Byako also had never heard of this Morimoto; if he offered insight, though, it certainly sounded like what she was here for.

OOC: 15:33, Today: Asahina Byako rolled 26 using 7d10, keeping the 4 highest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 3,6,3,6,4,9,5.  Awareness/Courtier, TN 30.

sucky roll :(

BTW Masuyo, if you have at least 2 ranks in a Dragon school (like Agasha Shugenja) then you made the TN, it seems? Free raises can usually be used to lower the TN/add to your roll (whichever is the right way to say it; it probably doesn't matter which here, but I know it affects some rolls which way it actually works).

 It should be noted that as he withdrew from the conversation, Kedo did so in the most mannerly fashion possible - delicately extracting himself rather than simply walking off - but it seems as though he has business to attend to and as he engages in his brief conversation with the Mirumoto gentleman he offers the nearby Fox - when they approach - a polite dip of the head before politely asking "In which case, perhaps it would be possible for a traveller to impose upon the hospitality of the mountain? There are events which I have witnessed which may be of interest, and it is a poor guest who does not repay his host with tales of the road."

 ---

 23:37, Today: Kedo rolled 12 using 4d10, dropping the lowest dice only, rerolling max with rolls of 4,3,1,5.  Awareness/Courtier (but I get raises to offset).
 Which my four ranks lets me make into a 12 versus a TN 10 test. Blimey!

"Ah... Asahina-san, shall we seek out Kitsuki Mirumoto?  He may be someone you would wish audience.  I would, myself."

She Steers her towards Mirumoto Yamada, bows slightly to him as they approach.

"Cousin Mirumoto-san, good evening.  Where last was Kitsuki Mirumoto-san, if you can help us locate him?"

Byako follows along; the Dragon shugenja probably knew who Morimoto was, and why he may be in possession of insight, plus it would be a bonus to have an introduction by a Dragon to this Kitsuki. So, Byako simply smiles and follows, hoping for the best.

Awareness/Courtier: 32.  I'll use his free raise (Shoji is just shy of 2) for extra info.
13:10, Today: Kitsune Shoji rolled 32 using 6d10, dropping the lowest dice only, rerolling max with rolls of 3,8,2,4,8,9.  Awareness/Courtier + void.  Because.

The Kitsune shugenja twisted his foot in the dirt, letting his sandal dig slightly; a physical manifestation of his willingness to 'dig-in' and wait for the ronin Kedo to finish his conversation.  He tried to keep his ears to himself, conscious of a dozen old axioms relating to keeping to one's own business, but sometimes its of no fault of one's own when names get dropped.  No matter how well trained, one can't stop a F(f)ox from being curious.

It was a practiced and patient wait, one both eased by the modest nod of recognition from the in-demand ronin (appreciated!) and also the arrival of Shoji's (through Daichi's championing) competition in the Badger competition.

"No, not enlightenment Yuudai-san.  I have too many earthly concerns to set my goals so high."  A sheepish grin accompanying the comment.  "More for companionship.  A word with the wave man Kedo-" a nod toward the other nearby ronin "-is was why I'm hear, though I count myself as fortunate to find you here.  In all of the excitement of the tournament, I'm not sure if I ever appropriately congratulated you for your performance in the match.  Perhaps you'll let me make it up?  I would make me happy if you'd join us for dinner.  It will be a small but engaging table, I think.  Bayushi Kenshin has already agreed to join my family and my bethrothed's."  In some settings it might have been considered questionable etiquette for Shoji to have invited Yuudai to Doji Iwao's table, but the Fox leveraged the nature of the tournament to offer the Doji's hospitality.

”I would be pleased to share a meal among the Fox,” Yuudai replied enthusiastically, under the mistaken impression that Kitsune Shoji was betrothed to another Fox, ”I served as yojimbo to Kitsune Sabato-san for a season during his studies in Phoenix lands. We were both woefully out of place, but he taught me how to expand my palate on the road.





”You are always welcome upon the mountain, Kedo-san,” Mirumoto Yamada smiled with a mischievous glint in his eye, ”there are many who wish to hear of the exploits of the Heroic Ronin of Toshi Ranbo.”




”Good evening Agasha-san, Kitsuki Morimoto is among our Tonbo cousins. He may be considerably occupied until after the Test of the Dragonfly is complete.”

Ikoma Hitori looked significantly distressed at Mirumoto Yamada’s words. Here was her most solid lead yet to find the Ronin who was the topic of her history, and he was settled among the Dragonfly for the foreseeable future. The difficulty being, as a Lion, she was fairly certain she would find no welcome among the Tonbo--considering the damage the Lion had done to the Dragonfly during the Clan War.

 It would not be entirely unfair to say that his awareness of the delicate political nature of the Tournament is one of the reasons why Kedo is so eager to compete in it - having been freed of the demands of seeking victory (since that would be impolitic at best) he is then able to enjoy the simple pleasure of pitting his skills against those of other, similarly skilled Bushi and revel in the insight there to be gained.

 It's that sort of ninety-degrees-to-the-horizontal thinking that has lain behind so many of his more remarkable successes, but with it comes a certain uneasy sense of perspective which is why Miromoto Yamada earns himself a dry, dry look and a slightly sly (for Kedo) "I cannot say that I had the honour of knowing them, but perhaps my own observations will divert this entertainment-starved multitude... And should they not, Ikoma Hitori shall almost certainly be able to succeed where my poor efforts failed."

 Huh, bringing a Lion - and a respected one, with a Courtiers skills - into the Dragon camp where they might reasonably expect to encounter a Dragonfly... One might almost think that Kedo were completely ignorant of politics.

Masuyo nods solemnly to Mirumoto Yamada, bows again, though shallow.

"Of course, I hope his advice is of great use to our cousins, then."

She looks to Byako, bow slightly again.  "My sincere apologies, maybe a meal first while the Dragonfly contest is pursued?"

A look to Kedo and the others before focusing on Yamada again.  "You are keeping interesting company, might introductions be possible?"

She looks to them, and boldly introduces herself.  The young woman dresses in robes of flame colors, and much of the exposed skin of her arms, and some of her neck show flame colored tattoos of glyphs and dragons.  She does have a scroll case at her hip opposite where her Wakazashi is tucked, but it is rather small.

"Agasha Masuyo, please treat me kindly."  A fairly humble introduction for someone whose (chosen!) name means 'gift to the world'!

"I am a contestant in the test of the Dragonfly. In fact, that is what drew me here; I wished to learn more about philosophy in order to provide at least some form of competition for my opponents in that contest. Still, I believe we have time to eat before it begins." Byako smiles and makes a small bow, indicating her acceptance for the plan.

A moment of abashment mostly covered with a bit of smooth courtiership, though not expertly.

"Forgive me, please.  And this is Asahina Byako of the Crane.  I have been plying her with tales of a spicy mountain tuna curry, and a meal is always a good place to acquaint one with others."  A bow to the others.  "If fortitude and time allow, Miina-san?"  (Miina = everyone)

[outskirts of the Dragon Camp, Shoji, Daichi, Yuudai]


"Dinner will be in the camp of Doji Iwao," Shoji replied, providing additional information rather as a means of clearing the misunderstanding rather than by providing an outright correction.

"Kitsune Sabato," Shoji raised his eyes to find Daichi's.  "You knew..." he trailed off, concerned at a change in Daichi's visage.

Though strong and silent, Daichi could not be described as stoic.  He spoke expressively through his appearance, and a sudden softness of his face and a light pallor answered Shoji before he had finished his question.

"We knew Sabato-san.  I didn't know him extremely well, but the Kitsune being a small family... you tend to know everyone.  Saboto-san, I believe, fought beside our sister Ren on Beiden Pass."  Shoji didn't feel the need to expound, at least without being questioned.  Toturi and his army of ronin, Dragon and Unicorn received boundless praise for their 'superior tactics' in the battle, but the Kitsune received almost no mention.  Often used in in feinting and flanking maneuvers due to their mobility the Kitsune suffered tremendous losses, including both Ren and Sabato. "My brother Daichi-" a gesture toward the mountain of a man standing next to him "-was there as well."  No mention was made of Daichi's side in the battle, though inference might be taken from the Hida school mon that he bore on his wrist.

Shoji's thoughts drifted as memories circled.  Stories of Yuudai?  He had known Kitsune Sabato, what did he remember of the ronin Yuudai who seemed to have gathered so much attention in the ring?

”I would be pleased to share what tales I have heard with the Dragon,” Ikoma Hitori bowed with a glance at Kedo. A glance of grateful thanks, and also a promise not to stop seeking out the truth of his story. A truth to which she was so close, and yet so far.


”Ah, um,” Mirumoto Yamada stammers, clearly unaccustomed to performing introductions, being a mere yojimbo, ”I am Mirumoto Yamada, yojimbo to Kitsuki Fuji and Kitsuki Ryoma.”

Kitsuki Ryoma looks at Mirumoto Yamada as if to say, “really? You’ve been with us this long and you haven’t got this down yet?”

”I am Kitsuki Fuji, and this is my partner, Kitsuki Ryoma, Agasha-san,” Kitsuki Fuji bows, ”even in our travels away from the mountain, we have heard of your exploits among the Phoenix. You bring honor to your Dragon ancestors.”

“This is the Ronin Kedo, recently a defender of Toshi Ranbo under the auspices of the Crane and former yojimbo to Daidoji Sakura. His travelling companion is Ikoma Hitori, historian of the Lion Clan.”

“The ronin Yuudai, recent finalist in the Test of the Badger, is there, speaking to Kitsune Shoji and Kitsune Daichi of the Fox.”


There is a look that those who have lost loved ones in the hellscape of war have. It is a look that the ronin Yuudai knows well.

”Many good people were lost in that battle,” Yuudai replies, bowing his head, ”I am sorry for your loss.”

“I am unsure that a mere ronin will be welcome at such an illustrious table,” he sighs, raising his head, ”perhaps if I had completed great deeds in the service of the Crane, as Kedo-san has done, but I believe I shall decline the honor--at least for now.”
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:27, Mon 28 Aug 2017.

A bow to Yamada, and a smile.  "A pleasure, Mirumoto-san."



She brings her hands together and bows far deeper than usual.  "You honor me, and my ancestors, with your praise Kitsuki-san.  I am honored to meet the yourself and your partner both, Kitsuki Fuji-san, Kitsuki Ryoma-san, I am certain it will enrich my spirit to have done so."  She rises from the bows and smirks a moment.  "I was not aware of my fame.  I have spent much time among the Phoenix, learning the ways of Ishiken among some of the finest masters in the Empire."



She bows again to Kedo, a normal bow of courtesy.  "Kedo-san, an honor to meet somone of such illustrious duties, this is Asahina Byakou of the Crane, and I am Agasha Masuyo, a humble servant of the kami and the divine order."



She looks on to the other conversation, then looks back and nods to Kitsuki-san.  "Are plans of fine dining in the making here, by chance?"

 "In which case, perhaps Kitsuki Morimoto-san may wish to invite some of those with whom he speaks amongst the Tonbo to have the opportunity to hear the tales of the Ikoma, a chance that surely does not come often." Kedo delicately proposes, thus neatly taking the obligation of an adviser to the advised and the opportunity to experience the new and using them, wrapped up in a bow to put a respected Lion and some well-advised Dragonfly on social terms shortly after a defeat that will surely leave the Lion casting around for both political support and opportunities to expand their influence... Or to prevent the Crane from expanding theirs.

 The fact that this will also move him one step closer to ticking off an item of correspondence he had to address is merely icing upon the cake.

 And then comes Agasha Masuyo, who receives a bow of very slightly greater depth as the suddenly rather badly outnumbered Ronin realises just how many people are in the vicinity and how many different threads are converging - although even so he cannot quite help himself when he smiles wryly and answers "Asahina Byakou-san and myself are acquainted Agasha Masuyo-san, it was at my poor behest that he sought some measure of insight from amidst the Dragon in the absence of the brotherhood of Shinsei."

The flamboyant Dragon smiles to Kedo.

"While I am not as sage or humble as one of the Shinsei, there remains hope that I might serve the needs of the Kami, Kedo-san."

She quirks her brows momentarily, apparently a little taken back by her apparent notoriety.

In response to Kedo's explanation about how Byako, under Kedo's leadership, had come to be in the Dragon camp, Byako smiles innocently and endearingly. "Yasashii hito!"

Daichi's posture tightened slightly, a reaction to the recognition.  The bushi was resigned to getting a level of pity in response, but that wasn't his goal.

It was, however, a polite response and it provided Daichi with a feeling of kinship toward his former competitor.  He returned Yuudai's acknowledgement with a bow.

OOC: Sorry, misspelled a name in a PM.

OOC: GM EDIT - Post moved here from other post location



"You're right, of course.  It was inappropriate of me to invite a ronin to the Doji table.  Perhaps, though, we can find time for sake after dinner.  I can assemble some friends."  It wasn't a half bad idea.  Shoji wasn't a social butterfly, but it didn't seem like a horrible idea, hosting a cocktail party.  Forming friendships and alliances was the point, wasn't it?

A glance toward the other ronin, embroiled in conversation with Dragon and Crane.  A guest list built in his mind as passed time with Yuudai, his need for a private conversation with Kedo giving way to a plot to throw a party.

"Yuudai-san, how long have you been on the road?"  Shoji wasn't the most eloquent, and he knew that it was impolite to ask about life before one's Musha Shugyo began, he couldn't help but be curious about what the ronin had experienced since.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:38, Mon 28 Aug 2017.

"We were considering a visit to the Scorpion," Kitsuki Fuji replied, indicating himself, Kitsune Ryoma (who gave the merest hint of a blush), and Mirumoto Yamada, leaving the others to speak for themselves,"Ryoma-kun here has a game of Go he wishes to finish with a certain Scorpion courtier and I feel that the Scorpion will be excellent practice for the upcoming Test of the Tortoise."




"I would be pleased to share sake with you at some point, Kitsune-san," Yuudai replied pleasantly, "and I have been traveling along this path for about ten years now. It has been a long road, but productive. There is some small chance of it coming to an end soon, but it is slim and I will feel no great loss if I fail here."

[Yuudai, Shoji and Daichi]


"I hope you find the end of your trail soon soon, Yuudai-san."  Shoji read in to Yuudai's comments - that he was looking to fulfil a personal goal through the tournament, or perhaps seeking an invitation to join a clan, Great or Minor.

"Excellent!  Consider yourself a guest of the Fox, then, after dinner.  And if you don't mind, perhaps some of the other competitors.  Fitting that the victor should serve competitors, I think."  A glance toward the group gathered near Kedo.  "The Dragon and Crane.  Also the Bayushi... Kenshin."  Shoji's attention turned to Daichi, "You should go invite them."

With a nod, the Kitsune giant gave a departing bow to his brother and the ronin Yuudai, and moved toward the other assembly.

A glance toward the departing Daichi (occupied with his dog), then back to the ronin Yuudai, "I suspect, in time, that Daichi may seek time to follow his own path, if even just for a time.  He hasn't been the same since Beiden Pass.  He bears the weight not only of our sister's death, but that he watched her die... and could do nothing about it.  He carries it as a vendetta, though I'm not sure how one finds an Oni."

Daichi nodded, happy to take on the task.

For Daichi, though, the delivery of an invitation to a party was more challenging than sumae wrestling, handling bears, or even sumae wrestling with bears.

[Kedo, Asahina Byako, Agasha Masuyo, Ikoma Hitori, Kitsuki Fuji, Kitsuki Ryoma (and others?) and now Daichi]

Sent on a mission, Daichi approached the assembled without hesitation, the giant - a good head taller than anyone else in the group approached silently.  He broached the conversation as best he could, greeting each with the deep and respectful bow that Minor clans reserved for their Great Clan betters, and also the hero of Toshi Ranbo.

"Daichi-san, it is good to see you again." Byako, since she has already met Daichi, makes introductions to the others that she doesn't believe he has met; "I believe you have met Kedo. This is Agasha Masuyo, who I am told has an accomplished palate and Ikoma Hitori, recorder of great epics and lately the compiler of the tales of Kedo. And Mirumoto Yamada, and Kitsukis Fuji and Ryoma, who I've barely just met myself.

Yamada-san, Fuji-san, and Ryoma-san were just making their exits to attend to other matters."

OOC: Wups, misread some names! Dang Kitsune and Kitsuki are too similar. :P
This message was last edited by the player at 15:43, Fri 01 Sept 2017.