Zashuan

Sensing an opportunity, Santokumaru bows once more to Sdroodl, and tries to adjust his register this time. "Er... Mohnskeeng Sdroodl very, very cool. Beeg stronk. Much stronker than hoomans. Hooman give Sdroodl many thanks, for listening. Hoomans talk with Akimbold now, so please enjoy your, uh, Royal Bakey Time." Before Akimbold's irate trembling can boil over, Santokumaru takes him aside with the rest of the party into one of the corridors from before. He speaks to Akimbold in quieter tones than before, as one of Sdroodl's garish portraits looks on. "Forgive me if I speak too plainly, Sir Akimbold, but it would seem your Munchking has decided to submit to the dragon, and plans to position the kobolds of Burokori accordingly. Like you, I find this distasteful; from what I have seen of Haxenspargilis, I can only imagine the reign of terror he would inflict on your clan. Only by standing together, can the realms of this land fend off this threat. The kobolds need a leader that they respect, admire, and trust, one that would stand up to the dragon's intimidation. Is there any chance that you might be that leader?" "In Honyaki, when an elder challenges another for leadership, we abide neither trickery no bloodshed. Instead, we put it to a contest of skill, in the culinary arts. If you were to challenge your Munchking, know that I would stand beside you."

As Akimbold leads the party through what might be called the Munchking's "castle," Santokumaru can't help but be impressed by the craftsmanship, even with the shoddy aesthetic. He wonders to himself if Sdroodl would enjoy a poem that dramatizes his bravery, but then he sees the portraits and the sculptures, and thinks that Sdroodl seems like more of a "visual arts" kind of person. Santokumaru listens as Akimbold and Sdroodl bicker back and forth. Sdroodl's mention of a gift for Haxenspargilis is surprising, especially when Akimbold was so spiteful of that very same notion, just minutes before. Based on Akimbold's reaction, however, it's clear that this turn of events is news to the kobold captain as well. "Pardon our intrusion, O Wise and Wondrous Munchking, in all your Magnanimous... Munchiness," Santokumaru says with a bow, hoping that's enough honorifics to keep the king's fragile attention. "Has Haxenspargilis asked you for a gift? We were under the impression that he was an aggressor to your fair kingdom, not an ally. What advantage do you hope to gain with this gift, O Cunning and Clever Munchking, Emperor of Burokori and All Who Dwell Here."

Santokumaru listens to Akimbold attentively. He's not often the most astute observer of others' emotions, but Akimbold's weary sort of displeasure at the mention of the Munchking's newfound "tradition" and "Royal Bakey Time" signals a cut between the captain and the Munchking's ambitions. Like a small crack in a coconut waiting to be carved, Santokumaru thought he saw an opening. "Forgive me if I speak too plainly, Sir Akimbold," Santokumaru says, with the utmost respect, as usual. "It would seem that while you and your Krew fight valiantly to protect this Munchking Sdroodl -- no one would dare contest your bravery, nor your skill -- perhaps the Munchking's decree has caused you no small measure of difficulty." "If there is something I can do to aid your plight, do not hesitate to speak." Santokumaru unbuckles his knife block (softly; it doesn't come off as violent), swings it around in front of him, and holds it to his chest, like a salute. "After witnessing your prowess, I know we are Sworn Brothers of Silverware. Speak your mind, and perhaps we might help each other in our endeavors."

The flames on Gyuuto flicker and finally sputter out, as Santokumaru resheathes his blades in the enormous knife block buckled to his back. He mutters a few words of gratitude under his breath to the spirits of Honyaki, thanking them that this match was cut short before anyone could be truly injured. "I am Santokumaru, swordsman of Honyaki. My companions and I travel in spite of the terrible dragon, not to abet his wickedness, but to save the hostage he has taken." Santokumaru bows before Akimbold, as a sign of respect. "Your skill is fearsome, and were it not for the severing of your ropes, you may very well have been the victor. Please, tell us of your Munchking, and why they need protection. Perhaps our goals can intersect, rather than cut in twain."

"There is no greater honor than fighting to protect," Santokumaru says, spinning away from Akimbold's barrage of spoon strikes. "If this Munchking is truly in need of aid, we may able to help." "But first, we must insist that you stand down." Suddenly, a vial of oil appears in Santokumaru's hand, the glass shaped like a dragon with a cork stuck in the dragon's mouth. "No serious harm will come to your companions or your slime." With a small flick, he pitches the oil high up into the air. The flames on Gyuuto's steel flicker to life once more, as Santokumaru's eyes lock onto the vial plummeting back down. "After this, may we speak as friends." With a slice, he halves the vial in two, and there is sound like a dragon's roar as the oil violently combusts into the air. OOC Initiative Slot 1: Spending 2 IP to create an Elemental Shard (Fire) for 10 fire damage, targeting Akimbold.

Counterattack vs. Akimbold (spoon attack on Eleanora, during Serving 4)

Counterattack vs. Akimbold

As Santokumaru trades more clanging blows with Akimbold, he ponders the weight in the wily kobold's comments. Though they gather the ingredients to be rid of Haxenspargilis, he can see how one might argue that makes them the dragon's attendants, in a cause-and-effect way. "We are no servants of the dragon," Santokumaru responds, as he catches his foe's spoon between two blades at once, like pincers. "We are bound by circumstance, to save an innocent life. Perhaps your goals and ours are not as opposed as we once thought." With a powerful swing, he bats Akimbold's spoon aside. A whirlwind of cuts and slashes whips around Santokumaru as he advances, but Akimbold's spoonwork is just as fast, parrying with lightning speed. Gyuuto bursts into flame, and Santokumaru spins it in his hand. "But if you will not be convinced by words, we have less subtle methods of diplomacy."

"Dragon's servants?" Santokumaru asks, as he comes face-to-face with Akimbold while defending Tourna against the flurry of spoon strikes. "A dragon is our foe, not our master. How did you come to know of this?" While he lunges with a frenzy of fiery slashes -- Akimbold's defenses seem a bit like burned udon, at the moment -- Santokumaru reflects that the kobolds are surprisingly well-informed. He wonders if there is more to this melange than meets the knife.

Counterattack vs. Captain Akimbold!

As Santokumaru trades a blizzard of clanging blows with Akimbold, he notices the Ramenooze inhaling a great quantity of air, as though in preparation for some terrible breath. Just before the Ramenooze lets loose, Santokumaru appears to vanish from his duel entirely, in a shimmer of motion. There is a sound of rushing air and roaring flame, as the Ramenooze spews a plume of fire that washes over Vesper. When the flames subside, Santokumaru stands in front of Vesper, his blades spinning like the propellers of an airship, their metal superheated to a red-orange glow. The spinning stops, and a soot-covered Santokumaru stumbles, slightly; his strength is beginning to falter. He spits out some ash-choked saliva on the ground, and locks eyes with Akimbold once more. His lips curl into a subtle smile. "I finally remember what dish your ropes remind me of, false dragon," Santokumaru says, defiantly. "In Honyaki, we have a noodle dish where the noodles are made from barley, and are cut in a very particular way." He seizes Gyuuto, and its magical flames spring to life once more. "You do not know of it? Here, I will show you." As Santokumaru raises his fiery blade to strike, he disappears again, his image flickering for just a moment before vanishing completely. Suddenly, one of the ropes above snaps with a hissing noise, its end scorched as it twists and lashes around from the abrupt change in tension. Another rope does the same thing, then another. Before long, almost all of the ropes are cut, with the exception of one larger rope that strains and whines in its newfound solitude. Santokumaru reappears on the bowlship, and with a flourish, reverses his grip on Gyuuto as he speaks: ~ A dream of ramen. Noodles carved from sheets? No, they Are carved from intent. ~ He sheathes Gyuuto back in the knife block with a loud clack, as he bellows "Burning Talons of the Divine Dragon!!" A frenzy of whirling, burning slashes slithers down the length of the final rope, and for a second, they almost resemble a coiling dragon. But the effect is over in an instant as the rope is shredded into twine.

Santokumaru quickly surveys the situation. The kobold pack was dangerous, but not quite as dangerous as the wily Captain or the Ramenooze. What was that spoon technique he just used? Santokumaru wondered, as he tapped his knife block in thought. Cutting the ropes supporting many of the kobolds was certainly priority one, though protecting their bowlship was also important. How could he hope to make the optimal move when there were so many factors, so many variables to consider? He shakes his head briskly, like dispelling a bad dream. Do what you have always done, he thinks to himself. See the food before you. Make the cut. At once, the ropes begin to look like ramen noodles in his mind's eye, and they are far too long for cooking. With a flourish, he draws one of his father's legendary carving katanas: Gyuuto, marked with demonic bulls snorting fire and smoke. He raps his knuckle against the tempered steel, and feels his soul crackle with passion and heat. At once, the flames marking the metal spring to life, shrouding the blade in a plume of swirling fire. Santokumaru becomes a blur of red-orange slashes for a moment, then re-sheathes the blade with a metallic clack. On cue, several of the ropes are suddenly sliced in two, their burnt ends fraying into cinders. "Little surprise, that a ramen captain wields a ladle. Come, then." In a burst of imperceptible speed, he lunges at Captain Akimbold, Gyuuto spinning like a fiery propeller in his hand. "Let us pit knife against spoon."

Though Santokumaru's blades were missing their mark, he couldn't help but smile as he dispelled part of the kobold's magical gas by spinning his blades like propellers. Inevitably, some of the gas got through anyway, but Santokumaru didn't mind. To protect a friend was to cut their sorrow. With a spinning step, he trained three of his blades at once on the more warlike kobold.

Counterattack vs. Kobold Warrior Protecting Vesper from Bad Breath, Santokumaru takes 16 poison damage

Santokumaru notices the staff-holding kobold tower spiral dangerously close to Vesper. In an instant, he reaches into the folds of his yukata, pulls out a famous Honyaki onion, and tosses it into the air. " ~ From a heart of soil, its miasma burns like flame, even dragons might weep. ~ " As it falls, there is a cacophony of metallic unsheathing and slicing noises while Santokumaru cuts the onion into a fine spray with all of his blades at once, directed at the column of kobolds. "Tears of the Dragon!"