Recent Posts

Type of Quest: Village Defense
Quest Info: The daimyo and the head of the militia of Totomi was visiting a village with a small retinue to assist the villagers in rebuilding their homes from a recent flood. But unbeknownst to them, a large group of bandits were waiting for them to go in the village, and in the dead of night, they attacked the village, hoping to take down the leading figures in Totomi!
Location: In a shoreline village in Totomi
People Involved: Ichimura Ryunosuke, Amakusa Takehiro, Miyamoto Kenji, a Totomi small guard corps, the shoreline villagers, a huge number of bandits (300 or more not including elites and commanders)
Plot-Important: Could reinforce the people's trust on the Amakusa.

When he had reached the place, it seemed peaceful, there seemed to be no trace of fear in the peoples' faces as they go around their business, buying and selling, going in and out of shops and taverns, inns spewing out and receiving visitors. It had seemed not to harbor a person like Shibata Masanobu; there are either no trace of awe or fear in the area. The rumor seemed to be an old one, and might be before the Amakusa assumed rule in Totomi. If he had went out of Totomi, he would not be his concern. He would just have to confirm it.

He then went to the place where the rumors started: in the inn just near the line of meat dealers in the marketplace. It was rumored that Shibata Masanobu was last seen walking out of this inn. Ryunosuke did not know Shibata's appearance as of yet, and so he had to ask the innkeeper for that information. He would move towards the innkeeper, and say him, "Good morning there! It had seemed that a man named Shibata Masanobu once harbored your inn, and the rumors say as such. Did you know where he had gone after he rented a room here?"

Saito seemed that he was still very shy when he was at the front of the woman. He said, "...The same order as Ichimura-kun, and some fruit for the horse right? I'll get on to it." But before he went back to the tavern he felt something was perched on his head. He rolled his eyes upwards, and he saw the falcon looking at his face, twitching its head left and right and then screeched. Saito was surprised at the sight of the bird, but then laughed and said, "You also want some food, eh? I think I had a lot of meat shavings prepared for some meals, I'll get some for you, just you wait!" Saito returned to his high spirits as he went in the tavern.

Ryunosuke scratched his head while looking at Saito, and, turning at the woman, said, "I might need to apologize if Saito-san had offended you in any way. It's rare to see him like that in front of a woman, very rare indeed. Well then, shall we go inside?" If the woman agreed, Ryunosuke would lead her into the tavern, and at the table just near the entrance, which looked as if it had been there for years, the same as the other tables and furniture in the tavern. The ambiance was not that imposing, but the tavern could attract costumers enough, as seen by the tavern being half-full at the time Ryunosuke went in. By the orders of the costumers it could be suggested that they came here for the soba that Saito was cooking, but other dishes were present. When they reached the table, Ryunosuke would wait for the woman to be seated before he would sit down.

A flyer was stuck on Ryunosuke's face while he was running around the marketplace. Worse of it, he was chasing a thug for stealing the money bag of a merchant across the street when that happened. Before he had removed the flyer from his face, he bumped towards a woman passing towards the intersection of the alley where Ryunosuke was running. But of all the places Ryunosuke had bumped, he had bumped on the woman with his face in between the breasts of the woman. That made the woman shriek, and then...

---

"So that was the reason for this," Ryunosuke said to the two people who sat with him on the same bench, pointing at the red hand mark on his right cheek with his right hand, while clenching his left hand. "I swear, I'll make those three people pay for making me suffer like this!"

Crafting:

Item Name: Totomi Justicar Hachimaki
Materials: Steel(60), Cloth(40)
Stats: +4 Dex, +1 Con
Description: This hachimaki had a piece of metal sewn on it for added protection on the forehead. Though enough to pass for a typical hachimaki when worn, this would give the wearer a sense of justice. Unifies with other Totomi Justicar items to complete the set.
Power:

Item Name: Totomi Justicar Mask
Materials: Cloth(40)
Stats: +4 Dex, +1 Con
Description: This light-blue half-face cloth mask covers the wearer's face so that serving justice might not be hindered by trivial matters. Unifies with other Totomi Justicar items to complete the set.
Power:

Item Name: Totomi Justicar Haori
Materials: Cloth(40), Straw(40)
Stats: +3 Dex, +2 Str
Description: This seikai haori was typically made for warriors who wanted to maneuver on the battlefield without their armor. Especially in marketplace battles while serving justice. Unifies with other Totomi Justicar items to complete the set.
Power:

Item Name: Totomi Justicar Kimono
Materials: Cloth(40)
Stats: +4 Dex, +1 Str
Description: This white kimono was typically made for warriors who wanted to maneuver on the battlefield without their armor. The white color signifies the purity of justice that must be served. Unifies with other Totomi Justicar items to complete the set.
Power:

Item Name: Totomi Justicar Gauntlets
Materials: Cloth(40)
Stats: +3 Dex, +2 Str
Description: These cloth gauntlets was typically made for warriors who wanted to maneuver on the battlefield without their armor. The grip added by these gauntlets would enable the wearer to have more freedom wielding their weapon, for faster administration of justice. Unifies with other Totomi Justicar items to complete the set.
Power:

Item Name: Totomi Justicar Hakama
Materials: Cloth(40)
Stats: +4 Dex, +1 Con
Description: This dark-blue hakama was typically made for warriors who wanted to maneuver on the battlefield without their armor. Had enough protection at the crotch so that serving justice might not be hindered. Unifies with other Totomi Justicar items to complete the set.
Power:

Item Name: Totomi Justicar Obi
Materials: Cloth(40)
Stats: +4 Dex, +1 Str
Description: This thin dark-blue obi was typically made for warriors who wanted to maneuver on the battlefield without their armor. The belt could secure the wearer's clothes so that serving justice might not be hindered. Unifies with other Totomi Justicar items to complete the set.
Power:

Item Name: Totomi Justicar Tabi
Materials: Cloth(40)
Stats: +4 Dex, +1 Str
Description: This white tabi was typically made for warriors who wanted to maneuver on the battlefield without their armor. This would help secure the wearer's feet on the footwear they wear so that justice would be quickly served. Unifies with other Totomi Justicar items to complete the set.
Power:

Item Name: Totomi Justicar Waraji
Materials: Straw(40)
Stats: +4 Dex, +1 Str
Description: This pair of straw sandals was typically made for warriors who wanted to maneuver on the battlefield without their armor. Makes the wearer fleet on foot and stable in fights so that justice would be quickly served. Unifies with other Totomi Justicar items to complete the set.
Power:

Current Totomi Justicar Complete Set Power: 0

Total Material Cost: 40 x 9 + 40 + 60 = 460 yen
Total Stat Cost: 5 x 100 x 9 = 4500 yen

Fusing:

Totomi Justicar Kimono (Cloth): This white kimono was typically made for warriors who wanted to maneuver on the battlefield without their armor. The white color signifies the purity of justice that must be served. Unifies with other Totomi Justicar items to complete the set. +4 Dex, +1 Str

With:

Cloth of the Damned: The design on this kimono is that of the Mon of Numa Castle. When worn, the wearer can feel the lost souls of the castle fighting alongside him. +3 Str +3 Dex

To form:

Totomi Justicar Kimono (Cloth):*UPGRADED ONCE* This white kimono was typically made for warriors who wanted to maneuver on the battlefield without their armor. The white color signifies the purity of justice that must be served. This kimono also exhibits a peculiar behavior, in that when the wearer fights, the spirits of the departed members of the Totomi militia would aid him. Unifies with other Totomi Justicar items to complete the set. +7 Dex, +4 Str

Fusing:

Totomi Justicar Mask (Cloth): This light-blue half-face cloth mask covers the wearer's face so that serving justice might not be hindered by trivial matters. Unifies with other Totomi Justicar items to complete the set. +4 Dex, +1 Con

With:

Dark Gunner's Visor: This mask fits comfortably on the wearer's face, turning their skin and hair black, and their eyes red. The eyes are protected, and their vision enhanced. +6 Dex
Power: The wearer's vision is enhanced, improving their aim. All things that that could be seen as distractions - dirt, debris, mist - are nullified from their vision, and they can make a mental mark on one person at a time. The mark is visible even at great distances, and they have a 95% accuracy rating on this target.

To form:

Totomi Justicar Mask (Cloth): *UPGRADED ONCE* This light-blue half-face cloth mask covers the wearer's face so that serving justice might not be hindered by trivial matters. But it seemed that the mask was peculiar, since when it is worn, the eyes of the wearer would seem to have a light-blue cross on the irises. Unifies with other Totomi Justicar items to complete the set. +10 Dex, +1 Con
Power: The wearer's vision is enhanced, improving their aim. All things that that could be seen as distractions - dirt, debris, mist - are nullified from their vision, and they can make a mental mark on one person at a time. The mark is visible even at great distances, and they have a 95% accuracy rating on this target.

Fusion Costs: 800 x 2 = 1600 yen

Grand Total: 460 + 4500 + 1600 = 6560 yen

The recent victory by the militia over the bandits that have constantly ravaged the land of Totomi had brought the morale of the populace to a very high amount that it had brought attention on a topic that had not been touched due to the fear of the people and the former constant wars between the two daimyo that were claiming Totomi for themselves. Basically they had ignored the issue because there is a lack of someone in Totomi who could handle the job. It was the matter of Shibata Masanobu, who had been making the land of Totomi as his hideout since the power struggles in the land.

The head of the Totomi militia, Ichimura Ryunosuke, was sitting in front a table in a place he had frequented for many times. The soba that he had ordered was in his front right now, but it seemed that he was unable to eat. It also seemed that he was unhappy even when his name was praised all around Totomi. The faces of those who had been killed in the battle against bandits still haunted him, and he was not used to not seeing their faces in the militia headquarters. It made him think that he was still incapable of serving justice, since he can't protect those who had been close to him.

He was still moping at the front of his food when he heard some rumors saying that the outlaw Shibata was seen around the north of the marketplace, nearby an inn somewhere near the line of meat dealers. Wasting no time, Ryunosuke ate all of the soba in one sitting, and bolted out of the tavern. Although he was going through the hurt of not seeing his friends again, justice needs to be served. For the persons who died in the act of seeking justice. For his friends who died, who sought justice for their family and friends. For himself, to redeem himself from letting his friends die. He would have to fight the man by himself, to prove that he was capable of serving justice.

Fusing:

Demon's Gun-blade: This sword has the handle of a pistol, and the blade is insanely sharp, with ridges to allow easier cutting. The chamber of the gun seems to be at the end of the blade. It seems to not require the long period of reloading that typical rifles would, and the rounds are much more capable of piercing than others. +12 Str when firing, +10 Str when striking with blade.

With:

Matchlock Pistol: Two-hand. Basic pistol that requires the use of both hands due to its massive recoil and reloading procedure. +3 Dex when firing, +1 Str when striking with the pistol.

To form:

Demon's Howitzer: *UPGRADED ONCE* Two-hand. A small cannon that could be held using a rifle-like handle, and could be fired by pulling a trigger. The barrel of the cannon is decorated with figures of demons, and had a figurine of a demon near its mouth. The barrel also had sharp katana-like ridges that can cut through anything that was rammed upon by the cannon. It seems to not require the long period of reloading that typical cannons would. +12 Str, +3 Dex when firing, +11 Str when striking with the cannon.

Fusion Cost: 800 Yen
Total Cost: 800 Yen

The bullet fired by Ryunosuke fortunately found its way to the eye of the giant, who screamed in pain before falling down on the ground with a slump. As the bandits were disheartened and the militia celebrated, the battle went on, the bandits being put down by the militia. But a sudden counter-attack by the bandits had ended the lives of some of the militia. Ryunosuke was shocked at those who fell; three of  them he knew by name, and were those who were closest to him.

"NOOOOOOOO!!!!!"

He screamed at the loss of his friends, and, somewhat furious, he aimed his gun towards the bandits.

"YOU CAN'T ESCAPE FROM THE HANDS OF JUSTICE! SURRENDER HERE AND NOW, OR SUFFER YOUR FATE IN THE GRAVE!"

If the bandits would dare to attack, Ryunosuke would fire his gun on those bandits' heads, while striding backwards to evade the attacks. Those who will surrender would be kept alive, and will be taken by the militia to their custody.

It had seemed that the uproar also attracted the daimyo who Ryunosuke was serving, Amakusa Takehiro. But he also seemed to be calm in analyzing the situation. When the man who had committed the crime uttered his explanation, it seemed that the daimyo understood, and Ryunosuke knew why. If he killed the man without a good reason, he should have ran away from the scene. And since the woman had also not left the scene, it seemed that the woman thought she was safe.

As he saw the daimyo starting to dig up a grave for the man, Ryunosuke stepped in. He said, "I'll do it. It seemed that a good serving of tea would much make the conversation between you and the savior much more intelligible. I will handle the mess while you talk." He then started to dig up the ground using a shovel he had borrowed from another man.

Ryunosuke did not expect that he would be offered for a treat by the woman. Most commonly he was the one offering treats when some celebration was in place, and since he had a very good conversation with the woman on this good day in the shop, his pocket still bulging, he would offer the woman a treat. But since that was the case, he had no choice but to agree. He would not a turn down a free meal anyways.

"This woman is very amazing," he muttered as he packed up all of the crates on a cart, and secured them with rope. After some time, all of the crates were already on the cart, and he pulled it over as he moved towards the woman.

Ryunosuke then said, "I know of such place, just near this shop, and I frequent that place whenever I'm finished selling my wares. Quite a shabby one, but the owner's a good friend of mine, and he cooks really good." He then pulled his cart, leading the way, until they came to a crossroad, at the front of a seemingly shabby tavern, as warned by Ryunosuke. A man, somewhat in his thirties, seeing him, walked out of the tavern to meet him.

"I thought you would not come into this place again, Ichimura-kun," the man said, seemingly glad to see Ryunosuke again. Ryunosuke just scratched the back of his head while issuing his reply. "Why shouldn't I, Saito-san? Don't you say you are experimenting again on my dish?"

"Well, about that..." The man addressed as Saito muttered, but said again, "That's not it! I mean, about your current position..."

"Well, that does not change anything," Ryunosuke replied, adding, "I still patrol and keep guard over anything near me while I am vending my goods. Much as you do while cooking soba. Speaking of which, do you have Shinano soba on hand right now?"

Saito crossed his arms, saying, "Of course the finest soba in the land. I still have lots, you're not my only costumer anyway."

Ryunosuke then said, smiling, "Well, prepare one for me, served cold. The customary amount. And you could ask the woman over there what does she want." He then glanced at the woman behind him. Saito seemed to be attracted to the woman, but was somewhat shy as he crouched behind the back of Ryunosuke, whispering, "Is that the one you're referring to? Man, she's my type of woman." At this Ryunosuke backed away from Saito, saying, "No she's not, I have met her just recently..." At this Ryunosuke remembered something, and he stared at Saito, smiling. He then said, "You do not commonly approach women, much that you remain unmarried at that age. You fancy her, right?" At this Saito blushed, and he exclaimed, "That's not it! I'm..." At that point he finally gave up arguing, and moved towards the woman shyly, and said, "What would you order?" His voice was somewhat shaky.

((Consuming Heart-shaped Rice Cake: Heals all wounds obtained in the current thread. +5 Con for the remainder of the thread ingested in.))

Ryunosuke was saved by the miraculous arrival of the other gunner, keeping the creature distracted as he fired the final shot. He then was dropped on the ground, but finding himself unable to walk, he ate the morsel that he had brought with him to the castle. After getting recovered, he picked up the dropped gun-blade, and looted the creature and the contents of the chest. He then let the other gunner lead the way.

As they walked, Ryunosuke would say to the other gunner, "Thanks, you saved my life."