Samurai

“He is not the most reliable of steeds Revern.” A Samurai dressed in a full O-Yoroi crosses a broad marble floor towards a wizened man stood at the back of the room, stooped forward as if carrying some huge invisible weight. In the gloom the man appears to be wearing a dark purple, coarse silk robe trimmed with sable. The large hood is thrown back revealing sharp features and a wispy thin beard. Balding, his forehead juts over his deep-set eyes which are the darkest black. What hair he has is thin and unkempt; pushed back, it trickles into the hood of his robe. With his left hand, he leans heavily on a staff set on top of which is a beautifully made platinum sculpture of an eagle’s claw. His right hand is thrust deep inside his cloak.

The Samurai’s (Tuar Chan) Do-Maru (main body armour) is a blaze of different colours all of which are precious stones set into metal strips. The Kote (lower arms) and Sode (upper arms) armour are deep navy blue and have images of the 4 celestial dragons. Hintsu recognizes Tun Mi Lung, on his right Kote. A sculpture of a serpent’s neck and head rises up from the top of the Kabuto (helmet) on which is perched a platinum circle with 6 indigo gems held in place by points in the shape of tridents. A huge Daikyu is stretched across the Samurai’s back and thrust into his deep purple obi is a katana and a wakizashi.

“No my Lord, I do not believe that you should rely on him - except to unite against our enemies.” the Mage replies somewhat taken aback by the forcefulness of the Samurai’s voice and his purposeful stride. “I wonder if he always understands who the enemy is” asserts the Samurai, coming to a halt before the aging wizard and removing his helmet to reveal a perfect cue held in place with 4 ivory pins. “Ahh well, that he does…but you must understand he came from the fiery abyss to inhabit the Prime for nearly two millennia before you sent him back. She returned him, against his wishes, as a gift to Lei Kung. Do not forget, She has her own reasons…She would like nothing more than to see Gwendolyn punished.” the wizard retorts regaining his composure. “Yes, Yen-Wang Yeh has spoken of this in my dreams.” the Samurai gestures toward an image on a wall nearby of an oriental man, of Samurai class, with ebony skin wearing a yellow kimono. “Perhaps when the elf-witch tyrant is brought to justice and answers the charges before the folk that her ancestors ostracised, we may have little need for serpent wraiths.” “Patience my Lord…We have the Sea Elf and Lei Kung’s bargain with the Dragon Lords will soon be repaid. It is only a matter of time before the Witch’s castle falls and we burn her at the stake!” “Can you not control him better, or is that orb of yours just something pretty to look at?” the Samurai mocks pointing towards the bulge at the wizard’s right side. “Regrettably, the Orb has little control over Rantor – a he was or as he is now. When the time comes, I will pit the others against him if need be.” “You mean that your dark Goddess helped you bring him here but has not revealed to you how he must be sent back? You fool, Revern; does your master know of this?” Angry now, the Samurai instinctively moves to an attack position. “Be calm my Lord; Rantor will not get the better of us” the warlock hastily retorts with more confidence than he seems to feel. “Do not forget he will be sent against our foes at every opportunity and, if he survives all encounters, I will use his kind against him.” “This had better work or Malor will discover your inadequacies. She will listen to him and perhaps it will not be the Dragon’s soul she will require.”