LORE: The Song of the Ronin & the Beast (Part 1/3)

Part 1

There are many stories told of Reef Ronin, the master-less swordsman that played a prominent role in protecting the Monster Coast from Captain Lazerbeard during his First Reign. But Reef Ronin's story starts with humble beginnings. Many years ago, in a small fishing village along the Tokugunnel Archipelago, Reef Ronin was born. But back then he was known as Quidy. His family came from nothing, but they wanted what was best for their son and saw an opportunity for a better life for him. The Tokugunnel Archipelago had been under the dynastic rule of the Admiral Shogun for centuries. He was all powerful and bled the countryside dry with their tributes. The Admiral Shogun was always looking for new vassals and Quidy’s parents felt it was the only way that Quidy would have a chance at honor and prosperity. 

When Quidy was only five years old he was sent away from his fishing village, across the archipelago and to Tokugunnel Castle. From that day forth, his entire existence was centered around becoming a samurai and serving the Admiral Shogun. The other samurai-in-training looked down upon Quidy, seeing him as nothing more than a commoner, but Quidy worked hard and learned fast. He wanted to make his parents proud and he wanted to achieve enough to go back and rescue them from their poverty.

Everything was on track for Quidy to become the Admiral’s Hand, the highest honor for a samurai in Tokugunnel Castle, but one day something happened to change that. A visitor came to the castle, a young woman named Coral, a distant relative of the Admiral Shogun. Quidy had never seen anyone so beautiful and though he tried to stay focused on his studies, he couldn’t help getting distracted.

Quidy and Coral became fast friends, sneaking away from the structured life of palace routine and going on little adventures together. Neither would admit their feelings for each other and as happens, over the years they drew closer and closer together. Soon they had grown to a place where they would trust each other with their lives.

Quidy knew that a commoner such as himself could never be with an elite like Coral, but he thought that perhaps once he became a samurai he would have enough honor to be with her. Finally it was the day of his advancement, where the Admiral Shogun anointed him the Samurai of the Coast. Quidy was filled with excitement, eager to tell Coral how he felt. But then something unexpected happened, the Admiral Shogun had a surprise. He anointed Coral as Lady Oyster, the official regent of the castle, a position highly coveted across the archipelago. Quidy was crushed. For a brief moment the gap between them had shrunk and there was hope of them being together, but now the gulf that stretched between them was insurmountable.

Quidy pleaded with the Admiral Shogun to serve as her faithful bodyguard, but the Admiral Shogun refused. Perhaps he knew of Quidy’s feelings or perhaps he just had his own nefarious schemes in mind. Regardless, only days after achieving his goals of being named a samurai, heartstricken, Quidy packed his things and set out on his new assignment for the Admiral Shogun.

The Tokugunnel Dynasty had spent centuries maintaining control over the archipelago, rarely venturing beyond its misty shores. But in recent years explorers had discovered a new set of islands to the west of the archipelago. They were strange places, with strange people, having appeared as if they had simply sprung out of the mists. The Admiral Shogun had been quick about asserting his control over these islands and now he was sending Quidy to make sure his tributes were coming in in a timely manner.

It was a long and cold journey from Tokugunnel Castle to the wild islands and all Quidy had to comfort himself with was a letter that Lady Oyster had written him. They hadn’t had a chance to speak since their anointments and now Quidy wasn’t sure when he would ever see her again.

Finally Quidy arrived on the shores of the wild islands, greeted by the villagers there. He could immediately tell they were strange people. They were kind and courteous, but their appearance was wild and barbaric. That day was a blur as he met nearly every villager and tried to remember their names. He wasn’t great with names and had to spend the next few weeks catching up on them.

Despite his best attempts there was one villager that he never managed to learn the name of, try as he might. It was a young boy who didn’t seem to speak much at all, but it was hard for Quidy to forget him… after all, everywhere he went he wore bright orange sunglasses.