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Post by Admin: Soul on Nov 2, 2023 18:51:28 GMT -5
Earlier in the morning:
The monastery is quiet, save for the heavy thrum of rain as it batters the temple and the mountainside it stands upon. It drips off the karahafu shingles in rivulets, creating lakes across the jade tiles of the open air temple. The air was heavy with the scent of rain and damp pine, gently carried through the hallowed halls on a misty breeze as the storm rolled through, rolling between the carved pillars that held he roof aloft. Rain-water flows along canals the mortar between tiles, irrigating the what little dirt and debris had accumulated since it was last cleaned. It wasn't so long ago, actually. There is but one caretaker of this place; an elderly fellblood tasked with its upkeep until the use of the temple's contents was needed. His green skin blends easily with the lush surroundings of the mountain side as he goes about collecting the newly budding tea leaves on his bushes for drying later, maintaining the silence of the temple so as to allow the rains to continue its serenade of the land. The monsoon season was early this year-- an auspicious occasion in normal circumstances, the life giving rains of fresh water that replenish the reserves of people all across the Crescent Isles. Given the recent events across Charon, it further serves as a portent of what was to come. The old fellblood could only speculate as to that; it was not his place for divinations and augury. His task was different, but no less sacred, for this was the Temple of the Lost, and though lost it was as far as the rest of Charon was concerned, some select few remembered this place; this home of the sacred forgotten. He is the Keeper of this temple of the abandoned and forsaken. Carved into each pillar is a painstaking rendition of a history the Crown would rather forget-- subjugation, enmity, division, the sundering of lands and people. The walls are lined with the salvaged artifacts of this time, reminders of times long past, more precious than any jewel or crown; the truth. The truth that there had been a rebellion, a near successful one in the Crescent Isles, long, long ago, and that it had been thoroughly stamped out, the earth salted, and the land occupied by the Sun Elves of the Capitol who deigned to lay claim to what was not theirs. Before the Crown could completely erase all evidence of what happened in those years, the truth had been hidden from the torches and greedy fingers of the Royal archivists, preserved so that these old truths that would one day be remembered and perhaps would one day throw fuel on the fires of hope. An earnest and honest vocation, if ever there was one. One he could have done for another decade or so easily, the gods willing.
But as so many were learning, far away on the other side of Charon, face to face with the very force of nature itself that embodied the cycles of decay and growth, that something must end for another to begin. The shifting of damp leaves is what alerts the Keeper to the presence around the temple. He straightens abruptly, looking around with deliberate slowness in the direction of the noise. His guest has not bothered to hide themself, standing starkly in the path with a straw hat obscuring their features. The falling rain sounds like static, suddenly, the gentle patter now resembling the crackling pop of charged air before a lightning strike. Only, there was no thunder, save for the bolt from the individual standing there on the path.
" I come for the sigil," The Stranger says without preamble. The old Keeper stares at this silhouetted Stranger as though he had seen a ghost. Perhaps he has. Silence lapses between them as the old man struggles to find his tongue; fortunately, the Stranger is patient, and waits with the sigh of rain through the branches around them for his response. "It... it is time then?" The Keeper rasps, the first words he has spoken to another in uncounted days. The Stranger's hat dips once in a slow, solemn nod.
The Keeper swallows hard, shifting uneasily from foot to foot for a moment. The Stranger does not so much as twitch. The Keeper looks down at the basket of freshly picked tea leaves in his hands and carefully sets it off to the side of the path. "I was beginning to think I wouldn't live to see the day." he speaks up.
The Stranger says nothing. The Keeper nods as if to himself, and then turns to look back at the temple. Gazing on the features he had cared for these many years, the curved roof, the jade tiled floor, the carved pillars, the anguished statues that surrounded these like survivors around a fire. His home. His pride and joy. He closes his eyes.
"They'll remember it all, then?" The Keeper asks, his voice barely audible above the sound of rain. "Finally, the Lost will be found and remembered once more?"
The Stranger knows there is no point in responding... but feels compelled regardless. The history of the Temple of the Lost weighs heavily on them as well. A painful memory passed down from generation to generation like an inherited illness. "Yes."
A wet huff escapes the Keeper as he shudders, once, before squaring his shoulders. "Take the Memory, then. Godspeed. A hui hou kakoun." Until we meet again.
It is unclear to whom it is the Keeper speaks, though his body and face remain turned towards the temple. The Stranger pauses for only a moment longer, simply observing the scene before them; once the deed is done, there is no turning back. Steel flashes in the rain, a silver bolt of lightning that strikes true. They make it quick. Blood mingles with the rain water as it floods the ground, spreading through the mortar lines in the jade tiles. The Stranger murmurs under their breath as they cast the spell, lifting the blood and rainwater up off the ground as they stride into the temple proper. Standing in the center of the room, they manipulate the blood stained water to flow into each of the carvings on each pillar, ensuring the water and the Keeper's blood-- for the sigil would not be revealed without these careful steps-- touches every crack and crevice without leaving the lines of the outside lines of the carving by even the barest drop, all in a specific order. It takes intense precision and control, the whole of the Stranger's focus for more than an hour before their work is done, and one by one, the pillars of forgotten history are wet once more with the blood of those who still remembered.
The eyes of the anguished statues begin to weep. Somewhere, a door opens, the pop of the entrance resonating through the building like a death knell. Turning towards the sound, the Stranger descends to gather what they came here for.
The Temple of the Lost falls silent once more.
Later that evening:
A pair of wooden sandals splashed through rain puddles as they carried their master through the dense bamboo forest, bright silver moonlight illuminating the crescent isles this night. It had been a rather quiet, stormy day, with most people opting to stay indoors. A routine patrol of local military had recently passed through, heightened security being put into place after the events in the Ash lands. While many of those who called the island home sat worried, a few took this moment as an opportunity, electing to use the distraction for their own use.
A young woman made her way through the forest, rain pittering off the top of her bamboo hat, sliding down her black over coat and splashing into the mud beneath her feet. She was making her way back to Starlight city, having a very crucial meeting to attend. The body however, was never as strong as the mind, and before she could complete her mission, rest was needed. Fortunately a small inn was in the area, a seldom heard pit stop used by the locals. It doubled as a bar and a safe house for those looking to slip away.
The inn was a small, two story building built among the bamboo, painted and designed to blend into the environment. Soldiers from Moonglade avoided it, making it a safe place for the islanders. A warm fire was already roaring when the stranger burst through the front door, the smells of fresh bread and hearty stew wafted in the air. The inn was rather empty, only holding a handful of locals, many of whom frequented this place. From beneath her bamboo hat, the woman removed a red wooden mask, one with designs of dragons across its surface.
From behind the wooden counter stepped a burly man, the owner of the establishment and a known fence. He knew who this was, and why they were here. Moving a stool he quickly made room for the new arrival, placing her at the bar and in front of an already poured glass of sake.
"Should I set a second drink out?"
The woman shook her head and downed the liquid.
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Post by Seiya on Nov 4, 2023 9:59:36 GMT -5
Rain is a far shot from bein’ Seiya’s favorite thing in the world.
It’s one of those things he thinks is pretty, can enjoy in moderation– there’s somethin’ kinda special about an early mornin’ walk in pre-dawn drizzle, after all, when the sky’s still dark with the remnants of night and thin, wispy storm clouds–, but he ain’t keen on it when it starts to overstay its welcome, when it starts to turn the earth muddy, casts a thick veil over the stars that shimmer over the Isles in the night, becomes more of a nuisance than anythin’ else. He gets that it’s good for the land, that it serves its purpose and all, but it can go from bein’ all pretty and peaceful to bein’ real annoyin’ real fast.
And on this particular night, as he treks through what feels like the seventieth mile of rain-bogged earth, clothes, fur, and skin soaked through from hours of walkin’ in the storm, it has loooong since become an annoyance.
Seiya knows it’s his own fault for decidin’ to travel in the rain to begin with, of course; he’s lived in the Isles his whole life, and he knows the way the weather shapes the land, knows the difference between puddle terrain and mud terrain, knows this, knows that, so on, so forth. One look at the skies this mornin’ should’ve told him all he needed to know about the day ahead, and had he had a lick of sense, he would’ve rolled back over and slept for the rest of the day instead of tryin’ to continue on his way to the nearest port. But instead he’d decided to keep walkin’, and now he’s damp, cold, and pissed off, and he really only has himself to blame for that one.
He shivers a little as the rain continues to fall, colder against his skin now in the evening chill– Gods above, he’s irritated, and because of all the rain, there ain’t even any pebbles for him to petulantly kick around or nothin’. This sucks. He did it to himself, but it still sucks– he ain’t usually the complainin’ type, but he can’t help but be in a foul mood with the hand luck has dealt him today.
Still, he’s always been one to believe in a turn of fortune, and when he catches sight of a warm glow between the bamboo stalks in the distance, he feels some of that irritation slip away.
He doesn’t rush his way over– he keeps up the same pace he’s maintained, relief floodin’ over him as soon as that little glow solidifies into the shape of lamp-lit windows, into an inn; it’s a small place, out of the way, the exact kind of place he’d like to be right about now. He ain’t fond of those mainline places, just like they ain’t usually fond of him– a quiet little islanders’ inn like this, though, probably ain’t gonna throw too much of a fit.
Seiya is quiet when he slips through the doorway– minus a quiet “ow” when he whacks his head against the doorframe–, and he remains as such for a moment as he glances around. The place is mostly empty, just a couple’a people here and there, and everyone seems real tired, which means this is just perfect.
With another sigh of relief, Seiya walks over to the bar, sittin’ down a seat away from a lady with a bamboo hat, givin’ both her and the man behind the bar a nod of greeting.
“Evenin’. Some storm out there, huh?"
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Post by Celeste on Nov 5, 2023 1:47:24 GMT -5
The silence of a crowd could only ever last so long. News of the flashes in the sky, and the burst of magic, and slowly, hour by hour, those who were intrigued and curious bustled into the small inn - In the direction of the temple that nobody spoke about. Celeste had felt a tremor, of what she wasn’t sure.
So much had happened with her - The cult that left her brother scarred and weak, that she had stormed, with her best friends, and a fury like no other. He had been trying, for weeks, to overcome the things he’d been through - But he was still at the point where he would just absolutely refuse to leave Celeste alone. Even with the fight with the primordial god, the aftermath, for both her and her friends, and when she had returned home later. It was a huge argument, and just nonstop. So, when Celeste had felt the surge of *something* happening, and she had sat a while, trying to figure it out, she eventually had decided she couldn’t *not* investigate… So she snuck out.
The rain was pouring down. It wasn’t a long journey, a couple of hours by foot. She was simply following her instinct. Eventually, she would come across this little inn, see a small amount of people trickling in. One caught her attention - Bamboo hat. She couldn’t help but be curious. Celeste strode in, barely noticing the tall dark figure coming up behind her - But notice she did.
She simply turned, giving the man a scowl, and a scoff, before turning to continue into the inn. The man gave her an exasperated glare, but followed nonetheless. The two spoke in hushed voices, but Celeste couldn’t help but steal looks towards the girl in the bamboo hat.
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Post by Admin: Soul on Nov 6, 2023 13:41:17 GMT -5
The stranger, who had just thrown back a second shot, paid no mind to any of the random patrons that had entered the inn. She was a rather observant person, always on guard, but was equally as confident in her own skill as she was the faith the people of this region put in her. She was not a stranger to the people of this valley, her mask a symbol of her position and her goal. She was among friends.
The rain had not let up, tiny pitter patter echoing off the roof above as the warm fire continued to illuminate the cozy inn. The stranger turned to face the man sitting next to her, a native to the island and one she did not know. She offered a polite nod and a smile, but no words. A third glass had been placed in front of her as the bartender turned his attention to the new arrivals.
"Yep, it's a stormy one out there. Rooms for the night are a single Solar, two will get ya a night of drinks."
He was a kind man, much like many of the others who lived and worked in this area. This was a region rooted deep in history, tradition and love for the island. Many of the small villages and hamlets that dotted the dense forest practiced the old ways, clutching onto a world that had all but been snuffed out. He turned back to the stranger who had now removed her bamboo hat, allowing it to hang down her back. water droplets randomly fell from her hanging ponytail, lightly tapping the wooden floor boards beneath.
"Do ya need a room for the night? Or do ya have somewhere to be?"
After downing the third drink, a rosy tint began to form across her pale cheeks, a playful smile now across her still somewhat serious face. It was obvious to tell that she was comfortable and finally able to relax after what appeared to be a tiring day. A gruff yet friendly voice tumbled from her mouth, louder and more obnoxious that maybe someone would have assumed.
"No way I'm walking through that storm anymore than I need to! I gotta get to Starlight but it can wait till morning. Figured there was no better place to drink my worries away and black out in."
Both individuals shared a laugh as the bartender returned to his customers. The stranger whirled around and scanned the room, a fourth glass of sake now gripped in her hand. Without saying anything to anyone, she just lifted the glass, toasted the room, and threw the shot back.
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Post by Seiya on Nov 13, 2023 18:47:19 GMT -5
There are two things in life Seiya has a damn hard time turnin’ down. The first is a chance at a good fight with an opponent he knows will be a challenge; it’s hard to resist the opportunity to test his mettle against someone who’s stronger than him, someone who’s cut from tougher cloth, someone who knows more and has seen more and can see all his weaknesses at a glance. The second is good alcohol, and his standards of good ain’t exactly high– he likes fancy wine if he can find it, but far as he’s concerned, if the drink tastes alright and does its job, then it’s good alcohol.
So the offer of a bunch’a drinks in exchange for just a couple of Solars? Well, Seiya ain’t about to turn that down– especially not after spendin’ all day trekkin’ through a storm like the one ragin’ on outside, still heavy against the rooftops.
He leans back just a bit, one hand flat against the bar countertop while the other goes searchin’ through the fur-lined pockets of his trousers for his coin pouch, fishin’ a couple of Solars out to set in front of the bartender. There’s one or two more than the guy asked for in there, and maybe Seiya will curse himself for throwin’ money around sometime in the next few days, but that’s a problem for the future, not the present. The guy seems awful pleasant, anyway, so it doesn’t hurt nobody to give him more than what he asked for.
“I ain’t picky,” he says, lookin’ to the man with a toothy smile. “Sake, wine– whatever ya got, I’m happy to drink. I like the beat of the lady’s drum.”
Seiya turns, then, to look at the woman a short distance from him– she’s cleared four glasses by now, her face all warm and her voice all rough with the effects of the drink, her smile lazy, languid, the look of someone who feels safe where she is. It’s oddly reassuring, and he doesn’t know why, but he ain’t gonna question his instincts. Still, curiosity flashes across his face as the woman mentions headin’ out to the city for one reason or another– like it’s urgent, but not urgent enough to hightail it through hell’s storm.
“You’re headed out to Starlight?” he asks. “What for, if ya don’t mind me askin’?”
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Post by Admin: Soul on Nov 28, 2023 16:10:20 GMT -5
At the sound of the man's voice, the stranger's head instantly shot towards them, attention gained and a wide smile plastered on her drunk face. She raised the empty glass towards the shirtless man as if to toast, only to realize it contained no liquor. Her drunken smile turned to a childlike pout, spinning in her seat to eye the bartender. He had just finished pouring a glass of sake, which now sat in front of the other man, before returning to her and refilling the glass. The cheap but strong liquid remained in the glass for but a second, before being quickly downed. Now appeased, she turned back to Seiya.
"Just got a bit of work to take care, my boss is waiting for me in the city. Nothing too important though"
The truth was that it was probably the most important artifact any islander could get their hands on, and was currently being sought after by a handful of different groups. There was no way in hell she was going to reveal this information however, a drunk she might be, but she was really good at her job.
"What about you friend, just out for a stroll in the storm?"
While the two engaged in chit chat and the bartender continued to pour drinks, the door to the cozy tavern opened once again, three drenched men with long ponytails stepping into the lobby of the building. No one really paid much mind to them, and no words were spoken, they simply found a table at the back of the room and kept to themselves. Each of these men however wore a sigil on their clothing, the symbol for The Crescent Stars, a military group loyal to the Crown and its king. This group was made entirely of natives to the islands, but backed the emperor who's allegiance currently rested with the king. They were not inherently considered enemies by locals, but some, specifically in this region, viewed them as traitors, men who had betrayed the old ways and the islands ancestors.
While no one made any mention of the group or really gave them any attention, the drunk stranger would occasionally glance in their direction, a joyful smile always present as she continued her conversation with the handsome man next to her.
"You can call me Mi by the way!"
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Post by Seiya on Dec 21, 2023 12:04:33 GMT -5
A soft chuckle breezes past Seiya’s lips as he watches the stranger sway around, eyes shiny, smile wide and wine-touched– at least before the corners of her lips turn down with disappointment over the lack of sake in her glass. Now this is the kind of atmosphere he likes– there ain’t much tension brewin’ in the air, a pleasant, tipsy undercurrent to the conversation flowin’ about, the mood calm and easygoin’, a far cry from the storm ragin’ on outside. It’s a rare thing that he’s able to find someplace he can fully relax. Most ain’t keen on seein’ him around, after all– it’s usually easier to drape himself over a rock or by the water or over the corpse of whatever beast he’s gone after and down whatever wine he’s gotten his hands on alone.
This, however, is just nice– calm, easy. The lady beside him makes fine enough company, and Seiya kinda gets a kick out of watchin’ her face when she’s ticked over not havin’ a full glass in her hand. This is the ideal kinda vibe to settle in after a day of unbearably damp travel.
“Yea? Well, I hope the rest of your trip’s kinder to ya– can’t say I’d wanna make this trip in heavy rain, even if it ain’t urgent,” he says, reachin’ for his own glass and tippin’ it toward his lips, takin’ a good, long swig of the bitter liquid inside before settin’ the glass back down. “You could say that, though. I ain’t out on urgent business. Just a traveler, travelin’ about.”
And that’s really all there is to it– Seiya goes where the roads take him, whether it’s out into the open world, into the dens of monsters, into the homes of strangers, or back to the bamboo woods and shinin’ sands he grew up beside. He ain’t in a rush– not yet, at least–, he’s just out to chase whatever feels right, whatever serves his purpose and his mission. He’s got his purpose, got his reasons, but he ain’t gonna let ‘em override everything– there’s no rushin’ a journey for the heart, after all.
He can have his moments where he walks a little slower, takes unexpected routes– and this is just one of those nights.
“Well, Mi, ‘s nice to meetcha,” he says brightly as the woman introduces herself, offerin’ a smile– though it does go a bit tense when he hears the door swing open, catches sight of the men who wander into the inn, adorned in a sigil that’s a little overly familiar. They ain’t doin’ anything yet, but he still can’t help the little surge of tension that ripples through him at the sight. “Name’s Seiya. You’ve got good taste in alcohol, by the way.”
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Post by Arashi Tento on Dec 21, 2023 13:16:35 GMT -5
"I'm cold!" Cookie yelled at Arashi as they walked through the Downpour, he was soaked head to toe but didn't mind that much, Cookie herself was floating next to him carrying a big leaf as an umbrella, which helped her stay slightly more dry. "It's been raining the whole day Cookie... I told you you could stay at home with Mizu, but you insisted to come with me." Arashi was not mad, if anything he was a bit amused, she was usually short-sighted when it came to things like these, it added to her charm for him at least. "Yeah but I didn't know we would take so long! Or that the rain was this bad!" Arashi chuckled "Well I agree I didn't think we would take that long either... still we're already at the bamboo forest so we're close to home" Cookie huffed as she pouted "B-but! We're still hours away! and it's already evening... I don't want to take that long... don't you know of any place we could take shelter over here..?" Arashi Rolled his eyes a little in amusement, he wasn't sure where exactly but he knew there was a particular inn in the bamboo forest that shouldn't be too far. "Alright, we can make a stop for the night. we just need to find that inn..."
as they walked, or well one walked the other floated, through the roads of the bamboo forest, Arashi saw the lantern lights a bit farther into the thicket. "That must be it, let's go Cookie." She perked up from her slouched grumpy-looking position and her eyes sparkled a bit. "Yay!! Warmth! And Cover! and a place to rest my weary wings..." She said as she brought her free hand to her forehead in a dramatic display, she knew how that last bit sounded and fully went along with it. With a chuckle Arashi motioned her to follow as they took the small beaten path into the inn
A few minutes after the last few men entered the establishment, the door creaked again, Cookie dropped her leafy umbrella outside and followed Arashi in, "Hello!" she yelled as soon as she stepped through the door, waving at everyone on the inn, Arashi rolled his eyes in amusement again "Cookie... behave." she lowered her arms and with a smile put her hands over her mouth as if making a shush motion. As Arashi walked in he left a bit of a puddle on the entrance, and then made his way to the counter "Sorry about that... been out most of the day, and the rain is becoming worse by the minute" he told the bartender and apparent owner of the establishment as he sat a bit farther away from the two conversing patrons, he didn't want to intrude and not knowing either of them, he kept a bit of distance, at last 2 empty seats just to make sure he wouldn't bother them.
Then Cookie floated next to him and pointed at the fireplace with pleading eyes, "Sure, you can go dry and warm yourself at the fire, just don't make trouble for the other patrons ok?" She nodded quickly before throwing her arms around Arashi's shoulder, although her hug was short lived, "Ahh! you're even colder and wetter than I am!" He chuckled once more at her antics "Well you did have an umbrella and I am a bigger target for the raindrop artillery! Go on" He smiled and nodded at her indicating she was free to move closer to the hearth.
"May I get some sake for now? and also... how much for a room? I think we will have to stay for the night."
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Post by Admin: Soul on Jan 3, 2024 18:28:18 GMT -5
Another glass was thrown back, Mi's eyes beginning to flutter as her cheeks continued to redden, obvious signs of drunkenness setting in. Her words were slurry, motions slow, and every now and then she would sway from side to side, occasionally leaning on Seiya for support. The general atmosphere of the tavern was positive, despite the pack of crescent star goons who sat in their own little corner, enjoying their meal as well.
The tavern was normally a very calm, empty establishment, only used by the same few locals. However this evening it appeared the storm was this places best customer, for individual after individual continued to enter the place, seeking respite from the squall outside. Shortly after the three stars, another cloaked man with a ponytail entered, approaching the bar and renting a room for the night. Mi's drunken gaze danced across the room, not really landing on any one spot for to long.
"Well keep on travelin Seiya, life is short and there is a wide wide world to see! Speaking of see, that guy is kind of cute dont ya think. You reckon he is with them star fellas?"
Before Seiya could even consider responding, Mi stood and slumped over towards Arashi, who had just finished ordering drinks and paying for a room.
"Buy a girl a drink?"
It would be obvious to anyone present that Mi had pushed her limits, it was bed time for the spy. The owner poured Arashi his drinks, handed him a key to his room and then moved to help Mi, chuckling the whole time.
"Don't mind her, she had a rough day and got carried away."
The storm was only getting worse, a downpour was pelting the region as lightning illuminated a black, stormy sky. These roads had seen many travelers over the last day, many seeking to return home before getting trapped, but as the night grew long, the sounds of laughter and cheer escaping a small tavern could be heard, another pair of feet splashing in the muddy road.
The small wooden door to the establishment would creak as it was pushed open, a bolt of lightning in the distance illuminating a massive, hulking, red figure now standing in the door frame. A meaty hand braced the top of the door as they lowered themselves into the room, just barely squeezing past the entrance. A towering, blood red Fellblood, or Oni as they were called here, now stood dripping in the tavern lobby. He wore traditional island attire, and had a massive Kanabo attached to his back, one littered and dotted with signs of battle.
"Hello little Mi, give me what I came for or I will splatter this place with your blood."
A nasty snarl accompanied his gruff voice, no tact or manners present. The room had fallen silent, everyone's attention on the towering behemoth now, the three Crescent Star members now standing as well, a hand on each of their weapons. It would be a very startling scene for most, a happy occasion interrupted with what could only be described as a monster. While the room stood silent, most still processing, Mi would turn and face the man, her hands now making fist. Any signs of her being drunk or helpless had faded, replaced with a warrior.
"Hey there Mr. Mountain, figured they would send someone, but gods be damned did it have to be you."
She turned to look at both Arashi and Seiya, who were still nearby, knowing full well that she would need help.
"I'm gonna need you two to keep those three distracted while I handle meat head here. Sorry to ruin your night but we don't always get to pick our own fights."
And without another word, she dashed forward, fist clenched, mask still hanging down her back, and ready to engage the Oni. Meanwhile the three men in the corner had revealed their blades and were now moving towards Mi, attempting to flank her.
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Post by Seiya on Jan 3, 2024 21:03:38 GMT -5
“Sure is,” Seiya echoes, a tiny smile pullin’ at the corners of his mouth at the mention of all the world’s got to offer beyond the bamboo forests and beaches of his homeland– hell, as far as he’s gone, he still hardly knows the half of it, now. He quirks an eyebrow at the way she unabashedly eyes up the guy who’s walked in, like a hawk zonin’ in on a mouse– he sure as hell ain’t Seiya’s type, but to each their own. “Ya think so? Ain’t my type, personally, but, uh… whatever makes you happy, Mi-san.”Another soft chuckle falls from between his lips at the second half of Mi’s comment, as her inhibitions gradually melt away beneath the acidic touch of alcohol– it really is kinda funny watchin’ her sway around like this, eyes dancin’ ‘round the room, sometimes restin’ against his bare shoulder like he’s a beacon of support. He doesn’t mind it much; he ain’t the kind of person to shy away too much from physical contact, and Mi doesn’t seem like she’s got any problem with him, so he ain’t gonna shove her off or discourage it. That’s his one solid rule: if you make yourself a problem, he’ll make damn well sure that ya know it, but otherwise, you can make yourself at home. He does get a little kick out of her openly fawnin’ over the scruffy guy who just came marchin’ in, though, brazen enough even to shove herself over to him and start battin’ her eyes for a drink. Yea, the more he looks at the guy, the more confident Seiya feels that he ain’t his type– he’s more of a pretty boy connoisseur himself, assumin’ that word means what he thinks it does. Again, though, whatever floats Mi’s boat. Seiya’s content to go back to mindin’ his own business as Mi tries to talk her way into a free drink, happy to maybe dig one of the half-finished wood carvings out of his pockets and get to work on that until his exhaustion gets to be too much to handle– but that’s when the door creaks open, leavin’ the silhouette of a half-kindred spirit standin’ in the doorway, haloed by the ghost of lightnin’, scarlet flesh wet with the rain. They call ‘em oni around here– they’re cut from the same cloth Seiya is. Demons, yokai, yaoguai, so on, so forth, all the things humans ain’t too fond of and don’t know how to categorize, so they shove ‘em all under one label, and this one’s as classic as it comes. Kanabo, a snarlin’ face, horns and teeth sharp as knives, the perfect image of the night terrors that sends Crescent Islanders runnin’ and hidin’ – the perfect image Seiya’s spent his whole life desperately tryin’ to be nothin’ like. And yet, seein’ this man, seein’ his lackeys jump up from their table… all of it sets the stardust in his blood stirrin’, restless, uneasy, hungry for somethin’ he doesn’t want to give. He keeps a solemn expression as soon as Mi gives her orders, crackin’ his knuckles as he turns toward the Crescent Stars already gunnin’ for her. “Ain’t too nice to go four to one, y’know,” he calls, curlin’ his fingers, darkness gatherin’ around his claws, shroudin’ his whole forearms and hands in inky shadows as unbreakable as the space between the stars, his already sharp nails turning dangerously keen. [1] “I recommend turnin’ and runnin’.” He doesn’t give a chance to run, though– as soon as one of the Stars comes close enough, Seiya dives forward, swiping at the chest of the man closest to him, hopin’ at least to deter him from crossin’ blades with Mi. The ghost of the stars in his blood prays for a challenge– his heart prays for a chance to show mercy. The rest of him just hopes the scruffy fellow knows how to fight.
[1] Eldritch Claws
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Post by Arashi Tento on Jan 4, 2024 10:09:42 GMT -5
Once he sat down got a drink and the keys to a room for him and Cookie, Arashi began to relax a little. still he had noticed the Crescent Star people over in the corner, and was weary of them, he had rarely seen them in his life, but he knew his parents had had dealings with them... another reason why he didn't trust them. the Truth was he didn't notice the similarity in looks between himself and them it being almost clear as day for him, and not realizing some people might think he's one of them. he realized this as he heard a comment from the lady a few seats away, blushing a bit at the 'cute' comment he looked to the side as She approached "I-I'm not one of them, the get up might be a bit similar, but I assure you it's just a coincidence..." Arashi's embarrassment at the sudden attention only grew as Mi asked him for a drink, while stumbling and slurring, with cheeks flushed, she was definitely cute, even reminded him of a certain someone... but he was sure she was too out of it to know what she was doing, so with a smile and a gentle voice, he would refuse. "I think you've had enough for today, maybe tomorrow if you still feel like it." He chuckled, "but for now... I think you should rest" He nodded at the owner, agreeing that it was probably best for her to call it a night.
Cookie who had been watching the entire thing from her seat near the fireplace, smiled from ear to ear, up until the point Arashi rejected the girl's advances at which point she frowned a little as she flew towards him. crossing her arms as she flew in front of his face "How am I supposed to get a mom if you do stuff like this?!?!" Arashi was taken aback by such a brazen outburst by Cookie, she was always confident and rarely shied away of speaking her mind, but he didn't expect that... "W-what do you mean?? besides you have Mizu..." She pouted "You know what I mean... and I like Mizu but she's more of a nanny..." still a bit confused but beginning to get it, he sighed "Well, I guess I get it, but that's not how it works, these things take time, and I can't just enable her to keep getting hammered until she does something she might regret, that's not a good thing to do" Now Cookie is the one who sighs, "W-well... maybe so... but at this rate since you don't ask anyone out, and refuse others who do..." Arashi pats her head with his index finger. "Hey... come on now, don't worry about it... all in due time, just because I haven't found the right person yet doesn't mean I won't." She lifts herself up and nods, "Ok, but at least try!" She huffs and turns her head, He just smiles and nods in response "I will, don't worry"
As this... 'conversation' came to an end the door creaked again, an Oni as stereotypical as they come entered the establishment. and proceeded to threaten the girl, who apparently had something the fellblood wanted. Arashi was already putting his hand on the grip of his sword, even before Mi told them she'd need help, He really didn't like the tone or threat of the big one. He nodded as she asked them to keep the smaller Crescent stars distracted and motioned for Cookie to hide. "Don't worry about it, I would've been more disappointed had the night gone smoothly with these pests around." with his hand still on the grip of his Katana, Arashi looked at the two guys approaching from his side, since Seiya seemed to have the third one on lock, with a burst of wind and lightning he shot forward at blinding speeds[1] ducking and sliding in between both of his opponents unsheathing while slashing at both of their legs[2] aiming to either trip them or hopefully chop at least one of them off. He was not gonna hold back.
1: Bullet Dash
2: Katana Double strike enchantment (one slash aimed at each of his opponents' legs)
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Post by Admin: Soul on Jan 13, 2024 11:22:25 GMT -5
The cozy little tavern exploded into chaos, what was once a casual, relaxing atmosphere for people to escape the storm had now turned into panic, the room now filled with random patrons attempting to flee or hide. Half drunk civilians really just ready for bed scurried about, trying their best to stay out of the way as they themselves found safety, either in their rooms or back out in the storm. The three Crescent Star goons however did not take the strangers heed and instead rushed the two, blades out and ready to strike.
The one fighting Seiya rushed in, only to be met with claws of darkness, which tore into his torso, ripping the fabric robe he wore in two. Blood dripped down the corner of his mouth as he grit his teeth, but did not waver. The swordsman shifted his weight to put his good side towards his opponent, then slashed outwards in a large, crescent shaped swipe. Either Seiya would get hit by the sweeping attack or have to step backwards to avoid its sting. The Star was fine with either.
Arashi had chosen to rush straight into battle, dashing forward towards the other two Stars with his own blade drawn. It was a quick dash accompanied with the sound of thunder clapping, disorienting those still left in the room. His first slice against one of the men's legs found its mark, cleanly severing the mans foot from his leg. A cry of pain echoed out as blood sprayed his friend, which had just jumped into the air, dodging Arashi's second attack. The injured man fell to the ground, fumbled his blade as all of his attention landed on the wound he had just suffered. The second man however was going to enact revenge for his friend, his sword now coming straight done on Arashi's head as he landed and regrouped.
While they handled the Crescent Stars, Mi focused on the big red Oni, now running right at the behemoth of a man. For a man his size, he was still quick, removing the massive metal Kanabo from his back and bringing it smashing down directly atop Mi. She was a quick and nimble scout however, and had moved into a slide across the floor, dodging the weapon and sliding underneath his legs. The blunt weapon smashed into the floorboards of the tavern as Mi stood back up, now behind the man. She swayed slightly, still a bit inebriated from the sake, but found her resolve and rushed the man anyway.
With a running start, she leapt onto the Oni's back, wrapped her legs around his torso and clapped both hands against the sides of his head, delivering a devastating blow. Despite this clever assault, The Mountain Breaker was sturdy and large, ignoring the blow to his head and grabbing Mi off of his back. His grip was tight and strong, crushing the air from Mi as he squeezed her mid section, then tossed her. Her tiny frame flew across the room, over the bar and crashing into shelves of liquor. The bar area was mostly empty now, the bar owner ducking behind the counter and calling out to Mi, making sure she was ok.
With a groan, the woman stood, hat and mask now removed from her person and scattered across the floor. Blood dripped from a wound on her head, but did not distract her from the fight. This monster of a man was a boogeyman to those in her group, the one no one wanted to stand across from in a battle. She wiped the blood from her face and vaulted over the counter, glaring at the monster with a fervent anger. She was pissed, and was going to need every ounce of that anger to win.
"I can do this all day little Mi, next time I toss you, it'll be your dead body flying through the room "
A nasty snarl accompanied the threat as the red monster lumbered forward, even his slow pace appearing menacing. Both of his meaty hands gripped the weapon as it raised a second time, a new attack ready to be launched.
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Post by Seiya on Jan 21, 2024 14:23:09 GMT -5
It’s been a while since Seiya’s picked a fight with another man. He can’t really remember when the last time was– hell, it might’ve been as far back as his first meeting with Cyran, back when he’d had to brawl with the man himself, followed by a band of mercenaries, followed by another, more vicious band of mercenaries. Hah, assumin’ it really was that long ago and he hasn’t just forgotten or willfully let go of some encounter in the night, then Seiya can’t help but feel just a little bit proud of himself for it; that’s a hell of a long time to go without baring his claws against a human being, a hell of a long time to go without indulgin’ what the star hangin’ high over his head really wants. Even if he’s breakin’ the streak now, finally drawin’ human blood in a real, no holds barred fight to what very well might be the death, he ain’t gonna pretend it don’t mean somethin’. He ain’t gonna pretend he ain’t provin’ somethin’. But he ain’t gonna shy away from doin’ what he’s gotta, either. A low, inhuman growl tears itself from Seiya’s throat as the Star shifts, takin’ only a second to recover from the feelin’ of ink-dark claws against his chest before he swings his blade, quick, angry, all-encompassin’-- there’s a sense of knowin’ in those eyes, the awareness that he’s given his opponent one of two options, runnin’ or sufferin’, and that whichever option Seiya winds up takin’, he’s gotten the advantage. Shame for him, really, that Seiya’s givin’ himself a third option. He still ain’t perfect at it, but as the blade comes swingin’ forward, Seiya claps his hands down over the flat of the blade, catchin’ it in place in mid-air– his palms sting with the force of it, lungs burnin’ just a bit from the sheer shock of managin’ to pull it off to begin with, and he ain’t entirely sure he didn’t get just a liiiiiittle scratched up from it, but it’s better than takin’ a full slash. [1] He huffs out half of a laugh, eyes flashin’ as he aims a kick at the Star’s chest, lettin’ go of the blade of his sword in the process. The stardust in his veins flares dangerously, hungrily, pridefully, urgin’ him to keep goin’, to bear down on the guy with more, and– And he ignores it. He ain’t satisfyin’ that thing today. All the better, too, ‘cause he can hear the easy, confident drawl of the oni from across the room, each word drippin’ from his lips promisin’ a reckonin’-- promisin’ a rain of hell down on Mi if he can manage to get the upper hand against her again. Seiya knows the Stars are a problem– he ain’t even sure he’s fully handled the one that went after him, and he knows he should probably contribute with the ones goin’ after the scruffy guy, but– but the Oni is a problem. The man’s got the intent to kill and the power to back it up, and what kinda man would Seiya be if he let himself get lost in the violence and forgot the meaning behind it? He turns, then, knowin’ it’s a dumb move to show his back to his opponent, but in the moment, he doesn’t care– he lifts a hand, a deep green darkness stirrin’ ‘round his fingers for a moment before it flies forward, aimed right at the Oni’s kanabo. [2] Here’s hopin’ the guy ain’t got magic-resistant weaponry.
1. Steel Catch 2. Corrosive Blast, aimed at the Oni's weapon
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Post by Arashi Tento on Jan 22, 2024 19:46:54 GMT -5
As Arashi's first Slice found its mark, cleanly cutting through flesh and bone, he was satisfied at the result, while the second attack missed he didn't expect the first guy to be so weak anyways, so that attack surpassed what he was expecting out of it. Arashi was used to killing by now, due to his time in the army, as well as some of his adventures, he also had an idea of what these guys stood for, and while he didn't know what they wanted with Mi he knew it couldn't be good... There was no need to hold back, at least for him.
One chopped leg, clawed torso, and thrown girl later. The second man readied to bring a sword down to split Arashi's skull, he sighed and then focused, Lightning beginning to spill from his eyes as the air began getting charged with static, suddenly every enemy in a 10 feet radius got a powerful shock[1] which should be enough to stun them and make them flinch, knowing he would more than likely not need to worry about the swordsman who meant to attack him. Arashi rushed towards the big Oni, Mr Mountain as Mi had called him.
in a swift motion he would slice at the Oni's hamstring[2] as he rushed at him from behind and jumped onto his back even if Mi's attempt wasn't successful he had a few tricks up his sleeve, At the same time he grabbed onto the fellblood he put his Katana at the Oni's Throat the edge threatening to draw blood at the hint of movement. "Now..." he whispered into the Mountain's ear "Give me a reason not to end you, or are you that much of a suck up to the crown." Arashi grinned "And in case your skull is too thick to house a working brain... The reason I am looking for is for you to drop your weapon." Arashi was not playing around, but he had to stop him from Killing her, even if the shock should stop him for the time being, he would not take chances, and if any sudden movement other than letting go of the Kanabo happened Arashi would not hesitate to slice the Fellblood's throat, while due to his weapon's size and the distance and momentum, or lack there of, it probably wouldn't be enough for a decapitation, it should still be more than lethal enough.
1: Monk Art: Art of the Storm Bow 2: Katana Double Strike Enchantment (Slashing at the Mountain's Hamstring and then putting the sword to his throat while grappling him from behind)
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Post by Admin: Soul on Apr 11, 2024 15:27:08 GMT -5
What felt like a life time happened in the matter of mere seconds, as the entire room continued to move with the rhythm of battle. Seiya and Arashi both continued to duel their individual combatants while Mi struggled to hold herself upright. Blood dripped from her matted hair, the small framed woman now holding her side, two ribs broken from hitting the wall. The other two had managed to gain the upper hand, dealing decent damage to the attackers and providing a moment to assist. Having noticed Mi's condition and the incoming second strike, they both maneuvered themselves to help out. Seiya launched a corrosive spell directly at the mans weapon as Arashi bolted towards the Oni, attempting to deliver a quick slash and finish in a hostage hold. It was a well executed attack.
But this was The Mountain Breaker.
His red, blood shot eyes jolted from one target to another, an entire battle plan playing out in his simple little mind. You didn't earn a reputation like his by easily getting ganged up on. His sausage like fingers released their hold on the metal club, which had already been in mid swing for his second attack. The weapon went flying, spiraling through the air like a death machine as it collided with the cloud of corrosive gas, then went right through it. The outer edges of the weapon had started to corrode, a thin layer of the acid still present as it slowly tried to eat away at it. The club was massive however and made of solid metal, it would take time to fully negate. Seiya would have but a moment to react as the Konobo continued its spiral towards him, flanking his front as the Crescent Star returned, covering his back.
Arashi would find himself in a similar situation, delivering his first strike to the Oni's hamstrings just as he had thrown the club. The blade would gently glide over the man's red, leathery skin, just barely slicing through the flesh. Arashi would then place the blade to the monster's neck, only to be met with a sinister chuckle.
"Go head tiny man."
It would dawn on Arashi, noticing several scars and battle wounds all over the Fellblood's body. He was on a long list of men who had tried to cut the Mountain Breaker down, all who had previously failed. Specifically around the neck, where many a blade had failed to remove the man's head. His skin was thick and tough, like hide, and was better than any piece of armor he could have worn.
"Time to go up"
A meaty hand would clasped down on Arashi's free arm, which was holding onto the man. He wanted to ensure the samurai could not flee as he crouched, then jumped, slamming his backside into the ceiling of the tavern. This would send Arashi through the roof and out into the rain as the Mountain Breaker landed back inside, a devious grin on his face, which only lasted a second. Joy turned to surprise as Mi was no where to be seen.
Mi was not stupid, she knew when a battle had been lost, and what she held was vastly more important than her own pride. While the Oni fumbled about with the other two, Mi had taken the opportunity to run, the best weapon she had at the time. It was only a few seconds, but it was enough for her to slip past the others and run out into the rain. However her wounds were severe, there was no way in hell she was going to get to Starlight City like this. There was no other option, so she whistled.
- 2 Hit preventions removed from The Mountain Breaker from Arashi's attacks. - Seiya has a flying, corrosive Konobo coming at him - Arashi is flying through the ceiling at Mach 5
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