The Welcome Dinner (Post-Event Thread) [D1, Early Evening]

[Otaku Chi-Pu]

Kogo smiled brighter. "I would gladly learn more, for they are so different from our Rokugani horses. " Kogo straightened slightly and said, "Yes, let us see if we can find some."

Kogo's smile turns fond. "They are not quite big enough to ride, but they are larger than regular big cats of their species. We do command them into battle and they are fierce opponents. My Noburu is a lovely lionness, only 5 years old, but well in her prime and healthy. As I learn more, I will be able to command more of her kind into battle. But for right now, it is just her and I."

Kogo pauses. "Do your members leads packs of dogs? It is not a thing the Matsu have done, but I could see its possibilities. Dogs are a little less....opinionated than cats."

"Oh, much different, Matsu-san. Maybe not all of our steeds, but particularly those of the Otaku. In fact, we have an agreement with their leader centuries ago that only women may ride them into battle."

Chi-Pu thinks for a few moments more.

"Ah! Forgive me, I thought perhaps a Beastmaster and their Warcats were different than another of your clan I had met. I am very familiar with them now that you have explained! I spent time traveling and escorting Shimizu Royori-san and his lion, Kyra, here to our village."

She smiles again and then her stomach lets our a nasty grumble causing her to frown.

"A few of ours have taken to leading packs of dogs on foot, usually after those on horseback have hit the enemy first. One of Moto with us is training two young pups currently. Forgive me for not remembering his name."

[Matsu Kogo]

"Oh, much different, Matsu-san. Maybe not all of our steeds, but particularly those of the Otaku. In fact, we have an agreement with their leader centuries ago that only women may ride them into battle."

Chi-Pu thinks for a few moments more.

"Ah! Forgive me, I thought perhaps a Beastmaster and their Warcats were different than another of your clan I had met. I am very familiar with them now that you have explained! I spent time traveling and escorting Shimizu Royori-san and his lion, Kyra, here to our village."

She smiles again and then her stomach lets our a nasty grumble causing her to frown.

"A few of ours have taken to leading packs of dogs on foot, usually after those on horseback have hit the enemy first. One of Moto with us is training two young pups currently. Forgive me for not remembering his name."

Kogo smiles. "I am sure they are stunning. I was able to meet Shinjo Monkhbaatar-san's horse, Meusei today and she was a beautiful creature. I would love to see the differences between your breeds." Kogo laughs a little bit. "You know Shimizu-san? He and I have known each other since he went through gempukku. He was a year behind me, so I looked after him a bit. He is...very connected to his animals, more than many other Matsu of our generation."

Kogo gestures to someone serving and asks for two cups of tea, which are quickly brought back. "Please, take your pick first. "

[Usagi Tsukimi]

"Definitely!" he says with a happy smile. "I'm not a cartographer, but I just recently finished my basic training and I elected to focus on tracking and trailblazing for those reasons. I don't know if I can wrap my head around just how large the empire is right now but I would love the opportunity to see as much of it as possible. Especially those parts that even those that have been their all their lives that haven't seen."

He occasionally glances at her cup just to make sure he refills it when it's empty. She may end up having to excuse herself but he knew the danger and discomfort of dehydration would far outweigh a loss of conversation time with himself.

She drinks.
"Thank you, Shinjo-san." She looks a bit better, but still ill.
"I very much look forward to travelling, and hope to find a husband who would be as enthralled with the prospect as I am."

[Moto Khulun]

Khulun was here and her mood was... Moto.

She said nothing and ate anything that was edible.

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"In that case, perhaps you wouldn't mind if we met regularly to talk about such hopes during the miai," he says with a slight blush. "I'm certain that in that hope you'll have an easy time finding a willing match among the Unicorn, so it might be prudent to dig a bit deeper into what other interests you might share with a potential spouse."

[Otaku Chi-Pu]

Kogo smiles. "I am sure they are stunning. I was able to meet Shinjo Monkhbaatar-san's horse, Meusei today and she was a beautiful creature. I would love to see the differences between your breeds." Kogo laughs a little bit. "You know Shimizu-san? He and I have known each other since he went through gempukku. He was a year behind me, so I looked after him a bit. He is...very connected to his animals, more than many other Matsu of our generation."

Kogo gestures to someone serving and asks for two cups of tea, which are quickly brought back. "Please, take your pick first. "

"Aye, he seemed very in tune with her, that is for certain. It was pleasant to travel with the two of them."

Chi-Pu hesitates before taking a cup

"Forgive me, I had heard there was an offense given recently by my Daimyo to your clan. Am I supposed to refuse your offer?"

She looks apologetically at the Matsu, a bit uneasy.

[Matsu Kogo]

Kogo smiles. "I am sure they are stunning. I was able to meet Shinjo Monkhbaatar-san's horse, Meusei today and she was a beautiful creature. I would love to see the differences between your breeds." Kogo laughs a little bit. "You know Shimizu-san? He and I have known each other since he went through gempukku. He was a year behind me, so I looked after him a bit. He is...very connected to his animals, more than many other Matsu of our generation."

Kogo gestures to someone serving and asks for two cups of tea, which are quickly brought back. "Please, take your pick first. "

"Aye, he seemed very in tune with her, that is for certain. It was pleasant to travel with the two of them."

Chi-Pu hesitates before taking a cup

"Forgive me, I had heard there was an offense given recently by my Daimyo to your clan. Am I supposed to refuse your offer?"

She looks apologetically at the Matsu, a bit uneasy.

Kogo stutters for a moment and then recovers.

"I do not believe that is necessary. If you wish to refuse my offer twice, that would be customary, but it is also not precisely a gift, merely tea from your own stores." Kogo's belly churns a bit. "I have to admit, I am inclined to drink mine. I hope my mother's advice has not led me astray."

[Otaku Chi-Pu]

Kogo stutters for a moment and then recovers.

"I do not believe that is necessary. If you wish to refuse my offer twice, that would be customary, but it is also not precisely a gift, merely tea from your own stores." Kogo's belly churns a bit. "I have to admit, I am inclined to drink mine. I hope my mother's advice has not led me astray."

Chi-Pu nods and takes the closest cup to her.

"I defer to your assessment, Matsu-san. As long as you are not offended and there is no protocol I need to follow, let us just do the practical thing. Here, let us drink and pray that our stomachs feel less sour."

Chi-Pu lifts the cup up in a toast.

[Moto Baatar]

"It is not to be done lightly!" the Crane said sternly, perhaps a little more than necessary - especially given that she had called on their power not long previously to ensure she didn't disgrace herself by disgorging the contents of her stomach. Again, she calmed herself. "The elemental kami must only be called upon and spoken to with utter reverence. Especially given that recently they have become more... displeased and harder to call upon."

She paused for a moment, "Perhaps in the morning when I have offered up prayers to them, I may be able to coax one of them to visit." She wasn't sure she dared call upon them freely again this evening.

"Ohh really?" Baatar said skeptically. "I've heard fortune tellers talk like that before, when the yarrow sticks aren't cooperating. 'The gods are displeased' and stuff. It's no big deal if you can't really talk to the kami, Kakita-san. You don't have to pretend just for me."

[Matsu Kogo]

Kogo stutters for a moment and then recovers.

"I do not believe that is necessary. If you wish to refuse my offer twice, that would be customary, but it is also not precisely a gift, merely tea from your own stores." Kogo's belly churns a bit. "I have to admit, I am inclined to drink mine. I hope my mother's advice has not led me astray."

Chi-Pu nods and takes the closest cup to her.

"I defer to your assessment, Matsu-san. As long as you are not offended and there is no protocol I need to follow, let us just do the practical thing. Here, let us drink and pray that our stomachs feel less sour."

Chi-Pu lifts the cup up in a toast.

"I have been told that I am less....intense about these sort of difficulties than many of my kin. Some of them think it a failing, but I consider it a matter of balance. For does not Akodo say, "Diversity is a great strength that allows a commander to use his forces in any way that circumstance demands."? These are differing times. We must learn to find the strengths in each other."

Kogo sips her tea and feels a cramp still for a moment. "Ohhh. That is a little better."

[Shimizu Ryori]

Khulun was here and her mood was... Moto.

She said nothing and ate anything that was edible.

Ryori and Kyra are seated near the Moto, Ryori's primary choice of conversation being the stories of the Unicorn Thunder from Lion records, he smiles in the direction of the Moto as some of the bar-b-que on his plate finds its way to his sister where she lounges at his side, "Moto sama I am afraid I have heard little of your family"

[Otaku Chi-Pu]

"I have been told that I am less....intense about these sort of difficulties than many of my kin. Some of them think it a failing, but I consider it a matter of balance. For does not Akodo say, "Diversity is a great strength that allows a commander to use his forces in any way that circumstance demands."? These are differing times. We must learn to find the strengths in each other."

Kogo sips her tea and feels a cramp still for a moment. "Ohhh. That is a little better."

Chi-Pu just blinks at the mention of Akodo, though she continues to smile. She drinks and sets the tea down.

"I know within the Unicorn, we have valued diversity for a long time. Without it, we would have never survived our travels. "

Chi-Pu lets out a small sigh as her stomach gurgles again.

"Can you tell me more of your kin? The Matsu, that is."

[Moto Khulun]

Ryori and Kyra are seated near the Moto, Ryori's primary choice of conversation being the stories of the Unicorn Thunder from Lion records, he smiles in the direction of the Moto as some of the bar-b-que on his plate finds its way to his sister where she lounges at his side, "Moto sama I am afraid I have heard little of your family"

“Huh?” she looks up with a shrimp dangling from her lips and then swallows it down.

“Well what little did you hear?” she says between mouthfuls.

[Usagi Tsukimi]

"In that case, perhaps you wouldn't mind if we met regularly to talk about such hopes during the miai," he says with a slight blush. "I'm certain that in that hope you'll have an easy time finding a willing match among the Unicorn, so it might be prudent to dig a bit deeper into what other interests you might share with a potential spouse."

"I would very much like that, Shinjo-san. You are most kind; and interesting, as well." She raised her cup of water to him, and sipped from it.

[Matsu Kogo]

"I have been told that I am less....intense about these sort of difficulties than many of my kin. Some of them think it a failing, but I consider it a matter of balance. For does not Akodo say, "Diversity is a great strength that allows a commander to use his forces in any way that circumstance demands."? These are differing times. We must learn to find the strengths in each other."

Kogo sips her tea and feels a cramp still for a moment. "Ohhh. That is a little better."

Chi-Pu just blinks at the mention of Akodo, though she continues to smile. She drinks and sets the tea down.

"I know within the Unicorn, we have valued diversity for a long time. Without it, we would have never survived our travels. "

Chi-Pu lets out a small sigh as her stomach gurgles again.

"Can you tell me more of your kin? The Matsu, that is."

Kogo looks excited but serious. "Gladly. The Matsu are a family who have always been committed to their own way. We train Beastmasters and Bushi and are noted particuarly for our rapport with the Warcats and the fierceness of our armies. Some of the Empire's fiercest come from the ranks of the Matsu. Our women are particuarly noted for their inheritance of Matsu's fire and temper. Many of the men of our clan have different lives than men in other clans. When men marry into the Matsu, they take the Matsu name and when Matsu men marry out, they must leave the name behind. "

Kogo takes a brief pause, seeming to choose her words carefully and then forge ahead with fervor. "We must never forget our ancestress and her beliefs , or that we are warriors first. Going through gempukku shows us that. We must be forged, so that the flaws can be pounded out into good steel. A true Matsu must not only live a life of honor, but breathe it."

Kogo takes another sip of tea. "I fear I may have been less than interesting, but our family history and ideals are one of my favorite topics. I hope I have not bored you."