[h3][color=thistle]Io[/color] at Terauchi Temple[/h3]

[ @ people at foodplace ]

The [i]High[/i] Orc seemed to have a noticeably short temper - something Io would have to keep track of. She couldn't deny a little bit of anticipation towards seeing the male mamono in action, though - who knows what might be shown off in the heat of combat? The fight seemed like it would kick off in moments... But then Shizuka interfered between the two. '[color=thistle]Ah. Well, it probably is for the best if the task force doesn't spar in public...[/color]' Io tempered her mild disappointment with rationality.

Io kept Gringor and the group around him in her periphery as she nibbled on her serving of rice. The task force certainly was lively - this was the most of the force she had seen together, and it was becoming hard to keep track of everything at once. Io wondered if she would have to summon a familiar in order to better expand her awareness. It had been a long time since she bothered... Living familiars were generally a pain to handle, but undead ones would likely frighten the people of Shizuyama. She mulled over the pros and cons as she took a sip of tea.

She briefly caught a bit of conversation amongst the townsfolk, as well. They certainly had more devotion than Io was used to seeing - being willing to volunteer their own corpses to help fight. Io knew all too well that what was [i]said[/i] by the living and what was actually believed were different. Perhaps the man himself would be fine with being reanimated to fight, but would his wife? His children? It was far simpler to work on the invaders to that end. Io considered that she may want to address concerns related to the dead to the locals before rumors spread... She would need to think of a good way to do so.

Io returned her attention to Gringor, Shizuka, and Alice. Io opened her mouth to offer healing, but she closed it upon further thought. Offering healing just as an excuse to get closer to the High Orc... May not be the best move given the current tensions. Plus, even for a living being, Gringor seemed to naturally heal fast - he may refuse the healing as a waste of time. Giving them a further incentive to fight ran counter to the Task Force's goals, either way, as much as Io would have enjoyed seeing it.

As she kept her watchful eye on the events, she pulled some of the scrolls she kept tied around her body loose, examining them. '[color=thistle]Perhaps I can create some scrolls that would allow Task Force members to spar without hurting each other too much...[/color]' It was an enticing puzzle, perhaps something Io would solve when she needed some moments to relax. Something that enhanced defenses and tempered attacks, while still letting the sparring partners exercise most of their power. And if some clothing got destroyed along the way because the scrolls 'accidentally' only enhanced the user and not what their were wearing... Who would really care?

"[b][color=thistle]I may be able to produce scrolls that can let duels take place without causing lasting injury to either side. It could be good for us to understand how each other fights.[/color][/b]" Io spoke up suddenly. "[b][color=thistle]But it is not the time nor place to do so.[/color][/b]" She added, giving the few 'voice of reason' Task Force members a slight nod.