Soldiers of Light, ch. 1: "Here we go again"

[Darth SS]

High guard, left jab, range out. Opening. Close, jam arm, right jab, false cross, right shovel. These were the thoughts going through Drak's mind as he sparred with his newest adversary. Normally he would ignore challenges, but the man had made a claim he could not refuse. Upon claiming that he could teach Drak how to bring an opponent off balance without tying up his hands, Drak became curious. Japan was an interesting place. It had all of the customs and tradition of France, but also seemingly had none of the irony or greed that accompanied it. People seemed to genuinely behave in a proper fashion because they felt that it was the right thing to do, not due to obligation or greed. No one's ass was kissed for sake of it, but rather respect was shown all around. This intrigued Drak more than anything. Nevertheless, he had a job to do.

"Now," said the kindly japanese man as Drak was stepping back. The man took a half step forward, stepping onto Drak's foot. A simple foot trap, he'd seen it before. Anyone else would have fallen back, but Drak brought his weight forward, and place his heel into the man's hip. With a quick push, his balance was gone.

"Thank you sir," said Drak, "Had I found you a month ago, I would have been most surprised by this technique. I regret to inform you that someone else has already demonstrated that technique to me." There was a faint murmur amongst the small crowd, so Drak felt compelled to keep talking. "I thank you very much for your time and wisdom." He bowed deeply, as seemed to be customary in this part of the world. Quickly, he gathered up his cane, put his shoes back on, and put on his coat. No sense dallying about. Upon slinging his bag over his shoulder he dusted off his pants with a quick pat, and continued on his way. He had been edge of the village, so it did not take long to break into the forest.

Farther down the path, he could see a gentleman he had seen a few times. Kura-something was his name. Drak had not seen much of him, but one experience stood out. They had been in a tavern where a skirmish had broken out. While Drak had used his cane to defend himself, Kurama had drawn a very unique sword. He struck with the flat of the blade, until a group had thrown a table at him. Kura-sumthinerother had clove the table in two without pause. Since that event, Drak had been overcome with curiousity as to the origin of such a blade.

Before his eyes, a figure spontaneously attacked Kura-watzisname, teleporting in doing so. Curious to see how he would respond to such random agression, but also too far away to do much, Drak slowed his pace.

[Zero Hex]

As the commotion raged on, Yoshitsune walked into the scene, his ample cloak hiding his body whilst the hood darkened his features. He moved at an uneasy pace, carefully tapping the floor in front of him with his staff before taking steps, often turning his head to random directions as if trying to make out a sound's direction, loudly voicing "Would anyone have some spare coin for an unfortunate soul?" every few steps. Not that he was really blind. However, Yoshitsune had learned that people tended to help blind men more than they did those who appered to be healthy or otherwise unimpaired. He had wandered in this town a few days ago and was just leaving when some colorful characters showed themselves, piquing his interest.

Seemingly oblivious to the general situation, he stumbled about repeating his message whilst looking as meek as possible, sizing up the people involved. As Kotone made her swing, Yoshitsune crashed hard into her back, stumbling backwards a bit and bowing deeply "Ooooh, I am terribly sorry good sir. Please excuse a blind man's clumsyness"

[Arcanum]

Izuko had been tempted to disobey Kurama's instructions and not go to the meeting place. He had been tempted to join Kurama as he left his house, and accompany him in case anything might happen. After all he had made a promise to his father, and if the occasion arose he would gladly give his life to protect Kurama's. However, Izuko knew that Kurama could take care of himself should anything arise, so he decided that he would go to the meeting place after all.

As he arrived at the set location he was glad he had made the choice he made. He arrived to see another of Kurama's followers, Yatsume Yojimbo if he wasn't mistaken, with his swords drawn while facing a man who seemed delusional. If Izuko's eyes weren't playing tricks on him, this man seemed to be the object that had fallen out of the sky mere moments ago. Izuko was actually rather impressed that the man was still conscious.

"I don't think the man is much of a threat in his current state, Yojimbo. However if it will make you feel safer I could chain him up for you," Izuko said with a slight chuckle. He gave a leisurely wave to the swordsman and noticed an easily noticeable orange scarf, which he gave a polite nod and said, "Hello Jade. Are there any others here or is it just us three and our unexpected guest?"

[Menarker]

Erayo's large brutish human form laid almost drunkenly against one of several stone huts, his eyes glazed with boredom and appearance of exhaustion although his mind was incredibly lively and active, and the mugs strewed around him being merely water and just for show... a pity that he couldn't had been left undisturbed. With the various forces running wild, even he, the Demon of Slumber, was reluctantly awaken much like a persistent mosquito buzzing around one's face as they slept. Either way, he wanted the conflict to end. And since the humans tend not to meddle in the realms of demons unless beckoned, that was the choice he made.

His aura radiated invisibly but powerfully as he willed everyone but him to drop, as he wished to see whom were capable advocates and whom were useless busybodies. Bodies of the crowd slumped over practically dead and sleeping, as Erayo himself pretended to sleep. Exhaustion and weakness crept up on everyone else, practically tempting those with weakened bodies and minds to a comatose state. Only the strong would remain awake, although still weaken... And that is when Erayo can further judge the situation...

[PyrosNine]

Scrape. step. slide. Scrape. step. slide. Scrape. step. slide.

The trip had been more arduous than he'd thought.

Scrape. step. slide.

The wounds, though they had been given time to recover, made every step excruciating.

Scrape. step. slide. step. Scrape.

Stumbling, on an old dirt road, twigs and thorns, snagging roots and feral squirrels, all steps were hard.

Scrape. Step. Slide. Step. Scrape.

He had to get to the next town before nightfall, or else he was afraid he'd wake up the next morning too sore to move, and suffer some animal chewing on his face while he lay there. Pick up the pace.

Step. Scrape. Step-Step. sliiiide-STEP.

Maybe slow down a little. Haste makes tumble down on face.

Maybe if he stumbled upon others, he could pay them to carry him. On a wagon. Good wagon. He had money, money meant for treatment, armor, aloe vera.

Scrape. Step. slide step step step slide step.

Uh-oh.

Step step slidescrape slide, slide, step half-step trip fall-mudsplash.

Blarghle murphr muck glarble blurp.

Pyros rolled over, having the fortune to have what was hopefully cold, cool mud break his fall. It had not rained today, as far as he could tell, so this was good. Even if it was poo, it was good. Meant there were people, livestock, on a road.

He could hear...could he hear? Mud in ear.

No! He could hear, he could hear a town! A town, with people! Maybe there would be a fishing hole? No, more important matters. Food. Healing. Wolves not chewing on his face while he slept. Good things.

Raising his head, he looked at his back, and the mess of feathers it was.

...This would be problematic.

Far off, he heard a bear die. That was even moreso.

He reached forward with an aching, bandaged arm and seized the mud and muck before him, and pulled. On his belly, like a worm in the muck, he crawled forward, towards what were surely the town gates.

[Dauntasa]

Katashi watched the meeting place from afar. So far 3 men and 1 woman had arrived, though none fit the description of Kurama. One of them did appear to have some sort of glowing sword, but it seemed to be glowing less from internal power and more from being on fire, so that probably wasn't it. Katashi didn't get a good look at the one who fell out of the tree, but, judging by the flaming sword now held in the "I don't want to seem threatening but I still want to be able to stab you" position and pointed in his general direction, that probably wasn't Kurama. So, decisions, decisions. Should he take out Kurama's friends and the guy from the tree and then fight Kurama when he arrives, or jump Kurama and stab him to death, then fight his friends? Probably better to get them out of the way, then fight Kurama on even terms. Decision made, Katashi picked up his Naginata and started toward the meeting area.

[Dracorion]

Daisuke Yoshiro was going back. He was going back home, to a faraway mountain and live the rest of his life in peace. He had left home, despite being told that the world was a violent and ugly place, and gave the world every chance to prove him wrong. He travelled far, and saw death and conflict everywhere. The Demon Lord's invasion had only helped to exacerbate the inherent darkness in humans, but even if Talkatz weren't around they would still be killing each other. And Yoshiro had had enough.

He was only passing through a simple town, but he saw that even here conflict had erupted, and he was compelled to stop and watch. It seemed two people were looking to hurt a man wearing samurai clothing, while a third sitting on a rooftop who seemed to be talking at the man. There was some confusion between the attackers, but it became clear from the dialogue that the man in samurai clothing was the one they were looking for.

And then a blind man bumped into one of the attackers. Great. Yoshiro sighed as he stepped forward. This was going to end badly. He stepped between the blind man and the woman he had bumped into. "Sir, you had better leave this place. It's not safe." Yoshiro told blind man, before turning to the woman. "Miss, might I ask why you two are seeking to harm that man?" He indicated Kurama. "What wrong has he caused you?"

[Raiden]

Kurama grinned at the blind man who ran interference. He flicked him a coin before walking off. "Always good to help the helpless."

He trotted off faster, hoping to get to the meeting place before something else weird happened.

[Julford Hajime]

BUMP. Before Kotone even had the chance to swing around and clobber the oaf who was getting in her way, another man jumped between the two of them. What the hell was going on today? What's with all the interuptions? She looked quickly from the blind fool, to the meddling man, back to Kurama. She sighed. Now her mood was ruined; there'd be no joy even if she did get Kurama today. There would always be another time to win, and she'd just have to relish the victory then.

Looking back to the two men who'd just now interupted her, she noticed that the man who'd tried to defuse the situation was carrying a spear. "Interesting... Wonder if he can use it?" she wondered as she ignored the meddler's questions. Or rather, sidestepped them to ask her own. "Spear, eh? I wonder, can you use it?"

She took a quick swing at the man, aiming for his left-side knee with her rod; there was enough force there to knock a man off his feet, if not outright break the knee. Regardless of how that attack went, she followed it up with a quick gust of air, strong enough to knock most people off their feet, going forward right towards her new opponent. She remained ready to teleport at a moment's notice, though, should something unexpected happen.

[Dracorion]

Yoshiro quickly jumped over the woman's swing, but while he was still in the air he was knocked backwards by a gust of wind, landing on his back. He sighed as he got up and dusted himself off. Yep, this was going to end badly. Yoshiro drew the spear, though he made no motion to attack, he simply held it perpendicular to the ground.

"Why have you attacked me?" He asked, his anger rising. "I have no intention of harming you. I simply wished to defuse the situation and avoid any needless violence."