The north-east tower of the castle, site of the ritual that trapped the spirits of the Hiruma in Yume-do, the Realm of Dreams, and reduced to little more than a foundation when previously inspected, has suddenly been reformed, only to be entered by Kitsu Sokori.
Heading inside the tower was largely empty, following the largely utilitarian, military purpose of castle. On the top floor the magistrates indeed found Sokori, bathed in an unnerving purplish light as she chanted and performed some sort of ritual. Protected as she did so by a group of several undead in excellent condition and clad in the heavy armor of the ancient Hiruma. As the undead held off the party Sokori eventually turned away, her ritual seemingly complete. At the same time, as he rushed to gain the aid of the freed, mentally-broken daimyo, Hiruma Tomoharu, Kasuga noticed that bodies were rising around the castle, spirits animating what was left of the remains as they started to converge on the tower. Sokori taunted the magistrates with surprising knowledge of their innermost thoughts and personal history as she began to cut into her own flesh to power the unholy spells she cast against them. At one point even turning Akodo Tadashi against Mirumoto Tetsuzae by clouding his mind with fiery rage as she whispered slanderous accusations of treasonous desires against the empire into the Lion's ear.
Feeling secure in her victory she attempted to leave with a final parting jab at Ichiro Bando about his ignored, inconsequential clan. The proud Badger could not allow this insult to stand and with a bellow of defiance tackled the witch sending them both tumbling down the steps to her death.
With her defeat the magic she had used to restore the tower seemingly expired with her and it started to fall down around them. Making their way outside they found themselves confronted with the resurrected spirits of the castle's garrison. Slowly they passed through the doorway of the tower and vanished into the wind. The last to go being the ghostly apparition of the woman they had seen in their dreams. She bowed to them, then turned and was gone like the rest.
Making their way back to the Kaiu Wall at the Spear of Dawn Watchtower where they entered, they returned the scout they had rescued in the Shadowlands, Hida Kurumi, to his clansmen. Hida Hachiro, taisa of the tower, recognized the ancient daimyo, and he was left in his care. Thinking it would be beneficial to have a Scorpion who owes them a favor, Mirumoto Tetsuzae made a deal with Bayushi Tsubasa to bring him back with them and use their influence in Ryoko Owari to have him officially transferred to the Scorpion city and away from the wall.
The journey back was relatively uneventful, although upon reaching the Magistrate Residence, things were anything but. They walked into find the twins, Akodo Sakura and Akodo Ume, rolling on the ground in a vicious fight with one another, each calling the other a traitor. Usagi Kamahime and Ichiro Taiki were able to separate the pair, but apparently this was not a new occurrence, simply the latest in a recent spate of such conflicts. She hands Akodo Tadashi an open letter that had been distributed about two weeks ago: Matsu Tsuko is claiming that Toturi is unfit to lead, and is claiming the title of Champion of the Lion Clan for herself.