The Day of Thunder

"I followed someone this way, they were arguing with a magistrate about how to run their town and I managed to mediate", he chuckled. "By being the bigger asshole." A pause. "Still, she's not dumb, pretty smart actually. Looking after her has been nice, especially when she thinks she's got everythi...

"How all're y' trained, if'n I c'n ask? Might be standin' b'side you afore long, be good t' know it. An', just t' let y' know, ma'am, I'm a Hunter." "I'm a warrior, like many in my clan," Ayako replied. "I studied with Lord Yoshitsune's school, in fact." "As a hunter, you must've seen a lot of the ...

"I do not know how most entertain themselves. I am new to the family, as it were." Yukara had always talked with her hands, and now having only one was making gesticulation difficult, particularly if the hand had a spoon full of rice, so she attempted to control herself. "I do enjoy contemplation a...

"Yes, I know that feeling," Ayako agreed, recalling the horrors of last night's dreams. With a conscious effort, she set those memories aside and tried to focus on the present. "Perhaps we could speak of more pleasant things," she suggested. "The Scorpion lands are quite far to the south, aren't the...

"Ahh, I see," the Crab said, pondering Akutou's explanation. After a moment, she appeared decide to take his words as being well-meant. "Please pardon me if I seemed rude," she said, bowing again. "I'm afraid I slept poorly and it must've affected me more than I thought. I'm called Yoshitsune Ayako."

Otomo Akutou wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 01, 2023 3:12 pm

"More'n tea, ma'am," Akutou replies. "An' y' been sleepin' alright?"

"No," the woman admitted truthfully. "I had a rough night of it. Bad dreams... very bad. I hear there's been a lot of that going around. Why do you ask?"

"Sisters! Beware, beware!" the cowardly canary cried dramatically, flapping her 'wings' in alarm. "We cannot hope to defeat the greedy fox! We must flee!" The horrors of Ayako's earlier nightmares were channeled into her performance as she tried to lead the more heroic birds away from the rising con...

Otomo Akutou wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 01, 2023 11:06 am

"Mornin', ma'am," Akutou says.

"Didja eat yet?"

"Good morning," the Crab woman said, looking up from the pond and bowing politely. "I had a little tea, but that's all. How about you?"

Taking another sip, she set the cup down, carefully moving the rice bowl back to her lap to resume her tortuously slow eating. "Another new friend told me of the south - so what do people in your home do, for fun, or for art?" "Ohhh, nothing so fancy as they have in the south," Ayako said. "Though ...

She thinks a long moment. "It's not the gods dropped to earth that were called here, it's us. There's somethin' we can do that they can't..or it's all a lie and none of it matters, right? So keep to who you are and what you do best. Don't let the tricks of the enemy make you doubt. Don't let wonder...

There was a pause as the Crab considered how much to share, before finally she said, "Bad dreams. Sleeping poorly. I've... I've heard there is a lot of that going around. And you?"

"Really?" Ayako said curiously. "It is so beautiful. Has it been in your family for generations? There must be some story behind it."

Nanzi Ai wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 01, 2023 11:10 am

"A flock of canaries, this should be most amusing," she replied.

"Beware, sister, for this world is not safe for canaries such as we," Ayako said, in an overdramatic voice as she sought to get into character. "If we are not careful, we may face our DOOOOM!"

After a few minutes passed, Ayako finished her meditations. Opening her eyes, she hesitantly gave Akutou a wave. Then, unsure if the mysterious figure had intended to be seen, she turned and peered at the pond, allowing the man to pretend not to have seen her, if solitude had been his intention.

"Ha! I wouldn't like to explain to Lord Bayushi how I somehow ended up with a dead, naked member of his family," the woman said with a chuckle. "I think we've all had sleeping problems lately, so get some sleep if you can. But if you start to drown, I'll have to wake you." "I'm called Yoshitsune Aya...

Yukara sipped the sake cup, moving slowly to avoid any mistakes, and then added, "I am glad to hear that your clan is near mine - perhaps in time our efforts may jointly bear fruit, and the land may see meaningful peace." "Perhaps we could be friends, Ryoshun-san," Ayako suggested. "I'm not anyone ...

The young woman's eyes flickered over to the new arrival as he entered, but she remained soaking in the hot water. She murmured "Good afternoon, samurai," with a polite nod as he bowed.

A hint of sympathy crossed the woman's face as Norikage leaned back and she noticed his signs of fatigue.

"Ah. I imagine your lands border those of my own clan - unless there are even more mountains past the north mountains I know." Ayako nodded. "Yes, I believe we share a border, along the western edge of the Crab heartland," she agreed. Yukara nodded, thoughtfully. "Peace and order is a noble goal. I...

Yoshitsune Ayako drank deep of the wine, and sampled a wide variety of the delicious foods, seemingly oblivious to the horrifying evil that was preparing to devour their very souls.

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3EE Daily Bread 1, raw Earth + Void point TN30 | 5k5 ⇒ 20 (TN: 30)

The draw lot play had been stressful for Ayako, but it seemed to have gone off fairly successfully. She thought her sister Chizu - wherever she was - would have approved. The young woman knelt and said a filial prayer for her sister, before slipping off her robe and stepping into the hot bath. — Voi...