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

[joshuadim]

"I'm not sure you understand the gravity of my crime, Vincent. I tried to change the flow of fate, and now look what has become of us!" Venextos spoke, motioning his arm to Hudson's group. "This is MY fault, I don't think there is any other explanation for this."

 

[Damian0358]

Takato couldn't, or rather, didn't want to comprehend what was going on. Just barely overhearing what was going on between Tariun and Jakob over the dialogue between Hudson and the others, hearing her beg for Adriel's forgiveness, he felt a heavy weight fall upon him. And just about soon after, with Hudson enraging both Vincent and Kassidy, the former finally told Hudson to leave. And with that, they began to fracture.

Takato's loyalty was with the group - to depart from the group would mean to reject the duty given to him, the call to fight against the incoming troubles. To allow what is to come to happen, is to allow the world to fall into peril, to allow those in need to suffer even further. He couldn't permit that, not at all. To reject the call would be to reject his hermitdom.

However, as Takato watched everything develop, he grew more worried. First Hudson departed, followed by Riberta following her word, then Jakob believing this all to be flawed; meanwhile, Henderson, Inari and Senya made their decisions to stay, even Loque, though she seemed... uncomforting. However, from behind, he could hear Venextos speak to Vincent... and speak of meddling 'with fate'... what could that mean?! It couldn't mean what he believed it meant... did he mess with the Dou, the way?! Something they wish to prevent the enemy from doing?!

Takato turned around, facing Venextos with a shocked expression: "S-say it isn't so, Grand Magus! To mess with the Dou..."

 

[Infab]

"Hudson's a fucking dense jackass! That's the explanation!" responded Vincent.

 

[joshuadim]

Venextos grunted and shook his head. "I don't know anymore... I'm only afraid of the possibility that my continued meddling will only lead to everyone's collective demise if I haven't already."

He then turned to Takato: "If that's your word for Fate, then yes... it is." he spoke with shame.

 

[Damian0358]

Takato looked on in despair...

"...to mess with the Dou, to redirect the flow unnaturally..." Takato spoke, now finally having reached his lowest low so far. Not even finding out about Ibaraki's daughters brought him so low... and yet...

"...y-you, if t-that is what you did, t-truly so... then you cannot leave..." he said, "...to leave means to abandon your chance to undo what you have done... to rectify that which you have done, and allow the way to flow proper once more..."

 

[Emperor Sagan]

Inari poked her head around the edge of the truck as she heart Vincent and Venextos talking, and it sounded like the old wizard was going to leave as well. She didn't care much for sorcerers but she couldn't deny that they actually had a fair utility use for healing and spells. It would be a little more difficult without one of them around.

She glanced back into the truck, and turned towards Henderson. "We have rope? Chain? One sorcerer try to leave, maybe we tie him up."

 

[Doomevil]

Senya shrugged turning towards Inari's suggestion. "Not gonna lie, it would be better if we just dragged them into the truck."

 

[Breadman]

Henderson looked at Venextos with a glint in his eye when Inari mentioned he was going to leave.

"I'll step on him, you grab the rope."

 

[joshuadim]

Venextos listened for a moment before bringing his head down again, cursing himself violently in his native ancient tongue. Before looking up to Takato again. "Perhaps you're right..." Venextos took a few steps back and then cursed out loud: "Fils de putes de salopes enculés merde!"

"Then I can at least keep Jakob alive. I owe that much to him since I dragged him into this mess in the first place." Venextos spoke.

 

[ANIMAL MOTHER]

"Maybe you want weapon, a good weapon? You want borrow small sword? I show you how to use it well."

It takes a moment for Inari’s words to register in Loque’s ears. It takes just as long for her to give a response.

“I’m...”

". . . f i n e."

 

[Emperor Sagan]

Inari cackled a bit when Senya and Henderson agreed with her, and she finally moved and crawled deeper into the truck to hunt for some rope. She found some stuffed near the back, covered in grease and dirt. Inari gave it a few tentative tugs and examine its integrity, even sniffing it. Must have been coated in a preservative or something. There was enough for the job, it seemed.

"I have rope!" She called out cheerfully, crawling back out of the truck and hopping off the back. She started to tie it into a circular loop with some give so it could be tightened when put around something. Or someone.

While doing so, she glanced over her shoulder at Loque who finally spoke up. "Uh... if you say. You sad all time, you need more thing to be happy. Maybe lend hand? We stopping sorcerer from going away."

Inari looked back to Henderson. "Al-right! Rope ready."

 

[Breadman]

"Right." Henderson left the truck from the back and with a quick pace walked over to where Venextos stood "Am I hearing you right? You're planning to leave? You're not actually doing something that stupid, are you?"

 

[Emperor Sagan]

Inari walked around the opposite side of the truck while Henderson was confronting Venextos, and she stood around the truck behind the sorcerer with the rope ready if the man was going to be difficult. She'd have tried this on Riberta if the woman wasn't so big and strong.

 

[joshuadim]

"I wish you the best of luck then, Takato. And you too Vincent. May your fortunes change for the better." Venextos spoke before shifting to his raven form once more. And with a caw, he flew off to catch up to Jakob and the group he was with.

 

[Emperor Sagan]

Inari leapt from around the truck to try and catch the sorcerer when he transformed and flew away, and she even threw the rope at him while he took off in midair, missing him again entirely. She frowned pretty heavily.

"I hate sorcerers. But I hate pig-head idiots more. Who else we need to tie up?" She glanced around towards Takato, dangling the rope at him almost teasingly. "You want fly away too?"

 

[Damian0358]

"W-what, no!" Takato responded to Venextos' statement. Was Jakob related to this 'meddling with fate' he had done? He wanted to say something, anything, to remind him that whatever he may have done would be overshadowed by what the enemy would do if they won. But as quickly as he said that, he bid his adieus and left...

Takato watched as the now-raven-formed Venextos left them, in utter disbelief. Inari's question barely brought him back to reality.

"...no," he said simply, as he gave the kitsune a stare that could simultaneously cut steel, and mend it at the same time.

 

[Emperor Sagan]

["Heh. The hermit and the devil remain. Maybe you have more substance than I thought you did. Maybe you aren't that bad,"] Inari said to him, slinging the rope over her shoulder and glancing around.

"New plan. We find demon sorcerer, cut off hands, maybe feet too, and make them fight for us. Cut out tongue if not needed."

 

[Damian0358]

Takato maintained the stare he was giving Inari as she spoke to him in Lower Redonian. The moment she switched to discussing her new plan, Takato just slowly moved his gaze towards the floor.

His mind wandered for a moment, once more considering a great many things - the increase in workload, the role of the Dou in all this, and soon enough... his master. If only a brief moment, he wondered what his master would do, before his pupils briefly dilated once more. He remembered the same realization as he had when the group was moving towards the factories... the thought that he had grown too attached, too reliant, on the image of his master, and what he would do. The thoughts had flooded him throughout this journey so far, and had likely been doing so since his master's demise. Had he grown too attached to the concept of his master and his virtuous nature? If he was too attached to it, was he overly attached to other concepts, things or people? And if he wasn't detached, if he had failed that aspect, had he failed elsewhere? In just how far has he failed himself, his faith, the Dou, and those around him...?

Takato shook his head, attempting to free his mind of thought, for it to be unstained for just a brief moment, before stopping. He sighed with a grimace.

 

[Infab]

And now the mage had left them. To join Hudson in his insane march to his own demise. Vincent looked back ahead, his eyes drifting down to the steering wheel. The group had effectively broken in half, all because of one man's suicidal tendencies. He let out a defeated sigh, before looking next to him at Seriphine. "...I bet you've had to deal with some proper idiots in your time, too." he said softly, before looking back to the group still with him.

Takato, Henderson, Inari, Senya, Loque, Wesley, and Seriphine. The others that had been with them before had been taken by Xager elsewhere a day before. Likely to help with whatever she was doing. Hopefully they were okay. He looked back to Kassidy afterward. "So...do we just follow you?"

Kassidy nodded. "I'll tell ya when we need ta stop. Might look a bit suspicious if we rode on into tha capital with ta just followin' me, so I'll have ta jump on and drive sometime." she said, before strolling back to her bike. As she walked, she spoke again. "I'm...sorry 'bout yer buddies. Got a feelin' we'll be seein' 'em again, though. Don't worry too much 'bout 'em." she said, as she finally grabbed onto her bike and mounted it. "OH! Tell yer Oni buddy there ta mask yer auras. So we don' get noticed crossin the territory. Lotta small brothels and ram ranches, ya know. Scattered 'bout all neat like."

She soon startes her bike, and motioned for them to follow. The truck was cranked back up, and soon they were following Kassidy's small bike. Off into the territory of Sekath.

------
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Elsewhere, Hudson's geoup began their trek off through the barren, wartorn wastes that they had crossed by truck before. Riberta glanced back, taking note of Jakob and Venextos now following after them. "At least one of the healers came with us. Makes keeping your sorry ass alive so much easier." said Riberta, looking back ahead to Hudson.

 

[Dmaster]

"You think they'll heal a 'selfish little shit'? The great and wise wizard betrays his calm and friendly exterior with such talk." the hunter replied apathetically. "Funny how the only way any of you lot work together is by pretending to be something we aren't. Don't give me shit for being the only one too tired to play pretend."

 

[Doomevil]

Senya turned to the others, hearing the silence after Kassidy said her piece "I gotta admit. I'm kind of glad they're gone. No offense. Except for the Detective and the Magus of course."

 

[Infab]

"I give you shit because you're an asshole." replied Riberta. "I'd expect the same back. I'm a royal bitch...I guess in both senses of the word." She looked back to Jakob. "...I hope you're not doing this because I'm the Alpha. A pup like you doesn't need to follow my kind around."

 

[ANIMAL MOTHER]

Loque’s eyes scan the interior of the truck, wondering where the mage went. They just had a talk together about sticking with one another to do the right thing no matter the odds, yet Senya’s remark made it sound like he was just bullshitting.

“...Venextos left?”

 

[Doomevil]

Senya tilted her head before giving a quick sigh. She turned to Loque who looked tired for the past hour. There was no sugarcoating about it. She nodded slowly, "Left with Hudson and the others, yes. Why? I don't know his reason. Would have been nice if he told us." She rubbed her gauntlets with her thumb.

 

[Infab]

Vincent spoke up. "...He went to keep them alive. Or at least Jakob." he said, before glancing back into the truck bed at Loque. "I'm...sorry about earlier. Hudson was being so thick headed, and I just snapped." He looked back ahead. "...guess you can see why Velin's Order and the Vigilant Order don't get along too well."