Lord Shima was glad to see them getting along so well, it meant they would work well together and actually protect one another. Many had doubts on putting together a group such as this, worrying about egos getting in the way or the low birth members defecting at the first chance. He though saw a group that could easily become a family if given enough time, a group worthy of being the stuff of legends to come. He would give a faint bow in return to those who simply responded to his speech and allow them to continue mingling with the others.  Some however spoke directly to him, the first a very simple question about a boat from one of the Half-Oni. There was no guarantee that they would even have to leave the island, but he was pleased that she was already making sure they were able to at a moment's notice. He smiled at her as he gave a friendly reply.  

[color=0072bc]"Of course you will be given a boat. My friends the Sinkara have been sent word and payment for them to craft their finest ship that should take you to any island you need to go.  I promise that you won't be forced to swim with the others sitting on your back, you'll need to save your great strength for protecting the clan."[/color] Ensuring to compliment her strength as a Half-Oni, to show that it is a strength and not a weakness like some would claim. It had always bothered him that even in his clan some treated those of mixed blood with disrespect, all that mattered to him was a person's heart not their body. With three half-Oni in the group he hoped that it would help change the perception of the others still trying to live their lives within the Shima towns and villages. 

The other was the group's sole Neko, a loyal member of a vassal clan and a future Daimyo himself.  His question was more serious and was focused directly on the goal of the very important mission.  Lord Shima paused for a moment as he stared at young lord before him. [color=0072bc] "We don't know much beyond what we knew when they claim, and all of that was likely a lie. Some of them seemed to transform before they escaped and some of the guards knocked fragments off of their bodies.  We have collected those and other samples left behind from things they damaged or dropped. They seem foreign and as such are beyond what most of us know, but there is a magi in the village of Miyo who studied magic with the Zhu Empire across the sea. We have sent them to him, after you search the villages on the edge of our lands for any additional signs or clues he would be a good man to see.  He may have knowledge that will help you if you don't find them nearby."[/color] He had never met the man in person but he had developed quite the reputation among the western villages for his knowledge on things from outside of the Isles and his unique theories on magic and spirits.  He had no hope but to simply hope the man could be trusted, after all he had shown no signs of hostile yet.