[center][h2]Akamagaseki[/h2]
[h3]Otomo Port[/h3][/center]

[center]~ [@Rezod92], [@The Irish Tree] (MAT) ~[/center]

[u]Zeka[/u] and [u]Matsuri[/u] arrived at the location where they were told Lady Kyouko was currently residing, the port of Otomo in Akamagaseki island. The morning sun illuminated the port, which was very clearly preparing for battle if not outright war. Huge ships were docked while crates full of weapons and supplies littered the corners as sailors, soldiers and other staff took stock of them and loaded them to the vessels.

"[color=aqua]Well, hello there.[/color]" A gentle, female voice greeted the two monsters from behind. It was a beautiful Ryu with bluish hair and golden eyes: Lady Kyouko herself. "[color=aqua]Ah, Miss Zeka Willows. I'm glad that you have arrived. A little late, if I am to be honest, but better late than never. My taskforce will need any help they can get.[/color]"

"[color=aqua]Hmm?[/color]" Lady Kyouko turned to [u]Matsuri[/u]. "[color=aqua]And who might you be, little one?[/color]"

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

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

When [u]Umami[/u] and [u]Ripcord[/u] took off in search of the kitchen without even responding to the greetings, Ayu pinched the bridge of her nose. "[color=limegreen]And I requested Lady Ayu not to send weirdoes...[/color]"

"Where are they going?" Takeshi watched the sisters leave. He would have chased after them to make sure they didn't cause trouble... if this was part of his clan's domain. The young lord remembered this temple was but a front for yokai spies.

[quote=Vivian][color=7bcdc8][b]"Correct me if I'm wrong, but this place seems rather...ill-fit to be a base for a war,"[/b][/color][/quote]

"[color=limegreen]That's because it's not a base for war.[/color]" Ayu returned to her true, dry-witted self. "[color=limegreen]This is a base for Lady Kyouko's spies masquerading as a temple. So no, we don't have armories filled with weapons or tall walls and watchtowers.[/color]" She finished. "[color=limegreen]Although, if what Lord Takeshi is true, that the Shizuyaman army was destroyed just recently, then we could certainly use those right about now.[/color]"

"It goes against my code to do this but... I must ask for your aid, yokai." Takeshi reluctantly spoke up. "Without an ally nearby to help us, we all knew this Varjan invasion would be the end of us. But now that you're here, we can have a chance to drive the Varjans off Shizuyama. It's a big risk, but I'm choosing to put my trust in you. For now, at least."

"There are people I know who weren't on the beach. Strong, capable warriors. If they're still alive, we can gather them to our side then we'll have a force large enough to take on a Varjan warband." The young lord explained. "If they are being smart which I'm sure they are, they'll be hiding here in Onrai. We'll need to comb the region for their whereabouts, and perhaps we can establish a foothold somewhere in Shizuyama."

"[color=limegreen]I advise taking a major port, my lord.[/color]" Ayu suggested. "[color=limegreen]With a friendly dock, Lady Kyouko can land some of her troops here to serve as our reinforcements. Not to mention, needed supplies like food and medicine.[/color]" The spymaster said. "[color=limegreen]And don't worry about her fleet's power, my lord. I assure she and her forces are capable of taking on the Varjan armada. Not a big fan of any kind of losses, though...[/color]"

Takeshi sighed deeply. This was unraveling his world faster than he thought. "...Very well. We'll do that." The young lord replied. "Oh, I almost forgot..."

The young lord addressed the taskforce members present. "Almost all of you are yokai so at best, my friends won't listen to you and at worst, they'll try to kill you." Takeshi closed his eyes and cupped his chin for a moment before letting out a deep sigh. "...Tell them that I sent you and that I couldn't come because I was still dressed up as a miko. They'll know what that means and should be all ears... I hope."

[hider=Nobutada, Unwavering Will]
"There's a monastery east of here called Fung Temple.

There's a monk there named Nobutada. He's one of the most sturdiest people I know, able to weather blows that could shatter boulders. When my father called for the monks of Fung Temple, I didn't see Nobutada among them. If he's still alive, he'll be in the monastery and he can lend us his aid."
[/hider]

[hider=Sorae, Gentle Protector]
"Sorae's skill with the naginata is fearsome and second to none. She and her clan was summoned to Sanjo Beach, but never appeared. We should head to their estate in the west and find out what happened to them and, if possible, recruit them to our cause."
[/hider]

[hider=Takamori, Blessed Sight]
"Takamori is a warrior whose eyes allow him to predict his opponent's next moves. An ability we could have used in Sanjo Beach if he showed up... but maybe it was good that he didn't or else we might have lost him too.

He has an archery dojo to the southwest. We can start looking for him there. We can certainly need his unique ability."
[/hider]

[hider=Kageho, Innocent Shadow]
"Kageho is a shinobi who was supposed to attempt to sneak through the Varjan blockade alongside others. The last wave of shinobi that we could send. I... ordered them not to go anymore, behind my father's back, since it would have been a waste and the Varjans were upon us. It was too late to call for reinforcements from the other islands.

Still, I expected her to show up in Sanjo Beach with the other shinobi. But they didn't. Anyway, their hideout should be around here somewhere. Try looking for any suspicious clearings in the forests around here. We can use their help."
[/hider]

[hider=Kazenosuke, Dancing Blade]
"Kazenosuke could deflect any attack with his spinning blade, and deliver slashes faster than the eye could see. I have no idea why he couldn't make it to Sanjo Beach. I know he's a ronin, but he still should have heeded my father.

Well, his house is near Terauchi Temple. Not very near, but just follow the river near the temple and we'll find his home and then we can ask for his help."
[/hider]

[hider=Yurine, Death Keeper]
"Yurine has taken care of Clan Oja for as long as I can remember. Despite being a servant, I know she can swing her masakari axe pretty hard. I've little idea of her past but I know it involves tending cemeteries.

She should be in Castle Oja but my father sent her to Onrai to begin enacting some way to protect the graves from being desecrated by the invaders. I know of a famous cemetery south of Terauchi Temple. We can begin looking for her there and she'll surely help us."
[/hider]

[hider=Kikyo, Ever Faithful]
"My childhood friend Kikyo was on an anti-yokai mission before all of this. I... was kind of glad she couldn't be on the beach and hoped that maybe she'll find a way to escape and live a full life elsewhere. But I know she would never do that.

If she's coming back, she would definitely head for Port Wadatsumi in the southeast. We should find her before she does anything... drastic."
[/hider]

"I, myself, will be looking for Kikyo. She's the last of the exiled Kinkakuji Clan." Takeshi finished. "And... she's someone special to me. I'd go alone, but I suppose any of you can tag along."

"[color=limegreen]And if I may add, yokai...[/color]" Ayu stepped in. "[color=limegreen]It'll also be a huge step if you helped the locals with their problems. This island doesn't trust you right now and we'll need their trust if we want to really help them.[/color]"

[center]-[/center]
[center]~ [@Enkryption] (UMI & RCD) ~[/center]

The monks and refugees moved out of the way as [u]Umami[/u] and [u]Ripcord[/u] made their way to the temple's kitchen. Following the scent of rice, they find the temple's kitchen: A sizeable wooden shack with a cooking area that also functions as a storage space judging from the sacks and barrels of rice over to the side.

"[color=red]You don't look like locals. Are you from the taskforce?[/color]" A male voice greeted the sisters from behind. "[color=red]Hungry? I hope you like rice since I'm afraid recent events will limit the variety of dishes for the foreseeable future.[/color]"

[url=https://i.pinimg.com/736x/0d/aa/62/0daa627623cafbd136b280140c825d1d.jpg]The man was bald with glowing light blue eyes[/url]. However, it likely stood out to [u]Umami[/u] and [u]Ripcord[/u] that he was wearing armor very reminiscent of their former Varjan masters.

[hr]
[hr]
[hr]

[center]~~ TALES OF SHIZUYAMA ~~[/center]

[hider=Honey Trap]
There was a villager woman, crying alone near a large tree within Terauchi Temple.

"Yokai, could I speak with you? A group of bandits is terrorizing Sanjo. They slaughtered my whole family, like animals!

They were killed at our home, near a river. I am Saki, please avenge my family and stop those bandits."
[/hider]

[hider=No Place Like Home]
An upset woman noticed the taskforce member approaching.

"As if losing our homes wasn't bad enough, we have to see Varjans in them as well.

They took a home nearby a few days ago. The man who lived there won't leave the area. He keeps begging for help."
[/hider]

[hider=Bottoms Up]
A peasant man warming his hands on a bonfire noticed the taskforce member passing by.

"Yokai, you must do something! It's Ayane's sake brewery in Imahama. That brewery is the pride of Shizuyama, but soon there will be none left. The Varjans are taking it by force."
[/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 a shrine priestess who wasn't present in Sanjo Beach."

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