[X] Hiroko's First Plan: The Bakeneko can use illusions. So can Hiroko. Thus, she'll match her power against the cat's. If she can manage to overpower the Bakeneko's own abilities, she could trap the cat in an illusion of her own making. This would make it much easier to catch her.
[X] Yato's Plan: Essentially? Just chase the Bakeneko down. Yes, Hiroko said not to do that, but Yato is confident in your abilities to resist illusions. You've trained all this time to accomplish that feat. Now it's time to put it to the test.
Reflecting Wall Technique: Mental Version: A counter that guards your mind with a barrier made of your spiritual energy, then explodes when an enemy attempts to attack your Mind. It both defects the attack and deals damage to the attacker. Automatically activates in Combat. +10 to Resisting Mental Attacks; Deals damage to Foes who strike your Mind: 2 Charges per Combat.
[X] Yato's Plan: Essentially? Just chase the Bakeneko down. Yes, Hiroko said not to do that, but Yato is confident in your abilities to resist illusions. You've trained all this time to accomplish that feat. Now it's time to put it to the test.
[X] Yato's Plan: Essentially? Just chase the Bakeneko down. Yes, Hiroko said not to do that, but Yato is confident in your abilities to resist illusions. You've trained all this time to accomplish that feat. Now it's time to put it to the test.
Yeah, I'm gonna have to go with Yato on this one. We've trained for stuff like this.
[X] Yato's Plan: Essentially? Just chase the Bakeneko down. Yes, Hiroko said not to do that, but Yato is confident in your abilities to resist illusions. You've trained all this time to accomplish that feat. Now it's time to put it to the test.
[X] Yato's Plan: Essentially? Just chase the Bakeneko down. Yes, Hiroko said not to do that, but Yato is confident in your abilities to resist illusions. You've trained all this time to accomplish that feat. Now it's time to put it to the test.
[X] Yato's Plan: Essentially? Just chase the Bakeneko down. Yes, Hiroko said not to do that, but Yato is confident in your abilities to resist illusions. You've trained all this time to accomplish that feat. Now it's time to put it to the test.
Yeah, we've specifically trained to defeat illusions (I think for the confrontation with Hiroko? She'd probably be flattered if we told her). Although, would it be a good idea to split the party and have Hiroko/Yamato chase it down while countering its illusions, while we throw it off its game and help corner it by bullrushing through those illusions like they aren't even there?
You wave a hand at the empty room around you. The reason for the rooms barren nature becomes clear when you spot the various plugs that have been ripped from the walls. With everything even resembling technology clearly having been taken away at some point, you're surprised this place still has any wires running through the walls. But it does. And that's how your bro was able to track them to a place on the ceiling that supposedly had a secret entrance on it.
The kumiho's hand goes back to her face, covering her drooling mouth. Her eyes refuse to look at either of you as she starts explaining, "I, uh, I see. Um, I...forgot to eat my morning meal of rice and otherwise before coming here. I...don't think I should get close to any of the kittens."
[X] Hiroko's First Plan: The Bakeneko can use illusions. So can Hiroko. Thus, she'll match her power against the cat's. If she can manage to overpower the Bakeneko's own abilities, she could trap the cat in an illusion of her own making. This would make it much easier to catch her.
[X] Yato's Plan: Essentially? Just chase the Bakeneko down. Yes, Hiroko said not to do that, but Yato is confident in your abilities to resist illusions. You've trained all this time to accomplish that feat. Now it's time to put it to the test.
[X] Hiroko's First Plan: The Bakeneko can use illusions. So can Hiroko. Thus, she'll match her power against the cat's. If she can manage to overpower the Bakeneko's own abilities, she could trap the cat in an illusion of her own making. This would make it much easier to catch her.
[x] Hiroko's Second Plan: Hiroko's a fox. While not as good as a full dog's sense of smell, she can use it to track down other animals. This includes cats. If she can get the scent of the Bakeneko, she can lead you both to her location. Though...she did say she hadn't eaten recently. And you're not sure how well she can control herself.
[X] Hiroko's First Plan: The Bakeneko can use illusions. So can Hiroko. Thus, she'll match her power against the cat's. If she can manage to overpower the Bakeneko's own abilities, she could trap the cat in an illusion of her own making. This would make it much easier to catch her.
Scheduled vote count started by LinkOnScepter on Jun 20, 2022 at 6:23 PM, finished with 15 posts and 13 votes.
[X] Yato's Plan: Essentially? Just chase the Bakeneko down. Yes, Hiroko said not to do that, but Yato is confident in your abilities to resist illusions. You've trained all this time to accomplish that feat. Now it's time to put it to the test.
[X] Hiroko's First Plan: The Bakeneko can use illusions. So can Hiroko. Thus, she'll match her power against the cat's. If she can manage to overpower the Bakeneko's own abilities, she could trap the cat in an illusion of her own making. This would make it much easier to catch her.
[x] Hiroko's Second Plan: Hiroko's a fox. While not as good as a full dog's sense of smell, she can use it to track down other animals. This includes cats. If she can get the scent of the Bakeneko, she can lead you both to her location. Though...she did say she hadn't eaten recently. And you're not sure how well she can control herself.
[X] Yato's Plan: Essentially? Just chase the Bakeneko down. Yes, Hiroko said not to do that, but Yato is confident in your abilities to resist illusions. You've trained all this time to accomplish that feat. Now it's time to put it to the test.
"I believe this is an unwise decision," Yamato is quick to say, "We have no clue what the Bakeneko is even capable of. Nor do we know whether your preparations against mental attacks will be sufficient."
You turn towards the path where Yato says the Bakeneko went. You stretch a bit, loosening yourself up as you get ready to run, "Then there's no time like the present to test them out. You and Hiroko can head the other way. If Yato turns out to be wrong, then try to get to the main entrance in case she goes that way. Could try to cut her off."
"An excellent idea, Hayato. But, do be careful. While I doubt she's as adept as I at the use of such magics, that doesn't mean you should underestimate them," Hiroko states while sweeping a hand out in front of her.
"Right," you nod to her. Then you turn your attention to the hallway.
Before you can set off, you feel a hand touch your shoulder. You turn to your right to see Yamato staring you down. Your brother's expression remains stoic, but his grip on your shoulder only gets tighter. You stare him down then offer a warm smile, "I'll be fine, Yam. I promise."
His expression doesn't change. But he does let your shoulder go and nods, "As you say, brother."
You turn back and are off down the hallway within a moment. Yato appears on your arms with a clanging sound. You round a corner and hear his voice in your head, "Do not worry, Lord Hayato. If the Bakeneko's illusions prove too much, I will supplement your abilities with my own."
"Thanks for the heads up. Now, let me focus," you say as the two cats start coming into view. One is the Thai from before while the other is the one with two tails. When the one with two tails turns around and spots you, you feel the world "shift" for lack of a better word.
One minute, there are only two cats rushing ahead of you.
The next, there are at least ten of them.
All a black color with two tails wagging behind them.
[Skill Check: Resistance: Mental: 44 + 5 (A Busy Mind) + 5 (Meditative Mentality) + 10 (UMT Passive Bonus) = 64 VS DC 20: Success!: +5 XP]
But it doesn't fool you.
You simply increase your speed. Your foot comes down on one of the false images, making it disappear in a puff of black smoke. You barrel on through, eyes never leaving the real cat still running at the head of the formation.
The cat's eyes seem to widen even further. It hisses something to the Thai which splits off from it towards a western hall. You're forced to jump over holes in the floor, duck under hanging wooden beams, and barrel through rotting doors as you keep pace with the cat. When you hit the halfway point, you see a bright light shine from the cat's paws.
You round a corner...and suddenly everything is gone.
The floor, the ceiling, the building, it's all gone.
The only thing left is a giant, black, yawning pit ready to swallow you whole....
[Skill Check: Resistance: Mental: 44 + 5 (A Busy Mind) + 5 (Meditative Mentality) + 10 (UMT Passive Bonus) = 64 VS DC 40: Success!: +5 XP]
...at least, that's what she wants you to think.
But you place one foot on the pit....and you don't fall in.
The illusion shatters a moment later, showing you're still on the cat's tail. It actually meows in what you think is shock when you gain on it. Even when slides into hard to reach crevasses, or ducks into blocked off rooms, you're able to keep up with it. Either through smashing through the blockage with Yato or simply taking an alternate route. Eventually, she runs outta places to go.
The two of round a corner. Ahead of you is the entrance to the school...where Yamato and Hiroko wait with the three other kitties around their feet. The cat you're chasing skids to a halt then turns around. It hisses at you , before in a puff of smoke it suddenly grows.
It gets big.
Real big.
Big enough that it's mouth could swallow you whole if it wanted to.
It's big, green, slitted eyes look at you with hardly disguised malice. It lets out a loud roar that shakes your eardrums.
[Skill Check: Resistance: Mental: 44 + 5 (A Busy Mind) + 5 (Meditative Mentality) + 10 (UMT Passive Bonus) = 64 VS DC 50: Success!: +5 XP]
You cut its roar off by poking its head with your finger.
The image immediately pops into a puff of white smoke.
Then, sitting before you, is the cat you've been chasing.
"Nice try," you bend down and grab it by the scruff of it's neck. When you've lifted it up to the point where you can look it in the eye, you tap your head with a finger, "But you're a bit too early to get through my mental defenses. Get a bit better and maybe you'll be able to fool me."
"Well done, Lord Hayato. You did not even require my assistance," Yato congratulates you.
The cat hisses then starts swiping at your arm. It does nothing, so you just let it go, "Thanks, Yato. Now, how about we-"
You're cut off when the cat disappears into another puff of smoke. You tense up, but don't feel anything leaving your grip. In fact...does the cat get...heavier?
When the smoke clears, you get your answer.
The...girl is short enough that you can still keep her well above the ground. Her feet don't even come close to touching it. Your hand no longer holds onto the scruff of her neck. Instead, you've got the collar of whatever she's wearing in your grip.
She stares at you with a combination of frustration, embarrassment, and defeat swirling in her eyes. She huffs, cheeks puffing out as she crosses her arms, "Hmph. Not as much of a big dumb brute as I thought you were. You gonna put me down anytime soon? My feet are starting to cramp."
You tilt your head questioningly, making your way over to where your brother is, "Really? You're going with that excuse? I'm not letting you go so you can run off again because of fake cramps."
"I'm not faking!" she pouts, cat ears flicking angrily across her head, "I haven't had to run that much in forever! My feet are killing me!"
"Do you...not get out much?"
"Why should I? I have everything I need in my secret room."
You blink twice. Before you can speak though, the girl shoots a glare at you. A hiss comes from her throat, "Don't you dare say it! I'm not a hikikomori! I'm a shut-in. And, yes, there is a difference."
"Right," you nod your head. A chorus of meows takes your attention, the three other cats suddenly surrounding your feet. They all start looking up at the Bakeneko in your hand. Seeing that they're clearly pining for her, you slowly lower her down into their midst.
The moment you let her go, she's scooping the three of them into her arms. She says what you think are their names, "Pon-Pon, Momo, Sacho. It's alright. I'm here now."
You notice that her emotions seem to calm themselves now that she's with he cats. In fact, her face loses its frustration and otherwise. It turns into a mask of impassivity that you've seen on Yamato quite a few times. Speaking of your brother, he's finally stepped close enough to see the Bakeneko. Hiroko comes by as well, stopping just within the girl's line of sight.
She looks up at all three of you. Then down at her cats. Then back up at the three of you.
Then she sighs.
"Alright, you caught me. What now?"
@Qudrim8054 hope I wrote her the way you were imagining her. Let me know if I got anything wrong.
Also, the reason she was showing so much emotion before was cause...well...you guys were chasing her. And managed to blow through all her illusions.
"I believe this is an unwise decision," Yamato is quick to say, "We have no clue what the Bakeneko is even capable of. Nor do we know whether your preparations against mental attacks will be sufficient."
You turn back and are off down the hallway within a moment. Yato appears on your arms with a clanging sound. You round a corner and hear his voice in your head, "Do not worry, Lord Hayato. If the Bakeneko's illusions prove too much, I will supplement your abilities with my own."
You blink twice. Before you can speak though, the girl shoots a glare at you. A hiss comes from her throat, "Don't you dare say it! I'm not a hikikomori! I'm a shut-in. And, yes, there is a difference."
Ha, we just completely shut down all her illusions basically without effort! The fact we were running instead of walking is the only thing keeping us from being the horror movie monster.
Yeah, that's how I imagined her when she is emotional. Hilarious writing too. I can't wait to see how you write her with her stoic mask as well, with all the sarcasm and insults that entail. Though I would really like to see her reaction to Yamato now that we saw her impressed reaction to us.
I already wrote what she thinks of Hiroko, so I also wish to see her interact with Yameko.
Great job and I laughed my ass off with this update. Can't wait for more!
