"A tournament, eh?" Suzume Kirika replies, "an interesting proposition to be sure; but what is this about the Mantis's new position?  For some reason I doubt that you are simply speaking of their newly minted Great Clan status."

"You would be correct," Sumi admitted. "It is not only that but in largest part it is the Mantis being given the right to represent the minor clans in court."

"And now we come to the crux of the matter," Suzume Kirika replies, sipping her tea, "the Crane were indifferent representatives at best, biased in their own interests at worst, but there was never any danger to the Minor Clans because we were so far beneath their notice.  The Mantis are a different matter altogether, and I am not so certain that this 'Minor Clan Tournament' that you are proposing will not be to our disadvantage in the long run...

"Very well," the Sparrow courtier replies after some thought, "the Sparrow will consider your offer, but only if Yoritomo-sama himself gives his word that the Mantis will not attempt to absorb or annex any of the Minor Clans that do not specifically request such a favor."

OOC:  Make an Awareness/Courtier (Political Maneuvering or Manipulation) check

<edited>
This message was last edited by the player at 16:43, Thu 14 Jan 2010.

OOC:  the Yoritomo that Kirika is referring to is Yoritomo himself, Champion of the Mantis Clan (I only mention this because Kirika knows that its unlikely that he said any such thing since there's no way that he could have known that the Crane would give the Mantis representation of the Minor Clans ^_^)
Her two major concerns are 1) the Mantis will use their new status to wrangle concessions from the remaining Minor Clans and 2) the tournament will be a way to set the Minor Clans against one another to make it easier for the Mantis to take advantage of them

OOC: Okay, I edited it then to read:

"I have been assured that Yoritomo-sama has no such goals in mind. This is an attempt to bring unity and strength to the minor clans as a whole. The Mantis will only profit in this if everyone does since they will be absorbing all the costs." Sumi explained to Kirika. "May I ask however, if Suzume-san is not so certain of the tournament's results, how can she be certain that it will not be to her advantage in the long run?"

Tsuruchi Sumi rolled 22 using 6d10 with rolls of 9, 8 & 5 (keeping the 3 highest rolls, rerolling max).

"The Sparrow have labored for generations to maintain our independence, Tsuruchi-san," Suzume Kirika replies, "the Three Man Alliance proved that we could do so, even against the Great Clans, but not without the help of the other Minor Clans.  So naturally we look with caution on anything proposed by anything proposed by a Great Clan--even one so newly minted as the Mantis."

"You make a very good point Suzume-san," Sumi told her honestly. "However, The Mantis, as you said, are newly minted as a great clan. Meaning that until very recently they were a minor clan and have not forgotten their roots. They understand as Yoritomo-sama does, what it means to be a minor clan. And because of that they desire to support those of the station from which they came. If you do not believe in the altruistic motives behind this offer, think of it this way, what would benefit the newest great clan more, to leave the other minor clans to their fates and forget them, or to bring them all together into one unified front. Would that not be equal to another great clan in itself? It is true that the Mantis is not doing this out of pure selflessness, they are doing this in hopes to gather support and build future allies."

"You make several good points, Tsuruchi-san," Kirika agrees grudgingly, "and have given me much to consider.  I will present your proposal to my superiors with fidelity.  It is likely that they will have many of the same concerns that I have, but the Sparrow are unlikely allow timidity to override our curiosity."

Sumi smiled and bowed her head briefly to Kirika. "Thank you Suzume-san. No one could ever claim that the Sparrow are at all timid. I await their decision and hope to see the Sparrow at the tournament."

"Oh, the Sparrow will be there," Suzume Kirika replies wryly, "the only question is whether or not we'll be participating or just watching others win the glory."

"Ah, I see. Of course you are right Suzume-san, that is the question of which I wait anxiously to discover the answer." Sumi replied pleasantly, seeming about finished. She then paused and continued sounding apologetic. "However, may I ask for curiosity, what could it hurt you to participate. If I gave the impression that there was a penalty for failing to win, I must apologize. It was not my intent."

"You've piqued my curiosity and pricked my pride, Tsuruchi-san," Suzume Kirika smiles, "and if it were entirely my decision, the Sparrow--or at least this Sparrow--would face the Mantis challenge with enthusiasm.  But it's not my decision, and my daimyo will make his decision in his own time."

Sumi smiled. She considered this meeting a success. The answer she had was likely the best one she was going to get. She gave Suzume Kirika a grateful bow and rose to her feet. "Thank you for your gracious hospitality Suzume-san. I do hope your daimyo will see it worthwhile to come. I look forward to seeing the Sparrow there. If you will forgive me though, I believe I must be going. Something of this importance demands much preparation."

"Of course, Tsuruchi-san," Kirika bows, "I wish you good fortune in your endeavor."

OOC:  now where do you want to go?

Sumi bowed her head politely on the way out. "Domo Suzume-san. May you find good fortune as well."

Outside, Sumi considered where next to visit and decided at length to visit the Usagi family of the Hare clan.

Only a few years after the reestablishment of their Clan, the Hare prospered during the tumultuous time of the Clan War.  Though no Clan survived the Clan War unscathed, and the Minor Clans suffered even more than the Great Clans, the Hare's fortunes are clearly on the rise rather than on the decline.

"Well, Tsuruchi-san," Usagi Tsuki says neutrally, after the appropriate greetings have been made, "what brings you to the Hare?"

"Usagi-san," Sumi began once the introductory pleasantries were over. "I have come to invite you to a tournament that the Mantis Clan are hosting in order to celebrate and showcase the skills of the minor clans." Sumi was actually feeling a bit under-prepared for this and the other meetings, she should have spent the time to get gifts.

Usagi Tsuki simply stares at you for a moment in nearly open mouthed shock.

"And what exactly is Yoritomo-sama's interest in this showcase?" she asks, "forgive my bluntness, Tsuruchi-san, but this seems...uncharacteristically generous of the Mantis Champion."

"These are unusual times for Yoritomo-sama and due to recent fortunes he has reason to be uncharacteristically generous." Sumi explained.

"The Usagi are a Clan of Bushi, Tsuruchi-san," Tsuki replies testily, "not courtiers, but I get the feeling that you're not just talking about his ascension to Great Clan Champion."

"Usagi-san is very astute." Sumi said in way of compliment. "I was not only referring to that but other fortunes as well. The Mantis clan has awarded the position to represent the minor clans. In celebration of this Yoritomo-sama has chosen to host the tournament. It is because the Usagi are renowned for their bushi that you were my first choice of clans to approach with the news."

"It seems Yoritomo-sama's ambition is truly as boundless as I have hear it rumored," Usagi Tsuki replies, raising an eyebrow, "but as long as it does not interfere with the Hare's duty, there will be no objection from us.

Now, this tournament is another matter," she continues, "what benefit is there to us for participation?  I'm not just asking about the prize--though that would be a consideration, but not one that I expect you to answer here and now--but what is the purpose of the tournament?"

"Ah, but it often takes great ambition to accomplish great things," Sumi commented after Tsuki's initial statement.

"The purpose of the tournament is to provide a place for the each of the minor clans to demonstrate their skills and abilities outside of any context of clan standing. It is Yoritomo's belief, as it is my own, that the minor clans' skills are often overlooked as a matter of course by the great clans simply because of their status as a minor clan. This tournament is perhaps a step toward remedying that."

"An interesting proposal to say the least," the Usagi muses, "and will Yoritomo-sama be inviting visitors from the Great Clans to observe our skills?"