Megumi bows back to Morito politely and seems slightly annoyed at his display. When the Scorpion is finished she motions to the pieces and smiles faintly to him. "Shall I be black then?" The samurai-ko kneels and makes her first move.
Megumi plays well for a little bit, so well it surprises her as much as anybody else, however in the end the Shosuro casually defeats her. A little frustration shows through her expression, no doubt aggravated by the sniping of Koneko but she manages to bow in defeat.
"It seems you are the victor Shosuro-san. I hope I was little more than a distraction for your skill." Megumi is trying to be generous but her words might be coming off a bit more harshly at the moment.
Megumi plays well for a little bit, so well it surprises her as much as anybody else, however in the end the Shosuro casually defeats her. A little frustration shows through her expression, no doubt aggravated by the sniping of Koneko but she manages to bow in defeat.
"It seems you are the victor Shosuro-san. I hope I was little more than a distraction for your skill." Megumi is trying to be generous but her words might be coming off a bit more harshly at the moment.
Morito either does not notice the Kakita's bitterness or hides it well. Regardless, he bows with all the same flourishes as before, replying, "The ornament is to the costume as the mirror is to the lamp - together, both are brighter for their combined efforts. Once again, allow me to express my deepest appreciation for the time we have spent together."
"Please," Megumi begins a little less upset than before. "Allow me to show my appreciation. It was a good game Shosuro-san and I have learned much playing with you." She rises and bows deeply, a little moreso than etiquette demands most likely due to her curtness before.
Ume battled down the urge to stand up and shout something to the commentators face, or maybe invite him to win the game now. She did neither, but instead looked at her wave-men adversary, whom she so greatly underestimated. "Pass. Excellent game, thank you."
She bowed deeply, and was privately thankful for one thing - both her defeats so far had been clear and decisive. If she could handle a loss by some tiny bit of favor or disfavor so well, she didn't really knowl She didn't know and would certainly avoid finding out, if possible.
Chorotaku bows to the battle maiden as they prepare for their match. "You rode well yesterday," he rumbles. "I respect a woman of strength." Without further ado, he seats himself and begins to play, showing more skill than his brute attitude might have suggested.
Yukari returns the bow to the Hida, thanking him before she seats herself at the go board. Chorotaku seemed an unlikely player, she thought at first. She herself had little practice at the game, so she truly had no idea of how this would go.
It wasn't long into the game before the battle maiden realised that the massive Crab did know what he was doing, losing a few of her pieces due to careless manoevering. She stopped to consider her position. She didn't have much knowledge of the standard go 'scenarios', but it was always said to be a game of tactics and strategy, like a battle on a wooden board. Perhaps if she thought it through like each piece was a bushi in a battle between armies, she could figure it out better.
After her pause, Yukari begins to play again, trying to ensure that none of her little 'warriors' were hopelessly outnumbered and surrounded by Chorotaku's. This line of thinking seems to work better for her. Her moves were still simplistic and clumsy in places, but, perhaps through luck more than anything else, she managed to place a few stones in good positions on the board - enough to barely edge a victory over the Crab.
"Please," Megumi begins a little less upset than before. "Allow me to show my appreciation. It was a good game Shosuro-san and I have learned much playing with you." She rises and bows deeply, a little moreso than etiquette demands most likely due to her curtness before.
Morito takes Megumi's improved mood in stride, much as he did her previous displeasure, bowing to her and grandly offering to escort her back to the waiting area for the next competition. On the way there, he asks, almost idly, "Have you ever considered studying the arts of the stage?" With one last bow, then, he leaves her.
Ume battled down the urge to stand up and shout something to the commentators face, or maybe invite him to win the game now. She did neither, but instead looked at her wave-men adversary, whom she so greatly underestimated. "Pass. Excellent game, thank you."
She bowed deeply, and was privately thankful for one thing - both her defeats so far had been clear and decisive. If she could handle a loss by some tiny bit of favor or disfavor so well, she didn't really knowl She didn't know and would certainly avoid finding out, if possible.
Kenji's bow is the bare minimum allowed by courtesy, particularly when his ronin status is taken into account; it just rides on the edge of insult, though he is careful not to give any. He says nothing, but Ume can see that the same strange fire still burns in Kenji's eyes as he walks away.
After her pause, Yukari begins to play again, trying to ensure that none of her little 'warriors' were hopelessly outnumbered and surrounded by Chorotaku's. This line of thinking seems to work better for her. Her moves were still simplistic and clumsy in places, but, perhaps through luck more than anything else, she managed to place a few stones in good positions on the board - enough to barely edge a victory over the Crab.
When the points are counted and Yukari's victory declared, Chorotaku rises, bowing again. "Someday, Utaku-san," he says, bowing again, "I hope we have a chance to meet on the field of battle. That would be a good day."
Elsewhere in the room:
Doji Keitomaru and Moto Tsuto play a long and intense game. Keitomaru plays extremely aggressively, dropping stones at an almost feverish pace, while Tsuto plays steadily. At first, it looks as though Keitomaru's aggression has given him the momentum to win, but his play becomes reckless, and Tsuto - albeit with difficulty - manages to find gaps in the Crane's thinking, gaps that allow him to suddenly capture huge swathes of the board, annihilating Keitomaru's position. Koneko dos not spare her kinsman the edge of her razor-sharp tongue, and Keitomaru all but flees the room to escape her mockery.
Kakita Amiko and Isawa Tsutakito don't seem to have much experience with the game; both place stones nearly at random. It in't until about two-thirds of the way through the game that Amiko seems to come up with something resembling a strategy, but it is better than Tsutakito's position, which never really coalesces to anything at all.
Perhaps not surprisingly, Tamori Ryuko demonstrates a familiarity with go that her opponent, Kakita Toru, simply does not. Whether it is simply a reflection of too much time spent atop mountains in winter, or something more deeply ingrained in her, Ryuko nevertheless plays a solid, if not overwhelming game, against an opponent who has probably spent far more time in a dojo than he has ever even thought about go.
The match between the Scorpion, Bayushi Tenmaku, and the Lion, Matsu Nimoro, is perhaps the most closely watched, because of the traditional tactical prowess of the latter Clan and the well-known cunning of the former. The two opponents do seem well-matched, Nimoro having a stronger feel for the tactics of the game itself, while Tenmaku seems to play his opponent as much as the stones on the board. This is also the longest match, running a full 30 or so minutes after the rest of the games have ended. Finally, however, they fight a tight endgame, and when points are counted, Tenmaku has emerged the victor. Nimoro's bow is deep and respectful, and even Koneko has little to say about the game one way or the other.
After the last go game ends and the tables are moved out of the chamber by silent, efficient Crane servants, Miya Shikan and O-Doji Koneko stand side by side in the center of the room. Shikan begins speaking:
"It is said by some that the way of the samurai must follow one of three paths: the sword, the scroll, or the fan. Though not all have the gift of speaking to the kami, those who do not should nevertheless strive to incorporate both the court and the battlefield into their training, so as to demonstrate their full development as servants of the empire." (Shikan's face twists slightly at the word "battlefield," no doubt due to his notorious pacifism.} "In this way, a samurai may choose which tool is best suited to serving the interests of his or her lord at any given time, as the finest servants should be able to do."
Koneko, her voice loud and carrying despite the scratchiness of age, adds, "A bushi who knows only the sword is a fool, a thug fit only for pounding goblins or battering bandits. A true samurai can string two sentences together and gain something from the effort, and might even find they've done more than they would have if they'd just thought with their katana blade." She sniffs loudly.
Shikan looks a little askance at this, but gamely concludes, "O-Doji-san and I will determine which of the samurai-to-be before us has mastered the fan as they have mastered their other talents, and are thus truly wothy of the name 'samurai.'"
Tsutakito smiles slightly as he bows to Megumi when they step up to the dais together. "We seem to be the shadows of one another, Kakita-san," he says. After a few moments, Shikan draws a chop from a silk bag and holds it up. "Isawa Tsutakito may begin!" he intones.
Tsutakito bows in acknowledgement, then spends a few moments thinking before beginning his reply. "Though every virtue of bushido is important, I think I can safely say that honor, above all others, must be held the most important tenet. It is by accepting honor that we come to accept bushido itself, to acknowledge its power over us and its relationship to the Celestial Heavens, from which all our traditions ultimately springs. We are samurai because we know that honor matters; because we know honor matters, we understand that we must follow all the other tenets as well. Without honor, the rest of bushido collapses into empty words and hollow phrases, the mouthings of the self-righteous. With honor, we understand that it is so much more."
Chigitsu looks distinctly nervous as he stands alongside Utsuro before the judges. Koneko sneers at them both equally as Shikan withdraws a chop from the bag to announce "Matsu Chigitsu may speak first!" Chigitsu looks even more pale, and Utsuro seems him swallow once, his eyes moving rapidly back and forth.
"The, uh, the ancestors are the most vital, of course," he begins, licking his lips and looking toward Matsu Hoketsaku, the Lion Champion, as though for reassurance. "The Lion know that we are watched continually by those who came before us, and, and, and so we have to behave like we're being watched. I mean, in a way that shows we know we are being watched. So we don't shame them. A Lion's ancestors are the most important of all." He swallows once more.
Oroko is polite and even friendly as she greets Yukari for their match, leaning close to whisper, "I spend most of my time in forests, Utaku-san, but I've always had a good audience in the form of the trees. You think this will be the same?" Koneko's gimlet eye makes the young ronin samurai-ko straighten quickly, however, and her face becomes all business shortly thereafter.
Shikan pulls the chop from the silk bag, reads it, then calls, "Utaku Yukari may speak first!" Oroko turns expectantly to listen to the battle maiden's position.
Kakita Toru's expression is one of smug expectation as he bows courteously to Kuni Heihachi. It would seem he expects an easy victory over the shugenja, but Heihachi notes that the grin fades somewhat at the esoteric nature of their topic. Shikan announces, "Kakita Toru may speak first!" and Toru looks like a man placed in front of an army alone.
He recovers quickly, however, and begins his reply. "Honor, Miya-sama and O-Doji-sama, is the indefinable quality that connects us to the highest ideals of our culture. Indeed, it is the Law of Heaven itself, a law that we as samurai strive every moment to obey, that we too might one day join our ancestors and greatest heroes in Yomi. It is a Law that emanates not from the words of any lord, or even from the Emperor himself, but that permeates the very air we breathe, through the will of the Sun, Moon, Kami and dragons. We act in accord with honor when we follow the will and dictates of Heaven; honor is both the guide and the path, leading us to enlightenment and perfect service to our lord."
"What we do at Heaven's command, we do in honor." Toru bows his head, then lifts it to look at Heihachi.
Tsuto grins broadly, taking Ume's measure as they face one another on the dais. His gaze... wanders... and he grins again. "Think I see what the Scorpion likes in you," he says in a low tone, then guffaws. Shikan ignores the by-play, while Komeko glares down at the uncaring Unicorn. After a moment, Shikan calls out, "Moto Tsuto may speak first!"
Tsuto looks around, as though just coming to a sense of where he is, then sile again at the crowd. "In error? Course he can be. The Emperor is just a man, for all his divinity, and even the Fortunes have made mistakes before. When an Emperor and his empire grow corrupt, Heaven pulls the Mandate of Heaven back, and bam! All bets are off. That's why the Empire needs strong leadership beyond the Throne, to make sure things run smoothly in case the Emperor should screw something up. We've got ourselves a good strong dynasty here, but there have been times in the past when Rokugan needed a bit of a turnaround, if you know what I'm saying! So yeah, absolutely. The Emperor can make a mess of things if he's of a mind to."
Shosuro Morito's bow to Nagatsuna is as ostentatious as it has been to all the other contestants. "It is said that the Crab are the Wall of Rokugan, but I have heard sages and bards tell tales of mountains that speak. So too it shall be with you, I think, Hida-san, and I await with unfettered openness the wisdom you shall impart to us all this day!" He bows again, then turns to face the judges. Shikan studies him for a moment, face expressionless, before reaching into the bag and withdrawing a tile. "Hida Nagatsuna may speak first!" Shikan calls, and Morito turns back to face Nagatsuna once more, the "unfettered openness" written clearly on his face.
Kakita Toru's expression is one of smug expectation as he bows courteously to Kuni Heihachi. It would seem he expects an easy victory over the shugenja, but Heihachi notes that the grin fades somewhat at the esoteric nature of their topic. Shikan announces, "Kakita Toru may speak first!" and Toru looks like a man placed in front of an army alone.
He recovers quickly, however, and begins his reply. "Honor, Miya-sama and O-Doji-sama, is the indefinable quality that connects us to the highest ideals of our culture. Indeed, it is the Law of Heaven itself, a law that we as samurai strive every moment to obey, that we too might one day join our ancestors and greatest heroes in Yomi. It is a Law that emanates not from the words of any lord, or even from the Emperor himself, but that permeates the very air we breathe, through the will of the Sun, Moon, Kami and dragons. We act in accord with honor when we follow the will and dictates of Heaven; honor is both the guide and the path, leading us to enlightenment and perfect service to our lord."
"What we do at Heaven's command, we do in honor." Toru bows his head, then lifts it to look at Heihachi.
The large Kuni has no hope of winning this bout, but the honorable thing to do is to represent his lord; the best he can.
"Honor is doing. Honor is representing your lord in the best manner possible, honor is fighting to the death to defend the Emperor. Honor is falling in battle. It is not words, it is action! What worth is courtly words if you fail in your duties? Honor is knowing that you are outmatched, but still competing even unto death, for to surrender is dishonor, not to just yourself, but to your family and your lord."
"Honor is doing. Honor is representing your lord in the best manner possible, honor is fighting to the death to defend the Emperor. Honor is falling in battle. It is not words, it is action! What worth is courtly words if you fail in your duties? Honor is knowing that you are outmatched, but still competing even unto death, for to surrender is dishonor, not to just yourself, but to your family and your lord."
"Indeed, Kuni-san," Toru nods, smiling slightly to himself, though the expression disappears after a moment as he refocuses his attenion on Shikan and Koneko. "Those are all, indeed, parts of honor. Each aspect of honor, those that Kuni-san has listed and more, is a gift to us from the Heavens, and when we die for our lords, when we take up his defense or rally to her side, we show our honor, just as we do when we quietly perform our duties to collect taxes or manage estates. When we compose a poem to enhance the beauty of an evening, just as when we perform the three cuts, we reflect Heaven's laws and thus its honor."
"The Lion know that we are watched continually by those who came before us, and, and, and so we have to behave like we're being watched. I mean, in a way that shows we know we are being watched. So we don't shame them. A Lion's ancestors are the most important of all." He swallows once more.
Avoiding the gaze of the ancient Crane, Utsuro focuses on the halting words of his opponent and begins his reply as soon as the Lion finishes.
"The Phoenix revere our ancestors as well, and seek their guidance - but while they have earned the blessing of Yomi, they were still once human, and as flawed as any here.
We also seek assistance from the Fortunes, and their mastery over the aspects of life they symbolize. As with the ancestors, however, many of them were once human, and capable of making mistakes.
It is only in the Tao that we can find true direction. The answers may be vague, or seem incorrect at times, but they are always True."
Megumi accompanies the Shosuro to the next event. She watches him curiously and even seems a little perplexed at his suggestion. The Crane says nothing in reply and it is hard to tell what is causing her such consternation.
As the courtier event begins Megumi appears to forget the Scorpion's question and inwardly jumps for joy. She smiles sincerely when she is again paired with Tsutakito and bows to him politely. Megumi listens attentively to his response and formulates her own as the Phoenix continues on.
"Isawa-san is correct, honour is indeed very important. An honourless samurai is not samurai at all, he is merely a shadow of one. However," Here she pauses a moment to consider her words more carefully. "I believe that duty is the more important virtue."
"This is because," She continues. "Every virtue of bushido starts with duty and it is duty that helps to define all of bushido. It is because of duty that a samurai can be honourable. Without it the samurai is lost; indeed is this not the definition of the wave-men? Samurai know who they are, that they are samurai in fact, because their duty allows them the chance. Without duty there can be no bushido for it is our duty as samurai to obey one's lord and the virtues of bushido itself."
"May the better orator win this challenge" Ume replied while they greeted each other. Under her breath, she added "Not the greater lecher." When the actual time for arguments came, she found herself at a bit of an disadvantage. Loyalty without blindness was harder to pull off than respectful opposition.
She had to try nevertheless. "I firmly believe the emperor speaks with the voice of heaven. He is beyond reproach, and beyond question. Were it any different, no aspect of our society would work in its proper way, from mundane questions of land ownership to our entire spiritual system." Now to temper the statement, take the brittleness out of it, along some of its hardness. "All the more tragic that the Emperor is not immune to being deceived, because any time this happened, great suffering engulfed the empire entire. There is a fine, noteworthy difference here. I would challenge you to point out an "error" committed not because of outside malice, be it deception or force."
"Honor is doing. Honor is representing your lord in the best manner possible, honor is fighting to the death to defend the Emperor. Honor is falling in battle. It is not words, it is action! What worth is courtly words if you fail in your duties? Honor is knowing that you are outmatched, but still competing even unto death, for to surrender is dishonor, not to just yourself, but to your family and your lord."
"Indeed, Kuni-san," Toru nods, smiling slightly to himself, though the expression disappears after a moment as he refocuses his attenion on Shikan and Koneko. "Those are all, indeed, parts of honor. Each aspect of honor, those that Kuni-san has listed and more, is a gift to us from the Heavens, and when we die for our lords, when we take up his defense or rally to her side, we show our honor, just as we do when we quietly perform our duties to collect taxes or manage estates. When we compose a poem to enhance the beauty of an evening, just as when we perform the three cuts, we reflect Heaven's laws and thus its honor."
"Humility is also honorable, as you must know your place. Dishonored is he who touches the dead, shameful, the place of peasants to carry off the remains of the honorably dead. What carries more honor Toru-san? Rallying the banner in a battle against oni? Or collecting taxes?"
When the points are counted and Yukari's victory declared, Chorotaku rises, bowing again. "Someday, Utaku-san," he says, bowing again, "I hope we have a chance to meet on the field of battle. That would be a good day."
Yukari returns the bow to Chorotaku, before replying "Perhaps the fortunes shall will it so one day." She knew it was a compliment he was offering her, but she had to admit, if they were ever to meet on a battlefield, she would rather he was on her side than against it.
It wasn't long before it was time for the courtier debate. Yukari hoped she wasn't placed against one of the Cranes or Scorpions. She wouldn't have much chance of success if that happened. She was somewhat relieved when she saw Oroko's name being drawn against hers. This might be more even.
Oroko is polite and even friendly as she greets Yukari for their match, leaning close to whisper, "I spend most of my time in forests, Utaku-san, but I've always had a good audience in the form of the trees. You think this will be the same?" Koneko's gimlet eye makes the young ronin samurai-ko straighten quickly, however, and her face becomes all business shortly thereafter.
Shikan pulls the chop from the silk bag, reads it, then calls, "Utaku Yukari may speak first!" Oroko turns expectantly to listen to the battle maiden's position.
The battle maiden bows to Oroko, smiling at the ronin's comment. Before she can reply, Koneko's glare makes them both settle down to business. Yukari immediately knew what side of the debate she would choose, but she had to figure out how to put her reasons into words while remaining respectful at all times..
"A samurai owes her ultimate loyalty to the Empire. The Emperor is the lord of all samurai, but he also represents the Empire. There are some duties that cannot be achieved by a clan or family in the span of a single life, and so this duty is to the Empire. For example, the Crab must defend the wall, and the Unicorn left the Empire for 8 centuries so that they could learn of what lies outside and prepare Rokugan for any dangers that may come. These are done to protect the Empire from its enemies, to ensure that Rokugan remains safe. These duties are carried out over generations of men, but the Empire remains the same. The Unicorn left the Empire during the reign of the First Emperor, but what they gained could not be returned to him. It was returned to his descendant. The Empire had grown and changed, but it was still the same Empire that they served. It is the same Empire that we serve today."
Avoiding the gaze of the ancient Crane, Utsuro focuses on the halting words of his opponent and begins his reply as soon as the Lion finishes.
"The Phoenix revere our ancestors as well, and seek their guidance - but while they have earned the blessing of Yomi, they were still once human, and as flawed as any here.
We also seek assistance from the Fortunes, and their mastery over the aspects of life they symbolize. As with the ancestors, however, many of them were once human, and capable of making mistakes.
It is only in the Tao that we can find true direction. The answers may be vague, or seem incorrect at times, but they are always True."
Chigitsu stares for a moment, seeming actually shocked by this answer. "The Tao?" he sputters. "You would criticize the ancestors and Fortunes for having once been flawed humans, and you pick the book of sayings written by some random passing monk? And you want to talk about vague!" He screws up his face, and continues in a goofy voice, "'Two monks met at a river. One said, "I am a duck." The other said, "Ah, but who is the frog?" And they were both enlightened.'" He snorts, his voice returning to normal. "What does that even mean?"
"For centuries, the Lion have basically ignored the Tao, relying on the wisdom of Akodo-kami in Leadership and the guidance of our ancestors. And look where we are!"
"Isawa-san is correct, honour is indeed very important. An honourless samurai is not samurai at all, he is merely a shadow of one. However," Here she pauses a moment to consider her words more carefully. "I believe that duty is the more important virtue."
"This is because," She continues. "Every virtue of bushido starts with duty and it is duty that helps to define all of bushido. It is because of duty that a samurai can be honourable. Without it the samurai is lost; indeed is this not the definition of the wave-men? Samurai know who they are, that they are samurai in fact, because their duty allows them the chance. Without duty there can be no bushido for it is our duty as samurai to obey one's lord and the virtues of bushido itself."
"The ronin are still samurai," Tsutakito responds, "and many display an understanding of bushido. The great Toturi himself was once a ronin, but he still remembered honor. By holding onto honor, he proved himself worthy of the Mandate of Heaven, not to mention was able to overcome the vile Fu Leng. He found strength in his honor, because it showed him the path to becoming a Thunder, and then an Emperor."
Loyalty without blindness was harder to pull off than respectful opposition.
She had to try nevertheless. "I firmly believe the emperor speaks with the voice of heaven. He is beyond reproach, and beyond question. Were it any different, no aspect of our society would work in its proper way, from mundane questions of land ownership to our entire spiritual system." Now to temper the statement, take the brittleness out of it, along some of its hardness. "All the more tragic that the Emperor is not immune to being deceived, because any time this happened, great suffering engulfed the empire entire. There is a fine, noteworthy difference here. I would challenge you to point out an "error" committed not because of outside malice, be it deception or force."
Tsuto pauses for a moment, seeming to think, but shakes it off. "Even if that's true," he says, "It's still an error. Whether somebody makes it happen or not doesn't matter."
"Humility is also honorable, as you must know your place. Dishonored is he who touches the dead, shameful, the place of peasants to carry off the remains of the honorably dead. What carries more honor Toru-san? Rallying the banner in a battle against oni? Or collecting taxes?"
"Neither, Heihachi-san," Toru replies at once. "As you say, humility is also honorable. Every samurai serves his or her lord in the way assigned by that lord - the tax collector who ignores her duty to fight oni is as dishonorable as the samurai who leaves the Wall to collect taxes instead. Indeed, it may be more courageous to accept the loss of glory a tax collector must endure, denied the chance to die serving her daimyo for the sake of a stronger holding. A samurai who serves as well as he can in the duty given him is pursuing honor, no matter the context."
The battle maiden bows to Oroko, smiling at the ronin's comment. Before she can reply, Koneko's glare makes them both settle down to business. Yukari immediately knew what side of the debate she would choose, but she had to figure out how to put her reasons into words while remaining respectful at all times..
"A samurai owes her ultimate loyalty to the Empire. The Emperor is the lord of all samurai, but he also represents the Empire. There are some duties that cannot be achieved by a clan or family in the span of a single life, and so this duty is to the Empire. For example, the Crab must defend the wall, and the Unicorn left the Empire for 8 centuries so that they could learn of what lies outside and prepare Rokugan for any dangers that may come. These are done to protect the Empire from its enemies, to ensure that Rokugan remains safe. These duties are carried out over generations of men, but the Empire remains the same. The Unicorn left the Empire during the reign of the First Emperor, but what they gained could not be returned to him. It was returned to his descendant. The Empire had grown and changed, but it was still the same Empire that they served. It is the same Empire that we serve today."
Oroko blinks for a moment when Yukari pauses, clearly surprised by Yukari's answer. Gamely, though she tries to rally and respond. "...Um... but it is every samurai's duty to obey their lord," she fumbles. (She is perhaps aware that her ronin status makes this tack problematic.) "Samurai are to obey their daimyo, who are sworn to obey their daimyo, and so on, up to the Clan Champions, who are sworn to the Emperor. So if the Emperor gives a command that goes against the well-being of the Empire, a samurai is still sworn to carry out that order, on the strength of the oath she swore."
Shosuro Morito's bow to Nagatsuna is as ostentatious as it has been to all the other contestants. "It is said that the Crab are the Wall of Rokugan, but I have heard sages and bards tell tales of mountains that speak. So too it shall be with you, I think, Hida-san, and I await with unfettered openness the wisdom you shall impart to us all this day!" He bows again, then turns to face the judges. Shikan studies him for a moment, face expressionless, before reaching into the bag and withdrawing a tile. "Hida Nagatsuna may speak first!" Shikan calls, and Morito turns back to face Nagatsuna once more, the "unfettered openness" written clearly on his face.
Morito vs Nagatsuna - Should a samurai pursue glory?
Nagatsuna's looks down at the scorpion knowing that he is at a huge disadvantage against such a silken tongued twister of word and intent but his face remains an impassive mask. Should I argue for or against? Stay with the strength of be straight forward and truthful so it is more difficult for the snake to make you look the fool. "All mountains speak, Shosuro-san, if one has but the ability to hear what they say."
The Crab looks thoughtful for a few moments and just when people are beginning to wonder whether he is going to answer at all his deep voice rumbles out, "Glory should never be pursued for it's own sake. It is earned, yes, but not because one seeks it out but because others bestow it upon the samurai for following the correct path. Does the samurai shirk his duty and only follow The Way when others are around to witness and fawn over him? No. If a samurai seeks glory for his own purposes than he places himself above his superiors and empire, in his own mind, who are the true judges. We each seek here to represent our houses and clans with honor in this tournament. True glory is bestowed upon those that do the right thing not those that seek out the right thing to do."
Tsutakito's response takes the young Crane back for a moment, clearly she hadn't anticipated this tack on the conversation. Finally she seems to have formulated some kind of answer to the Phoenix.
"After years with the Lion one develops great respect for one's duty. Toturi-sama was ingrained with the principles of the Lion for years before his dishonour." Megumi's words are noticeably quieter toward the end of her last sentence. "It is this experience that led him to follow his duty to his ancestors. Duty granted him the strength to remain on an honourable course and become a Thunder. It is the lot of any samurai to defend the Empire, Toturi-sama simply followed his path to the special and honourable duty as Thunder. When the Heavens decreed he was to be Emperor as well what could he do but bow and accept this honour?"
Here the samurai-ko pauses almost as though she is finished. Something else must come to mind for she adds quickly. "The honour to serve is great indeed, what can any samurai do but serve their lord?" Finishing she bows to the Isawa expecting his response.
"Humility is also honorable, as you must know your place. Dishonored is he who touches the dead, shameful, the place of peasants to carry off the remains of the honorably dead. What carries more honor Toru-san? Rallying the banner in a battle against oni? Or collecting taxes?"
"Neither, Heihachi-san," Toru replies at once. "As you say, humility is also honorable. Every samurai serves his or her lord in the way assigned by that lord - the tax collector who ignores her duty to fight oni is as dishonorable as the samurai who leaves the Wall to collect taxes instead. Indeed, it may be more courageous to accept the loss of glory a tax collector must endure, denied the chance to die serving her daimyo for the sake of a stronger holding. A samurai who serves as well as he can in the duty given him is pursuing honor, no matter the context."
The Kuni shugenja looks crushed, he had hoped the crane would have falterred on that question, leaving him an opening to at least get close to victory.
"Honor is Everything. Without honor, we are savages, yet we owe our honor to our leige, for through seppuku we might reclaim lost face, yet our leige can deny us of this reclamation of honor, thus shaming not only the samurai, but his entire family. I am honored to have had the most worthy of opponents Toru-sama."
Heihachi bows deeply.
"For centuries, the Lion have basically ignored the Tao, relying on the wisdom of Akodo-kami in Leadership and the guidance of our ancestors. And look where we are!"
"Yes, Matsu-san, look where you are. The Empire is at peace, and yet your armies are endlessly drilling and practicing maneuvers. There is nothing in Akodo's Leadership - a very important work, it's true - nothing that gives the well-trained warrior an understanding of Peace."
"It is also true that the Tao can be vague, and sometimes contradictory. Through study and meditation, the answers it contains become clear. Respecting your ancestors, honoring the Fortunes - these are part of Shinsei's wisdom, but there is much more.
"Twice, Shinsei guided the Seven Thunders against the depredations of the Fallen Kami. Toturi the Third sought out the wisdom of Shinsei in his quest for enlightenment. Hantei himself saw the wisdom in the words of the 'Little Teacher' and based much of the early empire on his teachings.
"The Tao is the backbone of the Empire, plain and not always so simple."
Tsuto pauses for a moment, seeming to think, but shakes it off. "Even if that's true," he says, "It's still an error. Whether somebody makes it happen or not doesn't matter."
"Obviously, I disagree. An error implies an imperfection." She breathed, and tried to order her thoughts. She was just so glad she could speak from her heart, it was hard enough to not just speak her mind.
"Imperfection is not in the emperor's nature. Perfection is not omnipotence, merely using what is available to the best result possible. The emperor is perfect in the realm of mankind, but obviously not omnipotent." She grinned, and added "To imply the emperor is in error would mean divorcing him from his connection to the divine, wouldn't you agree?"
The Crab looks thoughtful for a few moments and just when people are beginning to wonder whether he is going to answer at all his deep voice rumbles out, "Glory should never be pursued for it's own sake. It is earned, yes, but not because one seeks it out but because others bestow it upon the samurai for following the correct path. Does the samurai shirk his duty and only follow The Way when others are around to witness and fawn over him? No. If a samurai seeks glory for his own purposes than he places himself above his superiors and empire, in his own mind, who are the true judges. We each seek here to represent our houses and clans with honor in this tournament. True glory is bestowed upon those that do the right thing not those that seek out the right thing to do."
Morito nods, looking for all the world as though he were in complete agreement. When he speaks, however, a very different picture emerges. "Glory well-earned is indeed glory well-savored, Hida-san, but I must disagree with you on the larger thrust of your reply," he begins. "You see, a samurai is not merely a man or woman doing a duty; samurai are also symbols, icons of honor and bushido that must be allowed to shine out, so that others can learn from their example. Did not Shinsei say, 'We tell stories of heroes to remind ourselves that we, too, can be great?' Every samurai has the obligation to be such a hero, so that those stories can be told, and new generations of heroes may rise in their footsteps. One who unleashes a mighty shout to the mountains has only his echo for reply - let loose your voice where others can hear, however, and the acclaims of the people tell you that they have heard your tale and have felt its impact on their lives. We must pursue glory to make sure the lessons we have to teach are never lost."
Tsutakito's response takes the young Crane back for a moment, clearly she hadn't anticipated this tack on the conversation. Finally she seems to have formulated some kind of answer to the Phoenix.
"After years with the Lion one develops great respect for one's duty. Toturi-sama was ingrained with the principles of the Lion for years before his dishonour." Megumi's words are noticeably quieter toward the end of her last sentence. "It is this experience that led him to follow his duty to his ancestors. Duty granted him the strength to remain on an honourable course and become a Thunder. It is the lot of any samurai to defend the Empire, Toturi-sama simply followed his path to the special and honourable duty as Thunder. When the Heavens decreed he was to be Emperor as well what could he do but bow and accept this honour?"
Here the samurai-ko pauses almost as though she is finished. Something else must come to mind for she adds quickly. "The honour to serve is great indeed, what can any samurai do but serve their lord?" Finishing she bows to the Isawa expecting his response.
"The question of who and how Toturi was chosen to be a Thunder is an interesting one," Tsutakito replies, a slightly distracted look in his eye. "It may be that there was something innate to the Thunders themselves that placed them in the path of destiny, or it may be that some power directed them to that place, but most scholars suggest that Heaven itself was not directly involved in choosing the Thunders. Which of course suggests that there is some power beyond Heaven that would be responsible for what we would call Destiny or Fate, and that humanity has a unique relationship with that power. On the other hand, some scholars have also suggested that the workings of the Fortunes occur on a level below what we would think of as their 'awareness,' and so they may have chosen the Thunders unknowingly..."
He suddenly breaks off, apparently realizing how far he has drifted from the topic. "Ah... and... er... it, ah, it may be that whatever it is about humans that makes us so uniquely connected to destiny is our understanding of honor," he finishes lamely.
The Kuni shugenja looks crushed, he had hoped the crane would have falterred on that question, leaving him an opening to at least get close to victory.
"Honor is Everything. Without honor, we are savages, yet we owe our honor to our leige, for through seppuku we might reclaim lost face, yet our leige can deny us of this reclamation of honor, thus shaming not only the samurai, but his entire family. I am honored to have had the most worthy of opponents Toru-sama."
Heihachi bows deeply.
Toru bows as well. "Honor is acting in accord with Heaven, for from the Heavens we receive all our blessings and we understand all that is true," he sums up. "May we always find our way toward actions that accord with Heaven."
"Yes, Matsu-san, look where you are. The Empire is at peace, and yet your armies are endlessly drilling and practicing maneuvers. There is nothing in Akodo's Leadership - a very important work, it's true - nothing that gives the well-trained warrior an understanding of Peace."
"It is also true that the Tao can be vague, and sometimes contradictory. Through study and meditation, the answers it contains become clear. Respecting your ancestors, honoring the Fortunes - these are part of Shinsei's wisdom, but there is much more.
"Twice, Shinsei guided the Seven Thunders against the depredations of the Fallen Kami. Toturi the Third sought out the wisdom of Shinsei in his quest for enlightenment. Hantei himself saw the wisdom in the words of the 'Little Teacher' and based much of the early empire on his teachings.
"The Tao is the backbone of the Empire, plain and not always so simple."
It takes awhile for Chigitsu to come up with a response, and when he does, he delivers it in an almost whining tone. "At least you can ask the ancestors questions, and get an actual reply! Even the Fortunes sometimes respond when you pray to them. The Tao just sits there, words in a book that can't react to anything actually going on in the world."
"Obviously, I disagree. An error implies an imperfection." She breathed, and tried to order her thoughts. She was just so glad she could speak from her heart, it was hard enough to not just speak her mind.
"Imperfection is not in the emperor's nature. Perfection is not omnipotence, merely using what is available to the best result possible. The emperor is perfect in the realm of mankind, but obviously not omnipotent." She grinned, and added "To imply the emperor is in error would mean divorcing him from his connection to the divine, wouldn't you agree?"
"No, of course I don't agree," snaps Tsuto irritably. "Divinity makes mistakes all the time, it seems. Emma-O was tricked by Daigotsu, wasn't he? So much so that the Shi-Tien Yen-Wang, the Lords of Death, had to ride in to clean up the mess! And what about the stories of Oracles of the Dragons being corrupted by the Shadowlands? That's hardly displaying some kind of immunity to error, is it?" (There are quiet gasps from various places around the audience, but Tsuto doesn't seem to notice.) "The Emperor is definitely divine, but that doesn't make him right all the time. Or perfect, come to that. He's just a man with a connection to Heaven who's trying to do a job, that's all."
Oroko blinks for a moment when Yukari pauses, clearly surprised by Yukari's answer. Gamely, though she tries to rally and respond. "...Um... but it is every samurai's duty to obey their lord," she fumbles. (She is perhaps aware that her ronin status makes this tack problematic.) "Samurai are to obey their daimyo, who are sworn to obey their daimyo, and so on, up to the Clan Champions, who are sworn to the Emperor. So if the Emperor gives a command that goes against the well-being of the Empire, a samurai is still sworn to carry out that order, on the strength of the oath she swore."
Yukari nods slightly in response to Oroko, pausing for a short moment as she tries to frame a response to the ronin. Oroko was right, but if the Empire was destroyed, then all samurai lost who they were, and the Emperor couldn't be the Emperor...
"Yes, that's true. Through the Celestial Order, a samurai is sworn to obey her Daimyo and so obey the Emperor. And it's possible to be given such an order, and we would be sworn to carry it out. However, just as the Empire outlasts one person's life, it also makes us who we are. It defines us as samurai. If there was no Rokugan, we couldn't be Rokugani, and the Son of Heaven couldn't be the Emperor of Rokugan, as Rokugan wouldn't exist. We are all tied to the Empire's fate. This is another reason why every Rokugani's, including every samurai's, ultimate loyalty lies with the Empire."
"No, of course I don't agree," snaps Tsuto irritably. "Divinity makes mistakes all the time, it seems. Emma-O was tricked by Daigotsu, wasn't he? So much so that the Shi-Tien Yen-Wang, the Lords of Death, had to ride in to clean up the mess! And what about the stories of Oracles of the Dragons being corrupted by the Shadowlands? That's hardly displaying some kind of immunity to error, is it?" (There are quiet gasps from various places around the audience, but Tsuto doesn't seem to notice.) "The Emperor is definitely divine, but that doesn't make him right all the time. Or perfect, come to that. He's just a man with a connection to Heaven who's trying to do a job, that's all."
Ume breathed, deeply. Her counterpart was skirting very close to some very heretical thoughts, and she was very close to saying something regrettable, which might cost her the debate.
Instead of going after any of the specifics, she decided it was much saver to go after the general principle. "So the Fortunes and divinities themselves are subject to a mere mortals judgment, I understand? The Kami themselves subject to your scrutiny? Indeed, if the emperor even could be in error, who would be to judge? A common clan samurai? It is as if an Eta decided you hold your blade wrong."
She decided to wrap her speech up, she felt it was slipping away from her in anger. "Even if the emperor could err, we would be unfit judges to ever decide. So as far as a child of the mortal realm is concerned, the Emperor can err no more than the Fortunes, or any other higher being"
"You raise an interesting topic Isawa-san." Megumi begins after listening to him becoming absorbed in the conversation. The samurai-ko, however, has enough wits about her to realise how far the Phoenix has drifted. "Though it may be a little off topic no doubt our audience would enjoy hearing more of your thoughts and knowledge on the subject, myself included." She gives her opponent a genuine smile.
After a brief pause to collect her thoughts again she continues softly. "Bushido is the way of the samurai, it is our unique privilege to follow it's path. Each of the virtues has their place to play in the life of every samurai but I do believe it is duty that is the first steps along this sojourn. Because of this position at the beginning duty is the foremost among the Seven Virtues."
The Crane stops somewhat suddenly as if she had something else to add but merely hesitates then bows to acknowledge the end of her argument.
"Yes, that's true. Through the Celestial Order, a samurai is sworn to obey her Daimyo and so obey the Emperor. And it's possible to be given such an order, and we would be sworn to carry it out. However, just as the Empire outlasts one person's life, it also makes us who we are. It defines us as samurai. If there was no Rokugan, we couldn't be Rokugani, and the Son of Heaven couldn't be the Emperor of Rokugan, as Rokugan wouldn't exist. We are all tied to the Empire's fate. This is another reason why every Rokugani's, including every samurai's, ultimate loyalty lies with the Empire."
Oroko shakes her head for a moment, then finally says, "But shouldn't it be the case that the Emperor's duty is to the Empire, and it's his responsibility to take care of Rokugan, while we serve his will?"
Ume breathed, deeply. Her counterpart was skirting very close to some very heretical thoughts, and she was very close to saying something regrettable, which might cost her the debate.
Instead of going after any of the specifics, she decided it was much saver to go after the general principle. "So the Fortunes and divinities themselves are subject to a mere mortals judgment, I understand? The Kami themselves subject to your scrutiny? Indeed, if the emperor even could be in error, who would be to judge? A common clan samurai? It is as if an Eta decided you hold your blade wrong."
She decided to wrap her speech up, she felt it was slipping away from her in anger. "Even if the emperor could err, we would be unfit judges to ever decide. So as far as a child of the mortal realm is concerned, the Emperor can err no more than the Fortunes, or any other higher being"
"Are you calling me an eta?" Tsuto roars, suddenly angry. "If you are trying to insult me, Matsu, in order to win this competition, you will pay for your mistake with your life, I promise you!"
Shikan steps forward, the small movement nevertheless managing to capture Tsuto's attention. "That will be sufficient, Moto-san," he says levelly.
"You raise an interesting topic Isawa-san." Megumi begins after listening to him becoming absorbed in the conversation. The samurai-ko, however, has enough wits about her to realise how far the Phoenix has drifted. "Though it may be a little off topic no doubt our audience would enjoy hearing more of your thoughts and knowledge on the subject, myself included." She gives her opponent a genuine smile.
After a brief pause to collect her thoughts again she continues softly. "Bushido is the way of the samurai, it is our unique privilege to follow it's path. Each of the virtues has their place to play in the life of every samurai but I do believe it is duty that is the first steps along this sojourn. Because of this position at the beginning duty is the foremost among the Seven Virtues."
The Crane stops somewhat suddenly as if she had something else to add but merely hesitates then bows to acknowledge the end of her argument.
The Kuni shugenja looks crushed, he had hoped the crane would have falterred on that question, leaving him an opening to at least get close to victory.
"Honor is Everything. Without honor, we are savages, yet we owe our honor to our leige, for through seppuku we might reclaim lost face, yet our leige can deny us of this reclamation of honor, thus shaming not only the samurai, but his entire family. I am honored to have had the most worthy of opponents Toru-sama."
Heihachi bows deeply.
Toru bows as well. "Honor is acting in accord with Heaven, for from the Heavens we receive all our blessings and we understand all that is true," he sums up. "May we always find our way toward actions that accord with Heaven."
So, would I be at 2k2+5? if I spend the point for the skill?
So, would I be at 2k2+5? if I spend the point for the skill?
Oroko shakes her head for a moment, then finally says, "But shouldn't it be the case that the Emperor's duty is to the Empire, and it's his responsibility to take care of Rokugan, while we serve his will?"
Yukari seems a little puzzled by Oroko's response. To her, it didn't seem like the ronin was actually disagreeing with what she was saying - instead, she seemed almost to be reinforcing it.
"Well.. yes. But if our duty is to serve the Emperor, and the Emperor's duty is to the Empire, does it not then mean that our ultimate duty is therefore to the Empire, through the Order?" the battle maiden finally asks.
Morito nods, looking for all the world as though he were in complete agreement. When he speaks, however, a very different picture emerges. "Glory well-earned is indeed glory well-savored, Hida-san, but I must disagree with you on the larger thrust of your reply," he begins. "You see, a samurai is not merely a man or woman doing a duty; samurai are also symbols, icons of honor and bushido that must be allowed to shine out, so that others can learn from their example. Did not Shinsei say, 'We tell stories of heroes to remind ourselves that we, too, can be great?' Every samurai has the obligation to be such a hero, so that those stories can be told, and new generations of heroes may rise in their footsteps. One who unleashes a mighty shout to the mountains has only his echo for reply - let loose your voice where others can hear, however, and the acclaims of the people tell you that they have heard your tale and have felt its impact on their lives. We must pursue glory to make sure the lessons we have to teach are never lost."