Offering to the Fire (D2, EM)

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

"Perhaps? One could do worse than learn from an esteemed man like him." Dong-Ha quipped, smirking as he did so. "But I understand that he wouldn't have time for everyone. Does he have distinguished students whom could teach in his stead?" That was how education tended to work in Rokugan anyway. "Or does he actually train all of you himself?"

[Seppun Hitako]

"Thus far, we are only a few. Very few. Once we have grown, and learned, we will hopefully then be able to train others. He is... he is in some ways like those at the beginning of the Empire, like Isawa and Iuchi - they must first train their students to the required levels, before those students can then train others."

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

"I see..." he sounded a little crestfallen. "That is quite the privilege, being trained by one of the finest minds of the Empire!" Not that he could claim mastery of meishodo, but had always always been curious about foreign magics.

[Seppun Hitako]

"If you have the gift to call upon the kami, you could try asking to learn from him. You said you use this meishodo, it is something indicating you have Spiritual power, right?"

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

"Ah, but that would be a problem. I cannot hear the kami, though some of my kinsmen claim they can." So much for that plan. Perhaps something else worth studying would pop up. "Anyone can learn meishodo if they dedicate enough time to it."

[Seppun Hitako]

"Truly? How much time? That is most different from here. And, do you have any idea what portion of your people can hear the kami?"

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

"Years. The words must be inscribed perfectly, following appropriate patterns on the amulets for them to work properly. Well, using them is perhaps bit easier, but you need to know the person who crafted the amulet to use it...or spend a good while studying them. Each of the meishodo teachers have slightly different methods and while I can easily use the brooches my father has made, I might have to spend few days figuring out the ones my mother has, as she had.. and still has her own sensei." Dong-Ha explained meticulously. "If one were to start today and had nothing else to do, they could perhaps use the simplest of trinkets in two years or so. Maybe in a year if they were talented."

[Seppun Hitako]

"That's not too bad. I was some similar time working with Master Fairuz-dono, to learn the Seal, and that was after already learning some of the basics of being a shugenja from Sensei Seppun Mitsumoto-sama. Interesting that you must get it exactly right - my first lesson from Master Fairuz-dono was to copy my name 500 times, each identical. A necessary step to using the Seal."

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

Dong-Ha chuckled softly. That sounds familiar. I spent months etching the words of creation into a clay tablet until my father was convinced I could try my luck with limestone. Needless to say it didn't go well the first few times. As soft as limestone was it had nasty habit of cracking when too much pressure was applied.

[Seppun Hitako]

"And now, can you do it near perfectly each time? Or do you still make those sorts of mistakes?"

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

"Not so much with the words, but some materials are harder to work than the others. Limestone chips easily while amber is more malleable. Some of the more precious stones are harder.. and so harder to work with." Dong-Ha licked his lips before he continued. "See, we use different materials for different charms according to the elements they are connected to. Amber for water, limestone for earth. Volcanic stone or pottery for fire."

[Seppun Hitako]

She nods along, then frowns for a beat. "And what do you use for Air? Also, have you looked into other materials that might be found here, but weren't in the outer world?"

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

"Nothing, I don't have such a good command of that particular element." Dong-Ha admitted sheepishly. "I know my father uses feathers and glass beads, for example."

"I haven't yet... and it's not like the material itself is that important, as long as there is a connection to the relevant element. My father talks about memory... for example, volcanic stone has memory of fire. I'll have to study what Rokugan has to offer..."

[Seppun Hitako]

"I wonder. Each clan is often compared to certain elements; would the land of that clan line up with that element, so a pebble from Lion lands would work for Water, and a pebble from Crab lands work for Earth, for instance? Might be worth looking into."

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

"I think that would depend on the pebble... not every stone can be turned into meishodo amulet, and not all stones can contain all words. " Dong-Ha spread his hands, trying to explain the problems the meishodo mystics faced.