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Post by Hano Wako on Jul 18, 2022 15:25:48 GMT -5
Cracking his knuckles he went to work on preparing the cart for travel, checking all of the straps on the pots as well as the rivets on the wheels, attempting to make absolutely sure that he wouldn't run into a repeat of last time when he was waylaid for three days in the great bamboo forest do to a shoddy wheel. Determining that it was good enough to make the journey to the next village he kicked it before looking off into the horizon, watching the sun rise high above into the sky casting a beautiful amber gaze down upon the Crescent Isle. "Off to make some Solars Kekeke!"
Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath he centered himself before taking a drink of sake from one of his two personal gourds. Steeling himself for the journey ahead he chittered out a chuckle and grabbed the handle bar of his cart, and then began a mad dash along the winding road out of the village and off towards his destination. It was most assuredly harder work to pull the rickety cart himself but it also was more cost effective. He only had to feed and care for himself and that made owning a pack mule nonnegotiable in his mind!
His form would be seen dashing out of the village with furious scurrying as he made his way towards the winding path of the bamboo forest. The village he was heading towards was maybe a half days journey from the village of Ayata that he currently was plying his trade at. His target destination was known as Kamia Village and was famous for its firework makers and smiths, both people who he knew loved sake and had coin, making them worthwhile to sell to with what stock he had left.
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Post by Ulrich Ambriz on Jul 19, 2022 12:43:58 GMT -5
A yawn escaped his mouth, followed by the stretches. He looked at the bamboo all around him, scratching his head, trying to remember where exactly he was going. He usually needed to gather himself in the morning. He pulled out his book, maybe there was a note to himself about where he was headed.
"Oh right, I'm heading towards Kamia Village. They did tell me that I'd have to see it for myself on my travels."
Taking in a deep breath, quickly stuffing the book back into his satchel, he started off on the path towards Kamia Village. As he walked the winding path of the forest, he remembered being told of the village's smiths and firework makers. A warm smile formed on his face. He was thinking of his younger years again, training with his teacher who hailed from Crescent Isle.
He'd not been walking for long before he heard sounds coming from behind him. They were familiar sounds to him. The same sounds he always heard as a boy when his father would leave and come back from his travels. He looked back over his shoulder to see a cart and someone pulling it. He could make out...fur, ears, and a tail? He watched them inquisitively now he slowed his pace slightly.
"Ah yes, I was told about them before. It is a Tanuki," he exclaimed to himself quietly, "First time I've seen one."
It wouldn't be long before they caught up with him. He wasn't exactly known for hurrying everywhere when he could just enjoy his journey.
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Post by Hano Wako on Jul 21, 2022 12:33:36 GMT -5
His feet carried him far and wide, yet on this morning it seemed that it wouldn't be able to take him far enough as quickly as he liked at least. Coming across another person on the road he slowed down his pace as he spoke with an accent best defined as gang member or bandit like to most at least, "Woah! Didn't expect anyone else on the ol' path here. Where ya headed?", walking alongside the newcomer his kasa jiggled a little with each step.
Taking a sip of sake from one of his two jugs he offered it to the lad as well, "Here I can promise it'll be the nicest sake you have ever had. At least the sweetest if you somehow had my deceased uncles Kekekeke!", a boisterous laugh came from the tanuki. His golden orbs transfixed onto the boy near him as he looked him over and began to try to figure him out. Offering his name as a small gesture.
"Wako Hano, Brewmaster of the Hano Tanuki, at your service!"
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Post by Ulrich Ambriz on Jul 21, 2022 14:22:25 GMT -5
Ulrich gave a smile as the tanuki slowed his pace to speak with him. He spoke with an accent he'd heard over the span of his travels.
"You and me both," he replied with a laugh. He looked up the path towards his intended destination, "I'm headed towards Kamia Village, as a matter of fact. I was told it was a place I would have to see for myself on my travels."
He held up his hand with a kind smile as the tanuki offered him a sip from one of his jugs, "No, thank you, I'm good for right now." Looking in the direction of Kamia again, taking in a deep breath, "Though, I wouldn't mind to try some of it once we've arrived there," bringing his attention back to the tanuki keeping pace with him.
"Ulrich Ambriz, just your every day traveler."
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Post by Hano Wako on Jul 23, 2022 20:56:38 GMT -5
He listened to the man speak and turned his head to the side as he refused the sake but understood as well, some people couldn't handle their drink and at times that might not be the best for travel, and others simply only drank when it was a relaxing or convenient time, so perhaps Ulrich was one of those types.
"I am also heading towards Kamia Village! They usually have a lot of coin to spare and like a nice drink so its a win win kekeke!", Looking ahead to the path before them he thought for a moment before adding on, "As thanks for traveling with me I'll even cook you a meal when we get there, after all its better to have company then to not!", this time he didn't laugh after his statement but instead seemed determined in a sense.
Nodding to the introduction of Ulrich he spoke again as they went along step for step, "Well met then Ulrich! Sake we shall have after I sell a good bit at least of course kekekeke! Need coin to secure lodging in Kamia. They are quite pricey sometimes with their Ryokan.... If you help me sell my goods I'll even put you up while we are there."
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Post by Ulrich Ambriz on Aug 11, 2022 4:07:13 GMT -5
Ulrich listened to Wako's offer of lodging in exchange for his help. He did have a bit of experience in the field of commerce. His father was, after all, a traveling merchant.
"I think I shall take you up on that offer then, Mr. Hano. I do indeed have some experience in sales."
Ulrich looked to the tanuki with a smile as they slowly made their way up the road. He hoped his experience would be enough to help his new companion with his sales in Kamia. He had to admit, he was a bit tired from his travels, and would like to just have somewhere to rest comfortably.
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Post by Hano Wako on Aug 12, 2022 14:32:24 GMT -5
He nodded to the acceptance of his offer from the young man and laughed again as he took a swig from his gourd before recorking and continuing on their travel down the winding path that led to their destination. The hours went by quicker then they thought as nothing was better then a solid traveling companion to pass the time during a trek. The village of the smiths came into view as the came to the apex of the last hill on the path, dozens upon dozens of smokestacks and hotspring ponds came into view in the valley below.
Kamia was clearly a well traveled and populated town as industry was abound and the movement of people below them looked like ants moving about in the distance. For every hotsping poll there was an inn or restaurant nearby and for every inn or restaurant there was two or more forges that dotted the landscape as well as more then several dozen buildings that held various sings upon them signifying a store of some kind. The houses that dotted the village below were mostly one story compound like homes although several two or even three story homes existed.
Taking a deep breath he spoke to his companion using his head to motion to the gate at the end of the path down below, "One last step and then the fun begins eh? Kekekeke!", he would take off with a rush as he ran down the hill to hit the flatland below and begin to mosey on up to the checkpoint gate to seek entry into Kamia.
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Post by Ulrich Ambriz on Aug 13, 2022 22:14:35 GMT -5
Time did seem to pass rather quickly with a companion to join you on your travels. Ulrich had almost forgotten how it felt to just get lost in conversation for hours, and not think of the destination ahead.
The reached the apex of the hill and Ulrich stood there, taking the view of the village in. He gave a nod of approval at the sight of it all. A very busy place, indeed! The many people moving about, the hot spring inns, the many stores, and not to mention the industry here was booming!
He was snapped out of his wonder as he heard Wako's remark, abruptly followed by the tanuki's excited dash down towards the checkpoint gates.
"Whoa, hold on!" Ulrich would follow suit, making sure none of the inventory fell off of the cart in the dash for the gates.
They slowed as they reached the line of people seeking entry into the village as well. He looked around at the many people they found themselves in the middle of. A large quantity of merchants filled the slow moving line.
"Well that is to be expected. This is a busy place, after all." He smiled as their place in line was slowly inching closer to the checkpoint.
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Post by Hano Wako on Aug 17, 2022 17:06:24 GMT -5
It seemed the young man was also able to throw his sensibilities to the side and live in the moment, which was a test of sorts that Wako had decided to thrust upon him, possibly unjustly but he did what he hoped he would and so it was all good right? Plus he didn't seem to bothered by it as they stood in line to seek entrance to the city. So far Ulrich had passed the first Tanuki challenge and that made it all the more worth while that he had come upon him when he did.
"Busy busy busy busy... that means there is plenty of solars to be had no? If we play our cards right then a good chunk of it will be ours! Kekekekeke!", he seemed in extremely good spirits despite the line ahead of them, as he locked eyes onto the two guards managing the gate itself. Quickly looking through his things he found two suitable gourds with stoppers that he hadn't yet filled, and quickly went to work using one of his pots taps to fill them. Handing one to Ulrich he smiled as best a Tanuki could and spoke with an underhandedness he had yet to show thus far.
"Ulrich... find a way to slip this to the guard on your side and ill do the same. IF we are lucky they will let us through no questions asked, and remember us later on in the day....", guards were usually the best customers so a little bribe here could earn them a lot of business later in the day!
He would wait patiently until it was there turn to see the guards and then he quickly went into obviously well practiced mannerisms as he spoke and stealthily handed the Guard on his side a gourd, "Hano Wako of the Wako Tanuki at your service!", a small bow came from him with a flourish as he leapt onto the front of his cart and twirled a little holding onto one of the side poles, "I come bearing the finest sake in the crescent isles to sell to the hardworking men and women of Kamui!", the guard having seen what was given to him quickly put it behind his back as he motioned them forward and into the village proper, "Have it at then Master Tanuki."
Barring Ulrich's success they would find themselves staring down the town square hundreds of feet from them, but a hundred or more shops and buildings between them at it.
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Post by Ulrich Ambriz on Oct 16, 2022 23:09:57 GMT -5
The Tanuki quickly explained what his plan was for the two guards at the gates. Ulrich nodded as he was given the gourd to give to the guard on his side. It had been a while since he had utilized his mercantile skills. He would be a bit rusty, but it may be enough to get them inside.
Their place in line eventually came to the front and the two guards turned their attentions to them both.
It was as if Ulrich had turned into a different person then. Like a switch had been flipped.
"Hello Kind Sir, Ulrich Ambriz! Associate of the Wako Tanuki!" He gave a bow with a bit of a flourish. "We come here to this beautiful place to offer the finest sake to the hard workers of Kamui!"
He gracefully offered the gourd to the man on his side. A warm, confident smile on his face as the man quickly took the gourd. The guard held it behind his back as he waved Ulrich through the gate with his Tanuki companion. He gestured as if dusting himself off as he walked towards Hano.
"It had been a while since I'd done something like that!" A huge smile was plastered across his face.
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Post by Hano Wako on Nov 14, 2022 10:45:46 GMT -5
He had listened in on how Ulrich carried himself and conducted his business with the guard and the bribe as it were knowing that his gut decision was indeed a good choice as clearly Ulrich was well suited for this type of work. Good enough for him! Chuckling as he clasped the man on the back whilst pulling the cart, he spoke, "Kekeke! Good job my boy! You sure you ain't some rival of mine trying to pull my leg? Glad you had fun though, we will have plenty more of it after we set up that's for sure.", continuing to walk through the village itself after a few moments he found an empty spot near the town square that seemingly hadn't been occupied because of a semi derelict building that existed behind the wall that would be the back of their stall.
The locale was enough to stop his customers once they were able to test his product and he knew that intrinsically so to him it was free prime real estate to set up shop! So what if some creepy ass building was behind them? A good wall kept em' separated and that was all that mattered to him. Setting the cart down he began disassembling it and constructed what seemed to be a stall out of it with a place for two woks to rest that he pulled out from the storage area of the former cart, "I shoulda asked but do you know how to cook? If not I'll just need ya to take orders. We will be doing Yakisoba with Tofu and Pork Fried rice! Fatty foods that pair great with the Sake, and also smell real good like, helps entice people over."
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