voice;

[ahappylie]

In my country we have a lot of stories of famous historical figures - some whose tales have grown as they have become more legend than person.

Take, for example, the Tale of Musashino Benkei. He was a rugged monk and ascetic who grew to a monstrous height. Benkei was famed for his feats of strength and decided to gather 1,000 swords by defeating 1,000 samurai as they crossed a bridge. He fought day after day, defeating famous, feared warrior after warrior and collecting 999 swords.

But then, one day, a young man came across his bridge. Benkei challenged him to a duel as he had with countless braver, bigger men before him. The boy took out a flute and accepted the challenge.

And soundly beat Benkei.

The boy was Minamoto no Yoshitsune, who having been raised by the tengu, was endowed with their skill in the sword. Benkei was so taken in by the young man that he pledged his loyalty to him forever. Benkei and Lord Yoshitsune fought many trials together as they tried to reclaim the Minamoto's birthright.

However, the Lord and his retainer were betrayed by Yoshitsune's older brother, Yoritomo, who feared Yoshitsune's popularity and skill would cost him power. He chased Lord Yoshitsune and Benkei across Japan, cornering them in a mountain castle. Knowing that there was no escape, Yoshitsune retreated to the innermost castle to commit seppuku while Benkei, ever loyal and fierce, guarded the only entrance - a single bridge.

He killed dozens of men trying to cross and take Lord Yoshitsune's head. Defeating each as easily as he had back on that fateful day when he first met his young lord. Lord Yoritomo's forces grew afraid and were ordered to take Benkei down the only way they knew how - with arrows. They loosed flight after flight at him, enough to darken the sky, and yet he still stood, his weapon at his side to protect the bridge.

It wasn't until they ran out of arrows that they realized...

Benkei had died long ago, but his valor and his loyalty had kept him upright, giving Lord Yoshitsune time to commit seppuku rather than be taken by the enemy. His story is still told today, in my time, as a symbol of true loyalty and devotion to a cause a person.

[He takes a deep breath after speaking for so long. It whistles a little in his lungs, but he manages not to cough.]

Do you have any such stories? Famous people or groups? I'd love to hear them. It would be a nice break from all the loud music.

Comments

voice

[castrationfist]

[Just who you wanted to hear, right?]

The tale of Ushiwakamaru and Benkei, is it? I fought that annoying Minamoto once myself.

voice

[ahappylie]

[If she'll spoil him for history, sure. If not, then no. 8( ]

Oh, did you? Is he also part of the war you're in?

voice

[castrationfist]

That's right. She and Benkei both.

[... what about spoiling history for him.]

voice

[ahappylie]

[Jesus H. Christ, Tamamo.

Get out.]

Are there any figures in your world that are male?

video;

[sylphid]

Ooh...

[Fie enjoyed the tale, thus this reply of her basically golf clapping.]

voice;

[ahappylie]

[And this is Okita keeping his video off because he's looking Rough™ right now.]

I'm glad you enjoyed the story, Fie-san. Do you have one to share?

video on her end

[sylphid]

Mm... nope.

[She has stories, but none she wants to share now.]

Another time. Maybe.

[ahappylie]

Aw, but I'm so bored! At least tell me oooone little one.

text;

[robitussin]

well that's a depressing story what the hell

text;

[ahappylie]

But Benkei died protecting his master. It isn't all that sad, is it?

text;

[robitussin]

um yes the whole "died" part makes it sad

text;

[ahappylie]

Perhaps our cultures are different then. I don't really find it sad so much as honorable. He died in the best way he could have, under the circumstances. And now he will live forever in his stories.

[bythewaves]

That is an interesting tale indeed! Tis a true one?

[ahappylie]

As far as I know, yes. There are, of course, some embellishments in the details, but that is how Musashino Benkei and Lord Minamoto no Yoshitsune truly met their final days.

[bythewaves]

A sad tale then, but a noble one, as well. There is great beauty in a tale of such strong loyalty.

[ahappylie]

We do like such stories in my country. The story of the Chuushingura is another such tale of beautiful loyalty and terrible fates.

[Video]

[goldenglasses]

It's amazing the loyalty that he had, but it's so sad how in the end they didn't get to leave that place together.

[He's not sure how he should feel yet about that story.]

And for your question? [Well, there is this one guy worth sixty billion a lot of stories get told about.] I don't think we have any stories quiet like yours.

[Video]

[ahappylie]

It is, but better they went the way they wanted. The fate that could have waited for them would have been far worse.

[Capture by the enemy, especially one's own brother hellbent on destroying the only other challenger to the title of Shogunate, could only have been met with torture and humiliation.]

Well, if you have any stories, I'd like to hear them. I'm curious about your world.

[Video]

[goldenglasses]

But its almost like they gave up. Maybe if they had kept fighting or tried to run their story would continue.

[Vash considers avoiding telling stories of his home. Many seem to eventually lead back to himself, but he would like to move the topic onto maybe happier things.]

Well, we have a stories of an outlaw named Brilliant Dynamites Neon; the leader of the Bad Lads Gang. He gives a good show with neon lights, sparklers, and flares when he robs you. Some say he's the best bandit there has ever been. Others say he's just the most showy and Gasback is actually the best thief.

Audio

[cloakand_danger]

[Yuan's voice is low, pensive as he speaks, reciting from memory words he's known too long. He's not even sure anymore which of them wrote them:]

"Once upon a time, there existed a giant tree, that was the source of mana. A war, however, caused that tree to wither away, and a hero's life was sacrificed in order to take its place. Grieving over the loss, the goddess disappeared unto the heavens. The goddess left the angels with this edict: 'You must wake me, for if I should sleep, the world shall be destroyed.'"

...The hero the legend speaks of is Mithos the Hero, who traveled the land, alongside companions whose names are lost to history. Many cities today have stories of when the great hero visited them, and what he did while there. And at the end of his journey, when the great tree withered away, they say that he gave his life to sustain the world in its place.

[...The really strange thing is that it's no longer quite as false as it used to be. Maybe that's why he's feeling compelled to remember it today.]

Audio

[ahappylie]

[There's a specific lilt to people's voices when they recite from memory and it's obvious that Yuan knows this story by heart.]

What a noble person. It must have been difficult for his companions to lose someone so wonderful so soon.

Audio

[cloakand_danger]

[Soon. Right.]

...Maybe. The stories don't remember much about them, honestly, save that they guided him and taught him skills as they traveled.

[It would have been odd for only one of Mithos' companions to go unnamed - still odder for her to have the same name as the Goddess. So in the end, the story became his entirely.]

[huaaaaagh]

That's going back a long time, isn't it? Even I'm not familiar with that one.

[And he prides himself a giant sword nerd... shame, shame.]

I have a feeling that any story I could tell would probably be one you're already familiar with.

[ahappylie]

It was quite a long time ago, yes. The Minamoto and the Taira fought a great war in the capital centuries before any of us.

[ALSO IN THE METAVERSE, HE TOTALLY SAW WHAT YOU DID THERE.]

But I do not mind hearing stories I might already know. Every person has a unique storytelling style that it makes every story new and refreshing.

[huaaaaagh]

That's true, but honestly, I was never all that attentive in history class. I did like some of the older legends, but it wasn't just Japan.

Ever heard the story of Nezha? It's a Chinese myth.