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Burden of the Emerald Empire (A Legend of the Five Rings Tale)

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[X] It was shame, shame that you had surrendered yourself so quickly to another woman, oh the requisite year of mourning had been met. But still it had been too quick, born of a desperate need to have someone who you could be Hisao with again. A need you hadn't known. Still it was shameful to move on from Kaname so quickly.
 
[x] It was misguided protectiveness. Minoru was safe and doing very well in the forest, away from your grief and despair and the myriad issues that the Empire was facing both then and now. She deserved the truth, but you couldn't bear to break the shell of protection you managed to build for your daughter from the world outside. You promised Kaname to keep your children safe, and to your shame you forgot what it was like to be a Father, rather than an Emperor.
 
[x] It was thoughtlessness. You had been focused on being a good Emperor, and on dealing with your own grief, and any number of other things, and, shamefully enough, simply hadn't thought of it. Minoru had been safe, and successful in her studies, and so had been largely out of mind. You are... not good at maintaining personal relationships that are actually personal, rather than being associated with your position. It was not shame that kept you from this, but you do feel shame in your lack of attention now.
 
[x] It was misguided protectiveness. Minoru was safe and doing very well in the forest, away from your grief and despair and the myriad issues that the Empire was facing both then and now. She deserved the truth, but you couldn't bear to break the shell of protection you managed to build for your daughter from the world outside. You promised Kaname to keep your children safe, and to your shame you forgot what it was like to be a Father, rather than an Emperor.
 
[x] It was thoughtlessness. You had been focused on being a good Emperor, and on dealing with your own grief, and any number of other things, and, shamefully enough, simply hadn't thought of it. Minoru had been safe, and successful in her studies, and so had been largely out of mind. You are... not good at maintaining personal relationships that are actually personal, rather than being associated with your position. It was not shame that kept you from this, but you do feel shame in your lack of attention now.

This feels like the most honest answer to me.
 
Adhoc vote count started by gman391 on Aug 23, 2020 at 1:32 AM, finished with 20 posts and 9 votes.
  • [x] It was thoughtlessness. You had been focused on being a good Emperor, and on dealing with your own grief, and any number of other things, and, shamefully enough, simply hadn't thought of it. Minoru had been safe, and successful in her studies, and so had been largely out of mind. You are... not good at maintaining personal relationships that are actually personal, rather than being associated with your position. It was not shame that kept you from this, but you do feel shame in your lack of attention now.
    [x] It was misguided protectiveness. Minoru was safe and doing very well in the forest, away from your grief and despair and the myriad issues that the Empire was facing both then and now. She deserved the truth, but you couldn't bear to break the shell of protection you managed to build for your daughter from the world outside. You promised Kaname to keep your children safe, and to your shame you forgot what it was like to be a Father, rather than an Emperor.
    [X] It was fear. Fear of what Minoru would say, your daughter was one of the few people who you had no defenses against, and she was as high spirited as her mother. You hadn't wanted to hear her recriminations, to hear her anger, her hatred directed at you.
    [X] It was overprotectiveness. You knew that Minoru could handle the truth, knew she deserved the truth, but you couldn't bear to see the pain you knew the truth would bring her.
    [X] Fear of what Minoru would say and how much it would hurt, and then shame, shame that you gave in to such fears.
    [X] It was shame, shame that you had surrendered yourself so quickly to another woman, oh the requisite year of mourning had been met. But still it had been too quick, born of a desperate need to have someone who you could be Hisao with again. A need you hadn't known. Still it was shameful to move on from Kaname so quickly.
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Since I think functionally the two different versions of 'over protectiveness are the same, I'm considering this a tie for now until the dead lock is broken
 
gman391 said:
Adhoc vote count started by gman391 on Aug 23, 2020 at 1:32 AM, finished with 20 posts and 9 votes.
  • [x] It was thoughtlessness. You had been focused on being a good Emperor, and on dealing with your own grief, and any number of other things, and, shamefully enough, simply hadn't thought of it. Minoru had been safe, and successful in her studies, and so had been largely out of mind. You are... not good at maintaining personal relationships that are actually personal, rather than being associated with your position. It was not shame that kept you from this, but you do feel shame in your lack of attention now.
    [x] It was misguided protectiveness. Minoru was safe and doing very well in the forest, away from your grief and despair and the myriad issues that the Empire was facing both then and now. She deserved the truth, but you couldn't bear to break the shell of protection you managed to build for your daughter from the world outside. You promised Kaname to keep your children safe, and to your shame you forgot what it was like to be a Father, rather than an Emperor.
    [X] It was fear. Fear of what Minoru would say, your daughter was one of the few people who you had no defenses against, and she was as high spirited as her mother. You hadn't wanted to hear her recriminations, to hear her anger, her hatred directed at you.
    [X] It was overprotectiveness. You knew that Minoru could handle the truth, knew she deserved the truth, but you couldn't bear to see the pain you knew the truth would bring her.
    [X] Fear of what Minoru would say and how much it would hurt, and then shame, shame that you gave in to such fears.
    [X] It was shame, shame that you had surrendered yourself so quickly to another woman, oh the requisite year of mourning had been met. But still it had been too quick, born of a desperate need to have someone who you could be Hisao with again. A need you hadn't known. Still it was shameful to move on from Kaname so quickly.
Click to expand...


Since I think functionally the two different versions of 'over protectiveness are the same, I'm considering this a tie for now until the dead lock is broken
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
I dunno, misguided protectiveness and overprotectiveness are very different things.
One is an over reaction the other was an appropriate reaction in the wrong direction. :V:V:V
 
[x] It was thoughtlessness. You had been focused on being a good Emperor, and on dealing with your own grief, and any number of other things, and, shamefully enough, simply hadn't thought of it. Minoru had been safe, and successful in her studies, and so had been largely out of mind. You are... not good at maintaining personal relationships that are actually personal, rather than being associated with your position. It was not shame that kept you from this, but you do feel shame in your lack of attention now.
 
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Winter Court XV: A Father and an Emperor
  • Threadmarks
    • -Thoughtlessness.

    You give a deep sigh as you try to pull yourself together under Minoru's glare. She was right in a lot of ways. You wonder if this is how people feel when you glare at them for making such mistakes. You weren't...good at speaking from the heart. You were excellent at the prepared speeches of court, the by play of layered conversation. But unabashed truth?

    To quote an old Scorpion. 'The truth is so precious that it needs to be guarded by countless lies'

    You didn't believe that fully, but you did believe that there were very few times when being blunt was a good idea, now was one of those times.

    "Minoru, I...it was thoughtlessness on my part. After your mother..." you can say it you have to say it. "Died, I threw myself into my work, I am good Emperor, I know how to be a good emperor. It was easier for me to focus on tasks at hand, to be just the Emperor, and nothing else. And as the Emperor you were safe you were isolated. I didn't have to worry about you, because if anything could get through your sensei, nothing I could do would be any better. It was easier to just..."

    You rub your face.

    "That's not good enough father." Minoru cuts in. "It was easier to abandon me? Why because I remind you of mother?! Do you hate me for that?!"

    The dull sound of your heart in your chest seems so loud as it lurches, the unexpected blow. Of course she would see it that way.

    "No, a thousand times no."

    Promise Me

    "Then what Father? What made you decide I wasn't worth the effort to include in your life?"

    You can hear Kana wince at the accusation. You look over and see how much she's straining to hold on. You couldn't have a long argument you couldn't, not without hurting her more, and whatever this thing between you and your daughter was. Kana hadn't done anything wrong.

    "I'm sorry Minoru." You say. "Nothing I can say makes it right. You were always worth it. I was thoughtless. I can't change the past. As much as I wish to, you are right to be angry with me. I did what was easy instead of what was right...and I will spend the rest of my life trying to make up for that."

    Minoru's gaze softens.
    "Fa---"

    And then she winks out of existence as Kana collapses, you rush over to your wife and pick her up out of the water. Heedless of how it looked for you to be fully clothed in a tub of water.

    Kana rests in your arms and looks up at you with a guilty look.

    "I..couldn't hold it any more...I'm sorry."

    You reach down and caress her face.

    "Nothing to apologize for"

    "I didn't think she would be angry." Kana admits

    "She has reason."

    "I think one of the hardest lessons we have to learn, is that our parents are only human." Kana says softly.

    "I am the Emperor, I can't afford to be only human." You say.

    A sad smile from her as she takes your hand in hers. You both know that it's a lie, that for all the rhetoric, you are still just a man, a great man in many ways. But still a man.

    You stay like that with her for a while in the water, just holding Kana as she rests from the strain.

    As for Minoru, she was right, even if in terms of being safe it was best to have no contact with her. To be a father...you had to do something. A letter then, trusted to Kotaro's people? That might be best.

    Eventually you help Kana to bed, and as she snuggles into your side, your mind was a thousand miles away, thinking about the girl...no woman, that your daughter had become.

    She seemed to be the best parts of you and Kaname...

    ---------------------------------
    16th Year of the Reign of Toturi IV, Month of the Hare, 4th Day (Early Spring)

    The carriage carrying you sways in a familiar motion as you growl at the paper below you, reaching down and crumpling it up to toss behind you, joining a small pile.

    Kana gives a kind smile.

    Doji Yuriko looks around at the carriage, apparently still a little uncomfortable. For a long time people of import had been carried around the Empire on palanquins carried by strong backs. Carriages had been something of an oddity, only really usable by those with large oxen teams. Being hauled around by cows was beneath the dignity of the kuge.

    However, as a gift the Unicorn had designed this new form of transportation and gifted it with strong horses to pull you around. Not only being bigger than the normal ox carriages that had popped up as people adapted the Pelymrian great sleds that were supposedly used in the frozen north to being used on wheels. The carriage was more comfortable and swifter as well.

    And being carried by horses was acceptable to most. While Chariots had fallen out of fashion around the First War, it was still considered a fine mode of transportation.

    Did not seem like your Advisor was comfortable with it though. Beside her however, Kotaro was idly reading through a scroll in his hands.

    "Maybe the Emperor needs a break?" Kana asks gently.

    "The Emperor needs to write to his daughter." You say firmly.

    Kotaro looks up.

    "Well she is the Imperial Heir, it wouldn't be amiss for you to write to her about the state of the Empire she's going to return to." he points out.

    "I don't want to write my daughter about affairs of state, that's how this breech happened" you say.

    The three other people raise an eyebrow. Affairs of state...like taking Ayumi as a concubine and later Kana. You missed Ayumi. You cared for Kana, might even love her soon. But Ayumi was...someone you loved as well and it hurt to be away from her and the twins.

    "Yes, heard it as I said it."

    A ghost of a smile from Kotaro.
    "Still, these dispatches are somewhat interesting. How are things for you Doji-san?"

    Yuriko takes a a breath.
    "There's not too much to do yet, but the office of Emerald Champion has a number of responsibilities that I am adding to my own. Already we have Shosuro Jomon-san pressing that I 'share the burden' so to speak."

    "I thought you were going to remove him?" You ask.

    "Bayushi Paneki-san, seems to be unwilling to let Shosuro-san return home" Yuriko says.

    You couldn't actually blame him for that.

    "Still, I rather hope that problem is solved soon. It'd be nice to have a Chancellor who didn't just cause me problems." you say idly.

    Kotaro nods.
    "Still---"

    The carriage halts and Kotaro stops speaking.

    Isshin calls out.
    "My Emperor, someone has scattered logs on the road, we will need a day to move them."

    You sigh.

    "Alright Seppun-san, turn us around then, we'll take refuge at that temple a few li back."

    Kotaro looks up at the ceiling of the carriage as it begins to turn around.

    "I really hope this isn't a trap." he says.

    "Is it a trap?" you ask.

    "Well according to my dispatches, we've killed Shahai's agents in Ryoko Owari and Mura Sabishii Toshi, as well as eliminated Lucius's seventh attempt to try and get to the capital. Kolat are still currently somewhere north of Rokugan with most of their influence go...so if it is a trap, it's not by the usual suspects." Kotaro answers.

    Yuriko looks towards the side of the carriage as if to ask. 'what is our lives where this is a question we regularly ask?'

    "Well stay alert I suppose...now back to this letter" You say.

    -------------------

    The small temple was one of the countless ones dedicated to Inari through out the land. The deity of Grain, Foxes, Frost, and Health was the most popular Fortune outside of the Seven Great ones. And regular attempts to make Inari a Great Fortune were only stymied by Inari her/himself, seeming not to care for it.

    Suited a fox you supposed.

    The monks had quickly made room for you and your entourage. While they didn't have particularly luxurious accommodations they were sensible enough.

    Which brought you out here in the middle of the night looking at the moon. There just wasn't the space in your quarters to get some time alone. You wondered vaguely how Lord Gan was doing as you looked up at him.

    Isshin your ever present shadow these days, stifles a yawn and looks around.

    "Peaceful isn't it Seppun-san?"

    The Seppun shrugs.
    "Suppose so my lord."

    You're about to answer when a small tongue of flame appears before you. Isshin instantly steps forward readying his blade. You aren't sure that Isshin can cut fire down, but you are sure that Isshin will try.

    The flame dances for a bit before you see a face in it. A Zanj face, covered in wrinkles with dark grey eyebrows. You'd have to guess he was older than fifty summers maybe even seventy. But the dark black pupils are still filled with life all the same.

    Isshin draws his sword and the flame speaks.

    "Peace! I come in peace!" he says in badly accented Rokugani.

    "You Zanj have been nothing but thorns in my side." You say firmly. "Away with you."

    "Emperor Toturi, you owe your people to hear me out. No more intermediaries, no more dancing around our faiths. No more of this shadow war that sees both our holy people bleed and weep." The man says.

    "And who are you?" You ask

    "My name is Medr son of Desta of the Tamane. I am the leader of the High Council of the Netsayem, the Zanj as you call them. Our Liberator has failed to make inroads with your people. Thus we will try a different method. We have been at war so long that the fire of peace is little stoke, but I will try to stoke it all the same. I apologize for the flame, but given your laws, I could not see any other way to talk to you directly. This flame cannot burn anyone, or anything and will not harm you I swear on the Holy Prophet himself for this."

    Slowly you nod.

    "Thus, I ask again Emperor of the Rokugani, will you talk to me as one leader, no one man, to another, so that we may end this strife between our peoples?"

    [] Yes/No
    (If Yes please add in any other hard lines that Hisao will not move on. He starts with the hardline that he will not allow the Zanj to preach in the Empire proper, nor will he convert. I'd also ask that you add in any questions you want answers too for this vote)

    AN: One day we'll have a realm turn again, one day.
     
  • Threadmarks
    • I guess my current sentiment is something like this:

    [] Yes
    -[] We will not tolerate any concerted attempts to convert our people - not in Rokugan, not in the Jewel, not among the Mantis in foreign ports, not among the Unicorn as they range the trade roads.
    -[] In support of that, entry by Zanj into Rokugan, especially of their priests, is going to be seriously limited, as the Zanj have already displayed a willingness to risk death in an attempt to convert us, and we don't trust them to run around in our territory unsupervised.
    -[] We're actually largely okay with the current situation where the Zanj know to stay away because they know that if they don't, we'll kill them. It sounds like this man comes to us with reasons why we might wish to change our position on this. We will hear him out. If all that he desires is to have out holy men stop killing one another, though, then all he has to do is to convince his holy men to stop trying to convert our people.

    The Zanj religion is deeply toxic to the Rokugani social contract, and the best defense we have against it is our willingness to just straight-up murder people who fall to corruption of any sort. If we can somehow get past that, then I'm willing to cooperate on other matters. Their Liberator did seem to have a respectable attitude towards the Shadowlands... before we killed him for breaking Rokugani law.

    That's just a hot take, though. I'd be interested in hearing any thoughts that anyone else might have. It's also a bit more extensive than the vote called for (ie, covers more than just hard limits).

    I admit that being able to trade for Jade would be awfully handy... but they already know that.
     
    Sirrocco said:
    [] Yes
    -[] We will not tolerate any concerted attempts to convert our people - not in Rokugan, not in the Jewel, not among the Mantis in foreign ports, not among the Unicorn as they range the trade roads.
    -[] In support of that, entry by Zanj into Rokugan, especially of their priests, is going to be seriously limited, as the Zanj have already displayed a willingness to risk death in an attempt to convert us, and we don't trust them to run around in our territory unsupervised.
    -[] We're actually largely okay with the current situation where the Zanj know to stay away because they know that if they don't, we'll kill them. It sounds like this man comes to us with reasons why we might wish to change our position on this. We will hear him out. If all that he desires is to have out holy men stop killing one another, though, then all he has to do is to convince his holy men to stop trying to convert our people.
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    Works for me. Although I would personally tack on the lines:

    -[] Remind him that my rule is from literal divine mandate so trying to convert me and my people is also a direct threat to my rule.
    -[] that as a Toturi that I am related to the gods by being a descendant of Akodo-no-kami.

    though again it might be a bit much and more than what is needed. The basic gist is making sure Medr understands that by trying to convert Rokugan, he is also trying to oust Hisao from power.


    But yeah peace is usually better than war if it can be helped. Also y'know more Jade/Jade analogues against Shahai is always a plus.
     
    Well... it's been a day.

    [x] Yes
    -[x] We will not tolerate any concerted attempts to convert our people - not in Rokugan, not in the Jewel, not among the Mantis in foreign ports, not among the Unicorn as they range the trade roads.
    -[x] In support of that, entry by Zanj into Rokugan, especially of their priests, is going to be seriously limited, as the Zanj have already displayed a willingness to risk death in an attempt to convert us, and we don't trust them to run around in our territory unsupervised.
    -[x] We're actually largely okay with the current situation where the Zanj know to stay away because they know that if they don't, we'll kill them. It sounds like this man comes to us with reasons why we might wish to change our position on this. We will hear him out. If all that he desires is to have our holy men stop killing one another, though, then all he has to do is to convince his holy men to stop trying to convert our people.

    I don't think we really need to underline our reasoning so much. That'll come out (or won't) as he runs up against our hard lines. The question isn't whether or not he understands why they're hard lines. The question is whether or not he can abide by them.
     
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    It all makes sense.

    [x] Yes
    -[x] We will not tolerate any concerted attempts to convert our people - not in Rokugan, not in the Jewel, not among the Mantis in foreign ports, not among the Unicorn as they range the trade roads.
    -[x] In support of that, entry by Zanj into Rokugan, especially of their priests, is going to be seriously limited, as the Zanj have already displayed a willingness to risk death in an attempt to convert us, and we don't trust them to run around in our territory unsupervised.
    -[x] We're actually largely okay with the current situation where the Zanj know to stay away because they know that if they don't, we'll kill them. It sounds like this man comes to us with reasons why we might wish to change our position on this. We will hear him out. If all that he desires is to have our holy men stop killing one another, though, then all he has to do is to convince his holy men to stop trying to convert our people.
     
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    Yeah. It does all make sense. If anything, I worry that I may be missing some important hard line that we should be drawing... but I can't think of anything.
     
    Sirrocco said:
    -[x] We're actually largely okay with the current situation where the Zanj know to stay away because they know that if they don't, we'll kill them. It sounds like this man comes to us with reasons why we might wish to change our position on this. We will hear him out. If all that he desires is to have our holy men stop killing one another, though, then all he has to do is to convince his holy men to stop trying to convert our people.
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    [X] Sirrocco
     
    Sirrocco said:
    Yeah. It does all make sense. If anything, I worry that I may be missing some important hard line that we should be drawing... but I can't think of anything.
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    [Q] And don't make this weird. No kissing.

    I assume that Gman understands we can only draw lines about what we expect to happen. If the Zanj suggest a cultural exchange program, Hisao should shut that down as its obviously an attempt to convert Rokugani outside of Rokugan and then send them back, even though we didn't explicitly see it coming.

    Its a bit of an awkward vote because while I think its delivered sincerely, it sounds like it could be a "Gotcha - you didn't say no to this." thing.

    [x] Yes
    -[x] We will not tolerate any concerted attempts to convert our people - not in Rokugan, not in the Jewel, not among the Mantis in foreign ports, not among the Unicorn as they range the trade roads.
    -[x] In support of that, entry by Zanj into Rokugan, especially of their priests, is going to be seriously limited, as the Zanj have already displayed a willingness to risk death in an attempt to convert us, and we don't trust them to run around in our territory unsupervised.
    -[x] We're actually largely okay with the current situation where the Zanj know to stay away because they know that if they don't, we'll kill them. It sounds like this man comes to us with reasons why we might wish to change our position on this. We will hear him out. If all that he desires is to have our holy men stop killing one another, though, then all he has to do is to convince his holy men to stop trying to convert our people.
     
    Well, having our holy men and women stop killing each other is already on the table.

    Checking their stats on the foreign powers section it say they don't have a dedicated envoy yet. Offering to have our Imperial Commissioner receive a proper ambassador so things can be properly discussed without having anyone actually trespassing on Rokugan soil could help figure out what they want other than converts or gold. (I don't think they literally want enough bushels of rice to feed a man for a year.)
     
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