Opening Ceremony (Day 1, Early Afternoon)

[Shinjo Taichi]

Taichi arrives just when he should to the opening of the miai - Not late, but late enough to stand out as important. He listens to the Ide speak, his words mirroring Taichi's thoughts. Yes! Acceptance was the key, and the virtues joined them all. The Unicorns may have changed a bit, as had the empire, but it was all one and the same.

Taichi smiled broadly and looked around at those assembled, his fine kimono swishing slightly as a breeze turned its corner, his targe shining brightly in the sun. He cut quite the dashing figure, he was sure.

Now who to talk to?

[ooc: PM if approached]

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

"Hmmm? Well, speaking to the Kami has never been something I've really understood anyway."

But that's rude, Yuzuki! You speak to us all the time!

We could be kami.

That makes two of us... He figured he needed a better topic. One that did not involve spirits, kami or the magic of the Unicorn. "I cannot say that the topic is easy to explain." Dong-Ha paused for a moment. "The sea... is it as vast as they tell? Some of us... the Moto, that is, tell stories of a lake so vast you cannot see the other side, and that the water is foul."

[Asako Hirase]

"Stories are wonderful! Most of my clan share stories. It is how we tell our history. Plus, being able to speak well means when it matters the most, such as during the heat of battle, you will not trip over words needing to be stated."

Seeing the Phoenix look around, Chi-Pu does the same, scanning the crowd once again before returning her gaze to the man.

"Thank you for the lesson! I will need to remember that in case I come across any of the Crab. So, tell me, what have your people heard of mine now that we have returned to the Empire?"

This was, as she might not know, a fraught question for both the one asking and the one answering. Insult, deliberate or otherwise, would be all too easy. Hirase, however, had trained long in such matters and so was able to answer with easy courtesy.

"Many in my Clan, being interested in mystical matters, have spoken much of your shugenja and how you were able to adapt to a land where, it is said, the kami are less present. Your horses, and your horsemanship, have been praised highly. I have also heard that many among you are linguists, speaking many languages of which we here have no knowledge."

His look grew quite solemn.

"Most interesting to me personally, however, is the fact that you are regarded as Compassionate masters to your lessers. Many of my Clan, myself included, favor a pacifists way. Our Kami, Shiba, bent a knee to one of those who came to follow him despite being vastly superior in the eyes of Heaven and the Celestial Order. That sort of willingness to bend, to work with ones servants instead of simply ordering them or ruling by might...I admire it and have done my best to replicate the behavior in my own household."

[Iuchi Yukarin]

Yukarin arrives and does stuff.

[Yogo Yuichi]

"Liu Yue," she repeated, more slowly but without any offense intended. As for the man's discolored eye, she was not disturbed by it in the least. He must have suffered an injury as well.

The question, though, caught her off-guard. She shook her head, not fully grasping the question. "I do not believe so, Yogo-dono."

'' Oh, I see...'' He said. '' I'm Yogo Yuichi'' He said plainly. Yuichi then 'kinda' dismissed her presence, as he was trying to listen to the governor's speech.

a pause.

'' So... you are here for the miai, Shinjo-san?'' He asked her while trying to listen to the governor. Once again he crossed his arms inside his robes. It as difficult to hear his voice behind his mask, but it would seem that this Scorpion is older than Liu Yue.

[Iuchi Batul]

Yuuru's mask was attached to his waist and bobbed as he had bowed. He shook his head deferentially at her kind address, "I am not of any particular high birth Iuchi-san your courtesy is most appreciated, but I assure you I am not anything to be called 'sama' at this point."

He smirked handsomely as he politely turned her kindness back on the priestess, "A priestess you say? That is a far more remarkable and special calling than I bear. You must be a great asset to your people. You are here for the miai then? "

"Is it not the manner to call one sama til you are aware of his ubrising?" She questioned the Scorpion, unsure if she had made a breach of etiquette by calling him above her own status. But then again, she was a newbie samurai, and she expected everyone older than her to be of higher status than herself. "At least I can escuse myself because I was being courtious.

"Ei, I am for the Miai." She added shyly as his charms worked their way to her. If this was the face of a Scorpion, it was no wonder they hid, or they'd have all the samurai-ko at their door. "I am of the Iuchi family, we are mostly briest and briestesses, the ones who remember the names of the Great Ones, the Fortunes Seven. I take it you also come for Miai?"

[Mirumoto Chou]

"Declare myself ronin?" Apparently the concept was as foreign to him as declaring himself emperor.

"Well, cartography wouldn't be bad... but I'd have to be trained in cartography first." He chuckles at that. "But then again, maybe my spouse will have one of those roles and I can just accompany her, keep her safe and support her in her endeavors."

His voice sounds like that would be happily accepted, being in a supportive role for whoever he ended up with.

"I'm sure the Imperials that must be present would be happy to explain ronin to you," Chou said with a chuckle. "But if you want to make your living off your spouse, well, I'm afraid this isn't the girl for you."

She spread her hands with an apologetic smile--but not a sad one.

"Rather, that is my only chance."

[Otaku Chi-Pu]

This was, as she might not know, a fraught question for both the one asking and the one answering. Insult, deliberate or otherwise, would be all too easy. Hirase, however, had trained long in such matters and so was able to answer with easy courtesy.

"Many in my Clan, being interested in mystical matters, have spoken much of your shugenja and how you were able to adapt to a land where, it is said, the kami are less present. Your horses, and your horsemanship, have been praised highly. I have also heard that many among you are linguists, speaking many languages of which we here have no knowledge."

His look grew quite solemn.

"Most interesting to me personally, however, is the fact that you are regarded as Compassionate masters to your lessers. Many of my Clan, myself included, favor a pacifists way. Our Kami, Shiba, bent a knee to one of those who came to follow him despite being vastly superior in the eyes of Heaven and the Celestial Order. That sort of willingness to bend, to work with ones servants instead of simply ordering them or ruling by might...I admire it and have done my best to replicate the behavior in my own household."

Chi-Pu nods as the Phoenix speaks, smiling at a few mentions during his speech.

"None in my direct ancestry have had the ability to speak with the Kami, so I cannot speak on that matter sadly. I do know that our priests are much different than those of the Empire."

She pats Tianma again on the neck

"I could tell you anything you wish about our steeds, it is a source of great pride, especially for the Otaku since ours are even more unique than the rest of our Clans."

She pauses for a moment, thinking.

"I would not be one to learn language from however, I know a few words simply because they have been adapted by us into our...dialect?...but other than that, I found little time to study different ways to speak."

Thinking to herself, Chi-Pu looks to the sky.

"I know there are stories about all of the Kami. I cannot remember the ones told during our travels however, it was not often a topic brought up. It will be interesting to see if the historians of the Empire match our own. As far as Compassion, it is a tenant of Bushido for a reason, I believe. After all, were it not for those who were not samurai, the Unicorn would have perished long ago. We all must work together in harmony, and one can not be in harmony if oppressed."

[Soshi Yuuru]

He shook his head, "You didn't do anything improper Iuchi-san I assure you. Your poise is a credit to your study. I assume it must be quite difficult to learn about all the ins and outs of the culture around here. Don't feel constrained when talking to me though, I'm not the biggest stickler for the rules."

He then smiled again and nodded, "I am indeed here for the miai. It should be an interesting adventure. My family too is known for their priests and priestesses, but I alas was not blessed with that special gift. Hopefully there'll be people who can find some use for me anyway."

He chuckled in a self-deferential manner.

[Isawa Nonin]

Nonin joined his clan members and joined in politely listening.



OOC: Please PM if approached!

[Shinjo Liu Yue]

'' Oh, I see...'' He said. '' I'm Yogo Yuichi'' He said plainly. Yuichi then 'kinda' dismissed her presence, as he was trying to listen to the governor's speech.

a pause.

'' So... you are here for the miai, Shinjo-san?'' He asked her while trying to listen to the governor. Once again he crossed his arms inside his robes. It as difficult to hear his voice behind his mask, but it would seem that this Scorpion is older than Liu Yue.

Liu Yue nodded at his name then kept her mouth shut. She was perceptive enough to at least keep quiet during the governor's speech.

"I believe everyone present is here searching for a spouse, Yuichi-dono," she replied, unaware of any Brotherhood onlookers. She paused. "The organizers may be the only exceptions."

[Yuzuki]

That makes two of us... He figured he needed a better topic. One that did not involve spirits, kami or the magic of the Unicorn. "I cannot say that the topic is easy to explain." Dong-Ha paused for a moment. "The sea... is it as vast as they tell? Some of us... the Moto, that is, tell stories of a lake so vast you cannot see the other side, and that the water is foul."

She would've laughed at the absurdity of that question. But really, she hears far more absurd things over the course of any average day, so she didn't.

"Lakes are small. Some lakes are big enough you can't see to the other side. Seas are much bigger than that. And the water isn't foul, it's just salt-water. That's what lets you know its a sea, and not a big lake. You can't drink the water. I mean you can, but it's not good for you. Lots of good fish though. Best fish are salt-water fish."

[Asako Hirase]

Chi-Pu nods as the Phoenix speaks, smiling at a few mentions during his speech.

"None in my direct ancestry have had the ability to speak with the Kami, so I cannot speak on that matter sadly. I do know that our priests are much different than those of the Empire."

She pats Tianma again on the neck

"I could tell you anything you wish about our steeds, it is a source of great pride, especially for the Otaku since ours are even more unique than the rest of our Clans."

She pauses for a moment, thinking.

"I would not be one to learn language from however, I know a few words simply because they have been adapted by us into our...dialect?...but other than that, I found little time to study different ways to speak."

Thinking to herself, Chi-Pu looks to the sky.

"I know there are stories about all of the Kami. I cannot remember the ones told during our travels however, it was not often a topic brought up. It will be interesting to see if the historians of the Empire match our own. As far as Compassion, it is a tenant of Bushido for a reason, I believe. After all, were it not for those who were not samurai, the Unicorn would have perished long ago. We all must work together in harmony, and one can not be in harmony if oppressed."

Treading delicately into something that he was deeply curious about but which might have fraught stories behind it, Hirase stepped closer so that he could keep his tone low.

"The Moto...that Family was not on the rolls we have from when the Ki-Rin followed Shinjo-no-Kami from the Empire. Were they, then, some of those you met?"

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"I'm sure the Imperials that must be present would be happy to explain ronin to you," Chou said with a chuckle. "But if you want to make your living off your spouse, well, I'm afraid this isn't the girl for you."

She spread her hands with an apologetic smile--but not a sad one.

"Rather, that is my only chance."

"Oh, by no means is that what I am looking for. But from how it's been told to me some are looking for a supportive spouse that will follow their lead. But just because I'd be glad with that role, does not mean I have resigned myself to it. I'm sure there are plenty of opportunities out there where I could take the lead with a supportive spouse as well. It's been suggested to me by my superiors that with the proper specialized training that relies on my basics I'd make for a decent scout or magistrate. But as you said, if there are positions in the empire for cartographers too... well, I'd just need to gain that specialist training."

He seemed quite insistent that he was more than willing to take the lead, perhaps a show of open interest without outright stating it. Or perhaps he just didn't really fully understand how it all quite worked yet. But he was certainly being pleasant in tone and demeanor.

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

She would've laughed at the absurdity of that question. But really, she hears far more absurd things over the course of any average day, so she didn't.

"Lakes are small. Some lakes are big enough you can't see to the other side. Seas are much bigger than that. And the water isn't foul, it's just salt-water. That's what lets you know its a sea, and not a big lake. You can't drink the water. I mean you can, but it's not good for you. Lots of good fish though. Best fish are salt-water fish."

"I... see." a brief nod. "Can't say I ever had much fish. We got some dried fish once, in trade. Didn't taste like much, to be honest." Perhaps he was being too honest for his own good. "Small things, this big." He held his fingers perhaps four inches apart. "I'll take Yuzuki-san's word for the seafish being better." Another nod. "Maybe one day I'll have a chance to try them." The idea seemed to please him. "The waves... do they get tall as the woods as they say? How do you keep your boat... afloat if that happens?" Afloat wasn't a word he had used that often.