We did it, Ettoku! We saved the city!
Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2015 3:20 pm
Kalernin awoke in the small makeshift camp he and Ettoku-sensei created. His head rest on his sweater he placed on the ground, rolled up for maximum comfortability. He wasn't gonna sleep with his head on a rock, now was he? They made a small lean-to of a few conifers that were destroyed by the previous night's storm, laid against a cliff face, to shelter them from the harsh rains brought upon by the Rainy Season. In the area where the least bit of water penetrated the camp sprawled a fire, quite large in size, though not quite a bonfire by most standards. Even during this time of year, the temperatures were harshly cold, and could bring a chatter to one's teeth. The only thing Kalernin kept strapped to him during the night was his kris at his side, firmly convinced nothing that would pose too much of a challenge would appear. He was even more convinced that it'd be difficult to find them way out here in the country, in the foothills of the eastern portion of the Hokkyou Range, a few dozen miles north of the Azuma River Delta, in a portion of the forest where the trees are most dense.
Speaking for the both of them, they were both rather exhausted from the mission they'd just endured regarding the Jidokami, the barbarian tribes to the north. They were sent on a mission of diplomatic means, which, to Kalernin, seemed strange, because they know what his idea of diplomacy was; kick and scream and shout, perhaps throw a few chairs until you get your way. They were sent to a tribal council member to get the okay to establish a small military presence near the edge of their territory, get ahead of the game before suspicion is aroused.
The peoples were very reluctant to accept this deal, in fact, some in the area were vehemently against it. They figured it was a plan to gain their trust, and then set up bases in the Hokkyou, and near the Cradle near Lake Hinomoto, which they heralded as sacred to their peoples, and seize land bit by bit, or drive them out of their lands. Or worse: Assimilate them. Kalernin thought Ettoku sensei dealt with the situation masterfully, far better than he would have. In fact, Kalernin only seemed to speak when nodding in agreement or reinforcing a point his Sensei had made. However, things did go south.
A couple of the tribespeople got rowdy, and, well, things looked like they went from 100->0 really fast. For a moment, it looked as if Kalernin WAS gonna have to throw a chair or two. A fourteen year old shinobi against a council of warrior tribesman. Would have been a sight to see, their third degree burns would. His confidence is way too high for his own good, and he knew it. But he cared not to fix it.
The deal did get done, and with more lucrative results than hoped for, but it doesn't mean they didn't have to hightail it out of there.
Kalernin sat up from laying down, feeling a bit dizzy, perhaps from doing so too quickly. He looked around and found Ettoku-Sensei nowhere in sight. The Sun wasn't anywhere to be found in the sky, but he could discern that from heat that penetrated the thick clouds that it was about nine AM. He arose slowly, groaning and stretching as he did so, cracked his neck and walked over to the fire. He picked up a pan they took with them, and began cooking some ramen. Hunger is more than likely the most dangerous thing in the wild, he figured. Plus, why go out searching or hunting on an empty stomach?
After they came to a boil, Kalernin feasted upon his breakfast in record time. Literally, he times himself sometimes when eating. This time, he beat his own mentally recorded record of fifty-seven seconds with a time of forty-nine seconds today. He stretched once more as he stood up again, and walked out of their camp. He was still a good fifty to sixty feet above the rest of the valley that stretched out in front of him. Trees, trees, and more trees. The occasional deer and bear were running through the forest, too, but he'd rather not disturb the wildlife. There was a winding path headed around the cliff face, so he figured that was the best place to start. First, he deduced he should secure the camp. He grabbed the rest of his equipment, put on his hoodie, and left once more. He returned about five minutes later with more coniferous planks of wood to add to the lean to, which he placed along the cliff face, and took out a few dozen pieces of obsidian chips, and placed them along the pieces of wood where people would grab the wood to move it for a bit of security. Kal then headed west toward the path, and began trekking it, to begin the search for Ettoku-Sensei
Speaking for the both of them, they were both rather exhausted from the mission they'd just endured regarding the Jidokami, the barbarian tribes to the north. They were sent on a mission of diplomatic means, which, to Kalernin, seemed strange, because they know what his idea of diplomacy was; kick and scream and shout, perhaps throw a few chairs until you get your way. They were sent to a tribal council member to get the okay to establish a small military presence near the edge of their territory, get ahead of the game before suspicion is aroused.
The peoples were very reluctant to accept this deal, in fact, some in the area were vehemently against it. They figured it was a plan to gain their trust, and then set up bases in the Hokkyou, and near the Cradle near Lake Hinomoto, which they heralded as sacred to their peoples, and seize land bit by bit, or drive them out of their lands. Or worse: Assimilate them. Kalernin thought Ettoku sensei dealt with the situation masterfully, far better than he would have. In fact, Kalernin only seemed to speak when nodding in agreement or reinforcing a point his Sensei had made. However, things did go south.
A couple of the tribespeople got rowdy, and, well, things looked like they went from 100->0 really fast. For a moment, it looked as if Kalernin WAS gonna have to throw a chair or two. A fourteen year old shinobi against a council of warrior tribesman. Would have been a sight to see, their third degree burns would. His confidence is way too high for his own good, and he knew it. But he cared not to fix it.
The deal did get done, and with more lucrative results than hoped for, but it doesn't mean they didn't have to hightail it out of there.
Kalernin sat up from laying down, feeling a bit dizzy, perhaps from doing so too quickly. He looked around and found Ettoku-Sensei nowhere in sight. The Sun wasn't anywhere to be found in the sky, but he could discern that from heat that penetrated the thick clouds that it was about nine AM. He arose slowly, groaning and stretching as he did so, cracked his neck and walked over to the fire. He picked up a pan they took with them, and began cooking some ramen. Hunger is more than likely the most dangerous thing in the wild, he figured. Plus, why go out searching or hunting on an empty stomach?
After they came to a boil, Kalernin feasted upon his breakfast in record time. Literally, he times himself sometimes when eating. This time, he beat his own mentally recorded record of fifty-seven seconds with a time of forty-nine seconds today. He stretched once more as he stood up again, and walked out of their camp. He was still a good fifty to sixty feet above the rest of the valley that stretched out in front of him. Trees, trees, and more trees. The occasional deer and bear were running through the forest, too, but he'd rather not disturb the wildlife. There was a winding path headed around the cliff face, so he figured that was the best place to start. First, he deduced he should secure the camp. He grabbed the rest of his equipment, put on his hoodie, and left once more. He returned about five minutes later with more coniferous planks of wood to add to the lean to, which he placed along the cliff face, and took out a few dozen pieces of obsidian chips, and placed them along the pieces of wood where people would grab the wood to move it for a bit of security. Kal then headed west toward the path, and began trekking it, to begin the search for Ettoku-Sensei