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

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We could probably weave some interesting metaphor into our story - with the goblins as the shadowlands threat we have all known (no real threat at all, given that the Crab are there to defend) and the ogre as the threat that has been hiding behind that threat, biding its time - that we all must band together to defend from.

We should also definitely include at least something out of the "advice to a young man who is considering the prospect of marriage", as it makes a great moment of humor and rest between the pulse-pounding battle with the ogre on the one side and the three fallen, followed by death march on the other. The success-but-at-a-cost and touching tribute to our fallen comrade at the end is also a must-have.

I now note with some amusement that @Winged Knight, as the one who actually told this story, has managed to turn Sosuke into a self-insert in a backhanded sort of way, in spite of the fact that we're the ones playing him.

We should probably leave out the dreams.
 
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Felius said:
Next XP we get, should we go for skills and stats that influence story telling?
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Next few, I figure we should get a point each in some of the courtier skills. Sincerity is important for defense, perform is important for what we're actually trying to do, and maybe a point in Courtier itself, just to help us navigate the waters. To my understanding, lvl 1 skills are 1-for-1 on exp to insight, they're cheap, and it's all pretty directly applicable to what we're doing now. (It may well be that if we do well at this, we'll be roped into it again later, too). Then maybe pick up a few of those higher skills for the mastery bonuses - like investigation. Once we get to insight 140, we start saving up 12 for Reflexes. If we're lucky, that'll kick in shortly before we head back into a combat-based adventure, letting us touch base with sensei, and giving us another 5 TN to be hit from the reflexes, and another 3 DR from insight rank. At that point we look into picking up stuff that isn't as insight-efficient, like a good kata, another point in heavy weapons, some unmatched stats, or things of like nature.
 
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2.8
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    • [x] Finish your tea and crackers.


    It would be a waste to leave with your drink unfinished, and you've not yet had a chance to try one of the crackers, so you decide to stay. You pick up one of your snacks and stick the whole thing in your mouth, crunching it to little bits before taking a sip of your tea. It's crunchy and slightly salty, with a nice slightly burned taste to it. But your mind is focused too much on other things to give much thought to the flavor.

    Yasuki Goro apparently has a threefold use for you. Not only are you a bodyguard, you are also a symbol of prestige and a piece of his arsenal to prove that the Crab Clan requires more than the minimum amount of Jade from the Dragon Clan's discovery. Politics, it seems, is a fair bit more detailed and involved than you gave it credit for.

    Even still, you wonder how exactly you will be able to best benefit Yasuki Goro with his plan. Your role is now apparent, but you need to perform your duty well elsewise the trust put upon you will have been misplaced. The thought makes you frown, and you pop another rice cracker into your mouth. The last thing you want is to fail your Clan.

    Then again, it will take almost two months to reach Dragon Lands. Their holding are almost on the exact opposite end of the empire, after all. That gives you plenty of time to train up on any relevant skills. Something Yasuki Goro likely considered when he came up with his strategy.

    "This is well planned," you mutter before taking another sip of tea.

    You bite into another cracker, enjoying the crunchy taste, and consider the journey ahead. Unless you're taking a boat, which is unlikely unless Hida Tanaka has hired out a Mantis ship, you're going to get a chance to see a great deal of the Empire. You've never left Crab Lands, but you have seen Samurai of other Clans as they visited. Mostly Crane and Unicorn, but some Mantis have come by occasionally, as well as a few Samurai from the Minor Clan of the Wolf. But you were always so busy with training you never had a good chance to observe them.

    All you have to go on are stereotypes and hearsay. You doubt that will be enough just by itself, so you'll need to stay alert and keep your eyes open as you travel. The more you learn means the better prepared you are to deal with other Samurai, and thus makes you more useful to the Crab Clan.

    You are taken out of your thoughts when you reach for another cracker and realize they are gone. Your tea, as well, is almost finished. The sun is setting on the horizon, and night is well and truly coming upon the land.

    The day is over now. Still, it's only early evening. That leaves you time to do other things should you wish it. On the other hand, you're leaving early in the morning. Turning in soon might not be a bad idea.

    You've just got to decide what you want to do.

    [] Write in.


    Sosuke has had an eventful day! While there are still things he could do before the evening progresses too far, he's still had a number of events happen one after another. Quite a few of those have been rather meaningful and expanded his horizons. As such, he has gained 1 experience point.
     
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    • Neat
    [X] Write in:
    Lets go pray to the Fortune of Osano-wo for guidance and thanks for our success

    Then go get some sleep, we've got a long day tomorrow.
     
    Huh. I hope our travel papers are in order, because crossing that much foreign Clan land - including Crane and Lion - is going to be a pain in the ass even if all is in order.
     
    [x] Continue with initial plan.
    - [x] return to quarters
    - [x] spend time on proper maintenance for gear
    - [x] go to sleep early.

    [x] bank the experience for the moment
    eventually we'll likely want to spend it on courtier/perform stuff, but let's give ourselves some training time out on the trail to justify it first.
     
    [x] Continue with initial plan.
    - [x] return to quarters
    - [x] spend time on proper maintenance for gear
    - [x] go to sleep early.

    [x] bank the experience for the moment
     
    [x] Continue with initial plan.
    - [x] return to quarters
    - [x] spend time on proper maintenance for gear
    - [x] go to sleep early.

    [x] bank the experience for the moment
     
    [x] Continue with initial plan.
    - [x] return to quarters
    - [x] spend time on proper maintenance for gear
    - [x] go to sleep early.

    [x] bank the experience for the moment
     
    [x] Continue with initial plan.
    - [x] return to quarters
    - [x] spend time on proper maintenance for gear
    - [x] go to sleep early.

    [x] bank the experience for the moment
     
    [x] Continue with initial plan.
    - [x] return to quarters
    - [x] spend time on proper maintenance for gear
    - [x] go to sleep early.

    [x] bank the experience for the moment
     
    [x] Continue with initial plan.
    - [x] return to quarters
    - [x] spend time on proper maintenance for gear
    - [x] go to sleep early.

    [x] bank the experience for the moment
     
    [x] Continue with initial plan.
    - [x] return to quarters
    - [x] spend time on proper maintenance for gear
    - [x] go to sleep early.

    [x] bank the experience for the moment​
     
    [x] Continue with initial plan.
    - [x] return to quarters
    - [x] spend time on proper maintenance for gear
    - [x] go to sleep early.

    [x] bank the experience for the moment
     
    2.9
  • Threadmarks
    • [x] Continue with initial plan.
    - [x] return to quarters
    - [x] spend time on proper maintenance for gear
    - [x] go to sleep early.

    [x] bank the experience for the moment


    The evening is getting on, and you've got an early morning tomorrow. It is best that you get to bed. You will not shame yourself by falling asleep in the saddle.

    You get out of your seat and make your way back to the castle. You are not impeded. The servants are aware that you and your family are guests at Kyuden Hida at the behest of the Clan Champion. As such, you make your way swiftly to your quarters and strip out of your armor to do some basic maintenance.

    As you examine each individual piece, you see you really shouldn't have bothered. Your little excursion outside in the rain didn't damage the armor in the slightest. You shake your head in wonder as you wipe down your gear. Your mother truly is a master at her craft to have made such peerless work.

    You rest all your armor on a stand provided once it is dry, and just look at it for a little bit. You can't help but wonder if you'd had this armor during your Gempukku. That Ogre would have been almost no threat at all instead of leaving your ribs bruised and sore for over a week. You'd have been able to deal with it much more easily.

    Then again, you'd only been allows this armor because you'd proven yourself worthy of it. Your slaying of the Ogre had been a part of that. So in a very real way, it is only because you could endure that pain that you were considered deserving of such fine equipment.

    "If only we could supply everyone with armor like this," you mutter to yourself. But even as you say the words, you know it to be impossible. Your mother spent months, maybe even a year, on this single set of armor. The Kaiu cannot afford to use that much time one set of equipment when there is so much required of them to maintain the Clan. Still, there's no harm in a little daydreaming.

    You blow out the room's candle and shift out of your clothes, leaving only your underclothing. Then you crawl into bed and close your eyes.

    Soon enough, you are fast asleep.

    o\O/o
    ​
    You are fresh and ready to go when the morning comes. You sit easily enough on your horse, though in truth you know just enough about riding to keep yourself from falling off. The beast shifts and shakes its head every now and then, and you grip the reigns tighter every time it does so. You don't want to imagine what actually fighting on horseback would be like. You figure you'd almost certainly fall flat on your face.

    You can't imagine how the Unicorn clan has made entire combat style around mounted warfare. How can anyone maintain their balance atop these animals? The very thought just boggles your mind.

    Five Ashigaru, peasant soldiers, sit atop their own horses with spears set in a part of the saddle designed to hold them. Along with the soldiers are five servants, who will be responsible for setting up and breaking down camp every day, as well as looking after the needs of Yasuki Goro and yourself.

    As well, there is another Samurai acting as Yojimbo along with yourself. Hiruma Shasa, another of your Family trained in the Hida Bushi School. You find it a little odd to see another of the Hiruma trained in another Family's school, but while not exactly common it isn't really rare. The Crab Clan have less issues about that sort of thing in general. After all, the Clan requires its people to go where they are most suited and show the best aptitude.

    You're not entirely sure about this sentiment in her case, though. Hiruma Shasa is scowling at everything, and in general looks like she's swallowed something sour. You get the impression she doesn't smile very much.

    Probably a mean temper on that one, you think to yourself.

    Yasuki Goro is ahead of you, speaking with Hida Tanaka. They're deep in conversation about something, but Yasuki Goro's been grinning the whole time. That has to be a good sign, right?

    "Fair travels to you, my son," your father says softly as he walks up to you, your mother at his side. He holds out his hand, and within it you can see a single finger of Jade. You blink at it, and then look at him. He gives you a small grin in response. "Never can be too careful."

    "My thanks, father," you say as you take the Jade and loop it around your neck. "I hope to return home with a great deal more."

    "I'm sure you will," your mother says. "Write to us when you can, would you? It would be good to know you are staying healthy on your journey."

    "I'll write whenever I can," you say back, giving her a confident smile. "Don't worry, mother. I'll be sure to keep you informed."

    "Good," she says. Her voice is steady, but you can tell from her posture she's sad to see you leave. "I will await your return, Sosuke."

    "As will I," says your father. "May the Fortunes smile upon you."

    "We're off!" Yasuki Goro shouts from the head of the caravan, punctuating his words by bringing his horse into a trot. You quickly follow after him, looking over your shoulder but once to wave back to your parents.

    Soon enough you have left Kyuden Hida behind you, the great fortress city slowly growing smaller in the distance, and now you are on the road north. All of the Empire is before you, just waiting to be explored. But in the mean time, you're still in Crab Lands. You likely will be for the next week or so.

    Still, it's exciting to imagine what you'll see in the realms of the other Clans. For now, though, you'll just have to wait. Which, you figure out pretty early on, is going to get more than a little boring. Perhaps you can pass the time a bit with the other members of your caravan?

    [] Interact with Hiruma Shasa.
    [] Interact with Yasuki Goro.
    [] Interact with the Ashigaru or the servants.
    [] Timeskip (three days)
    [] Write in.
     
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