Rise of the Provinces IC

[xGabrielx]

Spring. The time of life, love and the perfect weather, a truly wonderful time of year even within this era of the sword. However, this was somewhat spoiled by the chaos that the country was in; with the assassination of the Shogun and his male heirs both the shogunate and the provinces are destabilized, where one has no leader and the others aiming for the power of becoming the next ruling family.

Though not unknown to Youkai and other non human beings, the call has gone out from a personal investor in the land to all samurai, ninjas, warriors and magic users to come and take part in a small battle royal where the prize is a rather luckitve contract. However, due to most of the warriors already having taken offers of other provinces only a small number of people have come, and only a even smaller group can come out and take the contracts given to them. Will you be one of these people to answer the call to Kami-Sei village, or shall you follow your own path and goals... Either way the gods have plans for you, but how you go around doing these plans are up to you.

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xGabrielx & Experta combined post
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"Awww, come on Tetsu, you said you would buy me more sake later, well now is later!"

The white haired, crimson eyed maiden mentioned to Tetsu beside her. Her hands were on the back of her head while two white snakes clung to her body, l sleeping within the perfect spring day. They had been traveling for a while now and Shi had already grown tired of it, though more so for the reason of having run out of food and Sake since her master told her that it wouldn't be that long to just walk to the next town and eat there.... He was such a lier.

"If you had told me how long this would take I would have made you buy more before we left the city"

Which is exactly why he lied. Very respectable of him, he didn't care much so, meh.

"Here's an idea for you. Why don't you get a job? Your father will be proud if you become more self reliant."

Tetsu mentioned as they were walking down the road. The road was surprisingly empty for a merchant road. That had him puzzled but at least it was a lot more quiet and peaceful... not counting the girl following him.

"Pfft, I already have a job, I am your student! You are a poor teacher though.... Haven't even taught me a single move."

She muttered the last part to herself, shifting the large katana on her back to be a bit more comfy, carrying the thing around was a chore but it was the only thing of value from the shrine she lived at and without her there the shrine maidens had no use for it so Shi asked if she could take it along, thankfully she could given her father gave it to the shrine in the first place.

"Not that I blame you though, it must be hard having such a wonderful student as me kekekeke"

Her snake like smirk crossed her lips as she teased the guy, she wasn't planning on staying silent just yet, after all she was borad on this road! It was like it was in the middle of nowhere!

"How's this, I'll buy you sake if you never call yourself my student."

Shinda thought for a moment on that offer, it was a tempting offer after all and she did really want some sake, though she also wanted to learn cool moves like Tetsu had, and unlike him she could do other things to work for sake money!

"Naa, I think using a sword is better than sake, I still have pocket money awayway"

Then why did she ask him for money to buy sake?..............

"Following me will accomplish nothing. I won't teach you. If you want too mooch money off of someone get a boyfriend. Ronin are on a tight budget."

Though he was right there was one important factor that he had overlooked....

"Isn't it your current JOB to look after me? You may as well teach me something while you are at it...."

She glared at him while petting one of her snakes.

"I would but that would mean I am not focused on guarding you. Tough brake kid."

With that done and over Tetsu caontinues to strol down the road, enjoying the view.... but not the company...

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Event - Meeting of Wolfie
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As they got closer to Kami-Sei village they soon came across rolling grasslands on one with a large hill on another. Soon it was replaced by farmland and large wheat fields that gave the land its golden coloring within the morning sun. However, as the pair passed by Shi would notice a shout somewhere and a guy flying past them from one of the directions and onto the path... The guy was badly beaten but otherwise alive, but one question followed this in Shi's mind.

"Who could have done this? That was pretty cool!"

Yeah, not if the guy was alright or anything but who had done it and how cool they were! Shi soon started to move off the path in the direction where the guy came from... Though she wasn't expecting what she found that was for sure....

[SilverRain]

Wolfie~!

By tracing the fleeing man's footsteps back into the fields of golden wheat, Shinda and Tetsu would soon come to a clearance. In the middle of the fields was a strangely clad wolfgirl. She yawned and arced her back as she basked in the sun. The wolfgirl then decided to take a nap on top of the legendary sword she was guarding - Hikari Bunkatsu. She had been guarding it for many years, waiting for the Chosen One to arrive and claim it. Unfortunately for the wolfgirl, she didn't exactly have clear criteria about who the Chosen One was. She just relied on her intuition. The man who was running away was nothing more than a petty theif.

There had been rumours about the wolfgirl (adequately named Wolfie) by the villagers. She ensures the harvest of wheat is plentiful each year. One day, the injured guardian of the Hikari Bunkatsu sword staggered through the fields. On his last breath, he entrusted the legendary sword to Wolfie - a youkai who had no intention of eating humans. The guardian then passed away, and his blood fertilised the soil. Some say that Wolfie had to be given offerings, others say that she can change her size at will and she chases chickens at night. Stories said of how she could listen to the many voices of nature as well as humans. Also she liked sleeping in the sun.

Wolfie lay curled up on topf of the sword, her beautiful and fine tail swished about a few times before tucking itself to her side. Her ears swivelled around as she heard footsteps belonging to two visitors. One of a human boy, another belonging to that of a female naga of mixed blood. The half naga seemed to carry something with her, but Wolfie didn't care much. Their scents told her that they were not from around here and their footsteps seemed to show that they were not hostile (for now anyways). Wolfie sat up and silently studied the two for a while, wondering if they were the Chosen One...

Nope.

The wolfgirl went back to sleep again on top of the legendary sword. What was the Chosen One anyway?

[experta]

"Well... there's something you don't see every day."

Tetsu mentioned at the sight of the youkai that was leasurely lieing down, with some kind of sword no less. Speaking of which, Tetsu had seen enough blades to know that one looked kind of special...hmm...

"Hey, can I borrow that katana for a second?"

[xGabrielx]

Shi stopped when she saw the wolf youkai before her, though unlike the others she had seen this one seemed to be alot more docile than others of its race, more so since it had not eaten the human that had foolishly came into their territory. It was uncommon to see a naga with legs, as only magic could do it, or half breeds had them but they were even more rare. Both snakes around her shoulders leaned up and stared at the other deity, after all the cursed snake deities use to be the cause of many failed harvests so they knew what Wolfie was, though Shi and the guy did not. The pair on the other hand came here intentionally so they were not fools... Well Shi wasn't, though Tetsu seemed to completely forget not only that youkai were dangerous but also common manners as he asked to borrow something from someone he had just met...

"Hora, hora, what are you doing? Do you often ask things of people you just met?"

She back handed his arm, though it was barly a tap despite her seemingly doing it full pelt... She wasn't much of a fighter.

[Altered Tundra]

His eyes were glazed with a certain wicked sense. Jaakuna, surrounded by the humans that hated his kind, the Youkai, had indeed infiltrated the ranks of humans and all of the selfishness they all present themselves in. His temptation to just have fun was all that Jaakuna needed, and in the village he was currently in, he would cause some trouble for the Humans and fun for him. The first act of his fun would to cause some grief and panic by setting a few buildings on fire, and that would just be the start of it.

“Now, let’s see how many can run out before houses go boom.” Jaakuna’s wicked smiled covered the majority of his face as his demonic aura took a white and red shade of intense flames. The white swirled around while the red just was there in the form of multiple sparks. He motioned his right arm forward, and the way traced around his arm. He did the same thing with his left arm and the white did the same. Soon, the white fire he calls upon as his main power formed an extension on his claw-like weapons. There was white flames seeping from the metal parts on his weapons.

“Jaakuna Shikino, stop right there!” Called out a man gripping a pitchfork.

“Oh look, the village elder think he’s people.” Jaakuna laughed briefly. “What you going to do, puny human? Stab me? You’ll have to try.” Jaakuna mocked him.

As the guy came at Jaakuna, the White Blaze would humor him, and let the guy try and do something he might think would be useful. What Jaakuna wasn’t expected was that this guy, who sometimes went by the name of Kurosai, swung his generic black and white Katana upward, and out shot a thin slice of cyan-colored energy. Jaakuna, being Jaakuna, swiped the energy away with nothing but fire tendrils that struck right through the energy.

“Well then, you definitely have more than you gave yourself credit for.” Jaakuna clapped with his claws hitting each other, and generating some fire to spark off in the distance which sent light burns to people around him. “Too bad it’s not enough.” Jaakuna instantly disappeared. Appearing right behind Sai, he shoved both claws only three inches into the guy’s back, but with great force. The amount of force combined with the hot white fire sent internal and external burns to the guy, and killing him instantly.

As Jaakuna was going to strike another person, he felt something in the air. It couldn’t be…could it? There, the stench in the air was the stench of power. This power was something that Jaakuna had longed for as long as he could remember. “One of the legendary swords are near by.” He said, walking away. The people at the village, they cheered that he was going, but they also were angry, so they tried to go after him. However, before they could do anything of the like, Jaakuna had teleported himself twenty meters to the east where he had sensed the power.

As he appeared before the three, Jaakuna had sensed the source of the legendary sword, and that was in the Wolf Youkai that Jaakuna saw before him. “Hand it over. If you do, I won’t hurt you….much.” Jaakuna took a fighting position as he awaited a response.

[Torack]

Eo'kane was hunched over his cane as he walked with a colleague back to his palace. They had just ended a meeting with the daimyo on their next move against a neighbouring province. The event went well, however the daimyo, an ignorant human, wanted to go straight to war, as did much of his subordinates. Were it not for Eo'kane he would have sent hostile spies which would start a very uneven war, where the odds were against them. Instead, he urged him to make acquaintances with the other daimyo to see his prowess and his forces. Then dispatch non-hostile spies.

Of course, he agreed to the words of this strange wise creature. He looked old, talked old, but had a fiery youthfulness in his eyes. The daimyo made the horrible mistake of trusting the creature, for to Eo'kane, he was but a child and a peasant. A human. Eo'kane sneered and slightly shook his head at the though. Some of them, despite their nature, would prove useful. Though, he made it a point never to trust one of them, their trust could sway as easily as the wind.

"Do wish to know what I see," Eo'kane croaked as his head was slightly tilted upwards towards the sky.

"What is it," the samurai next to him asked passively.

"War, bloodshed, terror. And the height of it all. Profit." The samurai snapped his neck to look at the ancient creature next to him, his face twisted in a manner that asked him to explain before he had to unleash his sword for his honour. War and bloodshed. They are good for naught except power and profit. There is neither honour nor dignity within, the elf said casually. Indeed, it is a lucrative business war; a business in which I wish to take part."

"Someone ought to remove your tongue, foul creature!" The samurai hissed, his hand going to his katana.

Eo'kane smiled. "Take your hand off the weapon, boy. I'm sure your daimyo would disagree with your actions."

"I will tell him you dishonour us!"

"Then go back and tell him," the creature smirked. "I'll be sure to collect your head within the week."

Eo'kane noticed the samurai hesitate. He knew Eo'kane was right, he knew if he went to the daimyo he'd be talking heresy against the daimyo's trusted ally. But how long would the elf stand by the daimyo's side, how long before he betrayed him for his own gains? He promised himself he'd take care of the criminal when the time came and took his hand off his blade.

Eo'kane eased at the prospect of the human taking his hand off of his sword. He didn't want to blow his cover, and if he drew, he would have to. He took a small sigh of relief, more for show than anything else. He had to look and seem feeble and weak. He didn't like it, but it's not often you must do what you like the most. "Right! Let us soften the mood with sake," Eo'kane offered as they neared his palace.

A large Shoin Zukuri styled building, it's length was longer than that of any other Shoin Zukuri in the district, before it turned at a ninety degree angle backwards making three-fourths of a square. Behind the building was several acres of land lush with exotic flowers, fruits, and ponds. Within the ponds were the most favoured flower to Eo'kane, the lotus flower, floating atop in it's delicacy and prideful manner. It was the flower that was associated with his fighting style, and like the fighting style, he loved the lotus flower above all others.

The went into the Shoin Zukuri and took their seats as the old elf ordered his maids to bring his guest and himself sake. While they were preparing they sat and talked about the various political powers and intrigue within the various provinces. All the while, however, Eo'kane's mind was running off, thinking of other things, thinking of more malicious matters.

[xGabrielx]

Eo'kane's place

Despite it all be rather boring with the samurai there, him likely talking about how the leaders were doing nothing but trying to dived up the land between themselves, there was one small boy, one that had come into power recently but was rather unknown, that knocked on the door to his place. Greeted by a maid the small boy handed over a scroll before walking away with a smirk across his face.

"This is a request for one Eo'kane.

As ruler over the province of Xei I wish to ask a favor of you. Due to the times we live in and the state of the shogunate it has become clear that it is a time for action, however, I do not wish for action to be taken against the shogunate, this is the least of our worries. There are many dangers within this land that are going ignored before of this chaos and in order to solve these dangers I wish to not hire you but also your place of residence as well. You see, I am gathering a group of warriors to stabilize this country and they need a place to gather one recruited. I can pay well, even in forms of artifacts and information...

Please consider this Everest, and when the answer has been reached simply give this scroll to the boy outside.

Thank you for your time."

This was more than a little odd given that the ruler of Xei had been closed off for many years, but the offer was there it seemed, though different from other offers given it had no intention of gaining power through using his place as a base or even recruiting him into a army.

Village Jaakuna raided

The entire time that Jaakuna was terrorizing the village, along with taking out the elder a strange man dressed in a sleeveless kimono and bright blue under shirt and dark blue top with a flower pattern on it was sitting outside of one of the inns, of course the warriors that were sitting by him jumped at the chance to defend the villige but the guy ran away before they even had a chance... The guy had his eyes almost closed and a creepy smile was across his face, through it lessened when he gave a sigh at the incompetence of the warriors he was about to hire.

Looked like he would have to move onto the next village Kami-Sai, for his meeting with the next batch.... However, first he should deal with that troublesome Youkai, since it would be just unsporting to not give him any challenge what so ever. Picking up his fedora hat, which matched his kimono, the guy hurried along at a brisk pace to trace down the youkai. This was going to be fun.

Wolfie's Encounter

Shi was still glaring at Tetsu when a full blooded youkai turned up! Even Shi could tell that he smelled of blood and was bad news all around, not only that but he opened up with asking for the sword and a threat, great, Tetsu wasn't going to take this very well thats for sure, let alone what the wolf may do. Was this what went on with the swords every day? Everyone dying either protecting, trying to obtain or just fighting over these swords seemed much more dangerous than the swords themselves. There it was, the poison of power.

"Hey, hey, hey. Who do you think you are coming here and threatening like that? That can get ya killed ya know"

Odd coming from the girl that had gotten into trouble for the same reason, though her threats never held any water, more so given that she had the fighting ability of a paper sliding door...

[SilverRain]

Wolfie's Encounter

*yawn* went Wolfie as the events continued. She was resting, although her ears were listening to the visitors and also the wind. The wind spoke of a fox youkai approaching due to the scent of ashes and dust in the air. As for the two standing by beside her, they seemed to be comparitively peaceful. they made good partners, although Wolfie wondered if their bond was more suited to being together or fighting for their goal. Not only did the Chosen One had to have a pure heart, the heart also had to be strong enough to survive battles.

Then the noisy fox youkai barged in. Wolfie's peaceful expression turned into a frown as she sat up and glared at the fox. Compared to the other two, the noisy fox did not even deserve to see the Legendary Sword. Only those with the right heart would be allowed to see it. Most of the villagers didn't know of it's existence.

Wolfie growled in warning at the noisy fox. The Legendary Sword vanished by her will.

A farmer hollered out to the fox youkai. "You imbecile! Not only have you not come with an offering, you have angered Wolfie the Wheat Goddess with your rudeness! Pray that you do not get turned into wheat for the birds to peck at!"

[experta]

Tetsu didn't even flinch when the other Youkai appeared.

"...It suddenly started getting crowded...."

He looked sideways to the blood thirsty beast. Great a fox type.... Tetsu especialy 'liked' those annoying furballs.

"Curse your own luck for where you popped up."
With no other indication or warning Tetsu's hand slided to the hilt of his katana. His legs suddenly split in to a stance and he quick drawed his blade, aiming to slice of the fox's head at the blink of an eye.

[xGabrielx]

"Whoa, wait wha-,!"

Shi saw Tetsu getting ready to fight and she dove for the ground away from the middle of it, trying to avoid the combat, though as she did so the sword on her back slipped off and across the ground, causing the girl to crawl after it and grab onto it, giving a small sigh as she grasped it within her hands. Standing up she looked on to what seemed to be turning into a fight between Tetsu and the Fox Youkai... He always did fight first and think later, but she had a feeling that this fox youkai was not up for talking anyway so she could forgive him this once at least, and as long as she was away from it she could enjoy the fight too.