[center][i]
"[color=steelblue]I'm told your son has gained victories against my Varjans... with the help of yokai.[/color]"

"[color=ivory]I'm sure there's more to it than that.[/color]"

"[color=steelblue]Hehehe... Ohh, you pretend we are different. But we fight for the same thing: To have a homeland free of the yokai.[/color]"

"[color=ivory]I've done exactly that with duty and honor. Kept order to my home, and justice to my people. You are nothing like me.[/color]"

"[color=steelblue]And neither is your son... but his name is bound to your legacy.[/color]"

"[color=ivory]A legacy is more than a name.[/color]"

"[color=steelblue]Ah, true.[/color]"

"[color=steelblue]Your family has ruled this land since the beginning, yes? Your ancestral castle was your domain... until now. I look forward to making it my own, while I leave you here to starve to death. Alone, and pathetic. Let that be your legacy.[/color]"
[/i][/center]

[hr]
[hr]
[center][h3]Komatsu Bay[/h3][/center]

[center]~ [@AzureKnight] (SHI), [@Crowvette], [@Restalaan] (SKA), [@The Irish Tree] (LIL) ~[/center]

The taskforce elected to all head back to Terauchi Temple posthaste. A decision that worried Ayu a bit, but ultimately respected. "[color=red]Very well. Take care on the trip back to the temple. I'll be right back there too as soon as I can.[/color]"

"[color=aquamarine]And I'll be... somewhere. After this little stunt, I doubt I can do business with the Varjans anymore.[/color]" The merchant Shizuka complained.

Before they left, however, [u]Liliana[/u] cast a powerful healing spell that covered the vicinity. The crowd of battered and beaten villagers present watched with awe as small motes of green light fell from the sky. They recoiled when the motes approached and entered them, but relaxed when these small wisps did nothing but heal wounds and relieve pain. 

With their health reinvigorated, the survivors of Komatsu Bay bid their taskforce saviors a more hearty farewell. Hopefully, this attitude will still be there when the Lady Kyouko's forces make landfall.

[hr]
[center][h3]Shizuyama Wilderness[/h3][/center]

[center]~ [@Restalaan] (GRI) ~[/center]

The mercenary bent backwards to avoid [u]Gringor's[/u] horizontal swing, and continued deftly evading the attacks sent his way. All the while keeping his swords on their scabbards, making no move to retaliate. "[color=red]If this is the joke, it isn't very funny or impressive.[/color]" He taunted [u]Gringor[/u]. His hands, however, were still on the hilts of his sheathed swords, ready to unleash them at a moment's notice. Possibly when [u]Gringor[/u] finally has him cornered.

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

[center]~ [@Enkryption] (ALI & CRL), [@The Irish Tree] (EUL), [@Rezod92] ~[/center]

Takeshi bore witness to the... strange fusion of [u]Alice[/u] and [u]Carroll[/u] that unleashed a powerful aura, and the subsequent splitting of them by literally being pulled apart by [u]Eula[/u] and [u]Kerry[/u]. The young lord mostly had no idea what exactly was going on, but it seemed the monsters did. He did know one thing, though: They were close to each other. So close, in fact, that his presence there was unneeded.

When [u]Eula[/u] and [u]Carroll[/u] left to be alone with each other and to leave [u]Alice[/u] and [u]Kerry[/u] alone as well, Takeshi also left as well. The young lord spared one last glance at [u]Alice's[/u] unconscious form before finally leaving.

-

The peace did not last long, however, when the powerful aura from before was unleashed again and something blasted off into the forest outside Terauchi Temple. It was no secret to Takeshi on who that was, especially when [u]Eula[/u] and [u]Kerry[/u] followed not long after.

"[color=cyan]Just what is going on here?![/color]" A provoked Revuel approached Takeshi after speaking with the [u]Hangai[/u] sisters. "[color=cyan]There was not one, but two, waves of powerful energies washing over the temple! So powerful that even the lay people that are the refugees here are unnerved![/color]" He then looked to the forest where the monster couples went to. "[color=cyan]I saw the Madams Kerry and Eula leave. Should we follow them?[/color]"

Takeshi smiled softly. "No need. I believe they can handle... whatever this is. Besides, I'm pretty sure it's something very private between them."

Indeed, [u]Kerry[/u] and [u]Eula[/u] soon returned with [u]Carroll[/u] and [u]Alice[/u].

[center]---[/center]
[center]~ [@AzureKnight] (HIN, ATS & SHI), [@Enkryption] (ALI & CRL), [@The Irish Tree] (EUL & LIL), [@Rezod92], [@Crowvette], [@Restalaan] (SKA) ~[/center]

A couple of hours later, the taskforce members who liberated Komatsu Bay have returned to Terauchi Temple. Takeshi's eyes widened when he saw them arrive, and quickly moved to greet them. "You've returned from Komatsu Bay!" He said as he approached. "And without Ayu. I assume you've actually kicked all the Varjans out of there and Ayu stayed behind to handle repairs?"

"[color=cyan]That is probably the case, milord.[/color]" Revuel joined the conversation. "[color=cyan]Lady Kyouko has just informed me that she has engaged the Varjan blockade. Particularly, the section near Komatsu Bay. She would not do so if the port town is still under Varjan control.[/color]"

"Then... then that means--" Takeshi could barely contain his excitement. "We're ready. We're finally ready to find my father and rescue him!" The young lord's eyes shone with hope. "I will gather the others and tell them of this news. Then we can... we can--

"[color=cyan]Milord, please calm down.[/color]" Revuel interrupted the almost-jittering Takeshi. "[color=cyan]Let the taskforce have some rest first. Look, the Fairy is fast asleep and the Lich looks to be paler than normal.[/color]"

"Y-You're right." Takeshi replied. "I'm sorry..."

[hr]
[hr]
[hr]

[center]~~ TAKESHI'S JOURNEY ~~[/center]

[hider=The Shadow Of The Taskforce (END OF ACT I)]
[color=fff200](REQUIRES ALL PLAYER CHARACTERS)[/color]

"I finally have all that I need to rescue my father from the Varjans. The only thing missing now is where the invaders have him imprisoned. I'm coming for you, father. Just wait a little longer."
-Takeshi Oja
[/hider]

[center]~~ TAKAMORI TALES ~~[/center]

[hider=The Past Never Passes]
"Lord Takamori's traitorous former student, Setsuna, is training Mongol archers across Shizuyama. Lord Takamori posits that she plans on attacking Omi Springs, his hometown and a refuge for villagers. We should meet with Lord Takamori as soon as possible."
-Takeshi Oja
[/hider]

[center]~~ SORAE TALES ~~[/center]

[hider=The Traitor]
"Sorae is on the hunt for Sogen, one of the conspirators behind her family's murder. To track him down, Sorae has asked us to speak with Ayu who may know where we can find him."
-Takeshi Oja
[/hider]

[center]~~ SHIZUKA (MERCHANT) TALES ~~[/center]

[hider=The People's Servant]
"One of the farms near Komatsu Bay looks like it's had some trouble. Someone should make sure the people there are all right."
-Takeshi Oja
[/hider]

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

[hider=Whispers In The Woods]
A villager woman remarked to the taskforce member as the latter passed by.

"You better watch out if you're passing Yabo Forest, yokai. It's haunted by angry spirits... Dead samurai, eager to spill blood."

"People go into the woods and never come out. Varjan and Shizuyaman alike! The bodies that turn up have all been killed by Shizuyaman blades..."
[/hider]

[hider=The Other Side Of Honor]
A peasant man eating barbecued meat on a stick was startled when the taskforce member approached. It appeared he has news.

"Yokai! You have to tell Lord Takeshi, there is another samurai noble who survived Sanjo Beach. His name is Lord Tonchiki. He's in his abode southeast of here. If you go see him, I'm sure he would join your cause."

"Err, maybe not. I guess you'll need Lord Takeshi himself to convince him."
[/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 that shrine priestess that started a fight here not too long ago."

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

[center]~~ LEGENDARY TALES ~~[/center]

[hider=The Heavenly Strike]
"Dealing with these students of the Heavenly Strike was more difficult than we thought. They have already thrown back two of the taskforce. However, the yokai fought them separately and at different times, so perhaps a more cooperative approach would be more fruitful."
-Takeshi Oja
[/hider]