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Kaor, The Mourned

The Meandering She-Bear of Many Scars

0 · 715 views · located in The Horat-verse

a character in “The Great Guild Fortune”, originally authored by StorminJericho, as played by RolePlayGateway

Description

"I'm just a wanderer, I look for jobs, and bring in the food. Trade the pelt and meat, and make the bones into what I need."

ImageName: Kaor; KaKa; BearLady!; Scar face.
Sex: Female
Age: 48
Race: Beast-man

Physical Description: Being a freakin' BEAR, Kaor is tall, broad, and sometimes startlingly quiet. Her face is sparsely, if deeply, scarred. With pitch black fur and a 'smudge' of brown on her face, Kaor is the child of a grizzly and a what looks like black bear. She is sometimes called beautiful, though that quickly changes once Kaor 'expresses' her displeasure at any one person.
Clothing: Kaor nigh constantly wears her very, charitably called, slapdash armor. Numerous belts, uncountable leather wraps, and the skull and claw bones of a slain polar bear. The kilt that makes up the waist of her armor set is a strange cloth, thick and nearly canvas like, it could charitably be used as a ship sail. She forgoes the kilt while hunting. Her fur is braided along her throat and the back of her head, with blue leathers holding the braids together.
Height: 7'3"
Weight: 303
Skin Colour: Black as coal under the fur
Hair Colour: Black throughout the body, grizzly brown along her muzzle
Eye Colour: Black sclera and sky blue irises contrast Kaor's face

Occupation: Wandering Huntswoman, Interpreter for a certain mute woman
History/Bio: Kaor once had a family. Had a husband, a wife, and three children she loved more than life. She had a home, deep in the boreal forests of Gwanalai, that she defended until her last breath. She was the hunter, along with her daughter, Iaor. She loved her life, loved what she was doing, and loved what they were accomplishing within their secluded home. Then there was a fire, flashing eyes and bared teeth...

Then she found herself on a caravan, bandaged and sore, and once white fur permanently soot-stained into pitch black. The caravan lead, a fire oni of remarkable fashion tastes, told her that she had been a raging, weeping, mess when they found her. They had stopped near the river by her home, almost a week ago, to resupply on wood for fires, and game for the caravan. They found the river overflowing with ash and debris, and heard the bawling of a being in the throes of grief.
Kaor still isn't quite sure what happened, and the memories from the time are fuzzy and fogged over in her mind.
Home Town: A hunting cabin, deep in the taigas of Gwanalai
Home Country: Gwanalai

Personality: Kaor is friendly, if quiet, and loves to share (made up) stories of adventure. Or (completely true) hunting stories from what she can remember in Gwanalai. She's a relatively warm individual, not shy to give or receive hugs. With a rough voice, deep as expected from a bear her size, its a pleasant surprise to hear almost bell-like laughter from her maw. She is, however, fiercely protective of children and those who may not be able to defend themselves. The kindness and pleasant personality disappears under the scouring rage she can bring to the surface.
Fears and Desires:
- The fear of losing any more of her memories.
- Illusion based Chi manipulation.
- Fires.
- Necromancy.
- To remember more of the night she lost.
- To find a new family, a new purpose.
- To change and become better.
- To find a stable occupation, gods be damned!

Equipment and Weapons: A massive bow, nearly far too large to any other that Kaor, an Oni, or a specifically augmented being could use. Along with a wood and steel spear and hard-bone knife. A maw filled with teeth meant to crush and carve. And claws meant to rip and tear!

Styles and Abilities: Kaor fights like a beast when cornered, wielding her spear, claws, knife, and teeth with savage efficiency. She prefers to impale foes from afar with her bow, though she isn't the absolutely most accurate by any means, she seldom misses what she aims for. Watch out for that beastly strength.

Chi and Augmentations: To supplement the way Kaor fights, she has trained her Chi over the course of her life to turn her strikes from mere cuts and stabs, to bleeding wounds that leak blood like no other. To receive a slash or stab from Kaor is to run the risk of bleeding for far, far, too long. This doesn't stop the wounds from healing, but it certainly keeps them bleeding. She still has yet to figure out how to properly channel this to her arrows.

So begins...

Kaor, The Mourned's Story

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Xanth Character Portrait: Takai Character Portrait: Namari Shioh Character Portrait: Ren Van Character Portrait: Kaor, The Mourned
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The clanging sound of bells was never welcome, in Kaor's mind. Her smile dropped as swiftly as it had come, and as the group of individuals around her began to scatter and make up their minds about what next to do... She made up hers as well.

On a heel she turned, searching through the scattering crowd of people within the Golden Peach Inn, located Xanth in the midst of reaching for the pocket of the strange, chained to the peasant, woman. Kaor whistled sharply, two quick knives of sound scouring into the air as Mutt (Xanth's beloved hound's nickname, courtesy of Kaor herself,) darted into movement.

Xanth found herself being swept up into the air, a massive paw grabbing her up by the scruff of her neck and seamlessly depositing her in the large wicker basket Kaor carried on her back. Mutt scrambled on the wood floor of the inn for a moment before rushing onward, leaping up and onto the back of a stumbling man before finding his way into the basket along with Xanth.

Kaor grunted her pleasure at seeing the two she wandered with secure, turned her gaze to Takai as the poor man chose to follow both the Snow Oni from earlier, and a new, interesting individual. This man carried himself in a manner that set Kaor's fur on edge, and reflexively made her ears press flat to her head. She made no comment on it though, and as the trio of men began to make their way out into the throng of scrambling people... Kaor turned and took her two companions away from the chaos at the front.
She made her way towards the back of the dining hall of the inn. Spotting the doorway that led into the back of the building, to the kitchens, she strode through.
As she entered the area where meals were prepared, the smell of half-cooked dishes hit her nose. A quick sniff- a quicker glance about- and Kaor kept moving. Food could wait for later. Making sure she, her Gecko, and her Mutt stayed safe was the highest priority.

And the chaos of the situation was DEFINITELY not safe. So the bearwoman made her escape.

Navigating to the space behind the Golden Peach was easy enough, but the rush of people that were trying to escape even this way was frustrating.
Kaor huffed; bared her teeth in a snarl at a woman who was attempting to pull a child along. The little boy, human, no more than five perhaps, was stumbling and crying hysterically. His mother, maybe? Was ignorant to his pleas for her to wait. Kaor stepped out and yanked the woman to a stop, grabbing the boy and placing him solidly in the mother's arms before pushing the woman and HER charge onward.
Good.

She then began following the crowd, away from the square. Whatever was happening was NOT worth it. These scrambling people were more worth the help anyhow.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Yuwen Fortune Character Portrait: Xanth Character Portrait: Kaor, The Mourned
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#, as written by Nulix
Kaor and Xanth began to follow the sparse group of families through the back-alleys. A few ran into open-doorways and grabbing a few precious belongings before exiting again and running passed the mercenary duo, toward the town-square. The crowd of families dwindled until the only followed the mother and the crying child she held. There was a disquieting stillness to the backstreets of Poyo now. A few wind-chimes sung, a few doorway lanterns rattled, but the only consistent sound was the bells.

Suddenly Mutt began to growl from their basket just as a voice called out: "And where are you guys going?"

"Back to our farm. There's a shed we can hide in," The mother whispered to the man. Kaor and Xanth squinted at the shadowy figure: he appeared to be human- with wild hair, green eyes, and a long-blue cloak. His hands were in his pockets, an unfathomably degree of casualness given the situation. "Oh no, you don't wanna go there," Yuwen replied to the family. "There's- BIG danger outside those walls. Rogue elements that want to do terrible things to the denizens of Poyo!" Yuwen leaned in to the child, who stared back at him with watery brown eyes. "You ever hear of crucifixion, kid?"

The mother gasped. Yuwen nodded sadly. "Don't worry, you'll be fine. Just get to the square- it's safe!"

The mother and her child began to run, passed Kaor and Xanth, back down the alleyway toward the square.

"Claws!" Yuwen called out to Kaor as he strolled by. "Get your fur to the square, the mayor's got something to say."

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Yuwen Fortune Character Portrait: Xanth Character Portrait: Kaor, The Mourned
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There wasn't anything Xanth hated more than being picked up. That was something Kaor only forgot when things were really, gravely serious. Her fingers had taken advantage of the bell and wormed their way closer to the noble woman's dress right at the moment a giant clawed paw descended and swiped her off the ground. She was thrown in the basket, which was bad enough - then the dog jumped on her. Squirming and fighting for the highest seat, her frantic attempt at whistling getting batted away by its paws. By the time she'd fought her way out of the basket and onto Kaor's shoulders, muddy paw prints spotted her face. She tried to say something, but Kaor's eyes were fixed on the path ahead. Her arms dropped to her sides with a huff.

At the stranger's intervention, Xanth jumped off Kaor and glared up at her, hands on her hips. She made a short, sharp movement, and jerked her hand forward in a demand. Once she was appeased, she tucked her hand back to her chest. She shrugged and her sour expression twisted into a sneaky grin. Her hands danced, then scurried up Kaor's legs without warning. She raised a brow and twirled on the ball of her foot, towards the direction the stranger was walking. A short whistle, and the dog barked and bounded out of the basket to plod beside her.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Yuwen Fortune Character Portrait: Xanth Character Portrait: Kaor, The Mourned
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Kaor came to a halt, glaring at the stranger who spoke. His words were sour tasting in her maw, and the way he frightened the child made her hair bristle on end. She opened her mouth to shout a reply to him, a furious snarl flashing across her face before she had to stop as Xanth came to the forefront.

She watched the Gecko's hands move, taking it all in with a soft hum before a heavy sigh leapt from her chest. Her hands moved, claws and paw-pads moving in fluid motion. "I apologize. I didn't mean to upset you."
She paused, smiled at the Gecko, before once again flicking her hands into motion. She huffed, shrugging after a moment and stepping onward towards where the stranger had walked off.
Kaor shifted her arm around and reached up, grabbing the hefty weight of a spear-shaft in one paw. It came down and out, resting at her side as she turned and waved to Xanth to catch up.

She then moved onward, using the spear as a walking stick while giving a rather abrupt laugh. She turned over her shoulder and called out to The Gecko and Mutt. "Goodness little Gecko! So crass! Haha!" She then kept moving, chuckling to herself as she finally processed what the Gecko had said. To the square she went.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Suiken Character Portrait: Yuwen Fortune Character Portrait: Xanth Character Portrait: Takai Character Portrait: Yamato Hibiki Character Portrait: Lo-Muna Vanhi
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#, as written by Nulix
Ro rose, looking back at the massive figure who stepped on him, but the chaos of the crowd distracted again.

***

Yuwen turned back to Kaor and Xanth in the street. The lantern-light shined in his eyes. "Follow me... and everything will be alright," He said with a smile. "I promise." The man wore a chest-plate, and had a blade on his hip, but nothing else about him seemed particularly assuring. And yet, when he spoke to the two, for whatever reason, they believed him- or at least, they believed he believed himself.

The super mercenary combo began to follow Yuwen as he marched toward the square.

***

One finally step brought Ren atop the town-wall. Suiken climbed the ladder up after him, and when the snow-oni reached the top he was treated to quite a sight. Over the rooftops they could see the town-square, and almost all of Poyo stretching out around it. And beyond the bright streets was the country: the rivers, the hills, the forests. Calm. Peaceful. There was no sign of a threat.

In the dark path stretching out from town person ran, not towards the safety walls but away- into the darkness of the night. A single figure, with a body belonging to a goblin. "Attention all!" They could hear the distant, echoing voice of the mayor from the town-square as he got ready to address the crowd...

***

"Attention all!" He repeated. On a wooden stage built in front of the tall town-hall tower and beside the statue of shimmering stone Mayor Loy-Qui, a rat-faced man with no beast-man blood in him, watched over the square which was packed to it's fullest with over a thousand citizens and travellers summoned by the bells, the last ones now arriving at the edges of the crowd. The town had gone into a deadly silence, the bright lanterns that swung in the winds no longer as festive as they had seemed an hour earlier. Overwhelming all was the sound of bells from each of the village's five gates, ringing together in near perfect unison. The elderly yunish man glanced down at the scroll he held in his hands. After a moment he stepped forward, his silken purple robes the only thing clear from the farthest back of the crowd.

"Poyo is under attack!" He announced loudly. "At the twentieth hour... I received a report from the farthest northern outpost, saying an army of bandits was approaching... at least three-"

"That's not bad!" A feminine voice said from the crowd.

"-Hundred!" Gasps of shock and cries could be heard.

"Poyo has thirty-seven guards, as well as the twenty prefects in Commander Ro's unit... that is fifty odd men against... three-hundred," Loy-Qui explained awkwardly, trying to raise his fingers before realizing he did not have the required digits. "And so I am forced to declare a state of emergency! And forced to ask upon you, citizens of ability, citizens of our great Yune Empire, to step forward and defend our village against this threat! For what we have not in numbers... we have in gold: three-hundred gold coins to each man or woman of any race who steps forward to fight with us! Three-hundred for each bandit who threatens our home on this holiest of holidays!"

A silence went over the crowd as the numbers sank in, despair on the tongues of the people, most whispering where to hide or how to escape the town. "Would all willing step forward... and all unwilling or unable step back and find shelter and hiding," Loy-Qui stammered. "Find somewhere safe."

"Wait!" A voice called out as the crowd started shifting. All eyes turned to one figure as he pushed past the guards and leapt onto the stage. He stood tall with olive skin, striking green eyes, a determined face and glimmering armour beneath blue robes: a heroic image next to the cowering Loy-Qui, now almost in tears.

"I have information!" The man declared as he stepped forward dramatically on the stage. "I know! I KNOW! Where the banditos will attack!" The human, Yuwen Fortune, announced loudly over the crowd. "I just escaped their foul grasps... they've set up camp in the swamp, twenty minutes outside the north-gate, and are currently preparing their attack!" Yuwen nodded eagerly at the assembled citizens. "I will ambush them... and destroy them! I have done so before, and I will do it again!"

Yuwen looked over the crowd and he raised his finger to the sky. "I will save this town! But I cannot do it alone: listen carefully, for my next words are intended only for the most heroic of warriors." He reached back and pulled out a duo of ebony jians. He rose them above his head in a cross.

"Who among you is a brave enough hero to join me, Yuwen Fortune?!" He called, his voice echoing for a moment as it travelled across the square. Yuwen paused and watched, waiting for the willing to step forward and the rest, which he predicated to be around ninety-nine percent of the current crowd, to step back.

Prefect Ro glared at the man from the back of crowd. A frown grew on his face, the truth of the scenario sinking in...

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Suiken Character Portrait: Yuwen Fortune Character Portrait: Xanth Character Portrait: Takai Character Portrait: Yamato Hibiki Character Portrait: Lo-Muna Vanhi
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#, as written by Nulix
Yuwen squinted at Sunaarashi across the lantern-lit square. He'd seen the man before, upon entering the village. "Then I will need your sword."

"A Sunen and a beast-man? We don't need to hire a bandit to fight bandits!" A bearded man screamed, his hands around his mouth like a cone.

"Then would you rather die?" Yuwen exclaimed. "Because you would not accept the help of a beast-man? Or a foreigner? Because you will not admit one can thieve and still do good?!"

The crowd quieted as Yuwen spoke. "Wise men ask for help when it is needed. I can stop these bandits, and save Poyo, but I know I can't do it alone," He admitted. Yuwen stood rose high, his gaze sweeping from the makeshift ambush team to the citizens behind them: heads becoming a blur as they lined into the distant streets. Almost every citizen of Poyo was here, as well as the visitors for the festival. The lantern light reflected off their faces, marked with fear. It reflected the mothers, and the children who clutched hands tearfully. It reflected off the guards: most of them barely seeing any combat at all. In reflected off the Mayor, the leader of this town, who had backed to the farthest edge of the stage.

"Poyo is not built for war..." Yuwen began quietly. "Your community is one of peace and happiness and these bandits have threatened that. And they've ruined Emperor day!" He clutched the hilt of his blades angrily. "And I swear to you! I swear: we will defeat them!"

"Wait!" A voice called. The crowd turned to see a man step up on the stage: Prefect Ro, weapon ready as he glared at Yuwen. "Ladies and gentlemen this man is a fraud," Ro said, his words met by gasps in the audience. Yuwen rose and eyebrow at the prefect and pointed at his own face in disbelief. Ro marched forward, pushing Yuwen back before taking his place at the centre of the stage.

"Yuwen Fortune is a liar and has ruined this festival for his own self-serving needs." Ro ripped the report out of Mayor Loy-Qui's hands and raised it high. "This is a fabricated report." Ro announced. A prefect rose another parchment in the air. "Sent via carrier hawk we've just received a message from the forest prefects. Bandit activity in the area is, and I quote, 'completely nominal.'" He threw the paper into the crowd that had grown more and more enraged. The report landed to grabbing hands. Ro turned to Yuwen grimly. "There are no bandits."

"Can you prove that?" Yuwen asked in response, defiance in his voice. "Bandits can be... very evasive." His hand lay on the hilt of his blades as the two men slowly began to circle each other on the stage.

"The prefects in the woods saw nothing," Ro spat. “You are a small, selfish man.”

"Maybe the bandits moved position!" Yuwen called, more to the audience and the soldiers he'd managed to recruit than to Ro. "Maybe they're attack the village! Maybe we have to go to the swamp and find the entrance to a secret tunnel! A tunnel that leads to the ancient cellar below Poyo! Doesn't- doesn't that sound fun!?"

Suddenly Yuwen heard iron footsteps on the wood of the stage. Large, armoured soldiers of the Prefecture were approaching, weapons ready. Yuwen turned from the soldiers down to the faces of those he hired, and the citizens beyond. Disgust, anger, and annoyance were the only expressions to be found.

"Look, I didn't lie!" He called out as the guards grabbed his arms. "There's something below this village, something worse men than me will try and get! Poyo isn't safe!"

"Please," Ro chuckled, stepping forward to the front of the stage. "I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt: Poyo is in no danger!"

Suddenly the statue beside the stage began to glow. Yuwen's eyes were consumed by light as the stone shone. And then, it blew apart by fire. A massive explosion rocked the stage, blasting everyone on it forward. A fiery piece of wood flung through Mayor Loy-Qui's back, impaling him to the stage as the crowd erupted in screams. Yuwen smashed into the cobblestone ground of the square, flaming pieces of wood zipping past him as deafening bangs roared from behind. He turned to see the town tower blowing apart, engulfed in a massive-fire ball expanding from within.

"Oh Sune!" He screamed, backing up slightly as the explosion blasted each layer of the hall apart, sending chunks and pieces scattering across town. A gargantuan piece of stone smashed apart the ground beside him as he limped forward toward a house.

"Formation!" Ro screamed in agony as he ripped his arm out from the large town emblem that had once decorated the tower, now a burning mass of molten metal which had crashed down upon the ruined stage. "Unit!" He screamed desperately through the fire and ash, searching for his men. A figure approached. "...Unit?" He whispered.

Wings expanded from the shadowy figure's form, and Ro raised his blade in horror. This was no soldier. He stabbed forward, a Tengu hand reaching out and grabbing the blade from him. The unarmed Ro dived as the Tengu proceeded to attack, flying out of the smoke and into the panicked square.

"Oh gods, not good!" Yuwen called as he pointed to the sky above. Descending from the mountain of smoke where the town tower once stood three dozen winged men, their red skin clear and their black robes fluttering violently in the winds. They wore opera masks, each one different, though even with concealed faces their race was clear.

"Tengu," Yuwen said as he turned from the approaching threat to the panicked citizens running for cover. "They were in the crowd! They were planning this!-" Before he had time to finish he was grabbed by the throat and smashed back into the cobblestone by a Tengu. One of many masked figures landing in the square. The figure who held Yuwen looked down at him. "Hello there Yuwen Fortune."

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Suiken Character Portrait: Yuwen Fortune Character Portrait: Xanth Character Portrait: Takai Character Portrait: Yamato Hibiki Character Portrait: Lo-Muna Vanhi
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Lo-Muna's ears were ringing. She had managed to duck when the explosions went off but one of her ears got caught by some shrapnel. A drop of blood fell on her shoulder as she looked up just in time to see the Tengu descend from the sky. The sound of the snow oni's voice cut through the ringing as she got to her feet, looking over to see Yuwen being choked on the ground by one of the mysterious Tengu.

"Then fight!" Lo-Muna yelled at the snow oni as she raced over to Yuwen, delivering a swift, powerful kick to his assailant as she yelled, "Hands off!"

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Suiken Character Portrait: Yuwen Fortune Character Portrait: Xanth Character Portrait: Takai Character Portrait: Yamato Hibiki Character Portrait: Lo-Muna Vanhi
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#, as written by Sepokku
The olive-skinned man continued to pitch his idea from the stage, holding twin blades high above his head; Ginchiyo had to admit it was an impressive show, she may have even stepped forward to join him if it wasn't for the look on Ro's face. The people who did join the Olive-Skinned Stranger were all a curious bunch, and they seemed to be losing the crowd. If something wasn't done soon, a fight would certainly to break out. Ro started towards the man, and within a minute the Olive stanger seemed to have lost all credibility. She couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the whole situation; how had this stranger managed to fabricate a report that fooled the entire prefecture?

Before Ginchiyo truly had a chance to think further on the matter, a bright light lit up the night sky as the statue of the Mayor began to glow with the ire that only fire could truly bring. She began to loop chi through her body, bracing herself as the Mayor's steel body double erupted into a conflagration that lit up the town square, seemingly determined to burn down the place he had helped build.

Stone and molten rock flew through the air, bits of it spattering against Ginchiyo like a rain of hot oil. It stung, but no more than it stung when oil popped and landed on your skin while cooking. She raised her left arm to block a large rock, causing it to split in two, landing on either side of her. There was a crunch as the piece on her right landed, indicating it had probably hit someone who hadn't scattered fast enough. There was no time to check, as a littler over a quarter century of Tengu exploded into action.

Ro was nowhere to be found, which was just as well, it was easier to fight without looking out for others. One of the feathered idiots locked eyes with her and darted straight for her, Naginata brandished for a great swing. She patiently waited the second that felt like twenty that it took the Tengu to reach her, and as its blade clanged impotently against her neck she smashed the wooden shaft of the weapon with her right hand. The bird-man left out a caw of confusion and shock as it tried to back up. Her footwork followed his exactly as she moved forward with him. Her left hand cocked back for a quarter second, then she shoved her hand through the side of her assailants skull. Bone gave way with a squelch as she flexed her hand in his grey matter.

Stopping to wipe her gore covered hand on the Tengu's robe, she looked for the next Bird to hunt. The air was hazy with smoke, and only glimpses of the carnage about her could be seen; a pair of white ears here, a tall dark skinned man just over there. But where was the Olive-Skinned Stranger?

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Suiken Character Portrait: Yuwen Fortune Character Portrait: Xanth Character Portrait: Takai Character Portrait: Yamato Hibiki Character Portrait: Lo-Muna Vanhi
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Ren had been taking in the commotion of the city from the walls with the Snow Oni, the disconcerting news of the 'army of bandits' soon being relieved as some Prefect took to the stage to declare some fellow, Yuwen Fortune, a fraud? He was prepared to fight if he had to, but Ren supposed it was for the best that the tiny town wasn't forced to fight off 300 bandits. Numbers that were this skewed rarely translated to success.

Before he could truly relax though, the tower at the center of Poyo erupted into flames, bursting apart and sending bits of stone and wood across the town square. Hoped too soon it seemed, but the arrival of Tengu warriors struck the sellsword as odd. A fake attack immediately followed by a real one? Strange timing. And that Goblin that had been running away from the town, what was that about? Had they helped coordinate this?

The Snow Oni had darted towards the battle, leaving Ren with the briefest of moments to consider what he would do. There really was no alternative but to fight, but what was the best way? He took a glance around the part of town he could see, noting several men, women, and children cowering. The men, while not exactly impressive warriors, had the strength one would expect from farmers. Good enough? He hoped.

Ren dropped down from the wall, making his way around some of the hidden corners of the side streets, signalling to the men in hiding. "You men, get a hold of yourselves. Your wives and children are in danger, time to step up to defend them. Go grab some tools and weapons. Knives and short blades, make sure you have them tucked into a belt. Grab spears, shovels, pitchforks, and knock the metal parts off. It'll weigh them down and slow your attacks. Use the spears and makeshift poles to keep those Tengu at a distance from you, and when they get too close, use your knives to stab at them. Aim for the heads, don't bother with the armored areas."

They looked terrified at the Yeuxkyenan. "But... We're not skilled enough to fight them! What are we supposed to do!"

The warrior raised a hand to calm them. "This isn't about fighting them, it's about controlling the battlefield. They already blew up the tower, we do not want them burning the whole town down. We keep them here in town square. Guards and Prefect's can deal with any saboteurs, and town's folk can help prevent fires."

The terror remained in their eyes, but Ren's face remained stoic and unaffected. "We will save the town. Do what I said, support the guards and Prefects, and we will be victorious." With that, the townsmen ran off to either follow the sellsword's orders, or to flee, and Ren made his way to the town square, grabbing a deserted guard's spear that had been lying on the ground.

__________________________________________________________________________________


Another Tengu dove towards the female Rabbit Beastman and Yuwen, intent on ensuring their target wouldn't escape. Before it could reach them however, and wooden rod swung past the Rabbit, through the air over Yuwen, and collided with the face of the flying assailant. A loud *CRACK* resounded as the Tengu was pulled along with the spear, being cast down into the pavement head first with a loud thud.

Ren gave a nod to the Beastwoman and the Adventuring Charlatan.

"Happy Emperor's Day."

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Suiken Character Portrait: Yuwen Fortune Character Portrait: Xanth Character Portrait: Takai Character Portrait: Yamato Hibiki Character Portrait: Lo-Muna Vanhi
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The Tengu was very good, Sunaarashi had to admit. The way he held his sword, the extra weight behind his blows afforded by the practiced use of his wings, his footwork; it was all impeccable. The Tengu was also smart, Sunaarashi realized, as his opponent broke away from their duel unexpectedly, flipping backwards to hover above the stage, glowering down at the sand warrior.

"You are the shadow of Sune," the Tengu said, the voice holding a hint of confusion. "The one they call the Hunter. For what reason are you in Poyo?"

"Why else would a hunter go anywhere but to hunt?" Suna said, shrugging. "But it seems I've traded one kind of prey for another."

"I have no wish to die today, Hunter," the Tengu replied with what was undoubtedly a sneer. "I draw my blade for coin, not purpose. Perhaps we shall meet again."

The Tengu didn't spare any more time before launching upwards with a blast of air, the opera mask it had wore dropping from above, cracking in half as hit the stage. Sunaarashi watched the black-winged Tengu speed away, then returned to the bag he had dropped.

"To hunt birds," Sunaarashi mused, sheathing his blade and unbuckling a strap. "You need bows." To this end, he pulled one free from his bag, along with string and a quiver of arrows. Quickly stringing the bow, Sunaarashi pulled an arrow free, and with a casual pull, sent the projectile forward and through the throat of a Tengu as it passed.

The winged enemy hit the ground with a heavy thud, and Sunaarashi drew another arrow from the quiver.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Yuwen Fortune Character Portrait: Lo-Muna Vanhi Character Portrait: Namari Shioh Character Portrait: Sunaarashi Character Portrait: Ren Van Character Portrait: Samyan Zaheer
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#, as written by Nulix
At the outskirts of the the town square Ro and a few of his men had managed to recreate formation, stabbing their way through a downed tengu and approaching Samyan and Sunaarashi. "You're right, " He spat, wiping his blade away. "They've not gone after the townsfolk, they want something else."

Ro watched as the few remaining Tengu flew over, dividing and changing tactics in the air. Some switching to go down and fight while others disappearing into the black smoke of the burning heap where the town-tower and statue used to be. "...Why blow up a tower... unless there was something underneath it," Ro whispered, turning to Sunaraashi and Samyan. "We have to attack them at the base of the tower, in the smoke - they're doing something there, I know it."

At Shuin and Namari's appearance Yuwen immediately uncoupled himself from Lo-Muna, swinging away from her arms to face the two. Yuwen combed the curly bangs out of his face as he approached the two. "Yuwen Fortune," he introduced, grabbing Shuin's hand and shaking it. He took Namari's, but instead rose it to his mouth and placed a kiss like a true yunish hero. He paused, his face scrunching up. "Sorry, you look..." He blinked. Familiar...

Suddenly there was a roar, like the sound of a beast wounded. Yuwen turned to find the source of the sound. Across the square Kaor, the mighty beast-woman he had spoken to earlier, was surrounded by a duo of Tengu. "This is no time to be divided," Yuwen whispered, turning to Lo-Muna, and then the others gathered. "That beast-woman needs our help."

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Character Portrait: Yuwen Fortune Character Portrait: Lo-Muna Vanhi Character Portrait: Namari Shioh Character Portrait: Ren Van Character Portrait: Kaor, The Mourned
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Lo-Muna didn't stick around to hear the last of Yuwen's words. Her heart had raced when she had seen the bear beastwoman in danger and there was an anger that bubbled within her. The ears on her head straightened, pointing towards the sound of the Tengu's steps.

It had annoyed her when Yuwen had removed himself but she was glad of it now. Her feet had begun moving and the grip on her chakrams tightened. She was running and then, in the air. One of the duo raised their swords but it was knocked out of their hand, one of the chakrams clattering beside it. Lo-Muna landed nearby, the other weapon raised and ready to come down on their heads.

"Back off," she growled before charging towards one of the Tengu.

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Character Portrait: Yuwen Fortune Character Portrait: Kaor, The Mourned
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#, as written by Nulix
The roar of a bear shook the battlefield as a trio of Tengu held Kaor down. Flaming arrows were launched at the great warrior, piercing her armour and bringing her to the ground.

"Hey!" Yuwen exclaimed, running forward with swords drawn. "Back off the bear!"

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Character Portrait: Suiken Character Portrait: Yuwen Fortune Character Portrait: Takai Character Portrait: Lo-Muna Vanhi Character Portrait: Namari Shioh Character Portrait: Ren Van
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Ren raised an eyebrow at the Yunish man, who thanked him in fairly good Yeuxkyen, with a dialect far better than most foreigners could manage. "Bin qui." Came a response of 'you're welcome' in Yunish that bore the marks Ren's of foreign accent. The rabbit woman's response had been far less formal, leaving Ren cocking a smile and giving a slight bow of the head in response.

Before he could respond further, a Tengu had been thrust in his direction, instinctively triggering Ren to grab at the winged warrior's closest arm. Ren gripped tight as he pulled the Tengu's right arm up and over the Yeuxkyenan's right shoulder. The attacker's chest met Ren's back, and before he could fight back to regain control of his arm, Ren dipped down slightly as he pulled the Tengu up and over his shoulder, slamming him down into the stone street with crushing force.

The arm, already heavily damaged, was finished off by Ren using his foot to break it. He considered mercy for the briefest of moments, but after a brief look of the battlefield realized now really wasn't the time. The swordsman quickly and efficiently drew his blade, pierced the chest of the Tengu, and quickly wiped the sword clean of blood. He let out a slight sigh before having his attention caught by talk of... Treasure?

Interesting twist to all this. The arrival of a prefect helped confirm the import of this attack. Ren almost moved to question the Yunish man, 'Fortune', about the treasure more, but he was interrupted by the roars of the bear beastwoman from the Inn earlier.

He supposed it would be prudent to lend his assistance. Before he did though, he briefly turned to Ro. "Backup? Is there any forces that can help us in taking the tower from them?"

Setting

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Character Portrait: Yuwen Fortune Character Portrait: Xanth Character Portrait: Lo-Muna Vanhi Character Portrait: Namari Shioh Character Portrait: Sunaarashi Character Portrait: Ren Van
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Xanth tried dodging the stampede that didn't bother looking down at what it was trampling over when the attack launched. After getting beaten around by elbows and knees, she flattened against Kaor's backside. She slapped away Kaor's signed command for her to get to safety with one hand as she unlatched the bracelet of a woman running past her and pocketed it with the other. The Mayor was on his way out, but he still stood for the town's will. Violence was a language Xanth could speak and she wanted to be paid for it. She signed Kaor the plan, and dashed off, leaving the dog to guard the beast woman's back.

In shadow, Xanth skittered up a wall. It was a simple strategy, but one that served them well during their time as mercenaries. Kaor stayed on the ground and drew attention while Xanth assassinated them from above. She had to be careful here, she reminded herself as she slipped over the roof and hid herself beneath an overhanging fixture from a Tengu swooping overhead, she didn't have the high ground advantage that she normally did. Xanth drew her twin daggers and waited.

As was the life of an assassin. A far cry from the invulnerable mass murderers myth had conjured them to be of late. An assassin that ever found themselves in the position of having to take out twenty people at once was a miserable excuse for one. Assassins had one job, and one job only, and that was killing a target before they knew death was coming. Most of Xanth's extensive kill count found their deaths in their own beds or, if they were lucky, the latrine, where the corpses could defecate respectfully. The gig wasn't glamorous. If she could tell them the truth, she would.

Black wings swooped past her hiding place. All the tension in Xanth's body exploded and she sprung out, latching onto the Tengu's back with claw-like knives into the base of his neck. She rode the hurtling Tengu down. His body took the impact of the fall, and they skidded to a stop, punctuated by Xanth splitting him open from his shoulder to his jugular. She cut off his nose in one swoop, pocketed it for proof, and was out of sight in a blink. She climbed to the rooftops, tucked herself into a little crevice, and began the wait again.

The second advantage came quicker than the first, and Xanth shot out for it - but the Tengu turned in his flight, and her dagger made its mark in the joint of his wing. She dangled with nothing to push herself off with until she was shaken off. She gripped one of her daggers between her teeth mid-air and planted herself on the wall she'd been tossed into. Foolish. She began her hobble of shame back into the shadows, when a horrible sound struck her ears. Her head jerked to catch her companion's snout turned up to the sky, her maw wide in a howl of pain. The world seemed to shake as the great bear was brought to her knees.

The dog made the valiant effort of biting at her attacker's ankles, managing to tear one off her and shaking their leg so violently Xanth could hear the bones breaking. Her vision went red. The lines around her eyes grew deep and harsh, and she took off sprinting. Her body jutted out sideways from the walls she ran over until she was upright on the rooftops again, not bothering to try hiding herself from their airborne attackers. She took the dagger from her teeth as she arced around and bared them in a snarl as she leapt, sailing over the heads of those coming to Kaor's aid, her knives out, an agent of quiet fury and death striking from above -

Thwack. Xanth was intercepted. A bandit had played her trick and swooped her from above, plucking her away from vengeance. Her targets and friend grew smaller beneath her dangling feet as she was carried away from the battle. A dagger twisted in her side, which Xanth didn't realize until it was already going for her throat. She immediately turned on her kidnapper, struggling and stabbing at them as they attempted the same. Their battle continued on in the sky, a scramble that kept ducking mid-flight and threatening to plummet. Her attacker quickly became fed up with the little rat climbing and bleeding all over him and he tried dropping her to her death. Xanth's hand shot out as she fell and glued onto his shirt, yanking him down with her as she swiped out at his nose with her knife. He roared out in pain and gave his wings a mighty flap. The fabric tore and Xanth fell down towards the alleys with the Tengu's nose, a scrap of cloth stuck to her outstretched hand.

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Character Portrait: Yuwen Fortune Character Portrait: Xanth Character Portrait: Ren Van Character Portrait: Kaor, The Mourned
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#, as written by Nulix
Black clouds of smoke blinded Yuwen as he ran toward the scene. A trio of Tengu had begun lifting the incapacitated and arrow-laden bear-woman off the ground. Each mighty flap of their wings matted the air below, and with each unison flap Kaor rose further and further away from the battlefield. Yuwen bit his lip before taking aim with his sword, readying to volley it like a javelin at one of the Tengu terrorists. If he could hit even one or two perhaps Kaor could be saved. But then, he stopped. For at the edge of his vision he saw Xanth struggling with her own tengu attacker over the rooftops. And then, she fell.

Yuwen dropped his swords, dashing over a turned over wheelbarrow and sprinting down the alleyway. His feet smashed against the cobblestone as hard as they could, like a hammer knocking them into place. With a grunt his run turned into a painful slide. Yuwen slid forward just in time to catch Xanth in his arms. The impact smashed him against the cobblestones below and he grunted but soon after rose his head at the mute. "I got you," He whispered, looking up at the woman in his arms. He was coated in sweat, his curly hairs matted against his forehead and a goofy grin on his face.

***

Ro looked to Ren as he smashed a Tengu in the nose with his shield. "Backup? In Poyo?" Ro couldn't help contain a smile. "Don't worry. We have them on the run," He said, stepping over the Tengu he'd downed and slicing him with his sword. Ro wiped the sweat off his brow and looked over the fiery battlefield. A foursome of Tengu retreated to the skies with a beast-man over the village walls, the rest of the tengu seemed to be fleeing into the fire where the statue and tower of stone used to stand.

"Whatever they want is down there. You can follow him into the eye of the storm if you want: we have to secure the area!" Ro nodded to Ren, wiping the sweat from his brow.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Suiken Character Portrait: Yuwen Fortune Character Portrait: Xanth Character Portrait: Takai Character Portrait: Yamato Hibiki Character Portrait: Lo-Muna Vanhi
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#, as written by Nulix
Yuwen nodded at Suiken as he drank. "We didn't find your father, gobbo, but if you take us down river, to a dock that leads to Ginori, we will try to find out more. What do you say?"

Captain Jensu frowned. "Empty your pockets- all of you," They ordered, pointing a finger at the guild. "I want something valuable from all of you, insurance that you'll do what you say you'll do."

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Character Portrait: Suiken Character Portrait: Yuwen Fortune Character Portrait: Xanth Character Portrait: Takai Character Portrait: Yamato Hibiki Character Portrait: Lo-Muna Vanhi
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"Eoling's treasure..." Suiken mouthed the words as he glanced over the map. "So the crown of the first Emperor is your goal?" Suiken asked quickly. "And you're sure this map is accurate?!" he continued. If Fortune wasn't full of it this time...then this guild may have the spark of something remarkable after all.

'That's the one thing I've been looking for in this Guild...that one spark of immeasurable hope,' Suiken thought, before speaking aloud once more. "Your goal is a worthy one..." Suiken nodded to Yuwen. "I can't honestly say that I've got full faith in you just yet...but your resolve is admirable," he said, thanking the server with a nod as tray of tea arrived. "You may be a good leader, yet."

"But, you know...we still seem to lack a certain...sense of coordination. As a guild we could stand to learn a little teamwork," Suiken suggested, scratching the back of his head as he ate his meal. "Though, that's a talk for another day, I suppose..." Suiken turned around to notice a new arrival. "Oh, hello!" he greeted in surprise.

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Character Portrait: Yuwen Fortune Character Portrait: Xanth Character Portrait: Takai Character Portrait: Captain Jensu Character Portrait: Kaor, The Mourned
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#, as written by Nulix
"Do what you can Takai, but make sure you're not discovered. Right now Wun and the prisoners are in Makoko's hands- if he finds out we cheated him I don't know what he'll do," Yuwen said, rubbing his head. "I'll set our wagons up into a stage, hang up a tarp, confound the more curious members of the public. We just have to figure out what we're supposed to be confounding them with."

Yuwen tapped his chin. "We can all fight, I'm sure some of us can make that a spectacle. I'm pretty," he pointed to his own face. "Is that something?"

"Fortune, this is a dumb idea," Jensu said uncomfortably. "I don't... I don't have any skills."

"Other than being a dirty, rotten slaver?" Yuwen replied.

"I'm not! Why are you so rude? Ever since I joined your little endeavour you've been bad luck! You cost me my ship, my first mate, the people I was freeing from the oni!" Jensu exclaimed, pointing a finger at Yuwen. "What if I'm innocent, huh? How will you feel then? Fortune, if anything you owe me!"

Yuwen paused, shame seeping through his thick skull and the world he'd built in his head where he could do anything and get away with it...

***

With the keys secured and the guards body hidden nearby Xanth continued to follow her hound as it led her down the weaving makeshift corridors of the big top, stage props and cages acting as walls beneath the massive tent, and hiding from passing crew, until the hound disappeared through a black silk curtain.

Xanth followed, elegantly shimmering through the curtain to reveal beyond a storeroom. Crates upon crates of foreign armaments, drugs, drinks and spices piled before her, and beyond them, dozens and dozens of cages. Gagged beastmen and goblins looked at her desperately. Beastmen of all types. There was a lynx. A molerat. And at the back, in a massive cage no doubt originally made for one of the beasts used in the show, was a bear.

A bear Xanth knew well.

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Character Portrait: Xanth Character Portrait: Kaor, The Mourned
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Xanth crept between the cages, gesturing for the prisoners to stay calm, making twisting motions with the keys, mouthing, I will, I will...

But they were all blown away when she saw her.

Xanth walked towards the cage, blinking her stinging eyes. Her lips pursed together to quietly whistle the wobbling notes... of a lullaby. She fumbled through the keys until one fit the lock, and the cage creaked open. Her shadow stretched across the dirt, towering over her own head and melting into the dark fur on the bear's back. Her foot hovered over the cage's threshold, hesitant to cross into something she'd sworn she'd never step foot in again. She swallowed and did it.

Her brow furrowed as no harmony rumbled to join her, and she stretched a hand out for a furry paw...