[Day 1 - Late Evening] Not-So-Smooth Getaway

[Bayushi Hotaru]

"Oooh, they're not? I suppose that might be the reason why their differences are more pronounced compared to your other kin, at least the ones I've met." Historians might have a better time accounting which families were originally part of Rokugan and which ones just joined the Unicorn now. Hotaru had assumed they returned in the same way the left, minus the foreign trappings they seem to endear so much now. "I feel slightly bad for Usagi Tomoe-san this morning when she tried to do a lecture on history. The Moto had a lot of questions and were...rather overconfident in themselves. I suppose their protective instincts probably remain strong. You're lucky to have such guides and stalwart protections in your Clan now."

"That could be a start!" She said with a few enthusiastic bobs of her head, as if encouraging the idea. "It had been so long since your kin were in the Empire and few had tended to the honour of Shinjo-kami. I could only imagine that she can be honoured properly with the return of your Clan. It seems that you've inherited quite a bit of historical land, your Clan that is. There's a shrine dedicated to Kakita himself and ancestral grounds of great competition. It's mostly flat land now but the monks there could probably use some housing, if not a temple." Maybe a proper cleansing fountain. Some golden statues. Ornate steps.

"Of course, that seems like a fair trade. At the moment, I find myself rather free of appointments for someone of my skills. However, I'd be more than willing to keep my schedule open for you if you ever need a reading or simply conversation. After all, you did help me and show interest in my skills first. It seems only fair, ne?" She smiled coyly.

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

Actually quite a bit had changed over the centuries, though Dong-Ha had little idea of what was actually part of the original Unicorn culture and what they had adapted during their journeys. Not that he or his kinsmen cared, leading their lives as their ancestors had. "That would likely be the case." He did wonder how his Moto kin would get used to the new life as part of an empire.

"I am sure they had. We are as curious about the Empire and its people as you are curious about us." At least he assumed they were curious about the Unicorn. "They are proud people... and maybe even a little out of place among us but as Iuchi-shiryo said, there are elements in everything and so, everything is one." Or thst had been his interpretation of Tao.

"Might take a while. We've never been the greatest builders. Some of us would need to study such things... first." If tents could collapse, so could buildings and no-one wanted to see a shrine collapse. What would the Fortunes think!

"Hai!" Dong-Ha's smile was more genuine. "Perhaps I'll drop down to your tent sometime?" Once they'd find it he would even have an idea where it was and would not need to explain her where to find his.

[Bayushi Hotaru]

In this case, they were just itching to fight something, even if said thing had been dead for centuries. If someone told them about some Yakisoba monster that lurked in the woods, she sort of imagined that they would march off in droves at first light. The more and more she dwelled on this, she probably would cross off the Moto from her list of potential suitors. "If the Unicorn Clan has welcomed them openly, we can only trust the wisdom of Shinjo-Kami and your ancestors. I've yet to have the chance to speak to one at length but surely I must find same wisdom as I have with your Family, just beyond their protective natures."

"And temples happen to take a while to build too. When it comes to worship, I think most temples are built on devotion and belief. There must be some truth in that when you'll find that many temples in the Empire are some of the old structures that still stand to this day. Kyuden are worn over time but temples stand as long as there is worship," she nodded wisely at that, as if repeating a lecture she was taught ages ago. The sort of drivel that would get on her sister's nerves.

She shrugged openly, chuckling after. "Ooor, I can drop by to yours. When it comes to readings, there isn't a strict place for doing them. I'd prefer to do them at the shrine, where the ties to the Heavens are strongest but the grounds aren't exactly equipped well to host a gathering beyond worship."

She gestured to one of the yurts, casually as she had known there it was. "My yurt is just right there if you wish to come by."

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

Or perhaps some of them worshipped the floating yakisoba monster. Moto pantheon was dark and full of terrors. "Well, actually, the story begins with the Ujik-Hai attacking us soon as our ancestors left Rokugan. But Shinjo-kami, her blade true, struck many of them down, beheaded their leader and forced them to flee. The alliance came later with Shinjo-kami promisingto teach the Moto the ways of the world and to protect them from all eveil, as long as they served her with humility and obedience." The promise held a prominent part in Unicorn culture and thus everyone was familiar with the words. "For centuries, they have upheld their part of the oath. Once perhaps foreign, they now share our blood."

"Hmhm, I would like to see some of them." Dong-Ha nodded eagerly. "Does Bayushi-san know if any shrines built during the time of the kami remains?" Not that the histories were ever truly accurate and many clans had rewritten history books to make their shrines appear older and more prestigious.

"Umm.. I guess Bayushi-san can ask the heimin for directions." Dong-Ha muttered, though he didn't quite trust her navigational skills, especially not when she seemed to conveniently locate her tent the moment it was actually needed. Then again, perhaps this was part of the fabled Scorpion subterfuge. "Though that leaves things rather vague? Perhaps we should agree on something and not leave matters to fate?"

[Bayushi Hotaru]

"With the majesty and mercy of Shinjo-Kami, I could see little reason why these foreign-gaijin weren't to exist!" She nodded wholehearted in agreement. "But I can see how it may seem to be a peculiar arrangement even to this day, as they originated from beyond the Empire. I'm sure they mean well." Were they even worst off before?

She gave a slow shake of her head. "I'm not entirely sure about that, although the one built locally was done in the honour of Kakita himself, in a time when these grounds were used to determined the Emerald Champion. Doji-kami was around when the legend Kakita was around, which would mean the shrine must have been erected close to such a time. IIt would not surprise me if Doji-kami herself once walked on these lands!"

"If you wish! We can only do so much with our agency while co-existing with fate!" She chuckled softly. "What time would be best for you then, Iuchi-san? I know tomorrow I've been asked by a kin already to attend to a meeting with one of his respective matches, some Bayushi work quick...other than that, I should be free beyond that appointment from tomorrow."

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

"Peculiar arrangement or not, the Moto are still samurai." There was some determination behind the words. "And have been loyal to the Shinjo for centuries. They have earned their place within the Clan many times over." Dong-Ha added, defending his more barbaric clanmates with a hint of steel in his voice.

"Well, the one locally built is in shambles, unfortunately. I would prefer to visit something that is bit more... substantial." Not that he could blame Lion for not tending to a shrine that was dozens of miles away from anything important. "Though, maybe I'll have the chance sooner than I'd expect." he looked around the camp, noting all the samurai wearing colors of the Crane, Lion and Scorpion. There were also people wearing heraldic devices he could not recognize. Since when Rabbit clan had been a thing?

"Perhaps day after tomorrow then, bit before the sunset*?" Dong-Ha suggested carefully, happy to have found something to do with all the time he had at his hands. "I have a bottle of mugishochu** I could bring, if Bayushi-san is not partial to such things?" Some holy men back in the burning sands avoided alcohol like it was poison.

_________
OOC:
*Early evening, assuming the event is not there.
** Barley sochu

[Bayushi Hotaru]

"Oh! Of course! The Moto are as much samurai as the rest of the Unicorn, Iuchi-san," she said with a small smile to concur with his opinion. It was her only intention to voice that they were an odd bunch. Admittedly, she also found them to be strange, brash and uncouth too, but she didn't want to make that too apparent. It was ultimately all excused because they were samurai, she supposed.

"Some of the oldest temples in the Empire are those built in honour of the Fortunes, as their worship long predated even the Kami's founding of the Emerald Empire. You'll find them spread across the land, if you're willing to make the journey to see each of them. One of the closest ones to the Scorpion is Hotei Seido, dedicated to the Fortune of Contentment, the same place where my honour mother has found her retirement. It's quite a delightful place to visit, especially the amount of art and good spirits to be found there. In fact, I suppose I found that place to provide good inspirations for my personal duties!" She bobbed her head a few times enthusiastically.

"Sure..." she said after a moment of consideration. Drinking wasn't exactly her thing but she didn't abstain from it, only drinking the polite minimum. "I'm not too familiar with shochu, just so long it's not too harsh?"

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

"It's only bit harsher than the sweet fermented milk the Moto drink." He offered carefully. "I admit I don't partake to sake that often... my father acquired some bottles from a traveling merchant." Dong-Ha's father had figured that his son could use them to get to know some of the locals. "I was under that impression that people indulge to such pleasures quite often."

"I thought that Bayushi-san herself was serving at Hotei Seido? Perhaps I misunderstood, since you mentioned Hotei earlier?" He looked a little bit puzzled.

[Bayushi Hotaru]

"They do!" She reassured him with enthusiasm. "Most people do, namely bushi to be honest. I will be pleased to partake some if you're willing to share it with me, but I think I'll leave more than enough that you can still share with others during your stay here. I'm sure other Clans have brought their bushi to this miai."

"Oh, no, no! Not quite!" She giggled at the mistake. Hotei Seido would be a far greater assignment. "I search a shrine on an oft-travelled pilgrimage path leading east to Hotei Seido. My shrine serves as a gathering point, to give those weary travellers a rest and remind them of their piety to the Fortune of Contentment. There, I do my best to assist them with their worship and anything else they might wish before continuing on their pilgrimage."

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

"Fair enough." He hadn't been planning to get anyone drunk, and seeing how small Hotaru was, Dong-Ha mused that she likely could not drink much without the alcohol would have an adverse effect on her. "I have some sweets too, if those would suit you better?" Girls liked sweets, didn't they?

"Oh..." Dong-Ha seemed a little embarrassed, shifting his weight as if to cover his shame. still feeling flustered, he added. "My apologies. Does your shrine have a name then?"

[Bayushi Hotaru]

"Oooh, sweets? Absolutely!" She chuckled at the offer. It reminded her of the dinner and what she missed, likely a good portion of sweets. She started to carve for some mochi now that she thought about it. Hopefully, he wouldn't bring anything made out of milk. "Both would be just fine really. I'm a light eater too, but I have more experience with sweets."

"The name of my shrine is the Shining Retreat. It's a humble place but we're always welcoming of visitors, whether you're travelling to Hotei Seido or to the River of Gold. It's not on most maps..." She smiled a touch anxiously. "But I'd be happy to mark yours so that you can find it if you're ever interested in passing by on your way to Hotei Seido."

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

"It's just jellied bean paste." Dong-Ha spread his arms. "Nothing fancy, unfortunately." He figured she had to be used to far more fancier things. At least her clothing was well made, and that by itself suggested that she was well fed and could afford to decide what she ate.

"Shining Retreat." her anxiety was entirely lost on him as he wondered what made the shrine so shiny. Perhaps it was built from stone that shone in the sun? Or perhaps the statues of the fortunes were covered with leaf gold? Not wanting to detain her any further he kept the questions to himself. "That would be kind of you. I'll try to see if I can find a map for the next time."

"Maybe I should let you retire for the night? The day has been long enough and tomorrow won't likely be any different."

[Bayushi Hotaru]

"Oooh! Jellied bean paste! That seem pretty good to me." She nodded in approval. It didn't help to be picky around here. After eating the cheese which she thought was bean paste, it would be good to have the real thing. At least she knew that was delicious and didn't upset her stomach. "I look very much forward to that."

Or perhaps the Shining Retreat used to be the home of a few golden statues of the Fortunes, before they were ransacked by bandits or spineless thieves.

"Of course, of course! The search is over, after all!" She gestured to her tent and giggled. "Before I forget, thank you for the help and the conversation, Iuchi-san. I shall see you around. Carry the Fortunes and may they favour you, have a good night."

She bowed politely to excuse herself and then entered her yurt.

/exit

[Iuchi Dong-Ha]

"My pleasure." he bowed in return, happy that he had been able to help... and to prove the potency of his magic. "Good night Bayushi-san and take care." Dong-Ha watched her disappear into her tent before heading towards the general direction of his tent.

/exit
//scene