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Post by Vaklu on Oct 27, 2014 6:15:08 GMT
The Gold mines at Keles were taken without struggle. Ashies Mal'Fahar no longer had the manpower to hold the village. His agents had fled when news of the Ikegami forces' approach had reached them. When asked about the man who had cut out the tongue of their messenger the Ikegami learn that Gelamar Fa'heel had gone to join his master.
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Post by ravigen on Dec 18, 2014 5:39:17 GMT
Battle had been the Ikegami way of life for centuries, for strength of arms had been their only source of safety in the formative years of their people when the seven clans squabbled over who would control their small territory. Martial Skill had turned the tide as single champions could turn the tides of entire battles by their presence alone. When the Empire came, the Ikegami had fought and lost, they'd accepted the Empire's strength and devoted themselves as loyal vassals.
The Vaekirate was less accepted but tolerated as they must by Imperial law, there was little love for the Vaekirate in Ikegami territory but they were dutiful and followed the tenets of the religion as they were required, one day that could change but until then they waited. But the Empire's presence had brought new ideas to the Ikegami, things they had to contemplate and potentially change with. The Empire's pike formations had been an amazement to the Ikegami who tended to stick to levy pikes and archers in their formations.
With the recent training of a pike formation of their own, the Ikegami had decided to test their skill at arms in the Imperial fashion, a decision that had gone quite poorly so far, many Samurai found the concept of training to use pikes as a standard was dishonorable and held no martial skill or challenge. Which had brought a troubling question to the Ikegami as what would they do about such a issue.
In the end their talks had gone nowhere, some wanted to keep on with the Pike training while others wanted to assign Dwarven soldiers to use such formations and leave the Samurai to their traditional styles, while ideas with merit none could agree as of yet what to decide.
With firm finality Naozumi had decided to have the current Pike regiment to retrain into the style of Naginata and katana that they were so used to, the question would wait for another day.
Ikegami Pike Square is scheduled to retrain as Halberdiers (Naginata) |
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Post by ravigen on Dec 18, 2014 6:26:46 GMT
Their arrival in Shimaga-jo had been to fanfare and applause, they had performed admirably against the best of various other kingdoms and the cheers and congratulations of their comrades heartened them after such a long journey. Yukimura especially was applauded for his good showings, Sayoko's return with several human companions had been surprising but upon hearing the tale and her reasoning, they too were welcomed into the home of the Ikegami family, any discomfort or unease at their presence overridden by their devotion and loyalty to the Ikegami princess and her family.
Mabel and Cecil had been given quarters in the Keep, next to the quarters given to Mara and Lewis so as to keep them close together for familiarity's sake if nothing else. But upon their return the two human children had been awoken bright and early and given simple blue hakama to wear before being instructed to head to the courtyard and await the arrival of Lady Sayoko herself.
Upon dressing and grabbing their bokken, for while Mabel had been given a katana, it was much too early in the training for her to be using it extensively, they arrived in the courtyard to see over a dozen young elven children who at least appeared to be their age, farther into the courtyard itself they could see older elves already beginning their training with bokken and katana.
They milled in the courtyard for a time, Mabel and Cecil were welcomed rather eagerly by the younger children who after a moment of curiosity had welcomed them into their group with childlike exuberance, no looks were given of Mabel's gender though some of the young girls and boys found her and Cecil's rounded ears to be most amusing and questions were fielded on both ends of Elonese and Ikegami culture and life in each of their homelands.
This ceased when Sayoko, Yukimura, and a stern woman with short brown hair all walked into the courtyard, dressed in blue hakama like them, Mara and Lewis standing behind them and watching, the children were quickly called to attention and formed in rows as the stern woman stepped forward to address them.
"You are all here to become Samurai, the path is long and you will know pain and suffering before this training is through, you will bleed and bruise but determination, drive, and courage will allow you to succeed where others would fail. You will hate me before this training is over but I will expect no less than complete discipline to my commands, is that understood!"
Her question was answered by a chorus of agreement as she stared critically over the new hopefuls, she scowled and turned to the courtyard, the outer palisades surrounding the manor would be several miles to run around the outer edge, to that effect she gave a firm order.
"Alright, we'll start with some physical conditioning, we're going to run laps around the Palisade, let's move!" With a few more shouts of encouragement she had the entire group running and would keep them running for some time, stopping at intermittent points to allow them to rest before having them run again, the physical training was an important first step in their training, they would be training in the various kata in the afternoon before spending the evening training in the noble bearing expected of all Samurai alongside with mental training and discipline.
Sayoko watched them go and stepped forward into the now empty area of the courtyard, turning to glance as her brother followed. Yukimura was a few inches shorter, short black hair trimmed neatly with a light mustache, he was a resolute man and an honorable one. She looked to the naginata in his hands, it was his preferred weapon and he was a master of it, she preferred her katana but that was her desire to get up close and personal.
"She'll do well I think, I wasn't sure on the trip here but she seems determined, I'm not sure how well the rest of the Samurai will react though." His words were chosen carefully, he didn't doubt his sister's choice but it had been a strange one in his opinion, the girl and boy would age much faster than their peers, would they be able to handle the dedication required for the training.
"They will wonder about my logic but if it is just those two they will pass it off as a passing whimsy, but you did not see her Yukimura, her dedication is sound and I would be remiss to not let her have this opportunity when I can do something about it, it will be fine, we need to break this isolationism and engage in the outer world, we can no longer remain where we are."
He looked at her, scrutinizing her for some answer only he knew before he sighed softly and hefted his Naginata into a combat ready stance, she nodded and drew her katana, the weapons were blunted but even still they were always careful, they circled each other slowly, watching the movements of the other to gauge their movement and stance.
They trained like this often but now there was a new edge to it, that of equals, Yukimura's performance in the tournament had been an amazing thing, she wanted to push her younger brother farther, together they would become the greatest Samurai the Ikegami had seen in centuries, of that they had little doubt. |
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Post by ravigen on Dec 19, 2014 20:05:25 GMT
Seasons came and seasons went, for the Ikegami the passing of time was always spent working, on their training, on their art, on their life, they never slowed down. With their longevity it had become easier to see the potential future and strive towards it. With this season, 3,000 fresh Samurai were completing their training and were about to join the ranks of the Ikegami soldiery, their training at Shimaga-jo had been long and extensive, with Naozumi and Masateru overseeing much of the training personally, they always enjoyed the challenge of training the recruits and passing on what they learned to others.
But rest was always important, as such Naozumi had decided to take a trip to the Onsen behind the manor, built upon a spring of hot water at the base of the mountain, it was a place to unwind after a long day and relax. He felt the crisp mountain air as he stepped along the wooden path, pulling back the sliding door and entering the spring. From there he went into one of the changing rooms and stripped, quickly rinsing himself in cold water before entering the spring itself. Upon his arrival he wasn't surprised to note that Yukimura and Sayoko were there already, lounging in the water, a small bottle of sake and two cups resting on the rocks beside them, upon sighting him they bowed their head respectfully as he entered the water.
Yukimura was the first to speak"Father, I'm surprised, what brings you here today?"
Naozumi sat upon a rock ledge, submerging himself up to his chest in the warm water, "The training has been long today, but fruitful, I think that they will be ready shortly for the fight against the Wastelanders."
Sayoko sat up, turning her gaze to him, "When will we march, I've been waiting for the chance to fight them."
Naozumi shrugged, leaning back against the wall, letting out a sigh of relief as he let his aching muscles relax, "The next season I think, we'll raise our levies and march out. How is your training coming along?"
"It is going well, Yukimura and I have been practicing daily to prepare ourselves for the battle, Mabel and Cecil have been training hard as well."
The two had taken to their training over the past few months with determination, the two were already showing the fruits of their training, muscles were developing and she was almost sure they'd grown an inch or two, but they weren't ready for war, not yet but someday soon those two would be strong Samurai and Sayoko had a mind to take both of them into her retinue of elite warriors once their training was complete. With the Commonwealth on their border and the Wasteland orcs preparing to invade they had to be at their best, there was no time to waste, their training had to be accelerated.
Naozumi nodded appreciatively, "The two of you continue your training and prepare to march, we will defend the North as we must from these orc invaders."
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Post by ravigen on Jan 6, 2015 5:38:22 GMT
The battle was long over by now and they had burned their dead as befitting their custom, now they were camped some miles from the battle, the horses had been fed and watered and were resting now, there was no pressing need to march at this point and everyone was sitting around the fires, their tents illuminated in the dark, the scouts had reported no danger but even now the guards were alert to any possible disturbance from the enemy. Sayoko sat by the fire, alongside her brother and father, a small saucer of sake in hand as she stared into the burning fire contemplative.
The silence was overwhelming and she sighed, turning to her brother who was staring at the night sky, gaze unfocused, he'd been that way since they had departed Steelblight.
"Yukimura what's wrong?" she couldn't help but be worried for him, he was a quiet man but he'd never been this quiet before. Yukimura blinked and looked down as if just noticing her presence.
"Ah, nothing sister, I was just thinking about the battle at Steelblight, just remembering the dead." he turned his gaze to the fire and sighed.
"Our dead, their dead, the battle was a massacre for both of us and this war is just beginning. I fear for the state of the North should we fail here, even should we win, I think I understand the Firetooth's cautiousness a little better now."
Sayoko stared at him and took a sip of her sake, giving his statement ample consideration, this entire war was too important to lose, if the Wastelanders overran them then there would be little to stop them from marching straight to their lands and leaving a trail of destruction in their wake, it was truly a terrifying thought for their people to be under that threat.
"We'll win the war, we will drive them back and the North will be kept safe, we just have to stay strong and keep fighting, if we give in to despair now then we're dead." She gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder and reached into her kimono for her Shakuhachi, putting it to her lips she began to play, letting the sound sweep over the camp as everyone turned to look, she had their attention now and she would do her best to cheer them up and give some semblance of reassurance. Idly she heard someone start to play a shamisen and inwardly smiled as they played long into the night, their determination for a brighter future.
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Post by ravigen on Apr 8, 2015 23:34:14 GMT
Peace had returned to the North, the war with the wastelanders was over and now the vassal kingdoms could return to the status quo as before. However all was not as it seemed, on the morrow Ikegami Naozumi prepared to issue a declaration calling for his people to cooperate with the Vaekirate and for all apostates to turn themselves into the Vaekirate authority, the Wardens were in his lands, harassing his people and he was powerless to stop it. What kind of Daimyo was he if he could not save his people?
Now he sat on the balcony, a comfortable mat underneath him, a bottle of sake and a bit of incense, he sipped slowly and stared out into the night sky, below him was the manor and in the distance he could faintly see Kegosu's outline on the horizon, his people, the memory was almost overwhelming now that he thought about it. Naozumi had fought in the war against the Vaekirate and Empire back before the Ikegami had been conquered, only a prince then he had fought alongside the many fine heroes and heroines of the Ikegami, warrior and mage alike.
Unzan of the mountain, dead at the opening battle of the war, a good man who loved to drink sake and challenge anyone and everyone to various feats of strength and courage, Naozumi remembered his boisterous laugh even as he collapsed a rocky overhang on top of a band of Vaekirate zealots to buy time for the defeated Ikegami army to retreat, the man dying from his own wounds right after.
Youki, called the Sword Saint for his unparalleled swordsmanship, his love of poetry and his predilection for singing during a battle, the man had died fighting a band of Khaltis Knights, saving Naozumi himself in the process, his body had been quickly interred at the Temple where he was born until the Vaekirate destroyed it, the man's body and sword had never been recovered, something that shamed Naozumi still.
Kirisame Yasaka, a mage who spent her free time gardening and playing the flute, she'd opened a school shortly before the war started and had left her students to fight. She had turned into a hellcat on the battlefield, called the divine wind for saving the battered Ikegami army at the battle of Hourai, she was felled by a Tovenaar near the end of the war, her body never recovered for burial. Naozumi had liked her, he remembered fondly their time spent drinking sake and debating philosophy and academics.
And then there was his wife, Ikegami Suwako, a bright and cheerful young woman, blessed with magic and a beauty that had struck Naozumi the minute he laid eyes on her, their courtship had been long, years in the making before he had worked up the nerve to ask for her hand in marriage, she had blessed him with three beautiful children and had died at the hands of the Vaekirate, Naozumi missed her dearly and hated himself for considering it a blessing that none of her children had inherited her abilities.
He took another sip of sake, hands trembling slightly as he lifted the cup to his lips, the liquid burned down his throat, or maybe it was the tears streaming down his face, today was the anniversary of their defeat and Naozumi had requested to be left alone till morning, he'd make the proclamation the Wardens demanded then and sell just a little more of his dignity at the alter of the Vaekirate. He had a feeling the troubles were only mounting now.
"Teruna, watcher give me the strength and patience to hold on to my convictions and find the right opportunity to act. Tenmu give my children the strength they need to survive, Nishimoto the wisdom to choose my course." He raised his sake cup in silent toast, imagining Yasaka, Youki, Suwako, and Unzan sitting there raising their own cups to join his. But it was only a dream, Naozumi drank alone and stared into the starry night, lost in memory. If he cried it was a matter for him and him alone. |
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Post by ravigen on Apr 19, 2015 0:57:12 GMT
The Ikegami manor was quiet in the pre-dawn morning, only a few servants were awake, running about to prepare the manor and the next shift of staff for the new day, the guard had just changed and all was well, in a few short hours the manor would be bustling with all sorts of business but aside from a few scribes beginning their day's work the manor was quiet.
Outside the manor was another matter entirely The stone paved courtyard rang with the sound of clashing steel, the training yard was mostly empty save for three people, an older elven woman in blue Samurai armor against two younger humans, a boy and a girl, from the edge of the training yard an older human man watched closely.
Sayoko panted lightly as she watched her two students, they had been at it for two hours already and Mabel and Cecil were proving themselves an apt team. The two were just as tired as she was and this brief lull in the spar was a chance for the three of them to catch their breath. She tightened her grip on her katana and wondered which one of them would move first.
With a shout, Mabel charged from the right, katana raised in an overhand strike as Cecil followed her, going left to flank. Sayoko charged forward, raising her own katana to meet Mabel's strike the blades clashed again as she pushed forward, sending Mabel backpedaling as she turned to face Cecil, swinging to stop his charge and force him to defend, their blades met and he strained as he pushed against her, trying to overpower her. Why was he doing that, even tired she had more muscle on him, that wasn't going to work, all he was doing was tiring himself.
Then a gauntlet clad fist slammed into her faceplate. Her vision blurred immediately as she staggered back, twisting to swing wildly in the vague direction of the two, desperate for some breathing room. These blades were dulled but they were still dangerous and Mabel had a mean right hook anyways.
In a moment they were on her again, swinging at her in coordinated assaults to take advantage of her weakness, for her part Sayoko just tried to stay ahead of them, the two had been training for almost 4 years now, they'd grown appropriately, taller, more muscular, more sure of themselves than when they had started. Mabel was still as brash as ever though Cecil did act as a sort of more rational presence for her, pointing out just when she was being completely foolish. Sayoko had grown fond of both of them but that didn't mean she was going to go down without a fight.
Slowly her vision started to clear and she could begin her counterattack, they still had a lot to learn, Mabel had overextended herself in her eagerness to win, so Sayoko waited, blocked Cecil's next strike before twisting to bat Mabel's katana aside, bringing her knee up to hit her stomach hard, Mabel gasped, the wind knocked out of her as Sayoko pushed her to the ground and turned to the suddenly alone Cecil. Perhaps sensing his imminent defeat he pressed the attack, hoping to buy a little time for Mabel to recover or somehow win the fight quickly, Sayoko waited, answering each strike before letting his next strike slide off her blade and to the right, his overeagerness causing him to extend to far just as the dulled edge of her katana tapped his neck.
He slumped in defeat as she sheathed her blade, turned to the still winded Mabel and offering her a hand up, patting her on the back, grinning. The two had grown so much, she couldn't have been more proud of them.
"Good job you two, Mabel, you're still too brash, you can't just rush into a fight so recklessly, Cecil you're the opposite, you hesitate far too much but your teamwork is excellent and your training is progressing smoothly."
She wiped the sweat from her brow and looked toward the manor.
"Now come on, let's go raid the kitchens for food and sake, then the hot springs." |
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Post by ravigen on May 6, 2015 1:45:09 GMT
"Absolutely not! I'll kill him for this, that ranger is far too bold for his station!"
"You do that and I will sever your head from your shoulders, uncle or not, and his official title is High Lord of the Northwestern territories."
Naozumi, from his position on the comfortable tatami mat alongside the balcony, sighed and drank some more from the drink he'd been nursing for the past twenty minutes, Sayoko's announcement had been.....shocking though if he was honest, he shouldn't have been so shocked, she was always willful like that, doing whatever she pleased. She was a lot like her mother that way, which was both good and bad, his heart ached at the memory of his long dead wife but it still highlighted a trend he'd noticed in the past two decades.
He couldn't say no to her, out of all of his children why the eldest had to take after her mother was beyond him, Yukimura and Himawari were more like him, calm, collected and fond of taking a step back and looking at the situation before making a decision, Sayoko, while plenty calm and collected when need be, had a tendency to decide on one course of action as correct, latch onto it and stick doggedly to it until she got where she wanted to go. She was willful and determined and it was simultaneously her greatest and worst trait.
Naozumi was well aware that if he decided not to approve of this union she'd be flying off on a Gryphon in an hour, heading off to Elon to marry him anyways or run off with him, whichever was easier and that would just do wonders for the diplomatic relations with Elon, but in all situations opportunities were present, this would do wonders to strengthen relations with Elon.
"Why would you do this? You have so many more options here rather than running off to Elon to marry some human lord?"
"And in a few decades those options will still be there, Bron won't be and I love him not them, why should I hesitate about this?"
And they were still arguing, this sake wasn't working nearly fast enough, there was a soft thump next to him and he glanced to his right, nodding to Yukimura as his son sat down next to him, empty cup held out to him. He didn't even need to think about it as he poured the alcohol into his cup and raised it in a toast.
"What are we drinking too?" Yukimura sniffed the alcohol carefully, wrinkling his nose at the strong smell.
"Unconscious" Brilliant response from the Daimyo of the richest nation in the North. Yukimura shrugged and downed the entire cup in one gulp.
"I'm in, are you going to let her marry this man?" Naozumi shrugged.
"Yes, likely so, best to let them argue it out, Masateru will eventually walk off in a huff knowing him." Naozumi took special pleasure in the fact that the alcohol was taking effect and blurring the angry conversation. Yukimura nodded slowly and they sat in silence for a few blissful seconds before.
"So, we're going to give this man a hard time when we meet him right?"
"Oh undoubtedly." |
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