Kurai Hito , Zenchou

[Orkid]

*as narrated by Hito to a magistrate who acidentally came across him during correspondence with his clan*

If you wish to know what to call me and be most accurate , call me Zenchou , that's "harbinger" in your tongue, it's not a name... it is my title. I don't remember my birth given name anymore , but even if i did it would not be me , it would hold no real relation to who i am. But really, that is the nature of names and words in general... abstract , arbitrary sounds and symbols that in truth only serve as ephemeral links between perception and comprehension. I have been trained to be all things to all people , and at the very same stroke , to be no one and nothing. You have probably heard of me as Kurai Hito in your lands , as that is my favorite moniker, in your tongue it loosely means "Obscure One" and that too , is probably just as accurate as Zenchou, there is no clear line as to where i begin or end , for as i told you i must be everybody and nobody. I was given my identity and also robbed of it by my parents, as the first born of the Minister of Information of my clan , i was trained since birth to be an infiltrator , a con and a saint , the devil and a god ... Zenchou. It would be my destiny and duty to leave my people and home , probably not to see them again for 100s of years, it is my lot to proceed into cold and thrashing waters naked and alone so that others may have my Wake. Were your people to look on me and know me as what i truly am , they would see that i am the calm before a Great Storm , approaching from the east... I am a benign mite, stuck right behind your ear and underneath your skin , hearing what you hear , living off your life, even killing other mites that seek to feast on you. And so it has been for a couple decades now, I've never been felt , never swatted at, even while crawling along your most hidden and sweaty creases, and so will i continue to crawl. I explore , learning everything about you , things you dont even know about yourselves. And by the time you pluck me from your flesh , i will have been gorged on your oppulance and may be too hard shelled to even be killed when you step on me under heel, even if you burn me away it won't matter , for as i said it will be too late, the path of the storm is set and it's fury will be upon you with or with out me. Your homes and bodies it will dismantle as if it built them itself , that is if you don't get out of the way, even then there will be no flight , no escape , only prolonging of the inevitable. Many of you already have and will continue to become part of the storm , feeding their energies into its massive body. That would , infact, be your most prudent choice , but of course only a fraction will be spared by the storm , it must consume most, to not compromise it's integrity at the End. I wish it could be different for many , i have made true friends along the way , but that is not my decision ... *chuckles to himself* ... but then again there are few choices i have ever had *sighs, long pause* Did i mention there are hundreds like me? ... hundreds of trained Zenchou, already becoming your husbands and wives, healers and guards, politicians and beggars, and many of them have been here for centuries. So you see, i am no problem , i wouldn't even be worth your attention were i not your future, but i am also your past and present , you would do well to study me and try to know what i know , it may be the only hope you have. *smiles to himself* How unfortunate for you that i don't exist , even as i stand before you , what you perceive is little more than a word ...

*brings his ninja-to slashing through the neck of the wild eyed magistrate*

[Orkid]

Many days on the road had made me tired , in body as well as mind. This would be my first Correspondence in five years, my first word of home in five years. I couldn't help but think of my father and mother and my two sisters, sweet Fuu , she would surely be on her path as a priestess by now , strong Yuukaku , undoubtably had been put in command of her own troupe as she was proving to be one of the clans premier musha, or warriors, even before I had left, or been sent off more accurately... Now was one of the few times when I could allow myself such thoughts, and I relished in it, for I knew it would be all too brief of a respite. Such a long journey from Cormyr to the Sword Coast, I could not believe it had been so peaceful, though I traveled quickly it was in disguise as a merchant , I figured at least some hapless bandits would have tried to jump me by now. The fates must surely sense my spirit , and know not to trouble me these days, my days of Yasuragi , the days in between duty. It could be seen I was carrying much with me , it is hard to conceal seven years of documentation , mappings and recordings of important places and names, people of power and simple figure heads, worthy enemies and allies. Though much of it was carried in scroll cases, most was stuffed into numerous magical pouches. I was eager to see my friend again , crazy Kabutomashi , how many times had he risked his life fairying the crucial loads of information back to the Homeland across the unforgiving ocean? Far too many , by my account... much like me, Kabutomashi's duty bound him to dogged servitude , so that the Wake may spread. I will convice him to stop for a day so that we might drink together and speak of home, I thought to myself, Kabuto would be so surprised at the Sake I bore from Inland...

*adjusting the silly looking rapier at his belt , Hito ran on with renewed vigor*

It was night , as was the usual , when I reached the Spot. Very well concealed the meeting place was , down in this dirty creeks mouth spilling into vast waters of the sea, sickly looking trees hanging over the tiny bay inlet kept out nearly all the star light. This time I was sure no one had followed me , I had circled around several times, making several set lines. To this day it baffled me how the Magistrate had followed me all the way to the little bridge over the creek , where he would slip up and bring about the end of his days. I even bowed to his cunning , on the very spot where his bones could still be found , had I wanted to dig them up... 25 years! , I thought to myself as I walked down the embankment , cloaked in shadow with an arrow knocked. One could never be too cautious what with enemy clans and local suspicions afterall. From afar I could already see it was not Kabutomashi, a deep frown split my jaw. Warding myself in Invisibility , I crept up on the person , standing a few feet behind him... "Where's Kabutomashi?" , i said in my native tongue , the words a dangerous growl in my throat. The only reason it wasn't my blade or an arrow splitting his ears was because I could see he was of my clan , baring the glorious crane on his tunic. "Mugen..." came the confident reply, "knock off this silly business and show yourself." I dissmissed the warding, as he had given the password, and I said again deadly serious , "Where is Kabutomashi?" "He has been reassigned..." was the reply, "things do not always remain the same, Zenchou, you of all people should know this." I ordered him, "Give me my letter." , and sat down the sheefs and cases and boxes of information, as he handend me a rolled up scroll of rice paper nearly as tall as I am. More or less a chronological series of journal entries , I walked away from the new deliverer and cast a minor cantrip to give me light to read by. I smiled at their words, as my heart was filled with joy at the vicarious contact with my blood. I had not laughed so earnestly or smiled so pridefully in a long time. Yuukaku was married, I could not believe this , he must be a strong man in many respects to have conquered her heart. As I had figured , Fuu was indeed on her way to becoming a priestess , but as a Nisou! a warrior priestess, and in the path of her brother she has chosen the bow , showing an uncanny and unparalleled skill for her age. My parents were pretty much the same , they told me how proud they were of me and of the great honor I was bringing to the family and the clan. My heart welled with satisfaction and I nearly shed a tear. There was much more they spoke of but less significant news to me, and upon finishing it, I rolled it up and carefully placed it inside the other four like it, which I keep with me in a large map case. The deliverer was already finished loading the information, and was checking lines and making sure things were secure. "So , what is your name , new guy?" , I asked in considerably lighter spirits. "Hisume, sir , you've done well , you will go down as a hero and legend in the annals of the Imperial Records." Half-smiling at the ham-handed flattery I said, "I'm not done yet." He chuckled back , "We are counting on that." He clambered onto his 30' skiff and I helped him off with the tow lines as he waved good bye , and set off for his next Spot. I was already back on the road to Cormyr by the time he had unfurled his sails...

[Orkid]

It was several days ago I saw the markings... signs that would be unrecognizeable by anyone else as anything of importance or even as anything out of the ordinary. First , was far north on the road to Suzail , the unmistakable sign that someone from my clan was in the area and trying to contact me. Then again a couple days later , upon me looking around , far south of Redmist along the coast of the Sea of Stars. No doubt about it, someone had news , and it was urgent. I set up the three requisite replies and made my way to where the caller and I would meet... The spot would be about a half a days travel , and it could take a couple more days for the contactor to find all three replies so I had some waiting to do. I spent much time stalking the area, learning it's layout with all its hills and valleys incase anything should happen. I slept in my padded armor , bow at the ready , quiver bristling by my hip, for this was very uncommon. In the 25 years and four months I had been on assignment here this had never happened , something had either gone terribly wrong with the Plan or I had been discovered and someone was trying to kill me. Five days passed with me in waiting at or around the site and no one had come , now this either meant whoever was trying to contact me was incredibly inept (which I could not believe was the case...) or something had happened to them. On that day I circled out from around the area searching everything anew , scouring a wide berth of land for any clues or signs of anything. After being gone another day I returned to the spot , late in the evening the sad moon was bright but could barely penetrate the canopy of the forest I had designated as the spot, my elven eyes of course could see as though it was daytime. From 30 meters out I could see someone lying , face down , very still in between the roots of the tree I had slept under these previous days.

My heart clutched as I sprinted to him , already cloaked in invisibility, "Mashi!!" , my voice cracked with fear at what I would find as I rolled my good friend over. He gasped a sucking , gurgling gasp as he was turned over into my arm. A bloody smile creased his face , his eyes were glazed and very dialated , "Mu.. gen..." , he breathed out, "I am ... glad I found you.." his words were weak and his breath ragged, I couldnt help but smile and cough out a ragged , short laugh. I pulled him onto my lap, supporting his head in my arm, as I saw there was a katar sword buried in the ground , the sword had been impaled in his torso , just below his diaphragm , I knew these next few words would be his last , as my eyes clouded with unbidden tears. That very blade was all that was keeping his blood inside him , and when I rolled him over , a red bloody pool began to form on his belly. "the Cranes... *his eyes clenched* ... the clans are warring... we have.. *coughs blood, spattering my chest* ... new rule .... " He began to shake slightly and his strength was leaving him, I cast what songs I had left in the form of healing , trying to stop him from dieing though I knew it would not be enough. He blinked at me then , and a tear fell from each of his eye both quickly turned red when they met the blood on his face, " I'm so sorry, my friend... *his eyes fell shut and they would not open again* your family was executed..." , I pleaded to him, "B-but... my letter! No! Mashi you must be lieing to me!!" , he inhaled deeply and spoke his last words , "they doctored the dates , this happened almost two years ago... I'm so sorry... you deserved more... we... deserved .. more" , as he fell limp in my embrace my mind was shattering like so much porcelain , struck with a heavy maul.

I don't even know how I managed to throw my body out of the path of a heavy crossbow bolt that plunked into the tree , through where my heart had been but a split moment earlier. I don't remember killing the first two ninja that came rushing from the shadow of the trees , but with great wrath and much purpose I do remember what happened next. I spun behind the tree , where I had just lain Kabutomashi to rest , and became like the shadows that surrounded me as I deftly stepped to the next nearby trunk, slashing the first one to come around the tree along the side of his neck vein and leg as he went down, he fell screaming through his loathsome shufa, the cloth wrapped around his face. As the one who followed him turned to face me, as I was not where he thought I should be, I already had an arrow knocked and as he charged me I shot him squarely in the lung through his bicep, still coming at me he swung his katana but I easily dodged his hampered attempt and subsequently put the final two arrows in his chest. The next two ninja were already behind me and I whirled to face them , death was my coutenance and hopeless was their attempt. Both died with a handful of arrows in them each , I did not even notice the two cuts I had recieved, I was already set on the three remaining ninja who were circling me , in what they thought was silence and shadow. I threw onto the ground one of the peculiar bags of choking powder I had found during my stay here , and in the ensuing chaos it caused I sprinted a short distance away behind a cliff wall. One of them was able to follow me , but was not prepared for the arrow I planted in his eye socket as he came around the corner. Following the scream of there comrade the next two came after and the first around died with three arrows in him before his friend could attack. This last one I had plans for , he would not be so lucky as the rest. He managed to cut me once , but by that time it was too late for him , I had riddled his legs with four arrows and he collapsed to the ground , staring at me coldly , waiting for his death. I kicked his blade from his shaking fist , and pushed him onto his back. Bringing my face very near his , I growled, "You will tell me what has happened or you will howl for the quick death that you will not receive..." He snickered, somhow almost sounding gleeful , "There is a new shogunate , your family as that of the previous Minister of Information had to be ... replaced.." , I could see his grin through his shufa, as I punched his front teeth in his head whipped back into the cold, unforgiving ground, I could hear more than one bone break. He snorted blood through his miss-shappen nose and he spit out blood and tooth beneath his mask, as he squinted at me breathing raggedly. I took a step back and ordered him, "Sit up..." , and he did , fully knowing what his reward would before cooperating. I turned my back on him and in the same motion as unsheathing my blade , I spun and cut his head clean from his body and upon completeing the full circle spin , in the same motion sheathed it again.

I slowly and quietly walked back to where Kabutomashi lay , in the tradition of our clan, I built him a funearl pyre and surrounded it with the blades of the 9 fallen assassains and gave Kabutomashi to his rebirth. As the fire died out , it was near midday by that time, I walked dazedly away from the site , and wondered at my ill fortune , I died five deaths that day , and could never die again for I was already dead. Wandering back to my only home now , I thought about my future as a hated Ronin , there was only one destiny of that future... revenge!!