City of Eastport: Phyre

[Solus]

C

learly these men were unimpressed, and even the notion of ‘trouble’ which to them clearly seemed to meant retaliation by the Takigakure seemed to excite them. ”Let them, let them come. We will burn them all for the glory of Astur. And once we are done a new world will dawn upon His flock, free of impurity, free from the rule of those who have no right to rule other than by birth. A world of peace and harmony, free of the discord of them who wish to rule those they have no business ruling over. Free from the shinobi and the chakra users, men and women who only profit by continuing war, lest their well of money dry up. We lady, are but the vanguard of the new peaceful world, all united under heaven.” The monk shrugged and walked to the door. ”Oh well, you already admitted to being a chakra user so this ends our discussion.” He spoke, knocking on the door. The door opened and two guards appeared, once again bearing the sasumata that they would lock around your neck as one of the monks would pry and open the collar around your neck, disconnecting you from the wall.

With a wry and sadistic smile around his face the inquisitor who had knocked on the door now leaned against the wall next to it. ”For the crime of impurity, you are sentenced to death. No food or water shall be provided to you as your rights are suspended under ecclesial law. Two days from hence you shall be removed from your place of imprisonment and moved to the Square of Holy Fire, to be burned at the stake. Your habeas corpus is suspended as is your right to an appeal. You will be allowed to dictate your will the night prior to your cleansing. May Astur have mercy on you.” He said as the guards would try to navigate you out of the cell, only to throw you directly into a cell opposite to the interrogation room, the distance crossed would barely be three steps as they would try to push you inside, before quickly retracting their weapons and closing the door behind you with a loud thud. Once again a place that was dimly lit through the lack of actual windows, only a small, barred arrow slit provided any source for outside light to filter inside. This room too was lined with the deep green stone on the floor, ceiling and wall. Except for a heap of straw in one corner the small cell, only four by four meters in size was bare. On the straw sat a man, unremarkable in many ways. He had wrapped his feet in rags as he seemed to lack any socks. His left hand missed his little and ring finger, clearly recently cut off and cauterized. His hair was a mess of auburn locks that were twisted and turned in various ways due to the lack of washing. On his face the similarly coloured hair covered his front up to halfway his chest. Clearly you could see though that this man had once been a fighter as under his alabaster skin his muscles still rippled. He looked up at you with a smile that once could have been considered handsome, but his cracked and parched lips made his face less desire able to look at than it probably used to have been. The stench of unwashed body mingled with another stench emanating from a bucket near the door (better not inspect that one) filled the tiny practically unventilated cell.

The man looked up at you, his voice a whisper. ”They left your manacles on? Come here, I know how to get rid of those.” he said, raising his right hand to his mouth and releasing a small cough, coughing up what was clearly a lockpick and a torsion wrench into his hand. Never mind who this guy was! He had the goodies! ”I heard it all, impurity ey? Same as me. Tough day.” Between his beard and scalp two defiant green eyes would look up at you. ”So chakra ey? How is your Doton?”

[Lava Beneath the Falls]

Phyre listened to the monk carefully as it seemed he didn't go for the idea of joining up. Though he seemed rather excited for the rest of her new found family to come and burn in death. Yea....it was after that statement she was really thinking they might be family to her...for the very statement of burning them as the would come...sickened her stomach, and enraged the fury of hell fire within her. If only Phy was free to do whatever she could...such as her hands being freed and the ability for her jutsus. These monks would not be allowed to speak what so ever again like that. In her defense she tried a peaceful approach....I mean should Hiroki ever find out...she really did try. But her patience of trying is done for.

Phy considered the moment the guards removed the collar to attempt to spring free, but a gut instinct told her to wait. The sheer fact she can't use her jutsu's and being unarmed....put her in a bad spot of getting out of this one uninjured...and course her bird's life was still at stake. She remained calmed, but the fury in her eyes was brewing. And thus she was sentenced to death. All she could do....was laugh. The pure hilarity of it was the setting her on fire bit. "Really? Fire? HA! That is great. I'll be back after that, you fucking asshole, AND I will KILL ALL OF YOU!." she would say attempting to spit at the guards nearby. Phyre of all loved fire, and course the theory of a phoenix rising from it's own ashes. "Taste my impurity, embrace it, suffer."

That was about when the guards would push her into her cell not that far away from the torture area she was in. She tried to turn back to kick the guards butts further...but the door was closed in her face before anything could happen. "You'll be SORRY!" she screamed. She didn't like being locked up, let alone not being able to fight for her life...she hated this. Her words she hardly used...was all she had left back there...except this one random guy that supposedly was in her cell....She would turn as the man spoke. Course she was eyeing everything in every direction. Trying to get a feel for what she could do. Though the guy had a plan to free her binding. That was a start. "Yea...that would be the nicest thing anyone has done for me all day...." she said calming herself down somewhat and trying to relax her breathing.

As he coughed up the lock-pick of goodies, she would let him get the manacles off of her. "Yea...wait if you're impure as well...when is your death sentence?" she asked. She was weary of telling too much of her skills, but something for now said she could possibly trust this guy. For now...."It's alright, I got a few tricks in it, but that's not my greatest element. Why do you ask?" she said looking at the man now.

[Solus]

C

arefully working the locks the man would eventually pry them open, causing the manacles to fall off. Once done he would swallow his tools again along with the entire manacles. A slightly dirty if not useful trick. He burped a bit after the last gulp, covering his mouth with his fist. ”Yeah, but I never used my impurity for anything and I am not a shinobi so my punishment is lifelong imprisonment. They have not moved me yet to the prison in the centre of town. Been here for… I have no idea. I wonder if they are ever going to. Those outside in the gibbets were still alive when I was put in here. I figure they are going to kill me eventually but so far they have enough others with more serious offenses to put to death.”

The man would point to the large temple like building –denoted by a large bell tower- in the distance through the narrow slit in the wall. ”The fires never go out, during the night they burn books, during the day people...” and true to his words, dark grey smoke was rising on what you could assume to be a square in front of the holy building. He formed a fist with his right hand, knocking twice on the wall. ”I know the material. It strengthens whenever hit, only Doton can weaken it. Unfortunately, I am not able to perform anything with that element. This is excellent news though. We can escape tonight, meet up with the resistance in the court of miracles and continue the fight.”

[Lava Beneath the Falls]

Phyre was relieved once the manacles were finally off her wrists. She pulled her hands back around and massaged where the manacles had once been. She was about to grab a hold of the lock pick this guy had to try to pick the lock of the door....but it would seem this guy wanted to swallow it once more. 'Damn....so much for that idea...' she thought as the guy continued to talk. He made mentioned of his imprisonment as Phyre would lean against the wall trying to look out the small window they had in there. Course casing the surroundings as the man talked about the gibbets. "This...place...is all about keeping people in fear it seems..." she said in a low tone.

Upon hearing the weaknesses of the wall. "Like I said...I have a few tricks in Doton...not much. How would an Earthquake suffice? Well...all in all....I aint leaving here to join your resistance....till I get my bird back at least. My weapons I can get back later....but I don't need them using my bird against me once again...she means everything to me. Help me get her, and I'm all yours for your resistance party. Sounds like fun actually." she would say pausing slightly. "But how exactly can I use my jutsu? I was told this city has some magic barrier or something preventing all that...I'd kill just to roast these guys...." she said making a vague statement her other element she has might just be fire.

"So long as you don't sell me out, you have my word I won't let you die like those hanging for show and tell." Phy was considering telling this man her real name, but figured there was a time for that later....for now she needed his word on saving her bird before she proceeded attempting a jutsu.

[Solus]

T

he man chuckled at the mention of an earthquake. ”Not too much, just enough to smack a hole in the wall so we can sneak out.” His eyes looked around shiftily. ”Magic barrier? No. Silly, there is no such thing as magic. No, the followers of Astur make up for what they lack in chakra with alchemy. They can set up a field that nullifies all chakra, but it is temporary, limited in range and they only have a limited number of the items on them at any given time. Though what they have is more than enough to take you down. They are entirely geared towards taking us down. Normally if it is one on one you just shank them before they can take you down but they of course always move in groups and with guards. Throwing knives and bows are fine though.” The man would stretch before standing up since the ceiling was not high enough to stand and stretch. He caressed the wall ”This stuff is also the result I think of alchemy, it strengthens when you hit it, especially with chakra. It is weak to Doton.” He opened his hand and a small spark of chakra would start to glow around it. ”When they are not using their field on someone you can use chakra, it’s simply no use on these walls if you do not know the right techniques.”

”What do you expect to do? Rush out? Then what? Have your chakra blocked, captured and be tortured to death? There are at least ten of those Asturians here, not to mention the guards. And then what? Are you going to jump to your death from the tower? Try to escape across the walls past all the guard garrisons?” He raised his hands. ”Want your arms back? Aid us. Join the resistance. We could intercept your stuff before it makes it to market or could even just scrounge together the money to buy it all back. No more hassle, little risk.”

[Lava Beneath the Falls]

Phyre's eye twitched slightly as the man proclaim no magic barrier existed. "Damnit....this whole time I could have roasted their asses...." she muttered. Though her hands were binded then...I'm sure she would have figured out a way to get free if she knew her chakra would be there to aide her. She carefully listened to this man's next words. Phyre looked out the window then back at the door. She really did want her bird back, it had life, while a sword and a sai had just a soul that could be mended back together....the life not so much.

"So long as I have your word you'll get my bird back for me. She goes by the name of Shikazi, and will be the golden eagle that won't be able to fly at this given time. Soon...hopefully...I own two sais and a katana in a golden sheath. My butt bag...has my head set with various kunais, grenades, and shuriken. I could care less about that bag...if I lose it I lose it. Wait..." she said out loud as she reached up to touch her head. A small smile would come to her. "Well....those morons forgot to grab my goggles, good for us, these things have x-ray, zoom and heat vision to them."

With a small chuckle, Phy was finally starting to like the odds falling into her favor for once on this journey. Becoming serious for a few moments once more. "My name....My name is Phyre Raines, kunoichi of the Waterfall Village. I specialize in katon, and doton with mei..err Divine Reflexes as my taijutsu of choice. I am here to join your resistance. Let's roast these fuckers." she said a new flame shining within her blue eyes. Finally telling the full truth of her name and nature to this man. For whatever reason she decided to actually trust more so. "Which of these walls would you like to crawl through?" she would say thinking of the perfect jutsu for the task.

"Let's see....earth senbon....or earthquake...probably the only two logical choices I could use...the others are certainly overkill." She would say thinking out loud, awaiting for the man with the plan to instruct her which wall to use.

[Solus]

P

ursing his lips slightly the man would think on your preposition. ”Just whatever keeps the noise and detectability down as far as possible. We do not want to wake and alert every guard in the neighbourhood.” Tapping near the very narrow, arrow-slit like window the man would procure a rakish smile around his parched lips. ”We already have a wall, all we need to do is make it slightly larger. Let’s wait for nightfall. In broad daylight they will simply shoot us off the wall.” He spoke, sitting down demonstratively on the tiny pile of straw again.

Outside the door you could hear protests and a scuffle. It was the captain of the ship that had brought you here. A low thud followed by heaving would tell you that one of the guards had punched the man. Low murmuring voices came from the torture room for quite a while. Eventually the door opened again and you could hear the captain emerge, complaining about the treatment and his having to pay a fine that ‘would eat his profit and more, leaving his children to starve’.

The next person brought in would put up a small amount of fight, suggesting from the sound of the scuffle outside the door until the torture room closed again. This one would be different though, shortly hereafter loud shrill screams would be heard, interjected by what sounded like questions and pleas of innocence before the shrieking would continue. It was not until nightfall that the screams would stop. Outside the moon rose like a sickle, casting a dim line of light over the water below in the harbour. It was time…

SPOILER: Click to show

In case it was not clear yet, you can wait for night without interruptions and try to escape or do whatever you want. Your choice.

[Lava Beneath the Falls]

Phyre would examine the wall, while waiting for nightfall to hit. It seemed doable for the earthquake jutsu she had, though she would really have to concentrate, to make sure she didn't over do it. She only needed a slightly bigger hole so the two would fit through. 'I can't believe I could have used my jutsus this entire time....' she thought, as it was quickly interrupted by the sounds of footsteps.

Leaning against the side wall, she listened to that of a man, that was supposedly the captain of that asinine ship. She closed her eyes, and smiled softly as she heard what would be a punch to the man. She kept to herself as the torture continued, she didn't want to screw over her chances of escape here. It killed her slightly inside not to make a comment to his profit being affected and children starving. She was not at all empathetic to it. The guy didn't care to help her, and made off with money ratting her out to these guys to begin with. She highly doubted if he had kids at all....they were starving. Hell they probably didn't see a dime of that profit anyway, that guy seemed sleazy and greedy.

She relaxed a little, still waiting a bit more for nightfall. Another 'victim' came in and would head to the torture room. Phyre was calm up until the shrill of screams fell upon her. Her eyes shot opened and then were quick to wince in pain as she dropped to her knees. Screaming like that, would seem it had an affect to her. She wanted to help this one...if it was a true victim. The scream had reminded her of her sister's right before she died in the tragic boating incident. Phyre would be quick to shake her head back and forth, trying to shake the images out of her head and the urge to kill those in that room. Just like the time the shadow creatures had done the same to a poor girl which woke up the inner fury that lied so dormant within the kunoichi.

Standing up once more, Phy gathered the handseals for the Earth jutsu. She placed her hands on the wall of the cell that had the slit of the arrow cut into it. "Doton: Rikujou Douyou no Jutsu..." she muttered under her breath. Phy was taught to slam her hands on the ground for a mini earthquake and not let go....But in the case of not wanting to draw attention...and it's a wall...she attempted to improvise. She barely put much chakra into it, and only held her hands there for two minutes. Hopefully it was enough to break free enough of the wall that they could squeeze through. She awaited for further instruction from the man with the plan next to her.

Techniques Used:

SPOILER: Click to show

Doton: Rikujou Douyou no Jutsu (Earth: Ground Shaking Technique)
Rank: "D" Rank
Skill: NinJutsu
Effect: The user slams their hands against the ground as the user creates a miniature like earthquake in order to try and unbalance the enemy or opponents all around for a more of a deadly like attack.
Special: "Hand Seals"
Drawback: The user's hands must stay upon the ground at all time. When the user is capable of reaching "A" Class the knowledge of placing their hands onto the very ground becomes obsolete, and the user is capable of performing the technique without having their hands along the ground.
Description: As the user slams their hands against the ground, the user is capable of creating a miniature like earthquake along the ground. The ground rumbles lightly as the very earth moves in all directions in a ten-meter radius. Every time the user gains ranking in difficulty class the distance of the technique increases by ten meters.
Limit: Needs the Earth Release.

[Solus]

S

haking slowly the old mortar would start to become apart around the small slit shaped window. As it shambled softly the man would carefully catch the pieces that drops and softly throw them onto the straw, preventing the cascade of pebbles emanating from the wall from making a sound. Eventually the hole was just large enough for you to crawl out. The man would stick his head carefully out of the window and look around a bit before popping back inside.

Okay there are guards on top of this tower, but they shouldn’t be able to see us as long aas they stick their head over the wall to look directly down. It’s about twelve meters down to the base, where there is a small ridge of sharp rocks. We are on the harbour side though so that makes things easier, were it not for the warship smack down in the middle. There’s two guards and an Asturian on the pier at the tower’s entrance. We could either swim across, avoid risk and try to swim across, or we could attack them and take their identity and dinghy.”

Rather than waiting for your opinion he would grab the edges of the hole and slide himself outside, latching onto the outside wall, clearly with chakra and move to the right so you too could come out. Outside though the man had disappeared. For a few moments you would have no idea where he was until he moved with a soft scraping sound. The man had assumed a skin tone that was an exceptional camouflage. Like the stonework of the wall his skin had turned dark grey and lumpy, shifting as he moved, hiding his motions expertly. The concealment was near perfect.

Slowly he started to clamber down until he was at the rocks down below at the base of the tower. They were sharp and jagged, wet and covered in seaweed. Sharp yet slippery, a nice combination. Every so often a wave lazily flowed over the entire ridge, coating him up to his ankles in freezing cold water. The man however stood there as if he did not care. He pressed his finger to his lips, point to the warship in the bay and then around the corner of the tower. You could not see them from here but you could hear the crackle of a fire and hear hushed voices punctuated every so often with a laugh. What to do…

[Lava Beneath the Falls]

As the other guy peered his head outside, Phy would lean against the wall letting out a small sigh. "Here I thought being a boat was stressful enough...." she murmured as that was a first trying to not make a sound with her jutsus. She glanced out of the side of her eye, taking in some of the outside surroundings, as the other prisoner started to speak about saying about the guards and how to make a quiet escape trip.

It was with that the guy was already out of the opening. Phy pushed herself off the wall and would look down, enough to see him making his way down approximately twelve meters. 'Phew....glad I'm not up too high here. This should be a piece of cake.' she thought as she loved high places. She wasn't fond of the water...but she had no choice this time, good thing is she knew how to swim at least. Phyre focused her chakra at her feet, and would take a step outside. She took one last look at the door that tossed her in the cell and mouthed the words. 'I'll be back for you, that's for damn sure.' Of course referring to her bird mainly, but also her katana and sais secondly.

Phy crouched down and silently taking one step at a time, being as careful as ever not to let a pebble go crashing to the ground to alert anyone. She wasn't sure about fighting solely for the reasons, shes down to pure tai-jutsu and course her jutsus which could fail her at a moments noticed due to the monk's abilities. She was strong, but she still was unsure if she had the upper hand just yet. The thought of revenge though.....that was looming around more and more. She wanted nothing more to get back at these assholes. Upon reaching the bottom, she did her best to watch her footing on the slippery rocks.

However one could see it in her eyes once the cold water splashed up on her legs....she wasn't too thrilled about it. She wanted to let out a shriek....but stealth was of utmost importance right now. 'Water....cold...ass water...adding this to the list of items to hate these guys even more....' she thought. Embarking on the next journey of this mission was about to start.

[Solus]

S

tanding in the cold water could not be considered the most pleasant of all experiences. Clearly the man decided that this was more or less the same for him. As he would only endure the sensation for more than a minute or so before slightly agitated he would start to whisper to you under his breath. ”So uhm… Got a plan? I am up for anything as long as it gets us out of here alive.”

[Lava Beneath the Falls]

Phyre choose to focus her chakra in the soles of her feet, to be able to walk on water. She wasn't bound to actually be too submerged if she didn't have to be. She thought it over for a few moments, about a plan. Whispering back. "Well....as much as I would love to fight, I feel a little ill equipped. I mean after all....if those monks come about with whatever it was to disrupt my chakra....I'm a little more than screwed other than some taijutsu skills...which work better if I had my weapons..." At this point Phy revealed a little more about her skills than she did when she first met this guy. "Let's do this the stealth way, I rather be in numbers attacking this force, than be caught off guard with two not so ready fighters here..."

Phy looked around before looking back at the man. "You can walk on water, right?" whispering. She wondered just how much training this guy even had. As much as swimming might be stealthy and walking on water...might not be. It could also be faster, with less splashing and use of air bubbles. Hell if worse came to worse, she could always release the chakra flow and sink into the water to hide under its surface. BUT let's not think of that right now....it was bad enough being on the water's surface at this point.

Phy would motion in front of her. "Lead the way, you know where your people are, I don't. However I will lend protection, since you did get me out of that jail. Should anything happen to my bird, or anything go array...well let's hope it doesn't come to that." she would say slightly referring she might kill him should he betray her like the rest so far have.

[Solus]

E

ven though you were not in the water it still nipped at your legs every so often, dousing you up to the knees in ice cold water. The man followed you, his skin still morphing into a variety of shades and textures to camouflage himself. He would indeed lead the way, silently motioning to the other side of the harbour. It seemed he was not much for talk at the moment. It was not going long however until a shout of surprise came from the ship that lay in the centre of the harbour.

Apparently they had seen the waves break in the middle of the harbour. The white crown this produced was indeed brightly visible in the dim moon light. Seconds later something that glowed brightly would be thrown from the ship, skidding across the water as it illuminated all around. An aid to view in the dark, no chance you would be able to remain unseen were you to stay in this light.

[Lava Beneath the Falls]

Phyre nodded as the man silently would motion where to go, as he led the way. Keeping as quiet as she could....sounded easier than it actually was. Seeing as some damn ship just had to be paying attention to the water's surface. Phy hadn't realized how far along the harbor they had actually gone. She was really trying to be in her happy place this whole time...she disliked water a fair bit anymore.

With the shouts going on and this random beam of light now skidding along the surface of the water. It would seem Phy's time for walking on the water's surface had come to it's end. She reached down first for her smoke grenades...for a second forgetting she lost those earlier. She sighed, 'I survived it once....' she thought. With that she released the water surface technique and allowed herself to sink into the water. While doing so she would slide her goggles down over her eyes. She would dive, but that would cause a big splash and draw more attention to herself. The girl may have a fear of water and boats...as of late, but she still retained the memory enough of how to swim, even if she preferred not to.

She would hold her breath attempting to swim under one of the many boats so she could get some more air in her lungs. She would also being heading away from where this light or any light for that matter was. As creepy as the darkness with swimming was...she chose freedom over being caught any day. Phyre would turn on the x-ray vision of her goggles in hopes to keep an eye on the lurkers above the surface. Hopefully the man didn't get himself caught in the process and further lead Phy to the warriors of resistance in this place.



In Use:

SPOILER: Click to show

Goggles
Rank: "C"
Type: Secondary, 2 per Slot, Gadget, Apparel/Surveillance, Spectacles
Effect: Protective eyewear that usually encloses or protects the area surrounding the eye in order to prevent particulates, water or chemicals from striking the eyes.
Special: ---
Drawback: May hold up to 4 kinds of Surveillance Vision.
Description: There are different types of Goggles. There are different types of Goggles such as Cold Weather Goggles, Swimming, Power Tool Goggles, Blowtorch Goggles, Welding Goggles, Laboratory Goggles, and Aviation Goggles. Goggles are often worn as a fashion statement in certain subcultures, most often as part of the cybergoth subculture. They are usually worn over the eyes or up on the forehead to secure 'falls'. Goggles have enough carrying capacity for 4 types of Surveillance Vision. Does not fit in Scroll size Slots. May be Glasses.
Limit: These items may be bought inside any Gadget Shop.
Cost: 2,000 Ryo per Slot, or 1,000 Ryo Each

X-Ray Vision
Rank: "A"
Type: Secondary, 0 per Slot, Gadget, Surveillance, Vision
Effect: A vision relay that releases high-speed electrons to strike a solid target creating short electromagnetic radiation allowing the user to see behind walls.
Special: ---
Drawback: Only able to see through so much.
Description: A vision that allows the user to see skeletal figures, and metallic objects through other solid objects. They are only able to see through 2 meter worth of solid objects. If no obstruction is in the way the user is able to see another person's skeletal figure and/or metallically objects the person may hold within the distance of normal eye sight.
Limit: These items may be bought inside any Gadget Shop.
Cost: 9,000 Ryo Each

[Solus]

C

lambering onto the shore out of sight of the ships you would find that the cold had seeped deep inside you. The cold was overwhelming as you had not taken any precautions to stave it off. The man would already been waiting, having gone undetected due to his camouflaging technique. The cold was too much though. You were going into hypothermic shock and the last you saw was the ground coming closer. You would never even feel it collide with the side of your face.

When you awoke light filtered into the relatively small room through a small and greasy window behind your bed onto your face. The red curtains had been brushed aside to allow the light inside, which flushed inside over the rooftops, suggesting you were on the second floor. The smell of fish and shouts from a market wafted inside, even through the closed window. The entire room was composed from some kind of slightly unworked dark varnished wood. The sheets on the bed were rough and the pillow was a bit thin, but they were clean and warm. Something that was slightly welcome considering that deep down you could still feel the chilliness in your bones.

Your own wrecked clothes were gone though. You would not have to go around naked though, a colourful dress with a yellow and red diamond pattern hung from a chair next to a desk not far from your single sized bed. As your senses came back to you one thing would become abundantly apparent, someone had been nursing you, as testified by the empty bowl with the last few drops of soup in the bottom. The smell of stale beer that subtly permeated the room told you that this was most likely some kind of inn, especially as it was located near a fish market.

Apparently it was morning, accentuated by the smell of bread wafting up somewhere from below along with the happy voices of casual conversation. You could hear arguing from somewhere above you on the third floor of this building. Where would you go first? Breakfast or an argument? Or you could of course stay put, things were not that bad at the moment.

SPOILER: Click to show

Going to skip ahead a bit to move things[/spoiler

[Lava Beneath the Falls]

It would seem Phyre had forgotten on thing she should have done...kept herself warm from the icy, cold waters. With all the swimming and barely making it to shore she would indeed pass out. She was chilled straight down to the inside of her bones. As she passed out, flashes of the day her sister was killed came back to her. This was how it felt, only she more so washed up on the shores of the Rain Village outskirts after that incident. She was injured and cold from that too, just not as cold as she was facing now.

As she came back into a conscience state of mind, she almost was thinking she was in the hospital bed she woke up in when she was seven years old, course she was twenty now. Hearing the argument vaguely above her jarred her more so awake. It sounded just like the fights the nurses and general public had when they learned Phy survived but her sister they truly loved more hadn't. She reached up to head, as it throbbed slightly, she hadn't felt cold just yet as she was still coming to and observing the room some. The sun stung her eyes a little, which made her look down and realize she didn't have her usual clothes on anymore, and that she was...cold. Pulling the cover up quick to cover herself and to keep warm she continued to observe the room.

After several moments of seriously wondering where she was, she could smell the fish she hadn't missed so much from long ago. She also took notice to the dress that was on a chair. She couldn't have been more displeased with this being the only piece of clothing in this room. She would slowly attempt to get up on her feet, dragging the blanket off with her to keep her warm for now. Her legs were shaky at best being her bones were still fragile like to the cold seeping into them still. She drunkenly like made it to the dress to put it on at least. Slipping the clothes over her head she started to gag...now she hoped her team hadn't come to see this...she figured this out to be a nightmare and more so torture. She wasn't a girly girl that was sure.

She looked about for shoes but it didn't seem they decided she needed any. She looked about some more vaguely remembering the whole water dive and how she got really cold in the first place. She was coming to long enough to know her bird and weapons were still missing. She considered to go see this argument, but those drunkards probably had no idea where her clothes were, let alone the guy she came with or how to get the rest of her stuff back. Or for instance her actual purpose for ever coming on the wretched boat and dealing with this shit in the first place the 'Litany of the Blessed'. She choose to head downstairs to where the smells of food were. Looking about as she did so in her bare feet and this...dress. She felt naked more so wearing the dress than nothing at all.

She seemed like a different girl walking down, her hair loose even without sight of her goggles and such. She felt safe with her gear not as the girl she clearly never was. She walked up to the bar, still looking about for her care takers, but not saying a word. Just looking very much out of place.

[Solus]

M

oving downstairs you found the source of the bread smell. There was quite a large tavern hall here. Most were empty though, despite it being morning, most people had already chowed down their breakfast and left. Still there were a few present. Arranged across the smooth finished wooden floor there were several tables, spread across them were about half a dozen men, eating a strange combination of bread and fish for breakfast. The entrance from outside and a hearth were located on the wall to your left, one person still drunk huddled up on his side in front of the almost died fire, snoring softly as his body processed what you could only assume to be copious amounts of alcohol.

Against the opposite wall a stage had been built, only two feet above the floor. A woman in tight fitting harlequin clothes in the same colouration and pattern as yours was strumming a lute, more practicing it than actually playing it, humming every so often. The wall on your right was occupied by a bar. Here stood a man who donned normal brown clothes, but over which he had donned a cloak that reached to his waist, also in the same black and yellow diamond pattern, going over accounts in a book. On the bar stood a large bird cage, but whatever was inside was deemed to make too much noise for someone had thrown a blanket over it.

The wall on which the staircase exited was donned in papers, clearly arranged into three sections. One side was filled with proclamations from what you could assume to be their government, each stamped with a gold sun containing a red eye insignia. They contained proclamations that gave the idea that everything was permitted and that everything was punishable by death. The others consisted of wanted posters, from which a section had been squared off and whose faces had been marked with an ‘X’ in red.

Behind the bar the man looked up at you and beckoned you over. ”Welcome to the eel and storch I am Eldermann, the proprietor. I understand you joined our little resistance. Sorry that you cannot wear your own clothes, but we figured it best if you looked like an employee.” Winking at you he would move a crate behind the bar -containing bottles- aside with his foot, and open a cleverly hidden hatch underneath it. Below it was a small container, you could not see how large it was because it was stuffed with daggers and pistol crossbows. Along with it most conspicuously were also your goggles and missing weapons. ”We raided a weapons transport during the two days you were out. These were among them plus this.” The man kicked the hatch shut and pulled the blanket from the bird cage. Inside was Shikazi, undistinguishable, although someone had managed to put a falconry hood over her head. ”It practically tried to kill me when I attempted to fit that, but it was too aggressive to just let her be.” The man said, putting a piece of bacon on a cocktail stick and pressing it carefully against the beak. ”Still we tried to take as good a care of her as we could. They clipped her wings though. She can glide but actually flying will be out of the question for a while.”

Suddenly the door flung open and four city guards, this time in metal armour, each bearing a cudgel and a shield with the city’s insignia on it entered. They peered around as one of them, the leader clearly judging from the feathers on his helmet, spoke up in an unexpectedly friendly tone. ”Hey Eldermann, got another one. Some dumb kid who attacked the east gate.” One of the soldiers made for the wall and pinned another ‘wanted’ poster to it for some young dark haired man. The reward was 200,000 Ryo. One must have seriously screwed up to receive such a bounty. Suddenly a second wanted poster was produced, clearly depicting you. You were worth far less though, only 10,000 Ryo. The captain squinted at you inside his open faced helmet, either he was mentally incapacited, blind, or he was pretending he did not recognise you.”New personnel I see? Red hair and scar and all that, might become a favourite among the guards. Never can be careful enough to protect your employees can you?” He looked around, spotting the drunk on the floor. ”Get up Aelfred you drunk, Jan, nab him. We will deliver him home Eldermann, don’t worry he shall be sufficiently punished by his wife.” The man chuckled as two of his soldiers grabbed the moaning drunk man under his armpits, lifting him up between them and carrying him outside. As swiftly as the guards had entered as swiftly they left, not leaving any of you much time to reply to anything. Deliberate perhaps?

[Lava Beneath the Falls]

It was definitely still odd walking downstairs and examining the room while bare foot and in a dress. Let alone her hair being down and not in it's usual pulled back high pony tail. Some of the entertainers seemed like they had the same sort of clothing that she did on. 'Hmm...' she thought, as her attention focused on the bird cage suddenly. She crept up on the the cage, as if intrigued what could possibly be kept inside.

As she got closer to the cage that was when she was slightly startled by the man behind the bar, she didn't even take notice was there at first. He welcomed her and knew she had joined some little resistance party. She nodded, leaning in slightly in a low tone. "Speaking of my clothes....where are they?" she asked wondering what exactly had become of her ninja clothing. She sighed as she had heard shes to be dressed like she works at the bar. 'Why does it have to be a damn dress....' she thought. She had once more started to gaze at the bird cage. Something about birds always fascinated the woman. That was when a small container was placed in front of her, regaining her attention back to the bartender. Inside appeared to be her goggles, katana and her precious sais.

She listened to the fact these guys went out of their way to steal them off the back of a truck. 'Damn that was quick transport of selling my stuff....' she thought. As she looked back at him like she knew something that was also very dear to her was still missing. That was when he motioned to the cage and moved the blanket. A really big grin came a crossed the red head. Who knew she could really smile, in fact it had been the best moment of her life right now finding her bird alive though clipped temporarily, and her weapons. This all made up for the only thing to wear was the dress today.

She crept in closer to the cage again. "Hey buddy, it's ok, I won't let you stay in their for long. Hope you can still recognize me in this evil attire." she would say to her beloved companion in a low tone. The bird would seem to be able to pick up on her master's voice, not quite noticing the change in attire due to it's current predicament with the hood and shadows the blanket still would have casted. She looked back at the guy as he stated the bird tried to kill him. "She's had it rough, she only has eyes for myself and my team. But mostly myself...this bird is more a hero than anything else..." she said to Elderman, before attempting to free her bird more. This was a short lived idea as the door suddenly swung open, making the girl jump slightly.

It appeared to be guards she wouldn't want to get involved with at the moment. In their possession was a kid that supposedly attacked the gate. The man also had wanted posters it seemed in his hand. 'Really I'm only worth that much? You'll regret that...' she thought as she played low key for the time being. She wasn't fond though she was gonna be some attraction to the guards that seemed to like to frequent this place, judging from the other guy's words. Phy would turn to Eldermann when the guards had left and give him a slight look. "So....you do this thing....with these guy's coming in here often, speaking to you like their your best buds...how in the world have they not done anything to you? Hell I didn't do anything and I got arrested on the spot on a boat...All I was here for was in search of a special something. Now it seems I owe the town...you got my stuff back for me, plus a man of yours helped me escaped. Which by the way...where is he? And exactly how did I get here? More important...what's the plan for the shindig?" she said asking a lot of questions, and saying it as indirect as possible. She didn't know who else could be trusted. Not that she put a lot of faith in the barkeep's trust anyway. She just didn't want eavesdroppers, catching any super secret plans.

[Solus]

R

aising an eyebrow the man would return to polishing a glass. ”They’re not automatons. Most city guards leave us alone when there are no Asturians around, those are the bad ones, only a few are true zealots. They’re people you know, at the end of the day they just want to go home to their families unscathed.” He held up the glass, trying to look through it and determining it was not yet shiny enough thus returning to polishing it. ”Some even spy for our little rebel cell and warn us in case a raid is coming. Also, you do not need to speak in code when there are no guards or Asturians around. Our armoured friend just there made a valid point though. The scar, the red hair and all that. You really stand out. We got a lot of costumes and props for performances here including some hair dyes and wigs. You should go a bit more incognito. As for your man…”

He pointed to the stairs and then turned to brush some more dust off the surroundings. From the stairs your man indeed came down. He was wearing a black shirt, brown trousers and over all that a long cloack with the same colours and diamond patterns as your dress. It seemed to be the colours of this bar. He looked slightly different though. His beard was now short and trimmed and his hair fell back sleek on his face. Strangely enough his teeth had returned to a more than pristine state, now perfect rows in his mouth. It seemed he was quite good at transforming himself as he was barely recognisable from the person you had seen before. Also, did his eye colour change to green? He spread his arms, his manner of walking indistinguishable.

”Hello. Are you ready to end the reign of Astur in this city? We have been arguing a bit and decided on a course! Tomorrow morning they think are going to have the greatest burning ever. We are going to change that. We are going to free the prisoners.” He took a map of the city from under his arm as a woman also descended down the stairs, wearing harlequin clothes like the woman on stage and moved along with him around a random table the way she carried herself and the unhappy look on her face indicated that she was normally in charge around her but no longer.

Suddenly everyone in the tavern stood up, dropped whatever they were doing and gathered around the table as the map was unfurled. It seemed that these were not just a gathering of random people but actually the members of this rebel cell. He unrolled a map of the city centre on the table. ”We are here.” He spoke, tapping the map near a small five at the harbour side, then tapped a round building diagnosed with a 20. ”Prisoners will come from here, but we will have no idea of the route to the cathedral, where the burning will take place.” He spoke, tapping a square in front of building 14, clearly the cathedral. The square seemed to be quite enclosed, there were two guard towers numbered 13 and 16 flanking it, whereas it was opposed by the guild hall and the city hall (12 and 11 respectively) and the courthouse numbered as 10. ”There is little time, so any ideas are welcome. Planning could be key.”

SPOILER: Click to show

Map link again: i457.photobucket.com/albums/qq295/Solus_photos/map.png

In case you are wondering, no I am not going to present any plan, that is up to you.

[Lava Beneath the Falls]

Phyre watched as the man she thinks she rescued walked effortlessly down the steps. She watched in awe almost, knowing now what she had to do to separate her ninja like self to something one may not think she would ever wear. Hopefully she could find something that maybe tied both her worlds together. She nodded in response to his question. "Ready as I'll ever be, these assholes hurt my bird, they also think they got away with stealing my will power. Well dammit I'll show them, the power of a woman, and teach them not to mess with you guys or the Waterfall Village ninja. I came here...for the soul purpose of finding something called the litany of the blessed. Ring any bells with you guys?" she sighed somewhat taking a breath. She wasn't sure how to trust anyone after the whole ordeal on the ship. "I wasn't honest with those guys at all, and not completely revealing of what I am capable of...."

She paused a bit more..."The name is not Lily...my name is Phyre Raines, I am capable of much more than earth jutsus....in fact that's my secondary chakra source. My main power stems from my fire jutsus. How ironic right? We save these prisoners, and we WILL save these guys from burning....with the help from me the crazy fire wielder. I've actually never planned something before....that's always been my team leader Hiroki's doing...hell Shigure could do a good job too...but maybe they rubbed off on me somehow....soo...I'll do my best here ok? If all goes wrong I'll set this world on fire ok?" After Phy's speech she takes a look at the map the bartender unfolded. She watched as he instructed where the prisoners would be coming from and their destination. Unfortunately no one knew the direct route.

"No direct route eh?" she thought thinking a bit as she studied the map. She had to think like Hiroki at this point, she always reacted as shit went bad....never planned for it not to happen....or before it did. "We need to push them where we want them to go. Distract them. You say there is a lot of props and costumes here. Why not....entertain these guys? Block off each point where don't want them to go with the people that fighting might not be their forte. But...performing might be. We could set up fires nearby the cathedral after the performances die down a bit...Get the guards out of their comfort zones. We want them to lose their protection of buildings and what their used to. Confusion and chaos, breaks up the bond of a team, break the team, they become vulnerable....weak...and we focus on being a stronger team and win the day. And that there...tomorrow...will mark YOUR independence day." she said with a smirk.

She pointed at building nine on the map. "I want a performance here, blocking the whole intersection." she then pointed at the next road from where the prisoners would come from. "Lets have some wagon have an accident here. Blocking the path even further, a dispute breaks out. If it attracts any guards, keep them distracted until no witnesses which might attract more guards come and take them out. We want to separate their force, so those monks lose some of their protection. We don't want them gathering together either. I say..." she pauses as she points to what looks like three ones next to building twenty. "Push them through here. There is a wall that will prevent the guard towers from seeing over. Have anyone with range capabilities on the other side taking soldiers out from the back of the group. If possible carry extra weapons, to arm those prisoners for an uprising."

She then pointed by the cathedral. "I'm sure the monks will mainly be here....awaiting their big ceremony...this...is will I will make my stand. I am sure this is where it will be harder for those that don't have any chakra attacks. Or aren't that skilled against these monks. The group of buildings closest to us on the cathedral's left side...Let's burn those, after the prisoners have made it through that gate. We start this assault. Hopefully guard tower thirteen gets distracted because I want to blast the guild hall, which hopefully chain reacts to city hall. I'll vacate that distraction and make my way to the guard towers. Hopefully all will go well...I want to take the towers down or we can take them over and have better vantage points." she paused again. "I might be a ninja....we might practice stealth...but the hell with it, lets give them a final curtain call." she would say before walking away to go get herself ready.

She would go to the closet that had the props and costumes in it. First she looked in a mirror at her hair and the scar. She decided to go grab some bleach to start the dying process. The goal was to get her hair to be blonde. While the first part of the bleach was in, she walked to look for new clothes. She hated this dress....but she found something close to her liking. It was sort of steampunk style. a dress that was long in the back and short in the front. She stripped the dress she had off and slipped this one on. Finding a corset that sat next to it she also slipped that on. The skirt was black ending in some ruffles, there was a hint of red throughout it. The top part of it was beige and had a low collar revealing more of Phyre's feminine features. Slipping the corset on that was a rustic brown with black ruffles on the edging was next. She looked about some more to find some boots that would come just below her knee. The heels were low, so she could still be able to fight without any worry there. She found thigh high socks that had lace on the top. Hmm burlesque anyone? After slipping on the boots and socks she went to rinse out her hair, and start to apply the blonde that would turn a little more dirty blonde when all was said and done.

Next up was some finger-less gloves that would have one loop to go around her middle finger to stay on. Those were also black in color. She found a choker necklace that had a skeleton with wings on it. Ha how ironic for the occasion. Next was hair and make-up...she would find some foundation or to her creamy stuff that looked like her skin color, and started to apply it to the scar. She had to hide this of all things. Once she did, she began to attempt to apply make-up for the very first time....she tried a smokey look with a red eye shadow, and took some eye liner to make a decorative curly pattern on the right side of her face by her eye. She then took some lipstick of a deep merlot color and applied that with some mascara she had just found. Add a little rosy color blush to her cheeks and she hoped she was done there. She took the stuff out of her hair and was amazed how she looked as a blonde. Taking the hair on her right side she put five braids that would go towards the back of her head, leading into three ponytails which pulled from the back and some of the left side in. The cascaded like a waterfall in a vertical series of them. She left the left side of her hair down to help conceal the scar part better. She found a hair clip with that of feathers sticking up like a fan. Red and black ones to be exact. There was even an engraving of a flaming bird...well a phoenix on it in gold. She placed this on her right side and considered herself done. She grabbed a big bag of which she was going to place her katana and sais in for when she really needed them. Unfortunately her bird wasn't up to flying so she would be staying back at the bar this time. She would walk back out to the rest of the group and let them take a look at the waterfall ninja.