A Puppet With No Master {Trio}

Mission Details:

The party followed the map that they received from the bard, which led them to a unique scenery. A forest of beautiful blossomed sakura trees, and its ground that was littered with fallen petals, forming a gorgeous fuchsia blanket. This is what Aroma would envision Spring to look like. Flowers and velvety blossoms everywhere one was to turn. Warm air that carried the sweet aroma of the Sakuras that obviously thrived around them. 

A warm zephyr caught the strands of her long lavender hair. The vibrancy matched well with the pink blossoms that surrounded her. The air was laced with a wonderful, soft fragrance of floral. A forest like this was enchanting, and perhaps even bewitching.

The more that they followed the map, the more that the forest's atmosphere seemed to darken. The air further within just didn't seem right for some reason. Aroma couldn't quite place what she felt, or what it was that she was sensing. Even the trees that where deeper within the forest. . looked wrong. Their limbs looked weak and droopy, as all the cherry blossoms amongst the trees had fallen. The petals that scattered along the ground were no longer vibrant. They were withered and dark, and crunched beneath their footsteps. The kunoichi couldn't help but voice her concern, "This doesn't look good."

She observed the changes from behind the thin cloth wrapping that was tied around her forehead. Her hand would slightly twitch at her side. There once was a weapon that she had there long ago. At a time like this, Aroma couldn't help but miss it.

---

{WC: 264}

The bard made it clear that there were dangers of some sort here in this beautiful place, the disarming pleasantries of the dimension easy to think he was no bard but instead a fool. Still, something about his words would feel true, they held sincerity and pain behind each syllable and utterance. The giant would look around at all those dancing and playing, their hearts content and their minds washed of all worldly concerns. It the bard meant what he said, they would soon all be dead or worse...

Baruga held the map and took lead, Duncan and Aroma following close behind as to not get lost and split up. The trail they were heading along was passing through a thick and vibrant forest of cherry blossom trees. With each light push from the wind, the trees would release several pink petals that drifted slowly, dancing along the breeze as they approached the ground that seemed to be collecting a great deal of these petals. It really was something, as not only was it gorgeous to gaze upon, but this place resonated with a certain feeling. Duncan couldn't really put his finger on what it was to pin it down and give this feeling words. These trees gave off a feeling of power and majesty while in their presence. Unfortunately, as the trio delved deeper and deeper into the wooded area that would all change

Some of the trees began to wilt like a flower that hadn't been watered in a long while, where others stood tall and strong, but their bark was blackened and they were devoid of any petals, as if some sort of mutation or disease had gotten into them. Others still sat dead on the forest floor. Aroma would be the first to speak up, mentioning how bad this situation looked. Duncan would nod, "Well, clearly something rotten is infecting this place and we have to be getting closer." The burly knight would walk over towards one of the fallen trees, using his might to break off some of the branches to act as makeshift clubs. "It ain't pretty, but I think it'll help. Either of you two want one of these?" He would offer, ready to break off another.

Whatever it was in this forest causing this, they were going to get to the bottom of this horrible happening and stop whoever had been behind it. 

wc:401

Her grip was steady on the map as she directed the party. The strange script and alphabet used by the bard wasn't helpful at all, but luckily the map itself provided more than enough context clues. However, the terrain itself...

People often underestimated how many petals fall this time of year, but there was a reason why a spring offensive on Konohagakure was historically considered suicide. Navigating the beautiful cherry blossoms in bloom was surprisingly difficult: the forest was beautiful, yes, but it was as misdirecting and winding as any other woods, while also having a petal output comparable to a mild blizzard in terms of obstruction.

Not to mention the amount of death emanating as they approached their destination. Leaves began to fall, and spring turned into winter somehow as they moved forward. Already, her compatriots were raring for a fight, and Baruga could sense from the atmosphere that she should prepare, as well.

As withered leaves and petals crackled under her feet, Baruga side-eyed Duncan and his makeshift bludgeoning device. Something... big crunched, and the ground shuddered slightly. She suspected the culprit was nearby.

"I appreciate the gesture, but," Pricking her finger on a custom-made ring and drawing a droplet of blood, Baruga began forming handsigns. Boar. Dog. Bird. Monkey. Ram. "I prefer a more hands-off approach. Summoning Technique: Masamune."

Slamming her hand to the ground, a billow of clouds arose, before an armored white porpoise swam playfully through the air.

(Greetings, O Summoner. Another errant knave to dispatch of?)

Baruga squinted through the trees, spotting a vaguely humanoid figure approach. As it came closer, though, it was clearly a monstrosity given life. The A-Rank Whale, Masamune, swam around Baruga before readying himself at her side, eager to face the enemy down.

"Enough chatter, the fight's coming to us. Prepare yourselves!"

---

Baruga: 1190/1230 AP
Masamune: 1000/1000 AP
WC: 303
TWC: 303

The further they pressed into the forest, the more it felt as if they was walking themselves into something dangerous. The others felt the same about the situation as she did, and they prepared themselves for a battle if it was to come to one. Duncan held a broken branch in his hand, like a makeshift club that could knock someone out. He covered the other two kunoichi one as well just in case.

Aroma considered taking the club for a second. it would have been a nice way to somewhat replace the weapons she used to have strapped to her waist. But she didn't know what would do her more good; the club or her ninjutsu? If they walzed themselves into a battle, Aroma was already aware that she wouldn't be able to use any of her poison. It was too likely that she could harm the other two, plus without knowing what it was that was killing this place it may not do any good against their target.

Aroma went ahead and took the club for reassurance, as Baruga performed a summoning of a whale. They moved further in until the trees grew more scarce, and the forest became more open and clear. Until there was just one massive tree within their path. This tree was far larger than the rest, and it's trunk was blacked with oozing sap. Not a single blossom against it's crooked branches.

Within the trunk of the tree was a hole that tunneled down into the earth. The hole was large enough for the trio to walk right through and to follow where the path led them down.

Not really a pleasant situation in Aroma's opinion. She would peer through the opening of the tunnel. The pathway was dimly lit by old lanterns, and the whole thing looked quite depressing and eerie.

---

{WC: 309 | TWC: 573}

Duncan would offer the makeshift clubs, Baruga making it clear that she isn't the type to get her own hands dirty with such tasks. With nothing more than a drop of blood and a few hand seals she would call forth some sort of magical beast, swimming through the air as if it were water. It was some sort of sea creature, but yet it was not bound by such constraints. It truly was an impressive creature, and hopefully it wasn't all simply for spectacle. Aroma on the other hand would accept the weapon, her silence making the large man wonder what was going through her head that could command such focus. 

He couldn't quite place it, but something was amiss. Why was this enemy keeping its distance, unless it didn't seek a fight? Right as these thoughts filled the man's head Baruga would call out an incoming target warning the trio of impending attack. Duncan would look to his comrades, making certain that they had been ready for whatever would come. The noble's conjured beast readied itself to protect its master, as did the giant. Unfortunately, it would seem as though Aroma had been entranced by some sort of genjutsu. She  held the club in her hand, though the weapon was not readied, nor did she seem to notice the figure approaching. 

"SNAP OUT OF IT!" Duncan would shout, placing his hands into the formation of a seal and then resting one hand on the shoulder of the kunoichi while firmly grasping the branch with the other. "Release" he would mutter, allowing his chakra to pulse into Aroma with the intent of shattering whatever illusion she had been caught in. 

The approaching adversary was roughly human shaped, though it didn't travel with the motions of a human. It didn't walk, instead floating just above the ground, head cocked to the side as if wondering what to think of the trio of intruders. Its body was wooden, though various spots were covered in some sort of black sludge. Its mouth would open at the hinges, a kunai attached to a chain firing at the large man trying to break its spell over Aroma. It was fast, but the distance between the two was great enough for Duncan to defend, moving his head and placing the branch in the path of the attack. The blade would pierce deeply into the wood, getting trapped. A clicking could be heard as if a winch was being turned, the pull on his club quite formidable. Luckily, the large man wasn't that size purely for show and held his ground bracing himself and grasping the branch now with both hands. 

"Its movement is now limited! Hopefully one of you two can make use of this opportunity while I try and keep it busy." He would say between grit teeth. The puppet would then lift its hands, its fingers suddenly extending into blades. It would seem as if the thing was ready to charge into the fray. 

wc: 501
twc:902/667 [wordcount complete for mission]

Well, if there was one thing that Baruga was certain about, it was the fact that she didn't like staying in a sustained fight. Or, really, any sort of combat that she couldn't completely decimate within a moment. Bolting into action as the puppet approached, Baruga and her summon split from each other, with Baruga wildly going through hand signs while Masamune chirping as he swam through the air.

The puppet gave an unholy screech that didn't belong to any biological animal, and Baruga spotted its chain going slack as it started almost galloping forward in an unnatural manner. Baruga had a feeling that letting it close the distance would be dangerous and, possibly, deadly. It clearly had the strength and speed to threaten even chunin.

Luckily, Kumogakure had the tendency to produce some absolutely unholy genin. Dragon, Hare, Horse, Ram, Ox!

"Space-Time Art: Portals!"

A blue egg-shaped portal appeared underneath the puppet, and it began falling as a sudden trap hole into the sky itself opened up. Both its limbs flailed out widly as its claws were instead jammed into the ground on the edge of the portal, instinctively holding on from falling through the gap. In the sky above, 20 meters high, an orange portal opened and revealed the puppet's dangling legs.

"On me, milord!"

(Understood! Beast Amplifier: Ninjutsu! Lightning Breath!)

Flying above the ground-based portal, the porpoise clacked its tongue before opening its mouth as a blast of thunderous force shot out of its jaws. Pure lightning in laser form begun to burn the puppet into a crisp, bearing down on it from one end of the portal and coming out the other. The puppet looked like it was getting vertically hosed down and washed away as burnt chunks of it slogged off.

Once the damage was sufficiently done, Baruga snapped the portal shut, bisecting the burnt husk of the puppet in half. The upper body hissed as it died, and the lower body unceremoniously dropped from the sky and shattered on top of the puppet's former head.

Baruga glared at the offending charcoil before unfurling and straightening out her map.

"Well. I think that's that settled. Let's move on."

---

WC: 354
TWC: 657

Exit Claims
— 4000 Ryo + 100 Ryo from Genin Rank
— 20 AP
— 12 AP (From 600 WC)
— 205 WC to Summoning Technique (C-Rank) (1000/1000)
— 452 WC to Summoning Art: Rashomon (B-Rank) (452/1750)

The lavender-haired kunoichi was disturbed by the fact that she fallen for the trick. Completely missing the encounter of the enemy by what had seem to be an illusion of it's dreadful lair.

Duncan's voice boomed over her consciousness and snapped her out of the daze. Her head jerked into the direction of his voice, as he released her from the genjutsu. For an instance, Aroma's grip around her makeshift club would tighten. Duncan didn't hesitate to ensnare the wooden creature into place as Baruga darted into action. Summoning what seemed to be portals and leaving the rest of the work to her soaring/swimming summon. The attack ended with the portals closing on the target, separating itself from half of its body. As what ever life was coursing through it started to fade out, a voice cackled from it's wooden face. "It's not over."

With the target defeated after the whale's attack, Aroma felt that it would be unnecessary to waste anymore attacks on something that was already dealt with. She would just need to act faster next time, and be more aware. Not being around water and not being able to use her poison freely was a handicap, obviously she needed to train herself more after this was all said and done.

But the kunoichi had a feeling that they wasn't completely finished here yet. Perhaps the wooden puppet was taken care of, but was that all there was to this dying forest. "What's next" -Exits-

---

{WC: 246 | TWC: 891}
{Mission Claims} 4000 Ryo + 100 Ryo from Genin | 20 AP
{WC Claims} 8 Vigor
Snake's Mouth (891/1,000)

Approved!

Baruga was quick to jump into the action, her conjured creature supporting a two pronged attack. The noble lady would form several seals, calling forth even more from seemingly nowhere as tears in the very fabric of reality would form. The wooden assailant would seem to be drawn in, though it was unclear if due to some force from the jutsu or just from gravity and good positioning. The puppet struggled to keep from falling through, though that would seem to be its downfall in the end. Catching itself on the edge took its clawed hands out of play, and with its mouth kunai lodged firmly in the club of Duncan it didn't have that method of attack to rely on either. It seemed to be completely out of options for offense, and was a sitting duck for the summoned sea creature to finish off. It would let out some sort of strange sounds before opening its maw and unleashing a mighty beam of electrical energy. Duncan would watch, his eyes fixated not on the adversary but instead on the lighting. His the lightning seemed to mirror in his eyes, though if just a trick of the lighting or something more couldn't be determined from just a passing glance in the midst of battle. 

With the puppet now destroyed, and its final utterance making it clear that there was something more afoot, Duncan would use the club for leverage and rip the blade from the scorched puppets mouth. It he wasn't going to move into whatever battles came next without some sort of weapon, and he couldn't be certain he would be so lucky as to find another ripe for the taking in this place. 

"Hmm, unsure. Perhaps the true culprit still awaits finding."

---exit---

wc: 294
twc: 1196

- 4000 Ryo + 100 Ryo from Genin Rank
- 20 AP
- 11 stats (all into vigor)
- 174 wc towards Seikatsugan (completing phase 1 when combined with this thread)
- 1022/4000 wc towards Seikatsugan Phase 2

Approved