Struck in The Middle? (Day 1 Late Morning)

[Shinjo Kemuri]

He frowned at that. "Well, we are here now. Perhaps we will be able to help."

[Ichiro Daisuke]

"Well things are better, at least for a moment. But I imagine it's only a matter of time before they make another big push. Still we hope to be better prepared when that happens, they surprised us a bit this last time."

[Shinjo Kemuri]

"Tell me more about the Badger." he requested. "I would like to know our neighbors better."

[Ichiro Daisuke]

"Anything in particular you were curious about Shinjo-san?' It was somewhat of a broad topic after all. Of course he could start off with his clans history, but that seemed a little tedious.

[Shinjo Kemuri]

"Your duty is to defend the northern border. Was that why you were founded?" he asked.

[Ichiro Daisuke]

He nodded and went ahead to explain it as best as he could, without trying to go into to much detail. "Yes, after your clan departed it was decided someone needed to protect the pass from any potential invaders. After some debate it was decided to hold a contest of strength and the winner would be granted the honor. It was our founder that proved himself the strongest, and since then we have been guarding the border."

[Shinjo Kemuri]

He nodded appreciatively. "Even under Lion control, these lands were largely vacant, were they not? Your clan has been fairly isolated."

[Ichiro Daisuke]

"Aye, we mostly keep to ourselves as well. Do a bit of trading with the clans to the south, but generally speaking most of us don't leave the mountains that often." He smirked. "It's at the point I'm not surprised when someone doesn't recognize our mon."

[Shinjo Kemuri]

He laughed. "I don't recognise any of the Minor Clan mons. I only know the other Great Clans, because there are stories of them."

[Ichiro Daisuke]

"That makes sense, we were all created after the Unicorn left the empire after all, and well even now there aren't too many stories about us. the minor clans don't often ply big rolls in the empire and it's politics after all."

"Though that's changed a bit in recent years."

[Shinjo Kemuri]

"How so?" He continued to show genuine curiosity.

[Ichiro Daisuke]

"Well the emerald Champion was a sparrow by the name of Suzume Wara, though he unfortunately passed away in a duel. It was a rare honor for one of the minor clans. More recently though one of my cousins Ichiro Wattana gained the position of Imperial chancellor, so who knows what that might mean for the minor clans."

[Shinjo Kemuri]

He nodded. "Good. Your clan performs a great service for the Empire. That deserves recognition."

[Ichiro Daisuke]

"Well thank you." He smiled. "Perhaps you could tell me some of your family though? What things have been like since you left the borders of the Empire?"

[Shinjo Kemuri]

"It is a long, hard history." he answered. "One I am still learning, to be honest. My family, specifically, is the Marta, vassals to the Shinjo. Paper is not easy to maintain through constant travel. We were founded to keep our history through oral storytelling, as taught by a woman named Martazera."