[Deleted]
GM
Byakko
Drane's search for wild Natrelmon to join his party would be far from normal. But some could say that it wasn't that surprising, given Drane's rather unusual life circumstances.
Drane would feel the presence of Byakko before he saw him, the Ruler of the Winds in a clearing just ahead of him. The wind swept around him playfully, pulling him slightly towards the White Tiger's current position. Of the Four Rulers, Byakko was physically the smallest, but his power was more than equal to either Genbu, Suzaku, or Seiryu. Each had near complete control over an entire scope of the natural world, giving them almost unrivaled power. It was rare for any of them to interfere with the mortal world. They generally had strict, non-verbal pact amongst each other to avoid pushing mortals into some kind of religious conflict - since there were many that prayed to them as deities. Of course, there were always exceptions to this. Providing none of them went overboard, they were able to nudge the mortals onto various paths that they wanted them on.
~Come to me mortal,~ Byakko said, mentally communicating with Drane, an inherent ability of all of the Legendaries. The tone was clear, a rather comical tone, like a cat would say to a toy if both could communicate to each other. ~We shall discuss your path.~
It was even rarer for Byakko to be on the western half of the continent, the domain usually under the guidance of Genbu, another unspoken agreement amongst them. But like their other pacts, there were always exceptions.
Drane's search for wild Natrelmon to join his party would be far from normal. But some could say that it wasn't that surprising, given Drane's rather unusual life circumstances.
Drane would feel the presence of Byakko before he saw him, the Ruler of the Winds in a clearing just ahead of him. The wind swept around him playfully, pulling him slightly towards the White Tiger's current position. Of the Four Rulers, Byakko was physically the smallest, but his power was more than equal to either Genbu, Suzaku, or Seiryu. Each had near complete control over an entire scope of the natural world, giving them almost unrivaled power. It was rare for any of them to interfere with the mortal world. They generally had strict, non-verbal pact amongst each other to avoid pushing mortals into some kind of religious conflict - since there were many that prayed to them as deities. Of course, there were always exceptions to this. Providing none of them went overboard, they were able to nudge the mortals onto various paths that they wanted them on.
~Come to me mortal,~ Byakko said, mentally communicating with Drane, an inherent ability of all of the Legendaries. The tone was clear, a rather comical tone, like a cat would say to a toy if both could communicate to each other. ~We shall discuss your path.~
It was even rarer for Byakko to be on the western half of the continent, the domain usually under the guidance of Genbu, another unspoken agreement amongst them. But like their other pacts, there were always exceptions.
Drane followed the wind until he arrived to a large clearing. In it stood, bathing in a pool of mysterious light, a white fierce creature with metal plates covering part of his body. The sight filled Drane with awe and curiosity. He stepped closer, his Natrelmon following close behind. He didn't feel scared at all, not even when he saw the creature's armoured claws and huge fangs. Drane stopped in front of the creature, sensing the power emanating from it. It was a good kind of power, the kind he felt in the forests of the North.
Suddenly, he heard the voice in his head again. He knew that it was something big, something important. And he was ready for it.
Suddenly, he heard the voice in his head again. He knew that it was something big, something important. And he was ready for it.
GM
Byakko
Byakko was amused by the lack of fear from Drane. Most mortals would rightly cower in fear at the sight of him, especially those that had committed acts against his domain.
~You don't fear me,~ Byakko commented, rather dryly, flicking a few of the leaves that had fallen from the trees up around Drane's cheeks. ~Luckily, for you, you have committed no acts against this world, so you truly have no reason to fear me. You actually have cared well for the creatures in this world, a commendable trait. Continue to do so. You have great potential to be an ally to those in this world that cannot speak like you and I, those that may be tread upon unwillingly. Protect them as you have.~
It was even rarer for Byakko to give praise to anyone. Few people were pure enough not to receive some kind of admonishment from the Ruler of the Winds. It was a testament to Drane's character.
A singular leave flew up towards Drane's forehead, pressing against it strongly. It was Byakko's way of examining the potential people had. The wind swirling around the leave was forceful, yet gentle enough to not break his skin.
~Your ability to grow is even more impressive than I thought,~ Byakko seemed to be musing something, his mental tone inquisitive.
Byakko was amused by the lack of fear from Drane. Most mortals would rightly cower in fear at the sight of him, especially those that had committed acts against his domain.
~You don't fear me,~ Byakko commented, rather dryly, flicking a few of the leaves that had fallen from the trees up around Drane's cheeks. ~Luckily, for you, you have committed no acts against this world, so you truly have no reason to fear me. You actually have cared well for the creatures in this world, a commendable trait. Continue to do so. You have great potential to be an ally to those in this world that cannot speak like you and I, those that may be tread upon unwillingly. Protect them as you have.~
It was even rarer for Byakko to give praise to anyone. Few people were pure enough not to receive some kind of admonishment from the Ruler of the Winds. It was a testament to Drane's character.
A singular leave flew up towards Drane's forehead, pressing against it strongly. It was Byakko's way of examining the potential people had. The wind swirling around the leave was forceful, yet gentle enough to not break his skin.
~Your ability to grow is even more impressive than I thought,~ Byakko seemed to be musing something, his mental tone inquisitive.
Drane loved this. All this energy of his beloved forest intensified via this mysterious creature.
When the leaf left his forehead, a slight sensation stayed within him. As if the White Being left a tiny part of itself in him.
Then, for the first time, he spoke.
~What do you mean by my ability to grow? I have set off to show the world what I and my friends are capable of, but I feel I need to do something more than that~
When the leaf left his forehead, a slight sensation stayed within him. As if the White Being left a tiny part of itself in him.
Then, for the first time, he spoke.
~What do you mean by my ability to grow? I have set off to show the world what I and my friends are capable of, but I feel I need to do something more than that~
GM
Byakko
~Most cannot use more than three schools of magic,~ Byakko explained, ~You have the potential to master four schools of magic. Few have that potential. It is most impressive.~
Byakko was intrigued by Drane, but also slightly concerned. The world was only deceptively safe. There was a bit of naivety to Drane's attitude and it was one that could get him killed. He had a confidence in his Natrelmon, as well as himself, at least seemingly, that was equally dangerous. Byakko's musing was what he could give to Drane to commend their first meeting - and hopefully not last.
~I suppose I could push you further along on your chosen path,~ Byakko mused mentally to Drane, ~Would you like for me to unlock your ability to use the power of the Wind?~
Refusal of Byakko's gift would be awkward. While it was done with full graciousness, it was also an offense to the power of the Wind to refuse. Byakko had great pride in the element he governed surpremely. He viewed it as one of the strongest of the elemental domains. Despite the other Legendary's refusal to acknowledge this fact, he continued to believe it.
~Most cannot use more than three schools of magic,~ Byakko explained, ~You have the potential to master four schools of magic. Few have that potential. It is most impressive.~
Byakko was intrigued by Drane, but also slightly concerned. The world was only deceptively safe. There was a bit of naivety to Drane's attitude and it was one that could get him killed. He had a confidence in his Natrelmon, as well as himself, at least seemingly, that was equally dangerous. Byakko's musing was what he could give to Drane to commend their first meeting - and hopefully not last.
~I suppose I could push you further along on your chosen path,~ Byakko mused mentally to Drane, ~Would you like for me to unlock your ability to use the power of the Wind?~
Refusal of Byakko's gift would be awkward. While it was done with full graciousness, it was also an offense to the power of the Wind to refuse. Byakko had great pride in the element he governed surpremely. He viewed it as one of the strongest of the elemental domains. Despite the other Legendary's refusal to acknowledge this fact, he continued to believe it.
Drane, amazed by the power of the white creature, accepted the offer, full of pride. He felt he was starting to be someone more than just an orphan. He was special, even an amazing being such as this one came to tell him.
There was still something in Drane's mind however that still needed an answer.
~But... what do I need these powers for? I still haven't had a real chance to use them yet, I don't know where to start looking for great things to do.~
There was still something in Drane's mind however that still needed an answer.
~But... what do I need these powers for? I still haven't had a real chance to use them yet, I don't know where to start looking for great things to do.~
GM
Byakko
Light surged around Drane, riding on the massive winds now swirling around his body. He would feel something deep in his consciousness filling with experiences he had never had. Utilizing the power of the Wind would be practiced, as if he had undergone years of training in manipulating the wind to his whims. The winds and light around Drane would leave him, no longer obscuring his vision of Byakko.
~The powers are for what you wish. There is no intrinsic need for them. Just continue to do as you have and you will use them well. You will have to find the great things to do with them.~
Byakko gave a quick nod to Drane. The winds picked up rapidly, swirling up dust and leaves to obscure the entire form of the White Tiger. When the winds would finally cease, Byakko would be gone, the clearing as empty as it had been before he appeared.
Light surged around Drane, riding on the massive winds now swirling around his body. He would feel something deep in his consciousness filling with experiences he had never had. Utilizing the power of the Wind would be practiced, as if he had undergone years of training in manipulating the wind to his whims. The winds and light around Drane would leave him, no longer obscuring his vision of Byakko.
~The powers are for what you wish. There is no intrinsic need for them. Just continue to do as you have and you will use them well. You will have to find the great things to do with them.~
Byakko gave a quick nod to Drane. The winds picked up rapidly, swirling up dust and leaves to obscure the entire form of the White Tiger. When the winds would finally cease, Byakko would be gone, the clearing as empty as it had been before he appeared.
Suddenly it all felt like a dream. Drane stood there. The clearing looked so normal now. Just plants. He looked around and then at his friends.
~Well, I think we should go to Toran Arena and try to beat it. We should start training soon as well~
The Natrelmon looked up at Drane with cute smiles and followed him as he started walking south.
~Well, I think we should go to Toran Arena and try to beat it. We should start training soon as well~
The Natrelmon looked up at Drane with cute smiles and followed him as he started walking south.
Ttocs is Awe
Member
Offline since relaunch
It was a good turnout for the venue. Six, maybe seven dozen folk milled around in front of the stage, chatting and sipping at beers in clear plastic cups. Over on the opposite wall, a man was selling T-shirts and albums displaying the logo "ELECTRIC HAZARD" in bright yellow lettering above an Olena and a Sparwire. A haze clung to the dimly lit ceiling. A trio of girls stood in a corner, puffing on a cigarette they were passing around.
"How's it looking, Dom?"
Dom looked over his shoulder and flashed a toothy grin. "Pretty damn good, I think. Couple pretty ladies for me, a tall brooding gentleman in the back for you." Chelle Lee rolled her eyes and sent an elbow into Dom's ribs. He let out a loud oomph as the air rushed out of him. "Careful, bitch, we go on in a minute."
Dominic Fox was a tall and lanky young man. His mother swore that from the day he turned twelve to the day he turned thirteen, he had grown a foot and a half. At six feet one inch, he rose above the heads of the average person in Nerta, but his slender build betrayed him, to his chagrin; unless he was directly next to somebody, he was often mistaken for being much shorter. His body was slim, not an ounce of fat to be found on him, but barely a muscle, either. Sullen cheeks, sharp cheekbones, and a pointed chin gave him the slightest of emaciated looks, but with a quick glance at his vibrant blue eyes, one knew he was the life of the party.
His blond hair was worn long and shaggy. Hanging almost to the base of his neck and down in front of his eyes, it was in dire need of a trim and a wash. Over it Dom wore an electric yellow bandanna, the same color of his sneakers. Skinny navy jeans, almost dark enough to be black, came up to his waist, and he wore only a black leather vest over his bare chest, covered only by the pair of guitar picks on a metal chain. Hairless, the skin gleamed with sweat from the red backstage lights. His guitar was slung over his back, glossy white wood reflecting the light at strange angles.
Michelle Lee, preferred name Chelle Lee, was not amused at her partner's antics. A serious-looking girl of twenty-three, Chelle Lee was band manager, drummer, backup singer, and Dom's best friend since childhood. Her naturally black hair had been dyed with streaks of purple and red, and it hung down to her waist in a ponytail. Her almond-shaped eyes were currently narrowed at Dom's wry joke. A round, flat, cute face led her to be the desire of many men who attended their concerts. She was short, only five feet three, but there was something about the way she stood that demanded attention and compliance with whatever she was saying.
Presently, she was wearing a T-shirt with their band logo emblazed above a Sparwire in flight. Her body was also slim, though not so much as Dom's. Her bust was small but ample, and her waist thin. A miniskirt in black and yellow went down to her mid thighs, where they met her long, unmatching socks. Her right was a swirl of black and purple, the left a stripe of red and blue.
Dom smiled down at his best friend after he had caught his breath. "You ready for this? Toran's nothing we've done before."
"Fuck yeah, I'm ready," Chelle Lee replied, twirling a drumstick in her right hand. She turned her head to their third member. "Did you get the line down? You were fucking up on Kyonshi Country last night at practice." Electric Hazard was notorious for being unable to pin down a bassist, and this was the third in as many gigs. A native to Toran, he was clothed in generic rock attire into which not much description would be spared because of the lack of importance this certain band member had. His name was even so unimportant that Dom had not even bothered to learn the man's name.
"Yeah, yeah, I got it. No need to worry," the nameless bassist replied.
"Good," Dom replied. "We can't be fucking up on our first gig in Toran, ya hear? Good. Okay. Alright. We'll be good." He was nervous, sweating already. His legs and arms twitched with anticipation. Hopping from one foot to the other, he tried to release some of his built-up energy.
Chelle Lee placed a hand on his forearm. "Chill. You're psyching me out. Just play it cool." She gave him a look and he nodded, settling down.
"Yeah, you're right. This'll be a breeze." He ran his thumb over the two picks on his neck. They held his two Natrelmon, Spaz and Needle. Spaz had been with him since he was ten, a fast friend ever since he had ventured into the forests of Armkfish and had found the injured baby Sparwire. The Nakumo was a much more recent addition, part of a Trainer recruitment package. He and Chelle Lee had registered for licenses. Seeing how they would be on tour to promote their brand anyways, it wouldn't hurt to learn the ins and outs of Natrelmon battling along the way.
The stage manager, a short balding man, pushed past the band and walked onto the stage. As he grabbed the microphone, the crowd grew quiet and turned their attention to the front. "Ladies and gentlemen," the stage manager started, "it's time for the event you've all been waiting for! Please put your hands together forrrrrrr.... Electriiiiiiiiiic Hazaaaaaaaard!"
Dom led the way past the curtains as the crowd cheered and clapped wildly. He flashed his toothy grin to the audience as he tapped one of his guitar picks and muttered, "Fly free, free bird." In a flash of light, Spaz appeared above his head, twittering and fluttering about the venue. The crowd seemed to enjoy that, their cheers growing louder. Out of the corner of his eye, Dom saw Chelle Lee roll her eyes again, but she couldn't help but smile as she released her Olena.
The band took up positions and plugged in their instruments. Dom stepped up to the mic and gripped it with one hand as Spaz flapped down and landed on his shoulder. "How's everyone doing tonight?"
Cheers.
"Damn, this is a good crowd. Toran Dockside Clubhouse, thank you for coming out tonight. We've got a hell of a show for you. First up is one that I'm sure you've all been dying to hear." He nodded at the nameless bassist, who nodded back that he was ready.
"You fuckin' ready to rock, Toran?!" Chelle Lee screamed from behind her drumset.
Cheers.
"One, two, three, four!"
"Fuckin' hell that was a good show," Dom was saying, his arm tightly around Chelle Lee's shoulders. Try as she might, she could not wipe the smile off of her face. Dom was right; it had been a good show, apart from the bassist fucking up Kyonshi Country. She had had a few choice words with him after the gig, and in a rage he had quit the tour. Perhaps she could try to teach Cloak to play the bass... But somehow she doubted an Olena could figure out the intricacies of tabs.
The two were walking down the streets of Toran, the cool sea air a sweet relief from the stuffy interior of the Dockside Clubhouse. Chelle Lee's Eishund walked obediently at their side, its nose held high in the air. Dom's Sparwire flapped around their heads, creating a nice breeze.
"We'll have to find another bassist, though," Chelle Lee said. Despite her good mood, as band manager she needed to concentrate on the future of their tour. Without a bassist, they wouldn't be able to play, and not being able to play meant the end of their tour and their chance to get their name out to the rest of Nerta.
"Relax," Dom replied. "We don't play again for another three days. We'll find somebody."
Chelle Lee took a deep breath, trying to let go of the stress. "Yeah, I'm not having any of it. We'll relax tonight, but first thing tomorrow, we're putting out notices and finding a bassist."
"Fair enough, fair enough. You're the boss."
They rounded a corner and came to a section of newly-paved street. New buildings were being erected, but the sign of damage was still plainly visible. Rising from the center of the block, in front of the Toran Arena, was an obsidian pillar, five-sided and tapering to a point at the top. Wreaths and flowers lay at its base.
The two grew quiet. Even in Armkfish the tale of the fight in Toran was talked about with worry. There were those who believed it would be the spark to rekindle the war between East and West. While that hadn't been the case, the damage here was severe enough to show the terrors of war.
"You sure you won't have problems going East?" Dom asked quietly.
Chelle Lee shook her head. She was scared, of course. Her father had gone East to fight and had never come home. There had not been enough mercy in her heart to completely forgive the Easterners, but the past was the past. The war was over, and Electric Hazard was her life now.
"C'mon. Let's get something to eat," Dom said, taking her gently by the arm and leading her away. "I hear there's a good southern barbecue place a few blocks from here. Perhaps we'll also find some other Trainers, or someone who can play the bass."
Chelle Lee let him lead her away, thankful for his thoughtfulness. Dom had always been there for her. He knew when to be wild and when to be comforting, and she knew that he would take a bullet for her at a moment's notice. It was nice to have a friend in this wild world.
"How's it looking, Dom?"
Dom looked over his shoulder and flashed a toothy grin. "Pretty damn good, I think. Couple pretty ladies for me, a tall brooding gentleman in the back for you." Chelle Lee rolled her eyes and sent an elbow into Dom's ribs. He let out a loud oomph as the air rushed out of him. "Careful, bitch, we go on in a minute."
Dominic Fox was a tall and lanky young man. His mother swore that from the day he turned twelve to the day he turned thirteen, he had grown a foot and a half. At six feet one inch, he rose above the heads of the average person in Nerta, but his slender build betrayed him, to his chagrin; unless he was directly next to somebody, he was often mistaken for being much shorter. His body was slim, not an ounce of fat to be found on him, but barely a muscle, either. Sullen cheeks, sharp cheekbones, and a pointed chin gave him the slightest of emaciated looks, but with a quick glance at his vibrant blue eyes, one knew he was the life of the party.
His blond hair was worn long and shaggy. Hanging almost to the base of his neck and down in front of his eyes, it was in dire need of a trim and a wash. Over it Dom wore an electric yellow bandanna, the same color of his sneakers. Skinny navy jeans, almost dark enough to be black, came up to his waist, and he wore only a black leather vest over his bare chest, covered only by the pair of guitar picks on a metal chain. Hairless, the skin gleamed with sweat from the red backstage lights. His guitar was slung over his back, glossy white wood reflecting the light at strange angles.
Michelle Lee, preferred name Chelle Lee, was not amused at her partner's antics. A serious-looking girl of twenty-three, Chelle Lee was band manager, drummer, backup singer, and Dom's best friend since childhood. Her naturally black hair had been dyed with streaks of purple and red, and it hung down to her waist in a ponytail. Her almond-shaped eyes were currently narrowed at Dom's wry joke. A round, flat, cute face led her to be the desire of many men who attended their concerts. She was short, only five feet three, but there was something about the way she stood that demanded attention and compliance with whatever she was saying.
Presently, she was wearing a T-shirt with their band logo emblazed above a Sparwire in flight. Her body was also slim, though not so much as Dom's. Her bust was small but ample, and her waist thin. A miniskirt in black and yellow went down to her mid thighs, where they met her long, unmatching socks. Her right was a swirl of black and purple, the left a stripe of red and blue.
Dom smiled down at his best friend after he had caught his breath. "You ready for this? Toran's nothing we've done before."
"Fuck yeah, I'm ready," Chelle Lee replied, twirling a drumstick in her right hand. She turned her head to their third member. "Did you get the line down? You were fucking up on Kyonshi Country last night at practice." Electric Hazard was notorious for being unable to pin down a bassist, and this was the third in as many gigs. A native to Toran, he was clothed in generic rock attire into which not much description would be spared because of the lack of importance this certain band member had. His name was even so unimportant that Dom had not even bothered to learn the man's name.
"Yeah, yeah, I got it. No need to worry," the nameless bassist replied.
"Good," Dom replied. "We can't be fucking up on our first gig in Toran, ya hear? Good. Okay. Alright. We'll be good." He was nervous, sweating already. His legs and arms twitched with anticipation. Hopping from one foot to the other, he tried to release some of his built-up energy.
Chelle Lee placed a hand on his forearm. "Chill. You're psyching me out. Just play it cool." She gave him a look and he nodded, settling down.
"Yeah, you're right. This'll be a breeze." He ran his thumb over the two picks on his neck. They held his two Natrelmon, Spaz and Needle. Spaz had been with him since he was ten, a fast friend ever since he had ventured into the forests of Armkfish and had found the injured baby Sparwire. The Nakumo was a much more recent addition, part of a Trainer recruitment package. He and Chelle Lee had registered for licenses. Seeing how they would be on tour to promote their brand anyways, it wouldn't hurt to learn the ins and outs of Natrelmon battling along the way.
The stage manager, a short balding man, pushed past the band and walked onto the stage. As he grabbed the microphone, the crowd grew quiet and turned their attention to the front. "Ladies and gentlemen," the stage manager started, "it's time for the event you've all been waiting for! Please put your hands together forrrrrrr.... Electriiiiiiiiiic Hazaaaaaaaard!"
Dom led the way past the curtains as the crowd cheered and clapped wildly. He flashed his toothy grin to the audience as he tapped one of his guitar picks and muttered, "Fly free, free bird." In a flash of light, Spaz appeared above his head, twittering and fluttering about the venue. The crowd seemed to enjoy that, their cheers growing louder. Out of the corner of his eye, Dom saw Chelle Lee roll her eyes again, but she couldn't help but smile as she released her Olena.
The band took up positions and plugged in their instruments. Dom stepped up to the mic and gripped it with one hand as Spaz flapped down and landed on his shoulder. "How's everyone doing tonight?"
Cheers.
"Damn, this is a good crowd. Toran Dockside Clubhouse, thank you for coming out tonight. We've got a hell of a show for you. First up is one that I'm sure you've all been dying to hear." He nodded at the nameless bassist, who nodded back that he was ready.
"You fuckin' ready to rock, Toran?!" Chelle Lee screamed from behind her drumset.
Cheers.
"One, two, three, four!"
"Fuckin' hell that was a good show," Dom was saying, his arm tightly around Chelle Lee's shoulders. Try as she might, she could not wipe the smile off of her face. Dom was right; it had been a good show, apart from the bassist fucking up Kyonshi Country. She had had a few choice words with him after the gig, and in a rage he had quit the tour. Perhaps she could try to teach Cloak to play the bass... But somehow she doubted an Olena could figure out the intricacies of tabs.
The two were walking down the streets of Toran, the cool sea air a sweet relief from the stuffy interior of the Dockside Clubhouse. Chelle Lee's Eishund walked obediently at their side, its nose held high in the air. Dom's Sparwire flapped around their heads, creating a nice breeze.
"We'll have to find another bassist, though," Chelle Lee said. Despite her good mood, as band manager she needed to concentrate on the future of their tour. Without a bassist, they wouldn't be able to play, and not being able to play meant the end of their tour and their chance to get their name out to the rest of Nerta.
"Relax," Dom replied. "We don't play again for another three days. We'll find somebody."
Chelle Lee took a deep breath, trying to let go of the stress. "Yeah, I'm not having any of it. We'll relax tonight, but first thing tomorrow, we're putting out notices and finding a bassist."
"Fair enough, fair enough. You're the boss."
They rounded a corner and came to a section of newly-paved street. New buildings were being erected, but the sign of damage was still plainly visible. Rising from the center of the block, in front of the Toran Arena, was an obsidian pillar, five-sided and tapering to a point at the top. Wreaths and flowers lay at its base.
The two grew quiet. Even in Armkfish the tale of the fight in Toran was talked about with worry. There were those who believed it would be the spark to rekindle the war between East and West. While that hadn't been the case, the damage here was severe enough to show the terrors of war.
"You sure you won't have problems going East?" Dom asked quietly.
Chelle Lee shook her head. She was scared, of course. Her father had gone East to fight and had never come home. There had not been enough mercy in her heart to completely forgive the Easterners, but the past was the past. The war was over, and Electric Hazard was her life now.
"C'mon. Let's get something to eat," Dom said, taking her gently by the arm and leading her away. "I hear there's a good southern barbecue place a few blocks from here. Perhaps we'll also find some other Trainers, or someone who can play the bass."
Chelle Lee let him lead her away, thankful for his thoughtfulness. Dom had always been there for her. He knew when to be wild and when to be comforting, and she knew that he would take a bullet for her at a moment's notice. It was nice to have a friend in this wild world.
antman0623 A Mad Man With A Box
Member
Seen
3 yrs ago
Gildon started walking through the forest that surrounded Toran, Baxter close at his side, the Olena floating close by as well. It was densly populated by trees and thats all Gildon could see on either side of him. He continued to walk through the forest looking around for anything interesting, while looking out for anything that could potentially be danger. This was so amazing and interesting. Gildon never thought he would ever have this opportunity, but it seemed that it was in the cards and that it was fate, plus his father was in trouble and Gildon was coming to his rescue.
The train to Toran got there in just a few short hours. Gildon was impressed at the super high speed transportation in the region, thinking that it would take days to reach the area. With never being on a train before, how was he to know what it was going to be like, other than being told by his father as he was younger. And that's was also one of his dreams, to ride one of the high speed trains across the region. At a young age after hearing the stories his dad would tell him, he made it one of his goals to ride one when he was older.
Walking a bit further in, he came to an opening in the trees, a sort of clearing, which seemed to be just grass and nothing else, save for one lone tree stump. Gildon jumped as he heard some rustling which startled him. He scouted the area, but could not see anything, that is until he made out a small figure, probably a natrelmon running through the forest. Slowly, he moved closer to where he saw the figure dash, not being able to make out exactly what it was. Creeping further, he heard more rustling and saw out of the corner of his eyes something that looked like it was walking on all fours. This was so amazing, finally being able to see a wild Natrelmon.
In a split second, Baxter was at full attention and standing directly in front of Gildon and so was the Olena, hovering right next Baxter. They were sensing something and Gildon became more alert and ready for whatever was to come his way.
The train to Toran got there in just a few short hours. Gildon was impressed at the super high speed transportation in the region, thinking that it would take days to reach the area. With never being on a train before, how was he to know what it was going to be like, other than being told by his father as he was younger. And that's was also one of his dreams, to ride one of the high speed trains across the region. At a young age after hearing the stories his dad would tell him, he made it one of his goals to ride one when he was older.
Walking a bit further in, he came to an opening in the trees, a sort of clearing, which seemed to be just grass and nothing else, save for one lone tree stump. Gildon jumped as he heard some rustling which startled him. He scouted the area, but could not see anything, that is until he made out a small figure, probably a natrelmon running through the forest. Slowly, he moved closer to where he saw the figure dash, not being able to make out exactly what it was. Creeping further, he heard more rustling and saw out of the corner of his eyes something that looked like it was walking on all fours. This was so amazing, finally being able to see a wild Natrelmon.
In a split second, Baxter was at full attention and standing directly in front of Gildon and so was the Olena, hovering right next Baxter. They were sensing something and Gildon became more alert and ready for whatever was to come his way.
GM
Meu
The Meu froze at sight of Gildon and his Eishund companion. It had been attempting to slink away before he noticed the small cat Natrelmon. However, at this point, it was too late. Caught in the open, the Meu had few options for how to handle the situation. Usually Meu avoided people, thus why they stayed in either heavily forested areas or in out of reach places, causing it to be a rarer Natrelmon for people to see in the hands of a trainer. Capturing a Meu was indeed a feat.
The Meu froze only for a quick moment before launching itself into the air, hovering just above it's former location, about 30 feet from Gildon and his Eishund. Without hesitating, it launched forth a Telekinetic Glare out at GIldon's Eishund, attempting to quickly take out his Natrelmon so it could flee unhindered.
(( Sorry I can't think of much more to post at the moment. ))
The Meu froze at sight of Gildon and his Eishund companion. It had been attempting to slink away before he noticed the small cat Natrelmon. However, at this point, it was too late. Caught in the open, the Meu had few options for how to handle the situation. Usually Meu avoided people, thus why they stayed in either heavily forested areas or in out of reach places, causing it to be a rarer Natrelmon for people to see in the hands of a trainer. Capturing a Meu was indeed a feat.
The Meu froze only for a quick moment before launching itself into the air, hovering just above it's former location, about 30 feet from Gildon and his Eishund. Without hesitating, it launched forth a Telekinetic Glare out at GIldon's Eishund, attempting to quickly take out his Natrelmon so it could flee unhindered.
(( Sorry I can't think of much more to post at the moment. ))
(I gave my Natrelmon names, check my profile under CS)
The city of Toran, Drane had never something so big and busy in his life. Even from the distance he was from the city, he could hear the sounds of the traffic, the crowd and smell the pungent and not so pleasant smells of the roads. His Natrelmon were very curious, just as he was, of what could be in the city. He set off again with his Omu and Kyonshi perched on his shoulders while the other 3 peaked out of his bag.
Drane started imagining just what it will be like withing the city. How did people dress? What strange food do they eat? How do they talk? His thoughts were broken by a piece of metal on which he almost tripped over. He looked on the floor and saw two very long lines of steel with wood holding them together forming a kind of road. He has seen something like it in Armkfish but didn't really remember what it was for. In any case it went towards Toran and so Drane decided to follow it.
It wasn't too comfortable to walk on, but at least he had a straight way to his destination instead of having to wind around all the farming fields to not tread out any crops.
~What's that?~ though Drane as he heard someamooth sound as id something was sliding very fast. The sound seemed to come from the metal on the ground. Drane looked back and immediately jumped off of the train-tracks, finally remembering what they were. In the orphanage there were a couple of books for the smaller children where there were picturesof railways and trains. He now also remembered that there is a station in the city to which these tracks lead.
~A station is where people who just arrived the city have to go. Thats where Ill go as well~ Reasoned Drane with his impeccable logic. After about half an hours walk, and getting off of the track to let 4 more trains pass, he was entering the station's area where the train tracks split many times to let the trains park and unload all their passengers.
Drane, not feeling weird at all, arrived at the station, walking on a train track, he noticed some people eyeing him with disapproval from the top of the platform and heard some others shouting something.
~Hey you, what do you think you're doing!?~ Drane froze, realizing that the man in blue with a funny hat was talking to him, and he seemed very, very angry. Drane just opened his mouth but not a word came out. He suddenly realized just how many people there were now looking at him, none of them had a kind face expression in any ways. There were only a few worried looks
~Get off of the tracks right now! Are you listening to me? I said get off! Bah! The things the youngs do to get attention. Get up here right now or I'll go down and take you to your mother. She won't be happy to hear about this, I assure you!~ continued the man.
Drane didn't understand what was goin on. What did he do wrong? Why was everyone angry at him? He really started panicking when he saw the man in blue just from the platform and start walking towards him, loudly muttering insults. In that moment, Drane decided he didn't want to know what was in the city after all. If this is how they greeted newcomers, he wanted to stay out of this place. He turned around and started running. Hearing shout from the man, he ran even faster. Back into his beloved wilderness.
He arrived at the edge of the forest around Toran and stopped there to rest and reassess the situation.
~What just happened? Why was that man so angry? And why did no one help him?~ One thing he was sure about though, the city is dangerous, not because of machines or traffic, but because of its people.
That moment he jolted up.
~Mudball!? Mudball where are you? Oh no, no. He must've fallen out of my bag.~ Â Drane started running back along where he came from when he noticed tracks of his Kaigara, which he followed hurriedly.
~Mudball, oh there you are! I was so worr-~ Drane stops dead.
Mudball is staring intensly at a man and three Natrelmon, all in a clearing with a tree stump in the middle. Drane quickly ducks behind a bush and watches, curious to see what is going on.
The city of Toran, Drane had never something so big and busy in his life. Even from the distance he was from the city, he could hear the sounds of the traffic, the crowd and smell the pungent and not so pleasant smells of the roads. His Natrelmon were very curious, just as he was, of what could be in the city. He set off again with his Omu and Kyonshi perched on his shoulders while the other 3 peaked out of his bag.
Drane started imagining just what it will be like withing the city. How did people dress? What strange food do they eat? How do they talk? His thoughts were broken by a piece of metal on which he almost tripped over. He looked on the floor and saw two very long lines of steel with wood holding them together forming a kind of road. He has seen something like it in Armkfish but didn't really remember what it was for. In any case it went towards Toran and so Drane decided to follow it.
It wasn't too comfortable to walk on, but at least he had a straight way to his destination instead of having to wind around all the farming fields to not tread out any crops.
~What's that?~ though Drane as he heard someamooth sound as id something was sliding very fast. The sound seemed to come from the metal on the ground. Drane looked back and immediately jumped off of the train-tracks, finally remembering what they were. In the orphanage there were a couple of books for the smaller children where there were picturesof railways and trains. He now also remembered that there is a station in the city to which these tracks lead.
~A station is where people who just arrived the city have to go. Thats where Ill go as well~ Reasoned Drane with his impeccable logic. After about half an hours walk, and getting off of the track to let 4 more trains pass, he was entering the station's area where the train tracks split many times to let the trains park and unload all their passengers.
Drane, not feeling weird at all, arrived at the station, walking on a train track, he noticed some people eyeing him with disapproval from the top of the platform and heard some others shouting something.
~Hey you, what do you think you're doing!?~ Drane froze, realizing that the man in blue with a funny hat was talking to him, and he seemed very, very angry. Drane just opened his mouth but not a word came out. He suddenly realized just how many people there were now looking at him, none of them had a kind face expression in any ways. There were only a few worried looks
~Get off of the tracks right now! Are you listening to me? I said get off! Bah! The things the youngs do to get attention. Get up here right now or I'll go down and take you to your mother. She won't be happy to hear about this, I assure you!~ continued the man.
Drane didn't understand what was goin on. What did he do wrong? Why was everyone angry at him? He really started panicking when he saw the man in blue just from the platform and start walking towards him, loudly muttering insults. In that moment, Drane decided he didn't want to know what was in the city after all. If this is how they greeted newcomers, he wanted to stay out of this place. He turned around and started running. Hearing shout from the man, he ran even faster. Back into his beloved wilderness.
He arrived at the edge of the forest around Toran and stopped there to rest and reassess the situation.
~What just happened? Why was that man so angry? And why did no one help him?~ One thing he was sure about though, the city is dangerous, not because of machines or traffic, but because of its people.
That moment he jolted up.
~Mudball!? Mudball where are you? Oh no, no. He must've fallen out of my bag.~ Â Drane started running back along where he came from when he noticed tracks of his Kaigara, which he followed hurriedly.
~Mudball, oh there you are! I was so worr-~ Drane stops dead.
Mudball is staring intensly at a man and three Natrelmon, all in a clearing with a tree stump in the middle. Drane quickly ducks behind a bush and watches, curious to see what is going on.
Raineh Daze
Member
Seen
3 hrs ago
From Sakura in the northeast, down 'round the coast, struggling down into the desert, only to realise that was a bad choice: Kaede's journey had involved a lot of false starts. Almost starving to death, and nearly dying due to lack of water, for instance. After her near brush with death, the tall girl had reconsidered her journey and pushed westward, mostly not dealing with people; though the war raged on around her, the brunette took a winding route through leafier areas, practising on her own. Her path eventually lead her to the river feeding the desert: the most social stage of her journey as she strolled her way to the coast, and from there slowly made her way westwards along the shores, never too far from--at least--food.
And thus, having extended the journey far longer than it needed to be via regular breaks, Kaede finally headed towards civilisation once more, having decided that now she had her swordplay down, it was time to start on the arenas. She was quite a sight: dust and sand having leached her clothing of any vibrancy, clothing that was on the verge of falling apart; but a sword that looked almost brand new, obviously the more cared for of the two. Clean but dishevelled, and so tall.
Near the edge of town, the swordswoman paused to inspect her clothing, to see if anything urgently needed actual replacement. Her shoes, perhaps; the soles were parting from the uppers, and the laces had long been replaced by a tough creeper she'd found. Then she continued onwards, continuing to walk along the coastline and thus liable to enter through the docks themselves.
She was, of course, not alone. There was her faithful cherry bush, brought all the way from its namesake. The flying gecko whose combat potential had sadly been neglected, though it was obtained barely after leaving home for the first time.
Then there were some more recent acquisitions: the Ocalia had served as good practice, and joined her little group at the very edge of the desert, where she nearly starved the first time. Now the strongest, possibly due to spending so much time in arid areas, it had been rather... shocked when she defeated it. Quite literally.
Along the river, she'd gained an electrical dog, and subduing that had been quite the task--fighting something electrical knee-deep in water was, in and of itself, highly risky. The poor cat had failed that encounter utterly, not liking the water and really disliking the static when it tried to eat the Datic. It, too, had been brought along.
Finally, she'd quite literally just added the Xiao to her group. Focusing mostly on its fight with the cherry bush, the squirrel had been completely unprepared for being hit with a sword. It could have been worse, though--it could have been split in two entirely.
It was the Mythin that most concerned her right now, however: it was weak, and this sorely needed remedying. Perhaps she could try and gather as many Armkfish as possible, then force it to fight the almost-useless Natrelmon? It probably couldn't fail at that.
And thus, having extended the journey far longer than it needed to be via regular breaks, Kaede finally headed towards civilisation once more, having decided that now she had her swordplay down, it was time to start on the arenas. She was quite a sight: dust and sand having leached her clothing of any vibrancy, clothing that was on the verge of falling apart; but a sword that looked almost brand new, obviously the more cared for of the two. Clean but dishevelled, and so tall.
Near the edge of town, the swordswoman paused to inspect her clothing, to see if anything urgently needed actual replacement. Her shoes, perhaps; the soles were parting from the uppers, and the laces had long been replaced by a tough creeper she'd found. Then she continued onwards, continuing to walk along the coastline and thus liable to enter through the docks themselves.
She was, of course, not alone. There was her faithful cherry bush, brought all the way from its namesake. The flying gecko whose combat potential had sadly been neglected, though it was obtained barely after leaving home for the first time.
Then there were some more recent acquisitions: the Ocalia had served as good practice, and joined her little group at the very edge of the desert, where she nearly starved the first time. Now the strongest, possibly due to spending so much time in arid areas, it had been rather... shocked when she defeated it. Quite literally.
Along the river, she'd gained an electrical dog, and subduing that had been quite the task--fighting something electrical knee-deep in water was, in and of itself, highly risky. The poor cat had failed that encounter utterly, not liking the water and really disliking the static when it tried to eat the Datic. It, too, had been brought along.
Finally, she'd quite literally just added the Xiao to her group. Focusing mostly on its fight with the cherry bush, the squirrel had been completely unprepared for being hit with a sword. It could have been worse, though--it could have been split in two entirely.
It was the Mythin that most concerned her right now, however: it was weak, and this sorely needed remedying. Perhaps she could try and gather as many Armkfish as possible, then force it to fight the almost-useless Natrelmon? It probably couldn't fail at that.
GM
Shio
Shio's trip to Toran had been rather eventful. The mandatory train stop outside of Ward, the Gateway to the West, had given her time to explore a bit of the area before her next train. She had only been to the mountains a few times. They were a common sight, but most people passed through them without a second thought. Shio didn't want to do that anymore and took the time she had to stretch her legs and explore a bit of one of the nearby mountains. She had an hour before her next train. If she had been with her father, he would have demanded that she see how high she could climb in thirty minutes, and if she didn't make it back down in time for the train, he would have left her without a second thought. But with her new found freedom, she could set her own challenges - to see how high she could climb in thirty minutes. Despite his harshness towards Shio, they are challenges she would have likely set for herself anyway.
The base of the mountain was a short run. For most it would probably take ten to fifteen minutes, but Shio could stay at a running pace for much longer than most and was able to complete it in slightly under six minutes. It was a good time, but not her best. The first ascent was also easy, a small path, likely from some Natrelmon, allowing her a quick way to ascend upwards without direct climbing. It wasn't long before a sharp cliff became her only way up. Without a second though, she pushed off, grabbing the highest rock she could with her right, gloved hand. With a strong grip, she pulled her body upwards, kicking off slightly of a lower protrusion in the rock face the moment she could. Working her way up methodically, she spent the next ten minutes or so ascending the small cliff face. At the top, it flattened to a miniature plateau with a few trees that had managed to grip strongly enough into the rock and earth. Even though there was only a mild wind, Shio had respect for those trees, the intense nature of the winds they persevered clear through just her small taste.
Surprisingly, Shio was not the only one on the rock face. Hiding behind one of the trees, something she missed at first glance, was an Eishund, a singular eye peeking out at her. Shio wasted no time in approaching the creature, calling out her Sparwire in a small flash of lightning. It began to back off, but it was evident from its movements that it was already wounded. Gesturing to her Sparwire, she called it off, the small bird landing on a nearby tree branch. Approaching it slowly, Shio was able to corner it against another cliff face, between a couple of trees. When it attempted to dart by her, she wrapped her arms around it, pulling it to the ground with her. After struggling for a moment with her, the Eishund finally calmed, feeling the soothing light coming from her hands as she tended to the wound. Once done, she released the Eishund back to the area.
"Now we can fight to see if I am worthy to capture you," she spoke to it, despite knowing full well it was incapable of understanding her. The Eishund looked at her quizzically, despite her Sparwire being in an offensive position now, having been called over by Shio. She urged the Eishund again to engage her, but the creature refused to attack. Sighing slightly, she called it over, the Eishund not hesitating a moment, even though it was a wild Natrelmon.
"I suppose you just want to come along with me now?" she asked the ice type Natrelmon. The Eishund licked her hand in response. She smiled a bit, letting the light begin to arc from her wrist and envelope the once wild Natrelmon. There was no resistance and Gishiki symbols on her bracelet lit up with a soft blue light before fading. Checking her watch, Shio realized she only had moments to get down to catch her train. With little regard for her safety, she leapt off of the cliff she had just ascended, landing on one of the protrusions a few feet below. It was dangerous - but it was the fastest way down. Repeating as much as she could, alternating between jumping or dropping down, and legitimate climbing, she was able to make it down in a quarter of her ascent time. Her time back to the train was also faster, making the trip in just over five minutes, possibly close to her record time for such a distance.
On the train, she found a private cabin to rest, sweat coming down her body from its exertion. With deep breaths, she was able to quickly settle in and relax, nestling into the cushions of the chair. Out of respect for her new companion, she called for the Eishund, allowing him to sit on the seat with her, his head on her lap as she traveled down to Toran to officially begin her journey.
Toran as well, was eventful for Shio. Taking her Eishund with her into the forests around the city, Shio encountered two more Natrelmon - a Narashi and a Kujaku. Unlike her experience with the Eishund, she was forced to fight them. Both put up a respectable fight, but fell to Shio and her Natrelmon, leaving them easy captures for her. She could tell from the way they behaved that they were young and inexperienced. She would rectify that and provide them with the training and structure they needed - the same type of training that made her as effective as she was.
With new companions in tow, Shio was free to explore the city - one of the few remaining major cities she had never been to. She had heard wonderful things about its spicy noodle dishes. Toranese restaurants were always her favorite back home, but now she could experience the real, authentic thing. Even just thinking about it, her mouth was beginning to water. It was her highest priority to find the best restaurant she could. In a rare gesture of kindness, her father had given her access to his line of credit in order to ensure that the price of the restaurant was not an issue - but it was only for food.
Shio hoped she could find a local to advise her.
Shio's trip to Toran had been rather eventful. The mandatory train stop outside of Ward, the Gateway to the West, had given her time to explore a bit of the area before her next train. She had only been to the mountains a few times. They were a common sight, but most people passed through them without a second thought. Shio didn't want to do that anymore and took the time she had to stretch her legs and explore a bit of one of the nearby mountains. She had an hour before her next train. If she had been with her father, he would have demanded that she see how high she could climb in thirty minutes, and if she didn't make it back down in time for the train, he would have left her without a second thought. But with her new found freedom, she could set her own challenges - to see how high she could climb in thirty minutes. Despite his harshness towards Shio, they are challenges she would have likely set for herself anyway.
The base of the mountain was a short run. For most it would probably take ten to fifteen minutes, but Shio could stay at a running pace for much longer than most and was able to complete it in slightly under six minutes. It was a good time, but not her best. The first ascent was also easy, a small path, likely from some Natrelmon, allowing her a quick way to ascend upwards without direct climbing. It wasn't long before a sharp cliff became her only way up. Without a second though, she pushed off, grabbing the highest rock she could with her right, gloved hand. With a strong grip, she pulled her body upwards, kicking off slightly of a lower protrusion in the rock face the moment she could. Working her way up methodically, she spent the next ten minutes or so ascending the small cliff face. At the top, it flattened to a miniature plateau with a few trees that had managed to grip strongly enough into the rock and earth. Even though there was only a mild wind, Shio had respect for those trees, the intense nature of the winds they persevered clear through just her small taste.
Surprisingly, Shio was not the only one on the rock face. Hiding behind one of the trees, something she missed at first glance, was an Eishund, a singular eye peeking out at her. Shio wasted no time in approaching the creature, calling out her Sparwire in a small flash of lightning. It began to back off, but it was evident from its movements that it was already wounded. Gesturing to her Sparwire, she called it off, the small bird landing on a nearby tree branch. Approaching it slowly, Shio was able to corner it against another cliff face, between a couple of trees. When it attempted to dart by her, she wrapped her arms around it, pulling it to the ground with her. After struggling for a moment with her, the Eishund finally calmed, feeling the soothing light coming from her hands as she tended to the wound. Once done, she released the Eishund back to the area.
"Now we can fight to see if I am worthy to capture you," she spoke to it, despite knowing full well it was incapable of understanding her. The Eishund looked at her quizzically, despite her Sparwire being in an offensive position now, having been called over by Shio. She urged the Eishund again to engage her, but the creature refused to attack. Sighing slightly, she called it over, the Eishund not hesitating a moment, even though it was a wild Natrelmon.
"I suppose you just want to come along with me now?" she asked the ice type Natrelmon. The Eishund licked her hand in response. She smiled a bit, letting the light begin to arc from her wrist and envelope the once wild Natrelmon. There was no resistance and Gishiki symbols on her bracelet lit up with a soft blue light before fading. Checking her watch, Shio realized she only had moments to get down to catch her train. With little regard for her safety, she leapt off of the cliff she had just ascended, landing on one of the protrusions a few feet below. It was dangerous - but it was the fastest way down. Repeating as much as she could, alternating between jumping or dropping down, and legitimate climbing, she was able to make it down in a quarter of her ascent time. Her time back to the train was also faster, making the trip in just over five minutes, possibly close to her record time for such a distance.
On the train, she found a private cabin to rest, sweat coming down her body from its exertion. With deep breaths, she was able to quickly settle in and relax, nestling into the cushions of the chair. Out of respect for her new companion, she called for the Eishund, allowing him to sit on the seat with her, his head on her lap as she traveled down to Toran to officially begin her journey.
Toran as well, was eventful for Shio. Taking her Eishund with her into the forests around the city, Shio encountered two more Natrelmon - a Narashi and a Kujaku. Unlike her experience with the Eishund, she was forced to fight them. Both put up a respectable fight, but fell to Shio and her Natrelmon, leaving them easy captures for her. She could tell from the way they behaved that they were young and inexperienced. She would rectify that and provide them with the training and structure they needed - the same type of training that made her as effective as she was.
With new companions in tow, Shio was free to explore the city - one of the few remaining major cities she had never been to. She had heard wonderful things about its spicy noodle dishes. Toranese restaurants were always her favorite back home, but now she could experience the real, authentic thing. Even just thinking about it, her mouth was beginning to water. It was her highest priority to find the best restaurant she could. In a rare gesture of kindness, her father had given her access to his line of credit in order to ensure that the price of the restaurant was not an issue - but it was only for food.
Shio hoped she could find a local to advise her.
Tuujaimaa The Saint of Wings / Bread Wizard
Member
Seen
9 hrs ago
The mumbling sound of the crowd could be heard quite distinctly from within it, each individual voice giving rise to a great chorus of sound that ebbed and flowed in its own distinct manner, with each individual little rise or fall contributing to something even greater than itself. Most crowds were like this, but there were few as great as this one. Lifan, the capital city of Nerta, was always bustling with people who wanted to see something greater than they themselves were - be it the variety of shops, the sights, or most commonly a member of the Elite Triumvirate. Lifan kept to its namesake - life - at almost all times of the year, and though there was perhaps a lull in the regular stream of things to do Lifan retained its ability to be busy at all points. This made it the ideal city for one Kasumi Touhou to prowl around in in her downtime.
The crowd barely registered anything that wasn't the focus of its current attention, and though individuals may have noticed that something was afoot, the body of people never did - it never had and never would. Kasumi's invisibility was a hugely valuable trait in this sort of situation, and she used it to great effect - a simple swipe of a person's wallet, or a pilfering of whatever they'd just bought just as it was stashed away. These little acts of theft still brought a huge rush into Kasumi's life as she practiced her trade. Until she was perfect, she could never begin to call herself the world's greatest thief - and that was her longterm goal. She was going to steal everything that she could get her hands on, and the bigger the challenge the better it was. That was the life of a thief who stole for fun rather than necessity.
While invisibility was an imperfect gift, and in close quarters it was perhaps unreliable, the nature of the constantly moving crowd made its weaknesses practically nonexistent - as soon as anybody realised that they'd been stolen from, Kasumi was far enough out of sight that they'd never be able to see her again, and the theft was a complete success. It had been the same for many years, and the nature of the city of Lifan - one where customs died slow deaths - meant that she would likely enjoy the same success for many years to come. There was a lot to consider doing in Lifan, though, and perhaps her success in one regard could easily be translated into another.
Impulse had always been a force that had ruled the Kasumi's life. Even in the war where her talent for theft and her ability to astrally project herself had come in extremely useful, she had never been able to stick entirely to the plan that she'd been told to obey. If she saw opportunities, she took them, and she had even managed to assassinate a prominent leader of the West in her time despite his having Perfect Sight. Despite her Invisibility being useless against him, the power of generally being stealthy and skilled with a blade were not something that he'd counted on - and she had stolen his life because of it.
After collecting her spoils for the day, Kasumi went immediately to the train station of Lifan and stealthily boarded it. Sitting among the cargo with her invisibility meant that she could go wherever the train took her without the need to pay for any of it, and that was exactly what she did.
After a few hours of sleeping, the train arrived in Toran. The thought of Toran had always brought memories back for Kasumi, as the member of a high-ranking family in the east, she had always been pressured into starting her Rites, but due to the war it had been too risky for her to do so. Now that she was free from the leash of her family, she could pursue them on her own - and she could travel the world as she did so, stealing everything from everyone that she encountered. Perhaps she'd even meet a few people who didn't mind having their valuables stolen.
The most logical thing to do was sit in an area that had a high volume of people travelling through it - and study the ways of the people. That had always been the tactic during the war, and it seemed like an awful shame not to employ such a tried and tested tactic in other situations. Kasumi found her way to one of the local Toranese restaurants - highly recommended by the locals - and sat down to eat. The view of the bustling town square was quite helpful, but it also had a wonderful sense of beauty to it. Perhaps that was from Kasumi's experiences in crowds of people, but regardless of why she still found it beautiful.
The crowd barely registered anything that wasn't the focus of its current attention, and though individuals may have noticed that something was afoot, the body of people never did - it never had and never would. Kasumi's invisibility was a hugely valuable trait in this sort of situation, and she used it to great effect - a simple swipe of a person's wallet, or a pilfering of whatever they'd just bought just as it was stashed away. These little acts of theft still brought a huge rush into Kasumi's life as she practiced her trade. Until she was perfect, she could never begin to call herself the world's greatest thief - and that was her longterm goal. She was going to steal everything that she could get her hands on, and the bigger the challenge the better it was. That was the life of a thief who stole for fun rather than necessity.
While invisibility was an imperfect gift, and in close quarters it was perhaps unreliable, the nature of the constantly moving crowd made its weaknesses practically nonexistent - as soon as anybody realised that they'd been stolen from, Kasumi was far enough out of sight that they'd never be able to see her again, and the theft was a complete success. It had been the same for many years, and the nature of the city of Lifan - one where customs died slow deaths - meant that she would likely enjoy the same success for many years to come. There was a lot to consider doing in Lifan, though, and perhaps her success in one regard could easily be translated into another.
Impulse had always been a force that had ruled the Kasumi's life. Even in the war where her talent for theft and her ability to astrally project herself had come in extremely useful, she had never been able to stick entirely to the plan that she'd been told to obey. If she saw opportunities, she took them, and she had even managed to assassinate a prominent leader of the West in her time despite his having Perfect Sight. Despite her Invisibility being useless against him, the power of generally being stealthy and skilled with a blade were not something that he'd counted on - and she had stolen his life because of it.
After collecting her spoils for the day, Kasumi went immediately to the train station of Lifan and stealthily boarded it. Sitting among the cargo with her invisibility meant that she could go wherever the train took her without the need to pay for any of it, and that was exactly what she did.
After a few hours of sleeping, the train arrived in Toran. The thought of Toran had always brought memories back for Kasumi, as the member of a high-ranking family in the east, she had always been pressured into starting her Rites, but due to the war it had been too risky for her to do so. Now that she was free from the leash of her family, she could pursue them on her own - and she could travel the world as she did so, stealing everything from everyone that she encountered. Perhaps she'd even meet a few people who didn't mind having their valuables stolen.
The most logical thing to do was sit in an area that had a high volume of people travelling through it - and study the ways of the people. That had always been the tactic during the war, and it seemed like an awful shame not to employ such a tried and tested tactic in other situations. Kasumi found her way to one of the local Toranese restaurants - highly recommended by the locals - and sat down to eat. The view of the bustling town square was quite helpful, but it also had a wonderful sense of beauty to it. Perhaps that was from Kasumi's experiences in crowds of people, but regardless of why she still found it beautiful.
GM
Shio
After inquiring with a few of the local women out shopping, Shio finally had the information she was after. The Red Nakumo was, according to the women, 'the best Toranese Restaurant'. It was easy to find too, with a modern interpretation of a Nakumo silhouette in a vibrant red color. Pulling open the doors, she talked to the host, asking for a seat outside to enjoy the cool breeze coming in off the coast, a needed contrast to the hot summer sun. With the shade of the umbrella, the outdoor patio table Shio had been given was perfect. Shio only needed a moment with the menu, knowing she wanted to try true Toranese Ocapaw noodles, a spicy noodle dish named for 'being as hot as an Ocalia's Paw. To wash it down, she ordered a glass of Omu Berry Juice mixed with Sakuran Tea. From experience, she knew it dealt with some of the lingering effects of the spice of her order.
Her Kujaku was with her as well, perched on the railing next to her table. She was trying to create a connection between her new companions and herself, as well as get used to communicating telepathically with the creature. She had really only used her telepathy with her family, or her family's Natrelmon, which had already been well trained. It was an odd experience with the Kujaku, partially due the nature of the creature's abilities. To be polite, she ordered a small plate of fresh Omu Berries for the Kujaku, uncertain if it would like them or not.
While she waited for her order, Shio watched the people passing by on Toran's cobblestone streets, out doing their daily errands. They were all normal. People shopping for what she assumed was tonight's dinner. A few children played by the fountain in the nearby square, one little girl calling out for what Shio assumed was her stuffed Tibearius. She had never experienced that kind of activity - never really having played with other children. She had never even owned a stuffed Natrelmon either, something most children had growing up. Shio had her books instead of toys. While she was grateful for the experience they had given her now, she couldn't help but long a bit for the normalcy those children were privileged too.
After inquiring with a few of the local women out shopping, Shio finally had the information she was after. The Red Nakumo was, according to the women, 'the best Toranese Restaurant'. It was easy to find too, with a modern interpretation of a Nakumo silhouette in a vibrant red color. Pulling open the doors, she talked to the host, asking for a seat outside to enjoy the cool breeze coming in off the coast, a needed contrast to the hot summer sun. With the shade of the umbrella, the outdoor patio table Shio had been given was perfect. Shio only needed a moment with the menu, knowing she wanted to try true Toranese Ocapaw noodles, a spicy noodle dish named for 'being as hot as an Ocalia's Paw. To wash it down, she ordered a glass of Omu Berry Juice mixed with Sakuran Tea. From experience, she knew it dealt with some of the lingering effects of the spice of her order.
Her Kujaku was with her as well, perched on the railing next to her table. She was trying to create a connection between her new companions and herself, as well as get used to communicating telepathically with the creature. She had really only used her telepathy with her family, or her family's Natrelmon, which had already been well trained. It was an odd experience with the Kujaku, partially due the nature of the creature's abilities. To be polite, she ordered a small plate of fresh Omu Berries for the Kujaku, uncertain if it would like them or not.
While she waited for her order, Shio watched the people passing by on Toran's cobblestone streets, out doing their daily errands. They were all normal. People shopping for what she assumed was tonight's dinner. A few children played by the fountain in the nearby square, one little girl calling out for what Shio assumed was her stuffed Tibearius. She had never experienced that kind of activity - never really having played with other children. She had never even owned a stuffed Natrelmon either, something most children had growing up. Shio had her books instead of toys. While she was grateful for the experience they had given her now, she couldn't help but long a bit for the normalcy those children were privileged too.
Tuujaimaa The Saint of Wings / Bread Wizard
Member
Seen
9 hrs ago
Kasumi's order of thinly shaved medium-rare steak and rice noodles arrived just as Shio had opened the doors of the restaurant, and as the food was sat down she gazed across to Shio from beneath the relative cover of her hood as the waitress set everything up on the table for her. She'd recently discovered that the Orinese drink of Arandin's Lippia and Blue Mist Flower root, stewed with several aromatic spices and thickened with condensed milk, was available in the restaurant and her first order had been two glasses of those. She'd not had the drink since her childhood, and the sweet, smoky, and spicy taste of the drink complimented the flavours of her steak and noodles excellently. The restaurant was one of the few that Kasumi actually intended to pay for - whenever she was genuinely impressed with the quality of a restaurant's food or the service that was provided, she toyed with the idea of actually paying for her food, and given the combination of both excellent food and excellent service, Kasumi felt that stealing from this particular venue would invoke some sort of wrath, and the name of the restaurant inspired a strange sense of almost familiar dread, as if a "Red Nakumo" would actually swoop down and smite her for her misdeeds.
Those thoughts quickly melted away with the ice in her drinks, sat beneath the scorching sun, watching the people of Toran go by.
Shio's having a Kujaku was somewhat problematic - it would be far too much effort to actually steal anything from her under its watchful eyes and aura. It was perhaps better to hold off from stealing from this one particular woman. She looked like she was from the East too, though - and if she was seeing correctly, she certainly recognised the physical traits of one of the more prominent families of the East, and there were certain details that she recognised from the war. Odd, that they would both choose to take their Rites at the same time, but it was perhaps one of the few happy coincidences in the world.
Happy Coincidences were not something Kasumi really believed in.
Those thoughts quickly melted away with the ice in her drinks, sat beneath the scorching sun, watching the people of Toran go by.
Shio's having a Kujaku was somewhat problematic - it would be far too much effort to actually steal anything from her under its watchful eyes and aura. It was perhaps better to hold off from stealing from this one particular woman. She looked like she was from the East too, though - and if she was seeing correctly, she certainly recognised the physical traits of one of the more prominent families of the East, and there were certain details that she recognised from the war. Odd, that they would both choose to take their Rites at the same time, but it was perhaps one of the few happy coincidences in the world.
Happy Coincidences were not something Kasumi really believed in.
GM
Shio
Almost simultaneously a Crackle and Lesser Fireball struck the side of the Red Nakumo Restaurant. The event turned Shio's attention to the impact point, as she watched as both spells seemed to strike the Red Nakumo, but do nothing to it. It was very puzzling. As her gaze shifted back to its former position, Shio caught a familiar face. While Shio's family was not one of the noble families, it had its role to play in the affairs of the East, thus she could easily recognize the oldest child of the Touhou family. Shio immediately thought about approaching her, but paused a moment later. Kasumi was of one of the noble families, and some were very formal and picky about conventions. If Shio had been of one of the noble families, it would have been less of an issue.
However, there had been a lot of gossip that had been filtered down about the girl. Nothing that Shio could easily remember, because it wasn't really relevant to any of her missions as a child, so she hadn't committed it to memory. It did, however, make Kasumi approachable. Shio wanted to do what 'normal' people might do when they saw someone they knew while travelling, as they had met a couple of times briefly, even if they didn't speak, so she took a breath and shoved in her chair, walking over to Kasumi with Kujaku side stepping own the railing to follow.
"You are Kasumi Touhou," Shio said when she got to the other girl's table, not really asking a question, but making the observation that she knew who she was. It was an incredibly awkward comment, given that Shio hadn't had much training on social graces.
"I am Shio Enyo," Shio followed up, in an equally as awkward fashion, giving a slight bow as her Kujaku finally arrived on the railing next to Kasumi's table. "We have met before. It was at one of the Suzaku Festivals. We didn't talk. This is my Kujaku."
The bird, seemingly having more sense with people than it's trainer made a strange noise as if to greet Kasumi. It was clear, however, that the bird was watching Kasumi closely, even though Shio was more than capable of taking care of herself should the interaction turn sour.
Almost simultaneously a Crackle and Lesser Fireball struck the side of the Red Nakumo Restaurant. The event turned Shio's attention to the impact point, as she watched as both spells seemed to strike the Red Nakumo, but do nothing to it. It was very puzzling. As her gaze shifted back to its former position, Shio caught a familiar face. While Shio's family was not one of the noble families, it had its role to play in the affairs of the East, thus she could easily recognize the oldest child of the Touhou family. Shio immediately thought about approaching her, but paused a moment later. Kasumi was of one of the noble families, and some were very formal and picky about conventions. If Shio had been of one of the noble families, it would have been less of an issue.
However, there had been a lot of gossip that had been filtered down about the girl. Nothing that Shio could easily remember, because it wasn't really relevant to any of her missions as a child, so she hadn't committed it to memory. It did, however, make Kasumi approachable. Shio wanted to do what 'normal' people might do when they saw someone they knew while travelling, as they had met a couple of times briefly, even if they didn't speak, so she took a breath and shoved in her chair, walking over to Kasumi with Kujaku side stepping own the railing to follow.
"You are Kasumi Touhou," Shio said when she got to the other girl's table, not really asking a question, but making the observation that she knew who she was. It was an incredibly awkward comment, given that Shio hadn't had much training on social graces.
"I am Shio Enyo," Shio followed up, in an equally as awkward fashion, giving a slight bow as her Kujaku finally arrived on the railing next to Kasumi's table. "We have met before. It was at one of the Suzaku Festivals. We didn't talk. This is my Kujaku."
The bird, seemingly having more sense with people than it's trainer made a strange noise as if to greet Kasumi. It was clear, however, that the bird was watching Kasumi closely, even though Shio was more than capable of taking care of herself should the interaction turn sour.
Tuujaimaa The Saint of Wings / Bread Wizard
Member
Seen
9 hrs ago
"Observant. I recognise you from the war." Kasumi responded, her tone much more lackadaisical and carefree than Shio's - but still with the same sense of frankness and directness. It was an interesting juxtaposition to Shio's method of speaking, but simultaneously it had similarities that perhaps Shio would find comforting.
Kasumi pointed to the second drink on the table before giving a brief nod towards Shio, inviting her to take it.
"It helps with the spice. Acts like a dessert, too. Popular in Orin."
Her gaze remained somewhat inconsistent throughout the entire exchange - though she was clearly paying attention to every action and non-action that Shio made, she was also observing everyone else in a similar manner - thoroughly, despite her capacity for attention being only human. There were things that war taught you that you could not possibly think of doing prior to actually being forced to do it. It made Kasumi a remarkably efficient thief, and if it came down to it assassin, but it did hurt her ability to interact comfortably with most people. It was often considered rude to not give full attention to someone you were in a conversation with, but that was another one of the intricacies of conversation that she'd not picked up.
She nodded to the Kujaku without facing it, before quickly turning her attention back to Shio.
"You're starting your Rites, then? They used to nag and nag and nag at me to "do something with my life". I have "responsibilities"." She smirked, drawing air quotes as she said responsibilities. The conversation could have seemed awkward to an outsider, or maybe even to Shio, but Kasumi was simply used to talking in short bursts in order to convey as much useful information as possible using as few words as possible. She'd never be as eloquent as some of them, and she'd never master the art of wordplay - so why bother trying to play their game? Her game suited her just fine.
Kasumi pointed to the second drink on the table before giving a brief nod towards Shio, inviting her to take it.
"It helps with the spice. Acts like a dessert, too. Popular in Orin."
Her gaze remained somewhat inconsistent throughout the entire exchange - though she was clearly paying attention to every action and non-action that Shio made, she was also observing everyone else in a similar manner - thoroughly, despite her capacity for attention being only human. There were things that war taught you that you could not possibly think of doing prior to actually being forced to do it. It made Kasumi a remarkably efficient thief, and if it came down to it assassin, but it did hurt her ability to interact comfortably with most people. It was often considered rude to not give full attention to someone you were in a conversation with, but that was another one of the intricacies of conversation that she'd not picked up.
She nodded to the Kujaku without facing it, before quickly turning her attention back to Shio.
"You're starting your Rites, then? They used to nag and nag and nag at me to "do something with my life". I have "responsibilities"." She smirked, drawing air quotes as she said responsibilities. The conversation could have seemed awkward to an outsider, or maybe even to Shio, but Kasumi was simply used to talking in short bursts in order to convey as much useful information as possible using as few words as possible. She'd never be as eloquent as some of them, and she'd never master the art of wordplay - so why bother trying to play their game? Her game suited her just fine.
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