[center] "[color=steelblue]I read that the warriors of Shizuyama follow a path of honor.[/color]" "[color=ivory]It is one of the many differences between us.[/color]" "[color=steelblue]Hmm. Then why do my men report that Takeshi Oja fights alongside yokai?[/color]" "[color=ivory]My son will never resort to such a thing.[/color]" "[color=steelblue]War brings out who we truly are.[/color]" "[color=ivory]It has made you a dog.[/color]" "[color=ivory]Unleashed by The Order, to rape and pillage at their command.[/color]" "[color=steelblue]...Your son strays from your island's sacred traditions. He will become what you hate.[/color]" "[color=steelblue]Unless you rejoin The Order, and their fight to restore peace to the world.[/color]" "[color=ivory]You don't want allies. You want soldiers, to die in place of your own.[/color]" "[color=steelblue]Consider my offer. Help your son regain his honor, before his cowardice goes too far.[/color]" "[color=steelblue]...And before I bring you his head.[/color]" [/center] [hr] [hr] [center][h3]Komatsu Bay Outskirts[/h3][/center] [center][b]BREAKTHROUGH[/b][/center] [center]~ [@AzureKnight] (SHI), [@The Irish Tree] (LIL), [@Crowvette], [@Restalaan] (SKA), [@Nakushita] ~[/center] [quote=Io]"[b][color=thistle]Even I could fit in some of these containers, if it came to that. With the sake in it, if necessary to keep your cover. I do not need to breathe.[/color][/b]"[/quote] "[color=aquamarine]No need to hide in the barrels. My cart's fully covered, you can all fit in there with the sake.[/color]" The merchant Shizuka said to [u]Io[/u]. [quote=Skarsneek][color=ed145b]"As to going inside the barrel, I won't suggest it. Too risky, competent soldiers would check all of them, and sake barrels aren't that hard to open either. Not unless one of you could fuddle them during the check. But what I can do, is climb up those walls from another angle while they're inspecting Shizuka there."[/color][/quote] "[color=aquamarine]Don't worry, they won't search my cart.[/color]" Shizuka then let out a devilish chuckle. "[color=aquamarine]At least, not anymore.[/color]" "[color=aquamarine]It's the same sake delivery I always sell them. They looove my sake![/color]" The merchant then imitated the voice of a stereotypical Varjan. "[color=aquamarine]Sake, good! Give sake now![/color]" "[color=red]And the garrison is too big for an inspection to distract enough soldiers for an opening.[/color]" Ayu added. "[color=red]I won't stop you from trying to sneak in through another angle, Sir Skarsneek, but you might get spotted.[/color]" [quote=Liliana][color=f49ac2][b]"Plus, I bet it'll work! If this Shizuka's as brave as our Shizuka, then his name isn't Shizukan't! ...Or...I guess that doesn't really work. Forget it. But pleaaaaase Mr. Shorter, more-fun-to-poke Shizuka? Won't you help us?"[/b][/color][/quote] "[color=aquamarine]Hey, hey! Stop that! Only my mother gets to do that.[/color]" The short merchant shooed [u]Liliana[/u] away from his pudgy cheeks. "[color=aquamarine]What's she talking about anyway?[/color]" "[color=red]Shizuka is also the name of the swordsman.[/color]" Ayu reluctantly revealed. "[color=aquamarine]Ohhh![/color]" The merchant then approached the swordsman and patted the latter on the arm. "[color=aquamarine]Nice to meet a fellow Shizuka. I have a feeling this is going to be a beautiful friendship.[/color]" The azure swordsman could already see schemes forming behind the swindler's eyes. [quote=Io]"[b][color=thistle]If we were poisoning it, I could prepare a spell that could cause an outbreak of zombification from the sake, perhaps...[/color][/b]"[/quote] [quote=Shizuka Kannazuki][color=royalblue]"I don't mind spiking their drinks, but rather not to anything to poison the water supply here. If there are any innocents there, they'll be affect as well. I'd rather you not create a small army of undead, it doesn't paint a good picture."[/color][/quote] "[color=aquamarine]Yeah, there were a few people there who fought back.[/color]" Shizuka remarked. "[color=aquamarine]The ones left alive became prisoners... or slaves.[/color]" "[color=aquamarine]What are you and they specifically supposed to do inside the fortress port anyway?[/color]" The merchant asked Ayu. "[color=red]The initial plan was to sneak inside and search for the garrison's commander and captains. Then we get rid of them, make a ruckus, and hope the Varjans get demoralized enough to leave on their own. Basically, a sudden, daring attack on their morale to break them.[/color]" Ayu iterated the plan to everyone. "[color=red]But as long as we get rid of the garrison, I can go with any plan the taskforce offers.[/color]" "[color=red]But let's not waste any more time here. We can discuss the plan further as we move to Komatsu Bay.[/color]" Ayu declared. "[color=aquamarine]Ah! Let's have a drink first![/color]" The shorter Shizuka attempted to delay to try cancelling the plan. "[color=aquamarine]Talk this through.[/color]" He smiled sheepishly at Ayu and the taskforce. But to no avail. "[color=red]Now, Shizuka![/color]" - The taskforce along with Shizuka and Ayu approached the merchant's cart: A surprisingly fancy cart with lanterns and gourd bottles strung on it and a single horse to pull it. Like what the shorter Shizuka said, all sides of the cart was covered with straw and was large enough to hold several barrels of sake. There were already two inside, and the rest of the space was for the taskforce. "[color=aquamarine]When we get close to the port, you all can hide in the cart with the sake.[/color]" Merchant Shizuka said as he inspected his cart for a bit. "[color=aquamarine]All set! You sure you wanna go through with this?[/color]" "[color=red]We can't hesitate now. Not with Terauchi Temple in danger.[/color]" Ayu answered. "[color=red]I'm with you, taskforce. Just say where I need to be.[/color]" [hr] [center][h3]Near Fort Tanabe[/h3][/center] [center][b]SECOND CHANCE[/b][/center] [center]~ [@AzureKnight] (HIN & ATS), [@Restalaan] (GRI) ~[/center] [quote=Gringor][color=f7941d]"Spider lady can climb those rocks?"[/color][/quote] [quote=Atsuha Hangai][color=9e0b0f]"If I can climb into the fort without being seen, I should be able to create an opening in which everyone else can enter. This plant I have on my person produces special petals that can induce drowsiness and delirium in people. With the guards incapacitated, I feel that should make it somewhat easier for you to enter and recuse the prisoners."[/color][/quote] [quote=Hinami Hangai][color=7bcdc8]"Yep! Since my sister's a spider, she can climb on just about anything! Grin-san and I are pretty strong too, so um, [i]maybe[/i]we could climb up too...?"[/color][/quote] Kikyo closed her eyes for a moment before pulling several paper talismans on her and checking them one by one. With a satisfied nod, she replied to the taskforce. "[color=lavender]Good plan, yokai. We can definitely do that. But don't use your special petals because if it goes wrong, the prisoners are dead.[/color]" She then continued, speaking to [u]Atsuha[/u]. "[color=lavender]Instead, try to free the prisoners and arm them. Then launch a signal and attack the Varjan garrison. Me and your fellow yokai will attack once we see the signal. That way, we'll crush the Varjans between us.[/color]" She then handed [u]Atsuha[/u] a paper talisman. "[color=lavender]This ofuda will launch a ball of light to the air. That'll be the signal.[/color]" "[color=lavender]Any objections to my plan?[/color]" Kikyo then surveyed their surroundings again. "[color=lavender]Damn it, where's Takeshi? Should we wait?[/color]" [hr] [center][h3]Terauchi Temple[/h3][/center] [center]~ [@Hammerman], [@Enkryption], [@The Irish Tree] (EUL), [@Rezod92] ~[/center] [u]Eula[/u] and [u]Kerry[/u] would see magic from an unknown source repair the temple anew. Fires were put out, rubble rose to the air and reattached themselves to their buildings in an almost dance-like manner. Broken wooden beams were mended, the tiny splinters on the ground returning one by one to reform the wood. Refugees emerged from shelters and laborers stopped working to watch with awe and wonder as Terauchi Temple seemingly repaired itself. Revuel had just finished lifting the last of the wreckage with telekinetic magic in his area to a suitable corner for salvage, only for the pile to float up and return to their original places in the buildings. The spellcaster was both glad that all was repaired anew and annoyed that his work was all for naught, leaving a neutral expression to his face. [quote=Alice]"[color=976f29][i]I'll take my tea, now.[/i][/color]"[/quote] Takeshi, too, was in awe at [u]Alice's[/u] power. He whistled as the magic finished and approached the Mad Hatter lying flat on the ground. "Not bad. Is the jingle necessary?" He said before chuckling. A hand then extended from him for [u]Alice[/u] to take. "You can't drink tea from there. Come on, time to enjoy the fruits of your labor." The tea and tarts that seemingly appeared from thin air were approached cautiously by the refugee villagers. They looked enticing and scrumptious, but they didn't survive the Varjan invasion and made it to Terauchi Temple by being carefree. "[color=6ecff6]Is... is this safe?[/color]" The villager closest to the tea party asked. "[color=mediumslateblue]Of course not.[/color]" Sorae approached and looked at the tea and tarts with utmost disdain. "[color=mediumslateblue]This is magic from Wonderland, one of the most terrifying ones out there. Partake, and you will be lost forever.[/color]" The warrior woman warned the refugees. Heeding the warning, some of the villagers began to back away. [hr] [hr] [hr] [center]~~ TAKESHI'S JOURNEY ~~[/center] [hider=Breakthrough (ONGOING)] "Lady Kyouko needs a port to dock her fleet to properly engage the Varjan armada and deliver supplies, and that port will be Komatsu Bay. If we're going to liberate the fortress, we'll need help and Ayu says she has a friend for the job. We can join her and go to this friend's house, just outside Komatsu Bay." -Takeshi Oja [/hider] [hider=Second Chance (ONGOING)] "We almost have everything we need to save my father. However, we cannot leave the refugees of Terauchi Temple defenseless. We need warriors to fortify and defend the temple while we are away. Kikyo knows of some imprisoned warriors who can help replenish our ranks." -Takeshi Oja [/hider] [center]~~ TAKAMORI TALES ~~[/center] [hider=Teacher And Student] "Lord Takamori said that his traitorous daughter, Setsuna, is training Varjan archers in Ōmiya. I know this frightens him, even if he tries to hide it. If we don't find her and end this, there may be no stopping the archers, and no hope for Ōmiya Springs. We need to see Lord Takamori immediately." -Takeshi Oja [/hider] [center]~~ SORAE TALES ~~[/center] [hider=The Husband] "Lady Sorae told me that Kana, Sogen's wife, has disappeared during the attack on the temple. She wants help tracking her down as Kana is the only lead we have on the identities and whereabouts of the killers of Clan Tokinomiya." -Takeshi Oja [/hider] [center]~~ TALES OF SHIZUYAMA ~~[/center] [hider=Whispers In The Woods] 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..." [/hider] [hider=The Other Side Of Honor] 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." [/hider] [hider=Shizuyama's Freedom] 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." [/hider] [hider=Bottoms Up] 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." [/hider] [center]~~ LEGENDARY TALES ~~[/center] [hider=The Heavenly Strike] "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 [/hider]