Yoritomo Raiden
Mantis Clan Mod ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star.png)
Mantis Clan - Shugenja - Water - Thunder - Damiyo - Not Kolat
Posts: 437
|
Post by Yoritomo Raiden on Sept 12, 2011 22:13:57 GMT -5
This story will be the following day after the storm, this is a closed RP for those whom pm, me. it will be taking place 30 miles north of Kyuden Agasha, on the coastline. The people who pm'd me will find there way out after seeing an explosion off the coast during the storm. I will start the story offically tomorow, enjoy
|
|
Yoritomo Raiden
Mantis Clan Mod ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star.png)
Mantis Clan - Shugenja - Water - Thunder - Damiyo - Not Kolat
Posts: 437
|
Post by Yoritomo Raiden on Sept 13, 2011 19:30:10 GMT -5
This storyline is for the following characters:
Yoritomo Ryumon Ikoma Rise Isawa Kaida
If anyone at any point wishes to join in just pm me.
It doesn't matter where the three travelers were during the storm, or why they were where they were. The three souls that were near the coastline of Kyuden Agasha were drawn into a historic event, almost as though it was their destiny to be trapped by the storm that night. For some reason while others cowered away from the windows and doorways these three had curiosity pull them to see a large fire just off the coast and in a flash of lightning these three could swear they saw a ship of such odd design. When the storm cleared these three in different places raced to the coastline to see if they were going mad or a new enemy or ally has arrived in Rokugan.
(GM NOTE: the three players please introduce yourself arriving towards the coast in search of this mysterious ship)
|
|
|
Post by The Blue Ronin on Sept 13, 2011 19:58:01 GMT -5
Ryumon had been stationed at Broken Wave City for several weeks now. He had heard rumours that the Mantis would soon be going to war against the enemies of Toturi. Some said they would assault the Crane, who were wealthier, but others said their old enemies the Phoenix would be the targets of a naval assault. Either way, he knew the Broken Wave garrison would be important, and he might well see his first full-blown war. The senior Mantis officers were competent. Although they respected the military power of Crane swordsmen and Isawa shugenja, they also knew that neither Clan was famous for winning wars, and that they were already hard pressed against the other loyal Clans, the Crab and the Lion.
Ryumon had spent most of his time patroling, checking the armoury and manning the ramparts of the keep. But today he had a different mission. He had been assigned a small kobune and sent on a two-day patrol south along the Agasha coast. Almost immediately after he set out a storm had closed in. Ryumon hadn't relished sailing in a storm but he was familiar with it. Often the sea routes between Kyuden Gotei and Broken Wave City crossed the paths of storms that threw up waves as high as a small kyuden. Lashing the sails and working hard to keep his footing on the slippery deck, he single-handedly fought the waves and wind.
Just as a break came in the storm, he heard a shark crack and saw a flower of flame. A lightning strike? Squinting through the driving rain he tried to make it out. No, an explosion. There was a ship there. But what could it be? Well, he was on patrol, and there was the possibility of war with teh Phoenix, so if ships were blowing up along the Agasha coast, he would want to know about it. He turned the helm of the kobune and steered it toward the strange vessel, checking to make sure his naginata was ready.
|
|
|
Post by Isawa Kaida on Sept 13, 2011 20:07:48 GMT -5
The small shugenja had spent nearly all night in the storm, reveling in the power of her chosen element even as she dared to keep the outlying areas of Kyuden Agasha from suffering too much damage. The effort had wearied her, though she had set out early in the morning due to sheer curiosity.
Kaida thought over the events of the previous night, from the evacuation of the smaller farms and coastal villages, to the storm’s arrival, to the strange flash of light she’d seen during a small break. The vision of that odd ship had preyed on her mind since, and now she found herself heading towards the coast, wondering what it could have been.
Beside her rode a young Shiba yojimbo, the pair hardly speaking at all during the journey. Instead, Kaida spent her time – when it wasn’t occupied by gently guiding her horse around the more treacherous parts of the road – reading a few of the scrolls she had brought with her, taking notes as she went.
|
|
|
Post by Ikoma Rise on Sept 13, 2011 20:14:58 GMT -5
Rise stood on the beach in the driving rain. If anyone looked down from the keep they would have assumed she was a mad woman. No cover, no umbrella, she stood out in the open, arms outstretched. She was no shugenja, but even she could appreciate the fury of the kami and it was uplifting to her to be standing amidst the fury and not be harmed.
Rise wore a simple brown and gold kimono, with no markings it. Around her waist was a yellow obi, done to imitate the Golden Obi of the Sun Goddess, which was a few years out of style now. She reasoned that the less flashy your fashion, the less likely you were to draw someone's attention. However she did have a strong sense of fashion which she enjoyed exercising and it was a constant point of contention between her and her sensei. In her obi was her daisho, simple and black in color, and tied into her obi across from her daisho was a strip of black silk, seemingly hanging there as a handkerchief or perhaps to wipe one's hands on.
Suddenly her attention was drawn to a commotion out on the ocean. He brought her hands up to shield her eyes from the downpour and she thought she could make out a plum of fire. She walked closer to the shore in her soaked kimono to try and see if she could better make out what was happening.
|
|
|
Post by Isawa Kaida on Sept 14, 2011 8:47:40 GMT -5
A moment after the Phoenix crested a small rise overlooking the coastline, the yojimbo pulled his mount ahead slightly, and then stopped. Kaida glanced at the man, who has his hand resting lightly on his katana, then looked down towards the beach. A soft exchange of words was passed before the yojimbo began carefully leading the way down the hill.
When Kaida was sure to be within earshot, even with her soft voice, she called out, “Ohayu, samurai-sama.”
|
|
|
Post by Ikoma Rise on Sept 14, 2011 10:47:05 GMT -5
She whirled around at the sound of the voice. Her hair whipping around her finally swaying back on to her shoulder, casting water off as it went. Her hand went straight to the handle of her katana.
Who goes there? What do you want? She demanded. She knew she was the only one foolish enough to be out in the storm, and secretly she was scared at the presence of another here, unannounced. She also was irritated at her peace being disturbed; it wasn't often that some one of her new rank and status could find a time to be safe and alone. She feared the moment of the storm would be ruined by some do good-er Phoenix, who would respectfully ask that she come inside before she caught a cold or something silly. And how incessantly they will whine until I come in. She thought. What a sad day that a master cannot even command the least bit of respect. She strained her vision through the driving rain to try and make out who had approached her, and secretly debating if she could cut him down if he were alone and insisted that she come inside, through some misguided notion that she could not survive the storm outside.
|
|
|
Post by Isawa Kaida on Sept 14, 2011 11:19:00 GMT -5
Before the warrior could pull his own blade, Kaida laid a hand on his arm, gently shaking her head. She glanced over to the soaking wet samurai, a faint frown on her lips. The shugenja raked the woman over, trying to find some sort of markings to identify her.
”Please, samurai-sama, stay your blade, we mean you no harm.” Kaida absently flipped her stark white braid over her shoulder. ”I had simply wished to make your acquaintance. Rarely do the villagers frolic in the storms along this coast, even if the worst of it has already passed.”
|
|
|
Post by Ikoma Rise on Sept 14, 2011 14:46:48 GMT -5
She removed her hand from her blade, and made a slight bow to them. My name is Ikoma Rise, I am sorry for my behavior, however you startled me. I did not expect anyone at all to be on the beach during this storm. Who might I have the honor of apologizing to? She inquired, still not completely trusting them, but her courtier instincts kicking in, presenting a completely neutral appearance, almost forgetting the fire off the coast behind her.
|
|
|
Post by Isawa Kaida on Sept 14, 2011 17:04:17 GMT -5
The shugenja quirked an eyebrow slightly, a faint smile playing across her lips.
"Isawa Kaida, priestess of the Phoenix, " she motioned toward the yojimbo nearby. "And this is Shiba Tachi. Might I inquire as to what a Lion is doing so far into Phoenix lands?"
|
|
Yoritomo Raiden
Mantis Clan Mod ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star.png)
Mantis Clan - Shugenja - Water - Thunder - Damiyo - Not Kolat
Posts: 437
|
Post by Yoritomo Raiden on Sept 14, 2011 18:32:56 GMT -5
A fast gust of wind picks up flinging sand all around and rain pelts both Kaida and Rise. The smell of the ocean is overwhelming, but then the smell of burning odd wood is carried by the wind.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM
A second explosion very close further up the shore to the north maybe less than a mile away
|
|
|
Post by The Blue Ronin on Sept 14, 2011 20:04:44 GMT -5
Ryumon was squinting so hard into the storm that the second explosion came as a terrible shock to his senses. His hand spasmed on the rudder and he felt his whole body tense as the after-effects of the explosion danced in his eyes. "What in Yoritomo's name...?"
Something very strange was going on here. He briefly thought about simply returning to Broken Wave City to report, but no... that was not the Mantis way. He steered his small vessel towards the shore, expertly navigating the storm surf to drive it onto the soft sand of a beach. Leaping out of the vessel, he grabbed hold of the haul rope and dragged it up the beach away from the reach of the stormy sea. It was a moment's work to reel in the sail and tilt the keel so that it would not fill with rainwater. He checked his naginata and daikyu were ready, realising that he was now on Phoenix territory at a time when the two Clans were almost at war. Well. If challenged, he would say he was here to offer assistance. Not entirely untrue, even.
Shielding the rain from his eyes as he looked up and down the beach, trying to make out the source of the explosion, he instead saw two figures. Phoenix? Well, he had no talent for stealth. He began to approach them, his large figure looming out of the furious rain.
|
|
|
Post by The Blue Ronin on Sept 14, 2011 20:05:41 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Ikoma Rise on Sept 15, 2011 7:35:45 GMT -5
Well my sensei would chide me if I didn't ask you the same, Isawa-san, but I am here for the storm of course. Do you often find lone samurai-ko on beaches and inquire why they are here?
She heard the second explosion and turned to look that way, again holding her hands up to shield her eyes from the rain. Isawa-san, I must ask, do you often have random explosions off your coast? Are the Phoenix dabbling in Gaijin pepper? She half turned her head so that she could better hear the Phoenixes over the wind, her hands wringing her hair out and flicking it back over her shoulder and out of her way.
|
|
|
Post by Isawa Kaida on Sept 15, 2011 9:52:08 GMT -5
The shugenja chuckled softly, shaking her head.
"Actually, it's not as uncommon as one would thi-"
When the second explosion hit, Kaida glanced up, surprise etched on her features. Upon Rise's question, however, her eyes narrowed to slits.
"Don't be foolish, Ikoma-san." Tachi leaned over slightly and Kaida turned her head, catching sight of the approaching Mantis. "Another comes. Shall we wait, or go find out what has come to my lands?"
|
|