As most of you dear readers know, I am working on a story to go with the samurai armor sets I'm building. It's been an interesting work, but I thought I would share with you first, the non-final draft first chapter. Let me know what you think! (Although his first true mask isn't mentioned in this chapter, it is already for sale!)
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1
The Way of the Lost Samurai
For years “honorable” samurai have been raiding villages on their way to or from a mission. By definition, this is unbecoming of a samurai.
Ando Shukishi was tired of it. He was a blacksmith by trade, and unlike most of his village, he could read. And that he did, a lot. That’s how he learned of the Samurai Code, and he tried to live by it. When he had seen such atrocities committed by this “Samurai,” he felt utter disgust, but he also felt the need to do something.
Ando decided to begin making himself some armor, he was outlining the armor pattern on some paper when someone walked into his blacksmith shop. His name was Sumida Kobo, and he was known to be brutal. He was the leader of the Samurai who raided the villages. Sumida took the armor pattern, thanked Ando and walked out. Before he left, he turned to Ando, looking through his One designed mask and said “If I find that you or anyone is even thinking of opposing me or the Shogunate, you lives will be the price.”
Ando kept his cool, and he realized he would have to work more stealthily on his project. In direct opposition to the raiders, he decided to make his own Samurai Armor, but it wouldn’t be black as there’s, but brown, to set him apart. It was also not needed to dye leather to make it brown, and as dye was expensive, nor was not easy to come by. He read many old books on how the construction of the armor took place. Ando was, fortunately, a man of patience, and he knew that this project was not going to be fast, but in the end it would be well worth it, if it worked.
In the village was a “retired” warrior. Ando knew he could trust and confide in him his plans. The retired warrior, Jissoji Harumi, laughed. While he thought it was a good plan, he did not think Ando was the one to wear the armor, he wasn’t ready physically, or mentally. They worked together and came to an agreement, Jissoji would teach Ando everything he knew, and all he asked in return was that Ando stop the raids by whatever means, but most importantly that Kobo answer for his crimes.
To kill a Samurai of the Emperor, is considered treason and punishable by death. He decided he would approve this politically as well. He sent a letter to the emperor in which the whole village put their mark on. Hopefully this would put an end to the raids, but just in case, Ando continued to make plans for his armor and Jissoji continued to train him. The path has been started, now we see where it goes.
The group of samurai that Jissoji was a member of had a primary color of blue, so his blade set was blue. If wouldn’t match the armor, but as long as they worked, that was the main concern. Ando’s practice sessions could last 3-4 hours a day, and while training he became aware of places on the body that armor would be beneficial. Jissoji did not have his blue armor, but presented it back to the Emperor when he retired.
During this time, the raids did continue, so either the letter had not made it, or the emperor did not care, they were on their own. Ever since finding the armor Ando was working on, Kobo would inspect his smith shop every raid to make sure he wasn’t making any weapons or armor for anyone. It was tedious, he did have time to hide his project plans behind a false wall before the “inspection.”
So far, going by what Jissoji had remember of his armor, Ando had made a mask pattern, one that looked like Kobo’s, but different in design. His armor would be again, brown, plain and simple like the village he so loved, and he would not adorn his mask with the image of an Oni, but something else. Something that he knew would frighten Kobo, but what was he afraid of?
Jissoji taught Ando Bushido, the way of the warrior. Slowly instilling within him the positives of the samurai, and not the wrongs of the past they had committed. The book that Ando had read glorified the Samurai and even had left out some of the main tenants of being samurai. The history of the samurai is not as honorable and glorious as usually remembered. Jissoji saw this as his opportunity to train Ando, and for once in many generations, maybe a true samurai would form from this broken man, taught by an old warrior, is willing to learn to save what he loved, what, Jissoji thought, could be more honorable?
Bushido, the way of the warrior. Over the generations it had became more of a joke than the true ethical code of conduct it was originally intended to be. Ando knew nothing of the origins of the samurai, which was good, because the origins are not as romantic as have been suggested.
Bushido. The chivalrous code for the samurai, but did it withstand the test of time? No. Bushido eventually became more of an adaptation model, an ideal that was no longer tangible because of the current mindset of the samurai.
This is where Jissoji taught Ando about Ronin. They are samurai with no master (or who have conquered their own master) and roam the countryside looking for fights. Ronin were trouble, they had little honor and the code of Bushido was completely last on them.
Ando looked a bit silly with just his hat on, but Jissoji told him about samurai masks. They were often depicted as Oni (Devils\Demons) to scare away their enemy. This set about a thought in Ando’s mind again. What can I do to make Kobo terrified instantly. For that, he would have to do some work, some asking around, but lightly enough not to raise suspicion. Luckily, he was a very intelligent man, so he started on his quest, slowly making progress, although most people were afraid to speak of Kobo, because the walls all had ears that led back to him it seemed.
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Again, let me know your thoughts!
Until next time, dear readers..
