Day 4, Late Morning, Open, Training even among savages

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

After a refreshing bath, Nobuyoshi heads to the barracks with two thoughts in mind. Running though his daily training exercises and kata, and seeing if the locals were preparing for war.

A dirt covered training yard....how rustic he thinks.

Still, practice needs to be had, and perhaps his kata will be impressive enough to draw out a curious local. Even if they didn't speak rokugani, perhaps something could be learned.

[Volsung]

The Training Yard had quite a few of the gaijin training. Three of them surrounded two others that were fighting back and forth inside of a metal ring that had been set into the ground. Others sparred either against another or one of the wooden stands that had been placed against one wall. Two were inside what looked to be a small shrine.

Many of the gaijin stopped and turned to look at the samurai as he walked into the yard, not with hostility as much as with curiosity.

Behind Nobuyoshi, a tall and lanky looking boy that serves as the Bayushi's translator is looking at all of this with curious eyes, trying to take in everything about the yard.

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

Step one: Grab tail. Step two: Never let go. Nobuyoshi thinks.

Despite it going against what he'd truly like to do, Nobuyoshi gives a polite bow to those who are paying attention to him. He looks for a small bit of ground where he can go through his kata practice without running into anyone.

He focuses for a moment, kata practice is all about focusing on the movements of the form, not thinking about being surrounded by armed gaijin.

Once he has his focus, he'll go into the forms, his style emphasizes speed, precision, and misdirection. His rhythm starts slowly, and then quickens. Precise strike, move, precise strike, move, dodge, precise strike, move, move, dodge, precise strike, precise strike. The tempo is unusual as the pattern repeats rarely, but it IS a tempo which goes faster and faster as he goes through it until he gets up to a blindingly fast pattern of strikemovedodgedogestrikemovemove....

Once he's finally satisfied that he's practiced his kata for the day, he'll look about to gauge gaijin reactions.

[Volsung]

As the Scorpion finishes his katas and looks around he notices very quickly that everyone is watching him. The fight at the rings has ended, those that were sparring are watching, even those at what looked like a shrine had come back out and were looking at him. The heimin translator was watchign everything, a grin plastered across his face.

There was little awe to be found in the stares. Curiosity was plainly obvious, but what else was certain was that they were examining this new foreign style. Eventually, one of the gaijin breaks formation and approaches Nobuyoshi. He places his hands in front of his chest and bows slightly then starts speaking smoothly in his native tongue. Once he is done, the translator brings attention to himself as he replies briefly, returning the bow of the warrior, though his hands are raised to his head when he does so. Then he turns to face Nobuyoshi.

"He says his name is Dhaval, of House Kosala. He was hoping to ask you about your technique. He and his fellows are really impressed." The boy was still grinning as he spoke.

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

Well there's step one. Nobuyoshi thinks.

Nobuyoshi bows respectfully to Dhaval. He then addresses Dhaval directly, assuming the translator will step in and provide the appropriate words, rather than speaking to the translator.

"That would be acceptable. Since you've seen a demonstration from me, would you be willing to give one in return, so I might better understand your questions? " Nobuyoshi asks politely.

[Volsung]

After receiving the translation the man laughs and walks towards Nobuyushi with a grin, his steel belt flashing in the sunlight. He stops 6 feet short of the Scorpion and speaks to him through the translator once again.

The lanky boy turns to Nobuyoshi again. "He says that you might be right, if you had asked for it before you showed your style for everyone to see. He says he'll be happy to show you what he can do, after you answer his questions."

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

Nobuyoshi nods.

"If one of your questions is, 'Who are you?', I apologize for not telling you right after you introduced yourself. I am Bayushi Nobuyoshi, Hohei of the Half Moon." Nobuyoshi offers with a bow. "What else did you wish to ask?"

[Volsung]

After a long exchange between the boy and the kshatriya the boy looks at the Scorpion again. "He says he doesn't know much about the ways of the Rokugani. And he's wondering if that is the common fighting style in your lands. And he wants to know what your mons mean, and why you've got that mask on."

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

Well those aren't exactly clan secrets.

"No, it's not a terribly common fighting style. It takes a great deal of training in being able to read your opponent, and to be able to react to what he intends to do, before he himself realizes it." Nobuyoshi explains.

"The mon on the back of the kimono is a gesture of respect to my clan, the Scorpion Clan. The mon on the right arm is the mon of my family, the Bayushi family, and wearing it there asks my ancestors to guide my sword arm."

"I wear a mask to honor my Clan's founder, Bayushi-kami, who also wore a mask to better serve his brother, Hantei-kami."

Nobuyoshi looks over this Dhaval.

"I am unfamiliar with the customs of your land, and do not know what House Kosala is, or if your people practice any similar customs." Nobuyoshi says.

[Volsung]

Apparently the translator is no great fighter himself as it appears some gets lost in the translation as the Rhuumali starts to look a little confused. He asks a few more of what sound like questions to the translater, who answers as best he can before looking back to Nobuyoshi.

"He says he can understand following the path of one's ancestors. His own house is founded on the discovery of new knowledge and following the teachings of the Buddha. Their founder lived by these traditions and they have kept them ever since. He doesn't much understand the idea of mons though. He asked why you need to display so many, erm, allegiances."

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

Nobuyoshi shrugs, not really bothered by the fact that the translator can't really pass along the meaning of combat techniques.

"It's not really that many, if I wished to I could display a personal mon as well." Nobuyoshi explains. "Nor need I display them at all, I could even wear colors other than my Clan's if I really wanted to."

"But it's more than simple respect to my ancestors. By wearing my clan's colors, any Rokugani knows whom I serve and if that makes me an ally or an enemy, even from a distance. The mons mean they can address me appropriately immediately, either as Scorpion-san, or Bayushi-san....or -sama depending on who's addressing me."

Nobuyoshi looks over the gaijin.

"How do you identify who is who in your lands without such?" he asks.

[Volsung]

The tall boy does his best to translate the Bayushi's words again. The Kshatriya chuckles and responded.

"Ummm. Well. He says that he don't wear things like clan colors because then his allies and enemies would know who he is from a distance. Says Kshatriya usually announce themselves. Though sometimes they wear the symbol of their city or lord when they're in a fight or the like."

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

Nobuyoshi chuckles.

"A very practical response, and truth be told, more people dislike the Scorpion Clan than like it. But better to be a disliked samurai than be treated as a ronin or a bandit."

Nobuyoshi considers the gaijin about him.

"Is the symbol they wear for their lord or city only worn when they're in actual battle, like a back banner?" Nobyoshi asks.

[Volsung]

After a round of translation, the boy turns to Nobuyoshi. "He says that the kshatriya are steeped in tradition, but that does not mean they are not practical, and that it's kinda like a back banner. They use it to make sure they know where they are and if they're surrounded by enemies."

The lanky boy takes a few steps backwards then. "He also said that he is going to demonstrate his own skill, as a thanks for answering his questions. So it might be a good idea to step back a bit."

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

Nobuyoshi bows, and steps back a bit to watch the gaijin demonstration.

[Volsung]

The gaijin takes a few steps back and places his hand on his steel belt. Then, in a flash of steel and sun, the belt is gone and in it's place is some horrific looking whip made of several tendrils of steel. The man spins the weapon about his head with a grace that is incredible to watch, and that the man does not slice himself to ribbons with the weapon is a testament alone to his skill. He almost seems to dance with the weapon, turning the demonstration into as much of a performance as weapon and wielder dance as one. After a minute, the gaijin comes to a stop, breathing a little more heavily than he had been before, the sharp tendrils wrapped around his waist loosely.

The Gaijin smiles to the Scorpion and says, in heavily accented Rokugani. "Good, yes?"

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

Nobuyoshi nods.

"A very difficult weapon to master, and quite a surprise to any who think you are simply wearing an obi." Nobuyoshi offers. "Does the weapon simply wound, or is it possible to entangle an opponent or an opponent's weapon with it?

[Volsung]

"Certainly has advantages." Dhaval nodded. "Still steel. Can't wrap enough for, errr, entangle."

[Bayushi Nobuyoshi]

Nobuyoshi nods.

"Also not a common fighting style, I take it? he asks, glancing around for more steel belts.

[Volsung]

There were few steel belts on the field, but he did notice another one or two of the weapons being carried, though not used at the moment.

Dhaval smiles and pats the weapon wrapped loosely around his waist. "Very few master the Urumi. As a weapon it is like an untamed tiger at first, as likely to strike the owner as it is the target. But once you have mastered it, the urumi is a faithful ally and a deadly tool."