The Day of Thunder

"That must've been difficult," Ayako commiserated. "Between the fog and the rain and the... uh, attacks ... probably best you stay here in the village until the festival is over. Did you end up finding someone to fix your wheel, at least? I've no idea if Blue Lotus Village has a proper wheelwright, ...

Shizuku looked up at her. "Of course I am." Along with the other villagers, though, she's looking a little agitated. Ayako hovered protectively near Shizuku; she eyed the other villagers and samurai speculatively, as if unsure whether the crowd was about to turn ugly. "Do you want to get out of her...

What kind of social stigma is there against people who have Taint in this time period? (I am guessing it may be different than canon L5R where we battled the Shadowlands for 1000+ years.) To my knowledge the mechanics of the Taint still aren't fully figured out at this point? Or at least not widely...

Canary wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 08, 2023 8:17 pm

Shizuku smiled and brought up her foot, tapping it gently.

After Yukara was tested by jade, then abruptly stormed off, Ayako turned back to Shizuku, her eyes wide with alarm.

"You're still okay, right?" she said, very softly. "....Right?"

What kind of social stigma is there against people who have Taint in this time period? (I am guessing it may be different than canon L5R where we battled the Shadowlands for 1000+ years.)

Yukara, having no reason to question the miracle, no reason to fear, simply gazed in shock at the arm which had been hers... was taken... and was somehow hers again. "Amazing!" Ayako said, eyes wide. The young Crab hadn't really believed it when Enrou said this could happen ... but now she had seen...

"Aahhhh. Hmm? Yes, I suppose we are. But, at least at my level, not that close. I oversee a mine, formerly for my sensei, then for my tribe with his passing, and I suppose now for the Emperor, but it is only one mine among many." "Oh, I see," Ayako said conversationally. "Is your mine close by to B...

As none had warned her against it, and indeed she was ignorant of much of what had transpired, she had no reason to say no, save her own lingering doubts. From where she stood near Shizuku, Ayako had watched Yukara approach and ask about the ritual with some concern. The Crab still wasn't sure abou...

"Well, I'm sure my parents would appreciate their house back," she giggles. "You make a good point about Enrou, though... I wonder if the Crab would take him? He knows everything there is to know about medicine." "I don't know," Ayako admitted. "Enrou seemed great to me, especially how he helped Yu...

"I... I do. I really want to learn from him," she admitted with a nod. "He's a genius. And on your part, well... It might come with some... political complications, if the Lion even remember me..." "Whatever it was, if it was so many years ago, maybe they forgot by now," Ayako said, with uncharacte...

Hiruma Naraku wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 08, 2023 9:16 pm

He would give a plate to any that wished.

Despite being well-aware of Naraku's reputation as a poison master, Ayako trustingly accepted a plate.

"Thanks, Hiruma-san," she said. "Wow, this stew really hits the spot."

Shizuku hugged her back tight, sighing in relief. "I was so nervous...!" She looked up at her in the hug. "I... I'd like... No, I'm ready to leave here. Do you think... it would be possible to come with you?" "Oh~! Uh, sure... I don't see why not," Ayako said, sounding surprised, but pleasantly so....

Canary wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 08, 2023 8:19 pm

"I like you, Yoshitsune-sama. You're beautiful and strong and heroic."

Ayako's eyes got really big, then she broke into a huge, foolish grin. "I like you too!" she declared, and reached for Shizuku to try and pull her in for a hug.

Shizuku smiled and brought up her foot, tapping it gently. "Good as new! As for what it was like..." She looked up, considering. "It's hard to describe. The focusing part is like meditating, and the healing... It's like that feeling when people say 'I feel like myself again'." "That... that doesn't...

The villagers around look surprised, murmuring to each other, but the brunette woman seems to pay them no particular mind. Instead, she focuses solely on Shizuku. "Close your eyes and picture yourself whole in your mind; as complete and detailed a picture as you can. Focus you whole mind and heart ...

Canary wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 08, 2023 7:29 pm

She shifted a little on her foot. "Ah, Yoshitsune-sama, I have something I need to tell you... A couple of things, actually."

"Oh~! Of course," Ayako said, looking concerned as she put down her current load. "Uh, is something wrong? How can I help?"

Yoshitsune Ayako was there, as well; having seen the farmhouses burn, she wanted to have a hand in raising them up again. Ayako's skills as a carpenter were nothing to write home about, but she cheerfully hauled timber and bales of thatch, as needed.

Shizuku came over, still leaning on her crutch. "Ah, Yoshitsune-sama! I didn't expect to see you here so early." "Shizuku!" Ayako's face lit up at seeing the village woman. "Oh, I know the building is supposed to be in the afternoon, but I slept really well last night and had a lot of energy. So I ...

Yoshitsune Ayako decided to do her morning weapons practice in the Sleeping Garden. Fully armored, the Crab warrior began a series of warmup stretches and calisthenics. Once Ayako was warmed up, she drew her axe and retraced her footwork and actions from the previous day's battle, thinking about thi...

Several days later, Yoshitsune Ayako returned to the burned farmhouse that she and Han-Hei had narrowly managed to pull Shizuku from before it collapsed. The villagers were undertaking to repair the damaged farmhouses that afternoon, and Ayako had shown up to help however she could. Ayako wasn't par...