Second, that he seems to be not nervous but cautious, as if he's learned from experience to move with just enough speed to matter....and last that he's not putting up an image for you to peer through. This is Noritoshi the man, not Kakita Noritoshi the daimyo.
Hirayuki says something as Noritoshi withdraws the blade....and the two laugh together, what was said you don't know, but it seems that your Emerald Champion has enough tact not to rub his victory in Hirayuki's face.
[X] Ask him about his family. He is very much in love with his wife, maybe he has advice on that front?
He's the Emerald Champion. It would be worthwhile to cultivate his loyalty, and presenting ourselves as "young man who can appreciate and value good advice from those older and wiser (even though he's the Emperor)" can help with that. For all that we've been leaving them to languish lately, the Crane *are* among our natural allies.
Also, really, we *could* use some relationship advice. We want the marriage to work, and it's not like we have anyone *better* to go to.
In theory Cranes are diplomats and peacemakers. In practice that goes both against interest of their clan (most Clans play zero-sum game) and unlike Crab or even Mantis Cranes aren't checked by practice. When all is well it's pretty easy to forget what for they are diplomats and when all is not well Crab, Lion, Scorpion, [insert clan here] play game of "smash puny Crane" and Crane are too pissed off to care in result.
Also for purposes of ease of their duties Cranes create system that besides said ease of their duties allows them to be snide assholes to everybody while nobody can do anything with it short of game of "smash puny Crane" and, well, power corrupts. Plenty of Cranes are actually proud of being able to be snide assholes to everybody and get away with it. Being troll is form of art after all and Cranes love their art and being better than everybody else.
Not that other clans don't have their doze of bullshit, but Crane one while not worse than other clans bullshit is directly in everybodies face and have policy of meddling everywhere ingrained in their clan mentality.
Good (which not necessarily means nice) Cranes are fucking awesome, but, well...
PS. And as we have Crane that can actually Crane... well - as I said, good Cranes are fucking awesome.
You wait for a moment as tea is poured. Kakita Noritoshi is...somewhat notorious for his love of family, being one of the rare Crane to marry his childhood sweet heart without complaint. In spite of his son's curse, Noritoshi was reported to still be kind and supportive of the child. On the other hand, the legendary feud between him and his brother Kakita Atoshi was still going strong even if there was no chance now that Atoshi could usurp his brother...many others in his position would have simply commanded Atoshi retire to a monastery and been done with it. Noritoshi hadn't, perhaps out of affection for their father.
With that in mind, and the knowledge that Noritoshi himself was looking to see if you could connect personally rather than simply as a lord to a servant, you decide to ask after his family and wife.
Besides, you don't really have any one else around that can explain to you the intricacies of being a husband. Your uncle...well his marriage to Doji Yayuso seemed to revolve around meeting up, fighting and then make up sex. Sensei had just sent back a note filled with 'HAHAHA' for twenty lines when you asked him for advice, and both Hiroko and Akane didn't seem keen to discuss their husbands.
Asking your mother was right out for obvious reasons.
"Kakita-san, I have heard of the devotion you have to you family, would you please tell me about them?" You ask.
Noritoshi stops between taking out his own chopsticks, to nod.
"Of course my Emperor. They are as of the last letter doing quite well. My wife is taking the Kakita lands well in hand and my son is flourishing at the Kakita Artisan Academy."
You feel more than see the sense of nostalgia he feels. The academy is precious to him, not as much as his family, but still something he would protect against anyone.
"I am glad to hear your family is doing well. I am assured that you will have plenty of time to speak to Kakita Mai-san and young Ichiro. From my understanding in a few years he will compete his gempukku?"
"You are well informed my lord, and hai, unless his sensei have totally missed the mark, he is capable of graduating when he wishes, but I have told them to keep him studying for a few more years. More training is never a bad thing. I am grateful that things have been arranged so I can see my wife." He says with the peculiar smile of the Crane. Their face never moves, but somehow they smile.
"From what I have been told. Benten-no-kami would be most put out if I or anyone conspired to prevent your union"
Noritoshi swallows down a piece of sushi.
"I will not deny it. I thank the Fortune every day for my wife. I have been in love with her since we first met. Not many get that."
"Indeed, which makes it all the more precious, I can only hope that I share such a deep bond with my fiancée as you do your wife." You say.
The older man finishes a sip of tea.
"Hmm, it was unfortunate that you did not take my vassal as your bride, I would be more than happy to help you win her heart, and know her better than I do Shiba-san."
It was a mild rebuke as these things go, but still a rebuke. Granted, you couldn't really blame him. Kakita Ayane no doubt had dozens of marriage offers and you had indirectly slighted her by not choosing her. So you chose your next words with care...
"Kakita Ayane is a fine samurai, and you are right to be proud of her. In another life I may have chosen her, but given that she is the heir, it seemed impolite to take one of your strongest vassals away from you"
Noritoshi gives a wry look to you, acknowledging the reversal for what it is. Now you are not ungrateful to him for his offer, but instead generous. Neither of you really believe that, but neither of you have any reason to draw attention that. You had parried him and he respected that.
"It is not a given that Kakita-san will inherit, but I am glad for your concern. That said, not knowing Shiba-san, my own true advice is to find something to do together that you both truly enjoy. I have spent countless hours making music with my wife, and even now the thought of it does my heart good" Noritoshi says.
You blink for a moment, surely that double entendre was intentional and yet...it was well known that Noritoshi was a fantastic musician. Was he seriously suggesting that you just, for lack of a better word fuck Kaname? Admittedly, there was a part of you that very much wanted to do that, and you had been growing closer. Alternately there was no double entendre and he really just meant for you to have a hobby with her.
Crane
You now understood why your mother sometimes said that word like it was a curse.
Keeping your feelings of annoyed ambiguity to yourself, you opt to continue the conversation.
"Thank you Kakita-san, I'll keep it in mind."
While that stood out, you ended up discussing a number of topics, albeit nothing in much depth, more the casual small talk that two people who don't know each other employ to decide if they want to be friends. In truth, although he hides it well, Noritoshi really doesn't like people, but he's trying to get along for your sake. You do your best to help him with that, and not really mention when he lets slip some of his more cynical views. Granted you don't really think that Matsu Kenji the Matsu daimyo was sleeping with Ikoma Otemi anyways. Although stranger things had happened, like that old story about a Scorpion daimyo falling for a Dragon monk and running away with him. You were pretty sure that one was true.
By the end of your meal you have a sense of Noritoshi, honourable almost to a fault, but loves his family, with a quiet sort of cynicism about people and biting tongue when he wished. On the whole you don't know how well he'll handle being the Emerald Champion, but he's what you got..
[] and you like him overall.
[] even if you don't like him.
AN: Since you don't get to choose your champions, I'm letting you decide how you feel about them and assuming that you are at least somewhat positively inclined to the ones you did pick.
I'll be setting up the Jade Tournament slots in a bit. After that I'll work on the Jade Tournament updates.
You blink for a moment, surely that double entendre was intentional and yet...it was well known that Noritoshi was a fantastic musician. Was he seriously suggesting that you just, for lack of a better word fuck Kaname? Admittedly, there was a part of you that very much wanted to do that, and you had been growing closer. Alternately there was no double entendre and he really just meant for you to have a hobby with her.
AN: Technically speaking if you go back to the 2007 records each clan sent 3 people (including the gorram Spider) and the MCA sent 2 and yeah it was a lot of people. In the interest of only having four rounds (Which seems to be a good cut off point to me) I've done a preliminary round to eliminate about 12 of those shugenja ahead of time. Ironically as in rl, the Spider agent got spanked out in the first round, but so did the Imperial.
As with the Emerald Champion the rules are fairly simple. People pick one candidate and roll 3d10 for them and compare each dice against their opponent from highest to lowest. The person who has the most higher numbers wins.
Ex Isawa Bob rolls 1,8, 5 and Kitsune Kate rolls 2, 9 and 4
So 9 4 2 versus 8, 5 1
9>8
4<5
2>1
Thus Bob wins.
Round 1:
Agasha Tomioko vs Kuni Daigo
5,4, 1 vs 7,7, 4
Winner: Kuni Daigo
Komori Junsaku vs Tamori Wotan
7, 5, 3 vs 10, 7 4
Winner: Tamori Wotan
Asahina Beniha vs Shosuro Atesharu
6,4,4 vs 10, 8, 4
Winner: Shosuro Atesharu
Horiuchi Shem-Zhe vs Yogo Rieko
9, 8, 3 vs 5, 1, 1
Winner: Horiuchi Shem-Zhe
Isawa Kimi vs Kuni Kiyoshi
10,8, 1 vs 10, 7, 1
Winner: Isawa Kimi
Moto Yong-Tai vs Kitsu Ineko
7,4,3 vs 10, 6, 4
Winner: Kitsu Ineko
Moshi Sayako vs Kuni Ochiyo
8,8, 5 vs 9,8,7
Winner: Kuni Ochiyo
Asahina Nizomi vs Kitsu Katsuko
7, 6, 1 vs 8, 4, 3
Winner: Kitsu Katsuko
Round 2:
Kuni Daigo vs Tamori Wotan
7, 6, 6 vs 10, 7, 6
Winner: Tamori Wotan
Horiuchi Shem-Zhe vs Shosuro Atesharu
10, 7, 4 vs 6,6, 1
Winner: Horiuchi Shem-Zhe
Isawa Kimi vs Kitsu Ineko
7,3,2 vs 8,7,4
Winner: Kitsu Ineko
Kuni Ochiyo vs Kitsu Katsuko
10, 3, 4 vs 10, 5, 4
Winner: Kitsu Katsuko
SEMI FINALS
Tamori Wotan vs Horiuchi Shen-Zhe
8,7,2 vs 10,6, 1
Winner: Horiuchi Shen-Zhe
Kitsu Ineko vs Kitsu Katsuko
10, 8, 1 vs
--------
Since there are so many candidates this time around, I've put them in a spoiler so that its easier to scroll past if you don't care.
Agasha Tomioko: A stern no nonsense water shugenja favoured by the Master of Fire, she brings a wealth of experience to the role having commanded the Fifth Imperial Legion for years
Asahina Beniha: Young student of Asahina Handen, nephew to the last Emerald Champion. Beniha is known as skilled politician and mistress of the air kami, she is an odd choice but has stood this far without incident
Asahina Nizomi: Son of the last Grand Master of the Elements, Nizomi is considered by most to be brash and untested, but few can deny the immense power this Fire Shugenja wields, even if he himself does.
Horiuchi Shem-zhen: Daimyo of the small nascent Horiuchi family, Shem-zhen is a humble man but master of the secretive gaijin techniques that Horiuchi Shoan recovered and developed into its own style. It is said he's not a bad hand at earth magic either
Isawa Kimi: Master of the Void, this woman has reached the prime of her power and is well respect for that. Although not truly the equal of Isawa Sezaru or Asahina Sekawa in the Void, she brings stability and a finesse that neither of them truly mastered.
Kitsu Ineko: All the Kitsu can call forth the ancestors. Few indeed can claim to have communicated with the founding kami themselves as Ineko has. This potent water shugenja has already forged a legend by helping the Phoenix recover the blade of Shiba, no doubt her skill would make her excellent at finding hidden things.
Kitsu Katsuko: Daimyo of the Kitsu family, and arguably the most skilled spirit caller in the Empire. She made her name defeating the Scorpion shugenja Soshi Tsibaru a man of some renown when she was only sixteen years old. No doubt her experience will be her greatest asset.
Komori Jusaku: Champion of the Bat Clan, this man has proven himself to be the equal of the Isawa with regard to the air kami, and the own techniques of the Komori. Relatively frail, he greatly relies on his skill and gifts to overcome problems
Kuni Daigo: A young harsh Earth shugenja and witch hunter. Daigo made his name by being one of the few survivors of the March of Kyofu which saw the entire Legion of the Damned lost with only three coming back with reports of victory.
Kuni Kiyoshi: Daimyo of the Kuni and mastermind behind the Bloodspeaker purge that took place after the Rain of blood. This powerful earth shugenja is new to his position and many suspect that he intends to win it in the name of his former daimyo.
Kuni Ochiyo: A middle aged Earth Shugenja who is a well known advocate of a Crab and Unicorn alliance. This woman has been behind the recovery of the Kuni family since the perilous events of Daigotsu's Assault on the Carpenter Wall
Moshi Sayako: Mistress of Tempest Island and a powerful storm caller in her own right. Sayako made her name in the War of Fire and Thunder, before showing her true resolve fighting to rescue Toturi III at the Battle of the Tomb, despite nearly succeeding in the end she proved too wounded to continue and only Toturi III's sacrifice saw free the army that came to rescue him.
Moto Yong-Tai : Arguably the strongest Death Priestess in Rokugan, Yong-Tai has been amongst those who secretly defended the Imperial Family from all threats in the Hidden Guard. While devoted to her gods, there is no doubt that her mastery over the Earth is enough to even give the Kuni and Isawa pause.
Shosuro Atesharu: An Air shugenja famed for his use of large scale illusions to enhance his plays, Atesharu comes from humble origins, being born during the Scorpion Exile to the Burning Sands. That said he is known to be ruthless and a cunning duelist.
Tamori Wotan: One of the few true masters of the rebuilt Tamori School, Wotan is famed for his aggressive style, skill at arms, and quiet willingness to set literally everything on fire to solve his problem. His most notable feat was to hold the line against the main Crane assault on Shiro Kitsuki...by himself and succeeding in turning the back thanks to his mastery of fire and earth.
Yogo Reiko: A kind woman who seems to get along with everyone in spite of her origins...and a true genius at hunting down maho and other threats, she's famed for her ability to walk into the strongest Bloodspeaker cults and walk out unscathed with a smile. Most don't ask questions.
Kuni Daigo: A young harsh Earth shugenja and witch hunter. Daigo made his name by being one of the few survivors of the March of Kyofu which saw the entire Legion of the Damned lost with only three coming back with reports of victory.
Guess I'll roll for this fellow
Edit: and he is probably going to lose.
