Ambassador from the Dragon Lands.

[Kitsuki Bareian]

Greetings Mighty Children of Hida!

I am Mirumoto Katsutoshi, and in the spirit of bettering our clan's relationship. I am one of the two men sent as envoy to represent my clan's interest in your lands.

Truth be told, I personally have no gift to offer as a sign of good faith. That gesture, I will leave to the other representative. All I can offer is an extra hand to aid in your eternal duty on the wall. My resources and my military knowledge, however inferior to yours, I give freely in service to your clan.

If you permit me, I would like to start by understanding better the lay of the wall and how to defend it from the monstrous fiends of the ninth kami. What better way to do that but for me and my men to participate sentry duty on the wall.

A way to bolster your already mighty strength, and in return, to make another unenlightened fool such as I,understand the true strength and meaning of the wall and the essence of the virtue of Duty.

- Mirumoto Katsutoshi, Chui of the "Kentetsu Ryu" 36th legion of the Dragon clan army.

[Hida Setsuro]

A few servants approach you and bow over and over again before looking up at you with wide eyes, "We are terribly sorry for the lack of servants, Dragon-sama. I present to you Hida Setsuro-sama, Champion of the Crab, proud defender of not just the wall but the Empire as well, distinguished bushi and berserker, head of the Hida family." With a few more bows, the peasants retreat out of the room, but always close by.

Behind where the servants had once stood rest five men, one man in the center flanked by four in relatively close proximity. Those outside the Crab may not have much knowledge of them, but any Crab would know these men. The Clan Champion and his elite guard. Standing up, Setsuro eyed the Dragon for a moment before offering him a stiff and slight bow, probably more than one would have expected between an ambassador and the Clan Champion, but the Hida was often different than what others expected.

"Mirumoto-san. Come, sit. Do not be alarmed by the presence of my guards. There will be a seat for your other representative when he or she arrives. I have heard tales of you from my clansmen in various regards. It seems your reputation proceeds you." Setsuro smirked slightly and then shrugged his shoulders, "I understand your desire to protect the Empire and I shall look into the matter. I will personally speak with the Kaiu and find out exactly what is needed, if anything, but I make no promises." It was his way of giving an indefinite answer for the time being.

"Tell me, Mirumoto-san.." Setsuro paused for a moment, "What words do you bring on behalf of your clan?" The large Crab waited and watched.

[Kitsuki Bareian]

Mirumoto Katsutoshi, however daunted and intimidated he was by the Crab champion and his elite guard, tried hard not to show the emotion that would betray the fear in his eyes. He had heard so much about the current champion and the feats that accompanied him in tales, but to be this close, it was of a different matter.

Katsutoshi gulped and steeled himself.

"He is no push over..." the Dragon samurai thought.

Bowing low, Katsutoshi proceeded to sit down, but first unarmed himself by laying daisho in a range where he in any physical possibility reach for it and become a threat even though such gesture would be futile when regarding the deadliness of the champion plus four strong elite guards.

"In behalf of my clan... i aim to bring both our clan a better understanding of each other" The Steel Dragon stared at the Crab Champion, making him see his utmost sincerity "Which in all honesty, I still try to fathom how."

Katsutoshi then cleared his throat as if trying to apologetically confess:

"I have no flowery words nor the patience to do word play. All I have is my dedication to duty which have led me to this situation whether we all like it or not.

Pardom me for my blunt honesty mighty Setsuro, but you are a person who I think does not like his time wasted by courtly talk. As of now, All I can offer is my sword arm and the small unit I command to you as a gesture of true faith.

I am blunt, practical, yet easily reasoned with. I do what must be done. Even my brethren at the mountain see's me as nothing but a militant aberration among them. If that be so, let them, as long as I do my duty as expected, I really do not care.

Outside are two caravan loaded with Jade, enough to ration 300 men that would protect them from the taint, i is meager, but as of now it is all we can give. It is not a gift, but a voluntary aid from my clan to thwart the eternal enemy.

All I ask is in return is that you would let me do my duty here in your dominion..."

[Kitsuki Daiki]

Daiki enters the room escorted by a servant, in his hands is an object, at least 5 feet in length, wrapped in silk. His servant escort carries a wooden box, about 18 inches in length. He glances around quickly noting the guards and the Champion's locations. Bowing deeply he makes his way towards Katsutoshi and Setsuro, in the center of the room.
"A thousand apologies Hida Setsuro-sama. I was seeing to our caravan's handling with your staff's aid."
bowing deeply once more)

"I am Kitsuki Daiki, your courtier and magistrate liason to the Dragon clan."

Nodding to Katsutoshi he smiles and nods. Then turning to the Crab servant he gestures to have him open the box.

"I present, as is custom, a gift." Untying the cords at the end of the cover, Daiki pulls out a Dai-tsuchi bearing the Dragon mon and colors. "This Dai-tsuchi belonged to Mirumoto Torukai, Student of the Hida Bushi school, and friend to the crab. He lived during the Second Day of Thunder, and proudly stood by the Crab when the Carpenter Wall was endlessly onset by the Shadowlands. As once he stood as friend and ally to the Crab, so we too hope to ensure a strong relationship with your mighty clan." Then turning towards the servant holding the box, Daiki opens the wodden container to reval a fine bottle of sake. "This is for later," Daiki says matter-o-factly. With that Daiki bows deeply, waiting for a response."

[Hida Setsuro]

"Set the gifts aside for now, we will discuss them later after we've had our own discussions." Setsuro gestured for the servant to place them to the side. (OOC: I'm going to skip the gift giving process because no one wants to watch me post "No, no, I cannot accept" three times in a row. Just assume that we did it while discussing.)

Just then, another Hida entered the room and bowed low to Setsuro. His entrance was not unmarked by the guards, by they seemed not to care. "Forgive me, one moment." Setsuro spoke to the Dragons and then turned to the other Hida, a bushi by the looks of it, and had a quiet conversation. The two of them spoke very briefly, but then Setsuro nodded and smiled. The Hida then left the room.

"Kitsuki Daiki-san, there is an Emerald Magistrate here that would like to speak with you. If you would not mind." Setsuro nodded and then pointed at one servant, "Show him the way." The gestured servant bowed deeply and hurried off, making sure the Kitsuki was following behind him.

Setsuro turned to the Mirumoto and then politely seated himself as well. "Tell me, Katsutoshi-san, what is it they call you?" He tilted his head curiously as he began the conversation with Katsutoshi.

[Kitsuki Bareian]

Katsutoshi looked on as the Kitsuki followed the servant to wherever they were off to. He then turned his head back to the Crab champion as soon as he heard the latter asked him something;

"Tell me, Katsutoshi-san, what is it they call you?"

Katsutoshi nodded, in deep thought, he assumed this as a mild interrogation of sorts to see if he was worth Setsuro's time.

"They call me The Steel Dragon Setsuro-sama!" he answered plainly with no hint of being proud or arrogant in the mentioning of how people had called him "It is unfortunate that I am called as such, but circumstance has led me to some practices that has given me a reputation of being strict, ruthless, and unforgiving when it comes to battle."

He sighed; "It is a name I do not like, but must carry on, as a reminder that not every Dragon samurai is contented with nothing but cryptic talk, meditation and swordsplay. It is a reminder to those outsider that there are also men, like me, who will do everything in the name of Duty, even to the point that we exchange glory and honor for infamy. To the point, that men like me, put duty above all else for the sake of the empire, clan, and those we need to protect."

Katsutoshi takes a deep breath and locks eyes with the Champion, unsure if his gambit will be paying off.

[Kitsuki Daiki]

ooc- hell as a crab I would have expected you to go "gee thanks!" but no worries

Daiki exits the room.