Sakura thanked the servant appropriately and then took a sip of her tea. There was no point in worrying about poison or such now; more importantly, this was not a time or place that such things would be used.

Sakura took a deep breath and let it out, taking a moment to focus her mind. Things here would be tricky at best ...

[Private to Bayushi Kenji: Acutally, I'm the only shugenja in the group. Ironic, ne?]

 Kedo, for his part has the potential to honourably decline refreshment - as a Yojimbo he would be expected to absent himself from the pleasures and comforts his ward may enjoy freely, and yet he bows with thanks when the masked servant extends her offer and accepts the tea, painfully aware of the sweat he was not given the chance to wash away after his earlier exercises and the poor showing he must make thereby.

 A naturally fastidious man, this troubles him where the thought of Scorpion poisons and drugs do not (after all, short of some plot of machiavellian cunning, drugging guests in their own halls seems somehow... beneath... a clan fully capable of gettign what they want with words alone).

 He seats himself a little behind Sakura and a little to one side with his tea held lightly in his hands, sipped from upon occasion as he lets himself slip half-way out of his mind and into a lightly contemplative state, alert only to the unusual as he considers the lessons of the day.

The servant nods and departs.  Shortly afterwards a strikingly beautiful Scorpion lady limps in, a porcelain half mask covering the right side of her face and the Shosuro mon over her left breast.  "I am Shosuro Shinobu, tertiary aide to Bayushi Tenma," she bows deeply, "Bayushi-sama has other duties, but, in consideration of the status of our guests, will arrive shortly.  In the interim, how may the Scorpion serve?"

Sakura eyed the Shosuro from behind her own "mask", the colors of the Crane Clan. Things had been rather strained for Sakura the last few years, having lost most of her adopted family, her entire birth family, and her Clan. Now the Clan had returned, but at what price? She often wished to go home, something that would have been trivial to arrange during the confusion of the Clan War, but that was not to be. Bayushi Kachiko had been quite clear that Sakura would do her clan the best exactly where she was. And now here she was, staring at someone who could very well be her last living relative.

But this did not matter to Shosuro Kasumi. She had her duty, and she would do it.

"Daidoji Sakura" Sakura replied with a polite bow. "I have been entrusted by Doji Kuwanan-Dono to negotiate a treaty with the Scorpion Clan."

"This is Daidoji Tsukiko" she continued, indicating the courtier. "since I am not well versed in the intricacies of these things, Tsukiko-San has volunteered to assist in the process."

"This is Bayushi Kenji-San" she said continuing the introductions, "and the ever vigilant Kedo-San."

Tsukiko bowed respectfully towards Shinobu, as one would show respect to an opponent before a deadly duel.  And deadly this meeting would be; perhaps not for those assembled, but its outcome could work towards the death of many samurai.  Whether the greater losses would belong to the Lion or to the Crane would be the outcome decided today.

"It is an honour to make your acquaintance, Shosuro-san.  I pray that the ancestors, both yours and mine, look favourably upon our meeting.  Tsukiko's words flowed like rivers of silk as she spoke, her voice a delicate instrument played with as much care as she would her prized biwa.

"While I am certain that you are most able to conduct this meeting, Shosuro-san, I believe it would show greater courtesy is I and my companions waited until Bayushi-sama arrives.  Afterall, haste should never be allowed to cause ripples on the pond when  more thoughtful progress would maintain the beauty and repose of the water."

With her words conjuring images in the minds of those who listened, Tsukiko hoped to both ensure that Shosuro Shinobu was not offended by her reluctance to spell out the details of their visit, while buying time for Tenma to arrive.  It would be he who would wield the real power in striking up an alliance between Crane and Scorpion.

[Private to Kaze no Kage: OOC: Has Tsukiko met Shinobu before?  If so then I'll change the first thing she says to reflect that.  Secondly, what does Tsukiko know of Shinobu and Tenma?]
This message was last edited by the player at 22:31, Wed 12 Mar 2008.

 The ever-vigilant Kedo-san sips from his cup without showing the least indication that he has so much as heard a word, though a few moments later (no more than heartbeats) the Ronin seems to realise that the group is no longer alone and rises to bow deeply and fluidly towards the newest arrival, remaining upright thereafter until such time as permission is given once more to sit - he even seems to understand that his role here is strictly decorative, and therefore refrains from extending Tsukiko's metaphor into some philosophical point.

 Which isn't to say one isn't rippling across the surface of his mind even now.

Kenji bows from his standing position.  He understood the reason for his presence here, and unless asked a question, his words would not be as effective as his mere presence.  He remained silent, watching the dance between between the Daidoji courtier, and the Shosuro.

"All true beauty is transient," Shosuro Shinobu responds, "so too is the delicate peace which you will shatter with your news.  Before you begin to wonder about the miraculous effectiveness of Scorpion spies," she smiles, "the fact that two representatives of the Crane--one of whom is a highly placed courtier--would insist upon seeing Bayushi Tenma on short notice and worry about what rumors sharing their news with one lame courtier, who isn't leaving the room in any case, could have indicates that you have some tumultuous information indeed.  But please yourselves," the Scorpion shrugs, "by the way, I invited you to discuss a recent marriage alliance proposal with Doji Igarashi--unless you would prefer other gossip regarding this meeting to begin."

Not expecting Shinobu's forthright and, to some extent, rude reply, Tsukiko almost spat out the sip of tea she had taken, such was her surprise.  Instead she managed to choke the warm liquid down, staying silent until she was certain her voice would ring with its usual clarity.

"A marriage between two great families is, of course, an occasion for serious and important discussion.  Of course, we would not begin earnest negotiations without the blessing of Bayushi Tenma, as highest ranking representative of the Scorpion here in Toshi Ranbo."  Tsukiko's smile seemed fixed on her lips, though her eyes were incredibly serious; a marriage between two individuals was of little consequence to her at present.  A marriage between two Clans, temporary though it may be, was her goal.

"As for rumours, I am certain that those spies you mentioned are well-trained enough to know that the words spoken today have no place outside of this room."  There was something in the way that Tsukiko spoke those words that held a warning to Shinobu; if word was to get out about the particulars of this meeting she would know exactly who was to blame.

[Private to Kaze no Kage: Is the marriage proposal a real one, or is it entirely fiction as part of the cover story?  Also, who is Doji Igarashi?]
This message was last edited by the player at 17:15, Sat 15 Mar 2008.

"Of course," Shosuro Shinobu smiles, not batting an eye at the implied threat, "but as it is to be my wedding we are discussing it would seem strange if no conversation occurred beforehand.  As for avoiding rumors, well, that is entirely impossible--particularly in a City such as this one--but if it comforts you to believe that silence can preserve your secrets then we shall wait.  In the meantime," she says looking at Bayushi Kenji, Daidoji Sakura, and Kedo, "tell me something of your travels, it has been more than a year since I had the opportunity to travel outside of Toshi Ranbo's borders."

[Private to Daidoji Tsukiko: Doji Igarashi is a low ranking bushi who developed an infatuation with Shosuro Shinobu during last year's Winter Court; he propositioned her several times and she always refused.  He took encouragement in the fact that she never appeared to be interested in anyone else either.  The proposal is real, though it has not progressed in almost a year.]

 Kedo of course remains quiet - such a question could not have been directed at him for it is simply the case that the doings of a Ronin can be of little or no interest to one with the affairs of a House to concern them, and there are those of greater station to speak first in any case.

 Besides, there is some slight interest on his part in listening to the elegent knife-fight being carried out with sharpened words rather than sharpened steel going on between the Shosuro and Daidojo, drawing emotion rather than blood in the wake of each cut.

 As a metaphor it might need polishing, but perhaps there is merit in it...

Tsukiko's smile broadened; an expression that had forecasted many a vicious strike in courtly battles past.

"Just as they have given you your strong mind, may your ancestors see fit to bless you with the gift of patience and a deeper understanding of the importance of silent contemplation in the coming days."

With the carefully crafted smile still spread across her lips, Tsukiko inclined her head in the direction of the Shosuro and then turned back to drinking her tea, as though it were the most important part of her day.  Every inch of her gave the impression that she would waste no more of her time on the clumsy Scoprion courtier until her elder, and better, superior arrived.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:28, Sun 16 Mar 2008.

Two cups of tea later, a masked samurai in the colors of the Scorpion enters and glances briefly at the assembled Crane, Scorpion, and ronin before turning to the younger Scorpion courtier.  "Well, Shinobu-san?" his harsh voice rasps.

"They chose not to confirm what Kitsuki's Method has already revealed, Bayushi Tenma-sama," she reports, "opting to wait for you rather than revealing what they know regarding the imminent Lion attack."

"Very good," Tenma nods sharply, "you have proven the value of your training.  You are dismissed."

"Hai, sama," she bows, and limps from the room.

"So the Lion are preparing to attack," Bayushi Tenma growls, taking a seat and pouring himself a cup of tea, "and you come to the Scorpion.  Why?"

Slowly setting her own cup down onto the low table she knelt before, Tsukiko looked across at Tenma, her expression one of utter seriousness.

I prefer to think of Rokugan as a disc, balancing upon a point located at the centre of the disc.  So long as the disc does not tip too far in favour of one side it will stay balanced and safe, but if one side is favoured more than the other then the entire disc will unbalance and come crashing down.

She paused a moment to allow those assembled to consider the metaphor before continuing.  "The Emperor's Right Hand has grown confident, too confident; they seem to believe that the Emperor will turn a blind eye to an attack on the other Clans.  Today their sights may be on Toshi Ranbo, but if their arrogant attack is not stopped, one day even Kyuden Bayushi may find a Lion Army outside its gates.  What then would the Scorpion do if all their allies had already suffered the same fate?"

She hoped Tenma would have the foresight to see that the fall of Toshi Ranbo to the Lion would only be the start of Rokugan's problems.

"Many lives were lost during the Clan Wars, Tenma-sama.  I would not see more lost needlessly before peace has fully been allowed to apply balm to the wounds of the Great Clans."

 ...and yet a disk may balance even unevenly if it but be spun well and with skill... that the extended metaphor serves in some part to support the occasionally graceless Daidoji in no way fails to recommend it to Kedo, who momentarily amuses himself with the mental image of the empire and the houses within it as a series of such spinning disks each spiralling through its complex dance atop yet further disks, the balance of one contributing to the balance of the whole... and somewhere far below, a tireless performer labouring to maintain the momentum.

 But of course none of this passes his lips and little reaches his face save for a small smile of absent-minded musing replaced by a certain bone-deep sense of loss as the performer momentarily takes on the mask and flashing eyes of the one being who did more than any other to maintain the dance for so long, and who is now dead...

 What would He make of all this?

"Toshi Ranbo is a far cry from Kyuden Bayushi," Bayushi Tenma shrugs dismissively, "more to the point, however, it is a nearly equally far distance from Kyuden Doji.  As a staging ground for the taking over of Crane lands and from there all of the Empire, Toshi Ranbo has the disadvantages of being isolated from the rest of your lands, in entirely the wrong direction, and originally a Lion City in the first place.

Further," he continues, taking a sip of his tea, "lives will be lost in this conflict in any case.  It remains only to be seen who will hold the City by the beginning of Winter.  In either case the advantages and disadvantages to the Crane and the Lion are clear.  What is less clear are the advantages to the rest of us."
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:07, Sun 16 Mar 2008.

Sakura sat quietly, listening to the conversations and sipping her tea. Finally, however, things seemed to come to a standstill.

"The reason we are here" Sakura finally began, "is because Doji Kuwanan-Dono trusts my judgement."

'Do you truly understand what I can offer?'

"I planned this meeting long before we left for Toshi Ranbo, and long before we discovered a Lion army camped on our doorstep."

"There are many arrogant Samurai in Rokugan, those who believe that the Underhand is no longer necessary. Or that they could do the job equally well. More importantly, however, is that there are many who would take advantage of the situation. And, indeed, they are."

"What I am proposing is a full alliance, both on the battlefields and in the courts."

"There is an old saying, 'there are two sides to every mountain'. The Crane were always intended to increase and promote the Honour of Rokugan, and the Scorpion to protect Rokugan from dishonor. This is what we must return to."

"That is why I am here."

[Sakura/Kasumi is Idealistic. Keeping a city from Lion hands isn't enough for her; It has to serve the greater interests of Rokugan.]

"Now that is an entirely different proposition," Bayushi Tenma replies with a raspy bark of laughter, "and philosophically I would support such an alliance, but there is a vast discrepancy between philosophy and practice.  Protecting the Empire from dishonor is what cost the Scorpion their place in the Empire during the Clan War--and it is not just Shoju's folly that I speak of.  If the Scorpion had been less reviled, had doing our duty been less odius to the Empire, we would never have fallen so far.  The Scorpion are still in the process of reestablishing our place in the Empire to ask us to so openly dishonor ourselves now is to ask us to court disaster--the Scorpion cannot do their duty if they no longer exist.  Leaving that aside for the moment," he continues, "and returning to your immediate problem, if the Crane desire concrete aid from the Scorpion, then you shall have to offer some concrete garuntees."

"The longest journey must begin with a single step, and now is the best time to begin this journey. Where the Crane lead in honor, the rest of the Empire must follow -- or be dishonored."

"Not since Lady Doji has there been a Crane Lord so well equipped to handle this monumental task. He is both honorable and pragmatic, well able to emulate his first ancestor."

"However, being pragmatic, he is willing to start with mutual assurances of non-aggression. I'm sure that the Dowager Empress* would be happy to know that she has one less enemy to worry about right now."

"I cannot speak for this city's governor, for that I must defer to Tsukiko-San, but I can offer our first bit of cooperation for the good of the Empire."

"On the way here we met up with an Imperial messenger who had been attacked by bandits. This would be a small story had not her salvation come by the hands of Darkness."

"One of those messages must have been very important for a contingent of this size to be sent, but I do not know which message was so important. I have alerted our guards, however only the Kitsuki and Scorpion Magistrates are used to regularly dealing with such things."

Sakura drew the tea to her lips, nodding to Tsukiko as she did.

"As Doji Kuwanan-domo has led so will those under his command follow.  Rokugan must present a strong and united front as much as may be for who knows what evil in the Shadowlands still lurks, waiting for one foolish act to bring about a conflict that would rival the Clan War."

Though nothing specific was said, there was little doubt in the minds of those assembled, just who Tsukiko was speaking of.  She was certain, in her heart, that should the Lion attack and take Toshi Ranbo, it would only be the beginning of something much worse.

"And let us not forget that the Winter Court is to be held in Toshi Ranbo; if a battle were to bring the city to its knees then valuable time for courtly negotiations would be lost.  All Clans would be at a disadvantage for the winter will pass without strong ties, once weakened by the loss of blood, being remade."

Tsukiko's voice became more powerful as she spoke, so infused with conviction that none might question her sincerity.

"It is time to remind the Lion that their place is as the protectors of Rokugan, throwing assumed weight around in the manner of lowly ronin."  There was a moment's pause as Tsukiko turned to Kedo.  "Present company excluded, ronin Kedo."  She did not wait to see what Kedo's reaction was; her comment served not only to make the Lion's actions appear dishonourable but also to remind Kedo that if he stepped out of line then he two would be considered lowly in Tsukiko's eyes.

"Our loyalty is to the safety of Rokugan and to the most excellent Emperor; stopping a war between Clans before it begins and weakens Rokugan once more would be a logical step in assuring this safety.  If the Scorpion's wishes and loyalties are the same then why should we not work together to ensure this?"

"Still, if loyalty is not assurance enough, then please speak of the assurances that would set your mind and heart at rest and we shall see what can be agreed upon."  Tsukiko knew that no negotiator in their right mind would risk so much on mere spoken words, as irreproachable as a samurai's oath was; she only hoped that the price Tenma named was not too high.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:52, Wed 19 Mar 2008.

 Kedo, for all his philosophical leanings and undeniable martial skill does have one distinct area of weakness - his social skills, whilst not as crude as one might expect from a Ronin revolve mostly around honest, sincere demonstration of belief rather than subtle deception. As a result the nod of concession that Daidoji receives comes with a small and slightly detached smile that might offend rather than reassure, as it in no way disguises how little the Daidoji's words move him - as if even the possibility of insult from the elegent crane is as small as to bear no thinking upon.

 That's not how he means it of course - but he is so little moved that it is very readily how it could be seen.

"Perhaps, Daidoji-san, a offer of confidence is in order.  Perhaps a similar offer of confidence as I was to the Crane," Kenji murmurs, loud enough for the occupants of the room, and no further.  He remains a pace behind and to the left of the courtier and shugenja.  His left hand seems to play alongside his kimono as he speaks, as though in nervousness.

[Private to Kaze no Kage: Shinobi Sign-"Is that appropriate, my Lord?"]

Sakura stops sipping her tea for a moment.

"What" she started softly, "or should I say who did you have in mind?"

'This could get interesting' Sakura thought to herself.

"It is one option, certainly," Tsukiko spoke slowly, unsure of the suggestions.  "However, I would like to bring to everyone's consideration that the arrangement of which Kenji-san speaks is an important one and one that would effect both the Crane child and the adoptive Scorpion family greatly.  It is important to ensure that an alliance will not be ruined by mismatched people.  The process can take months, sometimes years, to arrange so as to be of satisfaction to both parties and it is time we do not have at our leisure.  However, I would not rule out this course of action entirely."

Tsukiko hoped that the offer of a Crane child as hostage would not be an avenue that would have to be taken; if it were, she was only glad that her remaining full-blooded brother was still too young to leave his family's protection on such a venture.

"Bayushi-sama, what would put your mind at rest that the Crane speak and act with sincerity towards the Scorpion in this matter?"  Tsukiko asked; perhaps if she knew what the Scorpion wanted then the matter could be resolved quickly without giving more to the Scorpion than was needed.

"If the Crane would be willing to make the commitment of such an offer of confidence," Bayushi Tenma nods approvingly, "then the Scorpion would be willing to postpone determining exactly who will be our guest until we are successful in our endeavors.  After all," he smiles grimly, "if we fail then there was little purpose in making an agreement in the first place."  Left unsaid is the fact that, should the Crane be successful with the aid of the Scorpion, they will be obligated to offer a more highly born hostage or grant the Clan of Secrets even more concessions in the courts.

"In the interim," the Scorpion courtiers says, offering more food for thought, "what would the Crane see as our place in a long term alliance?"