[hider=A little something for Irish Tree] After [u]Atsuha[/u] had left, Takeshi moved to leave too when the Fairy that had healed him unneccessarily earlier suddenly flitted up to him. [quote=Liliana][color=f49ac2][b]"Don't you worry Takeshi, I promise that no matter what, we're here for your people and you! If you wind up being exiled, I know some good human villages back where I come from. Or if you feel like bumming off of nature, I know a lot of poison plants to not eat."[/b][/color][/quote] Takeshi snickered. These yokai were never going to leave him, were they? He really should meet this 'Lady Kyouko' person and inquire as to why this yokai taskforce not only aided Shizuyama, but was also apparently ordered to look after him too. "I'll keep that in mind, madam. Thank you." [/hider] [center]---[/center] [center] "[color=orange]What...?[/color]" "[color=yellow]Is this true?![/color]" "..." "[color=lavender]There-there has to be a mistake, Lord Takeshi...[/color]" "There is no mistake. I speak the truth." "..." "[color=firebrick]...Grim tidings.[/color]" [/center] [hr] [center][h3]Terauchi Temple[/h3][/center] [center]~ [@The Irish Tree] (LIL), [@Crowvette], [@Restalaan] (SKA & GRI), [@Rezod92], [@Nakushita], [@Hammerman], [@AzureKnight] (HIN & ATS), [@Enkryption] ~[/center] The group had moved on to the dining area as they continued their... antics. Their table was separated from everyone else's, for obvious reasons. Some of the children were curious and wanted to approach the yokai, but the taskforce's current interactions forced their parents back to their own tables. Some other, more optimal, time to build bridges then. Ayu was glad that her little pep talk has managed to cheer [u]Liliana[/u] up. Although, she worried that if the taskforce's morale can't take hits like this, then what would happen if worse things happen? Ayu decided not to worry about that right now. "[color=red]I'll be joining the cooking crew, alright? Just holler if you guys need anything.[/color]" [u]Eula[/u] and [u]Shizuka[/u] had also returned from their mission, with some bandit prisoners even. After leaving their prisoners to the monks, however, they were led away by a villager. Perhaps they will be available in a short while. The taskforce also overheard a couple of villager men walking by. "[color=f6989d]I saw a couple of Zombies outside the temple. Are they part of the taskforce too?[/color]" "[color=bc8dbf]No, I heard they were the thralls of the Lich one. Made from Varjan corpses, or so Ayu says.[/color]" "[color=f6989d]Well if I die, she can have my body. That's probably the only way I can be useful against the Varjans...[/color]" "[color=bc8dbf]Mmm, be careful what you wish for.[/color]" [center]---[/center] [center]~ [@AzureKnight] (SHI), [@The Irish Tree] (EUL) ~[/center] Through one way or another, [u]Eula[/u] and [u]Shizuka[/u] reached the temple with their prisoners without any further incident. Upon their arrival, they were greeted not by Ayu but a villager man. "[color=fdc68a]You two! You were the ones sent by Saki, right? You need to come with me.[/color]" After leaving the bandit prisoners with the monks, the two taskforce members were led by the man towards an area of the temple where the unfortunate dead were given their final rites. The bodies were respectfully covered with clean white sheets while a senior monk recited prayers. There were other villagers here, mourning for their fallen, and [u]Shizuka[/u] and [u]Eula[/u] were taken to a seemingly random one. "[color=fdc68a]This is Saki, yokai. It's a strange tragedy.[/color]" The villager said. "[color=fdc68a]She slit her wrists open without anyone knowing, and came here just before she expired. She said she blamed herself for her family's death, and committed harakiri to atone for the sin. The monks could not save her and her last words were of gratitude to you two. She said that the yokai have more honor than anyone here in Shizuyama.[/color]" The villager then sighed. "[color=fdc68a]What about you? Where did Saki send you exactly?[/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] *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]