Post by Uesugi Norimasa on Feb 4, 2013 13:21:15 GMT -5
Out of Character
Name: Uesugi / ivel / Brad
Other characters: Itsuki Sato
In Character
Name: Uesugi Norimasa
Aliases: Youjinbukai (Watchful)
Race: Human
Age: 26
Gender: Male
Occupation/Class: Daimyo
Orientation: Straight
Physical Description:
Personality Description: Norimasa is a very cautious and observant man. He has spent much of his life studying under the Ashikaga, specifically Ise no Kami, one of the top swordsmen in the nation. Ise no Kami played quite a father figure to Norimasa, and so Norimasa retains a lot of his qualities.
Norimasa is a very calm, and collected person. His eyes express sympathy with ease and show the soul of a man who truly cares. His eyes sparkle with a love for life and the will to preserve it. While he respects life, he also sees the necessity in ending it. It is the circle of all things. They are created and they are destroyed. Nothing in this realm is invinciblel, or infinite, except perhaps the mind itself.
Norimasa loves the outdoors and loves to go hawking, which is the sport of hunting with a hawk. It is this skill that represents his strengths as a warrior. The ability to wait. The ability to oversee the surrounding land and observe a situation from ways away. These are just a few of the things he relies on to succeed in war. He is a very loving and kind person, yet very rigid and unmovable. Some might even say he is sometimes stubborn.
Norimasa respects all who come his way, regardless of status. If a commoner writes him a letter requesting audience, he will at least respond. If they write a letter that deeply interests or moves him, he will even grant their request. He enjoys hearing the qualms of others, so that he may help them to fix their issues.
Although Norimasa very much likes to study the arts and philosophy of war and life, he also likes to cut loose and enjoy some entertainment once in a while. He truly enjoys the sound of Tsugaru Shamisen and hires many different artisans for Court entertainers. When he is not on the battle-field or playing the role of Command in Chief, he likes to star gaze and walk along the river beds that surround Hirai Castle.
Likes: The suns rays. The moons beams. The forests. The mountain tops. Snow. The little squigglies that appear in your eyes. Hawking. Studying Confucian Classics. Meditation. Fishing. Horse-back Riding. Shamisen. Sake, occasionally. Sushi. Fashion. Swordplay.
Dislikes: People with a lack of loyalty and honesty. People who abuse animals. People who wish to harm innocents. A poorly constructed blade. Undercooked rice. Overcooked rice. Octopus.
History: Uesugi Norimasa was the son of Uesugi Norifusa, and born of a long line of political influence spanning back to the 9th century AD. His family lineage also intersects with that of the Ashikaga, giving him quite the upper hand when it comes to matters of the Shogunate.
Norimasa was born on a warm spring day in Hirai Castle in the province of Mutsu. The light shined so bright through the partitioned rice-paper doors, the soft pale skin of the boy glowed within the light. As soon as he had escaped the womb, his eyes were open, giving him his child-hood nickname, Yojinbukai, meaning "watchful". Norimasa couldn't have known just how fitting it would be for the young daimyo heir.
At the age of eight, Norimasa's father was commanded by the Ashikaga Shogunate to allow them to hold his son captive as collateral to prove that their alliance would remain true. Though his father detested the idea, it was not an uncommon practice for daimyo or samurai fathers to be required to send their children away. Norimasa would never see his father again.
The boy was picked up in the style befitting his class. A troop of men clad in tatami armor and decorated formal robes arrived at his door with a carriage. After collecting all of his belongings, and carrying his first wakazashi with him, Norimasa bowed to his father, showing no fear, and took his seat within the carriage. It was a long way from Mutsu no Kuni to Yamashiro no Kuni, but staying at the Ashikaga Shogunate Capital of Kyoto would provide the best education Norimasa could have received.
By the age of nine, Norimasa was able to recite the Confucian Classics and swing a full sized katana with ease. Though he had not much technicality, Shogun Ashikaga Yoshiharu found himself impressed with the boys potential. Norimasa was restricted to a strict routine involving hours upon hours of philosophical study and meditation every day. He studied the culture of Japan, the religion of the land, and the way of the warrior. He took particular interest into the study of mystics and philosophy.
At the age of thirteen Norimasa was quite adept with the katana and once lacking technique, could now take on people almost twice his age in duels. Age is but only a number though, and Norimasa knew this. He may not have truly been better than them. Perhaps they were being kind because he was young, but he could never understand why. It would be unusual for his master and his training partners to be so relaxed with him, so lacking in discipline. Could he truly be better? Could it be true that the Ashikaga aren't the best around? It was no matter. Norimasa continued his training and his studies for years to come.
There was a period in Norimasa's adolesence, around the age of 16, in which Norimasa became slightly arrogant. He demanded duels from complete strangers while he walked the streets. It was no matter if they were samurai or simple ronin, he was constantly competing to prove himself. The idea of his training partners allowing him to win haunted him in his sleep and crept in to his self-esteem. "Am I truly better than them?" he would often think to himself. The only way he felt necessary to prove it, was to challenge those whom he had no connections to. If he needed to pick a fight, so be it.
He gained quite a reputation around Yamashiro, in the Capital especially. The Ashikaga weren't too fond of this reputation, but he was their captive and so long as he studied and trained in the ways of war, he was respected and left alone. He never truly caused any trouble. Though he was sometimes arrogant, he was never rude, nor did he overstep any boundaries. He would never challenge those in a higher position than he, for that could get him killed for simple insubordination. He always remained loyal to the Ashikaga, performing any dull menial task they requested of him. That is until they felt he was well enough trained to finally join the ranks of their army. The idea of joining the military ranks excited Norimasa. He wanted to prove through his skill that he was like a God - invincible.
Fighting in tournaments and duels became the highlight of Norimasa's stay by the time he was 19. One night, right before a significant duel of Norimasa's at the Ashikaga Capital, Norimasa received news of his fathers death. Norimasa was devastated, but he knew through his studies that the way of the warrior yields such ends. He changed his outlook that day. He saw the unification of a country that was at constant war. A nation in which people no longer needed to be terrified or sad 300 days out of the year. It was his fate and his destiny to set this nation on the right path. That night he spoke with his master, Ise no Kami, about the trivialities of life. He asked about the meaning of the Bushido, it's purpose. Why we must study in the way of the Bushido and why we must practice it. Norimasa would never forget the answer he recieved. Ise no Kami, knowing Norimasa's reputation, proclaimed,
"The purpose of the Bushido is not only for physical protection, but mental expansion and the purification of the soul. We must learn the way of Bushido because we are not invincible. Invincible is nothing but a word. Legacy goes far beyond invincibility."
Ise no Kami's voice still rang clear in Norimasa's mind when he returned to his home in the province of Mutsu at the age of 20 as the appointed Kanto Kanrei, or Governor of the Kanto Region. The journey from Yamashiro, which he now called his home, to Mutsu, ironically an almost foreign nation, seemed to take three times longer than the first time he'd traveled. Had something changed in the pathways to get there? Or had he simply gotten heavier?
Upon arriving, Norimasa was presented with his fathers belongings as soon as he entered Hirai Castle. His father's slightly damaged, but still beautiful and vibrant o-yoroi. The sword his father had specially made, nearly unbreakable, rigid, yet with the flexibility of a young sapling. It had a beautiful deep blue shine beneath the gleaming silver overtones. The handle was wrapped with the softest fabric, yet allowed for perfect grip and sat beneath a beautifully crafted golden hilt, which was formed to the shape of the Uesugi crest.
Norimasa soon learned that Ise no Kami was correct in saying the way of Bushido was not only about battle, for he was learning there is far more strategy and mindfulness involved in being a daimyo. Not only was he taking care of the family, nobility, and military that he oversaw - he now felt obligated to ensure that the people of his province, and eventually all of Japan, were given a peaceful and happy life to live. Though there are many sacrifices to be made, and battles to be faught to achieve this future, he knows the means justify the end.
The first significant battle Norimasa played a part in was the battle with fellow Uesugi clan member, Uesugi Tomosada of the Ogigayatsu faction, and the Ashikaga at the Battle of Kawagoe Castle at Musashi no Kuni. May 19th, 1546. It was the 22nd year of Norimasa's life. He had seen battle before, and he had dueled countless times - but this was the first time he truly configured and lead an army into battle. At the Battle of Kawagoe Castle, Tomosada and Norimasa attempted to seize control of the Hojo ruled Kawagoe Castle in Musashi no Kuni.
When the Uesugi-Ashikaga forces besieged Kawagoe Castle on Oct. 31, 1545, they numbered roughly 70,000-80,000 men to the 3,000 in the castle garrison, led by Houjou Tsunashige. (One account says that all the daimyo of the Kantou except Chiba Toshitane of Shimousa participated.) Ujiyasu led a reinforcement force of 8,000 from Sagami, and the fighting was locked in stalemate for several months. Kushima Tsunahiro (Tsunashige's younger brother), who was in Ujiyasu's reinforcement force, sent a single horseman to slip through the Uesugi-Ashikaga forces into the castle to coordinate a surprise attack.
Ujiyasu sent a false offer of surrender to the Uesugi army. Instead of accepting it, they attacked the Houjou fiercely. Ujiyasu pulled back, luring the enemy into believing they had the battle in hand. On the night of May 19, Ujiyasu split his 8,000 troops into four companies. One of them he left under the leadership of Tame Mototada with the command that it would not move until the end of the battle. Ujiyasu led the other three companies, traveling lightly without armor, into the enemy camp at midnight. The Uesugi-Ashikaga army collapsed in pandemonium. Uesugi Tomosada was killed. When Tame Mototada saw from behind Ujiyasu that he had thrust too far in, he sounded a conch shell to warn Ujiyasu and pull him back. On the other hand, Tsunashige, who had been watching over the battle from inside the castle, led his troops into Ashikaga Haruuji's army, shouting "We've won! We've won!" Occupied with Ujiyasu's army and completely unprepared, the Ashikaga army was routed. The total number of dead on the Uesugi-Ashikaga side reached 13,000 according to some accounts.
As a result of his failure at Kawagoe Castle, Uesugi Norimasa at the age of 23 has decided to retreat to his castle in Mutsu for the time being to study military strategy. He is very ashamed for his loss, especially since their alliance had an overwhelming force. Norimasa feels a strong need to form and strengthen alliances in order to create a cohesive force. He has returned to his strict scheduling of studying his enemies, military strategy and tactic, philosophy and sword training, and occasionally takes time to practice the sport of hawking as well. Aside from studying politics and military strategy, Norimasa also took a very large interest in mysticism. He believes sometimes the will of the Gods can be shown through every day events, and has even gone so far as to include Mystics to his Court Staff in the castle of Hirai.
Strengths/Weaknesses:
Weapons/Armor: Though he often fights single handed with one katana, it is not unusual to see him with both his katana and wakazashi drawn on the battle field. If he is in full o-yoroi, he will generally use just his katana for mobility purposes. Usually fights on horseback if in battle.
Norimasa has not trained very heavily in hand to hand combat but has picked up some techniques from the Ikko-Ikke of his hometown area.
Techinques: Hidden Blade Technique - Uesugi Norimasa is famous for his quick hands with the sword. He often likes to trick his opponents into believing he is reaching for only his Katana, when in reality he has grabbed his Wakazashi as well in the other hand. While they are focused on blocking the first blade, Norimasa follows up with the second.
Other: Norimasa loves to dance when he is drunk.
RP Sample:
"It is foolish to fight for power over people...[/i][/color][/size]
The sun was high in the sky, though lower than it had seemed only moments ago. Sun set was nearing, though Norimasa wished he could keep hawking all through the night. He peered through the slight mist in the sky to make out the silhouette of Ikuro, his trained hunting hawk. As Ikuro drew near, Norimasa noticed something dangling in the grasp of her talons. It appeared about 2/3 the size of Ikuro, a fair catch for a hawk her size.
He stared in awe at the beauty of her grace as she swooned and swooped left and right with the prey, tilting her body back and her wings forth in order to slow to a hover. When she did this, she lowered her altitude and dropped the trophy directly in front of Norimasa[/b]. Being that it was mangled by Ikuro's razor sharp talons, it was somewhat difficult to make out. He looked back up to the sky to see Ikuro circling the sky about him. Norimasa pursed his lips, out stretching his fore-arm to the beautiful hawk while he whistled to grasp it's attention.
Ikuro nose dived toward him, but with great control slowed herself down and perched atop Norimasa's leather clad arm. He had to wear the leather gauntlet to keep Ikuro's daily sharpened claws from piercing his skin. He did after all use his right arm, which was his sword-hand, to carry her. Having damage done to it would be detrimental to any future victory he may have foreseen.
Ikuro was a beautiful light brown, the oils of her feathers reflecting the light into a multi-color array of the visual spectrum. On her feathers sat the simple repetitious pattern of darker brown spots, outlined with somewhat of a cream color. Her head was bold, but narrow towards the beak. The tip of her beak curved sharply downward, almost like the nose of a yokai from mythical lore. The feathers upon her head were thinning or lost due to many scrupulous fights with various forest dwelling animals.
"Great work today Ikuro," he said as he stroked the feathers atop her head. She titled her head accordingly to Norimasa[/color]'s directional choice of petting. "but it's getting dark now and there is much work to be done at the castle."
Name: Uesugi / ivel / Brad
Other characters: Itsuki Sato
In Character
Name: Uesugi Norimasa
Aliases: Youjinbukai (Watchful)
Race: Human
Age: 26
Gender: Male
Occupation/Class: Daimyo
Orientation: Straight
Physical Description:
Personality Description: Norimasa is a very cautious and observant man. He has spent much of his life studying under the Ashikaga, specifically Ise no Kami, one of the top swordsmen in the nation. Ise no Kami played quite a father figure to Norimasa, and so Norimasa retains a lot of his qualities.
Norimasa is a very calm, and collected person. His eyes express sympathy with ease and show the soul of a man who truly cares. His eyes sparkle with a love for life and the will to preserve it. While he respects life, he also sees the necessity in ending it. It is the circle of all things. They are created and they are destroyed. Nothing in this realm is invinciblel, or infinite, except perhaps the mind itself.
Norimasa loves the outdoors and loves to go hawking, which is the sport of hunting with a hawk. It is this skill that represents his strengths as a warrior. The ability to wait. The ability to oversee the surrounding land and observe a situation from ways away. These are just a few of the things he relies on to succeed in war. He is a very loving and kind person, yet very rigid and unmovable. Some might even say he is sometimes stubborn.
Norimasa respects all who come his way, regardless of status. If a commoner writes him a letter requesting audience, he will at least respond. If they write a letter that deeply interests or moves him, he will even grant their request. He enjoys hearing the qualms of others, so that he may help them to fix their issues.
Although Norimasa very much likes to study the arts and philosophy of war and life, he also likes to cut loose and enjoy some entertainment once in a while. He truly enjoys the sound of Tsugaru Shamisen and hires many different artisans for Court entertainers. When he is not on the battle-field or playing the role of Command in Chief, he likes to star gaze and walk along the river beds that surround Hirai Castle.
Likes: The suns rays. The moons beams. The forests. The mountain tops. Snow. The little squigglies that appear in your eyes. Hawking. Studying Confucian Classics. Meditation. Fishing. Horse-back Riding. Shamisen. Sake, occasionally. Sushi. Fashion. Swordplay.
Dislikes: People with a lack of loyalty and honesty. People who abuse animals. People who wish to harm innocents. A poorly constructed blade. Undercooked rice. Overcooked rice. Octopus.
History: Uesugi Norimasa was the son of Uesugi Norifusa, and born of a long line of political influence spanning back to the 9th century AD. His family lineage also intersects with that of the Ashikaga, giving him quite the upper hand when it comes to matters of the Shogunate.
Norimasa was born on a warm spring day in Hirai Castle in the province of Mutsu. The light shined so bright through the partitioned rice-paper doors, the soft pale skin of the boy glowed within the light. As soon as he had escaped the womb, his eyes were open, giving him his child-hood nickname, Yojinbukai, meaning "watchful". Norimasa couldn't have known just how fitting it would be for the young daimyo heir.
At the age of eight, Norimasa's father was commanded by the Ashikaga Shogunate to allow them to hold his son captive as collateral to prove that their alliance would remain true. Though his father detested the idea, it was not an uncommon practice for daimyo or samurai fathers to be required to send their children away. Norimasa would never see his father again.
The boy was picked up in the style befitting his class. A troop of men clad in tatami armor and decorated formal robes arrived at his door with a carriage. After collecting all of his belongings, and carrying his first wakazashi with him, Norimasa bowed to his father, showing no fear, and took his seat within the carriage. It was a long way from Mutsu no Kuni to Yamashiro no Kuni, but staying at the Ashikaga Shogunate Capital of Kyoto would provide the best education Norimasa could have received.
By the age of nine, Norimasa was able to recite the Confucian Classics and swing a full sized katana with ease. Though he had not much technicality, Shogun Ashikaga Yoshiharu found himself impressed with the boys potential. Norimasa was restricted to a strict routine involving hours upon hours of philosophical study and meditation every day. He studied the culture of Japan, the religion of the land, and the way of the warrior. He took particular interest into the study of mystics and philosophy.
At the age of thirteen Norimasa was quite adept with the katana and once lacking technique, could now take on people almost twice his age in duels. Age is but only a number though, and Norimasa knew this. He may not have truly been better than them. Perhaps they were being kind because he was young, but he could never understand why. It would be unusual for his master and his training partners to be so relaxed with him, so lacking in discipline. Could he truly be better? Could it be true that the Ashikaga aren't the best around? It was no matter. Norimasa continued his training and his studies for years to come.
There was a period in Norimasa's adolesence, around the age of 16, in which Norimasa became slightly arrogant. He demanded duels from complete strangers while he walked the streets. It was no matter if they were samurai or simple ronin, he was constantly competing to prove himself. The idea of his training partners allowing him to win haunted him in his sleep and crept in to his self-esteem. "Am I truly better than them?" he would often think to himself. The only way he felt necessary to prove it, was to challenge those whom he had no connections to. If he needed to pick a fight, so be it.
He gained quite a reputation around Yamashiro, in the Capital especially. The Ashikaga weren't too fond of this reputation, but he was their captive and so long as he studied and trained in the ways of war, he was respected and left alone. He never truly caused any trouble. Though he was sometimes arrogant, he was never rude, nor did he overstep any boundaries. He would never challenge those in a higher position than he, for that could get him killed for simple insubordination. He always remained loyal to the Ashikaga, performing any dull menial task they requested of him. That is until they felt he was well enough trained to finally join the ranks of their army. The idea of joining the military ranks excited Norimasa. He wanted to prove through his skill that he was like a God - invincible.
Fighting in tournaments and duels became the highlight of Norimasa's stay by the time he was 19. One night, right before a significant duel of Norimasa's at the Ashikaga Capital, Norimasa received news of his fathers death. Norimasa was devastated, but he knew through his studies that the way of the warrior yields such ends. He changed his outlook that day. He saw the unification of a country that was at constant war. A nation in which people no longer needed to be terrified or sad 300 days out of the year. It was his fate and his destiny to set this nation on the right path. That night he spoke with his master, Ise no Kami, about the trivialities of life. He asked about the meaning of the Bushido, it's purpose. Why we must study in the way of the Bushido and why we must practice it. Norimasa would never forget the answer he recieved. Ise no Kami, knowing Norimasa's reputation, proclaimed,
"The purpose of the Bushido is not only for physical protection, but mental expansion and the purification of the soul. We must learn the way of Bushido because we are not invincible. Invincible is nothing but a word. Legacy goes far beyond invincibility."
Ise no Kami's voice still rang clear in Norimasa's mind when he returned to his home in the province of Mutsu at the age of 20 as the appointed Kanto Kanrei, or Governor of the Kanto Region. The journey from Yamashiro, which he now called his home, to Mutsu, ironically an almost foreign nation, seemed to take three times longer than the first time he'd traveled. Had something changed in the pathways to get there? Or had he simply gotten heavier?
Upon arriving, Norimasa was presented with his fathers belongings as soon as he entered Hirai Castle. His father's slightly damaged, but still beautiful and vibrant o-yoroi. The sword his father had specially made, nearly unbreakable, rigid, yet with the flexibility of a young sapling. It had a beautiful deep blue shine beneath the gleaming silver overtones. The handle was wrapped with the softest fabric, yet allowed for perfect grip and sat beneath a beautifully crafted golden hilt, which was formed to the shape of the Uesugi crest.
Norimasa soon learned that Ise no Kami was correct in saying the way of Bushido was not only about battle, for he was learning there is far more strategy and mindfulness involved in being a daimyo. Not only was he taking care of the family, nobility, and military that he oversaw - he now felt obligated to ensure that the people of his province, and eventually all of Japan, were given a peaceful and happy life to live. Though there are many sacrifices to be made, and battles to be faught to achieve this future, he knows the means justify the end.
The first significant battle Norimasa played a part in was the battle with fellow Uesugi clan member, Uesugi Tomosada of the Ogigayatsu faction, and the Ashikaga at the Battle of Kawagoe Castle at Musashi no Kuni. May 19th, 1546. It was the 22nd year of Norimasa's life. He had seen battle before, and he had dueled countless times - but this was the first time he truly configured and lead an army into battle. At the Battle of Kawagoe Castle, Tomosada and Norimasa attempted to seize control of the Hojo ruled Kawagoe Castle in Musashi no Kuni.
When the Uesugi-Ashikaga forces besieged Kawagoe Castle on Oct. 31, 1545, they numbered roughly 70,000-80,000 men to the 3,000 in the castle garrison, led by Houjou Tsunashige. (One account says that all the daimyo of the Kantou except Chiba Toshitane of Shimousa participated.) Ujiyasu led a reinforcement force of 8,000 from Sagami, and the fighting was locked in stalemate for several months. Kushima Tsunahiro (Tsunashige's younger brother), who was in Ujiyasu's reinforcement force, sent a single horseman to slip through the Uesugi-Ashikaga forces into the castle to coordinate a surprise attack.
Ujiyasu sent a false offer of surrender to the Uesugi army. Instead of accepting it, they attacked the Houjou fiercely. Ujiyasu pulled back, luring the enemy into believing they had the battle in hand. On the night of May 19, Ujiyasu split his 8,000 troops into four companies. One of them he left under the leadership of Tame Mototada with the command that it would not move until the end of the battle. Ujiyasu led the other three companies, traveling lightly without armor, into the enemy camp at midnight. The Uesugi-Ashikaga army collapsed in pandemonium. Uesugi Tomosada was killed. When Tame Mototada saw from behind Ujiyasu that he had thrust too far in, he sounded a conch shell to warn Ujiyasu and pull him back. On the other hand, Tsunashige, who had been watching over the battle from inside the castle, led his troops into Ashikaga Haruuji's army, shouting "We've won! We've won!" Occupied with Ujiyasu's army and completely unprepared, the Ashikaga army was routed. The total number of dead on the Uesugi-Ashikaga side reached 13,000 according to some accounts.
As a result of his failure at Kawagoe Castle, Uesugi Norimasa at the age of 23 has decided to retreat to his castle in Mutsu for the time being to study military strategy. He is very ashamed for his loss, especially since their alliance had an overwhelming force. Norimasa feels a strong need to form and strengthen alliances in order to create a cohesive force. He has returned to his strict scheduling of studying his enemies, military strategy and tactic, philosophy and sword training, and occasionally takes time to practice the sport of hawking as well. Aside from studying politics and military strategy, Norimasa also took a very large interest in mysticism. He believes sometimes the will of the Gods can be shown through every day events, and has even gone so far as to include Mystics to his Court Staff in the castle of Hirai.
Strengths/Weaknesses:
Weapons/Armor: Though he often fights single handed with one katana, it is not unusual to see him with both his katana and wakazashi drawn on the battle field. If he is in full o-yoroi, he will generally use just his katana for mobility purposes. Usually fights on horseback if in battle.
Norimasa has not trained very heavily in hand to hand combat but has picked up some techniques from the Ikko-Ikke of his hometown area.
Techinques: Hidden Blade Technique - Uesugi Norimasa is famous for his quick hands with the sword. He often likes to trick his opponents into believing he is reaching for only his Katana, when in reality he has grabbed his Wakazashi as well in the other hand. While they are focused on blocking the first blade, Norimasa follows up with the second.
Other: Norimasa loves to dance when he is drunk.
RP Sample:
"It is foolish to fight for power over people...[/i][/color][/size]
▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃ ▃ ▃▃▃▃ ▃ ▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃ ▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃ ▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃ ▃▃
The sun was high in the sky, though lower than it had seemed only moments ago. Sun set was nearing, though Norimasa wished he could keep hawking all through the night. He peered through the slight mist in the sky to make out the silhouette of Ikuro, his trained hunting hawk. As Ikuro drew near, Norimasa noticed something dangling in the grasp of her talons. It appeared about 2/3 the size of Ikuro, a fair catch for a hawk her size.
He stared in awe at the beauty of her grace as she swooned and swooped left and right with the prey, tilting her body back and her wings forth in order to slow to a hover. When she did this, she lowered her altitude and dropped the trophy directly in front of Norimasa[/b]. Being that it was mangled by Ikuro's razor sharp talons, it was somewhat difficult to make out. He looked back up to the sky to see Ikuro circling the sky about him. Norimasa pursed his lips, out stretching his fore-arm to the beautiful hawk while he whistled to grasp it's attention.
Ikuro nose dived toward him, but with great control slowed herself down and perched atop Norimasa's leather clad arm. He had to wear the leather gauntlet to keep Ikuro's daily sharpened claws from piercing his skin. He did after all use his right arm, which was his sword-hand, to carry her. Having damage done to it would be detrimental to any future victory he may have foreseen.
Ikuro was a beautiful light brown, the oils of her feathers reflecting the light into a multi-color array of the visual spectrum. On her feathers sat the simple repetitious pattern of darker brown spots, outlined with somewhat of a cream color. Her head was bold, but narrow towards the beak. The tip of her beak curved sharply downward, almost like the nose of a yokai from mythical lore. The feathers upon her head were thinning or lost due to many scrupulous fights with various forest dwelling animals.
"Great work today Ikuro," he said as he stroked the feathers atop her head. She titled her head accordingly to Norimasa[/color]'s directional choice of petting. "but it's getting dark now and there is much work to be done at the castle."
▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃ ▃ ▃▃▃▃ ▃ ▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃ ▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃ ▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃ ▃▃
rather than stand for the unity of the people."
[/i]