Sirrocco
Pedantic
I believe our sensei is currently on the Kaiu Wall.
Glory of the Emerald Empire (Legend of the 5 Rings Quest)
- Thread starter Winged Knight
- Start date
- Fantasy
I believe our sensei is currently on the Kaiu Wall.
Winged Knight
Still just a crazy man with a wolf on his head
- Location
- Texas
A good question! Let's have Sosuke rack his brain a bit.
Lore Heraldry: 4k2=17
You didn't know much about the man's personality untill your parents informed you, but what you do know is that Yasuki Goro is a well respected diplomat of the Clan. He's well known for staying as long as needed in other lands in order to get the job done, and is often sent out to handle what his superiors believe will be tricky or difficult negotiations.
Mechanically, this translates to him having Status 3. He is a respected Courtier and diplomat.
Last edited:
The Sandman
So Zetta Slowpoke
- Location
- Wherever I am, which isn't where I'm not
*Checks relevant story post*
Well, crap. Going back to edit my post, then.
Da Boyz
The Cutest Apocalypse.
Well yes but should we be addressing him as -sama, we are technically a full fledged samurai now. If he is the leader of the expedition though it should be fine.
Perfectly fine to address someone that respected, and who we will be working extensively with, as -sama then. Or am I just over thinking this.
Sirrocco
Pedantic
We've actually been at the tea-house for a little while when he comes up - long enough to order and even people watch for a bit. He certainly wasn't following us, and if he was in the tea-house already, he paused a while before coming over.
Indeed. Addressing him otherwise would be the not fine thing.
Last edited:
Depending on his rank in comparison to ours wouldn't Dono also be appropriate?
That said, sama shouldn't be a problem, unless he decides to be so crab he'd rather have us be even more ridiculously direct and straightforward than normal for our clan.
2.6
Winged Knight
Still just a crazy man with a wolf on his head
- Location
- Texas
[x] "Yasuki Goro-sama? You honor me with your presence. How can I be of assistance?"
[x] perform whatever standard respectful gestures are appropriate in this situation.
"Yasuki Goro-sama?" you say, getting up from your seat to bow to the man. "You honor me with your presence. How can I be of assistance?"
"Please, sit down," Yasuki Goro says with mirth in his voice. "I didn't come over here to make you stand up."
You sit back down, and as soon as you do the waitress comes over with your tea and crackers. You don't touch them, though. It would be rude to drink while the leader of your expedition did not have refreshment of some sort.
"Jasmine tea, if you would," Yasuki Goro said in a way that let it be known he expected the drink promptly. Which was his right, after all. As the waitress scurried off, he turns to you. "I'll admit I find it a bit surprising to just see you on the street like this. I'd not expected us to have our first meeting until tomorrow."
"Fate sometimes works in mysterious ways," you say, nodding.
Yasuki Goro gives out a small laugh, as if you'd just said something funny. You're taken slightly aback by the sound. Why was the man laughing?
"True, true," he says, still chuckling.
"I beg your pardon, my Lord," you say, thinking over your words carefully. "But did I say something amusing?"
"It wasn't what you said, but more how you said it," Yasuki Goro responds. "You speak so seriously to such a simple greeting. It struck me as funny. Ah, but I must apologize. I have shown you disrespect with my laughter."
"Please, think nothing of it," you say back. "I am not offended in the least."
"If you are all right with it, then I put the matter from my mind," Yasuki Goro says. It is at this point that his tea arrives, and he takes a deep sip of it despite the beverage still being quite hot. "Ahh… There's nothing quite as good in life as fresh smelling tea."
You take a sip of your own tea, enjoying the taste. Now that you've had a few moments to recover from the surprise of meeting the man you'll be working under for the next few months, you take note of a few things. Yasuki Goro's eyes have never left your face throughout the entirety of the conversation. Is he trying to gauge your reactions?
He's taking stock of me, you realize as you set your cup down.
That meant while this meeting might indeed be chance, Yasuki Goro's actions during the conversation are likely planned out and have ulterior motives. That's perfectly within his rights, of course. He is a Courtier, and must adjust his methods accordingly depending on who he is traveling with.
It's actually a little flattering that he's taking the time to do so with you now. Perhaps a tad annoying as well, but nothing too unexpected from one of the Yasuki. It's their purpose in the Clan, after all, to interact in the Courts and gain resources for the Crab. Even still, you can't help but wonder just what he is gleaning of you with those sharp eyes of his.
[] Write in.
[x] perform whatever standard respectful gestures are appropriate in this situation.
"Yasuki Goro-sama?" you say, getting up from your seat to bow to the man. "You honor me with your presence. How can I be of assistance?"
"Please, sit down," Yasuki Goro says with mirth in his voice. "I didn't come over here to make you stand up."
You sit back down, and as soon as you do the waitress comes over with your tea and crackers. You don't touch them, though. It would be rude to drink while the leader of your expedition did not have refreshment of some sort.
"Jasmine tea, if you would," Yasuki Goro said in a way that let it be known he expected the drink promptly. Which was his right, after all. As the waitress scurried off, he turns to you. "I'll admit I find it a bit surprising to just see you on the street like this. I'd not expected us to have our first meeting until tomorrow."
"Fate sometimes works in mysterious ways," you say, nodding.
Yasuki Goro gives out a small laugh, as if you'd just said something funny. You're taken slightly aback by the sound. Why was the man laughing?
"True, true," he says, still chuckling.
"I beg your pardon, my Lord," you say, thinking over your words carefully. "But did I say something amusing?"
"It wasn't what you said, but more how you said it," Yasuki Goro responds. "You speak so seriously to such a simple greeting. It struck me as funny. Ah, but I must apologize. I have shown you disrespect with my laughter."
"Please, think nothing of it," you say back. "I am not offended in the least."
"If you are all right with it, then I put the matter from my mind," Yasuki Goro says. It is at this point that his tea arrives, and he takes a deep sip of it despite the beverage still being quite hot. "Ahh… There's nothing quite as good in life as fresh smelling tea."
You take a sip of your own tea, enjoying the taste. Now that you've had a few moments to recover from the surprise of meeting the man you'll be working under for the next few months, you take note of a few things. Yasuki Goro's eyes have never left your face throughout the entirety of the conversation. Is he trying to gauge your reactions?
He's taking stock of me, you realize as you set your cup down.
That meant while this meeting might indeed be chance, Yasuki Goro's actions during the conversation are likely planned out and have ulterior motives. That's perfectly within his rights, of course. He is a Courtier, and must adjust his methods accordingly depending on who he is traveling with.
It's actually a little flattering that he's taking the time to do so with you now. Perhaps a tad annoying as well, but nothing too unexpected from one of the Yasuki. It's their purpose in the Clan, after all, to interact in the Courts and gain resources for the Crab. Even still, you can't help but wonder just what he is gleaning of you with those sharp eyes of his.
[] Write in.
Last edited:
[x] "Yasuki Goro-sama? You honor me with your presence. How can I be of assistance?"
[x] Perform whatever standard respectful gestures are appropriate in this situation.
[x] Perform whatever standard respectful gestures are appropriate in this situation.
Winged Knight
Still just a crazy man with a wolf on his head
- Location
- Texas
Man, I Scorpioned you just by the barest of seconds there. I'm the best
Ridiculously Average Guy
I'm you, but stronger
- Location
-
[x] "So, Yasuki Goro-sama. If I may be blunt, how do you think we should go about convincing the Dragon to give up more jade?"
- Location
- Canada
[x] "So, Yasuki Goro-sama. If I may be so bold, what purpose would you put me to while we are in the lands of the Dragon? Obviously, I am to serve in part as bodyguard, to protect you, and as retinue, to highlight your importance, but there are many, many Crab that could do the same as well or better. My selection seems unusual, and I assume there must be a reason for it. What else would you have me do, in service to your endeavors?
[x] He is our superior, and seeking to understand us better. The better he understands us, the better he can deploy us in service to the Clan. Be as open and easy to read as you can be, while still retaining proper etiquette and respect.
Last edited:
Sirrocco
Pedantic
[x] "So, Yasuki Goro-sama. If I may be so bold, what purpose would you put me to while we are in the lands of the Dragon? Obviously, I am to serve in part as bodyguard, to protect you, and as retinue, to highlight your importance, but there are many, many Crab that could do the same as well or better. My selection seems unusual, and I assume there must be a reason for it. What else would you have me do, in service to your endeavors?
[x] He is our superior, and seeking to understand us better. The better he understands us, the better he can deploy us in service to the Clan. Be as open and easy to read as you can be, while still retaining proper etiquette and respect.
We do not need to know his whole plan. All we need to know is his plan for us. If he feels that the mission would be well served by telling us his overall plan, he will tell us in his own time.
[x] He is our superior, and seeking to understand us better. The better he understands us, the better he can deploy us in service to the Clan. Be as open and easy to read as you can be, while still retaining proper etiquette and respect.
We do not need to know his whole plan. All we need to know is his plan for us. If he feels that the mission would be well served by telling us his overall plan, he will tell us in his own time.
EtchedSteel
*mumble mumble*
- Location
- Lima. Peru
[x] tiny squid Sirrocco
GilliamYaeger
M'crazy.
[x] What I've voted for the vast majority of these choices
Noctum
Dual Paradox
- Location
- Under the Skies Above
[x] "So, Yasuki Goro-sama. If I may be so bold, what purpose would you put me to while we are in the lands of the Dragon? Obviously, I am to serve in part as bodyguard, to protect you, and as retinue, to highlight your importance, but there are many, many Crab that could do the same as well or better. My selection seems unusual, and I assume there must be a reason for it. What else would you have me do, in service to your endeavors?
[x] He is our superior, and seeking to understand us better. The better he understands us, the better he can deploy us in service to the Clan. Be as open and easy to read as you can be, while still retaining proper etiquette and respect.
[x] He is our superior, and seeking to understand us better. The better he understands us, the better he can deploy us in service to the Clan. Be as open and easy to read as you can be, while still retaining proper etiquette and respect.
2.7
Winged Knight
Still just a crazy man with a wolf on his head
- Location
- Texas
[X] All hail the Hypnotoad Tiny Squid!
"So, Yasuki Goro-sama," you begin. "If I may be so bold, what purpose would you put me to while we are in the lands of the Dragon? Obviously, I am to serve in part as bodyguard, to protect you, and as retinue, to highlight your importance, but there are many, many Crab that could do the same as well or better."
Yasuki Goro's eyebrows raise a fraction, and he grins. "Ah, so you're curious, then?"
"My selection seems unusual," you say. "And I assume there must be a reason for it. What else would you have me do, in service to your endeavors?"
The Courtier's grin widens. "You're perceptive, good. You'll need that in the days to come."
He takes another sip of his tea, and then snatches one of your rice crackers. You don't particularly mind as he bites into the snack. He is your superior, and it's his prerogative, after all. And besides, there are plenty on the tray.
You don't hide anything from your expression. Yasuki Goro is seeking to understand you better. No doubt he desires you to do something during the upcoming negotiations. While you don't want to pressure the man into revealing his entire plan, learning your own part in it would not be amiss.
"Hida Tanaka-sama puts great weight in stories," he says at last. "And I do as well. Tell me, Sosuke-san, do you know why the Courtiers of the Ikoma Family are considered the rivals of the Doji?"
Your face scrunches, your confusion obvious. "Not really…"
"The Doji are all about elegance, about being in control so that no one can move against them. Or, at the very least, appearing such," Yasuki Goro continues. "Court can be just as dangerous and fierce as any war, and the Crane like to hedge their bets. They're very good at it. So why, then, can the Ikoma of the Lion Clan stand up to them and not be crushed utterly?"
"Stories?" you ask, trying to figure out what the man is getting at.
"Precisely!" Yasuki Goro says, stretching his arms out wide. "The Ikoma are masters at swaying the emotions, of using words and storytelling to make you see things their way. They draw upon history, and incorporate it into rousing dialogue that gets the blood pumping. It's a brilliant tactic, and one I will utilize here."
"You want me to tell a story?" you ask, even more befuddled than you were before. "Of what?"
"Your Gempukku, Sosuke-san," the Courtier replies. "The Dragon like to put forth that they are separate from worldly matters, but they are just as human as the rest of us. I want you to give the honest truth of your experience in the Shadowlands, of the threat that is rising. Sway them with your story, and give weight to my words."
You frown. This is not how the Yasuki usually operate. Typically, they will bully or intimidate their opponents in Court into doing what they want and give ground only grudgingly. Why, then, this emphasis on your story? It takes you a few seconds to gather what he means, but when you do you have to keep your draw from dropping.
He's flanking them, you realize. Flanking them with his words. Shifting the strategy from what they expect.
It is precisely what you would do when in combat with an enemy you think can stall your usual methods. The subtlety involved surprises you. You'd always figured the Courts were just various diplomats shouting at each other until an agreement was hashed out, but the nuance here is as great as any you've seen in decisions that determined the fate of entire armies in the history books.
"I see you understand," Yasuki Goro says, steepling his fingers to hide a grin. "Just because one typically does something one way, does not mean he must always do so. I will sweep the legs out from under them with unusual tactics, and then hammer them when they least expect it. Such are the ways of any conflict." He stands up and downs the last of his tea. "A good evening to you, Sosuke-san. I look forward to our travels together."
The heavyset man wanders off into the street as the drizzle fades away, giving you only the barest of moments to give your own farewell, and you are left alone with half a cup of tea and a near full plate of crackers. You get the feeling you've just been taught a valuable lesson today. You make a mental note to remember it.
[] Finish your tea and crackers.
[] Head off elsewhere. You're no longer thirsty.
[] Write in.
"So, Yasuki Goro-sama," you begin. "If I may be so bold, what purpose would you put me to while we are in the lands of the Dragon? Obviously, I am to serve in part as bodyguard, to protect you, and as retinue, to highlight your importance, but there are many, many Crab that could do the same as well or better."
Yasuki Goro's eyebrows raise a fraction, and he grins. "Ah, so you're curious, then?"
"My selection seems unusual," you say. "And I assume there must be a reason for it. What else would you have me do, in service to your endeavors?"
The Courtier's grin widens. "You're perceptive, good. You'll need that in the days to come."
He takes another sip of his tea, and then snatches one of your rice crackers. You don't particularly mind as he bites into the snack. He is your superior, and it's his prerogative, after all. And besides, there are plenty on the tray.
You don't hide anything from your expression. Yasuki Goro is seeking to understand you better. No doubt he desires you to do something during the upcoming negotiations. While you don't want to pressure the man into revealing his entire plan, learning your own part in it would not be amiss.
"Hida Tanaka-sama puts great weight in stories," he says at last. "And I do as well. Tell me, Sosuke-san, do you know why the Courtiers of the Ikoma Family are considered the rivals of the Doji?"
Your face scrunches, your confusion obvious. "Not really…"
"The Doji are all about elegance, about being in control so that no one can move against them. Or, at the very least, appearing such," Yasuki Goro continues. "Court can be just as dangerous and fierce as any war, and the Crane like to hedge their bets. They're very good at it. So why, then, can the Ikoma of the Lion Clan stand up to them and not be crushed utterly?"
"Stories?" you ask, trying to figure out what the man is getting at.
"Precisely!" Yasuki Goro says, stretching his arms out wide. "The Ikoma are masters at swaying the emotions, of using words and storytelling to make you see things their way. They draw upon history, and incorporate it into rousing dialogue that gets the blood pumping. It's a brilliant tactic, and one I will utilize here."
"You want me to tell a story?" you ask, even more befuddled than you were before. "Of what?"
"Your Gempukku, Sosuke-san," the Courtier replies. "The Dragon like to put forth that they are separate from worldly matters, but they are just as human as the rest of us. I want you to give the honest truth of your experience in the Shadowlands, of the threat that is rising. Sway them with your story, and give weight to my words."
You frown. This is not how the Yasuki usually operate. Typically, they will bully or intimidate their opponents in Court into doing what they want and give ground only grudgingly. Why, then, this emphasis on your story? It takes you a few seconds to gather what he means, but when you do you have to keep your draw from dropping.
He's flanking them, you realize. Flanking them with his words. Shifting the strategy from what they expect.
It is precisely what you would do when in combat with an enemy you think can stall your usual methods. The subtlety involved surprises you. You'd always figured the Courts were just various diplomats shouting at each other until an agreement was hashed out, but the nuance here is as great as any you've seen in decisions that determined the fate of entire armies in the history books.
"I see you understand," Yasuki Goro says, steepling his fingers to hide a grin. "Just because one typically does something one way, does not mean he must always do so. I will sweep the legs out from under them with unusual tactics, and then hammer them when they least expect it. Such are the ways of any conflict." He stands up and downs the last of his tea. "A good evening to you, Sosuke-san. I look forward to our travels together."
The heavyset man wanders off into the street as the drizzle fades away, giving you only the barest of moments to give your own farewell, and you are left alone with half a cup of tea and a near full plate of crackers. You get the feeling you've just been taught a valuable lesson today. You make a mental note to remember it.
[] Finish your tea and crackers.
[] Head off elsewhere. You're no longer thirsty.
[] Write in.
Last edited:
