#Episode 15: Assault on Hannyakai
When humans became unable to create humans, they began creating Demons(魔人).
This episode is the story of four of the 12 Demon types gathered inside one laboratory, and the party that infiltrated it.
- Session participants: Kuro(GM), Hana(PC — shinobi/infiltration specialist), Mei(PC — onmyoji/barriers and curses)
- Party NPCs: Enku(esoteric monk, 7th dan), Renge(Pure Land Monk, 5th dan)
#Scent -- Not Beasts, But Beasts Made by People
In the mountains north of Iga(伊賀), there is a valley no one enters. Woodcutters and hunters say no animal cries anywhere near it. There stands Hannyakai(般若會) Workshop No. 2. A workshop. They truly call it that. Because it is a worksite where yoma are carved down, joined together, and raised again.
Pass through the bronze gate carved with a Hannya mask and descend, and green lamps light the path. Each wall has shelves, and the shelves are lined with glass jars. Inside the jars, yoma eyes, tongues, fingers, and hearts are sunk in clear oil. Notes marked "observation specimen" are attached, but on the shelf right beside them are human organs too. The notes are written in the same hand, with the same words. "Observation specimen."
There are four beings in the workshop. All were once people.
The first is Jikiniki. Leather straps bind it to an operating table. Its abdomen is open, but it does not seem to suffer. Something writhes inside the opened flesh. When a researcher places a freshly cut lump of meat on it, the writhing stops, and the mouth opens by itself. "I was hungry," the Jikiniki said. "Sorry, but I will eat."
The second is Shurado. It stands leaning against the wall. It does not move. Blood-colored armor, a zanbato(斬馬刀) in each hand. Its face cannot be seen -- because the helmet is its entire face. When a researcher approaches and says, "There is no training today," the Shurado's frame twitches very slightly. If there is no fight, this one loses its sanity. So the researcher quickly adds, "There is one tonight." The Shurado's frame stiffens again. It waits. That is all it can do.
The third is Tatarigami. It sits at the altar inside the workshop. It wears white robes, but around its neck hangs a rosary strung upside down. It chants nembutsu, but the words are reversed. Not "Namu Amida Butsu," but "Butsu Da Mi A Mu Na." That sound alone makes the incense flames in the room burn green. If Renge had seen this, she would have wept at once. This one was once a priest of Asakusa Shrine. One day his daughter fell ill, and even after he prostrated himself at the altar for one hundred days, the Buddha did not answer. So he decided. He would punish the Buddha. From that day on, his prayer was reversed.
The fourth is Kekka. She dances inside a circle in the center of the room. Even with the other three present, no one looks at her. They cannot. Her bare feet are wet with blood, and that blood has dried black on the floor into a pattern like a map. Each time she takes a step, the air of the whole workshop surges inward little by little. The Jikiniki also drew a deep breath, and the Shurado's zanbato grew a little heavier. Kekka keeps dancing as long as there is an audience. Without an audience, she dies. If there is no audience in this room -- she cuts open her own abdomen and dances while bleeding. The red line on her side now is the trace of that.
The sound of stone rolling came from the upper floor of the workshop. All four beings reacted to that sound. The Jikiniki laughed. "Guests." Light entered the Shurado's eye slits for the first time. The Tatarigami's reversed nembutsu sped up. Kekka's dance moved into a new movement.
Four intruders were coming down the stairs. Kage led, with Enku and Renge behind him, and -- in place of Seika this time -- Mei(PC), one of Hana's students. Mei was still young. A 5th-dan onmyoji. As she descended with a talisman gripped in one hand, her hand trembled. The aura flowing out of the workshop was -- neither yoma nor human. It was both.
Hana(shinobi 7th dan) grasped her shoulder. "Do not shake. If you shake, your hand slips. Your talisman is your sanity." Mei nodded. The trembling did not vanish completely, but when Kage quietly opened the front door -- Mei's talisman was where it needed to be.
And the four Demons welcomed them.
#Law -- Session Actual Play
Kuro: Episode 15. This time I packed four fiend classes into one room. Infiltration mission into Hannyakai Workshop No. 2. I will say the mood first -- this one is horror. Do not forget that during play.
Mei: I already hate it.
Kuro: Good. Sheets first.
Hana: I will use Kage(shinobi) this session. Infiltration and breakthrough setup raised to 7th dan.
[PC]
Kage (shinobi 7th dan): Courage+2, Finesse+3, Wisdom+2. Energy 12, Wounds 5.
1st dan Shadow Crossing — Outside Zone↔any zone 0 Energy (1/round)
3rd dan Surprise Attack — first Infiltration attack automatic Critical Hit
5th dan Vital Strike — Surprise Attack Critical Hit damage 2→3 Wounds
7th dan Vanish — instant movement to Outside Zone 1 Energy (1/breath)
Weapon: Kotetsu (Spirit Realm Wandering Treasure kodachi, masterwork technique "[Pierce 4]", 1/round)Mei: I am a 5th-dan onmyoji. Focused on barriers and curses.
[PC]
Mei (onmyoji 5th dan): Wisdom+3, Presence+2, Fate+1. Energy 10, Wounds 3.
Shikigami Command(1st dan) + Curse(3rd dan) + Killing Curse(5th dan). School Abe-ryu.Kuro: The NPCs are Enku, 7th-dan esoteric monk(vajra, Ashura), and Renge, 5th-dan Pure Land Monk(Amida's Shield, nembutsu). I will voice them.
Hana: There is a reason Renge is here today, right?
Kuro: ...There is. And it is a sad reason.
Mei: What is it?
Kuro: You will know at the end of the session. Enter the scene.
Inside the workshop. Green lamps. Beside yoma organs in glass jars, labels in the same hand -- human organs. Four beings stand in the middle of the room. The party is just coming down from the stairs above.
Kuro: Kage leads. Enku follows. Behind him Renge, and Mei at the very rear. From the air -- an aura different from the yoma's usual presence, sticky and clinging, flows outward. Mei, your talisman trembles on its own inside your hand.
Mei: ..."Master, this..."
Hana: (in Kage's voice) "Do not shake. If you shake, your hand slips. Your talisman is your sanity."
Kuro: Nice. Do we add a Three Ways and Six Hearts amplitude check?
Mei: I'm fine. Maintaining No Heart. Keep going.
Kuro: Workshop layout.
[Workshop Outside(stairs)]
↓
[Workshop Entrance(narrow path, cap 3)]
↔
[Central Hall(wide)] ← Kekka is dancing. Shurado waiting.
↔
[Core Zone(altar)] ← Tatarigami. Jikiniki freed from operating table.
↕
[Outside Zone(underground drain)] ← escape routeKuro: And these four beings.
[Enemy Placement]
Shurado (Lord-grade, Wounds 6, Defense 14) — Central Hall Front Zone
Special "Battle Addiction": whenever it deals damage, Energy +1 (maximum +3 in the round).
Round where it dealt no damage → Frenzy (attacks nearest being, no ally/enemy distinction).
Kekka (Elite-grade, Wounds 4, Defense 12) — Central Hall Rear Zone
Special "Blood-Red Dance": at the start of each round, everyone in the same zone(including allies) gains +1 attack.
Stacks when damaged; at 3 stacks, releases area 1 Wound.
Tatarigami (Elite-grade, Wounds 4, Defense 13) — altar Core Zone
Special "Faith Reversal": converts healing effects into damage.
Restores Wounds +1 by absorbing barriers, spiritual objects, or corpses.
Jikiniki (Elite-grade, Wounds 3, Defense 11) — altar Core Zone
Special "Predation": when it consumes an incapacitated enemy(including allies), fully restores Wounds + Energy +3.
On hit, bleeding (next 2 rounds, -1 Wound each).Hana: It is 4 versus 4.
Kuro: Look at the grades.
Hana: ...One Lord-grade, three Elite-grade. Hm.
Mei: Tatarigami scares me the most. Renge's healing is reversed, right?
Kuro: Yes. No recovery this time. Renge has to maintain cohesion and turn toward offense.
Hana: So a Pure Land Monk makes a fist.
Kuro: (already setting Renge's voice) "Attack is not my duty... but today is different."
Mei: (small laugh) Poor Renge.
Hana: I will run the plan. Kage uses Shadow Crossing straight to the altar. Start with Jikiniki: automatic Critical Hit from Surprise Attack + Vital Strike = 3 Wounds. Jikiniki has Wounds 3, so one shot.
Kuro: Important point. While Jikiniki is incapacitated, if another incapacitated target enters the same zone, it automatically uses Predation. After taking it down, you need to leave that spot quickly.
Hana: Vanish can exit to Outside Zone. OK.
Mei: What about me?
Hana: Rear. Pressure Tatarigami with barriers and Killing Curse. But be careful, Kuro said it absorbs barriers and spiritual objects.
Kuro: That includes shikigami. Do not put shikigami near the altar.
Mei: ...Understood. As far outside as I can.
Kuro: Begin.
#Round 1 — Silent Slaughter
Count: Hana Finesse(3)+Energy 12→12. Mei 10. Enku 11. Renge 9. Shurado 13(base+berserker bonus). Kekka 11. Tatarigami 11. Jikiniki 10.
Kuro: Shurado goes first. It takes the Central Hall Front Zone. It stands in a stance close to "immovable" -- the eye slits inside the helmet turn toward you. "Come closer."
Hana: Ignore it. Shadow Crossing(0 Energy) -- instant movement from the stairs to the altar. Limited to 1/round, so only this time.
Kuro: No Core Zone entry check needed. Infiltration maintained. Kage sees Jikiniki's back from the shadow behind the altar. Jikiniki is just getting up from the operating table, trying to put something from its abdomen into its mouth.
Hana: Surprise Attack(3rd dan) -- automatic Critical Hit. Apply Vital Strike(5th dan) too, so Critical Hit damage 2→3 Wounds. Kodachi attack 1 Energy. No check.
Kuro: Kage from behind -- one cut to the nape.
Hana: (almost whispering) "Sorry."
Kuro: Jikiniki Wounds 3 → 0. Incapacitated. Bleeding 2 rounds confirmed. A piece of meat rolls from Jikiniki's half-open mouth onto the floor.
Hana: Continue. Same breath, Tatarigami too. Kotetsu technique(3 Energy, [Pierce 4], 1/round). Infiltration is spent, so normal check.
Kuro: Roll.
Hana: 2d10 + Finesse(3)+Ninjutsu(3)=+6. [7, 5]=12+6=18. Against Defense 13, Kotetsu [Pierce 4] = effective 9. Hit. 2 Wounds.
Kuro: Tatarigami 4→2. The reversed nembutsu misses one beat. The incense burning backward sways briefly in the proper direction, then reverses again.
Hana: Reserve defense(Emergency Evasion, 1 Energy). Breath total: 0+1+3+1 = 5. Exactly the limit.
Kuro: Kage takes an emergency-evasion stance beside the altar. But -- Tatarigami, while fallen, reaches out and grabs Jikiniki's corpse, dragging it onto the altar.
Mei: Huh?
Kuro: (in Tatarigami's voice) "Dead meat is my offering."
Kuro: Jikiniki's corpse is absorbed into the altar. Tatarigami restores Wounds +2. 2→4. Back to where it was.
Hana: That move -- to stop Predation?
Kuro: The opposite. It is stealing Jikiniki's predation route for itself. This one also absorbs allied spiritual objects. Corpse, barrier, shikigami, anything.
Mei: (gripping the talisman again) ...Lord Kage. I cannot put shikigami near the altar.
Hana: Got it.
Mei Count 10: Shikigami Command(2 Energy) -- summon 1 shikigami at the altar's periphery, toward the Central Hall. Outside Tatarigami's reach. Then Killing Curse(3 Energy) -- ranged snipe.
Kuro: Roll.
Mei: 2d10 + Wisdom(3)=+6. [8, 4]=12+6=18 ≥ Defense 13. Hit. 2 Wounds.
Kuro: Tatarigami 4→2. This one does not bleed -- instead, the beads on its neck blacken one by one.
Mei: I will pull the shikigami farther out to the Flank Zone. Control(0 Energy [Kata] maneuver). Principle 2, 2 uses per round cap -- this is use 1.
Kuro: Remember the count. If you use Killing Curse and Curse again next round while also controlling shikigami, you will run short.
Mei: Breath total: 2+3+0 = 5. Limit.
Enku Count 11: (Kuro in Enku's voice) "Esoteric monk Enku. Free Core Zone entry(Asura Mudra 1st dan). I go to the altar."
Kuro: Enku reaches the altar in one breath. Vajra in one hand. This one strikes yoma by the Buddha's will -- and Tatarigami is one who betrayed the Buddha. Enku's expression shows a rare anger.
Kuro: Vajra(2 Energy). 2d10 + Courage(2)+Exorcism(3)=+5. [6, 7]=13+5=18 ≥ Defense 13. Hit. Yoma bane 2 Wounds.
Kuro: Tatarigami 2→0. Incapacitated. The rosary spills across the floor.
Enku: "...Namu Amida Butsu. This name was not yours. I take it back."
Renge Count 9: "Attack is not my duty -- but today is different." Renge uses nembutsu(1 Energy) to give Enku cohesion +1.
Kuro: Tatarigami is already incapacitated, so it is not a reversal target. Nembutsu functions normally.
Hana Count 7: Need to leave this spot. Vanish(1 Energy) to Outside Zone. Move from Outside Zone to the workshop entrance(2 Energy). Total 3. Energy 4 remaining. Regain Infiltration through shinobi free Outside Zone movement.
Kuro: Kage seeps from shadow to shadow. He is attached to the ceiling beam at the workshop entrance. Tatarigami has fallen -- but the altar itself is still glowing.
Hana: Does that altar keep functioning even after the main one is down?
Kuro: Good question. Let's judge by Principle 1(source independence). If the effect is an active trait, it stops when the user is neutralized. If the effect is a zone trait, it persists. Treat the altar as a zone trait. It persists. But unless the main one recovers, it only absorbs barriers and corpses; there are no stacks.
Mei: Meaning if I put a shikigami near the altar, it still gets eaten.
Kuro: Correct.
Hana: We need to turn off that altar itself later.
Kuro: Right. The final task of this battle.
#End of Round 1
Allies:
Hana(Kage) — workshop entrance ceiling. Energy 4. Wounds 5. Infiltration regained.
Mei — workshop entrance. Energy 5. Wounds 3.
Enku — altar. Energy 6. Wounds 5. Vajra Invulnerability unused.
Renge — workshop entrance. Energy 8. Wounds 4.
Enemies:
Shurado — Central Hall Front Zone. Energy 13→10. Wounds 6. Enters Frenzy state.
Kekka — Central Hall Rear Zone. Energy 11. Wounds 4. Dance stacks 2.
Tatarigami — incapacitated. Altar trait persists.
Jikiniki — incapacitated + removed by altar absorption.Mei: We did defeat Jikiniki, right?
Kuro: Mm. It was absorbed, so the risk of Predation triggering is gone. Instead Tatarigami recovered.
Hana: In the end, at least there is one less to fight.
Kuro: But Shurado entered a round where it dealt no damage. End-of-round self-control check. 2d10+Wisdom. Shurado Wisdom 0. [4, 3]=7. Failure. Frenzy. Next round, it attacks the nearest being.
Hana: Kekka?
Kuro: Yes.
Mei: They attack each other?
Kuro: Yes. Kekka gains stacks when damaged, and at 3 stacks she releases area 1 Wound. Current 2 stacks. If Shurado's attack is the deciding hit...
Mei: Are we inside that area?
Kuro: Central Hall + adjacent zones. The altar(Core Zone) is adjacent, and the entrance is adjacent too.
Hana: I am on the ceiling, but I am still at the entrance, so adjacent. Mei too. Renge too. Enku is at the altar, and the altar is in the adjacent area.
Kuro: Enku can respond with Vajra Invulnerability.
Hana: Good.
#Round 2
Count: Shurado 10. Kekka 11. Enku 9. Renge 8. Hana 7. Mei 5. Order: Kekka → Shurado → Enku → Renge → Hana → Mei.
Kekka: Dance step(1 Energy). Everyone in her zone gains +1 attack. Since only Shurado is currently in the same zone, Shurado attack check +1.
Kuro: Kekka takes one step toward Shurado. A bloodstained foot leaves a mark on the floor. Shurado's zanbato grows a little -- heavier.
Shurado: Frenzy. Nearest being = Kekka. Zanbato(3 Energy) + Berserker Rage(automatic Critical Hit 1/round) + Kekka buff +1. Automatic Critical Hit 2 Wounds + zanbato base.
Kuro: Shurado's zanbato grazes Kekka's neck in one stroke. Kekka Wounds 4 → 2. Dance stacks +1 = 3 stacks. Area 1 Wound release. Everyone in the Central Hall + adjacent zones.
Kuro: Shurado itself is hit too. 6 → 5.
Hana: I am at the entrance, so adjacent. 1 Wound. 5→4.
Mei: Me too, at the entrance. 3→2. (Mei holds her breath.)
Renge: "This dance is -- not Amida's dance." 1 Wound. 4→3.
Kuro: Enku activates Vajra Invulnerability at the altar(1/round). 2d10 + Physique(1)≥13. [8, 6]=14+1=15. Success. Wound reduction negated.
Enku: "The Buddha's form does not break."
Enku Count 11: Move to the Central Hall(not Defenseless, 2 Energy). Before Shurado. Vajra(2 Energy) attack.
Kuro: 2d10 + Courage(2)+Exorcism(3)=+5. [9, 7]=16+5=21 ≥ Defense 14. Hit. Yoma bane...
Hana: Isn't Shurado half-yoma? It came from a person.
Kuro: Good catch. Shurado is a "yoma-transformed human." A boundary case. GM judgment -- treat it as half-yoma, so vajra damage is 1.5 times, rounded to 2 Wounds.
Enku: Shurado 5→3.
Renge Count 9: "Attack is not my duty." Unarmed Combat(1 Energy) + cohesion check. 2d10 + Physique(1)=+1. [5, 6]=11+1=12 ≥ Defense 12. Hit. 1 Wound.
Kuro: Renge wraps the rosary around her fist and strikes Kekka's side. Kekka Wounds 2→1. Dance stacks 4 -- since 3 already triggered, no new effect.
Renge: "I will stop -- this dance."
Hana Count 4: I already used all outside movement, so I wait at the entrance. Not enough breath Energy. Reserve defense 1 and observe with what remains.
Kuro: Good. Kage is on the ceiling.
Mei Count 2: I have almost no breath left. Shikigami control(0 Energy [Kata], 0 uses so far out of the 2-use cap). The shikigami attacks Kekka(2 Energy, shikigami itself 0).
Kuro: Roll.
Mei: 2d10 + Wisdom(3)=+6. [10, 2]=12+6=18 ≥ Defense 12. Hit. 1 Wound. Kekka 1→0. Incapacitated. Dance stops.
Kuro: Kekka drops to her knees. Last, the blood marks vanish from her bare feet -- and the map pattern on the floor loses its color. The area buff disappears too.
Mei: Killing Curse(3 Energy) -- directly at Shurado. 2d10 + Wisdom(3)=+6. [9, 5]=14+6=20 ≥ 14. Hit. 2 Wounds.
Kuro: Shurado 3→1. Breath total: 2+3=5. Limit. Mei strikes down one talisman with a trembling hand.
Mei: "...What is this feeling?"
Hana: Holding No Heart?
Mei: ...Holding.
#Round 3
Kuro: Shurado alone remains. Frenzy is not over, but -- there is no target except Enku.
Shurado 7(remaining Energy): Charge Enku. Zanbato(3 Energy) + Berserker Rage(already spent). 2d10 + Courage(3)+Swordsmanship(3)=+6. [6, 4]=10+6=16 ≥ Enku Defense 13. Hit. 2 Wounds.
Enku: Wounds 5→3. Vajra Invulnerability's 1 use for this round is already spent. Cannot block.
Enku Counterattack: Vajra(2 Energy) Unarmed Combat attack. 2d10 + Courage(2)+Exorcism(3)=+5. [7, 9]=16+5=21 ≥ 14. Yoma bane against half-yoma, 1.5 times. 2 Wounds.
Kuro: Shurado 1→-1. Incapacitated. As it collapses, the zanbato drives into the floor. From inside the helmet comes the sound of breath stopping.
Shurado: (Kuro, quietly) "...I... wanted... battle..."
Enku: "Battle may be what you wanted. But -- battle was not the first thing you chose."
Hana: (from the ceiling) ...That line hurts.
Kuro: From the moment Hannyakai first abducted him and made him into a "warrior," his own will was already gone. This moment is the first time, for this one -- that it stops.
#Round 4 — Cleanup
Kuro: All enemies inside the workshop are defeated. Now the altar remains. Unless that zone trait itself is turned off, the cleanup is not truly done.
Mei: I can place my Curse on the zone.
Kuro: Try it.
Mei: Curse(3 Energy) -- on the altar itself. 2d10 + Wisdom(3)=+6. [8, 8]=16+6=22. Great Success.
Kuro: The altar stone cracks. Incense burning backward turns to the proper direction -- then goes out. The beads on the floor turn to powder.
Renge: Nembutsu(1 Energy). Bless the whole workshop. Amida's name returns to its proper order. The green lamps recover their true color.
Hana: I come down from the ceiling. End Infiltration. Start examining the glass jars on the shelves.
Kuro: Inside the jars -- human parts. Eyes, hands, hearts. Labels in someone's handwriting.
Hana: (quietly) "These had owners."
Mei: ...Who were these people?
Enku: "Those Hannyakai took. Perhaps someone's wife vanished from a neighboring village. Perhaps someone's young son. They may have families. We must return them."
Renge: "Returning them is not enough. They must also be memorialized. ...I will do it."
Mei: (realizing) ...That is why Renge is here today.
Kuro: Yes. This is not a combat scenario -- it is a memorial scenario. Defeating the four Demons was the first half. Gathering 120 glass jars and returning them to families is the second half. One by one, you have to confirm the names.
Hana: ...Does the session continue?
Kuro: This is where we stop. Next session, memorial rites. Today counts as 1 combat completion + 1 narrative milestone. Hannyakai Workshop No. 2 sealed.
Mei: ...Can I breathe now? I still cannot let go of the talisman.
Hana: Do not let go. Today your talisman protected you.
[Episode 15 Confirmed Rules]
1. Shurado: Lord-grade. "Battle Addiction" — round where it dealt no damage → Frenzy (attacks without ally/enemy distinction).
2. Kekka: Elite-grade. "Blood-Red Dance" — everyone in the same zone +1 attack(including allies). Stacks when damaged; 3 stacks area 1 Wound.
3. Tatarigami: Elite-grade. "Faith Reversal" — converts healing into damage. Restores Wounds by absorbing barriers, spiritual objects, or corpses. Altar persists as a zone trait.
4. Jikiniki: Elite-grade. "Predation" — when it absorbs an incapacitated target, full Wounds + Energy +3. Handle the corpse after defeat.
5. Rule 2 (Principle 2): shikigami control is a [Kata] 0 Energy maneuver, capped at 2 uses per round. Shikigami are not squads.
6. Tatarigami barrier absorption vs active trait activation — zone trait = persists after the user is neutralized. Active trait = depends on the user.
7. Rule 1 (Principle 1): Shurado Berserker Rage automatic Critical Hit and Kekka's dance +1 attack buff are different sources. They stack.
8. Yoma bane(vajra) targets: 1.5 times against half-yoma cases(Shurado, etc.), 2 times against full yoma (GM judgment).
9. Frenzy state: on failed self-control check(2d10+Wisdom), next round attacks nearest enemy without ally/enemy distinction.
10. Hannyakai laboratory gimmick: "altar zone trait" — absorbs spiritual objects and corpses. To remove it, curse the zone with an attack trait.As they left the workshop door, Hana said, "When people try to create people, something not human comes out." Enku answered, "When people try to punish the Buddha, something not Buddha comes out." Mei said nothing. Her hand still held the talisman, and a new name had been written on it -- a name they could not save today.
The remaining eight Demons — Dokuchushi, itako, Kaibutsu, Shikome-no-Tsukai, Tengushi, Tesshin, Yorijin, and Zakkasho — are still moving now, each in a different workshop, a different mountain, a different harbor. Hannyakai is vast. This episode is only one night within it.