Lealope
Not yet invincible
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Yep, that was pretty much what I was worried about. Darn, I'll have to come up with something else then.
[L5R] Minor Clan Quest
- Thread starter storybookknight
- Start date
Yep, that was pretty much what I was worried about. Darn, I'll have to come up with something else then.
bookwyrm
Doom of Public Libraries
- Location
- Wichita, Kansas
The message we really want to send with our gifts is twofold 1. we exist and we're going to keep existing. We are just as much a clan as anybody else. and 2. we're real samurai- we'll accept the norms along with our rights and we'll bend to the system as it bends to accommodate us. I think we should have something like a classic song/poem/story done in a uniquely Zakyo Toshi style for everyone, and for the Emperor a wooden sculpture made from the boat we escaped on- purposely a bit simple and unfinished (to hide how it'll look crude anyway) but giving off the impression of lots of passion by lots of people. Like symbolically giving the Emperor the soul of our clan (newly born and weak it may be) for his to command. (And since we're inherently putting our limitations in it the Great Clans and Imperial Families won't get too offended by the implication that the Emperor might need it).
- Location
- madison
we should definitely keep ahold of our eku, thats one for the clan vault. The problem is we don't really have a thing as a clan yet. On top of that we mostly trade rather than craft so we can't really get an artisan to whip something cool up.
random ideas for what we could give.
1. fancy fruit basket, something with fine foods/pottery/whatever from every corner of the empire, play up our trade angle.
2. maybe some kind of eternal ticket to our new theater? might come off as presumptuous. Though it might work as a gift to the scorpions.
3. maybe some kind of ceremonial eku? something that is obviously an art item and not meant to be used not sure what it would suggest though.
random ideas for what we could give.
1. fancy fruit basket, something with fine foods/pottery/whatever from every corner of the empire, play up our trade angle.
2. maybe some kind of eternal ticket to our new theater? might come off as presumptuous. Though it might work as a gift to the scorpions.
3. maybe some kind of ceremonial eku? something that is obviously an art item and not meant to be used not sure what it would suggest though.
al103
Grumpy Russian Bear (SV edition)
- Location
- Russia, Krasnoyarsk
Traders are lower than peasants. And it's too much of practical gift - can come as insult.
Hinin-related gift.
- Location
- madison
Might have to bite the bullet and just go with some generic art thing. Our clan is hilariously young, so the bar is probably a bit lower for us than it is for the great clans.
A Nation's Virtue
南國山河南帝居
Merchants aren't lower than peasants (they are peasants). That being said, trading is considered beneath a samurai since ideally they should have no need of money, so playing up that angle isn't really a great idea (though how it's presented will also make a lot of difference). Of course, this never gets in the way of the Yasuki or the Daidoji.
Since we're going for Patron of the Arts iirc, going for artistic items that show culture and are less practical than other items is probably the safest choice.
- Location
- Washington
I might be wrong here but I believe you can get away with "useful" things that are quite clearly intended as a decorative example of whatever it is, though the recipient CAN interpret it to take offense if so inclined. Now if I'm misremembering disregard this, but given the intense favor of the emperor and crab we have we could get away with giving them really fancy overly painted ekus that are clearly NOT intended to see actual use.
On second thought probably better off with non-eku oars.
Not gonna actually vote for this until someone tells me if I'm remembering right or not.
They're strictly speaking the same class, but the movement of goods from place to place is a less honorable OCCUPATION than producing things in the first place.
On second thought probably better off with non-eku oars.
Not gonna actually vote for this until someone tells me if I'm remembering right or not.
Merchants aren't lower than peasants (they are peasants).
They're strictly speaking the same class, but the movement of goods from place to place is a less honorable OCCUPATION than producing things in the first place.
Last edited:
Not sure how the Rokugani see it, but within confucianism merchants are the lowest caste, and were considered outright vulgar in both Japan and China in a way peasents weren't.
Merchants aren't lower than peasants (they are peasants).
Basically yes, traders are seen as profiting off the work of artisans and farmers, without creating value in turn.
I'm more voting for the sake of voting and seeing if I can get the ball rolling.
Who do you bring for your 5 yojimbo?
[X] The most clever
I'm not really sure if this is the best choice, but when I'm not sure on what to choose in a situation and something like clever is available, I go clever.
Who do you bring as your chief diplomat?
[x] Bring Boss Koibu. It will hurt not having him at home in Wave Province, but he is completely unobjectionable as a choice of person to bring, and you do sort of want the Emperor to get the chance to meet him.
Who do you bring for your 5 yojimbo?
[X] The most clever
I'm not really sure if this is the best choice, but when I'm not sure on what to choose in a situation and something like clever is available, I go clever.
Who do you bring as your chief diplomat?
[x] Bring Boss Koibu. It will hurt not having him at home in Wave Province, but he is completely unobjectionable as a choice of person to bring, and you do sort of want the Emperor to get the chance to meet him.
Last edited:
Coming up with gifts in Rokugan is always rather difficult, to say the least. IIRC the importance is the symbolism, though, so we should probably work in reverse. Basically, figure out what we want to "say" with our gift, then from there think of something that fits into that somehow.
Like, if we want to say to the Crab "we wanna be good neighbors with you", and present them with a branch of a tree from the Shinomen Mori, and talk about the shared concerns it represents; that sort of thing, I believe.
Like, if we want to say to the Crab "we wanna be good neighbors with you", and present them with a branch of a tree from the Shinomen Mori, and talk about the shared concerns it represents; that sort of thing, I believe.
al103
Grumpy Russian Bear (SV edition)
- Location
- Russia, Krasnoyarsk
No, they are not. Merchants are Heimin as Peasants are... but at the same status as Ashigaru are Buke. While Ashigaru are not Heimin ("any more" in case of 1st gen) their status is not far from them. In the same way while Merchants are not Hinin in mind of many they are not that far from upper level Hinin like high-class Entertainers.
Now, Merchants are often enough quite wealthy and as result important which creates a bit of controversy, but so do famous Geisha glory rating.
Last edited:
Wade Garrett
Just trying to do the right thing
- Pronouns
- He/His/Him
Wait a minute. The criminal mastermind of our city is named "Brother Tiger".
Brother TIGER.
I'm not saying we have a Kolat problem....but we've probably got a Kolat problem.
Brother TIGER.
I'm not saying we have a Kolat problem....but we've probably got a Kolat problem.
- Location
- Connecticut
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Hey, it could be something else! You don't know!
al103
Grumpy Russian Bear (SV edition)
- Location
- Russia, Krasnoyarsk
*looks at previous ruler of the town*
Not surprising. At all.
...
Nor them only making situation worse.
...
Well, they are Rokugani Cerberus after all. Of course they make situation worse. "For the better of humanity".
Last edited:
- Location
- Canada
What about giving the crab a gift of raw jade? They were complaining about the other clans not giving them enough before right?
- Location
- Connecticut
- Pronouns
- He/Him
The Otomo are probably the family least likely to be involved with the Kolat - but Genryu definitely could have made it easier for them to operate.
al103
Grumpy Russian Bear (SV edition)
- Location
- Russia, Krasnoyarsk
More like "Hantei making life of the city utter shit" which makes it good base.
- Location
- Connecticut
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Possible, though you would probably want to come up with a clever way of selling it so that it doesn't look like you're giving a practical gift (which is a huge no-no). Maybe using it as a protective item to keep the 'real gift' from being tainted, and telling them that they can keep the box?
It would however be seen as a definite firm statement of alliance with the Crab, with a subtext of 'we think we're more honorable than you, other Clans'. May be less under the radar than people hope.
Wade Garrett
Just trying to do the right thing
- Pronouns
- He/His/Him
All this agonizing over what to give who without pissing somebody else off...
What if we just give everybody a bottle of sake? Like, good sake, in really artistic looking bottles with stylized pictures of catfish on them.
Everybody likes sake!
What if we just give everybody a bottle of sake? Like, good sake, in really artistic looking bottles with stylized pictures of catfish on them.
Everybody likes sake!
- Location
- Connecticut
- Pronouns
- He/Him
.... That's pretty good, actually. Might not be what you want to give the Emperor or your hosts, but as a gift to other delegations it basically says 'hey, come drink with us! Zakyo Toshi is a great place to go on vacation! We just want to be friends and have a good time!'
Last edited:
- Location
- Perth, Western Australlia
On the gift option.
Is there anyway we can capitalize on the recently demonstrated and currently probably heavily inspired artistic talents of the Geisha?
I am thinking along the lines of small paintings, works of calligraphy, poetry etc.
Not sure if clans / nobles care too much on the source of such gifts but if the source was found it could either work with what we are establishing, eg turning the Geisha into semi respectable artists, or backfire spectacularly.
On gifts themselves, I think the gift for the Emperor should be special but following that we should either not bring gifts for the other clans or bring ones of a similar nature for all the clans.
Is there anyway we can capitalize on the recently demonstrated and currently probably heavily inspired artistic talents of the Geisha?
I am thinking along the lines of small paintings, works of calligraphy, poetry etc.
Not sure if clans / nobles care too much on the source of such gifts but if the source was found it could either work with what we are establishing, eg turning the Geisha into semi respectable artists, or backfire spectacularly.
On gifts themselves, I think the gift for the Emperor should be special but following that we should either not bring gifts for the other clans or bring ones of a similar nature for all the clans.
That does sound pretty good, and would keep the agonizing/debating about what to gift to a minimum.
I'd definitely support a solution like that.
Though, that means we still need to think of proper gifts for the Emperor and the host.
I liked the idea of a sort of figurine carved from the wood of the boat that carried the Emperor to safety. Or, if not a figurine, then perhaps something else, like a box?
- Location
- Connecticut
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Geisha are typically performers rather than artisans. They're both 'artistic', but the geishas' emphasis is definitely on the former rather than the latter.
Jade Sake box for the Crab?
Everyone gets a small box of sake, with the box customized to each of their interests where we know them?
E: Or just plain sake in artsy bottles, everyone likes booze!
Anyway, since I'll be going to bed soon, and gift choosing takes a lot more thought, I'd vote for the other parts first while the thread hashes out symbolism.
[X] The most skilled in battle
Well, we HAVE sparred with the Crab champion, and then gone out drinking. Our claim to fame was defending the emperor's life.
Thus, the Catfish bringing their best warriors, in spanking new gear with nice big sticks, reminds the court of our heroism, and martial accomplishments.
[X] Bring Boss Koibu. It will hurt not having him at home in Wave Province, but he is completely unobjectionable as a choice of person to bring, and you do sort of want the Emperor to get the chance to meet him.
Bringing Hatsuyuki can leverage on the legendary success of the theater...but this is our first Winter Court. Our objective is to avoid pissing enough people off. Bringing a non-person can be a shocking statement that we can capitalize on while the whole court is confused or the faux pas of the century.
Besides, we praised Koibu to the high heavens to the Emperor. It'd be remiss not to let them meet.
Last edited: