01: Arrival at Tsuma

"Someone standing in the river you say?"

I will look over to the river and see how fast the current is going, is it moving fast? or is it more of a slow stream?

Most of you, even though having never seen one, can immediately tell that Yoshi is a young Ise Zumi, a Tattooed Seeker monk from the Togashi family of the Dragon Clan. Very rarely do they venture far enough to be seen in these parts, so it is always a surprise (and maybe a reason to worry) seeing one. He wears as simple and plain garments as a samurai can have, with his shaven head, peaceful and unwavering expression and with strange and mystical ink patterns all over his uncovered skin.
"Worry not my good man, the wind may be strong but the sakura are still in bloom" Yoshi calms the elderly peasant with is deep voice, almost resonating with the works of creation. "This poor man is too old to move his cart on his own" thinks Yoshi as he calmly looks to the rice fields * searching for other peasants that may help, * judging how far the gates of Tsuma are, * how difficult it is to jump over the cart; as he says "I shall see that you arrive in Tsuma safely"

All the while Kyo intervenes. As the peasant mentions seeing someone in the river, Yoshi whispers "The water is runs deep indeed...", nods to himself while looking far into the waters in search for evidence of anyone. Yoshi wonders if there is any connection between the wind and water rings in this place and time. Are the peasant's vision and accident a coincidence, or are they more connected than it appears to the eye?

Isawa Aki is easily recognizable as a Shugenja of the Phoenix Clan by her flowing robes in bright reds and oranges. Her robes are crafted masterfully and her dark hair has been artfully prepared to make a perfect first impression at the festival. She is not carrying much. Besides her wooden staff, she only has some scrolls with her that betray her as a scholar.
Her demeanor is calm, collected and reserved - some might accuse her of arrogance - and she carries an air of authority with her."Good man, fortune is in your favor, it seems, since you encountered us." Aki's voice is calm and slow. She may still be young but she has taken her education to heart and her discipline and duty are visible in the way she carries herself, in her voice, even in the way her eyes focus on the elderly man in front of her. "You understand, of course, that it is not our place to right your cart but I am certain we can find someone to assist you." She lets her eyes wander, searching for other peasants that might be able to help with the cart. "But you said you saw someone standing in the river? What did this person look like? What where they doing?"

Utaku Kashita, riding behind the others, sees the circumstance ahead. Her fiery temper and pride causes a slight narrowing of her brows. Feeling a phantom stroke across her back, she slides off her spirited steed, and leans her yari against him, signing him to stay still. She walks forward, dipping her toe into the mud at the side of the road, and says, "Honored samurai. I fear my boots are already dirty so allow me to assist this man so that we may all proceed to the tournament."

She is athletic, a warrior, dressed in riding gear, but it is well made. A kerchief is tied around her forehead, and her dark Northern features are sharper than find in the soft South.

Utaku's words caught Yoshi's attention. He will assist her and the old man turning the cart (if or when she, or someone else, does it).

Aki slightly raises an eyebrow at Kashita's words. She steps back from the mud and observes as Kashita (and Yoshi) move to help the man.
She had kept an eye on the Unicorn since they had started travelling together and she was not surprised that it was her who forgot her place in this situation. However, she decided to keep those thoughts to herself and kept her face as composed and calm as it had been.

Suteko's hand immediately rest on the grip of her katana, which it itself is hanging from her loosened belt. Despite her typical Lion mannerism - Walking broad-shouldered and attentive, head always high, and independently of height, it always seems that she is looking below her when talking to others -, her katana sports a Phoenix crest, of the Shiba family.

She eyes the situation in silence, never deeming the peasant an answer, her green eyes always on the lookout. Yet, her stare doesn't come off as intense. Quite the contrary, actually. It's cold. Distant.

It had been a good few weeks since she had separated herself from her Lord, and thankfully found a traveling group willing to accept her. Her Gaijin features are strong, after all. Her lips are fuller, her skin is paler, her hair looks denser and wilder, and her overall body looks more... Ample. Her name, as well, didn't help. Suteko. "Unwanted Child". But maybe that particular group of Samurai had a fonding for broken toys. One of the Unicorn didn't seem from around. She had never asked, however, and so she could never be certain.

When both the Dragon and the Unicorn move in to help the cart, a helpless sigh escape Suteko's lips. "Fine." She says, conceding as if someone had convinced her to do something she wasn't very keen on. As like a few of her companions, she was athletic and overconfident. Surely three of them could easily deal with the cart.

Kyo watches the group as they move to adjust the cart. He is still squatting at the side of the road, his gaze straying from the river to the group of samurai hes been travelling with. He still hasnt quite figured them out yet, and he worries about what they may be thinking. He does find himself particularly intrigued by the Shugenja though, as hes never seen someone able to speak to spirits of the world so clearly and with such great effect.

Yoshi smiles at the old man (when he stops bowing and thanking) and says in a meditative tone "My good man, the rain falls on both bonge and samurai alike" . Yoshi points at the cart. "We shall accompany you to Tsuma, where you can find shelter and repair the damages to your cart". After a brief pause he adds "Perhaps, as we walk the path that stands in front of us, you can tell us more about you and your former master, as well as of the happenings in the city?

OOC:

Sorry, i forgot to reserve the posting spot when i started typing! I gotta get that habit engrained in my head. I can delete this one if it conflicts with your post CESN

Kyo will approach the old man, no longer squatting, and speak to him, "To your feet. You say that your master was Doji Satsume, Emerald champion of these lands. Yet here you are, pulling a cart down a muddy road. Tell me, what capacity did you serve in.?"

When the man rises to answer him, Kyo will quickly phrase an addendum to his questioning, quiet enough that the group may not overhear, but loud enough that the peasant will understand him clearly: The man you saw in the river. Was he a stern faced old man? Tell me. I must know."

OOC:

I am going to approach this conversation now with Fire, and courtesy

Instead of approaching the old man, Kyo will recoil from the water, practically leaping from his squat position before leaning back to investigate further. After a few seconds he will return to the collective group, and just listen in on what Yoshi is asking the old man.

Utaku ignores the old man, does not make eye contact, and simply assists in righting the cart. She then returns to her horse, and remounts, drawing her yari up with her. She patiently waits for the others to clear the way past the cart.