Dawn of an Era [P]

[Flower]

Dawn of an Era [Private]

Christoff , Starnaess

[Valerys/Shihana Enter.]

Shihana looked up to the dawning sun and noticed that a body of swirling clouds had invaded its domain, covering the sky in a milky stasis that shifted so slowly with the breeze. Her head tilted up at them, angled in the sunlight, looked almost soft despite her usual toughness and air of authority. Her white hair ran lightly to her shoulders and past, held up in a black hairtie that let it flow in streaks, a black stripe lining the left side of her hair. She wore, on this occassion, a black dress, sleeveless jacket, and leggings laced with purple on their edes. A messengers pack was slung around her left shoulder, swinging by her right hand.

Inside was all the items she had brought with her in preparation of a certain meeting that she had been planning to have. Her eyes flickered purple light in the sun's rays as she thought about the two Ghost Gems, one Coleman Traveling Stone, one Wolf Fang, a jar of clear, quartz crystal (7), two spring razors, one kunai, and the polearm strapped to her back -- nothing extrordinary, just your average weaponry. But in Shihana's hands, even this was a power to be feared. The Yntalla's Tear gemstone was tucked deep inside her body, on parts of her that were not visible.

She looked around the landscape, wondering if she would ever find the people that she was seeking. Her Sand Village headband was displayed proudly on her forehead, here on the outskirts of a small set of villages and cabins outside her own. They survived off the same pools of water, and shared the same abundance of the oasis. Shihana found it interesting but preferred her distance -- stationed about 150 meters away on the hillside of a sand dune. Rock formations off the east side seemed to glare menacingly over the landscape, as if an elemental were brooding in that direction. The world around her was speckled with hints of life: small lizards and blooming cacti. But Shihana felt dead inside and an overwhelming sense of duty. Something that had to be done.

[Christoff]

Isamu spotted Shihana from the air and descended. He landed lightly on the dune in front of the other Genin and greeted her, "Good morning Shihana." A light but constant breeze, isolated to Isamu, stirred his cloak and when the Sadojin approached within ten meters of Shihana the air freshened. A small thin band of earth orbited around Isamu's body weaving its way down and then back up in an almost dance-like pattern.

Isamu was so often working with those who outranked him, or those who were so much weaker than him, that it was nice to be working with another Genin who he could rightfully call his peer. Isamu had come fully equipped for a mission. He had formed black combat boots and desert khaki pants secured by a utility belt on his lower body. On his upper body he wore a black t-shirt covered by a tactical vest. Isamu's headband was secured to his forehead just beneath his short cropped black hair.

Here in the desert Isamu did not form a gourd of sand. There was no shortage of sand here. On his left hip was his thermal enhanced katana. The Sadojin also wore his shock enhanced melody arm on his right. Around Isamu's shoulders was his cream colored cloak with a red pattern around the edges; hidden inside the cloak were thirty explosive kunai. Isamu's vest his even more equipment. On the outside of the vest six kunai were strapped for easy access. On the sides Isamu had clipped two smoke grenades and a tear gas grenade. In various pockets Isamu had stored 40 exploding tags, 40 locking tags, 40 incendiary tags, 40 lighting tags, and 50 jutsu tags. Isamu also had the dust of dryness gifted to him by Shiki Senri and his goggles stored in the vest.

The utility belt around his waist held even more tools. Isamu had loaded it up with five magnetic emitters, three blood clot pills, five thermal capsules, three solder pills, two sets of manacles, a field cauterizer, and three sonic emitters. The belt also held his surveilance kit: a handheld inspection tool, and surveillance monitor, four surveillance spikes, a motion sensor, one tracking device, and ten tracers. The pouches also held Isamu's stone tongue gem and his two most valuable possessions, his Death's Tear and Immortality Stones. Also attached to the belt was a butt pack carrying twelve shuriken, five wireless radios, one multitool, one headlamp, Isamu's compass, flint, one holodisk, three gravitic pressure bandages, and five explosive seeker mines. Isamu had also tucked his gem of prescience into his pant's pocket. The last item on his person was his newly acquired lightning gem, placed directly over his stone heart. Over time the stone on his heart would grow out and around the stone locking it away inside him.

Isamu addressed Shihana again with a friendly tone, "What's this meeting all about? And why here?" He hadn't seen Shihana in a while but he felt they worked well together and was happy to answer a friend's summons.

[Flower]

Shihana saw Isamu approaching from the distance and lept from the sand dune to meet him at its base. She felt good in the morning sun and weighed down with her shinobi gear. It had too long since she had got out and stretched her legs. "I wanted to discuss something with you," she said and looked him over. Shihana was glad to see that he wore a tactical vest and utility belt, as if he were prepared for a mission already. "But as for why here...?" Shihana said, glancing back at the rock formations once more, their jagged tips very small in distance. It must have been at least 500 meters or more. "I have my reasons."

"But first things first." She flicked back her black strip of hair with the flash of her palm. "Are you going to the Chuunin Exams?" Shihana thought back to when she had first decided to go, and Shiki had asked her to do so. For her this was more than just an exam... She would need to be prepared. Shihana was surprised by her admiration for the Sand Village, and her desire to keep it safe -- from the shadows even as it was.

"I'm going," Shihana went on, before waiting for a response, "and if you are, then I want you on my team. You're a good ninja and we work well together. We're Sand shinobi and that means something, damn it." Her pale, violet eyes were heavy with thought, as if she were peering off into a far distance instead of looking into Isamu's face. Valerys stirred from somewhere beneath the depths of her psyche, and Shihana recoiled a bit from the sudden approach. Plus, Valerys thought from inside her head, we might get to kill somebody.

[Christoff]

Shihana leaped down to meet him and Isamu slowed up. Isamu noted that she was cagey in her response about the choice of location. A quick glance around the area revealed nothing of note to him. Shihana asked, "Are you going to the Chuunin Exams?" Isamu was surprised but not taken a back. Shiki Senri had asked them both to attend and Isamu fully planned to fulfill that request. Shihana continued, "I'm going, and if you are, then I want you on my team. You're a good ninja and we work well together. We're Sand shinobi and that means something, damn it."

Isamu was honored by the request. He knew that Shihana was powerful and had the eye of the Kazekage. There was a grim determination in her voice that made Isamu curious about what she was holding back, still he responded warmly, "Thank you Shihana, I will be at the Exams and I would be honored to join your team." Then it was Isamu's turn to be serious, "I've been preparing for this a long time and I don't intend to fail." There was a steely resolve in his voice born from years of missed exams, missed opportunities for advancement and fulfillment, and from the inability to serve his village further. His failure to become a Chunin was not of his own making, not of his village, but by the circumstances of his life and Isamu intended to rectify that failure at the next exams.

[Flower]

Shihana could not help but smile, even if it were just a little, at Isamu's tenacity. "Understood," she said and started reaching into her messenger pack with her right hand, rummaging through the contents, "then we will not fail." She pulled out a pale, olive green gem with a jagged tip and held it up to her eye -- looking carefully at it and the uique sigils crafted around its base. "Take this," she said and suddenly handed it out to him. If Isamu grasped the gem, then he would immediately be able to tell that it was in the shape of a fang.

"It's called a Wolf Fang," Shihana explained, "I crafted it myself. It's a small thing, but hard to find and I've made this one special. It will be useful to test an opponent's skill level or to create a brief opening." She hoped that he wouldn't have to use it, but found that with each passing month their missions became more dangerous. Is this the life of a shinobi? "I've got plans to do a bit more crafting before the exams. If I can, I'll try to get you a few more gits."

The settlement close by was getting louder as the sun continued to rise in the sky. People were going in and out. The sound of a buzz-saw. Children laughing. Shihana grabbed at the spear that was on her back and slung it down, with her right hand, to her side. Her white hair, held up in the hairtie, blew around her face as she watched his reaction to the Wolf Fang and said, "Now that's settled, why don't we get a bit more serious?" A partner? Shihana thought, Yes, a partner...

SPOILER: Click to show

Note: Underline indicates sections of the item description that have been altered due to crafting modifications.

[/i][/ul]

Wolf Fang [type II]
Rank: "S"
Type: Secondary, 15 per Slot, Harnessed Gem
Effect: A gem capable of summoning Wolves when thrown to the ground.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: Equipment Type: Slotless. The mineral peridot has a powerful natural alchemy that is tapped when the gem is harnessed. Wolf Fang allows for the bearer of the item to summon canine creatures to fight at their side. Depending on the value of the peridot used, the Wolf Fang will summon different creatures. Each gem is carved into the shape of a Wolf Fang no matter the size or value of the peridot. The harnessed alchemy is released when the Wolf Fang is thrown to the ground. At the spot where the Wolf Fang lands, the summoned creature(s) will appear and fight at the command of the person who threw the Wolf Fang to the ground. The following list gives the value of the peridot needed and the type of creature(s) that can be summoned by that crystal.
Type I - Poor: 2 Common Wolves - 1 Class Points
Type II - Average: Dire Wolf - 3 Class Points
Type III - Good: Worg - 5 Class Points
Type IV - Exceptional: Winter - 7 Class Points
Type V - Flawless: Wrath* - 9 Class Points

Once summoned, the creature(s) will follow commands for 20 rounds, or until destroyed. Once the Wolf Fang has been used, it cannot be used again, as the summoning of the creature(s) destroys the item. With Wolves with * next to it, choose the type of Wrath Wolf before creature or purchase.
Ingredients: Type I: 1 large poor Peridot (168 Ryo). Type II: 1 large average Peridot (240 Ryo). Type III: 1 large good Peridot (264 Ryo). Type IV: 1 large exceptional Peridot (360 Ryo). Type V: 1 large flawless Peridot (480 Ryo).
Limit: These types of items may be bought inside any Alchemy Shop. 25% chance finding Type I. 20% chance finding Type II. 15% chance finding Type III. 10% chance finding Type IV. 5% chance finding Type V.
Cost: Type I: 2,520 Ryo; Type II: 3,600 Ryo; Type III: 3,960 Ryo; Type IV: 5,400 Ryo; Type V: 7,200 Ryo

Extend Alchemical Item
Rank: "C"
Skill: Supplementary
Effect: User can craft Alchemical Items that deal lengthened duration.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: The User can cause the Alchemical Item they create that does not have an instantaneous duration to function at 2x its normal duration. Making an Extend Alchemical Item requires an additional x2 to Base Craft.
Limit: Must be an Alchemist. Must know Alchemy (55 Points).
[/spoiler]

[Christoff]

Isamu inspected the gem. He held it up to his eye, letting the sunlight glint off. He wasn't familiar with its operation but he knew where he could research it. Isamu tucked the fang into a pocket on his vest. Shihana explained, "It's called a Wolf Fang I crafted it myself. It's a small thing, but hard to find and I've made this one special. It will be useful to test an opponent's skill level or to create a brief opening." Isamu met Shihana's eyes, "Thank you I will try to use it wisely."


Shihana added, "I've got plans to do a bit more crafting before the exams. If I can, I'll try to get you a few more gits." Isamu was touched though unsure how he would repay the gift. "Thank you Shihana. I will do my best to make it worthwhile for you." Isamu saw Shihana reach for her spear and tensed instinctively, but there was no imminent threat. A moment of rational reflection and Isamu overcame his instinct as Shihana spoke, "Now that's settled, why don't we get a bit more serious?" Isamu regarded her cautiously. He felt that he might understand where this was going, but he asked to be sure "What do you have in mind?"

[Flower]

"You still haven't seen what I can do, and I haven't seen your true abilities either." They had gone on missions, but those hardly qualified as showing one another their skills. "If we're going to be on a team, it's important that we know how each other fights. And there's no quicker way," Shihana twirled the polearm in her right hand, "than a sparring session." She hoped that the gift and the fact that they were on a team would convince him that she had no ulterior motives, but knew that one could never be too quick to let down their guard as a shinobi.

"If you're serious about teaming up, then I'll come at you with everything I've got. And I expect you to do the same. It's only through fighting," Shihana had a far-off look in her eyes, "that shinobi can truly understand one another." And once we have some knowledge of one another's fighting style, Shihana thought, maybe we'll be better coordinated. "Besides, we could both stand to get some rust off our blades and some practice before the exams." This much was also true. Better to figure out one's weaknesses and strengths in a friendly match than in the midst of a charging opponent.

[Christoff]

Isamu formed his face into a smile to convey his openness to the idea. He had worked enough with Shihana to trust her intentions even before her gifts. She had a point. At the exams the two Genin would need to rely on each other. Shared combat was the fastest way to learn about a teammate. In Seisui the royal guard had sparred against each other constantly in order to form a tighter more cohesive unit. It made sense to Isamu that the same thing would hold true here.

Isamu stepped back until they were five meters apart and placed his right hand on his hilt and his left on his sheath. The Sadojin thumbed a small switch on the hilt and inside his sheath his blade began to heat up glowing red hot. "Well put Shihana now let's chat." Isamu pulled his blade out just an inch to show the glowing steel. It was a provocation and Isamu wondered how she would react. Would she close the gap or hang back? She had expressed a preference for support to him, but now one on one, how would she react?

[Flower]

Shihana got down into position, ready to make a move and start their match when she realized she was late for an engagement. "Oh damn it," she said to Isamu and put up her weaponry. "We'll have to postpone this until later. I forgot that there are other things I've got to do today. I'll see you soon, Isamu." And with that she left, taking off through the desert.

[Shihana exit.]

[Christoff]

Isamu nodded, "Of course Shihana. Another time." The Genin hadn't expected to spar and so wasn't terribly disappointed when it ended. Isamu took to the air and flew back towards the village.

(Exit)