Kyuden Shika

Murato sat in the common area practicing with the kumihimo stand he had gotten. He had read about how it was supposed to work, but this was his first time actually trying it. And it was going quite poorly. At the end of it, there were loose threads hanging off the side, and he had knotted the end wrong. Some of the threads were put into incorrect positions and the series of red and gold thread was wasted.

He tsked at himself, a bit annoyed with his own lack of coordination.

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D2 EA, Design [Fire], Clumsiness, Basic Kumihimo Braiding | TN: 1 | Success: 0 / Opportunity: 0 / Strife: 0


1 Void Point regained

Mitsuki returned from her room, where she had changed back into her ordinary clothes, as far as her desert white dress could be described as ordinary, and was about to go out to find something to eat when she noticed the Kitsu, alone and visibly displeased.

"Kitsu-sama? Does the day find you well?"

"In general, yes. At the moment though, I'm a little frustrated with this braiding."

He nodded to her, then made himself smile. "I hope you are doing well. How are you settling into the place?"

"Fine I guess. I try to make the best of the ample free time we have by exploring the city and the region. An interesting mix for sure, with patches of raw nature next to the latest Crane-style art pieces. Unique in its own ways though parallels can be made with other clans, in particular the Fox.

And as for yourself? And what were you trying to knit exactly?"

"I am trying, and failing spectacularly, to braid decorative rope," he says, looking at the tangled mess.

"Yeah, it's definitely different here. I'm used to open plains so when I look around and see trees instead of horizon it feels strange. It's very colorful and pretty though."

"A decorative rope? Like the ones encircling shrines? These threads seem a bit thin for that."

She acknowledged the last sentence with a nod:

"Poor Avel is a stoic boy, but he is clearly missing being able to run in the wild without having to jump above a pothole or around a tree every three strides.

I think it also reminds him of our forays near the Ivindi jungle, which doesn't help at these were some of our most unpleasant trips. Here the nature at least seems nice, there it was just explicitly trying to eat you alive."

"Those ropes are more holy in its purpose. Kumihimo braided rope is used for stuff like tying ceremonial armor plates together, jewelry and fashion."

He nods at that. "Arvel's probably going to feel a bit pent up for a bit. Which is sad, he should be able to run free in the open air. I liked seeing him do so when he got a chance to exercise on the way here."

"Ah, the kimono cords! I had forgotten how they were called.

Though, if I may ask, is there any reason you're interested in making some yourself? There is nothing wrong with experimenting with a new craft, quite the contrary, but I suppose you just didn't wake up with a sudden craving to make weave out of nowhere."

"I guess a little because it's difficult for me, and a little because I would like to be able to make something I can share with others," he replies. "Something small I can offer as gifts."

"I feel I kind of understand the feeling. Homemade scarfs are one the default gifts where I am from.

And I'm not particularly good at weaving them."

She almost cursed.

"Actually, you've reminded me I do need to make one..."