The Depths of Heart [x2 Training Event]

[» Comatose]

SPOILER: Click to show

(6) Gate of View - Ajna: The Third Eye Chakra
Rank: "S"
Skill: TaiJutsu
Effect: Increases the user's speed and power. Opening of this gate releases such enormous amounts of energy that it can cause nearby water bodies to form a vortex around the user.
Special: ---
Drawback: (Fortitude 25) Must make a save or reduce to Exhausted and Dying Condition. Success; user is only exhausted for rest of encounter.
Description: Picture Located in the center of the forehead above the eyebrows. Its function is seeing, intuiting. Its color is indigo. Its stone is Iolite. This Chakra is the Light Chakra; it deals with Insight and is blocked by Illusion. Balancing this Chakra helps physical perception and balances the pineal gland. This Celestial gate takes away the amount of fat and protein in the user's body can digest. It releases useless energy resources giving the user more power and more stamina.
Takes 6 Movements to Activate.
+12 Pain Threshold Bonus to Will.
+10 enchantment bonus to Weapon Damage.
+6 enchantment bonus to Movements.
+20 Temporary Gate Points.
If 6th Gate is opened longer than 2 consecutive rounds, user gains a penalty of -15 Weapon Size in TaiJutsu Damage, and -6 movements for 24 hours once gate closes.
User suffers 1/2 more damage from all sources for 1 minute after gate closes.

Unless the user wishes otherwise, the technique ends at the end of an Encounter. Each round the technique is maintained, the user suffers 7 points of Gate Point Damage. Mastery: Learning this technique a 2nd time, the user can activate this gate without sacrificing movements for the purpose of using a more powerful gate, without actually performing this Technique or gaining any of the penalties. User cannot otherwise perform the Technique without sacrificing movements. Learning the technique a 3rd time, the user only suffers -2 movements, -5 Weapon Size TaiJutsu Damage, and suffers 6 Gate Point Damage.
Limit: Must be a practitioner of The Eight Celestial Gates. Must know (5) Gate of Limit - Throat.

[1][0 / 110]

There lie many unnamed ruins about the world, each connected to civilizations long past. When Tachibana had come across this one he had noted and suggested to Kaori that they investigate it, needing a somewhat recreational break from all the walking they had been doing prior. The ruins themselves seemed undisturbed and primordial, columns, arches, and gateways still in tact from when the original structures existed.

"Always interesting to think that once a whole civilization may have existed here. Whole lives went by here - start to finish. Now, there's nothing left." Bending over he passed gravel between his fingers, noting the trace of bone and ash before he patted his hands together in order to clean them.

Tachibana's training of the gates had reached a stage where he could train within himself if only by willing it so. By opening and closing gates just a bit he could emulate the states the body entered and train in such a way that would allow him to gain insight on them. The sixth gate, or the mind's eye gate as it was colloquially named, was something most people knew of in some form. It was often referred to as the sixth sense, or extrasensory perception - the allowing of the mind to see without involvement of anything else. There was not much known about how to train it, or how one could uncover the sense, but since it was connected to the sixth gate both figuratively he knew uncovering it was a key to unlocking the gate.

Everywhere he went he began to attempt to keep a sort of mental picture of certain things. When he passed a column, he'd take a mental photo and then think back to it. He'd think on it in an attempt to imagine it as if it was still right in front of him. As he continued to imagine it he attempted to make the visualization as vivid as he could, imagining that it'd look like in the present. Would the wind be blowing about it? Would it still be standing? Were animals or insects traveling along it? How deep in the ground was it?

As he began this intense imagining he could somewhat 'see' it. This was different than visualizing within one's mind where you formed a picture, he felt as though he was actually seeing it. It was an unusual experience, as seeing with the mind without the eyes involvement felt confusing - to the point of headache. The headache became more intense the more vivid the picture became, until he had to release the image from his mind. The fatigue and hurt he felt afterward were alien to him, like exercising a muscle that had never existed inside of his own head. It had seemed like the ruins were a great place for training something like this unceasing and unchanging, yet having so much vivid history.

"There seems to be a doorway through there", he spoke as he pointed off into the distance, finishing a cycle of imaging and exhaustion before starting another.

[⌈ addy ⌋]

SPOILER: Click to show

ABSOLUTE CONTROL
Rank: "S"
Skill: NinJutsu
Effect: This Jutsu functions like the Dominate Compulsion GenJutsu.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: Target is 1 Creature. Range is 20 meters. Duration is 5 hours per Class Level. User will leash another soul to them and it does only what the user asks of it. User creates a bond between the user and another. User can control the actions of any humanoid creature through a telepathic link that the user establishes with the subject’s mind. If the user and the subject have a common language, the user can generally force the subject to perform as the user desires, within the limits of its abilities. If no common language exists, the user can communicate only basic commands, such as “Come here,” “Go there,” “Fight,” and “Stand still.” User knows what the subject is experiencing, but the user does not receive direct sensory input from it, nor can it communicate with the user telepathically. Once the user has ave given a dominated creature a command, it continues to attempt to carry out that command to the exclusion of all other activities except those necessary for day-to-day survival (such as sleeping, eating, and so forth). Because of this limited range of activity, a Sense Motive check against Difficult Difficulty can determine that the subject’s behavior is being influenced by an enchantment effect. Changing the instructions or giving a dominated creature a new command is the equivalent of redirecting a Jutsu, so it is a movement. By concentrating fully on the Jutsu (Half a Round), the user can receive full sensory input as interpreted by the mind of the subject, though it still cannot communicate with the user. User cannot actually see through the subject’s eyes, so it’s not as good as being there themselves, but the user still gets a good idea of what is going on. Subjects resist this control, and any subject forced to take actions against its nature receives a new Will Save with a +2 bonus. Obviously self-destructive orders are not carried out. Once control is established, the range at which it can be exercised is unlimited, as long as the user and the subject are on the same plane. The user does not need to see the subject to control it.
Limit: Must be a Soulcaster.

[1] [000 / 120]

The idea of exploring ruins in a foreign country was not something Kaori thought would be part of her life, but then a few years ago she would not have pictured herself married. "All good things must come to an end, eventually," she agreed, casting her gaze from archway to column to crumbled wall."Still, I wouldn't say there's nothing left. We can learn a lot from any artwork or items we find here." Tachibana seemed engrossed in his thoughts, much more than usual at least. In addition to exploring she knew he wanted to spend time training, but never said exactly what would be the focus. In light of that, she followed next to him quietly.

Various expressions passed across his face. She was extremely curious, but then concerned; pain flickered in his eyes and then disappeared. Glossed lips pursed and she stopped next to him, head tilted in an obvious prompt for him to share what was going through his mind. Instead, he did the next best thing. "An entryway, hm?" the girl mumbled, then turned her gaze toward it. To the left there was a stone pillar with a beautiful, but somewhat unsettling, statue. It looked like some sort of bat crossed with a human, straight out of a horror story about the two newlyweds who got lost in some ruins. Oh, wait. No, that was real life.

As Kaori smirked to herself, a slight movement caught her attention. Without much thought she flung her arm out across Tachibana's chest, making sure he would not take any more steps toward the door. "Wait. I thought I saw something." Sure, he could easily protect himself from any type of threat, but there was something she had been meaning to try since she read about it in her medical textbooks. It was called Soulcasting, and it functioned in a similar manner to chakra, from what she understood. Instead of using the spiritual flow of power that most people had within their bodies, it used the power of the soul. At the time, Kaori had wondered whether it was good idea to dabble in that which was often considered divine, religious. Now, however, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to jump in head first.

"I believe that statue is a creature, not a statue. I tend to doubt that stone can twitch a wing. I would like to try something, if we're careful." The lime-haired girl took two steps forward, putting some distance between herself and her husband. Amber eyes narrowed on the statue and then closed, giving her the chance to focus on the flows of internal power. The chakra was easy to feel; she could sense it running through her body like the thrum of blood through her veins. Beneath that was something more primordial. It was a solid force, not hazy in the slightest - a mass of goodness that reminded her of, well, herself. She reached out toward it with her mind and felt the warmth spread, fingertips to toes.

It hurt. Her lips parted and she withdrew the mental contact, feeling somewhat overwhelmed. It reminded her of the first time she used just a bit too much chakra, that exhaustion that most shinobi learned to avoid at all costs. Now, it looked as if her soul was daring her to push against the boundaries of learned behavior. It was frightening. "Hnn.. Just.. please, give me a bit more time," she gasped to Tachibana, fists curling in to balls. Kaori knew he would protect her if the creature attacked, so she could focus on unlocking this power.

[» Comatose]

SPOILER: Click to show

(6) Gate of View - Ajna: The Third Eye Chakra
Rank: "S"
Skill: TaiJutsu
Effect: Increases the user's speed and power. Opening of this gate releases such enormous amounts of energy that it can cause nearby water bodies to form a vortex around the user.
Special: ---
Drawback: (Fortitude 25) Must make a save or reduce to Exhausted and Dying Condition. Success; user is only exhausted for rest of encounter.
Description: Picture Located in the center of the forehead above the eyebrows. Its function is seeing, intuiting. Its color is indigo. Its stone is Iolite. This Chakra is the Light Chakra; it deals with Insight and is blocked by Illusion. Balancing this Chakra helps physical perception and balances the pineal gland. This Celestial gate takes away the amount of fat and protein in the user's body can digest. It releases useless energy resources giving the user more power and more stamina.
Takes 6 Movements to Activate.
+12 Pain Threshold Bonus to Will.
+10 enchantment bonus to Weapon Damage.
+6 enchantment bonus to Movements.
+20 Temporary Gate Points.
If 6th Gate is opened longer than 2 consecutive rounds, user gains a penalty of -15 Weapon Size in TaiJutsu Damage, and -6 movements for 24 hours once gate closes.
User suffers 1/2 more damage from all sources for 1 minute after gate closes.

Unless the user wishes otherwise, the technique ends at the end of an Encounter. Each round the technique is maintained, the user suffers 7 points of Gate Point Damage. Mastery: Learning this technique a 2nd time, the user can activate this gate without sacrificing movements for the purpose of using a more powerful gate, without actually performing this Technique or gaining any of the penalties. User cannot otherwise perform the Technique without sacrificing movements. Learning the technique a 3rd time, the user only suffers -2 movements, -5 Weapon Size TaiJutsu Damage, and suffers 6 Gate Point Damage.
Limit: Must be a practitioner of The Eight Celestial Gates. Must know (5) Gate of Limit - Throat.

[2][0 / 110]

"Gates", he explained after she gave him the inquisitive look, seeking an answer to why his face had been so pained for a fleeting moment. "The Sixth Gate, the gate of View, is also the fabled 'sixth sense'. Need to somehow see without seeing. Its possible to invoke something that lets you do this, but its not pleasant."

He attempted his method of viewing an object that he had passed with new objects every time he started another cycle of mental fatigue. Taking in all the details he could in the moment it took to pass it, he overlayed the image in his mind once he did. Every detail was second-guessed and every inconsistency ironed out. Then his mind would attempt to 'resonate' with the image, viewing it from within his head within real space without ever looking at it. It was as if his eyes had appeared suddenly outside of himself and began looking at something through only thought. He imagined this was a similar experience one had when they used something like Byakugan, only they had a supernatural genetic trait that allowed them to do it without any aide at all.

Tachibana prompted when stopped by his wife, never questioning her motives or thoughts when she did. Unlike her he was not gifted in matters of the spirit or chakra, and from the statue she beckoned was alive he noticed no unusual characteristics. Any seasoned ninja knew of the horrors of ruins left dormant for millennia and even without noticing it himself or his wife telling him, he would have suspected it was peculiar in some way. The one did he notice though was that it was unusually pristine.

Allowing the gates of his chakra circulatory system to open just a sliver, he rotated the chakra about his body while he focused on the potential Gargoyle, attempting to reach the state necessary to open the sixth gate. It was extremely subtle but if one focused for long enough they could see some of the signs of life within it. His mind began to overlay what he would have expected of a gargoyle onto the thing he was looking at, the imagery taking on a life of its own. As he did so the pain of this particular method returned, an unceasing migraine-like burning sensation between the eyes. Suddenly, he felt as if he could see what the Gargoyle would have done or would do before it would do it. Wispy-like images streaked across his real vision as if predetermining what would have happened should they enter the area without care. The sixth gate seemed to be opening if only slightly at that moment too, as the pain became more and more intense, Tachibana trying to suppress it and any leaking chakra.

As his wife moved forward he knew he could do nothing to stop her, and thus never intended to. He could tell by her mannerisms she like he was trying something new and experimental, attempting to break the boundaries and do something extraordinary. Though he had no clue what it is she was doing he moved to a position closer to her, before going in front of her though slightly off to the right. His overlayed vision showed him scenes of battle and possibilities, and as he focused he could see more and more of it. It would be a few more seconds before it attacked and only if they went any closer than they had.

"I don't think it will attack unless we provoke it or get closer, though I have a feeling whatever you're doing will provoke it."

[⌈ addy ⌋]

SPOILER: Click to show

ABSOLUTE CONTROL
Rank: "S"
Skill: NinJutsu
Effect: This Jutsu functions like the Dominate Compulsion GenJutsu.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: Target is 1 Creature. Range is 20 meters. Duration is 5 hours per Class Level. User will leash another soul to them and it does only what the user asks of it. User creates a bond between the user and another. User can control the actions of any humanoid creature through a telepathic link that the user establishes with the subject’s mind. If the user and the subject have a common language, the user can generally force the subject to perform as the user desires, within the limits of its abilities. If no common language exists, the user can communicate only basic commands, such as “Come here,” “Go there,” “Fight,” and “Stand still.” User knows what the subject is experiencing, but the user does not receive direct sensory input from it, nor can it communicate with the user telepathically. Once the user has ave given a dominated creature a command, it continues to attempt to carry out that command to the exclusion of all other activities except those necessary for day-to-day survival (such as sleeping, eating, and so forth). Because of this limited range of activity, a Sense Motive check against Difficult Difficulty can determine that the subject’s behavior is being influenced by an enchantment effect. Changing the instructions or giving a dominated creature a new command is the equivalent of redirecting a Jutsu, so it is a movement. By concentrating fully on the Jutsu (Half a Round), the user can receive full sensory input as interpreted by the mind of the subject, though it still cannot communicate with the user. User cannot actually see through the subject’s eyes, so it’s not as good as being there themselves, but the user still gets a good idea of what is going on. Subjects resist this control, and any subject forced to take actions against its nature receives a new Will Save with a +2 bonus. Obviously self-destructive orders are not carried out. Once control is established, the range at which it can be exercised is unlimited, as long as the user and the subject are on the same plane. The user does not need to see the subject to control it.
Limit: Must be a Soulcaster.

[2] [000 / 120]

Kaori heard very little of what Tachibana said. She extended that mental hand back into the depths of the hidden power of her soul and was encompassed by the burn of it. Clearly, this was not something to be trifled with, and it made sense that very few people pursued what could unmistakably give them an edge in battle. Just from the brief exposure to this energy she knew that if she were to go against its wishes - no, her own deepest wishes and morals - it would retaliate. There were not many who could stay true to themselves in the heat of the moment, and especially shinobi, who more often than not pursued paths they did not wholly believe in for the benefit of their Kage.

A gasp was forced from her lungs and then, well, bliss. The pain was gone, replaced by a sense of oneness, belonging, humanity. Even her own mind could barely process it, much less explain the sensation to her husband. She swallowed and looked at him, realizing that at some point he had moved in front of her, to protect. "I seem to have control of the power now," she stated, simply. Perhaps if this experiment was a success she would explain it to him, or show him the book that gave her the idea. "I am going to try to exert this control over the creature. Yes, I think it's very likely to be provoked."

Tachibana needed little warning, but she did not want to catch him when he was engulfed in his own mind. The girl slowly licked her lips, momentarily unhappy with how suddenly dry they felt. Then, she dove back into the source of that power, her soul. It seemed to have more range of movement than how chakra felt, so she knew instinctively that it would be possible to manipulate it outside of its container. Her body. That was frightening though, was it not? Taking the risk to damage the soul, that which could conceptually be tied to her own life force, was a risk well above her normal means. Still, she also sensed that turning back now would be impossible.

She focused on the Gargoyle's form, and visualized sending a tether of her soul out toward it, like a lure. As the power slithered toward it she felt a sense of emptiness, as if she were a rope being uncoiled. It was unpleasant but not particularly painful, like the pangs of hunger right before a delicious dinner. Kaori jolted when the tether touched something else, something foreign. It was invisible to her, but corporeal in its own sense. She urged her soul to brushed against it and---

Her concentration was shattered by an inhuman screech. Indeed, the Gargoyle, while probably not sure what was happening, could feel her intrusion. It turned toward them and unfurled its wings, clearly agitated. The elongated snout, the razor teeth; this was clearly an ambush predator pushed to react in a way it was not used to. It flexed its claws against the pedestal it perched on, producing a sound like the grating of metal on stone. Then it pushed off, jumping into the air and flapping its wings to take flight. Kaori thought it would surely attack her first, but in its rage it seemed unable to determine who had assaulted it. Rather, it dove straight for Tachibana, intending to get close enough to disembowel him with those deadly front claws.

[» Comatose]

SPOILER: Click to show

(6) Gate of View - Ajna: The Third Eye Chakra
Rank: "S"
Skill: TaiJutsu
Effect: Increases the user's speed and power. Opening of this gate releases such enormous amounts of energy that it can cause nearby water bodies to form a vortex around the user.
Special: ---
Drawback: (Fortitude 25) Must make a save or reduce to Exhausted and Dying Condition. Success; user is only exhausted for rest of encounter.
Description: Picture Located in the center of the forehead above the eyebrows. Its function is seeing, intuiting. Its color is indigo. Its stone is Iolite. This Chakra is the Light Chakra; it deals with Insight and is blocked by Illusion. Balancing this Chakra helps physical perception and balances the pineal gland. This Celestial gate takes away the amount of fat and protein in the user's body can digest. It releases useless energy resources giving the user more power and more stamina.
Takes 6 Movements to Activate.
+12 Pain Threshold Bonus to Will.
+10 enchantment bonus to Weapon Damage.
+6 enchantment bonus to Movements.
+20 Temporary Gate Points.
If 6th Gate is opened longer than 2 consecutive rounds, user gains a penalty of -15 Weapon Size in TaiJutsu Damage, and -6 movements for 24 hours once gate closes.
User suffers 1/2 more damage from all sources for 1 minute after gate closes.

Unless the user wishes otherwise, the technique ends at the end of an Encounter. Each round the technique is maintained, the user suffers 7 points of Gate Point Damage. Mastery: Learning this technique a 2nd time, the user can activate this gate without sacrificing movements for the purpose of using a more powerful gate, without actually performing this Technique or gaining any of the penalties. User cannot otherwise perform the Technique without sacrificing movements. Learning the technique a 3rd time, the user only suffers -2 movements, -5 Weapon Size TaiJutsu Damage, and suffers 6 Gate Point Damage.
Limit: Must be a practitioner of The Eight Celestial Gates. Must know (5) Gate of Limit - Throat.

[3] [0 / 110]

Kaori's warning was appreciated as he accelerated his own training a notch once he heard it, letting go of his body's worldly bounds and allowing his chakra to flow freely about a section of his body. As the Gargoyle screeched there was an unusual boom, like the pounding of flesh by fist, as his body stepped into the first gate. While circulating his chakra he made sure to divert a great deal of it to his head where the sixth gate would be. Like a sea breaking its wave against the shore the chakra slammed into the metaphorical door to the sixth gate beckoning it open. This of course only had a limited effect as this was only the first gate state, but with each successive gate he opened the effect would become more pronounced.

His hand lifted almost casually to meet the downward swiping claw of the Gargoyle, knowing himself to be in the actual advantage. Within even only this first gate state his attacks were enhanced such that he was able to meet its monstrous strength with ease. A cacophonous boom resounded as soon as stone claw met flesh, simply the result of tyrannical strength meeting tyrannical strength. Surprising to Tachibana was that even with his training and enhanced strength he could feel the monster had the edge. Thus, he opened the second gate.

He again shifted the circulation of his chakra such that it flowed toward the sixth gate. What was once a river of power flowing against the shore became a storm raging on a small sea. Within his mental world he could see the door buckle and bend, even as it showed no signs of actually opening. Within the real world he saw some effects as well as his vision overlayed with possibilities the Gargoyle would take. Concentrating on them he began to slowly dispel the ones that were less likely until only a few outcomes were shown within the illusion of his third eye. Many options were narrowed down to but three and a fourth outlier. From this fourth sprang a line that connected Kaori's own body to the Gargoyle. It was confounding only in the notion that he had no idea what it represented, even if he understood it was of Kaori's doing. She showed almost no signs of actually doing anything, so what was she actually doing?

One after another three more blows were exchanged that gave neither side any headway or visible damage before things with in his vision slowed. Again he saw possibilities overlayed, even though he had not summoned the state himself. His mind and body seemed to have reacted to some sort of stimuli or something they subconciously knew would happen. As he peered through the possibilities he saw each one led to a viscious attack that he would take. Focusing through them again he saw no alternative but to achieve an even higher state of being through the gates and thus opened the third gate. As he did so he took advantage of the situation to land one major blow to the Gargoyle's chest, sending it flying back a ways.

"I can't explain to you why but every time I grow so stronger so does it. I'll only be able to hold out for two more sets of blows, and well - maybe a third."

The small crater in the wall the gargoyle had made on impact shuffled and moved a bit as it got to it's feet and screeched, running back at Tachibana as he looked to Kaori and then back to the Gargoyle.

[⌈ addy ⌋]

SPOILER: Click to show

ABSOLUTE CONTROL
Rank: "S"
Skill: NinJutsu
Effect: This Jutsu functions like the Dominate Compulsion GenJutsu.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: Target is 1 Creature. Range is 20 meters. Duration is 5 hours per Class Level. User will leash another soul to them and it does only what the user asks of it. User creates a bond between the user and another. User can control the actions of any humanoid creature through a telepathic link that the user establishes with the subject’s mind. If the user and the subject have a common language, the user can generally force the subject to perform as the user desires, within the limits of its abilities. If no common language exists, the user can communicate only basic commands, such as “Come here,” “Go there,” “Fight,” and “Stand still.” User knows what the subject is experiencing, but the user does not receive direct sensory input from it, nor can it communicate with the user telepathically. Once the user has ave given a dominated creature a command, it continues to attempt to carry out that command to the exclusion of all other activities except those necessary for day-to-day survival (such as sleeping, eating, and so forth). Because of this limited range of activity, a Sense Motive check against Difficult Difficulty can determine that the subject’s behavior is being influenced by an enchantment effect. Changing the instructions or giving a dominated creature a new command is the equivalent of redirecting a Jutsu, so it is a movement. By concentrating fully on the Jutsu (Half a Round), the user can receive full sensory input as interpreted by the mind of the subject, though it still cannot communicate with the user. User cannot actually see through the subject’s eyes, so it’s not as good as being there themselves, but the user still gets a good idea of what is going on. Subjects resist this control, and any subject forced to take actions against its nature receives a new Will Save with a +2 bonus. Obviously self-destructive orders are not carried out. Once control is established, the range at which it can be exercised is unlimited, as long as the user and the subject are on the same plane. The user does not need to see the subject to control it.
Limit: Must be a Soulcaster.

[3] [000 / 120]

The kunoichi had been prepared, she thought, for the Gargoyle to attack; after all, both of them had predicted as much. Despite that, tapping in to this new energy made her skittish, and her surprise at the shriek made the soul tether retract back in to her body. Now that was a painful feeling, as if someone had snapped a rubber band against her insides. Luckily, Tachibana was prepared to meet the beast head-on, and she took that time to wipe the sweat from her brow and reorient herself. Her husband and the creature were evenly matched, perhaps because it was powerful or perhaps because he had used too much energy on his own experiment. Regardless, it appeared that her technique would need to be successful to get them out of the mess she caused.

"Just keep it preoccupied a little longer. I think I should be able to exert my control over it now that it's closer. The farther the target is from myself, the more difficult it seems to be. From now on I won't even make the attempt without being in range," she said, more to herself than to her partner. A quick flick of the gaze to the nail-marred pedestal, and she brought her hand up in front of her face, extending it fully. Fingers curled so that only the thumb stuck out and one eye closed, then milliseconds later the other. In estimation, the doorway was 25 meters away, so it would be prudent to stay within 20 meters in the future.

That done, Kaori turned her full attention back on the beast, which had reared back from her husband, seemingly to reassess the situation. Interesting, that. It had to be more intelligent than the common animal. Before it could come to blows again she unleashed that tether inside of her, more confident in her ability to organize its movements. Invisible still, it struck out at the Gargoyle like a dart aimed for the similar signature of power inside it. When contact was made it screeched again, confusion clear in its yellow eyes, which turned their attention instead upon her. It flexed its claws and dove, hoping to make it around the male to instead kill the one making it feel so strange.

Tachibana would never allow something to hurt her, especially not if he was within range. Therefore, Kaori stood her ground, allowing her husband to deflect the attack, if he could. She closed her eyes and focused on willing the tether to coil around the beast's soul, searching for a weakness that it could exploit. A point of entry, so to speak. It was hard, dark, evil - so very unlike her own being. It did not want to succumb to a human that did not match its own intentions. However, this was a battle of wills and spirit and sheer fortitude. Despite the cold sweat she could feel on her back and the way the hair on her arms stood at attention, Kaori knew it was only a matter of time.

There. A weak point. She felt as her soul infiltrated the Gargoyle's, smothering it but not letting that flame die out. Instead, her soul retracted back inside of herself, leaving a piece for the beast but also bringing a piece back to her. No matter what Tachibana had done to it to protect her, it would stop all action and turn toward its new master, wings drooping in submission. She opened her eyes and smiled. "I-- I've done it. The Gargoyle listens to me now."

[» Comatose]

SPOILER: Click to show

(6) Gate of View - Ajna: The Third Eye Chakra
Rank: "S"
Skill: TaiJutsu
Effect: Increases the user's speed and power. Opening of this gate releases such enormous amounts of energy that it can cause nearby water bodies to form a vortex around the user.
Special: ---
Drawback: (Fortitude 25) Must make a save or reduce to Exhausted and Dying Condition. Success; user is only exhausted for rest of encounter.
Description: Picture Located in the center of the forehead above the eyebrows. Its function is seeing, intuiting. Its color is indigo. Its stone is Iolite. This Chakra is the Light Chakra; it deals with Insight and is blocked by Illusion. Balancing this Chakra helps physical perception and balances the pineal gland. This Celestial gate takes away the amount of fat and protein in the user's body can digest. It releases useless energy resources giving the user more power and more stamina.
Takes 6 Movements to Activate.
+12 Pain Threshold Bonus to Will.
+10 enchantment bonus to Weapon Damage.
+6 enchantment bonus to Movements.
+20 Temporary Gate Points.
If 6th Gate is opened longer than 2 consecutive rounds, user gains a penalty of -15 Weapon Size in TaiJutsu Damage, and -6 movements for 24 hours once gate closes.
User suffers 1/2 more damage from all sources for 1 minute after gate closes.

Unless the user wishes otherwise, the technique ends at the end of an Encounter. Each round the technique is maintained, the user suffers 7 points of Gate Point Damage. Mastery: Learning this technique a 2nd time, the user can activate this gate without sacrificing movements for the purpose of using a more powerful gate, without actually performing this Technique or gaining any of the penalties. User cannot otherwise perform the Technique without sacrificing movements. Learning the technique a 3rd time, the user only suffers -2 movements, -5 Weapon Size TaiJutsu Damage, and suffers 6 Gate Point Damage.
Limit: Must be a practitioner of The Eight Celestial Gates. Must know (5) Gate of Limit - Throat.

[4] [0 / 110]

Every moment was agony for Tachibana while he stood in a 'gates' state, allowing his normally restricted chakra to run free. As he struggled to keep the energies in his body stable he watched as the Gargoyle suddenly managed to evade him and go toward his wife. Her thinking on the matter was completely correct, as above his own safety all he could think about was hers. It took but an instant to enter the next gate, the very air fizzling and crackling under the near reality-distorting power it gave him. His speed was now such that it took no time at all for him to appear before the Gargoyle, a single palm smacking against its hand before his knee rose to its side to knock it away from Kaori.

Unknown to Tachibana at the time he had seen it all before it had happened. His need to make sure no harm to had come to his wife had allowed him to overcome his limits if only for a fleeting moment. As he had moved to intercept ghostly apparitions of the what was to come had filled his vision and gave him the foresight to know how to act. If he hadn't attacked with a swift palm he saw himself becoming eviscerated instead. If his next movement hadn't been the knee he saw himself being swiftly knocked away as it then attacked Kaori. Instead of perceiving what had happened it was as if knew and felt it on some fundamental level instead.

However, before he could again attack he heard something that stopped him in his tracks.

"You're controlling that...? Amazing.."

Of course, at this point it was quite easy to see the change in it's demeanor, as allowed itself to get into a submissive position. This was an outcome he didn't see at all and didn't even consider possible. As he allowed his gate state to fade and suffered it's backlash - luckily only equivalent to an extreme headache at this point he was in awe over just what she had accomplished. Just one moment prior this monster was ready to kill the two of them, and he had seen its might first hand having witnessed its immense power blow for blow. Within all this musing and thought, he couldn't help feel proud of her, giving her a warm smile.

In the back of his mind he couldn't help feeling like something was a bit different now since he entered the third eye state in such a natural way. Often times some people just had feelings on things, someone feeling as if someone is off, or like something bad was going to happen. Now as he looked over everything about them everything gave off an odd sort of feeling to him. There was a notable variety in the feeling, like a hot or cold sensation - one he assumed to be some sort of mechanism for detecting danger, attack, or something of that nature. Everything around them felt neutral including the Gargoyle, but just beyond the doorway behind where the Gargoyle once stood frozen everything felt warmer and just beyond that he could feel an intense heat. Danger?

"Will it obey your every command? I think there might be something in that next room over too. I've got a bad feeling about it. It'd be a good idea if it walked ahead of us if we intend on going deeper into this place."

[⌈ addy ⌋]

SPOILER: Click to show

ABSOLUTE CONTROL
Rank: "S"
Skill: NinJutsu
Effect: This Jutsu functions like the Dominate Compulsion GenJutsu.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: Target is 1 Creature. Range is 20 meters. Duration is 5 hours per Class Level. User will leash another soul to them and it does only what the user asks of it. User creates a bond between the user and another. User can control the actions of any humanoid creature through a telepathic link that the user establishes with the subject’s mind. If the user and the subject have a common language, the user can generally force the subject to perform as the user desires, within the limits of its abilities. If no common language exists, the user can communicate only basic commands, such as “Come here,” “Go there,” “Fight,” and “Stand still.” User knows what the subject is experiencing, but the user does not receive direct sensory input from it, nor can it communicate with the user telepathically. Once the user has ave given a dominated creature a command, it continues to attempt to carry out that command to the exclusion of all other activities except those necessary for day-to-day survival (such as sleeping, eating, and so forth). Because of this limited range of activity, a Sense Motive check against Difficult Difficulty can determine that the subject’s behavior is being influenced by an enchantment effect. Changing the instructions or giving a dominated creature a new command is the equivalent of redirecting a Jutsu, so it is a movement. By concentrating fully on the Jutsu (Half a Round), the user can receive full sensory input as interpreted by the mind of the subject, though it still cannot communicate with the user. User cannot actually see through the subject’s eyes, so it’s not as good as being there themselves, but the user still gets a good idea of what is going on. Subjects resist this control, and any subject forced to take actions against its nature receives a new Will Save with a +2 bonus. Obviously self-destructive orders are not carried out. Once control is established, the range at which it can be exercised is unlimited, as long as the user and the subject are on the same plane. The user does not need to see the subject to control it.
Limit: Must be a Soulcaster.

[4] [000 / 120]

There was an unmistakable bond between herself and the Gargoyle now; a taunt line that connected them on a fundamental level. As she turned to face it fully, it turned its head to look back, grey tongue lolling out to finally show its exhaustion from the battle. Kaori could sense that her control over it would not last forever, but there was no worry that it would falter any time soon. The sensation of the tether could only be visualized as a stamina bar, or a timer - currently full, but slowly ticking toward empty every moment that passed them by. It comforted her to know that she would inevitably feel when it was time to relinquish her hold over the beast.

"Theoretically it should obey me, if it can understand me," she responded. The rest of his statement warranted no answer, for he knew she planned to use the Gargoyle to protect them, at least to the best of its ability. Now, instead of with the soul, she reached out toward it with her mind. Hello? the kunoichi thought, and although no response came in return, she saw the Gargoyle's attention sharpen. That confirmed that the tether allowed her to communicate telepathically with it, but it seemed unable to respond in that manner. That would be beneficial if it was out of earshot, but would talking work in short range?

"Gargoyle, if you can understand the common tongue, make it known that you do," Kaori commanded, then started to close the gap between them - approaching it slowly, still somewhat cautious. Interestingly, it's facial expression, though very inhuman, still gave her the impression of surprise. It lifted its head and bared its fangs, which made her pause mid-step. However, it did not attack. Its tongue lashed against a front fang, and then: "I can understand your words, human," it stated, voice like gravel. This was perhaps not its primary language, given the strange accent appended to the voice, but at least it could communicate. Kaori turned her face toward Tachibana, eyebrows raised as if to say 'I was not expecting that'!

She cleared her throat and then pointed at the door, which the Gargoyle had been protecting. Perhaps it knew what lie beyond? "Good then. Now, can you tell us anything about these ruins, specifically what dangers await?" It looked to where she was pointing and then turned its attention to Tachibana, as if studying him. "You may call me Gish," it rumbled. "Of traps I do not know, but my old Master makes the depths of the ruins his home. He is a blooddrinker with command of the--" there was a pause, while it searched for the proper word to express, "--dead ones. Dead, but moving. They eat that which still has life."

Ugh. Kaori's nose wrinkled in disgust, clearly not a fan the thought that some dead bodies or skeletons could be roaming the darkness, waiting to eat them. Frankly, it sounded like a nightmare. "Ah.. Well, thank you, Gish," she stammered, then addressed her husband in turn. "Gish will be able to go ahead of us, but we need to be prepared for whatever is waiting. Is there any way you can sense further than that? I'm not sure how your technique works, of course." She gave him an apologetic smile and then started walking toward the doorway, Gish following behind. It was somewhat less mobile on the ground, using both the back and front legs to walk, not unlike an ape.

[» Comatose]

SPOILER: Click to show

(6) Gate of View - Ajna: The Third Eye Chakra
Rank: "S"
Skill: TaiJutsu
Effect: Increases the user's speed and power. Opening of this gate releases such enormous amounts of energy that it can cause nearby water bodies to form a vortex around the user.
Special: ---
Drawback: (Fortitude 25) Must make a save or reduce to Exhausted and Dying Condition. Success; user is only exhausted for rest of encounter.
Description: Picture Located in the center of the forehead above the eyebrows. Its function is seeing, intuiting. Its color is indigo. Its stone is Iolite. This Chakra is the Light Chakra; it deals with Insight and is blocked by Illusion. Balancing this Chakra helps physical perception and balances the pineal gland. This Celestial gate takes away the amount of fat and protein in the user's body can digest. It releases useless energy resources giving the user more power and more stamina.
Takes 6 Movements to Activate.
+12 Pain Threshold Bonus to Will.
+10 enchantment bonus to Weapon Damage.
+6 enchantment bonus to Movements.
+20 Temporary Gate Points.
If 6th Gate is opened longer than 2 consecutive rounds, user gains a penalty of -15 Weapon Size in TaiJutsu Damage, and -6 movements for 24 hours once gate closes.
User suffers 1/2 more damage from all sources for 1 minute after gate closes.

Unless the user wishes otherwise, the technique ends at the end of an Encounter. Each round the technique is maintained, the user suffers 7 points of Gate Point Damage. Mastery: Learning this technique a 2nd time, the user can activate this gate without sacrificing movements for the purpose of using a more powerful gate, without actually performing this Technique or gaining any of the penalties. User cannot otherwise perform the Technique without sacrificing movements. Learning the technique a 3rd time, the user only suffers -2 movements, -5 Weapon Size TaiJutsu Damage, and suffers 6 Gate Point Damage.
Limit: Must be a practitioner of The Eight Celestial Gates. Must know (5) Gate of Limit - Throat.

[5][0 / 110]

The gargoyle's speech did indeed grate on the ears, seemingly almost guttural. Tachibana mused that whatever it's primary tongue was, it surely wasn't a language of man nor something known for it's niceties. Still, he couldn't help be surprised at the extent by which Kaori's technique allowed her control over Gish. He'd have never thought it would be complacent in telling of anything regarding the layout of this place or his masters. Whatever method she has employed here is probably more powerful than I had even initially imagined, he couldn't help but muse.

His hand raised toward the entrance to the next section of the ruins and slowly closed his eyes as he began to clear his mind, talking as he did so, "It's not a technique... more of a cutlivation method. The sixth gate is all about extrasensory perception, so the easiest way to open that gate is to be more in tune with such things."

The backdrop of that was reality slowly disappeared from his mind, until all that was left was nothingness. He began remembering the details of the room starting from the basics. Old stone walls, ruined stone floors, mossy patches, rubble, a singular torch, the pedestal the gargoyle was upon, Gish himself, Kaori, and Tachibana himself. One by one these details filled into his mental picture and one by one the pitch black area filled back into a detailed yet wispy image of the room. Life breathed into the room next and finally everything was exactly as it was when his eyes were open, though they still weren't. His mind eye had been opened again, if only briefly.

The achievement of this state seemed to override all his normal mental blocks, forcing upon him a status equivalent to the fifth gate immediately, his body emanating waves of blue chakra as it did so. The 'eye' from which he was seeing with dislodged from it's worldly confines and floated slowly over into the next room. The room wasn't a room at all but a hallway, with indents and grooves about the wall that were most peculiar. His physical body shuddered and swayed as he attempted to go further and focus harder upon any detail he could. It was difficult and painful, akin to learning to move a muscle that one had never done before.

As he continued to painfully go ever forward he was able to glean more detail of the hallway, even so much as being able to slip his 'vision' between the seams in the floor. He saw gears and various gizmos which all led to a simple pendulum that when tripped would trigger a guillotine style trap that would move back and forth several times. The guillotine was huge, such that if one actually got hit by it they would be lucky to not be instantly disemboweled. He allowed his vision to retract back into himself slowly, tugging it back until it dissipated back into his body. When his sense returned and his eyes opened he was surprised to find himself within the gate state.

The fatigue hitting him immediately Tachibana dropped to a knee, his breath hastened due to all the physical and mental exertion. Internally, he found himself with a unique problem, he couldn't return back to a normal state. His mind filled with alarm, racing for the answer to this sudden enigma.

"Perhaps because I only was able to do half of what was required to open the sixth gate.. " He muttered under his breath before turning to Kaori and Gish.

"Beyond this room lies a hallway filled with swinging pendulum gulliotine-style traps and beyond that lies a large room. I couldn't 'see' into there."

[⌈ addy ⌋]

SPOILER: Click to show

ABSOLUTE CONTROL
Rank: "S"
Skill: NinJutsu
Effect: This Jutsu functions like the Dominate Compulsion GenJutsu.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: Target is 1 Creature. Range is 20 meters. Duration is 5 hours per Class Level. User will leash another soul to them and it does only what the user asks of it. User creates a bond between the user and another. User can control the actions of any humanoid creature through a telepathic link that the user establishes with the subject’s mind. If the user and the subject have a common language, the user can generally force the subject to perform as the user desires, within the limits of its abilities. If no common language exists, the user can communicate only basic commands, such as “Come here,” “Go there,” “Fight,” and “Stand still.” User knows what the subject is experiencing, but the user does not receive direct sensory input from it, nor can it communicate with the user telepathically. Once the user has ave given a dominated creature a command, it continues to attempt to carry out that command to the exclusion of all other activities except those necessary for day-to-day survival (such as sleeping, eating, and so forth). Because of this limited range of activity, a Sense Motive check against Difficult Difficulty can determine that the subject’s behavior is being influenced by an enchantment effect. Changing the instructions or giving a dominated creature a new command is the equivalent of redirecting a Jutsu, so it is a movement. By concentrating fully on the Jutsu (Half a Round), the user can receive full sensory input as interpreted by the mind of the subject, though it still cannot communicate with the user. User cannot actually see through the subject’s eyes, so it’s not as good as being there themselves, but the user still gets a good idea of what is going on. Subjects resist this control, and any subject forced to take actions against its nature receives a new Will Save with a +2 bonus. Obviously self-destructive orders are not carried out. Once control is established, the range at which it can be exercised is unlimited, as long as the user and the subject are on the same plane. The user does not need to see the subject to control it.
Limit: Must be a Soulcaster.

[5] [000 / 120]

Once Kaori made it to the door, she turned to face her husband, watching with a worried expression as he tapped in to the sixth gate. She had always objected to the use of them, considering how many taijutsu specialist shinobi came to her clinic due to injuries sustained from the finicky style. Sure, she had faith in Tachibana's abilities, but even he could not execute such things perfectly the first go. "Tachi.." she whispered, forcing herself to hold back from running to his side when he fell to one knee. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Gish grinning, passively enjoying the suffering on display before it. She shuddered internally; clearly, she could control the soul but not change the nature of a creature. In the end, Gish was still a gargoyle, and an intelligent one at that.

She cleared her throat. "Thank you for looking, Tachi. That trap does not sound difficult to circumvent, but I would rather be safe than sorry." Digging her heel in to the ground she turned to face Gish, who smothered the grin and instead stared blankly back at her. "I need you to enter the hallway. Destroy the guillotines in whatever way you can, so that there is no chance Tachibana or myself could be injured. Do this to the best of your ability, and.. avoid injury yourself." There was a strange tug on the tether between them, one that grew stronger as she spoke. Kaori sensed that as her instructions grew more dangerous, her control over Gish's actions was more tenuous. She surmised that it would be impossible to give it an order that would lead to certain death; for example, she could not tell it to destroy itself. That would be important to keep in mind when she no longer wished to employ Gish's services.

The Gargoyle nodded and stepped through the doorway. Kaori watched him depart, noting that she had a sense of where his location was in space. Although she could no longer see him, the link remained strong, and she could still reach out with her mind. This posed an interesting question, however. The lime-haired kunoichi closed her eyes and began to focus intensely upon that 'light' in the distance, Gish's soul. When a loud screeching and crashing noise came from the depths of the hallway she concentrated harder. Would it be possible to find out what was going on in there through their link? It was like there was a wall between her and an integration of their souls. She sent a pulse of force out toward the light, and--

Darkness, but not so dark that a Gargoyle could not see. Kaori could not see through Gish's eyes; its mind explained it to her. Night vision. The hallway's floor was made of stone, and so was cold. That sensation fell away, replaced by cool air as it took flight. Gish made the decision to trip all of the wires with one swoop, causing the guillotines to activate. The blades could cause little damage to its stone-like flesh; there was minimal pain when the blade clanged against Gish. With one hand the beast grabbed it and tugged it from the wall, throwing the broken mechanism to one side. Gish repeated this process until all of them were no longer functional, and thus no longer a threat.

Marvelous. The sensations - like being in Gish's body, but not quite. Kaori experienced as he followed her commands, but through the lens of how his mind interpreted them. It was jarring, and somewhat confusing at first. Gish could speak their language and his intelligence meant that his interpretation of the world was not particularly difficult to follow, which meant that controlling lesser beings would be nigh impossible. It would be best to limit the technique to those with minds similar to her own.

She opened her eyes and released a shaking breath, feeling drained. The incorporeal bar in her mind that gave a sense of how long she could control Gish was not nearly depleted, but it was so exhausting. If they wanted to continue further, it would be best to release him soon. "I believe it's safe for us now, Tachi."

[» Comatose]

SPOILER: Click to show

(6) Gate of View - Ajna: The Third Eye Chakra
Rank: "S"
Skill: TaiJutsu
Effect: Increases the user's speed and power. Opening of this gate releases such enormous amounts of energy that it can cause nearby water bodies to form a vortex around the user.
Special: ---
Drawback: (Fortitude 25) Must make a save or reduce to Exhausted and Dying Condition. Success; user is only exhausted for rest of encounter.
Description: Picture Located in the center of the forehead above the eyebrows. Its function is seeing, intuiting. Its color is indigo. Its stone is Iolite. This Chakra is the Light Chakra; it deals with Insight and is blocked by Illusion. Balancing this Chakra helps physical perception and balances the pineal gland. This Celestial gate takes away the amount of fat and protein in the user's body can digest. It releases useless energy resources giving the user more power and more stamina.
Takes 6 Movements to Activate.
+12 Pain Threshold Bonus to Will.
+10 enchantment bonus to Weapon Damage.
+6 enchantment bonus to Movements.
+20 Temporary Gate Points.
If 6th Gate is opened longer than 2 consecutive rounds, user gains a penalty of -15 Weapon Size in TaiJutsu Damage, and -6 movements for 24 hours once gate closes.
User suffers 1/2 more damage from all sources for 1 minute after gate closes.

Unless the user wishes otherwise, the technique ends at the end of an Encounter. Each round the technique is maintained, the user suffers 7 points of Gate Point Damage. Mastery: Learning this technique a 2nd time, the user can activate this gate without sacrificing movements for the purpose of using a more powerful gate, without actually performing this Technique or gaining any of the penalties. User cannot otherwise perform the Technique without sacrificing movements. Learning the technique a 3rd time, the user only suffers -2 movements, -5 Weapon Size TaiJutsu Damage, and suffers 6 Gate Point Damage.
Limit: Must be a practitioner of The Eight Celestial Gates. Must know (5) Gate of Limit - Throat.

[6][0 / 110]

Kaori was right to worry about the eight gates and Tachibana's current state was certainly a testament to such. There was not much he could do to dull the pain caused by the extended stay within the sixth gate without opening it fully, and marveling at Kaori's ability to control Gish was the only thing he could do to distract himself for a moment. He knew too that such power and control was likely fleeting and before long they would have to contend with Gish once more. As the monstrous being tore the trap asunder Tachibana gathered his chakra as much as he could, holding it to himself rather than letting the bit he did gather expel furiously as per the gates.

Welling up this power he used it as a surge within the wave of his chakra circulation to push on to the sixth gate once more. The mental crash caused his legs to give out a moment, as he caught himself on his hands and knees - it still wasn't enough. Almost furiously he repeated this process, smashing against the barrier that kept him from attaining the next gate state. Again the wave of anguish he felt made him fall to his knees from a half-stood up state. The third attempt was different however, upon the crashing of his energies upon the barrier it buckled and shattered. Almost immediately there was a rush of energy within his body and a slowing of things around him. As his body took on the energy of the state his cognition sped up, his constitution improved, and his strength skyrocketed. Suddenly all of the pain he had felt previously had all been worth it within this new nirvana.

Rising to his feet and moving to Kaori he gave her a look before he nodded mumbling under his breath, "I don't know how much longer you can keep that up, but I know that technique won't last forever. Gish will retaliate. I'm going to do so first."

The smashing of stone underfoot came seemingly after he had already moved a hundred paces, his arm swiftly striking out upon the world and almost coming to a point. The tips of fingers, strengthened by years of training within Dian Xue Shu and empowered by the gates seemed to slide through the monsters torso unabated from behind. There was no sound or ceremony to the impact, only the sight of arm through rock-laden flesh. A secondary kick came next and a final swoop of the free hand across the back of the neck end to end. These movements occurred in what would have been no more than a second or two, and keen observation skills would have been nothing but a blur.

As Gish's body folded and dropped to a heap, Tachibana looked back at Kaori before picking up its parts. Moving back into the room where he once stood he placed him back upon the pedestal. Once Gish had been fallen it seemed he had returned to a near-rock state and by putting him back onto the pedestal Tachibana hoped to allow it some peace in it's afterlife. The parts were arranged such that it looked down just as it did when the first had entered the place and apart from the hole in its chest one would have not known it was just not a statue.

"Hopefully, this gives Gish some peace. We don't chose how we're born, what fate befalls us, and ultimately how we leave the world. Gish was a monster but he probably deserved more than what he was given just now, but if I hadn't taken his life just now he would have taken ours."

He moved his robe away to give a small bow to the statue as a sign of respect, exiting his sixth gate state once he rose.

[⌈ addy ⌋]

SPOILER: Click to show

ABSOLUTE CONTROL
Rank: "S"
Skill: NinJutsu
Effect: This Jutsu functions like the Dominate Compulsion GenJutsu.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: Target is 1 Creature. Range is 20 meters. Duration is 5 hours per Class Level. User will leash another soul to them and it does only what the user asks of it. User creates a bond between the user and another. User can control the actions of any humanoid creature through a telepathic link that the user establishes with the subject’s mind. If the user and the subject have a common language, the user can generally force the subject to perform as the user desires, within the limits of its abilities. If no common language exists, the user can communicate only basic commands, such as “Come here,” “Go there,” “Fight,” and “Stand still.” User knows what the subject is experiencing, but the user does not receive direct sensory input from it, nor can it communicate with the user telepathically. Once the user has ave given a dominated creature a command, it continues to attempt to carry out that command to the exclusion of all other activities except those necessary for day-to-day survival (such as sleeping, eating, and so forth). Because of this limited range of activity, a Sense Motive check against Difficult Difficulty can determine that the subject’s behavior is being influenced by an enchantment effect. Changing the instructions or giving a dominated creature a new command is the equivalent of redirecting a Jutsu, so it is a movement. By concentrating fully on the Jutsu (Half a Round), the user can receive full sensory input as interpreted by the mind of the subject, though it still cannot communicate with the user. User cannot actually see through the subject’s eyes, so it’s not as good as being there themselves, but the user still gets a good idea of what is going on. Subjects resist this control, and any subject forced to take actions against its nature receives a new Will Save with a +2 bonus. Obviously self-destructive orders are not carried out. Once control is established, the range at which it can be exercised is unlimited, as long as the user and the subject are on the same plane. The user does not need to see the subject to control it.
Limit: Must be a Soulcaster.

[6] [000 / 120]

After relaying the current state of affairs to her husband, Kaori closed her eyes again and reached out toward Gish's mind. It still took a moment of concentration, and that resistance to the intrusion remained, but it was smoother this time to transition. Despite its internal rage at being controlled like a pawn, the gargoyle conveyed some pride at how easy it was to dismantle a trap that had killed many an explorer. There was something under that, too. It was not a thought so much as a guttural feeling, one that made her mentally recoil from their bond. Gish must have been fantasizing about what it would be like to slowly kill her, and there was such perverse pleasure in the fantasy. She felt like she had just walked in on an intimate moment.

Gish, she called to him through their tether, I want you to go to the far end of the hallway and check the other room. There was no response, but Kaori could sense that the beast had flown to the other end of the hallway. Through his mind she was able to discern that there was a creature in the other room, although Gish seemed confidant that it would not attack the gargoyle. This likely meant that they were partners of a sort, perhaps working for the same master - the 'blood drinker' it mentioned earlier. What is it? she pleaded, but Gish could not tell her with his words or his sight. The only thing Kaori could sense was that the creature in the next room was strong, and it stalked between that room and the one after that, ever patrolling.

It was a good thing that the kunoichi was so thoroughly involved in her bond with Gish, otherwise Tachibana's struggles with the gate would have prompted her to say they should leave. Seeing the one you love in such pain was much different than working at the clinic, where pain was just part of the job. However, she was able to hear when he spoke, his voice humming with a strange sort of resonance. He planned to kill Gish?! There was just enough time for her to retract the tether that bound the gargoyle to herself before, well, blackness. A visceral pain, short-lived, vibrated through her very soul. When Gish fell to stone pieces on the floor she collapsed to her knees, whimpering.

Thankfully, Kaori managed to compose herself before Tachibana reemerged with the pieces of their once-ally. She looked up at him, watching as he assembled the likeness of Gish, and again marveled at her husband's empathy. By all accounts, Gish was a terrible creature that had probably reveled in the suffering of many lives taken. It was true, though, that he deserved respect in death. All creatures did. "Thank you for taking care of Gish," she breathed out, and then struggled to her feet. "Hah. For next time, I'll need to be careful that I am not sharing the sensations of the one I'm controlling, should they die. It is not something I want to experience in full. I was lucky this time, to merely have a taste."

Tachibana might feel bad for causing her grief; she didn't mean to blame him for it. In hopes of mitigating his guilt, she walked over to him and placed a soft kiss upon his cheek. "Gish conveyed to me that there is another creature in the next room, although it does not stay in one place. I don't know what it is. I think we should take a moment to catch our breath before we pursue this ruin further."

[Shallistera]

Coma +110 learned
Addy +120 learned

[» Comatose]

SPOILER: Click to show

Journeyman (Alchemy)
Rank: "A"
Skill: Supplementary
Effect: Crafting becomes simpler for the Journeyman and thus reduce the time creating items the more expensive they are.
Special: ---
Drawback: Calculate base item cost, not slot cost.
Description: The Journeyman knows the tricks of the trade. The higher the price of an alchemical item, the faster they can craft due to these tricks. When the user is crafting alchemical items an alchemist must apply Crafting Time differently depending on the cost of the item. The list below dictates the cost of an Alchemical item and the Crafting Time.
2,000 - 12,000 Ryo - 1/2 Crafting Time
12,001 - 35,000 Ryo - 1/3 Crafting Time
35,001 - 60,000 Ryo - 1/4 Crafting Time
60,001 - 87,000+ Ryo - 1/5 Crafting Time

Limit: Must be an Artisan. Must master Alchemy.

[1][0 / 80]

It as true that he felt a certain amount of guilt for causing his wife any sort of anguish, it was simply the sort of man he was. Growing up without a mother taught him before he was even old enough to know that women were to be cherished and protected. The kiss Kaori planted on his cheek assuaged this feeling however and he forced it away.

Tachibana's eyes had not left Gish since he had placed his body atop the pedestal again and it was only due to this that he witnessed something miraculous. From the hole that he himself had opened up in the chest of gargoyle slowly sprouted vines which crisscrossed slowly connecting up either side of the hole together. This process was much quicker than any growth period any conventional plant would have and in mere moments the hole had been filled. Within the hole and underneath the vines which had created a sort of canopy there could be heard a deep thumping. The thump was unmistakable - a heart, but before even exclamation could be heard the vines suddenly wilted and the thumping stopped. All that was left within the cavity was a small seed.

Tachibana mentally noted everything as it had happened, repeating the details in his head so that he may not forget any. He was drawn to the seed and almost immediately went and picked it from within the cavity. He knew much about Alchemy and Alchemical flora, but this he was something he had never encountered in all his life. As an unprecedented discovery his mood improved drastically. Looking to Kaori he held the seed within his hand before speaking, "This.. I don't even know how this could be. Perhaps.. this is somehow Gish's way of saying thanks?"

Never to be one to leave the home without his field kit he quickly tested the seed for parameters. It was harder than any seed he had encountered before and as such, grinding it up for something would likely be impossible. It tasted terrible, though wasn't likely poisonous. It seemed less porous than typical seeds, and was of course not soluble so using it for a solution wasn't possible. In fact, he discovered he couldn't at all glean what it could be used for at all.

However, the discovery of the seed had indirectly spurred his looking around of the ruins they were in. In this room, with sight alone he noted many plants of which he had never seen before. Quickly moved over to them, he samples, testing them as they he did for their usefulness's all the way making moves closer and closer to the broken trap hallway. Without real proper equipment he had to make due with rocks to make a simple mortar and pestle, and a small dripping of water from the ceiling for moisture. Seeing as he had become too embossed, he stopped himself.

"Uh, maybe we should get going into this next room, huh?"

Waiting for Kaori before he stepped into the next room, they'd walk into a large open room that featured a raised unreachable platform with a walkway. The room itself seemed more of a garden than a typical room, as within its corner were small ponds. Various flowers and plants had sprouted here even without light and vines had taken over the surfaces of the walls.

On the walkway stood a figure shrouded in darkness that stood un-moving. From within the darkness of it's form Tachibana could only recognize a singular feature, an eye. It's eye blinked and looked around hungrily before it focused on their forms. In one swift movement it's body unfolded from the darkness revealing its true form. It was humanoid, though seemingly emaciated. The features of its body and face seemed strong despite lacking any muscle depth, its face holding chiseled manly features even when sunken in. With a simple hiss it jumped and landed down upon the lower level where they stood, standing no more than twenty meters away.