[If you are interested in joining a setting like this. Please check out roleplayerguild.com/topics/196759-ise…]

Time: 6:30 AM
Location: Nan Gau, The Republic

Thanks to the efforts of the adventures guild and Yamamoto Shogunate. A brief intermission within combat had been made for the envoy on the edge of town to bring in people along with a desperate replenishment of supplies. It had taken all night to create the opening but thankfully they managed just before daybreak.

The fight had been a harrowing battle of attrition, many souls had been lost. Death coiling around them with its embrace, those who were allies had turned enemies against their own will. Servants of an unholy kind whose only purpose was to spread destruction.

The carriages would maneuver through the torn terrain outside of Nan Gau. Jostling its passengers as it dodged craters. A heavy gust of wind carried the smell of burnt flesh and iron into the cabin of the envoy. Soon enough, they had arrived at the Western wall.

If one were to look outside of the carriage, there would be many forlorn souls. Their faces twisted, and their spirits beaten down from the harrowing battle of attrition.

Finally reaching the Nan Gau Adventurers guild, the brave volunteers were able to disembark and check in. The establishment was booming with activity. The native language [Bestial] filled the establishment with an overwhelming amount of growls and other beast like sounds.

For Yumi and Emily, who hailed from the far away land of Japan. They would find a sense of familiarity but also unfamiliarity. The natives of the land shared a heavy cultural similarity, however they might have felt brief shock seeing a large bear with an eyepatch, clad in weathered navy and red Samurai armor begin to approach them.

An illustrious black odachi was tied to his back. Towering over the three newcomers, its eye fell on Yumi with a sharp gaze. Bearing its teeth slightly as it let out a low grizzly growl. Then, his eye would move toward the the large Scythe

*”What a weapon to wield here of all places for a newborn Cub.”he voiced in common. His gaze would then brush past Emily. Her plain business attire earned a sharpening of the eye.

“A Widersian…Grrrrr” he gave a low chuff, moving past the woman. Contrasting his intimidating demeanor, the brief expression was a pleasing one. He held respect for anyone who came in this time of need.

Finally he stopped right in front of Kamara, who based on her worn armor, seemed the most battle tested out of the batch.

Is your will as sharp as your blade?

Stopping a couple feet before her, the Brown Bear would rise to his full stature. Towering at 3 meters, the bearkin casted a shadow over the 3 newcomers. Opening his gaping maw wide, the bear roared loudly startling many of its residents, causing them to flinch.

After effectively gathering the attention of everyone. The bearkin would begin to speak.

”Greatings everyone, I hope your trip here was a pleasant one. I am Ryota of the Nakamura clan, Vassal to the Yamamoto Shogunate. Unfortunately, time is not something we can afford to waste. If everyone could please make their way to meeting hall one at the end of the corridor. We will bring all of you up to speed and answer questions one might have. We will also assign you to squads to work in.”

The bearkin would point a singular clawed finger to his right. At the end of the hall, another brown bearkin stood. Having just slid the wooden doors to the meeting hall open, the bearkin nodded to Ryota. Confirming that he was ready to proceed.

The meeting hall was a large space, showing a bit of resemblance to that of a lecture hard. Fine wood lined the floors, and desks, along with chairs that were spacious and accommodating for a multitude of races.

---

(OOC/Tldr: Alright peeps, we’re kicking off round one. You’ve all just arrived on a special envoy and are about to be debriefed on what’s going on. Feel free to interact with one another.

I’m a free flowing narrator so be as creative as you’d like :).)

Emily felt a wave of relief wash over her as she safely and securely managed to emerge out of her own carriage and into the short-lived comfort of the Adventurer's Guild.

Upon a first glance, Emily was likely the most straightforward 'member' of the group who had heeded the call to help out with the situation at hand. She was no warrior, no spellcaster, nor a hunter, but a meek albeit attractive looking human woman of thirty-four. However, those who delved deeper into who she was likely would find out that she was a woman of two worlds, in more ways than one. It was in truth that Emily had hailed from Japan - being born and raised there when she was young. However her childhood in Japan was merely brief, as her family then moved abroad to the United Kingdom, where Emily over the course of many a year would study and grow until she became the accountant some see her as today. An accountant who had been transported to this wacky fantasy world.

In her first adventure alone she had come across many a strange face and even had to fight against a towering golem with her party, where she was armed with nothing but her wits and a sturdy stick splintering her delicate fingers. Her first ever fight. And not exactly something that she enjoyed doing. Unfortunately, she knew that it was inevitable that she needed to defend herself again, thankfully later rather than now. But it hung over her like a project that would inevitably be due. Especially as her carriage ride only caused additional discomfort... zombies? They were real.

Thankfully, Emily wasn't as helpless as she initially thought she was. Following such an adventure and her slamming her weapon upon the assumed weak point of the lumbering golem, she managed to survive for just a few more weeks after that conflict before she found herself in her current predicament, split from the party she was initially a part of when she first woke up in such a land. She quickly got used to helping others out with smaller, more menial jobs, enough to keep her going, before her sights were set towards the Adventurer's Guild and a request made by a certain Ryota Nakamura.

And such became the motive as to why Emily found herself in Nan Gau. For work, and out of intrigue. Sure, she really was just a mere accountant dressed in a nice business outfit and high heels, but there was honestly something about the idea of working at a Guild that drew a layer of comfort. Paperwork wasn't exactly something she was too eager to handle, but darn it, not only was she skilled at it, it absolutely allowed her to put food on her table for both herself and her husband back in her 'original' world. Maybe this opportunity would be similar?

She had yet to know in truth.

The clacking of her high heels signified her appearance in the guild as she then stood alongside her would-be allies. The place definitely seemed to invoke some nostalgia for Emily, whose decor faintly reminded her of the time she spent in Japan as a child, if only offset by the various bestial growls and the bearman clad in his heavy samurai armor. Normally Emily would have been intensely intimidated upon witnessing the bearkin, but she had considered the fact that not only he spoke, but she had already been face to face with a larger, more potent foe. She could only assume that he was there for good reason, until she discovered that it was in fact Ryota.

... Admittedly, she expected him to be more human in appearance.

Emily would remain quiet as she was checked upon by Ryota, before she gave a soft smile and a nod, turning her gaze over to the other newcomers to the Guild. Now these looked like proficient adventurers, and made her at the least feel like she was in much better hands... until she heard a deafening roar courtesy of Ryota, causing Emily to jump backwards in shock, gasping...

"Gah! My word..."

... but not screaming, thankfully. Perhaps that was the one thing that would have been louder than his roar.

Slowly, she felt her muscles relax once more as she removed herself from her guarded stance, releasing a sigh of relief before she listened intently. She gave a firm nod in response to the urgency of the situation at hand, preparing herself to walk off into the meeting room, but not before returning her gaze to the other warriors standing by her, addressing Yumi and Kamara.

"Pleased to meet you two. My name's Emily, I am... well, I was an accountant who made it my job to manage the finances of my clients. Nothing that is as close to as exciting as anything you've two have probably done but still, it's a pleasure to meet you both."

The carriage ride to Nan Gau had been much longer than expected and full of switch-backs and narrow mountain trails than KaMara had expected. But it wasn't like she could've looked up 'Nan Gau' online and checked out what the place was like. Not in this world, as far as she could tell anyway. She'd answered the call for Adventurers in defense of a town and that'd been good enough for her.

The tall blonde human woman in dark colored western armor stood out against the vaguely Asian, she surmised, backdrop of the Nan Gau village as she emerged from the transport into the cool mountain air. She'd surveyed the carnage surrounding the village as the caravan had approached the secluded mountain village, taking in the details of the enormous struggle facing the town. Whether the meager force that has come to assist would be of any help KaMara couldn't say but that wouldn't deter her from putting herself in harm's way to buy the town another day.

Mustering into the Adventurer's Guild House she surveyed the others that had accompanied her. Two other women, a fighter or assassin of some sort who carried herself with confidence and another in a sensible business suit. A mage or support of some kind maybe, she thought to herself, either way anyone brave enough to sign up for what could be a one-way trip deserved respect. KaMara nodded appreciatively at both of them before the giant Bear-man in charge, Ryota, dressed them down and ushered them towards the meeting hall for further debrief.
KaMara shuffled up beside the lady in the business suit, leaning in to whisper, "Oh. My. Gosh. I love those shoes! Did they come with you from Earth or did you get those here?"

The carriage wheels groaned to a stop, and Yumi stepped down onto the packed dirt of Nan Gau. The air here was thinner, sharper than she expected—cold enough that each breath felt like a sip of icy water. Mountain wind slid through the wooden gates and narrow streets, carrying the faint smell of incense and something older, something that made the hairs on her arms rise.

She adjusted the massive scythe hanging from her back, making sure the curved blade arcing behind her legs didn't accidentally take someone's leg off. The twin sapphires adorning her face inspected her impromptu companions. The one named Kamara was the kind of woman who looked like she could cleave a boulder in half if it offended her. In contrast, Emily looked as if she’d stepped into the wrong world entirely. Regular clothes, polished hair, eyes that were far too gentle for a place rumored to be stalked by the dead. But Yumi knew from experience that appearances weren't everything.

When Ryota appeared, Yumi's pupils widened for the briefest moment. She knew beastkin existed in this world, but it was her first time meeting one. His comment about her choice of weapon confused her. Is he mocking me? Or was that a compliment? She bowed politely to him, hoping that it would cover for her lack of social skills.

As Ryota led them down the hall, Emily introduced herself. Yumi's lips trembled briefly before parting. "...Yu...mi..." she said simply, placing a hand on her chest. Her voice came out careful and quiet, as if she were still learning to use it. "Hajime...mash...te." The second part came out a bit more confidently, but it still sounded like someone speaking for the first time. A slight redness tinged her cheeks, and she looked downward shyly. She hoped that sounded right. She hoped it sounded like she knew what she was doing.

As she looked down, she caught Kamara's comment about Emily's shoes. Yumi had never particularly been into fashion, but even she had to agree with Kamara. She remained silent, however, her gaze lingering on Emily's shoes for a moment longer as she followed along with the group.

When the carriage slowed to a stop, Varius stepped out. His steps land with a thud as the soul beneath would settle around his sandals. Varius looked amongst the other volunteers being one of them to come along for access to the Republic but also to lose his ties to where he comes from, his armor Eastern make with old military insignias horribly and deliberately scratched up. Varius looked towards the village. “So the undead decided to rise again, probably by someone’s call?” Varius asked curiously as his eyes scanned the surroundings, of the village. “Nan Gau… is where she hailed from.” Varius whispered to himself as he sighed with a shudder of past sadness. Flashes of his duel flashing in his mind, the betrayal he felt, in himself and his own people he fought for. He hated them, and wanted a new home. His stature changed as he moved from the carriage. As he’d glance back at the others. “I am Varius Interitus… I am a former Militant of the Eastern Empire. I am here to provide aid as long as I am allowed. I wish to show I’m a Lion from a herd of sheep.”

​
Titles:
Beastkin - Mundane, Small (4ft) - 6ecff6

As the carriage stopped, Itsy would wait a few moments inside of it still. His round, beady eyes looking from the back window (which he had to stand on top of the seat, kneeling to reach it). "Uhhhh... t-that doesn't look good... at all!" He muttered in the tiniest, high-pitched voice, long snout scrunching, moving left and right. With a small sigh, Itsy steeled his resolve, jumping from the seat to land standing on the floor of the carriage with an insignificant THUD.

And, as he took the very first steps outside the carriage, one gloved hand already darted to his hat, holding it against the blowing wind. Quickly, he scurried into the Adventurer's Guild itself. As soon as he breached that threshold, his eyes were one of slight worry.

The bigger beasts filled the place, sometimes even taller than two Itsies stacked on top of one another! It brought him bad memories of his training, little lips pursing together. Those small black orbs would fall upon the others, who were more friendly than others... or at least appeared to be. Gathering courage, the 4ft elephant shrew would approach them, removing his plumed hat as he was taught and bowing slightly. "I... I'm Itsy! I look forward to work with all of you!" He introduced himself, rapier hilt tapping his thigh as with the movement.

Mentions: @DoubleChecker@CorvianMERCDB@supamusu@DancesWMonsters@HexiWind

Ryota gave a toothy grin, flashing his razor sharp teeth. “Scared you now didn’t I cub?” However it seemed as though Yumi and Kamars were unphased. The former simply giving a sharp bow in response, and the latter completely indifferent.

Telling indeed

A couple of Beastkin examined Varius, an incredulous look on each of their faces as the man spoke. Examining his eastern empire apparel and releasing an aggressive growl. The gladiator did not need to speak bestial to understand what this meant. This response to his appearance here would be replicated all the way to the adventurers guild.

Meanwhile, the small elephant shrew recieved a different experience, as each of the individuals examined the small creature with curiosity. He was a beastkin but his attire was not of republic origin.

Filing into the room, the 3 ladies would find a row of seats open for them to take. Shortly after assuming their positions and settling in. Two seats would remain on the end closest to the exit for Varius and Itsy to assume completing the row. Shortly after,Ryota would take center stage.

“Welcome to Nan Gau adventurers, on behalf of Clan Yamamoto, we appreciate your support in this time of need. Whether you are on the front lines, defending the gated, or supporting our warriors through day to day operations. Your efforts are an insurmountable help. Out of respect, I won’t waste your time any further.”

The beast's voice bounced off the walls with reverb, allowing all to hear him loud and clear.

“You’ve already heard our call to arms and likely seen a bit of the destruction on your way here. The enemy is the undead thralls of some sort manifested through magical means. Injecting their cursed mana into corpses and adding them to their army. It’s why it’s imperative we burn the corpses. Our scouts have located a large horde gathering power and emerging from the north.”Ryota’s eyes darkened a bit as he held his head high.

“That was how the situation had started out but now things have gotten rather ugly. We didn’t account for the enemy being intelligent and coordinated. Adapting to our tactics and even acquiring some of their own. We suspect someone or something is the cause of this. As to whom? We’re unaware. The situation has evolved enough though, that the horde in particular has evolved into a natural disaster of sorts. The congestion of corrupted mana is causing even more horrors to pour into their ranks as well as interference with the weather. Things that aren’t necessarily undead but won’t miss out on a free meal.” The air in the room grew heavy from the onslaught of bad news, the situation seemed bleak enough for even some of the most hardened adventures.

“If we fall here, Nan Gau will be lost. We’ll also all be mindless undead but that goes without saying. But fear not, there’s light at the end of a road. We must hold out until Fae See allies arrive who are specialized in this type of enemy. Unfortunately though, they won’t make it here until much after the monster storm hits landfall. In the dead of night to be specific.”Ryota folded his arms, as he prepared himself.

“Any questions at all before we move onto sorting?”

Varius leaned forward in the chair, lowering his head when the Beastkin growled at him. Out of respect and shame. Listening to Nakamura he'd remain silent. Till he heard Nakamura request questions, Varius softly raised his head up. "Sir Nakamura, if I may? If they are using tactics an idea would be a pincer maneuver, and getting on their flank as much as possible. Cutting out a chunk of the horde through herding them could give us an advantage. If we cut off their gathering regions, it would lower their numbers in populated locations, this would increase our odds of being surrounded but this would give people time to survive. We could also locate tighter alleyways and roads that would make the horde more manageable. This is your home turf, it's your call of course." Varius' voice was calm, yet firm, his eyes met with the Shogun's but he remained hunched and small, Knowing who the leader was.

"With that in mind, where are we to be positioned Sir Nakamura?" Varius asked, calmly assessing their surroundings at the chaos that's still going.

Yumi unhooked her scythe from her back, carefully setting it on the ground next to her chair as she sat. She frowned slightly as Ryota explained the situation, her mind racing as she considered different tactics. While she had confidence in her ability to fight and take down undead enemies, she hadn't actually encountered any undead in this world yet, so she was unsure whether they would stay down or not. That, and against a horde, it becomes a war of attrition. What runs out first: their numbers, or your stamina?

An eyebrow raised at the mention of someone or something being behind the attacks, an idea forming in her mind. When Ryota finished his explanation, Yumi nervously raised a hand. "A-ano..." Her voice cracked slightly as she tried to speak. She cleared her throat briefly before trying again. "If someone... behind undead... then taking... them out... might stop... horde..." The nervous tremor in her voice started to even out as she spoke. "I have... experience. Hunting people down. Staying out... of sight. I might be able. To sneak past undead. Find out who or what. Controls them. Then either report back." She gave the haft of her scythe an almost affectionate pat, her lips turning in the faintest hint of a confident smile. "Or take care of them."

A tinge of pink colored her cheeks: partially because this was the most she had spoken at one time, but mostly because she wasn't sure if speaking out like that was considered rude here or not. "Ah... that is... unless... you have a... better plan... she managed to mumble as the color in her cheeks quickly switched from pink to red.

​
Titles:
Beastkin - Mundane, Small (4ft) - 6ecff6

As Itsy sat upon the chair at the back, he had to lean a bit to the side to be able to see Ryota as they addressed the room, as the beastkin in front of him fully blocked his vision, which wasn't very rare. The fencer hadn’t realized things were this dire, and each new word added another layer of unease. "U-undead..." He murmured in a tone barely above a whisper, a tiny gulp left his throat as one leg began nervously moving, booted ankle hitting the leg of the chair with each movement.

"S-so... we just need to hold them off until the Fae arrive." He said in a louder voice this time, barely carrying through the room. His long snouted nose moved left and right a bit, round hazel eyes locking on the man with the Imperial clothes, eyebrows furrowing a bit, but soon relaxing. "He has a good point. E-engaging them in open field gives their numbers... advantage. Choke points are how we make our numbers count..."

He said nothing about the assassination plan of the woman holding the scythe. It just sounded even more dangerous.

Coming out from the carriage late stretching as if she had just woken up from the best nap of her life because honestly she did would be a tall lithe female neko. She stands at 5 feet 9 inches in height with a lithe muscular frame. Her skin is lightly tanned from constant exposure to the sun. She has long flowing black hair tied loosely into a ponytail and catlike ears and a tail with fur as black as her hair. She wears a simple red training gi and sandals. Her violet hued eyes scan the area, the pupils slits. She grins as she continues stretching and yawns. "Thank the gods I got that nap in. I was exhausted after training nya. I hope I didn't miss much by sleeping. Gods protect me if I did"

Youko would enter the guild looking around for everyone else her tail flicking nervously as she did so trying her best to focus. Her ears would twitch as she tries to sus out the meeting room by looking for the sound of multiple voices talking seriously about something. That's one thing she never really got about "civilized" city folk. Why talk when action is faster and more fun. That and why do they always give the gods the wrong names? But hey she got brought into this so why not play along. "Be a good kitty" as some human men like to put it before they try groping her only to get their teeth knocked out.

KaMara had taken her seat alongside the ladies she'd entered the hall alongside. The others that had traveled the treacherous mountain passes with, the gladiator, the cat girl and the fencer, had joined the three in the Meeting Hall for the formal debrief by Ryota. The Beastman laid it all out in no-nonsense terms and she appreciated the candor. Not that she fully understood the mystical mechanics of the situation but it sounded just as bad as the tactical end of the equation.
The Gladiator and the Assassin both had sound counsel, in her estimation, for Commander Ryota but the Bear-Man knew the true extent of Nan Gau's strengths, weaknesses, defenses and resources. "I stand ready to defend Nan Gau in whatever way you see fit, Commander." she addressed the Bear-Man. "But I do think Yumi..." she pronounced the Assassin's name as if it were 'You-May', her American accent slipping unceremoniously into the Common Tongue as she spoke, "...has a valid point about striking directly at who or whatever is the 'intelligence' behind the undead horde. A decapitation strike would make handling even a large horde of undead a whole lot easier when they're just a shambling menace rather than a directed force." From the Adventurers assembled around her, she thought there were enough that solidly fit a reconnaissance force while still leaving some to stay behind and defend the town.

Slowly, Emily had managed to settle down as she was frightened by the booming voice of her employer. Yet her guarded reaction wasn’t met with disrespect or humor, but rather, honor? Beastkin customs were certainly different, that was for sure. Thankfully, Emily’s shoulders lowered just a tinge as she looked over at her at the group that slowly began to trickle in alongside Yumi, Kamara, and herself. More beastkin, and more warriors ready to answer the call. Even the most minuscule one in Itsy seemed to hold a weapon ready to cut at any undead who stood in their way.

It was comforting, in a way. It certainly was an improvement over her previous ‘party’ she had when she first woke into the new world, where she practically felt like she was stuck in an insane asylum thrown around into an uncomfortable position. Or so she assumed. A lot of these beastkin sounded pretty darn interesting, and those who didn’t seem to share their unique animalistic appearances looked as if they carried interesting stories about them. Which was when she heard a voice - that of Kamara - directly turn to Emily, questioning her… and her high heels?

“Oh, where did I acquire these?” She remarked, pointing down to her polished black heels that also seemed to draw in Yumi’s attention. “I’m afraid that they’re nothing too special, just a simple black pair of shoes I purchased over at Top-Notch a while ago. So I would say that they’re from Earth. They’re not exactly something I’m too comfortable with wearing, but my old line of work had a strict dress code and we had to adhere to it no matter what… Wait.”

… Wait a minute. Earth. How did Kamara know about Earth? Did she originate from there too? Shock seemingly erupted across Emily’s face, this time out of surprise that there was another who was aware that they were from a different world… at least one who didn’t seem entirely out of place as some soldier or cosplaying priestess.

She wanted to ask questions of her own. Maybe, just maybe, Kamara had the answers as to how she could return back to her old life back in the UK. Alas, before she could get the chance to open her mouth again to speak, hubbub began to circulate. Not about her, but about the job at hand. She may have been an accountant from a different world, but she signed up for the job to aid against this undead invasion as much as anyone else. And interrupting the topic with shoes was not the best idea.

So Emily did what she did best; sit down, shut up, and listen. And with that, the goal was clearly set. Hold back the invading forces so that reinforcements can arrive and quell this threat. Some conversation arose regarding how they should attack… but there was one little thing about Ryota that seemed to raise some concern for Emily, and thus, she spoke once more.

“Alright, so I’ve got two issues here. First of all, and more importantly of the two, these ‘zombies’. You’ve said that they’re adapting to our tactics and learning what we’re capable of. Now, I don’t wish to be negative, but how is that the case? If they’re mindless creatures, and if something or someone manipulates them to act in such a way, then it’d be the case that the mastermind behind this could know about your military attempts, and potentially us as well…”

Emily hesitated briefly, this time to consider the idea of making a joke about how she was experienced in the field of being a ‘zombie’. But ultimately decided against it. These folk might have not understood what office culture was like… but Emily understood that there could have been a boss behind the living dead. Who it was, she didn’t know, but regardless, she continued.

“And secondly, there are some people here who aren’t exactly the ‘warrior’ type.” Obviously, with her lack of weaponry or any intimidating tools, Emily was referring to herself. “I know that you’ve accepted those who are perhaps… I’ll say, less adept at combat, but I’m still not exactly sure what’s expected from these people. Is this how you’re going to sort us?”

"Oh, that's an easy answer." KaMara countered as Emily broached the subject of 'non-combatant' Adventurers. "You guys are a 'force multiplier'. What I mean is, you guys can have an outsized effect on keeping the defense militia running and give us an edge over the Zombie Horde by coordinating things and providing analysis on conditions and logistics." She leaned over, dark armor creaking, to whisper perhaps a but too loudly to Emily, "These guys aren't real familiar with the way things are done 'back home'. They're still operating like it's the 1200s. Well, I guess it IS for them... I bet you could really whip things into shape and organize everything to work a lot better. That way we can more effectively defend the town, maximize our supplies and minimize our losses. That's real important work!"

Mentions: @CorvianMERCDB, @supamusu, @Tybo98, @HexiWind, @DancesWMonsters

Time: 7:05 AM
Location: Nan Gau, Adventurers’ Guild / City Proper

For a brief moment after the last words left the floor, silence held the meeting hall.

Not the calm kind.

The kind that presses against the ears, heavy and expectant—like the breath drawn before a scream.

Ryota stood unmoving at the center of the hall, arms folded, single visible eye sweeping across the gathered adventurers. When he spoke again, his voice was lower now, no roar to it—measured, deliberate.

“You have all given answers worthy of warriors,” he rumbled. “And you have all spoken truth.”

His gaze lingered on Varius for a heartbeat longer than the rest—not friendly, not hostile. Appraising. Then it slid to Yumi, the great scythe resting near her feet, and to Emily, whose questions had cut closer to the bone than most steel ever did.

“There is a mind behind this,” Ryota continued. “And it is close enough to touch us already.”

A low murmur rippled through the hall.

“The dead adapt because they are guided. Whether by a sorcerer, a relic, or something worse, I do not yet know. What I do know is this: Nan Gau will not survive if we chase ghosts into the mountains while our walls crumble.”

He turned slightly, gesturing toward the wide paper map laid across the central table—a rough charcoal sketch of Nan Gau, its gates, its streets, the northern approach marked by jagged strokes.

“We hold. We observe. We respond.”
A claw tapped the map once. “No one acts alone.”

Before further orders could be given—

A horn sounded.

Not the deep, steady alarm horn that signaled a confirmed breach.

This one was short. Sharp. Uncertain.

A beastkin runner burst through the meeting hall doors, breath ragged, fur bristling.

“Western approach!” he barked in Bestial before switching to Common. “Movement in force—undead silhouettes in the ash fog! At least a hundred—maybe more!”

Almost on cue, the air in the hall changed.

A chill slid along exposed skin. The lantern flames flickered, bending unnaturally, as if pressed by an unseen current. From outside came the sound of wind—too sudden, too directional—carrying with it the faint smell of rot and burned mana.

Ryota’s eye narrowed.

“…Too early,” he growled. “They are testing us.”

Another runner shouted from the corridor, this one slower, shaken.

“Commander—visibility is dropping across the city. Fog rolling in from the north and west. It’s… wrong. Hurts to breathe near the corpse pits.”

Outside, through the open hall doors, the morning light dimmed as a grayish haze crept between buildings. Shapes moved within it—or seemed to. Shadows doubled, tripled, then vanished when stared at too long. Somewhere beyond the walls, something howled—not undead, not beast, but hungry.

Ryota straightened to his full height, presence filling the room.

“This is the feint,” he announced. “And the storm that comes with it.”

His gaze swept the room, settling briefly on each of them—on steel, on scythe, on trembling resolve, on quiet calculation.

“Frontline forces will not overcommit west.”
“Interior chokepoints remain manned.”
“Anyone with eyes sharp enough to read the fog—watch it.”
“And anyone who feels the mana shift—remember where it pulls.”

Another horn sounded—this one from the north. Longer. More strained.

Nan Gau was being probed from multiple directions now.

The undead had not yet struck.

But the city could feel them breathing at the edges of the world.

What do you do?

Varius heard the horns, could feel the air shift around the city. His eyes locked on the outskirts that surround them. His hand reached for his helmet as he began to place it on his head. He didn't quiver but he knew they'd need to pool where needed. "Sir Nakamura, are there civilians alive and being held somewhere? Other than this Hall? The importance is making sure their survival, even if we fail the buildings we won't fail the people. If things get worse we can make a route for survivors. I'll put my life on the line to make sure your people get out safely." Varius spoke on, his eyes held high with determination even with his self doubt if being here was a good idea, he wasn't going to let his fear get in the way of making sure people were safe. Varius stood up from his chair, as he looked out to the West seeing the fog rolling in now, the smell of death and decay made him shudder, but he didn't recoil or cover his nose. The familiar scent of death wafting over him, even if that death was walking, he wasn't afraid of what's to come but what was around him in close proximity as he rested firm on the window Sill staring out into the fog, seeing shadows dancing, yet he could barely make them out if living or undead.

Youko slides into the door just as the horn sounds her ears flicking at the sudden sound. "I was gonna introduce myself and apologize for my tardiness but obviously right meow is nyat the time for that. We have some undead to beat down and I'm in the mood to kick some evil tooshie. Let's get going." The meko cracks her knuckles and licks her chops ready to punch and kick her way to victory. Her tail swishes behind her in excitement.

She grins as she points to her fuzzy feline ears atop her head "no need to worry. I got the gist as I was walking in nya. My ears are furrociously good. Purrfect for me since I am bad with punctuality. Name's Youko by the way." She is literally bouncing from left to right from how much energy and excitement she has at the prospect of getting to fight a lot of foes. Her body practically radiates excitement and joy.

"Never expected an undead army to be 'morning people'... " KaMara said, tightening the dark metal greaves protecting her legs. "That's just rude and inconsiderate. Probably just scavengers looking for a meal or scouts checking out us new arrivals."
She listened to the runners and their report to Nakamura, taking in their Intel. Customarily, duty assignments were the purview of a direct superior officer...but that was regular forces. KaMara and her cohort were Adventurers and could, at best, be described as Irregulars and thus mostly under their own command. Still, deferring to local commanders was a courtesy. "Sounds like the Front Line has things handled on their end, Commander. You want us on North or West duty?". She acted as if the strange and eerie supernatural disturbances around them didn't bother her in the least.

​
Titles:
Beastkin - Mundane, Small (4ft) - 6ecff6

Things shifted drastically. Both of Itsy's nose and ears twitched at the sound of the horns and the delivery by the runner, his gloved hand closed tightly around the elongated handle of his rapier. "They are already here..." The small elephant shrew muttered, lips pursing momentarily at what there was to come. Jumping off the chair he was sitting on, his boots hit the ground with the softest of thuds.

"I... I have a really good sense of smell and sight. Maybe I can see and smell what is happening through the fog." Adding that, he wondered what Ryota planned for the defense. And, with KaMara's question, he waited to see where the bearkin would put the group of adventurers or what he planned to do about the civilians.

The large bearkin grumbled and looked down at Varius, answering with a sharp, dismissive grunt.

“Harumph.”

“Of course there are civilians,” Ryota rumbled. “Nan Gau’s become a proper castle town over the last few years. The Yamamoto clan sent Hime-sama herself to bring order and protection. With her song, she’s kept these walls safe.”

His words carried confidence right up until the end.

His ears twitched. Brown eyes flicked instinctively toward the battlements beyond the stone. His voice lowered, uncertainty creeping in despite himself.

“…Say. Speakin’ of which. You’d usually hear her song by now.”

He frowned, shook his head hard enough to rattle the armor at his shoulders, and jabbed a clawed finger toward the exit.

“Never mind that. We need to get up to the walls and take stock.”

Ryota led the group from the meeting hall, up a flight of worn stone steps and through a narrow corridor that opened onto the outer walkways. Cold air rushed in at once, sharp and biting. Stone paths curved along the interior of the wall, slick with frost.

Several beastkin had already gathered at the edge, craning for a look beyond the gates. Ears were flat, tails stiff, murmurs carried away by the wind.

“What’s all this?!” Ryota snarled. “Don’t you all have battle positions to be jumpin’ into?!”

A few flinched and scattered immediately. Others lingered, annoyance flashing across tired faces.

One of them straightened.

A rabbitkin with long chestnut hair and tall, upright ears pushed off the parapet where he’d been leaning, eyes still fixed on the swirling wall of snow beyond the gates.

“Oi. That scout of yours has been up there for twelve hours straight,” Usagiashi said flatly. “You might want to keep better track of your men, Nakamura. Could’ve saved us all this false panic.”

Ryota blinked, momentarily thrown off. With all that fur, it was hard to tell, but there was a trace of embarrassment in the way his shoulders stiffened.

“False panic?” he growled. “What are you ramblin’ on about, Usagiashi?”

The rabbitkin only shook his head and turned away, raising his voice toward the gatehouse.

“What’re you waitin’ for? Open the gates. Commander Rextelian’s back from his mission.”

The reaction was immediate.

Beastkin snapped into formation with practiced ease, lining up shoulder to shoulder despite their hollow cheeks and drawn expressions. It was not impressive, no polished banners or gleaming ranks, but it was disciplined.

The gates creaked open just wide enough for a single-file column.

And through they came.

At their head walked a figure with two curled horns rising from platinum blond hair. His cool blue eyes swept across the gathered soldiers as he passed, and one by one they stiffened beneath his gaze. The beastkin behind him wore the same look, vacant and cold, drained of anything resembling triumph.

These were not soldiers returning victorious.

Once the gates shut behind them and the wind was cut off, the column formed up quickly.

Ryota glanced back at the adventurers, then straightened as the horned man approached.

“Nakamura,” Commander Rextelian said evenly. “We need to discuss your choice of sentries. And your scheduling.”

“Aye, sir…” Ryota muttered.

The commander’s gaze lingered just long enough to press the weight of his displeasure home before sliding to the adventurers. He assessed them one by one in silence.

“These are the adventurers the Guild sent?”

“Aye, sir.”

“You briefed them on Nan-Li?”

“…No, sir.”

Silence stretched.

Commander Rextelian held his stare on Ryota for a long, uncomfortable moment before finally turning back to the group.

“What have they been briefed on, Yoriki?”

“They know there’s a horde gatherin’ in the north,” Ryota said, recovering some confidence. “And that they’re intelligent.”

The commander nodded once, then sighed. He pinched the bridge of his nose and waved a hand.

“As you were.”

The soldiers immediately dispersed, resuming their duties as if nothing had happened.

Rextelian turned fully to the adventurers.

“You’ve been hired as extra muscle for a mission we can’t afford to fail,” he said. “If you couldn’t tell already, our people are starving. A hamlet near here was destroyed a few months ago by the undead. It was our primary source of food.”

He motioned for them to follow, continuing as he walked. A red-haired kitsune kept pace beside him, her sharp eyes daring anyone to stare too long.

“I’d like to say you were hired to help us reclaim it. Nan-Li is nearly sacred land. There’s a hot spring beneath it. It keeps the soil fertile year-round. Without it, farming in these mountains is near impossible.”

His jaw tightened. The kitsune mirrored the expression.

“But even if we retake it, it can be taken again.”

They were led back into the meeting room. Rextelian stopped at the center, voice steady and absolute.

“Perhaps, if this mission succeeds, that won’t be a problem anymore.”

He looked up, eyes sweeping the room.

“Tonight, we have a specific target. Among the undead, there is one that stands apart. It rides a horse. Wherever it appears, the dead rise. Fallen friends. Family. Anyone who dies near it.”

He let the words settle.

“This rider carries a dagger. Iceknife, as it’s been called.”

His gaze hardened.

“It’s a relic. Very old. Very dear to the Yamamoto clan. And they do not want it known that it’s currently in the hands of an undead monster.”

The implication was clear.

“We move toward Nan-Li near dusk. That’s where the last storms were sighted, north as Nakamura told you. Until then, there’s a little food in the mess hall.”

A pause.

“Don’t expect seconds.”

He straightened.

“Are there any further questions?”