[center][h3]Janus' Campsite[/h3][/center]

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

[quote=Vară Riemsianne][color=firebrick]”Um, Sir Janus? I'm sorry, about Sidonus. He...he seemed like a good man. I...I promise to do everything I can to ensure that his death isn't in vain!”[/color][/quote]

Janus smiled at the Flame Demon. "[color=red]I'm sure you will, madam.[/color]"

"[color=red]But please, do not beat yourself up too much about his death. He, as much as I, have sworn to uphold justice and to battle the enemies of mankind with our lives. Specifically your kind, madam.[/color]" The spellcaster casually revealed. "[color=red]But... complications happened and now those who we once called brothers are now our enemies, and those who we swore to be our eternal enemies are now our allies.[/color]"

"[color=red]All I'm saying is, Sidonus was ready to die. He, and I suppose I, had been ready to die for a very long time. So please, no need for regrets. Simply honor him by helping this beleaguered island.[/color]" Janus finished.

[quote=N'ylaatothk][color=a187be]"Thank you, young master though I assure you I can walk just fine."[/color][/quote]

"I'm sure you can, but we're on a tight schedule here so unless you're faster than my horse..." Takeshi pulled [u]Nyla[/u] up with surprising strength and the Shoggoth was embarked on the horse behind his main rider. "Now, hold on tight."

[quote=Kirei Kannazuki][color=beige]"Well, thankfully I do. One of you ladies could ride with me, although that would still leave one of you having to ride in that wagon... Unless Janus doesn't mind having a riding partner?"[/color][/quote]

"[color=red]I'm afraid I'll need both horses to pull the cart, Sir Kirei.[/color]" Janus replied. "[color=red]Forgive me, but we have no time to bicker about this. We need to get to Terauchi Temple as soon as possible. So hop on and let's get moving.[/color]"

The taskforce group then set out, finding a road to follow all the way to the Onrai region.

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[center][h1]Act 1: Will Of The Oja[/h1][/center]
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[center][h2]Akamagaseki[/h2]
[h3]Lady Kyouko's Estate[/h3][/center]

[center]~ [@Enkryption] (UMI & RCD), [@The Irish Tree] ~[/center]

[quote=Ripcord Claremont]"[color=008000]As long as you are trustworthy as our Boss, we have no issue with following your lead, That said, that courtesy only falls to you, Boss. This prissy walking ice cream cone is another matter.[/color]"[/quote]

[quote=Umami Claremont]"[color=E97451][i]Grrr...[/i][/color][color=E97451]Yeah! We follow you, Boss! But, anyone else... they ain't made no bones or broke bread with us yet...[/color]"[/quote]

The Ryu sighed. "[color=aqua]...As long as you serve the members of Clan Oja and don't cause trouble for them or the mission, then I suppose you need not like your teammates.[/color]" Lady Kyouko then smiled at them.. "[color=aqua]And never forget, keep yourselves alive in all this. Okay?[/color]"

[quote=Vivian][color=7bcdc8][b]"I should also mention, Lady Kyouko, we Glacies feed off of heat. Particularly, that of living things. Would you object to me "feeding" off of Varjans or bandits while I serve under you? I could just drain fire, but that's nowhere near as filling."[/b][/color][/quote]

"[color=aqua]I would be fine with it if your 'feeding' did not leave men with feelings of loneliness, feelings they might take out on the people of Shizuyama.[/color]" Lady Kyouko responded. "[color=aqua]If need be, there is a man amongst the taskforce whom I'm sure will be able you out in that regard. Although, the best scenario would be if you find a... special someone to help you.[/color]" The Ryu had a serious look when she spoke, but finished with a wink.

"[color=aqua]Well then, I guess we're all ready. Follow me.[/color]" Lady Kyouko then led the trio atop the stone platform. "[color=aqua]I will be teleporting you all to Terauchi Temple in Shizuyama. That's the base of operations of my human spies there. The head spy is named Ayu, a dependable girl if a bit irritable.[/color]" The Ryu briefed the outgoing group. "[color=aqua]Your job is to rendezvous with the rest of the taskforce. They are technically led by Kirei Kannazuki and should be joined by a spellcaster named Janus. Ayu can explain the finer details to you. Just ask.[/color]"

The [u]Claremont[/u] sisters and [u]Vivian[/u] stood on the middle of the platform. Lady Kyouko then closed her eyes and clasped her hands together. The engraved markings on the platform began to glow, and the visions of the monsters were soon engulfed by a white light.

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

[center]~ [@Rune_Alchemist], [@AzureKnight] (KIR, VRA & LAV), [@Enkryption] (UMI & RCD), [@The Irish Tree] ~[/center]

Takeshi and his group rode for Terauchi Temple in the Onrai region from Saikoten. The latter region's wide, urban roads soon gave way to the plain dirt roads of the former. They did not encounter anything of note in the road, merely peasant travelers who only caught a glimpse of the speeding taskforce. Some noticed that passing group wasn't local, but their minds were too occupied by the coming Varjan invasion to investigate further.

Soon, the taskforce finally reached Terauchi Temple: a sizeable temple consisting of multiple pagodas surrounded by trees with yellow leaves. A stone stairwell needed to be ascended to reach the temple grounds. "[color=red]Here is where we must part temporarily, taskforce.[/color]" Janus said, allowing the members on his cart a moment disembark. "[color=red]I will go and hide this cart and join you later. Up the stairs is Terauchi Temple. Take Lord Takeshi and meet with a black-haired girl in green clothes. That would be Ayu.[/color]"

After Janus left with the cart, the taskforce and Takeshi entered the temple grounds. Terauchi Temple seemed your normal temple but the monks inside were helping peasants unload their belongings in some of the corners. This place of peace clearly disturbed by outside forces.

"[color=green]Hey, you! You're the taskforce, right? Must be. There hasn't been a yokai in Shizuyama until you guys.[/color]" [url=https://i.imgur.com/oIp1dIY.png]A woman with long, black hair and green clothes[/url] approached. "[color=green]Hello, nice to meet you, I'm Ayu. Now then, peasants calling themselves refugees have been coming from Saikoten. What's the deal with that? Have the Varjans invaded or something?[/color]" Ayu then noticed the black-armored human amongst the taskforce. "[color=green]L-Lord Takeshi Oja?[/color]"

"That would be me." Takeshi nodded. "And yes, the Varjans have invaded and defeated our army assembled in Sanjo Beach. The yokai taskforce rescued me from the battle... and I was told that Terauchi Temple was the base for humans spying for yokai. Do you mind telling me about that?"

"[color=green]Oh, uhh...[/color]" Ayu scratched the back of her head, clearly thinking it was a bother by the son of the Island Lord red-handed. "[color=green]Well, that's all true... but I assure you, Lord Takeshi, we are your allies. Especially against the Varjans.[/color]" The head spy then wracked her brain for something else to tell the young lord. "[color=green]We-We even have a way to get reinforcements to help us. Follow me![/color]"

Ayu then showed Takeshi and the taskforce one of the seemingly unremarkable pagodas in the temple. "[color=green]This pagoda has a magic circle that can teleport in people Lady Kyouko sends us. You know, reinforcements.[/color]" A bright, white light then flashed inside the building. "[color=green]Oh, speak of the devil...[/color]"

When the visions of [u]Vivian[/u] and the [u]Claremont[/u] sisters returned, they found themselves in an empty wooden chamber with four pillars supporting the ceiling. On one side of the room was a simple shrine with candles and nondescript statues. On the opposite side were a set of sliding doors that were the only exit of the chamber.

Exiting the room, the newcomer monsters were greeted by a sight of a Zipanguese temple grounds, presumably Terauchi Temple. In front of them were a group of monsters and humans with the latter being two males and one female. "[color=green]Hey there! You all must be sent by Lady Kyouko. Welcome to Shizuyama and come say hello to Takeshi Oja, son and heir to the Island Lord, as well as the rest of the taskforce.[/color]" Ayu greeted the newcomers with forced enthusiasm.

"Uhh, hi?" The young lord awkwardly waved.