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"Although I can recount the night's events to you, that'd only be my point of view and observations. I'm sure Iskah - the lizardman girl there - can vouch for my testimony, but I'm not sure the other two will see things the same way. In which case, you'll have a 'we said, they said' situation on your hasnds, once they wake up."
The Lot Knight seemed to piece together what happened last night by inferring from Vanessa's words, as he watched the Dark Mage inspect her Lizardman-Doppelganger client. "...You chased Inky in the middle of the night. And that made him a little too mad." Iskah was unscathed for the most part, her monster physiology likely already healed any injuries she sustained from last night. However, there was still a minor bump in her head. Probably a concussion delivered by her beloved to finally knock her out.
A sigh escaped from the Lot Knight. "I'm probably wasting my breath like this but... Can't you give up?" He asked Vanessa. "You're hurting yourselves trying to get him. He's already made peace with his destiny. Can't you accept that?" He pleaded to the monster, albeit half-heartedly.
"That is NOT his destiny!" Iskah shot up from her bed in order to retort. "He's just hurting. Really bad. And I intend to help him, and guide him to his true fate." She declared as she approached the cell bars, her claws balled into fists.
Agitated by the sudden retort, the hooded Lot Knight aligned himself to face down Iskah. "And why is that your responsibility? Because you love him? You barely know him!"
"Untrue." Iskah was unfazed. "I know his story. I know he has worked tirelessly for a love that was never meant to be. I know that destroyed him in the inside. I know he carries those wounds to this day." The Lizardman then grabbed the bars and finished her piece. "Tragic as that may be, that shouldn't be the end of his story. He doesn't have to carry that pain forever. Not after fighting for something so noble. It wouldn't be fair."
"Fair?" The Lot Knight snickered and turned to the Dark Mage. "You. You look like you've seen your fair share of the world. Can you enlighten our Lizarman friend here on how fair the world is?"
The next morning arrived and things were still peaceful at Terauchi Temple. They ate breakfast as normal, but they noticed that the refugees seemed a bit wary of the taskforce as they interacted. It appeared the noises from the scene of last night did not go unheard, even if the damage was completely repaired. Still, there was not much to be done about it now other than move forward.
Ayu has returned from Komatsu Bay along with a notable prisoner, the Amethyst Prince Na'kratz whom the taskforce defeated a while back. "Heyo, taskforce! I know it's a bad idea to haul this all the way here, but Lady Kyouko's forces haven't landed in the port yet so leaving him there with some militia is probably the badder idea." She reasoned. "With everyone here, any escape attempt he makes should be thwarted. Not that he can do much missing an arm. But even then, do be careful around him if you want to talk to him."
Shizuka Kannazuki had risen earlier and was nowhere to be found. So was Takeshi Oja and Revuel Arvida. Perhaps the three were somewhere in the temple discussing some matters.
Ayu has returned to her duties, supervising the temple and looked quite happy to have returned to her normal routine. She was open to a talk if any taskforce member wants to.
Na'kratz was immediately handed a task to bring supplies to and fro. It was cruel to make a one-armed do heavy lifting, but this casual cruelty probably paled to the cruelty he had inflicted upon the innocent until now. His route was always within eyeshot of everyone to make sure he was not alone as much as possible. He didn't seem to be planning any escape anytime soon and taskforce members can talk to him if they wanted.
Most of Takeshi's peers had all gone to Castle Kaneda to prepare for Island Lord Hideo Oja's rescue. They now await the taskforce to join them before starting this daring operation.
~~ TAKESHI'S JOURNEY ~~
(REQUIRES ALL PLAYER CHARACTERS)
"I finally have all that I need to rescue my father from the Varjans. The only thing missing now is where the invaders have him imprisoned. I'm coming for you, father. Just wait a little longer." -Takeshi Oja
~~ TAKAMORI TALES ~~
"Lord Takamori's traitorous former student, Setsuna, is training Mongol archers across Shizuyama. Lord Takamori posits that she plans on attacking Omi Springs, his hometown and a refuge for villagers. We should meet with Lord Takamori as soon as possible." -Takeshi Oja
~~ SORAE TALES ~~
"Sorae is on the hunt for Sogen, one of the conspirators behind her family's murder. To track him down, Sorae has asked us to speak with Ayu who may know where we can find him." -Takeshi Oja
~~ SHIZUKA (MERCHANT) TALES ~~
"One of the farms near Komatsu Bay looks like it's had some trouble. Someone should make sure the people there are all right." -Takeshi Oja
~~ TALES OF SHIZUYAMA ~~
A villager woman remarked to the taskforce member as the latter passed by.
"You better watch out if you're passing Yabo Forest, yokai. It's haunted by angry spirits... Dead samurai, eager to spill blood."
"People go into the woods and never come out. Varjan and Shizuyaman alike! The bodies that turn up have all been killed by Shizuyaman blades..."
A peasant man eating barbecued meat on a stick was startled when the taskforce member approached. It appeared he has news.
"Yokai! You have to tell Lord Takeshi, there is another samurai noble who survived Sanjo Beach. His name is Lord Tonchiki. He's in his abode southeast of here. If you go see him, I'm sure he would join your cause."
"Err, maybe not. I guess you'll need Lord Takeshi himself to convince him."
(REQUIRES SHIZUKA KANNAZUKI) A villager sitting on some stone steps in the temple stood up when the taskforce member approached.
"Yokai, I've heard of a small resistance group gathering in the Imahama Area. I believe they're headed by that shrine priestess that started a fight here not too long ago."
"They're recruiting farmers and fishermen to their cause. Brave, but it'll be dangerous if they're not trained. Better take Lord Takeshi with you too or else it might be a fight again."
A peasant man warming his hands on a bonfire noticed the taskforce member passing by.
"Yokai, you must do something! It's Ayane's sake brewery in Imahama. That brewery is the pride of Shizuyama, but soon there will be none left. The Varjans are taking it by force."
“For you, Takeshi? Getting rid of the students helped but you still didn’t learn the technique. Maybe get Shizuka to teach you, he seems familiar with the basics.”
Takeshi chuckled at Skarsneek's remark. "I always learn from my fights, Sir Skarsneek." He replied with a cheeky smile on his face. "In fact, I picked up more than the Heavenly Strike technique during our battle in Kenshiro's Rest."
“You’re gonna have to learn how to get the remaining surviving students on your side. Every manpower at this point counts, just say that the master got defeated by you and that means you’re better or something.”
At this suggestion, Takeshi's previous cheery face scrunched into a frown. "I will not. They have already spilled the blood of our people. Not even warriors in a battlefield, but innocent villagers. They have already chosen their side in this war." The young lord declared, humoring no debate on this matter.
"Takeshi-san, you lout! The prospect of death is no laughing matter!"
Takeshi only laughed as he upset Atsuha Hangai again. The spider yokai's general attitude reminded him of a lot of people he knew, people who were typically not amused with his sometimes macabre humor.
“Normal Varjan bois, no problem, but them ‘ard bois are. More boiz too. So we need to strike and take their lootz. We go to their camp, bash their heads in. Take everything, and use it to bash more heads in.”
"Well, at least one of us is having fun here." Takeshi remarked about Gringor, to the male monster himself. "But yes, some of the Varjans we fought were legionnaires. I don't remember if I said it before, but these warriors are powerful. Clad in blessed armors, their power and abilities are only second to actual blessed Heroes of The Order."
"They were trained to specialize in fighting monsters." Takeshi finished. "But their true call was, apparently, fighting their fellow humans."
After the brief conversations, the rest of the trip back to Terauchi Temple was uneventful.
"Greetings, Sir Revuel. The battle was indeed long and hard fought, but we managed to pull off a victory in the end. We'd do well to rest, thank you much."
Revuel was about to respond when he suddenly stopped, just when the visions of Cecilia's memories entered Shizuka's mind. The ex-Warlock's attunement to the extraordinary arts allowed him a more vivid sight to the dreams broadcasted by the unstable Dinah. Despite lacking any meaningful connection with her, Revuel only smiled with a nod when Shizuka suddenly went away.
However, Revuel had to think deeply with what he had just seen. He quietly retired to his quarters to ponder this predicament.
---
Dinah had unwittingly shared some of Cecilia's past memories to the taskforce in her continuous struggle to maintain herself. She may have wished that she did not bother the people she loved and loved her back, but it was far too late. Her newfound companions, and possibly some others, were well on their way to see her. Intending to help or, at least, comfort.
~~ TAKESHI'S JOURNEY ~~
(REQUIRES ALL PLAYER CHARACTERS)
"I finally have all that I need to rescue my father from the Varjans. The only thing missing now is where the invaders have him imprisoned. I'm coming for you, father. Just wait a little longer." -Takeshi Oja
~~ TAKAMORI TALES ~~
"Lord Takamori's traitorous former student, Setsuna, is training Mongol archers across Shizuyama. Lord Takamori posits that she plans on attacking Omi Springs, his hometown and a refuge for villagers. We should meet with Lord Takamori as soon as possible." -Takeshi Oja
~~ SORAE TALES ~~
"Sorae is on the hunt for Sogen, one of the conspirators behind her family's murder. To track him down, Sorae has asked us to speak with Ayu who may know where we can find him." -Takeshi Oja
~~ SHIZUKA (MERCHANT) TALES ~~
"One of the farms near Komatsu Bay looks like it's had some trouble. Someone should make sure the people there are all right." -Takeshi Oja
~~ TALES OF SHIZUYAMA ~~
A villager woman remarked to the taskforce member as the latter passed by.
"You better watch out if you're passing Yabo Forest, yokai. It's haunted by angry spirits... Dead samurai, eager to spill blood."
"People go into the woods and never come out. Varjan and Shizuyaman alike! The bodies that turn up have all been killed by Shizuyaman blades..."
A peasant man eating barbecued meat on a stick was startled when the taskforce member approached. It appeared he has news.
"Yokai! You have to tell Lord Takeshi, there is another samurai noble who survived Sanjo Beach. His name is Lord Tonchiki. He's in his abode southeast of here. If you go see him, I'm sure he would join your cause."
"Err, maybe not. I guess you'll need Lord Takeshi himself to convince him."
A villager sitting on some stone steps in the temple stood up when the taskforce member approached.
"Yokai, I've heard of a small resistance group gathering in the Imahama Area. I believe they're headed by that shrine priestess that started a fight here not too long ago."
"They're recruiting farmers and fishermen to their cause. Brave, but it'll be dangerous if they're not trained. Better take Lord Takeshi with you too or else it might be a fight again."
A peasant man warming his hands on a bonfire noticed the taskforce member passing by.
"Yokai, you must do something! It's Ayane's sake brewery in Imahama. That brewery is the pride of Shizuyama, but soon there will be none left. The Varjans are taking it by force."
Having moved not to defend herself but to support her client, the pink tendrils reached Vanessa's broom and brought a sudden stop to it. The Dark Mage was sent careening into the cobblestone streets of Ortus, her physiology preventing any serious damage but her exposed skin did get smidged a bit by dirt. Exhausted as she was, the Dark Mage could only watch what unfolded next.
Vanessa's storm of icy spikes rained down upon Iskah, Aun and Katelyn. Like what the Dark Mage had planned, Katelyn the Salamander was affected most by the icicles. Aun blocked the projectiles with just his armguards while Iskah was protected by Vanessa's earlier shield spell. Katelyn tried to block the icicles with her sword, but too many hit her and she was knocked onto her ass by the icy barrage. But despite the hits, Katelyn remained conscious.
"Heh. Not bad, Iskah." The Salamander muttered. "You've got some strong--"
"RAAAAAAAAGHHHH!"
A loud cry from Aun interrupted Katelyn, startling everyone present. The Incubus Knight started swinging away his bardiche at his reptilian suitresses. Iskah and Katelyn were forced to defend themselves, although Vanessa could swear she saw the Salamander smiling. Katelyn's ally, the Cupid, descended to join the fight. Despite fighting three monsters, Aun appeared to be holding his ground. Even seeming to have the upper hand.
And that, was what Vanessa saw before completely passing out.
The next time Vanessa awoke, she found herself in a jail cell. A comfy jail cell, with a soft bed under her and a fluffy pillow on her head, but a jail cell nonetheless with its classic iron bars. Also with her in the cell was her client, Iskah, and their rivals, Katelyn and her Cupid ally. They were all still knocked out, and the Dark Mage was alone in the cell with sunlight illuminating the cell through a small gap.
Outside the cell, Vanessa saw a brown-cowled knight sitting by a small round wooden table with a book in his hands. The Dark Mage recognized him as one of the Lot Knights when she and Iskah raided the knights' keep. "Oh, you're awake. I was wondering when you'd come to." The Lot Knight put his book away and approached the bars.
"You've all caused quite the commotion last night. We wanted to get a report from Inky, but he was too pissed to give us one... And we're not exactly capable of beating it out of him." The knight revealed. "So I have no choice but to take it from you. What happened last night that's got Inky all worked up?"
"All of you, gonna join fight? Then you follow Underboss Takeshi, or Shizuka. Or I crack yer 'eads in. If not, then do whatever you want."
"Fufu, we'll help in our own way, Sir..." The Raiju responded coyly at first, before her eyes narrowed as she realized just exactly what Gringor was. "Wait, you are a monster... but also a--"
The Raiju was interrupted when the better part of the taskforce intervened to defend Dinah from the upset Takeshi. The stress soon got to the fused mycelium yokai, which prompted her to dash away in search for peace in multiple meanings of the term.
"Right, anyone wants to explain further on who's Dinah? She's like...a twin of Alice or something? You said something about merging and ripping eyes out-?"
"Okay! So! Dinah is Alice and Carroll when they do a…a thing…and…become one person, somehow. And she’s really cool and fast, and we fought, and she was like ‘wunanunanuna’ and I was like “kapow, blam, zoom,’ but she’s still waaaaaay faster than me, so, so, and then, she’s scared of fire, so she freaked out from the lightning during the battle, and was scared, and got scared that we were gonna die and was running to get us out of there, but I told her we were gonna fight, and she got her feelings hurt, but she came back and used her party to heal everyone during the fight, but I think people calling her Alice upset her because she’s her own person, so I gotta go!”"
Takeshi Oja wanted to respond, mostly with questions, but about half of the taskforce went after Dinah after Liliana's brief explanation. Well, at least that cleared one detail for the young lord regarding Alice and Caroll. "Whatever am I gonna do with these yokai?" He released a very tired sigh.
"Uhh... Is everything alright with the taskforce, milord?" The Raiju, who only watched the scene unfold dumbfounded, was compelled to ask.
The young lord pinched the bridge of his nose, attempting to form a suitable explanation but could not come up with any. "It's... complicated, I suppose." He replied to the Raiju yokai present. "My gratitude, by the way. Even though such words would earn me execution had our circumstances been normal. At any rate, I think we should part ways for now. Farewell."
"Let's go, everyone. We're finished here." Takeshi took his leave, heading through the crack in the mountain wall, but the taskforce members would hear a bit of the Raijus gossip as they left.
"Aww, man. I wanted at least one of them to introduce me to that azure swordsman guy."
Takeshi's half of the taskforce traveled peacefully through Onrai's countryside. Smoke pillars rose in the horizon, but there was nothing much the group could do about it. Still, it pained the young lord that their fight was far from over. Looking for a distraction, he had the taskforce to converse with... even though they were his and his ancestors' sworn enemies for hundreds of years. War truly made for strange bedfellows.
"I believe this is the first time we've all fought together, haven't we?" Takeshi began. "It could've gone better... but the others were right, it could've gone worse. Way worse." Approaching Io, the young lord's mischievous side showed when he decided to ruffle her hair. "I guess a second death would be quite troublesome, don't you think?"
Being alone with the young lord, the taskforce members present were afforded an opportunity to ask any questions they want from the island's royalty... Or notify him of any future plans.
Shizuka and Dinah carried their dozing teammates back to Terauchi Temple without further incident. They reached their temple base first, having already traveled a bit ahead of Takeshi and the others. The refugees in their way immediately recognized them and bowed lightly in respect and gratitude.
Oddly, however, there seemed to be less people in the temple than when they left. In fact, most of the warriors guarding the area were gone. Inquiries should probably be made about that.
Revuel was the first to actually greet the arriving taskforce. "You've returned." The former Warlock was not sure if he recognized Dinah, but definitely Shizuka. The former was also carrying asleep taskforce members so she was probably with them. "Looks like it was quite the quest with some of you knocked out." He remarked. "Your quarters are fully prepared. Take some rest, you all."
Gazing at the sleeping Kerry, Revuel became pensive. "Any... developments regarding the Madam Kerry's pregnancy?"
~~ TAKESHI'S JOURNEY ~~
(REQUIRES ALL PLAYER CHARACTERS)
"I finally have all that I need to rescue my father from the Varjans. The only thing missing now is where the invaders have him imprisoned. I'm coming for you, father. Just wait a little longer." -Takeshi Oja
~~ TAKAMORI TALES ~~
"Lord Takamori's traitorous former student, Setsuna, is training Mongol archers across Shizuyama. Lord Takamori posits that she plans on attacking Omi Springs, his hometown and a refuge for villagers. We should meet with Lord Takamori as soon as possible." -Takeshi Oja
~~ SORAE TALES ~~
"Sorae is on the hunt for Sogen, one of the conspirators behind her family's murder. To track him down, Sorae has asked us to speak with Ayu who may know where we can find him." -Takeshi Oja
~~ SHIZUKA (MERCHANT) TALES ~~
"One of the farms near Komatsu Bay looks like it's had some trouble. Someone should make sure the people there are all right." -Takeshi Oja
~~ TALES OF SHIZUYAMA ~~
A villager woman remarked to the taskforce member as the latter passed by.
"You better watch out if you're passing Yabo Forest, yokai. It's haunted by angry spirits... Dead samurai, eager to spill blood."
"People go into the woods and never come out. Varjan and Shizuyaman alike! The bodies that turn up have all been killed by Shizuyaman blades..."
A peasant man eating barbecued meat on a stick was startled when the taskforce member approached. It appeared he has news.
"Yokai! You have to tell Lord Takeshi, there is another samurai noble who survived Sanjo Beach. His name is Lord Tonchiki. He's in his abode southeast of here. If you go see him, I'm sure he would join your cause."
"Err, maybe not. I guess you'll need Lord Takeshi himself to convince him."
A villager sitting on some stone steps in the temple stood up when the taskforce member approached.
"Yokai, I've heard of a small resistance group gathering in the Imahama Area. I believe they're headed by that shrine priestess that started a fight here not too long ago."
"They're recruiting farmers and fishermen to their cause. Brave, but it'll be dangerous if they're not trained. Better take Lord Takeshi with you too or else it might be a fight again."
A peasant man warming his hands on a bonfire noticed the taskforce member passing by.
"Yokai, you must do something! It's Ayane's sake brewery in Imahama. That brewery is the pride of Shizuyama, but soon there will be none left. The Varjans are taking it by force."
Iskah noticed too late the incoming magic orbs heading towards her. She closed her eyes and braced for impact, only for the orbs to never hit. Upon opening her eyes, she saw that the pink orbs were now gone and there was faint dome surrounding her. Even moving with her as she traversed the rooftops of sleepy Ortus. It was no mystery to Iskah on who casted this protective barrier. "Thanks, Vanessa!" She yelled as she continued on towards Aun and Katelyn, unimpeded.
The Cupid spotted the lightning bolt aimed at her, and made no attempt to evade. Instead, the angel covered herself with her pinkish-white wings. It was enough to block the weak bolt. "Hmph. So the Doppelganger Lizardman has an ally herself." The Cupid smirked, now knowing that this catfight between two reptilian monsters involved more parties than themselves. "Let's see you handle this!"
The Eros divinity fired two arrows, neither was aimed at Vanessa much less Iskah. The two arrows embedded themselves in two opposite roofs. Their tail ends then glowed and glowing pink lines emerged which then struck out very quickly towards Vanessa on a broom. The Dark Mage would know that these were some sort of magical ensnaring whips. Harmless, of course, but if Vanessa was impeded now then she would be unable to provide further support to Iskah.
Meanwhile, Vanessa also saw Katelyn tackle Aun near the end of the rooftop that lead to a square. However, Iskah also tackled them and they all fell to the waters of an unfortunate Ortusian fountain of very basic design.
Kerry's spear reached the Iron Grinder in barely a second, and it was followed closely by a charged shot from Eula's palm. The spear hit the arm that held Liliana, releasing the captured Fairy while the energy shot punched through the armor and sent the Iron Grinder flying into the mud.
But the muddied Iron Grinder rose again despite his punctured armor, the tenacity of a legionnaire exemplified. He still had his sword and--
*BOOM*
A large bolt of lightning struck the legionnaire directly. Electrified and fried, but somehow still alive, the Iron Grinder finally dropped unconscious back into the mud. His armor was singed and with the damage taken from the taskforce's attacks, probably unusable unless repaired. The taskforce's fight was done, now only Takeshi's--
*BOOM*
Tetsuo Okinaga fell from the second level, rolling down the slope with his clothes also singed and burnt. The taskforce could still sense his weak Spirit Energy, indicating he was still alive. Takeshi Oja, his sword sheathed, slid down the slope to rejoin the taskforce. "Is it just me, or is this foul weather rather... fond of us?" He loudly wondered about the seemingly-coincidental-but-helpful lightning strikes during the battle.
Another bolt of lightning struck the ground near the gathered taskforce, but the strike seemed... gentle. The lightning was bright and momentary, as all bolts were, but something appeared after this one.
"Hiiii~!" A group of four fair-skinned, beautiful women in blue, loose kimonos appeared. They had deep blue hair that ended in a light blue color, long enough to reach their waists. They were Raijus, monsters of thunder and lightning who were native and exclusive to Zipangu. "First of all, I wanna apologize for not directly aiding you all in combat. The students of the Heavenly Strike technique are very familiar with us, so they'd know how to deal with us if they were sure we were here."
"And secondly..." The Raiju group all bowed in unison, a rather formal expression for a race known to be wild and rowdy. "We'd like to thank you for dealing with the students. It was... bloodier than we'd like, but we'll take it." The Raiju spokesperson then explained. "You see, while the Heavenly Strike technique drove our ancestors from this island, we were raised to respect that technique and hold it sacred. Thus, we could not sit idly by while the students of the technique dishonor the move by slaughtering the very people the technique was invented to protect."
"But we could not intervene directly. Students of the Heavenly Strike are especially trained against Raijus. It would have ended badly, even if we survived." The Raiju continued. "Fortunately, a ragtag taskforce with their cute and handsome sponsor were around and were more than enough to take back the technique from the wicked!"
While the Raiju group expressed their gratitude to the taskforce, Dinah at the back was approached by a serious Takeshi. "Alice." He greeted her before crossing his arms, only aware and familiar with one of the identities. "While I appreciate you and the others coming back to help us win the day, your sudden retreat has left many of us in peril." His voice was stern, and unamused. "I'd, at least, like an explanation."
~~ TAKESHI'S JOURNEY ~~
(REQUIRES ALL PLAYER CHARACTERS)
"I finally have all that I need to rescue my father from the Varjans. The only thing missing now is where the invaders have him imprisoned. I'm coming for you, father. Just wait a little longer." -Takeshi Oja
~~ TAKAMORI TALES ~~
"Lord Takamori's traitorous former student, Setsuna, is training Mongol archers across Shizuyama. Lord Takamori posits that she plans on attacking Omi Springs, his hometown and a refuge for villagers. We should meet with Lord Takamori as soon as possible." -Takeshi Oja
~~ SORAE TALES ~~
"Sorae is on the hunt for Sogen, one of the conspirators behind her family's murder. To track him down, Sorae has asked us to speak with Ayu who may know where we can find him." -Takeshi Oja
~~ SHIZUKA (MERCHANT) TALES ~~
"One of the farms near Komatsu Bay looks like it's had some trouble. Someone should make sure the people there are all right." -Takeshi Oja
~~ TALES OF SHIZUYAMA ~~
A villager woman remarked to the taskforce member as the latter passed by.
"You better watch out if you're passing Yabo Forest, yokai. It's haunted by angry spirits... Dead samurai, eager to spill blood."
"People go into the woods and never come out. Varjan and Shizuyaman alike! The bodies that turn up have all been killed by Shizuyaman blades..."
A peasant man eating barbecued meat on a stick was startled when the taskforce member approached. It appeared he has news.
"Yokai! You have to tell Lord Takeshi, there is another samurai noble who survived Sanjo Beach. His name is Lord Tonchiki. He's in his abode southeast of here. If you go see him, I'm sure he would join your cause."
"Err, maybe not. I guess you'll need Lord Takeshi himself to convince him."
A villager sitting on some stone steps in the temple stood up when the taskforce member approached.
"Yokai, I've heard of a small resistance group gathering in the Imahama Area. I believe they're headed by that shrine priestess that started a fight here not too long ago."
"They're recruiting farmers and fishermen to their cause. Brave, but it'll be dangerous if they're not trained. Better take Lord Takeshi with you too or else it might be a fight again."
A peasant man warming his hands on a bonfire noticed the taskforce member passing by.
"Yokai, you must do something! It's Ayane's sake brewery in Imahama. That brewery is the pride of Shizuyama, but soon there will be none left. The Varjans are taking it by force."
~~ LEGENDARY TALES ~~
"Dealing with these students of the Heavenly Strike was more difficult than we thought. They have already thrown back two of the taskforce. However, the yokai fought them separately and at different times, so perhaps a more cooperative approach would be more fruitful." -Takeshi Oja
The sudden appearance of a herd of cows took everyone by surprise. A choir of moos and the thunder of hooves distracted even the warriors harassing the Hangai sisters, completely stopping any more attacks.
The stampede, enhanced by Kerry's spell, threw the enemy forces into complete disarray. Lightning continued to strike as the enemy panicked, making them vulnerable to the taskforce members' attacks. A logical weakness of the students' legendary technique was also found so within minutes, all the technique students and Iron Grinders have fallen to either the stampede or have been picked off by the taskforce. Kenshiro's Rest have also become the resting place of other, more wicked warriors.
The Iron Grinder leader held firm under Gringor's axe assault. His limp made it hard to find an opening for a counterattack, but he patiently waited. He also noticed that he was practically alone now, with no casualties amongst the taskforce. That momentary distraction prevented him from focusing on his fight with Gringor and he was unable to predict nor react to the male High Orc shoulder tackling him.
The legionnaire was sent to the ground and before he could respond, Gringor swatted away his shield and delivered a nasty punch to his face. The hit almost broke his mask but the Iron Grinder wasn't done yet. Letting go of his arms, he grabbed Gringor's face for a punch to the face of his own. The swing knocked the male High Orc off of him, but this fight wad done. The Iron Grinder was looking for a way out now.
Spotting Liliana riding forth towards the second level to Takeshi's aid, the Iron Grinder also saw opportunity. He surged forward before his High Orc opponent got any more funny ideas, picking up his sword as he did. The legionnaire stood in front of Liliana and her mount's path before unleashing a powerful slash, slicing off one of the cow's frontal legs and sending the beast barreling down the muddy soil. Alive, but not for much longer.
Liliana was also sent into the mud before immediately being picked by the Iron Grinder. His iron grip was tight, but only enough that she could not escape through physical force. The legionnaire then presented the captured warrior Fairy to the rest of the taskforce, his other hand grasping his sword. "Stand down, you mongrels! Stand down or this little sprite gets it!" He threatened the Fairy's allies.
This was the last enemy the taskforce needed to deal with, but they must approach with caution. The Varjan legionnaire was cornered and outnumbered. Desperation and spite was his name of the game.
~~ TAKESHI'S JOURNEY ~~
(REQUIRES ALL PLAYER CHARACTERS)
"I finally have all that I need to rescue my father from the Varjans. The only thing missing now is where the invaders have him imprisoned. I'm coming for you, father. Just wait a little longer." -Takeshi Oja
~~ TAKAMORI TALES ~~
"Lord Takamori's traitorous former student, Setsuna, is training Mongol archers across Shizuyama. Lord Takamori posits that she plans on attacking Omi Springs, his hometown and a refuge for villagers. We should meet with Lord Takamori as soon as possible." -Takeshi Oja
~~ SORAE TALES ~~
"Sorae is on the hunt for Sogen, one of the conspirators behind her family's murder. To track him down, Sorae has asked us to speak with Ayu who may know where we can find him." -Takeshi Oja
~~ SHIZUKA (MERCHANT) TALES ~~
"One of the farms near Komatsu Bay looks like it's had some trouble. Someone should make sure the people there are all right." -Takeshi Oja
~~ TALES OF SHIZUYAMA ~~
A villager woman remarked to the taskforce member as the latter passed by.
"You better watch out if you're passing Yabo Forest, yokai. It's haunted by angry spirits... Dead samurai, eager to spill blood."
"People go into the woods and never come out. Varjan and Shizuyaman alike! The bodies that turn up have all been killed by Shizuyaman blades..."
A peasant man eating barbecued meat on a stick was startled when the taskforce member approached. It appeared he has news.
"Yokai! You have to tell Lord Takeshi, there is another samurai noble who survived Sanjo Beach. His name is Lord Tonchiki. He's in his abode southeast of here. If you go see him, I'm sure he would join your cause."
"Err, maybe not. I guess you'll need Lord Takeshi himself to convince him."
A villager sitting on some stone steps in the temple stood up when the taskforce member approached.
"Yokai, I've heard of a small resistance group gathering in the Imahama Area. I believe they're headed by that shrine priestess that started a fight here not too long ago."
"They're recruiting farmers and fishermen to their cause. Brave, but it'll be dangerous if they're not trained. Better take Lord Takeshi with you too or else it might be a fight again."
A peasant man warming his hands on a bonfire noticed the taskforce member passing by.
"Yokai, you must do something! It's Ayane's sake brewery in Imahama. That brewery is the pride of Shizuyama, but soon there will be none left. The Varjans are taking it by force."
~~ LEGENDARY TALES ~~
"Dealing with these students of the Heavenly Strike was more difficult than we thought. They have already thrown back two of the taskforce. However, the yokai fought them separately and at different times, so perhaps a more cooperative approach would be more fruitful." -Takeshi Oja
"There you go, sweetness. Now, go, I'll follow and lend you support."
Iskah watched as the golden glow jumped from Vanessa's hand and into herself. Her body felt light and powerful, catching up to Aun and Katelyn felt like it would be a piece of cake. And it was when Iskah launched high into the air with but one leap. "Thanks Vanessa!" The Lizardman yelled as she landed on one of the roofs of the cityscape. Now seeing the chase clearly, Iskah took off with incredible speed and almost instantly catching up to the chase.
Vanessa followed behind Iskah, sitting on her flying staff like a classic witch. The two lizard monsters plus Aun bantered as they each chased the other across the rooftops of the sleeping capital.
"All the more reason to catch you now, Aun!" Katelyn replied, undeterred.
"Leave him alone, Katelyn!" It was Iskah's turn to speak. "I've already fought him and lost!"
"So? What's that got to do with me and my feelings for him?" The Salamander responded. "Little help here?!"
The last sentence was actually a call for help. As if from nowhere, a pink, winged figure joined the chase. On a closer look, Vanessa recognized this figure as the Cupid from earlier this day. The one who left on a tantrum from a human crowd. Who would have guessed she was actually part of Katelyn's team?
The Cupid did not seem to notice Vanessa, as she nocked an arrow into her bow and shot it at Iskah. But the arrow was magical, as it split into three pink orbs of magic. They were most probably harmless, much less lethal, but they looked like they would definitely impede Vanessa's Lizardman client.
Einer had his fair share of assignments cleansing areas tainted by Miasma back in Flugell. The fighting was long over every time Einer's services were called and all the musician knew of the Miasma firsthand was how grotesque it turned everything it touched. Obviously, Einer read about the taint's effects, much like everyone, but he still remembered the first time he encountered it out in the open. Many were horrified, and it horrified Einer too... but similarly with Scarlett, the musician always found the taint oddly fascinating in a way.
Apparently, this neutral city caught a bad Miasma infestation at such a seemingly coincidental time. It fell to the newly-arrived Reaver guests to help eradicate the darkness. Once again, Einer found himself accompanying Leon, Eve and Lapi investigating the city's alleys and crannies for anything tainted. Einer was playing the Song Of Varda all the while, a tune that made it seem this small party were the heralds of salvation of Cambridge against the Miasma. Not exactly a fitting tune right now, but it cleansed any Miasma energy wherever they went. Of course, it would also attract any Malfested who heard the song. But perhaps that was for the best in order for the threat to be dealt with immediately.
Sure enough, the party was assailed by the Malfested. Einer was actually startled by the creature's speed, even making him stop playing the song. "...So that was a Malfested." The musician muttered as the others talked. They were hideous as ever, but they were surprisingly quick contrary to Einer's expectations.
”Many things in nature take on grotesque forms when on the path of evolution.”
But any further investigation must be put on hold, a woman emanating powerful Miasma appeared before the party. She radiated evil... and power. Einer was awed at her presence, his mouth agape. The fact that she could speak flew over the musician's head.
”To think you refer to those with Mother’s gift with such contempt. It’s sacrilege, aside from it being utter mockery.”
Shortly after that sentence, the woman unleashed a powerful wave of negative energy that sent everyone except Leon flying a couple of feet away. As Einer recovered, he noticed more Malfested incoming to join the party. While Leon fought the Malfested lady, Einer along with Eve and Lapi had to deal with these tainted. Perhaps playing the Song Of Varda the entire time earlier wasn't such a good idea after all.
The Malfested homed in on Einer. One was taken down by Eve, but there was still another. Einer's close combat instincts kicked in as he quickly dropped his lute to receive the enemy. As the Malfested lunged, Einer made himself low before catching the tainted creature and slamming it down on to the pavement. The musician knew that the Malfested were strong, practically impervious in hand-to-hand combat. Einer put the Malfested into a headlock, the proximity to this evil made Einer's stomach churn.
"Eve! Lapi!" Einer cried out, using all his strength to keep the Malfested from breaking free. "You need to cover me! I can play music that'll weaken the Malfested in the area! But you need to cover me!" Such words shamed Einer, but desperation and the instinct to survive mattered more in these circumstances.
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