[center][h3]Komatsu Bay[/h3][/center] [center][b]BREAKTHROUGH[/b][/center] [center]~ [@AzureKnight] (SHI), [@Crowvette], [@Restalaan] (SKA) ~[/center] With the heavy rain and [u]Shizuka's[/u] conjured mist, the three taskforce members were practically undetectable as they made their way to the estate. They spotted a couple of Varjan patrols in their way but not even their lanterns could penetrate the mist and the rain enough to discover the presence of the taskforce. Drenching wet, the trio reached the lit up estate. There were occupants inside, judging from the shadows that could be seen through the shoji; All of whom oblivious to the taskforce's presence. Thus, the infiltrators were granted a trove of information via the conversation happening inside. "[color=6ecff6]Has Lord Serek'uar acknowledged my message to him?[/color]" "[color=fff200]Yes, Lord Merneptah.[/color]" "[color=6ecff6]...And what is his response?[/color]" "[color=fff200]Err... the same, my lord. Lord Serek'uar believes that the fleet forming in Akamagaseki will never attack the blockade.[/color]" "[color=6ecff6]Damn it. He's a fool. There are already monsters here. If a port in this island falls, that monster fleet will undoubtedly try to make contact with it.[/color]" "[color=fff200]What do you plan, my lord?[/color]" "[color=6ecff6]I plan to attack that monster fleet. Not to destroy it, just a small but destructive raid to keep that fleet from doing anything. To do that, I may need to pull some strings to convince Lord Na'kra-- Wait.[/color]" The main voice suddenly stopped. "[color=6ecff6]I sense monsters...[/color]" [center]---[/center] [center]~ [@The Irish Tree] (LIL) ~[/center] "[color=fff79a]Hey, this is my blanket![/color]" "[color=a187be]Was that you?! You think you own this ass?![/color] [u]Liliana's[/u] antics were causing misunderstandings amongst the Varjan ranks. Misunderstandings that turned into tensions. Tensions that turned to shoves. Shoves that turned into fights. Within a minute, the barracks erupted into one huge brawl not unlike ones that could be found in a particularly rowdy bar. As fists flew and butts were kicked, a javelin flew in the air and impaled one of the brawling Varjans. The javelin-wielding Varjan drew first blood, but this act of murder managed to stop all the brawling. "[color=f49ac2]You dunces! Can't any of you idiots figure out that someone's playing tricks on us?![/color]" He reprimanded basically the entire barracks with his raspy voice. Now there was no doubt that this Varjan was the one calling the shots here. The shorter-than-most Varjan Champion then plucked his javelin from the corpse and barked out his orders. "[color=f49ac2]Start searching the perimeter. Culprit might be using magic to hide. Someone go to Merneptah in his oh-so-new manor and tell him to come 'ere and see if there's a monster skulking 'round here.[/color]" The Varjan garrison organized themselves and began searching with a couple heading out into the rain to warn the local Warlock. The many heavy boots stomping the floor seem to be irritating the Varjan Champion, though. "[color=f49ac2]And for Caldeyrons' sake, BE QUIET![/color]" [hr] [center][h3]Fort Tanabe[/h3][/center] [center][b]SECOND CHANCE[/b][/center] [center]~ [@AzureKnight] (HIN & ATS), [@Restalaan] (GRI) ~[/center] [u]Hinami[/u], with monstrous strength and a mighty bo staff, destroyed the supporting beams and pillars of one of the watchtowers. She only needed to destroy a few before the remaining supports could no longer hold the structure. The loud cracking of wood splitting signaled that the tower was about to fall. The archers manning the tower all screamed as they fell alongside the watchtower. Meanwhile, [u]Gringor[/u] climbed the other tower with a speed that worried its occupiers. The Footmen with bows shot arrows at the High Orc, to no avail. When [u]Gringor[/u] got close, though, the Footmen brought out their spears to try and at least push the High Orc into falling. While [u]Gringor[/u] could very well defend himself, it turned he did not need to. Arrows from Takeshi and Kikyo flew and hit the Footmen who were too focused on [u]Gringor[/u] to notice. The couple of Footmen who still remained fled from the ascended [u]Gringor[/u] by flinging themselves from the watchtower and hoping for a soft landing. With the archers and the watchtowers gone, the Shizuyaman warriors that hid behind [u]Atsuha's[/u] protective barrier saw the opportunity to finally rout the Varjan garrison. They released their war cries as they charged the remaining Varjans in the fort. But the jailors were not done yet, a Varjan Warrior unlocked some cages that were smaller than the others; unleashing a pack of vicious Wardogs against their enemies. The Shizuyaman prisoners clashed against the Varjan remnants backed up with their hounds. A Wardog quickly pounced on [u]Hinami[/u], but it was quickly slashed away by Takeshi. "I'll regroup with Atsuha. Kikyo, stay here and handle the Varjans from this side." The young lord ordered before heading away. Kikyo simply glared at [u]Hinami[/u] before readying her sword. "[color=lavender]Get ready, yokai.[/color]" She said as she and the Jiangshi faced an incoming group of two axe-wielding Varjan Brigands and two Varjan Wardogs. As the battle continued, [u]Atsuha[/u] found herself surrounded by four of the Wardogs. They circled her carefully, using her blind spots to bite on her arachnid legs. "Atsuha!" She then heard Takeshi call her name. The young lord came to her rescue by throwing a kunai at one of the dogs, only to be quickly pounced on by another. At least [u]Atsuha[/u] now only needed to deal with two of the canines. [hr] [center][h3]Shizuyama Wilderness[/h3][/center] [center][b]TEACHER AND STUDENT[/b][/center] [center]~ [@Rezod92] ~[/center] Takamori led [u]Kerry[/u] out of Terauchi Temple and into the wilds of Shizuyama's Onrai region. As they traveled, the master archer decided to speak his mind. "[color=yellow]Since you said you didn't snag a native, I assume you shared beds with a fellow taskforce member then? That Shizuka guy seem to be the only choice, but I doubt it's him you got. Regardless, I suppose I should be glad you're not tainting our island. That tea party that Mad Hatter threw is still suspicious, however.[/color]" The duo soon found themselves in a cliff, one side of a wide valley path. On the other side of the valley, there was a lone, very noticeable watchtower. "[color=yellow]Look there.[/color]" Takamori pointed to a setup by the cliff's edge: Quivers of arrows and a bit of supplies needed to maintain them. "[color=yellow]Arrows. Varjan and Zipanguese. We can pick up the trail again by the practice targets.[/color]" However, there were no practice targets nearby. That was, until Takamori took one of the arrows in the setup and shot it all the way to the watchtower on the other side of the valley. Upon a closer look, [u]Kerry[/u] would see that there were straw dummies at the bottom of the watchtower, and that was what Takamori shot. The distance was almost half a league away. "[color=yellow]Fly to the watchtower, yokai. Find out where they went. I'll catch up with you.[/color]" [hr] [center][h3]Terauchi Temple[/h3][/center] [center][b]THE HUSBAND[/b][/center] [center]~ [@The Irish Tree] (EUL) ~[/center] [quote=Eula 039][color=a187be][b]"I've heard that a lord's wife has gone missing. Do you think that if we found her, it might help alleviate the people's worries a bit?"[/b][/color][/quote] "[color=mediumslateblue]She's not a lord's wife, she's a killer's wife.[/color]" Sorae approached [u]Eula[/u] with a correction. "[color=mediumslateblue]Finding her will alleviate my worries, at least.[/color]" "[color=mediumslateblue]You're not part of the group that went with me back then, so I guess I'll need to explain everything to you.[/color]" Sorae sighed before beginning. "[color=mediumslateblue]The reason I couldn't participate in the battle of Sanjo Beach was because me and my clan were attacked by fellow Shizuyaman warriors at the time of the landings. I was the only survivor. Your fellow taskforce members and I have been investigating my clan's massacre and our searches led us to a man named Sogen, a friend of our clan, as the culprit. The girl who is missing is his wife. We found her hiding with a bunch of Sogen's hired thugs and we need to get her back if I am to have justice for my family.[/color]" "[color=mediumslateblue]We should start searching immediately but if you have any questions, go ahead and ask away. I'll answer them while we look for clues.[/color]" [hr] [center][h3]Terauchi Temple[/h3][/center] [center]~ [@Enkryption] (ALI & CRL) ~[/center] [quote=Alice]"[color=976f29][i]Hey, has anyone come through here with a sword wound? I've lost track of my companion. She would have had a talking weapon.[/i][/color]"[/quote] The peasant refugees stopped their weaving to speak to [u]Alice[/u]. "[color=f26522]You're gonna have to narrow down your search more, madam yokai. Almost half of the people taking refuge in this temple has a sword wound.[/color]" She answered the first question. "[color=00a99d]Talking weapon? Haven't heard anything about that.[/color]" The second peasant woman said. "[color=00a99d]If you're talking about the companion you were with, I believe she was hanging out with the metal yokai earlier. They stayed in your taskforce's barracks. I saw the metal yokai come out, but not your companion.[/color]" [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 (ONGOING)] "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 (ONGOING)] "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]