Meiyen
Desciple
Karma: +3/-3
Posts: 48
Lao'Jin Knight, Juritor of Silk Wisdom
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« on: February 15, 2007, 07:39:08 PM » |
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Life is not easy for Kojani peasants, tilling the same soil their honored ancestors toiled over. And a girl child, particularly when the family already has several to help in the home and to provide dowry for, is not particularly welcome. So, like many other Younger Sisters whose family could not provide for the Younger Sister when she would be less productive than a Younger Son, but who also could not stomach exposing them to the elements or to the potential ungentle mercy of the Uluvari and the beasts of the woods, I found myself left anonymously in a basket outside the Shrine, without connection to my Ancestors.
And so I grew up with the other girls in the Shrine, my sisters, where we learned not only the work of women, but also the work of men. For while there were both male and female monks at the Shrine that took us in and cared for us, we were many and all needed to do what work we could. The youngest would do simple tasks under the supervision of the older girls and monks, and as their strength and skill increased, were set to more complicated or strenuous jobs. Before you pity us, though, know that it was not all toil. The monks at the shrine also taught us calligraphy and poetry, and other arts, that we might better ourselves and learn social graces enough to perhaps find ourselves a position as a skilled servant, or choose to join the Order as a monk ourselves. They also had us join in their martial practice, which was as much dance and discipline as practice for defense or exercise to loosen our muscles for the work of the day. And we girls were close, as close as sisters, and we had all the monks as mothers and fathers.
I must admit, joining the Order had its appeal when I was given a choice of what path I might want to follow after being at the Shrine for 16 years. However, I was also an unruly child, forever slipping away to watch the ships in the harbor, or climb the trees at the back of the walled compound to spy on the doings of the soldiers and nobles of the city, so I knew that I had a wanderlust to satisfy. So on that day, I chose to bid a farewell to my sisters, and went boldly to the soldiers' compound to take the officer's test.
The training of the monks and life at the Shrine with my sisters served me well. I was learned enough to pass the written and oral exams, and able to handle unarmed and basic armed combat well enough, though the life of a professional soldier would certainly require me to hone those skills more. So I was accepted as a junior officer and settled into life in the barracks for training as a soldier and officer in the Imperial Army.
Other than replacing working the fields for my food with extra weapons drill for myself and the small squad I was in charge of, nothing much changed. I still had time for poetry and calligraphy, and still could wander among the stalls in the Market envying the wealthy who could afford the silks on sale there. I did earn enough as an Officer to be able to spend several afternoons a week in the Tea House, and to afford small lessons in flower arranging, but I was frugal as well, saving what I could as my own dowry, should that need ever arise. Not that that seemed likely, for I had no connection with my own Ancestors, to guide me or my children, so what man would want me as mother for his progeny?
Eventually I completed my training, and was transferred to Tanvu several months before the Emperor arrived and took up residence. There I was given a squad of my own to lead, as a Duifu, or lieutenant. And so life continued, following the orders of those higher in rank, and passing those orders on to those lower in rank. Occasionally we'd be sent to police a road, chase down a band of honorless bandits, defend a village from wild animals grown too bold in the winter. Once or twice my squad was even called upon as reserves for a battle against the Ulvari, though we saw no action. After the arrival of the Emperor and his bureaucrats and officers, some of the commands we were asked to execute were more harsh than previously, but then, the Empire is at war with the Ulvari. Discipline and honor must be maintained in the face of this threat, both by the Imperial Army and by the populace.
It was then that my life was to change. I did not realize that this was happening as I unrolled the scroll with my latest orders along with the other subcommanders, but then, we seldom do recognize momentous change as it begins.
Honor to your family, Officer.
The Emperor and his Magistrates have entrusted you to assist his soldiers in pacifying Shang Village. Loyalty and justice are the strength of the humans of Kojan. These virtues must be upheld as the war against the Ulvari and their allies continues. With the fiendish Ulvari pressing in on all sides, the empire can ill-afford rebellion from the Jin Masters taking refuge in this village.
Their connection to the life-force, Jin, is respected, but their disloyalty threatens us all. Too many trust in the magical shield that protects the city of Tanvu from our foes, but the Emperor understands the need for action and the need to adopt an offensive strategy.
The poets of our people stand ready to record the end of the Ulvari incursion to our world, and we will nto let those tree dwelling clans to the south beat us to it! With these foes before us, and the ever-looming threat from the Martok tribe of orcs and goblins, you have an opportunity to achieve greatness for you and your family line.
Beware those who seek to turn you from the Way of Harmony. Serve the Empire and prepare yourself for battle!
We were put under the command of the Imperial Commander who had taken charge of all the garrisons in and around Tanvu when the Emperor came to stay in Tanvu, Master Rahlsu. We boarded the dragon-headed junks in the harbor, and sailed north to Sheng village.
When we got there, my squad expressed concern at our task. All the men were in the Sheng Monastery leaving just women and children in the village itself. Regardless, Master Rahlsu commanded the attack against the village which was obviously not readying itself for battle. I had to remind my squad of the penalties for disobeying direct orders, which I myself might suffer should I not be able to lead my squad in our assigned duties. Master Rahlsu also commanded the confiscation of the villages wealth, to be returned to the junks for transport back to the Emperor's coffers. This too gave me pause, for when we had fought bandits before, the wealth we recovered would always go to those it had been stolen from, or used as a relief fund for the general area. I too, began to doubt the wisdom of our orders, but I was not privy to the counsel of my commanders, so there must have been some reason for our orders.
As I led my squad in the completion of this task, I noticed that these villagers were putting up a remarkable resistance. Their houses were burning and destroyed, their wealth being taken, and yet they were fighting the soldiers to a standstill in many cases. Following orders and the will of the Emperor, I led my squad in and rescued the other soldiers who were foundering, killing six of the women. As the last fell, I noticed how much these women were like my own sisters from the Shrine, defending their lives and livelihood, and felt regret that they would be in the village where the heretic monks had take up residence. Truly, the simple villagers needn't have been punished so severely for merely being in the area, but orders are orders.
This accomplished, the Imperial Commander sent us to his forward commander, Officer Yu, who was outside the monastery walls. Inside, they knew Master Fhungusu was holed up along with his Sheng monks, resisting the lawful commands of the Emperor. My squad was sent forward to help with the assault on the monastery. I led them forward into battle against the heretic monks and into the monastery where we found Master Fhungusu. I stepped forward to confront him, and my life changed dramatically.
Master Fhungusu started the exchange, "I have been waiting for you Meiyen."
"I am here to kill you, Master Fhungusu, for crimes against the Emperor and Empire."
He actually chuckled at me. "I know this, Meiyen. As disappointing as it may be, you will not be killing me today."
I steeled myself for the coming combat, for I could feel the strength of his Jin. He was stronger than my old Master at the shrine where I grew up. "I may not, but it is my duty to try."
A gentle smile lit his eyes. "I know who you are, Meiyen. You follow orders mindlessly and slay innocent people. It is time for this to stop."
"I am a servant of the Emperor."
"But your service to the Emperor has caused the death of many innocent people. People not very unlike the child you used to be, and whom you once called Sister. I can see the guilt in your eyes, do you not feel it?"
I did, and I had been since the attack began and I realized that we were not facing enemies but our own people. But the Emperor had commanded it, and that was my duty and Honor, as I had no family or Ancestors to guide me in the finding of my personal Honor. Regretfully, I raised my blade. "There is no turning back now, Master Fhungusu."
He reached out quickly, and touched my shoulder, and I was rooted in place and my arms would not move. "We both know that this life of treachery must end. It is time for your transformation. It is time for you to be born again."
He gave a significant look to my squad, who lowered their weapons. Gently, he took the bloody sword from my hands and removed my armor. "I will wipe the blood from your hand, your new life and the path towards Jin which you abandoned starts now."
Standing on the other side of the room, he raised his hands, thrust them towards me, and a wind buffeted me. I squeezed my eyes shut against the gale, and when it ended, I was not where I had been.
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