The Doji's words hit close to home whether he knew it or not.

"Battle reveals much, my student. It's effects have been studied by all wise minds at one time or another. Some like our brothers the Asahina and our cousins the Phoenix seek to eschew it altogether.

The truth as I have come to see it is this. Violence on it's own is not honorable. However the samurai in battle, may acquit himself as an honorable man. In many ways violence is inevitable, the Day of Thunder showed us this. However distasteful violence is, and it should always be a last resort, A samurai's purpose is to fight and protect both his Lord who shelters and feeds him and those beneath him for they are unable to.

So battle does not always reveal the honor of a Samurai, sometimes it reveals his worst sides. No one knows how they will acquit themselves. They may only prepare as best they can." Satoru says.

"Do you fear how you will acquit yourself?"

"I have seen battle, and I have played both the dragon and the tiger.* I am not yet an old man but I find myself dreading the day I must endure this test again. I have seen horors and glory, my body is covered with scares, and I have served my clan well. At the end of the day though I retire to the castle barracks, I have no home, no land or family. What good can come of a glorious death if I have no sons to remember? Whose prayers will guide my soul to yomi? I have tread on the borders of Toshigoku for almost a decade now and I fear my soul is destined to reside their forever."


*referance to yin and yang

Satoru frowns, "Poet's Masterpiece, Shall it never be complete until he is dead.

A worthy vassal is soon betrothed. Great honor has already been bestowed upon you, think of whose audience you had before we came to the Mantis. To be in the company of such people, and you doubt your fortunes, Doji-san?"

"Certinely you are correct Satoro sencei." Aki lets out a clensing breath. "All this preparation for war has iluminated the dark corners of my mind. I am blessed in serivce and have no wife because you cant find one in camp, now that I have gained a regular post things should progress as they are intended."  Then with a grin, "I could always hire a match maker!"

"Indeed, and the Doji themselves excel at that art. You are young my friend, far worse men have found a woman to give them children." Satoru said with a smile.

"WELL NOW!" booms a large samurai dressed in the colors of the Mantis and wearing the mon of the Yoritomo over his right breast, "I hear that the Crane have invited the Mantis to come and play with their Lion visitors!  I am Yoritomo Akuto, and I would hear more about this!"

Hideomoto follows Akuto into the room.

Satoru took stock of the Mantis man, this shall be a man that Akibieden, shall get thru to best he decided.

"Greetings Yoritomo-sama. May I present to you, Doji Akibieden, Crane Bushi, and myself, Satoru, an advisor to this city's Daimyo. We will be happy to give you whatever we know about our visitors. What in particular did you wish to know?"

"Details!  Doji-san, Asahina-san, and Satoru-san!" Yoritomo Akuto barks, "the Oni is in the details!  What are their numbers?  What are yours? Where will we meet them?  And what are you offering for our role in this fracas?"

"Indeed, details, Doji-san will brief you on the military aspects. But in addition to the glory of fighting against a foe like the Lion and allying with a clan like the Crane. The Crane would be very much inclined to help you in procuring the materials to make your embassy here truly magnificent." Satoru says.

 [Private to Asahina Jiro; Doji Akibieden; Kaze no Kage; Tsuruchi Hidemoto: OOC: Did Jiro come back in? And kaze do you want any sort of roll for this?]

This wont work on a man like this. he wants spear counts and how long can we hold out in a siege. "If I may use the tea set Yoritomo-sama," Aki pauses only long enuff to seem polite then starts arrangeing the tea set about the table, "The pot is Toshi ranbo, this is nikatoshi and the left is Oiku. The lion are assumed to have 2 daibutai that will strike from the south and west." Aki places the tea cups in the areas Kenji-san and kedo-san indicated earlyer. "The garrison as you are no doubt aware consists of 3 Kaisha. If time allows we will train the peasants as ashigaru levies but their numbers are not really great enuff to be of much concequence." Aki looks to the Soldier lord across the table. "When the lion come everyone here will treated as an enemy, this is why we felt it nessacary to inform you of these events." the gears in akis mind spin wildly, "Your honorable clan has no qualm with the lion, and the glory of your rise to great clan status is still fresh. If you can see no benifit in standing with us, or simply do not wish to insult the lion, the road leading to the palace of the emerald champion is clear." Akis hand demonstrates the path leading direcly oppisit of the oncoming enemy. "We will not trick you into involvment. The choice is yours yoritomo-sama, stand with us or your clan can remain uninvolved."   Let see if this works, I'd put my koku on the fact that the only battle this man has put his back to are the ones he's won.

"The Mantis are not mercenaries to be bought with an offer of koku, no matter how prettily you word it, Satoru-san," Yoritomo Akuto snaps sharply, "we are samurai, as you are, and have loftier goals than mere riches.  If the Mantis are to come to your aid, your offer will need to match our requirements.

Alone, the Mantis are capable of bringing two kaisha to bear in time, but the Mantis have allies that the Crane may not."

[Private to Satoru: no need to roll, I've got your stats and will roll them at need, but if you want to roll instead, feel free;  I'm letting it be a bit freeform because social situations are like that ^_^]

Buy the fortunes that was not expected! Aki's face goes blank for a second before he regains his composure.

"Yoritomo-sama", Akis head bows, "Satoru-san ment no disrespect I'm shure he only wished to demonstrae the gratitude our dimyo would show If you decided to stand along side the warriors of the crane." Looking up, "You are men of action and feirce warriors to be shure. We do not belive you would enter battle for riches or vanity but If shuch aid was given we would certinely feel obligated to return the gesture in our custom. These gifts are not payment but the rightfull due of an honoarable ally. The Lion have allready offered all the reason for battle. It would be a fine demonstration of your clans military skill, you would be facing the finest land army in Rokugan on the open field. This would do much to end any grumbelings the preaty courtiers may have about your clans 'rightfull' place as a great clan."

Doji Akibieden rolled 29 using 6d10, dropping the 2 lowest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 1,6,8,8,7,4. Awer/etti .

Satoru sips his tea while Akibieden speaks. As the younger man finishes, Satoru glances down to admire the new layout of the tea set. Only amongst the Mantis would such an "arrangement" be possible.

"Indeed, Yoritomo-sama, I must apologize for how I phrased my arguments. The Crane clan has had a long history of exchanges with our allies. With our friends in the North Mountains, the Dragon we often exchange rice, for wisdom and insight that a Kitsuki or a Togashi may have. We exchange our students so that we may witness the brilliance of Mirumoto's odd yet beautiful technique. In dealings with the Crab, to the south, we exchange jade for training our troops in Hida's art of War or a Kaiu's expertise in fortifications.

So to you, we offered our help in building your embassy. It is our city and we know it well. The pathes one must cross to get a building done and done well can be arduous.  If that help is not wanted or needed that is quite fine by the Crane." Satoru says, "But rest assured, the Crane's reputation for generosity with its allies is not to be dismissed as a purchasing of mercenaries."

"I apologize for my hasty assumptions, Satoru-san," Yoritomo Akuto bows, "too many see the Mantis as little better than honorless ronin to be bought by the highest bidder.  As it so happens, however, what the Crane may offer to the Mantis is not material in nature, but a duty that the Crane have little use for.  The Minor Clans of the Empire are a much neglected group whom the Crane have been generous enough to support in the Courts.  However, they trust the Great Clans but little, having been at their mercy for so many centuries, and hesitate to bring their issues to the Crane.  The Mantis, however, are of their own and hold a unique position of being able to support them in the courts and see things from their point of view.  If the Crane were willing to offer to the Mantis their duty of supporting the Minor Clans in Court, it would be beneficial for everyone involved...except for the Lion, of course."

pvt[Private to Kaze no Kage: am I in the room or not.... 'cause IDK if I am]

So it is like battle after all. He attacks our front with a seemingly overwhelming force, but all the while it is a bluff to hide a flanking maneuver. Perhaps if the teachers had explained it this way I would have paid more attention. Aki regards the state of the conversation and comes to the conclusion that he has played his part. The mantis now know the status of the battle and has reveled the level of aid they can offer. It's up to Satoru-san and Jiro-san to work out the courtly particulars.

"The Crane have always respected their cousins in the Sparrow. We have always supported the Dragonfly, despite Lion desires. Any help that has not been offered to a Minor Clan, was only set that way to not offer insult by assuming a Clan could not take care of its own problems.

If the Mantis wish it, the Crane would be delighted to speak on behalf of any Minor clan that wishes it. Let the Doji's voice speak for any in Rokugan who wish it. And let the Lion understand that having a prowess in battle is not cause to do whatever one pleases. To your honorable House, Yoritomo-sama." Satoru says raising his cup.

Hidemoto himself while present has been sitting and watching quietly all the time. When Satoru finished speaking he paused and stared at Satoru for a split second, wondering if he had simply misunderstood what Satoru had said or if Satoru had misunderstood Akuto intentions regarding the minor clans.

"What is done is done, Satoru-san," Yoritomo Akuto replies coldly, "there is no recovering the errors of the past.  The Three Man Alliance and the Fall of the Hare proved that the Minor Clans must watch out for their own or be trampled under the heels of the Great Clans--even the Sparrow/Fox conflict, which led to the appointment of the Crane as representatives of the Minor Clans, has fallen by the wayside.  The Minor Clans look out for themselves, it only remains for the Crane to acknowledge that fact."

"And in that they shall." Satoru said simply.

"The Mantis have made their requirements clear," Yoritomo Akuto shrugs, "if the Crane wish to accept them, feel free to contact us through Hidemoto-san.  Otherwise, we wish you good fortune in your endeavors against the Lion."

"Yoritomo-sama, perhaps my time in retirement has made me a bit of a fool when it comes to speaking. I believe I understand your intentions. And the Crane do stand ready to support the Minor clans in the court, we have always seen it as our 'duty' to support any who work in service to the Son of Heavens. It is not dishonorable to admit, that the Crane have misstepped in our duty over the centuries, as any mortal is prone to do.

But I fail to see how our goals do not align with your own at this moment." Satoru asks.

"Then you will have no trouble acceding to our request, Satoru-san," Yoritomo Akuto shrugs, "if you feel the need to consult with your superiors, feel free to do so.  If you will excuse me, I have another appointment that I must prepare for," he bows and exits.