Opening Ceremony (Day 1, Early Afternoon)

[Suki]

Suki maintained her distance, allowing the samurai the best view of the opening ceremony.

She'd heard people talk about the Ide. How they were friendly. How their training allowed them to mingle among cultures different from their own. How they were the Unicorn most prone to taking up the modern traditions of civilized Rokugan. The governor's speech seemed to confirm all these things, and set a tone for the miai that she appreciated.

As others began mingling, she maintained her distance, content to be an observer.


[PM if you approach, please.]

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

She gave a bow. "Yuzuki, of the Mantis. Kon goes where he wants, I'm afraid. He is a very insubordinate cat."

"Well me, Yuzuki-san, of the Mantis." Dong-Ha managed a simple bow. "I see..." He looked at the 'cat' creature. Nomads had few pets besides their goats and dogs. Both of which could serve as a meal if necessity dictated. "Perhaps... he ought to be trained?" One could train dogs after all.

[Otaku Chi-Pu]

Chi-Pu smiles again and her shoulders seem to relax slightly.

"Thank you, that is a wonderful compliment Asako-san."

"You have no need to thank me for doing my Duty, it is simply expected. I appreciate your words however. I am happy to give you a demonstration sometime, I usually train daily in the fields, archery range, and dojo. One must maintain themselves regularly to ensure they are the best they can be after all."

She reaches down and pats Tianma's neck.

"Tianma is a special breed of horse, could she speak, she would thank you for the compliment as well."

As if on cue, Tianma huffs.

Chi-Pu sits back upright, the leather of her saddle groaning a little again.

"Did you have long to travel to come here?"

[Yuzuki]

She gave a bow. "Yuzuki, of the Mantis. Kon goes where he wants, I'm afraid. He is a very insubordinate cat."

"Well me, Yuzuki-san, of the Mantis." Dong-Ha managed a simple bow. "I see..." He looked at the 'cat' creature. Nomads had few pets besides their goats and dogs. Both of which could serve as a meal if necessity dictated. "Perhaps... he ought to be trained?" One could train dogs after all.

He definitely doesn't know what a cat is

"Well," she said, eyes looking off toward the side for a moment, "I don't think there's anyone in the world who can train a cat."

[Mirumoto Chou]

He moved close enough to greet her. "Hello there. I'm Shinjo Monkhbaatar. It's nice to meet you. Do you mind if I ask who you and your little friend there are?"

Saku, my girl, look sharp.

Chou's blind gaze darted in the direction of the Unicorn's voice, friendly smile in place.

"The refined lady before you is Saku. The clumsy one is Mirumoto Chou, of the Dragon."

She bowed, and managed not to trip on her hakama. Saku yowled softly in protest and swept her fluffy tail to Chou's unoccupied shoulder.

"I hope that was low enough," Chou added. "Importance is difficult to judge without sight. Do you also have a friend for me to meet, Shinjo-san?"

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

He definitely doesn't know what a cat is

"Well," she said, eyes looking off toward the side for a moment, "I don't think there's anyone in the world who can train a cat."

"I see.." the young shaman nodded briefly what uses the animal had. "Quite an animal then." He didn't want to draw more attention to what looked like a good dinner for two, so he tactfully changed the topic. "Um, how was Yuzuki-san's journey here? I understand that the holdings of the Mantis are quite far away from... our lands."

[Yuzuki]

"You have heard of the Mantis then? I had come here expecting many would not know of our clan since it was founded in the days after your clan left."

She absentmindedly kept petting Kon. Who purred.

"A long but uneventful journey for the most part. Passed through the lands of the Crane, Scorpion, and Lion to get here. It was an interesting change from the islands, which have a different climate and different trees."

[Asako Hirase]

Chi-Pu smiles again and her shoulders seem to relax slightly.

"Thank you, that is a wonderful compliment Asako-san."

"You have no need to thank me for doing my Duty, it is simply expected. I appreciate your words however. I am happy to give you a demonstration sometime, I usually train daily in the fields, archery range, and dojo. One must maintain themselves regularly to ensure they are the best they can be after all."

She reaches down and pats Tianma's neck.

"Tianma is a special breed of horse, could she speak, she would thank you for the compliment as well."

As if on cue, Tianma huffs.

Chi-Pu sits back upright, the leather of her saddle groaning a little again.

"Did you have long to travel to come here?"

"Likely not by your standards." His self-deprecating tone acknowledged the years-long trek the Unicorn had made. "We have crossed a large portion of the width of the northern Empire, though. It was certainly the longest journey I have ever taken. It was, in fact, the first time I'd ever seen a river of any size, or a field larger than a mountain valley. Now all that I lack is a visit to the coast and I would count myself rather worldly." His small smile grew, just a touch. "Not that it is likely now. I expect I will be learning much more of your Clan's rolling fields instead."

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

Saku, my girl, look sharp.

Chou's blind gaze darted in the direction of the Unicorn's voice, friendly smile in place.

"The refined lady before you is Saku. The clumsy one is Mirumoto Chou, of the Dragon."

She bowed, and managed not to trip on her hakama. Saku yowled softly in protest and swept her fluffy tail to Chou's unoccupied shoulder.

"I hope that was low enough," Chou added. "Importance is difficult to judge without sight. Do you also have a friend for me to meet, Shinjo-san?"

He offers a returned bow that is lower and definitely not as well practiced, not that she would know. But it was as much about practicing and doing the right thing as it was for Chou's sake.

"Definitely low enough for me Mirumoto-san," he says with a bright voice. "And if it wasn't by etiquette rules then I wouldn't be able to tell you. I'm still trying to get a grasp on them all. You're friend is quite cute. I can't say I've ever seen anything like her. But unfortunately right now Meushi is preoccupied in the stables for now so I can't introduce you at the moment. Hopefully some other time though."

[Yogo Mizuki]

Mizuki is there for the cermony.

*PM if you approach*

[Shinjo Liu Yue]

With his arms crossed, a lonely Scorpion listened to the governor's words. The Yogo family mon was clearly visible on his priestly styled robes and he was also wearing a disturbing red oni mask. He was listening a bit more afar from the rest of the crowd and it seems that the people were keeping their distance from him.

Unlike the others, Shinjo Liu Yue made no effort to ignore him. After all, she too was a bit of a pariah. She stood taller than most, had her obvious injuries, and wore the clothing of the Unicorn. I will have to change for dinner later, she reminded herself.

She walked up to the man with a smile on her face. She gave him a deep bow, perhaps too deep, as she was unsure of his station. "Konnichiwa, Yogo-dono" she started, her speech slow and deliberate due to lack of experience, "Watakushi wa Shinjo Liu Yue desu. It is a pleasure to meet you." She continued to smile, though she was unsure how to gauge the man's responses due to the mask. Her use of "dono" had been, perhaps, too much but she meant it with utmost sincerity and respect.

Fluff Roll: What is Yogo Mon? Lore Heraldry/Intelligence TN 5: 7 Success

[Shinjo Akil]

Mizuki is there for the cermony.

*PM if you approach*

She is, in fact, eventually approached by one Shinjo Akil. I must be polite to all of the new guests. He offered her a bow, and waited to speak. She might have been important, after all! And the Ide did say that if someone was important, you wait for them to decide it's time to talk to you.

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

"You have heard of the Mantis then? I had come here expecting many would not know of our clan since it was founded in the days after your clan left."

She absentmindedly kept petting Kon. Who purred.

"A long but uneventful journey for the most part. Passed through the lands of the Crane, Scorpion, and Lion to get here. It was an interesting change from the islands, which have a different climate and different trees."

"The Ide have made sure that we have some idea of our new home." Dong-Ha explained, nodding at Dabo. "I cannot say I know much, besides that your kin is known for their sea faring skills." he added with a soft shrug. "We have so much to learn, of the Empire and of its people." Then again, that was why they were here. "Crane, Scorpion and Lion." Dong-Ha nodded, trying to sore the different clan heartlands in his mind. "That must have taken quite a while?"

[Yogo Mizuki]

She is, in fact, eventually approached by one Shinjo Akil. I must be polite to all of the new guests. He offered her a bow, and waited to speak. She might have been important, after all! And the Ide did say that if someone was important, you wait for them to decide it's time to talk to you.

She greets (possibly her first) Unicorn. Hello, Unicorn-san. This one is Yogo Mizuki of the Scorpion Clan. It is a pleasure to meet you.

[Otaku Chi-Pu]

"Likely not by your standards." His self-deprecating tone acknowledged the years-long trek the Unicorn had made. "We have crossed a large portion of the width of the northern Empire, though. It was certainly the longest journey I have ever taken. It was, in fact, the first time I'd ever seen a river of any size, or a field larger than a mountain valley. Now all that I lack is a visit to the coast and I would count myself rather worldly." His small smile grew, just a touch. "Not that it is likely now. I expect I will be learning much more of your Clan's rolling fields instead."

"I was born on the coast, though I did not get to see it. I have traveled many different lands since my birth, the last however were not so easy to enjoy, as it was filled with Shadows."

Chi-Pu looks a little uneasy for a moment at the memory.

"It is certainly a blessing to be able to travel. There is so much to see and experience. Tell me, what are your lands at home like?"