Nodoka smiles softly at the question looking at the Kappa when it asked that question. "Your very welcome, and I helped you simply because it was the right thing to do...you were obviously in pain and I can't stand by and not help anyone in danger.." Nodoka said softly as she smiles.

"My name is Nodoka and this is my companion Kazusa...we were looking for some bandits that might be hiding out somewhere around here.." Nodoka said softly.

He would not have helped them if their situations had been reserved. “I am Hida.” He didn't have to think of it too hard, it wasn't as if he were paying the two back but more that he hated the bandits. “Oh, I know of them and have seen their camp too. One had been responsible for grappling me and dumping the water out of the basin ...”

More or less that would have immobilized him until the water was refilled from his home, fortunately this river seemed to be his home. Of course Kappa were good at hand to hand combat as well so whoever did this to him had to be skilled.

“But the bandits are far more than they appear ...” he paused. “I can take you to them though.”

Nodoka smiles cutely and brightly, "Why thank you," She said while turning to Kazusa. "Well this shouldn't be too hard we just gotta report they're location to the Samurai to handle them," Nodoka said softly as she smiles at Hida. "So please Hida take us to them," She said.

Kappa where malicious and Kazusa was a bit weary of Hida. There was still a good chance that he would try to fool them or deceive them though he was still on his guard not totally buying into the tale though if it were true then all the better. He smiled at Nodoka.

“This could be easier indeed. We still have to check out things for ourselves but I am curious,” he claims as he looks at Hida. “Who did this to you?”

“Tetsu … the leader of the bandits … come ...” And with that Hida began to lead the way stealthily, Kazusa left the horses here to move quieter and have a better chance at stealth after sharing a glance with Nodoka before following Hida.

Nodoka smiles and nods before she follows from behind as she let Hida lead her and Kazusa in the direction of the bandits. They had a lead now on where they were hiding out as Nodoka smiles hugely at the thought of finally handling another bandit group.

She stayed silent one hand clenched her sword as she walked behind at the back of the group.

There had been no deception on Hida's part though as if knowing setting up near the river was bad they established a camp some ways away from the water though the Kappa stopped after a point daring to go no further than he did as he pointed up a forested hill.

“They have a camp just atop that hill there. Haisno no Oni ...”

“What?”

“Haisno no Oni. It is full of them ...”

Kazusa shook his head. The Haisno no Oni were one of the weaker forms of Oni that looked like men, of course they were still Oni at heart. This was a development that required more information though no wonder that Hida's water had been dumped out of his head.

“And Tetsu is an Haisno no Oni?”

Hida shook his head. “No. He is an Oni no Genso ...”

“Lovely. This changes things a bit. You couldn't have told us sooner?”

There was a hint of a grin on the Kappa's features. “You never asked if they were Oni, but I am telling you now.”

At least there was that ...

"Oni huh...lovely..." Nodoka muttered softly as she sighed rubbing her forehead. "Alright thank you for the help Hida," Nodoka smiles kindly at the Kappa. "You've done more than enough for us, we can handle things from here," Nodoka said giving the Kappa the option to get outta here now.

Nodoka glanced at Kazusa and smiles with a nod. "Let's go.." She said softly and took a few steps forward now calmly approaching the Hill as she carefully began to head up the hill.

There was no need to tell him twice as the Kappa departed from their company in the direction of the river. Still Oni or no it was still their duty as scouts to determine what they had been up again and Kazusa nods as they travel on.

The human appearing Oni, the Haisno no Oni should be easy enough for the samurai to deal with. They were a challenge but not a huge one, Genso no Oni was in a different league though. Perhaps they would manage to deal with him some how, well not them themselves but the samurai, maybe if they brought Shugenja with them they could seal it or otherwise deal with the Oni.

When they got to the hill top there was a good sized number of them, no commander yet just the bandits or rather the Oni disguised as bandits.

From the looks of it there was a small war band here of raiders or skirmishers, certainly this was not part of the folklore she had been reading!

Three dozen bandits they could estimate given a head count of the ones that were up along with the horses and other equipment that they had on hand.

Nodoka stayed low as she got out a small writing item she had with her and began writing down the amount of Oni that were there with Kazusa beside her to help her count how many they were. 3 Dozen Oni which were about 36. Something that would be not too hard for the Samurai to handle against.

"we need to find that Haisno no Oni..." Nodoka whispered scanning the camp for any sign of the leader.

Kazusa smiled then point. “There right there my dear. I know what you meant though, the Genso no Oni.” They look around the perimeter of the camp moving with care and stealth. Occasional he pulled out binoculars to get a better look then tapped her on the shoulder and gave them to her to look through.

Samurai could not sulk around like they could since doing so tarnished their honor but it fell to people like them, the unsung heroes that added to victory.

There was Tetsu , the Genso no Oni emerging from a hut. Tetsu was a combat trained Oni as were all Genso no Oni.

He was humanoid with a twisted demonic face permanently twisted in a grin, his clothing and armor in impeccable order.

"There he is.." Nodoka said blushing at her mistake as she took details about Tetsu carefully for the Samurai informing that he was a much higher class of Oni. "They look ready to begin another raid...what villages are nearby here?" She whispered to Kazusa trying to recall any villages that the Oni could be targetting as they would have to warn the villagers.

Indeed there were enough of them to raze a village to the ground as typical peasants did not stand a chance against even weak Oni. Kazusa though about the question for a briefly. “From her there's the shrine at Haruma though there are only a few Shugenja there and Kai Oko which is a decent sized village. It's clear that they'll planning something though what I'm not sure -”

“TO KILL!” And a large tetsubo (spiked club) slammed into the ground as a cloud of dirt rises up into the air where he had once been standing.

A red skinned, one eyed and single horned Oni standing just over seven feet in height had been there as it snuck up on the pair, chuckling insanely as he approached.

Nodoka widened her eyes and quickly got away from that attack as she drew her sword quickly to see the red skinned Oni standing there somehow having snuck on the pair as Nodoka narrowed her eyes.

"Kazusa...fighting isn't an option right now...we need to warn the palace.." She said suddenly showing that piece of paper to him. "We need to run...now," Nodoka said softly as she looked at the oni while staying nearby Kazusa.

But it didn't seem as if the Oni was going to play by their rules. It could always engage at least one of then and Kazusa knew this. He drew his blade, she was right of course.

“Somehow I don't think he's going to less us, go, I'll hold him back before joining you!”

He rushed forward, thrusting with his weapon as the Oni took half a step back deflecting the blow with his own weapon though this close to him the Oni could not use an over head smash least it expose his chest each time it attacked.

The Oni growled confident that it could dispose of a few mere humans without help and thus did not even sound an alarm.

Nodoka nods quickly. "Be careful!" She said before she quickly headed back down the hill while her partner handled the Oni. She slide down the hill quickly and headed back the way she came to where the horses where hidden she had to hurry and warn the palace. Hoping that Kazusa was alright as she moved through the nearby forest area near the river as she kept moving as quick as she could move.