Chance to get a bit of backstory/more info plus whatever the OP has cooked up for us there. The option has to be there for a reason.
Glory of the Emerald Empire (Legend of the 5 Rings Quest)
- Thread starter Winged Knight
- Start date
- Fantasy
Chance to get a bit of backstory/more info plus whatever the OP has cooked up for us there. The option has to be there for a reason.
- Location
- Canada
[X] Timeskip to Kaagi no Tamashii.
Let's get to the fight.
Let's get to the fight.
3.106
Winged Knight
Still just a crazy man with a wolf on his head
- Location
- Texas
I apologize for the spotty updates this week. I have a new schedule at work that I'm getting used to, and there was a little family drama that I had to handle. It was nothing too serious, and it should be over now, but it was time consuming and a bit draining. Next week should hopefully go a lot better, and I thank you all for your patience.
For now, let us continue.
[X] Timeskip to Kaagi no Tamashii.
"A fine sentiment, Shirou-san," you say as you look toward the horizon. Mountains rise tall above the hills there, a landmark marking your path. A sense of unease worms its way into your chest, a worry about what you are heading to combat, but you keep it from showing on your face. "We'll be sure to do just that."
Days pass swiftly as the army marches, always starting early in the morning and then continuing on until it is too dark to see the road. It is always in armor, of course, and with hands on weapons. This is not a mere escort, but a true army. It's a small one, to be sure, but an army none-the-less. The potential for attack is always there, and thus they must always be ready to respond.
You speak with a few of your friends as you walk in the middle of the column, but for the most part you are all silent. They are focusing on the march, doing their best to keep up and not delay those behind them. It's a simple matter for you, of course. A great deal of your training was learning how to walk long distances in heavy armor across uneven terrain. By comparison, keeping a brisk pace along a proper road is no trouble at all.
But the rest of the army obviously has trouble with the speed Kitsuki Ryojiro is asking of them. Even with the road you are making your way through hills, and everyone is tired at the end of the day. It's not terrible, not enough to truly exhaust the troops, but everyone's relief is obvious when the march stops for the night. Tents and cook fires are erected swiftly, and those not on watch take their ease in preparation for another long day of walking come the morning.
Such is your life as you pass through the mountains near Morning Frost Castle, taking but a few hours to replenish supplies before continuing on. The course through the mountains is more difficult than that of the hills, with winds gusting fiercely as they journey through the winding peaks. Biting cold grips at your limbs, and you walk as much to keep warm as to progress.
And to think they have a castle up in these places, you wonder as you cross your arms to hold in your body's heat. More than one, even! How the Dragon manage not to freeze must be a miracle straight from the Heavens themselves.
Soon enough you are past them, however, and well into the edge of Dragon territory boarding on the Unicorn lands. Once more you walk through hills, though now they begin to peter off. Atop some of the taller ones you even think you can see the rolling plains of the Unicorn, but this might simply be a flight of fancy. You'll not be going so far at to enter into their lands anyway, for Kaagi no Tamashii should only be a few days away. Once there, all you must do is find the enemy and destroy them. Simple enough in theory, though you fear it will be more difficult in practice.
The presence of Shinjo Wanli should be enough to keep the Unicorn from responding aggressively to the army's presence so close to their border. They did send her to the Dragon with information, after all, and it would have been remiss of Kitsuki Ryojiro to not give some word of his actions to the neighboring Clan. However… Considering the tensions between the people of Togashi and Shinjo it would not entirely surprise you if the Kitsuki Daimyo simply didn't care what they thought.
Hopefully there won't be any trouble on that end.
You find yourself wandering through the camp one evening, trying to find a place to enjoy some peace and quiet. Armies create a great deal of noise even while at rest, and while you are used to such things it grates on your senses. People are moving about, talking and clattering their bowls as they eat. The fires crackle in their pits, and a number of Bushi are scarping whetstones across their swords to keep them sharp. None of this is too much just by themselves, but combined together creates a din you cannot stand.
Perhaps you are merely unused to walking in an army after so many weeks of quiet travel with your caravan, but everything is simply too loud. For a brief moment you consider finding your comrades, but then dismiss the thought. All four of them were quite tired from the march today, though Shirou seemed the least bothered. It would be better to not burden your friends and leave them to their rest. Just because you find yourself anxious is no reason to bother them.
So you walk past the edge of the camp, waving a hand at two sentries holding guard. They wave back, but do not leave their posts to approach you. You smile at their discipline, pleased that the Mirumoto show such dedication. No doubt they will call out to you if you wander too far away, but you don't plan on making their job more difficult. You'll stay well within their vision.
The noise doesn't vanish entirely, but the relative silence is like a balm on your mind as your eyes adjust to the darkness. There is more stillness out here, more open room for which to move. Which seems silly, for the camp was well spread out and not confining. But it feels that way to you, and as you roll your shoulders you can't help but appreciate just how much you've missed the open spaces.
You close your eyes and appreciate the wind blowing on your face. It is a chill breeze, as it always seems to be this far north, but that simply makes it all the more refreshing. The air is simply more open out here, and only ads to the feeling of bein able to stretch out. Muscles you weren't even aware had been tensed loosen up in relief, and you let out an appreciative sigh.
"It's a fine night, don't you think?" comes a voice from the side.
It takes everything you have to keep from jumping in surprise, but you manage it. You open your eyes and look around, quickly spotting the form of Asako Akio. He is sitting on the ground some thirty paces away from you where a small outcropping of rock blocks the wind. His orange and red kimono is dull in the gloom of evening, but it stands out well enough now that you are looking right at him.
"Greetings, Asako-sama," you say, bowing to him. "If you don't mind my asking, are you sure you should be out here by yourself?"
"Oh, I'm not really," he says, waving a hand back off toward the camp. You follow the motion, and do indeed see four brightly armored Bushi standing in attention just past the edge of the light. "But I simply felt like getting away from all the people for a while to be alone with my thoughts." He grins. "You seem to have had similar intentions."
"I suppose so, Asako-sama," you reply. "I'm not certain why, but I just needed to get out for a brief moment."
"I can understand that," the Elemental Master says, nodding. He motions to the ground beside him. "If you wish, you may join me. Two people is company, and more pleasant than a crowd."
[] Sit with Asako Akio.
[] Politely excuse yourself.
[] Write in.
For now, let us continue.
[X] Timeskip to Kaagi no Tamashii.
"A fine sentiment, Shirou-san," you say as you look toward the horizon. Mountains rise tall above the hills there, a landmark marking your path. A sense of unease worms its way into your chest, a worry about what you are heading to combat, but you keep it from showing on your face. "We'll be sure to do just that."
Days pass swiftly as the army marches, always starting early in the morning and then continuing on until it is too dark to see the road. It is always in armor, of course, and with hands on weapons. This is not a mere escort, but a true army. It's a small one, to be sure, but an army none-the-less. The potential for attack is always there, and thus they must always be ready to respond.
You speak with a few of your friends as you walk in the middle of the column, but for the most part you are all silent. They are focusing on the march, doing their best to keep up and not delay those behind them. It's a simple matter for you, of course. A great deal of your training was learning how to walk long distances in heavy armor across uneven terrain. By comparison, keeping a brisk pace along a proper road is no trouble at all.
But the rest of the army obviously has trouble with the speed Kitsuki Ryojiro is asking of them. Even with the road you are making your way through hills, and everyone is tired at the end of the day. It's not terrible, not enough to truly exhaust the troops, but everyone's relief is obvious when the march stops for the night. Tents and cook fires are erected swiftly, and those not on watch take their ease in preparation for another long day of walking come the morning.
Such is your life as you pass through the mountains near Morning Frost Castle, taking but a few hours to replenish supplies before continuing on. The course through the mountains is more difficult than that of the hills, with winds gusting fiercely as they journey through the winding peaks. Biting cold grips at your limbs, and you walk as much to keep warm as to progress.
And to think they have a castle up in these places, you wonder as you cross your arms to hold in your body's heat. More than one, even! How the Dragon manage not to freeze must be a miracle straight from the Heavens themselves.
Soon enough you are past them, however, and well into the edge of Dragon territory boarding on the Unicorn lands. Once more you walk through hills, though now they begin to peter off. Atop some of the taller ones you even think you can see the rolling plains of the Unicorn, but this might simply be a flight of fancy. You'll not be going so far at to enter into their lands anyway, for Kaagi no Tamashii should only be a few days away. Once there, all you must do is find the enemy and destroy them. Simple enough in theory, though you fear it will be more difficult in practice.
The presence of Shinjo Wanli should be enough to keep the Unicorn from responding aggressively to the army's presence so close to their border. They did send her to the Dragon with information, after all, and it would have been remiss of Kitsuki Ryojiro to not give some word of his actions to the neighboring Clan. However… Considering the tensions between the people of Togashi and Shinjo it would not entirely surprise you if the Kitsuki Daimyo simply didn't care what they thought.
Hopefully there won't be any trouble on that end.
You find yourself wandering through the camp one evening, trying to find a place to enjoy some peace and quiet. Armies create a great deal of noise even while at rest, and while you are used to such things it grates on your senses. People are moving about, talking and clattering their bowls as they eat. The fires crackle in their pits, and a number of Bushi are scarping whetstones across their swords to keep them sharp. None of this is too much just by themselves, but combined together creates a din you cannot stand.
Perhaps you are merely unused to walking in an army after so many weeks of quiet travel with your caravan, but everything is simply too loud. For a brief moment you consider finding your comrades, but then dismiss the thought. All four of them were quite tired from the march today, though Shirou seemed the least bothered. It would be better to not burden your friends and leave them to their rest. Just because you find yourself anxious is no reason to bother them.
So you walk past the edge of the camp, waving a hand at two sentries holding guard. They wave back, but do not leave their posts to approach you. You smile at their discipline, pleased that the Mirumoto show such dedication. No doubt they will call out to you if you wander too far away, but you don't plan on making their job more difficult. You'll stay well within their vision.
The noise doesn't vanish entirely, but the relative silence is like a balm on your mind as your eyes adjust to the darkness. There is more stillness out here, more open room for which to move. Which seems silly, for the camp was well spread out and not confining. But it feels that way to you, and as you roll your shoulders you can't help but appreciate just how much you've missed the open spaces.
You close your eyes and appreciate the wind blowing on your face. It is a chill breeze, as it always seems to be this far north, but that simply makes it all the more refreshing. The air is simply more open out here, and only ads to the feeling of bein able to stretch out. Muscles you weren't even aware had been tensed loosen up in relief, and you let out an appreciative sigh.
"It's a fine night, don't you think?" comes a voice from the side.
It takes everything you have to keep from jumping in surprise, but you manage it. You open your eyes and look around, quickly spotting the form of Asako Akio. He is sitting on the ground some thirty paces away from you where a small outcropping of rock blocks the wind. His orange and red kimono is dull in the gloom of evening, but it stands out well enough now that you are looking right at him.
"Greetings, Asako-sama," you say, bowing to him. "If you don't mind my asking, are you sure you should be out here by yourself?"
"Oh, I'm not really," he says, waving a hand back off toward the camp. You follow the motion, and do indeed see four brightly armored Bushi standing in attention just past the edge of the light. "But I simply felt like getting away from all the people for a while to be alone with my thoughts." He grins. "You seem to have had similar intentions."
"I suppose so, Asako-sama," you reply. "I'm not certain why, but I just needed to get out for a brief moment."
"I can understand that," the Elemental Master says, nodding. He motions to the ground beside him. "If you wish, you may join me. Two people is company, and more pleasant than a crowd."
[] Sit with Asako Akio.
[] Politely excuse yourself.
[] Write in.
Last edited:
- Location
- Iceland
[x] Sit with Asako Akio.
live in interesting times is supposed to be a curse not a guideline!
Orion Nexus
The Storm Soul
- Location
- South Carolina
[X] Sit with Asako Akio
Night
Widow Null
- Location
- Hoff
live in interesting times is supposed to be a curse not a guideline!
This is a quest. It is a guideline.
[X] Sit with Asako Akio
IonicTiger
Extremely bewildered sailing vessel.
- Location
- Take a left at Albuquerque
[X] Sit with Asako Akio
Just caught up, and I must say this has been an absolute joy to read. Really, this is one of the best quests I've ever seen by far.
Just caught up, and I must say this has been an absolute joy to read. Really, this is one of the best quests I've ever seen by far.
[X] Sit with Asako Akio
EtchedSteel
*mumble mumble*
- Location
- Lima. Peru
Welcome aboard. Have a sit, show's about to begin.
[x] Sit with Asako Akio.
Winged Knight
Still just a crazy man with a wolf on his head
- Location
- Texas
Welcome to the Quest! It's always so gratifying to me so see someone has been enjoying my work, and I'm glad you've been having fun following along the adventures of Hiruma Sosuke. I hope you'll stick around as we continue this wild ride. I'll do my best to keep things entertaining.