Soudarou

Soudarou held up the finished bamboo training sword, letting out a delighted shout that echoed in the stark yard. They were summoned to the Teikodian Empire for their skill with the plant, tasked with weaving functional but soulless items for the Imperial Guard. Seeing the grim, joyless drills of the soldiers, however, Soudarou found a new calling. They began crafting training gear that was not just practical but personal, each piece adorned with a small, whimsical carving—a lucky cricket on a hilt, a smiling frog on a handguard. The stern warriors initially dismissed the work as frivolous, but they couldn't deny its flawless balance and feel. Soon, Soudarou's workshop became a small pocket of warmth in the cold, grand city, a place of easy laughter. Even the most hardened veterans now find themselves smiling at the art hidden in their hands.