[RP - CLOSED] Visit to the House of the Rising Sun

[Soshi Kiso]

[ooc: lol I know, but IC I don't know you have no control over that. Your the almighty Daimyo of the Mantis!]

You have some good solutions there, Akihiko-sama. The Scorpion would love to help keep the route even safer. The use of dedicated trading quarters in the cities along the route would help boost all forms of trade between our clans, not only the goods procured from the gaijin.

I'm sure the Crab as well as the Scorpion could make great use of the increase of trade. In the end, we might even do better in our haggling with the gaijin as well. He took a small gulp of his second cup of tea.

In my short visit to Outsider Keep, I saw many samurai paying hand over fist in trade. Your solutions, combined with mine....could help us sweeten the deal. There are many materials traded amongst the clan that help in a sundry of matters. I speak of one that weakens the mind and spirit, robbing the clans of useful samurai and samurai-ko.

If it were to funnel elsewhere, the benefits could be well worth it. We would increase our gains, and minimize our losses. Kiso took a gulp of his tea, setting the cup to the side. I propose we move onto sake, I'm sure Senshi-sama can catch up when he arrives.

Kiso wasn't sure how the conversation would go from here, but he knew well that certain matters were better spoken over a strong cup. A samurai's words and actions under the influence were generally looked past. It was the sake's fault, after all.

[vegandeathmachine]

Akihiko set aside his tea, and sipped the sake presented to him. He nodded in thanks to the geisha who had poured.

"Yes, I am certainly in favor of attaching more Scorpion, Crab, and Hare personnel to the entirety of the trade route. The trade should serve to strengthen and connect us all; an admirable goal in these times. Especially with the rise of bloodspeaker cults, we should do all we can to improve our relationships. The strength of unified purpose is our best weapon against these traitors in the heart of Rokugan."

"As to this other scourge you speak of; how do you propose to keep this from sapping the strength of Rokugan in these trying times?"

It is apparent that Akihiko has chosen to interpret Soshi Kiso-sama's veiled allusions to intoxicants as a call to increased policing and interdiction of these shipments.

[Bayushi Senshi]

Senshi arrived at the house then, just in time to as it had begun to rain. He was led to the room set aside for the discussion. He opened the door, walked straight to the table and bowed. "I hope I am not too late?"

[vegandeathmachine]

Akihiko bowed to Bayushi Senshi, and laughed good-naturedly.

"Bayushi Senshi-sama, I would be a poor guest indeed if were to accuse my host of tardiness! I fear have moved on from tea to sake already; please forgive our impertinence."

Once Bayushi Senshi was seated and served sake, Akihiko continued:

"Soshi Kiso-sama and myself were just discussing some of the issues to be resolved on the trade route."

[Soshi Kiso]

Upon the entrance of his Daimyo, Kiso stood and bowed deeply. My lord, your never late. You arrive when you mean to, we just happened to be early due to the swift sailing of Akihiko-sama.

He looked to one of the geisha, who promptly presented a bottle of sake to pour Senshi a cup, once he had brought out his own, as customary. Once Senshi sat, Kiso resumed his seating.

[Bayushi Senshi]

Senshi looked between the two, and with a smug look said, "You see Akihiko san? You had an error of judgement. May all your servants aim to please you as well as Kiso san. Now, lets not waist any more time on pleasantries. Where were we?"

[vegandeathmachine]

Akihiko raised an eyebrow, and replied, "I must respectfully disagree, Senshi-san. The term 'error in judgement' suggests that I used any judgement at all. I simply let the kami of the winds and tides decide my pace for me."

"We were discussing issues of trade imbalance and security. Kiso-san and myself are in agreement that the increased trade can serve to bring closer friendships among the clans involved, which can hardly be a bad thing."

[Bayushi Senshi]

"Ah yes, security.You shall be pleased to know then that I have recently heard reports from the war front. The yobanjin have been defeated, finally. Bushi across the empire will return to their clans, we'll have an influx of warriors, and, less threat in the north as a result."

[vegandeathmachine]

Taking another moderate sip of his sake, Akihiko replied

"True, the siege of Mountain Watch Keep has been lifted. But is this truly the end of the war in the north? I suppose time will tell. I am certainly not about to demobilize my armies, in any event."

"I also hear tell that the controversy surrounding the Shogun has resumed. Seems silly to me; he is a war hero, and short of an imperial order, he is a lawfully appointed officer of the Empire. Have the Scorpion heard anything to substantiate these whispers of treason I keep hearing?"

Akihiko smiled, shook his head gently, and smiled

"Enough of such serious matters! The Empire has won a great victory against the Yobanjin, the trade route is prospering and it's security is being addressed, and of course, Senshi-san is freshly married! You must be most pleased with a return to peace, and the chance to enjoy your marriage, eh?"

[Bayushi Senshi]

Senshi nodded his head to Akihiko, acknowledging his kind words.

[Soshi Kiso]

The Shogun has the support of the Steel Throne, and see no values in the words of the Courtiers. I have battled at his side, sat in his tent while plans were planned. There is no treason there.

Kiso sipped his cup. While he was glad the Shogun had been victorious in the battle, tonight was designed for a multitude of other reasons. Long had Pleasure City been neighboring the Scorpion borders, they would make use of it frequently. The trade route gave perfect chance to fill it to the brim with his clansman and make the city theirs. The merchants of the City of Lies to the north had been selling their ill wares to its citizens under guise of medicine. While he could not discount that some Scorpion made profit for the clan this way, he no longer wished the clientel to be Scorpion citizens. Gaijin were his intended target. He could never stop the market, but only hope to change the flow of the river. The value to line the merchants pockets would be all the reason they needed.

He had hoped the Mantis Daimyo would be open to such discussion, distasteful as it might be. But not was all a loss, with a promise of more Scorpion patrols along the entire route, and some more dedicated trading quarters. He could still see all this through.

[vegandeathmachine]

OOC: Modified my previous post to ask more directly about the rumor's of Kaneka's supposed treason. Also, will have to wrap this bad boy up soon, due to a different thread I am starting tomorrow.

[vegandeathmachine]

Akihiko took another sip of sake.

"Well, I suspect we all have much to consider now that the Siege of Mountain Watch Keep has been lifted. Do we continue to press against the Yobanjin, or consolidate our current position?

In light of this momentous victory, I shall arrange a summit at Kyuden Gotei to discuss what we can all do to preserve the security of the Empire.

I must thank you both for your gracious hospitality; it is always pleasant to visit with the Scorpion. But, I'm afraid must take my leave; this summit may require some preparation."

Akihiko bowed to both, and departed.

------------

On the voyage back to Kyuden Gotei, Akihiko and Kitano sat around a table in his cabin.

"You're quite clear on, this Kitano-san?"

"Yes, Akihiko-sama. The movement of a security force to the area is politically defensible, if not popular."

"Is inaction a viable option here, Kitano-san? You know what that will lead to..."

"No, Akihiko-sama." <Sighs> "I suppose it is not. I shall draft up the orders."