You don't even have to think about it, really. Let Bayushi Kimoko draw the attention and hold the eyes of those watching - indeed, you can already see her taking a seat near the end of the river, within easily conversational distance of Matsu Ketsui. Your place is in the shadows, handling the less savory or exciting duties that none the less must be completed in order to pursue your Clan's goals. With that in mind, you head towards the middle of the river, picking a spot where you think you can avoid standing out a great deal one way or the other.
Besides, all things considered you doubt you have the focus required to occupy the limelight effectively. Not tonight.
Still, there are certainly adequate distractions available to take your mind off of the unfortunate events of the past few days. At the very least you can watch and see where the rest of the guests invited to the court decide to seat themselves. Unsurprisingly Otomo Kairyu takes a seat near the Daimyo, though likely more for the social standing offered than because he believes his poetry is spectacular, shortly joined by Ide Taka and Yasuki Mia. Conversely, you note that Yogo Hanzo has decided to take a seat near the headwaters where he can avoid getting drawn into a poetry competition, shortly joined by the Tsuruchi and both Hidas. Interestingly, you see Daidoji Chen slip in and take a seat there shortly afterwards, though you have difficulty imagining that a Crane actually thinks so little of their own skills at poetry.
Then you take note of those who have decided to sit near you. The Winding River Banquet involves, as the name suggests, an actual banquet to start with, so you have an opportunity here to talk to your fellow guests and get a proper feel for them in ways thus far denied to you.
The first is a member of the Unicorn delegation, seated to your left. He wears the mon of the Iuchi family upon his purple kimono, and there is an unusual cast to his features that you can't quite place. Have the Unicorn truly brought someone with gajin blood to court at Shiro Matsu? Either way, you know that the Iuchi are one of the Clan's spiritual families, responsible for producing a large number of Shugenja.
Secondly is Shiba Danjuro, the Yojimbo to Asako Tani (who is seated a few places up, closer to the Daimyo), seated to your right. You've not spoken to him at all thus far - indeed, you don't think anyone has. The Shiba are supposed to be pacifists of some kind, though only a fool would discount their military skill, and he has likely trained as a Bushi to better perform his family's ancestral duty.
Finally, one of the Crab takes a seat directly across from you. He is a squat, unattractive man with the sort of overdeveloped muscles that hint at a life on the Wall or at the forge. Given that you can see the mon of the Kaiu family over his heart, you would suspect the latter, but either remains possible. Certainly going by their reputation he is liable to be the finest engineer and craftsman present at the banquet, and quite possibly one of the best in Shiro Matsu as a whole.
Who do you prioritize speaking with (note that the others may interject anyway, but it is more a matter of focus than anything else).
- Shiba Danjuro
- The Kaiu
- The Iuchi
- Remain silent and simply observe
What, if anything, do you talk about in particular?
- [ ] Write in
QM's note - Apologies for the delay and the relatively short update, but I can confirm that Thunder's Echo is now running once again.
