Okumi Chrysanth
It seemed Okumi was destined to go hungry - There never seemed to be a moment of peace in Atlum. As the bandits poured over the hill like ants swarming over a feed, the priestess immediately began to see the gravity of the situation. This was no small group of highwayman, it was more like a small warband. Tens of men were coming over the horizon to the north, and even though it would have been futile to try and flee them on foot, yet another squad of brigands were closing in over to the south of the town, cutting off the main roads out of the village. A pincer maneuver, to ensure no one escaped. Barbarians.
It seemed the gods planned to test her once more. Either that, or this was one more chance for her to find absolution in death. Maybe… It was impossible odds to fight in a head on confrontation, but perhaps she could buy some time, create a diversion with her life and give the village a fighting chance to escape? Or, if this was to be the end of the village at the hands of these monsters, maybe she should… Unconsciously, she’d realised her hand had made its way up to hold her mask, and immediately she shrunk back as if startled by herself. No. No matter how awful these men were, it wasn’t her place to cast judgement. Not only that, but there was every chance they could spread the plague further before it took its toll. If it came down to it, she’d have to pray that in her passing the cursed flower’s toll would end.
Having stopped to contemplate all these things, the world around Okumi was swimming with movement. Faintly, she felt the rush of movement beside her as the warrior woman mounted her steed and charged into battle, as well as people running past her in a bid to escape. It was something like the eye of the storm, the battle and death all around them, but here, where the storm hadn’t yet reached, there was an eerie calm about the air. As well as an impending sense of dread. With some engaging to fight the attacking vanguard, it was then that the smoke clouds billowed out from seemingly nowhere, coating the area in a fine veil to cover their movements. The female doctor from before made the call to retreat into the alleys, an advantageous position in order to choke the amount of enemies and prevent them making the most of their mobility. It was a wise enough plan. Having lost track of the two warriors in the confusion, the shrine maiden began a cautious retreat to regroup with the remaining forces of the village.
Moving back as one of the last ones to get clear, Okumi did her best to allow civilians to escape before planting herself towards the front of the people set to defend the entryway. Though she wouldn’t be much good for negotiation, her Naginata was well suited for combat in such a space, and it would not be an easy feat to slip past her. With tension filling the air as their adversaries made a slow approach, it seemed that, at least for the moment, they weren’t going to blindly rush in to eliminate them. Appraising the woman next to her, prepared to fight with her fists at the ready, as well as… Well, she wasn’t sure where he’d come from, but the cloaked man with the impressive set of daggers looked quite formidable. They appeared to be in a discussion of tactics, almost like they’d been in this sort of situation before. Okumi wondered about the connection, but there were more pressing matters for the moment. Depending on how negotiations went, this could very well be their last stand. Okumi felt her throat tighten. If death had finally come to claim her, she would do everything she could in her final moments to make amends.