[Plotboard] The Descent

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Varian
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[Plotboard] The Descent

Post by Varian » Fri Sep 20, 2019 4:07 pm

Yuji woke up as the sun began to rise. Orange scorched the sky like fire in the night. The Fukusha slipped from his bed standing there in nakedness for a moment. Slipping into some clothes he began to make his way downstairs. The hall was empty this morning, the twins were at the academy, Eiji was still on his five month mission and who knows where his other sister was. His father was no doubt in his study working away as usual. Yuji decided to take the trip to the other side of the main family compound.

The decorations gave away who owned which half of the home. His father decorated the home with images of the clan putting it as his foremost pride. His mother on the other hand decorated with a much more gentle nature. Bonsai trees dotted parts of the corridor and outside cherry blossom could be seen flowing through the air. He opened the door to the dining area, sliding it to the side as he stepped through.

His mother looked pale a mere shadow of herself. The poor relationship between father and her had taken its toll. She smiled weakly at the sight of her son stepping inside. It was rare he came to visit her he hated seeing her this way after all. A slight scowl came across his face at the thought of his father's treatment of the family.

"I hear you are being taken care of well mother." Yuji spoke in a cold manner, he found it hard to show love for a woman who was standing idle while father abused her children. He sat down opposite her as a servant came and poured tea for them both. There was no response from her as usual there hadn't been since the massacre at the Fukusha camp. "Eiji is away on a mission now which is why he has not come to visit you." More silence. "The twins started attending the academy I hear they are excelling in their studies." Yuji sipped his tea frustrated at the lack of response to anything he did beyond a weak smile. They sat in silence while he continued his tea. Yuji finished the last sip he stood from his seat and gave his mother a bow. "I will call again."

Yuji made his way over to the Jousai headquarters. Nestled within the a large mountain range he came up to the great gates to this impressive looking castle. On guard was a familiar Chuunin, a smug look on his face. That is right until he noticed who Yuji was. "Oh! Uhh. Lord Akari is waiting for you inside go right ahead." Yuji smirked a little at the nervousness of the Chuunin. Perhaps being the student of a bannin did come with some perks after all.

"As you were secretary." Throwing out a dig at the chuunin as he passed. The young Fukusha had been hard at work the past couple of days practicing some new techniques. He had been a little frustrated at being shown up by Kotaru's mastery of Katon but that was the past now. Yuji had instead become fascinated with surpassing his sensei in the art of ninjutsu at the very least.

After a handful of stairs and corridors were successfully navigated, Yuji arrived at the great hall in good time. Pushing the doors wide open he stepped inside wondering what the bannin had in store for him.
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[Plotboard] The Descent

Post by Kao » Fri Sep 20, 2019 5:09 pm

In the first few weeks after moving into the Jousai headquarters, Kotaru found his morning routine needed adjusting. No longer did he have a hot meal waiting for him most mornings, cooked by Tatsuo's kind and doting mother. The sounds of near-running footsteps as the four young Akari children started their day were gone. The trio of his adoptive siblings were no longer around to offer up quips and banter as Kotaru sulked into the kitchen. Instead there was silence as Kotaru woke up, the sunlight blocked by heavy, dark curtains. He cooked his own meal, a simple setup of rice, sausage, and vegetables.

To some, it was a grim and lonely morning. But Kotaru was content in his solitude, especially first thing in the morning when he was at his groggiest and grumpiest. It gave him time to prepare for the day ahead without the annoyance of socializing before the end of breakfast hours. The young bannin read a few reports he had ignored the previous day, signing his name where needed and rolling his eyes when he saw fit. Paperwork was the second worst part of being a bannin.

The worst part of being a bannin of Iwagakure was - hands down- the unspoken commitment he made to the advancement of the lower ranks. His personality was generally a repellant, but there were many bold genin and chuunin, especially those with interest in Jousai, who looked to Kotaru for guidance in one form or another. His progress in developing his social skills was slow-going, but at the very least he didn't immediately turn anyone away. Usually.

The Akari gave a slight sigh as he finally left his chambers, heading down toward the Great Hall with the slightest of frowns to meet his newest student. It was the first full time student he had ever taken, and he still wasn't keen on the idea of dragging along a genin. After fifteen minutes passed the familiar face finally appeared. "You're late," he droned as the doors closed with a loud clang. "And here I thought you were excited to be my student."
Kao's CharactersShow
Akari KotaruBanninIwagakure no Sato Team 18 Jousai [color=#1fb8a3]
Komiya ShizuoJounin Iwagakure no Sato [color=#209DD3]
Yanagida Yukino Special Jounin Iwagakure no Sato [color=#a07ac2]
Ishiwara SetsunaChuunin Iwagakure no Sato[color=#E81D1D]
Enkouten Mai Jounin Iwagakure no Sato [color=#CE5412]
Aisu Namie Chuunin Kirigakure no Sato [color=#5bc2d4]
Awai FusaeA-Rank MNKonohagakure no Sato[color=#D95FEA]
Important NPCsShow
Akari Kanehara Akari clan elder [color=#80A0FF]
Sakata KannaIwagakure Councilwoman [color=#3DA43B]
Hazuki Shuran Jinchuuriki researcher [color=#E854C0]
Enkouten Kaizen Iwagakure councilman, clan leader [color=#C65871]
Rock Country Daimyo [color=#AC4A4A]

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[Plotboard] The Descent

Post by Varian » Sat Sep 21, 2019 9:25 am

Yuji frowned at the greeting from the bannin. "And here I thought I was on time." The great hall was impressive to say the least, long benches lined tables equally as long. The hall still seemed empty however without the many men and women of Jousai filling it. The Genin walked further into the room towards the bannin. Taking a seat nearby him swinging his legs out away from the table and facing himself outwards. "I am neither here or there about being your student, what does excite me is the prospect of becoming stronger." Yuji was being honest, he still didn't entirely know if he cared much for Kotaru.

This was still early days for the student and his mentor. Although some foundations had been laid, there was still much Yuji would want to know about Kotaru before he would be excited at the prospect of learning from him. The Fukusha leant back slightly into the table thinking for a moment. "What lesson do you have for me today Sensei?" Yuji asked the Bannin in a calm manner, his soft voice flowing the question in a more civil tone.

The Fukusha had no idea what to expect from Kotaru, it seemed that his Sensei was unfamiliar with having full time students. It had surprised Yuji to find the guy even had any friends with his attitude the way it was. The Akari certainly fascinated Yuji enough to want to get to know his Sensei further. Just what kind of experiences did he go through to get to Bannin at such a young age. He was also still learning what exactly a Bannin's role within the village was it seemed so broad and encompassing of many aspects.
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[Plotboard] The Descent

Post by Kao » Wed Oct 02, 2019 1:36 am

"Well, then. With what I have planned you're either gonna get stronger quick or die quicker. That part's entirely up to you." Kotaru stood in front of Yuji on the opposite side of the table and began to remove his weapon pouches. His hip pouch landed on the table with a small thud, followed immediately by his leg pouch. "The plan today was to take you up into the mountains west of the village. We'd be outside the village proper, but still well within the walls." The bannin pulled out the contents of each pouch until his various weapons were scattered across the table. Kunai, senbon, and exploding tags were laid out neatly in front of the genin, catching the sunlight that poured into the hall. Finally, he removed his sheathed dagger from his hip and set it immediately in front of himself.

For a bannin especially, Kotaru didn't use many actual weapons. His fighting style usually didn't require them, but even so he was always prepared in case the opportunity presented itself. He removed his weapons to show this, though he didn't immediately acknowledge the purpose of showing Yuji such a tiny arsenal. "But. Three days ago I found what I think is a new entrance to the Catacombs. It's unexpected and possibly dangerous, so of course I'm expected to check it out. So far it's fine. No sign of any really strong spirits so you probably won't die."

With that, Kotaru sat down, leveling a heavy stare toward the genin. Kotaru's words seemed overly nonchalant, but he wouldn't allow Yuji to die on his watch, especially not within the Catacombs. He had already experienced such failure before, and he'd be damned if it happened again. He voiced none of this to the Fukusha, of course, but his confidence in their safety and success was likely evident in his casual demeanor. "Congrats, Yuji. You're now permitted to explore part of the Catacombs. Now, show me what weapons you have."
Kao's CharactersShow
Akari KotaruBanninIwagakure no Sato Team 18 Jousai [color=#1fb8a3]
Komiya ShizuoJounin Iwagakure no Sato [color=#209DD3]
Yanagida Yukino Special Jounin Iwagakure no Sato [color=#a07ac2]
Ishiwara SetsunaChuunin Iwagakure no Sato[color=#E81D1D]
Enkouten Mai Jounin Iwagakure no Sato [color=#CE5412]
Aisu Namie Chuunin Kirigakure no Sato [color=#5bc2d4]
Awai FusaeA-Rank MNKonohagakure no Sato[color=#D95FEA]
Important NPCsShow
Akari Kanehara Akari clan elder [color=#80A0FF]
Sakata KannaIwagakure Councilwoman [color=#3DA43B]
Hazuki Shuran Jinchuuriki researcher [color=#E854C0]
Enkouten Kaizen Iwagakure councilman, clan leader [color=#C65871]
Rock Country Daimyo [color=#AC4A4A]

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[Plotboard] The Descent

Post by Varian » Wed Oct 02, 2019 12:01 pm

Yuji frowned a little at the idea of dying quickly. "I will try not to create too much paperwork for you Sensei." The Fukusha moved over towards the table undoing the sash around his waist. Removing the gown draped around his shoulders as he strode over, leaving only a black high necked sleeveless top covering his torso. Throwing the gown onto the table it landed with a heavy thud and a rattle of metal. Rolling the gown open revealed a series of easy access pouches woven within the inside of the gown. One of the larger pouches contained the kunai that Yuji carried with him. The rings at the base of the hilt poking out just enough to be withdrawn easily but not so far that they would be easily spotted.

Planting the sash on the table Yuji opened the small satchel attached to the right side of the sash. The satchel itself was a light tan leather bag with three brass clasps the secured the flap that sealed it. It seemed to have been treated also to keep water out of it. Flipping the flap over the back of the satchel Yuji began removing it's contents. Explosive tags, smoke bombs and some flash pellets were contained inside. Then Yuji unclipped a compartment within the bag taking out a couple of rolls of linen bandages, a handful of glass vials containing a clear liquid within and a scalpel. "Medical supplies and only a small collection of weapons is all I carry with me." Yuji began repacking his bag after giving the bannin a chance to look them over.

"What exactly are the catacombs? I have heard them mentioned before but I am still a stranger in this village. What should I expect?" Yuji knew only that they were something that existed. He really wasn't sure how to prepare for something he had very little intel on. It seemed like Kotaru was familiar with the catacombs in any case who better to ask? Yuji slid his gown back on and wrapped the sash back around his waist.
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[Plotboard] The Descent

Post by Kao » Wed Oct 23, 2019 11:54 pm

Kotaru watched as Yuji pulled out his equipment, saying nothing as the genin laid out the items neatly in front of them. He picked up one of the glass vials, turning it slowly between his fingers, watching as the clear liquid swished with every gentle movement. The Fukusha did not seem to rely heavily on weapons, which suited Kotaru just fine. Weaponry wasn't Kotaru's strong suit, though he had recently begun dabbling in daggers and other sword work. Once Yuji started repacking his equipment, the bannin set down the vial and replied, "First, stop calling yourself a stranger here. You're an Iwagakure shinobi and this is your home now. End of story."

The bannin spoke coarsely, but as someone whose job it was to monitor the assimilation of the Fukusha he felt it necessary to extinguish the clan's notion that they were still outsiders, as if they still didn’t belong. If they continued to view themselves as such then the road ahead would be unnecessarily long and arduous.

“The Catacombs are….” the young bannin trailed off as flashes of the dangers below the village temporarily blinded him to what was in front of him. The sights of malevolent spirits and beasts, the smell of decaying flesh and musty caverns, the low sounds and growls of approaching creatures…all of the memories of the Catacombs bubbled up within in and spilled over into the forefront of his mind.

“The Catacombs are hell, honestly. At least it is for someone who isn’t used to the constant threat of death and danger. The giant roaches are fun. The giant spiders are not. Most of the small spirit guys are okay but sometimes they become possessed by other less-okay spirits. Those guys tend to swallow people and dogs whole. Anyway, let’s go.”

After the esoteric explanation he led the genin out of the hall, passing by Jousai members and recruits who paused to give him a respectful bow of the head - or to nervously avert their gazes as he passed. The main entrance to the Catacombs was essentially one long descent into increasing darkness. But instead of descending the large, winding staircase that led to most floors of the castle, Kotaru led Yuji to the upper floors.

The two boys walked down a long and narrow corridor that came to a dead end, but instead of turning around Kotaru focused chakra to his hand for a few moments. And then, silently, he pressed his palm onto the uneven stone wall, and the chakra spread outward from his hand. It flowed to create a weblike pattern that extended and expanded until it covered a rectangular area the size of a door.

”Only a few people know about this exit, namely Tatsuo and myself. We’ll be going into the mountains that surround the village, but we’re still well within the Wall.” He turned back to Yuji, the newly formed door slowly opening to reveal the frost-covered and treacherous landscape behind the Jousai headquarters. "Well, if you're up for it, let's go into the Catacombs."
Kao's CharactersShow
Akari KotaruBanninIwagakure no Sato Team 18 Jousai [color=#1fb8a3]
Komiya ShizuoJounin Iwagakure no Sato [color=#209DD3]
Yanagida Yukino Special Jounin Iwagakure no Sato [color=#a07ac2]
Ishiwara SetsunaChuunin Iwagakure no Sato[color=#E81D1D]
Enkouten Mai Jounin Iwagakure no Sato [color=#CE5412]
Aisu Namie Chuunin Kirigakure no Sato [color=#5bc2d4]
Awai FusaeA-Rank MNKonohagakure no Sato[color=#D95FEA]
Important NPCsShow
Akari Kanehara Akari clan elder [color=#80A0FF]
Sakata KannaIwagakure Councilwoman [color=#3DA43B]
Hazuki Shuran Jinchuuriki researcher [color=#E854C0]
Enkouten Kaizen Iwagakure councilman, clan leader [color=#C65871]
Rock Country Daimyo [color=#AC4A4A]

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[Plotboard] The Descent

Post by Varian » Sun Oct 27, 2019 10:08 pm

Yuji scowled at the coarse manner in which he was admonished. Easy for you to say, the thought crossed Yuji's mind. It was hard to not feel like a stranger when a vast portion of Iwagakure treated you with suspicion. They were still formerly outsiders and had yet to contribute to the village on any meaningful scale. Yuji held his tongue however although he was itching to tell the Bannin exactly what he thought the Fukusha was also keen on living. Yuji almost missed Kotaru's entire brief description on the catacombs because of his irritation towards the bannin.

Once the explanation was done the bannin seemed to leave the hall, the moment his back was to Yuji the genin proceeded to throw a rude gesture behind Kotaru's back. Thrusting his hands in the sides of his sash Yuji made his move to follow his Sensei through Jousai Headquarters. The genin made a point of scowling at every recruit and members they passed by. "Bunch of ass kissers every single one of them." Yuji shook his head as they arrived at the start of a long narrow corridor.

The pair reached a dead end at this corridor. He wondered for a moment if Kotaru had gotten them lost, all the corridors looked the same to Yuji. He found the Jousai headquarters a disorientating place. Then Kotaru explained the reason they had come to this end of the HQ, demonstrating yet another interesting use of Ninjutsu. Once the door materialised Yuji found his irritation melt away. This was quickly replaced by shock as the cold air hit him hard, he had not noticed how warm they had kept it inside the headquarters compared to the environment outside.

"I am ready for anywhere warmer than here." Yuji having grown up in the Owari Plateau region of Rock Country was used to a much warmer climate. The cold really did not suit him, Yuji let out a loud sneeze. Either the cold was getting to him already or somewhere someone was talking about him.
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[Plotboard] The Descent

Post by Kao » Tue Oct 29, 2019 6:54 pm

Luckily for Yuji, Kotaru was completely unaware of the rudeness going on behind him. The bannin was more concerned about what lie ahead, and making sure this inexperienced - and, quite frankly, very weak - kid didn't die on his first real excursion. He quietly agreed with the genin's comment about the other recruits but didn't acknowledge it. He could almost feel Tatsuo's fist smacking the side of his head for bad mouthing recruits. 'Something, something, be a good example, don't scare them off cause we need all the help we can get.' Before he led Yuji out of the Jousai headquarters he reached into the knapsack slung across his shoulder and pulled out a fur-lined, insulated coat along with a pair of black gloves. It was a good thing, too; Yuji was in no way prepared for the frigid air that lay ahead. "Put those on unless you want frostbite. I have an extra scarf too, if you want it. It's about an hour's hike from here and it only gets colder the higher up we go."

The bannin pulled a thick scarf over his face and lowered the fur-lined hood of his own jacket. Only his bright eyes were visible, and once Yuji was ready he would lead the Fukusha out of the castle. Initially there was a drop, roughly ten meters down into a frost-covered crevice that served as a hidden path into the mountains. The path was steep, covered in ice and jagged rocks that threatened to injure anyone who was ill-suited for the ascent. Kotaru could have easily bounced up the path or even flown up, but instead he lingered and stayed close to Yuji, making sure the boy didn't hurt himself on the way up. He wouldn't offer help directly, but would assist if and only if Yuji requested it or if it seemed obvious that he needed assistance.

He guided his student up the snaking mountain path, avoiding the sudden drops that would send them both plummeting into the pointed stones below.
Kao's CharactersShow
Akari KotaruBanninIwagakure no Sato Team 18 Jousai [color=#1fb8a3]
Komiya ShizuoJounin Iwagakure no Sato [color=#209DD3]
Yanagida Yukino Special Jounin Iwagakure no Sato [color=#a07ac2]
Ishiwara SetsunaChuunin Iwagakure no Sato[color=#E81D1D]
Enkouten Mai Jounin Iwagakure no Sato [color=#CE5412]
Aisu Namie Chuunin Kirigakure no Sato [color=#5bc2d4]
Awai FusaeA-Rank MNKonohagakure no Sato[color=#D95FEA]
Important NPCsShow
Akari Kanehara Akari clan elder [color=#80A0FF]
Sakata KannaIwagakure Councilwoman [color=#3DA43B]
Hazuki Shuran Jinchuuriki researcher [color=#E854C0]
Enkouten Kaizen Iwagakure councilman, clan leader [color=#C65871]
Rock Country Daimyo [color=#AC4A4A]

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[Plotboard] The Descent

Post by Varian » Tue Oct 29, 2019 10:52 pm

Yuji took the coat and gloves, throwing the coat over his shoulders shivering slightly. "Thanks..." Mumbed Yuji who was still a little annoyed with Kotaru's previous comment. A slight pout and a begrudging yet genuine expression of gratitude was as good as it got. Sliding his arms through the sleeves and slipping the gloves on to his hands the genin then took the scarf. Throwing it around his neck with enough force to loop it around his neck a couple of times before he grabbed the end and tugged it through one of the loops.

The hood was raised in sync with his sensei as the pair stepped out onto the harsh mountain scape. Even with the clothes provided by Kotaru the cold air was unpleasant to the warm acclimatised Fukusha. Traversing the treacherous landscape was something familiar to Yuji however. "This reminds me of travelling with the rest of the tribe. We used to walk terrain as sketchy as this all the time, it is nice not to have an entire kitchen strapped your back while doing it." Yuji seemed to move about the terrain as well as a mountain goat, every step was well thought out yet with little to no hesitation. The snow made it slightly more dangerous than he would normally be comfortable with but Yuji had been doing this since he was old enough to walk unassisted.

"If this Catacombs is so dangerous how come they haven't just sealed the whole thing back up and left it be?" Yuji figured that fuuinjutsu would at the very least be able to solve their issues. He had found the topic on Fuuinjutsu very fascinating but he had barely scratched the surface on it's capabilities. "A seal here and there to make sure nobody stumbles inside and such."
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[Plotboard] The Descent

Post by Kao » Wed Oct 30, 2019 2:39 am

The way Yuji expertly traversed the mountainside was impressive, to say the least, and most people would have given the boy a compliment or two for his skill. Kotaru, however, was not most people. Had Yuji slowed them down he would have never heard the end of it, and more than a few disparaging comments would have been tossed his way. The genin didn't know it yet, but Kotaru's silence was a sign of his approval. He didn't know Yuji well enough to offer his socially inept version of verbal encouragement, so instead he said nothing and continued to shoot watchful side glances in the younger boy's direction.

"There's several problems with sealing the Catacombs," he began to reply, his words slightly muffled by the thick scarf. Kotaru was more patient than usual, and was strangely in the mood to provide an actual explanation rather than give a curt retort. The mountains were still and tranquil; the only noise was their footsteps crunching in the ice and snow and the occasional cry from a bird of prey circling above. The frigid air, the bannin found, was calming.

"To start, seals seem to be part of the problem. We keep finding gigantic, elaborate fuuin everywhere within the Catacombs, but no one knows what they mean. We had an old man deciphering them but he died the first time he went down there." The bannin hopped on top of an ice covered boulder, sliding down it and jumping onto another. "Second, we keep finding new entrances and exits besides the main one beneath Jousai. So far there are four. A couple of them look pretty old and clearly haven't been touched in years. Others look new, and we're still trying to figure out what or who is making them."

The two boys were still quite a ways from their destination, but they were making good time. The path grew steeper and steeper, and eventually they had to use the Wall Walking technique to continue the climb. Kotaru's scarf fell from his face, bunching up around his neck. His next words would be heard much clearer. "But most importantly, there's a huge fucking colony of spirits down there, and a good chunk of them aren't too friendly. Some of them have already made it nearly to the surface. But we handled it." Kotaru wouldn't provide any further explanation on that particular topic, no matter how much he was asked. Some things he didn't like to talk about. "It's easy to keep people out of the Catacombs. But it's a lot harder to keep what's inside of it, inside."
Kao's CharactersShow
Akari KotaruBanninIwagakure no Sato Team 18 Jousai [color=#1fb8a3]
Komiya ShizuoJounin Iwagakure no Sato [color=#209DD3]
Yanagida Yukino Special Jounin Iwagakure no Sato [color=#a07ac2]
Ishiwara SetsunaChuunin Iwagakure no Sato[color=#E81D1D]
Enkouten Mai Jounin Iwagakure no Sato [color=#CE5412]
Aisu Namie Chuunin Kirigakure no Sato [color=#5bc2d4]
Awai FusaeA-Rank MNKonohagakure no Sato[color=#D95FEA]
Important NPCsShow
Akari Kanehara Akari clan elder [color=#80A0FF]
Sakata KannaIwagakure Councilwoman [color=#3DA43B]
Hazuki Shuran Jinchuuriki researcher [color=#E854C0]
Enkouten Kaizen Iwagakure councilman, clan leader [color=#C65871]
Rock Country Daimyo [color=#AC4A4A]

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[Plotboard] The Descent

Post by Varian » Wed Oct 30, 2019 7:16 pm

The genin listened intently to Kotaru's explanation on the catacombs predicament. The mysterious fuuinjutsu array intrigued the young Fukusha too, what he would give to take a peek at the old man's research notes. The more the bannin talked about the catacombs the more interested Yuji became, it seemed like a treasure trove of the unknown just waiting to be tapped into.

Yuji followed his Sensei up the cliff, using a mix between the wall walking technique and climbing the old fashioned way. It made him appear as if he was scrambling up the cliff side but despite it's lack of grace it certainly worked. "Well where... Where did all these spirits come from?" Yuji tried to speak between breaths as the cold was beginning to sting his lungs. His hood fell backwards exposing his head to the elements. A strong gust of wind pushed him into the cliff face knocking his control of chakra off balance. Fortunately his hands held a firm grasp on the cliffside, he dug his nails in and swung his legs back onto the cliff directing chakra to his feet. Once his feet connected with the cliff he began balancing the control he had prior to continue the wall walking technique.

Reaching the top of the cliff the Genin took a moment to turn around and admire the view. If he looked really close he could see his clan complex from here. If Yuji hadn't known what to look for he would have completely overlooked it. He turned to follow the Akari further on their trek towards this catacombs entrace. As he did he wondered what his siblings were on with at the moment. Eiji had gone on some expedition to scout out some distant country. The details were classified but apparently it was of great significance to Iwagakure. His brother excelled at stealth and tracking so it was the perfect fit. Yuji imagined where ever he was Eiji was not putting up with such blasted cold weather.
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[Plotboard] The Descent

Post by Kao » Tue Nov 05, 2019 11:16 am

Kotaru had been slightly ahead of the genin as they traveled so that he could ensure the path was safe before Yuji went forward. When the younger shinobi struggled once or twice Kotaru looked back, pausing to ensure his student didn't go tumbling down the mountainside. "A working theory is that something or someone pulled them into our realm. The fuuinjutsu definitely have something to do with it, so the nerds are figuring out if the fuuin are what drew them here or what's keeping them here. Or both. We haven't found who created them, but when we do we'll have a lot of questions."

Unlike Yuji, Kotaru didn't marvel at the view once they're reached the top of the cliff. They were barely halfway there, so he urged the genin forward with a curt remark and the two boys continued on. The path was treacherous; either of them could have lost their footing if they weren't careful. Since Kotaru had traveled this way a few times by now he knew the best direction to take. Eventually he got them to their destination safely.

A tall, rugged cliff face was straight ahead, partially with brittle, dead vines. Most of them had already been pulled down and were scattered about, evidence that the bannin had recently been there and had investigated. Kotaru quickly gathered the vines and put them closer to the cliffside so that it looked more natural and undisturbed. The last time he had been in the area he had been in a hurry and had failed to remove the evidence of his search. There was a long crack in the rock, just big enough for one person to squeeze through at a time. Through the dirt and grime a few dark lines were visible. A fuuinjutsu.

"We're here," the Akari announce, looking back at Yuji. "The entrance is only a few feet long, and then there's a drop into a cavern. A long drop." He performed a few simple hand seals and small balls of flame ignited in the air around him, ten in total. "Are you ready for this Yuji?"
JutsuShow
Wisp (x2)
E-Ranked Ninjutsu
After performing the needed seals, Kotaru creates up to five, wispy teardrop shaped balls of flames five inches in diameters. The flames produce no heat and are incapable of inflicting burns. The balls float within three feet of his position and up to a foot above his height and cannot move outside of this area. The fireballs move with him but are otherwise immobile and once created Kotaru cannot control their movement or position. Due to the low chakra cost of this technique, Kotaru can maintain this for x number of posts where x equals stamina/2.
Kao's CharactersShow
Akari KotaruBanninIwagakure no Sato Team 18 Jousai [color=#1fb8a3]
Komiya ShizuoJounin Iwagakure no Sato [color=#209DD3]
Yanagida Yukino Special Jounin Iwagakure no Sato [color=#a07ac2]
Ishiwara SetsunaChuunin Iwagakure no Sato[color=#E81D1D]
Enkouten Mai Jounin Iwagakure no Sato [color=#CE5412]
Aisu Namie Chuunin Kirigakure no Sato [color=#5bc2d4]
Awai FusaeA-Rank MNKonohagakure no Sato[color=#D95FEA]
Important NPCsShow
Akari Kanehara Akari clan elder [color=#80A0FF]
Sakata KannaIwagakure Councilwoman [color=#3DA43B]
Hazuki Shuran Jinchuuriki researcher [color=#E854C0]
Enkouten Kaizen Iwagakure councilman, clan leader [color=#C65871]
Rock Country Daimyo [color=#AC4A4A]

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Varian
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[Plotboard] The Descent

Post by Varian » Tue Nov 05, 2019 7:52 pm

Yuji didn't stop to take in the sights after the first time Kotaru had urged him onward. The Fukusha ended up following his Sensei's each move as the path ahead of them grew ever more treacherous. It certainly helped to have someone who was familiar with the terrain, especially somewhere as dangerous as this. Yuji had to wonder if there really was something creating new entrances to the catacombs it was going out of it's way to hide them in awkward places. That very notion did not exactly scream benevolent entity.

The young boy had never really encountered spirits before, he did not really know what to expect. Of course he could let his imagination run wild but that would do little good in preparing him to face the real deal. Kotaru spoke about something or someone pulling them into this realm. He was aware that the spirit world was on a different plane of existence from the mortal realm. He wondered exactly how someone would go about bringing spirits into the world on less temporary basis. Most the summoning techniques he had seen took a serious drain on the user over a long period of time and as such were not self sustainable. Perhaps there was some kind of anchor involved, something that tethered the spirits here.

The bannin announced the arrival at their intended destination, a long crack in a cliff face of dead vines. Yuji was surprised that the elements had left anything of the decaying vines at all. The cold must have been preserving what was left of them or something like that. "Well we came all this way, would be a waste to turn back now." Yuji nodded to his sensei informing him that the genin was ready to proceed. Kotaru illuminated the way ahead as the young genin followed from behind. His eyes adjusting to the dim light in the cavern as they moved down the entry into the cavern proper. The bannin had not been exaggerating, the thought that brushed through Yuji's mind. Before them lay a sudden and sheer drop descending deeper still within the cave. "Are we going to use Jutsu or did you have a plan to conserve chakra?" The Fukusha asked in the most respectful manner her knew how, his curiosity plain in his question.
Active Characters
NameRankVillageOrganization
Sun IchiC-RankDungeon CountryN/A
Fukusha YujiGeninIwagakure No SatoN/a

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Kao
Posts: 8242
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[Plotboard] The Descent

Post by Kao » Wed Nov 06, 2019 10:45 pm

Kotaru raised an eyebrow at the question before answering, "You're the one who needs to worry about conserving chakra. I'll be fine as long as a kilometer long worm doesn't show up again." With a small surge of chakra to his shoulder blades, Kotaru unleashed one of his shiin. A pair of blue-green wings emerged from his back, folding out from the special openings in his clothes that allowed them to blossom without tearing them. The eroshiin folded in close to his body to save room in the narrow space. The bannin held out his arm somewhat awkwardly for the genin to grab hold. Whether or not Yuji took his arm or hand he would then stand at the edge, staring down into the abyss below. "Let's go then." And with that, he stepped over the edge.

The drop down was impossibly long. For the first several seconds they fell without hindrance, picking up speed as they travelled through near darkness. Kotaru's katon wisps followed him diligently, allowing them to see in a halo of light around them. Eventually Kotaru would open the eroshiin, slowing their descent significantly. If Yuji had decided to step off the edge without taking Kotaru's arm, the bannin would grab him by the arms and look down at him. "You didn't pass out, did you?" he yelled as the air whipped around them. He certainly hoped not since that would be quite the pain in the ass.
Kao's CharactersShow
Akari KotaruBanninIwagakure no Sato Team 18 Jousai [color=#1fb8a3]
Komiya ShizuoJounin Iwagakure no Sato [color=#209DD3]
Yanagida Yukino Special Jounin Iwagakure no Sato [color=#a07ac2]
Ishiwara SetsunaChuunin Iwagakure no Sato[color=#E81D1D]
Enkouten Mai Jounin Iwagakure no Sato [color=#CE5412]
Aisu Namie Chuunin Kirigakure no Sato [color=#5bc2d4]
Awai FusaeA-Rank MNKonohagakure no Sato[color=#D95FEA]
Important NPCsShow
Akari Kanehara Akari clan elder [color=#80A0FF]
Sakata KannaIwagakure Councilwoman [color=#3DA43B]
Hazuki Shuran Jinchuuriki researcher [color=#E854C0]
Enkouten Kaizen Iwagakure councilman, clan leader [color=#C65871]
Rock Country Daimyo [color=#AC4A4A]

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Varian
Posts: 1127
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[Plotboard] The Descent

Post by Varian » Mon Nov 11, 2019 3:07 pm

Yuji sighed at his mentor's answer, the concern for chakra conservation was more for himself. He had begun to master chakra control in a more efficient manner, a drop like this was another story. No matter how good the Genin's control was there was no way he would be able to make it. The wall climbing technique was only good while one had chakra to spare, if they had to engage in combat during the descent Yuji would be a goner. What was worse was the mention of some giant worm that apparently inhabited these tunnels at one point in time. "Worms can get that big?" The Fukusha asked with a degree of curiosity and a splashing of nerves.

Gingerly Yuji took the Bannin's arm glancing at the wings, he smirked and shook his head a little. "So you do have a plan after all, here I thought you didn't ca..." Yuji did not get to finish his sentence as Kotaru took a step into the pit before them. "FUUUUUUUUUUUCK!" Down they plummeted as the genin cursed his luck, of course he would be strapped with the suicidal bannin. He would have wondered if other students had to deal with teachers like this. Instead Yuji's mind was numb as they fell down, consciousness began to slip from the Fukusha. Just before he could pass out however the wings sprouted into action, deceleration set in and the Genin had to brace to stop the contents of his stomach spilling out.

Through the air whipping around them Yuji yelled out in response to his Sensei's question. "No, but you nearly sent me to an early grave! Couldn't you have warned me we were going to fall into this abyss." Yuji pouted a little only for a fraction of a second before bursting into laughter. "I have to admit though as sudden as it happened it was a lot of fun." Adrenaline had set in at this point. Yuji had to wonder if Kotaru had done this on purpose to get rid of any nerves for the mission that the Genin may have had. A serious expression settled on his face, the boy was ready.
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NameRankVillageOrganization
Sun IchiC-RankDungeon CountryN/A
Fukusha YujiGeninIwagakure No SatoN/a

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Kao
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[Plotboard] The Descent

Post by Kao » Wed Nov 13, 2019 8:49 pm

Kotaru smirked at his student on the way down when he had suddenly started yelling. It was to be expected, the genin's terror, considering this was his first real adventure. It wouldn't be like anything most genin tackled, like battling boars or patrolling the underground forests. He burst into laughter along with Yuji. It was a rare, genuine laugh, one that not many of his comrades and subordinates had ever heard. "It's good you had fun. Cause once we land, the fun's over."

The pair continued to fall for quite some time. The darkness seemed to press in around the, but Kotaru's katon jutsu kept the void at bay. Landing silently, the bannin released Yuji's arm and then gave the genin a firm pat on the arm. "Let's go." They were in a large cavern, large enough that the light of Kotaru's jutsu wasn't enough to illuminate the walls. The Akari walked forward and to the left, where he had found an opening in the wall the first time he had explored the area. It was quite a bit larger than the opening the pair had gone through initially, wide enough for both of them to comfortably pass through.

The student-teacher pair navigated passage, and for several long minutes it was completely uneventful. There was a downward slope to their path, indicated that they were going deeper and deeper into the earth. If Kotaru had to guess, however, it still wasn't as deep as the deepest sections of the village proper. Every so often he would see signs that they were not the first beings who had explored this path: pieces of bones, the faint smell smell of urine, and scratches on the wall that looked like they were made of fingernails were scattered about. There was even what appeared to be old scraps of scrolls, which Kotaru picked up and examined whenever he saw them.

"These weren't here the last time I came," he mumbled to himself. The paper had several unfamiliar characters written on them, and Kotaru found them unnerving. "Someone's bee-"

.....eeEEEERGH!

Kotaru's gaze snapped to the path ahead, still dark and ominous, as a low moan reached his ears. He instinctively held up an arm to prevent Yuji from going further. He gave a small, unamused sigh.

They weren't alone.
Kao's CharactersShow
Akari KotaruBanninIwagakure no Sato Team 18 Jousai [color=#1fb8a3]
Komiya ShizuoJounin Iwagakure no Sato [color=#209DD3]
Yanagida Yukino Special Jounin Iwagakure no Sato [color=#a07ac2]
Ishiwara SetsunaChuunin Iwagakure no Sato[color=#E81D1D]
Enkouten Mai Jounin Iwagakure no Sato [color=#CE5412]
Aisu Namie Chuunin Kirigakure no Sato [color=#5bc2d4]
Awai FusaeA-Rank MNKonohagakure no Sato[color=#D95FEA]
Important NPCsShow
Akari Kanehara Akari clan elder [color=#80A0FF]
Sakata KannaIwagakure Councilwoman [color=#3DA43B]
Hazuki Shuran Jinchuuriki researcher [color=#E854C0]
Enkouten Kaizen Iwagakure councilman, clan leader [color=#C65871]
Rock Country Daimyo [color=#AC4A4A]

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Varian
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[Plotboard] The Descent

Post by Varian » Thu Nov 14, 2019 6:11 am

Yuji was surprised that Kotaru laughed along with him, a warm feeling spread throughout his chest. Kotaru - despite being busy with the duties of a Bannin to fulfil - had still ensured Yuji's training had not been neglected. Even on days where he hadn't been present there was always some instructions left for the Fukusha or a mission to be undertaken. So far the missions Yuji had been on were kind of dull if the Genin was honest, this experience was exciting. "Naturally, we have a job to do." The Fukusha replied to Kotaru's caution on having fun. The Genin hadn't truly realised their height difference until they were this close, he suspected bringing it up at this moment would result in a swift demise.

After what felt like an eternity of falling the duo finally landed. A pat from Kotaru gave Yuji some encouragement in the vast void they were surrounded by. Staying close to his Sensei and his Katon wisps as they descended even further into the catacombs. The cavern they were in seemed endless in it's size but also due to just how dark it was. The walls of the cavern didn't seem like they existed at all, Yuji could only marvel at it's size. What was staggering still was from what he had been told about the catacombs the scenery here was tame by comparison. The Akari moved them over to an opening in the cavern wall up ahead. Yuji could picture just how easy it would be to get lost down here if you were unfamiliar with the territory.

The passage they entered held a slight downwards gradient which indicated to Yuji there was still further down to go. Several very long and uneventful minutes would go by while they trundled through the passage at a steady pace. How deep did these catacombs go? It was a question that was present in the Fukusha's mind as very little happened during this time. The pair soon started coming across occasional signs of others having been on their path prior. Something felt off to the Genin as they came across more and more evidence of others. Between the scroll fragments, scratch marks on the walls and Kotaru's own concern beginning to rub off on Yuji.

"I wouldn't be surprised if we weren't alone down here." Yuji voiced his thoughts and as if to confirm his own suspicions Kotaru's arm came up to bar the way ahead from Yuji. Straining to listen in on what his Sensei had picked up on Yuji heard the faint moan coming from ahead of them. In a hushed tone Yuji whispered to Kotaru. "What is that noise?" Just in case the Genin slipped out a kunai, spinning the ring around on his index finger moving it to a reverse grip. Judging from the bones they had found along the way and now this sound whatever was responsible for them was still down here.

From darkness the low moan was accompanied by a wet crunching sound. Lumbering into view was what appeared to be a shinobi wearing the flak vest of Iwagakure. Something was still off about it, the whole thing irked at Yuji. As the shinobi came closer it became apparent this was not a human before them, at least not anymore. The wet crunching sound came from the broken ankle the creature hobbled on. It's face was that of a man except that all over it's face cracks had begun to form. Each of these cracks had a blue glow to them leading towards it's eyes in a chaotic fashion. Yuji's attention was drawn to the eyes they were like looking into the void itself, black as ink from pupil to sclera and empty of all life. The genin felt a shiver down his spine upon gazing into those eyes, a slight cold sweat broke out and his knees began to feel weak. Along it's body - where the clothes were torn - more cracks could be seen all glowing blue just the same. More moaning could be heard further down the tunnel, it seemed much further away however.
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Fukusha YujiGeninIwagakure No SatoN/a

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Kao
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[Plotboard] The Descent

Post by Kao » Sat Nov 16, 2019 11:45 pm

"Oh, joy." The beings, whatever they were, were terrifying to say the least. But Kotaru was not a shinobi who was easily daunted, so he was able to keep his composure. He flew into hand seals and stepped forward, putting himself between Yuji and the specter. Once the seals were complete he opened his palm and a swirling, condensed ball of flames formed in his hand. He threw it at the specter's head, throwing it at about half his full strength to avoid any collateral damage that might harm Yuji or cause the tunnel to collapse.

The specter burst into flames...and kept moving forward. It was as if it didn't know it was on fire. "What the-"[/color] The smell of burning hair and flesh filled the area, so clearly the jutsu was working. Kotaru slowly backed up as the specter moved forward, using his shoulder to make Yuji do the same. He wasn't certain what this being would do next, being on fire and all, but he prepared himself for an incoming attack. But instead of attacking, the thing continued to moan until it finally collapsed, a charred mass of flesh and bone, and then it fell silent.

The bannin cocked his head to the side, birdlike, as he watched the specter continue to burn. Specter may not have been the best way to describe it; it was clearly flesh and bone despite the sinister, ethereal quality about it. "That was...new." And from the sound of it, there were more up ahead.
JutsuShow
Unbothered
S-Ranked Taijutsu Discipline
Prerequisite: 39 Instinct
Due to his experiences, Kotaru has trained himself to be undaunted in most situations, and he usually does not exhibit the physical signs of fear such as uncontrollable shaking, numbness, or the urge to flee. Even in truly terrifying situations he is able to diminish the sensation or flat out ignore it.

Barrage
B-Ranked Ninjutsu
After performing the needed seals, within 4 posts Kotaru can create up to 7 balls of katon from his palms. Each ball is 8 inches in diameter and can be thrown at a speed of equal to his strength and hit with the same strength. The projectiles themselves have a strength of 10 and apply the passive accordingly. On impact, the katon erupts in a ball of flames 3 meters in diameter.
Kao's CharactersShow
Akari KotaruBanninIwagakure no Sato Team 18 Jousai [color=#1fb8a3]
Komiya ShizuoJounin Iwagakure no Sato [color=#209DD3]
Yanagida Yukino Special Jounin Iwagakure no Sato [color=#a07ac2]
Ishiwara SetsunaChuunin Iwagakure no Sato[color=#E81D1D]
Enkouten Mai Jounin Iwagakure no Sato [color=#CE5412]
Aisu Namie Chuunin Kirigakure no Sato [color=#5bc2d4]
Awai FusaeA-Rank MNKonohagakure no Sato[color=#D95FEA]
Important NPCsShow
Akari Kanehara Akari clan elder [color=#80A0FF]
Sakata KannaIwagakure Councilwoman [color=#3DA43B]
Hazuki Shuran Jinchuuriki researcher [color=#E854C0]
Enkouten Kaizen Iwagakure councilman, clan leader [color=#C65871]
Rock Country Daimyo [color=#AC4A4A]

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Varian
Posts: 1127
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[Plotboard] The Descent

Post by Varian » Tue Nov 26, 2019 6:45 pm

Yuji had no time at all to react as the Bannin made short work of the creature shambling in their direction. The smell of burnt flesh filled the cavern they were in and left the Fukusha sick to the stomach, it was far from a pleasant smell. The creature lay on the ground moaning right until the last flame fizzled out leaving only charred embers of a corpse behind. At least they were as mortal as anything else, despite their appearance. The entire idea of this creature gave Yuji the creeps, a corpse that moved? How was that even possible? Many such questions passed through the mind of the Fukusha.

Further down the tunnel it sounded as though their struggle had drawn attention. The distant moaning from before seem to be moving in their direction growing louder as it drew closer. "Just how many of them do you think there are?" The Fukusha was beginning to understand that even only this far into the catacombs it was dangerous.

Before his sensei would move any further Yuji adopted a familiar stance one he had not done since becoming Kotaru's student. A calm air came about around Yuji as his body seemingly relaxed, yet each movement he would make would be cautious as if ready to react in an instant. The Fukusha look once more to Kotaru ready as he could be for whatever they may face here. "So are we just standing here or..." The genin knew he was out of his depth here and would have to rely wholly on the experience of the bannin even if he himself had never seen these creatures before.
Jutsu UsedShow
~Flames of Hate • Walking Stance
D-Rank Stance
The Fukusha will pair their feet in an L stance, and have a casual movement to them despite their mind being on edge. This stance is typically used to lull opponents into thinking the user is relaxed as their feet are paired shoulder width apart, and knees slightly bent for immediate leverage when needed. While moving the user will typically keep their body on edge as if to react out of instinct to dodge, parry, or block any incoming attacks. In this stance the user's keep their torso up straight.
Active Characters
NameRankVillageOrganization
Sun IchiC-RankDungeon CountryN/A
Fukusha YujiGeninIwagakure No SatoN/a

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