[L5R] Minor Clan Quest

[storybookknight]

[X] Crab

If yesterday was a busy day for the Face Of The East, today is completely frantic. There are samurai seemingly everywhere, all of the Clans who had not yet made it to Crab lands seemingly pouring in all at once. The Dragons appear to have overcome their fear of walking in the rain, for you see many of them congregating with samurai from the Lion and Crane. The far-off Phoenix have arrived, elegant in their red and orange robes; Unicorn samurai walk by bearing the strange scimitar that look so like, and yet somehow unlike, the blades that nearly slew your Emperor.

Somehow, when you asked for a meeting with a Crab, you had sort of assumed that you would be meeting one of the daimyo that you had met before, or even the Clan Champion. It is with a belated realization that they must all be incredibly busy right now that you open the door of the Castle meeting room to see a man much closer to your age.

Spoiler: Yasuki Nakura

He smiles pleasantly as he sees you, any trace of the extreme overwork he must be experiencing right now absent from his expression. "Good morning, Namazu-dono. I am Yasuki Nakura, son of Daimyo Yasuki Kuroda. Have you eaten rice?"

"I have, Yasuki-dono. Thank you. I apologize for taking up so much of your time so soon before the Winter Court begins," you say with a bow.

He continues to smile and returns the bow, saying "Not at all, Namazu-dono. You are an important friend and ally to the Crab. We are happy to make the time if we can assist in some small way."

Almost despite yourself, you are impressed by Nakura's sincerity. It is more than possible that he is merely stating a polite fiction, but if such is the case you can detect no trace of it in his words. In any case, though he basically offered to spare you as much time as you wanted, from the lack of tea or other refreshments in the room you conclude that this is one of those offers that you probably shouldn't take your hosts up on for politeness' sake, and resolve to be brief. After a few more diplomatic exchanges for propriety, you say "I realize that you have many tasks, Yasuki-dono, so I will let you know what brought me here so that you can get back to your duties."

"You are too kind, Namazu-dono." Nakura says with an easy, open expression. "Please, go ahead."

You return his smile, inwardly marveling at how different things appear to be now that your status is that of a Clan Champion. Simply to have a handsome man smiling at you at all was a difficult feat to accomplish before your ascension, given the stains upon your face and honor. Now it is almost a matter of course. "First of all, I wanted to convey my sincere thanks for your hospitality," you say, to which he inclines his head in acknowledgement. "It is no small thing for former ronin to be greeted with such grace and friendliness. Too many clans would simply see us as an obligation that they have to discharge, in your place, and the Catfish are mindful of that. It gives us every hope for a continuing friendship into the future."

"On behalf of the Crab, then, I welcome your thanks." Nakura says, adding "We, too would like to continue our friendship, and wish to build upon this relationship in the future so that there can be lasting peace and prosperity between us."

You nod in return at his response. "Happily Yasuki-dono, lasting prosperity between us is one of the reasons for which I requested this meeting today." His eyes sharpen at this, the canny glint of a trader who knows his business. "We are interested in developing more formal trade relationships between our clans. As you are no doubt aware from the many other relationships that the Yasuki have developed over the years, a young Clan needs a great many things in order to succeed. While we have such things as food and lumber, and can trade with others for things like silk; steel, stone, expertise - all of these are things that the Crab have in abundance."

"An older Clan needs just as many things to succeed as a younger Clan does, I assure you Namazu-dono! I can think of many things that you mentioned that would be of use to us as well." He says with a laugh, but somehow you can tell that his jocularity is more affected than before, covering a calculating instinct. "Of course such arrangements are not carried out in an afternoon, nor typically by such esteemed personages as yourself - I assume that you are simply notifying us of your desire to set up an appointment for a more formal discussion in the future?"

"Indeed, Yasuki-dono, you have grasped the matter quite well." You say with a smile. "I have brought with me to the Face of the East my steward, Namazu Yu. If you are open to such negotiations, I can send him to meet with you or another representative of the Yasuki to discuss."

He smiles once more, trader's mannerisms once again concealed beneath a diplomat's facade. "The Yasuki are always open to such negotiations, especially with friends of the Crab."

"Splendid." You say. "In that case, I had only one other request." Nakura tilts his head and waits politely for you to continue, so you do. "Is there a way for the Catfish to be of service to our allies the Crab in this Winter Court?" His eyes widen slightly - he seems almost surprised by the offer. "I realize that we are but a young Minor Clan, of little influence to the Court in the great scheme of things, but even so there may be a way that we can assist you. If you have one such in mind, please do not hesitate to share it."

He leans back, placing the weight of his body over where his heels are underneath him. "To tell you the truth, Namazu-dono, there may be. You may underestimate how much influence the words of a Hero of the Empire might have. I will convey your willingness to help to my father; it is possible that he will have a clearer idea of how you may help, but simply declaring your respect and support for us is no small thing."

You wave off his statement. "My, Nakura-dono, how unfair of you, to ask of me only what I was going to do anyways." You give him a smile to let him know that you were teasing, and he takes the jest in good humor.

After a few more pleasantries, the meeting ends, and you return to your quarters to prepare for the opening ceremonies of the Winter Court. You take the time to locate the grand hall, a large open space with a balcony surrounding it that seems almost cavernous at the moment, though you know it will be truly crowded tomorrow.

While you will need to stand in front of all of Rokugan's nobility for at least part of the opening ceremony in order to exchange gifts, and perhaps again if the Emperor decides to give you your ancestral blade separately, for the rest of the ceremony you and your delegation will be permitted to mingle freely. Where and how will your delegation stand during the ceremony?

[ ] As one group.
- [ ] On the ground floor, towards the back. A safe and respectable location, where you can mingle without giving offense.
- [ ] On the ground floor, towards the front. Many leaders of the clans will be there, where you can meet & greet them.
- [ ] On the balcony. You will be able to observe much more easily, but may risk setting yourself apart from the 'action'.
- [ ] Near a particular delegation (write-in).
- [ ] Avoiding a particular delegation (write-in).

[ ] Split into two groups. Splitting further than two would be unwise and suggest disunity, but since Koibu is with you and is a daimyo, he can take half and you can take half.
- [ ] Tsubaki's group will contain (write-in) and stand (write-in, as above.)
- [ ] Koibu's group will contain (write-in) and stand (write-in, as above.)

Are there any last minute preparations that you would like to make?
[ ] Yes. (write-in)
[ ] No.

 

[Happerry]

Personally, I'm inclined to stick to a group and not split the party, while positioning us towards the back. I don't think we have any last minute preparations planned?

 

[veekie]

[X] As one group.
- [X] On the ground floor, towards the front. Many leaders of the clans will be there, where you can meet & greet them.

Remember, we're the most recent Hero of the Empire. We saved the Emperor months ago, and barring any political drama, the gossip will be around us.

Lets capitalize on it a little.

 

[Dirtnap]

[X] As one group.
- [X] On the ground floor, towards the front. Many leaders of the clans will be there, where you can meet & greet them.

This doesn't seem like a bad idea, we are relatively recent...though positioning ourselves in the front might earn us some looks by the Major Clans.

 

[Kelenas]

[X] As one group.
- [X] On the ground floor, towards the front. Many leaders of the clans will be there, where you can meet & greet them.

Somewhat hesitant, but I can also see the appeal. Not really sure about any last-minute preparations, though.

 

[storybookknight]

[X] As one group.
- [X] On the ground floor, towards the front. Many leaders of the clans will be there, where you can meet & greet them.

This doesn't seem like a bad idea, we are relatively recent...though positioning ourselves in the front might earn us some looks by the Major Clans.

Click to shrink...

That is the danger. Putting yourself up front will definitely make you more of a target. On the other hand, you get to be up front where you can see & be seen. High risk, high reward.

 

[Random Member]

[X] As one group.
- [X] On the ground floor, towards the back. A safe and respectable location, where you can mingle without giving offense.

 

[Wade Garrett]

That is the danger. Putting yourself up front will definitely make you more of a target. On the other hand, you get to be up front where you can see & be seen. High risk, high reward.

Click to shrink...

A samurai is never more than three feet away from death.

[X] As one group.
- [X] On the ground floor, towards the front. Many leaders of the clans will be there, where you can meet & greet them.

 

[Terrastorm]

[X] As one group.
- [X] On the ground floor, towards the front. Many leaders of the clans will be there, where you can meet & greet them.

 

[storybookknight]

Fair warning, ladies and gents. I anticipate this being a longer than usual update, so if I miss my streak of a story post every day since Feb 15th, don't get too concerned.

EDIT: Well that's embarrassing. I actually missed a couple days in there. And here I go bragging... XP

 

[The king Chad]

[X] As one group.
- [X] On the ground floor, towards the front. Many leaders of the clans will be there, where you can meet & greet them.

 

[EtchedSteel]

[X] As one group.
- [X] On the ground floor, towards the back. A safe and respectable location, where you can mingle without giving offense.

 

[Snow]

[x] As one group.
- [x] On the ground floor, towards the front. Many leaders of the clans will be there, where you can meet & greet them.

I usually prefer the safer option, but in this case I think this might be an acceptable risk. Such opportunities don't come very often, after all.

 

[lavanderjasmine]

[x] As one group.
- [x] On the ground floor, towards the front. Many leaders of the clans will be there, where you can meet & greet them.

 

[Mina]

[X] As one group.
- [X] On the ground floor, towards the front. Many leaders of the clans will be there, where you can meet & greet them.

 

[Night]

Do we want to stand near anyone? If we do, I'd nominate the Crab, simply because we're nominally allied with them.

 

[Hobbes]

[X] As one group.
- [X] On the ground floor, towards the front. Many leaders of the clans will be there, where you can meet & greet them.

Are there any last minute preparations that you would like to make?
Is there any way we could prepare for if the Crane try to put us down or dishonor us?

 

[veekie]

Is there any way we could prepare for if the Crane try to put us down or dishonor us?

Click to shrink...

Not much. We're currently riding on our recent fame, which makes dishonoring us difficult except by baiting.

 

[storybookknight]

[X] As one group, on the ground floor, towards the front.

You awake early. It is not precisely noise that awakens you, nor sunlight, but a generalized sense of anxiety that seems to sweep through The Face Of The East as dawn breaks and the hundreds of guests in the castle, and the hundreds more of host samurai and servants all begin to prepare themselves for the supremely important opening ceremonies. You almost contemplate going back to sleep, but with wakefulness comes the pressing biological need to make water, and with reluctance you drag yourself out of your warm futon and prepare to face what is potentially the single most important day that you have faced since being granted Championship of the Catfish.

After eating a quick breakfast of rice and pickled vegetables, you begin to prepare. First, there is the kimono - you wrap yourself in every layer with care, grateful that Auntie Hatsuyuki gave you the practice you need to put a formal kimono on correctly and that you know how to wear the multiple heavy layers comfortably. On your back, you wear the Mon of the Catfish Clan. On your left shoulder, an empty circle symbolizing your unknown heritage, picked out in black and red to hint at its possible origin for those with keen eyes. Your sleeves have the two Mon of the two schools in which you studied, though neither is likely to be recognized - the right has the black and white fish of the Warakkoi-Gumi 'dojo', whereas the left has the emblem of the Silken Song. Finally, over your right shoulder lies your personal Mon, a stylized Camellia flower.

Kimono donned, you then see to your face, carefully following Auntie Hatsuyuki's teachings. A slight bit of dark blue over each eye, accenting the stain over your eye rather than hiding it. Your eyebrows are carefully plucked for any stray hairs and then darkened with charcoal, your cheeks and forehead dusted lightly with rice powder, and your lips stained lightly with crushed rose petals to bring out their redness. The cumulative effect is such that what Auntie calls your 'natural beauty' is accented without hiding your appearance.

Your companions similarly garb themselves for battle, though none prepare to the same extent that you do. Yu looks uncomfortable in the truly expensive kimono that he wears; Koibu looks quite natural in his, but you can tell that he also has a lingering sense of unease. Chouko has elected for a very simple robe (though still of high quality) to emphasize her spiritual duties, while Minato and Wakaba have both elected to attend in loose, free kimono as though they were members of your yojimbo; Minato so that he can stand out as their leader, and Wakaba so that she can blend into the background.

With everyone assembled and ready, you walk into the corridor and begin heading towards the grand audience chamber. Unlike your previous quick trip to verify the location of the chamber (a needless precaution in hindsight, but one that eased your mind at the time) the hallways are now packed with foreign samurai. The lords of Rokugan queue up politely, waiting their turns to hand their weapons over to the sword polishers waiting at the entranceway to the chamber. The wait gives you the time to examine the castle in detail; like Maemikake, the decoration here is dour and depressing, holding many memorials to fallen heroes of the Crab.

Unlike Maemikake, the hallways of Shiro Kaotsuki no Higashi are weaponized. One entire hallway has been built with the stone of its walls polished to a mirror sheen, and then carved with name after name after name of those fallen in service to the Crab - an entire hallway, dedicated solely to the defense of Rokugan during the last century of 'peace', not even counting the terrible losses against the Maw. You turn the corner, only to see a trophy room of artifacts recovered from the forces of the Shadowlands, carefully shielded with paper wards against any spirits of evil that might be attracted to a room full of such fell items (and conveniently allowing the Crab to check their guests for the Taint without hitting them all in the face with Jade Strikes, you think cynically.) You walk past tainted katana so rusted the original owner could not be identified, past Kaiu armor with obsidian arrowheads still piercing all the way through solid steel, past the enormous and terrible skulls of mighty Oni.

"They moved some screens - this wasn't the same route we took last night," whispers Wakaba.

"It might not be the route that we take every time, either," you whisper back. "At the very least, they'll probably change the art exhibit to something less unsettling." Or so you hope, anyways. If nothing else, it's probably unlikely that they can keep those wards up all winter. Struck by a sudden urge of the perverse, you slow your steps down slightly, taking the time to examine some of the trophies even as the line backs up behind you, forcing the Clan Samurai who were slower to move in the morning to take just that much extra time in the hallways of the Crab. The Kuni shugenja chanting quietly in one corner to maintain the wards does not pause, but you see his lip twitch in a brief smirk before subsiding.

Before long however, the line ahead of you has moved up to a sufficient degree that you simply must move forwards, and you walk through a hallway decorated with shattered blades before reaching the front doors to the audience chamber, where the blade polishers are collecting the weapons of the guests before they are allowed entrance. You hand over your swords without complaint - for all that you are wearing an elaborate kimono, you chose to wear your katana as well as your wakizashi, making the statement that you are prepared to defend yourself in a duel if need be. Freed of the encumbering weight of your weapons, you walk into the grand audience chamber.

The sight before you is awe-inspiring. There are at least one hundred samurai in the room before you, and the line is only halfway through the doors. The Phoenix who entered before you appear to have taken a position on the balcony above, perhaps signifying a desire to be 'above it all'. The Lion and the Crane are also here as well, standing right in front as the Emperor's Right and Left hands, so that anyone else who desires to take up space at the front of the assembly will have to place themselves directly between the two most prominent clans in the Empire. You have little doubt that the space is intended for their temporary allies the Dragon... but your mind is made up. You will take a place at the front of the room, trading upon your heroic reputation to buy acceptance for your ambitious bid.

Upon first appearances, the Crane look like nothing more than a bunch of old women. Doji Ran, Champion of the Crane, is nearly so old that she no longer needs to bleach her hair to match her Clan traditions. Standing as she has for so many years upon a battlefield where a misstep could mean her life, it is a powerful statement to both her skill, and the skill of the Kakita yojimbo. Kakita Kei, daimyo of the Kakita family stands beside her; like Ran, he is far older than any but the best duelists can ever expect to reach. But the effect of both of them standing next to the similarly aged Daimyo Asahina Arako is almost comical, as though the Crane have emptied their temples of their monks, or their schools of their sensei, in order to send a delegation here. You wish that you knew more about why so many of the Crane have persisted in their positions past the age of forty rather than retiring to teach the next generation; do they lack confidence in their heirs? Of the family daimyo leading the Crane, Daidoji Kennosuke appears the youngest, and even he appears to stand on the downhill side of thirty.

The Lion are similarly interesting, because unlike your delegation and that of the Crane, their delegation is split. Only the Ikoma and Akodo stand at the front of the room, while the Kitsu, Matsu, and Shimizu families gather more to the rear. You had heard some rumor that the Shimizu were at war with the Akodo over some province or another, and of course the enmity between the Matsu and the Kakita of the Crane is well known, but perhaps the Lion are not as united against the Crab as it originally seemed? Unlike the Crab, the delegations of the Lion are not nearly so aged. The Champion Akodo Hibiki is a man perhaps slightly older than you, powerfully built, with a bushy mustache and a very traditional topknot. Akodo Hatsume and Ikoma Ganryu are even younger than he, the latter with his hair died brown in imitation of a Lion's mane.

As you examine your neighbors, you are suddenly interrupted. "Namazu-dono," one of the Cranes calls out to you, "It might be better for you to stand a step back. It would not do to give the wrong impression that you think yourself equal of the Crane." Looking at the Crane in question, he seems young and not as elaborately dressed as some of his fellows; you venture to guess that he is not part of the leadership of the Crane, although you wish you were better at reading family Mon than you are.

"I believe you are mistaken," you riposte. "For you are standing quite close to the stage yourself, and I feel certain that you do not intend to state that your rank is higher than that of Bayushi Yamato-sama or Shiba Chinatsu-sama." You glance significantly at the Scorpions at the rear of the ground floor, and the Phoenix on the distant balcony. His face hardens, and you proceed to ignore him, striking up a meaningless conversation with Koibu that the Crane Courtier is of too low status to interrupt.

For a few seconds it almost seemed like someone of the Lion would come to intervene, but Shinjo Shakaguchi deftly leads the Unicorn right into the empty spot between your delegation and theirs, thus thoroughly fouling up whatever potential plans the Dragon might have had to stand near their allies. Her face contorts in an unusual fashion, one eye closing with the other still open, as though she were trying to preserve her night vision against a lit torch. "Oi, Namazu-dono, ain't it?" she says, swinging out an arm towards you before tucking it behind her back hastily and bowing. Her features are weatherbeaten and proud, and she walks with a pronounced rounded gait from many years in the saddle, but for all of that she seems even younger than you. Her dark eyes sparkle in a merry fashion as you return her greeting. "Was wonderin' when we'd get the chance t'meet our new neighbors to the southeast. Y' settlin' in awright? Gotcher new Clan Lands all sorted 'n all that?" Her voice is heavily accented and strange, but it holds a genuine warmth and friendliness.

It is an emotion completely at odds with the wave of resentment that you feel from her, an emotion that could be naked hatred if it had a deeper personal element to it. It's in a situation like this where your gift is paradoxically least useful - right now it is impossible to tell if the Champion of the Unicorn hates you, is being nice to you in an attempt to embarrass a hated foe such as the Lion or Crane, or simply encountered someone upsetting a few minutes ago and has not yet returned to a state of calm. The many people in this chamber and the strong emotions that they all carry do not ease interpretation in any way. You smile politely at the Champion regardless, as whatever else occurs it would not do to be rude. "We have made great progress," you say in answer to her question, "but there remains much to be done."

As you share small talk with a woman who possibly conceals a deep and powerful enmity from you, you see the last few delegations trickle in to the chamber. The Dragon, foiled by your move towards 'their' spot (if such was even their intent) head to the opposite balcony of the Phoenix, while the Crab fill in much of the space along the back. You are a bit surprised by that fact until you notice that none of the daimyo of the Crab are with the delegation in the rear, and conclude that they must be taking spots on the stage as is their right as hosts just in time to see them enter the room, stage right. Conversation hushes as the leadership of the Crab takes its places at the front of the room, and then stills to nothing as a herald of the Miya family takes center stage. "All bow for Hantei Hantetsu, Emperor of Rokugan, thirty-first of his name!"

You bow along with everyone else as the Emperor walks out, appearing much improved since you saw him last. He is wearing the elaborate emerald and chrysanthemum robes of his station, the robes finely embroidered with golden wire and affixed with literal emeralds, seemingly all over. On his brow sits the Imperial crown, a circlet of beaten gold that is finely shaped to resemble a wreath of chrysanthemum. The whole ensemble must be terrifically heavy, but the Emperor is used to wearing full armor and kabuto, and moves in the heavy regalia without any apparent difficulty. He takes the center of the stage, and kneels on the cushion there. The herald clears his throat. "All rise!"

His job apparently done, he steps aside for a man wearing the Mon of the Crane over an armor of Emerald green. This, then is the Emerald Champion, Doji Raizen. Looking between him and Doji Ran, you have a sudden intuitive burst of understanding as to why Ran has kept her position for so long. Apparently, her son currently has other duties. He looks out at you all, the assembled leaders of the Empire, and speaks. "Welcome, honored guests, to the twelfth Winter Court of the Thirty-First Hantei. I am Doji Raizen, the Emerald Champion, and the coordinator of events for this winter, though of course a great deal of assistance has and will continue to be rendered to me by our hosts among the Crab. To show his gratitude to the Crab for their graciousness in hosting such an auspicious event, the Emperor would like to begin by presenting gifts to our hosts."

You watch as Hantetsu stands and collects a wrapped bundle from one of the Otomo family members that have slipped in on the stage behind him. He unveils it to show a portrait of a woman in Kuni facepaint, a truly accurate one judging by the reactions from the Crab delegation. "As thanks for hosting the Winter Court, I offer you the services of a painter sworn to my service, the renowned Tsi Wang Ha, so that all can see the truth of the bravery of the Crab." As he goes through the ritual of refusals with the Crab, your mind races. From Auntie Hatsuyuki's education, you know that a gift between samurai almost always contains subtle messages and hidden implications. To you, the choice of a painter to 'record the truth' - specifically one from none of the major clans - sends a message that Hantetsu is being neutral, that he wishes to listen to facts rather than be swayed by arguments... but you're no expert. For what it's worth, the Crab seem not entirely displeased with the gift.

That is not the case with the next few gifts. The Dragon, Crane, and Lion all give the Crab finely crafted gifts... that would be most suitable for a child. A prayer mat, so that a youthful student who has not yet learned to ignore pain in his knees can meditate. A child-sized biwa, though far finer than any biwa you have seen for even an adult up until now. And a bokuto, of all things - engraved as though it were a work of art, to be sure, but there is still an incredible insult behind the gift. All three delegations also phrased the reason for their gift as 'a hope that the next generation will grow up well' - something that causes your friend Hida Tanaka's face to darken. Come to think of it, you don't actually know if he is married.... Each delegation receives a gift in turn, ornamental boxes filled with tea, the first flush leaves from the famed tea-fields of the Crab.

The rest of the gift exchange goes much more peacefully, with what appear to be genuine gifts being traded back and forth with the Phoenix, Unicorn, and Scorpion gifting the sworn services of Shiba yojimbo for Kuni shugenja, some Gaijin artifacts, and a puzzle-box respectively, each receiving the same elegant boxes of first-flush tea in return. The Fox's offering is a bit snarky - a small bag of rice, blessed by the Kitsune shugenja so that the Crab's fields may grow well, with a clear accompanying message of 'grow more food so you don't have to steal ours, you assholes'. It gets even snarkier when the Sparrow and Hare give very similar gifts - without the blessings of the kami. The Sparrow pouch is particularly small, as if trying to say that they in particular had very little to spare. Alone among the Minor Clans invited, the Mantis offer a truly extravagant gift, a very large chest of spices that are each probably worth more per ounce than gold. Despite the spices' valuable nature, Hida Tanaka doesn't look particularly happy with them - perhaps they are a reminder of a trade agreement that the Yasuki failed to reach? Again, the Minor Clans receive boxes of tea identical to those received by the Great Clans.

From your vantage point front and center in the audience chamber, you manage to catch a glimpse of one of the boxes as it is carried past you. The boxes have inlay on the top that greatly resembles a tea-flower. A tea-flower, otherwise known as a Camellia, sometimes pronounced Tsubaki. It is a surprisingly subtle touch of thanks from the Crab, and you see a great many samurai around the room looking at you thoughtfully.

Under the gaze of hundreds of samurai, it is your turn to present a gift. You approach the dais with Koibu, and unwrap your gift. It is a boat oar, similar to the one you bore into Maemikake, but where yours was painted with the two fish of the Wakkakoi (and then covered with scorch marks and battle damage) this oar is pristinely painted with the family Mons of the Crab. You look at Tanaka and smile, and can see a growing smile in the depths of his eyes. "It was with an oar much like this one that I defended the Emperor from assassination months ago," you say, your voice ringing out clearly through the room. "Oars such as these are carried by my brothers in arms, to signify our devotion to the defense of the people of Rokugan. For true friends such as the Crab, I can think of no finer symbol to acknowledge your ever-constant defense of the Emperor and the People."

"To have already given us the Emperor, safe and sound, is more than gift enough," Hida Tanaka says, "There is no need to honor us further."

"Ah, but it would be rude of me to have given you the same gift twice, would it not?" You say. "Please, accept this humble token of our gratitude for your hospitality."

Tanaka smiles. "Did you not say that these oars were representatives of your brothers in arms?" He asks. "We cannot accept a gift that is meant for another."

You continue to hold the gift out, waiting for him to accept. "I still see no conflict, Hida-sama, for the Crab are brothers in arms to the Catfish in truth."

"Then I gratefully accept." Tanaka takes it with a bow, and then hands it to an aide standing behind him, receiving in return.... another oar. He unveils it to show that whereas your oar was a work of art, this oar is a weapon of war. The edges of the blade have been reinforced with steel bands, and the shaft similarly reinforced and weighted so as to increase the striking power without compromising strength. "In recognition of your emblem as the oar, and your defense of the Emperor with it, we present you in return with this oar that will never break, in the hopes that your Clan will similarly remain forever unbroken." It is all that you can do not to burst out laughing. The symmetry could not have been more perfect if it had been planned - though perhaps it was; you were not exactly subtle about ordering the oar made, and the Yasuki have many contacts in Zakyo Toshi. You go through another dance of refusals with Tanaka, this time with you on the receiving end, and accept the oar. It is plain to you as you take it that the oar is far too heavy to serve as a proper weapon, though you are strong enough to wield it as one in a case of dire need. No, this oar is an object of art, and a statement - especially as yours is the only Clan in the room not to have been gifted tea.

As the youngest Clan in the room, you were the last to present your gifts, and so as you step back the Emerald Champion once again steps forwards. "And now, will the guests please present their gifts to the Emperor." The Crab claim the first spot, as is their right as hosts, unveiling a magnificent statue of Hantetsu carved from the stone of the Wall itself, a statement that the Crab consider the Emperor as though he were one of them in spirit. The gifts offered to the thirty-first Hantei throw the gifts given to the Crab to shame. A nemuranai fan, enchanted by the fetish-masters of the Asahina. A ring set with an enormous Topaz, from a Lion who was once Topaz champion. A cast-off scale from the Elemental Dragon of Fire, found by an ise zumi following revelations in dreams. A very old and dusty mempo belonging to someone from history. The finest foals of the Unicorn herds. A beautiful painting from a renowned artist of the Soshi. And in each case, the Emperor grants gifts in return. Appointments to powerful positions, prestigious titles, the peerless crafts of the Tsi, sacred pieces of the History of the Empire.

Yet through it all, Hantetsu seems almost bored. You focus your inner gift upon him, trying to pick out his emotions from the crowds, and it feels as though he has seen it all before; there are a few genuine flashes of interest on some of the more unusual gifts, but by and large he seems to be a difficult person to impress. You look at your own gift, a simple woodcarving, and a few words of gratitude, and swallow heavily. At last it is your turn, and you do your best to stride forwards with a confidence that you do not feel. "Hantei-heika," you say, "You know best that we are but a new Clan, and a minor one. We cannot hope to offer you anything that is the equal of what has already come before us, and though our hospitality is pleasant we certainly have no Kyuden, no place worthy of hosting the Son of Heaven. This is why we have brought you this - a replica of the memorial to the allies of the Catfish that have fallen in its defense that even now stands in Zakyo Toshi. Seppun Yoshitsune, Seppun Akisame, Seppun Ao..." You go through the list of the fallen one by one, and you can feel that Hantetsu is sincerely affected by the gesture. "Their names will live on in the memory of the Catfish." You pause, letting a respectful silence spread throughout the chamber. "You are of course welcome to see the true memorial at any time, but as busy as your schedule is, we have done our best to allow you to see it right away."

Hantei refuses, saying that they only did their duty. You counter, saying that their duty was more than enough. He refuses again, with the excuse that there is no need to take the time to carve such an object, for he will surely come to see the true memorial as time permits. You counter again, saying that with the carving, he will not have to travel every time he wishes to look upon it. And so, he finally accepts.

Then he takes out your Ancestral Blade. He unsheathes it, the hiss of steel arresting in the sudden silence that permeates the room. The blade is brilliantly bright, wickedly sharp, and sings as he carves the air with it, once. Then he gently draws it across the back of his arm, takes a scrap of silk to clean the blade, and re-sheathes it with a snap. "Namazu-dono. This is truly no gift, but a solemn duty. Do you accept this Ancestral Blade as your own, to preserve as proof of your Clan, to be guarded until your dying breath?"

"Surely, Hantei-heika, there is no need to grant me a blade so fine." You manage to say. "I would guard even a tanto granted by your hand."

He does not smile, but you can feel amusement from him anyways. "Your deeds merit such a blade. Do you accept?"

Though the ritual of gift-giving is a time-honored tradition, the sternness of your Emperor's voice is almost enough to make you want to break from it. "I only did as my duty demanded, Hantei-heika. Surely, none would doubt your words - a blade such as this is far too fine."

"Every Clan bears an ancestral sword of its own," Hantei says, "And you will be no exception. Do you accept?"

"With immense gratitude," you reply, and accept it with a bow. It is light in your hands, perfectly balanced, the perfect length for your rangy frame. Only the fact that you are surrounded by unarmed, unarmored samurai keeps you from drawing it immediately. You instead merely belt it to your side. As the Emperor did not ask you to peace-bond the weapon or in any other way alter it, you have now joined the Seppun Guardsmen as one of the only armed people in the room - doubly so, with the massive tetsu-eku gifted to you by the Crab.

As you were again the last to present the gift, the Emerald Champion steps forward and addresses the crowd. "There will now be a recess for conversation," he says. "Any who wish to discuss the upcoming schedule with me can find me to the front of the room. Otherwise, please do as you will." And with that, the mingling begins.

What do you wish to do?
[ ] Write-in.

 

[Alectai]

Fairly strong start here. Locked down our good relations with the Emperor and the Crab with excellent picks after all, And the only ones we've really somewhat offended are the Crane--and let's be honest, they'd be annoyed with us on principle anyway--so it's no major loss.

 

[Dovahsith]

Welp, we just became a political message and may have offended the Dragon, Lion and Crane simultaneously. Good work team. Drinks are on me.

 

[Mina]

We need to have a girl's night with Shakaguchi.

 

[The king Chad]

I love it! Take that clans!


...don't kill or dishonor us all k thx bye.

 

[random_npc]

frankly I think the crane were going to be a bit hostile towards us no matter what. We are a new minor clan that has a pile of political capital to spend from saving the emperor, as well as the favor of the emperor himself, and we are well within the sphere of influence of both the crab and scorpion clans. So the crane know for a fact we are going to be spending that capital to aid there rivals since minor clans that don't buddy up to at least one neighboring great clan don't tend to last very long.

so we are valuable natural allies to there natural enemies, hopefully they will try and sabotage us using the political capital we got from saving the emperor to benefit the crab and leave it at that. so the best case scenario is them trying to embarrass us but leaving it at that, and the worst case scenario is they decide to make an example out of our clan to show what happens to anyone who tries to buddy up to the crab.

 

[Wade Garrett]

We need to have a girl's night with Shakaguchi.

Click to shrink...

You joke, but we need to do something with the third Great Clan we share a border with. In hindsight, it might have been a good idea not to completely ignore them when we were arranging our meetings with the Crab and Scorpion, but bridges, water under etc.

And of course it's also possible that this isn't just about us ignoring them completely, IIRC the Unicorn leadership has Kolat crawling through it like maggots in a dung pile and those guys have a major hatred for the Namazu anyway.