ShovelKnight

Blades of the Shogun - The Island of Screams

I edited both IC posts to clean it up a little. Apologies, it was written at like 3am in the morning. Hope everyone’s week is going well.

Blades of the Shogun - The Island of Screams

S Y N O P S I S

Hider

• Five days ago, the Warriors of Kujin were given a scroll with the Shogun Lotus Seal, requesting their presence for an urgent matter. No knowledge is given as to who will be present for this meeting.
• Should they accept, they are to meet at a port city in the northeastern coastline called Odikawa, the morning after the Great Lantern Festival.
• Look for the House with the Silver Crescent Moon!

Blades of the Shogun - The Island of Screams

IC is up! Happy posting everyone

@Argetlam350@13org@Lugubrious@King Cosmos@Hashih@burnski

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Though the RP started, please continue finishing your sheets if you're still interested! We'll most likely stretch these intro posts until the weekend and move forward by 06/25 (Monday), which will be the deadline to turn them in. PM me if you have any questions or concerns.

@Afro Samurai@sassy1085@Scallop

Blades of the Shogun - The Island of Screams

Hachi Kano

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Odikawa Port City

The dawn of light was beginning to creep its way up and over the port city. This northeastern town was foreign to Hachi. He never even knew it existed until a week ago, when he opened a royal scroll and confirmed it with the courier that delivered it. Far up north from Kolat territories, nudged around a mountain range that snaked west into the lands of the Lotus, Odikawa was a quiet town that dealt with pirates more than civil wars. Hachi kept the scroll balled up in his pant sleeve. He uncrumpled it throughout the night, looking over the instructions the courier had written on its backside. He looked at it again.

Meet at the Manor with the Silver Crescent Emblem by sun rise.

Hachi, still tipsy from his sake-fueled night at the town's only watering hole, began his search. He eyed up and down every piece of architecture, but found no silver moon in sight. Checking off all of the buildings along the main street of the city, he lumbered his way over to the wharf. He'd stop every now and then, banging on doors to what he thought was the correct location, only to be shooed away with brooms and walking canes. Hachi was like a lost tourist oblivious to finding his destination. He hoped, at the very least, he’d get pointed in the right direction, but nobody seemed to know what he was talking about.

What useless fools! he thought. I’ll find it on my own!

And so he continued down the block, scaring the town folk as he searched for the house with a silver moon hanging on top of it.

Blades of the Shogun - The Island of Screams

C H A P T E R O N E:
T H E I N V I T A T I O N

Autumn of 1141UM


Inoue, Capital City of The Lotus

Taiko drums boomed, hyoshigi sticks clapped, and bells of all shapes and sizes rang throughout the city. Children run the streets with pinwheels, sparklers or Den-Den Daiko drums in hand, zigzagging through clusters of festive adults parading with joy. There were performers at every turn, each serving a slice of Kujin clan culture to the willful passerby. The Asagao archer wooed by juggling arrows with one hand, then quickly slotting and releasing each one from her bow, hitting targets painted along stacks of hay with theatric finesse. The Tsubaki Shadow Puppeteer reenacted a folk tale about the old fish and trickster eel, dazzling crowds with silhouetted creatures manipulated by enchanted candle light fixtures. The Lotus Kabuki danced to the contemplative rhythms of a Koto instrumentalist, dressed in vibrant colors, fabrics, and make up. He then sang a beautiful song about the end of war, and the reunification of Kujin as one family. The song is called, The Wind That Carries Our Ashes Home, written by Shogun Useugi Mitsuhide himself.

***

Miles and miles away from the festive splendor of the city, he sits in his fleeting carriage. Though he cannot hear the Kabuki, each chord and note echoes deep within his heart as he looks upon the starry night sky. He smiles at the stream of twinkling paper lanterns floating to the clouds. It is both a beautiful and somber sight to behold, for each lantern personifies a departed soul, and their numbers were vast enough to rival the cosmos.

Memories of a blood soaked war clap at his mind like distant thunder. The slain bodies and agonized faces of death try to claw out from his nightmares and into his conscious routine. But like always, Useugi remains unphased. Tonight, the people of Kujin celebrate unity, and perhaps survival. As the lanterns disappear into the moon's radiance, the shogun vows that the dead will not die in vain. Kujin will live on as a strong and prosperous nation. No matter the consequence.

***

Lotus Territory: Northeastern Coastline, Odikawa Port City

The shogun arrived by midnight. He slept through most of the journey, but the occasional pothole and whinnying of horses prevented any meaningful sleep. He was strongly advised against being transported in a thatchy farmer's carriage, but he insisted, for the royal lacquer of a shogun drew too much attention. He also refused an escort guard, so extra steps were taken to properly secure the route. Upon arrival at the undisclosed location, he was greeted by Unit Officer Nomi Masanori, who sheepishly bowed after mistaking the shogun and his carriage driver for lost peasants. It was to be expected. After all, Useugi wore a plain kimono with no emblem or design to implicate his status, and kept most of his face covered with a ragged wheat hat. The shogun laughed it off, but the man's behavior toward the lower cast didn't go unnoticed.

Nomi lead the shogun into a sectioned off manor that was right off the docks. From there, he met with Constable Saniro, the owner of this establishment, as well as a number of other key figures. Constable Saniro insisted the shogun make use of the manor's amenities after his long journey, but he went straight to the main living chambers. At the center of the room stood a large oak desk, maps, scrolls, and illustrations neatly organized along its edges.

"They will be arriving soon." The shogun said, making heads bow. "In the meantime we will make sure everything is in order."

Nomi Masanori bowed deeply, perhaps to still cower in shame from earlier. "Our Shinsengumi (secret police) have confirmed that the scrolls were all delivered five days ago. Most of the individuals you've requested are either en route or already in the city."

The shogun nodded approvingly. He reached over the pile of papers and grabbed a scroll. It was the original draft he wrote for the calligraphers to duplicate and send off to his invitees. He broke its wax lotus seal and unraveled it near the closest candle light.

"I dare not convey through fanciful words my most humblest request for your presence. It is with deep regret that I pry you from the greatest night of our lantern festival, but you are needed to maintain the peace we've worked so hard to achieve.

After reading this message, the courier will give you a package containing one block of gold. That is just a piece of the reward I am willing to offer you for the success of this mission.

The details will be expanded upon your arrival. Should you accept this invitation, the courier will tell you the exact time, date, and location of our meeting. If you refuse, please, take the block of gold as a gift.

Should you refuse after hearing the details of this mission, you will be rewarded for the inconvenience. We trust that regardless of your decision, the information you will acquire remains confidential."

Useugi stared at the waxed emblem stamped below the message, then threw it back on the table.

"Let us prepare."

Blades of the Shogun - The Island of Screams

I should have the IC up no later than tomorrow night.

Blades of the Shogun - The Island of Screams

The people have spoken!

The Kujin Compendium is free for you to add to the lore of our RP. To keep things organized, you'll make entries centered around your clan (or whatever group your character is affiliated with) and you can branch off to everything and anything surrounding that. This includes key members of clan or group, geographical locations, fighting techniques/dojos, fun pastimes and festive events specific to your clan or group, societal/cultural, etc.

Again, it's not a requirement to post in there but I do urge everyone to check it out. For starters, I added a timeline. You don't have to worry about knowing all of this, but it'll be useful to have an idea about what's been happening during the Sensou and Mitsuhide periods.

Let me know if you have any questions!

Blades of the Shogun: The Kujin Compendium

T H E H I S T O R Y O F M A G I C & A R T I F I C E S

Blades of the Shogun: The Kujin Compendium

G E O G R A P H Y

C U L T U R E & S O C I E T Y

Blades of the Shogun: The Kujin Compendium

T H E B L A D E E M P E R O R

T H E G R E A T C L A N S