SORAE, GENTLE HEART
The warriors surrounding
Hinami never expected her sister
Atsuha to suddenly leap into the fray, web of talismans in hand. They were so surprised and startled that they could not react to the Jurou-gomo's web lasso. The webs instantly tied them up, rendering them immobile and unable to do anything. The talismans did their work and drained the men of their strength and will to fight.
The last warrior was realized he was now alone. Having nothing else to lose, he swung his blade at
Hinami who easily deflected his attack and struck three parts of his body in quick succession. With those strikes combined, the warrior fell to the ground unconscious.
"
Not bad... for a yokai." Sorae suddenly appeared from behind the
Hangai sisters. "
Now then, shall we head inside?"
The three women entered the inn and found
Skarsneek's handiwork, Shizuyamans lying unconscious on the floor. The male Goblin's last opponent was the woman, whom he simply charged in an attempt to grapple and capture. But the woman was a bit of a fighter herself, feinting an attack which
Skarsneek fell for. She sidestepped his dive and retaliated with a strong vertical swing of her sword.
Or she would have, had she not blocked a stronger swing from Sorae's naginata. Another swing of the polearm sent the traitor woman's sword flying away and found her neck dangerously close to the naginata's blade. She knew better than to continue struggling.
"
Before we get started, do you have anything to say?" Sorae asked, the fire in her eyes betraying her calm demeanour.
"
Heh. Lady Sorae, I believe there is much to say." The woman replied.
But she was quickly silenced by the last Tokinomiya. "
I wasn't talking to you."
KAGEHO, INNOCENT SHADOW
Gringor journeyed alone once more, but not into anywhere civilized. This time, he would venture into the many forests of Shizuyama. Worse yet, he did not even know what he was supposed to be looking for save for the signs and general area Takeshi told the taskforce earlier.
Night had already fallen when
Gringor reached the supposed area. It was kind of hard seeing in the darkness, especially in a thick forest where the moon's dim light was of no help. However,
Gringor forged on and, surprisingly, actually found a clearing in the woods. Albeit, quite occupied by some unwelcome figures.
There were about a dozen Varjans seemingly searching for something in the clearing, likely for Kageho and her hideout. While most of them were Varjan Brigands in their fur armor and holding torches, there were five that
Gringor had not seen yet. They wore very loose hooded robes that were dark blue in color. The robes appear to be too big that they manage to completely obscure their wearer. In a way, they looked comical in such an attire but when they move, they appear to be sliding across the grassy soil than actually walking.
Looks like
Gringor had another fight in his hands. Although, he might want to be careful with the ones in the robes.
THE COST OF IRON
Following the directions given to her,
Io made her way through the dirt roads of the Onrai region and found a large, seemingly abandoned, house going down a low hill.
The house was quite sizable, made of wood and of typical far eastern design. But what surrounded it was more intriguing: Signs of fighting and several corspes strewn about. The bodies were both of Varjo and Shizuyama, although
Io noticed there were more dead Shizuyamans than there were dead Varjans. On a closer look, the Shizuyaman fallen looked like simple villagers... or rather, bandits.
"
My leg... it hurts!" A male voice moaned in pain from inside the damaged house.
"
Stop squirming! I'm doing the best I can!" A female voice replied.
There were multiple people inside the building. Peeking into one of the grated windows,
Io spotted maybe four people within. All of whom had varying degrees of injury but all equally exhausted. Two men and two women. From their clothing and attire, they looked to be villagers... or perhaps, bandits. Regardless, they were not Varjan and it looked like they were the survivors from the fight outside.
"
We should run. Find a better place to hide." Another female voice suggested.
"
We'd be like wounded deer to the Varjans if we do that." The remaining male voice retorted.
"
This is all because of that stupid iron mark."
"
Shh, hear that? Someone's outside." The wounded people in the house grabbed hold of their weapons. "
Who's there?! We're armed so don't try anything funny!"
A BRIDGE TOO FAR
Kerry followed the directions given to her and arrived, by early dusk, at a small ravine with a wood-and-rope bridge connecting the two cliffs. She found a group of villagers at one end of the bridge, weeping and wailing at someone in the bridge itself.
Kerry saw a young boy, alongside an adult villager corpse, in the middle of the structure, curled up in fear with his hands on his ears while arrows whistled past him or hit the wooden floorboards of the bridge.
"
Be brave, Touma! We'll save you-- Stop it, you animals!"
None of the villagers could approach the child, knowing they would be riddled with arrows if they dared. However, they did notice
Kerry arriving. "
A yokai?! I-It doesn't matter right now. Please, you have to help us!" One of the men ran up to the Hornet. "
We were running for Terauchi Temple. The bridge looked safe, but the Varjans were in the ravine! They started shooting from below!" He explained the situation. "
The child is my son, and my old father tried to save him but got killed. The Varjans are using my boy as bait! Please, you have to do something!"
A bit of scouting revealed that the Varjan archers were not your usual Varjan Warrior in their dark, bulky armor nor were they half-dressed, half-sane Brigands. No, these were simpler soldiers wearing chainmail and gambesons - Varjan Footmen armed with bows. They were all over the ravine, stationed in different parts of both the cliffs. They shot arrows continuously at the child to keep him immobile, while also keeping watch for anyone who tried to cross the bridge.
Kerry will need to be careful. Should she assault one position of the Varjan Footmen, the others are bound to see and possibly finish off the child. They were also spread apart far enough that they can pepper the Hornet with arrows as she spends time getting to each of them, even with her speed. If she wanted,
Kerry can head back to the temple to request the assistance of another.
"
Keep crying, boy! Your family has abandoned you! Hehehaha!"
FATAL PULSE, SHIPPING AND HANDLING
When
Liliana reached the shipyard in the west by dusk, the warrior Fairy saw that it was completely overtaken by the Varjan invaders. Warriors in dark and spiky armor patrolled the docks while Brigand and Footman grunts carried boxes and crates from their bloodily decorated ships. Speaking of the Varjan vessels, they filled the shipyard to the brim and
Liliana saw dozens more awaiting their turn on the docks.
"
Come on! Get those boxes over here faster! Bark, bark, bark!"
Liliana heard a single male voice giving orders to the Varjans. "
Haha! Get it? I'm 'barking' orders, hahaha! NOW, MOVE IT!"
The confident, but annoying, voice belonged to a person that stood out from the rest of the Varjans.
He was dressed in black, not in armor but in a long coat with similarly-colored wrappings and belts. His face was hidden behind a combination of wrappings, a mouthguard and a pair of red-lens goggles.
Liliana saw his weapons strapped in his hips, a pair of katanas. Was he a local? He did not appear to be one, so perhaps he just liked the designs.
The amount of enemy forces were staggering, and possibly too much for one warrior Fairy. However, maybe she could at least gather info about this mysterious substance and possibly disrupt the operation just a bit. The setting sun made the shadows darker and even made some of the Varjans light their torches for illumination.
Liliana can use the encroaching darkness to her advantage.
After this endeavor, she could ask her allies back in the temple for some help in clearing the Varjans and liberating the shipyard. That would prevent the Varjan fleet from docking here and force them to find another place to land.
"
I already changed my appearance and gave up my color just so I could show up here. I am NOT leaving empty-handed! Even if I have to push drugs, a plan that didn't work out last time!"
THE HEAVENLY STRIKE
Alice found the musician in one corner of the temple grounds. He stood out from the rest of the refugees, his little spot being minimal yet well-kept. He only had a single mat to him compared to everyone who had, at least, one tent.
He was fair-skinned, hair that was short and white and wore black and blue robes. In his hands was a simple string instrument that he fiddled with.
Noticing
Alice's arrival, he perked up. "
Ah, a yokai from the taskforce. Greetings." He put down his instrument to properly talk to
Alice. "
I am Katsuhiro. A humble musician and storyteller, and a source of simple but needed entertainment for the people of Shizuyama in these trying times." He then frowned. "
However, even I am not exempt from the violence that currently engulf our island."
"
You see, I was part of a group that was heading here. However, we were ambushed on the way." Katsuhiro said. "
But not by Varjans, but by our own people! People that I, sadly, recognize. They were warriors who practiced 'The Heavenly Strike' technique, students of the legendary Kenshiro. They had joined forces with the Varjans, using the technique in service of the invaders."
"
Oh, wait. You probably have no idea what I am speaking about. Here, I shall tell you the tale."
......
"When Shizuyama was first settled, strange and terrible thunderstorms periodically assaulted the island. Whenever this storm struck, it heralded the arrival of Raijus; Yokai that wielded piercing lightning. These violent creatures tore through villages, causing death and destruction wherever they went.
Moving too quickly to be stopped, the people knew only one man who could possibly stand against the lightning beasts – Kenshiro, the fastest swordsman in all of Shizuyama and was said to have never lost a duel. With years of practice, he had created the Heavenly Strike, an attack that struck quicker than the eye could follow.
Kenshiro lured the yokai to a desolate beach in the western edges of Onrai, where the sand would slow their movement. Their clash turned the sand to ash and bleached the leaves of trees white. Kenshiro's Heavenly Strike cut through them faster than they could move. As the final beast fell, the strange thunderstorms cleared and Shizuyama was safe again.
Kenshiro then began a life of seclusion. Few students found him, and only the bravest and most skilled proved worthy of learning the Heavenly Strike. When a storm approaches, a sword is placed at Kenshiro's Rest by a student who knows of its location to remind the defeated Raijus that the Heavenly Strike lives on."
......
"
While a few of us escaped, the others were killed or captured. I saw a small Varjan war camp near the ambush point so the prisoners were probably taken there." Katsuhiro continued. "
Please, yokai. You must stop these warriors lest their betrayal hurt more people."
---
The trip back to the temple was uneventful. Quick, too, since Takeshi was offered a horse to ride along with Kikyo and her forces. Of course, no horse was spared for
Lunatea who was expected to keep up anyway thanks to her monster physiology.
But something surprising happened, Takeshi insisted that
Lunatea join him in his horse. The others were perplexed, especially Kikyo, but Takeshi reasoned that it was the least they could do for saving the his life in the battle in Sanjo Beach. Kikyo and her forces accepted Takeshi's decision, probably only because he was the heir of the ruling Oja clan.
On the way, it was mostly Takeshi and Kikyo who conversed. The young Oja mostly recounted the events leading to Sanjo Beach and what became of his father after that battle. Kikyo, meanwhile, was on a monster-clearing mission when they received the news of the Varjan fleet nearing Shizuyama and journeyed back as fast as they could. They were too late to participate in Sanjo Beach, of course, but Takeshi assured them that it was better that they lived.
Thanks to their coversation,
Lunatea learned in detail that the Varjans, in behalf of the Order, demanded tithe from Shizuyama to help the war effort against the Order's enemies. Shizuyama rejected the demands again and again, even when threatened, until Varjo made good with their threats when their fleet appeared to finally invade and subjugate the island by force.
-
In a couple of hours, the group reached Terauchi Temple. Surrounded by trees of gold-colored leaves, the walled temple contained several buildings including the pagoda. The horses' hooves clopped at the stone path and alerted everyone in the temple, if they haven't seen the group already. The villager refugees all gathered to see the mounted warriors and were overjoyed to see warriors of Shizuyama, proudly entering the temple. They rushed to greet their more familiar defenders.
Takeshi was greeted with the most fanfare. Men and women, young and old, all were glad that the son of Hideo Oja was well and mostly unscathed. His presence and safety inspired hope, that Shizuyama still stood despite the overwhelming forces of Varjo and maybe even a chance to throw the invaders back to where they came from.
After the many greetings, Kikyo left with her forces to settle them somewhere near Terauchi Temple as the grounds were already occupied by the refugees. That left Takeshi with
Lunatea whom he helped get off his horse. "It's been a long day, huh?" He let out a deep exhale. "At least we didn't run into much trouble with Kikyo. Hopefully, the others are the same." Speaking of the rest of the taskforce, it seemed some of them were around here in the temple.
"Hey, listen. I know that pretty much nobody likes your kind in this island so I'll be honest, don't expect any gratitude coming from them." Takeshi said to
Lunatea. "But you can expect it from me. I won't forget what you and the taskforce did and are currently doing. Know that I am in your debt."
"Now with that outta the way, got any plans next?"
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