Opening Ceremony (Day 1, Early Afternoon)

[Iuchi Yukarin]

"The crux of Usagi-san's speech was regarding the Battle of Stolen Graves and the Battle of Sleeping River, I am a small student of History myself, so if Iuchi-san has the time and inclination during this miai I could explain the salient points for her at a time of her choosing?"

"I have certainly not heard of those since arriving; But if there was a whole lecture on them they must have been important. Than again, I have never heard of the 'Usagi' family before either, so clearly I have much to learn."

[Usagi Tomoe]

"Did not Akodo write in Leadership, 'Diversity is a great strength that allows a commander to use his forces in any way that circumstance demands.'? There is value in many different ways of thinking. My Matsu family has long been known for their sharp tempers and their harsh words, but I find that channeling my anger to other purposes gives me strength."

Kogo looks over at Bayushi-san. "Well, to be fair, he would probably disparage my telling. But he was an asset at court as I learned my way around. He has a way with words and with a look, that I cannot manage. My mother said that the best way to learn my way through court was to watch how others did things and then find my own way. "

"See?" she looked at Suteichi for a moment. "Modesty doesn't become Bayushi-sama. Teaching another samurai the intricacies of court is an important thing, after all... especially since it seems it earned you a rather nice friend, neh?"

"Your mother is very wise to say that, but that applies to many things and not just court. Learning through observing is crucial before we learn by doing. Can't you imagine all the mishaps we'd have in the dojo if we were to learn swinging katanas without observing our sensei first?"

[Soshi Bantu]

"Ah yes, there were no MInor Clans when the Ki-Rin departed." Bantu spoke softly out loud to himself.

"Since your departure, there have been a number of Minor Clans created by the Emperors at the time. Sometimes, when an individual distinguishes themselves in such a way that the Emperor sees no other commensurate way to reward their service, a new Clan is founded and that individual installed as its Daimyo. It is far from a common occurence, but the Usagi; the Hare Clan, sprung from the actions of a clanless samurai during that time."

[Iuchi Yukarin]

"Ah yes, there were no MInor Clans when the Ki-Rin departed." Bantu spoke softly out loud to himself.

"Since your departure, there have been a number of Minor Clans created by the Emperors at the time. Sometimes, when an individual distinguishes themselves in such a way that the Emperor sees no other commensurate way to reward their service, a new Clan is founded and that individual installed as its Daimyo. It is far from a common occurrence, but the Usagi; the Hare Clan, sprung from the actions of a clanless samurai during that time."

"There were our brethren in the Fox, Soshi-sama. I am not sure I would call that a reward, for them... But I can see how rewarding wavemen with such a thing would be different. Interesting."

She folded her hands together in front of her.

[Ide Amaya]

"Oh, that seems rather fitting when it comes to a Family that has shown itself to be both skilled in hospitality and organization. It makes me wonder how much the Family has done for the Unicorn abroad. In what avenues do you ply your skills while in the world abroad?" She paused for a moment, giving Amaya an unsure look with a narrowing of her eyes in caution. "Are people out there, outside of the Empire, often willing to talk things out than fight it out? Where can you find common ground when you don't even share any with strangers?"

Swallowing, Amaya tried to conceal her nervousness, this is exactly what you trained for, she soothed somewhat unconvincingly. "The Ide have done much for our cousins. It is our Emissarys who first extend greeting when encountering those we have never met. Those like yourself, who are near as much strangers to us as any gajin we found out there," she placed similar emphasis on the descriptor when she spoke. The way the Scorpion was looking at her was making her feel very uncomfortable, perhaps uncomfortable enough to not comport herself with as much dignity as she should, "would you be so swift to raise weapon to against my kin? Does this ma-ai not serve to build a bridge of words to those we would call sisters?"

[Soshi Bantu]

"I am sure that some members of the Sparrow, who sprung from the ranks of the Crane, feel the same way about their creation, but we cannot question the wisdom of the Son of Heaven. But tell me, what do you think of your Clan's new lands? Have you seen much of them yet?"

Bantu asks as he tries to steer the conversation slightly.

[Iuchi Yukarin]

"I am sure that some members of the Sparrow, who sprung from the ranks of the Crane, feel the same way about their creation, but we cannot question the wisdom of the Son of Heaven. But tell me, what do you think of your Clan's new lands? Have you seen much of them yet?"

Bantu asks as he tries to steer the conversation slightly.

"I have not been here long enough to see much, unfortunately. But I will say it is amazing just how green everything is; Even the nicer parts of where I grew up were only isolated patches of vegetation; Here, the grass seems to stretch on forever~"

She gives a small smile.

[Moto Khulun]

Chi-Pu frowns and glances around the crowd again, scanning the faces of those present.

"It was a long and dark ride. Without the skill of the Moto, many would not have made it."

“Damn right, but we are always honored to have the Otaku join our charges,” she adds warmly.

[Doji Fukawa]

"Personally I have had little interaction so far though a pair of the Shitome did meet me on the road a few days out and help escort me in, that young lady there." he nods toward Chi-pu and a beautiful young samurai-ko named Otaku Kitakuhime, both were quite formidable and quite impressive."

Fukawa nods.

"Formidible, impressive, and beautiful, Shimizu-san was lucky to have such an end to his journey here." she replies.

[Matsu Kogo]

"Did not Akodo write in Leadership, 'Diversity is a great strength that allows a commander to use his forces in any way that circumstance demands.'? There is value in many different ways of thinking. My Matsu family has long been known for their sharp tempers and their harsh words, but I find that channeling my anger to other purposes gives me strength."

Kogo looks over at Bayushi-san. "Well, to be fair, he would probably disparage my telling. But he was an asset at court as I learned my way around. He has a way with words and with a look, that I cannot manage. My mother said that the best way to learn my way through court was to watch how others did things and then find my own way. "

"See?" she looked at Suteichi for a moment. "Modesty doesn't become Bayushi-sama. Teaching another samurai the intricacies of court is an important thing, after all... especially since it seems it earned you a rather nice friend, neh?"

"Your mother is very wise to say that, but that applies to many things and not just court. Learning through observing is crucial before we learn by doing. Can't you imagine all the mishaps we'd have in the dojo if we were to learn swinging katanas without observing our sensei first?"

" I can definitely imagine the possible mishaps and have seen a few examples of a couple, *ahem* overly committed students from the past when you say that. One thing the Lion clan does not lack is zeal and intensity." Kogo relaxes slightly, but is still concerned about making a faux pas.

[Soshi Bantu]

"I have not been here long enough to see much, unfortunately. But I will say it is amazing just how green everything is; Even the nicer parts of where I grew up were only isolated patches of vegetation; Here, the grass seems to stretch on forever~"

She gives a small smile.

"Will Iuchi-san get an opportunity to see more of the Empire?" Bantu asks in an interested voice. "Or do those of the Ide schooling normally serve close to home?"

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

"Sure. We have some of those. Orochi for example are giant sea serpents. But you don't really see a lot of them and they keep to themselves mostly."

"Yuzuki-san has seen all of those? Giant serpents, flying fish women and everything." It wasn't as if Dong-Ha did not want to believe, for he certainly did. "Amazing... sea sounds like a wondrous place."

[Shimizu Ryori]

"Personally I have had little interaction so far though a pair of the Shitome did meet me on the road a few days out and help escort me in, that young lady there." he nods toward Chi-pu and a beautiful young samurai-ko named Otaku Kitakuhime, both were quite formidable and quite impressive."

Fukawa nods.

"Formidible, impressive, and beautiful, Shimizu-san was lucky to have such an end to his journey here." she replies.

"And have you met anyone interesting Doji sama?"

[Yogo Yuichi]

Yue's daisho was in pristine condition, even for a samurai. It was used much less often than her tetsubo and ono. "A wardmaster?" She looked genuinely curious. "I am not familiar with the practice."

Really? Do you not known anything about the Yogo?...Well, she would not have approached if she knew about us. Yuichi thought.

'' Hmmm, we create magical protection paper wards with the power of the kami, so as to keep 'evil spirits' or 'other' creatures away from our lands, and for general protection as well'' He explained in the simplest way he could.

[Bayushi Hotaru]

Swallowing, Amaya tried to conceal her nervousness, this is exactly what you trained for, she soothed somewhat unconvincingly. "The Ide have done much for our cousins. It is our Emissarys who first extend greeting when encountering those we have never met. Those like yourself, who are near as much strangers to us as any gajin we found out there," she placed similar emphasis on the descriptor when she spoke. The way the Scorpion was looking at her was making her feel very uncomfortable, perhaps uncomfortable enough to not comport herself with as much dignity as she should, "would you be so swift to raise weapon to against my kin? Does this ma-ai not serve to build a bridge of words to those we would call sisters?"

Hotaru seemed to take on a hurt expression with her masked eye narrowing on Amaya. "You're probably just using an example, I know for sure that I'm far less of a stranger compared to the gaijin you found there, Ide-san. We come from the same place and our Clans found our beginnings from the same Kami that graced this land. In fact, I think we have far more in common with each other actually. I would never do something so foolish to raise a weapon against you. Talk about making the wrong impression. "

She smiled at the Ide again, "Actually, I'd like to think the bridges are already there, especially now that we're speaking face to face. If anything this miai would probably serve to reinforce those bridges so that others can speak so easily as we do now. I don't know if you know much about my family but the Bayushi are known for crossing rivers themselves when it comes to diplomacy."