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OOC: You could form a bubble around us with ninjutsu, prior to us diving.

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N A R R A T O R

With enough time to prepare for the descent into the ocean blue below, you can feel Fusa narrowing her body, folding her wings as far as she can fold them, whilst straightening her wide tail. Along with her sharply pointed nose, she has taken a perfect diving form, ensuring that the two of you enter the depths of the water below without any sustained injuries. Based on the speed in which she has managed to obtain during her downward dive, however, no one would blame you if you were frightened. Sensing some semblance of this, the white wyrm you ride speaks, seeking to quell your fears a moment before your bodies meet the cold embrace of the ocean. "We will be fine. I've done this many times before." Then, suddenly, the two of you disappear in a small, almost soundless, splash. The dive, swift and seamless.

Everything beyond the splash is a myriad of blue hues, and nothing but pitch black darkness down below. Fusa's body moves in a rhythmic squiggle as she swims, her flat tail proving to be quite the paddle as she shoots through the water with seemingly no effort on her part. Ahead of you both, you see a gigantic mass of what appears to be rock, underwater tree roots, and rich black soil-- the sides of the island you saw earlier. Nothing appears out of the ordinary, and it is just this land mass that you see, as the dragon you ride continues her swim, encircling the large land mass. But, within a matter of seconds, something... interesting, comes into view. At first, it's indiscernible. More tree roots, maybe? A strangely shaped rock, perhaps?

But then, as you draw closer, it becomes clearer.

SPOILER: Click to show

It's a claw. Or, some variant of it. And, as heavy and slow as it may be moving, you realize it is moving. Your mind struggles to imagine any way to explain this at first. Maybe it's just a creature, trying to burrow its way into the island? Maybe it's kelp, or underwater coral, or some form of life yet undiscovered. It can't be... it can't be the island, right? As the scope of this gradually begins to come to you, you come to find that it might just be that. A gigantic creature, carrying an entire island on its back, as it swims slowly throughout the sea. But exactly what is it? And are you perhaps wrong? In all the craziness, taking a flight so high above, and then rocketing downwards so far below, you might feel a bit light-headed.

But, there is no doubt that Fusa's abrupt decision to dive downward and present this find was intentional. Something she'd been asked to show you. And, as she continues to swim around this massive "land mass", you find that the awe-inspiring tour she's giving you isn't over just yet. There is more to come, and it doesn't take long to realize that she is leading you to the creature's face. Whatever it might be, and whether you've heard of it or not, there is definitely going to be some curiosity compelling you to stay to attention. To some, such an experience would be terrifying. To others, simply thrilling. And to you, perhaps it is a combination of both? Whatever you might be feeling (and thinking) about all of this, the answer to the entity's species lies just around the corner. A corner you and Fusa are on the brink of turning on.

ASSAILANT Chain Master

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Your (Yukiko's) attempts at deflection and counter proves to be successful-- but you don't win it all. Though you manage to strike the Chain Master, with a gushing spray of blood laying proof to that, the momentum in which he was barreling towards you manages to push you outward. Having failed to evade or re-direct his charge, you at least manage to kill him. Except, with his entire weight pushing you backward, all it takes is one step to take you out of your cover. The Chain Master leans on you, too weak to keep himself standing as the blood continues to pour out of his wound, moments away from the cold embrace of death. Distancing yourself from his slumped figure might be your first priority, but you've got another problem to deal with.

A crossbowman with his eye on you.

ASSAILANT Crossbowman

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Keeping a steady hand, as he aims his crossbow in your (Yukiko's) direction, the half-drunk vagrant with the crossbow prepares his sickly yellow eyes for any sight of you-- or your companions. When the Chain Master's final steps manage to push you out of your cover, the first thing the archery expert sees is your foot. He could have easily fired his arrow through it the moment he saw it-- but no. Because whenever this particular crossbowman fires his arrows, he strives to make sure that each one has the potential to be a one-hit kill. And pinning an arrow through a young lady's foot isn't quite something he can boast about. So, when your entire form appears, and he sees your head, he aims his sights. That's the kill he was looking for.

And so, he fires his arrow.

NPC Sozin Hallstrom

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My enemy's body hits the floor with a hollow 'thud', and my elongated kunai slides out of his wound with a sick sound, the sound of flesh and blood meshing together in an unnatural and wet manner. Having defeated-- with absolute, and permanent, certainty-- my opponent, I turn my slate-grey gaze upwards. There, I see Yukiko has taken care of her own opponent, but my attention peaks when I see her assailant saunter forwards sluggishly. With such heavy bulk, he manages to lean forwards and onto her almost immediately after she issues the fatal blow. And I'm not oblivious to the fact that she is inadvertently being pushed out of her cover because of it. So, with haste, I sprint forwards in her direction, holstering my kunai simultaneously.

What occurs next seems to happen so slowly--

-- then bursts forward in rapid time.

NARRATOR

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Sozin crosses the distance between you (Yukiko) fast enough to pull your most recent kill off of you, tugging him roughly backwards with a single and forceful hand. But, right after this split-second action, he catches a glimpse of the crossbowman-- the bright glint of his crossbow giving away his position clearly. With the conviction to keep you alive, he tackles you without hesitation, pushing you out of the way-- and, subsequently, taking the shot for you. The moment the arrow strikes him, Kai's feathered projectiles are fired-- his emergence on the battlefield sudden and unpredicted. Under the shower of black feathers, only one manages to strike the crossbowman dead, stabbing him right in the forehead. But he's done his damage, and more than any of you would have expected.

On the ground, Sozin gasps for air, a bloody palm pressed on his neck.

Between his middle and index finger, a wooden shaft sticks out.

The arrow is lodged through his throat.

ASSAILANT Chain Master

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Your (Yukiko's) instinctive counter proves useful, as the unsheathed side of your blade manages to slice the mountain-man's chain in two halves. It is clear that, although choking or ensnaring you is less than likely now (with such short chains), the crazed mountain-man has resorted to an unbridled frenzy. Each whip of the chain he issues is an attempt to subdue you with blunt force, his actions quick and unpredictable enough to merit some caution on your behalf. And, in one particular lunge forward, he whips both his chains sideways at you, forcing you to take a step back-- and out of cover.

Unless you have some sort of counter.

ASSAILANT Crossbowman

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With everything beneath his neck hidden behind a collection of steel barrels, he raises his arms only to prop his crossbow up, and aim his sights on the corner he expects you (Yukiko) to inadvertently emerge from. Behind his cover, and considering the fact that his companions are keeping you shinobi preoccupied, he feels relatively safe for the moment. He is not only quick on his feet, as he had proven only seconds ago, but an expert with an arrow. So he'll shoot when he gets the chance to-- without hesitation. But, in turn, he'll flee when he sees things turning sour for his side of the team.

NPC Sozin Hallstrom

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As I continue my battle of instinct with my assailant, evading and deflecting swipes of the scythe that were surely meant to slice my head clean off of my shoulders, I find it difficult to eye the progress my student is making. Yet, I somehow manage to keep myself from being pushed outside of my cover. Hoping Yukiko can keep up with her own opponent and, should she fail, that her own opponent don't stab my unguarded back afterwards, I soon find the complete resolve to end this scuffle as soon as possible. A deft duck downward, followed by a violent grab of my opponent's left wrist, as I burst upward.

Sccchruchhh.

We find ourselves, torso against torso, his wide-eyed expression filled with disbelief as his scythes hit the ground with two sharp and distinct clanks. It would appear as though I'm embracing the putrid mountain savage-- but this is anything but. Lodged right at the center of his chest cavity, and promptly shoved deeper into the flesh therein, is my elongated kunai. As my grey-eyed gaze states blankly to the sight over my victim's shoulder-- a half-destroyed shack-- I make sure to hear every breath his lungs struggle to force. I wouldn't withdraw my kunai until I heard that final, and unmistakable, shudder.

The embrace of death.

Her mild protest was met with a silent look from myself, and she would most certainly know, thereafter, that I wasn't going to leave her side until I was sure she was safely back at the hotel. The resigning sigh she issued brought a minuscule smile to my face, wondering how she could imagine me leaving her out here, as I continued to lead her onward. But, that smile receded upon learning that she was to go to Kirigakure no Sato the following morning. I listened, now expressionless, for anything else she had to say.

Nodding to her solemnly when she tasked me with the burden of resting, I knew all too well that she was probably-- from a medical perspective-- right. However, the fact that she was planning to travel great distances in the following days-- and pregnant, no less-- certainly met with my disapproval. I wasn't a bed-ridden mess yet. And, she certainly couldn't expect me to lounge about resting-- not for long, anyway. I had never been that sort of man. So, resolved to make things as easier for her as possible, I knew exactly what I had to do, and I made a mental note to bring it up to her before we both departed.

There was no guarantee I was going to come out alive from this. Even with Blanche's exceptional skills in these sort of medical procedures, I was prepared for the worst. This lack of fear-- or, perhaps, simply a subconscious lack of caring whether I lived or died-- certainly had its own effect on me. An almost mind-numbing spell that, while somewhat distancing myself from my loved ones, served to get me through this ordeal step-by-step. Yet, hearing her struggle with the process she intended to follow (and complete) to the best of her abilities-- that still hit a nerve.

Was it right to put such a burden on her?

Especially with child?

I was overcome with deep thought as we walked through the downfall of drizzle, reconsidering all that I had said, all that I had agreed to-- having believed, wholeheartedly, that it was okay. Because she absolutely knew this is what she wanted to do, that this was a burden she was willing to shoulder. But, sometimes, we honestly don't know what's good for us... and I knew with certainty that this wasn't good for her. And, perhaps, it was wrong of me to have accepted her help after all. Then, she stopped and held my hand, and she spoke, uttering words that made me honestly consider-- for a moment-- whether she'd been reading my mind all this time.

It'll be okay.

Such a simple statement.

But, from her, enough to inspire hope.

Eyes downcast at our clasped hands, I gently nodded. "Yeah..." I muttered, turning up towards her with a light smile and a gleaming green eye.

"It's going to be okay."

BOSS Whiskey Hound Handler

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It took a moment to realize where you (Kai) were after the flash bomb exploded, and the Handler stood upon the branch, tomahawk ready to throw at a moment's notice as he tried to catch sight of your figure somewhere within the dense woodland ahead of him. His experience hunting in this territory allowed him to find out where you were rather quickly, as it wasn't hard for his eyes to detect your silhouette from the swaying leaves and sky above. He had time to throw his sharp tomahawk but, alas, it was a little too late.

The tomahawk went flying towards you the moment your snakes came tumbling out of your sleeves. Slicing several of your snakes, its momentum a testament of the Handler's brutish strength, it would cut the sleeve of your shoulder-- nearly cutting your face-- before flying off and jamming itself within the side of a tree. The Handler, in the meantime, was overcome with the many slithering creatures you showered him with, falling from the branch he was on, and diving downwards towards the ground as he tried to wrangle them off. The impact his head made with a boulder down below issued a sharp crack.

He died before any snakes entered his body.

With his now broken body laying lifeless down there-- head oozing with blood, snakes exploring his crevices, eyes dull and wide opened-- you are free to follow the path your comrades took towards the brewery ahead. Since you backtracked to reach the Handler, even with your speed, it's going to take a good moment to reach your destination (approximately one post). But you are free to prepare any technique or plan of action you have in the meantime. Reaching the climax of this assignment, there is no doubt going to be at least one more obstacle to cross until this is over.

N A R R A T O R

The slender white dragon gives you the complete spectrum of its attention as you speak, absorbing the information you give her with a polite (and silent) mien.  When you finish explaining the concept of your sibling relationship with the Dovahkiin, it takes a moment to run the idea through its mind. Then, it speaks, nodding slightly as it begins: "I understand. You are his Briinah¹, just as I am to my own kin. A bond shared not with blood, but with love." Its eyes gaze into your own, gleaming with a sense of wisdom, as though she is peering into your very soul.

Then, without another word, it stands on all fours once more. Sauntering off to the side, it stops when it's beside you, turning its head in your direction, then nudging your shoulder lightly with its snout. If you hadn't noticed it before, you can now see that there is a rider's harness attached to its strangely curved (yet spacious) back. And, attached to this harness, is a rucksack. It would appear this is the item she wants you to interact with. "The Dovahkiin left something for you, in anticipation of your arrival, Bromodkiir."

Should you heed its gesture, and go into the rucksack to obtain the items, you'll find two things: a small pouch carrying two porcelain fangs, and a letter. The fangs, though porcelain white like teeth, have obviously been crafted. The letter reads as follows:

Yukiko,

I'm entrusting you with the two dragon's teeth you'll find alongside this letter. You'll need it if you ever seek to enter the sanctuary from above ground. I trust you'll find out how to use them on your own. See you soon, Snow.


Atlas

Once it sees the items in your grasp, the green-eyed creature encircles you swiftly, then casually lays down in front you. Face to face with its harness, you realize it's offering you a ride before it even speaks. "I was told to show you the wayward land upon which we currently inhabit." It informs, accepting your weight easily, should you climb aboard. "But, I need you to answer something for me, Kiir... Do you know who I am?" Its eyes narrow, a single wing twitches. It seems to be giving you one last test, seeking one final confirmation before accepting that you are indeed the girl she has been waiting for.

SPOILER: Click to show

¹ Sister.

Theme: "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" - Courtnee Draper.

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The cloaked man smiled a whimsical smile.

Uminari Shosuke was truly an interesting individual. A man not necessarily seeking redemption, but a better home. A better life. A better self. It brought a mild sense of wonder to the hooded doppelgänger-- a reminder of the young man he had once known himself to be. Once a wayward soul, then a soldier captured in the passion of a foreign war, he had the misfortune of finding himself in a repeating circle of death, murder, and despair. He had shed rivers of enemy blood to obtain (and keep) the place he called home. When, in all actuality, his true home had been-- not with a place-- but with his family alone. A lesson learned far too late.

But, hopefully not for the Otogakure native.

Shosuke's question was met with a brief pause as the cloaked man slowly raised his arms, his bare hands lightly gripping the sides of his wide hood, before smoothly easing it off. His countenance now free from the shadow that had engulfed it, the man standing across from him would finally be capable of gazing upon his unsheltered features. The rich color of his shining verdant eyes, the cardinal red hair tied back into a single ponytail, the well-aged (and still dashing) details of his goateed face. And, of course, his charming-- and seemingly everlasting-- smile.

"Well then," He began. "You're in luck."

Without another word, he gestures for the man to continue walking up the incline they stand upon, following closely behind once the man passes. As each of their steps brings them closer to the peak of their path, the air grows slightly thinner, the blanket of clouds above beginning to break apart, allowing rays of sunlight free and clear passage. Then, within seconds of time, they reach the peak of the incline-- and are blessed with an expansive, wondrous view of Kaminari no Kuni. Fields of viridian green pines, a canvas of milky white clouds, rising above the rocky peaks of glorious mountains.

The man with the cardinal red hair places his hands at his sides, a confident posture as he gazes out at the illustrious scenery, looking upon it as an artist would look upon a painting he greatly, and respectfully, admires. "It's not heaven," He'd speak, his whiskey-cured voice filled with as much admiration as his glimmering eyes. "But it's as close as we'll get on this earth of ours." He turned to his newfound companion, then patted his back with a strong, reassuring hand. His expression positively beaming. "Come on, then. Onward to that home in the sky."

And so, expecting Shosuke to follow him down the winding path ahead, the cloaked doppelgänger would guide him to the gates of the fabled Kumogakure no Sato.

-- Exit.