Ran-Tan Kani's page

Kani takes his men and heads around the corner of the building, keeping on the southern side of the road.

Kani nods. "Although my axe cries out to cleave the defilers, we shall hold and come as the second wave. Come with me, you four."

The little barbarian lopes over and performs a sweeping bow before Yorinaga.

"Greetings, Honorable Yorinaga-san, I am Ran-Tan Kani." He pauses, opens his mouth wide, and sticks out his tounge as far as he can... it is obvious how his clan name Ran-Tan, or 'Orchid-Tongued' came by the name. Kani's tongue is slightly pointed and ridged along the sides, bearing an uncanny resemblance to the petal of the high mountain orchids. Pulling his tongue back in, he raises his axe high overhead and grins wildly.

"It is my great pleasure to stand with you and these men against the foul brigands who terrorize the townfolk. We will lay them low for their predications!"

Seeing some of the rag-tag attempt at a militia and overhearing the calm man, Kani leaps in the air extatically. "Yes! And you show your great honor fighting to protect your homes and children while others of able bodies hide like the quaking hare under the ferns! You provide the picture of stregth to your village! I am honored to fight with those uphold this noble cause!"

Kani catches up his axe and readies it, limbering his arms as he dances a couple of odd footwork patterns toward Gobo. As he sees the preparations being made he gives a throaty ullulation holding his axe aloft. "Now we will see these brigands paying for the distresses they place on the children."

um... on the sheet I mailed to you, I suppose :D )

Spot Check

Spot Check (1d20=7)

You can link to this roll at
http://invisiblecastle.com/find.py?id=1394140

Kani proceeds on obliviously.

Kani grunts and rises to his feet. He gives their host a bow sending his sleeves tumpling down in a flood of fabric. "Thank you, Kichirou-san. Your hospitality is a credit to your village." As he leaves the house, he shoulders his basket and hooks his axe to his belt.

As he walks past Gobo (to reach the noblemen first) he mutters loudly, "Improbably, we find ourself looking at the same scenery, Gobo-san, for I cannot imagine why they would like to talk to you."

Kani makes a small show to take his axe and his basket off just outside of the door, leaning the axe against the house with some bit of ceremony. He enters the house nodding to everyone, but thumps Kichirou on the arm with a familiarity that hasn't been earned.

"Your hospitality is excellent, Kichirou-san! Thus far I have been tasting the hospitality of Farmer Morinaga-san's barn. I chop wood for a space over his ox, I would have a nicer space over the mule, but he charges me to rent his rusty old axe since I won't use my fine blade for cutting anything but the wicked."

Looking at Jiro, the little Korobokuru smiles and nods "Lead on, my friend. I have little experience with the people of this village... the girl and other children have proven to be the kindest hosts available. If you think one of the farmers will take me on, I am a good hand at chopping wood. I have been sleeping in a farmers barn the past couple of nights, but must admit that the cattle made better companions than my slovenly 'host'."

Sorry, a scheduling snafu left me unable to post this weekend. When we pass by Gobo-san are we close enough to hear his comments or is that something you would like a check for?

Kani pats the soulful eyed girl on the shoulder as he ushers her into her house. "I promise to try to help you village, dear one. You're eyes should not look so closely like mine."

As he returns to his new-found friend, he leans close to Jiro and says "The girl says there are bandits preying on the town like locust on the wing. Most of the town gave me a cold greeting, but I would not have her feel the same pains I have felt in the loss of a home. Maybe we should seek out a means to remedy this hurt and restore the youth to her face."

anything else is dependant on whether or not I hear Gobo-san

Kani is almost staggered by the quiet sincerity of Tomoyo's words "Little Blossom, it hurts my hear to think that you might know some of the pain of such a tragic event! What have the evil spirits ripped from you? Oh, I would remove that pain from your eyes if I could."

Kani starts to nod, but then a slightly paniced look crosses his face.

"Ooh!ooh!" he grunts in an excited manner "your excuse for me, please." He runs over to where he laid his wicker basket and axe. Hoisting his axe up, his baggy sleeves slide down and wirey muscles rise along his arms to show that despite his size, he is endowed of considerable strength. "One day, I vow to return and strike down the evil oni and give my clan back the homeland they are denied. Let the gathering cloud spirits cry for our loss, but I do not! I will see our people home safely! This is my vow!"

He pauses running through his monologue in his mind making sure he has not forgotten any of what is obviously a sacred vow to him. He hooks his axe to his belt and slings his basket on his shoulder. He trundles forward and bows an awkward little bow to Jiro, his basket almost pulling him over sideways. "I would be very pleased to join you for tea, my friend."

Kani is surprised to hear the human talking to him with such deference... usually they just wanted to laugh at him or poke him, but this one was polite. He smiles happily at the man and mugs a funny face at the little girl, crossing his eyes and wrinkling his nose. He bows to the pair with a silly smile coloring his gruff little voice.

"I am Ran-Tan Kani," he begins meaning Crab, of the Orchid-Tongued clan, "My people come from high up the mountain, but we were driven from our home by a nasty oni. We tried to fight, but the evil is too strong and we had to flee down the mountain to be your neighbors. We dream of returning to our home, but cannot yet. We miss it. Mist on the high lake. Cranes calling from the willows. Fish leaping and breaking the water in the dawn chill. We be patient and learn to fight better, stronger. And we come take back home from oni!"

Kani watches the children play with the dog for a moment then goes back over to pluck some long grasses from the ground and pick up a short lenght of stick. He walks back to the group and, after setting down his burden basket and his axe, makes eye contact and nods at one of the children who is playing nicely with the animal. He waves the child over to him.

"Look" he croaks in his scratchy little voice, extra hesitant with the tongue of the tall ones. Pulling some brightly colored feathers out of his belt pouch, the Korobokuru ties them together with the grasses and then ties the grasses onto the stick. Holding the makeshift toy up, Kani shows the child how the feathers bounce and dance at the end. He motions for the child to go to the dog with him.

Bouncing and jittering the feathers in front of the dog then raising the feathers out of his reach when the dog snaps for them. After a moment he hands the toy to the child and smiles at him.

Kani looks skyward at the sound of the thunder and smiles "The sweet drink of the sky coming. You should head home soon."

I am ready to shake the thunder from the clouds and use it to pave my way back up the mountain!

I am now ready to reclaim my homelands.