Dark Edge Village

After the archery competition was over, Dong-Ha headed tot he stables. He wasn't particularly upset about his results, having never touched a bow. Reaching to the stables, he sought out his Poppy, and spent a good while brushing her. He did feel a little guilty for not having done the same the previous day.

Having finished grooming and saddling the largish brown mare that had carried him to the Empire, Dong-Ha led his horse to the north of the village, allowing her to stretch her limbs.

Nonin was out for a stroll, he like to watch the animals, especially the horses which were so different from the ones he had grown up with.

He bowed politely to the Iuchi.

"Good afternon samurai-san." Dong-Ha bowed in return. "What brings you here?"

"I was just on a stroll to look at all of the fascinating animals here," he said, "such as your lovely horse."

"I am Isawa Nonin, a shugenja of the Phoenix Clan."

"Isawa-san is too kind." Dong-Ha bowed in return, moving to the animal's neck. "Poppy is just a horse. Now if you want to see beautiful horses, you ought to see one the Otaku have. "

"Iuchi Dong-Ha, son of Iuchi Dong-Suk and practitioner of meishodo." While he knew that the Phoenix probably didn't care much of his bloodline, the Unicorn did and habit of identifying oneself though one's bloodline died hard. "I have heard stories about the might of the Isawa." He added, trying to gauge the man's response.

"I am sure such stories have only been slightly exaggerated for effect," Nonin says. "While the Phoenix are the Clan with the greatest number of the shugenja, all of the traditions have their strengths and weaknesses."

"Meishodo? The talismanic art of magic? This one has only heard of such. If you would be interested in telling me more, I would be honored to listen."

"Stories always are.." he nodded slowly, regarding the Isawa as he did so. "..but stories also have a seed of truth in them, no?" Dong-Ha inquired. "Meishodo relies more words than charms, though the words are inscribed on to charms." Dong-Ha tried to explain, pointing at one of the many trinkets danging from his belt. "If that makes any sense."

"Perhaps we could exchange tales. I have some questions regarding the magics of the Phoenix." Ceretain curiosity gleamed in his eyes.

Nonin nods. "Happily, though I am but a student in the arts and have much to learn. Discussion and debate is how one learns new things and tests the truth of what one knows."

"Good then." Dong-Ha nodded. "Should we walk?"

"So as I explained, meishodo name magic, the way of the names of creation. We call upon the power ancient words, uttered at the moment of very creation to command the elements." Dong-Ha paused to let this sink in.

"Iuchi-Shiryo gleamed this power from the City of Sorcerers to give us power... when we had none. For there are no kami beyond the lands of the Empire. Or so the legends tell us." Dong-Ha paused for a moment to fish out one of his amulets. Carved from limestone and hanging from a string of leather, the smooth stone had been inscribed with esoteric runes. "The charms are merely means to and end, containing the power of the words. Wherever we go, the power comes with us."

Nonin nods, much intrigued. "The words of creation? How fascinating. Who created them and how?"

In reply to the other point, he says, "There has been much debate among the Phoenix about why the Kami are not found far beyond the Empire. I have my own thoughts on the matter but it would require traveling outside the Empire to test."

"Other, elder gods. Well, at least according to what people of Laramun told Iuchi-shiryo according to the histories." Now, histories could always be debated. "Of course, people outside Rokugan with no knowledge of the Kami.. and no evidence of the kami would come up with their own stories of creation... however, it cannot be denied that they contain potent powers."

"Well, if our legends are to be believed, there are none. For Iuchi-shiryo gleamed the powers from these sorcerers as his prayers were not answered. Credit is also given to Iuchi-shiryo's first student, Iuchi Nobane-shiryo who is said to have perfected the art." Unicorn mystic answered the question to the best of his knowledge. " My father's teacher's teacher could claim lineage to him." he added with a hint of pride in his voice.

"Tradition is equally important within the Phoenix, I assure you," nodded Nonin.

"Interesting, interesting. There is no reason that there cannot be other gods beside the Fortunes and the Kami," he said, almost as much to himself as to the Iuchi. "Do you know any of these other creation myths?"

"Of course." Tradition seemed to be more important to the Rokugani than it was to the Unicorn, Dong-Ha mused. Truly Shinjo-kami had been unique among her siblings. "No, for Iuchi-shiryo did not study these myths. He wrote down powers of creation in secret, pretending to be a student of sorcerers. For years he studied under them until one among them grew suspicious, forcing Iuchi-shiryo to flee with his hard won knowledge. The ordeal cost him dearly... but it gave us back our power." Dong-Ha grasped an amulet to emphasize the point. "No longer dependent of the spirits native to Rokugan, we were able to command elements once more."

"And are the elements the same outside the Empire?" Nonin asked.

"For what I have seen, I would say so." Dong-Ha nodded. "Iuchi-shiryo said that everything is one, when the Tao was presented to him. This was his understanding of Tao... and this philosophy seems to apply to the world."