A Relentless Attack[Plot/Event]

Immediately following the meeting Roak called, Yakuroro mounted his flying carpet and sped his way to Lady Soushui's estate in order to ask for her help and inform her of the orders to capture Kou nobles. The Imuchakk hoped to arrive before Roak's men, but as he descended into the overgrown garden that stretched in front of the manse it was clear that it was too late for that. There were several Reim soldiers struggling to break free of a great many vines that had sprouted from the ground and nearby plants to bind them. "Help us!" one soldier cried out as he noticed the Imuchakk landing. Yakuroro simply smiled and took his time returning the flying carpet to his waist. He then looked at the solder and gave him a warm apology, "Oh, but I am helping you." and with no explanation beyond that, the Imuchakk began a casual stroll up to the manse doors.

A lack of ill intent in the Imuchakk failed to trigger the magic that had been behind the vine traps and Yakuroro found himself greeted at the door by a servant uncontested. "We've been expecting you. Lady Soushui is in the study. I would guide you, but I must keep watch at the door. All the other servants have already been instructed to flee the city." An old Kou man said with a bow. Yakuroro nodded and wasted no time in heading towards the study where Lady Soushui awaited. Yakuroro wasn't the least bit surprised to find her lounging without a care in the world on a couch with a pipe in hand. "I was almost beginning to think that you weren't going to show up. A few more hours and I would have simply went home."

Yakuroro frowned at the prospect that the witch was so good at predicting his movements, he hated how easily she seemed to manipulate him. "I came as fast as I could once I learned that the councilman Roak is rounding up Kou diplomats and nobles. He claims it is to ensure their safety and to use them as bargaining chips to prevent conflict." Yakuroro stated plainly. This prompted a mild scoff from Lady Soushui, "Does he really believe hostages have any value to the emperor that can match the bounty of all of Reim? No matter, I won't be captured. You don't have to worry about me. I've received orders to return to Kou."

Yakuroro raised an eyebrow at her words and looked at Soushui with disbelief, "You actually plan on following through with those orders?" The Imuchak couldn't picture anyone ordering Lady Soushui to do anything she didn't want to do and last he knew she wanted to stop this war. Lady Soushui giggled a bit and looked to Yakuroro with a mischievous gaze. "Yes, I am. Care to join me? It's a loooong trip and I could use some company to help make things entertaining." Her coy smile told Yakuroro her intentions more or less and he felt a smirk of his own begin to form. Mentally, Yakuroro cursed this abominable woman. She already knew exactly what it was Yakuroro had come here to ask of her but she took the initiative and had now made it seem as though it were her own idea.

"I'll take that look to mean that you accept." Soushui declared as she clapped her hands together and stood to her feet. "Lets be off then, shall we? There is much to do and not much time."

A day later, Yakuroro and Lady Soushui were riding atop the Shimmer Golem heading eastward towards portsmouth. The plan discussed between the two magicians was simple enough. Yakuroro would hide his presence while Lady Soushui would maintain her appearance as a Kou official following orders to return to the homeland. Any Kou forces encountered on the way to Portsmouth would be engaged by Soushui's womanly charms and probed for information before moving on. Meanwhile, Yakuroro would linger behind and cause trouble among their ranks before catching up with Lady Soushui and the golem. Once they arrived in portsmouth, a similar approach would be followed by Yakuroro's djinn taking the stage. Using Marax's powers of illusion, Yakuroro would impersonate the Emperor once again and order the officer in charge of Kou's invasion force to march to the extreme north on a wild goose chase that would only serve to fatigue their men and waste supplies. Then he and Lady Soushui would part ways with her boarding a ship to Kou whilst Yakuroro remained in Porstmouth to wait for Diego's arrival.

Yakuroro sat wrapped in a cloak buried in a small mountain of luggage with little room to see anything other than the sight of Lady Soushui lounging against the lone tree atop the Golem. Akatetsu was laying down next to the woman with his head resting in her lap framing a strangely ideal picture of mother and child. Yakuroro sighed to himself as he wondered how he let Soushui talk him into being concealed in such an uncomfortable manner. The Imuchakk shifted slightly when he began to lose feeling in one of his legs only for Lady Soushui to pipe up, "Don't move around, you'll ruin the disguise." Yaku grimaced and felt a pang of frustration, "Do you have eyes in the back of your head?" He asked in disbelief as Soushui hadn't been looking in his direction at all. The woman made a soft chuckle and shook her head, "Of course not, I simply have good ears." She said as she pet Akatetsu's bone skull earning a soft growl of appreciation from the chimera.

This was the tone throughout most of their journey. Lady Soushui pleasantly doting upon a contented Akatetsu whilst Yakuroro sat grouchy and bitter towards the woman. It was a fantastic respite for the Imuchakk when on the fifth day they finally encountered a scouting party of Kou soldiers. Yakuroro endeavored to remain silent as Lady Soushui flagged them down and explained her mission to reach the eastward port city. The men were tight lipped but they offered to escort Lady Soushui some of the way. The female magician politely declined before gesturing to the massive golem and insisting that she had all the protection she needed. Most of the soldiers had never before seen a creature of such size before and its intimidating figure alone dissuaded them from suggesting she'd still need their help.

Lady Soushui rode on while Yakuroro waited for them to gain some distance before slipping out of his hiding place and mounting his flying carpet. The Imuchakk ascended to the carpets maximum height so he would appear to be some strange bird flying high overhead and followed the scouting party until nightfall. When the men set up camp and place a few men on watch looking outwards, Yakuroro descended into the middle of their formation. Quietly, Yakuroro grabbed a pack that carried most of their food and a few flasks of water. Without supplies to carry them through their scouting mission, these men would be forced to return to their base or otherwise detour from their primary task. Yakuroro then fled and brought the supplies back to Lady Soushui and Akatetsu by morning so the three could share breakfast using the stolen rations.

There were a dozen mischievous night-time sabotage attempts in the next few days marking that they had entered an area that had Kou influence. This was unexpected considering they were only about half way to the coast and it suggested that Kou forces had pushed deeper into Reim territory than Yakuroro anticipated. But their main base of operations remained a mystery no matter how many scouting parties they came across. Yakuroro even tried interrogating a soldier who had gone off on his own to pee with force. But the soldier remained tight lipped, the only loose thing being his bowels as the young man soiled himself in fear when a blue haired giant suddenly grabbed him by the throat and soared thirty meters into the air. Threat of such a great fall would do that to a man should his heart not be prepared for it. Not all of these mischief making nights went off without conflict though. Yakuroro botched a handful by being spotted or knocking something over as he stole food and weapons from sleeping soldiers. But each time he was discovered, Yakuroro's carpet allowed him to flee before anyone could get a good look at him, let alone mount an attack.

As Yakuroro returned from a particularly successful run, he found Lady Soushui and Akatetsu both standing, their gaze fixated upon something in the distance. Yakuroro landed next to them and followed their eyes to see for himself what had caught their attention. Smoke rising from a distant village. It was to the north and somewhat out the way, but Yakuroro already knew that Soushui was going to suggest they investigate. "Good, you're back. It looks like there is a fire. It could be a raiding party with more information than the scouting groups we've run across so far. We shou-" Her justification was sound, but Yakuroro believed the woman had different motivations more deeply seated in compassion for those being wronged by her empire. Yakuroro had known since the meeting in Heliohapt that the noblewoman incomprehensibly felt responsible in some way for dealing with her country's mess. "Help them?" Yakuroro interjected, a smirk upon his lips in satisfaction at being the one to interrupt Soushui for once and not the other way around. Akatetsu made a small roar of approval and Yakuroro pat the beast on the head. "That makes three votes."

"T-That isn't what I was suggesting..." Lady Soushui said in a rare fluster. "Fine, then it's two votes against one. We're still going to help the town." Yakuroro said with a smile. Lady Soushui proceeded to groan and stomp on the golem's head demanding it take her side to save face, but the look on her expression made it clear that Lady Soushui was happy inside.

It would not do to have Lady Soushui or the golem seen considering that they were the public front for this little adventure eastward. So at Yakuroro's request, they stayed on course heading to the port city while Yakuroro dealt with the pillagers. The Imuchakk magician arrived by carpet to find several buildings lit ablaze and soldiers running in and out of buildings chasing down fleeing innocents. There was no doubt that these soldiers were taking advantage of the town's lack of defenses. But todays "easy prey" was the worst possible choice for these men of Kou. They could not account for the presence of a powerful magician on the side of Reim. Yakuroro descended upon the town with staff in hand as he shouted commands to the rukh, "Deep Blue!"

Magoi swelled around Yakuroro's staff of storms as a massive body of water appeared. The Imuchakk's lungs filled with air from a deep breath just before the sphere of liquid submerged his body moving to be centered around the magician at its core. As Yakuroro willed the water spell forward at 10m/s, he used his Imuchakk swimming speed to keep up with it. One be one, Yakuroro doused the burning houses meanwhile he willed the two powerful water currents within the sphere to pick up soldiers. With a single pass over the town, Yakuroro gathered up several dozen Kou troops and held them underwater until consciousness left their bodies. He then moved his spell over the remaining Kou troops which had formed a wall of archers and spearmen. Arrows flew loose but they lost all force in the face of the small ocean gradually moving over their heads. Yakuroro let the spell loose and an immeasurable wave of water and half drowned allies fell upon the men washing them away like ants.

With most of the soldiers incapacitated, the rest began to flee as the villagers began to find courage to charge them. After a few minutes of skirmishing, the last of the Kou soldiers were gone or defeated. Yakuroro suggested the villagers steal armor from the fallen and flee west back to the capital. If they could bring Kou troop disguises to Remano then it could be of use to the rebellion and a reward might even be waiting for them as thanks for such efforts. But he did not stay long, instead opting to catch back up with Lady Soushui.

Magoi - 260/300

Spoiler:

There was not much left between the magicians and their destination. There were a few more stops for Lady Soushui to speak with Kou soldiers along the way. Each group larger than the last. It was clear that there was some kind of central command near by. But no incidents took place from these meetings, Yakuroro opting to stay hidden rather than continue his past nightly shenanigans. At last, they arrived at Portsmouth where Soushui requested audience with the leading officer in charge. Yakuroro followed her under the guise of an illusory cloak, Bending Veil, allowing him to listen in on their meeting unseen.

As it turned out, there was not simply one commanding officer present, but three. Each had taken time out of their schedule to meet with Lady Soushui as they had received advanced notice of her arrival and station as a noblewoman. An extravagant meal was laid out in reception for Lady Soushui, but she insisted that there was no time for relaxation and that urgent matters required she take the first ship back to Kou. But the commanders told Soushui that the Empire had other plans for her transportation. A magic transfer circle. Apparently there was one in a jungle to the west, hidden away from prying eyes. This circle would take Soushui back to the Empire's capital where she was to attend a trial with several other nobles to discuss their contributions to the war effort. There, Soushui would be expected to offer up a number of men from her province to serve in battle or otherwise pay tribute to the Emperor's conquest of Reim.

The meeting ended with Soushui failing to sample even one bit of the delicacies the commander's had prepared. She left in visible frustration trying to make herself seem like a simple woman upset over being jerked around. However, when the female magician and Yakuroro met back up, they both saw the great opportunity this made for them. A plan was formulated over night. From the privacy of their golem-top vista, Soushui and Yakuroro spoke about what needed to be done.

"This is a bit of a problem for me..." Yakuroro confessed with a frown upon his face as he bit into a piece of dried meat he'd taken from the soldiers rations. "Do you remember Diego?" Lady Soushui sipped at her tea and looked up curiously, "The boy who came to Reim with us?" Yakuroro nodded solemnly in affirmation. "The very same. I had planned on staying here in Portsmouth to meet him in a weeks time. But this plan...I'm not sure I'll be able to return in time to make the appointment." The concern on Yakuroro's face was apparent. Even though Lady Soushui assured him that she would find a way to leave a message for Diego, Yakuroro still held doubts about whether or not this gambit would be worth delaying his promise to the fanatiga. But it couldn't be helped. There was no one else to play the role set out for him. Lady Soushui had too many lives dependant on her in her province to risk her position and the power of a djinn would likely be necessary.  Resigning himself to his fate, Yakuroro pushed his worries to the back of his mind and got to sleep while he still could.

In the morning, Lady Soushui began her trip westward to the aforementioned magic circle. But Yakuroro stayed behind and left a parting gift to the three commanders. "The Djinn of Mischief and Deceit! Heed my will and dwell in my body, Marax!" A weapon equip blazed into existence in Yakuroro's left hand and he cast Marx Canvas upon himself. To those around the magician, it would appear as though he were the Emperor of Kou himself. Yakuroro emerged from hiding from he direction of the docks and rode his magic carpet through the port allowing many to see his disguised form before stopping at the Commander's base.

There, Yakuroro met three very shocked officers. Without actually speaking himself, Yakuroro made the illusion bark orders in the Emperor's voice. The men were told to be silent and informed of a secret mission in which the Emperor himself would lay the final blow to Reim. It was not unlike the man to seek personal glory on the battlefield, so despite how this conflicted with their known orders, neither of the commanders had reason to suspect this was strange. Yakuroro then swiftly gave them orders to redirect at least 70% of their forces to the extreme north where spies had supposedly informed him of a massive Reim army preparing to launch a surprise attack on Kou's forces. With that, Yakuroro turned to leave, not allowing a single person to stop him on his way out.

Magoi: 190/300

Spoiler:

Rendezvousing with Lady Soushui, Yakuroro and party proceeded on to the jungle where a magic circle awaited them. Once they actually reached the jungles edge it did not take much longer for them to be approached by sentries from the Kou army. Lady Soushui dismounted the golem with Akatetsu claiming he was her personal beast and allowed the soldiers to escort her deeper into the jungle. Yakuroro stayed behind and cast his Bending Veil again once there was some distance between them. The Imuchakk magician followed on his flying carpet in secret gliding gracefully between the twisting tree tops. Eventually they came upon a base where many soldiers were preparing for departure to some other part of Reim. In the center, there was the grand circle surrounded by many of Kou's best magicians. Lady Soushui and Akatetsu were instructed to stand in the center along with their luggage and Yakuroro floated silently into position next to them.

The spell activated and a bright light enveloped the group. When the shining void faded, they were in a different place entirely. Surrounded my elite Kou soldiers whom guarded the capital city, Yakuroro looked around to see that they had indeed been transported to the other side of the world in mere seconds. It was an amazing magic he'd never seen before but Yakuroro numbed his excitement as there was a plan to execute. "Welcome home, Lady Soushui. We've prepared a-" A soldier stepped forward and began to greet the woman but he would stop and draw his weapon as Yakuroro dropped his illusionary invisibility and chanted his full djinn equip. "O' Djinn of Mischief and Deceit! Let my will bend reality and grant me the power to fool even the wise! Dwell in my body and let your power be unleashed!"


Clad in the power of Marax, Yakuroro grabbed Lady Soushui by the hair and lifted her off the ground holding his sword up to her neck. "No one move, or the bitch dies a slow death!" He proclaimed to the many soldiers surrounding them. But Lady Soushui's hands were free and she produced her wand from between her cleavage, "Grandiose Growth!" A large trunk of wood suddenly grew from the ground beneath them striking Yakuroro in the chest sending him flying into the air. His grip on the woman let go and Soushui dropped to the ground, "Curse that imp!" She shouted as a confused soldier ran to help her up. "What the hell is going on!?" He asked. Soushui put on a magnificent act and looked in the direction she'd sent Yakuroro with her spell with an expression of false anger. "The bastard must have followed me from Reim! Don't let him get away! He's dangerous!" Men gave shouts accepting the order and charged after Yakuroro leaving Lady Soushui and Akatetsu to slip away into secrecy. "Good luck, Yakuroro. Show these war crazed fools how you fight." The woman thought to herself as she disappeared into the chaos.

Yakuroro crash landed into the roof of a warehouse with a loud boom. Groaning as he sat up from a pile of uniforms, Yakuroro looked around and scoffed. She'd sent him directly into one of the many storage places where much of Kou's military gear was stored. If there were a mouth on Yaku's djinn equip form, it would have curled into a smile. Soushui had impeccable aim, but would it have hurt her to use a less painful spell? Yakuroro rubbed his aching gut where he'd been hit and flew upwards through the hole in the roof he made. Rising into the air Yakuroro found himself almost immediately under assault be a volley of arrows. "You're naive if you think that will be enough to stop me." The Imuchakk said as he casually turned to face the barrage. With a single swing of Marax's greatsword, all the arrows that would have hit Yaku were blown away or snapped like twigs. "This is a real attack! Marx Divide!"

The king vessel held his blade up to the sky as he shouted the name of his attack. The sword became wrapped in a gigantic blade of light that burned bright as the sun. Yakuroro then brought the sword down upon his target, but it was not the teams of archers or the soldiers gathering below. Instead, Yakuroro cleaved into the warehouse and began repeatedly attacking their supplies. The intense heat of his blade would spark fires to destroy whatever his slashes did not. Weapons, armor, ammunition, rations, magic tools, siege tools. Almost every machination and object of war the Kou empire had was stored in this district of the capital. It was all at the mercy of Yakuroro's righteous attack and none would be spared. Blow after crushing blow, Yakuroro reduced the storage warehouses to rubble one after another.

There were only a handful left, the ones closest to the palace. Yakuroro flew towards them and  cut a devastating line through the middle of one. "Loose!" The sound of another command to fire more arrows at Yakuroro sounded and he turned swiftly to meet the volley with his massive sword. The many arrows were burned to a crisp and reduced to ashes raining down upon yet another fire starting due to his most recent attack to a warehouse. But as Yakuroro looked down at the Kou soldiers who seemed to be losing hope, a sudden sharp pain rung out through his body. Noticing something from the bottom corner of his eye, Yakuroro looked down to see a huge arrow head sticking through his chest. Turning around Yakuroro looked for the source of the blow.

There, in the distance on a balcony of the palace, stood the Emperor of Kou himself with a greatbow in hand. The emperor turned around upon seeing that his arrow had met it's mark tossing the bow to a nearby servant before returning inside the palace. From within his djinn equip, Yakuroro coughed up blood stunned that the man had been able to make the shot at such a distance. The arrow had pierced his heart, life was not long for the Imuchakk. His djinn equip dissolved and Yakuroro plummeted through the air landing in the blazing inferno that once was a ration storage building.

---

A thorough investigation was made as Kou soldiers tried to salvage what they could. There were no fatalities, but countless supplies had been rendered useless by the attack, and worst of all the culprit's body could not be found. Lady Soushui had sequestered the injured Yakuroro away where none could find him. With her magic, she did what she could to save him, but there was something odd about the arrow the emperor used. It was enchanted and poisoned, a two fold insurance. Yakuroro's heart was repaired but he would not awaken. After attending a trial and offering a great sum of money in place of men from her province to aide the war effort, Soushui returned to her lands with a slumbering Yakuroro and a concerned Akatetsu in tow. Yakuroro succeeded in his mission, he dealt a heavy blow to Kou's war efforts. But the Imuchakk paid a price. While he remained alive, his yes would not open no matter what kind of magics Soushui employed.

Magoi: 115/300

Spoiler:

The confusion and destruction caused by Yakuroro’s attack was a crushing blow to the Kou supply lines. Between the supplies already in Reim being destroyed by the rebellion and Yakuroro taking out the main supply areas in Kou, waiting to be transferred, the Kou army was finding that while they had plenty of soldiers, they were severely lacking in weapons and other supplies. They were scrambling to bring in supplies from other areas of Kou but the troops being sent over were sent without spare weapons or armor and citizens were being ordered to donate anything of use.

Civil unrest was being to rise in Kou. The Emperor’s expansionist dreams were straining the citizens and their faith and support in the leader. It was hard enough having required military service but now he was throwing troops and precious supplies to the invasion of a strong country across the globe that was fighting back much harder than the people on the Plains were capable of. In their eyes, lives were being wasted for a conquest that was not a guaranteed victory.