The year is 1183. Azure City is on the brink of war… defeat is almost a certainty. Many warriors lost their lives, some of those warriors stories may never be told. This one’s story is told right now. I present the story of Ji (GwaH)
Ji was born in the year 1159. He was a farmer boy not far from the grand Azure City. Ji would look out to the grand blue city and always wondered if there was more for him than just farming.
In the year of 1175 Ji’s father and him went to the city of Azure city to buy supplies with what little money they had, it was there that Ji saw a halberd. Not just any halberd though, this one was crafted with mithril which gave it a blue hinge. Ji’s father noticed him admiring the marvelous weapon he walked up to his son and said
“Ji, you’ve hardly asked for anything in your whole life. I’ll buy you that halberd.” Ji was overcome with joy, but he knew the price of the weapon and knew money was hard for his family so he rejected the offer. His father just smiled and put his hand on his shoulder
“Son… There is no wealth but Life” and so Ji recived the halberd and he practiced with it, relentlessly. Whether it was warm or cold, clear or raining, he practiced so not to disappoint his father.
In the year of 1178 Ji was outside, at the front of his house, practicing with the halberd when a traveling hafling merchant noticed his hard work, determenation, and agile yet brute strength. H e approched Ji
“excuse me, sir. I noticed you with that halberd and I wondered to myself what a skilled lad such as yourself was doing in this farm, when you could be working for the king’s milita.” Ji tooks this man’s words and invited him inside, so he could talk to his parents. After much discusion they decided Ji could go to Azure City and join the milita if he wished. Ji didn’t know what to decide, he’d always dream of going to the awe-inspiring city and he used the halberd to escape from the poor life of being a farmer but now that he had the chance he didn’t know what to choose. He chose to sleep on it, and either stay home or go to the city tomorrow. As he lay in his cot wondering, his father walked in and sat beside him
“Son, I trust you should go to Azure City. When I saw the glint in your eyes when you saw that halberd I knew you were a warrior at heart, you should lead the legacy of our family into a grander future than we are now. Protect our country, protect our king, and protect…what we believe in.” Ji looked at his father with soulful eyes and agreed.
It didn’t take Ji long to reach high ranks in the academy, he grew up strong with all the farm-work and practicing 3 years with the halberd made him even more skilled with the weapon. He was offered “official” Azure City halberds, even though his was very similar, but he still kept the one his father bought him, he never wanted that money to go to waste. Not long before he found himself kneeling before Lord Shojo himself, reciting the Warrior’s Oath…
I believe the right to personal defense exists
If I am forced to defend myself, loved ones or beliefs,
Should I be attacked or have my principles violated,
I am ready to defend myself with my weapons,
The way of the foot
And the way of the empty hand!
This way, controlled by my mind
And governed by my spirit is a skillful weapon
Which can subdue, overpower, or destroy
Depending on the forced combat situation.
I will aggressively defend myself from any attack
By using speed and precision
And never doubt my determination
To use my knowledge without hesitation or reservation
This is the way of my teacher!
This is also my way
I am a warrior!
It was than 4 years of peace, he was just another face in the town guard. He guarded prisons, caught bandits, even guarded the king himself. But nothing would prepare him for the day the group known as the Order of the Stick came to the castle. I don’t think anyone, not even myself, was prepared for the falling of our best paladin, the death of a lord, and a war.
The year is 1183. Azure City is on the brink of war… defeat is almost a certainty. Many warriors lost their lives, some of those warriors stories may never be told. This one’s story has been told right now. I told the story of Ji, or at least part of it the rest…will soon come.