[OOC: Piano wire sub = rope.]
Adeluna, because of its economy of agglomeration, was home to cult and shop alike. Everyone in the business of family or organization needed some means of acquiring necessities and materials at some point, and so they, typically, coalesced around large trading centers like the jewel of Canelux. The cult of Udragar was no different.
Natsumi had encountered the handiwork of that group on occasion, finding slaughtered animals in the wild and small cells hiding out in Virens Forest. However, because she never had any leads to a larger threat, she was never able to track down the source of these unpleasant neighbors. Additionally, killing and displaying the bodies of the stragglers had, thus far, proven insufficient to quell their acts of torture. It seemed a hopelessly endless conflict, and one that the druid had no interest in wasting energy on without more information.
On the day that she actually found a promising lead to an end, she was shopping for clothing in the city with Saya. She wanted her daughter to get a taste of civilization, since she'd been stuck in the wilds ever since her departure from her homeland. The small girl in a simple dress and ragged boots had hugged Natsumi's leg tightly during the whole trip, clearly scared of the many people bustling around her. The druid did her best to be patient and comforting during this time, however, and eventually finished the day with several new garments to keep her daughter comfortable during the coming snow and rain.
With the day's task done, the family of two was now on their way home. Their plan was to get to the edge of the city and then open a gate back to camp, but they didn't quite make it all the way before the cloaked Natsumi paused just outside the main gate.
"Saya, mommy is going to have to send you home ahead of her," she said in a sweet voice, trying not to alert her daughter to the ill sensation that had just flowed in from the north. It was a foolish attempt, as the little girl could sense foul magic just as easily as her caretaker.
"B-be c-careful, Notsume." She stuttered in response. Saya still wasn't comfortable referring to Natsumi as her mother, nor was she very confident at using common tongue. The first fact did sadden the young woman, but she understood why her adopted daughter felt that way. Apoy Island wasn't that long ago, and Saya still remembered her biological mother from before she became an outcast. It was a hard transition for everyone, and one Natsumi had tried her best to cope with.
"I will be. I promise." The elder Yamauchi hugged her daughter, tasting the irony that her responsibility was actually turning into genuine love. Saya's adoption had started as a situation of necessity, but it transitioned into a gift that the druid was eager to protect. She wouldn't put this fragile person in danger, no matter what, and so she sent little Saya, along with the bag containing the day's purchases, back through a portal to Virens before pressing on toward a small grove north of Adeluna's main gate.
The sensation of unholy magic mingled with the scents of blood and bodily waste the closer Natsumi drew to the aforementioned woods. It put her on edge, especially when she passed a branch to discover a crucifix in use. The sight of a masked man pinned to a tree reached her eyes, and was more than enough for her to feel glad having sent Saya home already.
"How cruel," the young woman said while moving closer to the bloody mess. "Death should be swift, when possible. Torture benefits no one." A pitiful gaze fell on the distorted mask of a vigilante that, while notable in towns, remained unknown to the wilds. Wind blew off the hood shielding the stare from the afternoon sunset as the druid thought on how to free the human, exposing the fox ears that had become her most noticeable calling card. It wasn't long before she realized that there would be no easy way to liberate her host. "This will hurt, but less so than if you weren't sedated."
Taking one last moment to assure no one was watching, Natsumi moved close enough to touch the pinned swordsman. She reached out to each impaled limb, using a modified hibernation spell to dull the nerves leading out to them. Then, when she was sure that the afflicted areas were properly anesthetized, she summoned a thin, piece of piano wire; wrapped it around each stake; and pulled them out with brute force. Rejuvenation spells came from Kino in tandem with the methodical, stake removal, staunching the bleeding as best they could. Only when the immediate danger of the crucifixion was past would the healer take the time to examine any secondary conditions that had come about. In the mean time, she just wanted to make sure the torture victim could lie down.