[center][i]"[color=royalblue]That was a good spar, my son. But before we eat, I have one last question...[/color] [color=royalblue]For generations, our clan has lived by a code. Tell me the virtues that guide us.[/color]" "L-Loyalty to our lord, control over our emotions and... Honor, to fight bravely and uphold the legacy of Clan Oja." "[color=royalblue]Those are the words in inscriptions and banners. What does 'honor' mean to you?[/color]" "I guess... protecting people. The ones who can't fight for themselves." "[color=royalblue]You have a good heart. But first, we must show everyone that we serve our island with courage, integrity and self-control. I know it's not easy, Takeshi. It's never easy, but we must set an example for our people. By remaining true to our code... and to ourselves.[/color]" "[color=royalblue]That, is the meaning of honor.[/color]" [/i][/center] [hr] [center][h3]Janus' Campsite[/h3][/center] [center]~ [@Vox Angelis], [@Xaltwind] (COCO & GWN) ~[/center] Janus bowed his head at [u]Nyla[/u] before she left. "[color=red]It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Nyla. And I'm sure Lady Kyouko will be elated that her most faithful servant has saved Lord Oja.[/color]" [quote=Coco Hapaptet][color=gold]"So, tell me Jan-Jan. How'd it go on the beach? Didja find some of those Owa-people and bring'em back? We did what we could in the town, your [i]brother[/i] stayed behind to look for that Fire-Princess though, so I can't fill you in on anything about him. Sorry, hun'."[/color][/quote] "[color=red]I see.[/color]" Janus replied, having a bad feeling for the others' fates. "[color=red]You and the Baphomet have done well. I'm sure those you saved will remember you.[/color]" "[color=red]But indeed, we have found the son of Lord Hideo Oja. The heir to this island. Thank the gods that we found him alive and is under the care of Miss Nyla. Although, I do hope the maid tries nothing strange...[/color]" He continued. "[color=red]Anyway, to have him safe with us will be very instrumental in Lady Kyouko's plans. We must let her know immediately.[/color]" [quote=Stella Maria Esperanza][color=6ecff6]"Not that I question boss-lady's plans, but what good is the heir of the clan if the whole island falls to the Varjans? Prospect don't look too good, seein' how the defenses fell on the beach."[/color][/quote] "[color=red]A good question, Dragon.[/color]" Janus responded. "[color=red]As you know, the island of Shizuyama is unfriendly to monsters such as yourselves. However, for reasons unknown even to me, Lady Kyouko seeks to aid the island as much as she possibly could. I'm not sure if you've seen it but our Ryu employer has been amassing a force to take on the Varjan armada and save the island.[/color]" "[color=red]However, that is only possible if the people of Shizuyama accept her help. Should Lady Kyouko attack recklessly, she fears that her daring rescue could be seen as an invasion too and drive the island's people to Varjo's embrace.[/color]" Janus continued. "[color=red]Lady Kyouko wishes for someone native to vouch for us. And who could be better than the future Island Lord?[/color]" [quote=Stella Maria Esperanza][color=6ecff6]"So what's the plan now, cap'n? I'm not against fightin' off the invasion, if that's what we're here for, but I reckon we'll need to play our cards right for this."[/color][/quote] "[color=red]We will head first to Terauchi Temple in the Onrai region. The temple is the base of operations for Lady Kyouko's human spies in the island, me included. We also have the necessary items there to contact Lady Kyouko.[/color]" Janus finished. "[color=red]And we can also rest there. I'm sure everyone needs one after what just happened.[/color]" "[color=red]But before we leave, let me look for Sidonus and the girl in red. I do not believe she's a Succubus as Sidonus claims...[/color]" Janus said. "[color=red]I will focus my mind to sense their energy signatures in the village. I will need to be alone in the woods, and you all can take a moment to catch your breaths.[/color]" [center]~ [@Rune_Alchemist] ~[/center] Takeshi was roused awake by a... ticklish feeling? A feeling he had not experienced for a long time. His instincts as a warrior forced him awake, his eyes flickering open to behold what exactly was tickling him. He saw first the clearly inhuman, but also inhumanely beautiful, visage of [u]Nyla[/u]. For a moment, Takeshi was entranced by the Shoggoth's eyes, subconsciously remembering his near-death in the beach, but his reason fully returned and he realized that he was lying upon a dangerous, eldritch Shoggoth's lap! And the tickling feelings were from her tentacles exploring his body! Takeshi quickly stumbled up to get away from [u]Nyla[/u] and her tentacles, wiping away the slime from his body if there were any. His eyes were wide and alert, but he said nothing to his savior. His thoughts were a mess with all sorts of questions. But now was not the time to be indecisive, a Shoggoth was before him! Right now, all he had was his broken armor and no sword. Even if he had his sword, to challenge a Shoggoth without much preparation was tantamount to surrender. No, he had to flee. So flee, Takeshi did, exiting the tent... [center]~ [@Vox Angelis], [@AzureKnight] (KIR & LAV), [@Rune_Alchemist], [@Xaltwind] (COCO & GWN) ~[/center] Several moments after Janus left for a secluded area in the adjacent forest, a young man stumbled out of the tent [u]Nyla[/u] went in with the rescued Lord Oja. Since the young man was clearly not [u]Nyla[/u], the choices were narrowed down. Takeshi stopped in his tracks upon seeing a woman with long, sea-blue hair, black trousers and a top that was open to show off just enough skin to clearly tease or seduce males. Bur her most notable features were her sea-blue horns, reptilian ears and hands, the latter of which were webbed. Clearly some sort of Dragon, Takeshi guessed. The reptilian yokai was loading gunpowder into her weapons. And nearby, a half-naked and well-endowed woman with dark hair and the tail and ears of a cat was embracing and patting the head of an also half-naked and also well-endowed girl with white hair and the horns of a goat. Some sort of cat yokai and a Baphomet, Takeshi figured. Although, he was sure Baphomets do not... sport anything in their chest area. The young lord realized he was in a camp of yokai, unarmed and practically defenseless, and he even sensed that there were more of them that he has not seen yet, the presences of [u]Kirei[/u] and [u]Lavinia[/u]. And the ones before him were not just any yokai, these races were powerful whose threat rivaled that of the Shoggoth back in the tent. What happened that he was captured by yokai? How did they even get to the island? And if he was captured, why was he not bound or caged? He knew he had to escape. Escape to where, when the island is lost? That didn't matter right now. Grabbing a pretty large stick from the ground, the young lord pointed the barely-a-weapon at the yokai. "Stay back! I'm warning you!" He yelled at [u]Stella[/u], [u]Coco[/u] and [u]Gwen[/u].