[center][h3]Shizuyama Wilderness[/h3][/center]
[center][b]KAGEHO, INNOCENT SHADOW[/b][/center]
[center]~ [@Restalaan] (GRI) ~[/center]

[quote=Gringor][color=f7941d]"Your bossman wears woman's clothing like Nike Maiko, Miso, Miko? He sent me here to crack yer heads on why youz didn't come for the scrap at the beach."[/color][/quote]

No one replied, nothing responded. At least, for the moment.

A minute passed when an image began to flicker in front of [u]Gringor[/u], illuminated by the still-burning forest around him. Then, in an instant, a girl appeared before the male High Orc as if she simply emerged from veil. The 'veil' in this case would be the seemingly empty space [u]Gringor[/u] was gazing. Clearly, this girl employed advanced form of stealth magic.

[url=https://safebooru.org//images/800/9ee2497fe3adee4ef60a2d0cbb4013934b0f4046.jpg]The girl wore black attire that exposed certain parts of her pale-skinned body. Her spiky hair was just as black but her eyes were of a piercing red. Her collar covered her mouth which spoke coldly and quickly to the male High Orc.[/url] Her weapons were nowhere to be seen, likely perfectly concealed. "[color=firebrick]You have my ears, yokai. Do not waste it.[/color]"

"[color=firebrick]Who are you and who is this 'bossman'? Leave no details.[/color]"

[hr]
[center][h3]Isolated House[/h3][/center]
[center][b]THE COST OF IRON[/b][/center]
[center]~ [@Crowvette] ~[/center]

[quote=Io]"[b][color=thistle]Varjan. You will tell me everything you know about these 'iron marks.' And the location of a local merchant that has one. Telling me now will be best. I have other methods if you refuse.[/color][/b]"[/quote]

"[color=aba000]M-Monsters?! How are you here? There aren't supposed to be any monsters in this island![/color]" The now-conscious Varjan exclaimed.

"[color=aba000]And those iron marks, we give those out to islanders willing to work for us. Their names are engraved on the marks so no one else can use them.[/color]" The Varjan prisoner explained, surprisingly willingly. "[color=aba000]But those aren't exactly cheap to make. So around these parts, we just get some of the lads to watch them all day. Y'know, make sure they're actually helping us.[/color]"

"[color=aba000]Just like that pathetic merchant we had to retreat to the war camp near here since we got ambushed by these bozos.[/color]" He motioned to the dead villagers. "[color=aba000]I heard these people are related to the merchant. Heh, bet that guy's roast now.[/color]"

"[color=aba000]What? You think you can get away with an iron mark, monster? Ha! You'd be dead before you can even flash the thing at us. Stupid idiot...[/color]"

If the Varjan Brigand was speaking the truth, then there was no iron mark to be retrieved for the benefit of the taskforce and Shizuyama. Technically, [u]Io[/u] was done with this quest and may head back but she could also continue forward and find the merchant collaborating with the Varjans to honor the dying wishes of the fallen villager. The camp was said to be near here and there were plenty of clues around for the Lich to simply track the location. Then again, maybe she should leave the merchant to his fate for betraying his homeland.

The decision would be up to [u]Io[/u].

[hr]
[center][h3]Yagata Shipyard[/h3][/center]
[center][b]FATAL PULSE, SHIPPING AND HANDLING[/b][/center]
[center]~ [@AzureKnight] (SHI), [@The Irish Tree] ~[/center]

Freeing herself from her boxy prison, [u]Liliana[/u] kicked a fallen sword at the disarmed [u]Shizuka[/u]. Sadly, it was ignored but the warrior Fairy had more important things to worry about.

Taking to the skies in her larger form, [u]Liliana[/u] struck the Varjans from the safety of the air. Their axes and swords could not reach the warrior Fairy and so they resorted to throwing spears and javelins at her, their Footmen archers loosing arrows. [u]Liliana[/u] easily avoided them, and went straight for the bowmen to knock them out of the fight before focusing on the rest.

As she struck the last archer however, a Varjan leapt from the roof and crashed unto the warrior Fairy. Her momentum disrupted, [u]Liliana[/u] was forced aground and while she managed to push off the Varjan on her, she soon found herself surrounded by a mob of angry invaders. But before they could descend upon her, the Fairy would find herself saved.

[u]Shizuka[/u] increased the number of mirror images he had to further confuse Keith. The multiple [u]Shizuka[/u] clones running circles around him, the mercenary was left second-guessing himself. The mercenary reacted too late when the real one ran up to him and, with magic-infused sheath, disarmed him and allowed [u]Shizuka[/u] to reclaim his sword. "[color=crimson]Wha--! Hey![/color]"

As [u]Shizuka[/u] slipped out of the fight, his mirror clones descended upon Keith who began to fight them off in the belief that one of the images was probably the real one. The azure swordsman went towards [u]Liliana's[/u] side of the fight to aid her and rendezvous for a retreat, cutting down any Varjan in his way.

The Varjan mob was about to close in on [u]Liliana[/u] but pulled away when [u]Shizuka[/u] suddenly joined her. Even with the two of them, though, the taskforce duo was surrounded by more Varjans than they ever thought. Reinforcements from the docked ships had joined the fight and more boats were coming to the shipyard.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, the duo found themselves near several crates of the Nolkro drug. If they set it off, no doubt it would create a chain of explosions that, while it would annihilate the shipyard, would give them the opportunity to escape. But would they take that route, or do they have something else in mind?

[hr]
[center][h3]Shizuyama Wilderness[/h3][/center]
[center][b]THE HEAVENLY STRIKE[/b][/center]
[center]~ [@Enkryption] ~[/center]

[hider=Collab Posts]
[quote=Alice]"[color=0F52BA][i]Nnnn...[/i][/color]"[/quote]

The warrior was sent flying by [u]Alice's[/u] retaliatory attack. The remaining two enemies, however, were undeterred. They paid no attention to [u]Alice's[/u] seemingly mad ramblings to herself and continued their assault. This time, with a bit of strategy.

When one of the warriors was about to strike [u]Alice[/u] with an upward slash, he suddenly stopped and moved aside. The cursed Mad Hatter then felt a pang of pain to her back and the other warrior appearing in front of her, seemingly from thin air. She was hit by the technique from the rear, although still not drawing blood from the monster. Still, the pain from the attack was growing stronger. Her monstrous physiology was beginning to buckle.

The two warriors then increased distance from [u]Alice[/u], with their swords raised. They knew better than to push their attack, now knowing that the Mad Hatter was perfectly capable of counterattacking. For now, they waited for her next move.

"[color=0F52BA][i]Owie! That hurt![/i][/color]" Alice whined, as she taken by the feint, and struck from behind.

"[color=9b111e][b]I believe we've piqued their interest,[/b][/color]" Carroll says. "[color=9b111e][b]I would suggest we keep it, then.[/b][/color]"

Alice whined, as she shifted her stance. "[color=0F52BA][i]But, like, it's gunna be, like, so much harder to land Rain Breaker if they keep outta rangejuh...[/i][/color]" she whined, dropping her guard suddenly. "[color=0F52BA][i]I wanna give up, Carrroolll... If they, like, keep attacking my back, I can't counter themmmah! It's not faiiiirrruuhh...!.[/i][/color]"

"[color=9b111e][b]Dummy! You don't say that outloud![/b][/color]" Carroll shouted. "[color=9b111e][b]Those mushrooms in your brain can't think or something!?[/b][/color]"

Alice continued to whine; pitching a tantrum, as she healed from the strike at her back, and moved towards the man she'd thrown, while making her movements seem erratic. It looked like she was just having a fit over things not going her way.

In truth, she was stalling for her spores and moving to a free source of Demon Energy.

The two remaining warriors listened to [u]Alice[/u] seemingly whine to herself. They were confused, to be sure, but made no attempt to inquire. To them, they were above questioning the thoughts and reasonings of their enemies. They only needed to kill [u]Alice[/u], nothing else.

They, were, however getting dizzy... and woozy. It was starting to impair their focus, making it hard to concentrate. "[color=6ecff6]What the? What's going on?[/color]" Their sword arms trembled, their minds getting clouded. They were sure that they had come to this fight of sound body and mind, so this sudden lapse could not have come from them. "[color=6ecff6]I-It's her! She's making us like this![/color]" The warriors finally figured it out.

The warriors, now knowing [u]Alice's[/u] strategy, went on the offensive. One of them disappeared again, and the Mad Hatter felt another painful slash upon her body. The two then unleashed a series of stabs and strikes with their swords, hoping to take down [u]Alice[/u] before they succumb to her spores. The desperation made them reckless.

Alice would weather the blows, as she used them to move her closer to the fallen swordsman, and as a reason to literally be knocked out of her shoes. "[color=0F52BA][i]Shall it be enough,[/i][/color]" she asked, as she stumbled and stood on the fallen man; her left foot on his chest, and her right on his face - roots digging into his flesh, and sucking away at his Spirit Energy, and converted it into Demon Energy. "[color=0F52BA][i]No, I didn’t get to him fast enough.[/i][/color]"

"[color=9b111e][b]It will have to suffice...[/b][/color]" Carroll says, as his blade starts to warp and reshape. "[color=9b111e][b][i]Callooh! Callay![/i][/b][/color]"

"[color=9966cc][b][i]It’s a frabjous day![/i][/b][/color]" Alice beamed, her voice changing again. "[color=9966cc][b][i]Eenie... Meenie... Miniee...[/i][/b][/color]" she pointed between the two, before settling, "[color=9966cc][b][i]Mo...[/i][/b][/color]"

Switching to a one-handed hold, Alice would dash forward.

[center]"[color=9966cc][b][i]Snicker-snack, the Queen goes tromping through the bricker-brack;
Crickle-crack, roar the flames left with each snicker-snack...[/i]

Flame Breaker: Inverse Eruption![/b][/color]"[/center]
Alice would make her attack at the swordsman, but seemingly would miss him, as she buried the “face” of Carroll into the ground. However, much like Inverse Rainbow, the attack was done with her left hand , and therefore was to the reverse of whatever it was supposed to be. 

The context clues of “Eruption” and “Flame” must have meant that it was supposed to involve flame erupting from her strike. So, if it was meant to go forward, then the inverse would be...

[center][b]...behind her.

[i]Right where the targeted man was standing.[/i][/b][/center]
By time he came to this acknowledgement, a pillar of flame would rumble to erupt from underneath his feet.

He’d two immediate options: [b][Heavenly Strike][/b] at Alice, and risk her counterattacking with [b][Rain Breaker: Inverse Rainbow][/b], or try to dodge with his own speed, and open himself up to her, potentially, following up with another magical attack.

Either way, she had his number.

And, to add insult to injury, she STILL wasn't taking this fight seriously.

The two warriors cleared away when [u]Alice[/u] made a vertical strike that buried her cursed weapon on the soil. Believing the feint, one of the warriors came up behind her to plant his sword on her back. Unfortunately for him, that was the Mad Hatter's plan all along. Just when he was about to strike, an eruption of flame from the very ground he stood on launched the warrior to the air. The fire damaged him badly and he landed back on the ground out of the fight.

The last warrior attempted to continue the fight, but [u]Alice's[/u] spores were becoming too much. His swings at the Mad Hatter were getting slower and weaker, enough that [u]Alice[/u] could easily dodge them or simply swat them aside. The warrior coughed as his legs trembled, his sword arms going limp. Soon, he dropped his weapon as he could not stop coughing. The spores soon finish him off and the warrior fell to the ground, defeated.

[u]Alice[/u] the Mad Hatter had won this particular bout. She may have taken down three warriors who knew the legendary technique, but took a bit of damage doing so. Maybe she should fall back for now, and come back with allies. Or she could move forward towards the camp, where there will surely be more of those warriors and they may not be alone.

Panting, Alice would place Carroll to her side, and sank to her knees; just because he closed her wounds, didn't mean there wasn't blood loss, and the fatigue that came of it. "[color=0F52BA][i]Carroll, I think we are going to have to break our rule...[/i][/color]" she says, as she stood up, and started to form roots between her hands. After a minute, she formed a decent length of hempen rope, and started to bind her fallen foes at the ankles and wrists, before she linked the ankles and wrists together, and formed a noose around their neck, which was linked to their wrists. She'd repeat this process for all three.

She didn't know, if they were alive, dead, and/or dying, and she didn't care; if anything, she was miffed, because she was breaking their rule:

[center][i][b][u]Never take prisoners.[/u][/b][/i][/center]
"[color=9b111e][b]This feels like a betrayal...[/b][/color]" Carroll groused.

It was aggravating, true, but Alice wasn't a fool, and Carroll wasn't at his apex. Even if she could temporarily access her [b][Queen of Diamonds] Alice[/b] form, and augment it further with [b][Bloodthirsty] Carroll[/b], it meant nothing if this was the effort needed to take on merely three at this level of strength. She was exhausted and hurt. Pressing on with a fool's errand, and getting help was the brighter course of action.

...even though... that meant interacting with people she didn't have control of. Smartly, she gathered the swords of her fallen foes, and bundled them together to wrap onto her back. Maybe, they would help curry favour and make it easier to control the people she was going to have to talk to.

Humans liked swords, yeah? Especially, magic swords.

Lying the swords(-or-lack-thereof-)men on their back, not bothering to check if they were alive or dead, still, she would wrap them under their arms, and set to dragging them back to town...
[/hider]

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

[center]~ [@Hammerman], [@Dark Cloud], [@Nakushita], [@Restalaan] (SKA), [@Rezod92], [@AzureKnight] (ATS & HIN), [@Enkryption] ~[/center]

A new day had come for the survivors of the Varjan invasion. The amount of refugees in the temple had increased, but the haven was nowhere near capacity. The villagers were still holding up, likely still in shock that their once-peaceful lives were so suddenly and drastically changed in such a short time. Those who were able volunteered to tend to any wounded people or prepare meals for everyone.

A man with glowing eyes arrived at the temple. The refugees who recognized him were filled with hope, smiles on their faces. He was Takamori, a warrior said to have been blessed with eyes that can see an opponent's next move. Swords on his hip and a bow on his back, he singled out [u]Kerry[/u] from the taskforce and approached her. "[color=yellow]Yokai. So you've desecrated one of our temples to use as your base, huh? Well, at least our people can find safety here. Let me talk to the young master first before we catch up.[/color]"

A young woman with a naginata also arrived at the temple. The islanders in the temple recognized her as Sorae Tokinomiya, a formidable fighter of Clan Tokinomiya. Although, she rarely travels without her family so what became of them? Sorae found [u]Skarsneek[/u] and the [u]Hangai sisters[/u] of the taskforce and approached them. "[color=mediumslateblue]Told you I'd be here. I don't appreciate our sacred temple housing yokai but I suppose you and our people need somewhere to go. I found a lead back in that inn regarding my family's killers but let me talk to Lord Takeshi first.[/color]"

Later, there came a third arrival who was more familiar to the taskforce. The Mad Hatter with the Cursed Sword, [u]Alice[/u], came with some men with her, bound neatly with hempen rope. The refugees gasped in surprise at the sight, but did nothing thankfully and allowed Ayu and Takeshi to greet her on the temple entrance. "[color=red]Miss Alice! What happened to you?! You look beat! Who are these people? Did you attack some locals?[/color]" The silver-haired woman immediately inquired.

"Hmm, these guys look like students of the Heavenly Strike technique." Takeshi crouched to inspect the prisoners. "I heard they joined up with the Varjans. Did they attack you? Well, I guess they'd still attack you even if they didn't join the Varjans..."

Takeshi Oja was at the temple grounds, ready and willing to assist a taskforce member in their ventures.

[hr]
[hr]
[hr]

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

[hider=Kazenosuke, Dancing Blade]
"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."

-Takeshi Oja
[/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."

-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 Headman]
"Lady Sorae has tracked one of the conspirators behind her family's slaughter. She said his name is Headman Jiro, a once loyal servant of Clan Tokinomiya. Jiro is hiding somewhere here in Onrai, but Sorae has located his brother and believes trailing him will lead us to the deceitful snake."
-Takeshi Oja
[/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=Empty Baskets]
A villager woman sitting near a bonfire was muttering to herself when the taskforce member approached.

"Poor Honoka, she'll likely starve soon. Oh, I didn't see you there. Err, Honoka's a widow, living alone in the outskirts of Yabo.

Please, if it's not too much of a bother, do you mind checking in on her?"
[/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]

[center]~~ LEGENDARY TALES ~~[/center]

[hider=Heavenly Strike]
"The Mad Hatter [u]Alice[/u] retreated from seeking this legendary technique. She will probably need help if she wants to continue the search. We'll need to seek her out for the details."
-Takeshi Oja
[/hider]