Heavenfall

Ryoko had started to hear tell that this journey would be dangerous... which made sense. They'd be going near the Nezumi, and they were fierce and wicked slavers, so after all, it didn't hurt to be prepared for anything.

Thus, with Tonfa in hand, she worked through her exercises, punching, blocking, and then changing stance, all with affirmative 'huff!'s of air.

One, two, punch punch, block.

And so it went.

Having returned from the farmlands, Hanzou looked around for any remaining supplies that might be useful. The preparations that had been made by everyone throughout the day had been very thorough, but he was certain a few things had been missed. He would only need a little assistance.

The blade sliced easily through his flesh and he bled freely, like water. Hanzou's green eyes turned blue as he began to search.

Once he had what he was looking for, his curiosity drew him towards unfamiliar noises.

- - -
I hear there may be danger (LE, Day 1), Casting Water Kami's Blessing,TN 20, Affinity: 6d10o10k3 40 3 wounds taken

Packing for the Expedition, I hear there may be danger (LE, Day 1), Gathering the rest, Hunting (Survival)/Perception, 2 CR, TN 30, Water Kami's Blessing, VP +1k1: 9d10o10k4 33

"Huff! Haah!"

Ryoko turned, steady wide stance making her look a little bit like a Crab, punching out her arms, fingers wrapped around the handles of two ornately carved tonfa, painted soft red and white.

"Hyuff! Oh... You're hurt!"

She rose from the training stance, subconsciously glad to be done squatting... it built up the muscle but it sure was uncomfortable.

"Are you all right, Mister sir?"

Her concern was evident, and she looked about. "Did you have an accident?"

As one person with horns stopped her training, one with tattoos began his own. The man used no weapons, instead performing a series of routines that seemed as if they were based around different animals. There was a large lion etched into his chest that seemed to move subtly and separately from his own movements.

He was aware of the others, but did not yet speak.

Ongaku no Ryoko wrote: ↑

Thu May 21, 2020 11:37 am

She rose from the training stance, subconsciously glad to be done squatting... it built up the muscle but it sure was uncomfortable.

"Are you all right, Mister sir?"

Her concern was evident, and she looked about. "Did you have an accident?"

"Hmm? Oh, no. I'm screeee." he shook his head. "Just an offering to water, a scrichk for it's aid. I'll be fine."

He took a length of cloth from a small bundle he carried and wrapped it around his arm.

Ryoko's expression turned rather blank as she tried to process his comments.

All these other tribes were stranger than she had expected... just one day here in this stone house and she already had heard many strange things.

"I... you were doing that ghost offering? Yes? I will not worry then."

She sighed, and settled back into the uncomfortable training stance.

"I admit, I may never get used to the idea of hungry ghosts needing to be placated... the world is a scarier place than I had imagined..."

"Ghosts?" he looked around with alarm, drawing his small blade again. "I knew it was too skeesk here! With this many scrish people, there must be deaths all the time. Their spirits can't be happy. It's like walking around with you sceeee in a sack."

...

Ryoko was momentarily confused.

"Eto... if you weren't appeasing ghosts, I don't know why you needed to bleed... maybe the ghost speaker lady was part of a different way of handling ghosts?"

He shook his head. "I would never cheeech ghosts. The offering is for the elements. They are spirits, but not the kish."

She was baffled by the words he kept adding, but nodded uncertainly. "But... why would the elements need your blood?"

Back to practice, she punched the air. "Huh!"

"There is power in blood. Magic if you will." The tattooed man spoke up as the horned girl returned to shadow boxing. He studied her form with a smile.

"It is life... without it, one dies."

She scowled. "It seems a dangerous currency, to me."

"You are correct. Congratulations." With a pleasant smile he continued his own training.

"The elements are eek friendly." the boy added. "But, sceeet sacrifice is necessary for humans to show reverence."

"I see."

She quirked her head, not really understanding.

"Do they have... special words you use?"

"Any words can be special, friend. Context is key." He nodded to them both as he walked through some drills.

He shrugged. "krikt kami have a language. All spirits do. skyrrr they understand the way we speak."

"I... see."

She clearly didn't.

"Umm... I just wasn't sure, you sound sort of like you need to sneeze."

A pinnacle of tact and grace, Ryoko was.

The air around eek is pretty dry, but I'll be alright." He looked around again. "If there are krik ghosts here, however, we should help them."