[center][h3]Kazenosuke's House[/h3][/center]
[center][b]KAZENOSUKE, DANCING BLADE[/b][/center]
[center]~ [@AzureKnight] (VRA), [@The Irish Tree] (VIV), [@Rezod92] ~[/center]

[quote=Zeka Willows][color=00aeef]"Dude, how did you do that? In all my years as a professional thief, no one has ever caught me....[i]without having to see me.[/i] You're human, right?"[/color][/quote]

"[color=indianred]A hundred percent human, my little mousey friend. A human who had to train all his life spotting sneaky, cheeky yokai like you.[/color]" Kazenosuke answered [u]Zeka[/u].

[quote=Vivian][color=7bcdc8][b]"Speaking purely from a position of numbers, we can't even fight a warband with how many we have. I've never had someone I can call a friend, but...in the stories I've played part in, a bond between two can overcome virtually anything this world has to offer. Perhaps, the bond you and Takeshi share is one such instance. Oh and, don't worry about yokai, I imagine we'll all leave once this conflict concludes. For whatever comfort that is, at least."[/b][/color][/quote]

"[color=indianred]Pfft... bwahahahaha![/color]" Kazenosuke laughed as if he heard one of the best jokes in his life. "[color=indianred]Liberate a port, huh? For who? Definitely not one of the other anti-yokai factions in Zipangu. 'Cause I assure you that right now, coming to our aid is just asking for a death sentence.[/color]"

"[color=indianred]So most probably, yokai reinforcements. In numbers that could repel the Varjan invasion, so a lot of them. Hahahaha! I seriously doubt you're leaving after you're done with the Varjans. Oh man, Takeshi really did just put the people and the island above its traditions.[/color]" Kazenosuke snickered again. "[color=indianred]Good for him, making decisions independently and all that. However, you yokai should keep a close eye on him then. Once the people of this island realizes what he's doing, I bet someone'll stab him in his sleep.[/color]"

"[color=indianred]But we're getting off-topic here, you're here to recruit me for Takeshi's group. Let's get to that.[/color]" Kazenosuke then crossed his arms. "[color=indianred]Before I go, though, I want to know one thing: Are you even worth helping? Sure, Takeshi might be the best warrior in Shizuyama, but he can't be everywhere at once. Basically, I want to know if you three measure up to him. I don't want to join a group where I have to do everything.[/color]"

"[color=indianred]But how to measure that? Hmm...[/color]" Kazenosuke pondered for a moment before snapping his fingers. "[color=indianred]I know! How about a spar? You three against me. What do you think?[/color]" The dancing swordsman issued a challenge. "[color=indianred]Those are pretty even odds, no? You win, and I join you. Lose, and you go tell Takeshi that I wish him luck with whatever he's doing to this island.[/color]"

[hr]
[center][h3]Unknown Forest[/h3][/center]
[center][b]KAGEHO, INNOCENT SHADOW[/b][/center]
[center]~ [@The Irish Tree] (MAT) ~[/center]

When [u]Matsuri's[/u] Never-Ending-Starry Night popped off, the Varjan group flew into a panic. They scattered and tried to get away from the bright lights as much as they could, while also frantically searching their surroundings for any hostiles. Some of the Varjans began to bark orders, other demanding the ambushers to show themselves.

[u]Matsuri[/u] inserted an illusion of herself in an obvious hiding spot to bait the Varjans. Upon discovery of the illusion, the robed people in the group raised their arms at the hiding spot. From their arms shot blue jets of flame that quickly set the hiding spot in a blazing inferno. The illusion bolted off, and the flame sorcerers tried to shoot it with their blue fire.

The illusion worked, but these five Varjan Firethrowers were quickly burning the forest down. The fires were spreading from tree to tree, bush to bush. [u]Matsuri[/u] was quickly running out of places to hide. But she should still keep an eye on the Varjan group, though. The Inari saw a couple of Varjan Brigands suddenly get pulled into the grass with none of their teammates the wiser.

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

[center]~ [@Enkryption] (UMI & RCD), [@AzureKnight] (KIR) ~[/center]

The [u]Claremont[/u] sisters returned to Terauchi Temple with the brewer crew safely. The crew gave their thanks to the sisters before parting ways and joining the rest of the refugees.

"[color=limegreen]Hey, you two.[/color]" Ayu greeted [u]Umami[/u] and [u]Ripcord[/u]. "[color=limegreen]Good job bringing those people here. Ayane's Sake Brewery is real famous here in Shizuyama, so having the crew safe will be good for morale. Even if the ruling Oja Clan doesn't drink.[/color]" Ayu casually revealed. Thinking about that, the [u]Claremont[/u] sisters recall that Lady Kyouko seemed to have not drank a single drop of alcohol in all the time that they have served her.

"[color=limegreen]Speaking of the Oja Clan, Takeshi has returned with [u]Kirei[/u] and Nyla. It seemed the Shoggoth got a little too homesick and requested for a teleport home.[/color]" Ayu pointed to the pagoda where the sisters first arrived with [u]Vivian[/u]. "[color=limegreen]Say, don't you two personally serve Lady Kyouko too? Any of you feeling homesick?[/color]"

After sending Nyla back to Akamagaseki, Janus, Takeshi and [u]Kirei[/u] emerged from the pagoda that contained the teleport chamber. "[color=red]My sincerest apologies, Lord Takeshi, but please understand that the taskforce is purely voluntary and Lady Kyouko has allowed all members to leave and quit anytime they want.[/color]" The spellcaster said. "[color=red]Rest assured, however, that I, at least, will see all this to the end.[/color]"

"I understand." Takeshi said, solemnly. "Thank you, Sir Janus."

"[color=red]Of course, milord. Now if you'll excuse me, I am needed elsewhere.[/color]" After a bow, Janus walked away.

The young lord let out a sigh, before bringing out his sheathed sword. "I suppose that's for the best. She did attempt to replace my sword, after all." He remarked to [u]Kirei[/u].

[center]---[/center]
[center]~ [@FroggRFlowR] ~[/center]

[u]Tomi[/u] flew back to the taskforce's headquarters: Terauchi Temple. Having seemingly took a nap for a long time, she would undoubtedly be greeted with earfuls from the taskforce's captain. She would probably be asked where she went and what she did in the meantime. It would probably be wise for [u]Tomi[/u] to prepare some alibis.

Upon flying over the temple, however. [u]Tomi[/u] saw that it was technically the same: Refugees crowding the temple grounds, monks distributing food and medicine and people continuing to stream inside in search for a safe haven. But something was off, [u]Tomi[/u] felt as if this wasn't the Terauchi Temple she knew.

Getting a closer look, she saw there were non-human people amongst the peasant refugees - her fellow taskforce members. However, none of them were familiar to [u]Tomi[/u]. In fact, she saw none of the people she knew. Perhaps they were simply away at the moment?

The Dragon's eyes soon rested on a human man near a pagoda, dressed in white robes while also having white hair. He appeared to be talking to another human man clad in opposite colors, having black armor and short, black hair.

[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 (ONGOING)]
"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]
"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=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]