SUNA: District 12 [DE|ET]

[Flower]

District 12 [Death-Enabled|Event Trigger]

Rules

• This thread is Death-Enabled. Do not participate in these missions and plots unless you are ready for the challenge. 
• Must be a registered Sand ninja or have permission from the Kazekage in-character to enter this thread.
• Must be at least B-class to enter this thread.
• Parts of this location may trigger the beginning of events. See the Sunagakure Handbook for more information on Event Triggers (ET's).
  
• Do not have to be taking a mission to enter this thread. Can enter simply to investigate or activate the events. However, inside District 12, the Kazekage can still GM all obstacles and NPCs. 
• All missions in this thread must be GM'd by the Kazekage.
• This thread may use resources from the Sunagakure Handbook. 
• Details about the location will become available as they are discovered by players.
• IIC Time: 3 Days

Current Plots & Announcements

SPOILER: Click to show

• Event Unlockable - "Forgotten Treasures" (link)

General

A chain fence, wrapped with barb wire along the top, surrounds a stretch of 10 x 10 miles on the coast of the Land of Wind called District 12 by village officials due to its position on most maps. The gate doesn't seem well suited for keeping out ninja but is probably meant for civilians. There are guards who patrol the perimeter on a regular basis and there is only one official entrance with a gatehouse on the south side. Five patrol are always on guard at the gatehouse, each with varying abilities depending on who is scheduled shift. They will not allow anybody, shinobi or not, to pass through the gate if they catch them. It is currently unknown who is allowed inside of District 12 or who runs the operation. It is suspected to be a community of desert wanderers, or an organization, that is beginning to take over the area. There are several long, metal pikes scattered around the entrance that the soldiers have skewered through the bodies of people who have tried to sneak into the district. The kanji 十二, or twelve, is smeared on the outer walls of the gatehouse in a dried, red marks that appear to be made of blood.

It is difficult to see anything inside of the fenced off area, partially because of a series of harsh dust storms that seem to buffer the landscape around the district. Bordered by a small, mountain range to the north -- an odd assortment of clouds flow down into the valley below the rocky outcroppings (and also reduces visibility of the area). Only the east side of the district doesn't have a fence and it's because the area is bordered by the Gulf of Wind. However, local rumors suggest that nobody who has tried to enter the district through the gulf has survived. People who live close to the district report strange sightings, such as giant creatures in the area or hooded figures passing by during odd hours of the night (Wind Local History or Current Events DC 50). Kazekage Shihana and the Sand Village have become interested in what is happening within District 12 and have started assigning ninja to look into the operation and report any new information to the Kazekage. Ninja have been warned that what lies inside the gates is an unknown and that it could be quite dangerous so proceed with caution.

South

UNKNOWN

West

UNKNOWN

North

UNKNOWN

East

UNKNOWN

[Flower]

Missions

Note:

• All missions must be GM'd by the Kazekage.
• Levels do not indicate the difficulty or rank of the mission, but rather stages in the story progression.
• Must meet all standard mission requirements to take a mission in this thread.
• Missions in this thread do not need to be approved beforehand at the tower. Payment will still need to be received, upon completion, at the tower.

Level 1

Name: Rumors & Gossip
Rank: "D"
IIC Length: 3 Days
Difficulty: Easy
Objective: Talk to civilians about what they've seen around District 12.
Description: Talk to civilians about what they've seen around District 12 and report it to the Kazekage. Make sure to investigate as many people as possible and ask the right questions to get the best information. Expect to give a full summary when the mission is over.
Reward: 18,000 ryo

Name: Breaking & Entering
Rank: "C"
IIC Length: 3 Days
Difficulty: Moderate
Objective: Break into District 12.
Description: The Kazekage has given out a mission to all powerful, Sand shinobi (and other special guests) to find a way to enter the mysterious, new uprising in the Land of Wind: District 12. Strange rumors stir about what lies beyond the gate and the Kazekage wants to know for sure. The first step is to break in.
Reward: 37,000 ryo

Name: Capture & Question [ANBU + Potential IM]
Rank: "B"
IIC Length: 3 Days
Difficulty: Moderate
Objective: Capture a District 12 guard and interrogate them.
Description: Capture one of the guards of District 12 who is either patrolling the fence or working at the Gatehouse. It is imperative that you do not get caught while capturing the guard. Make sure that the guard is kept alive and interrogate them for information pertaining to the District. After receiving answers, dispose of the body. This mission may be completed with a team of ninja from other villages to be considered an interactive mission (if other village's kage agrees to it). Must be at least three participants if this is the case. Participants may either be taking Capture & Question or the variant mission, Protect & Serve, to be considered on a team. It is the same mission, but different duties.
Reward: 75,000 ryo + ANBU credit for Falcon, Owl, Cat, and Wolf divisions

Level 2

TBA

Level 3

TBA

[Christoff]

Name: Rumors & Gossip
Rank: "D"
IIC Length: 3 Days
Difficulty: Easy
Objective: Talk to civilians about what they've seen around District 12.
Description: Talk to civilians about what they've seen around District 12 and report it to the Kazekage. Make sure to investigate as many people as possible and ask the right questions to get the best information. Expect to give a full summary when the mission is over.
Reward: 18,000 ryo

The only parts of Isamu visible on the side of the hill were the lenses of his goggles. The rest of his body was buried in the scorched earth. Isamu's googles were flipped to their thermal setting as his eyes searched for movement along the fence. The eastern sky had started to warm with the promise of sunrise and Isamu knew his surveillance would need to come to an end with it's traitorous light. He had learned little in the couple hours since he arrived at Area 12. His investigation was off to a slow start.

Isamu sunk back beneath the ground and was away moving through the earth as though he were flying, and then he was. The Sadojin flew out of the back of the hill and continued through the sky. Isamu was clad in his full mission gear. A wireless radio tuned to channel 3 was in Isamu's left ear. He was alone but if any other Sunagakure forces were operating in the area he should hear them. The Genin's olive green tactical vest was secured over black t-shirt. The t-shirt was tucked into a pair of BDU Khaki pants secured by a black utility belt and butt pack.

Given the fine dust and sand in the area Isamu had opted against forming a gourd to hold sand. The gourd wasn't exactly stealthy either. The Genin did have his desert cloak wrapped around his shoulders and the cloak now streamed out behind him. The cloak held thirty exploding kuna. Isamu's tactical vest had six more kunai, two smoke grenades, and a tear gas grenade strapped to the outside. In various pockets it held forty exploding, locking, lightning, and incendiary tags. Isamu also had fifty jutsu tags, two of which were prepared with his create desert technique, and one which was prepared to store a technique. In his last pocket was his B.I.N.G.O. book and dust of dryness.

Isamu's belt held five magnetic emitters, three blood clot pills, five thermal capsules, three soldier pills, two rigid manacles, a handheld inspection tool, a handheld surveillance monitor, four surveillance spikes, a motion sensor, one tracking device, and ten tracers, three sonic emitters, an immortality stone, a death's tear, and Isamu's Stone Tongue Gem. In Isamu's left pant's pocket was his gem of prescience. The butt pack held twelve shuriken, four additional wireless radios, a multitool, a headlamp, Isamu's compass, a dungeoneer's compass, flint, a wolf fang crafted by Shihana, a holodisk, three gravitic pressure bandages, and five explosive seeker mines. On his left hip was his katana with its cryo and themal enhancements and on his left arm was his shock enhanced melody arm.

Isamu had seen signs of settlement in the area. With daylight rapidly approaching the next step of his investigation would be to survey the citizens who called this region home about the mystery of District Twelve. Isamu paused mid air then dropped to a patch of sand. If he began asking questions as a shinobi of Sunagakure it might arouse suspicions from the group controlling District Twelve. Isamu removed his head band and tucked it inside his vest. The vest turned its true color of sand and shrunk back into his chest. His butt pack and belt did the same. The only signs of his military background were his melody arm and katana. Isamu removed his cloak and pulled it around his shoulders, fashioning an asymetric pancho that hid his left arm. A desert wanderer might very well carry a blade but a melody arm would attract more attention. Finally Isamu removed his goggles and radio and tucked them into the cloak before setting off by foot towards the nearest settlement.

SPOILER: Click to show

Eldritch Curses:

Aspect of the Four Winds
Rank: "D"
Skill: NinJutsu
Effect: User taps into one of the directional winds to give them a bonus.
Special: Handseals
Drawback: ---
Description: Range of this technique is personal. Duration of this technique is 5 rounds per Class Level. Target is the user. User takes on the seemingly discordant characteristics of the four winds, making their actions movements and unpredictable. The user gains one of the following benefits based on the aspect they select at performing:

· North Aspect: +1 enhancement bonus to Movements.
· South Aspect: +10 competence bonus to Jump Good and +1 Fly maneuverability.
· East Aspect: +1 luck bonus to Saves.
· West Aspect: +2 luck bonus to Range Attack Damage.

Breeze
Rank: "D"
Skill: NinJutsu
Effect: User creates a breeze around a subject to help against heat related saves and gases.
Special: Handseals
Drawback: ---
Description: Range of this technique is 7 meters + 6 meters per Class Level. Duration of this technique is 1 hour. Target is 1 Creature or object. User creates a light wind that blows against the target, from a direction of their choice. The breeze grants the subject a +2 bonus on saves against very hot conditions, severe heat, breath weapons, and saves against cloud vapors and gases (such as inhaled poisons). This Jutsu does not function without air or underwater. The user can only have 1 breeze active at any one time. If the user performs this Jutsu while another performing is still in effect, the previous performing is dispelled.
Limit: Must know Wind Release.

Airsphere
Rank: "C"
Skill: NinJutsu
Effect: User creates a sphere of air around them to breathe and to deflect against acid attacks.
Special: Handseals
Drawback: ---
Description: Range of this technique is touch. Duration of this technique is 5 minutes per Class Level. Target is an area of 10 meter radius spread. This Jutsu creates a sphere of fresh air around the individual or object touched by the user. Gaseous and vaporous attacks are unable to penetrate this air sphere, and acids up to 11 Armour Points per Class Level or other liquids simply wash over it. The Jutsu generates oxygen, enabling the user to breathe underwater or in other areas with no fresh air (though as the sphere surrounds its recipient or object, it hampers movement in or under water). This Jutsu does not protect against natural or Chakra effects occurring within the air sphere: for example, if a vial of acid is thrown into the sphere, it enters; if it breaks, its contents splash for their normal effects. This Jutsu was specially crafted to guard against dragon breath; it will absorb and negate any breath weapon (for those within the sphere) upon contact but is itself destroyed, instantly and harmlessly, in doing so.
Limit: Must know Wind Release.

Dance of the Wild Monkey *5 Charges*
Rank: "C"
Skill: NinJutsu
Effect: User is granted air charges. Spending Air Charges apply abilities such as jump good, slowing falling speed, and increasing movements.
Special: Handseals
Drawback: ---
Description: Range of this technique is personal. Duration of this technique is 5 hours per Class Level. Target of this technique is the user. This technique imbues the user with the power of air. When performing this technique, the user is granted 5 air charges, which he may expend to perform one of the following trick.
Air Dance: The user may spend one air charge as a free movement to lift him upwards during a jump. The user can stand up from prone as a free movement that does not provoke an opportunity attack, or grants themselves a +50 circumstance bonus to Jump Good for a single jump used immediately.
Freestyle: The user may spend one air charge as a free movement to form a cocoon of rapidly twisting wind around them and slow their falling speed to 6 meters per round until they land. The user takes no falling damage if they lands while Freestyling.
Monkey Charge: The user may spend one air charge to increase their movements by 1 for 3 rounds as a weaving movement.
Limit: Must know Wind Release.

Flight
Rank: "C"
Skill: NinJutsu
Effect: Allows the user to "fly" by using Wind Chakra.
Special: Handseals
Drawback: ---
Description: Range of this technique is Touch. Duration of this technique is 5 minutes per Class Level. Target is the 1 creature touch. User coats the target with wind chakra allowing the target the ability of flight. The subject can simply fly. It can ascend and descend. Its maneuverability is dependent on the performer of the Jutsu. Clumsy at "D" Class, Poor at "C" Class, Average at "B" Class, Good at "A" Class, and Perfect at "S" Class. Using Flight requires only as much concentrating as walking, so the subject can attack or perform Jutsus normally. Should the Jutsu duration expire while the subject is still aloft, the Chakra fails slowly. The subject floats downward 20 meters per round for 1d6 rounds. If it reaches the ground in that amount of time, it lands safely. If not, it will fall the rest of the distance, taking 6 Armour Points of damage per 3 meters of fall.
Limit: Must know Wind Release.

Heart of Air
Rank: "C"
Skill: NinJutsu
Effect: User gains benefits of an air elemental, gaining jump good and even activate a feather fall effect.
Special: Handseals
Drawback: ---
Description: Range of this technique is personal. Duration of this technique is 5 hours per Class Level. Target is the user. User feels light as a feather, as if the slightest breeze might knock the user about. This Jutsu converts part of the user's body into elemental air, freeing them somewhat from the bonds of gravity. The user gains a +50 enhancement bonus on Jump Good. Furthermore, while this Jutsu is active, the user can activate a feather fall effect (as the Ability) on themselves as a Non-movement. This benefit lasts for 5 rounds per Class Level, at the end of which time the Jutsu's entire effect ends.
Limit: Must know Wind Release.

Shield of the Wind Count
Rank: "B"
Skill: NinJutsu
Effect: User creates a shield around themselves to deflect techniques.
Special: Handseals
Drawback: ---
Description: Range of this technique is personal. Duration of this technique is 5 rounds per Class Level. Target is the user. A self-proclaimed invincible barrier; using a move movement and using hand gestures, the user is able to create a protective barrier of wind capable of repelling incoming attacks, and any attack they perceive back on the original user with equal force. As a free-movement the user may deactivate the technique. Using this technique, the user covers themselves in a shield made entirely of Wind. Winds become Tornado speed but do not affect the user in terms of technique performing or weapon throwing. User however does suffer Observation penalty. Technique automatically removes all range increments of incoming ammunition attacks. The user may activate and deactivate the technique without removing the Jutsu. This shield will protect the user 30 Armour Points per Class Level. If the user sees the attack they may deflect the attack back at the opponent. This shield dissipates once the shield rounds out of Armour Points and the technique ends prematurely.
Limit: Must know Wind Release.

Metal Concealment *On Katana*
Rank: "D"
Skill: NinJutsu
Effect: User can make a metal object undetectable by scanners.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: Range of this technique is touch. Target is 1 metal object weighing no more than 10 pounds per Class Level. Duration of this technique is 5 hours per Class Level. This technique makes a metal object completely undetectable to metal detectors. When any creature or character makes an Observation check to detect the object, it does not gain equipment bonuses from any device that detect metal. This Justu works against Jutsus used to detect metal. A Class Point check determines if an opponent can identify the user's metal. A roll of 1d20 + opponent's Class Points versus 11 + User's Class Points is used to determine.
Limit: Must know Earth Release.

Weight of the Earth *On Katana*
Rank: "D"
Skill: NinJutsu
Effect: User strengthens their weapon with the power of earth to ignore hardness.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: Range of this technique is personal. Target of this technique is 1 weapon. Duration of this technique is 5 rounds per Class Level. This technique requires a small source of earth nearby. User hardens their weapon with the power of Earth. User sinks their weapon into the ground allowing the earth to fuse with the weapon. When the user brings up the weapon, the weapon has an earthy look to it. The weapon ignores 2 Hardness per Class Level when used.
Limit: Must know Earth Release.

Earthen Grace
Rank: "C"
Skill: NinJutsu
Effect: User takes earth like attacks as non-lethal damage.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: Range of this technique is Touch. Target is living creature touched. Duration of this technique is 5 minutes per Class Level. User touches a target causing its skin to momentarily take on the speckled gray look of granite. The smell of dust hangs heavily in the air. User grants the subject an affinity for earth and stone. Any damage the subject takes from a stone or earthen source counts as nonlethal damage for the duration of the Jutsu. Natural attacks by creatures made of earth or stone (such as stone golems), natural attacks by creatures of the earth subtype, and attacks by stone weapons (such as a stone hammer or a sling stone) instead deal nonlethal damage, as does falling damage when the subject lands on rock or earth. When the non-lethal damage the subject has taken (from any source) equals the subject's current Armour Points, the Jutsu ends, and any further damage from stone or earthen source causes damage normally.
Limit: Must know Earth Release.

Halo of Earth
Rank: "C"
Skill: NinJutsu
Effect: User creates a halo of earth to wrap around themselves to deflect attacks.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: Range of this technique is personal. Target is the user. Duration of this technique is 50 minutes per Class Level. This technique requires a small source of earth nearby. Halo of Earth creates a thin band of earth that swirls and twists around the user's body, helping to deflect incoming attacks. The earth does not make it difficult for others to see the user, but it grants a +5 deflection bonus to Defense. This deflection bonus increases by 1 for per Class Level.
Limit: Must know Earth Release.

Ironhide, Greater
Rank: "B"
Skill: NinJutsu
Effect: A stronger variation of Ironhide.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: Range of this technique is touch. Target of this technique is creature touched. Duration of this technique is 5 hours per Class Level. This Jutsu functions as Ironhide, except the chance of negating a Critical Strike or Sneak Attack is 75%.
Limit: Must know Earth Release. Must know Ironhide

Earth Glide
Rank: "B"
Skill: NinJutsu
Effect: An advanced form of Underground Displacement allowing the user to move without creating a hole. May be used as an offensive technique.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: Range of this technique is touch. Target of this technique is 1 creature. Duration of this technique is 5 rounds per Class Level. The subject can glide through stone, dirt, or almost any other sort of earth except metal as easily as a fish swims through water. Its burrowing leaves behind no tunnel or hole, nor does it create any ripple or other signs of its presence. A move earth Jutsu on an area containing the subject flings it back 10 meters, stunning it for 1 round unless the subject succeeds on Fortitude save.
Limit: Must know Earth Release. Must know Underground Displacement.

[Flower]

As Isamu approached District 12 from the south-west side, about 1000 meters from the gatehouse to the south, he would be wary of the fence as he watched it from below ground before preparing himself to interact with some of the nearby settlements. There had been a group of houses about 500 meters behind him, away from the gate. If it hadn't been for the fact that he saw a lone boy playing out in the sand, Isamu might have thought that these homes were abandoned -- each one was so run-down, like a cabin that had been weathered for several years. In some of them even the windows had been blown out. A well, covered in the encroaching sand, was stationed in the middle of five of these little shacks.

The boy had been playing around the well earlier in the day, kicking a red, inflatable ball across the ground. Now, however, if Isamu went in that direction he would see the kid sitting on the steps of one of the homes. Alone. The boy was short (about 3'3) and had black hair that fell around his head in a bowl-cut. He was wearing ragged clothes that might have been mistaken for a sack cut with his holes for his arm and torso. There weren't many other people in the area, but his father or mother had to be somewhere, right? An odd silence lingered over the area as day began to rise.

Isamu speculated that there were probably other settlements around as well, but this was the only one he knew of so far. If he investigated outside the fence it was possible that he could find more but perhaps it was worth it to see what was going on with the young boy?

[Christoff]

Isamu began the long walk back towards the house, his feet shuffling softly against sand and dirt. The Sadojin could see the young boy in the distance and made slow progress towards him. He had no desire to startle the young man and he was conscious that the empty windows might hide watchful eyes. Isamu thought of his goggles and their x-ray lenses. They could reveal anyone hiding within, but they would also send the wrong message to the people he wanted to talk to.

Still walking Isamu reflected on the poverty on display before him. Kaze no Kuni was littered with such places. Each settlement was a testament to the persistence of the people who lived there. They carved out a life and a living from nothing. Some members of Isamu's clan made their living traveling between such places. They traded in essential goods, offered specialized services. It was not a career that led to riches, but for a wandering spirit it could be rewarding.

Isamu was close now and raised his right hand in greeting. Isamu wondered about the boy's parents, he supposed it was possible that they might range far away hunting or gathering food. If they were shepherds or ranchers they might be tending to a herd, "Good morning, my name is Isamu." Isamu stopped at a safe distance, "What is your name?"

[Flower]

The boy glanced up at Isamu as he approached, the red ball still sitting at his side on the steps. His eyes were small and yellow, and he had a thin, determined smile that stretched across his face. "Good morning, my name is Isamu. What is your name?" As the boy opened his mouth to speak, Isamu would hear a series of pops and notice that large fangs were protruding from the boy's lips.

"My name's Tobias," the boy said with a bit of a grunt. "Did you come from the district? Or a neighboring village?" The boy seemed like he wanted to ask a lot of questions but wasn't surprised to see another person. How strange. "Did you come to take me back to Mommy and Daddy?" His light, yellow eyes blinked up at Isamu -- as if he might have the answers. Every time he spoke, the boy muffled -- as if he had an impediment. But Isamu knew it was those teeth.

One of the doors, to one of the shacks, suddenly blew open due to the force of the wind. It made a dull thud as it banged against its hinges and against the wall. Tobias didn't even glance in that direction, used to the sounds. Each gust of wind blew another pile of sand over the lip of the well and into the reserve. Isamu couldn't see down it because he was too far away. The boy sat just a couple meters away from the stone, sand-covered edge that stood about three feet off the ground.

"I've been good. Really good."

SPOILER: Click to show

Greedy Jaws
Rank: "C"
Skill: NinJutsu
Effect: User’s jaws grow and their prowess increases.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: This Jutsu lengthens and sharpens the user’s teeth, and greatly extends their jaw to the accompaniment of a loud series of sickening cracks and pops. The user gains a +2 enhancement bonus to Might and a bite attack but also finds speech difficult, suffering a 50% chance of failing to perform any Jutsu with verbal components. It also provides a primary natural attack that deals 20 armour points of damage.
Limit: Must be an Inuzuka member.

[Christoff]

Isamu looked long and hard at the fangs on the boy and listened intently. Human children his age had enough trouble enunciating without those in their mouths. The Sadojin wondered about the boy and his overdeveloped bite, the yellow eyes were interesting as well. Isamu hadn't seen such traits in humans before. Isamu resolved to stay wary, who knew what the boy might be capable of.

The boy's words troubled Isamu as well. Take him back. The suggestion of those words filled Isamu with apprehension. Something or someone had separated the boy from his parents. Or had it? Was this all a trap? Isamu scrutinized the boy for any clue about his disposition. (Sense Motive 155 SP) "Hello Tobias. I am not from around here. I am a nomad. I move from place to place looking for work." Isamu paused as a door slammed open with the wind. His body was still, but his eyes darted suddenly to the door before returning to Tobias, "Where exactly are your parents?"

[Flower]

As Isamu scrutinized the boy, he would find that he was easily able to read him. The youth did not seem particularly adept at hiding his intentions. Isamu could tell that he was telling the truth, but also that the boy had some sort of secret that had not yet been revealed. The boy seemed indifferent toward Isamu, and didn't particularly feel one way or the other toward him. At the mention of his parents, Tobias dropped his head and looked at the ground. When Isamu darted his eyes toward the door, he'd find that he couldn't see much inside. A few ratty pieces of furniture, such as an armchair and a couch. There seemed to be some old, lamps hanging above the floor but it was difficult to tell. The door swung back to a half-close.

"I'm not supposed to talk about it," he said with a whine, "That's what they told me." He looked behind Isamu, in the direction of the district. He let a stiff silence drop over the air as he looked hard at the ground. Almost a whisper: "Told me they'd kill 'em."

[Christoff]

It seemed the boy was not hiding any false intentions from Isamu. He was hiding something from Isamu but his words felt honest. Now it was up to Isamu to earn the boy's trust. Isamu walked closer to the boy and his hanging head. When he was two meters away Isamu took a knee and asked Tobias, "Tobias, can you keep a secret for me?"

If the boy agreed Isamu would reach beneath his cloak. Unseen by the boy his right arm pushed inside his chest and emerged clutching his headband. Isamu moved his arm out slowly and deliberately until the headband and his village's symbol were visible to Tobias. "Do you know what this symbol means?" Isamu paused only briefly to look for comprehension. Either way he would forge ahead, "I am Shinobi of Sunagakure. I am sworn to uphold and enforce the laws of this land. If someone has taken your parents it is my duty to find them." Isamu let that wash over the boy gauging his reaction, "Who took your parents? And where did they take them?"

[Flower]

Tobias suddenly seemed a little bit nervous. His fangs quivered from within his tight lips and he looked, wide-eyed, at the Sadojin. "A Sand ninja?" he asked with awe, maybe a bit of reverence. But he was still indifferent. "Does that mean you're here to protect us?" He seemed very interested to know.

Deciding that it must have been the case, the boy pondered in his mind for a second before going on: "The masked men. The masked women." He muffled the word "women" through his teeth. "Took them beyond the gate." The boy lifted one of his small fingers toward the chain-link fence in the far-off distance which was seen like a dotted line on the horizon. "They wanted my help. Said that they could teach me to use chakra." His teeth chewed the air amicably as if in response.

"And in exchange, they'd keep Mom and Dad alive." It was at this moment that the door to the shack blew open once more and this time Isamu could begin to see a black shadow moving along the interior of the room -- from behind the couch. He could use his observation skills to try to determine what it was, but it had been difficult to see as it moved so swiftly about the room(Observation DC 100 to determine shadow). The boy seemed to have seen it out of the corner of his eye and looked in that direction. Isamu could sense a bit of fear from the young lad at the presence, but he didn't say anything about it.

[Christoff]

Isamu tucked the headband back into his cloak, "My duty is to the uphold the laws. Today that means protecting you and your family." Isamu did not look back towards the fence when Tobias pointed towards it. He had suspected as much, though he had no idea why the parents had been taken or by who. The door flew open and Isamu's eyes returned to it catching sight of a shadow moving quickly across the door frame. Isamu strained to try and see what it was. (Observation Check 155 SP)

Isamu knew now that the boy was not alone here. A few grains of sand around Isamu's feet stirred and then lay still. Isamu was ready for whatever lurked, but it would be difficult to fight wand keep the boy safe. He had convinced the boy to betray his parent's captors and if they knew that Tobias and his parents might be targets. Knowing his time was growing short Isamu asked his next question softly while keeping his eyes trained on the door, watching for movement. "What did they ask you to do Tobias? What do you do for them?"

Observation Check Roll:
hfCfRlrl1-100
Observation 125 + 5 Luck Bonus + 20 untyped bonus from Alertness + 5 Insight Bonus (Eccentric Specialist)= 155 SP

SPOILER: Click to show

Activated:
Shield of Sand (Shield of Sand)
Rank: "B", "A", "S" (Blocks 140 AP)
Skill: NinJutsu
Effect: Whenever the user is about to come to harm, a shield of sand will automatically surround and protect him.
Special: ---
Drawback: Depending on the user's rank depends on the strength and speed of the technique.
Description: The shield is capable of withstanding considerably strong attacks and projectiles, and can be hardened to a point where it's stronger than many creations. The shield is so strong that it has earned the name "Absolute Defense" (絶対防御, Zettai Bōgyo). The sand will react regardless of the user's will, even protecting them from self-inflicted injuries. User may also completely surround them in the shield to further increase the defensive capabilities. Strength and Speed of Technique depends on the rank of the Technique.
"B" Rank - Capable of stopping 8 movements. Capable of stopping "C" Rank techniques.
"A" Rank - Capable of stopping 10 movements. Capable of stopping "B" Rank techniques.
"S" Rank - Capable of stopping 12 movements. Capable of stopping "A" Rank techniques.

Each Class the user is higher than "C" the shield's strength increases by 1 Rank giving a full capability of stopping "S"+"C" Rank techniques. The amount of movements is an accumulation over the amount of enemies attacking. This is a mastery and doesn't take up much Chakra when activated. User may activate or deactivate this anytime they wish. Activating takes up 0 movements.
Limit: Must have gained 500 Training Points in Sand for "B" Rank Automatically. Must have gained 1,000 Training Points in Sand for "A" Rank Automatically. Must have gained 1,500 Training Points in Sand for "S" Rank Automatically.

1-100

[Flower]

Due to his quick observation skills, Isamu would be able to determine that it was a some sort of wolf that had sprinted by the living room. The patch of black fur had blended in well as it dived among the furniture, but Isamu had been able to notice just before the creature hid itself again. For a brief moment, Isamu recognized it's wide, yellow eye that looked oddly similar to Tobias'. As the sand began to move around the ninja's foot, the boy looked with a bit of wonder.

"What did they ask you to do Tobias? What do you do for them?"

Suddenly Isamu saw a small tear roll down the boy's cheek before his eyes popped out, rolling around on stalks and twisting around to face the ninja. His skin started to shift and meld against the background of the home behind him, as if the boy were starting to become invisible. But, really, Isamu could tell that it was just his skin as a "bubble" of the boy remained in the air. Then suddenly his skin flashed back to reality (seemingly involuntary) -- although the stalked eyes still protruded from his head and stared accusingly.

"I'm their pet. They perform experiments on me."

SPOILER: Click to show

Stalked Eyes
Rank: "C"
Type: Augmentation
Effect: Target's eyes are suspended on stalks.
Special: To perform: 2 hours; Duration: Permanent
Drawback: ---
Description: Internal - Takes up 0 Augmentation Points. An eye Augmentation that alters the Target's eyes. They do not move independently or extend far enough to grant the Target any sort of advantage. They may be permanently extended or the Target may be able to retract them into their head at will.
Limit: Must be a Ritualist for Augmentation Rituals.
Cost: Market Price: 12,000 Ryo Performing Price: 4,000 Ryo

Chameleon Skin
Rank: "C"
Type: Augmentation
Effect: Target's skin (or chitin, fur, or scales) can change color to match their surroundings.
Special: To perform: 12 hours; Duration: Permanent
Drawback: When the Target moves, there will be a man-shaped, "bubble" in the air.
Description: Internal - Takes up 1 Augmentation Point. Target's skin (or chitin, fur, or scales) warps light around the Target and projects a hologram of the wall behind it over top of the bent light, rendering the Target invisible. The Chameleon Skin is a thin layer of skin placed over the Target's and attached making it the Target's own. When the Target moves they will bubble in the air making them difficult to be noticed but possible. User gains a Ritual bonus +20 against an Observer’s Observation.
Limit: Must be a Ritualist for Augmentation Rituals.
Cost: Market Price: 12,000 Ryo Performing Price: 9,000 Ryo

[Christoff]

Isamu felt a coldness come over him. This was truly a high and terrible crime. Experimenting on a child, abduction, and possibly murder. Whoever was doing this to Tobias was a danger to Kaze no Kuni. "Tobias is that your dog in the house?" Isamu felt the openness and vulnerability of this place. Anyone could be watching. If Tobias confirmed the dog was his, as Isamu suspected, the Sadojin would suggest moving inside, "It might be safer for us to talk inside Tobias. I wouldn't want them to know you are talking to me." Isamu would wait to see if Tobias agreed. If he consented to move indoors Isamu would begin walking with him, slowly to account for his size, and ask, "When do they usually come to see you?" 

SPOILER: Click to show

Shield of Sand still active

[Flower]

At the exact moment that Isamu was asking these questions, the wolf raced out of the shack across from the well and into the yard -- about ten meters away. It bound outwards in a single leap and growled low as it landed, it's black hair on its back standing on edge. The rest of the fur was dark grey, and the creature has two, glowing red eyes. Literally, they seemed to glow in the dark before the beast jumped out. In all it stood much large than an average wolf, about five foot tall, and almost the same size as the ninja himself (Creature Lore, Special Regions skill check to identify wolf). There were strange symbols on its forehead that seemed to imitate the fur, but upon closer examination it would be revealed that they were actually scorch marks.

It snarled at Isamu again and the boy seemed to wince, as his stalk-like eyes flicked back into his skull and his skin flickered one more time against the background. "You're making him mad," the boy said with a hint of melancholy. It seemed that if Isamu wanted to continue asking questions or get the boy alone, then he would have to deal with the wolf. But as it was, he had already achieved enough information to report back to the Kazekage. And besides, he didn't really know that much about the situation. 

What was the right thing to do?

MISSION COMPLETED!
[Receive payment from the Kazekage Tower]

[Christoff]

Isamu's right hand moved to his blade as he eyed the dog. He made no other movement. Tobias' behavior was strange and the boy had not answered his question about the dog. Isamu knew the dog's eyes had been yellow, but now they were red. Something about Isamu's presence, or maybe his questions, had changed something in this dog. Prying further could be dangerous and his mission had only been to gather information. Still to leave the child here? To permit further experimentation? That would be a breach of duty.

Isamu's mission had not forbidden him to engage and so the decision was made. He would not leave so long as Tobias was in danger. Isamu spoke, his eyes calmly on the massive creature, "Tell me true, is he your protector or theirs? I won't allow their crimes against you to continue unchecked." The boy's answer would determine if a fight was necessary.

0 SP in Creature Lore: Special Regions +5 from Luck Bonus= 5 total SP
s7jUxFjR1-100

SPOILER: Click to show

Shield of Sand still active

1-100

[Flower]

As Isamu's eyes lingered on the creature, and his hand reached for the blade just in case, the wolf would release another deep growl. He could not determine what kind of wolf it was, but strange to find it all of the way out here -- in the desert. "Tell me true, is he your protector or theirs? I won't allow their crimes against you to continue unchecked."

The boy looked confused at the two of them, unsure what to do. As his chameleon skin blinked invisible once more, and this time remained that way, he put his hands over his eyes so that he couldn't see and cried as he said, "Both, theirs and mine! Please don't hurt him!" The wolf didn't appear to like the distress that the boy was in and got into a crouched position, as if it might pounce, and kept a weary eye on the ninja as Tobias continued to sob. It seemed that the answer was more complicated than Isamu had originally thought.

[Christoff]

Isamu relaxed his shoulders and removed his hand from the blade. His intent was to convey passivity now and deescalate the situation. He wasn't going to solve any mysteries with that creature pouncing on him and the boy in hysterics. "I'm sorry, I don't want to hurt your dog." Isamu laid himself back slowly, adjusting his sword, until he was sitting with his legs out knees bent in front of him. It was about as nonthreatening a posture as he could assume. He thought for a moment before deactivating his shield of sand. This was clearly no ordinary wolf. He wondered if it might be responding to or sensing his chakra. That would certainly be a clever trick.

"If he is your friend he is mine. What is my new friend's name?" Isamu was consciously trying a new track. He had been to forceful with the child. He thought of his own younger brother, who was now a teenager. When he was that age you had to talk to him differently. It had been a long time since Isamu had talked to a child, but he did his best to remember what had worked. Friends. That was something a child could understand. He had to make sure Tobias, and maybe more importantly his creature, saw him as a friend.

[Flower]

Tobias slowly phased back into existence as the ninja asked him about his friend, the wolf. He seemed to have calmed down quite a bit from even a moment ago. The wolf came up off its hunches and walked beside the well, laying down in the sand to keep an eye on the two of them. It's size still seemed immense even though it lay on its stomach.

"His name is Jigoku," Tobias said with a bit of a grin and wiped a tear from his face. "He keeps me safe since I don't have my Mom or Dad around." He looked off longingly toward the desert, something that Isamu might have expected Tobias did quite a lot of. "They brought him here to look out for me." The wolf's eyes suddenly seemed to shift, from red back to their ordinary yellow, as the tension began to diffuse. But there was still a lingering look in the wolf's eye that Isamu couldn't quite place. An odd, thoughtful look as if the wolf were watching him. As if it might be studying him.

[Christoff]

It seemed Isamu's gamble had paid off for the moment. The Genin remained sitting as the creature laid down in front of him. It seemed wrong to call it a dog or wolf. There was something more to it that Isamu could not place, and the size was beyond anything he had seen before. Tobias smiled at his two friends getting along. For his part Isamu still wasn't sure things would end peacefully with the animal. He got a feeling the creature felt the same way.

Tobias explained his guardian's name was Jigoku. The beast's origins concerned him. The two natures of the beast concerned him. The idea of leaving Tobias here concerned him, but he needed to report to the Kazekage. Until he did that he wouldn't have the full force of the law behind him. Isamu spoke first to Jigoku, "Nice to meet you Jigoku." His voice was gentle but lacked the saccharine quality many humans adopted with animals. "Tobias, do they visit you often? I need to tell my friends about all of this, but I don't want to leave you in danger."

[Flower]

Jigoku perked up his ear as Isamu said his name and greeted him, looking at him with those glossy eyes. Tobias looked at Isamu with a sort of hard resilience that seemed to match the desert environment. "They don't come all the time. Just sometimes." He looked back at the wolf for a second and then back at the ninja. "They say that they're doing it to protect me. They say that it'll make me stronger." But the boy's skin was beginning to fade away slightly into the background, before he stilled his mind and brought his focus back to keeping his body in reality, as if revealing his own doubts.

"But I'm not in danger," Tobias said bravely, "I'll endure the pain and become stronger." All of the big words were muffled by his over-sized fangs. "And besides, Jigoku won't let anyone hurt me." He let out a half-hearted laugh to ease the situation as he stood up and patted the dog's head, behind the ears, but somehow it only seemed more ominous as the wolf continued to stare at Isamu.