Barbs at Kyuden Otomo

[Kakita Mitsouko]

Kakita Mitsouko had come in time to hear the Otomo's words and all what followed, but not Ashahina's. Standing near one of the doors, in her ceremonial armor, she waited for a gap of silence to get attention. That stupid courtier was really thinking someone would save him from her? She was assigned to a audience with Hantei-teno himself, and that was the only reason for her presence in the court. And if she was able to come out of His Hall still honored and alive, the vain bastard would pay his words.

By your words, it seems the honorable Otomo family is concerned to have too many mouths to feed now the court was transferred to their home unexpectedly. Don't worry, we brought our own food. Hantei-teno is invited to have his meals with us as well. Now, forgive me if I stay so little time in the presence fo the honorable and fair men and women in this room, I have an audience with the Son of Heavens.

Saying so she bowed and crossed the room to enter the Imperial Hall.

[Jay Luo]

The Otomo courtier seems startled at the outpouring of support for the Asahina's conciliatory words, and a trace of dismay crosses his face as it becomes clear that no one will speak to support him. However, he swiftly regains his composure with practiced skill. "Perhaps there is some merit to what you say," he allows grudgingly. "We shall see." His skeptical tone makes it clear what he thinks the outcome will be.

And with that Otomo Rakuro gives a perfunctory bow and departs the chamber with as much dignity as he can muster, his court attendants trailing behind him.

[Bayushi Hisa]

Hisa was dismayed by Rakuro's departure from the room. Such as shame. I fear we won't be seeing any entertainment today.

He leaned over and whispered to Yoichi, The boy was a fool though, you cannot accuse bloodied warriors of pacifism and pretty words - even if many of them merely look like a drowned Nezumi after the retreat - when your own clothes are unblemished by war. Especially not when so many other valid ways present themselves for undermining the competition. He looked at the closed door Rakuro had exited through and spoke in a more normal tone. I do hope that young man learns a little more tact and grace when addressing those of a higher station. I wonder if he would be available to speak with later, he is quite amusing! Hisa signaled to a nearby servant to refill his tea cup.

[Shosuro Yoichi]

Yoichi nodded.

"Indeed, Bayushi-sama. He was a most interesting man. Though I doubt I would invite him to speak at my funeral."

[Doji Naetaru]

Naetaru was perfectly satisfied with the ongoing events at court. The perfectly serene figure of Asahina Yukihime was an impeccable choice of a person to address for unity. The Asahina daimyo had surely dominated the court much to the interest of both the Doji daimyo and the Hantei loyalist forces as well.

Moments before Naetaru was chit-chatting with some minor dignitaries. Doji Kenna's absence was loud and clear, right now at the time Naetaru needed him most. He made a mental note to let him know of it.

After some minutes passed Naetaru approached Yukihime.

"Yukihime-sama, that was exceptionally fine." his voice hadn't the slight trace of irony, however if someone would know, the Crane were masters at embellishing their success.

"The dignity, the poise, the spirit with which you'd address into everyone's heart. With sincere words you overshadowed the most unjust of tirades speaking of accusations. We're honored to be indebted at your words of wisdom." he bowed in reverence.

"The Emperor's forces as we all, remain unified because of you sama." he smiled. What Naetaru enjoyed the most was the feeling of success that his Clan would time to time enjoy, and the procedure of enjoying their success.

[Utaku Mai]

(Jay, I just wanna say that your IC stuff is super fun. You rock!)

[Shosuro Yoichi]

At hearing this, Yoichi stood again.

"Your words are beautiful, Crane-sama, and they have inspired in me a desire to recite. If you will indulge me."


He bows to the assemblage.

"Eyes of jade glinting,
Tawny cat stalks the shore,
The lake bird takes wing.

Domo arigato, Doji-sama"


Yoichi sits again, after a scattering of polite applause.

[Doji Naetaru]

((Ehm...Kakita?))

[Shosuro Yoichi]

(OOC:Oops. I saw Mitsouko's name at the top of the replies. Will be fixed soon)

[Kakita Sojiro]

Sojiro smiled at the Scorpion's haiku, but the fire in his eyes hadn't gone away.

"Quite beautiful, Scorpion-san. Your skills with haiku and timing are to be admired - perhaps our absent Otomo associate could stand to learn a thing or two from you?"

He waited for the ripples of not-quite humor to subside in the courtroom, and then continued.

"Your point is well made, although I think you look at the situation from the wrong perspective. Yes, it is true that the Lion and Unicorn armies forced my clan and the Seppun Yojimbo from Toshi Ranbo. What seems to be misunderstood is the reasons for this."

Sojiro took a spot in the center of the room so that everyone assembled could easily hear him. His appearance was at once absurd and striking - here in the imperial court, surrounded by courtiers and dignitaries dressed in their finery, perfectly coiffed and made up, he was covered in the grime of battle and dried blood, with his long black and white streaked hair all akimbo, his left arm in a sling and his custom daisho obviously still tied to his waist in a battle position. His makeshift walking stick thumped with every step as he made his way to the center of the floor.

"Any fool could have stayed and continued to fight using the inner defenses of Toshi Ranbo. However, had we done so, Hantei-Dono would now be within easy grasp of the Lion forces, with no escape route available to him. Likewise, the whole of the Imperial Court would be in a similar situation. Rather than allow the emperor to be surrounded and captured, our strategy was to make sure that Hantei-Dono would be able to make his escape, along with his court. In fact, I daresay that Yasuki Chad-sama's battle plan was based on this very idea. We knew from the beginning that even with the Seppun's assistance, we did not have the sheer numbers needed to fight off the whole of the Lion army with their Unicorn cavalry support, and so our battle plans never involved doing this. Instead, they were based on one goal, achieved through two different means. The goal, obviously, was the safe evacuation of the Emperor and the Imperial court. The first method of doing this was to stall the Toturi forces and slow them down for as long as we could. The second," he paused dramatically, sweeping his mismatched gaze across all those assembled. "was to do as much damage to the Lion and Unicorn forces as we could while they advanced into the city. And this was also surprisingly successful, thanks largely to Yasuki Chad-sama. The entire western gate of Toshi Ranbo was brought down on the Lion forces heads in a massive explosion. The bulk of the Unicorn Cavalry was trapped between the rubble that explosion caused and the inner bulwark, cut off from Lion support. The combination of an ingenious fire attack and the lethal combination of Seppun and Crane archers devastated them. And this is saying nothing of the two weeks prior to that day, where the Toturi forces faced hails of arrows and spears from the walls of Toshi Ranbo and sharpened steel and resolve from those on the ground outside of those walls. For two weeks they tried to take the city with their superior numbers and were repulsed, their casualties too high to continue that day."

He motioned with his hand towards one of his companions.

"On the day that the wall fell, this man, Kakita Hiroshi, stood outside the locked gates of Toshi Ranbo to further slow the Lion's assault. He knew his chances of survival to be slim, and yet he did his duty for the Emperor - he did everything in his power to assure Hantei-dono's escape would be successful, and for that, the fates smiled on him and allowed him to live that day."

Sojiro looked back towards the Scorpion contingent. "Right now, the Lion are sitting in Toshi Ranbo, congratulating themselves on a job well done, on defeating the Hantei forces and taking the capital city. The hollowness of that victory eludes them. While they have certainly claimed Toshi Ranbo, it cost them dearly, and now they must garrison the city as well. On top of that, they failed in their goal of capturing Hantei-Dono, and yet they cannot place Kaneka on the steel throne."

He raised his voice as he made his final point, turning to address the whole courtroom again."But perhaps their greatest folly is their belief that they have defeated the Hantei forces. They have faced but one clan in battle, and so far every army they have engaged has been directed at that clan. Indeed, the Crab and Mantis ravage the southern Crane lands as we speak-" he chuckled "doing absolutely nothing to assist the Lion or any other army of the Toturi forces in this war. Meanwhile, while the Crab and Mantis waste their energy on uselessly pillaging our southern provinces, they ignore the bigger picture. Their own southern borders have fallen under attack. While the Crane may have been wounded and taken flight, the Phoenix soars in from the northeast to burn Kaneka with the greatest Shugenja the empire has to offer. The Dragon climbs down from it's mountain from the northwest, poised to tear a chunk out of Kaneka as well. And last but certainly not least, we have the Scorpion, tail raised to strike any vital spot the Toturi leave unguarded. As for my clan, the Crane, they are much like me - wounded but hardly broken, still more than willing to fight. And to win."

Sojiro snorted dirisively. "Defeated? The Lion thinks they have defeated the Hantei forces? How could they, when they have yet to even see our full might assembled before them? When their only victory to date has cost them a city, heavy casualties, and accomplished none of the goals they had hoped it would? Let the fools sit in Toshi Ranbo and congratulate themselves on taking a city that no longer houses the Emperor. Let them console themselves on the loss of Permission city, saying that it was necessary to take Toshi Ranbo - a useless gesture as best. Let them snicker as the Crab and Mantis continue to contribute next to nothing to the war effort by concentrating on the southern Crane lands." He slammed his walking stick home to emphasize his next point.

"For while they gloat over empty victories and try to forget the costs of them, we have assembled and unified our forces. While they brag and jest over how the Crane ran before them, we have taken everything they had hoped to gain at Toshi Ranbo out of their grasp, and hurt them far more than they hurt us in the process."

His voice returned to a normal volume. "And so I ask you all, not as Crane, Scorpion, Dragon, and Phoenix - not as four separate clans, four separate entities - but as one front, as The Hantei Forces United, to stand together with us. To turn and strike off the head of the Toturi forces together."

"I ask you this, esteemed personages of the court. Will you put truth behind the empty boasts of the Lion clan, or will you stand together, as one, and make the Toturi forces regret ever having started this war?"

[Shosuro Yoichi]

"These are fine words, Kakita-sama. And the Son of Heaven is safe, as are most of the courtiers." He gestured to the crowd. "For which I thank the assembled bushi and shugenja."

He paused to make sure that all heard his words. "But, apparently, we speak plainly now. Fine words do not conceal the fact that the capital was lost, the city that Crane were charged with holding. And you would have this believe it was all part of your cunning plan?" The arch to Yoichi's eyebrow spoke volumes.

"The Daimyo of our Clan lies in Kyuden Bayushi, with his sword arm maimed, possibly lost. It was sacrificed to show the Son of Heaven that our dedication is unquestionable, that we will follow him unto death. What has the leader of your Clan sacrificed for his failing? Besides honor and glory? The Son of Heaven owns your Daimyo's life, as surely as the Emperor owns mine. Has your Daimyo asked our beloved Emperor permission to cleanse the stain on the Crane's honor?"

"Are the Crane as dedicated as the Scorpion?"

[Kakita Sojiro]

"To my knowledge, your Daimyo chose to incinerate his hand, of his own accord, to not only demonstrate the Scorpion's dedication but also to atone for the attempted assassination of the Emperor's envoy to Scorpion lands. By all means, sama, correct me if I am wrong in this regard - I was certainly not present for that unfortunate occurrence. I have never met your daimyo, but I have heard of his honor and sacrifice, and as much as I respect him for his decision, the necessity of it still saddens me. I have felt, and still feel, that the actions taken against the envoy were not representative of the Scorpion as a whole, and I feel that your daimyo chose to pay for a crime he did not commit, for the good of his clan. For while the Scorpion may bear a somewhat sordid reputation, I can recall no instance where your clan has ever been anything but loyal to the emperor, and I will be the first to... correct... any who would say otherwise. Your clan's methods are not ours, but regardless of that the Scorpion's loyalty should never be in question."

He sighed, obviously weary from his trials over the past few days.

"But your question concerned my clan's dedication, not my opinion of your clan. To this, I can only say two things. First off, I can assure you that should Hantei-dono wish for the life of my daimyo, or the lives of all of us who fought at Toshi Ranbo for that matter, all he would have to do is ask. The Son of Heaven is well aware of this. Secondly, to further my point, all one has to do to see the dedication of my clan is to look at recent events. When no other clan was available to support us or the Son of Heaven due to internal problems, simple geographic difficulties, or both, the Crane stepped forward into the gap that no one else was able to fill at the time. We literally put our heads into the Lion's mouth, all but ignoring the attacks and incursions the Mantis and Crab have made into our own lands, the capture of our own people, to defend the Son of Heaven. I hold no other clans at fault for that situation - to mobilize a military force without settling internal disputes is suicidal, as is mobilizing without the supplies you need to feed your troops for such a long journey, but regardless of that fact, we were there when none other, not even the Emerald Champion himself, could be. We sacrificed our people, our lands, our food stores, and in many cases our lives to dedicate ourselves to the Emperor's cause. And we remain as dedicated as ever."

[Asahina Yukihime]

Yukihime bow to the Otomo-sama when he lives the court. She dosen't takes it's personaly, courtiers have their way to 'stir' what have to be known, and brings attention to it.

Yukihime devotes a long bow to Doji Naetaru-sama, after his nice words towards her.

She remains silently for a long time, just being at the court becouse she still couldn't catch a nice time to leave.
Her request were done, specially to her own family.

The words of Shosuro Yoichi brings her attention to him.
She approaches Yoichi, bowing in a brief reverence.

"I saw scorpion dedication on ten Scorpion samurais at Toshi Ranbo. Souls that I prayed for myself. And that surely found their place besides the ancestors. Should I recite their names?

I won't volunteer to list the Crane names that should be reminded for their deeds of dedication, it would be too long. Courtiers may have other issues to talk.

So, Bayushi Senshi-sama sacrifice was done and he is back to the safety of his walls at Kyuden Bayushi?

But about his injuries. I saw Soshi Kiso-sama at Festival of White Orchid, I believe he is a very skilled shugenja, who will sure be able to have the chi to flow properly trough his master's hand again. Bayushi Senshi-sama won't die, his skills with the sword have still to serve the Empire... or so say the stars.
By the way, starts also say... his sword arm is not the one wounded...

But if Scorpion is finding a hard time with healing spells, I'm willing to help... help the Scorpion champion and all those who fight under the name of Hantei-sama."

((OOC: may be edited for spelling or something... too late here))

[Bayushi Hisa]

Hisa rose and bowed to Yukihime. You honor us, Asahina-sama, for the healing skills of your family, and your own, are legendary. Both Soshi Kiso-sama, and the reclusive Yogo daimyo, Yogo Hiro-sama, are dedicated to healing and caring for the Master when I left Kyuden Bayushi to assist in evacuating the Son of Heaven.

He did not rise rise to the insult on Senshi's courage, which he was sure Yoichi noticed. Would you like to lie broken and burned in hostile territory? He thought to himself, eyes narrowing on Yukihime. I am sure we can arrange something very soon to find out.

I regret I was unable to assist in the defense of Toshi Ranbo; I was standing with the Iron Crane at the time. I lent my unique services to the Daidoji taisa in charge. He had sent me to procure some specialties for the city's defenses, for it seemed the scouts were woefully under prepared for harrying the rebels. On my way back I learned of Senshi-sama's return to Kyuden Bayushi, as well as the fall of another of your cities. It is my sincere hope that the Crane still have habitable lands when Kaneka's war is over.

[Asahina Yukihime]

Yukihime noticed Hisa narrowing eyes towards her.

"I'm not a courtier Bayushi-san, and my words hides nothing. I saw Bayushi Senshi-sama when he arrived at Toshi Ranbo. But I never saw or heard about him leaving the city. Is my question and are concerns more clear now? Same way I'm offering help now, I would had done it back there, if I knew about it."

What is clearly true, a quick check on Toshi Ranbo infirmaries would clearly show those under Asahina's command tended the wounds of everyone they could back there, even Lions could be found recovering at Asahina's infirmary. It is not really a surprise the pacifist family would protect every life they could.

"I truly believe Soshi-sama's skills are up to the challenge presented to him. But if I can be of any help, here is a sincere offer."

As always Yukihime dosen't looks directly at any one, and her expression changes nothing.

Yet, next words from Hisa made her speechless... Harriers? Powder? What was it all about? What was a Bayushi courtier doing among a Daidoji unit?
Just feels like going further in this topic may not be appropriated... It took her a moment to figure what say.

"No need to regret, there is still much that could be achieved."