Dark Edge Village

After the opening ceremony, Bayushi Suteichi found himself walking about becoming familiar with the surroundings of Dark Edge Village. He came upon the animal pens. An interesting place he thought to himself, despite the smell of dung. He found the yaks to be quite a sight.

I suppose developing a liking to animals would be to my favor for acquiring a bride...

Nonin was shooing an errant lamb back into its pen with his staff. Once it was properly secured, he bowed to the Scorpion. "Good day, Scorpion-sama. Quite a fascinating collection of beast our Unicorn cousins have brought with them, ne?" He seems quite unperturbed by the smell and the noise of the animals.

Suteichi straightened a bit and did his best to collect his breath.

"It is...an interesting assortment, Phoenix-sama. I have not seen such wildlife before... How rude of me. Bayushi Suteichi, apprentice courtier of the Scorpion." he replied with a respectable bow.

"I am Isawa Nonin, a shugenja of the Phoenix," he replied bowing his head. "I understand these sheep," he gestured, "provide material for cloth. Their cocoons must be must impressive," he joked.

"Are you here for the miai? I am, I could not let an opportunity to meet the Unicorn first hand go by."

"We share mutual reasons for being here... Isawa-sama, please tell me how is it that you come to understand these animals?" he asked gesturing to the sheep.

"I have always been good with animals and I read as much as I could of the reports of the Unicorn's return. I have a theory that the resources a society has available shapes how they see the world," explains the Isawa feeding a stalk of grass to one of the sheep.

"Hmm... Please go on. I am interested in hearing more of your view point on this."

Nonin nods. "Does the Dragon Clan's love of austere living and Taoism stem from their natural inclination or is a natural response to the hash conditions they find themselves in? These are the sort of questions I ponder."

"Though I admit that I do not know enough of Scorpion lands to draw any conclusions about them."

"Never visited Scorpion lands?! The great Kyuden Bayushi, the mysterious lands of the Yogo?! The great city that is Ryoko Owari?"

"I am only a few seasons beyond my gempuku, Bayushi-san," laughed Nonin. "Someday, but not not yet. Though I do look forward to visiting your homeland."

"There is much to see. Particularly in Ryoko Owari. I think you would enjoy Teardrop Island"

"I hope to visit it someday, the arts there are suppose to be wonderful," says Nonin.

"Have you visited many of the lands of the Clans across the Empire, Bayushi-san?"

"I can't say that I have. The neighboring lands around the Scorpion. This is the farthest I have been from home Isawa-san."

"It will be a learning experience for us both then," smiled Nonin.

"How are you finding our hosts so far?"

"The hosts are gracious. Their culture is certainly an experience."