Kinuko/The Arch Demon

OOC Notes

The following information contained in this article revolves around a limited roleplaying story arc that took place over the course of a couple month's time during the summer of 2011. As of the time of this writing, this story arc is concluded, and largely unknown to the general populace, leaving no permanent effect on the island itself.

Arch-Demon's Reign

Kinuko briefly completely vanished from the island over a few days, early during the month of June in 2011.

It turns out--as discovered by Breisleach and Ella--that Kinuko had been rifling through the history texts of the Library for many months, searching for any hint of her village, and its fate after she left. One, very old fairytale related a grisly fate for a town far too similar to be mere coincidence. It told of a great darkness that fell upon a province, where no shrine maiden existed to protect it from the creatures that could freely cross the veil betwixt life and death. None were ever heard from who entered this area of perpetual night again, and the ex-miko decided to take her leave from the island, to confirm if it was true. Wishing with all her might to be home once more, the magic of Yuriba granted her wish, and she tread her homeground once more.

To her horror and grief, everything in the fairytale had been true all along....

When she arrived, Kinuko stood in the center of the corrupted ground where she had passed across the fog the first time she came to Yuriba. The river stood dry, the trees wilted, and no birds sang. It was if the very world had perished in her absence. Taking the old path from the river back to the village, she came upon what was left of the people. Though their bodies yet lived, they retained none of the life force that made them what they were. Their souls were trapped in the husks of their old mortal forms, held captive by whatever evil loomed over the place. And there would be only one release from their suffering....

Returning to the shrine where she and her one-time love once resided, Kinuko reclaimed the sacred miko staff that she prayed she would never have to use. Taking up the role once again of Shield Maiden, the girl performed her final duty to her people, wandering the streets and slaying the cruel mockeries of life. One by one, she drew the spear from its brass sheath, and purged the corruption. Her own father's body was the last to fall at her hand, and had the most profound impact upon her.

Overcome by the guilt and sadness brought about by heartlessly murdering her own people, Kinuko collapsed to her knees and prayed for release from her sin. She begged the spirits to return her to her true home, and to allow her to forget all of the wrongs she had wrought to purge this foul infestation.

Something answered her cries. It was not the deities watching over Yuriba....

During the weeks following Ella and Breisleach's exorcism, Kinuko learned that this malevolent presence had been making her miserable against her will, and fed upon the negative energy she gave off to grow stronger. Over the following weeks, she began to hear rumors of difficulties in sleeping amongst certain citizens of the island--particularly those who dwelt near the Omolara Valley. Convinced that the symptoms being showed were far beyond the abilities of any normal malevolent spirit, Kinuko reached out, and was led by the evil presence to its nesting ground near Inishie-san. It was there that her worst fears were realized--the young shrine maiden had not been possessed by a simple leech spirit....

... but by the terrifying power of a reigning Arch-demon.

Convinced that the entire island was in danger of being consumed by darkness, Kinuko brought her knowledge to the Guardians, in particular Breisleach, who had assisted in purging the nightmare from her soul. She expressed her concern to the stewards of the island that the presence was feeding upon the despair etched into the valley and the volcanic slopes, and was steadily growing stronger. Atara too seemed to find an instinctive urge to protect the little miko and the island as a whole, particularly as the situation began to spiral out of control.

Things came to a head when Kinuko's very home on the slopes of Engetsu-san became unsafe. She had begun having terrible visions in her sleep, and had begun nesting in the park for what relief she could find. This seemed to be beyond the current reach of the Arch-demon's psychic grip. Breisleach learned of the girl sleeping on park benches soon after, and opened her home to the cat-girl. However, during Kinuko's absence, her friend and roommate Mio had, unbeknownst to her, begun having nightmares of her own.

It was during a visit to a friend's home--Kailia's--that it was revealed just how strong the entity was becoming. Mio was coming consistently under the shadow of the beast, and as its influence spread through her, Kinuko's roommate disappeared without a trace. It was only after learning that she had returned briefly--only to attack Kailia--that she was convinced of her friend's possession. Following this, the ex-miko took up her staff once more and stood post as a self-appointed protector. She came to her friends in the Guardians and appealed to them for their aid in finding her long-lost friend and, though they have pledged their support, none have had any luck so far.

Over the weeks, many rumors have surfaced about nightmares of a dark-haired girl being spirited away by a black-cloaked figure. Kinuko has followed these rumors to abandon, and has begun to lose hope of ever seeing Mio again. She has even gone to the point of hiring Victorique and--indirectly--Irien, as detectives to assist in the hunt. But as the shadows of corruption spread, she knows that it will only grow more difficult....

Darkness Falls

Following weeks of uncertainty for the future, and even weeks of one of their own being in the shaded clutches of corruption, Breisleach and company at last decided enough was enough. Putting a plan of her own together, the kitsune settled on the risky action of forcing the minions of shadow to act. She and the Guardians would present too great a target to be ignored by the Arch-demon. Utilizing some of Atara's most brutal memories, the group laid a trap in the western wilds of the island, and waited. As anticipated, the negative energy emitted by the memories was enough to draw the Arch-demon's minions out into the open. None, however, expected the full might of the demon's army to be brought to bear against them.

Leading was Arch-demon's own, personally-selected spirit, the daimyo of Kinuko's region, a legendary swordsman and renowned commander of the army. Faced with overwhelming numbers, and a grossly powerful and wise commander, the Guardians, with Kinuko in tow, nonetheless managed to prevail, when the warriors of Yuriba were more powerful than anticipated. The group claimed victory, and dealt a severe blow to the Arch-demon's overall power, putting triumph over the foul beast within reach.

When the entity revealed itself a week later, having gathered its power, none knew what to expect. Revealing itself in the form of a corrupted dragon god, the purveyor of shadows engaged the Guardians personally, attacking viciously again and again, and mutating into more and more powerful forms. But, not knowing when it crossed planes that its power had become hampered, the island's defenders managed to ultimately overwhelm the dark being, and bring the trying chapter of Yuriba's history to an end.

However, that still left Kinuko's roommate and friend Mio unaccounted for.

Thankfully, after weeks of tracking and fruitless searching, the possessing demon revealed itself. The cat-girl's roommate was in terrible shape after so long being lost and malnourished. The entity had kept alive--barely--to feed off of her and stronger. Though intimidating, the demon vastly overestimated itself, and was utterly unprepared for the full ferocity of the attack. Combined efforts from Breisleach, Merin, Kailia, Irien, Victorique, Kinuko and Brysaihe, who stumbled upon the conflict, led to the quick destruction of the last of the Arch-demon's ilk.

At last, there would be peace.