Princess Uroki
05-20-09, 03:57 AM
(OPEN, four players please.)
"Shishi-O was the katana of the celebrated samurai Yorimasa, who earned it as a reward for slaying a demon dwelling within his emperor's palace. The origins of the weapon remain a mystery, but rumors suggest a court mage or a nature spirit forged it. Tales of the sword tell of the great strength and ferocity it bestows upon its wielder, and some stories hint the blade gave its owners dominion over beasts and birds, or even the ability to transform into a lion to do battle
In the twilight of his life, Yorimasa witnessed a terrible event. The emperor to whom the aging samurai had been a loyal servant died, and a new sovereign took the throne. The new emperor was a spiteful, heartless man, a tyrant who sought to crush all beneath his heel. Yorimasa, who had been a great hero since his youth, took up the famed Shishi-O and gathered his retainers to fight the wicked emperor's forces.
The outnumbered rebels inevitably met their ends at the bridge of Uji, where Yorimasa and his companions made a valiant stand. Yorimasa, unable to face death in combat, fell on his own sword before he could be captured. One of the venerable samurai's loyal retainers decapitated him. That noble person, whose name is now lost to time, then threw the head, and Shishi-O into the river, so the emperor's lackeys could not claim the celebrated weapon, nor parade Yorimasa's head through the streets."
Uroki bowed her head, indicating the tale was done. It was her favorite tale, The legend of Shishi-O and Yorimasa. Her father had told it often when she was small, and her brother had taken over the telling when their honored father had passed away. Today was Uroki's first time telling the tale, but she had no money, and had offered the service in exchange for a meal and aa bed for the night.
Her audience applauded and the innkeeper inclined his head. "You tell your tales well for such a young woman. "
"Arigato gozaimasu." She replied, bowing to him. He placed a cup of tea on the counter for her, and she drank deeply. No one would guess the reason she was here in Uji, that she had come for Shishi-O, and for the honor it would bring to her family's temple.
Arigatou Gozaimasu - Thank you very much
Shishi-Lion
Note: Legend of Yorimasa and Shishi-O Copyright Weapons of Legacy - Bruce R. Cordell, Kolja Raven Liquette, Travis Stout
"Shishi-O was the katana of the celebrated samurai Yorimasa, who earned it as a reward for slaying a demon dwelling within his emperor's palace. The origins of the weapon remain a mystery, but rumors suggest a court mage or a nature spirit forged it. Tales of the sword tell of the great strength and ferocity it bestows upon its wielder, and some stories hint the blade gave its owners dominion over beasts and birds, or even the ability to transform into a lion to do battle
In the twilight of his life, Yorimasa witnessed a terrible event. The emperor to whom the aging samurai had been a loyal servant died, and a new sovereign took the throne. The new emperor was a spiteful, heartless man, a tyrant who sought to crush all beneath his heel. Yorimasa, who had been a great hero since his youth, took up the famed Shishi-O and gathered his retainers to fight the wicked emperor's forces.
The outnumbered rebels inevitably met their ends at the bridge of Uji, where Yorimasa and his companions made a valiant stand. Yorimasa, unable to face death in combat, fell on his own sword before he could be captured. One of the venerable samurai's loyal retainers decapitated him. That noble person, whose name is now lost to time, then threw the head, and Shishi-O into the river, so the emperor's lackeys could not claim the celebrated weapon, nor parade Yorimasa's head through the streets."
Uroki bowed her head, indicating the tale was done. It was her favorite tale, The legend of Shishi-O and Yorimasa. Her father had told it often when she was small, and her brother had taken over the telling when their honored father had passed away. Today was Uroki's first time telling the tale, but she had no money, and had offered the service in exchange for a meal and aa bed for the night.
Her audience applauded and the innkeeper inclined his head. "You tell your tales well for such a young woman. "
"Arigato gozaimasu." She replied, bowing to him. He placed a cup of tea on the counter for her, and she drank deeply. No one would guess the reason she was here in Uji, that she had come for Shishi-O, and for the honor it would bring to her family's temple.
Arigatou Gozaimasu - Thank you very much
Shishi-Lion
Note: Legend of Yorimasa and Shishi-O Copyright Weapons of Legacy - Bruce R. Cordell, Kolja Raven Liquette, Travis Stout