[center][h3]House By The River[/h3][/center] [center][b]NO PLACE LIKE HOME[/b][/center] [center]~ [@Restalaan] (SKA), [@Rezod92], [@Nakushita] ~[/center] The villager said nothing more to the taskforce, even after their parting words with him. He simply broke down crying in front of the bonfire where his family was lost. The taskforce, meanwhile, made their way back to their homebase with their newest Varjan prisoner still unconscious and would not wake up in the immediate future. [hr] [center][h3]Sawmill[/h3][/center] [center][b]THE HEADMAN[/b][/center] [center]~ [@Hammerman], [@AzureKnight] (ATS & HIN) ~[/center] [quote=Atsuha Hangai][color=9e0b0f]"My sister and I will handle these cretins! Luna-chan, please save Sorae-san!!"[/color][/quote] [u]Atsuha's[/u] flurry of sakura blossoms immediately took down two of the Wako bandits. Meanwhile, the remaining brigands were taken by surprise by the sudden summoning of [u]Hinami's[/u] club weapon. This momentary hesitation was all that the Jiangshi needed to close the distance and hit one of the bandits right in the face with the club. The last bandit scrambled for a counterattack, but his movements could not keep up with [u]Hinami's[/u] and received a painful heel to his head for his trouble. Meanwhile, [u]Lunatea[/u] dashed for the bandit about to execute Sorae. With a spinning kick backed by the strength of a yokai, the Wako was knocked away and out cold. Sorae was then carried out of the battle by the Wererabbit and was administered some quick, magical first aid. The retreat was not needed, though, as the fight was over with that bandit's defeat. "[color=mediumslateblue]...I saw someone peeking at us from that small shack over there...[/color]" The paralyzed Sorae mentioned to the yokai. "[color=mediumslateblue]And quit with the healing magic, rabbit. I'm not gonna die to some paralyzing poison. I'm a Tokinomiya.[/color]" She scolded [u]Lunatea[/u], simultaenously with a boast. The person in the shack was a villager woman. She was plain, unremarkable and young. Not that pretty either, especially compared to the yokai. She cowered at the corner of the shack, and will begin crying at whoever would approach her. "[color=00a99d]Please! Don't hurt me! I don't know anything![/color]" [hr] [center][h3]Shizuyama Wilderness[/h3][/center] [center][b]THE HEAVENLY STRIKE[/b][/center] [center]~ [@Restalaan] (GRI) ~[/center] The student warriors watched patiently as [u]Gringor[/u] broke through the Varjans surrounding him with an unfortunate Varjan as a bludgeon. The remaining Varjans pulled back, signalling to their Shizuyaman allies that it was their turn on the rampaging High Orc again. But [u]Gringor[/u] took the initiative, he charged at the student warrior seemingly recklessly. He had drawn plans and considered the options he would take regarding the student's actions-- *SLASH* He was stopped by the technique, but not from the student he was charging, but from another student to [u]Gringor's[/u] side. Fortunately, it was still not enough to break skin-- *SLASH* Then another came, from yet another different student. This time, [u]Gringor[/u] felt blood dripping from his body. *SLASH* Then another. *SLASH* Then another. With [u]Gringor[/u] heavily wounded, the student warrior in front of him now made his move. Confident that whatever scheme the male High Orc had created, it was impossible to put it into action now. The Shizuyaman disappeared... and [u]Gringor[/u] felt another powerful slash at his body. One that forced him to go down into the dirt. The male High Orc witnessed the student warriors calm down, assume relaxed stances. The Varjans, meanwhile, approached him like vultures upon a dead prey. Their weapons bared, ready to finish the job. Still, [u]Gringor[/u] was not of a relatively weak race of monsters. He had strength still, but perhaps it was wiser to use that for an escape. [hr] [center][h3]Shizuyama Wilderness[/h3][/center] [center]~ [@Enkryption] ~[/center] (Currently in collab) [hr] [center][h3]Homestead[/h3][/center] [center][b]HONEY TRAP[/b][/center] [center]~ [@AzureKnight] (SHI), [@The Irish Tree] (EUL) ~[/center] [quote=Eula][color=C48BD3][b]"Bandits of Shizuyama, you have been accused of ransacking, looting, murdering, destruction of property, and general misconduct. Turn yourselves in peacefully or I will be forced to use maximum force!"[/b][/color][/quote] The barrage of energy bullets from [u]Eula[/u] hit virtually none of the bandit Swordsmen looting the homestead, who took cover in the debris while the bolts rained down around them. Still, the sudden and quite flashy assault did scare the wits out of the thugs. The Swordsmen panicked and screamed and sobbed, immediately attempting to run to the wilderness, and probably back to their hideouts, once the barrage was over. They stumbled from their covers, a couple of them abandoning their swords and not one of them even sparing a glance at their attacker. The battle was over before it even began. [u]Eula's[/u] distraction proving more effective as an intimidation tactic. "[color=f7976a]Guys! Don't leave me behind! Guys![/color]" One Swordsman bandit lagged behind, the one with the glass sword. He did not abandon the weapon, likely too valuable to simply leave behind. Unfortunately, it seemed to be also heavy which meant he was easy pickings for the duo. [hr] [center][h3]Terauchi Temple[/h3][/center] [center]~ [@The Irish Tree] (LIL), [@Crowvette], [@Restalaan] (SKA), [@Rezod92], [@Nakushita] ~[/center] While [u]Io[/u] and [u]Liliana[/u] conversed, other members of the taskforce arrived from their mission. Namely, [u]Kerry[/u], [u]Skarsneek[/u], [u]Yuki[/u] and Samael. And with them was an out-cold Varjan Warlock. The arriving party was quickly greeted by Ayu. "[color=red]Welcome back! And it looks like you've brought a friend.[/color]" She remarked sarcastically about the unconscious Kalaj. "[color=red]We'll put them with the other prisoners. I admit, their lips are pretty sealed so far so I only have them helping out the temple with odd jobs. But once Lady Kyouko gets here, I'm sure she has some idea on how to get some info from them.[/color]" "[color=red]Judging from these results, I assume things went pretty well?[/color]" [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=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=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=Lost At Sea] A villager woman was sitting beside a bonfire as the taskforce member approached. "There's a man, yokai, swinging his sword... slashing the air on the beaches of Hama island. I'm not sure if he is a survivor of Sanjo Beach, or a mere bandit. But I'm fairly sure he was crying." "Hama island is just off the southern coasts, but you'll definitely need a boat or something to reach it." [/hider] [center]~~ LEGENDARY TALES ~~[/center]