A friendly game of Go [D2, LE, Open, Expecting]

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"Most things actually, I think."

[Matsu Kogo]

"Most things actually, I think."

She pauses and thinks for a moment. "So what caused the fire last night? It seems more extensive than I had heard."

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"I'm not sure. Some sort of fight was all I heard. I've not had the chance to learn about what happened, and my yurt was far enough away that the alarm did not wake me until later. But no Unicorn would have started a fire like that and put their cousins in danger without news spreading quickly so I suspect it wasn't a brawl."

[Matsu Kogo]

"I'm not sure. Some sort of fight was all I heard. I've not had the chance to learn about what happened, and my yurt was far enough away that the alarm did not wake me until later. But no Unicorn would have started a fire like that and put their cousins in danger without news spreading quickly so I suspect it wasn't a brawl."

She nods. "It is curious. Perhaps we will learn more later. If there is one thing one can trust, it is that rumors spread in a camp this size."

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"That they do. Spread like fire," he says with a smirk. "We might hear about it more in coming days. Might be something as simple as us being told to be careful around lanterns."

[Matsu Kogo]

"That they do. Spread like fire," he says with a smirk. "We might hear about it more in coming days. Might be something as simple as us being told to be careful around lanterns."

She chuckles. "Yes, definitely." She plays another piece, slowly crafting a fortress. "You mentioned your training was being completed. What all training did you receive?"

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"Horsemanship, swordplay, archery, survival, and how to protect myself. Basic bushi and scouting training. The survival training is not a core of our training but something that I elected to focus on." His next moves were equally useless against her fortress.

[Matsu Kogo]

"Horsemanship, swordplay, archery, survival, and how to protect myself. Basic bushi and scouting training. The survival training is not a core of our training but something that I elected to focus on." His next moves were equally useless against her fortress.

"Those sound like useful skills. I have little training on scouting, but they are an invaluable part of any force." She looped her pieces, seeking to create a connected fortress. But looking back after placement, she realized that she made a play error.

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"Yes, part of why I chose that aspect for training. Though also partially because it grants more opportunities to go out and explore what hasn't been explored yet." He sees the issue that she made and makes a move to capitalize on it. It wasn't a bad move... but certainly didn't make the best use of the situation. At best it sets her back a few moves and would provide an opportunity for him to exploit if he knew how.

[Matsu Kogo]

"Yes, part of why I chose that aspect for training. Though also partially because it grants more opportunities to go out and explore what hasn't been explored yet." He sees the issue that she made and makes a move to capitalize on it. It wasn't a bad move... but certainly didn't make the best use of the situation. At best it sets her back a few moves and would provide an opportunity for him to exploit if he knew how.

She sought to regain ground, but was slightly frustrated by his move. "I could see the value. Do you think you would wish to journey back out of the lands of the Empire to explore or prefer to wander within the Empire? There are those who work with the Imperial cartographers, adding to the Empire's maps. It involves a great deal of wandering."

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"Shinjo Kami told us to return to the empire, so this is where we'll be, with our people, until she says otherwise. And that is one option, but there are also Emerald and Jade magistrates as well. From what I can tell they get a lot of travel in doing their duties."

[Matsu Kogo]

"Shinjo Kami told us to return to the empire, so this is where we'll be, with our people, until she says otherwise. And that is one option, but there are also Emerald and Jade magistrates as well. From what I can tell they get a lot of travel in doing their duties."

She nods. "They very much do so. There are many positions that would likely fulfill your desire for travel." She pauses. "Shinjo-no-Kami told you to return?"

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"That is why we returned, yes. It was time," he says placing another piece, trying to capitalize on the broken momentum, though without any real idea how. "I don't know the story of how she spoke to us, but thats how I understood it."

[Matsu Kogo]

"That is why we returned, yes. It was time," he says placing another piece, trying to capitalize on the broken momentum, though without any real idea how. "I don't know the story of how she spoke to us, but thats how I understood it."

Kogo shook her head. "To be spoke to by one of the Kami...it is an honor beyond price. I cannot imagine." She looks at the pieces, as much trying to find a new strategy as she is seeking to return to something like the ease that had marked their conversations before.

It was necessary to say. But was it necessary to say it in the way I did? I enjoy Shinjo-san's playfulness, but I hope I have not scared him too much. Then again, my family would say I was too lenient. She sighs internally and clicks her fingers to call Noburu over for a moment, running her fingers through her fur, trying to think. "Shinjo-san, I would ask a moment of your advice, if you are willing to give it." She places her piece.

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

Monkhbaatar nods in agreement to it being a great honor. "Advice? I'm not sure how useful my advice can be but you are more than welcome to it."