[center][h3]House By The River[/h3][/center]
[center][b]NO PLACE LIKE HOME[/b][/center]
[center]~ [@Restalaan] (SKA), [@Rezod92] ~[/center]

It was chaos! The Immortals encirclement of [u]Kerry[/u] failed when they were surprised by [u]Skarsneek[/u], who had thrown a huge net over the warriors who were prowling for their fellow taskforce members. The netted Immortals were about to use their magics to burn away the ropes but [u]Kerry[/u] quickly blew them away into the raging river with wind magic.

Still, there were Immortals left and the fighting continued. The two monsters held their ground against the magical warriors, who could not activate their armors' ability due to the nonlethal takedowns. Their numbers soon thinned and the few Immortals were poised to rout.

But then, a figure emerged from the house. Unlike the pink armor of the Immortals, his was shiny blue and gold and bulkier; the armor of a Scarce Legion warrior. Immediately glaring at [u]Kerry[/u] and [u]Skarsneek[/u], he held out his hand and a magical khopesh materialized which then sizzled into flame. A Warlock of the Scarce Legion, and a swordsman at that.

He stretched his arms out at the monsters, beckoning them to come at him.

[hr]
[center][h3]Terauchi Temple[/h3][/center]
[center][b]THE HEADMAN[/b][/center]
[center]~ [@Hammerman], [@AzureKnight] (ATS & HIN) ~[/center]

[quote=Atsuha Hangai][color=9e0b0f]"Well, at least Alice is all better. Now that that's all over, do either of you need a moment or are we ready to head out ourselves. I'd rather not keep Sorae-san waiting."[/color][/quote]

"..." Takeshi wanted to go with [u]Lunatea[/u] and the [u]Hangai[/u] sisters. But he could not stop thinking about [u]Gringor[/u] and [u]Alice[/u], less so for their wellbeing and more of the damage they might cause. It would be fine if their wraths were unleashed upon the wicked Varjans, but there were still innocent Shizuyamans out there.

"I'll go with them. Make sure they don't cause too much trouble." The young Oja decided. His honest talk with the spider yokai would have to wait for now. "I'll... ask Ayu to clean, or have someone else clean, this mess later. Take care of yourselves." Nodding at the girls, Takeshi went off.

---

Meeting up with Sorae, the last Tokinomiya was unamused at the sight of her Lord Takeshi chasing after the two taskforce members. "[color=mediumslateblue]Is there a problem with your little taskforce, yokai?[/color]" She immediately inquired, quite aggressively. "[color=mediumslateblue]You had better not be abusing the young master's trust, lest his disappointment be the least of your worries.[/color]"

"[color=mediumslateblue]Anyway, I found a letter in that inn we attacked. Came from a name, 'Sogen'.[/color]" Sorae spat the name out with absolute disdain. "[color=mediumslateblue]He's the head of Ruko Farmstead. And... a servant of Clan Tokinomiya.[/color]" She calmed her rage by shaking her head and pinching the bridge of her nose. "[color=mediumslateblue]Ungrateful traitor...[/color]"

[hr]
[center][h3]Shizuyama Wilderness[/h3][/center]
[center][b]THE HEAVENLY STRIKE[/b][/center]
[center]~ [@Enkryption], [@Restalaan] (GRI) ~[/center]

[u]Alice[/u] had left Terauchi Temple to resume her mission in taking down the students of the Heavenly Strike technique, heading for the wooden bridge where she battled the three warriors. She was a bit messed up after attempting to altercate with the male High Orc [u]Gringor[/u] in her other form. Speaking of [u]Gringor[/u], he had apparently followed her. He even asked where she was going.

Before either of them could do anything else, another figure also arrived. Takeshi Oja had followed the two of them in his white stallion. "Hold on! Hold on, let me come with you." He told the two yokai. "I can see that you two are powerful fighters against the Varjans and traitors. I'm here to make sure you're against no one else, especially not each other."

"Now then, Alice, was it? What have you found so far?"

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

[center]~ [@Crowvette] ~[/center]

[quote=Io]“[b][color=thistle]Is gold fine? I can change its shape to coins if needed.[/color][/b]”[/quote]

The women's eyes sparkled at the sight of [u]Io's[/u] jewelry, but none dared express their interest in it. "[color=00aeef]I-I guess we can take that as payment.[/color]" One of the villagers said, and the other two nodded in agreement. "[color=00aeef]How many of these robes did you want again?[/color]"

After answering that question, the weavers would take their leave to begin their work. Ayu was quite pleased at the smooth development. "[color=red]That went pretty great, all things considered.[/color]" She remarked to the Lich. "[color=red]It'll probably take them a day or two to get your outfits ready. I'll probably also need to provide them the tools and materials to actually make the clothes.[/color]" Ayu let out a sheepish chuckle, not looking forward to foraging for those supplies.

"[color=red]But hey, those are my problems and not yours.[/color]" Ayu continued before a scene caught their attentions.

[u]Io[/u] and Ayu both saw the Mad Hatter [u]Alice[/u] quickly making her way out of the temple who was then followed by [u]Gringor[/u] who was then followed by Takeshi Oja on a horse. Letting out a sigh, Ayu was hesitant to know what exactly caused that scene. Although, she probably needed to know sooner or later. "[color=red]I must say, Lady Kyouko sure assembled a strange group. No offense.[/color]"

"[color=red]Well, I've got other stuff to do so I gotta go. You can relax and take a breather here in the temple, or you can continue lending a hand to the people of this island.[/color]" With a wave, the silver-haired woman bid farewell. "[color=red]See you later, Io.[/color]"

[center]~ [@AzureKnight] (SHI), [@The Irish Tree] ~[/center]

[u]Liliana[/u] and [u]Shizuka[/u] would reach the temple without further incident, just in time to witness something peculiar.

A distraught [u]Alice[/u] would run past them, followed by a dripping wet [u]Gringor[/u], followed by a mounted Takeshi. Who, fortunately, stopped to explain what was happening. "Err, it's a long story. I'm following them to make sure they don't get in trouble... especially with each other. Anyway, gotta go!" And the young Oja galloped away, to become the monsters' apparent chaperone.

Entering the temple, Ayu was there to greet the duo. "[color=red]Sir Shizuka! Miss Liliana! Good to see you come back from your mission in one piece! Successfully, I presume? You two look victorious.[/color]" She then let out a hearty laugh. "[color=red]...Don't ask about Takeshi and the two others. Not even I know what happened with them.[/color]"

The temple grounds was the same as ever. Refugees still recovering in their tents and the monks making sure everything was in order. It appeared most of the taskforce were away on missions.

[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]

[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]

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