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With that said, one’s proper place changes with our environment and as
we move into new situations, so too do we find proper new opportunities
opening themselves to us.

Shenhua was the Emperor’s daughter by way of a courtesan. is was a very
limiting position in Tian Ja, but is not binding in Avistan. She is a student in Avistan and this position comes with many benefits not available in the Court. Namely, a student is transitioning from what they were to what they want to be.

Hokuto herself sat at the end of the room closest to the doors, looking at him with a crooked smile. She knew as well as he that to go against the mandate of heaven would leave him powerless, his clan at the mercy of anyone with the slightest amount of ambition.

Emperor Shigure, sat not three leagues from this very room, a ‘guest’ of Kentaro himself. e Emperor had never hinted at the arrangement made by his ancestors, and if this foreign woman had not shown up, the Higashyama would have broken the accord unknowingly.

How fortunate that his guards had intercepted her here, rather than allowing her to travel on to his ancestral lands. This woman, or one like her, arrived every generation in the Year of the Rabbit. Each time, she would take with her the imperial princess with the greatest arcane ability. Many attempts had been made in the last several hundred years to get around this agreement. Not only did they fail, but they invariably foretold the coming of a new Emperor. Should this happen today, it would be a disaster for the Higashyama, for they would lose their hostage.

“Enough!” Despite his plan for delay, his patience finally wore thin.

“Ichihara-sensei, will you know the girl you are to take? None of the princesses seem particularly gied in the arcane arts but I have no
desire to cross the mandate of heaven.”

With her assent, the court withdrew to the Empress’s quarters. Four guards stood at the doorway, their polearms blocking the mass of women huddled on the other side of the room. Loud wailing burst forth as he entered the room, grating on the last of his nerves. He waited but a moment before realizing that Ichihara had continued down the passage behind him. Embarassed, he spun about, now following the foreign woman.

His face turned red around gritted teeth as sweat broke out on his brow.
Without warning, Ichihara turned right and descended a flight of stairs, finally coming to a stop before the quarters of the courtesans. Quickly sliding open the door, she stepped inside, followed by his guards. Surprised, Kentaro followed, his fury reigned in by curiosity.

Walking into the courtyard, the foreign woman approached a young courtesan sitting beside a still pond, her fourteen year old daughter beside her. “This is the one,” spoke the seer. “She will come with me to the land of sand.”

Smiling inwardly, Kentaro realized his problem was solved. Who cared that she took the daughter of a whore? Meeting Ichihara’s gaze, he felt quite pleased with himself and it was only later that he would question his fortune. If he had won, why was she the one smiling?

Tian Ja in general, and Minkai in particular, is a patriarchal society and while lineange is tracked maternally, it is inherited paternally. Within this structured environment, Shenhua’s life has been relatively easy if not more than a little boring. As a daughter of the Emperor, she is forbidden to mingle with the common folk. Ancient tradition gives the common folk of Minkai certain rights and the daughters are therefore kept inside the imperial compound.

Most courtesans eventually become courtesans themselves although this is not mandated. In reality, the girls are pretty much ignored and therefore taught the only skills possessed by the adults around them - their mothers. Tradition strictly forbids their selection as further imperial courtesans, and so usually nd themselves to attention of young soldiers with rising stars as all but the ve most prestigious families can gain face through the addition of imperial blood.

Shenjua is a not untypical for a girl of her station. She is quiet, with good manners well suited to formal occassions. She has impeccable manners and knows exactly how to behave whether meeting with foreigners, the common folk, or even the Emperor himself.

Shenhua is also skilled in the arts, skilled with the samisen, dancing and fluent in both Tian and the common language in the distant land of Taldan. She is proficient with the spear through her dance training but
has no arcane training at this time.

Shenhua worships Shelyn in her Tian Ja aspect as the Mistress of Chrysanthemums and knows all of the Mistress’s holy texts, actually little more than historical romances, by heart. Secretly, Shenhua has always longed to be a holy geisha, a travelling priestess of Shelyn but
understands that this can never happen due to her birth.

Despite her easy demeanor and acceptance of fate, Shenhua is exquisitely aware of exactly where she stands in the hierarchy of world nobility. While she is extremely unlikely to use this as an opportunity to put others down, she would not accept another putting her below her station.
While Avistani might look down on her as the illegitimate daughter of a courtesan, this position is not considered shameful in Tian Ja.

Lastly, Shenhua is not very materialistic, preferring to cultivate relationships rather than accumulate wealth. She is relatively mercenary in this regard, having been trained by her mother to utilize what skills and opportunities she has. While Shenhua may sometimes act willfully, she does not do so by being rude or burning bridges.

Standing before the brightly striped tent, she tried to summon the courage to enter. Ordered by Ishihara-sensei to learn about the town
and its residents before nightfall, she’d sought guidance in the only place familiar, the cards of a seer.

Lifting the flap, the cool, dark interior beckoned with quiet comfort. The pungent smell of incense made her head spin a little, yet with one step forward she entered another world.

“Come, enter. You seek answers, yes? Let Ba’at illuminate your path forward. All need guidance, especially those rst stepping foot onto foreign lands.”

A sigh of relief escaped Shenhua’s lips as she saw the seers cards. While the art was different, the familiar forms of the Liar and the Bear provided comfort. At least she used the same cards as home.

Once she was seated, the foreign seer pulled the top card, laying it down for Shenhua to read. “e Dance. You draw comfort from the familiar and move within the connes of tradition with foresight and grace. You dislike being cast adri, having to redene your place in a new heirarchy, and yet still have you come to this far land. You hope to remain true to your ways and therefore cause the unknown to accommodate itself to you. Let us see how that will work out.”

Following Shenhua’s nod of understanding, the foreign fortune teller took up her card once again, quickly shuffling it into the stack. Laying out nine cards in a three by three pattern, the seer moved her finger from left to right and top to bottom, peering at them carefully. Tapping the top left card, she spoke in a dreamy voice, echoing as if coming from far away.

“The Tangled Briar. A figure from antiquity will dominate your future. Both a victim and a perpetrator of great wrongs, it will “e Big Sky. e day of your arrival has finally come, the end of a journey you began some months ago. Freedom is yours for the taking for the first time in
your life, yet it fills you with fear. You must pass through the unknown with boldness, but also caution.

The Desert represents not only where you find yourself now, but the great distance you have traveled to get here. Look to a teacher or physician to guide you and you will find treasure awaiting you.

The Empty Throne. e spirits of your ancestors stir, unable to sleep within their graves while those that slew them rest in their beds above. To you has it fallen to lay these specters to rest that your spirit may
eventually lie with them in peace.”

Shenhua became more uncomfortable with each card. The inner working of the Imperial Court seemed laid open to a foreign witch. e secrets of
her people were not meant to be laid bare here, on the other side of the world.

“The Betrayal. e envy of the unworthy has cast aside the mandate of heaven. Only through self sacrice and restraint will your path forward succeed. You must turn from this material world to the one that lies beyond to change that which has gone wrong here.

The Courtesan. Three women drive your fate - your mother, your mentor, and yourself. How you treat each will determine success or failure. Beware the capriciousness of others, but always remember that as one of these three, you are an integral part of your own future.

The Uprising. A force infinitely more powerful than yourself lies athwart your path, both ahead and behind. You have no better chance of defeating it than a child bearing the brunt of the storm, yet defeat it you must. It will not be enough to pass it by or sneak around. Only
by overcoming it will your spirit be able to take its place with those of your ancestors.”

With the Tian Ja girl now gone, the fortune teller slithered out from behind her table. Her long trip had been worth the effort and the girl once again set on a path of conflict. War would come to Mingya at the girl’s hand - Ba’at would make certain of it.