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

[u]Io[/u] surveyed the manor and found that while a huge part of the building had been destroyed by the Warlock's earlier lightning blast, there were still some rooms intact. The destroyed part was mostly the entrance, the main hallway and a couple of miscellaneous rooms. The bed chamber and the kitchen were still there, and they had plenty of windows to leave the manor with. The manor only had one floor, and the taskforce stood their ground in the kitchen. Utensils and implements were all still neatly organized here plus a bit of ingredients.

"[color=mediumpurple]YAAAAARRRRGGGHHH![/color]"

The sounds of electricity crackled from the entrance, [u]Io's[/u] magic circle setting off on somebody. But before anyone could go and investigate, the wooden wall to the kitchen exploded and sent dust flying everywhere.

Na'kratz entered the room with breakneck speed, picking up [u]Shizuka[/u] and hurtling him toward [u]Skarsneek[/u]. With the two taskforce members momentarily occupied, Na'kratz was fast enough to immediately tackle [u]Io[/u] into the opposite wall. He then grabbed her on the neck to steady her with one hand and started punching her in the face with the other.

The Varjan had pieces of his armor missing and his claw gauntlets not on his fists. It appeared these had absorbed [u]Io's[/u] trap somewhat, but Na'kratz seemed to twitch involuntarily as he struck the Lich with insensate rage.

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

One section of the Varjan defensive line, focused on the manor, suddenly noticed something bright and warm coming from behind them. The Warriors turned around, and were too late to react to the small tide of lava washing over them. They shrieked and screamed as they thought the lava was real and would melt them agonizingly, pushing each other as they attempted to get away. Fortunately for them, the molten rock was magical and only immobilized them as the rock hardened around their legs.

[u]Liliana[/u] started knocking out the immobilized Varjans and thinned their numbers before a seemingly-trapped Varjan Warrior suddenly caught her sword. He was faking to catch the warrior Fairy, wrestling her to the ground and tumbling over to a puddle in the mud. Both covered in wet dirt, the Varjan Warrior dunked [u]Liliana's[/u] under the water with the intent to suffocate her.

Fortunately, [u]Liliana[/u] needed not to save herself. An arrow struck the Varjan Warrior's neck, falling over and releasing the Fairy, before the familiar shape of Ayu appeared. The spy woman then pulled [u]Liliana[/u] up and wiped away some of the mud. "[color=red]I know I was told to stay behind, but I got worried. Things are getting pretty intense, huh?[/color]"

[hr]
[center][h3]Shizuyama Wilderness[/h3][/center]
[center][b]THE HUSBAND[/b][/center]
[center]~ [@The Irish Tree] (EUL) ~[/center]

[quote=Eula 039][color=C48BD3][b]"We are not barbarians like the Varjans are. We simply seek information. We are searching for the killers of Clan Tokinomiya. Do you have any information about such persons, or an idea as to where we could find information?"[/b][/color][/quote]

[color=00a99d]You don't know her, yokai! She's insane![/color]" Kana pleaded with [u]Eula[/u].

The captive was silenced when Sorae brought her naginata to her neck. "[color=mediumslateblue]Answer her question, Kana. Do not try my patience any further.[/color]" If Sorae's gaze could literally pierce, Kana would have been impaled by now.

"[color=00a99d]I swear, I know nothing![/color]" Kana replied.

Sorae raised an eyebrow. "[color=mediumslateblue]You swear?[/color]" She repeated. "[color=mediumslateblue]On your life?[/color]"

"[color=00a99d]Yes! On my life![/color]"

The last Tokinomiya then used her free hand to pat down Kana. Sorae then smiled an evil grin as she fished out a piece of folded parchment from inside Kana's clothes. The captive's eyes widened as she realized she had sealed her fate with that swear. Sorae flicked open the folded parchment to reveal a map, not detailed but full of symbols. A coded map likely used by persons of espionage.

With the sudden oath broken, Sorae sweeped Kana off her feet. "[color=00a99d]No, no, NOOOO![/color]" Sorae stepped on the captive to stop her from squirming away before raising her naginata for a downward thrust.

[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]