Aachen Rizen Compile - Kenno Matsuri [ In Character ]

Ehb

Literal No One
Original poster
LURKER MEMBER
FOLKLORE MEMBER
Invitation Status
Posting Speed
  1. 1-3 posts per week
Writing Levels
  1. Intermediate
Preferred Character Gender
  1. Primarily Prefer Female
Genres
It's Easier to just Look at Below

Fieldset:
Aachen_Rizen_Banner_B_-_Copy.jpg

This is the In Character Thread for Kenno Matsuri.
[ (Initial Wave) Interest Thread ] - [ Out of Character / Signups ]


Previous Entries
[ Hymn of Origin ]

Fieldset:
[ Journal ] - [ Bestiary ] - [ Manual ]


 
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Kiri Moriya
Kiri_KNMIco.jpg

[ Month of Chill, Haschou Village / The Maplegrounds ]

"Nnnngggghhhhh, so looooud," Kiri whined, shutting her eyes tight as another strange foreigner announced his arrival with a voice that made the horrible squawking sound like a lullaby. After coming to terms with the annoying new guy, she sighed it out and reopened them just in time to be notice a sharp set of talons fast approaching.

"Eep!" She shrieked, clutching the right arm that'd been badly bruised by the bird torpedo as she fell backward into... something soft? She looked up. It was a person. A kinda comfy person. She wouldn't have minded snuggling in the stranger's grasp a little while longer, but this wasn't snuggle time, this was bird revenge time!

Before she could protest, she was deposited on a nearby bench. Despite the man's suggestion, she pushed herself back up and turned defiantly towards the squawking menaces.

"I'm not much of a fighter, no, but the future's in trouble, so I have to try...!"

Kiri steeled her resolve and stood still, fixing her gaze onto the nearest Swallow Beak as it stared back. The two locked eyes: natural enemies in a heartfelt battle for their natural habitat - the rowdy morning bird verses the quiet night owl.

Suddenly, the tense anticipation exploded into the heat of battle as the Swallow Beak tore the air around it with its wings, propelling it forward with the great force that other, lesser prey had come to fear.

Not this one.

This strange, sleepy, land creature with a head the color of the sky stood resolute, even as it readied its powerful talons; even as it cut towards her through the sky, faster and faster. Was this creature blind, or just plain foolish? It would just have to show her why it was the greatest creature of this world... show her it was to be feared and respected. It would show her just futile it was for these pathetic land creatures to defy such perfect beings as they, who'd achieved mastery of the skies.

Kiri Used Seismic Flick (Base - Earth) - LV 3

Auto Success!

In the blink of an instant, where a foolish land creature had previously been waiting for the sharpness of talons, it had now vanished. Before the Swallow Beak had time to assess where it had gone, a powerful, bludgeoning force from below quickly knocked it higher than it had ever flown, as if the power of the ground itself had been directed straight into its breast.

The sky was blue, the air fresh, and the sun warm. Though its wings lay motionless, it flew higher and higher, past where it had ever dared fly before, and as its life ebbed away, it supposed it to be poetic - dying in the sky it had placed such confidence in.

...

Kiri straightened her knees, standing back up and turning her eyes up to watch as the dead bird soared one last time. Here, this day, she'd won a great victory in her mind, and although the battle raged on, she grinned in the knowledge that there was one less obnoxious bird to plague the future of peaceful sleeping in Haschou.



High atop Haschou Keep, a young servant boy thrust his mop joyfully across the final corner of the giant roof, looking back to gaze upon his work. To the casual eye, it looked simply like an average, dark-grey rooftop, albeit a bit oversized, but to him - who had seen it in its festering, putrid, pre-cleaned state - it sparkled with cleanliness.

He sighed in relief, relaxing his shoulders and wiping his brow as a sign that his hard work for the day was done, but before he could turn to leave...

SPLAT!

"Wh-- WHAT!?"

@Accelerator
 
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Kei Daidouji
Kei_Ico.jpg

[Month of Harvest, Haschou Village / Maplegrounds]

"Hunting birds wouldn't be too hard, as long as we're careful and don't rush in. If we aren't then things could get..."
Kei looked at Kiri. "Messy. Again."

Tsubaki said they should take things one at a time. Kei agreed. Their numbers were... thinning. At first he thought it was just Tsubaki, but it extended to others. Rizen... Noriko... Kei knew that as long as he was careful they'd be safe... but disappearing members were no joke. Were they dead for keeps?

And Kiri marched off towards the Maplegrounds. Well, that settled that, he supposed. He followed along, back of the line. Kei really didn't need her to try and redeem nobles for him. Scum is scum. Nothing more, nothing less.

The walk was uneventful, and largely boring. they were mostly there when Kei recognized a shape in the distance. followed by a bunch morre familiar shapes.

"HEY YOU GUYS!!!"


It's Rizen. Please stab him now.

"OVER HERE!!!"


"RUN FASTER MY BOY."

"You're joking. You are actually joking. This is a joke, right?"


Unfortunately, no. No it was not a joke. Runara even called dibs. Well, no point in sitting around.

Kei moved quickly to aim his knife where there wasn't a tree, aiming for a decently annoying looking bird to become a victim. It caught sight of him first and swooped to down rake its claws through his puny body...

It watched as a a knife flew to a point just in front of it's trajectory and... Kei smiled.

[Kei used Base Tech Flame Licked Knife Level 3!]

[Auto-success!]


The flames blasted the bird to a point where it looked almost halfway to being cooked, and Kei was already assessing the state of things. They were well in hand, with minor injuries and the birds now... narrowed down to two or three.

"Make sure that there's enough to recover to eat for later, guys! Runara's not the only one who's hungry!"


@Ehb
@Everyone
 
Fieldset:
[ Month of Harvest, Haschou Village, The Maplegrounds]

The party retaliated at the birds that had set upon them. Even Lady Kiri had unwittingly joined into the fray, but even she was able to inflict a casualty upon the feathered menaces. The first flight of the birds had taken serious losses. The party having vanquished 6 of the birds that were in the original flight. But even with only two birds left, they made one more charge against the group. One more desperate - or maybe angry charge.

But to no avail, despite the many targets, the birds did not land a blow that could inflict any real damage on their opponents. High above, there was still an armada of the beaked predators watching the battle unfold from up high. Curiously enough though, as the party would find out, they were making no motions to attack. At least not yet, maybe. The many reinforcements that could swoop down and carry on an endless attack weighed on the traveler's minds - but if that were they case, wouldn't they have all attacked at the same time?

Maybe they had sent this set of birds just to test out their strength, possibly.

There was a general understanding that there wasn't any way the party would be able to defeat every single bird in that flock in one go. The plan was simple - simple to the fact that it was instinctual, something that most would be compelled to do after defeating the immediate threat. That plan was to get far away from the Maplegrounds before getting swarmed any further.

Of course, there was also the option to tempt fate, seeing what would happen if they challenged the birds any further after dispatching the two immediate threats.


@Luma
Kiri knew that defeating the birds here wasn't exaclty as simple as beating down every single one that came down at them. Well, in actuality, it was the simplest answer. But, from what she'd overheard the adults talking about, there was more to this removal than just killing a bunch of birds. Cirika had said something along the lines of 'killing the birds won't solve the root problem' before. But, she didn't listen to anything else beyond that.

In fact, wasn't it Cirika who put up the board notice, anyway? It felt like they were going into this blind.

Kiri, and the Travelers did have a choice. The job about the migratory birds simply wanted the birds to be dealt with. Meaning, the flock that was still circling around above, angry that their perches were being challenged by these travelers. But, it was also apparent to the young noble that based on what she'd overheard, that was the brute force way, making it harder than necessary.

But, her 'guests' seemed pretty strong. There was a possibility that they could take out each wave and solve the problem right there.

What would happen once the birds of this wave were defeated?


@_everyone
 
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Rizen
Rizen_Ico.jpg


[Month of Harvest, Haschou Village, Maplegrounds]

Now the whole party is here!
Rizen could not contain his smile seeing his friends once more in this mysterious. afterlife, memory village.
As long as he is not alone, he understands that all hope is not lost, well at least for now.

CAW! CAW! CAW!

Their reunion must wait for the birds are first in priority now.
As expected, his friends proved to be too much of a force against the helpless flock of Swallow Beaks, as they whittled the birds down one by one.

"COOL! How many are left now... Two?"

As one of the large beaked creature dove down to attack him, Rizen spun around and clenched his fist.

"Oh no... Not this time you stupid birds!"

There's a visible vein popping on his forehead as he soared to the sky, closely following the bird that tried to attack him.

[Rizen used Base Tech Kuuhazan Level 3!]
[Auto Success!]

"KUU...! HA...! ZAANNNN!!!"

This time, Rizen generated a large shockwave of compressed air from his fist, swallowing the helpless bird whole in a torrent of slashing wind.

"NEXT!!!"

As Rizen's eyes locked on to the next bird, he stretched his right arm out, mimicking the shape of a gun with his pointer finger towards the Swallow Beak,

"SENPUU...!"

[Rizen used Arkane Tech Senpuu Buraigan Level 1!]
[Failure!]

But alas, the bird flew high and went past his head, making him lose concentration and dropped his attack.

CAWCAWCAWCAW!!!

"DON'T LAUGH AT ME! YOU...! Just you wait!"
 
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Saburo
Saburo_Ico.jpg


[ Month of Harvest, Haschou Village, The Maplegrounds]

It seemed like the birds were finished. Which was good, cause Runara seemed very hungry. Saburo was a little afraid of her at the moment to be honest.

"So," Saburo said as he struck out at the last bird without looking.

Saburo used Binding Strikes (Base - Force) - LV 3

AUTOMATIC SUCCESS


"CAWCA-PFFT"

Feathers rained down from the sky.

"How do we split this?"

@Everyone
 

[ Victory! ]




"Saburo Shanzhai! Shanzhai Sabaro! A mighty and powerful King!"
"A-amazing! The pirate king is amazing!"




Fieldset:
[ Month of Harvest, Haschou Village, The Maplegrounds]

"How do we split this?"

Saburo dispatched the last bird. The travelers celebrated their victory, relishing at the food now set before them.

But was it really a complete victory? There remained an array of birds flying above. Many more than the eight that they had taken down. But, for those in the party with grumbling stomachs and insatiable appetites, the seven birds who now lay motionless around them in varying states of... demolition were a feast to behold. That was victory enough.

But, the call for harvesting of spoils and general celebration was cut short by the arrival of an unwelcome guest. Approaching them, it was someone familiar. Someone entirely irksome in the immediate memory of our travelers.

"So, this is what's been causing the commotion in the Maplegrounds?"

Cirika accented by feathers, approached the party. She had her sword at her side, sheathed - but it was apparent that she'd been doing some fighting of her own as the party had been attempting to not get pecked to death.

"You should be thankful of your guests, Kiri." Cirika said. It was curious too, Cirika was referring to her informally, like when they were firends. "If they weren't so strong, things might've ended up differently. You'd be worse off than just a bruise."

Cirika then focused her attention, at all of them.

"I suppose I can't really fault you for not knowing. But, after getting attack you folk can understand why the Maplegrounds is off limits to the villagers at this time for safety reasons, right? Unless, Lady Moriya led you here in some ill advised stop on her tour?"


She addressed them, though her question was also a form of Scolding to Kiri.
Was it a good idea to try to explain things to her? They did have a reason to be there, after all.

@Luma
@_everyone
 
Kiri Moriya
Kiri_KNMIco.jpg

[ Month of Chill, Haschou Village / The Maplegrounds ]

"Woooooah, you’re scary strong..." Kiri commented to the group as one bird after another got cut, sniped, burned, whipped and all sorts of whacked out of the sky.

"Oh, Ciri... ? When did you get here...?" Had she been there the whole time? She'd been sneaking up on them a bunch lately, it was kinda creepy... not that Kiri herself didn't have the same habit. Plus, sneaky Ciri was better than no Ciri.

"...but how can you go on a tour of Haschou without including the Maplegrounds...!? It has the best napping spot in the whole village, see?" Kiri pointed the group towards a distant, blurry shape that - to those with superior vision - could be made out as a bench sitting under a maple tree.

"The shape is perfect for lying in, and you get a nice breeze to counter the blanket heat, and everyone's usually nice and quiet... at least until those horrible things showed up." She glared at the ominous birdswarm above.

Kiri then turned her gaze back to Cirika as an idea sprung into her head. "You've been practicing an awful lot with that sword, right? You should join us, so we can take back the benc-- ahem... the Maplegrounds, and save the future...!" It was pretty clear where Kiri's priorities lay. Nonetheless, she stared into Cirika's eyes with the starry-eyed hope of a child wishing for the help of a friend.

@Ehb
 
Runara
Runara_Ico.jpg


[ Month of Harvest, Haschou Village, The Maplegrounds]

Runara looked around as her allies took down the remaining Swallow Beaks. Noticing that there are more Swallow Beaks flying in higher altitude, watching the Maplegrounds. "Um... Guys...?" She was about to warn them about the Swallow Beaks that are just watching before Cirika appeared before them. And considering her having feathers surrounding her body. It seemed that Cirika made the fight with the Swallow Beaks elsewhere.

Listening on Cirika's question, Runara was about to answer herself before Kiri answerred the question. Though her answer made Runara laugh, she certainly seemed eager to save the future and still buying the whole story that the party come out with.

"Ah, um... well actually we didn't go to the Mapleground intentionally. But as you can see that there's this other two new faces." Runara explained as she points to Rizen and Noriko. "And they're one of our band as well. You see, he got attacked by the Swallow Beaks before we got here so we helped him deal with the immediate threat." She then pointed to the corpses of the Swallow Beaks.

"Speaking of... I believe that there's a request to deal with these creatures right?" She then mentioned that fact that there was a request to deal with the Swallow Beaks infesting the Maplegrounds. "And... While I believe this is a process..." She then pointed upwards, putting notice on the Swallow Beaks swarm that watches over the Maplegrounds.

"We haven't done the job right?" She questioned, and once again... her stomach grumbled. ". . . Can we take these birbs for our meal though?" She asked, sounding less shameful than before.

@Ehb
@Love
@Accelerator
@Luma
@_WAVETWOINCOMINGBUTIMSTILLHUNGRY
 
Rumiko Mitsurugi
Rumiko_Ico.jpg


[ Month of Harvest, Haschou Village ]

Well at least the madness had ended, the Miko was pondering attempting to suplex one of the flying fiends, at this point she had to admit, she was mostly curious what all she could suplex, what was within reason, within madness.

Snapping her attention back to the rest, Cirika had shown up, seemingly a bit busy with the birds as well. As the other noble went on about naps and why they were here, Rumiko was about to correct her as Runara was quick to jump in with a bit of a correction and in a manner a question.

"It's as she said, we ran into one of ours and the bird swarm hit, I'm not sure if we killed enough of them yet with your assistance or not.. If we have I wouldn't mind going back to the jobs board.. Though we might should finish off the rest of them..or knock down the nests.. Also I could cook those for you..not sure I want to eat one though.." While some of them were Hungry the Miko was keen to see to it that the job was done, plus she assumed the feathered fiends tasted like shit.

"Actually heh..Lady Cirika..what is wrong with this Town? This many and sorts of problems is most.. unnatural.. Also I don't know if force is the best way to deal with them, if it were that easy you would have done it long ago yourself. Any idea what draws them here? So many beasts have been coming down from the Mountains, I wonder if it's rumbling.." While the Miko did want to kill more of them, she knew that would take much too long to actually carry out. Dropping hints to the future and asking a few questions, the Miko wasn't terribly interested in the all too much like Seagull animals.

@Ehb @others
 
Fieldset:
[ Month of Harvest, Haschou Village, The Maplegrounds]

"Oh, Ciri... ? When did you get here...?"

"I've been here long enough, Kiri. I was coming back with Arara before the beasts began to attack. When we saw birds uncharicteristically swooping into the castle - and the fighting, we ended up fighting them." Cirika said, plucking a feather out of her hair and flicking it aside. "Didn't guess that the root cause of their agitation was you all taking a tour."

"...but how can you go on a tour of Haschou without including the Maplegrounds...!? It has the best napping spot in the whole village, see?

Kiri said. She motioned to a pristine napping spot over yonder further into the grounds.

"The shape is perfect for lying in, and you get a nice breeze to counter the blanket heat, and everyone's usually nice and quiet... at least until those horrible things showed up."

Kiri then lit up with a 'great' idea apparently after seeing Cirika's appearance after her warm up against the birds.

"You've been practicing an awful lot with that sword, right? You should join us, so we can take back the benc-- ahem... the Maplegrounds, and save the future...!

In a rare moment, the normally emotionless Cirika let out a sigh of resigned exasperation. Kiri was a special kind, most certainly.

"If you're going to attempt to trick someone at least put some more effort into it. You're supposed be the Daughter Lord Moriya (The Spymaster) right? Furthermore, do you really need to have everyone babysit you? You set off with these merchants and within the hour you're already getting yourselves into trouble. How troublesome."

Cirika shook her head.

"Ah, um... well actually we didn't go to the Mapleground intentionally. But as you can see that there's this other two new faces."


The Doven from earlier.
They explained that they were compelled to step in in order to help one of their companions. It was evident there were others indeed. A blue haired one, and a man with a blade. Two more in this band.

"Speaking of... I believe that there's a request to deal with these creatures right?"
"Yes. There is." Cirika replied.

"We haven't done the job right?"
"Indeed, it has not." This time, the reply more surly.
". . . Can we take these birbs for our meal though?"
"...What?"

Cirika was a little perplexed about where this was going. It sounded like they wanted do the job... but it seemed that, for the doven at least, the prize was more in the prey then any other form of compensation.

"It's as she said, we ran into one of ours and the bird swarm hit, I'm not sure if we killed enough of them yet with your assistance or not.. If we have I wouldn't mind going back to the jobs board.. Though we might should finish off the rest of them..or knock down the nests.. Also I could cook those for you..not sure I want to eat one though.."

"On the contrary, those birds are actually kind of good. Still, If you mean taking the 'job' about being rid of these birds then no need to walk back to the boards. I was the one who posted up that notice. Given the overall situation I believe you've unwittingly taken this job regardless."

Actually heh..Lady Cirika..what is wrong with this Town? This many and sorts of problems is most.. unnatural.. Also I don't know if force is the best way to deal with them, if it were that easy you would have done it long ago yourself. Any idea what draws them here? So many beasts have been coming down from the Mountains, I wonder if it's rumbling.."

"It's not the mountain. Long story short, food is scarce in the valley. Predators have been competing for years to the point that they've been encroaching upon our stores of food. Sometimes, it seems like they'd acquire a taste for Sapiens as well if given the opportunity. That's how it's been in this valley since my father's father's generation, I've been told. We only get by due to the crops grown outside of town."

"But, in the case of these birds, the maple-grounds just happen to be a fine place to perch, given they can make swipes at our grain stores more easily that way. These flocks are more organized than one would think. The birds circling around us are merely pawns."

Cirika turned her attention back to the Doven.

"These people here are your escort, so I presume you're the one with nominal control over them, correct? I have a proposition then: Given what's happened, I feel like those birds may start attacking people openly given that someone has actually killed their kind for once. There is one way to disperse of this flock, but that'll mean a tough fight. And for that, I'll need assistance."

She picked out yet another feather out of her hair that was bugging her as she continued.

"Please help me with that fight. In exchange, every kill will be gathered up by the staff and cooked until you've all had your fill. I can hear your stomach's pleas for morsels. But, for just a bit more effort, I'll have you eating like royalty - All You Can Eat Style."


The thought even made Kiri a little envious.
Meat was hard to come by in Haschou. It as rare, as hunting game were practically nonexistent, and most people avoided the predatory animals, let alone hunted them. And Kiri could vouch that the castle cook was indeed the best in the village.

Food was money in Haschou.
All you can eat was like opening the the treasury's coffers wide for someone to take out as much as they could carry.
And the animals flying in the sky were like Bloons ready to fall to the heavens.

Though Cirika had asked Runara, the rest of the party felt obliged to give their opinion too. As, while their cover-story made it sound like Runara was leading them, the truth was that they were as much the same motley band as they were when they woke up after getting poisoned.

They debated, whether to face another fight or hide for cover...

@Luma
@LowDefinition
@RedArmyShogun
@_Everyone
 
Saburo
Saburo_Ico.jpg


[ Month of Harvest, Haschou Village, The Maplegrounds]

"W-Waitwai" Saburo interuppted before Runara could speak as their mis-indentified leader. With how the Doven had acted so far on an empty stomach, her answer would almost certainly be yes to the noble's offer. She was probably sold by the first time food was mentioned.

But as he had his hand raised in protest, Saburo sensed the unsual feeling of not actually having anything to say in protest. They were going to do this job in the first place anyway. Even if it was going to be a lot tougher then what they had just fought. They had basically had no problem with this. And now they would have the assistance of Cirika. Whether that was actually a good thing or not was yet to be seen.

Do something or die. That was the sentiment that this fake world had shown to the group. If they didn't take this offer, what would they do? Walk around and get eaten by wolves again. He wished not to find out if that would be the case.

Plus, even Cirika couldn't not say that they would were being helpful to the ghost populance. They were nice merchants, afterall.

"S-Sure, that sounds nice. But let it be known that atleast I am doing it to save other villagers from potential injury and chaos!" Saburo held a fist to the off-set birds. "Our justice was bound to be wretched upon them. Faith has written it!"

What did that mean, you might ask?

He did not know.

"I-I mean, if we did do this. If, cause we are a...fair and equal group. Perhaps this would convince you to look at us in a better light, hmm? C-Covers can be decieving, so I heard." And specifically, not look at him with those eyes. At least go back to blanking him out of existence like most others did.

@Ehb
@LowDefinition
@BirbsandtheBees
 
Kiri Moriya
Kiri_KNMIco.jpg

[ Month of Harvest, Haschou Village / The Maplegrounds ]

"Trick you? I don’t understand..." Kiri questioned as Cirika pointed out her ‘deception?’ "And they're not babysitting me: we’re all in this together. So we can all save the Maplegrounds and protect the future from.... uhmm...."

Kiri paused. She wracked her memory for it. Did none of them actually answer that question for her? No, she supposed they didn’t. She’d even asked twice: that much she definitely remembered.

"Well... I think we’re in this together..." Kiri realized, shifting an unsure and somewhat worried gaze between the travelers. "We are, right? All of us, together against the noisy squawker-- wait, WHAAAT!?" All of a sudden, Kiri's eyes widened in shock and she raised her voice in surprise for what might've been the first time anyone could remember in the last 7 years of her life.

Her mouth began to water at just the thought of juicy, tender, flavorful Swallow Beak - the kind of food she only got on super special occasions and never in large portion. "As much Swallow Beak as we want... aaaand we get the napping spot back?" Kiri never looked quite as excited for something as she did now.

Swiveling around to face the rest of the travelers, Kiri clasped her hands together to plead with the lot of them. "Pleeeease please please say you'll do it...! Everyone!" Kiri gave Kei an extra long stare, until she finally decided to address him specifically for some extra assurance. "Look, I know you hate people like Ciri and me," she blurted out, "but just think of the prize...! Besides, she's not as bad as you think. She's even a very friendly royal."

With barely any warning, Kiri stepped back, wrapped her arms around Cirika, and squeezed her into a childish hug. Kiri hugging Cirika wasn't uncommon back in their childhood, but now that they were older, it did seem a bit awkward. Kiri didn't seem to notice though: she looked perfectly comfortable.

"See?" Kiri stared back at Kei over Cirika's shoulder, tension rising every moment from the question of whether or not he - along with the others - would go along with it. The way she stared at Kei did feel a bit more special though. It was almost like she was trying to 'sell' or 'redeem' the idea of nobles to him.

@Ehb
@Karyra
 
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Tsubaki Hanejima
Tsubaki_Ico.jpg

[Month of Harvest / Haschou Village, The Maplegrounds]

Tsubaki was at the Maplegrounds, but the others soon acted and quickly defeated the first wave of hostile sparrows. As such, the group reunited with Rizen and Noriko, who happened to be missing since everyone got trapped into the realm of the dead. But the job was not yet over, as a larger school of angry birds hovered above them. Coincidentally, Cirika appeared in front of them and a conversation soon unfolded between the group, which ended with a decision making question.

Defeat the remaining birds on the air and the group will be able to eat like rich nobles. Cirika even agreed to assist the group for that effort. Or the group can just leave for another day. Both Saburo and Kiri agreed to the Cirika's proposition to defeat the remaining birds occupying the area. At first, Tsubaki was on the fence whether they should fully tackle this assignment. With Cirika agreed to help them, at least the quest does not felt dangerous as before.

"Sure." Tsubaki agreed with a straightforward tone. "Let us finish this, then."

@Ehb
 
Rumiko Mitsurugi
Rumiko_Ico.jpg

[ Month of Harvest, Haschou Village ]

"We might as well finish them off, though I don't know if I care much to eat them..though if what you say is true about the food situation in this village we might should share some of the spoils with the locals.."

Giving her own thoughts on the subject and a shake of her head paired to a sigh, the massive Miko shrugs. "As I said I'm in, though your short friend is painfully transparent." Still though, this all was a bit troubling, they had became accustomed to these attacks, was it a lack of will and manpower in dealing with them or casual indifference?

"Either way we need a better way in getting these birds down closer or to kill more than one at a time, there are dozens if not hundreds of the winged fiends flying about.. Cutting the trees down also isn't an option..though I sense nothing odd about this forest so far..maybe it is just a bunch of dumb birds.." Thinking aloud on the later bit of her speech, Rumiko cups her right hand under her chin, seemingly lost in thought.
 
Fieldset:
[ Month of Harvest, Haschou Village, The Maplegrounds]

@Luma

"And they're not babysitting me: we’re all in this together. So we can all save the Maplegrounds and protect the future from.... uhmm...."

"...The Future?" Cirika replaid back. Curious to such a grand statement being made by Kiri.

"Well... I think we’re in this together..."
"We are, right? All of us, together against the noisy squawker-- wait, WHAAAT!?"
"As much Swallow Beak as we want... aaaand we get the napping spot back?"


Though the enticement of an all you can eat was more meant to appeal to the Doven Noble, it seemed like another noble was getting themselves aflir with the notion of all-you-can-eat delicacy.

"Pleeeease please please say you'll do it...! Everyone!"


"Kiri... are you serious? You're going to fight too?"


In that frame of time, Cirika's question went unanswered. Kiri seemed to be trying particularly hard to convince someone else there. The very spiteful young man with the bright hair.

"Look, I know you hate people like Ciri and me, but just think of the prize...! Besides, she's not as bad as you think. She's even a very friendly royal."



Cirika was being suprised by Kiri and all of the most unimpressive ways today. So she was putting herself through all of this for primarily the prupouse of regaining a bench, eating, and the very vague objective of trying to save the future. Maybe, just maybe, the muscled woman in really was some kind of great orator and had gotten Kiri all riled up with adventurous tales and heroic deeds.

But something like that was for people who could actually pull of heroic deeds, not-

"....?"


The young noble's though process was interrupted when she felt somone wraping their arms around her. Cirika... didn't really respond much to such a warm gesture. Though she didn't protest either. Rather, she pointed out something important:

"I'm covered in feathers... you realize that, don't you?"


Kiri didn't seem to mind, though - or she was plain ignoring it.

"See?"


@Miya
@Rithas

"Sure." The girl with a blade responded simply. "Let us finish this, then."

Then, the purple haired one. Seeming to summon up their charisma.

"S-Sure, that sounds nice. But let it be known that atleast I am doing it to save other villagers from potential injury and chaos!"
"Our justice was bound to be wretched upon them. Faith has written it!"


Cirika Met Saburo's enthusiasim with a deadpan stare.

"I see."


She didn't sound convinced though. Or was that just normal for her? But Saburo had more to ask of her.

"I-I mean, if we did do this. If, cause we are a...fair and equal group. Perhaps this would convince you to look at us in a better light, hmm? C-Covers can be decieving, so I heard."


That was a very direct way of asking it. Will us helping you make you like us more? That in intself, was a suspicious statement, for a man who was also quite suspicious in his way of carrying himself as well. The reason why they were here, and why it had become so necessary to kill this birds now, was all orchestrated by the things that these people had done thus far. Namely, killing the Swallow Beaks from that first wave.

There was a whole lot of uncertainties Cirika had about them. About why they had come straight towards the castle even though they didn't have any reason to see the Daimyou. Why their 'other companions' were conveniently here in the maplegrounds by happenstance, and moreover - why these people were acting completely different to how they were when they first arrived in town.

Before any of those uncertainties though, there was one thing certain.

Because the Swallow Beaks have been killed, it is likley that they'll react more harshly towards people around the castle. Possibly attacking them, or even residents in the town. This was the first time that blood had been drawn, so it was necessary to remove them. If there was any merit to these people - that they had a change of heart - that there was any reason to trust them; there was one way to be certain of it.


@RedArmyShogun
The muscled one, Rumiko spoke up.

"We might as well finish them off, though I don't know if I care much to eat them..though if what you say is true about the food situation in this village we might should share some of the spoils with the locals.."


Cirika nodded, she was pleasantly suprised at the suggestion.

"...Yes. After we've gone through this flock, there should be plenty of food to go around."

"As I said I'm in, though your short friend is painfully transparent."
"Either way we need a better way in getting these birds down closer or to kill more than one at a time, there are dozens if not hundreds of the winged fiends flying about.. Cutting the trees down also isn't an option..though I sense nothing odd about this forest so far..maybe it is just a bunch of dumb birds.."


This time Cirika shook her head.

"It'd be unwise to underestimate a foe so numerous. They're more organized that most would immediately think. I learned a good amount about them from a Monster Hunter by the name of Lee who came to this town to exterminate them when I was a child. Time is of the essence, but, it might be worth telling you what exactly we're about to get into."

Out of Cirika's jacket pocket, she produced a cylinder that could be seen through, where a red liquid bobbled about within. For the others, it was glass - but for Kiri, it was one of those very, very exotic jars that came from her father's trade ventures. Something made in a far off land.

"Killing off e very single one of them might be a bit tough. But, this concoction that person left behind will draw the leaders of the animals and propel them to fight us. If we defeat them here, the rest of the birds will scatter, having no one to lead them. But, the ones that will come after us will no doubt be tough."

"I know this method will work. I saw the monster hunter do the exact same thing. And he rid us of a flock that plagued the town when I was a child. Father paid handsomely for his services, so in passing he mentioned the ingredients he used to make the concoction."

Everyone's eyes eyed the red clearish liquid in the glass cylinder. It was a wonder what exactly it was made up of, as the liquid inside was still clear enough to see through.

"I'm confident that this will do it's job. But, once I pout it out, the birds will frenzy. And we shall be beset upon by the toughest ones of the flock, and and finally their master. If it was like last time, they're all being lead by a Wyvern."


A hush fell over the travelers.
A Wyvern was leading them?

"Once that Wyvern is gone, this flock will pose no threat, and scatter."


Wyverns were no longer supposed exist. Having gone extinct along with Tousawa Valley during the eruption. But, tales of this seemingly Mythic monster's ferocity made for great tales at the taverns and campfires. But, to actually face one for real? Wyversn are considred lesser to Dragons, their fire breathing cousins. But what their smaller relative size and inability to project Elemental Force they made up in their ferocity and their sharp talons.

Swordmaster Lee's most famous sword, the Starcutter, was supposedly forged from one such talon.


....

"I was the one who put up the job posting for this. I needed a group of strong individuals who would be able to last through and help defeat the strongest monsters in this flock. Help me in this endeavor, and along with that feast you can consider any misgivings about you folk that have been established as dispelled."


Cirika went on to explain that they'd be attacked by at least a couple waves of the birds. But, if they saved their strength until the critical moment when the leader of the flock arrived, then victory would be possible, especially with their numbers and apparent prowess.

"I'm going to throw this bottle onto the ground, and we'll fight through anything hostile that comes upon us until the birds are dispelled. Does that sound acceptable? Ah, and before I forget, I never introduced myself properly: "


"I'm Cirika Ikkikari. Heiress to Daimyou Ikkikari, the leader of this tribe and village. Thank you for keeping my friend entertained."


Internally, some in the group were groaning. Their emotions were going from surprise, horror, and now they sort of felt obligated to formally introduce themselves. Sure, they'd been rather... intimately introduced to each other at the market... and in times past. But, somehow this felt like a new start, one that might end in a better outcome, despite the challenges that lay before them.
 
Saburo
Saburo_Ico.jpg


[ Month of Harvest, Haschou Village, The Maplegrounds]

Use something to bait monsters in so they could kill the strong ones so the rest would go away so they could get food. Saburo gasped slightly in realization. This was exactly what was happening last time!

But now with wyverns. Which existed, much to his dismay. "O-Oh I see you're saying that like it's normal." The Pirate King mumbled to himself. Rumiko was right! This place was too full of monsters. Did the residents of this village just go about their day apathethic about the potential of getting carried away by a wyvern!?

Saburo raised an eyebrow slightly at the reveal that Cirika herself had put up the job about the birds. "Couldn't have been more detailed on what we would face? I, er, guess not." Saburo bit his lip slightly, as another thought entered his head. "W-wait, you were waiting for a group like this? S-So why are you acting like-!" Sighing to himself, Saburo words died in his mouth. Was it even worth asking. It was perhaps best to assume this girl just liked speaking in unwelcome tones.

The noble then introduced herself. This whas the not the first time she had done this and so it was not needed for the group of travellers. But he guessed that it was technically the first time for this, how could he put it? 'Version' of her.

Not that it made it any better, he hated introducing himself. A life of looks of badly hidden surprise as the third child was shown in the family was one way to dislike this sort of stuff. Still, it not like he could just ignore it. He was trying to butter her up afterall. Oh, and he had just made himself blush.

"I'm Saburo. Saburo Shanzhai, Shanzhai Saburo. A very normal and unnoteworthy person."
He felt it was some unjustice that telling the truth felt like telling a lie.

@Ehb
@Others
 
Private Action- Kei and Saburo 2
Saburo_Ico.jpg

Kei_Ico.jpg


Taking a deep inhale, Saburo allowed himself to ease up a little bit. They had somehow managed not to jailed or worse by the nobles. Even better, they were left to their own devices for now. Saburo felt very tired, like he wanted to nap for a million years. He couldn't allow himself to think too much about what had happened recently. Because that would bring up the wolves.

He doubted he would sleep well for a long time.

He wasn't helpful with much. But he could try to tackle a smaller problem. Spinning on his heels, he spotted the noticeable blue hair of Kei.

The assassin had tested his luck a lot. Which was fine if it was just him but seeing as Saburo's wellbeing was linked to Kei's. The Pirate King felt a bit of a duty to make the guy a little less sucidal.

From what Saburo had picked up from Kei. He had most likely been betrayed by a noble. Even a blind worm could see that this had left some...marks on the young man. Perhaps he could get Kei to talk about it a little more. Though he felt that trying to play psudo-therapist would get him stabbed.

"Ah, Kei. My lad!" Saburo cheered as he made his way over to him. Saburo couldn't exactly figure out what Kei was doing, but he seemed to be whistling or something.

"Quite, the predictament we find ourselves in. Isn't it." Saburo said all nonchalant.Trying to hide the overwhelming anxiety building inside him.

It was just the two of them. Which hadn't happened since the Shrine. The memory of that flashing in the back of his mind. Saburo gave a uneasy smile. "What did I tell you..."

He stepped forward a few paces, before turning around to Kei and spreading his arms out. "I'd told you we'd go to some unique places. A-and look at this, we're already in a place forgotten by time itself!" Not exactly by choice, but who cared for the details.

He waggled a finger at Kei. "Say one thing about the Pirate King. Say he keeps his promises."



Kei had been carefully sewing shut a hole in his clothing, carefully patching it up to make sure that he still looked presentable. It was careful stitchwork, and he really hadn't had the chance when they had been in the temple, but here out in the market she could take his time and relax a little. He whistled a chipper tune as he worked, not overly sunny, but more upbeat than one would expect out of him. However, he figured as long as he worked he could ignore the fact that they could never leave this village. He started his next task of sharpening his knives when Saburo yelled.

Kei's reaction was to jump a little, just enough to send the knife flying into the air. Kei quickly tried and fumbled catching it, causing it to clatter to the ground. Despite his clumsiness, it seemed like it was a step down from having a knife thrown in the general direction of the noise. Kei counted it more as him getting rusty than anything else. Kei stood up to grab the knife he'd dropped. The knife looked older and more worn, but Kei was careful picking it back up.

"Ah, Saburo. Nice to see you." Kei made a small movement with his hand and the knife disappeared. The whetstone he'd been using was carefully stored in plain sight in a pocket by Kei's side.

"Ah, true. We kind of are in a different place. At least it has more elbow room than prison." Kei replied. "Although I thought the saying was not to trust pirates. Does that cancel out if you're the Pirate King?"

"So. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visiting me? Surely it's not just to brag. Plus, I'm not so sure that this place was exactly planned on the itinerary, pretty as it is."



"Bah, Pirates are no more untrustworthy as any other person. Try lying to someone who you've been stuck with for two months out at sea!"

"Y-you know who say that Pirates are untrustworthy?" Saburo squinted slightly. "Nobles."

And most other sensible people. Was the thought Saburo had silently.

Raising a finger at Kei, Saburo smiled. "F-first off, hearing the Pirate King brag is an honour within itself. Secondly, We don't do intinaries. We do adventure. Chaos is the plan as the plan is chaos!" Saburo stretched his arms out into the air. His silk cloth jumping with the sudden effort.

"Alas, something you mentioned brings me to my point." Saburo gaze sharpened. "The time you spent in prison."

There was many ways he could have asked this, but for some reason Saburo was going for this.

"Elaborate."



"Ha, that's fair. If you all really knew me, you'd know I'm a terrible liar -I'm all easy tells." Kei leaned back on the box carefully. He seemed amused by Saburo's ramblings about chaos and the plan, and easy smile forming on his face. Until Saburo brought up prison.

The easy smile fell quickly.

"It was five years. The prison cell was small. The guards were terrible." Kei said. "Or were you asking why I went to jail?" The last part was quieter. Surely the Pirate King wouldn't be afraid of the lie that sent Kei to jail.

But if Kei explained all the details... would Saburo stop him? Kei's mouth formed a thin line as he thought.

"I killed a man; some noble trying to threaten the throne. Or... that's what they say. The whole story is... complicated. I feel like I'd need much more time to explain it. It's... not a fun tale to tell, like yours."

He'd made tallies on the wall of his cell. The first few days were easy. Each one a promise that maybe tomorrow he'd come. Clear it all up. Hope died quickly on that wall, and Kei ran out of large enough rocks to scratch lines into the wall after three years. He'd lost hope after one.

"I... I can tell you more if you want." Kei looked away and started to rub his wrists. Why was this so hard? It wasn't as if the Pirate King was going to bat an eye at him having "killed" a man. Much less some traitorous noble jerk. Still, Kei was sure that Saburo would look at him differently.

I knew you weren't going to have the stomach for it. Still, kudos to making it this far.



The Pirate King listened to Kei patiently.

Five years....in a jail cell. How could one function as a person after that. His visit to a jail was not even a spec of dust to Kei's treatment if it was true.

He looked the same age as him as well...that much time of your life taken away from you...

Yes. Saburo was beginning to think he very much had the right idea when he started this conversation.

He stiffened for a moment when Kei mentioned the fact that he had killed someone. But quickly the tension went of him. He had not heard the full story yet. Plus, at this point they had sent another man to a second death. He couldn't judge much.

"G-Go on" Saburo said softly.



Kei hesitated. He really didn't want to talk too much about this, but the context was necessary.

"When I was little, I was given to the Shang royal family. All I know is that they took me in as a servant, and I was chosen to be the prince's attendant. I was meant to be the Prince's pawn. A tool to be used when appropriate."

Kei shifted. He moved to sit. He wanted to move around more.

That's what you've always been to me, Kei. A Pawn can never be promoted to King.

"Believe it or not I used to work really hard to make him happy. I always liked to cook and tried to clean his room to make his days a little easier. When I learned about that noble... I was the one who proposed that we do something about it before it was a problem. The prince said that he'd have me kill him. Somebody else would be framed."

No, this spot was uncomfortable too.

Don't worry. I promise nothing will happen to you. With all my power, I'm sure I can keep my favorite piece in play.

"Then, like a fool... I believed him."

Kei couldn't shake that sight him his mind. It was so cruel. Kei hadn't known until the last second that the noble was dead.

How could you do this Kei? Oh... I never ordered this!

"The end of the story was that I was the one who was framed for the murder. The Prince had already... taken care of the problem when I'd arrived. He'd borrowed one of my knives to do it. One I'd lent him when I promised that I'd fix the problem. I told him that it would keep him safe while I was gone."

I knew you were a liar, but to accuse me? The person who cared for you for so long... Oh if only I knew you were a murderer.

"I plan to kill him. Out of revenge, petty as it is. That's all I want. If I die in the process, then I die. I'll have outlived my purpose by then, anyway."

Kei moved off the box.

"Don't tell the others. They'll try to stop me. It's why I wasn't going to tell anyone, but I figured that the Pirate King can keep a secret or two."

Loyal to the end, Kei thought. Every single though of his was still to his master. Owing everything to stop the monster he was responsible for making. A loyal servant indeed. If only he could have been better or stronger, he could have helped his friend from this downfall. Somehow.

"Anyway, let's go see what we can scavenge up to eat, huh? All this heavy stuff makes a bad atmosphere. Besides, I'd like to look around here tour guide free for a minute. Wanna come along?"



"Huh..."

Well, that certainly wasn't the most happy story he had heard. But, Saburo was glad enough that Kei had told him. It certainly put the actions of the blue haired boy into perspective.

Saburo wasn't shocked at Kei's plan to kill the one who betrayed him. A life of an obviously morally corrupt Shang Prince wasn't something that clung to his heart.

And once again, Shang Nobles. Fucking peoples lives up. What was with those guys? Seriously!

Saburo stopped himself from cringing as Kei mentioned telling him because he was the Pirate King.

"You guess right, I'm made of secrets. Hoho~" Saburo dramtically laughed, trying to bring the mood up a little.

But something still stirred within Saburo. Kei had just told him his story. Mainly due to Saburo lying right to his face. Hell, Kei's entire interpretation of him was a lie.

When Kei asked to come along to walk around, Saburo opened his mouth. But nothing came out.

I'm not the Pirate King.
I'm Afraid of Everything.
I miss my mother.
I just want to go home.
I'm sorry for lying to you.
Simply, you're talking to a fool.


"S-Sure!" Saburo grinned, "Perhaps you'll show me a keen eye, eh? Opportunity is at every corner Kei!" He announced, puffing his chest as he walk along with Kei.

Really, I'm just using you to survive.
No better then that prince.




Kei noticed the hesitation in his... his ally's response. Saburo is the Pirate King, Kei reminded himself. Not to be trusted. Even if only half the stories were true, Saburo could take down Kei easily. You don't trust a priate, fri- ally or not.

"Wish I could say I was full of secrets. But largely I'm a boring person once you know me. Told you that I'm all easy tells." Easy smile. Fake now, but Kei couldn't relax. Opportunity at all the corners of the cage, Kei thought.

Right this was why he faked being allies with these people to begin with. He couldn't trust them. Or it'd end the same way. Kei knew better in his head than in his lonely heart.

"Though... if I'm being fair, if we see anything it's because we got lost more than we found something interesting."

Maybe he'd go look at the fields beyond the town, if he could find them. He always wanted to run around them freely. Arms outstretched... But no. If he started to enjoy himself too much, Kei knew he'd hesitate. He'd always been too soft for the job he'd been given. And this current job to do... something about whatever this was... was simply too weird. Ghosts were not something he'd studied.

"Maybe we'll find another ghost and really show it how tough we can be? Maybe we won't get trapped if we defeat that one."



Saburo watched his feet kick up dirt as Kei spoke.

"Ah, now. Don't be cruel to every ghost you meet. Some of them can be quite nice once you get to know them. A-and this is speaking from experience. One was called Melody, helped me find the forgotten Isle, where the sun and moon cross paths."

Perhaps Kei did not notice it, But Saburo was quickly turning the conversation away from their predictament.

"C-course. Some let their past life sorrows infect them in the afterlife. Those sickened with trickery and whatnot. And-"

The two of them wandered aimlessly. A detailed fairytale being told to one from the other. Albeit, this world was a fairytale within itself. So a stranger could just see it as going with the current trend of things.

You could say that.

Kei Daidouji
Kei_Ico.jpg

[Month of Harvest, Haschou Village / Maplegrounds]
Kei's Color code: #00FFFF

Quickly, the rest of the birds were dispatched, Kei saw two hanging about. They weren't trying to kill the entire flock, that was for sure, but at the sae time those birds hanging around meant ill will to the party. As he thought about it.... Cirika put up the notice didn't she? Which meant he had inadvertently helped her by clearing out these stupid birds.

Saburo asked how they'd split it and Kei was about to speak up when Cirika herself arrived. How irritating, he thought. Kei quickly moved to grab a bird corpse and consider how much that would mean per traveler. Kiri had knocked one far, far away so that was as good as lost... Kei wasn't interested in hearing her prattle on about the Maplegrounds being forbidden and so on and so forth. If you're going to chastise us, yell at Rizen, Kei thought. He was the one who drew the birds at them, Kei glared at Rizen for extra emphasis.

Runara chattered on and Kei started plucking the bird he'd been working on. Hmm... he could do a rotisserie... the herbs nearby could be scavenged by the Miko... a simple but effective meal, then they'd go on to their next job.

"These people here are your escort, so I presume you're the one with nominal control over them, correct? I have a proposition then: Given what's happened, I feel like those birds may start attacking people openly given that someone has actually killed their kind for once. There is one way to disperse of this flock, but that'll mean a tough fight. And for that, I'll need assistance."

Blackmail was it? Kei sighed and stood up. More than the food, it was the idea that leaving hurt innocent people... Kei couldn't pretend to be that much of a jerk. Turning her down would be easy... but unethical.

Kiri and the others were practically slobbering at the feast. Kei doubted Cirika, because she'd mentioned food was scarce then offered a buffet. It would be easy to back out of the deal, and Cirika had no reason to trust any of them.

"Pleeeease please please say you'll do it...! Everyone!" Kiri was staring at Kei, but his response was an even more grumpy face. "Look, I know you hate people like Ciri and me," she blurted out, "but just think of the prize...! Besides, she's not as bad as you think. She's even a very friendly royal."

"Dogs can be friendly, but still bite people." He directly addressed Kiri for the first time in the conversation. 'Royal' set his teeth on edge. Those could not be trusted at all. Her hugs did nothing but set Kei far more on edge.

As Cirika explained, it turned out the flock was being led by a Wyvern. Of course. Because killing a bunch of birds for a feast was too simple. The ability to interact with villagers as normal meant nothing to Kei. However...

"We started a job. We finish it. However..." Kei folded his arms. "We should ambush it. Luring it does nothing if we are all exposed to danger foolishly. We have someone set the bait and others sit back and fire. those with range use it, then the ones who fight close up fight. We set the board to our advantage as much as we can before we move. Or it will end badly." Again, Kei finished silently. "So let's get moving and kill the Wyvern."


@Ehb
@Luma
@Everyone
 
  • According to Plan
Reactions: Luma
Noriko Amagawa
iBJmVVk.jpg


[ Month of Harvest, Haschou Village]

After the last of the actively hostile birds was taken care of, Noriko quickly sheathed his sword and listened in on the conversation. Cirika had arrived as if on cue as well explaining that the birds had attacked other areas of the village as well and revealed that she had posted an extermination job for the birds in the notice board.

With each and every one of his comrades voicing their agreement to complete the job they had inadvertently started when they quelled the first wave of the birds, Noriko had no intention of fighting the flow of events that were about to unfold. After all, they were just literally a bunch of bird brains, right? If they dealt with the last wave with relative ease then they certainly won't have any trouble dispatching the rest of them that were still hovering in the air.

Certainly they would still need to keep their guard up, and with the sheer number of the birds, it would inevitably be a long drawn out battle. But with everyone's skills combined, they stand a more than reasonable chance of exterminating the birds down to the last squawker.

Right. Everything should have been smooth sailing from here on out... until the heiress dropped the Wyvern bomb on them.

In their, "timeline" all the overgrown flying lizards should have kicked the bucket a long time ago. But he should have anticipated that anything was possible in this "timeline". Speaking of timelines, Noriko was a bit surprised that Saburo gave his real name to Cirika. There are a lot of unknown factors regarding this current timeline such as "Would their actions in this timeline affect the events in the real world?". While that may be a long shot, it was better to be safe than sorry. since he doesn't know how talented Cirika is at detecting lies, it was better to be truthful, but at the same time only give half truths.

"A wyvern, you say? That's certainly a problem since it poses a much greater threat than these flying feather dusters. I'm not even sure if we can kill that thing..."

While some may stain their fundoshi at the thought of squaring off against one of the winged beasts, Noriko's reaction to the news was an unnerving grin that could be attributed to that of a madman. He had always wondered what it's like to slay such a mighty, a fascination that he shares with his master. So if what Cirika's words bear any truth then he may have been given an opportunity to do just that.

"But with that said, i really can't pass the opportunity of fighting such a legendary creature. So count me in, Heiress-sama. The name's Noriko by the way."

Even if this was just some sort of "Dream World" everyone in this group could attest that their experiences so far was nothing short of real. And with that in mind, he couldn't wait to tell that woman about the feat he accomplished alongside his comrades in this dream world.


@Ehb
@WeMonsterHunterWorldNow
 
Kiri Moriya (ffb7c5)
Kiri_KNMIco.jpg

[ Month of Harvest, Haschou Village / The Maplegrounds ]

"Dogs can be friendly, but still bite people."

Kiri practically deflated, drooping over Cirika’s shoulder and eventually sliding off the hug and onto her own two feet. She moped there in silence for a few seconds, before slapping herself softly on the cheeks and quietly whispering some sort of unintelligible mantra of encouragement.

As Cirika went on giving the foreigners a brief hstory lesson, Kiri’s eyes turned towards something that had been bothering her for the past few minutes: Cirika’s feathers. They were all over the place! Plucking one from the back of her jacket, Kiri stepped back, held it up, took a quick look at Cirika’s back, and placed the feather in her hair directly opposite another one.

Now Cirika was more symmetrical! That was always a nice trait to have.

...except there were still a bunch of feathers in the wrong place.

...

Several moments later, Kiri finished placing the final feather on top of Cirika’s head, having arranged them into a sort of ‘feather crown.’ It laid squared in-between looking stupid and kinda stylish; probably more the former. At least it wasn’t bothering her anymore.

...and then it hit her...

"Wait, what...? A wyvern...!? You never said anything about fighting a wyvern...!"

Kiri’s distress only grew as more and more of them agreed without even a second thought. Kei even had himself a full strategy in mind!

"W-wait a minute. I um... I just remembered there are these really comfortable piles of hay in the Stockpile, so I don’t really need the bench back. There must be some easier way of saving the future, right?"

@Ehb
@Karyra
 
Saburo/Runara
Saburo_Ico.jpg

Runara_Ico.jpg

Saburo tapped his foot on the ground. They had a moment of respite. and by that he meant that they weren't having to fight something or argue for their existence.

They had spent the last while exploring the area that they would have to become familar with for the forseeable while. Currently, he was looking at a rock sculpture. It appeared to Saburo that someone in this place was an artist. That gave him some ease. Everyone so far in this place was so tense.

While he could have been searching for oppertunites and such in this place. Saburo felt he needed to take his time off their overarching goal of getting the hell of here. He had to look after his sanity afterall.

In the corner of his eye, the Pirate King spotted the dancer. Who seemed to be looking around for something. Perhaps it was food. That woman seemed to be always hungry. His eyes looked over the Doven's body. Surely she should be a bit heavier or something....

Realising he had basically been oogling Runara, Saburo snapped back to staring at the sculpture, a tad blushed. "Uhm, R-Runara?"He called out.

"You say you're a dancer. But I haven't seen you dance yet." Perhaps her dancing was extremely taxing on the body. "C-Could you show me an example of your style."

Runara wandered around Haschou, looking for opportunities, places to dance, or perhaps some free food. She stopped at a rather open field, looking around wondering if at one time she could hold a dance performance in this place. While it was just a realm that she was trapped in, she wanted to do stuffs to get rid of the thought that she was trapped. Stuffs like doing her performance to entertain the people for example.

Her thoughts are interrupted when Saburo called her out. "Hm?" She turned to Saburo, acknowledging his presence. Listening in, she giggled at his question.

"Did you say that to get a free private dance from me?" She asked teasingly. "That's quite a bold move..." She leaned in close, perhaps a bit too close for comfort to Saburo. "I actually do my dances when we fight you know, but of course entertainment and combat are two different things so I think I see your point."

Ah, yes. It would still be a while till he would get use to Runara's rather poor understanding of physical boundaries. Saburo looked to the sky. "W-well."

'Oh hey, I want to see you dance because I want to know why you're not fat.'

Didn't seem too smooth, did it.

"Yes. I-I suppose I do want a free dance." Saburo looked back down to Runara. Panic in his eyes. "O-On-Only because I, er, think that it'll help me understand your fighting style more." Giving a nervous smile, Saburo exhaled.

"Which is important." Stepping back, the Pirate King rubbed his arm. "A-and also, showing eachother's hobbies is a good way to get closer to eachother!"

"Or so someone said once."

Runara smiled and looked straight towards Saburo, perhaps further discomforting Saburo with her rather poor understanding of boundaries. She wondered why Saburo acted quite funny when she leaned really close to him.

"Oh? You really want a dance...?" She questioned, tilting her head slightly while grinning mischievously. She gave Saburo a rather dirty look. Playing on the man's panicked expression like he would be thirsty for some naughty stuff. Listening in his explanation, she looked rather unamused.

"I'm not entirely convinced..." She looked away, twirling her tail around her body. She twisted her body a bit, crossing her arm, enticing Saburo to gaze upon her body. "Let's be honest here, why do you want me to dance for you?"

Saburo's mouth puckered as the Doven quizzed him on his honest intentions. He didn't understand, how could she see right through him like that. It wasn't even that he was lying. He genuinely wanted to see her dance, and it was to get closer. In a friend sort of way.

From the way Runara was acting, Saburo had to wonder what she was getting at. Or what she thought that he was getting at. Not that he had any experience in those sort of things, but it kinda felt like Runara thought he was trying...

There was no way she thought....

Trying to snap himself out of his thoughts, Saburo suddenly laid his hands on either side of Runara's shoulders.

"I~" Saburo drawed out slowly, "Just want to see you dance. Is that too bad of a thing to want. I'm the Pirate King. I never waste a chance to see something beautiful." He smiled gently,"alsosooIcanseewhyyournotfat"

Become aware of his hands, he stepped back. Pressing the back of his hand to his mouth for a moment. Saburo eyes glanced at Runara from the ground. "S-so? May I have the pleasure?"

"What are you doing?" Runara looked at Saburo's hands that are gripping her shoulders. Listening in to his reasoning, Runara giggled and slightly blushed at the mention of beautiful. "Aww tha--" But she manages to hear that quick remark on why she's not fat.

"Excuse me...?" Her eyes glared at Saburo on that rather offensive remark. With Saburo backed off a bit and asking to have the pleasure of the dance... Runara walks in close to him. Smiling instead of being obviously angered.

"You know... I honestly thought about it when you said I'm beautiful, but that fat remark kind of put me off." She said as she turned around and leaned her back against Saburo. Gently caressing his chin. "I... honestly felt I get a little bit chubbier you know..." She looked away, "You saying that kind of hurts..." She pouted and swish her tail upwards and smacks Saburo's face softly.

"Fine, I need an exercise to get this fat burned anyway. Do you happen to have two fans though. Large size preferred." Runara agrees to do the dance, only if Saburo manages to find fans for the performance.

Saburo found new ways to hold his hands in awkward postions as Runara rested against him. It was rare that one could rest under his chin, as he wasn't what one would call a tall person. But Runara was just a small bundle of hungry energy. So it worked this once.

He opened his mouth to excuse himself, but only caught a mouthful of hair from her tail as she playfully swatted him with it.

At that moment, Saburo realised he'd rather die from lack of air then cough.

Farewell precious braincells.

Finally, somehow not being insulted. Runara agreed to dance if he found the fans required to do it.

Saburo nodded to himself, mainly because he still couldn't speak. He turned away from Runara.

"Alright."

He turned back to her, two large fans in his hands.

Where-!?
How-?!

Something told Runara it was best not think about it.

"Well?"

Runara turned around to face Saburo after suggesting him to find some fans for the performance. Expecting him to give up on the pursuit of making her dance for him.

But apparently, he got what she needs. Two large fans in his hand. Wait, where did he get that from? How did he even hide it under his clothes...?

Runara's eyes widen on the surprise that Saburo threw at her. "Wow..." She sighed, blinked, and shook her head. "You sure came prepared." She said as she took the fans one by one from Saburo's hand. "Didn't expect that you already have these fans ready but..."

She then spread the fans and made some light dances to get herself accustomed to the fans. A small treat for Saburo before the actual dance. Taking a few steps back to make space for the performance, Runara then took a starting pose for her dance.

"Are you ready to witness my moves?" She asked the question with confidence. "Fair warning, it might get a little bit heated midway..."

"I'm the Pirate King. E-Expect the unexpected!"

As Runara readied herself for the anticipated dance. Saburo found a nearby rock to sit down on while the spectacle unfolded. Plus, his feet were getting tired.

"Heated? Y-Yeah! I'm ready..." Saburo nervously chuckled, not quite sure she meant with the whole heated comment.

He was sure it would be fine.

Runara giggled at Saburo's response. "Very well, if it gets a bit too hot do tell me okay?" She then started doing her dancing...

To describe her dancing. Contrary to her very revealing outfit and the way she worded her dance to Saburo, one would expect that it was dance with a lot of movements with emphasizes on flaunting her body. Instead, her dances were surprisingly slow, it have a sense that it was used for a traditional spiritual ceremony.

Though, surrounding Runara and Saburo, floating fire shows up one by one. The presence of the Flame Spirits, as Runara would call these. Certainly made the place felt slightly hotter than before. With their presence, she knelt down to halt her dance. Looking around to acknowledge the spirits' presence before looking towards Saburo.

"Was this enough to satisfy your curiosity?" She asked with a smile.

Saburo eyes widened as the flame spirits appeared. He looked around in wonderment as the Doven continued her dance.

It was like seeing a different person, Saburo thought. She always seemed rather energetic and careless that for her to dance like this was certainly unexpected. Pulling his collar loose a little as he felt the warmth from the fire.

As Runara knelt down, signifying the end of her little example. She found the Pirate King staring at her, wordless.

He smiled shyly.

"Oh...it makes sense now." Saburo stood up, giving a hand out to bring the girl up again. "You..." He signaled faintly to her body. "Cause....y-yeah."

He looked her in the eye for a mere moment, before turning to face the nearby buildings. "That...was nice. Thanks for showing me that. I'll, erm, see you around Runara."

And thus, the Pirate King fled.

Runara took Saburo's hand and stood up with the help of Saburo. The flame spirits dissipates slowly. "How was it?" She asked, visibly sweating with the warmth that the flame spirits provided earlier.

She giggled at his compliment before he walked away. Knowing that Saburo appreciated her arts, and not just blindly pointed her as a woman of carnal desires. She wiped her sweat off and then realized that she haven't returned the fans. "Hey wait! You forgot your--" She realized that Saburo is long gone. "Oh well. I guess he'll get another dance then."

Runara
Runara_Ico.jpg


[Month of Harvest - Haschou Village / Maplegrounds]

Runara listened on to Cirika's explanation on dealing with the Swallow Beaks. The mention of Swallow Beaks being a good game meat had made Runara drooled herself on the imagination on eating the bird. Then she explained a thing that could finally disperse the flock of birds, but it would be a tough fight and requires everyone help. Considering they already killed a bunch of the birds, they couldn't stop halfway... As it would probably make things worse if they stopped. And the reward was an all you can eat feast of birds!

Runara wipes the drool off her mouth and looked at everyone, wanting to see if they would agree to that proposition. She smiled as Saburo firstly agrees to the proposition, and her smile grows wider as one by one her companion agrees to do the work. Hearing that the leader of the flock would probably not be another Swallow Beak and instead a Wyvern, who weren't supposed to exist in her own time. As it should be gone extinct by the time Tousawa Valley is wiped out. Runara looked up and wondered if there was a shape of wyvern amongst the flock. And with how hungry she was, again... She wondered if a wyvern meat is delicious or not.

With the plan laid out and Cirika introduces herself. Runara felt that she should introduce herself to Cirika of this timeline. Considering what happened earlier, it could be a good way to get herself in Cirika's good side.

"Alright, that settles it! I think we can all agree that we would help you in that fight! And I might also add, since we're going to beat a wyvern... Why not make this feast a festival for the people as well!? I... Really want to entertain your people as well..." Entertain...? She wouldn't think of... "Ah right, um... You see, it's been quite a while in our travels that I had a chance to dance. And with the feast... Well, I feel you're being a bit too generous in our rewards. So I want to give back in form of my dance to entertain your people."

"My name is Runara Blazeheart, a dancer from a Doven Kingdom far from this land. On a mission to spread joy and happiness throughout the land... Umm, I also want to ask... What did we do back in the market to deserve such a beating...? Seriously asking." She concluded with the question she had long since the beginning of this timeline. What the heck did the group do to deserve such embarassment in the marketplace...?

@Ehb
@_Herewegobois