Is The Threat Greater Than Jounery [M][T][P]

[Muu]

Mission~
Name: Protect Trade
Rank: “C”
IIC Length: —-
Difficulty: Medium
Objective: Protect a trade caravan as it goes to Yozamu
Description: Some traders, who make constant rounds from the capital to the ninja village, have requested that a ninja accompany them, to help deal with the snow and harsh conditions as well as any potential bandits. It was agreed that the “C” ranked fee will be paid for this, due to the potentially dangerous and unpleasant nature of these missions.
Reward: 10,000 Ryo

OOC:: Other Threads Related to this Mission~
Start::
Leaving the Village::

The Start of a Long Road!
POST 2::

Attachment Deleted

              The road was already bumpy, but it'd didn't bother Muu much. He knew this was the time to be on alert seeing as how they were out of the protection of the village, but the momentum of the carriage nearly put him to sleep. Although he didn't believe any raiders would be bold enough to make a move on the caravan so close to the shinobi village still, he thought it best to start familiarizing himself with the surrounding area. Always good to be aware of what was behind you and as the journey went on, what would be ahead as they returned from Yozuma.         

Opening the window he began to observe the area, trying to note important locations as well as watch for movement along the path. Snow was still falling very lightly, as it often did in the region, and with the road lying in a field of sorts with scattered frozen giant pine trees, there wasn't much to see yet. A few small creatures were visible in the distance, keeping away from the noise of the caravan. Some rabbits and squirrels mostly, but in the distance Muu could barely spot the large horns of a stag. Surely the leader of a family of deer that was also keeping it's distance from the men and the danger they represented.

The old man was yelling form somewhere up ahead, Muu ignored him. The man proved to be more annoying then he'd hoped and he had no intention of humoring his senile rantings. He resumed his survey of the side land, looking up ahead he saw rising hills through the otherwise sunny day, but darker clouds. Possible the makings of a storm, but in this lands dark clouds could mean just limited sun light and more snow, not necessarily a storm. These were normal occurrences here. He wondered about those hills though, possible mountain range or slopes would give a waiting enemy the high ground advantage.

With a sigh Muu switched to the other side of the carriage and continued his observation, hoping for more interesting sights to occupy his time or even more signs of a threat that would allow him to silence the old man. So far this mission was proving to be one of endurance and patients rather then out right threat of life and danger. However the green haired shinobi knew that if he dropped his guard totally both could become very real possibilities quickly.

OOC:: Training This as well

Observation
Rank: "E"
Skill: 15/125 [Novice]
Effect: This skill focuses certain powers of observation - sight, smell, hearing, and touch.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: Can be learned by an Animal. A failed check indicates that the character is oblivious until the thing is pointed out to him. This skill is important for ferreting out advancing enemies or ambushes, generally real-time events and actions occurring, versus scrutiny, which covers static objects or areas. A Game Master may roll an Observation skill check for a Character any time there is an NPC, monster, event or happening that a character might notice, even if he did not specifically state that he is monitoring his surroundings. Characters are capable of noticing any event within their perception. Observation reveals only facts, not motivation. Each time learned user gets 1 die roll to increase the skill. If you are Schooled in Anthropology you gain a +10% synergy bonus with Observation checks that involve noticing disguise checks.
Limit: ---

[Muu]

Mission Post 3

       While the right side of the caravan proved a broken forest with mostly fields and an approaching hill, the left wasn't much different. However this was much more like a snowy wasteland, hardly any pines and a few mild sized rocks but very few. Muu couldn't even see any woodland animals. The sun reflected off the snow a little making it even more worthless of an ambush location so Muu relaxed some considering the right side offered many more advantages he guessed he'd be able to focus his attention there for the time being.


Scanning the area further ahead he noticed that the wasteland went down more, creating a slope that would help him confirm that up ahead on the right was a large hill, possibly entering into a mountainous region. That could work for both sides he thought, more protection from the elements possibly, easier for his ice release to isolate small groups, but also more ambush possibilities and possibly dangerous traps lying in wait. He played with the idea of venturing ahead to scout it out but reconsidered. If the group was attacked while he was away they'd be all that much more defenseless. While they did have a few among them bearing weapons, he didn't trust that they could use them all that well considering they still fell prey to raids easily and felt the need o request aid in the first place.

The young boy shifted back to the right and noticed the rocks jutting from the large hill above the caravan, and felt more sure of the looming mountain. Likely the side, the road traveling around the heart of the mountain would also prove to leave one real good attacking spot for raiders so Muu felt that as they got closer he might need to take a more advantageous spot for his surveillance. Possibly watching from above as the caravan moved below if possible. That would be ideal at least.

Muu watched rabbit leave tracks in the snow as it ran behind a tree and disappeared. He wondered what it must be like to be so small in such a harsh environment. The more he watched the outside the more he admired the serenity of it all, but it didn't take long for him to just get bored with it all. Looking to the now more visible mountains ahead of the large hill he stretched a little and prepared to exit the carriage.

Training::
Observation
Rank: "E"
Skill: ?/125 [Novice]
Effect: This skill focuses certain powers of observation - sight, smell, hearing, and touch.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: Can be learned by an Animal. A failed check indicates that the character is oblivious until the thing is pointed out to him. This skill is important for ferreting out advancing enemies or ambushes, generally real-time events and actions occurring, versus scrutiny, which covers static objects or areas. A Game Master may roll an Observation skill check for a Character any time there is an NPC, monster, event or happening that a character might notice, even if he did not specifically state that he is monitoring his surroundings. Characters are capable of noticing any event within their perception. Observation reveals only facts, not motivation. Each time learned user gets 1 die roll to increase the skill. If you are Schooled in Anthropology you gain a +10% synergy bonus with Observation checks that involve noticing disguise checks.
Limit: ---

[Muu]

Mission Post 4

The Griffin Pass~

           As he caravan progressed ever closer towards Yozuma, Muu began to doubt any threats that would require his attention. Pretty basic travel snags, some heavy snowy here and there, clearing pretty quickly. Muu was out of his carriage now, Moving quietly above them along the Cliffside, maintaining sightlines but trying to remain behind rocks to avoid detection somewhat. His goal wasn't to be hidden totally, but with the mindset that a group of raiders would be focused on their prey below, their eyes wouldn't be above them or perhaps at their level giving him an advantage if they sprung a trap.

Muu landed on a rock, looking down he noticed more rocky outcroppings along the road. He wanted to ask the Old man where they've been attacked before for some insight but refused to interact with the geezer. He didn't believe the old man would take him seriously anyway so he'd rather rely on his own ability. He noticed some birds fly away from a rock formation about midway down the line of the caravan, drawing more focus to it. Muu looked at it more closely and wondered if he was seeing something moving in the foliage around it. He didn't feel any wind himself, but perhaps there was some further down the valley. Regardless Mu moved a little closer down the mountain to put himself in range of it and watched the bushes move even more.

At the sudden rumble in the sky of a threatening storm, a piece the rock face broke up ahead of the caravan. Oxen made an uproar as a few large boulders rolled ahead of them, blocking the path a bit but not enough to fully stop them However it did halt their progression. Then Muu's eyes narrowed and me leaped out over the caravan as a group of three men jumped from the curious rock formation and bushes to attack the men by the caravan. Forming hand seals in the air as he fell, Muu then swayed his arms before him, drawing water from the air with his powerful kaishin abilities, and creating a ball of water before him, throwing it ahead of the man to the caravan, before landing on a roof of one of the wagons.

His Deipu Furizu hit the first charging man who stopped in his tracks, the ball exploding on his left arm, quickly coating his upper body and freezing him in his tracks. He fell into the snow and his cohorts slide in shock next to him, nearly crashing into each other. Muu reacting the moment his toes touched the wagons top, he used a shushin forward above the two men, forming the snake hand sign, and drawing his arms back, two blades of ice quickly grew from his elbows to about 1 foot form his fists into fine blades. He brought both of these blades down on the shocked would be attacks, hitting on in the right shoulder, and the other in the chest. Blood splattered onto the snow, as they were all brought hard to the cold earth.

The one hit in the shoulder let out a scream followed by a blood curdling "SHINOBIIIIIII!!", while the other lay silent, most likely dead on impact. Muu rose, pulling his blood covered ice blades from his victims before bringing them both down in a hard "x" form into the chest of the last living man. His gurgling sounds faded quickly as the life left him as well. Possibly would have been more useful to question him, but in case of further attack, Muu wanted to end it quickly to prepare for the next part of the attack.

Rising once more, Muu looked about, Leaping back onto the wagon top and scanning the area he didn't see much. Some debris still falling from the mountain, and men form the traveling party running up, slow to react to the would be attack on the weaker mid section. Muu's eyes were lazy looking again, half closed as he stood at his full stature. Old Man Masato finally made it to the bodies, out of breath, looking wide eyes at them then to Muu.
"Kid you did this?? Maybe.. maybe you're what we needed after all.. Hard to believe a kid can case this... this much brutality. Yo didn't even give them a fight!"

Muu lowered his head, still looking ahead of the caravan and the rocks for traps or more men. He saw neither. His ice blades melted rather quickly as he released them and he dropped down cross legged onto the roof of the wagon, bored looking.
"I'm a shinobi, didn't you hear the guy? Get us moving again, I feel like things can get more interesting when we come back from Yozuma. This is boring."

The old man stared at him... then nodded and got everything back underway, the caravan moving around the rocks and continuing on their trip.

Old Man Masato

[Muu]

Mission Post 5~

            Tiresome. That's all Muu could think of that adequately summarized this trip so far. It was a whole lot of nothing and the same. Snow, mountain passes, some small forests of pine and other vegetation that could survive the harsh climate and occasional woodland creatures. Since the Griffins pass he hadn't spotted any signs of another ambush or raiders of any sort. Perhaps the threat of a shinobi in company was enough to warrant abandoning the caravan and it's like. But Muu was unconvinced. Even as the surrounding and past miles would suggest, they weren't done.

He'd been continuing his observation of the area since their encounter, although now taking a more visible approach. He's taken rotations from the tops of wagons in company to large rocks, cliff ledges, trees, all that they had passed for different vantage points. He had spotted some very neat looking birds, he'd thought to be falcons in the sky at one point. He spent some time watching the men he was traveling with as well. Mostly to pass the time, Joe, or so he'd named him seemed rather skittish. Always looking over his shoulder and off the path in fear of an attack. Perhaps he'd been with the caravan when they had been assaulted in the past.

Yuki, was another one, he'd been named so because of his long hair was more ... proud perhaps. Always boasting that he could take on any raiders and didn't understand why they needed an escort at all. Others jested back at him for being new, young, and arrogant. The others were mostly silent, none to happy to be making the trip across the land in the first place but money was a good motivator for those who might have family, or personal gain in mind. Muu wasn't confidant that if there was a large scale attack he could really rely on any of them if needed.



Muu Also saw how they all reacted to Old Man Masato. Eagerly listening to his orders, and occasiaonl insults form the ornery old timer as they traveled. He was seasoned, and could accurately foretell the incoming weather from what he saw in the sky. He knew the road well, issuing orders for approaching parts swiftly and he was always right. He'd done this journey many times, so Muu wasn't surprised, but still impressed with his knowledge of the land. If they had gotten off on a better start maybe Muu could have learned form him. But as it were He was just fine with his position as the distant, underestimated kid who he no knew wouldn't hesitate to kill.

Looking ahead again Mu saw a greener area they were approaching, with a small broken building in a small field. Interesting they'd encounter a place untouched by snow like that. Muu continued to watch it as they got closer. It would seem like tracks of men and beast alike were scattered in the area. Someone probably used this as a rest stop for some time for it to be so clear of snow. Maybe something to keep in mind for later. The group proceeded ever closer to Yozuma, and any day now they'd arrive finally to exchange payment for more goods and supplies to take back to Yukigakure and he'd be on the way back home.

Training~
Observation
Rank: "E"
Skill: ?/125 [Novice]
Effect: This skill focuses certain powers of observation - sight, smell, hearing, and touch.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: Can be learned by an Animal. A failed check indicates that the character is oblivious until the thing is pointed out to him. This skill is important for ferreting out advancing enemies or ambushes, generally real-time events and actions occurring, versus scrutiny, which covers static objects or areas. A Game Master may roll an Observation skill check for a Character any time there is an NPC, monster, event or happening that a character might notice, even if he did not specifically state that he is monitoring his surroundings. Characters are capable of noticing any event within their perception. Observation reveals only facts, not motivation. Each time learned user gets 1 die roll to increase the skill. If you are Schooled in Anthropology you gain a +10% synergy bonus with Observation checks that involve noticing disguise checks.
Limit: ---