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Feb 12, 2015 18:39:08 GMT -7
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Post by Miyamoto Kenji on Mar 22, 2014 12:44:55 GMT -7
(( OOC: I know. Weird, huh? ))
Once more, Kenji stopped to ponder. Left or right... Seemed to be a pattern in this dungeon in regards to all the lefts and rights. He pulled out a yen and flipped it, catching it in his palm and looking down to see what side it ended up on.
Heads.
So, the merc pocketed the coin and headed left. Later down the path, he'd turn right, then proceed straight.
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Post by Miyamoto Kenji on Mar 22, 2014 12:40:28 GMT -7
It seemed as if Hideyasu was gradually yielding. Kenji simply nodded in return, looking up at Odawara Castle as well. "If you say it's not the right time, I'll believe you. When that time comes, however, you should be ready to act swiftly and decisively," he recommended, then turned his gaze back to the shinobi. "I don't know what I can do, but I'm more than willing to help you leave. That is entirely up to you, however."
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Post by Miyamoto Kenji on Mar 21, 2014 23:56:43 GMT -7
If imposing limitations makes things more fair, I'm good with that. I'd rather like to keep the things I've currently collected in my dungeon run, though, if that's alright. Whether in-progress runs have these new limitations imposed from next post on is up to staff, and I'll respect their judgement, but... >_> I do kind of really want my current stuff.
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Post by Miyamoto Kenji on Mar 21, 2014 17:28:58 GMT -7
Kenji opted to take the forward path, following the right turn while remaining on his guard. Once again, not many thrills.
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Post by Miyamoto Kenji on Mar 21, 2014 14:37:30 GMT -7
"I think I understand... I'm sure you'll turn out to be an admirable Daimyo then, Takehiro-san." Kenji offered his new friend a smile and nod, then continued to chow down on his meal, pondering over what to discuss next. He could perhaps talk about the man's plans, but that might turn this encounter into a business meeting, something Kenji was trying to avoid, especially given his current contract. Maybe talk about Takehiro's abilities? No, that'd be impersonal, and prying... What the hell could he make conversation over?
Eventually, Kenji settled on what he felt was a fairly mundane topic. "You said you were a mercenary before becoming a liege lord. Have you seen any interesting things in your travels and work?"
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Post by Miyamoto Kenji on Mar 21, 2014 14:32:08 GMT -7
Another chest? Kenji's luck continued to be positive. He looted it, then exited the dead end and proceeded down the middle right path (or the next closest one).
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Post by Miyamoto Kenji on Mar 21, 2014 14:03:08 GMT -7
Kenji made it a point not to look down on anyone, even if they were the lowest of the low. He might compare his actions with another and find that his made more sense or seemed more moral, but he tried never to hold himself above his fellow man. However, he found that looking at the gathered collective of Imagawa soldiers, drunk both literally and metaphorically off of their numerical superiority, repulsed him. The merc disliked the idea that he had to fight these men, because it felt like a gimme instead of a real battle.
Still, they were the enemy, and a less than appealing one to boot, so Kenji put aside his feelings and steeled himself for a long battle, adrenaline already beginning to flow through his veins as he charged alongside various factions' soldiers into the armory, Yawarakai-Te and masterwork katana both drawn and singing in practiced unison as he tore into the Imagawa ranks. He prioritized offense, cutting down the sloshed troops, but made sure to watch himself and defend against any attacks he might not have otherwise seen coming, countering those he could.
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Post by Miyamoto Kenji on Mar 21, 2014 0:12:20 GMT -7
Curious... Only three right paths to take. Continuing to maintain his guard, Kenji contemplated the routes in turn before deciding to advance down the rightmost path.
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Post by Miyamoto Kenji on Mar 20, 2014 17:26:45 GMT -7
Now, things were becoming interesting again. A vortex that could warp Kenji god knows where in the maze, but no indication of where? Very risky, to say the least... Still, he did not hestiate, holding tightly onto his nodachi with one hand as he ventured into the vortex, ready to strike if there was something on the other end waiting to ambush him.
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Post by Miyamoto Kenji on Mar 20, 2014 15:47:45 GMT -7
Convenient. Kenji would loot the chest, then turn back to take what would've been the right path to see where that would lead.
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Post by Miyamoto Kenji on Mar 20, 2014 11:48:48 GMT -7
Kenji decided to chance taking the twisting path to the right, hanging a left turn at the end. Not a whole lot of thrills.
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Post by Miyamoto Kenji on Mar 19, 2014 16:25:55 GMT -7
Kenji collected himself after the particularly grueling throwdown. Even if he'd healed up partway through the fight, it was probably more difficult than the Knight from the middle path. He dusted himself off and collected all his fallen weapons, as well as the knight's whip-swords, taking a few moments to figure out the means to shift the forms before putting them into whip form for easy storage. As for the armor, the merc decided to loot the gauntlets, feeling that he could use an extra oomph to his punches.
A nice sword and chestplate from one enemy, and a couple weapons and gauntlets from another... Pretty nifty. Plus whatever was in the chest in this part of the maze, and that shiny chest from the middle path. Now Kenji just had to finish this one, and maybe the left if he had the stamina for it.
Moving on, the shugyosha returned to the hall from whence the Rider came, and took stock of his options for where to go next.
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Post by Miyamoto Kenji on Mar 19, 2014 2:05:18 GMT -7
Miyamoto Kenji
Only character, after all. Anyway, I'm here, just was waiting for certain people to return from their time away.
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Post by Miyamoto Kenji on Mar 17, 2014 1:55:13 GMT -7
(( OOC: Not my fault. The damn dice roller is mental. <_< ))
Kenji locked his feet and legs as he hit the wall, allowing him to fall onto them and stand, thus saving him some effort and energy. With the Rider's back turned, he knew what should come next, pulling Yawarakai-Te's sheath from his sash and rushing forth, intending on clobbering the Rider's cranium from behind with a two-handed swing. If successful, he would not stop as he proceeded to wail hard and fast on the cracked skull of his opponent.
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Post by Miyamoto Kenji on Mar 16, 2014 18:54:19 GMT -7
While the face hit only bothered Kenji briefly, his nose and other important bits intact, he was more concerned with the renewed hammering on his stomach by what was clearly an angered - and desperate? - Rider. Powering through the repetitive fists, he decided to return the favor, pounding away on the Rider's skull.
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Post by Miyamoto Kenji on Mar 16, 2014 1:18:59 GMT -7
The end of the Rider was nigh, or so Kenji hoped. With one hand, he pulled the whip loose so that he could breathe, and with the other, rose up and slammed his elbow down as hard as he physically was able onto one of the cracks on the Rider's skull.
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Post by Miyamoto Kenji on Mar 15, 2014 20:43:51 GMT -7
Despite how he was now being choked out by a whip, Kenji felt strangely confident about winning this fight. He just had to avoid passing out. Reaching up with both hands to grip the whip, he yanked back as hard as he could, intending to pull the Rider down atop him. If successful, he'd scoot and let the Rider's head hit the floor next to his own head. If he did not bring it off of its feet, he'd settle for dragging him in and kicking his knees in the wrong way, hoping to force him to fall and let go of the whip.
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Post by Miyamoto Kenji on Mar 15, 2014 20:04:15 GMT -7
Kenji found himself gasping for oxygen as he was stomped on. However, he realized this position was also to his advantage, and having seen the visible crack on the Rider's skull, he might very well be able to finish the match. As the Rider's foot came up off of his stomach, or if it was still atop it, Kenji grabbed it with both hands and attempted to throw the skeletal cavalier off with great force, intending to flip it with the throw onto its skull.
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Post by Miyamoto Kenji on Mar 15, 2014 13:38:00 GMT -7
"I am hardly a wise man, Morei-san, but all the same, thank you for saying so," Kenji would respond to his compliment about being wise, chuckling in good nature. He then waited for the shinobi to continue.
When he did, the shugyosha paused, stroking his chin as he heard Hideyasu mention dishonor. True, in this period of the warring states, many held fast to the precepts of honor. It was, in some cases, the lifeblood of the country, and the most socially-acceptable thing to do at any given time was almost always related to honor. Even Kenji's performance throughout daily life was often based on what would be honorable. However, he knew from experience that there were times when doing the honorable thing was not the best route; when he wanted, needed to do the right thing, honor took a backseat.
"Morei-san... Sometimes, we cannot adhere to the tenets of honor, in order to find ourselves in life," he began, fully turning in his sitting position to face Hideyasu, whether or not he returned the gesture. "I respect honor, and I respect those who are honorable, and even I cannot say that honor is always what's right. It can segregate us from what truly matters: our pasts, friends, family, sometimes even the lives of those less fortunate than we. Perhaps this is the only life you've ever known, and I do not fault you for your career choice, but if you feel this is no longer a life you want, then it's time to turn away and pursue what you desire most."
Another pause, not out of contemplation, but to allow his words to sink in. Whatever his conflict, Kenji truly hoped Hideyasu would make up his mind and make the choice that he believes is right.
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Post by Miyamoto Kenji on Mar 15, 2014 13:24:40 GMT -7
Not good, and at this close of an engagement, Kenji's nodachi would have exceptionally limited use... Or at least, the blade would. With one hand, he grasped the Rider's wrist and attempted to pull, and with the other, he turned his nodachi around and proceeded to smash the pommel at his adversary's skull until he released.
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Post by Miyamoto Kenji on Mar 15, 2014 1:24:19 GMT -7
Clever, hiding his secondary weapon like that. Kenji would commend the Rider for this tactic if he were free to do so. He instead attempted to parry his enemy's weapon and move in for the offense, keeping in mind that if the enemy attempted to ensnare his nodachi again, he would not drop it this time, but instead slash to sever the whip.
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Post by Miyamoto Kenji on Mar 14, 2014 18:57:22 GMT -7
It seemed as if the dark powers at work within these damned halls would not let their Rider be beaten in a battle of battering fists. Thus, Kenji determined that the next best choice was to rearm himself. Either of the weapons in his sash would be of use, but he opted to go for those two items on the ground: his nodachi, and the Rider's whip-sword. Specifically, he ran to his nodachi and scooped it up, then stepped over and kicked the whip-sword further away from both combatants, then took his weapon in two hands and settled into an offensive stance, intending to assail the Rider with his all-cutting sword.
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Post by Miyamoto Kenji on Mar 14, 2014 18:25:49 GMT -7
Hideyasu's warning concerned Kenji. Not because it sounded like a threat, because it didn't, but coupled with his statement immediately prior, it distinctly came off as a remark of regret. Something had happened that made him lament and dislike the idea of being in Sagami, and made him feel as if there was no way out. Perhaps he was of the Hojo clan? It was possible, and the Hojo were known to have certain shinobi within their employ...
Kenji shook his head, folding his hands in his lap. "You sound like a man who has given up on hope. I think that you should reconsider that position." He offered Hideyasu a friendly smile before continuing. "If you give up, you can never hope to change your station in life. You'll simply stagnate and be unable to progress, and that's the best case scenario. If you try, however, you may yet find there's something else you can do, some place you can go, or some person you can be with."
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Post by Miyamoto Kenji on Mar 14, 2014 17:23:23 GMT -7
At the notion of the man being amongst the shadows, Kenji grinned to himself. Hideyasu's trade was plain as day now, though he would not voice it out of politeness. Suppose an enemy of the Hojo was passing the road as well and overheard? They'd know the identity of one of their ninja. Instead, he simply nodded, commenting, "I understand. Then perhaps, you have an idea of where you'd go?"
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Post by Miyamoto Kenji on Mar 14, 2014 17:20:44 GMT -7
Not content with the idea of being throttled, Kenji made to duck around the Rider's grabbing arm while keeping a hand near his throat to protect it. If he failed to avoid the grab, his hand would be in the way and taken instead, Kenji intending to then drag the Rider into a rib punch. If successful, on the other hand, he'd make it to his enemy's flank and ram his knee into its ribs before throwing another fist at its head.
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