[D8 - LE - Phoenix's Blessing] A Prayer to Ekibyogami (Open)

Mari · **Joined:** Sun Apr 12, 2020 4:43 am **Posts:** 702

Of all the shrines to be prayed at, and for someone to meditate in front of, this one was perhaps not the most ... palatable of choices. Ekibyogami was a spiteful, wrathful being, loathed and feared by the peasants of the empire, and rightly so. The threat of disease was a real horror that all might know, and though offerings would be left daily at her shrine almost certainly in appeasement, it would be her master, Jurojin, who received far more prayer.

Yet, here Mari was. She had been in silent meditation before the shrine, calm and cool as the placid waters. The rain fell outside with a steady patter, and she felt for once at peace. She had offered her prayers to the fortune, considering the sheer mass of people in this place and the risks of further disease complicating matters, and now she meditated upon the wisdom that any fortune could give. As she exhaled softly, beginning to relax once more from her meditations, one eye fluttered open and she chanced to glance to her side. Had she heard someone come in?

( Void Recovery Roll - 1st Half Hour: 43 +2 Void Points. )

Kayou · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 2:51 pm **Posts:** 419

Finding she could not sleep, Kayou walked a circuit, praying at the various shrines.

She bowed politely to her fellow petitioner.

Mari · **Joined:** Sun Apr 12, 2020 4:43 am **Posts:** 702

Ahhh, the Abbess. She had seen her speak in the makeshift 'court' earlier today hadn't she? Mari turned and returned the bow, shifting a bit in her posture. "Ah, -sama. I hope I'm not interfering at all." No, technically she wasn't 'beneath' a monk, but you were respectful of respected monks if you had half a brain.

"Have you come to pray to ward off pestilence for the refugees?"

Kayou · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 2:51 pm **Posts:** 419

"This one has been praying for whatever aid the kami will grant in these dark times," she said.

"This one is Kayou, of the Order of Harmonious Work," she says with a bow.

Mari · **Joined:** Sun Apr 12, 2020 4:43 am **Posts:** 702

"Sometimes with the Fortunes, an the kami, one must cast a wide net. They all have a lot to listen to, so it is a game of finding which one has bent their ear first, yes?" Which... was not inaccurate with the fortunes. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Kayou-sama. You may call me Mari... I suppose "of the open road" works well enough. I am just a humble wave-man and shugenja who arrived here to seek work."

She kept a little wariness, but in the end this woman was a monk. there were just things you learned to expect about them, most of them good. But still, she always had a tiny bit of wariness with strangers as she gauged them.

Kayou · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 2:51 pm **Posts:** 419

Kayou smiled. "If you must give me a title, sensei is preferred, Mari-san. She prefers to be thought of as a teacher."

"It is rare to meet a ronin priestess," she says. "May this one offer you some tea?"

Mari · **Joined:** Sun Apr 12, 2020 4:43 am **Posts:** 702

"Sensei is acceptable. Thank you for that." It did help her know how to reply to her. One couldn't be too certain, but sensei had the right ring to it in her mind. Settling a little, she nodded. "And tea would be lovely, thank you. I think it's just a little late for sake to start, so something for the mind as the night approaches, yes?"

She cocked her head afterwards, though. "I suppose it really is rare to see a ronin shugenja isn't it? I hear it often enough."

Kayou · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 2:51 pm **Posts:** 419

Kayou gestures, "Follow me to the kitchens."

"She has known one or two, most of which once were clan members," she says. "Forgive this one, but she does not feel that you were raised in clan."

Mari · **Joined:** Sun Apr 12, 2020 4:43 am **Posts:** 702

She chuckled as she rose. "Forgive me, but you would be the first to say so. I fear my mother's education gives it away in court. I am on Musha Shugyo... though I prefer not to speak of my former kin." She smiled while following after. To a monk, she saw little reason to conceal or withhold that much. It changed little, after all. "Tell me, though, sensei. What is it that makes you imagine me born with the talent instead of taught from my youth?"

Kayou · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 2:51 pm **Posts:** 419

"You carry yourself as one with commitment, though a pilgrimage would explain that," smiled Kayou, putting a pot to boil.

"This one has never been that good at understanding or reading people, it is why she started as a sohei. Now, she is . . . well, what she is." Kayou laughed at herself.

Mari · **Joined:** Sun Apr 12, 2020 4:43 am **Posts:** 702

"Ah yes, I suppose there is that. Not that I'm not as money grubbing as the rest of us," she said with a wink. "A ronin does have to eat, I admit. My pilgrimage is not above that bit of honesty." Kayou wasn't wrong, though. Most ronin carried themselves with only the conviction of mercenaries.

She settled back into a seat while the pot began to boil and sighed. "Our circumstances make us what we are. We learn to adapt, like the water flowing into a new vessel. A sohei, though? I have heard stories of the power of warrior monks." Admittedly, the temple of osano wo had been first in that.

Kayou · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 2:51 pm **Posts:** 419

"This one fears that such will be more needed as dangers continue to threaten the Empire," she says with a sigh.

"This one appreciates the need to eat. Which is why the Order of Harmonious Work primary task is to help the peasant and spread the best techniques for farming and animal husbandry. We hope to reduce the threat of famine for all."

Mari · **Joined:** Sun Apr 12, 2020 4:43 am **Posts:** 702

She blinked. That was almost pedestrian, wasn't it? "Ebisu would be proud of such a sentiment," she said, nodding. Oh he would absolutely love that sort of thing, she imagined. "I am sure that the peasants are grateful for the efforts in this time. You will have no end of work so long as so many are separated from their homes like this."

A shake of her head and she sighed herself. "You're not wrong, though. The fighting will find us very soon, and my prayers will almost certainly be turned to preserve the health of fellow fighters."

Isawa Miwako · **Joined:** Sat Apr 04, 2020 7:21 am **Posts:** 590

Miwako also came to the temple to offer prayers to another Fortune who was likely to be less popular. As a new Fortune, only named so in the past month, a proper shrine was not in place yet. But, Isawa Arya was a hero of the Phoenix, alongside the rest of the fallen Council. Her ascension as Fortune of Maho could still be honored.

Prayers for Arya were followed by additional prayers for each of the lost Elemental Council, ending with Isawa Daiko.

Mari · **Joined:** Sun Apr 12, 2020 4:43 am **Posts:** 702

Mari caught sight of the water shugenja and bowed low to the other woman from where they were sitting, not wanting to interrupt her meditations, but wanting to be espectful, a murmurd -sama barely audible. She certainly wouldn't say no to her joining them, but she wasn't going to push either.

... but fortune of Maho? Oh man, she'd been out of the loop if she ever heard of that one. Wow.

Isawa Miwako · **Joined:** Sat Apr 04, 2020 7:21 am **Posts:** 590

The Phoenix finished her prayers in short time. Miwako preferred to be direct and to the point with such things. Standing, she looked over to the others nearby, approached and offered a bow.

"Good evening, mina-sama."

Kayou · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 2:51 pm **Posts:** 419

"The peasant are the foundation of the Celestial Order and without a firm base, we will all fall, ne?"

Kayou bows to the Phoenix. "Tea, Phoenix-sama?"

Mari · **Joined:** Sun Apr 12, 2020 4:43 am **Posts:** 702

"Phoenix-sama, please join us. It would be an honor to have you here," she said, nodding in agreement to Kayou's statements, both of them, as she bowed again and waited for her to possibly join the two of them. "It has been a rainy day and the tea will do all of us good."

Isawa Miwako · **Joined:** Sat Apr 04, 2020 7:21 am **Posts:** 590

"Hai, Kayou-sensei, thank you." she nodded. Turning to the ronin she introduced herself. "I am Isawa Miwako."

Kayou · **Joined:** Wed Apr 01, 2020 2:51 pm **Posts:** 419

"Isawa-sama, forgive me for not recognizing you but it has been . . . two years? She is glad to see that you are well," says Kayou pouring a fresh cup for Miwako.

[D8 - LE - Phoenix's Blessing] A Prayer to Ekibyogami (Open)

Who is online