pholkhero
Deviant Mind
The blood-red light of the setting sun leaked through the cracks in the slated roof of the small hut. Laying there, on a tattered bedroll, was an aged man. He was ancient, his long beard that was once a bright black was now a mottled gray, and his robes were so old there were worn in more than a few places. Beside the man, kneeling on the floor, was a young woman. She sat there, her head in her hands, her shining blond hair falling about her shoulders. She was murmuring quietly to herself as the mans eyes fluttered open.
As his lids rose, the man focused on the young woman there above him. He gently reached up, and pushed her hair back behind her ear. His movement startled her, and she momentarily fell back.
Grandfather, she said. Im sorry that Ive woken you.
You have not woken me, Young One, he smiled at her. I have woken myself. I have something to tell you.
Hush, Grandfather, hush, she implored. Save your strength.
No, dear. This is something I need you to know, before I die.
Grandfather! Please dont talk like that. Youre just . . . sick.
The old man chuckled. One thing you could never do very well, Young One, is lie. I suppose that comes from your family line. I am dying, but I am not dead yet, and so you will sit there and listen, one last time, to the ramblings of this old man. His mock command was tempered by another gentle smile.
The woman settled herself back to sit completely on the floor, and looked expectantly at the man. I must tell you a story, Young One. A story of how we came to be here, living among these people, these Egyptians. I have told you before, when you were younger, that your parents had died shortly after you were born. He didnt wait for her to nod, but continued on. What I didnt tell . . . could never bring myself to tell you . . . is that . . . Young One, your family was murdered. A gasp escaped the lips of the woman, and her face blanched at the information.
Im sorry that Ive never told you this. I didnt know how. I wanted to spare you the pain, but you need to know the truth . . . for your own safety. You true Grandfather, Tokugawa, was hero among his people. When he was young, his land was ruled by an evil, evil Emperor whose cruelty was only surpassed by his sadistic imagination. Your grandfather led a revolt against this man, led six others, in a fight to rid their land of such an oppressive power . . . and they succeeded!
All your grandfather wanted to do at the time was to return to his quiet village life, and life out the rest of his days with his wife and newborn son. Sadly, his so-called allies would not allow this. They sought vengeance on Tokugawa for the people all over the land loved and adored him, while they feared the others. And so, these sons of dogs plotted. They sent assassins to kill your Grandfather.
He was out that night, settling a dispute amongst the people, when the assassins arrived at his home. Fearing discovery if they waited for your grandfather, they found his wife and infant, quietly sleeping in their beds. These pigs slaughtered them where they slept! Even now, the anger rose to his face, coloring his cheeks despite his failing strength.
Your grandfather returned that night to this horrible scene. His cry of grief shattered the tranquility of the village, and shattered the peace of the land. For days, he and the other villages wailed in mourning, the women beating their breasts and tearing at their hair. And yet, beneath his grief, a quiet anger glowed hotter than the fires in the smith. And so began the Great War. Your father gathered his warriors and formed an army. Unfortunately, his one-time comrades in arms were prepared well in advance. Their armies were innumerable, and they swarmed on us like insects in the field. The brave people held out as long as they could.
I was with your father, that night, when the armies were advancing on our last outpost. The previous night, our enemies had come, demanding our surrender, and delivering the heads of Tokugawa and his 2 other sons (from a new wife). Their messenger was killed, and his body fed to our pigs. I was proud of him that night, and ready to die with him, but he had a more sacred task for me: protecting the Blood of Tokugawa. At this, the old man looked up at the woman.
At first I protested, but your father insisted that he could trust no other, and so I accepted that great honor. We left that night while you slept, your mother weeping as she fastened you to my back. Looking into her eyes, seeing her sadness, I was almost forced to stay. But there, awakening morning, I could see the smoke of thousands of campfires a days march from the city. I knew, if the Blood of Tokugawa were to survive, I must flee.
We traveled for almost a week, moving once the moon rose, and laying down to sleep as dawns rosy fingers crested the horizon. On the morning of the second night, I saw it. Those same campfires I had seen approaching the town, were now IN the town. I knew, then, that I held the last of Tokugawas heirs. Fear pushed me onward with you. I couldnt stop for fear our enemies were just behind us, and the hope that salvation was just over the next ridge.
On the morning of our sixth day, we were discovered. Lucky for us, it was a tribe of people friendly to your father. They took us in, fed and sheltered us for many moons. But I knew such solace would only be short-lived, as long as we stayed in the old lands. And I was proven right. The Enemies of Tokugawa did indeed find us. They came upon the tribe, and demanded that they turn us over or they would lay waste to the entire clan. In an effort to shield you, Dear One, I began to go out to them, to offer myself up in your stead. As I walked, a was felled by a blow from behind. When I awoke, you and I were on a raft, adrift in the sea. We had provisions to last us for many, many days, but I knew the price those villages paid; they gave themselves up rather than let you fall into the hands of the enemies.
We were adrift for many days. I did my best to conserve our food, but I feared we would die together on that craft, a failure to my Daimon. And then, as morning came, I saw the most wonderful thing: land! I was afraid this was a mere illusion, a trick played on me by the sun and lack of food. But it was not! Our raft beached itself near the mouth of a narrow river, in a small rice patty. I summoned my remaining strength, and pulled the raft as far inland as possible. Exhausted, I collapsed next to you, and slept.
I was awakened by your cries of dismay. Instantly, I opened my eyes to take care of you, but found you in the arms of an oddly-colored woman. Around her, surrounding the boat, was a handful of equally odd-colored men. We had finally arrived at your new home, Young One. You know the story of how the Egyptians took us in, treated us as their brothers, and yet the knew nothing of the Emperor, nothing of your Grandfather or the Great War which killed him. Finally, I thought, we were safe.
And yet, I fear for your safety now that I will not be there to watch over you much longer. The Enemies of Tokugawa are many and crafty. They know they did not kill his bloodline, and they will not rest until they do. Im sure they have agents even in this far-away land, looking for you, looking to finish the job they started decades ago. And so, you must be wary, Young One. You must learn to fight, and you must learn to lead. I have seen it, in my dreams, Young One, though I have never told you. I have seen you, riding horseback, your hair whipping in the wind behind you as your troops cheer behind you: The Golden General!
The night sky was just beginning to lighten to purple when the young woman emerged from the hut. Hes gone, was all she said as she moved quickly past the gathered villagers. Tears were stinging her eyes, as she broke into a run. Ive got to get out of here, Ive got to get out of here, was all she thought as she sprinted as fast as her legs would carry her towards the rising sun. She ran until she was out of strength, and as she approached the jungle, she collapsed in a heap. She lay there, alone, on the edge of the jungle, and cried herself to sleep.
Several hours later, the young womans eyes swollen and bloodshot from her sadness, she woke up to see the noonday sun high overhead. My family, she thought to herself . . . murdered. And now, what? Me, a leader of men? A general?? And the enemies of Tokugawa, here?!? For me?? Nonsense, she thought to herself, nonsense . . .
As his lids rose, the man focused on the young woman there above him. He gently reached up, and pushed her hair back behind her ear. His movement startled her, and she momentarily fell back.
Grandfather, she said. Im sorry that Ive woken you.
You have not woken me, Young One, he smiled at her. I have woken myself. I have something to tell you.
Hush, Grandfather, hush, she implored. Save your strength.
No, dear. This is something I need you to know, before I die.
Grandfather! Please dont talk like that. Youre just . . . sick.
The old man chuckled. One thing you could never do very well, Young One, is lie. I suppose that comes from your family line. I am dying, but I am not dead yet, and so you will sit there and listen, one last time, to the ramblings of this old man. His mock command was tempered by another gentle smile.
The woman settled herself back to sit completely on the floor, and looked expectantly at the man. I must tell you a story, Young One. A story of how we came to be here, living among these people, these Egyptians. I have told you before, when you were younger, that your parents had died shortly after you were born. He didnt wait for her to nod, but continued on. What I didnt tell . . . could never bring myself to tell you . . . is that . . . Young One, your family was murdered. A gasp escaped the lips of the woman, and her face blanched at the information.
Im sorry that Ive never told you this. I didnt know how. I wanted to spare you the pain, but you need to know the truth . . . for your own safety. You true Grandfather, Tokugawa, was hero among his people. When he was young, his land was ruled by an evil, evil Emperor whose cruelty was only surpassed by his sadistic imagination. Your grandfather led a revolt against this man, led six others, in a fight to rid their land of such an oppressive power . . . and they succeeded!
All your grandfather wanted to do at the time was to return to his quiet village life, and life out the rest of his days with his wife and newborn son. Sadly, his so-called allies would not allow this. They sought vengeance on Tokugawa for the people all over the land loved and adored him, while they feared the others. And so, these sons of dogs plotted. They sent assassins to kill your Grandfather.
He was out that night, settling a dispute amongst the people, when the assassins arrived at his home. Fearing discovery if they waited for your grandfather, they found his wife and infant, quietly sleeping in their beds. These pigs slaughtered them where they slept! Even now, the anger rose to his face, coloring his cheeks despite his failing strength.
Your grandfather returned that night to this horrible scene. His cry of grief shattered the tranquility of the village, and shattered the peace of the land. For days, he and the other villages wailed in mourning, the women beating their breasts and tearing at their hair. And yet, beneath his grief, a quiet anger glowed hotter than the fires in the smith. And so began the Great War. Your father gathered his warriors and formed an army. Unfortunately, his one-time comrades in arms were prepared well in advance. Their armies were innumerable, and they swarmed on us like insects in the field. The brave people held out as long as they could.
I was with your father, that night, when the armies were advancing on our last outpost. The previous night, our enemies had come, demanding our surrender, and delivering the heads of Tokugawa and his 2 other sons (from a new wife). Their messenger was killed, and his body fed to our pigs. I was proud of him that night, and ready to die with him, but he had a more sacred task for me: protecting the Blood of Tokugawa. At this, the old man looked up at the woman.
At first I protested, but your father insisted that he could trust no other, and so I accepted that great honor. We left that night while you slept, your mother weeping as she fastened you to my back. Looking into her eyes, seeing her sadness, I was almost forced to stay. But there, awakening morning, I could see the smoke of thousands of campfires a days march from the city. I knew, if the Blood of Tokugawa were to survive, I must flee.
We traveled for almost a week, moving once the moon rose, and laying down to sleep as dawns rosy fingers crested the horizon. On the morning of the second night, I saw it. Those same campfires I had seen approaching the town, were now IN the town. I knew, then, that I held the last of Tokugawas heirs. Fear pushed me onward with you. I couldnt stop for fear our enemies were just behind us, and the hope that salvation was just over the next ridge.
On the morning of our sixth day, we were discovered. Lucky for us, it was a tribe of people friendly to your father. They took us in, fed and sheltered us for many moons. But I knew such solace would only be short-lived, as long as we stayed in the old lands. And I was proven right. The Enemies of Tokugawa did indeed find us. They came upon the tribe, and demanded that they turn us over or they would lay waste to the entire clan. In an effort to shield you, Dear One, I began to go out to them, to offer myself up in your stead. As I walked, a was felled by a blow from behind. When I awoke, you and I were on a raft, adrift in the sea. We had provisions to last us for many, many days, but I knew the price those villages paid; they gave themselves up rather than let you fall into the hands of the enemies.
We were adrift for many days. I did my best to conserve our food, but I feared we would die together on that craft, a failure to my Daimon. And then, as morning came, I saw the most wonderful thing: land! I was afraid this was a mere illusion, a trick played on me by the sun and lack of food. But it was not! Our raft beached itself near the mouth of a narrow river, in a small rice patty. I summoned my remaining strength, and pulled the raft as far inland as possible. Exhausted, I collapsed next to you, and slept.
I was awakened by your cries of dismay. Instantly, I opened my eyes to take care of you, but found you in the arms of an oddly-colored woman. Around her, surrounding the boat, was a handful of equally odd-colored men. We had finally arrived at your new home, Young One. You know the story of how the Egyptians took us in, treated us as their brothers, and yet the knew nothing of the Emperor, nothing of your Grandfather or the Great War which killed him. Finally, I thought, we were safe.
And yet, I fear for your safety now that I will not be there to watch over you much longer. The Enemies of Tokugawa are many and crafty. They know they did not kill his bloodline, and they will not rest until they do. Im sure they have agents even in this far-away land, looking for you, looking to finish the job they started decades ago. And so, you must be wary, Young One. You must learn to fight, and you must learn to lead. I have seen it, in my dreams, Young One, though I have never told you. I have seen you, riding horseback, your hair whipping in the wind behind you as your troops cheer behind you: The Golden General!
* * * * * *
The night sky was just beginning to lighten to purple when the young woman emerged from the hut. Hes gone, was all she said as she moved quickly past the gathered villagers. Tears were stinging her eyes, as she broke into a run. Ive got to get out of here, Ive got to get out of here, was all she thought as she sprinted as fast as her legs would carry her towards the rising sun. She ran until she was out of strength, and as she approached the jungle, she collapsed in a heap. She lay there, alone, on the edge of the jungle, and cried herself to sleep.
Several hours later, the young womans eyes swollen and bloodshot from her sadness, she woke up to see the noonday sun high overhead. My family, she thought to herself . . . murdered. And now, what? Me, a leader of men? A general?? And the enemies of Tokugawa, here?!? For me?? Nonsense, she thought to herself, nonsense . . .
Otherwise, anyone is welcome to play.
please: for horses) and Pottery unless something interesting happens, or head for Archery if we don't have either of our resources.
