Fantasy Hunter's Moon: The Sin & Sentence [IC] [CLOSED]

[Infab]

Tariun nodded. "Good luck, Zebulon. Should you need something, you know how to contact me." It wasn't long before everyone had ventured through the portal, emerging into a different part of the Land of Dead Kings near Vucrox. The wind was blowing here, giving everyone a bit of a chill. It was already cool in the Abyss, but it was downright cold here. The wall around Vucrox stood several stories tall above them. Taller than any building in the mortal realm, or in the Abyss. It seemed to be made of an dark brownish-orange stone, almost matching the color of the sky above them. Black clouds moved slowly above, but no rain fell. No thunder cracked. This was an alien land compared to where they had come from before.

There was a wide gash in the wall that they immediately noticed as they turned about. And at the base of the gash was a moderately sized village made from scrap metal and stone. Towering above the village, on either side of the opening in the wall and at the same height as the wall, were two large statues. One was of a demon wearing ornate armor and appearing female, holding what appeared to be a trident in hand against their chest. The other was also a demon, but male and wearing what appeared to be a robe and holding a thick demonic staff against their chest.

Vincent looked to the others, before moving towards the village. It was likely the oni village that Tariun had mentioned. And somewhere inside would be Vixas. The group walked along across the white sand, eventually reaching the village's entrance. There were small shrines here and there at the entrance, scattered about with odd markings and trinkets. All had strange writing on them that seemed Redonian, mixed with some demonic etchings that Vincent and Leakhena could make out.

And soon they started to see some of the village's occupants. Oni that had been in the northern Abyss for so long that their bodies were now twisted and mutated to suit the Abyss outside the realm of the Abyssal Crown. They were peaceful, however, simply watching the group for a few moments before returning to their previous activities. Walking around, talking to one another, going about their day. Some seemed to be meditating or praying.

 

[Damian0358]

Takato's eyes first fell on the statue of the robed demon, finding it peculiar for indiscernible reasons. Something about it just attracted his attention. But soon after, he concentrated himself onto the village in the distance, and kept his eyes on it as they approached it.

He wasn't sure what he was going to do when they arrived closer; he wasn't one to interact much with his own kind. Sure, he had ventured into the underground and done things there, and he's fought with oni too, but he hasn't done much... to associate himself with oni. A consequence of his circumstances, one which especially affected any familial association. To some extent, he did worry, making the footprint of his oni aura as small as possible.

As they arrived at the entrance, Takato took note of the shrines, trinkets and markings, some visibly aged, but others seemingly remarkably new in contrast. One trinket even appeared Douean. And the writing, stopping for a brief moment to identify it, it was a mix of both Upper Redonian and older Oni. He knew how to read both, but the latter would take a bit to figure out, due to how oni tongue has developed in the mortal coil.

And soon enough, he saw some of the occupants, appearing more demon than they did oni. If there was anything that made the influence of the Abyssal Outer Range more apparent, it was that. But he noted there were those who also looked more like the oni he saw back home, perhaps the kind that didn't permanently reside here, or perhaps hadn't yet stayed long enough to have been impacted by those same mutations.

At the very least, after getting looked at, they just returned to doing their usual. It was oddly reminiscent to the underground, in that sense. Don't mind the outsider, he'll just pass on through. He did find the ones meditating or praying a curiosity, as he wondered how the spirituality was around these parts.

 

[K0mori]

As Mariette followed the others to their next destination, she didn't bother to respond to Hudson. The man seemed to be in a constant loop of negativity and antagonism and after only a few days of traveling with him, she was beginning to accept that he wasn't someone she would warm up to. At best, he was indifferent, and at worst, he was an agitator, choosing whatever words would bother his companions at any given moment. It was, in fact, a common trait among some of the least endearing people Mariette had ever encountered: the ones who simply cannot stop themselves from speaking the "brutally honest truth," as Hudson had put it, as if the facts of the situation absolved a person for being blunt and insensitive to the point of insult.

Perhaps he was one of those miserable souls who doesn't have the strength to suffer in silence. Maybe his only solace is in denying others hope, or happiness. Just why would he assume that Mariette, or Henderson, or anyone else for that matter, would be petty enough to be angry if Velin finally did her job and protected the mortal realm? That was all Mariette had wished for from the beginning. The only "sting" she felt was from the knowledge that Velin held a hatred in her heart that was far more powerful than her sense of justice, and that the mortal world had suffered unimaginably as a result. Either Hudson's contempt for the supernaturally afflicted is so great that he cannot imagine them prioritizing the mortal world's salvation over their personal grudges... or he himself is that petty and assumes that everyone else is, as well.

Mariette's eyes widened for a moment as she considered: Camille fell in love with this man?

...Oui. Of course she did.

She thought back to the inquiry on Grimtham, and how Camille was repeatedly admonished by Valeria and others for her constant antagonism. Mariette had long ago realized that the woman's accusations and distrust were well-placed, at least when it came to her, but then again, what if she had simply always been honest and loyal to the Inquisitors? Camille had only agreed to avoid La Cygne when Mariette had promised to end her life. Could there have been any outcome wherein the two left each other in peace, or would Camille have come to La Cygne to ensure that one or the other would die?

It was fatalism, plain and simple. Of course a mind so darkly obsessed with forcing such dreadful outcomes would be magnetically attracted to the "brutally honest truth" and the speakers thereof.

And now, decades of suffering apart from those dreary days on Grimtham, hearing the same song again while in love and accompanied by old friends, conscious of the injustice of allowing Cassandra to escape her fate, albeit temporarily, and in full support of it nonetheless, Mariette felt like increasingly like a contradiction. She had accepted Camille's point of view and yet found Hudson an infuriating bag of wind. Did she truly deserve the death she gave herself? Did she deserve the eternal suffering of damnation, even one which was lessened by Tariun's administration? Camille and Hudson would say so, but exposed to that fatalism again after so much reflection, Mariette began to understand that the "brutal truth" in this case was not based on any measurable fact, especially in a world where the god of justice was openly, laughably biased.

The brutal truth was more like a brutal assumption.

She walked alongside Cassandra, silently and deep in thought. Perhaps she hadn't stepped over the edge of her own volition. Her disgust for her actions had brought her to the precipice, and maybe even made the chasm feel inviting. But maybe there had been another way, and she hadn't seen it, because the only guide she had asked had told her to jump.

And Camille would have told her to jump on the day they had met.

 

[ANIMAL MOTHER]

'So this is what it feels like to be here...'

It's just like the surreal paintings of dreamlike landscapes she has decorating the walls of her house, and it looks and even feels just like how her father described it. Cold, dreary, unnatural, alien. Even the air itself feels foreign as it blows against her skin, causing her to shiver. Leakhena's traversed almost the entirety of the Abyss, most of the time following Thorgran whenever he went, yet she's never given her father's homeland a visit. She's only ever come close to experiencing it through the stories her father told her, about how he used to harvest eggs growing off of trees in the back of her grandfather's manor, about how he almost lost one of her uncles after he wandered between two trees and ended up in another part of the wastes entirely, about how his reflection in the lake shimmered and twisted itself whenever he wasn't looking directly at it, and how sometimes he swore he could see something way up in the sky blinking at him. To finally walk in it now fills her with a mixed feeling of awe and anxiety. It's another world she's stepping into, and unlike the other times when the group was performing tasks around the rest of the Abyss, this is a first for her just as it is for them. At least the oni village nearby is somewhat comforting as it's something she can recognize; and might be one of the last things she can until they traverse deeper into the wastes.

"Takato," she says to him. "Might you have any relatives here?" She's really more curious if he actually does rather than inquiring to see if they're any help to the group.

 

[Infab]

As the group continued into the village, they began to notice that the village started to open up in a V shape as they approached the wall's opening. Likely to allow those to see into the canyon from a variety of angles and not block it with buildings or activity. They grew closer to the entrance, peering into the canyon from where they were in the village. More statues lined the walls of the canyon, which stretched on for what appeared to be miles. All the statues were different, representing different Abyssal Kings throughout the ages. Both good and bad, it seemed. It was likely Taranoch had his own near the end of the canyon, if the first two stood outside the wall looming over them. Some of the statues they could see resembled skeletons more than they did demons, and some lacked the horns that most demons seemed to have. Perhaps some of the Kings came from the outer parts of the Abyss...or were simply oddities among the other demons and kings.

As they continued to the entrance, Takato could feel a certain presence in the village. Powerful and ancient. Female. Clearly Oni. Was it who he thought it was? Was it Abahai?

As Takato went to investigate, breaking away from the group to locate the aura, the others stopped at the entrance and looked about. Where was Vixas? "...Well?" said Vincent after a few moments, looking back around at the village. Cassandra and Riberta glanced about as well, before something landed before them from out of the skies above. Disturbingly swift, yet graceful. And soon, the being stepped forth from the canyon.

"Greetings. I believe that you are the ones that Tariun spoke of?" he stated, his voice bearing a strange hiss to it as he spoke. He was easily twelve feet tall, towering over the group with his strange form. He had no visible nose or eyes, his face smooth and sweeping upwards into two points like a V. His teeth were bared to the group eternally, as it seemed he was missing lips. His hands were disturbingly long, with a pair of thick fleshy wings that connected from his arms to his thin but muscular frame. He did a rather deep and graceful bow. "I am Vixas. A member of Kaizen's Chosen, and one of the many guides of Vucrox and its necropolis."

 

[Damian0358]

"Takato," she says to him. "Might you have any relatives here?" She's really more curious if he actually does rather than inquiring to see if they're any help to the group.

Takato looked over to Leakhena, with an uncertain look in his eyes.

"...I..." Takato tried to muster, especially considering what Leakhena had revealed earlier, "...I, wouldn't know..." he stammered out.

"This village apparently isn't the only large host of oni... and I wouldn't even recognize anyone, aside from one... and even then... I would hope they would be in Heaven..." he commented.

As they continued, Takato could feel a presence, one powerful and seemingly ancient. It was Oni, clearly, but it was boldly so. And... he preferred not to consider such points, but was it female too? Could that be who he thought it was? Takato broke away from the group, stepping a bit further into the village, before noticing something about the presence... it was moving... it was headed their way.

Hopping from rooftop to rooftop, a being hopped closer, before stopping just shy of everyone else's sight. Atop a nearby rooftop, she walked into their frame, and just, sat down, looking upon the being native to these lands. The others could see Takato look at the being on the rooftop, and looking somewhat confused. S-should he confront her?

 

[Dmaster]

The very mention of his wife and her relationship with Velin had meant that Hudson was quiet as the dreary and unnatural vistas of these Abyssal outskirts surrounded them. The hunter was a case of a once hopeful man dragged down into depressive depths by circumstance and his own actions. In the company of Camille he tended to be slightly more jovial, as the woman never did entertain his pessimism and bitterness for too long. His passing mention of their first meeting had him recollecting the time they spent together thereafter, bonding through hunts of demon and vampire alike.

In those months they had learned to rely on each other, bringing each other back from the brink as they ruthlessly fought for their lives and the lives of others. Hudson grew to admire Camille's resolve, her determination to perfect her technique and refine her strength a stark contrast to why he chose to take up his mantle of a 'holy' mantle. Where the renowned huntress fought with pride, Hudson fought with shame over his past actions. Reserved in the possibility that every fight may well be his last, and the knowledge that he could be torn to shreds for making the attempt to stand his ground. Up until felling his shadow, he still maintained that point of view.

Where he once felt a single modicum of pride for that victory, he once again began to feel shame. Did he truly care so little for the family he built with her that he did not hesitate to go on this suicide mission? Had he not known how much he loved her after seeing her wings clipped by Sazak? He had confided his own greatest mistake, killing a mother accidentally and choosing to kill her son along with her in the pursuit of mere coin, to her after she worked tirelessly to get him to do so. Yet even still they argued over agreeing to Velin's call, his stubbornness winning out as he departed from them in what he would be sure was to be their last meeting. Did he really think that little of her in the end?

Thrust into this inhospitable nightmare by his own hand, he found himself surrounded by deplorable fiend and monster alike. He saw no reason to be friends with them, coordinate as allies when mosf all of them were all sent here for their heinous acts. The way he spoke to them one might think he saw himself as righteous and above them, yet what Hudson hated the most was having the knowledge that he belonged among them. The insults, the paranoia, all done to divide and isolate himself from the light he had left behind on the surface. Hudson was working to make himself feel alone all over again.

But was he alone?

The group managed to do tasks that he thought were impossible, and not one of them had aimed to kill him or others among the team despite his suspicions. Could they really kill an Icon like Cassandra was getting at?

As they entered the village and were greeted by their guide, Hudson tightly gripped the handle of his sword, quickly easing his tension as he sighed and looked to Vixas. In the back of the group now due to the thoughts that weighed heavily on his mind, he tilted his head toward Mariette slightly.

"Hey, Marie... Uh, Mariette?" he stammered. "You said that Velin called Cam worthless. But you weren't there when the Duke fell. How did you know that was what she said?"

 

[K0mori]

"When I died, I went to purgatory," Mariette replied, a bitterness underpinning the words. "I told you before, when we were in that motor wagon. It is a peaceful place, one which I imagined myself spending many years reflecting on my many imperfections, as conflicted souls are meant to. But I encountered Velin there, and she examined me as if I were the accused in a trial. We spoke at length. I confessed my sins readily; the thought of what terrible things I had earnestly considered, and the manner in which they would have compelled me to harm the ones I counted as friends... it brought me to tears. She mocked the very notion that anyone would value me enough for me to consider them so. And while she held no regard for the others, she held a unique contempt for Camille.

"I don't recall the exact words she used. But she was angry that Camille only hunted rogues and fiends, and wasn't an indiscriminate slayer of all inhuman types. She also said something about 'not following orders.' ...I will admit I've always wondered what she meant by that."

 

[Dmaster]

There was mention of purgatory before, though with his mind pulled to so many places he could easily forget important details such as that. "I didn't join the Order out of reverence for Velin or what she aimed to do with her power. I joined the Order to do some good with my life before I died. I never participated in the hunts that targeted werecreatures or vampires. I don't make for a good judge and executioner." he admitted. "I chose to fight demons. Saw things I wished I hadn't, failed rescues one too many times..."

Finally going off of that tangent, he looks up from his wistful staring at the ground to address Mariette again. "Velin visited Camille in a dream, ordering her to kill every supernatural in the group once the Duke was slain. Fighting that many formidable foes at once was enough to give even her pause, to which the goddess told her that so long as she fought hard it was possible."

"She did want to kill you, at least, never trusting you after that betrayal you pulled with Cassandra. Yet as time went on she felt differently about Aleister, how he saved her life after nearly being killed by Wallace. So she couldn't bring herself to do it in the end. Suppose Velin would see her as weak for that, but Cam is not so dishonorable to murder allies that helped her save the world, if only for a little bit..." Hudson held back a bitter chuckle. "She'd at least give you a few days head start before coming for you."

"In the end though, she was proven wrong about Aleister, and proven wrong about you. She... wanted you to go out more peacefully than you did. She was going to make it quicker than burning in the sun like you chose to. Better to honor who you were rather than what your affliction and temptations made you become."

 

[K0mori]

Why was Hudson suddenly speaking as if he was worried what Mariette thought of him and Camille? This was by far the longest conversation the two had held since they had met several days before. Had she somehow given him insight to her thinking? She didn't find any humor in his joke about a head start, either. He was still discussing the idea of hunting people, good people, at the behest of a murderous, hate-filled goddess, and the more he spoke, the more uncomfortable the Countess became.

She gave a sigh before responding, tepidly, "There are plenty of ways to do good without sending yourself to the Abyss to do battle with hellspawn, but I do suppose your skills wouldn't lend themselves well to running an orphanage or caring for the elderly. I often wonder what I could have done with my own abilities if I hadn't taken my life. Maybe I could have saved Valeria. It seems I was so afraid of what I might become, that I lost sight of who I am. And that is, well...

"I didn't put myself in the sun to 'honor' myself or to protect my legacy; I did it to protect my friends. Paradoxically, I might add: if I had the willpower to prove Camille wrong, as you said, then I should not have had to die at all, as the same willpower could have been used to hold back my vices. But how else to demonstrate it in a way which either of us could believe?"

Mariette cracked her neck, her dull expression turning sour and resentful. "Perhaps I was simply drowning in a wide ocean of doubt. Not that it really matters what drove me that morning... Velin had no compassion, and Camille did, but they sought the same thing and got it, so why don't we put away the talk of whether or not the intentions were noble? Here I am in Hell. Forever. C'est tout."

 

[Infab]

"...Here I am in Hell. Forever. C'est tout."

Cassandra had been standing there next to Mariette on the other side, listening to every word that they had said to one another. Her eyes didn't show it, but her body language did. She tensed up, her hand clasping Mariette's own firmly. She obviously didn't like that. Mariette didn't have to stay stuck here forever. She could come with her back to the mortal realm. Regardless of what Hudson, Camille, or Velin thought was right. All of them were rather terrible at judging what was right anyway.

She turned her head slightly, giving Hudson a dark glare. This man didn't know when to shut up. She wanted to threaten him. She wanted to so very badly. To get him to stop trying to twist Mariette's mind so that she'd continue to remain down here. And it was inching ever closer to wanting to kill him. But she was supposed to be a better person. Not the bloodlusting monster she was on the Romanov blood.

She looked to Mariette finally, her expression softening. "...Please, Mariette...Just ignore his drivel. Neither he, his wife, or that divine bitch above are worth wasting your breath over." she whispered.

 

[ANIMAL MOTHER]

"Takato?" Leakhena waves a hand in front of his face to break him out of his trance. "...Is something wrong?" Something has him greatly worried, so she looks over to what it is he's staring at. There's a very peculiar looking Oni staring at the group from a rooftop nearby. It looks like a woman, but almost as big as Riberta judging by how small the tiles on the rooftop are in comparison to her size. Another obvious feature is that one of her horns appears broken too. Confused, Leakhena raises an eyebrow at Takato. Perhaps it's his sister or something? Maybe he really does have family in the wastes too after all. Regardless, she gives Vincent a nudge and points over to him to let him know something has Takato spooked. Meanwhile she diverts her attention to Vixas.

"Greetings. I believe that you are the ones that Tariun spoke of? I am Vixas. A member of Kaizen's Chosen, and one of the many guides of Vucrox and its necropolis."

She performs a small bow to him seeing as he too is also true nobility in the Abyss as opposed to the icons. "Greetings, Sir Vixas. We're the ones alright."

 

[Dmaster]

"No one could save Valeria." Hudson stated bluntly as ever. "Camille continues to believe that if she were somehow any stronger she could have made sure Sazak didn't get the artifacts. There was nothing to be done at that point, everything went according to his plan."

The hunter took note of Cassandra angrily glaring him, glancing at her whispering to Mariette. His own expression was hard to place due to the helmet he wore, but had he any idea what the pureblood was saying he would not appreciate it.

"You may be in Hell, but you are still trying to make it a better place. You're trying to save Valeria and kill Sazak the same as we are. Forgetting intent, going through with those decisions and doing it is noble. You've been given every opportunity to give up and wallow in this awful place, but you haven't. I'm no authority on anything but... I think that has to be worth something."

With a sigh he gently shook his head, looking to Cassandra yet again before moving his eyes to Leakhena and Vixas. "I'll see you up ahead." were his words of departure, the hunter shuffling from the back of the group toward the front.

 

[ANIMAL MOTHER]

Hudson's sudden appearance in the front of the group where Leakhena is almost surprised her; she was a little busy studying Vixas' features and how similar he looks to one of her many, many uncles. She gives him an awkward look as she backs off a few inches from him. Knowing him, he's probably going to say something demeaning or insulting that'll make Vixas think twice about guiding them. Maybe even brandish his sword like he did to her many days ago. In any case, he's fucked up things down here for the group one too many times already and she hopes he won't even think about doing it again.

 

[Breadman]

Nobody bothered Henderson with idle talk, so he took the village scenery in. That and still hearing what everyone else was talking about among themselves. Takato was having a bit of an episode, but looks like they found the one in charge at least. The conversation he overheard from the other side was...odd even from the bits and pieces he could overhear. He recognized those two easily enough. The report from Theodore was very descriptive and they did introduce themselves, but Hudson wasn't his usual wind up threat toy. There was an expert next to him he could consult.

"Can you explain something to me?" He turned to Ribberta "Those two vampires. What did they do to him? His range of topics seems to have quadrupled and his vocabulary has expanded by seemingly unqualified measure."

 

[Infab]

Riberta glanced over, before looking to Hudson then back to Cassandra and Mariette. "Who knows? Maybe one of them got through and unlocked something in that walnut sized brain of his." she responded. "I know both of them have problems with his wife...and he probably isn't helping matters. I'm sure if I knew her, I'd have problems with her too. Just imagine the kind of woman that would marry him?"

Vixas studied Leakhena for a moment, before pointing one of his long claw-like fingers towards her. "You must be Loque. I knew your father. Such a magnificent chef. His meals were works of art." he stated, before looking to the others. "The journey through the Canyon of Giants will be long. I have prepared a wagon for you to ride upon, so that you will not have to walk the length of the canyon." He then motioned to their right, towards where a large odd-colored wagon sat empty. And with nothing to pull it. "It is enchanted to move on its own, so it needs not a beast of burden. Simply climb aboard, and I will make it move....and do try to hang on. It moves far faster than a normal beast-drawn wagon."

 

[Breadman]

"Adona's balls! That woman must be insane." Henderson response to Ribberta as he put the pieces together "Of course you'd have problems with her. Half the population with an aberration would." His thoughts were then directed towards the wagon "Rather fancy looking."

 

[ANIMAL MOTHER]

"You must be Loque. I knew your father. Such a magnificent chef. His meals were works of art."

"Oh! Why, thank you!" Leakhena performs another bow; flattered by Vixas' compliments to the chef. "I... hope to continue in his footsteps once this is all done and over with."

 

[K0mori]

Mariette could almost feel herself pulled in two directions at once, with Hudson preaching yet more fatalism in his insistence that nothing could have saved Valeria, and Cassandra encouraging her to ignore him.

Everything went according to his plan? I was part of his plan, Monsieur.

Her death was proof that Sazak was not in full control of the outcome. Further, Mariette thought of Ser Edmond, who had been unusually silent since the groups had reunited, and recalled a conversation they once held about the past. Ser Edmond had tried to convince them to find a different way to kill the Duke, and they had refused to listen. But, it was possible. Valeria was not the only Inquisitor who could have wielded Velin's executioner blade. Theodore was a member of the Vigilant Order, and while he may not have been a very strong man himself, Ser Edmond could have loaned his strength just to pin the monster down at the right moment...

Moreover, there were so many moments leading to that battle which might have been affected by Mariette's survival. She was aware that Rosanna had faced Ser Tristyn again and disappeared before the rest of the Inquisitors fought Duke Ashwood. What if Mariette had been there, fighting at her side? What if she and her old friend had returned to storm the old fortress together? Things were never set in stone.

These thoughts brought a surge of regret, and Mariette balled a fist with her free hand while her other trembled in Cassandra's grasp. As soon as Hudson was out of earshot, Mariette replied to Cass. "He's wrong..." she hissed. "It was noble, oui, but it was so stupid and short-sighted... and things could have been different. I know things could have been different..." she repeated, agonizingly. Then, she took a breath and set her feelings aside. "Let's... let's catch up with the others. This 'Vixas' has procured us some sort of enchanted wagon, non?"

 

[Damian0358]

Takato didn't know what to say to Leakhena, as he tried to give the being a proper investigation. From her aura, he could already tell one thing that distinguished her from the rest - she was still alive. How long has she been here?! Even if it wasn't Abahai, he was still rather intimidated. In the meantime, he kept his ears open to what was being discussed. However, it appeared that the one watching Vixas and the group was doing the same.

The moment after Vixas introduced the wagon to the group, the mysterious being straightened up, now more visible to the group. With a large leap, she aimed herself for the native. However, as though anticipating it, Vixas floated to the side, leading to the being landing on a rooftop on the other side of the street. The being tried once more, with the same result.

"It seems we have an unexpected guest..."

"Don't act like I'm a nuisance!" the being responded with a middle-aged tone, "And you haven't even introduced them to the village or me!"

"...they have things of far greater importance to deal with."

This time, the being landed on the street this time, near the group. Everyone could get a good look at her now - she was nearly Riberta's size, carrying with her a spiked two-handed war club in one hand. She was tealish-purple, and appeared rather middle-aged. Her hair flowed down, with a braid half-way. One of her horns seemed to have broken off. Her clothes were loose-fitting, almost robe-like, but enabling her to be as nimble as she was just now. She looked up at Vixas.

"Besides, one of their fellas interests me!" she stated, pointing the club at Takato, "You! Hermit fella!"

 

[ANIMAL MOTHER]

Well, so far this oni seems friendly to the group. Seems. It's not attacked them right away nor has it spouted forth endless lines from Taranoch's quotations. It hasn't brought up some obscure secrets relating to the tragic pasts of someone among the group either. Though it's a little troubling that it recognizes Takato right away. Leakhena looks her up and down before giving her a puzzled look and shrugging. Friend, family, or just a case of mistaken identity, she decides to go ahead and ask to find out which one it is.

"Uh... may we help you?" she asks.

 

[Damian0358]

The oni looked over to Leakhena, smirk forming on her face. She began approaching the gluttony demon in a casual and friendly fashion.

"Why, I guess I could answer that with a yes and a no, ma'am," she responded, before once more looking over to Takato.

Takato, in the meantime, seemed to be zoning out. Seeing the lady just hop all over the place, and act like this, was somewhat surprising to him. And the fact that she seemed to be interested in him was, well, curious at least.

"You see, back in my day, I liked to stack up occasionally with hermits and folks like 'em. They were always up for a little something something, if you know what I mean," she commented, slamming her fist into her palm, "but, where's my manners?!" she shouted, stepping back a tad.

"One of Boying's old band members, and spiritual successor to Zhong Kui in Yinjian and the village here, Abahai, at your service. Šun Abahai, if you really care about my clan name," she introduced herself with a casual bow, though looking back up, she found relatively blank expressions. Takato meanwhile looked on in disbelief. It was actually her... and she both met and didn't meet his expectations, based on what Shi Guang had told him that faithful night.

 

[ANIMAL MOTHER]

"They were always up for a little something something, if you know what I mean,"

Hold on. A little something something, she says? And this little something something involved people like Takato? And she's quite familiar with him too as her appearance demonstrated. Say, wasn't he supposed to be a monk? Leakhena's face wears an expression of surprise before turning to one of confusion. "Takato... I thought you were a monk!" she loudly whispers over to him, gesticulating too. Truly, a scandalous affair. At least it would be if she cared more. Still, this oni's introduced herself and now it's their turn.

"Leakhena Vong." she says, bowing once more. "I suppose it's... nice to be your acquaintance?" Takato being frozen in shock still hasn't escaped her attention as she keeps looking back and forth between him and Abahai. 'Is he going to say something?' she wonders to herself.

 

[Infab]

Vincent glanced between Takato and Abahai for a few moments, taking note of Takato's expression, before finally speaking. "Do you know her, Takato?" he asked. Meanwhile, Riberta simply gazed upon the oni with an eyebrow cocked. Big Oni. Looks like a heavy hitter too. Would probably be fun to spar with. Maybe.

Cassandra eyed Abahai for a few moments, before glancing to Mariette. She wasn't particularly knowledgable when it came to Redonia and the cultures and races that lived upon that particular continent. She has read about them of course, over the years, but not thoroughly. Eventually, she spoke up herself. "...I believe it's only proper that the rest of us introduce ourselves as well. Cassandra Bainbridge, pureblood vampire and partially reformed psychopath. A pleasure to meet you."

Vincent followed behind. "Vincent Beaumont. Senior Inquisitor of the Vigilant Order." he said, before Riberta spoke up. "Riberta. Hybrid. Barbarian Warlord." she said simply.

 

[Damian0358]

Takato kept looking back and forth, even as Leakhena joked that he had an affair. Meanwhile, Abahai tried to contain her laughter, but after Leakhena, Cassandra, Vincent and Riberta introduced themselves, she just burst out laughing and slapped the gluttony demon hard on the back.

"Hahah, nice to be your friend too! Good to see there's some spirit in you folk!" she bolstered out, before calming her jolly. She gave everyone a good ol' fashioned smile.

Takato looked over to Vincent, finally properly having processed the situation: "...I've only heard of her about 100 years ago, oni being part of Boying's band of fighters being obscure knowledge, but she was among the most prominent fighters against the demons in Upper Redonia's Late Age of Darkness..."

"Heh, but no," Abahai continued, "what I meant was a good ol' round of being the crap out of each other! Me and my brother would always enjoy a good fight, and hermits and their sort always liked to see how well they're doing! Oh, I've had some stiff battles against demons, but those hermits were something else, I tell ya!" she revealed, giving everyone a look over. There were a few who seemed like they could be fun to fight, like that warlord! She could tell from her aura that she's a veteran of darkness too, exciting! But she steadied herself.

"But don't worry, I'm not here to fight. I'm sure you are all very busy," Abahai cutting Vixas a glance, who's probably already tired of her, "but I might end up forced into battle because of that hermit there!" she yelled, looking straight at the relatively surprised hermit. She walked over to him, and tried to psyche him out with a battle stance. Takato, in kind, responded with one that'd counter it. She did another, and he responded well to that one too. And a third, and the same once more.

"Ah, good, good! Love to see quick minds and reflexes like those!" Abahai commented, Takato wondering what in the hell she's doing, "but now," she started, thrusting her hand forward, and spreading her fingers out in random directions. Takato tried to think what she was going to do, before being met with a sudden blast of air to the foot, catching him if ever briefly off-guard, long enough to allow Abahai to grab his collar.

"Could you please explain why in all the Dou your shadow is chasing me?!" Abahai yelled, Takato trying to stammer out a response.

"W-what?!" he mustered out.