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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Alejandro" data-source="post: 47137" data-attributes="member: 248">Kitsu Shiro's Background (Part I)Posted on behalf of the player of the Albino Fox:The muddied peasant walked along the dirt path near the paddy fields. Dozens of peasants are working the fields around you. In the distance a jagged black mountain rises and to the west the tail end of a thunderstorm is disappearing over the horizon. The dampness in the air and sweltering sun makes the air heavy. It is heavier still by the paddies.The peasant balances on his shoulder a long pole with two buckets. He was large for a peasant and had a bounce in his step as he walked. Underneath the wide brim of his hat was an even wider smile that crinkled a ruddied face from many days in the sun. He noticed you approaching on horseback down the path. Although you wouldn't normally speak to such low people, you take a quick glance around to be sure no one is watching. Well, no one of importance."Ah, so you have come to hear the tale!" he says without moving his eyes from the road. Glancing over your shoulder, "Yes, yes I have." You pause. "How could you have known?""Because everyone asks for the tale," he chuckles, "Not many like you come to the paddy. Especially after a storm!"Searching through your sleeve you look for your coin belt. Taking one of the green copper coins, emblazoned with the imperial seal, from a string you lean down to hand it to him. "Bah," he starts, "I am only a witness. I am not paid to testify.""Testify?" you inquire. Perhaps it was a mistake to search out this tale."Aye, I am a witness. A witness to the tragedy of Shirogitsune (the Albino Fox). Come to my home, there you shall hear all."Taking leave of your horse, you drop down to the damp earth below with a squish. Your boot lowers to the ankle in the muck. You grab hold of your expensive silk robes and walk inside. Removing your shoes and outer clothing, you enter the humble abode. Children playing inside are silence by your presence. Eight of them stare passively at the ground. A ninth looks you in the eye. She is much too young to know better and you suppress a smile growing on your face.The peasant ushers the children away. He urges you to sit as he begins to warm a tea service. "So you wish to hear my testimony...Let us begin when he began...almost four hundred years ago…The night he was born a horrific storm battered the coast south of the imperial capitol. Right on the sea was a horrible tower of broken rock and coral. It was known as Kokuyugan <obsidian>. In this tower the evil wu jen Daija <snake> lived. For miles around the people abhorred the coast for the Daija was close to the shadow it was said. It is also said that the Daija conducted twisted experiments of the arcane to fuel his descent to shadow instead of stopping it.Who the parents were of the Shirogitsune, no one knows for sure. It seems the mother's father, Kitsu Mimuzuku <horned owl> has purged all reference to them. Whether they were those of weal and under the spell of shadow or dark fiends who feasted at the table of evil, no one knows. What is known is that the parents were at Kokuyugan when their first child was born.For days Daija prepared a vile ritual. Learning it from a Unicorn scholar, Daija prepared to merge himself with shadow and gain eternal youth. To perform this rite, he was required to feast upon Shirogitsune! The blasphemy pains me to even think of it, much less pass the words from my lips! At the moment of birth, Daija took the baby Shirogitsune in his hands. Raising a silver knife up high he prepared to commit infanticide. However, then a most unexpected event occurred. From an open window and the gale of wind and rain came a bolt of lightning. The lightning struck the upheld hand of Daija and transformed Shirogitsune. Daija died in an instant and as he did Kokuyugan toppled. A disgraced ronin was riding nearby when this occurred. He saw the explosion and claimed that the outline of a rodent could be seen in the clouds. Whether this had to do with the ronin's expertise with the drink, it is hard to say. In any event, even in the howling wind, the ronin heard the cry of the newborn Shirogitsune. Pulling rock away, the ronin found Shirogitsune. Appalled at the writhing form before him, the ronin at first thought he found an oni! For Shirogitsune was completely devoid of pigment. His eyes were red and his hair was shockingly white. He was ready to abandon the babe, when he noticed a blanket nearby showing the lotus and owl symbol of Mimuzuku. The ronin was familiar with Mimuzuku and knew he would be well rewarded.Thus, Shirogitsune was delivered Mimuzuku and the ronin was well paid."The peasant takes a last sip of tea and puts the cup down. You notice the chirrup of insects outside and Lady Sun is bending her rays to give way to night. "What about his journeys? What about even his training?" you ask impatiently.The peasant tsks. "Heh, come back tomorrow and you shall hear more. Shirogitsune's story is only starting. Tomorrow I shall tell you of his adolescence and how he was first named!"You hurry out the door. The ground isn't as wet as you approach your horse. But many questions remain. Perhaps tomorrow you shall have fewer questions and more answers.</blockquote>

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