In Thunder's Echo (Legend of the Five Rings Quest)

[Maugan Ra]

Lore Check - Scorpion Clan

5k4 = 32

The Scorpion are a people slowly coming to terms with the darkest parts of their own nature.

For a thousand years, the Clan of Secrets has maintained it's position through blackmail and the threat of retribution. Often despised and distrusted by an Empire that shunned their honourless ways, they were also feared for the power they held and the potential harm they might wreck if given sufficient cause. No one wanted to see what the children of Bayushi might be capable of if pushed to the very edge.

In 1123, they found out.

When given cause, Bayushi Shoju turned on his close friend and Emperor and slew him without mercy. When given orders from their superiors, the Scorpion Legions marched upon the Imperial City, never hesitating or asking questions even as they turned their swords against those they were otherwise sworn to serve. And when defeated, when cast down and disbanded by the combined strength of the Empire and the order of the child-Emperor they failed to kill... that was when Rokugan finally learned how far the Scorpion would go.

Officially, for the duration of the Clan Wars the Scorpion did not exist. Those who had once claimed allegiance to the Bayushi were now ronin, and all of their lands were Imperial property to be reassigned to more trustworthy and honourable vassals. In practice, however, the Clan of Secrets was still very much alive. A large number of 'ronin' stayed right where they were, forming 'brotherhoods' that through pure coincidence mimicked the previous power structure. Others retreated to prepared bolt holes and hidden strongholds, adopting a cell-like structure that protected them from investigation and destruction. And almost all of them continued to obey the orders of 'Hantei' Kachiko, who continued to reside in Otosan Uchi and through means subtle and arcane maintained steady communication with her isolated and hidden kinsmen. All in all, the Scorpion were in a perfect position to ride out the consequences of the Coup and the ensuing Clan Wars in relative safety.

There was just one problem - they didn't want to.

Bayushi Kachiko had never been a woman much given to forgiveness or humility, and many who served her likewise saw the utter destruction and disgrace of their ancient families as an insult that could not be born. They wanted revenge, and with seemingly nothing left to lose they took it in any way they could.

Ambush. Sabotage. Assassination. Terrorism. All of these and more became the hallmark of the Scorpion Clan during those chaotic years, and every Clan felt their sting. When the Imperial Legions marched upon Shiro no Shosuro, fully half of the thousands-strong army died screaming as clouds of toxic gas rolled over their ranks and melted flesh from bone. When Matsu Tsuko led her armies to oppose the Crab outside Otosan Uchi, Kachiko manipulated her orders and fed her entire army to the slaughter. When the Soshi saw their kin buried without rites or honours, their daimyo Soshi Bantaro delved into maho and necromancy to bring the fallen back for revenge.

And when Yogo Junzo saw all that his family had lost, he opened the Black Scrolls of Fu Leng, ushering in the return of the dark god and unleashing a plague that would claim the life of millions before it was through.

Ironically, it was perhaps the return of Fu Leng that saved the Scorpion from themselves. When Kachiko finally realized precisely what was looking out from behind the eyes of her young husband, she abandoned her vendetta and bent all of her guile and resources to weakening the fallen kami and preparing for the Second Day of Thunder. When the armies of Rokugan marched upon Otosan Uchi, the Scorpion were there, reclaiming their old colours and lifting their banners high as they threw themselves upon the enemy.

As a result, when Toturi took the throne one of his first actions was to restore the Scorpion Clan to their former station, absolving them of all outstanding crimes. The Clan of Secrets moved back out from the shadows and began rebuilding, a process sped up significantly by prep-work done during the chaotic days of the Clan Wars. Today, the Scorpion are reasonably well off both financially and militarily, having conserved a surprising portion of their strength in preparation for an extended campaign of guerilla warfare.

Politically, however, your Clan has no shortage of enemies. Everyone remembers what you did, and none of them are likely to forget it any time soon.

 

[Maugan Ra]

Well. That is quite the question, and you immediately note the wording - 'when', not 'if'. Otomo Kairyu fully expects war to break out in the future, even if he doesn't know the specifics. Whether that is because of some particular knowledge or wisdom on his part or simply due to a rampant sense of paranoia, though, you have no idea.

Still, he asked you a question, and refusing to answer an Imperial samurai on a matter such as this is liable to end badly. Thus you take a moment to consider the idea, and reply.

"This may be the Scorpion in me speaking, Otomo-sama, but I suspect that the next war will come from subterfuge." You say slowly. Kairyu looks intrigued, and gestures for you to continue. "So far as I can see, the leaders of most Clans and Families in the Empire understand the need for peace. Some desire it outright, others grudgingly accept it, but after recent events few deny it outright. There are, however, currents of resentment underlying that."

"Such as?" The Imperial says mildly, and you sense that you tread on potentially dangerous ground. The Otomo family is renowned for having... well, not quite a spy network, but certainly a web of informants and friendly ears that spreads across the Empire, rivaled only by that of your own Clan. Talk to subterfuge and resentment would naturally be of interest to anyone who walks in such a world.

"I might say the rebels we have already encountered, and whoever it is that sees fit to back them." You reply, subtly referencing your own intervention in that matter. "Then there are those who suffered greatly in the recent conflicts, and feel the need for justice or revenge. And, of course, there are always those who hunger for the glory that battle could bring."

"Hmm. I would have thought the last case to be the most likely." Kairyu says thoughtfully, a small smile tugging at his lips. "They called the time under the rule of the Hantei the 'Thousand Years of Peace', but I have studied the histories. Rarely did a year go by without a peasant uprising or a border war between the Clans, even before you touch upon the constant bandit groups or the business at the Kaiu Wall."

You nod, aware that prior to the Second Day of Thunder few samurai would have been willing to refer to the Crab's eternal war even in such indirect terms. The return of Fu Leng has changed much.

"If I had to guess among the Clans? I would say the Mantis, Otomo-sama, likely at odds with the Lion." You venture cautiously, seeing the way that your host's eyes sharpen at this. "The Mantis have wealth and power, but their status as a Great Clan is only freshly obtained. There will be many who deny them the respect they feel they are due, and they will seek to prove themselves in response. Wealth alone is not enough, so they might easily seek a military confrontation."

"A plausible enough scenario." Otomo Kairyu allows, looking thoughtful. "Why the Lion, though? If one is seeking a military triumph, the Right Hand would seem a poor choice of opponents."

"Perhaps. And yet, in a strategic sense, the Mantis have powerful advantages." You reply, laying out your reasoning even as it comes to you. "The vast majority of their territory is on the Islands of Silk and Spice - indeed, unless the Wasp choose to join them, virtually all of the lands of the Mantis lie off-shore. The Yoritomo family's naval forces are well known, while the Lion are entirely land-locked. The initiative would lie almost entirely with the Mantis in such a situation, especially if they have the ability to sail up rivers to strike at Lion holdings not commonly subject to attack."

You pause for a moment, then decide you might as well be thorough about this. "Beyond that, Otomo-sama, the Lion are likely the easiest to start a war with. Their reputation is well known, and while they have few allies there are more than enough enemies who would delight in seeing them humbled. The Matsu are notoriously easy to provoke, but convince him that his Honour is threatened and any Lion would be willing to march to war."

"An undeniable, if unappealing fact." The courtier concedes. "There are more than a few in the Imperial City who would much prefer to see the Akodo family restored for precisely that reason. While they ruled, the Lion could often be restrained from their most violent impulses, if not entirely controlled. An interesting prediction, Soshi-san."

There is a slight edge to his words, and after a moment you divine the most likely reason for it. The Scorpion have not hesitated to provoke such conflicts between their enemies in the past, after all, and it would be easy enough for suspicion in any developing unpleasantness to fall directly upon you. Since that would be, well, less than ideal, you take a moment to cover for your family.

"I do wish to note that the Scorpion have no wish for anything of that kind to come about, Otomo-sama." You say cautiously, aware you are probably overstepping somewhat in speaking for your Clan entire but willing to take the risk. "We need the trade through Beiden Pass to remain undisrupted for as long as possible, to say nothing of the consequences if any... provocation were to be traced back to us. While our reputation is not exceptional at the best of times, recent events have taught us that it can always get worse."

Otomo Kairyu laughs at that one, though he has the courtesy to keep it short and controlled. "True enough, Soshi-san. Thank you. You have given me a great deal to think about. Now, perhaps you might indulge me in a round of the General's Game?"

-/-

Later that afternoon, you seek out Pale Oak. He is in his office, as is perhaps to be expected, and once the bowing is out of the way you take a moment to gather your thoughts and speak. "Pale Oak-san, I was hoping I could consult with you on a certain matter."

"Of course, Soshi-dono. I would be happy to assist however I may." The scribe says politely. "However, first I feel I must inform you of an interesting development - one of my subordinates has been contacted by the local dissidents. They seem to think we might be able to assist them with something."

Respond
[ ] Write in

 

[Maugan Ra]

You blink in surprise, then take a moment to think about the implications. This has potential.

"I see. Thank you for bringing this to my attention, Pale Oak-san." You pause and do a quick sweep on the room, including glancing down the corridor outside. You highly doubt that anyone is listening who isn't already loyal to the Scorpion, but there is no sense in taking a chance. Once you are so reassured, you nod. "Please elaborate."

"I'm afraid there is little to go on at the moment, Soshi-dono." Pale Oak says apologetically. "One of my men was approached two days ago while out purchasing supplies in the market, by a heimin claiming to be a fellow traveler. He recognized my man as part of the Scorpion delegation, and was sounding out how he felt about his 'self-proclaimed masters'."

"Two days?" You say softly, raising one eyebrow. "Why am I only hearing about this now?"

Pale Oak bows his head. "Forgiveness, Soshi-dono. My subordinate did not report the contact immediately, for he believed that the dissidents would be watching him for such action. It took that length of time to make the report appropriately discreet."

You nod slowly. There are other, less positive reasons for such a delay, but you have no real means of verifying which one is correct without potentially alienating Pale Oak and the other servants. Which would be unfortunate, given how useful they have proven so far. You gesture for Pale Oak to continue.

"The implication seemed to be that no heimin could ever truly be loyal to the samurai, merely controlled by fear, and that there was a way to strike back against such cruel lords without incurring the samurai's wrath in turn." Pale Oak reports in a calm, neutral tone. "My agent gave the best impression he could of hesitating and being unsure, so the dissident told him to think about it and that they would be contacted again in the future."

In truth, you suspect an argument based around fear and loathing of the samurai would find rather more fertile grounds in Shiro Matsu than many other places in the Empire. Wren, after all, was willing to go to the Scorpion rather than trust in the justice and mercy of her own lords. That these dissidents would approach a servant from your own delegation certainly hints that they are intending to try something which they cannot do easily alone - after all, there are easier and more reliable ways to recruit outside agents when your city lies on a major trading route.

"Very interesting, Pale Oak-san." You say thoughtfully. "Why have you brought this to me?"

"Well, Soshi-dono... it occured to me that there might be unfortunate consequences if it was discovered that I had contact with local rebels and did not report it." The peasant says dryly. "Beyond that, this does potentially give us a chance to infiltrate the rebel organization, either to expose or subvert it. There are, however, certain risks involved. I brought this to you for my orders."

Give Pale Oak his orders:
[ ] He should see about infiltrating the rebel organization. The opportunities presented are too valuable to pass up.
[ ] He should avoid getting involved with the rebels. The potential damage to your goals if things go wrong is too severe.

Who, if anyone, do you tell about this?
[ ] Write in

 

[Maugan Ra]

You consider the matter for a moment. Much to be gained, it is true... but also much to be risked. It is a weighty decision, and one you would prefer to have more information on before making.

"Do you know this man well, Oak-san?" You ask, looking at the scribe who is almost certainly more than that.

"Quite well, Soshi-dono. We have worked together for two years now." He replies politely, though you sense a bit of resentment in his tone. "He is reliable."

Ah, of course, you don't want Pale Oak thinking you doubt his judgement or the loyalty of those who work for him. Such an impression would do much to sour working relations between the two of you, and if that happens he might not mention the next time something of this nature comes up.

"No doubt - certainly his response after being contacted speaks well of him." You clarify, heading off that potential source of trouble before it starts. "However, infiltrating a hostile organization takes a certain set of skills, a certain mindset. In your best judgement, is he suited to such an assignment?"

Pale Oak pauses here, and you get the impression that he wasn't expecting to be asked this. "If you are asking me for my recommendation, Soshi-dono..."

"I am." You confirm with a nod. "The decision is mine, but the superior perspective is yours. I would be a fool to disregard that."

"You do not strike me as a fool, Soshi-dono." Pale Oak says, and it sounds like a genuine compliment. "In my best judgement? I should say no. Infiltrating an organization like this takes one of two things - the time to work at it properly and convince them of your loyalties, or enough valuable information to trade to convince them that you are genuine. Within the scope of Winter Court we lack the former, and the latter... he would have to trade useful, verifiable information on the Scorpion for a decent level of access to their ranks."

"Then have him steer clear. We have an idea of their goals now, and perhaps in time we might be able to arrange a trap for them... but such is talk for another day." You shrug. "In truth, I had intended to speak with you on a matter of commerce. Specifically between ourselves and the Crab."

"The Crab, Soshi-dono? Of course. What do you need to know?" Your servant replies, dropping the whole matter of the potential spy with the air of a man who knows nothing about any such topic.

"What do they have that we want, and likewise what do we have that they need?" You explain, ignoring the momentary twinge of discomfort that comes from thoughts of involving yourself in mercantile concerns.

"I should say stone and allies respectively, Soshi-dono." Pale Oak answers almost instantly. "The former is oft-overlooked, but while the lands of the Scorpion have largely been repaired, we build from wood where possible. Recent events would seem to indicate the potential value of stone and those who can craft it - for roads, walls, border forts and the like."

You nod slowly. There tend to be two schools of thought in the Empire - the Crane champion the use of wood in building everything from houses to castles, while the Crab looks askance at anything not carved from stone. Stone roads and stone fortresses speak to eternity, of a people who have chosen their land and will not yield it to anyone. For the Scorpion to start building from stone would be a powerful statement, especially returning from your effective exile over the last decade, and it would almost by necessity bring closer ties with the Crab.

And, of course, recent history has shown the wisdom in having a fortification which can repel sustained, brutal sieges from overwhelming force.

"I can see that, Pale Oak-san... but allies?" You cannot help but raise an eyebrow. "The Scorpion are not exactly overflowing with them at the present."

"In general, perhaps not, Soshi-dono." Pale Oak says with a smile. "But here and now? The Scorpion have much more influence and respect with the Matsu family than most others present. I do not know what the Crab wish to obtain here, but they will almost certainly find the assistance of the Scorpion of great use in securing it."

An interesting idea. And insightful. Yes... you can use this.

Your next scheduled activity is to arrange a meal with Kaiu Hiraki. Such things are done via letters. How is your invitation composed?
[ ] Write in

QM's note - Remember, Hida Kisada chose not to support the Scorpion Coup in large part because he didn't like how Bayushi Shoju asked him for help in the letter he was sent. You should word your invitation carefully.

 

[Maugan Ra]

Kaiu Hireki-san,

I've learned of a small place that serves Crab-style fried food. While I am unsure if it is deserving of the attention of samurai, it did remind me of your quest for Crab Cuisine. My schedule has been quite full since arriving at Shiro Matsu but I've managed to clear lunch on the 18th​. I would be glad if you could join me for a meal Kaiu-san, thought I believe I will be staying away from the sake for this one.

Respectfully, Soshi Naoto.

Click to shrink...

As it turns out, the small restraunt that Wren knows of does indeed serve fried food, cooked Crab-style. You make a mental note of this for the future - consulting locals whenever possible is likely to be an advantage, and the peasantry will often know things that the samurai entirely overlook.

You meet Kaiu Hireki in the street outside, the Crab having navigated his way here by strength of long experience with military encampments of all kinds. Since Shiro Matsu is in many ways an army camp pretending to be a city, the same general understanding apparently helps a great deal.

"Soshi-san." The muscular engineer says with a nod to you as he strides up, his grey kimono of a significantly less refined quality than the one he wore to the feast. "This the place you mentioned?"

He indicates the building on the end of the street, a small and fairly humble looking establishment bereft of any kind of sign or symbol as to its intended trade. You would have walked right past it if you did not know it was there.

"It is, Kaiu-san, though I am surprised you identified it so quickly." You respond, curious despite yourself. The Crab merely grins.

"I am Crab, Soshi-san. We can detect fried food anywhere within a certain radius. One of our lesser known gifts."

You nod politely, almost-entirely sure he's making some kind of joke, and gesture towards the door. "Shall we?"

As you head across the street towards the establishment, you note a complete lack of any samurai in the area. This is not impossible, given that you are in the town and not the fortress proper, but you would have expected to see at least one patrol pass by during the time you spent waiting for your guest to turn up.

You get your explanation as you step inside, finding yourself in a large room strewn with tables and chairs of all kinds. There is a low counter running along the far wall, and somewhere beyond it is the kitchen that is doubtless responsible for the wide variety of rich and unusual smells hanging upon the air. Of more immediate relevance, however, are the various heimin within, over two dozen at first glance sitting in small groups at different locations around the room.

Every last one of them is armed.

Not with swords, thankfully, and none of them are looking to attack you, but there are a wide variety of weapons and creatively modified tools on display around you, from the wickedly curved kama hanging from a farmer's belt to the polished spear and set of bows propped up against the far wall. There is a paper-thin justification here at best, and it is certainly not even nearly enough to cover up the massive violation of Imperial law.

"Ah, the smell of proper food!" Kaiu Hiraki says in a cheerful voice, striding fearless across the room and up to the bar. "Fortunes bless your chef! Get me two plates of something deeply unhealthy and sinfully delicious, I am in the mood for nostalgia!"

There is a slowly building tension in the room as the inhabitants register the arrival of two samurai in what is apparently not the sort of place that samurai usually frequent. For a moment you fear that might be trouble, until the peasant behind the bar takes a good look at your dining companion and makes a waving gesture to the rest of the room.

"Of course, Crab-sama." He says in a slightly louder tone of voice than entirely necessary. "Please, take a seat. We will have it delivered shortly."

Kaiu Hiraki nods in approval and turns to look at the rest of the room. His gaze lingers on some of the more obvious weaponry being displayed, but he makes no comment, simply moving to take a seat at one of the tables and beckoning for you to join him.

With some reluctance, you do so, trying not to reveal how nervous you are about the large number of well-armed peasants all around you. If this gets bad you could likely take several of them, but sheer weight of numbers would inevitably tell in the end.

"Problem, Soshi-san?" Hiraki asks in a low voice.

Respond:
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[Maugan Ra]

You consider saying something, but... no, there seems little to gain from it. For whatever reason the peasants here seem more positively inclined towards the Crab than the local samurai, if you are judging the gesture the initial servant made correctly, and there seems little that telling Kaiu Hiraki your suspicions will actually accomplish.

"No, Kaiu-san." You say politely, taking a seat at the same table. "Merely enjoying the change of pace from tedious Matsu 'cuisine'."

Hiraki's gaze narrows slightly at that, and you suspect you might have made something of a misstep. It would not be hard to interpret your words as insulting your hosts, and if he doesn't feel poorly disposed towards them...

"Tedious, Scorpion-san?" Hiraki says with a slight edge to his tone. "A strange choice of words. What precisely is 'tedious' about it."

Etiquette 7k4 = 16

"Perhaps I misspoke." You say, somewhat hastily. "I am merely used to the inclusion of more herbs and spices in my food, as is the Scorpion style. The Matsu seem to favour plainer dishes, with little variety. It is... a change."

If anything, that seems to annoy the Crab even more. "Scorpion-san, the Matsu favour plain and nutritious food because they are a Clan of warriors." He says with a slight edge to his words. "Some of us have too many duties required of us to dedicate resources to needless extravagance in diet."

The rest of the conversation and associated food passes with similar levels of discomfort. You have apparently offended Kaiu Hiraki in some way, and while he is too polite to make any great scene of it, he is not inclined to give you the benefit of the doubt in any further topics. The meeting ends with neither of you gaining anything of note - particularly not the intended meeting with Yasuki Mia.

You sigh and make your way back to the castle. At least the food was nice, though you don't think you could eat it on a regular basis.

-/-

18th Day of the Boar
Late afternoon

Towards the end of the court session, you once again find yourself walking the halls of Shiro Matsu in the company of Ikoma Genji. The karo is in reasonably good spirits, it seems, and after a few subtle comments and exchanges he deigns to tell you why.

"Someone attempted to provoke the Lion into war, Soshi-san." He says mildly. "Ketsui-dono is a fierce warrior and fears no enemy, but she finds the thought of being made a tool in another's schemes loathsome. I suspect we may actually see peace in the coming year purely as a defiant answer to whoever sought to make a puppet of so many loyal samurai."

"I am glad to hear it, Ikoma-sama." You respond, as though you have no idea about the specifics of such an event. "One should always be sincere in word and deed, and such is difficult to say the least if we are tricked into acting on false pretenses."

-/-

The current plan calls for spending the morning of the 19th preparing for a meeting with Yasuki Mia, and the afternoon of the 20th in attending that meeting. Unfortunately you have offended Kaiu Hiraki, and thus that meeting is not currently going to occur. Thus, you have two 'slots' free in your timetable.

What do you do tomorrow morning?
[ ] Write in

What do you do on the 20th in the afternoon?
[ ] Write in

 

[Maugan Ra]

19th Day of the Boar

Legs crossed beneath you, hands placed across one another in your lap, you gaze at the flickering candle flame in front of you and try to focus. Or perhaps, to do precisely the opposite. You might not have completed your schooling in a temple like Hanzo would have done, but you understand the basics all the same. The guidance of your ancestors and the fortunes can most easily be obtained by clearing your mind of all distractions, making yourself an empty vessel ready to receive their wisdom.

And you are in dire need of a little wisdom. Bayushi Kimoko was not pleased with your failure to establish a positive relationship with Kaiu Hiraki, and the Crab himself is likely to treat you with the same kind of distant coldness for the foreseeable future. Fortunately the damage seems to have been limited to just that at the moment, but that is more than enough to make you feel unbalanced. You have heard that the court was a place where a single wrong word could undo weeks of progress, but hearing it and experiencing it for yourself are two entirely different things.

So you have come here. A people as dedicated to their ancestors as the Lion can always be relied upon to maintain a shrine in their settlement dedicated to the wisdom of their founding kami, and while the section dedicated to Akodo and Hantei are significantly larger than the others, they are not so foolish as to deny their lord's siblings some form of representation. Even the most bloodthirsty Matsu might occasionally require insight into their minds of their enemies of wish for some degree of cunning to help them find a solution to a difficult problem, and who better to entreat for such things than Bayushi? The statue in front of you depicts your kami as a tall man swathed in thick robes, all distinguishing features save his eyes hidden beneath the heavy folds of fabric, and even knowing that it is just a piece of graven stone you still get the distinct impression that those eyes are watching you. Measuring you.

Meditation/Void 2k2 = 9

You feel... unworthy. You spoke without thought and cost your Clan a potentially valuable ally, and seated before the image of your Clan's founder it is all too easy to imagine the contempt he must be feeling for you right now. As a samurai your performance in court so far has been satisfactory, but as a Scorpion? You have a long way to go, and until you do you sense that there will be no guidance waiting for you here.

Sighing, you rise and extinguish the candle, realizing that simply hoping for understanding instead of actually doing anything to obtain it will get you nothing. Then you bow to the statue, for even if your lord has not seen fit to bestow his wisdom upon you failing to show the proper amount of respect is unconscionable.

Time to get back to work.

-/-

It is as you are leaving the temple that you run into Asako Tani again, this time almost literally. The Phoenix appears to have just finished communing with her own ancestors, and so lost in thought is she that you almost collide on the temple steps before she realizes your presence and halts abruptly.

"Oh! Soshi-san, my apologies." She says with a bow. "I was quite lost in thought."

"None are necessary, Asako-sama." You reply courteously, returning the bow. "No samurai should apologize for dwelling on the wisdom of their ancestors."

"You are kind to say so." The Loremaster says with a smile. "I was intending to visit a tea house this afternoon. Would you care to join me?"

"I have no other duties, Asako-sama, and that sounds quite enjoyable." You reply, wondering if this is a sign from your ancestors. In seeking to apologize for your failure to establish ties with one Clan, you are presented with an opportunity to build them with another. "If it is not an imposition, I should be pleased to accompany you."

"Marvelous. This way, then." Tani says, making her way across the street and deeper into the town. "Remind me, Soshi-san... this is your first time at court, is it not? How are you finding it so far?"

Respond
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[Maugan Ra]

When in doubt, reference the Tao. It is one of the more pertinent pieces of advice that your sensei gave you, both from a pragmatic and a philosophical perspective. In purely pragmatic terms, quoting the Tao is all but impossible to directly counter for another samurai, for to question it is to dismiss a thousand years of tradition and defy the official state religion of the Empire. From a more personal point of view... well, while you might have tended towards a more Fortunist stance in recent weeks, there is no denying that Shinsei was a man possessed of great wisdom. His discussions with the First Hantei form the basis of the Tao, and the teachings of your lords and ancestors are often a source of strength and certainty in unsettled times.

"Every journey begins with a single step. Step well, and your journey will be filled with fortune. Step poorly, and it will be wrought with disaster." You say softly, and Tani's lips curl into a smile as she recognizes the quotation. "I have been learning to do both of late, it seems. For such a small amount of time, a great deal seems to have happened."

"Such is life." The Loremaster responds lightly. "Only when you are in your grave is there nothing more to learn."

You nod in acknowledgement of the supporting quotation. "It often surprises me just how often the Tao can be used to guide our steps, even a thousand years or more after it was written. The amount of foresight such a thing must have required is immense."

"That is certainly one possibility, though if you seek the perspective of one guided by centuries of foresight, you should speak with the Dragon." Tani replies. "By contrast, I do not think that Shinsei could see the future in the same way. Rather, his gaze was focused inwards, on what it means to be human. It is through that understand that he can guide us, for while the years may pass and the world may change, the soul of man remains as it ever was."

You raise an eyebrow at that, but choose not to respond immediately, instead contemplating it for a time. Tani does not seem bothered, and for a moment you are amused by the idea that the Phoenix are well used to conversations that pause for extensive contemplation after an insightful comment or two. In the meantime, she leads you to a small tea house, a relatively humble establishment adjoining one of the town's primary thoroughfares. The tables here allow you to enjoy your tea while watching the world go by, and once your fellow guest has ordered a pot of tea for the two of you to share you sit down and do just that.

"An interesting notion, Asako-sama." You say at last, having put your thoughts in order. "Though would that not imply the path to enlightenment lies in one's own fundamental nature, as opposed to anything external?"

"Indeed it does." Tani says with a gentle smile, folding her hands in her lap and watching the street outside, filled with samurai and peasants of all stripes. "Or perhaps I should say that one path may be found there, for the Brotherhood has always been quite clear that enlightenment can be be found in many places. To be human is to be descended from the divine - even before the kami fell from the heavens, mankind was born from the tears of Lady Sun and the blood of Lord Moon. Is it so strange to think that a true understanding of the nature of things can be found by cultivating that divine spark?"

"Not so strange, but also perhaps somewhat dangerous." You reply with a wry smile, more for the sake of conversation than any particular opposition to her words. "History is filled with cautionary tales of the problems which can arise when mortals compare themselves to gods."

Tani laughs softly, inclining her head in acknowledgement of your point. "True enough, Soshi-san, and we must always be careful of such things. The path of wisdom is rarely an gentle one, and it is all too easy to stray from it."

You have an opportunity to steer the course of the conversation. What do you wish to discuss?
[ ] Keep talking about Theology (current topic)
[ ] Talk about something else (write in)

 

[Maugan Ra]

There are a number of options currently open to you... but on balance, you think it is probably best not to over-commit at this stage. While it is entirely possible you could succeed in steering the conversation to a given end, trying to do so and failing would be disastrous. Your lord was tolerant enough of your error with the Crab, but if you need to inform her of a similar error with the Phoenix? Things will not go well.

So you play it safe and continue to talk about Theology. Which, in fairness to Asako Tani, is quite a fascinating conversation topic all on its own. The Phoenix have always been religious in a way that even the most pious samurai from other Clans struggle to match, but you are only now starting to understand what that actually means on a practical level. Their grasp of magic is the most obvious benefit - the Isawa family have always been the largest group of Shugenja in the Empire, even if their numbers are currently heavily depleted - but apparently such a religious focus has lead them to advances and insights in everything from metallurgy to naval tactics. The Loremaster knows at least a little about them all, and to your own delight you find that you are able to keep up with her in all but the most specialized areas.

All in all, you have a very interesting and enjoyable afternoon.

-/-

20th Day of the Boar

In the morning, you make a point to seek out Yogo Hanzo, realizing that you haven't exchanged more than a handful of words with the Shugenja in several days. He seems... strangely preoccupied, almost withdrawn, as though distracted by something.

Naoto's Courtier/Awareness: 7k4 = 30
Hanzo's Etiquette/Willpower: ??? = 33

You make some discreet enquiries, trying to see if you can work out what is troubling your kinsman and if you can do anything to help, but get nowhere of any note. You could push... but then you'd just be annoying him for no certain end, and all things considered that is probably not a worthwhile course of action.

Besides, Bayushi-sama can take care of that if there truly is a problem. She, at least, has the authority to overcome his stubbornness if she deems it necessary.

-/-

Click

The sound of stone pieces on a wooden board is quite distinctive, and it fills the air as you and Daidoji Chen play Go in one of the private rooms allocated for such business just off the main court chamber. Distantly you can hear the faint murmur of conversation as the other courtiers go about their daily routine, but such is not your concern at the moment.

Instead, you focus on your opponent. It does not take you long to see just how tired Daidoji Chen appears to be. The Crane is far too well trained to reveal such clues about his emotional state in the normal course of things, but this is a relatively private setting and you have the advantage of considerable expertise in prying out such uncomfortable truths. There are faint shadows around his eyes, and the few wrinkles you can see are somehow deeper and better defined than before. You wonder how much of his hair is grey under that white dye that the Crane all seem to favour.

Conversation between the two of you is friendly, but muted. Almost mindless chatter, really, indulged in for the sake of good manners rather than because of any great interest in the topics being discussed. Protocol dictates that you go through such motions before moving onto any heavier topics, but now that you have spent the appropriate amount of time on them...

"Soshi-san. I have... a request." Chen says quietly, not looking up from the Go board.

"Of course, Daidoji-san." You respond in a non-committal fashion. "How can I assist?"

"By giving me some actual answers." The Iron Warrior says bluntly. He sighs and looks up at you. "I am not a fool, Soshi-san. Doji-san tried to hide it, but it was obvious that she was... concerned about something. That she believed she had enemies working against her, and in more than mere political matters."

He pauses for a moment, and you school your features into neutrality as he studies you. After a moment, he continues. "And now she is dead, and the sealed orders she received from our Champion are missing from her quarters. I do not believe you were her enemy, Scorpion-san, but either you know who was or you have some strong suspicions. Tell me, please - what is going on?"

Respond:
[ ] Tell him the truth about your suspicions
[ ] Come up with an appropriate lie
[ ] Refuse to answer

QM's note - Write-in's are highly recommended for all of the given options, since how you respond matters almost as much as what you say.

 

[Maugan Ra]

For a moment, you are tempted - the Daidoji have a reputation as excellent scouts and trackers, and if there is some kind of ongoing conspiracy interfering with events here then Chen's assistance could be invaluable. Except... your lord commanded you to remain silent. Perhaps you could bring this to her and ask for her direct permission, but that is about all that you could safely hope to achieve.

Of course, you can hardly tell Chen that. Now, how to handle this...

"Daidoji-san... as you doubtless know, I volunteered to represent Doji-san in her duel against Matsu Heijiko. If it were not for Kakita-san's intervention, I would have been to one to fall to her blade." You pause there, partly for emphasis and partly because you cannot deny the truth of your own words. You made a narrow escape that day indeed. "So no, Daidoji-san. I was not her enemy, and I am not yours."

Now comes the tricky part. You would prefer to maintain reasonably positive relations with the Crane, and that will be much easier to achieve if you do not have to worry about any lingering hostility from Chen because he feels that you lied to him. With that in mind, you fix him with a steely gaze and put as much sincerity into your voice as you can.

"As for who her enemy might be? I do not know... but I would dearly like to." You allow yourself to grimace slightly. "To be honest, Daidoji-san, I was hoping to ask if you knew anything about the matter."

Naoto's Sincerity with Void: 7k5 = 73
Chen's investigation: ??? = ???

For a long moment, Daidoji Chen stares at you. Then he sighs and lowers his gaze. "I suppose I cannot fairly expect all of the answers to fall into my lap when I ask." He says in a heavy tone of voice. "I'm afraid I do not know anything either, Soshi-san."

Chen's sincerity ??? = ???
Naoto's Investigation/Perception: 5k2 = 24

He appears to be telling the truth, though judging by the fatigue you can hear hidden behind his words he wishes he had something more to offer. You can certainly sympathize to an extent - the thought of having all of your Clan's efforts resting on you for the duration of a court is not a pleasant one.

"Then it appears there is little to be done, Daidoji-san." You say with a sigh. "Still, rest assured that if I do learn anything I shall bring it to your attention promptly."

Chen smiles thinly. "I suppose there are worse things to base our interactions on. Very well, Soshi-san. I will remember this, and do likewise."

Nodding, the two of you return to playing Go.

-/-

Naoto has impressed Daidoji Chen with his sincerity and convinced the Crane to view him as a potential friend in this hostile place. Daidoji Chen is now an Ally with Influence 2 (some political influence due to effective position of Crane Ambassador) and Devotion 2 (willing to risk his honour to assist you, albeit secretly).

Although acting under orders, Naoto still lied to a fellow samurai and deliberately mislead them. This use of Sincerity counts as a Low skill, and Naoto loses 3 points of honour as a result.

-/-

21st Day of the Boar

You are in your chambers, practicing your calligraphy with a careful and deliberate focus. You have made allies in this court, and chances are you will want to keep in contact with them via letter in the years to come. It be hooves you to represent your Clan and Family in the best possible light for such things, and that means being able to write with a sufficiently beautiful hand.

There is a small scratch on the doorframe, and you set down your brush.

"Enter."

The door slides open and one of Pale Oak's fellow heimin bows to you. "Apologies for disturbing you, Soshi-sama. There is someone here requesting to see you."

Who has come to visit?
[ ] Asako Tani, Phoenix ambassador
[ ] Otomo Kairyu, Imperial representative
[ ] Matsu Nimuro, son of the Daimyo

QM's note - This is obviously a meta-vote of sorts, since Naoto has no influence over who has come to say hello.

Congratulations to @storybookknight, your write-in (combined with an obscenely good roll) has managed to net you your second ally of the court.