Ekinosuke

The crisp scent of bamboo on the freezing mountain wind is the only warning before Ekinosuke appears. Here in The Great Panda City, the street vendors have stories. They speak of a ruby-furred traveler in a red adventurer’s pack and an old-fashioned Kamen, a mask that never comes off. They say the only feature visible is a pair of magnificent mutton chops, a style centuries out of date. They never ask for directions; they just unroll star charts unlike any seen in this realm. Some on the Panda Council believe Ekinosuke follows the anonymous creed of Tokumei, sacrificing identity for some cosmic purpose. They map the paths between worlds, not just valleys. The children whisper that if you get close enough, the eyes behind the mask aren’t eyes at all, but swirling galaxies.