[center][h3]Honoka's House[/h3][/center]
[center][b]EMPTY BASKETS[/b][/center]
[center]~ [@The Irish Tree] (EUL) ~[/center]

The bandits glanced at each other, some carefully huddled close to mull over [u]Eula's[/u] words. They seem to relax as they whispered to each other, reassured that this girl favored words than violence, even if she had the enormous advantage should it ever come to blows. Their hushed whispers could not be heard by [u]Eula[/u] but they soon came to an end and the bandit who talked to the Automaton stepped forward once more, more confident than before.

"[color=f9ad81]We spoke the truth, girl.[/color]" He started. "[color=f9ad81]All our meager supplies are from the Varjans. Even if we were entertaining notions of robbing villagers, we haven't actually done it. Not really worth it, since most of the food's been taken by the Varjans anyway. Whoever sent you, girl, is pulling the wool over your eyes. In fact, we haven't stolen anything for the past week now.[/color]"

Well, this was quite the dilemma. Two sides with two differing stories of the same problem. It would be up to [u]Eula[/u] to guess who was lying and who was telling the truth. If she left the bandits alone now to try and investigate further, they'll probably leave the area to avoid meeting her again. She might need to make an ultimate decision now.

Perhaps, that was the only way to reveal the actual truth.

[hr]
[center][h3]Kozukata Cemetery[/h3][/center]
[center][b]YURINE, DEATH KEEPER[/b][/center]
[center]~ [@Restalaan] (SKA), [@Hammerman], [@AzureKnight] (HIN & ATS) ~[/center]

Yurine readied her axe back up when [u]Hinami[/u] acted out, but Takeshi was quick to stop the old warrior while [u]Atsuha[/u] calmed her sister down. "Yurine, I know they're yokai. But trust me, they're here to help. And in turn, we must help them." Takeshi stood in front of the [u]Hangai[/u] sisters.

It defused Yurine, but her face fell. "[color=violet]Oh, my lord. Fighting with the yokai has never been the Oja way.[/color]"

"No Oja had to fight off an overwhelming human invasion. And from the merciless Varjans, no less." Takeshi replied. "We need every help we can get. If we are to save our home, Shizuyama can't afford anything less."

"[color=violet]...The Varjans have changed you, young master.[/color]"

"The world has changed." Takeshi finished.

Yurine let out a deep sigh and took a glance at the [u]Hangai[/u] sisters. "[color=violet]...I don't know anything about yokai medicine so I cannot promise anything that would help the undead. However, I do know a mixture that our warriors imbibe to help them medidate, or help them during their seppuku. It numbs the body, so only the mind is active. Maybe that can help.[/color]" The grave keeper suggested. "[color=violet]Yokai are hardy, though, so we may need a stronger dose.[/color]"

"Can you make one right now?"

"[color=violet]They're relatively easy to make, but I don't have the key ingredients with me.[/color]" Yurine replied. "[color=violet]Fortunately, there are some nearby. The red spider lilies are a key component for the mixture and they grow beside a pond near here.[/color]"

"I know where those are. Let me gather them." Takeshi stood up. "Lunatea, you're with me. The rest of you, stay here and watch over Yurine. Yurine, keep an eye on them, will you?"

[center]---[/center]

[center]~ [@Hammerman] ~[/center]

Takeshi led [u]Lunatea[/u] through the fog-covered graveyard. "Don't worry about getting lost. I know this place pretty well so we can leave and get back easily."

Indeed, soon the two emerged from the thick cloud and into a dirt path leading out of the cemetery. "Lunatea, I have to ask." Takeshi began. "Atsuha and Skarsneek seem awfully close from what I've observed. Are they... together? Y'know, 'together'?" He asked from the Wererabbit.

The young lord seemed a bit anxious for [u]Lunatea's[/u] response. But still, honesty is the best policy as they say.

[center]---[/center]

[center]~ [@Restalaan] (SKA), [@AzureKnight] (HIN & ATS) ~[/center]

After Takeshi and [u]Lunatea[/u] left, Yurine glared at the trio of monsters. "[color=violet]I don't smell much Demon Energy on him nor do I detect any charm spells on him neither. So somehow, you yokai HAVE convinced him normally to accept your aid against the Varjan invasion.[/color]" Shaking her head, the old warrior continued. "[color=violet]I doubt the young master made that decision lightly. He has put immense trust upon you, yokai. I can only hope he has made the right choice.[/color]"

"[color=violet]Now then, what exactly is the undead's problem?[/color]" Yurine inquired about [u]Hinami[/u]. "[color=violet]And who are you exactly? Quite the diverse cast you are. I mean, one of you's a Goblin. Not a yokai we usually see around the Zipanguese isles.[/color]"

[hr]
[center][h3]Terauchi Temple[/h3][/center]

[center]~ [@Xaltwind] ~[/center]

[hider=The short collab]
[quote=Relica Rune Nox-Umbra][color=lime]"I hope that ain't too many quesitons for ya, Miss Highly-Esteemed Monster-Supporter-in-charge-of-everything."[/color][/quote]

"[color=red]Whoa, someone called me that? I'm flattered![/color]" Ayu laughed before her face turned deadly serious. "[color=red]And it's okay, these questions matter.[/color]"

"[color=red]Shizuyama's army is... gone, to say the least.[/color]" The woman started. "[color=red]There were about, a thousand warriors under Lord Hideo Oja when the Varjan invasion force arrived, which numbered around maybe eighty-thousand with more probably coming to join this one-sided fight.[/color]" Ayu then recounted past events. "[color=red]I dunno if you already knew this but after rebuffing The Order's demands one too many times, The Order sent Varjo to forcefully subjugate the island of Shizuyama. Apparently, Lord Hideo knew this but since there's basically no way out of it, he amassed all of his forces in Sanjo Beach where Shizuyama regularly receives its foreign visitors. The Varjans knew the situation too, and happily landed in Sanjo Beach to meet Lord Hideo head-on to crush him and his forces utterly.[/color]"

"[color=red]And crush him, they did. All of Shizuyama's warriors are now either dead, scattered, or captured. And not only are the island's warriors hopelessly outnumbered, they're also specialized in fighting yokai and not fellow humans.[/color]" Ayu added. "[color=red]Right now, you and the rest of the taskforce are Shizuyama's standing army. Besides the people Sir Takeshi is gathering up to rescue his father.[/color]"

"[color=red]As for supplies, we've got enough to feed the entire island for a month. Lady Kyouko made sure to stock this place up when the first Varjan envoys came knocking to give The Order's demands.[/color]" Ayu answered the second question. "[color=red]Still, it isn't infinite. We're gonna have to make some headway soon or else we'll have a problem.[/color]"

"[color=red]For defenses, well, we don't have watchtowers or tall walls in this temple... but we've got you.[/color]" Ayu gestured at all of [u]Relica[/u]. "[color=red]And I don't just mean your personal abilities, but you being a yokai. Varjans signed up on this invasion to fight humans, not yokai. And they know what your kind can do, the kind of strength you guys have, so they think twice before doing anything with you.[/color]" Ayu scratched the back of her head. "[color=red]That's not to say we're wholly safe, they can mount an attack on this temple anytime. It's just that, your presence discourages it.[/color]"

"[color=red]Varjans are probably everywhere in the island by now. There might be isolated outposts or villages resisting the invasion, but it's only a matter of time before the Varjans roll over them. And that's not to mention the Shizuyamans who willingly cooperate with the invaders.[/color]" Ayu addressed the last question. "[color=red]The Varjans' main leader is a powerful Sapphire Prince named Serek'uar. He's probably going to base his operations in Castle Oja in Saikoten, the island's capital. As for fighting back, well, how do I say this...?[/color]"

Ayu spared a moment to think but decided to just lay out her thoughts. "[color=red]Lady Kyouko and her forces could probably stop the Varjan invasion all by themselves. However, you know the... strong attitude of Shizuyama towards yokai. If Lady Kyouko just unleashes her wrath, it might drive the people of this island towards the Varjans. Twisted as that might sound.[/color]" She shrugged. "[color=red]That's why we need a respected Shizuyama individual to vouch for the yokai. We're actually very lucky that we nabbed Lord Takeshi Oja in Sanjo Beach, the son of the island's Lord, and he seems alright with yokai [sub]and he kinda already did one of you[/sub].[/color]"

"[color=red]If we rescue Sir Takeshi's father and the both of them accept the yokai, then Lady Kyouko can go all out and end this whole invasion before anymore people get hurt.[/color]" Ayu finished. "[color=red]I hope my answers are satisfactory. I admit, I didn't expect to be thrusted into this position as Lady Kyouko's head spy in Shizuyama.[/color]"

[color=lime]"... Fantastic."[/color]

Relica's face was some kind of weird mesh of 'I can't beleive what I'm hearing' and 'Are you serious?'. Not that that was too surprising, given what she'd just been told. She placed her face in one of her gloved hands, slowly shaking her noggin from side to side in a exasperated fashion.

[color=lime]"So you've got no army, no defenses, minimal supplies, you're hopelessly outnumbered [i][b]and[/b][/i] you've lost your top military commander [i]and[/i] head of state.[/color] The gremlin summarised. [color=lime]"At this point, your people might just be better off surrendering. Not that I'd ever suggest joining hands with The Order, since they're all terrible."[/color] A bit of her own bias and prejudice showing. [color=lime]"But at this point, you really don't have that many feasible options, lady. Hate to burst your bubble, but your estimate of [i][b]us[/b][/i] is sorta... Welll... Outrageous. If you think every single monster is capable of taking on entire armies on their own, you've been horribly misinfored."[/color] Relica sighed, her shoulders and ears both slouching.

[color=lime]"I dunno how many other you've got in this little resistance your fox-friend gathered, but I can tell ya one thing. There's no way, not even if you had a 100 of [i][b]our kind[/b][/i], that you could beat a force of 80,000, even if they're just regular butt-ass human grunts. We're not gods, y'know?[/color] The little lady stated, looking serious with narrowed eyes at Ayu.

[color=lime]"Which reminds me. Why [i]haven't[/i] you guys joined The Order? I mean, you're all a buncha bigots already, no offense. Doesn't seem to make a lotta sense to not side with the other human supremacists."[/color] Relica asked, raising an eyebrow inquistively.

Ayu frowned at [u]Relica's[/u] outlook on the situation. "[color=red]Well, we don't expect you to fight off the invasion all by yourselves. Like I said, your current objective right now is to secure the trust of the people here so they don't freak when Lady Kyouko and her forces arrive, which I'm pretty will be enough to take on the Varjan invasion forces.[/color]" She replied. "[color=red]Well, that and make sure Shizuyama isn't totally conquered before reinforcements get here as well as-- Okay, I guess you'll probably do much more than that but we're not asking you to do anything extra extraordinary if you get I mean.[/color]"

"[color=red]And sure, you yourself can't actually fight off an army... but the Varjans don't know that.[/color]" Ayu added. "[color=red]These guys would run away from a Holstaur if she lifted a rock.[/color]"

"[color=red]And for the record, I'm not from here. I maybe human but I actually come from another isle. I got rescued by Lady Kyouko from a Varjan pirate raid and I decided to serve her ever since.[/color]" Ayu told [u]Relica[/u]. "[color=red]Secondly, just because two kingdoms don't like yokai doesn't mean they like each other. Lastly, Shizuyama did have friendly relations with The Order. The island sometimes lends warriors to The Order for special missions. However, before the invasion, we've spied Varjan emissaries for The Order coming to Shizuyama several times. We didn't know what the talks exactly were, but we've noticed tensions rising between the parties. Lady Kyouko sensed something was wrong and started assembling the taskforce and before we knew it, a huge Varjan fleet had just arrived on Shizuyama's shores. The rest is history.[/color]"

"[color=red]The situation's pretty complicated, I know.[/color]" Ayu sighed. "[color=red]Anything else on your mind?[/color]"

[color=lime]"No, thanks. I'm good."[/color] Relica said, with a face that clearly said she wasn't at all satisfied or done, but for whatever reason the gremlin decided to either not steal more of Ayu's time, or she'd grown tired of the conversation (or the answers).  [color=lime]"Let's hope that fox-lady of yours is as great as you make her out to be. 'Cuz if not, the Varjans're gonna catch on pretty quick, and then we'll all be pretty much dead."[/color]

The little one turned around and returned to her workbench, stripping down and dismantling another empty crate, placing the spoils in a neat little sorted pile next to it. She looked back over her shoulder once done.

[color=lime]"Oh, but if you're expecting me to make nice with a bunch of humans who hate on [i]our[/i] kind simply because they were taught to do so, then sorry, I'm afraid I'll hafta disappoint. I ain't that big of a person. I'm here to lend a hand fighting and, or, keeping equipment and a certain member of your Taskforce in good condition. You want the people here to start liking monsters, bring in some of those panda-girls from the Mist COntinent, or maybe some kobold-chicks. That'd be a heck more effective than trying to make me put on some plastered, fake-ass friendly smile just to make these prejudiced pricks feel comfortable."[/color] She spun around, leaned forward - chest slightly bouncing - and pointed at Ayu. [color=lime]"Got it, missy?"[/color]

It might've been threatening or looked intimidating... If not for, y'know, the whole miniature size and the fact that Relica had a pair of fuzzy ears on her head... She also seemed to miss the self-inflicted joke about her not being a big person, but it was probably best not to bring that up...

Ayu realized that [u]Relica[/u] was attempting to prove a point, but her cute appearance simply made her adorable. Fortunately, Ayu was also wise enough not to point these out and ruin the moment. "[color=red]Don't worry. You don't have to be nice to the villagers, so long as you help them.[/color]" She assured [u]Relica[/u]. 

"[color=red]Not that you'll have to banter with them, though. They may not exactly 'trust you' trust you right now, but they trust you enough to ask for your help.[/color]" Ayu revealed. "[color=red]Ever since the taskforce set up shop here, the people of Shizuyama were either brave enough, or desperate enough, to come to the yokai for help. And let me tell you, your fellow taskforce members have been helping.[/color]" After a chuckle, she continued. "[color=red]And that's the thing though, helping the people of Shizuyama goes a long way in earning their trust. More than a friendly smile.[/color]"

"[color=red]So have a walk around the temple, listen to some folks. That's all you have to do.[/color]" Ayu finished. "[color=red]Err, I'm not saying to drop your stuff right now, of course. Take your time settling down too, Miss Relica.[/color]"

[color=lime]"If that's all you want me to do, sure. I can help. Not quite convinced doing errands for individual villagers are gonna be enough to uproot and change the mindset of an entire culture, but hey, if that's what you want then that's what you'll get, Miss Esteemed-Monster-Supporter."[/color] Relica responded, a small, fanged smirk on her face.

[color=lime]"I'll go take a walk around and get to kow the local yokels once I'm done. You'd better get back to them important businesses of yours though, wouldn't wanna keep you all to myself for too long."[/color] The gremlin finished, with a slightly bigger smirk.
[/hider]

---

After the exchange with Ayu, [u]Relica[/u] wandered around the temple grounds to get a better feel of the refugees' situation. While some of the villagers eyed her suspiciously, most were too busy helping their fellow refugees or too busy mourning what they have lost. However, there are a few who bowed at her in gratitude, considering [u]Relica[/u] to be part of the taskforce that saved them.

As [u]Relica[/u] walked, she would overhear a conversation between two peasant women.

"[color=f26522]But they have Lord Oja![/color]"
"[color=00a99d]Nobody can break him. Not even the Varjans![/color]"
"[color=f26522]I guess we can hope... Wasn't it Lord Oja who fought off a pirate raid in Port Izumi?[/color]"
"[color=00a99d]Yes! And he escaped the trap that Lord Ichimonji set for him in that bandit island. Lots of people tried to bring him down, and they wound up dead![/color]"
"[color=f26522]Even so, everybody's luck runs out sometime.[/color]"
"[color=00a99d]It's not luck. He is the most cunning Island Lord we've ever had. If he were a little more ambitious, he could have conquered all of the Zipanguese isles.[/color]"
"[color=f26522]Maybe you're right...[/color]"
"[color=00a99d]Mark my words, we haven't seen the last of Lord Oja.[/color]"

[hr]
[center][h3]Terauchi Temple Training Grounds[/h3][/center]
[center][b]HEAVENLY TRAINING[/b][/center]
[center]~ [@The Irish Tree] (LIL), [@Crowvette], [@Restalaan] (GRI), [@Rezod92], [@AzureKnight] (SHI), [@Enkryption] ~[/center]

(Currently in collab)

[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]

[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=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]

[hider=A Time To Heal]
There was a monk by the temple entrance and he immediately spoke as soon as the taskforce member approached.

"Yokai! Will you please help me?"

"I have to get to a hidden survivor camp in the woods, occupied by people who are seriously ill. They need a healer! The area might be overrun with bandits or Varjans, so I need protection."
[/hider]

[hider=The Other Side Of Honor]
A peasant man eating barbecued meat on a stick was startled when the taskforce member approached. It appeared he has news.

"Yokai! You have to tell Lord Takeshi, there is another samurai noble who survived Sanjo Beach. His name is Lord Tonchiki. He's in his abode southeast of here. If you go see him, I'm sure he would join your cause."

"Err, maybe not. I guess you'll need Lord Takeshi himself to convince him."
[/hider]

[center]~~ LEGENDARY TALES ~~[/center]

*Tale commencing*