RAID THE RIVER! [Travel]

[Coal]

Kyuushu stood next to Souten upon a ferry in the river of Oto no Kuni, the former speaking with the master of the craft, while the latter looked out over the river. Souten often wondered where he would be if he were back out there in the wilds, knowing that he would not have had nearly as much fun as he was having now partnered with Kyuushu. This man, his captor, turned out to be more like his best friend than some tormentor like the other horses claimed humans were. How odd that was.

After a short time, it seemed that Kyuushu had finished whatever human business he had with the man, as he began to walk back toward Souten, his hands in his pockets and that weapon on his back. Naginata? Some human thing. “Alright, we gotta get on that boat,” Kyuushu began and immediately Souten was not having it, trying to back away just a bit to show. But Kyuushu placed a hand on his head and reassured the him that it was going to be alright, since Kyuushu was going to be on the boat as well. That’s comforting to know. Souten expressed his thought with a small bray and a nuzzle, then allowed himself to be led on board the ferry, a strange wood thing that could walk on water. Stamping a little to make sure it was secure, it would seem that they were off toward some other land. What would the grass be like there? Maybe there would be a massive battle! Souten was getting excited and Kyuushu smiled at him. Seemed that they were on the same page.

{Traveling via a river. Move to Kawa no Kuni aka River Country}

[Nira]

Kyuushu arrives at Kawa no Kuni.

[Coal]

Kyuushu placed his bag on the floor next to Souten, laying his Naginata on top of that, and took the headband from his head to place in his pocket. He would not be representing the ninja village of Sound so obviously this day and he would not advertise his status as Jounin. Before he entered the lands cursed by this tree, he would need to bolster his defenses a bit for now, and for later as well. Looking over at his Y’la, he would give it a wink, and the little yellow eyed demon would grin at him. It was time to apply some curses, his favorite.

The first boon of a curse he would apply to himself with Eldritch Affliction was that of Heroism, but a much more powerful version than the standard, known simply as Greater. In this he would find that his mind was stronger, his strikes harder, his skills that much more sharpened, and his body so much tougher than it had been before. The process was long and arduous, but fortunately there seemed to be nothing to distract him in the area, and so he was left to his own devices. The same ritual would be applied to Souten, because there was no telling what could happen to his companion within that very place, and he wished to give his steed the best chance of survival he could manage. [+4 morale bonus on Attack Damage, Saves, and +20 to Skill checks, +5 to fear effects, and temporary Armour Points equal to 5 per Class Level(25)]

Next on his list of beneficial afflictions for himself and Souten would be that of Mental Strength, to make their minds even more powerful than previously, to ward off the dangers that they may encountere within should it not only be physical trauma that they may suffer. Once more his hands would dance, another long process, before he would instill within himself another powerful curse that would be a boon. Once again, he would do the same for Souten, placing his hand on the head of his steed, and instilling the beast with a much more powerful will than it had had before. [+8 Will Save]

Strength of the mind is dangerous to use normally, as the duration failing causes one to become exhausted if their body cannot handle the strain of it, but it can be beneficial indefinitely if applied permanently to oneself. Kyuushu would do just that, dancing through the additional seals to make this permanent upon him, feeling his own muscles begin to bulge and become more defined, more powerful. This strength would aid him in striking down this evil that was plaguing the land, if it was indeed evil, and not just misguided like so many creatures of the world were these days. [+2 Might]

Beginning the tire, but determined to push on until he could rest, Kyuushu would begin the next ritual, this one in the form of a Shadow Fortification known as Greater Umbral Fortification. The darkness would wash over him and coat his muscles, specifically those he used for speed, the muscles in his legs. They would grow far more powerful, outstripping his own wildest imagination with the strength that would course through them. This burst of power in his legs would allow him to go further than he had ever dreamed [+6 Agility (See Rolls)]. For Souten however, the beast was already quick as the wind, far faster than any Shinobi out there, but he was much more easily murdered than a human. Kyuushu would bestow upon him the power of increased Armor, strengthening his flesh so that harm would not so easily befall the beast [40 Armor]

Thoroughly exhausted, Kyuushu and Souten would rest for a moment to regain his chakra and stamina, then they would be on their way toward the tree and their destiny, or perhaps their end. Either way, it was going to be a nice day, so they still had that.

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