|
-
This is PbF is currently full.
OOC and characters are here: The Foolish Daimyo - OOC and characters
The Foolish Daymio
You have been travelling for several days from the court at Yasuki Yashiki, following the coast into crane-lands. The winter had been cold, but the drinking had been good, and many good deals had been struck during the cold months. For Mifune, Ohai and Katsuro the winter had been particularly good, they had become friends, and even better, the three of them had also become friendly with the powerful Daimyo of the Yasuki family, Daimyo Yasuki Jinn-Kuen.
On a particular cold night the trio had been drinking an especially exquisite sake given to them by Jinn-kuen, when they made a pledge to each other. To honour Jinn-Kuen, and his hospitality, they would spend the welcome spring in search of a gift worthy for him. Each, with their own ability, would find a gift worthy of this great Daimyo. They could allow themselves this frivolity, they reckoned, because Jinn-Kuen's court had been good to them, making their dealings far more successful than expected.
Now you have begun this journey, and for the first time you are seeing what crane-lands really is like. It is pleasant, sure, but you can all find some fault with it. Nevertheless, you have been treated well, and sake has been good.
Ohai notices it first, the clouds on the horizon. “I hope they get the boats back in”, he remarks to his friends. The pleasant spring weather suddenly turns sour, and a gale blows up. Before you know it, you are all cold and wet. But look! There are lights up ahead.
-
Jaime Lawrence
Australia
Sydney
New South Wales
See Below.
Evil Bob: Lawful good since 2038!
-
Re: The Foolish Daymio - PBF
The storm will soon be here, my friends - let us make for those lights in the hope of an inn - I would hate for the rain to ruin Mifune's hair
Ohai broke into a broad grin as he crested the hill.
-
-
A choice of two paths
You follow the path you are on, and soon you find yourself walking in shelter of a hill. The lights you saw get closer, and you see you are getting nearer to a fairly large sea-side village. Like many Crane villages, you can even now see the beauty and order of it. A couple of cherry trees are planted by the path. Their placement seems random, but you understand that they have been put there to give the path into the village a more pristine look.
Before you reach the village, the path splits in two. The first goes down into the village, the other goes up the hill. Lifting your eyes, sheltering them with a hand from the rain, you see a beautiful manor. Its size and quality tells you that this is surely the manor of a Daimyo or other powerful Samurai. The house seems welcoming, it flaunts its owner's taste, not his prowess. Since it is night, the light is off, except for a lantern at the door, and one shinning from inside.
-
Pete
United Kingdom
Oxford
Oxfordshire
Brofist
I have eaten the plums that were in the icebox
-
Re: The Foolish Daymio - PBF
Come friends! Let us seek hospitality in yonder abode. This damnable rain chills my bones and my belly hungers for the warmth of more sweet sake.
Pulling his sugegasa forward, the better to keep out the driving rain, Mifune quickened his pace up the hill towards the beautiful manor.
-
Brian Cooksey
United States
Nashville
Tennessee
-
Re: The Foolish Daymio - PBF
Katsuro's eyes narrow in what those who have been observing him will recognize as a smile. Rain beads on the red lacquer of the mask that covers the lower half of his face. "Does anyone else smell plum sauce?"
-
-
Arrival at the mansion
You hurry towards the manor as quick as you can, the rain whipping your face. Throwing yourself under the roof, you knock on the door (do they knock on doors in Rokugan?). You expect you have to knock several times, after all, it is late, and the rain is making quite a lot of noise. But shortly after you knocked, you hear steps from inside.
The door is opened by an elderly woman. She is dressed as a servant, but while she doesn't look like the head servant, she is dressed as a respected servant. As soon as she sees you, she takes a deep bow. “Honoured guests! Samurai-dono”, she bows again, “Please come in!”
Before you can answer, she turns around and walks hurriedly into the room, beckoning you to follow.
-
Jaime Lawrence
Australia
Sydney
New South Wales
See Below.
Evil Bob: Lawful good since 2038!
-
Re: The Foolish Daymio - PBF
Ohai dashes gracefully after her.
Pardon me, kind lady, I feel foolish even asking, but what lord's home is this that we have been fortunate enough to enter?
-
-
Re: The Foolish Daymio - PBF
“My master is the esteemed Doji Takashi.” You follow her through the court and meeting rooms at the front of the house, and directly into the guest quarters. The quarters are, as the rest of the house, beautifully decorated. Not lavish, but tasteful, and befitting a true samurai of Rokugan. There is plenty of room here for all three of you, and as you enter you instinctively start to remove your wettest items of clothing. Before you even notice her absence, the servant returns with food. A pot of tea, some rice and fish. She sets it down in front of you, takes a step back, falls to her knees and bows to the ground. “I apologize dear guests, but I am about to do the most grievous insult to both you and my master.”
-
Jaime Lawrence
Australia
Sydney
New South Wales
See Below.
Evil Bob: Lawful good since 2038!
-
Re: The Foolish Daymio - PBF
Ohai smiles, bemused.
How so, kind woman? You have done us and your master only honour thus far
-
Pete
United Kingdom
Oxford
Oxfordshire
Brofist
I have eaten the plums that were in the icebox
-
Re: The Foolish Daymio - PBF
Mifune squats down in front of the steaming tea and inhales deeply. He doesn't say anything, but he really wishes the woman had waited until after they had filled their bellies to insult them.
Out with it woman! His voice booms through the close confines of the room.
-
Brian Cooksey
United States
Nashville
Tennessee
-
Re: The Foolish Daymio - PBF
Katsuro says nothing but leans back with a This ought to be good posture.
-
-
Re: The Foolish Daymio - PBF
The elderly servant appears frightened by Mifune's loud words, she takes a hand up to her mouth, before continuing quietly. “My master is a most honourable daymio, but his mind has been filled with worries of late. His nights are sleepless, and his days are filled with concern. To night it appears that he finally has been able to get some rest. However, I know he would have wanted me to wake him, since hospitality is most important to him. Therefore I implore you, honoured guests, to not think poorly on my master for not greeting you before tomorrow. But instead put it down to a disgraced and overzealous servant.” She bows down to the ground again, keeping this position.
-
Pete
United Kingdom
Oxford
Oxfordshire
Brofist
I have eaten the plums that were in the icebox
-
Re: The Foolish Daymio - PBF
Mifune's brow wrinkles in concern when he sees that his words have caused the old woman to take fright. His next words are spoken softly, and with the honour due to an elderly and respected servant.
Old mother, your concern for your lord brings you much honour. However, lay your concerns to the side for a moment, and raise your eyes.
Mifune throws open his arms to gesture expansively at Kitsune Ohai and Soshi Katsuro.
You see before you three samurai like the Thunders of old! My friends Kitsune Ohai and Soshi Katsuro are no strangers to undoing the knot that keeps the foolish goat entangled in the bush. Here Mifune taps his great nose with one wet finger: the meaning of the well-worn saying is plain even to the youngest Rokugani.
Come, I bid you rouse your master from his slumber! We will have words, and I am certain that your master will soon have cause to slumber like a baby.
Mifune has spoken. His words are like the thunder, in that stormy weather is sure to follow in their wake, but after the storm has passed, the sun will rise on an earth washed new. The Crab turns away from the elderly servant, and pats his empty belly hungrily.
-
Jaime Lawrence
Australia
Sydney
New South Wales
See Below.
Evil Bob: Lawful good since 2038!
-
Re: The Foolish Daymio - PBF
Mifune, you are like the Thunder, my friend - loud and frightening to small children - but did you not hear this kind servant's request? Her master rests after days of sleeplessness. Let us partake of his hospitality quietly and greet him in the morning.
Either way, madam, please take me somewhere that I may change from these wet garments into something more suitable?
-
Brian Cooksey
United States
Nashville
Tennessee
-
Re: The Foolish Daymio - PBF
"The Mantis is wise as he is wet," says Katsuro. "There is no need to wake your master. It would not do for us to present ourselves to your esteemed lord in such a state. I assure you that we will tell him of your hospitality in the most glowing of terms."
-
-
Re: The Foolish Daymio - PBF
The elderly servant straightens. “Thank you kind Samurai! My master will surely be most excited to see you in the morning. I am sure he will be much better then. He is a great friend of all your clans.” She looks at Mifune and says, “He has fought many wicked creatures in his many days, and he has a great respect for the Crab clan and the service they do to our realm.” Then she looks at Ohai and says, “We live so close to the sea, you can say the Mantis are our closest neighbours. My master often meets with them, and always talk of them with great esteem.” Then she looks at Katsuro and appears lost for words for a few moments, before saying “I have never heard him say bad things about the scorpion clan, even in the company of people who have.”
After the briefest of pauses, she continues, “My name is Hiromi. These quarters are at your disposal.” The quarters are generous, with a screen to change, or do other business behind. “I will bring you dry clothes, and dry yours in my quarters. Please eat! I will be back shortly.” She leaves, and returns after a minute with dry clothes for you to wear. She bows deeply again, and leaves (if you don't stop her).
-
Pete
United Kingdom
Oxford
Oxfordshire
Brofist
I have eaten the plums that were in the icebox
-
Re: The Foolish Daymio - PBF
Mifune's head is turned away from his friends, and it is just as well: when the elderly servant mentioned the bravery of the Crab, for a moment a flush of shame was writ large across Mifune's face as he remembered a dark night long ago.
(Just hinting at Mifune's Dark Secret. I have no idea what the Dark Secret is, and I'm quite happy for any of you to define it.)
The sound of Hiromi's feet pattering softly on the floor as she leaves are drowned out by the sound of Hida Mifune tucking into the repast of fish and rice with gusto!
(I don't want to play Comedy Fat Guy here. Mifune just likes his food is all, and he's pretty hungry.)
-
Jaime Lawrence
Australia
Sydney
New South Wales
See Below.
Evil Bob: Lawful good since 2038!
-
Re: The Foolish Daymio - PBF
Ohai looks momentarily like he might question Hiromi further, but seeing Mifune begin eating, turns away and sits beside his friend, thoughtfully munching a piece of fish and observing his surroundings.
What do you make of all this, Katsuro?
-
Brian Cooksey
United States
Nashville
Tennessee
-
Re: The Foolish Daymio - PBF
Katsuro sips some tea. "If his servant is to be taken at her word, our host is generous, brave, and discreet. I am interested to discover how he handles surprise. What are your thoughts?"
-
Pete
United Kingdom
Oxford
Oxfordshire
Brofist
I have eaten the plums that were in the icebox
-
Re: The Foolish Daymio - PBF
Mifune looks up from shovelling rice into his great maw.
The spotted yellowtail is particularly good. And this kufu sauce is to die for! Shovel. Chew. Slurp. Sigh.
Eh? Oh, this Doji Takashi is evidently a daimyo of exceedingly good taste. The food of course, but cast your eyes at the fine shodo! Marvellous brushwork! Mifune gestures with an empty rice bowl at the exquisite calligraphy that adorns the walls of the room.
Then, sated, Mifune gets to his feet with an unsteady grace, carelessly shucks off his damp robes, and stumbles to a corner of the room where he collapses in a heap on to the sweet smelling tatami flooring. He is soon fast asleep, eyes closed, mouth open.
-
-
Morning - second day
Content you all eventually stumble off to bed.
Evening turns to night, and then to morning. You all slowly awake to a beautiful day. The sun is shining again.
-
Pete
United Kingdom
Oxford
Oxfordshire
Brofist
I have eaten the plums that were in the icebox
-
Re: The Foolish Daymio - PBF
First to bed, first to rise, Hida Mifune is up with the rising of the sun.
When his friends awake, it is to the sound of their mighty friend singing a song of joy towards Amaterasu, and to the sight of the stocky Crab courtier sitting cross-legged in a pose of meditation on the outside porch letting his beaming face be warmed by the rays of the morning sun.
Good morning friends! Today we pen another chapter in our legend. That, and we enjoy a fine breakfast.
Mifune sniffs the air, which hangs heavy with the sweet smell of toasted murubi buns.
-
Jaime Lawrence
Australia
Sydney
New South Wales
See Below.
Evil Bob: Lawful good since 2038!
-
Re: The Foolish Daymio - PBF
You are fortunate, my friend, that the Jade Dragon of the Sun is not a music critic.
Has anyone seen our host yet?
-
Brian Cooksey
United States
Nashville
Tennessee
-
Re: The Foolish Daymio - PBF
No. Neither have I heard him. Unless he is doing a rather accurate Hiromi impression as he moves about the house.
-
Jaime Lawrence
Australia
Sydney
New South Wales
See Below.
Evil Bob: Lawful good since 2038!
-
Re: The Foolish Daymio - PBF
In a smooth voice, Ohai calls out "Hiromi? Is that you? Is your master awake to greet the day?"
-
|
|
|
Posted Sun Sep 18, 2011 1:40 pm
