Fantasy Masterless

[Midnight Paragon]

Goribasha
Village of Kiba
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Dusk was beginning to set on the small village of Kiba, a village set on the edge of a river who is known for its smoked koi. The waters of the river flowed slowly as the occupants of the town slowly started to make their way inside. The lights inside the houses started to slowly flicker on as night slowly overtook day, and the lights inside the tavern of the Proud Tiger glowed brightest of all.
Chatter filled the brightly lit room of the tavern as people of all kind sat around speaking with one another and sipping on all kinds of drinks. The majority of people inside were sellswords and other types of mercenaries, and this was because of one thing; The Silver Koi had come to town, and that was good news for any bar owner. In the corner at a single table sat their eldest member, Saizo. He gazed upon the room with a sly smile, sipping from a bottle of cold sake. This was one of his favorite times; lounging around with his fellow warriors and enjoying a good drink or two...​

 

[Firebear]

"What wares do you sell, good merchant?", Valko asked the greying woman. His pronunciation was not free of fault, yet the rhythm of the words was like any native-born Goribashan.

"Smoked koi, danna. The finest fish straight from the river and caught by my husband", she said, smiling welcomingly. Valko hummed thoughtfully, considering the fillets stacked on the stand. Smoked fish held off rot for quite a while, and his supplies were running low. Ideally, this village would hold within it the Silver Koi, but that was what he had thought about the other five villages he'd visited for the last two weeks. He was going to check the fish closer when the woman clicked her tongue against her teeth and he felt a light touch on his money pouch. With a sharp hiss and the speed of a trained fighter, he spun around and caught the hand of a young child in his armoured fist.

"If I catch your hand in my pouch again I will break it", he snarled. He looked the child, a boy little more than twelve, over, noting his thin form and ragged clothes and immediately softened. All the while keeping an eye on the street, he took out a silver coin and bent down to press it into the boy's hand. "Here, little brother. A gift to keep you on the proper path for a while more. Buy what you need." He closed the boy's hand and stood again. "Now off with you." The boy hastily complied.

"Brats like that...", growled the woman. "...shouldn't be treated so leniently."

Valko frowned. "Children so young...", he said, with a trace of anger. "...may still be saved from wickedness." He turned back towards the woman. "Now, your koi is not the only one I am interested in, ma'am. I have heard that the Silver Koi have come here. Is this correct?" Her smile returned.

"Yes. They are here now, I heard that they are staying at the Proud Tiger, on the other side of the river. There are so many troubles around nowadays that simply their presence is welcome."

"My thanks, ma'am. May I also have five fillets of koi?"

After that it went swiftly, he paid for his fish and left it in the saddlebags with his horse, a beautiful chestnut mare named Kuài that he had bought in another village after losing his old one. By the time he was done, it had nearly gotten dark. Passing the spot where the woman had had her stall he saw that she had already closed it up, so he passed by to go for the bridge. As the sun set and the light died, he found it harder and harder to see.

So he focused on his blood, felt it pumping through his body with every beat of his heart. He focused on the light burning within him and coaxed part of it out into his palm, forming a small, glowing ember that quickly grew in intensity until it shone as bright as a candle. With his light to guide him, he made his way over the bridge, past the few townsfolk still out and about and towards a large house that was practically shining with all the light coming from it. The sound of song and merriment from within revealed it for what it had to be. Valko quenched his light and entered.

Well inside he found his white full plate and golden mane made him stand out. He felt curious eyes roaming over him before returning to their drinks and friends. He made his way to the bar and waved for the tavern keeper. He asked for a beer and got the rice-based swill they made here. In his own opinion beer should be made from barley or rye, anything else just didn't get the right taste. Taking a small sip, he went on to the point.

"I heard the Silver Koi was in town. Where might I find them?"

 

[Derpy Dev]

"While I had fun traveling with you," Kei said in the form of a young human girl, "It is time for us to part ways."

This was a body he had had fun in. Only 15 years of age, this young girl he claimed to be was abducted by robbers but freed by a traitor in their midst. Or at least, that's what he told his traveling companion, a female swordsman roughly 35 years of age named Valle. He had learned much about her and would miss her, just like he had missed many of his previous companions. "I hope you find your lost brother someday," Kei continued, "I'm sure he wishes to find you like you wish to find him."

Valle sighed. It hurt Kei on the inside to see a tear run down her face. She got off her horse and kneeled down to give Kei a hug. "I appreciate the sentiment," choked out Valle, "You are so much like him you know. Kind and clever... I'll miss you too." She got up after about a minute and wiped the tears off of her face. "Now go find your parents and tell them I said hi. They gotta be worried sick about you." And on that note, Kei said goodbye to Valle and that form forever as he ran off into the crowd.

It was very rare that someone could manage to make Kei feel bad for lying, but Valle was one of those that could. Everything just went so perfectly with that form. The backstory, the character... it just worked for Valle. He was pretty sure the only true thing he said to her was that he hoped she and her brother would be reunited. He truly wished for her to have a happy ending. Kei sighed as he slipped into an alleyway and left that form, returning to the three tailed fox form he was accustomed too. Now what shall I be this time? A beggar, a thief, a soldier... After some thought, he picked a rather generic form--a grey haired 73 year old man with a cane. Standing at 5'7", this form was skinny and had a hoarse voice. He'd use this form to locomote the city without being noticed by fox hunters.

He began to walk around. It had been a while since he traveled through Kiba--a good two, maybe three years at least. Maybe he was crazy, but the place looked... happier. Yeah that was it. There was so much excitement and cheer here compared to the last time. Was a bandit gang driven out or something? He picked a random shop out of the crowd, it seemed to be a smoked koi stand. As the last tender left, he went to the front of the stand.

"Hello there sir," she said to him. "Here for a koi?"

"No mam, sorry," Kei answered. Or rather, lied, as he was probably gonna steal one on his way out. "Just one question, what's with the commotion here?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I've been here before, and it wasn't so bright and cheery last time. Is there a festival or something?" As he said this, Kei used an illusion to make a koi invisible and he grabbed it and held it behind him. Humans were easily distracted by speech.

"Ah, the Silver Koi is in town!" said the woman without a hint of hey-you-thieving-bastard-put-down-that-fish in her voice. "The bandits were beginning to become dangerous around here and here comes a brave band of warriors, ready to defend us for a pretty penny. They're in the inn on the other side of the river if you want to check it out."

"Oh, so that's what it is. Thank you," responded Kei as he headed to the river with a free fish. After a brief meal behind the tavern in fox form, he returned to his elderly body and entered the Proud Tiger.

 

[OverconfidentMagi]

A dim black cloak covering shockingly red hair made its way through the bustling tavern. Its wearer stopped to exchange words with other members of the Silver Koi, but nothing important was spoken and so the woman forgot the words and the faces she's said them to as soon as she turned away. It was rude yes, but Scarlet had never been known as a particularly polite person. If she was being polite or sweet or anything resembling... kind, heaven forbid, chances are she wanted something from the unfortunate soul before her. The other Koi could keep their one family sentiments for themselves, she couldn't care less so long as at the end of the day her coin purse sat heavier than it had in the morning.

To say she cared nothing for her companions would be a a lie however. Among the Koi's members there were some that stood out. Her crimson eyes found one such person. This one was her favorite. Even among the other strong fighters of the Silver Koi, this one was special. She wanted to fight him so bad, but she couldn't force it just yet. She still hadn't found a surefire way she could win. That was what made him unique. The other strong fighters had clear weaknesses, but this one she couldn't find it. She sighed and changed her course through the crowded room.

"Saizooooooooooo~ buy me a drink!" The crimson-haired woman leaned against the table next to the Silver Koi's senior most member. "I'm cheap and sober and without a drink in my hand, how do you plan on remedying this situation?"