First of all: LAYF has made us a map:
As soon as you find your jaws, you can proceed to your RP answers. I will put this map somewhere better place to look at, and I also recieved a "draft" version on which I will write town names and such so you can find yourself in the world.
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Kai
- This is a fine evening. - commented one of the merchants, stretching himself next to the campfire.
- Indeed - replied the other one -, it's almost as if all the bad news went on summer vac...
- I think I may be ruining this fine moment, then.
The owner of the last sentence was a well shaved, middle aged man with black hair. He clothed like a noble, yet his face had some scars, and the way he nonchalantly swinged his bastard sword left and right was also somewhat disconcerting...
- And who are you? - asked one of the merchants, with a faint tremble in his voice. One of the other merchants - Kai always heard him reffered as Rou-san - inched his way towards the gong. An arrow zipped through the air from the shadows, and it hit the tree right next to his head.
- I would not try it, if I were you. Tsk tsk tsk. Is that a way to greet the great Gorou?
The man walked calmly forward, and Kai could count four other men coming out of the forest, except for the archer, who remained somewhere in the shadows.
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Roshi
The master picked up the weapon, carefully, as if touching a rare and fragile jewel, and held closer to the boy.
- Who built it? That is a question we will probably never know the answer for. Some says the handle is a rare ornamental style of Hibiki the Mad, others say that you can say the guard is a typical work of Master Shenshiru, while others would swear that the fine layered blade is a work of none other than the Ryouichi, the Smith of Heavens.
He took a pause, examining both the sword and Roshi.
- You, of course, at least as I assume about a student of the smithing art, know that these famous smiths lived about five hundred years ago, if they weren't just legends. Now, your second question, as to why it is damaged is a much easier one.
As if the story was too much to handle in one place, he began to walk back and forth.
- You probably have heard the legend of the Demon Isakayi. Actually, now that I think about it, you likely haven't, so if you indulge me, I'd like to tell you his tale. Isakayi was a demon of great power. He was so strong he didn't care about humans, he tormented the gods themselves. He bested many of them in combat, and he outmatched several in wit; And the pantheon of the old gods trembled before his name. And as the threat grew, so grew the gods restless. Finally, a young but wise one, Kashikoi has acted in secret: he searched out the humans, and asked their help. It wasn't an easy task, the demon was strong even in godly proportions, and humans stood no chance without help, so he had to make it sure they find the best chamion.
He turned on his heels once he got far enough, then continued.
- I won't bother you with all the details how the legened went on. The important thing is, they have found their hero - we only know that they called him The Brave -, who has been blessed by the gods themselves and who wielded a magnificient armor ... and this sword. Long story short, he killed the demon in an epic battle, however the blade couldn't resist the power that has been unleashed, and it broke. So did the champion, he died just weeks after his triumph. The legend has born, and his equipment... well, stolen. I know the helmet is in the posession of the current shogun. I know the sword is in our posession since generations, and I have no idea of the rest.
He walked back to Roshi, and looked at the boy.
- What do you think, why am I telling you this?
@
Sakura
The potter's corner was backwards towards the market. Ichiro saw it on his way here, so he decided to risk visiting it first. It took him about five minutes, the never ending whirring of the throwing-wheels was an easy give-away.
- Hear, hear, people! Isenawa's finest jugs, plates, tea-pots at your disposal! It's so fresh out of the oven, you just add some water and the tea is ready! Hear, hear!
The man was equally loud and fat, with a jovial, if somewhat unkept face, holding at least five jugs in each of his hand. His shop behind him was quite big. Actually, it looked more like a backyard or an open storage room, filled with all kind of pottery and some impressive ovens in the back.
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Rae
The man sighed.
- Okami... is dead, I assume. Too bad, it has been a great honor to know him, and it has been an even bigger honor to call him friends once.
He picked up the cup that was placed in front of him, and spilled some of it on the hard cob floor as a sign of offer for the departed soul. He then took a sip, placed the cup down again, and looked deep into the girl's eyes. He had a thin, bony face, with short, black hair, that was abundant on his head; He had thick eyebrows and a neat mustache, waxed into a fine shape of downwards pointing U. As if to fit the theme, his eyes were black, too.
game, that has just started over here.
