At The Maw of Hell

[Varoen]

Varoen, admiral of the Burning Legion navy and governor of a region of the country known as the White Water Coast, was sitting in his temporary lodgings aboard one their stolen and rededicated Fire Nation battleships. Aboard was a fresh shipment of four hundred men and women of various bending backgrounds to reinforce the Earth Kingdom troops defending the Bulwark from the Spirit Rifts hordes of demons. Behind his ship was another which carried supplies to the defenders. The first of many escorts he would probably be making as a part of their unofficial alliance to help keep the world safe from the creatures was minutes from its destination. Earlier in the morning they had been attacked by creatures coming from the wastes and, with five injured and two dead, the trip had already soured his mood. He brought these soldiers with the hopes of fighting off a terrible evil that looked as though it wanted to engulf all the world and already his people were dying and they weren’t even off the goddamn boat yet!

A knock sounded through the heavy steel door and he grunted loudly to admit the person outside. A woman’s voice came from the doorway as he struggled to write letters home to the two who had fallen “Admiral Rijo; were docking.” He nodded silently and looked at her. An Airbender, probably no older than eighteen. Var wondered briefly if she would live to see nineteen in this godforsaken place “Thank you Rina.” He tried to convey as little emotion as possible, though it was difficult when he thought of the beast he had kept from nearly killing her not twelve hours ago. A flash of teeth came to mind, gnashing fiercely at a girl frozen in place from fear as she held her sword with a limp stance. She looked as if she had already accepted her death before making a move as he ran up behind the beast, running it through and only succeeding in pissing it off. He shook off the memory as a pain in his side from a wonderful strike reminded him of his victory. He needed to get armor, just one more thing to add to his growing to do list these days. But he already knew he wouldn’t do it.

Striding up on deck Varoen looked out across the encampment at a group of Earthbenders who were training. They looked determined, their eyes already seeming hardened and their emotions pushed back after already watching countless comrades die. He looked to Rina who had followed him up on deck silently; she had hardly left his side since the beast, and always averted her eyes when he looked at her. She was surely going to die. For a moment thoughts of Zek and Aiden came to mind and an automatic ‘Airbenders…’, a thought of both amusement and annoyance, flashed through his head. They were one in the same with that ridiculous duo.

The gangplank was lowered and Varoen, playing the part of the good military leader, threw his overcoat aside so that Splash Steel could identify his status as commander while catching the sun valiantly, inspiring confidence to the entrenched and outnumbered heroes of this place with thoughts of reinforcements. He hated being in a leadership position, far too much to do for those who looked up to them. Var found someone who looked like they held a little authority “Varoen Hai Rijo, I’m looking for your commanding officer.” The man pointed to a rather official looking tent and he went for it without another word. Moving the tent flap aside he spoke as he entered, “Hello General. I’m Varoen Hai Rijo. I’m here with four hundred reinforcements from the Burning Legion, all of various bending backgrounds. One hundred of each nation in all as well as supplies to help get your guys through the next month or so.” He remembered a little to late that he was supposed to add the title of Admiral onto his name whenever introducing himself to other military figures; it was something he was never going to get used to.

[The Jackal || Ji Taro]

Ji Taro gave a contended yawn and stretched on the soft pillows on the floor of his tent-which was actually just the ground with a thin cloth over it- and smiled to himself. He had just completed a tour-de-force, an all time personal best. Strewn about his tent were maps, empty rice wine bottles, logistics manuals, empty whiskey bottles, an abridged version of Earth Kingdom military history, empty rum bottles, detailed reports on the number of demons in the Bulwark, some half empty bottles (he wasn't exactly sure what was in those, hence the only "half-empty"ness) and women. As for the last one there were precisely five, two had woken up early that morning as they had to report for duty My goodness do I love breaking in the new recruits He thought as he reached out in the darkness for a flask filled with water. The remaining woman were...."escorts".... types like that (of both genders) were usually sent to the back lines of the Bulwark region.

Ji Taro stood up, with nothing on but what he was born in, and took a long swig of lukewarm water from his canteen. He then began nudging the females one by one with his toes, telling them "You don't have to go back to the boat, but you have to get the hell outa here." There were two girls left in the tent. One was a perky fire nation girl with the most beautiful amber eyes who Ji Taro felt deserved a nice rest, and the other was from the Air Temples with fair skin, where liquor wasn't as common and it seemed she hadn't built up any resistance to the stuff yet. He told them all to go out the back entrance of the tent, as he was expecting some important guest soon and didn't want them crossing path. Just as he was saying this, his tent seemed to become exceedingly brighter and he felt a refreshing breeze pass through. He turned around just in time to hear "...help you guys out for the next few months or so." The slightly built young man seemed not to notice for a second, before Ji slowly walked to the front of the tent, grabbed the flap, said "One moment please" and closed it shut.

***

Ji Taro had just finished stretching to get the last of the kinks out and slid his dadao, Nightmare, into the sunset colored cloth around his waist. He hope the kid he'd seen before hadn't been too intimidated- Ji Taro was known to instill envy in some young men who found themselves to be slightly less...adequate (and in weird cases, arousal). He grabbed the flap of his tent, and prepared to face the young admiral, this time with pants on. Ji Taro had ordered one of his men to bring him back to the tent once Ji Taro had gotten ready for the day. He barged out to see the young man standing there again, and Ji Taro threw him into a headlock with out much warning "Didn't your parents every tell you to let people know before you barge in a room!?" Ji bellowed with a thunderous laugh. The nature of the headlock would've been uncomfortable, as it forced the young admiral to double over, and it didn't really matter how he decided to stand it was probably going to be awkward.

Ji Taro released the younger man and stuck out a rather large leathery hand, made tough from scars gained in battle "Name's Ji Taro kid! You must be Varoen Hai Rijo, Admiral and Burning Legionnaire. I've heard about you and your buddies over there across the sea. You must think you're hot shit, huh kid?" He punctuated this with an obnoxious noogie on Varoen's scalp and then sobered up a bit and spoke with a more serious tone "But don't try that ostrich-horse rustler shit out her kid, it'll get you and, more importantly, my men killed. I thank you for the supplies, but those under my command are the only valuable resource left in the Bulwark," He paused, sloshed a canteen of ice cold water down his muzzle and continued with a toothy grin " and on that cheery note, how bouts a tour of the camp?" It was phrase as a question but was more an order, as Ji Taro had already started walking away from Var, and if he had anything he wanted to talk about or say, he would have to keep up with the brisk pace.

[Varoen]

Thinking for a moment about the title and trying to cement it into his head Varoen was not immediately aware of what he was looking at in the tent until Ji Taro moved towards the flap. He could only stare in shocked silence as the man nudged a sleeping and very naked young woman from sleep. He turned eyes his away after a second, casting them towards the ground. It had been a good many years since he had seen a woman so… bare. The concept of sex was foreign to him, almost unappealing.

Losing yourself in the passions, or lust or whatever you wanted to call it was something he struggled with; he simply thought too much. He had only been with two girls before, both in the Northern Water Tribe when he was still a teenager… almost another lifetime ago. Things had been different for him back then though- His long thought process about how his life had become was halted by two things. First the smell of alcohol hit his nose and he almost recoiled. He had not trusted drink enough to partake in any after his dispute with The General so many years ago. Second, and this was the part that caused him to clear his throat and only nod in response, was Ti Jaros free hanging endowment appearing right into the patch of ground he had been looking at. He nodded to the mans words.

Varoen stood outside the tent trying to wipe the images he had just seen from his head. For a moment he thought about tracking down the smartass he had asked for directions and beat him continually until he pointed him to the right tent. That was when the alleged general strode from his tent and asked him a question that was apparently rhetorical as he threw Var into a headlock. As the muscles in the mans arm bulged against his neck he knew there was no fighting this apparently friendly greeting and waited with a sigh until it was over.

When he was finally released from the headlock he cleared his throat and was about to take the mans hand as he spoke but missed it as it went for his head in an apparently heartfelt noogie. “Yeah… Nice to meet you.” He rubbed the top of his head with an annoyed scowl “There are some of us who might think so. I can’t stand the desk job there though… Governing part of a nation is boring as hell compared to what I’d rather be doing.” He listened to Ji as he spoke again. Var had a feeling he was going to have to prove himself to this man… and his sense of humor wasn’t going to cut it he could just tell. “Sounds like a regular sandbox out here. The bullies and the kids just trying to have fun…”

Varoen watched in mild annoyance as the man strode off on what looked like a tour regardless of if he wanted one. He stepped up the pace and wondered how this man who acted more Vars age than he did, had managed to hold his place as commander of the Bulwark under such a heavy strain. Ji could have finally lost it under the pressure… but he didn’t seem the type. He found himself half wondering if the man knew he was in a battle zone. “Seems like a uh... Nice place you got here.” He looked around at all the soldiers who, for the most part seemed in good spirits. “Ji Taro, I’m sorry but I’ve got a couple questions. First, are you really the General here or was someone pulling my leg? And second… everyone here looks like they’re doing really well morale wise. How close are we to the front?”

[The Jackal || Ji Taro]

When Ji Taro could tell Varoen was with in earshot, he chuckled a bit and slowed down his pace. There was somewhere particular he was headed, something he wanted the admiral to see, as a matter of Ji Taro's own personal interest of his opinion on the matter. He spoke up loudly as he began to see the young man out of the corner of his eye "Sorry if I ain't the best tour guide kid, I aint in the tourism business. I'm in the killin deamons business, and kid? B'ness is good!" The kid seemed more earnest than Ji Had first thought. He had imagined a pretentious prick with a chip on his shoulder not tall enough to reach over the bar yet, but this Var guy seemed to really want to help. "Well then," Ji Taro began as the kid caught up "over there are the latrines," he gestured recklessly with Nightmare to a raggedy building put together out of scraps, and then to a similar building right next to it "And THAT little beauty over there is the mess hall, yeah their easy to confuse. Specially on mystery meat night. And that's one mystery best left unsolved my friend." He finished in a jovial fashion, only to here the kid's questions, which somewhat dampened his jolly comportment. "Ha! As for that first question I can hardly believe myself Rijo. General of The Bulwark is a position you get for life, and out here that might last for only a couple of days. That's the bad news about it. The good news is, sense one of the Lieutenant General inherits the position when the General of the Army croaks, so there's a lot of room for advancement. Ha!" He took a swig of water from his canteen and continued walking in the direction he had been. "To be honest though, I'm not as dumb as I look, I've done more than just stay alive while I've had this job." He paused and looked about then made a sharp turn to the right, past a few tents and beckoned Varoen to follow.

"As for the second question, Rijo, morale is so high because since I've come into office, Demon appearances have gone down by half" Ji Taro smiled and raised his flask for a drink, and then looked more serious for a moment from side to side and forcibly pulled Varoen in "Thing is, that doesn't have as much to do with me as the troops here think. Only my self, the Lieutenant General and the Brigadier General have all the status reports. Yeah, my strategies have helped cut causalities, but they Demons have been acting strange lately...coordinating attacks, making retreats at reasonable times...until now they seemed like dumb animals. We don't really know what the change is, but I have a feeling that we're going to be in for some real heavy fighting soon... I figure, as long as we keep vigilant why not let these kids be happy in the meantime huh?" He backed away from him again and continued in his normal conversational tone "As for where the front is exactly..." He looked around as someone who misplaced something and was trying to find it would "Well, it's all around us. No one knows where the demons come from. The ground, the air, portals in the sky, flying noodle monsters, who knows? They just sort of appear here and there, and we never really see how they do it. Although, if you want a more tangible answer, the front is somewhere out there in wastes. That's where the bulk of the horde forms," He paused and pointed to a train of carts passing by himself and Varoen, just as they past the lacerated arm of a young man slid out and hung there limp " and that's where those come from. Casualties may be down, but we're still fighting a losing battle it seems." He took a long drink and spoke more solemnly "More kids die every day, and we don't even know if we're making a dent..." He trailed off for a moment, then with a curt gesture to Varoen, continued on the path to his destination.

[Varoen]

Varoen trailed slightly behind the man as he attempted to catch up, Splash Steel bouncing lightly against his thigh as he went. When the man slowed Var caught up and actually cracked a smile as the man talked about ‘b’ness’. Needless to say his expectation of what this man would be like was a bit off as well. Var had thought he would meet a hard ass with no sense of humor and gruff as all hell with how close to this place he was. Ji Taro was the last thing he thought he would meet and, despite how unorthodox his personality seemed, he preferred him.

Var took careful note of the distinction between the latrines and the mess tent. “Damn… the military really knows how to name its shit…” He was gonna lose more than just a little weight here he could tell. But then again maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad thing; he had put on a little bit since his cush job had taken up his priorities. Varoen raised an eyebrow of concern at the mention of the mystery meat “You are kidding… right?” He wasn’t sure whether to laugh or to get his gag reflexes ready.

Watching the mans expression as he answered Var couldn’t help but notice how the man towered over him. Almost a foot of difference between the two and it showed big time. He almost felt like a little kid looking up at their parents. Despite the smile he wore joking about it, he could tell Ji knew that his life could end anytime in this place. It was just a matter of when. He let out a laugh with him for the big mans sake and nodded about advancement. “With what I’ve heard about this place I’m surprised your as held together you are. Seems like it would take a lot out of a man, just from what I saw this morning…” Ji Taro had suddenly turned right and Var had almost missed it.

For a brief moment Var was both impressed and convinced this guy was full of shit. But the explanation that came afterward put a chill into his bones. The beasts were intelligent then? That was not something that comforted him… “Fantastic…” Was all he muttered in response. He nodded in agreement about letting the men be happy though, in spite of the knowledge that he had just gained.

He paused as the General looked around and looked to the ground as well as if expecting to see something he had dropped. The man continued talking and for a moment he felt a little dumb for doing so. Varoen looked out to where the wastes were; wondering what was beyond their vision that held these animals so tightly bound to fighting for every inch. “Well the head of my order is planning on coming here with more troops in the next week or so. Hopefully between us and the Western Temple, we should be able to fight these bastards off soon en-” He stopped as the carts rolled by, feeling as though he should bite his tongue. Not entirely sure why, he looked to the ground in respect for the dead. It wasn’t something he would normally do, but then again these weren’t normal circumstances.

Ji Taro spoke of the men who died and began walking again. Var caught up to him and held a solemn tone as he spoke “How many of the people that I’m going to be bringing with me will lose their lives the first day?” He wasn’t sure he wanted to know, but he needed to. The lives of these people, these soldiers who fought for a greater purpose did so because he chose them. Picking their names from a list or a group and telling them they were shipping out to the Bulwark; seeing that fear in their eyes at the mere mention of their destination, and he knew their lives were in his hands. Their blood would stain his memory deeper than those he had killed for the squad ever could and it was because he knew they had a life ahead of them, had seen them interacting with one another and even gotten to know a few of them.

He thought of Rina, more a little girl than a soldier and felt as though he wanted to take his people and flee with them back to the Burning Legion. Fuck the Bulwark, let the Earth Kingdom sacrifice their soldiers… that was what he would have said if helping them out hadn’t been his idea in the first place. Sanosuke had thought him a fool for this suggestion, but ultimately agreed to it as they needed to begin playing in world affairs. Varoen realized Ji Taro was taking him someplace after so many deliberate turns “Where are you taking me exactly?”

[.:|FiresFury|:.]

Kazuma awoke in the morning with a sudden jerk as his eyes popped open. He twisted his body and planted his feet on the ground after throwing them over the side of the bed. He planted his face in his hands and rubbed his face as he looked around the dark tent and shifted his body and stood up clothing himself.

He was ready for another hard day. Everyday on the Bulwark was a fight for your life when it was your turn to go and fight on the front lines. He had volunteered himself to be sent whenever necessary. Most preferred not to do that for the reason that that meant that they would meet their death MUCH sooner then most would like to. He didn't fear death though. He embraced it with every battle. He pushed himself to the limits every time he stepped out onto the plain of danger, taking risks to save the lives of those that were about to die. He couldn't save them all but he didn't dwell on their deaths like some did. He believed that they died doing something that they found important and he respected that.

He then laced up and strapped on his spear Everto Vereor (Demon's Fear) and pushed aside the tent flap and instantly his eyes were instantly intruded by the stentorious light that came from the floating globe in the vault of heaven. It was unscathed and not blockaded by the floating nebula of poofy white objects that hovered in the atmosphere. His eyes instantly adjusted after a quick rub from his callused hands and he starting walking forward.

He knew that the Admiral of the Burning Legion Fleet should be arriving sometime today and he wasn't sure whether or not he had arrived with the said reinforcements or not but they could sure as hell use them. He began to walk forward at a steady pace when he turned a corner and saw the General talking to someone who looked as though he didn't belong. He must be the Admiral of the Burning Legion Navy, if he wasn't he sure as hell didn't know who could possibly be other then this guy. But as of right now their conversation wasn't any of his concern nor did he really care about the guy and he kept walking. He raised a hand in salute to the general and then heard the man speak of how many were going to die on their first day and he thought that the question wasnt how many were going to die, but how many were willing to die.

[The Jackal || Ji Taro]

Ji Taro halted when he saw the young water bender. He had heard of some of the things the kid had done, and talked with him from time to time; the young man had somewhat of a blade fetish akin to Ji Taro's own and from time to time they would each brag to one another about they're individual weapons of choice. Ji Taro had actually been looking for this soldier in particular, and had been walking around the water bender camp to find him. Recently, a staff Sergent had died, and Ji Taro couldn't think of a better replacement. Typically Kazuma's commanding officer would promote him, but Ji Taro felt with everything going on he might want to inform the guy himself. He also wanted to see how he was doing; Kazuma had just gotten back from the front lines " Here he is" Ji said walking over to Kazuma " this is the guy I wanted you to meet Rijo. He's a water bender, so you two have that in common. And anybody with a sword like that is alright in my book." Ji let out with a gruff laugh and then looked Kazuma up and down, and then, with the same peculiarly doubtful look in his eyes asked him "I though you just came back from the front?"

Before Kazuma had a chance to answer Ji continued " Looks like you got outa there with out a scratch on ya! Don't let it go to your head," He turned to Varoen "most people come back at least stitched up a little." He let out another doubtful chuckle and then slapped the kid on the back with a rough open palm and more force than most people would consider friendly. "Mister 'Avoid Bodily Injury' over here is getting a promotion - you couldn't at least've gotten maimed a little? All the chicks out here are hard-asses, they dig scars- congratulations Staff Sergent!" Ji Waited a minute then continued "Well don't stand there like an idiot boy! There's a hundred new recruits waiting to get bunked up!" He was prepared to dismiss the boy, and then remembered the reasons he had gone looking for this guy in the first place. "Oh! Wait wait wait. I want you debriefed. Any thing you've learned about the fiends, and any behavior you noticed while you were out there. But I don't want it written-" Ji Taro gestured to Varoen "how better to teach our allies about our enemy, than from the mouth of someone who's been wreckin their asses all over the Bulwark huh?" Ji gestured for Kazuma to talk. He didn't want Varoen surprised by what he would see. That, and the scouting party he sent out a day ago hadn't returned (probably half digested by now) which made Kazuma and his squad mates the most up to date intel on the subject.

[Varoen]

Varoen almost didn’t give the man who saluted Ji Taro another glance until the man caught him and began speaking to him. He nodded to the younger Waterbender respectfully and listened to Ji’s informal announcment of promotion to him. Var couldn’t help but wonder how often soldiers got promoted in this godforsaken place as his thoughts wandered back to the question he had asked previously. The thought that so many lives were suddenly on his shoulders made the weight of what he had engineered seem so much more heavy. He looked at the General and his soldier, whose name had been for some reason ommitted. He would learn it sooner or later, of that much he was sure.

The fact that this man had gone out and, repeatedly none the less, come back without injury was impressive and gave Var a feeling of hope for the troops he had brought. If there were people here of such quality as this man then his people were certainly in good hands. Hearing that this Sergeant would be seeing the people he had brought to their various locations made Varoen want to pay some degree of attention so that he might not miss any details, important or not.

Having an instructor in the workings of these beasts who, apparently, were getting smarter would be a great help. Especially in keeping these soldiers alive, and not to mention himself. The sudden realization of what he was doing here dawned on him. Var was in The Bulwark, possibly the most hostile enviornment in the world to help keep the demonic forces from within the Spirit Rift at bay, and if he was not careful this place would be his grave. His voice caught in his throat for a moment as he attempted to speak. “Sergeant, Admiral Rijo. It’s a pleasure, and any information you can give me and those who accompanied me would be greatly appreciated.”

He looked at Ji Taro and nodded in thanks. “Well Ji, you can come with us to the ship. I might as well head over there and reassure everyone that I didn’t abandon them in hell. Sergeant,” Var turned his eyes back to the man “It may be orders, but you have my thanks none the less. I’ll see you at the ships.” Varoen waited for a moment to hear what the two men would have to say before returning to help the troops unload the ships and begin directing them where to go.

Walking up the gangplank Var saw a flurry of activity start as he came into view, all the people on deck attempting to look busy despite the lack of things to do. He motioned for everyone to stop so he could speak “All right were ready to start unloading. After the supplies are in the camp and secured were going to be receiving instruction from one of the more experienced soldiers from the region. His words may keep you alive for a few extra days and could even let you see your families again so I expect everyone to be in attendance. Spread the word, that’s it. Get to work.[/b]” Varoen turned and looked back out the camp, wondering when his first taste of true combat against these beasts would come. He thought again of the savage creature he had fought on the deck earlier this morning and shuddered. The anticipation was killing him. [/size]

[.:|FiresFury|:.]

Kazuma began to walk further from the men before he was stopped by Ji. He apparently was looking for him for some unknown reason but he was pretty sure that he would find out soon enough. He stopped and turned back towards the man as he saw him walking towards him. He was a little confused and couldn’t tell if this was going to be something good or bad for him. All in all the man was a little vague when it came to things, this much he knew and he wasn’t complexly sure why he was being stopped for but he was a patient kind of guy and he decided to hang around and find out what.

He obviously wanted this new comer to the Bulwark to meet him. This man who he believed to be the Burning Legion guy, but if he wasn’t it didn’t really matter much to him either way, was a Water Bender or so Ji said and he had no reason not to believe him. And unbeknownst to him at the time until now Ji must have liked his sword which he didn’t really have a say on the matter but it meant that he now new was at least slightly respected by the higher ups for what he has done for the dammed Bulwark.
Supposedly some of the other soldiers, superiors and inferiors both were weaving false stories about what he has done. They outwardly expressed their disbelief for his accomplishments and were saying such things as that he will hide somewhere until the battle was over and come out and take all the credit for himself. He wasn’t sure if this man Ji believed these stories or had even heard them but he didn’t care. Those who knew him and those who were saved by him knew the truth.

He then looked and tilted his head as his Superior’s question and nodded his head just about to answer but he wasn’t given the chance before Jo Taro had spoken rather quickly as he was speaking about him to the other Water Bender and he wasn’t completely sure if he was bragging about his soldier or whether he wasn’t completely sure of what he had done just like all the rest. But then he heard something that he had least expected. He was being promoted. He blinked as he was told this and then nodded accepting the graces of the man as he took a massive palm to the back causing him a slight lean forward but then quickly regained his balance. He then listened to the “girl” hints that the Ji was giving to him and he smiled “If you say so sir, and thank you.”

He listened to his orders and nodded his head several times understanding what he needed to do and then walked over to the man and then shook his hand, “The names Kazuma, no need for formalities with me, ranks are not what save your life on the battlefield.” He then heard that they would be returning to the ships to where his men were and then bowed his head slightly gesturing that he would follow. As soon as Varoen began to walk off he walked a few paces behind him walking and observing the camp as their eyes all followed them and traced over the two of them. He heard some murmurs and whispering about the two of them. He heard a couple of demeaning comments about himself and then several comments questioning whether it was really good to trust the aide of the Burning Legion or not. Then there were the obvious “I’m better then you” kind of comments saying how Varoen didn’t look so tough and that they thought that they could beat them with their hands behind they’re backs and such. Obviously it was a sack of shit and they would stand no chance against either of them. As water benders they were naturally slim and looked weak although they packed a larger punch then sometimes even the strongest man.

As they got to the ship he could tell that a lot of them men were not doing much work and he couldn’t blame them. He wouldn’t want to have to do any work either but he would have to to survive. So as he heard Varoen talk to the men he waited for Ji to catch up, if he was following at all and then turned to see if he was indeed trailing behind them. Truthfully he half expected him to be talking to one of then new females that came off the ship.

Looking around at all the people on this ship some of them looked scared. He couldn’t blame them and he didn’t want to. This was a horrid wasteland of nothing but death and decay, he really didn’t want to see any of these men and women offer their bodies to the earth to be slain and then decay and waste to nothing but fertilizer but people have to follow orders and sadly this was one of them but to protect those and all that you care for was sometimes more important then your life, and in some cases it is worth your death to show that love and care for what you hold dear. If they died their graves will be shallow, or in the belly of a Demon, either way they would be screwed. What kept him going day in and day out was the fact that he could do something to change the world and make a difference, and everyone in his platoon followed and agreed to that statement, and in turn, they had the highest percentage of men coming back alive. What’s the chances that fighting for something and trying to make a difference made you more dangerous to the enemy then a man or women who didn't want to be there and was only there because they had to be? Funny the way life turns out.

[The Jackal || Ji Taro]

You'd think when you're life was a day-to-day struggle not to get eaten by other worldly horrors who ambush you on a regular basis you'd have more to worry about than gossip. You'd also be wrong. When you're part of a rather small community for months with little in the ways of entertainment, gossip and bragging becomes the accepted pass time. Ji preferred women, but he understood where all the trash talk came from. He didn't tolerate it though. He was going to chew out some of the troops, but realized it would look like special treatment and just stir up shit so he let it be. When he got onto the ships he took in the craftsmanship. He wasn't a sailor but growing up on Kyoshi meant he was familiar enough with boats to appreciate them, and these fleet vessels we iron clad and probably cut water like a knife through butter. Ji had hopped to get some decent sea faring vessels; the rickety left overs of the craptastic Earth Kingdom Navy were out dated in the days of avatar Aang, and were just sad to even look at nowadays. Ji grimaced and took swig while looking out on the water. It was so nice and still today, no waves at all, perfect for sailing. He was running over the stories of some of the more massive demons, particularly their rumored habit of wading out into water fifty feet deep and smashing boats to bits. He had seen no such thing, but truth often turned out to be stranger than fiction in the Bulwark. He sighed contently as he gazed out over the flat surface of the water. It was so smooth and placid, like a big sheet of bluish glass. In fact, the sun was reflecting off it at the moment perfectly, and if Ji hadn't known any better he might think there was a big glowing yellow ball beneath the waves. "Ha, not waves really..." Ji muttered to him self as he looked at the reflection in the sea that was as still as a morning lake. It was warm, warmer than the real sun even. And inviting. Almost like it was smiling at him.

"Ah damn," Ji said refocusing on the matters at hand. He barked at a few guys milling around talking about a few of the new recruits and their "assets", men after his own heart really but he put them to work unloading supplies. He also had to break up a friendly game of shells, not because he disapproved of gambling but because they also needed to be put to work. "Get the lead out your asses boys! You! Yeah, I didn't make you a damn officer cause you look good in the uniform boy! Put some pep in that step needle dick!" Ji found the men responded well to positive reinforcement. He gazed back out over the water. It hadn't moved sine he looked at it before and that warm smiling reflection on the surface was still inviting him over. It reminded him of his wife's smile, but she was dead. There was something so off about everything. It was all hazy and he didn't like the look of the sea anymore. It was just so still and calm. "So still..." he muttered. "So...GET OFF THE BOA-" Ji Taro was cut off when he was thrown off balance. The deck of the boat was removed from beneath his feet for a second though he quickly found it again with his face. It was slanted to the port side and was taking on water quickly. Ji could hear the groaning of metal being twisted and felt the vibrations of shaking earth dulled by water. He got to his feet and gripped Nightmare in his left hand, scanning his surroundings and noticing that the other ships to port were experiencing the same....technical difficulties. "Everybody! Go ashore now! STAY OUT OF THE WATER!" He didn't know whether the troops that jumped over didn't hear him or were just dumb, but he didn't have time to worry about that at the moment. With a languid and painfully slow motion he saw a figure rise from the water. It was massive, he was probably only as large as it's hand, and human like to an extent. It's slimy gray flesh was riddled with mouths of all different sizes in all sorts of awkward places each one with at least three rows of dagger sharp teeth gnashed together in nasty expressions. The head was more of a hump with enumerate eyes on it, dull and lurid green in color, and on the forehead hung a brightly shaped orb glowing brightly even in the full daylight of the mid morning. Ji Taro noticed three are four more figures of similar size rise from the waters around the other ships and weighed his now empty flask in his right hand "Shiiit," more of a disappointed sigh than a word "I am going to need a helluva lot more whiskey"

[Varoen]

Watching as the people who had made the journey alongside him began unloading their cargo and taking their possessions onto the shore Varoen noticed the arrival of both Kazuma and Ji Taro, the latter looking as though he were in a pleasant daze rather than present time. All things considered, this seemed relatively peaceful a post. ‘Maybe the Bulwark is overhyped and undermanned. This place doesn’t seem nearly as bad as everything I’ve heard.’

As this thought left his mind, the wondrous power of irony that the world was master of reared its head and struck as swiftly as a serpent. He vaguely heard Ji’s words in the back of his awareness as the world seemed to explode around him in a wave of water and twisted metal. The ship shook and groaned in violent protest as its hull was torn from beneath the waves by whatever hellsent behemoth that was birthed by the Spirit Realm.

Eyes wide Varoen could only stand for a moment in pure horror as the ship began to tilt to the right side toward the beast that rose from the water that had been peaceful only seconds before. Multiple creatures rose from the waves around the other ship as well the one he stood upon. All around him the men and women who had traveled with him did much the same and he snapped out of his stupor, perhaps too late as the soldiers began to slide off of the deck toward a watery grave.

Thinking quickly Var did what came naturally to him. With his right hand he reached across his body and snapped the stopper off of the pouch of water on his back and pulled a stream from it that he wrapped around his feet and froze to the deck to keep him from sliding into the creature’s domain. Looking left and right as he did, he saw his people sliding down toward a too soon death and steadied himself as he focused on the stern of the ship where the water was flowing in the fastest. The whole of his concentration was focused on that point as he willed the form of the water to turn to that of thick solid ice to not only hold the ship in place, if only for a few precious seconds to save many, but also to serve as a place for them to land in relative safety.

He worked quickly, but skillfully creating a thick platform at the side of the ship running its length so as to keep it above the surface. Var looked quickly around and spotted the Waterbender Kazuma and an idea formed in his mind. “Kazuma!” He jerked his head at the beast nearest the ship and pointed to his own hip at his sword and then at the bender across from him, “I’ll make a ramp, you destroy the bastard!” He only hoped the man got what he meant by essentially saying ‘follow my lead’ and created a controlled wave that subsequently became a ramp from the ships edge upwards towards the roaring beasts head. As the ramp took its form he could hear the sounds of the screaming and dying all around him. Blood shown in the water and Var could not be sure if the injuries were fatal, or if they could even be saved at this point.

Turning his eyes toward his goal Varoens heart was stricken with fear as the monster turned its cold hate filled gaze upon him. He almost choked as he finished the ramp for Kazuma to hopefully deliver a killing blow and one of his hands shot downward to unfreeze the water that held him firmly in place as the beast reared its head and let out what he could only assume was a delight filled shriek of about-to-be-sated hunger. Gravity took him and he closed his eyes in hopes of living more than just this day while he slide towards the mock safety of the platform he had created. A brief thought of what had become of Ji Taro entered his mind as he reached for his sword, praying the man would be around just long enough so that the Waterbender might be able to prove himself.

[Varoen]

Varoen looked around the ship as he slide down its sinking deck for the men who had accompanied him back on board only to find the men and women who had traveled with him sliding fearfully towards the thin platform he had created and the serpents below. He had to act fast and he knew it. The ramp he had created for Kazuma, the same general idea would have to work for him right? Standing into a crouch Var used his bending with practiced ease and made the water below his slide rise up, freezing it in its place to create a smooth upward ramp he could use in place of the other waterbender.

Out of the corner of his eye Var saw the great beast lean its head down towards some of the people who were sitting helpless on his ice shelf he had created. Time was going fast and he was almost at the bottom of the ship so he did the first thing he could think of at the moment. Reaching quickly for a throwing dagger he unclipped one of the sheaths on his leg and pulled it out to give it a quick flick in the beasts direction, hoping he had aimed carefully enough to get the eye. Looking back to the ramp he hit it with great enough momentum that he hit the ramp and ascended rapidly, his feet soon leaving the ice and flailing in mid air. As he flew he drew Splash Steel and looked towards his goal.

Looking back at him was the beast with its many hate filled and angry eyes. He could see throwing dagger sticking out of the things head just below where normal animal’s only eyes would be. It began to open its mouth and the world went into slow motion, Var seeing his life beginning to flash before his eyes. He resisted the memories urge to rise up and hardened his eyes as a plan came to mind. Simple, suicidal, and more than likely bound to get him killed, but a plan was better than nothing.

Leveling Splash Steel with his vision he crouched enough so that he could make it into the things mouth without incurring too much of a wound. He closed his eyes, blocking out the world around him and focusing only on his goal. A graze across his shoulder as a razor sharp fang cut through his clothing and into his flesh told him it was time to act. He jerked his long sword up with all the force he could muster as he extended his legs and jammed the blade up into the roof of the beast’s mouth while using his legs to halt his forward slide. He looked left and right, feeling the slippery surface beneath his feet and grimaced at the acrid scent that flowed into his nostrils from the creature’s throat. Var jammed his feet in between two fangs on either side of his body to keep the thing from swallowing him.

Turning his attention back to Splash Steel he pushed heavily against it, pushing the blade further up into its hard mouth the lights around him went out as its lips sank together, despite his efforts. With another quick thought he reached for another throwing dagger while holding on tightly to his sword with the other hand and jammed the small dagger up into the soft gum next to its teeth. The large beast roared in anger and shook its head trying to rid itself of the waterbender. Var suddenly realized that he had not formulated a plan beyond what he had done thus far and only began to realize how screwed he was as air rushed in behind him as the creature began to dive. “Fuck me…” was all he could think to say.

[Varoen]

In the few seconds that passed between entering the serpents mouth and it diving Varoen could see just how bad an idea that this ‘plan’ of his really was. As the thing headed for the water that was fast approaching the man could only think that he was going to die in a few short seconds, drowned and digested while underwater after only a few short years. And then the key word in his worries clicked and he realized how foolish he was. ‘You’re a waterbender you idiot!’ Var squared his stance, bending his knees with his feet still locked between the creatures fangs, and tightened his grip on Splash Steel with his left hand while he extended his right.

The serpents head hit the water as he did so and he used all of his effort that wasn’t already in holding on to his sword into changing the water from liquid into ice and he succeeded, barely. Small splashes dotted his face from where a few drops had hit him. In front of his face sat a large icy barrier, pointed and vicious looking and, more importantly, it held the sea monsters mouth open as it dove under the water. He looked up, though the direction was now technically a horizontal line with the earth, and grabbed another kunai from his pant leg and began slicing at the roof of the things mouth. It howled in rage and with each screech of anger brought with it a sickening smell of bile and digesting, rotting, human flesh and a stew of other things it had eaten.

With the ice wrapped around the things fangs, and its mouth open almost as wide as it could accomplish to begin with its mouth was stuck. Even if it did manage to create enough force with its jaws to crush the ice and close its mouth Var’s sword would be jammed up in the things brain and, hopefully at least, kill it. ‘That should at least count for something right?’ He shook his head hard. “No no no. Not dying in this damn things mouth! Not today!” He gave the kunai he had slashed the things mouth with one good stab into its gums before he returned it to his leg sheath. He then grabbed his other kunai stuck in its gum and put it back as well. He then looked around its mouth. “Now to get out…”

Var knew he was probably running out of air and he needed to do something that would make the thing surface, and fast. He sheathed his war dagger and again reached for an already bloodied kunai and jammed it into the room of the beast’s mouth. His effort was met with another loud shriek of protest and a foul wave of acrid air. He tested the hold Splash Steel had in the things palate and then rocked himself forward towards its throat on the hilt and then let himself fall backwards, while still holding on, taking advantage of his backward momentum. Var kicked a foot up and planted the sole of his thick leather boot squarely on the head of the implanted kunai and shoved it in with as much force as he could muster. The serpent roared loudly and broke the ice that held its maw open, ending the little light that filtered through its translucent form and clacking its jaws together tightly. At the same time Var could only hold on tightly as his long sword was shoved deep into the skull and into the passive squishy grey matter that it held inside.

It seemed shocked for a moment at what had just happened and stopped. It was the only advantage Varoen needed and he planted his feet hard and pressed upward on the hilt driving it deeper. He then grabbed the small cross guard and twisted sharply, sending a steady drain of fluid down the blade from the hole in its head and directly onto his own, coating him in its various fluids. He shuddered as he realized that it had stopped moving. “Fucking gross… Oh shit![/color]” He suddenly realized that being dead this creature was no longer moving and as such could no longer take him to the surface on its own will. He just hoped the thing would float.

As if to remind him of where he was he felt water around his ankles and looked to find a puddle of rapidly filling water from the now slack mouth that he sat inside. “Oh… yeah. I can get out now.” Var quickly retrieved his weapons and, after a small struggled tugging the sword out, he was able to use his bending to force the things mouth open and, with one last breath kicked out and propelled himself towards the surface. He just hoped that some of the goop he had acquired would rinse off and that the smell wouldn’t be permanent. [/size]