Post by Yasuki Odai on Jan 24, 2014 4:26:14 GMT
OOC: This is a closed thread.
*****
Aiso ni Ryokosha Mura, 1158
*****
Aiso ni Ryokosha Mura, 1158
It was the social gathering of the season, outside of Yasuki Yashiki proper, of course. The House of the Smiling Fish was resplendent in its opulence, vast ornate tapestries showing the greatest victories of the Crab, embroidered with threads of gold and lined with frames of jade and crystal, their glow casting fantastic lights over the room when the firelight hit them right. The main floor of the sake house was packed with everything from travelers to locals to rowdy bands of soldiers, though the presence of armed and alert members of the Yasuki House Guard made sure that nobody's revelries began interfering with those of anyone else.
Fully paid for by their benevolent governor, tables covered with a spread of food were constantly being refilled by active, dutiful servants, making sure that the food was always fresh and the sake was always flowing, and as the night went on the merriment and cheer that filled the party could make even the most dour Akodo smile. Further up on the second level, the festivities were in full swing as well, though perhaps not as raucous as the public lower lever, for tonight only samurai were allowed up here.
Though not a courtly event, more than a few courtiers from both the Crab and their neighbors, even a few from as far away as Phoenix lands were in attendance, not to mention the travelling bushi coming and going from the Wall, as well as those simply in town for the legendary sake. The majority of those present, of course, were in service to the Yasuki, for many would gain the favor of the young, charming governor who threw this party every year.
Of course, not one to disappoint, Yasuki Odai moved here and there, his smile ever present and a quick joke or a complement on his lips, depending on who he was talking to, though it was clear to anyone watching that he favored the ladies blessed by Benten. Always with a drink in hand, though rarely seeming to refill it, he never appeared drunk in any way, despite what seemed to be a large amount of drinking; the man was careful to keep his wits about him.
After a time, once everyone had achieved an acceptable level of being inebriated, he gave a few more smiles and bows, before apparently disappearing into a small back room, apparently with company. Something anyone looking for him would wonder, though, is why he was not in that room, on the second floor with no other windows or exits. He gave a small chuckle at the very thought as he swept down the narrow secret corridor leading away from the building; none of them were even in a state to notice he was gone. He emerged in a small building higher up on a bluff overlooking the town after a few minutes, where several of his most trusted business partners and allies were waiting.
Odai smiled, took a breath, and prepared to present his compatriots with his grand scheme, his plan to raise both the Yasuki and the Crab to true dominance, but he was not even able to greet them before the grim toll of alarm bells began to ring out, and the shouting that followed confirmed their fears as they scrambled outside to see the moonlight finally illuminating the small fleet of ships that had crept up silently in the night, as well as the mass of troops now moving quickly through the streets, busting open doors and cutting down soldiers; the Crane had come...
Fully paid for by their benevolent governor, tables covered with a spread of food were constantly being refilled by active, dutiful servants, making sure that the food was always fresh and the sake was always flowing, and as the night went on the merriment and cheer that filled the party could make even the most dour Akodo smile. Further up on the second level, the festivities were in full swing as well, though perhaps not as raucous as the public lower lever, for tonight only samurai were allowed up here.
Though not a courtly event, more than a few courtiers from both the Crab and their neighbors, even a few from as far away as Phoenix lands were in attendance, not to mention the travelling bushi coming and going from the Wall, as well as those simply in town for the legendary sake. The majority of those present, of course, were in service to the Yasuki, for many would gain the favor of the young, charming governor who threw this party every year.
Of course, not one to disappoint, Yasuki Odai moved here and there, his smile ever present and a quick joke or a complement on his lips, depending on who he was talking to, though it was clear to anyone watching that he favored the ladies blessed by Benten. Always with a drink in hand, though rarely seeming to refill it, he never appeared drunk in any way, despite what seemed to be a large amount of drinking; the man was careful to keep his wits about him.
After a time, once everyone had achieved an acceptable level of being inebriated, he gave a few more smiles and bows, before apparently disappearing into a small back room, apparently with company. Something anyone looking for him would wonder, though, is why he was not in that room, on the second floor with no other windows or exits. He gave a small chuckle at the very thought as he swept down the narrow secret corridor leading away from the building; none of them were even in a state to notice he was gone. He emerged in a small building higher up on a bluff overlooking the town after a few minutes, where several of his most trusted business partners and allies were waiting.
Odai smiled, took a breath, and prepared to present his compatriots with his grand scheme, his plan to raise both the Yasuki and the Crab to true dominance, but he was not even able to greet them before the grim toll of alarm bells began to ring out, and the shouting that followed confirmed their fears as they scrambled outside to see the moonlight finally illuminating the small fleet of ships that had crept up silently in the night, as well as the mass of troops now moving quickly through the streets, busting open doors and cutting down soldiers; the Crane had come...
*****
The sharp, winter breeze that swept through the balcony dojo in the private, upper levels of Kyuden Meiyo brought Odai back to the present, slowly opening his eyes to find himself in the same opening stance he had adopted when he had first come here, who knows how long ago. His muscles had the slight ache of a man who could not train as much as he would wish, but the form he showed was near perfect as the tip of his katana gleamed, absolutely still in the combined light of the flickering torches and the pale moon. The Yasuki governor allowed himself a small smile; the silence of the night and the slight ache in his body was a stark contrast to the weariness and stress that stemmed from the endless greetings and mountains of paperwork he had found himself burdened with over the past days.
Knowing he had finally reached a breaking point when he snapped at one of his servants for presenting his tea in the wrong tea set, Odai had set out in his simple dark blue kimono and hakama, with his daisho tucked into his old, tattered black obi, bearing only the Mon of the Yasuki stitched in silver on the front. Forsaking the training grounds of the Crab encampment, knowing that it would be far too easy to get harassed by somebody needing some trivial thing from him, he instead made his way to the castle proper, calling in part of a favor from one of the Seppun sensei whom he may have acquired a Kaiu blade for the year previous to make his way to the private, higher dojo that normally only high-ranking members of the Imperial delegation could access.
Once there, he had removed his kimono and placed both it and his wakizashi on the ground nearby before drawing his blade and settling into his opening stance and beginning his meditation, though by the looks of Hitomi's travels that had been at least an hour ago. Slowly, deliberately, he began his kata, nothing fancy, nothing showy, just graceful, powerful, well-honed motions that gradually increased in speed, though his face was never more than quiet contemplation as he would finish one set, stop, reset into a different stance, and begin a different kata.
Knowing he had finally reached a breaking point when he snapped at one of his servants for presenting his tea in the wrong tea set, Odai had set out in his simple dark blue kimono and hakama, with his daisho tucked into his old, tattered black obi, bearing only the Mon of the Yasuki stitched in silver on the front. Forsaking the training grounds of the Crab encampment, knowing that it would be far too easy to get harassed by somebody needing some trivial thing from him, he instead made his way to the castle proper, calling in part of a favor from one of the Seppun sensei whom he may have acquired a Kaiu blade for the year previous to make his way to the private, higher dojo that normally only high-ranking members of the Imperial delegation could access.
Once there, he had removed his kimono and placed both it and his wakizashi on the ground nearby before drawing his blade and settling into his opening stance and beginning his meditation, though by the looks of Hitomi's travels that had been at least an hour ago. Slowly, deliberately, he began his kata, nothing fancy, nothing showy, just graceful, powerful, well-honed motions that gradually increased in speed, though his face was never more than quiet contemplation as he would finish one set, stop, reset into a different stance, and begin a different kata.