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

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gman391 said:
The social procedure for drunks is to ignore them and pretend anything they did, didn't happen. Apologizing to the court for ultimately something expected is kind of pointless.
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But something did happen. We were out at night in a place we had no reason to be. For all we know it was a restricted area.


Maugan Ra said:
Well, probably. You might also be making excuses because this is really quite nice sake. Either way, time for more drinking. And then poetry. Yes. That sounds like a fine idea.

-/-

Some time later
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Do we know what we did while drunk with the Crab? Or afterwards? Who knows how many times we may have breached etiquette. The last coherent thought we remember is deciding to drink more. We do not need to apologize for getting drunk, that was the point of the Banquet after all. But we should apologize for any damage we did while drunk. It is only polite.
 
If a nearly three sheets to the wind Scorpion can get into a restricted area. The Matsu have waaaaay bigger problems than that Scorpion.

At any rate, in Rokugan anything you do while drunk doesn't count. You are after all not in control of yourself, the gossips will wag but they'll do that anyways. If people want to publicly acknowledge whatever it is we did (if we did anything) then we can but I don't think it's going to help.
 
Getting drunk at the giant drinking game banquet is the proper thing to do. Getting lost and having to be rescued by someone we stabbed up a month ago not so much but handling it behind the scenes is both tactful and Scorpion. Ginwei has also indicated discretion as the order of the day by forgetting his friends' faces.

[x]Sirrocco
 
Etiquette 7k4 = 42

There is no need to apologize to anyone. Samurai getting drunk is actually somewhat expected, and typical social etiquette is that everyone pretends it didn't happen and life goes on as normal. Unless you're a Scorpion and want to use someone else's drunken ramblings as fuel for later blackmail or something.

I should also clarify that while I made a scene-break in the middle of the banquet, that was a narrative tool and not indictive of Naoto's own memories of the event. He didn't do anything particularly disreputable, and he did pass the information onto Ikoma Genji in an appropriately subtle manner. Apologies for any misunderstandings on that front.
 
[x] "Hai, Matsu-sama. My apologies for ruining your night." Get back to quarters without throwing up over him. Be polite and respectful.
 
Well, guess I misunderstood that. Ok then, thanks for clearing it up.

I'll just do the new vote here:

[x] "Hai, Matsu-sama. My apologies for ruining your night." Get back to quarters without throwing up over him. Be polite and respectful.

[x] Make sure you let Bayushi Kimoko know of the events when you are sober. You did not consider how the Crab would take you trying to keep up with him. You can only hope the entire affair did some good for our relationship with them.
 
You know I'm wondering if Matsu Ginwei was ordered to keep an eye on us as punishment for the his conduct during the competition. Having to protect that which he despises and if he fails being so dishonored that he would have to commit seppuku. It feels like a Liony type of punishment.
 
cokerpilot said:
You know I'm wondering if Matsu Ginwei was ordered to keep an eye on us as punishment for the his conduct during the competition. Having to protect that which he despises and if he fails being so dishonored that he would have to commit seppuku. It feels like a Liony type of punishment.
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We'd have noticed him before this. Stealth is a Low skill, and the Matsu do not practice it.
 
Oh my god, did I actually call Ginwei becoming our grudging friend with his defeat by our hands? Will this be the start of a beautiful relationship between former enemies as they go on wacky adventures together, with Ginwei being the muscle to Naoto's intelligence and charm?

I doubt it, but the idea is still hilarious to contemplate. :V
 
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5.06 - Courtesy
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    • Well. This is not what you expected. Considering your prior interactions with Matsu Ginwei you would have expected him to be leading the ambushing party, not rescuing you from it. Perhaps you simply misjudged the man?

    Still, it seems likely that he is doing this out of a sense of personal honour and duty rather than because he actually cares what happens to you, and with that in mind you decide to keep you response as short as possible. Best not to give him any cause to regret his course of action, especially give that those other Lion are probably still within earshot.

    "Hai, Matsu-sama. My apologies for ruining your evening." You say simply, doing your best to control your current inebriation. You've heard a lot of stories about samurai saying or doing things they really shouldn't while the sake is loosening their tongues and thoughts - indeed, such indiscretions are a favourite tool of the Scorpion Clan - and you would really much rather not add to them now.

    Matsu Ginwei just grunts and, without a word, begins leading you back through the halls and streets of Shiro Matsu. As it turns out you were only a little bit off-course, and before long you find yourself back outside the guest tower once again. Your guide abandons you there without a word, turning and stalking back off into the darkness, and shaking your head in bemusement you make for your quarters.

    "Soshi-dono." Pale Oak says with some concern as you reach your level. "Are you well?"

    "A bit too much sake, Pale Oak-san." You say carefully, making sure you don't sway like a fool in front of your own retainer. "Is Bayushi-sama back yet?"

    "Not yet, Soshi-dono." The scribe replies in a perfectly neutral tone of voice, and you consider this for a moment before shrugging. Your superior is likely one of the most dangerous people in Shiro Matsu right now, so it is unlikely she has met with any harm. Besides, you are far too drunk to do anything with the information anyway.

    "Very well. Remind me to brief her when she returns." You say slowly. "I'm going to sleep."

    "Very good, Soshi-dono."

    -/-

    QM's note - Bit of a short update tonight, given that you didn't ask Ginwei any questions.

    So, you now have seven days until the next scheduled event, which is the Festival of Lights. As before, each day may involve up to two activities, including speaking with NPCs, researching a given topic or training. Please discuss what you intend to do during those days and then vote for a plan of action.

    What do you do?
    - [ ] Write in (x7)
     
  • Threadmarks
    • Even if she is, good for her.

    I'm thinking we want to do some investigating around that theatre, something something training our drinking prowess, and being bros with the Phoenix, Crab and the sole living Crane.
     
    I'd say continue our occasional games of go with Chen; might be we could still get some additional information from him that could prove useful.

    Other than that... Phoenix and Crab, I'd say.

    Looking into the Threatre could be nice, but I'm not really sure what in-character justification we'd have for that.

    It might be a good idea to try and see if we can get an overview of the situation at court in general, or at least what we know about it? Like, whether there's any other court-romances in progress, which representatives spent/spend a lot of time talking with each other, etc.
     
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    gman391 said:
    Even if she is, good for her.

    I'm thinking we want to do some investigating around that theatre, something something training our drinking prowess, and being bros with the Phoenix, Crab and the sole living Crane.
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    We're already past the big drinking event of the year. We could try learning from this and... not drinking as much.

    So... ongoing plots/training/etc:
    - We're just not going to bother with Festival of lights. That's good, since it means that we can focus on later things.
    - The next one after that is Bowman's Wager. At this point, we'd make a pretty decent showing of ourselves, if we chose to enter. We *might* win it. Winning it might be worthwhile for the things that we would win. Merely doing well, however, is probably counterproductive. It's fame we don't need. Basically, we should go big or go home, and of the two, I think we should go home.

    Kelenas said:
    I'd say continue our occasional games of go with Chen; might be we could still get some additional information from him that could prove useful.

    Other than that... Phoenix and Crab, I'd say.

    Looking into the Threatre could be nice, but I'm not really sure what in-character justification we'd have for that.
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    I'd agree with that, though we should also touch base at least once with Otomo-sama.


    so... 7 actions. Off the top of my head...
    - Get briefing from Pale Oak on the resources we have to trade/gamble, the resources the Crab have to trade/gamble, and their comparative values. Listen to any advice or insight he might happen to have on the topic.
    - Thus fortified, spend time with Yasuki Miya
    - Share another few games of Go with Daidoj Chen. See if you can determine what his general goals are for the rest of Winter Court. Share some of your findings? (Would want to look up what Bayushi Kimiko has said on the matter.)
    - Spend some time with Asako Tani, discussing things.
    - Spend some time with Otomo Kairyu. See if you can be useful in some new way. Being useful to Otomo Kairyu is not restful, but it's certainly paid off so far.
    - See if we can do something about putting in a good word for Matsu Ginwei (assuming that Bayushi Kimiko doesn't handle that for us). If that's handled, maybe try to wangle some sort of introduction to the Mantis or the Wasp?
    - Check in with the other members of our delegation. Do any of the others have anything that they would find particularly useful?

    That'd be six, or enough to cover the first three days. Seems like a reasonable amount. for one vote-block.
     
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    I don't think we're going to want to tangle with the Mantis. Yoritomo Courtiers specialize in intimidation, and our Willpower is only at 2. There's also the issue of the Wasp's origins.
     
    Sirrocco said:
    I'd agree with that, though we should also touch base at least once with Otomo-sama, and
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    You're cutting off, there.

    Sirrocco said:
    - Spend some time with Otomo Kairyu. See if you can be useful in some new way. Being useful to Otomo Kairyu is not restful, but it's certainly paid off so far.
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    Honestly, I'd rather not get too close to the Otomo again, yet. We barely managed to wrangle our way out of his little trap last time, I'd rather not get into another, yet.

    Sirrocco said:
    If that's handled, maybe try to wangle some sort of introduction to the Mantis or the Wasp?
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    Not sure that's a good idea, for the reasons Nation's Virtue noted. It'd be nice to know what they're up to, but I'm not really sure we stand to gain anything from getting close to them.

    Sirrocco said:
    - Check in with the other members of our delegation. Do any of the others have anything that they would find particularly useful?
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    We could try to expand our contacts amongst the servants a bit, build on our success with Wren, perhaps.

    Otherwise, I think we should try and get a better overview of the situation as a whole. Maybe speak with Hanzo and see how things are going with the Unicorn and whether they're showing particular interest in one of the other clans and their affairs, for example. Might let us see some more about what's going on and how we might be able to either use it, or how it could threaten us.
     
    Kelenas said:
    You're cutting off, there.


    Honestly, I'd rather not get too close to the Otomo again, yet. We barely managed to wrangle our way out of his little trap last time, I'd rather not get into another, yet.


    Not sure that's a good idea, for the reasons Nation's Virtue noted. It'd be nice to know what they're up to, but I'm not really sure we stand to gain anything from getting close to them.


    We could try to expand our contacts amongst the servants a bit, build on our success with Wren, perhaps.

    Otherwise, I think we should try and get a better overview of the situation as a whole. Maybe speak with Hanzo and see how things are going with the Unicorn and whether they're showing particular interest in one of the other clans and their affairs, for example. Might let us see some more about what's going on and how we might be able to either use it, or how it could threaten us.
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    When are we going to have a better time to touch base with the Otomo? Also, the man can be a challenge, but we're that much better equipped to handle it now. Worth noting that even if the trap had been sprung, we still would have come out of it more or less okay.

    I'm not suggesting that we try to get close to the Mantis. There's nothing to gain, and a fair amount to lose. I'm suggesting that spending the entire Winter Court ignoring them and hoping they don't do anything to make us regret that is a poor idea. Right now, no one in the Scorpion delegation really has any information on the Mantis at all, aside from watching him present a spyglass. That's dangerous.

    Although... huh. That might not be true anymore. @Maugan Ra - there would have been a lot of off-screen interaction, presumably. We'd have had a chance to see them interact with others (if at a distance) and they might have come up in conversation. Is there any information skill we could roll to say "hey - do we know anything about the Mantis or Wasp who are here? They've nto talked with us any more than we've talked with them, but I suspect they already know at least something about us.

    Doing an info swap with Bayushi-sama and/or Yogo-san might well be worthwhile.
     
    Sirrocco said:
    When are we going to have a better time to touch base with the Otomo? Also, the man can be a challenge, but we're that much better equipped to handle it now. Worth noting that even if the trap had been sprung, we still would have come out of it more or less okay.
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    There's still about three full months of Winter Court left. I just don't think we're in any rush to further entangle ourselves with him, and believe we should use the next week to focus more on other members of the court.
    One particular concern in regards to him is that he might pull something similar to our meeting with the Lion Magistrate, but this time somehow using Mariko's, which in my opinion would be much more difficult to navigate around. I'd rather just keep a bit of a distance for the time being.

    I'm not suggesting that we try to get close to the Mantis. There's nothing to gain, and a fair amount to lose. I'm suggesting that spending the entire Winter Court ignoring them and hoping they don't do anything to make us regret that is a poor idea. Right now, no one in the Scorpion delegation really has any information on the Mantis at all, aside from watching him present a spyglass. That's dangerous.
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    Point; my issue is more that I'm not sure asking for a formal introduction to them would be the only or best way to go about this.
    Maybe see if we can get some more information via the servants? IIRC the Mantis are generally fairly well-received by the non-samurai, but we might've made some strong inroads via the help we provided Wren, and could potentially build on that.

    Doing an info swap with Bayushi-sama and/or Yogo-san might well be worthwhile.
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    Agreed. Maybe mention the assistance Ginwei provided to us after the Banquet? He did potentially save our life, or at least prevent us from receiving injury, and it'd make a lot of sense for us to repay that. Kimiko could probably make sure that it gets to sufficiently high ears amongst the Matsu (maybe not Ketsui herself, but one of her closer subordinates) to have some impact.
    Though I suppose we could also mention it to Genji if/when we contact him at a later point; he'd probably be able to act on it discreetly but effectively as well.
     
    Kelenas said:
    There's still about three full months of Winter Court left. I just don't think we're in any rush to further entangle ourselves with him, and believe we should use the next week to focus more on other members of the court.
    One particular concern in regards to him is that he might pull something similar to our meeting with the Lion Magistrate, but this time somehow using Mariko's, which in my opinion would be much more difficult to navigate around. I'd rather just keep a bit of a distance for the time being.
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    He can't use any pieces other than the ones that are here. There's very little Crane delegation left for him to set us against. Also, let's recall that he is an ally. He may be a somewhat thorny ally to have, but his traps are going to be challenges at worst, rather than attacks, and ones likely to pay off well in the long term. Of all the people here, he's the second most valuable for our Clan to have cultivated, and Bayushi Kimoko has the first locked down pretty tight.

    I suppose the difference is one of overall strategy. I see him as moderate risk, high reward - and the more successful we are at cultivating him, the better that's likely to get. To me, that says that we should be touching base with him pretty often. We don't want to be pushy or anything, but if it's been a while since the last time we saw him, we should stop by again to offer our services. Your reaction seems to be that the risk is far too high, and you want to avoid him as much as you can without alienating the man.

    Worth noting - he is going to stir up trouble. If we go to him and offer help, he'll stir up Scorpion trouble in places and ways that we can predict, brace for, see, and try to manage. This will result in improving his opinion of us, which will mean that he spends his off time messing with the other clans. If left to his own devices, he's more likely to mess with us in places and times where we're not as prepared to respond.
     
    Sirrocco said:
    He can't use any pieces other than the ones that are here. There's very little Crane delegation left for him to set us against. Also, let's recall that he is an ally. He may be a somewhat thorny ally to have, but his traps are going to be challenges at worst, rather than attacks, and ones likely to pay off well in the long term. Of all the people here, he's the second most valuable for our Clan to have cultivated, and Bayushi Kimoko has the first locked down pretty tight.

    I suppose the difference is one of overall strategy. I see him as moderate risk, high reward - and the more successful we are at cultivating him, the better that's likely to get. To me, that says that we should be touching base with him pretty often. We don't want to be pushy or anything, but if it's been a while since the last time we saw him, we should stop by again to offer our services. Your reaction seems to be that the risk is far too high, and you want to avoid him as much as you can without alienating the man.

    Worth noting - he is going to stir up trouble. If we go to him and offer help, he'll stir up Scorpion trouble in places and ways that we can predict, brace for, see, and try to manage. This will result in improving his opinion of us, which will mean that he spends his off time messing with the other clans. If left to his own devices, he's more likely to mess with us in places and times where we're not as prepared to respond.
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    I'm not saying that we should utterly minimize contact with him or anything of the sort. I'm saying that we should moderate it. From what I remember, we already engaged him fairly extensively during the visit to the Magistrates, which was only one or two weeks ago, so I don't think it's really necessary to try and see if we can do him another favor, yet.
    Admittedly, just interacting with him doesn't necessarily automatically mean another favor he'd ask of us, but still.

    Also, just because Mariko's dead doesn't mean he can't use her; I'm not discounting the possibility that he might wait until we're in conversation with him and someone else - possibly a Lion, though possibly also some other Clan very likely to dislike the Crane, such as the Crab - and steer the conversation towards the duel and her death, in order to provoke conflict between us and the other conversation partner.

    Then again, maybe I'm overthinking this, and Rokugani customs wouldn't allow for something like that; not sure.
     
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