Isle of Ghosts: Those Left Behind

[Chuunin Examiner]

Isle of Ghosts

Memories of unsatisfied people wander through a makeshift city that makes up this entire island. These people are like ghosts—incorporeal and aware. Satisfy them with the right words, skills, or results and they will dematerialize. Some can be satisfied with the proper conversation. Others can be satisfied if something of beauty is crafted, or if an object they treasure is repairs. Many more can be satisfied by the demise or dissatisfaction of other ghosts. A satisfied ghost will leave an orb behind.

This island is basically two massive, rotted cities connected by a land bridge in the center. The city of the eastern half is dense and involves the wailing of social dissatisfactions and justice. The smaller and homelier city to the west bemoans more about physical problems. The land bridge between the cities is like the aftermath of a battlefield. It is filled with cries of tragedy and pain.

The portal into the Ghosts landmass sits in the middle of the land bridge between the two island halves. In this barren wasteland filled with broken weapons, the cries of the wounded and the sorrowful fill the air.

East from here is a grand city with massive towers and spires that stretch toward the sky. Magnificent palaces are overrun with ivy and moss. All the buildings feature glamorously broken windows.

West from here are homes, stray cottages, a couple castles, and small towns guarded by wooden walls that are shorter than the buildings inside.

Listen. Pick out the sounds. The phantoms here are in need of help.

[Chuunin Examiner]

Wraithfire

As the genin reached the other side of the portal and stepped onto the forgotten battlefield, he was immediately greeted by two spear wielders facing each other. They looked angry, and their ghostly bodies were barely visible beneath the sunlight. This standoff didn't seem to be going anywhere. The female spear wielder—her robes fluttering gently in nonexistent wind—was closest to the portal. Her back was the first thing Wraithfire saw, and she was standing only two meters away from the gateway. The other spear wielder was probably male, though he was covered in so much armor that it was hard to tell. A wooden demon mask even covered his face.

[Chuunin Examiner]

Wraithfire

Time passed.

[Chuunin Examiner]

Wraithfire

More time passed.

[Spectre of the Falls(Kuroki)]

Examining the two spear wielders for a bit. Spectre analyzed the situation for a awhile. A male and a female fighting for some unknown reason probably because of the ancient battle. Both looked angry, this should be interesting Kuroki thought.He figured two short term outcomes can come from interfering. One he would gain more information or two they would attack him. But preparations came first.

Spectre of Taki was going to become one of the spirited. He became incorporeal through his natural abilities. Even though it wasn't a defense against these it would put him on their level. Besides now he could hit them as well as they could hit him. His wire flow down to the ground in defensive preparation. 

"Spirited ones, hail and speak your mind. I have come to learn of the curse of this place, share your wisdom, please."



Density Manipulation
- Incorporeal
Rank: "S"

Type: Augmentation

Effect: User is able to increase or decrease their density, granting them the following abilities.

Special: To perform: 12 hour; Duration: Permanent

Drawback: User may only use one of these at a time.

Description: Internal - Takes up 6 Augmentation Points. Reduce Density: Gain the ability to become incorporeal. Increase Density: User can gain Damage Reduction equal to 2 per Class Level. Furthermore this Damage Reduction stacks with any other form of Damage Reduction the user might already posses, including Techniques, Armour, Rituals, and Traits. User may use this ability a number of times equal to 2 per Class Level per day.

Limit: Must be a Ritualist for Augmentation Rituals.

Cost: Market Price: 48,000 Ryo Performing Price: 36,000 Ryo

[Chuunin Examiner]

Wraithfire

There were no words said.

The spearwoman's white robes fluttered in the windless wasteland, and then she charged. She rushed at the armored spearman like a loosed arrow—her image stretched and blurred. Her strikes fell upon the crimson armor plates in force. Booming clanks resonated from the collision as the armor was scratched and marred.

Finally, the spearman roar and spun with his spear outstretched. It covered a large arch, but the spearwoman outran it. She circled him several times while the spear chased after her. Their weapons clashed when she finally stopped and defensively held her spear before herself. The two combatants slid away from one another from the force of it all. Their movements looked unnatural—none of the light brown dust beneath them was kicked away. No footsteps disturbed the ground. Their battle's intensity did not move a single grain out of place.

The armored spearman's back now faced Wraithfire. All the damage on his armor melted away before their eyes.

The spearwoman's breaths looked labored for a moment, but she regained her brisk appearance a moment later. Her robes flowed once more like it were possessed by a breeze.

And so, restored, the two warriors faced one another alone on the barren brown battlefield. Their weapons, though ghostly, was more pristine than any of the metal shards or splinters that littered the surroundings.

[Chuunin Examiner]

Wraithfire

Time passed.

[Spectre of the Falls(Kuroki)]

Spectre watched the two duel and reset a few times. Besides looking at him they seemed to be unaware of their surroundings. interesting to note the resetting seems to heal them as well. They must be the type of ghost that is doomed to repeat a portion of their lives forever. Two ways of handling that type though. One is to interrupt the process and hopes that breaks the cycle or find what caused the cycle and break that.

The first would be relatively easy to do. The second would require him to move on and do more investigation. So while still in his wraith like state. He moved his wires into an entangling strike. But the choices were helping the woman or the man. The man looked more heavily armored and on the defense and the woman on the attack. He shrugged, it was timed to gamble. So he struck out at the armored man, just as the woman repeated her attack. Now it was time to observe what happens next.

Tangling strike
Rank: C
Skill: Taijutsu
Effect: Tangles a target with a strike.
Special: --
Drawback: --
Description: With a flicking motion of the hand user can produced wave within their Wire so that they can attempt to tangle an object. This is done when striking out with a Wire Strike, Multi Wire Strike, or Complex Aiming. The number and size of objects are dependent on The Mighty Wire technique.
Limit: Must know Wire Strike.

[Chuunin Examiner]

Wraithfire

As predicted, the robed spearwoman struck again. Spectre successfully entangled the armored ghost. As the woman's spear closed in, she was able to pierce into the cracks between armor plates. The man beneath the armor was wounded by stabs to his right arm and knee.

Then, with a final pair of strikes, the spearwoman knocked off the armored man's helmet with the blunt side of her spear before stabbing him in the neck. The armored man's body went limp and fell.

The woman smiled as she achieved victory. She lifted her head up skywards and, as if speaking to the heavens, cried a tired and weary thanks. Moments later, she faded away. The lines and folds of her body unbundled into silvery mist that rose toward the clouds. That mist faded out of the dimension before one could see where it had gone.

Where the woman once stood, an orb the color of milky jade faded into existence.

However, as soon as the orb appeared, the armored man blackened. His ghostly body melted as well, but a dark mist remained. The remains of the armored man grew darker and darker till it was like a cloud of ink hanging in the air.

The inky blackness floated towards the jade orb. It stopped centimeters short of touching it, but instead remained nearby.

And so Spectre stood before his objective, and something entirely unknown.

[Spectre of the Falls(Kuroki)]

Spectre smiled at the expected result. So the Woman moved on with the victory and the man descended into darkness at the failure. He figured if he could either defeat or let this new version of the man defeat something in true battle it would be another orb. Th two were tied by honor and pride it had seemed. Strong emotions to be sure but not totally unusable. With a sigh a decision was made. 

Spectre threw together a few handseals to summon his guardian phalanx. These can be the darkness's opponent while he took care of matters. The phalanx summoned and sent at the darkness creature. Fight fire with fire was the saying, so dark versus dark. While that was going on, Spectre attack the sphere with his wires without getting any closer. He cautious Shinobi.

While the actions took place his mind analyze everything he heard and seen. This is but one orb, four more after this one is destroyed. Time was not on his side. So he lashed out repeatedly at the sphere with his wires. Once, twice, and thrice he struck it with the full strength of his wire. This was Kuroki's task and so about it he had set. His only regret that his allies were spread to the other islands. 

SPOILER: Click to show

Legion of Sentinels

Rank: "C"

Skill: GenJutsu

Effect: A phalanx of spectral swordfighters appears.

Special: "Handseals"

Drawback: ---

Description: Affects anyone within 5 meters diameter emanation centered on a point. The user is able to perform this technique at a distance of 7 meters plus 6 meters per class level. The duration of this technique lasts for 5 rounds per class level. A phalanx of spectral swordfighters appears. Their blades are drawn, and they stand ready to strike. 2 ghostly, incorporeal swordfighters appears in each meter covered by this Jutsu's area. A swordfighter can share the same area with another creature or object since it's incorporeal. The swordfighters do not hinder movement, block terrain, or block line of effect. They can flank an opponent with each other and with the user's allies. Since they are illusory incorporeal they gain the incorporeal effect to the attackers minds. They can be destroyed with enough attacks or a target may use Dispel GenJutsu to remove them to the target. Each swordfighter may make 2 movements per round. Every strike they make does "D" Rank worth of damage.

Limit: Must know the Shadow Perception.

Wire Strike

Rank: C

Skill: Taijutsu

Effect: Strikes out with Wires.

Special: Requires 1 meter of Wire for 1 meter of range.

Drawback: --

Description: The user whips their arm from around their back, their arm whips out and their Wire un-coils toward a target. The user can either pierce, or slash at their target, depending on how they strike out, such as a slashing motion or a lunging motion with their arm, hand, then finger. The damage is dependent on their knowledge of The Mighty Wire. A thrust create Piercing damage, and a Slash creates an arcing slash damage with the wire.

Limit: Must know Demon Stance E rank. Must know Becoming Unraveled C rank to retrieve Wires. Must know The Mighty Wire D rank. Must know Demon’s Reach D rank.

The Mighty Wire

Rank: D, C, B, A, S

Skill: Taijutsu; passive

Effect: Increase the number of objects user can capture/tangle, as well as the weight, and the character class for strength checks. This will also increase slashing, piercing or bludgeoning damage done.

Special: --

Drawback: --

Description: An instructor in the Demon Weaver Dojo will have a student perform certain chores within a Dojo. These chores are focused on preparing a student for certain aspects of muscle and dexterity training. The focus is generally to increase their Arm, Hand, and Finger strength. This in turn will produce the correct muscle set needed for the Demon Weaver fighting style. When it comes to slashing, piercing, or bludgeoning damage done, the rank of damage is equal to rank learned in this technique for any Demon Weaver fighting style techniques. Once B rank is learned if the damage overcomes a defense then the object is severed, or pierced. At S rank items destruction is applied and weapons can be pierced or severed. In Terms of Strength Check, their character class increases by .2 at each rank of this technique to a maximum of one full class level. In terms of Capturing/Tangling objects and weights:

D = 5 objects which have a combined weight of 100 pounds.

C = 10 objects which have a combined weight of 250 pounds.

B = 20 objects which have a combined weight of 500 pounds.

A = 25 objects which have a combined weight of 1 Ton.

S = 30 objects which have a combined weight of 2 Tons.

Damage base of any Demon Weaver technique is based upon Rank of this technique divided by 2.

Limit: Must be in the Demon Weaver fighting style. For A and S rank, users Class level must be A class or above.

Demon Stance

Rank: E, D, C, B, S

Skill: Taijutsu

Effect: A stance that hide the users arms behind them.

Special: --

Drawback: --

Description: The user has their feet shoulder width apart, their torso slightly bent forward, their arms behind their back, wrists held at the small of their back, and hands curled toward their arms. At D rank the user can walk while performing Wires of the Demon Techniques. At C rank the user can run while performing Wires of the Demon Techniques. At B rank user can have full mobility, including jumping, flipping, or even flying if applicable while performing Wires of the Demon Techniques. At S rank user can dodge while using Wires of the Demon Techniques, which converts the Demon Weaver strikes into counter attacks.

Limit: Must be in the Demon Weaver fighting style. Must have Mastered the Demon Weaver fighting style for the S rank version of this Technique.

[Chuunin Examiner]

Wraithfire

Wraithfire struck the jade orb thrice, and the orb's surface did crack beneath the strength of the wires. However, three strikes with the wires wasn't enough power. The orb remained whole.

The darkness, whatever it was, did not engage against the ghostly swordfighters. It flowed like mist and seemed unbothered by any touch. Instead, it remained where it was. As the orb grew more damaged, the blackness began to spread. The ongoing corruption in the air was slow, but it was three meters in diameter by the time the third blow hit the orb.

Still, the dark substance didn't touch the orb itself. It simply loomed.

[Spectre of the Falls(Kuroki)]

Kuroki pulled the orb from near the darkness with his wires until it was directly below him. Once there He became corporeal enough to try to smash the orb with the full weigh of his foot. More so he made himself extra dense to accomplish more weight per square inch of power on the orb. He would continue to stomp it until it was broke. All the while he would keep an eye on the darkness that spread as he damaged the orb.

He would back away from the darkness, taking the orb with him to continue to smash it outside of the darkness's reach. While doing that he would through together a series of hand seals to summon up a circle of dancing ghost fire balls to encircle the darkness to try to keep it at bay. Once smash, he would turn away from the darkness gathering his troop to find the next more lively soul on this isle of ghosts. 

 

SPOILER: Click to show

O Ni Bi En (Will-o-the Wisp Circle)
Rank: C
Skill: Ninjutsu
Effect: Creates a ring of dancing flames around the target that confuse and disorientate them.
Special: Handseals, holding the last seal. Must have performed Gōsuto Hikari (Ghost-light) before using.
Drawback: User can give away their location if used carelessly. Must be within the given range of Gōsuto Hikari (Ghost-light).
Description: The user performs the handseals and creates twelve more balls of flame in the same manner as Gōsuto Hikari (Ghost-light). The user then sends these flames towards the target and forms a circle around them. Channeling their chakra into the balls of flame, the user causes them to move around in a slow circle around the target, almost like the flames are dancing. Occasionally these flames will wink out of sight only to reappear again a few moments later. The flames gradually speed up with each round that passes. The bright, moving lights along with the blinking are designed to confuse and disorientate foes, leaving them dizzy and addled. The circle encompasses a five meter circumference, increasing in size by three meters per class level the user is above "D". The user may control the movement of the flames so that the circle stays around the target.
Limit: Fire release. Must know Gōsuto Hikari (Ghost-light), must know O Ni Bi (Will-o-the Wisp).

O Ni Bi (Will-o-the Wisp)
Rank: C, additional D rank
Skill: Ninjutsu, supplementary
Effect: Gives the Gōsuto Hikari (Ghost-light) the ability to give off a more prominent and appealing light, letting people see it even in genjutsu induced darkness.
Special: Handseals
Drawback: ---
Description: This jutsu gives the Gōsuto Hikari (Ghost-light) a stronger and more appealing light, allowing it to be seen easier in the dark and giving off a sense of "warmth" that draws those looking at it closer to the flame. This also allows the Gōsuto Hikari (Ghost-light) to be seen through genjutsu induced darkness, though blinding genjutsu are unaffected. The first time learned the user learns how to actually make the flame more alluring without it being a normal flame. The second time learned the user learns how to project it through genjutsu.
Limit: Fire release. Must learn Gōsuto Hikari (Ghost-light) before learning

.

[Chuunin Examiner]

Wraithfire

Stomping the orb was noticeably ineffective. After an abnormally long process of trying to crush the orb, the inky darkness faded away. A crowd of ghosts faded into existence nearby. Their silhouette, unlike the chalky white of the previous pair of spear wielders, had a bit of dark gray at their head. The new arrivals included three elder men, an elder woman, and a teenage boy carrying a bundled-up cloth.

There was likely meant to be a baby in the cloth. A hole the size of a baby's face showed the hollow insides of the blanket.

The elders shook their heads. "The nerve of those without honor," said one of the men. "You can't go charging into a fight between equals."

Another said, "Shameful for Joori. She shouldn't have gone and taken the opening if she wasn't the one making it."

"Well, she shouldn't have given it up," said the teenager. "It'd make not a lick of sense to give up a winning blow cause you don't like how you're gonna get it."

The third old man rolled his eyes. "That's the problem with these youth. No sense of dignity. You can't go saying you're good and right if you're downright villainous with how you win your fights."

The woman slapped the third man in the back of the head. "Yarl, you oaf. Didn't you get to be a hero yourself after beating a campsite of drunk, unarmed men?"

"Completely different! People can't be drinking in a warzone and expect some measure of mercy if I come stumbling in."

"What ever happened to giving folks time to crap without running them through."

"Completely different!"

The orb remained unbroken.

[Spectre of the Falls(Kuroki)]

Kuroki rose an eye ridge at the group of ghosts that seemed to spectated but were invisible until now. Since stomping the orb was not working but his wire strikes at least cracked it, he was going to keep at it with that for now. But while he was striking the orb with a flick of his fingers he looked over the five audience attendees. This was all together a different situation than he was used to. But I guess the apparitions had no fear of another of their kind.

Kuroki tilted his head before speaking. " You seem much more aware of your surroundings than the other two." He figure he would side step the conversation of honor for the moment. Honor was for those that had the strength or luxury to engage in that. He was a monster plain and simple. He was not much better than those that he slain or captured. The only difference was that he fell under the influence of Takigakure. To some he might be considered good but he knew to others he was the villain. But that was the role in life he was to play.

Kuroki though thought about the comments and vision of the five.. Obviously they retained memories far older than just this incident. This was another interesting point. He had three old men who seem to have discussions on honor. One of whom seemed to have honor only when he I saying others are lacking. An old woman who seemed to run them like any matron and a teenager with a babe. It was time to see where this conversation led it would seem.

[Chuunin Examiner 3]

The dark orb simply seemed to gleam in the darkness under the ninja's observation. Off in the distance there was the faintest light that seemed to dance in the back drop of the marshes to the north. If one was not paying attention it would be easily missed as it lingered for just the briefest of moments. There was a faint sound of what sounded like small bells that moved off in the distance. It would remind the ninja of something similar to wind chimes. 

After the seconds passed the light would seemingly vanish. But spectre's finely tuned ghost sense could tell that there was a spirit still lingering faintly in that location. 

[Chuunin Examiner 3]

Time passes

[Spectre of the Falls(Kuroki)]

Kuroki grunted as he packed up the orb into a pouch. He would figure out how to break it later it would seem. For now he needed to get his hands on a few more orbs. So he headed to the spectral light and sounds he caught. The irony was not lost on him as he headed towards it keeping in mind that Will-o-wisps lead people into danger in the same manner. And that was his favored technique. So he would vanish into the mists heading to what could be his next find.

[Chuunin Examiner 3]

As the ninja started moving towards the end of the area he would smell a very distinct smell of some sort of swamp gas that was coming out from the marshy bogs around him. As he followed the small lights towards the edge of the swamp the will o the wisp stopped and hovered a sun bleached and yellowed skeleton that was half sunken in the swampy mire. The wisp moved in circles around the skeleton trying to draw attention to it. 

[Spectre of the Falls(Kuroki)]

Under his mask Kuroki smiled for he was at home in the swamps and bogs. His homeland the land of waterfalls had plenty of them anyways. Even the mists and the glowing lights bother him little. This isle had more the feel of home than even home did to him. Either way he was drawn closer to the skeleton by the will-o-wisp. So he approached it with care making observations along the way. When he was finally upon it he started investigating as best as he could.

[Chuunin Examiner 3]

The Skeleton was browning from the time that it had spent in the swamps. It's broken remains lay on the marsh beneath it. In one of the skeletons hands was a shield that had some sort of paint on it that had long since been ruined by the environment. The shield itself seemed rusty and falling apart. But the bones of the skeleton seemed bound to the island by some sort of strange power. One of the wisps reappeared and sunk itself down into the skeleton as it tried to make some sort of connection with the spirit. The skeletons body seemed to shimmer for just a faint moment before a sound could be heard from the air round it. "I swear Ysolda. I will bring back honor to our clan or die with my sword in my hand!" The echo said as it softly started to fade.