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Post by tadakasan on Feb 17, 2011 1:35:13 GMT -5
Tadaka chuckles softly. "Oh if only that was true. Unfortunately, trouble seems to follow me where ever I go. I suppose you are right though; boat troubles could be considered more of an adventure for me since it's more unusual fare for me. At least compared to braggarts, bandits, or those who flaunt the will of the heavens... but really, even if this is more unsual for me and more of an adventure in that sense... I think I'd still prefer sea sickness than fighting oni."
Tadaka tilts his head suddenly as he looks at Keshi, staring at her with a deal of concentration, his smile gone. The moment is brief but the Mantis Shujenja can feel some small disturbance in the kami before Tadaka smiles warmly, "And as far as your worries go Kitsune-san... do not read so much into things. I'm really just being my usual self, no more, no less." He takes another bite of the simple fare, enjoying the meal after all the citrus and fish so raw it was practically still swimming he'd had on his boat ride.
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Kitsune Keshi
Mantis Clan
Mantis Clan * Shugenja * Daimyo * Experienced * Unique * Loyal
Posts: 126
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Post by Kitsune Keshi on Feb 17, 2011 1:58:28 GMT -5
Keshi smiles, "I feel I worry more here than I did in my homelands. I feel.... different from other people. Different even from, other Shugenja. There are no other Kitsune here to share stories of the forest kami." She pauses for a moment, unsure of how much is considered revealing too much.
"I never expected to leave the forest. And now that I'm here, I feel almost as if I shouldn't have left." Keshi looks down at her lap. She knew it wasn't a very diplomatic thing to say, but she was no good at diplomacy. Honesty had always been more her way, though the forest spirits had found it strange.
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Yoritomo Sueno
Banned
Naval * Merchant * Tactician * Experienced * Courtier * Unique
Posts: 41
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Post by Yoritomo Sueno on Feb 17, 2011 5:22:00 GMT -5
*Sueno nods* "Part of being a Samurai is going where your Lord tells you even if it doesn't make you happy" *He pops some ebbe into his mouth with a flick of his wrist* "I take it your Lord did send you to Kyuden Gotei? Can I ask what it is you have been ordered to do here? To attend to the Champion's court, or something more specific? I am lucky. My Daimyo trusts me enough to do the will of the Mantis in marketplaces and courts, he asks only that I report to him every few months. Which is why I am here now. Of course if one day he should ask me to do more, I will obey as if he were Divine Yoritomo himself!" *He takes a cricket down from the wall and begins to play with it, stroking its antenna with a long finger and causing it to chirp*
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Post by tadakasan on Feb 17, 2011 12:48:46 GMT -5
Tadaka looks to Kenshi, also politely curious as to the Kitsune's presence in Kyuden Gotei, for has expressed her discomfort in many ways, and he also does not want to interrupt Sueno's question with any words of his own. The older man simply sits there, trying the ebbe some more and delighting in it's complex flavor as he looks at the young woman with a gentle but curious look.
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Kitsune Keshi
Mantis Clan
Mantis Clan * Shugenja * Daimyo * Experienced * Unique * Loyal
Posts: 126
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Post by Kitsune Keshi on Feb 18, 2011 1:52:33 GMT -5
Keshi sighs, bringing a hand up to her face. "I am not allowed to speak of it. I was not the.... original choice for this and I still do not believe I am the best alternative."
She shakes her head slightly, "My troubles are not your troubles. I apologize for burdening you with them."
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Tsuruchi Ishla
Mantis Clan
Shireikan * Fukyuu * Ka & Kaminari * Satori * Tensai * Gouketsu
Posts: 67
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Post by Tsuruchi Ishla on Feb 19, 2011 16:39:59 GMT -5
Walking down the dock with fluid motion. Taking his time, careful in regards to any activity. Upon approaching Kitsune Keshi & Yoritomo Sueno, he smiles slightly with a nod. To Isawa Tadaka he nods. Saying nothing as he disrobes his simple kimono and taking off his sugegasa (rice hat). His alabaster skin unmarred by tattoos or scars and platinum hair makes him look bright against the greenery, squinting his violet eyes he looks down into the murky waters."Currently no Daimyo for either of the Families & no Champion for Mantis. A new era is upon us, what lies on the horizon?,whispered to no one in particular.
Dives in quietly, no heavy slash, smoothly. Surfacing roughly 4 minutes later a good distance away from the dock ,then goes back under for a longer duration. After about 30 minutes he heads back to the dock. Sliding up out of the water, he sits and sets a small net sack down with fresh water clams, ties a chord to it gently placing back into the water. Reaching over to his kimono, he stands clothing himself then puts his sugegasa back on. Holding a bamboo flute he sits and plays a soft melody in cogitation, an uncommon tune called 'silk road'.
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Yoritomo Sueno
Banned
Naval * Merchant * Tactician * Experienced * Courtier * Unique
Posts: 41
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Post by Yoritomo Sueno on Feb 22, 2011 10:14:30 GMT -5
"I'm sorry I pried then. Let me take the burden of finding a new topic. So it seems that even as the Yobanjin attack us the Lion and Crane and Scorpion have found a reason to squabble. They are all claiming Three Sides River belongs to them. What do you think?"
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Tsuruchi Ishla
Mantis Clan
Shireikan * Fukyuu * Ka & Kaminari * Satori * Tensai * Gouketsu
Posts: 67
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Post by Tsuruchi Ishla on Feb 22, 2011 16:41:57 GMT -5
I am confused.. seems the food here has become tainted.. just when I think anything isn't what it should be ..it is. I will shut my mouth and become silent again ..I humbly apologize. We do have an Champion, at least I do in my own head, at the moment. I don't recall any Daimyo for either Families unless.. It was a pleasant swim I hope I got enough clams for later. Gathers up his clams and leaves slowly chuckling down the docks.
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Kitsune Keshi
Mantis Clan
Mantis Clan * Shugenja * Daimyo * Experienced * Unique * Loyal
Posts: 126
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Post by Kitsune Keshi on Mar 7, 2011 1:36:21 GMT -5
OOC: With the Ban of Sueno, Whom deserved his ban as he was cheating, but that does put this thread in a bind. I am invoking a small change of scene, Tadaka-san and Keshi have left the ship of Sueno, Whom as far as the thread is concerned has set sail and will never return.
IC: Keshi watches her feet as she walks beside the phoenix Ishiken along the docks. "I know that my clan, mostly as a whole, is rather prejudiced against Phoenix clan. And I have read the histories as well. I find it interesting that as shugenja we can put that aside long enough to just speak clearly." She chuckles self depreciatively.
"Or it might just be that as individuals, we think differently than most others do. I do love my clan, and I will take offense to anyone who suggests I do not. But I feel that, sometimes a person is worth more as just a person."
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Post by tadakasan on Mar 7, 2011 12:06:26 GMT -5
Tadaka walks with his arms folded in his sleeves, feeling much better after the small bite to eat and some time on what is relatively dry land. He watches Sueno's craft slipping out of the bay as he listens to Keshi, turning back to her and nodding after she finishes speaking, "I agree on that. Really, to me, all of a person's worth is with them as a person; No offense to my Clan; I put great faith in our philosophies and do realize the Isawa's importance in the history of magical development... but none of that means anything when a person is born; they did not develop the Clan's philosophies, they did not do the work to establish magical standards. From the moment a person is born, they are nothing more and nothing less than their own person."
He stops at the water's edge, a set of stairs leading up from the docks on the two shugenja's right. He looks out at the moonlit waves for a moment before turning back to Keshi again, smiling softly, "It's not like I mean to forget or downplay the identities roles our Clans give us or the importance fealty plays in a samurai's life, or a shugenja's Kitsune-san. But that is not who they are it is no more than part of their surroundings to me, an influence. All the worth a person have comes from themselves; a family and Clan can tell a samurai what to do, but the choice ultimately always comes down to an individual samurai's will."
Tadaka chuckles lightly, turning slightly and bowing a little more lowly than usual to Kenshi, "Forgive me Keshi-san, I fear I ramble sometimes. It is merely a subject I am passionate about; I will never let my view of a Clan or family influence my view of an individual Samurai. That is why I can feel so at peace here; I know there are tensions between our Clans, but I am not my Clan and you are not your Clan. In the grand scheme of things we are but one simple man and one woman standing near the sea and talking. Is any of the rest really relevant?"
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Kitsune Keshi
Mantis Clan
Mantis Clan * Shugenja * Daimyo * Experienced * Unique * Loyal
Posts: 126
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Post by Kitsune Keshi on Mar 8, 2011 1:38:00 GMT -5
"I believe you are right, for once we are people and not just clansmen." Keshi looks over the water in comfortable silence. Clasping her hands together in a gesture something near nerves. "Tadaka-san, do you ever feel as if.... The role you've been given isn't something you can fill?" Keshi tilts her head to one side so she can look at the Phoenix shugenja out of the corner of her eye. Though her face was impassive as if she asked nothing more than the time of day, her hands were twitchy and wringing worriedly.
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Post by tadakasan on Mar 8, 2011 2:06:11 GMT -5
Tadaka chuckles and smiles softly, "All the time Keshi-san, all the time. There are many times I've wondered how I came to be on the Elemental Council, why the Phoenix put up with me since I'm absent so often... it often makes me feel like perhaps it will all catch up to me one day, that some day the Clan will decide they've had enough of me."
He stops and turns away from Keshi, leaning down and picking up a rock, skipping it across the water as he talks, "More or less, I still feel like a scholar, just a normal person. I don't fully understand the reasons behind me having the role I have; Not that I doubt my power or knowledge, but I doubt my wisdom and acumen in important matters." The stone stops and ploops into the still water, Tadaka looking up, "I guess you could say my doubts about fulfilling my duties is part of the reason I wander so much and why I'm here. Yes I'm a natural wanderer and always curious about going new places, trying new things, meeting new people, learning new things... but I can't help but feel at least part of me is running away from the real possibility of not living up to the expectations put upon me."
Tadaka stops speaking suddenly and looks up into Keshi's eyes, chucking softly, "Forgive me Keshi-san, I fear I may have spoke too liberally there. I did not mean to burden you with all of that. Still, it is all true."
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Kitsune Keshi
Mantis Clan
Mantis Clan * Shugenja * Daimyo * Experienced * Unique * Loyal
Posts: 126
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Post by Kitsune Keshi on Mar 9, 2011 23:45:21 GMT -5
Keshi hides a grin behind one hand as she answers, "The truth is not a burden at all. At least not on me. She pauses as she manages to compose her grin into a neutral expression again.
"I think that the truth is something only humans place weight on. An animal wont lie to you unless it's survival is at stake. Only humans slant the truth to suit their needs." Keshi makes a strange wry expression, "Not that I have anything against humans, I still am one. "
She falls silent as she refrains from sinking herself further into awkward territory .
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Post by tadakasan on Mar 10, 2011 0:19:19 GMT -5
Tadaka nods, chuckling at Keshi's expression, "Well, to be fair, human society, for better or worse, is much more complex than that of animals. Animals need not worry about seeming polite, eloquent, or any of the other things we have come to require of ourselves. Not to mention other reasons that most animals do not share such as humor or saving a loved one's feelings."
He rubs his chin a little, a cloud covering the moon briefly and casting a shadow across his face. He seems to be thinking and seems to get an idea as well, just as the cloud passes, "I think you would take no offense in me saying this, but such things can also be shown in spirits, like the fox spirits of your peoples' forests or other animal spirits like the cat spirits and tanuki of Chikushudo. Such animal spirits will often lie, trick, or deceive for similar motives like humor or to be polite."
"Still..." Tadaka reaches into his pouch and pulls out a tin with wrapped candied rice crackers in it, offering one to Keshi as he finishes, "I will most certainly agree that no animal or animal spirit has quite the range of ways to lie and reasons to lie as we do. I fear only the spirits of Jigoku are more proficient and wide ranging in that regard." Takes a rice cracker, unwrapping the parchment around it and taking a bite thoughtfully.
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Kitsune Keshi
Mantis Clan
Mantis Clan * Shugenja * Daimyo * Experienced * Unique * Loyal
Posts: 126
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Post by Kitsune Keshi on Mar 10, 2011 3:28:18 GMT -5
Keshi gives a slight nod of thanks as she takes the proffered rice cracker, her gaze going to the sky for a moment as she gathers her thoughts on how best to answer the ishiken. "The spirits of the forest usually choose to always lie. They do not have the... humanity to realize that lies sometimes hurt. They are still animal enough that they have no conscience, no empathy for their fellow creature."
"It's always a good thing to keep in mind when dealing with forest Kami." Keshi says in a wistful voice. Her eyes gone dreamy as she reminisces of the beauty of the forest. "They don't mean to hurt, so when they do actually strike a nerve and you react, they only find amusement from your anger. Or confusion at your tears."
She turns a slightly embarrassed look at Tadaka, "I apologize, I took a journey back to the forest for a moment there. "
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