JasonK at 08:28, 9 February 2007

2007-02-09T08:28:40Z

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"Guh. Stupid rocks." Ruki Nü stood up straight and stretched out his tired muscles. "[[Mite Xu]] always makes working stone look so easy. This stuff's impossible to shape right."

"Are you saying that you can't build it?"

"Uhm..." Ruki Nü craned his head awkwardly up. A war goddess stood looking down at him from a pile of stone. She did not look happy. "Hi."

"Is a shrine beyond your skills?" The [[Sweet Voice of Brass and Glory]]'s voice rang loud in his ear.

The craftsman scratched his head and tried to smile. "Well... No... But they aren't really my specialty. I'm better with flying things; grand swooping wings, rotating fans, bags of hot air..."

"I'm not asking you to perform geomancy."

Ruki Nü shrugged. "You sort of are. Building a manse..."

"I found you the demesne already, and it's one where two Dragon Lines barely cross - surely it can't be too taxing for you."

"No... It's just..." Ruki Nü cast his gaze further east, towards the [[Gatehouse of the Five Winds]] and his far-too unfinished skyfleet. "My work."

"I would ask another to do this if I could." The goddess stepped down from the unworked stone and when she spoke again she had muted her voice. "But you are what I have, Ruki Nü, and I need your help. Every other artisan of [[The Xuan Wu Academy]] is occupied in some project to rebuild [[The Marukan Alliance|Marukan]]. You alone could be spared for this."

"But why is it so important that it happen now? Why can't it wait until one of the others is ready. [[Inam Niu]] builds wonderful manses."

"Within a week, [[Storm of Amber]] will ride here to [[Scattered Hoof-beats Sound|unlock the fifth gate of his Essence]]. I must watch over him while he does, and I'll have to be constantly at my full strength. That can only happen if I've a home here."

Power and beauty mixed in her voice and moved something in Ruki Nü's heart. He would have built the manse anyway - for all his protests, it was his job to serve - but something about the way the goddess spoke inspired him to something loftier than simple construction.

"Red sandstone," he said. "Elegant stairs cascading down either side. A water trough for purification, on the east side to balance out the Wood Essence, and a grand red hall to capture the sound of your song for him."

The craftsman smiled at the goddess. "When I'm done, your little shrine will seem to fly."

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[[Heaven's Mandate]]

House of Courage - Revision history

JasonK at 08:28, 9 February 2007