[L5R] Minor Clan Quest
- Thread starter storybookknight
- Start date
Wade Garrett
Just trying to do the right thing
- Pronouns
- He/His/Him
My only gripe is that black, red, and white is pretty much the "dress like a Scorpion" color combination. Which is also my objection to having it as our Clan Colors.
Not that there's anything wrong with it, I'd just rather pick something that's not quite so blatantly inspired by daddy dearest.
Not that there's anything wrong with it, I'd just rather pick something that's not quite so blatantly inspired by daddy dearest.
- Location
- Connecticut
- Pronouns
- He/Him
I mean, it's definitely black & white with red accents rather than black, red, and white - that said, I'm happy to take additional input.
Dirtnap
Kanmusu Affecionado
The Crane is mostly light blue, I'm not sure any of the Clans use white as a primary color.
I know the Crab are dark blue and charcoal, the Crane favor a light blue, the Mantis green, the Dragon a lighter green...not too sure on the rest.
- Location
- Connecticut
- Pronouns
- He/Him
The original 7 clans each had a primary color.
Scorpion - Red
Phoenix - Orange
Lion - Yellow
Dragon - Green
Crane - Blue
Crab - Indigo
Unicorn - Violet
Most of them then have a secondary color of some sort; Scorpion and Crab are Black, Unicorn and Crane are White, Lion and Dragon are Brown (not sure about Dragon, actually) and Phoenix have Gold.
Mantis are I believe Blue & Green.
I was using this as the emblem for the Laughing Carp family:
But switching to say, Dark Blue & Gray would be fine for a literal 'this is what color catfishes are' coloration, or Black & Gold for your defense of the Emperor against black-clad assailants.
Scorpion - Red
Phoenix - Orange
Lion - Yellow
Dragon - Green
Crane - Blue
Crab - Indigo
Unicorn - Violet
Most of them then have a secondary color of some sort; Scorpion and Crab are Black, Unicorn and Crane are White, Lion and Dragon are Brown (not sure about Dragon, actually) and Phoenix have Gold.
Mantis are I believe Blue & Green.
I was using this as the emblem for the Laughing Carp family:
But switching to say, Dark Blue & Gray would be fine for a literal 'this is what color catfishes are' coloration, or Black & Gold for your defense of the Emperor against black-clad assailants.
- Location
- Connecticut
- Pronouns
- He/Him
So, since I don't have many votes, let's enumerate some options.
You will wear:
[X] Black and White, with Red accents. Your otokodate has chosen black & white as its 'formal colors', and you intend to honor that. Dressing only in Black & White would be far too formal, though, so you plan to incorporate red accents or embroidery when you can find it.
[X] Blue and Red. As much as the Warakkoi wear black and white, you've always liked Blue and Red, and it does reference Zakyo Toshi where it is located between the Scorpion and the Crab.
[X] Dark Blue and Gray. It'd be a good way of expressing friendship with the Crab, and given that the whole city has heard that your nickname is Namazu now (thanks, Taigen) it wouldn't be too unusual to wear literal 'catfish colors'.
[X] Black and Gold. As long as you're serving the emperor, why not reference coming to his defense in the middle of the night?
[X] Write-in.
Dressing as a bodyguard would (no overly elaborate robes) and getting Tamayo a gift while you're out seem to be fairly unanimous, but if you disagree with either decision please mention that as well.
You will wear:
[X] Black and White, with Red accents. Your otokodate has chosen black & white as its 'formal colors', and you intend to honor that. Dressing only in Black & White would be far too formal, though, so you plan to incorporate red accents or embroidery when you can find it.
[X] Blue and Red. As much as the Warakkoi wear black and white, you've always liked Blue and Red, and it does reference Zakyo Toshi where it is located between the Scorpion and the Crab.
[X] Dark Blue and Gray. It'd be a good way of expressing friendship with the Crab, and given that the whole city has heard that your nickname is Namazu now (thanks, Taigen) it wouldn't be too unusual to wear literal 'catfish colors'.
[X] Black and Gold. As long as you're serving the emperor, why not reference coming to his defense in the middle of the night?
[X] Write-in.
Dressing as a bodyguard would (no overly elaborate robes) and getting Tamayo a gift while you're out seem to be fairly unanimous, but if you disagree with either decision please mention that as well.
- Location
- USA
[X] Black and White, with Red accents. Your otokodate has chosen black & white as its 'formal colors', and you intend to honor that. Dressing only in Black & White would be far too formal, though, so you plan to incorporate red accents or embroidery when you can find it.
- Location
- Spain
[X] Black and White, with Red accents. Your otokodate has chosen black & white as its 'formal colors', and you intend to honor that. Dressing only in Black & White would be far too formal, though, so you plan to incorporate red accents or embroidery when you can find it.
EtchedSteel
*mumble mumble*
- Location
- Lima. Peru
[X] Dark Blue and Gray. It'd be a good way of expressing friendship with the Crab, and given that the whole city has heard that your nickname is Namazu now (thanks, Taigen) it wouldn't be too unusual to wear literal 'catfish colors'.
- Location
- Canada
[X] Dark Blue and Gray. It'd be a good way of expressing friendship with the Crab, and given that the whole city has heard that your nickname is Namazu now (thanks, Taigen) it wouldn't be too unusual to wear literal 'catfish colors'.
- Location
- United States
[X] Black and White, with Red accents. Your otokodate has chosen black & white as its 'formal colors', and you intend to honor that. Dressing only in Black & White would be far too formal, though, so you plan to incorporate red accents or embroidery when you can find it.
- Location
- Chicago
[X] Dark Blue and Gray. It'd be a good way of expressing friendship with the Crab, and given that the whole city has heard that your nickname is Namazu now (thanks, Taigen) it wouldn't be too unusual to wear literal 'catfish colors'.
[X] Dark Blue and Gray. It'd be a good way of expressing friendship with the Crab, and given that the whole city has heard that your nickname is Namazu now (thanks, Taigen) it wouldn't be too unusual to wear literal 'catfish colors'.
@storybookknight
Just a quick thing in, the opening paragraph of the OP you use his instead of her when referring to the MC.
@storybookknight
Just a quick thing in, the opening paragraph of the OP you use his instead of her when referring to the MC.
Last edited:
[X] Black and White, with Red accents. Your otokodate has chosen black & white as its 'formal colors', and you intend to honor that. Dressing only in Black & White would be far too formal, though, so you plan to incorporate red accents or embroidery when you can find it.
- Location
- Connecticut
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Thanks! fixed.
Vote is closed, getting started on a writeup for Dark Blue & Grey.
EDIT: Halfway through a longer post, will have it up tomorrow.
Last edited:
0.16 - Prologue
- Location
- Connecticut
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] Dark Blue and Gray.
With some food and tea in your belly, you find yourself somewhat recovered as you go out to explore the city. Isawa Miniko proves to be positively chatty, especially for a priest of the kami.
"So, ladies. What are we thinking? Tsubaki-sama's complexion is surprisingly pale for a bushi, maybe something dark to set that off?" She says, eyeing you speculatively.
"Hmmm." Taigen says speculatively. "Well, our otokodate's colors are black and white, but..."
"How do you avoid making that look like mourning garb?" Isawa-sama says in astonishment. Her own robes are brilliant orange and red, with an assortment of flame and bird motifs picked out in delicate embroidery. They make her stand out to a striking degree against the backdrop of the drab surroundings of Maemikake.
You laugh. "Practice, and embroidery, but I'll admit it isn't the most flattering of color combinations." You purse your lips thoughtfully. "I'd like to avoid standing out too much in front of our hosts if I could. Maybe something in a dark blue, but not Clan blue? Combine it with some grey or brown?"
Taigen giggles. You look at her suspiciously. That particular giggle of hers always seems to bode ill for you. "Dark blue, grey, and brown," she says, and grins. "Namazu colors!"
You groan, and try to change your mind, but it's too late. Taigen and Miniko have exchanged sly grins, and soon enough you're bedecked in what even you have to admit is a fairly attractive outfit. Like most bushi, you eschew the dangling sleeves and skirts of formalwear; similarly, a warrior has no need to indulge in the multiple layers and color symbolism that courtiers delight in. You settle on a simple inner kimono of grey that matches the grey in your fan-folded hakama trousers, over which wraps an outer kimono the dark blue of a river seen from far above. A haori in matching blue with light brown ties completes the ensemble.
This, but with navy & brown instead of black & gold, and add a sword belt.
It's not exactly what you would have normally picked out for yourself, but if nothing else it's much better quality than the kimono you sacrificed to bind Gohei's wounds, and the severe look of it due to the lack of embroidery not only looks austere and professional, but the lack of family mon - or indeed any pattern at all - help emphasize your ronin status.
"Well, we might be able to find better if we looked around for a long while," says Miniko-san, "but it looks good and we don't exactly have a long while to look."
You nod. "Sounds fair." Inwardly, you watch in envy as Isawa-san has a brief conversation with the shopkeeper, then simply leaves with you in tow rather than having to pay. You raise an eyebrow at Taigen, and she nods in similar envy. What would it be like to have the reputation and resources of a Great Clan at your beck and call, to be able to simply inform a shopkeeper that they can be reimbursed by speaking with a heimin at the nearby castle, and to simply have that claim believed? You sigh, and walk back to the castle in your new outfit, careful not to soil it before the meeting occurs.
You do remember to get Tamayo a thank-you gift for her gracious loan of her kimono - Miniko-san looks at you suspiciously when you tell her that you have to stop on the way back to the castle for alcohol, but when you explain your reasoning she graciously agrees to assist you with acquiring the gift.
After your return, there is little to do but sit, wait, and become progressively more nervous. When Lady Amaterasu hangs a mere handspan above the treeline, a Crab bushi who looks vaguely familiar comes to the guest barracks and informs you that the Emperor requires your presence. You make your way up the multitude of steps to his suite, and are reunited with the Son of Heaven.
"Ah, Tsubaki-san, you look lovely. Did you enjoy your tour of the city? I hear it is much more pleasant when one is not dragging an injured comrade through the streets," he jokes.
"Much more pleasant indeed," you laugh. "Hantei-heika, is there anything I should know before this meeting? Anything I'll be expected to do?"
He shakes his head. "Truly, there should be very little. Typically such things begin with an introduction, an exchange of gifts, and some polite conversation. This case is a little irregular, in that an Emperor is visiting a provincial court during an unpopular time of year for courts among other things, so many of the normal formalities and such will go by much more quickly than they would otherwise. Then issues are discussed, then we break for a recess, and so on."
You nod slowly. "Seems simple enough. And I just need to stand there silently?"
Hantei-heika shrugs. "You may be asked a few questions due to what has happened recently, but that is typical of what is required of yojimbo. It is also possible that you will be offered some form of thanks for rescuing me; no matter what it is, you should refuse twice and then accept it."
You snort. "As if a humble ronin has the luxury of turning down anything that she is given. It isn't as though I have a lord on whose behalf I need be offended."
He smiles and nods. "Just so, Tsubaki-san. Shall we go?"
"As you command, Hantei-heika." The audience chamber is down only one floor from the Emperor's suite, so you are soon standing before the kuge - the ruling families - of the Crab Clan. You look at them with curiosity, then blanch. Hida Tanaka, the man you tied in a spar and then went drinking with yesterday, is among them. Luckily, he is standing slightly below and in front of the man who looks like the Hida daimyo, so he is probably 'only' the daimyo's son.
The Hida daimyo himself is somewhat older, but only slightly less fearsome for it. Slightly balding, he nevertheless commands great presence from his position at the front of the room.
The next most impressive Crab in the room almost does not look like a Crab at all, and you are confused for a second until you realize just how ostentatious his robes are, and then understanding dawns. Yasuki Kuroda is nowhere near as physically imposing as the Crabs in the room, but his eyes are cannily shrewd, and just looking at him makes your empty wallet itch.
From your conversations with various Crab bushi, you remember hearing that this is the current family seat of the Hiruma clan, who lost their ancestral lands to the predations of the Maw. The leader of the Hiruma is dour and grizzled, and appears content to take a back seat to the Hida in this matter despite the fact that this is his family's castle.
Rounding out the delegation at the head of the room are the Kaiu and Kuni daimyo. The remainder of the Crab samurai in attendance, as well as the samurai of the Emerald Guard, are all in the rear half of the room, spectators to the events at hand. Interestingly, you don't see the Clan Champion, which confuses you for a second until you remember that you heard the Champion died on the Wall not long ago.
Perhaps the Emperor is also here to confirm her replacement? However, such idle thoughts are beyond you at the moment, because Hantei-heika is stepping forwards and speaking.
"I humbly apologize for my manner of arrival," he begins. "As you are doubtless aware, I was set upon by bandits at the outskirts of Crab Lands, and barely escaped with my life, let alone the gifts that I had planned to bring." Though your face is an impassive mask, you smirk inwardly. Yeah. He's still mad.
"Ah, Hantei-dono, your presence alone is enough of a gift for us." The Hida daimyo says, and your Emperor shakes his head in negation.
"Happily, I have thought of an appropriate substitute." He pauses, and you swear that you can almost see a twinkle in his eye. "Your messages to me implied that your Clan was having difficulties in certain manners relating to your interactions with other Clans, and that your duties to Rokugan are being inadequately respected." There are a few attempts at polite demurral, but Hantei-heika blows right past them. "Which is why I have decided to gift the Crab clan with an opportunity to change this. I have decided - this year's Winter Court shall be held at Shiro Kaotsuki no Higashi, the Face of The East castle." For a second, the gift confuses you. Don't the Great Clans fight over that honor like sharks fighting over chum? And then your gift lets you feel the dismay radiating off of the Yasuki daimyo, and you understand. Hosting all of the daimyos from other clans, their retainers, finding gifts for all of them, and so on... probably isn't - can't be - cheap. You wince inwardly in sympathy, and marvel at your Emperor's skill with diplomacy while he and the daimyos go through the threefold dance of accepting a gift politely.
In return, the daimyos present him with a battered and damaged Katana - a purified relic of the Seppun, recovered from a hero who fell in battle against the Maw by the efforts of the Hiruma scouts. This, too, is accepted gracefully.
You see the daimyo's eyes turn to you, and brace yourself, but before anything else can happen the Emperor speaks up. "Ah, Hida-dono. Before we continue, might I interject?"
The daimyo pauses, clearly nonplussed by the deviation from routine. The assembled samurai do not murmur precisely, for to do so in such a formal setting would be unutterably rude, but there is a faint susurration as weights shift and silk rubs against silk. After a second he collects himself, and nods to the Emperor. "But of course, Hantei-heika. Your wish is our command, as always."
The Son of Heaven inclines his head in thanks, then turns to face you. "Tsubaki-dono." He smiles at you, and you do your best not to fidget. His advice had led you to believe that the daimyos would be the ones granting you gifts, but by now you have come to expect a bit of such playfulness from your Emperor.
"Yes, Hantei-heika?" You stand at attention, keeping your spine spear-straight.
"This is truly no gift, but rather a just reward." His voice takes on a stentorian quality, ringing out in the halls of the Crab. "For service beyond the call of duty, for courage in the face of deadly danger, for your unshakeable loyalty and devotion, I hereby bestow upon you the right to the Family Name of Namazu." Despite yourself, your jaw drops open in a combination of shock and sheer affront. Did he really just - did he really? Did the Son of Heaven just give you a Family Name... and it's Taigen's stupid nickname? You're going to kill her. You're going to adopt her into your family, and then you're going to kill her. You hastily shut your mouth and bow, blood pounding in your ears. You're about to thank him, and then the son of a bitch continues. "And -" he says with smug satisfaction, " - the right to found a Minor Clan."
You're glad that you're already bowed so low that you're staring at the floor, because otherwise everyone would have seen you completely lose your on, rather than just Hantei-heika. Nevertheless, you kneel even further down, both prostrating yourself and to hide your face. "Hantei-heika," you choke out. "You do me too much honor. I have not done enough to be worthy of this."
"Your humility does you credit, Namazu-sama, but I disagree. My great-grandfather granted the Falcon clan their lands for saving a cherished advisor's life from only one assassin. You saved an Emperor's life from several score bandits; surely an act of at least as great a magnitude." His voice is calm, urbane, completely without any uncertainty in it. You wish you felt as calm as his voice sounded.
You bite your lip to keep from losing all composure, keeping your gaze fixed on the Emperor's sandals. "Hantei-heika... even so, I still cannot accept. I am only a ronin! Surely there will be protest, to see me raised so high."
The Emperor chuckles. "Happily, I need not even find another example. Hayabusa, founder of the Falcon clan, was an ashigaru before his ascension, and if any disagreed with my great-grandfather's decision, they certainly have not said so to me. Please, Namazu-sama. Accept."
You laugh, finally, the sound coming out half-strangled. "As you command, Hantei-heika. I graciously accept."
With that, the Emperor unsheathes his blade, and places it on the back of your neck. The kiss of cold steel does a great deal to sharpen your senses and return you to emotional sobriety. "Tsubaki, first of her line, Champion of the Catfish clan. Do you swear to faithfully serve the Empire in all ways, to defend its people and uphold its laws; to live in harmony with the kami and the Tao, and to strive to live your life in all ways as a paragon of Bushido?"
"I so swear." You say, putting as much firmness and sincerity into your voice as possible.
The sword lifts from your neck, and you hear it hiss back into its sheath. "Then rise, Namazu Tsubaki."
You hear a great roar of approval and applause as the assembled samurai cheer. You stand, slowly getting your bearings and coming to terms with the momentous change that has just come into your life. Finally, you bow once more. "Thank you, Hantei-heika. I do not yet feel worthy of this honor... but I shall strive to become so."
You stand once more only to see the daimyo of the Hida coming towards you. "It seems Hantei-heika has correctly anticipated my actions!" he says, "For had he not interrupted me to reward her for her deeds, I surely would have invited her into the ranks of the Crab!" There is another shout of approval, and he puts his hands on his hips as he looks at the Emperor, shaking his head slightly. "Like you, it seems I am having to choose another gift!" He seemingly thinks on this for a moment, then turns to you and bows. "Namazu-sama, in thanks for your services to the Crab, I hereby give to you..."
[ ] A blade forged by the master-smiths of the Kaiu, to serve as your new ancestral weapon.
[ ] A grand flagship, that it might bear you as safely as you bore the Emperor.
[ ] An offer of alliance and support, to be made plain to all of the Clans.
[ ] Write-in.
With some food and tea in your belly, you find yourself somewhat recovered as you go out to explore the city. Isawa Miniko proves to be positively chatty, especially for a priest of the kami.
"So, ladies. What are we thinking? Tsubaki-sama's complexion is surprisingly pale for a bushi, maybe something dark to set that off?" She says, eyeing you speculatively.
"Hmmm." Taigen says speculatively. "Well, our otokodate's colors are black and white, but..."
"How do you avoid making that look like mourning garb?" Isawa-sama says in astonishment. Her own robes are brilliant orange and red, with an assortment of flame and bird motifs picked out in delicate embroidery. They make her stand out to a striking degree against the backdrop of the drab surroundings of Maemikake.
You laugh. "Practice, and embroidery, but I'll admit it isn't the most flattering of color combinations." You purse your lips thoughtfully. "I'd like to avoid standing out too much in front of our hosts if I could. Maybe something in a dark blue, but not Clan blue? Combine it with some grey or brown?"
Taigen giggles. You look at her suspiciously. That particular giggle of hers always seems to bode ill for you. "Dark blue, grey, and brown," she says, and grins. "Namazu colors!"
You groan, and try to change your mind, but it's too late. Taigen and Miniko have exchanged sly grins, and soon enough you're bedecked in what even you have to admit is a fairly attractive outfit. Like most bushi, you eschew the dangling sleeves and skirts of formalwear; similarly, a warrior has no need to indulge in the multiple layers and color symbolism that courtiers delight in. You settle on a simple inner kimono of grey that matches the grey in your fan-folded hakama trousers, over which wraps an outer kimono the dark blue of a river seen from far above. A haori in matching blue with light brown ties completes the ensemble.
This, but with navy & brown instead of black & gold, and add a sword belt.
It's not exactly what you would have normally picked out for yourself, but if nothing else it's much better quality than the kimono you sacrificed to bind Gohei's wounds, and the severe look of it due to the lack of embroidery not only looks austere and professional, but the lack of family mon - or indeed any pattern at all - help emphasize your ronin status.
"Well, we might be able to find better if we looked around for a long while," says Miniko-san, "but it looks good and we don't exactly have a long while to look."
You nod. "Sounds fair." Inwardly, you watch in envy as Isawa-san has a brief conversation with the shopkeeper, then simply leaves with you in tow rather than having to pay. You raise an eyebrow at Taigen, and she nods in similar envy. What would it be like to have the reputation and resources of a Great Clan at your beck and call, to be able to simply inform a shopkeeper that they can be reimbursed by speaking with a heimin at the nearby castle, and to simply have that claim believed? You sigh, and walk back to the castle in your new outfit, careful not to soil it before the meeting occurs.
You do remember to get Tamayo a thank-you gift for her gracious loan of her kimono - Miniko-san looks at you suspiciously when you tell her that you have to stop on the way back to the castle for alcohol, but when you explain your reasoning she graciously agrees to assist you with acquiring the gift.
After your return, there is little to do but sit, wait, and become progressively more nervous. When Lady Amaterasu hangs a mere handspan above the treeline, a Crab bushi who looks vaguely familiar comes to the guest barracks and informs you that the Emperor requires your presence. You make your way up the multitude of steps to his suite, and are reunited with the Son of Heaven.
"Ah, Tsubaki-san, you look lovely. Did you enjoy your tour of the city? I hear it is much more pleasant when one is not dragging an injured comrade through the streets," he jokes.
"Much more pleasant indeed," you laugh. "Hantei-heika, is there anything I should know before this meeting? Anything I'll be expected to do?"
He shakes his head. "Truly, there should be very little. Typically such things begin with an introduction, an exchange of gifts, and some polite conversation. This case is a little irregular, in that an Emperor is visiting a provincial court during an unpopular time of year for courts among other things, so many of the normal formalities and such will go by much more quickly than they would otherwise. Then issues are discussed, then we break for a recess, and so on."
You nod slowly. "Seems simple enough. And I just need to stand there silently?"
Hantei-heika shrugs. "You may be asked a few questions due to what has happened recently, but that is typical of what is required of yojimbo. It is also possible that you will be offered some form of thanks for rescuing me; no matter what it is, you should refuse twice and then accept it."
You snort. "As if a humble ronin has the luxury of turning down anything that she is given. It isn't as though I have a lord on whose behalf I need be offended."
He smiles and nods. "Just so, Tsubaki-san. Shall we go?"
"As you command, Hantei-heika." The audience chamber is down only one floor from the Emperor's suite, so you are soon standing before the kuge - the ruling families - of the Crab Clan. You look at them with curiosity, then blanch. Hida Tanaka, the man you tied in a spar and then went drinking with yesterday, is among them. Luckily, he is standing slightly below and in front of the man who looks like the Hida daimyo, so he is probably 'only' the daimyo's son.
The Hida daimyo himself is somewhat older, but only slightly less fearsome for it. Slightly balding, he nevertheless commands great presence from his position at the front of the room.
The next most impressive Crab in the room almost does not look like a Crab at all, and you are confused for a second until you realize just how ostentatious his robes are, and then understanding dawns. Yasuki Kuroda is nowhere near as physically imposing as the Crabs in the room, but his eyes are cannily shrewd, and just looking at him makes your empty wallet itch.
From your conversations with various Crab bushi, you remember hearing that this is the current family seat of the Hiruma clan, who lost their ancestral lands to the predations of the Maw. The leader of the Hiruma is dour and grizzled, and appears content to take a back seat to the Hida in this matter despite the fact that this is his family's castle.
Rounding out the delegation at the head of the room are the Kaiu and Kuni daimyo. The remainder of the Crab samurai in attendance, as well as the samurai of the Emerald Guard, are all in the rear half of the room, spectators to the events at hand. Interestingly, you don't see the Clan Champion, which confuses you for a second until you remember that you heard the Champion died on the Wall not long ago.
Perhaps the Emperor is also here to confirm her replacement? However, such idle thoughts are beyond you at the moment, because Hantei-heika is stepping forwards and speaking.
"I humbly apologize for my manner of arrival," he begins. "As you are doubtless aware, I was set upon by bandits at the outskirts of Crab Lands, and barely escaped with my life, let alone the gifts that I had planned to bring." Though your face is an impassive mask, you smirk inwardly. Yeah. He's still mad.
"Ah, Hantei-dono, your presence alone is enough of a gift for us." The Hida daimyo says, and your Emperor shakes his head in negation.
"Happily, I have thought of an appropriate substitute." He pauses, and you swear that you can almost see a twinkle in his eye. "Your messages to me implied that your Clan was having difficulties in certain manners relating to your interactions with other Clans, and that your duties to Rokugan are being inadequately respected." There are a few attempts at polite demurral, but Hantei-heika blows right past them. "Which is why I have decided to gift the Crab clan with an opportunity to change this. I have decided - this year's Winter Court shall be held at Shiro Kaotsuki no Higashi, the Face of The East castle." For a second, the gift confuses you. Don't the Great Clans fight over that honor like sharks fighting over chum? And then your gift lets you feel the dismay radiating off of the Yasuki daimyo, and you understand. Hosting all of the daimyos from other clans, their retainers, finding gifts for all of them, and so on... probably isn't - can't be - cheap. You wince inwardly in sympathy, and marvel at your Emperor's skill with diplomacy while he and the daimyos go through the threefold dance of accepting a gift politely.
In return, the daimyos present him with a battered and damaged Katana - a purified relic of the Seppun, recovered from a hero who fell in battle against the Maw by the efforts of the Hiruma scouts. This, too, is accepted gracefully.
You see the daimyo's eyes turn to you, and brace yourself, but before anything else can happen the Emperor speaks up. "Ah, Hida-dono. Before we continue, might I interject?"
The daimyo pauses, clearly nonplussed by the deviation from routine. The assembled samurai do not murmur precisely, for to do so in such a formal setting would be unutterably rude, but there is a faint susurration as weights shift and silk rubs against silk. After a second he collects himself, and nods to the Emperor. "But of course, Hantei-heika. Your wish is our command, as always."
The Son of Heaven inclines his head in thanks, then turns to face you. "Tsubaki-dono." He smiles at you, and you do your best not to fidget. His advice had led you to believe that the daimyos would be the ones granting you gifts, but by now you have come to expect a bit of such playfulness from your Emperor.
"Yes, Hantei-heika?" You stand at attention, keeping your spine spear-straight.
"This is truly no gift, but rather a just reward." His voice takes on a stentorian quality, ringing out in the halls of the Crab. "For service beyond the call of duty, for courage in the face of deadly danger, for your unshakeable loyalty and devotion, I hereby bestow upon you the right to the Family Name of Namazu." Despite yourself, your jaw drops open in a combination of shock and sheer affront. Did he really just - did he really? Did the Son of Heaven just give you a Family Name... and it's Taigen's stupid nickname? You're going to kill her. You're going to adopt her into your family, and then you're going to kill her. You hastily shut your mouth and bow, blood pounding in your ears. You're about to thank him, and then the son of a bitch continues. "And -" he says with smug satisfaction, " - the right to found a Minor Clan."
You're glad that you're already bowed so low that you're staring at the floor, because otherwise everyone would have seen you completely lose your on, rather than just Hantei-heika. Nevertheless, you kneel even further down, both prostrating yourself and to hide your face. "Hantei-heika," you choke out. "You do me too much honor. I have not done enough to be worthy of this."
"Your humility does you credit, Namazu-sama, but I disagree. My great-grandfather granted the Falcon clan their lands for saving a cherished advisor's life from only one assassin. You saved an Emperor's life from several score bandits; surely an act of at least as great a magnitude." His voice is calm, urbane, completely without any uncertainty in it. You wish you felt as calm as his voice sounded.
You bite your lip to keep from losing all composure, keeping your gaze fixed on the Emperor's sandals. "Hantei-heika... even so, I still cannot accept. I am only a ronin! Surely there will be protest, to see me raised so high."
The Emperor chuckles. "Happily, I need not even find another example. Hayabusa, founder of the Falcon clan, was an ashigaru before his ascension, and if any disagreed with my great-grandfather's decision, they certainly have not said so to me. Please, Namazu-sama. Accept."
You laugh, finally, the sound coming out half-strangled. "As you command, Hantei-heika. I graciously accept."
With that, the Emperor unsheathes his blade, and places it on the back of your neck. The kiss of cold steel does a great deal to sharpen your senses and return you to emotional sobriety. "Tsubaki, first of her line, Champion of the Catfish clan. Do you swear to faithfully serve the Empire in all ways, to defend its people and uphold its laws; to live in harmony with the kami and the Tao, and to strive to live your life in all ways as a paragon of Bushido?"
"I so swear." You say, putting as much firmness and sincerity into your voice as possible.
The sword lifts from your neck, and you hear it hiss back into its sheath. "Then rise, Namazu Tsubaki."
You hear a great roar of approval and applause as the assembled samurai cheer. You stand, slowly getting your bearings and coming to terms with the momentous change that has just come into your life. Finally, you bow once more. "Thank you, Hantei-heika. I do not yet feel worthy of this honor... but I shall strive to become so."
You stand once more only to see the daimyo of the Hida coming towards you. "It seems Hantei-heika has correctly anticipated my actions!" he says, "For had he not interrupted me to reward her for her deeds, I surely would have invited her into the ranks of the Crab!" There is another shout of approval, and he puts his hands on his hips as he looks at the Emperor, shaking his head slightly. "Like you, it seems I am having to choose another gift!" He seemingly thinks on this for a moment, then turns to you and bows. "Namazu-sama, in thanks for your services to the Crab, I hereby give to you..."
[ ] A blade forged by the master-smiths of the Kaiu, to serve as your new ancestral weapon.
[ ] A grand flagship, that it might bear you as safely as you bore the Emperor.
[ ] An offer of alliance and support, to be made plain to all of the Clans.
[ ] Write-in.
This took way longer than I had hoped, but I'm reasonably happy with how it came out. Comments? Questions? Let me know!
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A Nation's Virtue
南國山河南帝居
[X] A blade forged by the master-smiths of the Kaiu, to serve as your new ancestral weapon.
Alliances crumble, wood rots, but Sacred Weapons are forever; especially if they're Unbreakable Kaiu Blades.
Alliances crumble, wood rots, but Sacred Weapons are forever; especially if they're Unbreakable Kaiu Blades.
Droman
𐤊𐤍𐤏𐤍
[ ] A blade forged by the master-smiths of the Kaiu, to serve as your new ancestral weapon.
[ ] An offer of alliance and support, to be made plain to all of the Clans.
I'd rather have one of these than the flagship, but I'm not sure which to go with. Being allied to the Crab isn't the worse thing in the world, since they're blunt enough for us players to get, but the thought of an ancestral weapon right out of the gate...
Fuck it.
[x] A blade forged by the master-smiths of the Kaiu, to serve as your new ancestral weapon.
[ ] An offer of alliance and support, to be made plain to all of the Clans.
I'd rather have one of these than the flagship, but I'm not sure which to go with. Being allied to the Crab isn't the worse thing in the world, since they're blunt enough for us players to get, but the thought of an ancestral weapon right out of the gate...
Fuck it.
[x] A blade forged by the master-smiths of the Kaiu, to serve as your new ancestral weapon.