<span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 10pt;"></span><div class="floatright">(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CnpcVNWUsAAnnXr.jpg:large)</div><strong>Kogatana (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=274532.msg13503346#msg13503346)</strong><br/><strong>Time</strong>:Three days after the battle of Oshiro castle<br/><strong>Location</strong>:Aka ka territory<br/><strong>Tagged</strong>:Ualan Yoson<br/><hr/><br/>Almost Immediately after her loud bout of startled frustration her features began to soften and the sudden tension that spread throughout her body in that brief moment began to slowly unwind. Of all the people she could have run into she was glad it was it was Ualan; out of the many men under her command he was one of the few she was actually comfortable being alone with unarmed. She remained silent as he gave his report, trying to grasp onto what crumbs of information she could and letting the others drift out of her grasp. Now that she wasn’t frantically moving about her exhaustion crept up on her her and pounced; She was far too weary to truly take in a report this late, though at least it seemed to have kept him from asking more pertinent questions.<br/><br/>Clan Ota were useless fops one and all, she was certain that even if they hadn’t crippled themselves Gunba still would of wiped them out: If the they were known for anything it was the certain fortitude one gains from working the earth, something clan Ota lacked entirely. Though the fact that Clan Gunba’s expansion was now totally uninhibited by any other clan while Takeda had showered her own clan with gifts and promises had not escaped her attention. It was something that she had actually been meaning to speak with her adviser about. At the time she was so flushed with adrenaline and latent excitement for the upcoming war that the deal seemed like a godsend, but as time passed her doubts grew. Something wasn’t right, and while she had no knowledge of the subtleties of intrigue Ualan certainly did, and he would know better than her whether Her newfound ally truly meant well, or if they would take their place among the Oshiro as the clans that once were.<br/><br/>Her face flashed with a sudden listless irritation at the mention of her most recent conflict and her wounds began to gnaw at her with renewed vigour. Though immediately the sensation was replaced with a sudden flood of relief as her adviser glossed over her failure only to explain contingencies were already in place. The idea that that her men were already dealt with and would be far to occupied to attempt another coup comforted her immensely, even with the burden of her recent defeat still weighing hard on her shoulders<br/><br/>She took a moment to appraise the man, wondering if he knew just how crucial he had been to the stability of her clan in the past few months. There had been unease ever since the emperors passing, every captain wanted to either lead the clan or defect, some just wanted her dead for its own sake. She had no bloodline to call upon, no battalion of royal guards to protect her to their dying breaths, It was just her and her alone. But Ualan always seemed to know just what to do to keep things from falling apart. She almost envied him in a way: everything she lacked in matters of bureaucracy he seemed to grasp as if it was second nature, as if it was his calling. She could only wonder what he had occupied himself with before the emperor's death that had given him insight into such matters, but she got the feeling it was probably better if she didn’t know.<br/><br/>She looked at her adviser again this time deep into his cold unreadable eyes. Part of her wanted to thank him, to let him know how much his efforts were truly appreciated, even if it was his station his endeavours had a been such a great boon she almost couldn’t imagine how she managed to run the clan before he arrived.<br/><br/>In the Aka ka emotion was weakness, you took orders and you carried them out, you didn’t complain, you didn’t weep, and you didn’t show joy. If you did, you were not a true warrior, you were both undisciplined and a liability. Her men expected her to be intrepid and unforgiving, and given the restlessness brought about by the emperor's death she couldn’t afford to show weakness now...<br/><br/>Her thoughts were cut short as the mention of the Krai Folk brought roused her to her full attention, she raised a single silver eyebrow. Though it was mainly through trial and error and hearsay she had no small knowledge of anatomy: Knowing the locations of arteries and tendons, knowing where to hit to cripple an opponent or make it hurt, that was essential knowledge for a trained warrior. Hitting those points regularly in the heat of battle was easier said than done of course, but the knowledge had saved her life more than once.<br/><br/>She plopped down facing Ualan on one of the many stacks of books that littered the floor, wincing as one of her many wounds sent a stabbing pain up her abdomen, very nearly causing the stack she was sitting on to topple over and sending her down hard on her flank. But She managed to catch herself at the last second and took a moment to regain her balance before looking up and addressing her adviser.<br/><br/>“It may sound strange but I’m far too exhausted to sleep, and now that you’ve roused my interest rest will surely not come any easier...” She raised an open hand signalling for him to continue.<br/><br/><hr/><br/><div class="floatright">(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CnpcVNWUsAAnnXr.jpg:large)</div><strong>Kogatana (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=274532.msg13503346#msg13503346)</strong><br/><strong>Location</strong>:Krai territory<br/><strong>Tagged</strong>:Jaha Mizushima<br/><hr/><br/>A single small ship cut through the through though fog that hung over gulf separating the lands the the Aka ka from that of the Krai folk, the angular sail a lone silhouette over a sea of slate and a sky of iron. In the mist one could scarcely see the horizon, the ship almost seemed to sit suspended in an endless expanse of grey nothingness.<br/>Kogatana knelt on a folded piece of thick cloth on the bow of the craft, her hands resting on her legs. The cloth was  still thin enough that the it still wood still bit hard into her knees, but it was the only thing on the small craft she had to rest on. Her eyes remained  closed, taking in the sensations around her with a blank mind. The breeze grazed her skin though the folds in her kimono. She felt the gentle rock of the ship under her, creaking sounds of the ageing wood and the gentle lapping of the waves against the ship's hull. Somewhere far in the distance she heard the call of an albatross. She had not known such peace in many months.<br/><br/>She thought little of her upcoming negotiations with the leader of the Folk, the Folk themselves where an anomaly to her, the only experience she had with being tales and superstition she had overheard when she was but a girl: How they would steal away stray children in the night to use in their rituals, or how their magic would spoil the rice of good folk, and of course stories of the vile acts required to make use of their medicines...<br/><br/>Regardless of how true any of those tales where they could be far too valuable an ally to turn a blind eye to. They were known as lovers of peace, making them unworthy opponents, and if she was to sustain the clan friendships must be struck wherever they were to be found, and regardless of who they were with.<br/><br/>Her thoughts were broken by the call that the they had arrived on the island, she had been so deeply lost in thought that when she began to stir the sailor she arrived with was already tying the boat down to the pier and preparing to leave himself. She thanked the man with a curt bow before making her way down the pier and to the island mainland. Letters had already been sent between her and the Krai leader telling he where they would meet, and following her instructions she made her way there thusly.<br/><br/><br/>