Crowvette

Tales Of Shizuyama (Far-Eastern Monster Girl RP)

Io at Terauchi Temple

~ @Hammerman, @Rezod92, @Crowvette, @Nakushita, @Restalaan (GRI & SKA), @AzureKnight (ATS) ~

Io's arrival was fortuitous, as it seemed to be just in time for some sort of strategic planning meeting. The thought of planning instead of recklessly charging towards the nearest enemy greatly pleased her, for obvious reasons. She already began working on how she might be able to tailor a strategy towards this. She briefly frowned as she dismissed her initial thoughts - plans that would take entirely too long to employ, and/or require a prodigious amount of graverobbing. Neither would go over well. Io was still adjusting to working with humans - she hoped that the others in the task force were doing a better job of acting as good representatives to the locals.

"I believe," Io chimed in to Ayu's last statement, "That 'unorthodox' is our modus operandi." It was an equal part lament and praise, in Io's eyes. "But can we trust someone doing business with the enemy?" Io echoed the concerns that she was sure the rest of the task force felt. She held back a flurry of other potential questions she had - the fine details of geography, weather conditions, number of enemies, the type of foodstuffs they prepared, how many of the guards slept face up... The kind of information that could make or break magical strategies. Those would come later, if some kind of magical trick was needed to even the odds. Io secretly hoped there would be a need.

The Glynwood Institute For Thaumaturgical Studies

Iris

Iris was, for the moment, occupied enough to forget her hunger. Several students had shared introductions, and she was trying her best to commit them all to memory. After all, she would be working with them directly, not unlike her brother and sisters at the temple. She had been warned that people will not be as kind, but it seemed to Iris that these fellow students would be plenty amicable.

Iris gracefully straightened out her scarf when Dionysia called attention to it, in order to show off the symbols and emblems decorating it better. "I made it by hand. Though, the designs are of course styled after icons of the Worldsoul, and I merely adopted them..." Iris meekly looked down, not wanting to appear arrogant to her fellow students. "It is customary to make one where I am from."

Iris's face felt hot. She was beginning to come to terms with how far she was from home - meeting new people, in a strange, luxurious place teeming with food... She felt flustered talking about herself.

Switching her attention to the discussion of Pebblebrook, Iris chimed in. "Quaint? I had the pleasure of staying with a wonderful mage in Pebblebrook." Iris spoke with wonder in her voice, clasping her hands together. "It was amazing to have an entire room to sleep in for myself! It even had a bed! I had never had such amazing sleep."

Iris's genuine wonder showed off perhaps more than she intended about her life at the temple. She quickly cast her eyes down again, silently wondering if she was bragging too much. After all, beds were likely a luxury not everyone had access to. She should have stayed humble and not brought it up at all.

Royal Rumble: Rumble over the Heavens

Alyona

"No point. That kind of stuff won't help me." Alyona tried to crush the empty can in her hand, but she couldn't quite manage it - the imported can had stronger walls to stand up to international shipping and she was still at her limit. She settled on tossing it.

She took a deep breath and stood up, bracing herself against the wall. She needed the deep breath to brace her body for the strain of standing, but it also steeled her for an embarrassingly theatric move - which she, unfortunately, had done too many times in the past. "There's only one thing you can do that actually helps." Leaning closer to Jeremy, she met his eyes with an intense stare. "You've heard of vampires, haven't you?" Alyona finished her statement with a smile that showed off her perfectly white teeth.

It wasn't her favourite method of getting to leech off of someone, but it had something resembling a success rate in the past - and might actually work better in Rhea where superstitions were different from Yekaterina. Alyona dreaded walking home with her injuries more than she dreaded some random kid on the street thinking she was a weirdo, at least. Plus, it wasn't a crime if they agreed to it, according to Alyona's nonexistent knowledge of Rhean law.

@Spin The Wheel

Royal Rumble: Rumble over the Heavens

Alyona

@Spin The Wheel

"How I ended up like this?" Aly looked up towards the sky, lost in thought for a moment. "I... Was always like this." She held up her hand, looking at the tattoo-like markings that snaked and converged along her arms and discolored her right hand's skin. A lot of different memories briefly flashed in Alyona's mind. She had to look away, wiping her eyes for a moment.

She took another sip of her terrible drink, coming back to reality with the sting of its taste. "It's like how you have that up there, I'm sure." She gestured to Jeremy's head. "The gods, playing with us like toys." She gave him a sly glance, realizing her own assumption. "Unless you're wearing that for fun...?"

Since attacking the poor kid was off of the table (he could easily describe her to the police by now, and he clearly had enough problems on his own as is) she decided to instead settle on needling him with a teasing question. He was probably used to it by now, anyway, if that hat really was part of a "gift."

She needed to change the subject anyway. Alyona was not expecting to be taken off guard by such a simple question. 'How I ended up like this...' It wouldn't have hit her as hard if it wasn't something she had asked herself countless times. Maybe some day she'd have an answer.

Tales Of Shizuyama (Far-Eastern Monster Girl RP)

Io at Terauchi Temple

@PaulHaynek @Nakushita

Though Io's ploy did not lead to her being alone with Kazenosuke, the return trip was still pleasant enough (and not solely because Io had been called beautiful). Io was never one for nature paths, but it was preferable to running as she had done on the way to Kazenosuke's house. She would need to catalogue the various pieces of flora that she had never seen before on the walk, but that would come after the issue of the Varjan invasion was settled.

The topic of the invasion loomed over the group as they returned to Terauchi temple. Indeed, the invasion was difficult to avoid with the sights of Varjan ships and plumes of smoke. Io spoke up to respond to Kazenosuke, "Shizuyama has individuals of profound ability. I have been surprised by several of them... Including you." Io turned, giving the swordsman a faint smile from under her hood - which was quite an encouraging expression by her standards. "I will work to expand the chance of success." She paused for a moment. "Through any means possible. The other task force members would do the same." She gave a nod to Yuki.

Of course, she wasn't sure if Kazenosuke knew exactly what she was capable of as a lich. Given his pragmatic nature, it seemed like he may not have an issue with accepting the aid of a necromancer, but as she said, she had been surprised before.

The Glynwood Institute For Thaumaturgical Studies

Iris

link to a quick sketch of her cuz it probably won't embed nicely
_{Blessing of the Worldsoul upon you.}

Name:

Iris Myristikos

Age:

18

Gender:

Female

Appearance:

Her wavy platinum blonde hair is only somewhat exotic for her hometown, though it stands out more in Glynwood. Her eyes are a striking silver tinged slightly with blue. Her skin is somewhat pale. She stands slightly taller than average, but her clothing tends to hide how the rest of her looks.

Wears extremely humble clothing that she hand-sewed when not in her uniform. Absolutely no sense of fashion.

Wears her uniform without alteration, except for her large scarf which is part of her religious habit. It is patterned with symbols related to her temple and the Worldsoul, and can also be worn as a veil or even a short cape. Intentionally chose a larger size uniform because it reminded her of her robes at the temple.

Personality:

Innocent and pure to a fault. Those who know her from the temple liken her to a saint, possessing great patience and grace. She cherishes all life, and is loathe to hurt another living thing, even accidentally. She finds it unthinkable to break rules, even if she doesn’t fully understand them. Her humble upbringing has made her unaware of many of the luxuries and conveniences of the greater world.

Background:

Raised from youth at a local temple, Iris was instilled with the temple's foremost tenets: Charity, mercy, and service. She was considered a shining beacon of virtue by many, with equal parts grace and humility, and always willing to help others. Left as a child upon the grounds of the temple, she wholeheartedly accepted those of the temple and the Worldsoul as her family.

Her late noesis after her sixteenth birthday caused many things to change for her; and while she seemed to have an innate knack for more... destructive magic, the leader of the temple could not manage to instill in her any magic more befitting a gentle servant of the Worldsoul. Whenever she called forth her abilities, only great destruction and terror followed - much to her distress. Though she was utterly devoted to her town and temple, she reluctantly agreed to attempt to study at Glynwood, in hopes that she could one day return to the temple with a grasp of more… peaceful magic.

---

Attunement:

Tellurian.

Aura:

Arcing lines and beams of light radiate from her. An unsettling crackle of electricity. The light seems to focus around her head, not unlike a halo.

Magic:

She has a wonderful knack for conjuring lightning, white-hot plasma, and destructive blasts of light. She can’t quite seem to figure out ways to tone them down.

---

Other:

Celebrates many strange holidays due to her temple’s local traditions.

The Glynwood Institute For Thaumaturgical Studies

Iris

Iris had lodged in a humbled residence to await the opening ceremony for the Institute. The owner was apparently one that her mentor, the father of her church, had saved in the past - they insisted that letting Iris stay until the ceremony was the least they could do. Truly, Iris saw it as a testament to the Worldsoul's teachings: A good deed springing forth further kindness.

She had an uneventful - perhaps peaceful - trip to Pebblebrook. It gave her time to reflect on what her mentor had told her. The place she was going was far removed from her peaceful temple. There were people and forces at work that she wouldn't understand. Iris was nervous, of course. She knew that the whole reason she was even coming to this institute was because of her... gift? It was a gift, of course. She just had to figure out how to use it. That was what her mentor had told her, and it was what gave her the courage to venture out to Glynwood.

---

On the approach to Glynwood, Iris took a moment to pray to the Worldsoul. It was what she did to stave off nervousness, and it was something she found herself relying on in the moment. '...I thank the Worldsoul for the rain, that it may bring life to crops and wildlife...'

After further praying for the people of her village, and of course the cart driver that brought her to Pebblebrook, she opened her eyes... To see the rays of the sun washing over the land. 'Ah. I thank the Worldsoul for this... beautiful clear day, I mean. May its light enervate the hearts of all living things.' She amended her internal prayer. She had been told about this, but some part of her was amazed that it could happen - the weather changed by the work of magic. Iris only could hope that she would one day be able to create such beauty with her own hands.

---

Iris shuffled into the audience room with the other entrants, barely containing her amazement. She had never seen such a lavishly decorated area, with so many people at once. It was almost overwhelming with its color and sound, compared to the comforting presence of her home's temple. She absentmindedly touched the fabric of her scarf, trying to just focus on walking to the right area and listening to the speeches of the staff members.

There was some chatting amongst the students that she didn't quite understand - about two people doing something? Iris didn't get what they were saying. She at least understood the speeches from the staff members more clearly. She thoroughly enjoyed the chancellor's speech. She thought it was a wonderful idea, working towards a bright future. It was exactly what she was hoping to do.

"Ah, what a beautiful speech..." Iris said aloud, clasping her hands together as she watched the groups of students mingle and separate into groups. Perhaps things would turn out well after all.

Iris found herself drawn to the outside edges of the auditorium, following the sounds of music and the smell of... Something delicious. She was amazed at the amount of food on display - she had never seen that much, even when the temple was feeding the people of the village. Most amazingly, they had meat out, and in such a quantity! It wasn't at all what she was used to.

Iris nearly reached out for the food, before stopping herself. It certainly looked delicious, but she had to hold back. Looking around at the others, so many of them had not eaten yet. There were likely so many others that needed to eat before her - otherwise they would not have set out so much food. For the sake of making sure the needy among Glynwood got the food that they needed, she would hold back until she saw that everyone else had ate their fill. Just as she did in the temple.

She just had to wait. She absentmindedly stroked her decorated scarf, stealing glances at the food before catching herself and averting her gaze. She nearly jumped with surprise when someone among the group of students introduced themselves to her. "Blessings of the Worldsoul upon you all," Iris gave a modest curtsy, regarding the others with a gentle smile, "I am Iris. Iris Myristikos."

Tales Of Shizuyama (Far-Eastern Monster Girl RP)

Io at the Ruins of Kazenosuke's House

@PaulHaynek @AzureKnight @Nakushita

Kazenosuke proved to be quite an enigma himself. Io had projected very little chance of success with her move, but he responded favourably enough. She would take any victories she could get. Though she had recovered energy through various other methods, her most preferred one was woefully neglected ever since her stay at Shizuyama began - something she was prepared for, but not necessarily enthusiastic about.

Leaving aside her inner thirst, Io turned her attention to a newly familiar presence - Alice. After their sparring session, there was no mistaking her, even without sight. She could tell the others noticed her too. "Another task force member." She briefly explained to Kazenosuke, not sure if she should go into any further detail than that. She turned and said to the her fellow task force members, "If you think she needs help, I can take Kazenosuke back to the temple on my own." She wasn't sure if they had a better intuition for what Alice might be doing, so she volunteered in case they felt the need to pivot their plans.

Of course that would also leave Io alone with the newly recruited swordsman, which was a win in her eyes. Not that she would admit that directly... Nor did she really expect any actual sudden developments from being alone with him, either, but Io preferred to play to any chance she might get. She nodded to herself. "He will be safe. Rest assured." She seized her grimoire, as if brandishing it would serve to emphasize her protective prowess.

Royal Rumble: Rumble over the Heavens

Alyona

@Spin The Wheel

Aly felt the presence of the boy diminish as she cradled her sides, but she refused to look up to see as she cradled her sides and waited for her mild breakdown to pass. For a moment she hoped that he may have got the message and let her be, but he eventually returned. Resting against the wall, she stared blankly at the can he set near her. 'Just like how you would leave food for a wild animal.' Aly was sure this wasn't the gesture the boy was attempting - unlike the last boy she ran into, this one seemed a little too naive to insult her in such a way intentionally.

After some internal deliberation she decided to accept the gift anyway. Aly was never one to let something free pass her up. 'As if I have any dignity left to lose anyway...' She thought to herself, cracking open the can. It was clearly imported, as the can felt different from domestic Rhean - it actually reminded her of Yekaterina's cans. Alyona did not flinch as the can sprayed carbonated fizz across her face: It was something she was entirely used to by now.

If she wasn't the magnet for bad luck as she was, it would have looked like the boy was playing a prank on her by giving her a shaken can, but Aly knew it would have had that outcome anyway. Aly never bothered trying to understand the underlying logic behind her aura. It was clearly something that would defy logic in order to operate, and she left it at that. She took a sip of the drink, and nearly began another coughing fit the second it touched her tongue. Aly's eyes narrowed as she looked at the can. Of course, most of it was covered in a foreign language, and the parts that were written in the local language were questionably translated marketing slogans.

The taste provoked a complex emotion. Alyona hated it. The thought of someone thinking it was a product you should sell made her skin crawl. It was a carbonated beverage, but it was apparently served warm according to the illustrated parts of the label. And it seemed to have some kind of pulp or natural product inside the drink too. The carbonated slurry was bland when she first tasted it, then built into a sickening sweetness that lingered in her mouth. It all came together into a baffling cacophony of tastes.

She took another sip. Yes. She still hated it. It felt like an anchor, a truth that she could cling to. She could barely walk, but she could hate this drink all day. She took a deeper swig. Despite the look of smoldering disdain in her eyes, she nursed the can as she regained her composure.

Aly remembered the boy that got her the can to begin with was still standing nearby after a few moments. He seemed to have got way too many cans - Aly guessed there may have been a mishap along the way. That was his problem, in her eyes, and there was of course no way to prove it was Aly's fault. "Boy." She said, holding the can up a little as she turned her gaze to him, "You have got a master class in bad taste." Despite what she said, she gave the slightest nod of approval as she took another drink. "What is it you're after, exactly?" She gave him a sly look as she asked.

Alyona didn't really have the boy figured out at all, but she assumed the boy wanted something if he was going to such lengths. Somehow, despite everything, he had managed to make things a little less terrible. She'd at least hear him out, for that.

Tales Of Shizuyama (Far-Eastern Monster Girl RP)

Io at Kazenosuke's house

@PaulHaynek @AzureKnight @Nakushita

Somehow, despite everything, the situation resolved itself well. That is, except for Kazenosuke's house, which took an unfortunate amount of damage. He didn't seem to be too concerned, so Io didn't worry about it either. Yuki was tough, so Io figured crashing through the wall wouldn't have left any lasting damage on her either. "Good." Io regarded Kazenosuke's surrender as she approached. "Stay put and I'll deal with that." She dispelled the magical cage once she was sure her fellow task force members were close and ready in case he bolted.

Io leaned in - perhaps closer than necessary to administer her healing. "Shizuka and I are not married." Io said in a low voice as she reached out with a hand gently glowing with healing magic. "Which is to say. I am free." Io winked, though her natural blank expression, as well as her hood and hair covering her eye may have made the move unclear to Kazenosuke.

It had been several decades since she had to make such an offer, so she had to accept being a little rusty. Io would have to consult with some of the more trendy-type mamono in order to figure out what the right things were to say, but the opportunity presented itself this time around and she seized it.

After casting her spell of healing, she quickly turned before Kazenosuke could respond, with perhaps the slightest burning of embarrassment in her cheeks. "The next move?" she addressed Yuki and Shizuka, eager to redirect the conversation.