paradisalost | Legend of the Infinite Realities

[ A man of perhaps 35 or 40 years of age comes to on the bank of the duck pond. The morning is awake with the dulcet tones of the cranes, the sweet flutterings of the hummingbirds - ambience the man can only hear because of his sensibility of nature's blessings. He gets to his feet, appeased by the beauty around him, but unsure of where in the vast Empire of Rokugan he comes from the winds of fate have seen fit to deposit him.

He bears vaguely Asian features, and sports a samurai haircut, with his daisho - the two swords emblematic of the samurai class - at his waist. The most notable thing about him, however, is his state of dress. He is adorned with a lavish kimono woven of the finest fabrics to be found anywhere. His kataginu, the jacket worn over his robes, is of a handsome silk dyed in a deep emerald green. On his sleeves and back is a circular symbol: a blooming chrysanthemum flower. Anyone familiar with Rokugani customs will recognize this as the symbol of the Imperial Families, marking the stranger as a samurai of the highest prestige; not some wandering ronin seeking cheap coin. ]

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[Raiden's heading back up to the castle after his session at the shooting range when he spots the lavishly-dressed man. He looks like something out of "Seven Samurai... Raiden thinks as he approaches him. He recognizes the slightly confused look on the man's face, as he once wore it himself, when he arrived. He also recognizes the daisho on the man's hip, signifying him as a traditional samurai. He'll incline his head politely, remembering that it was the Japanese thing to do, before he speaks.]

Hello there. You look a little lost. I'm guessing you're new here?

[ A surge of irritation wells up within Tashime: this barbarian forgot to introduce himself! He may wear the armor of his caste, but his manners are nowhere to be found. Surely he meant no offense; perhaps he is from outside the civilized reaches of Rokugan. A savage he may be, but his intentions could still be pure. The samurai stops himself from returning the rudeness, and instead offers a curt bow. ]

Konnichiwa! Seppun Tashime, hatamoto to Seppun Katsura, at your service. You speak the truth: indeed I am lost, though I know not the direction back to the capital city. Surely you can lend aid to a Seppun magistrate?

I'm Raiden. Unfortunately, I can't help you find your way home. This is a place called "Paradisa". It's like...a parallel world. One that draws people in, and won't let them leave. I'm trapped here same as you, Seppun-dono.

[He shrugs as if to apologize, and gestures up to the castle.]

Most of the people trapped here like we are live up there. It's a little extravagant, but it's shelter nonetheless.

[ The shock subsides quickly for Seppun Tashime. Long had he expected, even craved due penance for his failure to rescue Tamori Shaiko's innocent soul. Now the heavens had deigned to send him here, to Paradisa: a purgatory realm in which he might prove himself worthy of the swords he presumes to wear. ]

A parallel world. I have heard of such things, but have never actually encountered one personally. Am I to request lodgings in the castle?

[So far, Tashime's reaction had been similar to his own. Shock, and grudging acceptance. Though in Raiden's case, he didn't have anything to pay penance for that he could remember.]

Neither had I, until I came here. There's already a room in the castle with your name on the door, and there should be a hardcover journal around here with your name on it, as well. It allows us to communicate in different part of the castle. You can speak into it, and other people can hear you, or read what you've said on the page.

[Raiden would show you his journal, but he avoids it as much as he can. He doesn't like "magic" very much.]

Somewhere around here...?

[Tashime's eyes search the ground carefully for the artifact. The grass is well trimmed, too orderly to offer concealment for an object of any substance. The only problem is that when looking for a "journal," the magistrate automatically assumes it would take the form of a scroll. It is not until he finds nothing that he dispenses with this assumption and points to the shallows near the bank where he first came to. ]

Is that it?! It's ruined!

[ He runs over and reaches gingerly to retrieve the soiled tome without drenching his kimono. All is for naught, though, as he overestimates his reach and topples forward. Ka-SPLOOSH! Quacking fowl go fleeing in every direction. ]

It'll be fine. The journal's are ridiculously resilient, despite how they look.

[When Tashime falls into the duck pond, however, Raiden can't help but laugh. This man was every bit a noble, right down to protecting his clothes. He doesn't laugh for long, however, before he jogs over to help Tashime out of the pond. He'll reach a clawed hand out to help the soggy samurai out of his predicament. For him, picking up someone of Tashime's weight was easy.]

Legend of the Infinite Realities

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