[D3 LA] Who let the horse out

[Isawa Nonin]

Nonin paused in his aimless wandering. Just blinking for a moment. "Tell me more, Iuchi-san. Did Iuchi-shiryo write down any of his philosophy?"

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

"There are some texts, I am sure, though most of hidden among stories and fables. My family traditions don't place that much importance of such things, as are focused on the charms and their creation."

[Isawa Nonin]

The Isawa nods. "Understandable. I would be interested in learning as much as you can teach to one who is not of your family and tradition."

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

"I don't know what else is there to explain." Dong-Ha explained softly. "I am merely a student myself. Is there something particular Isawa-san would like to know?"

[Isawa Nonin]

"Well, to start with, how do you understand the elements if you cannot communicate with them? Do you perceive their nature and spirit through these foci you use? How do you know where to find the elements you bind by these works?" once begun, the questions just pour out of the Phoenix.

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

"We don't need to. We command them, and they obey." Dong-Ha shrugged. "We study the words that have the power to make things be. As long as you have some idea where elements lie, that's all the understanding you need. And then again, as Iuchi-shiryo said, everything is one. Elements are everywhere... and nowhere."

"The elements are not spirits. Fire is fire, water is water... earth is earth. Iuchi-shiryo lost his ability to command kami, and yet he could command elements. Logic dictates that the two are not connected, even if they are related."

[Isawa Nonin]

Nonin frowns. "Perhaps in the lands beyond, that is true but here," he gestures all around them, "here in the Empire, nothing is without its own kami. From the humblest blade of grass to the greatest mountain, all have spirits tied to them. Commanding spirits, even if only the elements they are bound to, seems . . . impolite at best."

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

"Perhaps, but our powers work the same here." he shrugged. "If the spirits have objections, I am sure our magic would not work here."

[Isawa Nonin]

"I am not convinced that is true, Iuchi-san," said Nonin thoughtfully. "The kansen can bend the elements to their will, overriding the desire of the lesser kami. Even some of my own school treat the kami more as beings to be forced into service rather than friends and allies.

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

"What are kansen anyway? Some other kind of spirits?" Dong-Ha sounded puzzled. "I mean, of course we could test this... if Isawa-san can talk with the spirits. I cast my magics... and Isawa-san asks the spirits what they think about it?"

[Isawa Nonin]

"Kansen are the foul spirits of Jingoku who have escapes their prison and seek to torment the living," explains Nonin, making a sign against evil.

"Yes, yes, that would make good sense, Iuchi-san," nodded the Phoenix. "Perhaps when you are done exercising your horse?"

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

"Jigoku... isn't that present beyond the Empire." Dong-Ha shuddered. "Can't say I know much about such things." Question was, why was the Phoenix so knowledgeable? "That would make sense, but... I mean, it's nothing I can't do now." he dug out a dark grey stone wrapped in thin copper wire within the fold of his robes. "Fire ought to be present, considering how warm the day is, no?"

[Isawa Nonin]

"It would be best to find an isolated element so that we could be certain we were both interesting with the same element and kami," says Nonin, thinking.

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

"Well... any ideas Isawa-san? I mean, surely the spirits can talk with each other? Surely you can ask one of them to see if any other spirits near by are distraught?"

[Isawa Nonin]

"My experience with the kami has indicated that they are every bit as insular as the Clans and rarely speak to each other, Iuchi-san," says Nonin. "Do you have any fire magic? That would seem to be the most, well, not controllable, but contained element for this experiment. And fire kami are usefully communicative."