I imagine this as a camp set up after a big battle by the winning side. there is celebrations, aiding the wounded and such things going on. It is afternoon and quite warm. Your char might be one of the battlers, someone coming for the celebrations, for example.
Kurun looked at the camp sitting in the valley. If anything, it looked more chaotic than the actual battle. Columns of smoke rose from various campfires and people were milling about everywhere, transporting wounded soldiers or messages.
He hadn't brought much. He hadn't expected to meet a battle at all. But he might arrange some trades for later... He hefted his backpack and made his way down the grass-clad slope. He slid a couple of times due to the slight rainfall earlier, but he soon found himself at the edge of the encampment. A big fire, flanked by battlers greeted him. The battlers had taken of their helmets and gloves, but hadn't gotten around to removing any more. One of them had a bandage around his lower arm, but they were otherwise unhurt. A cauldron was shimmering over the fire, and a delicious smell emitted form it.
As Kurun approached, they turned and seemed to look him up and down, seeing if he was a threat or not. Apparently he passed the test, because one of them moved so he could get a place to sit.
Before sitting down, he bowed to each of them and introduced himself.
"I am Kurun Ti-Sakezuki, tradesman and traveller." They, in turn, presented themselves as Yorike, Kaoja, Chitu, Kekoru and Tonami. Kurun sat down on a mat and they soon got talking about the fight that had been. After a while, one of them found some tealeaves and a kettle. He started making tea next to the cauldron over the fire and it was soon done. Kurun found some cups in his backpack and they drank and discussed the battle.
ShininShado
08-02-2005, 06:23 PM
Shinin Shado has no place in this area, but I really like how that is written, entertaining and easy to read.
Chronor
08-02-2005, 07:50 PM
After being promoted to Captain from the infamous Battle at Katomi Castle, Chronor had earned a decent reputation despite his background and skin color. Kurun was taken off guard by witnessing an African in their camp, however he noticed how the other soldiers treated him and it seemed that foreigners were not as excluded as he thought.
"Chrono-san!" I could never get use to that. After Katomi Castle my life was almost in the ranks of a celebrity. Like a great sumo wrestler, I stood head and sholders over my comrades and was easy to spot. Also with my new rank, it made me slightly respectable. Though not everyone is accustomed to an outsider gaining a decent rank in the military, I get along with those who respect me and my decisions.
"Chrono-san! Come join us!" said Kaoja, he was a cheerful fellow who'd you never expect to be in the army. And alongide everyother Japanese person i've met, he can never say "Chronor" correctly. Nevertheless, I sat beside some of the most trusting fighter's i've ever had the honor to kill beside. Kaoja was one of the few warriors who survived the Katomi Castle ambush and even killed an Oni. The marking of his armor shows how many victories he's collected, and so far he has 3: two being war-related and one being of himself.
"Chrono show him your sword" he says. "Oh and tell the story as well. Somehow he keeps surviving with that old wooden thing, that he does and I never understand why." "Well had me a bowl of that wonderfull stew and I'll tell you how i survive."
Before the battle at the castle, i ran into a little trouble with the law and found myself and the wrong end of the sword. I was disillusioned and stubborn and being a nible swashbuckler, I escaped and was on the run. I trained with wooden sticks while hiding away in the forrest. I even became decently proficent! Well the law has a longer arm than expected and my luck was short. It turns out that i stopped 1 mile short of a ninja villege, that just got news of a bounty on my head. So i was on the run again. Fortunately there was a bit of hope.
A Jesuit stopped me and said he would hide me as long as i read this book. It had a picture of a cross and i knew where it was headed. But I was thinking, impending doom or Literature...hmm..and i chose the book. After reading the bible and attending their church service, I became saved. And began a mission to spread the word to other towns. Having left that night, the ninja stormed the church in search of me. They left slight mercy and slew all those who opposed them, including one rebellious teen who reminded me of myself. I traveled and trained all in revenge and joined the military. Luckily the bounty disapeared, after all it was only "threatening" someone's life!
I killed plenty on that day in Katomi, and having barely survived, I assumed God had greater plans for me. Ever since I swore never to kill again and ever since i've been using this Bokken.
"Hmm interesting story" says Kurun. Chitu interupts the conversation and says "it's made of Hick-kor-ri" He's fairly new to the English language and is pretty interested in the United States. Chitu is a fairly serious man who has a *dry* sense of humor. Kaoja and I often joke after battles and he comments about how sometimes he just wants to jump into the blade to dodge his wife...overall a depressing kind of guy. "Yes Hickory is from the United States, an interesting place over the Pacific" Kurun blended well into the crowd of warriors and we continued our conversation.
Grun
08-03-2005, 06:48 PM
If I misinterpret your character, just pm me and I'll change it.
"Once certainly finds all kind of people in the army" Kurun reflected between sips of tea. "I once met a man who never drunk tea, he ate the tea leaves, and then drank the hot water. The other soliders made a sport out of tricking him into drinking tea, but the minute he smelled the drink, he knew what it contained. Last thing I heard, he was quickly rising in the ranks as a food-taster. Well, more of a food-sniffer, but you get the idea." He leaned forward and poured some more tea. "But tell me, how come so many of you are wounded, I heard you had them outnumbered greatly."
Chrono swalloved a mouthfull of stew and took the word. "Not so outnumbering as you may think, Kurun, and with another disadvantage. At first, we, like you, thought we opposed a small army, but before we had even hit them, another army hit us from the mountain." He gestured to a squat mountain to their left. "Hit us with complete surprice. Lucky we had a smart man among us who ordered us to pull back. They followed, but when we hit the other slope, we turned. Now they were facing both us in a uphill battle, and the reserve troops. The ones who had come from the mountain soon broke and fled to the others down in the valley, but since they didn't have the advantage of surprise or fighting downhill, we had them beat."
"They did get quite a few of our people, though. I'm amazed they could muster so many people that quick. Well, only shows you, you never know what to expect." He leaned back and ate some more soup, apperantly finished with his story.
The sun was nearing the squat mountain Chrono had mentioned, and it's shadow neared the campfire. They moved closer to the warmt of the flames. Kurun held his warm tea-cup close and savoured the warm liquid. They put some big logs to the fire and brewed some more tea.
