Lady Diamonds horse lessons. (IC thread)

[Vanor]

ooc: Feel free to read this thread, but I ask that none other then myself and Diamond post here.



Vanor sits on the floor of his room, waiting for Lady Diamond to arrive. He had asked her to wait for a bit before coming to his room tonight, he had preparations that needed to be done before the ceremony started.

Four large candles light the room, one for each of the four winds, one set on an ornate pedestal against each of the four walls in the room. Each candle seems to cast a different colored light, blue for the west wind, red for the east wind, white for the north wind, and green for the south wind. In the center of the room is a small table, with a smaller candle on each of the four corners of the table, they also burn with the color of the wind the represent. The blade of Vanor’s sword gleams in the candlelight, next to a teapot, and a single cup.

When Diamond enters the room, he rises and bows gracefully, wearing his best ceremonial silk robe, hanging open, over a set of silk gi pants.

Greetings Lady Diamond, I am glad the fates have seen fit to bring you to me this night. He intones formaly.

Tonight we will perform the tea ceremony, a rite that has been in my family for as long as my family has existed. Tonight you will chose to take me as a lover and potential life mate, a friend and teacher, or if I will die.

On the table you see, the method of deciding my fate. I will tell you of my past, of my family and of all that I am. You are free to ask questions on what ever you wish, during my tale, but I ask that you do not tell me what you decide. Rather you will let me know your decision by the action you take when I have finished my story, and finish my part of the ritual. When I have finished my story I will pour tea into this cup, take a drink and then place the cup in front of you.

If you wish to part of my life as a lover, then take the cup and turn it so you drink from the same place I did. This symbolizes your desire for your heart and body, to be joined to mine. With the possibility of us joining together in a permanent union after a time.

If you do not wish to be part of my life as a lover, then drink from the cup on the side that is front of you. This symbolizes your desire to be with me, but not to share your heart and body with me. We will be friends, and I will still be your teacher, but nothing more.

If however you find that after my tale, you desire neither of these things. Then take up the sword and strike. For if you find my offer to be dishonorable, then you have the right to take my life. You have one chance to avoid this decision, if you do not wish to decide our fate yet, you may leave and bring no dishonor to either yourself or myself. However, once this ritual starts, it must end with one of those three things happening.

Vanor then sits and awaits for her to either sit, singling that she wishes to take part of the ceremony or for her to leave saying that she is not ready to make this decision yet.

 

[Lady Diamond]

Lady Diamond moves silently and gracefully into Vanor's room, pausing to acknowledge his formal bow with one of her own, but somewhat lower and deeper than his. She is attired in her best formal kimono of emerald green silk, long fiery red hair piled above the nape of her slender neck, mithral teardrops that shimmer in the soft candlelight gracing each ear, fragrant jasmine flowers in her hair.

"Greetings Master Vanor", she replies, using his formal title to acknowledge the formality and ancestral import of the tea ceremony.

Her cheeks were already flushed with a heightened sense of awareness of the importance of this ceremony, Vanor's earlier nervousness had transmitted to her spirit. Gazing around the room at the soft lighting, and the way the candles seem to glow with colors that signified the gifts of the four winds, her eyes fell upon Vanor himself with robe open, he seemed to be over his earlier nervousness, his countenance relaxed, and resolute.

She listened, and swallowed hard as he solemnly informed her that she would have to kill him if she deemed his offer to be dishonorable. Life or death in a tea ceremony! her thoughts whirled. Her hands shook a little bit, she stared at Vanor's sword as if it were a living thing. She wanted to speak, to tell him she could not do that. She had already told him she would attend the tea ceremony no matter what happened. She almost wished the ceremonial decisions involved her death instead.

She found her voice and spoke quietly. "I wish to know you, as much as anyone can, as much as you wish to tell me my love. I am ready." She said a silent prayer to the gods and took her place.

She knelt and sat back gracefully, feet under her, folding her hands into her lap as serenely as she could. She lowered her eyes and took a deep breath, then lifted her eyes to his face, he had her full attention.

 

[Vanor]

Vanor smiles briefly before sitting down at the table himself.

Thank you for staying. If you hadn’t it would of left me confused about where I stood with you.

He closes his eyes for a moment, then continues.

My family goes back many generations, the founder of my family was known as Sento, he was a peasant farmer, who wished more for his children then he had himself. When he could, he practiced what we now know as kung-fu, however back then it had no name. It was something that was only starting to be developed. In time he grew in skill to the point that he was able to attract students. He fought many others who like him where developing this new skill. Back then fights to the death were unheard of, it was done more to learn and show something you had developed on your own then for any other reason.

After a time of teaching young men and women what he knew, he realized that he would have to choose. Between farming, and teaching full time. He knew that without food he wouldn’t have the strength to teach, but he could no longer teach all the students he had with the time he had left after tending to the fields. So he opened the first dojo in that area. He called it the four winds dojo, and asked that his students spend at least part of each day working in the fields to help support the dojo.

Things went well for him and his students and his dojo prospered. In time he fell in love and took a student of his to be his wife. They had two sons, the oldest son proved to be very skilled in kung-fu and when Sento was too old to train anymore, took over the dojo from his father. His name was Kuri, the other son was also a skilled warrior, but decided that he would be best off if he found his fortune elsewhere. When he was old enough he left the dojo and traveled the land, looking for tests of skill, to further his knowledge of kung-fu. Jute formed his own dojo, the tiger of the south wind dojo. He wished to stay true to his lessons from his father. This started a long held tradition of the oldest son or daughter, taking over his or her fathers dojo, and the younger children, going out and forming their own.

Myself, I was the third son and so left my family dojo when I was old enough, to seek out my fate, and if I proved myself worthy, to form my own dojo. Many of the dojo’s in this land can be traced back to Sento’s Dojo of the four winds. I chose to practice the west wind style in honor of him.

Vanor pauses to take a sip of water and to gauge Diamonds reaction to his story thus far.

 

[Lady Diamond]

"How interesting", Lady Diamond replied softly. "Your ancestors have been practicing kung fu since the beginning, and your dojo continues a tradition that Sento started long ago, asking that the students work to benefit the dojo as well as their own training. I had no idea, really."

She had relaxed a bit as Vanor spoke, his deep clear voice was soothing as she listened, and some of the tenseness went out of her neck and shoulders. She smiled and reached for a drink of water herself, it was cool and refreshing.

"Your family is steeped in traditions of honor, Vanor. No wonder you carry it so close to your heart and soul".

At times in the past she had thought Vanor to be almost too reserved, too quiet and formal. She realized now the quietness was strength and great introspection on his part, not some mistake or misstep on hers.

"Please continue Vanor, I wish to hear more."

 

[Vanor]

Vanor smiles then contiunes

Thank you for the kind words, it has been my hope to live up to the honor and tradition of my family and my ancestors.

This tradition has carried though for many generations, and it has been my hope to carry on this tradition myself someday. That is one of the reasons for this ceremony, as a potential life mate, you need to understand how the tradition came about, and be willing to carry it on yourself if need be.

My father, Surti founded a dojo several days ride from here, when I was old enough I left my family dojo, and traveled for a year or so before settling in this area, my father’s dojo was the Tiger of the north wind dojo. I decided however that I would learn new styles and add them to the legacy of Sento. I hope that this decision has pleased him. I believe it has.

My older brother Orolo stayed at the family dojo and will one day take over for my honorable father and mother. My younger brother Kelor had not left the dojo yet, that I know of, but one day he too will travel across the land looking to form his own dojo.

Life growing up in the dojo was pleasant, but as I’m sure you have noticed from the way I am, very formal. My family is steeped in tradition and it is something that is reinforced, in the sons and daughters of the dojo from the time they are very young. That is not to say that my family wasn’t close. I know my mother and father love me very much, and the day I left the dojo, they were both very proud, and very sad. But they had taught me what I needed to know to stay true to my family, and their as well as my way of thinking this is what is most important.

I did however spend the majority of my life learning the ways of Kung-fu and the history of my family, my brothers and I did have time to play, and we were each well taken care of. Our father never hid his pride in us when we did well, but then again he never hid his disappointment when we failed. But all in all it was a good time, and I remember it fondly.

It is my hope that after we finish tonight, if you agree to be more then just a friend and student, that we will travel to my fathers dojo, and you may meet my parents. It is tradition that a someone I may marry be interouduced to my mother and father shortly after the tea ceremony, so they may welcome you into the family.

Vanor both smirks and grimaces at the same time.

Also I think my mother would like to check you out and make sure your “good enough for her son” I know there is a short ceremony that the mother performs with a future daughter, before her blessing is given on the union. But knowing my parents, they will surely love and respect you as much as I have.

Vanor smiles and stops, letting Diamond digest this news before finishing his story

If you have any questions about my past of family, please feel free to ask.

 

[Lady Diamond]

Lady Diamond raises both eyebrows in surprise. Your parents still live? Oh how fortunate you are".

"Ohh my .. she chuckles wryly.. your mother will wish to see if I am "good enough" for you? I've heard about such things."

"Well I must say I hope I impress her.. if things turn out that way after the tea ceremony. I'm so very glad you had a happy childhood, it explains something about the way you are today."

"I don't really think I have any questions, so far you've been quite detailed about things.. nothing's really coming to mind".

"Oh.." her voice trailed off. She cast her eyes around the room as if seeing it for the first time, and inhaled sharply as if someone had thrust a knife into her heart. "How does your family feel about... barbarians? It seems to be the first thing that comes to most people born here when they see me.. with your dark eyes and hair, my appearance looks.. startlingly different"... She touched her flaming red hair and sighed.

"Although you seem to accept me as I am, all the things you do say that you don't mind that I can be stubborn, willful, unelegant, ungraceful, even cruel at times if I must be so, to teach people the things they must know. I am also taller than most men born in this realm.."

"Will your people accept me as a ... a person in her own right, and not some kind of.. animal?"

She sighed and lowered her eyes, a tear glimmered under her eyelashes

 

[Vanor]

Vanor smiles warmly and reaches across the table to wipe away the tear from Diamond’s eye.

Don’t worry about that, I believe that my parents will truly love you, nearly as much as I have come to. And you won’t be the first “barbarian” as you put it to be introduced into my family. I failed to mention that Master Sento’s wife, from the descriptions of her, could be your sister. In fact it is not that uncommon for members of my family to find mates in other lands. Despite or perhaps due to our long history and tradition, we have realized that strength comes from diversity. That was one of the lessons that Master Sento learned, and one of the reasons he sent his sons out into the world.

At that time, it was traditional for families to stay together in the dojo, and when the family grew too large for a single dojo, the son or daughter that left, would form a dojo of the same styles as their masters. Master Sento however realized that for our family to thrive, we needed to learn all we could. Each new dojo formed by one of Sento’s descendents, added a new style or styles to the families kung-fu. As it stands now, there isn’t a single style that I know of that isn’t practiced by a descendent of Master Sento.

The fact that you are tall, and strong will please my father greatly, and I am sure he will find your red hair as appealing as I do. The fact that you can be willful, stubborn, and cruel at times, I am sure will please my mother even more so. She have never been one to accept the idea that women should stand behind a man, but should be judged for her strength and not her gender. So you have nothing to fear about my parents not accepting you because you are not native to this land. Altho it is not the reason I feel the way about you I do, but your strength, and the fact that you are from a different land are things that attracted me to you in the first place… Not to mention your lovely flaming red hair.

Once he is sure that his words have sunk in, Vanor sits back down and continues.

 

[Lady Diamond]

Lady Diamond brushes her cheek against Vanor's hand as he wipes her tears away. She smiles ruefully.

"I forgot to ask about the women in your family. I tend to forget that everyone is not the same everywhere. It's a tendency I have to expect the worst, yet hope for the best. I lost hope there for a bit." His hand is so warm, so gentle, she thought.

"I would like very much to meet your parents. If your father values diversity, by the gods he'll find it tenfold in me. Your mother sounds like a formidable woman too. Perhaps she can teach me a few things as well."

She relaxed again, and smiled. Vanor looked so handsome to her, the candlelight bringing out the dark fire in his eyes. The cares of the world seemed very far away right now, it seemed to her that only they existed at this very moment in time. She smiled.

"Is there more to tell?" she asked.

 

[Vanor]

Vanor smiles at what he sees in Diamonds eyes, it tells him what to expect when he finishes. But the forms must be kept, so he continues.

There is not much left to tell, just what lead me up to this point.

After a time wandering around in this area, I felt I was ready to form my own dojo. I formed the Tiger Cat Dojo, at that time I favored the cat styles.

he chuckles softly thinking about how much had changed

I had many students, but I formed the dojo too soon it seemed, and I wasn't really ready for it yet. After a time the dojo splintered and I closed it down. I sank and had a darkness in my spirit over it. I felt I failed...

A short time after that I started a new dojo, I kept the Tiger style but again it was too much too soon. That dojo had few students, and most who sought me out where turned away by the darkness in my eyes.

I railed against fate and the gods durning that time, it all seemed so pointless. I even went as far as to seak out Wicht, the wolf of hell. I had decided I needed to see what the fates had in mind for me, and what better way then to put my soul at stake in a contest of kung-fu.

Wicht unleashed his might on me, but I withstood... For a time I was happy, I thought that proved where my path laid, but then I thought again.

Was this victory a sign that I should remain on the path of honor, or did it simply mean that the darkness had no hold on me?

I sank even farther away durning that time, and I find a small bit of shame to admit that I gave up on honor and tradation tottaly. I became a sash fighter, I fought for money and nothing else. And I prospered at it. I had a large home, wealth, servents of all sorts... In short everything money could buy.

But inside I was still empty and it ate away at my soul and mind. I could and did buy the best of everything, but the best wine did not taste sweet, the best food did not fill me.

I was lost and had no direction nor hardly the will to go on anymore. Durning that time, I travled a great deal, colecting things hoping they would bring me joy, but they never did. Durning these travles I found a man who said he could sell me spells of any sort. I didn't think much of it at that time, but found myself back at his door, seaking the one thing I had lost.... A chance at honor.

He sold me a ritual of rebirth, it was my hope that I could shead the both the darkness in my spirit and fill the emptiness with something once again. The ritual was in part sucessfull, I was reborn. I once more fought and regained my lost honor. I opened this dojo and life was good. I thought I was complete, but I wasn't yet...

Which brings us up to you.

Vanor smiles at her warmly

I thought my life was filled and complete, but I was wrong, you showed me that. And no matter what happens I owe you a great debt for showing me that.

My story is finished now, All that remains is for me to finish the ceremony and for you to make your decision. If you wish to ask me anything before I take that step do so now.

Vanor takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly, focusing himself for what ever will come next.

 

[Lady Diamond]

Lady Diamond bowed her head for a moment, closing her eyes and thinking about all that was said. She raised her eyes and said

"all things are clear to me now, save one. Why is the sword part of the ceremony? Is it always like this, a man in your family tells his story to a potential life mate, then gives her the right to kill him if she finds him dishonorable? I don't understand."