Snagglepuss89

Moonscratch Chronicle; Cycle One

Hey, just letting you know someone caught the Interest Check post and is interested. Currently reading through the present characters/gathering what lore I can before starting mine.

•HAGAKURE•

"The entrance was more difficult than you remembered, the inn you promised us is nowhere to be found. I know drink is your mistress my friend, but perhaps this is a sign to love it a little less."

Hyōryū's tone gave no betrayal of whether he was being playful or critical, and the man had made no effort to dry himself since emerging from the creek. The wind would dry him in it's own time, after all. While he hadn't personally experienced the ape's love for drink first hand, he had caught more than a glimpse during their time together. Time in their cell together had passed over conversations of Sake. What region produced the best, was it better served to be drank in a bar or watching a distant sunset, was quality more important than quantity at the end of the day? The two always found wildly different answers to those questions, but it was clear both had a fondness for drink.

Hyōryū, for one, was sick of being dry, metaphorically speaking. Moreso even than he was sick of being chased, the longing for a drink was at that moment stronger than his longing for a bed. Taking a moment to lean on his walking stick, the man closed his eyes and focused on the smells of Nezumi. Almost immediately he was hit by the overwhelming stench of the place. It was a strange mix of garbage, opium, Human waste, and death. If it was not the worst experience his nose ever had, then it was a close contender. Still, behind behind it all was the smell of yakitori, carried on a breeze from the north. It was like stumbling across life in a barren wasteland. Almost of their own volition his feet began to carry him forward away away from the group.

"Follow if you want, the wind is guiding me. If it guides you in a different direction, let's meet back up at the entrance, eh?"

Without looking back at the group Hyōryū slung his massive staff across his shoulders once more and began making his way north through the streets. From his lips a listless whistle cut through the night air, his anticipation growing with each step. He didn't expect to find liquid gold in a what looked to be the slums of Nezumi, itself a massive slum practically, but he didn't have much of a mind to be picky right then either. Once he had found a drink in a bed, then perhaps he could concern himself with luxury. More important than that though, he could concern himself with putting this village as far behind him as possible.

•HAGAKURE•

Post will be here tonight, weekend ended up being a bad time to try.

•HAGAKURE•

Aye, still here. ETA on my next post is sometime around Friday/Saturday most likely. Tomorrow if I'm feeling inspired.

•HAGAKURE•

Had funeral stuff to take care of (Not mine, sorry), hence the OOC silence. Back now, and watched Ninja Scroll to get in the mood.

•HAGAKURE•

"Even normal villages these days seem to have bands of scavengers waiting to pick apart your purse with glee. I suspect if we show up with coin in our hand, we'll find rooms and a meal account for exactly every coin we have, plus one."

The man had his arms wrapped around his staff, secured behind his neck. Almost as if he were taking the time to rest and relax. Unlike the older man who traveled with him, he didn't need it as a tool to help him walk. Nor was he quick to offer his one prized possession to help the farmer out. The events of their escape had been... annoying, to say the least. Hyōryū was not accustomed to being herded about like livestock, however he couldn't say the chase was entirely unpleasant. Well used to travel for most of his life, the effects of the escape barely showed. More than that, his present company was interesting. It was a rare day that he had companions on the road, and it wasn't an unwelcome change.

A breeze gently surrounded the group, blowing back the way they came, and evoked a scowl from the man. Circumstances permitting he never liked to move against the wind, but they were caught between a rock and a hard place at the moment.

"The wind blows away from this place, I would rather find a floor to sleep on as quickly as possible before moving on. Getting my throat slashed in an argument over sake isn't much more appealing to me than mining away the rest of my days."

Not that he minded the thought of getting a bed for the night, especially if it was the woman's money they were going to be spending. He himself was poor enough already though without the town's friendly 'caretakers' deciding that his own meager coin purse was suffering from a case of mistaken ownership. That, and he doubted there were any potential students in the place worth pursuing. Truly, it was going to serve as the low point in his travels. Even moreso than the Shōka festival had turned out to be.

His eyes drifted between the woman's outstretched hand and the sword at her side. Perhaps he could rely on her for both money and defense, it would certainly be a nice change of pace not having to fight or open his own coin purse. In all likelihood she was just a pampered upper-class noblewoman with a sword for show and no tolerance for life on the road, needing a bed to sleep at night and having more coin than a normal person could hope to spend. However, he did have his doubts. It would be a massive coincidence, but in his travels along the coast he had caught word of a woman who was said to be renowned with a blade, and shared an uncanny likeness with his new companion.

There was a higher chance of the wind blowing a petal back to the flower it came from.

•HAGAKURE•

Madanami Hyōryū - Disciple of the Wind

Name

Madanami Hyōryū - Disciple of the Wind

Age

30

Totem

Snake

Appearance

Hyōryū embodies the tall and thin archetype. He has never met a man he had to look up at, and rarely anyone of equal height. Still though, in spite of his shear vertical size the man looks as if a strong breeze could blow him over. The life of a philosopher does not demand great strength, nor can always supply adequate nutrition every day. He wears plain clothes, and aside from his coin purse the only thing he seems to carry with him is a staff as tall as he is. Scars quite clearly made by blades adorn his face, hinting that he has been through one or more violent encounters in his day. This though is the only hint at all at first glance that the man would be anywhere near a fight should one break out.

Personality

Like the wind, Hyōryū's personality embodies his teachings. He is free with his emotions, most of the time going around adversity like a gentle breeze, unbothered and uncaring about the current situation. When that breeze turns into a storm however he lets his anger blow freely over those around him. He follows his own pursuits, the embodiment of a free spirit. Often times this is knowledge, spending the little time he has between traveling and hunting for students to read up on local lore and history. This could also be a curiosity of the taste of the local brandy, or interest in how the local fishermen catch the local breeds of fish. Whatever he has an interest in at the time will inevitably drag him into a new adventure for the day.

The path of least resistance is the path of the wind- and his devotion to this is indistinguishable from laziness. He began following his master in order to leave a life of working hard in a career he didn't want. He has, as a result, found himself happier as an adult than he ever was a child; Firmly cementing his belief in his masters' teachings. This does not mean he never has a desire to lend a hand- and Hyōryū will seek to do anything he desires- but it does mean more often than not he will leave you to chop the firewood while he goes to catch an extra hour of sleep.

Fights for Hyōryū are more often than not a distraction. Local bandit 'guardians' trying to take a fee from him to enter town, samurai who took special exception to his teachings, prison guards trying to stop him from escaping. Years upon years of travel have forced him into fights he would rather avoid altogether, but also honed his skills to the point where making quick work of a thug becomes easier than trying to avoid them. Hyōryū will always choose the easier option.

History

As a child, Hyōryū had always been the willful sort, quicker to ask forgiveness than permission. His parents were merchants with no small amount of wealth, and tried to groom him all his life to either take over their business or find a position even greater. He was an intelligent child, and they dreamed of him becoming a minister for one of the Shoguns, or even one of the daimyō. Having no interest in either of these things, he took every chance he could to escape from his tutors and wander the town until he was caught- and of course punished once again.

One day however he met a new face on one of his excursions, an old man reeking of booze who had quite literally been thrown out of a bar right in front of him. For a moment they sized each other up, before the older one finally spoke:

"You look like a smart kid, would you like to be my student?"

Hyōryū was surprised, but as impulsive and willful as ever. His current studies would lead to a life of boredom, and a change would certainly be welcome. With some hesitation, he answered the man with a nod.

"Ah good, now how much money do you have on you?"

Money? On him? Absolutely none. Sneaking out earned him punishment enough, let alone adding theft on top of it. The man, his eyes glistening with hope, slowly turned sour as realization came over him that he would not be getting anything out of Hyōryū. With a sigh, he picked himself off the ground and dusted off his clothing, ruffling the boy's hair as he began to pass by.

"Fine then, a free lesson; Go where the wind takes you."

A breeze followed the man as he passed by, and with very little hesitation Hyōryū followed after him. Go where the wind takes him? Even a boy as young as he knew how useless that advice was to anyone, far too general and applicable to anything. It was like telling a warrior "Don't die" before going into battle. Still though, there was a... resonance within him. He already did what he wanted in life, if this man could teach him more, maybe how to truly achieve that, then perhaps he would be a more worthwhile teacher than his parents could hire.

They walked with each other until they reached the edge of town, when the man finally turned to regard him once more.

"Look, you don't have any money right? Stop following me, I only take on students with cash."

"I'm not following you, I'm going where the wind takes me."

With a laugh as his only reply, the two began their journey across the continent. A twelve year old boy and a man approaching his fifties- certainly an odd pairing. Studying under his master was nothing like the studying he did back home. Almost every lesson was taught as an experience, wisdom coming in patches over years. When a storm threatened to capsize their boat he was taught of the wind's fury. When a newborn cried in it's mothers arms he was taught of the wind's love and gift of life. Laughing was the wind in your lungs sharing in your happiness, and a gentle breeze along the road was the wind guiding you towards where you truly wanted to be. One day, the wind blew them in separate directions, and Hyōryū took it upon himself to teach others what he had learned from his master.

He lived a comfortable, if often bruised, existence this way, until his most recent student turned out to be the son of the local Shogun. Very displeased upon learning what the rumored "Way of the Wind" was like, he was labeled a conman and thrown in prison to rot away.

Fortunately for him though, the wind blew away from his jail cell, and he chose to follow it to freedom.

Strengths

The Gentle Breeze and the Raging Hurricane - In most combat situations Hyōryū moves fluidly around the battle, his staff affording him great versatility and even greater reach when combined with his already substantial height. When calm he prefers to disarm and disable his opponents, or pass by them and avoid a battle altogether. However, when angered any pretense of the above fades, and fluid motions are replaced with an unrelenting offense. A flurry of attacks from all directions with his staff that carry enough force to shatter bones. Once the Hurricane is unleashed, what Hyōryū wants is for you to die, and he will do everything in his power to achieve that.

A Steady Wind - While unreliable, Hyōryū is level headed in almost any situation. His philosophy grants him a stress-free outlook on life and way of thinking. Decisions are easy to reach when you always choose to do what you want to, and should the wind blow against him he'll simply go with the flow rather than fight the gust.

Tsukishima Travel Guide - Hyōryū has been all over the continent, and though he never stays in one place for long he always tries to learn as much as he can about the area before leaving. It has given him a staggering level of knowledge about the land, and ironically he could probably become one of the best tutors available if he taught anything other than the Way of the Wind

Weaknesses

Where the Wind Goes - Getting Hyōryū to go where you want him to, or need him to, or stopping him from going where you don't want to is nearly an impossible task. Once he has decided to leave for another place it takes the wind itself changing to stop him.

Fickle Breeze - To go along with the above, he is notoriously unreliable. Come up with the perfect plan to take down the bad guys? He could easily change his role halfway through if he feels like it. Or perhaps even follow you halfway across the continent despite totally not being your student just because he feels like it.

Philisophical Couch Potato - While Hyōryū sometimes wants to lend a hand and help out- more often than not he really doesn't want to do any work. Mules are easier to convince than he is when he's feeling lazy, or rather not feeling productive.

Violent Disinterest - He has no desire to kill most people, so in most cases does not. A wounded and shamed enemy can be a very dangerous one indeed, and he has numerous scars to show for why leaving someone alive is a bad idea.

Likes

Sugary Foods
Local Festivals
Small Talk
Storms

Dislikes

Being Indoors
Loud Noise
Self Righteousness
Being Broke

•HAGAKURE•

Hah, at first I misunderstood you as meaning you had PM'd people and thanked them and was quite disappointed. I'll send you a PM to begin working out the details, I assume they were sharing a cell before their escape.

Somewhat Generic Fantasy-Setting Adventuring RP with extensive setting...?

Tentatively interested, I also can't say for sure without seeing the rest of the setting. I do like that you won't be playing a character, I think a hands-off GM is the best way to RP.

•HAGAKURE•

I had to read that about ten times to find the mistake, it looks so natural.