Burden of the Emerald Empire (A Legend of the Five Rings Tale)
- Thread starter gman391
- Start date
- Fantasy
- Location
- Leeds
Sorry I'm sitting on the fence. I'll vote if having a temper tantrum at a god looks like it might win however I don't really like the current alternative.
That's fair. I think there is a midway between the two that hasn't been charted yet. But yeah if nothing appeals.
- Location
- Should be a bit higher
[X] Greetings Togashi-no-kami. You say we have much to discuss? About what?
-[x] basically just roll with it as you are unlikely to get a straight answer as to why now he appears now instead of all the times he could have been helpful.
--[x] internally worry that a third day of Thunder is approaching and just why an immortal Kami appears Old.
---[x] it could also be just be Him congratulating you on a job well done or deciding to troll you in person since you were visiting his home anyway.
-[x] basically just roll with it as you are unlikely to get a straight answer as to why now he appears now instead of all the times he could have been helpful.
--[x] internally worry that a third day of Thunder is approaching and just why an immortal Kami appears Old.
---[x] it could also be just be Him congratulating you on a job well done or deciding to troll you in person since you were visiting his home anyway.
Sirrocco
Pedantic
Hmmm...
- Side 1: respectfully receive the wisdom of the incarnate God.
- Side 2: "Togashi-no-kami, you asshole"
- in between: "Your presence here raises... many questions. Togashi-no-kami, please explain."
- Location
- Leeds
Personally I was more concerned with the assumptions that are being made, I'd probably jump to the conclusion this is about our task from the oracle.
Metrux
Gentle Demon Lord
- Location
- Brasil
In both chinese and japonese cultures it's rude to assume, being wrong or right not mattering much, which is why you only ever see enemies or apprentice and master in a situation where one assumes the reasons of the other. For enemies you simply don't care if you are rude, while for your master it is not important, learning takes precedence.
If you jump to that conclusion you may very well make him angrier than calling him names, simply because you presume to understand the thoughts and motives of a god, no matter if you actually got this right.
- Location
- Should be a bit higher
On the other hand this is Togashi we are dealing with.
He's pretty atypical as kami and deitic expectations of mortals go.
The Dragons as a whole and the Monks in particular merely emulate him in their doings.
He's pretty atypical as kami and deitic expectations of mortals go.
The Dragons as a whole and the Monks in particular merely emulate him in their doings.
Metrux
Gentle Demon Lord
- Location
- Brasil
True, and that is why we think like "I guess he came for that..." and say --So what brought you here now, after all this time?
- Location
- Leeds
Have I been misunderstood? I just meant that I don't think a third day of thunder is likely.
I understand they weren't being vocalised.
I understand they weren't being vocalised.
keenscythe
No longer NEET
- Location
- WA, USA
I don't either. I was just guessing that Hisao could be worried that if a Kami faked His death and then decides to come out and meet him clandestinely then He likely has some new crisis to dump in Hisao's plate.
That or it is just Togashi being Togashi and they just have a pleasant chat over tea that causes to have an important revelation sometime in the near future.
I mean Togashi's shtick is being prophetic and not intervening in whatever dilemma He predicts unless it is truly serious on the historical scale.
Last edited:
Year 7: The High House of Light II
You take a deep breath emotions warring inside you, on the one hand this is the son of the first Sun and Moon, a literal demi-god that walked the heavens themselves. On the other hand, you have been working and fighting for the Empire he helped build while he did what exactly? The palpable sense of outrage builds even as you clamp it down. A darker part of your mind points out that Togashi last revealed himself on the Second Day of Thunder. A third day of thunder doesn't seem likely, not the least because the two major leaders of such a thing are both quite dead...but Jigokou finds a way. The second question is also worrying. Togashi had never explained his apparent immortality to the ravages of age, but whatever it was, it was gone now. None of the other founding kami had passed from old age. Most in battle, some from grief, but none from simple age.
Using the tea as cover you calm yourself, and look at Togashi.
"So Togashi-no-kami, you say we have much to discuss?"
The old man laughs.
"Just like your father, and grandfather..."
"Hai?" You say a little confused.
"The outrage, then acceptance" Togashi says.
You bristle a little at him reading you so easily, kami or no.
"Go on?"
"Before we go on...I'm sorry, I've had...much time to reflect since my return...and I owe your line an apology. I foresaw...well doesn't matter." Togashi says.
You have no real idea how to take that, so you simply accept it.
"...apology accepted, but how did you return?"
"A gift from Shiba that he never intended to give." Togashi says.
Well that was clear as mud. Still, there's always been a rumor that Shiba still followed his old sword around...maybe that was it? Something with his daisho? You'll have to convince Satsu to tell you the answers later.
"I see, and why haven't you..."
"A mountain cannot come to a man, a man must go to the mountain" Togashi says.
Satsu shakes his head. "What my ancestor means...is that he can't leave the High House of Light by word or deed...this is now his prison as much as his home."
Togashi rolls his eyes. "I chose not to become him, and so I am punished like he was. The irony."
"Like him?"
"My father, Hisao-kun." Togashi says.
"Lord Moon?" You ask feeling stupid.
"The very same."
"I don't understand."
"Lord Sun is soon to step down." Togashi says remarkably blunt.
"....what?" You go after a moment.
"With him Lady Moon, the two are linked though both deny it." He continues like you didn't say anything.
"What?" You try again.
"When the sun fades, look to the north" Togashi finishes.
That phrase...you know that phrase, Lord Sun said it to you in that dream. What does that? How?
"Why are they stepping down?" You finally decide to stop running in circles.
"Before he ascended, he was a servant of the dark, and in that service an oni was bound to him. A demon grows in strength as the named does."
"...An oni with the power of the sun." You say dully.
That's terrifying in a distant, 'I refuse to think about this because otherwise I will scream' sort of way.
"Just so. They have worked for years to try and find another way but...well they didn't"
"And then my ancestor refused to take the position." Satsu says.
"I'm not interested in marrying my sister" Togashi says with a grumpy tone.
"Lord Sun and Lady Moon aren't married though?" You say.
The two Dragon look at each other.
"Sure let's go with that" they say in unison.
Mentally you decide not to unravel that particular thread. You don't need to think about that sort of thing.
"But if you aren't taking the position Togashi-no-kami...then who is?"
"Haven't been keeping your keister safe not to have an idea." Togashi says.
"What?"
You feel like you've been saying that a lot this conversation.
"While it is true that Lord Sun and Lady Moon are stepping down, who will take their place isn't clear. by inheritance it'd be Shinjo-no-kami and my ancestor..." Satsu says.
"But, I refused, I see the future, the future with the power of the sun? It would be...another Burning Sands, despite them thinking otherwise." Togashi says.
You don't know what they did to make the Burning Sands, but you are all for a path where another one doesn't happen. So you nod.
"So does Shinjo-no-kami still?"
"Hai, but her consort...that's a different question. Which is where your test comes in." Togashi says.
"My test? With Otosan Uchi?" You ask.
"Hai, they're going to be watching what people do there, now if you were to arrange it so that people who my sister would very much like were there...well she might decide to choose him...instead of the Minor Fortunes in Heaven."
Something clicks in the back of your mind. Why he was punished it wasn't for refusing the position, but because he did that and decided to cheat.
"You're trying to keep a human in charge of the pantheon...aren't you?" You ask.
"Heh my grandson said you'd figure it out, but yes I am. Humanity needs a voice that is human. For too long have the Heavens simply let things exist...perhaps our interference is unwarranted, but better to feed a man, then to let him starve as he learns to feed himself." Togashi says.
"What did you mean when you said you were protecting me?" You ask.
"The Toturi were once their greatest triumph but you have proven their folly. I kept the dagger from your heart when Bayushi Kaukatsu attempted to break you."
"You..." You don't finish the statement. How does one accuse a demi god of murder?
"In a manner of speaking." He says.
And back to the riddles. You'd guess that its Satsu keeping him from phrasing the whole thing in an obtuse metaphor. Note to self, give that man a....cake...something. Freaking Monks.
"...I see." You say.
Togashi smiles.
"Now, before this old man takes his rest, you've earned at least a few more questions..."
[] Write in
Using the tea as cover you calm yourself, and look at Togashi.
"So Togashi-no-kami, you say we have much to discuss?"
The old man laughs.
"Just like your father, and grandfather..."
"Hai?" You say a little confused.
"The outrage, then acceptance" Togashi says.
You bristle a little at him reading you so easily, kami or no.
"Go on?"
"Before we go on...I'm sorry, I've had...much time to reflect since my return...and I owe your line an apology. I foresaw...well doesn't matter." Togashi says.
You have no real idea how to take that, so you simply accept it.
"...apology accepted, but how did you return?"
"A gift from Shiba that he never intended to give." Togashi says.
Well that was clear as mud. Still, there's always been a rumor that Shiba still followed his old sword around...maybe that was it? Something with his daisho? You'll have to convince Satsu to tell you the answers later.
"I see, and why haven't you..."
"A mountain cannot come to a man, a man must go to the mountain" Togashi says.
Satsu shakes his head. "What my ancestor means...is that he can't leave the High House of Light by word or deed...this is now his prison as much as his home."
Togashi rolls his eyes. "I chose not to become him, and so I am punished like he was. The irony."
"Like him?"
"My father, Hisao-kun." Togashi says.
"Lord Moon?" You ask feeling stupid.
"The very same."
"I don't understand."
"Lord Sun is soon to step down." Togashi says remarkably blunt.
"....what?" You go after a moment.
"With him Lady Moon, the two are linked though both deny it." He continues like you didn't say anything.
"What?" You try again.
"When the sun fades, look to the north" Togashi finishes.
That phrase...you know that phrase, Lord Sun said it to you in that dream. What does that? How?
"Why are they stepping down?" You finally decide to stop running in circles.
"Before he ascended, he was a servant of the dark, and in that service an oni was bound to him. A demon grows in strength as the named does."
"...An oni with the power of the sun." You say dully.
That's terrifying in a distant, 'I refuse to think about this because otherwise I will scream' sort of way.
"Just so. They have worked for years to try and find another way but...well they didn't"
"And then my ancestor refused to take the position." Satsu says.
"I'm not interested in marrying my sister" Togashi says with a grumpy tone.
"Lord Sun and Lady Moon aren't married though?" You say.
The two Dragon look at each other.
"Sure let's go with that" they say in unison.
Mentally you decide not to unravel that particular thread. You don't need to think about that sort of thing.
"But if you aren't taking the position Togashi-no-kami...then who is?"
"Haven't been keeping your keister safe not to have an idea." Togashi says.
"What?"
You feel like you've been saying that a lot this conversation.
"While it is true that Lord Sun and Lady Moon are stepping down, who will take their place isn't clear. by inheritance it'd be Shinjo-no-kami and my ancestor..." Satsu says.
"But, I refused, I see the future, the future with the power of the sun? It would be...another Burning Sands, despite them thinking otherwise." Togashi says.
You don't know what they did to make the Burning Sands, but you are all for a path where another one doesn't happen. So you nod.
"So does Shinjo-no-kami still?"
"Hai, but her consort...that's a different question. Which is where your test comes in." Togashi says.
"My test? With Otosan Uchi?" You ask.
"Hai, they're going to be watching what people do there, now if you were to arrange it so that people who my sister would very much like were there...well she might decide to choose him...instead of the Minor Fortunes in Heaven."
Something clicks in the back of your mind. Why he was punished it wasn't for refusing the position, but because he did that and decided to cheat.
"You're trying to keep a human in charge of the pantheon...aren't you?" You ask.
"Heh my grandson said you'd figure it out, but yes I am. Humanity needs a voice that is human. For too long have the Heavens simply let things exist...perhaps our interference is unwarranted, but better to feed a man, then to let him starve as he learns to feed himself." Togashi says.
"What did you mean when you said you were protecting me?" You ask.
"The Toturi were once their greatest triumph but you have proven their folly. I kept the dagger from your heart when Bayushi Kaukatsu attempted to break you."
"You..." You don't finish the statement. How does one accuse a demi god of murder?
"In a manner of speaking." He says.
And back to the riddles. You'd guess that its Satsu keeping him from phrasing the whole thing in an obtuse metaphor. Note to self, give that man a....cake...something. Freaking Monks.
"...I see." You say.
Togashi smiles.
"Now, before this old man takes his rest, you've earned at least a few more questions..."
[] Write in
keenscythe
No longer NEET
- Location
- WA, USA
So if I am reading this right, Togashi wants us to find a Husbando for Shinjo-no-Kami?
How?
@gman391 Does Hisao even know what Shinjo's type was? Still playing Matchmaker with a Goddess is going to be the best game of bachelorette ever.
cokerpilot
Here comes the rain.
"What?"
Edit
Edit
Damn it Keen my joke doesn't work as well when you put a post between it and the end of that update.
Last edited:
Well you have records of who she married the first time...so yeah kind of?
As to how...just get them into Otosan Uchi and not dying.
keenscythe
No longer NEET
- Location
- WA, USA
Okay, who was her first husband? And how many Men fit that general type in the empire who also could be trusted with a divine marriage let alone become lord sun/lord moon.
Plus we might need a bunch to try a Cicada Strategy and spam as much eligible men in the hope that some might survive.
That and have them bring their twenty best men with them to protect them as they head inside or just Ser Twenty of House Goodmen (Sorry, not Sorry)
Should we try to draw from every Clan? Or just the Unicorn? Also could we ask Advice from whichever Nakado is most Qualified/best match for love? Maybe we should ask Benten-no-Kami? (Does she count as Shinjo's In-law?)
Last edited:
- Location
- Moon-Station
Oh, Toku you little skamp. Where are you when the imperial line needs you?
Her first husband was a man named Jinn, like most founders he's reported to have been an epitome of humanity, swift and graceful, the one who taught Shinjo how to ride. Like Shinjo he was kind and filled with laughter, albeit willing to fight with his bow when the time came. He took Shinjo having children by a Ki-rin remarkably well and adopted them as his own all the same.
As for how many fit that, you don't really know without actually going out to ask.
Its question of time versus quality versus quantity the Unicorn are most likely but your gambling that you won't need that many to get into the city. The other clans will give more quantity but lower chances individually.
Benten is not Shinjo's inlaw and has her own stake in this. You could ask a nakado yes.
- Location
- Somewhere
I'm almost tempted to dive into how taking the position means marriage.
You can if you want. (Suffice to say Bitter Betrothal doesn't begin to cover it for Yakamo and Hitomi )
- Location
- Moon-Station
Does this whole "new marriage" mean that new potential gods could be born or was that a "at the start of creation"-thing?
- Location
- Should be a bit higher
Fortunes are created all the time. It's sort of a thing that the Emperor can just do actually. Hisao already made one.
Aren't humans originally from Tengoku anyways?
- Location
- Moon-Station
Fortunes, yes. But i meant full-blown gods of Togashi's calibre
In theory it could. In practice...no one's too sure. Amaterasu wanted children, if Shinjo doesn't...well maybe she doesn't get them. No in universe knows for sure but its possible.
No, Humans are a mixture of Amaterasu's Tears and Lord Moon's Blood that fell to earth and mixed.