The Day of Thunder

[Chuchu]

"Hey! I'm a tasty little human! Lookit me! Yummy yummy!" Chu cheeps as she runs through the streets in a human guise and tasty Name -- The Little One You Want To Consume First. The shaman isn't fast, but she doesn't need to be; she need only be clever. "Bet you can't catch me! Nananananahnah! NYEH!"

She leads them forward, catching as many as she can in her net, towards their doom. Be ready, she prays, be ready.

[Jiyo Sora]

Sora was there, crouched low, his teeth gritted into something suspiciously akin to a grin.

He hated to admit it, but he was still far better at this sort of thing that the more satisfying work that had occupied him over the last twenty years.

And he was a fair bit faster than the little Nezumi- meaning that when he broke cover to flank the stupid scarecrows chasing her, he was on them in more or less one stride.

[Chuchu]

She taunts and cheers and prods the effigies on, leading them further and further away from the village's scant few safehouses and into the waiting arms of Jiyo Sora.

Diving past him, Chuchu rolls until she's well behind the man, bouncing up to reveal her true form as she raises her arms to cheep "Surprise!" and shower down a great starfall upon the stragglers before they know what hit them.

Leaves plenty for the grizzled warrior to pounce upon.

[Jiyo Sora]

Which, of course, Sora did.

With a few choice expressions on how he owed them all at least five years of misery.

And some brutal stomps on a couple that were still moving after they'd hit the ground.

[Chuchu]

Chu watches, waiting. After everything the humans have been through this seems almost cathartic for them -- honestly, it's a little cathartic for her, if only because she doesn't have to worry. What happens tonight happens. It's out of her hands.

[Jiyo Sora]

Sora paused, looking around.

Grinned at the little nezumi.

"Good team."

[Chuchu]

She chitters happily at that; it's true! "Want me to go get more?"

[Jiyo Sora]

Sora, not actually speaking Nezumi, still seemed to get the gist of it, cocking his head to the side and grinning.

Then he nodded.

They'd had their breather, now it was time to get back to work.

[Yoshitsune Ayako]

Yoshitsune Ayako arrived from a side street, having driven the effigies back from the healer’s house. There was a feral snarl on her face as she hacked viciously at the unnatural constructs with her axe, sending bits of straw and wood chips flying with every swing.

—
7LM Protect villagers, Agility/Heavy Weapons, +1k0 from R1 tech, void point for +1k1, armor penalty increases TN to 25 | 9k4 ⇒ 26 (TN: 25) succeeds

Edit: based on Lucid Dreaming ruling, changed Lucid Dreaming to void point for +1k1, to keep the same dice pool

[Chuchu]

They'd had their breather, now it was time to get back to work.

"I'll be back-back!" Chu snaps her Name back into its disguise and runs off to find some more prey for the hungry human.

Yoshitsune Ayako arrived from a side street, having driven the effigies back from the healer’s house. There was a feral snarl on her face as she hacked viciously at the unnatural constructs with her axe, sending bits of straw and wood chips flying with every swing.

When the strange little human girl skips past Ayako she does a double take, pauses, and cheeps out, "You need some help?"

[Yoshitsune Ayako]

When the strange little human girl skips past Ayako she does a double take, pauses, and cheeps out, "You need some help?"

Ayako whirled with axe raised, as if expecting an enemy ... then lowered her weapon as she saw that it was just an ordinary girl. Though, for some reason, the girl made Ayako feel strangely hungry.

"I'm all right!" the Crab warrior said. "Do you need an escort to the ritual? I think it's starting soon!"

[Chuchu]

"I'm all right!" the Crab warrior said. "Do you need an escort to the ritual? I think it's starting soon!"

"Gonna go when we've cleared this part out!" She cheeps before pointing Sora's direction. "Sorarora's that way! I'm about to bring him more, if you wanna help!"

With that she starts to pick up a few rocks nearby, purposefully letting her guard down to see if she can draw out any more effigies.