Nara Part 2 - The quest

Please note, this post is dedicated to our friend, stranded in Norway, healing, gaming, being awesome. We love you. You know who you are!

As we left our brave heroes in Nara, the last thing they heard was ominous "just one more thing..."

What now for our brave crew? Lost without Usagi-San, the brave band of six, struggled to find their place in the world. Sensei-Oddemann, Otsuki-San, Makiwara-San, Kuma-San, Kawaii-San and yours truly; Neko-San placed their entire quest in the hands of just one woman! The one, the only HIDEKO-SAN!

Onwards and upwards!

The quest went on!

Stepping out from the immediate park area, our brave gang of six charged down a hill, through wooden groves in an ancient scout ritual known as "Å bushe for å komme seg fortere frem" - This ritual was unknown to our guide, but the art it self seemed ingrained in her very bones, as if her very ancestors were channeled through her every move.

Down below we turned a corner, and LO! An apparition of grandeur struck, and we found ourselves next to a pond.

A bridge! But is it a bridge to far?

Abandoning all instincts and crossing the narrow bridge, the Noruue~i roku found them selves at an interesting structure, far out on the green waters.

Neko-san, gripped by the immediate wonder of the surroundings decided to perform an old ritual, known to some as a "Whasøren Gjørha-nå", "ketan" to som others and "Kata" to a select few.

Sensei-Oddemann commented on the performance, as Neko-san feverishly blamed the traction of his footwear. The excuses fell onto deaf ears, as Neko-San fell to his knees, begging the forgiveness of his fellow travelers. It was granted him, and he felt lucky to be accepted once again by his peers.

Swayed by the ritual just witnessed, Hideko-san decided to pull another surprise from her backpack, and told the onlookers that she would take them to another location wherein the were more secrets to be unraveled.

This seemingly unconspicuous location shall remain undisclosed as not to betray the trust between the guide and the follower. The secret location had markings that only our guide could interpret, and this helped to build anticipation. Kneeling by a small water outlet, she took a cup, and poured water down a grate! Nothing happened...

Stunning even other locals, water was poured onto the grate again, and hushing noises were made.

The actual noise heard was beautiful and peculiar, and words fail this humble story teller as to an explanation of how it sounded, other than "outherworldly" and "Beautiful"





Leaving the site of the divine sounds, our guide once again told us that she would bid us farewell  and let us venture into a previously undiscovered area known as "Naramachi".

"However", she said if you are interested in procuring some locally brewed elixir, I will show you another location known to me.

There was much rejoicing.

/Kristian