[center][h3]Terauchi Temple[/h3][/center]
[center][b]THE HEAVENLY STRIKE[/b][/center]
[center]~ [@Crowvette], [@Restalaan] (SKA & GRI) ~[/center]

Before [u]Gringor[/u] and [u]Skarsneek[/u] could come to blows, Takeshi Oja came between them while holding two bowls of hot peppered rice with sunny-side egg on top. The freshly-cooked dish's scent quickly invaded the two male monsters' noses, inviting them to let go of everything else and simply finish the bowl down to the last grain of rice. A deliberate defusing tactic by the young lord.

"Come on, now. It's too early in the morning for this!" Takeshi complained to [u]Gringor[/u] and [u]Skarsneek[/u]. "Why not just eat breakfast first before we do any sort of fighting?"

Once the bowls were accepted, Takeshi had a third serving prepared for [u]Io[/u]. "Hey, Io! It's been a while since I saw you. Not sure if undead like you needs to eat but surely eating for the taste and the satisfaction is a thing for the undead, right?" He offered the rice bowl to the Lich, also revealing his lack of knowledge for the necromantic race. "Also, were you hoping these two would fight?"

[center]---
~ [@AzureKnight] (HIN, ATS & SHI), [@Enkryption] (ALI & CRL), [@The Irish Tree] (EUL & LIL), [@Rezod92], [@Crowvette], [@Restalaan] (SKA & GRI) ~[/center]

Once breakfast was over, the entirety of the taskforce assembled to finally move against the traitorous students of the Heavenly Strike technique. Takeshi Oja came with them, partly because these students were formidable warriors so the taskforce will need every capable fighter they can muster and partly because Takeshi himself wanted to see this technique for himself.

"I... suppose we should first get information on where Kenshiro's Rest, huh?" Takeshi told the taskforce, scratching the back of his head. Since the area was supposed to be a secret, getting the location might prove a tad difficult.

"[color=cyan]An interrogation of a student should suffice.[/color]" Revuel piped in. "[color=cyan]A small Varjan warband was sighted to the north, not far from here. They were seen with Shizuyaman bladesmen in... Haori and hakama. Yeah, those were the words. Those might be some Heavenly Strike students you can capture and question.[/color]"

"Many thanks, Sir Revuel." Takeshi bowed at the spellcaster. "Alright, let's move out."

[hr]
[center][h3]Shizuyama Wilderness[/h3][/center]
[center][b]THE HEAVENLY STRIKE[/b][/center]
[center]~ [@AzureKnight] (HIN, ATS & SHI), [@Enkryption] (ALI & CRL), [@The Irish Tree] (EUL & LIL), [@Rezod92], [@Crowvette], [@Restalaan] (SKA & GRI) ~[/center]

The taskforce along with Takeshi traveled northward from Terauchi Temple, following a dirt path. The drizzle earlier had now become light rain and the winds began to howl. The soil around the group had become moist, but not yet enough to become outright mud. The occasional breeze could bring chill to the exposed, but Takeshi did not seem to be affected despite wearing relatively light clothing.

Soon, the group came upon the Varjan band and true to Revuel's report, there were Shizuyamans among them in the description the spellcaster gave. The band consisted of four of the Heavenly Strike students with the rest being Varjans. The Varjan elements were made of mostly Brigands, being 8 of them, armored in fur and leather and armed with round shields and simple axes and javelins. [url=https://i.pinimg.com/736x/22/a7/89/22a7891fe82a3007db85d02534a57e63.jpg]Then there was one Varjan who was armored like a Scarce Legion legionnaire but his armor's hue was gray, as if unpainted, and he wielded a rather large battle hammer[/url]. It was clear he was a legionnaire, just not of the Scarce Legion.

This band of invaders seemed to have just finished slaughtering a small caravan of refugees and were currently helping themselves to whatever meager loot was in the refugees' cart. The sight of the villagers' dead bodies strewn about incensed Takeshi into a tranquil fury. The young lord strode towards the warband head-on, ignoring any plans-of-attack the taskforce would put suggest. His approach did not go unnoticed, and the warband readied their arms.

"[color=a187be]So it's true. The young Oja has thrown his lot with the yokai.[/color]" One of the students faced Takeshi.

"And you have thrown yours with Varjan invaders." Takeshi shot back.

"[color=a187be]You and your father are foolish for resisting the Varjans. You readily lead Shizuyama's people into the arms of the yokai. Into depravity and debauchery.[/color]" The student responded. "[color=a187be]The Varjans ask for so little and in return, they gladly help us protect the island from those infernal beasts you now call friends.[/color]"

Takeshi motioned at the villagers' corpses. "Is that what you call protection?"

The student shrugged. "[color=a187be]They were heading for Terauchi Temple, seeking 'refuge' under the yokai. Joining the beasts can only be punished with death... as dictated by the laws [i]your[/i] clan made. Laws that you are--[/color]"

"Enough!" Takeshi put his hand on the hilt of his sword and began walking towards the student. "Fight me..."

"[color=a187be]Hmph.[/color]" The student drew his sword and approached too, before suddenly disappearing.

*SLASH*

The student reappeared behind Takeshi... and had a gaping gash on his neck. He dropped his sword and clutched his wound, staring wide-eyed at the taskforce in disbelief. He coughed up blood before collapsing into the ground. Takeshi, meanwhile, had his sword drawn out - a bit wet with the student's blood. The young lord, by virtue of being unscathed, knew he was the victor of that standoff and spared no glances at his defeated opponent.

The warband was taken by surprise at the legendary technique's defeat. But when Takeshi charged them, the legionnaire raised his hammer and released a war cry that rallied the warband back into battle.

[hr]
[hr]
[hr]

[center]~~ TAKESHI'S JOURNEY ~~[/center]

[hider=The Shadow Of The Taskforce {END OF ACT I}]
[color=fff200](REQUIRES ALL PLAYER CHARACTERS)[/color]

"I finally have all that I need to rescue my father from the Varjans. The only thing missing now is where the invaders have him imprisoned. I'm coming for you, father. Just wait a little longer."
-Takeshi Oja
[/hider]

[center]~~ TAKAMORI TALES ~~[/center]

[hider=The Past Never Passes]
"Lord Takamori's traitorous former student, Setsuna, is training Mongol archers across Shizuyama. Lord Takamori posits that she plans on attacking Omi Springs, his hometown and a refuge for villagers. We should meet with Lord Takamori as soon as possible."
-Takeshi Oja
[/hider]

[center]~~ SORAE TALES ~~[/center]

[hider=The Traitor]
"Sorae is on the hunt for Sogen, one of the conspirators behind her family's murder. To track him down, Sorae has asked us to speak with Ayu who may know where we can find him."
-Takeshi Oja
[/hider]

[center]~~ SHIZUKA (MERCHANT) TALES ~~[/center]

[hider=The People's Servant]
"One of the farms near Komatsu Bay looks like it's had some trouble. Someone should make sure the people there are all right."
-Takeshi Oja
[/hider]

[center]~~ TALES OF SHIZUYAMA ~~[/center]

[hider=Whispers In The Woods]
A villager woman remarked to the taskforce member as the latter passed by.

"You better watch out if you're passing Yabo Forest, yokai. It's haunted by angry spirits... Dead samurai, eager to spill blood."

"People go into the woods and never come out. Varjan and Shizuyaman alike! The bodies that turn up have all been killed by Shizuyaman blades..."
[/hider]

[hider=The Other Side Of Honor]
A peasant man eating barbecued meat on a stick was startled when the taskforce member approached. It appeared he has news.

"Yokai! You have to tell Lord Takeshi, there is another samurai noble who survived Sanjo Beach. His name is Lord Tonchiki. He's in his abode southeast of here. If you go see him, I'm sure he would join your cause."

"Err, maybe not. I guess you'll need Lord Takeshi himself to convince him."
[/hider]

[hider=Shizuyama's Freedom]
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 that shrine priestess that started a fight here not too long ago."

"They're recruiting farmers and fishermen to their cause. Brave, but it'll be dangerous if they're not trained. Better take Lord Takeshi with you too or else it might be a fight again."
[/hider]

[hider=Bottoms Up]
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."
[/hider]

[center]~~ LEGENDARY TALES ~~[/center]

[hider=The Heavenly Strike (ONGOING)]
"Dealing with these students of the Heavenly Strike was more difficult than we thought. They have already thrown back two of the taskforce. However, the yokai fought them separately and at different times, so perhaps a more cooperative approach would be more fruitful."
-Takeshi Oja
[/hider]