Winds of Closure

Aside from leaving to investigate rumors and reports from my operative network, I had vanished for a couple of weeks while Battousai was training Yuki. I had tried to investigate some personal matters of my own, but to no avail. After my search was detoured or something, I started having weird visions that led me to the Village of the Sun to seek out a former teacher of mine who I often sought guidance from after my Master's disappearance in the Core District. While Battousai's initial encounters with the Dark King took place, I was actually asleep for the first time in weeks. Much had happened that I needed to catch him up on, but first things first, I would be returning from my second visit to Garfwin in the northeast quadrant of the R5 region. The mage was still there according to my operatives.

Meeting up with Battousai and Yuki, I was ready to leave the village of Theden once again. There wasn't anything wrong with Yuki's village but I have grown accustomed to staying in motion a lot. So remaining in one village for too long makes me antsy. My powers are either developing or overloading, a far more frightening scenario, but I am not sure which it is. I have been hearing my companions speak without moving their lips and it is starting to bother me. When I returned from this trip, I had reported in to Battousai and this time we are able to get moving to investigate ourselves. It had been a little while since I had traveled with Battousai alone. I had almost grown accustomed to Yuki or the clansmen. We would start out walking for now, I figure I would get bored of walking if something didn't happen and just move us through the Void. I remain focused on trying to quiet my thoughts and continue to tune out his thoughts for a little while longer. Once I seem to have everything under control, I would inquire, "Is the target well connected to where he might have guards and such with him?" My mind is prepared to start formulating strategies and to do so, I need at least some intel on our, or rather his, target.

EXP: 412

“I don’t know,” is the cryptic and simple response from the samurai. Clearing the vagueness of the last post to apply a setting that hadn’t fully been set, it would be late in the evening as the duo would come upon the outskirts of a simple village known as Garfwin located approximately around the north east area of map coordinates of R5. The village would be south of the main areas of Mare Maris, but in close enough approximation to the city to travel there for supplies and work. Aside from that, the small satellite village would be self-sufficient enough as demonstrated in the user of its land. The villagers of this area had managed to procure and keep domesticated animals and had coarse croplands set up around the village in the back yards of the spread about farm houses. At this point, they would be simply walking into the village as if they would into any normal village. A rustic tint would be over the city provided by the setting sun in the west as the two approached from that very direction.

Looking over the village they were approaching, Battousai approximated a village of this size could hold about fifty people comfortably. It consisted of simple wooden structures which mimicked relic houses of areas built up a bit more. It didn’t seem as if there was an army or defense force here. It looked more like a place for people to retire and live a life of peace.

Due to the fact that it was evening, a handful of men and women were visible moving about the main area of the village, which was only about a block in size with the vastness mostly due to the land that separated structures. Coming into the village, Battousai would look around from its entrance edge; they had come here, thus they would have to somehow track the person with the omega symbol on his hand; so far the people around seemed normal. Answering Dravec’s question late, Battousai would state the obvious, “I don’t think so…”

388 / 745
Ooc Note: Cross Reference

Entering into the rustic village, I look around as we nonchalantly walk about. The young male operative is out doing his rounds at the moment. The female operative that had made her way up to this village to provide additional recon for me was roaming around somewhere I am sure. Probably watching me at this moment. She is a pretty damn good archer with pretty much anything: bow and arrow, crossbows, spring-loaded gauntlet bows, the works. So she would most likely be somewhere high up near the center of town. Since this village was basically little more than a merchant pit stop, the best location for her would also raise the least amount of suspicion for a female operative here... the saloon. Not as a working girl. She would more than likely pose as a stringed musician or arrive as a mercenary. I had not given instruction as to what role to portray, so I am curious as to what role she chose myself.

Speaking to Battousai, "The first place that we should go is the saloon or tavern. That is always a great place to meet new friends." By now Battousai & I had gotten relatively used to cryptic conversation or at least I had, so I figure the same from him. We needed an update on the whereabouts of the man and the female would be easier to get a hold of.

Provided Battousai agreed, we would make our way over to the saloon. While walking down the street to the saloon, I actually pass by the male operative running errands and make no reference or gesture to him. He would probably gaze back at some point and notice my direction shift towards the saloon. The identity of Battousai would be of no immediate consequence at the moment. I would be stop at the entrance for a moment to allow Battousai to enter before me.

EXP: 762
OOC: This way if he happens to be inside the tavern, you would notice him first. Up to you where he is or even if he's in this village still.

Every village should have a watering hole, no matter how small. That logic seemed to resound well with Battousai, so with a nod, he acknowledged and allowed the action. Thus with that, the direction of their saunter into the village would be confirmed and movement would be made towards the largest building that seemed to hold in it the past time of men after a hard day’s work. The tavern itself would be basically a wooden box in log cabin form with homemade double doors that pushed either in or out when unlocked. There would be a few broken down trade carts lying about outside along with a small mule that probably belonged to a farmer inside or a traveler from another village. Battousai would enter into the building first, moving beyond the doors and into the interior of the small establishment. It wouldn’t be much, but it would be about the size of a medium house as a single room, much like a hole in the wall establishment. The relatively small area doesn’t take long to scope out as Battousai would be looking at strangers who were looking back at him and Dravec due to the fact that they were strangers. The samurai’s travel cloak sways as his movements pause and he comments to Dravec, “I do not see anyone who could be him…”

The man in question would actually have left the tavern not too long ago and would have made it into an empty cabin of Yart size about twenty or so yards away from the cabin to the west. People who knew of the man were inside of the building, however. There seemed a group of 6 hard working types that sat around a round table with mugs of ale that seemed to take particular interest in the two who had just come in. Battousai would leave it up to Dravec to be the ‘social’ one here to either speak up or locate his associate.

357 / 1102
Ooc Note: Cross Reference

Entering the tavern after Battousai, I walk in myself and scan the room. My left hand comes up to push the hood of my cloak back. Atop a makeshift "stage" is a female playing a stringed musical instrument that looks very much like a lyre. Her voice is quite pleasant to listen to. I make eye contact with her before turning my attention to Battousai. Hmm... he is not present. I nod to him and close my eyes. I try to focus on my thoughts first. Once I start to block out the background noise, my mind begins to search almost as if my mind itself is walking around the room. It looks at the female operative still playing the lyre. Everyone else seems to vanish and I speak to her...

"The man with the symbol on his hand... where is he?"
She responds, "He recently left. He does not seem to have any accomplices, but I remained to be sure. I am not sure which way he went when he left."
Nodding my head, I inform, "That is fine. Thank you for making it up her so quickly by the way. Where was the man sitting?"

The table where the man was sitting illuminates from within the darkness of the tavern. I look at her and she nods to me. I tell her to continue and enjoy yourself.

Sound and sight rush back to me as the mental link is released. Looking over at Battousai, I speak softly, "I will figure out where he went. If you fill up our water skins, it will appear as if we are just passing thru. Meet me out front once you're done." If the water skin and thus the plan is accepted, I would hand it over and walk towards the side of the room. My steps carry me silently towards the table where the man was sitting. Passing by it, I would take in a deep breath while scanning for any remnants of his presence. I knew which way he had gone, but I needed to keep moving. There is a sign in the back of the tavern that directs where one goes to use the toilet.

EXP: 378/1140

Battousai would give a nod to the idea as he would continue to walk in a calm manner over towards the bar; in this manner, he would move opposite of Dravec. After reaching the bar, he would nod towards the hearty bar keeper who would generically enough be in the process of drying a cup with a somewhat clean rag. Battousai would come to rest beside the bar; his gaze would lower momentarily to reach for the water skins. After placing each one onto the bar, he would look up to the bar keeper and inquire, “just water…” Taking him for a traveler, the bar keeper gets to getting the water as he attempts to sell Battousai on ale or a few other trinkets. Battousai turns down the offer, but does allot the male a very common item as a bartering element for the water, which technically should have been free. The question comes of what had brought Battousai to the village, to which he simply answered ‘travel.’ He wondered for a moment if he should ask about the male they were looking for, but Dravec seemed to have a hunch that he was going on, so he wouldn’t say anything that might come off as suspicious now. After getting the packets of water filled, they are replaced within Battousai’s clothing and he turns around to look across the bar. As he had been putting his water away, one of the men noticed the sword that had been beneath his clothing, but Battousai received simply a look of acknowledgement that the weapon had been seen. Battousai would break eye contact from the man and look towards the young lady on the makeshift stage before he would casually push off of the bar and slowly walk to and out of the front door where he would await his traveling partner.

338 / 1470
Ooc Note: Cross Reference

Heading out the back door to where the outhouse for #2 and the DOR equivalent of a "urinal" are located, it gave me the cover I needed. I would wait a moment as I allow my senses to "sync" with my tracking ability before I start moving to the western side of the tavern. I pull the hood back over my head as I emerge from the side of the building and take in another deep inhalation. I take a moment to quiet my thoughts back to normal. Using my newly "discovered" mind magic is releasing an opening in a river dam. Once it is open to let a little bit of water through, it is quite difficult to reseal the damn before too much water comes thru the opening. Once I emerge, I glance to the east to see my companion standing there waiting. I would give a discrete hand gesture for him to stay where he is. I scan the area first. The trail went west, but it would be a simple tactic to leave your visible trail heading west while the actual movements go in a different direction. I walk towards Battousai and open all of my senses. The obvious path is west, but I have to be sure. Using all my enhanced senses in unison with my tracking skills, I seek out the next direction to travel. In order to keep the samurai abreast of the current situation. I explain to him briefly that his scent leads west, but that I am trying to make sure that it is not a false scent. I did not know if Battousai also had tracking abilities, but I figure if he does possess them, I would find out in a moment.

EXP: 300/1440

The samurai’s attention would be on his cohort as he arrived, having sensed his arrival from the approaching darkness of the evening. When the briefing comes, he would simply murmur “West…” in understanding of the direction they needed to head, thus his gaze would shift in that direction and he would begin walking in unison with Dravec as he followed his partner’s ability to follow the trail. Before long, he could see the direction in which the trail was basically leading and how it were unique from others in the area based on how Dravec would be following it, thus he wouldn’t need to depend on Dravec fully in the later portions of the tracking.

Before long, they would come upon the small house that held the current target. Sensing confirmed that there was someone in there, and someone who seemed to hold a fair amount of magic. As a child, it may have seen like a lot, but at their current level, the concentration of magic wasn’t great. Battousai would look to Dravec and nod, stating, “he is there… cover the points of exit” since because if the person inside fled then it would be troublesome. With that, Battousai readied himself to test the truth of something he had been waiting for, for a long time; he would see if Dravec’s tracking abilities and intel had been correct thus far.

After Dravec was expected to ‘vanish’ into the darkness to cover the points of exit, Battousai would simply walk to the front door of the building and knock. There was no real reason to break an entry since they didn’t have a visual of their target and the target didn’t seem onto them. With two taps, Battousai would stand back and wait for the door to open.

When the door opened, an elderly male in a beige tunic, with speckled white and grey hair would be on the other side. Looking at Battousai, he would question, “may I help you.” Battousai would look down at the man’s hand and see the symbol from his youth. At that moment, the rage and anger that had been bottled up for so long come rushing into his heart. He looks up at the man with angry eyes, but the man does not seem to be alarmed. Speaking in suppressing his rage, he questions, “do you know a man named Baek…?” Upon hearing those words, the man’s face would show surprise and then sorrow as he looks down. Battousai’s anger boils, but the man speaks, “I am cursed with the same birth mark as my brother… if I am the light, then he is the darkness...” Looking back up at Battousai, he questions, “what wrong has my brother done to you? Perhaps I can fix it.” Battousai is confused for a moment and isn’t sure who to respond to such a thing. Should he kill this one also? He stops himself as there was something he needed to know. “Where is your brother and what is his name…” the samurai asks, “tell me or I cannot guarantee your life.” The elderly male, still seemingly not intimidated but more so worried is hesitant at first as he tries to explain, “the path of vengeance is not…” Before he could finish his statement, Battousai’s body is already in stance with his blade to the man’s neck. “Where!...” At this point, if Dravec could read the male’s mind or somehow force his words, it would be appreciated. The man closes his eyes as if prepared to die to protect his wayward brother.

659 / 2129
Ooc Note: Cross Reference

Upon reaching the house, I would look at Battousai, who seems to already know what I am about to inform him of. "The scent leads there." I gesture towards the house and await further orders. When I am told to cover the exits, I nod as my tracking ability would allow me to follow him no matter where he tried to exit from. Still, I know that I cannot be visible to the target when he sees Battousai. So with a nod of agreement, my form would indeed vanish from sight. I keep myself within range of Battousai as I am far more concerned with ensuring his safety than I am with the exits given the ease of the task. I observe the base surface thoughts/emotions that would denote extreme anger and frustration coming from the samurai. The words "Find his brother." would "appear" in my thoughts, so I turn my mental energies towards the tracked position of the current target. Releasing energy towards the male scent, I would attempt to read his surface thoughts now. Since Battousai wants this information, I would assume that he is doing his part to provoke the target's thoughts to fall upon his brother & where he last remembered him. Scanning the thoughts, I would tread as lightly as possible as to remain undetected in my intrusion into the magus' mind.

EXP: 252/1692

Battousai’s rage would continue to seethe but seemed to be getting him nowhere. The samurai was reaching his limit, not impressed by this person’s determination to keep his brother safe. The samurai would blindly assume that this man was trying to keep him from what he had been searching his entire life for. The male in the light tunic, held with the blade to his neck and with his eyes closed, would be thinking along the lines of:

“…he must have done something horrible to this man… to drive him to this point. How deep does the treachery of my brother’s path go? What he seeks is not what he wants… he will stumble the same dark road as many before him… For this one’s own good, I cannot allow him to follow my brother to Norel; the degradation of his soul will only be found there…”

In a low murmuring growl Battousai warns the man further as he presses the blade against his neck enough to draw blood. The man’s mouth opens as he speaks, “killing me will do you no good. Leave peacefully and carry on your life. A spirit of the light should not act this way…”

For that moment, Battousai’s sword would retreat from the man’s neck and he would back off; but suddenly Battousai’s foot would meet with the man’s chest, kicking him deep into the interior of his own home. Walking into the small house, Battousai would stab the man’s hand down with his blade, causing the man to cry out in pain. “I have no idea what you mean,” the samurai would say, unknowing of his own origins, but would continue, “tell me… where is he?”

309 / 2438
Ooc Note: Cross Reference

The information that I am seeking begins to stream freely. Whatever Battousai was doing was allowing me to remain undetected and walking around for a moment, I come upon a letter that is received by the old man. The letter tells him that his brother has gone to the village of Norel in search of a lead. The old man speaks of the decline of the health of his brother's own soul then he sees an image of Battousai now. He looks at the letter then at Battousai and sighs in sorrow. I feel remorse of some sort. He is hoping that Battousai does not follow the same path as his brother.

My eyes open as I exit the old man's mind to continue monitoring my brother-in-arms. From Battousai, I feel wrath and anger. My form vanishes with the soft-spoken command of "Shimmer." I would reappear right inside of the house on the other side of the door. What I see upon my arrival is rather unexpected. The target is old, having only now confirmed this visually, and not in any real position to pose a threat to Battousai. The urgency of the matter is the sole cause of the following designation, "My lord! I have what you need. You seek his brother, who is in the village of Norel. The old man says that you do not wish to seek this path. He claims that this path will lead you down a road of darkness and damnation. It is apparently what happened to his brother."

I would walk over to the old man and kneel by the side of his wounded hand, "Battousai, he is no threat nor an enemy. Leave him." Provided my interruption distracted or subsided Battousai's anger, I would look at the wound and speak, "This is an unfortunate wound." I still don't quite know how I am able to do this, but the old man's hand begins to mend itself. I still do not remember gaining the power to heal people, but somehow when I concentrate on such thoughts, I am capable of the feat. I would speak into the old man's mind, "Be still and make no motion or reference that you can hear me, old man. I do not know why my cohort bears such anger towards your brother nor does it matter to me, but the death that he would have delivered to you is nothing compared to the vile creativity of my mind. If you attempt to warn your brother or hinder us, I will return for you and there is nowhere in this realm that you can hide from me. I would like to avoid that though, so tell me one thing before we leave. You need only think the answer and I will hear you... how did your brother become the villain that you know him to be? What happened to him that you are hoping my brother avoids?"

I needed to know if there were enough parallels in what I am seeing between Battousai's behavior and what he might tell me of his brother's fall to darkness. This degradation of Battousai's soul...

EXP: 555/2247

When Dravecs words break the air, Battousai pauses for a moment and calms internally though the only visual cue to this would be the decrease in tightness of his eyes. He would stand back and fold his arms looking over the man and hearing what Dravec had to say in his defense. While Dravec speaks mentally to the man he was mending, something begin to occur within Battousai that caught him off guard. He would take a step back and bring both hands to his head as if gripping it in pain with his body hunched over.

The man would freeze as Dravec’s words came into play. He would try his best not to look towards Dravec, as good as a person can ‘not’ look at something when told directly not to look at it. Understanding that he could speak back, the elderly male mentally begins, ‘it’s a long story, but as a boy, there came a time when we knew that something was off with him. Something sinister and dark… it happened suddenly on the day our sister died…’

Interrupting this moment, Battousai’s body begins to simmer and burn with dark energy with hues ranging from black to dark purple. His form is engulfed completely and changes, decreasing in height and size. Suddenly, the energy fades off to both sides revealing the form of a pale and slender male with ragged white hair that almost covered his closed eyes. This boyish form looks over at Dravec, who was crouching over the old man and slowly walks forwards, speaking “…you must really love your brother to protect him like this.” The man would look to this new form unsure of what was going on. Jin would crouch at the man and rest one elbow on his knee. “I like you…” he admits, “here… let me help you up. I’m sorry.” He would hold out his hand to the old man, who would take it, and speak cautiously, “ah, thank you… it seems you’ve calmed some?” With a slight grunt and the emotionless Jin would assist in hoisting the man to his feet and pat him on the back, dusting him off a little. Looking to Dravec, he would ask plainly, “so you said we have what we need here, right?...”

413 / 2851
Ooc Note: Cross Reference

As I was focusing on the mental communication, I actually do not notice the shift in Battousai into one of his "lesser forms" behind me. When he approaches, I look at him and sigh. So this had been a longstanding issue. His answer having been left hanging does little to aid my thoughts of what could lead Battousai to be like this elder's brother. Once again, Jin had interfered in my investigation for my leader, which certainly annoyed me but I could show no such signs. Jin was much softer than Battousai for sure, but his approach to things was different. I nod to Jin when he inquires as to me having the information that we need. "Yes, the target is not here, but I now know where he should be. That is why we should spare the elder here. Is there more that you require here or shall we get moving?" I look at the elder male and while I want to get more information on the target's past, Battousai is most likely in a hurry, so I do not wish to keep him waiting... even if he is in the form of Jin.

EXP: 203/2450

With his answer that they had all they needed for the time being, Jin would give a soft nod and pat the elder on the back once more looking into his eyes at about equal height. The older man would be concerned about the fact that Dravec was able to get the location, but Jin would garner his attention speaking, “it was nice meeting you. Now your brother can be a little like me…” There is little warning as the hand that was on the elder’s back suddenly glows and there is a massive explosion of force on a weak area on the male’s body. A burst of light would strike with immense strength and literally blow a hole in the old man sending blood and parts of skin flailing in its wake. In the mess, the body would slump to its knees where Jin would hold it by its shoulder, preventing it from falling down. Bringing his lips to the dead man’s ear, he would whisper, “if you can’t get something back, then it makes sense to take something away, doesn’t it?” Jin leans back up and allows the body to fall on its face before turning around and facing Dravec with a dark visage partially splattered with blood. Jin would speak, “I thought you were my friend first… this journey is for me… Battousai is simply a helper… but it feels like you like him more…?”

252 / 3103
Ooc Note: Cross Reference

I stand in near shock as my advice is not only ignored but he escalates things to a manner of finality for the old man. I actually feel kind of bad for him. For all I gathered, he was innocent and I do not kill innocents. Aggre interrogation, perhaps, but I do not kill them. Something had defnitey changed in Jin and while part of me is intrigued by it, the other part is starting to understand the warning. "What purpose did killing an old man serve? He was no threat to you, neither of us. In order to vanquish a demon, you yourself cannot become one, Jin. You are indeed my oldest friend and some could say my only friend. We both changed over the two years we were apart & I found you to be excessively playful so I chose to serve Battousai. The boy u knew vanished along with my Master. I do not pretend to fully understand how you function or which is the primary and secondary. Before we proceed though, I need to know if you are in control. I will follow you wherever you need but the innocent cannot suffer for your pain or you will simply continue the cycle until a young warrior comes looking for you." I rise to my feet and walk towards the door. If only I knew what he was going thru, but I cannot and will not invade the mind of the one I have sworn to serve & aid.

EXP: 256/2706

Jin would take the words without a response. His gaze would be lowered; his eyes still closed hiding his emotion beneath the mask of his fox eyed visage. His gaze follows Dravec as his friend makes towards the door. For a moment a red gleam is seen as his eyes partially open, but it goes away as his face returns to normal and he begins walking in a calm manner after Dravec.

“So you’ve already abandoned me…” would murmur from his lips before a bright light would radiate about his form and in a burst of radiance, Battousai would fall to his knees, pulling his face mask down to his neck and coughing on his re manifestation in a manner that suggested that he had been choking or breathes the entire time when he had not been out. The stoic samurai soon composes, however, and stands to his feet on his own effort. After spitting to the side, he replaces the face mask over the lower portion of his face and look up and around the room, then to the dead man and the parts of which he consisted and then later to the door. He does not seem to be pleased, but he does not speak on it; rather he continues to the door and exits out of it. He only speaks, “let us hurry to Norel and finish this…”

241 / 3344
Ooc Note: Cross Reference

If there was one thing that I typically did not deal in between allies is absolutes. It was rarely ever this way or that way as there are always variables to be considered and this is no exception. In fact, this situation has so many more variables b/c he is the only one with the information. "If I had abandoned you, I would not be here nor would I risk my own safety to try and keep you from being consumed by whatever darkness has been eating at you all these years. Trust me, Jin, my hatred of the Order of Chaos quite possibly rivals your hatred for our target, but I also refuse to become them just to kill them."

I see the flash of light behind me, but when it ends, the sounds behind me are strange. It is Battousai, but he seems to be flustered or something. What in the world is going on with him? When he suggests that we hurry to Norel, I look at him, "Jin, what is happening to you? I can only help you if you allow me to?" Stepping outside, I channel the energy necessary to perform consecutive jumps through the Void in order to reach the outskirts of Norel. Before we leave, I look at my cohort in order to gain a better understanding of what he is going thru. If we are going into a hostile situation and he is not in control of himself let alone his powers then he is a danger not only to himself but to me and any innocent who might be around us.

EXP: 276/2982

Battousai pauses for a moment as he waits for the energy to collect that would take them to Norel. He looks at his traveling co hort and in a calm tone speaks, “I am not Jin.” It was true that since they had been reunited, the two hadn’t spent an incredible amount of time talking with one another. Even in their traveling to this point, they did not really speak about anything personal during the trip. Still, Battousai figured that his friend was at least in for an explanation. He would offer in his deeper tone, “Jin… is my creator… though I share the same body with him, I am not he. The person… that I assume you just saw… was Jin…” he would explain. It would be the reason why he went by the name Battousai and not Jin, though he did not always choose to correct others when he was referred in this manner. The reason he did not correct the issue was primarily because he didn’t necessarily care, but since Dravec was taking this step with him, it was time for him to at least know the separation of Jin’s personas. He assures his friend, “but do not worry about me… soon it will be over… there is no need for more help than you are currently providing.”

235 / 3579
Ooc Note: Cross Reference

As the energy is gathered and ready, I would merely nod to Battousai. "Understood, Battousai. We are departing." The spatial energy would emit from me before "grabbing" Battousai and pulling both of us into the Void. Every few moments, Battousai would hear another chant release from my lips as we continue to move. I had learned how to keep from exiting the Void by simply continuing the chant. This has proved to be quite useful and with my new strength in the Void, from where I am still not sure, I find that I am able to travel much further and much faster. It would be perhaps thirty seconds to a minute before we appear in the outskirts of Norel. I drop into a crouching position and look around to scan the area. I would start assessing the situation and I figure that it might be possible to use my senses and tracking ability to try and locate the current target's relative position based off of the scent and signature of his brother since they should be similar enough to get a rough idea. Without diverting my sensory attention from the environment scan, I inform, "This is Norel, Battousai. How do you wish to proceed?"

EXP: 229/3211

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