Day 5, Event, EE: A Song Upon the Wind

[Koumori]

Since most have been locked inside of the inn for the day, and perhaps even the day after that, the noble Shosuro Zhuchong has taken it upon himself to begin-

"Story time, my dear fellows!" The overdramatic man sung out across the crowded inn room where many were sitting and grumbling to each other, cursing the foul weather. "We have a warm hearth and the utmost delightful weather for this sort of thing, so shall we being? Who is first? Who shall weave the first tall tale, or perhaps average tale? It doesn't have to be a story, either. Perhaps a song or a precious ditty upon some strings?" The blank stare of his moth mask looked around with what was likely too much enthusiasm given what was going on outside as he waited and waited.

[Shiba Yukari]

Yukari didn't keep him waiting long. The Phoenix stepped up with a smile.

"This isn't my usual venue, but..."

But it was her usual level of musical ability, a song which, by its sprightly tone, seemed to resist the fury of the storm.

[Ikoma Matisutou]

Matisutou nods along. What else is there to do, really?

[Daidoji Kenzo]

Kenzo reveled in the Shiba's performance and closed his eyes as he listened. As soon as she was finished the Daidoji offered enthusiastic applause and then stood up next. "I am not much of a storyteller but I have one I would like to share with you all if you will indulge me." He took a deep breath and closed his eyes then spoke.



Once there was a hawk who lived in a golden cage. Hawk’s lord was very wealthy so the cage was huge, half the size of this room and filled with everything the hawk could ever need. A large window allowed Hawk to look out over all the lord's lands and it never had to fear the larger birds that it was told would hunt it if it ever got out. Eagles and falcons swooped and dived outside the window, always watching the hawk in it’s perfect cage. But despite all the grandeur of it’s home Hawk had no room to fly and it’s wings grew weak.

Every day Hawk would ask the lord “Will I never be allowed to soar?” to which the lord would say, “It is too dangerous, better to sit here then risk the unknown. The world is large and cruel, you wouldn’t last a day on your own and the others will never accept you.”.

But Hawk was lonely, and it grew to hate the lord for caging it so. Many years passed and Hawk’s sorrow grew until one day the lord’s servants forgot to lock the cage after feeding Hawk. The cage door was heavy and it took all day for Hawk to push it open. With the door open before it the hawk stood, terrified of it’s next move. If the lord was right Hawk would never survive, eaten by the very things it wanted to be, but slowly it stepped out into the greater world.

It’s wings were weak but not broken and with great effort it hopped and flapped it’s way up into the window. As soon as it showed itself dark shapes dove towards it from the sky and the sun blinded it as it tried to see it’s death coming. But just before they reached Hawk the shapes stopped and hovered before it.

There were birds of every kind arrayed before it and all of them bore smiles. The largest eagle came to rest on the windowsill next to Hawk. “We have been waiting for you. It is hard out here but we can all help each other, will you join us?” the eagle said and Hawk was stunned, the death it had been promised hadn’t come but Hawk was wary. “Won’t you eat me, you’re so much bigger than me?” The eagle frowned and shook it’s head. “We have battled each other before and I cannot promise we won’t again but we need not eat each other when there is enough fish and sky for all. Before you ever need to worry about protecting yourself we will make sure you can. Please come with us, there is so much for you to see.”

Hawk wanted to trust the larger bird as they were alike but turned back and looked at it’s cage. “I do not think I can fly, it has been so long.” Hawk said. The eagle simply smiled and said, “you will again one day, until then we can bear you. Once you are ready you will soar higher than any of us.”

Just then the lord came into the room and saw Hawk had escaped its cage. The lord was enraged and demanded Hawk return to it, trying to shoo away the other birds. “Rest on my back and we can leave this place together or you can and return to your cage and never feel the wind.” The lord rushed across the room determined to catch Hawk but just before hands could grab him Hawk wrapped its wings around the eagle and the eagle dove off the high window.

Together they soared over streams and meadows, lakes and valleys until they reached the coast and the eagle set them down on a high cliff overlooking a vast ocean. “There is more beyond the blue for you to see one day, when you are ready you will see it all.” said the eagle.

Several years later the lord was walking through his keep. He looked tired and alone, shuffling about with no one to keep him company. When he heard the beating of many wings he turned to the window and was amazed by what he saw. “There is the man who tried to cage me.” Hawk said to its children. “See how sad he has become? The cage was beautiful and he made sure I never wanted for anything, and all it cost me was the ability to fly. Beware the cage my children, for the fear it instills cuts deeper than any talon or beak. And pity the man who builds it, for he is as trapped by it as you are.”

Hawk and it’s children turned and flew away and the old lord wept for what he had lost.

[Ikoma Matisutou]

Matisutou listens attentively to the tale, considering.

[Shiba Yukari]

Yukari cocked her head to the side as she considered the story.

Perhaps a bit autobiographical in some fashion?

When Kenzo had finished, she arched an eyebrow at him.

I could have helped, you know...

[Miya Akari]

Akari listened attentively. It was nice to enjoy a bit of entertainment. She sat quietly, enjoying a cup of tea and some fruit.

[Ikoma Matisutou]

Matisutou catches the Phoenix's expression, sees the Miya eating what looks like a light meal, nods slightly as if to himself.

[Doji Hanatsuko]

The Doji enjoyed a bit of tea. She nodded to the Shiba and the Daidoji. She wasn't going to present just yet for she didn't have a piece to present. She needed some time to think.

[Miya Akari]

Akari moved to sit next to Hanatsuko. "Good evening Doji-san. Enjoying the rain?"

[Doji Hanatsuko]

"Good evening Miya sama." She nodded to the Miya. "I am... but the wind is very disturbing."

[Miya Akari]

"It can get like that. I often imagine that Jikoju and Osano-wo argue about how strong the winds should be out here," she says with a chuckle.

[Doji Hanatsuko]

"Maybe is more like an all out war between the all the wind fortunes and Osano wo... Osano wo being the son of Hida might be a bit stubborn." Hanatsuko nodded.

[Shiba Yukari]

Yukari addressed the room.

"If anyone wishes for the air kami to illustrate a story or a song for them, let me know, and I will be happy to assist."

[Ikoma Matisutou]

The Ikoma's eyes snap over to the Shiba, brow furrowing slightly as if to ask about such openness.

But his face returns to neutrality swiftly enough.

[Miya Akari]

"Maybe is more like an all out war between the all the wind fortunes and Osano wo... Osano wo being the son of Hida might be a bit stubborn." Hanatsuko nodded.

"Yes, I imagine he would be the argumentative sort. Remind me not to get in a conversation with him. I can get pretty heated when I disagree with someone," she replied with a nod.

[Doji Hanatsuko]

Hana chuckled. "I think I am ready to help Shiba san out." As she stood up and walked over to the Shiba. "I will give it a try again, Shiba san. But this time I will join the kami with my voice."

[Shiba Yukari]

"Now that sounds like a fine idea..."

Yukari smiled and intoned the prayer again.

[Doji Hanatsuko]

The Doji cleared her throat and started to sing She seems to have an innate talent for the music as well. As the air kami showed the story of the forest and the goddess.

//Fluff sing using void+ Fluff sing exploding dice: 58

[Ikoma Matisutou]

Matisutou's attention finds itself fully focused on the Doji.

Fully.