The Wicked Storm [Mission S Rank]

[Shiruko Makoto]

[Post Theme - Cold Intent]

Pain.

There was risk in approaching the target, of course. A calculated risk, but a risk nonetheless. The passive lightning shield that crackled around the storm god lashed out at him even as the seals took. One, two.

Makoto flung himself backward the second he felt the seals take. There was no resistance to them. No defense save the lightning surges. No conscious impulse attempting to override the seals.

Good. The semi-disjointed thought processes he was running on ticked off the minor objective as successful. Continue--

Another burst of lightning, cutting through the useless defense. The winds around him ceased to blur as the lightning disrupted his grasp on the difficult elemental chakra, even warped as it was.

Problem. Adjust.

He lashed out, still calculated, not blindly, with intent to knock the enemy off balance. Timing his movements to Katsuo's in perfect sync, moving with just a fraction more speed--

Heavy hitter assisted. Success.

...Throughout it all, he was not visibly reacting to the pain, not to mention that he had apparently shrugged off the electrical disruption to his vision that was still, in fact, technically affecting him.

Swaying slightly on his feet, expression blank, he turned to analyze the field. Something was assisting him with his normal processing, speeding it up and stripping emotion from the context entirely. Not a single quip made its way across his mind as he mapped out his next movements methodically.

Attack, a small voice whispered inside him. Attack.

Details about the surrounding environment being stored, catalogued for analysis later--

Attack.

Go.

Their armored ally was down. Unconscious? Most likely. Leave that to the medic.

Attack. Nownownow.

Small or big? He'd been holding back, conserving his reserves, but now, after a hit like that, was surely the time to press the advantage.

Yes. Go big. Attack. Hit hard.

Yes. No use in holding back anymore. Full blast.

Move on instinct, you know you want to.

Let go.

Disturbing things were happening with his teammates. Should he not focus on that?

No.

Let go...

[legend="[b]OOC Notes/Actions[/b]"]-Target Storm God with Stardust Nova with AE move Overcharge. (3 AP)
-Target Storm God with Grand Waterfall with AE move Focus. (1.5 AP)
-Use Critical Exposure on Storm God using Special Action to have it modded directly before Katsuo's Gates of Babylon/Raijin's Vengeance combo. Use Nin accuracy. (1 AP)

Conditionals:

-Don't dodge the healer trying to heal me.
-If the Storm God targets me with anything that takes more than two seconds to cast, use Flock of Shadows to evade. (2.5 AP)
-When Katsuo's Dark Tempest comes down, use Flame Shield to block. (3 AP)[/legend]<i></i>

 

[Michi]

A note to Makoto and Katsuo. Look at the rolls you made me do. LOOK AT THE ROLLS.​

[col3]Takahashi Sousuke
HP: -3088 KNOCKED OUT! [-4725][-788]
CP: 25650
AP: Unconscious
Effects: Unconscious
Notes:
20% LESS Genjutsu CP Cost
20% LESS Ninjutsu CP Cost
10% Less Damage TAKEN from Taijutsu.
5% additional damage reduction from Ebon Blade
+ 5% damage TAKEN from Ninjutsu
-10% Damage Taken while in Defensive Mode|Mizushima Nanami
HP: 20,493 [-15432] 5061 [+4550] 9,611
CP: 25,369 [+1080] [-9740] 16,709
AP: --
Effects: Electromagnetic Vision (a 21% chance of causing them to switch targets randomly during an action. Additionally, there is a 10% chance of them seeing 'double' of any specific target.);
Notes:
Duelist: + 10% Nin damage against Storm God & + 2 Nin accuracy against Storm God & 10% autododge; - 2 accuracy from all other opponents & - 2 dodge from all other opponents
Nara's Slippery Mind: +2 Gen Save and Awareness
Nara's Shadow Tactics: +10% Damage, +1 Accuracy while in shade.
Dark Sage: -10% CP Cost, +2 Ninjutsu Accuracy
Fearless: +10% DR to all Damage, -1 Evasion and Gen Save
Hyperactive: +3% Max CP every round
Jutsu Mastery: -10% CP Cost, -50% CP Cost for Special Actions|Masashi Katsuo
HP: 18,355 [-11904] [+12669] 19120
CP: 20,707 [-14165] 6542
AP: --
Effects: Storm Control (snow and rain)
Notes:
+10% Damage Reduction [5% from Vanguard Augment / 5% from Journeyman]
+15% Storm Damage
+10% Lightning [Storm/Magnetic/Gravity] Damage
All Hidden Actions are revealed via PM.
Terrain/Visibility effects are treated as two steps in my favor
+ 10% Nin damage against Storm God & 10% autododge
+ 2 Nin accuracy against Storm God
+3 accuracy & dodge (sharingan)
- 2 accuracy from all other opponents
- 2 dodge from all other opponents[/col3]

[col3]Shiruko Makoto
HP: 13,991 [-1912] 12079[+9177] 21256
CP: 23,538 [-7493] 16045
AP: --
Effects: Electromagnetic Vision (a 21% chance of causing them to switch targets randomly during an action. Additionally, there is a 10% chance of them seeing 'double' of any specific target.).
Notes:
Class Modifier: +2 Accuracy and +10% Ninjutsu Damage
Chakra Attuned: -15% Ninjutsu cost, one-handed seals, +10% Ninjutsu damage; All Elemental Damage caused by the user is treated as Non-Elemental Damage. Gives Ninjutsu +10% Damage that bypasses half of the target's damage reduction.
Fearless: +10% DR to all Damage, -1 Evasion and Gen Save
Deflection: Partial hits upon the user are treated as one rank lower & attacks which initially miss the user have a 10% chance of being deflected to a different random target.
Human Anatomy: +1 Critical Range to all attacks & crits do 2.25 damage
Sentinel: +5% Damage Reduction from all non-illusionary sources.
Jutsu Mastery: -10% CP Cost, -50% CP Cost for Special Actions|Storm God
HP: 13,766 [-21626] -7860
CP: 35,905 [-9741]
AP: ---
Effects:Pressure (+20% chakra costs); Duelist (Katsuo & Nanami) (Nin Acc); One Element Sealing: Lightning (+15% Cp cost, and prevents any Major Affinity Moves from being used with them. Additionally, the Jutsu has a 24% chance to be treated one rank lower.); Electromagnetic Vision; Electrocution
Notes:|[/col3]

The only word uttered was Run, nothing more and nothing less as the mysterious man in tattered garments moved with a fluid grace through a series of powerful attacks. The forces of gravity, storm and magnetic force threatened to rip this motley crew of mercenaries and Sunans apart. The storm raged on, partly under the control of the Masashi heir. Sousuke fell to a series of terrible blows as currents of lightning coursed through his body, snaking and arching from him into the earth. Unconscious but still alive by a thread, the 'Storm God' made no effort to actively end Sousuke's life, rather he continued his assault on the three that remained standing. Exhausted, battered and bruised the remaining trio did not back down. Snow and frigid rain poured down on the battlefield, covering the sopping sands with a thin layer of frost.

Nanami tried to resuscitate Sousuke, but the world was foggy... confusing... Disoriented she did not see Sousuke's face among the fallen but rather at the epicenter of the violence. As she touched the 'Storm God' she would feel pain run through her body as thousands of volts of electricity coursed through her body. Undeterred, her senses also returned to her as she could see clearly who her allies and who her enemies were. She dashed to the aide of her remaining team mates.

Makoto was on the offensive despite the befuddlement and muck that filled his mind still, despite his vitality being ripped from him he was able to muster the strength and courage to rip the universe asunder. A rift was created in the air alongside him, showing a deep, seemingly infinite cosmic dimension as if gazing into the heart of a galaxy. How the stars twinkled in the day, despite the overcast celestrial spaces here. Through this distorted air, intensely bright balls of energy shot through the rip in space, like a comet! Ten great blasts of pure seemingly cosmic energy assaulted the 'Storm God.' The damages sustained seemingly obvious, his flesh was starting to rip away but the 'Storm God' seemed to endure despite what could only be assumed as unbearable pain. Not stopping, Makoto followed up almost immediately as his mind and heart cleared with an attack known to many as electrocution but somehow was not. Makoto was a strange type of man. This strange torrent of energy was enough to make a lesser man numb, perhaps even a god.

The air electrified around the 'Storm God' as a terrible attack was being formed that this trio has seen before. One that ripped and pulled and flung each of them away in a matter so painful and dire that it might be the last time they saw it. Makoto was prepared. Perhaps he recognized the movements the 'Storm God' gesticulated as he disappeared among a flock of shadowy aberrations leaving in his wake not one... but three images all like the first.

The wrath of the Masashi apparent, the storm intensified as the winds and the hail joined this terrible display. The winds forcibly knocked everyone, even the enraged Masashi into the air. A barrage of lightning bolts seemingly from heaven sent attacked both allies and opponents without differentiating friend or foe. The howl and the scream not unlike the maelstrom except this was not an electromagnetic storm but something more raw and feral. The bolts hit each and every one of the Masashi's allies, not even neglecting Makoto's clones that disappeared in a blast of smoke and shadow.

Even the best among them would not be able to stand much longer, but thankfully they had a healer among them. Nanami came to Makoto and gave onto him the gift of... health. A rare gift that hopefully he would spend well in this terrible world. Working together with Katsuo once again they synchronized their attack to finish off this 'God' once and for all. A powerful amalgamation of storm energy hurled at the 'Storm God' in a wild, final attempt to put a dangerous opponent down for the good of all of mankind. It surged through the 'God', a terrible noise erupted from his maw as his garments started to rip and break away revealing the emaciated and long-dead form of their opponent. As his knees buckled and he fell to the ground Nanami was not going to wait and see... bad things happen what someone tries that, she reached for Katsuo and gave him the same gift she gave to Makoto. Some gifts are useful to all, even his sprained arm was already feeling better. Spend that health well, health is the finest form of wealth one would ever know!

What Happened

• 0.00 Seconds | Katsuo maintains Call Storm and targets himself with the 3 lightning bolts.
• 0.00 Seconds | Nanami maintains Regeneration (Mastered) on self.
• 0.00 Seconds | Katsuo maintains Mangekyou Sharingan [0 AP / 585 CP]
• 0.00 Seconds | Katsuo's Storm Call - Storm Jutsu released three lightning bolts, all aimed at HIMSELF. He is healed for the damage these lightning bolts would have inflicted any other target.</COLOR>
  [*] 0.00 Seconds | The Storm God's Storm Call - Storm Jutsu released three lightning bolts.
  
  • Bolt #1: Attacks Nanami. Roll: 2 | Evasion Roll: 5. HIT!
    Bolt #2: Attacks Katsuo. Roll: 19 | Evasion Roll: 13 HIT!
    Bolt #3: Attacks Makoto. Roll: 12 | Evasion: 3 HIT!
  [*] 0.45 Seconds | Katsuo shifts into Defensive Stance (+4 Dodge, -2 Accuracy, +10% Damage Reduction).
  [*] 2.27 Seconds | Katsuo casts Storm Control -- snow and rain.
  [*] 2.72 Seconds | Nanami uses Resuscitate (Mastered) on Sousuke with AE special move "overcharge".
  
  • 21% chance of causing them to switch targets randomly during an action. Roll: 11. Random Target: The Storm God!
    10% chance of seeing double. Roll: 60 Failed!
    Attack Roll: 2 Evasion Roll: 12 HIT!
    • Not unconscious
    • Returned to 10% Max Hp, already in excess of.
    • Removes any poisons, none in effect.
    • Removes any maintained effects upon them, none in effect.
    • Bleeding is reduced by three ranks, has no bleed.
    • For a full round, the target is protected by a barrier with 4950 Hp that prevents them from taking passive Damage.
    • Nanami is shocked due to the Santaru passive.
  [*] 2.86 Seconds | Makoto targets the Storm God with Stardust Nova with AE move Overcharge.
  
  • 21% chance of causing them to switch targets randomly during an action. Roll: 29. Failed.
    10% chance of seeing double. Roll: 22. Failed.
    Attack Roll 1: 19 | Evasion Roll: 6 HIT CRIT!
    • Damage has a 44% chance of ignoring all damage reduction or barriers, and activating the 'Non Elemental' effect. Roll: 85 FAIL!
    Attack Roll 2: 7 | Evasion Roll: 7 HIT
    • Damage has a 44% chance of ignoring all damage reduction or barriers, and activating the 'Non Elemental' effect. Roll: 14 SUCCESS!
    Attack Roll 3: 3 | Evasion Roll: 19 HIT
    • Damage has a 44% chance of ignoring all damage reduction or barriers, and activating the 'Non Elemental' effect. Roll: 27 SUCCESS!
    Attack Roll 4: 2 | Evasion Roll: 18 HIT
    • Damage has a 44% chance of ignoring all damage reduction or barriers, and activating the 'Non Elemental' effect. Roll: 92 FAIL!
    Attack Roll 5: 15 | Evasion Roll: 18 HIT
    • Damage has a 44% chance of ignoring all damage reduction or barriers, and activating the 'Non Elemental' effect. Roll: 96 FAIL!
    Attack Roll 6: 20 | Evasion Roll: 2 HIT CRIT!
    • Damage has a 44% chance of ignoring all damage reduction or barriers, and activating the 'Non Elemental' effect. Roll: 68 FAIL!
    Attack Roll 7: 17 | Evasion Roll: 9 HIT
    • Damage has a 44% chance of ignoring all damage reduction or barriers, and activating the 'Non Elemental' effect. Roll: 25 SUCCESS!
    Attack Roll 8: 18 | Evasion Roll: 16 HIT
    • Damage has a 44% chance of ignoring all damage reduction or barriers, and activating the 'Non Elemental' effect. Roll: 79 FAIL!
    Attack Roll 9: 4 | Evasion Roll: 10 HIT
    • Damage has a 44% chance of ignoring all damage reduction or barriers, and activating the 'Non Elemental' effect. Roll: 82 FAIL!
    Attack Roll 10: 10 | Evasion Roll: 7 HIT
    • Damage has a 44% chance of ignoring all damage reduction or barriers, and activating the 'Non Elemental' effect. Roll: 10 SUCCESS!
  [*] 3.00 Seconds | The 'Storm God's' Electromagnetic vision has worn off!
  [*] 4.29 Seconds | Makoto target Storm God with Electrocution.
  
  • Attack Roll: 11 Evasion Roll: 14 HIT!
    16% chance that 'Paralysis' will have no limit to how many actions it may effect while this jutsu is in active. Roll: 28. Failed.
  [*] 4.5 Seconds | The 'Storm God' casts Shinra Tensei with Special Action and Newton's Apple with Jutsu Creator and AE special move Focus.
  The Unconscious player will NOT be targeted
  
  • 10% to auto-fail chance. Roll: 60. Failed.
    Electrocuted for 10% of the CP cost.
    • Nanami:
      • Attack Roll: 19 Evasion Roll: 1 HIT!
        44% chance of Crush Effect. Roll: 52 Failed.
        44% chance of paralysis. Roll: 91 Failed.
    • Makoto: Uses Flock of Shadows to evade this attack.
      • Now has 2 clones on the field!
    • Katsuo:
      • Attack Roll: 3 Evasion Roll: 10 HIT!
        44% chance of Crush Effect. Roll: 25 Success.
        • Suppressed for 0.5 AP.
          Sprained ARM.
        44% chance of Paralysis. Roll: 1 Success.
      24% chance of causing 20% backlash damage to the user due to Rain. Roll: 45. MISS!
  [*] 5.00 Seconds | Katsuo cast Dark Tempest
  
  • All effects from Storm Control are now in play. The following affects everyone but Katsuo (but starts to affect Katsuo in 2 rounds)
    • -2 Accuracy to all Projectile/Ranged attacks.
    • Rain Dance (Rank 2) is treated as active.
    • -3 Dodge and +8% CP costs.
    • Each other participant besides Katsuo automatically takes 810 Ice Damage at the end of the round.
  • Six lightning bolts target every person in the battle (including Katsuo -- those targeting Katsuo take a -3 Accuracy penalty) for 600 base Storm Damage each.
    • 10% chance of auto-failure due to paralysis. Roll: 18. Failed.
      • Sousuke:
        • Bolt 1 -- Attack Roll: 17 Evasion Roll: n/a HIT!
        • Bolt 2 -- Attack Roll: 18 Evasion Roll: n/a HIT!
        • Bolt 3 -- Attack Roll: 15 Evasion Roll: n/a HIT!
        • Bolt 4 -- Attack Roll: 15 Evasion Roll: n/a HIT!
        • Bolt 5 -- Attack Roll: 19 Evasion Roll: n/a HIT!
        • Bolt 6 -- Attack Roll: 20 Evasion Roll: n/a CRIT!
        Nanami:
        • Bolt 1 -- Attack Roll: 11 Evasion Roll: 2 HIT!
        • Bolt 2 -- Attack Roll: 13 Evasion Roll: 7 HIT!
        • Bolt 3 -- Attack Roll: 10 Evasion Roll: 3 HIT!
        • Bolt 4 -- Attack Roll: 20 Evasion Roll: 7 HIT! CRIT
        • Bolt 5 -- Attack Roll: 19 Evasion Roll: 1 HIT!
        • Bolt 6 -- Attack Roll: 12 Evasion Roll: 1 HIT!
        Makoto:
        • Bolt 1
          • Random chance to attack clone v Makoto. Roll: 1 Makoto is targeted!
            Makoto uses Flame Shield to block the on-coming attack!
            Attack Roll: 14 Evasion Roll: 1 HIT
        • Bolt 2
          • Random chance to attack clone v Makoto. Roll: 1 Makoto is targeted!
            Makoto's Flame Shield blocks the on-coming attack!
            Attack Roll: 2 Evasion Roll: 13 HIT
        • Bolt 3 -- Attack Roll: Evasion Roll:
          • Random chance to attack clone v Makoto. Roll: 3 Clone is targeted!
            Attack Roll: 14 Evasion Roll: 4 HIT
            *clone is destroyed*
        • Bolt 4 -- Attack Roll: Evasion Roll:
          • Random chance to attack clone v Makoto. Roll: 2 Clone is targeted!
            Attack Roll: 18 Evasion Roll: 10
            *clone is destroyed*
        • Bolt 5
          • Attack Roll: 7 Evasion Roll: 15 HIT!
            Makoto's Flame Shield blocks the on-coming attack!
        • Bolt 6
          • Attack Roll: 1 Evasion Roll:10 HIT!
            Makoto's Flame Shield blocks the on-coming attack!
          Katsuo:
          • Bolt 1 -- Attack Roll: 13 Evasion Roll: 6 HIT!
          • Bolt 2 -- Attack Roll: 3 Evasion Roll: 18 MISS!
          • Bolt 3 -- Attack Roll: 16 Evasion Roll: 12 HIT!
          • Bolt 4 -- Attack Roll: 6 Evasion Roll: 18 MISS!
          • Bolt 5 -- Attack Roll: 3 Evasion Roll: 19 MISS!
          • Bolt 6 -- Attack Roll: 13 Evasion Roll: 3 HIT!
          Storm God:
          • Bolt 1 -- Attack Roll: 18 Evasion Roll: 16 HIT!
          • Bolt 2 -- Attack Roll: 2 Evasion Roll: 12 HIT!
          • Bolt 3 -- Attack Roll: 3 Evasion Roll: 13 HIT!
          • Bolt 4 -- Attack Roll: 13 Evasion Roll: 12 HIT!
          • Bolt 5 -- Attack Roll: 9 Evasion Roll: 20 HIT!
          • Bolt 6 -- Attack Roll: 19 Evasion Roll: 4 HIT!
        • Each participant in the fight has a 50% chance to be thrown about by the wind giving -2 Dodge (Katsuo only has a 20% which increases by 10% each round).
          • Sousuke: n/a
            Nanami -- Roll: 46 SUCCESS!
            Makoto -- Roll: 35 SUCCESS!
            Katsuo -- Roll: 17 SUCCESS!
            Storm God -- Roll: 30 SUCCESS!
  • 6.36 Seconds | Nanami casts Angelic Blessing (Mastered) on Makoto with Special Action for +50% more healing with AE special move "overcharge".
  • Makoto uses Critical Exposure on Storm God using Special Action to have it modded directly before Katsuo's Gates of Babylon/Raijin's Vengeance combo.
  • 6.00 Seconds | Katsuo targets the Storm God with Jutsu Creator: Gates of Babylon and Raijin's Vengeance
    • Using Special Action #1 from Raijin's Vengeance and Affinity Move Overcharge.
  • • Removing activation chance of Photon Flash from Raijin's Vengeance and adding it to activation chance of Impale from Gates of Babylon.
  • 10.0 Seconds | Nanami casts Angelic Blessing (Mastered) on Katsuo with Special Action for +50% more healing with AE special move "overcharge".

<i></i>

<COLOR color="red">NOW FOR Phase 2​

No, not really... Congrats, the maelstrom has been destroyed.

The heavens besides those immediately above them that was still full of wrath and danger began to clear. The maelstrom was receding, as if it has never existed. From the dying lips of their opponent there was barely a whisper that uttered "Thank you..." The 'Storm God' was dead, the kind of dead that even a Medic as experienced as Nanami would never be able to bring back. He was dead and had been dead for some time, decades in fact. But Nanami might recognize something, it was crude in comparison to the true art of a Dark Sage but still similar enough that experience might grant her the clarity to know. He was merely a path of a Dark Sage of some sort... made wrong made in a way even unnatural and cruel to one who feels that life should be a play-thing.

He died a 'puppet', made one while he was still alive. He died under the command of another, his body petrified in the desert sun but he persisted even through death by the cruel command of his unknown and unseen master. They, that is the heros Makoto, Sousuke, Nanami and Katsuo did more than release Wind Country from the Maelstrom but they also set a tortured soul free.

Thank You Katsuo, Makoto, Sousuke and Nanami. You are all true Heroes!​

<i></i>

Notes:

• Plethora of mistakes on my end.
• For the sake of my notes as well as everyone else's apparently affinity moves CAN be done with Medical Ninjutsu.
• Totally missed Makoto's Flame Shield so had to enter that. Drastic changes to his end HP - he was hit by the passive effects of the storm as well as a bolt of lightning only and that is reflected in his damages.
• Nanami's CP use is different due to AE move use as well as end HP gains by Katsuo and Makoto

 

[Akako]

[col]It seemed that the static was more than minor inconvenience. As she sought to resuscitate Sousuke, static covered her vision as well, much like when she tried to ensnare the Storm God in her shadowy web. With the static fading away, she saw not her ally but her enemy instead. Like touching a livewire, she was shocked on contact but she was quick to recover in her role.

However, she did not move fast enough as her own ally’s attacks, Katsuo’s struck her as well.

Honest mistake to do, considering she had mistakenly approached the danger zone, sure. If she hadn’t healed herself before, she would have been out of the picture as well. But when she saw his attacks strike the others, even the knocked out body of the other Sunan, a scowl made its way on her face. There will be words with this King once they’ve dealt with the God.

Her activated regeneration did wonders and she managed to make it to Makoto to aid him. Even aided the bloody King too, just in case it was some sort of head wound that was making him lash out like that. Yes, she understood that his fallen friend was causing him anger. But attacking said friend certainly was not helping. At all.

But when the dust cleared and the fight settled, there was more reason for Pestilence to sneer. “Amateur,” the horseman spat with finality before receding back in the depths of the doctor’s mind without bothering to explain reason or motivation behind that one word.

With the doctor back at the helm, it was time to do her duty without further interference. With her first move, she went to resuscitate her actual patient. Properly this time.

Soon after, she’d have a second move. A gentle wind picked up around her hand, almost looking like it was some healing technique. But, suddenly, she brought it up with ferocity and the move was anything less than benevolent as she quickly aimed for Katsuo’s cheek. “You brat!”|</FONTFACE>[legend="[b]Out of Character Notes[/b]"]

• Summary:
  
  0.0 AP - Maintain Regeneration (Mastered) on self
  
  3.0 AP - Resuscitate (Mastered) Sousuke again (darn that Electro Vision) with Minor Affinity Move: Overcharge
  
  2.5 AP - Sucker punch Katsuo with Vapour Punch (Mastered) with Minor Affinity Move: Focus because reasons. Up to Katsuo if he wants to dodge, stop Nanami by the wrist, take the punch or have Shiori roll the outcome for us.
  
  5.0 AP - Rest. Just in case. I'm paranoid.

[/legend]<FONTFACE fontface="monospace">[/col]

 

[Takahashi Aki]

Nothing but shadow and darkness surrounded the mental landscape of the Steward as he was unconscious. Given Sousuke's long history with Mikaboshi, darkness was something he was used to. Sousuke sat surrounded by shadow before a campfire.To his left was the form of Shade. Sousuke sat trying to warm his hands. He had this overwhelming sense of coldness about him. It was a very strange feeling. No matter how much he rubbed his hands or placed them before the heat could he get warm. During this time the Steward had spent his time figuring out the critical error that had caused a system failure. The runes of the Black Blade broke. Armour had failed in sections forty-six and twenty-seven. The sandworm arm was still attached. Theoretically. Is Katuso still alive? Sousuke inquired of Shade. The Specter nodded his head. Nanami?</I><i></i> Once again Shade nodded his head. His rock golem had at least served it purpose. Shade's mood seemed to grow darkened. It is happening again. The King awakens once more.<i></i> Shade warned.

The sound of thunder and lightning could be heard, but yet it could not penetrate this darkness and coldness that had gripped Sousuke. Sousuke could sense it, but he could not see it. This was very much like the time Katuso had lit up the dojo during his fight with Kaito. Yet there was something ... more something wilder and grand. Sousuke listened. Muffled it was first. Shade's eyes glowed green beneath his hooded form. <I>He claimed the throne. He has accepted his proper place in this world, or so that is what you believe. Sousuke's eyes widened. He hesitated for a moment. The last time Katuso had done this... Katsuo is different though. Golden. Like the depiction of your King of Old. Sousuke shook for a moment. He was struck by the thunder. He felt it surge through him. It concerns me.

The world of shadow and coldness would begin to break apart as Sousuke was being revived by the good doctor. His eyes opened and strained to adjust to the emptiness of the skies. Clear skies. CLEAR. Sousuke's mouth dropped open as he simply stared at the blue sky above him. Only twice in his life had he seen a clear sky. It was... plain. It was ... simple. Good even? "..."<i></i> Sousuke was speechless for a moment. "Thank-you."<i></i>

 

[Mikaboshi]

Primus? - Legendary King of Wind Country

[SCENE BGM]​

Folding his arms across his chest as he watched the "Storm God" dissolve into spirit particles, the Golden King looked on as the skies cleared themselves and the massive storm that had been triggered by his awakening was put to rest by the passing of their opponent. It was fortunate for the group that was the case as the storm itself had ceased to be under Katsuo's control just after his transformation as the energy that it had absorbed from Katsuo's ascension had made it leagues stronger than what he might normally be able to create and control. A storm of that magnitude could easily have wiped cities off of the map if allowed to exist for very long and would have proven to be their final opponent following the demise of the "Storm God" if not for it being dissolved by the death throes of their opponent. He thanked them all for defeating him... and then was gone along with the Diamond Maelstrom.

Lightning still playing across his skin and immediate person, Katsuo turned from where the Storm God had stood with the intention of making his way back to the group when a shimmering fist of water vapor materialized before him and collided with his chin causing him to fall back a step. The hit itself only managed to partially strike Katsuo as the air around him sizzled and popped with a screen of steam created by the water vapor of Nanami's jutsu coming into contact with the super-heated air around Katsuo's body. The attack itself carried with it enough force to have been considered a strong physical punch but wasn't enough to physically harm him significantly past the injuries he'd already sustained. Instantly regaining his footing, Katsuo's face was alight with indignation at the assault upon his person knowing that it had come from one of the shinobi in his group... and there was only one that he knew to wield Water Release techniques. With a crack of thunder despite the lack of clouds in the sky, Katsuo disappeared and re-appeared before Nanami once more with his arms folded across his chest and staring down at her.

Under normal circumstances Katsuo would have towered over Nanami at his height of six feet and two inches but in this circumstance where his presence was filled with lightning and anger he might seem even larger than before. At first it seemed like he would attack her, the anger over having been struck by her apparent in his expression and body language but after a tense moment the golden light in his clothing and hair seemed to simply... go out and he was suddenly back to his standard green hair and the adventuring gear that he'd worn before. Gone was the imperious stare of an offended king and with it the decadent golden silks and clothing that had manifested on his body in place of his normal gear. A few stray bolts of energy sparked here and there around him but it was easy to see that the transformation -- whatever it had been -- was for the time being at an end.

"Hey." He said weakly with a wobbly smile on his face, his voice quiet in stark contrast to the booming volume that had been so full of fury only minutes before. "Thanks for that. Needed it."

And then without warning, Katsuo simply lost consciousness and fell forward -- directly onto Nanami.

 

[Shiruko Makoto]

Complete. Survived.

Makoto snapped back to full consciousness with a vague pressure building behind his eyes. He scowled and lifted a hand to his head, absently activating a medical jutsu with it to dull the pain a bit.

Come to think of it, was that blood running out his ears? Good call on the medical jutsu then.

While he stood there tending to his own minor injuries and trying to work out just what the hell had happened, what was happening, and why the entire world appeared to have gone insane, their healer decked Katsuo with a fist made of vapour.

Well. Okay. In the vague fugue he had been in he had reflexively blocked that particular assault, but Nanami had been too busy healing. So it made sense she was mad about it.

(He hadn't quite processed the seals yet. Give him time; it was a pretty chaotic fight.)

What he was processing was that, hey, Katsuo wasn't the only person with deliberate team attacks under his belt for this expedition. So he wasn't in any particular rush to stop Katsuo/whatever was possessing him from decking her, electrocuting her, or whatever he felt like doing. Instead he fished a kerchief out of his inner pocket with his free hand and dabbed the blood away from his ears, angling his parasol to block the sun now blasting down from the clear blue sky.

Of course, instead of that, Katsuo flickered back to normal and proceeded to faint nearly-onto Nanami.

It was 'nearly' because Makoto was rather a fast hand with Taijutsu too when he wanted to be, and with one swift motion darted over, swept his weapon into an arc, and whacked Nanami in the side with his parasol hard enough to push her away--and probably to bruise. Maybe wind her a bit--leaving Katsuo to faceplant into the sand.

"Earlier I was considering how best to word the fact that your shadow threads, back at the lightning barrier, were a terrible plan," he informed her. "Assuming it was a plan, at all. But in some cases, actions are better than words, and if we're hitting each other for team attacks now, I might as well join in."

He appeared to debate with himself, then nudged Katsuo onto his back with a foot.

He didn't hit me at any point. But someone has to wake him up, so...

He calmly tucked the kerchief back into his jacket, leaned over his teammates head, and reached down to slap him hard--once across each cheek--ready to dart back if Katsuo sat up suddenly.

[legend="[b]OOC Notes[/b]"]-Mystical Hand on self.
-Bunt on Nanami.
-Wake-Up Slap on Katsuo.[/legend]<i></i>

 

[Michi]

The Mod

 

[Michi]

OC: Come home guys, we need to celebrate and possibly get some bandages for Sousuke's arm.

 

[Akako]

[col]Used to clear skies (ignoring the occasional monsoons), the calm after the storm did not quite have the same impact on the good doctor than it did the Steward of Sand.

Instead, she was far too busy berating the Storm Prince. “I know you were angry at seeing your brother in arms hurt, but that is no excuse to go berserk and endanger us. Frying him while he was unconscious, when I couldn’t reach him certainly doesn’t help!” she barked at him, one hand on her hip and the other with a finger in his face. She could care less that such a fearsome man was staring down at her, as if to smite her. Nobody, nobody messed with her patients and she’d drag Katsuo back to the village by the ear if she had to.

She faltered and paused when it seemed the man had come to his senses but was going to open her mouth for another tirade when she was whacked on the side by a parasol. A steel parasol, mind you. It certainly left her winded, especially after the grand things they’ve been through. And her relatively battle inexperienced self was sent sprawling on her back, down on the sand.

That, of course, left Katsuo to fall face first in the dirt.

Certainly an interesting situation for Sousuke to wake up to, not including the lack of storm plaguing their lands.

Whinging noises escaped the medic as she clutched the side Makoto had struck. “Can we go back to the village now? A shower and a cup of tea sounds bloody great.”|</FONTFACE>[legend="[b]Out of Character Notes[/b]"]

• #GreatTeamworkGuys
  
  Topic Left? Do we get to party after this? Also, will look into making Nanami a Sand Nin sooner or later.
  
  
  

[/legend]<FONTFACE fontface="monospace">[/col]

 

[Takahashi Aki]

Sousuke was still staring at the clear sky. This was still something he was not used to. There was a sort of childishness in it as he simply stared up. It was like a child staring at his hand for the first time and then realizing it was in fact their hand upon moving it. For several more seconds he had blocked out all sound. Then of course Nanami began speaking about going back to the village. Without taking his eyes away from the sky he answered. "Yes... yes... we'll go back to my household. It has both. I'm certain tea shouldn't be a problem, just bear in mind if I am brewing the tea you must not ... question what I am doing. Flavours and I have a ... most complicated history. Most flavours I craft by my own hands get inverted. That is to say vanilla tastes like chocolate, and vice versa. Blueberry tea becomes strawberry, and green mint tastes like orange and so on and so forth."<i></i> He looked down finally. "Oh. I still have your sandworm sample. You sort of forgot about it."<i></i> He added. by this time he noticed that Katuso had not got up yet. Sousuke picked up Katuso easily enough and slung the man across his shoulder.

"He might be out for a good while. Katuso... has a very complex family history."<i></i> Sousuke began to explain. It would be a very long history lesson to be had. He opened his mouth and was about to explain it, but then he realized everyone else was perhaps not entirely ready for a history lesson. "I'll lead the way home... it may take me an extra second or two to process the landscape. The markers are still in place, I just need to realize that ... the storm is not in effect anymore."<i></i> He paused for a moment turning around once more. "Oh. Yes. Thank-you for reviving me. That is most appreciated."<i></i> He nodded his head at the good doctor. This was something indeed worth seeing. He turned to the other member of their party being Makoto. "Yes and thank-you as well ... and your parasol. If it has suffered any structural comprising and inability to work properly I'll look to it and reconstruct it in accordance with your desired appearance. Mechanical things, big or small are my specialty."<i></i> He began to head his way towards the large black monolith that was Deadlines in the distance. "That is the Deadlines marker, and home to the Kirishii.. they are like us in that we like underground, but their appearance is quite different from us. No need to worry about them... they have had a long history with us as they..."<i></i> Sousuke would begin to trail off into ancient history as he began his way back to the village, with Katuso in tow... and broken armour.

[topic left with Katuso]

 

[Mikaboshi]

Katsuo's breathing was heavy and labored as Sousuke hefted the older man onto his shoulder to carry him back to the village. His body was battered from the attacks visited upon them by the now destroyed source of the storm but also from the overtaxing that his body had suffered when Sousuke had been rendered unconscious. Whatever power that he'd brought to bear against the Storm God had drained him physically and spiritually leaving him a worn out lump unable to even stay conscious. Still, even though his mind was not conscious it was not inactive. In his mind's eye he beheld the desert which had been finally purged of the diamond maelstrom from the plateau that he'd battled the Storm God upon. It was a victory hard fought but fairly won and Katsuo savored it.

"At last the desert is at rest." Reflected Katsuo's own voice from behind him causing the young man to turn his back to the sun-bathed dunes to face this challenge to the achievement that he and his allies had suffered so much to win.

Before him stood the gold-clad form of the transformed state which he'd manifested following Sousuke's trip into unconsciousness. Hair like spun-gold stood on end as errant snakes of lightning traced around the indomitable king's folded arms and played across his implacable features. It was hard to tell if the Legendary King was even talking to him, really. The radiant being's eyes seemed to be more set upon the spectacle behind Katsuo rather than upon the young man himself. Slowly the king breezed past Katsuo, leaving behind the distinct aroma of ozone as he passed due to the crackling of lightning around his body, and stopped at the edge of the plateau. Katsuo's mind spun. He could feel that he was not awake but was he dreaming? Worse, was he dead? Perhaps that last blast of power had just been too much and his heart had given out sending him to the afterlife to meet his great ancestor.

"Who are you?" Katsuo finally managed with a hard swallow. He wasn't sure if he even really wanted the answer.

"Who are you?" Parroted the King, his voice devoid of any mockery or pedantry. Katsuo opened his mouth to respond but the King cut him off. "You are Sunahoshi Katsuo, son of Sunahoshi Hiro who was the son of Keiku, who was the son of Nobu, who was the son of Kenshin, who was the son of Akina..."

The spirit went on to list the names of each Kazekage before him, each a legend in their own right. The Kazekages of old were each thought of with pride and reverence as they were men and women who had each lived and died for their people in their own ways. A small few had strayed from the path of justice for a time but for the most part -- along with his clan in general which had warred not once but twice for the throne out of jealousy -- but for the most part the Kazekages of history had always stood for the welfare of Sunagakure.

"... who was the son of Nori, who was the son of Primus."

They were quiet for a moment as that statement rested in the air. Katsuo wasn't sure what to say. What could he say? Primus wasn't just a heroic king. He was the heroic king. The kind of king that inspired such a tremendous legacy in the Wind County that in many places people capitalized the pronouns they wrote about him with as if he were the one and only god.

"Am I dead?" Was all Katsuo could manage, his voice quiet as he looked upon what he thought to be his greatest ancestor.

"No. Not yet, anyway." Responded the King who still had his back to his younger descendant. But as that revelation came, so too did another dawn on Katsuo finally. If he weren't dead then there was no realistic way that he could be talking with his long-dead ancestor. "And you're right, I am not the true One King. I am you as much as you are me and we are Him."

"Caliburn." He'd heard that sort of gobbledygook before and it reminded him of the way that one particular knowledge spirit talked to him. The vision of Primus did not turn to acknowledge him but something changed in the air between him that told him he was right. But there was something wrong. Caliburn had never manifested before him like... this. She had always taken the form of a young woman with long green hair with a shade similar to his own. "What is this Caliburn? What is happening?"

"You've won a great victory here but at a great cost that you've yet to know. First is that your victory has won you an even greater storm than before but this will not be one that you will be able to bend using the power of the spark." Caliburn explained, still using the voice and visage of Primus as she spoke. "A tumult is coming, my king. The maelstrom is gone and now the people will know for certain that the stage has changed. The Cabal was just the beginning. Second... well. You will find out."

For the first time, a glimmer of emotion sneaked it's way into the way Caliburn spoke filling her last statement with what sounded very much like regret for just a moment before returning to the stoic tone that she had held for the duration of their meeting. Katsuo couldn't really make heads or tails of what she was trying to say -- of course things were going to change now. And what was this second price he'd paid? None of it really made sense to him.

"Do you know what the difference between strength and power is my lord?" Caliburn asked a question which early on in his training his master Garyou had asked of him. It had become a fundamental life lesson for the way that Katsuo lived his life in the following years.

"Power is a measure of capability. Strength is knowing how and when to wield that power."

Katsuo responded instantly as those words had been etched into his brain for years. Power existed as a measure for how much one could affect the world around them. Words, muscles, magic, swords, allies, knowledge. All were demonstrations of power that could be leveraged as a means to an end. As opposed to that, strength was a measure of how to best use that power. There had been plenty of rulers in the past who had possessed a great deal of power but not enough strength to prevent themselves from misusing that power. Finally Caliburn turned to face him and the visage of Primus fell away in favor of the more familiar way she looked to him in the past. With long green tresses falling about her thin features and beautiful face, Caliburn looked upon him with an expression that could not be described as anything other than heart wrenchingly sad.

"And the willingness to use that power. Remember that well in the days to come my king."

And finally, before he could even respond to that statement, the world lost it's composure and disappeared to nothing... and Katsuo knew no more.

Spoiler

Still unconscious. Letting Sousuke take me. Sorry about delay. Hard post was hard, still not super satisfied but needed to tie up some loose ends. Thanks for waiting.

 

[Shiruko Makoto]

Makoto didn't even bother to put an innocent look on his face. He'd already expounded his not-at-all-innocent reasons for smacking Nanmi harder than was technically needed to keep Katsuo from falling on her. And yes, technically he could have caught Katsuo but see the previous statement re: petty reasons. Actually, extremely petty, considering as he was probably in the best physical shape of anyone there, but never mind that. Petty was fine when you'd just accomplished what they had.

"It's a bruise at the most," he told Nanami in a disaffected tone. "No need to whine about it. We're all banged up with a few bruises here. Could've been a lot worse. We could all have died. Nearly did, multiple times. So a bruise certainly isn't anything to complain at."

The others...may or may not have noticed his response to his nerves being rattled was to ramble. All told, it was only through a force of will he stopped after that.

He dusted off his jacket lightly with his scarf, debating if he had enough chakra to scrape a light wind across himself to remove the dust and sand. He decided against it when even prodding his chakra lightly made it feel scraped raw, as if he'd drained himself to his last reserves even knowing that wasn't the case. Clearly he'd managed to do something that would leave him a little sensitive for a while. He just needed rest, and possibly a stiff glass of something stronger than tea.

Instead, he twirled his parasol absently, letting the sunlight stream down from the clear skin and bounce off the silver spokes, making them glint in the bright light. While it was a weapon, it did after all serve function as a parasol to block the worst of the sun's rays even in this sort of climate. Wind Country's natural climate now, with the maelstrom truly gone.

"Shouldn't we just get somewhere another medic can treat us? I say another medic, as Nanami needs treatment herself from that whole 'nearly eaten by a sandworm' mini-adventure." He very narrowly resisted making actual air quotes. "Mind, I don't object to having somewhere to sit in general, but as the only one not staunching a critical injury, missing a limb, or unconscious, I feel I should probably have the lowest weighted vote there."

He did bite back a snap of disapproval at Sousuke's offer, though. He had no way of knowing that was offensive; if there were any Shoukyou from any branch in Sand at all, they kept to themselves and their ways would not be known.

"Thank you, but no. If any of my weapons suffer damage, I prefer to repair them myself. It's a family thing. We're quite strict about it." Which would hopefully be polite enough.

Katsuo did not wake, despite the attempt to wake him. Oh well. He'd always wanted to try waking someone up like that anyway; if it had worked that just would have been a bonus.

Sand's entrance was easily visible off in the distance, standing tall above the desert, a huge monolith in the vast blue sky. The winds around them barely rippled as they walked; their footsteps made more of a mark on the ground than the wind did. The air was at rest, at peace, after so long being tossed about every which way.

It was enough to make him feel as though they'd actually accomplished something, a strange feeling. Certainly this wasn't his first mission anywhere ever, but it was the first one he'd effectively gone on by choice, and the first where he'd made such a major difference. Whether or not he'd been truly vital wasn't something he could figure out, since there was no way to figure out what might have been, but by being there he'd...helped. It was a strange feeling, once that almost seemed to scrape him more raw than attempting to mold chakra had a few minutes earlier.

He clearly wasn't cut out for this whole 'human interaction' business very well.

And yet...and yet. Wasn't accomplishing something what he'd wanted to do here? What was this odd doubt? Was that doubt, that slight burning sensation, or just an after shock from whatever was causing his chakra to feel strange?

He shook it off as they walked on. Rest, that was all he needed.

Just rest.

[Topic Left]