Topic: Holding to an Oath

Zhao Yun

Date: 2008-06-18 22:58 EST
He slowly rode to where he figured they would be. He spent most of the day asking people where they mainly gathered. Grey Dream reared back and onto her hind legs.

He spun his spear and charged. Slowly he took a knife with a letter tied to it. He threw it as he passed. It stuck into the intended target.

He rode off rather fast. He came and went like the wind. The note. Tied to the knife read as follows.

I am Zhao Yun. One of the Five Tiger Gernal to Lord Emperor Liu Bie. I shall put an end to your dealings and see people freed. No more will you enslave and decide a person fate. That is their own to decide.

What did that mean. Was it just some twit who had his sights on being the next to swear to remove the Slaver nation. Or would he actually do it.

GunSlayrEx1

Date: 2008-06-19 10:28 EST
::Walking toward the embedded blade, he spent a few moments reading the crude calligraphy of the Chinese script. His hand reached for his chin and scratched the beard that resided::

Zhao Yun of Shu huh...? It would appear we have an imposter or an amnesiac. The trip through space and time has left his memory cruxed.

He should already know that "true slavers" treat their property with more regard than men of his time period did with their own wives and concubines; at least we don't cut off a slave's arms when they misbehave.

::Rolls up the parchment and deposits it in the garbage... he then took the knife from its resting place and examined it::

Good knife though, Jack Burton would be proud to have a knife such as this. ::Dusts the face of the blade off a bit before slinging it into his boot::

Ma Chao

Date: 2008-06-19 18:09 EST
He rode up on his horse. He dismounted and walked up to the man.

"Forgive my friend. He hasnt been himself. Something is wrong with him yes..I think this Nexus I hear of has done somehting to him. But I will make sure He doesnt do anything to rash.."

He turned and moved to mount his horse. Something really didnt seem right about Zhao Yun.

"Liu Bie..If only you were here to aid us.."

GunSlayrEx1

Date: 2008-06-19 20:58 EST
::He mused at the warrior's words momentarily before his reply::

Just remember... your service to Liu Bei (pronouncing it as as Lao Bpee) should not blind you to the truth.

Liu Bei sought to return to the prosperous times of the Han Dynasty, a golden age which was brought forth upon by unfair treatment of the common class...

An age where women were essentially property of their husbands and barely had influence within the walls of their own house... where a wife's arms could be cut off for food to serve a guest if you had no meat to provide.

How is that any more barbaric than your perception of "slavery?"

Contemplate that warrior... and keep your friend from doing something foolish.

::Turned at that, and walked away back into the Kurii::

Ma Chao

Date: 2008-06-19 21:01 EST
"That isnt true. Such things are lies. MY Lord Liu Bie wouldnt ever return the Han to such a state. He loved the people. And would let such things happen."

He turned to look at him.

GunSlayrEx1

Date: 2008-06-19 21:29 EST
::Continues walking away but turns his head over his shoulder to speak::

If that were true, he would not have made the Peach Garden Oath with his "brothers" but instead to the people all that he said he would serve. He would have valued every life that drew a sword to his cause and accepted their fates as his own. He would have reprimanded every commoner who ever treated their wife, daughter, or niece like animals without a good reason... and yet he did nothing... why? Because it was the common practice.

And further yet, what happened after Guan Yu (he pronounced Gwan Ooh) was beheaded... he didn't even honor that promise to his "brother in spirit."

Do not "romanticize" your views, for they blind you from what is.

Ma Chao

Date: 2008-06-19 21:33 EST
"Guan Yu was murdered by Wu and Wei. Liu Bie made that oath to his brother for they all agreed to help the people."

He didnt like this. He should slay this man for slandering the name of Liu Bie. But he stayed his blade.

HX-909-A

Date: 2008-06-19 21:48 EST
Hex was watching the scene intently from the top of the Tavern. As Hex was leaving for the compound, the machine had seen the horseman throw the dagger at the Kurii. This had gotten Hex's attention immediately, but by the time the machine had landed on the roof of the building, Zhao Yun had already rode off.

Now there was a newcomer, apparantly an associate of the horseman, and was speaking with Gunner. Hex could even see the emotions and conflict play across this new warrior's face. The machine's body tensed, scythe-blade limbs unfolding from it's thorax and brought to the ready, one blade reflecting the moonlight to the scene below.

Hex waited to see what happened, and if it would need to kill...

GunSlayrEx1

Date: 2008-06-19 21:50 EST
Incorrect... Guan Yu was killed in battle because his sword arm was weak from the a poison inflicted upon him that never fully healed.

Beheaded by Wu, his murderers sought to "frame" Wei and displayed his body in front of Wei territory. ::Chuckles:: At least Cao Cao had the decency give him the proper burial he deserved... for even if he was his enemy... he at least recognized a man of true character.

The Oath also swore that they die upon the same day, even if they were not born in the same month or year.

Tell me sir... did it transpire that way?

Did Liu Bei avenge his brother's death... and put the vendetta above his true goal to unite the Three Kingdoms, that you say you believe in?

Ma Chao

Date: 2008-06-19 22:10 EST
"You see it through his eyes. Wouldnt you be upset at hearing your brother was murdered. Wouldnt you seek revenge as well. Zhao Yun tried to stop them."

He looked to him more intent.

"His goal was to unite the land yes but he had to do what was needed. Would you do no less."

He never questioned his lord. Disagreed yes. But he knew it was always for something better did he act.

GunSlayrEx1

Date: 2008-06-19 22:35 EST
Ideals and goals first, revenge later... that is what separates the antagonists from protagonists in stories.

I do not seek to unite a land. I have no qualms for power, or greed, or amassing meaningless things as wealth. I was a soldier that lived through Vietnam and through the Harbinger Wars under Toyo Harada.

A victim to demonic misconsultation that shall die in 346 days because of mistaken identity in exchange for youth. I pick my friends, because I know they would not bat a lash in my death if it got in the way of their goals.

You are in a strange land... and you do not realize the deceit that resides on both sides of the forces of what you may deem as good or evil. You should really take a look at the world around you... and compare it to the world you come from...

So tell me... are women treated as equals to men where you come from? Can they act as their own head of household? Are they seen as equals in battle? Can they hold governmental office?

Do you really feel... that one man could change generations of how men treated women? Then ask yourself... is that any better than how you see slavery?

Ma Chao

Date: 2008-06-19 22:42 EST
"We...I...They.."

He was conflicted. He pulled back on the reigns of his horse and rode off fast and hard. He needed to consult with Zhao Yun. Something he had to ask would be cleared this day.

GunSlayrEx1

Date: 2008-06-19 23:03 EST
And as the man galloped off into the dust, the veteran moved back into the Kurii; a head nodding to Hex as he parted through the open doorway.

Striding back to his seat at the table, a book was retreived by his eager hand from a satchel.

Opening the contents of the book, nearby patrons could read the title... "War and Peace" upon the side.

Lord Brutin

Date: 2008-06-20 14:00 EST
Brutin stood before the group of magistrates assigned to the marketplace and smiled. They looked at him like he was crazy. He only smiled in return.

"Very well, I will repeat myself. There are two gentlemen that like galloping their horses at full speed in the marketplace. While a marketplace is closed and cramped with vendors and their consumers, they can only mean to trample innocents. I want them apprehended should they bring their horses back into the marketplace. After all, they represent a danger to the free people of Rhydin, menaces really. I would entirely understand if at the time of their apprehension you were to beat into them the severity of their actions, for no action is ever accomplished without an equal reaction."

Brutin smiled to himself as he passed over a tray of coin purses, one for each man on the detail. The men grudgingly took the purses and hid them upon their persons. The Magistrates of RhyDin were accused of being corrupt. But to Brutin who knew the truth...

They were just men.