[center][i]Varjo, once our ally, is now invading our home. They have gained the approval of The Order to conquer Shizuyama. 

They are brutal, relentless... and unstoppable.

We are a hundred warriors, trained from childhood to fight monsters, against an army that contains none.

Today, we will all die for our people.[/i][/center]

[hr]
[center][h1]ISLAND OF SHIZUYAMA[/h1]
[h2]Saikoten Region[/h2]
[h3]Sanjo Area[/h3][/center]

[center]~ [@Riffus Maximus], [@Xaltwind], [@Rune_Alchemist], [@AzureKnight] (KIR, VRA & LAV) ~[/center]

When vision returned to the taskforce's eyes, they found themselves in a clearing inside a forest. In front of them was a [url=https://i.pinimg.com/736x/0d/aa/62/0daa627623cafbd136b280140c825d1d.jpg]bald, fair-skinned man with glowing blue eyes. His thick armor was colored red, but he seemed to be a caster rather than a frontline warrior[/url]. "[color=red]That was... far more exhausting than I ever expected...[/color]" The man panted. "[color=red]Anyway... Welcome to Shizuyama, taskforce. I am... Janus. I am Lady Kyouko's... Please, give me a second to catch my breath...[/color]"

There were two tents in the clearing with a put-out bonfire between them. Most noticeable, however, was that it was already nighttime. "[color=red]As you can see... it is already night despite the spell taking place in the morning.[/color]" Janus remarked. "[color=red]I spent the whole day receiving you from Lady Kyouko's estate. I'll bet it only lasted a second to you, huh?[/color]"

The rustling of the bushes introduced a new figure to the clearing. "[color=wheat]Janus! Are you done-- Oh, looks like you are.[/color]" A grizzled, raspy male voice came from the newcomer, who had the same armor as Janus but colored blue and wore a gold-painted barbute-like helmet over his head. "[color=wheat]The taskforce, I assume? Name's Sidonus and I hope we get along well and I hope I don't have to say that again to a monster in the future.[/color]"

"[color=red]Sidonus.[/color]" Janus interjected before anything developed. "[color=red]Anything from the beach?[/color]"

"[color=wheat]...The Varjans have a ton of boats making landfall. The locals have a thin line to greet 'em.[/color]"

"[color=red]What...?[/color]"

[center]------[/center]

Janus and Sidonus quickly lead the taskforce to a tall cliff, a good vantage point overlooking both the town and the port as well as the beach beside it and the bay waters beyond. And what they saw would likely send chills up the spines of an average person: There were ships of varying sizes floating near the port. Too many to count, several of them having already docked on the seemingly abandoned port and landed on the beach. The vessels were dark and wicked, decorated with bones, skulls and spikes. These were the Varjans, an entire fleet of them ready to take over Shizuyama.

On the hills overlooking the beach and Sanjo Port, a hundred-strong force of Shizuyaman warriors have set up barricades and towers. There were samurai fighters, onmyoji casters, shrine maidens and auxiliaries, all fully-armed and ready for battle, likely the last battle of their lives. They manned the hastily-built wooden walls and towers, but they did not move against the landing Varjans. At least, not yet.

Sanjo Town was not far from the port, yet it was not empty. Civilians were still walking through its streets and the homes still had lights inside, indicating they were occupied. Were they aware of the Varjan fleet poised to strike at their port? Perhaps they were confident in their protectors to repel the invaders. A flattering thought, but the Varjans appeared to outnumber the warriors of Shizuyama fifty-to-one.

[center][b][h3]*BOOM*[/h3][/b][/center]

And then it happened, the port where some of the Varjan ships docked and were unloading troops exploded. A trap from the defenders, taking out at least three Varjan ships and the forces with it. Horns blew, arrows were let loose, the night sky was lit up by the exchange of magical spells and artillery from both sides. As the Shizuyama casters conjured giant fireballs to launch at the Varjan ships, the latter loaded flaming boulders into their catapults and hurled at the island's defenders.

The long beach was still filled with Varjans though from fully-occupied rowboats, but the samurai warriors rode out in their horses to greet them while being supported by shrine maiden archers in the towers. But the Varjans disembarking from the boats were numerous, and the unit of Shizuyaman horsemen was tiny in comparison. The samurai cavalry crashed into the arriving Varjans decisively, but it looked like they were wading into a flood.

As the battle raged, more boats made landfall on the beach. The defenders could not cover the entire stretch so these Varjans met no resistance. Some joined the main fight while a whole vanguard broke off and went straight for Sanjo Town, probably in an attempt to hit the defenders from behind. The fighting had alerted the village, but they had no idea that there was a contingent of Varjans heading their way.

"[color=red]We must aid the warriors of Shizuyama![/color]" Janus declared. "[color=red]No doubt, that members of Clan Oja are with them... but we also cannot abandon the town.[/color]"

"[color=wheat]I'll go and warn the town, maybe have some of the taskforce with me. You take the rest and help the warriors.[/color]" Sidonus suggested.

"[color=red]Split up? When we are already few?[/color]"

"[color=wheat]We've got a pirate Dragon, a Shoggoth, let me emphasize; [b]a Shoggoth[/b], a Baphomet who weirdly has a chest and I don't even know what she's supposed to be.[/color]" The last one pertained to [u]Lavinia[/u]. "[color=wheat]We also have a barely-dressed Werecat and some Succubus noble, I guess. I think we'll be fine.[/color]" Sidonus finished.

Janus sighed at the brazenness, and looked to the taskforce. "[color=red]What say you, taskforce? Shall we split up?[/color]"