Daily History Lessons (Day 1, Late Morning)

[Usagi Tomoe]

Tomoe considered debating the word 'evil' with Khulun, but found her thoughts interrupted by a... student? Oh, another Moto?

"Ah well... as Soshi-sama said, he wasn't a member of the noble Iuchi family of the Unicorn. Just Iuchiban... not Family name Iuchi, and Ban as a given name. Iuchiban is one name." She hoped the seemingly slow-witted Moto understood that.

"As for how he managed to keep his power hidden for so long before the Battle of Stolen Graves, yes, he had accomplices, some who were captured by Soshi Takasho when they tried to flee in the face of their defeat. Their names have been stricken from history, for the shame they brought upon their Families for their action. And Iuchiban had followers who still served him for a long time, who helped him in his return."

"Though you are right that it is most likely Iuchiban is not his true name. Very clever of you to notice that." Was she being sarcastic, or sincere? It was almost hard to tell, but she did give a smile... so sincere?

[Suki]

Despite the Moto's insistence that the topic doesn't matter, Suki continues to engage the Scorpion. Hopefully the Unicorn woman would reach understanding at her own pace.

"For the purpose of our discussion, we cannot seek to define evil as a whole because it is commonly believed there are two types of it- evil as an intrinsic characteristic, and evil as an external force. As you were not speaking of dark spirits and the like, we are talking about the former."

"Personally, I would define intrinsically evil acts as any deliberate actions that cannot be sincerely, morally justified."

[Moto Khulun]

"See Butaj, this is why the Empire needs us, they were so simply deceived by this Uchibongo. My great uncle once tricked a sorcerer into turning himself into a jackal,” she says boisterously.

Despite the Moto's insistence that the topic doesn't matter, Suki continues to engage the Scorpion. Hopefully the Unicorn woman would reach understanding at her own pace.

"For the purpose of our discussion, we cannot seek to define evil as a whole because it is commonly believed there are two types of it- evil as an intrinsic characteristic, and evil as an external force. As you were not speaking of dark spirits and the like, we are talking about the former."

"Personally, I would define intrinsically evil acts as any deliberate actions that cannot be sincerely, morally justified."

"Why is sand, sand? It just is."

[Soshi Bantu]

"Personally, I would define intrinsically evil acts as any deliberate actions that cannot be sincerely, morally justified."

Leaving the Usagi to her 'students' for now, Bantu engaged the monk with his full attention, glad for a little verbal and intellectual sparring.

"Justified by the moral code of Bushido I assume? Is Suki-san familiar with the Five Nights of Shame?"

[Moto Khulun]

"Only five nights? Why so much shame?" the Moto interjects.

[Suki]

Suki turned to Khulun.

"Sand is indeed sand. Always. But an act that is evil in one instance may not be in another. Most would agree that thievery is an evil act. But what if it's the only way for you to acquire medicine to save the life of a dying child?"

Turning back to Bantu, she lapsed into a moment of consideration. "Samurai follow the Code of Bushido. And it certainly suits them, of course. Members of the Brotherhood, while certainly not averse to the Warrior's Code, have the luxury of following different moral paths. However, I believe that in both of them, the same definition of intrinsic evil can apply."

[Moto Khulun]

“Explain an evil act that is not evil,” she asks.

[Soshi Bantu]

"Only five nights? Why so much shame?" the Moto interjects.

"The Five Nights of Shame was a brief period when the Phoenix Clan obliterated the Snake Clan from the oldest man to the youngest babe. Their actions were questioned by the Emperor, but no action taken against them." Bantu explained to the Moto briefly before turning back to Suki.

"The infallible Son of Heaven, defacto head of all factions of the Brotherhood, would surely not allow evil to flourish under his eyes would he? So ergo was such a massacre of man, woman and child an evil act?"

[Suki]

"I do not have enough information to say," Suki replies. "The best any of us can do is trust in the judgment of the Son of Heaven that a suitable justification was offered. If he had not received one, surely he would've taken action against the Phoenix."

Pondering the Moto's request, Suki turns back to the Unicorn maiden.

"I did not say that an act can be both evil and not evil simultaneously. There cannot be two moons in the same sky. But an act can be evil in one situation, and not evil in another. Such as the aforementioned stealing of medicine to save a dying child."

[Moto Khulun]

“Steal from me and you lose a hand, I say,” she says sternly.

“You steal from kin you get punched in the mouth, simple enough. If you need medicine we give it, why steal? You don’t got enough medicine?”

[Soshi Bantu]

"I did not say that an act can be both evil and not evil simultaneously. There cannot be two moons in the same sky. But an act can be evil in one situation, and not evil in another. Such as the aforementioned stealing of medicine to save a dying child."

"Exactly." Bantu enthusiastically responds.

"Our interpretation is coloured by circumstance, prejudice and all sorts of individual determinations. What you may see as stealing medicine to save a sick child, Moto-san sees as depriving her of the medicine necessary to possibly save a member of her family. So your mercy is really an act of evil to her family line."

[Moto Khulun]

“Did this monk steal from the Moto!” she says with a glare at Suki.

[Suki]

"Some people do not have the luxury of a Clan or an Order to provide them the medicine freely. What of ronin? If there is no one willing to provide them free medicine and they do not have time to earn coin before the child dies, then one could certainly make the argument that stealing the medicine would not be an evil act."

"As for the losing of a hand, or the punch in the mouth, it is not the consequences of an action that make it good or evil. I am certain that the thief in our story would accept such punishments if it meant saving the life of the child."

Suki turned back to the Scorpion, listening to his point. "Hence my definition of evil. Were you to take the medicine from someone who would be left wanting, you couldn't sincerely, morally justify your actions. After all, you may've very well saved one life by dooming another. In order for the action to not be evil, you would have to take from somewhere where the medicine would not be missed."

At the Moto's accusatory question and glaring, Suki lowered her gaze. "I have stolen nothing, Moto-sama. This discussion is purely theoretical; a thought exercise. As a member of the Brotherhood, I place no value in worldly possessions. I have no reason or desire to steal."

Suki looked to the other assembled samurai, curious as to how their piety would cause them to react to the Unicorn's question. She certainly did not wish to cause a conflict.

[Moto Khulun]

She narrowed her eyes at the monk, “You speak like a magpie, lots of words. But do you trick like a magpie?”

[Soshi Bantu]

Suki turned back to the Scorpion, listening to his point. "Hence my definition of evil. Were you to take the medicine from someone who would be left wanting, you couldn't sincerely, morally justify your actions. After all, you may've very well saved one life by dooming another. In order for the action to not be evil, you would have to take from somewhere where the medicine would not be missed."

"But if one is unaware of the consequences, if one's motives are pure and just then is it still evil? Do we define an evil act by intention or outcome? Or both?"

At the Moto's accusatory question and glaring, Suki lowered her gaze. "I have stolen nothing, Moto-sama. This discussion is purely theoretical; a thought exercise. As a member of the Brotherhood, I place no value in worldly possessions. I have no reason or desire to steal."

Suki looked to the other assembled samurai, curious as to how their piety would cause them to react to the Unicorn's question. She certainly did not wish to cause a conflict.

When pressured by the Moto, Bantu rose to Suki's defense. "The monk is right Moto-san, some of us are not so certain of our place and purpose in this world as you and indulge in these mental hypothetical situations to better come to terms with the world around us. There has been no wrong done to your people here."