One theory suggests that the soul, being infinite, has as many physical representations as there are universes, that these dopplegangers literaly are all the same person. Basically that the human body is nothing more than a finger or toe of the human soul, and that each soul has millions of these fingers and toes.
Other theories suggest branching off points, where the souls are all but identical and merely branched off along different paths sometime in the past. And so the souls, that were all but the same before, become less and less identical as time progresses.
The third theory is far more likely than either of those two. It is the same force that produces similar people within one single universe. And that is that the same forces of heredity and upbringing conspire to produce similar individuals.
It might appear that the truth matters little to the practice, but of course, there are subtle differences in the way the theories work that produce slight changes that may have tremendous impact.
In any case, the analogs of the Neriman gang had lives within this world.
Utaku Xian rode with her battle maiden sisters, keeping the Unicorn lands clean of the Shadowspawn, and biting her lip in concern and feeling something coming, despite the assurances of her Shugenja betrothed. Or perhaps because of those assurances, Ide Musu was spending more and more time in seclusion, conferencing with people, she hoped they were people at least, that she could never catch a glimpse of.
Moto Akanyo, another Unicorn battle maiden struck deeper and deeper into the shadowlands, ever seeking vengeance against the power that corrupted so many of her ancestors. She had been careful to avoid taint so far, but she grew more and more reckless.
The man Ryokoi wandered about aimlessly. A glimmering anger rested in his eyes as he ever fought the cursed blade he wore at his side. He was certainly a samurai, fighting in a style that seemed to be at times lion, crab or unicorn, but it was uncertain from which of the three clans he hailed. He wandered, seeking something he would not tell of.
Bayushi Nori felt a net growing around her family, whispers of plans that, if enacted would spell their doom. Worse than that, she suspected that they were thinking to break their long oaths of loyalty. The loyalty without which they were nothing more than thieves and killers. She comforted herself and convinced herself that she was paranoid, that the Scorpion would never betray their faith, and continued to follow orders that nevertheless seemed more and more doubtful.
Soshi Konomi sat imprisoned in a small outpost on the edge of the Scorpion lands. Accused of practicing Maho and spreading fear and insanity, she was due to be executed soon. For she knew what Nori only suspected, the Scorpion planned to usurp the Empire, and she had insisted that this would only give the prophecy they sought to prevent impetus. And so they called her disloyal and sentenced her to imprisonment and death before she could spread the "foul rumor" she had created further in the clan or beyond it.
Kakita Korin practiced the art of the iaijutsu duel seeking perfection and trying to ignore the rest of the world about him. Especially ignore the continued attentions of Miyamoto Ruri, hoping the colorful samurai-ko would be called home soon.
Asako Kimuri solemnly practiced her healing arts and studied the secret her family had kept for thousands of years. The secret that humanity would one day be as the gods, leaving the world behind for new creatures to grow, evolve, and ascend in their wake, continuing an eternal cycle.
Isawa Kiima felt herself growing ever closer to what she considered perfection, though some of her superiors warned her that her theories sounded dangerously close to the theories of Maho. She knew the fools were just jealous of her talents, one day she would show them all.
Matsu Ujikiko wandered along the edges of the empire, surveying the situation of the Crabs at the request of her lord. Her battle prowess was welcome where she travelled, as was the resourcefulness of the nezumi scout, T'tep'mok, who followed her with unmasked devotion. Unlike other clans, the Crab actually respected the rat-men for their continued struggles against the Shadowlands.
((AN: Cast identified
Utaku Xian - Shampoo Unicorn Battle Maiden, betrothed to Musu
Ide Musu - Mousse Unicorn Shugenja/Diplomat, betrothed to Xian
Moto Akanyo - Akane Unicorn Battle Maiden, dangerously reckless in hunting the fallen Moto.
Ryokoi - Ryouga, unknown clan, carries one of the bloodswords
Bayushi Nori - Nabiki, Scorpion Diplomat, suspicious of but still disbelieving of her clan's intentions.
Soshi Konomi - Kodachi Scorpion Shugenja, accused of Maho, may or may not be true, knows about the Scorpion Coup
Kakita Korin - Kuno Crane Iaijutsu Master, monk-like attitude, seeking perfection of his style
Miyamoto Ruri - Ranko Dragon Niten-style fighter, cheerful, vibrant, pursuing Korin
Asako Kimuri - Kasumi Phoenix Healer/Henshin Mystic, contemplative, pacifistic
Isawa Kiima - Kiima Phoenix Shugenja, arrogant, power-hungry, vindictive
Matsu Ujikiko - Ukyou Lion Samurai, skilled warrior, well-liked among the Crab
T'tep'mok - Konatsu, Nezumi scout/rogue, resourceful, devoted to Ujikiko))
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(Posted Sun, 20 Oct 2002 14:05)
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