In Thunder's Echo (Legend of the Five Rings Quest)
- Location
- Connecticut
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] Primemountain.
I like the idea of going to a Temple better than just bumming around a library.
I like the idea of going to a Temple better than just bumming around a library.
- Pronouns
- They/Them
[X] Primemountain.
- Location
- Connecticut
- Pronouns
- He/Him
It might, but I'd rather have that happen when we're ready for it. If we just jump into that conversation casually it may not go the way we wish.
5.13 - 19th Day of the Boar
- Location
- London, England
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
[ ] Write in
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
[ ] Write in
- Location
- Earth
[X]"It has been quite the experience, both enlightening and humbling. There are many opportunities and pitfalls. The Court is very active. I've come to treasure these moments of peace and beauty Asako-sama. " ending in a smile.
"How has your time at Court been?"
***
There was the alternative question of:
"You seem especially radiant today. Good news, I hope?"But I think that would have been laying it on a bit thick. Keep in mind that Asako Tani is a Phoenix and they value Honesty above the other virtues of Bushido. So we reply honestly, but vaguely enough not to risk any secrets. Sneak in a compliment and interest in her time at Court and that seems like a nice enough answer. As far as I know, our current goal in spending time with Tani is building bridges and that should do well enough.
"How has your time at Court been?"
***
There was the alternative question of:
"You seem especially radiant today. Good news, I hope?"But I think that would have been laying it on a bit thick. Keep in mind that Asako Tani is a Phoenix and they value Honesty above the other virtues of Bushido. So we reply honestly, but vaguely enough not to risk any secrets. Sneak in a compliment and interest in her time at Court and that seems like a nice enough answer. As far as I know, our current goal in spending time with Tani is building bridges and that should do well enough.
- Location
- Earth
That seems like a nice idea. Some qoutes I've found that might make a decent vote around them:
[X]"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. It has been quite the journey, both enlightening and humbling. The Court is very active."
Look to her with a smile:"I've come to treasure these moments of peace and beauty Asako-sama.How has your time at Court been?"
***
Thought we might need to Roll Lore(Tao of Shinsei) to see if Naoto knows the qoute IC.
- "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."
- "One must learn to see what is to be seen and to see though what others wish you to see."
- "Humility is the greatest teacher."
[X]"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. It has been quite the journey, both enlightening and humbling. The Court is very active."
Look to her with a smile:"I've come to treasure these moments of peace and beauty Asako-sama.How has your time at Court been?"
***
Thought we might need to Roll Lore(Tao of Shinsei) to see if Naoto knows the qoute IC.
Last edited:
[X]"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, as the Tao says. I've been learning to do both this journey it seems. For such a small amount of time so much seems to happen." Shake your head and offer a wry smile
"Yet I'm sure I don't need to tell you any of that, I would trust that your own experiences have been well so far?"
Nothing really wrong with Prime Mountains vote, this just felt more in character to me.
"Yet I'm sure I don't need to tell you any of that, I would trust that your own experiences have been well so far?"
Nothing really wrong with Prime Mountains vote, this just felt more in character to me.
GilliamYaeger
M'crazy.
[X]"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, as the Tao says. I've been learning to do both this journey it seems. For such a small amount of time so much seems to happen." Shake your head and offer a wry smile
"Yet I'm sure I don't need to tell you any of that, I would trust that your own experiences have been well so far?"
"Yet I'm sure I don't need to tell you any of that, I would trust that your own experiences have been well so far?"
- Location
- Earth
[X]"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, as the Tao says. I've been learning to do both this journey it seems. For such a small amount of time so much seems to happen." Shake your head and offer a wry smile
-[X]"I've come to treasure these moments of peace and beauty Asako-sama. I trust that your own experiences have been well so far?"
Yeah, that feels more in tune with the Character and the World. Well done.
EDIT: @gman391 : Still gona tweak it a bit, sorry.
EDIT2: Because apparently the vote counter did not pick up the question as part of the vote.
-[X]"I've come to treasure these moments of peace and beauty Asako-sama. I trust that your own experiences have been well so far?"
Yeah, that feels more in tune with the Character and the World. Well done.
EDIT: @gman391 : Still gona tweak it a bit, sorry.
EDIT2: Because apparently the vote counter did not pick up the question as part of the vote.
Last edited:
[X]"It has been quite the humbling experience, Asako-sama, but as the Tao says, 'humility is the greatest teacher'. And with how active the court is, I have had many opportunities to be taught," Naoto says with a chuckle. "I've come to treasure these moments of peace and beauty. How has your time at Court been?"
I prefer @PrimalShadow's original vote, but the Tao quote idea is nice so I forced one in as well.
I prefer @PrimalShadow's original vote, but the Tao quote idea is nice so I forced one in as well.
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Um, hrm. Man, I'm paranoid, and haven't decided what to vote for yet because I don't want to somehow ruin everything again.
Would quoting the Tao make us come across as if we don't have any original ideas in our head? Or that we're wise?
Would quoting the Tao make us come across as if we don't have any original ideas in our head? Or that we're wise?
- Location
- Connecticut
- Pronouns
- He/Him
So, this is why I almost didn't want to run into Asako-sama today. Right now we've experienced our first big failure and are basically licking our wounds - nothing wrong with that, but I don't think it's really the impression that we want to give of ourselves. Coming off as depressed or downhearted invites her to ask us to explain why - or worse, invites her to assume that it's because we're moping after the Doji we nearly represented in a duel, because I'm sure that's made its way around the rumor mills by now.
So while honesty is a virtue to the Phoenix, I don't think we want to overdo it, especially as we don't really know her that well yet. We haven't really spoken to her since the first night of court, remember.
I'd say we should focus on education - Asako Tani is a Loremaster, so it will be explicitly speaking her language.
[X]"In a word, Asako-sama? Educational. It seems that I am only beginning to discover just how much there is to learn about the court. As the Tao says - to gain wisdom, seek first to know what you do not know, for humility is the greatest teacher." You chuckle lightly. "Still, as valuable as these learning experiences have been, the Court has been so active lately that I've come to treasure these rare moments of peace and beauty when I come across them. What of yourself? You have experiences with previous courts, do you not? How would you say this one compares?"
I'm trying to come across as a bit more generically humble than wounded, and to explicitly flatter Asako by telling her that we consider her an expert and value her advice.
Generally speaking in the l5r world, quoting from the Tao of Shinsei is considered literally unobjectionable - as in, no one can possibly object to you doing so because it's holy writ. It's why the Tao is used so frequently in courtly arguments, because if you can frame your argument in a way that includes the Tao your opponent basically has to come up with a counter-quote to disagree with you or be seen as dishonorable. So if it gives her any impression, it's likely that we're civilized - especially as the Lion are the one Clan that completely shuns the Tao of Shinsei, never reads it, and so on. So it may set us apart from the Lions (and generally our faction leader), reinforcing the idea that we're the non-crazy scorpion, if she reads anything into it at all.
So while honesty is a virtue to the Phoenix, I don't think we want to overdo it, especially as we don't really know her that well yet. We haven't really spoken to her since the first night of court, remember.
I'd say we should focus on education - Asako Tani is a Loremaster, so it will be explicitly speaking her language.
[X]"In a word, Asako-sama? Educational. It seems that I am only beginning to discover just how much there is to learn about the court. As the Tao says - to gain wisdom, seek first to know what you do not know, for humility is the greatest teacher." You chuckle lightly. "Still, as valuable as these learning experiences have been, the Court has been so active lately that I've come to treasure these rare moments of peace and beauty when I come across them. What of yourself? You have experiences with previous courts, do you not? How would you say this one compares?"
I'm trying to come across as a bit more generically humble than wounded, and to explicitly flatter Asako by telling her that we consider her an expert and value her advice.
Generally speaking in the l5r world, quoting from the Tao of Shinsei is considered literally unobjectionable - as in, no one can possibly object to you doing so because it's holy writ. It's why the Tao is used so frequently in courtly arguments, because if you can frame your argument in a way that includes the Tao your opponent basically has to come up with a counter-quote to disagree with you or be seen as dishonorable. So if it gives her any impression, it's likely that we're civilized - especially as the Lion are the one Clan that completely shuns the Tao of Shinsei, never reads it, and so on. So it may set us apart from the Lions (and generally our faction leader), reinforcing the idea that we're the non-crazy scorpion, if she reads anything into it at all.
- Location
- Spain
[X]"In a word, Asako-sama? Educational. It seems that I am only beginning to discover just how much there is to learn about the court. As the Tao says - to gain wisdom, seek first to know what you do not know, for humility is the greatest teacher." You chuckle lightly. "Still, as valuable as these learning experiences have been, the Court has been so active lately that I've come to treasure these rare moments of peace and beauty when I come across them. What of yourself? You have experiences with previous courts, do you not? How would you say this one compares?"
- Location
- Earth
You might want to rethink that centance. It rings of false humility to me. Like a rich succesful banker saying:"I've so much to learn about balancing a home budget from the poor."
- Location
- Connecticut
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Fair. If we're going to go with a Tao of Shinsei quote, what about "When seeking a teacher, first find those who know what you know, then those who know what you do not." ? Otherwise I'd be happy just to remove that sentence, it's not like we need to have a quote in particular.
Aren't we more Fortunist than Shintaoist anyways?
- Location
- Earth
Sure, if you can make it work. I did not list it amongst the quotes mentioned because I was not sure how to make it fit as a part of the answer to the question asked. And we are going with a Tao qoute as a way to both show off our knowledge,share out mutural love of knowledge,be wise by using it appropriatly and speak her language. It will be familiar and remind her of home. As well as opening an additional topic. Etc.
EtchedSteel
*mumble mumble*
- Location
- Lima. Peru
Unless you're Lion that hardly matters. I take most Samurai studies both before deciding which one to follow throughout their lives.
- Location
- Connecticut
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X]"In a word, Asako-sama? Educational. It seems that I am only beginning to discover just how much there is to learn about the court." You chuckle lightly. "Still, as valuable as these learning experiences have been, the Court has been so active lately that I've come to treasure these rare moments of peace when I come across them. As the Tao says, 'Appreciation of beauty is the beginning of wisdom.'" You give Asako Tani a sly grin. "What of yourself? You have experiences with previous courts, do you not? How would you say this one compares?"
What's the only thing better than a Tao quote when talking to the pretty Phoenix? A flirtatious Tao quote.
Fair enough, and according to Imperial edict I think they're all the same religion anyways.
What's the only thing better than a Tao quote when talking to the pretty Phoenix? A flirtatious Tao quote.
Fair enough, and according to Imperial edict I think they're all the same religion anyways.
Last edited:
Noctum
Dual Paradox
- Location
- Under the Skies Above
[X]"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, as the Tao says. I've been learning to do both this journey it seems. For such a small amount of time so much seems to happen." Shake your head and offer a wry smile
"Yet I'm sure I don't need to tell you any of that, I would trust that your own experiences have been well so far?"
"Yet I'm sure I don't need to tell you any of that, I would trust that your own experiences have been well so far?"
[X]"It has been quite the humbling experience, Asako-sama, but as the Tao says, 'humility is the greatest teacher'. And with how active the court is, I have had many opportunities to be taught," Naoto says with a chuckle. "I've come to treasure these moments of peace and beauty. How has your time at Court been?"
I don't think it comes across as false humility at all. We've had successes but we've also had failures, some of them public. Everyone knows that Kakita saved us from a duel where we were utterly outmatched by beating us himself and our boss put us on punishment PT. That the guy who beat us was then handily cut in half himself and the target of our winter romance had to commit seppuku just shows how much we have to be humble about.
If she's a good enough courtier she might know that we hardly covered ourself in glory with the Crab and/ or that we got ourselves lost after drinking with him before that.
In short we are learning some lessons the hard way and can use the quote with perfect sincerity.
I don't think it comes across as false humility at all. We've had successes but we've also had failures, some of them public. Everyone knows that Kakita saved us from a duel where we were utterly outmatched by beating us himself and our boss put us on punishment PT. That the guy who beat us was then handily cut in half himself and the target of our winter romance had to commit seppuku just shows how much we have to be humble about.
If she's a good enough courtier she might know that we hardly covered ourself in glory with the Crab and/ or that we got ourselves lost after drinking with him before that.
In short we are learning some lessons the hard way and can use the quote with perfect sincerity.
Dovahsith
Lost on the road of life
- Location
- Manchester
[X]"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, as the Tao says. I've been learning to do both this journey it seems. For such a small amount of time so much seems to happen." Shake your head and offer a wry smile
"Yet I'm sure I don't need to tell you any of that, I would trust that your own experiences have been well so far?"
"Yet I'm sure I don't need to tell you any of that, I would trust that your own experiences have been well so far?"