[center][h3]Komatsu Bay[/h3][/center]
[center][b]BREAKTHROUGH[/b][/center]
[center]~ [@AzureKnight] (SHI), [@Crowvette], [@Restalaan] (SKA) ~[/center]

"[color=fff200]Argh![/color]"

The fan of ice from [u]Io[/u], cutting through the shoji, caught the Varjans inside by surprise. They were instantly struck down by the attack, hit in their heads and chest and leaving only one survivor. "[color=6ecff6]Damn monsters! I'll kill you all myself![/color]" The Varjan Warlock, Merneptah and the one plotting the scheme, wore armor typical of the Scarce Legion: Thick and blue, his helmet having long horns that curved upwards. In his hands was a simple golden staff with a blue gem on the end, suspended in the middle of a circular decoration.

As [u]Skarsneek[/u] rushed at him, Merneptah teleported away before the male Goblin could attack. He reappeared in front of [u]Io[/u] and shoved the Lich into the rain, stumbling into the mud. The Warlock stepped outside and raised his staff, lightning striking it amongst the rain. He then aimed his charged staff at his own manor, unleashing the stored lightning unto the structure. 

Right towards [u]Skarsneek[/u]!

[center]---[/center]
[center]~ [@The Irish Tree] (LIL) ~[/center]

The barracks erupted in complete chaos as the summoned Minotaur wreaked havoc in the barracks. Varjans either fled or tried to put up a fight against the ten-foot tall behemoth. Of course, no one there was prepared to fight such an enemy so it was doubtful any of the Varjans could hurt the summoned monster.

[u]Liliana[/u] chose to assist her summon by targeting any Varjans that wielded bows or throwables. But just as she was about to attack a Footman archer beside a wall, a javelin suddenly stuck into the wall in her path and the warrior Fairy crashed into the shaft and knocked her out of the air.

[u]Liliana[/u] was dazed and her invisibility dispelled. She was scooped up by the only one in the barracks who noticed her, the Varjan Champion with the javelins. "[color=f49ac2]You tiny pain in the ass! This was your doing, wasn't it?![/color]" He yelled at the warrior Fairy. [u]Liliana[/u] could feel the fuming air radiating from the holes on his helmet, the only openings in the headwear, as he squeezed her in his hand.

None of the other Varjans were with him, however. Their attentions were all occupied by the summoned Minotaur.

[hr]
[center][h3]Shizuyama Wilderness[/h3][/center]
[center][b]TEACHER AND STUDENT[/b][/center]
[center]~ [@Rezod92] ~[/center]

[u]Kerry[/u] flew over to the watchtower and investigated alone. The watchtower was a closed building made of wood standing tall enough to oversee the valley. Near the tower's base, there was a small, makeshift archery range with training dummies along with bows and arrows ready to use. Presumably, Setsuna training the Varjan invaders with what she learned from Takamori. Other than that, there was not much else here. 

Up until the watchtower doors flew open and out came a group of Varjans. Four Footmen with bows quickly surround [u]Kerry[/u] along with a couple of Wardogs. An ambush!

The Footmen nocked arrows into their bows and aimed at the Hornet, while the Wardogs worked on keeping her still for the archers by trying to latch onto her legs with their jaws.

[hr]
[center][h3]Terauchi Temple[/h3][/center]

[center]~ [@Enkryption] (CRL) ~[/center]

Seeking out a blacksmith to renew herself, [u]Carroll[/u] was pointed to a refugee swordsmith who had set up shop behind one of the pagodas. He had been maintaining the weapons of what little remained of the Shizuyaman warriors in Terauchi Temple.

[u]Carroll[/u] could hear a hammer striking metal as she approached, finding the swordsmith's setup behind the pagoda. The smith was a young man with an Eboshi hat on his hat, together with the grey hakama and a white kimono top as his attire. Next to him was a very simple and crude tatara furnace, with wood and charcoal nearby, and he was hammering away at a piece of metal on his anvil until he noticed [u]Carroll[/u] coming to him.

"[color=fff79a]If your blades need work, Lady Yokai, then let me be of use.[/color]" He greeted.

[center]---[/center]
[center]~ [@Enkryption] (ALI), [@The Irish Tree] (EUL) ~[/center]

[quote=Alice][color=976f29][i]Let’s talk, you and I, because I’m missing a lot of details, including how I got this scar on my side, and a no-sense bitch like you won’t waste my time with superfluous details...[/i][/color][/quote]

"[color=mediumslateblue]You don't remember how you got a wound?[/color]" Sorae raised an eyebrow, incredulous. Unaware that the [u]Alice[/u] she was speaking to was not the [u]Alice[/u] she knew. "[color=mediumslateblue]Did you change your memories too when you changed your look?[/color]"

"[color=mediumslateblue]Anyway, I believe you got that from pursuing the students of the Heavenly Strike. The aforementioned technique being an attack that strikes quicker than the eye could see. You can get the details from that storyteller fellow, Katsuhiro.[/color]" Sorae explained. "[color=mediumslateblue]From what I heard, you've been beaten back by the students twice now, so you and half of the taskforce trained a bit for your rematch against them. Not sure what the results of that training, though.[/color]"

"[color=mediumslateblue]Since it appears you've lost your memory, it appears all that training was for naught.[/color]" Sorae finished. "[color=mediumslateblue]If I were you, I'd just get strength from numbers. The students can handle one yokai, or two non-coordinating ones, but any more than that and they'll be overwhelmed.[/color]"

[u]Eula[/u] had also returned from comforting [u]Carroll[/u]. "[color=mediumslateblue]Welcome back. You sure you're not needed anywhere else?[/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]