait: Manifest Divine Authority [stance] — fear immunity/cohesion-collapse prevention/Presence aura multiplied by 2/Faith -1 each round

Kuro: "A mountain village. 100 people are in deep sleep. Cause -- a Spirit Realm rift on the rear mountain. It must be resolved through several stages."

Mei: "How large is the Spirit Realm rift?"

Kuro: "Small. This is not a large-scale yoma invasion. But it is continuously absorbing souls. If it is not sealed within 24 hours, the first death occurs."

#Stage 1 — Village Investigation (Noncombat)

Kuro: "Arrive at the village. Gather information. Perception check -- no commander, so free choice."

Mei: "Seika. Onmyoji Wisdom +3 + Sorcery(licensed, +3) = +6. Wisdom-based. 2d10+6."

Kuro: "This reads the flow of the Spirit Realm, so Sorcery check applies. Target number -- 13 (hard), because this concerns a Spirit Realm rift."

Mei: "9+7 = 16. +6 = 22. Great success."

Kuro: "You detect that the souls of everyone in the village extend like threads toward the rear mountain. If the soul-flow is severed, they die. Each person has about 6 hours left."

Hana: "Shion detects yoma. 1st-dan Yoma Blood -- detects yoma within 2 zones. If Shion takes the lead?"

Kuro: "She can detect Konryu Fragments(Minion-grade spiritual entities). Automatic success(aptitude). She also detects the yumekui(Veteran-grade dream yoma) -- 'There is something larger here.'"

#Stage 2 — Mountain Climb + Konryu Fragment Encounter

Kuro: "There are 5 Konryu Fragments on the road. Minion-grade, non-physical, [Incorporeal] attacks."

Kuro: "Konryu Fragments are wandering yoma -- base Energy 10, each acts at count 10."

Count 12 — Seika

Mei: "Send 5 shikigami forward. Shikigami movement is 2 Energy each -- wait, since this is 'commanding,' all at 1 Energy each. 5 of them = 5 Energy."

Kuro: "If Hyakki Summoning(Abe-ryu secret art) is already active, all 5 can act simultaneously. The 5 shikigami confront the Konryu Fragments."

Mei: "5 Energy. Remaining 11→6."

Kuro: "Each shikigami makes a 2d10 attack. Spiritual beings opposing each other -- the shikigami's [Incorporeal] attacks are effective against the Konryu Fragments."

Kuro: "3 of the 5 hit. 3 Konryu Fragments vanish. 2 survive."

Count 10 — 2 Konryu Fragments

Kuro: "Konryu Fragment [Incorporeal] attack. It attacks Seika. 2d10 + Wisdom(+2) [Incorporeal]."

Kuro: "8+3 = 11. +2 = 13. Success. Seika Wounds 3→2. Spiritual Taint(each lull -1, Exorcism>=13 removes)."

Kuro: "The other Konryu Fragment -- attacks Shion. 7+5 = 12. +2 = 14. Shion Defense 12 ([Incorporeal], so it bypasses Defense). Shion Wounds 4→3. Spiritual Taint."

Mei: "Doesn't Shion have resistance to Spiritual Taint because of her yoma nature?"

Kuro: "Because of hanyo bloodline, the Spiritual Taint's 'Exorcism>=13 removes' changes to 'automatic removal at lull.' Advantage. In exchange, the yoma-side energy grows stronger -- Three Ways and Six Hearts check."

Hana: "Then one step toward Demon..."

Kuro: "This one is faint. Add only +1 to the accumulation count. Previous accumulation was 1, right? Now it is 2."

Count 9 — Miko

Mei: "Declare Manifest Divine Authority. Stance -- 2 Energy. Faith -1. Current Faith 5→4."

Kuro: "All allies in the same zone gain fear immunity, cohesion-collapse prevention, and Presence aura x2. Applies to Seika/Shion/shikigami."

Mei: "Then purification attempt. Not aptitude, but Kata -- purify a target of an [Incorporeal] attack. 2 Energy."

Kuro: "Total 4 Energy. Remaining 10→6. Purifying light on the remaining 2 Konryu Fragments -- both vanish."

Count 8 — Shion

Hana: "Shion advances. 2 Energy movement. Mountainside. Yumekui encounter zone."

Kuro: "From here, it is negotiation rather than combat. Let's take a break."

#Stage 3 — Yumekui Negotiation (Noncombat)

Kuro: "Yumekui(Veteran-grade). It is on the list of negotiable yoma -- base Target Number 17."

Mei: "Seika attempts negotiation. She sets down the talismans and empties her hands."

Kuro: "Negotiation -- 2d10 + Presence(+2) + Negotiation(+1) = 2d10+3. If she belongs to Enryokan, +3. Is Seika Enryokan-affiliated?"

Mei: "Abe-ryu is an independent sorcery school, but friendly to Enryokan. Around +2."

Kuro: "Then +5. And the yumekui is weak to a 'reasonable proposal' -- the logic that 'another gate would be better' is valid = +2."

Mei: "2d10+7. 9+6 = 15. +7 = 22. Target number 17 -- success. Not a great success."

Kuro: "The yumekui agrees. It clears the road. Free passage."

Mei: "Seika Reputation +1 (successful yoma negotiation)."

#Stage 4 — Sealing the Spirit Realm Gate

Kuro: "Summit. Spirit Realm rift in the Core Zone(positionally not the combat Core Zone, but the narrative 'core'). Sealing requires 3 rounds. In each round, someone must maintain the barrier."

Round 1:

Mei: "Seika's sealing barrier. Sorcery Master + 5 shikigami deployed. Barrier check 2d10 + Wisdom(3) + Barrier(+1) + Master(+3) = 2d10+7."

Mei: "6+8 = 14. +7 = 21. Barrier setup succeeds. Sealing 1/3 complete."

Kuro: "Fixed Energy cost for 5 shikigami -- 5 Energy per round."

Mei: "Seika's remaining Energy 6 → 5 shikigami maintenance + barrier maintenance = not enough Energy... Ah, shikigami have a 'commanding' maintenance cost of 1 Energy per shikigami per round. 5 shikigami = 5 Energy."

Kuro: "Seika has 1 Energy left at the end of this round. Reset at the lull for the next round."

Round 2:

Hana: "Shion returns the souls. Catch the souls and send them back to the village they belong to. Hanyo special -- spiritual contact is possible."

Kuro: "Shion check -- Finesse +2 + Fate +1 = +3. No resistance target. Mental Save. 2d10+3."

Hana: "7+7 = 14. Double! +3 = 17. Great success."

Kuro: "70 of the 100 souls return. The remaining 30 will be in the 3rd round."

Hana: "Shion Wounds -1. Hanyo regeneration is only at a lull. Current 3."

Round 3:

Mei: "Miko maintains Manifest Divine Authority. Faith -1 each round. Current 4→3→2. Supports the sealing finish."

Kuro: "Miko Faith sealing prayer check. 2d10 + Presence(3) + Exorcism(?) -- as an arahitogami, she can make a Faith barrier. +Presence+Faith bonus = +5."

Mei: "Miko check. 10+10. Heavenly Mandate!"

Kuro: "Heavenly Mandate! Roll d100 -- 72. Heavenly Mandate table result: 'negate story intervention + added effect of Divine Strike.' Sealing automatically completes + the Spirit Realm rift is closed 'permanently' at this place(it will never open here again)."

Mei: "Miko's miracle..."

Kuro: "All souls return. Rift vanishes. Story ends."

#Result

Kuro: "All villagers wake. Shion recovers Wounds 1(lull). Seika Reputation +2(village saved). Miko Faith +1(from the miracle). Shion Three Ways and Six Hearts accumulation 2 -- if 1 more Heart Turning trigger accumulates, she risks turning to Demon."

Hana: "Shion -- if she goes toward Demon one more time, does the character change?"

Kuro: "GM proposal stage. The player can accept or refuse. If they refuse -- they must pay the price of sealing the yoma power."

#Rules Summary for This Episode

Spirit Realm rift: spiritual disaster. It has a time limit and requires a 3-stage process: sealing/purification/return.
Konryu Fragment(spiritual entity): [Incorporeal] attack. Can only be hit effectively by [Incorporeal] attacks.
Hanyo spiritual resistance: Spiritual Taint is removed automatically(lull), but Three Ways and Six Hearts Demon accumulates instead.
Negotiable yoma: yumekui -- Target Number 17. Enryokan +3, reasonable proposal +2.
Abe-ryu secret art Hyakki Summoning: 5 shikigami simultaneous. Replaces the basic Sorcery Master maneuver "2-zone range."
Manifest Divine Authority: fear immunity, cohesion-collapse prevention, Presence aura x2. Faith -1 each round.
Barrier check: 2d10 + Wisdom + Barrier skill. Sorcery/Exorcism Master bonus applies.
Heavenly Mandate(10-10): refer to the d100 result table. When it occurs during sealing/barriers, "permanent effect" option.
Three Ways and Six Hearts conversion accumulation: a hanyo's Demon accumulation gains +1 each time yoma power is used. 3 accumulations = GM conversion proposal.
Reputation reward: village saved = Reputation +2. Yoma negotiation = Reputation +1.

Spirit Realm gates open small -- before they open wide. If closed while small, disaster does not occur. Seika read the signs, Miko prayed, and Shion paid the price. It was the work of those who know.