No, it has been mentioned as a posiblity. Multiple times. It was even predicted. We just do not belive that to be the case. It is the paranoid Seduce/Execute plan mentioned.
It is just that for it to work, Mariko would have to be a dirty dirty liar to us. And we do not belive that. As far as I can tell how the majority of the voters feel.
She would have to be a dirty, dirty liar. It's true. She would also have to be a *much better* liar than we would otherwise have expected, as her On has broken a few times in ways that appeared quite genuine that undercut the idea that she would do this.
It is also hard to credit at this point what she might hope to gain from this, if it were true. Sure, in general, in most courts, two crane claiming that they were treated dishonorably by a Scorpion who they had to kill? It's a bit dubious, but it might get papered over. Here, now, in this court, these two Cranes, who have basically done nothing but invite the loathing of their hosts, claiming that they were treated dishonorably by Soshi Naoto, who is well-liked by many, who is known for being bizarrely honorable, who has a superior who outranks them both and has a very serious in with the Diamyo? (Oh... and who is known for being crazy and can pretty obviously wipe the floor with anyone they might put up as a duelist?) Yeah. That's not part of any sane or plausible plan... and if that *were* her plan, she wouldn't have accepted our offer to champion her - as that note we sent to our superior as a result will only make things worse if we show up dead.
So, a dirty, dirty liar of great skill who is also bad at making plans. It's not impossible, but it *is* implausible.
I think you're reading too much into Sirrocco's post since I don't see him blaming the GM for anything (though thinking that we could get away without buffing our bugei skills as a bushi was always a pipe dream). Then there's the issue where you think somehow we're the ones at fault here when it's clearly the Kakita overreacting.
Oh, I never thought we could get away without it... but we've increased our Reflexes by 2, and everyone realizes that's not enough if "potential duels to the death" are going to become a regular part of our lives.
/*******/
Anyway, let's look at the plausible. This is a game about what people want. What does everyone here want (probably)?
Doji Mariko
- Almost certainly wants this to Not Be Happening Please.
- Specifically, wants her childhood friend to not be going all crazy in bad ways and seriously threatening one of her best potential allies (and significant love interests) right now... or ever. Preferably, Kakita-kun would go back into his convenient little hole and be vaguely useful but mostly out of the way until and unless she needs him.
- Would very much like to not bring any non-Lion-related dishonor on the Crane clan. Would also like to have Nobody Die.
Kakita Sekawa (as presented)
- Would very much like to kill us in a duel. It may not be a good idea or the right choice, or strictly honorable, but it would be *so satisfying*.
- Alternately, would like to see us quivering abjectly in fear of his Manly Kakitaness, demonstrating to the only audience who really matters how superior he is to us. Filthy Scorpion.
- Craves the affection of Doji Mariko, and would really very much like to have her *not* put him in a convenient little hole where he is constantly surrounded by enemies that he's not allowed to kill.
- Would like to have the events of this night reflect well on him and the Crane in general, and to raise him in Doji Mariko's esteem.
Kakita Sekawa (other possibilities)
- This might be a test. Daidoji Chen tested us, and set us up for this to be a test as well. There's the possibility (however faint) that this is a setup, and he's checking to see how we react.
Given this... I really feel like just tossing him a standard greeting lets him stay on script. He's a Kakita. he knows his way around courtiers. The disarming greeting has to be something he's accustomed to. I really think we need to do the Bayushi Kimoko thing and knock his legs out from under him a bit.
[x] Allow yourself to show surprise on your face and in your voice at seeing him.
[x] "Kakita-san! Is something wrong? Is Doji-sama in danger?"
[x] Move clear of Doji Mariko, drawing your blade and turning, so as to face directly away from Kakita Sekawa with Doji Mariko behind you. Act as if you believe the Kakita to be reacting to a threat on the far side of you, and you are moving to assist him in defending her. Who knows? It's faintly possible that he might be. There are shadowlands creatures that can fly and/or climb sheer mountain faces, after all.
It's a plausible maybe-lie that we can tell that still gives him a chance to back down honorably - and lets him make that call when he and Doji-sama can communicate and we can't see them doing so. It also means that he has to go around (or through) Doji Mariko to get to us and then stab us in the back - something I suspect he'll be loathe to do for a few reasons. It lets us draw our sword, so we at least get that part out of the way. It changes the situation enough to force him to stop and think at least a little, and it does all of this in a way that doesn't actually insult or threaten the man at any point. I'm not saying it's perfect. It's not. Among other things, it depends on him taking that moment to think (and whatever signals Doji Mariko can send him) and backing down (at least a bit). It's about as good as I'm going to come up with, though.
