Within the sage lands there is a range of mountains that contains a network of caves. These caves are almost pitch black, few dare to go into the caves and even fewer are able to make it back out of the maze-like a network. This is where the Bat summons call their home for years as Caine decided it was the best area he could defend. The maze system acting as a deterrent from people even getting close to them and the ones that do are picked off by the bats themselves. However, there have been rumors of other creatures within these caves from lizards to giant blind mole creatures that can create and destroy mountains. Even worse there are rumors of an old forgotten part of the cave whispered only in secret that, when entered, breaks down a person and all memory of them ever having existed into nothing but a genjutsu itself that slowly fades away. No matter what tale you choose to believe there is one thing most everyone can agree on about these caves; it is a fool's errand to enter the domain of the bats.
Way of the Bat: Despite their insistence to the contrary, the way of the bats is much the same to the tales of the vampires of old. Withering away their enemies until naught but bones remain. Upon entering sage mode, any physical contact with the user during this state drain either stamina or chakra (chosen upon enter sage mode the first time in a battle) equal to the body rank of the sage.
Bat’s Elements: Wind, Earth
Current Sages: 1.Coda [Rocket Punches: Konohagakure] [no contract] 2. 3.
Summoners:
Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2018 1:04 pm
▰▰▰ Anton Rank D | Chakra: 300 | Stamina: 300 Str: 4 | Spd: 0 | Agi: 0 | End: 0 Anton is a large Vampire bat about the size of a normal sized horse. He is the youngest of all the bat summons and this shows with his aggressiveness when it comes to battle. The bat is more than happy to be on the front lines in a combat.
Ability:Screech Anton’s special ability allows him to screech for no chakra cost. This causes those in a twenty-meter diameter to suffer from stage two vertigo for three posts.
Dive Bomb | Rank D | Cost: Stamina Anton flies directly into the sky as high as he can go before coming back down at a rapid speed. As he’s coming down he picks a target to descend upon. Once he is close enough he swipes at the target with both of his claws, causing minor damage to the person if they are unlucky enough to be hit by this attack.
▰ Bat Swarm ▰Category: Instance ▰Rank: D ▰Primary Sense: Sight ▰Additional Senses: Sound, Touch ▰Base Duration: 1 post ▰Upkeep: - ▰Trigger: Anton's screech ▰Source: Visual Phantasms ▰Status Effect: None ▰Description: Anton screeches into the air, sending a pulse of chakra with the sound waves. These sound waves are laced with a genjutsu that causes the victim to see a swarm of bats attacking them. This is meant to serve as a distraction as Anton attacks the person with a body slam.
Vibrations | Rank C | Cost: Chakra Anton uses his chakra to screech into the air like most of his abilities. However, the chakra causes the air to vibrate rapidly and cause internal injuries to those in the range of it. These internal injuries happen in the muscles causing the person to be suffer from stage two paralysis in the legs. The range is directly in front of Anton for up to 30 feet in a cone shape and the color of his chakra makes the waves in the air visible.
▰▰▰ D’Arcy Rank C | Chakra: 600 | Stamina: 400 Str: 2 | Spd: 2 | Agi: 2 | End: 0 D’Arcy is an Indian Flying Fox in the bat species who is the size of a compact sedan. This bat maybe one of the youngest of the summons but, he is the scholar of the group. D’Arcy prefers to study on the island and travel the world consuming more knowledge where he can obtain it. This makes him quite inquisitive with the summoner, trying to get more knowledge that he doesn’t already know. If the summoner can tell him something he doesn’t know, he is much more likely to work with said summoner. Unlike the other bats, D’Arcy prefers to use Ninjutsu as well as opposed to Genjutsu. However, this makes it a strong point for the bat.
Ability:Ability Transfer D’Arcy is able to cast a ninjutsu that if it hits the opponent, it steals a single jutsu from the opponent. This jutsu is completely visible as it appears to be a blue ball made of pure chakra that flies at the opponent (B rank for evasion purpose). However, it only goes in a straight line and is capable of missing. At first the effect of this jutsu will be unnoticed until the person tries to use the jutsu that was taken. This opponent may not use the jutsu for the rest of the battle and D’Arcy may use it instead or allow his summoner to use it. This justu may not be above B rank and must be a ninjutsu, genjutsu, or a custom. Bloodlines may be taken but they cannot be used by either the summon or the summoner, with the exception that the bloodline ability stolen is of the same bloodline as the user. Multiple uses of this ability may be used in a battle but only one ability can be stolen at a time, meaning if you steal a second ability allows the first to be used. The summon does not need to have seen the technique beforehand to use this jutsu.
Deafen | Rank C | Cost: Chakra D’Arcy channels chakra into the air around himself, causing all sound to stop around him, applying the [ Deafness ] status effect. This makes it so that people in the area are not able to hear anything in the range. Also making communication almost impossible for those that have no other means of communication. The range is effectively sixty meters and lasts three posts.
Air Pulse | Rank C | Cost: Chakra D’Arcy is able to flap his wings and causes a large amount of air to be pushed towards an opponent. The technique takes shape in a large bullet appearance as it is sent through the air. It is effectively a Fuuton jutsu for jutsu clash purposes. The main purpose for this technique is to throw the opponent off their feet. If unblocked or blocked using a close-range style technique, an explosion of wind follows afterward that knocks the opponent prone on the ground. Standing up from this position requires an activation be spent righting oneself.
Acidic Spit | Rank B | Cost: Chakra D’Arcy mixes chakra in his saliva to turn its properties into an acid. The bat will then spit the acid at an opponent. Hitting an opponent causes clothing and flesh to dissolve at it’s touch. If the opponent is wearing armor it will suffer varying degrees of degradation. Light armor is instantly degraded causing B rank wounds on the person, medium armor still dissolves but the wearer is unharmed by the attack, heavy armor on the other hand has no effect against until hit a second time, while the wearer is unharmed both on the first and second application. This spit may also be added to a summoner’s weapons or fists to cause a similar effect along with a B ranks worth of damage.
▰▰▰ Esmeralde Rank B | Chakra: 800 | Stamina: 800 Str: 4 | Spd: 0 | Agi: 4 | End: 4 (6) Esmeralde is an Egyptian fruit bat who likes to spend her time in the caves that the bat summons calls their home. The older bat likes to eat fruit and laze about for the most part. She is in particular the second largest bat in the summon contract at about the size of a house. This size seems to be a benefit to her as she is able to use it to defend others and produce larger sensory disruptions.
Ability:Echolocation Esmeralde is able to sense those around her via echo playbacks from releasing tiny amounts of chakra into the air, thereby creating a sound map of the area. This makes it impossible for people to hide, assuming of course that they have a tangible mass. This ability is able to be shared with the summoner so that they may both see where things are. The effective range for this is 500 feet. Anything beyond this cannot be seen via this method.
▰ Blind ▰Category: Enchantment ▰Rank: B ▰Primary Sense: Chakra ▰Additional Senses: - ▰Base Duration: 2 Posts ▰Upkeep: 20 Chakra ▰Trigger: Either catching sight of Esmeralda's wings, or hearing her screech. ▰Source: Mental Psychosis ▰Status Effect: None ▰Description: Esmeralde uses a genjutsu on the opponent to take away their sight from them. This jutsu is triggered by sight or sound based on how Esmeralde chooses. If sight, the opponent must look at her wings as she is channeling the chakra, if sound then all the opponent must do is hear her screech. The opponent will effectively be blind as their mind shuts out sensory signals from the eyes. This mimics tier four blindness for two post.
Exoskeleton | Rank B | Cost: Complex Esmeralde will block a physical attack by making her outer body harder to form a sort of exoskeleton around her. This will give her slightly more bone on her outside as she blocks the attack. Whether it be for herself or her summoner. Esmeralde can also choose to place this jutsu on her summoner to protect them from attacks. This confers a [ 2 ] point endurance buff to the wearer and protection from attacks by reducing damage by the rank of this technique (ability type deficiencies apply)
Sonar Interference | Rank A | Cost: Chakra Esmeralde pulses chakra from her body in waves to interfere with active sensory techniques that are going into the area. This includes dojutsu, ninjutsu, and disciplines. If the person investigates the area, all they will see is a static field that cannot be penetrated by anything less than a S rank technique. Those within the field will see the same thing, effectively preventing them to gather information about their enemies. The field of range is effectively two hundred feet. It lasts for four posts but, can be maintained past that for a C rank amount of chakra per post.
▰▰▰ Celeste Rank A | Chakra: 1100 | Stamina: 700 Str: 2 | Spd: 6 | Agi: 6 | End: 0 Celeste is effectively a human/moth hybrid in the way that she appears. However, she is quite monstrous. The only woman bat summon has three large talons on each side of her wings. Her arms are separated from her wings, each hand having sharp claws for finger nails. Celeste is quite a monster to look at by those who see her. However, she is one of the most talkative of the summons. Her only desire is to be beautiful and is quick to anger if she is told she is anything but.
Ability:Siren Celeste is capable of turning into a human woman that is found to be one of the most beautiful woman people have seen. The henge is considered perfect as no dojutsu can see through it. As the woman she her beauty entices any who can hear or see her figure, causing what is effectively an A-rank enchantement genjutsu that turns those who fall under its spell to become allies of Celeste and her summoner. This ally will defend Celeste and her summoner at all costs until an equal strength kai is used, and is not effected by the opponents sexuality. This effect is also not broken by placing a genjutsu on the target or by the draining effects of the bats. Once broken, this effect has a three post duration before it may affect the same target again.
▰ You’re my friend, Right? ▰Category: Enchantment ▰Rank: A ▰Primary Sense: Sight ▰Additional Senses: Sound, Touch, Chakra ▰Base Duration: 5 Posts ▰Upkeep: 40 Chakra ▰Trigger: Celeste speaking ▰Source: Illusionary Clones ▰Status Effect: None ▰Description: Celeste will weave a beautiful song, creating up to five illusionary clones of herself as she does so. To opponents, these clones are indistinguishable from the true Celeste, even seemingly being able to cause damage to the target, though any damage they deal will be healed once the clone who caused is dispersed. The true power of these clones is that they may be used to incite Celeste's siren ability, as any who see, touch, or heard these clones will be subject to it. These clones also carry with them the unique property to appear as normal to targets trapped within Celeste's smog ability.
I’ll Be Taking That | Rank A | Cost: Chakra Celeste puts out a field of chakra around her that has a draining effect on all those that enter it. This field can take B-rank’s worth of chakra or stamina from all those in the effect. Celeste can choose to take this for herself, other summons, or her summoner. The field itself is a 30 foot dome shape that is always centered on herself. The effect of which lasts for up to 4 posts.
I told you to love me! | Rank S | Cost: Chakra Celeste becomes angered by breaking her genjutsu or for you not finding her beautiful. The women will begin to pour a thick black smoke out of her mouth, ears, nose, etc, as she screams. At the same time, she will begin to revert to her true bat form, showing the monstrosity she truly is. The black smoke covers a 70 feet diameter in which not even your hand in front of your face will be visible. The smoke will continue to spread for every post it is upkept, requiring a B-rank cost. Those caught within the smoke now suffer from tier four blindness when trying to see out of its smoke, while the summoner and other bat summons are able to see normally. Additionally, while within this smog, enemies will be subject to a B-rank genjutsu that is laced within it. Causing those who breathe it to become racked with fear and paranoia. Opponents will become terrified and unable to take any action ( aside from kai ) besides cowering in fear.
▰▰▰ Caine Rank S | Chakra: 1500 | Stamina: 900 Str: 6 | Spd: 2 | Agi: 0 | End: 6 The largest and most intimidating of all of the Bat summons. Caine is easily the size of a village square but, his shape is different than most of the other bats. He is much more like a gargoyle in appearance as opposed to the other summons. Caine is much more sadistic than the other bats and prefers to see others in pain. The summoner and the other summons are the few exceptions to this as, those are the ones he cares for the most.
Ability:Golem Protectors Caine raises up the ground to form two large golem like creatures who’s sole purpose is to protect whoever Caine decides. The golems are capable of up to their own body rank in the basic combat system. However, Caine can opt to create a single golem of S rank strength instead if he so chooses. Effectively, each golem follows basic clones rules with access to basic combat attacks ( drawing their base stats from Caine, and gaining the same increases from Suffer ) and the exception that they need an equal rank technique to break them down. If they are hit by anything less they begin reforming immediately to what they originally were, in order to continue their mission of protecting their designated person. Only one use of this technique can be in effect at a time and cannot be used to make more golems. Additionally, these golems are considered to always have the earth military movement jutsu active if they choose to. When utilizing basic attacks the golems are considered to have unlimited stamina.
▰ Suffer ▰Category: Enchantment ▰Rank: S ▰Primary Sense: Sight ▰Additional Senses: Sound, Touch, Chakra ▰Base Duration: 5 Posts ▰Upkeep: 80 Chakra ▰Trigger: Caine's screech, or the rumbling of his earth moving. ▰Source: Mental Psychosis ▰Status Effect: - ▰Description: Caine casts a genjutsu triggered by either his screech or the rumbling of his earth when he is melded with stone. This genjutsu is such that it has the capability of affecting as many people as can hear it. For each target the effect is the same, they are suddenly put into extreme pain as if every nerve is firing off their pain response trigger all at once. This pain is so intense that it is paralytic, freezing the target permanently in place. however, as it is a genjutsu it is not effected by physical means to end or even ignore or it, and must be ended by a kai of S-rank. Additionally, each target struck with this effect also bolsters Caine's power, as he delights in his enemies suffering. Each living target ( clones included ) who are affected by this jutsu count as a [ 1 ] stat point increase to his strength. This effect can push his stat cap temporarily up to 9 maximum, for a duration of five posts.
One with the Earth | Rank S+ | Cost: Chakra Caine melds into the ground, effectively becoming part of the Earth. Once he is in the ground he is able to control the area. This has been shown to be capable of terraforming an entire area. However, Caine uses this to defend or attack. Being able to produce spikes to attack, or create entire mountains to stop an attack based on what he needs. These attacks are based on how much chakra he puts into each attack ( effectively a basic combat style of ninjutsu bending, each attack requires a ranked amount of chakra to determine it's strength. Attacks used in this way are still considered spiritual ). If Caine runs out of chakra he is abruptly while in the ground he is ejected out, but is otherwise considered to be wholly merged with the earth, requiring an opponent to target the ground with a S+ rank attack if they wish to force him out. Each time this is done, Caine will need to spend an equal amount of chakra to remain in the ground. The main downside to this is that he cannot use any other techniques ( aside from his genjutsu ) while in the ground unless he at least partially emerges from it to cast.
In the caverns, not particularly deep in however no where near the entrance none-the less a small form moved around. Grumbling as she walked and seemingly impatiently at that. Her feet would kick at the rocks on the ground sending them flying into the air at the walls of the cavern. "Stupid Takumi, making me wait here." The child grumbled under her breath obviously upset about being made to wait. Her knife in hand she would throw into the air every so often rather dangerously, allowing the blade to spin in the air rather quickly before catching it as it fell to her. One might think her crazy...and well she was, but every time she caught the flying blade it was by the handle. "This sucks, there's nothing to do! Nothing to eat! She could have at least told me to wait in a village or something! There's food in villages! I'm HUNGRY!" The girl grew more and more agitated the more she spoke to herself, and as she shouted at the end of her words the knife in her hand would be sent flying into a nearby wall. The sound of stone cracking and metal scraping against it could be heard as the knife seemed to go cleanly into the walls, with only it's handle protruding from the wall. "Damn it..." She said as she walked over, to grab the handle and begin trying to pull the knife from the wall.
“Calm yourself, child.” Takumi rounded the corner of the caverns, locking eyes with Tabe. The woman took confident steps into the dark abyss of the bat summons, her hands deep in her pockets. “If you are so hungry, I believe you have an arm you don’t need.” Takumi’s words themselves seemed harsh, but her tone was casual. As if it were the logical conclusion to Tabe’s problems.
The pale woman’s shoes clicked against the stone as she went father in. The light from the entrance dwindled until the group was surrounded in pitch darkness, the only noise being their words and footsteps. “We got sidetracked in Zaishin by reports of another branch that needed to be assimilated into ours. But when we arrived, all we saw were heretics.” Takumi clenched her fit as fire flowed from her words. "So we gave them a small taste of what was to come. That their gods would be extinguished by the might of the true lord, Jashin.” She turned to look at Tabe and Saiko, her red eyes glowing in the darkness. "Come, we have work to do."
Roku followed Takumi around the corner, his single sharingan glowing in the darkness of the caverns. The man looked over Tabe before giving her a short wave to greet her. Not like he could say anything. In some ways, Saiko envied Tabe's open criticism of Takumi. It was simply something Saiko didn't have the luxury of and even if he did, it was purely a snap of Takumi's fingers and Saiko would be erased from existence. The man quickly found his attention once again turning to Takumi as she mentioned having more work to do. There was always more work to do. Up until Jashin got what he wanted. Hopefully this work was going to be entertaining. Perhaps more entertaining than meeting those samurai.
Tabe would manage to pull the knife from the wall just about as Takumi mentioned something about eating her arm she doesn't need. One might think that they would look at the odd woman as if she were crazy after having heard or been told that. Tabe however was quite different, she didn't even bat an eye at the comment, practically ignoring it entirely as she spoke. "Ugh, Finally. I'm going to be able to leave this dumb cave." She would make her way over towards where Takumi was heading to, turning to wave at the silent man Saiko with a big and ridiculous grin on her face.
Tabe turned to Takumi with a bit of a gleam in her eyes as the woman explained what took them so long. "Heretics? Did you kill them? Did they bleed everywhere? How did their faces look when it happened?" Her words seemed quick and never ending, the excitement could be heard in her voice as they walked through the darkness. However as she quickly spoke so did her tone quickly change. "Why didn't you send someone to get me. I coulda had some food. I'm still hungry. No I'm not going to eat myself." She continued her quick speaking, words escaping her mouth a mile a minute. One such string even clearly noting that she had not necessarily ignore Takumi's suggestion of eating her own arm. "This sucks." She ended, crossing her arms and pouting as she followed along.
“They weren’t worth much, just a small sacrifice for a greater goal.” Takumi led the three into the cavern further. The shadows crept as the naturally occurring Genjutsu was easily dispelled by her chakra. “We sent them a message, that their flimsy faith would come crashing down in the might of our Lord Jashin.” Takumi’s words were harsh, but her tone sounded bored. Like she was stating a fact as easily as what she’d had for breakfast. “Child if you refuse to take the solutions offered to you, then I suggest you keep quiet.”
After a few more minutes of walking, Takumi finally came to a stop. Hardly any light managed to reach the group where they stood. “Children of Inshou.” She started. The woman snapped her fingers and motes of flame decorated the walls, lighting up the circular chamber they stood in. “We come to pay our respect to our Lord and Master, Jashin. Through his blessings we find strength, amen.” Takumi placed a hand down and the ground instantly reacted to her touch. The floor of the chamber instantly sank, creating deep gouges of earth that formed the sigil of Jashin.
“I hear tale of a young boy in Sea Country that is trying to summon Jashin through a massive blood ritual.” Takumi rose and looked to Tabe and Saiko. “This boy is a fool. For it is not the quantity of blood that appeases Lord Jashin.” The woman made a handsign and suddenly three clouds of smoke appeared inside the center of the sigil. “But the quality.”
Three people kneeled in the center of the sigil. Their heads were bowed and they had a solemn look on their face. “These three children will garner us more favor with Jashin than one hundred sacrifices done by that boy.” Takumi took a step into the sigil and as she did, her form shifted. Her skin turned black, aside from markings on her face and body that resembled a skeleton. The woman took one of the no name Jashinists by the throat and held them over the trench in the ground. Despite the more brutal holding, the followers didn’t seem to struggle, even to breathe. It wasn’t until Takumi flexed her arm did the person squirm just a little and grunt in discomfort. “Though your life is worthless, child, take solace that your death will be a part of something infinitely greater than yourself.”
Once Takumi was finished speaking, the body she was holding split open as bones erupted from the inside of it. Blood fell by the buckets into the trench she’d carved. Takumi stared coldly at the follower until every last drop of blood fell from their dead body. Then she tossed the corpse into the wall of the cavern, a motion as easy as throwing a pillow, before she turned to Saiko and Tabe.
The scene laid out before him was gruesome, but such a sight wasn't uncommon for Shoshin. The life of a shinobi was obligatorily macabre, but even less so for one that praised an old, vengeful God. As the blood drained from the man's neck into the trough carved into the floor, Shoshin couldn't help but smile a little. "Jashinists... Come to the dark to do their business." The thought amused him. These caverns were indeed connected to their Lord Jashin, though Shoshin thought it was primarily for the clans that revered him.
The man's lifeless body crumpled to the floor with a thud. It had been entertaining to watch the events unfold, but if he didn't reveal himself the trio might mistake him as a spy, following them into the caves. After all, he was among friends.
"Pardon my intrusion, but I couldn't resist." Shoshin said calmly as he ventured out from the mouth of the tunnel he was concealed in.
Shoshin watched the group as he reached above his shoulder and unsheathed his greatsword slowly, so as to not cause alarm. He continued heading towards the corpse near the wall, and upon arrival, flipped his sword around in his hand and planted it in the rocky floor.
"Truth be told, this is rather amusing. I do enjoy a good sacrifice." Shoshin said with a slight smile as he crouched and took a seat on the dead man's back, arms resting on his knees.
Shoshin scanned over the group, keeping a watchful eye for anything going wrong. Shoshin was secure however, as he knew this sacrifice well, though not quite as grand. He was curious as to why these believers where here in the caverns, and he intended to find out.
Saiko wondered why Tabe grinned so much when she waved, but it really was a passing thought as Takumi began to answer Tabe's various questions. The man was somewhat bitter that he didn't get a chance to destroy the entire temple, but he knew that one day that would be coming. There would come a day that he would go back and disintigrate that temple to dust. Saiko's thoughts became derailed as he thought back to how he could have done better to perhaps kill everyone in the room. There would be a time for that. Perhaps soon if what Takumi said about that boy was true. Someone trying to summon Jashin? How curious. It would be foolish to try without a member of the Jashinist religion there and even then, they wouldn't have the tools to summon the Lord. Even if they tried, Takumi was right. You can kill a bunch of rats, but they're not worth as much if you kill a lion. Many of their own sacrifices were of there own religion. Their devotion to the Lord Jashin would serve well for the ritualistic sacrifice necessary. Then came the time for Saiko to take part in the sacrifice. The man slowly began raising his right hand. As he did so, pitch black chakra shurikens began to grow around him. Sixteen would be created in total before Saiko would flick his wrist, sending all of the shuriken at one of the sacrifices. It would be a quick death for the person as each shuriken was targeted for key points in the body. It was around the time Saiko was doing this technique that Shoshin made himself known. Saiko's sharingan looked over the man as he sat on the dead man.
"I'd listen to your solution if it made sense." She muttered in defiance of Takumi's words. Seemingly typical of her, and as they continued Takumi continued explaining the situation. Tabe listened intently as Takumi explained the situation happening in Sea Country. Of course she couldn't help but think that it sounded fun, which she would choose to keep to herself. Seemingly unwilling to speak up about that in particular to Takumi. Defiant as she may be, she felt like direct defiance of Takumi was much different from defiance of the religion and she knew the difference despite her young age. That point would even be made clear after the executions of the two right before her eyes. Watching as Takumi drained the man of his blood quickly by impaling him from the inside out, Saiko made the decision to end things for his sacrifice quickly via a large number of shurikens made of chakra.
Tabe spoke up as she was approaching the second kill happened. "Wow, how lucky for them. Almost instant death..." She turned towards the last remaining sacrifice. And sure he was prepared for what was about to come. "You kinda drew the short straw. Don't think I can make it painless for ya. Grit your teeth and don't scream. I don't like the sound of screaming." It was kind of like, her playful and defiant nature had suddenly disappeared. She was fairly devoted to the ritual, serious, and only felt a bit sorry she couldn't make the man who's life would be given to Jashin have a painless death. However she didn't doubt herself, no, she simply knew how it was.
Her knife would sink into the man's left side, slicing upwards but coming out slowly as she went up. She didn't want his insides to spill out into the circle Takumi had made. They just wanted the blood, avoiding any of the more caustic organs as she slices. She would force him onto his side, then bring the knife to hit throat, cutting it open to allow blood to spill from it and into the channels of the ritual circle. Watching, her face didn't show glee or delight, it just was duty. This was different than her own personal thing.
She would turn to look at the boy who had come, watched the ritual. He seemed harmless enough? Maybe? A smile was on her face once more, she pointed her now bloodied and dripping knife towards the boy whom she thought looked fairly odd with his multi-colored hair. "He's not important right? I can eat him?" She looked at Takumi and asked.
Without notice, a delicate young monk in bright garb wandered into the recesses. A passing yamabushi was apparently taking refuge in a cave. The plock-plock-plock sound of a staff echoing upon limestone. A hat shielding his head from the threat of bat droppings. He stopped beside a hulking stalagmite and looked up to the group in the distance. His eyes opening wide as he spies the bloodbath. Meanwhile, he was but a monk who looked so clean and out of place! Has Takumi told them he existed? He had been doddleling for so long now and enough that it was probably safe to guess the monk might have gotten thrown into a Lightning prison facility for murder.
Isao apparently had wordlessly followed in a lengthy distance behind Shoshin. He didn’t expect Takumi to bring back so few! It was here the monk eyed his outfit and realized how he might be wasn’t rightfully dressed to demonstrate his devotion. Yet, the caves weren’t a place where he was willing and ready to take off his hat and unbind his hair. "Oh," He said, contorting his grin into a grimace with his comment. "That'squiteamess"
Takumi dipped her finger into the crimson blood and used it to draw the sigil of Jashin on both of her palms. As Tabe and Saiko performed their sacrifices, the lifeblood of their victims filled the mark on the ground. Just the three adult bodies were able to fill gallons of worth of blood. The liquid roiled and flowed until even the center was filled up to the edge. “O Lord, please accept these sacrifices that we, your humble servants, provide in your name. Give us the wisdom to track down your enemies, and the power to slaughter them to be ready for your arrival. Amen.”
As she spoke, the blood flowing in the ground began to glow, filling the cavern with a bright crimson energy. Takumi formed her hands together and slowly formed seals with her fingers, keeping a steady rhythm with her prayer. She sent her chakra out into the blood, allowing it to crash like waves. Her eyes were closed with deep and intense focus as the blood began to rise from the ground, coalescing into a single point above Takumi. A blinding flash of crimson light flooded the cavern as her ritual was complete. Crystals, six dark red stones, hovered above her and slowly drifted down. Mr. Meowgi stared up at them and attempted to bat them out of the air, but Takumi made a slow grab to remove them out of the way.
“Welcome, child.” Takumi spoke to Shoshin before she turned around to face him. While she didn’t recognize him, she was able to tell he was one of them. Something about the air he held about him made it clear. “You are among like minded people of faith. Welcome.”She was unable to speak further before another joined their ranks. A monk in yellow, one she was familiar with. “I see it is about time you showed up, Isao. I was thinking you had been killed.” While she said it, Takumi didn’t seem too distraught at the idea. Instead she went around handing out a crystal to each person in the cavern, even the newcomer.
“These crystals will be able to track down the Jinchuriki. Think about which demon you are after and focus chakra through them, and they will reveal exactly who were are looking for. You can use the crystal to extract the negative energy from them, and it should go right to Saiko. You, child.” She turned to Shoshin. “We will fill you in on the plan while we travel. But if you betray us, you will find Jashin will be more forgiving than I.”
Takumi took a step back and looked at the group before her. “My father taught me as a child that if you shoot for the moon and miss, the cold vacuum of space will suck out your eyeballs.” Takumi spoke in a deadly serious tone, giving her orders to her fellow Inshounists, plus the newcomer. “Failure is not an option. Go kill them.”
As soon as Saiko's sacrifice had been finished, the black chakra shuriken would reform into balls before shooting directly back into Saiko's body. The man seemed unbothered by his chakra returning to him in this fashion. Saiko moved slightly away from his original position as Tabe went about her sacrifice. Quick and painless wasn't really her thing, even for another member of their religion. Though she at least showed some restraint as she wasn't as happy as she normally was when she got to kill. Soon enough Isao made their presence known, drawing his attention away from Tabe. It really was a mess, but it was part of the job really. Isao would know. Out of all the Jashinists, Isao was perhaps the cleaner cut of the group. Though it was a surprise seeing a man that had been missing for so long. At least it seemed the mess was about to be more or less cleaned up by Takumi and she performed her ritual to turn the blood of the sacrifices into crystals. As Saiko received his, he would take his shirt and lift it to expose his chest. The man would then take the crystal and press it against his chest. For a moment, his skin resisted before the crystal would begin to sink into his body. The area around the crystal faded into a clay like color. Once the crystal had completely sunk into his body, his skin would wrap around it and back to it's normal color. The man would then return his shirt to it's place, before turning his attention back to Takumi. Finally they got to do something he was pretty much made to do. Hunt down the Jinchuriki. Having fought almost every bijuu there was in the world, Saiko was the perfect candidate for any fight and he was more than ready to get back into the action. As Takumi told them to kill the Jinchuriki, Saiko smiled a devious smile. Whenever the others would leave, he would follow suit behind them.
Takumi's arms would cross over her chest as she pouted. Unhappy she still had nothing to eat now that this new person who showed up was part of their team it seemed. Isao was back too though! That was good! Tabe enthusiastically waved at Isao with a smile on her face showing her excitement. She didn't say anything in particular however. The young girl's eyes travelled back towards Takumi as she watched the finishing of the ritual. The crystals being given to the lot of them, then watching as Saiko removed his shirt. A red hue growing across her face as she would cover her eyes with her hands and turn away. Looking at the crystal she was given she thought about it...it's shape. She needed to get her mind off what she was thinking about right now anyways.
"This looks kinda like..." She said to herself, bringing her hand up to her mouth and grasping one of her sharp shark-like teeth with her free hand. Fingers grasping tightly on it and then just as quickly as she had tightened her fingers she pulled. The white piece of sharpened bone ripped from the fleshy gums of the girl. Blood poured from her mouth from the action she had just taken. However she seemed unphased by it, the pain of having just ripped one of her teeth out. She let the tooth fall from her hand and onto the floor, then would take the small crystal and place it into the spot she had just ripped her tooth from. Fitting into her mouth and it's spot almost perfectly. More to the right side of her mouth than it was in the middle. She smiled, and it seemed almost like it had always been there....aside from the blood from her gums pouring down from it as they had obviously yet to heal. "I bet I look cool." She said, smiling a toothy smile and turning to assure that everyone could see what her new look was.
Tabe would spin the knife in her hand around on her finger a bit awkwardly. Twisted smile on her face as she would nod at Takumi's information of how they were to go about this. It wasn't like it was unexpected, they were to kill them and it was really that simple. Tabe had no issue with that....she was a bit hungry anyways. She would begin heading back out towards the exit of the caves.
Echo Caverns. Coda had never set foot in the maze of caves, or the land surrounding it, but her mission intersected with her own interests for the time being. Part of her loathed playing spy for a village, no doubt scorn would be heaped upon from other followers of O'Inari, but there was a role to play here that would see her deity appeased. The mission belonged to another Oinin, one with a face that only existed as a member of Konoha's forces within the confines of the walls. Out here, Cere was just another rogue, and Coda would lean on the persona when the time came. It was nice to be able to move around outside of the village absent the mask, and thanks to her unique set of skills at least for the moment she could just be Coda.
After what seemed like ages of trudging through the caves, a small flame barely illuminating the way forward, the Chunin's path opened into a massive cavern. No reasonable amount of flame would be capable of lighting it, and Coda wouldn't require it anyway. The concept of night vision was pointless here in the depths, making the woman's day, or light vision far more valuable to preserve. A small bat flitted in as she raised the flame in her hand, swinging down underneath her arm as he found purchase on her jacket. "Caine is coming!" He chirped excitedly as the sound of shifting rock echoed through the incomprehensibly immense darkness. A moment later the gargoyle-like boss of the bats' face drifted into the edge of the small bit of fire light.
"Cooodaaaa. Or should I say Cerrrre? Perhaps Ca-mill-a? Quite presumptive of a simple signatory to traipse about our domain without the presence of the one we originally accepted." The big bat shifted and settled into a sitting pose as he spoke, creating an imposing position craning above the much smaller summoner. "I'm certain you're aware of the situation with Lahlil. Would you propose I leave you here in the caves then? Not had enough of the moles and other variety of sentient vermin that lurk in the shadows?" The massive summon's well defined brow furrowed into a tightly defined V as Coda's unbothered tone spoke her peace.
"I am aware you're a whelp, a fragment as powerful as Lahlil was when she first set foot in our domain. A dam-aged good that languished in a bed while the world, and her mentor, left her behind. A servant of a lesser god that reeks of corruption despite your attempts to absolve yourself of it. Your carelessness must have damaged more than your body, why would we accept your meagerness in place of a woman whose influence spanned the globe?" As he spoke Caine's intensity grew, his form arcing further over Coda, the firelight exaggerating his craggy features in flickering light. He seemed embody the darkness of the surrounding cavern, as if it was all a part of him. "Would you prefer to sit around until a kage comes wandering back here? How long do you think that will be in a world where only three exist? A decade? A century? The next person that comes wandering in to claim your contract might be weaker than me, and I'm here now. Sadayo will make me Oinin-Taicho of Konohagakure in time, and you will have the shadowy corners of the whole ninja world at your fingertips again. The kage are second rate buffoons bumbling into disaster at every turn, threatening to scorch scars into the surrounding lands as casually as a normal person breathes; don't make the mistake I did and let your fondness for Lahlil cause you to regard the structures of the shinobi as more valuable than the people filling them." Coda would overlook the creature's denigration of O-Inari, as it could not be faulted for its perspective on the world being colored by those that had called upon its services prior.
The massive bat's form receded again, and his expressive face shifted to a look of contemplation before leaving the fire light entirely. "Hmmmm, you have a point, young one." Caine's voice bounced through the vast space as he concede to Coda's assessment of the situation. In time his craggy visage reentered the dim light. "Your assessment of the kage is... unexpected considering your pro-fession, though perhaps not en-tirely inaccurate. Rumblings at our borders with the other members of the Sage Lands suggest that the situation in Arashigakure may have been tied to their own leadership. And while I do not share your a-ssess-ment in regards to the one Lady Nevarra chose to replace her in Konohagakure I found the situation that led to the fight you called us into rather ill con-ceived. She is, how would you humans put it? In-experienced?" An eyebrow easily the size of the woman arched as Caine paused to consider something, shifting around the firelight as he mulled it over. "Fine. Your reasoning is sound, and the bats desire only access to the shinobi world's vast stores of chakra. The events in Takijinsei give me an interesting idea as well, but I detest friv-o-lus fantasizing. I suppose you also mean to gather information on the ones whose voices graced our caves recently, yes?"
Well, that was one bit of trouble out of the way. Coda had half expected Caine to attempt to test her might, considering he was definitively beyond her ability to control at the moment. Internally she felt relief, though she'd not be revealing that to the bat boss anytime soon. "I would be even if it wasn't a mission. I just don't need an excuse now. Jashin is a s**t god born of unchecked shinobi bloodlust. There's no reason or skill in his actions, and his followers treat the little people of the land like cattle. I'd tear him from the celestial realm myself if I had the power to, but I'll settle for his followers." A toothy grin broke over the bat's face at Coda's eagerness to cause harm to the followers of the death god's religion. From his perspective this was perfect. While Lahlil was more than capable, and willing to get her hands dirty, her student was turning out to be downright vicious a trait the gargoyle-like king of the bats prized quite highly.
"I can share names, plans, comings and goings. The bats are not good with fac-es though. HA HAHAHA!" Coda had to actually suppress a look of surprise at the sudden burst of booming laughter and self-denigrating humor from the creature. "What child? Did you think me a glowering stick in the mud? Hardly. The fools had no idea how the caverns work, how far the sound here travels, how close we were. The Jashinists actually revere this place as if our love of blood somehow aligned with their desire to see it wasted, they assumed themselves closer to their deity here. Braying morons. Not that I'm much of a fan of the rest of them, ei-ther. They spoke the names Takumi, Saiko, Isao and called themselves the Children of Inshou. It is the bats' consensus that Takumi is the one who led the ritual, Saiko the man that accompanied her, and Isao the man who arrived late. A younger female child accompanied them, and an older male child joined their group. They sought the greatest prize, the shinobi's jinchuriki, and seemed to believe these creatures would lead them to someone. They also spoke ill of others of their faith, I suspect they're, oh what's that weird word you humans use? Ah! Zeee lots. Likely not the lot you fought, but similar."
It was the summoner's turn to put on an expression of analytical consideration. This complicated things somewhat, as she'd hoped there would be definitive ties to one event or the other, but aside from seeking the jinchuriki nothing here was concrete. Zaishin was particularly paranoid and unwelcoming to the shinobi after the oni conflict, making intel from there somewhat spotty. The group that attacked Konoha seemed keen on capturing the biju that Sadayo had been dealing with, but Caine didn't mention the biju being the prize for the Echo Caverns' trespassers. "The only logical place to start is in Arashigakure. I'm fairly confident based on your account that none of these people were in Takijinsei. The whole situation was too unfocused to be led by a core group, not to mention one that seemed at conflict with other jashinist sects. If it had been it might have actually succeeded, because the leaf's response was disorganized. There's a chance Tanigakure was swept up in this, but they're too small a player to start with. As far as I know, they possess no jinchuriki either. Leaf's bingo book notes that the Arashikage and at least one other shinobi are confirmed jinchuriki based on direct interaction with Konoha shinobi, with the possibility of a third." Coda's fingers drummed on her chin as she considered and reconsidered the options.
"It would seem you have your starting point, child. Alexandar, lead the summoner deeper, she must learn to control nature chakra without the help of her fickle markings. Extinguish your flame, when your trial here is complete it will provide no use to you." Caine bellowed as he began flapping his wings to return into the darkness. "R-right away Caine!" The little bat chirped, fidgeting away from Coda and beginning to circle her. The Oinin considered the situation momentarily, looking off into the darkness that rapidly grew deafeningly silent, and then snuffed out the ball of katon with a closed fist.
◁ Non-Activation Techs Used ▷ ıllıllı None ıllıllı
◁ Summon Techs Used ▷ ıllıllı None ıllıllı
◁ Active Modifiers ▷
[ Flowing Arts Training | Available | Cooldown 0/2 ] Any attack that follows a dodge or evasive technique is treated as a counterattack, and the user's total bonus to agility can be attributed to the strength of the next attack. When this ability is performed it cannot be used the following post.
[ Flowing Arts Training | Available | Cooldown 0/3 ] Once every [3] posts, the user may utilize an offensive technique that targets a specific part of the target's body that would disrupt their attack. This offensive attack deals damage regularly but allows the user to use their remaining activations as offensive as well.
[ Kyotoryuu Training | Available | Duration 0/2 | Cooldown 0/3 ] The Kyotouryuu practitioner can now react to an opponent by converting their speed into an agility boost for [2] posts with a [3] post cooldown. This requires no activation or resource cost.
◁ Passive Modifiers ▷
[ Yozen ] Fuuinjutsu techniques require [10] less chakra per body rank of the Yozen clansman (maximum of 60 at S+) without losing their potency.
[ Mach Style Training ] Make taijutsu complex, and "punch" ninjutsu orbs as projectiles. When in the shooter stance, the strength and speed of strikes is increased by [2] points instead of [1] point per rank.
[ Channeling Martial Skill Training ] Ability for techniques to carry two elemental properties. Ability to add bloodline elements.
[ Kaiser Fist Training ] The armor now emits a crackling, bright, white hot chakra that appears like a thin aura around the user. The chakra causes mild burns on contact. In addition, the user gains a [1] point increase to strength and speed per rank of the armor. ------- Kaiser Armor allows the user to regenerate 10 stamina per rank of chakra applied to each technique while the armor is active. The user may not generate more stamina than their reserves may hold. ------- The Kaiser Armor now causes searing burns upon contact that blister due to the crackling chakra. The user's strength and speed are increased by [1] point per rank of the armor. Taijutsu and bukijutsu techniques used while the armor is active create shock waves [5] feet in the direction of the attack per rank of the technique.
[ Mirror Image Arts Training ] The user may cast the Shadow Clone technique in conjunction with techniques from this style to replace mirror images with the clones. Casting Shadow Clones in this manner does not consume an activation. ------- The user has learned to control their chakra in a fine manner which allows them to create an additional mirror image per rank of the technique it is executed with. These additional images do not increase the strength of the parent technique.
