[center][h3]Abandoned Village[/h3][/center] [center][b]HONEY TRAP[/b][/center] [center]~ [@AzureKnight] (SHI), [@The Irish Tree] (EUL) ~[/center] The Cannoneer could only watch in awe as his mighty cannonball, able to smash even stone walls, was caught by the Automaton with one hand and promptly threw it back at him without the iron ball losing momentum. He was hit in his chestplate, sending him crashing back into the house he emerged from. The rest of the bandits could only watch in shock at what happened. For the briefest moment, they contemplated retreat. But when [u]Eula[/u] started firing shots at them, fear turned to desperation. They would die fighting than die fleeing. Swords unsheathed, they rushed at the Automaton who continued firing at them as she backed away, dropping more of the Swordsmen as they came. But a few had closed the distance, swinging their blades wildly at [u]Eula[/u]. Meanwhile, the crossbowmen hid behind the debris of the village. They loaded green-glowing bolts into their weapons, obviously magical in nature. And they looked confident in that these special bolts would do damage to this seemingly invincible mechanical yokai. [hr] [center][h3]Terauchi Temple[/h3][/center] [center]~ [@Restalaan] (GRI) ~[/center] [quote=Gringor][color=f7941d]"The rest here aren't that strong, and the ones that are is gone. So you're the only one left."[/color][/quote] "[color=orange]Heh, flattery will get you nowhere, yokai.[/color]" The attempts to imitate the 'Heavenly Strike' technique on Nobutada amused the monk, who shrugged off the attacks as if he was being splashed with water. Alas, even if he did know the technique, [u]Gringor's[/u] poor imitations made it unrecognizable to the monk. However, Nobutada perceptiveness clued him that this might be the cause of the High Orc's grievous wounds. "[color=orange]I do not know this technique, but I do know this...[/color]" Nobutada started, still in his medidative stance. "[color=orange]It is one thing to know the specific weaknesses of your enemy, but sometimes, the opponent knows this and so, they would know your every move against them. Sometimes, you must look for weaknesses not apparent. You do not swim to catch the fish, nor do you run to catch the hare.[/color]" "[color=orange]That wisdom is how we managed to deal with you, yokai, for generations.[/color]" Nobutada finished. "[color=orange]You say some of your allies are not strong. Perhaps you should rethink that.[/color]" [center]---[/center] [center]~ [@The Irish Tree] (LIL), [@Crowvette], [@Restalaan] (SKA), [@Rezod92], [@Nakushita], [@Hammerman], [@AzureKnight] (ATS & HIN), [@Enkryption] ~[/center] [quote=Kerry Maros][color=fff79a]"Takeshi... did you fuck Alice?"[/color][/quote] Takeshi's poor heart dropped upon hearing those words from [u]Kerry[/u]. Such an accusation was worthy of death, under normal circumstances... and if it was false. Coughing, the young lord was about to retort when [u]Lilianna[/u], a yokai he did not remember to have met yet. She was a small Fairy with pink hair and a white dress armed with a glowing green blade of proportional size. The warrior Fairy used her sword to cast a shorud of green light over Takeshi, Alice and Kuro, the white horse they were riding on. Already, Takeshi's minor injuries and aches from fighting the bear disappeared. And so did his exhaustion from... 'aiding' the Mad Hatter. He wanted to express quick gratitude to [u]Lilianna[/u] before returning to the Hornet's claim. [quote=Lilianna][color=f49ac2][b]"O-Oh wow...haven't smelt that in months. You two should probably wash up, yeah? Healing can't uh...can't fix that."[/b][/color][/quote] The act was not possible to hide from the yokai. In due time, all the taskforce would know and after, all of Shizuyama. Such a thing would be the end of his time in the island and, more importantly, introduce discord and infighting to his people who already reeling from the Varjan invasion. He could admit this to the taskforce and ask them to stay quiet but Takeshi felt it would be better if even the yokai did not know, or at least did not believe, this. It was far too late to deny this to [u]Alice[/u] herself, for obvious reasons, but perhaps she could be requested to stay quiet and her word alone would mean little especially to the people of Shizuyama. "I don't know what you two are blabbering about but I'll just make this clear: Nothing happened between me and Alice. We were attacked by a bear, and we're both tired from it. That's that." Takeshi declared firmly. "[color=red]My lord, the yokai's senses do not lie.[/color]" Ayu shot down Takeshi's plans. "[color=red]But do not worry, Lord Takeshi. I'm sure the taskforce will gladly and dutifully keep this as a very guarded secret. It will not be revealed unless you wish it to be. By the way, how did it feel?[/color]" "It felt-- W-What do you mean 'how did it feel?'? Nothing happened!" Takeshi reasserted, his growing panic making his voice louder. [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] *Finish 'Pre-Emptive Strike' to unlock next tale* [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] [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]