[center][h3]Abandoned Village[/h3][/center] [center][b]HONEY TRAP[/b][/center] [center]~ [@AzureKnight] (SHI), [@The Irish Tree] (EUL) ~[/center] [quote=Eula][color=C48BD3][b]"This unit is currently fighting at 43% strength to ensure that you all may be captured successfully. Please cease and desist by laying down your arms and allowing yourselves to be captured before you come to harm. Your resistance will be noted, and your cooperation will be appreciated,"[/b][/color][/quote] Having taken down so many of them with her monstrous strength alone, the remaining bandits considered [u]Eula's[/u] warnings to them. After seeing her make the ground quake with a stomp and sending six men crashing into a tree with a single punch, the Swordsmen hesitated in their desperate attack and began to doubt their chances against her. But perhaps, their crossbowmen could be of some help. They knew that those crossbows had magical bolts that could give them a fighting chance against foes more powerful than them. However, those crossbowmen had already been defeated. [u]Shizuka[/u] had snuck behind them, shooting bolts of ice that froze the ranged weapons solid and riddling their hands with instant frostbite. Now, the bandits knew they were truly alone in this lost battle. Their leader was gone and their support was disabled, there really wasn't anything they could do anymore. As soon as the first bandit who ran away did so, tossing away his sword, the rest followed. They ran towards every direction besides [u]Eula's[/u] and [u]Shizuka's[/u], screaming in terror and leaving behind their unconscious or beaten brethren. The battle was over, with the taskforce victorious. If they wanted answers as to what really happened, they had plenty of bandits still left in this desolate village: There were the Swordsmen that [u]Eula[/u] defeated, the crossbowmen that [u]Shizuka[/u] took care of and the bandit leader probably still alive in that house. [hr] [center][h3]Terauchi Temple[/h3][/center] [center]~ [@The Irish Tree] (LIL), [@Crowvette], [@Restalaan] (SKA), [@Rezod92], [@Nakushita], [@Hammerman], [@AzureKnight] (ATS & HIN), [@Enkryption] ~[/center] Any and all attempts to hide his fling with [u]Alice[/u] went down the drain the moment the Mad Hatter herself woke up and decided to explore his body as she roused awake. She then finished with a stolen yet affectionate kiss, done in front of virtually the entire taskforce. Ayu blushed at the sight and looked away. [quote=Alice]"[color=0F52BA][i]I rather liked the taste of your Royal Tea.[/i][/color]"[/quote] Takeshi could only watch with a miserable frown as the taskforce remarked on his situation. [quote=Yuki Akamata][color=f7941d]“Though, I will admit this was the last thing that I was expecting to learn about after returning from the mission and getting some relaxation at the hot springs, but I can say you guys at least keep things interesting for me, soooooo when is the wedding”[/color][/quote] [quote=Atsuha Hangai][color=9e0b0f]"Takeshi-san, you naughty boy~ Seems you've finally succumbed to the charms of the 'dreaded' yokai. I'm glad to see that you've learned that were not so bad after all. Although, I didn't take you for being into the cute Lolita type."[/color][/quote] [quote=Skarsneek][color=ed145b]"Hey, Takeshi, looks like you got your fields tilled."[/color][/quote] ...And he saw [u]Lunatea[/u] glaring at him. Was she jealous? Well, he did give her a ride that one time. At least, [u]Kerry[/u] had the sense to try and talk the rest of the taskforce to the reality of the situation. As she did so, Takeshi disembarked from his horse and despite it all, still courteously helped [u]Alice[/u] get off too. There was talk of keeping this within the taskforce, but such a secret as big as this and known to so many already was futile to hide. All he could do now was convince the others he was still of Shizuyama. If not, at least its defender. "Agreed, we must keep this a secret... for now. These kinds of secrets don't stay secrets for long." Takeshi spoke to the yokai. "I'll take responsibility and reveal this... incident on my own terms. Hopefully, the others will understand and put the Varjan invasion first before anything." "Now then, you'll have to forgive me but I must take my leave for now." The young lord Oja told the taskforce before leaving, patting [u]Alice's[/u] head as a parting gesture. "[color=red]Lord Takeshi...[/color]" Ayu had a bad feeling about this. But she returned her attention to the taskforce. "[color=red]I heard you guys were hungry? Well, you're in luck 'cause we just got done cooking a fresh batch of rice and fish. I know they're not the top dishes of Shizuyama, but we're not exactly running a restaurant here.[/color]" The dinner would sound tempting for those whose stomachs were rumbling, but to pursue Takeshi and see what he would do next was also an option. [center]---[/center] [center]~ [@Restalaan] (GRI) ~[/center] [quote=Gringor][color=f7941d]"What about youz? Coming? Or you just gonna sit here all day?"[/color][/quote] "[color=orange]It is called...[/color]" "Nobutada." The large monk stood up. "[color=orange]Lord Takeshi.[/color]" Indeed, the young lord Oja approached the two and interrupted the conversation between them. He looked crestfallen but determined, as if he was in the middle of accepting a gret loss or tragedy. A concerning mood that Nobutada noticed. "[color=orange]Milord, is everything alright?[/color]" "Nobutada, gather the others. I need to talk to all of you. Privately." He ordered the monk before turning to [u]Gringor[/u]. "Real sorry, but I must ask you to rejoin your taskforce for now. I heard they're having dinner." [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]