Exploring the Village Hidden in the Glacier

Mission Info:

The cold wind whipped around Akash's ears as he passed through the village gates, indicative of the snowstorm that seemed to be passing by outside the walls. The interior of the village, though, seemed well fortified against such weather. The monk was greeted by streets lined with icy gray buildings, each crafted with thick, sturdy walls. There was even a market square, which was just sheltered enough by design that there was a small gathering of people there to do their shopping. Curious, Akash wandered over to get a closer look at the market stalls, keeping his notebook readily in hand.

"There are the fish and special herbs," he whispered excitedly, standing just behind the crowd and using his pen to make a small sketch of the ingredients in question. Another stall nearby had a variety of metal weapons on display, which Akash also made notes and sketches of in his little book. But he didn't only pay attention to the items on display. He also made a variety of notes on the local clothing style and architecture, even bits of dialect he overheard, happily scrawling his observations out of the way of the crowd. His goal was to record everything he could about his visit, in case he never got to come back. Then, at least, he'd be able to look back on his knowledge and memories of his time here.

He did wonder where his companion had gotten off to, though. In his excitement, he hadn't quite paid attention to whether or not she'd followed him, or found her own way. Tucking his notebook back into his robes, Akash makes his way to stand beside the entrance of a large building in the village square, deciding to wait for her. He could feel warm air seeping out of the doorway and caressing his arm, and he glanced inward only to be greeted by the most delicious smell of steamed fish and herbs. Akash's stomach rumbled loudly. It had been some time since he'd had a hot meal, as he'd mostly been surviving off of hard tack and rations these past few weeks. He hoped that his companion was as hungry as he was, then she might consent to share a meal with him before exploring the rest of the village.
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WC: 382

As the two enter the village, the icy winds and thick snowfall greet the newcomers. While the wind's strong, the snow's not too heavy and did not block the view, allowing the travelers to see the buildings and people that populated the village. The buildings are a combination of wood and stone, built to withstand the harsh elements. They are sparsely decorated, but the architecture is elegant. There's a stark contrast between the well-built, sturdy structures and the frail-looking citizens, their pale skin and thin frames are a testament to their struggle. Despite the hardships, the villagers seem content, going about their daily lives, tending to the animals and crops, and trading goods.

The main road leading through the village is bustling with activity. Vendors line up the street, selling everything from food and clothing to weapons and armor. It's a lively and welcoming scene, and the residents—seeing as they arrive shortly after Lord Saijin and his subordinate, are friendly, greeting the newcomers with smiles and waves. Yushia returns the gestures in kind until she spies the monk yonder and not too far from the entrance. This surprises her, she half expects him to be halfway across the village by now with his unwavering display of interest in its customs, but finds himself looking forward to her continued company. Not that she's complaining, of course. Before she has a chance to speak, she hears a loud chirring echo behind her from above, a familiar cry from a familiar "familiar" she recently acquainted herself with not too long after she met Akash. A diminutive bird whose feathers are a blend of pristine white and black, and she has jet-black beaks and eyes, as well as slim black legs and clawed feet, lands dive with a quiet whistle toward the swordswoman and steady itself by the flap of its wings before it nestles comfortably on her right shoulder.

"And where have you been?" Yushia drones, carefully reaching with her left hand to stroke the petrel's head with her index. The bird coos softly, nuzzling its beak against her finger. She adjusts her gaze back to the Akash while the bird entertains itself with the idle comfort of her digit. "It seems we'll be in the company of each other during our stay here. And since I have nothing urgent to attend to besides where we'll accommodate ourselves here, I suppose you can take the lead. So, where do you wish to start?"


WC: 410
TWC: 410

"Ah - Yushia-san, there you are!" Akash smiles brightly when he sees the girl is still in his company. "Do you smell that delectable smell? It is coming from this hall, here... It seems to be a dining hall, and if I am quite honest with you... I am rather hungry." The monk wears a sheepish smile while he rubs the back of his head, gesturing inward. "... If you would indulge me? I would be happy to get to know you over a hot meal. I'm sure you must have interesting tales of your travels.."

Turning into the building, Akash wanders down a few long tables, where hot food is set out to serve any in need. Each dish was set atop an open flame to retain its warmth, so the meals wouldn't get cold. "It's practically a feast," he says in awe, stopping at one point in the table to stare at the meal that was spread out there. Plates piled high with aromatic bean buns, steamed fish, and roasted vegetables with herbs. There was even a large mound of onigiri stuffed with pickled plums, natto and fried rice. His mouth watered, but more noticeably, he was hit with a strange sense of deja vu. In fact, he was sure that he had dreamed about this very meal the night before, when he slept huddled under his shawl in the icy tundra.

"How odd," he says wistfully, pointing at the table and looking back to Yushia. "You know, I dreamed about this feast. Do you think it was a premonition? Wise sages are known to sometimes have dreams that come to pass - not that I compare myself to such a one, but it is curious, don't you think?"
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WC: 288 / TWC: 670 / MWC: 1,080

"Hmm," Yushia briefly ponders on the notion before a low rumbling reverberates through her body, specifically, where her stomach lies. "I suppose so. Though there's very little that I can tell that would warrant a tale... it wouldn't hurt to humor the notion." She shifts her gaze to Mana and the snow petrel gives her a knowing look. "That makes the two of us, then. Lead the way."

Traversing through the village forks until they arrive at the dining hall, she takes a moment to study the facility's infrastructure to commit to memory. The building itself is a fairly large establishment, big enough to house a considerable number of patrons. Its exterior is a combination of wood and stone, no doubt the result of the limited resources available to the village. Despite the lack of material, the structure is well-crafted and sturdy, a testament to the skills of the builders. The interior is equally impressive, with high ceilings and spacious rooms. The furniture is simple but comfortable, and the lighting is soft and inviting.

As Akash leads the way inside, she notes the plates piled high with aromatic bean buns, steamed fish, roasted vegetables with herbs, and a large mound of onigiri stuffed with pickled plums, natto, and fried rice. Whatmore, she, herself, spies something peculiar toward the far end of the hall. Another snow petrel sits dormant upon one of the chandeliers and shares a near identical phenology to her own, Mana, who perches on her right shoulder. It's strange to see another one in this part of the world. But before she has a chance to dwell further on this thought, she hears Akash remark that the banquet before them shares an uncanny resemblance to what he witnessed in a dream prior and whether the events that unfolded before them were the result of higher mysticism or something else may be afoot. Erring on the side of logic, she hazards a guess.

"Perhaps. Perhaps not. Were it just the banquet alone, I would be inclined to believe so. However," She gestures to the opposing petrel across the hall. "Snow petrels don't travel this far inland. Especially with jewelry on them," Mana chirrs audibly beside her. "And neither is it migration season, either. So something's afoot." She tucks her hands beneath her haori, then kneads and channels her chakra throughout her body to expel any foreign chakra in her system. Alas, she feels no different now than she did before and her five senses remain normal, as they should be. "It's not the work of genjutsu, either... In any case, I would advise caution for now."

And her eyes continue to scan across the establishment for any other signs of anomalies. She spots a diminutive figure by the bartender's island with his upper body lying sprawled over the countertop, with a bottle of sake in one hand. His face is obscured from view but she can tell by the way he holds himself that he's an adult man. To his right, a woman sits on the bar stool with a glass of wine in hand, who looks about the same age as herself. Her eyes are downcast and her lips are curled downward into a frown. And she wears a kosode with a haori jacket and hakama pants underneath. Studying her features further, she notes the woman sporting similar shades of color for her hair and complexion.

"I'm sorry," The woman says, quiet yet audible enough to be heard across the hall. "I know I promised you a night out but I just can't stop thinking about what happened earlier."

"Don't worry about it, honey. We can always try again another time," The man says as he takes a swig from his bottle. "Besides, it's not your fault that..." He trails off, shakes his head, and rests it upon the back of his forearm.

"Yeah, I know. But still..." She trails off again and sighs heavily.

"Hey," The man reaches over to gently take her hand in his. "It's going to be okay."

The woman looks up at him with tear-stained, swarthy eyes and gives him a small smile. "Thank you, honey."

"That voice," She thinks, her mind racing in an attempt to rationalize the scene before her. Her countenance, as a byproduct of her confusion, spares little effort to hide it, either. "That's my... mother's voice, but isn't she dead? What is she doing her? And who the hell is she with...?"


WC: 744
TWC: 1,154
TMWC: 2,234/500

Akash heard Yushia speak of caution, and he frowned slightly with concern. "You suspect some trickery?" he probes, looking at his companion, but watching her face he realizes that she is no longer paying attention to him. Instead, she seems to be drawn to a couple of people at the far end of the hall who seem to be having a private conversation. The monk tilted his head slightly, before sitting and picking up a hot bean bun, munching on it with a warm sigh of comfort. It was sweet and delicious. Perhaps he was not the most cautious sort, but he was hungry, and so he took a plate and began to serve himself a bit of steamed fish, a side of roasted vegetables and some fried rice, before putting his hands together in thanks and tucking in gratefully. The fish was aromatic and tasty, the regional herbs giving it a surprisingly robust flavor. The vegetables were simply seasoned, allowing their unique flavors to shine through, while the rice was warm and filling. It was a feast better than he had eaten in a long time, and he took his fill.

He was just about to set himself up with a hot cup of oolong tea, when someone ran through the front doors in a panic, shouting almost incoherently. "H-help! It's a.... a... C-come quick, it's a mon-... it's a... a monster!" Akash's eyebrows raised, and he looked to his companion, before getting up quickly and rushing out into the cold to have a look. Ambling recklessly down the street, was a large black figure with no face, eating up everything in sight. The monk watched in horror as it picked up a fleeing citizen and stuffed him into its mouth, watching as its belly expanded. "Yushia!" he shouted as he ran at once toward the hellish creature, skirting around behind it and delivering a swift series of blows to its back, his fists and feet targeting blindly as he aimed for what would be weak points on a human body, but this... was something different entirely. He had no idea of the physiology of this creature, but he had to do what he could to destabilize it quickly, so that measures could be taken to free the villagers it had consumed.
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WC: 383 / TWC: 1,053 / MWC: 2,207/500

The cry of Yushia's name snaps her out of her stupor, as her cocoa-colored gaze transfixes on the nebulous-looking entity that fattens itself casually from the denizens of Hyogagakure. Her eyes narrow and she takes a few steps forward before she assumes an Iai stance. "Akash, don't get near it!" She says, her voice firm and commanding, breakneck sprinting toward him as an undulating appendage juts out abruptly in his direction. The distance she would need to traverse would barely suffice before this otherwordly abomination takes him. Thus in a short burst of inhalation, feels the strength in her muscles bolster and her form lighten. Then, aiming her weapon at the extending appendage, a blinding white light gleams along the blade's surface as a condensed ray of chakra extends, up to 30 meters in length, at high speed in an attempt to divide the appendage from its host.

The creature writhes in pain as its limb is severed and falls to the snow-caked earth before it disperses from existence. But, she isn't done there. With her hands, she adjusts the position and angle of her blade to face the entity itself and bisect it above at its "mid-section" with a horizontal swipe of her katana, careful to avoid its collision against the innocent body inside. The blade's edge continues to gleam brightly and arcs the weapon horizontally across its eldritch's form. The monster lets out a horrific screech, as it is cut in half. Its body begins to dissolve into black mist and disappears into nothingness. And from it, out spews all the villagers that it had consumed. Unconscious, but alive, at least.

Yushia, just as quickly as she dispatched the sinister thing, retracts the white light from her blade and poises herself before she carefully sheathes it into its scabbard. She waits a moment whether there are any further disturbances from among the common folk before she strides over to the victims and kneels to inspect them for any injuries. She sighs in relief upon finding no signs of severe trauma or ill effects. Soon after, the village authorities are quick to descend upon her and Akash to ascertain the cause of the commotion. Yushia—in tandem with another citizen's testimonial account—recalls the events that led up to this incident and explains what transpired. The villagers are then escorted back to their homes, and Yushia is left alone with her thoughts.

Finally, she turns to Akash. "I'm sorry about that," She says, bowing her head slightly. "It was my fault for getting distracted. Are you alright?... In any case, whatever happened here today is the work of something beyond the natural and it's best we find ourselves a suitable lodging and discuss what we know so far. Come." She gestures with an open palm in an arc forward, walking ahead of him as she does so. Eventually, they come across an izayaka, "The Snow Fox" Inn. It's a humble establishment, but it's well-kept and has a warm atmosphere about it that's inviting. The two enter inside and when Yushia tries to arrange for two rooms, the host of the establishment immediately recognizes her and insists that she stay for free. Perhaps from word-of-mouth or some other channel of communication from the Hogokage.

Yushia, being the modest individual that she is, politely declines his offer and instead offers to pay for both rooms in exchange for some information on Hyōgakagure no Sato and its history. The host, in turn, reciprocates the proffer with a counter-proffer that he reaffirms prior. Not one to decline a hospitable offer twice, Yushia agrees to the terms and arranges for two rooms. The host guides the duo and leads them up the staircase toward their respective quarters. When they reach their rooms and leave them in their company, Yushia turns to face him.

"I don't know about you, but I'm going to need some time to myself to think about what just happened. If you need me for anything, I'll be in my room." She says, giving him a small smile. Then, she enters her room and closes the door behind her. Once inside, she takes off her haori and hangs it on a coat rack near the entrance before taking a seat at the edge of the bed. Her mind is still reeling from the events that took place earlier and she can't seem to shake off this feeling of uneasiness. She sighs heavily and massages her temples in an effort to alleviate the stress.

After a while, she decides to lie down and take a nap to clear her head. But as soon as she closes her eyes, she finds herself back at the dining hall, watching the couple from before converse with one another. Only this time, they seem to be having some sort of argument. The man is yelling at the woman, who is now cowering in fear. Yushia's heart starts beating faster, and she feels her blood run cold. She wants to do something, but she's frozen in place. Suddenly, the man grabs the woman by the arm and drags her out of the room. Yushia tries to follow them, but no matter how fast she runs, she can't seem to catch up with them.

Finally, she sees them stop outside a house. The man throws open the door and pushes the woman inside. Yushia watches as he slams the door shut behind him and locks it. She runs up to the house and tries to open the door, but it's no use. She pounds on it with all her might, but it doesn't budge. The scene changes again and this time, Yushia is standing in front of a mirror. Her reflection is distorted and she sees herself crying. She reaches out to touch her reflection, but instead of feeling glass, she feels cold metal. She looks down and sees that her hands are covered in blood. She screams and tries to wipe it off, but the blood won't come off. It just keeps getting thicker and thicker until it covers her entire body.

Yushia wakes from her nightmare with a start, her breathing heavy and her heart racing. She sits up and looks around, trying to calm herself down. After a few minutes, she manages to steady herself and gets out of bed. When she does, an odd dampness permeates her hands as if something were touching them. She turns them over and finds them awash in crimson. Realization dawns on her and she quickly rushes into the bathroom to wash the blood off of them. Once they're clean, she goes back to her bed and lies down. Her mind wanders back to the dream she had earlier and she wonders if it has anything to do with what happened today. Was this some kind of warning? Or maybe a premonition? She doesn't know, but she decides that she needs to find out more about this village if she's going to figure out what's going on, soon.


WC: 1,167
TWC: 2,231/250
TMWC: 3,784/500


[EXIT THREAD]


Requesting approval for the following claims:

Claiming the following mission reward(s):

► Total Ryo Earned: +1,250 Ryo
► Total AP Earned: +6 AP
► Total Event Tokens Earned: +5 Dream Tokens

Investing the remaining 2,231 TWC into the following *Jutsu:

► Training Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet [907/2,062] → (2,062/2,062) [907 TWC Left]
► Learning Wind Element (907/1,500) [0 TWC Left]

*25% Discount option via max stats

Hearing Yushia shout, Akash looks to where she is approaching, quickly ducking out of the way when she draws her sword. He watches with awe as a slash of pure chakra extends from her blade and slices into the monster, before she herself follows it up with another gracefully executed strike which renders the beast in two, its body disintegrating while the swallowed villagers appear on the ground. As soon as it was clear, Akash quickly went to attend to the villagers as well, ascertaining their injuries and helping the authorities to get any who needed it onto stretchers. When the crowd dispersed and everyone had left the scene, Akash rubbed the back of his head a bit, then bowed graciously to Yushia. "Please do not apologize, you have my deepest gratitude," he said humbly, before raising his head and looking at his companion with an odd mixture of regret and awe. "I was not able to do very much to help you, but your skill spoke for itself.  I was lucky to be in the presence of such an expert swordsman." The monk smiled then, a kind smile that possessed the glow of admiration.

He would then follow his new companion into the Snow Fox Inn, a humble looking place, but pilled with patrons and a warm, cozy atmosphere. Yushia seemed to be leading the way here, so he stood back and let her negotiate. He was surprised and flattered when the innkeeper offered to let them stay for free, and while he held understanding and appreciation for Yushia's desire to pay for their lodgings, he was pleased that the innkeeper's offer remained firm. "You honor us with your hospitality. We are most grateful," he says, and bows kindly to their host. Up the stairs, as the host left them to their rooms, it seemed Yushia was ready to rest as well. Akash nodded gently in response. "I understand, please rest well," he said, smiling and bowing lightly before retreating into his own room.

Now alone, Akash goes to sit cross legged on the bed that was provided to him, the day's experiences flashing through his mind. "It has certainly been a day, hasn't it Master Jing," he whispered, touching the pendant he wore around his neck. It was a small piece of wood carved in the shape of a robed man, and was threaded onto a string with 108 wooden beads. Grasping it gently, he lifts it from his neck and holds it in his lap, exhaling slowly and closing it eyes as he begins chanting, his thumb rolling over another bead with each recitation of the mantra. In this way, his mind became stilled, and he let his troubles flow out from his consciousness as he connected with his higher self, with the spirits of his ancestors, and with Master Jing, who had departed this world. Come morning, it would be a new day, and he was ready to greet it afresh.
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WC: 495 | TWC: 1,548 | TMWC: 2,726/500

Mission Claims: 1,250 Ryo, 6 AP, 5 Dream Tokens

WC Claims:
+15 Stats (1 Chakra, 4 Vigor, 10 Speed)
1,430 WC for Atman Fighting Style: Free Spirited (2,000/2,000) - [Previous Link] -> 118 left
118 WC toward Starting Breeze (E) (118/250) -> 0 left