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[hr][center][b]Lost at Sea[/b][/center][hr]

[center]🎼[url=https://youtu.be/L0kiu4MqJnU]A Somber Blade, A Prisoner at Sea[/url]🎼[/center]

[i]Hama Island[/i]: [@PaulHaynek][@Enkryption][@The Irish Tree][hr]

[color=royalblue]"Let's help the man, then. We can't have those mongrels wreaking havoc wherever they please.[/color] Shizuka said, as he boarded the vessel with the orders and had Ian rowed them to the island. Upon arrival, he immediately noticed that the island was little more than a meek piece of land with not but a few jagged rocks and some unimpressive trees. Didn't take them long to spot the man unskillfully swinging a sword at a few practice dummies. The man yelped in fear as he noticed the party coming up to him, the yokai in particular. 

[color=royalblue]"Be at peace, it is as the man says, the yokai are not your enemy.[/color] Shizuka said, confirming Ian's words. He listened with the others as the man told them his tale, apparently his daughter had been captured by the Varjans and taken to their anchored ships. They sat on the sea a little way from the shore; The man pointed toward the ship that had its sails down. 

Shizuka turned to Lili as she volunteered a plan to the party: with her small size she would sneak onto the ship and attempt to scout ahead, letting the others know when to come about and take the enemy by surprise. Admittedly, it sounded like a good plan. [color=royalblue]"Fortunate that a fog pervades this area.[/color] He said to himself. [color=royalblue]"Lili-chan, you can go ahead with your plan. But! The moment things start to look grim, you head back to us asap. One more thing, that this with you."[/color] Shizuka began to gather a bit of the fog around them, then blew some of it around Liliana. She would find it stuck to her, and followed her wherever she went. [color=royalblue]"This fog is special, it'll make you appear like a phantom to the crewmen and make you harder to hit. Hopefully, it won't come to that, but just in case..."[/color] One could never be too careful in these situations. 

[color=royalblue]"Off you go, we'll head to the ships as soon as you give the signal."[/color]

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[i]Terauchi Temple[/i]: [sup][@PaulHaynek] [@Hammerman] [@Restalaan] [@Crowvette] [@Nakushita] [@Rezod92][/sup][hr]

Yurine would find that her herbs worked quite well. Himani was now resting with a peaceful expression on her face. Atsuha felt that it was fine to trust the gravekeeper, having promised to aid them despite her feelings toward their kind. This put her mind more at ease as she and her lover joined the others for the meeting. 

Aya informed them that apparently Lady Kyouko has amassed an entire fleet of troops in order to assist in combating the Varjans. However, due to the immense size of the fleet, they would need a bay in order to dock their troops at. In particular, the one they needed to aim for was Komatsu Bay. Problem was, it was heavily fortified, and attempted to attack it head-on was tantamount to suicide. [color=9e0b0f]"Indeed, no way in hell I'm participating in any operation like that without some type of insurance."[/color] She flatly stated. 

She perked up a bit at Ayu mentioned they have a confidant working on their behalf, who apparently shared the same name as their captain. However, it appeared that he was a double agent who also assisted the Varjans on the side. 

[color=9e0b0f]"Ayu, dearie, how long before this fellow of yours sells us outright and leaves to hang as pickings for those scoundrels?"[/color] Atsuha said. [color=9e0b0f]"Your friend, [i]Shizuka[/i], seems like the type to do anything for a few measly coin, not at all like our beloved commander. In our current position, the Varjan army can certainly offer a hell of alot more than we can."[/color] 

She folded her arms, rather disappointed in the current state of events. While Hinami was doing better, it seemed that more problems arose in spite of it. 

[color=9e0b0f]"He must owe you quite the favor if you're so certain that he'll aid us despite everything..."[/color]