Tristan of the Lost Art

[LonesomeFox]

The storm churned and tossed the small ship upon the violent seas as night encompassed all. Aboard the trade vessel, a man sat with his legs crossed in the hold, his hands resting with palms upturned in the darkness. His breath came slow and steady, his eyes closed in meditation.

* * * * *

In the port of Caer, the small merchant vessel finally made dock after narrowly surviving a night of thrashing waters and violent lightning. A few sailors went about unloading the parcels that hadn't been thrown overboard in the storm torrent - rugged men with large muscles, rough skin, and stern grimaces. In contrast to them stood two others on the deck of the ship as they went about their work.

The first - a short man with discerning eyes and a pair of spectacles - held out his hand for the fare of his last-minute passenger. This passenger - much taller and younger in appearance - calmly and slowly counted out the coins as he placed them one by one into the merchant's hands. When he'd finished he had only a few coins left, but this fact seemed to bother him little.

After bidding farewell to the merchant and the crew - an awkward affair for the latter what with the strange passenger's bowing and mannerisms - the man stepped onto the dock and looked for the nearest tavern. Finding a place owned by a dwarf named Roggins, this foreigner entered just as dusk began to fall again. His placid blue eyes took in the scene about him - a scene as foreign and unfamiliar to him as he was foreign and unfamiliar to these lands.

A man dressed in what must have been noble garments rushed about asking various patrons if they'd "had word" of something, and at the same time what was obviously a knight in the service of the lord of this region was scowling fiercely as he poured over a large stack of papers. In the middle of the room was an incredibly short creature that must have been one of the gnomes that the foreigner had heard inhabited this land.

In truth, the scene was chaos, but the foreigner paid it little mind and went to inquire for a room. Fortune was with him and against him, though, when he discovered that a room for one night would cost him the few coins he had remaining - and that was without a meal. Undaunted and seemingly unbothered, though, the foreigner paid for his room and then made his way up the stairs with his key. Once there, he entered and locked the door - noting the sparse furnishing of the room and the utilitarian feel it had to it. It suited him.

After locking the door, he breathed a soft sigh that was more an exhalation than any indication of his inward feelings. Then he moved to the center of the room and sat, cross-legged as he had done on the ship in the storm, and he took a worn and damaged parchment from the folds of his robe, opening it and reading the flowing symbols of his homeland's language for what must have been the hundredth time.

Dearest Tristan,

The plague continues to ravage us all, but I am glad that the Ancestors took pity on you and spared you from this fate. You have had a strong soul, my son, and I am sorry that in the dying days of the Karanas Style our feelings can only reach you through these words on this paper. As I go to join the Ancestors, I hope that you will pray always for guidance and wisdom. Seek out new lands, my son, that aren't ravaged by this corruption. Flee these dark spirits and carry with you the memories of Kara-no-Hira. Perfect yourself, my son, and always remember that no matter how fast or strong you become until you defeat yourself, the ultimate techniques of Ancestor Kara will elude you.
As my final wish, I place upon you the burden of the Karanas name. You must live by the way of the Heartfist and die by it or you shall shame the Ancestors. The lands you travel to will be foreign and unknown to you, and they will hold temptations that you cannot imagine; but they are the lands of your birth. There is a beauty to them and the Way of the people of Dasaria is similar to our own, but I know that they do not believe in the Spirits - the kami-rin. Remember always the teaching of the Karanas Style:

The way of the Heartfist is a line, steady and unbroken. To walk in the Way, you must also be a line - steady and as equally unbreaking. Just as your fist travels directly to your opponent's vital areas, so to must you always be direct in all things. The Way does not allow for deception, and the line does not swerve or bend in odd angles. Traveling the Way, you will intersect with others whose lines are not steady nor unbreakable. Do not follow the Way of those others, for their way is not the Heartfist, and it will corrupt your fist. However, a line does not make a man, and the Way teaches that as with a man there must be many lines of ki. There must be the leyline of the mind, the leyline of the heart, the leylines of the fists and legs - so to must you find your place as the Heartfist. The leyline of the heart does not deny that of the mind nor the arms or legs, nor will they deny it. But all work together to make a man, and so too must you follow the Way as the unyielding leyline of the heart. Your master will be your leyline of the mind, your wife will be the leyline of your legs, and your friends and fellow students will be the leylines to your arms. This is the teaching of the Karanas Style.

Now, my son, I have given you the final blessing that I can. Go to the land of your birth and follow the Spirits until you hear the voice of the Ancestors. Let them guide you to your destiny as your mother and I look down on you from their side.


Kagenosuke Karanas
Fourth Master of Kageryo-no-Ken

Tristan folded the letter and tucked it away once again before placing his hands on his knees - palms facing upwards - and closing his eyes once more in meditation.

[Wired]

Strong 3rd post, bis!

[Shorn]

Most excellent....

[DM Odin]

Impressive!

Hope this continues...

[Evelond Formos]

Color me impressed.

[Peregrinus]

Kyodai-Ken wannabe. ;p

Well written, PM me if you're interested in some of the old Das1 lore for Japanese esq. characters, as there were a couple back then (the aforementioned Kyodai).

[DM Sanguinity]

A very nice read, and an interesting opening. Thanks for sharing.

[Project-Shea]

i must admit i do like