Utaku Mai
Unicorn Clan
*Battle Maiden* *Paragon of Honor* *Goddamn Rockstar*
Posts: 484
|
Post by Utaku Mai on Dec 21, 2011 13:19:19 GMT -5
"You humble us with your diligence for courtesy, Maruhage-san. I am...Utaku Mai, daughter of the shiotome and a chui among the battle maidens, formerly of Bikami, but I have just rejoined the kohl in support of Toturi-heika-sama's efforts in the region after a...brief sojourn among the lion."
Her ever-so-slight hesitation at claiming the Utaku name for herself could be felt by Sojiro and Ozora. She honestly wasn't certain yet what punishment her outburst would take, but could not face the possibility of being forced out of the name she shared with her mother.
"Is this some kind of riddle, Maruhage-san? Delivered by a follower of the Path to assist us on our own way? Certainly there is no shame in assisting those who are in need of compassion, especially not if they are a holy man. So...You have not lost an object, but a thing that has nonetheless caused you some shame?"
She continues on quietly, looking at the monk with a penetrating stare, thinking she might have solved his riddle. "Have you lost your own honor, obo-san?"
Her tone is not petulant or aggressive, but guarded and concerned.
|
|
Kakita Sojiro
Crane Clan Global Mod ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star.png)
When you die, will you be remembered, or will you be just another strand in the tapestry?
Posts: 900
|
Post by Kakita Sojiro on Dec 21, 2011 17:16:06 GMT -5
Sojiro grinned slightly. Had he really become so paranoid that he had forgotten to introduce himself?
"Of course Maruhage-san, my apologies. I am Kakita Sojiro, of the Kakita Elite Squadron." He bowed to the man. "I meant you no rudeness. Recent events have led me towards a very cautious nature, and at times my manners suffer because of this."
His mismatched eyes flashed in the cold night air as the strange man began his riddle. Sojiro's mother had been notorious for speaking in riddles when she wanted to confound and annoy his father, and Sojiro had always taken after the Dragon side of his family in this regard, much to his father's consternation. A chill breeze tousled his hair as he pondered the visitor's statement, tossing strands from the white streak to dance across his face.
"So, that which you seek is not an item, and yet losing it has caused you shame you do not wish to share. Or, did it cause you shame before you lost it, and you do not wish to share that shame with us by burdening us with the knowledge of what it is? Your statement could be taken both ways, Obo-san.
Sojiro's grin widened a bit. He was still unsure of this man, but the conversation brought back memories of his time spent with his mother's family during his childhood, and how his uncle and a few other monks would keep him entertained as a young boy by making him wrack his brain to answer their riddles.
|
|
Moto Yoee
Spider Clan
The Dark Clown
Posts: 194
|
Post by Moto Yoee on Dec 23, 2011 8:55:27 GMT -5
- Sojiro-sama, Mai-sama, now that we have both introduced ourselves, he said, slightly bowing, we can move on to more... interesting matters.
For a few instants, he looked offended and stared intently at Mai.
- Did I say that? Yoee asked with a raised eyebrow. No, I've never said that I lost my honor... for there is just one path to follow once such a tragic event happens... three clean cuts...
He let an ominous silence hang up in the air, as he glanced at the three samurai in front of him. Then a slight grin started to appear on his face.
- However, for you to say that I lost my honor... well, I could be wrong, but there are as many conceptions of honor as there are men and women in Rokugan, he said calmly. Therefore, to better understand what you think that I have lost, I would like to ask you, all of you, he stated, glancing at the three samurai, the question I was about to ask earlier.
Just as planned, he thought. Let's see where this leads us.
- This question is quite simple, yet nobody has ever been able to give a accurate answer, he said, smiling broadly. What is the meaning of honor? What is considered honorable, and where is the boundary between an honorable samurai and a dishonorable one?
He shrugged, then thoughtfully rubbed his chin.
- Your answers to this question could help me better understand my own destiny...
|
|
Kakita Sojiro
Crane Clan Global Mod ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star.png)
When you die, will you be remembered, or will you be just another strand in the tapestry?
Posts: 900
|
Post by Kakita Sojiro on Dec 24, 2011 17:34:59 GMT -5
Sojiro's expression got a bit frostier. In his experience, conversations like this that attempted to constain honor into easily packaged, clearly defined and manipulated terms never ended well.
"I have heard this question many times, sometimes from monks of the Tamori family attempting to open my mind when I was a youth, but more often from the mouths of Scorpion and the like, trying to justify whatever their latest action was by twisting the definition of honor to serve their purposes."
"Honor can't be so clearly and rigidly defined without losing it's meaning and it's purpose, but it is easy enough to see if you just open your eyes and know what to look for." He glanced at Mai with a smirk on his face. "And if you don't know what to look for, then I believe the best answer to your question comes from Akodo Keisuke-san, the man who commanded the Lion's forces at Toshi Ranbo's west gate:
Honor. If you need it defined, then you obviously do not have it."
|
|
Utaku Mai
Unicorn Clan
*Battle Maiden* *Paragon of Honor* *Goddamn Rockstar*
Posts: 484
|
Post by Utaku Mai on Dec 27, 2011 16:44:35 GMT -5
"Just one path? Closing off even the possibility of re-honoring oneself through action? If seppuku were the only option in such an instance, we would never have witnessed the reign of Toturi I."
Mai's words, spoken with all the Utaku hardheadedness she possessed, belied her own feelings. Through her childhood the one thing it seemed Yun-Li and Kuzon could agree upon was instilling in their daughter the importance of Honor. All her life she could claim to live to that ideal of bushido, but now? Was the upper hand in an argument important enough to throw it away this evening? And was her unwillingness to repent immediately a sign of strength, or simply fear?
Sojiro's words bolstered her up slightly. His estimation of Mai's honor seemed positive enough, and she smiled in spite of herself. She turned again to the monk, trying to disguise the crack in her resolve.
"Many have found their paths wandering off of the trail of Bushido, but many are still able to find themselves, and their place in the Empire. Toturi the Black was only one of the more glorious examples. Even the damned have found purpose in fighting alongside the Crab, defending against the raving forces of the shadowlands. If you find yourself in similar circumstances, would you die honored through sacrificing only your life, or would you give what years you had left to making your life mean something?"
|
|
Moto Yoee
Spider Clan
The Dark Clown
Posts: 194
|
Post by Moto Yoee on Dec 30, 2011 5:42:44 GMT -5
The man who had introduced himself as Maruhage rubbed his chin, apparently thoughtful.
- Kakita-sama, if I was inclined to do so, I might take your comment as an insult, he stated, grinning fiercely. And Utaku-sama, you seem to deliberately ignore that the damned's only wish is to atone for their sins by giving their lives fighting against the foul beasts of the Shadowlands... a delayed seppuku, in a sense.
An eyebrow was raised, and a hand rubbed the wanderer's bald skull.
- The two of you have given me some insight, though. Honor is something that cannot be defined, but someone should always try to recover it when it is lost... this is actually quite funny, because how can someone hope to retrieve something that one cannot define? he said jockingly, chuckling lightly. Or perhaps... perhaps the duty of a samurai is simply to do everything his lord asks him to do, without ever considering what is the true purpose of his actions... would that be what honor is in your eyes, samurai-sama?
His gaze was amused, even if the rest of his face only expressed a slight note of curiosity.
|
|
Utaku Mai
Unicorn Clan
*Battle Maiden* *Paragon of Honor* *Goddamn Rockstar*
Posts: 484
|
Post by Utaku Mai on Dec 31, 2011 18:43:48 GMT -5
"That's quite the loaded question. To say yes is to relegate a samurai as nothing more than heimin, having no purpose then to fulfill tasks appointed by their superiors, unable or unwilling to use the tool of their intellect to serve their lord. To say no is to claim that a samurai has no trust in the Celestial order or the honor of their lord to use their vassals to fulfill tasks for the good of the clan and empire, even if they are not aware of all of the particulars or long-term ramifications. No matter what answer I give, I will be wrong."
Mai looked at the man intently. "Such is the way of monks, I suppose, but I admit I'm beginning to find it exhausting. So why don't you tell me, Murahage-san, my curious monk friend, what is honor in your eyes?"
|
|