Terukiyo

The locals in The Heart of the Forest claim the gold mask is a trophy, won from a demon in a duel that scarred Terukiyo’s face. The truth is less heroic. Terukiyo earned both mask and scar in service to a warlord, commanding illusions that drove an opposing army into a canyon. It was their masterpiece of deception, and the last order they ever followed. After the slaughter, they walked away from the victory feast, abandoning their rank and armor. They found their way to the amber-leaved woods, seeking quiet. Now, they practice sword forms until exhaustion, the simple repetition a balm for a haunted mind. They never use their power, except for the local children, for whom they conjure phantom fireflies on warm evenings.