So what do you think the rest of the clans here opinions of Sosuke is going to be?
rough estimates?
Lion: Good storyteller, compelling story, brave and honorable warrior. They are inclined to like us personally, and we've gained at least a little influence from them. Also, watching the Crane get taken down a peg is satisfying, especially for an Ikoma, especially when it's obviously as a result of a story being told. Himawari thinks that we're a very interesting young man, who she might like to get to know better... though the Hanabi thing looks like it could get real ugly, and it might not be worth getting in the middle of that.
Scorpion: The Bayushi Diamyo has put out word that she'd like the Scorpion to support us... and she has a *lot* of pull with the Scorpion. As an added benefit, they get to watch the Crane get taken down a peg, and that's always good clean fun. Being able to do it while retaining the apparent moral high ground is even better. Plus, Yasuki Goro is apparently a pretty smooth operator, and not opposed to working together for mutual benefit. That has... possibilities. Now give me a moment while I recover from the experience of hearing that story - that was seriously impressive.
Phoenix: This kid looks to be an up-and-coming potential hero, and hates all of the people I hate, as is right and proper (if in a somewhat different balance). I like him. I approve of jade being used to kill creatures of the Shadowlands. Also, Yasuki Goro apparently wasn't kidding when he said he had some entertainment. That was a well-told tale.
Crane: I am experiencing a Highly Uncomfortable fusion of artistic appreciation and shuddering horror. This one is... more than I had been led to believe, and my position at the moment is probably shot. I am going to have to reassess some of my assumptions, and probably try a different tack entirely. For right now, I need to try to limit the damage this is going to do to my case while I play for time to recover. Perhaps Kitsuki-sama would agree to a short break for ablutions and the like? That would also help get us off this dreadful topic and back into safer waters.
Togashi: Started out neutral. Our initial discussion bent them towards somewhat favorable. Our story has almost certainly pushed them further, especially its demonstrations of our character - compassion, bravery, humility, a willingness to let an enemy live so that we might save a friend, and so forth. They are likely seeking in the experience for any insights it might give. Are not likely to actually do anything except speak when spoken to, but if the Kitsuki diamyo asks their opinion (which he might) it wont hurt our case a bit.
Mirumoto: Impressed by our storytelling, respectful of our clear bravery and combat prowess. The fact that we're taking the Crane down a notch doesn't hurt anything either. Of course, they've been following our journey for a while now. As compared to the sotries they've heard thus far, this one likely showed them a much more human side to us, while also bringing home more strongly the horrors we face out there. Personally, probably someone more inclined to sympathy, but they're likely professional enough that that will mean basically nothing with respect to convincing the Kitsuki Diamyo about anything. Mirumoto Hanabi's chances of convincing the appropriate set of superiors to try to marry her off to us has just improved noticeably.
Kitsuki: no real idea. He doesn't want us to know what he's thinking, and he's better at it than we are. He likely has at least some directions from the Clan Champion as well, and we have no idea what *they* are. We're definitely ahead of the Crane on points for the day, and I'm sure he's aware of the nature and attitudes of the Master of Fire. Additionally, we just made Something Kind Of Awesome Happen in his court - and the sorts of people who have courts like it when things like that happen. It reinforces the idea that those courts are interesting and worthwhile places to be. Still, this is early on. We've certainly helped our cause, and Yasuki Goro is absolutely going to work it for all it's worth, but we've got a few more rounds to go, both in court during the day and around court during the evenings.
One thing that I *know* will happen. The Crane isn't going to be satisfied with this. She's going to be looking for a new plan, and an edge. We'll want to be very careful not to insult either her or her yojimbo, especially not in private. Indeed, we don't want to be alone with either of them under basically any circumstances. She will probably find out about the Hanabi thing at some point, and likely seek to use that against us - a potential reason to move somewhat proactively on that front. On the flip side, Hanabi isn't hugely inclined to like her (Kakita/Mirumoto and all), and is certainly aware that she doesn't like us, so at least some of those dangers are reduced.
The Crane will aslo be lookign for allies. Crane make friends as easily as breathing, and the bit where we were surrounded by allies and she wasn't was bizarre to her. Of the available options...
- Attempting to cozy up to the Scorpion will do her no good, and may well do her harm.
- We're obviously off the table
- She'll likely try to appeal to the Phoenix. Whether or not she succeeds will depend on what external thigns she can offer him, details of his personality, and so forth. I don't know enough here.
- She's pretty much guaranteed to try to get in good with some of the local Kitsuki, and possibly the Mirumoto as well. No idea how well she'll do here either.
- For the Lion, she'd have to have something to offer them, or some other edge.
A lot of how well she does moving forward is going to depend on the depth of the pool of gifts and favors she can draw on for this mission. I'd suspect that she'll fade into the background for a while, too - let the Dragon test us, while she works on acquiring supporters one-on-one, in a setting where it's a lot easier to convince people to remember things the way you want them to. She'll take a more central part in the discussions once she thinks she has better support locked in. That sort of thing is for Yasuki Goro to counter, though. It's not our battlefield.
