Black Jade Fox

A couple days ago a nondescript message was delivered to Shibuya. It had been brought to Rizadoman for the Moon Tree Guild Leader to confirm it was valid, only to reveal it was likely intended for him in the first place. When opened the message said no more than 'BIRD' with a set of coordinates and a time.

The coordinates lead north and west, into the forests and fairly far away from Alne or Gadelcia. Eventually following them leads one to step into a small clearing. In the center of the grove stands Bird, looking little worse for wear. Though oddly languid in his stance. Might have something to do with the metal bands around his ankles. They look like shackles yet have no chains attatched to them. At least not physical ones. The faint glow of arcane inscriptions can be made out upon them.

But mayhaps more interesting is the one sitting upon the Peko's back. An elegant vulpine woman sits sidesaddle as a dignified lady should, a parasol resting upon one shoulder while she thumbs through an leatherbound tome. Several fluffed tails curl lazily behind her. An Inspect isn't really necessary to tell she's not of Yamato proper, the clearly Chineses design of her purple and gold qipoa dress.

She briefly glances up at the sky above the treetops, then readjusts her spectacles and returns her eyes to her book. Sighs softly, and tucks a paper strip between the pages to not lose her place. "Should be any time now..."

    Twenty four hours, that had all it taken for Rizadoman, from receiving the letter and to making it to the coordinate. The sevent foot tall lizardman doesn't exactly burst into the clearing, no instead he stops at the edge and circles behind bushes and trees for a moment slowly trying to watch the situation. Seeing his Peko in the situation he lets out a low growl, it was painful to see the poor bird in this state. Looking at the woman in the dress for a moment he is unsure if she is the one to thank or roar at. Finally he steps out of the clearing he clears his voice, " I appreciate you returning Bird to me. I will of course be taking him off your hand now. Do you happen to have the keys to the shackle?"

An ear raises as the reptilian steps into the grove, and a faint smile to herself for being right on the time follows as she closes the tome and stows it back to her inventory. "A prompt transverse to the given location. Good to see I did not give too much credit towards being punctual." The vixen slides gracefully off Bird's back, lowering and closing the parasol as she does so, and letting it sling across her back. Followed by a short bark of a laugh. "Do those look like they are locked with any standard key? No, no, that would be much too... basic for the start of this tale." Once she's standing it's easier to make out the number of her tails, as they angle out behind her like a four-pointed star. A clawed hand emerges from within long sleeve, a closed fan now clasped between her digits. "Nor delude yourself of the notion of generousity. The Peko simply has no use to us." Spectacles glimmer across the lens as she eyes Rizadoman from behind them. "Other than bringing a much more appropriate subject to my midst."

    Any forward motion towards his Peko halts as Rizadoman looks at the woman on top of Bird. " You say us , I can only assume that means you are with the palace lands. Remove the shackles and let Bird go and then we can talk. That is if you have any honor. Only then can we get past the introductory chapter of this story." Rizadoman steps forward a little more his eyes keep darting to the shackles. He could always try to rend them off but it may hurt Bird, so for now he was reliant on hostage negotiation methods first.

Daiyu tilts her head a bit. "Honor. Such an abstract notion, yet some hold to it tightly. Even when the very notion of what one considers honor may not be the same amongst them. But as you have deduced..." The foxwoman makes a brief bow with the fan-grasping arm across her front. "I am Daiyu, the Black Jade Fox of Kallamore. As for negotiation, if you so wish..." As she stands Daiyu raises her free hand to snap her claws. The arcane inscriptions on the shackles fade, releasing whatever enchantment was keeping Bird from panicing or running away. It's just enough of a hint that she works in more subtle magics.

It's followed about another faint smirk as she opens the fan in her hand, revealing it to have a serrated edge. "So he does not get in the way of our... 'negotiation'."

Tail snap back to balance her as the vulpine Were Fang lunges forward abruptly, swiping with the warfan's enchanted edge. Though there seems to be something ominous just in her presense that gnaws at the back of one's mind.

    Rizadoman watches Bird get free and this sign of positivity actually put the big lizard at ease for a moment before the fox lady is trying to slash him with her fan. Instinctively he reaches out to catch the fan with his hand and feels it cut into his hand. " It appears that all the stories of the palace land seem to jump quickly into violence. However you must recognize if you do this you don't truly give your readers a plot to explain the fighting. " The earth rises up and wraps his hand in earth extending and sharpening his talons on his other hand before he slashes out at Daiyu. " I am Rizadoman, of the Moon Tree guild, Naga warrior, and the enemy of all those who would attack the innocent."

Daiyu gaze doesn't leave the saurian even as he properly introduces himself while intercepting her quick-paced attack. She is quick to pull her warfan back as soon as it is clear he has haulted it's threat. "I have been sent to properly gauge the opposition, is that plot motivation enough for you, scaled one?" The collecting of earthen energy does not escape her estute notice. "while typically I preper less... direct methods, the oppritunity the aquisition of your mount provided was not one that could be ignored." She quickly breaks away when he lashes out, catching a bit of stone enfused swipe upon the arm even as the crack of thunder echoes in her wake. Though that nick is enough to have lasting consequences down the light. Maneuvers will have to be adjusted.

A flick of the wrist deploys a second warfan in her other hand. This one has a shimmer of icyness to it, and when she sweeps it forward it sends a rush of frigid wind rolling towards Rizadoman. "Shall we see just how cold-blooded you are?" she remarks after, even as she dashes in for another swipe with the first warfan.

    Rizadoman responds to the ice with a quick reach behind him pulling his shield from his back. Even managing to reflect some of the ice back at her. " We lizardmen may be cold blooded but the blood of dragons is what flows through us and with it we know that our actions will blaze forward. " Charging forward he continues to slash back with his free hand as he continues to use his shield for cover, though he can still feel those slashes reverberating off the shield. " I fear your leaders have only sent you to die. Does a lander like you truly wish to throw away your life ? " Apparently someone hasn't inspected his opponent.

Daiyu moves with the fluidity of water, twisting and turning to block Rizadoman's strikes with her warfans, tails flicking about behind her as she practically dances around her opponent.

Then she twirls away, stopping with fans held at angles in front of her at the ready. Tilts her head a little. Then laughs softly at the remark from the lizardman. Oh, is he one of those that.. do not indulge in certain commands because they are so focused on -being- their character? That is the only way he could not see... oh, how amusing.

"I think you need to regard your opponents a bit more closely." One fan is closed and slipped into her sleeve, freeing that hand to make a few arcane gestures and form a sphere of ichorous energies. Which she flicks, and spins to smack it with her remaining fan and launch the orb of negative forces at Rizadoman. It almost looked like a ping pong serve.

Though no attack follows it up. One gets the impression that Daiyu is playing at some other strategy. Or maybe just giving him a chance to let some things sink in....

    Rizadoman stares at the opponent infront of him and takes the negative energy head on as he feels it taint and corrupt him however he will persevere. " I know all I need, you are here to attack us as a lander of the palace land. Why you have decided to go to war with us is what is missing from this equation. So please if you survive this indulge me with that answer. " Taking in a deep breath he unleashes a breath of fire from his mouth attempting to roast the poor fox.

How interesting. This one believes she is only a Lander. Yet while trading blows with her is still showing some decorum of respect. The Hulijing Were Fang is amused by this, but she is careful not to let it show. Instead there's just a thoughtful "Mmhmm.." For the time being, she has no reason to completely break that view of his apart.

The saurian shows some of that dragon aspiration in releasing a blast of fire breath. At the same time a wind seems to whip through the forest, wrapping around the fox even as the flames are released. And for a moment she does appear to be engulfed by them.

"ANTIPODE VORTEX!" Only to erupt from the blaze in a dervish of movement towards Rizadoman, sweeping not only flames but streams of frigid water into a deadly spiral around herself admist the assualt of her slashing weapons.

    Rizadoman was not expecting having his flames turned on him mixed with the ice and cold he can only raise his shield in response. The shield provides some defense but the mix of extreme temperature still rips away at him. As he stares at the fox lady before he charges in slashing at the lady twice before trying to gouge his claws right into her stomach. It was truly a vicious attack which makes it all the more interesting with what he saysat the end, " You should retreat, or even better. Throw your weapon down and submit to becoming a prisoner of war. It will be safer for you."

The flames and water dissipetate after the spinning assault, but the winds can still be heard whistling with the fox's movements. Quick and deft movements to deflect the swipes, but that does leave an opening for Rizadoman to slam his claws into her midsection. There's an audible "OMPH" as the Were Fang stumbles backwards from the gutwrenching blow, tails lashing to re-establish her balance before she topples over. "Safer? At the hands of those that trod upon our land bringing their own chaos in their wake?" With a flick the fans are closed and hidden back up her sleeves. Followed by reaching for her parasol upon her back, which might almost give the notion that she might be listening.

Until rather than draw the parasol, she grabs the bottom of the shaft and in a sharp swift motion pulls forth the sword hidden within it. "What foolish notions." Sparks like lightning crackle along the sword's length, blade howling like the wind as Daiyu leaps in with a series of ferocious quick slices.

    Rizadoman responds to the quick slashes by the blade with his shield and hand, small cuts appearing here and there but nothing a moment out of combat won't solve. Finally though he gets fed up on it as he stomps the ground hard sending a shockwave through the ground to knock Daiyu down. " Thats ENOUGH!" Reaching into his own mouth he rips a fang from his jaw and drops it to the earth. " Fallen naga warriors here me. Rise forth from your grave and subdue this attacker. " From the ground a pair of skeleton lizardmen rise up with there bone weapons in hand as they charge forward trying to slash at the fox, hoping to catch her without her footing.

Daiyu .. actually draws back when Rizadoman yanks one of his own teeth out, making a face of repulsion at the display. "How barbaric..." The magic is effective though, bringing skeletal saurians into being after he's slammmed the ground. Already feeling the aftereffects of the previous attacks, Daiyu decides she wants little to do with the dead walking, and leaps into the trees. Remember, foxes are the one canine that can climb, and the agile hulijing is no different. She kicks off a trunk and skips across a few branches quickly.

Then drops back to the ground right behind Rizadoman. A small dagger, laced with poison from her own alchemical skills, is thrust for the small of his back. Just a scratch will be enough for it to be effective regardless of the initial harm or lack of done.

At the same time she leans over his shoulder, her voice lowered to a soft yet vicious whisper. "Also... I am not a Lander."

Then quickly pulls away again. Let's see how he reacts to that. Because now he has to question why another Adventurer is fighting him.

    With his Naga Fang shield Rizadoman spins trying to shove the knife out of the way but only turns the stab into a scratch along his back. He would be feeling that poison in just a moment without a doubt. Sliding his shield from his hand he throws it towards a tree and lets it ricohet towards the fox lady , and it will continue to ricochet about to attack her again. It is enough to keep her moving for the moment as he asks, " So you are an adventurer ? I suppose that makess sense, however then I ask what makes us different in the eyes of the palace landers. Turn back now from this path and go back to your rulers. Tell them we do not wish for this war." It appears at the end of the day her being an adventurer only goes so far to prove to him this isn't an absolute war due to species.

Flame breath. Poisonous (or would this be venomous?) claw strikes. Necromancy of 'ancestrial spirits'. Rizadoman had a peculiar kit of abilities. Ones that could of severely disrupted someone on the battlefield when unknown.

But that is precisely why Daiyu was here. Why she orchestrated this little foray into the forest using a confenscated Peko as bait. To draw out one of the enemy's ranks and truely see what they are capable of. Not some silly random attack on whoever one came across like -someone- decided to do. Though even that served its part. Unlikely the instigated saw how. That's why it was her job.

Daiyu leaps back as Rizadoman turns and brandishes his shield in an unusual manner. Her head dips forward a bit, partially hiding the faint smirk even as she's reaching over her shoulder to resheath her sword in the hidden scabbard of the parasol's shaft. "Now now, it is much too early in the story for that to be so blantantly answered. But mayhaps one already knows, if they learned anything of the history of our land while transgressing it." Leave it to the mystical fox species to be cryptic. If there is one thing the hulijing and the kitsune share, it's that. "As for your wishes..."

The shield is thrown. Daiyu was not expecting that, but she's quicky to adapt, using her own nimble speed to juke away from it. Then it ricochetes off a tree, turning it into a bit of pinball, that unfortunately does not make it's mark. Just forces her to keep her distances. "If they cared of your wishes, would I even be here?" Which is followed by a disruptive sound, painful and disorienting, erupting from the monster foxwoman's form. Foxes make a lot of unusual sounds, but that was clearly not a natural one!

Mentally she adds 'stupid shield tricks' to her list of observed capabilities.

    Rizadoman cathes the ricocheting shield out of mid air and raises it in preperation of the upcoming attack but is caught off guard by the sonic attack as he winces and steps back. His vision blurs as he buys a moment to get the ringing out of his ears, " So is there no way out of this. War is inevitable. Words only spoken by fools that only leads to a tragedy. That is not the story I wish to write today, so for the sake of the story of this world I shall have to write you out of this story. " Taking a small needle that he keeps in the back of the shield and withdraws it before pushing it into his neck. Suddenly his muscles expand as he seems to bulk up before he once again throws the shield, the ricochets now leaving large impacts representing the increased strength behind the shield now.

Daiyu is already moving fast. It start to get to the point that she's almost literally a blurr, darting amongst the trees lining the grove even as the shield is rebounding through them a second time. Whoever this woman was and whatever the reason she had been sent out to fight the Yamato Adventurers, it was clear she was no stranger to combat. The time she had spent in the Kallamore Arena, out-thinking and out-maneuvering opponents otherwise more powerful than her, was experience that still held up in a true battle.

The Hulijing was as much a battle of wits as it was a battle of blades. She manages to avoid getting hit directly by the juiced up shield assault, but when entire trees are being wrought by powerful impacts it's likely the resulting splinters somewhere have hit her like shrapnel. Her movements through the surrounding trees just makes it hard to tell.

"Out of desperation you turn to destruction." Her voice can be heard, but it's hard to pin down from where. "Yet you question why we seek to bring you down..."

Somewhere in her defensive dashing she's redrawn the warfans from up her sleeves. By the point she breaks back into the open they're already alit with elemental energy, one in flames and the other in frigid cold. So when she spins around to slash viciously at Rizadoman from a blindside approach, the spirals of flame and water churn with her motion once more.

There is no cliche shouting of technique names this time. It would ruin the ambush maneuver. The first time, it was just for show.

    Rizadoman catches the shield and tries to turn towards the source of the attack but misses the timing and instead gets knocked across the ground into a tree. " You call it desperation, I call it simply accepting you as an enemy. As my enemy I will no longer be holding back and asking you to stop. Also knowing you are an adventurer, finally removes any other hesitation. " Standing up he charges forward and attempts to ccatch the fox before she can respond and burn her with his flame breath. Mixed into it all was his attempt to stab at her with his claw again to cause more bleeding.

Daiyu takes full advantage of controlling opposing elements, sweeping one fan to conjure up a wave of water and hurtle it into the flames being spewed by her opponent. Which results in rapid evaporation of the combined elements and an eruption of steam. Which Daiyu leaps through with little hesitation. As an Enchanter she knows how much she can take when it comes to arcane forces. She lands on the ground and dives foreward to roll under Rizadoman's swipe and between his legs. His claws still catch her back, but also catch sparks from the remaining flames withering away with her movements.

The somersaulting eventually brings her back onto her feet in a crouch, tails shifting to re-establish her balance. "A fair assessment. I will give you credit for that, scaled one. Sometimes knowing when it is time to stop talking is harder than when knowing when to stop fighting."

Then one fan is snapped shut, and she darts forward to try and stab him with the sharp tip the weapon being closed makes.

    Rizadoman simply stands there as the attack comes in, "Yes and as I my enemy you will now face the full might of a Naga Warrior. " The moment before the attack his Rizadoman's scales turn blood red as the scales harden to the point where almost no damage is present. The dragon man stands there for a moment before he steps in towards her and slashes in an uppercut trying for her face. It is very obvious any nicety is long gone. "Now you are nothing more then a goblin."

Daiyu in a flash of motion Daiyu snaps the second warfan shut. Then holds them together in an X to catch Rizadomon's blow before it can actually smash her lovely face in, causing a few sparks of lingering elemental magic to crackle. She's shown to be both an enchanter and an alchemist so it's hard to tell what is her magic and what is imbued into her weapons.

She pushes the offending limb down just enough to lean over, not quite face to face with Rizadoman but close to it. "If that is what you have to tell yourself to be willing to fight, so be it... though it makes one question who really are the monsters in this region."

Then in a swift motion she lets go, drawing back. "Time to end this chapter... but just the beginning of much grander tale. One you will find it difficult within to prevail." She seems to consider someting else, but then dismisses the notion with a wave of her hand. "Keep your scruffy avian. I have no farther need or interest in it." Then with that the same swift movements and a little dark arts take her disappearing off into the forest, quick and nimble.

    Rizadoman tightens up ready for the next attack and instead his enemy appearss to run away. He steps forward to give chase when the avian is mentioned and he stops as he looks about. " Yes next time we will finish this story." Sitting in the clearing he clicks his tongue and Bird comes to him. He would begin healing Bird up enough for them to both get back to Shibuya. " It is good to have you back."