Meissa was about to respond when she suddenly felt a warmth envelop her arms. It sprayed out of the pedestal like champagne from a freshly popped bottle, drenching the area in its light. Before she could formulate a plan of action, she heard a growl overhead. She had a feeling her suspicions were correct, that this was a seal and she'd inadvertently released whatever was inside. She'd had run-ins with massive, energy-filled entities that had been sealed for one reason or another, and she was fairly confident she'd lose a fight with any of them as she was now.
Canto, be ready to escape, she thought at her bird-shaped spirit companion. It climbed out of her backpack and took up station on her shoulder. She saw through its eyes the strange golden figures that peeked out from the pillars and the glowing cloud overhead. That it wasn't attacking them meant it wasn't presently hostile, but that could change at a moment's notice. Eventually its gaze locked on to the figures by the pillars.
"Stay near me," she whispered to Yokogara as she pulled herself upright. She tilted her head up toward the entity that watched them. Part of her didn't want to speak and break the tension, but she beat that part down. There was no guarantee they would win if she and Yokogara fought this entity, and not even any real guarantee they could escape even with Canto's help. Talking to this creature, if they could, might be their best chance to escape.
She cleared her voice.
"Apologies for awakening you," she called up to the cloud. "We are travelers far from home and knew not what this area was, save for some local legends. My name is Meissa, and I came searching for the reason Fades avoid this area. If you'll pardon the question, how should we address you?"
A bead of sweat rolled down the back of her neck. Having already felt seasick from the overabundance of mana, she was now feeling even more shaky from the stress of the situation. Being surrounded like this was uncomfortable, to say the least, but at the same time she felt surprisingly calm. Despite risking their lives by talking to this great beast--perhaps doubly so for addressing it as she had--she found the warmth of the light soothing. Hopefully the light wasn't hungry.
Current Goal: Pondering her position in the world.
Canto (Steel, C, love): Inhabiting a rough wooden bird totem. Appears as a palm-sized bird with very angular features and feathers that have a distinct metallic sheen.
Clothing: Reinforced Clothing (D-Rank, Scale 5/5), Weather Clothing (includes a white cloak) Weaponry: Senbon x30 (in a bundle on her belt, below her backpack) Backpack:
Bedroll (tied to the bottom of the backpack, blocking sight of the senbon from behind) Spool of steel wire (28 meters; clipped to the side of the backpack) Loop of steel wire (2 meters; wrapped around one wrist)
Majestic Sugar
Royal Taorito
Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2022 5:01 pm
ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴀɴʏ:Meissa & Mysterious Light Entitiesxxxxxxᴍᴏᴏᴅ:Tensexxxxxxsᴛᴀᴛᴜs:Healthy | Coldxxxxxxʟᴏᴄᴀᴛɪᴏɴ:South-West Branch of Tsukihara Forest | Near a Large Ice Pillar and a pedestal
Everything happened faster than Yokogara was comfortable with, and it took every fiber of his being to not run the moment it all popped off.
Not too long after he had spoken, a blinding light flashed out of the pedestal. It glistened gold, practically blinding them, and even though his eyes were shielded by hair, he had no choice but to raise his arm instinctively at how bright the pedestal had become. However, he expected some monstrous being to come out of the pedestal, to reek havoc on them for being in it's domain, it's property, but that's not how he felt. The light that bathed them was actually gentle. A warmth he didn't remember feeling, at least not in a long time. He removed his arm briefly from his eyes as he watched the bright light seemingly shift and change shape, turning into shapes that seemed vaguely reminiscent of people. They didn't seem to want to harm them, at least not yet. Yokogara felt sweat bead down his forehead at all the eyes on them. He didn't really like where this was going, however, he chose not to do anything yet. The faceless beings were seemingly hiding from them, just as cautious as they were themselves at their presence. Yokogara would keep his cool, as long as they didn't make any hasty movements. He didn't trust this one bit.
Just as he thought that was the end of it all, the light itself seemed to take form, growing and becoming a large mound of eminence that floated above them - cloud-like. It made a growl that sent a chill down Yoko's spine, but otherwise, it didn't make any other movements. Yokogara's lip curled up in a tense frown, and he found himself glancing over at Meissa. She seemed just as tense as he did, but seemed more confident enough to speak to it. The cloudy figure might be some higher power they accidentally unleashed, but it didn't seem hostile. If it did, it would have attacked and possibly killed them at this point. He could only hope it stayed that way. He heard Meissa whisper to him to stay close, which he did. He found himself stepping a little closer to her, keeping himself as visibly calm as possible. He didn't make any move for his weapon. He thought if he did so, it would only antagonize the entity before them, and cause it to go aggro. He'd prefer to avoid that at the moment. So, as Meissa cleared her voice to speak, he stayed quiet, arms crossed in front of him as he paid attention to the wary entities around them.
He listened as she apologized for them waking the entity, and introduced them as travelers far from home who knew nothing of the area they were in, save for local legends. She introduced herself by name, and she stated she came in search for the reason behind why the Fades avoid this place. She soon pardoned herself for her next question, where she asked how they should address the clouded entity. Yokogara stayed silent, not making any notion to introduce himself unless asked otherwise. He'd rather not have to be called by name by the strange entity, but if it was asked of him to state his name, he'll do it, for the sake of keeping himself alive.
• A Katana that has seen some wear and tear. [Durability 20//30] • A small dagger [Durability 30] • An old composite bow [Durability 21//30] • [20] Arrows • Hidden Pockets Clothing • Makeshift bag full of [6] small fish, and [1] large fish.
Yokogara's Backpack:
• One Person Tent • Bedroll • Flint and Steel • Skinning Knife • Blanket • Sketchbook (For marking and recognizing locations) • Pencil x6 • Rope, 20 meters • Twine, 40 Meters • Fishing Hook
If the luminous beings heard Meissa speak, they gave no indication, continuing to stare in apprehension at the great mound of light before them. That is until their eyes turned away and the group parted and a lone figure stepped forward. Although features were undefined, the slender frame suggested a feminine nature. And as it approached the figure took on a proper human form. She wore a fine dress, albeit tattered, and her long hair was pulled back with a bejeweled pin. Her weary eyes seemed to stare through the pair, having eyes only for what lay behind them. The grumble from the mound grew in a great growl it shifted, causing the very earth to tremble with its motions. This seemed to only reinforce the girls steely gaze.
Should either Meissa or Yokogara turn at the sound, they would find the great head of what could only be described as a dragon rise from the mass of light as its body, too, took on a proper form. But before they could react, the girl reached them and... passed through them. As she did, the world burst into light once more before everything went black.
----------
Meissa would be the first to wake, realizing perhaps that the darkness came from the fact that her eyes were closed. Her body ached as if she had travelled a great distance, and the ground beneath her was cold and damp. The crackle of fire greeted her ears and, beyond it, sounds of slumber, steady breathing and the occasional snore. But what was likely most alarming, should she open her eyes, was that she saw the world though normal vision, her blindfold missing and nowhere to be found. What's more, the overbearing mana had seemed to vanish along with it.
"Was starting to wonder if I'd have to wake you myself," a quiet voice teased.
It was night time, hence the fire and sleep sounds. The fire illuminated a small clearing where several bodies rested beneath blankets and sleeping bags. Snow had been cleared away to make room for the group, piled to help insulate against the bitter winter winds, but the fire only did so much to stave off the cold. Beyond the walls of snow were familiar pines, and a few stars could be made out in the heavens above. A single tent was propped off to one side, and it was from there that the voice had come.
Sitting before its entrance was a young man, perhaps in his early twenties. He wore a fur-lined coat, the hood pulled up around his pale blonde hair, and was wrapped in a light blanket. Beside him rested a sheathed katana, propped against the tent wall. Tired, hazel eyes observed Meissa with bemusement. "You're up for watch," he said, and gestured slightly at the sleeping bag beside Meissa. "Get Katsuro up. I've gotta piss and I'll grab Takuma while I'm out." With a sigh and a groan, he pushed himself to his feet and headed quickly away from camp.
Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2022 9:40 am
Meissa watched with a mixture of uncertainty, curiosity, and alarm as the light in front of her took on a humanoid form. Alarm quickly overwhelmed the other emotions as a dragon appeared behind her and Yokogara. There was too much happening all at once. They were surrounded. Her thoughts raced. By the time the golden girl started moving, it was already too late. Meissa reached over to push Yokogara out of the way, but before she could complete the motion, everything went black.
Pressure vanished. Without the overwhelming mana surrounding her, she felt light, even though she felt like she'd been moving nonstop for days. She hadn't felt this sore in a long time, not since before she'd been turned into a statue. What was more, it was absolutely freezing, and when she tried to reach back toward Yokogara, she felt only the cold ground. She dealt with a short bout of vertigo as she realized she was lying down.
Her eyes slid open slowly. With some consternation, she realized she was no longer blindfolded. She raised a hand to her face, but couldn't tell if it was hers since it was covered in dirt. She couldn't see enough of the people around her to tell if any were Yokogara, but had a strong suspicion that none were. That meant she was in an unfamiliar encampment, surrounded by unknown people, and possibly wasn't herself. If this was an illusion, it was too high a level for her to deal with right now. The level of detail she was seeing suggested the caster would be someone with a ridiculous affinity for the art. She briefly wondered if the caster was someone she knew, but could only think of one person who'd take the time to put together something with this level of detail, and decided he probably wasn't even alive at this point.
The voice that spoke to her was unfamiliar, but its owner clearly recognized whoever Meissa was supposed to be. She decided to play it cool. She nodded and climbed to her feet. As soon as she did, the wind bit at her face. With a grumble, she ducked back down and walked over to the nearest sleeping bag.
"Get up, Yo-- Katsu, it's our watch," she said as she nudged the sleeping figure with her foot. She had very nearly called this person Yokogara, perhaps out of some lingering hope that she would find something familiar in these circumstances. Just to give herself some cover in case she got the wrong person, she feigned stifling a yawn.
Canto (Steel, C, love): Inhabiting a rough wooden bird totem. Appears as a palm-sized bird with very angular features and feathers that have a distinct metallic sheen.
Clothing: Reinforced Clothing (D-Rank, Scale 5/5), Weather Clothing (includes a white cloak) Weaponry: Senbon x30 (in a bundle on her belt, below her backpack) Backpack:
Bedroll (tied to the bottom of the backpack, blocking sight of the senbon from behind) Spool of steel wire (28 meters; clipped to the side of the backpack) Loop of steel wire (2 meters; wrapped around one wrist)
As suspected, Meissa would find that she was not exactly herself. Still female but taller and older, and definitely built more physically inclined, the body she appeared to inhabit seemed to be that of a soldier. Although perhaps being told to take guard duty also hinted at that. As did the sword that sat beside her bedroll.
The young man in the sleeping bag next to her didn't look like Yokogara either. Perhaps late teens, he had olive skin similar to the body Meissa bore, and what seemed to be traditionally native to the area of what was presumably still the Tsukihara region. Maybe these were soldiers of what used to be Tsukihara-hana.
Yokogara would feel a nudge to his side, along with being called a name that was very much not his own by an unfamiliar voice. Upon waking he would experience the same shocking change of scenery, the only difference being the noticeable sounds beyond the snow barrier that surrounded the camp. Crunching snow of someone walking away, and, faintly, night-time animal noises in the distance (specific details to Yokogara; Meissa cannot hear these as well).
Everything was moving faster than Yokogara could comprehend. The being that Meissa had been talking to had not spoken to them, yet, the movements of the other faceless beings had kept the male on edge. His unseen eyes observed the figures, and between the vaguely shaped beings walked out another person from the shadows. The figure also seemed to not have any exact details to their figure, but they appeared to be female, or at least feminine looking. She was a bright golden hue, and wore a ruined dress with long hair pulled back, and despite the lack of any other features, distinctive eyes stared between them towards the large mound of clouds they had been trying to speak with. A growl of sorts came from it, and Yokogara turned to see that the cloudy being had started to shift its shape, morphing into something reminiscent of a dragon. Yokogara felt his body move on instinct, hand moving straight to his katana’s hilt at his waist. He watched the figure that had joined them late walk towards them, and he was about to question their motives, before they passed through them. The sensation was… strange. But not much could prepare Yoko for what happened next. As the world suddenly burst into light, Yoko barely managed to see Meissa trying to move towards him, arm reaching over to try to push him out of the way. The light was all consuming, but before anything else could transpire, his vision was engulfed in darkness.
It felt as if he was floating in nothing for awhile. Was he dreaming? When had he simply gone to sleep? He couldn’t quite understand what was going on, but eventually, he felt a nudge to his side, and he blinked his eyes open. His sight was free of hair, and he first noticed the unfamiliar woman lowered next to him. She was calling him by a different name, and sounded of no one he had encountered before. “What the hell?” He said, narrowing his eyes and already suspicious of her motives. He shifted to stand, quickly maneuvering his body so that he would be a good distance from the woman if she were to strike, but with the motion, he started to take in the change in the environment, and himself.
His skin tone was different, as well as his body. He was taller, and seemed to be dressed in something completely different. He looked at himself as if in disbelief, and then noticed the sleeping mounds of others around them. The space around them was different from where they were before. He picked up sounds that he couldn’t directly see, and he glanced around out of uncertainty. He heard the sounds of snow being crunched under a thick boot, and distant chirping and shifting of animals that moved along in the night. He was nervous of what he was experiencing, and looked back at the woman that had awoken him. He wasn’t sure what to believe, but his body had shifted appearance. He didn’t know where Meissa could be, and he was nervous to ask in case he had to somehow play it cool. If anything, Meissa might not have been around. The sounds he was hearing were not nearby, yet sounded so close. Did he inherit some sort of super hearing? Had the time around them changed, and if it did, where and when were they? It couldn’t be the future, could it? But why did he look so different?
Yokogara found himself pulled from his thoughts as he eyed the woman again. He was still suspicious of her, but he decided to play it safe. She had called him Katsu. Was he somehow someone else? Well, with the change of body type, it would make sense. He sighed softly, relaxing his tense nerves and walking back over to her. If Katsu was his name, then he would play the role, for now. “So, uh, you. We’re on watch, you said?” He said, unsure of what the woman’s name before him was. He had glanced around swiftly as if to keep a look out for Meissa anywhere, but he wasn’t sure what to make of the circumstance he found himself in. He was still at a loss for words at how this all happened, and the lingering memories of what had happened beforehand was somehow painting a picture for him. But he didn’t know what to honestly believe anymore. This was bizarre on its one accord. However, he had to think of the present. They were supposed to be on watch? He guessed they were supposed to watch over the sleeping bodies around them. He glanced around for his katana and noticed that it was nowhere to be seen. He grumbled under his breath, but stayed quiet. He’d find another one if he had to. Out of respect, he reached an arm out to her, hopefully to help the olive-skinned woman up off the ground. However, a question danced in the back of his mind, and he wondered if he should ask the other woman.
• A Katana that has seen some wear and tear. [Durability 20//30] • A small dagger [Durability 30] • An old composite bow [Durability 21//30] • [20] Arrows • Hidden Pockets Clothing • Makeshift bag full of [6] small fish, and [1] large fish.
Yokogara's Backpack:
• One Person Tent • Bedroll • Flint and Steel • Skinning Knife • Blanket • Sketchbook (For marking and recognizing locations) • Pencil x6 • Rope, 20 meters • Twine, 40 Meters • Fishing Hook
The weight of her foot took Meissa by surprise. It felt lighter than it had just a minute ago, but it looked much bulkier. Come to think of it, pretty much every part of her felt much sturdier than it had before she woke up here. Her voice was different, too. That sealed it: this wasn't her body. Who was she, then? She'd have to try to ferret out her name from someone before it became an issue.
"Mm," Meissa responded coolly to Katsu's confusion. She wasn't sure what relationship the owner of this body had with him, so she defaulted to thinking of him as a fellow soldier. Her lips pulled up into a smirk. "Not in the mood for jokes. Get up already."
She turned her collar against the wind and retrieved her sword. It was peculiar how her body remembered how to hold the blade even when she was in control. There was a curious moment of dissociation when she grasped the weapon firmly with her whole hand instead of with her fingers, as was her wont when she wasn't rushed. What's more, she felt her anxiety abate slightly as the nicks and scratches of the handle settled into unfamiliar grooves on her own hand.
She tied the blade to her back and headed over to the snow wall, away from the stink of the fire. Cautiously, she peered out into the forest. It looked so uninviting now compared to how it had looked in the light of day. She turned toward where the person who'd awoken her had gone. Would he and Takuma come from that same direction? What did keeping watch mean to these people? And what were they looking out for?
Current Goal: Feeling surprisingly like herself, with a dash of confusion.
Canto (Steel, C, love): Inhabiting a rough wooden bird totem. Appears as a palm-sized bird with very angular features and feathers that have a distinct metallic sheen.
Clothing: Reinforced Clothing (D-Rank, Scale 5/5), Weather Clothing (includes a white cloak) Weaponry: Senbon x30 (in a bundle on her belt, below her backpack) Backpack:
Bedroll (tied to the bottom of the backpack, blocking sight of the senbon from behind) Spool of steel wire (28 meters; clipped to the side of the backpack) Loop of steel wire (2 meters; wrapped around one wrist)
The person who had nudged him from his sleeping state seemed to have a rather cool personality. She was fit and it was obvious to him that she had fought in many battles, and at least had trained for many years. It was a personality he had never encountered, and Meissa seemed a lot more relaxed than the person before him. Deep down, he hoped she was okay.
Yokogara, or well, Katsu, rolled his eyes at the smirk sent his way, and the small comment of her not joking and telling him to get up. Despite the slight annoyance bubbling inside of him, he followed her suggestion, getting up and gathering whatever supplies were next to him that he could only surmise belonged to him. He was with a bow as his choice of weaponry, and he looked it over. It was a stark contrast from his own weapon, and he missed the use of his katana, but this would have to do. He strapped it down across his torso before his eyes followed the woman that had awoken him. She had picked up her own weapon and moved over to the wall that surrounded their small encampment. He followed after her, watching his footing as he walked around the other sleeping individuals. He watched as she peered out into the thicket of the trees around them, and he did the same. With his enhanced hearing, he could only guess that the sounds of walking further outside of their area of hold was another person, but deep down, he wasn’t sure. Either way, it sounded like they were moving further away from them, and didn’t seem as if it was hurried. Otherwise, he listened out for anything else that could be amiss.
His body was tense, as if constantly on high alert. He didn’t know exactly what was happening, and as he looked around the area, the lack of light made it slightly harder to see, it was reminiscent of where they were before, but different somehow. Where was that strange dragon cloud thing? Or the female they had seen? Where was the pedestal they had walked up to? Were they really in the same place? And what happened to his original body? A lot coursed through his mind, but he knew he had to keep himself focused on their little ‘task’ at hand. They had to watch over and supposedly keep an eye out for anything while their allies, he could only assume that was the case, were sound asleep.
A creeping suspicion started to course through him as a possible guess as to what they were searching for traveled through his mind. He hoped they’d be safe-ish inside of their wall.
• A Katana that has seen some wear and tear. [Durability 20//30] • A small dagger [Durability 30] • An old composite bow [Durability 21//30] • [20] Arrows • Hidden Pockets Clothing • Makeshift bag full of [6] small fish, and [1] large fish.
Yokogara's Backpack:
• One Person Tent • Bedroll • Flint and Steel • Skinning Knife • Blanket • Sketchbook (For marking and recognizing locations) • Pencil x6 • Rope, 20 meters • Twine, 40 Meters • Fishing Hook
Meissa sighed, her warm breath turning to crystals and dancing away on the frigid wind. She scanned her surroundings again, saw nothing amiss, then crouched down behind the wall and clenched her eyes shut. Part of her hoped that when she opened them again, all this would be a bad dream. That wasn't why she did it, though; no, that reason was much more mundane.
"God I hate the wind here," she complained, bringing one hand up to her eyes. "No damn class. Look for too long and your eyes dry out like lizard jerky." Her fingertips traced a path back and forth across her eyelids, bringing some warmth back to her dry eyes. "God forbid I try to take in the view... oi, Katsu, how far out you think Takuma is? I don't wanna get spooked when the last shift decides it's time to come back in."
Current Goal: Dealing with dry eye and creeping impatience.
Canto (Steel, C, love): Inhabiting a rough wooden bird totem. Appears as a palm-sized bird with very angular features and feathers that have a distinct metallic sheen.
Clothing: Reinforced Clothing (D-Rank, Scale 5/5), Weather Clothing (includes a white cloak) Weaponry: Senbon x30 (in a bundle on her belt, below her backpack) Backpack:
Bedroll (tied to the bottom of the backpack, blocking sight of the senbon from behind) Spool of steel wire (28 meters; clipped to the side of the backpack) Loop of steel wire (2 meters; wrapped around one wrist)
Majestic Sugar
Royal Taorito
Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2022 4:19 pm
Majestic Sugar
Ergo War
No sooner had she spoken that the pair passed the young man who had spoken to Meissa, as well as another figure that seemed more than a little cold. Takuma, presumably, from what he had told Meissa. The brooding male kept walking as the man she'd spoken to paused. "Nothing exciting has happened, but Takuma said he thought he heard something speaking in the distance. So stay on your toes." He looked back the way he'd come, up the mountain that was likely more than a familiar sight for Meissa and Yokogara. "If we want to see an end to this, we got to get Lady Kimi to the city. And we're in their territory."
No further explanation was given, keeping everything as shrouded in confusion as it had been. He simply clapped Meissa on the shoulder and kept walking. Despite the man's jovial nature, a weariness settled about him, one that suggested a long and painful struggle. Left alone, the pair found themselves in the muted silence of the night.
Following tracks would lead maybe fifty yards from the campsite. Through the trees the firelight was barely visible. Takuma and, presumably, the other man, had made a 'comfortable' spot for themselves in the snow that provided minimal warmth but was better than facing the bitter wind. Leaves fluttered and somewhere a crow squawked but there was no sign of the 'voices' Takuma had heard, not even to Yokogara's borrowed sensitive ears.
ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴀɴʏ:Strange Woman & Two other Strange Menxxxxxxᴍᴏᴏᴅ:Tense/Uncertain/Nervous/Confusedxxxxxxsᴛᴀᴛᴜs:Healthyxxxxxxʟᴏᴄᴀᴛɪᴏɴ:Some campsite?
Yoko was tense as they patroled together, looking out into the surrounding brush with nothing but his hearing to help with any detection. From their view, nothing seemed out of place. It was a little concerning, but he tried his best to ignore the unease he felt in his stomach. His attention was briefly pulled to the woman beside him, who he wasn’t sure of the name. He would try to avoid saying her name incorrectly until he heard it from someone else. She complained about hating the wind, and it having no damn class. She stated that if you looked for too long, your eyes dried out like lizard jerky, which sounded familiar to the stoic man, but he kept his mouth shut. He had to admit, the wind was quite harsh. He blinked a few times himself, as if easing the dryness from his own eyes before listening to her complain a little more. That seemed to be her thing, it seemed. She called out to him, Katsu, and asked how far out he thought Takuma was. She didn’t want to get spooked when the last shift came in. He had to remember that was his name now, wherever or whoever he was supposed to be. Before he could answer her though, they came across the man she was apparently talking about, along with someone else in his company. Takuma seemed to be the colder one, who didn’t seem much for conversation. Made it easier for Yokogara. His attention moved from the brooding male to the other who answered in their steed. He stated that nothing exciting had happened, but Takuma had stated he thought he heard someone talking in the distance. He warned them to be on their guard. Yokogara took a quick glance around, his ears straining for anything in the distance. So far, he hadn't heard anything. He could only guess they were in the clear for now. He followed the man’s gaze, who looked up towards a mountain that he had definitely remembered seeing before. It was a comforting sight to see something familiar in this otherwise unfamiliar situation. Yoko listened to the man speak as he stated that if they wanted to see the end of this, they had to get Lady Kimi to the city, then pointed out they were in someone’s territory. The emphasis on the word ‘their’ made Yokogara uneasy, but with no extra explanation, he decided to take it at face value. They were in enemy territory, and they had to be careful. They were escorting someone he could only guess was royalty of some sort, if she needed this many people watching over her. Who this Lady Kimi was, he had no idea. He just hoped the trip to bring her to the city was worth it.
They were soon left alone once again to scout. They walked the same path for a while, and Yokogara took glances around them before turning his eyes to the female beside him. She didn’t look like anyone he had ever seen, and though he himself was in an entirely different body, he moved fluidly in it. Like they were one in the same. It was sort of creepy. The silence of the night continued to shroud them, and the cold weather only made Yokogara wish he was anywhere but escorting some fancy woman to her home, presumably. They were a considerable distance from the campsite, and though it was probably best for them to rest, Yoko couldn’t even think of settling down in the snow. He was far from tired. If anything, he was more confused and nervous about what he was going through. He kept his ears out, well, Katsu’s ears out for anything amid the silence, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. The whistling of the wind passing through the trees, the sounds of crows in the distance, and leaves fluttering along the wind’s path, but no voices. Either the people Takuma was talking about were far gone by now, or the man’s hearing was better than his own. But Yokogara would continue to concentrate on their environment, since that was the best he could do at the moment. He didn’t know what other skill sets he was meant to have, so avoiding danger before it struck was the best thing in his case.
• A Katana that has seen some wear and tear. [Durability 20//30] • A small dagger [Durability 30] • An old composite bow [Durability 21//30] • [20] Arrows • Hidden Pockets Clothing • Makeshift bag full of [6] small fish, and [1] large fish.
Yokogara's Backpack:
• One Person Tent • Bedroll • Flint and Steel • Skinning Knife • Blanket • Sketchbook (For marking and recognizing locations) • Pencil x6 • Rope, 20 meters • Twine, 40 Meters • Fishing Hook
Ergo War
Royal Taorito
Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2022 4:26 pm
Meissa breathed a sigh of relief at the last shift's report. She'd almost jumped out of her skin when the duo popped out of the trees, but quickly tried to play it off like she was just stretching to keep warm. Excitement was never something you wanted on a job like this.
She mumbled something indistinct to the folks from the last shift and rubbed her hands together. The act was simultaneously calming and totally alienating. The pure physical sensation of the act helped to ground her in this frigid forest, but everything that made up the movement--the rough calluses where her hands had held a sword, the weight of her arms, the goosebumps that rose where the wind hit her--all of it just reinforced how out of place she was. Ostensibly she was this person and had been all along, but she felt more like a passenger looking out through their eyes. How long ago had she been enjoying a nice bowl of venison stew in Ikeinasu? A nice, hot stew in a steamy restaurant on a cold mountain. What was Lorelei doing right now? What about Servus?
Meissa felt her thoughts start to spiral and opted to refocus on something more pressing: the details of this body's mission. From what she could gather, they were escorting some noblewoman to a city, and their numbers probably had to do with whatever had claimed this area as its own, be it beast or bandit. Really, there wasn't much of a difference between the two if she was just hired muscle. Each was problematic, but simple to deal with. No, there was another possibility, now that she thought about it: oni. And her, without a sprite.
She took a deep breath, then rested one hand on the hilt of her sword in what she hoped was a way that looked natural for this body. She scanned the trees quietly, pausing briefly to glance at Katsu but not saying anything. She was starting to get her bearings in this new world, thanks in no small part to the mountain that rose in the background. She wondered if the ruins of the city she'd seen on that mountain from Ikeinasu were Lady Kimi's final destination.
Canto (Steel, C, love): Inhabiting a rough wooden bird totem. Appears as a palm-sized bird with very angular features and feathers that have a distinct metallic sheen.
Clothing: Reinforced Clothing (D-Rank, Scale 5/5), Weather Clothing (includes a white cloak) Weaponry: Senbon x30 (in a bundle on her belt, below her backpack) Backpack:
Bedroll (tied to the bottom of the backpack, blocking sight of the senbon from behind) Spool of steel wire (28 meters; clipped to the side of the backpack) Loop of steel wire (2 meters; wrapped around one wrist)
Majestic Sugar
Royal Taorito
Ergo War
Enduring Guildsman
Offline
Dreamatic
Astounding Prophet
Offline
Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2022 10:58 pm
≡ Icy winds swept through the forest, carrying the promise of a long winter as silvery moonlight filtered across the snow through barren trees. Piercing red blood red eyes gazed out at the horizon, from where a slim feminine figure crouched high above in the treetops, carefully surveying the dense landscape.
She did indeed feel grateful for the snow and the chilling temperature of the night, for the intense cold and the element darkness were what her very being was most well adapted to. To Celeste, there had always been something strangely comforting about frost, for the very element itself seemed to dance across her smooth porcelain skin in the shimmers of silver ice crystals. The delicate features of her face grew tense, the look in her eyes now simmering with focus and the dire intent of hunting. Celeste could feel the raw sensation of hunger beginning to rip through her. Her predatory white canines, both a pristine pearly white color, elongated and grew sharper in response. She drew in a deep inhale of the crisp night air, her soft pink lips parting for a moment to reveal those fangs, as Celeste carefully studied the scents around her.
There. Somewhere mixed in with the woody aroma of pine trees and the musk of various animals that roamed the land, she was able to detect the familiar pulse of humanoid blood in the distance. Celeste instinctively honed in on the blood that called to her, licking her lips. Her throat held the dull burn of thirst, fueling her senses. She let out a deep breath, doing her best to center herself as her crimson eyes blazed in anticipation. Celeste knew that she would need as much focus as she could manage for the upcoming hunt, despite the discomfort that her thirst caused.
She swept a long silver cloak around her form, a certain shade of iridescent grey that seemed to blend against the surrounding moonlight and snow of the area. With the fluid movement of her hand, she created a brief yet intricate pattern of frost into the bark of a tree, forming a circle to channel her magic. As Celeste placed her hand atop the frost she'd generated, the frost itself seemed to spread across her entire figure in a series of shimmers and the haze of wind. When the process was complete, she knew that this particular camouflage would completely conceal her form. Celeste suddenly moved in a blur of speed, silent amidst the trees as she leapt across branches, now only a few yards away from the group she was tracking. When she paused, the camouflage took place, completely concealing her form in a shroud of wind and snow.
From where she was perched, Celeste could detect the muffled conversations of who she assumed were human mortals-- Her most delectable form of prey. But despite this, Celeste planned on only taking the amount of blood needed to satisfy her hunger assuming the hunt was successful, a certain mindset that was a rarity among her kind. She paused where she was, creating another circle of ice to channel a secondary effect, layering it upon the previous camouflage she'd strategically placed on herself.
A cloud of frost began to creep in from the trees to where the soldiers were gathered. The frost formed a thick, hazy fog of frigid coldness around where they each stood. Celeste moved closer, now as close to invisible as she could manage with these two camouflages layered upon each other. She focused her senses to honing in on two of the soldiers, a woman who seemed to be resting on the hilt of her sword and a male walking down the lone trail before him. Now much closer, Celeste did her best to recenter herself, as she silently strategized within her mind the most effective way to strike.
☽ Location:Camouflaging within the snowxxxxxx Current State:Bloodthirstxxxx☾ Company: Those whom she's hunting
Spells Currently In Use: - Hiding in Frost Rank: D | Strength: -- | Speed: -- Description: The user covers the surrounding area in a thick frost in which they can camouflage themselves with and then sneak up on the enemy to attack or assassinate them. Works in every other way like Hiding in Mist, but cannot be seen through with the Mist Vision spell.
-• Hada no Kamereon [ Chameleon Skin ] →→Rank: E →→P/S. Sense: Sight // - →→Base Duration // Upkeep: 6 Posts // 5 Chakra →→Source: Visual Phantasm →→Description: Forming Chakra in the area around them, the user creates a basic Genjutsu whose purpose is to help blend their body in with whatever surroundings are available. The illusion is not perfect how ever and higher ranked Shinobi are far more adept in seeing through the Genjutsu.
Inventory:
• Weapons: Falcata Sword, Repeating Crossbow, One Dagger, Arrows [20/20] • Attire: Super Light Armor [Formfitting black leather armor and laced boots], Weather Clothing [Long silver cloak with a hood to block out the rays of the sun], Normal Attire [A short black silk dress], Ruby Amulet •Silk satchel of Supplies: Rope [40 meters], Whetstone, Bedroll with light-blocking fabric, Waterskins [2], Soaps [4], Glass Vials [3], Ancient Journal
Ergo War
Majestic Sugar
Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2022 7:00 pm
Majestic Sugar
Ergo War
Dreamatic
Some time passed uneventfully, but the sharp cold likely left the pair aware of every moment of it. Where- or whenever they were, the region certainly hadn't changed much from what they knew of their home. Which one could say is a bit of a comfort. But familiarity only helped so much.
One would think if a predator were nearby all would be silent. And animals were generally silent this night, but it couldn't be described as absent of sound. Which is why a sudden light bolting through the darkness likely came as a surprise to their watchful eyes. However instead of being some sort of targeted attack, the small light sped around the pair where it came to a stop behind them, as if hiding. If they were to look, they would find what appeared to be a small greenish wisp floating in the air, small arms covering what would presumably be eyes had it had any. The light trembled, perhaps in fear, though at first there didn't seem to be any reason why.
Until a hellish baying filled the air. It wasn't like that of wolves howling, but more of a strange scream mixed with a hunting hound. Crashing through the trees and undergrowth not a moment later were three four-legged beasts, 'beasts' as the descriptor because outside of being quadrupedal their body seemed to flow in a generally beast-like shape. And they were rather large, wavering between hip and chest height as they moved. The only physical part of them appeared to be skull-like stones where their heads presumably were, eyes glowing with a blue fire. Jaws gaped, unhinged, as the first of the pack came in range of the pair and lunged at Meissa, aiming to grab her throat. The other two took the distraction to split off to the sides, intent on circling around them.
ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴀɴʏ:Strange Woman & Two other Strange Menxxxxxxᴍᴏᴏᴅ:Tense/Uncertain/Nervous/Confusedxxxxxxsᴛᴀᴛᴜs:Healthyxxxxxxʟᴏᴄᴀᴛɪᴏɴ:Some campsite?
The silence that had developed between them had left him feeling both at ease, and uncertain. It was almost as if it had been too quiet for too long, yet, that was beyond his control. There was nothing to converse about. All he could do was listen out for what was going on around them, in an attempt to make sure they weren’t caught by surprise. They had already been warned of voices of some kind from somewhere off in the distance, but he guessed that it would have to wait for some sort of confirming sound to reach his own ears. Or Katsu’s, for that matter. Despite the languid movements of his body, showing a sense of synchronization between him and the person he was inhabiting, he was still vaguely disconnected from the body. He still felt strange, and was growing more and more hyper aware of how he wasn't the right person. A sense of misidentity, if he had to give it a name. Glancing at the woman next to him, she seemed at peace with what was going on, a veteran. If only he knew he was standing side by side with his original traveling companion before this strange moment in time came into fruition. He just hoped that whatever had sucked him into this realm would spit him out soon, and he could at least check to see if Meissa herself was alright. It just felt weirder and weirder walking alongside someone completely different.
Aside from the lack of conversation, and the uncomfortable sensations he felt personally, he looked out into the snow-covered terrain around them. For now, he felt okay. The area seemed at least somewhat familiar, so it wasn’t as if they were trekking through undiscovered lands, per say. It just seemed like a different time. However, before he had much of a chance to really take in the environment, the sudden light he could see in the distance seemed to zip past them, passing by as fast as it had appeared. He was confused at first, following the light as it made a stop behind him, and he saw what looked like a small wisp of sorts, green in coloration and seemingly hiding from them. Or whatever it had been running from beforehand. Yoko looked around in hurried movements, but didn’t see any immediate threat. Until he could hear the distinct hellish hounds in the distance. The howl of the wolves were demented in nature, mixed in screams of a strange otherworldly voice. Three came barreling through the foliage, and they were now kept pinned in by their feral attackers. Yokogara mumbled something to himself before getting ready, his body naturally moving in a defensive manner.
He watched as two of the beings moved to their left and right, and kept an ear out for their movements in the large bushes. The one left behind charged for the woman next to him, and he moved without thought. His hand shifted repeatedly through a series of hand seals, and once he had finished, he surrounded all three of them: him, the woman next to him, and the wisp taking refuge behind them, with a large tower of water, almost acting like a barrier. Using Caustic Flow, he made sure the water wasn’t just a simple sprinkle to pass through, and made it acidic. This would add some form of protection between them and the being arounds them, at least until they could figure out what the hell was going on. He didn’t feel physically strong, which was why he tried to go on the offensive, but for now, he would have to depend on his female companion to make up in strength where he could not fill, especially if the beast ended up coming through his acidic barrier of water. He hoped she’d be able to deal with such a task, and wasn’t holding onto the sword for nothing.
Katsu (Yokogara) Race: Entite (Water) || Classes: Arcanist // Tracker [Sound] Casting Methods: Hand Seals, Magic Circles Rank: C || Armor: None || Element: Water Stats: Power [1] || Agility [3] || Intelligence [4] || Mana [6] Mana Pool: 625 || Stamina Pool: 290 Abilities: • Entite - Spells of their elemental heritage (excluding the manipulation spells) are considered one [1] rank stronger. However, elements of their opposing nature act as one [1] rank stronger against them. Entites are able to use the manipulation spell of their elemental heritage at a one [1] rank reduced cost, to a minimum of [5] mana. • Entite - All Entites have the ability to take on an elemental form of themselves, taking on a form made completely of that element, without anything truly left from their physical form. This form becomes stronger as they grow and is equivalent to their experience rank, although they may choose to take on a weaker rank to conserve energy. While in this state, they can actively manipulate their shape and size, within reason. Likewise, the benefits and weaknesses of all other passives are doubled. Physical attacks made by the user in this state inflict elemental damage half the rank of their form’s rank, and striking the user with a physical attack causes similar damage. The user is virtually immune to physical attacks while in this form, but is vulnerable to magical attacks, taking damage one [1] rank greater from them (and an additional rank from their opposing element, as mentioned before). This form takes one [1] full post to enter, and can be maintained for an upkeep of half the cost of their chosen rank, to a minimum of [5] mana. Half-Entites cannot take this passive. • Sahuagin - Are able to breathe underwater at all times, and find are, when soaked, able to boost either strength or speed of any attack by one half [.5] rank. They are weak to Earth.
• Bloodborn - Born with blood more potent and alien than others, the Bloodborn gains the ability to utilize Blood Ruler spells, though only on the blood they have laid claim to. Blood from their own body is always their own, but blood that has been touched by their Mana becomes claimed. This becomes more noticeable when the blood of a Bloodborn is exposed to air, where the blood does not accept the laws of creation and dances to its own will, often swirling, twisting, and sometimes flowing upwards from the wound. This can be actively suppressed. • Self-Stabilize - Requires Bloodborn. When injured, unless otherwise desired the blood coagulates itself immediately, making bleeding out all but impossible without an outside force acting to actively overcome it. • Godly Fortitude - Immediately gain fifty [50] Energy to disperse as desired between Mana and Stamina, as well as receive an additional thirty [30] additional energy every experience rank, beginning at D - rank. • Caustic Flow - Water elemental spells generated by the character may be made caustic in nature, turning it into a form of acid. There is no increased cost to this ability, but provides an acidic effect against flesh. Water spells can cause first degree burns.
• Artillerist - These characters only have access to one [1] element, instead of the usual two. The chosen element overpowers mana-based spells of the same rank, except when pitted against the element that it is weak against. In that case, they interact as two equally powered techniques, cancelling each other out. The discipline also grants an extra six [6] Spell slots per experience rank, including the rank this discipline is taken. • Assassin - A specialist in hunting prey and striking from the shadows, the Assassin learns to specialize in using magic to obscure their presence and attack with precision. Beginning at D - rank, the Assassin is granted four [4] additional Illusion spells and two [2] Stealth-based Arcanist spells per Experience Rank, with such stealth effects being increased by one [1] rank in strength while maintaining their base cost. Furthermore, an Assassin that has spent at least three [3] posts studying a target may increase the Speed or Strength of their attacks against that target by one [1] rank for the next five [5] posts, after which the counter resets. The choice must be made before the first strike. The post requirement for studying decreases by one [1] at B and S - rank, to a minimum of one [1] post.
• Sage - Half [.5] rank increase to magical strength • Scent Trail - Trackers find their marks by following trails that would be otherwise near invisible to the average person. But they are not born with the gift; it comes from practice and training. While any Tracker is capable of following a trail, those that focus on this training are able to do it faster and better. Each rank trained in this ability reduces the skill level needed to track creatures of equivalent rank by two [2] points. Likewise each rank of training reduces the number of posts required to track a creature of a rank by one [1] per rank. In other words, E-rank training gives a one [1] post reduction to E-rank creatures; D-rank training provides a one [1] post reduction to D-rank, and [2] to E-rank; etc. Training is done by, of course, tracking creatures of those ranks. Training must be repeated for each of the Tracker’s tracking skills (i.e. Normal Animals, Monsters, etc.). • Hunter’s Mark - After spending an E-rank amount of training to learn to do initially, receiving no reductions, this ability is, in a way, relearned for each new target the Tracker receives. By investing a number of posts equal to the rank of the target into gathering information on the target, the Tracker is able to pick up the trail even if it had previously not been found. This information gathering can be from examining details of the specific target to speaking with locals in order to gain the information. • Strider - Terrain can often be difficult to traverse, especially when trying to tail a target. As such, this training teaches them the terrain by practicing in it. Once the training is complete, the Tracker is no longer hindered by the terrain and able to move at full speed in it. This training is repeated for each new terrain type encountered.
Hex Codes = Gold #daa520 | Purple #7851a9
Mana: 50/50 Stamina: 150/150 Experience: 0 Ryo: 0
Inventory:
• A Katana that has seen some wear and tear. [Durability 20//30] • A small dagger [Durability 30] • An old composite bow [Durability 21//30] • [20] Arrows • Hidden Pockets Clothing • Makeshift bag full of [6] small fish, and [1] large fish.
Yokogara's Backpack:
• One Person Tent • Bedroll • Flint and Steel • Skinning Knife • Blanket • Sketchbook (For marking and recognizing locations) • Pencil x6 • Rope, 20 meters • Twine, 40 Meters • Fishing Hook
