North-East Kinai Island (145)

[Imperfect]

Emiya put up no struggle as Solomon took the Child from his care to heal the newcomers, most likely in an attempt to persuade them that his powers were indeed real, and at no monetary cost to themselves. His concern did peak when Solomon materialized a blade, and drew it upon the Child, yet as his "flesh" was rent, no blood was spilled. It was more in texture to a clay than anything else, and the "revelation" that the Child was not from the Hokubu but rather the Void wasn't as big for Emiya, since he already said the Child came from some tear in the fabric of reality, though it's nature was well beyond his ability to comprehend. Merlin's contribution to the discussion was also rather obvious; that the Child's existence brought danger.

"It hasn't happened so far, but there's no doubt people who'd see this Child as a weapon, or a means to gain power. Probably people willing to kill for Him. Whether that's to profit from his power, or use it for their own ends, there's no doubt they exist. Only question is in how to deal with them really. I don't think it's right to keep him separate from people, especially when, after being among them for only a day, he saw the suffering they were going through, and decided to fix it on his own. Imagine what he could do if he was raised properly? That may not necessarily be with me, but with a full understanding of empathy and compassion, and the world around him? He could do so many great, wonderful and frightening things. He could be more of a Hero than any of us."​

There wasn't any attempt at hiding his own biases regarding the Child. Emiya wanted him to grow into a better hero than he ever could be. It was only natural, and yet completely different from how he treated his younger sister years ago. Then again, in her case, she was being forced to grant twisted, tainted wishes, while all Emiya wanted was for her to have a "normal" life. Now though, after seeing the state of the world in the wake of Tiamat, he couldn't help but wish for the Child to right his (partial) wrongs.

"That said, the threat of the Child's existence being used against everyone shouldn't be a reason to hide him from the world. I hate to say it, but I've promised to help people, everyone I can, though Tsumigakure and Shinramoto are at the top of that list. That's actually where I was about to head to, before someone thought I should be brought here, not that they were in the wrong for doing so, but still."​

Emiya looked over to see a number of children surrounding his Summoning Animal, who'd resigned themselves to the fate of being a pet now, damn the consequences. Lying belly up in sheer bliss, he didn't even register Emiya's presence anymore.

"What would you two do? I shouldn't be the only person whose voice matters when it comes to this Child, because I was the only person stupid enough to go diving in the Hokubu. In fact, given that fact, I'm probably the last person who should be given the responsibility, since my first instinct upon seeing danger is to throw myself in front of it to save others."​

While it was partially a joke, Emiya had to state that he was indeed not the best candidate for taking care of the Child given his beliefs. Sure he was a great role model to aspire to be, in theory, but in practice he was probably just going to leave the Child an orphan well before they made it to Tsumigakure. Just like Kings and leaders of old, he relied on the council of Merlin and Solomon.

 

[Goetia]

The young magus asked for the counsel of the two Casters of the Grand station, and so it would be given. Looking beyond the congregation of children, to the mountains that overlooked the port town, he eyed the great forest that lay beyond the small fragment of human civilisation. Though it was Emiya's own ideal and his dedication to it that brought Merlin out of isolation, the incubus was not keen on allowing him to become a victim of it, as Artoria had centuries ago. Even in the wake of his seemingly shattered sense of self, Emiya's nature as a hero who helped everyone shone through. It was both joyous and saddening to witness for the Magus of Flowers. So he would put his own thoughts forward, plainly and honestly.

"You should be prepared to take such action, Emiya-kun. There are powerful forces at play here, and as capable as you are, you aren't any match for them. Should you wish to keep that child in your care, you must be prepared to hide, even if that means preventing others from being cured."

To sacrifice a few for the sake of the many. That was the proposal set by Merlin. A moral framework of cold, ruthless logic. A perversion of Emiya's desire to save everyone. But that was the way Merlin saw the world. The world of humans. That was the way of the King that Merlin sought to establish in Artoria, but realised all too late that he had failed. Merlin turned his eyes to Solomon next, his tone and expression one of stone, devoid of its usual gentleness. "The child will be safest in your hands, assuming we can't remain together. Until such a time arises, I think it best we travel together."

 

[Avonomemi]

Mission elements
- Explore a landmark
- Help a friend

---

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Coming from 209

Avon and company follow the audience from Last Bastion to the North East Island, their sail to the island was more than desiring, the ship was filled to capacity of the sick and their caretaker, Avon too had someone under her care, the fever had hit him harder than most, in his fragile state, most duties fall to her, finding the cure for both of them was at the centre of her mind, they managed to find somewhere to seat on the ship, the fever was getting worse, he periodically cough and shivered, been tightly locked in a crowd of this much sick people on a ship was not best for her or him but they had to make do.
The horn sound, the captain inform the passengers of their arrival, from the tone of his voice, Avon could tell the captain felt the same way she did; getting away from these sick but unlike her, the captain's wish was coming sooner than hers, raising from their seated position, she firmly held the dweller with one hand and the other hand on her associate's shoulder to guide him, they create a path as they move through the exit, getting off the ship was no small feat, everyone was eager to see the wonder child but the exit of the ship was not big enough for everyone to come out at once, using her body as shield, they struggle one step at a time toward the exit, the people were not going to wait their turn, they had missed it once at Last Bastion, as they move closer and closer to the exit, the walls of body press on them,at some point Avon had almost lost sight of her company, at the heart of the exit door, the light was dim, all she could do was move forward while maintaining her grip on the dweller and company

"keep moving" she beckon to the dweller while keeping her company close by, they manage to pass through the door and unto the shore of the island, there was no time to stop until they had step foot on earth, at this point Avon take view of her new location, she along with her companions maintain themselves with in the crowd, following them closely as they lead to the said wonders, this is her first time of stepping foot on this place, she closing monitor the terrain and its significant features, considering it's poor settlement, from the shores with one long gaze she could easily take in the layout of the place, there wasn't much to go by, like all places, a tavern was located almost at the centre of it, the population at the shore was scarce such the entourage was easily noticed as they arrive, fishing was clearly one of their profession here, for security it was basic, though the people spirit were lifted, they acted like they had been touched by divinity, the effects of red fever was no where to be found unlike in dainashi (175) where death loomed over the air, this made her further believe they were close to something if not someone with this unique power that the world clearly sort after but why in such an exposed place, were they not concern of those with ill intent, Avon and Co continue to follow the crowd, there wasn't much to cover as for distance, passing through some farms, buildings and small markets they arrive at their destination.
As if practiced, the crowd begin to open up, moving around the kid, they naturally will come of as hostile but they did it like they were worshippers of the child, as they move about as they mutter prayers, wishing for their own healing, this looked like madness to her, so much people believing, was this the start of another baseless and blind religion, the people continue to show sign of submission waiting their turn for a touch of divinity.

"we are here now, it is best you bow and show your respects to the god child and also lead me go, I have taken you to your fate, free me now"

"god child? You are funny Madam, there is an explanation to this manifestation, you may believe in a higher power but we will see"

At this point, Avon release her grip and allow the dweller join the crowd, she and companion will be close enough to not only see the the child but start feel the effects of those with red fever been around the child

"are you feeling something" she question her company @Geezus
​

 

[Geezus]

Mission elements
- Explore a landmark
- Help a friend

---

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Coming from 209

Avon and company follow the audience from Last Bastion to the North East Island, their sail to the island was more than desiring, the ship was filled to capacity of the sick and their caretaker, Avon too had someone under her care, the fever had hit him harder than most, in his fragile state, most duties fall to her, finding the cure for both of them was at the centre of her mind, they managed to find somewhere to seat on the ship, the fever was getting worse, he periodically cough and shivered, been tightly locked in a crowd of this much sick people on a ship was not best for her or him but they had to make do.
The horn sound, the captain inform the passengers of their arrival, from the tone of his voice, Avon could tell the captain felt the same way she did; getting away from these sick but unlike her, the captain's wish was coming sooner than hers, raising from their seated position, she firmly held the dweller with one hand and the other hand on her associate's shoulder to guide him, they create a path as they move through the exit, getting off the ship was no small feat, everyone was eager to see the wonder child but the exit of the ship was not big enough for everyone to come out at once, using her body as shield, they struggle one step at a time toward the exit, the people were not going to wait their turn, they had missed it once at Last Bastion, as they move closer and closer to the exit, the walls of body press on them,at some point Avon had almost lost sight of her company, at the heart of the exit door, the light was dim, all she could do was move forward while maintaining her grip on the dweller and company

"keep moving" she beckon to the dweller while keeping her company close by, they manage to pass through the door and unto the shore of the island, there was no time to stop until they had step foot on earth, at this point Avon take view of her new location, she along with her companions maintain themselves with in the crowd, following them closely as they lead to the said wonders, this is her first time of stepping foot on this place, she closing monitor the terrain and its significant features, considering it's poor settlement, from the shores with one long gaze she could easily take in the layout of the place, there wasn't much to go by, like all places, a tavern was located almost at the centre of it, the population at the shore was scarce such the entourage was easily noticed as they arrive, fishing was clearly one of their profession here, for security it was basic, though the people spirit were lifted, they acted like they had been touched by divinity, the effects of red fever was no where to be found unlike in dainashi (175) where death loomed over the air, this made her further believe they were close to something if not someone with this unique power that the world clearly sort after but why in such an exposed place, were they not concern of those with ill intent, Avon and Co continue to follow the crowd, there wasn't much to cover as for distance, passing through some farms, buildings and small markets they arrive at their destination.
As if practiced, the crowd begin to open up, moving around the kid, they naturally will come of as hostile but they did it like they were worshippers of the child, as they move about as they mutter prayers, wishing for their own healing, this looked like madness to her, so much people believing, was this the start of another baseless and blind religion, the people continue to show sign of submission waiting their turn for a touch of divinity.

"we are here now, it is best you bow and show your respects to the god child and also lead me go, I have taken you to your fate, free me now"

"god child? You are funny Madam, there is an explanation to this manifestation, you may believe in a higher power but we will see"

At this point, Avon release her grip and allow the dweller join the crowd, she and companion will be close enough to not only see the the child but start feel the effects of those with red fever been around the child

"are you feeling something" she question her company @Geezus
​

Menma hobbled close to Avon, trying to get a look at the child as much as possible through the crowd of people. Just who was this child? Why were they so special? Could they really cure him of his affliction his mind began to wonder as he got closer and closer. The crowds of people swayed back and forth as each tried to get their own glimpse of said miracle child. Menma felt his affliction and a miracle cure were two things out of some fantasy. The Kyubi host pushed through the crowds as he too became engulfed with his wishes of being returned to his normal self. He could hear Avon asking if he could feel the effects this miracle child was supposed to render upon one with such a Serious Affliction to the Red Fever as the one that plauged Menma.

"I...I...don't know quite yet. " Menma muttered as he tried to get in closer to really see what this child was all about. He only hoped he wasn't being led on a wild goose chase, as he would be unable to do much to help himself in such a sorry state.

 

[Drackos]

Mission elements
- Explore a landmark
- Help a friend

---

You must be registered for see images

Coming from 209

Avon and company follow the audience from Last Bastion to the North East Island, their sail to the island was more than desiring, the ship was filled to capacity of the sick and their caretaker, Avon too had someone under her care, the fever had hit him harder than most, in his fragile state, most duties fall to her, finding the cure for both of them was at the centre of her mind, they managed to find somewhere to seat on the ship, the fever was getting worse, he periodically cough and shivered, been tightly locked in a crowd of this much sick people on a ship was not best for her or him but they had to make do.
The horn sound, the captain inform the passengers of their arrival, from the tone of his voice, Avon could tell the captain felt the same way she did; getting away from these sick but unlike her, the captain's wish was coming sooner than hers, raising from their seated position, she firmly held the dweller with one hand and the other hand on her associate's shoulder to guide him, they create a path as they move through the exit, getting off the ship was no small feat, everyone was eager to see the wonder child but the exit of the ship was not big enough for everyone to come out at once, using her body as shield, they struggle one step at a time toward the exit, the people were not going to wait their turn, they had missed it once at Last Bastion, as they move closer and closer to the exit, the walls of body press on them,at some point Avon had almost lost sight of her company, at the heart of the exit door, the light was dim, all she could do was move forward while maintaining her grip on the dweller and company

"keep moving" she beckon to the dweller while keeping her company close by, they manage to pass through the door and unto the shore of the island, there was no time to stop until they had step foot on earth, at this point Avon take view of her new location, she along with her companions maintain themselves with in the crowd, following them closely as they lead to the said wonders, this is her first time of stepping foot on this place, she closing monitor the terrain and its significant features, considering it's poor settlement, from the shores with one long gaze she could easily take in the layout of the place, there wasn't much to go by, like all places, a tavern was located almost at the centre of it, the population at the shore was scarce such the entourage was easily noticed as they arrive, fishing was clearly one of their profession here, for security it was basic, though the people spirit were lifted, they acted like they had been touched by divinity, the effects of red fever was no where to be found unlike in dainashi (175) where death loomed over the air, this made her further believe they were close to something if not someone with this unique power that the world clearly sort after but why in such an exposed place, were they not concern of those with ill intent, Avon and Co continue to follow the crowd, there wasn't much to cover as for distance, passing through some farms, buildings and small markets they arrive at their destination.
As if practiced, the crowd begin to open up, moving around the kid, they naturally will come of as hostile but they did it like they were worshippers of the child, as they move about as they mutter prayers, wishing for their own healing, this looked like madness to her, so much people believing, was this the start of another baseless and blind religion, the people continue to show sign of submission waiting their turn for a touch of divinity.

"we are here now, it is best you bow and show your respects to the god child and also lead me go, I have taken you to your fate, free me now"

"god child? You are funny Madam, there is an explanation to this manifestation, you may believe in a higher power but we will see"

At this point, Avon release her grip and allow the dweller join the crowd, she and companion will be close enough to not only see the the child but start feel the effects of those with red fever been around the child

"are you feeling something" she question her company @Geezus
​

Menma hobbled close to Avon, trying to get a look at the child as much as possible through the crowd of people. Just who was this child? Why were they so special? Could they really cure him of his affliction his mind began to wonder as he got closer and closer. The crowds of people swayed back and forth as each tried to get their own glimpse of said miracle child. Menma felt his affliction and a miracle cure were two things out of some fantasy. The Kyubi host pushed through the crowds as he too became engulfed with his wishes of being returned to his normal self. He could hear Avon asking if he could feel the effects this miracle child was supposed to render upon one with such a Serious Affliction to the Red Fever as the one that plauged Menma.

"I...I...don't know quite yet. " Menma muttered as he tried to get in closer to really see what this child was all about. He only hoped he wasn't being led on a wild goose chase, as he would be unable to do much to help himself in such a sorry state.

Straight up, I don't know where you guys are getting this idea there's a crowd. It's like no one's actually reading the roleplay. You stick out like sore thumbs and there is literally no one here in this landmark aside from a couple of villagers, Solomon, Merlin, Emiya, and the child.

Like with the other travelers coming to have their affliction cured, these two were no different. Though in the case of the latter, his disease was in its advanced stages. Likely a consequence of his direct encounter with the Mother of Primordial Life herself. And the child responded to this; with his eyes still closed he could touch the very essence of their existence, influencing reality about the two in an instant. It was a power derived from Chaos, and it wasn't a cure in the human context of the word. It was changing their realities, removing the Red Fever itself. They were liberated from the disease and free to go.

 

[Avonomemi]

Avon could feel her senses returning, becoming better than prior, it was really a miracle, no touch, no dosage, no therapy and just like that she felt whole, maybe more than whole, Was this the work of the child or something within the child, was this permanent or there was more to it, this questions ran through her minds, she turn her hands to run through her body for any odds, she was not the only one who felt this miracle, the crowd make relief sounds indicating their satisfaction in the turn of event, joy filled the air, caretakers help their now healed ones to confirm the healing.

"don't doubt it too much" the last bastion dweller spoke to Avon

"somethings are beyond our understanding"

Avon filled with questions decide yet to take the dweller's words seriously, she was going to take this win and not question it. Questioning has never ended well she reminded herself.
Upon receiving her healing, Avon turn touch her partner on the shoulder to see if he too was now in good condition, he was fully healed, looking brighter and better. Avon see now that this was no illusion, the child was really a miracle child, she wait for her partner to confirm his recovery before speaking...

i must leave you now, i believe this is where our journey come to an end, i must head out south alone, there is a tale waiting for me there...

Avon gives her partner a hug and a good bye before returning back to the ship.

- LLM

---

Mission End

 

[Drackos]

Emiya put up no struggle as Solomon took the Child from his care to heal the newcomers, most likely in an attempt to persuade them that his powers were indeed real, and at no monetary cost to themselves. His concern did peak when Solomon materialized a blade, and drew it upon the Child, yet as his "flesh" was rent, no blood was spilled. It was more in texture to a clay than anything else, and the "revelation" that the Child was not from the Hokubu but rather the Void wasn't as big for Emiya, since he already said the Child came from some tear in the fabric of reality, though it's nature was well beyond his ability to comprehend. Merlin's contribution to the discussion was also rather obvious; that the Child's existence brought danger.

"It hasn't happened so far, but there's no doubt people who'd see this Child as a weapon, or a means to gain power. Probably people willing to kill for Him. Whether that's to profit from his power, or use it for their own ends, there's no doubt they exist. Only question is in how to deal with them really. I don't think it's right to keep him separate from people, especially when, after being among them for only a day, he saw the suffering they were going through, and decided to fix it on his own. Imagine what he could do if he was raised properly? That may not necessarily be with me, but with a full understanding of empathy and compassion, and the world around him? He could do so many great, wonderful and frightening things. He could be more of a Hero than any of us."​

There wasn't any attempt at hiding his own biases regarding the Child. Emiya wanted him to grow into a better hero than he ever could be. It was only natural, and yet completely different from how he treated his younger sister years ago. Then again, in her case, she was being forced to grant twisted, tainted wishes, while all Emiya wanted was for her to have a "normal" life. Now though, after seeing the state of the world in the wake of Tiamat, he couldn't help but wish for the Child to right his (partial) wrongs.

"That said, the threat of the Child's existence being used against everyone shouldn't be a reason to hide him from the world. I hate to say it, but I've promised to help people, everyone I can, though Tsumigakure and Shinramoto are at the top of that list. That's actually where I was about to head to, before someone thought I should be brought here, not that they were in the wrong for doing so, but still."​

Emiya looked over to see a number of children surrounding his Summoning Animal, who'd resigned themselves to the fate of being a pet now, damn the consequences. Lying belly up in sheer bliss, he didn't even register Emiya's presence anymore.

"What would you two do? I shouldn't be the only person whose voice matters when it comes to this Child, because I was the only person stupid enough to go diving in the Hokubu. In fact, given that fact, I'm probably the last person who should be given the responsibility, since my first instinct upon seeing danger is to throw myself in front of it to save others."​

While it was partially a joke, Emiya had to state that he was indeed not the best candidate for taking care of the Child given his beliefs. Sure he was a great role model to aspire to be, in theory, but in practice he was probably just going to leave the Child an orphan well before they made it to Tsumigakure. Just like Kings and leaders of old, he relied on the council of Merlin and Solomon.

The young magus asked for the counsel of the two Casters of the Grand station, and so it would be given. Looking beyond the congregation of children, to the mountains that overlooked the port town, he eyed the great forest that lay beyond the small fragment of human civilisation. Though it was Emiya's own ideal and his dedication to it that brought Merlin out of isolation, the incubus was not keen on allowing him to become a victim of it, as Artoria had centuries ago. Even in the wake of his seemingly shattered sense of self, Emiya's nature as a hero who helped everyone shone through. It was both joyous and saddening to witness for the Magus of Flowers. So he would put his own thoughts forward, plainly and honestly.

"You should be prepared to take such action, Emiya-kun. There are powerful forces at play here, and as capable as you are, you aren't any match for them. Should you wish to keep that child in your care, you must be prepared to hide, even if that means preventing others from being cured."

To sacrifice a few for the sake of the many. That was the proposal set by Merlin. A moral framework of cold, ruthless logic. A perversion of Emiya's desire to save everyone. But that was the way Merlin saw the world. The world of humans. That was the way of the King that Merlin sought to establish in Artoria, but realised all too late that he had failed. Merlin turned his eyes to Solomon next, his tone and expression one of stone, devoid of its usual gentleness. "The child will be safest in your hands, assuming we can't remain together. Until such a time arises, I think it best we travel together."

"Keep him close to you, Emiya Shirou. Though I suspect this child has already chosen you to be its caretaker." Solomon's words were not without basis; the moment he touched the child he became keenly aware of an innate connection it formed with Emiya. The Mage King wasn't sure whether or not the bond that the green haired god had forged was done consciously or not, but a bond was certainly formed. And should Shirou find himself in danger, or the child threatened, or even upset, something terrible might awaken from it. The child no doubt felt Shirou more keenly than it did other humans, though it clearly was aware of those afflicted with Red Fever too. Whatever the case, tampering with the bond, Shirou, or the child, was a dangerous choice of action. "The last thing humanity needs is for this child to be turned into a political weapon. He will not be a 'child' forever, but just like the material that poured from the incision I made, his personality is likely a blank slate. Gods are like humans in many ways; we were, after all, shaped after them. The only difference between a god and a human is that humans possess souls, while gods possess divine cores."

The Mage King paused for a second, looking down on the infant in his arms. When the child arrived on the island he had no hairs; but yet now green strands began emerging from his head. He was clearly 'growing' at an accelerated rate, though Solomon wondered if that was even an applicable term for what was happening before his own eyes. It isn't growing, my King. It is shaping itself as time passes, evolving into its own role as a god. Soon it will develop a Divine Authority, if it already hasn't. Goetia's thoughts were aligned with Solomon's own.

"Travel to Tsumigakure. But do not reveal what we have discussed. This child's origins, as well as the true extent of his capabilities, should be kept hidden for the time being. Perhaps Merlin can travel with you, though he and I have some...unfinished business to discuss." Solomon grimaced slightly, dreading having to spend another moment with the Magus of Flowers. "I have seen this child cure humans with incredible ease. And while I cannot wield the same primordial powers that this child can, I can make use of Yin-Yang Release to form my own alternative cure now that I have seen what the child does...." Solomon focused his chakras in both his hands, igniting a pair of black and white flames similar to those in the Sunlit Forge; though in this case they were the powers of Yin and Yang working in tandem, unified in a common purpose to achieve some level of Creation that could compare to the power of Chaos. His work wouldn't have been possible had he not witnessed the child cure the affliction from the many who had come before him that day. Observing was all it would take; a single instance of seeing the child perform its miracles and its power could be replicated on a similar scale. It wasn't the power of Chaos, but something similar. A power from the other pillar of existence.

And just like that as the flames combined in Solomon's two palms, a small bottle was formed out of his imagination. A miraculous use of Six Paths Yin and Yang. And within that bottle was a small pool of blue fluids, no more than five millilitres. "Emiya Shirou, hide this well. Take it to the marketplace nearest Tsumigakure, Tsuchi Heihō. Take it to a medic there, his name is Iskandrous, you will know him by his small shop. It is...quite colorful. There he will mass produce this fluid, and we can distribute it across the world."

 

[Imperfect]

"Keep him close to you, Emiya Shirou. Though I suspect this child has already chosen you to be its caretaker." Solomon's words were not without basis; the moment he touched the child he became keenly aware of an innate connection it formed with Emiya. The Mage King wasn't sure whether or not the bond that the green haired god had forged was done consciously or not, but a bond was certainly formed. And should Shirou find himself in danger, or the child threatened, or even upset, something terrible might awaken from it. The child no doubt felt Shirou more keenly than it did other humans, though it clearly was aware of those afflicted with Red Fever too. Whatever the case, tampering with the bond, Shirou, or the child, was a dangerous choice of action. "The last thing humanity needs is for this child to be turned into a political weapon. He will not be a 'child' forever, but just like the material that poured from the incision I made, his personality is likely a blank slate. Gods are like humans in many ways; we were, after all, shaped after them. The only difference between a god and a human is that humans possess souls, while gods possess divine cores."

The Mage King paused for a second, looking down on the infant in his arms. When the child arrived on the island he had no hairs; but yet now green strands began emerging from his head. He was clearly 'growing' at an accelerated rate, though Solomon wondered if that was even an applicable term for what was happening before his own eyes. It isn't growing, my King. It is shaping itself as time passes, evolving into its own role as a god. Soon it will develop a Divine Authority, if it already hasn't. Goetia's thoughts were aligned with Solomon's own.

"Travel to Tsumigakure. But do not reveal what we have discussed. This child's origins, as well as the true extent of his capabilities, should be kept hidden for the time being. Perhaps Merlin can travel with you, though he and I have some...unfinished business to discuss." Solomon grimaced slightly, dreading having to spend another moment with the Magus of Flowers. "I have seen this child cure humans with incredible ease. And while I cannot wield the same primordial powers that this child can, I can make use of Yin-Yang Release to form my own alternative cure now that I have seen what the child does...." Solomon focused his chakras in both his hands, igniting a pair of black and white flames similar to those in the Sunlit Forge; though in this case they were the powers of Yin and Yang working in tandem, unified in a common purpose to achieve some level of Creation that could compare to the power of Chaos. His work wouldn't have been possible had he not witnessed the child cure the affliction from the many who had come before him that day. Observing was all it would take; a single instance of seeing the child perform its miracles and its power could be replicated on a similar scale. It wasn't the power of Chaos, but something similar. A power from the other pillar of existence.

And just like that as the flames combined in Solomon's two palms, a small bottle was formed out of his imagination. A miraculous use of Six Paths Yin and Yang. And within that bottle was a small pool of blue fluids, no more than five millilitres. "Emiya Shirou, hide this well. Take it to the marketplace nearest Tsumigakure, Tsuchi Heihō. Take it to a medic there, his name is Iskandrous, you will know him by his small shop. It is...quite colorful. There he will mass produce this fluid, and we can distribute it across the world."

Plenty of revelations, yet none were quite so eye-opening as the fact that the Child had, whether intentional or not, forged some kind of bond with Emiya, designating him as the Child's personal caretaker. In hindsight, Emiya recalled that brief pain within his core back within the Hokubu. Was that the moment the Child bonded to him? Who could say really. For someone as powerful as Solomon, who could, upon simply seeing it firsthand once recreate something as miraculous as the Child's power, say as much, there wasn't any reason to question it. But as Solomon urged him to head to Tsumigakure, as he was already heading there, he obliged. Taking the Child back, as well as swiftly pocketing the phial, Emiya then began preparations for leaving the Water Archipelago, and towards the mainland. Before he did though, he did have a few choice words, for both Solomon and Merlin.

"Thank you Solomon, for everything. I can tell how hard you've been fighting for these people. I'll make sure that effort isn't a waste, I promise."​

Taking a moment to focus on the scoundrel, Emiya then let out a tired sigh, and gave Merlin a smile, his guard dropping for the briefest moment, before immediately going back up as he left.

"You too, I guess."​

---

Leaving Landmark.

 

[Goetia]

Merlin beamed with a smile as Shirou went off in the direction of Tsumigakure, child and cure in hand. As he had stated earlier, it was safest for Shirou to travel with company, and the stakes were far too high to take the risk of him encountering unsavoury folks. Turning to the King of Magic, he keeps his words brief, but with a hint of his trademark playfulness. "I'll accompany Emiya-kun to his destination, and then we'll get on to our unfinished business." Winking when he mentioned the 'unfinished business', he traces Shirou's footsteps, going after him towards the marketplace in the Badlands of Earth.

Leaving landmark

 

[Geezus]

Avon could feel her senses returning, becoming better than prior, it was really a miracle, no touch, no dosage, no therapy and just like that she felt whole, maybe more than whole, Was this the work of the child or something within the child, was this permanent or there was more to it, this questions ran through her minds, she turn her hands to run through her body for any odds, she was not the only one who felt this miracle, the crowd make relief sounds indicating their satisfaction in the turn of event, joy filled the air, caretakers help their now healed ones to confirm the healing.

"don't doubt it too much" the last bastion dweller spoke to Avon

"somethings are beyond our understanding"

Avon filled with questions decide yet to take the dweller's words seriously, she was going to take this win and not question it. Questioning has never ended well she reminded herself.
Upon receiving her healing, Avon turn touch her partner on the shoulder to see if he too was now in good condition, he was fully healed, looking brighter and better. Avon see now that this was no illusion, the child was really a miracle child, she wait for her partner to confirm his recovery before speaking...

i must leave you now, i believe this is where our journey come to an end, i must head out south alone, there is a tale waiting for me there...

Avon gives her partner a hug and a good bye before returning back to the ship.

- LLM

---

Mission End

Menma felt overjoyed at the help he had received from Avon in getting him the help he needed desperately. A bond of friendship was the end result of the mysterious encounter they caused the two to meet not long ago. Menma stretched as he set off to find Hei and discuss what the plan from here on out was. It was time for the the new era to be ushered in.

"I'll see you soon! Until we meet again, I'm a call away!"

-To be Continued-​

-LLM

 

[Drackos]

Solomon departs on a small ship, sailing eastward.

LLM

 

[Goetia]

Coming from [x]

Docking at the port city, Merlin disembarked with Lena and Mirabelle following closely. Immediately, his eyes scanned the town for Solomon. Unsure as to whether he still remained here since their last meeting, Merlin activated his sensory when he couldn't find the King of Magic. Unable to detect his chakra signature, he concluded that Solomon had since left the island. His expression creasing in mild frustration, the Magus of Flowers grew increasingly desperate. Time was running out.

Spoiler: (Chakra Henkanshi no Jutsu) - Chakra Sensing Technique (Passive)

Type: Supplementary
Rank: C
Range: Short - Long
Chakra cost: 15 (- 5 per turn)
Damage points: N/A
Description: This is a very advanced of advancing the ability to feel and sense chakra. The technique allows the user to concentrate and detect someone's chakra. Users can use this to determine the nature of a jutsu used as well as sense masses of chakra. The use of this can be compared to Sharingan's brutish level of sensory, able to sense collection of chakra but not the level of clarity and precision Byakugan has.
Note: Can only be used by bios with Sensory ability.
Note: After having on a bio for 1 month, users gain the ability to activate Sensory passively.

Merlin continued to search the port for any signs of Solomon's presence, or clues as to where he may have gone. With none presenting themselves, the Magus was beginning to grow frantic, doubling back on his path numerous times. Returning to where he'd docked his boat, Merlin pondered on the next course of action. He couldn't think of a next step that could reliably lead him any closer to Solomon, until his eyes fell upon a young girl and their mother. Individuals whom Merlin recognised, ones that were present at the dock when he and Solomon met. Making his way over to them, he tried to keep himself composed, so as to resolve the matter quickly and move on with haste "H-hello. I do hate to be abrupt, bu-"

"Why, hello. You're the man who was with the doctor from the other day, right?" the mother asked, interrupting the mildly distressed Merlin. Trying not to appear without manners, Merlin strained to put on a smile "A-ahaha! Yes, it is me. I was actually wondering if you'd seen that guy around lately? I'm trying to meet up with him, but he's quite hard to reach." The woman cupped her chin with her hand, trying to remember where and when she'd last seen the King of Magic. Obviously, she had no knowledge of his true identity, so it was useless for him to mention it. Painful moments of silence passed as Merlin hoped beyond hope that she would be able to give some clue as to his whereabouts. "Last I saw him, he was boarding a boat and sailing south. As for where exactly he was headed... I couldn't say. I'm sorry." That information was better than nothing, and Merlin's smile became genuine. "No no, don't apologise. Thank you very much miss."

Bowing his head to the woman curtly, he returns to the dock where Mirabelle and Lena are waiting. Gesturing for them to come onto a boat with him, they set forth on the final leg of their journey. Where they disembark would largely be a shot in the dark, but Merlin had no other choice.

LLM

 

[Arthorius]

Coming from: https://animebase.me/threads/kaizoku-sea-259.757193/post-22058750

Lucifer unfurls his wings, flying over the islands below, he wasn't far now.

LLM

 

[Petrichor]

Petrichor — Spawning in at — North-East Kinai Village

Spoiler: Mission Details

Mission Rank: A
Story elements chosen:
Objective 1: Locate in country handler from Land of Rain underground, based on incomplete intel from a Land of Rain information dealer. They will debrief you and provide future in-country missions.
Objective 2: Quietly infiltrate Kinai island. Stealth is paramount. Begin investigating the area and take note of influential factions and opportunities to gather information for recon intel and for developing deep cover in Kinai.
Objective 3: Draft a report containing daily observations and important notes from your recon investigation, and securely send them back to headquarters.
Additional information: This is a set up for a multi-part mission set and story-line I have in mind. If you’re interested in participating in future parts, shoot me a DM and let me know! As a note, the rain being cannon for this story-line will have consequences for the Kinai mines in coming days, something to consider.

—————

Under the cooling haze of the early evening mist, a lone boat sails into a long-since-used civilian port, breaking the gentle waves and pulling quietly along the simple fishing skiff into the dock slip with a long bamboo stalk. She had circled the island a few times as the sun set, taking in what she could observe on the shore and in the ports from a distance: a bustling scavenging and mining hub in the South West, a fairly active cove of rogue ships to the South East, and treacherous terrain that made observation difficult to the North West. Having weighed her options, Petrichor opted to take the path of least resistance, taking her time to find a run-down area on the North Eastern Kinai coast where her entry might go unnoticed.

“ It’s so… quiet. Not even the chirps of birds of the hum of insects up here. Just the sound of waves and the smell of— ”

As she whispered to herself, she produced from her breast pocket a small scroll and a feather quill to jot down notes, before being interrupted by the slow drum of thunder in the distance.

“ —rain. Perfect, just in time. The weather report was within margin. ”

Home field advantage, or so she hoped. Having grown up in the Land of Rain, Petrichor had learned to use the rain to her advantage when in unknown territory, it was especially useful for covering your tracks, your scent, and blending into the background during a covert infiltration operation. Petrichor walked along the shore towards cover, shifting her weight from the outside of her foot to the inside of her foot with each step, quieting her presence so that any sound she makes would be close to lost in the whisper of the wind and rain.

But from who, and where? Pulling up her hood, Petrichor brushed away the lack of explanation. Now was time to focus, focusing on herself could come later. We grew up in these kinds of underdeveloped and broken down neighborhoods, she thought, feeling the sad familiarity of home creep in around her as she ran stealthily towards where the treeline met the river.

“ Many run down and decaying buildings, primarily former domiciles and farming structures, construction and human development patterns generally following the river and main trail corridors, which intersect at multiple bridged junctions across the North-East corridor. Some forestation has recovered, offering a good place to mask into nature and hide sound via foliage. And… Almost none of this is useful to what I’m doing here. Er… What am I doing here? ”

Petrichor had mindlessly darted into the trees, so intently focused on getting onto the island unnoticed that she had completely forgotten the details of the intel she had collected from that Hidden Rain fixer. Another memory lapse, she chastised herself for forgetting something so important. Petrichor landed on a large branch overlooking the North-East Kinai river, not far from a bridge where the river intersected one of the main travel roads. She rubbed here eyes. It was getting worse, the spacey episodes. Fugue states like this at times felt like the world was turning to jelly.

“ That’s what the notes are for, ” she reasoned to herself aloud, taking a deep calming breath, “ So long as my employers and handlers can see it’s not impacting my work, it’s fine, and no one will ask any questions. Even if things get fuzzy, I can still do my job! Right, so, about this job… ”

Petrichor took a moment to reread her notes, ground herself in her body and her environment, calm her mind. Her notes were how she made sense of things most days; even though things were getting tough, she always got in her daily reports, and the consistency kept her grounded. Tucking her notes scroll back into her vest, Petrichor pulled out a small piece of white parchment, folded in 3 and sealed with a blue wax stamp featuring a village insignia, 4 vertical lines. A sepia picture was pasted into the upper right corner: a woman, brown eyes, tan skin, long wavy brown hair, slightly above average height and musculature, about twenty-eight years old.

“ Mizuka Shiro. Daughter of the Kinai Miners Union founder, Vice-Chairwoman of the Union Workers Board. Plan is to use her to get into the union and examine their faction from the inside, hopefully finding openings to investigate the others and solidify who the major players in the region really are. May have useful information and connections regarding a potential coup brewing on the island, rumors are running abound between the different villages on the archipelago. Frequents the… Rain Inn, often stays the night between work shifts. Located in the North-East Kinai island neighborhood of L Block, a domicile development project close to the central island mining areas known for having frequent issues with vagrancy, degeneracy, and violence. Sounds like my kinda place. ”

Petrichor chuckled, knowing full well she can’t afford to get in trouble and blow her cover on this one. Getting a name for yourself is how you get a grave for yourself in this profession. And the dead can’t protect the living. Sometimes, it’s best to just lie low… if she can keep her nose down and her temper in check, at the very least.

“ Not much info on the local handler based on the intel doc. ****, not really much information at all. What the hell did I pay this broke-ass barkeep for? ”

Despite her frustration, the lack of information is deliberate. No information broker wants a written record of their secrets. That’s why she has to get the full story from the local handler, this connection was what she was really spending her money on. Going in to deep cover is easy. Finding someone in deep cover is near impossible. There’s a reason these missions can’t be on more public registries, nor can there be written notes or direct logs of deep cover operations. But either way, a violent coup wouldn’t help anyone. If gathering information could help prevent that, it was the least she could do. No more orphans, no more broken families. Someone had to stand up for the weak, and this is how she’d do her part. Things were about to change.

It was then it hit her. Very little information about the world on the ground in Kinai had been conveyed to the outside world by parties without monetary interests in the region for years, much less so the people who live here. If this handler know all about this girl and the bar she goes to, long enough to know that she stays there overnight, the handler must be a regular in the area as well, perhaps another miner, a regular patron at the bar, or maybe… Clearly this girl is well liked locally, and the neighborhoods tend to be tight-knit, defend their own types. What would be the easiest way to track her without getting noticed by the locals, knowing the handler is more likely in a deep cover of some kind and needs to sustain themselves and their operation with consistent income…

“ Bingo. The innkeeper is likely the handler. Most plausible theory given the limited information, so let’s work with that for now. I’ll head in that direction, then. ”

The mines would be closing soon. Petrichor had to hurry, she wanted to make contact with her handler before patrons would begin to arrive. She began leaping from tree to tree, following the river path until the treeline thinned to thick, stubborn grass lines as tall as her neck. The grass was stiff and grayish-green in color, clearly one of the few species still able to grow after the impact, it likely took over these large fields due to lack of competition. Petrichor retrieved her notebook and jotted this observation down, using a small grid to make a functional map of the parts of the island she had seen from shore and begun to explore.

“ This is probably functional for now, I’ll have to update it later with points of interest for the daily observation log. If I don’t mail that out soon, they’ll be on my butt back at the agency, for sure. ”

Her quick notes written down, Petrichor began to approach some of the empty storage sheds at the edge of L Block, lurking in the hood’s shadows in search of the Rain Inn.

“ If they are a Rain-affiliated handler, it’s a strange choice of name… a bit too on the nose. ”

In a side alley, two blinking neon signs split the wet evening shadow, rainbow colors blinking with the name of the establishment. Cloud Lounge and Rain Inn. The two neon signs were connected in the middle by a rainbow mural, blurred and melted into itself from the sea salt and rain, over the wooden door, once painted a golden yellow, but since faded into a mellow brown. Petrichor pushed the door open, greeted by a massive establishment that didn’t match its outward facing appearance. To the left, a large lounge area with a fireplace, to the right a bar gearing up for the night time crowd. Straight ahead were two stairwells leading to the indoor balcony and rooms upstairs, with a concierge desk nestled between them.

Taken aback, Petrichor was visibly shocked by the establishment being much bigger than expected, but once the shock wore off, the vibe of the venue was clearly matching the economic decay of the area. The inside was clearly designed from old ship parts, likely a wrecked passenger ship for most of the construction. These were an entire market in the southern half of the island, especially with the ongoing naval warfare between the pirates and merchant factions that dominate the East and West, respectively. Here in the North, however, it was the Unions that reigned supreme. Looking at the bar, the blue uniforms of the scavenger union and the red uniforms of the miner’s union were clearly visible amongst the regulars, and the Coat of Arms for each stood beside the fireplace, mounted to the wall with glistening hardware. In its naval days, that fireplace would have been adorned by the crests of the merchant family who sponsored it, but those days are long since over. Jotting these observations down as she approached the concierge, she sees nothing but an empty desk with a brass bell sitting on top

“ Well… It feels odd to do, but I fear I have little choice… ”

Petrichor rang the bell. She heard the voice of an old woman call out to her, quivering as she spoke.

“ Oh, one moment, lil lass! I’ll be right over to help you! ”

At the top of the steps a short, somewhat stocky woman with red hair hobbled into view. She was wearing a flowing dark grey dress with a white turtleneck, tight to her lean-but-muscular upper frame. A white arctic fox pup was perched upon her shoulder, helping her keep balance as she came down the stairs with the aid of her cane. Petrichor went to walk over to help, but as she did one of the regulars at the bar held up their left hand, sipping their beer with their right.

“ She wouldn’t take your help if you tried. She’s stubborn, that one. Keeps this place afloat! ”

Petrichor feels a tap on her shoulder, causing her to jolt and turn around - before her stood the old lady she’d seen hobbling only a minute ago, perched on her seat behind the concierge desk. How did she—

“ Pleasure to meet ya! My name is Nancy O’Hara, and I run this here fine establishment. You rang for me, dearie, and I have a lot to get done, so how can I help ya? ”

The union man sitting by the bar laughed, yelling, “ She really does tend to sneak up on you, huh? ”

“ Um, yes, sorry to bother you — I’m here looking to get a room for a few nights? ”

“ That’s either 20 kumi or 6 union credits a night, lass. Paid before the 20th hour the next night if you want to maintain your temporary lease. Make sure to use the ‘Do Not Disturb’ tag if you’re gonna want privacy, otherwise we might have the maids come in and change the sheets, and we wouldn’t want my employees exposed to anything indecent, now would we? ”

Nancy’s smile was warm but also threatening - at surface, she seemed to be remarking on illicit midnight romance, but something about her green eyes pierced right through you. Petrichor reaches into her pocket to grab the letter, but Nancy places her hand on her elbow, grabbing it not tightly, but certainly firmly. Pertichor froze.

“ No need to talk business out here, little lass. I remember your letter you sent. If you want to discuss the contract offer with the unions, let’s go back to my office. ”

Something felt off. Petrichor felt herself dizzy with a bit of a weary and uneasy pit forming in her stomach. Could this be a set up? Only one way to find out. Freaking out here would completely blow cover. But something about Nancy, despite her short stature, filled Petrichor with the kind of fear a soldier might have towards a drill sergeant. Nancy shifted her grip from her elbow to her wrist, and with a speed unexpected for someone her age, Nancy pulled her into the windowed booth behind the concierge, which opened into a study with no windows. At the center was a large executive desk, a giant leather chair behind it. Two steel chairs lay before the desk, dwarfed by it’s sheer size and contrast in comfort.

“ Sit. ”

Without a second thought, Petrichor sat in the steel chair to the left of the desk. Nancy walked without limp or sway behind the giant desk chair, swinging her cane to the beat of a song no one but herself could hear until she began to hum. She looped back around the desk swiftly and unexpectedly, and sat in the steel chair next to Petrichor, crossing her legs and using her cane to twist the other chair in her direction.

“ You clearly still have a lot to learn when it comes to covert operations. Are you trying to broadcast to the entirety of L Block that there’s fresh meat from the Land of Rain? ”

Nancy sighed, dropping her head into her hand for a moment before looking back up to you disappointed.

“ You just walked straight into the place. No disguise, just some plain leather and cargo pants outfit, trying to grey man your way in? You’re not gonna last a day in deep cover… That said, you did manage to sneak onto the island through the North-East of Kinai, we didn’t have any reports come in about you. If any of our people had seen you, they might have tried to have a go at you, they can get pretty defensive of their home. You weren’t on any of the shipping manifests, either, so I had suspected maybe you had used a secret identity to sneak into the country, but based on your performance here, I clearly had my hopes too high and expected too much of you. ”

Nancy lifted her cane and prodded it into Petrichor’s shoulder, inches from her chin. Nancy leaned forward and narrowed the space between them, squinting as she stared into Petrichor’s storm blue eyes. After a moment, Nancy’s eyes opened again, before softening as she leaned back and lowered her cane.

“ I see. You’re not just some recon ninja here for a quick pay check. Those eyes have seen some things. You're nervous, but not scared of me. Well, regardless, this isn’t gonna be a suicide mission, either. And we need people dedicated to the cause. You clearly have some sense of covering your trail, but right now you stick out like a sore thumb in that outfit. ”

Nancy stood up and walked over to the of the oversized pulled out a long, slate gray duster-style coat with black pockets and lapel, alongside a black sleeveless shirt.

“ Drop the turtleneck and hoodie, keep the cargo pants; drop the jacket, keep the chainmail shirt. That will make you look more like you’re from here, like you could work here. If we can get you an in with the unions, we can get you some uniform clothing as well, but that’s gonna depend on you. It’s a Friday night, the late shift crowd is gonna be getting off work and coming in here soon. So it’ll be trial by fire. Mizuka Shiro, that girl in the letter that the Crap Cafe guy in the Rain sold you? She’s a regular here. Do with that what you will. I’ll observe and see if you’re worth your salt; if you are, then we might have some work for you here. If not? I can’t risk my cover here. We’ve developed an entire sustainable economic venture here, and if shit hits the fan in some kinda coup, we’re gonna be the first to respond, the front lines. So you’ll be on your own for tonight, Rain-child. Prove yourself to me, and maybe you’ll be able to make a real difference here down the line. ”

For the first moment since she brought you in here, there’s a flutter of pride and faith in Nancy’s eyes. She walks back over to the desk, pulling open one of a few dozen small draws, producing a small key.

“ Room 2E. End of the hallway, window facing the alleyway and an adjacent roof. Try to avoid needing to use it, please? And for the sake of appearances, don’t be late on the apartment fees. Now change, then meet me at the concierge. What name are you going to go by? ”

Petrichor blinked. So much information, all at once, was starting to ware on her. She had to focus, or this mission would be a complete waste.

“ My name is Ame. I’m a refugee and economic migrant looking for a job in the mining union. However, I also have pretty decent skills at scavenging, as we had to scavenge to survive when I was younger in— ”

Petrichor paused. She looked at Nancy for approval, unsure of herself, then remembered the name of the venue. Maybe it’s best to hide in plain sight while still blending in.

“ In the Land of Rain. ”

Nancy smiled. ‘Good intuition on this one. No one sees the Rain as a threat these days. That’s why even our covert teams can hide in plain sight. She picks up quick,’ Nancy thought to herself. She produced from her back pocket a forehead protector, baring the symbol of the Land of Rain. It had been many years since Petrichor had worn one of these, often having spent many of her years defending villagers not just from the bane of foreign wars, but also corrupt ninja of the Rain itself. She reached out to grab the metal and fabric piece, standing up from her chair and placing her leg on top of the seat. Using her knee, Petrichor bent the forhead protector into a more pronounced curve. Nancy turned as the girl changed into her new clothes. Sliding on the new jacket, Petrichor swiftly tied the now-bent forehead protector around her upper right arm. She shoved her extra clothes into her shoulder sack, being careful to remove her notes scroll and the letter from her other jacket.

“ Oh, bullocks, give me that damn thing. ”

Nancy snatched the intel letter from Petrichor’s hand, lighting it with a candle from the desk before dumping the flaming paper into a trash can of documents. They all quickly lit ablaze, followed by Nancy calmly dousing the flame with a pitcher of water from atop the desk.

“ Hope you memorized it all. Lets get to it, then. Mizuka is always looking to pull new women into the unions, but you gotta earn the trust of her and the people around her. I could explain everything to you about the way things operate here, the factions and their financial ties, the criminals, the pirates, the workers unions… who really holds power here these days? ”

She hadn’t. But Petrichor was sure she had enough working knowledge to get by. Nancy gestures grandly to the cluttered shelves around the room, before her arms collapse down around the messy reality in the region mapped across her desk.

“ However, for this evaluation to really test your capability for future missions, as well as to assess what judgement calls you make in the heat of the moment or with incomplete information, we’re not gonna fill you in just yet. Consider this your need-to-know debrief for the time being. We’ll fully initiate you into our structure and information systems once we know you can be trusted, perhaps after you can show us some results. And, in the event you fail, less for you to squeal to anyone who might try to take advantage of you. ”

“ I suggest you finish your daily report swiftly and send it out securely. I assume you can handle that much, right? This mission has almost no written records to date, aside from the hand off that was forwarded to you and a few other brief contacts. We’ve been close to radio silent. Do not fail us. ”

Following Nancy, she left the Concierge space and walked over to the bar room below. Reaching into her jacket, she pulled out her quill and scroll, jotting down everything she could from the last few hours. At that moment, she realized all of her hand rolled cigarettes were left behind in her wardrobe change.

“ Hey, Barkeep. You got any tobacco back there? And a double of your strongest and oldest, if you please. ”

“ Oh, lass, we only keep long, thin cigars back here. Would that do? May be stronger than what yer used to where yer from. Same to the firewater of life we call distilled spirits down this way. ”

In her effort to quickly document everything she observed, Petrichor failed to observe the shift change. Nancy was behind the bar, her outfit replaced with a low-cut top and an above the knee leather skirt, paired with matching leather boots.

“ I’ll take both, it’s just a night cap to end off a hard day of looking for new work. To aid in recollection for my notes, as well. ”

Petrichor tapped the quill to her eyebrow, winking at Nancy. Nancy smirked, pouring a glass of firewater neat into a glass in front of Petrichor. She took the cigar, lit it, and blew it in Petrichor’s face before handing it to her and sliding over the drink. As Nancy did, she leaned over and whispered in Petrichor’s ear.

“ Don’t **** it up, and don’t forget your place. ”

Nancy strutted away, almost immediately going back to laughing and pouring drinks with the regulars at the other end of the bar. Petrichor returned to her note scroll, recounting the details from the day she had taken down so far, the factions mentioned by Nancy, the implication that Nancy might be operating a secret new faction, a description of the new base of operations for the time being… what else?

Petrichor paused a moment, wracking her brain for other details she picked up on during her survey of the island so far. She took a look around the room, trying to piece together what was missing from her assessment. What united the three populated regions on Kinai?

“ Armament. Tension. Unassuredness . It’s so thick in the air you could cut it like butter. ”

Petrichor jotted down the obvious. As she glanced at the people in the bar and leisure room adjacent, everyone was clearly uneasy. Knives much too large for simply workmen hanged from the belts. The South West had more armed merchant ships than previously documented. The South East had nearly doubled the number of known rogue nin and pirate crews active in the surrounding area. And this was just what was visible from the surface. No wonder Nancy was harsh. It feels like a cold war has brewed up in Kinai, and no one knows who’s gonna take the first shot. Too many questions, not enough answers, and no one to give them to me just yet.

“ Guess I really am on my own this time… Alright. Then lets get to work. ”

Rolling up her note scroll, Petrichor walked up the stairs in the main atrium to her room. 2E, a simple one bedroom at the end of the hallway with a desk, a bed, a small couch, a closet, and a full bathroom - a rare and appreciated luxury in the life of a ninja. Petrichor quickly gets to work, placing the 'Do Not Disturb' tag on the outside of the door before pushing the furniture to the edges of the room, locking the door and window, then placing her notes scroll on the desk before returning to the center of the room. She begins weaving hand signs with haste

Boar — Dog — Bird — Monkey — Ram

without hesitation, Petrichor produces a small blade from her waistband and slices across the palm of her hand before slamming her palm to the floor. A series of seals and characters appear across the wooden floor, creating a puff of white smoke, signaling the return of an old friend.

Spoiler: Summoning Jutsu: Messenger Hummingbird

Messenger [Hummingbird] (Messenger [Hachidori])
Type: Summoning
Rank: A
Range: N/A
Chakra Cost: 30 (-10 Chakra Cost, Efficient Chakra Control Specialist - Ninjutsu)
Damage Points: N/A
Description: This summon calls upon the messenger bird of the Hachidori realm. A small-sized but sharp-billed hummingbird of the Swordbilled variety, this hummingbird has a longer beak that is good for carrying summoning scrolls or short messages. This summon, when called upon, comes with a scroll in it’s mouth that can summon ink, a brush, and paper. In order to mis-lead an onlooker, this bird can use the shadow clone technique and send each clone in a different direction or, if the opponent is hostile, stab the target with their sharp beaks, equivalent in sharpness to a senbon. Other than the shadow clone technique, this summon cannot use any jutsu.
~Can only be summoned twice per match.
~Can only stay on the field for 4 turns once its been summoned.

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“ Oh my goodness! Hachi!! It’s been so long, I never thought I’d see you again! ”

Petrichor lifted the small bird between her arms, rocking him back and forth against her chest, as she has many years ago when they first met.

“ H-hey, I can’t believe it! You’re alive!! The Boss had told us— well. That they didn’t know if you had made it to the next world or not. Seems you’re still kicking, though! If you’re calling on me after this long, before even saying anything to the others, it must be urgent. ”

Petrichor stroked the bird’s long beak, reaching inside and pulling out a new scroll, new ink, and a calligraphy brush.

“ Oo, a brush? Haven’t used one of these in years. Old school! But Hachi, I need you to deliver a report scroll to the hidden rain for me. You know the cold drop locations, they’ll come to you as usual. The rain should ease up before daybreak, I’m sorry to make you fly in such dreadful weather. But I’m guessing you’re used to it by now? ”

Hachi let out a sigh, hopping up onto the desk, lifting the note scroll with its beak before seemingly gulping down the note scroll as it hid the intelligence beneath its tongue.

“ I’ll get it there safely. The others will be ecstatic to hear of your return. I get to be the messenger of your return, haha! ”

Petrichor walked over the the window and unlatched the lock, opening both sides wide. Hachidori landed on her shoulder, whistling in her ear as he stretched his wings, a long and potentially dangerous journey to the Land of Rain ahead of him.

“ Hopefully I’ll get to see them all again soon… It might be a bit, though. So ask that they stay patient for me, I’ll come back to them all in my own time. When I’m ready. Wish them my best, Hachi. And you too, stay safe, lil man. ”

“ Y tu, mijita. Adios! Bendicion. ”

And with those parting words, Hachi jumped out the window in flight to face the wind and rain, delivering the intel so far back to home base. Moving the furniture back into a normal arrangement, Petrichor jumps into the shower and cleans herself up, taking special care to style her hair. Reaching into her pack, she pulls out come light makeup from her disguise kit, and quickly uses her thread and needle to adjust the fit on the jacket and top she had been given. If she was going to get anything out of this Mizuka Shiro lady, she was going to do it with some style.

Plan A? Get her drunk, talk her ear off for some basic intel, see how the people around her react. Get the opinions of her cronies and the other regulars. Primary source, on the ground intel will likely go a long way here. Maybe even flirt with her if that works, whatever gets her to like you and trust you. Become her best friend. Then you’ll have a job in the union, plus a valuable informant.

Plan B? Get her so drunk she can’t wake up tomorrow, use a transformation jutsu to disguise yourself as her, copy her mannerisms, and user her high level access to uncover what’s going on in the unions first hand. Messier? Yes. More reliable? Yes. More fun? Hell yeah.

Good idea? Probably not, Petrichor noted to herself, but it is a decent back up plan to save for later if anything during this field operation goes off the rails. Could also be useful for deescalating some of the tensions if things. Taking a break from overthinking, Petrichor - no, Ame, the Rain migrant - stepped out of her room to do what she does best: turn the charisma to 11. She struts over to the bar, taking a seat in the corner next to some of the regulars as a somewhat tall, somewhat muscular girl, face obscured by burnt sienna curls and the collar of a union jacket saunters over to join them.

‘ Target locked on. Now what? ’ Petrichor thought to herself.

She gulped, nervous despite the bravado and confidence she had built up in her head. However, her approach had been her folly, as she placed herself right in the line of fire.

“ Why, hello there, gorgeous. I don’t think we’ve met before. My name is Mizuka, it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance. ”

—————

[ End of segment, to be continued ]

 

[El Alucard]

Coming from [x]

Faye continued onwards to north west kinai

LLM