Toshi's Past: Part II

One fateful day while he and his mother was carrying on his lesson, a strange sound reverberated from the surrounding hills. Then, a pillar of smoke arose in the direction of the village. Fearing the worse, Toshi's mother ordered him to run and find a place to hide and she would return when things were safe. He did as told and hid in a collection of bushes. After a long time, he began to worry about his mother. It had been hours since she left for the village. He was about to leave his hiding place when he heard a group of men laughing and cackling. He returned to his hiding place when he realized that they were bandits. They carried food and other goods stolen from the village. Worse than that, they carried slaves mostly the women and children in a large iron cage atop of a large wooden cart. Among the captives he saw his mother as the slave wagon passed. He wanted to cry out for her but was afraid of being captured as well. Nearing the rear of this bandit's victory parade was the leader of the group, Killan The Terrible. He was the more horrible person that Toshi had seen in his entire life. Killan was a massive individual as legend had proclaimed. Toshi's father had told horrible stories of his infamy. He killed without mercy and stole whatever he could get his dirty hand upon. During raids, he likes to take the women as his slaves or make them his concubines. Legend has it that he sits on a throne of stolen treasure, laughing at suffering by his hands. As the bandits continue down the path, he hurried to the his home, hoping for survivors. What he saw was too horrible for human consumption. The entire village was burned to the ground. Small fires were still burning around him The villagers' blood soaked and strained the ground a deep red. Bodies were scattered to the winds. The entire male population were wiped out in a blink. There were a few women among the corpses, probably those who resisted. As he walked horrified by the merciless slaughter, he notice a figure tied to a large oak atop a small hill. He ran to see who it was only to stop midway in horror upon realizing. The figure who was bound to the tree was his our father. "Father!!!", Toshi screamed as he ran to his father's aid. Quickly untying the ropes, he then laid his father on the ground. He was barely alive because would not welcome death so easily. He beckoned his son forward to him and said "Toshi, you will become a great man someday and will live on to do great things. Do not be sadden about my death, for you are the son of a great warrior. You continue to live your life with honor as your mother and I have taught you." Toshi pleaded to his father not to die. Toshi's father continued; "You must find my master Junbei Kuno, he will continue you training from now on. Fight well, my little...." Yet before he could finish, Toshi's father gasped his last breath and expired. Toshi's dam of emotions burst and he cried upon the body of his dead father. He soon after began to bury the bodies of his people. People who had known him for before he was born. As he continued his morbid task, he made a pledge that he would never rest until Killan paid for his crimes. "Killan will know the pain I felt on this day" Toshi proclaimed to the heaven and the gods who resided there. After his gruesome job was finished, he gathered some food, a knife and other supplies and started on his journey to find Master Kuno. He promise to return here with Killan's head on a stick.

Toshi's Past

Toshi's life begins in a small but modest village near the border of the Jiang-la province. His father was a high ranking soldier, now a magistrate for the entire province. His mother was a local healer, who specialized in potions and ointments made from common herbs and plants. His childhood was a happy one where he played in the great hills and plains outside the village. His father would teach him the art of war and combat. Every day, Toshi and his father would go to a secluded clearing in the forest and train for hours upon end. Toshi father was a stern and determined teacher, and wouldn't not go easy on his son. His mother taught him how read and write, as well as cook and sew. They would go on walks and looks for different herbs, plants, mushrooms and other ingredients for medicine. His parent taught him so much of the world around him. Being that the village was close to the border, many travelers from different lands come though on the way to the capital of Ziang-chi. He would go and listen to their stories in the marketplace. He would listen for what seemed to be hours about different cultures and countries. The seed of wanderlust was planted and soon to flourish. ...

The Beginning

Silence was all that Toshi heard as he walked through the bambo forest. Darkness began to wrap its black veil about him. The nearest village was miles away, so he decided to set up camp in a far off clearing. He set traps about the clearing and was rewarded for his efforts with a tasty quail. As he ate his prized catch, he began to think about his past. Why did he chose this path and what has it brought him in return. The life of a wanderer is a lonely profession, where dangers are at every turn and everyday is a new adventure. Wanderers are seen as mercentary or soliders of fortune traveling from city to city seeking employment. Many wander for profit, while other wander in order to seek enlightenment. Toshi wanders for another reason. He wanders a greater purpose and it's all starts from the beginning.....