Glory of the Emerald Empire (Legend of the 5 Rings Quest)

The point would be to let Yasuki know that we're aware and interested about these things, and are a suitable person to be trusted with such affairs

It's what it tells him about us, not what it tells him about the situation that matters on this.
He's already entirely aware of our awareness and interest in such things - see our interactions with the scorpion, with the lion, with the unicorn... not to mention the interactions we've had with him personally.

The things it tells him about the situation are the important bits here.

[x] Mirumoto Hanabi appears to be a samurai of approximately my own age and status, and at least something of a duelist. I encountered he when she greeted me from an adjoining bath. She sounded surprised and... a bit strange when she found out it was me. It appears she was highly impressed by the stories that have made their way here about my actions. Based on what I heard myself, it sounds as if those stories have been embarrassingly inflated.
[x] After the bath, she was kind enough to lead me to a dining place. We had been conversing pleasantly for a short time when another woman interceded - Kitsu Himawari, a shugenja, again of about my own age and status. She too seemed excited to have met me, and it was from her that I heard some of the more inflated tales. She trampled over the conversation I had been having with Mirumoto-san, however, and Mirumoto-san became visibly displeased.
[x] I sought to bring the conversation back into harmony, and Mirumoto-san took the opportunity to level what was very nearly a direct and inappropriate insult of failure of duty at Kitsu-san. It seemed clear that she sought to provoke Kitsu-san into a deal, which she would then win handily. It was worded such that she could have claimed that no insult was intended, but it was clear to all at the table.
[x] I was disappointed in her behavior, and told her so. It seemed entirely excessive to the situation, and I hoped that by reminding her of the standards of honorable behavior, I could induce her to retract her statement, and thus prevent the escalation to duel that seemed otherwise inevitable. Her reaction held some shame, but more fear. She apologized to Kitsu-san profoundly and immediately, and Kitsu-san chose to accept the apology.
[x] It is... an interesting situation. Mirumoto-san appears intensely interested in my good opinion, and would likely strongly wish to accompany us if her duty permitted it. She has shown some... regrettable behaviors around me, but likewise has shown a strong willingness to correct such behaviors when I point them out. I would not suspect that she has large amounts of influence here, but she may have some.
[x] Kitsu-san also appears interested in a continued acquaintance, and is far more free to move. She has her diamyo's explicit permission to travel around Rokugan, seeking self-improvement, and I think that convincing her to accompany us back to the wall would not be difficult. I would not wish to have both accompany us, however. I suspect they would clash. On the other hand, she likely has very little influence here, if any at all.
[x] I am certain that selecting between them will have some sort of implications as to the careful dance of influence with respect to our mission. I am equally certain that you are far better at discerning such things than I. Givenour experiences thus far, however, and the loss of Shasa, I would suspect that gathering one or the other into our group might be worthwhile for the return trip to Crab lands.
[x] Oh - and another thing. After Kitsu-san left, Mirumoto-san did confirm that the Dragon had been having some problems with bandits left over for Moto Shinichiro. The remnants did not appear to be a great trouble to them now, but they do exist.

/*****************/

I figure that IC, Yasuki Goro is far better suited to figuring out the "she's desperately in love with you, and very easy to manipulate" and "perhaps her superiors put her there. Perhaps they did not." than Sousuke is. Once he's intuited those two, he's got about as much ammo as we've been able to dig up to give him.
 
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@Sirrocco, better to mention that Hanabi also did tell us that the Dragons still have problems with the bandits from the unicorn... it is not a new piece of information, but show her as a possible font for things that the Damio may want to keep secret.

[X] sirroco
 
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@Sirrocco, better to mention that Hanabi also did tell us that the Dragons still have problems with the bandits from the unicorn... it is not a new piece of information, but show her as a possible font for things that the Damio may want to keep secret.

[X] sirroco
edited. Thank you. I don't think that it's necessarily something that her Diamyo wanted to keep secret, but the confirmation, and the fact that it was seen as more of an annoyance than a true threat, might be helpful to him in tuning his approach.
 
edited. Thank you. I don't think that it's necessarily something that her Diamyo wanted to keep secret, but the confirmation, and the fact that it was seen as more of an annoyance than a true threat, might be helpful to him in tuning his approach.
It is more about the fact that this is something that they don't tell outsiders. .. we only get to know that by accident, and here comes this samurai telling us about their problems.
 
It is more about the fact that this is something that they don't tell outsiders. .. we only get to know that by accident, and here comes this samurai telling us about their problems.
Ahhh. Well, that may also be useful information. I'll leave it to Goro to glean from our words. It's he sort of thing that Sousuke is tired enough to miss.
 
3.51
[x] Dirtnap


"Of course, Yasuki-sama," you respond. "Mirumoto Hanabi-san appears to be of the same rank as myself, and I encountered her when she called out to me from the other side of the adjoined bath. She seemed to have heard of my… reputation." You are unable to hide a grimace, discomforted by the memory. "Though stories of my actions appear to have been embarrassingly inflated."

"You met in the bath itself?" Yasuki Goro asks. "And she just happens to know so much of your reputation? How very odd." He motions a hand toward you. "Please, continue."

"Afterward, she asked if I would join her for dinner. I accepted, and we spoke for a short time before Kitsu Himawari-san sat down to join our conversation. She was granted leave by her Lord to journey to the other Clans, and is apparently on a pilgrimage. From her, as well, I heard more tales of my inflated fame."

"This is just something you'll have to bear with, Sosuke-san," the courtier says. "Stories always change with time and distance, twisting and turning like water in a stream." He smiles. "It is simply inevitable."

"As you say, my Lord," you reply, nodding. "To proceed, Mirumoto-san did not seem to appreciate Kitsu-san's presence and the way she dominated the discussion. I attempted to bring the conversation back into harmony, and she leveraged what was very nearly a direct insult saying that Kitsu-san was being negligent in her duties to her Lord."

"That is certainly strange," Yasuki Goro mutters, rubbing his chin. "I could understand her being annoyed at the intrusion, but to levy such an insult?"

"I believe she was trying to provoke Kitsu-san into a duel, which she would then likely win," you say. "She'd worded the insult in such a way that she could claim later that none was intended, but at the time it seemed clear what she meant."

"I see," your superior says. "And you somehow managed to prevent this?"

"I did, Yasuki-sama," you respond. "But it was strange. I merely expressed my disapproval, and Mirumoto-san immediately and emphatically apologized. Kitsu-san accepted the apology, and the conversation continued until eventually both women left." You pause and rub your arm, frowning. "Mirumoto-san seems very interested in my opinion of her, though for what reason I cannot say. I wished to report all this to you in the hope that you might be able to make use of it."

"Well, it seems rather obvious to me," Yasuki Goro says. "What you have described seems to me a rather intense desire for your affection. I believe Mirumoto-san is infatuated with you, or at least your reputation."

You blink. "I… My Lord, please forgive my presumption, but are you sure?"

"Ah, Sosuke-san," the courtier says with a grin. "Some things never change. Yes, my boy, I'm quite sure." He taps the table, eyes taking the far off look of deep thought. "Though the fact that you just happened to run into her in the bath is a strange coincidence."

A thought strikes you at Yasuki Goro's words, one born of your increased awareness of courtly matters. Discussions and diplomacy are as much like a battlefield as actual war is, with attacks and feints and counters. Could your meeting with Hanabi have been something similar to that? Were you wrapped up in some maneuver you hadn't noticed at the time?

"Yasuki-sama," you whisper. "Do you think the Dragon might have placed Mirumoto-san there in order to get close to me and our delegation?"

"I considered that," he replied. "But no, I don't think so. I'd expect something like that from the Scorpion or the Crane, but the Dragon go about things differently. They seem less likely to tempt with a pretty face, but rather observe you for some time before speaking with you at length. They'd then proceed in an attempt to defeat your positions until you had no choice but to agree with them or look a fool." He nods. "I think if there is any possibility of trickery then it comes from Mirumoto-san herself, assuming these events weren't truly happenstance."

You can't help the frown that crosses your face at your superior's assessment. If what Yasuki Goro believes is true, then your time with Hanabi was based on deception. That leaves a bitter taste in your mouth, for besides the incident with Himawari you'd found your time with the Dragon Samurai to be a pleasant one.

But was it all just a lie in order for her to get closer to you? The very thought boggles your mind. Why would anyone resort to something like this in order to make a play for someone's affections? It makes no sense.

[] Continue your conversation. (Write in.)
[] Go to bed.
 
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[x] go to bed

Lets leave anything more for the morning. He already told us that he doesn't think it could impact greatly in the diplomatic meetings.

Now is not the time to try to salvage some profit from this conversation.
 
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We really shouldn't go to bed. We've already missed an opportunity for Sosuke to impress, let's not waste another one.
 
[x] go to bed

We really shouldn't go to bed. We've already missed an opportunity for Sosuke to impress, let's not waste another one.

We kinda need the sleep. We can make for an impression now but Goro won't appreciate us going overboard and deal with fatigue later. fatigue makes us both less effective and more difficult to perform our duty as Yojimbo.
 
We kinda need the sleep. We can make for an impression now but Goro won't appreciate us going overboard and deal with fatigue later. fatigue makes us both less effective and more difficult to perform our duty as Yojimbo.

Another ten or so minutes of conversation should make no difference at all to Sosuke's performance tomorrow.

There also shouldn't be any fatigue. It's rather suspicious that there is. First Sosuke was nearly falling asleep in the baths, then repeatedly demonstrating OOC levels of extreme lethargy there. Now he's wanting to head to bed early.

Sosuke has done nothing that should tire him out all day. He's a samurai of the Crab. Endurance should be one of his defining characteristics.
 
[x] "...what if I hadn't gone to the baths? I could have easily gone to a shrine or something. It's a large gamble."
 
For those wondering it's a combination of the traveling, the training (Shirou punching him), the climb and the bath that has Sosuke so tired.
 
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3.52
[x] Go to bed.


You shake your head. These are questions for later, preferably when you've more actual information to act on. As things stand, all you have is speculation. Yes, you can agree that perhaps Mirumoto Hanabi holds strong affection for you, but it seems a leap to go from that o her manipulating events so you'd meet her in the bath.

Even Yasuki Goro admitted this could all have been a coincidence, and that seems much more likely to you. Even if it was the case that she'd set events up for you to meet her, you're not exactly sure what you would do. Mirumoto Hanabi truly, and deeply, confuses you.

Unfortunately, you have the feeling this isn't going to change anytime soon.

"That may be, Yasuki-sama," you reply. "But I'm not sure there's anything I could really do about it if that is the case."

"I'm not so certain it is," he says back. "Just idle musings, really. In any event, it's possible we can use her attraction to you to our advantage."

You blink. "Please pardon my asking, my Lord, but how so?"

"Those deep in the throngs of affection often have loose tongues," he says with a grin "In the discussions to come, information is power. Even if she doesn't know the deep secrets of her Clan, she can provide us with more insight into the Clan."

"I see," you say, nodding. "So you would prefer I keep interacting with her?"

"I would," Yasuki Goro replies. "I know she has done some unsettling things, but so long as you feel there is no danger I would like you to do this."

"Of course, my Lord."

"Very good," he says. "Now, I think it's about time for the both of us to be going to sleep. Tomorrow will be the beginning of negotiations, and will set the stage for the rest of our time here amongst the Dragon." He grins. "So it would be best to go into it fresh, don't you think?"

"Of course, Yasuki-sama," you respond, standing up to bow. Yasuki Goro, in turn, bows back from his seat. "I look forward to tomorrow."

"It shouldn't be anything too exciting," he says. "It won't be so quick as with the other Clans we've visited. At this point we're expected to stay for at least a few weeks, though I suspect we might even be in talks for months."

"The negotiations could go on for so long?" you ask, eyes widening in amazement. "Do you really believe that, Yasuki-sama?"

"I believe they might," he says. "Though I hope not. We took long enough just getting up here, and we still don't know when the war will begin… But in any event, it's time for both of us to get some sleep."

Taking your Lord's dismissal for what it is, you bow and leave his chambers. A short walk takes you to your own rooms nearby, and inside you find much the same as you saw in Yasuki Goro's room. Yours is, however, quite a bit smaller. You've a bed, a table and a rack for your weapons and armor.

The latter is already set up for you, and your luggage has been placed near your bed. Everything is in order, and you quickly change into a sleeping robe. Sighing in contentment, you slip into the bed and pull up the covers. Soon enough, you are fast asleep.

o\O/o
A knock at the door sends half formed dreams tumbling away as you open your eyes. You sit up, and look to the window. It must still be incredibly early, for there to be so little sunlight outside…

No, you think. That's just because we're in the mountains now. They're blocking the light of sunrise.

The knock comes again, and you turn toward the door.

"You may enter."

A servant walks in and bows low, touching her forehead to the floor.

"Honored Samurai," she says. "I was informed to wake you with the rising sun so you could freshen yourself and prepare for the day." She holds up a piece of paper. "As well, this letter has come for you from the city outside. It appears to be an invitation."

[] Read the letter.
[] Seek out Yasuki Goro.
[] Wash your face and seek breakfast.
[] Write in.
 
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