(no subject)

[skilful]

Date & Time: 26th-29th December
Location: Japan during the late 16th century!
Characters: A whole bunch of people!
Summary: Saving rice, fighting insects!!
Warnings: None yet!

Summer at its height: a middle-sized village on the outskirts of a province in the midst of a famine with almost wilting half-grown rice crops after their river for some reason ran dry.

With taxes to pay and war nearing or already at their borders, the people of the village though friendly are weary and in despair over their future.

For now.

Comments

Pre-Japan

[skilful]

[ First meetings, introductions, being nervous or not being nervous at all -- all things before arriving at Japan go here! ]

[redsea]

[ Everyone seemed to be here, but Kougyoku was nowhere to be found. Did she sleep in? No, she arrived with everyone else. She was, however, a distance away from the main group. Hidden behind a wall, she observed the people she came with and the new people who arrived. Who was that little girl? Ah, Eric's being a loner again... Huh? This person knew that person? Kougyoku is so overwhelmed by both old and new faces, she doesn't know where to begin. Perhaps she should start trailing behind someone.

That someone might as well be you. ]

[ex_longanimity327]

[ Unfortunately for her? or for him? She's trailing behind this guy, who, oddly enough isn't smoking today! But he's not wearing his glasses at the moment, so for some, he'll probably look a little different.

Either way, Izumo's listening to the details regarding the mission. ]

We're goin' to ol' Japan, huh.

[coiffeur]

[ he's not sure who else is going, but a mission is a mission and he was invited. things have been a little tense and awkward between him and Aoba, so getting to keep busy at least felt like it made things easier here. as he leans against a wall, he looks poised and ready to go. even with his mind racing on various things, it doesn't look that away. ]

[ex_longanimity327]

[ Izumo looks at the rest of the people gathered—it's mostly HOMRA, but the guy in the kimono piques his interest and approaches him. ]

A friend of Totsuka's, are ya?

[redsea]

[ Kougyoku gathers all her courage to walk up to Koujaku. After all, he said they were friends, and talking to friends was always a pleasure. ]

Koujaku, are you also joining us?

[skilful]

Good morning, Koujaku-san!

[ Looking bright and cheerful, Totsuka waves from where he is, smiling. ] Glad to have you with us today.

[notpeterparker]

[Carol's not sure what to think about her first real mission. The last mission she was on was that rescue mission, and instead of being helpful, she ended up having to be rescued herself. But maybe she actually could do something this time.

And after hearing about where they were going, how could she resist? Maybe she could sneak a few pictures...]

So we're trying to help grow rice? That's what this mission is about?

[clansman]

[ yes, but why is this hobo sleeping on his feet near the meeting place. . .

. . . and is he about to tip over onto you???

(probably not, but that is a very dangerous-looking sway.) ]

[capitulated]

[ leaning quietly against a wall and just.

waiting. because that's what he does. ]

Japan: 26th

[skilful]

[ Settling in, trying not to blow covers, watering plants, searching for the lost water, deciding how to sleep or spend the night, making plans for tomorrow...? ]

closed to totsuka

[redsea]

[ The paddy fields weren't looking good. Kougyoku did not often get the chance to travel and see more of the Kou Empire but this much she knew. The children were gaunt, the river dry, the cattle lean, and she had to wonder: did these conditions exist in the empire, too? Famine was a demon, but it was one people only told stories of, one she never thought she would see.

When she and Totsuka arrive, she surveys the area, brows furrowed. ]

Tatara, I think it will take more than my magoi to water the fields alone. I could use my Extreme Magic, but...

[ She's never tried it inland before. ]

settling in?! idk, but it's open

[ex_longanimity327]

[ Somehow they ended up being dressed appropriately for this time, thanks to a certain someone. And they've managed to put up a couple of tents—one for the girls and one for the boys—as well.

Izumo here is looking at the soldiers stationed near the village borders. ]

We need ta' talk with 'em if we're gonna complete this mission.

[skilful]

[ midnight: arms folded, head tilted towards the night sky and the stars shining above.

suddenly, he breaks the silence, chuckling. ]

male tent (any of the nights!!)

[skilful]

[ ...suddenly in the middle of the night you feel someone, skin cool to the touch, suddenly curling up against you. ]

settling in @ the girls' tent

[therealrisette]

[Having temporarily abandoned her cute modern outfits for more traditional Japanese garb, Rise has retreated to the tent for the evening rather early. It's technically even still afternoon, but she's done her best to help with the plants and she's just... unusually tired.

When and if Carol or Kougyoku come in, she'll be lying back on whatever passes for bedding in the tent, just staring up at the tent and lost in her thoughts. Or maybe one of the guys didn't realize the tent was currently occupied or accidentally went to the wrong tent?]

Japan: 27th

[skilful]

[ Continuation of the water search, perhaps negotiations and/or even a battle -- whatever happens, it's a success, perhaps they can go home tomorrow! ]

Searching for water!

[notpeterparker]

[Negotiations and battles aren't Carol's forte, so instead she's gone off to start the search for water. She's searched on the outskirts of the village, but she hasn't had much luck yet. Although, she's been a little afraid of venturing out too far or straying away from the rest of the group, so she hasn't gone far enough outside the village to really look.

The villagers seem nice enough, so she thinks as long as she stays close to the village and tries to memorize it so that she doesn't get lost, she'll be fine to do a little bit of searching on her own.

Right now, she's on the outskirts of the village, with the village itself still in her sight.]

I guess I should have been more specific when I asked where do we start looking for water...

[Wandering around the edge of the village isn't getting her anywhere, and she was started to get scared of being out here alone. As she turns around to head back, she hears the sound of a wagon approaching.

And seconds later, an arrow barely misses her leg, embedding itself into the ground next to her. As soon as she sees it, she leaps back in panic.]

Wh - what?! What's happening?!

[Looks like Carol found bandits!]

negotiations + battle

[redsea]

[ The cause of the famine, it seems, is the construction of a dam not too far from the village. While it would be all too easy to break the dam down with her power, the group decides to play it safe and talk their way into this. It is difficult, however, to convince government officials when you were parading as mere merchants. If only Kougyoku was still in some position to speak... The official Izumo was talking to was an idiot.

Kougyoku isn't going to let this chance to accomplish something slip by without saying anything again. She loses her patience in the middle of Izumo's negotiations. ]

Um! [ She finally steps forward. There's no turning back. ] All our master is trying to do is to inform you of your lord's foolishness. ...I apologize for speaking out of turn. I couldn't help but notice how this dam will give your lord a great disadvantage in the near future.

[ Disadvantage? More than curious about what she had to say, the official in charge is appalled. ]

Although the seat of power in this territory is beyond this dam, the arable land in that vicinity is lacking. [ She's just guessing. ] That is why all your food comes from this village, correct? [ She heard it from a local while snooping around (and not asking directly like a normal person). ] I understand that water is a valuable resource, but wouldn't it be wiser to distribute these resources where they are necessary? At this rate, your lord won't be able to feed both his people and himself.

We are not making this request out of pity. We are simply giving you advice.

[ The murmuring of the soldiers and look on the official's face tells Kougyoku she's spot on, but he tries to strike back with his words: Hmph! Since when did a wench like you have the right to tell us what to do? Kougyoku steps back and her eyes widen at the insult. The outcome of this negotiation will all depend on the group's next move! ]

Japan: 28th

[skilful]

[ NOPE SORRY BUGS ARE INVADING!!! ]

[battering]

[ shit yeah, he's played a video game like this before, so Yata is more than eager to take out some bugs.

... well, in theory. burning bugs was fun at first but not as much of a challenge?! so he's currently stomping them or kicking them toward other people as if they were footballs (stop it yata you're just kicking up dirt), switching back to burning them only if they got too close to the rice. ]

rescue the delicate maiden?!

[therealrisette]

[At some point during the bug invasion, a loud shriek rises from the girls' tent.]

Ohmygod, get off get off GET OFF!!! SOMEONE HELP!

[Is someone kidnapping her? Did bugs invade the tent, or did one happen to sneak in by way of crawling onto Rise? Heck, it could even be a stray lock of hair tickling her just the right way, if she's on edge enough from the invasion. Whatever happened, she's still shrieking and flailing and screaming at whatever it is to get off of her already! Someone rescue her?]

[skilful]

[ there's ... somebody not doing anything.

maybe you've just opened a box or turned a corner or something but Totsuka is there, hiding, and he puts a finger to his lips when he notices.

or maybe he's just sitting to one side of the field, in the shade, watching. ]

Japan: 29th

[skilful]

[ Time to go home...! Hopefully everyone had fun and there are souvenirs to take back and no pretty lady is attempting to follow the playboys home.

Right? ]

[ex_longanimity327]

[ For a first mission, that wasn't half-bad. Sure, negotiations sort of ended badly and they had to deal with bug infestation, but they actually finished it.

As he gets some of things ready for departure, a young lady runs up to them and faces Izumo.

Are, Are you going to leave, lord merchant?

Ah?! ]

Er— well, yes, [ I'll never see you again? ] —ah, who knows...? Life works in mysterious ways, doesn't it?

[ shit. ]