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Daichi moves forward to Fuguki after he has risen again in the middle of the road and gives a slight bow. "I will keep an eye on the road if it will speak omens but yesterday it was the trees that spoke the omens to Kuni-san and I."
"Untrustworthy trees," Fuguki mutters absently. He turns to walk up the road, following cheerfully after the Hida.
"Hitomi-san, do you need me to heal your wounds?"
"You can't fix what isn't broken," he replies, stopping again, but he waits patiently for Heihachi to catch up, studying him with wide, curious eyes. "I heard a story once about fishes with white faces, and rivers that paint rainbows. I didn't like it much," he adds, nodding vigorously.
Sighing audibly is the only response Megumi can give for the moment. She opens her mouth to say something but she falters and decides to continue on. When there is an opportunity the Crane moves over to join Ume for a quiet conversation.
"What do you make of this new Dragon Matsu-san? I have heard of Hitomi eccentricities but this is... Much stranger than I thought."
"Certainly a mixed blessing he enjoys" Ume replied, keeping a sharp eye on him. "Or tarnishment, as the matter may be. Either way, leaving him along the road is not a good course of action."
Her lips twisted with distaste as she considered several options. "It might be best we convince him to join us willingly."
Heihachi certainly seemed to be correct as the Hitomi's behaviour and emotions seemed to swing wildly from one extreme to another. The omens that he and Daichi had mentioned did indeed seem to be pointing to this event, and indeed her companions were moving off after the man.
Her anger at being brushed off subsided a little and gave way, once again, to confusion at Fuguki's behaviour. She wasn't quite sure what to make of him. Had it been somebody else, she would still have been furious at his insult rather than just now being mildly irked. But he seemed to abruptly change what he was doing from one moment to another and was like a different person in each of those moments. When he runs into the tree, the battle maiden's eyes widen slightly. Even with everything that had happened so far, she still hadn't expected him to do that.
As her companions follow after Fuguki, the unicorn sighs faintly and lightly mounts up onto Arashi before following in turn. When she had thought yesterday about the journey becoming interesting, she couldn't have possibly seen it as being this interesting.
The party moves on down the road, their new companion happily tagging along. (Ryoko, at first extremely put off by the Hitomi, quickly decides he's touched by the Fortunes, and begins to look on him with a certain amount of awe.) Traveling with him allows the group to finally get a good look at the tattoos Fuguki is wearing: across his chest, a set of massive boulders roll down a mountainside; on each shoulder, a huge grey crab's claw glitters in the sunshine; on his left shoulderblade, a spray of bellflower blossoms seems to wave in the wind as he moves; and on his shaven head, a blowfish rolls its eyes at all of you.
As you travel, Fuguki calms down somewhat, or perhaps you merely get used to him. Regardless, it does seem as though the day's travel goes much faster than you had expected it to, and soon, you have made camp for the night. The next day, Ryoko tells you that you will spend the night in Oiku Mura, a military town of roughly 1,000 people that basically serves in support of a large Lion military outpost of more than 5,000 troops, stationed at Oiku to protect the Imperial capital from attacks from the west. At Oiku, you will turn north, toward Phoenix lands, on your way to Pale Oak Castle.
The party moves on down the road, their new companion happily tagging along. (Ryoko, at first extremely put off by the Hitomi, quickly decides he's touched by the Fortunes, and begins to look on him with a certain amount of awe.) Traveling with him allows the group to finally get a good look at the tattoos Fuguki is wearing: across his chest, a set of massive boulders roll down a mountainside; on each shoulder, a huge grey crab's claw glitters in the sunshine; on his left shoulderblade, a spray of bellflower blossoms seems to wave in the wind as he moves; and on his shaven head, a blowfish rolls its eyes at all of you.
During the evening Nagatsuna approaches the Hitomi, "Your body markings are impressive. They are of things that speak to me. The mountain has always been a place of strength and contemplation for me and the crab claws..........have you ever had the opportunity to visit the Crab lands, Hitomi-san?"
During the evening Nagatsuna approaches the Hitomi, "Your body markings are impressive. They are of things that speak to me. The mountain has always been a place of strength and contemplation for me and the crab claws..........have you ever had the opportunity to visit the Crab lands, Hitomi-san?"
Fuguki tilts his head for a moment, then replies, "You mean the Wall?" As he goes on, his voice deepens, and - most surprisingly - his accent shifts, becoming indistinguishable from the deep cadences of the Hida lands. "Where you stand with your brothers against the darkness, and your only times of quiet are times when a battle has just finished and you wait for the next to begin... You look out into the realms of the Taint, and every day rehearse your death haiku as your meditate. The long hours and days are wearying, but you feel the earth itself steadying you, as though Rokugan's very stones stand beside you to throw back the hordes of Jigoku..." He blinks, then says in his usual voice, "No, never."
The strange dragon makes the usually sure Hida feel like he is standing on shifting ground, "Of.....course, Hitomi-san. Yet you echo my heart." His bow to the Hitomi is one of great respect, The kami must certainly speak through this one. Nagatsuna moves to a solitary area and contimplates the deeper meanings...
"Strange Hitomi-sama, that's how I feel when I'm at court...The wall is at times less daunting than court...I know what comes out of there I can attack and either destroy it, or be destroyed, defending the realm...but the intrigue of court...that's another story"
Perception:2d10=17
The Crane seems to enjoy watching their new Dragon companion, for that is what she does for most of the journey. Her face turns to a sharp grimace whenever she notices the blowfish watching her from the top of Fuguki's head. It seems Megumi doesn't care much for the tattoo though she says nothing about it. Otherwise she appears calm enough, contented to enjoy the quiet of the road for now.
On the second day the samurai-ko decides to question Ryoko about Pale Oak Castle hoping to glean some history of the Phoenix.
Ume tried hard not to show the uneasiness the Hitomi monk was causing her. Something about his manner of speaking, his movements, his tatoos. The Dragon were known to be distant, strange even - but this man just was above and beyond what she would accept.
Once Megumi began to show an interest in the castle, her own interest was also piqued, so she joined the discussion.
On the second day the samurai-ko decides to question Ryoko about Pale Oak Castle hoping to glean some history of the Phoenix.
Once Megumi began to show an interest in the castle, her own interest was also piqued, so she joined the discussion.
"Pale Oak Castle is the headquarters of the Inquisitors," Ryoko explains, "and the personal fief of Asako Heishi. The Jade Champion is assiduous in his pursuit of Bloodspeakers throughout the Empire, and my reports to him will no doubt be just a few of many that he will receive on the day we arrive.
"The castle itself is renowned for the actions of Hantei XVII, who married a Phoenix from the area. When he died, he was buried rather than cremated (at his own request) on the plains where his wife had been born. From the grave a white oak grew, and still stands to this day, almost a thousand years later. It is said that the oak has healing properties, and pilgrims from across the Empire come to have their illnesses cured by its bark. The castle was built around the oak, and the plain itself renamed in its honor. Since that time, the castle has had a strong Imperial connection - it has hosted dozens of the Emperor's Winter Courts, was the location where the treaty that ended the War of Fire and Thunder was signed, and is said to be the place where Toturi VI composed his love poems to Hineko."
"Surely," Begins the Kakita shyly. "There can't be too many Bloodspeakers left in the Empire. To think such vile - things. No, there can't be."
She begins to shake her head, presumably to rid it of the unpleasant thoughts. It takes a while for Megumi to fully proceed to the topic of the castle but when she does there is a notably curious look on her face.
"Pale Oak Castle almost sounds like blessed ground. To have such historic events take place there and be home to a healing tree? You must show it to us Asako-san before parting from us completely."
"The cult is... well, we should not speak of such things, but I imagine them like a lingering sickness. The body recovers, but when it grows weak, the symptoms show again" Ume replied to her once-rival in a hushed voice. She herself did not comprehend what drew people to such a vile, unclean practice, but there had to be something.
With the Hitomi seeming to calm down as the day goes on, the journey does seem to become much more peaceful again to Yukari. For the most part, the battle maiden is again content to enjoy the scenery and talk to her companions.
At the conversation about Pale Oak castle, Yukari finds herself drawn into it, curious about Ryoko's destination. It sounded like the castle, and the tree itself, would certainly be a sight to see. She wondered if they would actually see it, or if they would be parting company with Ryoko before then. The talk about the Bloodspeakers is a little less pleasant, however.
"It sounds like there is a strong defence against and pursuit of these terrible people though - for which I'm glad of," the Unicorn adds to the conversation.
"Uh, yes," Ryoko replies, a little weakly. "It is, uh, a mighty burden that my uncle and I carry."
That evening, the party arrives in Oiku, a large trading village. Ryoko chooses an inn near the center of town called the Inn of Seven Reeds. The Inn of Seven Reeds is located close to the intersection of the town's two major thoroughfares, the east-west Ever Vigilant Road that connects the Imperial capital to the Unicorn lands and the north-south Path of Changing Hands that links the Lion heartland with the Phoenix provinces. She plans to take the Path of Changing Hands in the morning, but for tonight, the Inn's common room is filled with merchants and travelers making use of Inn's proximity to the two great roads. (Fuguki happily tags along to the Inn as well, and is offered one of the Inn's best rooms on the strength of his assumed-to-be-blessed status.)
As you settle down for dinner, a somewhat damp-looking Crane samurai steps into the Inn, shaking the water from his cloak as he leaves the warm spring rain outside behind. He is handsome and well-built, with a long white ponytail and a plaintive voice that carries through the Inn's hubbub with surprising effectiveness as he calls for warm sake.
"I agree," Megumi begins meekly. "Let's discuss other things. Why don't you tell us a little more about Lion lands Matsu-san?" The Crane smiles toward the Lion, a noticeably weak smile at that. For the rest of the afternoon Megumi seems much more reserved than normal.
Upon arriving at Oiku she brightens somewhat and by the time she is settled in sipping on tea the samurai-ko is back to her usual self. When Megumi notices the Crane enter she chances a glance toward him trying to hide it with her tea cup.
Megumi's eyes linger for a few long moments but eventually turn back to her companions. Her thoughts, however, seem to be dancing about trying to figure out who that Crane might be.
Perception/Investigation: 5k3 = 17
Yukari is too caught up with her tea and the conversation at the table to pay much mind to the Crane samurai entering the room. She passes a cursory glance over her shoulder on hearing the door open, but little more than that before turning back to the table.
Taking a sip from her cup, the Unicorn turns to Ryoko. "So what are the lands of the Phoenix like, Asako-san? I must confess, I have never seen them before," she asks with interest. "Nor the Dragon lands for that matter," she adds, looking at Daichi and Fuguki.
Nagatsuna gives the new figure no more notice than anyone else.
3d10.open(10).takeHighest(2)=17
and.....as Megumi nudges him and nods toward the man Nagatsuna raises an eyebrow, "Hai, I see your clansman. Is he important?"
After such a long journey, Heihachi would like to relax with some tea...he finds a corner table and watched the room...Feeling something off...Heihachi concentrates on everyone in the room (void) 4k3=31 (so close...)
While he notes the various patrons, nothing seems out of the ordinary, as he takes a nice sip of his white tea, then orders a rice ball.
The man notices Megumi and smiles slightly. Taking the sake cup he is offered by a servant, he approaches your table and offers a sweeping, theatrical bow. "Ah, cousin! It is a shower of blessing from the Fortunes themselves to find a welcoming face in these lands! My name is Kakita Umasu, ikebana artisan of the Kakita School, and I would be most honored to make your acquaintance - as well as that of your companions, if I might?"
Umasu seats himself at your table, making courteous, if overdone, greetings to each of you. He is especially solicitous of Megumi, complimenting her frequently; he attempts the same treatment of Ryoko, but her chill responses direct his attentions elsewhere quickly.
You all learn, in quite short order, that Umasu is traveling to the Dragon lands for a festival, that he has no expectation that anyone there will understand the subtleties and intricate art that is ikebana ("no offense meant, of course, Mirumoto-san - the same can be said of most clans not the Crane!"), that the roads have been terrible ("my pony is covered in mud, and it's only the grace of the Fortunes themselves that this kimono isn't likewise!"), that he has had several marriage offers from unspecified "high-ranked families," but that he has thus far rejected them all until he finds "a truly poetic soul" (with a sideways glance at Megumi), and that he deeply misses Crane teas.
Ume's initially detached-if-courteous attitude held up only as long as the introductions. As soon as the man began listing his complaints, he became less and less in her eyes until nothing but a dark spot was left. So he thought he could charm Megumi by talking down on his hosts? She did not like the Katika maiden all that much, but she placed her above this, still.
"On behalf of the Matsu family, I must express my regret you found our hospitality not to your liking. All too often, I must admit, we concern ourselves chiefly with the protection of our land, service to our lord and duties to the emperor. I must admit, having peasants scent and dry our roads, and samurai spend their days refining their souls to become abstract objects of beauty sometimes gets left on the wayside. Thus, many of us remain less inclined towards these pleasures, too preoccupied with the coarse, regrettably muddy virtues of war." She should not have said that, just like back at the tournament. But while the inspired babble was disconcerting, and the hints of Bloodspeaker activity troubling, this man was either trying to goad her into something, or honestly expecting the Lion to swallow this behaviour.
"We may not have the time to learn the subtleties and intricate art of the ikebana while we are learning the mysteries of our universe." The Dragon turns his full attention to Kakita Umasu and smiles politely, "You should know Kakita-san that in reality, There is No Mud. Your soul must surely be in turmoil and in great need of the guidance of the Void if this mud bothers you."
Megumi appears quite amiable to the handsome Kakita. She smiles at each of his compliments, sometimes hiding her face with her hand presumably due to embarrassment. The samurai-ko will attempt to order some teas from Crane lands in honour of their new guest, agreeing with Umasu about missing teas from home.
"Matsu-san," She begins politely once the Lion finishes. "I believe you may have forgotten that ikebana is not just some abstract pursuit of beauty. It works to serve one's Lord and the Empire just as well, arguably even better, than any war may. Should you doubt me the next time you are in Crane lands ask the Hanagensai about their family."
The Kakita tries not to sound sharp in tone but she can't hide a bit of smugness. When Daichi finishes no words come from her mouth and she looks genuinely puzzled. Rather than trying to offer a response to him she looks away and begins fingering her kimono.
Yukari offers a polite greeting in return to the new Crane. However, it quickly became clear that Umasu was unlikely to share much, if anything, in common with the battle maiden. It was fortunate for the artisan that he was not a Unicorn - she suspected he wouldn't hold up well to the almost-nomadic nature of her clan. Nor had she ever had much interest in the details of ikebana - such crafts looked pretty enough to her, but, as with other artistic pursuits like poetry or calligraphy, she had never been particularly good at it.
Ume's scathing reply to the man was not much of a surprise to Yukari, given the Lion clan's skills lay in war mostly. She could sympathise with the Matsu though, sharing at least some of the same opinions.
At Megumi's response, Yukari furrows her brow slightly, obviously disagreeing with this statement.
"But it cannot defend the Empire's, or a Clan's, lands and people, Kakita-san, which is immensely important."
Megumi remains silent a long while respectfully waiting for others to add their opinion. When it becomes clear the Crab won't join in and that no one else seems to have anything else to add she begins quietly.
"True Utaku-san, defending the people of the Empire is of utmost importance. But from whom do we defend them against? Those-" The Crane hesitates briefly, obviously not wanting to continue. "Things beyond the Wall, they are our enemy." Megumi quickly casts a glance toward the two Crab to see their reactions while words still issue from her mouth.
"Too often have we samurai fought wars with each other for frivolous reasons. The peace Miya Shikan has brought is a wondrous thing, something we should strive toward always. Samurai spilling the blood of other samurai only injures the Emperor and the Empire after all."
Now the Kakita sips from her tea obviously musing over her own thoughts. In a moment her eyes widen and she adds hastily.
"Ikebana creates only things of beauty, it only serves the good of the Empire. Can we say the same of war?"
"Within the Universe there is no difference between War and Ikebana. We do what we feel necessary to cleanse our souls of stains whether we strained them or someone else strained them but they are distractions from that which we must truely seek to understand."
Daichi nods as he lifts the tea again and sips it quietly though he muscles in his face briefly flash distaste as he realizes that he is still drinking lion tea and it has begun to grew cold thus increasing the bitterness of it.
"The wars we've fought weed out the weak, so those who are strongest remain to fight the true enemy." Heihachi joins in as he gives Kambei a bit of chicken. "There's a reason the Crab defend the wall...our strength defends the Empire from the greatest threat from without Rokugan, while the Phoenix Inquisitors seek to destroy the creeping roots of evil."
Pleasantly surprised by Megumi's words Nagatsuna slowly and patiently folds a piece of rice paper, "I have heard it said that Ikebana, like origami, is a path to relaxation of the mind, body, and soul. When I look upon the single lily growing in defiance on the strongest structure known in Rokugan, the Great Wall, I am reminded of that which I fight for. I imagine Ikebana provides the same to some. Balance is needed." .....or you can become a fertile ground for the darkness. "You, Megumi-san, remind me of that lily." He offers her the completed origami lily.....
"But Mirumoto-san, err," The Crane hesitates briefly with a confused look on her face. "There are difference between war and ikebana. Well, um..." Again she hesitates in confusion before noticing his look of distaste. Megumi eagerly takes up the opportunity to switch subjects to make her seem less foolish.
"Maybe we could switch teas, try to find something less potent? Then you could explain your meaning to me?"
The words of the large, quiet Kuni give her some pause. He obviously isn't one to speak up too often, this instance may be the most the samurai-ko has ever heard from him.
"Yes, Kuni-san." She nods to him. "I think the Crab and Phoenix - and other samurai of the various clans - do these necessary, uh, tasks for the good of the Empire." It looks as though she wishes to add more but the Crane thinks better of it and remains silent for the moment.
The startled look on the pretty Crane's face tells her reaction to Nagatsuna well enough. She blushes slightly at the compliment smiling toward the Hida.
"Thank you Hida-san. Perhaps one day, should I ever find myself near the Wall, you would show me one of these lilies?"
The startled look on the pretty Crane's face tells her reaction to Nagatsuna well enough. She blushes slightly at the compliment smiling toward the Hida.
"Thank you Hida-san. Perhaps one day, should I ever find myself near the Wall, you would show me one of these lilies?"
Somewhat startled himself at Megumi's easy acceptance and suprising disregard for ritual, Nagatsuna recovers taking it as a deep compliment and bows, "Hai, Megumi-san, I would be greatly honored and then there would be two...
Umasu watches the interplay with a mixture of confusion and disbelief, before finally waving his hand dismissively and shaking his head. "To tell the truth, Mirumoto-san," he says, smiling condescendingly, "philosophy has always bored me somewhat. The Void is all well and good, but it's far less likely to ruin my kimono than mud is. I'm pleased to see that the Crab have produced someone who understands something of beauty, though!" He bows his head slightly to Nagatsuna. "Truly, the Fortunes work miracles every day!"
Fuguki, who has been silent this whole time, suddenly tells him, "When you fold a paper to make a flower, you hide the words inside." The tattooed monk stares curiously at the Kakita, blinking slowly and tilting his head, as though he's never encountered anything like the Crane before. Umasu turns his head to the side, looking away from the Hitomi at the rest of the group and raising his eyebrows in a distinctly "what in the world...?" fashion, but his only reply is a polite, if confused, flutter of laughter.
Suddenly, the inn's door opens once again, and a rain-soaked figure enters. The storm outside has apparently worsened since Umasu's entrance, for Tonbo Ukiya, Ryoko's would-be husband, looks very much like a drowned cat as he stumbles into the room. He looks frantically around the room, and it is hard to tell if the drops of water trickling down his brow are sweat or rain. He spots your table and a relieved expression crosses his face as he hurries over, panting and flushed as though he has run miles in getting here. "Lady Asako-sama!" he cries to Ryoko as he reaches the table. "I am so pleased you are well! I was afraid this weather had stranded you on the road!"
Nagatsuna raises an eyebrow at the newcomers entrance and outburst. He stands slowly to face the man, "Yes, she is well as are we all." He indicates a table far from the one he is currently at in a not so subtle attempt to guide the man away from here, "Come, Tonbo-san, we shall share a drink and share words of our travels." His tone is one that brooks little arguement.
Nagatsuna raises an eyebrow at the newcomers entrance and outburst. He stands slowly to face the man, "Yes, she is well as are we all." He indicates a table far from the one he is currently at in a not so subtle attempt to guide the man away from here, "Come, Tonbo-san, we shall share a drink and share words of our travels." His tone is one that brooks little argument.
"My thanks, Hida-san," says Ukiya, distractedly, "in just a moment, I would be happy..." he trails off, still staring at Ryoko, who glares coldly back at him. "I trust the road has been smooth so far, Asako-sama?"
Umasu looks away pointedly from the growing spectacle, while Fuguki starts to giggle.