[center][h3]House By The River[/h3][/center] [center][b]NO PLACE LIKE HOME[/b][/center] [center]~ [@Restalaan] (SKA), [@Rezod92] ~[/center] With the extended reach, [u]Skarsneek[/u] managed to strike at Kalaj's hands in their fight. A feat that had a few close calls thank to flames also extending the Warlock's khopesh range, singing the male Goblin's hair a few times. Soon, though, [u]Skarsneek[/u] finally hit Kalaj's hands enough times for the Warlock to drop his weapon. And Kalaj was not paying attention to [u]Kerry[/u], who had been preparing a spell the entire time uninterrupted. The Hornet unleashed her star-shaped bullets of air at the Warlock who was too stunned to do anything about it. All the air projectiles hit Kalaj, denting his armor, and the Scarce legionnaire fell on his back. He was defeated. Just in time, Sam and Yuki emerged from the house, appearing to have gotten into a fight themselves. They said that there were only enemy Varjans in the building, no sign of the villager's wife and son. [hr] [center][h3]Shizuyama Wilderness[/h3][/center] [center][b]THE HEADMAN[/b][/center] [center]~ [@Hammerman], [@AzureKnight] (ATS & HIN) ~[/center] [quote=Lunatea Vern Farnsworth]"Do we have to ambush him right away? We can just follow him to his hideout, no? And please refrain yourself from killing him before we get the information we need."[/quote] [quote=Atsuha Hangai][color=9e0b0f]"Perhaps we should take heed to Luna-chan's words. If we see where's he's going, he may even lead us to Sogen himself. Worst comes to worst, we should still be able to track him. After all, once mamono have read a person's chi they're not exactly hard to find."[/color][/quote] Sorae frowned at her ideas being shot down by yokai outsiders, but they spoke sense. Following him to his destination was the sounder plan. She said nothing at the yokai's suggestion, merely giving a single nod as a response. --- The party discreetly followed Dosan's cart until they reach an odd location: A lumber mill occupied by Shizuyamans. Armed Shizuyamans. With virtually no Shizuyamans actually working on the mill. In fact, there were only a few pieces of logs in sight. Although, they WERE in the middle of an invasion so it was probably understandable. "[color=mediumslateblue]Look, there.[/color]" Sorae pointed to several of the Shizuyamans present. They differentiated themselves from the rest by the small crossbows mounted on their arms and their main weapons: large sickles probably meant to cut apart civilians rather than crops. "[color=mediumslateblue]Wako. Bandits who know what they're doing. This is a deep plot if Sogen has a bunch of them on his payroll.[/color]" "[color=mediumslateblue]Let's see if they can earn their pay.[/color]" Sorae brandished her naginata and jumped out, revealing herself to everyone in the mill. "[color=mediumslateblue]Where is Sogen?![/color]" The Shizuyaman responded by pulling out their weapons and greeting her in battle while Dosan immediately fled without his cart. So much for the element of stealth. [hr] [center][h3]Shizuyama Wilderness[/h3][/center] [center][b]THE HEAVENLY STRIKE[/b][/center] [center]~ [@Restalaan] (GRI) ~[/center] [u]Gringor[/u] strode out alone once more. This time, his objective took him up a gentle slope in the side of a mountain which eventually ended in a small plateau. Occupied by Varjans, a crude war camp was already set up and [u]Gringor[/u] could see blue-robed Shizuyaman warriors amongst the Varjans soldiers. These were probably the warriors that gave the Mad Hatter a hard time. It was just that there were more of them here, about five of them. And that was besides the half-dozen Varjan Brigands and Warriors there. Once more, [u]Gringor[/u] would be alone in this fight. Truly alone, this time, as there would not be another force to join him in this battle later. [hr] [center][h3]Shizuyama Wilderness[/h3][/center] [center]~ [@Enkryption] ~[/center] [quote=Alice]"[color=0F52BA][i]If you know such a place that sells what I need, I would very much like to go there. Even if you don’t, marketplaces are always good places to ferret out such knowledge.[/i][/color]"[/quote] It sure was a whiplash for Takeshi to see [u]Alice[/u] so soft and demure after her earlier transformation into a fearsome entity, but he simply supposed it was one of her quirks as a monster. He was just glad that she trsuted him enough to take his offer and hop onto his horse, asking to be taken to somewhere that sold potions. "I know one near here. It's one of the few potion shops here in Onrai." Takeshi replied. "I'm not sure how it's doing with the invasion and all but hopefully, it's still standing and has what you need." And with that, Takeshi spurred his white horse. "Let's go, Kuro!" --- Kuro the white horse carried his master and the yokai dutifully, riding across the rural lands of the Onrai region. It was fortunate that they had not run into any Varjan warbands or patrols on the way, and the forests and grasslands around them was still untouched by the war. "You are a... Mad Hatter, right?" Takeshi decided to ask his passenger, a start to a conversation. "I've heard that Mad Hatters typically don't leave their home. Uhh, I believe it's called 'Wonderland'? A-Anyway, what brings you out of there and all the way here? I also heard your kind loves tea, but I haven't really seen you search for any so far." [hr] [center][h3]Terauchi Temple[/h3][/center] [center]~ [@AzureKnight] (SHI) ~[/center] After a refreshing dip on the hot springs near Terauchi Temple, [u]Shizuka[/u] made his way back to the temple grounds to reunite with the taskforce members there. He would bump into a certain somebody on his way, however. Near the entrance of the temple, [u]Shizuka[/u] was suddenly bumped by the load of an awkward, clearly inexperienced pole-carrier. However, the pole-carrier was someone the azure swordsman recognized. "[color=ec008c]Hey! Watch where you're-- Oh, it's you.[/color]" It was the prisoner the taskforce took from Sanjo Beach, Kasseros Telmar. He still had his beautiful looks, but his shiny armor and overwhelming perfumes were gone. Now, he wore the clothes of a typical villager and it appeared he was doing typical villager tasks. "[color=ec008c]I'll bet you're soooo proud of yourself. Being able to degrade a proud warrior of the Heavenly Children into doing menial labor, and that's beside the so-called 'cakes' your Shoggoth shoved into me.[/color]" Kasseros whined to [u]Shizuka[/u] as he put down his carrying pole to collect the spilled vegetables. "[color=ec008c]I'd rather die than spend another second in this blasted place but your babysitter, Ayu, has a firm leash on me.[/color]" "...[color=ec008c]Heh, I know you're no incubus. Yet.[/color]" Kasseros smirked at [u]Shizuka[/u]. "[color=ec008c]Why don't you do a favor for a fellow human, eh? Give me a human death. I mean, your blade's bloody already, right? What's one more life to you?[/color]" [center]---[/center] [center]~ [@The Irish Tree], [@Crowvette] ~[/center] (I'll let you two talk some more) [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]