The Holy Dragon Empire

Nobu​


So the new Kitsune claimed to never have met the Spring God personally, but had heard of him. Nobu considered the possibility of the Kitsune lying to him, after all it would be stereotypical of the race to trick him in some form or another. They were an aggravating people at times, hiding behind pranks, jokes and untruths. Regardless, Nobu couldn’t act on a lack of information and let the matter slide for the moment. The Spring God had made his escape by now, and Nobu had simply removed his place of worship as a way of hopefully preventing people from coming here and practically sacrificing themselves to the Kitsune.


The performer, Schichiro, supposedly the best swordsman in the world seemed confused for a moment when Nobu handed the belt back. Nobu doubted that title in its entirety, just by looking at the man. While he would like to say that first impressions shouldn’t define a person in their entirety, he found it hard to believe that statement to be anything other than a misplaced pride. Regardless, Nobu gave a small smile. It was fun to see someone who was filled with enough confidence to spout it to everyone within range. Others would call it arrogance or an overabundance of ego, but he preferred to be optimistic. When Ayumu noticed the small fox wandering up on them, he turned to address it. Nobu was confused for a moment, until he realized that the fox appeared to be actually talking to him. Was that another Kitsune? Not like the others he had seen ever, but he couldn’t claim to know everything about their race. If it was a particularly young one, that would explain everything. After all, young Tengu looked like demon spawn, so why should a small fox form surprise him?

The swordsman appeared to be wary of the fox, but Nobu doubted it had the power to harm any of them in any serious manner. Although, Schichiro did notice something that had previously escaped Nobu’s senses. He looked down to see a kind of smoke or fog starting to overtake his feet. A curiosity, it didn’t seem natural in the slightest. He looked to see from the direction the fog was coming from, and noticed the parts of the forest appeared to be on fire as well. The smoke at his feet didn’t seem to be from any natural phenomenon though, and he became focused. The Spring God could be up to something just out of range of Nobu’s senses, and if he was he would go and interrupt him at the very least.

“It would appear the infamous Spring Fake has gone and done something else that requires attention.” Nobu stated, pinching the bridge of his nose and doing his best to not let out an audible sigh. “I apologize for the briefness of this encounter, but as I was the one who forced him from here, I feel the responsibility to go see what he’s doing and, if possible, stop him. If you’ll excuse me.” Nobu stated rather politely before briskly walking towards the source of the smoke and fire, only to see the young little fox take off ahead of him as well. He wasn’t sure what it was thinking, nor its age or experience, but seeing as he was heading in that direction as well he didn’t see a reason to stop it.



Nobu arrived at the epicenter of what seemed to be causing the all the distress. Smoke, both magical and mundane, filtered up and made his eyes water. He pulled a portion of his clothes up over his mouth and nose as he pushed into the increasing heat of the area around him. Fire reached up and engulfed entire trees, but he had to make sure there was no one in immediate danger first and foremost. It was incredibly thick and hot, making it hard to breath, but Nobu wasn’t particularly afraid. At worst, he could bolt up into the sky and away from the area if he started feeling overwhelmed. For now, using a mix of self control and chi mastery, managed to slow his breathing and heart rate to avoid a portion of the smoke inhalation while he searched.

A crunch, uncharacteristic of a branch or leaf, snapped beneath his feet. Looking down and lifting his foot, he found that he had snapped a bone, a human sized one at that. Looking closer, he saw that it was an entire body, completely charred and cooked. It made Nobu’s stomach turn, although that caused a bit of surprise in the Tengu. He was no stranger to the more disgusting sights of battle or atrocities, and while in his early days he had a weaker stomach, he could claim with certainty that it was made of iron now. So it was strange that he felt a need to vomit, and almost as if in timing with this realization, he started coughing. The smoke must be getting to him more than he would like to admit. Try as he might, he couldn’t stop the coughing, only subdue it slightly. Maybe it was the magical fog that was causing this, but he still wanted to be sure that there wasn’t anything or anyone caught in this mess. Even as his eyes peered upon the remains of other charred humanoids, he pushed on.

Until he caught sight of a single human looking figure in the smoke. What was a singular old man doing in the midst of this chaos? Did he know about the burned figures? Was that the Spring God tricking him again? He stood out enough that he couldn’t be certain that it wasn’t a trick again, and his coughing was giving him away enough that attempting to hide wouldn’t be feasible. Instead, Nobu decided to go with the naive approach. Nobu’s free hand stayed near his blade however, ready to draw at a moment’s notice. His wings bristled, ready to lift Nobu out of the area should the need arise.

“Sir.” Nobu started, piercing through the fog. “It isn’t safe here, you need to leave.”
 
"Hold on, where you going? Hey!" Shichiro attempted to follow after him but the smoke instantly blinded him and filled his lungs with noxious gas. Sputtering, wheezing, and hacking, he staggered back and swatted at the fog, shielding his face. "Euchk! What the hell is this?" Squinting through watery eyes, he watched the tengu disappear into the thick of it. He cursed his frail human constitution and pushed forward again, holding his breath and closing his eyes as he felt his way around the trees like a blind man. He followed the sound of Nobu's voice, making very slow steps and taking care not to catch himself on low hanging branches or arcing roots.

At length, he caught up, but he was still anxious about opening his eyes. There was a thick miasma about it - the smoke was weirdly heavy, it gave a great deal of resistance like he was walking underwater. Carefully, he cracked an eye open slightly. It was thinner here at least, that's for sure.

The old man in the distance had his back turned toward them, seemingly not paying them any mind.

With his pipe to his lips, he puffed once and suddenly the fog around them began to rapidly disperse. As the air cleared up, Shichiro took in lung fulls of air and coughed a few times, sleeve still instinctively hovering over his mouth. The man turned his head over his shoulder. "Ah, no worries my friend. I was just taking my leave." He turned around, revealing the fox cub they'd seen earlier - its face now gripped tightly in his veiny hand as he held it up casually into the air. "And a souvenir."

He locked eyes with him. Behind the man's pleasant expression was a tundra of emptiness, his stare was eerily still - almost without soul.
"This guy's dangerous," he whispered to Nobu, keeping his eyes trained on the stranger. "More than you think." He paused. "Warrior's intuition." Straightening his back, he stood tall and spoke in a louder voice.

"You lost, old man?" Shichiro called out with confidence. "Or is fire starting a hobby of yours?"

"Mm?" Toh stroked his beard, as if contemplating something. His boot slowly crushed an ashen skull beneath him as he returned the swordsman's gaze. "Who knows? I was simply out here fox hunting, that's all." The tails dangled at his side - too large for a normal fox.

"What do you want to do?" he whispered again to the tengu, and to Ayumu if he'd followed.

@fish-writer @Quakernuts @Crow
 
Hitomi Tachibana - Qinlan

The priestess looked somewhat smug hearing the Tengu's sigh. While she may have wanted to be cautious, Hitomi either wasn't wary of the newcomer or held enough confidence in herself in the case that the distrust was deserved, or perhaps it was simply her welcoming nature demanded by her position.

"A pleasure, Murugan," Hitomi greeted, but suddenly paused.

As her expression shifted to become more sullen, the priestess glanced at the horizon. In the distance smoke could be seen from the same general direction as the source of trouble from earlier; towards the Spring God's Shrine, but of course that couldn't have been what she was looking at. It couldn't have been a coincidence. No, likely this too was in correlation to the dear Spring God or those who took issue with him.

Staring off, Hitomi appeared somewhat irked; an odd expression for any who knew her. To any who looked, they would see smoke and assume fire. It was misfortune, but other than the threat it presented the burning of some flora didn't bother too many, at least not in the way it did her. Though it was more accurate to say that the burning aggravated her more than the death of trees and plants. She could not simply look, she had to sense and feel the Chi of all living things around her, that included that of plant life. In a way, she could not witness death occur, but feel it, and immolation was a very—uncomfortable medium.

Lost in momentary thought, even Hitomi didn't notice the young girl run towards and into them, or perhaps she simply expected her to change course. Either way, the bump brought her attention back rather quickly.

"Oh...! I'm sorry, are you alright dear?" Hitomi inquired with a kind smile, bending somewhat to meet the child's gaze despite now closing her eyes.

It was a bit of a habit for Hitomi to be selective when it came to showing her pupils. Typically with children she would keep them shut, finding many were uncomfortable with the look of them.

Either way, Hitomi had returned to her typical bubbly personality.

"I apologize for spacing out. That bone is likely Kitsune in nature, hence why you should keep it hidden," Hitomi said straightening up and pausing to let Kogasa explain.

"Yes, unfortunately things are a bit of a mess right now... And if you were wondering where the residence of the native cannibal is..." Hitomi nodded her head in the direction of the rising smoke. She was still smiling, but as she made reference her grin appeared somewhat forced. "Though, if you accompany us you can tell us a bit about how you came upon that item. I might be able to give you more information then. All I can say for certain at the moment is that it has the Chi of a Kitsune."

Providing some added incentive, Hitomi then looked over at the child. The girl, while seemingly normal, too was a bit of an oddity. The priestess couldn't quite explain it—it was similar to what she could feel in the distance at the Spring God's Shrine; multiple, conflicting Chi. However, that typically just meant there were multiple people in close proximity or in conflict with one another. With this girl, it felt like her own Chi was at odds with itself. Perhaps it was just the crowds imposing on her senses?

Bending down to meet the eyes of the girl, Hitomi attempted to distract her from Kogasa's cold town and likely scowl. "Don't mind Kogasa, she's really sweet despite sounding so grumpy. I'm Hitomi, what's your name?"

@RedArmyShogun @Crow @Auntie Phaz
 
Haru Moriyama
Haruto was long gone from the scene and the city of Qinlan before any more people could catch up with him. It only took about three attempts to get away but in the end, he came out in one piece. The white fur of his coat was a bit disheveled. Haru wasn't an idiot he knew he'd have to lay low for a bit before continuing his mischievous ways. Green eyes only momentarily looked back at the bonfire he'd created. That forest was not coming back for a couple of hundred years. He wasn't horribly upset about that shrine either, nothing much bothered Haru in all honesty.

"That old man was fun..." A chuckle came from him as he turned back into his more humanoid form. The skull that had Xao's name carved in the forehead appeared in his hand as he summoned a little fox. He let the fox grasp the skull in its jaws before speaking softly. "Give him this souvenir." The fox bolted back toward the clearing as Haru continued in his fox form in the other direction.

The fox dodged tree branched, bushes, and stones as it ran toward the clearing. For a fox, it was a relatively quick run but for others maybe not. It stopped at the edge of the clearing to see several other people but then ran toward the hunter with an absence of fear, revealing how Haru felt of the older male. It dropped the skull between all three of them then barked and disappeared. Haruto's laughter practically echoed in the clearing but it could have been a trick of the wind for all they knew.

Bao Zhao
Bao traveled with the three men while playing the role of innocent female the whole time, if only they knew who they had in their midst. They offered to let her ride with one of them but that'd reveal the hidden katana so she faked fear of horses. Currently, they just walked toward Naara as she requested. All three of these men seemed awkward in her presence which led to a heavy silence.


"Where ya from?" One of them asked to break the silence. She gave an all too sugary sweet smile before answering.

"I'm from Honjo." They nodded in acknowledgment before trying to continue to conversation.

"I heard a family of three murdered someone there... Is that true?" Her smile remained as she inhaled a bit.

"Definitely, I knew their daughter very well actually. She was kind and playful but couldn't get out of the house much due to her parents wanting her to be a geisha." The conversation seemed to end after that as they stopped to set up camp.
 
The figure behind the mayor did not falter, but there was a momentary pause before he spoke once more, as if he were considering something.

"One may still yet live
A question for a question
Speak if you must now..."

The mayor would be permitted to say what he had to, provided he had some answers of his own. He knew the tide of steel and blood that would descend upon the town and yet here he sits. An act of cowardice? Perhaps. Or an act of practicality? Also possible. Regardless, he was not expendable. Not yet. Better to not let him know that, then to give him leverage.
 
Saitou Ayumu - Qinlan, Shrine of the Spring God to the road to Honjo

Ayumu listened gravely to the little cub’s questions in their own tongue, ignoring Shichiro’s warning, considering his words a brief moment before replying. “This Kitsune that called itself the Spring God seems to have sparked a dislike of our kind in this city,” he speculated, even while he examined the cub, curious about how one so young could be so enveloped by divine power.

But the alarm in Shichiro’s tone caught his attention, and he turned to see the swordsman pointing out the smoke that was just now beginning to reach Ayumu’s nose. The acrid smell of it caused his nose to wrinkle, and a profound sense of wrong rattled in his stomach, his instincts beginning to scream at him to run, and run now. Still, he held on, as Nobu and Shichiro both headed into the smoke.

As more and more of it bled into the clearing, Ayumu could sense the thickness of it and the energy humming within it. This was no ordinary smoke, and the little cub sensed it as well, and seemed to sense the source of it. Ayumu watched as the cub abandoned its sentience, bristling and snarling and charging into the smoke a feral attack. But there was still… something else. Ignoring his instincts for just another moment, he closed his eyes and reached outward with his senses.

The forest was shrieking with the cries of recently departed spirits-- all of them Kitsune. Nausea gripped his stomach as his eyes snapped open, and he too abandoned his humanity, or at least, his human form. It had been years since he’d shifted into fox form, but it was undoubtedly faster, and the silver of his pelt would blend in with the smoke. Swiftly, he ran in the opposite direction of the smoke, away from what his instincts told him was danger, as fast as he could, and he didn’t stop running until all traces of the smoke were gone.

He was well away from the city, and Ayumu shifted back into his human form, once more hiding his ears and tails with illusions, panting slightly. This seemed as good a place as any to lay low. Death lingered in Naara, but perhaps it would be sated by morning.
 
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Eiju Jia Song

As he played dumb about being non-human he further proved Eiju's statement by talking about noodles. Maybe he was just an idiot human? Eiju just looked at the man with an exasperated look.

"I don't need a bodyguard. I consider myself a fairly competent mage. However, I would prefer to be with a fool I can leave for dead if it comes to it." Jia shot Eiju a dirty look. "That was a joke. I don't typically just ditch people in life or death situations."

If nothing else, she could use her time to scope the situation further. And by that, she meant that Jia would go look. Being invisible had its perks. She made a shooing motion at the man, though it was more for Jia. "Gotcha, I'm gonna go investigate near you in the wider city. Be careful, okay? You'll only have this to watch your back, and I'm a better partner by far!"

"So, noodles, eh? And I'm Eiju. Though nobody bothers when you're just a traveling merchant. What about you? You seem to be looking for something. Everyone is, in the end. It's why I do so well as a merchant." Eiju smiled. "Oh, and if you want to know what your trinket does, I'd recommend treating me to extra food. It's worth it, I promise."

With a soft smile, Eiju imagined all the food she was going to scam off of this fool. She'd never been a festival like this before, so she was going to revel in her alone time from Jia. No annoying ideas about justice or rightousness... however, she quickly noticed the rising smoke around where the shrine she'd passed much earlier. Which was definitely not natural. Eiju decided was going to ignore it for as long as humanly possible. There was no way that whatever was happening tonight was related to her in any way, and in her mind, that was good enough reason to stay out of it. She survived this long by keeping her nose clean, and by picking her fights. She was not going to pick that fight by a long shot.

She whipped herself around the pointed towards the opposite way. "I hear there are spicy noodles this way. They're supposed to make you breathe literal fire, and I consider that enough of a challenge to draw my attention," Eiju lied expertly. She then began to walk that way in order to try and force the guy to not notice the fire in the forest.

@Gen_
 
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Qinlan, city of Naara

Murugan quietly contemplated all that the others had said. Perhaps this was not the best time for him to have strolled into Naara, after all. The antics of the local Kitsune meant it was no coincidence that the bone had led him here, though, and the prospect of it drawing a target on his back was not a comfort. As a new arrival, he was not keen on getting too wrapped up in the city’s affairs, since that would only make it harder to move along quietly.

Wondering if he might regret heeding the bone’s instructions before long, Murugan thought it best to warm up to this crowd a little for the time being. More than one of them knew the area and could help to avoid problems in this tricky situation.

“Hmmm...,” he muttered thoughtfully. “So it turns out my little trinket is more than I could have suspected. Thank you both for the advice. I believe I will take your offer of assistance, Kogasa. At least until things have calmed down a bit in these parts.”

The Tengu seemed like a safe bet, and at least she appeared more concerned by the trouble in the distance than his presence now. Hitomi likewise was disturbed by whatever was happening out in the forest.

“Priestess, I’m afraid I don’t know much about the origins of the bone. I found it in Honjo while traveling. The strange fire it showed earlier imparted a message when I first touched it. That is what brought me here.” Now that both of them were occupied with the urchin at their feet, he started to open up more while reserving the whole truth.

“It appears to be reacting to the strange events around the city. As you said, I should better avoid waving it about too much. No need to get caught up in all this misfortune.”

Murugan peered down at the child, who had watched him doubtfully since she first stumbled into their path. He thought it rich that she was more startled by him than the relative peculiarities of the other strangers. At least her distracting them might allay suspicions as he selectively revealed details of his past.

@RedArmyShogun @EmperorsChosen @Crow
 
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Hajime - Qinlan, City of Naara

"Of course, the danger. Even in these festival grounds, I need to watch myself," Hajime thought in the caverns of her mind, "if the me from back then is diamond and steel, then I am but an egg. I cannot afford to shatter until I become an raptor of unquestionable iron."

"Mmm!" Hajime nods towards the colder Tengu patroller. She rose and followed them closely.

"I'm alright! My name... is Hajime," Hajime bows towards Hitomi, then rises with a sweet smile on her face. "It's good to meet you, Hitomi, Kogasa, Murugan!"

During all this, Hajime listened to their conversations. The true details had yet to be seen, but if one thing was certain, something was up. What that something was, one could only assume until, of course, they got there.

The Shrine of the Spring God. Just what was going on there?

@RedArmyShogun @EmperorsChosen @Auntie Phaz



??? - Qinlan, Shrine of the Spring God

This was bad, very bad.

The hunter had in his grasp the young fox's face. It struggled with its entire being, shaking as its maws chomped wildly. Slowly but surely, its supernatural nature resurfaced as the pipe on its back began to squirt a little.

Its instincts told itself that it needed to save itself by any means neccessary, and the only way it could was if it possessed the power it was granted by the fox gods. Inari's power began to gradually flow back to it...

@Melon Kid @fish-writer @Quakernuts
 
Kogasa Kurosawa - Qinlan, City of Naara


Looking back to the Golden man, Kogasa has very little to say in response, though it was all curt and to the point as she casted her gaze on him briefly. "Are you in the habit of picking random bones off of the roadside? And what was the message? I mean it's a bit of a difference if slight, had the Bone told you to bring it to a temple or to beat the mayor's head in." With a shrug she doesn't press the issue, nodding in response to his initial acceptance to her offer. "Very well, you are a traveler after all. I take it the roads weren't too hard? You haven't been stabbed afterall."

Turning her attention back towards the other two, Kogasa just sighs, staring at Hitomi with a look of disappointment plastered across her face. Though she doesn't dispute what was said in regards to herself as she watched the interplay between the pair. "Hmm.. Hajime.." Well she was a child at least and not some sort of pickpocket. Showing a hint of a kinder side, or at least the one that watched after children the Tengu stares down at the young girl. "Have you had anything to eat?" She asks simply, before turning her attention back to the priestess.

"I doubt any of us will be upset with going wherever you would like... Though it is odd being lead by the Blind." Kogasa was throwing off the next destination upon the Priestess, mostly as her own choice would be returning to the Priestess's own shrine and observing the situation, baring they just went out into the woods at any rate.

@Auntie Phaz @EmperorsChosen @Crow
 
Onibi Haru

Onibi looked at her cold, stoic face as she replied stating her lack of care for him, before suddenly saying it was a joke. “I didn’t take you as one for jokes,” he laughed, “Well if you’re the mage I must be the muscle! I was the strongest in my tribe” he boasted as he nudged her before being shooed off.

“Eiju? That’s a pretty name.” there was a pause, “My names Onibi, they call me Onibi the Fierce back home and what I am looking for is the unknown! Something knew and extraordinary.” The crowds seemed more restless as more guards began to appear and cheering could be heard. What was going on? Were was this action? I want it...

He brought his attention back to his new found entertainment, “You are a sly one aren’t you, how much food are you going to extort out of me?” He chuckled as Eiju, suddenly she turned around in the opposite direction saying noodles were that way. He followed obediently walking in that direction together until they reached a noodle stall.

There was a pretty girl finding seats for customers and taking orders as her dad cooked it in the back. “Two large noodles please!” as they were seated just outside the stall. You could see her dad cooking as flames erupted and the customers cheered. Their food arrived quickly as it was placed in front of them with a complimentary drink for each of them. Onibi slurped up the noodles making a noise of satisfaction, his eyes went cold as he looked at Eiju across the table. “You know, you’re a good liar. Anyone else and they’d be fooled but…. I too am a good liar.” He held eye contact as he chugged his drink, he laughed “You see, I can breath literal fire… so was that the truth or a lie?” he sighed as he slurped up his food finishing it. “Two more bowls please.” He shouted to the waiter who smiled back.

“So did you purposely start walking away from the blood and fire? You can be upfront with me! Things here seem to be getting hotter and hotter. I can hear people in the distance cheering on a Kitsune hunt of all things” he want silent as he looked down “humans are so easy to hate the misunderstood.” He channelled Chi into his eyes as he looks around their vicinity “and you seem to be finally alone, so shall we be honest with each other?”





@Karyra lets mix things up~
 
Hitomi Tachibana - Qinlan

The priestess smiled as the two agreed to accompany them. Kogasa was company, but she also wasn't as talkative as Hitomi was. She didn't want to annoy her too much. Not only that, the two in question were rather interesting in each their own ways. For Murugan it was his items and the girl for her Chi.

"Ah, Honjo!" The priestess mused while Kogasa inquired upon Murugan's claims.

While Hitomi ignored the Tengu's challenges of Murugan, mainly as she likely understood the woman's caution, she certainly had a different way of pressing people for information. Not that that was part of her business anymore. She simply extended aid to those who required it. Still, Hitomi had to admit that her patrol partner had the tact and subtlety of a blacksmith's hammer.

"It feels like ages since I was there last... Which parts have you been, if you don't mind my asking?" Hitomi inquired. Honjo was formerly her home after all, though she had not returned since the accident. She wouldn't fit in there anymore; not with family or friends. It was almost like it was a past life. Still, she spent much of her time there.

Now there was simply the matter of where to go next. Was it amusing to have the blind of the group lead it around town? Nowadays, Hitomi preferred to stroll herself rather than direct. Regardless, the mention of food was an option. Murugan was a newcomer to the town and Hajime being a child—patrolling around for trouble in her company wasn't the best idea.

"Mm, careful Kogasa... less I drag you around town to help me shop for clothes. Food isn't a bad idea though. Hajime? Murugan? It is a festival, might as well enjoy it!"
 
Qinlan, city of Naara


Murugan brushed off Kogasa’s grilling stoically, not wanting to attract too much of the Tengu guardian’s vigilance. In truth, her line of questioning was not too intrusive. It was perfectly understandable, given her profession, that she would seek answers considering how they had interacted.

“In a way, picking up bones is a habit of mine. I am a diviner by trade, and my traditional methods use bones as a medium for channelings.” Luckily, Murugan was able to explain some of the perceived strangeness of his story as having to do with his divinations. It was technically true, in any case, and an important part of his reasons for coming to Qinlan.

“However, it is unusual that a message comes through a bone without any ritual being performed. Much like your sketch book, channeling involves collecting relevant pieces of information from the spirits to complete a telling picture by interpreting signs. What this fox bone had to say was deliberate, but it only gave the main points without clearly connecting them. All I could be certain of was that it was important to bring it to Qinlan.”

A look of consternation came over Murugan. Whether or not it was clear he was withholding anything at this point, his manner and tone of voice were unwaveringly heavy and reflected genuine perplexity.

“With any luck, I can find some answers here in due time based on the clues both you and the Priestess have provided.” Murugan brightened somewhat, if only to make a change in the direction of their conversation.

“If it is any good indication, my travels to Naara have been rather pleasant and uneventful. The roads and bridges in Qinlan are extensive and well-kept, which makes things easier than in Honjo. The people are also much more hospitable on average.”

Kogasa’s comment about being stabbed reminded him of the recently healed wound on his side from when he had escaped. The gold-tinged greasepaint he used to cover his exposed flesh did much to hide that scar and others he had acquired over time. Life in Honjo truly was unkind, particularly to those who ended up enslaved.

Turning to address Hitomi, Murugan spoke coolly of where he had come from. “I spent time in the capitol in Honjo. Recently I passed through some of the more... unsavory spots in my travels. I will spare you the details, Priestess.”

Considering the question of what to do next, Murugan thought it best to go along with their suggestions. “I see no problem in seeking out a bite to eat. What sort of food would our guide suggest to guests like us? I’ve heard tell there are excellent noodles in Naara.”

Murugan mostly disregarded the child. If Kogasa and Hitomi deferred to her for their course of action, it would make no difference to him. Presumably she was also a local, and following her or Hitomi’s lead would allow him to get a better lay of the city.
 
Nobu​


To be honest, Nobu hadn’t expected either of the people he had been talking to to follow him. He was, after all, charging towards a potential forest fire and a nearly millennium old kitsune. Yet one of them did, the best swordsman in the world apparently. The old man Nobu had originally been concerned about seemed to be the one who had produced the smoke in the first place, as he seemingly inhaled all the smoke back inside his body. As the smoke dissipated, the feeling of nausea and wanting to constantly cough disappeared with it. Nobu let his hand drop back to his side, Schichiro was the first to whisper something to the Tengu. While Nobu could appreciate someone wanting to let him know that someone was dangerous, it didn’t take much effort to figure that out. Now that Nobu got a good look at him without the haze of the smoke, it was clear to see this man was a threat, although maybe not one to him. The fox tails hung at his side seemed to indicate what kind of hunter this man was, while his apparent human age and build would lull people into a sense of false security.

Schichiro was the first to address him after the smoke was gone, and the man’s response left him tense. This was a man who not only took pride in his work, but enjoyed it to a degree that one would smile while butchering a deer. It didn’t seem natural, more akin to a psychosis that would be dangerous to all in its radius. Schichiro asked Nobu what he wanted to do, and had the man not been holding the small fox, which was confirmed as a baby kitsune, Nobu would have simply left. So far, he had met a murderous kitsune, an inquisitive one and now a child. Even with the bodies littered around him, he couldn’t rule out the possibility that maybe this man may be a part of the local law and was simply brought on to deal with a criminal infestation. To attack him out of wanton bloodlust would simply be reinforcing the Tengu image.

Still, he couldn’t let him kill the small Kitsune. It was a child, and as his earlier conversation with the Spring God stated, children could be molded and formed into upstanding people with good morals and good hearts. Attacking the man didn’t seem like a good option, and simply leaving didn’t seem like a better one. Nobu peered back towards the clearing, but saw that Ayumu the Kitsune had not followed. It was probably for the best, a fight would be unavoidable if this man hunts with the passion that Nobu believed he did. So what were his options? He couldn’t run, he couldn’t fight, and he couldn’t do nothing. Nobu took a breath, his wings rustling a bit as he calmed the inherent part of him that simply demanded he rend and tear this old man to pieces for simply standing in front of him with the confidence of a demigod.

“That’s all well and good fellow hunter, but it appears we do have a problem.” Nobu placed a smirk on his face, sparing a singular glance back at Schichiro and hoping the message of ‘Trust me’ was instilled into his eyes. “It appears you beat me to the punch, with all those tails I can only assume you made quite the haul.” Nobu walked forward to meet the man with a confidence born out of misdirection and belief in his own skill to at the very least escape. “Enough so that I doubt I will be paid for any kind of participation in this, but I did see this small fox running around and figured I could at least pay for a meal and bed with its tail as a bounty. Unfortunately for it, it ran from me into you, idiotic creature.” Nobu snarled, looking at it before regaining his composure. “I’m not asking for much Hunter, only for the small one so I won’t go hungry tonight.” Nobu held out his hand. “If you please?”

It was then another small fox appeared in the clearing, but Nobu’s senses had been heightened at this point to detect illusions, what with them being tossed out like candy, and he could tell that the fox wasn’t real. The skull it held was though, as it dropped it in front of them, followed by a familiar laughter. Nobu’s eyes narrowed as he stared into the forest. “It would appear the so called ‘Spring God’ has escaped you too...a pity.” Nobu stated, this entire persona that he was forced to put on grating on his own nerves. He simply hoped it worked, because his only other fallback was to hit and run, but considering the skill of this human to take out so many kitsune, it wouldn’t be easy.
 
"Escaped?" the old man mused, stroking his beard with a wry grin. "I wouldn't say that. A true hunter can stalk his prey for months. Oh, and the cub? Of course, of course, you're free to have him." With that, he flung the small fox toward Nobu. "But, let me give you a head start."

The hunter whipped out a long rope dart that lunged for the sailing kitsune like a whistling arrow. Shichiro was ready - he intercepted in the blink of an eye, swiping the steel head away with his sword. Golden sparks jumped and flickered and the clang of steel echoed in the clearing, he staggered forward a few steps to keep his balance before whipping his head back over his shoulder. He knew this tricky bastard was going to pull something, it was just a manner of when and with what.

The hunter seemed taken aback by the young man's quick reaction. With some thought, he raised a brow and slowly started walking towards them.

"Hoh. . . did you know I was going to do that?"

"Huh? How would I know that?" Shichiro scoffed, twirling his katana expertly in his hand. "Aren't you just getting slow, old man?" The sword stopped spinning and he adopted a combat ready stance, blade held vertically at his side.

"First you deny me this kill, and now you lie to me. You youngsters are getting awfully rude these days." Toh stopped walking. All traces of the fog were gone, and the air became still. It was eerily quiet, the-- what? Shichiro blinked, looking up.

There was smoke. Not the hunter's misty white smoke, nor the smoke from the forest fire that had just sprung. But in the distance, a great black plume billowed into the night sky and the light of a grand flame reflected from the glowing ashes.

He had little time to ponder its origin, since the very second he was distracted, a fist walloped him between the eyes and the world was suddenly upside down. Shichiro hit the dirt with a dull thud, unsure what the hell just happened. He found himself unable to move a muscle, like he'd just suffered brain damage or something - even his thoughts were confused and in disarray. Complete sentences escaped him, and any sense of panic was replaced by an odd spacey sensation, like he wasn't really on the ground but instead floating gently in the air.

While Shichiro mumbled uselessly on the floor, Toh faced the tengu from only a few feet away cracking his knuckles.

"I've changed my mind, I think I want it back."

@Quakernuts

***

"There is a map," the mayor said breathlessly, without turning around to face his assailant. "Inside this office. A map to one of the great artifacts, the Dragon's Heart. They do not know it is here, but they are coming. . ." His eyes drifted to the window, to the rising smoke born from a raging inferno of a village surely now burned to ashes. ". . . and when they arrive, they will undoubtedly find it. It must be placed into safe hands and taken far away from here, before their army comes. Look beneath the floorboards, under my desk. . . you will find it there. There is nothing more I can do but request that this map and the artifact it leads to will not fall into the empire's grasp - I had planned to arrange for a town meeting soon to gather worthy guardians, but I hesitated and you have every right to punish me for my cowardice. Just know that I only wished for this town to remain out of harm's way."

@MasterPastry
 
Kogasa Kurosawa - Qinlan, City of Naara



In truth she could care less about the food, as she nodded along, looking at the priestess. "Very well then, I'll lead the way."

As she took in the words of Murugan and the lack of them from Hitomi, the Tengu Patroller nods. "Huh.. So the bone is like an unfinished puzzle and you have to find what it wants. And by doing that the rest of the message will be told.." She didn't like this, if it were her she would have just thrown it into a river, though that wasn't for sure either. It could be some sort of evil God that wanted to make it's self whole, or it could have a world changing message. On the other hand it could just be mentally ill or explode into graffiti. All the more reason to throw the damn thing into the river.

But it was too late for that now.

"Hmm..there is no reason we can't do both, let's walk the City and temple grounds and just sample from the food carts, those noodles you mentioned, Murugan, well they often can be found at said carts, meat, alcohol, sweats, anything really.. Once you or the Priestess sense something we'll go there, plus it lets me patrol. The child comes along till we find her parents or one of the Sisters to look after her."

Taking the lead Kogasa nods with her head for the rest to follow, while her intial plan was to take up the rear with Hitomi in the lead, she could show a small meassure of trust towards the Golden man. Chuckling at bit as the brief tales of his adventure she continues;

"Ah so you were stabbed somewhere after all? And yes this land is mostly peaceful, minus this city.." Walking along she wasn't terribly interested in eating or seeing what baubles the towns folk were trying to push, she would stop if she noticed the others stopping or if they requested it. Other wise she would circle the city counterclockwise and wait to see what happened, or if the Priestess and Shaman's talk went anywhere.

@Auntie Phaz @EmperorsChosen @Crow
 
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Eiju Jia Song

Onibi happily followed along, contentedly ordering up noodles and food. Eiju listened to him babble on, and when he finally brought up a relevant question, Eiju didn't flinch.

"Well, Onibi the Fierce, I don't usually intend to fool people. I am only interested in those who pay attention, who listen. Whether or not I'm lying depends on whether or not I've put effort in to do so." Eiju slurped some more noodles. Calmly assessing the other statements, she added, "I never lied. Well, maybe in the moment I did, but we ended up finding this stall regardless. Thus, I did not lie. Tricky things, though, lies."

While he tried to hold eye contact, Eiju was busy examining the noodles. If these statements were meant to rile her, she wasn't going to give in. She'd met far stranger men than this, and if she actually tried, she too, could breathe fire. However, this stranger was interesting. The noodles were good as well, and she liked the girl and her father. They were almost a familiar set of travelers to Eiju. Two people working hard to survive a world that would just cruelly attack those wandering about. It was a bittersweet kind of nostalgia.

"Well, let's say that I'm not terribly fond of being involved in such things. I had hoped that my companion -other than you- wouldn't notice such things going on. She gets so picky about injustice in the world." Eiju casually discussed this as though it was boring dinner conversation. "I'm old enough to know that I'd just be throwing myself into the flames. I'd rather have some good noodles and company than fight."

"Plus, tonight has been a strange one. Mist on the city, independent of that kitsune hunter of course, and now fire? Whatever it is, I'd end up lost in the background. Which is where I'd prefer to be, but this is far better than watching some racist hunter fight some Spring God. I can always find out who won later, but I have no stake in this. This city is but a kitten to this world, and many come and go."

Her noodles done, Eiju now had to face this man one on one. He was skilled at chi, had some interest in magic, and was fairly strong. He could even see Jia, which was interesting in and of itself.

She sighed. "Though, I should tell you what you have purchased, since you've treated me to these noodles. That flute will call to whoever you want. Only the person you think of when you blow the flute will hear it. Though, as far as I can tell it can only stretch as far as the opposite end of this city. Any further and it won't work. And, it only carries the sound of the flute, not your voice."

Eiju sipped her water, watching the flames from the man in the kitchen roar up again. He loved his craft, and the noodles were rather good. Perhaps she should buy herself seconds...

@Gen_
 
???

Oof!

The young fox was smacked away. Whimpering, it helped itself up, then ran away.

Not because it was a coward, but because there were things to do.

The man was old, much older and more experienced than it was. It could not afford to reign in the front lines, so it had to support while the big reynards go about their business.

The sky was gloomy and blazing. Fortunately, it was well-equipped with the blessings of the deities. He ran towards the distant burning blaze, in hopes of seeing that it was dealt with.

@Melon Kid



Hajime

"I just finished a candied apple, that's all I had."

Hajime continued to pay attention to the conversation, but ultimately, she herself was not a practioner of oracle bones. It would be more worth it to get this guy on a team than to fully learn from him, since specialising too much on non-combat abilities would put a blunt on her combat prowess...

... would it?

Back to the topic, everyone was walking along, discussing potential food ideas.

She turns to Murugan with a smile, "Murugan, was it? If you're curious about the food here, maybe we could all have some together! Noodles, sweets, vegetable snacks, festivals really are the best time of the year... did you have any back home?"

@RedArmyShogun @Auntie Phaz @EmperorsChosen