[center]
"[color=lavender]Where's your shirt, and what's with the cows?[/color]"

"It's the work of the yokai taskforce... provoked by your men."

"[color=lavender]...[/color]"

"Kikyo, I don't want to fight the people I'm supposed to be defending."

"[color=lavender]...Forgive me, milord. I should've kept a closer eye on them, but--[/color]"

"I know that I am defiling Shizuyama's tradition by working with the yokai, and I am willing to accept punishment for it."

"But we cannot be divided right now. Or else, we [b]will[/b] lose Shizuyama one way or another. Is that clear?"

"[color=lavender]I understand...[/color]"
[/center]

[hr]
[hr]
[center][h3]Shizuyama Wilderness[/h3][/center]
[center][b]A TIME TO HEAL[/b][/center]
[center]~ [@Xaltwind], [@Rezod92], [@The Irish Tree] (EUL) ~[/center]

[quote=Relica Rune Nox-Umbra][color=lime]"Why not regale the boy with tales of your romantic exploits, Curry?"[/color][/quote]

[quote=Kerry Maros][color=fff79a]"Well, there was that one time back in Grelden when you and I were on 24 hour outpost duty, we got bored one night, started having drinks, one fun lead to another and then we had some really steamy se- A-A-A-A-Anyway, this is no place t-to discuss such things, d-d-don't you think!? H-H-Hey, kid!? You said shared those shrooms with another f-family, right!? How 'bout I go check on them real q-quick!? G-Gotta see how much this sickness is a-affecting the village, r-right!?"[/color][/quote]

"[color=00a651]W-Wait--![/color]" The boy stammered but [u]Kerry[/u] was already gone. With his jaw still open, he turned to [u]Relica[/u]. "[color=00a651]I-I had no idea the two of you were together.[/color]" He jumped to the conclusion.

"[color=00a651]How long have you two been together? Where did you two meet?[/color]" The boy started questions, powering through the pain just to know these juicy details. "[color=00a651]How will you two have children? Err, sorry. I haven't even asked if you two are interested in children.[/color]" 

It was a good thing neither the monk nor the mother were here to hear all of this, and only [u]Eula[/u] and the boy. Otherwise, the 'news' may spread faster than either [u]Relica[/u] and [u]Kerry[/u] could explain.

[center]-[/center]

[center]~ [@Rezod92] ~[/center]

Walking to the nearest house and inquiring, the sliding doors opened and [u]Kerry[/u] was met with a boy younger than their patient wearing a yellow kimono top. The boy gasped at the sight of the Hornet and was speechless for a moment before an older voiced called from the inside. "Jin! Who is it?"

"It's a-- it's a yokai, father." The boy named Jin replied. "I-I don't know what she wants..."

"I know the monk says good things about them, but we should still be wary." The father declared. "Just tell her to go away."

"I-I'm sorry, madam yokai." The young Jin bowed. "But I'm afraid we can't help with whatever you need."

[hr]
[center][h3]Kazenosuke's House[/h3][/center]
[center][b]KAZENOSUKE, DANCING BLADE[/b][/center]
[center]~ [@AzureKnight] (SHI), [@Crowvette], [@Nakushita] ~[/center]

Kazenosuke watched his taskforce opponent closely. His brow raised when [u]Shizuka[/u] disappeared into three images of himself. The dancing swordsman was sure his technique could parry all three attacks, and that was assuming all three attacks were real. However, the plan changed when he saw [u]Io[/u] cast a spell beam aimed at him.

Trusting his instincts, Kazenosuke stopped spinning his blade and brought his scabbard up to block the beam. His scabbard froze instantly and the sudden drop in temperature made him drop it, shattering into a thousand pieces upon hitting the ground. But this left him open and all three images of the azure swordsman descended upon him, where all three strikes hit. Kazenosuke tried to block, but it was late and futile.

The dancing swordsman reeled, blood dripping on his clothes. He stumbled to his abode, his back against the wall. "[color=indianred]You... You think this is over?[/color]" He muttered before raising his sword but not doing the signature spin. "[color=indianred]I'm still standing, don't you see?[/color]"

[hr]
[center][h3]Fukami Port[/h3][/center]
[center][b]LOST AT SEA[/b][/center]
[center]~ [@Enkryption] ~[/center]

[u]Alice[/u] arrived at Fukami Port, searching for a vessel that would take her to Hama Island. Her tall physique and the arm infested with a Cursed Sword made it clear that she was no human, making the villagers hide in their homes at her arrival. Quite unfortunate, until a male voice called out to her.

"Yooo! Welcome to Fukami Port, madam monster!" A strange individual emerged from one of the houses. He appeared to be a western knight, so not someone from Shizuyama. [url=https://i.redd.it/p5pxk8yl6wa91.jpg]But that was not the strangest part, his armor seem to be painted in a plethora of bright colors. From helm to boots, he radiated light like a clear rainbow in a drizzle[/url]. One could imagine this man not needing to put effort to get noticed.

"Sorry, the people here are pretty suspicious of foreigners. Especially when an entire fleet of foreigners are besieging their island home." The man explained. "Still, they're good people and I'm sure they'll help out a good ol' taskforce member repel these dastardly Varjans." He continued with exaggerated arm movements to help convince [u]Alice[/u].

"So, what do you need? Just let your Ian onii-chan know."

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

[center]~ [@Hammerman], [@Restalaan] (SKA & GRI), [@AzureKnight] (HIN & ATS), [@The Irish Tree] (LIL) ~[/center]

[u]Alice[/u] was seen heading out pretty quickly wearing a peasant's dress. To where, no one knew. Presumably she was on her way to fulfill another request.

[quote=Atsuha Hangai][color=9e0b0f]"I believe Takeshi-san and Kikyo-san were discussing something in private."[/color][/quote]

"[color=red]Oh, I see.[/color]" Ayu replied, but took notice of [u]Atsuha's[/u] downtrodden expression and just noticed the unconscious [u]Hinami[/u]. "[color=red]Oh gods, what happened to Madam Hinami?![/color]" She exclaimed. "[color=red]Does she need help?! I have medicinal herbs--[/color]"

"[color=pink]She started attacking indiscrimately while she was rescuing me and Takeshi from Shizuyaman traitors.[/color]" Yurine came back after hearing Ayu's loud voice. "[color=pink]Her spider sister came to me specifically to see if I can help with her berserker rage. All I can do for her is put her in a relaxed state where her madness can be dealt inside her head.[/color]"

"[color=red]Ohhh! Thank you very much, Lady Yurine![/color]" Ayu bowed.

"[color=pink]The fighting and the walking has take a toll on these old bones.[/color]" Yurine told [u]Atsuha[/u]. "[color=pink]But I have the necessary ingredients so we can begin immediately if it is urgent.[/color]"

[hr]
[hr]
[hr]

[center]~~ TAKESHI'S JOURNEY ~~[/center]

*Finish 'Pre-Emptive Strike' to unlock next tale*

[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=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]

[hider=Shizuyama's Freedom]
A villager sitting on some stone steps in the temple stood up when the taskforce member approached. "Yokai, I've heard of a small resistance group gathering in the Imahama Area. I believe they're headed by that shrine priestess that started a fight here not too long ago."

"They're recruiting farmers and fishermen to their cause. Brave, but it'll be dangerous if they're not trained."
[/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]