|
Post by Kurimuzon Te on Mar 1, 2014 5:09:49 GMT
(OOC) This is a backstory for Kurimuzon Te. It happened in the year of 1155, five years before the winter court. I'm hoping to keep this a mostly closed thread since it is history, but if you have any input that could further the story line or help me to learn more of the game please message me. Thank you.
In the early fall of 1155, Togashi Gakushu traveled to a minor temple on the borderlands of the Dragon territory. Housing only 7 other monks, most of whom were older samurai before joining the order, The Mokusei Temple was very small compared to many of the other Ise Zumi temples throughout the Dragon lands. The older monks were very happy to have a much younger, and larger, man to handle the heavier chores. Initially it took a full day for Gakushu to bring in enough wood to cook the meals and heat the temple for the night. After a few months however, by the end of winter, he had grown stronger and was now able to bring in enough wood in a single load.
During this time Gakushu piqued the interest of Sensei Kabai. Kabai was an elderly, master wood carver. For the first time Gakushu finally felt completely at peace while learning how to shape the wood. He learned different techniques that were used for various types of woods, from the softest Teil to the hardest Teak. The time with Sensei Kabai instilled him with an even deeper sense of patience than he had before.
During his second year at the temple he was asked by his master to travel to the town of Michita Yasumi in the Phoenix lands. Kabai had received word that a merchant there had recently received a shipment of some very rare woods from foreign lands. Gakushu gathered a small pack of food and what coins he and his master could gather and started the long trek. After an uneventful week of travel he finally reached the village. He eventually found the merchant that he was looking for and examined what was available. Gakushu finally settled on multiple small pieces as well as quite a few larger pieces, including an 8 foot long piece of a very hard, black wood that was fully as thick as his own arms. The wife of the merchant offered Gakushu a meal and place to sleep as the day was getting late.
|
|
|
Post by Kurimuzon Te on Mar 2, 2014 23:08:41 GMT
Thanking his hosts, Gakushu left at first light to start the journey home. Slowed by his burden it took a full nine days before Gakushu neared Seido Jurojin. Sensing something wrong he left his bundle at the shrine and ran the last eight hours to reach the temple. Passing through the outer gates he opened his senses, listening for sounds, looking for motion, feeling for the vibrations of movement under his feet. Sensing nothing, Gakushu entered the temple building with trepidation.
|
|
|
Post by Kurimuzon Te on Mar 5, 2014 1:45:59 GMT
Entering the main hall Gakushu did not see any of his brothers. He moved to the kitchen where Brother Takuji should have been cooking. Finding it empty as well he continued further. Finally he decided that he should check the bed chambers. Entering the first chamber Gakushu dropped to his knees and sobbed. Lying on the bed was the body of Takuji, his throat cut. When he was able to gather his resolve Gakushu rose and checked the other chambers, finding the same in each. He saved one specific chamber for last, that of Sensei Kabai. He made his way slowly to the bed and knelt beside his master.
Gakushu worked for hours in the courtyard, digging the graves of each. When the holes were finished he reverently laid each of his brothers to their rest. Using the last of his strength he reached to the earth and asked the stones to rise and pay honor to the fallen.
When the last stone finished rising into place Gakushu collapsed on the front steps of the temple.
|
|
|
Post by Kurimuzon Te on Mar 6, 2014 1:35:30 GMT
After a fitful nights rest, Gakushu rose when the sun rose over the temple wall. He stumbled to the kitchen to find what sustenance he could. After eating a meager meal, even for a monk, he looks down at himself, and his dirty and torn kimono and shoes and decides he would need to be somewhat presentable for what he had planned next. Going to his own chambers he changed into the only clothes he had left, a brown and grey gi. With his shoes ruined from the long journey, and nothing to replace them with, he decided to go without.
Gakushu then returned to the kitchen to gather a few supplies for the road. Walking back out to the courtyard he knelt to say another prayer for his fallen brothers before promising to return. Standing slowly he turned and walked out the gate. Once outside the temple he increased his speed to a steady jog until he once again was at the shrine of Seido Jurojin. With night coming Gakushu decides to spend the night at the shrine in contemplation. Picking up the large black piece of wood he kneels in front of the shrine, placing the wood across his knees.
|
|
|
Post by Kurimuzon Te on Mar 14, 2014 1:02:49 GMT
Waking the next morning, Gakushu continues to kneel while he considers his next move. Finally rising after three hours he turns and stiffly makes his way to the road. Turning west he heads toward the village of Yabanjin Mura, hoping he can find someone he can hire there.
On his second day of travel he suddenly stops. He's never felt such strong warning vibrations from the earth as this before. Looking to the road ahead and noticing nothing he turns around. Off in the distance, at least a full ri, he could see a dust cloud coming from the roadway. How could he tell from this distance? Oh, right, he is now bare foot. His shoes were destroyed and he was now in direct contact with the earth. That would explain the difference.
Moving to the side of the road Gakushu drops to a lotus position with the black wood across his legs and waited. After an hour the first outrider reached where the monk was sitting. Looking down at him from the horse the man spoke "Good day monk-sama, may I ask why you sit here"?
"I sit here to rest, and wait for you" Gakushu replied "I would like to speak with your master".
The outrider turns his horse and races back the way he came. Another hour passes before the rest of the merchant caravan makes its way to where he sat. After the first six wagons pass him the entire caravan comes to a halt. Directly before Gakushu is a passenger wagon with a tall thin man lounging beside the driver. The man pushes his long black hair over his shoulder as he sits up and speaks.
|
|
Moshi Yoru
Mantis Clan
Posts: 42| Likes: 18
Some smiles show mirth. Others just show teeth.
|
Post by Moshi Yoru on Apr 8, 2014 5:20:25 GMT
This new trade route had been nothing but trouble. No less than three of his caravans had been ambushed by bandits, and Yoru was not a man who tolerated interference in his business. He had even less tolerance for harm coming to his employees - his livelihood depended in large part on them trusting him to keep them safe, after all. It was with these things in mind that the young shugenja-turned-smuggler had decided to personally deal with this irritation. His yojimbo Ibara of course had refused to let him go alone, and the woman had been silent and alert throughout the trip, analyzing the trail for potential ambushes. Yoru had been content to let her do so, trusting the ronin's sharp eyes would detect any threats well before they could do much harm.
When the rider approached them, Yoru had been commenting on the fact that the bandits hadn't shown their faces yet. He nodded once at the news of the strange monk apparently waiting for his caravan to pass.
"What are your thoughts, Ibara-san?"
"If it's an ambush, it's a novel way to set it up. You generally don't let your prey know you are waiting for them."
"My thoughts as well. Regardless, I'm certain I don't need to tell you to remain vigilant."
The woman merely smiled at him, her left hand sliding to the hilt of the nodachi sheathed across her back.
A few minutes later, the caravan did indeed pass by a monk, seated and meditating at the side of the road. Yoru brushed his hair back as he studied the mountain of muscle in front of him, curious as to what he wanted. He hopped down from the wagon, Ibara two steps behind him, and bowed.
"I am Moshi Yoru, owner of this caravan. I am told that you wished to speak to me, monk-sama?"
|
|
|
Post by Kurimuzon Te on Apr 9, 2014 2:30:02 GMT
"Yes master Moshi, thank you for stopping for me". Rising from his feet Te bows before the smaller man. "I wish to ask a favor. My temple was attacked a few nights ago and I am travelling to Yabanjin Mura to hire a skilled tracker to help me find the bandits and recover what was taken. Could you spare some room on the back of one of your carts?"
|
|
Moshi Yoru
Mantis Clan
Posts: 42| Likes: 18
Some smiles show mirth. Others just show teeth.
|
Post by Moshi Yoru on Apr 9, 2014 2:53:57 GMT
Yoru pursed his lips and nodded. "An intriguing coincidence. It just so happens that I am here to deal with a similar problem. A group of bandits has been raiding my caravans, and I don't take kindly to those who kill my employees and steal my goods. Perhaps we seek the same prey?"
|
|
|
Post by Kurimuzon Te on Apr 10, 2014 0:50:02 GMT
"Hmm... maybe it was fated that we meet. By chance, how good are you at tracking? My temple is but two days travel to the east. If you were to be able to follow the bandits to their camp then I would gladly solve both of our problems."
|
|
|
Post by Kurimuzon Te on Jun 28, 2014 3:17:05 GMT
As luck would have it, Master Yoru came on this trading expedition prepared to hunt down the bandits. He not only had a skilled tracker for one of his drivers but his cart companion was a well trained yojimbo. They made it back to the shrine in a little over a day and Gakushu showed the way to his temple. The four of them agreed to stay outside the temple for the night and made their plans for finding the bandits.
|
|
|
Post by Kurimuzon Te on Sept 8, 2014 1:58:45 GMT
Te woke the next morning with the dawn. He figured he would be the first person awake but he quickly realized he was being watched. Ibara sat beside her unused bed roll watching not just him but everything.
Kneeling to start his morning prayers he wondered if she stayed up the entire night.
Once the other two members of the group woke they broke camp. Harou, the other guard, started to follow the trail left by the bandits. The trail avoided the path to the temple though from what Te could figure out it did parallel the road. They traveled for two days before Harou stopped them to let them know that they were close. That there was a guard not a half hour from where he came back to meet them.
Gakushu could feel the Badger blood he inherited from his mother start to boil.
|
|