Sourin Kingdom!
Sourin Kingdom Recent History pt. 1
Sourin Kingdom Battle 1
Sourin Kingdom Recent History pt. 2
Sourin Kingdom Battle 2

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Takato smiled. "Thank...argh!!" He rached back and wrenched a metal shard from the seal on his neck. "Well that explains alot." He tried to clot the wound but didnt even have the energy left to that simply magic. "So what exactly was that about, did you want me to insane? In that state i could have brought out a god, or worse. I mean that was crazy, i could have killed alot of innocent people." He paced back and forth babbling.

"Here sit down." She said stopping him. When he sat down her started to patch up the wound, although she knew it was temporary. "Well not many people would have been hurt, for one the city was empty except for all the others fighting. Plus I would have stopped you before it got out of the city." With that she stopped and whispered, "We all know about that ear trick of yours." She blew air at his ear. With that she stood up stretched. When she stretched the heavy armor broke off revealing a rather nice dress underneath. Ah, I hate that armor She thought as she waited for him to say something.

Takato shivered. "How do you know so much about us? And what is with the femine fatal act your putting on?" He was completly dissoriented.

She rolled her head before responding. "Act, who said anything about act?" She sat down watching the sun go down. "I know a lot because it is... no, was my job." She sighed. "I was told to team up with those weaklings to find and kill you. I had different plans though, I need your help to stop the general, and whoever or whatever his master is." She paused and turned to him. "I had to test you, to maek sure you were worth my trouble. Plus I... know about your clan. I know what happened to it." She left out the fact that she took part in the fight, although it was more like a slaughter from her view point. Takato was one of the strongest Nakini she had fought though.

Takato's face went blank as his mind forze in place, he remembered going back not knowing, only to find a charred village and corpses. He couldnt believe there was a force on earth that could take down his entire clan. There hadnt been any news of suvivors since, they were scattered or still on missions. His eyes fixed on a pebble his mind wallowing in hollow memory. "I will help you." He responded though he sounded a million miles away.

"Thank you. Tomarrow we leave then, today though is a festival. The others will take care of the ruler of Sourin Kingdom." She stood up and a sword appeared in her hand. She held it up and span it around, refracting the light across the city to signal the others. The gates opened and people started pouring in. In little time all combatants of the night before were now on the sphere looking down as the stalls were quickly set up and a stage hastily erected. Then the leader got to the top of the stage, although he wasn't the real one. The dragoon smiled looking down at the blob disguised as the leader of Sourin. "He'll have to do until we come up with a reason why the leader 'mysteriously' disappeared." She let out a little giggle and jumped down to enjoy the fair. Kyte stayed behind with Takato though. "Well, I'm here in time for the fair. That's why I came after all right?" Kyte smiled at the joke.

"You have a very twisted sense of humor." Takto didnt join in in the festivities. Instead he simply sat on the roof ledge and watched the people pass going about their fun, oblivious of the real world. Why, Why?

Kyte shrugged and went to the party. Night came slowly that day and eventually everyone had to go to bed. When morning came though Kyte, Goat, and the dragoon waited for Takato at the souther entrance so they coould get on to the next town.

Takato was still on the roof not far from the two, appearing to not have moved an inch. He dropped to the ground and sauntered over to the two not saying a word.

They shrugged and all four walked out of town without a word. The road was a straight shot to the next town. The next town was named Welshin and it was the last town before they entered the next providence. It would take two days so they planned to stop at the inn on the road, the RuneFist inn. Famous for the workers there being some of the fiercest warriors. They used to work for the military of many kingdoms, when there was a great war though these warriors banded together in their own group to fight against all war. They stopped it a bit and now they all work at this inn, waiting to stop another major war. When the inn was in sight the dragoon stopped and used magic to change her face. "Don't ask why, and if anyone asks, my name is now Molly." She said with a smile before continueing on. Kyte shrugged to Takato and continued. When they reached the inn a woman greeted them with a curtsy and the proceeded inside. The first floor was a tavern, like most inns, and there were many warriors, and merchants at tables watching as the trio of bards was playing on a stage. There was an open table near the fireplace so everyone silently agreed to it. A large man with massive muscles walked over to the table and asked, "So, anything I can get for you to drink?" He was holding a small notepad that was only made smaller by his size and he quickly wrote when the dragoon ordered ale and Kyte, water.

Takato wasnt even paying attention. He seemed to be off in his own world. His realm inconsistant with reality. It took an awkward pause at the table for him to realise they were all waiting on him. "huh? Oh coke and a double chot of crown." He looked back down at the tab;e half listening to the banter and the unusually massive employees.

"Right, on it." The server said before walking away. They were served their food and drinks quickly enough and when the bards took a break the dragoon went to book two rooms. "Well, the bards are pretty good around these parts." Kyte commented, trying to make small talk. After listening to the coversations around he concluded that no one was talking about anything important.

Takato just nodded and went back to staring at his clutched hands. He casually glanced up at the two left. Some questions flashed into his mind, why 'Molly' had hidden her identity, what exactly Kyte was up to, and where the hell was goat. However recent words flshed back into his mind and once again he looked down.

The dragoon snuck up behind him and whispered into his ear, "What's the matter darlin'?" She patted him on the shoulder while taking her seat. "You've seemed out of since the fight in the city." Kyte added.

Takato' eyes came back to reality. "huh oh no im just thinking." He shrugged it off. "So did you get the rooms?"

"Ya," The dragoon started. "Speaking of, I'm going off to my room." She threw a key on the table. "That's your key." She said to both of them. "Night." She waved to them as she headed towards and up the stairs. Kyte took the key and put it in his pocket. He noticed many of the servers going outside with weapons. He turned to Takato and said, "I'm going out to see what that's about." He got up and went outside. When he got out he followed them behind the inn and watched as they all started sparring, goat, as if out of no where, sat next to him.

Takato sauntered out following the crowd and sat beside Kyte vaguely watching the events occuring.

A man wielding two two-handed swords walked over to them and asked, "So, you boys fighters, or spectators. If your fighters we could use some different sparring parters to practice on." Kyte shrugged and stood up. "I'll have a go at one of ya." Then a barrel chested man, although normal height, took grab of Kyte's arm and pulled him away. The man wore leather armor and weilded a halberd. Kyte gulped as he took out a dagger. The other man looked at Takato and said, "Hmm... you seem to be zoning out." The man stabbed his swords into the ground and sat next to Takato with a loud thump. "Now I can't have my men fighting some one like that. Maybe I can help, that's a leaders job after all. So what's on your mind lad?" The man may have been larger than normal but it was easy to tell that he was smart too, something most of the otehr men here weren't.

Takato knew the man ment well but this wasnt really something he wanted to discuss with others. "Just a repressed memory." He shook his head in disbeliefe. He looked back down and away.

"Ah, memories haunt us all, and that's not easy to remedy. I suppose I could listen, maybe get it off yer chest. That has helped every now and then with other fighters I've met. Heh, I remember this one girl from a few weeks ago... forget what her name was but she was really out of it. She said it all came to light after she told me about what she did to some clan a long time ago." He strethced his back and rolled his head. Some pops and cracks came from that but he seemed relieved to have them out. "Sorry, been a long day cooking, tends to stiffen me up."

Takato flinched at the coincidence. "Did she happen to say wich clan?" His forehead suddenly bludged in anger. He blood pressyre raising. It was alot for a mere coincidence.

"She may have mentioned a name.. but I've heard loads of these, clan stories." He looked at Takato and noticed his change in attitude. Anger he could deal with a lot better than sadness, anger was always easier for a warrior to get out of his system, wether by logic or sweat. "Why do you ask?"

"I want to know what happened to mine." He seemed to cool off a bit but his knuckles were white. He started to size up each fighter just in case he needed to take out some misguided aggression. "Why are offering to console me?"

"Well, it's the job of a leader to offer such help. I'm not just a leader of these pea brains, I'm a leader of man. Besides, that big sword you got shows that your a warrior and I never like to see a warrior who's not focused on the now. I know that the past has a way of catching up to us all, but you just gotta push it aside and strive towards the present." He said while watching two of the warriors now wrestling each other trying to get control of a dagger.

"Thanks." Takato managed a smile and stood back up to watch the fight. The mans words actually had helped. He felt better. "Ok so who wants to be the target for some pent emotions?" He asked swinging his arms to lossen up.

"Now that's what I like ta hear!" He said getting up and pulling both two handed swords out of the ground. He took a stance of dual wielding both swords. "Now lets see if you can keep up with that one sword of yours."
After about two hours of fighting the men started sauntering off to bed. Kyte found Takato after the fighting and he was sporting a bloody nose and a shallow cut on his shoulder. "That's what I call fun. How did you do?"

Takato rubbed his nose. "Ask him." He pointed over his shoulder at the man he had sparred with.

Since they both looked rather unharmed but a bit tired he shrugged, I guess that was good for them. Kyte and Takato turned in, goat was allowed to sleep in the inn as well. In the morning Kyte and Takato were up and ready to go before the dragoon. They were able to order breakfast while they waited and by time the food came she came down stairs, still in her armor. "What do you sleep in that stuff?" Kyte said as she took a seat. "Of course." She responded before a server came to her table. She ordered her food and then turned to Takato and Kyte. "So how was last night. I saw you guys down there fighting."

Takato smiled and pointed at the big guy across the room taking orders. "I picked up some impressive duel weilding tips from the big guy." He Began to shovel the omelette into his mouth. "And he makes an amazing omelette."

"I'm a pancake person myself." She said before five hot pankcakes were delivered to the table. She devoured the pancakes so fast that she was done when the other two finished. Kyte was speechless at the the amazing feet to eat so much so fast. "Anyway, I have something to do before we leave." She said getting up and walking out the door. Kyte shrugged and turned to the stage as one of three servers walked up there and started some music. It wasn't bad... but it wasn't good either. Outside the dragoon was talking to the door greeter, it was a calm talk each pointing in a different direction every now and then.

Takato sighed and leaned back in his chair. "But im not sure if we can trust her. I mean we dont even know her real name." There was a crash nearby as a careless waiter had tripped and sent plates and food flying. A knive came flying right at Kyte's face. Suddenly it stopped inches from his eye held in place by a nearby waiter who had caught it with his bare feet. He brought his leg down placing the knife on the table. His wild medium length hair looked as if it hadnt seen a comb....ever. "Thats why i hate having to work here, to many ungraceful idiots." He smiled looking down at the two, and a goat.

"Have you even tried asking her what her real name is?" Kyte said before the trip occured. When it happened Kyte noticed the knife and moved his head back and bit to dodge but the other waiter caught it with his foot. "Nice... catch?" Kyte said watching as the waiter put the knife on the table with his foot.

"No prob." The guy sat down at the table. "So where are you guys heading?" He asked cracking his knuckles at the table. A staff seemed to be in a holster across his back. "You guys look like your on a mission."

Takato flinched at the unsanitary actions. "Um im not really sure. Why do you ask?"

"I know I'm off to the coast from the next town, not sure about my two comrades here though." Kyte said without giving the slightest indication there might be a mission. "We're all just travelers, for the sake of traveling."

"Im just kind of floating around." Takato shrugged starting on Kyte's uneaten pan cakes.
"Sounds nice, wish i could join you guys, but i gotta pay the bills you know?" He sighed stretching back in the chair. A big buryman wearing an apron walked up to the table, wiping a plate. "Saru, i saw the catch. What did i say about going barefoot in the dining area?" He didnt even give the boy time to speak. "Your fired." The gruff man sighed before alking off.

"Tough break," Kyte said stealing his pancakes back and shoveling them in his mouth. Kyte stopped briefly and asked, "So why are you barefoot anyway?"

Saru already had the apron off and chucked it at the guy but missed. He turned back to the guys and leaned back kicking his feet up on the table. "Shoes are constricting man. Besides now i can finally leave this dump."

"So where do you plan on going?" Kyte asked as he watched the man pick up the apron.

"Where evr the wind blows, and i can master my techniques." Saru snatched a banana off the plate in the booth behind them. He peeled it with finese and devored it.
Takato was flabbergasted at the uncaring mood of the new comer. Not a care in the world.

Kyte turned to Takato, "Now this is my type of guy." Kyte liked people that didn't care about where they went, as long as they got there in the end. "Well how's about traveling with us?" Just then the dragoon walked in and walked up to the table. She didn't look at any of them but asked, "What's up with the monkey?"

"What monkey?" Saru asked trying to look confussed. I haven't even shown my tail yet. He looked back at Kyte to change the subject. "Sure id love to."

"Your eating a banana and the way you move, it makes you look like a monkey." She said sitting down. "So, love to what?" 
Kyte turned and said, "He's joining us."
"What do you mean joining us? Aren't you just leaving for port in the next town?"
"Fine, joining you two."
The dragoon sighed and turned to Saru, "Are you ready to face what could possibly be one of the strongest things to ever come to this world?" Even though her helmet was on, the chill from her absolute stare still got through.

Takato's head whipped around at that sentance, He hadnt heard anything about this yet. "Your leaving Kyte?"
Saru shrugged uneffected by the stare. "Eh whatever, as long as i get to spar with some guys better than these chumps." He casually went back to eating his banana now that his cover wasnt blown. "Whats the plan?"

"I told you I only came for the festival. I'm staying with you guys until the next town, then me and goat are going down to the port. Something about carnival taking a ship to a town and if I time it right, I could get on the same ship." He said with a sly smile. "You know, without all the makeup those carrny girls are pretty hot."
The dragoon though told Saru, "We're goinng to fight the leader of the dragoons, and his boss as well." Since dragoons were widely known she figured Saru would have heard of the dragoons.

Saru had his pinky in his ear. "Eh? baboons?" He got up and stretched his alnky arms. "Eh whatever, when are you heading out?" A staff was securly starped to his back, when he leaned foward it comically knocked over a salt shaker without him seeing.

"Whenever these two are ready to go." She said turning to Takato and Kyte." Kyte had finished eating by now so he stood up ready to go. When Takato got up they walked out the door. When they left the door greeter wasn't there. They got to the town without incident, it was a large town filled with many black smiths shops. The dragoon wandered off to find an inn leaving the guys to do what they want. "So, where do you wanna start? There's about five streets of guys beating and heating metal."

Takto chuckled. "Their all amatuers anyway." He shrugged and said it loud enough to where it wasnt incospicous.
Saru had no interest in buying the weapons but went from stall to stall picking up and inspecting each unique piece to figure out its purpose or use.


A rather large, burbly, and hairy man walked up to Takato and towered over him. "Amateur aye? I'd like to see you try to make weapons like mine." With that he flourished his hand towards his outdoor stall, which was one of the few spectacular weaponry stalls in the town.

Kyte needed to bend back a bit to see this guys face. He slunk away a bit while saying. "Right, me and goat will just be..." With that he and goat walked quickly away. Kyte did need to find something particular in this town. The carrny ship wasn't his only reason he was there, that was just a perk."

Before anything the dragoon needed to take off her armor, the city was rather hot from all the forges, not to mention it was getting close to summer time. The dragoon walked into an inn and the inn keeper knew ehy she was there already. They had met many times before, and this time would be no different. He let her behind the counter, and opened a trap door leading to an underground colliseum. There were a few people sparring in the outer rings, the main one though was empty, only used for title matches. She talked to some people and learned that they were starting construction underground for more space for arenas and found out where her old sparring partner was. Only a town away, she thought she'd pay it a visit before going after the master. Later she booked a room and sat at the port the rest of the day, using magic to play with the water.

Takato smiled. "Sure what would you like?" He walked over and picked up an intricate looking sword. "Fancy, but could use some improvement."

"Like what?" The blacksmith said watching Steelheart so he didn't break anything, not that he thought he could.

"Well for one there is a stress fracture here," Takato pointed to a miniscule hairline crack almost invisible to the eye, the cleanly snapped the blade at the line with his bare hands. "The core is a dense iron, but Iridium is a much better choice for its strength, i cant blame you though it isnt every day you come across a meteor." He placed his finger on the core bar pulling it out with his hands aglow and inserting six links from his chain belt, "I always have some though. You chose aninteresting design with the beheading circle however it is best to include a layer of tungsten on the edge so as not to dull the blade on the spinal cord." He grabbed a nearby dagger tossed it to make sure it was tungsten and fused it onto the edge of the blade. "And voila." He swung the blade smashing into the ground splitting the street with a fissure for fifty yards.

None of what Takato did phased the blacksmith. "Boy, you must come from up north (Note: we have gone south of Elftown). The only reason for this type of weapon would be a massive war. Down here though, we may not be Masu Empire, but we're dang close enough to take their customs. He took the sword from Takato and threw it into his shop, it landed safely as well. "I'll have to take that apart later now that you messed with the composition." He turned to Takato and said, "I don't know much about you, but down here swords, and their fights, are all about the strength of the user, and their skill. Swords are just an extension of their will, not a tool of power." He took the sword off Takato's back and inspected it, he didn't care to ask permission. He inspected it and handed it back. "Look, if you're heading south into Masu," He picked up a different sword, it was simply a katana, no intricacy about it. Handing it Takato he continued to say, "Try using this if you run into a fight. You'll gain more respect by showing your swordsman skills, instead of your powerful, large sword. Respect and honor are everything down there, if you are too disrespectful they will treat you as a terrorist and attack the instant they see you." The blacksmith did try to sound nice when he explained, but he knew he usually came off gruff. If Takato were to look around the street, he'd see dissapointed faces of people, no fear, no amazement at his swords power. Even the two children in the street looked at him with dislike. The blacksmith sighed and scratched the back of his head, "Now we have a ditch to fill up. Oh well, good thing we still have the dirt from when that dragoon came through yesterday." He started walking back to his forge, "Now that was one skilled, son of a..."

Kyte saw the crack be made right in front of him. The ground just split apart and he looked down towards the other end of the crack and one thing crossed his mind. Takato.

The dragoon sitting by the port heard the large splitting sound and when she looked, she saw dirt floating into the air. She too thought only one thing, Takato.

Takato's eyebrow twitched, Stupid freaking hick. He picked up the katana inspecting it with a scrutinizing eye. "Not bad." He grabbed his iridium belt and formed an exact repilca of the sword. He gave them both practice swings. He walked over to the sword he had tampered with and stomped on the hilt causing it to spring into the air, in fluid movements he sliced the blade into three chunks with the katana. My clan was making blades before they could sharpen stone. Satisfied with both his and the other katana he purchased two sheaths and stuffed them into what was left of his belt.

Saru hadnt seen a thing. He was two busy haggling with a nearby vender over the price of a banana. "Look all i want is a piece of fruit without signing away my soul."

"Look kid, your askin' for a banana in a place like this. You should be thankful I even have banana's. There's been loads of bandits on the southern roads that are halting trade routes. I hear they specifically like to attack the banana carts. So if you want a cheaper banana, that how about taking them back from those bandits. The man said back to Saru. Then he held out his palm, "Now like I said, 50 gold."

Later that day Kyte found the dragoon by the port and talked for a little bit. When it got later she took off for the inn while he looked around to find which ship was the carnnies ship. When she got to the inn she saw Takato in front of the entrance. "So... how were the blacksmiths?" She just had to ask after noticing the disturbance he made earlier.

"Some have a bit of skill but their technique and materials are old fashioned." He sighed methodically getting used to the light katana's swing.

Saru handed over the gold and took the banana with a grunt. But on the turn around his tail slipped out of his robe grabbing another banana withou notice and slipping back into his robe.

"Well that is how people are in the empire below us. These people consider themselves as Masuens because they are closer to the Sourin-Masu border. I'm sure you learn more about it as we pass through. I just hope we don't run into the dragoon there. That jack*** is an arogant, egotistic, narcisistic, womanising, jerk." She was pulling out the words slowly, it showed she really hated this guy. "Normally I'd put people like that in their place, but he's stronger than I am. In fact he's one of the officers directly under the general. Plus to add insult to injury, no one has ever seen him use his power, no one knows what it is." She may have said too much, but taking a second to think, it would be good information to have in case they ran into him. Unfortunately she was too furious at him to remember the fact that Masu has five dragoons in their employ.

Saru strolled up. "Sounds like a guy i would want to fight. You know smack around a bit." He smiled polshing off his second banana. In one motion he sprang up to hang out on th eve of the oriental style roof. "Oh terre cotta"

"Clay ceramic?" The dragoon asked looking up at Saru. She thought he was refering to himself so she just thought he was acting wierd. "Feel free to fight him when we get there if you want. Although I would suggest all three of us fight him if we want to stand a chance." Then before either could respond she waved and walked in then up to her room. Kyte would see them off in the morning, but he wasn't staying at the inn that night.

"Nah, i was talking about the roof tiles, and ill be ok by myself, he has to land a hit to beat me." Saru laughed falling straight back cutting a flip and landing on his feet and knuckles. He followed her inside. "So which room is mine and yours?"

She didn't say anything and just walked up the stairs. The innkeeper threw to Saru and said, "It's two person room for you and the guy with the big sword out there. You're across the room from her. Any questions? If not then get to the room, I want to lock up already."

"Im sick and tired of this!" Takato bit his thumb and drew a seal on the blade. It hovered and started to glow a bright silver the dissapeared. "Now, do i stand out?" He stomped off to the room and slid into bed.

Saru slid up next to the dragoon. "How bout me and you sit out on the balcony with a glass of wine and watch the moon make its way across the sky?" He casually leaned into her to catch her with his emerald eyes.

She turned to him with a look so cold a glacier would get the shivers. "Look primate, if you knew what I looked like before I turned human, you'd be so freaked out that you'd forget to breathe. But I don't feel like doing that to someone who's traveling with me." She was in front of her door and turned to him with a wicked smile. "Maybe I'll be in a flirty mood in the morning. Try me then." She winked at him and went into her room, locking to door behind her. Although locking was more to protect Saru than herself.

Saru shrugged. "Ill try some other girl in the morning. I like the kimono look." He sauntered back to takatos room and collapsed with his head hung over the edge. "I wanna fight some one so..." And he was out.

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Morning Time

The Dragoon was up and had already eaten in the inn's dining area before the sun even came up. She was talking with Kyte waiting for Takato and Saru outside. They were going over what was happening on the continent he was going to, goat was even paying attention as well.

Saru pounced on goat like a horsey. "Woot! riden em cow boy!"
Takato sauntered down the stairs rubbing his eye with the back of his hand. "I hate beds, should have made a hammock."

The goat just fell under the weight right away. "Well, I said I'd see you off in the morning." Kyte said to Takato and Saru. "And now that I saw you, I now say goodbye." Kyte waved goodbye as he headed toward the harbor with goat. The dragoon didn't have her armor today either. She looked from one to the other and said, "Well lets go, don't want to lose daylight. Hmm... Hey Takato, how are we going to find you in a crowd without your giant sword?" She said with a giggle as she walked away before he could respond.

"Eh how are we gonna find you..." He mocked out of earshot and followed her down the street, his katanas clicking against each other as he walkd. Saru busied himself by poking and exploring evry little curiousity on the street side along the way.

After an hour the dragoon turned and said to them both, "Welcome to Masu Empire, the land of honor and courage held at the tip of a sword. With that she made a sword appear in her hands and a sheathe at her hip. She sheathed the sword and smiled. "Now I fit right in."
*Yay we made it through Sourin Kingdom, boo we have less people than we started with*

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