Sengoku jidai, the age of the country at war. The reign of the old shogunate is over.
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Sengoku Quest - Jesuit Edition
- Thread starter Claytonimor
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Statistics (6 threadmarks, 5.5k words)
User Total Claytonimor 6
Character Creation 1
Claytonimor
WE WILL TAKE JERUSALEM
- Location
- Loudon, TN
Sengoku jidai, the age of the country at war. The reign of the old shogunate is over.
In Kyushu, the old Otomo clan has given over to new ways, taking the price of abandoning the old gods so that they may use foreign weapons while the Shimazu clan comes to dominate the southern end of the island. The minor clans will be crushed between them as the old ways war with the new on the island that is the Gateway to the West.
Eastward, the Mori point jealous eyes across the inland sea, and set to work shipwrights that their ambitions may be made manifest. The Chosokabe and the other inhabitants of Shikoku, when not killing one another, ready to burn them on the water and blot out the sun with blackened shafts. Shikoku will come to be covered by blood, either from the shore or from the air.
In central Honsho, the followers of Shin Buddhism- mobs of farmers and priests- have risen against the rule of the daimyo, seeing the current chaos and destruction in the land as something to lay solely at their feet. The Shogun- a weak and indecisive man- hides behind his most loyal retainers while the Miyoshi plot to replace him. The very structure of the shogunate and his daimyo is under threat, either from a complete overthrowing or the total loss of legitimacy.
On the eastern coast, Owari languishes under a revolt and a fool of an heir while the Hojo huddle in their castles, waiting to reclaim their ancient place. A legend stumbles from his cradle, the fool and the former kings buttress against the Imagawa.
The Takeda and Uesugi continue their rivalry, and an enterprising ashigaru has begun to count their bloody battles over the same stretch of land. Pinnacles of Bushido, there's is a conflict which will be sung of for ages and looked back upon for it's a genius for the rest of time. Hachiman, the god of war and protector of Japan, looks on his sons with pride.
And to the north, the wild lord of the Date sets out for conquest, seeking to unite the north. Barely a step away from the northern barbarians, they lack the "culture" of the south, but their role in the Japanese saga will be forged by steel, blood, and lead. Respect and honor earned by valour. Victory cleanses dishonor, after all.
You, on the other hand, are not a part of any of that. Rather, you are but a-
[X] Soldier of Christ, a Jesuit. While Protestants and your fellow monastic orders look down on these "Nihon-go" for their barbarism, you and the handful of brothers you managed to convince the Portuguese to bring can see their potential as devout, if somewhat esoteric, servants of the one God. That their current civil war had given you potential in-roads with their leaders in only a sign of the righteousness of your path.
[ ] Geisha-in-training. As a woman of skill, your services of tea, dance, and conversation provide entertainment that is in vital demand in these stressful times. That your skills are, as-of-yet, barely acceptable, does not limit you as much as it would on a time of peace. You are the counterpoint to the demure Japanese wife, and a touch of passion is of great utility to those on their way to death.
[ ] Miko, a soother of godly tempers. Your shine may only be small and dedicated to an equally "minor" deity, you maintain it as best you are able. In these times, however, you may need to begin to look to its defense, should what little respect for the old ways give way in the name of ruthlessness or practicality.
[ ] simple farmer. The youngest son of your family. You and your various remaining family must take care of the farm and pay your taxes. The daimyo march to war, with your father and brothers beside them, but they will bring back nothing but tragedy should they not be fed.
That does not mean you are wholly unaffected by the greater goings-on of the nation, of course. After all-
[ ] Shikoku, home to the Chosokabe
[ ] Chugoku, home to the Mori
[X] Kyushu, home to the Shimazu and Otomo
[ ] Kinki, home to Kyoto, the Miyoshi, and the heart of the Ikko Ikki
[ ] Chubu, home to the Oda, Takeda, and Uesugi
[ ] Kanto, home to the Hojo
[ ] Tohoku, home to the Date
was not unfamiliar with the devastation such words as these would cause. In much the same way as none of Japan was unfamiliar with such devastation.
Still, though, as an ant among Titans you may yet be able to avoid directly facing the consequences of the conflict.
Or, perhaps you wanted to get directly involved? Chaos does open otherwise closed paths, after all.
Only time will tell.
----------
A/N: Hello everyone, as you can see I'm starting a new Quest. This one will probably be updated much more frequently than my other one, as I planned for it to be much shorter per update. If you guys have seen "We Stand in Awe" recently, by Maugan Ra, you'll have some idea of how I plan to run this one. If you haven't seen it, I wholeheartedly recommend that you do.
If you guys have any questions you can go ahead and fire away; if you guys have a pertinent historical knowledge as to the situation in Sengoku-era Japan then I welcome it; and I hope you guys all have a fun time.
There are no trap options.
Here goes.
In Kyushu, the old Otomo clan has given over to new ways, taking the price of abandoning the old gods so that they may use foreign weapons while the Shimazu clan comes to dominate the southern end of the island. The minor clans will be crushed between them as the old ways war with the new on the island that is the Gateway to the West.
Eastward, the Mori point jealous eyes across the inland sea, and set to work shipwrights that their ambitions may be made manifest. The Chosokabe and the other inhabitants of Shikoku, when not killing one another, ready to burn them on the water and blot out the sun with blackened shafts. Shikoku will come to be covered by blood, either from the shore or from the air.
In central Honsho, the followers of Shin Buddhism- mobs of farmers and priests- have risen against the rule of the daimyo, seeing the current chaos and destruction in the land as something to lay solely at their feet. The Shogun- a weak and indecisive man- hides behind his most loyal retainers while the Miyoshi plot to replace him. The very structure of the shogunate and his daimyo is under threat, either from a complete overthrowing or the total loss of legitimacy.
On the eastern coast, Owari languishes under a revolt and a fool of an heir while the Hojo huddle in their castles, waiting to reclaim their ancient place. A legend stumbles from his cradle, the fool and the former kings buttress against the Imagawa.
The Takeda and Uesugi continue their rivalry, and an enterprising ashigaru has begun to count their bloody battles over the same stretch of land. Pinnacles of Bushido, there's is a conflict which will be sung of for ages and looked back upon for it's a genius for the rest of time. Hachiman, the god of war and protector of Japan, looks on his sons with pride.
And to the north, the wild lord of the Date sets out for conquest, seeking to unite the north. Barely a step away from the northern barbarians, they lack the "culture" of the south, but their role in the Japanese saga will be forged by steel, blood, and lead. Respect and honor earned by valour. Victory cleanses dishonor, after all.
You, on the other hand, are not a part of any of that. Rather, you are but a-
[X] Soldier of Christ, a Jesuit. While Protestants and your fellow monastic orders look down on these "Nihon-go" for their barbarism, you and the handful of brothers you managed to convince the Portuguese to bring can see their potential as devout, if somewhat esoteric, servants of the one God. That their current civil war had given you potential in-roads with their leaders in only a sign of the righteousness of your path.
[ ] Geisha-in-training. As a woman of skill, your services of tea, dance, and conversation provide entertainment that is in vital demand in these stressful times. That your skills are, as-of-yet, barely acceptable, does not limit you as much as it would on a time of peace. You are the counterpoint to the demure Japanese wife, and a touch of passion is of great utility to those on their way to death.
[ ] Miko, a soother of godly tempers. Your shine may only be small and dedicated to an equally "minor" deity, you maintain it as best you are able. In these times, however, you may need to begin to look to its defense, should what little respect for the old ways give way in the name of ruthlessness or practicality.
[ ] simple farmer. The youngest son of your family. You and your various remaining family must take care of the farm and pay your taxes. The daimyo march to war, with your father and brothers beside them, but they will bring back nothing but tragedy should they not be fed.
That does not mean you are wholly unaffected by the greater goings-on of the nation, of course. After all-
[ ] Shikoku, home to the Chosokabe
[ ] Chugoku, home to the Mori
[X] Kyushu, home to the Shimazu and Otomo
[ ] Kinki, home to Kyoto, the Miyoshi, and the heart of the Ikko Ikki
[ ] Chubu, home to the Oda, Takeda, and Uesugi
[ ] Kanto, home to the Hojo
[ ] Tohoku, home to the Date
was not unfamiliar with the devastation such words as these would cause. In much the same way as none of Japan was unfamiliar with such devastation.
Still, though, as an ant among Titans you may yet be able to avoid directly facing the consequences of the conflict.
Or, perhaps you wanted to get directly involved? Chaos does open otherwise closed paths, after all.
Only time will tell.
----------
A/N: Hello everyone, as you can see I'm starting a new Quest. This one will probably be updated much more frequently than my other one, as I planned for it to be much shorter per update. If you guys have seen "We Stand in Awe" recently, by Maugan Ra, you'll have some idea of how I plan to run this one. If you haven't seen it, I wholeheartedly recommend that you do.
If you guys have any questions you can go ahead and fire away; if you guys have a pertinent historical knowledge as to the situation in Sengoku-era Japan then I welcome it; and I hope you guys all have a fun time.
There are no trap options.
Here goes.
Last edited:
Character Creation 2
Claytonimor
WE WILL TAKE JERUSALEM
- Location
- Loudon, TN
[X] Soldier of Christ, a Jesuit. While Protestants and your fellow monastic orders look down on these "Nihon-go" for their barbarism, you and the handful of brothers you managed to convince the Portuguese to bring can see their potential as devout, if somewhat esoteric, servants of the one God. That their current civil war had given you potential in-roads with their leaders in only a sign of the righteousness of your path.
[X] Kyushu, home to the Shimazu and Otomo
You were among the latest wave of Jesuits to enter Japan, your pathway already paved by Francis Xavier in Nagasaki and his many associates over the past months. Already, a mere few months after his arrival, the converted in Nagasaki, Hirado, Kagoshima, and Funai had reached such numbers as to necessitate the construction of churches.
Your brothers had taken to serving as advisors to the heads of the Shoni, Otomo, and Sagara clans, where they introduced European mathematics and bureaucracy and aided in facilitating trade between the Portuguese and the natives.
Others among you had taken to shepherding the flocks, answering questions and modernizing farming methods and road construction- something well appreciated by the people but also by their leaders, for it allowed more men to be deployed more rapidly and better supplied.
Some among you had even taken to serving as strategists and tacticians among the clans armies, directing them on how to properly protect musketeers against cavalry and ambushes.
It was no stretch to say that the Japanese were a practical people, and fully willing to accept aid, even from foreigners, in their trying times.
However, this massive participation of your order into the Japanese society left you in a bind. As the order's youngest member in Japan at:
[X] 25
you were given last pick of the various vocations.
As such, you had been left almost completely without a way to render aid to the cause of Christ on the island of Kyushu. You could simply begin preaching publicly- something you, as all Jesuits, were trained in (though to a much lesser degree than other orders), but such held the risk of inciting the various clan heads to more limit your Order's freedoms, lest you incite a revolt among their peasants as you have heard is happening with the Buddhists on the central island of Honshu. You could still do it, but your order, like the Japanese, was practical. Closer ties to the nation's leaders would eventually allow for the people to be converted without forcing their current civil war to spiral even further into anarchy.
Really, all that left you was to further expand your Order's reach.
While the situation in Kyushu was as well as could be expected even under the most blessed of conditions, the other islands had yet to even hear the Word, let alone be educated in it's nuances or other the cultures from whence it springs.
Once you were beyond the waters of Kyushu, you would be expected to purport yourself in a manner befitting a servant of God. However, your methods for spreading the Word, most especially if the situation in Kyushu should advance to such a degree as to convert some of the leaders, would be left almost entirely up to your discretion. Should the Church find herself truly backing one candidate for the Shogunate, then a few peasant uprising would not be out of order, should such be possible without posing catastrophe to the flock.
There would be other Jesuits sent out into the islands, but you were not expected to be able to meet regularly, if at all. As such, Father Xavier and the rest of the brothers in Kyushu will provide you with a set of gifts, according to your preference, along with your horse and cart.
Choose 4:
[ ] A crate of guns
[X] A crate of extra vulgate bibles
[ ] A crate of preserved foodstuffs for two months
[X] A crate of the holy body and blood, consecrated in Goa before being shipped
[X] A set of treatises on mathematics and science
[ ] A loan of a sizable sum of local moneys, expected to be paid back whenever possible
[X] A local advisor, familiar with the ritual around clan audiences
[ ] A crate of cuirasses
[ ] Write-in (pending approval)
Frankly, you are surprised to be receiving so much, but, you suppose, with the conversion of India being slow-going, efforts in Japan must be seeing extra lobbying in the Holy See, lest the Holy Father lose faith in the Order.
----------
A/N: Alright, I can't find a way to integrate the next bits. I'm gonna need a Name:
[X] Sebastian Rodrigues
[ ] Francisco Garupe
[ ] Write-in
And for you to assign levels to your base skills:
You can give a one level boost to two skills or a two level boost to one skill
Diplomacy: Apprentice
Martial: Apprentice
Stewardship: Apprentice
Learning: Journeyman
Intrigue: Amateur
Piety: Journeyman
Ranks go: Incompetent, Amateur, Apprentice, Journeyman, Professional, Master, Champion, Legend
Sue me, I like CK2's attribute assignments. I'll probably rename them later, but they work for now.
You do benefit from your background choice, here, as Jesuits were remarkable well-educated, so they get pretty good in most things. The other backgrounds would have been more...unbalanced.
After this vote is done, I'll put up the character sheet, then we'll actually get into the proper story.
[X] Kyushu, home to the Shimazu and Otomo
You were among the latest wave of Jesuits to enter Japan, your pathway already paved by Francis Xavier in Nagasaki and his many associates over the past months. Already, a mere few months after his arrival, the converted in Nagasaki, Hirado, Kagoshima, and Funai had reached such numbers as to necessitate the construction of churches.
Your brothers had taken to serving as advisors to the heads of the Shoni, Otomo, and Sagara clans, where they introduced European mathematics and bureaucracy and aided in facilitating trade between the Portuguese and the natives.
Others among you had taken to shepherding the flocks, answering questions and modernizing farming methods and road construction- something well appreciated by the people but also by their leaders, for it allowed more men to be deployed more rapidly and better supplied.
Some among you had even taken to serving as strategists and tacticians among the clans armies, directing them on how to properly protect musketeers against cavalry and ambushes.
It was no stretch to say that the Japanese were a practical people, and fully willing to accept aid, even from foreigners, in their trying times.
However, this massive participation of your order into the Japanese society left you in a bind. As the order's youngest member in Japan at:
[X] 25
you were given last pick of the various vocations.
As such, you had been left almost completely without a way to render aid to the cause of Christ on the island of Kyushu. You could simply begin preaching publicly- something you, as all Jesuits, were trained in (though to a much lesser degree than other orders), but such held the risk of inciting the various clan heads to more limit your Order's freedoms, lest you incite a revolt among their peasants as you have heard is happening with the Buddhists on the central island of Honshu. You could still do it, but your order, like the Japanese, was practical. Closer ties to the nation's leaders would eventually allow for the people to be converted without forcing their current civil war to spiral even further into anarchy.
Really, all that left you was to further expand your Order's reach.
While the situation in Kyushu was as well as could be expected even under the most blessed of conditions, the other islands had yet to even hear the Word, let alone be educated in it's nuances or other the cultures from whence it springs.
Once you were beyond the waters of Kyushu, you would be expected to purport yourself in a manner befitting a servant of God. However, your methods for spreading the Word, most especially if the situation in Kyushu should advance to such a degree as to convert some of the leaders, would be left almost entirely up to your discretion. Should the Church find herself truly backing one candidate for the Shogunate, then a few peasant uprising would not be out of order, should such be possible without posing catastrophe to the flock.
There would be other Jesuits sent out into the islands, but you were not expected to be able to meet regularly, if at all. As such, Father Xavier and the rest of the brothers in Kyushu will provide you with a set of gifts, according to your preference, along with your horse and cart.
Choose 4:
[ ] A crate of guns
[X] A crate of extra vulgate bibles
[ ] A crate of preserved foodstuffs for two months
[X] A crate of the holy body and blood, consecrated in Goa before being shipped
[X] A set of treatises on mathematics and science
[ ] A loan of a sizable sum of local moneys, expected to be paid back whenever possible
[X] A local advisor, familiar with the ritual around clan audiences
[ ] A crate of cuirasses
[ ] Write-in (pending approval)
Frankly, you are surprised to be receiving so much, but, you suppose, with the conversion of India being slow-going, efforts in Japan must be seeing extra lobbying in the Holy See, lest the Holy Father lose faith in the Order.
----------
A/N: Alright, I can't find a way to integrate the next bits. I'm gonna need a Name:
[X] Sebastian Rodrigues
[ ] Francisco Garupe
[ ] Write-in
And for you to assign levels to your base skills:
You can give a one level boost to two skills or a two level boost to one skill
Diplomacy: Apprentice
Martial: Apprentice
Stewardship: Apprentice
Learning: Journeyman
Intrigue: Amateur
Piety: Journeyman
Ranks go: Incompetent, Amateur, Apprentice, Journeyman, Professional, Master, Champion, Legend
Sue me, I like CK2's attribute assignments. I'll probably rename them later, but they work for now.
You do benefit from your background choice, here, as Jesuits were remarkable well-educated, so they get pretty good in most things. The other backgrounds would have been more...unbalanced.
After this vote is done, I'll put up the character sheet, then we'll actually get into the proper story.
Last edited:
Character Sheet
Claytonimor
WE WILL TAKE JERUSALEM
- Location
- Loudon, TN
Name: Sebastian Rodrigues
Age: 25
Appearance:
Skills:
Diplomacy: Apprentice (0/800)- You've the general skills to succeed in maintaining a respectful atmosphere during negotiations, but your lack of experience generally causes you to give up far more than you receive whenever facing someone of relative competence
Martial: Professional (0/3200)- You are a man of war, for all that you are also of the cloth. Whilst you tend to disdain from personal attendance to the front line (a wise move in an age where a single shot could end the most brilliant or powerful soldier), your natural ability in the direction of soldiers on a battlefield, as well as in the training of professional military forces has seen you to success and glory against everything from raiding Indians seeking to halt the march of civilization and Christ to the forces of Saxony in the Schmalkaldischer Krieg. You are not the best, not by far, but experience tempers your losses and escalated your victories.
Learning: Journeyman (100/1600)- Compared to many, you are well-educated in the arts and sciences of Christendom. However, such is still a simple hurdle to cross and much remains outside of your domain of knowledge.
Intrigue: Amatuer (0/400) - While assassination is less often used than in the past, you are trained enough in the ways of hidden machinations to avoid the most obvious of pitfalls and traps.
Piety: Journeyman (0/1600)- You are an ordained minister in the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church of Rome, but not much more.
Advanced skills: N/A
Inventory:
Horse and float wagon
~50,000 wafers to be blessed
60 gallons of sacramental wine
28 scientific books
12 vulgate bibles w/commentaries
Party:
Sato (佐藤) Kaito (介人), 34, diplomacy gets a one-rank boost until professional so long as he is advising
Skill leveling takes xp as follows:
Incompetent to Amateur - 1000 xp
Amateur to Apprentice - 400 xp
Apprentice to Journeyman - 800 xp
Journeyman to Professional - 1600 xp
Professional to Master - 3200 xp
Master to Champion - 6400 xp
Champion to Legendary - 8000 xp
xp will be awarded for:
Omakes, well-justified plans of action, demonstrable mastery of the haiku, and through in-story acts
Current, Itemized xp: 110 @Duesal
Spent, Itemized xp: 100 @gman391
A/N: Next comes the proper opening to the story.
TFW you wake up at 0033 and remember you promised to post
Age: 25
Appearance:
Skills:
Diplomacy: Apprentice (0/800)- You've the general skills to succeed in maintaining a respectful atmosphere during negotiations, but your lack of experience generally causes you to give up far more than you receive whenever facing someone of relative competence
Martial: Professional (0/3200)- You are a man of war, for all that you are also of the cloth. Whilst you tend to disdain from personal attendance to the front line (a wise move in an age where a single shot could end the most brilliant or powerful soldier), your natural ability in the direction of soldiers on a battlefield, as well as in the training of professional military forces has seen you to success and glory against everything from raiding Indians seeking to halt the march of civilization and Christ to the forces of Saxony in the Schmalkaldischer Krieg. You are not the best, not by far, but experience tempers your losses and escalated your victories.
Learning: Journeyman (100/1600)- Compared to many, you are well-educated in the arts and sciences of Christendom. However, such is still a simple hurdle to cross and much remains outside of your domain of knowledge.
Intrigue: Amatuer (0/400) - While assassination is less often used than in the past, you are trained enough in the ways of hidden machinations to avoid the most obvious of pitfalls and traps.
Piety: Journeyman (0/1600)- You are an ordained minister in the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church of Rome, but not much more.
Advanced skills: N/A
Inventory:
Horse and float wagon
~50,000 wafers to be blessed
60 gallons of sacramental wine
28 scientific books
12 vulgate bibles w/commentaries
Party:
Sato (佐藤) Kaito (介人), 34, diplomacy gets a one-rank boost until professional so long as he is advising
Skill leveling takes xp as follows:
Incompetent to Amateur - 1000 xp
Amateur to Apprentice - 400 xp
Apprentice to Journeyman - 800 xp
Journeyman to Professional - 1600 xp
Professional to Master - 3200 xp
Master to Champion - 6400 xp
Champion to Legendary - 8000 xp
xp will be awarded for:
Omakes, well-justified plans of action, demonstrable mastery of the haiku, and through in-story acts
Current, Itemized xp: 110 @Duesal
Spent, Itemized xp: 100 @gman391
A/N: Next comes the proper opening to the story.
TFW you wake up at 0033 and remember you promised to post
Last edited:
Setting Out
Claytonimor
WE WILL TAKE JERUSALEM
- Location
- Loudon, TN
Listening carefully for inspiration from the Lord on High, you make certain to bring supplies enough that you can perform holy Communion with any first-time converts on your journey. Beyond that, you are well aware that European knowledge of the natural laws are more valuable to those clan heads who could be brought to the light, rather than just a supply of guns, which would draw more false converts.
Still, thinking on such things, you recognize your own weakness in the area of diplomatic encounters. Already do the Shimazu in the south mistrust your order, though they've yet to take action against you. If you desire to avoid such a hostile relationship in the future, you will need someone along with you who can guide you through the court practises of the Japanese.
And so are you directed to Sato Kaito, baptized under the name of Cyprian, who served under Yoshishige's father, Yoshiaki. He had been living alone somewhere in the mountains between Hinokuma and Oka, resting on the reward the Daimyo had given him for his honored service, when a minor plague had devastated his crops.
One of Father Xavier's companions had happened across him and offered him food and transport to Funai of his free will and had made, apparently, a strong impression on the journey. Sato-san, as he insists you call him, had apparently taken well to the ideals of self-sacrifice and the necessity of works that the Mother Church espoused.
From your own 'discussions' with him, which mostly consist of him spouting off a litany of mistakes in your bearing before picking one and drilling you on it while trying to distract you with questions (you could see why Father Damian enjoyed his company), you could tell that he is as least as curious about Europe and its peoples as vice versa.
The next few weeks of preparation for your journey involved a flurry of activity from both yourself and from the Daimyo.
While you were busy learning how to properly bow- as well as when not to- it seems that 'Yoshishige-dono' had decided to embark on an infrastructure project.
Not that a dozen-dozen men rain-proofing roads would distract your task-master, of course. 'Sato-sensei' as you learned he was to be called whenever he was teaching you something, was rather thorough.
Still, by the time your transportation to Tokuyama had finished being arranged- possible the last piece of aid the order would be able to lend you, you'd only just begun to understand the ins and outs of Nihon-go court life. You were 'passable', but even you could recognize that, without Shipurian- as his saint name translated- there to offer subtle hints, you would make a fool of yourself and your host.
You did also learn several new words, though- the majority of which were variants of clumsy.
Still, the time had come, so you went.
Your transportation was aboard a somewhat regular trade ship that crossed Japan's interior sea to trade goods between the three islands.
On the up side, this means you will not be needlessly accosted upon arrival. On the downside, it means that you have to sleep with the goods.
Granted, it's only slightly less comfortable than the Portuguese trading ship you sailed in on, and the ship turned out to be shipping silks, so the goods are kept relatively dry.
Still, the half-day journey is filled with peril as the vessel rocks and twists even on these inland waters. Were the ship travelling onto the open ocean, you'd great doubt as to it's ability to remain afloat.
As the journey took you through the night, and the rocking of the ship precluded any attempts by Sato to continue your training, you did your best to return the favor to him.
To your left, kneeling as the Japanese did- fully resting on their feet- Sato, his hair tied back into a small ponytail and the top of his head kept bald, did his best to listen as you guided him through the structure of prayers.
Kneeling next to him as you'd been taught, you lowered your head and began.
"Pater noster qui es in coelis,
sanctificetur nomen tuum;
adveniat regnum tuum,
fiat voluntas tua,
sicut in coelo et in terra."
Giving him a moment to catch up with you, you pause in prayer and explain.
"In opening a prayer, you always start with giving praise. You have to remember that you are beseeching the Most High. His love is infinite, but reminding yourself of this fact every time you approach Him."
Sato's face remains turned towards the earth, which is a good practise to keep, even though it is not strictly necessary, so you continue.
"This aids us in avoiding superbia- pride. Which is the greatest of sins as it is the basis of all sins. It is the act of placing one's self above the Divine, and believing your judgement greater than His-"
And so do you continue, somehow managing to branch off into the multitude of doctrines of the Church that tie into the formation of prayer.
He seems especially excited as you briefly overview sainthood, as is common among converts from pagan or ancestor-worshiping peoples. As a general rule of thumb, the Order encourages a certain level of syncretism in new converts- "better a believer willing to be taught than a pagan with a spear" Superior-General de Loyala was fond of saying- so you do not dash his hopes that some of his ancestors could have been accepted into the kingdom of Heaven. It's isn't like it is impossible, after all.
Still, as your conversation closes and you settle in for a short rest, your thoughts drift to the coming journey.
Tokuyama, as well as much of the surrounding countryside, is fully under the sway of the Ouchi, a clan allied to the Otomo for some time now. As such, they've been subject to a few of your brothers over the past few months, mostly as advisors sent by the Otomo to aid economically or militarily against the Mori. You can therefore at least expect the leaders of the Ouchi to be amenable to your travels, and unlikely to dedicate any resources to stop you, spread across the strait between Kyushu and Honshu as the are.
Studying forward, you have a few options as to how you desire to start your journey.
Choose one:
[ ] Stay in Tokuyama for some time after your arrival
[ ] Travel along the coast eastward, and run into the small economic town controlled by the Tokoishiyama family- though their numbers might better have them called a tribe
[ ] Travel into the mountains north and Eastward, and meet a small mining town run by the three families of the Shinkano tribe
[ ] Travel back westward, slightly, and reach Yamaguchi palace, where the Daimyo of the Ouchi holds court
[ ] Head between the two tribes and further east, towards the border with the Mori and the heavily guarded fortress of Suo Takamori
-----
A/N: Manage to get this one out on time.
Barely.
BTW, if you guys are wondering where I'm getting my names from, both for towns and for the tribes, then let me introduce you to Nobunaga's Ambition. I'd give it a solid 8.5 out of 10 if you're into this sort of thing.
Still, thinking on such things, you recognize your own weakness in the area of diplomatic encounters. Already do the Shimazu in the south mistrust your order, though they've yet to take action against you. If you desire to avoid such a hostile relationship in the future, you will need someone along with you who can guide you through the court practises of the Japanese.
And so are you directed to Sato Kaito, baptized under the name of Cyprian, who served under Yoshishige's father, Yoshiaki. He had been living alone somewhere in the mountains between Hinokuma and Oka, resting on the reward the Daimyo had given him for his honored service, when a minor plague had devastated his crops.
One of Father Xavier's companions had happened across him and offered him food and transport to Funai of his free will and had made, apparently, a strong impression on the journey. Sato-san, as he insists you call him, had apparently taken well to the ideals of self-sacrifice and the necessity of works that the Mother Church espoused.
From your own 'discussions' with him, which mostly consist of him spouting off a litany of mistakes in your bearing before picking one and drilling you on it while trying to distract you with questions (you could see why Father Damian enjoyed his company), you could tell that he is as least as curious about Europe and its peoples as vice versa.
The next few weeks of preparation for your journey involved a flurry of activity from both yourself and from the Daimyo.
While you were busy learning how to properly bow- as well as when not to- it seems that 'Yoshishige-dono' had decided to embark on an infrastructure project.
Not that a dozen-dozen men rain-proofing roads would distract your task-master, of course. 'Sato-sensei' as you learned he was to be called whenever he was teaching you something, was rather thorough.
Still, by the time your transportation to Tokuyama had finished being arranged- possible the last piece of aid the order would be able to lend you, you'd only just begun to understand the ins and outs of Nihon-go court life. You were 'passable', but even you could recognize that, without Shipurian- as his saint name translated- there to offer subtle hints, you would make a fool of yourself and your host.
You did also learn several new words, though- the majority of which were variants of clumsy.
Still, the time had come, so you went.
Your transportation was aboard a somewhat regular trade ship that crossed Japan's interior sea to trade goods between the three islands.
On the up side, this means you will not be needlessly accosted upon arrival. On the downside, it means that you have to sleep with the goods.
Granted, it's only slightly less comfortable than the Portuguese trading ship you sailed in on, and the ship turned out to be shipping silks, so the goods are kept relatively dry.
Still, the half-day journey is filled with peril as the vessel rocks and twists even on these inland waters. Were the ship travelling onto the open ocean, you'd great doubt as to it's ability to remain afloat.
As the journey took you through the night, and the rocking of the ship precluded any attempts by Sato to continue your training, you did your best to return the favor to him.
To your left, kneeling as the Japanese did- fully resting on their feet- Sato, his hair tied back into a small ponytail and the top of his head kept bald, did his best to listen as you guided him through the structure of prayers.
Kneeling next to him as you'd been taught, you lowered your head and began.
"Pater noster qui es in coelis,
sanctificetur nomen tuum;
adveniat regnum tuum,
fiat voluntas tua,
sicut in coelo et in terra."
Giving him a moment to catch up with you, you pause in prayer and explain.
"In opening a prayer, you always start with giving praise. You have to remember that you are beseeching the Most High. His love is infinite, but reminding yourself of this fact every time you approach Him."
Sato's face remains turned towards the earth, which is a good practise to keep, even though it is not strictly necessary, so you continue.
"This aids us in avoiding superbia- pride. Which is the greatest of sins as it is the basis of all sins. It is the act of placing one's self above the Divine, and believing your judgement greater than His-"
And so do you continue, somehow managing to branch off into the multitude of doctrines of the Church that tie into the formation of prayer.
He seems especially excited as you briefly overview sainthood, as is common among converts from pagan or ancestor-worshiping peoples. As a general rule of thumb, the Order encourages a certain level of syncretism in new converts- "better a believer willing to be taught than a pagan with a spear" Superior-General de Loyala was fond of saying- so you do not dash his hopes that some of his ancestors could have been accepted into the kingdom of Heaven. It's isn't like it is impossible, after all.
Still, as your conversation closes and you settle in for a short rest, your thoughts drift to the coming journey.
Tokuyama, as well as much of the surrounding countryside, is fully under the sway of the Ouchi, a clan allied to the Otomo for some time now. As such, they've been subject to a few of your brothers over the past few months, mostly as advisors sent by the Otomo to aid economically or militarily against the Mori. You can therefore at least expect the leaders of the Ouchi to be amenable to your travels, and unlikely to dedicate any resources to stop you, spread across the strait between Kyushu and Honshu as the are.
Studying forward, you have a few options as to how you desire to start your journey.
Choose one:
[ ] Stay in Tokuyama for some time after your arrival
[ ] Travel along the coast eastward, and run into the small economic town controlled by the Tokoishiyama family- though their numbers might better have them called a tribe
[ ] Travel into the mountains north and Eastward, and meet a small mining town run by the three families of the Shinkano tribe
[ ] Travel back westward, slightly, and reach Yamaguchi palace, where the Daimyo of the Ouchi holds court
[ ] Head between the two tribes and further east, towards the border with the Mori and the heavily guarded fortress of Suo Takamori
-----
A/N: Manage to get this one out on time.
Barely.
BTW, if you guys are wondering where I'm getting my names from, both for towns and for the tribes, then let me introduce you to Nobunaga's Ambition. I'd give it a solid 8.5 out of 10 if you're into this sort of thing.
A Thousand Mile Journey, the First Step
Claytonimor
WE WILL TAKE JERUSALEM
- Location
- Loudon, TN
[X] Travel into the mountains north and Eastward, and meet a small mining town run by the three families of the Shinkano tribe
For all that appealing to the leader of the Otomo had worked wonders for Father Xavier, you were more cautious as to employing the same tact with the Ouchi.
For one, you weren't sure as to how homogeneous, exactly, the various Japanese clans were. Sato had well warned you away from assuming the mainlanders' customs would be the same as the people of Kyushu. He'd gone so far as to point out several areas where their languages differed- usually do to the increased contact Kyushu had with the outside world relative to the rest of the islands.
So, no, you didn't want to put yourself to such a test immediately at the start.
Indeed' you'd also rather avoid any population center too large for you to be unable to properly form a personal attachment to all the residents, lest one try to out you before you were fully prepared to face the political hierarchs.
Therefore, travelling inland towards what, by what little knowledge you had, was a small mining town. No more than fifty permanent residents at any given time, so perfect for you to both brush up your preaching without putting too much of a dent into your host.
Your destination thus decided, you traveled rapidly through Tokuyama on arrival, ignoring the strange looks you received and only picking out a few of the local foodstuffs from the stalls that line the wide path. You weren't quite as alien to these people as Xavier had been upon his arrival- you could articulate your desire for directions, for example- but it was still interesting to be greeted with such suspicion.
You could only assume it would be worse in the mining village. Until they'd adopted you, of course. Small towns had a way of protecting their own that tended not to change much between peoples.
Thusly your worries assuaged, you ignored the rest of the looks you received and continued on.
Shortly thereafter, you found yourself on the road.
Which was surprising more busy than you were expecting.
At first, Sato attributed it to cherry blossom viewing- hanami- being in season through the area. However, as you found yourself leaving the- admittedly beautiful- blossoming trees behind and the traffic only slacking off lightly, you had to find another reason to attribute why peoples of every shape and size- from what were clearly Samurai with their entourages to elderly peasants clutching at beads you would almost call Buddhist if they weren't doubly-ringed and rather small compared to those beads of the Buddhists your brothers hadn't had several friendly and less-than-friendly exchanges with- would be travelling into the mountains at the center of this stretch of Honshu.
As Sato dissuaded you from pulling one of the travellers to the side to question them- it would probably be rather rude, all things considered-you had to wait three nights until your camp site finally coincided with that of another group.
There were six of them- an elderly man with a cane who regarded you with the sort of cool disinterest a man who'd seen too much would have, two somewhat aged women who you could not tell if were his daughters or in-laws, and a young woman taking care of what were maybe three-year-old twins.
While they'd been initially concerned with your appearance, sharing a portion of your rations- not the host- had made them more amenable to your presence.
The fact that the children- two girls- seemed to delight in finding words that you yet did not understand only aided you in your endeavors.
Eventually, after you and the family had finished your respective prayers, you managed to pull aside the eldest woman while the other two tending to the children and Sato conversed with the Grandfather.
Giving her a light bow of recognition and receiving one in return, you decide to avoid obfuscation and simply come right out.
"Madam, this one must admit to some curiosity. Why is it that so many travel on this path? Is not there only a small mining town at its end?"
Folding her hands over her stomach the matron indicated her father-in-law (as you'd discovered), and responded.
"We are performing the Kumano Sankeimichi. We hope that the Amida Butsu will let the shrines' healing soothe father's aches and that the gods will offer protection to our husbands."
You, mindful of your manners in giving a thankful bow before backing away, return to your bedroll.
You had not expected to have the chance to so swiftly encounter what was, apparently, a major pilgrimage route of the local religion- though you imagined this particular route to be related to the Buddhists in some way, seeing as she'd named a Buddha, though you were not familiar with any beyond Siddhārtha- but Father Xavier had warned you and your brothers as to just how commonplace the various religious shrines were in Japan.
Still, this is too much, is it not?
Alas, it seemed you had yet another decision to make.
Do you divert?
[ ] Yes, seeing these shrines first-hand would provide you with valuable insight as to the practises of the Japanese without you having to be too intrusive. The mining town will still be there when you finish, after all.
[ ] No, you have already set a destination, and to change it simply because your curiosity is peaked would undermine the whole point of setting it. The Shrines will still be there when you finish, after all.
For all that appealing to the leader of the Otomo had worked wonders for Father Xavier, you were more cautious as to employing the same tact with the Ouchi.
For one, you weren't sure as to how homogeneous, exactly, the various Japanese clans were. Sato had well warned you away from assuming the mainlanders' customs would be the same as the people of Kyushu. He'd gone so far as to point out several areas where their languages differed- usually do to the increased contact Kyushu had with the outside world relative to the rest of the islands.
So, no, you didn't want to put yourself to such a test immediately at the start.
Indeed' you'd also rather avoid any population center too large for you to be unable to properly form a personal attachment to all the residents, lest one try to out you before you were fully prepared to face the political hierarchs.
Therefore, travelling inland towards what, by what little knowledge you had, was a small mining town. No more than fifty permanent residents at any given time, so perfect for you to both brush up your preaching without putting too much of a dent into your host.
Your destination thus decided, you traveled rapidly through Tokuyama on arrival, ignoring the strange looks you received and only picking out a few of the local foodstuffs from the stalls that line the wide path. You weren't quite as alien to these people as Xavier had been upon his arrival- you could articulate your desire for directions, for example- but it was still interesting to be greeted with such suspicion.
You could only assume it would be worse in the mining village. Until they'd adopted you, of course. Small towns had a way of protecting their own that tended not to change much between peoples.
Thusly your worries assuaged, you ignored the rest of the looks you received and continued on.
Shortly thereafter, you found yourself on the road.
Which was surprising more busy than you were expecting.
At first, Sato attributed it to cherry blossom viewing- hanami- being in season through the area. However, as you found yourself leaving the- admittedly beautiful- blossoming trees behind and the traffic only slacking off lightly, you had to find another reason to attribute why peoples of every shape and size- from what were clearly Samurai with their entourages to elderly peasants clutching at beads you would almost call Buddhist if they weren't doubly-ringed and rather small compared to those beads of the Buddhists your brothers hadn't had several friendly and less-than-friendly exchanges with- would be travelling into the mountains at the center of this stretch of Honshu.
As Sato dissuaded you from pulling one of the travellers to the side to question them- it would probably be rather rude, all things considered-you had to wait three nights until your camp site finally coincided with that of another group.
There were six of them- an elderly man with a cane who regarded you with the sort of cool disinterest a man who'd seen too much would have, two somewhat aged women who you could not tell if were his daughters or in-laws, and a young woman taking care of what were maybe three-year-old twins.
While they'd been initially concerned with your appearance, sharing a portion of your rations- not the host- had made them more amenable to your presence.
The fact that the children- two girls- seemed to delight in finding words that you yet did not understand only aided you in your endeavors.
Eventually, after you and the family had finished your respective prayers, you managed to pull aside the eldest woman while the other two tending to the children and Sato conversed with the Grandfather.
Giving her a light bow of recognition and receiving one in return, you decide to avoid obfuscation and simply come right out.
"Madam, this one must admit to some curiosity. Why is it that so many travel on this path? Is not there only a small mining town at its end?"
Folding her hands over her stomach the matron indicated her father-in-law (as you'd discovered), and responded.
"We are performing the Kumano Sankeimichi. We hope that the Amida Butsu will let the shrines' healing soothe father's aches and that the gods will offer protection to our husbands."
You, mindful of your manners in giving a thankful bow before backing away, return to your bedroll.
You had not expected to have the chance to so swiftly encounter what was, apparently, a major pilgrimage route of the local religion- though you imagined this particular route to be related to the Buddhists in some way, seeing as she'd named a Buddha, though you were not familiar with any beyond Siddhārtha- but Father Xavier had warned you and your brothers as to just how commonplace the various religious shrines were in Japan.
Still, this is too much, is it not?
Alas, it seemed you had yet another decision to make.
Do you divert?
[ ] Yes, seeing these shrines first-hand would provide you with valuable insight as to the practises of the Japanese without you having to be too intrusive. The mining town will still be there when you finish, after all.
[ ] No, you have already set a destination, and to change it simply because your curiosity is peaked would undermine the whole point of setting it. The Shrines will still be there when you finish, after all.
It's in the Journey, Not the Destination
Claytonimor
WE WILL TAKE JERUSALEM
- Location
- Loudon, TN
[X] Yes, seeing these shrines first-hand would provide you with valuable insight as to the practises of the Japanese without you having to be too intrusive. The mining town will still be there when you finish, after all.
In the end, it was no contest. While you still fully intended to visit the Shinkano, you couldn't help but satisfy your curiosity towards the particulars of the worship practises of this part of Japan. Better to learn at what, by all accounts, was a relatively large shine used to dealing with visitor from all corners, than to fumble around in an insular mining village.
With such an objective in mind, you bid the family a farewell, leaving them with yet more spare rations of yours (which would have been concerning, had you been in a more rural nation with less access to food) and rush ahead, losing sight of the family before they were finished packing up their part of the camp.
You let Sato guide the cart this day, as you felt it likely that you'd have much to study over the course of the next few days.
And, indeed, you were correct.
As the land steadily became more mountainous and forested, and the cart slowed further and further from having to rise up steps it was most certainly not designed for, you stumbled across the first of many Japanese standing gates, sitting just a short way off of the stone-way.
Sato soon informed you that they were called Torii and that they marked the boundary between the worldly and the sacred.
Leaving Sato with the cart and with a quick lesson in proper etiquette- as those of Kyushu performed it- you ascended the motley assortment of trimmed roots that made for a set of steps to the torii.
Nearing the structure, you could just make out the small shrine that sat a fair distance beyond it, in a natural clearing.
As far as 'houses of God' went, you'd seen more impressive back in Porto, but it had a charm and a peace that even you could admit to enjoying.
Clapping twice, loudly, you passed under the gate and made your way to the small spring which flanked the clearing.
Washing off your hands, and then swishing the water in your mouth, you held back a smile.
Spitting out the water to the side of the spring, you finally were free to give the small shrine your full attention.
Frankly, for all it's lack of presence, you could easily see the traits of these Japanese in its construction. It had a quiet dignity, and, in spite of how remote this particular shrine was, you couldn't help but take pleasure in how well-maintained the building was. Not a single miniature tile was broken, and none of the wood was peeling. Part of that could be attributed to the lack of rains recently, but you still felt that a people who could show such respect to even the smallest of their figures of worship would easily be able to find faith in He who gave His only Son.
Giving a light bow, you kneeled on a nearby upraised root and- facing away from the shrine, you weren't that impressed- offered a quick prayer thanking the Lord for the opportunity to bring His light unto a people so deserving of it.
Getting up and backing out of the shrine, you clapped twice again upon your exit.
After all, you had yet to reach your destination!
The next three days were spent ascending increasingly difficult pathways with your cart. You passed a few more torii- some in similarly remote areas as the first. Others serving as fully-fledged gates, flanked by walls and enclosing much more active shrines than the first, being actively maintained and a few even playing host to visitors.
Sato asked for directions a few times, and you continued your exploration. You even managed to buy a charm!
Sato gave you a look when he saw it, but you saw no reason not to participate in the local tradition as best you could. It was certainly helping you with the language, after all.
However, you did, eventually, come across your destination.
Well, in a sense.
You came across a rest-house that offered to hold your cart and horse while you went to the shrine proper. Happy to be so close, you paid with some of what funds you'd been given and half-dragged Sato into following you up a markedly busy set of steps, with a set of torii sitting on the base as well as eighteen pairs of stone lanterns flanking the stone steps every six steps.
Clapping your hands twice, you began making your way up. Still, you wondered, however, how should you comport yourself?
[ ] You would act in accordance with how Sato had guided you on the way here. You'd no reason yet to doubt in any of his directions, though there was always the chance that he'd missed some small thing which would undoubtedly annoy some bystander.
[ ] You would find the nearest attendant or monk and ask for aid. While you had no reason to believe Sato'd lied to you, you thought it best to be as open as possible about your inexperience. They'd likely figure it out anyway, considering how you looked and your dress.
Also, how open would you be about why you were here?
[ ] You'd be completely open. The Word of the Lord does not spread by being cowed into silence. Not that you'd start yelling about His Holiness, but you'd no reason not to tell any who were curious. It wasn't like you were going to start a fight, thought a debate may break out.
[ ] You'd being reserved. While the Light of the Lord prospers best in the darkness, you couldn't help but assume that proselytising in the middle of a church might be frowned upon. While the Lord did not shrink from preaching no matter the location, you couldn't help but think that making the region hostile to you before you'd even started would not be helpful
-------------------------
A/N: Write-in's are always available, just make them detailed plans of action if you make them, with accompanying motivations.
In the end, it was no contest. While you still fully intended to visit the Shinkano, you couldn't help but satisfy your curiosity towards the particulars of the worship practises of this part of Japan. Better to learn at what, by all accounts, was a relatively large shine used to dealing with visitor from all corners, than to fumble around in an insular mining village.
With such an objective in mind, you bid the family a farewell, leaving them with yet more spare rations of yours (which would have been concerning, had you been in a more rural nation with less access to food) and rush ahead, losing sight of the family before they were finished packing up their part of the camp.
You let Sato guide the cart this day, as you felt it likely that you'd have much to study over the course of the next few days.
And, indeed, you were correct.
As the land steadily became more mountainous and forested, and the cart slowed further and further from having to rise up steps it was most certainly not designed for, you stumbled across the first of many Japanese standing gates, sitting just a short way off of the stone-way.
Sato soon informed you that they were called Torii and that they marked the boundary between the worldly and the sacred.
Leaving Sato with the cart and with a quick lesson in proper etiquette- as those of Kyushu performed it- you ascended the motley assortment of trimmed roots that made for a set of steps to the torii.
Nearing the structure, you could just make out the small shrine that sat a fair distance beyond it, in a natural clearing.
As far as 'houses of God' went, you'd seen more impressive back in Porto, but it had a charm and a peace that even you could admit to enjoying.
Clapping twice, loudly, you passed under the gate and made your way to the small spring which flanked the clearing.
Washing off your hands, and then swishing the water in your mouth, you held back a smile.
Spitting out the water to the side of the spring, you finally were free to give the small shrine your full attention.
Frankly, for all it's lack of presence, you could easily see the traits of these Japanese in its construction. It had a quiet dignity, and, in spite of how remote this particular shrine was, you couldn't help but take pleasure in how well-maintained the building was. Not a single miniature tile was broken, and none of the wood was peeling. Part of that could be attributed to the lack of rains recently, but you still felt that a people who could show such respect to even the smallest of their figures of worship would easily be able to find faith in He who gave His only Son.
Giving a light bow, you kneeled on a nearby upraised root and- facing away from the shrine, you weren't that impressed- offered a quick prayer thanking the Lord for the opportunity to bring His light unto a people so deserving of it.
Getting up and backing out of the shrine, you clapped twice again upon your exit.
After all, you had yet to reach your destination!
The next three days were spent ascending increasingly difficult pathways with your cart. You passed a few more torii- some in similarly remote areas as the first. Others serving as fully-fledged gates, flanked by walls and enclosing much more active shrines than the first, being actively maintained and a few even playing host to visitors.
Sato asked for directions a few times, and you continued your exploration. You even managed to buy a charm!
Sato gave you a look when he saw it, but you saw no reason not to participate in the local tradition as best you could. It was certainly helping you with the language, after all.
However, you did, eventually, come across your destination.
Well, in a sense.
You came across a rest-house that offered to hold your cart and horse while you went to the shrine proper. Happy to be so close, you paid with some of what funds you'd been given and half-dragged Sato into following you up a markedly busy set of steps, with a set of torii sitting on the base as well as eighteen pairs of stone lanterns flanking the stone steps every six steps.
Clapping your hands twice, you began making your way up. Still, you wondered, however, how should you comport yourself?
[ ] You would act in accordance with how Sato had guided you on the way here. You'd no reason yet to doubt in any of his directions, though there was always the chance that he'd missed some small thing which would undoubtedly annoy some bystander.
[ ] You would find the nearest attendant or monk and ask for aid. While you had no reason to believe Sato'd lied to you, you thought it best to be as open as possible about your inexperience. They'd likely figure it out anyway, considering how you looked and your dress.
Also, how open would you be about why you were here?
[ ] You'd be completely open. The Word of the Lord does not spread by being cowed into silence. Not that you'd start yelling about His Holiness, but you'd no reason not to tell any who were curious. It wasn't like you were going to start a fight, thought a debate may break out.
[ ] You'd being reserved. While the Light of the Lord prospers best in the darkness, you couldn't help but assume that proselytising in the middle of a church might be frowned upon. While the Lord did not shrink from preaching no matter the location, you couldn't help but think that making the region hostile to you before you'd even started would not be helpful
-------------------------
A/N: Write-in's are always available, just make them detailed plans of action if you make them, with accompanying motivations.