[center][h3]Kazenosuke's House[/h3][/center]
[center][b]KAZENOSUKE, DANCING BLADE[/b][/center]
[center]~ [@AzureKnight] (VRA), [@The Irish Tree] (VIV), [@Rezod92] ~[/center]

[quote=Vivian][color=7bcdc8][b]"Your lord couldn't come, because he was...how did he put it? 'Busy dressed up as a Miko.'. I have no idea what that means, butt he was sure that you'd be troublesome to deal with unless we said that,"[/b][/color][/quote]

Kazenosuke's eyes widened in surprise at hearing the phrase. His grip on the hilt relaxed as a genuine smile formed in his face. "[color=indianred]Aha... Ahahahahaha![/color]" He laughed heartily. "[color=indianred]I can't believe Takeshi would share that secret with you. Willingly, too. No amount of pleasure would coax that incident out of his lips.[/color]"

"[color=indianred]So Takeshi's alive and well, and willingly working with you. Oh man, his dad's gonna kill him...[/color]" Kazenosuke remarked as he approached the sitting [u]Vivian[/u] and leaned on the log. "[color=indianred]So what's this about Takeshi mounting a counterattack? Did he find a thousand soldiers hiding under a mountain or something? What about his father? What happened to the army that was greeting the Varjan invasion in Sanjo Beach?[/color]"

"[color=indianred]And for the record, Takeshi's not my lord. His father is. I am friends with Takeshi, no sworn oaths or anything like that.[/color]" Kazenosuke closed his eyes after the correction, and took in a breath of air. "[color=indianred]...And tell your other friend to stop hiding in the shadows. I'm not gonna fight any of you... At least, not yet.[/color]"

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[center][h3]Ayane Sake Brewery[/h3][/center]
[center][b]BOTTOMS UP[/b][/center]
[center]~ [@Enkryption] (UMI & RCD) ~[/center]

(Currently in collab)

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[center][h3]Terauchi Temple[/h3][/center]
[center][b]KAGEHO, INNOCENT SHADOW[/b][/center]
[center]~ [@The Irish Tree] (MAT) ~[/center]

"[color=limegreen]Don't forget Lord Takeshi's code phrase that I told you in case you need it![/color]" Were Ayu's last words to [u]Matsuri[/u] before the latter left the temple.

---

Night had already fallen and [u]Matsuri[/u] still haven't found a single sign of the shinobi Kageho. Even her enhanced monster vision was hampered in the darkness of the thick forest, where the moon's dim light was of no help. But before she could decide to leave or keep searching, she sensed the presence of a group heading in her direction.

A dozen of armed humans who were clearly not Shizuyaman arrived at the clearing. Most wore fur pelts and armor and held torches to illuminate the night but five 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.

Their intimidating appearance clued [u]Matsuri[/u] that this group might be Varjans, the invaders that attacked Shizuyama. They also obviously outnumbered the fledgling Inari, so combat with them would be extremely unwise. However, fleeing from this place might also mean abandoning Kageho, the shinobi hiding in this area.

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[hr]

[center]~~ TAKESHI'S JOURNEY ~~[/center]

[hider=Nobutada, Unwavering Will]
"There's a monastery east of here called Fung Temple.

There's a monk there named Nobutada. He's one of the most sturdiest people I know, able to weather blows that could shatter boulders. When my father called for the monks of Fung Temple, I didn't see Nobutada among them. If he's still alive, he'll be in the monastery and he can lend us his aid."
[/hider]

[hider=Sorae, Gentle Protector]
"Sorae's skill with the naginata is fearsome and second to none. She and her clan was summoned to Sanjo Beach, but never appeared. We should head to their estate in the west and find out what happened to them and, if possible, recruit them to our cause."
[/hider]

[hider=Takamori, Blessed Sight (ONGOING)]
"Takamori is a warrior whose eyes allow him to predict his opponent's next moves. An ability we could have used in Sanjo Beach if he showed up... but maybe it was good that he didn't or else we might have lost him too.

He has an archery dojo to the southwest. We can start looking for him there. We can certainly need his unique ability."
[/hider]

[hider=Kageho, Innocent Shadow (ONGOING)]
"Kageho is a shinobi who was supposed to attempt to sneak through the Varjan blockade alongside others. The last wave of shinobi that we could send. I... ordered them not to go anymore, behind my father's back, since it would have been a waste and the Varjans were upon us. It was too late to call for reinforcements from the other islands.

Still, I expected her to show up in Sanjo Beach with the other shinobi. But they didn't. Anyway, their hideout should be around here somewhere. Try looking for any suspicious clearings in the forests around here. We can use their help."
[/hider]

[hider=Kazenosuke, Dancing Blade (ONGOING)]
"Kazenosuke could deflect any attack with his spinning blade, and deliver slashes faster than the eye could see. I have no idea why he couldn't make it to Sanjo Beach. I know he's a ronin, but he still should have heeded my father.

Well, his house is near Terauchi Temple. Not very near, but just follow the river near the temple and we'll find his home and then we can ask for his help."
[/hider]

[hider=Yurine, Death Keeper]
"Yurine has taken care of Clan Oja for as long as I can remember. Despite being a servant, I know she can swing her masakari axe pretty hard. I've little idea of her past but I know it involves tending cemeteries.

She should be in Castle Oja but my father sent her to Onrai to begin enacting some way to protect the graves from being desecrated by the invaders. I know of a famous cemetery south of Terauchi Temple. We can begin looking for her there and she'll surely help us."
[/hider]

[hider=Kikyo, Ever Faithful (ONGOING)]
"My childhood friend Kikyo was on an anti-yokai mission before all of this. I... was kind of glad she couldn't be on the beach and hoped that maybe she'll find a way to escape and live a full life elsewhere. But I know she would never do that.

If she's coming back, she would definitely head for Port Wadatsumi in the southeast. We should find her before she does anything... drastic."
[/hider]

[center]~~ TALES OF SHIZUYAMA ~~[/center]

[hider=Honey Trap]
There was a villager woman, crying alone near a large tree within Terauchi Temple.

"Yokai, could I speak with you? A group of bandits is terrorizing Sanjo. They slaughtered my whole family, like animals!

They were killed at our home, near a river. I am Saki, please avenge my family and stop those bandits."
[/hider]

[hider=No Place Like Home]
An upset woman noticed the taskforce member approaching.

"As if losing our homes wasn't bad enough, we have to see Varjans in them as well.

They took a home nearby a few days ago. The man who lived there won't leave the area. He keeps begging for help."
[/hider]

[hider=Bottoms Up (ONGOING)]
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]

[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 a shrine priestess who wasn't present in Sanjo Beach."

"They're recruiting farmers and fishermen to their cause. Brave, but it'll be dangerous if they're not properly trained."
[/hider]