Nakagawa Sukeie

Lord Nakagawa; A lonely traveler. The True Story.

Lord Nakagawa came in contact with the Known World while serving onboard Curragh Mor (the Nuclear Carrier USS Nimitz). He met Lord Muirghan Ruadh (formerly of Meridies) who was organizing a group ( and who became First Seneschal of Curragh Mor). Lord Nakagawa was then known as Seki, he was the First Chatelain to Curragh Mor in the Lands of the Barony of Dragon's Laire (then shire) under the Baronage of James and Isabel. That was then. Here is his dairy.

Dairy of a Samurai

By Nakagawa Sukeie

It’s been so long since I last smell the morning wisteria, since I saw the fair lands of Kyoto, Nara and Kamakura…since I saw Nihon. I was transiting with Jesuit Monks through the Middle East during the great war of AS 25, during the reign of King Davin Stronghand and Queen Octavia Laodice Hybrida Africanus. On March 18 AS 26, I met Lord Muirghan Ruadh a traveler from the Kingdom of Meridies, he told me that a new ship will be arriving on the Persian Gulf waters and he needed crewmen, we would be traveling to the lands under the Crown of King Gunnarr Brunwolf and Queen Gabriel MacBain, a Kingdom named An Tir. After a short time and a good cup of spirit, I figure this to be the same vessel that would be bringing me to the Known World and decided to join in; even the culturally gifted most earn a wage somehow. The vessel would be called Curragh Mor (Great Ship). During my travel aboard I was introduce to the customs of what would be my new home the Kingdom of An Tir and the people there. The Crew’s Seneschal Lord Muirghan Ruadh was busy negotiating the release of Curragh Mor from the Kingdom of Atlantia and the land requirements to harbor the ship in the Shire of Dragon’s Laire, all of this was new to me, so I dedicated my spare time to teach Bushido and the art of the Samurai Sword to some of the interested crewmen, in return they showed me the use of sword and shield, we practice hard every day for 3-4 hrs. One day I was approached by Lord Murghan whom asked me if I would be interested in an open position of leadership within the crew; I became the first Chatelaine to Curragh Mor.

Upon arrival to the Known World, on May 28 AS 26, we made our first stop in the Kingdom of Caid, where we were greeted and offered a meal, a very nice meal (a feast in honor of our return from war), although the people of this Kingdom did not yet recognized or knowledge our banner as Curragh Mor, they were friendly and polite. We figured our spears and swords had made their minds peaceful ones. A few days later we arrived in the lands of the Shire of Dragon’s Laire, a council was called to session to further negotiate the future of Curragh Mor. During September Crown AS 27, King Darious Corvinus and Queen Jacyntha Elizabeth Argentarius recognized and formally named our vessel Curragh Mor in front of the Kingdom’s populace. In return we offered and sworn to protect An Tir whenever called upon and whenever needed. I remained onboard Curragh Mor until October 10 AS 30, when I was left behind on orders to stay with the now Barony of Dragon’s Laire as part of its populace. I never heard of Curragh Mor or my friends again. Some said they were lost at sea on a great battle others said many left the realms, but I like to think they are out there living the Dream.

I served the Barony as Deputy Constable under the direction of Baron James and Bareness Isabelle, I was happy to be of service and for the next 3 years I volunteered at many events and assignments helping in any way I could.

In AS 34, during the 4th reign of King Sven Fallgr Gunnarsson and Signy Oksendahl, I was send onto the lands of the Middle East, to a land post outside the realms of the Known World; I have never felt so lonely. Have I ever seen so much injustice upon any land? By the time I was ready to return to the Known World and to provide services during the reign of Aveloc the Younger and Mahliqa bint Ali Zibec, AS 36 I found myself getting ready to travel once again to the Middle East, but not before in my travels I met a beautiful young Maiden; Lezlie the Stronghearted of Silverhart living in the lands of Dragon’s Laire, she capture my heart and I was helpless; in love. She blesses our marriage with the arrival of a beautiful healthy boy Joseph the Gentleheart of Dragon’s Laire and we were three. I had to once again leave the fair Kingdom of An Tir but with bigger sorrows as I left my new family behind. During my travels, while at sea, I was awaken one night to the horrific news; a new monster had emerge from the deepest of the Persian lands and stroke mighty to the Kingdom of the East, a new enemy of the Known World had come forward and most be dealt with, the Persians called it Jihad, I called it dishonorable and cowardly. I was there as we dealt with this new enemy and I raised arms as we took the fierce beast of the East and with a swiftly single jab of our mighty sword of justice watched the Beast take his last breath and the people, anew become a free nation. I return to An Tir in time for June Faire and was bid farewell by my old friends as I was once again detach and send away to the Kingdom of Atlantia, to the Barony of Marinus. Once again, my time there was short lived as I was send away to the Middle East, and I bid farewell my new found friend. In my time at Marinus we were blessed with Cali Cat the Hardheaded of Marinus and Aime the Curious and Innocent of Marinus.

Finally on September 9, AS 41 during the reign of Amalric Blackhart and Caia Snowden, I was retired from “foreign” military service and release on my own, I bid farewell to my Marusian friends and departed on a caravan across the lands of the Known World arriving at my final post the Canton of Silverhart.

I now live there and enjoy a semi-peaceful life, of course that when you are a part of the heart of An Tir and An Tir is in your heart you can’t but to help others live the Dream and so I became the Chatelaine and have my sword ready for whenever it may be needed.

I am bless with a beautiful family and new friends; I am no knight or squire, I am no title Lord, but my dream is now becoming a reality as I am in An Tir; An Tir is in my heart and my heart is in An Tir; I am Home.

Nakagawa Sukeie

AS 42

Dairy of a Samurai

By Nakagawa Sukeie

The Great War of AS 25: Persian Gulf

During the reign of King Davin Stronghand and Queen Octavia Laodice Hybrida Africanus, I was traveling with Jesuit Monks through the southern regions of the Khan Empire when we received word that the northern Persians had invaded a small country in the southern coast of the Persian Gulf. I separated from the Monks who had tough me so much of my new found religion and decided it would be honorable to lend a hand to the western forces getting ready to strike these tyrants.

I became part of an elite group of men at arms and we stroke hard in the soul of the Northern Beast. The battle was fierce; we lost no men and no men were left behind.

These lands were dry and hot, with many castle towers ablaze, you could see them from many leagues away, and we found first hand of the infamy that this enemy had left in its retreat. I felt a sense of anger like never before, for my good fortune, all my years of training and discipline had prepare me for these conditions and I expend my time helping younger men to understand and to live with the memories of these days.

I remained at this post until I secured passage to the Known World and the destined arrival of a messenger from the Kingdom of Meridies.

Curragh Mor (The Great Ship)

On March 18 AS 26, I met Lord Murghan Rath a traveler from the Kingdom of Meridies, he offered me a post aboard his newly arriving ship; Curragh Mor. I needed to earn wages so I accepted his proposal. Little did I know this was the same vessel I had secured passage to the Known World.

The morning air was warm, the sun beating over our heads when she arrived, what a site for my eyes, this vessel was not like those the monks had traveled to Nihon, this vessel was majestic and reminded me of the tales of the Ark, it was as large as 6 Kyoto Castles put together, it carried thousands of warriors and giant birds, I felt a great sense of pride and belonging as I walked up the plank for the first time and ever after.

I was assigned a post as teacher to help younger warriors understand the way of the sword and later I was made a hospitalier or Chatelaine. I have great memories of the men who trained everyday for hours and how quickly they became proficient in the use of sword and shield; these to me new, as I have seen them used before but never tried myself.

We also expend a great deal of time working on war banners and garbs; they just did not like the nobility of my attire and opted for wearing barbaric rags. Even the simple task of feeding was complicated with a number of items to choose from to handle food. These are my friends.

They came from all source of tribes and countries and with many different customs, so each and every day I tried to learn more of their origins and them of mine.

The Known World

On May 28 AS 26, we made our first stop in the Kingdom of Caid, I recall the previous night as our navigator searched for a safe port to enter and the captain negotiated for safe berthing of our ship; the town lights could be seeing from afar and some of my Norse friends laugh as they explained to me how these would be a sight of joy for a raiding party.

We berth and were greeted as war heroes returning from a land afar and a feast was given in our honor. There were days when I would look up at the strange and semi-dry landscape and it would not be like my home of Nihon or the lands of Persia, but a new land with hills and ravines, valleys and rivers so plenty. Our visit was short lived and we set sails to the North and as we did people would still cheer us. We picked some passenger whom secure passage to the north and did a small demonstration of our prowlness, we even let some of them try our garbs, armor and weapons, it was three days and two nights before we arrived at our new home; An Tir.

An Tir, what a majestic land, its mountains surely remained me of my home land of Nihon, the cool air, the rivers and valleys even the clear blue skies. We would be arriving at a small port in the southern regions of the Shire of Dragon’s Laire. We found ourselves shortly after our arrival visiting the shire and negotiating a treaty to establish our own independent port. We were received with a feast and open arms. The people here were very friendly and hospitable, but inside their hearts beat the drums of war, what a great civilization.

I departed with Curragh Mor many times and each time we returned victorious and the Kingdom greeted us and thank us each and every time for our selfish sacrifices.

I travel many times through the lands of An Tir and learn to call these lands home, and as time pass fast, my honor and sword became one with these lands and I would do whatever necessary to protect them putting my life in peril many times over.

As time pass, I was hailed farewell by my brothers and sisters of Curragh Mor as I was left behind to serve Dragon’s Laire now a great Barony. I will miss my mates. Fair well and followings seas.

Barony of Dragon’s Laire

October 10 AS 30 came with mixed feelings, I have been around the people of Dragon’s Laire but not as one of them, there were many occasions in which Curragh Mor lifted arms at their call, but we always new we were the Great Ship and well organized, disciplined and trained warriors; I was a bit mistaken, these people were our friends and their warriors as worthy as any of us, they even had Knights among themselves what a great opportunity for me to learn more and to serve more.

I had served before in many ways mostly diplomatic, even if at times diplomacy require the used of martial skills, but had never been as to become officially anything for the Barony until the day Baron James asked me to step up and help the Constabulary get a bit more organized and I was made a Deputy Constable; I also served here as a junior marshal and when needed provided muscle power to set up camp and greed newcomers as I had done in the pass.

We offered an open doors day in the summer to Baronial lands for those who did not knew of the Known World and I took sword and battled some of the braves in the land while visitors watch; they all learned quickly the deadly swiftness of a Katana.

From time to time I could still see some of my old mates from Curragh Mor visiting the lands and we shared memories of the pass until one day I heard no more of the vessel or my friends. Later I learned that the days of Curragh Mor had come to and end as she rested crewless in some distant port in the Kingdom of the East, she had ended were she started many years back after a long journey; it is now AS 34, the 4th reign of King Sven Fallgr Gunnarsson and Queen Signy Oksendahl.

Love

AS 36 , I was at my post when I was introduce to a beautiful young Maiden; Lezlie the Stronghearted of Silverhart, she was unlike any other women I had met, I knew I was destine to expend the rest of my life with her. It was rough and hard and at days I did not knew whether I was coming or going, the simple site of her radiant face made me loose my composure; I felt so docile near her as she slowly capture my warrior heart and tough me about other things in life. I courted her and not long after we were married and blesses with a beautiful baby boy; Joseph the Gentleheart of Dragon’s Laire. But as life would have it, I was order to a post in the outer regions not belonging to the Known World and once again life would change.

September 11 AS 36: The Great Persian Beast

While at sea I was awaken one night to horrible news; a heartless monster from the deepest of the Persian lands had taken a strike at the Kingdom of the East and many lives had been lost, we were to travel north East and stop this beast. We waited for days and months until one night we stroke mighty and swift at the heart of the beast; even wounded the beast would not give up and with a fatal strike of our sword the beast took its last breath and a people was freed.

Many have consider us invaders other have though of us as heroes, I just feel we did what was necessary to secure the safety of the people of the Known World, let others be not judges of our actions until they take the sword and face the foul smelling breath of one of those beast and see the devastation and poverty they impart on those who can not defend themselves.

The Kingdom of Atlantia and the Barony of Marinus

On October 6 AS 37, I was transferred to the Barony of Marinus, in the Kingdom of Atlantia, so we packed or wagon and headed East, after a long journey we arrived in Marinus the people here were a bit different and we found that our duties would prevent us from enjoying their hospitality. Many more things happened in the Middle East and my time was coming shorter and shorted. Here at Marinus I learned that the different warriors of Known World had different rules about tournaments and I was consider at times a bit too aggressive. My lady and I were busy during these years but found time to share with each other and to grow stronger together as a couple and we were blessed with Cali Cat the Hardheaded of Marinus and Aime Pooh the Curious and Innocent of Marinus. Time pass and I miss my old friends in An Tir, we tried to make the best of it and made appearances from time to time at area events and tried to be as civilized as possible. We truly never felt we were welcome at Marinus.

Pennsic Wars

Let it be known; I was there and what a war, there was so much to do I lost myself for many days and was rescued by my better half. The many armies gathered and many bounds were fought. I have never seen so many White Belts in one place together. The tournaments will be song of for eons to come. The heroes who save the day and the endurance of those who took the fields and bare arms in honor again and again; and we feasted at night; the music, the bard; the well dress populace of so many Kingdoms together; I only felt sorrow for the greater warriors of An Tir whom could not make the long journey. I feel privilege that I lived in a nearby Kingdom and made the safe journey and was part of such a rich and glorious venture.

Home for good: Canton of Silverhart

September 9, AS 41 during the reign of Amalric Blackhart and Caia Snowden, a day of mix feelings as I have been released from service and now we depart the Kingdom of Atlantia and return to the greatest Kingdom of the Known World, to An Tir and our new home in the beautiful lands of the Canton of Silverhart. I had made contact with Lord Barrett and he has express how much we will be welcome back in An Tir and our new home.

The Canton is what I consider the last outpost in the Eastern frontier of An Tir and we are, with our bordering Antireans, the first line of defense against invading forces from the east.

The people here are just as I remember, hospitable, friendly, high spirited; proud and brave. They have welcomed us to the land and have shown us what this Kingdom is all about. They live merry lives and are always willing to lend a hand to the Barony of Wealdsmere, which we are in fealty with. We are like no other Kingdom and I am proud to be here and glad to be of service.

Nakagawa Sukeie

AS 42

Awards:

Award of Arms (An Tir) By: Vik Vikingsson, Inga the Unfettered Apr 25, 2009 (AS XLIII)

Golden Oak (Wealdsmere) By: Caieth of Umber, Araviere Isobelle Magdaleine de St. Etienne Jun 19, 2010 (AS XLV)

Goutte de Sang (An Tir) By: Tiernan mor dal Cais, Miranda Faoltiarna Oct 16, 2010 (AS XLV)