- Location
- Leeds
Burden of the Emerald Empire (A Legend of the Five Rings Tale)
- Thread starter gman391
- Start date
- Fantasy
Sirrocco
Pedantic
So... this bit gets weird. We have a bit of a talking-to with our wife, we go from that to talking with Shem-Zhe *that evening*, and there's already rumblings of war? For that matter, we don't have the chance to reconsider?
Admittedly, I'm not sure where we'd go if we did, but the fact is that the Unicorn are not just without allies, but significantly diminished in numbers after first burning a lot of their manpower taking the Jewel of the Desert and then not getting all that much back for it. If it's a batter of "We're going to beat on the Unicorn until you reconsider"... well, if we can't somehow pull out one of those impossible wins, we basically get to sit there and just watch the Unicorn get ground down, and that's not real good for *anyone*. I'm thinking that we'd be a lot better off deciding that we'd changed our minds after sleeping on it than we would deciding we'd changed our minds in the face of blatant coercion by the clans.
Admittedly, I'm not sure where we'd go if we did, but the fact is that the Unicorn are not just without allies, but significantly diminished in numbers after first burning a lot of their manpower taking the Jewel of the Desert and then not getting all that much back for it. If it's a batter of "We're going to beat on the Unicorn until you reconsider"... well, if we can't somehow pull out one of those impossible wins, we basically get to sit there and just watch the Unicorn get ground down, and that's not real good for *anyone*. I'm thinking that we'd be a lot better off deciding that we'd changed our minds after sleeping on it than we would deciding we'd changed our minds in the face of blatant coercion by the clans.
keenscythe
No longer NEET
- Location
- WA, USA
Then we send her to the Dragon, hopefully Togashi-no-Kami will last long enough to teach her how to be annoyingly vague.
Anyone who tries to strong-arm our choice of training for Hisao's firstborn by warfare? Automatically disqualified.
Fuck if this keeps up and if I wasn't absolutely sure it would end the Dynasty I would send her to the Pelmyrians.
Wait, I have an idea. What if we insist that her training be in the Jeweled city no matter who ends up training her? Literally dealing with other empires via either trade, diplomacy, and/or war while not backing down to either the Clans or the Gaijin will be her job description. The Jeweled City is likely the most multi-cultural area available to Rokugan so she could gain the most experience in how the Gaijin think and it would help discourage anyone who isn't willing to send their senseis across the desert. That or make sure we get the REALLY determined conservative members of the Clans who are committed to be on guard against Gaijin Influence.
@gman391 I doubt sending Minoru to the Crab will help mollify stopping the Flow of Jade, but will it inflame them ala adding insult to injury?
Next morning technically. And while it hasn't been announced, Shem-Zhe is one of the people who has an ear out for this just by virtue of his position so changing is possible. But he doesn't expect you to. Hisao is not known for changing his mind. That said, the sensei selection has been put off so you can in fact change your mind. Shem-Zhe is correct that people will in fact beat up the Unicorn Clan, but its not set in stone if that makes sense?
Sirrocco
Pedantic
Yeah... Dragon or Brotherhood. Dragon's probably the better bet. We certainly wouldn't want to reward the traditionalists.
I'm half-tempted to send her to the Kitsuki, but if the Unicorn made the traditionalists twitch, the Kitsuki would have them freak out entirely. Still... their teachings are so *useful*. Sending her to the Mirumoto might be seen as a direct slap in the fact to the Kakita, what with their particular issues. Other than that, though, the Dragon basically just have monks (and taoists, who are essentially monks with swords). I dont' think any of those would work.
@gman391, do we have any idea what would happen if we tried to send her to the Kitsuki?
@keenscythe
No, it will confuse everyone else though. The Crab are not really reformist or anti reformists, and if you select a bushi school, why you'd risk taint exposure (Dear old mother was aiming for Kaiu Yasuki training)
@Sirrocco
It is unlikely Togashi will let them take her to be honest. While Chagatai is the sort to go 'Have a go if you think you're hard enough!' Togashi...isn't. And Satsu listens to his grandpa.
But in the event it somehow got through, the Dragon might find it mighty hard to get buyers for their shit for a few years with the knock on effect of their economy not doing so hot.
No, it will confuse everyone else though. The Crab are not really reformist or anti reformists, and if you select a bushi school, why you'd risk taint exposure (Dear old mother was aiming for Kaiu Yasuki training)
@Sirrocco
It is unlikely Togashi will let them take her to be honest. While Chagatai is the sort to go 'Have a go if you think you're hard enough!' Togashi...isn't. And Satsu listens to his grandpa.
But in the event it somehow got through, the Dragon might find it mighty hard to get buyers for their shit for a few years with the knock on effect of their economy not doing so hot.
- Location
- Leeds
Seems like its Mantis, Unicorn or Traditionalist.
Would it be possible to make sure that the Imperial observers of the war/wars call it very early to minimise damage?
Or is that the sort of thing that would just have more unfortunate knock on effects?
Would it be possible to make sure that the Imperial observers of the war/wars call it very early to minimise damage?
Or is that the sort of thing that would just have more unfortunate knock on effects?
Sure the Throne limits wars all the time. Would it have knock on effects...yeah.
- Location
- Leeds
Yeah...
Why do the clans have to be... well... the clans?
Because semi feudalistic power dynamics are inherently unstable?
- Location
- Leeds
Stop giving reasonable answers and let me stew in my self pity.
Sirrocco
Pedantic
Worth noting... the traditional job of the Otomo is to keep those little brushfire wars *going*, so as to keep the clans at each other's throats and weaken them so that the Emperor has more direct influence. In particular, under the original playbook, the Scorpion/Lion/Crane alliance is basically never supposed to happen.
Huh. I suppose that there are some benefits. If Little Brother decides to lead the Lion into a war that they want but we don't, that probably gives him some useful legitimacy points.
Well, given that, it's basically default to the Monks or leave it on the Unicorn...and we've no idea *how* she'd come out if we had her raised by monks.
Welp. We did say that we were defaulting on this one, after all. There's a price to everything.
I suppose that my plan would be to let it happen, see if we can't keep it to just one clan attacking (preferably the Lion) and then stop it after they've had a chance to blood each other a bit but before it gets too destructive. Possibly tactically draft people for the Otosan Uchi endeavor?
Huh. I suppose that there are some benefits. If Little Brother decides to lead the Lion into a war that they want but we don't, that probably gives him some useful legitimacy points.
Well, given that, it's basically default to the Monks or leave it on the Unicorn...and we've no idea *how* she'd come out if we had her raised by monks.
Welp. We did say that we were defaulting on this one, after all. There's a price to everything.
I suppose that my plan would be to let it happen, see if we can't keep it to just one clan attacking (preferably the Lion) and then stop it after they've had a chance to blood each other a bit but before it gets too destructive. Possibly tactically draft people for the Otosan Uchi endeavor?
Sirrocco
Pedantic
So... I realized I'd not actually voted in all of this. Also, apologies on the double-post. Also, could we maybe get some other folks voting?
[X] No, he has made his choice. (Time skip to Kyuden Hida)
-[X] Apologize to Shem-zhe for bringing up bad memories but let him know you asked him for this because you felt he was the most worthy man to become Lord Sun because you felt he would be able to handle the power without being corrupted by it.
-[X] Fallback plan: Shinjo Gan
With the Unicorn war... well, the Unicorn get into brushfire wars from time to time. We'll just have to make sure they aren't crippled by it.
[X] No, he has made his choice. (Time skip to Kyuden Hida)
-[X] Apologize to Shem-zhe for bringing up bad memories but let him know you asked him for this because you felt he was the most worthy man to become Lord Sun because you felt he would be able to handle the power without being corrupted by it.
-[X] Fallback plan: Shinjo Gan
With the Unicorn war... well, the Unicorn get into brushfire wars from time to time. We'll just have to make sure they aren't crippled by it.
Last edited:
keenscythe
No longer NEET
- Location
- WA, USA
With the famine and the resulting budget crunch I don't think we can afford to cut their taxes to relieve pressure on them.
Maybe have Chagatai do another mass recruitment of the desert Moto? Or perhaps from the Jewel? (Probably be a bit too much of heresy)
Also since Shem-zhe is out of the running who do you think we should push forward to be Lord Sun/moon from the list we got from the Nakedo?
I have been leaning towards Shinjo Gan or Moto Yui personally.
Sirrocco
Pedantic
No, I'd really just meant "Let it go on long enough to satisfy honor, then call it off." Long enough that no one's going to get super-bent-out-of-shape about it, but short enough that the Unicorn don't suffer any (more) crippling losses over it.
Also, after looking back again, I think I like Shinjo Gan. In particular, if he *does* succeed, we can start a monastic order in his name that takes in Gaijin orphans and teaches them to be (reasonably) good Rokugani - a good source for more interlocutors between the Empire and the outside world. Also, having "my wife couldn't stand constantly moving and living in a yurt" is the sort of thing that should play well both as the Sun and as Shinjo-no-kami's potential husband. He's clearly rocking the Compassion, too, which is nice when you're setting someone up with that level of power.
I don't much like the diplomat choices if only because there's no justifiable reason we *would* send them to Otosan Uchi.
Have edited Shinjo Gan in as my vote.
Last edited:
keenscythe
No longer NEET
- Location
- WA, USA
I'll do the same hopefully they will count enough for us to have picked them before we go to Kyuden Hida.
Minimizing the fallout from Minoru's training is going to require quite a bit of Hisao's concentration.
Year 8: Winter Court VIII
Month of the Boar 25th day (Late Autumn)
Kyuden Hida was carved out of a mountain by Osano-wo the Fortune of Thunder himself. Or so the legends go. As the immense walls tower over your party, you can believe that. The two oni skulls hang above the immense forged gates, the only gates in all the land outside of the ruins of Otosan Uchi to be made entirely of steel, somehow.
They open and you can't help but think back to that day with Shem-Zhe, you had apologized for the time you took out of his schedule and he waved it off and said that you gave him too much praise for being a man you trusted with the power of the sun.
You don't know what to think about that really. The unfortunate thing was that he seemed to be right about the other clans turning on the Unicorn. Kotaru and Ayumi (Although why Ayumi had spies inside the Empire beyond 'Scorpion' was unexplained) both reported to you that there was pressure from the Lion and Crane to the Unicorn directly to lobby for one of their schools to take your daughter.
Which had gone over like a kemari ball made of rock. Chagatai declared that if he was so honoured he would have the finest warriors and courtiers in the clan teach Minoru. Which meant the Lion and Crane had talked to the Scorpion who were all too happy to sow distrust between everyone. It said something that even with the Crane and Lion alliance beginning to fracture, they still wanted to take down the Unicorn more than each other.
You had spoken in haste and hadn't thought things through, but now you needed a face saving excuse to revoke your choice in the Unicorn. The Emperor after all does not bow to pressure.
The thoughts move on from your mind as the gates finish opening and you walk in with your entourage. Hida Kuon is waiting for you in full armor along with the core of his Elite Guard, the Crab for once not naming them after some form of stone or steel. The hulking armoured men waited kneeling as you approached.
Kuon in turn kow-tows to you and his guard follows suit as he says.
"Welcome to Kyuden Hida, my Emperor"
"Hida-san, thank you for the warm welcome." You say. "You and your men may rise."
They do so with a unity of movement that only comes from years of training together. They move to the side, but the sense of unease you feel begins to grow as you walk with Kuon slightly behind you as is proper.
"I hope you are not too put out to host my court this winter Hida-san?" You ask making conversation.
"No my Emperor, the Wall does not Fall, not while I have breath...and we are more than glad to have the reason we hold the Wall here to remind us of that." he answers.
There's a silence then as he guides you through the castle, giving you a tour before the court opens in a few weeks. Kyuden Hida is...practical is the best word for it. Every inch has been evaluated for use in war, and every inch that can see to the defense of the castle has been given over to it, Kyuden Hida is the only castle in Rokugan that rightly holds claim that it has never fallen to war.
The tour ends with you and Kuon in his office, your guards and his standing outside doing the awkward small talk that comes when you both have a similar but conflicting task to do.
Closing the door he turns to you and bows low.
"If I may be blunt Mikado?" He asks.
You nod, seeing little reason to deny him.
"I wish to speak to you about your mother." He says somberly.
"My...mother" You say slowly.
She was born a Kaiu but hadn't been since...well a long time ago. Although, it was nearing the traditional retirement age for the Dowager Empress. You frown in thought.
"One of my trusted generals is being blackmailed over her." He says simply
"...What" you say flatly.
Kuon looks uncomfortable, with good reason. Among the Crabs more blood feuds have been declared for insulting someone's mother than anything else. That was hardly what Kuon wanted from you.
"Hai...Hida Kakeguchi Benjiro my brother in law and leader of my armies...they...had become friends during the Winter Court at Kyuden Gusai five years ago now. Its...being alleged that they were rather more than that" Kuon says. "And while I know your mother is pure...if such a thing were to come out...they would be tainted by scandal and I would have to lose my brother in law in order to make it right." Kuon says.
Huh so you can apparently crack wood with your fist now, neat.
Kuon looks at you with some concern as you stare at what was once his desk.
"And do you know who this blackmailer is?" You ask surprisingly calm.
"No, if I knew that, I'd smash their faces in myself, damn the consequences. But whoever it is...wants me to throw my lot in with the Lion when it comes to punishing the Unicorn...I have no real feelings towards them, but I do not think they deserve to have the best army in Rokugan come down on them." Kuon answers.
"How did you and he find out?" You ask.
"Ah he received a sealed letter, the kami banished from it, that spoke of it and showed proof...your mother had given him a painting signed by her and intimating a close friendship...or more if you're a cowardly dog" The scarred man answers.
"...and you want me to find a solution" You say without really asking.
Kuon nods.
"Truth be told...I don't begrudge either of them happiness, but even we Crab know that it would be...bad if it was thought that the Emperor's mother was seeing lovers on the side."
"Hai" you say simply.
"Forgive me for not solving the problem myself my Emperor, I've had trusted magistrates and shugenja look into it...but they've found little. I believe they intend to force my hand during this Winter Court." Kuon says.
Well, at least its more mundane than trying to hook up Shinjo Gan to a sun goddess you suppose.
"Thank you, I'm going to my quarters to think about this, apologies for the desk" You say.
Kuon kowtows and says "Its fine. Heavens smile on you"
-----------------
Later that night you reflect on what you learned, the Scorpion obviously are the biggest culprits, but then the Crane and Lion have both been what one would call sneaky over the years, so it may well bet them or some fourth party. The fact remains that your mother cannot be caught in an affair or the hint of one. The question is only who do you punish and how do you punish them? And for that you need someone to investigate into the matter....
You decide to have
[] Kitsuki Akane (Magistrate approach)
[] Shosuro Ayumi (Shinobi approach)
[] Otomo Kotaru (Courtier approach)
Take care of it.
Next you would want to talk to your mother but after sleeping for a night.
----------
AN:
Magistrate means looking for evidence and clues to who could be behind it. Its noticeable though
Shinobi means breaking into likely suspects rooms and finding the black mail material. It isn't as noticeable as magistrate but more so than courtier
Courtier means piecing together gossip, rumour and politics to figure out the person behind it and then ruining their life. If it works no one will ever know.
All have pluses and negatives to them.
Kyuden Hida was carved out of a mountain by Osano-wo the Fortune of Thunder himself. Or so the legends go. As the immense walls tower over your party, you can believe that. The two oni skulls hang above the immense forged gates, the only gates in all the land outside of the ruins of Otosan Uchi to be made entirely of steel, somehow.
They open and you can't help but think back to that day with Shem-Zhe, you had apologized for the time you took out of his schedule and he waved it off and said that you gave him too much praise for being a man you trusted with the power of the sun.
You don't know what to think about that really. The unfortunate thing was that he seemed to be right about the other clans turning on the Unicorn. Kotaru and Ayumi (Although why Ayumi had spies inside the Empire beyond 'Scorpion' was unexplained) both reported to you that there was pressure from the Lion and Crane to the Unicorn directly to lobby for one of their schools to take your daughter.
Which had gone over like a kemari ball made of rock. Chagatai declared that if he was so honoured he would have the finest warriors and courtiers in the clan teach Minoru. Which meant the Lion and Crane had talked to the Scorpion who were all too happy to sow distrust between everyone. It said something that even with the Crane and Lion alliance beginning to fracture, they still wanted to take down the Unicorn more than each other.
You had spoken in haste and hadn't thought things through, but now you needed a face saving excuse to revoke your choice in the Unicorn. The Emperor after all does not bow to pressure.
The thoughts move on from your mind as the gates finish opening and you walk in with your entourage. Hida Kuon is waiting for you in full armor along with the core of his Elite Guard, the Crab for once not naming them after some form of stone or steel. The hulking armoured men waited kneeling as you approached.
Kuon in turn kow-tows to you and his guard follows suit as he says.
"Welcome to Kyuden Hida, my Emperor"
"Hida-san, thank you for the warm welcome." You say. "You and your men may rise."
They do so with a unity of movement that only comes from years of training together. They move to the side, but the sense of unease you feel begins to grow as you walk with Kuon slightly behind you as is proper.
"I hope you are not too put out to host my court this winter Hida-san?" You ask making conversation.
"No my Emperor, the Wall does not Fall, not while I have breath...and we are more than glad to have the reason we hold the Wall here to remind us of that." he answers.
There's a silence then as he guides you through the castle, giving you a tour before the court opens in a few weeks. Kyuden Hida is...practical is the best word for it. Every inch has been evaluated for use in war, and every inch that can see to the defense of the castle has been given over to it, Kyuden Hida is the only castle in Rokugan that rightly holds claim that it has never fallen to war.
The tour ends with you and Kuon in his office, your guards and his standing outside doing the awkward small talk that comes when you both have a similar but conflicting task to do.
Closing the door he turns to you and bows low.
"If I may be blunt Mikado?" He asks.
You nod, seeing little reason to deny him.
"I wish to speak to you about your mother." He says somberly.
"My...mother" You say slowly.
She was born a Kaiu but hadn't been since...well a long time ago. Although, it was nearing the traditional retirement age for the Dowager Empress. You frown in thought.
"One of my trusted generals is being blackmailed over her." He says simply
"...What" you say flatly.
Kuon looks uncomfortable, with good reason. Among the Crabs more blood feuds have been declared for insulting someone's mother than anything else. That was hardly what Kuon wanted from you.
"Hai...Hida Kakeguchi Benjiro my brother in law and leader of my armies...they...had become friends during the Winter Court at Kyuden Gusai five years ago now. Its...being alleged that they were rather more than that" Kuon says. "And while I know your mother is pure...if such a thing were to come out...they would be tainted by scandal and I would have to lose my brother in law in order to make it right." Kuon says.
Huh so you can apparently crack wood with your fist now, neat.
Kuon looks at you with some concern as you stare at what was once his desk.
"And do you know who this blackmailer is?" You ask surprisingly calm.
"No, if I knew that, I'd smash their faces in myself, damn the consequences. But whoever it is...wants me to throw my lot in with the Lion when it comes to punishing the Unicorn...I have no real feelings towards them, but I do not think they deserve to have the best army in Rokugan come down on them." Kuon answers.
"How did you and he find out?" You ask.
"Ah he received a sealed letter, the kami banished from it, that spoke of it and showed proof...your mother had given him a painting signed by her and intimating a close friendship...or more if you're a cowardly dog" The scarred man answers.
"...and you want me to find a solution" You say without really asking.
Kuon nods.
"Truth be told...I don't begrudge either of them happiness, but even we Crab know that it would be...bad if it was thought that the Emperor's mother was seeing lovers on the side."
"Hai" you say simply.
"Forgive me for not solving the problem myself my Emperor, I've had trusted magistrates and shugenja look into it...but they've found little. I believe they intend to force my hand during this Winter Court." Kuon says.
Well, at least its more mundane than trying to hook up Shinjo Gan to a sun goddess you suppose.
"Thank you, I'm going to my quarters to think about this, apologies for the desk" You say.
Kuon kowtows and says "Its fine. Heavens smile on you"
-----------------
Later that night you reflect on what you learned, the Scorpion obviously are the biggest culprits, but then the Crane and Lion have both been what one would call sneaky over the years, so it may well bet them or some fourth party. The fact remains that your mother cannot be caught in an affair or the hint of one. The question is only who do you punish and how do you punish them? And for that you need someone to investigate into the matter....
You decide to have
[] Kitsuki Akane (Magistrate approach)
[] Shosuro Ayumi (Shinobi approach)
[] Otomo Kotaru (Courtier approach)
Take care of it.
Next you would want to talk to your mother but after sleeping for a night.
----------
AN:
Magistrate means looking for evidence and clues to who could be behind it. Its noticeable though
Shinobi means breaking into likely suspects rooms and finding the black mail material. It isn't as noticeable as magistrate but more so than courtier
Courtier means piecing together gossip, rumour and politics to figure out the person behind it and then ruining their life. If it works no one will ever know.
All have pluses and negatives to them.
Last edited:
keenscythe
No longer NEET
- Location
- WA, USA
[X] Shosuro Ayumi (Shinobi approach)
It's probably the Scorpion behind this. Time to find out if Ayumi is loyal to Hisao or her clan
Also
It's probably the Scorpion behind this. Time to find out if Ayumi is loyal to Hisao or her clan
Also
Whoops thank you for that.
- Location
- Moon-Station
[X] Kitsuki Akane (Magistrate approach)
- Location
- Virginia
[X] Otomo Kotaru (Courtier approach)
- Location
- Should be a bit higher
[X] Kitsuki Akane (Magistrate approach)
Sirrocco
Pedantic
So... there's a good chance it is the Scorpion. If we hand the job to the Scorpion, it is highly likely that they'll pick a target they don't much like, and play it for political advantage. They are highly likely to be "successful", though, which is good.
I think... I think the Scorpion might rather like to have a knife that's labeled "Anyone but the Unicorn". There's a decent chance that it'll be turned against he Crane or the Lion, too, which would help to fracture the growing anti-Unicorn alliance.
[x] Shosuro Ayumi (Shinobi approach)
I think... I think the Scorpion might rather like to have a knife that's labeled "Anyone but the Unicorn". There's a decent chance that it'll be turned against he Crane or the Lion, too, which would help to fracture the growing anti-Unicorn alliance.
[x] Shosuro Ayumi (Shinobi approach)