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Burden of the Emerald Empire (A Legend of the Five Rings Tale)
- Thread starter gman391
- Start date
- Fantasy
Sirrocco
Pedantic
Could you clarify what you mean by this question? The Wasp were never a Great Clan in the first place.
Is more of "if you were in my place and the wasp in the place of the mantis, what would you do?" is a sort of hypotetical situation to understand what other would do or a least force them to think about it.
Sirrocco
Pedantic
So... basically, "if the Wasp had done something deeply injurious to Rokugan as a whole, through idiocy rather than malice, what would you do to them"?
Year 16: Emerald Interview
Ah yes, you remembered now, you had to think more of the future, and to give your daughter advice on how best to use the advisors you would give her after you stepped down. You were no longer the young man when Noritoshi had first met you proper, and there was understanding now. As much as it may chafe at the Crane desire for perfection that burned in most Samurai, samurai were not perfect. There were mistakes made, unintended consequences, and sometimes just outright stupidity.
What was important was that you recognized the flaws you had and worked to improve them, or surrounded yourself with people to help you improve them. A warm feeling flickers across your heart as the images of Ayumi and Kana come to mind along with your children.
So then, the important question to ask was one that everyone hated answering, even though it was quite common for it to be asked when a local lord transferred power.
A quiet sip of sake and then you speak.
"So Tsuruchi-san, I have a mind to the future, you will serve my daughter for many years, one hopes for most of her tenure even. I will guide her but in the end she will rely as much on you as any of my other counsellors. So indulge a worried father. What will you find most difficult about being my and her Champion? Not in terms of martial skill or law, we know your talent there is worthy. Rather, as a person."
Etsuko chokes slightly on the sake she sipped politely while you spoke. To her credit she didn't immediately answer with something like 'I'm too humble' which might be true but was utterly useless. Instead she thinks for several moments before answering.
"I think it will be the same thing that has lead me to become a Champion. I wish to help the common man, to maintain the just laws you have put in place. Yet, that will lead me to clash with many. I will chose what I think is just over what is politically expedient." A slight smile. "When Bayushi Jomon brought forth his charges of conspiracy, I would have had him arrested and tortured then and there."
"Despite the fact that he is my Imperial Chancellor and thus hypothetically sacrosanct?" You ask dryly.
"Despite the fact yes. The man has never represented the interests of the Clans properly, and has ever been a poison viper. The Scorpion are....well my Clan's opinions mirror my own there." Etsuko says.
You make a mental note to have Kotaro arrange for a nice set of Scorpion to spend time with Etsuko, while your Underhand were not always nice, having an Emerald Champion out to get them would be...problematic. Maybe one of the earlier competitors? Ah well, you got both the true answer and the right answer there.
"I would take care, while I understand the history of the Wasp, the Scorpion are one of my vassals." You say. "But to a more pleasant question no doubt, what will you excel at for me and my daughter?"
Etsuko smiles again.
"I was bounty hunter for years, I have tracked Kolat through forests, cities, mountains, lakes, and all over. In that time I have found that the surest way to hunt is to never give up. I will not give up any task you put before me. No matter if it takes a hundred years or more, I will not stop until I have completed the task"
Well you could respect that kind of drive you supposed, even if it was perhaps eerily reminiscent of your earlier reign. Back when your motto may as well have been 'either the wall breaks or the earth beneath it does, but I won't'
You nod slightly, it was getting late, but you still had a question brought on by her own, and better yet it was going to be a demonstration of her problem solving style too.
"Indulge me a little more Tsuruchi-san and then we can all get some rest. You asked earlier about my decision with the Mantis. While I admit to some curiosity about whether or not your clan will ever rejoin them...I would like instead to have a hypothetical play out. Let us say that the Wasp through some providence become their own Great Clan, and then through their hubris commit some act equal to Okimoto's Folly. What would you do then in my position?" You ask.
Etsuko frowns looking at the sake.
"Honestly? I'd probably just destroy the clan, it would be hard, but I think the Age of Chaos left us with this false notion that no matter what happens Clans can be forgiven for their failings and return to the fold. What was made can be unmade, and should my Clan fail in such a way, we would deserve to be unmade. Just as the Scorpion, the Crab, the Lion, and the Unicorn all deserved to be unmade at one point"
"You would deny them a chance of redemption? To punish those who followed Loyalty properly seems ill done." You say.
"No, there would bet trials, investigations, reorganizations." Etsuko says. "Trials that were fair and honest. Those who went along with it for power and greed would be punished, the rest would be allowed to swear to appropriate lords."
Isshin coughs slightly.
"....Apologies if I overstep my Emperor." Etsuko says. "Allow me to soothe your curiosity. The Tsuruchi will to my understand rejoin the Mantis if and only if the Mantis can create a corridor of land between our lands and theirs...the last war between the Unicorn and the Lion proved one thing to us. We are no longer dealing with the Lion and Scorpion who are unable to move against us, and our best defense is the law saying we cannot be attacked." Etsuko says.
"Indeed it would be a true tragedy to lose you so young Tsuruchi-san" You say.
Slowly rising you make your appropriate farewells to return back to your tent.
Isshin moves beside you somewhat glowering. Guess he was taking that loss harder than you thought?
Overall you can't say you dislike the enthusiasm or idealism your new Champion showed, but you suspected that much like your Shogun, she was going to give you head aches.
Side Story Pick
[] Ayumi and Kana's first meeting
[] Yuina's Excellent Journey
[] Ginchiyo and Yuriko have a productive meeting
What was important was that you recognized the flaws you had and worked to improve them, or surrounded yourself with people to help you improve them. A warm feeling flickers across your heart as the images of Ayumi and Kana come to mind along with your children.
So then, the important question to ask was one that everyone hated answering, even though it was quite common for it to be asked when a local lord transferred power.
A quiet sip of sake and then you speak.
"So Tsuruchi-san, I have a mind to the future, you will serve my daughter for many years, one hopes for most of her tenure even. I will guide her but in the end she will rely as much on you as any of my other counsellors. So indulge a worried father. What will you find most difficult about being my and her Champion? Not in terms of martial skill or law, we know your talent there is worthy. Rather, as a person."
Etsuko chokes slightly on the sake she sipped politely while you spoke. To her credit she didn't immediately answer with something like 'I'm too humble' which might be true but was utterly useless. Instead she thinks for several moments before answering.
"I think it will be the same thing that has lead me to become a Champion. I wish to help the common man, to maintain the just laws you have put in place. Yet, that will lead me to clash with many. I will chose what I think is just over what is politically expedient." A slight smile. "When Bayushi Jomon brought forth his charges of conspiracy, I would have had him arrested and tortured then and there."
"Despite the fact that he is my Imperial Chancellor and thus hypothetically sacrosanct?" You ask dryly.
"Despite the fact yes. The man has never represented the interests of the Clans properly, and has ever been a poison viper. The Scorpion are....well my Clan's opinions mirror my own there." Etsuko says.
You make a mental note to have Kotaro arrange for a nice set of Scorpion to spend time with Etsuko, while your Underhand were not always nice, having an Emerald Champion out to get them would be...problematic. Maybe one of the earlier competitors? Ah well, you got both the true answer and the right answer there.
"I would take care, while I understand the history of the Wasp, the Scorpion are one of my vassals." You say. "But to a more pleasant question no doubt, what will you excel at for me and my daughter?"
Etsuko smiles again.
"I was bounty hunter for years, I have tracked Kolat through forests, cities, mountains, lakes, and all over. In that time I have found that the surest way to hunt is to never give up. I will not give up any task you put before me. No matter if it takes a hundred years or more, I will not stop until I have completed the task"
Well you could respect that kind of drive you supposed, even if it was perhaps eerily reminiscent of your earlier reign. Back when your motto may as well have been 'either the wall breaks or the earth beneath it does, but I won't'
You nod slightly, it was getting late, but you still had a question brought on by her own, and better yet it was going to be a demonstration of her problem solving style too.
"Indulge me a little more Tsuruchi-san and then we can all get some rest. You asked earlier about my decision with the Mantis. While I admit to some curiosity about whether or not your clan will ever rejoin them...I would like instead to have a hypothetical play out. Let us say that the Wasp through some providence become their own Great Clan, and then through their hubris commit some act equal to Okimoto's Folly. What would you do then in my position?" You ask.
Etsuko frowns looking at the sake.
"Honestly? I'd probably just destroy the clan, it would be hard, but I think the Age of Chaos left us with this false notion that no matter what happens Clans can be forgiven for their failings and return to the fold. What was made can be unmade, and should my Clan fail in such a way, we would deserve to be unmade. Just as the Scorpion, the Crab, the Lion, and the Unicorn all deserved to be unmade at one point"
"You would deny them a chance of redemption? To punish those who followed Loyalty properly seems ill done." You say.
"No, there would bet trials, investigations, reorganizations." Etsuko says. "Trials that were fair and honest. Those who went along with it for power and greed would be punished, the rest would be allowed to swear to appropriate lords."
Isshin coughs slightly.
"....Apologies if I overstep my Emperor." Etsuko says. "Allow me to soothe your curiosity. The Tsuruchi will to my understand rejoin the Mantis if and only if the Mantis can create a corridor of land between our lands and theirs...the last war between the Unicorn and the Lion proved one thing to us. We are no longer dealing with the Lion and Scorpion who are unable to move against us, and our best defense is the law saying we cannot be attacked." Etsuko says.
"Indeed it would be a true tragedy to lose you so young Tsuruchi-san" You say.
Slowly rising you make your appropriate farewells to return back to your tent.
Isshin moves beside you somewhat glowering. Guess he was taking that loss harder than you thought?
Overall you can't say you dislike the enthusiasm or idealism your new Champion showed, but you suspected that much like your Shogun, she was going to give you head aches.
Side Story Pick
[] Ayumi and Kana's first meeting
[] Yuina's Excellent Journey
[] Ginchiyo and Yuriko have a productive meeting
- Location
- Moon-Station
[X] Yuina's Excellent Journey
- Location
- Leeds
I vote Yes.
[X] Ayumi and Kana's first meeting
[X] Yuina's Excellent Journey
[X] Ginchiyo and Yuriko have a productive meeting
[X] Ayumi and Kana's first meeting
[X] Yuina's Excellent Journey
[X] Ginchiyo and Yuriko have a productive meeting
- Location
- Virginia
[X] Yuina's Excellent Journey
Let's take a peek at daughter #2.
Let's take a peek at daughter #2.
🤨
This wasn't a a yes and vote.
keenscythe
No longer NEET
- Location
- WA, USA
[X] Yuina's Excellent Journey
But let the record stand I wanted to vote [] yes
But let the record stand I wanted to vote [] yes
- Location
- Leeds
Its an I have no preference but wish to indicate that all are acceptable?
Fair enough, it read like you wanted me to write all of them.
- Location
- Leeds
I mean ...
If you feel like it.
But I'm happy with whatever, just don't want to be responsible for you having to say "votes please"
Yuina's Excellent Journey
Year....sometime?
Echoes were such a strange thing if one thought about it, you shouted and then as if by magic your shout was returned to you. There was a cause, an answer and yet it hardly seemed enough when the land itself reverberated with your words.
You speak softly now because of the echoes you made.
One word, and the butterfly would tilt itself left instead of right.
One word and the right butterfly would send a sailor off course.
One word and the ship would drown at sea with all it's cargo
One word and thousands die because there is no medicine.
One word should not have that much power.
Yet for you who walked in the empty spaces between what is and isn't, they did. A legacy of your granddaughter...wait not that wasn't right. Grandmother, that was the right word, grandmother.
It was getting harder with each passing day to separate that which is, was and will be from itself. You had passed the first and third rings so easily, the power of the V̴̳͇̗̩̓̉̇͂͆o̴̠̥̘̭̿̇͝i̵̯̱͈̬̒̆d̵̬̪͒ had left you with no other choice.
Your father worried, your sensei worried, you worried, you were so close, to the V̴̳͇̗̩̓̉̇͂͆o̴̠̥̘̭̿̇͝i̵̯̱͈̬̒̆d̵̬̪͒ the beating heart of reality, of the unshattered song that bound up everything into itself. The swirling dance of elements played out through your eyes as you remember this dance, this arrangement as the figure of your sensei, your student, your...friend? stood before you.
No words needed to be spoken as you both dispensed with illusion of flesh and blood. It hurt to see the world as it was, hurt not to have that layer of materialism super imposed on the V̴̳͇̗̩̓̉̇͂͆o̴̠̥̘̭̿̇͝i̵̯̱͈̬̒̆d̵̬̪͒ to keep it from driving you mad. It hurt too much it was too bright and too dark, it was real and unreal, an a human mind was not meant to touch the V̴̳͇̗̩̓̉̇͂͆o̴̠̥̘̭̿̇͝i̵̯̱͈̬̒̆d̵̬̪͒ not truly. But, through hard experience and hard training, an Ishi mind was no longer truly human.
How could it be when every step sent a thousand echoes into the filament of reality? When the song was so loud as to deafen everything else to a whisper?
Your sensei frowns as your own form dances immaterially into the ether as the song booms in his head. Fire and water poke you in the forehead and you begin to fall.
You hadn't been moved physically, an ephemeral part of you notes, you were still standing on the top of the mountains overlooking Kyuden Gusai. But you were falling all the same. The world was gone, the empty darkness was lit up by the stars themselves as the twin eyes of the Void Dragon light upon you. The Darkness burned so bright as you fall through the night, through the day into the ocean of emptiness.
Falling...
V̴̳͇̗̩̓̉̇͂͆o̴̠̥̘̭̿̇͝i̵̯̱͈̬̒̆d̵̬̪͒
To master the fourth ring, you had to create reality
Ȩ̶͚̹̖̜̺̟̻̼̪͖͂̾̀̚͜͠͝m̷̘͌͆ṗ̴̡̯̮̿͂͝ț̷̢̬̠͕͍͎̺̦̇̽͆̌̂̽͆̂͌̒͘͘̕ͅy̶̧̧̩͚̜̼̮̼̳̠̺̜̒̂̃͑̄̿̾̍̄͝ͅ
You were too young for this. Not even Fifteen summers...
T̸̗́̇͐ṛ̸̡̨̢̫͎̤͇͍̳͍̻̑͋̎̅͗̆͑̔́̍̕͝ǎ̷̢̨̡̧͚̤̼̻̰͆͋̑̌́̍̉̅ͅņ̶͍͑͂́̎̒̚̕ş̸͚͚̮̘̥͚̟̖̘̟̈́̇͛̌ͅį̴̨͉̭̥͖̯̜̪͌̂̓̅̇̊͐̐̕e̸͉̼̱͍͙̲̩̼͗̓̈́̃̆̒̒̓͛͛̒̍̚ṅ̷̮̭̹̺̩̟̭̘̳͂͛̊͌̔́̄͜͠t̷̫͚̻͔̱̖̠͈̫̒̈̽ͅ
Did that matter? Did any of this matter, it was so much easier to rest...
F̷̨̧̳͉͓̗̥̈́ö̷̙̦̫̹̼̭̗̣̘͖́̈́̂̂̎̋̕̚r̶̙̺̠̠͒̾̈́̿̈͆̐͂̈m̷̗͉̫͙̥̖̹͔̀͂̒̓̉͒̎͗̄̇̚l̸͍̼̬̪̟̩̆͗̈́̄̉͠͝e̸̙̮̰̔ṡ̶̢̼̭͚̬̫̱̟̼͚͔̻̥̇ś̷͖̳̮̲̝͇͎͚̆̏ͅ
The dream comes again, a boy a few years older than you. Why?
D̵̫̙̺̣͓̺͕͈̘̝̮̿̅͒̊r̷̨̪̺̮̃͐̍̃ȩ̶̛̹̳̫̻̀͆̌̍͒̋̋̇̑̒a̶̫͓̯͍̖̯̖̪̠̳̅̈́̏̑̿̏̚m̸̗̮̺̫̘̝̞̭̭̱̯̂̎͌̈͘͝l̵̥͍͊̃̕͘é̵̲̩̀s̴̹̟̦̤͙̩͈͍͊͒̓͋̎̚͘͜s̵̨̮̠̲̣̝̜͔͑̓̀͒̀̏͛̊̀͠
There was more, why was it so hard...if you fell here you never were....
U̷̢̻̤͓͉͈̼̩̯͕̤̯̓n̸̢̢͔̞̙̬͙͉͙̲̒̅̍̅̓͂͜ͅb̵̢͈͔͔̓́͐̅̈́́̈́̑͛̕̚ǫ̶̐r̴̢̨͇̯̪̞͍̯͍̘̙̰̃̽̄̽̇͘n̵̯̙̦̯̥̠̞͖̬̟͈̫̗̎̋͌͋̔ ̸̢̰͖̦̍͛̆
No that was not the end...it couldn't be, why? You had to remember.
R̶̘͐̈͆̏̈́̌̉̇̈́͌̇̒̆͌ẹ̴̺̻͉̝͚̳̀̏̎̈́b̴̙̀̄̎̍͑͛̊͝o̷̬͈͈̫̖̠̺̳͇̭͗̓̽̄̔̓̔r̵̡̛̬͙̘͖͉̙̈́͋̌̏͐̑͐͊̇̎͂̎̋͝n̶̨͈͕̳̫̲̹̺͕͖̯̈̔̈̀̿̾̀̈̈́̊̚
The song rang forth, demanding you join its chorus and at last you sang...
Ḑ̶̭̫̺̫̲̥͛̒̀̑̈́͊̊̓̌͌̍̒̅͊̑͘͝r̶̨̛̼̩͚̣̥̒͋̉̅̑e̷̡͇̟̺̤̳͙͎̥̗͓̱̫̭̿̌̒ͅą̵̜̝̣̝̙̬̗̣̱̻̠̣̣̥̅̿̈́͋̓̊͒̒͘m̵̧̺̘̱̩̙̌̾͐͛̋́͐̾̎̾̌̕̕͜l̷̠̏̓̓̌̀̉̄̓̑̌̈́͑̄͘͝͝e̶̛͖͌̈́̉͂̇̋̌͂͊̅̀̌̕̕͝ś̴͔̱̓͝s̴̡̜͕̐͑͛̍͑͂͆̐̋́͑̿̑̚͠ ̸͕̲̪̊̌͛̆̅͋̅̓̐̋̅̎̚͘̕̕͝y̴͎̥͍̘̲͆̚ȩ̷̧̧͕̦̙͙̟͕̩̱͚͉́̀́̃̌̓̑̂̿̍͋̔̽̒̕̕̕t̵̨̛̫̮͕̭͕̣̟̥̮̆̈́͋̌̾̕̕͜ ̸̧̧̢̫̣͍͔̲̭̞̘̬̲̲̓̍̓̎̇̓͑̊̄̍̉͊̕͠D̵̢̧̫̥̹͕̗̝̝̪̙̣̉͂̒͗͛͒̾̐̑̈̿̕̚̕͜͝͠ͅr̴̼̳̝̜̬͉͔̟̣͕̖̾̃̆̿̅͆͗̒̀̃̌̃͛̕̚̕͝ę̶̨͉͈͚̱̙̪͇̩̆́ͅą̷̡̩̟̮̱̬͓̠̝͕̥̉̔̐̾m̸̧̭͖̮͇͕̱̫͖̳̝̰͕̾̅͛͜į̴̪̪̖̻́̎̕n̷̩̐̾̽̋̆͑̊̔̑̋̆̀̈́͘ğ̷̦͓̘̥̩̰̩͚͕̠̣̈́̄̊ͅ ̸̢̛̘̪̪̪͉͚̺̀͊͊͆͛͂̇͝
But not its, song, your song, your reality, the Void was you and you it.
F̶̧̧̢̢̫̻̭̝̝̩̜͓̱̊̀́̽͌̆̈̆̍̉͆̇̌͠͝o̴̡̨͉̱̠̠̩̥̞͖̬̩̅̈́̐͘̕r̶͙̠͙̟̭̔͐̅m̸̡̡͕̻͙̥̜͓̮̙̩̳͙͓̖̱̝͆͛̿̃̂̓̽͗̓͒̎̽͝l̶̨̧̫̱̰̬̜̟̍̀͜ḗ̸̤͖̖̦̗̩̩̘̱̼̺́̂́̕͠͠͠͝s̵̨̼̱͓̭͈̤͔̆̈̄̅̌͗̉̾͒̽̌̏̀͝s̷̢̱̼̯̈́͆̽̂͂̂̋̈́ ̴̧̛̖̖̠̉͑̌̀͌̋̿̌̓̉̔ỳ̸̢̦͚̤͙̮͖̠̹͎̳̎͂̇͌̃̒̆́͐̎͗̄̏͘͝͠e̸̡̞̼͕̥͔̹̗̘̖̹͍̟̠̼̓̾̍t̴͕̯̝͓̮̞͓̺̠̤̯͑̋̑̽̒̓̉̋͝ ̴̗͇̩̯̪̀̇͒̈́͛̿̈́͗̓̽̔̈́̓̎̕͝ͅẅ̴̧̛̤͎͔͙̖̥̺̮͈́̏̀̀̆́͌̈́̌́̊̋̈́͠͝͝i̶̧̺̮͕͍̋t̷̺̯̪̺̱̍̒͛̓́̽̇̊̈́̆̉̅̾̚̚͝ͅḩ̸̳̤̩̪̺̟̼̐͛͝ͅ ̸̪̱͙̼͎̝̔͆̌̾̀͂̈́͑͋̀̅͘͝F̷̛̜̯̩̺̾̓̒̋͂͐̌͆͒́̇̑̒̚͘o̸͇̙͌͆̆̋͑͋̾̽͠ṛ̵̻͕̙͚͕̱̘͕̙̙͍̻̑͜͜m̷͙̺̈́̈̈̈́̍̄̽̀́͛̾̊̇́͒͝
But you were not the Void, you were more and yet less than that.
T̵̡̡̼͂͐́̓̕r̶̢̪̱̞̗͍̲̼̬͔̦̳̩̞̍̇̔͂́́͆͗̃̔͂̈́̎͘̕͠͝ḁ̵͙̺͈̮͈͓̦͐́͗̂͊̈́̆̃́͌͘̕͘̚͜͝ͅn̴̤̖̭̆̅̑̔̓̈͘s̸̡̹̞̯̘̙̠̞̪̪͆̌̂̇̃̃̈͘͜͜͝i̶͇͚̮̙̦͕̼̗̻̭̹̯̻̐̈́̆̿̑̉͑̌̿̄̚ȩ̷̘̫͖̎n̵̨̛̛͔̹͕͙̲̟͚͇̲̑͐̏̇̈́̇̈́͌͊̏͘͘͠t̶̜̼̍͗̃͌̽͌͑̉̓̃̋̽̌͘͝ ̵̹͓̖̠͇̗̜̦̹̈̑͑͌̓̆̑̚̚y̶̛̮͆͗͗̃͑͂̆̈́̀͠ȩ̶̛̤̠̰͈̠̲̫̟̯̮̊̋̓̋͂̆̈́͒̍̄͆̈́̆̚͜͠t̷͎͂́̓̓́̐͌ͅ ̴̧̡̨̢̨͈̲̜̜̠̥͉̞̘̙̈̈̃͗͒͊͘͜i̴͉̫̭͎̼͚̗̖̯͐̽̐͜ñ̸̡̝̬͉̩̜̪̣̲̹͛̆̉̊̈́́t̷͑̚͜r̷̘̗̪͖̩͚͓̿̓̀̃̌ą̵̨̛̛̰̰̮̯͔͚̙̥̣̯͚̻͌̿͋͌̉̃̓̉͑n̶̨̦͕̜̩̱̦͚͇̱͙͕̤̹̟̬͛̆̈́̃̄͜ś̶̲̹̪͒̕̕i̵̧̨̜͔̣̘̭̖͇̭̯͊͆͗ȅ̷̬̈͂̈́̋́͆͘̕͝n̶̢̛̛̯͉͎͖̜̫͇͖̈́̎̊̋̾̋̆͘̕͝t̶̞̭͙͎͔̗̻͎̭͙͉̱͔͑̂̈͌̔̀́͗̐͂̈́̑̐͜͠ ̸̡̼͍͇̹͛͒͂́̅͂
And at last you understood, that the world was and is and will be.
F̶̖͑i̵͚̠̐̄l̸͉̂̚l̶̤̉ë̸̥d̸͖̄ ̶̺̤̐Ĕ̴̤ͅm̷̢͌̌p̵̜̣̍t̵̮͕̅ȳ̷͙
And you were going to stay there as long as you wished.
Void
Eyes too old for you look out at your sensei as you step forward, and for the first time since you had met him, truly see him. See the man who has endured so much, see the wrinkles on his skin, see the quiet sad laughter that he holds to as his life separates himself from his family. The confusing kaleidoscope of the elemental dance is still there. But, it no longer forces your mind into a painful split.
The world was real, the world was false, these two truths, are reconciled by every Ishi in their own way. For some the truth was too much and they allowed the Void Dragon to consume them, for others they chose one over the other, but for a few, a very select few realized that there was no dichotomy between them, none at all.
Your sensei smiles.
"Now it is time to find your man in green, so you can begin travel on the final ring"
You want to say that there are only four rings, but even as you go to speak it, you realize how false it is.
You were Toturi Yuina, and you had seen the Void, heard the Song to deny the Void after all that? Was rank foolishness at best. Willful ignorance at worst.
"Hai, it is high time I spoke with my great uncle." you say.
There was never any doubt that you would not inherit the throne, you were too much your grandmother, or was she too much you? Time was confusing when you can move it around like rice in a bowl. But, you had questions about the Last Howl of the Wolf, questions only your Great Uncle could answer.
You really hoped he was awake.
Echoes were such a strange thing if one thought about it, you shouted and then as if by magic your shout was returned to you. There was a cause, an answer and yet it hardly seemed enough when the land itself reverberated with your words.
You speak softly now because of the echoes you made.
One word, and the butterfly would tilt itself left instead of right.
One word and the right butterfly would send a sailor off course.
One word and the ship would drown at sea with all it's cargo
One word and thousands die because there is no medicine.
One word should not have that much power.
Yet for you who walked in the empty spaces between what is and isn't, they did. A legacy of your granddaughter...wait not that wasn't right. Grandmother, that was the right word, grandmother.
It was getting harder with each passing day to separate that which is, was and will be from itself. You had passed the first and third rings so easily, the power of the V̴̳͇̗̩̓̉̇͂͆o̴̠̥̘̭̿̇͝i̵̯̱͈̬̒̆d̵̬̪͒ had left you with no other choice.
Your father worried, your sensei worried, you worried, you were so close, to the V̴̳͇̗̩̓̉̇͂͆o̴̠̥̘̭̿̇͝i̵̯̱͈̬̒̆d̵̬̪͒ the beating heart of reality, of the unshattered song that bound up everything into itself. The swirling dance of elements played out through your eyes as you remember this dance, this arrangement as the figure of your sensei, your student, your...friend? stood before you.
No words needed to be spoken as you both dispensed with illusion of flesh and blood. It hurt to see the world as it was, hurt not to have that layer of materialism super imposed on the V̴̳͇̗̩̓̉̇͂͆o̴̠̥̘̭̿̇͝i̵̯̱͈̬̒̆d̵̬̪͒ to keep it from driving you mad. It hurt too much it was too bright and too dark, it was real and unreal, an a human mind was not meant to touch the V̴̳͇̗̩̓̉̇͂͆o̴̠̥̘̭̿̇͝i̵̯̱͈̬̒̆d̵̬̪͒ not truly. But, through hard experience and hard training, an Ishi mind was no longer truly human.
How could it be when every step sent a thousand echoes into the filament of reality? When the song was so loud as to deafen everything else to a whisper?
Your sensei frowns as your own form dances immaterially into the ether as the song booms in his head. Fire and water poke you in the forehead and you begin to fall.
You hadn't been moved physically, an ephemeral part of you notes, you were still standing on the top of the mountains overlooking Kyuden Gusai. But you were falling all the same. The world was gone, the empty darkness was lit up by the stars themselves as the twin eyes of the Void Dragon light upon you. The Darkness burned so bright as you fall through the night, through the day into the ocean of emptiness.
Falling...
V̴̳͇̗̩̓̉̇͂͆o̴̠̥̘̭̿̇͝i̵̯̱͈̬̒̆d̵̬̪͒
To master the fourth ring, you had to create reality
Ȩ̶͚̹̖̜̺̟̻̼̪͖͂̾̀̚͜͠͝m̷̘͌͆ṗ̴̡̯̮̿͂͝ț̷̢̬̠͕͍͎̺̦̇̽͆̌̂̽͆̂͌̒͘͘̕ͅy̶̧̧̩͚̜̼̮̼̳̠̺̜̒̂̃͑̄̿̾̍̄͝ͅ
You were too young for this. Not even Fifteen summers...
T̸̗́̇͐ṛ̸̡̨̢̫͎̤͇͍̳͍̻̑͋̎̅͗̆͑̔́̍̕͝ǎ̷̢̨̡̧͚̤̼̻̰͆͋̑̌́̍̉̅ͅņ̶͍͑͂́̎̒̚̕ş̸͚͚̮̘̥͚̟̖̘̟̈́̇͛̌ͅį̴̨͉̭̥͖̯̜̪͌̂̓̅̇̊͐̐̕e̸͉̼̱͍͙̲̩̼͗̓̈́̃̆̒̒̓͛͛̒̍̚ṅ̷̮̭̹̺̩̟̭̘̳͂͛̊͌̔́̄͜͠t̷̫͚̻͔̱̖̠͈̫̒̈̽ͅ
Did that matter? Did any of this matter, it was so much easier to rest...
F̷̨̧̳͉͓̗̥̈́ö̷̙̦̫̹̼̭̗̣̘͖́̈́̂̂̎̋̕̚r̶̙̺̠̠͒̾̈́̿̈͆̐͂̈m̷̗͉̫͙̥̖̹͔̀͂̒̓̉͒̎͗̄̇̚l̸͍̼̬̪̟̩̆͗̈́̄̉͠͝e̸̙̮̰̔ṡ̶̢̼̭͚̬̫̱̟̼͚͔̻̥̇ś̷͖̳̮̲̝͇͎͚̆̏ͅ
The dream comes again, a boy a few years older than you. Why?
D̵̫̙̺̣͓̺͕͈̘̝̮̿̅͒̊r̷̨̪̺̮̃͐̍̃ȩ̶̛̹̳̫̻̀͆̌̍͒̋̋̇̑̒a̶̫͓̯͍̖̯̖̪̠̳̅̈́̏̑̿̏̚m̸̗̮̺̫̘̝̞̭̭̱̯̂̎͌̈͘͝l̵̥͍͊̃̕͘é̵̲̩̀s̴̹̟̦̤͙̩͈͍͊͒̓͋̎̚͘͜s̵̨̮̠̲̣̝̜͔͑̓̀͒̀̏͛̊̀͠
There was more, why was it so hard...if you fell here you never were....
U̷̢̻̤͓͉͈̼̩̯͕̤̯̓n̸̢̢͔̞̙̬͙͉͙̲̒̅̍̅̓͂͜ͅb̵̢͈͔͔̓́͐̅̈́́̈́̑͛̕̚ǫ̶̐r̴̢̨͇̯̪̞͍̯͍̘̙̰̃̽̄̽̇͘n̵̯̙̦̯̥̠̞͖̬̟͈̫̗̎̋͌͋̔ ̸̢̰͖̦̍͛̆
No that was not the end...it couldn't be, why? You had to remember.
R̶̘͐̈͆̏̈́̌̉̇̈́͌̇̒̆͌ẹ̴̺̻͉̝͚̳̀̏̎̈́b̴̙̀̄̎̍͑͛̊͝o̷̬͈͈̫̖̠̺̳͇̭͗̓̽̄̔̓̔r̵̡̛̬͙̘͖͉̙̈́͋̌̏͐̑͐͊̇̎͂̎̋͝n̶̨͈͕̳̫̲̹̺͕͖̯̈̔̈̀̿̾̀̈̈́̊̚
The song rang forth, demanding you join its chorus and at last you sang...
Ḑ̶̭̫̺̫̲̥͛̒̀̑̈́͊̊̓̌͌̍̒̅͊̑͘͝r̶̨̛̼̩͚̣̥̒͋̉̅̑e̷̡͇̟̺̤̳͙͎̥̗͓̱̫̭̿̌̒ͅą̵̜̝̣̝̙̬̗̣̱̻̠̣̣̥̅̿̈́͋̓̊͒̒͘m̵̧̺̘̱̩̙̌̾͐͛̋́͐̾̎̾̌̕̕͜l̷̠̏̓̓̌̀̉̄̓̑̌̈́͑̄͘͝͝e̶̛͖͌̈́̉͂̇̋̌͂͊̅̀̌̕̕͝ś̴͔̱̓͝s̴̡̜͕̐͑͛̍͑͂͆̐̋́͑̿̑̚͠ ̸͕̲̪̊̌͛̆̅͋̅̓̐̋̅̎̚͘̕̕͝y̴͎̥͍̘̲͆̚ȩ̷̧̧͕̦̙͙̟͕̩̱͚͉́̀́̃̌̓̑̂̿̍͋̔̽̒̕̕̕t̵̨̛̫̮͕̭͕̣̟̥̮̆̈́͋̌̾̕̕͜ ̸̧̧̢̫̣͍͔̲̭̞̘̬̲̲̓̍̓̎̇̓͑̊̄̍̉͊̕͠D̵̢̧̫̥̹͕̗̝̝̪̙̣̉͂̒͗͛͒̾̐̑̈̿̕̚̕͜͝͠ͅr̴̼̳̝̜̬͉͔̟̣͕̖̾̃̆̿̅͆͗̒̀̃̌̃͛̕̚̕͝ę̶̨͉͈͚̱̙̪͇̩̆́ͅą̷̡̩̟̮̱̬͓̠̝͕̥̉̔̐̾m̸̧̭͖̮͇͕̱̫͖̳̝̰͕̾̅͛͜į̴̪̪̖̻́̎̕n̷̩̐̾̽̋̆͑̊̔̑̋̆̀̈́͘ğ̷̦͓̘̥̩̰̩͚͕̠̣̈́̄̊ͅ ̸̢̛̘̪̪̪͉͚̺̀͊͊͆͛͂̇͝
But not its, song, your song, your reality, the Void was you and you it.
F̶̧̧̢̢̫̻̭̝̝̩̜͓̱̊̀́̽͌̆̈̆̍̉͆̇̌͠͝o̴̡̨͉̱̠̠̩̥̞͖̬̩̅̈́̐͘̕r̶͙̠͙̟̭̔͐̅m̸̡̡͕̻͙̥̜͓̮̙̩̳͙͓̖̱̝͆͛̿̃̂̓̽͗̓͒̎̽͝l̶̨̧̫̱̰̬̜̟̍̀͜ḗ̸̤͖̖̦̗̩̩̘̱̼̺́̂́̕͠͠͠͝s̵̨̼̱͓̭͈̤͔̆̈̄̅̌͗̉̾͒̽̌̏̀͝s̷̢̱̼̯̈́͆̽̂͂̂̋̈́ ̴̧̛̖̖̠̉͑̌̀͌̋̿̌̓̉̔ỳ̸̢̦͚̤͙̮͖̠̹͎̳̎͂̇͌̃̒̆́͐̎͗̄̏͘͝͠e̸̡̞̼͕̥͔̹̗̘̖̹͍̟̠̼̓̾̍t̴͕̯̝͓̮̞͓̺̠̤̯͑̋̑̽̒̓̉̋͝ ̴̗͇̩̯̪̀̇͒̈́͛̿̈́͗̓̽̔̈́̓̎̕͝ͅẅ̴̧̛̤͎͔͙̖̥̺̮͈́̏̀̀̆́͌̈́̌́̊̋̈́͠͝͝i̶̧̺̮͕͍̋t̷̺̯̪̺̱̍̒͛̓́̽̇̊̈́̆̉̅̾̚̚͝ͅḩ̸̳̤̩̪̺̟̼̐͛͝ͅ ̸̪̱͙̼͎̝̔͆̌̾̀͂̈́͑͋̀̅͘͝F̷̛̜̯̩̺̾̓̒̋͂͐̌͆͒́̇̑̒̚͘o̸͇̙͌͆̆̋͑͋̾̽͠ṛ̵̻͕̙͚͕̱̘͕̙̙͍̻̑͜͜m̷͙̺̈́̈̈̈́̍̄̽̀́͛̾̊̇́͒͝
But you were not the Void, you were more and yet less than that.
T̵̡̡̼͂͐́̓̕r̶̢̪̱̞̗͍̲̼̬͔̦̳̩̞̍̇̔͂́́͆͗̃̔͂̈́̎͘̕͠͝ḁ̵͙̺͈̮͈͓̦͐́͗̂͊̈́̆̃́͌͘̕͘̚͜͝ͅn̴̤̖̭̆̅̑̔̓̈͘s̸̡̹̞̯̘̙̠̞̪̪͆̌̂̇̃̃̈͘͜͜͝i̶͇͚̮̙̦͕̼̗̻̭̹̯̻̐̈́̆̿̑̉͑̌̿̄̚ȩ̷̘̫͖̎n̵̨̛̛͔̹͕͙̲̟͚͇̲̑͐̏̇̈́̇̈́͌͊̏͘͘͠t̶̜̼̍͗̃͌̽͌͑̉̓̃̋̽̌͘͝ ̵̹͓̖̠͇̗̜̦̹̈̑͑͌̓̆̑̚̚y̶̛̮͆͗͗̃͑͂̆̈́̀͠ȩ̶̛̤̠̰͈̠̲̫̟̯̮̊̋̓̋͂̆̈́͒̍̄͆̈́̆̚͜͠t̷͎͂́̓̓́̐͌ͅ ̴̧̡̨̢̨͈̲̜̜̠̥͉̞̘̙̈̈̃͗͒͊͘͜i̴͉̫̭͎̼͚̗̖̯͐̽̐͜ñ̸̡̝̬͉̩̜̪̣̲̹͛̆̉̊̈́́t̷͑̚͜r̷̘̗̪͖̩͚͓̿̓̀̃̌ą̵̨̛̛̰̰̮̯͔͚̙̥̣̯͚̻͌̿͋͌̉̃̓̉͑n̶̨̦͕̜̩̱̦͚͇̱͙͕̤̹̟̬͛̆̈́̃̄͜ś̶̲̹̪͒̕̕i̵̧̨̜͔̣̘̭̖͇̭̯͊͆͗ȅ̷̬̈͂̈́̋́͆͘̕͝n̶̢̛̛̯͉͎͖̜̫͇͖̈́̎̊̋̾̋̆͘̕͝t̶̞̭͙͎͔̗̻͎̭͙͉̱͔͑̂̈͌̔̀́͗̐͂̈́̑̐͜͠ ̸̡̼͍͇̹͛͒͂́̅͂
And at last you understood, that the world was and is and will be.
F̶̖͑i̵͚̠̐̄l̸͉̂̚l̶̤̉ë̸̥d̸͖̄ ̶̺̤̐Ĕ̴̤ͅm̷̢͌̌p̵̜̣̍t̵̮͕̅ȳ̷͙
And you were going to stay there as long as you wished.
Void
Eyes too old for you look out at your sensei as you step forward, and for the first time since you had met him, truly see him. See the man who has endured so much, see the wrinkles on his skin, see the quiet sad laughter that he holds to as his life separates himself from his family. The confusing kaleidoscope of the elemental dance is still there. But, it no longer forces your mind into a painful split.
The world was real, the world was false, these two truths, are reconciled by every Ishi in their own way. For some the truth was too much and they allowed the Void Dragon to consume them, for others they chose one over the other, but for a few, a very select few realized that there was no dichotomy between them, none at all.
Your sensei smiles.
"Now it is time to find your man in green, so you can begin travel on the final ring"
You want to say that there are only four rings, but even as you go to speak it, you realize how false it is.
You were Toturi Yuina, and you had seen the Void, heard the Song to deny the Void after all that? Was rank foolishness at best. Willful ignorance at worst.
"Hai, it is high time I spoke with my great uncle." you say.
There was never any doubt that you would not inherit the throne, you were too much your grandmother, or was she too much you? Time was confusing when you can move it around like rice in a bowl. But, you had questions about the Last Howl of the Wolf, questions only your Great Uncle could answer.
You really hoped he was awake.
Its really hard to write the journey of deciding to exist in reality for no good reason other than you can. Which is what Ishi have to do or stop existing.
- Location
- Leeds
It was this or 'for the lolz'
Sirrocco
Pedantic
...and so now she's going to go have a chat with Uncle... who, if I recall correctly, sacrificed himself to handle a rising and dangerous prophet among the Yobanjin a number of years ago.
But for the Ishiken, the arrow of time is more what you'd call a guideline, than an actual rule.
But for the Ishiken, the arrow of time is more what you'd call a guideline, than an actual rule.