Ridiculously Average Guy
I'm you, but stronger
- Location
-
[X] Sirrocco
Glory of the Emerald Empire (Legend of the 5 Rings Quest)
- Thread starter Winged Knight
- Start date
- Fantasy
The Sandman
So Zetta Slowpoke
- Location
- Wherever I am, which isn't where I'm not
He's a Yasuki. It's their job. Furthermore, he's probably Insight Rank 4 or 5, so he's very good at his job, and he's spent quite some time becoming good at that job.
If you're talking about Sosuke, that's down to our frankly bizarre luck with Courtier rolls.
As for my vote, [x] Sirrocco.
I do like how we've started seeing some consequences of our Glory Rank. That people know our name on the opposite side of the Empire from our home is rather impressive, especially given that we're still only in our late teens.
This in turn makes me wonder what the yojimbo sent to the Crane might have under their belt where accomplishments are concerned. Having us serve as yojimbo to one trade delegation without someone of similar Glory attached to the other might carry certain implications, especially when that other trade delegation was sent to the Clan that invented the art of overthinking every last detail of social interactions.
You know, I wonder what Sosuke seems like to others. They don't know that he gets astonishingly lucky with Courtier rolls, so it must just seem that he's amazingly naturally gifted. We may need to start buying up the appropriate things to live up to our reputation.
EtchedSteel
*mumble mumble*
- Location
- Lima. Peru
He's an unusual Crab, but a Crab in the end. Well mannered once you get to know him, but there's still that stereotype of what people think of the Crab following him.
3.30
Winged Knight
Still just a crazy man with a wolf on his head
- Location
- Texas
[x] Sirrocco
You nod vigorously to Yasuki Goro's words, your eyes wide. It all seems so simple now that it has been set out before you, but you suppose that is only natural. Yasuki Goro is several years your senior, and obviously adept in courtly matters. You've witnessed him at work before, but to see him untangle this issue so readily leaves you in awe.
What else can you do but follow his counsel?
"This is an excellent plan, Yasuki-sama," you say. "I'll go meet up with Shinjo Wanli right away. I'm sure she'll agree with your wisdom!"
"We shall see, Sosuke-san," the courtier responds, pulling one of his letters close and wetting his brush. "After all, Shinjo-san did say it was a secret. She might not be so willing to part with it, no matter what we suggest."
"That is true, but she's already shared it once with Tonbo-sama," you respond. "Having shared it once, she might be willing to do so again."
"Perhaps," Yasuki Goro says, getting back to work on his letters. "I wish you the best in your endeavors, Sosuke-san."
My thanks, Yasuki-sama," you reply, bowing low. "For everything."
You rise to your feet and walk to the door, grinning and eager to be off. This matter has troubled you quite a bit over the last hour, and to finally have a plan of action is a relief. The negotiations with the Dragon will be happening soon, and you would hate to be responsible for sending them awry. Having your superior give you direction has put all those worries to rest.
"Sosuke-san," Yasuki Goro calls before you can open the door. "A moment."
You turn around, unable to keep your confusion from showing on your face. "My Lord?"
He looks at you, smiling sadly. "You've had a rough time of it lately, haven't you lad?"
You blink. "I'm… I'm not sure what you mean, Yasuki-sama."
"With Shasa-san's death, I mean, an everything that happened in the cave."
You stiffen, heart racing, though you catch yourself before any more visible reactions emerge. Now is not the time for anything dramatic. You will keep telling yourself that until it becomes truth, for there is never a time for it. Samurai are composed and resolute, and you will hold to that ideal.
A few deep breaths and you are calm again, but it is obvious that Yasuki Goro noticed your momentary lapse. The man is too canny, too perceptive to miss such things.
"I've noticed it, as we traveled. I just wanted to say it's nothing to be ashamed of, Sosuke-san. Not with what we fight." He pauses a moment, then bows in his seat. "And I want to apologize."
"Yasuki-sama? What would you have to apologize for?"
"I am your superior, Sosuke-san," the courtier replies, still bowing. "I am the one who sent you and Shasa-san off to investigate at Tangan-mura. That means some of the responsibility for these events, Shasa-san's death and your lingering pain, lies with me."
"My Lord, you have nothing to apologize for," you respond, shifting your feet a little. You're really not comfortable with all this. "As you told me when I awoke, I made a mistake."
"You did," Yasuki Goro says, rising to sit straight again. "And I hold some culpability for that mistake." He waves a hand as you open your mouth, cutting you off. "I'll brook no further denials, Sosuke-san. I apologize for my part in those events. You deserve that, at the very least."
You bow low, both out of respect and to hide your bewilderment. The last thing you were expecting when coming to meet with your Lord was for him to apologize to you, especially for something he wasn't at fault for. This entire situation has thrown you out of the cheer that had overtaken you just moments before, the shift so sudden it's almost as if you have suffered a bout of whiplash.
"My thanks, Yasuki-sama," you respond. "You show me much honor."
"Only what you deserve, Sosuke-san," the courtier replies. "Only what you deserve."
You nod to your superior as you rise, unsure of what else to say. After all, what words would be appropriate? You've already been all but ordered not to insist Yasuki Goro has nothing to apologize for, so there's little you can do but accept it and move on.
So you do just that, opening the door and heading out to perform your task.
No, it's certainly not where you would expect a Samurai to reside. At least, not Clan Samurai. Ronin would likely base in a place like this, but Ronin will sleep anywhere there's a roof. The inn isn't ramshackle, but it's quite plain. Most certainly, it is beneath Wanli's station.
You enter into the common room, several of the tables filled with those taking their ease from the day's labors. Considering the hour, this comes at no great surprise. The aroma of food wafts through the air, along with the scents of tea and sake. People are laughing, and there's even a performer strumming a samisen over in the corner.
The conversation dies down a little when people notice your entrance, but after a few moments it picks up again. You made no announcement, so that means you weren't there to interfere with their lives. For a great the peasantry, that's really all that matters when Samurai are around.
You spot Shinjo Wanli over in the corner, eating a modest meal of fish and vegetable soup. It appears she has only just sat down to her dinner, however, for the plate and bowl are mostly full. She perks up as you make your way over to her, rising from her seat to address you.
"Greetings, Hiruma-san," she says, bowing. "I must admit I'm surprised to see you again so soon."
"A good evening to you, Shinjo-san," you reply, giving your own bow. "Discussions were quick, as was the advice I sought. I would share my findings with you, if you care to listen."
"Of course!" she replies, rising. She motions to her table. "Over dinner, perhaps? I'm not sure about you, but I'm finding myself quite famished."
[] Write in.
Just to note, if you are going to sell the plan to Shinjo Wanli then that's going to require a Courtier roll. The TN for said roll will be determined by just how exactly you phrase your words.
You nod vigorously to Yasuki Goro's words, your eyes wide. It all seems so simple now that it has been set out before you, but you suppose that is only natural. Yasuki Goro is several years your senior, and obviously adept in courtly matters. You've witnessed him at work before, but to see him untangle this issue so readily leaves you in awe.
What else can you do but follow his counsel?
"This is an excellent plan, Yasuki-sama," you say. "I'll go meet up with Shinjo Wanli right away. I'm sure she'll agree with your wisdom!"
"We shall see, Sosuke-san," the courtier responds, pulling one of his letters close and wetting his brush. "After all, Shinjo-san did say it was a secret. She might not be so willing to part with it, no matter what we suggest."
"That is true, but she's already shared it once with Tonbo-sama," you respond. "Having shared it once, she might be willing to do so again."
"Perhaps," Yasuki Goro says, getting back to work on his letters. "I wish you the best in your endeavors, Sosuke-san."
My thanks, Yasuki-sama," you reply, bowing low. "For everything."
You rise to your feet and walk to the door, grinning and eager to be off. This matter has troubled you quite a bit over the last hour, and to finally have a plan of action is a relief. The negotiations with the Dragon will be happening soon, and you would hate to be responsible for sending them awry. Having your superior give you direction has put all those worries to rest.
"Sosuke-san," Yasuki Goro calls before you can open the door. "A moment."
You turn around, unable to keep your confusion from showing on your face. "My Lord?"
He looks at you, smiling sadly. "You've had a rough time of it lately, haven't you lad?"
You blink. "I'm… I'm not sure what you mean, Yasuki-sama."
"With Shasa-san's death, I mean, an everything that happened in the cave."
You stiffen, heart racing, though you catch yourself before any more visible reactions emerge. Now is not the time for anything dramatic. You will keep telling yourself that until it becomes truth, for there is never a time for it. Samurai are composed and resolute, and you will hold to that ideal.
A few deep breaths and you are calm again, but it is obvious that Yasuki Goro noticed your momentary lapse. The man is too canny, too perceptive to miss such things.
"I've noticed it, as we traveled. I just wanted to say it's nothing to be ashamed of, Sosuke-san. Not with what we fight." He pauses a moment, then bows in his seat. "And I want to apologize."
"Yasuki-sama? What would you have to apologize for?"
"I am your superior, Sosuke-san," the courtier replies, still bowing. "I am the one who sent you and Shasa-san off to investigate at Tangan-mura. That means some of the responsibility for these events, Shasa-san's death and your lingering pain, lies with me."
"My Lord, you have nothing to apologize for," you respond, shifting your feet a little. You're really not comfortable with all this. "As you told me when I awoke, I made a mistake."
"You did," Yasuki Goro says, rising to sit straight again. "And I hold some culpability for that mistake." He waves a hand as you open your mouth, cutting you off. "I'll brook no further denials, Sosuke-san. I apologize for my part in those events. You deserve that, at the very least."
You bow low, both out of respect and to hide your bewilderment. The last thing you were expecting when coming to meet with your Lord was for him to apologize to you, especially for something he wasn't at fault for. This entire situation has thrown you out of the cheer that had overtaken you just moments before, the shift so sudden it's almost as if you have suffered a bout of whiplash.
"My thanks, Yasuki-sama," you respond. "You show me much honor."
"Only what you deserve, Sosuke-san," the courtier replies. "Only what you deserve."
You nod to your superior as you rise, unsure of what else to say. After all, what words would be appropriate? You've already been all but ordered not to insist Yasuki Goro has nothing to apologize for, so there's little you can do but accept it and move on.
So you do just that, opening the door and heading out to perform your task.
o\O/o
It is approaching evening when you come to the Frilled Lizard, a two-story affair set near the edge of the city. The sign on the inn shows, appropriately enough, a strange lizard with a large frill about its neck. The neighborhood is not exactly rough, for the streets are clean and the people not particularly unkempt, but it is still falls short of where you would expect a Samurai to dwell. All of the people here are farmers or craftsmen, with a few merchants also moving about.
No, it's certainly not where you would expect a Samurai to reside. At least, not Clan Samurai. Ronin would likely base in a place like this, but Ronin will sleep anywhere there's a roof. The inn isn't ramshackle, but it's quite plain. Most certainly, it is beneath Wanli's station.
You enter into the common room, several of the tables filled with those taking their ease from the day's labors. Considering the hour, this comes at no great surprise. The aroma of food wafts through the air, along with the scents of tea and sake. People are laughing, and there's even a performer strumming a samisen over in the corner.
The conversation dies down a little when people notice your entrance, but after a few moments it picks up again. You made no announcement, so that means you weren't there to interfere with their lives. For a great the peasantry, that's really all that matters when Samurai are around.
You spot Shinjo Wanli over in the corner, eating a modest meal of fish and vegetable soup. It appears she has only just sat down to her dinner, however, for the plate and bowl are mostly full. She perks up as you make your way over to her, rising from her seat to address you.
"Greetings, Hiruma-san," she says, bowing. "I must admit I'm surprised to see you again so soon."
"A good evening to you, Shinjo-san," you reply, giving your own bow. "Discussions were quick, as was the advice I sought. I would share my findings with you, if you care to listen."
"Of course!" she replies, rising. She motions to her table. "Over dinner, perhaps? I'm not sure about you, but I'm finding myself quite famished."
[] Write in.
Just to note, if you are going to sell the plan to Shinjo Wanli then that's going to require a Courtier roll. The TN for said roll will be determined by just how exactly you phrase your words.
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Winged Knight
Still just a crazy man with a wolf on his head
- Location
- Texas
Sosuke currently has 1 Void Point left for the day.
Ridiculously Average Guy
I'm you, but stronger
- Location
-
[X] I am afraid that we alone cannot grant you passage. However, we might be able to get the Dragon to summon you themselves...
-[X] Outline the plan.
-[X] It is not guaranteed to bring you to the Dragon lands but getting the information to them will still bring you honor.
--[X] This will, of course, only work if you share the message with Yasuki Goro.
-[X] Outline the plan.
-[X] It is not guaranteed to bring you to the Dragon lands but getting the information to them will still bring you honor.
--[X] This will, of course, only work if you share the message with Yasuki Goro.
[X] I am afraid that we alone cannot grant you passage. However, we might be able to get the Dragon to summon you themselves...
-[X] Outline the plan.
-[X] It is not guaranteed to bring you to the Dragon lands but getting the information to them will still bring you honor.
--[X] This will, of course, only work if you share the message with Yasuki Goro.
Seem solid enough?
-[X] Outline the plan.
-[X] It is not guaranteed to bring you to the Dragon lands but getting the information to them will still bring you honor.
--[X] This will, of course, only work if you share the message with Yasuki Goro.
Seem solid enough?
EtchedSteel
*mumble mumble*
- Location
- Lima. Peru
[] I am afraid that we alone cannot grant you passage. However, we might be able to get the Dragon to summon you themselves...
-[] Outline the plan.
-[] It is not guaranteed to bring you to the Dragon lands but getting the information to them will still bring you honor.
--[] This will, of course, only work if you share the message with Yasuki Goro.
Looks solid enough for me.
-[] Outline the plan.
-[] It is not guaranteed to bring you to the Dragon lands but getting the information to them will still bring you honor.
--[] This will, of course, only work if you share the message with Yasuki Goro.
Looks solid enough for me.
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EtchedSteel
*mumble mumble*
- Location
- Lima. Peru
Because we want her to trust us. We can't leave anything on the dark for that matter.
But we don't need to tell her what we will be doing. ..
we imply, if we want to play the courtier game, we should play it... telling her has multiple risks, the lower one being that she could betray us...
- Location
- Austrlia
Playing the courtier game, as told how by his superior...
EtchedSteel
*mumble mumble*
- Location
- Lima. Peru
First thing first:
Thanks Simon, much appreciated.
Also, she's been here for three months, and we found her drinking to drown the sorrow after Tonbo-sama told her she will never get into Dragon lands. I'm counting that she's that desperate.
Also, betrayal is the last thing you want to do when you're in a quest for restoring your clan's honor. Honestly, I don't know from where you're coming out with this.
- Location
- Austrlia
Memetic!CRAB! "I Greet you in the name of the CRAB! I am willing to help you. I am being Subtle. I will take your secrets to the DRAGON! Nobody will know, because I am! Being! SUBTLE!!!!!" -Boot's Shadow land critter into convenient pit.
GilliamYaeger
M'crazy.
"We are perfectly willing to help you get your message to the Dragon in exchange for you guys helping us out in the inevitable Shadowlands shitstorm thats coming, which will also benefit you greatly because it would help restore your Clan's honor. Also because rar rar fuck the taint. There is literally no way you do not benefit from this."
"I AM GOING TO BETRAY YOU FOR NO REASON"
why the fuck would she betray us when we're trying to help her for mutual gain
- Location
- Austrlia
Isn't "I AM GOING TO BETRAY YOU FOR NO REASON", a Memetic!Crab! line?
Sirrocco
Pedantic
[x] Start with a bit of friendly discussion over dinner. No need to rush. Of course, there is no need to annoy her with waiting.
[x] First, I wish to express my regrets for what I cannot do. I am sorry, Shinjo-san. I cannot arrange your passage, or take your letters for you. The Shadowlands are rising, and our embassy to the Dragon is too important to risk the offense that might come of acting so directly.
[x] I have however, spoken with my superior, Yasuki Goro, and he has come up with a way in which your mission might still be fulfilled in part - perhaps in whole.
[x] Lay out the plan, more or less exactly as he laid it out to you.
[x] It is not as I would have preferred it. I understand that this is, at best, asking you to bend in your Duty in a lesser way in the hopes of fulfilling it in a greater way, but it is what I have to offer.
[x] If we are incorrect, and your message is not somehow pertaining to the Lying Darkness or Jikogu, the chance that we can help you diminishes - but if you wish us to try anyway, I am still willing to pass it on to my superior in the hopes that he may achieve something. It is up to you.
[x] If she asks why we are doing all this, acknowledge that you have sympathy for her position... and also that the Shadowlands is currently on the move, and you're pretty sure that a time will come soon when the Crab Clan can use every friend and ally it can get.
...because for the truly honorable individual, attempting to effectively bribe them with putative honor is kind of an insult. Instead, we offer honesty and agency. We want to help, this is what we can do to help, and it is up to her to decide whether or not it is worth it.
Also, I kind of think this might call for a sincerity roll, either instead of or in addition to the courtier roll. A big part of it is convincing her of the (quite true) fact that this is an honest offer of help as best we can, rather than just an attempt to get her to tell us the thing.
[x] First, I wish to express my regrets for what I cannot do. I am sorry, Shinjo-san. I cannot arrange your passage, or take your letters for you. The Shadowlands are rising, and our embassy to the Dragon is too important to risk the offense that might come of acting so directly.
[x] I have however, spoken with my superior, Yasuki Goro, and he has come up with a way in which your mission might still be fulfilled in part - perhaps in whole.
[x] Lay out the plan, more or less exactly as he laid it out to you.
[x] It is not as I would have preferred it. I understand that this is, at best, asking you to bend in your Duty in a lesser way in the hopes of fulfilling it in a greater way, but it is what I have to offer.
[x] If we are incorrect, and your message is not somehow pertaining to the Lying Darkness or Jikogu, the chance that we can help you diminishes - but if you wish us to try anyway, I am still willing to pass it on to my superior in the hopes that he may achieve something. It is up to you.
[x] If she asks why we are doing all this, acknowledge that you have sympathy for her position... and also that the Shadowlands is currently on the move, and you're pretty sure that a time will come soon when the Crab Clan can use every friend and ally it can get.
...because for the truly honorable individual, attempting to effectively bribe them with putative honor is kind of an insult. Instead, we offer honesty and agency. We want to help, this is what we can do to help, and it is up to her to decide whether or not it is worth it.
Also, I kind of think this might call for a sincerity roll, either instead of or in addition to the courtier roll. A big part of it is convincing her of the (quite true) fact that this is an honest offer of help as best we can, rather than just an attempt to get her to tell us the thing.
Scorpion, dude. Scorpion.
- Location
- Austrlia
Winged Knight
Still just a crazy man with a wolf on his head
- Location
- Texas
I let this sit for a day because how you handle this interaction is pretty important, but I could really use some more votes.
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EtchedSteel
*mumble mumble*
- Location
- Lima. Peru
[x] Sirrocco
