The Amelia Project - Episode 83 - Tomoe Gozen (1185)

Episode Date: November 8, 2024

"My strange friend. About you is the infamous prison camp of Wada Yoshimori, one of the most powerful military commanders ever known." In this special guest episode of The Amelia Project, written by Julia Morizawa and Tristram Lowe, we take you to ancient Japan to meet the iconic female Samurai Tomoe Gozen. This episode featured Nina Fog as Tomoe Gozen, Alan Burgon as The Interviewer, Julia C. Thorne as Alvina and Masaya Okubo as Tsu and the guard. It was written by Julia Morizawa and Tristram Lowe, with story editing and direction by Philip Thorne and Oystein Brager, sound design by Alexander Danner, music by Fredrik Baden, translations by Masaya Okubo and Nina Fog, dialogue editing by Philip Thorne, production assistance by Maty Parzival and graphic design by Anders Pedersen. The episode was recorded at Red P studio in Vienna with studio engineering by Arpad Hadnagy and Oliver Illes. Behind the Scenes video for this episode on Patreon! Website: https://ameliapodcast.com/  Transcripts: https://ameliapodcast.com/season-5  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ameliapodcast Donations: https://ameliapodcast.com/support Merch: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/the-amelia-project?ref_id=6148 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ameliapodcast/ Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/ameliapodcast X: https://twitter.com/amelia_podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theameliaproject.bsky.social Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Sephora Savings Event is here. World in my hand, I'll take this and that. And that. Ooh, and this. Oh, it's true. Find everything you want on sale at the Sephora Savings Event. It only happens twice a year, and it's on now through November 11th. Find brands like Rare Beauty, Glow Recipe, Valentino, K-18, and more, all for less.

Shop at Sephora today. Limitations apply. Must be a beauty insider. See terms at Sephora.com for complete details. The Naughty Lister? Naughty Lister? Dwayne Johnson. We got Snowman! Chris Evans. It might just go back to the car. Let's save Christmas. I'm not going to say that. Say it. Alright. Let's save Christmas.

There it is. Only in theatres November 15th. This episode is dedicated to our super patron, Timotheus, who was hit in the head by his own golf ball while playing mini golf. Timoteus will reappear as a neurosurgeon in Bangkok. Be like Timoteus and support the show on Patreon. Enjoy the episode. Oh my head.

Did I drink? Smoke? Fall face first into a mossy cavern and ingest mushrooms while in a blackout? Oh, good. Oh, Tzu! Tzu! Tzu, wake up! Wake up! We're in a cell of some sort. I'm guessing it's not good. Tzu? Great. Ah, good day! Let me see. I'm in here.

You're out there. Any chance you've got a key? Give me a hand? Or a hoof? Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh Yeah. Konnichiwa. Konbawa? Koko wa doko? We are on the invisible course, among the shadows and fallen leaves, still as the stone at the door. The The Amelia Project. Created by Philip Thorne and Øystein Ulspeck-Braga, with music and sound direction by Frederick Barden, and sound design by Alexander Danner. Episode 83 Tomoe Gozan 1185 Episode by Julia Morizawa and Tristram Lowe Invisible course, fallen stones, the shadow... No, I'm sorry, I don't know what that means.

It means we are exactly where we are supposed to be. Right. Which is...? You do not know? Sadly, my memory is a bit hazy at the moment. And my head is rather tender just here. Ow! Ow! My strange friend. About you is the infamous prison camp of Wada Yoshimori.

One of the most powerful military commanders ever known. We are in prison? It is no ordinary prison. This cage we share is protected by dark magic. It was thought to be a rumour spread by soldiers and mad inmates to scare Lord Wada's enemies. And yet, here we are. Magic? It looks quite standard to me.

Although the quality of the carpentry is notably finer than... No, no, no, don't touch it! Okay... The rumor holds that Lord Wada has access to powers rarely seen in the human realm. Now it can't be all that bad. See, these bars don't even look that strong. Ah! Ah! Ah!

Ew! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah! Ow! Ah! I warned you.

Oh, well slice me like sushi and pickle my ginger. What cursed invisible magic can throw a full-grown man around like a toy doll? I mean, it's ridiculous. I've witnessed the same happen to a man twice your size on the battlefield. And he was wearing armor. Leather armor or...? Golden. Yikes.

He was a pompous samurai who was undoubtedly skilled with a katana, but gravely underestimated how much flaunting his wealth would only motivate his enemies to behead him quickly. Hmm. So as not to soil the armor, I saw Lord Wada's onmyoji, his sorcerer, grinning while the samurai were thrown about the battlefield. The golden armor is now displayed in Lord Wada's castle.

All right, but why me? I'm harmless. I've never heard of fly. Ah! Got it! My strange friend, your unusual appearance is unlike anything I've ever seen. You must come from a distant land, a journey I cannot fathom. Your presence here alone is concerning. I would have locked you up too, until I knew more. Are you a witch? Perhaps a shapeshifter?

Is your pale skin, your soft hands, myriad disguise? I'm sorry? No, what? I... Oh, it's a long story. I do not doubt we have the time. Well, what about you? Not to sound ignorant or insensitive, but isn't a woman's presence in such an intensely

secured prison camp somewhat unusual? I am called Tomoe Gozen. I am the commander of the army of Kiso Yoshinaka. The other generals learned of my name after my first battle when I defeated seven mounted warriors on horseback, single-handedly. Oh my, what were you doing with your other hand? Some have proclaimed I have the strength of one thousand men. Right. So, like you, I suppose I'm considered quite strange.

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. I didn't know you spoke Japanese. Well, conversationally, and I'm out of practice. Why don't you speak it with Amelia? It'd be the perfect way to talk about the rest of us behind our backs. Oh, I tried speaking Japanese to Amelia once and she was a stapler away from murdering me. Something about how when she moved to Japan she got bullied a lot for her accent and for being a Henna gaijin a strange foreigner. Hmm That explains a loss. It was 12th century Japanese. So it was a little stilted Okay So you're in 12th century, Japan. Yes, you're the first Westerner. They've ever set eyes on indeed

What the heck were you doing there? Well I'll get to that part. Okay. But if your Japanese is only conversational now, how did you communicate with anyone back then? Much less Tomoe. Oh I was traveling with an interpreter. What? I know you don't think I'm very organized, nor do I plan ahead. Mm-hmm. Or remember the little details of logistical importance, particularly when travelling. But I have my moments. Do you want me to approximate it? I could say what I was saying in English, then the translation, then Tomoe's answer,

then the translation. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, please. Right, got it, yes. Well, my interpreter's name was Tsuyaku Sha.

Although I later realized that wasn't really his name, as it's just how you say interpreter in Japanese. I took to calling him Tsu. He was actually a Buddhist monk from China, but again, I'll- Get to that part. Right. Fate has brought us together, you, me, and Tsu. Well... Get to that part. Right.

Fate has brought us together. You, me and Tzu. Here, in this cell. Ah. You believe in fate? Today? Yes, I do. I, we, desperately need to escape this prison. And you, well, you seem more than capable of helping us. You believe that I can escape this cage? Well, strength of a thousand men and all?

In your words, you were tossed through the air like a doll upon a mere touch of the wall. You think that strength is the solution? Well, you must also be a brilliant strategist, perhaps? Commanding armies and whatnot? To escape the secrets of this magic and the wit of Lord Wada's, Onmyoji must be overcome. But I have not the will. I need only a sword. See? Now that's the spirit.

Yes. My fate has been accomplished. I will not die caged at the will of my enemy, doomed to become his concubine. No. I will die honorably, by my own hand. Yes. Sorry? You mean...suicide? No, no, no, that's not the spirit. Yes, I will commit seppuku, ritually disembowel myself as my brave lord Kiso did at Awazu, our last battle where I led three hundred of our warriors against six thousand enemies. I would have done the same had not my lord forbade me. Ritual disembowelment? Why?

For the sake of honor. We were defeated at battle. The few remaining samurai scattered unshamed. There is no worse fate than shame. The act of seppuku wipes shame clean from the soul. Right. Wipes it from the eyes and hearts of our allies and enemies alike. Hmm.

Well, where I'm from, shame tends to make people slink around for a while, occasionally grovel. Sometimes a king makes them fight a duel to the death, but assuming they survive, after a time they tend to shrug their shoulders and move on. A pathetic existence. The antics of worms. Well, I can see your point, I suppose. Your sense of honor does seem to put it all in a whole new light. Still, a sword in your own belly does feel a bit... extreme?

Anywho, why did you not join your lord in this, um, very honorable ritual? He forbade me and commanded me to deliver a message to his family. Ah. May I ask what was the message? You may ask. Of course, of course. None of my concern. I just love a good story.

I admit I cannot claim to relate to your experience entirely. However, I do believe that suicide is not the solution. It is the only death that will preserve my honor. Well, what if your journey here, in this life, is incomplete? Surely there are others whom you love and who love you and who still need you? Or perhaps you have another purpose you are yet to discover? My purpose and my duty here, this life I have fulfilled. This I know. No, no, no! I need you.

There are no coincidences. We were brought together for a reason. It's like you said, we are exactly where we are supposed to be. Except I'm not where I'm supposed to be. I'm supposed to be on my way back to Cathay to meet a friend who is expecting me. I am certain fate did not bring us together so I could witness you disembowel yourself, which is something I'd very much like to avoid seeing. You are saying you need my help? Well, in so many words, yes. And what can you offer in exchange for my help?

What if I told you that instead of committing... Sepuku. Sepuku. You could fake your own death and re-emerge anywhere else in the world with an entirely new life. Hmm? One does not need to fake death to be reborn anew. All are reincarnated and emerge again in the world with new life. Right, yes, I had nearly forgotten. The Catholic Church used to believe in reincarnation too, but the Second Council of Constantinople

put a swift end to that. That was nearly a millennia ago. No, what I'm offering is much better, far more guaranteed. Reincarnation is all very well and good, don't get me wrong, but what if you were to come back as a bug only to be squashed mere minutes after your birth? So be it. Then that is my fate. No, but what I'm offering is choice.

The choice to return. Re-emerge as anything you'd like. Well, perhaps not anything. I've yet to help anyone re-emerge as an insect, but I do have faith that it is possible. Although the logistics would be quite complicated. Yes, the client's body couldn't be retained in this scenario, but perhaps there is a way to transfer the mind alone. One's consciousness into the body of an insect,

but with much more durability. Ahem. It's an opportunity to defy death, to live longer. Perhaps to live forever. That's ridiculous. Only a fool would wish to live forever. Well... What a sad fate to be stuck in this life indefinitely, watching your loved ones fade away, bearing witness as the world changes, and yet you remain the same, stuck outside the cycle of rebirth. That sounds like a prison far worse than the one we sit in, my strange friend.

The faster money and data move, the further your business can go to a seamless digital future for Canadians. Let's go faster forward together. In Life, Interact. How can you be sure your child is making the right decision when choosing a university? The smart approach is to look at the facts, like the fact that York U graduates have a 90% employer satisfaction rate. That's because across its three GTA campuses, York U's programs are strategically designed

to prepare students for a meaningful career and long-term success. Join us in creating positive change at yorku.ca slash write the future. Haven't you ever wondered what it would be like to be someone else? You've undoubtedly experienced nothing but hardship your entire life. Fighting battles, constantly at war. Have you never fantasized about being a... a... a vintner? Living high in the Moroccan mountains? Or a nun praying peacefully in the halls of a secluded temple?

Have you? Daily. My praise is here in Nippon. Yearning for some other existence is a fool's dream. I will take my death into my own hands, and let the gods decide who next I will be. You promised your lord that you would deliver a message to his family, correct? Eggs and vows are easily broken. Surely you are not the kind to break said...egg?

No. Well, you cannot fulfil your vow from this cell. Or you could just steal a sword and kill yourself here and...oh! What was that you said about shame? There is no fate worse. Right, right. But you're practically a child. You can't have been around for more than a few decades. What are you, 25, 30 years old?

That's the time most of us ignore our bosses and run off and do whatever we want. And you found yourself in a position in which you led, what was it, a mere three hundred men into battle against a cavalry of six thousand? A certain death sentence, no? What kind of boss tells you to do that? And now he wants you to deliver a message for him from beyond the grave. I do not expect a barbarian from the West to understand. And as you said, it is complicated.

And as you said, it seems we have the time. Here, we begin training when we are girls. Yes. was nine. Your father trained you? No, I have no father. My mother was a servant in Rod Kiso's home when he was but a child. When I was born I was adopted into the family. It was a great honor for me and my mother. Do you know of the Civil War here? Only that it ended just before my arrival. Here, you are born into power, which means you are born into duty. My Lord Kiso was of the Minamoto family. For years, the Minamoto clan has been at war

with the Taira clan. Lord Kiso and I were children together. We prayed like brother and sister, and I accompanied him in his military training. In fact, I surpassed him rather quickly, and when he grew to be a lord, I became his most trusted military leader. I led our army to many victories. I helped Lord Kiso rise to power and my loyalty to him is unbreakable. But his own family turned on him. Hmm, that does seem to be a common occurrence in all parts of the world, in my experience. We had defeated the Tyra clan, driven them from Kyoto. It was not Tyra, but Lord Kiso's own cousins who attacked us, in turn driving us from the

city. Granted, Lord Kiso had kidnapped the Emperor and burned his temple, but the Emperor had shamed him by turning to his cousin, Yoritomo, for aid, even after Lord Kiso had proven himself. His cousins retaliated. At the River Uji we were rooted. Their forces greatly outnumbered our own and Lord Kiso had been pushed back over a bridge. I stepped onto the bridge to defend my lord and allow him a chance to retreat. I held that bridge for hours, Tyra's soldiers falling like dead leaves about me. But there were too many and soon I too had to fall back. It was then that Lord Kiso ordered me to run to

deliver the account of his last stand to his family. I will not be dishonored by dying on the battlefield next to a woman, he yelled. But I knew he was only trying to save me out of love. Still I refused. I would defeat one more worthy rival, I shouted back. Then as if my wish was granted, a renowned samurai, Uchida, rode at me, grabbed at me and tried to pull me from my horse. Instead, I pulled him from his, laid him across my saddle and took off his head. And still, we fought until our soldiers scattered and ran, most of them hunted down and killed. In a fury, knowing the end was near, I lifted

Lord Kiso from where he fought on the ground onto my horse. Against his will, with the speed of demons, I rode from battle to save him. We stopped in a clearing next to a trickling stream. No warriors yet pursued us. But when I set my lord upon the ground, I saw his blood had shined my horse's coat. He was gravely wounded. Seeing this, and looking at me with shame in his eyes, he withdrew his wakizashi, his short sword, and prepared to commit ritual suicide. He would die honorably in spite of our loss in battle. I kneeled next to him to join him but he looked at me, tears in his eyes, and repeated, I will not die next to a woman. I only smiled and withdrew my own wakizashi. No, he

commanded, gripping my arm. I gave you an order. You have vowed to obey me in all things. Finish the ritual for me and then deliver my story. So I sheathed my wakizashi, stood and drew my katana instead. Then I watched him disembowel himself with two perfect cuts. And as he reamed over with pain, his neck outstretched. I beheaded him. Hang on, what? She cut off his head? Well, yes. I was horrified too, believe me.

But it was out of... well... love. Hah! Sounds like the kind of love I had for a certain ex of mine who will remain nameless. Yes, but not headless, at least. No, more's the pity. What happened next? I wrapped his head tightly with linen torn from my trousers, and buried it by a tree near the stream. I dared not chance being caught with it if Tyra's army was still near. They would take it and present it at a head-viewing ceremony. I would return to retrieve it when I knew it was safe.

And it's still there? Yes. Well, doesn't that just seal the deal, then? We have made no deal. No, no, true. Not yet. But look, you have now told me two reasons that you have to escape this cell. You have vowed to deliver a message and your true love's, I mean, your lord's head is buried by a tree somewhere. You can't just let it rot there. You can't give up and kill yourself in a prison cell.

By your own account, you're no quitter. You want me to hide in shame? No, not at all. Look, there is nothing shameful about it. I want to give you a clean slate. Start over. Be someone new, yet without all the messy dying part. You've done the tough nut warrior thing. You've

done it better than anyone else I've ever heard of. Here's your chance to try something else. Live another existence while retaining the memories of this one. Not many people get that chance. I have no skill with wine. Pardon? Vintner. You mentioned that I could be a vintner in a round called Morocco. Ah, yes. Or a nun. Or a chef. Or a blacksmith, though that might be too close for comfort. Or a rice farmer in Hang Chow. Or an art dealer in the Mediterranean. An animal trainer at

the circus in Angkor. I could keep going. I know nothing of these praises you mention, but I have often admired the quiet rise of nuns, secluded from the world, living simpry, noble in their humility. I have seen so much blood, so much pain and death. A life of prayer sounds like an unattainable dream. So it's settled then. How will you achieve such a feat, this new rife of mine? The truth is, I was heavily relying on you to go for the nun suggestion. Yes, you see, Tzu here is a Buddhist monk from Cathay.

He has many connections throughout Cathay, Gorillau and Nippon. As we've traveled, we've found food and shelter in many Buddhist monasteries. He will be able to get you a new life as a Buddhist nun. I'm sorry, Cathay, Gorillau and Nippon? Are these all places in Japan? No, no. Cathay is what we used to call China. The Gorilleu dynasty essentially ruled Korea during its medieval period. I see. But what about Nippon? That sounds French. No, Alvina. Nippon is Japan. Nippon is in Japan.

Nippon is Japan. Nippon is in Japan. Nippon is Japan. We say Japan because the Malay word for it, which sounded quite similar, was used on trade routes. And in the 16th century the Portuguese took that and ran with it. So now the whole Western world calls it Japan. But it's Nippon, land of the rising sun. Was then and still is now. Oh. Continue. Then you are saying, Tsu will provide me with my new rife?

Um... Therefore, he is the true master of manipulating rife and death. What? No, no, I'm the, uh... Tzu is merely my interpret... My agency and the quality of my work is unchallenged in Europe and... Yes, I suppose we will be relying heavily on Tzu's connection for this particular resurfacing. After all, this is my first visit to the East.

I haven't had the chance to establish my reputation here yet. However, do you know why I, your strange Western friend, am here in Nippon to begin with? I could not possibly know such a thing. Of course, of course. Rhetorical question that I was posing merely for dramatic effect, which clearly did not work. Ahem, no, I was recently tasked with one of the most difficult disappearances I have ever faced. Faking the deaths of an entire

family. And not a small family, mind you, a family of 12. Three generations of Scottish aristocracy who had fallen into bad graces with William the Lion. It's a long story. Who all needed to disappear but wished to remain together. Their desire was to travel to the east. But given my lack of established connections on this side of the world, Khalidi, my partner, the friend I am scheduled to meet in Cathay, and I decided we needed to find them a very remote life in a very remote part of the world where their sudden resurfacing would remain unnoticed. So, Khalidi, who was an expert surgeon, changed the faces of every member of the family, including three-year-old Hendry and six-year-old Grisel, to allow them to fit in seamlessly as

remote pearl divers of the Pacific. Your surgeon altered their faces to look less Scottish and more altered their faces to look less Scottish and more... Japanese. Yes, well, yes, when you put it that way, I could imagine how in another time and place that might seem problematic. But needless to say, the Matsumoto family is very happy in their new home. The father, a former baron of the Highlands, walks 25 kilometres to the nearest village market every fortnight to sell their pearls. Otherwise, the family remains unseen, unnoticed and unbothered. There is a certain appeal to the life you describe.

Yes, I agree. And my death? If I were to agree to this exchange, how would I die? Well, how would you like to die? I've already stated my wish is to commit seppuku. I would like to look into Lord Wada's eyes as I complete the ritual. And I want no beheading, as my Lord Kiso cannot perform it for me.

I will endure the slow death. Right. Describe the intricacies of seppuku to me again. First, I would need a braid, a wakizashi if one can be attained, a tantou, a short knife, would also serve. I would stab myself here in the abdomen and cut from left to... Uh, let's, uh... No, no, I rescind my request. I can already tell you that would be far too challenging to fake with my limited resources. What is your second choice? In combat with a worthy enemy.

Of course. Yes, the visual trick is easy enough. If there is enough chaos from other combatants around you and perhaps a wooded setting, If there is enough chaos from other combatants around you, and perhaps a wooded setting, we will need a body double. That is a corpse dressed in a copy of your armor. Of course your opponent will be in on it, an actor made to look like a fierce samurai. So we'll do nicely, because, well, he's really our only option. There will be a distraction at the last second to take everyone's eyes off you for only a moment when we will switch you out with the pre-cut and bloodied corpse. Yes, I would need to obtain a corpse that

closely resembles yours in size and in... No. I will not partake in the desecration of another's corpse, nor will I perform in some murmurous dance. Right. In that case, third choice? Drowning in the sea. OK. OK.

Yes. Well, do you believe in fate? Yes. Perfect. The pearl divers, the former Scots whose deaths I recently faked, they are the perfect discrete allies to achieve your desired death. You walk into the ocean until you are entirely submerged.

Two of the divers will be waiting below and will quickly pull you beneath the water, deep enough so you remain unseen. Ideally, we'll need a location with rocks or some such nearby so you can reemerge without being seen before too much time has passed. Oh, how long can you hold your breath? I know not. Oh, that's not a problem. We'll have time to practice. With luck, not too much time. So, what do you say? It is settled.

Oh, jolly, jolly, jolly. Oh, I knew you'd come around. Now, the final piece of the puzzle, our escape. Yes, a puzzle indeed. A magical cage. We must learn its secrets. Yes, and how do you propose? Patience. We'll reveal them to us. Ah, yes, patience. A virtue in every land I've visited. What have we just tried to burst out? You remember what happened when you touched the cage, do you not? I do, I do. But what if we all try it together?

Surely it can't knock us all around at the same time? I'm just an interpreter. Right, Tzu, yes. You didn't sign up for this, I understand. Miss Gozin, that leaves you and me. What do you say? I have told you. Patience will reveal its weakness. Miss Cousin, that leaves you and me. What do you say? I have told you. Patience will reveal its weakness. Alright, alright. Then we'll wait. Have we been patient enough yet? Perhaps just watch closely.

The guard comes. Do you see that? Ah, right. Get away from the door! Do you see that? What? A talisman around his neck illuminated as if some force entered it. Yes, I did, but what is it? An onmyoji's magic is that of spirits and demons. They commune with the dead and summon demons to aid them. What?

It is likely an entity of that sort that is preventing our escape. A demon? What, you think it went into that talisman? Hi. So it's no longer guarding the cell? Perhaps. That's why the magic doesn't affect the guard. There's one way to find out. Yes. Oh, you mean touch it again? But, um...

If the magic or demon has gone into the guard's talisman, the cage should be disarmed. Which is why the guard is able to touch it without any harm to himself. Ah, yes, that's... Thank you. Yes, uh, or-origato, yes. Okay, okay, okay. It's probably fine. It's probably fine. Well then, see you tomorrow.

I'm sure there will be no day when Mr. Wada will visit you. Just touch the wall. Just touch the wall, Arthur. That's... What's the worst that could happen? It worked! I touched the wall and I didn't get thrown to the other side of the cell! The Tarisman went dark?

Whatever present it had has left it. Hell, if that's true, then if I touch the cell again it should- Ah! Yup. Yup. The demon is back. Oh. Give me your hand. Oh.

Thank you. Oh. Oh. Ah. That is the answer then. Yes. The demon enters the Tarisman and the cage is und answer then. The demon enters the Tarisman and the cage is undefended. When the guard returns tomorrow with our dairy-srop,

we kill him and escape. We must do it before Lord Wada comes for us. Or there may not be another chance. No, no, we can't kill the guard. Why not? He will be a problem if we let him live. Not if we take him with us. Why would we do such a thing? Your death, we'll need a witness. Ah, I see.

Yes, the guard will do. When the demon goes into the talisman, we'll be able to escape. You'll take care of the guard. Alive, but physically injured would be helpful, so he's easy enough to transport. But he definitely needs his wits intact, so he can witness your death and return here to tell the story. Ah, yes. Ha ha! Easy peasy, Japa… That's not appropriate. You did not say that! No, no, of course not! I don't remember exactly what I said, but I'm sure it was something stupid,

because I do distinctly remember that Tomoe was looking at me like I had a beak for a nose. Yes. Leave the guard to me. The sorcerer was foolish to put his demon in the hands of a simple guard. It will be, as you say, easy peasy. Quite. Ready? As we'll ever be. What happened? The moment I touched him, I was thrown backwards.

By the demon? Must be. How can that be? The talisman is a light! I can touch the cell! The demon should be contained! It is, but not in the talisman. In the guard. The talisman is a portal, not a container. As long as the demon is inside the guard, I won't be able to touch him, much less restrain him. What do we do?

Perhaps I can make contact with his weapons instead. Yes. Yes, yes! He dropped his blade! Get it, get it! I won't forgive you! Yes, yes! I won't forgive you! Yes, yes, yes! The talisman! We must remove it from the guard! And how do we do that if we can't touch him?

How important is it that he remains alive? I don't care! Yes! Don't! Roll! Oh! Oh! The talisman! It's on the ground! Look! Look! Look! Look! Get it! Get it! No! It's on the ground! Look, look, look! Get it, get it! No, don't choke! The talisman! Don't let him retrieve it!

I won't! I've got it, I've got it! I've got it! I've got it! You bitter! A strange one too! How fond! Just kidding! Guard us up, Jude! Being possessed by a demon is...

painful when you're not used to it! What is the matter? No! Don't touch me! Drop that promise, man! What is the matter? No! Don't touch me! Drop the caulessman! I can't! Let me have it! Run! Yes! Yes! Yes! Why that demon? Get it!

Oh god! I can't! Yes! Oh god that must hurt! Unless I remember it well! You can do it! You can do it! Cast the talisman!

Go on! Cast that castanen into the cell! Yes! Ha ha ha ha! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh!

Oh! Remind me never to come back to Japan. Oh! Oh! You were possessed by a demon? Only for a moment. And you're just now telling me this story? I told you we're working our way backward.

It was just a once and it never happened again. Oh! Only for a moment. And you're just now telling me this story? I told you we're working our way backward. It was just the once and it never happened again. Uggghhh! Okay. Anyhow. You were saying Tomoe fought the demon who had taken possession of her, tore off the talisman and then... What?

Just chucked it? She threw it back into the cell and locked the door. Easy peasy. Do you think the demon is back in that cell? Yes. Do you think it will ever be free? Does it matter? No, no. I suppose I just feel a bit bad for it. A slave to dark magic.

After you, my strange friend. Oh, sorry, do you need help with him? No. Right, yes of course. Now, to retrieve my lord Kiso's head, it is not far. I will take it with me into the sea and let him rest there in peace. Perfect. The beginning of the end. Or perhaps, the end of the beginning. Right, how does this... Ah. Hey, hey!

Oh, alright, there we are. Yes, sir. Woo! Stay tuned for the epilogue, but first, the credits. Oh hey, it's me, Julia Morizawa, the voice of Amelia. It's been a minute. So why am I taking over the credits today? Well, that's because I wrote today's episode together

with Tristram Lowe, the author of Headless, the first book in the Ghost and the Mask series. A serial killer in Japan is collecting heads. An unlikely pair of journalists try not to lose theirs. Akio, a lowly staff photographer, and Masami, a top staff writer upsetting the male-dominated newsroom, struggle to get along as they investigate the murders. Is the old mysterious kendo instructor the culprit? Or is there something to the witness accounts of a supernatural samurai? The price for getting the scoop may be their own heads.

Headless by Tristram Lowe. Available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook. Find out more at headlessbook.com. And now, back to the credits. This episode featured Nina Fogg as Tomo Gozen, Alan Bergen as the interviewer, Julia C. Thorn as Alvina, and Masaya Okubo as Sue and the Guard. It was written by Julia Morizawa and Tristram Lowe,

with story editing and direction by Philip Thorne and Oystein Brogger, sound design by Alexander Danner, music by Frederick Bodden, translations by Masaya Okubo and Nina Fogg, dialogue editing by Philip Thorne, production assistance by Maddie Patzival, and graphic design by Anders Pedersen. The episode was recorded at Red Peace Studio in Vienna, with studio engineering by R. Pod Hodnigy and Oliver Ills. Thank you to all of you who support us on Patreon and Apple Podcast subscriptions.

Without you, The Amelia Project would disappear and reappear as a call-in radio show in which we predict listeners' deaths from the drugs of Cocoa Cups. And now, over to Pip for the patron shout-outs. Thank you, Julia, and if you're not yet a patron, consider signing up for as little as $5. In addition to ad-free listening and a big back-catalog of bonus content, you'll be able to watch a behind-the-scenes video about the making of this episode, and there'll be more videos about future episodes to come. Thank you Tiers, Dr.Bus, Ben Carlisle, Ms.Nixie, Ms.Nixiebill, Tiffany Duffy, Jason Woods, Ryan O'Mara, Christine Bayuga and Stefan Hattinger. Thank you so so much to all of you. And now the epilogue.

Well, I think that was the most romantic story you've told me so far. Really? You think? Did you ever see her again? Sadly, no. But I did hear she lived to the ripe old age of ninety. Stayed in that Buddhist temple all those years. I guess it suited her after all. Wow. Although... all those years. I guess it suited her after all. Wow. Although...

What? I did return in the 16th century. That's when the Portuguese Jesuits arrived. They were the first Europeans to cross into Japan. Aside from you? Yes, but you know, my visit was off the record. Of course. When I returned, it was the Sengoku period. The country was very different, yet still at war. Constantly.

But I came across an entire combat unit consisting of only women. At least 200 of them. All led by a woman named Ikeda Sen. And if I were the type to believe in it, I might argue that she was the spirit of Tomoe Gozin reincarnated. Oh, well that's depressing. What? What do you mean? Imagine living a terrible, horrifying life as a warrior, constantly in battle, surrounded by death,

only to be reincarnated as another warrior, constantly in battle, surrounded by death. Yes, all right, but I mean, this was over four hundred years later. I hope she became a bug. What? She emerged one sunny morning, sat on a delicious green leaf, ate through it in perfect, calm contentment, then was quickly squashed before she knew what hit her. Now that's depressing. A mere single day of life. What, doing nothing but eating a leaf?

Yeah, well of course it sounds terrible to you. To me, it sounds like paradise. Oh, please. No, no, you know what? I always suspected you to be a cheap date. Yes. Oh, the ha-ha. That is when you're not accidentally giving your boyfriend's heart attacks and taking over their business affairs. Oh wait, now that's not fair. Well, I mean, oh look, look! There's a luscious green leaf right there.

Mmm, num num num num num. Get your fill. Quick, before we pass. Alright, stop it. You'll have to fight that caterpillar for it. The Fable and Folly Network, where fiction producers flourish. Hey dad, I've got a question for you and it makes me really frustrated. Mikey, the stars are wrong.

We jumped two and a half times farther than we were supposed to. He's not a robot, right? He's an AI. They used you, yes, but they used me worse. I want to go home. How many minutes are in a while? Ask Your Father is available anywhere you get podcasts. Find out more at GideonMedia.com