Kirei began his walk out of the temple, alongside Nyla and Lord Takeshi. Whilst trekking through the wilderness, Kirei looked as though he was a humble passerby enjoying the scenery, as opposed to being a noble warrior on a mission to fight off invaders. He turned to Takeshi who addressed his earlier inquiries into the land's troubles.
"Well, our employer had already filled us in with the most important details. Like, how Varjo used to be on good terms with Shizuyama, but when they started making unreasonable demands for resources and weapons your lands couldn't provide, that's when everything started going down hill." He said, rubbing his chin, but still carrying a relaxing smile. "But, she didn't really explain why it is that these lands despise the yokai so much. Was there some type of past war or enslavement? I mean, I figured after the Great Change, that would cause at least some changes in the social systems here. Do the people here even know about it?"
Kirei removed his hood as they walked, wanting to let the wind blow on his white hair. "Part of me still feels like your father is still alive, Takeshi-dono, so I'd let that lift your spirits, if only even slightly. If you don't mind me asking, what type of man is he?"
I C Y C R E E D : B E W I T C H I N G D A R K N E S S
Varã didn't protest to Vivian joining her on her quest to Kazenosuke's home. The trip didn't take along, as Takeshi himself stated earlier. Eventually, they found themselves near a small house by the river. There were a group of men talking, one of them was easy to guess was Kazenosuke himself due to his eastern garb. However, the other man he was speaking with was the same man who killed Sidonus. She didn't know the name of the man, and she didn't give a damn, all she could feel was the rage building up inside of him just looking at his masked mug.
They appeared to be talking about something, but Varã was too full of ire to have paid attention. The masked man and the group of Varjans had left before Varã could go to him, but that didn't stop her from stomping over to Kazenosuke.
"You're Kazenosuke, aren't you?" Varã said to the swordsman. "Lord Takeshi wants to know why you didn't join the battle at the beach. And I want to know why you were speaking with that despicable, murderous man in the mask!" She snapped, eyes full of fiery chagrin.
"Nah, nah. If you need even a thief's help, then who am I to turn you down? Hopefully, we can resolve these issues before any actual fighting starts..."
"That makes two of us." Lady Kyouko replied.
"And...I wanted to repay the help you gave him a long time ago. If he hadn't known then...that Inari that saved me might have never been able to help. Please Lady Kyouko, let me fight! Or even just cook and clean...those people need help, and even an amateur fox is better than nothing."
The Ryu closed her eyes and let out a deep sigh. "I'm not sure where your faith in your father being alright despite not knowing where he is comes from, but I don't think I can change your mind in this issue. And I suppose you are old enough to make your own decisions. Very well, I shall send you to Shizuyama as well."
"Now then, follow me, girls." Lady Kyouko then led Zeka and Matsuri into her estate then into the courtyard, where a large stone platform lay. The platform had engravings on it, marking a reusable magic circle. "Last warning, girls. The island of Shizuyama is anti-monster, in fact that stance made them allies with Varjo and The Order for a long time. Despite their deteriorating relationship, the people of Shizuyama will regard you with suspicion and fear. But please, they're good people. Just be patient with them." The Ryu then hurriedly added. "Err, best if you keep your ancestry secret, Miss Matsuri. Shizuyama does not... take kindly to 'traitors', if you know what I mean."
"Alright, stand in the middle and I will teleport you to Terauchi Temple in Shizuyama. That's the home base of my operatives there. Meet up with them and join the taskforce I've already sent there. Oh, and please assist the Oja Clan as much as you can." With Matsuri and Zeka in the middle of the platform, Lady Kyouko clapped her hands together and glowed with magical energy. The engravings on the platform also glowed.
White light then enveloped the two monsters' visions.
"But, she didn't really explain why it is that these lands despise the yokai so much. Was there some type of past war or enslavement? I mean, I figured after the Great Change, that would cause at least some changes in the social systems here. Do the people here even know about it?"
Takeshi looked at Kirei as if the latter had spoken blasphemy against something very holy. He supposed Kirei simply did not know the history of Shizuyama and thus, could not understand the island's stance on yokai. But the young lord remarked about the employer first. "Your employer, Lady Kyouko, seems to have a worrying amount of information about our affairs. Well, I suppose she does have base of spies that we never found out."
"Anyway, to answer your question: Yokai used to live in Shizuyama thousands of years ago, way before The Great Change. While the yokai didn't rule over the island directly, humans still lived under their oppression. Every day, a human must worry whether they would live through this day or meet their end, or worse, in the hands of a fickle yokai. And these yokai were everywhere, they stalked the roads and sometimes, they even stayed in people's homes... and no one could do about it."
"That is until my distant ancestor, Lord Minato Oja, gathered to him the greatest warriors he could find in the isles of Zipangu and began his campaign to expel or exterminate the yokai in Shizuyama. In, I think, over a decade, they succeeded and there was no yokai presence in the island since then. Well, until now." Takeshi finished. "We honor our ancestors and remember their suffering under the yokai. That is why we despise yokai. And besides, The Great Change may have transformed the yokai into alluring creatures, but they still kidnap men. Steal or tempt them from their parents, break families apart."
Realizing that Nyla was with them, Takeshi quickly apologized. "Err, no offense."
"Part of me still feels like your father is still alive, Takeshi-dono, so I'd let that lift your spirits, if only even slightly. If you don't mind me asking, what type of man is he?"
The young lord was now deeply suspicious of Kirei. Such a specific remark could not be a coincidence. His hand subtly slid to his sword's hilt. "...How did you know I thought about my father?"
"I don't suppose we could talk? That is, if you're not as vehemently against yokai as the Varjans."
"Lord Takeshi wants to know why you didn't join the battle at the beach. And I want to know why you were speaking with that despicable, murderous man in the mask!"
Kazenosuke's hand immediately went to his sword's hilt when the two yokai appeared. He was ready to draw even as they approached and spoke to them. While the red demon was certainly louder and more annoying, the dancing swordsman stayed his blade for now to listen though his sword hilt was still gripped just in case this was all a deceitful trap. He decided not to engage until he, himself, was engaged.
That said, he was not going to indulge these yokai's questions immediately. "I suppose we can talk, but I think I can summarize our talk in this next sentence: No, I won't be your husband." He replied rather cheekily to Vivian.
"And who I talk to is none of your business, little miss." Kazenosuke responded to Varã. "And what's this acting like a messenger from Takeshi? You do realize that he and his dad would've struck you down the moment they saw you."
The Claremont sisters found the brewery in the middle of the night. The sake brewery consisted of two wooden buildings, one for the actual sake brewing and one served as the brewers' living quarters. The former building was open filled with all sorts of tools and equipment related to sake brewing. As the two monsters arrived, they overhear two of the peasant workers talking.
"Ten, my lady." "Not enough. The Varjans will drink that in an afternoon."
The conversation was interrupted when they noticed Umami and Ripcord arriving. "Oh, hello there! Little late for a visit, is it not?" The peasant woman greeted. The sisters' attire aroused suspicion from the woman, but guessed that they weren't Varjans. "Would you care for some tea now that you're here?"
It was odd how a sake brewery would offer tea for visitors.
When Zeka and Matsuri's regained their sights, they were no longer in Lady Kyouko's estate and the stone platform. Instead, they were in a large wooden chamber held up by four pillars. On one side was something that seemed like a shrine with candles and statutes. On the other other side was a set of sliding doors, one of which opened and a human woman with black hair and green robes entered the chamber.
"Hello, there. You must be sent here by Lady Kyouko, right?" The no-nonsense woman greeted the two. "I'm Ayu and this is one of the pagodas of Terauchi Temple. I'm going to assume you're going to be part of the taskforce. All of the members are away at the moment, but you can talk to me and I can answer any questions you got."
"Oh yeah, I haven't told Lady Kyouko yet but the Varjans have landed in Shizuyama." Ayu added. "They've defeated Lord Oja's army and are now rampaging unimpeded across the island. The taskforce managed to rescue Lord Oja's son, though, so this island might have a chance yet."
~~ TAKESHI'S JOURNEY ~~
"There's a monastery east of here called Fung Temple.
There's a monk there named Nobutada. He's one of the most sturdiest people I know, able to weather blows that could shatter boulders. When my father called for the monks of Fung Temple, I didn't see Nobutada among them. If he's still alive, he'll be in the monastery and he can lend us his aid."
"Sorae's skill with the naginata is fearsome and second to none. She and her clan was summoned to Sanjo Beach, but never appeared. We should head to their estate in the west and find out what happened to them and, if possible, recruit them to our cause."
"Takamori is a warrior whose eyes allow him to predict his opponent's next moves. An ability we could have used in Sanjo Beach if he showed up... but maybe it was good that he didn't or else we might have lost him too.
He has an archery dojo to the southwest. We can start looking for him there. We can certainly need his unique ability."
"Kageho is a shinobi who was supposed to attempt to sneak through the Varjan blockade alongside others. The last wave of shinobi that we could send. I... ordered them not to go anymore, behind my father's back, since it would have been a waste and the Varjans were upon us. It was too late to call for reinforcements from the other islands.
Still, I expected her to show up in Sanjo Beach with the other shinobi. But they didn't. Anyway, their hideout should be around here somewhere. Try looking for any suspicious clearings in the forests around here. We can use their help."
"Kazenosuke could deflect any attack with his spinning blade, and deliver slashes faster than the eye could see. I have no idea why he couldn't make it to Sanjo Beach. I know he's a ronin, but he still should have heeded my father.
Well, his house is near Terauchi Temple. Not very near, but just follow the river near the temple and we'll find his home and then we can ask for his help."
"Yurine has taken care of Clan Oja for as long as I can remember. Despite being a servant, I know she can swing her masakari axe pretty hard. I've little idea of her past but I know it involves tending cemeteries.
She should be in Castle Oja but my father sent her to Onrai to begin enacting some way to protect the graves from being desecrated by the invaders. I know of a famous cemetery south of Terauchi Temple. We can begin looking for her there and she'll surely help us."
"My childhood friend Kikyo was on an anti-yokai mission before all of this. I... was kind of glad she couldn't be on the beach and hoped that maybe she'll find a way to escape and live a full life elsewhere. But I know she would never do that.
If she's coming back, she would definitely head for Port Wadatsumi in the southeast. We should find her before she does anything... drastic."
~~ TALES OF SHIZUYAMA ~~
There was a villager woman, crying alone near a large tree within Terauchi Temple.
"Yokai, could I speak with you? A group of bandits is terrorizing Sanjo. They slaughtered my whole family, like animals!
They were killed at our home, near a river. I am Saki, please avenge my family and stop those bandits."
An upset woman noticed the taskforce member approaching.
"As if losing our homes wasn't bad enough, we have to see Varjans in them as well.
They took a home nearby a few days ago. The man who lived there won't leave the area. He keeps begging for help."
A peasant man warming his hands on a bonfire noticed the taskforce member passing by.
"Yokai, you must do something! It's Ayane's sake brewery in Imahama. That brewery is the pride of Shizuyama, but soon there will be none left. The Varjans are taking it by force."
A villager sitting on some stone steps in the temple stood up when the taskforce member approached.
"Yokai, I've heard of a small resistance group gathering in the Imahama Area. I believe they're headed by a shrine priestess who wasn't present in Sanjo Beach."
"They're recruiting farmers and fishermen to their cause. Brave, but it'll be dangerous if they're not properly trained."
Thanking him for his understanding, Nyla fell in line behind Oja, and for most of the trip she'd remain quiet. Thankfully, the trip proved mostly uneventful, aside from passing pleasantries and idle chatter of which, she'd elect not to participate in actively. Only listen. And it was during this listening, that Oja asked both her and Kirei a question, to which Kirei would respond quite...tactlessly, in her opinion. She didn't know the reasons herself either, at least until Oja told them a little of the history, but one should always be delicate around such topics.
"None taken, Lord Oja, and I'm sure Sir Kirei meant nothing by it." Nyla responded. "Yokai are not known for being entirely...agreeable. That is not something I will deny or even hide. Even I myself have..." She'd pause. She probably shouldn't mention anything of her past here. Especially the Convent. especially the Convent. She wondered if there was a temple of some priestesses around here or something. Aaah, she did so love religious wear-wait no stop that she was drooling. "A-ahem...it was another life, that is all I can say, Lord Oja. Just know that I will serve you as faithfully as I can."
A small pause as she'd glance to the side.
"That said, if you'll indulge me my lord...do you have a favorite food?" She gave him a mildly hopeful look, intent likely obvious from what she was going to do with that information.
@AzureKnight(VRA) ...Well. Not that Vivian was interested, but that was rather rude. Were Shizuyamans under the impression all yokai were aggressive husband-napping bedwinners? ...Perhaps, that was true for other species, but she was certain that Glacies were probably the most capable of not losing to a man's charms right away. Her heart was literally frozen after all.
"Oh, not to worry, you're not my type either. You don't seem like you could keep up," Vivian said, before taking a seat on a nearby log, at least putting herself in a vulnerable enough position that Kazenosuke would guess that they weren't here to try and steal him away. Crossing one leg over the other, Vivian's left hand would rest upon her knee, the wood beneath her hissing just a bit as the water inside it froze. "Varã dear, badgering him about who he associates with is only going to make this harder. We've come to ask for your aid in defending...how did they pronounce it...Tearyouitchi temple? Your lord's son is beginning a little counterattack against the Varjans, and thought it might be wise to seek your blade to his cause."
Vivian would beckon for Varã to sit down on the log beside her, continuing to speak after a moment. "I imagine you have your reasons for not being at the beach, and won't pry into that matter. But I would like to know whether we walked out here to find a comrade, or a future enemy." Vivian, despite her sharp tongue, was doing her best to assuage any warrior's honor drivel that might come next, given that she didn't particularly care if Kazenosuke was busy taking care of his sick grandmother, or having a hangover when the battle happened.
Her job was just to see if he was willing to join their fight, not grade his attendance.
Matsuri
@Rezod92 "My faith comes from my gut, and my Father always said to trust it. And, thank you thank you thank you!" Matsuri said, eagerly following Lady Kyouko beside Zeka as they were taken to Kyouko's estate, then lead into a magical circle of some sort. Matsuri hadn't even considered keeping her ancestry secret, and as such would nod at Lady Kyouko's instructions. "Got it. I'm just a concerned fireworks maker from the mainland!" Matsuri said, straighting herself out, adjusting the strap that held her bamboo cannon against her back, and finally, give her tail a little fluff to make it a bit more presentable. She wouldn't back down from this, and was more than ready as white light enveloped the duo, depositing them in a wooden chamber.
Rubbing her eyes to get the blinding whiteness out of it, Matsuri's ears perked up as she heard Ayu speak. Once she could see, Matsuri would bow respectfully, saying: "Matsuri Okitsu, a pleasure to meet you. Oh, and you too, Ms. Zeka. Sorry. Didn't have a proper chance to introduce myself directly." With that short introduction out of the way, the inari would want to know where she could be of the most help. "I'm not the best at fighting, but I can cook, make fireworks, and I'm great with people. Oh and, I guess I have a fox's nose now," Matsuri listed her "best" traits to at least give Ayu an idea of what she could do, unaware that this was sort of a "pick your gig" kind of task force.
With an innocent gleam to her eyes, she would look at Ayu and ask: "Sooo, what should I do?"
"Last warning, girls. The island of Shizuyama is anti-monster, in fact that stance made them allies with Varjo and The Order for a long time. Despite their deteriorating relationship, the people of Shizuyama will regard you with suspicion and fear. But please, they're good people. Just be patient with them."
"That's askin' an awful lot, but we'll do our best." replied Zeka just as the white light enveloped her and Matsuri, transporting the duo to Shizuyama.
As the white light faded, the duo now stood within a large wooden chamber, one side showing a candle-lit shrine while the other revealed sliding doors. One of these opened and a black-haired woman wearing green robes entered the room.
"Hello, there. You must be sent here by Lady Kyouko, right? I'm Ayu and this is one of the pagodas of Terauchi Temple. I'm going to assume you're going to be part of the taskforce. All of the members are away at the moment, but you can talk to me and I can answer any questions you got.
"Matsuri Okitsu, a pleasure to meet you. Oh, and you too, Ms. Zeka. Sorry. Didn't have a proper chance to introduce myself directly."
"Name's Zeka Willows. And yes, we're part of the taskforce.", the mouse girl responded before turning to Matsuri with a smile. Nice to meet you too, Matsuri. Let's get this job done, quick and clean."
Speaking of which....
"Oh yeah, I haven't told Lady Kyouko yet but the Varjans have landed in Shizuyama. They've defeated Lord Oja's army and are now rampaging unimpeded across the island. The taskforce managed to rescue Lord Oja's son, though, so this island might have a chance yet."
......Shit.....
"Great, two things I hate a job becoming: Slow and dirty.", sighed Zeka, palm running down her face in resignation. "But as you said, we do have a shot. Best to get started, so where are the others?"
Upon being filled in by Ayu, Zeka would exit the temple and head off to find a man named Kazenosuke.....Wierd name, but who is she to judge? Going for a safe approach, Zeka concentrated her mana, her amulet glowing slightly as she became transparent, sticking to the shadows of the surrounding forest on her way toward her destination.
"That said, if you'll indulge me my lord...do you have a favorite food?"
"A favorite food? Interesting question..." Takeshi pondered at the Shoggoth's question for a moment. "I've always had a fondness for fish, but I wouldn't call it my favorite since I've been also eating it all my life." The young lord then shook his head. "That's not true. If I had to pick something to eat, it'll be some nice, roasted tuna with a side of stir-fried vegetables."
The trio continued to travel until they happened a wood-walled encampment. The sight surprised Takeshi and he immediately took Nyla and Kirei behind a low rock near the encampment. "Since that is not a Shizuyaman encampment, I think it's safe to assume it's a Varjan one." The young lord peeked at the encampment again, noticing some rocks that could allow one to jump inside as well as some gaps in the walls that were large enough for a person to slip into.
"We're no doubt outnumbered, and Nyla dislikes direct confrontations, so we'll have to do this quietly." Takeshi told the two taskforce members. "We can also circle around but we might run into their patrols and alert this camp, forcing us to face them anyway. What do you two think?"
"I imagine you have your reasons for not being at the beach, and won't pry into that matter. But I would like to know whether we walked out here to find a comrade, or a future enemy."
"I'm afraid it is my duty as a Shizuyaman not to be comrades with a yokai. And I very much doubt you want me as a future enemy." Kazenosuke replied, his hand still on the sword-hilt despite Vivian assuming a vulnerable position by sitting on a fallen log.
"And again I say, there's absolutely no way that Takeshi would willingly work with yokai. Have you captured him? Holding him in Terauchi Temple?" The dancing swordsman jumped to conclusions. "Perhaps I should slay you two here and mount a rescue. Then the real counterattack against the Varjan invasion can begin."
Kazenosuke was unwilling to believe Vivian's words. Not surprising as he was a man raised to suspect and be cautious of yokai at all times. However, both Vivian and Varã remembered Takeshi's phrase that can make the dancing, stubborn swordsman listen to them.
An invisible Zeka shortly arrived to the scene as well. Likely confused or surprised that other monsters, presumably other taskforce members, have already beaten her here.
"Well, Lord Takeshi gave the taskforce a mission to recruit a select group of people who can help mount a counterattack against the Varjan invasion." Ayu helpfully answered. "Let me recount to you Lord Takeshi's exact words as best I can..."
After listing the people that Takeshi Oja wanted recruited, Ayu continued. "As you already probably know, this island is, at best, suspicious of yokai like you. However, we do need their trust if we are to help them fully. So I also recommend going around this temple and helping out any refugee that needs it to boost the yokai's image. Sure, they may not trust you but I wager that they're desperate enough to accept aid from you."
"...Oh and, I guess I have a fox's nose now,"
"Huh? Are you formerly human?" Ayu noticed before pinching her temples. "Well that could be a huge problem with some of the people here. Best keep that a secret, alright?"
~~ TAKESHI'S JOURNEY ~~
"There's a monastery east of here called Fung Temple.
There's a monk there named Nobutada. He's one of the most sturdiest people I know, able to weather blows that could shatter boulders. When my father called for the monks of Fung Temple, I didn't see Nobutada among them. If he's still alive, he'll be in the monastery and he can lend us his aid."
"Sorae's skill with the naginata is fearsome and second to none. She and her clan was summoned to Sanjo Beach, but never appeared. We should head to their estate in the west and find out what happened to them and, if possible, recruit them to our cause."
"Takamori is a warrior whose eyes allow him to predict his opponent's next moves. An ability we could have used in Sanjo Beach if he showed up... but maybe it was good that he didn't or else we might have lost him too.
He has an archery dojo to the southwest. We can start looking for him there. We can certainly need his unique ability."
"Kageho is a shinobi who was supposed to attempt to sneak through the Varjan blockade alongside others. The last wave of shinobi that we could send. I... ordered them not to go anymore, behind my father's back, since it would have been a waste and the Varjans were upon us. It was too late to call for reinforcements from the other islands.
Still, I expected her to show up in Sanjo Beach with the other shinobi. But they didn't. Anyway, their hideout should be around here somewhere. Try looking for any suspicious clearings in the forests around here. We can use their help."
"Kazenosuke could deflect any attack with his spinning blade, and deliver slashes faster than the eye could see. I have no idea why he couldn't make it to Sanjo Beach. I know he's a ronin, but he still should have heeded my father.
Well, his house is near Terauchi Temple. Not very near, but just follow the river near the temple and we'll find his home and then we can ask for his help."
"Yurine has taken care of Clan Oja for as long as I can remember. Despite being a servant, I know she can swing her masakari axe pretty hard. I've little idea of her past but I know it involves tending cemeteries.
She should be in Castle Oja but my father sent her to Onrai to begin enacting some way to protect the graves from being desecrated by the invaders. I know of a famous cemetery south of Terauchi Temple. We can begin looking for her there and she'll surely help us."
"My childhood friend Kikyo was on an anti-yokai mission before all of this. I... was kind of glad she couldn't be on the beach and hoped that maybe she'll find a way to escape and live a full life elsewhere. But I know she would never do that.
If she's coming back, she would definitely head for Port Wadatsumi in the southeast. We should find her before she does anything... drastic."
~~ TALES OF SHIZUYAMA ~~
There was a villager woman, crying alone near a large tree within Terauchi Temple.
"Yokai, could I speak with you? A group of bandits is terrorizing Sanjo. They slaughtered my whole family, like animals!
They were killed at our home, near a river. I am Saki, please avenge my family and stop those bandits."
An upset woman noticed the taskforce member approaching.
"As if losing our homes wasn't bad enough, we have to see Varjans in them as well.
They took a home nearby a few days ago. The man who lived there won't leave the area. He keeps begging for help."
A peasant man warming his hands on a bonfire noticed the taskforce member passing by.
"Yokai, you must do something! It's Ayane's sake brewery in Imahama. That brewery is the pride of Shizuyama, but soon there will be none left. The Varjans are taking it by force."
A villager sitting on some stone steps in the temple stood up when the taskforce member approached.
"Yokai, I've heard of a small resistance group gathering in the Imahama Area. I believe they're headed by a shrine priestess who wasn't present in Sanjo Beach."
"They're recruiting farmers and fishermen to their cause. Brave, but it'll be dangerous if they're not properly trained."
@AzureKnight(VRA), @Rezod92 It seemed Kazenosuke was determined to continue playing hard to get, and that they'd have to use the pass-phrase that Takeshi had provided to them. Of course, Vivian had no clue what a "miko" was, but would speak before her fiery companion made things worse. "Your lord couldn't come, because he was...how did he put it? 'Busy dressed up as a Miko.'. I have no idea what that means, butt he was sure that you'd be troublesome to deal with unless we said that," Vivian said, unaware that a new arrival had joined them.
Crossing her legs, Vivian would say: "As for whether we're your comrades or enemies...I have no intention of staying after this conflict resolves, so, consider me a tourist if you must." The glacies seemed to have no intention of moving from her log, glancing skyward to observe a passing cloud. "...Though I must admit...as an artist, I'm curious on how a Blademaster carries himself in a fight. It isn't just fighting for you, is it? You carry your sword as an extension of your body, rather than a tool for killing."
Matsuri
"O-Oh. Right. Sorry, I'll keep that a secret," Matsuri said quickly in response to Ayu's worries, before trotting off to decide on what she'd do. It seemed a lot of people needed help, not just Lord Oja...but, as much as it upset Matsuri to realize, she wasn't the best of fighters. As such, she thought it'd be best to tackle a job that wouldn't guarantee fighting. Shinobi were famous through Zipangu for their esoteric arts and stealth, and Matsuri figured...if they had spies like that on their side, this conflict might be over way sooner!
Trotting off after getting directions, Matsuri would circle the forest outskirts for a little while before taking a break in a clearing, sitting on a rock while she looked at the treeline above her. "Looking for shinobi is a lot harder than I thought it'd be. ...Wait...maybe if I leave a peace offering, they'll come out of hiding!" she would quickly leap to her feet, looking over her belongings and then suddenly realizing how silly of an idea that was. That worked with wild animals...not trained and hardened shinobi.
Ears drooping after realizing her idea wouldn't work, Matsuri resolved to at least leave out one of the many packed lunches her factory's employees had made for her journey, figuring that they would at least appreciate a good meal. Everyone got hungry, and she had to imagine it was hard for the shinobi to find any food with the Varjans taking over a good part of the villages on the island. Picking herself back up, the inari would soon start looking again, hoping to at least find something to show for her search.
Zeka had arrived, just missing the Varjans as she stood at the treeline, staying hidden and watching a samurai and two mamono talking to each other......Though, the conversation was turning sour, from the looks of it.
He must be Kazenosuke, though who are the other two?, she thought to herself as she observed the duo. The one sitting on a log had light bluish-green skin, a flowing dress that exposed her midriff and spoke in a somewhat condescending tone toward the ronin. The other was a fiery redhead in a flashy red dress with, given her aggressive stance toward the man, an attitude to match. Were they with the taskforce as well? Zeka wasn't sure. She was close enough to see them, but too far to hear what they were saying.
Kazenosuke still had a hand on his weapon, Zeka decided to stay where she was and see what happens next. Thanks to her transparency and the shadows from the trees, they didn't notice her, which was perfect for the mouse. If the situation deescalated, she'll come out and properly introduce herself. If a fight broke out.......well, that's why she was here and not over there.
"Your lord couldn't come, because he was...how did he put it? 'Busy dressed up as a Miko.'. I have no idea what that means, butt he was sure that you'd be troublesome to deal with unless we said that,"
Kazenosuke's eyes widened in surprise at hearing the phrase. His grip on the hilt relaxed as a genuine smile formed in his face. "Aha... Ahahahahaha!" He laughed heartily. "I can't believe Takeshi would share that secret with you. Willingly, too. No amount of pleasure would coax that incident out of his lips."
"So Takeshi's alive and well, and willingly working with you. Oh man, his dad's gonna kill him..." Kazenosuke remarked as he approached the sitting Vivian and leaned on the log. "So what's this about Takeshi mounting a counterattack? Did he find a thousand soldiers hiding under a mountain or something? What about his father? What happened to the army that was greeting the Varjan invasion in Sanjo Beach?"
"And for the record, Takeshi's not my lord. His father is. I am friends with Takeshi, no sworn oaths or anything like that." Kazenosuke closed his eyes after the correction, and took in a breath of air. "...And tell your other friend to stop hiding in the shadows. I'm not gonna fight any of you... At least, not yet."
"Don't forget Lord Takeshi's code phrase that I told you in case you need it!" Were Ayu's last words to Matsuri before the latter left the temple.
---
Night had already fallen and Matsuri still haven't found a single sign of the shinobi Kageho. Even her enhanced monster vision was hampered in the darkness of the thick forest, where the moon's dim light was of no help. But before she could decide to leave or keep searching, she sensed the presence of a group heading in her direction.
A dozen of armed humans who were clearly not Shizuyaman arrived at the clearing. Most wore fur pelts and armor and held torches to illuminate the night but five wore very loose hooded robes that were dark blue in color. The robes appear to be too big that they manage to completely obscure their wearer. In a way, they looked comical in such an attire but when they move, they appear to be sliding across the grassy soil than actually walking.
Their intimidating appearance clued Matsuri that this group might be Varjans, the invaders that attacked Shizuyama. They also obviously outnumbered the fledgling Inari, so combat with them would be extremely unwise. However, fleeing from this place might also mean abandoning Kageho, the shinobi hiding in this area.
~~ TAKESHI'S JOURNEY ~~
"There's a monastery east of here called Fung Temple.
There's a monk there named Nobutada. He's one of the most sturdiest people I know, able to weather blows that could shatter boulders. When my father called for the monks of Fung Temple, I didn't see Nobutada among them. If he's still alive, he'll be in the monastery and he can lend us his aid."
"Sorae's skill with the naginata is fearsome and second to none. She and her clan was summoned to Sanjo Beach, but never appeared. We should head to their estate in the west and find out what happened to them and, if possible, recruit them to our cause."
"Takamori is a warrior whose eyes allow him to predict his opponent's next moves. An ability we could have used in Sanjo Beach if he showed up... but maybe it was good that he didn't or else we might have lost him too.
He has an archery dojo to the southwest. We can start looking for him there. We can certainly need his unique ability."
"Kageho is a shinobi who was supposed to attempt to sneak through the Varjan blockade alongside others. The last wave of shinobi that we could send. I... ordered them not to go anymore, behind my father's back, since it would have been a waste and the Varjans were upon us. It was too late to call for reinforcements from the other islands.
Still, I expected her to show up in Sanjo Beach with the other shinobi. But they didn't. Anyway, their hideout should be around here somewhere. Try looking for any suspicious clearings in the forests around here. We can use their help."
"Kazenosuke could deflect any attack with his spinning blade, and deliver slashes faster than the eye could see. I have no idea why he couldn't make it to Sanjo Beach. I know he's a ronin, but he still should have heeded my father.
Well, his house is near Terauchi Temple. Not very near, but just follow the river near the temple and we'll find his home and then we can ask for his help."
"Yurine has taken care of Clan Oja for as long as I can remember. Despite being a servant, I know she can swing her masakari axe pretty hard. I've little idea of her past but I know it involves tending cemeteries.
She should be in Castle Oja but my father sent her to Onrai to begin enacting some way to protect the graves from being desecrated by the invaders. I know of a famous cemetery south of Terauchi Temple. We can begin looking for her there and she'll surely help us."
"My childhood friend Kikyo was on an anti-yokai mission before all of this. I... was kind of glad she couldn't be on the beach and hoped that maybe she'll find a way to escape and live a full life elsewhere. But I know she would never do that.
If she's coming back, she would definitely head for Port Wadatsumi in the southeast. We should find her before she does anything... drastic."
~~ TALES OF SHIZUYAMA ~~
There was a villager woman, crying alone near a large tree within Terauchi Temple.
"Yokai, could I speak with you? A group of bandits is terrorizing Sanjo. They slaughtered my whole family, like animals!
They were killed at our home, near a river. I am Saki, please avenge my family and stop those bandits."
An upset woman noticed the taskforce member approaching.
"As if losing our homes wasn't bad enough, we have to see Varjans in them as well.
They took a home nearby a few days ago. The man who lived there won't leave the area. He keeps begging for help."
A peasant man warming his hands on a bonfire noticed the taskforce member passing by.
"Yokai, you must do something! It's Ayane's sake brewery in Imahama. That brewery is the pride of Shizuyama, but soon there will be none left. The Varjans are taking it by force."
A villager sitting on some stone steps in the temple stood up when the taskforce member approached.
"Yokai, I've heard of a small resistance group gathering in the Imahama Area. I believe they're headed by a shrine priestess who wasn't present in Sanjo Beach."
"They're recruiting farmers and fishermen to their cause. Brave, but it'll be dangerous if they're not properly trained."
@AzureKnight(VRA), @Rezod92 It was good that no blood needed to be shed today, especially since Vivian was sure that this man was more than just idle rumors and boasting. He hadn't let his guard down even once, to the extent he sensed their invisibile comrade nearb-
Wait.
"...Being honest, I thought it was only Varã and I here. Whoever's there, might as well give up the ghost. The ronin has your number," Vivian said, encouraging Zeta to come out of hiding since there wasn't much point. The clairvoyant ronin say through all, it seemed.
Vivian didn't like to acknowledge her lack of foresight, but really, who would have suspected they'd be tailed by another monster? Not letting it phase her too badly, Vivian would just focus on answering Kazenosuke's questions. After she scooted just a bit away from the ronin to make sure he wasn't close enough to be drained by her aura. "Takeshi's father is a noble of great importance, so I imagine even the Varjans wouldn't just execute him outright. Political puppets are always vital to a good drama after all. As for the army...I imagine they were slaughtered to the last, to prove a point. Otherwise, we wouldn't be necessary." Having given her sufficiently hopeless summary of the situation, Vivian would then add: "But, between us and the allies Takeshi hopes he can count on, they're expecting that taking a port will be sufficient for landing aid. I'd tell you where our headquarters are, but you haven't agreed to help yet."
Standing, Vivian would give Kazenosuke some warming room, stepping forward a few steps. "Speaking purely from a position of numbers, we can't even fight a warband with how many we have. I've never had someone I can call a friend, but...in the stories I've played part in, a bond between two can overcome virtually anything this world has to offer. Perhaps, the bond you and Takeshi share is one such instance. Oh and, don't worry about yokai, I imagine we'll all leave once this conflict concludes. For whatever comfort that is, at least."
Matsuri
It was already close to dark, and Matsuri was starting to think that this search was beyond her. ...Who was she kidding, trying to find ninjas when her expertise was in making fireworks!? "This is hopeless..." she muttered under her breath, before she heard a heavy footstep crack a twig nearby. Hurriedly, Matsuri would hide behind a few bushes, peeking out as the armed and armored soldiers came bearing torches. ...It looked like someone else was combing the forest.
These had to be Varjans, given how their armor and robes looked foreign to what Matsuri had seen of the island's people. She didn't stand a chance against one of these warriors, and the robed people were giving her the creeps. Turning tail and running would be best while they didn't see her but...those shinobi were out here somewhere. And trained soldiers were way more likely to find them than Matsuri was. Working up her courage, Matsuri would don her festival mask and hold a hand out before her. Concentrating her energy, a ball of fireworks would appear from seemingly nothing, the heft of it tested by Matsuri as she tossed it up and down. "One surprise shot...and then, the Kyuubi Buster when they're isolated," the inari confirmed mentally, before removing he bamboo cannon and leveling it. She wouldn't have much time, but...this should make for one hell of a distraction, and potentially let the hiding shinboi have enough of an opening to escape.
With the faintest hiss masked by a distant illusion of rustling, Matsuri's Never-Ending-Starry Night would fly in the midst of the crowd, the inari letting loose a loud clap just before detonation. Once the flash started and the dome of light engulfed the group, Matsuri would make herself scarce, working up the energy for her Kyuubi Buster as she ran. "Can't lead them back to the temple, so...time to have them waste time!" she thought, concentrating her energy one an illusion of herself in an obvious hiding spot, that, when they approached, would quickly bolt away. Matsuri hadn't especially pushed the limits of her new state of monsterhood, but already felt herself moving a lot faster than she ever had, and wasn't even tired after searching all day. Maybe, just maybe, she stood a chance at an endurance battle in a location she'd spent all day searching every nook and cranny of.
"This yokai magic stuff is hard but...just you watch papa, I'm gonna keep everyone safe!"
"And for the record, Takeshi's not my lord. His father is. I am friends with Takeshi, no sworn oaths or anything like that....And tell your other friend to stop hiding in the shadows. I'm not gonna fight any of you... At least, not yet."
.....Huh?
There was no way, right? The guy was bluffing. That had to be a wild guess. There's no way that samurai actually knew she was the-
"...Being honest, I thought it was only Varã and I here. Whoever's there, might as well give up the ghost. The ronin has your number,"
At first, there was silence. Trees rustling to the gentle breeze of the wind...
....Then....
"HOW THE HELL DID YOU KNOW I WAS HERE!?"
From the shadows of the trees comes Zeka, red in the face from embarrassment as she briskly joined Varã and Vivian.
"S-Sorry. Zeka Willows. Newly arrived.", the mouse quickly introduced herself to the duo before turning her attention to Kazenosuke. "Dude, how did you do that? In all my years as a professional thief, no one has ever caught me....without having to see me. You're human, right?"
"We've arrived..." Ripcord says, as she looked around. "And, everything is here. That's not protocol."
"Everything is still standing, Rippy! People are still alive! Are we sure Varjans came here..." Umami asks.
Ripcord shrugged. "Let's ask around," she says, striding to the nearest villager, "Hey, why didn't the Varjans just erase this place like they normally would?"
The peasant woman bowed. “Please. This way.” She led the Claremont sisters into the workers’ living quarters and urged them inside with quick hand movements.
Once inside the building, the peasant woman assumed a more relaxed, honest tone. “Apologies, miladies. I couldn’t speak freely out there. The Varjans might have overheard.” She then continued. “They’ve been drinking us dry. When they first came, their leader - a Varjan Warrior covered in fur pelts - offered to spare us as long as we gave them sake.”
“But the amount they've been demanding lately is way too much than we can provide. And they’re coming soon too.”
"The fact you're still alive is contingent on whatever you are supplying," Ripcord says, "Sounds like a protection racket."
"Protecting what? Those place doesn't offer much in the way of value, beyond the sake production," Umami says, "There's nothing much to gain in protecting something ypu can buy at any market."
"Even a good production house isn't worth anything to the war effort. However, the land is a different story," Ripcord surmised, "Mami, take to the sky, and see if there is anything of interest around?"
Umami snapped a salute, before her body transformed, "On it, Papi!" and she shot into the sky like a rocket. The apex of her wing-assisted, she transformed again; taking on the features of a Werebat, as she descended, and took in the surroundings. Upon landing, she held on all fours, and looked up. "Here's what I got..."
The villager woman said. “Yokai or not, how dare you speak of our sake like that? Our sake is known throughout Shizuyama. This is not some random horse piss an amateur sake brewer makes in their backyard. Our methods had decades of refinement.”
Umami saw nothing of note nearby that could interest the invaders. There was only forest around the brewery. Perhaps, the Varjans really were only here for the sake and kept these people alive to brew more.
"Yokai," Ripcord spat. "Humans use that word with arrogance and disdain. Be it the Varjans that created us as a superweapon, or those that kept us enslaved to be used for our purpose," Ripcord looked at the woman, her temper flaring nonverbally, as her left eye divided like an egg cell into multiple irises, "Or, you, here and now, assuming that we are nothing more than a weapon for YOU to point at our old slave keepers to do your dirty work."
"We just want to live! We have names! We have hopes and dreams! We bleed! We need to eat, sleep, piss, and shit! Just like you!" Umami snapped, her temper flaring verbally, "It's not our fault you weren't born into chattel slavery, designed as nothing more than a product to be used! No better than the bottle used to hold this sake you're so proud of! And, just as easy to throw away!"
Ripcord placed her hand on Umami's cheek, and brought her close. "You're losing your temper, Mami," she says, bringing them nose-to-nose, "Breathe, in and out... Steady..."
Umami balled her fists, before her shoulders dropped. "I'm not a monster, Papi... I'm Umami..." she looked to the side.
"My baby sister, and my pride and joy," Ripcord smiled, rubbing their noses together, eliciting a giggle and blush from Umami, "The Varjans have an advantage with the forest. They can move small numbers through, and strike without warning. However, if they've been moving through it, they've been taking a route," she says, "Sniff it out, Mami. Find all of them, and return to make. I'll start making traps for you to put in their paths."
Umami saluted, before adopting Werewolf features, and licking her cheek, "I'm on it, Papi!" before she took off.
Ripcord giggled, and rubbed the lick into her cheek, before turning back to the woman. "As for you, I hope you had a good harvest, but I need material for explosives, and sake is flammable..."
“Take as much sake as you need, yokai.” The villager woman replied, surprisingly undaunted by the sisters’ earlier outburst. “Get these Varjans off our island.”
Meanwhile, Umami went into the forest and searched for the trail that the Varjans used. They did not bother masking their scents or their tracks, allowing her to find the trail immediately. In fact, she found much more: An entire dozen of Varjan Brigands armed with shields, axes and javelins were already en route to the brewery. From their walking speed, they would arrive in several minutes.
They were led by a fair-skinned, muscled man who walked confidently in front of the group. He wore nothing but a pair black trousers and a fur pelt around his neck. A large spear was slung on his back and he walked with abject boredom on his face… until he raised his fist to stop his men from moving.
“...Someone’s watching us.” He sensed Umami’s presence.
"Stop calling me that! I have a name!" Ripcord snapped, no longer maintaining her calm demeanor, now that Umami couldn't see her being so disgraceful. "I don't know or care what your past relations with others of my kind are, but I'm not them. I grew up under the whole palm of the Varjans - I've never had a choice to be anything more than a living mop and bucket, while my sister was naught but a broom and dustpan." Ripcord turned to face the woman, "You stand there with the freedom to insult me and denigrate my existence, while I was created to serve your kind until I break," she says, "I can get rid of your problems, free you of tyranny, but as long as you live, you'll always oppress me, and think it's just the way of things."
Before Ripcord could continue, she would bend forward, almost comically, as Umami full-body tackled her from behind - panting heavily. "Varjans! Coming! This many!" she held up her hands by her ears, flicking them left and right, "Whadda we do!?"
Ripcord straightened up, "Twelve, huh? Need to be smart about this, then. You, racist woman, since you've so much to say, put that mouth to work, and get people inside the most unassuming place. My original plan is shot. We'll have to take them off-route..."
Umami nodded, "What should I do?"
"I wish we had more time to dig a hole, but alas..." Ripcord closed her eyes, "You'll just have to keep them safe, while I deal with the brunt of it."
“You will always be yokai, madam.” The villager woman crossed her arms, replying to Ripcord. “That’s something no one can take away from you. If you are going to be angry every time you are called that, you will be angry for the rest of your life. Word of advice - be proud of who you are, no matter your past.” The woman finished. “There’s a basement here where we can fully hide. You two just focus on the Varjans, don’t worry about our safety.”
After the woman gathered all of the workers and hid, the Varjan contingent finally arrived. Or at least, one of them did - the fur-pelted leader. He sauntered into the brewery area seemingly without a care in the world, the rest of his group nowhere to be seen. Presumably staying back in the forest, or laying an ambush.
Ripcord bit her lip, as the woman spoke. There was no pride in her. There was nothing to be proud about. She was a tool; a hammer when there were nails, a screwdriver when there were screws, and so on, so forth. Her purpose was to serve. Pride wasn't in the mission statement.
As the workers moved about, they gained an extra body, as Umami slipped into their ranks, and would take to hiding among the workers in the basement; disguised and present to protect them, if the Varjans went a-hunting.
Meanwhile, Ripcord looked at the main attraction, and dropped to her ankles in a foreigner squatting pose, as she rummaged her non-existent pockets, and retrieved a pack of rolled cigarettes and a lighter - immediate giveaway to her homeland.
"So," Ripcord asks, lighting the stick, "What's Varjo want with a dumpy, little sake shack on this no-name, little shit stain of an island?" Taking a drag, Ripcord blew smoke at the leader, "Shit, my bad. Old habits. I didn't ask your name. Mine's..." Ripcord paused, "Isn't that something... I've forgotten what it was. I'll have to ask for a new name once I get back, I guess."
The Varjan Champion sniffed the smoke blown at him. “That depends. What’s a monster doing on an anti-monster island?” He responded. “...Don’t try to pretend. You’re no local and you’re not Order. I’d say Varjan, but my gut really says that isn’t the case. That narrows the choices down.”
“Still, I’m glad you’re here. The alcohol this place is making is top-notch stuff. Much better than whatever gunk we brew back in the ships. But it has always been my opinion that drinks taste much better after… a fierce workout.” The Champion continued. “So, monster. When do we start?”
Ripcord signed, "I was born just as Human as anyone else..." Standing, she looked annoyed, and flicked ash off her cigarettes. "Sounds like your problems are insignificant, just a bunch of drunks, unhappy with their own drink."
"Well, regardless, whenever you'd like to begin," Ripcord says.
“Ah, a traitor to the human race then.” The Varjan Champion concluded. “I think we can begin now.”
The whizzing of the air alerted Ripcord of something rapidly coming at her. She was not fast enough to evade but fortunately, the attack missed. A javelin thrown at Ripcord did not find its mark, but landed quite close at the ground mere inches from her. “Oh, for the love of…”
The Varjan Champion quickly grabbed the missed javelin and began thrusting and swinging the weapon against Ripcord.
There was a loud clang, as the initial swing found purchase, before it was shoved back towards his; a large, unwieldy weapon pushing out of Ripcord's body. "Traitor," she asks, "Quite the contrary. It was Varjan science that made me. It's simply doing what I was born to do by your betters."
Lifting the weapons, Ripcord pulled on the ripcord, and it revved to life with an unnatural roar and sustained growl, as the misshapen canine teeth spun.
Hopping forward, Ripcord would cleave at the Champion - fully on the offensive.
The Varjan Champion reeled back from the unknown, but powerful, weapon. To him, it looked like some sort of sword. A sword that had teeth. Teeth that slid along the blade with blurring speed, rending anything that it made contact with.
A vertical swing of Ripcord’s weapon split the Champion’s javelin into two and sent him stumbling to the ground. But before Ripcord could deal the finishing blow, javelins and throwing axes rained on the Homunculus. The Brigands that this Champion led had climbed the rooftops of the brewery’s buildings and threw projectiles from the vantage point.
The Champion used the opportunity to get some distance from Ripcord. Picking up a missed thrown axe as a weapon.
Ripcord barely took her focus off her opponent; she didn't have to, after all. As the rain of projectiles came at her, she would shed her clothing, and expose a myriad of opening eyes like those that bore down on her opponent. Her skin would ripple like a disturbed pond, before fleshed arms erupted from her; her by undergoing intense, rapid mutation of her Shoggoth DNA, and allowing her to catch the weapons slung at her from all angles.
Pulling her numerous arms back, acid would leak from her fingertips and her sweat glands - dissolving the weapons, as she absorbed them.
"A delicious craftsmanship. It's crude and quaint. Like, a simple meat stew or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich," Ripcord says, licking her fingers, "Reminds me Varjo. What they fed me, back in the business..."
"I can't wait to get my dessert... haven't had dessert in so long... I just have to clean my plate..."
The Varjans were stunned at Ripcord’s display of her Shoggoth abilities. Even the Champion was slack-jawed for a moment before regaining his senses. “Shoggoth! Prepare fire weapons!” He ordered his underlings.
Despite that, Ripcord saw about half of the Varjan crew leap from the buildings to run away. They were not here to fight such a terrifying creature.
The Varjan Champion hacked at Ripcord with his small axe. “You want your dessert? Come get it!” He stretched his arms at the Homunculus, goading her to attack him.
Ripcord revved her weapon, "Fire? How cute..."
Moving forward, Ripcord would launch herself via the momentum of her oversized weapon, and chase - slinging her moving sword forward, and through one of the retreating men. Flesh rent, acid seeped into the wound, and like venom, ran through his bloodstream. Turning with a swing of her weapon, Ripcord corrected her path, and chased another.
She seemed completely uninteresting in the goading attempt, as she swept up the small fry... like hor d'oeuvres...
“Oh no, you don’t!” Ripcord felt her flesh grabbed with tremendous strength. “Your fight is with me!”
The Homunculus was thrown by the Varjan Champion into one of the buildings in the brewery, crashing through a wooden support and into some barrels. Ripcord felt liquid splash onto her, the alcoholic sake from the barrels. When she looked up, she saw a line of three Varjan Footmen aiming flame-tipped arrows at her with their bows. The Varjan Champion was just behind them.
“Fire!”
Ripcord barely flinched, as she absorbed the sake into her skin, and swung her weapon; acid splashing off the spinning teeth, and melting the arrows in mid-flight. In addition to that, it created momentum that she would use to throw herself forward, and give herself a boost to her transition into a running sprint. As she rushed, the Mutant would stow her weapons away by rapidly sucking it into her hands, before pivoting on her right foot, and spinning; twinned, smaller version of her weapon erupting from her hands, as her arms stretched, and allowed her to become a whirling dervish, as she spun at the champion with the intent of slicing his men down as collateral.
Two of the Footmen were cut down as Ripcord spun, the third one managed to duck in time to live and run for his life. The Varjan Champion stood fast in his position as Ripcord came at him. With impeccable timing, he moved forward and caught one of the Mutant’s arms mid-swing and stopped the spin attack.
The Champion then threw Ripcord over his shoulder and pinned her on the ground. “Hahahaha! You are no ordinary monster, that I can tell for sure! You are a fine prey to hunt!”
"You aren’t..." Ripcord says, looking away, before looking back. Umami had a difficult time listening, and moreso, obeying orders, but she’d done well so far. "The countryside isn’t as interesting as I hoped," she lamented, "I’m just torn between if I should melt you down or kill you quickly. Normally, why work is with corpses, so I’m conflicted between business or pleasure..."
Ripcord grinned, as her skin grew translucent, and tendrils erupted from her where she was being pinned; tiny, nipping mouths forming to tear like ant.
"I’ll choose both, I think..." the Shoggoth grinned.
As the third Varjan ran through the woods, a wind would swept past him, and bring him, but a moment’s pause, before he was suddenly several dozen feet over the woods, and in the blink of an eye... falling.
"Too close. Too close. Rippy would have scolding me, if anyone got away..." Umami says, as she flew back to the ground, and transformed into a Weresheep upon landing. "Sorry about this..." the Chimera frowned, raising her cloven foot over the head of the broken man, having crashed through several tree branches, "It’s just business..."
Umami would slam her foot through his skull, before hurrying back to the workers; shapeshifting back into her borrowed Human form.
“Argh!” Ripcord’s tendrils bit onto the Varjan Champion’s arm pinning her to the ground. He was forced to let go, but not before grabbing her neck with his free hand. Ripcord felt something magical embed on her neck before the Champion released his grip.
The Varjan Champion stumbled back and dropped to the ground, grasping his stung arm. He had no weapons and was virtually defenseless before Ripcord. “Now, my fellow Varjan hunters will know who you are. Hahaha!” He laughed as he admired the magical mark he branded onto Ripcord’s neck. “You will be hunted for the rest of your days.”
The brand was a red mark in the shape of the Champion’s palm. It seemed as if it was ordinary red paint, but it was something definitely magical.
Ripcord eyed the Champion... through about two dozen eyes, as her Shoggoth nature took full hold; eyes and mouths opening across her body, as she shed her clothing and Humanity in equal measure. Before long, she was naught more than an amorphous blob with a translucent, yet pearlescent young woman sat upon like a melted Centaur.
Biting; Stinging; Lashing tendrils whipped out, and surrounded the Champion. "Do you have a name..." Ripcord asks, her voice muffled by the lack of a primary mouth, as her face was a blank expansive, like a mask with eye holes, yet amplified by the myriad of secondary mouths that decorated her body. "I wish to thank you for such a promise of fun to come."
“I do. It is Naugar. The one who marked you. Each time you are attacked, you think of me. Every time you are robbed of peace, you think of me. The moment you breath your last, you think of me.” Those were the Champion’s final words as he let himself be eaten by Ripcord.
"Yeah, yeah, words, words, so talkative. I’ll see you again, in like, eight hours, as literal pile of shit," Ripcord rolled her nonexistent eyes, as she shuffled forward; shedding her True Form, and stepping out of the amassed smile in her Human form. "Jeez... i didn’t even look to see where they ran off too..." she says, reaching into her side, and retrieving her smokes, before loosing a shrill whistle.
Umami perked up, and dropped her transformation. "It’s safe to return," she says, before bouncing out the doors to the cellar, happily throwing them wide. "The sake is safe! And, the people, too! We did it!"
The brewery workers reluctantly left the cellar, and beheld the work of Ripcord. They were in awe at how one monster woman managed to repulse an entire Varjan unit. Not everyone was optimistic, however. “Once the Varjans learn this unit is gone, they’ll send more to find out what happened.” One of the men said.
“He’s right.” The woman leading the brewery said before turning to the sisters. “Can you two stay? You can have as much sake as you want.”
"Nope!~" Umami beamed. "We’re just helpful adventurer types, now! From the big temple place! That’s our home!"
"There’s not a lot of you here," Ripcord says, "A repeat of today would go poorly, so... what if we just bring all of this to the temple," she mused, "I can probably fit all of your machines and you inside of me."
“Big temple place? What temple are you talking about?” The woman asked.
Ripcord would explain, since it wasn’t common knowledge. "The temple to the... north... ish... or so... That’s unimportant. Point is, it’s a... well, kinda like a village, really. It’s a place where Humans and Mamono can coexist, and where we can put our abilities forward on missions like this," she says. "It was requested of us to aid you, and so we did. My sister and I are newcomers to the whole ordeal, so you’d have to ask more experienced members for better details. But, the long and short of it is this: You needed help, and we came to help."
"It’s not safe here, but it can be safe there, and there’s a kitchen area that my sisters and I are going to build up, so I’m betting we can fit a bit of your sake stuff in there," Ripcord nodded, as she visualized it, "Sure, it won’t be to such scale as this, but starting over small isn’t such a terrible price for safety from those idiots that attack you for what you should be given coin for."
"Plus, we can show you how to make Sno-cones! So you can have something to sell when its super-hot out!" Umami supplied.
“A temple to the north… You mean Terauchi Temple? It’s a place where yokai and humans coexist, huh? I knew there was something off with that temple before all of this.” The woman then shrugged. “Whatever, we’ll take refuge there then. Thank you for fighting off the Varjans extorting our brewery.”
The brewer crew all bowed at the Claremont sisters.
“And please, no need to bring our equipment. You’ve already done so much for us.” The woman finished. “We’ll just close up here and hide the equipment as much as we can. We can just come back here once the Varjan invasion is over.”
Ripcord tilted her head, "It wouldn't trouble me to carry everything, but if you're sure," Ripcord would turn. "Let's go home, then."
"Umu!" Umami cheered.
Helping the worker pack up their homes and livelihoods, Ripcord and Umami would start the task of escorting them home.
In this tranquil valley where one could only hear the wind rustling the leaves of nearby trees under a bright blue sky, the only movement that disturbed this lazy afternoon was that of a small furried squirrel running about. It's inquisitive nose pointing left then right ad it's quick legs brought it further and further on his dire search for food. Up and down trees, accross hills and under bushes until it stopped behind a particularily weirdly shaped hill near an old ruin. Atop the hill was a small tree bearing exactly what the critter had been looking for: berries.
Atop the hill it climbed and, quickly enough, it started making the small fruits fall down the bush. Happy as can be, the squirrel decided to eat some right now. As it did so, a sudden rumble made it stop and look around but there was nothing. However, suddenly, a second rumble of the earth took it by surprise. Shook, it jumped right off the hill. yet, as it did so the small critter came face to face with something unexpected.
A great eye. It's iris was golden as the sun and a vertical lizard-like pupil was enough to make the squirrel drop it's food and scurry away. Suddenly, the once tranquil landscape came to life. The earth bent and cracked and the roots of the tree atop the hill snapped as it seemed to come to life and rise up. Once the dust and earth settled down, in place of the hill stood what seemed like an actual Dragon. Almost as soon as it had stood up though, a flash of light and fire erupted and the dragon changed from to that a pale skinned woman that immediately took as loud yawn, as if nothing had just happened.
"Huh? Where are the others? Wait... did I fall asleep? Aww... Shizuka'll be annoyed again."
Just as the girl let out a sigh, wings appeared from her lower back and in one great jump, she took flight.
"Dude, how did you do that? In all my years as a professional thief, no one has ever caught me....without having to see me. You're human, right?"
"A hundred percent human, my little mousey friend. A human who had to train all his life spotting sneaky, cheeky yokai like you." Kazenosuke answered Zeka.
"Speaking purely from a position of numbers, we can't even fight a warband with how many we have. I've never had someone I can call a friend, but...in the stories I've played part in, a bond between two can overcome virtually anything this world has to offer. Perhaps, the bond you and Takeshi share is one such instance. Oh and, don't worry about yokai, I imagine we'll all leave once this conflict concludes. For whatever comfort that is, at least."
"Pfft... bwahahahaha!" Kazenosuke laughed as if he heard one of the best jokes in his life. "Liberate a port, huh? For who? Definitely not one of the other anti-yokai factions in Zipangu. 'Cause I assure you that right now, coming to our aid is just asking for a death sentence."
"So most probably, yokai reinforcements. In numbers that could repel the Varjan invasion, so a lot of them. Hahahaha! I seriously doubt you're leaving after you're done with the Varjans. Oh man, Takeshi really did just put the people and the island above its traditions." Kazenosuke snickered again. "Good for him, making decisions independently and all that. However, you yokai should keep a close eye on him then. Once the people of this island realizes what he's doing, I bet someone'll stab him in his sleep."
"But we're getting off-topic here, you're here to recruit me for Takeshi's group. Let's get to that." Kazenosuke then crossed his arms. "Before I go, though, I want to know one thing: Are you even worth helping? Sure, Takeshi might be the best warrior in Shizuyama, but he can't be everywhere at once. Basically, I want to know if you three measure up to him. I don't want to join a group where I have to do everything."
"But how to measure that? Hmm..." Kazenosuke pondered for a moment before snapping his fingers. "I know! How about a spar? You three against me. What do you think?" The dancing swordsman issued a challenge. "Those are pretty even odds, no? You win, and I join you. Lose, and you go tell Takeshi that I wish him luck with whatever he's doing to this island."
When Matsuri's Never-Ending-Starry Night popped off, the Varjan group flew into a panic. They scattered and tried to get away from the bright lights as much as they could, while also frantically searching their surroundings for any hostiles. Some of the Varjans began to bark orders, other demanding the ambushers to show themselves.
Matsuri inserted an illusion of herself in an obvious hiding spot to bait the Varjans. Upon discovery of the illusion, the robed people in the group raised their arms at the hiding spot. From their arms shot blue jets of flame that quickly set the hiding spot in a blazing inferno. The illusion bolted off, and the flame sorcerers tried to shoot it with their blue fire.
The illusion worked, but these five Varjan Firethrowers were quickly burning the forest down. The fires were spreading from tree to tree, bush to bush. Matsuri was quickly running out of places to hide. But she should still keep an eye on the Varjan group, though. The Inari saw a couple of Varjan Brigands suddenly get pulled into the grass with none of their teammates the wiser.
The Claremont sisters returned to Terauchi Temple with the brewer crew safely. The crew gave their thanks to the sisters before parting ways and joining the rest of the refugees.
"Hey, you two." Ayu greeted Umami and Ripcord. "Good job bringing those people here. Ayane's Sake Brewery is real famous here in Shizuyama, so having the crew safe will be good for morale. Even if the ruling Oja Clan doesn't drink." Ayu casually revealed. Thinking about that, the Claremont sisters recall that Lady Kyouko seemed to have not drank a single drop of alcohol in all the time that they have served her.
"Speaking of the Oja Clan, Takeshi has returned with Kirei and Nyla. It seemed the Shoggoth got a little too homesick and requested for a teleport home." Ayu pointed to the pagoda where the sisters first arrived with Vivian. "Say, don't you two personally serve Lady Kyouko too? Any of you feeling homesick?"
After sending Nyla back to Akamagaseki, Janus, Takeshi and Kirei emerged from the pagoda that contained the teleport chamber. "My sincerest apologies, Lord Takeshi, but please understand that the taskforce is purely voluntary and Lady Kyouko has allowed all members to leave and quit anytime they want." The spellcaster said. "Rest assured, however, that I, at least, will see all this to the end."
"I understand." Takeshi said, solemnly. "Thank you, Sir Janus."
"Of course, milord. Now if you'll excuse me, I am needed elsewhere." After a bow, Janus walked away.
The young lord let out a sigh, before bringing out his sheathed sword. "I suppose that's for the best. She did attempt to replace my sword, after all." He remarked to Kirei.
Tomi flew back to the taskforce's headquarters: Terauchi Temple. Having seemingly took a nap for a long time, she would undoubtedly be greeted with earfuls from the taskforce's captain. She would probably be asked where she went and what she did in the meantime. It would probably be wise for Tomi to prepare some alibis.
Upon flying over the temple, however. Tomi saw that it was technically the same: Refugees crowding the temple grounds, monks distributing food and medicine and people continuing to stream inside in search for a safe haven. But something was off, Tomi felt as if this wasn't the Terauchi Temple she knew.
Getting a closer look, she saw there were non-human people amongst the peasant refugees - her fellow taskforce members. However, none of them were familiar to Tomi. In fact, she saw none of the people she knew. Perhaps they were simply away at the moment?
The Dragon's eyes soon rested on a human man near a pagoda, dressed in white robes while also having white hair. He appeared to be talking to another human man clad in opposite colors, having black armor and short, black hair.
~~ TAKESHI'S JOURNEY ~~
"There's a monastery east of here called Fung Temple.
There's a monk there named Nobutada. He's one of the most sturdiest people I know, able to weather blows that could shatter boulders. When my father called for the monks of Fung Temple, I didn't see Nobutada among them. If he's still alive, he'll be in the monastery and he can lend us his aid."
"Sorae's skill with the naginata is fearsome and second to none. She and her clan was summoned to Sanjo Beach, but never appeared. We should head to their estate in the west and find out what happened to them and, if possible, recruit them to our cause."
"Takamori is a warrior whose eyes allow him to predict his opponent's next moves. An ability we could have used in Sanjo Beach if he showed up... but maybe it was good that he didn't or else we might have lost him too.
He has an archery dojo to the southwest. We can start looking for him there. We can certainly need his unique ability."
"Kageho is a shinobi who was supposed to attempt to sneak through the Varjan blockade alongside others. The last wave of shinobi that we could send. I... ordered them not to go anymore, behind my father's back, since it would have been a waste and the Varjans were upon us. It was too late to call for reinforcements from the other islands.
Still, I expected her to show up in Sanjo Beach with the other shinobi. But they didn't. Anyway, their hideout should be around here somewhere. Try looking for any suspicious clearings in the forests around here. We can use their help."
"Kazenosuke could deflect any attack with his spinning blade, and deliver slashes faster than the eye could see. I have no idea why he couldn't make it to Sanjo Beach. I know he's a ronin, but he still should have heeded my father.
Well, his house is near Terauchi Temple. Not very near, but just follow the river near the temple and we'll find his home and then we can ask for his help."
"Yurine has taken care of Clan Oja for as long as I can remember. Despite being a servant, I know she can swing her masakari axe pretty hard. I've little idea of her past but I know it involves tending cemeteries.
She should be in Castle Oja but my father sent her to Onrai to begin enacting some way to protect the graves from being desecrated by the invaders. I know of a famous cemetery south of Terauchi Temple. We can begin looking for her there and she'll surely help us."
"My childhood friend Kikyo was on an anti-yokai mission before all of this. I... was kind of glad she couldn't be on the beach and hoped that maybe she'll find a way to escape and live a full life elsewhere. But I know she would never do that.
If she's coming back, she would definitely head for Port Wadatsumi in the southeast. We should find her before she does anything... drastic."
~~ TALES OF SHIZUYAMA ~~
There was a villager woman, crying alone near a large tree within Terauchi Temple.
"Yokai, could I speak with you? A group of bandits is terrorizing Sanjo. They slaughtered my whole family, like animals!
They were killed at our home, near a river. I am Saki, please avenge my family and stop those bandits."
An upset woman noticed the taskforce member approaching.
"As if losing our homes wasn't bad enough, we have to see Varjans in them as well.
They took a home nearby a few days ago. The man who lived there won't leave the area. He keeps begging for help."
A villager sitting on some stone steps in the temple stood up when the taskforce member approached.
"Yokai, I've heard of a small resistance group gathering in the Imahama Area. I believe they're headed by a shrine priestess who wasn't present in Sanjo Beach."
"They're recruiting farmers and fishermen to their cause. Brave, but it'll be dangerous if they're not properly trained."
"Hey, you two. Good job bringing those people here. Ayane's Sake Brewery is real famous here in Shizuyama, so having the crew safe will be good for morale. Even if the ruling Oja Clan doesn't drink."
"Of course, it was a good job. It would stain our reputation to do less than," Ripcord says.
Umami nodded, "Everyone drinks, you know. Doesn't matter if a buncha stuffy heads don't wanna, if everyone else wannas, umu~"
"Speaking of the Oja Clan, Takeshi has returned with Kirei and Nyla. It seemed the Shoggoth got a little too homesick and requested for a teleport home. Say, don't you two personally serve Lady Kyouko too? Any of you feeling homesick?"
"Nyla?" Umami tilted her head, "Who?"
Ripcord shrugged, "Are we supposed to care?"
Umami nodded. "Don't, it you wanted that," she says, "Everyone could leave, if they wanna, but we don't wanna," she says, "We aren't made of lame, umu~!"
"Even then, we don't have a home to be sick for," Ripcord says. "Varjo is thousands of miles away, and Akamagaseki, Omote Port, was just somewhere to sleep," she says, "In any case, we have things to do. Mami, check the request board, and see if any will better our objective."
"Sì, Papi!" Umami saluted and sprinted off.
"Arrivederci, Spymaster," Ripcord says with a dismissive wave, before she spawned a miner's hat on her head and a pickaxe in hand.
"I know! How about a spar? You three against me. What do you think? Those are pretty even odds, no? You win, and I join you. Lose, and you go tell Takeshi that I wish him luck with whatever he's doing to this island."
"Wait, hold on. You'll answer Takeshi's call....if we beat you in a three on one spar? You're.....serious?", Zeka responded, somewhat in disbelief at Kazenosuke's request as she turned to Vivian and Vara while gesturing a thumb at the ronin. "I think he's serious."
There's cocky. There's arrogant. And there's whatever the hell this guy was feeling.
With Nyla's sudden departure, Takeshi and Kirei decided that the best option was to regroup and return to the temple, aborting their current mission. Having watched Janus teleport her back to Akamagaseki, Kirei emerged from the pagoda along with the young Lord and the armored warrior. Having said his dues, the latter left to attend to business elsewhere. Kirei turned and looked at the blade Takeshi held out.
”I do wish her the best.” Kirei said, rubbing his chin. ”It's always a bitter taste, having an ally leave the company for whatever their reasons. But, rest assured, we've still have a healthy amount of fighters at the ready. Of course, it goes without saying that you have the support of my steel, Takeshi-san.” Kirei made a reassuring gesture, materializing an ornate tanto in his hand.
”Milord, I'd like for you, Ayu-chan, and Janus-san to understand that I'm quite confident in my smithy skills as well. If you ever need weapon repair, armory resupply, or general tools, simply come to me and I'll work my literal magic. The metal I generate is leagues above most of what you'll come across; You won't be disappointed in my work. Heh, although I'm more comfortable with making weapons than household tools, if I'm being honest. ” Kirei said, rubbing his head with a sweatdrop showing on his face.
He turned at the Claremont sisters, who seemed to be rather dismissive of a fellow taskforce member suddenly leaving. They said their peace, and carried on with their duties. Kirei thought that the sisters looked rather cute, and chuckled at the sight. He then appeared to think about something for a moment, or perhaps reminisce would be a better descriptor. The scene of the two siblings getting along seemed to make Kirei think about something from the past.
”Yo!” Kirei said, walking over to Umami. ”You and your sisters are the members who recently joined, yeah? I don't think I've properly introduced myself. Name's Kirei Kannazuki, our mutual benefactor Kyōko-san has named me as the acting caption of the taskforce aiding Takeshi-san. Let's get along, yeah?” He said, putting out his hand for a shake.
His greetings were quickly interrupted when he sensed a strong draconic chi quickly approaching the camp.
”Appears we've more company Milord. I can tell it's another yōkai, so she's likely an ally.” He said to Takeshi.
As for the wayward dragon Tomi, she may find it rather curious that while Kirei wasn't the man she was expecting to run into, he held a scent similar to his which would confirm a blood tie...
I C Y C R E E D : B E W I T C H I N G D A R K N E S S
Lavinia flew alone to Takamori's dojo, making good time with the speed of her flight unburdened. The dojo was situated on a cliff, overlooking a small village filled with ponds that emitted steam; The famed hot springs of Zipangu.
The Rime Hellkite landed on the training grounds. She could see a house-like abode in front of an archery range that had three painted hay targets. There was also a bamboo stand near the edge too. However, the dojo was deserted and signs of fighting were littered everywhere. The sliding doors had been destroyed, arrows were stuck on the wood walls and splatters of blood were all over the grounds.
While Lavinia was investigating one such sign, an arrow flew forth and landed just beside her foot, coming from the rooftop of the one building. The archer was a middle-aged man with glowing yellow eyes, dark blue hair and light skin. He wore a blue and white attire and wielded a finely-crafted bow with a nocked arrow ready to be loosed at Lavinia.
"Don't move, or the next one won’t miss." He warned the Rime Hellkite. "Now tell me what you're here for. This island is being invaded and I don't wanna waste my time on a yokai looking for a man to catch."
While Takamori couldn’t see it, Lavinia’s eyes were in a curious squint as she gazed up at the master. A handsome one at that.
”You are the master archer Takamori, yes?” She said. ”I mean you no harm, in fact quite the opposite. My business here lies with requesting your aid in driving out said invaders from your lands. You should know that Lord Takeshi Oja survived the skirmish in Sanjo. He and our team have currently made Terauchi Temple a base of operations so to speak. I am here on his behalf.”
Takamori raised an eyebrow at the mention of ‘Takeshi Oja’. Still, he kept his aim at Lavinia. “The young master would never enlist the aid of yokai.” He firmly declared, not believing the Rime Hellkite at all. “I don’t have time to play around, yokai. What are you really here for?” The archer iterated his question again.
”I reiterate: My associates and I are her on this island to drive away the Varjan horde and assist the locals. As for Lord Takeshi, you would be correct, he was not the one who directly requested the aid of my kind in this fight. That would be a benefactor to the Oja family and Shizuyama from the mainland. We saved him during the fight at Sanjo, and he has entered into a shaky alliance with us due to time and circumstance.”
Lavinia then looked at the arrow that intentionally missed her, then back up at Takamori. ”Lord Takeshi mentioned your skills, and I’ve seen them first hand, I’m actually something of an archer myself. The lord was curious as to why you didn’t join the fight on the beach that night? Was there an issue that arose? If said issue still plagues you, I believe I could be of help.”
“Sounds to me that you and your group have captured Lord Takeshi. Albeit from the grasp of the Varjans, but captured nonetheless. Likely extracting information from him.” Takamori replied, still completely suspicious of Lavinia. “Varjans and yokai running rampant on our island with the Oja Clan compromised. Shizuyama has truly fallen…” The master archer lamented. “Well… Any last words, yokai?”
”Yes, actually.” Lavinia said, arms folded. ”Lord Takeshi isn’t captured. The reason that he isn’t here with me is because he was still dressed up as a miko.”
She had bantered with the dojo master long enough. Hopefully that code would be enough to win Takamori over.
The master archer’s eyes widened, and slowly lowered his bow. He then shook his head. “For you to know that, the young master must have told you that willingly. Quite reluctantly, though, I‘m sure.” Takamori then released a deep sigh. “I do not know why the young master would trust a yokai, much less send one in his stead, but I shall believe in his judgment... for now.”
Takamori then slid down the roof and landed on the ground with grace expected of a samurai. "Tell me everything you know, yokai. How you know Takeshi Oja and how you got him out of Sanjo Beach. The Varjan invasion force, at least the main bulk of it, was landing there. Takeshi survived, but did others? What about his father? Lord Hideo Oja?" He shot Lavinia a lot of questions. "Don't tell me we actually won and repelled the Varjans."
”Goodness, I imagine that you’d like me to answer all of those questions in order?” Lavinia mused.
”The benefactor I mentioned before is the one who informed us of the young heir and his family. They also informed us of the situation going on here on the island, hence why we’re here to help. We got him out of the battle at Sanjo by throwing ourselves into the battle and, quite literally, fought our way out of there with him in tow. As for the boy’s father, I believe he most likely got captured by the enemy. It is possible he was slain, but I’d like to think otherwise. ”
“You'll have to forgive me if I find you and your benefactor’s motivations suspect, yokai.” Takamori narrowed his eyes at Lavinia for a moment, but then sighed and assumed a more thoughtful gaze. “...So Lord Oja may be captured, or dead in the sands of Sanjo. But his son still lives and… in command, somewhat. So there’s hope.”
“I suppose I should answer the questions you asked earlier. About why I wasn’t at the beach.” Takamori then looked at his ruined dojo. “Well, Varjans happened. I was packing up to join the battle in Sanjo Beach when out of nowhere, a band of those bloody Varjans assaulted my home. I hid my daughter under the floorboards and led the Varjans away from here before picking them off one by one. When I came back... she's nowhere to be found, and the corpses of the Varjans I killed here were also gone.”
“They've taken her, yokai. And I intend to find her.” Takamori approached Lavinia as he finished. “...I cannot join Lord Takeshi until I do.”
Under her mask, Lavinia’s eyes sharpened, as she certainly loathed the notion that Takamori’s daughter was kidnapped almost as much as he did.
”Then we’ve no time to lose, Sir Takamori. Please tell me, do you have any indication where they might have taken her, if so?” She said, sensing the immediate area of residual mana signatures. ”If you have any of her belongings, I may be able to pick up her scent.”
“No, you won’t.” Takamori shook his head. “I will not go against Lord Takeshi allying with yokai but I, myself, will not ride, much less fight, alongside them. I have my honor as a warrior of Shizuyama. Which means if I am not fighting you, I have to have as little involvement with your kind as much as possible.” He declared to Lavinia. “...Go back to the young master. Tell him you found me, but I can only offer my sword after I find my daughter.”
Takamori needed more convincing, or perhaps just a more stubborn head.
Lavinia made a light scoff at Takamori’s refusal for assistance. ”I’m afraid I can’t do that, Sir Takamori, as that would be considered a breach of the trust we’ve established with Lord Takeshi. As you have a duty to the Lord as an ally and to your daughter as a father, so too do I as his new ally and to your child as a human in need. Yokai, I may be, I won’t sit idly by and allow innocents to suffer. Even if you refuse my aid, I’ll simply find the brigands who kidnapped her and save her myself, then deliver her to you unharmed.”
Takamori was silent at Lavinia’s own declaration, before closing his eyes and releasing a deep sigh. “...Try to keep up, yokai. And no need for scents, look at those.”
-
The moist soils of the Onrai region meant that footprints from people were easily left behind. It was not difficult for Lavinia and Takamori to find a large set of footprints that led out of the dojo and into the roads.
“My daughter's name is Setsuna. She's... not actually my blood daughter, she's an orphan I adopted. I found her skulking in my dojo looking for food. When I tried to apprehend her, she fought back... and she fought back well. I decided to take her under my wing.” Takamori said as they followed the trail. “She has a lot of potential. Could grow up as a mighty warrior, capable of slaying yokai by the dozens. No offense.”
”None taken, hmhm~” Lavinia mused. She walked along the trail of footprints with the master archer, finding the tale of him and his adopted daughter to be rather interesting. ”Do you know why they would want to kidnap your daughter? Are they trying to get to you, perhaps? Or, could they be attempting to use her skills for themselves?”
Lavinia’s last sentence made Takamori pause. “...I may be famous on this island, but I have little reason to believe I am known beyond Shizuyama. And less could be said about Setsuna, not many know that I’ve adopted a daughter. I don’t think even the Oja Clan knows.” The master archer replied. “This may just be a random kidnapping by ruthless thugs. Still, what you said could be a possibility. Just one I hope isn’t true.”
The trail soon led to a small fort by a cliffside. Takamori took Lavinia behind an outcrop on a hill overlooking the fort. “...I hoped we could've caught up to them before she was taken to anything fortified. Looks like that was too much to hope for.” He remarked. “This is Fort Nakayama. It's no special fort but with the right men, this place can last weeks.”
The fort was small and its walls were made of crisscrossed wood beams. There were two watchtowers at the farther corners of the fort, a housing quarters for the defenders and a stables for the horses. Its original occupants were likely all dead in Sanjo Beach and now, Varjans occupy the fort. It was not a large contingent, maybe two dozen men at most and there were only a couple of those fully-armored Varjan Warriors. Most of them were fur-armored or unarmored Brigands.
“Fortunately for us, the Varjans aren't 'right' men.” Takamori smiled, which quickly disappeared as he continued. “I can't believe I'm doing this but... take the lead and I'll support you. You're a yokai, a creature that can match entire units of warriors. The Varjans won't stand a chance, and you'll have me to watch your back.”
Lavinia Looked over the fort that Takamori led her to. As he stated, it wasn’t awfully impressive. Moreover, the troops manning the place didn’t seem all that strong either. While reassuring, Lavinia’s less…savoury side felt a bit of disappointment at the lack of suitable “prey”. She turned to Takamori at his suggestion.
”I’ll take your statement of my kind’s strength as a compliment. I’ll follow your lead here.” She said. With that, Takamori would witness Lavinia seemingly dissipate into a veil of ebony haze, before reappearing within the grounds of the fort. She hid behind some crates to remain out of sight. She looked over a few brigands conversing amongst themselves. Chatting about the current supply stock and trouble from any rebellious locals with some fight left in them.
Taking advantage of their lack of attention, Lavinia would create a shroud of darkness around the three warriors, completely blocking not just their sight, but also anyone who was looking at the said spot. To be honest, Lavinia didn’t like killing humans any more than any other member of her kind. But, these humans were the worst of the worst, and didn’t even offer children any quarter…
Creating a dagger of ice, Lavinia was already on the blinded bandits whilst brandishing her icy weapon. It was almost like an instant: a cut across the jugular, a stab to the back of the head, and a slit across the throat. Each warrior would feel a sharp and freezing pain before being taken by death’s cold embrace. All but one. The poor chap with the jugular wound didn’t receive a fatal hit, as she decided to leave him alive for questioning.
The veil would lift, and Takamori would see two downed Varjans, one being held by her, and a bloodied ice dagger being held by the hellkite. She dispelled her shroud, and drug her captured prey into the shadows. Holding the knife to his throat, she spoke plainly and coldly to the man.
”Answer my questions truthfully, and I might think about letting you see the sun tomorrow. Do you and your buddies recall kidnapping a young girl and bringing her here? She was likely carrying a bow, if she’s here tell me where you're keeping her.”
The Brigand got a glimpse of his captor and his eyes widened. “M-Moooonsterrrrrrrr!” The captured Varjan Brigand yelled and panicked, unintentionally alerting the whole fort. The other Varjans mobilized and armed themselves before finding themselves being peppered with accurate arrows from outside the fort, forcing them to hide walls and shields.
The two Varjan Warriors, armed with round targets and axes, found Lavinia and the captured Brigand. One of the former immediately swung his axe at the hellkite, but Lavinia was quick enough to easily evade it. Unfortunately, the axe instead found the flesh of the captured Varjan. The two Warriors paid no mind to the friendly fire and gave chase to the Rime Hellkite.
Lavi gritted her teeth as the man yelled at the top of his lungs, completely blowing her cover. Soon the witch would find herself surrounded by the bulk of the Varjans garrisoned at the fort. However, true to his word, a good chunk of them found themselves snuffed out by Takamori's bolts. This softened the onslaught coming Lavinia's way, as some brigands hid behind crates and other cover to avoid being struck.
However, Takamori's sniping wouldn't be enough to scare off all of her attackers, as two warriors came to charge her. Lavinia clicked her tongue as she attempted to evade a swing from one of them; The warrior had instead cut down his own former teammate. They didn't seem bothered about killing one of their own, a fact that didn't seem to surprise Lavinia.
She froze the hands of the attacker who swung first, sticking his hands to his weapon. She then kicked him into the other brigand, and finished them off with an icy arrow of her own.
After dispatching the two Varjan Warriors, the remaining Varjans had a good look as to who exactly was attacking them.
“Damn it, we're not here to fight! Much less fight a monster with backup! We gotta get out of here!”
The Varjans who were still standing up and breathing quickly made their way out of the fort, trying to avoid Lavinia as much as possible. Some of the routed Varjans had arrows planted on their backs as they fled, increasing the body count. Soon the fort only had Lavinia within who was then joined by Takamori. “These Varjans fight like drunk Gyoubu Danukis.” He remarked before surveying the area. “Alright, yokai. Let's look for Setsuna, or any clues as to where she could be.”
The Hellkite and the samurai split up during the search to cover more ground. Lavinia's flight allowed her to see from the air, and she found a peculiar sight. Behind the living quarters was a bamboo cage full of still-living Shizuyaman villagers. Approaching the cramped cage, she saw that there were probably six or seven prisoners inside a cell fit only for four. Of course, the imprisoned villagers immediately took notice of Lavinia.
“Waaah! A yokai!”
“...That's it, we're dead. But at least we'll have a pretty sight before we croak.”
“Yeah, I heard yokai kill you with sex. Much better than being hacked to death by Varjans.”
”My goodness! I can see that Lord Takeshi was not being hyperbolic when he described your archery skills, and I’m wearing an eye bandage!” Lavinia said, making a corny joke. One that Takamori likely wouldn’t find all that amusing. Indeed the dojo master made quick work of any further attackers that attempted to come Lavi’s way, and even took out some unlucky ones who couldn’t flee fast enough.
Taking heed to his instruction, Lavi surveyed the rest of the fort, eventually making her way to a holding area of sorts. She immediately felt pity for the captured souls; It was nothing short of inhumane the way the Varjans threw these natives into these cramped and hastily made cages like animals. Not to her surprise, they cowarded at Lavi’s approached.
”Fret not, my fine men.” Lavi said. ”While I say again you are all fine men, I’m not here to mate. In addition, killing you is something I would never do. My only wish is to aid your people and drive away the Varjan menace plaguing your lands.” With her monstrous strength, she easily swatted away the flimsy bamboo bars that blocked the Shizuyamas from escaping.
”You are free now, gentlemen. Ah, however, I would humbly wish for but a moment of your time. My associate and I are looking for a young girl named Setsuna, she was captured by the enemy and likely imprisoned somewhere if not here. She was probably carrying a bow before being captured, do any of you recall seeing anyone matching that description?” She asked in a gentle tone, making sure not to scare or upset the already weary natives.
“Setsuna? You mean, Lord Takamori’s adopted daughter? Are you with Lord Takamori?”
“Lord Takamori would never involve himself with yokai.”
But the master archer himself joined the conversation as the villagers walked out of their cage. “Never mind about that. Answer her question, where's my daughter. Where's Setsuna?” The question elicited gulps and side glances from the villagers. “What's wrong? What happened to her?”
“My lord, I cannot be too sure if it was her since I don't know her face but…” One of the villagers began. “There was a girl, imprisoned like us. But then she told the Varjans that she was a great warrior, told them that she was your daughter and student. She offered her skills and knowledge to them in exchange for freedom.” Takamori's eyes widened in disbelief. “As a test of her loyalty, she was asked to kill a couple. Tobio and Hachi. She slaughtered them without hesitation. The Varjans gave her a room in the barracks.”
“No... no…” Takamori bolted towards the living quarters with Lavinia likely following him inside. Checking each of the rooms, he found one that differed from all the others. Within that room were articles that was Shizuyaman rather than Varjan. Takamori surveyed the room before his eyes focused on a clothing rack containing a kimono, yellow in color.
“This is Setsuna's kimono…” Takamori muttered. Looking over at the table with scrolls, he picked one up. “Setsuna's writing... telling the Varjans about strategic points in Shizuyama.” Finding a quiver full of arrows, Takamori grabbed one and observed it. “When I make arrows, I make them like this. Something I taught to Setsuna.”
Finally convinced with the evidence, Takamori walked outside with his mind elsewhere. “Damn it… I should've known…”
Lavinia made a cute pout as it seemed that the villagers weren’t going to be cooperative in helping with their search. That was, however, until Takamori himself appeared before them, asking for information in a more solemn tone.
The story they told was quite shocking, even to the Umbra Witch…
Setsuna, Takamori’s daughter and promising Shizuyaman warrior, turned betrayer?! Takamori’s initial response was an expected one: why would he believe that his adopted daughter would kill her own people for the enemy? Lavi quickly followed him into the fort’s living quarters, where they happened upon a room that had a unique interior. As he investigated the left belongings, his demeanour and expression became grimmer.
Looking at an arrow she apparently left, this apparently the final piece of evidence that confirmed Takamori’s suspicions. Walking back outside, he was beside himself in disbelief as he muttered to himself. Lavinia gritted her teeth, as there was likely nothing she could say to the man right now…
She quickly turned back to the freed villagers. ”Please, do any of you know where the remaining soldiers could’ve fled to?! Are they any nearby villages or forts that you’ve heard them setting up shop at?” The remaining villagers shook their heads. “Varjans probably have occupied the nearby villages and forts, madam yokai, but Setsuna could be in any of them.” One of the villagers replied. “It has been a while since she left with a detachment.”
“Looks like it’s going to take some time to find her again.” Takamori remarked, emerging from behind Lavinia. “We’re finished for today, yokai. I’m going to need some time to rest, and think.”
“Tell Lord Takeshi that he only needs to call for me if he needs me. In the meantime, I’m going to search for clues as to where my ‘daugther’ could be. I need to stop her before she hurts any more people.” Takamori concluded. “I’ll also report to Terauchi Temple once I’m done here.”
”I...I see. I suppose I’ll have to trace her scent using that arrow then.” She said, before Takamori came from behind her.
The samurai agreed to assist the Taskforce and Lord Takeshi, but he would first continue to sort things out in regards to his missing daughter and her involvement with the invaders. Takeshi would likely be understanding once informed about Master Takamori’s situation
”I understand Master Takamori. Please let us know right away when you make any headway in your search. I pray that you find your daughter safe and sound, and that this whole mess is completely settled. I bid you and the other villagers farewell for now. ”
Those were Lavinia’s last words to the master archer before disappearing in a ebony flash, leaving behind a bit of white feathers. She would return to the temple and inform Ayu of the news. Takamori’s tale was a tragic one, but at least they had a new ally. One’s whose tale would end as a happy one…
--
A veil of darkness had appeared in the center of the temple grounds, and emerging from it was Lavinia. She had completed her mission, although for personal reasons Takamori could not make his way to Terauchi currently. She witnessed Kirei and Lord Takeshi emerged from a pagoda, along with Janus. After Janus left, she walked over to the both of them.
”Lord Takeshi, I've returned and bring...somewhat good news.” She said. ”You'll be happy to know that Takamori is alive and well, and I was successful in recruiting him to our cause!” She said, cheerfully. ”Err, however, it seems that he couldn't come back with me currently as through less than good news - we've found evidence that his daughter has apparently betrayed her people by siding with the Varjans. He's further investigating the matter, but he'd assured me that you could call on his bow at anytime.”
She made a polite curtesy to both men. ”Now then, if you'll excuse me, I believe I shall rest for a moment. Believe it or not, manipulating darkness to travel is rather taxing!”
Walking within the temple grounds, Lavinia happened upon Ripcord, who she witnessed materialize a miner's hat along with a pickaxe. While a bit winded from her previous outing, Lavinia's curiosity got the better of her. She sensed a strange aura about the girl.
”My goodness, I didn't know we had spelunkers as part of our merry little group. We could you possibly be off to, dressed like that.” Lavinia said, standing over Ripcord.
Vară was beside herself with ire, her feelings from the last mission still lingering on her mind along with Kazenosuke’s insufferable attitude weren’t helping in the slightest. The fiery mamono had even ignored their new cohort Zeka, who had been watching the group from the shadows up until this point. Kazenosuke didn’t seem as though he was too shaken up by his homeland and countrymen being slaughtered by the barbarous Varjan horde, and even cracked jokes at Takeshi’s situation. However, it’s what he said afterward that really set her off.
Are you even worth helping?
”You…asshole vagabond!” She exclaimed. ”All we’ve done is bleed and struggle to ensure your country is saved, and you question if it’s even worth it?! You disgrace Lord Takeshi and your people! BUT! If all you want now is to fight, I’ll give you one more than you bargained for!”
Vară, her anger now boiled to its peak, had immediately transformed into her full demon mode and summoned her bulky familiar Camael to her side. She opted to have him take the form of her fiery battle axe, which shone with a brilliant vermillion hue around its edges.
”Camael and I alone will crush you! The others won’t even need to get involved, they can sit back and watch you whimper as my flames cook you! If you fight as badly as you tell jokes, this won’t take long. Prepare yourself, vagabond!”
Without any planning or regard for her teammates, the demoness charged straight at Kazenosuke and attempted to slam Camael into him via a downward swing. Aside from the strike itself which may have been easy to dodge, Kazenosuke would also have to worry about the embers that would no doubt erupt from the impact as well.
@AzureKnight(VRA), @Rezod92 Well, at the very least Vară had finally spoken up. It seems her ire had been building the entire time, though Vivian was feeling a bit of that after Kazenosuke laughed at her words. ...What an arrogant man. But, there was a difference between the boasting of a coward, and the words of one obsessed with strength. Kazenosuke was definitely the latter, and was meaning it when he said that the three of them could take him on at once. As in, he could wipe all three of them out at once. "He's deadly serious, little mouse. And it looks like he's riled Vară up enough that we can't talk about it further."
Folding her arms against her stomach, Vivian's legs would suddenly sharpen to needlepoints as she balanced upon the tips of her toes, freezing over to become deadly weapons that scored the dirt beneath her and froze it gradually. "Well, truth be told, I did want to witness your bladework. Show me if your passion for it matches mine," the glacies said, tossing a lock of hair over her shoulder before beginning to glide towards Kazenosuke, earth giving way to ice as she slid along it. Vară's new form and overly flashy attack would be suicidal to attempt to coordinate with, but Vivian could at least cut off the ronin's escape route behind him, poised to strike if he moved as she expected. As for the Mouse...Rat...Sneak...she could find somewhere to insert herself, Vivian imagined. Preferably not between anyone.
Matsuri
While Matsuri had planned for the Varjans to set fire to the forest, she wasn't quite prepared for them to be so zealous about it! She expected a torch or something, not a full-on flamethrower spell.
Now, the temple was likely in danger if this fire got out of control...let alone the shinobi that might be hiding out here. Matsuri's magic wasn't great enough to conjure water or anything like that...but she did have an idea for how to keep the damage to a minimum. It was something her father taught her about in case there was an accident and a bunch of the surrounding woods caught fire...fire can't exist without fuel, and something for it to jump to. Sort of like how fire jumps down the length of a fuse to light at the "fuel" inside a fireworks, making it explode. Fire was ravenously hungry, but died super fast if it didn't eat. As such, matsuri would make sure to starve out this forest fire before it became a problem.
With her Kyubi Buster now ready, Matsuri would capitalize on the confusion her illusion was causing. Out of the corner of her eye she did spy that a few of the brigands were being dragged into bushes but...for now, she just had to take care of what was in front of her. She imagined these Varjan mages could dish out heat but not take it themselves...and as such, would fire her Kyubi Buster straight into one's back, hurtling them towards the inferno as the fireworks' brittle shells came off in stages.
First was the initial pop of the outer casing breaking upon significant impact, causing the projectile to speed up enough to drag a grown man along with it.
Second, the fuel ignited properly, and began to emit sparks in a whirling vortex as it traveled, starting to throw white hot sparks at the brigands, mages, and cloud the area with a bit of smoke.
Stages three through nine were all mostly various stages of explosive power, and with the pyromancer's body blocking one direction, all the sparks would only find purchase on his robes, or the tree and brush the shot had passed, starting the controlled burn that Matsuri had hoped for.
Aware of how open she'd left herself, Matsuri would immediately produce a Bang-Bang Bomber with her magic and toss it after igniting, hoping to disorient the Varjans enough that she could make another getaway.
"C'mon...if there really are ninjas hiding out here...I hope I can at least hold out long enough for them to deal with this! Who else would be nabbing Varjans into bushes?" Matsuri thought as she backed up, trying to manifest enough of her energy for more ammo.
As she soared through the skies, Tomi couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss—different, to be precise. The revelation of what exactly would come later, but in the present, her priority was hastening back to avoid another reprimand from their group's leader. Again. Unaware of the duration of her slumber, she needed to confirm her allies were still where she last left them.
Fortune favored her as she soon sensed friendly presences in the Temple, though they felt unfamiliar. Despite the gold dragon's typically carefree nature, she circled the temple a couple of times before choosing to land. Once decided, Tomi wasted no time.
The dragon descended with a resounding thud near the pagoda, creating a visible crater and cracked earth where she touchdown. Her wings vanished magically as she walked forward, displaying a lack of concern. Now, while a most common reaction to a stranger, yokai or otherwise, heading directly towards oneself might typically be a defensive response, everything about Tomi indicated she posed no threat.
Firstly, a Dragon yokai with ill intentions would have attacked without bothering to land. Secondly, she bore no weapons or armor. In fact, her nearly transparent veil did little to conceal her most alluring human traits. And thirdly and most obvious of all - her expression screamed nonchalance as she leisurely walked to them. Taller by a head than most humans, her golden hair cascaded down to her midback. As she approached, her tail positioned itself between the white-haired man and anyone else in conversation with him, effectively halting their discussion. Tomi, with pure golden eyes, scrutinized the man from head to toe. Her pale-skinned hand delicately grasped one of his locks of hair, as if to examine it.
Stepping back, her expression shifted from serious to one of disappointment, perhaps even curiosity. "You are not Shizuka, but you bear the same scent? Who are you? Actually... where are we? I do not recognize this temple. Well—I do, but also... not? It feels different. Are you the task force?"
”You…asshole vagabond! All we’ve done is bleed and struggle to ensure your country is saved, and you question if it’s even worth it?! You disgrace Lord Takeshi and your people! BUT! If all you want now is to fight, I’ll give you one more than you bargained for! Camael and I alone will crush you! The others won’t even need to get involved, they can sit back and watch you whimper as my flames cook you! If you fight as badly as you tell jokes, this won’t take long. Prepare yourself, vagabond!”
"....Okay, yeah. He is a bit of an asshole and his integrity is questionable but-WHOA!", Zeka commented before yelping and jumping out of the way as Vară shifted into a more intimidating form and charged at Kazenosuke, battle axe blazing.
"He's deadly serious, little mouse. And it looks like he's riled Vară up enough that we can't talk about it further."
"Y-Yeah.....I can see that.", the mouse girl responded in a deadpanned tone, sighing as Vivian joined the inevitable fray. "And this is why I prefer doing these jobs solo."
Closing her eyes for a moment, she hovered her hand over her Umbral Orb and channeled her mana. The amulet gave a soft violet glow in response before spewing forth a dark fog that circled the surrounding area, aiding Vivian in limiting the ronin's movement while Vară poured on the pressure. Zeka's opened eyes glowed vibrant violet as well before stepping back into the fog, disappearing from sight.
"Umbra Art: Chaos Tide."
Emerging from the fog came a small spectral rat, its entire body glowing dark purple. Then came another rat. And then another....and another....and another...
Soon, a swarming mischief of spectral rats scurried toward Kazenosuke, looking to overwhelm him through sheer numbers. Or, at the very least, distract him from the fire demon's hellish assault.
