Legend of the Ronin (Legend of the Five Rings)
- Status
- Location
- Leeds
I'm voting defense because all of the traits we've been offered so far are very strong and interesting and I supsect that glorious QM has something to tie them all together.
This leads to us having a very unique combat style and I want to see it in action.
[X] The Empty Wind
This leads to us having a very unique combat style and I want to see it in action.
[X] The Empty Wind
Sirrocco
Pedantic
Yeah... I know I'm tying it up, but I have to go for the frankly overpowered defensive boost, I think.
[X] The Empty Wind
...because +3k0 is nice, and more general, but it's no +5k5. Also, we've pretty much maxxed out void at this point. If we live, Wind might still go up a rank or two.
[X] The Empty Wind
...because +3k0 is nice, and more general, but it's no +5k5. Also, we've pretty much maxxed out void at this point. If we live, Wind might still go up a rank or two.
EtchedSteel
*mumble mumble*
- Location
- Lima. Peru
[X] The World is Empty.
- Location
- Leeds
Could I ask why people are voting for The World is Empty?
Is it just because people feel that its the most mechanically powerful technique or are there actually other thoughts going around?
Is it just because people feel that its the most mechanically powerful technique or are there actually other thoughts going around?
- Location
- Moon-Station
Is is mechanically powerful on general terms.
Arc V: Month Five: Drinking in moonlight
-The World is Empty
The soft sounds of cicada's buzzing fills the late summer night. The silver moon looks down on you, as you look out across the court yard. You had seen it, for a moment, how to bring forth the state of mu-no-shin, or no mind fully, but even now, you can't fully let go. Its not that you're unwilling to see the world, but if anything you're too aware of it, of how it will swallow you whole if you let it.
That isn't why you are out here though. Yukiko had confirmed what Kyoko said. That you had been altered almost a year ago now, in a way that they did not know how to fix. It made your ability to progress, seemingly limitless, but it had a price. As you drove yourself harder, and further, your body would slowly begin to deteriorate.
You still haven't figured out how to feel about that. The Kakita have for literally centuries, meditated on the impermanence of beauty. The cherry blossoms fly away, the snows melt, even Doji no kami faded away into sea foam. So to does any perfection that the individual achieves, but that makes it no less meaningful. At least that's what you want to tell yourself.
"Zeni for your thoughts?" Jubei asks sitting down beside you.
Between you and him, he places a bottle of sake and two cups, pouring one for each of you.
"Brother Jubei...." You quickly bow to the old monk.
Well monk assassin/conspirator? Well he's still your mentor such as it is now.
"None of that. You seem troubled." He says.
"I am alright, forgive me for worrying you."
He shakes his head, and offers you the sake cup.
"Kampai" he says.
"Kampai!" You respond.
The smooth liquor burns ever so gently down your throat as you finish the glass in one gulp. You aren't exactly a drinker, but the familiar taste of sake still brings out nostalgic feelings in you. Jubei's sake wasn't the best you tasted. But then you cannot expect a conspirator turned monk to have access to the same vintages as the Kakita daimyo.
"Thank you Brother Jubei." You say, placing your glass down.
"Welcome." He says refilling it and his own.
A silence falls over you both for a time. The sake slowly building it's warmth in your stomach as you sip it. The moon travelling across the night sky. Its not unpleasant, really, moments like these are also precious.
You're on your third cup of sake when Jubei speaks again.
"Well, you don't have to talk to me about it if you don't want to. But keep in mind, I am a Monk of the Order of Heroes. Part of my duties is to guide troubled young souls into being heroes." He says.
Thinking on that for a moment, you decide to at least talk to him.
"I suppose my soul is troubled...but then what ronin's is not?" You ask.
"Hmm, are you a ronin though?"
Your eyes narrow.
"Of course I am." You say.
Jubei shrugs out of the corner of your eye.
"Perhaps...but there are ronin, and there are ronin. The first are forever scrambling to not be ronin, and in the depths of their own minds, they aren't. They're still the people they were before they became ronin...or the people they should be. Their spirit finds no peace in the waves. The second, while they may wish to return to home, or to have a home, accept their position, they know that they will always be in some way, the masterless Samurai whose own honour was the only guide. Yet, they are at peace with that."
You understand his meaning. Of course you wanted to go back to being Kakita Sakura. An impossible dream is better than no dream at all. Yet, for now, you couldn't change that you were a ronin, no clan, no name, only your sword and your honour to guide you.
"I am Megumi the Ronin, whatever my past, whatever my heart. That is not something I can change right now." You say.
"But you look to change it in the future. Isn't that why you're recruiting those around you? To bring home something that is great enough, important enough, that even an indiscretion with a married man, is not enough to keep you from being raised up from being a Ronin" He asks.
You frown, and drink down your sake too quickly. He knew, somehow, he knew who you were before...the little....okay...that's the sake talking. While you were undoubtedly much more skilled than you had been...Jubei could still break your face, no fighting him. Even if he had a point on your motivations...would you have done anything different if you were still Kakita Sakura? Or if you didn't have your grandmother hounding you?
[] No
[] Yes
Anyways, your intentions aside, you'll still give it your all. That's important right?
Jubei takes your silence for what it is and continues.
"Bayushi Sora, Iuchi Yukiko, Togashi Izu, and now Isawa Kyoko. Between the five of you, the only thing you truly lack is trained courtier. The question is who will lead you?"
"Eh?"
"A dai-hohei over sees a squad of 4-5 hohei. Its his or her job to make sure the squad works as a unit, because without that unity, the squad fails, and with it the mission." Jubei says, finishing his own cup.
"Forgive me Brother Jubei, I don't know what you mean." You say.
Man this sake is stronger than you thought.
"You have four individuals three of them are used to working together true, but they're used to following Bayushi-san's orders. How are you going to deal with that? How are you going to get Isawa-san to mesh with them? It might be wise to take a month to just get used to working together. You get me?" He asks.
After a moment, you nod. It was true that things like leadership, or even where exactly you were going first hadn't been hashed out yet, and probably should be before you leave. You could use the remaining months to do that...or you could try to bring one last person in. Six people in a squad was probably the most you could expect to have this work out with.
[] Spend the remaining months working with your squad.
[] Recruit Kakita Toshiro (Kakita Duelist: Skilled Court Duellist, Excellent Investigator)
[] Recruit Kakita Reika: (Kakita Artisan: Master Artisan, Skilled Courtier)
[] Recruit Hida Tanako: (Hida Bushi: Excellent Combatant, Skilled Hunter)
[] Recruit Ikoma Keiji: (Ikoma Warden: Excellent Spearman, Skilled Tactician)
[] Recruit Yoritomo Nishiyumi: (Yoritomo Marine: Excellent Combatant, Skilled Sailor)
[] Recruit Utaku Nanako (Utaku Battle Maiden: Excellent Combatant, Skilled Horse woman)
The soft sounds of cicada's buzzing fills the late summer night. The silver moon looks down on you, as you look out across the court yard. You had seen it, for a moment, how to bring forth the state of mu-no-shin, or no mind fully, but even now, you can't fully let go. Its not that you're unwilling to see the world, but if anything you're too aware of it, of how it will swallow you whole if you let it.
That isn't why you are out here though. Yukiko had confirmed what Kyoko said. That you had been altered almost a year ago now, in a way that they did not know how to fix. It made your ability to progress, seemingly limitless, but it had a price. As you drove yourself harder, and further, your body would slowly begin to deteriorate.
You still haven't figured out how to feel about that. The Kakita have for literally centuries, meditated on the impermanence of beauty. The cherry blossoms fly away, the snows melt, even Doji no kami faded away into sea foam. So to does any perfection that the individual achieves, but that makes it no less meaningful. At least that's what you want to tell yourself.
"Zeni for your thoughts?" Jubei asks sitting down beside you.
Between you and him, he places a bottle of sake and two cups, pouring one for each of you.
"Brother Jubei...." You quickly bow to the old monk.
Well monk assassin/conspirator? Well he's still your mentor such as it is now.
"None of that. You seem troubled." He says.
"I am alright, forgive me for worrying you."
He shakes his head, and offers you the sake cup.
"Kampai" he says.
"Kampai!" You respond.
The smooth liquor burns ever so gently down your throat as you finish the glass in one gulp. You aren't exactly a drinker, but the familiar taste of sake still brings out nostalgic feelings in you. Jubei's sake wasn't the best you tasted. But then you cannot expect a conspirator turned monk to have access to the same vintages as the Kakita daimyo.
"Thank you Brother Jubei." You say, placing your glass down.
"Welcome." He says refilling it and his own.
A silence falls over you both for a time. The sake slowly building it's warmth in your stomach as you sip it. The moon travelling across the night sky. Its not unpleasant, really, moments like these are also precious.
You're on your third cup of sake when Jubei speaks again.
"Well, you don't have to talk to me about it if you don't want to. But keep in mind, I am a Monk of the Order of Heroes. Part of my duties is to guide troubled young souls into being heroes." He says.
Thinking on that for a moment, you decide to at least talk to him.
"I suppose my soul is troubled...but then what ronin's is not?" You ask.
"Hmm, are you a ronin though?"
Your eyes narrow.
"Of course I am." You say.
Jubei shrugs out of the corner of your eye.
"Perhaps...but there are ronin, and there are ronin. The first are forever scrambling to not be ronin, and in the depths of their own minds, they aren't. They're still the people they were before they became ronin...or the people they should be. Their spirit finds no peace in the waves. The second, while they may wish to return to home, or to have a home, accept their position, they know that they will always be in some way, the masterless Samurai whose own honour was the only guide. Yet, they are at peace with that."
You understand his meaning. Of course you wanted to go back to being Kakita Sakura. An impossible dream is better than no dream at all. Yet, for now, you couldn't change that you were a ronin, no clan, no name, only your sword and your honour to guide you.
"I am Megumi the Ronin, whatever my past, whatever my heart. That is not something I can change right now." You say.
"But you look to change it in the future. Isn't that why you're recruiting those around you? To bring home something that is great enough, important enough, that even an indiscretion with a married man, is not enough to keep you from being raised up from being a Ronin" He asks.
You frown, and drink down your sake too quickly. He knew, somehow, he knew who you were before...the little....okay...that's the sake talking. While you were undoubtedly much more skilled than you had been...Jubei could still break your face, no fighting him. Even if he had a point on your motivations...would you have done anything different if you were still Kakita Sakura? Or if you didn't have your grandmother hounding you?
[] No
[] Yes
Anyways, your intentions aside, you'll still give it your all. That's important right?
Jubei takes your silence for what it is and continues.
"Bayushi Sora, Iuchi Yukiko, Togashi Izu, and now Isawa Kyoko. Between the five of you, the only thing you truly lack is trained courtier. The question is who will lead you?"
"Eh?"
"A dai-hohei over sees a squad of 4-5 hohei. Its his or her job to make sure the squad works as a unit, because without that unity, the squad fails, and with it the mission." Jubei says, finishing his own cup.
"Forgive me Brother Jubei, I don't know what you mean." You say.
Man this sake is stronger than you thought.
"You have four individuals three of them are used to working together true, but they're used to following Bayushi-san's orders. How are you going to deal with that? How are you going to get Isawa-san to mesh with them? It might be wise to take a month to just get used to working together. You get me?" He asks.
After a moment, you nod. It was true that things like leadership, or even where exactly you were going first hadn't been hashed out yet, and probably should be before you leave. You could use the remaining months to do that...or you could try to bring one last person in. Six people in a squad was probably the most you could expect to have this work out with.
[] Spend the remaining months working with your squad.
[] Recruit Kakita Toshiro (Kakita Duelist: Skilled Court Duellist, Excellent Investigator)
[] Recruit Kakita Reika: (Kakita Artisan: Master Artisan, Skilled Courtier)
[] Recruit Hida Tanako: (Hida Bushi: Excellent Combatant, Skilled Hunter)
[] Recruit Ikoma Keiji: (Ikoma Warden: Excellent Spearman, Skilled Tactician)
[] Recruit Yoritomo Nishiyumi: (Yoritomo Marine: Excellent Combatant, Skilled Sailor)
[] Recruit Utaku Nanako (Utaku Battle Maiden: Excellent Combatant, Skilled Horse woman)
- Location
- Leeds
[X] No
-[ ] My memories are still imperfect, but I like to believe that my actions have been honourable and that I was an honourable woman before this.
Dunno if this works.
That might have changed recruitment decisions.
[X] Spend the remaining months working with your squad.
-[ ] My memories are still imperfect, but I like to believe that my actions have been honourable and that I was an honourable woman before this.
Dunno if this works.
Ah, it appears that we don't get Jubei or our Crab friend...
That might have changed recruitment decisions.
[X] Spend the remaining months working with your squad.
@Dark as Silver
The yes or no, is more to set what exactly Megumi sees her motivation as. It doesn't really require an elaboration beyond yes or no.
And Hida Isamu is a cripple, he'd only slow you down (Severed Hand is extremely literal)
Brother Jubei has a different portion in the plan. (Namely keeping the other side guessing)
The yes or no, is more to set what exactly Megumi sees her motivation as. It doesn't really require an elaboration beyond yes or no.
And Hida Isamu is a cripple, he'd only slow you down (Severed Hand is extremely literal)
Brother Jubei has a different portion in the plan. (Namely keeping the other side guessing)
- Location
- Moon-Station
[X] Yes
[X] Spend the remaining months working with your squad.
[X] Spend the remaining months working with your squad.
- Location
- Austrlia
No, she's a Bayushi Bushi, with a focus in Archery. However, much like the Kakita, Bayushi Bushi are also typically able to handle themselves in court as well.
EtchedSteel
*mumble mumble*
- Location
- Lima. Peru
[X] Yes
[X] Spend the remaining months working with your squad.
[X] Spend the remaining months working with your squad.
Sirrocco
Pedantic
[x] Yes
-[x] Our experiences and our conditions change us. Of *course* you would have done things differently as Kakita Sakura - if your position had been assured, rather than being something you had to seek after and fight for. Isn't that what you were saying to the monk? Life moves on, and we move with it, and we are not the same people that we were - or that we would be had things gone differently. As it is, there is no use worrying abotu the Kakita Sakura that might have been. You are the Megumi that is.
[X] Spend the remaining months working with your squad.
-[x] Our experiences and our conditions change us. Of *course* you would have done things differently as Kakita Sakura - if your position had been assured, rather than being something you had to seek after and fight for. Isn't that what you were saying to the monk? Life moves on, and we move with it, and we are not the same people that we were - or that we would be had things gone differently. As it is, there is no use worrying abotu the Kakita Sakura that might have been. You are the Megumi that is.
[X] Spend the remaining months working with your squad.
Arc V: Month Five: My First Test
---Work with your team
"You know, when I said to all of you, that I thought we should learn how to work together, I didn't quite mean this." You say looking at the broadsheet before you.
Izu leans back and shrugs.
"You said that you thought we should learn to work as a team. We all agreed, but since Isawa-san isn't officially part of the legion..."
"But even so, a sports tournament?" You ask.
Izu nods.
"Hai, we get to see each other in a relaxed setting, naturally we all want to win, but losing does not put a fish out of water as they say."
A snort from the masked form of Bayushi Sora.
"No one says that."
"Bayushi-san remains cruel." Izu says simply.
Yukiko looks at her love for a moment before turning back to the tournament advertisement.
"Still Togashi-san raises a valid point, although most of the tournament is for individual competitors like the Kendo match, Kyudo competition and so on. The Kemari tournament and the Team Debates are only for a five person squad like ours. It does work."
Kyoko huffs.
"Am uninterested, train together, learn together."
Sora also says.
"I agree with Isawa-san."
"It could be fun." Yukiko said.
"A tie vote then?" Izu asks.
Sora snorts.
"We're not like those lunatics out west, this isn't a democracy."
"The question then is the tie breaker or leader" Yukiko says.
Kyoko says.
"Megumi-san?"
All four turn to look back at you.
"Hai Isawa-san?" You ask.
Kyoko shakes her head.
"Sorry, was thinking you would break the tie."
Unspoken was that breaking the tie would indicate your position in the squad.
"Bad enough that she has us together for this mission." Sora says.
"Sorry Megumi-san, but I am not listening to a ronin." Yukiko says.
You think Yukiko is apologetic, but there was never going to be a chance where she didn't support Sora over you. So the apologies don't seem that needed. You understand her motivations/
"It is unorthodox" Kyoko allows.
Izu again shrugs.
"I don't see the problem."
"You wouldn't." Yukiko says wryly.
Izu gives a thumbs up.
"Megumi-san sought us out, it seems only fair she gets a say."
Sora begins to talk.
"Hai, but that doesn't---"
You didn't catch what exactly Yukiko did, but the way Sora shifts away from her indicated there was something.
"Sorry Megumi-san. It is impolite to talk about you like you aren't here." Sora says.
You bow.
"Hai"
"Still dancing around this pinhead underlies our need for a leader." Izu says seemingly to himself.
Kyoko speaks in her own way.
"Proposition, not Bayushi-san"
Sora looks at the Phoenix.
"Why you..."
The Phoenix and Scorpion never really patched things up after the War of the Twins. But you never thought Kyoko put stock in that. But then...well, the Kakita and Matsu were still feuding over something that happened over a thousand years ago. In comparison, the short brutal burning of Kyuden Soshi by the Phoenix was just yesterday.
"Peace." Izu looks at Kyoko. "Why not her?"
Kyoko folds her arms across her chest.
"Do not trust a Scorpion"
Yukiko raises to the defence of her lady love.
"That's prejudice, Bayushi-san is a good a Samurai."
Kyoko shakes her head.
"Regardless, and for that reason, not Iuchi-san either."
"So that would mean you." You say.
"Negative" Kyoko answers.
"Then who?" You ask.
Kyoko looks at you as if you were a very poor student. You aren't sure why she would...oh...oh...you made yourself sad. Kyoko thinks that this is your last shot to make sure you're remembered, and she's trying to honour your journey to death. That's oddly sweet of her, but still sad.
"I'm not following a ronin. It's not right." Sora says.
"Pride Bayushi-san?" Kyoko asks.
Sora shrugs.
"I am a Dai-hohei."
Izu points out.
"And we are not on a mission for the Imperial Legion."
"This is foolish" You say.
"I agree" Sora says.
Izu for his own reasons seems willing to back you on this. Kyoko is also willing to follow your lead, both because of your needs, and to honour your sacrifice. Sora however is a sticking point, and you cannot blame her. She's been raised as superior to most by dint of her family. To bow her head to a ronin would be galling to any Samurai. That said, the fault line is clear, Kyoko, a Tensei with all the power that implies will not listen to Sora, and by law she doesn't have to. By Izu's stance, it's clear that he won't accept a nomination for his own reasons. So that means you need to make a bid to lead this squad...joy
Sakura, invoke the Heavens, if shown she is inferior in skill, Bayushi-san will relent.
[] Write in why Bayushi Sora should accept Megumi's leadership.
Leadership settled, do you voice your desire to:
[] Attend the tournament?
[] Not attend the tournament
"You know, when I said to all of you, that I thought we should learn how to work together, I didn't quite mean this." You say looking at the broadsheet before you.
Izu leans back and shrugs.
"You said that you thought we should learn to work as a team. We all agreed, but since Isawa-san isn't officially part of the legion..."
"But even so, a sports tournament?" You ask.
Izu nods.
"Hai, we get to see each other in a relaxed setting, naturally we all want to win, but losing does not put a fish out of water as they say."
A snort from the masked form of Bayushi Sora.
"No one says that."
"Bayushi-san remains cruel." Izu says simply.
Yukiko looks at her love for a moment before turning back to the tournament advertisement.
"Still Togashi-san raises a valid point, although most of the tournament is for individual competitors like the Kendo match, Kyudo competition and so on. The Kemari tournament and the Team Debates are only for a five person squad like ours. It does work."
Kyoko huffs.
"Am uninterested, train together, learn together."
Sora also says.
"I agree with Isawa-san."
"It could be fun." Yukiko said.
"A tie vote then?" Izu asks.
Sora snorts.
"We're not like those lunatics out west, this isn't a democracy."
"The question then is the tie breaker or leader" Yukiko says.
Kyoko says.
"Megumi-san?"
All four turn to look back at you.
"Hai Isawa-san?" You ask.
Kyoko shakes her head.
"Sorry, was thinking you would break the tie."
Unspoken was that breaking the tie would indicate your position in the squad.
"Bad enough that she has us together for this mission." Sora says.
"Sorry Megumi-san, but I am not listening to a ronin." Yukiko says.
You think Yukiko is apologetic, but there was never going to be a chance where she didn't support Sora over you. So the apologies don't seem that needed. You understand her motivations/
"It is unorthodox" Kyoko allows.
Izu again shrugs.
"I don't see the problem."
"You wouldn't." Yukiko says wryly.
Izu gives a thumbs up.
"Megumi-san sought us out, it seems only fair she gets a say."
Sora begins to talk.
"Hai, but that doesn't---"
You didn't catch what exactly Yukiko did, but the way Sora shifts away from her indicated there was something.
"Sorry Megumi-san. It is impolite to talk about you like you aren't here." Sora says.
You bow.
"Hai"
"Still dancing around this pinhead underlies our need for a leader." Izu says seemingly to himself.
Kyoko speaks in her own way.
"Proposition, not Bayushi-san"
Sora looks at the Phoenix.
"Why you..."
The Phoenix and Scorpion never really patched things up after the War of the Twins. But you never thought Kyoko put stock in that. But then...well, the Kakita and Matsu were still feuding over something that happened over a thousand years ago. In comparison, the short brutal burning of Kyuden Soshi by the Phoenix was just yesterday.
"Peace." Izu looks at Kyoko. "Why not her?"
Kyoko folds her arms across her chest.
"Do not trust a Scorpion"
Yukiko raises to the defence of her lady love.
"That's prejudice, Bayushi-san is a good a Samurai."
Kyoko shakes her head.
"Regardless, and for that reason, not Iuchi-san either."
"So that would mean you." You say.
"Negative" Kyoko answers.
"Then who?" You ask.
Kyoko looks at you as if you were a very poor student. You aren't sure why she would...oh...oh...you made yourself sad. Kyoko thinks that this is your last shot to make sure you're remembered, and she's trying to honour your journey to death. That's oddly sweet of her, but still sad.
"I'm not following a ronin. It's not right." Sora says.
"Pride Bayushi-san?" Kyoko asks.
Sora shrugs.
"I am a Dai-hohei."
Izu points out.
"And we are not on a mission for the Imperial Legion."
"This is foolish" You say.
"I agree" Sora says.
Izu for his own reasons seems willing to back you on this. Kyoko is also willing to follow your lead, both because of your needs, and to honour your sacrifice. Sora however is a sticking point, and you cannot blame her. She's been raised as superior to most by dint of her family. To bow her head to a ronin would be galling to any Samurai. That said, the fault line is clear, Kyoko, a Tensei with all the power that implies will not listen to Sora, and by law she doesn't have to. By Izu's stance, it's clear that he won't accept a nomination for his own reasons. So that means you need to make a bid to lead this squad...joy
Sakura, invoke the Heavens, if shown she is inferior in skill, Bayushi-san will relent.
[] Write in why Bayushi Sora should accept Megumi's leadership.
Leadership settled, do you voice your desire to:
[] Attend the tournament?
[] Not attend the tournament
- Location
- Austrlia
Alright.
As I see it, we have 2 options.
1. Talk her around. We have quite a bit of skill at that, it may work.
2. Duel. Prove our combat strength. We are really good in a fight.
3. A challenge. I'm leaning this way. We enter the tournament, and lead the group, to show we can, with Sora getting a chance to prove she's the better choice.
As such......
[X] "Bayushi-sama, if we enter this tournament, the team will need a leader. That leader can change, from round to round, and prove themselves to all involved. Shall we enter?"
[X] Attend the tournament
As I see it, we have 2 options.
1. Talk her around. We have quite a bit of skill at that, it may work.
2. Duel. Prove our combat strength. We are really good in a fight.
3. A challenge. I'm leaning this way. We enter the tournament, and lead the group, to show we can, with Sora getting a chance to prove she's the better choice.
As such......
[X] "Bayushi-sama, if we enter this tournament, the team will need a leader. That leader can change, from round to round, and prove themselves to all involved. Shall we enter?"
[X] Attend the tournament
- Status