つーかまーえたっ！

[Independent Imanotsurugi RP Account.]

[bokuwatengu-blog]

"Since you've suggested we meet your master, and quite honestly, I feel as though I owe her a token of my gratitude for such circumstances, intentional or not, which have allowed me to meet with you again: Would it be fine for me to pay her a visit instead of having her travel all the way out here?"

-He tilts his head a little bit to the side, considering it.  There’s a giant Egyptian-y structure outside.  Italy.  The ocean.  A bonfire.  The basement is a complex series of tunnels that just kind of got put there one day.  There’s several dozen visitors who have just spawned right in her yard before.-

She’s used to surprises, so she wouldn’t mind!   

If you’re with me, she won’t get too worried--she’d probably love to meet you!

[bokuwatengu-blog]

Soujoubou nods. "I suppose there is much to explain about our society if you have not been involved in it long. It isn't much different from human society, really. This festival is one we hold every ten years, in which the king -- that is myself -- visits every tengu clan's territory for a grand party to which all tengu are invited. It is a way to ensure peace and civility amongst the many clans. So you came upon us at a fortuitous time! Before the sunrise, we will be gone once more. Although,"

[bokuwatengu-blog]

"Let us pass this night sharing our memories, then. Ohoho, I'm sure you're interested in knowing what Ushiwakamaru was like in his youth, no? There is a reason I mistook you for him. I had hoped he would come to visit me again after his departure, but I understand he had his obligations." He pauses, there, wistfully. "I was quite old even back then. Now, I wonder if it isn't time to retire. Even traveling to these festivals takes a great deal out of me. But this is your first one, isn't it?"

-He grows quiet before he’s quickly nodding.-

It is--like I said, I haven’t gotten to have a body like this until Master breathed life into my blade. I hope it’s not my last.

-There’s a thoughtful pause for a moment when he seems to lament that.-

What if I brought my current master to you some day?  It’s not the same as Yoshitsune-kou, but she’s quite nice.

[bokuwatengu-blog]

He smiles at your laughing. You can't see his lips with so much beard, though. "Then, shall I try to fill in a few of the blanks? Or, what I can. My memory isn't the best either, being an old man. But you were at my side for some time, before I passed you on to Ushiwakamaru in recognition of his mastery over those things which I taught him. And so you went on to do great things yourself! I heard it was you who tamed that wild Benkei. Tell me some of your stories. Tell me Ushiwakamaru's stories."

Eheh, yep!  That was me--but before I got shortened.  I have asked Iwatooshi lots of times to tell me about that big battle on the bridge.

I don’t mind sharing some!  I’ve got a bunch of stories, new and old?  Having a body now to go explore with is pretty interesting and we’ve had some pretty big battles--but lots of fun stuff happen in this age.

[bokuwatengu-blog]

"Hmm! That Benkei... You know, when someone first showed me a "tengu mask," all red and hideous, I thought it was a mask of Benkei." The old tengu chuckles, and pours himself more sake. He might already be pretty smashed, maybe. "Your new master sounds quite interesting. And you seem quite happy. Has it really been so many centuries since I last saw you? Do you remember me at all? Do swords have such memories like that? If you didn't, I wouldn't blame you. But I do admire your familiar attire."

-He’s laughing as well, pretty much near-tengu hooting himself at the Benkei joke.-

Iwatooshi’s a pretty fearsome oni to match me!  

I don’t remember much of anything when I was a longer blade, so meeting Yoshitsune-kou is a bit foggy.  But after that, I remember pretty much everything!  So I got to hear about you from Yoshitsune-kou’s stories!

[bokuwatengu-blog]

You are now ceremoniously lofted into the air, and with a great cheer, you are caught in the many hands of other tengu, who loft you again and again as they joyfully shout your name. Everything returns to max volume; the music, the drums, the roar of the fire - there is dancing and merriment, and as soon as you're set down you are besieged with gifts and food and offerings. Eventually you are swept up into the great throne to sit beside Soujoubou himself. "And so, you've become a tsukumogami?"

-FREE FOOD.-

-He’s enjoying pretty much anything and everything he’s given--trying to, once again, keep the drinking light so he can actually get back home safely and in a relatively sober state.  Food, though?  He’s nibbling on.  When Soujoubou addresses him, he enthusiastically nods.-

Yeah!  My current master, Dankuri Memeko can breathe life into things--stuff that would be a tsukumogami gets granted a form like this.

I’m even with Yoshitsune-kou’s other sword, Hizamaru, as well as Benkei’s very own Iwatooshi!

[bokuwatengu-blog]

Soujoubou peers at you. Reaches out with his gnarled hands and lifts you up, holds you over his nose so he can get a closer look without stabbing you with his nose. An attendant leans close and whispers, "Soujoubou-sama, it has been over 800 years since Ushiwakamaru passed. Humans cannot live that long." Soujoubou nods. Then he turns to the crowd and lifts you up like you're Simba. "Then, this festival shall be for Imanotsurugi, who has come back to us! My favorite sword, in my hands once more!"

-He’s lifted and held and presented to a bunch of tengu?  He’s at least gotten things sorted out relatively.  He’s having a party in his favor?  That seems kinda nice.  He’s not complaining.-

-He’s not at all hard to pick up, given he’s got bird bones which are for birds.-

Hello, everyone!  I am Yoshitsune-kou’s Imanotsurugi--my master breathed life into me so I guess I can visit here for awhile!

-He waves with both hands to everyone.-

[bokuwatengu-blog]

Soujoubou squints at you again, giving a questioning 'hmm?' at your bold declaration that you are, in fact, not Ushiwakamaru. He tries to examine you with his beady eyes. He strokes his beard. Almost bumps you with his beaky nose. "What an unusual story! But you have the very essence of the Ushiwakamaru I know, and there, at your hip, is the very sword I gave you, isn't it? Well, it looks a little shorter, but I recognize it nevertheless! Are you playing a joke on me, Ushiwakamaru, my boy?"

-He’s quickly shaking his head.-

Not at all!  It would be a really mean joke to play--but I am the sword.  I am Imanotsurugi.  I am a little... foggy on the whole deal with how I was shortened, but I promise that is who I really am.

[bokuwatengu-blog]

The crowd instantly reaches maximum volume with the chattering and cheering of hundreds of tengu. You are swept up by some large, burly guards to come closer to Soujoubou, who embraces you with a hug that NEARLY SNAPS YOUR SPINE. "Oh, how I've missed you, Ushiwakamaru! Come and sit with me! Drink as much as you'd like! Eat as much as you'd like! We shall dedicate this festival in your name, now. Be merry! For you have made this old man very happy, coming all this way to see me!" (2/2)

-HE’S USED TO IWATOOSHI HUGS, THESE ARE NOTHING.-

-However, even if he’s playful and maybe a bit lazy with his chores and sometimes plays pranks--as tengu are wont to do...  It would be lying to do anything but make it clear right now.  He does hug back, but his uneasiness about it is plain.-

Soujoubou-sama, I--I’m actually--I’m Imanotsurugi...  I’m Yoshitsune-kou--Ushiwakamaru-sama’s own blade.  

I’m a tengu because of that, and--and I’m happy to join you and tell you all about him, since I was with him until the end!  But please, I don’t want to lie about being my former master.

[bokuwatengu-blog]

You approach the tengu king with neither gifts nor manners, and for a moment all the business dies down as all eyes turn to you in surprise. Soujoubou turns his schnozz your way, squinting at you with eyes already quite squinty from age. Then he gasps and leans forward in his throne, getting up with the help of his attendants and a gnarled, feather-decorated cane. He shouts. "Ushiwakamaru! My boy! You've come to visit this old man. Welcome back! Everyone, Ushiwakamaru has returned!" (1/2)

[bokuwatengu-blog]

You head towards the court. It's something temporary for this festival, it seems, all made of wood likely gathered from the forest, but also with some quite regal decorations all over. Mountains of treasure are piled up on either side of an exceptionally large throne decorated with feathers, upon which sits an ABSOLUTELY ANCIENT-looking tengu, more human in appearance than the rest, with long white hair and a GARGANTUAN schnoz that might be bigger than you are. He's drowning in fancy kimono.

-He’s really taken with the festivities--but he really can’t enjoy them when he’s sort of been taken here by a sort-of misunderstanding combined with tengu enthusiasm.  But he’s going to have a big story to tell Iwatooshi when he gets back, he thinks.-

-He’s not the best with manners, but he is speaking formally when he approaches.-

Excuse me!  Are you Soubourou-sama?  I was just taken here and... um...  I think there is kind of a misunderstanding...  But it is really neat here?

-That’s a huge nose, though, holy crap.-

[bokuwatengu-blog]

(2/2) with the sound of music and merrymaking from below. You descend. The clearing is lit by a large bonfire, around which have gathered many tengu from many different clans, and who are quick to welcome the newly-arriving flocks. Your kidnapper sets you down gently, and no sooner does he do so than you are mobbed by other tengu who give you flower crowns and flower necklaces and gourds full of sake and fuss at you in languages you don't understand. Not far from you seems to be a great court.

-He honestly wanted to be getting a snack awhile ago and drinking on an empty stomach in a strange place seems like something Iwatooshi and Master wouldn’t advise.  But he does like the flower crowns from all the other tengu.-

-He has no fucking idea what’s going on, but he’s rolling with it until he gets to meet Soujoubou.-

-But it at least seems as if he can go adventure on his own down the way?  Once the fussing and fretting over him dies down, he starts to walk toward said court, maybe finding answers there.-

-Or someone who can speak his language.-

[bokuwatengu-blog]

Woosh! You are airborne. You soon join one of several large V-formations of tengu of all shapes and sizes, of all ages and genders. Some are tinier tengu than you, while others are grand battle-scarred warriors aloft with spears and swords. Others carry musical instruments of all kinds, some you've never even seen or heard before. And yet others carry gifts and treasures, some struggling to stay in flight with them. After a relatively short flight you come upon a forest clearing, (1/2)

[bokuwatengu-blog]

I PROMISE I’LL BE BACK SOON, IWATOOSHI

[bokuwatengu-blog]

The tengu looks at you curiously. He comes closer to inspect you, looking at your arms and at your back and touching you with his scaley birdy hands. "Where are all your feathers? Your wings? You cannot fly, little brother? It's fine that you serve a master, but Soujoubou-sama is calling! Come, come, let's hurry. Just because you are flightless doesn't mean you aren't invited." With that, he takes you by the hand, spreads his great wings, and lifts you both into the air to join the flock.

Wait, well--

-THRE HE GOES.  HE’S NOT EVEN GETTING TO TELL IWATOOSHI HE’S BEEN TENGUNAPPED BY TENGU.-

-There really isn’t much he can do about it now that he’s gaining serious air, but there he goes.  Just.  Woosh!  He’s airborne.-

[bokuwatengu-blog]

(You head out to see what all the honking is about, and the one circling above now descends gracefully to land within speaking distance of you. You see now that it is not quite a bird at all, but rather a stately and imposing tengu. He is dressed similarly to yourself, though not nearly as handsome -- he has the head and feet of a crow, and a sizeable beak, and wings on his back big enough to allow him to fly. He speaks.) Little brother, why do you not answer the trumpets? Spread your wings!

-Spreads his arms out.  But he’s... sort of concerned.  It just sounded like sounds rather than something specific.-

Like this~?

I mean, I’m a tengu, but I’m also a sword for Master!

[bokuwatengu-blog]

(You pause and listen. You hear a fluttering like that of bird wings, the occasional honk. A migration of geese in the middle of the night, perhaps? No -- those aren't honks. They sound more like trumpets, distant. The shadows, you note, are cast by what look like the silhouettes of very large birds in the sky -- not as big as the yols that snatched you up and tried to nest on you before, but still larger than most birds, even eagles. One breaks off from the V-formation and circles above you.)

-It’s still cause for alarm.  The yols are pretty familiar around here, relatively speaking.  But the sound is kind of...-

-He’s not too familiar with birds that are huge.  But he’s at least going to go to greet it so its honk-trumpeting doesn’t wake up the whole citadel.  He doesn’t really hide as he steps out into the garden to try and get a better look at the odd-sounding visitor.-