Karmatsu Shimyoshitsuna and the Seven Swordsmen

[FireBeard]

Karmatsu Shimyoshitsuna and the Seven Swordsmen

The wind blew strong on the narrow mountain ridge as Shim began to sweat from his daily morning routine. From the tall ridge he could see over the Dragonwall and beyond but he didnt pause to take in the beautful scene. Shim strode with a quick rhythm as he swung his blade from one form to the next trying to remember all that Master Takeda Shingon had shown him. As he entered the form “Boar rushes mountain” his concentration shattered by an overwhelming feeling of dread which caused him to nearly stumble over the steep cliff face. He looked around for an enemy or some other cause but saw nothing. A slight touch of panic entered his mind as he gathered his things and made his way down the mountain ridge to the valley compound of the Takeda Dojo.

As Shim approached the compound, the early dawn cast shadows and cloaked most detail, but Shim briefly caught sight of a shadowy figure swiftly fleeing from Master Takeda Shingon’s room and other dark clumps scattered over the practice yard. Shim rushed the rest of the way down the hill and passed thru the practice yard. He paused slightly but did not stop as he made way by the clumps he had seen from above. The motionless dead students that littered the yard were bloody and mangled but Shim’s focus stayed on Master Takeda Shingon’s apartment

The thin fusuma doors had been sliced open and Shim stepped thru into the shady apartment. He drew his blade while cautiously scanning the shadows. A figured was on the floor which Shim quickly realized was Master Takeda Shingon. He rushed over to the body but stopped in horror as he saw his master covered in wounds, missing an arm and soaked thru in blood. Time seemed to stand still as he stood over his master staring down in disbelief. His trance of horror was broken by the sound of a twig breaking directly behind him. He grunted and spun using the form “wind around the willow” bringing his blade around and froze mid swing inches away from the neck of young Taso. Taso was Master Takeda son and was only five or six years younger then Shim. Taso face was pale white and his eye dripped with tears. “How could you! He loved you! He loved you even more then me!” Taso screamed at Shim. Shim dropped his blade in a startled realization that he almost cut down his childhood friend and mentor’s son. “You will pay! You will hang when I get the guards!” Taso screamed as ran out the door. Shim tried to grab for him but was caught off guard as his ankle was grabbed by Master Takeda.

He quickly dropped to the ground as he tried to stop the bleeding. Master Takeda grabbed Shim by his keiko-gi and pulled down till Shim was kneeling and crouched over him. Blood trickled and flowed from master Takeda’s mouth but the words came out in a gasping whispers “he will not stop…till they… are all dead….” “I will find and kill who ever did this...” Shim tried to break in as Takeda struggled to breath and hang on to life “ No, you are… not ready…he is ….too strong… too fast…too powerful…you must….get help…. find the seven kensai …..warn them…and learn what you can...He will come for them…he will come….. for you…they will...” Takeda started to say but then coughed up a heavy amount of blood. “The seven sword saints? but...but where do I find them and what were their names again? Master? Master?!” Shim asked in a panic as he turn his master on his side so Takeda wouldn’t choke on his own blood. “Promise me…you must….not…………….fail” Takeda breathed out his last words as he body went limp and a blood soaked crumbled letter fell from his death released grasp.

Shim sat lost in thought not knowing what to do till he remembered the blood soaked parchment and read “Master, I have gone west. I hope your students are not giving you the troubles that I once did. I bring your teachings with me always. I searched the city of Suzail but i can not find who I look for. I shall continue to look and do what must be done. I shall send word when I find more news” Shim touched the sigil that the letter was signed with “black crane” Shim whispers as he remembered the name being one of the seven swordsmen. One of the Kensai was a student of master? A creaky board gave Shim just enough time to see three guards entering. “Its true!” the guard shouted as Shim grabbed his blade and slowly got to his feet. “I have duty and honor I must take care of. I will come back to settle this. I must go now” Shim demanded as the guards drew their blades. “Only place you are going is to the gallows!” The guards shouted as they charged him. “No!! we don’t need to fight” Shim shouted back at the guards but the guards continued their attack and Shim moved thru the forms “Sparrow touches pond”, “tiger hides the falcon”, “boar rushes mountain”. The three guards laid motionless on the ground as Shim whispered to himself “I will not fail you Master”


More to come.....

(had to edit some information)

[FireBeard]

// Lot of people ask Karamatsu about Shinjin (His weapon) and about Nagamaki's in general. (some of it IC and some OOC) I figured i would add this so people would have a general idea about Nagamaki. I put a Wikipedia link (about the RL history of Nagamaki) and a video I found that should help people visualize what they look like.



en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagamaki

[FireBeard]

From sea ship to riverboat, Shimyoshitsuna traveled as far as he could on the coin he had and had nothing left. The night sky was cloudly as the small boat flowed along on the river. The lapping nose of water droned in his head as sat in the darkness and became lost in his thoughts. He pondered what troubles he would have when he reached the shore of this odd land. He didn't know much of the people's culture but He was always told most men of the lands west were savages and barbaric in nature. The word uncouth was often used when speaking of the westlanders. He expected the worse and prepared for any issues he would cross.

One issues he learned immediately just from the troubles he had with bartering passage from Captain Kirkdenthur, the river boat captain, was language. For one the people of this land did not speak Shou and even Shimyoshitsuna's name was a struggle for their barbaric tongues to pronounce, and the River Boat Captain of the ship finally settled on calling him Shim for short. It was a dishonor to his name but Shim would let pass due to his own struggles with saying the captain's name and realized it only fair since he had to shorten the Captain's name as well. He supposed the name Shim would be easier for most.

Shim had studied very little of the languages of this land and although he could listen and understand most of what they said speaking the strange tongue was still a struggle. He knew it would be a major hurdle in accomplishing his goals. The majority of his time back at home was pursuing the forms and styles of the Blade, but Master Takeda always pushed on learning varies forms of knowledge. So, to appease his Master's wishes Shimyoshitsuna spent some of his time learning some of Elven culture and language. He found their culture entertaining and even learned to speak their language fluently.

He always assumed he would never have any use for the knowledge besides entertainment value since he planned to spend all his days in Takeda Dojo progressing his Skills from student of the blade to one day a master himself. That dream was gone now as he sat in the dark wet musky boat in a foreign land with no friends or family within leagues of him. He never thought his life would end up like this. The thought reminded him of some of Master Takeda teachings and his words echoed in his head. "What we wish is the future, and what truly is the present, can often discourage the path, but if you properly use the building blocks of Now. The future you seek will become the past. " The river boat nudging hard on the docks shook him from his thoughts. He stepped onto the shores of the Kingdom of Cormyr onto the docks of the hamlet of Isinhold and thanked Captain Kirk for the passage on his boat.

He cautiously strolled into the middle of the small town. Most villages in the middle of night would be silent and dark but this small townlet had light that came from no seen source and buzzed with activity. He noticed immediately that this quaint town was no ordinary rural village but more of a hub for passing adventurers. well Armored warriors, leather bound knife wielders, robed Shugenja, lute playing Samisen, and other assorted adventures walked around or were leisurely leaning on the fence talking to each other. Most glancing Shimyoshitsuna way gave him a suspicious look. while other didnt appear to notice him but Shim noticed as their hands nonchalantly moved and rested on their hilts. It was not what Shimyoshitsuna expected or wanted but expected that most would not trust him since he was strange to their culture. He wouldnt enjoy it but he would have to talk with these savage people and perhaps aid them to gain their trust. Once he had their trust then perhaps they would assist him in his assiduous search to find the seven Kensai and bring his masters last wishes to fruition. With a deep breath he slowly strode forward into the busy square of the bourg....