DGA Fantasy Session 2

2nd day of the Fool’s Month

You yawn as you awaken from a deep, much needed sleep. The bed is hard and uncomfortable, but that doesn’t matter. You haven’t had a decent sleep since you set off in search of Kiriko. You rise, pulling the thin bedclothes from your body as you do. You stand, and begin to apply your robes, but not before the screen door slides open.

“Oh, my goodness!” Hikaru exclaims, covering her eyes. “Your friend told me you had already left! I didn’t see anything, I promise!”

Ryoji.

You step outside, where Ryoji is waiting outside the inn.

He notices your glare and smirks. “I take it my jape was a success?”

You shake your head. “I don’t wish to speak about it… now, where is that bulletin board? I’m in need of gold to support myself.”

Ryoji nods. “Of course. It’s just in front of the town hall. You cannot miss it.”

“Town hall?” you raise an eyebrow. “You never mentioned a town hall.”

Ryoji shrugs. “Well, the mayor of the village does not care much for me. Besides, I don’t see what purpose you have in visiting there… unless you wanted to invest in village repairs.”

You nod. You intend to help out with the village repairs… when you have the gold to. For now, it’s best to simply keep it in mind. “And what of that shrine you wanted to visit?”

Ryoji pauses. “The shrine? Oh, that’s a days journey to and from here now. You’re in no rush.”

“Well, we will visit it at some point,” you reply. A response which seems to take Ryoji off-guard.

“Is that so?” he ponders. “Well, whatever you wish to do, lead the way. Of course, we could always take a day of rest. Staying in the inn all day will help you recover faster.”

“No need,” you reply. “Wounds from yesterday are minor enough to have healed for me.”

[Party recovers 10HP and 10MP daily. Spending a day resting in the inn recovers an extra 10HP.]

>Bulletin Board
>Town Hall
>Dojo
>Blacksmith
>Medicine Woman
>General Store
>Hillside Shrine [Ryoji Affection Quest]

>Bulletin Board

You and Ryoji make your way to the bulletin board in front of the town hall. In front of it stands a man in blue captain’s armour. He seems to be a few years older than yourself, yet still appears much too young for his position.

“Oh… you have a friend now?” Captain Takeshi tilts his head as he examines you and Ryoji. “You don’t look like the thief type. You seem like a samurai… a rather intimidating one.”

Intimidating? You? You’ve never heard that before, but you will take it as a compliment.

“I am a samurai of sorts,” you explain. “I was trained in the village of Kingudoro, under guard captain Kankuro Asai, my father.”

Takeshi’s eyes widen. “What a coincidence! Kankuro Asai was my drill instructor in my early training! It seems it’s a small world. That man was one of the finest ever to hold a sword… a truly magnificent fighter… my hero…”

Takeshi lets out a cough once he notices your staring. “Ahem, what I meant to say was… how is Captain Kankuro doing?”

“Missing,” you admit. “Kingudoro was raised by demons.”

Takeshi solemnly shakes his head. “Is that so…? Shame… we barely escaped the same fate ourselves. I’m sorry… so what are you doing in Dakugeto?”

“Right now, looking for work.”

Takeshi nods as he motions to the bulletin board. “Ah, of course! I often forget adventurers aren’t just keen to make conversation! Well… available missions have been scarce lately. Most people are more focused on repairing their homes over any other tasks… but I do have one still available…”
You walk up to the bulletin board, finding a single post attached to the cork, and read the lone note.

Please deliver milk to the town of Raibaru. Our usual delivery track has been delayed while we focus on repairs. Reward: 50 Gold. - Kosuke Tatsumi

Delivering… milk? A delivery job for the general store?!

“Is this really all that’s available?”

“I wouldn’t complain,” Ryoji notes. “Fifty gold is better than no gold. And for a simple delivery to the next town over? It’s an easy pay.”

Takeshi sighs. “Well, with time I’m sure more lucrative jobs will come. Perhaps with an adventurer clearing up the board, others will be more inclined to offer tasks.”

Accepting a job is a commitment of the entire day. You could always come back to it tomorrow, and this mission doesn’t seem to have an expiry date.

>Accept the Milk Delivery Mission
>Leave the Bulletin Board for now


>Accept the Milk Delivery Mission

Takeshi nods. “Good to see it get picked up. The last few who saw it were reluctant.”

“Why is that?” you ask. “This seems like easy work.”

Takeshi shrugs. “I’m not entirely certain. Anyway… here are your cases…”

Takeshi drags out two massive crates and attaches them to carries to be strapped onto you and Ryoji’s backs.

Ah, so that’s why.

“You will have to carry the crates like this,” Takeshi explains.

[-2 to AGI for the party for this mission]

“Just great…” Ryoji mutters.

Takeshi nods. “Now, when you return to town, report back to the requester, not me. They’ll have the reward for you.”

You and Ryoji set off, you back aching very early on from lugging the crates around with you. “Simple milk delivery…” Ryoji mutters. “No problem at all, they said…”

You shake your head. “It could be worse.”

“How?” Ryoji replies. “We could be attacked by bandits who see us as easy targets due to the massive crates on our backs slowing us down?”

“Well…”

“Don’t ever use the sentence ‘It could be worse’, Kid…” Ryoji explains. “You’re simply tempting the universe when you do. And the universe is no friend of mine.”

>You seem rather fortunate to me, considering the trouble you get into.
>You’re quite cynical, aren’t you?
>This serves you right for your trick earlier.

>This serves you right for your trick earlier.


“Oh, do you not enjoy any fun?” Ryoji smirks. “Besides, I figured it was a situation you would have appreciated. With how you gazed at the buxom innkeeper’s daughter.”

“I never gazed!” you protest, before letting out a sigh. “You’re quite cynical, aren’t you?”

“You can say that…” Ryoji mutters. “But I’ve simply had many a life experience.”

“Such as?”

Ryoji looks to you. “You’ll learn soon enough.”

Always cryptic, this one...

The two of you continue to walk under the warmth of the sun. Moving slowly with the crate on your back, you begin to understand how a turtle feels, baking under the sun. “I swear, the milk will be sour before we even reach Raibaru…” you point out.

“We’ll know if we start attracting flies…” Ryoji mutters.

The two of you continue for hours of silent walking, the both of you too focused on your sweating brow to make conversation… but the town of Raibaru is within reach.

“Oh no…” Ryoji mutters as he looks behind. “Ready your sword, Kid.”

“Why?” you ask. “Bandits?”

“Worse…” he replies. “A fly.”

You glare at Ryoji. “No more stupid jokes.”

“No, not a regular fly!” Ryoji explains, prompting you to turn around.

The… size of that thing. “What is that?”

“It’s a demon!” Ryoji exclaims. “It must have sniffed us out!”

Demons truly are everywhere these days, aren’t they? Even a simple milk delivery path isn’t safe.

The Dark Fly buzzes as it flies through the air, sweeping at the both of you. “Careful!” Ryoji warns you as he dodges an attack. “That thing can make you ill with its attacks!”

Kazuma HP: 52/52
Kazuma MP: 52/52

Ryoji HP: 82/82
Ryoji MP: 31/31

Dark Fly HP: 100/100

>Select Your Moves!

“Brace Yourself!” Ryoji declares, bolstering your defense, as you lunge forward with a Shadow Slash which catches the Dark Fly perfectly. It flies back to escape as ooze seeps from the gaping slash you left in its body.

You’re fortunate Ryoji braced you, but you still take damage as the Dark Fly spits a green glob which hits you square in the chest. You stagger back, as the green goo begins to burn at your chest. It’s disgusting… in fact it makes you feel nauseous.

[KAZ IS SICK. +2 TO ALL DAMAGE HE TAKES.]

Kazuma HP: 45/52
Kazuma MP: 47/52

Ryoji HP: 82/82
Ryoji MP: 26/31

Dark Fly HP: 85/100

>Next Moves!

Your sword lights up with flames as you charge at the Dark Fly, but with the weight of the crates on your back slowing you down, and the speed of the buzzing fly, you can’t manages to land a hit while it buzzes through the air. Ryoji has similar problem, his hand glowing purple in what appears to be some curse magic completely missing the bug as well.

To make matters worse, Ryoji is hit point black with the green goop as well, as it singes his tunic and makes the thief violently ill.

[RYOJI IS BADLY SICK. +4 TO ALL DAMAGE HE TAKES.]

“This is bad…” Ryoji wretches. “We need to do something about it soon…”

Kazuma HP: 45/52
Kazuma MP: 40/52

Ryoji HP: 62/82
Ryoji MP: 21/31

Dark Fly HP: 85/100

>Next Moves!

As Ryoji braces you once more, your katana turns alight again. Time to try this once more, but this time, focus on the movement of the Dark Fly. You leap up and spin with your flaming sword, slashing through the bug with a clean slice. Part of its abdomen flops off, as it struggles to stay in the air, screeching as the flames of your blade surround it.

“Heh, good one…” Ryoji notes. “Looks like you found its weakness.”

[Targetting an enemies weakness doubles the damage rolled.]

“Keep that up and this thing will be dead in no time,” Ryoji points out.

Kazuma HP: 45/52
Kazuma MP: 33/52

Ryoji HP: 62/82
Ryoji MP: 16/31

Dark Fly HP: 25/100

>Next Moves!

You blade turns alight once more and slashes through the Dark Fly once more, the flames burning through its body yet again. The fly is barely alive, but still living, as Ryoji goes for an attack of his own. The fly uses up the last of its energy to avoid Ryoji’s attack, before opening its mouth. A secondary mouth shoots out, targetting Ryoji, but he manages to avoid in the knick of time himself.

“Let’s finish it off,” Ryoji declares.

Kazuma HP: 45/52
Kazuma MP: 26/52

Ryoji HP: 62/82
Ryoji MP: 16/31

Dark Fly HP: 3/100

You lunge at the bug one last time, slicing clean through it before landing on your feet. You look back, happy to see the milk crates still intact.

“That was… ugh, rough…” Ryoji mutters.

“Y-yeah…” you mutter too, the both of you still feeling ill from the Dark Fly’s assualt. The smell of milk in the sun doesn’t help matters.

>You defeated Dark Fly!
>You gained 100xp!

You and Ryoji find your duties completed, safely delivering the crates of milk at the village of raibaru.

The journey back with Ryoji is much more simple, and your spine feels a great relief for dropping the weight of those accursed crates. You never want to deliver milk for as long as you live again, but 50 gold is 50 gold.

You return to Dakugeto and report in with Kosuke Tatsumi at the general store. A blonde haired boy lies asleep at the counter, and you have to make noise to wake him up. He jolts awake, as you speak to him.

“Is Kosuke Tatsumi around here?” you ask.

“Yes, I would say he is…” the boy mutters.

Ryoji chuckles. “Kid, you’re looking at Kosuke.”

“This is the shopkeep?!” you exclaim. “He was just asleep.”

“He is like that, yes.”

Kosuke yawns. “Well, my parents are the owners of the shop. I simply run the day to day. Ryoji here would often steal the odd item from here while I dozed off.”
You glare at Ryoji show simply shrugs.

Kosuke shakes his head. “Still, I can’t turn a blind eye to it anymore, Ryoji. The store can’t afford to let any stock slip by, so keep your hands to yourself.”

Ryoji nods. “I can only be grateful you let me away with so much before.”

“Anything you need?” Kosuke asks you.

“We completed your milk deliveries,” you explain.

Kosuke’s eyes widen ever so slightly, though they never go beyond half-opened. “And here I thought nobody would be up to the task. Help yourself to the reward.”

Kosuke tosses a pouch, containing 50 gold coins. It’s not much, but it’s a solid start.

With your first mission completed, you and Ryoji retire for the night in the inn.

3rd day of The Fool’s Moon

You rise again, for another day in the village, another day at work. Luckily, no tricks pulled by Ryoji this time.

>Bulletin Board
>Town Hall
>Dojo
>Blacksmith
>Medicine Woman
>General Store
>Hillside Shrine [Ryoji Affection Quest]

>Bulletin Board

You make your way to the bulletin board for another day. This time, you see a figure approaching Captain Takeshi as well. A young woman with short brown hair, wielding a blade far larger than her rather diminutive height would suggest.

“Reporting for duty!” she exclaims, before giving a chipper salute to Captain Takeshi.

The Captain, however, simply lets out a sigh. “Saki… have we not been through this several times before. Your father and your grandfather won’t allow it.”

“But…” the girl mutters. “With the elite militia away and the barracks closed, you need all the help you can get.”

“Yes, but I’m afraid that help can’t be you…” Takeshi replies in a sullen tone. “Please, go home…”

The girl hangs her head low, before shuffling off. Takeshi spots the two of you and calls you over. “Ah, you again! We actually have a more rewarding quest this time. No more milk deliveries!”

“Who was that girl?” Ryoji asks, crossing his arms.

Takeshi raises an eyebrow. “I’m surprised you don’t know her. She’s quite the… well, how do I put this politely… busybody? No, that wasn’t polite… still, that’s Saki Kobashi. She’s the daughter of Mayor Kobashi, and the Granddaughter of Chief Captain Kobashi. She’s often eager to help out… but she’s also eager to get in over her head.”

“So what’s on the bulletin?” you ask.

“Have a look, I think it may surprise you.”

My leg was injured during the attack on the city, and I have been unable to keep up my patrolling duties while it heals. To my dismay, I discovered a group of bandits have been ambushing passerby just outside the city gates. Please, draw them out and deal with them. Reward: 100 Gold. - Lawman Tajiri

>Accept the mission
>Leave the mission for now

>Accept the missions

You and Ryoji set off, another mission to bring in the gold.

“Bandits…” Ryoji mutters to himself as you both travel outside of the village. “Well, it’s a relief from demons. No doubt about that. I handful of bandits will be no issue.”

“Maybe…” you reply. “Bandits often find strength in numbers. With just the two of us, we could have issues.”

Ryoji nods. “Well… get used to it. There aren’t many willing to travel with a complete stranger and a…”

Ryoji trails off. “A thief?” you complete his sentence.

“Yes, a thief.”

You travel into the forest surrounding the village, your sword at the ready to counterattack the impending ambush… until Ryoji grabs you by the arm. “There, through the clearing…” he whispers. “Is that… we’ve seen her before. Earlier.”

Sure enough, it’s the girl from earlier. Saki Kobashi, wandering through the forest. She must have went ahead and attempted to clear this mission despite Takeshi’s words.

“I know you’re out here!” a determined Saki declares. “I am Saki Kobashi, and I fear no bandit!”

“That idiot!” Ryoji grunts, running out of the bush and tackling Saki to the ground. “You’re going to lead yourself into an ambush!”

Saki throws him off and points her blade at him. “A bandit! You thought you could get the drop on me?”

“Bandit?” Ryoji mutters. “I’m not a bandit, you idiot!”

“Says the man who attacked me from the bushes with a knife, dressed like a bandit!” she points out.

“… Fair,” Ryoji admits.

Saki waves her blade. “I won’t fall for your tricks!”

“Dammit…” Ryoji mutters, as you head a stir in the bushes around you. You join the other two as from the clearing come four rough looking figures.

“Well, what have we here?” the lead bandit notes. “Must be the first time we’ve been lured out by a lover’s quarrel.”
“Lover’s…?!” Saki looks at Ryoji with a scrunched up face. “Don’t make me… wait, does that mean you’re truly not a bandit?”

“Not with them, at least…” Ryoji sighs. “But now you’ve gotten us trapped, and maybe killed. Good job.”

“I…” Saki Kobashi mutters, looking between you and Ryoji. “I… only wanted to help.”

“Then help us now,” you tell her.

Saki looks to you, then gives a determined nod. “Yes… I will!”

Saki Kobashi
Level 2
HP: 60/60
MP: 50/50
EXP: 100/200
STR: 22 (+6)
MAG: 12 (+1)
VIT: 18 (+4)
AGI: 13 (+1)


Affection:
Kazuma Asai: 0/100
Ryoji Shida: 0/100

Traits:
Dragon Blood: On critical hits, damage is tripled instead of doubled.

Moves:
Attack: (1d8+STR)
Kobashi Battle Cry: (Raise attack of self)(5MP)
Dragon Breath: (1d8+MAG Almighty Damage)(5MP)

Kaz HP: 52/52
Kaz MP: 36/52

Ryoji HP: 72/82
Ryoji MP: 26/31

Saki HP: 60/60
Saki MP: 50/50

Bandit #1: 20/20
Bandit #2: 20/20
Bandit #3: 20/20
Bandit Leader: 35/35

>Next Move

“Brace yourself!” Ryoji yells, bolstering your defence, while Saki lets out a loud battle cry unbecoming of someone of her frame. It seems that cry has bolstered her own attack strength. You meanwhile lunge forward, using a Shadow Slash on the bandit closest to you, dealing a great deal of damage. He swings back with his knife, but you emboldened body leaves you taking no damage. The other bandits attack, two throwing their knives at Saki who manages to deflect them, while the Bandit leader lunges at Ryoji with his spear, but your thief is able to dodge.

“This is… interesting!” Saki notes, her breath heavy.

“Nervous?” Ryoji asks.

“Well… this is the first time I’ve ever been in a real fight,” Saki admits. “But nervous? No! Not at all!”

“What?!” Ryoji yells incredulously.

Kaz HP: 52/52
Kaz MP: 31/52

Ryoji HP: 72/82
Ryoji MP: 21/31

Saki HP: 60/60
Saki MP: 45/50

Bandit #1: 9/20
Bandit #2: 20/20
Bandit #3: 20/20
Bandit Leader: 35/35

>Next Move!

With another shadow slash, you cut clean through the wounded bandit, taking him out for good. Ryoji bolsters Saki’s defences, while she raises her sword up. “Now… now is my time!” she exclaims, boosting her own confidence as she slashes at one of the bandits, hitting him with a strong slice that causes him to stagger back, glancing at his now bloody chest.

Saki however leaves herself with an opening, as the pirate captain stabs her in the shoulder with his spear. She lets out a pained yelp and staggers back herself, gripping her sword tight. “Careful!” Ryoji warns her, as the three of you ready yourselves around the remaining bandits circling in on you.

Bandit #2: 7/20
Bandit #3: 20/20
Bandit Leader: 35/35

Your sword turns to flame as you cut through yet another one of the bandits, leaving only two left. Now you have the numbers advantage. However, Ryoji and Saki fare worse in their luck, as both make attacks at the bandits that come up short, before the bandit and the bandit captain counter-attack with successful strikes. Saki seems to take no damage from the blow thank to her emboldened defence, but Ryoji takes a clean stab through the shoulder from a blade.

Bandit #3: 20/20
Bandit Leader: 35/35

You, Ryoji and Saki all look to each-other before readying your weapons. One slash from your katana, a stab from Ryoji, and finally a thrust from Saki, and another bandit goes down, leaving only their leader left. He readies his spear and lunges, but you manage to dodge.

Bandit Leader: 35/35

Another three pronged attack from your party, this time landing square on the bandit captain. He takes a great deal of punishment from yourself, Ryoji and Saki that causes him to stagger back, bloody and pained… but still not down. He readies his spear, and stabs it deep into your shoulder, twisting the tip before pulling it out.

“GAH!” you let out a cry of pain, gripping the hilt of your katana once more. You’re prepared to finish this.

Bandit Captain: 13/35


You clutch your wounded shoulder, before going in for the kill, you slash at the bandit leader, sending him staggering back… into one last stab from Saki’s oversized sword to take him out.

As the bandits lay scattered and defeated, Saki stays shaking as she looks down on her sword. “Wow… I… I did it…”

>You defeated the Bandits!
>You gained 95xp!

As Saki places her sword aside, she gathers herself while taking deep breathes. “Oh… I am going to be in quite a lot of trouble for this…”

Ryoji shakes his head. “Well, you turned out to be a lot of help, so I can’t be pissed off… but how about you just head back to your mayor father and we pretend this never happened?”

Saki pauses. “How did you know who I am?”

“We saw you earlier,” Ryoji explains. “You’re Mayor Kobashi’s daughter, aren’t you? And your Grandfather is the head guard captain.”

Saki clutches her arm, looking away with embarrassment. “Yes… and just who are you?”

Ryoji smirks. “He’s Kazuma Asai. I’m Ryoji Shida.”

“Shida?” Her eyes widen. “That means… you’re that no-good thief! You’re a menace to the town!”

“How flattering…” he mutters. “How about we leave now and never see each-other again?”

You and Ryoji turn away, as Saki calls out to you. “Wait!”

Ryoji turns around. “What?”

Saki pouts. “I… I don’t necessarily trust a thief, but…”

Ryoji shakes his head. “I get it. You want to continue performing missions… and you need a team.”

“I…” she mutters. “Yes… I would like to help you in your adventuring.”

Ryoji sighs. “Well… you’re stronger than me or the kid. We could use that kind of muscle… as long as you keep the busybodying back.”

“I am not a busybody!” Saki pouts.

Ryoji turns to you. “What do you think, Kazuma?”

>Welcome aboard. You’ll me a great help to us.
>I don’t know… I don’t want trouble with the Mayor…
>As long as she doesn’t rush into danger again.

>As long as she doesn’t rush into danger again.

“I won’t!” Saki bows with respect. “I promise I won’t do anything so foolish again!”

With that settled, you’re happy to have a new person to back you and Ryoji up in battle. It was proving quite difficult with just the two of you.

You return to town, and report back to Lawman Tajiri. A young brown haired man, with a damaged leg, he is surprised by the trio that approaches him to report the job done.

“Ah… you’re new!” he smiles, before looking to your two companions. “Ryoji Shida… and Kobashi?!”

“Surprised?” Ryoji smirks.

Ken Tajiri nods. “Very… quite the oddball group. A thief, a samurai and the young dragon.”

“The young dragon?” Ryoji smirks as he looks to Saki, who seems embarrassed by the title.

“Well, thank you all regardless!” Tajiri smiles, a very cheerful fellow. “It’s a shame I cannot patrol myself for the time being… but I hope you lot keep up the good work. And Kobashi?”

“Yes?” Saki pipes up.

“I won’t inform the Captain about this,” he smiles. “I imagine he wouldn’t want to hear.”

Saki gives a bow. “Thank you, Tajiri.”

“Call me Ken.”



4th Day of the Fool’s Moon


One more night spend in an uncomfortable bed. You feel envy of Saki Kobashi, wondering how she must sleep… well, you aren’t imagining her sleeping. That would be of ill mind. Still, you rise and leave the inn, ready to continue in your day.

>Bulletin Board
>Town Hall
>Dojo
>Blacksmith
>Medicine Woman
>General Store
>Hillside Shrine [Ryoji Affection Quest]

>Blacksmith

You make your way to the blacksmith. Your blade is tempered, but anything can do with improvements. This katana was simply a sword taken in a rush among the militia supplies during the attack on your village.

You enter through the sliding door of the blacksmith… and are quickly hit with a puff of smoke. A fire?! The blacksmith is on fire?!

You cover your mouth and wade through the smoke, before your vision begins to clear. Sitting before the kiln is… a young girl. In bronze armor with some protective eye-wear, she pulls a longsword from the kiln and places it upon her anvil before noticing you.

“Oh!” she smiles as she looks to you, examining you closely. “You’re new! I like a new face!”

She looks to your blade and quickly snatches it from you. What?! She’s deceptively fast. “Ah, now this is a fine weapon! I knew today would be a fun one!”

“How so?” you ask.

She pauses. “Well, I think that every morning!”

She’s incredibly cheerful. When you heard of a blacksmith, you expected a large hairy man… not this small woman.

“I’m Akemi Ibushi!” she offers you a handshake with a soot-filled hand before remembering to wipe it on her apron. “And you?”

“Kazuma Asai,” you reply. “Are you really the blacksmith?”

“That’s right!” Akemi smiles. “I run this smithee by myself. Well… I do have my father lending a hand while his bakery is closed…”

“Your father is the baker?” you ask.

She nods. “Yes. Oh… I miss all those baked treats… I wish it could re-open soon. Oh well! I have plenty to keep me busy!”

“So what do you do around here?” you ask.

Akemi is very quick to inform you.
[YOU MAY LEAVE A WEAPON WITH THE BLACKSMITH TO BE REFORGED AND IMPROVED, ADDING A +1 TO DAMAGE WITH EVERY ITERATION. LEAVING A WEAPON BEHIND LEAVES THE USER UNABLE TO PARTAKE IN BATTLES FOR A WEEK BEFORE HAVING THEIR WEAPON RETURNED. EACH REFORGE COSTS GOLD, WITH THE PRICE INCREASING WITH EVERY IMPROVEMENT.]

[IF YOU COME ACROSS ANY COLOURED ORBS, THEY CAN ALSO BE USED TO AUGMENT A WEAPON WITH AN ELEMENT TO ITS ATTACK. THIS PROCESS HAS NO WAIT TIME, THOUGH EACH WEAPON CAN ONLY HOLD ONE ELEMENT AT A TIME, AND REPLACING AN ORB PERMANENTLY REMOVES THE ORB PREVIOUSLY PLACED.]

Akemi looks at your blade. “A first reforge of this should cost roundabouts of… 200 gold.”

You sigh. “I thought it would be an expensive process. Unfortunately, I do not have that kind of money yet.”

Akemi smiles. “Don’t worry! I’ll always be here if you need me! I’m always happy to take on more work!”

You leave the smithy with your blade still in tow. If you want improvements, you’ll need to raise your funds some more.

>Bulletin Board
>Town Hall
>Dojo
>Blacksmith
>Medicine Woman
>General Store
>Hillside Shrine [Ryoji Affection Quest]

>Bulletin Board

Attached to the bulletin board is another new request. Still only the one available, though.

Many stray cats have been holing up within the wreckages in the uphill area of the village. I am worried they will be hurt by unstable debris. Please relocate those poor kittens. Reward: 50 gold. - A concerned citizen.

>Accept Cat Herding.
>Leave for now.

A simple task no doubt.

You, Ryoji and Saki set off uphill in the village, where it seems the structural damage is at its worst.

“This is…” you mutter.

Saki shakes her head. “It’s unlikely this part of the village will ever see repairs. After what happened…”

Ryoji looks to Saki, then lets out a sigh. “Hey… there’s something you should know.”

“What?”

“Another attack will come,” he explains. “At the end of the moon.”

Saki pauses. “What? How does a thief like you know something like that?”

“I just do, trust me.”

Saki pouts. “Well, that is hardly the most confident of sources to believe. I would hate to think after what we went through mere days ago, that we’d see another attack like this…”

You hear the purring of a cat, and begin to follow it.

Soon, that one purr turns into several.

Multiple young cats prawling about, some resting from the sun under very insecure foundations.

“This is indeed a dangerous place for them to stay…” Saki mutters. “We need to take them elsewhere.”

While the cats put up a fight, preferring not to be moved, you begin gathering them.

As you retrieve the small cats, you feel as though you’re being… watched. But… there’s nobody here. Nobody lives here… right?
You turn around… before being pounced upon by some figure. Taken to the ground, you look up to see mounting you… a woman?! And her state of clothing is… your face turns bright red, though before you look away you note… wait… is that fur? And her hand… replaced with large paws, with sharp claws on the end. This isn’t a regular woman!

She leans down and licks your forehead. “I taste fear…” she remarks… before Ryoji throws his dagger, forcing her to unmount you, crawling on all fours backwards towards a wall.

You pick yourself up and stare at the creature. “Just… what are you? Ryoji, is she a demon?”

“Yes, but…” he ponders. “She seems different.”

“A beastwoman…” Saki mutters. “How uncivilised. The least she can do is wear a tunic!”

“Really?” Ryoji raises an eyebrow. “Modesty is your main concern here?”

The creature looks at you, her back arching in an intimidating stance as she hisses.

“What’s your name?” you ask.

“Nariko…” she mutters. “You’re going to hurt them, aren’t you? You’re like the ones from before. You’ll kill the little babies.”

“No, we’re just moving them!” you protest.

“Liar!” Nariko hisses. “It’s my job to keep the babies safe.”

You shake your head. “You don’t understand, we’re moving them to a safe place. We’re keeping them safe.”

Nariko eyes you suspiciously, before shaking her head. “No! If you cared about their safety, you would let me keep them! They will live with me!”

Saki shakes her head. “For all we know, it wants to eat the cats…”

>Very well. Take them. Keep them safe.
>We can’t allow that. We’ve been tasked with moving them.

>We can’t allow that. We’ve been tasked with moving them.

“No… no!” Nariko screeches. “You won’t hurt the babies!”

Nariko lunges, and you quickly dodge out of the way. You draw your sword, but the beastwoman moves quickly, already leaping across the debris to gain a vantage on your group. She leaps down again and begins circling you all like a wolf.

“Why were you kissing her earlier?” Ryoji asks you with a smirk.

“I wasn’t!” you protest. “She licked me!”

“Of course, of course…” Ryoji remarks, readying his dagger.

Saki examines the beast. “It’s feral, but she doesn’t seem to be malicious…” she notes. “We still have to move the cats, but… maybe we can just chase her off for now?”

Nariko: ???/???

>Battle Begin!

You slash at the cat woman, but Nariko easily leaps over you. You look up, but then quickly look down again after the overhead sight leaves you blushing once more. "Focus, kid!" Ryoji yells as his slash manages to graze the demon. Saki follows up with her own swing which catches her with more force. The beast flies back but lands gracefully on her paws, before leaping up... firing projectile claws from her body, targeting all three of you!

You and Saki manage to avoid the attack, but Ryoji takes multiple nails into his body. He grimaces, as he grips his dagger tight.

Nariko: ???/???

>Next moves!

You and Ryoji slash at the creature again, this time doing even more damage as your strikes land true. Saki’s final strike even manages to draw blood, as Nariko begins to scamper back. She sees that she’s outnumbered, and will have to retreat.

“Please don’t hurt the babies…” she pleads, before leaping over a wall and making her retreat.

Saki puts away her sword and looks on in confusion. “Just who was she?”

“I don’t know…” Ryoji mutters. “But something tells me this won’t be the last we see of her.”

You and the pair continue with your duties, collecting the cats and returning them to roam through the safer area of the village, but your thoughts still turn to Nariko. You’ve never seen something like her before… let alone so much of someone like her. You’ve certainly never been licked before. You attempt to shake the thoughts, lest Ryoji begin to taunt you even further.

You return to the concerned citizen, who grants you your fifty gold.

“Besides the oddness with the cat woman, this was a fun quest!” Saki admits. “I wish all missions could be as rewarding as carrying a range of adorable kittens!”
“Never trusted cats,” Ryoji remarks. “They always look at me funny.”

“But you admit they’re cute, right?”

“Of course.”

[PERFORMING MISSIONS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES WITH PARTY MEMBERS RAISES THEIR AFFECTION WITH YOURSELF AND OTHERS INCLUDED IN THE PARTY. ONCE YOU REACH CERTAIN MILESTONES OF AFFECTION YOU WILL UNLOCK UNIQUE COMPANION REQUESTS, WHICH IN TURN UNLOCKS TRAITS FOR YOUR COMPANION. ONCE YOU REACH MAX AFFECTION WITH A COMPANION, YOU MAY CHOOSE TO ROMANCE THEM.]

[COMPANIONS WILL ALSO BUILD AFFECTION WITH EACH-OTHER, AND WITH TIME WILL UNLOCK SPECIAL CONVERSATIONS THAT INCREASE THEIR SUPPORT RANK, FROM C TO A+. UNLOCKING THESE CONVERSATIONS ALSO GRANT SPECIAL FUSION SKILLS WITH THE SELECTED PAIR WHEN WORKING TOGETHER. YOU MAY ALSO CHOOSE TO GRANT AN A+ RANKED PAIR AN S RANK, MAKING THEM ROMANTICALLY INVOLVED.]

With another task completed, you bid Saki farewell, yourself and Ryoji retiring in the in for the night.

END