"This is a Han-kyu, a small bow, that does't require too much strength to use effectively, but consequently is not as powerful." Kabura explained, holding out the shortbow, "This will satisfy your martial training, without you needing to pick up a heavy s…

All of our moments captured in song

All that we were has now become wrong

I will remember and we will be ever

A moment in time which has now become never

June, July, August, October, September,

Remember, remember, sixteenth of November

One afternoon, about a week after New Year's, Taka was returning elated from seeing Keshintai, when she bounced off a tall man. The man was robed in green, like the robes of a Dragon samurai, but accentuated with silver instead of gold. This man was a Man…

The festival was a great success. Exchanges of gifts were made between the Samurai families. As the bells rang they all sat and ate toshikoshi together. In the evening, Taka excused herself to prepare her fireworks for that night's display.

The display w…

I sit in the kitchen, lips still feeling the buzz as I rest my trumpet on my knee. I feel quiet, but not quite calm. My eyes find the glass of cold milk on the table beside me. As I drink it down, I can see the old clock on the wall through the bottom…

And so, Taka made her first true friend. Someone to play with after her lessons, someone to study the books and scrolls beside her, someone to talk to, to confide her feelings and her memories in.

And all the while, her lessons with Fakura continued. Und…

The ophicleide burbles on, the root, the fifth, the root

The music of the calypso starts the crowd's feet tapping

I don't know this instrument but I know what I like.

~

The Welsh say they like the unusual,

The quirky, the traditional words

And instrum…

In furious glee, the madman bursts into the room

His beard is dripping ice; his breaths form tiny clouds

His staring eyes dart round the room and soon he'll see

My huddled form, my empty hands; he'll hear the sounds

Of moaning dread that steal from my …

The silence hung there for what Taka felt was an age. She felt it clawing at her, suffocating her.

In truth it was only a few seconds before Keshintai burst out laughing, a great, heartfelt laugh. "Evil spirits? And people actually believe that stupid su…

This glass of liquid seems to weigh a ton. I about dislocated my shoulder trying to pick it up.

Why don't you give me some lighter fluid?

If you want to find your perfect enemy or adversary, look inside yourself.

You’re mad to think you’re in control here. You’re wrong to think you have any control anywhere. I’m older than you, I was here from the start, I was the one who screamed when that…

Impressions of Three Campaigns

He's eloquent, proclaiming about the dangers of infiltration, charismatic, he draw people in.

He has such a way with changing the minds of his listeners, God forbid he'll win.

She's evocative of days when I was still …

Not many people really think about it, but decisions make the world go round. It's often the small ones, like whether to buy an apple or an orange, or an Android phone or an iPhone. Windows or Mac (or Ubuntu if you like that). Chrome or Firefox.

Sometime…

We are all travelers, drifting through the cosmic sea, floating between the stars.

Some of us fly through dense galaxies, basking in the light of a hundred stars. Others dwell in deep space, gazing longingly at the distant pinpricks of light. But still …

The energy-opaque bubble triggered to protect us from the primary plasma and secondary thermobaric shockwaves from the orbital strike, the same hazards raising the projected casualty rate in the concourse to around ninety-five percent.

I reached into th…

"The children in my old village didn't see the value of reading, they all just wanted to play at being Samurai. I kinda figured it would be the same here." Keshintai continued, "Hey, I know you. We have class together. How come you don't play with the oth…

A week after Taka's extra lessons began, a branch of the Mirumoto family moved to the small village. With them came a child, Mirumoto Keshintai, a girl of Taka's age, who joined Taka's class. She was new and different and exotic, and an instant hit with t…

One afternoon, a month after the departure of the kindly courtier, Taka was reading a historical scroll telling the tale of the first day of Thunder, when her teacher, Fakura approached her.

"Taka-chan, might we speak?"

"Of course, sensei."

"I'm sure y…

"... and your nine pawns form the front rank. Rember, Shogi is a game of patience; if you do not take the time to consider your options, then you will not be the victor. Do you have any questions, or would you like to play a game?"

They played many games…

The arabesque elaborate,

With filigree to decorate,

Is haunting in its melody,

But has a forged pedigree.

The music of the Arab world

Is quite distinct; its heart is curled

Around another stable base;

The arabesque won't know its face.

Its character is …

One evening, in her ninth year, as Taka wandered the halls of her family's house, an unfamiliar voice called out to her.

"Taka-chan, this one presumes."

Turning to the open door, she was greeted by an elderly man, bearing the mons of the Doji school of …

Taka enjoyed her lessons. Her teacher, Tamori Fakura, some distant relative of her father's, was a prominent shuganja, historian, and was one of the leading crafters of fireworks in all of Rokugan. He was a wise man, who didn't judge Taka for the colour o…

Indeed the Kami spoke true. Taka had already seen her fourth Festival of New Year's Day before Heru consulted the Kami. It seemed that Heru knew in his heart all along that he could not kill his child. Wether for the protests of his wife, or the innocent …

Leneya approached the door. She could hear the sound of her husband meditating within.

"Kami, O wise and powerful Kami, I beg an audience. My heart is in turmoil, and I find myself in need of guidance."

Turmoil. Leneya smiled. She felt light tremors in …

"You should have let me kill the child, a kinder fate for all."

Heru looked down from the balcony, watching the toddler chase a fox.

"Except for our daughter, who would be dead, of course." Leneya would.

"Life is not so kind a fate, when marked by misf…