The leader of the Woodsmen is a man named Heojin, tall and sturdy and soft-spoken, with a quiet, inexorable demeanour and an ingrained sense of dignity. Any kedan will say that he isn’t a man to make rash judgements, but while kedan from the city tend to view him with barely concealed disdain the Woodsmen speak of him with something not unlike veneration. The city kedan call him a coward; the Woodsmen call him a saviour.
Regardless, all kedan alike have a tendency to give way where Heojin treads, if only out of respect for the fact the farmlands are unequivocally his domain. As a result he tends to stand out, and even more so for the spring-green colours he wears, accompanied by a grown of woven bamboo leaves. He travels in a counter-clockwise motion around the city, moving from homestead to homestead to give his blessing to those living there and spending each night in an offered bed, until he finally returns to his starting-point at the close of the seventh day. He can be seen judging contests, sampling products and counselling farmers in particular need of the help, though he tends not to linger in conversations in order to spread his attention as far as possible.
Heojin’s right- and left-hand men can also been seen throughout the festival, both wearing neutral-coloured uniforms and blossoms in their hair (shifted long and braided specifically for this occasion).
Ran, stocky, perpetually apathetic and day-dreaming, wears a sickle at his belt and olive blossoms as a representation of reconciliation, purification and fruitfulness. Any Woodsmen will inform newcomers that this is a symbol of authority; that during this week, Ran has the authority of justice throughout the Woodsmen’s territory. Anywhere there is a particularly tense moment, he has a tendency to appear. Anyone who has a dispute -- regarding anything, but most especially sales or contest resolutions -- can request mediation by approaching a member of his honour guard, recognisable by their olive-blossom badges.
Lin, tall, scrawny and purple-haired, carries no weapons but wears apple blossoms for youth, happiness and health. During the week he acts in a pseudo-administration capacity by sponsoring stalls, games and activities -- sometimes even inventing games on the fly for kedan who’d like to contribute but have no ideas of their own. During this time, Lin is the spirit of youthfulness and can be seen anywhere there is fun to be had, from leading the dances for Liangken to encouraging contestants during races. Except for one day -- on the 20th, Lin will be oddly absent, and none of the Woodsmen will seem to know where he’s gone.
HEOJIN, RAN AND LIN
Regardless, all kedan alike have a tendency to give way where Heojin treads, if only out of respect for the fact the farmlands are unequivocally his domain. As a result he tends to stand out, and even more so for the spring-green colours he wears, accompanied by a grown of woven bamboo leaves. He travels in a counter-clockwise motion around the city, moving from homestead to homestead to give his blessing to those living there and spending each night in an offered bed, until he finally returns to his starting-point at the close of the seventh day. He can be seen judging contests, sampling products and counselling farmers in particular need of the help, though he tends not to linger in conversations in order to spread his attention as far as possible.
Heojin’s right- and left-hand men can also been seen throughout the festival, both wearing neutral-coloured uniforms and blossoms in their hair (shifted long and braided specifically for this occasion).
Ran, stocky, perpetually apathetic and day-dreaming, wears a sickle at his belt and olive blossoms as a representation of reconciliation, purification and fruitfulness. Any Woodsmen will inform newcomers that this is a symbol of authority; that during this week, Ran has the authority of justice throughout the Woodsmen’s territory. Anywhere there is a particularly tense moment, he has a tendency to appear. Anyone who has a dispute -- regarding anything, but most especially sales or contest resolutions -- can request mediation by approaching a member of his honour guard, recognisable by their olive-blossom badges.
Lin, tall, scrawny and purple-haired, carries no weapons but wears apple blossoms for youth, happiness and health. During the week he acts in a pseudo-administration capacity by sponsoring stalls, games and activities -- sometimes even inventing games on the fly for kedan who’d like to contribute but have no ideas of their own. During this time, Lin is the spirit of youthfulness and can be seen anywhere there is fun to be had, from leading the dances for Liangken to encouraging contestants during races. Except for one day -- on the 20th, Lin will be oddly absent, and none of the Woodsmen will seem to know where he’s gone.