Set at the base of a large mountain, the toad’s homeland is one of gentle beauty. Fresh spring water continually flows from the top of the mountain as melted snow, along with giant lilypad stalks that dominate the scenery even while on land. Past the scared fountain lies a special portal named the Distant Body Water. It is through this lake in the center of Myōboku that it allows toads from all over the world to enter the sacred summoning land, making it a safe haven for all those of a semi-aquatic nature.
Way of the Toad: To those who follow the way of the toad, it is often and well believed that true strength lies in striking at one precise moment in order to end a dangerous situation before to ever starts being a problem. It is because of this ideology that the mystic croak was created and adapted into a unique weapon that is available to every toad sage. By using a single activation and paying a ranked amount of chakra in sage mode, the user may release a croak that disorients a single target of their choosing, as long as they can hear the sage. While under these effects the enemy feels a heavy weight drop on them and vision will immediately blur. During this time the target is considered to be [ Grappled ] as if two hands were restraining them, along with following the rules for said status. Instead of [simple] this ability is considered [ spiritual ] but may otherwise be broken with equal amounts of stamina.
Toad’s Elements: Earth, Water.
Current Sages: 1. 2. 3.
Summoners:
Posted: Fri Apr 12, 2019 4:37 pm
▰▰▰ Grandpa Gump D Rank | Chakra: 1 | Stamina: 1 Str: 0 | Spd: 0 | Agi: 0 | End: 0 Not actually his name but a nickname given to him by all the other toads. It should give you a pretty good idea in his general personality type. Though he isn't the summon head, gramps makes it a point to meet with every single person who wants to sign a contract so that he can 'size them up'. Although the fact that he is only one foot tall makes him not that imposing of a sight, he does command an impressive amount of respect from the other summons which hints at the power he once (or does?) had. Refers to everyone as kid.
Ability:Lemme help ya kid Grandpa Grumps days as a ninja are over. His back kills him constantly and he is more than happy to let the young take the lead. This isn't to say he's useless however! Instead Grumps will merge with any summoner who calls on him so he can use their mobility as his crutch. Also, good news for all you whipper snappers out there! This ability can allow him to stay active even while another summon is in use, allowing the toad sage to have up to three summons (pending other effect) as long as Grump is fused to their body. (Careful when you summon him with Gamabunta though! They can get into some real scrappers).
▰ Purifying Waters | Rank D | Cost: Chakra A slightly advanced version of the minor healing hands technique that restores stamina lost through trauma of tier one or two, to be automatically restored to the patient. If this technique is used on a target which has not endured trauma then they gain stamina double to the cost of this technique. Capable of being used while merged or unmerged but requires him to stand still.
▰ Cleansing Renewal | Rank D | Cost: Chakra Gramps is able to either remove one effect of one status effect from a targets system, or he may remove Asuka's poison at a rate of one stage per post. This is usable in conjunction with any of his other abilities as long as an activation is paid for each, and may also be used in or out of his merge state.
▰ Ambient Collection | Rank C | Cost: --- As one could tell through sensory or other means, Grumps has no chakra or stamina to his name. The result of constant battles and old age, but this does not mean he is useless. By remaining still for one post gramps is able to collect excess chakra from the surrounding environment (Up to a C-ranked amount of chakra). This effect can then be used to either pay for either of his abilities or may be used in conjunction with his summoner to 'reduce' the cost of their next technique by the amount gathered, but cannot directly be gifted to the summoner. Grumps may hold any amount of this chakra until he is unsummoned, but he may only gift this chakra in a single C ranked amount per post.
▰▰▰ Buzama, The Hidden Lily C Rank | Chakra: 600 | Stamina: 200 Str: 0 | Spd: 0 | Agi: 6 | End: 0 Buzama fancies himself the greatest ninja in existence on the grounds that he is a master of disguise, though him easily being the size of a large house often says otherwise and leads to comedic situations of a easily spotted toad trying to hide behind a thin tree. Not that he ever lets it get him down however! In fact his his unstoppable upbeat attitude on any subject imaginable makes for quite the lovable summon for any contract holder.
Ability:Slippery When Wet Probably one of Buzama's greatest traits is that he sports an over 50ft tongue and boy does he know how to use it! Basic attacks that he uses with his tongue gain the the Suiton element causing them to do their damage in the form of bruises/internal bleeding and become spiritual while also being paid for with stamina (not affected by stats). Tongue techniques gain all the associated advantages and disadvantages of Suiton when altered this way.
▰ Toad Hidden Art: Water Transformation | Rank C | Cost: Chakra Whenever Buzama is attacked he may instantly move his body out of the way and leaves behind a water version of himself that only reveals it's suiton nature when struck with an attack. This a Shunshin technique that will leave behind an amount of water equal to it's rank (for the purposes of general amount/korabo/water source). It has a limit of three uses and has the same limitations as other Shunshin abilities. This water is left on the battlefield afterwards unless moved/used by another technique.
▰ Toad Hidden Art: Water Assassination | Rank C | Cost: Chakra Using water already on the battlefield this jutsu launches an attack from this water source in form of multiple water senbon needles. What makes these needles truly dangerous is that they are silent as they travel through the air (except to the blindsight clan), denying the opponent's agility stat when dodging, assuming they even notice it coming.
▰ Toad Hidden Art: Geyser Trap | Rank B | Cost: Chakra Using his chakra Buzama will form a water trap underneath an opponent that will take the form of a large geyser and launch them 40ft into the air to deal its damage again if they hit the ground. It is also possible to 'catch' a technique with this and destroy it's rank and below. The sudden powerful onset of this jutsu denies the opponent their endurance stat for the initial damage.
▰▰▰ Asuka, The Fragrance of Tomorrow B Rank | Chakra: 800 | Stamina: 800 Str: 0 | Spd: 0 | Agi: 6 | End: 6 Born of a special sect of psychedelic toads, Asuka is the same size as Buzama and covered in beautifully bright hues of yellows and orange. But more than this she is probably the hardest summons to work with even compared to Gamabunta for the simple fact that she entirely mad. Operating in a state of constant euphoria, drifting off into incomprehensible tangents and other ridiculous endeavors, it is hard to catch her at a time when she is ever being serious. Summoners are advised caution as Asuka has no means to cure her own poison!
Ability: Totally Tripping! Asuka is able to produce a special brand of intoxicating poison that drips off her skin. While this cannot kill a target, it should be feared nonetheless as it can render them so intoxicated that they are useless. This poison is treated as a special tier poison with it's own status effects listed below. As opposed to traditional statuses, Asuka's poison does not infect based of rank of the technique but rather the number of applications with each application advancing it to the next stage.
Stage One: Description: Infected via either airborne or direct physical contact with Asuka, victims from this stage are suddenly and strangely prone to acting ‘loopy’, often described from bystanders as an intense euphoria, increased socialness, increased happiness, and colors becoming stunningly brilliant. By far the most debilitating effects from this stage however are the hallucinations. Once infected by this stage the summoner may pick one genjutsu that is C-ranked and below and mimic its effects to give form to these hallucinations. Instead of being broken with kai, these effects can only be broken by a medic’s poison removal or any other means of removing the poison. If not cleared the hallucinations will play themselves out exactly ONCE before fading away and allowing the user to choose a new effect on the next post. Because of the nature of this poison affecting both friends and foes if the summoner is infected then a mod will be required to pick out a genjutsu for the user’s hallucinations. Because of the general effects of Asuka’s poison, this genjutsu may not inflict statuses when coped this way.
Stage Two: Description: Following the same infection rate, as well as stacking effects off of the first stage. Stage Two increases the mental toil on the individuals mind. Color brightness grows until it’s disorienting, short time memory begins to get foggy, and center of balance is almost entirely lost as the effect’s mimic drunkenness. Movement of any kind by opponents in this stage will result in a [stumble] onto the ground, whereas they may attempt to stand again but must spend an activation to do so. It is important to note that those who follow the path of the Drunken Fist can use this to their advantage by having it satisfy the requirements for their own stumble technique, as well as not having to pay the activation to stand again should they be in the correct stance.
Stage Three: Description: On top of previous effects, this stage's dangers come in the form of a severe addiction in targets. Generally altering their normal behavior as targets start to crave the high granted by the poison, as well as recognizing that the medic (or generally the person trying to help) is trying to take that away from them. Any under this stage will now refuse to seek help and straight run/otherwise use their available resources to escape from a medic and will seek out former enemies for more of the poison. Any attempts to remove the infection will now require incapacitation in order for the medic to remove the effects.
Stage Four: Description: Further applications at this point will not kill or knockout a target, but rather 'make them trip so hard' that they are useless babbling messes. This is considered an incapacitating effect and the shinobi will be unable to take any action until the poison is removed.
▰ Just Desserts ▰Category: Illusory ▰Rank: B ▰Primary Sense: Sight ▰Additional Senses: Sound, Touch ▰Base Duration: 3 Posts ▰Upkeep: 20 Chakra ▰Trigger: Seeing Asuka's open her mouth ▰Source: ▰Status Effect: - ▰Description: Asuka makes use of the hallucinations caused by her poison to slip in a genjutsu without the opponent realizing what's real. By catching sight of the opening of her mouth enemies will seemingly be sucked into the black abyss of her gullet, where are they are then morphed into the skin of her stomach and slowly digested in a painful three posts. Mental paralysis to the torso and arms prevent the casting ninjutsu while in this state. (Special hands free kai is allowed here).
▰ Lilac's in the Summer Breeze | Rank B | Cost: Chakra Asuka will breathe out a large cloud of incapacitating poison meant to envelop a massive area (Fifty by fifty feet). This poison will remain on the battlefield as a permanent structure unless otherwise moved by another effect capable of such. Applies [1] stage of her poison to ANY that are within the fog, except for Asuka herself.
▰ A Girl's Gotta Eat! | Rank D-A | Cost: Chakra Asuka will open her mouth a create a vortex that sucks anything she wishes within. If eating ninjutsu or some other projectile technique then it is then dispersed by the special protecting chakra coating inside of her mouth as long as it equal to this rank or lower (This ability is capable of causing techniques under its rank to veer off their previous course and into the mouth, while same rank techniques must have Asuka manually place herself in it's a path). The chakra that was used by the opponent is then used by Asuka to create a large bullet of water of equal strength to the eaten technique, only this is laced with a hallucinogenic that applies one stage from the list above. Note: This technique consumes chakra from Asuka to create the vortex and protective coating, then the chakra from the opponent is what pays for/determines the strength for the projectile with the added bite of causing poison should it hit).
▰▰▰ Karo, Sage of the Whitefoam Tides A Rank | Chakra: 1800 | Stamina: 1 Willpower: 6 | Agi: 2 | End: 6 One of the highest in an order of secretive priests, Karo is an oddity as he is not a toad but rather a frog. Standing just five foot five with blue skin and covered head to toe in black spots, he is probably the least imposing of the summons other than gramps. He spends a large portion of his time in his garden growing sunlight bell flowers which are used to make staffs for other up and coming priests of his order. As such he takes his duties quite seriously, as a matter of fact Karo takes everything he does seriously which can lead others to believe him to be rather uptight even when he means well. Summoners who meet with him will find that he rarely ever speaks with his tongue, and instead prefers the use of ribbits and croaks. One would probably assume this is because of some kind of silent vow, however this couldn't be further from the truth, in actuality his voice is slightly feminine and has a stutter which he is embarrassed about.
Ability:Mystic Croak Studying his orders art hasn't left Karo much free time to train his body, although, through a rather unique set of circumstances, he has found his own way around this. Through a unique casting of croaks, his force of will, and sage chakra. Karo has unlocked an advanced form of Dōbutsu Kumite that he has dubbed the Mystic Croak Art. With the creation of his mind, Karo is able to create different shapes with his Dōbutsu Kumite and extend them much further off his body than any normal sage, additionally, he is also able to manipulate these shapes with his mind. This allows for things such as levitating objects or himself by creating a rectangular platform underneath them, creating barriers to block off or trap enemies, or even forming boxes to launch at enemies as an attack. In terms of collisions, this technique is treated as simple, paid for in chakra, usable up to his rank in basic combat, and Karo is unable to access traditional basic combat styles. Additionally, these barriers or 'shapes' are invisible to the human eye and can only be picked up by sensory type effects or anything that can specifically see chakra. Strength and speed for these shapes draw from his new stat: Willpower, which is a combination of both previous stats.
▰ Capricious as the Sea | Rank X (up to A) | Cost: X By paying an equal amount of chakra as the opponent, Karo can twist an enemy's jutsu against them. How this exactly happens depends on the technique itself but can be done by either controlling it's current, dispersing a jutsu and then reforming it, or just flat out having the attack blow up in the enemy's face.
▰ Whitefoam Secret Technique: Mighty Toad Rainstorm | Rank A | Cost: Chakra Waving his staff in the air, Karo will create a massive glob of water in the air and cause it to begin spinning rapidly letting loose a pelting barrage of water droplets. At first glance this technique might not be so dangerous considering how small the droplets are, however each and and every one of them possesses enough to cut right through solid metal. Even fully grown trees will be reduced to nothing under the constant barrage. The only direction this jutsu does not pelt is directly underneath it.
▰ Whitefoam secret technique: Great Toad Calamity | Rank S | Cost: Chakra A carefully guarded secret within his order this is both dangerous as it is deadly. Enveloped in suiton chakra Karo will turn himself into a typhoon that is easily twice the size of a bijuu. These devastating winds pull in anything or anyone to crush bones and drown all within it's powerful grasp, and not only that but provides a great escape for Karo himself as it essentially makes him immune any attack equal to or below the rank of this jutsu. Jutsu that are able to overpower this however will disperse the technique and force Karo to take the attack face first as it were.
▰▰▰ Gamabunta S Rank | Chakra: 1400 | Stamina: 1000 Str: 2 | Spd: 0 | Agi: 6 | End: 6 Sporting a a large blue happi vest that has the kanji 蝦 (ebi) on the back, massive dosu blade at his hip, and a large kiseru pipe, Gamabunta is a great red toad the size of a bijuu and boasts a personality as stubborn as he is large. Any contract summoners who wants to sign a contract should expect a long and fierce battle as he won't sign anyone he isn't impressed with in some way. Despite this generally displeasing attitude Gamabunta is a far cry from being an inept fighter, in fact to those he considers worthy he often exhibits a wise and knowledgeable demeanor on the battlefield.
Ability: BIG BOSS Gamabunta is the big boss and he makes sure everyone knows it. Not only can he make use of every other toad jutsu but he gets advanced S ranked version of it. Gamabunta can choose to use either the lower or higher ranked version.
▰ Purifying Waters | Rank S | Cost: Chakra The advanced form of Purifying Waters allows for it to be cast by Gamabunta by holding still for as long as he wishes to heal someone. Uses chakra to mend major wounds. Any stamina lost through trauma of tier four is automatically restored to the patient. If this technique is used on a target (other than himself) which has not endured trauma then they gain stamina double to the cost of this technique.
▰ Cleansing Renewal | Rank S | Cost: Chakra Gamabunta is able to either remove either up to two effects off of any status effect afflicting a target, or may remove Asuka's poison at a rate of two stages.
▰ Ambient Collection | Rank S | Cost: --- By remaining still for one post Gamabunta is able to collect excess chakra from the surrounding environment (Up to his ranks worth). This effect cannot be used in conjunction with his summoner but can be used by him to 'reduce' the cost of his next technique by a S-ranked amount. After standing still, this effect must be used by the following post or it is lost. [4] post cooldown.
▰ Toad Hidden Art: Water Transformation | Rank S | Cost: Chakra Whenever Gamabunta is attacked he may instantly move his body out of the way and leave behind a water version of himself that only reveals it's suiton nature when struck with an attack. This a Shunshin technique that will leave behind an amount of water equal to its rank (for the purposes of the general amount and korabo increases). Has a limit of three uses and has the same limitations as other Shunshin abilities. This water is left on the battlefield afterward unless moved/used by another technique. The S-ranked amount of water is large enough to flood a small village and it's collapsing effect is crushingly deadly for human-sized entities, dealing an S-ranked damage to them and applying the suffocation status to those under the water.
▰ Toad Hidden Art: Water Assassination | Rank S | Cost: Chakra Using water already on the battlefield this jutsu launches an attack from any water source in form of thousands of water senbon needles whose total strength equals S. What makes these needles truly dangerous is that they are silent (except to the blindsight clan) as they travel through the air, denying the opponent's agility stat when dodging assuming they even notice it coming.
▰ Toad Hidden Art: Geyser Trap | Rank S | Cost: Chakra Using his chakra, Gamabunta will form a water trap underneath an opponent that will take the form of a large geyser and launch them 100ft into the air to deal its damage again if the target hits the ground. It is also possible to 'catch' a technique with this and destroy it's rank and below. The sudden powerful onset of this jutsu denies the opponent their endurance stat for the initial damage.
▰ Lilac's in the Summer Breeze | Rank S | Cost: Chakra Gamabunta will breathe out a large cloud of incapacitating poison meant to envelop a massive area (100 by 100 feet). This poisonous mist will remain on the battlefield as a permanent structure unless otherwise moved by another effect capable of destroying it. Applies 1 stage to any that start their post within the fog. (Refer to Asuka's dosage chart, His poison can be removed all at once as opposed only ine stage at a time).
▰ Just Desserts ▰Category: Illusory ▰Rank: S ▰Primary Sense: Sight ▰Additional Senses: Sound, Touch ▰Base Duration: 6 Posts ▰Upkeep: 80 Chakra ▰Trigger: Seeing Gamabunta open his mouth ▰Source: Visual Hallucination ▰Status Effect: none ▰Description: Gamabunta makes use of the hallucinations caused by his poison to slip in a genjutsu without the opponent realizing what's real. By catching sight of the opening of his mouth enemies will seemingly be sucked into the black abyss of his gullet, where are they are then morphed into the skin of his stomach and slowly digested in a painful six posts. Mental paralysis to the torso and arms prevent the casting ninjutsu while in this state. (Special hands free kai is allowed here)
▰ A Man's Gotta Eat! | Rank D-S | Cost: Chakra Gamabunta will open his mouth a create a vortex that sucks anything within his mouth. If it is a ninjutsu or some other projectile technique that is then dispersed by the special protecting chakra coating inside of his mouth as long as it equal to this rank or lower (This version is capable of causing techniques a rank an under to veer off course and into the mouth while sqme ranked techniques will require correct positioning). The chakra that was used by the opponent is then used by Gamabunta to create a large bullet of water of equal strength to the eaten technique, only this too is laced with a hallucinogenic that applies one stage of Asuka's poison. Refer to Asuka's status effect list for information. Note: This technique consumes chakra from Gambunta to create the vortex and protective coating, then the chakra from the opponent is what pays for/determines the strength for the projectile). [2] post cooldown.
▰ Capricious as the Sea | Rank X (up to S) | Cost: X By paying an equal amount of chakra as the opponent, Gamabunta can twist an enemy's jutsu against them. How this exactly happens depends on the ninjutsu itself but can be done by either controlling it's current, dispersing a jutsu and then reforming it, or just flat out having it attack/blow up in the enemies face.
▰ Whitefoam Secret Technique: Mighty Toad Rainstorm | Rank S | Cost: Chakra Waving his staff in the air, Gamabunta will create a massive glob of water in the air and cause it to begin spinning rapidly letting loose a pelting barrage of water droplets. At first glance this technique might not be so dangerous consider how small the droplets are, however each and and every one of them possesses enough to cut right through solid metal even with chakra running through it. Even fully grown trees will be reduced to nothing under the constant barrage. The only direction this jutsu does not pelt is directly underneath it.
▰ Whitefoam secret technique: Great Toad Calamity | Rank S | Cost: Chakra A carefully guarded secret within his order this is both dangerous as it is deadly. Enveloped in suiton chakra Gamabunta will turn himself into a typhoon that is easily twice the size of a bijuu. These devastating winds pull in anything or anyone to crush bones and drown all within it's powerful grasp, and not only that but provides a great escape for Gamabunta himself as it essentially makes him immune any attack equal to or below the rank of this jutsu. Jutsu that are able to overpower this however will disperse the technique and force Gamabunta to take the attack face first as it were.
▰ Yakuza's Influence ▰Category: Enchantment ▰Rank:S ▰Primary Sense: Chakra ▰Additional Senses: - ▰Base Duration: 3 Posts ▰Upkeep: 80 Chakra ▰Trigger: Acknowledging Gamabunta ▰Source: Emotive Manipulation ▰Status Effect: none ▰Description: This terrifying aura radiates off of Gamabunta and sinks into one target of his choice. The target is then unnerved by fear so great that it can only think of escape. This technique tricks the enemy from using offensive activations against him or his summoner.
▰ Weight of the World | Rank S+ | Cost: Chakra Taking his dosu blade and pumping full to the brim with his chakra, Gamabunta slashes out in any direction he chooses. The resulting attack is a slashing wave of chakra that moves so fast enemies are denied the ability to dodge it, including shushin.
Well here he was again, out and about looking for the elusive frogs. He had heard from some of the other Jounin in Uzu that they had a sort of haven in the area. Obviously he wanted to see for himself while he was on leave.
All was quiet at the base of the mountain, there was a small disturbance in the beautiful serene scene of the forest that skirted the land. There was a sense of desire, ambition and curiosity from that of a man from the island of whirlpool, where snakes were a predominant focus of more than one pious faction. The denizens of this land naturally avoided the spiteful gaze of serpent callers but this one didn't have the scent, the call or stigma of Ginda. This man would find himself wandering into a land that subtly changes before his very eyes, from where he came was not of the question but a matter of how he arrived. Reality twisted and churned, and now he would find himself at the base of a large mountain of grand scale and twisting formations of rock that's been polished by wind over many years. The presence of chakra here was strong even noticable even if he wasn't a sensor, every so often he would hear the subtle croak nearby.
There was something about this place, that he could feel in his soul. It was rich with chakra almost to a spiritual level. Yet he did not let that serene beauty distract him from the fact that things were changing around him. He knew not through genjutsu or a natural change due to the chakra of this place, but he kept his guard up none the less. Placing his hand upon the pommel of his sword, while his left hand clenched and loosened around the grip of his tower shield. As he continued forward he kept his ears out for more croaking of frogs.
When he came up further into the Mountain's base, the croaking symphony of dozens of frogs could be heard off in the distance, a toad the size of a cat hopped out of the brush then and darted off in the nearby water. The presence of a toad that size would be a sure sign that he was in an area not like where he came from. The constant croaking however still persisted as it seemed to grow louder, drowning out the natural ambience of the water and immediate environment and if he continued to walk around, it would go on to what seemed like forever. He would feel the natural energy of this land more as a larger toad from where the smaller one had fled too, if he had been walking he would wind up here as if he been walking in complete circles.
This large toad was of about half the man's size, its eyes half open with a lazily droopy mouth. Dark yellow in color, it was different than perhaps many other toad he might've seen as it wore a black happi coat and a obi tied around its midsection. Here the man would be able to see it carried a nodachi about its own size.
"Only those with intent have came here." the toad spoke, low and guttural as it exhaled a heavy sigh. With this heavy sigh, the change of chakra would be noticeable with a chill to the air, natural energy flowing freely. "My brothers smell the Serpents upon you from that of whirlpool. Yet you do not seem to carry their pact. Who might you be, wanderer?"
Despite his heightened guard, he could not help but admire the beauty of this place. It helped him forget the fact that he felt like he was walking in circles. However, the appearance of the armed, and clearly intelligent frog caused him to instinctively drop into a high guard, shield raised, naked sword in hand. However he held his spot. The frog spoke. Lowering his shield a bit he peered at it as it inquired who he was without threat. Planting his shield he pulled his helmet free to look the creature in its eyes,"You know, not to introduce oneself is considered extremely rude, even among enemies. But your not going to find any enemies in me unless you make one. Sisigou Kairi. Yes I am from the land of Whirlpools, though my loyalty is reserved for the people in that village moreso than its shinobi."
The large yellow toad shifted his posture and exhaled out a heavy breath of air, well armed was this one as the toad observed him. They were stern, almost quick to draw on the defensive yet humble and careful with their words while still holding an edge to their tongue. He opened his mouth with a yawn, a deep baritone sound it was before he replied back "I do not have reason to introduce myself," he began as the man had removed their helmet. "Whirlpool, least that's what humans call it but you're no foe to me as I haven't perturbed you too terribly yet."
The large toad shifted suddenly then after he spoke, jumping and clearing a few feet so now that he was closer to the armed man for a closer look. His landing came with a heavy rumble through the ground, his large head tilting to the side inquisitively. "My name's not important, just refer to me as whatever you wish. But, wanderer, loyalties among your people do not concern many of my kind so there's no worry here." The toad croaked then and shifted his position back and croaked again as he pondered something. "Do you play Shogi?"
To be fair to the frog, the frog had a point. It had no reason to, it was a frog not a human. It didnt have to adhere to human codes of conduct. Though clearly this frog wasn't a threat to him. Returning his weapon to its scabbard he relaxed his grip upon his shield shifting his posture to a more relaxed one. When the frog approached he raised a brow,"I am familiar with it, but utter rubbish at it. I think in the entire course of my life I've played four games and lost all four. Im not a tactical expert or anything, just a guard." It was true, he wasn't a great leader or tactical genius. He preferred to let others take the lead and support them as best he could. That was what he enjoyed after all.
Another croak, another pondering thought as the toad considered the response he gotten, his eyes opening fully now to look upon the human who've relaxed his weaponry. Nearby the scenery would begin to change slightly as the croaking resumed off in the distance, the toad croaked again and blinked. "All warriors should spend their time in it, sharpens your mind." The toad's eyes closed as the creature stood on its hide legs now, he croaked out with a rumble as a wave of chakra would be felt through Kairi from its reverberation and when he finished, the toad was back on all fours while the croak echoed off the mountain side and across the pond. The land began to shift ever so slightly as a shifting mirage to the naked eye, small details changed and the presence of other smaller toads were suddenly made apparent beyond where he and Kairi were at.
The yellow toad just resumed his long stare back at Kairi with his eyes half shut again, the same tired and almost bored expression with a lazily drooping mouth. "Wanderer, what brings you to the mountain? You don't seem lost and only those with intent in their hearts find their way here." He croaked again, not bothering to explain what he had just done a moment ago.
So far, the day was not disappointing. Sure he knew it was going to be an experience however, he did not think he would be getting advised in matters of warrior mentality by a frog. Giving a nod he smiled,"I'll take it under advisement." Though the sudden shift, the change in the chakra of the world around him, made him blink several times. Each time he blinked more and more frogs would appear from small nooks and crannies. Clearing his throat he nodded simply,"I came here to learn. I was told that the lands of the sages were very spiritual places. I came to learn to understand that, and to heal."
The toad looked around him when the one known as Kairi mentioned lands of the sages, he croaked as he were confused and tilted his head again. "Sages." his gutterel voice began with another croak in mid thought. Other toads were nearby watching the two talk as he considered what the man meant. Then the toad nodded slowly, grasping the human meaning of with a webbed foot going back and forth on his massive chin.
"Hmm, I understand what you mean as our land is abundant with life. Natural energy exists as you stand here, some of your kind come to become toads. Many can't grasp, or some become part of the earth again." As the toad talked, he began to move finally with a croak as it walked clumsily on the land and motioned for him to follow. "Walk, Wanderer. Best you see with your own eyes of what you seek, I feel a stir within you," The toad stopped and looked back at Kairi to see if he would follow.
He croaked again, eyes opening wider once more. "I must apologize, Wanderer. You were tricked by me to see what was false, I released it since. You speak of understanding, and to heal, explain." The Toad would resume it clumsy gait, one webbed foot moving at a time when he was more used to leaping dozens of feet at a time. "What makes our land spiritual to your kind, Wanderer? I never understood your kind's fascination."
So, Sages were their name. Interesting. As he listened he followed the frog, though he was gathering the idea that the frog meant that quite literally people were returning to the earth. Dying. It was interesting having a conversation with a frog. Their perspectives of things were quite different from his own as one would expect though the actual doing was interesting. Though its apology caught him off guard and the things he was seeing before were beginning to make sense. Giving a nod he smiled,"I thank you for your apology but given the circumstances I don't blame you. I mean this place is your home right? If some heavily armored and armed person showed up I would do my best to defend it too were I you." Keeping pace with the frog he allowed emotion to color his voice just a bit, sadness mixed with a number of others. "I suppose its the natural energy you were referring to. Most attribute the things they dont understand to the works of the gods. Temples and the like are always serene and gentle places where people can go to find peace. For me this is about as far from humanity as I can get which is why I came here. I fight like a shinobi, but I wasn't raised as one. Killing doesn't sit well with me. I am ashamed to say that I have claimed more lives than I can count in the name of protecting the things I love. Each time I take a life I feel like I am farther from home. I've survived two wars, the destruction of my village, found myself lying in a pool of my own blood on four occasions, and three attacks from the nine tails. I've buried friends, loved ones, innocents caught in the fighting who had no place in it. For a time I managed to find peace in the arms of a woman I loved. But now even she has slipped from me. I took leave to make peace with my demons before they destroy me." Why he was telling all this to a frog was beyond him, but it was the truth. He knew that if he did not do something soon then his world would come crumbling down around him.
The toad would make a gutteral sound like he was laughing, a mix of grunts and croaks as he listened to this peculiar human. "Most would be offended that this one had deceived them in such a manner. Strange one you are, Wanderer." The toad would continue moving along as the scenery opened up from the pass that lead into an open meadow as they skirted along the pound, the duo would pass giant rock formations and strange trees that were contorted by the natural energy abundant in the area, other toads watched the human with their curiosity and others apprehensive of the human.
The toad would stop for a moment as he listened to the one known as Kairi go on into the same vein of the conversation from before of what sages tap into. "Natural Energy, senjutsu I think is what your kind had taken to calling it from which animals and what we toads naturally feel and manipulate." He croaked as the toad reached back to its Nodachi, drawing the blade in a long swift motion as the toad held it by the blade. The metal of the blade was nothing special at first glance but it visibly gave off an aura of energy as the toad held it in an observant manner. "Gods are real if you believe in them Wanderer, it is what your faith makes them out to be not what we expect to see. This sword I hold is what I consider to be peace for the mind, knowing I can defend my kin with it invokes a sense of benediction, a focus of which a warrior can recall back to and this represents my own focus." The nodachi was twirled by the toad as he slid the blade home with a satisfying click and he carried on as he would listen to the human's story, the toad interested while as well distant to himself. "Our emotion, empathy is just but one source of touching this around you, you can feel another's malicious intent if you're in tune enough." The toad stopped again, croaking. "This sense of energy... spills over others, stagnates when in excess and it's why you "smell" of the snakes. But your intent was still your own, it's also why I did not attempt to cut you down." The toad looked back at the warrior now with the vague workings of a smile, now he continued along the path.
"Watch your step by the way, there are no trails or roads here. Roots and other things might catch you." The toad said offhandly as he would listen to Kairi more, contemplating the emotion in their story as they seemed to hold regret over life taking. Such notions didn't occur to the toad as he knew the world as survival of the fittest, but he was not ignorant of the ways of man. "I am never sorry for what life I have caused to end prematurely in order to protect our lands here. Never regret does a Warrior need to do in their time of need, warriors exist to fight so others do not have to, Wanderer. It is the burden and karmic debt we must carry so others we do protect do not have to. Protect those you love, carry their burden for them, and pay your karmic debt when you're due." The toad's words rolled out as when the human known as Kairi went on about being ashamed for killing more than they could count.
He would croak again, "My partner once told me 'It is better to be a warrior in a garden than a gardener at war.'" This had been the first time he mentioned something more personal relating to his personal history to Kairi instead of speaking from the outside in of a toad to a human but as a warrior to warrior.
They would continue for some time as the Toad would listen to the last bit of his personal story and he would listen intently, interested in this human as he felt his emotional bonds. Two wars and destruction of home, survivor's guilt even? Another croak as they were now on a peninsula that stretched out toward the pond, the same distorted trees around them and the only man made structure that been passed was the Torii gate just before the peninsula, paper talismans hung from its ancient red arc with every talisman different in design, age and coloration. It was here the mountain now loomed ever closer to where they stood but the other toads were all but absent, a strange smell lingered in the air like that of incense of a calming yet harsh smell to the nose. Pugnant was the scent even. Now Kairi finished his story and the toad leaped from next to him to one of the trees, a low hanging branch extending out that was convenient for the toad to perch on.
"I never knew fullscale war myself, Warrior. But I know of Demons both literal and those of the mind, loss will do that to you as will your karmic debt. You carry a heavy burden from what you say and your emotional ties reflect this. Like a heavy fog they settled over every word you've said, like a carver sculpting a kind-faced buddha the words have even influenced the energy around us as we headed in. When you're in the sage lands, your emotion is more powerful than you may realize, Warrior. You mention friends, innocents, and a loss of a significant other, but yet you still stand here wandering our land without a goal that you do not know yourself." The toad spoke with a croak, his eyes wide open this time as he looked upon the meadow they were at, oddly shaped rocks filled the clearing as well as large puddles of a strange liquid.
"Here you stand in a section of these lands unclaimed, technically it doesn't belong to anyone since its one of a few places that the natural energy doesn't touch as heavily. So. Any questions wanderer, you followed me into an unknown land when I didn't say where we were going, strange sense of trust you have." The toad cracked his weird smile yet again and croaked afterwards, shifting his weight on the tree branch.
This frog truly was weird. It was either far, far older than it gave hint of, or far wiser. Kairi would listen in silence as it began speaking of karmic debt and the burden he bore. Yet, it wasn't until they passed the Tori gate that he snapped back to reality. His eyes scanned the gate, taking in the different tags and talismans. His mind reheard the words of the frog,"Gods are real if you believe in them." He had never really dedicated too much of his time to the gods. He was a spiritual person to be sure, but he did not really place his faith in any one or number of gods. After all, how can so many religions be wrong if only one can be right? But what he did believe in, to his core, was humanity. He had seen its best, and its worst, but he would never abandon it. For him these tags were symbols of that humanity and he cherished them from the moment he set eyes upon them.
Following the toad through the gate he continued to listen and the frog brought up yet another great point. Why did he follow them into a strange land? Taking a deep breath he gave a light shrug,"I am confident in my ability to defend myself, if that fails me, then it is my time to pass into the afterlife. I trust my instinct, if it tells me to go somewhere or do something I do it. My instincts say to trust you so I shall trust you." Gazing forward he scanned the meadow with a small smile,"This place truly is beautiful, it almost sings to the soul, a song of peace and serenity. This feeling, is that the senjutsu?"
