Conquering the Swamp [Dungeon|Open]

[Sanada Yukimura]

"Do not push yourself too hard Morei-san. You know she would not like it."

Giving Haji a kind smile, though he was worried about Haji's leg, pretty much all of them were battered, bruised, but not broken. And hopefully will never be any time soon. Following after Takehiro soon after, upon reaching the fork in the path, he would look down the left path, then down the right path.

"Both look so warm and inviting don't they guys?"

He would quip sarcastically, before looking over at Takehiro, and nodded his head. He agreed, splitting up at this point, was too risky. With skeleton chariot riders, other creatures with blade gauntlets and tendrils, staying together was the best option. Following after Takehiro, he would keep his spear up and close, his eyes constantly roving back and forth, keeping an eye out for any traps or movement.

[Morei Haji]

"Ha... you're right, Sanada-san. She can probably be scarier than anything we face in here."

I said just loud enough for him to hear. I would stop for a moment, tearing a part of my kimono off and wrapping it tightly around my leg as a tourniquet. I did not want to bleed out in the middle of battle or anything. I hoped this would last me some time. I did not want to be a burden to my allies. I needed to do my part to protect them as they did for me.

Wordlessly, I would follow behind everyone again once my leg was wrapped. My weapon was at the ready as I kept a lookout for anything that looked suspicious.

[Shinomori Katsumi]

"Y... Yeah," replied the woman, glancing away immediately as he pat her on the shoulder and smiled down at her. There was more to it than the monsters, Katsumi having her own demons to deal with, but... well, they didn't matter right now. Now that everything was fine between them, that was all that mattered, right?

Falling back to take her appropriate place, heading in the direction the others were going in silence Katsumi would notice Haji's state and her eyes widened. Quickly going over to him, fingers would brush against his arm as she lightly touched him. In a hushed voice, she said worriedly, "Haji-kun! What happened? Are you alright? Your... Your leg...!"

Feeling anxiety well up within her chest as she fret over her lover, the woman began to dig into her bag, searching for the food he gave her. She insisted, biting down on her bottom lip, "Haji-kun, please... please take the ricecake back and heal yourself. I'll be fine without it. I'm always in the back keeping my distance, and you're fighting those things head on. You... You clearly need it more than I!"

[Oda Nobunaga]

Takehiro: FmI7B8h2

Yukimura:

Haji:

Katsumi: ���

[Oda Nobunaga]

Upon proceeding down the path with Takehiro, the group would find very few instances of trouble, and any they would find were simply areas where the flooring was a little more rough. After a few turns here, the group would come to a small path where the Daimyo chest lay right in front of them!

From behind them, down the path they had already traveled, the group could hear the sound of neighing, and hooves clicking against stone, as well as the sounds of something mystical whizzing through the air! Yukimura and Haji would find themselves feeling bogged down and heavy, though they would not be sure why!

[Amakusa Takehiro]

"Well it's about god damn time!" Takehiro exclaimed, putting his glaive in one arm and taking the Daimyo chest in another. Though, his excitement quickly died at the sounds of hooves and some sort of movement. Brows furrowing, the mercenary moved back down the path, glaive at the ready. Whatever was coming at them, he was going to be prepared for it.

"Everyone, stay behind me!"

[Sanada Yukimura]

Seeing the Daimyo chest laying in front of them, as Takehiro went to grab it, before he could step forward, the sounds of neighing and hooves galloping against stone, as well as movement reached his ears, and before he could even turn around, he would suddenly feel bogged down and heavy, though he had no idea why! Falling to one knee, his spear the only other thing keeping him up, he could barely move as Takehiro ran past him, making it hard for him to move his head, let alone his body.

"Damn it... what's... happened to me...?"

He would try to turn around though, using his spear as a cane of sorts to move, staying behind Takehiro as instructed.

[Morei Haji]

Katsumi would approach me, holding much concern for me. The fact that she cared so much brought a smile to my face. "Ahh, Katsumi-chan... I am sorry for worrying you, but I am fine. I was just injured fighting that last creature is all."

I placed a hand on her shoulder to reassure her, as Takehiro went on to grab the Daimyo's chest. It meant we would soon be out of this forsaken place. But as I was about to pull my hand away, I suddenly began to feel really heavy, right as I heard that accursed neighing. I fell to one knee, my weapon in the ground holding me up right now.

"I... what's... going on...?"

Whatever it was, it was happening to Yukimura too, but not the others... could it have been something that attacked us before? I gritted my teeth, doing my best to follow the others as I looked down the path where Takehiro walked. "Katsumi... be careful, please..."

[Shinomori Katsumi]

Katsumi didn't entirely believe Haji, because that wound looked nasty, but what else was she going to do? In many ways, he was just as stubborn as she sometimes, and Kat merely sighed, hand dropping to his and squeezing momentarily before bringing her hand back to her side.

Even so, she handed back the ricecake, free hand running over her necklace. "Alright, Haji-kun. Even so though... take it. Just in case. I have this, so I'll be okay."

Katsumi didn't really believe in the magic before, but after seeing all of this shit, she trusted in the power of her necklace. There was little obstruction as they walked on and she stuck close to Haji. When the chest was taken, the sound of hooves sounded behind them and suddenly Haji faltered. So much was going on and her eyes widened sharply.

What was she to do?

Haji being a capable fighter and needing to take care of their newest threat, Katsumi swiveled in the direction of where it was coming from, bow at the ready. She would rapidly fire at anything and everything she possibly could that was charging them before they reached their location.

"I'll try to hit them as much as I can before they reach us...!"

It'd be better if they never did reach them though, but, considering her luck as of late and the loud sound, she highly doubted that would happen.

[Oda Nobunaga]

Takehiro: NvXlA3o|

Yukimura:

Haji:

Katsumi: ���

[Oda Nobunaga]

Takehiro/Katsumi: The two would see two chariots headed their way, and behind them, two stalkers were running along the walls! It seemed they were here to protect the chest!

Yukimura/Haji: The two, afflicted by this sudden pain, would find themselves struggling to stand! In their minds, they would see the first Rider they encountered standing atop their broken bodies!

Stalker Stats:
Str: 30(35)
Dex: 30(45)
Con: 30(40)
Wis: 30
Spr: 30

Rider Stats:
Str: 30(40)
Dex: 30
Con: 30(45)
Wis: 30(40)
Spr: 30

[Amakusa Takehiro]

Takehiro cursed under his breath, dropping the chest to his side. He would take the ax from his back and launch it at one of the two Riders, looking to strike them off their horse and let the carriage dissipate. From there, he would take a knee, raising his glaive and charging at the second carriage, looking to kill that horse. Once both of the horses were down, Takehiro would spin, slashing outward with his glaive in a wide arc as it coated itself in flames.

[Sanada Yukimura]

"Aughh... Why is it back again... I thought we destroyed it Morei-san..."

Slowly raising his spear up, Yukimura would try to strike at the skull of the illusion Rider that he thought was real and standing on top of his body, hoping that Katsumi and Takehiro were far away enough that they would not be hit. If he ended up striking a Stalker instead, that would be pretty good for them.

Dice Gods, please be kind ;^;

[Morei Haji]

It was as if I blinked and was suddenly on the ground, the Rider stood above me, seemingly mocking me. I mustered all the strength I could, stabbing my blade upwards at his skull, attempting to impale his head and take him out. I couldn't see my teammates, and I only hoped they were a safe distance away from me, if I was even able to move in the real world.

"I'm not going to die like this..."

[Shinomori Katsumi]

"Shit," lowly hissed the woman as four enemies approached.

Takehiro immediately went for the riders, and Katsumi would take advantage of such. Being a ranged fighter, she was more adept for the creatures on the walls. And so first she would fire repeatedly at the one on the right, before doing the same to the left.

Depending on how her attacks would go, if they drew near, Katsumi would dash away, and use the blades of her bows to slash at them, if need be.

[Oda Nobunaga]

Takehiro: numv41ZM

Yukimura:

Haji:

Katsumi: ���

[Oda Nobunaga]

Takehiro: The mercenary's ax hit its mark, as the Riders seemed distracted with Katsumi's shots! One fell off his carriage and it disappeared, and the other, Takehiro ripped apart! He slashed at the two, and they jumped back, one whipping their sword out at his shoulder!

Yukimura: Somehow, it seemed as though Yukimura's efforts immediately brought him back to the world of the living! At his side, he would see Haji on the ground, seemingly dying, and in front of him he would only see Katsumi shooting arrows!

Haji: The Rider jumped up and down on Haji's stomach, dodging any attack the boy threw its way! It would lower to the ground, speaking into his ear, "How does it feel to die?"

Katsumi: Both of Katsumi's shots hit their targets, and the two stalkers were knocked back down the hall, faces bleeding! They would get back up quickly, however, and charge at Takehiro, seeing as he was in the front!

[Amakusa Takehiro]

Takehiro took the hit to his shoulder, but it didn't affect him! He charged forward, looking to impale the standing Rider's spine and rip it apart, before slashing out at the Stalkers as they charged! He would begin to swing his glaive in front of him in fiery figure-eights to hold them back!

If, for some reason, Takehiro's attacks failed, the mercenary would break a hole in the nearest wall, hopefully leading to another path. If it did, he would throw the Daimyo chest into it, and tell Hiroshi, "Get the others and go! Get the hell out of here! I'll hold 'em off!"

[Sanada Yukimura]

Snapping back to reality almost immediately, he would look around confusedly, wondering what the heck happened, only for his gaze to fall on Haji, who was on the ground beside him, seemingly dying, and Katsumi in front of him, shooting arrows. Quickly scrambling to his feet, he would whip out his whip sword and forming it into its sword form, would go to lash at the Stalkers that charged at Takehiro, to try and wrap it around the neck of one and kill it.

"Morei-san, WAKE UP! It's not real! The Rider is not there, it's just an illusion! You said you wanted to get stronger for her, so fight through the illusion!"

Yukimura would roar, and if he was successful, he would go to attack the second Stalker, hopefully giving Takehiro a bit of reprieve.

Dice Gods, be kind again please ;^;

[Morei Haji]

The Rider slammed down on me, and it felt as if I was suffocating. The bastard whispered in my ear, and I gritted my teeth through sharp breaths. Was I really going to die in a place like this? Where were Katsumi, Yukimura, and Takehiro? Why was I unable to fight this on my own? Why was I so weak?

My eyes widened upon hearing Yukimura's voice. He was out there, somewhere, calling to me. An illusion? And he was right, I was supposed to get stronger for her... I grimaced, pushing myself upwards with the Rider on top of me. With a shout, I would swing my weapon at the Rider once more, attempting to dispel this illusion. I would fight it until my dying breath if need be.

please don't really kill me

[Shinomori Katsumi]

She hit both of the creatures, knocking them down, but they continued to charge Takehiro and her eyes narrowed sharply. Katsumi would aim and repeatedly fire at the one opposite of the stalker Yukimura struck, hoping to take down that stalker before it reached her teammate and inflicted any damage on him.

[Oda Nobunaga]

Takehiro: ruJSRVnO

Yukimura:

Haji:

Katsumi: ���

[Oda Nobunaga]

Takehiro: The mercenary blasted a hole into another wall with his gloves, and it led to another, apparently safer, path! However, his attacks would miss, and he would be slashed across the legs by one of the Stalkers, struck across the arms by one of the Riders, and tackled to the ground by the other Stalker! The enemies would begin clawing at him incessantly!

Yukimura: Yukimura had no sight of the stalkers, and therefore had no chance to attack! With his attention fixed on Haji, he could help his partner, who only seemed to be getting worse! He needed attention!

Haji: The boy's condition didn't seem to improve! In his mind, the Rider would break every single one of his limbs, before proceeding to stab him in various, non-vital areas!

Katsumi: One of the Riders would stand to their feet, whipping at Katsumi's bow and ripping it from her hands! It would then whip at her ankle and launch her into the air, at the roof!

[Amakusa Takehiro]

Takehiro audibly grunted as he was cut across his arms and legs, and as he was tackled to the ground, he would attempt to strike the Stalker's face with both fists and blow that fucker up. If he was successful, he'd lean forward and punch the shit out of the previous stalker, before reaching out for his glaive to fend them off!

"Hiroshi! Get the others, take the chest, GO!"

Chances were, the group was only gonna get fucked up, what with Haji and Yukimura remaining in the back. Might as well get them the hell out of there.

[Sanada Yukimura]

"Morei-san! I know you're stronger than this! GET UP!"

Yukimura would roar, but seeing that Haji's condition was only getting worse, quickly getting behind Haji, he would try to lift him up and get him onto his feet. He'd then pull one of Haji's arms around his shoulders, and try to walk him towards Katsumi, whip sword at the ready. He'd drag Haji if he had to!

DICE GODS ;^;