Opening Ceremony (Day 1, Early Afternoon)

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

"No kami. Nada.." Dong-Ha shook his head. "The lands beyond the mountains are desolate and void when it comes to kami." Or so he had been told. "The kami bless and keep the Empire." That too, had been part of his lessons. "Ah that... that is bit more tricky. See, the elements are what they are. A shugenja can call the kami to conjure the elements... but a sahir can command the elements by other means."

[Yuzuki]

"But the elements are only the elements because of the kami, is what the priests back home say. So if the shugenja there can call upon elements, then there must be kami there, even if they control the elements in other ways. I think that's how it works."

[Yogo Yuichi]

"Sou desu ka." She placed a hand on her chin, contemplating on it. "Is this similar to meishodo, Yuichi-dono? The shugenja of my Clan use amulets in order to use their spells. I am unsure if these paper wards serve the same function, though."

Now, that question did genuinely surprised Yuichi. '' Hmm, I'm not familiar with the concept of meisho...meishodo? You said that your shugenja cast spells with special nemuranai?''

a pause.

'' If what you said it's true, then perhaps Unicorn magic works similar to Asahina's fetishes.'' He wondered. '' How do you manage to make the kami respond to your prayers and enter these magical amulets? '' He asked to her. Perhaps she knows something about it, even if she is not a shugenja.

[Ide Samai]

Samai smiled politely. "Hard work as befits of a samurai, Matsu-san? I am sure your sensei is proud. You don't attend court then?" Her voice tilted curiously.

"There is not much for an army scout to do at Court beside watch the koi ponds for invading frogs. It is an arena we cede to the Ikoma in my clan."

"Though one must always careful around frogs. They are jumpy beasts." She hid a smirk behind her fan. "Though I would think that a man with keen ears and sharp eyes is welcome everywhere?"

[Usagi Tomoe]

"Carry the Fortunes, Bayushi-sama," the Hare said in a cheerful tone.

"I rather think Bayushi-sama thinks I'm annoying or something. He's rather different from the other Scorpion I know."

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

"But the elements are only the elements because of the kami, is what the priests back home say. So if the shugenja there can call upon elements, then there must be kami there, even if they control the elements in other ways. I think that's how it works."

"Well... there are no kami to talk to in some places, and yet there is air and stones there. So clearly one can exist without the other." He had an inclination that these priests had actually no clue on how things worked. "But they are not shugenja. They do not even know about the kami. They talk directly to the elements." This was getting bit repetitive. "Well, not even that. They command the elements via other means. I'd show you but... I don't think they'd approve that here...."

[Yuzuki]

"Hmm?"

She still seemed skeptical, but seemed willing to drop the matter.

"Well, I'm a bushi. So I don't really get these things anyway."

[Matsu Yurio]

"Though one must always careful around frogs. They are jumpy beasts." She hid a smirk behind her fan. "Though I would think that a man with keen ears and sharp eyes is welcome everywhere?"

"The courts are a dangerous place for the young and uninitiated. Courtiers need yojimbo at times, so perhaps I might see a full Winter Court eventually. For now, the barracks and the snow covered wilds are sufficient."

He half smiled.

"More than frogs about, even in Winter."

[Bayushi Hotaru]

"Yes, yes, an example of course," she clutched at the proffered escape from her social misstep. The young woman was making her feel flustered and she silently lamented, why must people be so complicated? I get along so well with animals, I seem to understand them so much better, and they seem to like me.

Amaya chuckled nervously, "I must admit how little I know of your family, but I do seem to recall something about the scorpion predaliction for water."

"Which is quite accurate," she chuckled as she gestured to her Clan mon, which indeed featured a mon of a scorpion atop of a body of river. "Well, perhaps more so when it comes to the bit of folklore told by the great Shinsei, something our founder has taken to heart."

"I suppose the real truth is that the Bayushi are actually a versatile family in many regards. We need to be, when we're know to lead our Clan in both political and martial functions. The spiritual realm is something we have less expertise in, admittedly. I suppose they have someone like me filling in the gaps once in a blue moon," she smiled sheepishly.

"Do you have many friends here, Ide-san?"

[Ide Samai]

"The courts are a dangerous place for the young and uninitiated. Courtiers need yojimbo at times, so perhaps I might see a full Winter Court eventually. For now, the barracks and the snow covered wilds are sufficient."

He half smiled.

"More than frogs about, even in Winter."

"That is quite true, my experience is the same across the land. No mater where one is, words can be as harsh as actions." She cocked an eyebrow? "Oh truly? Sounds like a tale of suspense Matsu-san."

[Matsu Yurio]

"Foxes, rabbits, birds, perhaps even a boar or two. The bears are mostly sleeping the Winter away but they might surface occasionally."

And a desperate bandit or three, but Akodo-sama said not to mention that kind of thing.

[Otaku Kitakuhime]

Kitakuhime stood silent nearby the other Shiotome while Ide Dabo welcomed all present. Observing how others started to interact, she starts to walk outside the main concentration of people so she could reach Gekko, her steed.

--
PM if you would like to approach and talk.

[Ide Samai]

"Foxes, rabbits, birds, perhaps even a boar or two. The bears are mostly sleeping the Winter away but they might surface occasionally."

And a desperate bandit or three, but Akodo-sama said not to mention that kind of thing.

"Oh? I am sure our bushi will be happy to have something to hunt during the winter and occupy themselves as you do." Her eyes glanced around the gathering. "You like hunting Matsu-san?"

[Matsu Kogo]

"Carry the Fortunes, Bayushi-sama," the Hare said in a cheerful tone.

"I rather think Bayushi-sama thinks I'm annoying or something. He's rather different from the other Scorpion I know."

Kogo thinks about this a moment. "Usagi-san would likely know more than I of Scorpion, being more widely traveled." Kogo ponders for a moment for a different topic. "But I am sure Bayushi-san respects your work as a historian, for I do as well. And I would love to hear more of your work. Has it always been your calling to study this or is it more of a recent vocation?"

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

"Hmm?"

She still seemed skeptical, but seemed willing to drop the matter.

"Well, I'm a bushi. So I don't really get these things anyway."

"That's fine." Dong-Ha seemed relieved. "I meant that well, I can't really show the meishodo here. It's... kinda impolite to do magic in front of one's betters."