Vescrutia: Legacy

It has been a week since Shadowfang left his clan behind to set his sights upon this land of perpetual war he had been thrust into. At that time, he had the joy and displeasure of experiencing much of Mek mountain's surface terrain. Having only been topside during missions, there was a time few in between to appreciate one's surroundings truly. Though he had kept his wits about him, knowing well the many hidden daggers on the land, still being able to leisurely take in breaths of fresh air, to feel the air against his face, sleeping outside and hearing the sonnet of the crickets, the ballads of the birds freshly risen, was like thread mending the tears of his childhood spent in dark absurdity. Though scared by turmoil, this land remained resilient, bountiful, and prospering.

Though refreshing, he hadn't spent this time twiddling his thumbs in the trees. Before his departure, his grandfather had given him command over a small sect of their underworld spy network, The Shrouds. Though few, they were elite spymaster who had woven an intricate yet hidden web of underworld connections for the Shi. Though loyal to the cause of liberation of the enslaved shi, they were not made of the clan themselves. Merely those once faithful to the great house in its time of power consisted of those who would see that power restored and the ascendance of their respective houses with it. Shadowfang is the relative of two of the Shi's most powerful clansmen; aside, he had begun to make a name for himself before his departure, and they had complete faith that he would bring their hopes to fruition. He would not see their loyalty squandered; they risk their lives and the lives of all their loved ones to provide support to the shi.

"Failure isn't an option."

He said as the sun began to reach high noon, bathing the horizon with an almost miraculous array of colors. Though he had seen a few times since his departure, their breathtaking allure drew him in more and more.

"It's bright up here, aye Kuro?"

The serpent peered its head from behind his hood. Kuro was nocturnal, hiding most of his time and sleeping when the sun was out. That he was awake right now was odd, but the dark heir had other things to concern himself with. As he made his way through the thickets of trees, he tapped the side of his glasses.

"Severus, pull up the coordinate our contact sent us."

After spending a part of his traveling time and exploring the various functions of his new shades, Jao was taken aback by their vast utility. Iared scopes and microscopic observation and was equipped with a Natech program called Severus, which acts as a navigational tool. Using the naten and awareness of its host creates an augmented reality that provides various details about the environment via scans only visible to the one wearing it.

The program pulled up the recorded information as he neared the end of the thicket. Standing atop a lone branch, he observed his surroundings. He could see a town just ahead, just beyond the brush of the treetops. The locale was highlighted with various colors and schematics detailing the expanse before the city. A host of plants, wildlife, and even some men seemed to be working the fields just outside of it.

"Hmp...not bad. So this is the town of Randobura, "Land Blood," in common Vescrutian."

The detailed coordinates were prepared before him. He was to meet this contact from the Shrouds, who had the intel he asked for just a few days ago. If everything checked out, he could scope out Zaria with a deeper understanding of who the bandits he was about to confront genuinely were. In a world like Edo, reconnaissance was an art, knowledge; above all else, it was power in Edo. Suppose he was to reclaim and go beyond. He would need to gather as much of it as he could.

"..."

He had to admit, though. Shinobi tends to stick to the shadows, so why were they having him meet him in a town full of people in broad daylight?

"We'll just have to go see; pondering will answer nothing."

And like that, he vanished from the forest in a blur of speed.

Jao stepped lightly from behind the tree, a flicker of determination in his eyes as he tapped the side of his specs. The nanobots whirred to life, molding the glasses into a sleek mask that concealed his identity. He pulled up his hood, adjusting the fabric to ensure it concealed the mask's edges before he emerged into the sea of townsfolk. Randobura is a market town with a bustling merchant experience. It was here that one could find virtually anything, and if you happened to find yourself in need of something not so familiar, merely knowing the right kind of people in the right places could afford you the thing you sought. Its architecture was that of a feudal town, yet it held modern-day commodities. City transportation to assist in navigating its busy massive roads and the many districts that divide its rarities and available commerce. Initially, he was concerned that his mask would draw unwarranted attention but swiftly noticed that many of those here were also masked. It was an unexpected advantage but a welcomed one.

Merchant: "Fresh fruits! Get your fresh fruits here! Juicy peaches, honey-sweet figs!"

An elderly woman almost bumped into him from the side, but he avoided her with the grace of a dancer.

Old Woman: "Watch where you’re going, young man! I can’t afford to lose my balance with all these trinkets!"

"...."

After avoiding her, Jao noticed an entourage of about five people standing across from him. As he observed them briefly, Jao found himself nearly unable to walk—as if he had seen a ghost.

"Sunless?!"

He whispered to himself, trying to keep his composure, but there could be no mistake, though the mask differed from the one he used. He could feel the cursed blood within them. His kin were reduced to shopping escorts. They seemed to be accompanying two men, who, unlike many civilians in town who bore masks, did not. They were either fools or so affirmed in their power that they cared nothing for caution. One happened to be much taller than the other, but the naten emanating from the smaller one was awe-inspiring, though the taller one, was powerful as well. The men were clothed in a set of montsuki ordained with an emblem that, as Jao laid eyes on it, felt his heart rate spike.

"Owaki..."

Jao could feel his anger rising. The Owaki were among the eldest Shinobi, with a legacy of perfection and Ephemeral art mastery and progression that has long solidified their names amongst the great families. Their presence in Edo was firmly established, as they remained one of the most infamously popular groups on the continent, having achieved a powerful blend of modern adaptation without sacrificing their cultural roots, choosing to stay accountable to many of the old world's dogmas and practices. Over the last few decades, they have been recently proclaiming themselves purveyors of peace, wishing to see the many injuries and wear of Edo laid to rest. Garnishing the support of the oppressed masses and those who have lost much to the wars of the mainland. The proclamation that power should be wielded in the name of protecting the people of Edo, not enslaving and solving them. That they held supreme power and yet chose to grow their political might was one of the most considerable angles working in their favor and having the might to set the whole of Edo able yet seemingly working to unify it altruistically instead. But Shadowfang knew their truth, having witnessed the horrors they are willing to intact to see their so-called peaceful world come to pass.

"Dammit...walking around with slaves so brazenly..."

"What that? Oh, you mean the Noble Gaurd for the Owaki family. The Shi was a foul group of heinous criminals who once tried to dominate the whole of Edo. Though their plans ultimately failed, they were slaughtered for their crimes. It was the Owaki, however, that gave them a final chance at life. They aren't slaves but given a noble place, undeserving as they are."

Jao could barely contain his irritation.

"If we take a people bred for war and instead give them a chance to create a safe Edo, there could be no greater atonement for their ilk."

Shadowfang sucked his teeth. So this is what the world thought of his people, a bunch of lawless vagabonds who should see their bindings as tokens of grace?

"Safe? Don't be a fool, old woman..."

He abruptly turned from her, choosing to leave her company immediately or risk his bloodlust becoming more than he could control. Amongst season shinobi like these, he would be an ear to pick out of the crowd.

"There is no such thing as safe for anyone, On Edo."

He left the woman a bit bewildered. She couldn't fathom why the kid would get so bothered; perhaps he was a liberal leftist, as many of the young folk were. She waved him off and returned to her agenda, seemingly being swallowed by the crowd herself. The shorter man's eyes narrowed as he vanished into the crowd again. Noticing this, the taller one sporting a black montsuki spoke up.

"Is something wrong, Lord Iwa?"

Though he couldn't quite place it, he got a strange feeling from the one clade in the black rabbit mask.

"It's nothing, Raiden; I've finished shopping; let us return home."

Observing his lord's unusual focus, Raiden looked out into the swarm of people, but by the time he looked, Jao was gone.

"They may all be shopping, but it's still Edo. Information is power."

He thought to himself as he contemplated the nature of the city. Having nearly blown his cover after coming across a pair of Owaki, he could only assume they were high-ranking nobles by their decorative disposition. To see them waltzing about so casually, slaves in had, almost sent him into a frenzy. But doing so now would ruin the greatest tool in his arsenal—the element of surprise. Te Owaki and the Yaaru both would get what was coming to them. But he needed to finish step one before he harped over step two. He made it to the hospitality district, riddled with various inns and spas with a litany of taverns.

It was known as a hub of all kinds of commerce, and its black market connections were its true lifeblood. Information brokering was one of the most prominent forms of business in Edo. In a realm ruled by covert operations and assassination, knowledge was everything. It made all the more sense to him that his contact chose such a place. Though he had never met nor heard of this informant before, Yin himself recognized them and personally referred them, which was all the confirmation he needed. The meetup point was an Inn called "The Danyo.", a quaint yet respectable business located in the Hospitality district, a sector solely invested in relaxation. His sensitive ears tingled in irritability; he was unaccustomed to being in large, loud spaces like these, and though he found the place aesthetically pleasing, the sooner he was away from all this noise, the better.

" According to the map they sent over, I should be coming up with it within the next few minutes."

He had often pondered what this mission to Zaria could mean and what he could stand to gain from returning to the land they once called home. His understanding of it was finite, and he never truly understood its significance or why Tero chose to concentrate it under Shi's dogma. But it was there that he might begin to unravel those mysteries and, should his discernment prove true, be able to solve the mystery that the fakes currently inhabiting it could not. What could those fools even hope to gain, invoking a name as dead as the Shi'? It did not command the fear and respect it once held and was now associated with captivity and enslavement, less than human, less than dirt. This almost ceaseless inquiry was interrupted by the man standing outside what he could now see was the entrance to The Danyo. The man was massive, with arms the size of full-grown pythons. His glare carried a specific authority to them, coupled with a less-than-welcoming demeanor. In this place, Jao couldn't imagine he was very good at business.

"I'd like to grab a drink here."

"Hmm?"

The towering behemoth of meat bore an unrelenting leer of scrutiny, observing him down from head to toe.

"Hmp, move along, brat; the Danyo is a place for the elderly. We don't serve puppies still nursing from their mother's tits."

Though the eyes of his mask were blacked out behind them, the man could feel the intensity of Jao's gaze, which gave him a harrowing chill—like staring into the black retinas of a snake ready to strike.

"Gah Baron, enough of your foolishness; this is why we don't have any money!"

A woman bearing neatly sculpted grey hair emerged from the draping beaded entryway. Though her steps were slowed, they were executed with a quaint deliverance that spoke of years of intense training. With a single observation of her form, Jao could tell that this was no ordinary elder, and she was undoubtedly stronger than him. An assumption proved true with how readily the giant bowed out respectfully.

"O-ofcourse, Lady Rhea."

She smiled warmly before taking Jao by the hand and leading him inside. Though fragile, her grip was almost like being within the jaws of a tiger.

"Never mind him, sonny boy; he takes his job as a bouncer a bit too seriously. Now, please come in."

Jao accompanied her, stepping into the inn's interior—a series of platforms connected by wooden paths surrounded by ponds and zen gardens. The place was filled with laughter and bickering while a series of bands played a unified background ambiance of music. Contrary to her statement, they didn't seem to be hurting for business. So why had she so readily welcomed him? She ushered him into the bar area in the left part of the bar, furthest to the back. She motioned for him to sit, and he hesitantly obliged.

"Please do make yourself at home. Oh, and before I forget, you mentioned a drink; what can we get for you?"

He was sure this was the place; everything lined up perfectly. Still, something seemed off, but for now, he would play her game.

"How about...the Black Dragon?"

Her eyes opened slightly, like a door that had been shut for eons. They became like the slanted leer of a fox. In that instance, Jao felt the pull of an incredible aura, its presence like a blade being slowly unsheathed.

"Is that so, careful now, once you drink from the blood of a serpent."

She said, folding her hand within her Kimono, her form straightened out, becoming a bit more erect.

"If you are weak, you'll die."

Shadowfang could feel the ebb of his indomitable warrior's spirit, but he could not turn back now. His disposition would remain stalwart in the face of her indication.

"I know something of serpents, Lady Rhea."

His undertone and firm form were not lost on the lady of the house. In fact, she found herself impressed.

"Hah, I'm sure you do...Number 5."

The tension lingered for a second longer but severed as she sat down, resting conformably on her knees.

"You know who I am? Then you also know why I have come."

She sheeted her gaze back into her cheerful elderly disposition.

"Fufu, but of course, it is my job to know things...and trust me...."

She said, leaning in a bit

"I am very good at my job."

She reclined as a server brought them each a cup of tea.

"When did you notice it was me?"

"Ha...to ask a lady her secret, you truly were raised in a cave, such boorish manners."

Jao did not relent.

"From the moment you entered the city, you almost knocked me over while shopping..."

He inhaled a sharp air, shocked.

"That woman earlier...that was you?"

She chuckled, donning a small fan to hide her wicked smile.

"Fufufu, indeed, and much to my delight, your grandfather's description of you proved true to the letter. A geyser of hatred for the remaining clans."

"So you purposely egged me on then? Why provoke my ire?"

" Your ire? Ha, as you are now, you're barely the spark of a flint rock."

Her words pierced him.

"Yet in this plain of dry grass, that spark just may become the wildfire needed to shift Edo's destiny...or at least, that is what Yin believes."

Jao's defense dissolved some.

"And what is it that you believe?"

He asked her, to which she did not readily respond, letting the question linger a bit before doing so.

"I believe that you are dangerous, and if left unchecked, the wildfire you spread might do more than liberate Edo; it very well may consume us all until nothing remains."

"I will not let that happen...."

"Oh? And what makes you so sure..."

Her rebuttal caused him to hesitate. Remembering the conversation he had with his grandfather.

"Because this is my home...I would sooner tear these eyes out myself than see it destroyed."

Though she could not see his eyes, she could feel his resolve, how it fell from him like a river of purpose. The hairs on her neck stood in intrigue.

"This boy..."

"A reason if I've ever heard one. Very well."

She said as she leaned in closer to her fan, covering their faces from view.

"The group who has taken over your beloved homeland, no doubt you heard they are going around causing a ruckus in the name of the Denkoushi."

He nodded.

"However, my intel tells me they are, in fact, defectors from an Owaki company...one of the four main facilities. No doubt this is partly why Lord Iwa and his brother Lord Raiden have made their way here as well."

"Sniffing out information..."

"It is the greatest currency in our world of shadows, my young friend. Before you are a unique opportunity, you could slaughter them all, sure, reclaiming your land, but you are nary a step closer to understanding the aims of the Owaki."

" And the other is a one-in-a-lifetime chance to learn the truth of the Owaki's obsession with the Shi and how they intend to grab power from the Yaaru..."

"It is the ever-revolving door of the path of Shinobi, the three families ever intertwined in the fates of the other. I wonder, when the time comes, what is the yarn you thread will weave?"

"There is only one way to find out; what about their perimeter? Abilities? stats?"

He inquired. She withdrew a bit away from him, waving at a passerby who greeted her. Before, her gaze sharply cut to Jao over the brim of her fan.

"Though they aren't necessarily dangerous, they are shinobi. No doubt, you can expect the place to have traps added to fortify themselves. They possess an uncanny cunning, and the Jungle of Carnage is already difficult to navigate; their addition only makes that even more accurate.

"This would explain why no one has gone to kill them yet; they are not worth the manpower. Still, to escape such a place and live to brag about it..."

"Largely, they aren't that special, basic Ephermal arts and are a mixture of varying lesser clans... however... there is one among them who might prove troublesome."

"Their leader, I assume."

"Normally, your assumption would be correct. However, in this case, it is not. The whispers speak of a guard with him—a fearsome warrior who might as well not exist. We could not find out anything about them, not even a breadcrumb of intel about their background. Only..."

"Only?"

"Only that they use a style of Ephermal art likened to the Nestu style...practiced by the Shi."

Shadowfang's body became notably tensed at this news. Why would one of his kind stick beside a traitorous Owaki? Had they fallen so far into despair? So deep into self-pity that they would be seen as willing dogs of the other lords? He had to see this with his own eyes.

"Damn those old bastards...They wrap their ambitions in pretty words and smiles while plotting to tighten their grip. At least the Yaaru walk true in their prejudice rather than toss blades and hide their hands.

"Still, they have the people's support. Denouncing violence while holding power is savvily manipulative."

"Savvy or not, it’s an illusion. They lure the oppressed in with promises of protection while they tighten the noose. And here they are, flaunting their slaves like trophies. It makes my blood boil."

"You're ready to declare war on the Owaki?"

Jao considered the weight of her words—a statement that, if heard, could see her life and her entire organization gone from this life. And yet, she did not estate to speak them under the cover of song and merriment. However, for Shadowfang, the answer was quite evident.

"The Snake Clan has been waging war against the hawk in silence forever for two centuries, and in that time, we've come to understand nothing about its true motives. What I do know is they are a rot eroding the land and devouring her resources. If we don’t expose their lies, who will? The masks they wear, the facades they put up... they will drown Edo in their hypocrisy."

" You will need a plan if we go against such power."

"That is steep three; once I talk with these imposters, I will decide my next course of action... but before that...Lady Rhea. Why risk all that you have to assist the resistance? Surely, playing into the hand of the families would secure you a larger fortune."

Rhea gazed hardened intently at a face that spoke of the years of her journey, the many triumphs and twice as many losses she had experienced.

"My..aren't you an inquisitive one..."

He waited patiently for her to continue.

"Look around you; Edo has long been a land raved by war...many of the elders you see here have seen more loss and pain than you could imagine...and yet, here, in this little hobble, they smile, get food, and share laughs...this... is the face I wish those who visit our land in the future may see—my wish...silly as it may seem."

She says as her eyes soften the sound of comprador thick in the air.

"Is for the young to inherit the smiles of the elderly, not their anguish. That is a world worth sacrificing everything for..."

Her answer took back Jao. He had assumed that anyone on Edo chased the same phantoms, echos of past power and glory, to rectify their residual. But it was the opposite of that; the people wished to see the flames of Edo dwindled...and true peace to replace it.

"I see...thank you, Lady Rhea...It's time I take my leave."

"Ah, so you're off then...well. Feel free to swing by anytime...and know. That you have the full backing of the Shrouds. Think of us as your guardian shadows, pushing you ever forward."

He stood, taking a few coins from his pouch and leaving them for the server. He bowed to her, to which she politely bowed behind the cover of her fan.

"Your dream is far from silly, Lady Rhea...in fact."

He said as he rose.

"I wish to see the world through eyes like yours..."

"Ha, a paltry compliment from one with a mystic gaze."

He chuckled slightly before taking his leave. Now armed with the proper intel, he could plan his infiltration of Zaria accordingly. His mind weighed the myriad of optional ways he could execute it; however, navigating the Jungle of Carnage would be a mission in and of itself. Rhea watched him as he left, and Baron came to her side.

"So, did he meet your expectations, my lady?"

Rhea retracted her fan before taking a modest sip of her tea.

"We feared that a great flame would bring Edo to its knees...but that boy...he just may be a blessed rain that will revitalize it instead. Come, Baron...we have much work to do, I feel things are about to get very interesting..."