Ghostknight
First Post
Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
WB Yeats The Second Coming
Prelude
The monastery is quiet. Outside the gongs ring and the sounds of people returning into the halls can be heard. Feet shuffle as weary acolytes bend and wash hands and feet, removing the dust of the fields and cleaning new found callouses. Those who have passed their acolyte days contemplate the bare room, before sinking down on their haunches to bow in the direction of the ancestral statues and take their places, around the low tables. Acolytes enter and try to copy the smooth movements of their elders, but few manage.The gong is struck again and bowls of food are brought out by servers clad in simple brown robes. Quickly they are passed down the rows and exh keeps but one bowl. The monks eat and then rise- filing out into the courtyard, lined up from the most senior to the most junior, they slowly, in unison, perform the nightly final form, bidding the setting sun goodbye.
From a window above the Abbot watches. Sitting with him is a man, clad in a black silk kamono with a red sash. In his hand he holds a single straw made of gold. But the gold can be seen to be tarnishing. Silently the man bows, his head parallel to the ground as he silently offers the golden straw to the abbot.
Just as silently the abbot reaches out and takes the straw. He examines it, knowing why it has been brought but never the less doing it to show his appreciation to the man. With a sigh he reaches down and places it in a vase on his desk, along with 13 other such straws. His composure breaks, and he sobs. The man before him remaining bowed, not wanting to embarass the abbot by letting him be seen crying. When the abbot once again regains control, the man straightens, turns and leaves- the sound of his horse leaving, even as night falls being heard.
A month later
The auguries do not make sense. A group of Shugenja, Monks and Hamans stand huddled around the golden straws from the Abbots desk. Six straws have changed- they reflct within their depths people from across the Empire, but seven remain unchanged. All thirteen are meant to change, that there are only six worthy champions seems disturbing.
Silently the six are gathered and given to a servant
"You know where each of these goes- make sure they get to their intended recipients."
The servant bows his head, goes downstairs and silently hands the straws, one each to the riders. Each mounts and rides, spreading out asthey leave the monastery. Inside, thos gathered look at the pieces of parchment on which the straw lay, and contemplate those to whom they are being taken.
Togashi Shokai
The sun burns as you gothrough your daily exercises, striving to find that elusive factor that the master tattooer reffered to. Each movement precise, a search for perfection. Your foot landing, followed by the smooth flow of hands, body, mind.
Your moving neditation is disturbed. A young boy, one of the children of the peasant village down below is running, arms waving and shouting out. Calmly you stand, your head beaded with sweat and wait for the child to arrive.
"Holy one, you must come, there is a messenger below. He says he must see you. Everyone is watching him. And Holy one, he is riding a horse and wearing only black!"
Even as the child finishes speaking it is evident that the messenger did not wait. A black clad man, red sash at his waist comes up to you, bows his head briefly and stretches his hand out. Clutched in it is a single, tarnished, golden straw.
Sakura Asano
The guest house on the Hitena family estate seems small. There are definitely better equipped and larger guest quarters, surely they must be making some kind of point? Probably just showing the esteem they hold her clan in, As members of the Lion they have been scrupulously polite, but nothing more.Your maid, Chisa, is busy coming out your hair, before piling it and readying it for the day. Yousit contemplating the smoothly laid out garden in front of you, concentric circles of stones blending into straight lines which flow along a small stream which remains slow until forced around a single large stone.
As you sit contemplating the garden, with the maid combing your hair, you see your personal cokk coming down the path, crossing the bridge over the stream. He is bent low, a tray of savories held in his hands as he leads a black clad man towards you.
"Mistress, a messenger as arrived and has begged audience with you. I have brought some food for you, as he has had a long journey."
Staying bowed, he pulls a small table over and places the tray of food upon it. Whereon he bows again, goes to the far end of the porch and sits on his haunches.
The messenger bows, his head remaining bent as he puts his hand out, a single, tarnished golden straw within it.
Mirumoto Zoriko
The delegates from Phoenix have been talking for an inordinate amount of time. Seated with the women in the court, the Daimyo addresses the ambassador form the Phoenix. As they talk one of the houshold guard comes and whispers in his ears. He stands and addresses the anbassador
"Surely when the time is right we wil exchange knowledge. For now I will discuss with the monastery of they are prepared to establish a monastery in your lands. I am sure that he will be able to find some acolytes willing to shoulder such responsibility."
The ambassador bows as the interview is concluded- he not having got what he wanted, a full monastery of the legendary Dragin monks in Phoenix lands. As your Daimyo exists he nods to you, indicating you should follow.
In his private study he sits.
"Come Zoriko. Attend me. There is a messenger here that comes for you."
He rings a bell and one of the guard shows the messenger in. Clearly he has been bathed and fed since he arrived, his skin still red from the boiling waters of the baths. Bowing to the Daimyo, his head almost touching the ground he straightens only slightly as he turns to you. Remaining bent he removes a small tube from his belt, removes a single tarnished golden straw from it, and presents it to you.
Tamejiro Iegara
News on the barabarian frontier is rarely good. So when the cloud of dust being kicked up in the distance is seen the gongs are beaten. Quickly the guards move to their assigned positions and peasants in the field look up, only to return to their work when they see that clearly it is no army on the way.
You are roused from a planning session. The noble members of the household have been discussing what actions to take in relation to the renewed activity coming from the barabarians. Clearly something will need to be done soon, but first intelligence will need to be gathered. As the great General says, "Choose the field of the battle".
The striking of the gong rouses the session and the junior members of the household file out, to see the arrival of a man on a horse, clad in black woth a red sash. He stands straight as he confronts the household guards.
"I have a message for Tamejiro Iegara. Where may I find him?"
"What message would that be? One cannot merely enter out lands and demand audience with the family!" Clearly the guard captain in not impressed with the lack of manners shown by this stranger.
The man looks at the Captain, looks over those gathered there, his look stopping on you. You are certain you have never met, yet clearly he knows you. Bowing in your direction he holds out his hand.
"My Lord Tamejiro, please take this, it is of utmost importance that it go to you alone."
The guard captian in the meanwhile is clearly growing even more agitated at being ignored.
Kuni Akata
"Enter"
You enter into the study of Kuni Yasushi. A cousin and senior member at the monastery. Unlike you he has followed the path of the Water shukenga but you still often get together to discuss matters relating to the clan and the monastery. Often these are related, and lately the discussions have turned more and more to the Shadowlands which lie beyond the walls of the monastery.
"You know Akata, the taint is growing. More and more we find ourselves fighting those who chase after it. The ranks of the witch hunters need swelling and I believe that i will join them shortly."
Quietly he moves over to a small cabinet and removes from it a bottle of his best saki and two small, delicate glasses, made to resemble entertwined crabs. Coming back he pours a glass of saki for each of you before quickly drinking his down. He waits for you to do the same, quickly refilling the glasses.
As he lifts his glass to his lips again there is a knocking at the door and one of his servants stands there, kneeling on the floor, and keeping his head down as the door is opened.
"My pardon lords, but there is a messenger downstairs looking for Lord Akata Kuni. He is most insistent and says it is a matter of utmost urgency."
He stays on the ground, head lowered, until Yasushi dismisses him.
"Another time then Lord Akata. I suppose you should go and see this messenger."
As you descend into the monastery entry area you see the messenger, a man dressed in lack woth red sash. On seeing you he hurries over, bows and hold out his hand, within it a single, tarnished golden straw.
ooc: If anyone feels that I have treated their character incorrectly above, please let me know and it will be corrected.