[center][h2]Akamagaseki[/h2] [h3]Lady Kyouko's Estate[/h3][/center] [center]~ [@Rezod92], [@The Irish Tree] (MAT) ~[/center] [quote=Zeka Willows][color=00aeef]"Nah, nah. If you need even a thief's help, then who am I to turn you down? Hopefully, we can resolve these issues before any actual fighting starts..."[/color][/quote] "[color=aqua]That makes two of us.[/color]" Lady Kyouko replied. [quote=Matsuri Okita][color=fdc68a][b]"And...I wanted to repay the help you gave him a long time ago. If he hadn't known then...that Inari that saved me might have never been able to help. Please Lady Kyouko, let me fight! Or even just cook and clean...those people need help, and even an amateur fox is better than nothing."[/b][/color][/quote] The Ryu closed her eyes and let out a deep sigh. "[color=aqua]I'm not sure where your faith in your father being alright despite not knowing where he is comes from, but I don't think I can change your mind in this issue. And I suppose you are old enough to make your own decisions. Very well, I shall send you to Shizuyama as well.[/color]" "[color=aqua]Now then, follow me, girls.[/color]" Lady Kyouko then led [u]Zeka[/u] and [u]Matsuri[/u] into her estate then into the courtyard, where a large stone platform lay. The platform had engravings on it, marking a reusable magic circle. "[color=aqua]Last warning, girls. The island of Shizuyama is anti-monster, in fact that stance made them allies with Varjo and The Order for a long time. Despite their deteriorating relationship, the people of Shizuyama will regard you with suspicion and fear. But please, they're good people. Just be patient with them.[/color]" The Ryu then hurriedly added. "[color=aqua]Err, best if you keep your ancestry secret, Miss Matsuri. Shizuyama does not... take kindly to 'traitors', if you know what I mean.[/color]" "[color=aqua]Alright, stand in the middle and I will teleport you to Terauchi Temple in Shizuyama. That's the home base of my operatives there. Meet up with them and join the taskforce I've already sent there. Oh, and please assist the Oja Clan as much as you can.[/color]" With [u]Matsuri[/u] and [u]Zeka[/u] in the middle of the platform, Lady Kyouko clapped her hands together and glowed with magical energy. The engravings on the platform also glowed. White light then enveloped the two monsters' visions. [hr] [center][h3]Shizuyama Wilderness[/h3][/center] [center][b]THE CODE OF SHIZUYAMA[/b][/center] [center]~ [@Rune_Alchemist], [@AzureKnight] (KIR) ~[/center] [quote=Kirei Kannazuki][color=beige]"But, she didn't really explain [i]why[/i] it is that these lands despise the yokai so much. Was there some type of past war or enslavement? I mean, I figured after the Great Change, that would cause at least some changes in the social systems here. Do the people here even know about it?"[/color][/quote] Takeshi looked at [u]Kirei[/u] as if the latter had spoken blasphemy against something very holy. He supposed [u]Kirei[/u] simply did not know the history of Shizuyama and thus, could not understand the island's stance on yokai. But the young lord remarked about the employer first. "Your employer, Lady Kyouko, seems to have a worrying amount of information about our affairs. Well, I suppose she does have base of spies that we never found out." "Anyway, to answer your question: Yokai used to live in Shizuyama thousands of years ago, way before The Great Change. While the yokai didn't rule over the island directly, humans still lived under their oppression. Every day, a human must worry whether they would live through this day or meet their end, or worse, in the hands of a fickle yokai. And these yokai were everywhere, they stalked the roads and sometimes, they even stayed in people's homes... and no one could do about it." "That is until my distant ancestor, Lord Minato Oja, gathered to him the greatest warriors he could find in the isles of Zipangu and began his campaign to expel or exterminate the yokai in Shizuyama. In, I think, over a decade, they succeeded and there was no yokai presence in the island since then. Well, until now." Takeshi finished. "We honor our ancestors and remember their suffering under the yokai. That is why we despise yokai. And besides, The Great Change may have transformed the yokai into alluring creatures, but they still kidnap men. Steal or tempt them from their parents, break families apart." Realizing that [u]Nyla[/u] was with them, Takeshi quickly apologized. "Err, no offense." [quote=Kirei Kannazuki][color=beige]"Part of me still feels like your father is still alive, Takeshi-dono, so I'd let that lift your spirits, if only even slightly. If you don't mind me asking, what type of man is he?"[/color][/quote] The young lord was now deeply suspicious of [u]Kirei[/u]. Such a specific remark could not be a coincidence. His hand subtly slid to his sword's hilt. "...How did you know I thought about my father?" [hr] [center][h3]Kazenosuke's House[/h3][/center] [center][b]KAZENOSUKE, DANCING BLADE[/b][/center] [center]~ [@AzureKnight] (VRA), [@The Irish Tree] (VIV) ~[/center] [quote=Vivian][color=7bcdc8][b]"I don't suppose we could talk? That is, if you're not as vehemently against yokai as the Varjans."[/b][/color][/quote] [quote=Varã Riemsianne][color=firebrick]"Lord Takeshi wants to know why you didn't join the battle at the beach. And [i]I[/i] want to know why you were speaking with that despicable, murderous man in the mask!"[/color][/quote] Kazenosuke's hand immediately went to his sword's hilt when the two yokai appeared. He was ready to draw even as they approached and spoke to them. While the red demon was certainly louder and more annoying, the dancing swordsman stayed his blade for now to listen though his sword hilt was still gripped just in case this was all a deceitful trap. He decided not to engage until he, himself, was engaged. That said, he was not going to indulge these yokai's questions immediately. "[color=indianred]I suppose we can talk, but I think I can summarize our talk in this next sentence: No, I won't be your husband.[/color]" He replied rather cheekily to [u]Vivian[/u]. "[color=indianred]And who I talk to is none of your business, little miss.[/color]" Kazenosuke responded to [u]Varã[/u]. "[color=indianred]And what's this acting like a messenger from Takeshi? You do realize that he and his dad would've struck you down the moment they saw you.[/color]" [hr] [center][h3]Takamori's Dojo[/h3][/center] [center][b]TAKAMORI, BLESSED SIGHT[/b][/center] [center]~ [@AzureKnight] (LAV) ~[/center] [center](Currently in collab)[/center] [hr] [center][h3]Ayane Sake Brewery[/h3][/center] [center][b]BOTTOMS UP[/b][/center] [center]~ [@Enkryption] (UMI & RCD) ~[/center] The [u]Claremont[/u] sisters found the brewery in the middle of the night. The sake brewery consisted of two wooden buildings, one for the actual sake brewing and one served as the brewers' living quarters. The former building was open filled with all sorts of tools and equipment related to sake brewing. As the two monsters arrived, they overhear two of the peasant workers talking. "[color=fff200]Ten, my lady.[/color]" "[color=f26522]Not enough. The Varjans will drink that in an afternoon.[/color]" The conversation was interrupted when they noticed [u]Umami[/u] and [u]Ripcord[/u] arriving. "[color=f26522]Oh, hello there! Little late for a visit, is it not?[/color]" The peasant woman greeted. The sisters' attire aroused suspicion from the woman, but guessed that they weren't Varjans. "[color=f26522]Would you care for some tea now that you're here?[/color]" It was odd how a sake brewery would offer tea for visitors. [hr] [center][h3]Terauchi Temple[/h3][/center] [center]~ [@Rezod92], [@The Irish Tree] (MAT) ~[/center] When [u]Zeka[/u] and [u]Matsuri's[/u] regained their sights, they were no longer in Lady Kyouko's estate and the stone platform. Instead, they were in a large wooden chamber held up by four pillars. On one side was something that seemed like a shrine with candles and statutes. On the other other side was a set of sliding doors, one of which opened and a human woman with black hair and green robes entered the chamber. "[color=limegreen]Hello, there. You must be sent here by Lady Kyouko, right?[/color]" The no-nonsense woman greeted the two. "[color=limegreen]I'm Ayu and this is one of the pagodas of Terauchi Temple. I'm going to assume you're going to be part of the taskforce. All of the members are away at the moment, but you can talk to me and I can answer any questions you got.[/color]" "[color=limegreen]Oh yeah, I haven't told Lady Kyouko yet but the Varjans have landed in Shizuyama.[/color]" Ayu added. "[color=limegreen]They've defeated Lord Oja's army and are now rampaging unimpeded across the island. The taskforce managed to rescue Lord Oja's son, though, so this island might have a chance yet.[/color]" [hr] [hr] [hr] [center]~~ TAKESHI'S JOURNEY ~~[/center] [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 (ONGOING)] "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 (ONGOING)] "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 (ONGOING)] "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] [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]