Crane Clan Champion's Outer Chambers

[utakumoli]

Mo-Li prepares herself, doing a mental checklist of everything that should be in place.

"Hai, please enter," she replies.

As the door begins to slide open, she bows low, her forehead nearly touching the tatami mat.

[Doji Yoshi]

"Utaku-sama, I apologize.", he returns.

He adds, "The Crane Champion wishes to meet you in his war room."

"Please, follow me." The Crane retainer then turns and waits, as if knowing that the Battle-Maiden would follow accordingly. Behind the retainer, Mo-li can see a Daidoji guardsmen. He has not lifted his gaze from her one bit. Although he does look extremely out of place, in such a setting, a guardsmen is understandable in such circumstances. Oddly enough, the guardsmen is wearing special shoes, which aren't regular in Rokugan, perhaps made specially for guardsmen to wear inside of a chamber with such nice flooring.

[utakumoli]

Mo-Li rises from the deep bow and stands.

"I understand," She says. Mo-Li follows the retainer, but her mental eye is trained on the Daidoji behind her.

[Doji Yoshi]

The retainer leads the Utaku down to the center of the large chamber, and then curves around to the left, down another long corridor. The Daidoji seems to be keeping perfect pace behind the battle-maiden, almost as if he wasn't there, that is, aside from the large clanking. Although Mo-li can't see it, she can feel as if the Daidoji guardsmen was looking at her, in the way that a matchmaker would.

At the end of the corridor, the retainer approaches the door. From outside the door he beckons, "Honorable Doji Yoshi-sama! I bring you the honorable Utaku Mo-li, from the Unicorn Clan." After a brief pause, "Please allow her to enter and to speak with your greatness!"

From the room, you can hear: "Domo-arigato, Tsuma-san! Let her enter, please!"

The voice sounds stern and strong, not at all what Mo-li remembered from winter court. But then again, Mo-li had never come face-to-face with the Crane champion. She had only heard his voice from a distance or seen his entourage from the other side of court.

The door was opened from the inside, perhaps as a security precaution, but it definitely broke the etiquette usually followed by the Crane.

Inside was a medium sized room, large enough to fit 10 or so people around the large table. The table was rather tall, and it was obvious that this wasn't a formal room at all. There was a scroll rolled out onto the table that had a map of the Empire of Rokugan. There were marks on the map, little tokens used, currently located on Beiden Pass, and Mountain Watch Keep. Along the walls were scrolls bundled on shelves into piles. It appeared as if perhaps it were a library of information, but the walls and the trophies indicated it was just a library for maps, and inventory.

The Crane Champion, Doji Yoshi, was standing on the opposite side of the table accompanied by two Daidoji guardsmen, one of which was currently attending to the door. The Champion was wearing full battle armor, and aside from a helmet and face-mask, he looked as if he were ready to combat the fiercest opponent.

There was a third Daidoji, currently on the side of the table, also standing. He looked more weathered and experienced than the other two. His armor seemed a bit heavier, perhaps more worn.

"Please leave us, Tsuma-san. We will call for you if we need you." the Crane added.

"Hai!", and with that, the retainer departed as quickly as he came.

After Mo-li and the Daidoji guardsmen behind her had entered, the Champion of the Crane motioned, "Mo-li-san, please forgive our informalties, we have little time available. This is Daidoji Tsumerai, Daimyo of the Daidoji family, and protector of the Doji." The Crane added, "And I am Doji Yoshi, Daimyo of the Doji family, leader of the Crane Clan." Before Mo-li could respond, Yoshi added,"Surely the Unicorn are in need of their fastest and most capable Battle Maiden in these troubling times. So please, tell us Mo-li-san, why you have come to seek the Champion of the Crane?"

[utakumoli]

Mo-li's experience with the Crane afforded few opportunities to see one in full battle armor in person, let alone the Clan Champion. It was clear to her that even the most skilled artisans had outdone themselves with this suit of armor: it was truly fitting for the most glorious samurai in the empire.

Upon entering the room, Mo-li got down on the floor, prostrating herself low to the ground. When she rose, she got up only to her knees and never looked up at the Clan Champion.

"Doji-sama, I thank you for granting me an audience. The hospitality of the Crane truly shames me, as I am certainly undeserving of such treatment. I am further embarrassed to admit that it appears as though I have insulted the Crane by coming here, as you are already preparing for battle," she replied. "And Daidoji-sama, I apologize for intruding on what is surely an important meeting."

Mo-li could not help but notice that the preparations involved more than the Yobanjin threat at Mountain Watch Keep.

"I have come to personally ask for help from the most honorable Crane, who are certainly our closest allies in the Empire, for it is to your political prowess that we owe our ability to return.

We have so far been able to hold off the Yobanjin invaders, but each day more come. Our generals continue to make progress, though I fear that if the battles continue at their current pace, we may soon run out of supplies and men.

As Doji-sama is perhaps already aware, my father was Kakita Masahiro, a duelist of minor status, so my personal connection to the Crane is strong, and runs deep through my veins.

Though I haven't the authority to make promises or exchange favors on behalf of my clan, I can assure you that any help given would be remembered well. I understand that there has been an incident on your borders, and I am in support of peace between the Crane and the Lion, however I would support you should the need arise..."

[Doji Yoshi]

"Mo-li-san." The Crane dressed in majestic armor looks at her, "Please, listen."

He pauses for a moment, considering his words very carefully. Then, with a nod, looks straight at the bowing Unicorn and adds, "The Crane have heard already much about the front. In fact, being a Crane almost entitles you to information, especially when you have as many courtiers as the Crane. In addition, we actually had a patrol of Daidoji merchants on the way to the Unicorn lands when they witnessed one of the first attacks on a Unicorn village. So we know of the threat, very well. Even now, Daidoji Fitsu, Rikugonshokan of the Crane armies, is leading a contingent along with the Lion Clan Champion. Their current location is unknown to us, but our last scout informed us that they had been through Beiden Pass, perhaps on the way to the Scorpion lands."
He pauses, "It is a shame that you have to ask for such an action from the Crane Champion, that even the Khan could not have made the request himself. However, I am a forgiving man when it comes to circumstance, and what we need now is action. Tsumerai-san and myself were considering our options. Our best tactic, and keep in mind this is from a Daidoji, is to flank our enemies. The problem is it's almost impossible to flank with ground troops."

He looks again, straight at Mo-li's bowed head, "So therefore, I have a proposition for you, Utaku Mo-li. Please take one of our best riders, Doji Tsume", he gestures to the Daidoji bodyguard that was following Mo-li into the room, "take him with you to coordinate with the Unicorn Clan Champion, or perhaps even the Khan, if he is available."

Doji Tsume smirked. He knew that the Unicorn, perhaps even most Crane would assume he was a Daidoji with how he was dressed. Then, regarding the Champion's words, Doji Tsume bows towards the Champion, "I would be honored, Yoshi-SAMA!"

The Champion continues, as if Tsume wasn't even talking, "He is the best rider we have. He should be able to keep up with you. I'm going to give him my prized Miya steed since it is the closest I have to an Utaku steed. From here I ask you to proceed to the main war council of the anti-Yobajin armies. Find the Unicorn Champion or find the Khan, Doji Tsume will do the rest."

"Mo-li-san, what do you say to this request from the Crane Champion?", the Champion halts, listening for a response.

[utakumoli]

Mo-li nods once and bows again.

"I will take Doji Tsume-san to the war council in Unicorn lands. Thank you for your time, Doji-sama, and for your support."

[Doji Yoshi]

"And now we all have preparations to make. Thank you for coming, Utaku-san, may your horse be swift, and the kami at your side!"
He gestures, "now please, go."

Doji Tsume while bowing exclaims, "HAI! Yoshi-SAMA!"
He then opens the door, and waits for the Unicorn to leave the room.

[utakumoli]

Mo-li rises in place and backs away from the Crane Champion an appropriate distance, then turns to leave, remaining mindful of Tsume's presence.

[Doji Yoshi]

The retainers bid them goodbye and properly give them leave of the chambers.

And with that, Doji Tsume leaves the Outer Chambers of the Crane Champion, following Utaku Mo-Li.