Arashi Kogoeshinu
Established
The winds guide me...
Roleplay posts: 15 
Age: 18
Physical Description: Born into the cursed family of the Kogoeshinu, the youngest of five. Arashi had also been cursed with magic powers, just like her older brother Kaen. Her powers manifested in the control of wind, making her able to manipulate the arrows she shoots. Her eyes are a very icy blue, almost white, reflecting her abilities. She still trains daily to gain more control, though nobody should find out.
Registered: Aug 17, 2017 5:29:54 GMT -8
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Post by Arashi Kogoeshinu on Aug 17, 2017 11:00:41 GMT -8
"Normally I would, but it is hard to focus when my big brother is around." she gave him a wink. Her face would sink a little bit when he called her elegant and graceful as if the words stung her in some way. She didn't want to ruin their moment, however, and pushed it away and forced a smile onto her face again.
Outside the rain had calmed down a slight bit more and she looked to already see the sun peeking slightly through the clouds. The little raindrops on the leaves were shimmering in the light and the world seemed even more beautiful than it normally did to her.
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Kaen Kogoeshinu
Committed
Roleplay posts: 68 
Age: 27
Registered: May 23, 2017 23:35:01 GMT -8
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Post by Kaen Kogoeshinu on Aug 17, 2017 11:33:16 GMT -8
Kaen shrugged,"It seems not even my sister is immune to my charms." Kaen laughed more as he put away his swords and fashioned them to his hip. "I've been meaning to ask. How did you find me it took me 4 years to get here. Granted I traveled" he grabbed a gord and drank some sake out of it.
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Arashi Kogoeshinu
Established
The winds guide me...
Roleplay posts: 15
Age: 18
Physical Description: Born into the cursed family of the Kogoeshinu, the youngest of five. Arashi had also been cursed with magic powers, just like her older brother Kaen. Her powers manifested in the control of wind, making her able to manipulate the arrows she shoots. Her eyes are a very icy blue, almost white, reflecting her abilities. She still trains daily to gain more control, though nobody should find out.
Registered: Aug 17, 2017 5:29:54 GMT -8
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Post by Arashi Kogoeshinu on Aug 17, 2017 11:44:51 GMT -8
"The wind brought me to you!" she smiled, before bursting into a giggle. "Nah, I followed my instinct. I didn't know where you went, you never told me, never contacted me. Yet you were the one I wanted to see the most when Father told me I was to never return. I thought you might have sought out Kojuro-kun. Only when someone in town confirmed it to me I could be sure." she said. She strung another arrow and this time shot it without using her magic, it hit the bullseye.
"Talking about those charms, I have seen no girl following your every move. Have you robbed anyone's heart yet Nii?" she said in a teasing voice.
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Kaen Kogoeshinu
Committed
Roleplay posts: 68
Age: 27
Registered: May 23, 2017 23:35:01 GMT -8
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Post by Kaen Kogoeshinu on Aug 17, 2017 12:17:24 GMT -8
Kaen chuckled and sat on the porch looking out into the rain. He smiled, "To be honest it was Genji-Sama that summoned me." He drank some more sake.He sighed sadly, " I am sorry for not contacting you, I didn't want father to hate you too.."
Kaen waved his hand, "Not yet my dear sister. The brothels! Maybe"
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Arashi Kogoeshinu
Established
The winds guide me...
Roleplay posts: 15
Age: 18
Physical Description: Born into the cursed family of the Kogoeshinu, the youngest of five. Arashi had also been cursed with magic powers, just like her older brother Kaen. Her powers manifested in the control of wind, making her able to manipulate the arrows she shoots. Her eyes are a very icy blue, almost white, reflecting her abilities. She still trains daily to gain more control, though nobody should find out.
Registered: Aug 17, 2017 5:29:54 GMT -8
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Post by Arashi Kogoeshinu on Aug 17, 2017 12:46:50 GMT -8
"Well, that didn't work very much. Father didn't like me to start with. But I was still a daughter of the Kogoeshinu clan. So I could still be useful to him in my own maiden ways." she sighed and let herself fall down on the floor, easing her fall at the last moment with the wind.
"Nii-san!" she gave him a playfull push when he talked about the brothels. "You should have a proper lady, you are handsome enough." she chuckled.
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Kaen Kogoeshinu
Committed
Roleplay posts: 68
Age: 27
Registered: May 23, 2017 23:35:01 GMT -8
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Post by Kaen Kogoeshinu on Aug 17, 2017 13:10:14 GMT -8
Kaen shrugged, "Father treated me as a tool til the magic showed itself." He took a big gulp and motioned for her to come closer. He sighed a heavy sigh, "I'm a Ronin. Handsome or not it's a title game and I lost mine." He patted her head "least you don't have to get married to some fat snobby merchants son." Kaen laughed again, "I'd rather be homeless."
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Arashi Kogoeshinu
Established
The winds guide me...
Roleplay posts: 15
Age: 18
Physical Description: Born into the cursed family of the Kogoeshinu, the youngest of five. Arashi had also been cursed with magic powers, just like her older brother Kaen. Her powers manifested in the control of wind, making her able to manipulate the arrows she shoots. Her eyes are a very icy blue, almost white, reflecting her abilities. She still trains daily to gain more control, though nobody should find out.
Registered: Aug 17, 2017 5:29:54 GMT -8
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Post by Arashi Kogoeshinu on Aug 18, 2017 0:06:59 GMT -8
TO that she sat up right and hugged her knees, pulling them up to her chest. "Father didn't mean to make me marry a fat snobby merchant son though," she said while her lip started to tremble softly. "He said I was too pretty to be wasted, I could be a good wife and was very wanted among the nobles." She paused taking a few deep breaths to control her emotions, looking towards the sunlight streaming through the rain.
"His name was Shizu, we had been engaged for a year now. At first I wasn't sure about him, but eventually, I fell madly in love. He was kind and sweet, made me feel like a princess." she giggled even though her eyes were glittering with the wetness of her tears. "Of course that is not going to happen now... Father is going to cancel the engagement... Maybe even promise him to my older sister. Her last engagement didn't go well."
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Kaen Kogoeshinu
Committed
Roleplay posts: 68
Age: 27
Registered: May 23, 2017 23:35:01 GMT -8
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Post by Kaen Kogoeshinu on Aug 18, 2017 0:37:55 GMT -8
"I was to be married once. It didn't work out. Father thought it best for me to aim higher, so he broke it off." He sat closer to her,"I am sorry you had to deal with that, Ara-chan." He sighed more, putting his hand out to feel the cool rain that was starting to pick up again. "Mother would have never allowed any of that. Hard to believe she's been dead for 15 years." He took off necklace he hides under his kimono. Hands it out to her, "It was mother's. Gave it to me before she died."
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Arashi Kogoeshinu
Established
The winds guide me...
Roleplay posts: 15
Age: 18
Physical Description: Born into the cursed family of the Kogoeshinu, the youngest of five. Arashi had also been cursed with magic powers, just like her older brother Kaen. Her powers manifested in the control of wind, making her able to manipulate the arrows she shoots. Her eyes are a very icy blue, almost white, reflecting her abilities. She still trains daily to gain more control, though nobody should find out.
Registered: Aug 17, 2017 5:29:54 GMT -8
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Post by Arashi Kogoeshinu on Aug 18, 2017 0:42:29 GMT -8
She forced herself into a smile like she always did. Arashi never allowed herself to dwell in emotions, she had to stay positive to herself or else she feels like she might break apart. "I will find someone else right? I am pretty enough." she giggled slightly, though it didn't seem very genuine.
Only when he talked about their mom again she looked up. "I don't remember her... I was 2 years old. I don't know her face, I don't know her voice. For me it is like she has never been there, just father." she took the necklace from him and took it in her hands, rubbing her thumb over the pendant. "It is beautiful."
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Kaen Kogoeshinu
Committed
Roleplay posts: 68
Age: 27
Registered: May 23, 2017 23:35:01 GMT -8
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Post by Kaen Kogoeshinu on Aug 18, 2017 0:54:07 GMT -8
The necklace is an uncut ruby, the top dipped in silver and hung from a silver chain. "We are the masters of our own destiny my dear sister. You could even try another girl!" Kaen laughed genuinely and winked playfully. "Its fun to experiment."
"I don't talk about her much but.. She was incredibly kind. Acted not as a noble but as a person who cared.. After her death father changed."
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Arashi Kogoeshinu
Established
The winds guide me...
Roleplay posts: 15
Age: 18
Physical Description: Born into the cursed family of the Kogoeshinu, the youngest of five. Arashi had also been cursed with magic powers, just like her older brother Kaen. Her powers manifested in the control of wind, making her able to manipulate the arrows she shoots. Her eyes are a very icy blue, almost white, reflecting her abilities. She still trains daily to gain more control, though nobody should find out.
Registered: Aug 17, 2017 5:29:54 GMT -8
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Post by Arashi Kogoeshinu on Aug 18, 2017 1:03:13 GMT -8
She now genuinely giggles at him. "I know for sure what Kojuro-kun and Nii have been up to lately. Experiment huh?" she smiled still looking at the necklace.
"I wish I had known her." She handed the necklace back to him. It held no importance to her. She hadn't known her mom, so she didn't need an ornament that was about her.
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Kaen Kogoeshinu
Committed
Roleplay posts: 68
Age: 27
Registered: May 23, 2017 23:35:01 GMT -8
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Post by Kaen Kogoeshinu on Aug 21, 2017 0:49:30 GMT -8
Kaen laughed "I cannot confirm or deny such things Ara-chan." Remember when you were younger and Kojuro and I would sneak out and come back reeeal late? We would get drunk off of Sake.. I'm not sure what I did those night...."
"I remember bots and pieces." He sighed putting it back on.
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Arashi Kogoeshinu
Established
The winds guide me...
Roleplay posts: 15
Age: 18
Physical Description: Born into the cursed family of the Kogoeshinu, the youngest of five. Arashi had also been cursed with magic powers, just like her older brother Kaen. Her powers manifested in the control of wind, making her able to manipulate the arrows she shoots. Her eyes are a very icy blue, almost white, reflecting her abilities. She still trains daily to gain more control, though nobody should find out.
Registered: Aug 17, 2017 5:29:54 GMT -8
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Post by Arashi Kogoeshinu on Aug 21, 2017 1:19:26 GMT -8
She giggled too. "I knew you were both up to something those nights. Dad would be so mad at you both, but you would just go again the next time you found yourself able too. Koojuro-kun and Nii were always up to mischief." she remembered it, though she was too young back then to have understood the depth of what they had been doing. She only knew she had been very mad that she was never allowed to come along with them.
She noticed the sigh though. "Not all fun and games Nii?"
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Deleted
Roleplay posts: 0
Registered: Nov 21, 2024 12:18:21 GMT -8
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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2017 16:29:46 GMT -8
All that morning, Tika spent time working with the two on the basics. Anzen Hizashi was the primary target of instruction, as her formal experience with the blade was possibly much less than Kojuro's or Genji's. There would be times where Kojuro could possibly shine, showing her by example how best to follow Tika's instructions as they'd be similar to his own when he was a child. They covered the barest of basics that were usually taught starting very young and were often shrouded in ritual.
To draw the longer katana from its position at the hip, she would explain while demonstrating with her own blade, the right arm making a simple pulling motion--while intuitive--would not be sufficient to clear the kissaki from the scabbard. Instead, the sword's point would find friction against the wooden inside of the saya once most of the blade was exposed. Tika explained that continued pressure or bad form trying to draw like this would cause the kissaki to bite into the wood of the inside of the scabbard and eventually crack it, causing extremely expensive and possible irreversible damage to it.
To counter this inevitability, she emphasized the importance of sayabiki. Anzen would learn that this was an important mechanic of the drawing motion. This time, Tika drew her sword into a graceful arc before her. However, she demonstrated that both of her arms were working in unison--one drawing the sword, but the other pulling the saya backward in obi, a motion often hidden by the excitement and speed of the katana's often flashy quick-draws, but necessary to facilitate it all the same. By opening with both arms moving in opposing directions, the sword's blade became exposed in about half the time it took to draw from the arm, and the possibility of the weapon stabbing the inside of the sheath on its way out (by virtue of its length alone) had been effectively mitigated. Anzen received ample instruction to practice this regardless of the length of her slightly-shorter kodachi, because as a member of a samurai family, she expected Lord Genji would want her comfortable wielding all swords by building a solid core foundation in muscle memory.
Tika spent about a half hour on this, given that her students would need to drill this a few times in repetition. Once she became satisfied with progress in the "smoothness" of their draws, she moved onto grip. This was a simple few minutes of explanation, where emphasis was made on gripping the sword tightly with the pinky and ring fingers and holding progressively weaker down the hand. Having a tight grip near the pinky and a loose grip at the thumb and forefinger provided a long, handheld stick-like object a much greater range of motion in both wrists than a thoroughly tight grip would allow.
Once that was done and over with, she covered the concept of noto, or resheathing the sword. This, in and of itself, would be worth whole months of lesson material, given its various complications. Tika explained how there were many different styles of chiburi, or the removing of blood from the sword, but that such a thing would be covered in future, more focused lessons. For this day, she covered only the scenario of returning a sword to its scabbard without having cut any targets. This involved sliding the mune (spine) of the sword down its length while it rested upon the koiguchi (scabbard opening). From this motion, the kissaki would drop into the scabbard's opening and she'd pull both the sheath and the sword back together again with both hands. From the look of it, reducing the need for the fingers to guide the sword and keep it atop the saya without it falling off would take much practice in muscle memory (practice Kojuro most likely had a good deal of), and to this she made emphasis because Anzen would be expected to be able to instinctively put away her razor-sharp sword without looking at where its point is going. This was an important aspect of training with the sword that simply could not be skimmed over, because as Lord Genji had entrusted her to teach a member of a ranking samurai family on use of a weapon, it was to be assumed that one day, she may find herself in a battlefield scenario. For Anzen to be able to draw and put away her sword instinctively while keeping her eyes on the situation rather than her sword, she'd mitigate a major timing of weakness that could be taken advantage of (Tika felt it necessary to remind her that a samurai is expected to be, as is typical sentiment, "ready at all times").
They had barely scratched the surface of the basics, but they were basics Tika had to learn before she was even allowed to begin sparring as a child. Every aspect of these minuscule details breathed the threat of death on a potential battlefield and the numerous ways that could happen in a not-actually-dueling manner, and hopefully Anzen was beginning to see how the training was not just about sparring competence, but of good muscle memory and situational awareness.
Then, afternoon arrived. Because this was the first lesson, she felt she needed to cover everything very briefly to gauge where their strengths and weaknesses lay. Because of that process, this would not simply be a slow, child-like progression into an increasingly less-cryptic world of swordplay. Tika had to dive right into the more exhilarating, competitive aspects of training at some time today, and so after covering basics and some repetitions, both would be instructed to retrieve a wooden bokken from the wall. Their swords would remain at their hips.
Both students would be instructed to face one another. Stance, style, all of that would be covered later. Tika was simply here to observe, now, and explained to Anzen not to feel alarmed at the lack of actual combative teachings yet before starting a practice bout--this was simply to figure out where their strengths and weaknesses were. She stood beside the two and backed up several paces.
"And now bow..... good, very good, now take your stance. You may begin."
All the while she remained unaware herself of the fox outside the dojo floor, because she was so strongly focused on teaching, worried if they were absorbing it all instead of simply staring through her. Ironically, teaching made her feel like a student again... to the last time she ever felt so self-conscious. She did her best not to appear incompetent and not letting her soft voice waver, trying to get her words to flow comfortably from her older memories and presenting them in a manner that seemed instructional and competent... Unbeknownst to the others, a tiny woman had been watching from the shadows. Pana dared not enter out of tradition but her small size made it easy for her to watch silently. She had always wanted to try swordsmanship, but was never given a chance. They don't make weapons for halflings, they're not even people. And surely her owners wouldn't let a slave handle a weapon out of fear of them being attacked. She had to rely on her magic, a shunned practice, to survive and even that was lacking. She sighed and looked down. Nothing but self-deprecation. She didn't think of herself as an equal to any of the people here, physically or otherwise. There'd be no way Tika would allow her to enter and train. Then again, she did save Pana on the road that one time. Had it not been for her, Pana would sure be dead. Pana did make an oath to work for Tika to repay her debt however she could. Perhaps learning the blade would help in that endeavor? In her trance, she had begun pacing a little and exposed herself to anyone looking to the window at the time, moving in and out of view as she circled in thought on what her next move was. She wanted to leave the island as soon as she could out of fear of being beheaded, but she also wanted to learn swordsmanship from Tika. Her thoughts were as loud as her footsteps and she shuffled along the wooden exterior. |
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Tika Seya
Committed
Roleplay posts: 78
Age: 19
Physical Description: Long raven hair, blue eyes, and an average build. Soft features.
☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼
Clothes and Equipment:
A pink kimono is accented by the red trim of her lower hiyoko layer, an ornamental display of feminity in what was otherwise a men's cut of garb free of the constrictions of traditional female clothing. A white obi holds a single katana to her left hip. Zori sandals and white socks. Her hakama trousers were the deep color of violet, with a display of light rosey flowers bedazzling the hem of the left leg.
Her sword, Hikari-no-Kazu: http://i.imgur.com/P6AzAI8.jpg
Registered: Apr 25, 2017 20:44:32 GMT -8
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Post by Tika Seya on Sept 2, 2017 20:20:06 GMT -8
Inside, Tika had been spending her hours training with all who'd come to her. Naturally, students and practices were limited to those who had access to the Hizashi family manor, placing the dojo in an elite and noble status. Intimidating as that might seem to many, no restriction applied to Pana, a visitor who seemed to exist in a sort of legal grey area. Over time, it was likely Pana would become accepted as a denizen of the residence, even if she wasnt frequently engaged.
Tika, of course, recognized Pana from that fateful day. Be it Kojuro, Anzen, or the many others, she had just finished practice with her regular students for the day. Today practice had been scheduled to end a little early for reasons she felt no place to be asking, and this left her mostly occupied with sweeping the floor when she noticed Pana outside.
Tika went out to greet her, bowing respectfully to her as one might do for a long lost friend.
"Oh, hey... How have you been?"
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Deleted
Roleplay posts: 0
Registered: Nov 21, 2024 12:18:21 GMT -8
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2017 20:29:39 GMT -8
Jumping at the sight of someone noticing her, Pana recoiled a little before relaxing and bowing hastily.
"Oh, um...good. I've been good." She said, immediately going silent for a bit. She didn't feel like mentioning not being able to find work, a home, or any source of income. After an awkward amount of silence, she spoke up.
"Um, Miss Seya....I-If it isn't too much trouble, could....could I join your classes for training?"
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Tika Seya
Committed
Roleplay posts: 78
Age: 19
Physical Description: Long raven hair, blue eyes, and an average build. Soft features.
☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼
Clothes and Equipment:
A pink kimono is accented by the red trim of her lower hiyoko layer, an ornamental display of feminity in what was otherwise a men's cut of garb free of the constrictions of traditional female clothing. A white obi holds a single katana to her left hip. Zori sandals and white socks. Her hakama trousers were the deep color of violet, with a display of light rosey flowers bedazzling the hem of the left leg.
Her sword, Hikari-no-Kazu: http://i.imgur.com/P6AzAI8.jpg
Registered: Apr 25, 2017 20:44:32 GMT -8
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Post by Tika Seya on Sept 2, 2017 20:59:14 GMT -8
Admittedly the request was not what she expected. She knew Pana to be shy, perhaps moreso even than herself. Yet Tika did not appear to be taken aback, and even smiled at the prospect of working with Pana.
"I am not sure what the Hizashi will think..."
She was aware of the ritualistic nature of the culture, the rigid caste system, and and the fact that typically only samurai were given a proper curriculum on the use of swords. Normally, it was against the law for other castes to wear the blade... but the law only applied to the long sword - shorter blades were acceptable among travelers, in particular merchants, and Pana wasn't exactly big enough to wield the longer katana with any sort of real efficiency.
From this, Tika mentally extrapolated a loophole through which she could train Pana. After a pause of consideration, she replied.
"Yes... If you are devoted to the practice, I will be happy to help you."
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Deleted
Roleplay posts: 0
Registered: Nov 21, 2024 12:18:21 GMT -8
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2017 21:04:19 GMT -8
She smiled. It was an unusual sight for sure, but hearing Tika agree to it was the best news all day.
"Really? Thank you, Miss Seya! I-I figure I need to learn how to fight if I'm to fend for myself." She said as she approached the entrance. "And I need to learn how to fight without my magic. Do you have time now? What would be the first thing? I watched your previous lessons from the window if that helps."
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Tika Seya
Committed
Roleplay posts: 78
Age: 19
Physical Description: Long raven hair, blue eyes, and an average build. Soft features.
☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼
Clothes and Equipment:
A pink kimono is accented by the red trim of her lower hiyoko layer, an ornamental display of feminity in what was otherwise a men's cut of garb free of the constrictions of traditional female clothing. A white obi holds a single katana to her left hip. Zori sandals and white socks. Her hakama trousers were the deep color of violet, with a display of light rosey flowers bedazzling the hem of the left leg.
Her sword, Hikari-no-Kazu: http://i.imgur.com/P6AzAI8.jpg
Registered: Apr 25, 2017 20:44:32 GMT -8
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Post by Tika Seya on Sept 2, 2017 21:34:38 GMT -8
"That's good.. because what you witnessed were the basics. Before we begin, we become familiar with bowing into and out of the dojo... Of showing respect to the sword, how to wear it properly, and how to conduct ourselves during practice. Please, lets step inside."
Tika led Pana back into the dojo. She removed her sandals and bowed at the edge of the pristine training floor. She expected Pana to do the same. As Pana was bowing in, Tika retrieved a wooden sword of a length befitting of her halfling partner. To most others, the wooden sword represented the shorter kodachi, but to Pana, it may as well have been a representation of the katana.
"When you were watching, you saw us pay respects to the sword, yes?"
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Deleted
Roleplay posts: 0
Registered: Nov 21, 2024 12:18:21 GMT -8
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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2017 8:13:32 GMT -8
She nodded.
"Yes, and I understand the traditions. I was required to understand them at my previous owner's." Pana said as she entered. Tika would notice Pana actually didn't have shoes or sandals to remove, as she had been barefoot since the day they met.
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